#i hope you all get digital singles for the next 10 years

[saintkey]

im not above wishing groups no full albums and 5 year hiatuses for the rest of their careers if the fans piss me off

[study-diaries]

Math Tips

(Pictures are not mine)

Well, let me tell you, we all have this love-hate relationship with this subject, right? The worst part is that when you don't know what the heck is going on, so, as a girl who studied maths (2 Volumes/textbooks) on her own during the year she was homeschooled, here are some tips and tricks that I did to get an A+ in my math finals!

Get your syllabus together

In the beginning I had no damn idea what was going on and it was just confusing. I had to do the first thing I did was taken my index/table of contents and mark the chapters which i knew very well and the ones I had no clue about. And then i arranged them with the marking scheme, like which one carries the most marks etc etc and study accordingly.

Complete lessons/chapters that you already know

When you finish off the things you already know then that's gonna give you the confidence you need even if you know only 1-2 chapters, learn it throughout and make sure that you'll get the answer no matter how twisted the sum is. If you're doubtful about the whole textbook like any normal person.... Start with the easy ones. (I know there are literally really no "easy" chapters, spare me)

Harder chapters need hard work

Most chapters like Trigonometry proofs, Geometry proofs, Algebra, Graphs, Mensuration and Calculus etc need more than minimum effort but here's a trick, what is the common thing in this? Yes, they're all formulae and theorem based which goes to my next point. These chapters are completely based on how much you've understood your basics.

Formulae and theorem cheatsheets

Make a list of all formulae and the theorem used in the book, write them chapter wise and no printouts or digital notes. Take a paper and write it down, no excuses. It helps you while you're practicing, revising and in the last minute review, it helped me damn much. Remember, maths is a sport. The basic formulae must come to you like reflexes.

YouTube is your best friend.

For every single chapter, go and watch the basics and how a sum is done step by step. A recommendation for this is Organic Chemistry Tutor who literally is one of the reasons i passed. He has videos from basic geometry, trigonometry, statistics to calculus. Search for your own YouTubers and be clear with concepts.

Math is fully memorization

Memorize formulae and theorems with the back of your hand, you should be able to recall them within seconds. Be thorough.

Memorize basic math values (if calculator isn't allowed)

Do this if you have a majority of chapters like Statistics, Mensuration, Profit/loss calculation etc, where large numbers are concerned. Memorize the first 10 square, cube, decimal and multiplication values. It may be dry but there are literally songs available for these things, I'm serious, i learnt the first 10 cube roots by listening to Senorita xD Search for rhymes and they'll definitely be many!!

Work it out!!!!!!

Can't stress this enough, atleast 30-40 mins is the minimum for maths. I'm serious, work out each sum, don't ever think it's a waste, you'll see the results. Practice makes perfect. Work out every single sum, from examples to exercise ones cause let's be honest, our examiners love to take problems from every nook and cranny of the book.

Whiteboard method

So, I made this up and it actually works, if you have a whiteboard or anything else, once you completed a chapter, take a random page and whatever sums you have on those two pages, you need to complete within a given time limit. It helps you to identify your weak points and where the hell you're losing both time and effort and not to mention that it gives you confidence boost up.

Hope this helps :))

[venusvity]

2022, the year Venus finally secured the Converse and a Pepsi sponsorship. Arguably, this is the least liked year of Venus for a majority of Constellations for numerous reasons. Trying to replicate the success of Summer Luv!, the girls would release their 8th mini album, VENUS HIGH! with the title track Hi-Tops, along with a collaboration with the brand Converse.

Commercially, the song peaked at number ten on the Gaon Digital Chart and topped the Billboard K-pop Hot 100, their first number-one song on the chart. Following the release of Venus High!, Venus promoted the song with live performances on several South Korean music television programs and amassed six music show trophies. They also held a concert by Converse, which sold out in seven minutes.

VENUS' collection with Converse. Each girl got to desgin their own shoe. The collection sold out in 15 minutes.

Venus would come back with their fourth full album, their last project with beloved creative director LEXA. Love, Venus would feature the title track, "So Sweet," along with eleven other tracks.

"So Sweet" won eight first-place music program awards in South Korea, including a triple crown (three awards) on Inkigayo. It also won a Melon Weekly Popularity Award.

"So Sweet" debuted at number one on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart. It remained atop the chart for thirteen weeks, becoming the longest-running number-one song in its history. The song debuted number one on the Billboard Vietnam Hot 100 chart issue. It topped the chart for three consecutive weeks. In Japan, the song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and number 13 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.

The music video would feature heavy Pepsi product placement but is still beloved by fans as it's the last video directed by LEXA. Lexa would make a lengthy Instagram post announcing their departure from Angelico and Venus' creative director, leaving fans and the girls concerned in what direction they would go in next.

LEXA'S DEPARTURE LETTER: it only feels right to share my favorite moments with my favorite girls, though there are plenty more. if i could post 100 images on this post i would lol. as of today, i have officially stepped down as the creative director of venus. these five girls are so special, talented, and overall wonderful visionaries i wish had more freedom over their careers. i do not wish to get sued so i won't say much, but i hope you all can use critical thinking skills as to why i've decided to leave angelico. i wish yoonah, bliss, chloe, sena, and jiah nothing but so much love and well wishes for the best. I'll always have so much love for my five favorite stars in the sky 🌟 until next time, venus! ❤️

The girls would take a short break, something unheard of in their career, to regroup and find a new creative director. In comes Adrian Reyes. Adrian would take over as not only their creative director but producer and marketing manager, ushering Venus into their most controversial era.

??? would be the ninth mini album by Venus with the title track GOTCHA. The ??? era would be defined by the marketing used to prepare for the era. Posters were posted around the world about the "missing sister of Venus" with four girls on the poster. Billboards asking, "Have you seen our moon?" would be put up around LA, Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Shanghai, and various other cities featuring the four members Sena, Baebi, Jiah, and Bliss, but no Chloe. This led fans to believe she wasn't going to be included in the comeback until a thirty concept film, "Why Venus Has No Moons: ???" It was posted to their YouTube channel.

Venus was finally getting lore, and fans were...very mixed about it!

Stills from "Why Venus Has No Moons: ???" directed by Adrian Reyes.

The album would come, and the title track, GOTCHA, would cause a mass debate on Twitter on whether the song was good or not. The debate still goes on to this day. "GOTCHA" won 10 first-place music program awards, including a triple crown on M Countdown.

In South Korea, the song debuted at number 17 on the Gaon Digital Chart for the issue dated and peaked at number 5 in its second week. It also debuted at number 1 both on the component Download Chart and on the component BGM Chart.  In the United States, the song debuted at number 5 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. It also debuted at number 37 on the Billboard Global 200 and 29 on the Billboard Global Excl. US during the same week.

Venus would win Artist of the Year and Best Female Group at the 2022 MAMA Awards.

[dustyratt]

Hey I hope you’re doing okay! Ive been stalking your page for a while! I’m in the same process of making a visual novel! I was wondering how you do the AI+Sims 4 without it looking you know jacked up! Would love to know your progress!

Hold your hats everyone, i'll be explaining in details...

I was quite sceptical about AI previously. It felt like I'm being replaced with something monstrous, artificial - the imitation of life that's superior me on every single parameter. The sudden sting of a guilt for years of seemingly vain trials and tribulations. Was it all just for nothing? I believe everyone of us came to that question sooner or later. But here I stand telling you how to make a machine fulfill your demands.

First thing. The machine loves precise. From my personal experience, a better formed human wish grants a better machinery result. A less formed wish gives it a choice. Think beforehand, seek the patterns (keywords) that may help you sustain the artstyle throughout the workflow.

Tell the AI what it needs to do. Give it a reference image and explain how you want it to be changed. For example, I want this alien dude becoming a:

"A visually ominous face of an eyeless humanoid creature. This divine image, resembling a digitally rendered painting, showcases the ancient Egyptian god of chaos in detail: sharp chin and cheekbones, dark gray and beige skin, shimmering with pulsating rainbow hues, blood is visibly circulating under his translucent, cadaverous skin. His mouth with tightened teeth grins menacingly. The overall composition is dynamic and captivating, evoking a sense of fear, malevolent power and impending chaos". That will be my prompt. If you're lacking skills then put your hands on other's results, copy their prompts and reshape according to your needs.

Oh. Not so eyeless. Let's give it less of a free will shall we?

Better now! Sadly the eyes are in place, as you can see it is not perfect even with precise input. Now let's make about 5-10 generations with same settings. It may take time to pass a cooldown after you'll run out of tokens, so be patient. If you have absolutely no spare money to buy a decent amount of generations (or if the transactions themselves are banned in your country 👍) and your enthusiasm is on pathetically vigorous level join me on free trial option almost any of the AI sites provide. That is fair exchange - money or your time.

You get what I mean? It could be anything shaped into another anything. Put here your sim, order a nice shot - here you go! Make something out of nothing with the power of words. Make a human being... some kind of.

Hooray! Not only we have the result we craved for but a whole bunch of reusable high-quality textures of various nature.

Our next step: we go in a deep dark lair of creator's mind. Hm-m, I'd correct here and there, erased that part and attached that one... Now we play "compile your Frankenstein out of everything that is not in its place". Of course a machine is not yet on the level where there wouldn't be a possibility to distinct its presence. So to hide these little (big, actually) inconsistencies we use a power of photo editing. Grab your software. With the power given to you by the sense of vision eliminate the overgrowing fingers and fight back mutilated teeth clumps.

Meet my favourite one hundred percent AI generated method. Generate a simple low quality image free and effortlessly (I use Craiyon, the perfect weapon)

Let another AI add the details for you. Catches the concept just great. Though it does not mean no handiwork after.

You can stylize it even further. Here you can see AI generated monster dudes crispy pixelated after a luxurious tour into pixelart AI. Good thing for a pixel indie gamestyle.

So, that's it. The secret is basically in your own hands. Acknowledge the style of your game, follow it while generating contents and patch up the AI mistakes.

+ zero investments

+ compensation for a lack of skills / hardware

+ easy to use

- even more work than if you would do all the same without AI

- straight dependence on sites / chat-bots, etc.

- time consuming

- many limitations (forget this if you're not on a free subscription... wait a second that abolish the first plus too!)

Hope it was helpful!

[srgntjamesbuckybarnes]

Truth or Dare (5)

Summary: What started off as an innocent game of truth or dare between two noble born sisters, Y/N and Margaret “Peggy” Carter, quickly turns south when Y/N meets Steve Rogers and James “Bucky” Barnes. 10 years later Peggy is getting married reuniting the bunch, tensions rise as the sisters engage in truth or dare one more time before Peggy is married.

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2.7k

A/N: Not Beta'd

Series Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Chapter 5

“Ouch!”

Y/N peeked up from the book in her lap. Peggy had been standing on a pedestal as women bustled around her. Her puffy sleeves had been comical next to her head. They were off-white and twice the size of her head, making the countess drown in the fabric.

“Apologies, Lady Carter,” one of the women rushed, pin in hand.

The sleeves need more volume,” Amanda Carter surveyed from beside Peggy. Wordlessly, the women shoved more pins in the sleeves to hold them up. Y/N locked eyes with Peggy’s pleading dark brown eyes through the mirror. She was relieved it was Peggy getting married. Y/N didn’t know if she could tolerate her mother’s opinions.

Gently shutting the book in her lap, Y/N turned in her chair to face her mother, “Perhaps the sleeves will take away from Peggy herself.”

Their mother frowned, never taking her eyes off the dress. “Nonsense, Y/N. Margaret is marrying a prince. The dress should be grand. Everyone’s eyes will be on her.” Peggy shrugged in the mirror, a silent thanks for trying. Amanda finally turned to Y/N, clasping her hands in front of her chest. “Speaking of princes, King George is meeting with King T’Chaka later today to discuss a peace treaty. I hear he is bringing his son Prince T’Challa along with him. You should join your sister and Steve at the theater and invite him to accompany you.”

Y/N’s jaw dropped, her hands nervously running across the book in her lap. “Mother, I doubt the prince of Wakanda is interested in me.”

Amanda arched her eyebrow with a hand on her hip. On her other hand, a single digit wagged in Y/N’s direction. “Then you make him interested in you.”

Y/N bit her bottom lip until it bled. Her mother had taken matters into her own hands going straight to King T’Chaka to invite T’Challa to the theater. Y/N wasn’t sure if she hoped he would accept or decline. The other night in Bucky’s room was still fresh in her mind. She hadn’t seen him since. They couldn’t court without an introduction. He didn’t seem to mind while he was flirting with her, but was that all it was, just flirting?

T’Challa was different. He was practical and preapproved by her parents. Y/N guessed that had something to do with the peace treaty. She felt dirty like she was lying to T’Challa. He was considerate and sure of himself, a true prince. She could find herself falling in love with the man if they had met under different circumstances. One day, Steve and T’Challa will be kings. What better way to ensure the peace treaty is honored in the future than to unite the families? They were mere pawns in a larger chess game.

“Lady Carter,” the darker-skinned prince extended his snowy gloved hand toward a cushioned wooden bench. Y/N sent him a polite smile, accepting the seat closest to the rail. The gallery was a small balcony in the theater with three rows of wooden benches. Y/N and Peggy had been seated in the front for everyone in the pit to marvel at their gowns. There was just enough room for the two of them to squeeze on the bench with the exaggerated skirts on their gowns.

Steve and T’Challa had taken a seat on the slightly elevated larger bench behind the women, a respectable position for men to be seen with unmarried women in public. Their view of the stage was poor but they weren’t there to see, they were there to be seen.

The bustling actors readying below could be seen from their vantage point and Y/N could have sworn she saw Bucky below. Something shiny reflected momentarily blinding her. She fluttered her eyes clearing the image of Bucky from her head. It had to have been someone carrying a prop. A hand on her arm drew her attention beside her.

“The prince seems nice,” Peggy said loud enough for just the two of them to hear.

Y/N’s lips pressed into a tight smile, “He is.” It wasn’t a lie. T’Challa had been a gentleman. Part of her felt that he had been too gentlemanly, too friendly to see her as a serious option for a wife. Y/N brushed it off. She was sure he had come to the same conclusion as her. This was strictly business. Even Steve and Peggy seemed to encourage the bond.

“I was informed that the king’s son is joining us. Have I been misinformed?” T’Challa questioned, raising a thick brow.

Y/N’s ears pricked at the mention of Bucky. No one told her he was coming. Why would they? She isn’t supposed to know him. But she does.

“He’ll be here. I believe he is backstage visiting an old friend.” Steve winked.

T’Challa chuckled, brushing his hand over his charcoal frock coat, “To old friends.”

Y/N flushed at the implication ignoring the rest of the men's chatter. He never denied the rumor of him being a rake instead, he promised he would ruin her. They weren’t courting but she couldn’t stop the words from leaving her lips, “Truth or dare?”

A devious smirk crossed Peggy’s lips as she stared at the audience in the pit below. Without being able to see the front of the stage, the play wouldn’t be as interesting. The next two hours promised boredom for Peggy. She’d rather be in the pit with everyone else enjoying the show rather than staring at the back of the actors’ heads. She craved excitement.

“Dare.”

Y/N had predicted that answer so without missing a beat, she replied, “I dare you to sneak backstage and steal the most interesting item.” It was perfect. Her sister’s determination would have her checking every inch backstage. Bucky’s visit would be ruined.

“Distract them,” Peggy mumbled before excusing herself to the bathroom.

Y/N waited until she could see the countess below before turning to the men. “Your Royal Highness,” Y/N began watching both men turn to face her, confusion written across their faces. “Sorry, I don’t know how to address each of you while you are in the same room.”

Steve narrowed his eyes suspiciously. T’Challa offered a playful smile on his full lips, “I suppose addressing you and your sister as Lady Carter can be confusing as well.” He pressed the palm of his hand over his heart. “Please call me T’Challa and I will call you Y/N?”

Y/N nodded, “T’Challa it is.”

Steve ran a hand along his chin, she already called him Steve. There was no need to differentiate but he brushed it off chalking it up to being her way to get on a first-name basis with the prince.

The trio made small talk as they awaited Peggy’s return. The conversation flowed easily, distracting the men from how much time had passed. Y/N glanced down at her dress. A dead giveaway to her status. Her mind wandered to the pit below along with the actors. Guilt began to eat away at her. Peggy could be recognized down there. Anything could happen. What would they think of the future queen stealing? How could she have let her envy put her sister at risk?

Suddenly the door to the balcony opened, a Cheshire cat grin on Peggy’s lips. A sigh escaped Y/N at the sight. She made it back in one piece and if her grin was anything to go by, she had completed her dare with ease. Peggy floated to her seat, her hands empty. Y/N raised an eyebrow, but Peggy just wiggled hers back. It wasn’t until Peggy was sure neither man was paying them any attention that she plucked a piece of lien from between her bosoms.

Y/N ran her fingers over the milky cloth now draped across her lap. “What’s so interesting about a cloth?” She twirled the cloth between her fingers.

Peggy’s eyes twinkled, “It’s not just any cloth. It’s the cravat of a nobleman.”

Realization crossed Y/N’s face, her eyes bulging. When she dared Peggy to steal something to ruin Bucky’s visit, she didn’t think she would swipe something of his. “Peggy,” she hissed. “How did you get this?”

The younger Carter rolled her eyes. “He’s sleeping with a pretty redhead down there.”

Gail? Y/N’s face paled as Steve’s voice cut through her thoughts. How could Bucky be sleeping with Steve’s ex? A married woman? Y/N unexpectedly rose from the bench, the white fabric bound tightly around her knuckles. Three sets of eyes stared at her, and she wondered just how many more were monitoring her from below. “I need a minute.”

T’Challa stood up, a hand resting against his stomach. “I will walk with you.”

Y/N shook her head. “No, that would not be appropriate. I feel a bit claustrophobic is all.”

“Y/N,” Peggy tilted her head. “I could walk you out.”

“I’ll be fine. I just need a minute alone,” Y/N announced, already halfway out the door.

The older Carter’s feet carried her down the hallway into an empty stairwell. Her back pressed against the stone wall as she took deep breaths. An incandescent glow emitted from a candle in the window above her head. Like a figment of her worst imagination, Bucky emerged at the bottom of the steps.

“Y/N?”

Her head snapped in his direction, pushing herself off the stone wall. “How could you?” she seethed. He raised his eyebrows as Y/N continued to rant. “How could you do that to Steve? To her husband?”

Bucky peeked over his shoulder making sure no one was coming before beginning to walk up the step, one step at a time. “What are you talking about?”

Staring down at the man from her nose, she responded, “Gail Richards.”

Before Y/N could blink, her back slammed against the wall. A gloved metal hand pressed against her mouth. “Don’t say that name,” he growled in her ear, his nostrils flaring. He could feel her tremble beneath his hands as he pulled back slightly. Her eyes welled with tears as his eyes darted between hers. The second he peeled his metal hand from her mouth, she shoved him, hard.

Caught off guard, the brunette stumbled back a few steps.

“You’re sleeping with her,” Y/N accused, pointing her finger at him.

Bucky scoffed, knocking her hand away. “I am not.”

Sucking her teeth, Y/N explained, “Peggy caught you with a redhead.”

Bucky arched his brow, “What’s Peggy doing snooping around?”

Y/N’s eyes dropped to his sweaty exposed neck. Her hands shot behind her back as she remembered she still had his cravat. Avoiding the question, she asked, “So you weren’t just sleeping with a redhead backstage?”

Bucky countered with a shrug, “Are you not on a double date with a prince?”

Y/N froze. “You’re here, it hardly counts as a double date. The numbers are uneven.”

“Right.” Bucky rolled his eyes, stepping forward. “Stop meddling Y/N. Making false accusations could get you hurt one day.”

Y/N scoffed, crossing her arms. The linen fabric was prominent against her dark dress.

“Where’d you get this?” Bucky asked, yanking her hand toward him to inspect the fabric. “You a peepin’ Tom?”

Y/N felt a warmth creep up her neck as his fingers carefully unraveled the cloth. “No, I-” She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t tell him she had dared Peggy to go down there. He would think she was crazy. Unfortunately for her, he saw right through her.

Holding the cloth up between them, Bucky narrowed his eyes. “Is this what all of this,” he waved his free hand around dramatically, “is about? You’re jealous?”

Covering her face with her hands she sighed. She wanted to deny it but she was sure he would see right through her. “Steve implied you were doing more than visiting an old friend. Peggy and I have this stupid game going and I took advantage of it. I dared her to steal the most interesting object down there so she would search everywhere. I wanted her to ruin your time down there. She brought your cravat back and told me you were sleeping with a redhead. I’m sorry, I had no right to do that.”

“Natasha.”

Y/N peered up from behind her hands. “What?”

“The redhead, her name is Natasha.” A soft oh escaped her lips. A toothy grin spread across his face as he tied his cravat around his neck. “You were jealous,” he said in a sing-song voice. Her face scrunched up in embarrassment. He should be furious with her but instead, he was eating every second of this up. Y/N groaned. He would hold this over her forever. “You know, I’m actually a bit offended that Peggy thought my cravat was more interesting than me.” He paused, scanning her from head to toe. “I’m also disappointed you didn’t come down to see me in action for yourself.”

Y/N cleared her throat, wishing the foundation would swallow her whole. She didn’t need whatever dirty actions Bucky had been referring to, in her head. “What are you doing here?”

Bucky ran a hand through his long hair. “Steve asked me to join in a while back when it was a solo date. Didn’t know you and the prince were joining until this morning.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He cocked his head as if it was obvious, “I kinda got the feeling people don’t want us talking, sweetheart. I can’t exactly walk up to you and start a conversation.”

Y/N wondered if anyone would ever give them a formal introduction or if secret meetings and stolen glances in public were all they would ever be. Y/N glanced down at her hands before squinting up at Bucky, “My mother invited T’Challa. I think she’s trying to aid your father’s alliance.”

Bucky hummed, running his tongue across his bottom lip. “T’Challa? You’re on a first-name basis already?”

Her eyes narrowed in the dim light as she replied, “We’re on a first-name basis, Bucky.”

A cocky grin graced his face, “And if I remember correctly, you want me to ruin you.” Y/N’s mouth gaped like a fish, searching for an answer. Bucky reached up with his flesh hand, twisting a loose strand of her hair framing her face. A distant expression crossed his face. “I wish there was a way to have you without ruining you.” Y/N frowned at his sudden change. His fingertips grazed her cheek as he released the strand of hair. His eyes hardened. “I’m gonna need to know more about this game of yours doll.”

The click of the door echoed down the hall causing the pair to jump apart. How long had they been gone?

"You go first,” Bucky commanded just above a whisper.

Y/N shook her head, her eyes pleading with Bucky. “I can’t go back without your cravat. Peggy will be suspicious if you walk in there with it and I don't.”

Bucky huffed, his fingers making quick work of loosening the knot around his neck. “Steve and T’Challa will be suspicious if you walk in with one and I don’t.” When the knot was loose, he slipped the fabric into Y/N’s awaiting palm. The patter of footsteps trailed along the floor growing louder with each passing second like the countdown on a bomb. They were seconds away from their lives blowing up before their eyes. Tucking the linen between her breasts, Y/N stepped into the hall. She gasped, nearly running into Peggy.

“Y/N, there you are!” Peggy’s fingers wrapped around Y/N’s biceps. “I was worried sick. Are you alright?”

Winding her arm with Peggy’s, she nodded. “I’m fine. Let’s head back before the play starts.”

Bucky waited with his back against the wall until the darkness devoured their shadows. Only when he heard the thud of the door did he leap off the wall following their footsteps. He waited a moment outside the gallery, before stepping onto the balcony.

“Bucky,” Steve greeted, waving him over. “You made it just in time.”

The brunette grunted in acknowledgment, opting for the third row. The row furthest from the crowd and temptation. Bucky couldn’t spend two hours sitting directly behind Y/N ignoring her. The best option for everyone was the last row. Slightly more elevated than the rest, with a clear view of Y/N and T’Challa. If he didn’t have a good view of the play, at least he was able to watch over her; a devil she had no idea was perched on her shoulder.

Next Chapter

Taglist:

@supraveng @kandis-mom @xycnsstuff @mcu21lover19

[exercise-of-trust]

how it started -> how it's going:

(left: a 10-year-old sketch of a friend's oc; kiya if you're still out there i hope you're well. right: an éowyn from last year i'm much happier with now, lmao)

it's about a year since i really got back into posting fanart! and it's been a lot of fun and you all have been very nice, and i want to get the art bug out of my system before i tackle nanowrimo this year, so i'm taking art requests all through september! send me a character, get a drawing, i'll keep going until i get sick of it (or until october 1, whichever comes first).

guidelines? info? idk i've never done this before:

open for requests september 1 through september 30 (although i do reserve the right to quit early if it turns out i've wildly misjudged things)

everybody gets at least a flat-color headshot (digital or traditional), but you may end up with a rendered painting if i'm on a roll. we'll see how this goes!

similarly, the most i'll commit to up-front is a single character per request. you're also welcome to send in pairings if you like but a) poses with multiple people are way harder and i'm lazy and b) i'm an extremely picky bastard about shipping, so, like, be emotionally prepared to just get whichever half of your duo i like better ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

just to keep this sorta manageable i'm gonna say tolkien book characters only, but anything is fair game within that band - if you've got an obscure blorbo from the appendices, or a popular blorbo i never post about, now's your chance to send 'em in.

okay! think that's about it! if this goes well i might do it again next year; if it goes poorly we'll just pretend it never happened lol. have fun!

[seoul-bros]

It's the big anniversary and I have been wondering how the last 10 years would be celebrated after the emotional rollercoaster of last year. Imagine the confusion of a baby army when faced with the tear stained faces of RM, J-Hope and Jimin. Perhaps Jungkook was the one to most clearly and succinctly communicate what they were all thinking and feeling.

Twitter Link

It's worth watching the whole thing again if you can bear it. So many clues to what we have seen unfold over the last 12 months.

It also reminded me of the roles initially assigned to everyone and how difficult it was for them to shake them off. Even last June, JK still hadn't shed the heavy mantel of the golden maknae.

But look at him now. I don't think anyone would dare to comment on his maturity in quite the same way right now. What a difference time and a little space can make.

They have all changed and grown and the age differences that were so marked at the beginning of their career have faded almost completely away. It is therefore inevitable that when they do get back together, sometime in or after 2025 (fingers crossed) there will be another process of storming, forming and norming before they can perform again as a new more mature version of the team we all love.

So what can this year's Festa really bring us with two members already enlisted, one in the middle of a World Tour and everyone else bombing around the world without more than a few hours notice.

Lots of promotional stuff definitely.

BTS Presents Everywhere

Some photos of them all together.

Wow this picture was taken a long time ago maybe just before or just after the Busan concert. Look at JK, pretty.

Here's Jimin sat between his pole stars Jin and JHope.

Let's take a close look at that hair. Eeeeeekkkk so beautiful.

Then we have new music. The digital single Take Two written by RM and JHope and produced by Suga. It's coming out on at 1pm KST, 9th June 2023 so get ready to rumble. Good thing we have been getting our fair share of streaming practice with all the solo releases over the last few months.

There will definitely be a lot of other surprises over the next few days and the celebrations will culminate with a massive fireworks display in Hangang Park in Yeouido on the evening of the 17th June. Tourist packages for the event are already on sale on line.

This is so nice, the first time in a long time I get to tag all the members in a post. Happy Festa Everyone!

Post Date: 01/06/2023

[cloudjumpervalka]

this past week i house/pet sat for my family in exchange for a new music station fjdbdkdn aka just this table. the way it was before, it was just so many steps to get a record out to play but now.... its so much more accessible 😳

while im at it, theres close ups of the music collection. im starting to make ... bootleg copies of albums that never had physical releases just so i can start to have all the music i like in just a physical form.

rn my "goals" if you wanna call them that are to find the following below the cut:

the DISO:

- tsw*ft - folklore "stolen lullabies" variant (my tears ricochet is one of my all time favorite songs now so.. also its the perfect shade of green)

- aly&aj - sanctuary vol.1 (i missed the cut off by like a month for this one and its my all time dream record. one of my favorite all time albums and this is the only official physical release)

- twrp - omnibus (record collection of all their eps.... beautiful)

the "eh ill get them for a good deal" list:

- tsw*ft - fearless tv and red tv cds. speak now tv vinyl

- florence - literally anything i dont already have for her....

- marina - froot singles collection (or holding out hopes for an anniversary set next year), family jewels vinyl

- literally any aly&aj cds im missing (atotb and wlf i think? maybe some editions of 10 yrs and sanctuary too)

- missing twrp cds too... i couldnt afford digital nightmare during preorders :(

the burning list:

-all of the homestuck music lol

[dogtoling]

If you watch the trailer, lots of stuff is digital. It’s how Agent 8 gets from place to place, it’s her weapons, etc. This could mean this entire campaign is some sort of simulation or something.

Which means Splatoon found yet another way for it’s single player campaign to remain irrelevant to the rest of the game.

This was apparent or at least something you could presume from the first trailer and yeah it's the reason i haven't been interested. I've been under the impression that Side Order was some kind of digital realm since the first trailer and as a result really haven't had my hopes up. It's not going to give me stuff I actually want from a splatoon campaign (as neither did Alterna, setting-wise very disappointing) and worst case scenario it might just set up something ridiculous and unnecessary that will raise a billion questions and answer none. Just due to the nature of the kind of story I want from Splatoon being one that actually takes place in a fleshed out location in the REAL WORLD and that matters and isn't a shock value cartoon-ass worldwide threat to all life that the local teenager has to solve (idk why this is such a crazy thing to ask actually!?!?!?)

On the plus side, the further context and tidbits we have about Side Order do make me hopeful that it might have some interesting worldbuilding, if not directly relating to the Deepsea then at least indirectly since it seems to have a lot to do with Kamabo. plus the other tidbits we know, like fossils, and... oil... fish.... there's some stuff that at least makes it clear there's going to be something interesting. I just hope we DON'T get a bland character story with zero notable things to add to the worldbuilding and yet another location or... thing.... that won't be fleshed out for 10 years (LOOKING AT OCTO VALLEY, OCTO CANYON AND THE DEEPSEA. octo valley and -canyon are straight up CRIMINAL in my opinion because octarians are like, a very important part of the game but we know next to nothing about octoling society STILL. drives me insane. nintendo PLEASE make the splatoon single player campaigns relevant to the game world i am Begging)

[blurglesmurfklaine]

Stick Season (11/14)

Summary: After Finn dies, Kurt leaves everything he knows behind without a trace. His hometown, his family, his boyfriend. When his dad has a medical scare, he returns to Lima, one year after breaking Blaine’s heart with no explanation.

A non-chronological series of one shots and drabbles set in this universe

Tropes/Genres: Angst, Reconciliation, Grief, Alcoholism, Mentions of Major Character Death, Mental Health

Track 10. Growing Sideways // Day 11: Last Dance

A/N: listen the first time i heard this song I UGLY CRIED so... sorry lol

Words: 870

Sam is the first one to notice a change in Blaine.

He responds to something Sam says with a joke, something about Sam having seen enough boobs for the both of them, and Sam laughs for a minute straight. For months now, Blaine had given up on his sense of humor, knowing Kurt wouldn’t be there to respond with his beautiful laugh.

“It’s good to see you get back to yourself,” he says. Blaine cocks his head to the right.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem better. After everything. Lighter.”

“You can say no if you want to, but a few of the guys from work are going to the Paper Tiger’s open mic night if you’re interested. I’m gonna play a few songs, they’ll probably rag on me. It’ll be a total sausage fest of toxic masculinity.”

“And that just screams my scene to you?”

“No, but I think you’re finally in a good enough place to leave the house for yourself instead of someone else. Maybe even pick up music again.”

Bloaine hasn’t touched his guitar or piano in weeks. After Finn’s funeral and Kurt’s disappearance, he found it hard to even muster up the will to sing along to tunes playing over the radio. When he thought about it, though, Donna Summer had been playing on his way to his dad’s earlier that day, and Blaine realized he was singing along to the disco track.

As it turns out, taking his prescription antidepressants and pouring his trauma out on some sad-eyed middle aged guy’s overpriced new leather couch really was helping, despite it being the most cliche of cliches.

“You know what? I’ll be there,” Blaine says, feeling hopeful for the first time in ages. For what, he doesn’t even know. Maybe that there is life after Kurt. It’s a relief to know he can live without Kurt, despite the fact that he doesn’t want to.

He still ignores some things—his parents divorce, the effect Kurt’s leaving has had on him—things that would probably take more effort and energy to unpack than he truthfully has to give. But he’s here, he’s healing, and he’s alive. 

He hopes Kurt is, too, wherever he is. 

That’s about all he could hope for.

***

Before Kurt’s fuzzy vision comes into focus, he feels the sheets of some cheap motel that probably have a thread count in the single digits slide against his bare leg. Last Dance plays through the cheap alarm clock radio standing on the bedside table.

With a groan, he attempts to sit up, before the splitting headache reminds him why that’s a terrible idea.

He nearly tells Donna Summer to fuck off before deciding that’s some bad Karma he doesn’t want to accrue. Instead, he just lets himself fall back onto the cheap motel room sheets that have a thread count of about seven, if he’s being generous.

There had definitely been someone else next to him when he’d fallen asleep last night, though Kurt can’t quite remember who. It doesn’t matter. He’ll never see the man again, and they’ll never try to find each other again. Kurt was drunk and lonely, and the guy whose name he can’t even remember was there.

Besides, he much prefers the self imposed solitary confinement he’s crafted for himself. There’s no one to disappoint.

No one to hold you when you start freaking out either.

That’s all it takes for the everpresent unpleasant buzzing in his chest to return. Some days he can just ignore it—power through it until he can get home and make some tea, get on social media or watch hours of reality tv to distract himself from it.

Blaine wouldn’t have left like that stranger.

Other days, it grows. It festers, growing louder and louder until it’s roaring in Kurt’s ears and shooting up static into his brain that makes it impossible to do anything except cry until he passes out from exhaustion. 

Yeah, that’s the problem. He doesn’t know he deserves better than you.

It seems today is one of the latter.

No, no, no. Not today.

 He needs to have a good day today. He’s up for a promotion at work at the print shop. Granted, the other option for manager is Margie, an elderly lady who only works there because she’s bored of retirement and likes to talk to the customers, but Kurt needs that raise. He needs it to move out of this shitty motel and get a shitty apartment instead.

A shitty apartment that he’ll have to keep clean, pay rent on, sign a lease for, go apartment hunting for… God, it’s all so overwhelming. Staying in place, moving on. Life is so fucking overwhelming.

“Fuck it,” he mutters, and downs the remaining vodka in the glass by his nightstand. “By the hair of the dog.”

It settles in his stomach, warm against the cold and humid air of the room, and the shards of anxiety prickling at him begin to melt away. 

It’s a vicious, never ending cycle of drinking, waking up hungover and anxious, and drinking to alleviate the symptoms he’d created. At the end of the day, though, numbing himself is the lesser of two evils. If his engine is running perfect on empty, there's no sense in refilling it.

There are worse ways to stay alive.

[a-silent-symphony]

NIGHTWISH's FLOOR JANSEN To Release New Solo Single 'Invincible' This Friday

Floor Jansen, best known as the lead vocalist of the Finnish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH, will release a new solo single, "Invincible", on Friday, January 13. She says: "This song tackles a sensitive and important subject."

"Invincible" is the fourth single from Floor's upcoming debut solo album, "Paragon", which will arrive on March 24. The LP showcases the Dutch-born singer's impressive vocal range and powerful voice on a diverse collection of pop-infused tracks and emotional ballads influenced by the sounds of her career.

"Paragon" includes the following tracks:

01. My Paragon 02. Daydream 03. Invincible 04. Hope 05. Come Full Circle 06. Storm 07. Me Without You 08. The Calm 09. Armoured Wings 10. Fire

Jansen said: "To renew yourself and take leaps into the unknown makes you grow. To age is a gift not everyone gets. I am a fortunate woman who got to make an album I never knew I could make. One that even defines me, where I am on my path. I have reached my PARAGON! I am so proud of this work! And grateful for all the amazing people in this beautiful life that helped me get here!"

With its mix of influences and powerful vocal performances, "Paragon" is an album that will appeal to fans of pop music and metal alike. It's the perfect addition to any music collection, and a must-have for fans of Floor Jansen and NIGHTWISH.

"Paragon" will be released digitally and physically on CD, vinyl, and a limited-edition deluxe box set. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms and at music retailers worldwide.

Following the release, Jansen will embark on a tour of The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in April and May of 2023.

Floor has already released three singles from "Paragon": "Me Without You", "Storm" and "Fire".

As part of NIGHTWISH, Jansen has landed two number one albums in Finland, and Top Five albums in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Born in the Netherlands, Jansen joined her first band, one of the world's first symphonic metal bands, AFTER FOREVER, when she was only 16 years old. The group went on to release five albums from 2000 to 2007, before they broke up in 2009.

Jansen's next band, REVAMP, released two albums in 2010 and 2013, before she joined NIGHTWISH as a full-time member. NIGHTWISH's first album with Jansen as the lead singer was 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", which landed in Top 10s around the world. This was followed by 2020's "Human. :II: Nature." , which was also an international success.

Jansen has toured extensively with the band and appeared on three of NIGHTWISH's live albums "Showtime, Storytime", "Vehicle Of Spirit" and "Decades: Live In Buenos Aires".

In 2019, Jansen participated in the popular Dutch TV show "Beste Zangers" where she scored a big hit with "Phantom Of The Opera" together with Henk Poort. She was recognized with a Dutch Popprijs award — a prestigious accolade for artists that has made important contributions to Dutch music. In the same year, her first solo tour sold out in less than 24 hours.

Jansen performed live with NIGHTWISH for the first time on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon. Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013.

[brainrattlers]

Play It Cool - Tyson Jost (43/n)

Pairing: Tyson Jost x OFC (AJ)

Word Count: 2860

Warnings: A little bit of angst, but nothing bad, I promise. Probably language.

Need to start from the beginning? Here's where it all began! https://at.tumblr.com/brainrattlers/play-it-cool-tyson-jost-1n/p7no8u1hzuza

Want to catch up? Check out the Masterlist!

Author's Notes: I. Am. BACK!!! Short chapter, struggling a bit to find words, but I figured I'd get something posted, and then add some of the stuff brewing in the next few weeks than rush it all at once. It's been a wild few months, looking for a new job (I'm still employed, just looking to upgrade), but also adding a bunch of side gigs to my list of things I shouldn't be doing but here I am.

So what's going on with Tyson and AJ? Summer vacation has started, and these two have a few months to do whatever they want. Let the planning begin!

*****

While the season didn’t end quite as hoped by the Sabres, Tyson remained optimistic about things to come. His end-of-season exit interview went well, according to him, saying he wanted to be back with the team. Locker cleanout days are always a little emotional, but Tyson was in good spirits, all things considered.

AJ was trying to keep the same level of optimism, but her gut kept her guarded, knowing that a lot of what was to come was actually hinging on a few other players on the team. If Okie and Girgensons stay put, there was a good chance that there wouldn’t be a spot for Tyson. Not only that, but of course Tyson becomes a restricted free agent July 1st. And as is, Okie was signed to a single year contract. It now was falling on the fate of Girgensons.

So really, it was a game of “hurry up and wait.” AJ was starting to feel like that might just be how life was going to be from here on out with Tyson until a team realizes how much of a gem Tyson is. Granted, AJ is a little biased in her description of Tyson’s style of play and how much teams really could use a player like him…

“You know, we can go do whatever we want, right?” Tyson jostled AJ’s foot on his lap, noticing she was scrolling aimlessly on her phone. “I have some friends up in BC asking me to come out. You want to go on vacation? Grandma and Grandpa would love to see you again…”

“... really? Using Emily and Jim as bait to get me to up north? You play dirty, Tys.”

Tyson grinned, knowing AJ had a soft spot for his grandparents. She had lost hers years prior, and missed the grandparent vibe. You know the one, where you get spoiled, either with a favorite meal, or a $10 bill slid into your hand when mom wasn’t looking. It really isn’t even about the getting spoiled part either, there is something so special hearing all the stories from their past, learning bits and pieces about what made them the people they are today. It truly was something she missed with her own grandmothers since their passing. Emily and Jim definitely brought that vibe to her, and embraced her as their own grandchild.

AJ thought about it though, and Tyson could see the gears turning in her head. He waited patiently for her to say something more, because an idea was definitely brewing.

“What would you think about some summer shenanigans?” AJ squinted at Tyson, gauging his response to the vague proposition.

“What kind of shenanigans?”

To be honest, AJ was missing some of her old friends. The world can feel so small with the internet, bringing people together digitally, but it’s just not the same as in person. AJ missed seeing Jess. It’d been months since they were in the same space, meeting up back in February in St. Louis. She missed Nate. She missed some of the other friends she made in Denver during her brief time there.

“I was thinking maybe talking to Jess, and as soon as she could, maybe a couples’ trip with her and Nate? Like maybe they come up here, or we go out there, or… we meet up somewhere? I’m not sure yet. I hadn’t really asked her either, but I know she’d be down. The only hindrance at the moment is…” AJ got quiet, realizing what she was going to have to say, “Nate’s still in the playoffs.” 

AJ cringed at having to say that, considering how last season went. Thankfully, Tyson’s work on himself last summer and this year with family and a sports psychologist really helped his mental game. He nodded in understanding, and didn’t even flinch. Buffalo made a good run at the playoffs, but just came up short. It was going to whole new level for the team next season, so right now, his feelings were not hurt by the statement.

This time, it was Tyson that got a little quiet, chewing on his lip for a minute before responding.

“I’m sorry I hadn’t brought it up sooner, but a few of the guys are talking about heading down to Hilton Head, kind of an end of season guys trip,” Tyson sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, “We’d be leaving Monday.”

“It’s okay, you know I’ve got plenty going on here, besides, it’s not like my plan can happen quite yet anyway. But would you be interested, if they are?”

A smile broke out on Tyson’s face, followed by a nod. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to AJ’s temple. 

“Yeah, that sounds like a blast. You’re the best babe!”

AJ chuckled as Tyson skipped off to the bedroom. Looking around the living room, kind of lost in thought, she grabbed her phone.

AJ: Would you and Nate be up for some shenanigans this summer?

Not even a minute had passed before AJ’s phone was vibrating in her palm.

Jess: We’re in.

***

AJ got used to Tyson being away on roadies, and she always found things she could do that she enjoyed while he was gone. Eating food that he didn’t like (or shouldn’t eat, and likely, she probably shouldn’t eat either), sprawling out in bed, listening exclusively to her music, staying up late and watching cheesy movies… stuff like that. It was nice to have AJ time. 

But truth be told, AJ missed Tyson while he was on the guys’ trip. He was checking in multiple times daily (and getting absolutely roasted for it), but it didn’t make up for the little things she was missing, like him wrapping his arms around her midsection as she’d chop vegetables for dinner, swaying to the music they had on in the kitchen. The random notes that would be written in the steam on the bathroom mirror.  The way Tyson would pull AJ in as the little spoon, mumbling incoherently as he drifted off to sleep.

Even the kinda gross things, because, let’s face it, Tyson’s a guy, AJ missed. The way Tyson would burp after chugging a protein shake. How he’d stick his stinky sock feet in AJ’s face when they were laying opposite each other on the sofa together. The occasional facial hair clippings littering the sink in the bathroom. (Although that was just more irritating than gross.)

AJ was simply missing Tyson.

After cleaning the kitchen up from breakfast, AJ headed to the hobby room, and flopped on the sofa, where one of Tyson’s hoodies was thrown on. Rolling over, she reached up over her head and grabbed it, spying which one it was. It smelled faintly of his body wash as she inhaled, sighing into it. Although not really cold, AJ put it on and fell asleep in a somewhat warm embrace of his hoodie.

The buzzing of her watch urged AJ to open her eyes as a certain someone was wanting to FaceTime.

A very groggy looking AJ appeared on Tyson’s screen.

“Hey baby girl, I didn’t wake you up, did I? Is… that my hoodie?”

AJ rubbed her eyes and looked down, and back at her phone camera with a smile.

“I suppose it is. I was napping but I really shouldn’t be if I want to get to bed at a decent hour tonight. What are you guys up to today?”

Tyson told the tales of going golfing and hanging out at the beach with the guys. All the different restaurants they stopped at. But there was something a little off about how he was acting, but AJ couldn’t put her finger on it.

Finally when he stopped talking, AJ piped up.

“You good?”

Biting his lip, Tyson put his thoughts in order before opening his mouth.

“I mean, yeah, but, no. It was weird, last night we went clubbing, and the guys were pairing off with girls they met there, and there were two that wouldn’t leave me alone and…”

AJ’s heart was pounding hard, worried about what might be said next.

“... I had to just get out of there, I took a Lyft back to the house. I… just miss you.”

The breath AJ didn’t know she was holding came out in a gasp, and Tyson caught the tear coming down her cheek. It wasn’t her intention to get emotional, but it hit her hard. And seeing AJ tearing up, made him get teary-eyed as well, but he wasn’t sure why she was to begin with.

The dam broke.

“I miss you too babe, so much,” AJ just let the words fall out of her mouth without a filter, “It just hasn’t been the same here without you. You make my world better.”

Tyson was wiping his eyes, trying to act like he wasn’t crying at all when one of the guys came by him asking if he were about ready to head out. 

A mumbled, “Yeah, uh, I’ll be just a minute, no, my allergies are acting up or something, I’m good,” was overheard, before he looked back at his phone. “Hey, we’re heading out for another course, call you tonight before bed?”

“Of course. Go kick some ass on the green! Love you.”

“Love you too, talk tonight,” Tyson blew a kiss at his phone.

AJ “caught” it and smooshed it on her lips before ending the call.

Now wide awake from that unexpected conversation, AJ sat up and started thinking about what she could do to fill some time between now and this evening when Tyson would call. There was only so much cleaning she could do around the apartment to ease her racing mind, so she grabbed her tablet and started looking at vacation spots, texting Jess along the way.

AJ: Would you guys like to come up here? I know it isn’t fancy like Denver is, but there is so much cool stuff to see and do here, really! 

Jess: Hmm… I’d be down, but I’m thinking we should get away from EVERYTHING. Mexico has been calling my name here lately, I miss it.

AJ: I’ve never been. I’m looking up some places though. Cancun looks fun, and there seemingly is a lot to do around there. Ooh, they have a big art museum nearby, that sounds good. And Chichen-Itza and Tulum aren’t terribly far either.

Jess: You’re forgetting margaritas and all the amazing food!

AJ: Yes, that too! lol

AJ could feel Jess rolling her eyes at the choices of things she wanted to see. That was the funny thing too, if Nate had heard what AJ was saying, she was pretty sure he too would be rolling his eyes in the same way. Those two really are perfect for each other.

As the afternoon and evening went on, texts were sent back and forth about potential places to stay. It was just going to be a game of figuring out WHEN, with Avs in the playoffs, and knowing Tyson, he probably already had a summer packed with things to do. AJ knew that he was planning on heading out to Edmonton, and had mentioned something about maybe working out with some trainers in Vancouver for a bit. Tyson was never one to really stop and relax somewhere for an extended amount of time, other than with his family whenever he could.

The planning texts were interrupted by a facetime with Tyson, who seemed far more chipper than he did previously.

“How was golfing? Your nose looks a little pink, shoulda worn more sunscreen,” AJ joked, knowing he always gave her shit as she was pasty white and burned within minutes in the sun.

“It was good, shot five over, not bad for a course I’d never played on. Yeah I got a bit of sun today. Thankfully we’re heading out tomorrow. You still picking me up from the airport? I get in around noon.”

AJ looked panicked, looking at her watch, then back at her phone screen, seeing Tyson’s face contort into concern. 

“You are picking me up, right? I mean, I can get a ride with one of the guys, but…”

The giggles couldn’t be contained, and fell out of AJ’s mouth. 

“Of course, goof, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I haven’t seen you in like a week,” she grinned, “Besides, I found a new burger place I want to try, figured we could swing by on the way home.”

A wave of relief washed over Tyson, knowing he was going to get to see AJ as soon as he got out of the airport. AJ then saw Tyson squint a bit, and roll his eyes after his phone buzzed. Quirking her eyebrow, he could tell she was wondering what was going on just by the subtle movement.

“The rest of the guys went back clubbing again tonight.  It’s just not as fun, not without you here. I just didn’t want a repeat of last night, it just felt… wrong. In fact, I just got called an old man for turning in early. I’m not going to feel like shit on the plane at least.” 

The two chuckled, and continued talking for a bit, until it was evident Tyson really did get a bit of extra sun and he was pretty wore out, getting sleepier with each new topic that was brought up. After a few minutes of being disgustingly cute and sending kisses to each other, they finally ended the call.

Tyson laid in bed, still feeling awkward about the previous night, despite nothing actually happening. It did occur to him just how much he and AJ complemented each other. Dancing with random women in a bar no longer was exciting. He’d rather dance in the kitchen with AJ. Taking a woman back to his hotel was the furthest thing on his mind, unless that woman was AJ. 

“Maybe I really am turning into an old man!” he thought to himself, as a smile crept up on his face as he drifted off to sleep.

AJ woke up late the next morning, relaxing in bed, completely sprawled out, for one last time before Tyson would be back. Spending an hour scrolling through Instagram, she finally got up, got a shower, and a quick breakfast before grabbing a small baggie from one of the cabinets in the kitchen and heading out the door. AJ and her black Soul hit the road, heading to the airport.  

Once the car was parked, AJ headed inside, outside of the security area. Looking around, AJ saw her target… and it wasn’t Tyson.  With a smile and a wave, she headed over to Karma, whose ears perked up when Ann waved back, asking if Karma knew who was coming.

“Hey Karma, who is a good girl? IT IS YOU!!!” AJ scratched Karma’s ears before giving her a treat from the bag. “Hey Ann, how is it going today?”

So who are Karma and Ann, you might ask? Karma is an adorable, frosty-faced Jack Russell Terrier/Beagle mix, and Ann is her owner. Together, they patrol the Buffalo Niagara International Airport as a therapy dog team. Most dogs you see in airports have patches on their harnesses saying “SERVICE DOG, DO NOT PET”... but Karma has a bandana on that says “PLEASE PET ME!” AJ met them earlier in the year during one of her trips to see Tyson on the road, and had since become friends with the human/canine duo. Ann always asked how Tyson was playing, and Karma always was up for a belly rub as the two would chat. Today, Ann was in for a treat, she’d never actually got to meet a professional athlete despite all her time at the airport. 

Finally, coming out of the secure area, Tyson spied AJ sitting on the bench petting a dog.

"AJ found the only pettable dog in the whole place, that's so her!"  Tyson thought to himself, smiling the whole way to her.

Putting his bag down, Tyson found AJ already clinging her arms around him for a tight hug.

“Hey Tys, this is Ann, and…”

Before she could even say anything else, Tyson was already leaning down petting Karma’s head.

“This must be Karma, I’ve heard so much about you already from AJ!” Tyson leaned up and shook Ann’s hand, “And you too, it’s nice to meet you!”

Ann was usually chatty as all get out, but she was in awe of the Buffalo Sabres player standing before her. Finally breaking her out of the spell, Ann finally was back to telling stories and giving advice on where to go get dinner for the night. After gabbing for a few more minutes, and a few more treats for Karma, AJ finally convinced Ann that there were probably more passengers and airport/airline staff that could use some Karma pets and kisses. Everyone parted ways, with AJ promising she’d be back soon to see them again.

Walking hand in hand to the parking lot, AJ posed a question to Tyson.

“So what would you think about going to Mexico?”

The gears were already turning in Tyson’s head.

[aintgonnatakethis]

Thanks for tagging me @judgeverse ❤️️

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

16

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

108,855, almost all of that coming from this year as I spent the last few months of last year getting back into writing by telling myself 'I'm just going to write. I won't post, so I don't need to worry how good they are'.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Stargate Universe because those guys are in my brain and I'd die for them, but my next fic I'm posting is going to be Stargate Atlantis. I also have 2 WIPs from Durham County as my brain went 'hey the SGU fandom is pretty small... You know what would be really funny?'

Back in the day on ffnet (*checks* 15 years ago jesus christ!) I wrote for Doctor Who, Torchwood, Star Trek: TNG, Blakes 7, Invasion, X-Men: The Movie, Demons, House, NCIS, Prison Break, and Being Human. 87 stories with 169,449 words. I'll have a quick look through them and see if there's anything worth reposting, but I doubt it. 14 years olds aren't usually very good, ya know? Though I do look at Reviews: 220 and think yikes, I did not have social anxiety when I was that age did I?

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

down here they call us animals has 32, but the rest of them are single digits because SGU is such a small fandom.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Always, love talking to people about my fics and it's not going to encourage people to keep commenting if they get no response from the author. Sometimes it takes a while because my spoons can get funky.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

so i bite my tongue and hope for blood, where Telford gets sexually assaulted by a drugged Rush, then goes on a killing rampage with none of the recovery (if there even is any beyond pretending it never happened) shown and nothing is really resolved.

there was a devil in my soul i think we activated, set during 2x07 The Greater Good, extends the scene aboard the derelict spaceship between Young and Rush. Young has a ton of trauma about Carmen, David, Riley, and P2S-569, and ends the fic in a pretty suicidal place.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

This was a bit tougher to answer as I usually have some angst hanging around, but i'm a stolen car in a parking garage, where at the end Rush and Telford are bantering back and forth, sharing-time is happening, and they also have their first kiss in this fic, after having been fucking for a while.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Nah, it's much better than it was back in the day. At least in the fandoms I frequent.

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Oh, do I! 😄 Every gay kind that takes my fancy, from vanilla to super kinky. There are of course a few kinks I avoid reading/writing about as I'm sure everyone does, but if anyone has a specific kink they'd like to see me write hit me up and we'll talk!

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I'm afraid not. I'm just not that into them. 🤷‍♂️ (The fact that if I filter out crossovers on the SGU AO3 page I lose ~400 fics is a crime!)

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No.

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Back in the day me and a friend wrote many hundreds of thousands of words RPing the 10th Doctor and the Master. RPing isn't allowed on ffnet so I received a warning and they deleted the fic. Thankfully I still have every single one of those fics due to being anal about backing stuff up on memory sticks, so if you'd like them @chosennightmares let me know. ❤️️

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

Telford/Rush, if I have to pick just one, though I could chuck Young in there and go through every combination possible and still be very happy.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Nothing currently posted as due to having a lot of unfinished fics on ffnet I'm adverse to posting things without at least having an ending in mind. But there's an SGU fic titled Your Own Worst Enemy which was started in August last year and delves into rape recovery for Rush, Young, Telford, and Destiny herself. I need to be in the right headspace to write it and despite having 8 chapters of it completed I don't know how it's going to end up.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Developing different versions of Rush, Young, and Telford and have all of them still be in character despite being so different.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Getting the end of the fic written, knowing how to sign things off. The promised SGA fic sat 95% completed for fucking ages where all I could do whenever I scrolled to it was stare.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Knowing the state Google Translate is in, I probably wouldn't risk it, no. It does annoy me when I'm reading and I'm told to scroll to the author's notes at the bottom of the fic to see what's been said and then having to scroll all the way back up, potentially losing my place. Much prefer people using the HTML hover text option.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Doctor Who. My mum was involved in putting together Who Cons when I was a kid, so I grew up watching the classic series.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

a memory, a distant echo I really enjoyed writing it, fleshing out David's character, and really digging into his psyche. It's a tough read, but I'm very proud of how it turned out.

tagging @thestorieswesay @no-more-pawn @chosennightmares @galadhir @sga-owns-my-soul

[lizzygrantarchives]

Pitchfork, August 29, 2011

After getting her start in upstate New York church choirs, this sultry, Elvis-worshipping 24-year-old singer is now writing gleeful 1950s-style pop songs about murder and brooding in cut-and-paste YouTube come-ons.

Lana Del Rey is old-school Hollywood glamor meets splice-friendly YouTube culture with a fair share of coquettish attitude and smoke-parlor Stevie Nicks vocals thrown in. She became a blog concern this spring after her visual for creaking, strung-out Best New Track “Video Games” caught eyes and ears. The clip, created by Del Rey herself, shows its star pouting into her webcam as found footage of skateboarders, drunk starlets, and American flags flicker by. The juxtaposition of its seemingly-put-together singer and its DIY aesthetic proved intriguing.

Lana Del Rey is also Lizzy Grant, a 24 year old who grew up singing in several different school choirs in Lake Placid, New York, about five hours north of the city. She released an album on iTunes in January 2010 produced by vet David Kahne, known for his work with Paul McCartney, the Strokes, and Regina Spektor, among many others. The LP, dubbed Lana Del Rey, has since been deleted. “I would like people focused on my new music for now,” wrote Del Rey in an email—understandable since that record’s dusty Americana only hints at the promise of “Video Games.” And while she’s previously admitted that “managers and lawyers” helped her choose the “Lana Del Rey” moniker, she’s not a character or a studio creation. On the topic of Lizzy vs. Lana, she wrote, “There’s not a real me and another me. Same person, just a different name.”

“Video Games” and its B-side “Blue Jeans” will be released as a single October 9 digitally and a day later on limited edition 7" via Stranger. Meanwhile, Del Rey is currently working on another full-length, which is due out early next year. We recently emailed her a few questions and she answered some of them, writing about her musical beginnings, the perfection of Elvis, and why “sleeping with the boss doesn’t get you anywhere at all these days.”

How did you meet the pretty-well-known producer of your first album, David Kahne?

When I was 18 I was signed to an indie label and we sent my demos to five producers. David called us 10 minutes later and asked if we could start working the next day. We spent every day for five months on the record with Coney Island and hope as the touchstones for the sound.

What did you learn about music and the industry from releasing that album?

I learned that there’s no reason why people decide they like music when they do. Even if you’re the best singer in the world, there’s a good chance no one will ever hear you. You make a decision to keep singing or to stop. I’ve been singing in Brooklyn since I was 17 and no one in the industry cared at all. I haven’t changed a thing since then and yet things seem to be turning around for me. Perhaps the angels decided to shine on me for a little while.

Have people offered you opportunities in the music industry if you were willing to change your sound or look?

No. People have offered me opportunities in exchange for sleeping with them. But it’s not 1952 anymore. Sleeping with the boss doesn’t get you anywhere at all these days. Nobody cared about wanting to change the way I looked or sounded because no one was interested in the music.

You’ve said that managers and lawyers helped you come up with the name Lana Del Rey, which suggests that you and your music may be crafted by others. Obviously, this isn’t new—you could argue that Elvis was molded by his producers and managers—but how important is it for you to be taken seriously as an artist as opposed to a music-industry creation? Do you think those two things are even in opposition, necessarily?

I write my songs and I make my videos. Elvis had good management and that’s why he looks well-crafted but actually—other than his custom-made jump suits—he was always a gentleman, always a star, had a face like a god, and a voice like a dark angel. So he wasn’t really contrived—he was just dead cool. That’s why his legacy lives on, because he was actually perfect.

Your dad is a successful domain investor, but I read that you were living in a trailer park a few years ago. Do you fetishize that trailer park lifestyle?

My dad is an entrepreneur and an innovator. Being an entrepreneur doesn’t make you a rich tycoon and being an innovator doesn’t mean that you’re successful. It just means that you’re interesting. No one cares that I lived in a park—Dad loves trailers and is getting one in the Everglades. My first record label gave me a small check and I moved into a park near Manhattan. It’s not something I cared to even share but people keep asking me about it. My songs are cinematic so they seem to reference a glamorous era or fetishize certain lifestyles, but that’s not my aim. I’m not trying to create an image or a persona. I’m just singing because that’s what I know how to do.

You started singing in a church choir—do you think your church would approve of some of the lyrics on “Kinda Outta Luck” like the one about hitting dudes in the back of the head with a gun?

God has saved me a million times so I think he must’ve enjoyed that song.

Originally published on pitchfork.com.

[pastelwitchling]

How's everyone's reading going? I always struggle to pick up more than kindle unlimited sports romances when school and work start, but I'm really pushing myself past that stress in small ways.

Here are the books I'm currently reading, just finished, and am hoping to get to soon that I really wanted to talk about:

The Sun and the Star (read): This book is pure serotonin. It's one of the longer Percy Jackson books, but I never felt the length for a single second. There were definite moments where I could tell someone other than Rick Riordan had taken over writing, but that doesn't change how fun and romantic the book was. What an absolute treasure.

Scoring Position (read): kindle unlimited mlm hockey romance. I just finished this today actually, and it ended up getting a lower rating than what it had been for most of the book, but I'm still glad I read it. It did offer a good palette cleanser, and though I didn't end up loving it the way I'd hoped I would, I would still recommend it for a nice time.

Under the Whispering Door (currently reading): I tried reading this a few months ago and DNFed after chapter five or something. I felt like the humor was hit-and-miss, I thought Wallace was a little too annoying, but I knew that I didn't want to DNF it for good. Why? I really liked Hugo, Mei, and Nelson, and the teashop. I thought there was some good potential there. I have to drive a lot to school and work, and I figured that since I couldn't enjoy reading this physically, then maybe I would have a better time on audiobook, annnnd... yeah. The narrator is phenomenal, I would highly recommend this audiobook if you couldn't get into the paperback. He has a way of reading in SUCH a funny way that I was suddenly laughing at lines I didn't think were funny the first time. I've got less than 3 hours of the audiobook left, and I'm having a great time. It's not anything groundbreaking, and I think the first half was very slow and repetitive, but it really has got me thinking about death and life a little bit more, and I really enjoy these characters. I now love Wallace, he's hilarious and becomes so easy to love, and I can't wait to see how this story ends.

House of Sky and Breath (currently reading): Anyone else really have trouble reading physical books when they're super stressed or overwhelmed? That's kind of where I am. I'm annotating and tabbing my paperback copy, I'm 10 chapters in, but I feel like I just don't have the strength right now to physically hold a book, you know? The first book in particular already took me so long to read because of its length (you're not Order of the Phoenix, STOP trying to be Order of the Phoenix, not every story can carry that kind of page count!), and now I just feel like I'd be going through it faster if I can read it digitally. I won't get my ebook copy from the library for over 2 weeks, so I might just try to read as much as I can now, and then finish with the ebook. I know the big spoiler at the end, but beyond that, I have no idea what happens in this book, and I can't wait to find out.

Books I want to pick up next:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part of last year's reread so that I can start this year's reread. I'm afraid, but it must be done.

Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods: I think I was subconsciously waiting until after the show ended to dive back into this world, and I'm just ready to spend all day with my favorite demigod (and satyr) trio.

House of Flame and Shadow: Is this a shock to anyone? I should've read HoSaB sooner so I would be ready for this book now, but I overestimated by reading speed, so here we are. I hope to get to it before any spoilers start circulating.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries: I have more books on my physical TBR, but this is one of the lightest and I think I need that.

The Paladin's Shadow: 'Nough said. Anything by Tavia Lark is gold.

I love talking about books so much, so please do let me know what you're reading now, how you're feeling about it, what you'd like to pick up soon. It's always fun to me to discuss books, and I'd really like to talk more about them on my tumblr from now on. I still have it tagged rin reads if you want to filter that out though.

[fatherhoodstory]

10

This will be the first year since you were born that I have not seen you or spent time with you on your birthday, your actual birth-day. As you get older I guess that just becomes the way of things and we can mark this tenth year as a sort of rite-of-passage, not just into your double digits but into your power, your understanding of things. Though I am sad, as this year and every year after changes things more dramatically from us all being young and doing all those things we did only for the first time, I know that one thing grows stronger still, love. I remember laying in bed just after you were born and staring at you while you slept, you and mom laying side by side tucked into the covers like angels. I didn't think I could ever love anything or anyone more in all my life but I was wrong, that love only grows as you do, becoming like all the mountains that reach up into the clouds, their heights snowcapped and unseen by only but a few. Every birthday you have and everyday I get to see you or spend time with you, that is a gift you give to me, love, and the understanding that despite all other things that may happen in life, it continues to grow, forever.

Ten is a big one and many things will change in your life in these next few years, in all our lives I imagine. To think that in eight short years you will be off on your own adventures in the world...WOW, but please, take it slow, there is no rush to grow up too fast.

You are with me now, reading on the couch as I write this letter, as usual. I love that you read, that we read together, that we can sit at the library (our favorite place) for hours as if nothing else mattered in the world, lost in our stories. This is a story you know, you and I, mom, Jesse and Michelle, Kiki, my sister, all of your friends and family too many to name, the Five Dragons that live atop the mountain, Beatrice the Bicycling Butterfly, the Pumpkin Princess. It is your story. It may not always be as exciting as the stories you read in your favorite books with having to clean your room, brush your teeth and going to school every day stuff, but it is indeed your story and as fas as stories go, watching you grow these last ten years I know for a fact when you are much older and begin to look back on your life, it will be a story that will be hard to beat. A story filled with joy and sadness, adventures too many to list, surprises and tragedy, but above all else, love. That, I believe, is the most important part of any story, no matter what else happens...did we love and were we loved? No matter what you do in your life or where the world may take you, you already have the makings of the greatest story, because you are loved by so many and love in return.

I know it hasn't been easy and truthfully the good stories are never easy. What builds a good character is the challenges they face and the strength it takes to overcome them, to work through the hard problems and find solutions. I see you doing that every single day and it makes me so proud to be your Dad. I love your story and that I have been chosen to be a part of it these last ten years. I hope our story and my part in it will last for many more years until I am an old man with white hair and bushy eyebrows and we can sit together and watch the sunset while you tell me of all your adventures and about all the things you love most in the world.

Happy Birthday my girl. I love you.

Papa