#irish dance problems

[barnbridges]

every time i hear someone be like "im eastern european" and then they never talk about their home country or culture with any sort of pride or belonging im like are you actually an american bot thanks

[the-nettle-knight]

To other English people, stop saying "England has no culture", it is actively harming us. There is a reason the Tories defunded the arts and heritage sectors whilst scapegoating immigrants. The fear that immigrants will come and destroy Englishness is only working as the government is literally trying to actively wipe it out. If we a) recognise the things that are distinctly cultural (eg architecture styles) and b) actively participate in the traditions you're always told are silly (Morris and Molly dancing, scarecrow competitions and folk songs), it will actually make us better as a country and more difficult to divide via classism, racism and xenophobia

To be extra clear, these traditions are for everyone, queer people, imagrants and anyone of any faith (including Islam).

The deliberate eroding of our folklore/traditions by conservatives (both big and little c) is allowing for the insecurities weaponised by the types of Tommy Robinson against imagrants. These traditions and folklore do still need challenging from a modern critical lense (like how blackface has been removed from Morris dancing). Nor should they be preserved exactly how they used to be, because folklore and customs have always changed with the times. Having a good understanding of our past, critically understanding and accepting of the problems in it will absolutely contribute to decolonisation. Hopefully, having a solid grasp of our own traditions and folklore in a meaningful positive way will allow us to step back from clinging desperately to the parts of Welsh, Scottish and Irish culture we cling to because we don't think we have our own. Doing so will also hopefully allow for more support of the Welsh, Scottish and Irish independence movements. Also, it will hopefully stop the rampant cultural appropriation of other sacred traditions - it's ridiculous that modern wiccans believe that smudging with a non native plant (white sage) that's being driven to extinction by over harvesting will clear any sort of bad luck.

[oceans-goddess]

Derry Girls-- James Maguire SFW Alphabet

This is the sweetest boy I have ever come across, so I thought it would be fitting to write some fluffy headcannons about him <3

I tried making the reader gender neutral for this post, but please let me know if I should tweak anything that I might not have noticed!

Contains: fluff, brief mention of injury, no smut

Also WARNING: Possible spoilers!!

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A-- Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

James is a pretty nervous boy, and he doesn't have a lot of experience in relationships, so I think he would do a lot of pining instead of being outright with his affection. This doesn't mean that it goes unnoticed, though: you always catch him staring, and he blushes when you make eye contact with him.

He's full of smiles, and any time he's speaking with you, he can't seem to keep from grinning at you.

When you two are alone, he is comfortable holding your hand, and rarely lets it go, which you find to be the cutest thing in the world.

He also often "forgets" his sweaters and jackets at your house in hopes that you'll wear them, which you do, and his head spins when he sees what you look like wearing his clothes.

B-- Best Friend (What would they be like as a best friend?)

We all know James is a Derry girl just like the rest of them, and they get up to some seriously fucked up shit, but I imagine that James is not always on board with the plans the other girls come up with (let's not forget the time they made him fist fight a guy over concert tickets). With that in mind, I think that he would voice his concerns, get shut down by one of the girls (probably Michelle), and wait until the two of you are in private to talk about how ridiculous things can get.

He also just enjoys confiding in you in general, finding you to be a more level-headed and accepting member of the group. He tells you a lot about his struggles with his mom, his trouble as the only boy at school, and feeling like he's caught between his Irish and English identities.

He's also an incredible listener, and often sits quietly with you while you tell him about your own problems. The two of you have built up a lot of trust while confiding in each other.

C-- Cuddling (Do you ever cuddle? What is it like?)

Like I said before, James is more into pining after what he wants than asking for it, so you're usually the one who initiates any physical contact that isn't hand holding. But once you two are touching, he gets a little more comfortable with the situation. He usually pulls you into a sort of loose bear hug, and sometimes he uses one hand to stroke your hair or rub your back.

I'm honestly surprised I'm saying this, but I think he enjoys being the big spoon more than being the little spoon.

He also really enjoys laying his head in your lap and letting you play with his hair.

D-- Dance (Do you ever dance together? How?)

I'd say the Derry Girls are a fairly dance-y group, so you'll catch James dancing all the time in social settings, but if it were just the two of you, there is no doubt in my mind that you two would slow dance to When You're Gone by the The Cranberries (so cute!!!).

Any slow, jazzy or bluesy song would absolutely make him want to dance with you, but only in the safety of your bedroom or his.

He really likes to make you twirl around, and you both collapse in a fit of giggles whenever you try to twirl him back.

E-- Energy (How much energy do they put into the relationship?)

This boy would die for you, I'm sure of it. He's such a sweetheart, and I think he would try so hard to make you happy.

James knows he isn't very suave, but he always tries to compliment you anyway-- he honestly can't hold back from telling you how great you look.

He's a real gift-giver, and he saves up all his money to try and buy things for you. He especially likes bringing you flowers, and his ears are always beet red whenever you open the door to let him in so he can replace the last bouquet he put in your room.

He walks you all the way home from school every day, despite him and Michelle normally splitting off from the rest of the group about half-way between your house and school. For a while, Michelle gave him a lot of shit for it, but now nobody really seems to mind.

F-- Fight (How often do you fight? What do you fight over? How is it usually resolved?)

The two of you rarely fight, but when you do, it never really ends with any yelling. James is a quiet communicator at heart, and he doesn't really like the idea of yelling at you.

Most of your fighting comes from you trying to push James to stand up for himself more, as it can sometimes bother you that he doesn't assert himself. In your mind, he's an equal member of the friend group and doesn't need to put up with anyone's bullshit. But when you push him, he says that he doesn't need help and that he can assert himself whenever he wants, he just chooses to go with the flow.

The spats usually get resolved after a few hours; for example, if something happens in the evening, you both usually just need the night to cool off, and things are fairly back to normal by the time he walks you to school in the morning. Anything longer than that, and one of you shows up to the other's house to apologize.

G-- Gentle (How gentle are they, emotionally and physically?)

MY SWEET BABY JAMES IS THE MOST GENTLE SOUL IN ALL OF DERRY. No but seriously, he moves around very quietly, careful not to stomp or bump into things, and he touches you gently as well. All of his kisses are slow and soft, never harsh or aggressive.

He is soft spoken, and he chooses his words carefully so that you know he cares for you. When he gets frustrated or overwhelmed, he tries to talk things out calmly instead of letting his emotions build into anger.

H-- Happy (What makes them happy? How do they show it?)

James loves receiving attention from you. Any time you give him a smile or compliment his new shirt or something, he can't keep a smile off his face.

I also think he would show his happiness by being a little more chatty. He gets excited talking to you, and he could hold a conversation with you for hours without running out of things to talk about.

I-- Injured (How would they act if you got injured or sick?)

I think if you got sick, James would worry, but he would ultimately know that you are gonna be just fine. He would definitely show up to your house with a can of soup or some chocolate or something once he finds out you're sick. And he would find an excuse to sit in your room and fiddle with your things while the two of you chat, despite you telling him to leave because you don't want him to get sick.

When you're injured, it's a whole different story. Anything bigger than a scrape or a bruise and he's practically lost his mind. If you broke a bone or had a concussion or needed surgery or anything like that, I think he'd be hyperventilating in the hospital waiting room, and you'd never be allowed to go anywhere or do anything alone again. He'd open every door, insist you take the elevator instead of the stairs, etc etc.

J--Jealousy: (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?) 

James can definitely get anxious seeing you around other people he thinks you might be compatible with. He never says anything about it because he trusts you and believes you would never cheat on him, but he's got insecurities about people leaving him because of him mom, and he worries that you'll feel like he isn't important enough to keep around. The feeling never lasts long, though, because as soon as you smile at him or peck him on the cheek, he realizes how secure he feels being with you.

K-- Kisses (Do you ever kiss? How?)

Like I said before, James is very soft and gentle when the two of you kiss, and he never really takes the lead when you two are being intimate in that way. He lets you do what you want and sort of follows along, and he is breathless and blushing the whole time.

Aside from your lips, I think his favorite places to kiss you would be on the forehead or your shoulders while he hugs you.

Though he would never vocalize this, his favorite place for you to kiss him would definitely be the neck. He is super sensitive there, and he immediately starts stuttering and breathing harder when you press your lips there.

L-- Love Language (What is their love language? If their giving different from their receiving?)

I've covered this a little bit in the sections above, but his love language when it comes to giving is gift-giving. You mean a lot to him, and though he is often too embarrassed to say this aloud, his little gifts show you that you are always on his mind.

When it comes to receiving love, I think James enjoys words of affirmation the most. People talk down to him a lot in his life, so hearing someone treat him with kindness and gentleness and respect is a big deal for him. He also loves the reassurance that comes with hearing what you think of him in your own words.

M-- Meeting (How did the two of you meet?)

You were already friends with Michelle and the others when James arrived in Derry, so the introduction came soon enough. The girls were quite judgmental of him in the beginning, but you were very welcoming, so he really relaxed around you, and the two of you became close very quickly.

N-- Night Out (What do y'all do when you go on dates?)

You two are very casual when it comes to dates. Grabbing food, going on walks, seeing a movie, stuff like that is sort of the norm for the both of you. James prefers to do sort of calm, quiet stuff, and he enjoys being somewhere away from a lot of people, so you guys usually end up sitting at the park in the dark, chatting about life.

O-- Oasis (Where is "your" place, the place for just to two of you?)

His bedroom is usually where the two of you end up when you want to be alone. Michelle and her mom are always out of the house, so its usually very quiet, and it's a good place to sort of decompress. His room is full of cds and books, and his bed is extremely comfy, so the two of you cuddle there often.

P-- Protection (how protective are they over you?)

I know I said before that he can be a little jealous sometimes and often gets nervous when you're injured, but other than that, he's not an extremely protective guy.

The only time you see him become more protective is when you're in social settings: if people approach you, he likes to grab your hand or put his hand around your shoulders to send a clear message. He doesn't want to seem possessive because he doesn't want to scare you off, but he wants to be sure that people know you two are together without saying it aloud.

Q-- Quiz (How much do they remember about you?)

He remembers all the important stuff, like your birthday, your parents' names, your middle name, your anniversary, your favorite color, your favorite foods, etc.

He also always makes sure that when you are coming over for dinner, his aunt is cooking something he knows you will like.

He likes to keep track of things you say you like by writing them down when he gets home. For example, you once told him that you wished you had enough money to buy a new bike, and he wrote it down so that he'd remember when your birthday came around.

R-- Rainy Day (What do you guys do when it's raining outside?)

He actually loves when it is raining out, because it gives him an excuse to make you change into his dry clothes after walking to his house in the rain. He insists that you should wear his softest sweaters and a pair of his sweatpants to get warmed up again.

Rainy days are also when the two of you curl up in bed and read, or play games, or watch tv. He thinks you always look so cozy and cute on his rug with a blanket over your lap and a mug of tea in your hands.

S-- Song (What song best represents the relationship the two of you have?)

I already mentioned a song by The Cranberries earlier, which I feel is pretty fitting, but I also think that Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer is also a perfect match for the relationship you two share.

There are fast paced parts of the song, which match well with the energy you both have when you're hanging out together with friends, but at the end of the song, there is a very gentle melody, mirroring that at the end of the day, when it's just the two of you, it's a very sweet, soft, and loving feeling. You two just have a quiet and comforting relationship.

T-- Telepathy (Do you guys think alike/agree on most things?)

You two are pretty much always on the same page, and it pisses Michelle off more than anything. You side with him all the time, mostly because her ideas can be bat shit crazy and you want no part of them.

You guys also always want the same two things on the menu when you go to restaurants, so you each order one thing and split both plates. He always leaves you the last bite-- what a sweetheart.

You guys have pretty much the same taste in music and movies, so you never argue about what to listen to or watch.

You can both always tell when the other is a bit down or upset, and you gravitate towards each other to give each other silent support until you are both ready to talk about what is bothering you.

In a way, you truly do kind of have a telepathic connection with each other.

U-- Ugh (What are some bad habits of theirs? Some bad habits of yours that they don't like?)

James can be kind of whiny at times. For good reason, to be sure-- he's often dealing with annoying situations. But, in truth, you feel he could be assertive and solve the problem instead of letting things happen and complaining about the problem.

He can get frustrated with you at times because you are never letting yourself get enough sleep. You never complain about being tired, but he can see on your face in class that you're exhausted, whether it's because you prioritized your homework over sleep or stayed up too late reading or watching tv, he hates to see you not taking care of yourself. Whenever you feel under the weather, he is always the first to remind you that you'd probably feel a lot better if you had slept enough the night before.

V-- Vacation (Where would you two travel together if you got the chance?)

James would absolutely love to take you to England with him for a tour of where he grew up. He knows that people in Ireland are particularly resentful of the English (and for good reason), but his childhood was a good one, and he wants you to see for yourself what it was like. I also think spending a rainy weekend in London with him would be the most romantic thing in the world, just a chance to be very cozy and find lots of book shops and cafes and things like that.

W-- Words (What do the two of say to show that you care? Any nicknames? Any Phrases?)

James absolutely adores when you call him Jamie or Jamesy or Gem, really any nickname. He was never shown a ton of affection, so getting it from you is very validating.

He calls you by your name in public, but in private he'll call you "babe" or "love" (what an Englishman, bwahahaha). Sometimes you tease him for using such an English term of endearment, but deep down you really like that he uses it on you.

X-- Xerox (are there any traits or habits of theirs that you’ve picked up by accident?)

James runs his hands through his hair and tugs at his curls a lot when he's stressed, a habit that has sort of extended to you. You constantly pull at your hair without meaning to, something you never used to do before.

He's also got a different accent than you, so sometimes you accidentally say things in a half-English accent just because you've heard James say it so many times. When he picks up on it, he finds it to be one of his favorite things about you, and he hopes you never stop.

Y-- Yuck: (What are some things they don't like in terms of a relationship?)

In all honesty, despite being proud that you two are together, James hates telling people outright that the two of you are a couple because he worries about letting other people influence your relationship. Couples always seem to experience trouble when other people get involved and start judging when they don't really understand. He'd rather just keep things between the two of you and let people find out naturally instead of saying anything.

Z-- Zzzz (A sleep habit of theirs?)

That boy must fall asleep touching you in some way. He prefers his classic bear hug cuddle or spooning, but if you all fall asleep watching a movie at Erin and Orla's for example, he's ok falling asleep while just holding your hand.

He always wakes up earlier than you. Sometimes, if he's early enough, he can have a cup of tea or hot chocolate ready when you wake up, but he usually just sits in bed and plays with your hair.

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Author's Note: Ugh this was so fun to write, please let me know if I should do an alphabet for another character in any fandom!

[covid-safer-hotties]

Teens and kids with long COVID are showing surprising new symptoms - Published Aug 21, 2024

Rose Lehane Tureen is one busy teenager.

The 16-year-old is class president, an Irish step dance champion, singer, cross-country runner and straight-A student at her high school in Maine.

Her accomplishments belie the reality that she suffers from a debilitating headache that has lasted for more than four years, one of the several long COVID symptoms she's endured since an infection in March 2020.

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At the beginning of her illness, Rose went to the emergency room half a dozen times and was hospitalized twice with dizziness and blinding head pain. She also had red and swollen fingers, toes and ears; peeling skin; joint pain; problems controlling her temperature and terrible dreams.

She lost years of her life to long COVID and is trying to make up for it.

“I had to decide if I wanted to wither away on the couch in the dark or push through and do things that made me happy,” she said. "I'm reclaiming what it's taken and trying to live my life."

Rose is one of the estimated 5.8 million children in the U.S. with long COVID, many of whom have not been diagnosed because doctors, parents and patients fail to recognize the constellation of symptoms, experts say. A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health aims to arm families with information, identifying the most common long COVID symptoms in school-aged children and teenagers.

“Children aren’t just little adults,” said Dr. Melissa Stockwell, the study's coauthor and division chief of child and adolescent health at Columbia University. The more providers understand how long COVID impacts people at different ages, the easier it will be to diagnose children and provide prompt care.

Long COVID symptoms in kids, teens The study included 5,300 younger school-aged children and teens from more than 60 healthcare facilities across the U.S. between March 2022 and December 2023.

Researchers found teenagers between 12 and 17 were more likely to report fatigue, pain and changes in taste and smell, whereas, younger schoolchildren between 6 and 11 were more likely to have difficulty focusing, sleep problems and stomach issues, according to the report published Wednesday in JAMA.

Long COVID symptoms affected almost every organ system, and most patients reported symptoms that affected more than one part of their body.

In the report, younger school children and teens commonly reported back or neck pain, headaches, lightheadedness or dizziness and trouble with memory or focus. The study authors were also surprised to find that shared symptoms among the younger children included phobias, specifically the fear of crowded or enclosed spaces, and refusal to go to school.

The symptoms that showed up in younger children were less likely to overlap with symptoms experienced by adults with long COVID. The authors said this underscored the importance of age-based research.

“The symptoms that make up the research index are not the only symptoms a child may have and they’re not the most severe, but they are most predictive in determining who may have long COVID,” said Dr. Rachel Gross, the study's lead author and associate professor of pediatrics and population health at New York University Grossman School of Medicine.

Rose could have benefited from this research in 2020. It took more than a year to find doctors who would take her cluster of symptoms seriously. She eventually found that team at Boston Children's Hospital.

“I went from running a junior Olympic qualifier to being unable to walk,” Rose said. “It was dramatic and confusing.”

Missing 'whole boat' of data Despite the new research, health experts say a great deal is still unknown about long COVID.

For example, most of the data from the study comes from patients who were infected with earlier COVID-19 variants, not the latest version of omicron, said Dr. Alexandra Yonts, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and director of the post-COVID program at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

The study suggests kids infected with omicron are less likely to develop long COVID, however, Yonts argues there isn't enough data to support that theory since omicron hasn't been on the scene long enough to allow for robust long COVID data.

"If we’re looking at kids that have been newly infected (and) what is their risk of becoming long COVID patients?" she said. "We’re missing that whole boat."

Authors of the JAMA study say their next research will be long COVID symptoms in children 5 and under. Yonts said the most urgent need for these patients is access to post-COVID clinics that specialize in identifying and treating lingering symptoms from a COVID-19 infection. She said these types of efforts are beginning to close down across the country due to a lack of funding and support.

"These are such complex patients," Yonts said. "It's hard to find a multidisciplinary team that can define those symptoms and support them."

That's why Rose, a California native, eventually moved with her family to southern Maine so they could be driving distance from Boston Children's Hospital, where she visits the long COVID clinic at least once a month. In addition to doctors at the hospital's specialized COVID clinic, she's seen nearly a dozen specialists including a sleep neurologist, acupuncturist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist and cardiologist, among others.

Rose is disheartened that post-COVID clinics are shutting down for patients like her, but not completely surprised. She sees the world moving on from the pandemic, but she's still in pain. She hopes the JAMA study brings renewed attention to the condition.

"There’s this illusion now that lockdown is over, that COVID is gone," she said. "It’s really, really difficult and invalidating for all the people with long COVID – especially children."

[jacevelaryonswife]

After Dark | Part Three

Finan was a pratical man and didn’t carry the same dilemmas and barriers that his two mates had about you.

pairing: modern! Finan x fem!stripper reader

warnings: smut, oral (f receiving), slight praising, swearing. 3k.

after dark masterlist | previous part | the last kingdom masterlist

Finan didn’t carry the same dilemmas and barriers that his two mates had about you.

He was a practical man, mostly, and liked to lead his life with such practicality. It wasn’t a problem for the Irishman to lie down with a lady of the night, in fact, the whole situation was a very simple transaction: he would pay for a service that would be performed deliciously. No blurring, no shyness and no games (not totally, he appreciated certain provocations), just good old fun.

Referring to you on that occasion, it would be considerably expensive fun. Luckily, Uhtred paid well enough for him to enjoy some monthly luxuries in addition to a comfortable life, and that night you would be an extra luxury.

He wasn't stupid to leave the club on the night of Osferth's birthday without your name, asking you directly at the time of the negotiation of Baby Monk's gift. Aura, an interesting stage name.

He also disbursed a significant amount to give a memorable experience to his friend and did not regret it at all when he saw him all red, disconcerted and with a small smile when returning to meet the lads. Obviously the return home was showered by provocations from both Irish and Dane (mainly the first), leaving him blushing more than usual.

It was also obvious that when returning the prop you had thrown in the audience that night to a random employee of the club, Finan took the opportunity to ask if there was any schedule where you would appear again. The man was very enlightening about not having a fixed grid of presentations, but explained that your schedule was mostly nocturnal and that on less busy days you would be in the main hall working with individual dances from 7PM. It made a lot of sense, since with less demand it was necessary to expand the offer to get the money of the degenerates who attended the club at the beginning of the week. A fixed target would be easier. A fixed target like him that Monday night, sitting in a comfortable armchair with a glass of ale in his hand.

It was for a good cause.

The environment seemed more decadent and desperate than Finan remembered and he almost felt like a newly divorced man facing a middle-aged crisis when looking for a younger girl, even though he knew that wasn’t his situation. However, such thoughts dissipated when the music was over and you moved away from the idiot who paid for your attention. About thin heels and satin gloves, you shone in the eyes of the Irish with your lingerie studded with golden stones and a mask that covered the top of your face.

Again, Finan was a very practical man who was not ashamed to call your name before any loser did it. And apparently you didn't see a problem with such an attitude.

"Hey big boy, would you like a dance?" The velvety sound of your voice was very welcome along with the caress over his chin.

"Sure, darling," he pulled a generous note out of his pocket and handed it in your hand, whose assessment of the amount was quite judicious. "How much time do I have?"

“Four minutes,” you massaged his shoulders, swinging your hips to the rhythm of the new song. "I remember you, handsome, friend of the birthday boy and the man with mismatched eyes."

"So in addition to being gorgeous, does the lady have a good memory?"

A goddess on a mountain top

Was burning like a silver flame

"It's hard to forget a man like you," you purred as you sat on his lap.

The summit of beauty and love

And Venus was her name

"With an impressive face and a hot accent," your fingers ran their arms over the shirt, "and those arms. What's your name?"

She's got it

Yeah, baby, she's got it

He was no stranger to the tactics that strippers used to keep the spell on their customers, increasing his egos with compliments. He considered himself smart enough not to fall into your web, but felt a certain satisfaction in having his attributes highlighted.

Well, I'm your Venus

I'm your fire at your desire

He smirked, aware of what you were doing, squeezing his thigh in response. “It's Finan, darling.”

"Hi Finan, did you also come to fuck me like your friends did?" You whispered close to his ear.

That sent sparks along his body and made him widen his eyes to the plural job. Friends? So did Sihtric also seek comfort in your body? That Dane bastard...

Well, I'm your Venus

"Only if it's to your liking," he turned his face to face you.

I'm your fire

“I'd really appreciate it, sweetie. And I think you do too." Oh honey, he was sure of that.

At your desire

He watched closely when you positioned your thighs side by side with his legs and let your back fall back to expose your body to the delight of the Irish, who soon explored your soft skin with thick, callous fingers. One leg climbed over the shoulder and made a brief caress against his hard chest, briefly displaying your inner thigh and pussy covered by thin fabrics, before returning to the old position and facing it again.

Her weapons were her crystal eyes

Making every man mad

Black as the dark night, she was

Got what no one else had

"What big hands you have," you murmured as you provocatively grind over his groin.

The deep grunt he released was the perfect vocal response, followed by the squeeze on your waist "Combined with the package," he replied with a smirk.

“I hope it's a big package,” you purred and fingered his jaw.

She's got it

Yeah, baby, she's got it

Well, I'm your Venus

"Naughty girl," he gently hit your ass (soft enough not to be expelled by security guards).

I'm your fire

At your desire

"I bet you like it, big boy."

Well, I'm your Venus

I'm your fire

At your desire

He liked — he fucking liked it — a sassy and beautiful little thing to piss him off, a little minx to entertain him in bed.

She's got it

Yeah, baby, she's got it

Well, I'm your Venus

I'm your fire

At your desire

He watched your gaze travel to a clock on a nearby side wall. "Mm, after the song is over we can find out about your big package, what do you say?"

Well, I'm your Venus

A smirk outlined his lips, brown eyes shining in your direction. You were a dirty little thing. "If you insist, baby."

I'm your fire

At your desire

When the instrumental came to an end, Finan lost you from the comfort of his lap. With the implicit invite in your hand raised, he agreed to be guided and displayed as a trophy throughout the club (with a beautiful view of your ass). He watched curiously when another dancer interrupted the route to whisper something in your ear with a dirty smile, looking at him before moving away.

"Mmm, I think the girls are jealous of the delicious fish I caught," you purred proudly, receiving a pretentious look and wolf smile from him. Damn it, you played well, there was no way to deny it.

“I hope I can satisfy your hunger,” he replied in a malicious tone, gaining a satisfied look over his shoulder.

Your answer came in the form of a positive buzz, while guiding him through the corridor into where the rooms were located. "You already know the price and the form of payment, but as I made a discount for his friends I feel obliged to do the same for you. What do you think?"

Sweet.

"I think it's a very smart choice."

Approaching like a panther over the neon lighting of the room, you circled his neck and whispered close to your lips: "Now take me, Finan."

He waited all the fucking night to hear that.

When the Irish’s hands grabbed your body it was almost impossible to push them away. He grabbed your waist and circled an arm on your back when your lips collided in a sweeping and demanding kiss, not wasting time sucking and biting your lower lip, tasting the surprisingly sugary taste of your mouth. A fierce fight for domination was fought during almost the entire act, only for you to surrender to his strong arms. His hands began to tread through the soft and warm body, holding and squeezing your ass covered by bold lingerie, climbing to grab the back of your neck and bring you more impossibly close.

You let a soft hand run between the dark strands of the nape of the neck and pull at them gently, making him grunt against your lips.

"I hope you are quite vocal, this voice is too sexy not to be heard," your sweet words caused a short nasal laugh and intensified his look on you.

"You’ll hear it, sweetheart," his tone was seductively serious against your ear. In an agile movement he raised your thighs and lay carefully above you on the bed. “Bad girl.”

His mouth explored the free path of your jaw, throat until it colorized the soft skin with kisses and hickeys. "Mmm, don't leave marks, sweetheart."

He supported his weight on his right forearm while squeezing and massaging your breasts covered with a distinct softness of the large, calloused hands, the same hands that pulled your shoulders up and removed the glamorous bra without difficulty.

“Fucking gorgeous,” he said in a choked voice.

Pushing you back to the soft mattress, Finan grabbed your breasts vigorously, sucking and nibbling on the soft meat and stiff nipples. The wet trail of kisses followed through the silky skin of your stomach, while his hands held your sides possessively until they went down and pulled the beautiful studded lingerie out.

Oh boy, he was not prepared for the sight of the beautiful wet pussy for him.

His mouth was watered with the banquet in front.

You got up with a sly smile and stretched to reach the decorative item similar to a glass vase that kept a large amount of condoms.

“Do you want to eat me out, handsome?” You asked, delivering it.

Tearing the packaging carefully and positioning it, Finan smiled seductively. "I'm going to fucking devour this pretty pussy, darling."

He circled your inner thighs and held your waist before diving in like a hungry man. He loved to smear himself with the nectar and make a big mess before going for the goal, but with the thin plastic protection unfortunately it was not possible. Still, Finan grabbed your pussy greedily, sucking your bundle of nerves while squeezing and massaging your waist. Unfortunately a possessive hand had to let go of your flesh to keep the condom stable on his movements.

“Fuck! Just like that!”

Finan was not oblivious to flattery to captivate customers, but he was quite confident in his skills of eating pussy and humping women up to an abrasive orgasm. He buzzed with satisfaction and kept the pressure on your clit when he felt the thick strands of his hair being held and pulled, fucking loving to have his head packed and buried between your stuffed thighs.

"So good, so greedy," you purred almost out of breath.

"I can say the same, darling," a wolf's smile lit up his face, "such a pretty girl, with such a dirty mouth," he eagerly sucked your clitoris.

“Fuck!” You screamed as you writhed fiercely. "I bet my dirty mouth makes your dick hard?"

"You can bet it does," the slap on your flesh echoed through the room and added to the squeeze around his head. "Bad girl, you should learn a lesson or two," another stronger slap on the same side of the ass, "I bet you’d like that, but I appreciate the beauty of insolence."

Finan intensified the pressure on your nerves until your sounds became louder and more constant. "Don't stop, baby, don't stop!"

He’d never dare. His big brown eyes were positioned on the beautiful face above his to contemplate the reaction of your first orgasm that night. The pretentious smile was a reflection of the Irish’s inflated pride, removing and discarding the condom and looking for a package that fit him.

Finan showed off his impressive body by removing his clothes and shoes before going back to bed and kissing your calf to knee, stopping at seeing your pussy shining with sweet juices of which he almost salivated to taste.

"Damn it, I'm lucky to have a man like you tonight, big and thick," he kneeled lazily on the bed as you explored his chest with both hands and circled his neck to start an aggressive and lustful kiss, receiving nothing less than fire from the Irishman and a big, possessive hand grabbing your ass.

"As much as I wanted to see this beautiful face and tits jumping, I need to hold that ass while I fuck you." His tone was heavy and hoarse, his accent more loaded than usual. He massaged your breasts before you turned slowly and exposed your ass towards him, taking his length and giving it a slight pump. “Slow down, baby,” you warned him.

“Don't worry darling, I'll treat you well,” he massaged your ass affectionately before putting the condom along his length. "Relax and enjoy."

The air was retained in his lungs when he felt the hot and wet squeeze around his cock as he slowly entered your soft walls. One hand rested on your hip for better support and the other held the soft flesh of your ass.

“Fuck!” You cursed out of breath, holding the sheets tightly. “Move.”

"As you wish," he moved superficially, adapting your body to intrusion. Even the smoothest of movements made him grunt with the friction, smoothing your back while deepening into you with each thrust. He let out a hoarse grunt and closed his eyes as he was balls deep in your pussy, feeling the vibrations all over his body and waves of pleasure involving his cock. You squirmed with a slight spasm below him, releasing a long and slightly sharp moan.

"Are you okay?" He interrupted, worried, although desperate to continue.

"I’m fucking fantastic!" You mewled like a sly cat, pushing your hips back. “Fuck me good, baby.”

That's what he wanted to hear.

He hit his hips on yours harder at a steady, almost blunt pace, which partially clouded his sight and involved his senses. There was no time to waste, not when you took him so well and sang sensually, letting him fuck as you wished. He growled when you pushed your ass even more against his groin, giving a firm cap on your soft buttock and grunting when you squeezed it in response. Leaning on your forearm, you looked at him over your shoulder with lascivious desire and face crumpled with pleasure. Finan watched carefully when you sent a hand between your legs, sinking your face back into bed while playing with yourself.

No, you wouldn't hide that beautiful face of yours.

Leaving you, Finan turned your body and took off the mask that covered the top of your face before leaning and an arm supported next to your head. “Eyes on me, beautiful,” he murmured close to your lips, feeling your arms hold his back.

You leveled your face to his, making it more intimate than you should. He held your inner thigh and moved his hips rhythmically, deep into your hot core. "Good girl, so fucking gorgeous," he felt your walls squeeze, which made him laugh satisfied. "You like to be praised, don't you, beautiful?" He plunged his face into the conjuncture between his neck and shoulder and nibbled on sensitive skin.

“Mmm-yes.”

The constant tightening and pulsating of your core made him growling and keeping his pace focused on getting your peak. Your moans became loud and your nails scratched his back when you came strong on his cock, body shaking and sweat accumulated on the top of your forehead. He eagerly waited for the stabilization of your breath and the permission to pursue his own pleasure.

“Move handsome, move, I want to see you cum for me,” you said close to his lips, kissing him eagerly afterwards.

He hit his hips on yours and returned to leave bites and licks in the extension of your neck, his balls weighing with each thrust while his senses seemed to get lost every second.

“Fuck-“

His view became blurred by releasing the load on the condom with a guttural moan, leaning mostly against the bed while feeling his body weigh. All neurons were inert for a short period of time that seemed too long until he came out of you calmly, surprised when you moved to remove the condom and dispose of it in a small trash can away from the bed. A thin layer of sweat lit up his torso when he lay on the bed, watching your hips swing temptingly as he rested next to him.

“Mmm, are you okay, big boy?”

“More than okay, darling, and you?” The wear after sex left him inert for a few seconds, his muscles relaxing and almost anchoring him in bed, he would love a cigarette at that moment.

"Fucking awesome," you purred and turned face down, leaning on your elbows and looking at him. "So... was this planned by you and your friends or did it happen casually?"

That was a really good question.

"When you say friends, do you mean me and Osferth, the birthday boy, or a Dane with different eyes whose name is Sihtric?" He inquired really intrigued.

“The three of you, sugar.”

He couldn't believe it, so that bastard who couldn't stand the idea of paying a woman to have sex kept it a secret all this time about having slept with you? Unbelievable.

"The only plan was Osferth's birthday. I don't know anything else, beautiful," he explained in a deep voice, rolling to leave kisses on your neck and smell your hair.

But then, without him knowing, an interesting plan formed in your mind with the idea of actively fucking those formidable specimens of men at the same time. The sweet Osferth, the serious Sihtric and the nasty Finan. It seemed too delicious to ignore.

"Mmm, how about we plan one more thing, big boy?"

═════════════════════

taglist: @gemini-mama @ireallydontcareanymorebrooo @tssf-imagines @succnfuccubus @arcielee

general: @succnfuccubus @fan-goddess @kravitzwhore @partypoison0

a note: i know i know. I had a huge block and I rewrote this story more often than I would like, sorry for the long delay for this and I hope you liked it

my amazing beta reader: @moris-auri ❤️

[candysugarush]

𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬: part 1

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒏-𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒔"

✧══════•❁❀❁•══════✧

Choi Seungcheol

Character : The first princess

Story : As the first born and oldest prince, a lot of pressure had been on his shoulders the moment he was born. And that, even if he had eleven brothers after him. He had to grow up before he was ready for it to please the expectation of his father, and so, his only pleasure and release from his life was dancing. A secret he thought he would take to the grave of it wasn't for his brothers following after him in his secret passion.

Fortunately, you're here to help him with getting dancing shoes. He doesn't know how he would keep up if you weren't here. Don't you ever think about not coming to the palace anymore. He won't accept it.

Yoon Jeonghan

Character : The second princess

Story : He is part of the mischievous 'angel-devil' duo with his irish twin, and he plays the devil. With a talent for words and manipulation, it's no surprise that everyone is wary of him behind his business smile, but this is also a talent that makes him an excellent negotiator. Especially when he convinced you to take care specially of making dancing shoes for his brothers and himself.

But be careful not to cross him or back out the deal. He is smarter than you and will make you pay the price tenfold for even thinking about it.

Hong Jisoo

Character : The third Princess

Story : He is part of the mischievous 'angel-devil' duo with his irish twin, and he plays the angel. But don't be fooled, behind his deceiving sweet face and manners he is just as bad as his brother. That doesn't mean he is just like him. Joshua likes to think of himself as a gentleman, one that has manners and know how to properly take care of a lady. He is always eager and happy to help you when you come by to deliver their dancing shoes.

What do you mean you don't need help? Don't be silly, just let him help you, he has your best interest at heart.

Wen Junhui

Character : The fourth princess

Story : The firstborn son of the concubine of the king. Junhui, despite not having the same mother as the rest of his brothers, it had never been a problem among them. Despite his quiet and discreet personality, he has a love for dancing, especially the style of his mother's culture. And so this is one of his common points and interest with the rest of his brothers. Otherwise he like to stay in the back and watch things happening.

But you... You've seen him from the start and encouraged him to step forward with his passion. And now you want to leave? Your gaze shined the light on him, you don't get to leave till the end of the performance.

Kwon Soonyoung

Character : The fifth princess

Story : A loud and eccentric prince who is actually an introvert when interacting with people outside his family. Fully believe to be a tiger, even 'a magnificent tiger cursed into a human form'. This causes quite a few sighs and headaches among his brothers. But for a tiger, he is truly talented with dancing and is his favorite pastime when not bouncing around to yapp about being a tiger.

Now you, you are the only one who knew what his tiger feet needed and actually take the time to listen to his words. So bunny don't think about leaving his den now. You're under the tiger prince protection.

Jeon Wonwoo

Character : The sixth princess

Story : A serious and stoic looking prince who just want to live and do his things with getting bothered. Tall and lanky with an affinity more for inside activities than outside, no one would have guessed he is as fanatical about dancing as his brothers. While he loves a good dance, he also loves his books and quiet in the library. His energy stock isn't as high as the rest.

At least you understand him on that point. Everyone else is always busy running around and being too energetic. So take a seat and stay by his side. He doesn't mean it just for now but forever.

Lee Jihoon

Character : The seventh princess

Story : The grumpy cat-looking prince who is also the shortest. But what he lack in heights, he compensate in strength and a passion for music that goes above his brothers interest. He is a musician and composer, truly dedicating himself to music. Dancing is just another layer on the cake for him, even if he has to admit sharing this passion with his brothers isn't unpleasant.

But you're important too! After all nothing would be possible without you. You are his muse, the source of his artistic inspiration. If you were to leave, his mind wouldn't accept it and fall apart in madness.

✧══════•❁❀❁•══════✧

Who will be your dancing partner?

Taglist: @loumin908

[mercurygray]

Blind Dates Fest 2024 - Freda Torvaldsen, ARCS

A few days ago I asked for MOTA prompts, and @junojelli delivered:

A MOTA scene prompt for you: a new arrival is amongst the clubmobile ladies at the local pub one evening. Of course, it would only be right that they give her the lowdown on the men they can see in the bar, and the recent gossip on possible nocturnal escapades of course 😏

So! An extra Blind Date! You can learn more about @blind-dates-fest at their blog.

Fandom: Masters of the Air

It was only a matter of time before the subject came up.

“Can’t say I’ve ever met a Freda before.”

It was always like this, her first day in a new assignment, where you been, where you from, what do you do. And then inevitably someone would work around to the obvious. So... what’s a name like Torvaldsen doing with a name like Freda?

“And neither had my mother,” Freda said with a resigned smile, sitting down heavily and nodding thankfully to one of the other girls for the beer. “After my father and brother were both Peters I think she just wanted something interesting.” She shrugged. “She told me once she found the name in a short story in a woman’s magazine. Never got confused with another girl in class, though! Fred’s just fine, for every day use. It’ll get tossed in eventually, so we may as well start there.”

Fred was easy - approachable, even. A good way to start a conversation, a quick, easy joke to set everyone on the same level. Who’s on shift today, girls? Rose, Laura, and Fred. Wait, Fred? And she’d stick her head out from wherever she was hiding, and the boys would all have a laugh that Fred was really a twenty-six year old blonde from Madison, Wisconsin with a big smile, and not the paunchy driver from Brooklyn they all pictured when they heard the name. She didn’t mind the jokes, really - it made the whole job easier. So what’s your name, solider? You have a nickname, too? Where you from? The whole reason she was there, in three questions or less - to make the average G.I. feel at home, seen, valued and wanted.

“Where’d you say you were, before this?” Helen asked. At least, she thought it was Helen - or was it Ellen? Honestly, Tatty had run through the team of three pretty quickly this morning and she might have misheard. Tatty, of course, was easy to remember - Katherine Spaatz, with a last name the papers wouldn’t soon forget and a face that liked being photographed. Mary Boyle was the other, a sparkling-eyed Irish girl from Des Moines who looked like just the kind the fellows all liked to spin around a dance more than once. She couldn’t remember the name of the girl she was replacing, either - not that that mattered much. She was going home with the one non-communicable disease the Red Cross didn’t want to deal with - pregnant, Mary had mouthed across the table when they’d first met this morning, her fresh off the bus from London and Tatty skating artfully around the subject.

“Did a spell at the canteen in Washington, another couple months in London in a few different spots,” Freda offered. “I guess I’m a professional replacement at this point - which is either a compliment or a curse. You’ll have to tell me which.”

“Well, we’re happy to have you, for as long as we’ve got,” Tatty said with a nod. “Did they tell you what the work would be like? Working a base is different than canteen service.”

“The hours, for a start,” Mary said, rolling her eyes.

“If they’re running a mission, they’re up and at ‘em at 4:30 for a 5 am briefing, which means -”

“Service ready for 4:45,” Freda filled in, nodding along. “Means we’ll be starting about...three thirty, maybe, to have everything hot and ready?”

“Will that be a problem?” Tatty asked, her eyes dark and decisive across the table.

Freda shook her head. “Always was more of a morning person. How long are they usually out for?”

“Longer runs...six, seven, eight hours at a time? Tower will give us a ring when they’re expected back in, and then we rack up donuts and coffee in the interrogation hut. You’ll need to be sharp on that shift,” Tatty warned. “They don’t always come back looking pretty.”

“Doctor’s usually on hand to evaluate anyone who can walk. If they’re still standing he’ll turn ‘em loose on the interrogation team,” Mary explained. “Captain Brennan and her girls run that room - she’s nice, you’ll like her.”

“You’re not there to make small talk for that one - pass out coffee and get ‘em to their table as quick as you can. Each crew runs through the whole mission - what they saw, who they shot at, bombs dropped. The after-action report. Once they’re done, they’re free to leave, and so are we. We’ll do dishes and clean-up, and then get the coffee urns ready to drive ‘round to the crews. Can you drive?”

“Well enough for Wisconsin,” Freda offered with a shrug. “We had a Ford I could grind through.” She didn’t say anything about the last time someone had asked her if she knew how to drive, and how she’d nearly run over the campus mascot trying to muscle a Clubmobile into a turn.

“Sounds like you’ll be driving our Jeep, then. We’ve got one assigned to us.”

Freda nodded, trying to maintain serenity. Well, that’s all right. A Jeep’s not a remodeled London bus, and it sure as hell doesn’t drive like one.

“The planes are parked out on hardstands and the crew basically live out there while they’re working,” Tatty went on, “So we take coffee and sandwiches around once the planes come back in. They’re good guys out there - better than the flyboys, sometimes.”

“Now, Tatty, don’t go turning her head the wrong way,” Mary interjected, before Freda could ask what a hardstand was. “They’re all nice. Just take some getting used to.”

“Anyone I’ll need to watch out for?” Freda asked, glancing around the club, which was gradually beginning to fill for the evening - officers in their Class As, the gilt on their wings like sunshine, laughter like a river. The knucklehead who knocked up your friend, for instance?

Tatty made a gesture across the room towards the biggest group. “The tall one horsing around with the dartboard is John Egan - Major Egan, rather. Or Bucky, if you want nicknames. He’s mostly harmless, but he’ll flirt with anything. Just give as good as you get and you’ll be fine. Man next to him is Major Gale Cleven - also Buck - who you’ll wish was single and isn’t.”

“He’s got a girl back home in Wyoming,” Helen (Ellen?) put in, her smile a little wistful. “Ask him about her sometime.”

“Man with the permanent frown is Major William Veal - Bill, sometimes. He’s all business, you’ll never see him dance, so don’t ask. Tall fellow next to him with the lighter curly hair is Major Jack Kidd, also mostly business.”

Freda’s eyebrows went up. “Mostly?” Now there’s a word with a story.

It was Tatty’s turn to smile. “We think he might be sweet on Mary, when he lets himself.”

Mary rolled her eyes. “Only because the rest of you gang up on him!”

“Those are the squadron commanders, anyway - the other pilots and navigators and crews report to them. It’s a lot of names,” Tatty said, almost dismissive.

Notice how she didn’t say I’d learn them, Freda thought to herself. They’d told her that much in London, when she’d gotten her assignment. Don’t get too attached to your post, or the soldiers there. They can change or leave at any time. It’s a war, not a weekend.

“Ladies! And how are we all on this fine evening, eh?” Here it was - faces up. Freda found her smile and turned to see who it was - a young man with black hair and blue eyes and a smile just this side of mischievous. And this one is named Trouble, I’ll bet. First lieutenant with flying wings - a pilot. “You all over here plottin’ somethin’ we fellas need to be made aware of?”

“Just introducing the new girl around, Curt.” Tatty gestured to Freda, on the other side of the table, who raised a hand and nodded hello.

Trouble (Curt?) smiled a little wider, his hand on Tatty’s shoulder, leaning closer over the table. “Oh, the new girl, eh? And does the new girl have a name?

“New girl answers to Fred,” Freda said with a patient smile, trying not to smile too hard at the patently obvious big-city, big-spender feeling rolling off of the lieutenant in waves. New Yorkers. You could run them off a press like that. It was funny, sometimes, how much they tried not to be types - but she’d known far too many men like him. That was the trouble with canteen service - you saw so many they all started to look the same. “And she’s not looking for another drink, before the lieutenant starts asking.”

“Tough customer!” He laughed at that. “Curtis Biddick, at your service, Fred. Now, if any one of these jokers starts anything or gets fresh, you come find me, alright?” He pointed, for emphasis, and she took note of the knuckles of his hand, the shortness of his nails. “Gotta take care of our girls, you know, since you’re always taking care of us.”

“I’ll certainly keep it in mind, Lieutenant.”

Biddick waved the rank away like it was a fly he were swatting. “Now, none of this lieutenant crap, Fred. My friends call me Curt.” He fixed his eye on her and she smiled, and nodded - heard and acknowledged. Confident they had an understanding, he clapped Tatty’s shoulder again and stood up. “Tatty. Mary. Helen. Fred. Yous all have a good night, now.”

“Well, there you are, Fred. If Biddick likes you you’re set. He was serious about finding him, too - he’s the company boxing champion.”

“Of course he is,” Freda said with a smile, finally able to place where she’d seen hands like that before. And a total sweetheart underneath all of it, if I read him right.

And a soldier, something in her head reminded her. That’s the trouble with working a base - they won’t just be here for a night. You’ll have learn their names, and their girlfriends, see them day in and day out - until one day you don’t.

She took a deep breath and a sip of her beer, still glancing around the room, at the laughing men at the dartboard, the craps game, the piano, everyone alive and free and full of life. Maybe it had been a bad idea to start with names.

---

Eagle-eyed readers will notice that I have name-dropped several new characters in here; one of them, Marion, is my other Blind Date this year. You'll meet her on Saturday!

[calamity-calliope]

OC SMASH OR PASS

(jumping on this bandwagon just because) [Thanks @zeebreezin ]

Middle image by @feivelynart. Seriously, go check them out!

Name: Johnathan Morholt Certsey

Age: 40

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Honestly who even knows

☘ Propaganda for:

He is a pawnbroker

Accomplished calliopist - loves playing with and for others

Very lively fellow, and you can count on that day or night.

Just generally spirited and joyful, hardly seen without a smile or a positive attitude

Catfish-shaped <3

Calls you "deary"

Knows many a good zee-ztory, as has no objections to telling them

excellent cook!

Lives and breathes the zee, loves a good adventure on-board with 90-foot flash schooner Calamity!

Fun uncle energy all day every day

Protective of his friends (he would kick ass for you)

Made to cuddle. Loves to give warm hugs.

Whistles jaunty little tunes when he's busy, and you bet he loves to dance

Likes holding hands (his hands are warm)

Embraces eccentricity, and likewise embraces fellow eccentrics

Bookworm

WILL share his big coat you if you are cold

Wouldn't be caught dead being unfaithful in a relationship and works with his other to keep it healthy and meaningful - respecting boundaries when needed.

🤔 ??? propaganda:

Bataireacht practitioner, and he carries his shillelagh with him everywhere. It's his version of a bedside spear.

Sometimes irritatingly curious. If you have antiques and/or a unique, expect that he'll ask about them

He snores 💀

Notable for inadvertently getting himself into troublesome situations. He is generally good at escaping these, but it's a bad habit.

Whatever the Victorian England equivalent of that one family member who disappears into a Yankee Candle and emerges four hours later with $150 worth of candles is.

Sweet-looking for sure but he has one hell of a sailor mouth.

🧨 Propaganda against:

He is a pawnbroker

Has a communication issue - and not in the relational sense. New English speaker who has spoken Gaeilge (Irish) his entire life and you would probably have an easier time reading Finnegan's Wake. To fix this he's learning German!!

Has never been in a full-commitment romantic relationship before

For all of his cheerfulness, he's undeniably suspicious

It's the sun-cult stuff

Carries about him all the faux innocence of a man who has killed, and is bound to kill again

Often out on unspecified business. Several of his clients happen to be located at various places across the zee. It's no whaling journey, but expect him to be gone for months at a time

Not a quick problem solver- the bigger the problem, the more time he needs to think on it, during which the issue tends to worsen.

Sometimes the nightmares get to him.

Very minor but he smells a tad bit like bilgewater

Postage enthusiast, but in an accidentally creepy way. Known for sending vaguely threatening packages to strangers.

Very serious about his religion. Sometimes becomes lost in the bliss of it, and you wonder if this is the same man you knew before.

Straight-up serial killer vibes sometimes

Tagging those willing who haven't done it yet :)

[lcdrarry]

LCDrarry 2024 Round-Up Post | Week 2

On Sundays during our posting period, we won't post a new work, instead you have time to catch up with the works that posted during the week and hopefully leave lovely comments for our creators.

Happy reading, commenting and sharing! ;)

~Your LCDrarry Mods

PS: Please have a look at the author notes and tags on AO3 for additional information. Thank you!

PPS: Please share far and wide! Thank you!!

***

Podfic

***

"As You Wish" by Pineau_noir

Prompt: "The Princess Bride", 1987, Rob Reiner Written by: Pineau_noir Narrated by: Anonymous Podfic Length: 02:31:28 Rating: Teen and up Warnings: None

Summary: Draco was raised on a farm in the small country of Witshire; his favourite pastimes were flying on his broom and tormenting the hired farm boy. Though his name was Harry, Draco never called him that. On Harry's forehead there was a scar shaped like a lightning bolt, so Draco called him Scarhead.

Nothing gave Draco as much pleasure as ordering Harry around.

Or a story about fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, True Love, and miracles.

Listen to it now on AO3.

***

Fic

***

first, she fell

Prompt: "Anatomy of a Fall", 2023, Justine Triet Prompted by: @wolfpants Author: Anonymous Word Count: 1,648 words Rating: Mature Warnings: angst, referenced character death, open ending, referenced adultery, speculated murder

Summary: Harry's wife is dead. No one knows quite what that means.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Caribou Garden

Prompt: Nature Documentaries (genre, any year) Prompted by: @meandminniemcg Author: Anonymous Word Count: 2,641 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: None

Summary: Alone with his swotty, posh, nemesis-turned-colleague on an uninhabited island in the far north, cinematographer Harry Potter grapples with his inconvenient crush. A nature documentary-inspired fic with magical caribou migrations, dramatic landscapes, and only one tent.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Twin Blades

Prompt: “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith”, 2005, George Lucas Author: Anonymous Word Count: 3,525 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: lightsaber combat, nightmares

Summary: Harry advances a few steps toward Draco, who doesn’t move, only watches him approach with narrowed eyes. “If you’re so sure the Jedi have no power, duel me. If you win, your master will be proud of you.” Draco’s eyes glitter. “And if you win?” “We’ll find out, won’t we?” Harry raises his lightsaber, readies himself. “Come on.” Without another word, Draco lunges at him.

Or, a Drarry-flavored reskin of the battle on Mustafar.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Prompt: "Mamma Mia", 2008, Phyllida Lloyd Prompted by: @Azulaschild Author: Anonymous Word Count: 11,378 words Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: sex while on drugs, drinking

Summary: Recently-divorced Harry returns to Serenity Commune, site of his wildest youthful romps and the beginning of his recovery from trauma, to get out of a rut (and because Hermione made him). Unfortunately, sex, drugs, and dancing aren't all that await - he'll have to confront his past and what life might have been.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Leap Year

Prompt: "Leap Year", 2010, Anand Tucker Prompted by: @DrarryMyHeart Author: Anonymous Word Count: 29,064 words Rating: Mature Warnings: None apply.

Summary: Draco Malfoy has come a long way. He has a successful business and a muggle-born high-flyer boyfriend.

One tiny thing - it's been four years and he has no ring. No matter, he'll take things into his own hands. Feb 29th is an Irish muggle tradition that he'll happily jump on. Archie (boyfriend) is in Ireland - he'll simply portkey over and pop the question.

One (LARGE) problem. The portkey office messed up and he's landed outside Harry Potter's pub.

The same Harry Potter that hasn't been seen for ten years.

*Big sigh.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Runaway Groom

Prompt: "Runaway Bride," 1999, Garry Marshall Prompted by: @elskanellis Author: Anonymous Word Count: 30,044 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Arranged marriage (not between Harry and Draco), Infidelity if you squint (not between Harry and Draco)

Summary: OK, so Draco's feeling so nervous about his upcoming wedding to his fiancée Astoria Greengrass that he could faint. That's one of the pitfalls of an arranged marriage, right? Just because he's run out of his past three weddings, doesn't mean this one won't go ahead. He just has to keep his eyes on the finishing line, and ignore the sudden reappearance of Harry Potter, who seems to be determined to turn his world upside down. Again.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Hope Is A Thing With Feathers

Prompt: "Thelma and Louise", 1991, Ridley Scott Author: Anonymous Word Count: 33,335 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator chose not to use Archive Warnings

Summary: Harry is disillusioned with the Aurors, his relationship with Ginny, and is tired of all the hero worship but feels trapped. Draco, still hated by the Wizarding world, decides to get away and shares his plan with Harry, his only friend. Harry jumps at the chance to go with him.

They share in the freedom of their adventure, but things don’t go according to plan. Amidst their misfortunes, they discover new talents, courage in the face of tragedy, and above all, love.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Romancing the Dragon

Prompt: "Romancing the Stone", 1984, Robert Zemeckis Prompted by: Anonymous Author: Anonymous Word Count: 34,382 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Action movie typical violence

Summary: Harry Potter writes romance novels from the comfort of his London townhouse, with the assistance of his beloved cat, Juliet. He does not engage in rescue missions, talk to dragons, or develop feelings for Draco Malfoy. That would be absurd.

Read it now on AO3.

***

Please help promote the fest by sharing your favourite submissions, so more people can enjoy all the amazing new Drarry works of LCDrarry. Thank you!

Creator reveals are on 15 June.

[stellar-waves]

ice

. . .

[ boondock saints : connor + fem!reader ] fluffy february : prompt 3 ⚠ warnings: mild language and typical MacManus mouth, mild injury, teasing, suggestive/implied sexual content, safe to assume pre-canon because why not A/N: The best part is that I actually got a weather alert for ice today, so that's fun. Now if only I had Connor... 🥶

. . .

“Jesus fecking Christ! My arse!” Connor’s cry into the cold February air should concern you, but you just giggle instead.

“I told you there was ice there,” you remind him with a smile, shaking your head under the fur-lined hood of your coat as you carefully approach him, determined not to make the same mistake.

He lays back in defeat, sprawled like a starfish on the frozen sidewalk. “Aye, that ye did, lass. That ye did.” 

You notice a fresh rip in the knee area of his jeans, though not big enough to warrant a patch job later. His cheeks are red from the frigid temperature and embarrassment, and you can’t help thinking how adorable he looks. Connor MacManus, your adorable Irish idiot. 

“So, you gonna get up or what?” you ask with only a hint of snark, crossing your arms over your chest.

Connor’s breath is visible as he exhales. “Aye, just…just give me a minute,” he admits sheepishly. 

But now you’re a little more concerned than you wanted to be. “You’re actually hurt, aren’t you?” 

“No!” Despite looking helpless on the ground, Connor scoffs and shakes his head. “No, no, no…”

“That’s convincing.”

“I’m fine, lass.”

“Okay, tough guy.” You lightly tap the bottom of his boot with your foot. “Then get up.”

“I told ye, in a minute!” he argues, rolling his eyes but still not moving his body.

Apparently, today is just the two of you telling each other “told-you-so” day. 

You sigh, kneeling next to him slowly so you don’t slip yourself, shifting a bit as you reach for Connor’s face. He curses under his breath as you rub your gloved hand against his cheek. “Okay, fine. I am…a little sore.” 

“That’s good. Means you’re not paralyzed,” you tease lightly. 

“Just my arse is all…maybe my ego as well.” 

Your mouth drops open at the confession. Never have you ever heard your cocky boyfriend admit such a thing. And it strangely makes you love him even more. 

“Admitting you have a problem is usually the first step,” you tease again, a grin spreading across your face because he looks so absolutely pitiful. 

“Shit,” he starts, turning his head towards you. “Ye sure know how to kick a man when he’s down, yeah?”

You shrug. “But you love me anyway, right?”

“That’s debatable.” 

“Aw, see, and here I was going to help you up, but if you don’t love me…” you move to stand up, and suddenly, Connor sits up.

His entire face cinches with pain as he grabs your hand and says your name with urgency. “I do! I do love ye!” 

You lean your face into his, smiling against his lips as you kiss him warmly. He slides his hand into your hair, pushing the hood off your head and pulling your body closer. You both almost forget how cold the air is around you as you feel the heat of your breath dance between your mouths. With a light flick of your tongue across his lips, you slow your movements, urging softly again, “Then get up, Connor.” 

He pulls back, his blue eyes slightly wide while his cheeks are still flushed. A knowing smirk crawls up one side of his face, and he mutters, “But...lass, I…”

You make a face, narrowing your eyes but holding back the laughter threatening in your throat. Because you know damn well what his problem is now. 

A sly smile breaks on your lips as you stand up steadily, offering him your hand. “Can’t take care of that until you get up off your ass, love.”

. . .

[myalgicencephalomyelitiscfstom]

A published Irish writer with ME writes eloquently about her first year dealing with ME (she's ill over a decade now)

Some extracts: —- I didn’t go about my day boxing and hitting Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, to do so would have been wasting precious energy. Instead, I danced around her, pacing myself, doing what I could. Attempting to be clever – the way in which a farmer tactically approaches a tumultuous bull -. —- That said, everything I did took energy. Washing my teeth, energy. Dressing, energy. And there was no bank to run to asking for a loan. No friend with a basket of extras.

—- Realising the energy saved undressing and dressing could be used toward cooking my meals, I stopped getting dressed altogether. Resulting in PJ days.

The only problem with this were the moments I forgot I wasn’t dressed.

—- Returning home from our weekly food shop meant my day was done, this one task utilising my entire energy source, sometimes I was luckier and managed a second small task later in the day after resting but forgetting my husband D didn’t live with the same battery I did, I often queried his ability to play a few holes of golf later in the day. His abundance of energy a strange phenomenon to my brain deadened mind. —- Returning from adventures away from my home always induced days of a crash. And sometimes this crash was delayed by up to 48 hours, just when you thought “yey, I got away with it… BAM”. —-

[wizardingworldlibrary]

Love Potion/Spells (2) Masterlist

part one

a memorable valentine's day (ao3) - blue_violets hermione/ron, sirius/remus, harry/ginny G, 3k

Summary: After fighting with Hermione at the Yule Ball two years ago, Ron wants to make the Valentine’s Day Dance perfect for her. Unfortunately, Fred & George accidentally added their own DNA to a batch of love potion sold at their shop in Hogsmeade. Everyone who unknowingly takes some of the potion falls in love with all the Weasleys. The evening of the dance, Ron, Bill and their siblings are ambushed by hordes of admirers.

Amortentia Tension (ao3) - Anonymous regulus/james G, 13k

Summary: Regulus, somehow, agrees to a bet with James Potter. He will drink a love potion (questionably acquired), and they'll see how long James can last with him being stupidly in love with him. It's only for a weekend—how hard can it be?

Bewitched (ao3) - StarlingFlight harry/ginny M, 90k

Summary: When Luna suggests, after Ginny suffers through the latest in a long line of comically bad dates, that the solution to all of her problems lies in brewing a love potion, she thinks it's all a big joke.

Obviously, magic isn't real. Luna's potion recipe is nothing more than a novelty, sold to tourists enamoured with the legends surrounding their historical hometown of Godric's Hollow.

Of course, Ginny really should've learned by now that her plans have a tendency to go awry. So it really shouldn't come as that much of a surprise to her when, the very next day, half the town seems to find her utterly...bewitching

The only person who appears to be immune to the enchantment she's accidentally cast, is the one person who she wishes saw her as something more than his best friend's little sister; typically, even the miracle of actual magic can't capture Harry Potter's interest, and now he's the only person who can help her fix this latest mess she's created...

Butterbeer Confessions (ao3) - EscapeInMyBookshelf theodore/ginny M, 2k

Summary: The British and Irish Quidditch league is having their annual Christmas party at the Malfoy Manor. Theodore Nott spikes a Butterbeer intending to give to Draco Malfoy but his crush Ginny Weasley drinks it instead.

Falling like a Snowflake (ao3) - GhostIsReading marcus/harry T, 2k

Summary: Marcus Flint gives Harry a box of chocolates unaware that they are laced with a potion.

Minty Water (ao3) - CandyCla scorpius/albus G, 3k

Summary: When Albus received a love potion from his Uncle Ron, he never intended to use it. He certainly never planned for his best friend to drink it, thinking it was just water. And he definitely hadn't anticipated that his best friend would act completely normally, unaffected by the love spell.

Muggle Matrimony (ao3) - Snitchesbecray hermione/ron G, 33k

Summary: Hermione and Ron are finally tying the knot—but, in true Hermione style, this wedding isn’t just about romance. Hermione is determined to make her big day a groundbreaking statement by holding a Muggle-friendly, magic-free ceremony in a Muggle church. Her goal? To show the Ministry that wizard and Muggle worlds can truly blend, all while setting herself up for a big promotion.

But transforming a wedding into a statement on systematic change proves to be a spellbinding challenge. With tensions running high, Ron feeling uneasy about getting married so young, Fleur ready to pop with a new Weasley any minute, and a certain ex eager to win Hermione back, this ceremony may need more than just a little magic to succeed. Will Hermione’s bold vision be the start of a new era—or will her magical wedding day dreams end in a spectacular disaster?

Potions and Paradoxes (ao3) - yourstruly_quin hermione/draco T, 3k

Summary: “Granger,” he said.

She looked up from her textbook. “What is it?”

“I think we made a mistake,” he said, words quick and clipped.

She set her quill down and scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous, Malfoy. Everything is going perfect. Look at the potion— it’s textbook.”

He scowled, panic bubbling in his chest. “Then why does it smell like—“ he cut himself off abruptly.

“Why does it smell like what?” She frowned.

“Nothing,” he snapped. The scent continued to get stronger, wrapping around him and taunting him. Coffee, parchment, cinnamon. It was undeniably Granger.

take a sip of my secret potion (ao3) - neozeka draco/harry T, 981

Summary: Harry gets doused with a potion meant to make him fall in love with the first person he sees

naturally, it's Draco

The Black Dog (ao3) - amariss1 sirius/remus T, 57k

Summary: "Well, I think it's time to tell you all, me and Remus are together!"

Sirius Black was starting to have trouble breathing as the Order members and even his godson congratulated Tonks and Remus. The things that had changed in 14 years kept coming back to haunt him.

"But she's too young to know this song"

There’s A Thin Line Between Love and Obsession (ao3) - dittanyanddreams hermione/draco E, 7k

Summary: Draco has an unhealthy obsession with a certain mudblood witch, one that he has harboured secretly for longer than he would ever care to admit. But, what happens when obsessive thoughts lead to action?

to thine own self (ao3) - into_the_past pandora/lily N/R, 4k

Summary: Severus Snape will stop at nothing to gain Lily Evan's attention. (Love potion gone awry)

[agentem]

It's that time of year when you are going to see some "Irish" t-shirts in stores and can get your Shamrock Shake at Mickey D's. There will be St. Patrick's Day parades this weekend and next.

And I just want to be a nerdy know-it-all for a second. St Patrick's Day was originally a religious holiday (as most holidays were, holy + day = holiday); it still is in some places, like some actual Irish people from Ireland who believe in God--though the American parade/festival mentality seems to be gaining steam in some parts of Ireland, I am told.

St Patrick's Day as we know it is deeply rooted in the United States. Though it's been celebrated here since 1600 in the territory that became Florida, the tenor of the holiday greatly changed after the Great Famine of Ireland.

You may have been told in school that the famine occurred because a blight wiped out potato crops in Ireland. This is true but doesn't address the crux of the matter.

The blight started in North America and travelled to Ireland and into much of Europe. But we only think of it as an Irish problem because the Irish were too poor to eat other foods.

Some scholars have said it was a "man made crisis" and I agree that is true. Other crops in Ireland were not affected by the blight, in fact, this time was considered one of "plenty", but all that food was used to feed the English. Not the Irish.

Nor were the English quick on providing aid, "There is such a tendency to exaggeration and inaccuracy in Irish reports that delay in acting on them is always desirable," said Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel after initial reports of the catastrophe.

Workhouses designed to assist the poor and starving were closed prematurely. "The only way to prevent the people from becoming habitually dependent on Government is to bring the food depots to a close," said Charles Trevelyan, the man who was literally in charge of famine relief. He also said some gems like, Sure the famine is bad but "the moral evil of the selfish, perverse and turbulent character of the people" was the real problem. Great guy; he became a Baronet.

The soup kitchens, which replaced the workhouses were also closed prematurely, were widely believed to serve portions too small even for children and lacking any nutritional value due to them being watered down to feed more people than anticipated by the brilliant British government.

A million people died in Ireland from famine and disease and nearly 2 million left Ireland for other parts of the world. Including my father's family. (If they survived the "Coffin Ships" leaving their home.)

So when I said above that the tenor of the holiday changed, it was because of increasing Irish Nationalism and anger at Britain. Now, Ireland is a Republic (though it's not unified, yet) and we are proud of those who stayed and fought to make that happen.

We are also proud just to still be alive anywhere. The population of Ireland is 6.9 million now--slowly nearing the 8.5 million it was home to before the famine--but people with Irish ancestry across the world has been measured to be about 80 million people. Take that, Sir Robert Peel.

The English actively tried to kill us. Nevertheless, we persisted. A lot.

I hope you have a Happy St. Paddy's Day (it's Paddy not Patty). Drink some Guinness. Dance some jigs. Definitely eat some potatoes (Boil 'em! Mash 'em! Stick 'em in a stew!) But please remember that when people are starving, you should feed them. Don't be like the English government.

In fact, as I write this there is a crisis in Turkey and Syria. It just so happens that the Sultan of Turkey wanted to donate money to Ireland (10,000 pounds) but since Queen Victoria donated just 2,000, he was told it would be against protocol.

[jerrylewis-thekid]

Barbara Sinatra: “One of the best things about my husband was: if something went wrong in your life, boom, he was there. And if you had him on your side, it was like having an army at your disposal. Furthermore, he was on your side if you were right or wrong, and that is something very special in a friend; you don't find that so often.

Gregory Peck and Frank had always been close, and Frank called him Ahab after his character in Moby Dick. When Greg's son Jonathan died, in 1975, Frank was one of the first at his side. He did the same for Dean Martin twelve years later when his son Dino was killed in a plane crash. When Sammy Davis, Jr. lost an eye in a car accident; Frank went to see Sammy in the hospital and then brought him back to Palm Springs to recuperate. Sammy loved Frank, so even though he was depressed, just being with his hero helped get him through that terrible time.

Frank took friendship and loyalty very seriously and believed that true friendship could only be tested in times of need. People just had to get word to him and he'd drop what he was doing and go spend time with them. He'd travel long distances to brighten someone's day, and I went with him to numerous hospitals and homes for retired singers and actors to cheer up old friends. He took me to see Gene Kelly in Santa Monica when he was first sick and to the bedside of John Wayne when he was dying. ‘The Duke’ and Frank had been friends for years and were as close as brothers, even though they were diametrically opposed politically and kidded each other constantly about it.

Frank and Gene Kelly had been in several films together, and for Anchors Aweigh Gene taught Frank how to dance outside studio hours. Frank called Gene ‘the Irish taskmaster’ but he never forgot that kindness. Thanks to Gene, Frank could really move. He could even jump up in the air and click his heels together, and he loved to do that. He was also a terrific ballroom dancer, which was terribly romantic.

As Burt Lancaster once said, ‘If you say to Frank “I'm having a problem,” then it becomes his problem.’ Frank really had a calling for that

[endlessly-cursed]

Next Gen- Yasemin Battersea-Parsons

“𝑰𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒕.”

Name: Yasemin Neeru Battersea Parsons

Nicknames: Yas

Birthdate: 16th of December 2004

Zodiac Sign: Saggitarius (i think??)

Personality Type (MBTI): TBD

Blood Status: Pureblood

Nationality: Turkish-Indian-Irish

Physical Appearance

Hair: Black, curly

Eyes: Black

Height: 1.57m

Weight: 64kg

Body Type: Medium-size

Skin Tone: Dark brown

Distinguishing Marks (scars, birthmarks, etc.): One birthmark on her neck

Background

Hometowns

Kolkata, India- The rich and ancient city was the place of birth for Yasemin, and where she spent much of her winter in the Bengali equivalent of Christmas and even participated in religious rites, despite following the Muslim religion more.

Antakya, Turkey- Her other hometown, she lived in a rustic yet wealthy house with her grandmother, where she spent many summers and even visited many mosques and started on her Muslim faith

Dublin, Ireland- Her main residence, living outside the center, she loved how carefree and busy they were and many of her friends lived near, and her formative years were spent there

Family

Mother: Esmanur Zeynep Battersea

The only living Battersea that directly descended from Simon by then, she was raised as a hanimsultan and was treated like Middle-Eastern royalty despite being long gone. She did not expect to have children after Shreya, and was delighted to have one more child. Despite being fond of Yasemin, her favouritism was never noticed by her daughters

Father: Mahmoud Ismail Parsons

A Bengali businessman, he married Esmanur to enforce his monopoly on the industry and expand his growing empire. When Esmanur was pregnant again, he was surprised and worried, because his wife have had fertility problems years prior and didn't want to risk her life. Nevertheless, Yasemin was born healthy and without much fuss, and he spoiled her

Older sister: Shreya Humashah Battersea Parsons

Although she was first angry at Yasemin's birth, the moment she held her, she knew she loved her. Shreya loved to take care of her and talk about girl stuff, going shopping and having silly moments. Shreya was like a second mother and role model to Yasemin and are very close, even after Shreya marries Kevin Farrell and forms her family with him

Distant cousin: Luke Battersea

A bit closer in age, despite him being prickly and reserved, Yasemin approached him slowly, allowing him to come to her, actively listening to whatever he talked about and giving surprisingly helpful advice and thoughtful gestures, such as baking him his favourite cake for his birthday or when he had a bad day, or ensure that the cook cooks his comfort food once a week, and include him in the family trips

Hogwarts

House: Hufflepuff

Best Class: Herbology

Worst Class: Potions

Boggart: Everybody diminishes her efforts, throwing them and shouting at her that she'll never be enough

Riddikulus: The papers get up and start dancing cha-cha-cha

Patronus: A hare

Patronus Memory: Dancing in the rain when she was eight with her father and Shreya as her mother film

Mirror of Erised: (before turning 19) Achieving peace and stability in her hometowns (after turning 20) having stability, peace and a family with Scott by her side

Amortentia (what she smells like): Victoria's Secret perfume 'shimmer', strawberry bubblegum, henna

Amortentia (what she smells): Ice, cologne, something related to Scott

Career

11-18: Hogwarts student

21-35: Philantropist

36-65: President of the Battersea company

Personality & Attitude

Priorities: Making some good in the world, her family's wellbeing

Strengths: Kind, empathetic, insightful, caring and generous

Weaknesses: Naive, clueless, innocent during her adolescence, way too trusting, a people pleaser and can't say anything bad about anyone

Stressed: During social gatherings and during exams, feeling stupid all the time

Calm/Comforted: Watching her comfort show (FRIENDS), spending time with Shreya, in her bed

Favorites

Colors: PINK, burgundy red, navy blue and lilac

Weather: Sunny

Hobbies: Reading, knitting, baking and creating skincare and makeup routines

Fashion: Yasemin is far more fashionable than her sister Shreya, often wearing heels and short skirts and tops, all in the palette of pink, black and white. She also has curly hair and has a rigorous routine that she always asks not to be interrupted when performing it

Relationships

Significant Other/Love Interest: Scott Morris ( @potionboy3 )

Both friends from the moment they met, unlike her peers, Scott seemed to get her, and Yasemin always felt seen with him. What she didn't know is that Scott had a huge crush on her. A crush that everybody save her seemed to notice. For years, he dropped subtle hints here and there, but the clueless Yasemin didn't seem to see it.

Until, on a party, after sharing a meaningful moment, Scott surprised Yasemin by kissing her and declaring his feelings for her. What was more surprising to Yasemin is that she felt the same. Even though Yasemin was a year ahead of Scott, they saw each other often and even gave him the keys to her house once they became serious.

[MORE TBA]

Friends: Noor Verma Dhendron ( @legilimenace )

Even though they were different, Noor and Yasemin got along and suprisingly complimented one another. Shreya soon befriended Mansi, Noor's sister, and became inseparable, becoming almost members of the family

Mia Morris ( @gaygryffindorgal )

Scott's older sister, Yasemin liked her from the beginning and she was key in setting her up with her brother

[MORE TBA]

Jude Cozens ( @unfortunate-arrow )

Both with similar natures, she met him through Scott and also reminded her of Luke. She was shocked when she learned that he and Noor started dating

Yasemin is looking for friends! I'll favour those born in 2004-5! Hmu or send me an ask if you're interested!

Rivals: TBA (why would you want to antagonize this angel?!)

Trivia

She doesn't drink alcohol due to religious and personal reasons

Her drink of choice is a lime Aquarius

Always has a red velvet cake for her birthday

She hates green peas

Is surprisingly good at breakdance, salsa and dabke, and often does it in heels

Used to hate her curly hair and tried to straighten it like Shreya for most of her teens

While Shreya inherits her father's businesses, Yasemin inherits her mother's legacy

Is medium sized and was always made fun of by her parents' peers and went on crazy diets and developed body dysmorphia due to early development

Almost never went to parties because of people getting drunk and being invasive towards her

Cries easily for everything, yet can be calm in dire circusmtances

Picked up baking thanks to her therapist and often shows up to classes and gatherings with Turkish and Bengali sweets when she feels her friends are feeling down or stressed or wants to celebrate

Has the cutest and most elegant handwriting in Hogwarts (it was voted)

[darkmaga-returns]

By John F. Di Leo

Many are dancing an Irish jig – even non-Irishmen whom one would not expect to know such dances – over the prospect of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy heading up a new “Grace Commission 2.0” of sorts, cheerfully nicknamed a Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

They intend an 18-month project, hopefully to conclude by our nation’s 250th anniversary, in which they will apply standard American manufacturing cost-cutting techniques such as LEAN and Six Sigma tools, to find out how much fat is in every federal department, bureau and agency, and cut it out as fast as possible.

Such fat might be identified in surplus personnel, surplus office costs, unnecessary perks, redundant systems, and more.  It is assumed they can cut ten percent of the federal workforce without it even being noticed; with such diligent chiefs as these at the helm, there’s no telling how much more money they will be able to save the taxpayer.

In preparation for this project, Mr. Musk has been reminding the public of our massive national debt, and of the fact that interest on the debt alone already exceeds our military spending.  To say this situation is unsustainable is putting it mildly. All Americans should wish the DOGE team well.

There is no need, incidentally, to feel sorry for the people to be cut in this process.  The DOGE team knows the law, and fully understands the rules about terminating civil servants.  These people will likely get an enviable mix of cash buyouts and federal pensions that reward them more handsomely than they deserve for their years of bureaucratic pencil pushing.

We can expect the DOGE team to save an enormous amount of money for the American taxpayer, which will provide a noticeable bump to the economy.