#i think in a way it was a nostalgic dish for her as well but still the fact that she just randomly made this at home is wild to me

[umilily]

the older i get the more i appreciate my mum cooking the things she did when i was younger. considering she doesn't even like cooking all that much and was still working full time back when i was a kid, i'm so impressed when i look up some of the recipes she made and seeing how much effort it actually was.

[yumeboshi]

Happy 100!! I’d love to see the nostalgic starfruit sundae :0

❝ THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER、 @cakeboxie .ᐟ ⟡ HERE IS YOUR RECEIPT FROM CAFÉ YUME ⟡．．

𐙚NOSTALGIC STARFRUIT SUNDAE：almost makes you feel younger。

𐙚 dish desc。．when you two were younger, he crushed on you even back then。

．。𝜗𝜚 labels。pure starry sweet fluff finally, a little non canon in aven, teen setting/late teens in aven’s, bittersweet

．。𝜗𝜚 ingredients。sunday and aven

#SྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིUNDAY

。before becoming what he is right now, he was a sweet and probably shy boy who, during your first meeting, could not utter a single word and unintentionally let Robin do all the talk 。he will feel so foreign, poor him; he has never felt such an influx of emotions. he’d stammer over his words, forgetting everything about what his family taught him about ‘etiquette’ and will always end up looking stupid because he really can’t do anything around you. 。“sunday, are you listening?” “….ah, yes. sorry, I was distracted. um, please continue.” 。i definitely see him stalking you, just like in a cute way. when you’re out doing your own business or hanging out in golden hour, he’d just stare at you from afar- probably from his estate’s window like some deprived owl, completely entranced by you- the way you smile, the way you laugh at someone’s jokes- the way your hair ripples with the wind like soothing waves— was he daydreaming again? 。it gets so bad. he’s obsessed, daydreaming, even robin knows her brother’s head is in the clouds. the dreammaster hereby then prohibited him from seeing you, because you were getting in his plans to educate him since all he’d ever talk about was you. you were his new priority- he doesn’t even care about the order anymore; making the dreammaster grumble about when he’d raised such a lovesick boy. 。but gopher wood did not foresee that the young boy would do anything daring at all, like rebuking his orders.

STARLIGHT is near and you’re already hiding under the Oak Family’s residential area where you’re probably not supposed to be inside one of the back garden’s bushes, patiently waiting for your romeo to come.

How could you refuse? He was the loveliest, the sweetest and the most handsome boy you ever met, albeit not meeting a lot of kids your age. His wings too, were so fluffy and so cozy to lean into. Your little heart could comprehend these foreign feelings as a crush.

And there he was- your young prince, quickly stepping out of the window that’s barely open, tipping to the floor like a dove that’s free from its cage. Every step he takes is already elegant and authoritative, it reminds you that you are not his class, and you should not be here.

When your face peeks out of the bushes, his expression immediately lights up as if someone had brought all the stars from the sky to his face, he immediately runs to you and laughs breathlessly. “You’re here.”

”Shhh!” You frown and put your small hand to his mouth. He looks around at that- his wings tickling your nose, and he shrugs- “—I don’t see anyone nearby.”

“But the scary old man might be—“ you break off, and your heart skips a beat when you hear footsteps. Without thinking, you quickly hug sunday and pull him into the bush out of terror.

A second has passed. Two; or three, maybe. You lose track of time because of his loud heartbeat thudding against your own. You were not sure if it was out of fright or out of this complex feeling neither one of you were knowledged in.

You snap out of it quickly, because it made your head spin as if a swarm of butterflies were invading it. The dreammaster was gone, but neither one of you were moving an inch.

It feels time has stopped. Maybe you are wishing it did, because you know all too well that this would become a fleeting memory.

#AྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིྀིVENTURINE

。one day, after facing a similar massacre in your own planet, you are thrown into captive under a shady man. 。you are not alone, but you are more annoyed by the fact that your cellmate is an avgin. you are pretty sure your parents had told you countless stories about their wicked ways. 。kakavasha, on the other hand, is enamored by you. the way you snap back at your captor, the way you are defiant- even in such stakes. it enchanted him. it even inspired him. 。when he’s still a little kid, he’d follow you around like a little puppy despite your annoyance. 。but when you grow a little older- maybe around your teens, he hits his growth spurt, and he grows almost unrecognizable- yes, those tantalizingly beautiful eyes of his stay the same; but he just becomes so.. manly. masculine, almost mature- it’s hard to believe the quiet and puppy-like boy grew up to be such a fair.. man. 。but one thing that did not change a bit with him was the way his usually bored and dead stare would light up when he sees you. he teases you a lot, he likes to practice his tricks on you, simply because it’s endearing how you snarl in frustration at his antics. 。you are his personal pair of sky blue shades. you changed the way he saw the world forever- looking at you, he could think that the world might not be that cruel, if it doesn’t take you away.

ALTHOUGH his long awaited freedom has arrived- to the hands of an unknown woman who calls herself jade, he felt as if his world was crumbling again, all too familiar to what he felt when he was younger.

What about you? You have no clue about his release. He’d sworn to you he’d stay with you forever whether you liked it or not- he still remembers how you snorted and dismissed it with a light blush across your cheeks, scoffing that all the avgins were liars anyway- he’d laughed and told you he wouldn’t ever lie to you, ever, which earned him a glare and an embarrassed slap.

He tried to deny it. He wanted to say no. He couldn’t leave you here, no. you were his wild card, the one chip he would never, ever gamble on; because he cherished you over himself. you are the one thing he’d never risk— his only love, you have his whole world, you’re like a diamond key to his closed and broken heart.

But life was truly cruel, because he knew right now that it was his last chance to break free from the burdens of his past. His heartache will perhaps be soothed a little, after leaving those memories behind. But it means he will have to leave you behind as well.

Although his heart screamed no, that he was your one and only and he had to stay with you, his rationality whispered a different tale- echoing the woman’s promises of freedom.

And here he was, selfishly walking to the cell that held all of himself. You were there, barely awake, looking up at the sky that is too beautiful for the words he is about to say to you.

He takes in your ethereal figure underneath the twilight, your eyes are the cosmos itself, reflecting the moon inside them. He always took pride in his eyes, but nothing could be more beautiful than yours. he’d fallen in love with them the first time you two met. they are almost deceptively exquisite enough to make someone like him lose his rationale.

He is about to say something but your finger presses against his lips- you don’t turn to look at him; your eyes are fixed somewhere afar. “I know,” you say quietly.

So you knew? He hid his surprise. He had thought he did a good job acting it up. He shakes his head with a laugh- of course. This was you. You knew his every expression, the faintest of creases on his face, you could see right through him.

“Then I suppose I don’t have to entertain you with any cheesy goodbyes. Do you wish to say any more words?” He asks with his playful smile, albeit he knows you know he’s trying his best not to break down.

You hesitate, and then hold his hand gently. “Take care, kakavasha.”

At that, he could not take it anymore. He leans forward to kiss you, for the last time, and he tastes like memories. He tastes like your annoyance, your laughs, your cries, you feel like you are experiencing your childhood all over again like a broken record. Something bitter graces your mouth and you realize it is his tears.

“Always trying to act tough, just don’t do that in the outside world.” You laugh into the kiss, and you feel him smile against your lips. He tilts his head away, glancing somewhere else to mask how vulnerable he is- but you stop him, you look into his eyes that are far too distinct- they are seas of magenta, wavering each time he blinks to conceal any tears.

As his lips part from yours, he feels himself slowly dissipate. Kakavasha was no more.

[maboroshi-no]

Hamefura LN14 SS (Satoru Yamaguchi's blog)

Series: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Story Title: The Foundation Anniversary Party ~Geordo ~ Source: Satoru Yamaguchi’s Blog Synopsis: Geordo's POV of the party in Chapter 1. Translation: maboroshi-no

The Foundation Anniversary Party ~Geordo~

Katarina: Prince Geordo, Happy 9th birthday!

With a whole-face smile, my fiancée Katarina Claes handed me a present.

It had always been the servants who told me "Happy Birthday" and gave me presents from my family, so it was the first time someone had happily handed me a present with such a whole-face smile.

I was bewildered by that strange tingling feeling I had never experienced before and could not respond immediately. In front of me, Katarina happily started speaking.

Katarina: This is a cake from that recently popular confectionary shop, and this is…

Looking at her explaining the presents that she apparently couldn't narrow down to one, I could tell she put all her thoughts into each of them.

Katarina gave me delicious recommended dishes as presents, which was very much like her who liked eating. In front of her many presents, I said…

Geordo: Thank you very much.

After I had sorted my feelings and replied this,

Katarina: Since there are a lot of them, I think you will surely find something you like.

Katarina made a fist and said this with a smile.

Then, just as she said, I found something that I apparently liked, and before long, Katarina would frequently bring it to me.

After having this very nostalgic and happy dream, I woke up.

Today, the Sorcier Foundation Anniversary Party would be held at the castle. Many visitors from inside and outside the country were scheduled to come.

Without any time to bask in that dream, I got ready and perfectly conducted myself as a member of the royal family.

There were many foreign visitors, so the greeting queue was considerably longer than usual. Even so, I put on a smile, looked sideways at my younger twin brother Alan showing a tired face, and interacted with people the same way as always.

After the long greetings ended and my family split up and moved separately, I was immediately surrounded by ladies.

The foreign visiting noble ladies were more assertive than the Sorcier ones, and they really didn't know when to give up.

I wanted to go to my fiancée quickly and was gradually getting more and more irritated even if I didn't show it in my attitude. But then, I saw coming towards me the figure I had eagerly been waiting for. 

I ignored the ladies surrounding me and immediately started walking towards her.

Geordo: Katarina

Now that I had called her, I would smoothly escort her.

Geordo: Since my fiancée has arrived, I shall end our conversation here. 

Taking advantage of the situation, I showed a fabricated smile to the ladies gathered around me.

The usual Sorcier ladies would have pulled back here, but today, there was a tenacious one.

Foreign Lady: Even if she is your fiancée, it is just a political engagement, right? In my country, it is now commonplace to love outside of political marriage and marry after finding true love.

The lady uttered this of all things and stepped forward. While I felt like snickering, I put on the usual smile and told her,

Geordo: Is that so? While there may be some political aspects, I truly love Katarina here from the bottom of my heart, so there should be no problem, right?

When I declared this, as could be expected, no one raised further objection.

Despite declaring so many times that I loved Katarina, many people to this day still uttered such foolish things. I wished those foolish people would understand a little after this statement, but this might be too much to ask of them. 

For some reason, women of this kind only believed whatever suited them. This was how they were, I guess. I could not hold the faintest interest in them.

Geordo: Well then, ladies, I will now excuse myself.

I declared this with a smile and started escorting Katarina away.

Since I had been yearning to see her, escorting Katarina like this would have normally put me in an elated mood, but that was not the case right now.

Because a scene I had seen earlier while greeting the foreign visitors crossed my mind.

At today's party, as a royal, I entered the venue separately from the other nobles and thus moved separately from Katarina.

But despite the large venue, I had an idea where Katarina could be.

Katarina loved to eat, so she was probably heading to the buffet.

When I cast my eyes there, I really spotted her figure relishing food at the buffet and I naturally let out a smile at her delighted face. 

But right after, Katarina was called out by Prince Cezar of Ethenell and I witnessed the two of them talking.

Prince Cezar of Ethenell was most likely interested in Katarina. But as always, Katarina did not notice this sort of thing at all.

I had many rivals to this day because of this charmer Katarina, but Prince Cezar of Ethenell… His composed attitude and political skills gave me the feeling that if he ever became serious, I might be no match for him. 

Just recently, because I was deceived by Jeffrey, my jealousy made me lose control and I kissed Katarina (what's more, passionately) right in front of Prince Cezar, then threatened him.

After that, I came to my senses and felt embarrassed by my mistake. I was feeling awkward during today's greetings but unlike me, Prince Cezar greeted me with no sign of anything dwelling on his mind.

His composure flustered me again.

When we arrived at a room serving as a resting room, I turned to Katarina and immediately started speaking.

Geordo: Earlier, what were you talking about with the Ethenell prince?

Katarina did not answer immediately as she seemed to be thinking of something. While it was not such a long pause, I felt impatient and…

Geordo: Katarina.

After I called her name,

Katarina: Umm, we talked a little about things like how I was feeling. Then, Prince Cezar immediately left to call Keith for me.

…She replied that.

For now, I was relieved by her answer.

Geordo: …I see. I thought he approached her again.

Because I had inadvertently muttered this,

Katarina: Could it be because you were worried about it that you looked different from usual during the greetings?

Katarina asked me this.

I was surprised. I should have been doing it perfectly like always.

Geordo: I… looked different?

Katarina: Yes. Like, you were tired, or not feeling well.

Geordo: I see… I thought I was doing it the same way as always, though.

Katarina: It's okay. The other people didn't seem to have noticed. I could only tell because I have been with you for a long time. I think it is the same with our childhood friends.

Despite what Katarina said, I had been able to put on such a good act that my family, and even my servants since childhood, could not tell when I was unwell. And yet, Katarina, only Katarina always could.

Geordo: I think only you can tell so well.

Katarina: No, that's not…

As Katarina was about to deny it, I raised my index in front of her mouth.

Geordo: Yes, it is. Whenever I am weakened, you always tell me the words I need and come to my side. It is because you are here that I can do my best. That’s why I want you to stay by my side forever, Katarina.　

After I had said this, a blush tinted Katarina's cheeks. This fact made me so happy that I felt like jumping with joy.

While she was my fiancée and I kept telling her my feelings, for some reason, the person herself would not notice them (take them seriously). After spending long years in this strange situation, my feelings had finally reached her, but… she was still barely conscious of me and there were times when she thought she did not have enough charm.

But after reaching so far, she had finally come to blush at my words like this. I felt like my long one-sided love was rewarded just a little.

And that was why I would not…No, could not be satisfied with this. I wanted to have you.

I softly extended my hand to her red-colored cheeks and approached my face.

As I set my aim on her full red lips and moved closer, Katarina seemed to hit upon a realization and put her palm on my forehead. Then,

Katarina: It's hot?! Wait, Prince Geordo, you are extremely hot. You definitely have a fever!

She said this in a loud voice.

Crap. She found out about my fever… And I thought this time for sure, I could fool her into believing it was just a little fatigue. I got careless because Katarina was too cute.

Yes. It was true that I had a fever since morning. But I had been able to do everything with willpower.

I was confident I could get through it without anyone noticing, like always.

Geordo: It is fine.

After I had said this, Katarina…

Katarina: No, this fever is not “fine” at all! You've been like this since the greetings, haven't you? You knew it and you still pushed yourself!

…She pressed me.

Anyhow, I could not deceive her anymore since she had figured so much, so…

Geordo: I was out of sorts a little while ago but I had been like this since I woke up this morning. Still, if it is only this much, I can manage without anyone noticing, so there is no problem.

I said this, but immediately after…

Katarina: There is a problem.

She said it like that. There, I too became just a little bit pissed.

Geordo: I will not cause trouble, so it is fine.

Katarina: No, it is not.

Geordo: I can properly do my work.

I prided myself on having been able to properly do my work until now, and when I asserted this, Katarina's eyebrows shot up.

Katarina: Geez, this is not about work! You're pushing yourself while you're in such a bad state and I can’t help worrying about you!

Katarina's unexpected words left me stunned and speechless.

Katarina: Now, please wait here a little, Prince Geordo. I will contact a suitable party.

Still dumbfounded, I obediently sat on the furnished sofa just as Katarina pressed me to, and then she left the room.

Now left alone, my head finally started to work.

I knew Katarina was worried about me, but after seeing it so clearly on her face and hearing her say it to me like that, I felt a somewhat tingling feeling.

"I would take care of myself by myself." Even though, I had followed this thought and led my life so no one would notice it whenever I was out of sorts… I really had completely changed because of Katarina.

While I was overwhelmed by this tingling feeling, Katarina came back, bringing Jeffrey with her.

Jeffrey: I heard the situation from Lady Katarina. Please don't overwork yourself so much. You have dependable brothers, so you can depend on us as much as you like.、

Because Jeffrey had said this with the face of an older brother, the tingling feelings swelled even more, and…

Geordo: I am not that sick.

When I shortly replied this, Katarina quickly came towards me and touched my forehead again.

Katarina: It is still hot. It is not “fine” at all. You will stop this tough act right now.

Having said this, Katarina now extended her hand to my head.

Katarina: Prince Geordo, your job is now to rest. I will not accept any objection. You must stop being unreasonable and rest properly.

While saying this, she lightly tapped my head.

Geordo: …"unreasonable"…

This was something no one had ever said to me… Somehow, her older person act made me feel complicated feelings.

Jeffrey: That’s right, you will stop being unreasonable and rest like a good boy.

Riding on Katarina's words, Jeffrey said this and grabbed my shoulders.

Jeffrey: Alright, your room is ready so let's go.

Then he dragged me along.

If it were like always, I would absolutely resist but the will to resist didn't rise in me, maybe because of my poor condition, or maybe because of that very indescribable tingling feeling swirling in my chest.

While dragged by Jeffrey, I saw Katarina watching me worriedly, so…

Geordo: Thank you very much.

…I muttered in a low voice.

Because of this complicated feeling where I was somewhat embarrassed and yet happy, I felt my already hot face getting even hotter. 

Katarina: Please have plenty of rest and get well soon!

I could hear from behind Katarina's voice saying this.

Somehow, my face became even hotter.

[hisui555]

Hazbin Hotel Thoughts : Alcohol, Part 2 !

Part 1 here (Hazbin Crew)

Part 3 here (Heaven's side)

Masterpost here

So, just for your information. Last post has the record of gathering the quickest notes in the least time. Now that the Vees and other Overlords (but mainly the Vees, let's not kid ourselves) are on this one, wonder how it will fare. I think I already know the answer. Now let's jump to it.

The Vees

While they're all seen having a drink in the conference room, they haven't been seen nor mentioned getting inebriated, so it's mostly speculation from there.

Vox, from his personality, could cycle between "emotional", "nostalgic", and "pathetic", ranging from a hyper, super-excited guy that tries to one-up everyone to a sobbing mess because Alastor left meeeee...! and embarrass himself - well, not much of a change from his sober self, in retrospect. He would hold it relatively well though, have a bit of resilience until the watergates open, but the more Vox drinks, the closer he gets to the "emotional" side of it. On a darker side, he could also be the "violent" and "angry" type of drunk, especially around the middle of the slippery slope : not outright trying to get into fights but sure not stopping once it has started until he has gouged something out of someone, or someone out of something. But I can also see him being the "denying" type, trying to make people believe he's way less drunk than he actually is - he'll hide it well (having practice as a multimedia CEO and colleague babysitter)... for a while. The more he drinks the more cracks in the façade appear, at which point everyone can see he's sloshed even through a blindfold but won't peep a word unless they want to provoke the wrath of the TV man. The next mornings are spent deliberately avoiding eye-contact with him and editing everything out of feed themselves as to not tip him off either, and pretending collective amnesia (or even better : "Oh I wouldn't know, Mr Vox, I was too drunk !"). Blissful ignorance.

Vox would be somewhat around a normal weight, though he could outlast Charlie by a few glasses, but like Alastor if he downs a whole bottle he's done for. The only difference between them is that they would have their hints of tipsyness inverted : Vox would be physically clumsy but able to perfectly rant like Robin Williams with almost perfect pronounciation, while Alastor can keep up no problem on the dancefloor but have his words tying in knots and stumbling upon themselves like the screwiest pretzel. Well, that, and having their gazes slightly out of focus, a looser 100-watts grin and still talking to that poor coatrack in the corner that didn't asked for it - though Vox might be able to better differenciate things from living things, he's just unaware he's asking the wrong person about his pitch sale of demonic baby powder with abestos inside.

Velvette would be the "competitive" drunk, and the "cranky" one. On normal she already thinks everything and everyone is pants-on-head retarded, so a drunk Velvette might be able to dish out so much piling up verbal abuse you'd need wings to stay above it. She'd also be the "susceptible" type : breathe one word wrong and she's at your throat, whether it's someone way more powerful than her or not. Kinda the embodiment of yeah keep your eyes on Napoleon there, she's gonna start something we're gonna finish (absolutely not my 5' arse even when sober with my 6'4" friends in gatherings. Nope. Nnnnnope.) she'll promise to destroy you on every social media platform she mans or owns, and by the time she's right as rain again only remembers half of it. But she WILL want to know what went down, to turn it to her advantage and erase every instance of recorded poor decisions on her part. What's worse with her is that, like Lucifer, you can't really tell she's boozed up : it looks so much like her everyday attitude, only worse (congrats on that) that the only evidence will be the multiplying number of empty glasses and the diminishing levels of whatever's inside the bottles. The only metric you could go by is how fast she snaps when angry - if it's something in the milliseconds instead of the centiseconds, yep, she has a few glasses in her already. She'll still be coherent and girlbossing through it like a champ, busting out moves that would lead an Olympic pro skater into the Paralympics instead, and have astounishing eye for details despite her plastered state, as if it accrued her already good sense of picking up small things (only, again, to remember half of it once the rush goes down).

She'll probably hold better than what her weight and stature suggests, possibly outdrinking Vox, though not to the point of Angel, or Husk. She'll start feeling something around the 15th glass possibly, and by 20-22 is assuredly smashed, but hiding it rather well (undeliberately, it just doesn't really show on her) but I wouldn't want to be around her for the morning after, boy.

Valentino, hoooo sweet mother of god and all her wacky nephews, now he'll be something. As a pimp who regularly uses drugs and his various aphrodisiac/narcotic powers, smoke included, he'll be rather resistant, because he built said resistance overtime, and his lifestyle very much helps with that. He'll hold his own fairly well, but when he reaches the point of being three sheets to the wind, he goes down HARD. A slurry, half-coherent mess that just lets his body do its thing on its own, with bouts of sudden energy before crumbling down in a heap again. Don't ask him to dance unless you want yourself, and everyone else around, ending up in a hospital : him and a drunk Vox could take out everyone in a 10 meter radius during a slow waltz. Given his temperament, Val would hop from "angry" and "violent" type (unlike Vox, he will seek out the fights and shoot at the slightest provocation) to "seducing" and "happy with everything", but the surprising part, methinks, would be that he'd be also a "nostalgic" and "contemplative" type of drunk, and NOBODY expected that one. He'll wax philosophical while downing his 20th glass and musing about life, one elbow on the counter, nursing the drink in his hand, before snapping back to shooting the fucking pianist dead because the tune irritates him. It's really a ping-pong game of states and you better fucking hope he doesn't get to serve, because that curveball is hard to dodge. He also loves the feeling of being fuzzed out of his mind (fuzzed. FUZZED. Two Z, gutterbrains) and riding the wave while it lasts, but he hates having to depart from it and will prolong it as much as he can. Not that his mornings are particularly bad, unlike Velvette above, but because he likes just giving into the impulse and not having to care about pesky things like thinking and managing a business.

He'll need a bottle and a half or two to get completely tanked, and will range from impossible to reason with and be let loose, to semi-casual during his contemplative episodes. Basically, he's like a tornado : you point him in a certain direction opposite to you and when shit stops flying, you hope you're in a better shape than whoever poor schmucks were around at that time. He will 100% confuse people with things, and, as the meme goes in this fandom, try to make out with a lamppost or two, then become angry that it ain't listening to get in the car for more "fun". Hey, I had to say it, it would have been a missed opportunity otherwise.

Other Overlords

Rosie isn't against a few glasses of fine wine (it goes well with liver, as we all know), and very much knows how to keep her composure, but also lets herself get loose a bit. She's the "giggling" type, finding everything charming and funny, but again, don't be fooled, that makes her no less dangerous, just jollier and sillier. Might also say hello to every bird and dog that passes and curtsy to the local squirrel if quite inebriated, but otherwise she can tank it like a boss : expect at least two bottles down, and she'll give Husk a run for his money. Careful with the chop-chop-happy attitude, though. She could also bust out cutting sarcasm that would normally be hidden behind the sober filter, a bit like Treasure Planet's Captain Amelia.

Zestial... doesn't know what getting smashed looks like. He'll stick to his tea, thank you very much, but on the occasion, does enjoy a very fine wine. He'll be the only guy still standing after everyone else is shaking the white sheet, shrug, and go on his way. This ancient and powerful being is above the turpitude of youngsters and their funny, slurry-worded games.

Carmilla, while reasonable, would be a "tired" drunk - if she ever drank herself to this point to begin with. Everything's too loud, she can't find what's so funny about the curtains' motif or the wallpaper, and just watch, trying to blink away her daze, as others make fools of themselves. She's in no mood for fancy acrobatics but might casually pop one move or two in a complete blasé way to avoid that stumbling drunkard. The main difference is that she's slower, a wee bit sloppier, but no less graceful - it's like a different type of grace, one that's more languid, applied, tai-chi like. She might also become something of a terse talker, giving out a few words at a time, expect monosyllables and vague non-committing hums from her. If launched on a topic of interest, blurts out very technical and analytic paragraphs, only to switch back to one word every five minutes once it's done. Wouldn't be very sociable either, and avoid contact on reflex : it's just not her thing.

Next part, Heaven's side !

Again, Masterpost here.

[itz-wanderer]

Even if it's only for a short time that I've read your fic. But I love your fic so much! And would you mind if I asked about [ Majima ] and [ Kiryu ] accidentally overhearing his S/O singing? Then her voice is so beautiful ! And they instantly fell in love with her voice.

( My English isn't that good, but I'm still practicing. )

Hello!! I'm sorry you have to wait so long for this and this turns out longer than it should be 😔 but I hope you enjoy this! Thank you for requesting! 🫶🏻

Majima and Kiryu falling in love with their s/o’s voice

Kiryu Kazuma

- When on a date with your charming Kiryu, he would see to it that the day ended with a smile so wide that it barely fitted your face.

- One of his favorite things he liked to do when the date was coming to an end was holding hands and walking down the streets while you rested your head on his strong shoulders. It made him think he was dependable for the only person he wanted to feel that way. It sure made you think this was a romantic way to end the date but all you could do was sigh when you learned he only did so to lead you to a Karaoke bar. Seeing excitement on his face bloom like a flower when he was reserving a room, you could tell he really loved to sing.

- You never minded it either. Afterall “Baka Mitai” was your favorite too. His bass voice was something that always made you feel nostalgic and it soothed your heart.

- Once he was done, it was your turn to shine and Kiryu happily handed you the mic cheering you up. You sure felt nervous but you knew this was the last person you would want getting disappointed and so you sang, the best ever you had in your life.

- Hearing you sing “Like a Butterfly” literally had his heart crumbled to pieces considering how cutely and angelically you sang it. He just couldn’t hold it in and showered you with compliments as he joined along with you making it a duo.

- Kiryu was still enthralled from hearing you sing his favorite song and he just could not get enough of it and wanted to listen to more of you.

- You were happy that he loved it and your stomach was filled with butterflies seeing him hold you closer now while walking back home. “Your pitch and tone was so on point! I never knew you could sing this well” he muttered. All you could do was just go along with his praises on your way back home.

- "I wanna hear you sing once again…” he trailed off as he dropped you by your house and embraced you in a hug before kissing you good night.

Majima Goro

- It’s been one of your routine to come visit Majima’s apartment every now and then, usually you’d text him first if you were visiting but this time you didn’t, you thought he’d be home already but seems like his house is empty.

- You tried to call him, no answers, so you sent in some texts, in the meantime, since you have the spare key, you decided to get inside and cook something to surprise him later. You had learned from one of the hostesses at his cabaret that he once mentioned “Karaage” being one of his favorite dishes; so you get to making it right away.

- Cooking has been your specialty,a lot of people love your cooking, that’s just your talent. You make sure that you are making other foods besides Karaage as well, afterall, he needs to eat some vegetables too right?

- You’re taking your time cooking, making sure that it tastes delicious while enjoying yourself singing to your favorite song. You didn’t notice that Majima was already home. He was leaning on the doorframe. Listening to your singing, hearing your soothing voice is all he needs after his tiresome day. He feels giddy and falls in love with you all over again every time he hears your voice.

- He walks slowly to you and embraces you from behind, wrapping his arms around your waist and kissing the side of your neck while whispering “I’m home”. You blushed as soon as you felt his arms grasp your waist leaving you shuddering for a moment thinking he heard you going all out just now. You nervously turned around to hug him scared to even make eye contact thinking he might be laughing which made you bury your face even more in his chest,

- “Why didn’t you knock when you entered!” you exclaimed, hitting his chest with your fists which made him giggle. “Now what’s the fun in that? I never would’ve guessed my girl had such an angelic voice that it put me in a trance and just mesmerized me to keep on listening to you”.

- You were used to hearing compliments from him but this time it felt somewhat special. You never would’ve guessed him liking your voice so much that it made you blush so hard almost making you forget that the food was burning and Majima had slowly reached out behind your back and turned off the stove. You felt even more embarrassed now considering you were gonna surprise him with his favorite dish and because of your nervousness that plan had just gone down the drain.

Note :

Feel free to send more!

[isabelinlove]

Merry Christmas, Dickhead

Pairing: Isabel x Roman (pre-relationship)

Word count: 1k

Summary: Isabel and Roman have slightly different views on Christmas. Takes place during season 1 (the Christmas following the infamous 1.05 Thanksgiving).

Warnings: Mostly fluffy, but contains very brief canon-typical allusions to childhood trauma/abuse. Also contains typical Roman weirdness.

A/N: Tis the season… for a Romebel Christmas fic!! I actually wrote this one last year but it’s still one of my faves <3

“If I have to hear Holly Jolly Christmas one more time, I’m going to fucking strangle myself,” Roman grumbles as he enters his office, hastily removing the scarf from around his neck and throwing it across the back of his chair.

“Good morning to you, too,” Isabel replies, not looking up from her computer. After a month and a half of working for him, she’s grown used to her boss’s erratic behavior.

“Seriously, I don’t know how anyone can fucking stomach that shit,” he continues.

“Christmas music?” she asks.

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know, I kind of like it.”

“You’re shitting me,” he replies, walking over and leaning up against her desk. “Why? It’s all Jesus and reindeer and touchy-feely bullshit and ‘you’d better be in the holiday spirit or Santa will personally shove a candy cane up your ass.’” He mimics the action with his hand, and Isabel rolls her eyes. “I didn’t think you’d be into that crap.”

“I know,” she replies. “But… it’s nostalgic. Reminds me of my childhood, I guess.”

“Yuck,” Roman says, making a face.

“I’m guessing you don’t feel the same?”

“Well, growing up, Roy family Christmases weren’t exactly holly and jolly,” he replies. She expects him to leave it at that, but he continues. “I mostly remember a lot of yelling, as a result of Mummy and Daddy’s rapidly deteriorating marriage. Then there was the time Kendall threw a snowball at me that was 90% ice and I had a black eye in all the family photos. Dad was livid about it. Probably because he didn’t want people to think he did it. But, hey, at least we had Mummy’s Christmas cookies! Which of course weren’t made with love, but purchased from the most expensive caterer in town. One time she scolded me for eating more than one and told me I was going to get fat.”

“Oh,” is all Isabel can manage in response. She’s always wondered why Roman is… well, the way he is, but never before has he divulged so much information about his less-than-happy childhood.

“Fuck you, don’t look at me like that,” he says, noticing the way her face falls. “I don’t want your pity.”

“Fine, asshole,” she replies, quickly pivoting. It’s much easier to dish Roman’s snarky attitude back to him than say something sincere. She knows it’s what he prefers, too. “I’m just surprised your spoiled ass doesn't have memories of getting every gift you ever could have wanted every single year.”

“Well, yeah, I have those, too,” he retorts, straightening himself up. “It’s just… the other stuff kind of stuck with me more.” He says it quietly, almost vulnerably, then returns to his own desk before Isabel can reply. She turns her attention back to her emails, trying very hard not to think about how bad she feels for her pathetic jerk of a boss.

**

The following Friday, Roman returns from a miserably boring board meeting to a quiet office. He checks the time — 5:17 — and realizes that Isabel must have already left. He’s given her two weeks off for Christmas, a hefty bonus, and — maybe against his better judgment — a Chanel bag, hoping that it’s enough to say ‘thank you’ for everything she’s done for him. He’s never been good with kind words.

Roman turns his attention to his own desk, and is surprised to find a present sitting on top. It’s rectangular and fairly small, neatly wrapped in shiny green paper and tied with a large red ribbon. At first, he assumes someone is making a merry attempt to either bribe or poison him, until he reads the note attached to the ribbon:

Merry Christmas, dickhead.

Love,

Your long-suffering assistant

PS: Eat as many as you want, I don’t care if you get fat (you won’t)

He grins and begins to unwrap it. Inside is a Tupperware container filled with Christmas cookies. Homemade Christmas cookies, he realizes, as he removes the lid. Two different kinds — peanut butter with chocolate Kisses in the center, and sugar cookies cut into various festive shapes. The icing on the sugar cookies is a little wonky, but that makes them all the more charming. Still smiling, he pulls out a snowman and takes a bite. It’s good — way better than anything he remembers from his childhood. A funny feeling washes over him as he realizes that this is the most thoughtful gift he’s received in years.

Christmas comes several days later, and, as expected, the Roy family dinner is anything but jolly. Connor is freaking out about the doneness of the roast, Shiv and Tom are having a domestic dispute in the living room, and Roman’s father is once again questioning him about his inability to keep a girlfriend. After making some half-assed excuse about wanting to focus on work, he sighs and downs his glass of Merlot, attempting to tune out the cacophony of unhappy voices around him. Just two more hours and he can get out of there.

Roman’s mind starts to wander, and soon he’s thinking back to the conversation he had with Isabel. He wonders what she’s doing right now, and hopes she’s having a better time than him. She probably is, if Christmas music makes her feel warm and fuzzy inside instead of nauseous. All of a sudden, his mind conjures up an image of her baking the cookies she gave him. She’s dressed in a bright red sweater, smiling sweetly and humming along to Holly Jolly Christmas as she mixes the dough, like something out of one of those shitty Hallmark movies. It’s absolutely fucking ridiculous, and never in a million years would he admit that he’s having such domestic fantasies about her. But as the dinner drags on and his family’s arguing becomes more heated, his thoughts keep drifting back to it. It’s a wholesome contrast to the shit show unfolding around him at the moment. And maybe, just maybe, it makes him feel a little warm and fuzzy inside.

Tagging @tomfoolies

[eeclare]

Headcanons: but a Lot

I made a pinterest board for the belchers & co. and saved pics that i feel represent the characters lol and they have inspired me and my latest Bobby borger headcanons :) enjoy

Linda

You would think that bob would have the wicked classic rock cd collection but irl that is our lovely lady Linda

She isn't the BIGGEST classic rock fan but her dad was and she just kinda picked it up

makes her feel nostalgic, y'know

but generally she's more of an 80s pop and show tune enthusiast

and she’s def an overall kinda gal

With a classic red long-sleeve? Yes pls

when she wasn’t allowed to keep buying porcelain babies she switched to ceramic birds for a little while

And she fs has a bird feeder hanging outside the kitchen window

Linda sometimes gets her nails done

Bright red and LONG

sometimes a french tip but that’s only when she’s not feeling the long guys

And red lipstick is a must ofc

she discovered that red was her colour and just let it overtake her

Cherry pie and a little bit of ice cream go a long way in her book

But her fav food and breakfast most days (when neither she or Bob are in the mood too really cook) is Tomato toast

Sometimes with cream cheese, but mostly just toasted with butter and season with salt and pepper

She just can’t get enough of it she loves tomatoes and she loves bread so it just works

The medicine cabinet in the bathroom is full of her clutter and crap lol

No true medicine to be found (other than bob’s prescribed pills ofc)

lots of nail polish, for when she can’t afford to get her nails done

One for her bday gene made her a ceramic tooth trinket box

to keep all of his teeth in, obviously

Keeps forcing her family on “quick” three hour hikes

she STILL tries to knit, esp after how great the kids’ reactions were to the one she made for Christmas

Whenever she and the kids are waiting around for bob to make thanksgiving dinner she puts on the thanksgiving day parade on TV

her fav float is snoopy

Ideal boblin date? Wine in the eve on the beach with chocolate and strawberries

she one time heard some teenager say that they were “frickin’ zazzed” and now she says it all the time

She doesn’t know cut her some slack 😭

It makes Louise pee herself laughing lmao

When Linda is behind the grill she gives the burgers ketchup smileys

One time she got drunk and made a pope hat out of paper and tried to put it on little king trash mouth

….it went about as well as you would expect…

Bob!!

Bob tries to do the NYT crossword

Unsuccessfully

When he gets his new phone she discovers the mini cross words and the app

linda literally could not get him to turn the phone off lmfaoo

eventually tho he gets her into wordle and now they play together nightly

I say they play 'together' but they actually play against each other

Like, hardcore

His fav. Halloween candy that the kids would get are those burger gummies

The kids had never actually had one until Gene hid a few in his socks bcs Bob would take them all before they even had the chance

he’s a cool dad. (tm)

Bob’s got this one Jean jacket that is so filled with holes it’s unsightly

But he just will not get rid of it lol

Why? Who knows

his ideal thanksgiving dinner is one of those idealistic 70s thanksgiving ads

Genuinely bob’s heaven

once for his bday he was served a burger with candles in it

linda thought it was funny

(so did bob)

i think that he secretly loves making spaghetti

Esp spaghetti Bolognese idk it just feels like a very Bob coded dish

When he serves the kids eggs and bacon he makes them a little smiley face AWWWH

Louise gave him a world’s okayest dad mug which he uses

Frequently

the glove compartment in the car has one of those flip through cd cases and it is just FULL of pirated cds lol

In his younger days he was a big fan of Levi’s jeans

He’s saved them all for when Gene is big enough to wear them

Or whichever of his other kids are interested ofc he doesn’t judge

Hates that Linda let’s the kids watch the thanksgiving day parade

He just thinks that it perpetuates the fact that thanksgiving has turned into a capitalist’s dream

“It’s the principle, Lin!”

Louise

One time Gloria gave her one of those sand animals (ykno the ones)

And now she can’t get enough of them

I also firmly believe that she never gets her ears pierced lol

But she was incredibly tempted to when she saw those spiky rainbow earrings in Clair’s

Secretly Louise fs enjoys linda and Gene’s spa days and facial routines and she often participates

Hair wrapped up in a towel, face mask and everything

when linda makes them all go on those loooong “short” hikes Louise occasionally finds a bone or two

Which she (incorrectly) bleaches and keeps in her room obvi

If it were up to her shoes would be a never

Loves the feeling of grass on her feet

When she was a toddler Linda would put her in those purple jelly sandals

Sensory hell for her

BEGS Bob and linda for a hamster or Guinea pig or ANYTHING but alas, fails miserably

Chronic frog catcher

Gene, who is terrified of frogs, hates it

genuinely the bane of his existence

she eventually upgrades the walkie talkies to further range ones

Bob one time went into a comic book store and found a gummo figurine and gave it to Louise and she loves it

But he did have to convince her to keep it in the box

“It could be worth A LOT one day Louise”

Louise got into rainbow loom

Not as a fun little hobby but as a black market business

frond caught her tho so rip that

As a “middle schooler” she collects anime figurines

the cute ones, not the sex ones

As well as horror movie figurines

When she was a kid she was obsessed with those light up shoes lmao

Personally I believe that Louise eventually needs braces for a couple years

But she convinces Bob and Linda that she loves/wants to keep her gap tooth so they get them removed early

Collects silly bands

Always covered in bandaids (but like, the colourful kind)

She eventually starts to paint her nails

Each finger is a dif colour

She likes to collect creepy porcelain dolls too

She’s a big collector, if you couldn’t tell

Paul frank t shirts for daaaayyyys

Big graphic novel/manga reader

She almost convinced Bob to let her get a frog

But again, gene

She hates socks but I firmly believe that she will wear tights/stockings if she absolutely has to

Has a few of bobs old band tees (gene has most of them)

Went through a phase where she constantly drew shit with chalk outside the restaurant

Some of it was cute, some of it was plans for world domination

Tina also gave her a little star necklace for her 13th bday and Louise literally never takes it off

(cuties pies)

Big graphic novel enjoyer

and im hoping this isn't too niche but she really enjoys courtney crumrin specifically

I may be projecting here a little tho bcs that was MY fav graphic novel when I was her age lmao

Gene

Has three tamagotchi pets that he keeps on a keychain that he keeps in his pockets/backpack

So. Many. Hawaiian shirts.

Loves super hero comics

Not a graphic novel fan though

Also likes collecting super hero action figures

Sour patch kids are his fav candie

Has the most narrow bed

has to sleep with a fan on at all times

not just cuz the noise makes his senses go brrr and helps him sleep

but because he is also a very sweaty boy

twinning with tina fr

Huge 80s vibe always

All of his pencils have bite marks all over them lol

Genes a nervous test taker

his palms get sweaty knees weak arms are heavy

on that note, he lowkey gets into rap

any rap: mumble, freestyle, mainstream

He wears his red converse until they literally falls of his feet

Has buttons and pins on all of his jackets/sweaters

Yugio fan??

Wears his white socks in the grass all the time

Drives linda CRAZY

Over alls are a staple in his wardrobe

same with flannel button ups

Bob thrifts Gene an acoustic guitar for his 14th bday

so he learns to play the guitar! He’s kind of a natural

okay so he's not THAT good but he's good enough

He also gets a cheap mini synth at some point and it replaces the casio just a little bit

Has to get braces and sticks to it

The bands are always funky colours, often in a rainbow order

Has a bunch of vintage Jean jackets

After his red converse finally fall apart he transfers to blue knock off converse with orange laces

Has at least three bags full of discount candy at all times

He went through a space phase so he’s got planet stickers on the wall by his bed

Gets a cassette player and tapes for his bday at some point

From Linda

And at some point thrifts himself doc martens

Obsessed with the muppets

Esp animal and janice

Lana stan

(Sorta)

Tons of bobs old band tees

becomes a SoundCloud rapper as a joke

But why is he lowkey good 😭

Gets a pink bike

“I’m cool bcs my mom says so”

Thrifts himself a cheapo electric guitar and covers it in stickers

Sounds like shit but tbh it works

Tina-Bina

When she was little Linda made her a canopy for her bed

It’s kinda patchy but that’s okay it suits her

Tortoise shell glasses become her jam in high school

Still has a classic black pair as a backup

Always worried

Has a notebook/journal on her at ALL TIMES

Multiple unicorn figures

And porcelain horses (from Linda ofc)

Her chariot doll stays on her desk and/or nightstand

Her room is a hot pink, not a baby pink lol

It’s a little obnoxious

Loves lip smacker

Never gets rid of her bangs

But she does grow her hair out a little bit past her shoulders

Thinks it makes her look older

Paul frank t shirts that she hands down to Louise over time

Emergency phone becomes her phone lol

She does put a horse sticker on the back and she loves it

MLP themes pencil case is the mlp think she owns

Most of her school supplies is horse related, tho

Lisa frank stickers

Likes the classic vintage my little pony dolls

“Ugh”

Horse shaped birthday cake

Teal nail polish when she’s feeling fancy

But she consistently has clear polish on

Makes Tina feel classy

She lowkey collects plastic farm animals lol

She read the perks of being a wallflower once and it became her whole personality for about two weeks

Blue collared shirts with jean shirts

Or an overall dress

Has a locket with a drawing of jerico that she made

She wears it pretty often lol

Jimmy jr’s school photo sits snugly on the other side

Loves 80s windbreakers

Her fav is blue with a yellow stripe across the shoulders

Star shaped barrette that Louise found for her on the sidewalk lmao

Called herself ‘ghost girl’ while she was pretending to be a so-called bad girl

Poofy 80s pink prom dress that’s passed down to her from Linda

Can write in cursive rlly well

So many unicorn plushies

Put beads on her shoe lacss

She has three blue t shirts with an embroidered rainbow on them

She loves them and wears them all the time

Enjoys playing solitaire

Still big into drinking coffee lol

Linda made her a pony keychain out of felt and she uses it as an accessory

i.e. hangs it off of her overall dress, belt loop, backpack, etc

swiftie?? she just vibes with the music so hard

esp folklore

"IM A MIRRORBALLLLL"

She's so sweet and relatable i just love Tina so much

[schrijverr]

A Homecoming Wrapped in Lies 2

Chapter 2 out of 6

5 times Oliver didn’t come back from Lian Yu + 1 time he did

AKA I think we should talk about Oliver only being on Lian Yu for 48 hours before he was rescued and the implications of not being on a deserted island but in civilization for quite a bit of his time away.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: none

~~~

2. Food

Oliver knows that saying he’s been on a deserted island by himself for five years is the best way to avoid uncomfortable questions and suspicion. However, looking down at his plate, he wishes he can tell them that he’s been in Russia for a year already and that he was in Hong Kong a bit before that, with eating shipments of normal food in between.

He knows the doctors mean well in prescribing a bland diet to help his stomach get used to eating food that isn’t fresh. When Waller fished him out the sea, she had him do it too, since his stomach wasn’t used to anything after two years of only eating wild vegetables and hunted game.

But he doesn’t need to adjust now. He’s done that already. He doesn’t want to eat this food, instead he wants to ask Raisa if she can make some of the dishes of her homeland, having grown fond of the taste, though he liked the food in Hong Kong a bit more.

Listlessly, he pokes at his plate, distaste obvious on his face. It has all the nutrients he needs and works with his story… He just also wants to pout about it.

“It’s alright, Oliver,” his mother’s voice snaps him out of his thoughts. “Soon you can stomach more and we’ll make you your favorite. I’m sure you missed lobster.”

Lobster. Of course, that used to be his favorite food. A small embarrassed part of himself is glad it wasn’t something more obscenely expensive, like caviar.

“I have,” he lies with a put on smile, deciding not to inform her of the fact that his favorite food is now dumplings, remembering the ones Tatsu used to make. The thought of his time with the Yamashiro family sends a stab through his chest and he shoves a bite of plain food in his mouth to end the conversation.

Tommy noticed his diet when he came by for dinner that first night, so he doesn’t have any luck of sneaking some nice food with him there. With his miraculous return, going outside alone only gets him unwanted attention and his family has shared every meal with him since, too happy he’s back to waste time without him. It’s sweet, but also a bit annoying.

He wants to remain as under the radar as possible, so a reprieve doesn’t come until he’s introduced to one Mr. Diggle.

Oliver fully escapes him that first day, however, having the man there means he can eat without anyone worrying he isn’t eating well, while also not having someone there that will tell him not to eat the food he wants. At least, he hopes so as he crosses his fingers when he asks Diggle to drive him to a Chinese restaurant in an unassuming part of town, praying his mom isn’t so much of a hoverer to have told Diggle about his special diet.

“Of course, sir,” Diggle says, driving away. Success!

The Chinese restaurant smells nostalgic and he breathes it in for a second with a smile, before remembering Diggle behind him. He clears his throat and makes his way over to the counter, ordering dumplings, chicken feet and the spiciest Chóngqìng xiǎomiàn soup they have to go.

He tells Diggle to order something if he wants, but the man refuses, which is no skin off Oliver’s back, so he waits until his food is done, happily taking it to the car.

They park somewhere secluded and Oliver inhales the food, unable to stop some of the happy noises he’s making as he expertly uses his chopsticks to eat. It’s almost like the food in Hong Kong, just different quality produce. It tastes like a better time.

He’s pulled out of his memories by Diggle commenting: “You must have had some spice tolerance before that island. Those aren’t easy on the tongue.”

Oliver looks up, slurping the last of his spicy noodles, feeling a bit guilty, but also observed. Watched. He doesn’t like it. He meets Diggle’s eyes in the mirror and with his best poker face, he says: “Chili peppers grew naturally on the island.”

He’s pretty sure Diggle doesn’t believe a word he says, but he also isn’t the kind of man to tattle or judge. At least, not without discretion. So, he just nods. And when Oliver’s mom mentions his sensitive stomach while Diggle’s nearby, the man does nothing but look at Oliver and raise his brows.

In return, Oliver sends him a blank innocent smile, as if he doesn’t have a clue why he’s earned that look. It might be a blow to his cover, but the food was worth it.

[chvndlr]

CHANDLER LINWOOD || TASK 13 || SHORT & SWEET

What is your favorite book from childhood? I read quite a bit when I was a kid, but the only book series I read again and again was Harry Potter. I know that's such a basic answer, but whatever. I loved the idea of going to magic boarding school in England. I haven't really read them since everything started happening with JK though.

Do you own an item that comforts you when you’re sad? Alcohol. But I just got sober, so I can't do that anymore. I'm not sure. They're not items, but my pets I guess. I have a dog (Jenna) and a cat (Ryan Reynolds). Jenna especially; nothing against RR. But he's a lot more independent than she is. So even if I'm down, I still have to walk her and get out of the house a couple times a day and that helps a lot.

What makes you happy? I love to cook. Finding recipes, buying all the ingredients, and challenging myself in the kitchen. It takes up a lot of my free time, but I don't mind. I try to make something every night, although I usually have enough leftovers that I cook a little less than that. What are three things you like about yourself? I have a good sense of humor. I can't think of anything else though, how fucked up is that?

Which season is your favorite? Winter. Hands down. The snow, the cold weather, the holidays. My birthday's in winter too. I don't do well in the heat, and I don't like hanging out at the beach. That wasn't a problem growing up in the midwest but you Merrockites (Merrockians?) really like your fucking beach. Winter, nobody asks me to hang out there or go swimming or threaten to make me try surfing.

Do you believe in the supernatural? Sure? I do think there's shit going on that humans are oblivious too whether it's ghosts or cryptids or whatever. But I haven't really thought about this topic much, no strong feelings either way

Name a song that has a deeper meaning to you I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I only expect, like, two people to actually get this far. Bosco by Placebo. It's got a weird name, but it's a really bittersweet song and it helped me a lot through my last relationship and the breakup afterwards. What do you think about social media? I mean, I'm on everything. Kind of need to be for my photography business. And I do love a good meme. But I don't even wanna talk to people in person, let alone on my couch when I'm by myself.

What would be your dream job? I don't know. Still figuring that out. Name three things you don’t leave the house without Keys, phone and wallet are all a bit obvious, right? I usually have my airpods as well. Camera if I'm not just going to the cafe, or worried about it getting ruined. What is your favorite comfort food? We have this thing in Minnesota called hot dish. It's literally tater tots, cream of mushroom soup and ground beef. Objectively, it's repulsive. But I grew up eating it a lot and it's kinda nostalgic for me now. Are you an active person? / What do you do to stay active? Hah. Yeah, I'm super active. I walked all around the kanto region yesterday without leaving my bed! Name your three biggest inspirations (people-wise) No thanks. My late uncle, my childhood friend from Minnesota, and Beck. But don't tell Beck. He's already annoying enough without knowing that. What is currently your favorite airing show? I haven't been keeping up with TV much. I have a whole backlog of shows I need to watch....nothing I could tell you is still airing. If you had to go anywhere right now, where would you go? If I had to? My high school sorta-ex-boyfriend had a cabin up in Northern Minnesota we would go to a lot for privacy. It was so nice up there. I haven't visited since I was a kid

[fumikomiyasaki]

🎨 for Ellis and Fennec!

🥚 for Fabio and Artemis (I mean, you have to include the rabbit for easter!)

🥞 for Alice and Elvira (hopefully three isn’t too much!)

Easter prompts (I have to take Fabio out sadly cause... well He is out of commision for April for a certain reason I won't specify, he will be back after april but over the month he mainly be in his room)

🎨 - our muses decorate some eggs

Somewhat he felt nostalgic as Ellis and Grim sat next to him preparing everything for painting some eggs for easter... he rather chose this place than his own dorm, given how messy some his dorm mates were compared to the calm atmosphere of the ramshackle dorm. Especially cause he knows the Ghost kids probably make much messes during this.

Instead he could now get some peace and listen to Ellis ramblings about the last time Fennec took her to one of the Polisionalles Theater plays and what she knew of the original stories... as he continued to let his brush run over the eggs.

"Say Fennec, how come you know these patterns anyways... they are on your clothing as well?"

"Its... the last memories I have of my parents and my brother... in the end I am one of the last survivors of our tribe... so I want to keep its legacy alive."

"I see... its also why you have those wings right?"

A firm not from him, part of his hand trembled thinking back to his brother... for one it was a reason why before he was annoyed being stranded in this world but since meeting Ellis it wasn't that bad of a detour... yet he still hadn't forgotten his goal... to either confirm his brothers death or find a way to save him from his stone condition... as Ellis noticed his uneasyness she put her hand on his.

"How about I find a way to make you smile instead? Whatever way you go I will support you."

"Right you said as much... you are also a reason I want to always come back in this place... even if its not my original home."

"Fennec..."

"What I can be honest too from time to time?"

He avoided his gaze with a red face as she nodded.

"Then lets get this work done and after that, how about we get distracted with watching a movie."

"Sounds fine by me."

He loved when she smile that bright... to him it truely was a beacon of hope despite being still kinda lost in this world... and even if grim made grunts of annoyances... he prefers this atmosphere much more than to his own dorm.

🥞 - our muses make and/or enjoy brunch

A bit of surprised was on the priestess face as Alice did invite her over for a brunch... of course she showed many signs of interest in the lady but hoped nobody was ever aware... she prayed that nobody would notice her interest... In somewhat of a worry she walked into this dorm... many members putting her off as she walked by them and ignored them.

Yet here she sat down on a prepared table with wine, some fancy dishes and looking up respectfully at the tall lady...

"Try some, I would be curious about your opinions."

It wouldn't be that bad to try a bit of the glass... after all the gods themself endulged in a bit of wine. And so Elvira took a small sip feeling somewhat satisfied.

"I am impressed really... you own up to your reputation but I still wonder, why invited a simple devout woman as I?"

The Vampiress got up her seat and leaned down, putting a hand on Elviras chin, getting her flustered.

"Your curious eyes are fun to see... even if it would be better you are more honest about your feelings."

A shiver went down her spine... somewhat she enjoyed the attention yet.

"It would be a sin to pursue this feeling... hence I refuse... nothing can stray me from my paths."

"Nothing you say... that sounds like a challenge to me... "

The priestess tried to face her eyes yet grew weak quickly... feeling somewhat mezmerized by how confident she looked at her... maybe the sin was more tempting than she thought yet... her head was stubborn, she quickly turned to the food and took a crumb of a bread.

"I appreciate your concern but Alice... I admit I took a liking to you yet I still can't gather my thoughts... I am torn between two sides..."

"Well I guess then I have to be a little more convincing towards you."

It really was like she was toying with her heart... but it was also like she enjoyed it a little... after the food she prayed... hoping that god wouldn't judge her too hard for her thoughts and feelings.

[taichissu]

summaries of the backstage stories of akigumi's picaresque returns N cards

it's all messy bc i was just typing quick to send to friends but i figured some of y'all would be interested and don't feel like reading the actual backstage stories

these backstage stories seem to be focused on chores! extremely cute domestic scenarios!!

banri: was asked by izumi to help with grocery shopping bc she's on shopping duty and she realized they ran out of rice and oil and soy sauce and it'd be too heavy for her -, they go and banri ends up having to carry like a shit ton of bags (izumi asks if she should help but banri says he can handle it), banri thinks about how izumi bullies him to carry the bags just like his sister - they run into settsu nee-chan who was on her way to the dorms for a visit and chat a little bit, she gives them a gift and izumi's like "I'll carry it since banri's hands are full" and settsu nee-chan is like "no, no, he can handle it, right banri?" and banri's like "(after all, nee-chan is worse than kantoku-chan....)"

juza: juza is doing the dishes, sakuya spilled a drink and needed a rag to clean it, after he cleans it juza says he'll wash the rag since he's already there but sakuya feels uneasy about it bc he doesn't like putting burden on others for something He should be doing, there's a little bit of back and forth (its fine really <> no i insist!) and eventually juza agrees to sakuya helping with the dishes instead, juza thinks about how when he first met sakuya he thought he's timid, but turns out he's actually extremely stubborn - sakuya brings up that he's a little nostalgic bc he found an old photo from when they first moved into the dorms, juza noticed that in the photo sakuya looks super fidgety standing next to him, juza says it's no surprise to be scared around someone like him (🥺), sakuya says its not that he was scared but rather just nervous bc they didn't know each other well, juza admits he was nervous too - he didn't want them to be scared of him but he didn't know how to act at all, juza says he's okay now though and he knows they're not scared of him, sakuya says that everyone can tell how kind juza really is

taichi: taichi's on rehearsal room cleaning duty, it's not often he gets to be in the room alone so he starts messing around in front of the mirror and being silly, he practices some poses he read about in the magazines that are meant to make him look cool and sexy, he's interrupted by yuki and the rest of natsugumi, hes surprised that so much time has passed already and he apologizes bc he hadnt finished cleaning the room yet, turns out natsugumi saw everything, muku and kumon think taichi looked really cool, but even so taichi is extremely embarrassed and, while crying, begs them to erase everything they saw from memory

omi: omi's doing the dishes and banri comes to get water, he notices how Clean the kitchen is, it's sparkling, it's as if omi did a deep clean, omi says that he just needed to clean it since he uses the kitchen the most and a dirty kitchen bothers him as a cook, omi says that he didn't really do much he just washed the dishes and the stove and all the pots and-, banri says that suddenly he feels awful pressure to be on dishes duty the next day, omi's like "oh now that i think of it i should wash all the rags and towels too, and then-", "he's still going?????", banri offers to help even though it's late at night so they can be finished sooner

sakyo: sakyo's just finished cleaning the entrance, taichi and kumon (and azami shortly after) come back home and he's Pissy (idiots, line up your shoes properly, what if the guests see this mess / ah... sakyo-nii's on cleaning duty today....) he goes on a rant about how the entrance is the face of the house, sakoda shows up, he brought something sakyo asked him for, (azami complains - don't just make ken-san do your bidding (🥺) / he's my subordinate i can make him do whatever the fuck i please), sakoda stumbles trying to get azami and sakyo to stop fighting and he drops the bag, what sakyo's asked him to bring was a bunch of shoujo manga, sakyo tells him to hurry and clean up and sakoda says that he knows bc the entrance is the face of the house, taichi's surprised he said it word for word like sakyo said it, sakoda says he holds all of sakyo's teachings (rants lol) to heart

azami: citron's dying on the couch, he tells azami he's exhausted from doing the chores in the morning, azami says he didn't really know how to do chores until he came here, azuma agrees that there's a lot to do around the dorms, citron says there's still a missing chore they don't do, they're like "i guess you're right, we don't really need to cook, its done in rotation by kantoku, omi, and tsuzuru", and citron's like "no! we don't have classical (koten) duty", azami's like ??, azuma corrects "i think he means roll call (tenko) duty", citron says he heard the term on a drama that took place in a boarding school dorms, azuma explains what it is and citron wants to try! he wants azami to do a roll call!, azami begrudgingly agrees and citron messages everyone on lime to come do the roll call - sakuya, muku, and juza come to the living room, azami doesnt really know what to do, he figures just calling their name and checking their health is good for now - he calls sakuya, he asks if he's been using moisturizer bc his skin is dry, sakuya admits he stayed up late last night, azami tells him to watch his sleep bc its important - he calls citron, he tells him his skin is dry too, (citron was the one who made sakuya stay up last night lol), azami says neither passes the health check, citron says azami is too strict on roll call duty, muku in the bg is like "now I'm starting to get worried.... ju-chan, is my skin ok...?" and juza's like "you know i can't tell like azami does...", azami (suddenly taking this whole charade extremely seriously) is like "muku-san, enough chatting, there's no time."

[midnightactual]

"Once upon a time," Yoruichi replied with a little trill, taking a sip of her water.

They were promptly brought a plate of papadams, along with two dishes of sauce, one red and one green. She gestured to them in that order and explained, "Tamarind chutney and mint cilantro chutney." Taking one of the papadams, she broke it cleanly and dipped it in the former sauce, popping it in her mouth and chewing as she gave the menu a quick glance over.

"That situation I told you about earlier, where I had to go play for another team?" she continued euphemistically, seeming to think nothing of talking with her mouth full, "It initially lasted for a little under a year. My wife was only my fiancé then; I gave her a ring before I left and promised I'd be back. It was my second longest time away from her besides being at the academy. Anyway, I was never a picky eater before, and had a pretty diverse diet, but I was exposed to all kinds of new foods while I was away, among other things."

She sampled the mint cilantro chutney with her other piece. "When I got back, we eloped. We moved around a fair amount at first, and I tried to show her things I'd experienced as best I could. I've always been pretty good at cooking, but she really enjoys it—it's one of her love languages. She took to expanding her repertoire pretty quick as a way to be all sweet, so I'm actually really used to her cooking more than anything. By comparison, Front Sector 73's variety is muted, and I haven't left since arriving. So... this actually feels kind of nostalgic?"

Yoruichi settled her gaze back onto Miorine as she finished saying all that, having also finished her review of the menu as she'd talked. She knew what she wanted to order for them.

"Anyway, spy anything that's caught your eye? Our suite has a fridge and a microwave, so don't feel like you have to be too choosy—we can take anything extra to go and reheat it. Having leftovers might make tomorrow easier too since we'd be less pressed to stop for breakfast, or brunch or lunch if we took it with us."

ALICE would probably throw a fit in the way only an AI could if they ate in the cockpit after she'd been away for so long, but that hangar was decent and had air, toilets, and some other basic amenities too. She knew there was a little kitchenette. From a 'big sister' angle, she'd prefer to keep introducing Miorine to new things, but she was going to be doing plenty of that already anyway from the business partner angle... Food might very well be the last thing on the young woman's mind.

Miorine figured she would be seen as some strange tomato fiend, but it was truly the one way she felt connected to her mother outside of tending to the greenhouse. And with her new position as a CEO, she didn't have nearly as much time as she wanted to take care of it.

Maybe it seemed like a no brainer to her, yet it was odd or even weird, to anyone else. Maybe.

Moving on, she listened to Yoruichi's words, stating that she probably started off with things a bit too complicated, had to work her way up instead of simply starting out like that. "Working my way up sounds like common sense, yet I didn't even think about it like that."

Maybe she was in a rush, and when she didn't get the results that she aimed for, she merely stopped and gave up. Was that another form running away? Her attention was diverted to the restaurant once they arrived, also making sure to take in everything that Yoruichi described that she could start with.

But since they were at the restaurant, that could wait and be saved for later.

"Anything you recommend is fine with me. Sharing makes sense as well, given I am new to this sort of cuisine, and I wouldn't want to waste anything either. I'll give the menu a good look over as well regardless."

Entering the place made it feel completely different, something she's never truly experienced before. Would it be rude to be staring at everything, or would she seem like a child lost in another world?

The atmosphere was beautiful, the smells could really send a person to different places without even leaving to another planet. Even after sitting down she was still amazed and curious about it all.

Reminds her of the reason why she wished to visit Earth, wanting to see different cultures, as well. All sorts of people from all walks of life, something she wasn't so sure would be obtainable with the current state of things.

"You must frequent places like this a lot, I assume."

[thedisneychef]

Why Do Recipe Blogs Have Stories

Hi there! If you’re a fan of cooking, chances are you’ve come across some recipe blogs. You may have noticed that many of them include stories with the recipe. But why is this? Why do recipe bloggers feel the need to share their personal experience along with the ingredients and instructions? In this article, I'll be exploring why recipe blogs have stories and how they can help readers get more out of recipes. We all know that food has always been closely linked to emotions and memories, so it makes sense that we'd want to connect our experiences with what we're eating. Recipe blogging takes this idea one step further by giving us an opportunity to take part in someone else's story when trying out new dishes or revisiting old favorites. Let's dive into this topic together and find out just what makes these stories so powerful! Food And Emotions I've always seen food as so much more than just something we eat to fuel our bodies. It's a way for us to express ourselves, and connect with the people around us. Cooking is creative and it often brings back fond memories from childhood or special occasions. Food can even transport you to another time and place - maybe somewhere you visited on vacation and had an incredible meal that you still remember today. Food has such a powerful impact on our emotions, whether they be joyous or nostalgic. Every bite of pasta reminds me of my Italian grandmother in her kitchen, teaching me how to make ravioli by hand like she used to do when she was young. Or the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies takes me right back to those afternoons I spent baking them with my mom when I was little. These food memories have become part of who I am, which is why sharing recipes through blogging feels so meaningful. Even if someone else only makes one of my dishes once, I feel like I'm able to give them a piece of myself – all while also providing some inspiration for their own creative cooking endeavors! Connecting Through Shared Experiences I've found that food and emotions are intertwined. We connect to our memories through the meals we share, the smells wafting from ovens or grills, and the tastes of home-cooked dishes. It only makes sense then that recipe blogs tell stories – they’re a way for us to not just learn about how to cook different dishes, but also a way for us to better understand each other's dining culture and shared experiences. Food memories wrap us in nostalgia and can transport us back in time with every bite. Whether it’s your mom’s famous lasagna or grandma’s secret cookie recipe, these recipes contain generations of love, warmth and connection. I think that this is one of the reasons why people write stories along with their recipes – so that there is more than just instructions on how to make something; instead readers get an opportunity to see into another person's life and feel like part of their story too. Recipe bloggers offer up the chance to explore different cultures without ever leaving your kitchen. Through thoughtful storytelling around cuisine, you can discover new flavors as well as what binds us together: food memories - both old and new ones being created all the time! Adding Depth To Recipes I believe recipe blogs have stories because they provide a personal touch and give readers insight into the family traditions, culture, and history behind each dish. Stories make recipes come alive and add depth to them that would otherwise be missing from a simple list of ingredients or instructions. Stories on recipe blogs can often take us back in time or transport us to different parts of the world just by reading about how certain dishes are prepared and served in various cultures. For example, I recently read an article about how a Mexican grandmother taught her grandson how to prepare traditional tamales for his first Christmas without his abuela; it was such an emotional story that made me appreciate the importance of family traditions even more. With these stories accompanying recipes, we can learn more than just what’s written on paper – we get to experience something much bigger and deeper than mere words can convey. It allows us to connect with others through food and understand our shared experiences while appreciating the cultural influences behind each dish. Inspiring Others To Try New Dishes I'm a strong believer that stories can bring recipes to life. It's all about cultivating creativity and celebrating diversity - the two elements that make cooking fun! When I started my blog, I wanted to do more than just share simple instructions on how to prepare certain dishes. Instead, I wanted people to be inspired by stories behind the ingredients, as well as the cultural significance of each dish. This is why it was so important for me to include personal anecdotes in some of my posts. Whether it's an old family recipe or something new and exciting, sharing these experiences helps readers gain insight into different cultures and cuisines. Not only does this promote understanding between diverse communities, but it also encourages others to explore new flavors and techniques when preparing meals at home. By including stories within your recipes, you create content that is both informative and enjoyable for readers. This not only keeps them engaged with your blog, but it also allows them to discover unique dishes from around the globe without ever having to leave their kitchen! Stirring Up Nostalgia I remember the first time I tried a recipe from a blog. It was years ago, but it felt like only yesterday. The smell of the mixture of spices wafting through my kitchen stirred up all sorts of memories - savorful memories that took me back to childhood visits with my grandmother. As I cooked and tasted each bite, these nostalgic feelings grew stronger, forming an emotional connection between the present moment and past moments in my life. Cooking can be so much more than just putting together ingredients – it can become an experience that evokes powerful emotions and brings you closer to those who have loved and nourished you throughout your life. Recipe blogs often tell stories about where a dish originated or how it has been modified over generations, helping cooks create dishes not only with their hands, but also with their hearts as they travel down memory lane. Recipes hold secrets within them – secrets of family heirlooms passed on from generation to generation and secrets of little-known cultures brought forth by immigrants now living in our communities. Baking for pleasure is one thing; baking for remembrance is another entirely. Through recipe blogs we’re reminded that food carries more meaning than simply sustenance; it carries history too. Frequently Asked Questions How Do I Find Recipe Blogs That Have Stories? Searching for recipe blogs with stories is a great way to get more out of your cooking experience. With the help of a good recipe search, you can easily find blogs that feature both recipes and engaging stories about food. Plus, they often offer helpful cooking tips that make it easier to recreate favorite dishes at home! So why not take advantage of this fun combination? Searching for these kinds of sites can be an interesting and enjoyable journey. What Type Of Stories Should I Expect To Read In A Recipe Blog? When looking for a recipe blog, you may be surprised to find stories accompanying the recipes. These stories offer cultural insights and provide an interesting backdrop to your meal planning! You can expect to read about unique family traditions, regional food specialties, or even the story of how a particular dish was created. All these elements work together to make the experience of cooking something new feel more meaningful and enjoyable. How Do Stories Help To Make Recipes More Interesting? Stories help to make recipes more interesting by providing a cultural context and visual appeal. By including stories alongside recipes, readers can better understand the origin of ingredients or methods used in cooking. This helps to create an emotional connection between the reader and what they are preparing as well as provides them with greater insight into different cultures, cuisines and traditions around the world. It also gives chefs and home cooks alike the opportunity to share their unique experiences that have shaped their time in the kitchen. What Are The Benefits Of Reading Stories In Recipe Blogs? Reading stories in recipe blogs can be a great way to learn more about the dish and its origin, as well as gain insight into why certain recipes are trending on social media. Stories provide an engaging way for readers to interact with the food beyond just looking at ingredients or instructions – it's almost like having a conversation with the chef who created the recipe! Plus, reading stories helps give context to what you're cooking so that you understand where your meal came from and have a deeper appreciation for it. How Can I Use Stories To Inspire My Own Cooking? You can use stories in recipe blogs to help you get creative inspiration and make emotional connections. Whether you're writing your own blog post or making dinner for the family, allowing yourself to be inspired by a story can change everything. Immerse yourself in the details of what's being described and think about how it could translate into something entirely new! Stories are powerful tools that can take us on unexpected culinary journeys -- so don't forget to read some before cooking up your next dish. Conclusion Reading stories in recipe blogs can be a great way to get inspired and motivated when it comes to cooking. Not only do the stories provide background information on how certain recipes were created, but they also give insight into why ingredients are combined in specific ways. This knowledge helps us create our own unique dishes that reflect our individual tastes. In addition to inspiring creativity, reading these stories can also help build relationships with food bloggers. We feel connected to them through their personal narratives, which motivates us to keep coming back for more delicious recipes! So if you’re looking for an extra dose of motivation while trying out new dishes, take some time to explore the stories behind your favorite recipes. Read the full article

[alexcaldownapier]

Film Project - Week 2/3

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dYAqeO8hWV1tZLjbwE5C9xGjLIXnzEuA/view?usp=sharing

Exercise 1

A sense of “home” in 1 minute. I’m not very happy with my effort but very impressed with everyone else’s (Eva’s being truly spiritual). I really enjoyed the discussions in class, seeing how we managed to come back to ways of framing things to make them seem more homely - like the childlike/nostalgic gaze, with playful elements, like Peer’s feet in the air, or Natalia’s focus on light. Again interesting, as we talked about last week, the varying disparity between the cinematographer’s intentions and the feelings/ideas provoked in the audience. Ben’s film started off with very intimate details and a cosy feeling but, as said in class, it later felt like it was moving into elements of body horror, which didn’t feel like it fit the tone. But, of course, this was intentional - trying to convey the discomfort of having to leave your bed. 

I think my film was too safe, lazy almost. Maybe due to having had a lot of stuff on recently but yeah, I could’ve made more of an effort. The idea is sound enough - home as the people you feel comfortable with (a theme explored by others as well). 

But the execution is lacking a deliberation and consistency. I’ll go over a few of my intentions here. I wanted the shots not to convey people in their home, but the people as home, so I made sure to include moments where the people in frame are talking to me, the person behind the camera, making the gaze of the camera and the audience, involved in the material shown. 

I didn’t take too much time with the lighting, but I do like the way the soft natural light works in the shots of Tam (my brother, washing the dishes) and Zoe (my friend in the coffee shop). That says “home” to me, just the way the light spills over someones face is quite romantic. The camera work is handheld, again to imply the person behind the camera, but is inconsistently shaky, which I think is ugly, especially on the shot of Miguel walking. With my camera I couldn’t work out how to shoot in normal black and white, the only option I could use was high contrast mono (although Eva, who has the same camera, assured me it is possible - something to do more research on) again something I find quite ugly in this film. I think I needed more shots, more consistency in the lighting and shot material (for example, ben is not talking to the camera, unlike everyone else).  

Anyways, lots to improve on for next week - changing the feeling of a location. I’m currently planning to add as much colour and clutter as possible to the room, have multiple people in it and use a range of coloured lighting to create a busy, eclectic space.

ASC Article - Florian Hoffmeister and TAR (2022)

This is an interesting part of this module and exercises - making me think more about other peoples’ processes and where I can learn from them. I like the ideas explored in this article and the techniques used to explore these ideas. In terms of the identification with our central protagonist - the technique of having the camera move when she moves and be static when she’s static, not only aligns our gaze with hers, but also emphasises her control and arrogance in her settings. Another aspect of the approach I don’t feel come across as well, thematically/character-wise, is the lighting. He talks about using harder key lights in moments where Tar is “performing” and softer lighting when she is more insecure. I did not get this sense while watching the film due to feeling a totally different subtext - Tar’s obliviousness to her own lack of control and what people think of her, not an insecurity, although that’s definitely present underneath all of that. Again, it’s that terrifying disparity between intention and reception. Test, test, test again. 

Also, the article has pushed me to investigate specific terms - sensor size, different lense aberrations, etc. I think I understand the format stuff now and the aberration stuff has even inspired some visual stuff for the final film project.

Speaking of which...

Film Project Development

I’ve been testing. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UFSPcPN1V8-npNAHSsPoi5zbtqVekxjb?usp=sharing

Here’s an example of a camera-tracking effect I want to use in some action sequences. I love it. It’s gritty, intense and stylish. I don’t want to use it too much, but for specific moments of danger, and hyper-violence I think it has the right tone and really elevates the shot I used for practice.

I also tried out some chromatic aberration - something mentioned in terms of vintage lenses in the TAR article. I mainly just wanted to see if that would work as a layer of abstraction for these almost hallucinatory flashback sequences. As Ben is wanting to try emulate the grit and grain of older films from the 70s and 80s, I think this effect adds to that feeling as older lenses were more prone to this aberration. Although, after another chat with Ben, I think this might be a bit much and I want to instead have an approach where, when the angels arrive in a flash of light, that this light affects the camera like nuclear radiation.

So yeah, that was fun and I’ve also just been trying to conceptualise more of the visual approach and looked through some of Ben’s inspirations and references in terms of tone, style and technique. The first draft of the script is out so that’s also helping me to have a more concrete reference point for the visuals. Exciting stuff!

[pybgarbs-blog]

01-15-23: Nostalgic

It was a Sunday. It’s a special day today because this is my ever-loving dog, Akira’s birthday, one year since her birth. Staring at her as she stares me today took me back the time when she was a puppy last year. She was unique because of her snowflake fur and her discolored yellow spot both in her ears. I named her Akira, not because I named the puppies alphabetically, so she was the first, but because she exudes that Japanese beauty out of her four siblings. I wish I could fix my old phone because I have baby photos even videos of her from the time she was drinking the bottled milk. I feel sad for her and her siblings surviving along as their mother passed away due to poison. But I feel relieved that for the months I spend with them, I became a mother dog to them. Even though I lost one, Duke, I did something extraordinary despite not knowing to be a mother dog. I left in the morning to church just to arrange and prepare 18 children choir members, not perfectly complete but many. I’m relieved that there still more choir members to come. After visiting the two locales, I arrive at the same time my sisters arrive too. And that got me thinking about cooking, so for the first time, I felt motivated so I decided to do some spicy chicken wings with sauce. I was so proud making a dish, sharing to my mentor and awesome friend of mine, Maxine of just making her feel proud that she inspired me to cook. Then again, it was a little bit lack of sauce given the supply but my mother wanted another one. At late noon, my sister, Princess awaken me to accompany her to the district locale for the meeting of those who are incoming for baptism. My sister is one of them. When I left her at church, I decided to go down memory lane, I return to my old school, Santa Maria, which give back so many happy and adventurous memories when I was in elementary as well as our old space, that was used for our security agency business across the school, which reminds me of how I was so joyful and innocent when I was a carefree kid. We would play badminton down the road, and just my father sitting at the red stool outside enjoying the breeze air from the seaside. It was a peaceful time that we got started to live in the city and despite ended up in a much dense space because of the members inside the family, we were living life. I took some pictures and saw the changes of the appearance of the Secret Garden, that was once alive when students would go there to take lunches with their families and my Tutor Place, where we would use the table for pingpong. It was nostalgic to see those locations you have been as a child and looking back, I saw myself just being me - happy. So after the meeting, my sister and I had a dinner date at Mang Inasal talking about how I live through my high school years. Looking at her, I saw myself at her age. I would share to her everything I have been happy the most. The sunsets, the grass fields, the commutes and the first friends I’ve been with. I would give her advice to just enjoy of not knowing everyone because at her age, it is still valid. She is learning what is school like comparing to myself who is learning what is life now. All she has to worry is how she could comply requirements not like me wo has to worry the future I’m shaping for myself especially when I already failed one subject. Now, my great buddy, my classmate since high school, Gino, is sharing how happy he was that his test paper got rechecked and passed Structural Theory. Then again, my friend, Ronnie would be preparing to leave us to migrate to New York in the next month. Its just that everything is happening to them is both a blessing and a chance while I look at myself in the mirror thinking when will be the time that I could feel that way. I saw how ecstatic  Gino when he knew he would not retake the subject and celebrate his winnings especially when he and also our buddy, Kevin just went to Manila to attend the K-Pop group concert and had a selfie with a well-known rapper. I feel how relief Ronnie was when his plans moving outside the country is finally happening. Its just everything is changing, for my friends, it for the better while I’m here, stuck. Maybe this is part of life, maybe there will be time for me to shine but maybe for now, I’ll just be quiet. Right now, I just don’t what to do and feel as an irregular student. I just wish I passed so that the process of enrollment would be normal but then again its not. I feel ashamed, can’t even look at the mirror but then again I feel relieved that even though this is worst, my bond with my sister today made me the best. Now, I’m spending my time with Akira, just celebrating silently with her. I still feel loved by my sister and my dog despite I’m not loving myself. 

[charlotte-liddel]

"Well first of all, that's why I was only loosely referring to that fool as your "friend". Sounds like a piece of work either way. Secondly, you are right that this rambling is rather edifying. Most I speak to like to avoid such topics, as I mentioned before, and even fewer like to admit to their imperfections and fallacies." Charlotte gave a glance to him, crossing her arms in her seat as she remained somewhat reclined in her seat. There was a lot to think on for what he shared, and she was doing her best to consider it all.

That little tangent story was already the sort she'd seen a few times before herself. Having someone who coveted what they couldn't have was a rather classic problem, though it was more concerning how often it happened in modern day. Worse examples she'd seen were how women went about the same act as what he described. There was an added layer of gaslighting and lying to their competition to get the results they desired. Not something she wanted to really get too deeply into thought on.

"Ultimately you're not wrong on the point either about power. No one is safe from it, even with awareness to it. Even I am not exempt myself, but the difference is that I am capable of admitting to my failings and imperfections unlike others of the same sort of power as myself." She meant that more as a comment on other beings that possessed power near hers, or that fancied themselves gods for it.

"...Now then, as for the food. I do make proper balanced meals too so you're not going to be in any danger of gorging on my sweets. Rather you might want to worry more about the regular meal items because they will satisfy you like nostalgic comfort food. Had a few customers describe it as such." There was a wry little smile on her lips now, as she pulled out one of her menus for him that was covered in photos of each of her dishes, "I cycle out the menu based on season but I take all these photos myself with each recipe I test before making them available."

She looked rather proud of herself with the menu, and was more than happy to shift the topic for his sake. While she enjoyed such conversations, she understood others didn't have the fortitude for it to go for lengthy periods of time. It was also healthy to jump topics now and then for her own sake too.

"Get out of here... Then I'm definitely in serious danger if I stick around here too often." Conflict marks his expression as he eyeballs the remaining danish on his plate, clearly torn between his enjoyment of Charlotte's culinary talent and the mindfulness that he shouldn't overindulge on sweets like this... Easier said than done, perhaps, when he had something to tantalize his sweet tooth so conveniently nearby.

His head hung low following these moments of brief internal crisis, his shoulders slumping, as though he had surrendered to an unseen force beyond his will. Rather weakly, he raises his hand, fork rather haphazardly being held between his fingers, as he waves the limb around like a limp flag. "...At the very least, make sure I get some actual food in me every now and again, please."

His posture gradually reset itself to a more casual appearance as the conversation returned to slightly more serious matters, though there's a clear wince to his visage as she refers to the acquaintance she mentioned as a "friend".

"Let me stop you right there – I wouldn't exactly call that guy a 'friend', at least definitely not in retrospect. If anything, we probably would have become enemies in the long run given the irreconcilable differences in our values. As I recall, he belonged to some divine cadre or some such that was going around, murdering 'evil' people in order to recycle their souls for some kinda metaphysical 'cauldron' that empowered their gods... The whole thing sounds like it stinks to hell, right? So I get you on having no love lost for 'gods', but, ah, I digress..."

He shook his head, his lips drawing tightly as he contemplated on these oddly clear memories – a notable rarity whenever he thought back on his experiences in prior worlds. "...He used to insist that he was perfectly justified in the murder of these 'wicked' people, regardless of circumstances. It was all fine because their 'sins' would be 'cleansed' in those cauldrons, and provided their souls were judged to be 'good' by some nebulous standards, they would be reborn with a 'fresh slate'. Kill 'em all, let his gods sort 'em out. It's probably for the best that our paths diverged and we both disappeared before things could get ugly."

The solemn visage he wore quickly broke with a sigh as he shifted to slouch a bit within his seat, his body language practically dripping with an irritable lethargy. "...Guy was kind of an asshole anyway. I mean, he quite literally managed to freeze my hair once." Zech sat up a bit as he reached up to point a finger towards his own head. "With a bullet. That he just barely missed me with as he tried to 'help' me put down someone I didn't really wanna fight to begin with! And then he had the gall to laugh his ass off about it! Can you believe that shit? And that's not even getting into the fact that he was weirdly keen on the person I was dating at the time..."

"...Anyway, sorry I went off on a tangent there. I don't... think I've ever really had the chance to talk about this to anyone else before." Zech's eyes drew closed for a moment as he reached up to scratch the side of his head, his features twisting to reflect a puzzled look. "I'm not even sure how I still remember all of that, considering how much I've forgotten everything else I've experienced in other worlds, at least aside from the broad strokes."

"Still," he leaned forward, then, folding his hands together and resting the conjoined limbs by his wrists upon the edge of the table, slowly peeling his eyelids open. "At the very least, I hope all my rambling is... What's a good word for it? Edifying, in some way, especially to your point. I can already see a few parallels here for instance, even if they are a bit loose in connection."

"People are, in some ways, very much equal parts sheep and wolves. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say you have a lot of sheep mixed in with wolves in sheep's clothing? Even the shepherd can be a wolf themselves in disguise." His hands unfurled then joined together once more as he frowned. "No... It's probably worse than that. Wolves can be excellent coordinators, but they're still just animals at the end of the day. There's no morality involved in their actions, they simply do what they have to in order to survive. Not so in the case of people."

At that, his hands finally pried themselves apart and laid flat upon the table. "The egotism of others is, admittedly, a foreign concept to someone like me. I mean, I might act cocky in the middle of a fight, but life sure had this funny way of beating almost all semblance of self-worth out of me from an early age. Maybe that's the key factor in all of this: These people have never been crushed by the weight of reality."

Now that sounded like a fanciful notion even by his ears, which lead him to some skepticism over his own statement once he realized just how much such a possibility lent its own brand of justifications to all manner of potential cruelties that could be inflicted to "rectify" the issue.

"...Or maybe they have experienced the vicious indifference of reality robbing them of everything they once held dear, and thus came to a singular conclusion: If you can't control the things around you, then you learn to harness them instead; and so, whether knowingly or otherwise, they decided to enact some abstract form of revenge against the world that wronged them, even if that means manipulating as many people to their self-serving cause as possible. Especially so in some cases."

Despite the eye-catchingly scenic atmosphere of cosmic imagery she had painted around the interior with her magic, Zech made sure to stay his gaze from their radiance and, instead, leveled it with hers from across the table – his eyes taking on a rather steely quality about them as he set them upon her own.

"Power attracts the psychotics. Always. It doesn't matter what form that power takes, or what manner of psychopath is allured by its influence. Nobody is exempt from this. Not even me."