#in a more tete-a-tete fashion.

[pickingupmymercedes]

Hi! I love your account. Sm. Like a lot. Would you be interested in writing something for lewis where he casually mentions in his gq interview that he has a longtime gf or wife. Or he recalls a memory of them introducing roscoe to her dog or cat?

Thank you so so much for the ask bestie! I drabbled something short, hope you like it ❤️.

PS: I'm still not over that interview btw, he's such a complex person and I'm so glad he's letting us see this side to him (a LVFH type of thing is something only someone like him could pull it off)

_____________________________________________________________

Lewis Hamilton’s drive to continually innovate and push the boundaries of his sport stems from a dual motivation. Firstly, he is determined to challenge and break the often conservative and traditional norms of Formula 1. Secondly, he is laying the groundwork for the latter part of his own illustrious career.

“I went through this phase of understanding that I can’t race forever,” he says, prompting him to cultivate those other passions. “Because when I stop, I’m gonna drop the mic and be happy.” “The difficult thing is I want to do everything,” he says, laughing. “I’m very ambitious. But I understand that you can’t do—actually, I take that back because I don’t believe in the word can’t. To be a master at something, there’s the 10,000 hours it takes. Obviously, I’ve done that in racing. There’s not enough time to master all of these different things.”

As our conversation progresses, Hamilton discloses that he has a kindred spirit who shares his compulsion to explore a myriad of interests. “I’m fortunate to have someone in my life who encourages me to embrace my spontaneous ideas and give them a shot. She might even be more adventurous than I am,” he chuckles. “She’s a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, and always so sure that you can dive into anything and learn as you go.” His eyes light up with admiration and affection as he speaks of her daring spirit.

The usually private Hamilton, who has been discreet about his long-term relationship, contrasts their differing approaches to life. “I need some more time to think things and really plan out how I want them to go. But she’s a jump now, ask later, so she’s most times hyping me to just try it. We balance each other. Sometimes I’m the strategist, and sometimes she’s the one taking the first bite.”

As for his future plans, apart from his endeavors in fashion and film, Hamilton prefers not to rush into anything. “She still has dreams she wants to pursue, so for now, I’m happy to be her supportive sidekick whenever I can. Perhaps in the future, when we both have more time our own family might be on the horizon, but not while I’m still racing.”

He quickly corrects himself though, referring to his bulldog, Roscoe, as his son, and introduces the adorable dachshund who frequently graces Roscoe’s Instagram posts. “My partner’s parents gifted her the little sausage dog a few years ago. Introducing them was a bit tricky as Tete is quite territorial. She wasn’t fond of me at first either, so Roscoe has a head start in winning her over. But now, Baguette gets along with everyone, and we can’t imagine our lives without her.”

Eager for more personal insights, I probe for updates on his personal life. However, when his response to my inquiry is, “Time will tell, when things happen we’ll make sure to update everyone when it feels right” I gracefully pivot to our next topic of discussion.

[rom-e-o]

I probably should have asked for this a while ago😅, but I'll do it now. Can I get a comprehensive list of fashion/style do's and don't's for your ladies? I feel like I've got a pretty solid idea for all three, but Magda is still pretty new to the Closet. And it would be nice to have a list to refer back to.

Absolutely! You’ve absolutely slayed each and every one of their styles so far, but I totally understand having a list to refer back to. I’m happy to provide the aesthetic outline for each!

Magda - Airy, flowing coastal vibes. Lots of embroidery, lace, linen, wicker, etc. more conservative clothing cuts, such as longer sleeves and skirts are essential. Cleavage is fine, haha. Her big ‘no’s are anything neon, super revealing, or any cheap fabrics like screen-printed shirts or anything that’s a very shiny, plastic-y pleather. Anything overly manufactured gives her the ick.

TeTe - Glam, fitted, tailored items are her love. Lists of deep, darker colors and cool tones, like maybe or silver. She’s a woman of quiet luxury. Her clothes are expensive and luxe, but she’s not wearing big, flashy pieces to rub in her wealth. Materials like fur and silk are her best friends. And gems. Diamonds. Lots of diamonds. And sun hats - the bigger, the better! Sunglasses are always good. Her nod are really just…super casual clothes, haha. Ratty denim cut-offs? Nah. Sports jerseys? No. Anything with words or loud logos? Also no.

Connie - You’ve got a good handle on her, but I’ll include her anyway, haha. Very similar to TeTe, but warmer colors instead of cooler ones. Oranges, reds, browns, golds, and sanguine purples. She prefers things fitted, but unlike her mama, enjoys some tight tank tops and seductive low-rise jeans. She also love slinky dresses (short and long) and heels ALWAYS. 😅 Her no? Poofiness. Wide hoop skirts. No. Big poofy sleeves. No. Selkie dresses? Her enemy. Also, non-thrifted fur. Real is fine if it’s vintage.

I also made each of them a Pinterest board because I’m insane for them, haha.

[breadcheekstete]

My Roommate is a F33dee

(vm¡n // f33dee tæhyung)

th always wore baggy clothes. Especially those that make him look extra small even when he is next to jm. He never gave much mind into his roommate’s fashion, 'till he saw him shirtless. Who was gonna tell that under his oversized hoodies would hide a belly?

th had a round face, but overall, he was tall, enough to make the trick into thinking that maybe he just had some baby fat on his cheeks like jm did. And he never changed in front of jm nor in their room, he always went to the dorm showers to do so, which was a bit odd if you ask him.

You see, jm wondered about th's body since they were assigned to share their dorm room. He ate a lot since day one, yes, but his friend jk did too and he's very lean. At first he thought it had something to do with being practically strangers. Now that they have a proper friendship, jm just thinks he's shy about his body.

But a few months into the term, th's habits started to… change.

jm should have seen the signals.

Today, he came back earlier from the library and was about to rant about how this teacher is driving him nuts with his dreadful way to teach when he sees th jolt startled. He's sitting on his bed, a 1L bottle of sprite in hand and his phone in front of him. “What's that?”

th hiddes the bottle behind his back. "Oh, uhm… It's for a challenge I wanted to try... Nothing important."

jm closes the door behind him and sits next to him. "I'm curious."

th slowly reveals the bottle again and clears his throat. "Well I was going to film it, but I don't know how to do it by myself," he says. He looks at jm, but adverts his eyes before he asks, "Can you film me?"

jm was a bit taken aback, and th seemed like he was starting to regret it, but as he said; he's curious. "Okay." He takes the phone and looks at TaeHyung uncaping the bottle. "Isn't 1L too much for one person, though? Shouldn't you, I don't know, just chug a smaller bottle instead?" jm asks, a bit worried and a lot impressed.

"Go hard or go home," th responds with a wiggle of his eyebrows and gestures to jm to start recording.

jm is proven wrong when th reaches half of the bottle with ease in one go. He wonders where all of that is going, when th pulls back and rests a hand on his bloating torso. He never did a chugging before, but he's sure that that's a lot of bloat for just half a bottle.

His thoughts are short-lived when th interrupts them with a string of belches. They burped in front of each other before, but not quite like this, and Jimin is embarrassed to admit that it does something to his tummy.

"I– bWooOOOUuuUrP fuck… –uUUuRp huh.." th groans and complains, tapping his chest for more trapped burps as he gasps for air before taking the bottle onto his lips once again and chugging as fast as before.

"Easy, Tete, take it easy," jm reminds.

th belches around the bottle and with a grin he continues.

He's almost done when he pulls back again, this time, he leans back onto the pillows and his hoodie raises a bit, exposing his bloated belly. jm freezes, and th, oblivious to all of it, rubs his underbelly and presses next to his belly button to help the burps out.

"You can –BwOooUrP do it, come *hic* on," th mumbles, encouraging himself. And with that, he gained the strength enough to finish it all with a loud belch that surely was heard in the whole hall.

He takes his phone and thanks jm for recording him. jm can't articulate a word after what he just witnessed, so he nods and excuses himself to the bathroom to take care of his increasingly obvious boner.

happy hollidays (ôㅈô)/ ! take this little treat from me in these festive days, you'll see more of it soon so enjoy and wait for me 🖤 !!

[1997thebracket]

Round 1B

Picasso’s Tete de Femme Stolen: £650,000 gone in the span of 35 seconds– what would you imagine that moment looks like? Surely it doesn’t feature a ponytailed art student fleeing by cab with one of the most historically significant artists of the century tucked beneath his arm like a grad paper. In March of 1997, a man in his late 20s to early 30s called a cab from the Hilton Hotel to the Lefevre Gallery in London, asking the car to please wait for him outside while he “dashed inside.” He would enter the gallery, inquire to an assistant about the value of Pablo Picasso's Tête de Femme, and promptly reveal a shotgun to her. The assistant, Jacquie Cartwright, said that he asked her to pull the painting off the wall for him, to which she replied “If you want it, get it yourself.” (Snaps for Jacquie, y’all.) The thief indeed awkwardly pulled the painting down and, pursued by another young gallery assistant and two nearby waiters, ran through the crowded London street with the painting underarm and fled in the very same cab. The cab driver took him to Wimbledon at gunpoint and received a £10 tip for his troubles. While this was not the only art theft in 1997, nor the only Picasso theft in history (in fact, Picasso is the world’s most stolen artist) such heists tend to involve more secrecy and finesse, not long-barreled shotguns or nearby wait staff pursuing on foot; it is the sheer drama of the affair that lands this moment a place in history.

Austin Powers: Let’s keep this bracket groovy, baby! Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is a spy spoof film released in 1997, written by and starring Mike Myers and featuring Elizabeth Hurley, as well as known names in the spy movie business Michael York and Robert Wagner. It was the first introduction of the titular icon-to-be Austin Powers, a free-loving secret agent who was cryogenically frozen in the 1960s, returned to us in all his velvet-suited snaggle-toothed glory in the ‘90s to face his nemesis once more. Parodying James Bond and copycat spy films as well as '60s pop culture, the movie would spawn two sequels and novelizations all sharing a similar sense for fashion, gags, and Austin’s recognizable catchphrases. As completely goofy as the film and its legacy is, critics were mostly favorable, with the New York Times writing "The film's greatest asset is its gentle tone: rejecting the smug cynicism of Naked Gun-style parodies, it never loses the earnest naiveté of the psychedelic era." (This is presumably an embarrassing typo: it’s shagadelic, Yorkie baby!)

[paperbunny]

S2, E2: The Clue feat. A Companion To Owls, Pt. 1

Not a meta, just a tribute.

Episode 1 Part 1

Episode 1 Part 2

(Fashion) Bildad née Crowley looks amazing. No notes.

(General Omens) This seems like it is shot to look like an old movie. Very Ben Hur, or 10 Commandments vibes. The wigs and costuming and framing is all very Vibey.

(General Omens) Can't help but notice that they are standing in front of a Great Divide. Also Bildad has 10 stripes on his robes. AVAUNT.

(Domestic Moments) There's a familiarity here. They last saw eachother during The Flood. There's already some kind of trust, or common ground. Neither is freaked out by the appearance of the other, and there's a dialogue without animosity. This is not The Way Of Things. They aren't Friends yet, but they are friendly.

(Aziraphale the Company Man) Clearly he's here to do his job. He didn't expect Crowley so I suppose he could have already had plenty of experience with intimidating other demons, as per the guidebook that we see Furfur has. Even so, he already shows that he can step in and out of The Show. Where was I? Avaunt.

(VFX) I love the effect for Angel!Aziraphale. It's beautifully done. And if you see how minimal of a set they were working with here, it's even more impressive.

(Aziraphale the Company Man) Definitely didn't expect that Satan and God were having tete a tetes. I love that he took the permit to get checked out.

('Allo 'Allo 'Allo) Muriel at her desk job. She's probably so excited to be useful.

(Fashion) Muriel doesn't have a pointed collar. She only has a round gold collar. Aziraphale has five pleats on his shoulder. Michael and Gabriel have wide and intricate collars. Not pointed exactly. Maybe we are seeing something like fractals? The higher up you get the more complex your collar gets? Maybe not, Micheal's collar is more loopy. Az seems to have 11 points on his collar.

(Aziraphale the Company Man) He is nervous to disagree, and yet he does. He clarifies what they mean and tries to (gently) tell them they are possibly wrong. He's still not up for getting in trouble, exactly, but he's not comfortable just letting things happen and following orders.

(Jim!Gabriel) K is the 11th letter. Jim, you know what alphabetical is but not what an author is?

(Aziraphale the Comfy) Our favorite hobbitty little introvert has someone in his space. It's so disconcerting. Do you let Jim!Gabe continue the madness and reshelve books in an insane and illogical way? Yes, yes you do because it is keeping him busy. But also you hate it and it is Wrong. I love cranky Aziraphale. He's soft, not weak.

(Aziraphale Insights) He knows immediately that there's something weird about Jim!Gabe singing. Angels don't seem to have any connection to music (another Az divergence) and it's not something there is any general reason to know. It's Unique Information of Undetermined Origin.

(Van Life Crowley) I wonder how far from London Soho this street is supposed to be? In real life it's in Edinburgh, which would be quite a commute. He's asleep in the Bentley and it looks even more uncomfortable than his usual positions.

(Crowley the Dork) Shax tells him that he's in trouble. His response is to go all Movie-narrator. I really didn't understand what a big dork he is the first few times though this.

(Crowley with a Purpose) Shax isn't sure that he knows he is being threatened. He's already been approached by Beeze, as a sort of good cop, so now Shax is playing bad cop. Do they know they have both approached Crowley at this point? Oh and the plants DO SHAKE. Poor Crowley has a tell. He's scared. The plants can sense it.

End Part 1

[10:24]

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] India vs Malaysia (PC: Hockey India) The Indian Women’s Hockey Team launched their campaign in the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 with an impressive 4-0 victory against Malaysia, playing in the historic city of Rajgir. Key players Sangita Kumari (8’, 55’), Preeti Dubey (43’), and Udita (44’) each scored, sealing three points for India in a performance marked by strong defensive organization and relentless attack. India began the match on a slower note, allowing Malaysia’s Nur Mohd an early chance following a well-timed run past India’s defense. However, Indian goalkeeper Savita came to the rescue with a crucial save, preventing an early deficit. Malaysia soon earned a penalty corner, though the attempt went wide. This served as a wake-up call for the Indian team, who quickly regained control and earned two consecutive penalty corners. On the second attempt, Deepika’s shot found Sangita Kumari, who was quick to react and slotted the ball home from close range, giving India a 1-0 lead. Continuing to press, India set up opportunities for Preeti Dubey, though she missed converting on both occasions. As the first quarter concluded, Captain Salima Tete won another penalty corner, but India was unable to capitalize. India intensified their efforts in the second quarter, repeatedly breaking into the opposition circle, though they struggled to find a finishing touch. Slowing the game’s tempo in search of a clear chance, they continued to press. Lalremsiami’s dynamic baseline run won another penalty corner, though Neha’s shot narrowly missed the post. A final penalty corner at the stroke of halftime didn’t alter the scoreline as India went into the break still leading by a single goal. For the Latest Sports News: Click Here India vs Malaysia in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy (PC: Hockey India) The third quarter continued in similar fashion, with India’s Deepika securing a penalty corner early on. Navneet Kaur’s shot variation was promptly blocked by the Malaysian defense. Shortly after, Malaysia won a penalty corner of their own, but once again, Savita thwarted their attempt. India resumed control, earning another penalty corner with just three minutes left, where Navneet Kaur’s strike found Preeti Dubey, who skillfully deflected the ball in to extend India’s lead to 2-0. Moments later, Udita capitalized on another penalty corner, striking powerfully to make it 3-0 before the final quarter. In the fourth and final quarter, India continued to press for more goals, with another penalty corner giving Udita a chance to add to her tally. However, Malaysian goalkeeper Siti Nasir denied her this time. With control firmly in their hands, India held Malaysia back and kept creating opportunities. Sangita Kumari then wrapped up the scoring with a spectacular individual effort, weaving through two defenders and unleashing a powerful reverse tomahawk to seal her brace and India’s victory, ending the game with a commanding 4-0 scoreline. Also Read: Defending Champions India Ready to Launch Title Defence at Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 The post India Triumphs Over Malaysia with a Commanding 4-0 Win in the Opening Match of Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] India vs Malaysia (PC: Hockey India) The Indian Women’s Hockey Team launched their campaign in the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 with an impressive 4-0 victory against Malaysia, playing in the historic city of Rajgir. Key players Sangita Kumari (8’, 55’), Preeti Dubey (43’), and Udita (44’) each scored, sealing three points for India in a performance marked by strong defensive organization and relentless attack. India began the match on a slower note, allowing Malaysia’s Nur Mohd an early chance following a well-timed run past India’s defense. However, Indian goalkeeper Savita came to the rescue with a crucial save, preventing an early deficit. Malaysia soon earned a penalty corner, though the attempt went wide. This served as a wake-up call for the Indian team, who quickly regained control and earned two consecutive penalty corners. On the second attempt, Deepika’s shot found Sangita Kumari, who was quick to react and slotted the ball home from close range, giving India a 1-0 lead. Continuing to press, India set up opportunities for Preeti Dubey, though she missed converting on both occasions. As the first quarter concluded, Captain Salima Tete won another penalty corner, but India was unable to capitalize. India intensified their efforts in the second quarter, repeatedly breaking into the opposition circle, though they struggled to find a finishing touch. Slowing the game’s tempo in search of a clear chance, they continued to press. Lalremsiami’s dynamic baseline run won another penalty corner, though Neha’s shot narrowly missed the post. A final penalty corner at the stroke of halftime didn’t alter the scoreline as India went into the break still leading by a single goal. For the Latest Sports News: Click Here India vs Malaysia in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy (PC: Hockey India) The third quarter continued in similar fashion, with India’s Deepika securing a penalty corner early on. Navneet Kaur’s shot variation was promptly blocked by the Malaysian defense. Shortly after, Malaysia won a penalty corner of their own, but once again, Savita thwarted their attempt. India resumed control, earning another penalty corner with just three minutes left, where Navneet Kaur’s strike found Preeti Dubey, who skillfully deflected the ball in to extend India’s lead to 2-0. Moments later, Udita capitalized on another penalty corner, striking powerfully to make it 3-0 before the final quarter. In the fourth and final quarter, India continued to press for more goals, with another penalty corner giving Udita a chance to add to her tally. However, Malaysian goalkeeper Siti Nasir denied her this time. With control firmly in their hands, India held Malaysia back and kept creating opportunities. Sangita Kumari then wrapped up the scoring with a spectacular individual effort, weaving through two defenders and unleashing a powerful reverse tomahawk to seal her brace and India’s victory, ending the game with a commanding 4-0 scoreline. Also Read: Defending Champions India Ready to Launch Title Defence at Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 The post India Triumphs Over Malaysia with a Commanding 4-0 Win in the Opening Match of Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[the-hem]

"The Dipshitz." From the Annapurna Upanishad, the Exploration of the Mysteries of the Queen of Foods.

IV-63. Though standing, walking, touching, smelling, the intelligent sage, devoid of all clingings, gets rid of (fluctuating) pleasures, and the cognitions (of the particulars); he is at peace.

IV-64. A shoreless ocean of excellences, he crosses the sea of sufferings, because he resorts to this vision even in the midst of vexed activities.

IV-65. Devoid of all particular the stainless, pure Being is one vast essence – That is held to be the abode of (immutable) existence.

IV-66. Rejecting distinctions like the being of time, the being of instants, the being of entities, be solely devoted to pure Being.

 IV-67. Contemplating but one unqualified universal Being, be omnipresent, full, supremely blissful, filling up all space.

 IV-68. The pristine inconceivable Status, without beginning and end, that remains at the fringe of universal Being, is causeless.

IV-69. Cognitions dissolve there. It remains beyond the possibility of doubts. A man who reaches That returns to pains no more.

IV-70. It is the cause of all beings; itself has no cause. It is the quintessence of all essences; nothing is more quintessential that It.

I have said heaven has no place for the unintelligent, but neither does the planet earth. As we have seen the governor of Louisiana and his House are in disarray because he is worried about abortions rather than poverty or other worldly affairs. This unintelligent man and his colleagues demonstrate how non-intelligence interferes with empathy, compassion, and proper management of one’s affairs.

We cannot expect the poor and desperate to wake up in the morning and avoid vexation. But we depend on first world persons to be equanimous, facile, and effective and handling life’s pinpricks with the same efficacy that it handles the landslides.

This is not happening in America because of the dipshitz.

Pro-Life is illegal. It violates our treaties with other nations and federal law. If you are as concerned as I am about the problems the politicians in this country and the White House are experiencing with enforcing the law, please write the International Criminal Court and ask them to extradite President Biden and have a tete a tete with him about this. A number of women are already dead due to the abortion ban and more are on the way if we donot take a stand.

When domestic abuse of human rights goes unnoticed by a chief executive, we are allowed to write to the UN for help resolving the issue. The International Criminal Court can be reached here.

We also need to engage in a discussion as to how it is possible a man who is actively involved in human trafficking has been able to ascend to the level of being considered for the White House without obstruction. Sex with minors and human trafficking, like Pro-Life is a Crime Against Humanity.

Donald Trump even told a live audience he let Christian Post editor Geoff Tuncliffe rape his underage son because "the kid was being a brat and deserved it." Donald Trump regularly consorts with Mr. Tunicliffe who has an extensive filmography of underage gay porn uncling footage of the rape of Trump's son.

All of this was routed through a man who lives in Logan Circle in DC and included audience members consisting of every member of Donald Trump's cabinet, and many former and existing Republican lawmakers and SCOTUS Justices.

These details along with the charges and facts associated with the siege on January 6, conducted with the unanimous support of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are almost certainly prohibitive of any eligibility for Donald Trump to hold another position in public office.

President Biden has spoken of his commitment to a new era of American politics that contain none of these things, the public however needs to see him rid us of it in grandiose fashion lest the corruption that is rampant in our lives become increasingly legitimate. Only he can represent the Stainless Being and restore His Abode to Him, so we must insist he act.

[jorisjurgen]

Can you help me? I’m trying to find where to learn more about the Wakfu universe and watch the specials(?) where it shows Joris’ backstory and other stuff but I can’t find anything :( do I have to play the game to understand it all or something?

Firstly, playing the games is completely optional, although they are very fun, and there's very little Joris and Joris related content in them.

Now onto the Joris Lore Media. This is not a watch order, just a list:

The Quest for the Six Eliatrope Dofus: I don't know if you've watched the entire show or not yet, but I will say that the best order of watching Wakfu, without any other content or OVAs (like the Ogrest ova, or the Nox ova, both of which are excellent), is season 1 -> season 2 -> very importantly, "The Quest for the Six Eliatrope Dofus" OVAs, which lead directly into -> season 3. These OVAs are on Netflix, just like the show, but for some reason not included in the show's page, despite their story importance.

(I am mentioning this because these OVAs have a lot of Joris appearances, especially the second one. Joris is so good in there.)

Dofus: the Treasures of Kerubim: (Also known as "Dofus: Kerub's Bazaar" and "Dofus: Aux trésors de Kerubim") this is quite literally the most important Joris related media to me, and it's kinda what made me love Joris so much? It's a 52 episode long animated series. The show has a very strong continuity, as well as themes and theory-crafting potential - it just gets better the more you watch it. I cannot recommend it enough. You can watch it legally on Ankama's Launcher, but a paid subscription is needed.

Dofus Book 1: Julith: (Also known as "Dofus Livre 1: Julith") It's a movie, direct continuation of Treasures of Kerubim. You shouldn't watch it without having seen Treasures of Kerubim first, but it's pretty much the single most important Joris media in general.

This next section is just comics that may interest you:

Les Dessous de Dofus: It's not very Joris centric, but it fleshes out some of the other characters really well. I think it's a good thing, since Joris gets the most fleshing out and characterization in the movie proper. And liking Joris, at least to me, is also liking all other Crepin-Jurgen family members. I don't think an official english translation is available, but there is a fan-translation online.

Wakfu Manga: Joris appears a lot in this, being one of the main characters of a Wakfu story for once, and he's... so funny. It's also nice to see him interact with Wakfu main cast a lot. I don't think it was entirely translated into english, but there is a full English fan-translation online.

Remington Comics: Joris appears in volumes 10-12, and yet again, he is so funny. There's no serious Joris lore going on. I just think he's hilarious here. These comics' last volumes were never even fan-translated into English, to my knowledge, so one would have to read them with Google Translate in hand. Because of this, while one can find them online, I'll only say that you can buy them from Ankama's store.

[everysongineverykey]

watched the french dub of our man bashir tonight! notable/funny/interesting translation tidbits include:

-"lot of kick for a forty-five dom" turning into "le champagne lui remonte a la tete" ("the champagne's getting to his head", ba-dum chh)

-the idiomatic misunderstanding of "and don't rain on my parade" "'parade'?" being removed; line instead simply becomes "so don't go sticking your nose in my mission" "your mission, doctor?"

-komonanov-kira not being russian (or actually she might be, i don't know what french spoken in a russian accent sounds like), instead just having a very slight american accent- pronounces her r's in an american fashion. she still says niet and da though. she does not speak russian upon waking up in noah's mansion, instead muttering some french

-upon the line "i might have to make some... mmmodifications", rom's french va still stalls on the m like in the original english. makes me happy :]

-everyone uses vous (formal you instead of casual you) for each other. with the exception of komonanov using tu for julian. honey bare uses vous for julian, noah uses vous for her, julian and garak use vous for each other (though that one's a bit more understandable considering their personalities). this is not restricted to just this episode- in all the episodes i've watched in french, the only other characters who use tu for each other are jake and sisko. everyone else uses vous- dax even uses it for julian, and o'brien uses it for jake (except once when he's semi-conscious at the end of civil defense and switches to tu). you can put it down to them being naval-type officers on a professional space station, but it's still a little weird.

-"kiss the girl, get the key" becomes "un baiser contre la cle", aka "a kiss against the key", which... i can only assume is meant to sound spy-y, like "a kiss against the clock" or something? i feel like i'm missing something there

-garak says "men of your kind dream of being heroes because they know deep down that they're not heroes" instead of "you're a man who dreams of being a hero because you know deep down that..." etc, etc. specifically, he says "les hommes de votre espece", espece literally meaning species? it could just be another way of saying men of your personality type or something, but... the wording's interesting, changing it from julian only to julian and others like him.

-"it is because i have learned when to walk away" becoming "it is because i have learned to recognize defeat and announce myself vanquished". more dramatic, pessimistic wording?

[rom-e-o]

@quill-pen girl I'm in awe that you're still finding options! And ABSOLUTELY - these are such primo references and choices!

Spa day dress! Nails, hair, massages, the works! I can also see those being nice and loose for her to take on and off when getting in and out of a sauna with the girls.

Adonis is looking respectfully. And disrespectfully. While Connie is used to men/modeling agents showing off her legs and chest, it's always the most elegant dresses that Adonis loves on her most. She's completely covered, and she looks absolutely gorgeous.

Posing for an oil painting in this dress. It's sleek but regal. The first one is a solo portrait, because Adonis wants to hang it in their flat/house. She deserves to be on a pedestal, but for that moment, that's the best he can do.

Connie is coming back from seeing her mother in NYC - it's a long flight, and she needs a comfy dress. She gets off the plane, and immediately looks for the Pack. Upon seeing them, she practically drops her bag to run and hug the girls and Adonis.

Connie would absolutely wear this for Galentine's Day! Complete with a black headband too. It feels classic and and very much like a "girl pretty" outfit.

These long, cascading dresses just make me want to see Connie run through more fields, twirling about like Rapunzel or jumping in leaf piles in glee.

Perfect for just a chill day babysitting the kids, laying on the floor, helping them color and draw pictures for Papa/Auntie/Unky when they come home.

This feels equestrian. Connie is scared of horses, but she'd look MAJESTIC riding one, especially in an outfit like this! ("I-I'm doing it! Oh my gosh, I'm doing it, ha...ha!")

I feel like she'd wear this for a modeling job for coats or Rolex watches - something fashion-related! There's an Hermes bag called "Constance" and honestly, her being a model for it in this dress fits way too well.

TeTe and Carl get married. This is the dress she wears. It's so formal and elegant, and I can see Theresea choosing a very posh/neutral color palette for a ceremony. All the ladies are bridesmaids, if they feel comfortable. Connie is of course a big part of the ceremony, especially for her mother.

Found some pretty brownish thrifts for Connie

I know the tan one isn't as glam as her usual vibe, but I just see her in it for some reason. Might be a good, safe outfit for her first day as clerk when she starts at the bank. They could always send it to Josie to do a glam-up too.

The last one is kind of the same. Idk where she'd wear it or what for, but I see her in it. Maybe it'd be a cute beach dress?

All of these are so perfect! seriously, her in this very posh, chocolate/coffee brown is just clicking so well.

Okay, I legit adore these, so each one is getting an occasion:

This feels like a date dress for a night at a jazz club or dueling piano bar. Just sitting, drinking a nightcap and savoring the music. I want her to pair it with some wedge shoes for ultimate 90s babe vibes.

Absolutely a shopping day dress. Easily gets paired with tall boots and a messy updo. It's the perfect 'lunch then shop' look because it's breezy but still elegant.

Definitely a first-day dress for her time as a clerk! She wants to look as formal as possible. What's more classy and formal than an A-line belted dress? She does wear it with heels and some gold jewelry too! Quite a few people stare on her way up and wonder who the hell got lucky enough to get HER in their office? (She also brought a briefcase).

LOVE this for the beach! It's almost a raisin-brown shade, which is so unique. This is one where she feels comfortable enough around the Pack to be herself, so she kicks off her shoes and is like...thigh-deep in the surf, twirling and having a blast. Love this dress with her hair down nice and loose.

[uwmspeccoll]

                                   Figure 1. Liang Qichao’s Portrait

Graduate Research: Chinese Scroll and Fan Work, Part 3

This week I am featuring a two-scroll couplet (figures 2 & 3) by the Chinese politician and master calligrapher Liang Qichao (1873-1929, see Figure 1). The couplet was mounted around 80 years ago, and is still in great condition. It is also one of the largest couplets in our Zhou Cezong Collection. Liang was an eminent calligrapher in modern Chinese history. For him, an important element of the arts was to express one’s disposition and personality, which was indeed resonant with his political principles. The characters were created in a sublime and fastidious fashion with evenly-divided space, which were the embodiments of Chinese standard writings, symbolizing his upright personality. Plus, in the center of a few characters, there were some barely visible X-shaped creases to help him organize his strokes along the axis and diagonal. This tiny detail is also the telling evidence of Liang’s rigor and thoughtfulness.

During the summer 1903, Liang Qichao, the second leading figure in Hundred Days’ Reform (1898), met U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary of State John Hay in Washington. At that time, Liang was a wanted fugitive of the Qing court and by this time had spent five years in exile. During their tete-a-tete, John Hay prophesied that China was destined to be a great power, which has come to fruition in the past few years. It is important to note that John Hay’s clairvoyance was not ungrounded; instead, it was based on, at least partially, the unremitting efforts from Liang and his followers.

Before the Hundred Days’ Reform, Liang fervently promulgated the influence of  Kang Youwei (1858-1927) in Shiwubao (Times News). However, after the reform was aborted, he developed a relationship with the revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen and became acutely aware of the importance of democratization, and became the chief spokesman for the constitutionalists. Therefore, when Kang was still engaged in saving the monarchy, Liang publicly asked him to retire. In only a few short years, Liang made a radical turn-about by converting from Kang’s staunch acolyte to a vehement dissident. This kind of ideological reversal became a common feature of Liang’s political life. When asked about this predilection for change, he said “these turn-abouts were not driven by any personal interest or impetuosity; instead, they were always coherent with my ideology to be a patriot and save my country.” According to Chinese history scholar Joseph Levenson, Liang’s shifting positions can be explained as fluid adjustments to ever-changing external situations based on his own fixed internal conviction. Thus, Liang could be seen as a political iconoclast who refused to comply with convention, and followed his own disposition and choice.

On March 1927, in the same year that this couplet was produced, Liang’s mentor Kang passed away; later in June, Liang’s soul mate Wang Guowei (1877-1927) drowned himself in the Summer Palace. Two years later, Liang himself was dead at the age of 55. The text of the couplet reads: “spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums will keep their essence in perpetuity. However, our life is just like the bright moon and the white dew, which will vanish in a trice,” and may reflect his lamentation at the death of his boon companions.

            Figure 2. UWM Special Collection (cs 000008a): the first couplet

       Figure 3. UWM Special Collection (cs 000008b): the second couplet

View more posts from the Zhou Cezong Collection of Chinese scroll and fan work.

– Jingwei Zeng, Special Collections graduate researcher

[onsunnyside]

𝙍.𝘿. – Smut

mostly PWP; one shots, drabbles and headcanons.

Read the warnings for each fic.

Organized by author.

← 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵

@afriendlyblackhottie -

Controlled - CEO!ransom x camgirl!black!reader

Love Me

Multiplying

plastic - sex pollen

Powerpuff - plus size!reader

Stress Relief

@agentofbarnes -

floating

no shame

@angrythingstarlight - A Word of Advice

@avintagekiss24 -

Hunted

[Paper] [Power] - ransom drysdale x black!reader x andy barber

We Loved With a Love That Was More Than Love - gang bang/multiple sex partners m/m/m/m/m/f, cult-like gathering, cult rituals, steve rogers x black!reader ; minor pairings: andy barber x black!reader, sam wilson x black!reader, ransom drysdale x black!reader, bucky barnes x black!reader

@bluemusickid - A Deal with Drysdale.

@buckyownsmylife -

he hears you say your ex was better at oral

sunrise - jealous!ransom

you play strip twister together

@bunkerbucky - Got What He Wanted

@carolmaximoffs - teacher’s pet - college au, tutor!reader, virgin!reader, innocent!reader

@chrissquares -

Baby Daddy

I Like Trouble - bratty!reader

@chuckbass-love -

Hood Sex

The New Teacher - single dad!ransom, teacher!reader

Your Filthy Addiction

@cloudystevie -

73) “I wanna fuck you right against the glass so everyone can see how good you take it.”

bratty - DDLG

her cherry lips on his whiskey flavoured kiss - soft!ransom

@dadplease - a lesson to remember - dark!daddy!ransom x little!reader, DDLG

@donutloverxo - Vanilla

@drabblewithfrannybarnes -

Anything - wife!reader

A Valentine’s Cockfectionery

Cam Boy Ransom series - camboy!ransom

Cookies & Cream

Flesh of My Flesh - dark, dark religious themes, blasphemy

Sweet Smell of Golf

@et-lesailes - spreading the sugar [1] [2] [3] - sugar daddy!Andy & ransom (twins) x reader

@fairyevans -

Deserves A Picture

Pool Party For Two

[Warm Welcomings] [House Warming Gifts] - carter baizen x reader, ransom drysdale x reader

@holdontorogers - Voulez-vous

@honeydulcewrites - smoking a blunt with Ransom

@kaiparker-avengerssmut - Online lessons

@kinanabinks - Leather Wallet, Velvet Purse

@needleandhammer - Fruition - soft dark!ransom, governor's daughter!reader

@ozarkthedog -

Fallen Leaves and Dirty Knees

Spit Kink HC

@punani - a man of god - priest!ransom, religious elements

@quietmyfearswith - perfect fit - tailor au, fashion designer!ransom

@stargazingfangirl18 -

Brat Tamer - bratty!reader

Daddy

Dirty Picture

Foursome w/Andy, Ransom, & nomad!Steve

Model Misbehavior - model!ransom

Our Little Secret

Piercings - part 1 is steve, part 2 is ransom

Possessive!Ransom ask

Ransom/Ari/Andy Foursome - andy x reader, ari x reader

Restraint

Rouse

Simple Request

Tete-a-tete

@strawbeariefaerie - strawberry shortcake - model!ransom x black/woc! actress!reader

@steebsbabygirl - Pretty, Pleated Skirt

@sweater-daddiesdumbdork -

Can’t Wait, Can You

Needs

Ransom finds out you have a Alpha Kink. Guess what he wants you to call him during sex

Ransom really doesn't like you calling him Hugh

You Can’t Get Better Than A Thrombey

@sweeterthanthis -

Kinktober Drabbles Day 4: Creampie - Ransom Drysdale

That’s My Girl

Ripped Of Innocence - soft dark!ransom x religious!reader

@the-iceni-bitch -

Exhibition kink/drunk sex

Fighting All Night

Introducing Chaos

Let's Make a Mess

Sacrilege

Sex Against the Window

Sweet Revenge - ransom drysdale x reader x random female BGC

The Pleasure and the Certainty

@threeminutesoflife - Have You Any Wool?

@peachyteague - become a freak with my body

@wanderinglunarnights - Restraint

@wiypt-writes - Barking Up The Wrong Tree

[lnc2]

this time next year

Summary: Marinette is worried about the future. Adrien wants to know where he fits into it.

A/N: This piece was written for the @mlwriterzine and I’m so excited to finally share this with you!  I hope you enjoy it and also go check out the zine because there are so many amazing stories/art pieces collected there.

AO3

The party was well underway by the time Adrien knocked on Nino’s door. Alya was the one who answered, half of her face obscured by gold tin foil pinned to a green beret.

“Speak of the devil,” she grinned, leaning heavily on the door frame.

Adrien bussed her cheek and passed over the bottle of rosé he’d swiped from his father’s wine cellar. “Sorry, Alya. The show ran late. You know how those things go.”

She waved him in, whistling at the bottle in her hands, and shook her head. “Thankfully I don’t. Everyone’s in the living room.”

Adrien followed her into the kitchen instead, eyes straying over the tipsy, crowded apartment. Back against the wall, where Nino’s faded and cracked leather couch usually sat, was a long table covered in gold plastic sheeting. Green and gold hats of various styles were littered across, as well as glitter, rhinestones, netting, feathers, and any other number of crafting materials.

He smiled. “I see you’ve all started without me.”

“Naturally,” Alya said, putting his gift in the fridge to chill. “You’re several drinks behind us now, Agreste. Pick your poison.” She gestured to the half-empty bottles of liquor scattered across the bar.

“No tequila?”

She snorted. “You’ll have to track down Marinette for that one. She ran off with the bottle half an hour ago.”

Something warm filled his chest. “A cup of ice and a lime then.”

“Good luck with that,” Alya said, bumping his shoulder as she passed him the glass. Adrien laughed as he followed her into the living room, his smile widening as he spotted Kagami fussing with the green flowers on her gold newspaper hat.

“I’m not sure how I feel about this.”

Alya batted her hand away. “It’s tradition!”

She pressed her lips together. “It’s archaic.”

“Boo,” a familiar voice called from behind him. Adrien’s heart stuttered as a familiar pair of arms slipped around his waist. “It’s just for fun. No one takes it seriously.”

Adrien thought back to earlier in the evening and Gabriel’s annual Saint Catherine’s Day gala and couldn’t agree. There was a stark difference between the frivolousness and whimsy of Nino’s house party and the staid sobriety of his father’s fashion show.

As if reading his thoughts, Marinette’s eyes sparkled up at him beneath gold netting. “At least no one here.”

“Speak for yourself,” Alya said. She adjusted her hat and threw an accusatory look towards Nino. “Tick tock, babe.”

“You won’t let me propose until you’re out of grad school,” he whined.

Adrien hid his grin as the familiar argument ensued. Instead, he tipped his cup of ice towards the half-empty bottle in Marinette’s hand.

“You’re one of the few people I’d share with,” she said, filling his glass. Adrien leaned down to whisper his gratitude only to be pushed from the other side, causing them to knock heads.

Marinette laughed waving off his apologies with a squeeze to his waist even as their assaulter continued to elbow into the group.

“I’m never getting married,” Alix announced from her position on the back of one of Alya’s coworkers. There was a crown on her head but no decorations. She gestured wildly with her free hand. “Just call me Queen Catherinette.”

“All hail,” Alya said, clinking her wine glass against a reluctant Kagami’s. Her glassy eyes strayed towards Marinette. “What about you, girl? It’s been a while since I’ve heard about Emma, Louis, and Hugo.”

Adrien tried not to sound too interested when he asked, “Who?”

Marinette laughed, her flushed cheeks flushing further. “I’m afraid that future is on hold, Al. I need to find a boyfriend first.”

She removed her arm from around his waist then and Adrien had to restrain himself from pulling her back to his side. Instead, he took a healthy swallow of tequila and let the conversation drift into less turbulent waters.

Now was hardly the time to volunteer his name to the top of her list. 

Adrien could think of two, maybe three very important conversations they needed to have before he could even approach that topic. The most pressing of which weighed heavy on his right hand and sparkled like precious gems on his lady’s ears.

He watched over the rim of his glass as Marinette giggled with the other women in their silly hats. One of them—Alix’s roommate, he thought—burst out with a jubilant, “For pity’s sake, give us a husband!” only for the others to raise their glasses with various tipsy rounds of, “Hear, hear!”

He smiled as Marinette wrestled Kagami’s fidgeting hands away from her hat. It had only been a few weeks since their reveal but Adrien was struggling to see how he could have missed the woman he’d loved for a decade in his dear and wonderful friend.

“Some party, huh?”

Adrien coughed as Nino slapped him on the back just as he was swallowing. Nino laughed at his accusing glare. 

“Sorry man,” he said, grinning. “I thought you heard me coming but I guess you were distracted.”

Adrien ignored the teasing lilt in his friend’s voice.“It’s a good crowd,” he said instead. “I’m sorry I was so late.”

“No worries. Although if everything goes well hopefully this will be the last Saint Catherine’s party we’ll be hosting.”

Adrien laughed. “You think you’ll have worn Alya down by then?”

Nino shrugged. “Fingers crossed. I’ve had this ring burning a hole in my pocket for two months now.”

“Maybe you should be the one wearing the hat.” He grinned, only to receive a rough shove to his shoulder.

“You’re one to talk.”

Adrien pretended not to understand.

“Seriously, dude?” Nino shook his head. “You’re not that slick. If you like her you should just ask her out. I know for a fact she used to have a thing for you.”

And even though Adrien already knew that, even though Marinette told him so several years earlier when her crush was a thing of the past as she’d laughingly put it, hearing his heart’s desire put into words so matter-of-factly did things to him.

Things like make him want to punch a hole in the nearest wall or tear out his hair in frustration.

Because really, how was it fair that the one woman he’d spent years chasing had actually spent several years of her own chasing him right back?

It wasn’t.

Not when Adrien still found himself in the chase and she had apparently just … stopped.

“That was a long time ago, Nino.”

“I don’t know if I’d say that.”

“... Why?” Adrien stared, stomach clenching. “Did she say something? Did Alya say something?” 

His heart raced like hummingbirds wings in his throat as he tried to catch his friend’s gaze. 

Adrien grabbed his shoulder and shook. “Nino.”

“I can neither confirm nor deny anything.” He laughed, before hiding his smile behind his glass as they caught Alya’s attention across the room. Adrien met her suspicious frown with a wave even as his other hand tightened on Nino’s shoulder. 

“But …?”

“But … I wouldn’t count myself out just yet.”

Adrien’s hand fell to his side as all of his breath rushed out of him. “Oh.”

“Although, that may change if you don’t do something about it. Sooner rather than later if Kim’s roommate is anything to go by.”

Nino nodded towards the corner of the room where Marinette was chatting with a tall brunette. He was leaning towards her, his fingers playing at the edge of the netting on her hat as he whispered something in her ear that made her laugh. Adrien was already halfway across the room when Nino shouted, “Good luck!”

He wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to do to break up their little tete-a-tete but he needn’t have worried. As soon as he was in her line of sight Marinette’s smile lit up like the Eiffel tower and there was little left for him to do other than introduce himself before the interloper tried his luck elsewhere.

“Come outside with me,” she said, tugging his arm. “I haven’t seen you all week.”

“Your fault,” Adrien said, happy to follow her anywhere. “You canceled patrol.”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “You know I had to finish up those pieces for your father’s show.”

“At least you weren’t forced to go.”

She laughed and leaned back against the balcony railing. It was cooler than usual tonight as fall slowly gave way to winter and they had the little patio all to themselves. “Perks of being a lowly intern.”

“Please,” he said, bumping her shoulder. “You’ll be a junior designer by next year.”

She hummed, taking a swig of tequila from the bottle only to cough as it hit the back of her throat.

“You can mix that with something you know?”

His lady winced and took another sip, smaller this time. “Who has time for that?”

“You if you’d just slow down.”

It was only half a joke. Lately, even before their Big Reveal, Adrien noticed something changing in Marinette. She was a little less scattered, a little more single-minded. There was almost a frenzied focus about her, like some great fear was nipping at her heels, spurring her forward.

It wasn’t until her timer ran out during an akuma attack that he began to understand why.

“It was ten years this September,” she murmured, turning out to face the cobbled streets below.

Adrien hesitated before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his side.

“We’ll get him, bug. I promise.”

“But when, Chat?” She started to lean her head against his shoulder only for her hat to get in the way. Frustrated, she ripped the little masterpiece off her head and crushed it in her hands.

“Stupid holidays aside, I do want a life, Adrien.” She ripped lightly at the netting. “You said I’ll make junior designer by next year? I don’t see how that’s possible when I’m running out of work every other day because someone couldn’t control their emotions.”

Her voice caught on the last word and he was horrified to realize she was crying. “I want to run my own business someday. I want –– I want to fall in love and get married and have babies.” She looked up, teary gaze meeting his. “How can I do anything when I always have one foot out the window waiting for the next catastrophe? Who could put up with that?”

“You’re not someone a person has to put up with, my lady.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “Right. Tell that to my exes.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, because really that’s all he could do.

“Don’t be.” She sniffed, giving him a sad, sad smile. “You can’t do anything about it any more than I can.”

That wasn’t entirely true though.

Adrien turned his attention towards the scrunched up hat in her hands. Marinette followed his gaze and gave a watery laugh.

“I want it all, Adrien,” she whispered.

“I know,” he whispered.

“Do you?” she asked, eyes wide and blue and wet and angry. “Do you really?”

Adrien pulled her to him then, giving her the hug her fears deserved. Marinette clutched at his back, her arms sliding beneath his coat to wrap around his waist, giving as good as she got.

“I don’t want to wait anymore.” 

Tears stung his eyes and words, the right words, stuck in the back of his throat as she gave voice to desires he’d never been brave enough to even dream. Not when Ladybug said no and not when Marinette said not anymore and not when they merged and became everything he’d ever wanted but feared he’d never have.

She wanted it all. 

Adrien closed his eyes and breathed in his lady’s perfume. Freesia and jasmine and something he’d never been able to name. Marinette’s arms loosened around his waist when it seemed like he would pull away, but Adrien only held her tighter.

“I––” He stopped. “You said you don’t want to slow down?”

Marinette nodded.

“Well … how—how would you feel about a chaser?”

She pulled away so she could see his face. “A chaser?” she repeated, frowning.

Adrien bit his lip, feeling heat rushing up his neck and ears. “Ah, yeah,” he said, doing his best to hold her gaze. “Like—like a partner. To your tequila, I mean.”

Adrien watched as confusion gave way to understanding in the form of a perfect little open-mouthed oh. His heart was pounding hard enough he was starting to suspect she could hear it when her eyes glistened up at him beneath the dim porch lights.

God help him but he couldn’t trust himself. He couldn’t trust the gentleness in her gaze or the way her body went soft against his or the purse of her lips as she watched him with that pleased little half-smile as realization gave way to something and that something could only be called wonderful as she ducked her head beneath his chin, pressed her lips against the open collar skin of his neck and finally, finally whispered in that small, hopeful impatient way of hers,

“Are you volunteering?”

And even though he knew she knew and even though the question really didn’t require an answer, Adrien tightened his hold on her until they were swaying together chest to chest and repeated the only thing he’d ever wanted to give her.

Yes.

[0613magazine]

210602 IANS Life

Sound of BTS: K-Pop super band decode their success

New Delhi, June 2 (IANS) Few names in the world of music today evoke global hysteria as the K-Pop super band BTS. With a following of 30.1 million on Twitter and 42.6 million on Instagram, the group, who made their debut in 2013, have smashed their own record with their latest track "Butter", which garnered 10 million views on YouTube in just 13 minutes upon release.

BTS, or Bangtan Sonyeondan, are a septet comprising Jin, SUGA, j-hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. The band is also known as the Bangtan Boys and, like any celebrities worth the delirium they unleash, have a name for their fans, too. They call their ever-burgeoning fan base ARMY (the all-caps stylisation is perhaps meant to underline the frenzy).

Opening up with IANS in a candid tete-a-tete, the South Korean band decode their skyrocketing worldwide success.

"I'm guessing our sincerity reached our audience. We've tried our best to deliver sincere music and performances," says V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung. Known for his deep voice, Tae, 25, who kind of carry the symbol of 'tiger', is the fashion icon for the group -- as the ARMY says if you need something to become trend just put it on V. He literally pulls off anything.

J-Hope (Jung Hoseok) pitches in: "And we have always shown our fans all our behind-the-scenes through various contents. I think opening ourselves up without hesitation helped us convey our sincerity." In fact their opening up to the fans even before their debut and literally living every moment of their growth as singers, performers and growing up from boys to men in front of the camera has endeared them more.

Their trials and tribulations, as they went from a one-room dorm in Seoul to the mega HYBE building in 2020 is the stuff of legend. Along the way their hardships -- of sometimes making it through the week with just Bulgogi (fire meat) to distributing posters on the streets of L.A. for their first concert in the US -- that saw few takers in 2014, to today's phenomenal chartbusters -- ON (February 2020), Dynamite, Life Goes On, Film out, and Butter (within the span of just over one year) -- is a journey they have shared with the fans on Bangtan Gayo, RUN-BTS (an absolute stress buster), BTS in the SOOP, among others.

The rise of the band has been a phenomenon that has not only reorganised the contemporary mainstream music scene all over the world, but has also defined the shifting socio-politics of showbusiness. The success of BTS, after all, has widely been seen as a triumph of inclusivity. In turn, the band, which started out as a hip hop group, evolved quickly to adapt to a larger market.

And all this success, despite almost all-Korean lyrics in all their songs, until the all English single Dynamite in August 2020. Today, they sing in English to connect with their worldwide ARMY.

ARMY, the band has said time and again, is intrinsic to their growth. Wider reach and a growing fan base ensures better feedback, they point out, and BTS is one band that is known to listen to their fans.

"When we go on tour, we get to perform a lot and that helps me improve," says Kim Seok-jin (Jin). j-hope, who is Mr. Sunshine of the group and has the trademark intro "I am your Hope, You are my Hope..." adds that the feedback they get for their songs has worked because it tells the band which areas to focus on in order to grow.

"I was able to check what I lacked and what I had to pay more attention to," he explains. j-hope is the main dancer, who is a hard task master for the group when it comes to grooving. Known for his agile moves, he is that guy, who almost left the BTS at one time just before debut, but was destined to return -- as the love between the members could not keep him away.

He is one of the three rappers along with Leader RM (Rap Moster or Kim Nam-joon) and Min Yoongi or Suga. In fact, Hobi, as he is lovingly called wanted to be in the vocal line -- that has V, Jin, Park Jimin and Jeon Jung Kook. But gave it away to V, the surprise member of the group on debut, as is known from a number of their documentaries along the way -- Burn the Stage, Bring the Soul, and Break the Silence.

V credits new experiences to their growing popularity. "We encounter new things and our stage always gets bigger, so it does give me pressure. However, I tried to expand my mindset so that I don't make mistakes," he says.

For RM, like everyone else, the pandemic has had an impact. "I think the current pandemic situation played a big part because we needed to change, whether we wanted to or not. Thus, during Covid, we were able to release 'Dynamite', 'BE', and 'Butter'," he points out.

Jimin, who was the last member to be finalised in the group and trained only for six months before debut on June 13, 2013, says the challenge is about seeking out the right direction when it comes to improving one's performance. "I couldn't really find an answer to what I should do to improve, but if I can find a better direction, I will be able to take a step forward," Jimin says.

The need to grow guides them all. Jung Kook, the main vocalist, and the Golden Maknae, for instance, says he is driven by the constant need to "grow and evolve".

"I think the biggest factor is that I always feel like I'm lacking and I have the continual ambition to get cooler," says Jung Kook. The youngest member, who will turn 24 this year, has given us five makeovers in six months -- blonde, blue, mint-choco, silver, and purple -- and each time fans have loved it. Currently with his purple hair, Jung Kook did the impossible -- losing weight in five days as he said while shooting for Butter.

The conversation shifts to their interestingly-named title tracks. The band says their process of selecting the title track of a BTS album is simple. "We usually select the song that best shows the overall message and theme of the album," RM says.

Which brings one to their latest track "Butter", which premiered on May 20. The song currently has 277,508,962 views on YouTube and 16 million likes. It is also No 1 ofn the Billboard Hot 100, as well as many other charts.

Jin, the self proclaimed 'World Wide Handsome', feels the song is a rage because it works perfectly as "BTS' summer song!" Jung Kook recalls the fun that the band had while shooting it, and attributes that energy to its success.

"The song itself is exciting and fun, so we were full of energy when we recorded it," Jung Kook notes.

"I think 'Butter' is special because it encapsulates our charms," Jin sums it up for the song, the band and the band's ever-growing aura.

With just days left for their 8th anniversary, BTS has their hands full.

Source: IANS Life

[coreastories]

Modern Royals: The protocol of touch

Corea, the bastion of wealth and science in Asia, is currently headed by not one but two powerful women. 

Prime Minister Koo Seo-Ryeong, 38, was first invested in 2015, and re-elected for another term just this month

The queen, 30, still in her first year of marriage, joins her in leadership of their prosperous country

The queen is a taekwondo black belt, a former detective widely accepted to have helped the king capture the last of the traitor’s followers, and never a pushover, whether it’s about national policy or her fashion choices 

The prime minister came from humble beginnings-- her mother still maintains a market stall. She won scholarships in prestigious schools and universities in Corea, and won elections one after another, quickly rising through the political ranks to her current position, and always winning over the people of Corea with her steadfast championing of the citizens

The juicy tidbit: She was romantically linked to the king pretty much until the announcement of the engagement to the queen, and never hid the fact that she wanted to be queen. 

Is there tension between the queen and the prime minister? 

The Royal Public Affairs Office and the Office of the Prime Minister have never made a statement for this question. 

The prime minister is among the very few guests of the private royal wedding, but she made no comment aside from her office’s felicitations. 

Likewise, the queen was present when the king reinvested the prime minister, and had issued her own official congratulations. 

Aside from that, there are no interactions, not in public. 

The media of Corea are quick to note that the queen and prime minister never seemed to attend the same events. If the queen doesn’t attend--something rare at this point, with the royal couple joined at the hip, to the nation’s glee-- the prime minister does. 

Another side note is the prime minister doesn’t stay long, and certainly doesn’t stay by the king’s side as was her wont in the past. There are no more photographs of the king and prime minister in close proximity. 

Whether this is tact on both sides or a dictate of royal protocol now that the king is married, Corea and the rest of the world can only speculate. 

When the royals and the prime minister do greet each other, however, there seems to be genuine mutual friendship and understanding. According to Corean media, this is in fact a new development, because the king has never been more than civil in his previous interactions with his prime minister. 

Coreans say that the king is just too happy with his new queen to be grumpy with anyone. Apparently, the politicians also think so. 

See this page for actual attempts of the Jinsun Party to take advantage of the king’s honeymoon period

Attempts the Prime Minister promptly squashed 

The Jinsun Party is the Prime Minister’s former party. When she ran for re-election, she was independent

The powerhouse of Corea

Last week, at the inauguration of the NanoStem Institute of Corea, everyone finally got their question answered. 

There is no tension between the queen and the prime minister. 

The king is in Sweden, and it was up to the two ladies in power to provide the  prestige to the opening of the new institute for nanotechnology and stem cell research. Not that the institute needs any more prestige. It will pioneer scientific advances in these niches for all Asia, with a focus on dreaded disease reversal, already funded in trillions by Corea and the G8, and headed by no fewer than three Nobel prize-winners.  

See this page for our coverage of the NanoStem Institute of Corea

According to organizers, the queen and prime minister were not at one table in the palace-vetted seating plan. Sit together they did, however, and seemed to have a tete-a-tete throughout the afternoon. 

At the close of the program, Corean media was delightfully stupefied as queen and prime minister stood together for the first time in public. 

Royal protocol dictates you don’t touch the queen unless she offers her hand first. And so, when the queen actually puts her arms around you, you have no choice but to return the gesture. 

We love the smiles on their faces. 

This is a powerful friendship we can’t wait to see unfold. 

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Because we all have feelings about how PM Koo was treated. 

I think she’s awesome. Badass. She and Tae Eul would have gotten on so well. 

She was human. She was seething at Gon’s repeated rejection. She was seething at the easiness of his power and position. She had ambition to have that same easiness by being queen. That doesn’t make her evil. 

She wasn’t. So I’m really unhappy they turned her into a corrupt loser. Just nope. In my previous theorizing posts, I always thought Lee Lim taken out of the picture would mean PM Koo is uncorrupted by his evil. 

She didn’t deserve the punishment she got.