#its like 5 hours long it has been. TESTING my focus

[strawbszz]

Hi vamps hii!! Uhhmmm I wanted to ask for a fanfic💪💪🧐🧐 like one where reader (she/her) is in mcr too and she starts to feel dizzy on stage and she passes out and has to go to the hospital and Frank and gerard lay on each side of her while she wakes up and doesn’t know what happened Tysm you don’t have to tho😭 I love your post sm istg!!!!

Gerard way x reader

Genre: fluff

Word count: 1,082

Warnings: hospitals, blood (not graphic), injuries

Its 2002 and you are the drummer of the little band My Chemical Romance.

You are secretly dating Gerard and the rest of the band just thinks you and gerard are just good friends (since you’ve know him since like 9th grade)

Its 7:34am and you just woke up. Ray is making some coffee.

“Hey (Y/N), you ready for tonight’s concert?” Ray asks you.

“Yes!! I’m pumped!” You laugh.

“Sweet!” Ray says.

“I’m gonna go change out of these pajamas.” You say.

“Ok!” Ray says.

You walk into the backroom with the beds and stuff and open a drawer and grab jeans, black hoodie, and a korn shirt.

You look over and see gerard sleeping his bunk.

You walk over to him and rub his back. “Gee.. wake up.” You say softly.

He groans and wakes up. “Huh..?”

“Wake up gee.” You say.

“Oh, morning.” Gerard says, smiling at you.

“Come here.. i wanna cuddle you..” gerard says.

“Shh!! Remember we can’t let them know we are.. you know.. also ray is in the next room.” You whisper.

He groans. “Fine..”

Frank walk out of the bathroom. “Oh morning (Y/N).” Frank says.

You jump. “Oh! Hey.”

“What did i scare you?” frank smiles smugly.

“A little..” you roll your eyes.

“I should get changed.” You walk away from them.

You go in the bathroom and change.

~

It’s around 11:36am.

“Hey what should we get to eat?” Mikey says.

“Hmm.. i don’t know.” Gerard says.

“I saw a diner down the street, we should go there.” You say.

~

You guys get to the diner and walk in.

“Ahh, it’s warm in here.” Frank says.

You giggle.

“Fuck.. i hate Jersey winters.” Mikey says.

~

You guys are eating lunch in no time.

Gerard touches your shoe with his on purpose.

You glance at him wide eyed pissed a little.

Gerard just smirks and goes back to eating his food.

~

It’s about 5:36pm and you guys are driving to the venue to set up.

You guys park and hop out of the van.

“Lets unload this bitch!” Frank yells.

You giggle.

~

about a hour later you guys finish unloading and setting stuff up.

You start testing out your drums.

“Yo, (Y/N)! You gotta get your makeup on!!” Gerard yells.

“Oh shit! Right!!” You hop off your drum seat and run to the dressing room.

“Thanks for telling me, Gee..” you say out of breath.

“No problem.” Gerard says.

~

You guys start it off with Gee just speaking.

“Hi guys! We’re My Chemical Romance from New Jersey! I’m so excited playing with you guys!” Gerard says. “Alright! Lets start with our first song..”

You guys start with our lady of sorrows.

~

Its gotten up to song the last song on the record.

You look over and see frank rolling on the floor and jumping. You snort.

You focus on playing the drums. Until frank jumps and crashes into you. You hit your head pretty hard.

The only thing you hear before you pass out is “OH SHIT- (Y/N)!” From Gerard.

~

You wake up in a unfamiliar place.

“Gee! She’s awake!” You hear a voice that sounded like Frank’s say.

“Wha..?” You open your eyes and see Gerard.

“Hey.. how are you feeling (Y/N)..?” Gerard says softly.

“I-i’m fine.. wha.. what happened..?” You look over to a guilty frank.

“I- i jumped into you.. i’m so sorry (Y/N).” Frank says.

“Wheres Mikey and Ray..?” You ask Gerard.

“They are in the waiting room.. Mikey almost puked seeing you bleed everywhere.” Gerard giggles.

You giggle.

“How long have i been out?” You ask.

“Oh.. like.. 2 hours? Yeah 2.” Gerard says.

“Really! Oh my god!” You say.

Frank giggles.

“Also we got a hotel! So we can sleep comfortably and you don’t have to complain to be about your back hurting from the bunks!” Gerard says.

You laugh. “They do hurt my back!! I feel elderly when i wake up!” You say.

“Elderly?” Frank laughs.

“Yes! Like my back feels the same as your grandma’s!” You laugh.

The nurse walks in. “Hey you two- oh your awake (Y/N)! Yeah you just have a slight concussion but your fine if your going home with anyone.” She says.

“Oh i’m going to a hotel with those 4. We are touring around here so.” You say.

“Ah okay.” She says. “You’ll be free to leave let me just take out this stuff out of your arm..”

She takes the IVs out of your arm and you tense up from the pain.

“Alright! Your set!” She says.

You get up wobbling a little. Frank helps you stand up.

“You good?” Frank asks.

“Yeah.” You say.

You guys walk out to the waiting room to grab Mikey and Ray.

“Hey! She’s ready to go!” Gerard says.

“Oh hey (Y/N)! Are you okay..?” Ray says.

Mikey is sleeping on ray’s shoulder. He rubs his head to wake him up.

“Huh..?” Mikey mumbles.

“It’s time to go Mikey. (Y/N) is okay.” Ray whispers to mikey.

“Okay..” mikey puts on his glasses and gets up.

You guys leave the hospital and get in the van.

You lay your head on Gee’s shoulder and fall asleep.

~

“Hey.. (Y/N) we’re here at the hotel.” Gerard says.

“Okay..” you say.

You guys get out of the car and walk into the hotel.

“Hello!” Ray says to the lady at the table.

“Hello.” She says.

“I booked 6 rooms for us. Its under the name Ray.” Ray says.

“Okay..” the lady starts typing. “Yeah.. we only have 5 rooms open..” she says.

“Oh.” Ray says.

“That will be fine!” Ray says.

“So sorry that happened we got over booked a little..” she says.

“It’s fine..” Ray says. “Okay so.. we gotta share rooms by 2 people.. got it?”

You guys nod.

“Okay.. I’ll stay with Ray.” Mikey says.

“I’ll stay with Gee.” You say.

“I’ll stay with the tour manager.” Frank says.

“Sweet. Heres your guys’ cards.” Ray hands you guys’ the key cards.

You and Gerard get on the elevator to go to your guys’ room.

“Okay heres our room, Gee.” You say.

“Kay..” he says.

You unlock the room and walk in.

Gerard drops his bags and flops on the bed.

“C’mere..” Gerard puts out his arms.

“Hold on..” you say.

You undress from your bloody-ish clothes.

You climb into bed with Gerard and cuddle up to him.

“I love you (Y/N)..” Gerard Says.

“Love you too..” you say.

[rigelmejo]

9/19/2024 some updates!

Glossika Japanese: I finished the A1 section, it was about 3000 sentences. The full glossika japanese course states it has 6400+ sentences and 5000+ words. So with how MANY words were in A1? I am predicting A2 will have 2500-3000 words and then there will be a small amount of sentences in B1 and B2. Also: the course's claims of A1 etc categorization do not actually match up to any A1-C1 clearly. I'd say everything in the "A1" module felt beginner, except for a few grammar points I didn't learn in japanese 1 in college. But it was beginner enough material that I don't think I could pass an N5 or N4 practice test with 90%.

What is good about the A1 module? It did at least cover a decent amount of new words. While there were a lot of repeated words and words conjugated multiple ways, I'd say at least 1500-2000 new words were covered. Maybe there were even 2500+ new words covered, but I'm going to guess closer to 1500-2000. I've done the beginning of Nukemarine's LLJ memrise courses before, years ago, and studied 2000 words in that. So a lot of glossika japanese A1 has been review for me. But I do think the sheer volume of sentences has been useful, with the various grammar and conjugations. While I don't think I learned very many new words... possibly only a few hundred... I DO think going through A1 has improved my listening skills in japanese. Now, that improvement could just be because (according to glossika app) I studied for 63 hours in the last few months. And yes, I recognize I should expect solid project in a language like japanese every few HUNDRED hours, not every few dozen, so I need to keep studying for longer to truly judge how much progress glossika materials can help me get to. But I will say even just the 63 hours? It's clearly helped. I can understand about half of the lines/phrase chunks in Death Note, I can understand enough of kids shows to just Watch them (so I suppose I could start immersing by watching shows).

I watched Criminologist Himura and Writer Alice yesterday for about 15 minutes and I could follow the main plot. Many details were fuzzy, and to be fair the show is Very Visual in showing what's described so that helps me follow Himura's lines of reasoning and reactions, and my brain felt FRIED trying to focus.

But its the first time I watched a jdrama and could just FOLLOW it (if roughly). When studying chinese, I could start doing that around 5-6 months of learning (when I'd studied 2000 words brute force in memrise and 800 hanzi in a book), i would feel exhausted and couldnt do it longer than 20 minutes at a time until I kept trying and eventually could handle a full episode of chinese shows. But I could Start building up stamina to watch/focus and try to comprehend at that time. So I'd guess my japanese is now around knowing 2000-3000 words overall (some from prior to glossika, many reviewed with glossika recently, som new words). Listening a LOT just tends to help me, personally, with improving comprehension and comprehension speed. I suppose I could start watching japanese shows now, but im going to be real, I am a chicken. Id rather learn more words first. I could probably rewatch a show I already saw in english, but a new show in japanese would probably make me need to focus so hard id get exhausted if i try for too long at a time.

Anyway, overall? Id say glossika is presenting new information SLOWER than I'd like (I do think Clozemaster is faster with new word introductions, but last time I used it maybe a year ago their Radio mode just didnt give you the same pick-what-to-study-new control that glossika does). But glossika is faster than pimsleur. And I do think I may be getting to a lot of genuinely NEW words for me soon, which will be the biggest test of if the material is actually useful for me more than another program that may only have 2000 words. So I'll keep going. I'll update again later.

I'd also like to try Listening Reading Method with Alice in Wonderland in japanese again, if i can get myself to focus. I think I know enough japanese now that a wall of (older childrens book) text is not going to immediately exhaust me. Or at least, exhaust me less than last time I tried.

My chinese is still in a weird holding zone. I have been listening to audiobooks still. Its like I lose all my instant recognition of words after a few days not listening to chinese, but then within a few hours the instant recognition comes back! But the first few hours of listening after those days of a break, i can't understand fully the audio i COULD nearly fully understand just before the few-days break in audio. So it's like my recognition goes UP each time I study then DROPS every time I take a few days break. I think it's probably normal, and the recognition that drops then goes back up is probably just words I know LESS fully or that are less common than the core-words I seem to recognize immediately even after long breaks. I imagine what will fix this is simply listening for a LOT of hours. I'm just lazy. I need to listen more.

[atrial-ofhorror-if]

This is gonna be a long one yall, so feel free to skip and just send asks about my progress if you don't wanna read through it. Otherwise...

So, I didn’t really have much of an update for you all in February. Reason: it is my birthday month, and I was being a lazy little hedonist, teehee 🤎

In hindsight, February/March has also been one of the most rigorous months for my workplace as well. We have about 33 contracts that we have to get out to the organizations that we fund and unfortunately our legal department, our comptroller's office, and our commissioner has been H-Town stomping on our balls for the past 3 months.

Needless to say, ya girl is tired lol.

I am, of course, pushing through it because I promised this update a LONG time ago, and whenever I don't deliver I feel as if I age 20 years. I know technically I'm running myself ragged again but I can't bring myself to worry about it now. Especially, when I'm the reason why I'm working like a Yorkshire pig.

Clerical Update

Mostly just playing around in Twine, and answering asks. I wanted to do something for February cause it is the month of love, but I think I ended up getting overwhelmed with real life and other shit so that went to the gutter.

I think I'm gonna hire someone to make a special UI for me... I'm tired of fighting with twine, and I really just want to focus on writing, so if anyone has like recommendations for twine/tweego wizards or thinks that they can take a crack at it, let ya girl know.

I am paying.

Progress Update

So... Not a lot of progress was made in February month lol but again. The laz was real~

March was MUCH more progressive, (probably cause I ended up stressing myself out about getting the game out by Summer (June or July ???) Tentative of course 🥴🥴🥴)

Overall, i am at 80k+ words!

Progress for Routes

Search and Destroy: <1%

Interlude (TBA): 5%

To be well: Completed

Yes, you read that right... I have officially finished writing to be well and have transitioned into draft editing for that route🎉🎉

Writing the final part of that route has inflicted psychological and visceral damage to my soul 💀 I thought I would be ok honestly like I just knew I was gonna be able to keep chugging along, but it hurt a little more than I imagined.

I'm ok tho, and I promise y'all will be ok too! I think? So don't worry too much!

Now I plan on pushing this draft through editing at least 3 times. The first time will be solely for missing scenes, evaluation of scenes, and then re-working them. The second time will be more focused on the characters and how they feel in the game. I'm aiming to flesh them out, and add breath to their actions and words. So fingers crossed I'm successful 🤞🏿🤞🏿

The third and final draft will be solely grammatical. If I catch anything funky in there, I'll patch it up but the goal is that for the third draft the number of mistakes are gonna be few. Heh, like that will actually happen.

After this is done, I'll go ahead and plug it into twine, test out the codes, and then send it to beta testers.

I also want to talk about beta testing for a minute too, cause we are getting into that hour.

its gonna be SUPER important that I get a good portion of beta testers due to the variability of this update. (If y'all think this current update is bad just wait 🥴🥴) Like, I'm only one person, and unfortunately for me, there are only so many errors I can catch.

I'll be releasing a survey again for people to fill out if they are interested. It'll be open for a month, and then decisions made in the following two weeks.

Next Months and Remaining Month Plans

Edit, edit, edit!!

Finish the touches on the Interlude.

Technically the piece of that is going in the update is gonna be significantly smaller than what I intended. Which is ok, cause ya girl was gonna lose her mind 🥴🥴

Start Search and Destroy

I think that's it? Again if you have questions, please let me know! Love y'all 🤎🤎

[silenttale22]

MUST HAVE BEEN THE WIND /PJM/ - Chapter 5

Summary: Someone once told her she had to learn to live in pieces as there would be nobody to glue them up. But what if a person with similar pieces to her appears? What if by complete coincidence her crying is heard in the middle of the night? What if together they can create a whole new masterpiece?

Dancer!Jimin x Student!Reader Genre: Fluff, Angst, Slice of life. hurt/comfort, Soulmate!AU, SchoolAU Warnings: Mentions of blood, assault, curses

Note: Hi! If you like and enjoy my story so far, I'd be more than happy and grateful with any interaction!

MASTERLIST

CHAPTER 4/CHAPTER 5/CHAPTER 6

You sit in the darkened living room, using your portable lamp to navigate through the pages of the book. Hoping that something will come to mind before tomorrow's small knowledge test, which the lecturer announced a month ago. However, you were well aware that with each of your evening study sessions, you were not necessarily focusing on the lines of the textbook you had been reading. In fact, your thoughts were literally everywhere, just not in that particular room or that particular book. You find yourself continuously re-reading the same paragraph, attempting to comprehend at least half of it, but only finding yourself becoming more lost and increasingly frustrated. You huffed loudly when stupid chemical formula seemed too hard to remember and rubbed your throbbing temple.

“Its not that fucking hard, just focus for once” you grumbled to yourself, barely keeping yourself back from tossing all the papers off your lap and giving it a go. You couldn't, though. As much as you wished to be less stubborn about studying…you promised once that you would get your degree.

But it was a promise for the two of you, not only yourself.

“Y/n, you should have some fun sometimes, you know?” his laugh was soft as your memories went back in time. You were sitting in your old room, everything around for a bit smelled like home again.

“If you want to dance, someone has to provide you with a little more stable financial status to start with, don't you think?” he groaned, pushing off against the doorframe to sit on your unfolded bed, watching as sheets of paper were scattered around you and covered the entire desk.

“You know I'm the older one, right? I should be the one providing” and you chuckled, because you really wished it was actually possible.

“I just want your dreams to come true.” A sigh left his lips, so you knew very well that he had never liked your utter sacrifice just for him. However, both of you had lost too much by then. And it would be nice to at least one you had to fulfill a dream. You knew he deserved to be on stage and you wanted make it true...wanted

“You're my sister Y/n, not my mom” you did not responded that day, aware that this would only lead to an argument.

 Deep down you knew that all he was saying was true and made sense... yet still the urge to try to take the place of something you both have lost was stronger.

One slow drop ran down your cheek, that you quickly knocked off with your thumb unable to bear the gently tickling sensation on your skin. It really wasn't another tear of pain or sorrow. Your eyes were just damn tired already, from your night after night of sitting in fake light and a dark room, straining your eyesight unnecessarily. Yet your eyes also need rest.

Or maybe it was a sorrow, which you used to push away for so long?

A loud knock on the door was enough to wake you up for a brief second, but you ignored it eventually, thinking that your imagination playing tricks on you again. Who could be at that late hour at your door anyway. But when the second and third, slightly louder knock sounded, it actually forced you to get up from the couch.

With the pulse racing inside your chest, alerting of a potential unknown threat, you pushed it to the back of your mind, placing the slow-paced footsteps. You stopped in the middle of the dark corridor unsure if you should go closer to the door, listening for signs if anybody was still standing behind. Could it be that the downstairs neighbors had finally become upset at the clumsiness?

Quiet shuffling could still be heard from the hallway, and small glimpses from under the door illuminated her apartment, revealing her bare feet. Your heart was pounding, echoing in your ears. A small lump in your throat was making you worse and worse.

You hesitantly stood, just a few steps away from the wooden surface, and only after a while did you muster the courage to come closer. With somewhat trembling hands, you laid your palm on the polished surface of the door before finally peering out of the Judas to get a glimpse of the figure beyond. The sight of the man's immaculately beautiful visage, slightly distorted by the image, caused your heart to palpitate with even greater ferocity. His eyes seemed terrified, but he didn't move for a long moment. Waiting patiently.

A young man, that was perhaps only some years older than you. Eventually in the same age as you are. His face, with its charmingly filled in cheeks, seemed so delicate to you that you couldn't believe your eyes. His skin seemed almost porcelain, and the man himself seemed to have been pulled straight out of a magazine filled with the world's most beautiful people. For a moment you got a heated desire to simply touch him, to make sure he was for real. Brush or poke with a finger his cheek, or squish it in your hands. Bright hair, which in the light of the hallway's artificial lamps even seemed golden, or rather, shimmering in various shades. 

You were literally able to admit that he looked like an angel in human skin with the soft glow of a halo above his head.

But… maybe it's just your imagination

However, as the man standing by the door turned suddenly to begin walking away, a tiny bit of bravery broke through the thick glass and, trying to stop your fast, swallow breathing, you grabbed on the handle, making the door lock click loudly. 

An unknown desire to see him in person throbbed in your chest. As soon as you pushed the door open, you knew that you made the right and probably the best decision of your life, because looking at him, standing right in front of you, he seemed even more beautiful than moments before.

As soon as your gazes met, the boy smiled softly at you, evoking a warm shiver running through your body. You saw him for the first time in your life, but a feeling of sudden connection strangely embraced your soul. It felt like with the sudden touch, the coldness that forever coated your body would turn into a pleasant warmth with the contact of his presence. With a glance into his caramel irises, it seemed to you that you had found something you had been missing for so long...that you found home. This sense of homecoming you longed for.

His eyes moment later closed almost fully with the charming grin, and his puckered cheeks became even more spongy, which quickly became a new image for you, by far the best sight of the day.  He took a few steps forward, as if to get a better view of your face but you quickly hid more in the darkness of your hallway. 

You pushed away all positive thoughts from you with a snap of your fingers. The warmth that wrapped around you for a tiny moment was shoved away. You went back to your usual cold. After all, why should he waste his gaze on a gray, blank face. Even if you tried your best to reciprocate his smile, only a twisted grimace came out. 

An uncomfortable fear began to grow in your frame, but the mere sight of the smiling boy seemed to dismiss the unpleasant feeling and fill it with a warm safe embrace.

"Hey, listen I'm Jimin…living floor below and…you know I've recently started hearing odd sounds from your place and yeah...I got, um a little worried" an exceptionally high voice filled with gentleness wrapped around your ears, making gaze want to stare into him even more. It was like a pleasant melody to your ears. You longed to see the details of the nearby angel's face, to hear the soothing voice as often as possible.

Is there anything that might make his persona appear to you as a not-so-surreal miracle.

His words, though, were slow to reach you with their meaning. It was at first as if he was speaking in a language you had never heard, but the both of you seemed to be fluent in the same one. 

As it had been so long since someone said something with such care, a nice warmth spread inside for literally seconds after you fully understood. Sadness nonetheless followed the feeling immediately. Why should a stranger worry about you? He didn't even know you, right? And it reaches you, that he probably heard your faulty steps ending in a fall, and perhaps even your crying.

"Um, nice to meet you but you probably misheard, maybe your ears are playing tricks on you. Nothing happened in here. It must have been the wind” you said trying to cover yourself, but it was so hard to get out from your mouth. Painful lump in your throat become a torment. 

A strange wish in your mind, and even a desire to just ask him to give you a quick hug, hoping that maybe the golden-haired boy's wings could, at least for a moment, soothe that pain bottled up in your chest every day. With the thought that maybe Jimin, as he said himself, could fill your lonely days at least for a while, since he seemed like the right person to do so. 

But you didn't dare. 

Not this time. 

"Thanks for caring, um, that's nice of you but it was unnecessary." your voice was more like a whisper, just to close the door in front of his face a second later. 

With your forehead pressed against the cold surface, you sniffed quietly and rubbed tired eyes, only to look through the Judas at the boy's face another minute. With a sad look, he dropped head, standing barefoot on the staircase for a few more seconds, then turned around and headed, presumably towards his place.

You stood at the door for a long time looking out the small window, even when boy disappeared from your sight. Something inside wouldn't let you just go back to the previous activities. Only when your feet begin to become icy through the wind entering the apartment, through the leaky door, you decide to go back to the living room. 

Before your eyes still had the expression on his face just before he walked away. You wondered for a moment if it was a mere coincidence or a sent destiny that pleaded so much. Maybe, after all, the golden-haired Jimin from the same block of flats was to turn out to be the lifeline you just threw away....because who knows if anyone would want to drop it again.

That night your sleep turned out to be nothing more than a dream, as with each half-successful attempt you woke up screaming the boy's name over and over again from your lips. Each time, Jimin would pass out in your arms, and you panicked, unable to help him. With each wake-up call, your heart was squeezed by unmerciful pain, and you yourself had the impression that boy was dying in your lap with each sleep. This could be considered abnormal, but the tears in your eyes and shallow breathing every time you rose on the couch only brought worry. 

These dreams seemed too real, even like one that would happen, and that's why you hated them the most. They always happened to recur in reality over time, and that's what you were most afraid of.

More days passed, and you sometimes could hear loud music playing from the floor below more often. Could it be that Jimin was trying to drown out your perpetual stumbles, or that he most simply wanted to forget. Possibly both.

Or it wasn't him at all.

You glanced at yourself in the mirror. Your blank face was reflected in the sheet of fogged glass, where there were now also a few single scratches. It wasn't long ago when you were coming back after lectures, and the hot shower was supposed to be a temporary salvation before you went out again into the raging wind outside. You were getting ready for a few night hours at the factory, pulling on warmer layers of clothes. 

It was rare that you got a call asking for an extra shift, much less at night, but this time the boss had personally asked for a long time, and even offered a one-time salary increase, so how could you not agree to something like that. After all, your nights went round without sleep anyway, so in this case at least you will gain some profit from it.

To get there you succeeded in getting hold of one of the night buses, and pleased with the fact that there was only you inside with just two other people, you took one of the seats at the end with a quiet gasp. The city from afar was shimmering with all sorts of hues as the vehicle moved along the bypass road above, showing a better panorama of the city. The thud of the wheels against the slightly holey surface somewhat soothed your senses, along with a cool sensation from your forehead pressed against the cold glass.

 The world at night seemed like a completely different place.

 A better place.

As you jumped off the bus, a cold wind attacked your face making it hard to get air into your lungs for a moment. You huddled up a bit as if to protect yourself at least a little from the cold air and pressed your nose into a warm scarf that smelled of delicate floral perfume. You moved quickly ahead, wanting to get under the factory buildings as soon as possible.

And you found yourself there a few minutes later, and the shift itself seemed to be the swiftest you had ever had. However, that was quite often the case on night shifts. You didn't have to worry about anything other than putting things in a good cardboard box or flipping it into a good place. It was approaching twelve o'clock at night, and you were just putting another carton on the truck that would leave first thing in the morning. 

This time, as your angry boss had explained on the phone the day before, some idiotic employees had completely forgotten doing all this stuff during the day and so he asked trusted people to help. You didn't even really think about how you ended up there, possibly because you had never yet turned down proposals that involved a larger salary. 

But you clearly felt the absence of Chris at your side with every night shift. That boy always found some topic of conversation or threw in some not-so-funny jokes, which mostly made your work hours more enjoyable by sounding out the silence in the warehouse anyway. 

Late at night, you slowly gathered your things from the locker room and moved quickly toward the bus stop, hoping that at least one of the vehicles would have a route toward your place since the night buses didn't run very often. You walked fast, trying to release sharp pain radiate from the wrists because of the heavy boxes you've been carrying on in the fabric. This pain returns from time to time, when you can't get enough rest. 

So it came back today as well.

As you reached the small glass building, you prayed in your spirit not to stand another hour waiting for the transport. Fortunately, you found one, which sadly stopped a dozen streets earlier, so a short distance to your block you had to walk anyway. But that actually seemed to be the least of the problems. 

Unlike last time, you were literally sitting alone, not counting the driver, in one of the last seats. Once again you watched the flashing, colorful lights of Busan, which always in some strange way, at least for a moment, took your breath away.

You stared at the passing road, feeling your eyelids slowly begin to droop with fatigue, until the bus stopped at the last stop. You thanked and bid goodbye to the driver, then jumped off the steps onto the sidewalk. When the bus pulled away, you stood for a moment to look around and move in the right direction and get to your apartment as quickly as possible.

You clenched hands tightly on the straps of the leather backpack, feeling how the cold hit your back pushing even further forward. You shuffled through as fast as you could down the road, only to hear a disconcerting sound literally two streets in before your block, making your body tense with uncertainty. 

The road in the neighborhood wasn't one with the best lighting, and although you knew the path by heart, it was difficult to get rid of the anxiety wrapped around your throat. Your muscles tightened, and your next steps, far slower than before, came with difficulty as you approached the alarming words. You felt like freezing, but didn't sure if it was because of the cold wind or the fear brining you shivers.

From one small alley, shadows reflected on the walls, and from a dead end you heard taunts and a few painful moans after a while. Your breathing automatically sped up even more, causing you to clench your hands tighter. One piece of mind told you to run as far away as possible - preferably straight home, but something held you back.

So eventually, with your heart on your shoulder, crouched down hiding behind a corner. Trying to lower your voice by putting a scarf over your mouth, you wanted to pretend as best you could to the approaching police officers

"I heard some alarming sounds," you said, and for the first time you thanked in spirit that she was gifted with a low alto vocal, as the sudden panic around the corner added to your confidence. "Get ready with your gun" now more in a whisper, worrying that it would be too obvious, however not....

The two boys, for sure younger even than you, ran as if scalded out of the alley, not even looking around, almost tripping over their own feet. You had a hard time settling your breathing when you poked head out from around the corner. On the ground was a boy lying heavily breathing with a visibly bloodied face. You ran up quickly to make sure he was conscious and how urgent help he needed. Your heart was beating fast against the cage as you crouched down beside the shaking body, and quiet sobs escaped his lips. 

"Hey, i'll help you okay," you said, touching his shoulder uncertainly, and the boy turned his head uncertainly to look at you.

You held your breath, and tears came to your eyes as you unsurely took the poor light-haired man's face in your hands. The color was drained from his face, only a brief mark of blood colored it. The tightness in your throat made it difficult to say anything as the shining brown eyes tearfully stared into yours, gently reaching out and clasping hand on your jacket. 

You felt like whining when a quiet moan escaped his lips as you tried to lift him for the first time. He wasn't heavy, but your fright and slight fatigue made it difficult for you to do anything, but in this one you were reminded of your dream.

And you promised yourself that you would not let him die. And certainly not like this.

So you wrapped your arms more tightly around his body, trying to stabilize the boy's position and, in the process, not wanting to damage anything else. And as the both of you got to your feet, a small smile was sent in your direction.

"Jimin-ssi please tell me you're able to walk," a painful whisper left your lips, as you somehow stopped yourself from crying for good. The man raised his head uncomfortably and looked at you with his warm eyes and nodded taking the first step, but his body wobbled making you clench your fingers tighter on his coat.

Your heart shattered into tiny pieces when a muffled moan came out of Jimin's mouth with each tiny step. You regretted, regretted like hell, that you didn't grab some kind of stick and smack these two unthinking idiots over the head. 

"I'll take you home, I promise," you whispered, holding onto him as stably as you could. You recommended that he lean his weight on you, making it easier for him to take steps, and fortunately he listened.

The road seemed endless, because aside from the boy breathing getting rougher and rougher, the weather seemed to be getting worse and worse. Striking gusts of wind and making it difficult for the two of you to catch your balance.

When you finally managed to knock in the code to enter the stairwell, a small relief settled on your shoulders. This was the first time you were so glad to have an elevator in the block, as you easily managed to get the boy into the apartment. 

You sat him down on the living room couch and looked worriedly at his face, gently holding his jaw. Despite a few wounds on his cheeks, you still couldn't deny that the boy was beautiful. You stared at his face without shame, feeling pleasant tangling inside your chest, but when another grunt left his lips, you snapped back cursing under your breath.

“I should take him to the hospital” You murmured under your breath as you stood up but he was quick to hold your hand, making another shiver attack your body. 

“I'll be fine, there's no need” quiet voice came to your ears, fingers still holding onto yours

“You can have broken ribs!” you whined but he refused it, only asking if he can stay here today.

And you let him. 

That night you didn't spend on studying, but bandaging and watching over Jimin. As the boy fell asleep peacefully on your couch, breathing steadily, mumbling something under his breath from time to time and smiling. It was the first time in a long time that you felt so responsible for someone. And after hours you found  yourself staring at him again, memorizing every detail. These little freckles over his nose, how his cheeks puffed even more when he was pouting while sleeping. He was breathtaking. And you for the first time wanted to wake up every day…just for him. Angel sends you to learn how to appreciate every single detail.

[astrumocs]

🗣 excirz and jules :3c

Character(s): Julius Monter & Excirz Seieze

Setting: Semi-recent Past; Julius' Hive

Info: [BB] = Julius & [TW] = Excirz. Quirks have been excluded for convenience

The purple blood shifts nervously in his lab stool as he waits for a reply to the message he'd sent not that long ago. Julius had been told by the individual that gave him this handle that replies often came infrequently, but he couldn't have surmised that meant nearly a full week and still nothing.

As if his problem was just going to solve itself?

It mattered little at the moment, but he couldn’t leave his hive or very well order supplies of any kind with that horrific creature skulking about. Still, he knows well that sitting and getting antsy won't solve anything, so he slides his mobile phone across the lab table and away from his direct view, instead sliding over some papers of notes from the past few days' testing.

He’s been staring blankly at his notes, desperately attempting to focus on something other than whatever has been stalking outside his tower for several days, when his phone vibrates and lights up. The anxious doctor urgently snatches the device, reading his own messages back, followed by the one he’d just received.

(Sent 5 days ago) [BB]: Hello, Mr. Seieze, my name is Dr. Julius Monter. I was given your contact by an associate who informed me that you deal with monstrous beings and the like and I believe I have such an issue.

(Sent 3 days ago) [BB]: I am now confident there is a creature lurking outside of my hive lying in wait for someone to exit and any urgency in the matter would be highly appreciated. If money is a concern I would gladly pay to have this handled.

(Sent today) [TW]: If you’re still alive, I’ll deal with your monster.

Julius wastes little time typing back, tempering his exasperated annoyance and anxiety with the situation.

[BB]: Yes, I am indeed still alive. I’ve been trapped inside for nearly a week, I was beginning to meet the end of my rope, but I am relieved you’re willing. Is there anything you need from me in resolving this matter?

[TW]: An address. Or an approximate of the creature's location. Any descriptors you can provide would speed things along, so I know what I might be dealing with.

[TW]: If I succeed, we can discuss payment. And if I don’t, it’ll be a non-issue pretty quickly.

That response made Julius nauseous. The idea that they could both die from this settled as a cold pit in his stomach. He swallows and begins to type back.

[BB]: Of course, I can send you the coordinates momentarily. I’ve scarcely seen the beast, only its significantly large glowing eyes from the treeline in the dusk and dawn hours. 

[BB]: I have, however, heard deep growls from so far up as the fourth floor of my hive and scratching along the stonework…

There’s a long, ten-minute lapse in the conversation where Julius begins to fidget anxiously with his phone, tapping on different applications only to close them right after before his phone buzzes twice more in quick succession.

[TW]: The good news is that I may know what you’re dealing with. I recommend you keep making noise and turning on lights occasionally. [TW]: The bad news is that I also suggest you pick something to pray to.

[variousqueerthings]

Good evening I’m a lizard woman from the dawn of time and this is my wife

yeah, it's the famous line from the episode, The Snowmen. Ian McKellen ('s voice) is here! Richard E Grant! and the mysterious woman who died in Daleks of the Asylum. and inter-species lesbians!

this should be good...

sexism rank objectification (female character is ogled/harassed/turned into a sex joke by the doctor and/or a lead we’re supposed to root for and/or the camera): 6/10

sexism rank plot-point (lead female character is only there to serve plot, not to have her emotional interiority explored): 3/10

interesting complex or pointlessly complex (does the complexity serve the narrative or does it just serve to be confusing as a stand-in for smart, this includes visually): 5/10

furthers character and/or lore and/or plot development (broader question that ties into the previous ones, at least two of these, ideally three should be fulfilled): 6/10

companion matters (the companion doesn’t always have to be there, but if the companion is there, can they function without the doctor– and overall per season how often is the companion the focus or POV of the story): 3/10

the doctor is more than just “godlike” (examines the doctor’s flaws and limitations, doesn’t solve a plot by having it revolve entirely around the doctor’s existence): 7/10

doesn’t look down on previous doctor who (by erasing or mocking its importance, by redoing and “bettering” previous beloved plotpoints or characters, etc.): 8/10

isn’t trying to insert hamfisted sexiness (m*ffat famously talked a lot about how dw should be sexier multiple times, he sucks at writing it): 4/10

internal world has consistency (characters have backgrounds, feel rooted in a place with other people, generally feel like they have Lives): 3/10

Politics (how conservative is the story): 5/10

FULL RATING: 50/100 (if I can count….)

Oy vey!

OBJECTIFICATION: uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ok we start early on through one of the sexy lesbian's legs, because she's Action Lesbian In Leather

and there's a bit later where Clara is changing in a horsedrawn carriage into a different bustle dress, and the camera inexplicably thought it was a good idea to pan in on her breasts right as she's about to undo it

surprisingly though, that's about it

PLOT-POINT: Clara. Who is she? no genuinely, who is she? she larps as working class (and "charmingly" does her working class voice for the upperclass kids she's a governess for, as if they've never heard it before?)/as a barmaid, and then she's also a governess

why was she pretending to be a barmaid (what was the point in the episode and/or what was the point for her as a character)

why is she a governess? what is her connection to... anyone?

yes, she's an enigma, because she looks exactly like that other woman in the red dress (whom the Doctor never saw), but surely she can be "real" in some way -- after all, Oswin did have plot around her that made sense as a character, but this Clara has no background, no wants that relate to her as a character, no emotional connection to anyone, she's just... there. being spunky

and yes, the guy who's the father of the kids is into her, but that's him it doesn't say anything about her

COMPLEXITY: there's three specials released ahead of time that kind of are mostly there to show the Paternoster gang and there's some mystery snow, but otherwise not much in those that isn't in the episode

it's not the most complicated plot on the whole, if it weren't for the mysterious Clara, who isn't a character so much as a plot point

I kind of wish that so much of the plot hadn't involved Richard E Grant standing outside and waiting for stuff to come to him, because it felt like kind of a missed opportunity on the whole + this episode is an hour long and definitely could have been cut to be 45mins

there's also this scene where Clara meets Vastra and can only reply to her using one word answers as a "test," but it's kind of got a "we're being so clever about something," feeling without really making much sense

a lot of flash that need not flash as much, but then if it didn't you might start noticing things... like everything I'm noticing

CHARACTERS/LORE/PLOT: The Paternoster gang were first introduced in one of the worst episodes of this era, and this one is kind of. better than that. on the whole. anyway, they're back now

the Doctor is sad because of companions always leaving and refuses to help people anymore, so bit of a whiny fit (and people say Ten complains too much), but then Clara is so compelling that the Doctor cannot help himself I guess

Clara is here! Aaaaand she's dead again. but she's alive somewhere! we'll see

COMPANIONS MATTER: so... sort of. Clara calls the Doctor and the Doctor arrives and then she near immediately gets dragged out of the Tardis and thrown off a cloud, and then she cries and has a psychic connection or something to the evil snow (along with the family she works for) so that melts all the evil snow and saves the day!

and then she dies. Gosh, but the Tardis bit is so stupid. why are the doors open??? there was supposed to be a Plan with bringing the governess up into the clouds and that plan just... didn't materialise???

she's meant to be so impressive that the Doctor immediately gives her a key to the Tardis, and then devastate him when she dies (until the mystery brings her back), but she's not really much of anything, neither in substance (as explored in the previous point) or in action

what she does do is talk very fast in "witty" repartee, and figures out that the Doctor brought an umbrella so she could pull down some stairs that would take them up to the Tardis, because she's too short to reach otherwise (and I don't hate that)

the one thing she's got going for her is that she's a mystery and that's... not enough. but let's see, maybe future Clara can give us more to work with

“GODLIKE” DOCTOR: ehhhh not reaaally, I mean yes the Doctor drives the whole thing and there's a bunch of scenes of the Doctor dressed as Sherlock and pretending to be impressive and the Doctor insulting Strax, but there's also a fair bit of just "idk, I'm just doing a thing, let's see what happens"

PREVIOUS DOCTOR WHO: Richard E Grant! The Great Intelligence. a bit of Classic!Who in this one in a way that's silly in a fun way

“SEXINESS”: Clara sexually harasses the Doctor a couple of times and also kisses him without his consent "for comedy." the kissing without consent is seeeveral seconds long, after which she takes it as confirmation that he likes her?

The Doctor: You kissed me Clara: You blushed

also

Clara: Eyes front soldier The Doctor: My eyes are always front Clara, watching his ass: Mine aren’t

also a scene where the Doctor pulls her through a window, because her bustle is stuck, and she lands on top of him and he says "You’ve got to take your clothes off," and immediately retracts it while she's still on top of him, but also she doesn't get off him for flipping ages

it's mostly this, but it's a shame, because it's most of what Clara's got to do and it's how M*ffat likes writing "confident" women. I'm surprised he didn't think of a reason for her to slap him at some point

INTERNAL WORLD: they're in Victorian England, the women wear bustles, and there's a bar that's unimportant and a mansion house, and that's abouuut it

POLITICS: I guess there are lesbians. sexy lesbians, but they're there. the classism is weird and kind of pervasive. otherwise it's not really much of anything on the whole

FULL RATING: 50/100 (if I can count….)

Sooo it's another episode that is not The Worst Episode. it's got some fun bits, but on the whole it continues to suffer in many of the ways M*ffat episodes tend to suffer (well, this is a list that's targeted towards M*ffat flaws)

I think also some of the... shall we say "quirk" is getting worse. Clara is a one-liner machine, quipping almost every single line, and she's very pretty and mysterious and effortlessly charming and everyone loves her, but because she's got no flaws, no background, no grounding at all, she's just a cloud drifting through the episode being Spunky. I used that word before, and it's still the right one. that is her single trait - no, that and the sexual innuendo, because she is a M*ffat woman

the Doctor is also very very quirky, his jokey "I'm Sherlock Holmes" bit, which feels like badly written kids comedy, "I’m the clever one, you’re the potato one," which is pointlessly pointedly rude (speciest?) -- there have been other episodes where I think they've gone overboard with this, but certainly this one also does it, and it's barely ever well-balanced so that the sombre stuff works

SO. the M*ffat criteria of an episode: lots of quirky one-liners, witty fast-paced dialogue, innuendo and "sexiness," and vibes over setting, character-development, and relationship dynamics -- it's kind of just a classic, except that I think the plot is marginally better than usual, for being a pretty standard DW type

sidenote there's some really uninspired editing to show the audience that Clara in this episode and Oswin Oswald are the same. just one saying a line, and then the other saying the same line, repeated. if you're flashing back to make a point, at least make it interesting to watch

[sigynpenniman]

My winning band recommendations from my 72 hour power metal fixation adventure

Plus other opinions I don’t have near the knowledge to have, various other thoughts and a link to Spicy Metal Takes: the google sheet; or, Girl who has only ever listened to Trans-Siberian Orchestra listens to other metal for the first time: Getting a lot of "Trans-Siberian Orchestra" vibes from this

I've never really listened to metal before. But Kenny got me listening to Versailles, and suddenly I'm considering for the first time in my life that I might like metal, or at least some metal. Then a couple days ago I got introduced to Gloryhammer (by a random suggested reddit post I think?), and then Alestorm. Very amused by the existence of incredibly seriously presented dwarf legend and pirate music, I combed threads of related bands, and someone recommended Rhapsody of Fire.

Here's the other thing you need to know about me: I love Trans-Siberian orchestra. Like, really love. I listen to TSO on repeat from September to January of every year. Few things on earth inspire the joy in me that Wizards in Winter does. So when I hit play on that first Rhapsody of Fire album and got hit with...well, Rhapsody of Fire, my whole world shifted on its axis. You're telling me this whole time there's been more Trans-Siberian Orchestra out there, without the Christmas, and I just didn't know about it because I don't listen to metal?

(this is why I am forever seeking out new music - statistically, the thing you are going to love most in the world is something you've never heard of yet)

Completionism, autism, and an academic fascination with music in general, and hungry for more of this magic, and the next thing I know I'm on Encyclopedia Metallum, Reddit, and Apple Music, scrolling related artist lists and suggestion threads collecting the very best of power metal. It ended up being so many bands I had to make a spreadsheet.

I've spent the last couple of days working my way through the spreadsheet and taste-testing all of the recommended bands. I figure out that the term for what I enjoy is Symphonic Power Metal, so that was my focus. My criteria was fairly simple: do I enjoy listening to this, would I listen to it on purpose, and does it make me start stimming happily the way TSO does.

So here's my fixation-fueled list of recommendations. I'll include a link to my actual google sheet at the bottom so you can all read my spicy metal takes and maybe laugh at me if you like metal and think my taste sucks (which it probably does, and I absolutely do not care if you think so).

RHAPSODY OF FIRE - If you like books with maps in them, can I interest you in a band who put maps in their CD BOOKLETS?

And their approximately 27 related, spinoff, and reboot bands. If you want to get into Rhapsody, check out this illustrated guide to the ROFECU (Rhapsody of Fire Extended Cinematic Universe) that a kind soul made on Reddit here. There is a huge controversy and drama among fans of the band about which is the "real" Rhapsody but I absolutely could not care less. They're all good, don't worry about it.

A film score orchestra handed several electric guitars. TSO on steroids. I don't even know how to do ROF justice in description alone.

Compositionally stunning, complex, gorgeous, orchestral and symphonic masterpieces overlaid with power metal, prog rock, and sometimes medieval music.

Here's the icing on the cake: ROF live for the concept album, and their dozen-plus album discography comprises at the moment 2 complete (and a 3rd still being actively recorded) Lord-Of-The-Rings level fantasy sagas told over 3-5 albums each, complete with MAPS IN THE CD CASES. These guys are NOT FUCKING AROUND. There are multiple long reddit threads and google docs detailing the plot outlines and timelines of each saga, including this 201 page behemoth. I've only scratched the surface here and I genuinely can't remember the last time I was so excited to have so much of something still ahead of me.

TWILIGHT FORCE - Can I copy your homework?

We're not Rhapsody of Fire, we promise! (and I mean this as a compliment.)

Twilight Force is a newer band, and therefore have a bit of a newer sound, but it's the closest thing to ROF out there - probably not by accident, since one of the band members was in one of the ROF spinoff bands. I haven't dug into their lore yet, but the music is spectacular, epic and sweeping and gorgeously composed.

VERSAILLES - Immortal vampire neoclassical VKei with a twist of Gender

If you haven’t ever heard of Versallies…now you have.

A really incredible, absolutely delightful visual kei band with a commitment to their very self-aware bit that takes them to the next level, Versallies make incredible, headbanging, neoclassical metal. Lead vocalist Kamijo has one of the most incredible voices you’ll ever hear, and the whole thing is enhanced greatly by their visuals - sumptuous costumes, full on anime hair, an a general Victorian-meets-rococo aesthetic that takes gender performance to a space of high art. There’s lore for the band too, but I don’t speak Japanese at all, so I haven’t gotten to all of it yet.

MALICE MIZER - high art VKei pioneers

90s Visual Kei band Malice Mizer are the foundational text of much which came after. You can really feel the effect of Dead or Alive’s Pete Burns here (who, legendarily, had an influence on the emergence of VKei due to his popularity in Japan) and everything happening is just beautiful. The least “metal” of everything on this list, Malice Mizer have more of a metal-flavored new wave sound. I highly recommend checking out these guys’ filmed concerts - the visual is half of the fun with VKei, and the number & broadness of the influences here is incredible - you can feel the push and pull of classical music, new wave, prog rock, metal, rococo aesthetics, goth, mime - it goes on and on. I haven’t gotten to spend as much time with this band as I want, and I feel like there’s more to understand, appreciate, and analyze than I’ll ever have enough hours for.

ALESTORM - Pirates. Yaar.

What do I even say about the kitsch pirate band other than that they’re a pirate band. And they’re…really, really good. Sea Shanties in metal form, metal music full of accordions, aggressively Scottish, and delightfully committed to theme. It's hard not to smile listening to this.

AVANTASIA - Opera Time

More rock operas than albums.

The other close-to-a-TSO clone on this list, Avantasia make symphonic rock operas. Another band I need more time with, there's some REALLY good stuff here if you like rock operas (which, clearly, I very much do).

KAMELOT - Pure Power Metal

Slightly less symphonic than the other choices (though there's still some violins in here), Kamelot is a more metallic and classic rock/epic rock sound with some killer vocals. There's something a little dated about their sound, but I mean that as a compliment.

POWERWOLF - Dad music

There's something delightfully 80s about this sound. Feels lifted directly from classic rock. This is your dad's music, and I mean that as a compliment.

STRATOVARIUS - Barely not Journey.

These guys go back and forth between being metal and sounding like Journey, but it's good. I approve.

AYREON - The English language is insufficient.

It feels like no matter which song I put here, it's going to be wrong - because no single song you listen to is going to give you a good picture of whatever the hell Ayreon is. The songs have a metal influence, but every song feels like a different genre - I would describe the overarching genre as closer to Prog Rock, but oh man, it is all over the place. The strangeness and all-over-the-place nature of it is fascinating. I was gratified to find that my inability to describe or even decide how I feel about this band is reflected in the band's actual Wikipedia article, which includes this incredible comment from a music reviewer:

"Idk man this shit defies description."

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Epica - Incredible operatic vocals combined with black metal growls over a heavily orchestral metal background.

Opera Magna - these guys really only have the one album but it's heavily classical and really good.

Fairyland, Deridian, Dragony, Dark Moor - All very similar sounding "symphonic power metal but not quite as good as ROF"

Sabaton - some really good power metal around historical war themes. Well made, but I am not super interested in the thematic content so it doesn't hit.

MY ACTUAL SPREADSHEET:

Tier: classic tier list tier - S, A, B, C, D, E, F

Library Tier - a simpler, more subjective system I added for myself - would I save this into my music library, would I only put it on a playlist for a specific mood, or do I just not plan to listen to it again?

A complete list of the bands I taste tested with my ratings and notes. I have literally no previous knowledge of this genre. My taste and opinions might be bad, they might be awful, I do not care. I hope you all enjoy them anyway.

[art-of-manliness]

Odds & Ends: April 5, 2024

Killers of the Flower Moon. I was really excited to watch Martin Scorsese’s epic film, Killers of the Flower Moon. Based on the bestselling book that recounts the murders of members of the Osage Nation here in northeast Oklahoma in the 1920s, the movie didn’t disappoint. Like all of Scorsese’s historical films, he does a great job of getting the details right. You feel like you’ve been transported to 1920s Oklahoma. The acting is top-notch. Robert De Niro plays a great bad guy, Leonardo DiCaprio plays the part of a feckless wiener whose lack of moral compass leads him to tragedy, and Lily Gladstone captures the heartache of an Osage woman watching her family die around her. It was cool to see parts of OK that we’ve explored appear in a movie. Osage country is absolutely beautiful. Love those big skies and green hills. This movie is long — 3 and 1/2 hours — but worth it! Ace sunglasses. A few years ago, MVMT watches sponsored the AoM podcast and sent me a watch to try. They also included a pair of their Ace sunglasses. They look like the aviator shades Paul Newman wore in the 1970s. They’re funky and not something I would have picked out on my own. But they’ve become the shades I wear when I’m driving our family’s 1996 Buick Roadmaster station wagon. Feels like appropriate eyewear for that whip. And because I take the station wagon to the flag football games I coach, you’ll typically find me wearing my Ace sunglasses along with my Walter Matthau Bad News Bears big collar polyester coach shirt on the sidelines. It’s such a solid fit. (Note: MVMNT did not sponsor this shoutout. I haven’t worked with them in a long time. Indeed, no individual or company has ever sponsored a shoutout in O&E; all recommendations are our own.) No Biological Free Lunches by Tim Ferriss. Tim Ferriss took a break from writing on his blog to focus on his podcast, so it was great to see him come back to articles with a piece on the overlooked costs of taking TRT or performance-enhancing drugs. Yes, exogenous hormones can have a place in improving overall health, but like any drug, there are downsides. TRT and growth hormones can help your muscles grow, but they can also make your liver and spleen grow and that can have bad consequences for your health. It can even make your head permanently bigger. Like most things in life, there are tradeoffs you need to consider before deciding to take exogenous hormones. Don’t be cavalier with this decision. Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life by Matthew Dicks. I read this book a couple of years ago in preparation for talking to its author, Matthew Dicks, on the podcast. I still think about the insights I gleaned from it. Matthew has worn a lot of hats at the same time: husband, dad, public school teacher, writer, storyteller, and corporate consultant. In Someday Is Today, he offers field-tested tactics to get more done even if you’re a regular busy guy. A few of my favorites: think in minutes and practice deliberate incuriosity. Be sure to listen to my conversation with Matthew. It’s one of my favorites. Quote of the Week He who saith there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure is himself a knave. —George Berkeley Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/T572vt

[theoreticalli]

hm. I've been rolling the Atlantic article that I'm guessing this is referring to (based on the Percy Jackson reference) over in my head for a few days as I do with every Atlantic article that I find to be mostly ridiculous but a bit insightful and I... would like to add some further thoughts about this (under a cut because it's gonna get long)

I'm going to step back from using stupidity as the framework at all because I think the primary flaw with the article was that it was only just beginning to be able to imagine stepping away from seeing the issue of literacy as individual failings of entire groups of students, rather than what such an apparently wide-reaching phenomenon would have to be, which is systemic. it simply does not make sense to believe that all or even most American children would have become "lazier", more incurious, or worse behaved within the past few generations as a result of broad "culture" or "parenting" shifts that just are not all that consistent across the country, and I am deeply critical of any commentary on education that entertains that idea.

the article also had the fatal Atlantic contributor flaw of dropping in a "phones are ruining our attention spans 😱😱😱" scare right at the top of its explanation and then... not going into nearly as much depth on that as it should have. and I think in an era where the prevailing trend on YouTube is 5+ hour video essays and weekly or daily hour-long podcast episodes, Instagram and tiktok have had to repeatedly extend their video and post lengths to accommodate the forms creators want to use, and I am reading a goddamn Atlantic article on my phone... it gets kinda hard to say without elaboration that "the internet" is a leading cause of poor literacy and short attention spans when that damn iCarly essay has like 11 million views and the hbomb plagiarism one has like 8 mil (regardless of how well people are understanding either or the nuances of the points they're trying to make, they are engaging with a long-form piece of analysis and taking it out into the broader culture).

and on the topic of Percy Jackson... I find it deeply goofy that someone who has been teaching literature for 25 years would not consider that 25 years ago, The Lightning Thief hadn't been fucking published yet. the YA renaissance had barely started. teens were only just starting to have books that were targeted to them, and many of the earlier books that take teen life seriously are actually taught in middle and high school English classes, ie Catcher in the Rye or The Outsiders. the author at least brings up the classical context of Percy Jackson, which I appreciate. reading the series early in life set me up for a lifelong fascination with mythology that DID lead me to read a lot of Greek tragedies, if not the full Iliad and Odyssey, as the professors in the article would hope. the books were written by an English teacher as an introduction for his dyslexic, ADHD child to Greek myth, after all. other YA series like the Hunger Games are excellent modern options for English classes too, offering possible connections to other texts on war that may be more difficult for high school students to get through at first but that could later be easier with that touchstone.

which brings us, generally, to the topic of public school curriculum. No Child Left Behind, Common Core, standardized testing, and their focus on excerpts and informational texts are eventually identified as likely the primary culprit of students being unprepared to suddenly be expected to read full books in unfamiliarly older language. frankly, it is wild to bury the lede at all on this point, because mentioning tiktok before the sweeping federal education reform that affected the specific generation being discussed does a disservice to these students and their educators. if students aren't being asked to read Wuthering Heights for school (I never was), it's extremely unlikely that they're going to show up to their first day of English Lit 101 calling it their favorite.

speaking of English Lit 101, if your aim is deep reading, asking students to read 14 books in a semester feels... directly counterproductive to that goal. in a full course load of elite college classes, it's just not humanly possible that the average 18 year old in ANY time period was fully reading and digesting The Iliad in a two week period. granted, that's what the course is for! you do a baseline reading, come into class, and work together to achieve a deeper understanding. but I have a hard time seeing a reduction in material to allow time to dive further into each text as a loss? isn't that the point, to increase attention span, spend longer with the text? you want your students to spend 9 hours per each class on reading and other work, plus potentially work a part or full time job if they don't happen to be privileged enough not to have to, plus have a social life because these are TEENAGERS, and you're shocked they're overwhelmed and would rather doomscroll tiktok lol

the article also partially blames having to integrate newer authors or just. authors outside of the Western Canon™ which. oh god forbid I not have to read Siddhartha. I truly think this is just reason for even intro/summary classes to be built around a coherent thesis of how you're linking the texts you've chosen, not just arguing that we're reading Great Expectations because everyone has to read Great Expectations if they want to be a real Harvard student. there are so many published texts that can be used in a literature course to illustrate all kinds of points, and if you aren't teaching a seminar with a specific focus on a specific author, movement, country, or era, there's just... no reason to bemoan the loss of Crime and Punishment if it's been replaced with, God Forbid, Native Son or another novel that touches on similar themes but won't be daunting for the sheer sake of it (no shade to the complicated Russian novel genre. but if you thought every one of your gen ed students were reading all of a Dostoevsky in their first semester of college in 2004, they were just better at fooling you <3)

okay. all that bullshit from the article aside. the "isn't that problematic?" puriteen critical of my interests crowd is big enough that it, too, cannot just be a function of individual character flaws! if this many people are engaging with thematic complications in text only on the level of "does this contain words that are on the unallowed list" then surely there is, again, a cause beyond "you're fundamentally unserious, incurious, and stupid."

as noted in the Atlantic article, there will always be students that, by virtue of familial circumstances, natural aptitude, extracurricular support, or other factors, will "read insightfully and easily and write beautifully." I was one of these students, and I do not say this to set myself apart or celebrate myself - I say it because, as I developed analytical skills at a relatively linear pace through grade school and undergrad, I was able to witness the classes I was in start over at basics again and again with the expectation that incoming students would have no baseline from which to start. how true this was I don't know, but it meant that the task of deciphering a thesis statement in any text we were writing or reading, a "main idea," was reiterated to the point of losing its second, arguably more important factor: finding the position where one stands in relation to that idea, and arguing it.

this seems to me the main issue for the argument-neutral, content-averse censorship argument. locating the presence of a topic in a text is a red flag, because there was rarely enough time or resources in education to devote to properly picking apart the position of the author relevant to any given topic. on particularly blatant, binary positions, sure, but any position of authorial vs narrative perspective, unreliable narration, outdated framing or language, or complicated, contradictory positions enter the picture and a specific subset will get caught up in the surface narrative - much like the Tyler Durden admirers among us.

and to some extent, high school can only get anyone so far in that literacy! it is the PURPOSE of a college literature or language course to take the next step into dissecting the context, themes, motifs, etc of texts with more going on in them than Percy Jackson. and some people won't go to college, or will struggle with the already underfunded and pedagogically undermined public grade school classes, or will go to Harvard on trust fund money and coast by and still not quite get it and go on to claim they're the first YA novelist to write a feminist Cinderella retelling or something like that. sure, maybe they're responsible for being a little too loud on a subject they really don't have that much area knowledge on, but we're all immersed in so much storytelling media all the time that it's hard not to see why people want to talk about it!

so... that's my very long, unsourced essay on why that particular Atlantic article belied a few broader cultural obsessions that truly make so little sense to focus on at the end of the day, as well as thoughts on how all this thematic illiteracy shit (at least within the US) is in no small part because we have always and recently even more acutely struggled to teach every student how to analyze texts for arguments and multiple meanings. thank you

idk my stance on the whole thing is i don’t think there is an inherent stupidity or lack of worth or danger in the adult who only reads, on the one end of the spectrum, middle grade fantasy novels or, on the other end, Seduced By My Enemies To Lovers Billionaire Daddy Hockey Player booktok smut fare. i think developing a diverse palate of reading tastes, challenging yourself, etc is important but at the end of the day some people just want to, or for whatever reason, are only able to read more simplistic and digestible fare. plus reading fiction is only one way of (shudders) “Consuming Media™️” or exercising your brain more generally, and many of these people are quite probably perfectly intelligent and functioning adults who have just happened to put their “intellectual engagement with the world” stats in a different column. but on the other hand while i don’t think you can make a snap judgement about someone’s intelligence based on what they do or don’t read i DO think you can start to make those judgements based on how they react when this discourse comes up 😳

[jcmarchi]

5+ Best WordPress Plugins to Try Out [2024 edition] - Web Design Ledger

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5+ Best WordPress Plugins to Try Out [2024 edition] - Web Design Ledger

The WordPress directory has 50k+ free plugins that were developed so you can extend a WordPress website with functions and features far beyond your imagination.

Additional thousands of WordPress plugins are available from various marketplaces.

No matter how much you might have a need for a specialized plugin or two, would you really want to spend a full workday on reseraching? Probably not.

So, what, if anything, can you do? We have an answer to that.

We tested tens of WordPress plugins and selected the 8 best WordPress free and premium plugins for a range of both popular and lesser used functions.

These plugins focus on important functionalities that you won’t typically find in a WordPress theme. They address web designer/developer needs for:

problem-free building of landing pages that catch the eye.

management and displaying of financial, commercial, scientific, statistical, and other data, as well as of substantial amounts of data.

visual storytelling that enhance UX.

automating and streamlining appointments bookings.

These 8 best WordPress plugins for 2024 are available in trial, free, or premium.

What key qualities do these top WordPress plugins have?

Support – We reviewed product development teams’ responses to problems and questions and recommended only those products whose teams have a history of answering support issues within 24 hours.

Reviews by users. We extensively read product reviews and testimonials that specified both ‘Have’ and ‘Have nots’ of these plugins.

Features – We scrutinized each plugin to ensure its advertised features would meet the goal the plugin was designed and built to satisfy.

Free version – All 8 have free versions with a large number of features.

Compatibility – We made certain each plugin was fully compatible with the latest WordPress and PHP versions, and has been updated within the past two months.

8 Best WordPress Plugins for 2024

These 8 WordPress plugins are excellent in their areas. And we have made your job easier by doing time-consuming work for you.

Below, you will read about each plugin’s key features, how their customer evaluated them, and we will give you links to test them out or find out more info for yourself.

1. Amelia™ WordPress Plugin — Appointment Booking WP Plugin

Amelia is the best WordPress plugin for a service-oriented business looking for an automated booking system.

More than 70% of Amelia’s users agree that Amelia’s standout feature is its powerful multilingual Notifications system that enables users to seamlessly manage their appointment and event bookings via SMS, email, and/or WhatsApp messages.

Product qualities users realize once they begin using Amelia:

effortless navigation and ultramodern backend and frontend interface attributes.

the ability to tailor Amelia to meet their specific needs.

a user-friendly design that is free from unwelcome surprises together with the value inherent in transparent functionality and pricing.

A service-oriented business like the one shown in the barbershop template can take advantage of Amelia’s new and improved booking form, organize an appointment flow that best suits their business model, and receive appointment requests online  24/7.

Product rating: 4.8/5 on Captera.

Customer Insight:  Pros: “Amelia is one of my favorite plugins because: 1. Easy to install and use. 2. Reliable and professional quality. 3. Full of great features – better than any others I have used. 4. Great layout, versatile and works seamlessly with clients 5. It is always updated and improved. 6. Support help and communication is fast, friendly, and excellent. 7. Not just a flash in the pan. It has been around for a long time.”

Cons: “Nothing I can think of or have had to be concerned with.”

Instant Support: Documentation, Videos on YouTube and a Discord Group.

Find out more here

2. wpDataTables: The Best WordPress Table & Chart Plugin

wpDataTables is the best WordPress plugin for organizations or individuals tasked with creating tables and charts from complex and/or massive amounts of data.

wpDataTables’ key feature is its Multiple Database Connections capability. This groundbreaking feature is a data management breakthrough that allows a table to set up independent connections to MySQL, MS SQL, or PostgreSQL databases and become a versatile data hub in the process.

Product qualities users quickly become aware of:

a user interface that does not require technical ability to effortlessly create tables or charts.

wpDataTable’s blend of powerful features that handle complex data structures with finesse.

effortlessly show informative tables by seamlessly incorporating data and information sourced from diverse origins.

wpDataTables is excellent for statistics data tables that are responsive. Other uses include:

fixed headers and columns that ensure that key columns and headers remain visible while scrolling and make data analysis more straightforward.

Shortcode for single cells: helpful for useful adding multimedia, links, or other dynamic elements to a table.

The ability to populate tables with data from various APIs.

Product rating: 4.83/5

Customer Insight: “Really great for tables using csv or Excel. Solved a very difficult content issue for me. Thanks so much!”

Instant support options: Excellent documentation and on point YouTube videos.

Use WpDataTables for free.

3. Brizy: Best Website Builder

Brizy is the ideal WordPress website builder for those looking for a White Label solution to market their own brand.

Brizy’s standout feature is its White Label option. You can brand the Brizy builder as your own and encourage clients to create websites using “your” builder.

Product qualities users discover as they use Brizy Builder:

You will never have a problem editing in place whether you are clicking on a text, an image, or any other kind of content.

Content is never created in a disjointed sidebar, as is the case in some competing builders.

Tailored features for agencies and resellers in addition to the White Label option, include Billing, Reseller Client Management, Multi-language capabilities, and Marketing integrations.

Brizy Builder is ideal for building creative websites and landing pages in the Brizy Cloud or when used with the Brizy WordPress theme. “Petits” Brizy’s pet website template is ideal for a pet shop in addition to having a wide range of  other uses.

Product rating: 4.6/5 on Trust Pilot

Customer Insight: “In many way a very satisfying pagebuilder, with a generous and fantastic free version. Especially the way of working with pictures is really nice. However, sometimes experience that Brizy is a little unstable, some things that in between do not flow as they should. But can warmly recommend it, not least for beginners.”

Support capabilities include the Brizy support manual and YouTube videos.

Click here to check out  the Brizy Builder plugin.

4. Slider Revolution

Slider Revolution is the best WordPress plugin for those looking to incorporate a WOW factor into their sliders without any need for coding.

Some say it’s the knockout effects for WordPress that turn them on. With others, Slider Revolution’s top feature is the one that enables them to create sliders visually. Both are right.

Revolution Slider has a host of design options for every category of user:

Web shop builders will tell you that the WooCommerce sliders are especially useful.

Businesses and small agencies find the one-page portfolio templates particularly helpful.

The images and cool scrolling effects in Slider Revolution’s mesmerizing Brewery Website slider template will tempt you to take time out for a cool one. It’s great for a wide variety of uses.

Users quickly take note of the features that allow them to easily upgrade a WordPress website visual in mere minutes.

Product rating: 4.6/5

Customer Insight: “This is a stunning tool. There are great templates that are easily modified to suit you. There’s a learning curve which should come as no surprise once you recognize its potential (and therefore yours.) I don’t know one line of code.”

Support: Slider Revolution’s support manual and YouTube videos provide instant support.

Click for a preview of the Slider Revolution plugin.

5. LayerSlider: #1 WordPress Slider Plugin

LayerSlider is the best WordPress plugin for web designers looking for an uncompromising approach to making amazing web content with gorgeous visual effects.

LayerSlider is not only for building responsive sliders and popups but is also excellent for creating more complex websites. LayerSlider’s top feature is, in fact, a scroll effect in which a hero image magically animates as visitors scroll through the page, as is the case in the Fairy Magical Company example with its scroll scene, scroll transition, and pinned layers.

With respect to templates, the Wood Sculptor website template shows a great example of LayerSlider’s capabilities.

Qualities that only its users will notice include:

A Project Editor that matches professional desktop applications in terms of performance and usability.

A complete suite of visual content creation online services without leaving the UI.

Built-in transitions and effects that can be applied instantly.

Although LayerSlider’s popup and banner-creating capabilities and popular animation features are excellent for marketing purposes, LayerSlider is “tailored” for use on any website niche.

Customer Insight: “Powerful features and a flexible slider for many effects. Makes a very professional looking slider.”

Support: A support manual comes with the package, plus built-in help for almost everything inside the LayerSlider Project Editor.

Click for a preview of the LayerSlider plugin.

6. Essential Grid

Essential Grid is the #1 WordPress gallery plugin for creating galleries guaranteed to capture visitors’ attention.

The grid skin options and 50+ unique grid skins are clearly Essential Grid’s top feature.

Users can easily plug and play these customizable templates to complete projects in no time at all, plus Essential Grid’s visual skin editor enables users to create as many skin variations as they want.

Essential grid created galleries load with a rocket-fast speed and are responsive to display the content on all devices in the most perfect way.

It’s also possible to do search engine optimization of an Essential Grid gallery using deep linking and pagination to achieve a higher ranking on Google.

Team, blog, portfolio, and You/Tube Vimeo channel stream grids are popular among target client categories. The Portfolio Grid example features a image-based portfolio grid layout with pinned text layer and hover effects.

The developers of the wildly popular Slider Revolution plugin, which also appears on this list of best plugins, created Essential Grid as well.

Product rating: 4.7/5 on Trust Pilot

Customer Insight: “It’s rare in today’s world to find support that is competent and responsive, but Theme Punch’s Essential Grid support is AMAZING!!! My issue was resolved on the first contact, and within an hour of submitting a ticket.”

Support: Look to the support manual and YouTube videos for instant support.

Preview Essential Grid.

7. Web Stories – WordPress plugin

Web Stories helps users create powerful narratives and fast-loading full-screen experiences.

The top feature of this WordPress storytelling editor is how smoothly it blends a selection of story creation capabilities into a WYSIWYG creation tool. WebStories also provides an impressive selection of templates. Bike Shop is simple, straightforward, and also one of the most popular eCommerce themed templates.

Other popular features include even more beautiful page templates to help get story creation activities underway together with:

a visually rich and intuitive dashboard that makes it easy to navigate through the entire story creation process.

drag-and-drop capabilities designed to make composing beautiful stories as easy as possible.

access to the WordPress media library through the plugin’s dashboard.

Product qualities that Web Stories’ users discover when they begin using the plugin include:

fast loading times that keep visitors engaged and entertained.

sharing and linking stories on the open web.

tracking and measuring stories for monetization.

Product rating: 4.1/5

Customer Insight: “On our website, we personally love the web story platform! It’s SO beautiful and customizable, we can create different posts that fit our media outlet, and our public likes it a lot. It isn’t that easy to make in the beginning, but once you get it, you can produce a lot!

Instant support option: Solid documentation.

View the Web Stories plugin.

8. Tablesome

Tablesome is the best WordPress form automation plugin for those who need to efficiently transfer information from submitted forms into tables.

Tablesome’s top feature is easily its WordPress Automation feature which enables users to automate certain data management processes when people have submitted forms such as:

storing the form entries in a table.

saving the form entries to Google Sheet.

sending the form entries in an email.

Tablesome’s users appreciate what Workflow Automation does to make their work easier. As they become familiar with Tablesome they gain a better understanding of the tasks it can do, and also become aware of the significant reduction in the number plugins needed to carry out those tasks.

Tablesome can also be used to support building of or improving data-centric websites thanks to its integrations with MailChimp, Google Sheets, Slack, HubSpot CRM, OpenAI/ChatGPT, and WordPress.

Product rating: 4.7/5

Customer Insight: “I was searching for a simple responsive table plugin that allowed Excel file imports in the free version, and after testing all the so-called popular table plugins, I realized that none of them offered excel imports in the free version or if they did, they were not responsive. Then I found Tablesome, and it worked perfectly! Within minutes I had the table setup from the existing excel sheet. Thank you to the authors of Tablesome, and I highly recommend it to everyone!”

Support: YouTube videos and Tablesome’s user manual are best for instant support.

Preview Tablesome.

***** 

Which plugins or plugins you might use in 2024?

It’s understandable you would not need every one of them, but having one or two could add significant value to your projects. With so many free and premium WordPress plugins to select from in the 4 areas that we covere, we saved you a great amount of time.

Each of these best WordPress plugins is:

super-fast, solid, and has excellent UX.

free of restrictions or limitations within its area.

a huge time saver thanks to its prebuilt demos that make creating web projects efficient and enjoyable.

designed for looking excellent on both desktop and mobile.

And customer support for each of these plugins is on point, responsive and pro.

Check out these free and premium wordpress plugins, take them for a spin and go premium if you need the extra features.

[dopaminergicaddictions]

The hallucination got to much worse yesterday. I wonder why? I couldn't focus cause I was so tired.. I heard it talking at me during therapy it went from inaudible just i could hear it trying to it was saying full sentences. This is why I always worry about sleeping cause when I talk to someone I can drown it out very easily when I actually slepe even when it's 5 hours of sleep.

I took maximum dose at 5:35 last night and laid down at 6:30. I got up a few times over the night and had to take like 30 to 40 minutes to knock back out but I woke up at 6 am. I am staying up. It fixed my schedule and the hallucination went back to the way it was. Quieter and less distracting and I can focus again. I prob got 7 to 9 hours but it's so segmented with bathroom breaks. That's its somewhere in between.

My will to live went from 2 to like 8. My doctors don't want to increase from 1.0 to 1.5..... I'm having my therapist Erin call in cause of they can just get me to fucking February 21st sleeping every fucking night. I'd need two weeks without weed and I'm going to go back to fucking normal.

I'm requesting a gene test and a hair test for the 22nd... I want to rule out the gene thing... cause I mean tbh.... with the onset. How it visited everyday and went away after I stopped being high it it's so obvious thc... but until i see that I don't have the gene and as long as I hallucinate I'm going to keeo worrying...

I worry that I have the gene but thc started it..... if that's the case I'd wait until the thc drained out and end it if it hasn't left once I get the thc out.. when I sleep regularly and everything it seems to get minorly and I mean minoely better every single day...

I'm worried I won't slept tonight. My doctor is pushing me to see a psychiatrist to take over and percribe a higher dose.... it's making me lose hope cause just push me through the next month and half. It could be done tomorrow or next week or even before the 22nd.... maybe it'll be Feb 10th... but I need to SLEEP EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'm going to take less than maximum dose at 10 tonight and if I'm not sleeping by 12 I'm going to raise it so hopefully I'm our by 2. At least now my 17 hour mark is fucking 10 pm... 10 pm seems like so fucking long from now. I wish I could take it at 8 but I tried 12 hours, I tried 15-`16. I guess my body needs 17 waking hours.

Wish me luck as if Erin can't get them to push it to 1.5... I'm going to have major issues Well before this goes away. Getting in with a psychiatrist is almost impossible and they are going to push fucking antipsychotics and anticholinergics... and prob antidepressants for christ sake. I won't take any of those EVER... and it could be a useless thing to do If they won't increase it.

I'm hoping that after my doctor has another provider in the loop they'll consider it. At least they'll give me 1 for the foreseeable future but I can't scarfice one night of sleep.

I'm not joking yesterday it might as well even been November 15th when I couldn't even watch a movie or talk in therapy without the voice taking away my entire fucking focus... and today it's like wait it's Jan. 12th and It's like it even improved from the day before I didn't sleep...

[blueempty]

I forgot to take a night pic but it looked just like this except dark

I had a pretty good day despite not sleeping enough. Me and my brother tied in Mario Kart three grand prix's in a row, and then I beat Barony as a skeleton ninja on switch. I made my own food for before and during work so I got through the day without spending money on food but I also got in at like 5:30 so it kinda wasnt worth it. It was good though

I've been trying to be more assertive about it but lately I've gotten really tired of people being so toughies on me. I think I generally present myself as being pretty emotionally stable, certainly not all the time and certainly less in recent years but like, at least in social situations I can be trusted to not completely fly off the handle, and idk if that has people forgetting that I am Unwell in the brain region. I try not to lean on my self diagnosed mental illnesses too much but I'm PRETTY SURE I'm displaying symptoms of autism and ADHD in the group chat, but it feels like people are constantly expecting me not to have the memory problems I have

My job is fake, it's the easiest job in the world. I pushed that test off again, I can not be stopped, but like the routine of waking up 6 days a week and having to rush to either be at work or at band at a reasonable time and then 5 of those days having to be at work for minimum 6 hours whether theres anything to do or not, and then coming home and having no time to do anything after showering, eating, and cleaning up, it's taking its toll on me bro. I get one day a week where I dont have to worry about shit and I really should be spending it trying to be more productive, but like I'm bad at being productive. I fucking love being unemployed I wanna be unemployed so bad!!!! But yeah I just cant keep things in my brain. I literally failed an object permanence check yesterday and today when I went out to the kitchen to eat things I was excited to eat. Just forgot they were there. I keep wasting food doing that. Anyway vent over sorry bro I'm so sorree

My phone absolutely refuses to focus on the moonstones but my dudes are growiiiing. They've come so far since the shipping accident and as soon as I find the right time to behead the bigger ones theyre gonna be so cash money. I gotta post garlic pics tomorrow too that thing is insane. For all the bad brain shit going on rest assured the plants are kicking ass and I feel good about them. Even the cocoon that won't rehydrate for literally no reason

Peace and Long Life

[the-meme-monarch]

I fucking wayned it, as the kids would say.

[mieohmy]

𝖢𝗈𝗆𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍 𝟣𝟢𝟣 | 𝖫𝖾𝖾 𝖩𝖾𝗇𝗈

PAIRING: lee jeno x reader

GENRE: angst, fluff, humor, comfort, established relationship au, college au,  this rly is just a self indulgent fic kjasdfk

WC: 2.1k

NOTES: slight argument/fighting ?? , cursing

SUMMARY: jeno wants your attention, your comforting presence, your love- he simply wants you.

for the bday boy that i treasure sm! happy birthday to puppy jeno <333

ღ

The phone next to you lies untouched, and practically has been for days- or has it been a week already? I mean, it wasn’t your fault that upcoming finals had been taking you to the depths of hell, and you had no choice but to lock yourself at home to study for a week on end. 

Which brings you to day 7? 8? of being holed up in your room all day, memorizing a bazillion tiny printed words and trying to cram as much information as possible in that overworked brain of yours. Getting about 4-5 hours of sleep a day, you couldn’t remember anymore- or even care to remember. Not to mention the added stress that came along with being any normal college student. Wasn’t life just wonderful?

You feel bad for everyone that has tried to contact you over this stressful period in your life (since you completely turned your phone off to eliminate all distractions), but the urge to stop studying completely and just check up on the real world and all its happenings grows stronger. You breathe in -out, constantly chanting ‘self-control’ over and over again in your head. Then your eyes slowly open, and you slap yourself one last time as if to say ‘get it together' before diving back into the books.

Just two more days. Two more days and you can finish and not have to stress about finals until results come out. 

At this point, you were surviving off of coffee, tea, random stolen snacks that your boyfriend would bring over from his dorm. 

Damn, when’s the last time you had a proper meal? Monday?

And then you frown. What day even is it today? You glance at your calendar and- 

Goodness grief, it’s Sunday already. 

You almost have a midlife crisis over wasting basically a week doing nothing but sitting at your desk and looking at words, but then again at this point- you’re just over it and want to be done as soon as possible. 

But soon, a weird feeling arises after you recall today’s date- like you were forgetting something. You place a hand over your forehead. Was there something important today? 

And as if the universe read your mind, the doorbell rings.

A giant wave of confusion washes over you. Was someone supposed to come over today?

-and you just completely wiped it from your mind?

You’re still running through your memories as you walk to the door. No, it's not Chae since she has finals too...

Opening it, you’re not at all expecting who was behind it. 

“Jeno-?”

He blinks back at your wide eyes, expression turning concerned, and you rub your temples in exasperation and defeat. 

“Oh, did we have a date today or something? I’m so sorry- I totally forgot.”

His eyebrows furrow. “No, I was just supposed to come over to hang out with you....”

“It’s been so long since we last talked, baby. You haven’t responded to any of my texts. What’s going on?” He promptly adds, staring intently at you. 

You let out a sigh, and jeno notices your tense shoulders and dark under-eye circles. “I thought you knew. Finals are coming up so I’ve been stuck at home cramming for about a week now actually.” 

His frown deepens. “I did know. And still, y/n..” he says in a warning tone. 

You know what his voice implies, you’ve heard it plenty of times at this point, but right now you don’t have to energy to listen to his nagging. “ I know, I know. Just- come in, I guess.....”

To be completely honest, you wanted to send jeno back home- there was still a lot more information left to cover and you obviously weren’t in your best condition, but he was the one who actually remembered your ‘date’ and drove to your place, so you would feel even worse making him go all the way back to his dorm. 

Jeno easily follows you in, biting the inside of his cheek to hold back any comments while examining your place even though barely anything has changed since he last visited- mostly because there was nothing to change when you were in your room all day. 

You walk to the kitchen, getting your boyfriend some water while yawning. Meanwhile, your mind is drifting away, thinking about what topics are left that you have to go over later. “What are we even doing today?” 

Jeno plops on your couch, arms behind his head. “I don’t know. A movie?”

You hide your grimace, immediately thinking of how much time would be wasted watching one, or possibly even more if jeno was feeling it. In the one to two hours of a movie, you could be done with chapter two and three-

“Y/n??”

Your head snaps up. “Yes?”

“Are you gonna come over here or just stand there in the kitchen all day?” he teases.

You shake your head to clear the fog and join jeno on the couch. Scrolling through the options, you automatically snuggle up next to him, eyes blearily watching the moving tv screen. 

He decides on this one animated film, and you’re too drained to pay attention so you simply nod and let the movie begin. But even though you try your best to focus on the storyline and what’s currently going on, your mind keeps wandering off to other, more boring things- your studies, obviously. 

The number of chapters you covered, the slight of chapters you have left, how long you would have to stay up to finish going through your planned amount of information  -all the stressful thoughts swirling in your head, and it only exhausts you more. 

You let out a sigh, and jeno turns to you. “Are you okay? You’ve been sighing nonstop since we started the movie.” 

You clear your throat, biting back a yawn. “Oh- yeah, sorry. I won’t do it anymore.”

Your boyfriend stiffens but doesn’t say anything, attention returning to the flashing screen in front of him. 

You did try. You really did. But your eyelids keep drifting shut and your head keeps slowly lolling forward and snapping back up -it’s not until your forehead accidentally knocks against jeno’s chest that he finally speaks up again. 

“Y/n. You need to take a break and get some sleep. Now.” His tone is sharp and commanding. 

You snap your eyes back open, vision blurry. “No- it’s fine. I’m good, let’s keep watching.” 

The immediate switch in the air is scary, jeno swiftly reaching for the remote and pausing the movie to look at you dead straight in the eyes before setting it back down with a loud, clattering noise. “You need to rest. I can tell from how tired you look, and I know you’ve been studying for so long, so why is it that hard to just relax for a little?” 

You groan, distress breaking through. “I can’t, okay? You already understand how stressful school is and how important my upcoming tests are. I know you’re just trying to be kind and thoughtful but-“ 

“But what?” He cuts you off, the frustration he’s been hiding for a while finally revealing itself. “Taking a rest from burning your brain out isn’t going to kill you, y/n.”

Your hands at your side clench and unclench, a wave of emotions overcoming you. “I know that. But I can’t afford to have a break now.” Everything suddenly feels overwhelming, and your voice comes out strained and uncontrolled. 

“I’m almost there, jeno. It’s so close, and if I stop now, I’ll feel like a failure.”

He laughs a short and echoing bark. “How do you think I feel? I was trying to brush everything aside and act like it was all fine, but it’s certainly not when you’re like this.”

You falter. 

Jeno gets up, making direct eye contact with you even though his body is trembling and his voice is shaky. 

“I spent the past week just lying in bed and worrying about you- if you were eating okay and getting enough sleep. I was constantly texting you reminders to take care of yourself, only to find out from your friend that you turned your phone completely off.  Do you know how shitty of a person I was feeling? I didn’t want to be a distraction to you because I know how much you care about your grades, but it’s killing me, y/n. I want to be there for you, but instead, I end up feeling like the worst boyfriend in the world.” 

He shudders before continuing,

“And then I come here, brushing off all my worries since I was super excited to finally be with you after so long, and then I have to see you in such a bad condition. Barely taking care of yourself, barely even surviving on your own just so you can pass your exams that I know you’ll already do well on no matter what. As your boyfriend who wants to help and be here for you, do you know how much my heart hurts?”  

He finishes, but not before wiping away the frustrated tears that appeared in his angry rant.

It takes one beat -two beats, before you immediately spring up, rushing towards jeno and throwing your arms around him. 

He accepts it, burying his face into your shoulder and wrapping his arms tightly around your waist. 

The guilt courses through your body, and you understand. The consequences of your actions hit you, hard, and you know you deserve it all. Jeno just wants to know that you’re here. You’re here with him.

“I’m really sorry,” you murmur into his hair, “I’m really, really sorry, jeno.” 

You hate the fact that you can still feel the slight wetness of his tears soaking through your-technically his- shirt. You pull back, looking straight into his eyes to make sure he knows you’re being genuine.

“I promise to pay more attention to myself, and I promise I won’t ever let it happen again. I won’t shut you out anymore... and you can come over to take care of me whenever you want, okay?”

Jeno slowly nods, and you softly wipe away the corners of his red eyes of any wetness.

He pulls you closer to him again, inhaling your scent one more time, and you finally let yourself go. 

After about a minute of just enjoying each other’s warm embrace - one that you feel like you haven’t felt in so long- you allow yourself to smile and pull back just enough to place a kiss on his cheek. 

“Was my baby just lonely and missed me too much?” you sing in a soft voice. He lets out a disgruntled noise in response, shaking his head against your body. 

But you both know what the answer is.

“C’mon, let’s go to bed.” You tug his arm easily to your room, putting off your studies, at least for today.

“You’re really gonna take a break this time?” Jeno asks, eyeing you carefully. 

You grin. “Yes? Besides, I know you’re always down for cuddles.” 

You drag him to the bed, taking his arms and wrapping them around your body as exhaustion quickly fills you. 

You fight yourself to stay awake as long as you can to enjoy jeno’s presence, but he notices and hugs you even closer if possible, whispering softly, “Go to sleep, baby. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

And before you finally drift off, you sleepily murmur, “I love you, jeno. Like, a lot.” 

Even after you fall asleep in his embrace, he stares down at you, softly kissing your forehead.

I love you too. 

bonus bc i adore jeno too much :

“Jeno- for the last time, you’re not a bad boyfriend.”

“I know.... but-“

You shut him up with a quick kiss.

“You’re the sweetest.”

Another kiss.

“Funniest.”

Peck.

“Handsomest.” 

His ever so growing smile freezes. Jeno looks at you, a surprisingly solemn look on his face. 

You raise an eyebrow, confused. 

“......even more than Nam joo hyuk?”

Ah. He had to go for the favorite actor. 

You swallow, battling an intense internal war before begrudgingly nodding. “Okayyy...fine. You are.”  

He crosses his arms. “I’m what?”

You roll your eyes, whining. “I already said it!”

Jeno shakes his head firmly. “Say the whole thing.”

You take a deep breath in, internally apologizing to your beloved actor. “......you, lee -verymuchanannoyingbaby- jeno, are more handsome than Nam joo hyuk.” Your sentence is finished swiftly in one breath, words slurring together. It actually pains you to say that. But it’s good enough for your boyfriend. 

Jeno delights in the squeal you let out when he picks you up in his arms to spin you around. 

“Fuck yeah- take that, nam joo hyuk!”

ღ

a/n: anyways im going to go hide away and cry over jeno now ^^

[anonquack]

| Chef Q |

Alex Quackity x Reader, Oneshot, Requested by: @anotherdreamsimp !!

Word Count: 3328

Warnings: Some curse words, mainly just some fluff !

Summary: Quackity hasn't been streaming recently, and decides to come back with a cooking stream. Featuring you as a special guest.

Lately, Quackity had been studying like crazy for his final exams. That meant no streaming. He'd take a break from it to focus entirely on his studies. Absolutely nothing else.

He claimed to have his priorities straight, and had the goal to pass all exams with high scores in order to keep his grades looking wonderful.

This also meant there was rarely any time spent between you two, beside the occasional snack breaks you forced him to take so he wouldn't die at his desk.

It was tough not being able to show him a random video you'd found on the timeline, or walking up to chat with him whenever you wanted, but you knew this was very important to him. So you gladly supported him and offered as much support as possible.

Thankfully, all of his studying paid off and he passed with flying colors. A teacher had even informed him that he'd received the top score for one of his final exams.

You were the first person to hear the news, and you couldn't help but feel the adoration coursing through your body at how excited he was to tell you. Jumping up and down and shaking you lightly as he told you about his scores.

You'd offered to take him out for a celebratory meal, to treat him for all his hard work and also since you missed the fun outings with him. There was no way he was saying no to that.

—

After a day out and about, you two had made your way back home. Both of you were pleasantly full, having enjoyed the meal and also dessert. His request, for "doing so well on his finals." How could you possibly deny him that?

You both were also very content, a warmth and comfort surrounding the air around you two the entirety of the outing.

One thing that was impossible not to notice was how he'd become exceptionally clingy as soon as you two were out of the car. Gripping onto your hand tightly as you singlehandedly unlocked the front door.

"I've missed you so much these past few days." He murmered as you finally got the door to open and pulled him inside.

"I've missed you too." You hummed softly. It was always nice hearing him say these things. You locked the front door, and gently pulled at his hand to lead him back to your room.

It didn't take much of a pull for him to willingly follow you. "Can we cuddle or something?" He asked softly, almost as if he was a bit embarrassed to ask. You turned to him and gave him a grin, along with a small nod.

You'd missed him, even if you two had been in the same apartment this whole time. You'd especially been missing cuddles with him, considering he studied pretty much all day. There wasn't enough time being shared together so you gladly agreed to some cuddling.

Sooner than later, you two found yourselves in your pajamas, laying in bed peacefully as you scrolled through tiktok, screen tilted in order for him to see as well. It really was so nice finally being able to be this close to him again.

After some time, you found yourself looking through tweets on the timeline. A certain one caught his attention and he asked you to stop scrolling.

It was a tweet from a fan, saying they missed Quackity since he hadn't streamed in two weeks, but that overall they hoped his tests were going fine.

"Has it really been 2 weeks?" He asked aloud as he clicked on it and looked through the replies, all agreeing with the original tweet.

"Mm.. two and a half, I think." You answered, looking at him curiously as a guilty expression appeared on his face.

"Hey." You called out once you saw the expression wasn't leaving. He turned to you with a small frown.

"It's fine. You had a good reason for being gone so long. I'm sure they understand. Plus, you'll be back soon, right?" You asked, to which he nodded before sitting up from the cuddling position you two were in.

You sat up as well, noticing how his eyes widened slightly, and a small smile made its way onto his face.

"I just got a great idea." He exclaimed. "Y'know, I was going to just spend the next few days with you since I missed you but– how about we stream something together? That way I can enjoy both, and the fans get a stream too."

You stared at him in surprise. The fans did know he was dating someone, but you rarely ever came out on streams, not because he didn't want you to but because you didn't deem it to be necessary.

The few times you had been on, you'd received tons of love and support from the chat, so you didn't think anything too bad would happen if you were to appear on his stream again.

"What did you have in mind?" You asked curiously. The other times you'd been on were him playing horror games and an extremely scuffed IRL stream.

"Well.. I haven't done a cooking stream in a while." He began, but you quickly shook your head.

"Oh no. Don't tell me you're going to make us eat some monstrosity‐ like your past cooking streams." You visibly shuddered at the thought. You remember having to help clean up the mess after. And no matter how funny it had been, the actual cleanup was awful.

"No no– I was thinking maybe we do a serious one, y'know? Chat hasn't really been able to see my cooking abilities, and well.. I'd say I am pretty good at it." He grinned. He was unfortunately right.

You relaxed at the mention of it being a 'serious' cooking stream. It could never really be too serious when it came to Quackity, but it meant not eating dog food or poorly made pizza. You were in.

"So we'll make an actual.. edible.. meal?" You questioned again, just to be sure. To which he nodded.

"Yeah, and we can enjoy that meal after. Like a date. What do you say?" He was beaming. It was his creativity rolling in. And he was probably so proud of himself for finding a way to spend time with you yet also give chat the stream content they'd been missing out on.

"Alright. I'm in."

You hadn't seen him this eager to get out of bed and head to the grocery store ever before. Chat was really in for a fun stream tomorrow.

—

He'd tweeted it out several hours before you two planned on starting the stream that he'd be streaming today with a special guest, and that he had his chef hat ready to go.

As you scrolled through Twitter you could see the timeline freaking out over 'COOKING STREAM' and 'SPECIAL GUEST'. Lots of discussion over who it was.

You couldn't help but feel a bit bad since the fans were probably speculating that he'd met up with his online friends, but in reality it was just you. In that case, you'd try your best to make this a fun stream, and your presence an enjoyable one.

As the time for the stream to start got closer, you helped him set the ingredients you'd be using onto the table, in a way where it was in perfect view for the stream to see and follow along if they wished.

"We're supposed to start in 5." You called out as he slipped his beanie on, fixing the few hair strands that were sticking out a bit too much.

He smiled and made his way over to you, cupping your face and giving you a small kiss. "I'm so excited to do some cooking with you. They're all going to love you."

You couldn't help the warm feeling that spread over your chest at his words. It was like introducing you all over again. He'd recently gained a lot of new followers, and that meant they probably had no idea who you were. Always fun going through that again.

He dealt with some last minute editing and placing, checking all ingredients were there and that everything was set, before hitting the 'Go Live' button.

It didn't take long for the viewers to increase after the tweet notification went out, and the starting soon screen was the only thing really protecting you two from the roaring chat.

Everyone was dying to know what was going on, who the special guest was, and whether this would be yet another scuffed cooking stream.

You stood behind the camera as the starting soon screen finally disappeared and he began greeting the viewers, thanking all the subs coming in, and eventually also giving them a little update on how he'd done on his exams.

You felt so proud as you watched him boast about how his studying had paid off, and how he talked about being the happiest he'd been in a while. He deserved all of it. And chat thought so too.

After some rambling about his test scores and what they'd be cooking today, chat finally became too impatient and asked for a reveal of the special guest.

"Fine. Fine. Since you guys are so fucking impatient." He huffed, watching as chat flew by, telling him to 'get on with it' and to 'TELL US WHO IT IS'. You couldn't help but laugh at the relationship he had with his chat. Always bullying each other but usually knowing when to stop and send love.

"I've actually had them on multiple other streams, not so much recently.. but they've been on my horror streams.. some IRL streams.. and they are really really special to me, chat!" He said with a big smile. Some of chat was confused as to who he was referring to, while older fans began to question if it was YOU. They were very smart.

"Some of the viewers might not know of them, so this is like I'm introducing them to chat all over again! Come over here." He finally directed the last part at you. You couldn't help but feel the sudden spike in anxiety, but chose to ignore it as you smiled back at him and headed into the frame beside him.

With a small wave and a greeting, you watched as chat completely broke. A mess of question marks and your name being spread in chat. You couldn't help but laugh. It was an overwhelmingly positive reaction as Quackity explained to new viewers that you were his partner, and that older fans were already aware of this for a while now.

The amount of 'y/n our beloved' and people asking if quackity's partner was single were abundant in chat, and you couldn't help but feel stupid for thinking the newer viewers would hate you or something.

Having the approval of Quackity's chat also made you feel lighter, it made it easier to let go and just enjoy the cooking stream.

You two began to explain what you'd be cooking to chat, and you made it very clear that he actually had to try and cook this time, to which chat agreed wholeheartedly.

He'd taken a recipe from his mom for one of his favorite meals, one he hadn't had in a while. He explained to chat that he wanted to see how well you and him could recreate it until you two took a trip to visit his family.

"Hopefully we don't disappoint her too much." You mumbled as he placed the chef hat onto your head, fixing it so you looked presentable.

"She can't be because we're actually gonna try." He stated before beginning to explain to chat what the meal was since many of them might not have even heard of it before. As he did that, you began to set aside the ingredients you wouldn't be needing until later.

After everything had been explained, it was time to get cooking. His concentration to try and recreate his mom's recipe was adorable, and chat agreed on that too.

This stream wasn't loud and messy like the others, but it was still enjoyable in its own way. Quackity was radiating such wonderful light and energy, cracking jokes and genuinely enjoying himself. It was all thanks to the stress and worries being lifted off his back. You really enjoyed seeing him like this.

Chat was able to follow along later if they wanted with how organized you guys were being, but the banter he had with you and chat made it entertaining to any casual viewer. He always found a way to make it fun.

Not only that, but chat was able to see a new side of him. The Chef Q side. More often than not, a message would roll in saying they were amazed by how good Quackity actually was at cooking. You could already imagine some of the edits that'd come out of the stream.

His mom had told you two beforehand how long it would normally take to cook this meal, and it was perfect for a usual stream and some extras where you two would actually get to try the food.

There was moments where chat was warning you two that the food would burn or that he'd accidentally set the kitchen on fire, but overall you were enjoying yourself so much.

And chat was enjoying your presence too!

By the time you two managed to finish the meal, you both plopped down onto the chairs he'd set for the supposed 'breaks'.

He had some of the sauce on his cheek and his apron, but still managed to look good. He'd also smeared sauce onto your cheek, and at this point some strands were sticking out of your hat in such a messy way since the last few minutes had been rather hectic, food almost burning and all.

"Chat. We did it." He called out before cheering loudly and clapping his hands, to which you swiftly followed along, chat beginning to cheer as well.

"I think its only right that we try what we made, don't you think?" You ask, to which chat quickly types YES in all caps, wanting to see the finished product and also find out if it even tastes good.

Quackity let out a chuckle as he smiled over at you. "Not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous. We haven't even seen it so it might just be black. Burnt to a crisp. Or what if it tastes like shit? Y/N i don't know what I'm going to do if the food tastes like shit. Thats what we're supposed to eat on our date." He whined a bit.

You shook your head, "It'll be great. And if not, we can just order takeout. It'll be fine big q." You smiled reassuringly. Chat became a frenzy of calling him cute for the state he was in, declaring their love for how supportive and kind you were, and melting over your relationship.

Before you knew it, you were both revealing the meal to chat, and pleasantly surprised by the results. The presentation of the meal itself looked really good. It looked like what you'd expect from such a plate. Quackity had even gone as far as saying it looked similar to how his mom made it.

You gasped, smiling in surprise at him. "Really? Did we really do that good of a job." His face turned into one of regret, and a long segment of silence engulfed you two before he nodded hesitantly. You both broke out into a fit of laughter.

"Okay okay, seriously. Chat's waiting for you to try it." You placed a fork in front of him, earning a loud scoff from him.

"They want to see you try it as well." He mirrored your actions and you gladly took the fork.

"Alright. First bite. Let's see if all our hard work paid off! Chat, are you ready?" You grinned and watched as the 'YES's started rolling in, some viewers telling you both to get the fuck on with it, and others gushing about how the food actually looked good. You could only hope.

You watched as he began to dig in, mouth full and chewing slowly, truly trying to savor the first bite. You did the same, and the stream was silent for the first time in a while. Chat was in suspense as well, question marks and incoherent rambling rolling through the chat.

"Chat..." he finally spoke after swallowing his bite. "Chat. It's." He paused before showing a small smile. "It's not bad at all. I like it. It's good."

You nodded your head in agreement, "It's nowhere near as good as the ones your mom makes.. but I think you and I make a pretty good team."

"I think so too. And not just for cooking." He grinned, earning himself a playful eye roll and shy smile from you.

The stream proceeded to you two feeding each other bites of the meal, asking each other if it was good, and just enjoying yourselves for a bit longer before Quackity deemed it was time to end.

"Chat !! Thank you so much for tuning in and watching this.. actually coordinated cooking stream. I had so much fun and well, I ate yummy food. I'm happy." He laughed, thanking a few more gifters before doing his signature Bye, and ending stream.

He hurried over to your side, pulling you into a hug. "Thank you so much. I truly had fun. And they definitely loved you, but not nearly as much as I do."

You chuckled at his words, giving him a small kiss before cupping his face. "I had a lot of fun too. Thank you for always being so nice to me." You paused, observing how cute he looked with his chef hat still on. "I think I like Chef Alex." You reached over and fixed his hat a bit.

"Yeah? Should I keep it on?" He teased, coming a bit closer. You couldn't help the warmth that spread over your cheeks at how blunt he was.

"Yes, but you need to help me clean this up. Maybe after we finish the food, hm? C'mon. Don't think I forgot our deal."

He whined, already feeling too lazy, but he quickly followed after you as you two sat down to actually eat. Still wearing the silly attire he'd bought for the stream, far too unbothered to change just yet.

Through a mouthful he asked, "Cuddles and a nap after we're done?"

You smiled and nodded, to which he gave a silent cheer. That was enough motivation to get you both up and cleaning after finishing the meal.

—

Wrapped in each other's arms again. He couldn't seem to get enough of it. You were once again scrolling through Twitter, this time scrolling through his indirects, wanting to see what people were saying about the stream.

He'd ask you to stop to read certain ones he found funny, and even 'aww'd at the ones he found cute, mainly those talking about how cute you two looked.

Surely enough, there was already edits using the clips of him cooking, and you'd openly admitted to him that he looked "so fucking good." To which he responded by cuddling closer, if even humanly possible.

Quackity found the numerous clips of you two feeding each other to be the best part of the tweets. You two rewatched, saved, liked as many as you could before he became tired.

And with that, he was pulling you close, and leaving small kisses anywhere he could on your face. Eventually, his chest slowly rose and fell as he entered a deep slumber. You smiled, glad to see he was finally getting the rest he deserved.

"Goodnight, Alex." You whispered, leaving a small kiss on his cheek before closing your eyes as well.

[onedivinemisfit]

2021 Creator Self-Love Extravaganza!

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 favorite works (fics, art, edits, etc.) you’ve created this year and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you’ve brought into the world in 2021. If you don’t have five published works, that’s fine! Include ideas/drafts/whatever you like that you’ve worked on/thought about, and talk a little about them instead! Remember, this is all about self-love and positive enthusiasm, so fuck the rules if you need to. Have fun, and tag as many fellow creators as you like so they can share the love! <3

Tagged by @bubblesthemonsterartist

Weirdly enough I am less reflected over this year than I was the one previous. In 2020, I had goals. In 2021, I just DRUMMED ON as long as my inspiration would let me! I indulged, I think, for the most part. 😂 However, looking back, I daresay I am proud. I have experimented more than I realized, and my pieces look rather good for it~

Year total: 184 artworks, 1 gif

1. Obiyuki Almost Kiss This would be one of many artworks I would scream into Joanna’s dms about; one of those THIS HAS TO BE GOOD OKAY-type artwork. The Concubine!AU means a lot to me, and the fic she and Jen wrote even moreso. This artwork was the first time where I applied 3D models during the sketching stage, and a perspective grid for… well, that’s rather self-explanatory yes?

2. “When doth mine husband return to me?” The first in what would be a series of “Annie says she’s gonna sketch, then 30 hours later has to admit she lied”. LOL. One of many redraws this year, I tested new ways of both coloring and shading with this one - not to mention the lineless background that I was mighty proud of, for being entirely made up on the spot. I feel like this artwork marked the spot where I got more into harmonizing colors, while also playing with stronger contrasts.

3. Miss me when the ships sail West Omigosh this one. I made a couple comics this year and this is my fave. Again, lots of focus on vibrant colors - I find my style benefits from sacrificing some realism in favor of impressionistic, striking scenery. Comics are also challenging, bc you know that in order to tell the story well, you have to choose the right panels, and I have never been good at minimalism. This was also my first venture into chromatic aberration! Which has quickly become a favorite!

4. Now and then, forever the same While this artwork isn’t really impressive in its own right - it was a quick sketch, where color setting and atmosphere was the most important, to instantly tell a story. But. BUT. I made a gif! For the first time in ten whole years, I went back to try and animate something. It was a lot of work, ngl, but it really paid off in the end, wow.

5. Wheel of Fortune Ngl, that whole week went by in a flurry. I made seven pieces from scratch in exactly 7x24 days. THAT is a record in its own right. This one was perhaps my favorite of the lot, for it came to me so naturally. And it felt like I applied all the news tricks I’d learned this year into a single piece, and best of all, I got to try one of my favorite palettes!

BONUS: Ladies of the Witcher AU Just because I can, and because I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t! These aren’t even about quality or detailwork, but the fact that I still remain so proud of these designs. Eleven actually badass-looking girls and women, none who can be mistaken for one another, and whose energy is entirely her own.

If I can preserve even half of the subconscious energy I’ve channeled towards art this year, for next year, I will be overjoyed! Here’s to hoping~

Tagging: hmmmm, my darling @jaqdaw-art, @nokaru, @qob-vrisk and @ccprovolomies if any of you feel ever so inclined 😘