#i don't even really buy into now and then being about paul but just thinking about all the other actual evidence it's like. wow ok

[only-luce-the-goose]

Tinge of Jealousy

A/N: Helloooo again! This is a separate part of a previous request. I'm thinking of writing for other drivers, like Ollie, Kimi, Paul, the Papaya boys, maybe the Ferrari boys. I've only written for Arthur (Ive got one for Ollie) and i was thinking of doing others, obviously after I've finished the ones I'm currently writing. lmk if anyone has any ideas!

Arthur Leclerc x reader

Warnings: little jealousy/possessiveness but not a disgusting amount, creepy men at a bar

Based off this part of a previous request:

“Or maybe something about him being a little jealous and possessive not in a grotesque sense like I had to defend her from someone in a bar or something, like her being too nice by not wanting to walk away so as not to hurt the other person even if it's bothering her (that happens to me often haha😅)”

Arthur had an amazing race weekend, consistently holding podium positions the whole time and to celebrate you both decided to go to the club. You rolled up in Arthur's car, him jogging around to the other side of the car to open the door for you and help you out. He was wearing a light button-up shirt, which accentuated his biceps nicely, with dark pants. You were wearing a dark red dress which showed off all the right places, dipping into your cleavage. You walked into the club, hand in hand.

You found the rest of the drivers and some of their friends and partners. You left Arthur with them as you went to buy drinks. You wander up to the bar, aware of the numerous sets of eyes on you as you walk. You take a seat and tell the bartender your drinks. You've just pulled out your phone to respond to a text from your parents when a figure sits next to you. Initially, you ignore him until he presses the off button on the side of your phone. You look up at him, pissed that he would touch your property. "That's better" the creepy man grumbles.

He had to have been about 6'2, maybe in his mid to late thirties. He had an unkempt, ginger beard and you could tell he was already balding. He was big, with broad shoulders, lumberjack-looking, and scary. His eyes told you things you didn't want to know. "What's a pretty young thing like you doing in a place like this? he murmured in your ear. "I'm here with friends, actually. Just, uhm, waiting for our drinks". Your hands became clammy and started shaking, you were taking shallow breaths, trying your hardest not to freak out. You have never hoped for someone else to be watching you.

"Arthur, mate. I think your girl needs saving. She looks really uncomfortable" Lando spoke to Arthur over the loud music. Arthur looked over at the bar to see you trying your hardest not to panic, however he couldn't see the man who was creeping you out. He made his way over to rescue you when he saw the size of the man. He turned around and walked back to the group. "Hey, umm, guys?" he stammered "I need your help getting Y/N away from this guy". Charles, Lando, Oscar, Carlos, Max, Esteban, Pierre, Logan, Alex, Ollie, Kimi, and Paul all looked at Arthur concerned. "What do you mean, mate?" Kimi asked.

He motioned the group over to where they could all see the man who was trying to harass you, who now had his hand on your thigh and was whispering in your ear. "As much as I was to go punch that guy in the face, I would not win" Arthur said they all gaped at the sheer size of him. Arthur started walking, the 12 drivers hot on his tail. Arthur wrapped his hands around your waist and kissed your temple, silently telling you that it was him. "That's my girlfriend you're touching, mate, and you are way too close" Arthur declared, the other drivers staying just out of sight for now. The pervert looked Arthur right in the eyes as he said "I don't see a ring, so as far as I care she is free to do whatever anyone else wants". Arthur felt you shrink into him at the man's ideals. "That is not what it means at all. I am taking my girlfriend and we are leaving"

Arthur moved to pull you up and into him, only to be stopped by the man grabbing your wrist and yanking you into him. "And how are you doing to that when I can easily bash the shit out of you" you shuddered hearing the way the creep was speaking to your boyfriend. Arthur looked the man in the eyes and said "Because I brought friends". You looked over Arthur's shoulder, noticing a dozen drivers all with their arms crossed and fire in their eyes.

The man followed your line of sight, his eyebrows raised as he backed off "fucking weirdos" he grumbled. You turned around and enveloped Arthur in a hug "holy shit that was scary, thank you so much" Arthur pecked your lips "You're welcome mon amour. You have to learn how to say no, though" he chuckled. You turned around and walked over to the still grumpy racers. "Thank you, boys, I had no idea how i was going to get out of that one" there was a range of responses consisting of "you're welcome" "anytime" and "of course" Ollie piped up saying "anything for our Y/N" which cause the other drivers to agree.

Arthur leaned down to whisper in your ear "They're wrong". You looked up at him confused, "You're my Y/N". His confession caused you to let out a laugh, "exactly baby, all yours. Let's go home now, yeah?' Arthur nodded, entwining your hands and leading you to his car.

[prettypinkporkchop]

I need a Paul x nerd reader in my life I think there dynamic would be so cute

I fucking love the jock x nerd trope (i know Paul's not a jock but close enough)

How it began:

You're peacefully reading your book at the public library behind a shelf. You hear two loud guys behind you out of the book aisle. You think to yourself how you're thankful for graduating school! You close the book and step out toward the checkout to buy it. You're stopped dead in your tracks.

Paul Lahote and his friend, Embry Call. Embry is being quiet and looking around for something. You gasp and hide behind the shelf. Paul Lahote. He bullied you for the longest time. When he left high school to join Sam's cult, you were already graduating. He's a year younger than you, but he was mister popular. You were just a book worm with straight A's. You've never even been in a relationship.

Embry has always been respectful. You've always questioned why he associates with him. But getting that quick view of their new hair made you extra nervous. You know Embry won't acknowledge you. Paul might even though you guys are grown now. You don't know! He's always unpredictable and hotheaded.

You take a deep breath and lower your head, quickly making your way to the check out desk. Before you reach it, you feel a tap on your shoulder. You swiftly turn and meet Paul. He's smiling his taunting smile, but it quickly fades. He seems lost in thought. Embry is standing next to him and grabs his arm. "Paul." He whispers. Paul snaps out of it and then looks down. "Hey, y/n. Good to see you." Then he walks away.

You can't help but wonder what the fuck that was about. Embry turns to you with a look of "yikes". "Sorry about that, y/n. Uhm, good to see you! Gotta blast." He gives you the peace out sign and walks away. Oh, Embry. What a dork! Oh, wait...

Now:

"Babe! Come play with us!" Paul calls out. He's holding the soccer ball in his hand. You look up from your book and push up your glasses. You can see some of the guys in the water. The other imprints decided to go shopping. It wasn't really your thing, so you stayed with Paul.

"No, sweetie. You know I'm no good at that stuff." You laugh. He groans and tosses the ball to Jared. They start playing again. But Paul stops and runs over to you, playing on your back, tackling you, and holding you down. You laugh loudly as he begins to tickle you. You toss the book and completely lose your place. "Paul!" You yell and then reach for the book. "It's got sand in it, and you made me lose my place." You sigh. He grabs your face and kisses you hard. You kiss back and hold his face, too, rubbing your thumbs on his cheek.

"Think fast!" You hear Quil running to you two. You pull away and see the ball coming right toward you. Paul reacts quickly, catching it with one hand. "Bro, really?" He glares at him.

You guys get home, and Paul is watching football on TV. You're sitting on your phone, looking at Pinterest crafting ideas. Easy ones that'll keep you out of bordemn in your free time. "YOO!" He yells and laughs. He points at the screen and looks at you. "Did you see that horrible defense?! Hell no." He turns back and laughs. You just smile and nod your head, not understanding a thing he said. He turns back to you and grabs your thigh. "Right, my nerd." He leans in and peppers kisses all over your face. You lay back and pull him on top of you. He holds himself up, looking down at you. "When you are focusing on reading or anything else, really, you're so cute. When you tutor Brady and Collin for math, I love it." He smiles. You blush and wrap your arms around his neck. "Thank you, sexy." You giggle and pull him down for a kiss. His lips land on yours for a moment, and he pulls away, looking down at you. "Do you want to play video games together? How about Madden? It's not real football. I'm sure you'll like it!" He sits up and turns on his Playstation. You suck in a breath. "Last time you made me play a sports game, I nearly fell asleep." You giggle. He laughs and then goes through his downloads. He skips animal crossing SOOOO fast. "Hey!" You call out. "Nope. Nope. I'll settle for Minecraft, but that's all you get." He shakes his head. "How about we meet in the middle? GTA?" You grab the other controller that's on the coffee table. He smirks and turns to you. "I pick the music when we steal a bus."

[neroushalvaus]

Tumblr in the 60s – deleted posts

Some people requested a sequel to this post so I thought I'd post these drafts that didn't make it to the original. Maybe doing more at some point if the inspiration hits me but I hope these bring you some joy.

🚀 starrfleet Follow

HEY GUYS!! We're buying The Beatles so John and Paul can finally get together!! Who's in

🎹 nixonsafascist Follow

Call that... Beatles for Sale

🚀 starrfleet Follow

Dude this is serious. We want to free them. Why is homophobia so very funny to you?

🎶 mclennstarrison Follow

Didn't The Beatles start managing themselves after Mr Epstein died? So you plan to buy them... From themselves?

🚀 starrfleet Follow

Oh so the george harrison vampire mpreg blog is going to preach to us now.

92 notes

📻 lesbianbobdylan Follow

"Let men have short hair!!" "It's okay to not agree with the civil rights folk" "Don't let tumblr tell you that serving your country is bad" You are all so chronically online and convinced your little hippie bubble represents the world that you have the worst takes. Conservatism is alive and well, us hippies are the fucking minority. The outside world is perfectly okay with all the anti-mlk short-haired men who are happily getting drafted. You are not counterculture.

15,5 t. notes

☁️ ankin-vaimo Follow

Tumblr is so US/UK centric. Scrolling through this site you'd think there were no other tv shows than star trek and no other bands than the monkees and that the stonewall riots were the only meaningful political activism that has ever happened. There's so much great culture elsewhere. I bet you have never even heard of Tapani Kansa.

🇻🇳 shirellesofficial

#shhh don't tell Tumblr that other countries exist #they couldn't even admit Please Mr. Postman was originated by black women (tags via @marvelettesofficial)

peer reviewed tags

#sorry for going through your tumblr marvelettesofficial #you're just so funny #hope i'm not annoying you

54 notes

🌼 andpeoplesaywebeatlearound Follow

People really like to pretend us Beatles girlies hate Y*ko for being asian and a woman like she didn't literally make John cheat on his wife and leave his young son

🪕 prostitutesandlesbians Follow

don't talk like us beatles girlies are all the same, i personally want to fuck her on a canvas while we're both covered in menstrual blood, creating modern art by making love

✝️ jesusrevolution Follow

Op is this you? ↓

🎶 mclennstarrison Follow

Also like, "made John cheat on his wife and leave his young son", did John himself have nothing to do with that decision or..?

🪕 prostitutesandlesbians Follow

do you guys think she and john do mommy play

🎶 mclennstarrison Follow

I appreciate the input @prostitutesandlesbians but we're trying to call the op out for being a racist misogynist

🪕 prostitutesandlesbians Follow

sorry

346 notes

🤪 thekinkykinks Follow

Why is there even discourse about this... Yeah, the folks at Stonewall could have been more respectful towards the police officers who were just doing their jobs, but why are we acting like throwing some pennies at the police officers and calling them "Lily Law" is the worst type of oppression

🥿 trustnobutch Follow

You know what? No. Fuck you. I'm tired of you all talking about these people like they were your poor little meow meows. Have you read about this at all? The raid did not happen because the police "hates gay people wah wah". Stonewall Inn was run by the mob. The. Fucking. Mob. Would you rather have the police not protecting us from criminals, huh??? And the rioters were nothing but a bunch of attention seekers. I heard that a guy from the fucking Mattachine Society phoned newspapers and took pictures of the riot. I'm so disappointed, that was the only gay group that seemed to care about looking respectable in the eyes of the heterosexuals. People who were there made us all look bad and set our movement back like 50 years. Fuck you for supporting them.

🍊 kissmemissoklaholma Follow

Yeah. I heard someone threw a brick.

✌ draftdodgerdyke

??? Nobody threw bricks, where the fuck do you get your information ??

#they should have tho #chilling at the stockholm airport finding the weirdest takes

998 notes

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

i'm sharing a joint with this cute ass butch with the cutest curliest hair ever guyyyyssss I think i'm falling in love

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

she plays the harmonica for me i want to fuck her to the mattress

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

i don't have any idea what she's singing about but i think she likes the rolling stones too, we have so much in commonnnn

🧸 teddyboyfemme Follow

So it turns out that was Bob Dylan.

70,9 t. notes

[tavolgisvist]

The boat called Yoko and The boat called Paul

accidental - more or less - coincidences

1 To look in the eye

You dissolve into each other. But that’s what we did, round about that time, that’s what we did a lot. And it was amazing. You’re looking into each other’s eyes and you would want to look away, but you wouldn’t, and you could see yourself in the other person. It was a very freaky experience and I was totally blown away…

(Paul McCartney, Many Years From Now by Barry Miles, 1997)

“This is sort of what went on the ’60s a bit. You thought, Well if I’m going to go with this person for the rest of my life, like John and Yoko or me and Linda, I really ought to look them in the eye all the time. And John and Yoko really did spend a lot of time (stares manically). And it got fairly mad, they’d sit there looking at each other, going It’s gonna be all right, it’s gonna be all right. After a couple of hours of that you get fairly worn out.”

(Paul McCartney, interview with Paul Du Noyer, 1989)

2 David Bailey photo session January 1965

and

Susan Wood photo session 26 November 1968

3 White walls

'Paul had a nice idea about opening up white houses, where we would sell white china, and things like that, everything white, because you can never get anything white, you know, which was pretty groovy…'

( John Lennon , December 1970, Jann Wenner interview for Rolling Stone magazine)

It's difficult starting write from scratch with Yoko there. 'Cause I start writing songs about white walls. Just 'cause, you know, just 'cause I think she…I think John and Yoko would like that, you know. And they wouldn't.

(Paul McCartney, Get Back sessions)

.

4 Tittenhurst

"I knew the house, because John and I had been to look at it with the other Beatles couples a year ot two earlier. [...] For a crazy moment we's considered buying it and all move in together, in a kind of Beatles commune. How strange that now it was John and Yoko's home."

(Synthia Lennon, John, 1988)

5 Chalk and cheese / Cows and cheese

‘When I caught sight of him, when John brought him home for the first time, I thought “Oh-ho, look what the cat’s dragged in,”’ Mimi later recalled. ‘He seemed so much younger than John–and John was always picking up waifs and strays. I thought “Here we go again, John Lennon… another Shotton.”’ Even Paul’s immaculate manners could not thaw her. ‘Oh, yes, he was well-mannered–too well-mannered. He was what we call in Liverpool “talking posh” and I thought he was taking the mickey out of me. I thought “He’s a snake-charmer all right,” John’s little friend, Mr Charming. I wasn’t falling for it. After he’d gone, I said to John, “What are you doing with him? He’s younger than you… and he’s from Speke!”’ After that, when Paul appeared, she would always tell John sarcastically that his ‘little friend’ was here. ‘I used to tease John by saying “chalk and cheese”, meaning how different they were,’ she remembered, ‘and John would start hurling himself around the room like a wild dervish shouting “Chalkandcheese! Chalkandcheese!” with this stupid grin on his face.’”

(Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman, 2016)

Q: "Why did you collaborate with Yoko on this LP?" JOHN: "It's like a play and we're acting in it. It's John and Yoko - you can take it or leave it. Otherwise (laughing) it's cows and cheese, my dear! Being with Yoko makes me whole. I don't want to sing if she's not there. We're like spitiual advisors. When I first got out of the Beatles, I thought, 'Oh great. I don't have to listen to Paul and Ringo and George.' But it's boring yodeling by yourself in a studio. I don't need all that space anymore."

(John Lennon, The September 29th 1980 issue of Newsweek)

6 Names

.

.

7 Two lovers on the beach

PAUL: ...We just write the songs first, and then uh, just shove ‘em in anywhere, as George said. Especially in the uh, sunset scene at the very end of the picture, where the two lovers – that’s George and Ringo �� are coming towards each other on the beach… [general laughter] And they just finally meet – well, actually they don’t quite meet, they just run past each other, and both dive into the sand and as they do... JOHN: [in background] They both light a cigarette. PAUL: [laughs] Yeah, that’s it. The sun goes down

(May-June, 1965, Twickenham Film Studios, interview with Elliot Mintz)

gifs by thebeatlesordie

8 Paris

1961

John and I went hitchhiking. George and I did it a couple of times too. It was a way to get a holiday. Maybe our parents booked holidays, but we wouldn’t have known how to. So we would head out, just the two of us, with our guitars. John was older, but I was in on the decision about where we might go. He’d got a hundred pounds from his uncle, who was a dentist in Edinburgh, for his twenty-first birthday, and we decided we’d hitchhike to Spain by way of Paris.

(Paul McCartney, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present , 2021)

John: "Paris has always been the object of English romanticism, hasn't it? I fell for Paris first of all, even before Hamburg. I remember spending my 21st birthday there with Paul in 1961 . . ." <…> Aunt Mimi told the Liverpool Echo that she remembered the time that John slipped off to Paris to "sell his paintings" and that some unsuspecting Frenchman has a Lennon original on his wall.

(The Beatles Diary. Volume1.The Beatles Years by Barry Miles, 2001)

Gustafson [Johnny Gustafson of the Big Tree] happened to bump into them the day they left, Saturday, September 30. “They both had bowler hats on, with the usual leather jackets and jeans. They said they were off to Paris, so I walked down to Lime Street station and watched them go. They were an incredible pair: always great fun, irreverent and so close.

(Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years by Mark Lewisohn, 2013)

I remember, we tried to hitchhike to Spain once, but we only got as far as Paris. We liked it so much, we stayed there, just the two of us. We were in this little hotel in Paris; it was so cheap it had fleas. My mum was a nurse, we were very hygienic, then you end up there – bloody hell! Those things bring you together.

(Paul McCartney, January 2021, UNCUT)

In October 1961 John turned 21. That was the big birthday then. Mater came down from Scotland to celebrate this special day with the family at Mendips. I remember her fussing over John, ruffling his hair and saying how wonderful he was. Her present was a gift of £100, which she told John was ‘from Mummy’. I had the same myself, on my 21st, and used it for a deposit on a house. John spent his on a trip to Paris with Paul. They meant to hitch-hike to Spain, but only got as far as Paris. They wore leather jackets and bowler hats to hitch rides, as a gimmick, to show people they weren’t ruffians. It worked. They got rides and had a wild, drunken time for ten days.

 (Imagine This: Growing Up with My Brother John Lennon by Julia Baird, 2007)

As Jürgen says, “It sounds conceited but it’s the truth: they really wanted to look like me.” At their request, he took them to the weekend flea market at Porte de Clignancourt, at the northern end of Métro Line 4. Searching through the racks, John bought a green corduroy jacket like Jürgen’s, Paul found an eye-catching patterned polo-neck, and they looked for—though didn’t find—the Vollmer style of shoes, “like half-boots.” Their most daring purchase was two pairs of flared trousers, similar though different to the bell-bottoms worn by sailors—but the first time John and Paul wore them was also the last. As John would explain, “They were flapping around, and we felt like fools in anything that wasn’t skintight, so we sewed them up by hand that very night’—a comment that conjures up the quaint image of Lennon and McCartney working away with needle and thread under a murky light in a Montmartre hotel room. But alteration was essential: they knew precisely how the trousers, if left unchanged, would be received back home. What was OK in Paris would not be OK in Liverpool; the Beatles’ audience was mixed male and female and they didn’t want to alienate either by, in John’s words, coming across queer.’

(Tune In by Mark Lewisohn, 2013)

PAUL: We went to Paris – we were supposed to be in Spain, but we couldn’t get past Paris, we enjoyed that so much – on the strength of his hundred quid [given to him] when he was twenty-one. We went hitchhiking. We kind of said, “Well, look, I mean, we can get to Spain on this,” you know, a hundred quid, and he was kind of um… I mean, I don’t think he was funding me as much as he was spending. JULIA: Yeah, yeah. PAUL: And I’d be there for the banana milkshake. [Julia and Paul laugh] You know, I’d just happen to be there while he was spending. I think I kind of paid my own way. But we hitched, we hitched out. And we used – we realised that in – hitching, in those days, was much safer, obviously, than it is to hitchhike now – and we realised that we had to have a bit of a gimmick. So we both had these leather jackets and we had bowlers, we got bowler hats. We thought that’ll take the edge of the kind of hoodie look, you know, that sort of ruffian look, in these bowlers. And you kind of go, “Hey!” and people would stop, you know, because this is just a couple of daft guys in bowler hats, they don’t look like a threat. So we hitched down to Hoek van Holland or somewhere, Harwich, Hoek van Holland or somewhere like that, got over to Paris anyway. Got a bit drunk on the French beer, which was great, ‘cause we’d been drinking beer, the British stuff, and we felt we could handle that, but it was this foreign stuff, it really went to our heads. So we had a quite fun crossing there… It was great, it was so adventurous. I’d never done anything like that, I know I’d never been out of Liverpool. I’d been to Pwllheli, Skegness, and Leamington Spa. That had been the whole of my travels, you know. So it was very exciting to get off on your own with a mate like John.

(Paul McCartney interview with Julia Baird, 1987)

We knew what it was like to go on the cross-channel ferry; we knew what it was like to try and hang out in Paris. We would walk for miles around the city, sit in bars near Rue des Anglais, visit Montmartre and the Folies Bergère. We felt like we were fully paid-up existentialists and could write a novel from what we learnt in a week there, so we never did make it to Spain. We’d been together so much that if you had a question, we would both pretty much come up with the same answer.

(Paul McCartney, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present , 2021)

1969

'Between us,' Yoko says, 'we were very psychic. We knew all the time what the other was thinking, what was going to be said by the other, our responses, everything. It was sometimes unnerving.'

(Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman, 1993)

John and Yoko, still in Paris, had tried to get married on the cross-channel ferry but were refused permission to board The Dragon at Southampton because of “inconsistencies in their passports”. Peter Brown at Apple found that they could get married on the British-governed island of Gibraltar. <…> John: “We chose Gibraltar because it is quiet, British and friendly. We tried everywhere else rst. I set out to get married on the car ferry and we would have arrived in France married, but they wouldn’t do it. We were no more successful with cruise ships. We tried embassies, but three weeks’ residence in Germany or two weeks’ in France were required.

(The Beatles Diary. Volume1.The Beatles Years by Barry Miles, 2001)

"On March 19, 1969, I saw John Lennon again in Paris, late in the morning. He had arrived at the Plaza Athénée during the night accompanied by his new girlfriend, Yoko Ono. They left with me in a taxi to visit the Puces. Once on rue des Rosiers in Saint-Ouen, John asked me to show them this place that he found "magical". That was the word he used."

(Henry Pessar)

John and Yoko perusing the stalls at the flea market, Porte de Clignancourt, in particular purchasing jeans from an old lady who appears oblivious to the stature of the person she is serving (photo by Henry Pessar)

Their [John and Yoko] wedding was unconventional but romantic. Based in Paris for a couple of weeks in March 1969, they decided to charter a plane and marry in Gibraltar. <….> 'We are two love birds,' he said. 'Intellectually we didn't believe in getting married. But one doesn't love someone just intellectually. For two people, marriage still has the edge over just living together.' <…> They had their honeymoon, he explained, before the wedding. 'Just eating, shopping and looking round Paris. In love in Paris in the spring was beautiful. We're both tremendous romantics!' <…> Back in Paris after only a seventy-minute stay in Gibraltar, John and Yoko went to the Plaza Athenee Hotel. <…> John said that from then on they would do everything together, as artists and as husband and wife.

(Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman, 1993)

9 Number 9

He believed the sign of a marriage 'written in the stars' was that the names of John Ono Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon together featured the letter 'o' nine times.

(Lennon: The Definitive Biography by Ray Coleman, 1993)

…And nine was a hugely significant numeral to the Lennons, a magic integer that seemed to mysteriously recur throughout John’s life. Yoko would rattle off the number’s many repeated appearances: John was born on the ninth of October. She was born on the eighteenth of February (one plus eight). The first home he lived in—his grandfather’s house—was at 9 Newcastle Road. Paul McCartney’s last name has nine letters…

(We All Shine On: John, Yoko, and Me by Elliot Mintz, 2024)

10 Two Virgins and Why Don't We Do It In The Road?

Two Virgins

recorded 3-4 (or 19–20) May 1968, released 29 Nov(UK), 11 Nov 1968 (US)

August 31 Private Eye announced that John and Yoko’s forthcoming album would have a full-frontal nude cover. September 15 Around this date, John and Yoko photographed themselves in the nude, from the front and rear, intending to use the shots as cover artwork for their rst collaborative album. November 11 John: “Originally, I was going to record Yoko, and I thought the best picture of her for an album would be naked. So after that, when we got together, it just seemed natural for us both to be naked. Of course, I’ve never seen my prick out on an album before.”

(The Beatles Diary. Volume1.The Beatles Years by Barry Miles, 2001)

Autumn 1968:

As the meeting was drawing to a weary close, John, not this day with Yoko, who hadn’t seemed particularly connected with what was going on, said he wanted to play us a tape he and Yoko had made. He got up and put the cassette into the tape machine and stood beside it as we listened. The soft murmuring voices did not at first signal their purpose. It was a man and a woman but hard to hear, the microphone having been at a distance. I wondered if the lack of clarity was the point. Were we even meant to understand what was going on, was it a kind of artwork where we would not be able to put the voices into a context, and was context important? I felt perhaps this was something John and Yoko were examining. But then, after a few minutes, it became clear. John and Yoko were making love, with endearments, giggles, heavy breathing, both real and satirical, and the occasional more direct sounds of pleasure reaching for climax, all recorded by the faraway microphone. But there was something innocent about it too, as though they were engaged in a sweet serious game. John clicked the off button and turned again to look toward the table, his eyebrows quizzical above his round glasses, seemingly genuinely curious about what reaction his little tape would elicit. However often they’d shared small rooms in Hamburg, whatever they knew of each other’s love and sex lives, this tape seemed to have stopped the other three cold. Perhaps it touched a reserve of residual Northern reticence. After a palpable silence, Paul said, “Well, that’s an interesting one.” The others muttered something and the meeting was over.

(Michael Lindsay-Hogg (filmmaker), Luck and Circumstance: A Coming of Age in Hollywood, New York, and Points Beyond, 2011)

Inevitably, many people bought Two Virgins for the cover alone: for some of the Beatles’ younger fans, it was to be their first ever glimpse of grown-ups in the nude.

(Craig Brown, 150 Glimpses of the Beatles, 2020)

Paul: So what’s the point behind Two Virgins? <…> Paul: Is there any need to do this in public, Mr. Lennon?

(Get Back sessions, January 14th, 1969)

Why Don't We Do It In The Road?

recorded 9, 10 October 1968; released 22 Nov (UK), 25 Nov 1968 (US)

designing the White Album poster during Sept-Oct 1968

I was up on the flat roof [in Rishikesh] meditating and I’d seen a troupe of monkeys walking along in the jungle and a male just hopped on to the back of this female and gave her one, as they say in the vernacular. Within two or three seconds he hopped off again, and looked around as if to say, ‘It wasn’t me,’ and she looked around as if there had been some mild disturbance but thought, Huh, I must have imagined it, and she wandered off. And I thought, bloody hell, that puts it all into a cocked hat, that’s how simple the act of procreation is, this bloody monkey just hopping on and hopping off. There is an urge, they do it, and it’s done with. And it’s that simple. We have horrendous problems with it, and yet animals don’t. So that was basically it. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? could have applied to either fucking or shitting, to put it roughly. Why don’t we do either of them in the road? Well, the answer is we’re civilised and we don’t. But the song was just to pose that question. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? was a primitive statement to do with sex or to do with freedom really. I like it, it’d just so outrageous that I like it.

(Paul McCartney, Many Years From Now by Barry Miles, 1997)

PLAYBOY: “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?” LENNON: That’s Paul. He even recorded it by himself in another room. That’s how it was getting in those days. We came in and he’d made the whole record. Him drumming. Him playing the piano. Him singing. But he couldn’t—he couldn’t—maybe he couldn’t make the break from the Beatles. I don’t know what it was, you know. I enjoyed the track. Still, I can’t speak for George, but I was always hurt when Paul would knock something off without involving us. But that’s just the way it was then.

(John Lennon, 1980, All We Are Saying by David Sheff, 2020)

The song’s (very) slightly risqué lyric, all two lines of it, heightened the vague air of controversy surrounding the album. McCartney was already in trouble with the press for allowing a minuscule nude picture of himself to be included on the set’s free poster.

(The Beatles Diary. Volume1.The Beatles Years by Barry Miles, 2001)

“All this work, all this talent — and what [the press] fixate on is one small picture.”

(Derek Taylor)

To be continued, I suppose

[gardenschedule]

Perceptions of Paul as calculating & John's paranoia

“McCartney’s mistake, which he now admits, was to seem invulnerable. […] And yet, he says, the contrast between himself and Lennon, so assiduously cultivated by journalists, was a fabrication. “I wasn’t brilliant at school. I was trouble, just like John. I got caned practically every day, and the only exam I ever passed was Spanish. John and I weren’t black and white, although people took John, for all his aggression, to be the good guy, because he showed his warts. I’ve only just realized, after all this time, that people like to see warts. It makes them sympathetic. I’d always though that, in order to be liked, you had to be unwarty.””

Living with The Beatles’ legacy, the smears that Lennon left behind… and the battle to win my babies back, The Times Newspaper, Monday January 4, 1982.

Paul was the easiest to talk to. He had such energy and such keenness and, unlike John, enjoyed being liked, at least most of the time. I don't see this as a criticism; John himself could be very cruel about Paul's puppy dog eagerness to please. The irony was, and still is, that John's awfulness to people, his rudeness and cruelty, made people like him more, whereas Paul's genuine niceness made many people suspicious, accusing him of being calculating. Paul does look ahead, seeing what might happen, working out the effect of certain actions, but he often ends up tying himself in knots, not necessarily getting what he thought he wanted. I think there is some insecurity in Paul's nature, which makes him try so hard, work so hard. It also means he can be easily hurt by criticism, which was something that just washed over John.

Hunter Davies, Western Mail: The Beatles. (April 9th, 2004)

Even Paul’s immaculate manners could not thaw her. ‘Oh, yes, he was well-mannered–too well-mannered. He was what we call in Liverpool “talking posh” and I thought he was taking the mickey out of me. I thought “He’s a snake-charmer all right,” John’s little friend, Mr Charming. I wasn’t falling for it. After he’d gone, I said to John, “What are you doing with him? He’s younger than you… and he’s from Speke!”’ After that, when Paul appeared, she would always tell John sarcastically that his ‘little friend’ was here. ‘I used to tease John by saying “chalk and cheese”, meaning how different they were,’ she remembered, ‘and John would start hurling himself around the room like a wild dervish shouting “Chalkandcheese! Chalkandcheese!” with this stupid grin on his face.’

Philip Norman, Paul McCartney: The Life. (2016)

“He always suspected me. He accused me of scheming to buy over Northern Songs without telling him. I was thinking of something to invest in, and Peter Brown said what about Northern Songs, invest in yourself, so I bought a few shares, about 1,000 I think. John went mad, suspecting some plot. Then he bought some himself. He was always thinking I was cunning and devious. That’s my reputation, someone who’s charming, but a clever lad. “It happened the other day at Ringo’s wedding. I was saying to Cilia [Black] that I liked Bobby [her husband]. That’s all I said. Bobby’s a nice bloke. Ah, but what do you REALLY think Paul? You don’t mean that, do you, you’re getting at something? I was being absolutely straight. But she couldn’t believe it. No one ever does. They think I’m calculating all the time.

Paul and Hunter Davies, 1981

In the wake of his death you didn’t tour for most of the ‘80s. People suggested that you were scared to go on the road. Was that true? No. People speculate about anything. They always credit me with motives I haven’t even dreamed of. It’s interesting, the way they sort of perceive my life and analyse it for me. In that case, I never thought about touring much. People used to say, “Oh, it’s 10 years since you’ve toured.” I’d go, “Is it? Y’know, I’m not counting.” That’s all that was, really. I don’t know why. Maybe I didn’t fancy it.

The Q Interview, 2007

Astrid in Germany was always a bit suspicious of Paul at first, though his relationship with Stu was also bound up in this. 'It used to frighten me that someone could be so nice all the time. Which is silly. It's ridiculous to feel at home with nasty people, just because you feel that at least you know where you are with them. It's silly to be wary of nice people.'

The Beatles (Updated Edition) (Hunter Davies)

Paul is the easiest to get to know for an outsider, but in the end he is the hardest to get to know. There is a feeling that he is holding things back, that he is one jump ahead, aware of the impression he is giving. He is self-conscious, which the others are not. John doesn't care, either way, what people think. Ringo is too adult to think about such things, and George in many ways isn't conscious. He is above it all.

The Beatles (Updated Edition) (Hunter Davies)

Paul today is still the public Beatle, giving interviews at fairly regular intervals, being open and honest about himself and his past, his worries and his pleasures. Naturally, as ever, there are people who suspect his motives, putting him down for being too charming. Paul may be a bit of an actor, acting the part of Paul McCartney, the charming superstar, still loved by every mum, which can make him sound rather prissy at times, but I believe he does tell the truth about himself.

The Beatles (Updated Edition) (Hunter Davies)

“My problem is to me, I come over as this very together guy, always got his finger on top of everything: the man with no problems. School – a doddle, got all the exams. This is the sort of image of me. Actually, I had murder getting through exams, like I was saying about being on tour during my GCEs. I was like the kid who was getting the cane. Just like John was, but he [Phillip Norman] makes me the very shrewd, always-going-to-succeed guy, and John is the kind of cute, working-class hero. In actual fact though, John was just as shrewd and ambitious as I was. What does me in is he adds to this image I’ve got; I resent that, because I know I’m not that, and I know I’ve never been that.

Paul McCartney’s thoughts from 1983 on Phillip Norman’s ‘Shout!’

The funny thing is, when Apple [started], everything was laid out on the table, it’s like a Monopoly game. We saw who had what. I suddenly had more Northern Song shares than anybody, and it was like, oops, sorry. John was like, “You bastard, you’ve been buying behind my back.” John saw everything like a Harold Robbins movie, you know, which it was. He’s not incorrect. I couldn’t get over the fact that we were really involved in all this. I think to this day, he’ll not understand. I don’t think he would accept right now, my naïveté in it. I think he still suspects me of trying to take over Apple. He still suspects that when I offered the Eastmans as [managers] instead of Allen Klein, he naturally assumed that I would be taken care of better than the others, and that the Eastmans could never be moral enough to be equal in their judgment and do the Beatles’ thing rather than Paul’s thing. I think they still suspect to this day.

The point I was trying to illustrate is that it wasn’t so much John being a bastard as it was his being suspicious towards me, always being suspicious towards me. There was Northern Song shares. And I swear on any holy book you want, I know he won’t believe it, but I know for sure that I didn’t buy them with the view to— If I was really trying to do it, I could have bought an awful lot more. So it does hurt a little bit that there’s someone who still thinks, like, I’m out to get them, or that I always was. That’s one of the nice things about it— It’s a pity [I never said to John, “Fuck off, I’m not trying to do it”—and never was]. But he knows I was kind of— We were behind the scenes, and we did a few little [things] that we had to do, and our ambitions, and it was never a kind of terrifying skeletons in the closet. It was always just normal—but, uh, they …

All You Need Is Love – Peter Brown & Steven Gaines

SG: Were the other Beatles anti-Linda? PMcC: Uh, yeah. I should think so. Like we were anti-Yoko. But you know John and Yoko, you can see it now, the way to get their friendship is to do everything the way they require it. To do anything else is how to not get their friendship. This is still how it is with John and Yoko. I know that if I absolutely lie down on the ground and just do everything like they say and laugh at all their jokes and don’t expect my jokes to ever get laughed at, and don’t expect any of my opinions ever to carry any weight whatsoever, if I’m willing to do all that, then we can be friends. But if I have an opinion that differs from theirs, then I’m a sort of an enemy. And naturally, paint myself a villain with a big mustache on, because to the ends of the earth, that’s how they both see me. They’re very suspicious people [John and Yoko], and one of the things that hurt me out of the whole affair, was that we’d come all that way together, and out of either a fault in my character, or out of lack of understanding in their character, I’d still never managed to impress upon them that I wasn’t trying to screw them. I don’t think that I have to this day.

All You Need Is Love – Peter Brown & Steven Gaines

I was never out to screw him, never. He could be a maneuvering swine, which no one ever realized. Now since the death he’s became Martin Luther Lennon. But that really wasn’t him either. He wasn’t some sort of holy saint. He was still really a debunker. “For ten years together he took my songs apart. He was paranoiac about my songs. We have great screaming sessions about them.

Paul and Hunter Davies, 1981

SALEWICZ: Oh, he was presumably very paranoid. PAUL: I think so. I mean, he warned me off Yoko once. You know, “Look, this is my chick!” ’Cause he knew my reputation. I mean, we knew each other rather well. And um, I felt… I just said, “Yeah, no problem.” But I did sort of feel he ought to have known I wouldn’t, but. You know, he was going through “I’m just a jealous guy”. He was a paranoid guy. And he was into drugs. Heavy.

September, 1986 (MPL Communications, London)

Miles says, “I think Jane was always a bit irritated by John. Because he was so acerbic and difficult to get on with. And paranoid. He didn’t make life easy. I suppose it’s a sort of rapier wit, but it was usually just plain ordinary rudeness. There was nothing special about it.”

Paul McCartney profile for FAME Magazine (March 1990)

“They [Lennon & McCartney] saw each other again in 1977. The Lennons and McCartneys ate dinner together at Le Cirque, Paul’s favourite French restaurant in New York. John regretted going; it was a loathsome night. Paul and Linda blathered on and on about how perfect their lives were, how they had everything they’d ever wanted, and how they were as happy as they’d ever been. Something very paranoid suddenly occurred to John. Maybe Lorraine Boyle was spying on him for the McCartneys! He woke up the next morning still feeling disturbed; he consulted the Oracle. Swan assured him that Paul and Linda were frustrated and unsatisfied. Their marriage was in trouble, he said, predicting it would break up within the year. Lately Swan’s visions had been astonishingly accurate. Relieved, John began composing a song—a little ditty, really, that would never be released—in praise of the Oracle’s powers. But he still couldn’t understand why Paul and Linda had been together for as long as they had. There appeared to be a psychic connection between John and Paul. Every time McCartney was in town, John would hear Paul’s music in his head.”

Robert Rosen, Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon, (2000)

JOHN: […..] And he’s (Jagger) goin’ on about “he never calls. Do you think he ever calls? He never calls me. And he keeps changing his phone number all the time… And he’s hiding behind the kid.” I was hurt by it! You know… The fact that… A, I never call anybody. It’s not pride, it’s just that I never, ever have. REPORTER: Why? JOHN: I never call the other Beatles, I never call anybody. They always call me. REPORTER: Why? JOHN: Cos I’m self-involved! I’m paranoid, too. I don’t like phones… There’s nobody on this earth ever got a call from me that isn’t related, probably. Or a very old friend…

Sept 1980 – John

“Yoko was an extremist and was even more intense than John taking any idea or comment of his to the limit. If, for example, he complained about any of his fellow Beatles she would hint that that Beatle had always been an enemy implying that John should never deal with that person again. Her extreme positions fascinated John and help him take his mind off himself but when she became self-involved and paranoid herself -her paranoia usually dealt with her career, her fame and the fact that even though she had always been famous everyone conspired to keep her from getting even more famous- he had no place to turn. His insecurity about his solo career, his childhood, his relationships with the other Beatles, the way the public perceived Yoko overwhelmed him and he became more and more involved with drugs.”

May Pang, Loving John (1984)

John was lucky. He got all his hurt out. I’m a different sort of a personality. There’s still a lot inside me that’s trying to work it out. And that’s why it’s good to see that wedding-funeral bit, because I started to think, ‘Wait a minute, this is someone who’s going over the top. This is paranoia manifesting itself.’ And so my feeling is just like it was at the time, which is like, He’s my buddy, I don’t really want to do anything to hurt him, or his memory, or anything. I don’t want to hurt Yoko. But, at the same time, it doesn’t mean that I understand what went down.

Paul McCartney: An Innocent Man? (October, 1986)

Some three year later, during the making of Abbey Road, Lennon installed a twin bed in the studio so that Yoko, recuperating from a car crash, could survey proceedings and pass comment though a mike he had suspended over her. The other Beatles positioned themselves around the room as best they could. Yoko would later tell Paul that if, for any reason, he’d seemed to be standing too close to her, all hell would break loose when John got her home. Lennon, she said, was ‘very paranoid’ like that.

McCartney by Chris Sandford

But we were actually quite supportive. Not supportive enough, you know; it would have been nice to have been really supportive because then we could look back and say, “Weren’t we really terrific?” But looking back on it, I think we were okay. We were never really that mean to them. But I think a lot of the time John suspected meanness where it wasn’t really there.

Paul McCartney, interview w/ Chris Salewicz for Musician: Tug of war – Paul McCartney wants to lay his demons to rest. (October, 1986)

I just read about this thing that’s going on sale at Sotheby’s – this Apple booklet with John’s comments in the margins in his own handwriting. It is so bitter. Like, there’s a picture of Paul and Linda’s wedding – and John’s crossed out “wedding” and written in “funeral.” I think it starts to tell there. Another caption says, “Paul goes to Hollywood” – and then he’s apparently written in the margin, “To cut Yoko and John out of the film.” He often thought that we were tryin’ to cut Yoko out of things, to cut her out of Let It Be. I suppose we were, in some degree; because she wasn’t in the Beatles, and it was a Beatles film, and it wasn’t absolutely necessary to have long footage of her in there. She certainly was in there, but obviously they felt she should be in there a little more. I bent over backward trying to see John’s point of view. I still bend over backward trying to not malign him.”

Paul McCartney, Rolling Stone, September 11th, 1986

[faghubby]

Vacation Freedom

"I think you should get changed, I don't want to see those clothes again until we are headed home" Judy said as she tipped the bell boy for being up our luggage. I flinched alittle as she said it in front of the bellboy. But that is what this vacation was about wasn't it.

Over the last two years Judy and I had explored our sexual fantasies. It started on our third anniversary. We were laying in bed in the after glow of sex. When we started talking about fantasies. Now we had this discussion before but somehow now. I didn't hold back.

"I like to see you with another woman" I told her.

"Really? I don't think I could do that. "Wait Paul are you there too? Is this like a threesome thing?" Judy asked an obvious disappointment in her voice.

"No, just you and her" I told her.

"Would you be with a man if I wanted?" Judy asked.

"Well maybe" I told her. She sat up and turned on the light.

"Really if I wanted to see you suck some guys cock" Judy was saying as she did I got an erection. Since we where only covered by a sheet it was hard to conceal.

"You would!" Judy laughed as she stroked my dick thru the sheet. I didn't try and deny it.

"Have you ever sucked a dick before?" Judy asked as she teased me.

"No, I just " I fell silent.

"You don't get away that easy" Judy said. She let me go and rolled over she went and got something from her dresser. She came back to bed and stroked me again.

"Show me what you do" Judy teased as she held her vibrator to my lips. I looked at her smiling face and parted my lips. She giggled as she watched me lick her toy.

"That is so hot" she told me. After a few minutes she stopped.

"You got me so wet, fuck me" she told me. I didn't last long but she didn't care. I held her as we drifted off to sleep.

In the morning I went to get in the shower. When Judy came in to use the toilet.

"Paul, would you swallow?" She asked staring at me.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Would you let a man cum in your mouth?" Judy asked.

"I guess. I mean you have to try it right?" I said. I was rock hard again

Judy watched as I got in the shower. She joined me as I washed my hair. She stood behind me and stroked my dick.

"When you shower at the gym do you think about all they men and what thier cocks taste like?" She asked. I didn't respond.

"You want to suck them don't you. You aren't interested in them sucking you" she stated as she did she used the soap to lube between my ass cheeks. Her finger teasing my asshole. I came in big spurts.

Judy continued to tease me about cocks, blowjobs even getting my ass fucked over the next few weeks. I found myself admitting to it all. Even telling her how I used to wear my mother's underwear and wonder what if felt like to be a girl. Judy never looked down on it or found it disgusting instead incourged me to tell her more.

She told me she would help me explore my fantasies. First buying a strapon and teaching me to suck "her cock". Then taking my anal virginity with it as well. After that her buying me panties wasn't to far fetched. We continued to play off and on. A year ago Judy had me shave my legs and wear a dress. Taught me to walk in heels. Soon I was dressing up and playing her lesbian lover every weekend. She even bought me a strapon to use on her.

Six months ago we talked about inviting a man to our bed. I agreed but when it came to it I hid. Judy convinced me to at least watch. I sat and watched as a large man fucked my wife with a big cock. Judy tried to intice me to join her. But I just watched. As soon as he left I dove between her legs and licked her for an hour. He had used a condom but I was so turned on I came in my pretty panties as I pleased her with my tounge. Judy took off my panties and made me lick them clean.

"You are just a little sissy" she teased. We talked alot about it. And basically figured I was afraid someone would learn that I was a bisexual sissy.

Thats when Judy came up with taking me on vacation. But I was to be her sissy for the whole thing. Not wearing boy clothes at all. I could watch her have sex with men. Maybe even join in if I wanted.

It was obvious she was not going to be happy till she saw me suck a real cock.

Judy had made sure I was free of body hair. Even plucked my eyebrows a bit thinner but not necessarily in high arches. She had also gotten me a wig.

By this time I had alot of practice and was able to do my own makeup and hair. I got dressed in a skimpy sundress Judy had gotten me. I wore a white thong underneath and a pushup bra held my glue on tits. I choose my long red wig. And 2 inch heeled sandels. Judy nodded her approval as she led me around the resort. We where tired from the flight but it was to early to sleep so a bit of exploring to know our way around. We found ourselves at a pool side bar. As soon as we sat down a group of men bought us a drink. Judy invited them to join us.

John, Brad, Phil and Dave. They were all coworkers on some kind of team building retreat. But had the day off. Dave stood behind me and was not shy about his hands on my ass. While the other three hit on Judy. Fighting for her attention. I was so turned on. Judy noticed it as well. She stood excusing herself to use the ladies room she took my hand for me to join her. She stopped only long enough to whisper something in Dave's ear. When we came out of the ladies room Dave was waiting.

"I like girlie bois" he said quietly to us both. Judy smiled and put my hand in his. He looked around.

"I share a room" he said worried Judy just handed him our key. She squeezed my hand as Dave led me away. I was terrified and excited. Dave was all over me in the elevator kissing me and holding me tight. As we got into the room he stopped .

"I am married" he seemed to need to confess. I just dropped and unbuckled his shorts. I let them fall then pulled down his boxers as well. His average maybe a bit bigger cock was rock hard. I took him in my mouth with ease. I then stopped and looked up at him.

"I never been with a man" I confessed. He grabbed my head and shoved his cock back in my mouth. He was soon face fucking me.

"Yeah, suck it bitch" he told me. The more forceful he was the more I wanted it. I was amazed at his stamina he must of lasted 10 maybe 15 minutes before he grunted and pumped his load down my throat.

Dave was probably 10 years older then me. And 40 pounds heavier. Mostly muscle and height. As he was at least 6' 2" to my 5' 7" he grabbed my arm and practically picked me up from the floor. He lifted my dress over my head. His hands slid over my cage. As they caressed my ass, thighs and stomach. He had me remove the false breast telling me he wanted to see me.

He made love to me, he was tender and gentle even though his big cock nearly split me in two. We fell asleep in each other's arms.

[jenroses]

When i built my first PC, I'd done a few upgrades, but Youtube did not exist yet so there were not endless videos of "This is how you build a PC". It was fiddly and fussy and i barked my knuckles and I did something temporarily terrifying but it worked out okay and I built my PC. Then prices on bare bones dropped precipitously so for a while I was just buying barebones and upgrading them. It was cheaper that way.

Last year, a couple of games came out that I really wanted to play but my 8 year old laptop, which was making a yeomanlike effort with most games, was just flat out not in spec anymore. So I started to research. Looked at Linus Tech Tips, then JaysTwoCents, then Gamer's Nexus, Paul's hardware, Hardware unboxed... LTT had a great "this is how you do it and this is what each part is supposed to sound like going in, yes the crunching noise here is okay, no your board won't die if you get a little regular thermal paste on it, very reassuring. I watched a lot of build videos, and finally, after a couple of months, I ordered parts.

Infodump under the cut

Now, picking parts is COMPLEX and HARD and FINICKY and it changes all the time. You can be an expert builder, take a couple years off and ignore buiding for a while, and come back and like, all the parts are different! Which parts are good deals has changed! But the fundamentals haven't really changed all THAT much, even since my first build. It's still motherboard, processor, cooler, RAM, storage, power supply, internet device, basically... but gone are IDE and even SATA is now pretty archaic. In 2024, your RAM will look pretty similar but the hard drive is a dinosaur and your storage is now basically a high tech stick of gum. Prices are wild, too. You can build a passable computer which can play most games for about $600 with new parts, or you can spent $4000 to get get the absolute tippy toppy "best" parts, and the parts being actively used and recommend and sold right now cover about FOUR YEARS of product development. This is NUTS. Most of the systems I've built fall in the cheap-to-middling range.

They're all competent at most games, though my mother is annoyed that she's having trouble getting Civ2 up and running on Windows 11 in 2024. I do fine with Alpha Centuari from GOG, but no, that's not good enough. (I like Alpha Centauri about 1000% better than Civ2, but when you've got a game, you've got a game, I guess.)

So where to start?

Look at the Youtubes of the folks I mentioned up top, and look for their "Top X of ___" videos. Most of them will ALSO include still-on-the-market for previous year stuff! This is great!

Think about what you need and what you're doing on your system. Unless you are doing competitive gaming and are made of money, you do not need the top of the line anything. It's not necessary and most people can't make use of it unless they're doing high powered stuff for money. In which case you probably know what you need already. Most people will be fine gaming at 1440p (2k monitor) or 1080p. Unless you have a giant fancy monitor already, the pricing sweet spot is probably expecting to spend about $140-150 for a 2k, 27 inch monitor. If your monitor is at normal monitor distance from your face, larger than that is not going to be easy to adapt to. You can get 1080p monitors for cheaper, but any larger than 24-27 inches, 1080p starts to look weird, so really 1440 is kind of ideal for the kind of computer you plan on using for the next 5-10 years. I don't go for refresh rates lower than 120hz at this point, but higher than 180 is not going to be noticeable for MOST people. The monitor i recently bought for $140-ish was a 180hz refresh rate 2k curved monitor (1440p.)

Once you know what kind of monitor you're aiming for, you can get a sense from those review videos of which cards will get you to the frame rate you want. Look for the games you want to play, and people comparing them at high/ultra settings, and look at the FPS that various cards offer. Keep in mind that there's a huge amount of technology aimed at boosting fps, and the upsampling is pretty good now. Nvidea cards are stupid expensive and have the majority of market share. I don't bother with them. The cards I've bought in the past 2 years include (all AMD): (Upgrading a very old system, AMD RX 6400, 4gb graphics card.) AMD RX 6650XT for two people on very tight budgets. AMD RX 6750XT for a mid-range system. RX6800 for two pretty good systems last year. RX7600XT for a casual gamer on a newer system. RX 7800XT for the fanciest system for the most avid gamer in the family. In 2024, I strongly advise going for a card which is at least 12 gb but preferably 16gb of VRAM. More than that is not yet really necessary for most systems at 1440p. The video card is the single most expensive component in most systems. I tend to build to the graphics card, but it is reasonable to set a budget, get the most reasonable parts you can afford for the rest of the computer and spend as much as you have left on the video card. 8gb cards are not likely to give optimal results long term, and since I build computers for people who hate changing computers, the only reason I would go with a smaller-than 12gb card is for someone who just doesn't game much and is unlikely to start playing the kinds of games that need it.

Then there's the processor side of things. Until Intel screwed the pooch this year, most of what we were putting together, parts-list-wise in my family were systems which had intel processors and AMD graphics cards, because that was the sweet spot for us price-to-performance wise. But if you have an Intel 13th or 14th gen processor, you need to update your bios, and we're still not 100% confident in them, as a community. There were a LOT of bad processors the past two years. Also, AMD came out with a bunch of reasonably priced kickass gaming processors, and those will be best for people whose primary purpose is gaming. The processors we've leaned on the most heavily include: Intel 12400 and 12600 processors and Intel 13600 processors. But recently, knowing I was about to build a FAST gaming PC, I knew I needed to get an AMD X3d processor, and my purchasing timing happened to correlate with the 9800X3d dropping, and I managed to order one... but the ship date was in JANUARY. And it's a Christmas present. And Trump is talking about tariffs, which WILL send prices through the roof. So I decided to build another computer, and ordered parts for it. So in order to get onto the platform that 9800x3d processor will need, I picked another processor which uses the same motherboard and got that, too. And then ordered inexpensive versions of that motherboard and other parts, and whatdyaknow, I'm building two computers. But the principal is pretty sound: If you need to build cost effectively, get a lower end processor for the motherboard of the processor you ultimately want, and upgrade later when prices drop. So all those Intel 12600 systems could, later, upgrade to a 14900k and get a huge performance boost if needed. On AMD, they tend to stick with a given motherboard ecosystem for a VERY long time, so people who bought AMD years ago can now upgrade to a perfectly capable 5800x3d and be fine, but AMD is now in the 9000s, and getting a 7000 series processor is on the same board as a 9000 series, so most of the time that's the best deal, EXCEPT for a 7800x3d which is almost as expensive as the 9800x3d for reasons.

Other parts are simpler. RAM: 32 gb is the sweet spot, DDR5 prices have come down okay. Most games can't and won't use more than 20 or so gb, but many will use over the 16gb that used to be the standard rec. You can, however, get 16gb and upgrade RAM in a few years.

Storage: Optimum for gaming is probably your operating system on a 500 gb C drive ssd, your games on a 1, 2 or 4 terabyte SSD. New builds will use a M.2 2280 ssd, and they fluctuate somewhat in price, but the performance boost of ANY NVME drive is going to be worth it over SATA or a hard disk. If you are just wanting to upgrade, upgrading to a SSD and increasing your ram will give a new lease on life to old computers and make them feel a whole lot more functional. If you have an open PCIE slot, you can get an adaptor board to allow you to install an M.2 drive even on an older system.

pcpartpicker.com will let you make build lists and tell you if there are incompatibilities but it isn't perfect at sourcing RAM for the correct processor family. It will also help you find best current pricing, but isn't always accurate.

newegg has a pc builder function which is helpful but only if you buy all your stuff there. If you live close to a microcenter, you'll want to go there and shop their combo deals.

All the builder tools will give you a rough estimate of how much power you'll need. I go a bit over, but unless you're doing a stupid expensive build, you will be unlikely to need more than 850w for a gaming system and 600w for a "regular" system for someone who doesn't do much gaming. That allows a fair amount of headroom for upgrades, since power supplies often last the longest.

Cases are very subjective, but I've done a lot of building in Fractal G Focus cases, which are cheap, big enough for most parts and not the most convenient to build in. I dearly love the Lian Li Lancool 216 which I just built in for the first time, but it's big. REALLY nice cable routing though. Worth it just for the complete lack of barked knuckles, and the fact that you don't need to install like any extra fans beyond whatever your cooling solution is, and it's under $100. Which case you get might depend a lot on aesthetics or space considerations. Like, I paid extra NOT to have a glass side because I don't want extra lights around me, at all. My kid's has a lot of rainbow RBG. Hubby's has a glass side but minimal to no lighting.

Cooling solutions... for any higher end systems for heavy duty users (i.e. gaming a LOT with newer games, doing a lot of computationally heavy 3d modeling or whatever) I like using an aio watercooler. These can be easier to install even than air coolers now, as long as you do a little homework, and the ones I've bought were all under $100. Most users will do fine air cooling, and Gamer's Nexus has some dandy charts on gamersnexus.net that will help you figure out which coolers to use. (Hint, most of them are pretty good!) And for case fans, if you need extra, Arctic has 3-5 packs for super cheap.

But ultimately, if your computer is functioning okay for you, or just needs some upgrades and maintenance, you probably don't need to upgrade. Laptops are a whole 'nother ballgame completely. And you know how I built this system to play a couple of new games?

I ended up mostly playing my old favorites with better graphic settings. LOL.

No regrets, the system is SUPER functional and will last me years and if anything breaks I can fix it. And since then, I've helped two people buy parts, upgraded two computers and built systems for four other people and helped others put together parts list or figure out which laptop would be right for them. And the old computers? Are not ewaste yet, because the build process will allow a lot of moving around of parts to improve the old systems which can then be handed down to other family members. Even my old laptop went on to find use with another family member.

[im-getting-help]

What if theater kid Felix obsessed with musicals and theater hater Oliver.

Ollie can appreciate classics like Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet, he read the scripts even, but he finds the staging and theatrical language annoying, even though he never actually saw a play that is not the shitty ones of his highschool.

Somehow in Oxford, he is dragged(let's say Farleigh (?) to see a performance by theater/film students, that is where he sees Felix perform, and he is good at it, and his voice while he sings its beautiful and he can't help himself but fall inlove instantly.

Sorry I'm obsessed with theatre and I need Felix to be too

Theater kid Felix is canon, sorry atheists.

Oliver is literally Paul from TGWDLM, he doesn't hate musicals, he just thinks hating musicals is part of his identity/personality and won't let go.

He actually watched a fair amount of musical movies and he's in love with Emma Felix, a theater "kid?". He knows the lyrics of some songs from musicals and always has an excuse like "I watched it cause a friend told me it was good..." or "the song is everywhere, I can't help to know the lyrics." or my favorite "I watched it just to be sure I hated it."

"I don't like musical theater, I just like Felix" that's what he says to himself every time he buys another ticket.

Oliver sits as close as he can get to the front row and he only watches Felix. When Felix isn't on stage he watches the props, the makeup, the costuming, the wigs, oh the wigs are fun if you're close to the stage, he tries to find where they hide the box for the microphones.

But, whenever Felix is back he can't take his eyes off him.

" 'why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer'... but what if they catch me taking pictures and ask me to leave?Better wait until the play is over, maybe then I can ask him for a picture? would that be wierd? God, i can't cry now, we're not even close to that scene..."

What about Felix?

Well, Oliver isn't really that crazy. Felix is impressively talented.

When you see him entering the stage the first thing you think is 'oh, that's the cute one' and then he starts singing, and you think 'oh, he's pretty good', then he gets you to laugh and you think 'oh, he's good', then he delivers a great dramatic line and you think 'shit, he is good', and then... then he starts dancing and now you're pissed.

He's good looking, knows how to sing, act AND dance? a triple threat with beautiful hazel eyes and over 5'4? are you kidding me?

HE KNOWS BALLET AND HOW TO TAP DANCE?!

Sir James paid for the best professors, instructors and coaches. Music theory and singing lessons monday and wednesday, theater classes tuesday, wednesday and saturday and dancing classes thursday and friday. Sunday he rested, then again, monday, almost at the same time as the sun went up he waked up, honey and ginger tea and the staff could hear the vocal warm ups traveling the old hallways of the mansion.

Felix loved it, even when he was exhausted, and he had almost no social life outside of other performers, he loved the arts. He loved when he learned how to properly sustain and do a good legato, or actually using the diaphragm and not the throat to sing staccato, better yet when he stopped hurting after rehearsal. He loved when his professor cried through one of his soliloquies, and when he cried while doing the soliloquy. He was actually so relieved when he finally learned how to lift her partner without digging his thumbs into her abdomen, and he loved it when she and the coach congratulated him for it.

Felix liked to rehearse, learn his lines, practice the lyrics, harmonizing with his partner and trying the costumes. But most of all, he just loved being part of the plays. When the play was over and he snapped out of the character, when he saw the public applauding them, that's when he knew he chose right.

"Hey Fee, who's that guy with the baby blue eyes? a new fan?"

"Huh? Who?"

"The guy? ...short, dark hair, clear blue eyes and glasses, looks kinda nerdy. He's here almost every night, near the front row, I thought you knew him."

"Uhm... no?"

"No? he comes just to see you, it's so obvious, he only pays attention to you."

"I have no idea who you're talking about."

"Look for him the next function, he's always near the front".

♡ ♡

"We go to the same college, how come we never crossed paths before?"

"You're probably always around the plaza, I'm on the bodleian"

"Fucking nerds! we hated you guys!"

"We hated ourselves!"

[annika-thelostlove]

Unfinished Draft #1

Drabble for late valentines - Edward nashton talks to you, who he thinks is out of his league.

This is a random note i made in my notes app that has been there since February, which i didn't continue. This turned into a weird dialog drabble. I tried polishing it up, but I still kept it a rough draft in the end.

Edward catches the eye of one of the young COO who works on the top floor of their company. But after a long time trying to flirt with him obviously and even making grand gestures, Ed still doesn't get the hint. Ed just thinks you love his department and gives you all special attention. He believes you are so far from his league. I imagine him being ignorant and cute, clapping along with everyone when she COO buys a new coffee machine close to his desk, not at all realizing it's for him. But now that its valentines Day, the COO loses their patience and gives him a piece of their mind.

-----

"You're here."

His magnified eyes looks up at you through those clear glasses. "Yes."

"You have no plans tonight? It's valentines"

He continues to work his keyboard while he responds to you, "I have no patience for holidays fueled only by consumerism"

"Ah, I didn't realize that's how you feel about this holiday." Biting your lip in thought "Well it wouldn't hurt, would it? I told everyone they could take half the day off if they had plans today. The rest of your floor is empty now."

Edward looks straight at you, suspicious. "I'm sorry to be so forward, boss, but are you trying to ask me to dinner perhaps? Because I don't think it would be appropriate."

"I-"

"Or if it is a joke, it's not very funny"

"No! Mr Nashton, I have good intentions- " he has stumped you, though youve thought he was being ignorant this whole time. "Well, your first assumption is right. I admit. But we're not of the same department, so i didn't think it was going to be some issue. Do you really hate the idea?? That maybe, i am asking you to dinner?"

He looked at you skeptically. "You have no need to talk to me. I am just an accountant, and you have position of chief operations offcer, people like you should not aim so low for someone like me as a romantic partner ma'am."

"Don't say that."

"Don't wha-"

"Don't talk about me like I'm different. I can be interested in you if I want to be."

"Wait i-"

"What's so different about me? I have an Ivy League degree? I have a rich family? I'm tired of people thinking that people like me want nothing to do with you and the people on your floor. I come down here once a day just to see you. Did you know that?"

You swear you see Edwards face flush red. "But that, that doesn't make sense, I'm..me, and you're...you."

"What does that even mean? Edward, look at me! Do you think I'm pretty?" She doesn't know when, but tears have gathered in her eyes, ready to fall. This hurt her to confront more than she realized.

"Wha- well..."

"Am I pretty to you? Do you want me?"

"Of, of COURSE I do, who wouldn't?

"Eddie I want you. Is that enough for you?"

"Uh, what."

"Edward I'm really fucking mad right now, its valentines day, and i was hoping we would be together since two months ago, we are off schedule! so don't test me."

"Um, yes. Yes! It's enough. But I just dont-"

"It's enough for me. That settles it."

"What have I done for you to...I don't understand "

"It SETTLES it. You want to know what i want? Tonight we go on a date. I can answer all your questions then. We are behind on schedule, well..." Suddenly getting shy, you blush. "if you agree to date me, that is, after six months of dating, we move in together. Then I ask you to marry me. If you say yes, I plan we buy a house, I have had one in mind near here. I want children, at least two. But we can discuss that together."

Edwards face unknown to him grows dreamy while he stares at you. "...al-alright"

"But tonight, I'm still not happy with you, and I'm tired of waiting for you to get the fucking hint. So you're going to fuck me a few times to make it up to me. Alright?"

"Fuck, okay"

The scowl on your face melts into a sweet smile

"Good"

--

Note: I was imagining the COO is also a little freak, they've been stalking him, got a full background check done on him, and fell in love even more with Edward loving puzzles and him being from modest beginnings, they also love his extremist alter ego, the riddler. But he'll find out that they know eventually, it was also a fun idea if they are funding him with money for his guns and explosives. They also hate rich people and people who are gold diggers. So Edward was the dream man for them 💕

[destinyc1020]

I have seen the discourse since the beginning and you have hit it on the head destiny about lookisim. Because Fran was not “conventionally attractive” (don’t agree btw), it opened her up to not just the racists but black people esp black men who pushed back on the people who were defending her and said “it’s not about racism, she is just not attractive enough to play Juliet.” A lot of black men repeated this narrative. A-lot of discourse from our own community as to why she was cast because it “set her up.” Alot of conversations about how they couldn’t buy into the narrative of the play if they don’t find her attractive. This galvanized by the typical racists out there created a snowball effect that lasted because a lot of people including black people agreed with it. I think black men should really examine how they treat black women and how they speak about them. I think that’s the saddest part that she wasn’t even protected by our own you know. It’s over now and hopefully everyone learned something from it. It’s funny, right when she was cast I remember an anon sent you a message saying “I hope everyone is respectful of her.” And I never forgot that. In the back of my mind I already knew there would be some discourse. I’ll be honest I didn’t expect her to be cast as she is not the typical look hollywood plasters all over but I thought it was fresh and new. I didn’t expect the barrage to this extent obviously. I don’t think Jamie thought about the current racism climate exacerbated by twitter. But it’s obvious that it we swapped out Tom for any of the famous white boys (Timmy, Austin, JE, Paul mescal) and cast Fran the response would have been the same. So as much as everyone would like to blame him, the knowledge that if we swapped him out the discourse would likely be the same tells me it’s the structural issue which is what Fran was trying to say I believe.

Yea, I totally agree Anon that there really needs to be a deeper conversation with Black men, and why they feel so emboldened to tear down their own Black women PUBLICLY. Like, I don't usually see any other race of men doing stuff like this. They may say stuff amongst themselves in private about their women, but usually, you do not see such hatred and vitriol being spread publicly online towards women of their own race like that. 🥴

To me, it's a form of mental illness, and deeply-rooted self hate. 😔

I don't think Fran is unattractive at all. There's a saying a woman (forgot who) once said lol. She said, "There are no ugly women, just lazy ones". Smthg to that effect lol 😆

I think her point was that ANY woman can look "good" if they just put effort into their looks. Especially with the tons of makeup available out here. A ton of people (women AND men) could look better than they do if they were to just put forth more effort in their looks. Some people are just naturally more physically attractive than others (true), but those who weren't blessed in the genetics can also look much better than they do with a little "cleaning up". Some people really do "clean up" well! 😁😃

Fran doesn't live in superficial LA. So she's not going to look like an "Insta Baddie". To me, she looked like a regular Black woman from the UK. 🤷🏾‍♀️ Her looks are cute! She just isn't "done up".

Most of Jamie's R&J production seemed very minimalist and austere tbh, so it's not surprising that Juliet wasn't wearing pounds of makeup.

I also agree with you that if ANY other popular (emphasis on popular) white male had been cast in the role of Romeo, the jokes and racist comments would have been the same unfortunately. 🥴

I honestly didn't expect there to be THIS much backlash and racist hate myself.... It just - unfortunately - shows what type of society we live in. 😔

[naanima]

Oh, dear Ratboy. I really like it when he does long podcasts. It helps that he can communicate. Interview starts around the 1h.11sec mark. Dot points things of interest:

He has finished moving from Calgary completely, doesn't even have winter clothes anymore. LOLs.

When he first arrived in Florida he was happy to take a backseat, but the team wanted him to get involved in the leadership group.

He really loves living in Florida.

VGK was the best team they played. Boston & Vegas were very similar. Talks about how Boston slapped them during two of the regular season games, but they played really well against them for the other two games. And that's why he had the belief they could win. OMFG. He fucked up by jumping on the ice and got the penalty LOLs. It was all his fault.

He thinks players who come through in OT etc are the ones who want the puck on their stick. Good or bad they will need to be able to live it.

His dad always preached live in front of the net. Take some physical abuse in the games, earn it to score. Can't get your stick tied up. He learns a lot from Brady when it comes to spinning it off and getting it into the net. Watches every one of Brady's games.

When he switched to the Right Wing he watched a lot of vids of good right wing players.

Evolved as a player year to year. Same mindset as when he was a kid, "screw you I'm getting that puck." Paul gets on him when he gets into a bit of a shoving match on ice with guys he shouldn't. LOLS.

Offseason - earlier was PT, playing catch-up in strength, conditioning wise more cardio in the hopes to play more mins and faster. He feels he is better prepared this season. He is back to 100%.

Microphones on ice - good for the game. NHL gotta do a better job. It is evolving more via the players and teams. Players don't like it too much bcos they would feel like walking on eggshells. If it is used properly it can grow the game.

Wedding vids - makes athletes look crazier than they are.

Media/SocMed blowing things up. Keith talking about his team being "soft' - he was pissed bcos of how it got blown up. They had a chance to be in the playoffs and then they lost four games in a row. Ouch.

His current health - "Everything feels great." He didn't realise he broke his sternum, he thought maybe a collarbone, it wasn't how hard the hit was, it was the spot. He had to leave the game bcos he had to do concussion protocol. Game 3 didn't really hit him how bad he was. After the game he was not feeling great. Drove home that night with a sling, probably shouldn't have done that. The next morning he couldn't get out of bed. The day after he had to call Brady to help him get up, he couldn't even remember if he had a shower. LOLs. During one of the scrums he couldn't even really grab people's jerseys.

Getting into fights etc. Not that they want to get into a fight, it is more that they just hate losing. LOLs.

Sticking Jonathan Quick - doesn't know what happened, he has no excuses. He is not a fan of goalies that play out of their creases.

Buddies with Auston Matthews & other hockey players. It is the game. He would run almost everybody... except Brady for a lot of reasons, one of them being Brady would take him down. Lols.

Olympics & World's etc - a shame that they can't play together. It is sad. His first dream is to win a Stanley Cup, and then to win for the US with his brother.

Right now - being down in Florida outside; jetskis etc. Not going to buy a boat. Love hanging out with his family and friends. He used to not like the beach at all, but now he is there all the time. He is not into nice cars. Only into golf and stuff on the waters. No gators close to his house, they are close to the rink (wtf).

Him changing team - talked to Calgary that he wasn't gonna sign a long-term contract, worked together with the team, and with permission he had one week to talk to a handful of teams. Came down to Carolina, St Louis' and Florida. He just wanted to learn everything he could before he made the decision.

Going back to Florida in a few days.

Taryn is doing great, was injured last year/season and when she came back she was great.

Invited to 6 weddings, attended 4.

Jack Eichel - his hit. Haven't seen the video.

Fav goal in the playoffs - when Cousins scores. The Carolina one.

Barky is so chill, he thinks Barky is the best player he ever played with/seen. Loves watching Barky playing, during training he learns from him.

Scoring between his legs, his dad was pissed. LOLs. He used to do a lot of trick stuff, flipping his picks etc. He remembers watching Kane and Crosby doing it when he was growing up.

He will chat with his dad after games, and nowadays his dad trusts him.

He thinks Brady is great, a great scorer. Brady's goal is to get the team into the playoffs. Ottawa loves Brady, he is a god there. They treat him and his family well bcos of Brady.

His parents come to Taryn, Brady and his games etc.

It is fascinating to me that Matthew is so very much, "I did this", 'it is my fault", "we didn't play well enough", "the other team is better" etc.

I typed this as I was listening to this so there will be mistakes. LOLs.

[emiliosandozsequence]

it's so funny because i didn't watch dune 2 yet so from what i've seen they just gave chani more agency? and maybe some extra conflict for drama reasons that's going to end up resorted quickly anyway and i just didn't mind that? flash my girl out more?? she's married into a crazy family but they're not ready for her anyhow! and now i'm scared because apparently i got it wrong? help?

okay so the reason i've been saying what denis villenueve did is racist is because he completely erased any real significance chani has to the story going forward and claimed it was feminist because he 'flushed her out', which frankly, idk how anyone who has read the books can read what he did as feminist in the first place when he didn't do that at all since all he did was make chani doubt paul as the mahdi and that was it. he made that One trait her entire character and isn't feminism about having a well rounded character?? not a one dimensional one?? anyway, i digress.

i wrote a post here about what later significance she would've had to the plot had denis villenueve kept her character as is (frankly she would've been more well rounded if he did that, but again, i digress), but after what he did with her character in this film, he completely took away all of her signifying character traits and gave them to jessica (supporting paul in his rise to power) and alia (paul seeing her in his visions/dreams) and irulan (paul choosing to marry her and, if i'm right in what denis villenueve is planning, be with her above chani).

anyway, idk about anyone else but all of that definitely reads as racist to me. everyone keeps saying to me 'oh but he was being feminist!! he gave chani more of a character!!' first of all, like i said: no, he didn't. and second, everyone is behaving as though we couldn't and shouldn't have had both a film where chani's significance wasn't erased and she got more of a personality beyond being in love with paul (and like i said, even then i think she has more of a personality in the books than people are giving her credit for). they literally did that in the dune miniseries that came out in the early 2000s, but for some reason denis villenueve couldn't figure it out in 2024?? yeah i don't buy it. especially when he loves the books as much as he claims. there's literally no reason for him to do what he did other than racism. there really just isn't. and the fact everyone who has read the books is going to see this movie and is not only just fine with it, but excited about it says a whole lot about them too lmao

[yanderes-galore]

TF2 Miss pauling, with the prompts from your list?

53.) "I left you a few voice mails, why didn't you pick up?"

21.) "Photos and trinkets only do so much, dear!"

9.) "The wound in your leg serves as a lesson, does it not?"

3.) "You'll love me, even if we have to sit and wait for it to happen."

I feel like the scene could be pauling finally breaking into Darlings house to chase them then cornor them

Alright, sure! Here's one of the many Miss Pauling short stories you all wanted :) This feels short and may be a bit rushed but I was struggling on the plot :(

I don't like how this came out, I feel to fix it I need to make a prequel but I hope it was horrific enough....

Yandere! Miss Pauling Prompts 53, 21, 9, 3

"I left you a few voice mails, why didn't you pick up?"

"Photos and trinkets only do so much, dear!"

"The wound in your leg serves as a lesson, does it not?"

"You'll love me, even if we have to sit and wait for it to happen."

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Stalking, Harassment, Violence, Delusional behavior, Clingy behavior, Breaking and entering, Forced relationship, Insane Pauling, Gun wound, Not my best work but it's short and scary, Kidnapping implied, Drugging.

You never knew a day of silence. There's days you would cower in your own home while your phone rang off the hook. Call after call after call. Even when muted your phone blows up with messages.

You wish your coworker would just leave you alone, you both had jobs to do, why was she so insistent!?

"I left you a few voice mails, why didn't you pick up?" She'd ask you, acting innocent as though she didn't make your phone ring and blow up all day every day.

A few, huh? You stopped reading them long ago.

"Sorry, Pauling, just been busy with work. You should be too!" Is always your excuse and you were starting to think she wasn't buying it.

You just thought Pauling, a fellow assistant, was clingy. Overly clingy but it's not like team PURPLE goes out too often. It's a lot of work to oversee RED and BLU for whatever reason the Administrator feels is right.

You were allowed to go home and rest but it was back to work right after. You normally loved going home, happy the day was over and you could relax. That was before a sense of paranoia overtook you in the recent few months.

Part of you wondered if it was because of the calls and texts constantly trickling in. You were just stressed out, right? That WASN'T a camera clicking in the darkness or a knock on your window.

You tried to ask Pauling to stop calling. Just to give you a break as you weren't feeling yourself. Pauling frowns at this but promised she'd calm down.

She did... for a few days... then your phone was filled with her messages again.

You were wondering if you should quit at this point. Maybe even move while you're at it. You feel like you're being stalked... but surely you couldn't be?

Either way... you always had a wary look in your eyes when you spoke with Pauling.

It got to the point you broke your phone... desperate to stop the constant messages.

Now that you think about it... you wonder if that was her intention in the first place.

One late night... you're vulnerable. You broke your phone and never bothered to pay the house phone. You thought you could hold out until you could get a new one.

Then you heard a knocking on your door... silence... then a knock on your window...

Then a crash.

"Dear... you've been ignoring me lately. What's wrong? Have you been feeling unwell?"

Your breath hitches. That voice... Pauling? Had she lost her mind!? Was she really this crazy!?

"Photos and trinkets only do so much, dear!" Miss Pauling calls, looking around your home in awe. "It hurts that you ignore me...."

You frantically look around your room for a potential weapon. Of course... she was probably the only one who knew you had no phone. It was just your luck that she was also the source of your paranoia.

You're vulnerable... alone... and cornered.

Just as you look for a weapon, footsteps approach from behind. You freeze, hand midway into a drawer.

"Dear..." Pauling drawls. "Look at me."

You don't dare move....

"Listen to your love when she's talking to you!"

"Pauling?" You ask, slowly turning. You hear the click of a gun... before a deafening bang meets your ears. Past the loud ringing in your ears... a searing pain courses through your leg. You topple over onto the ground in shock.

"The wound in your leg serves as a lesson, does it not?"

"PAULING!?" You cry, still trying to figure out what was going. "What are you talking about!?"

"Did you listen to any of my calls!?" Pauling yells, glaring. "I said I loved you! I said to pay more attention to me instead of work! We're meant to be dating!"

"You're insane!"

"Of course I am." She states bluntly. "I'm crazy about you. Don't you know how much it hurts to see the one I love ignore me? It's more than that bullet wound in your leg." She grunts bitterly.

You highly doubt that.

"We're not dating... we're not even friends! What the hell is wrong with you!?"

Pauling only stares at you. This was your stalker... this was the one who harassed you with call after call... your coworker. She's delusional, a deadly handgun in her hands pointed at the ground for now. You could be dead in seconds.

"Leave me be... I don't love you... we just talk some times... urgh..." You groan, tears pricking your eyes at the pain in your leg.

"You'll love me..." Pauling breathes, appearing to be in denial. "Even if we have to sit and wait for it to happen."

"What...."

"Come on, my love..." Pauling sighs, kneeling down on the ground to look at you. "I'll treat your wound when I get you home. I just got a little mad at you, that's all."

A little mad!? She shot your leg! She hurts you and speaks nonsense like you'd understand it!

"Home...?" You croak with unease.

"Yes." Pauling giggles, eyes half-lidded.

"Your new home."

There's a sharp prick in your neck. You freeze, you were so focused on her and the pain you never noticed where her arm went. Was that a syringe?

You vision blurs and you struggle to crawl away when she wraps her arms around you. Just as your ears stop ringing you already feel your hearing failing you.

Pauling only smiles, looking way too happy with herself.

At least with the drug you can forget the pain momentarily.

[lasenbyphoenix]

On Friday night my sister and I were invited to a caberet show that a friend of ours was performing in. It was an AMAZING night.

It was a small venue, an old mill building that had been converted into a brewery and now a music venue with a very adaptable stage and seating space. They had a few musical acts throughout the night but the main acts were the dancers.

In the mix were 3 Drag Queens, one was full punk and dancing to the Offspring, the second was a glamorous diva with a big satin dress and Ariana Grande on the playlist and the third had a whole Ru Paul style routine and the longest wig I think I've seen outside of Cdramas. This was only the second time I've seen drag live and the first time in my city, and I really didn't know what sort of drag scene we even had here until now.

Our friend typically does stand up comedy - her routine that night was about mcguyvering an electric toothbrush into a vibrator - but her first act was a burlesque dance that she convinced my sister to be a volunteer for to sit on stage and be danced around with a whip and a feather boa.

The MC was a bubbly sultry woman who wore a half see through lace dress for most of the night, sang a couple of songs with the house band and then danced onstage.

Have you ever seen someone dance so beautifully that your brain just stops thinking? Yeah. For pretty much all of the other performances my ADHD brain was doing it's typical wandering focus ( so when that happens I guide my brain to look at and analyse all of the mechanics of the show - their music choice, dance moves, clothing design, make up, how they used the stage and the stairs ect - which keeps the brain occupied in a way that I'm still focusing on the performer), but when the MC danced my brain just went ................. oh 😳 and completely shut up. When it finally came back online the feeling was only partly "I would pay her to step on me" but mostly "I want her to teach me to dance like that".

And the final dancer of the night did a full burlesque strip tease, from her leopard print gloves right down to her nipple tassels. They announced that she's also got shows on during our local fringe festival in March (and so do the Drag Queens) so my sister and I are planning on checking them out too.

Every time we attend one of our friend's stand up shows or caberets she jokes and asks when either my sister or I are going to get on stage to perform. I used to love doing drama and dance stuff as a teenager and I would love to have the guts to do that sort of thing again in public! And ever since Friday night I CANNOT stop thinking about wanting to try drag - even if I don't ever perform at a show like this and only do it in my own comfort zone - and because my brain would not let go of this I've now got a whole notepad full of ideas of Drag King personas, costumes, songs ect. Between looking up inspiration and where to buy wigs and such here, I even spent a couple of hours mentally choreographing dance moves (that I am in no way yet fit enough to sustain for a whole song) to Tom Lehrer's "Smut" and Bryan Adams' "I Wanna Be Your Underwear" (my 2 favourite drag King ideas being The Dirty Professor and the Dad Bod Rocker).

So that will be a thing to work up my fitness for!

[sunnyie-eve]

Special Bond || 2. You Got a Little

Paring: Paul Lost Boys x Original female character Emerson cousin!

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: slight language, mention of suicide, hinted assault

Last: A Feeling | Next: Not Scared

Since that night the boys got Katherine to ditch work, she's been spending every night with them for a month. She no longer works nights, unless she was really needed since Max gave her day shifts. And like David said, Max didn't have a problem with her ditching to hang out with them. Max also has been even more nicer and treated her like a daughter which she didn't mind. Her mom took her life when she was younger and then her father soon followed after so she got stuck with her grandpa.

At the moment Katherine was stopping by to drop something off at Max's. "Thorn!" She whistles making him come towards her at the gate. "Take this to your dad. I know he rests during the day." She leans over putting the packet in his mouth. She was shocked that he never growled at her like he did with other people around Max. "Good boy." She leaves heading to work.

"Katherine." She groans hearing one of the Frog brothers. "What now? Still going to tell me to carry a stake around the boys?" She turns to Edgar. "How can you trust those bloodsuckers? I'm surprised you're still human." He makes her sigh. "Because they're nice to me and I don't drink what they give me." She rolls her eyes going to work.

The vampire talk didn't sound crazy because she knew all about them in Santa Carla. Not to mention her grandpa told her to always be careful about them growing up. So deep down she knew the truth about the boys but ignored it for some reason. She knew it was stupid to do but she did it anyways.

When the work day came to an end just like the sun, she knew the boys would show up soon. "How much are you worth?" This guy that has been bugging her for a week walks up to her outside. "Excuse me?" She turns to him. "No way you're free between four boys in a gang." He eyes her. "I'm their friend and that's it. I don't do shit for them so there's no way I'm doing shit for you." She walks away from him some and he follows her. "Come on. How much do you want?" He chuckles. "You can't buy me so leave me alone." She keeps walking away but he just kept following her. "Leave me alone!" She shouts as he grabs a hold of her arm. "Just give in." He chuckles but stops as four bikes pull up and she gets a vision of the guy being attacked later in the night from above.

She gets dizzy but keeps herself balance shaking her head looking at the boys. "I'd let go of her now." David eyes the guy. "I was trying to have fun like you guys." He doesn't let go of Katherine pissing off Paul. "Our fun isn't what you think it is." Paul gets off his bike pulling Katherine away from the guy. Katherine gets dizzy again seeing it was Paul who attacks the guy later so she holds onto him. "You okay?" He asks her. "My head has been killing me all day." She slightly tells the truth. "Don't touch her again." David tells him as Katherine gets on Paul's bike and they ride off to the cave.

"You okay, doll?" David asks once inside. "My head is just killing me." She tells him. "I have the perfect drink that could help?" Marko smiles wanting her to just drink the blood. "I think rest will help it." She gives him a smile. "We can just spend time around here then you can head home." David puts his arm around her. "He didn't hurt you did he?" He asks her. "Gripped my arm roughly so it could leave a bruise since I bruise easily." She shrugs her shoulders going over to Star.

"You okay? They all look mad about something." Star asks her. "This guy that's been bothering me for a week grabbed me and wouldn't let go. He asked how much am I worth to have fun. He said I'm not free if I'm with four guys." She explains to her. "What a pig." Star rolls her eyes. "Not after tonight..." Katherine looks over at Paul playing around with Laddie. "What do you mean? Katherine." Star grabs her hand. "Paul's going to attack him." She looks back at Star. Star looks at her wondering how long she's known and how she knows that's what he's going to do. "I get these visions... it started last week. And I know what the four are and you and Laddie are half. I grew up being told about them living here and the signs are kinda obvious for the four." Katherine explains to Star.

"You aren't scared of them? You actually stick around?" Star asks shocked. "No, and yes. I don't know why I do. I know it's dumb of me." Katherine laughs. Star looks at her shaking her head but starts to smile. If Katherine was willing to hang out with vampires and at some point wants to be one, she wouldn't have a problem being a full vampire. "So you know they want to make you one of us?" Star whispers and Kat nods her head. "Would you ever?" She asks and Kat thinks about it. "I feel like the only negative thing is killing innocent people but I feel like I could find another way to get blood. I mean I'm not against it because I'm alone once my grandpa is gone. Both my parents killed themselves so..." She sighs.

"Girl talk?" Paul walks over to the two. "Yeah." They both lie to him. "Kat, dance with me." Laddie runs over grabbing her hands pulling her to get up. "Okay." She giggles getting up.

What do ya want?) What do ya want? (I want rock 'n' roll) All right (Long live rock 'n' roll) Oh, yeah, yeah

Rock of ages, rock of ages Still rollin', keep a-rollin' Rock of ages, rock of ages Still rollin', rock 'n' rollin'

We got the power, got the glory Just say you need it And if you need it say yeah (Yeah!) Oh, yeah, heh heh heh heh Now listen to me

As Katherine sings and dances around with Laddie, Paul, Marko, and Dwayne, Star goes over to David. "I'm surprised you keep her around without turning her yet." She tells him. "I can't force her to drink the blood. I don't force anyone to drink it. I give the bottle and then you guys decide to drink it." David looks at her. "You don't tell us what it is though." She tells him. "Star, I gave you an offer and you took it. And I gave you Laddie to feel more comfortable." He huffs. "Whenever she drinks from the bottle I'll make my first kill." Star tells him and he was shocked to hear that. "I have a feeling it won't take much longer." David looks back over at Katherine. "I believe that." Star keeps what she knows to herself.

After a few hours, Katherine was ready to head home and Paul was taking her. "Do you think it's possible to stop somewhere so I can take food home for me and my grandpa?" She asks as she gets on his bike. "I don't see why not. I'll drive carefully. I'm in no rush." He tells her so they drive somewhere to get food. Paul parks so she could go in and order her food. As they wait in line Paul notices the guy that touched Katherine earlier. "I'm going to wait outside." He tells her and she watches him wait at his bike. After getting her food she sees Paul was gone and the dude from earlier was walking off. She remembers her visions and just waits at the bike. She knew it was wrong Paul was going to kill him but she didn't care. "Sorry." Paul shows up a few minutes later. "It's okay." She smiles and he takes her home as she keeps the bag of food between them.

"Thank you for the ride and stopping so I can get food." Katherine tells Paul as they stop at the gate. "Of course. Anything for you." He gives her a smile. She debates on telling him she knew about what he did, but if she does then he'll tell the others she knows about them. As she eyes him she notices a little trail of blood under his chin and slightly on his neck. "Next time don't be so messy with your food." She tells him anyways and he looks at her confused. "You got a little... You left some blood here." She motions to herself. Paul just stares at her shocked at how she's taking to him being a vampire and killing that guy.

"I've known for some time and I knew you were going to kill that guy before you even did it. I've been getting visions of random things and it started this last week. That's what's causing my head to hurt and I get dizzy." She explains to him. "Why haven't you said anything?" He tilts his head. "Didn't feel like I needed to." She shrugs her shoulders. "And you're fine I killed that guy?" He raises an eyebrow. "I shouldn't be but I don't seem to care." She chuckles some. "Can you do me a favor, Paul?" She asks him so he nods his head. "Can me knowing about you boys stay between the two of us for a while till I'm ready to tell the others I know?" She asks him. "As I said, anything for you." He smiles so she kisses his cheek. "Enjoy the rest of your day." She makes him smile as she goes through the gate.

[acecreamcone]

Percy Jackson trailer just dropped. I am barely functioning. Was close to tears at the minotaur scene. Sally Jackson... But Camp Half-Blood! And Chiron! And Grover and Annabeth! He's going to blow up his Maths teacher. I need December to come so bad.

But anyway, I wanted to make Chalice of the Gods hopes/predictions before next week, and luckily, I had a draft ready so I don't have to worry about forming a complete, coherent thought right now!

The Hopes:

I really need Percy and Annabeth to talk about what happened in Tartarus, specifically what happened with Percy suffocating Akhlys. I know Percy talked to Jason and Annabeh talked to Piper, but we haven't seen them talk to each other and that is so important. Annabeth admitted to being scared of Percy and that isn't something that just goes away. They have time to breathe now, so they also have time to talk.

While we're at it, Grover should probably have a talk with Percy as well. The empathy link is still there so throughout the whole of Heroes of Olympus, Grover would've been feeling Percy's confusion at where he is and who he is, his sudden fear of drowning, his anxiety at Annabeth leaving for her quest, his pure, unfiltered rage at Akhlys. Even though he didn't physically go through it, you can imagine that at times it was debilitating for Grover.

Percy finding out/caring for his mum while she's pregnant. It would be nice if there was some cute moments like Percy making her food or bringing her pillows whenever she needs it. I can imagine a scene before the quest begins or after it's ended where the three are just talking in the living room with Sally and Paul, blue cookies on the table and talking to the baby with mixed sentiments of, "I can't wait to meet you," and "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."

Some scenes of Percy and Annabeth preparing for college. I can see them getting gifts for each other for their dorms. Maybe Percy takes Annabeth book shopping. Maybe Annabeth buys Percy anything blue she can get her hands on. Maybe it's super-specific stuff they had to commission from Rachel or Tyson because their life is just that wild. Grover would definitely help them pack and just eat any of the rubbish scattered around Percy's room and admire Calypso's moonlace.

Callbacks to the first book would be great, or even any of the rest of the series, especially considering what the first line is (not going to say it in case of spoilers). Imagine if they pass a pet shop and Annabeth's like, "You could've been in there," and points at the hamster cages. Imagine the trio just chatting, talking about relationships, and they ask Grover, "So if you guys get married, is she wearing the dress or are you?" and they all agree he'd be an amazing bride. Imagine if they ended up back at Hoover Dam and Percy has a moment because the last time he was there, Annabeth wasn't there. Annabeth was held captive, holding up the sky. The last time they were there, Zoey was still alive.

A signature Rick Riordan cliffhanger because that means there will be more!

I don't expect all of these to happen. I don't know how unrealistic all this is, and I'm pretty sure a few of these don't really fit into the timeline, but honestly I've just been having too much fun thinking of things that could happen to care.