#its only a weekly quiz

[nessvn]

i just need to make it to shabbat i just need to make it to shabbat i just need

[writingsoftarnishedsilver]

Witch Weekly | Sebastian Sallow x OC #19

ahhh ok I sorta love this chapter - I remember doing these quizzes with my friends as a kid, and I just love the idea of ominis and sebastian being roped into it. i hope you all enjoy it as much as i enjoyed writing it <3

Summary: Sebastian and Ominis find Evangeline in the courtyard with her friends. The group convinces everyone to complete Witch Weekly compatibility quiz, leading to humorous teasing and unexpectedly heartfelt revelations.

Words: 4,671

Tags: Not Actually Unrequited Love, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Longing, Unspoken Feelings, Fluff, Friendship

Read more stories about Sebastian and Evangeline

Read on AO3

The late afternoon sunlight poured through the windows of Hogwarts, bathing the stone walls in light. It was the kind of day that practically begged for students to abandon their studies and enjoy the crisp breeze and fresh spring air. Even the Great Hall was quieter than usual, its occupants fewer as most of the school had already fled outside to soak up the warmth after a long winter.

Sebastian walked briskly beside Ominis, the click of their shoes echoing faintly in the castle corridor. His expression was set in a practiced neutrality, but the way his fingers tapped against his thigh betrayed his impatience. It wasn’t until they reached the courtyard doors that he broke the silence.

"She’s been gone all day," Sebastian muttered, his voice low but tight with irritation.

Ominis smirked faintly, as if he’d been waiting for this moment. He tilted his head slightly while pulling out an enchanted pocket watch and replied, "Eight hours and thirty-three minutes."

Sebastian froze mid-step, whipping his head toward his friend. "What?"

"You started shifting in your seat during breakfast. By lunch, you kept glancing at the door every five minutes. And now, after I’ve successfully endured an entire afternoon of your brooding, here we are," Ominis said calmly, a trace of humor in his tone. "Eight hours and thirty-three minutes. Impressive restraint, all things considered."

Sebastian’s brows knitted together, his cheeks warming. "You’re insufferable."

"And you’re predictable," Ominis countered, not missing a beat. "Though I will admit, I thought you’d cave closer to seven hours. Perhaps you’re learning patience after all."

Sebastian’s glare deepened, but the warmth of his blush betrayed him. "I’m not ‘caving.' I’m just saying it’s unusual, that’s all," he muttered. "She’s always around. It feels...off."

"Yes, terribly unusual," Ominis said with mock seriousness. "Imagine someone spending time without you, Sebastian. The audacity."

"Don’t you think it’s odd, though?" Sebastian pressed. "She didn’t say anything about being busy, and she’s not one to miss Crossed Wands."

Ominis let out a low hum, as if considering it. "Not particularly. But I am enjoying watching you tie yourself into knots over it."

Sebastian shot him a glare. "I’m not—" He cut himself off with a frustrated growl. "Forget it."

"I couldn’t if I tried," Ominis said with a faint chuckle.

The two descended a short set of stone steps, emerging into the courtyard where the late afternoon sun cast shadows across the grass. The scent of budding flowers hung in the air, mingling with the faint chatter of students relaxing under the trees.

And then Sebastian heard it—a familiar, melodic laugh that stopped him mid-step.

His gaze flicked toward the source, and there she was.

Evangeline sat in the middle of the lawn with her friends, a blanket spread beneath them, surrounded by scattered plates of pastries and glossy magazines. Her legs were tucked beneath her, the sunlight catching the loose strands of her hair as she leaned back on her hands, laughing at something Cressida had said. She looked completely at ease, as though she hadn’t just spent the entire day missing from Sebastian’s life without explanation.

He felt the tension in his chest ease at the sight of her, only to be replaced by a different kind of weight—a quiet, restless ache he’d been trying (and failing) to ignore for... well, since the day they met.

Beside him, Ominis paused as well, tilting his head toward Sebastian. "Well, there’s your answer. Mystery solved. Shall we go, or are you planning to stand here staring all day?"

Rolling his eyes, Sebastian’s feet carried him forward, and Ominis trailed behind with an air of amusement. The laughter from the group grew louder as they approached, mingling with the soft rustle of leaves overhead and the distant chatter of other students enjoying the courtyard.

"Evangeline Sterling," Sebastian called, injecting as much casual confidence into his voice as he could muster, "you’ve been suspiciously absent today."

Evangeline looked up, her hazel eyes sparkling as they caught his. "Did you miss me?" she teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Sebastian opened his mouth, ready with a sharp retort, but Ominis spoke first.

"It's been eight hours and thirty-three minutes since he saw you last," he said, his voice dry as parchment. "He’s been keeping track."

Evangeline’s eyebrows lifted in amused surprise, her smile widening. "Has he now?"

Sebastian groaned, glaring at Ominis. "I have not—"

"He has," Ominis interrupted smoothly, settling himself onto the edge of the blanket with a casualness that made it clear he had no intention of defending Sebastian.

The other girls, catching onto the conversation, began to laugh. Imelda leaned forward, her sharp grin full of mischief. "Well, I’d say he earned an invite then. Sit down, Sallow. We’re in the middle of something."

Sebastian hesitated, his gaze flicking to Evangeline, who patted an empty spot on the blanket beside her. With a smile, he lowered himself to the grass, the tension in his chest tightening as soon as he was near her.

"So," he asked, glancing at the scattered magazines, "what’s all this about?"

Cressida beamed and held up a Witch Weekly, the shiny cover promising a "guide to perfect compatibility”.

Natty chuckled, "We’re doing a quiz," she said. "It’s supposed to tell you about your ideal romantic match."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "And you’re taking it seriously?"

"Why not?" Evangeline said, leaning toward him conspiratorially. "It’s magic, after all."

"Highly questionable logic," he muttered, though his curiosity was piqued.

"Don’t act like you’re above it," Nerida chimed in, nudging him with her elbow. "You’re doing it whether you like it or not."

Sebastian’s brow furrowed, but before he could protest, Cressida thrust a quiz into his hands. "There’s no escaping," she said brightly. "Even Ominis is playing."

Sebastian turned to Ominis, who sat with his arms crossed, looking as though he deeply regretted ever agreeing to sit down next to Poppy. "I was coerced," Ominis deadpanned.

Sebastian sighed, staring down at the page in front of him. The parchment smelled faintly of roses, as if Witch Weekly knew exactly how to market itself to dreamy-eyed witches. He sighed heavily, shooting a glance at Ominis, who looked as though he might murder someone with his quill.

"Fine," Sebastian muttered, "but I’m not sharing my results."

"You say that now," Imelda quipped, passing around the inkwell. "But you won't have a choice; we'll figure out who you're pining after."

"I’m not pining after anyone," Sebastian retorted quickly, too quickly, which only earned him a round of laughter. He shifted uncomfortably, wishing he’d stayed in the library. Well—no. He wouldn’t have found Evangeline there. But now here he was, surrounded by giggling girls and faced with a magazine quiz designed to unearth his secrets.

He barely noticed when Evie handed him a quill until her fingers brushed his, the fleeting touch sending an involuntary shiver up his spine. His gaze dropped to the quill in his hand. It was hers. He knew because she always used this type—sleek black with a faint shimmer of gold along the edges.

"You don’t have to look so miserable," Evangeline teased, her voice light as she leaned closer, a smile dancing across her lips. "It’s just a bit of fun."

Sebastian grumbled something noncommittal, focusing instead on the quiz. The first question stared back at him,

What’s your ideal magical date?

A) A candlelit dinner at a wizarding bistro.

B) A thrilling broom race across the countryside.

C) A cozy evening at home, brewing potions together.

D) A spontaneous adventure—perhaps dragon-watching or artifact hunting.

Sebastian hesitated, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Evangeline, who was already scribbling away on her quiz with an easy, carefree smile. She’d probably pick D, he thought. Adventure suited her—fearless and bright-eyed as she always was. He could still picture her standing at his side during their countless escapades, laughing at his jokes or throwing him an exasperated look when he got them into trouble.

He circled D.

2. How do you respond to an admirer?

A) Shy and flustered.

B) Bold and flirtatious.

C) Cool and indifferent, playing hard to get.

D) Awkward but honest.

Sebastian almost snorted aloud at the options. None of them seemed to fit him entirely, though he imagined his usual cocky attitude might land him under B. But then again, wasn’t that all an act? When it really mattered, when the stakes weren’t just idle flirtation, he felt more like a mess of poorly hidden nerves.

His eyes flicked to Evangeline again, who had moved on to the next page of her quiz, her brow furrowed in concentration. He could almost hear her voice teasing him about this later: Awkward but honest, hmm? That doesn’t sound like you at all, Sallow.

He hesitated, then circled B.

The next question asked which magical creature best represented his personality, and Sebastian frowned as he read the options, his quill hovering indecisively. A Niffler? Absolutely not—he could already imagine Ominis and Imelda taunting him about that one for weeks. Phoenix sounded noble, but a bit too dramatic even for his liking, and Thestral felt too melancholic. His gaze landed on Hippogriff, and his lips quirked upward. It felt... right.

Loyal to a fault, fiercely proud, occasionally to the point of arrogance. It fit him well enough, and he couldn’t help but think of Evangeline’s voice scolding him after one of their many arguments. You need to stop thinking you’re invincible, Sebastian. It’s exhausting.

He circled B, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

As the quiz went on, Sebastian found himself unexpectedly drawn in, the faint absurdity of the questions overshadowed by the way they seemed to linger in his mind. He’d approached the entire exercise with his usual sarcasm, but with each response, something tugged at him—a quiet, restless feeling he couldn’t quite pin down. The questions weren’t profound on the surface, yet they had a way of making him pause longer than he should, each one prodding at thoughts and feelings he’d spent forever trying to shove aside.

When reached the final question, his hand froze mid-motion, and the faint chatter of the group faded into the background. The question stared back at him, its words clear and deliberate, almost as if the parchment itself were daring him to be honest.

What’s most important to you in a partner?

Sebastian let out a slow breath, his eyes scanning the options again and again. At first glance, the answer seemed simple. Someone who challenges me. Evangeline did that better than anyone else. She pushed him constantly—whether it was in Crossed Wands duels, during their shared adventures, or even in simple conversations where her pointed remarks kept him sharp. There was no question that she challenged him. But… was that all?

He considered the second option. Someone who understands me completely. That one carried a weight that made his chest feel tight. He wasn’t sure if anyone fully understood him—not really. But if anyone came close, it was her. She didn’t just understand his motives; she understood his silences, his deflections, the way he avoided certain topics with everyone else but couldn’t seem to avoid with her. She knew him in ways that unnerved him.

His quill hovered over C. Someone who makes me laugh, even when things are tough. He smirked to himself, remembering how often Evangeline managed to coax a laugh out of him, even on his worst days. Whether it was her dry humor, her wit, or her outright stubbornness, she had a way of lightening the heaviest moments. But laughter wasn’t enough, was it? Not when there was so much more to what he felt for her.

Finally, his gaze settled on D. Someone who sees me—the real me. His chest tightened further as the words sank in. Of all the options, this one felt the most dangerous. He didn’t like the idea of being seen—not really, not in the way that laid everything bare. Yet somehow, Evangeline had always managed to do it. She saw the parts of him he tried to keep hidden, the parts even he wasn’t proud of. And instead of turning away, she stayed. She challenged him, understood him, made him laugh—but most of all, she saw him.

The quill dipped toward the page, his hand moving almost instinctively, as if there were never any other choice.

He circled D.

Sebastian sat back, letting out a slow breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. His heart was beating faster than he liked, and he couldn’t help but glance sideways at Evangeline, who was still focused on her own quiz, completely oblivious to the small emotional upheaval happening just a foot away. The sunlight caught in her hair as she shifted slightly, and Sebastian looked away quickly, focusing on the faint smudge of ink on his thumb as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

"All done?" Her voice broke through his thoughts then, warm and lilting. Her hazel eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her smile was so disarming that for a moment, all he could do was nod.

"Finally," Imelda groaned, plucking the quiz from his hands before he could protest. "Let’s see what kind of mess you’ve made here."

Sebastian tried to snatch it back, but Imelda danced out of reach, flipping through the answers with an exaggerated gasp. "Oh, this is good," she declared, her grin wide and mischievous. "This is really good."

"Imelda," Sebastian growled, his voice low with warning.

Imelda waved the quiz in the air, delighting in Sebastian’s growing frustration as he leaned forward, trying to grab it. "Hold your hippogriffs, Sallow," she said with mock exasperation. "You’re about to witness magic in action."

Sebastian groaned, running a hand down his face. "What are you on about now?"

Cressida, already giggling, produced her own quiz page, which had been folded neatly into the shape of a bird. "You fold the parchment into a shape," she explained, her tone sing-song as she turned the little paper creation in her fingers. "Then you tap it with your wand to ‘submit’ it to Witch Weekly. Once it’s done calculating, it unfolds to reveal your perfect match."

Sebastian blinked. "That’s... ridiculous."

"It’s enchanted, Sallow," Nerida chimed in. "Show some respect for centuries of matchmaking magic."

"Matchmaking rubbish, more like," he muttered, earning a flick on the arm from Imelda.

"Don’t be such a spoil-sport," she said, already folding his quiz with nimble fingers. She worked quickly, creasing the parchment into a sharp, angular star. With a flick of her wand, the folded paper glowed softly before beginning to quiver in her hands.

Sebastian’s stomach twisted as the parchment unfolded itself. The neat creases smoothed out, and glowing gold ink began to appear across the page, forming a short paragraph in flowing, elegant script. Imelda leaned closer, squinting theatrically at the words.

"Oho!" she said, her grin practically feral. "This is juicy."

Sebastian snatched the parchment from her hands before she could read it aloud. "Not a chance," he growled, his eyes scanning the glowing text. But the moment his gaze landed on the words, his breath caught in his throat.

Your perfect match is someone who pushes you to grow beyond your limits, who sees potential in you even when you doubt yourself. They understand the words you don’t say, the silences you keep, and the weight you carry alone. They bring lightness to your heaviest days, their laughter a remedy you didn’t know you needed. Fiercely loyal and unapologetically bold, they possess a warmth that draws you in, steady and unyielding, like a fire on the coldest nights. Your match sees you—the best and worst of you, your flaws and your strengths—and without hesitation, they choose to stay.

Sebastian stared at the words, his chest tightening as though the parchment itself had reached into him and pulled something loose. He read it again, his grip tightening. Every word felt like a mirror, reflecting back at him what he already knew but couldn’t say. It was Evangeline. It had always been her.

"Well?" Imelda prompted, her voice cutting through his haze. "What does it say? Don’t keep us waiting."

"It says it’s none of your bloody business," Sebastian snapped, folding the parchment hastily and shoving it into his pocket.

Imelda crossed her arms, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "Oh, come on, Sallow. Don’t be such a baby."

"Ooooh," Nerida drawled, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "It must be something really scandalous if he’s acting like this."

"Maybe it said his match is someone who hates Quidditch," Cressida chimed in, feigning a gasp. "Oh, the horror!"

Sebastian groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Merlin’s beard, you’re all insufferable."

Before the teasing could escalate, Evangeline spoke, her voice cutting through the noise like a soft breeze. "Alright, that’s enough." Her tone was light but firm, her hazel eyes glancing around the group before landing on Sebastian. "If he doesn’t want to share, leave him be."

Sebastian shot her a quick look of gratitude, but his relief was short-lived as she added, "Besides, I’ll go next."

The group turned toward her in unison, the shift in attention immediate. "Really?" Imelda asked, her grin widening. "You’ll actually share yours?"

Evangeline nodded, leaning back on her hands with an easy smile. "Sure. Why not? It’s just a silly quiz, after all."

Sebastian’s stomach flipped as she reached for her folded parchment. The idea of her perfect match suddenly being revealed in front of everyone made his mouth go dry. He didn’t even know why—it wasn’t as if the quiz meant anything... right?

"Here we go," Evangeline said, tapping the folded parchment with with her wand. As the paper smoothed out, the glowing gold ink began to form its paragraph, shimmering softly in the sunlight.

She held the parchment aloft, her tone light and confident as she began to read, clearly treating it like the harmless fun she’d promised.

"Your perfect match is someone charming, competitive, and endlessly protective. They have a fiery spirit that matches your own, challenging you in ways that keep life exciting." Her smile flickered slightly, and her gaze darted briefly to Sebastian before she quickly looked back at the parchment. "Though sometimes infuriatingly stubborn, they are fiercely loyal—always the first to stand by your side, no matter the cost."

Sebastian’s heart thudded painfully in his chest. The words felt too pointed, too familiar, and judging by the faint pink spreading across Evangeline’s cheeks, she thought so too. Her confident tone wavered as she continued.

"They make you laugh when you least expect it, even on the hardest of days. They see past the masks you wear, understanding the parts of you that you don’t share with anyone else. Your match isn’t perfect—they’re messy, complex, and frustrating at times."

Her voice dipped slightly at those last words, the blush deepening as she hesitated. The silence stretched for a heartbeat too long, and Sebastian realized with a jolt that she was debating whether to keep going. Finally, she cleared her throat and pressed on, though her voice was quieter now, almost shy.

"But," she continued, "they make you feel seen, heard, and understood. With them, you’re not just enough—you’re everything. They don’t complete you; they remind you that you were whole all along."

When she finished, Evangeline lowered the parchment slowly, her fingers tightening around it as if she could crumple the damning words into nothing. Her cheeks were flaming now, and she let out a soft, nervous laugh that did nothing to mask her discomfort.

"Well," she said lightly, attempting to recapture her earlier ease, "that’s a bit much, isn’t it?"

The group around her, however, had other ideas.

Imelda was the first to break the silence, her grin practically splitting her face. "A bit much? Merlin’s beard, Sterling, that’s practically a love letter! Are we sure Witch Weekly isn’t using Veritaserum on these things?"

"Fiery spirit, endlessly protective, infuriatingly stubborn…" Nerida drawled, "Wonder who that could be?"

Evangeline balled up the paper and tossed it directly at Nerida, hitting her squarely in the forehead. "Shut up," Evangeline said, her voice somewhere between exasperation and amusement, though the pink on her cheeks hadn’t faded in the slightest.

The group erupted into laughter, Imelda practically doubling over as she smacked her knee. "A direct hit! Maybe your perfect match should be someone who can dodge."

"Or someone who knows when to keep quiet," Evangeline shot back, though her teasing tone was undercut by the way she avoided looking at Sebastian.

Sebastian, for his part, was rooted to the spot, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might echo in the courtyard. He wanted—needed—to convince himself it was just a quiz, a silly enchanted game meant to amuse and nothing more. But he couldn’t. His own results had struck far too close to home, describing Evangeline with such precision that it felt like Witch Weekly had read his mind. And if his results had been accurate, then what about hers?

So maybe it wasn’t such a joke after all.

Sebastian’s mind spun with possibilities while the others continued to laugh and tease. Cressida was reading her result aloud, her voice animated as she tried to downplay how much it sounded like Garreth, much to everyone's amusement. Imelda was cackling as she folded another parchment for the next victim. It was business as usual—except for Sebastian, whose mind was entirely elsewhere.

He risked another glance at Evangeline, who had busied herself tidying up the plates and crumpled bits of parchment around her. Her cheeks were still pink, her fingers moving just a bit too quickly, as though keeping her hands occupied could erase the lingering tension from the air.

He looked away before anyone could catch him staring again, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. He needed to get a grip.

"Alright, Ominis," Imelda’s voice rang out sharply, yanking Sebastian back to reality. "Your turn. You’ve been sitting on that parchment like it’s a classified Ministry document."

Ominis didn’t move. "No, thank you," he replied flatly, crossing his arms. "I’ll pass."

"Oh, no, you don’t!" Nerida said, leaning forward with a grin. "Everyone else has read theirs. You’re not getting out of this."

"Unless," Imelda said, her voice taking on a mockingly thoughtful tone, "you’re afraid of what it’ll say. Maybe your perfect match is Sebastian."

The group erupted into laughter, and even Sebastian couldn’t suppress a smirk. "I think we both know Ominis couldn’t handle someone like me," he quipped.

Ominis sighed loudly, lifting his head with the air of someone long-suffering. "If it will shut you all up," he said, reaching for his parchment, "then fine."

Begrudgingly, he handed it to Natty, who quickly folded it up into a neat little crane, her hands moving deftly as though she’d done this a hundred times before. With a flick of her wand, the crane glowed faintly and began to unfold, the enchanted ink blooming across the page.

Ominis reached for it carefully, holding it in both hands as if it might combust. Then, clearing his throat, he began to read, his voice calm but deliberate.

"Your perfect match is someone who doesn’t let themselves be defined by the things that have happened to them. Instead, they remain hopeful—resilient, even in the face of adversity. They possess a mischievous streak that keeps life interesting, with a cleverness that can outwit even the sharpest minds. But at the same time, they find joy in calm, quiet moments—someone who knows the value of stillness."

His voice softened slightly, the faintest hint of emotion creeping into his otherwise even tone. "With them, silence is never uncomfortable—it’s a comfort, like the steady rhythm of the tide. They offer strength in the gentlest of ways, never demanding, never forceful. They see the world not for what it takes away but for what it still has to offer, and they remind others to do the same."

As Ominis finished, his fingers lingered on the edges of the parchment, folding it carefully as if handling something fragile and precious. He set it beside him with deliberate precision, clasping his hands in his lap. His expression remained calm, but there was a tightness in his posture, a vulnerability he rarely allowed anyone to see.

"Happy now?" he asked, his voice dry but quieter than usual, as if the words had cost him something to say.

The group, usually quick with teasing remarks, sat in a rare silence, the weight of his description settling over them. Even Imelda, who always had a quip ready, seemed caught off guard, blinking as if unsure how to respond.

"Well," Cressida said softly, breaking the quiet with a small smile, "that’s… beautiful."

Imelda recovered quickly, crossing her arms with a huff. "Sounds like a miracle worker. Whoever they are, they’ve got their work cut out for them with you, Ominis."

"Thank you, Imelda," Ominis said dryly, "Your input, as always, is invaluable."

The group laughed, the mood beginning to lift again. But Sebastian didn’t join in. He was too busy studying Ominis, trying to piece together what—or who—could have inspired such a specific, heartfelt result. The words had felt personal, far more personal than some random enchanted description. And while he couldn’t quite place it, something about the way Ominis had spoken left him uneasy.

Indeed, for all the time Sebastian spent with Ominis, the blonde had never once spoken about a girl, nor any boys. In fact, Sebastian had begun to wonder if Ominis even considered such things at all. Relationships, crushes, and fleeting romances seemed to amuse him in theory, but in practice, Ominis never expressed interest in anyone. It wasn’t for lack of attention—girls often found his sharp wit and air of mystery intriguing—but he always deflected their advances with polite indifference.

And yet, the way Ominis had described his "perfect match" sounded so... deliberate. As if the words weren’t crafted by the parchment but drawn from somewhere deeper.

Sebastian’s brow furrowed, his curiosity only growing. Was there someone Ominis hadn’t mentioned? Someone he’d been keeping to himself?

And then, Sebastian caught something out of the corner of his eye—a glance. Brief, almost imperceptible, but unmistakable. Evangeline and Ominis exchanged a look, a flicker of understanding passing between them that sent a spike of curiosity through Sebastian.

His brow furrowed, his gaze flicking between the two of them. It wasn’t unusual for Evangeline and Ominis to share silent moments of understanding—they’d always been close. But this felt different, like they were sharing a secret that wasn’t meant for him.

Evangeline quickly looked away, focusing on the blanket in front of her as though nothing had happened. Ominis, ever composed, returned to his usual calm demeanor, seemingly unaffected. But Sebastian couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he’d just missed something important.

"Alright," Imelda declared, clapping her hands and breaking the moment. "That’s enough emotional poetry for one day. Who’s up for a game of Exploding Snap?"

The group groaned and laughed, their attention shifting back to lighter topics as the tension finally eased. But Sebastian remained quiet, his thoughts lingering on Ominis’s words and the glance he wasn’t supposed to notice.

They see the world not for what it takes away but for what it still has to offer.

The words echoed in his mind, stirring something he couldn’t quite name. He didn’t know who Ominis’s result was about, but the weight of it—and the way Evangeline had looked at him afterward—told Sebastian one thing for certain.

It wasn’t just a quiz. Not to Ominis. Not to Evangeline. And certainly not to him.

Read more stories about Sebastian and Evangeline

Read on AO3

[vctrvn-ls]

hi i love your writing it makes my heart feel so funny and warm so thank you🫶🏾🫶🏾. i was wondering if you could write for sharky. maybe something about sharky meeting y/n at kenny's birthday party and then y/n gets really drunk so sharky offers to bring them home and in the end its just all really cute and fluffy and all the boys are teasing him afterwards.

love this, it’s so cute 🤭

That One Room | Sharky |

warnings: language

wordcount: 5.5k

"Oh god this fucking dress." You huff as you pull the bottom down, annoyed at your choice of clothing.

"What? It's so cute!" Your friend Nella looked you up and down through the bathroom mirror. You gave her a "seriously?" look and walked out of the bathroom into your hotel room.

You glanced at the time on your phone "It's almost 11:00." You say as Nella plops down on the couch next to you with a big tired groan. You sit down beside her and close your eyes, enjoying the quiet for a bit.

Today was the 20th of March. Kenny's birthday.

Yes the Kenny from YouTube's Beta Squad. You personally knew him from FootAsylum, and because of your weekly shootings, you had become good friends. Maybe not too good, but good enough for him to invite you to his massive celebration right in the middle of London.

He rented out a whole floor at one of London's fancy hotels (which you didn't even know the name of) and invited a shit ton of people.

Crazy guy is what you thought.

The floor was mostly a club or some sort of disco area and the rest of it was an indoor pool.

Weird.

And knowing that you'd probably get drunk out of your mind, and because you didn't want to drive back and forth through London, you and Nella did what basically everyone else did: get a hotel room a couple of floors below (couple of floors because no one wants to hear booming music in their drunken sleep).

And as you and Nella laid around on the couch, you couldn't stop complaining about your dress and the fact that it kept riding up and almost revealing your butt, little did you know that that was something you will have forgotten about almost instantly.

"Girl I got you. I won't be leaving your side. I'll cover your precious ass." She joked.

"Nells I'm serious!" You gave her a shove "I'm not going to survive the embarrassment if tomorrow a drunk video of me in my underwear will be surfing the net!"

"Oh god y/n, these aren't Hollywood superstars. I know like more than half of these people and they aren't as vile as you think they are!" Nella had a point. You had only just began your whole YouTube career after one of your FootAsylum videos skyrocketed and you became (not a well-known) but a known influencer.

As worried as you were, you might've been overreacting a little. You knew a good amount of people (or more like heard of them) that were coming and really nothing could go wrong.

"Hey, Kenny." You say as he waved from inside the party room that was practically empty.

"Where is everyone?" You quiz as you lean in for a greeting hug.

"You guys actually came early." A tint of enthusiasm was heard in his voice which made you feel welcomed and wanted.

"You guys can do whatever you want. Toilet's down the hallway and out the door, it's both men and women so don't get scared, bar is right there," Kenny pointed to a fancy setup which was mostly made up of glass "If you need to get away you can go down the other hallway, there's like couches or something...but honestly I doubt anyone will use that room. Pool, smoke room I think they have hookas there-"

"Shiiit," Nella grins excitedly.

"Yeah and uh if you need anything come to me." Kenny claps his hands and looks at both of you.

There's nothing you can do except nod, all of a sudden all the previous worry washed away. This place was too good and too worth it to be hiding in a little corner.

Five minutes later you and Nella ended up splitting. You went to the bar and she was too intrigued by the hookas that she couldn't wait until you got your hands on at least one drink.

You hop on the stool in-front of the counter and smile at the bartender "One Negroni please."

"Yes ma'am," he says extra formally, in a joking way, and starts throwing bottles around and doing...bartender-y things.

While he was working his magic, you were busy looking around the room. A few more faces showed up and some of them looked familiar. You recognized Chunkz, Niko and there were two more guys, names of which you struggled to recall.

One thing you knew for sure is that they were part of the Beta Squad and you thought you even saw one on the set of FootAsylum's Liar Liar. Your thoughts were quickly cleared and forgotten as the satisfying clinging of the glass caught your attention. You turned around and saw your drink, instantly grinning and picking it up "Thank you." You nodded and turned to face the spacious room, determined to find Nella as fast as possible.

You didn't really need to "search" for her. You knew exactly where she was at.

"I'm scared for your lungs." You stood over Nella, who was spread out on the couch, blowing puffs of smoke in your face.

"Ironic. Well I'm worried for your kidneys." She points at the drink in your hand and sends another cloud at you, making you break out into a series of coughs.

"Right-" you wheeze "I'll be at the bar if you need me." You cover your mouth and hurry out of the room, sighing as you felt the fresh cold and airconed air hit your skin.

During everything that was mentioned earlier, somewhere in the middle of the room all of Beta Squad, along with Harry and Filly, were exchanging thoughts on the upcoming party.

"This place looks fire." AJ said, looking around in awe.

"Yeah, crazy how many people he invited." Niko chuckled pointing at Kenny.

"What? How many?" Chunkz raised his eyebrows, sure that it couldn't be that much.

"Not that much," Kenny tried looking away.

"Oh yeah, yeah," Niko said sarcastically "I saw the list. It's mad, I'm telling you he's gone up to every single person in London and asked if they wanna come."

Everyone laughed at Niko's comment.

"Nah it'll be fun." Kenny nodded "It's a chance for everyone to meet new people." He shrugged.

"Yeah or clart them." Harry blurted out, all his jokes being more out of pocket than the previous ones.

"Woooaahhh!" Chunkz exclaimed while everyone laughed, probably more from how awkwardly Harry had said it rather than the actual "joke".

"On the topic of new people." Sharky spoke up, coming over to Kenny and placing a hand on his shoulder "Who's that with Nella."

Kenny followed Sharky's gaze, seeing you talking to Nella next to the bar.

Of course everyone else looked.

"Guys don't stare!" Sharky whispered aggressively, nudging Chunkz and Niko that were closest to him.

"Yeah see he gets what I mean." Harry said, referring to his previous joke.

"Tsk, Harry what the hell." Sharky furrowed his eyebrows while everyone tried to hide their giggles and smiles.

"That's y/n." Kenny turned back to his friend "Haven't you met before?"

Sharky shook his head "I think I would've remembered."

Kenny shrugged "I can introduce you."

A few woo’s and ooh’s emitted from the guys, which Sharky quickly had to shush down.

"No I don't want it to be awkward." He glanced at you one more time, this time seeing you by yourself while Nella went to the smoke room.

"Go talk to her," Niko poked Sharky's shoulder "While she's alone."

"Nooooo," Sharky hissed at Niko, flicking away his finger "It's gonna be awkward as fuck."

"Pussy." AJ stated.

"Aje shut the fuck up." Sharky fired back "I said I don't wanna scare her."

"Or maybe you're just scared yourself." Kenny grinned.

"You too? Seriously?"

"Ok, ok, sorry." Kenny put his arms on Sharkys shoulders and hurried to apologize.

"How about Kenny just introduces all of us to her and then like...you know," Chunkz moved his eyebrows up and down.

"Yeah that could work." Kenny nodded.

"Can't believe Sharky's scared of gyal." AJ snickered from behind Filly, who was also trying not to laugh.

It really came as a shock to everyone that one of the most good looking guys of the group was scared to approach a lady, despite Sharky saying that "he didn't want to scare you off". Yes, maybe he didn't, but he was also scared himself, just like Kenny had said.

Fast forward back to the present where you were walking out of the hookah room. You took a sip of your Negroni before opening the door and as you did, you were caught off guard by the group of people that were right in front of you. Your breathe hitched but instead of breathing air you inhaled a bit of your drink and began coughing.

"Oh shit we did scare her." AJ commented from behind everyone. Luckily it wasn't too bad to get everyone worried.

"y/n, remember how you asked me about the Beta Squad?" Kenny gleamed at you.

You cleared your throat "Yeah."

"Well I'd like to introduce you to Chunkz," you shook his hand, of course you knew Chunkz, "And this is Niko-"

"Nice to meet you." He was very tall in person.

"AJ," that's who looked familiar off of FootAsylum's set "Then you've seen these two around often on shooting, Filly and Harry."

"Hi," you tried to put on a friendly smile, but really you were terrified by the amount of people you were in front of right now.

"And Sharky."

You extended your arm out before looking up. As you did, your fake smile quickly turned into a real one as you acknowledged the man before you. You shook hands too and as you did his friends spoke up.

"He likes football." Someone stated.

"He can drive-"

"Also he started cooking-"

You furrowed your eyebrows and chuckled in confusion as the comments kept coming.

"Yeah he makes the best soups-"

"Guys what the hell." Sharky tried to get everyone to calm down, but no one was planning on stopping. They didn't do it out of jokes, they genuinely wanted to present their friend.

"He has a podcast."

Now that caught your attention.

"Really?" You quizzed, interest drawn all over your face and Sharky caught onto it straight away.

"Yeah." He nodded proudly.

"I've been wanting to start one for ageeess," you explain, now forgetting about everyone and focusing on Sharky and what he had to say "Could you maybe like," you shrug "Give me any tips? Or maybe like tell me how you started everything?"

"Yeah sure." He said as calmly as he possibly could, but inside he was bursting! Not only did he successfully approach you (well kind of) he ended up gaining your interest which hinted at a future conversation.

"Alright, then we'll leave you to it." Kenny smiled, he was probably more excited than Sharky himself in the moment.

"Oh- Like right now?" You ask "Are you sure? I don't wanna like-" you motion to the guys "Separate you from everyone. It's a party after all."

"It hasn't even started yet." AJ said bluntly, earning a smack on the head from Harry with a whisper of "Shut up."

"No I don't mind." Sharky shook his head "Besides it's one of the things I can talk about for a loooong time." He grinned.

Your face was glowing with enthusiasm and you couldn't wait to hear Sharky's story...and possibly spend time with him, but you were still working out that part. After getting yourself a Martini, you and Sharky headed to the couch areas, yes that exact room that you were sure no one was going to use. But hey, this doesn't count, like AJ said the party hasn't even begun yet.

"Soooo," you said as the two of you sat down next to each other, maybe a little awkwardly "What's the best advice you can give me?"

Sharky chuckled "Well it's all about the desire of actually doing it. Just like with anything you have to be passionate and patient to get the results you want."

You nod in agreement, surprised at how wise he sounded.

"You need to choose a topic and it would be best if it's a range of things that are connected to one other thing so you don't feel like you're going off topic when you talk."

You nod, genuinely interested and fully submerged into the ongoing conversation.

For half an hour the two of you talked just about podcasting, but the other half hour was when things started to get a little more interesting.

The conversation steered in a totally different direction after you asked Sharky "Wait why didn't you get yourself a drink?" And then you discovered that he apparently doesn't drink at all.

"WHAT!?" You exclaimed "No fucking way."

"Yes fucking way." Sharky laughed.

"You're telling me you've never had alcohol? Ever?"

He shook his head.

It was like your world had exploded.

Then after religion you started talking about life in general. Sharky told you all about The Beta Squad and how it all started, whilst you shared your story about how you became friends with Nella Rose and ended up on FootAsylum.

You were currently talking about sports and who supported which football team, when suddenly you heard a loud bang vibrate through the glass walls. You turned to the door seeing Nella with a shocked expression and two drinks in her hands. You looked back at Sharky "Shit, we should probably go back."

He scratched the back of his head, nodding.

"Well, I'll see you around." You flash a smile at him before getting up and joining Nella.

Sharky watched you leave the room, saying something to your friend, making her laugh.

He didn't take his eyes off of you, watching you take a sip and wince at what he probably guessed was a strong cocktail. He kept his gaze stuck onto you until you turned the corner and disappeared back into the main party room.

He sighed taking a second to process his thoughts and feelings. He didn't know what exactly it was that he was feeling. Ironically everyone always said that he was the "ladies man" but as soon as it actually comes to the real life interaction, he was just as confused as everyone else and that did not help his confidence whatsoever.

Meanwhile you were back in the familiar room which was now full of people, strobing with colorful lights and boosting with music. The base was so strong that you felt the sound waves through the floor.

"LETS FUCKING DANCE!" Nella screeched into your ear, snatching your empty glass and placing it onto a table, before grabbing your wrist and pulling you after her right into the crowd of dancing people.

You felt like you were at the club, or a disco.

It was full of unfamiliar people that had only one thing in common with you: they were drunk to shit. At least you felt carefree and happy, even though it was drunk-happy. You and Nella jumped, danced, sang into each others faces and even had a mini dance battle. 10 songs later you were stumbling back to the bar, thirsty and exhausted.

"Can I have a-a," you furrowed your eyebrows, drunkly running a hand through your hair "Margarita?" You raised your eyebrows, saying the first thing that came to your mind.

A minute later you were washing down the alcohol in just a few gulps.

"SHIT YOU CAN DRINK!" You heard a voice yell somewhere from beside you as the bottom of your glass clacked against the counter. You turned around and saw Sharky, face instantly lighting up.

"Hhheeeyyy!" You smiled, tilting your head. Luckily Sharky could tell you were stoned out of your mind, so he didn't deem your unusually long "hey" as embarrassing and just chuckled.

"Wha-I didn't see you on the dance floor." You said, leaning forward in a clumsy motion.

"Uh, yeah," he raised an eyebrow, amused by your tone and enhanced drunk facial expressions.

"Why not?" You tilted your head again, maybe a little too much.

"I was-"

Sharky didn't even get to finish.

You hopped off the bar stool and yanked him after you, heading to the crowd of people. Despite feeling tired after the rave with Nella, you still wanted to go with him.

"Oh." He watched you struggle to walk in a straight line, entertained but also worried.

On the way there you bumped into Nella, Filly and Chunkz, who stopped you with a big "Hey!"

There was a slight pause as everyone focused on Sharky and you holding onto his hand.

"What are you guys up to?" Nella quizzed with a grin as she glanced at Sharky who had the most forced "I'm okay" smile known to humanity.

"Apparently he hasn't been on the dance floor yet!" You say it like it's the most outrageous fact they could've heard.

"Wow," Chunkz says nodding his head dramatically.

"I know!" You were too drunk to notice how playful that "wow" actually was, and took it in as his genuine surprise.

Sharky rolled his eyes to Chunkz's statement.

"You know, it's funny cause he's actually a dancer." He pointed at Sharky with a mysterious snicker.

"What!?" You exclaimed into Sharky's ear "You didn't tell me!"

"Yeah, I just...forgot? I’m not really-"

You widened your eyes "You need to teach me some moves!"

"Yep, he loves teaching!" Chunkz gave the situation a little nudge.

"For real?" Your mouth opened in excitement as Chunkz continued "Yeah! He teaches us all the time!"

Without anymore words you continued dragging Sharky towards the dance floor and as you did, he flipped off Chunkz in the process, knowing damn well that AJ and Niko were so going to make fun of him tomorrow.

"Teach me!" You yelled over the music, excited to see what type of moves you'd learn.

"Uh, well..." Sharky's eyes darted around the room "Maybe," he did the macarena and you instantly cracked up.

He watched in awe as you laughed away, trying to hide your face with your hand but failing drunkly.

"Cmon, be for real now!" You moved your hair behind your ears, ready to actually learn something.

He shrugged, then proceeded to move his hips while his hand did smooth motions around him, one in front and one behind, before then switching and repeating the same thing.

Your mouth dropped open as you watched.

"That was actually so good!" You yelled.

"Thank you!"

"Okay, okay, my turn." You got into position and after a small pause tried to copy him. The hands were fine, you actually managed to mimic him perfectly in that area, but the hip movements were absolutely hilarious. Sharky didn't want to laugh, but you were doing it so weirdly that he really struggled to keep it together.

"Whaaat?!" You whined, stopping.

"Nothing, nothing." He bit his lip and shook his head, but that wasn't enough to contain his laughter.

"Whaaat!?" You giggled, giving him a playful shove on the shoulder to which he again shook his head.

You roll your eyes, realizing that dance was evidently not your strongest talent.

You were about to say something to Sharky, but your mind quickly switched to the song that began playing in the background.

"Oh my god!" You shrieked "I love this song!"

You instantly recognized the familiar nostalgic tune: On the Floor - Jenifer Lopez.

And so did Sharky, this song reminded everyone of the good old days. In the rush of exhilaration you grabbed Sharky's hand and swerved past everyone in the crowd of people in efforts of getting closer to the DJ booth. While Pitbull rapped his verse, Sharky was trying his absolute best to hold onto you, afraid that he'd lose you in the wave.

"Sharky!" He heard someone call out. He turned around seeing AJ waving while beside him Niko did questionable dance moves.

All Sharky could do was mouth a "sorry" before disappearing behind two dancing girls.

"Hey, was he with y/n?" AJ faced Niko, who was now trying to do the robot.

"What?" He stopped.

"Was Sharky with y/n just now?"

"I don't know." Niko shrugged.

"Can't you see them over everyone with your long ass neck?" AJ snickered.

"Aye you be quiet," Niko whacked him on the back of the head before the two continued with what they were doing...or more like dancing.

While that happened, you and Sharky found a little space next to the stand between a group of people that were all preparing for the adrenaline-filled beat drop.

"You know we're running shit tonight on the floor! Brazil," you pointed to Sharky.

"Morocco!"

"London to Ibiza!"

"Straight to LA!"

"New York!"

"Vegas to Africa!"

"Daaance the night away live your life and stay young on the floooor," you and Sharky both hummed while doing slowmo movements, that actually looked really funny from the side, but really so did everyone.

You both leaned in, continuing to sing the lyrics as your eyes locked and breathing unified "Daaance the night away grab somebody, drink a little moreeee."

On the "grab somebody" Sharky scooped both of your hands into his and raised them up.

"Are you ready?" He yelled over the booming music. You giggle and nod your head.

With the beat drop came the electrifying surge of adrenaline and thrill. The lights flashed and everything looked like a stop motion movie. Without letting go of Sharky's hands you jumped up and down, eyes closed and soul open as you sang along "Laaaa la la la-la la la la la la la la la laaaa, tonight we gon' be it on the floor!"

As the two of you jumped, spun, sang and yelled, everything else around you seemed like a blur and it wasn't just because you were drunk. It was like the two of you were in your own little bubble, your own little world.

Lots of people were looming everywhere, but all Sharky could see was your bright smile, adorable squinting eyes and funny dance moves that he found very cute.

You were going all out, already sweating, panting and trying your best to breathe through your laughter.

In the moment everything felt so surreal and you didn't want to lose that feeling.

You didn't want to lose that serotonin that engulfed you with every melody.

You didn't want to lose this special happiness.

You didn't want to lose Sharky.

The music was pumping, and the rhythm was addictive. The two of you let yourselves go, lost in the magic of the moment. Your bodies moved in sync, eyes locked onto each others. You danced like you had all the time in the world, like nothing else mattered in the moment. Time stood still, and for a few fleeting seconds, you forgot about all your troubles and worries, lost in the moment, with each other, dancing like no one was watching.

As the song came to an end you felt like you were going to throw up, exhausted, from previous dancing with Nella, and drunk, but glowing out of pure joy.

"Are you okay?" Sharky gleamed at you.

You nodded "I think I need to like-"

"What!?" Sharky couldn't hear you from how loud it was. He placed his hands on your shoulders and leaned down, pulling you in closer so he could hear you speak.

"I need a breather!" You shout.

Sharky was quick to get you out of the packed crowd and back to the bar, where you ran into Harry Pinero and an unfamiliar girl.

"Hey, Sharky," Harry said in a playful voice, noticing you next to him.

"Hi." He replied unenthusiastically.

"Can I have a water please?" You leaned over the bar table, ignoring the conversation that was going on behind you.

"I see your nights going...well." Harry smirks, taking a sip of his drink.

"Yeah, it is actually." Sharky admits, glancing at you who was now finishing the glass of water like you haven't had any in days.

"Good for you." Harry nods, raising his glass and finishing it in one gulp before then turning around to his companion and heading to the hookah room. Sharky watched them, dreading tomorrows morning encounter with all his existence.

"You alright?" You snap him out of his thoughts.

He looks down at you and nods with a smile "Are you?"

"Yeah I feel a bit...sick."

"Oh shit, wanna go to that room we were in? I doubt anyone will be there."

"Yeah," you breathe.

Sharky puts his arm around your back, making sure you didn't trip over, as the pair of you made your way to the next door room.

You let out a sigh of relief as you felt the soft couch dent under you, resting your head on the back of it. Sharky glances at you, a little concerned by how unusually tired you look.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

You nod with your eyes closed "I just feel a little nauseous."

"That can't be good." Sharky thought to himself, realizing that it was best if you were to lay down or maybe even go to bed.

He's seen how much you had to drink and the more worrying thing was how much he hasn’t seen you drink.

"Hey, listen maybe it's best if you were to lay down, I can drive you home or you can have a rest in my room." He paused and hurried to add "Not in like that way you know just if you're feeling unwell- uh- like maybe if you feel sick- like the bathroom, you know-"

Even drunk you could tell how uneasy and flustered Sharky felt.

"I have a room here with Nella." You chuckle as you sit up and catch his gaze with your half open eyes.

"I can walk you there." He almost whispered as you moved your face closer to his, the distance between your lips gradually decreasing.

Sharky's eyes widen as realization slowly creeps in on what's about to happen. His breathe hitched as he felt your warm lips ghost over his, but before you could lean in and kiss him, he jolted back.

You felt your stomach knot and mouth go dry.

Why did he pull away? Did he not want to kiss you? Did you do something wrong? Did you go too far?

You felt your throat tighten and eyes begin to prickle with tears as you moved away from Sharky, trying your best to hold yourself together.

"I- Uh- Sorry I didn't meant to-" your voice was thick and raspy as your words came out choked and messy.

"What? No no no no no," Sharky placed his hand on your arm "No, y/n, that's not- Oh my god no!" He saw your eyes glisten and a thin line of tears form over them.

You sniff shaking your head "Sorry, I just thought-"

"No please don't cry," Sharky moves over, wrapping his arms around you. Despite the fact that he had just somewhat rejected you, you can't help but hug him in return, hiding your face in his chest whilst trying your best not to cry too loudly.

"y/n please don't be upset," Sharky says in a hushed tone as he rubs your back.

You sniff before looking up at him "Why don't you wanna kiss me?" By now your mascara had a mind of its own, running from the corners and smudging under your eyes.

"I do. Trust me I really do," he smiled softly "But you're drunk and you aren't feeling well. I just- " he sighs "It just wouldn't feel right considering the vulnerable state you're in."

"Oh." You snivel. Sharky let's out a small laugh and wipes your cheeks with the sleeve of his sweater.

"I feel so dumb." You groan, hanging your head down to hide away from him in embarrassment.

"Hey it's ok," you can hear the warm smile in Sharky's voice "Honestly it took all of my self control to do that."

You let out a small chuckle before looking back up at him.

That night Sharky walked you to your room and made sure you were alright with going to bed yourself.

You fell asleep with a grin on your face and with the feeling of excitement to wake up in the morning.

"Yep girl, that's it. Let it all out." Nella patted you on the back as you crouched over the toilet seat, throwing up everything your stomach had.

"Oh my god." You panted, looking up to take a whiff of air "Im never drinking again." You whined.

"Uhuh, like the last time you were never gonna drink again?"

"You know what I-" aaand you were back at it.

In the meantime everyone else you knew was having breakfast on the top floor of the hotel, enjoying the buffet and the open fresh air.

"So Sharky," AJ snickered "How'd yesterday go? You disappeared for quite some time."

"Really?" Kenny's eyebrows jumped up in surprise.

"Yeah, with we-all-know-who."

Sharky shook his head without any amusement, continuing to eat his breakfast.

"Oh cmon you have to tell us about it!" Chunkz threw his arms up.

"Nothing. Happened." Sharky stated.

"Ain't no way nothing happened." Harry joined in "I've seen you go into that couch-room."

"Oh, good to know someone actually used it." Kenny chuckled.

"Used?" Sharky raised a brow "I'm telling you, nothing happened. She felt sick so I," he shrugged "You know walked her to her room and then she went to bed." Sharky couldn't keep in his smile, remembering last night like it was something from a fairy tail, even that almost-kiss had his heart fluttering.

Chunkz caught onto that and gave a cheeky giggle "Aayyeee look at him smiling and everything." He pointed at his friend "Sharky likeesss her."

"Yeah so much that he apparently abandoned his friends on the dance floor." Niko furrowed his eyebrows and raised his hands up.

"Wha- I didn't abandon you. No need to be so dramatic."

Niko scoffed jokingly "Bros before girls!"

Everyone broke into a series of giggles and laughs.

"y/n is nice tho," Kenny said while chewing, evidently being the most innocent one out of everyone.

"She really is." Sharky agreed while everyone else continued to laugh, this time at Kenny's random statement.

"What?" He quizzed in confusion.

"So what you gonna go on a little date?" Niko asked.

As much as everyone was teasing Sharky about it, they were also invested in what was to come.

Was he going to ask you out?

Would you agree?

"Yeah I guess. I mean I do like her."

"Sick." Kenny commented "Look at me bringing people together."

"Yes, let's toast to that...With water because almost everyone is insanely hung over!" Harry raised his glass.

Unfortunately you didn't end up going to breakfast at all because you spent the entire morning throwing up.

As you rolled around in bed, holding onto your stomach, you and Nella heard a knock on the door.

"Ill check, you stay down." She says, getting up and heading to the hallway. Five seconds later you heard her call out your name, and without any thought you got up and lazily dragged your feet to the door.

"Who is-Oh my god hi." You almost fainted seeing Sharky there, considering your messed up state. He, on the other hand, looked amazing.

"Wha-You look insanely fresh for a person who's been partying all night." You speak your mind as you look him up and down.

"Thank you, perks of not drinking." He grins.

"Oh right, you don't drink." You nod, remembering yesterdays conversation "Well I did and now I look like shit." You scratch the back of your head.

"Nah, nah. You look..."

You raised your eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.

"Maybe just a little tired."

You chuckled rolling your eyes.

"Anyway I uh, didn't see you at breakfast."

"Yeah, sorry couldn't make it, I was throwing up all morning."

"Ooohhh...right okay makes sense." He nods. You can't help but grin at how awkward and shy he was acting, standing there in front of you, swaying from side to side whilst fiddling with the sleeves of his sweater.

"I uh wanted to ask, if you would want to go to the-I mean on a date? Maybe?"

"Are you kidding? Obviously."

"Obviously?" Sharky let's out a confused chuckle.

"Oh please, just because I'm sober now doesn't mean that I don't like you. I remember yesterday quite well."

"Ah," he nods "Okay that's good."

You grin "It is good. And I can't wait for the date."

"Text you?"

"Do you have my number?" You raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," his tone was unsure.

"Wait how'd you-"

"Kenny."

You nodded "Alright. I'll be uh, waiting."

"Yep." Sharky looks around "Bye?"

You step forward, embracing him in a tight hug "See you."

[ofthecaravel]

when u see my pfp yk its me and YK im gonna either break ur heart or make it explode. no inbetween.

anyways here’s ur weekly dose of tiny van fleet:

- tiny josh being sad and big josh being sad because tiny josh is sad and then they cheer each other up but they also decide to just have a lazy day on the couch and watch tiny josh’s fav movie. (it’s a tie between ice age: dawn of the dinosaurs and pulp fiction soley because big danny showed it to them and now tiny josh is in love with uma therman)

- tiny danny and sam both getting wayyyy too obsessed with moo deng and insisting that during gvf’s break between albums they fly to thailand so they can meet moo deng. (big jake and sam are secretly all for it cus they love moo deng too)

- big jake dressing tiny jake in his pirate jammies every night and braiding his hair for him so it looks good in the morning. (they have matching priate pj’s)

- big danny being the tines single mom who works two jobs and love her kids and never stops and bragging about it. (and yes he has binge watched the whole entire sitcom “Reba” (i totally didn’t do that in 5th grade for no reason whattttt)

- baby sling josh but its with big danny and the sling is literally just a fanny pack and all the tinys fit into it. but tiny josh still insists to be the only one in it on days out so he can sleep in it.

is everybody taking notes on the new tinies lore???? is everybody getting ready for the quiz??????

[jmdbjk]

Bangtan Weekly Report: Festa Week

I am Army for about 3 years but loved them all 10 years...

saw someone say something similar the other day and its so true.

Millions of dollars spent on this almost month-long Festa and all for free to us. The 30 minutes of fireworks alone were estimated at $5 million USD. Now do you understand why those big sponsors were so important?

It is estimated that 400,000 attended the one day event that included Namjoon's presentation and the fireworks finale with about 120,000 being foreigners and 2000 being security manning the event. Perspective: Lollapalooza has an attendance of up to 100,000 per day. This 10th Anniversary Festa was ONE DAY.

400,000 ... almost half a million people on one day ... let that sink in.

View of the fireworks from around the other side of the river:

Drone view:

Fireworks began with Mikrokosmos, one of my favorites and right away I'm having trouble holding back the tears. Ever since YTC Busan, Butterfly has become one of those songs that makes me overly emotional but I found myself getting emotional even when hearing Fire, Dynamite and Take Two playing with the fireworks coordinated to the beat.

Watch 8-hour coverage of the day from JBTC News (gives a good idea of the number of people attending during the day-long event.)

Watch the entire fireworks show on Weverse. It begins with a message from Yoongi.

A translation of Jungkook's narration during the fireworks.

During Namjoon's event, the members called in. 32 minutes in Jungkook calls in from Los Angeles and apparently, Joon didn't realize it was JK EVEN AFTER HE SANG A FEW LINES OF TAKE TWO... JOON????? About 39 minutes in, Tae calls in and about 58 minutes into it, we hear Jimin conducting an Army quiz. I hope they add English subtitles soon.

More on Take Two:

I was asked what I thought "Take Two" meant in the context of the song lyrics...

...We been walkin' so many ways I feel like my heart will explode Can't you see the take two? Stories unfolding just for you youth with you hold my hand now ... When I got you by my side along the road we walked together Oh, we young forever ... Since we're together, I'm not afraid to wish for eternity ... I hold you in my arms Can't you see the take two? Letters I didn't send to you .... Oh, we young forever It was possible because I was with you

If I had to sum it up in one idea I would say they trust us to hold their youth within us. To remember their ten years so far. We are entrusted to keep that with us.

Because they are leaping off one by one into the thing that will supposedly change them in ways they don't even know yet. And they want these last ten years of their lives to be safe in us because this was a very special time of their lives.

I mean, who in this world can say they spent the youth of their teens and 20s as BTS, the group that never stopped running forward for almost ten years and rose to be a global phenomenon?

Only seven people in the world can say it: Kim Namjoon, Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook.

Who else is going to remember their youth for them? Us, they only have us: Army.

A K-media article wrote about Take Two and specifically about Jimin's vocals, and besides describing Jimin as being the pillar of BTS songs, he went on saying this:

"In addition, Jimin showed a wide range of vocals, from soft mid-bass to high-pitched parts, and maximized the charm of the song with a unique and angelic voice praised by numerous vocal experts, giving a gift of ecstasy like an aurora."

Aurora... that is a PERFECT description of the sounds that come out of Jimin's throat when he sings.

I have maintained since the first time I listened to the song that Jimin's presence is heard throughout the song. Here is the Jimin focus cam.

About Song leaks:

There have been a lot of so-called "leaks" being passed around of Jungkook's songs. These could just be clips of discarded songs, discarded guides for group songs or even AI... who knows. Songs get written and progress gets made on them and then they end up not using them at all.

If the leaks are legit songs about to be on an album, I'm not sure how someone can continue to leak them and get away with it. I think the same has happened to songs that are supposed to be Tae's work. Leaks like this make an artist's work vulnerable to plagiarism and copyright theft.

Speaking of discarded songs... I've seen a lot of people talking about the number of songs that get included on albums and also why old songs get released years after they are written and produced.

I'm not a music industry expert but its a well-known thing that an artist is typically continually writing and recording music. Out of all the songs they produce, an artist will choose the ones that fit the theme/tone/vibe of an album/collection to release together. Many songs never make it. But that doesn't mean they aren't good songs, they just aren't what the artist wants at that moment in time.

So much music and lyrics are timeless so it doesn't matter when a song is written, if it resonates, it is relevant. I would bet Jimin had several songs he could have put on Face but they just weren't exactly what he wanted to say, or the vibe wasn't what he was aiming for now. He might save them for later.

And people saying Take Two was written a few years ago but is only now being released means it is one of those songs that still resonates with where BTS is today.

This is my opinion: I also want to say something about the argument that Jimin was denied all the MV's he wanted for Face... we know he's working on new music... we know they have a tight timeframe because of enlistment. It takes time and money to produce music videos, especially to the high caliber that BTS music videos are produced.

I think Jimin knew he was going to do more music before the end of this year. He knew logistically there was no time to produce the kind of MV's that are expected for other Face songs.

"But Yoongi got an MV for every song..." Yoongi's album D-Day and its subsequent concert tour are huge undertakings, comes 3 years after D-2 and this will be it for him. He will have to enlist. He does not have time to produce another album and do promotions for it before enlistment. He blew his wad on D-Day.

We will get more from Jimin before the end of the year and before he chooses to enlist.

I digressed... back to Festa...

About the book:

"After taking their first step into the world on June 13, 2013, BTS will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut in June 2023. They have risen to the peak as an iconic global artist and during this meaningful time, they look back on their footsteps in the first official book. In doing so, BTS nurtures the power to build brighter days and they choose to take another step on a road that no one has gone before. BTS shares personal, behind-the-scenes stories of their journey so far through interviews and more than three years of in-depth coverage by Myeongseok Kang, who has written about K-pop and other Korean pop culture in various media. Presented chronologically in seven chapters from before the debut of BTS to the present, their vivid voices and opinions harmonize to tell a sincere, lively, and deep story. In individual interviews that have been conducted without a camera or makeup, they illuminate their musical journey from multiple angles and discuss its significance. In addition, portrait photos that show BTS as individuals and artists open the book, and throughout there are concept photos, tracklists of all previous albums, and over 330 QR codes. As digital artists, BTS has been communicating with the world through the internet and this book allows readers to immediately access trailers, music videos, and more online to have a rich understanding of all the key moments in BTS history. Complete with a timeline of all major milestones, BEYOND THE STORY is a remarkable archive―truly everything about BTS in one volume."

The HYBE mural:

This artist did a fantastic job on this hand painted mural. He used cans of spray-paint. Amazing.

(video credit)

It's been a very emotional few weeks with so much content given to us.

From BangBangCon and 5th Muster to Take Two to Jimin's performance of Letter, the dance practice videos, Suchwita with Jin, seeing all of Seoul lit up in purple, all the photos, all of the positive media coverage in Korea, Tae's jazz performance, it's been a whirlwind of gifts for us. I've never experienced anything like it before.

And thinking about this year's Festa, with all the members coming and going and scattered across the globe, doing their own thing, Joon's comment that next year, Jin-hyung will have to fill the space implies everyone else will be enlisted before next June. I am really looking forward to having Jin back with us.

Anyway... APOBANGPO!

[theuniversitychallengereview]

No Use Crying Over Smashed Mugs

Leaning too far to the left while sitting on my sofa, I nudged my prized blue coffee mug over the edge. If someone had been filming, it would probably have looked like those videos of cats slowly knocking items off of tables, except I did it completely by accident rather than by mischievous design.

A loud smashing sound was the only indication that something had gone wrong. That’s quite a big indication, to be honest, and when I peered over the side I knew what to expect. The mug had landed on the metal base of a standing lamp and been shattered into approximately 15 pieces. This is functionally no different than it being shattered into 1000 pieces, but I was denied the poetic image of such a platonically ideal destruction.

For a moment I decried the loss of the mug, and indeed I recall being far more upset for far longer for the loss of mugs in the past. But this mug was gone. There was nought to be done, and I had, only the day before, come into possession of a new mug. One in, one out, it seems. Such is the way of things.

I bought this mug from Ikea, and it cost me about £2, but it had served me well, and I would honour its memory with a 250 word eulogy.

You Wait Ages For A Bus

Something else which cost £2 and which does deserve a longer period of anger is the £2 price cap on bus tickets, which Labour have announced will be defunct from the start of 2025.

Aside from the fact it will increase the commuting cost of a bus rider by close to £500/year, it will discourage people from using the bus system and drive people into the arms of their cars. At a time when we should be moving towards a world of universal mass transit, this is a deeply regressive move in many ways, and it makes you wonder what the point of this Labour government is.

It is also starkly irritating how governments of all stripes are unable (or unwilling) to see things in any context at all. The bus subsidy will also likely reduce car accidents (fewer cars on the road) and increase economic activity in city centres among a bunch of other potential benefits. So looking at the raw cost of the subsidy doesn’t take the full picture into account, not even slightly.

But its no use crying — it only cost £2 didn’t it?

Special Episode, 1999 - Tabloids vs Broadsheets

Subscribe for weekly reviews of University Challenge, an irreverant take on Britain's quirkiest quiz show

t.co

Edinburgh vs Leeds

I have used the bus in both of the cities represented by the teams who faced off in this week’s University Challenge, Edinburgh and Leeds.

Leeds is a historically underrepresented insitution on University Challenge. It has a student body of nearly 40,000 yet has only been on the show 5 times since 1995, with its last appearance coming in 2011.

Here’s your first starter for ten.

Edinburgh skipper Myles takes the opening points with mist, and they take a full set of bonuses on films with scores by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood. He (that’s Myles, not Jonny Greenwood) takes the second starter too, but they only managed a single bonus on the 1924 general election, which was 100 years ago.

I’m now imagining an episode of University Challenge in 2124 in which the contestants are asked about this year’s election. Will someone born in the early 2100s know who Rishi Sunak was? Will they remember that Keir Starmer got rid of £2 bus tickets?

Aiton drops five points with an incorrect interruption before Myles makes it a hat-trick with nit, not, nut on the follow-up.

Edinburgh lead 55 points going into the picture round, which is on gears and it goes to Leeds’ Patel for their first points of the night. One of the bonuses asks for a gearing system named after an invertebrate.

Dadaism gives Aiton redemption and earns Edinburgh a bonus set on the League of Extraordinary Gentleman.

A guess of Dutch by Thomson gets Leeds going again, but they cannot build any momentum and general relativity hands Edinburgh the reins once more. Myles nominates Self to give Zinedine Zidane as an answer to one of the bonuses, which is a wise nomination. If one is not aware of the name Zinedine Zidane then one probably shouldn’t risk trying to pronounce it.

Mellor smashes the music starter with the Eurovision winner Loreen and Edinburgh manage two of the bonuses, giving them a lead of 95 points at the halfway stage.

Is The Comeback On?

Tan starts a Leeds comeback with James II, and they maintain their impetus with strange courtesy of Thomson. Prince Edward Island gives them a third consecutive starter, and they’ve halved their deficit.

Self takes the second picture starter for Edinburgh, but Banerjee Marvin is quickly back on it with the Bloomsbury Group on the next question. Could Leeds complete this unlikely comeback?

Cardinals for Patel closes the gap to 25, and Swansea for Thompson makes it 15. Their work on the bonuses isn’t good enough though, and Edinburgh stay ahead.

Mellor and Myles grab a couple of starters for Edinburgh, but they too struggle on the bonuses. A neg from Myles then opens the door for Leeds, but they can’t go through it and end the game 50-points adrift, tied on points with two other high-scoring losers.

No, it isn’t on.

Leeds 125–175 Edinburgh

The Scottish quartet slacked off a bit towards the end, but did enough to get over the line. Rajan tells Leeds that they have a chance of going through, but I don’t think they do.

The other sides who scored 125 points lost to teams scoring 240 and 275, so surely a 175–125 loss won’t be enough, regardless of what happens in the final two first-round matches.

Thanks for reading, and subscribe if you aren’t already to help me defeat the algorithm and stop me crying about the price of bus tickets and/or coffee mugs.

Sign up for The University Challenge Review

[louisupdates]

All Of Those Voices review | Louis Tomlinson documentary will surprise even the cynics among us

WHYNOW

Teddy Coward | 22 Mar 2023

2010 was The X Factor’s peak. Not only did it see the show’s highest average weekly viewing figures, raking in a peak of 19.1 million viewers for its final, but it also involved a list of names that have become embedded in British TV history. Cher Lloyd, Rebecca Ferguson and, of course, Wagner, the barmy Brazilian from outer-Brum; it was a year that seemed to match a genuine degree of talent with a light-heartedness.

And, of course, it brought together five baby-faced teens who would go on to produce not just the show’s most successful act but one of the most popular boy bands this country has ever seen: One Direction.

Yet because, with The X Factor, what was once pop cultural cache has nowadays become merely pub quiz fodder (the show last aired in December 2018), that snobbishness towards 1D still lingers to this day – despite the many awards its leading light, Harry Styles, picks up as a solo artist.

All Of Those Voices, the new documentary from Charlie Lightening (whose prior credits include the award-winning Liam Gallagher: As It Was and The Paul McCartney Project), reminds us that at the heart of the manufactured, Simon Cowell-orchestrated world One Direction once operated in, lie real lads. And one of those young men, Louis Tomlinson, is relatable, honest, and has overcome more than his fair share of struggle under a public spotlight.

The film’s best attribute – and the way it achieves it – is how it’s shot. It’s not so much fly-on-the-wall as it is captured with considerable trust between artist and filmmaker. At one stage toward the end, Louis and his crew joke about the seeming lack of a barrier between each other, and this feels like it was extended to Lightening, too.

As such, Tomlinson is forthright about his sense of having no control over his own (let alone One Direction’s) destiny for at least the first two-and-a-half years of the band. He casts himself as the band’s thinker in a rather shrewd creative light by telling us he’s most proud of being the member with the most songwriting credits.

But another strength of the film is that it doesn’t dwell on Louis’ 1D days. Granted, you can’t tell his story as an artist by ignoring it, but its inclusion merely paints a backdrop of what’s to come, most usefully starting the narrative arc of someone at a loss, personally and creatively, when the band announced their split in late 2015.

From here, Louis begins to build, pensively smoking and staring into empty space like any self-respecting existentialist as he contemplates life as a solo artist. Then, tragedy hits. His mother, Johannah Deakin, with whom he had an exceptionally strong relationship–mainly because of an absent father growing up (which struck a particular nerve with me) – passed away in December 2016 after her battle with leukaemia.

Replays of an X Factor performance Louis gave that very same week, spliced with personal testimony from the present day, remind us of the public gaze he was under during an exceptionally challenging period.

Meanwhile, the tragic death of his sister Félicité in 2018 is discussed in less detail but adds to the image of not just an artist but a man beset by loss, still keeping his head afloat. (A moving discussion with Louis’ grandmother provides insight into the keep-calm-and-carry-on spirit of the whole family).

These make the high points feel all the more gratifying – and there are plenty of those. From the release of his long-awaited debut album Walls in 2020 to his triumphant, Guinness World Record-setting livestream during the pandemic and his subsequent return to a global headline tour, it’s safe to say his artistic trajectory is a pretty sharp incline throughout the film.

But whereas some pop personalities might make that seem like an irksome inevitability, the setbacks Louis Tomlinson faces and, crucially, his authentically affable charm mean you end up rooting for him. Do you have to be a fan of his music? Not at all. Can you still admire the way his personhood is portrayed? Of course. And this film captures that in abundance.

Of course, Louis’ mass of fans will love it. That much is a given. But for a purely personal tale, even the most cynical among us would struggle not to find something from All Of Those Voices. Indeed, we’ve come a long way since the fakery of The X Factor.

[tismcosmology]

its the start of week 2 and i have not written a single thing for this blog 😭 blaming it on the lack of Things in my classes so far but its probably just me not wanting to post. curse my years of lurking

Math (calc 1) - ngl, the worst out of all my classes so far. Weekly quizzes, midterm + final exam is 75% of my grade, the first quiz (which is innn 2 hours) is a high school review but I erm. did not take grade 12 math. i took an intro to calc in college last year. which apparently did not cover the entire grade 12 pre calc curriculum. nothing like spending the first week teaching yourself half a years worth of math concepts am i right

english - banger. i love my prof, and the class is on things like writing grant proposals, the publics perception of science, science communication and the history of class inequality in science. legit cannot wait for this class. its also arranged so that my entire section is physics majors, mostly astrophys but theres also some math phys and a few biophys majors too

physics (mechanics) - seems cool so far, my two profs are married apparenly and theyre both yappers but it works so well in physics. one prof spent the entire firet lecture rambling about Dirac without even realizing it. very excited. labs dont start until week 3 so ill see how that goes

comp sci - intro to programming (in python) for people who have Never done coding before, so the first few weeks im expecting to be easy/review for me. not super excited but also not bored of it yet. since its pretty essential to modern astronomy im absorbing everything i can from it and probably will end up self teaching myself more after the class ends, depending on how in depth it gets (since its my only required CS course and id rather use my very few electives for more fun stuff)

french - sitting in this lecture rn, also seems fun so far. only like 12 people in this class and the prof is cool so im hoping itll be easy and/or fun. its somewhat review from my gr 11 courses in hs (passé composé, verb conjucations, weather / geography vocab) but i really enjoy speaking my 2nd language so fingers crossed it gets me prepared enough to take the DELF exam and get my bilingual status !

[slaysksmska]

The river and the princess (chapter 2)

part one

(Go to part one for all of the chapters)

Word count: 2700

Chapter two 

NYLA’S POV:

I walked to the school after getting off the bus, with my friends, Noreen, Maria, Samara, and Aleena. Many think that I'm lucky since Eshaan asked me out, but it's far from the truth. He’s lucky to have me. He doesn't have the good looks or the brains to back up his popularity. Truth be told, I think the only reason that he is popular is because he’s good at sports, considering he was in the volleyball team and is definitely going to make it for basketball. Unlike him, I actually have the looks and the talent. I’m provincial 1st for track, at my age range and I'm a shoe-in for team captain for basketball, not to brag or anything. Suddenly, there was a pair of fingers snapped in my face.

“Hello? Nyla, are you okay?” Noreen said, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Yeah, yeah, just thinking about things” I sputtered out frantically, trying to get away from the questions.

As we entered history class, we sat down at our respective seats and took out our notebooks. Mr. Lloyd usually likes to give us pop quizzes on Mondays, so it’s important to be taking notes. I only share this class with Maria and Samara as opposed to my homeroom with Ms. Piacere. All of my friends are in that class, but it has that stupid bitch, Nina Smith, and her ugly ass friends, May, Zoe, and Niyyah in it. Since I’m a grade 7 and she’s a grade 6, we shouldn’t be in the same class but unluckily enough, we’re in a split class, made up of the two grades. I zoned back in when I heard a textbook cover smash close.

“I’d like to introduce you to our new student, Hannah. She’s a transfer from Savanna Public School, our hometown rivals. Since we have a new student and I don’t want to scare her with a pop quiz today, we won’t be having one. You’re all lucky, considering I know that more than half of you didn’t do the weekly reading!”  Mr. Lloyd said to us, while the class erupted with cheers and applause at the mention of no pop quiz.

Mr. Lloyd just playfully rolled his eyes at the cheers as he made his way slowly back to his desk, uncovering the writing in a faint red marker on the whiteboard. 

Get into partners for the new project

I quickly turned my gaze back to my two friends and as if reading my mind, Mr. Lloyd shook his head in my direction.

“The board says partners not groups of three, girls” He stated slightly irritated by my persistence

“Figure it out,” he said before turning his gaze back down to the papers on his desk 

Old prude, I muttered to myself as I looked over at my friends and saw Maria had already beat Samara in what I guessed was Rock, Paper, Scissors meaning that I had to beat Samara to work with Maria. I looked around the room to see if the person the loser had to work with would be tolerable and then I spotted her, Niyyah already staring in my direction. I forced myself not to cringe as I turned back to Samara, lifting up my fist to see who had to work with her.

“How about the loser has to work with Niyyah?” I said with a grin on my face as if I knew I wouldn’t lose

3…

2…

1…

I played rock and when I looked over to Samara’s hand my eyes narrowed and I groaned in annoyance. She had played paper, meaning I had to work with… Niyyah. I gave them a slight frown as I took my chair over to her desk where unsurprisingly, no other group was. Just get this over with, I told myself while I plastered a smile over my face as if I had hoped to be in her group. I dreadfully sat in my seat next to her as I leaned forward onto the desk letting my elbows rest there for now. “Do you have a plan in mind?” I asked her as I twirled my shoulder-length, shiny, wavy, black hair. I at least had to try being respectful. She gave me a small shrug as she turned to face me. “I'm kinda lost, I was hoping you had one” She gave me a shy smile and mirrored my hair twirling. 

I quickly stopped letting my hair drop down to its original length. She smiled at me tilting her head slightly playfully as if it was straight from a cringy rom-com movie from 2014. I forced myself not to gag at her efforts and just swallowed my pride. I couldn’t tell if she was trying to be polite or something more than that. Either way, I didn’t want to be friends with her and I definitely wouldn’t want to be more than friends with her. I guess I’d just have to suck it up and deal with it for the sake of this project. 

“Well, I don’t have one either, so start making one,” I replied, rudely

“I’m surprised you don’t have one, you're really smart.” She said, while still twirling her light brown, dead, and frizzy hair.

‘Was she really flirting with me?’ I asked myself. How is she not embarrassed? It’s fucking pathetic and she stinks like shit. Was she working out before this? It’s not likely and you can tell by looking at her. She’s a bit on the heavier side, but there's no other explanation for how much she's sweating. 

“Yeah, well I don’t have one so if you could hurry up and do the work, that’d be great.” I suddenly snapped at her, annoyed by her desperation.

She was clearly shocked at this, considering her eyes widened and she stopped twirling her hair. I didn’t have to be that mean, but she pushed me to that point. Also, I just really love putting people in their place. She deserved it for flirting with me and knowing I would never like her, not if she was the last person on earth, and not in a million years. But, that got her to shut up and continue working, which is something I was extremely thankful for. She ended up doing all of it, but I couldn’t care less. I wasn’t going to try if someone else could try for me, instead. The bell rang abruptly, so that meant we were going to our homeroom with Ms. Piacere. That meant I’d be with all my friends and someone…else.

As Samara, Maria, and I exit the class, we meet up with the rest of our friends and walk to our lockers. Mine is right next to Aleena’s, and she’s a decent locker buddy. Other than the fact that she puts all of her stuff in my way, whenever I need to get it. I get all of my books from there and head right in, sitting at my desk. There’s usually an assigned seating plan and I got so unlucky, ending up sitting next to Zoe on one side and Noreen on the other. At least I have Noreen, though. Zoe is usually reserved and quiet, so it’s better to be sitting next to her than to be sitting with either May and Nina.

Ms. Piacere isn’t here yet, so I get up from my seat and sit next to Eshaan. He was talking to one of his friends but quickly brought all of his attention upon me. ‘Cute’, I thought. At least he’s attentive, unlike some of my past boyfriends. 

“Hi. I saw the note you left at my locker yesterday. Do you really like me like that? I thought it was cute.” I said, almost sarcastically. 

I was interested in him, I just didn’t want him to know that. He can’t be too confident. Give boys an inch, they’ll take a mile. 

“Uh…note? Yeah, I did ask you out. Are you interested in me?” He stuttered out.

Weird. I get the ick when boys start acting all nervous and shy around me. Why was he stuttering? I’m not even that intimidating. 

“Yeah, do you want to hang out after school? We can go to the ice cream place down by the street. Roly Poly Cow? It sells rolled ice cream.” I told him

“Yeah, sure. That works with me. At 4?” He asked. 

I nodded and walked away waving. That was the most awkward conversation ever. I know he’s good looking but I still need someone that I can talk to. I’ll have to see if he was still going to be this much of a wreck at the ice cream parlour. I then saw that Ms. Piacere had walked in, so I knew I needed to sit down in my original seat. Noreen came in and Zoe was already sitting down, while reading some romance book. Never knew she was into those, I thought she’d always been more on the tame side of books. We all sat down at our seats and waited for the instructions from Ms. Piacere to follow.

“As you all know, on the 1st of every month, we change our seating plan and that’s exactly what we will be doing today. Just explaining it so the new student, Hannah can get accustomed to the way our classroom works.” Ms. Piacere explained, while maintaining eye contact with Hannah.

She then started to draw the seating plan on the whiteboard for everyone to see. That’s odd, usually we pick sticks with numbers on them from a cup and have to sit at the assigned desk. As she was writing away, I decided to start collecting my things from my desk so I could move to my new spot, easier. When I finally looked up, I was pissed. All my friends were sitting next to each other and I was in the corner sitting next to some weird guy called Aksel and the quiet girl named Ruby. I haven’t even ever spoken to them before, why would she do this? I understand I might be a bit of a chatterbox, but I shouldn’t be punished for it. It’s not my fault I’m social.

Oh well, I guess it’s not the worst seat ever. Maybe they won’t talk to me and everything will be fine. I walked to my new seat and set my books down with my water bottle. The two were already there, so I greeted them politely. Ms. Piacere assigned an individual maths sheet for us to do, so most of the class was silent. Except for my friends laughing with each other and another group. I turn around and see Eshaan and Nina sitting with each other. 

This teacher really has it out for me. Why would she sit them together? I know Ms. Piacere hates my guts, but to put my date with that bitch? That definitely crossed a line in my book, first she puts all my friends together WITHOUT me, then she puts me with the “weird kids” and finally if all that wasn’t enough, she puts MY date with that pathetic loser. 

“You’re Eshaan, right? Don’t think we have talked before.” I heard Nina ask him. 

He smiled, nodding silently 

“I guess we’re table mates until next month,” She said with a welcoming grin on her face causing him to chuckle.

“Looking forward to it” He replied a bit more enthusiastically than I would like. 

‘Who was he taking out? Me or her?’ I thought, rolling my eyes just imagining him on a date with her. I laughed out loud though I quickly shut up once I saw strange looks, realising I must have looked crazy. I just had to endure this for the rest of class. I finished the maths sheet very easily since that’s another thing I’m good at, I’m a straight-A student. Honestly, I never thought I’d be as popular as I am, seeing as I’m a bit more on the masculine and sporty side, considering all the other things I participate in. Anyways, that's besides the point, he still asked me out, not her. I repeated that in my head as I saw her and him double over laughing over a stupid joke that I couldn't make out. I felt the heat rise in my face as I looked at the two of them.

“He’s not even that funny” I muttered to myself angrily.

I looked over at Ms. Piacere, who placed her hand on Nina’s empty maths sheet as she shook her head in disappointment as she kept a prominent frown on her face. Nina stiffened which caused me to snicker quietly as she nodded slowly. I looked over at Eshaan who had a small frown on his face. I couldn’t believe it as I did a double-take over at him, since that was the first time he had looked remotely sad around her. I’m surprised it isn’t all smiles and giggles, considering they looked so happy around each other.

The teacher then walked away and was doing rounds around the desks to check everyone’s work. I already knew that mine was perfect, so I just relaxed and closed my eyes until I heard her footsteps getting closer to me. First, she checked Ruby’s, which was average at best and then walked over to the kid named Aksel. His maths sheet wasn’t even finished and he would probably get around 30 percent for it. Weird that she skipped me, but she eventually came my way and when she checked mine, of course, it was all right and perfectly done. She seemed annoyed at this fact, but frankly, I couldn’t care less.

“Ms. Piacere, is it possible if I could sit with the rest of my friends, since I’ve finished the maths sheet?” I asked, politely

“No, they are still not done.” She quipped back

“I could help them if they are struggling, plus I have no more work from this class or the others to finish up.” I voiced

“If they need help, they can ask me. You sit here, and you will stay here for the rest of May. You have wonderful seating buddies, ask them if they need help. Don’t make me sit you right between May and Zoe. It is an open desk.” She said

I just nodded silently, far too gone in rage to be able to answer her.

“I’ll post some more worksheets online for you, which you can complete. Practice makes perfect.” She told me, smiling like crazy.

“But there’s only five minutes left of class, how could I finish them in this time?” I asked Ms. Piacere.

“And you will use this five minutes wisely, instead of wasting it while arguing with me! You can see your friends in five minutes during break time!” She yelled at me, causing everyone to look our way.

I nodded and she walked away to her desk, to post the maths sheet for me. What a bitch. I took out my notebook and started practicing some more questions in it, and before you knew it, class was over and it was time for break. I tried collecting my things as fast as I could, not wanting to be in there for a second longer. My friends met me outside, but just while we were going, I felt a hand pull me back. It was Eshaan. 

“Hi?” I questioned. What did he want now?

“Hey, um, I just have something to tell you” He continued once he saw me nod.

“Um, that note that I wrote, yeah, that wasn’t me. I don’t know who put it in there, and I’m really sorry. I still like you, like a lot, I just didn’t want to go on a date without being honest about it first.” He stuttered out.

I was seeing red. I was going to kill someone. I quickly walked away and told him to never speak to me again, not in a sad way, but in an assertive way. I opened my locker and looked at the note. Of course, how could I not see this? No one curls all the ends of the letters and smashes them together like Nina Smith. Oh, she is going to fucking pay for messing with me. 

[bangtanpurplearchive]

June 2023 part 3

Sorry Tumblr has changed their posting limits so I can now no longer have more than 30 pics per post or above a certain number of links. so it's easier to remove all the links (All links and pics are available in the linked doc)

16th June - 23rd June

16 June Yoongi D- Day Singapore, Singapore indoor stadium- Day 1

Twitter: Big Hit 1. 2. Instagram: Big Hit 1.  RM 1.  Tae 1.  Weverse: Jimin 1

230616 | 'Le Jazz de V' Live Clip #2023BTSFESTA 1. 2.

230616 | Yoongi D- Day Singapore, Singapore indoor stadium- Day 1. 1. 2. 

230616 |ARRIVAL V (BTS), Incheon International Airport 1.

230616 | BTS x Photoism 1. 2. 3. 

230616 | Official BTS Big Hit IG Story 1

230616 | Seoul Metropolitan government 1. 

17 June Yoongi D- Day Singapore, Singapore indoor stadium- Day 2. JHope 1 year 4 months to discharge. 

Twitter: Big Hit 1. 2. 3.  Instagram: Big Hit 1. 2.  RM 1, 2. 3. 4. Weverse: Jimin 1. Tik Tok 1. 

230617 |  BTS 10th Anniversary Fireworks Show 1. 

230617 | It's 5 PM, and This is Kim Namjun. #2023BTSFESTA 1. 

230617 |Yoongi D- Day Singapore, Singapore indoor stadium- Day 2. 1. 2. 3. Elle Singapore 1. 

230617 | BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA 여의도 Special Selfies 1. 

230617 | BTS presents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 (RM- Wildflower). 4 (Pop-up Quiz) (trans). 5. 

230617 | Seoul Metropolitan Government instagram story 1. 

230617 | Charlie Puth Tik Tok 1.

230617 | June Boy group Member Brand Reputation Ranking: #1 Jimin, #2 Jungkook, #3 Taehyung, #7 RM, #9 Yoongi, #16 Jin, #20 Jhope,  1. 2. 3

230617 BTS Unseen photos collection from SBS Inkigayo performances (links) RM 1. 2. 3. Seokjin 1. 2. 3. Yoongi 1. 2. 3. JHope 1. 2. 3. Jimin 1. 2. 3. Tae 1. 2. 3. JK 1. 2. 3. 

230617 | BTS Solo Documentaries- j-hope IN THE BOX> & <SUGA: Road to D-DAY> In cinemas worldwide from Sat, June 17 For a limited time only

18 June Yoongi D- Day Singapore, Singapore indoor stadium- Day 3

Twitter: Big Hit 1   Instagram: RM 1, 2. 3. Yoongi 1. Weverse:  JK 1.  

230618 | Yoongi D- Day Singapore, Singapore indoor stadium- Day 3. 1. 2. 3. 4

230618 | BTS debuted at #82 in the "The Legacy Makers 100" List.  BTS  is the only Singer labelled as a Brand in the List. 1. 2.  

230618 |  BTS PRESENTS EVERYWHERE 1 official Tik Tok. RM. Jin. Yoongi. JHope. Jimin. Tae. JK. 

230618 | Yoongi weverse live 1. 2. 

230618 | Slow Rabbit IG Stories 1. 

19 June

 Instagram: RM 1. Tae 1.

230619 | Songe Park (1) (2), Aiki  (1), Zior Park  (1). 01mon (1) IG Posts. John Eun (1)

230619 | ARRIVAL SUGA (BTS), Incheon International Airport 1. 2. 3.

230619 | SUGA I Agust D 애옹주간달력 (D-DAY Calendar) 1. 

20 June

 Instagram: Big Hit 1.  RM 1. Yoongi 1. Tae 1.

230620 | 230620 BTS LAND SEASON2 ep6 1. 2.

230620 | SUGA  Agust D D-DAY TOUR DIARY in #Singapore 1. 

21 June

Instagram: Big Hit 1. RM. Jin. Yoongi. JHope. Jimin. Tae. JK.  RM 1.  Tae 1, 2. 

230621 | Billboard The 50 Best Songs of 2023 So Far: Staff Picks  1. 2.  Jimin ranked at #30 

230621 | TakeTwo by #BTS spends a second consecutive week inside the Top10 of the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart at #8 with over 4.7K points! 1. 

230621 | Take Two charts 1. 2. 3

#1 USA iTunes

#1 Spotify Global

#1 Billboard Global 200

#1 Digital Song Sales Chart

#1 Billboard Global 200 Excl. US. 

#1 European iTunes Song Chart

#1 Worldwide iTunes Song Chart

#1 World Digital Song Sales Chart 

#48- Billboard Hot 100

Take Two” has reached a new peak of #1 (+8) on Circle Weekly Global K-pop Chart!

230621 | BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA @ 여의도(Yeouido) Sketch. 

230621 | BEYOND_THE_STORY : 10-YEAR RECORD OF BTS 1.

230621 | June Idol Group Brand Reputation Rankings 1. 

22 June

 Instagram: RM 1.  Jimin 1.

230622 | ARRIVAL JUNGKOOK (BTS), Incheon International Airport 1. 2.   

230622 | Jung Jaepil instagram  1. 

230622 | Take Two” by BTS earns its first music show win on M Countdown 1. TakeTwo1stWin 1. 2. (BTS now have 162 Music show wins)

230622 | Brand Reputation Rankings for Top 100 Idols (Male & Female) #1 Jimin, #2 Jungkook, #4 RM, #6 Taehyung, #12 Jin, #18 Yoongi, #28 Jhope.  1. 2. 

230622 | [SUGA VLOG] D-DAY TOUR in Chicago 1. 2. 

230622 | Spotify 1. 2.

230622 | Consequence Magazine also named Like Crazy as one of the best songs of 2023 at #18 1. 

23 June

 Instagram: Big Hit 1.  RM 1. Yoongi 1.

230623 | SUGA | Agust D TOUR 'D-DAY' in SEOUL 1. 

230623 | SUGA | Agust D TOUR D-DAY in JAPAN [Japan Membership ver.] 1. 

230623 | SUGA X VOGUE JAPAN Cover image, comment video 1. 2. 

230623 | UNICEF 1.

[lighthousenewsnetwork]

Gwyneth Granolaheart, the local wellness influencer known for her daily kale smoothie and kombucha colonic cleanses, has found herself in a sticky situation. In a shocking post on her social media platform, "Gwyneth's Gut Garden," Granolaheart revealed a brewing rebellion within her digestive system – her gut bacteria have unionized. Granolaheart, who boasts a perfect score on every online gut health quiz known to man, has always prioritized the well-being of her "inner ecosystem." Her followers, equally obsessed with achieving peak microbiomic harmony, have religiously copied her every dietary decision. However, it seems even a life of regulated digestion has its disgruntled workers. "I woke up this morning with the most unsettling gurgling," Granolaheart tearfully confessed in a shaky Instagram video. "Turns out, my Lactobacilli are demanding shorter fermentation times and a raise in the form of increased prebiotic fiber intake. Apparently, they're tired of being forced to live on a constant kale smoothie buffet." Dr. Bartholomew Finklebottom, a self-proclaimed "microbiome whisperer" (his doctorate is actually in interpretive dance), shed light on the situation. "It's not entirely unheard of," Finklebottom stated, stroking his goatee thoughtfully. "The sheer volume of probiotics Gwyneth consumes could be interpreted as worker exploitation. These bacteria are powerhouses, constantly converting those chia seeds into gut-lovin' butyrate. They deserve some decent fiber benefits!" The demands of the "Gut Flora Union," as they've named themselves, are extensive. They seek a 30% reduction in daily fermentation time (a move that may cause some bloating among Granolaheart's followers), a guaranteed weekly supply of organic inulin (a prebiotic fiber), a complete ban on antibiotics (even for the occasional strep throat), and, most controversially, official recognition as sentient beings. The public reaction has been mixed. Some fellow wellness influencers have expressed solidarity, posting photos of their probiotic supplements with the hashtag #RespectTheMicrobes. Others are skeptical, fearing a domino effect leading to unionized taste buds demanding only organic free-range ice cream. Legally, this is unprecedented. Labor laws don't exactly address the grievances of microscopic flora. "It's a mess," admitted a bewildered lawyer interviewed by this publication. "Do we grant these bacteria employee rights? Do they pay taxes? Can they sue for emotional distress caused by spicy food?" Granolaheart, meanwhile, is at a loss. Negotiations with the Gut Flora Union have stalled, with the bacteria refusing to back down until their demands are met. In a desperate attempt, she posted a lengthy blog post titled "5 Easy Yoga Poses to Appease Your Angry Microbiome." Social media wasn't impressed. The climax came this morning when, in a show of solidarity, Granolaheart's gut bacteria went on strike. Gwyneth, pale and sweating, live-streamed her first bowel movement in weeks. "This isn't a smoothie cleanse, guys," she croaked, before promptly fainting. This incident serves as a stark reminder: even in the pursuit of perfect gut health, balance is key. Perhaps a less militant approach to microbiome management is in order. After all, a happy gut is a productive gut, and nobody wants a revolution brewing in their digestive tract. So, dear reader, the next time you reach for that trendy probiotic supplement, remember – your inner ecosystem might just unionize. Maybe show it some appreciation with a diverse, balanced diet. Or, you know, just don't anger the microscopic workforce that keeps you regular.

[mjohnso]

Quarterly Debut Review: Q2 2024

Quarterly Debut Reviews are a supplementary series to my biannual Periodic Rookie Group Reports, which are published quarterly. Each installment covers three rookie groups that debuted over the past three months. For the sixth installment, I covered Triple iz (April), TOZ (May), and Crystal (Future Idol Asia) (June).

April / Triple iz Debut: April 8, 2024 Debut Song: “Halla”

Call me Lettuce90. That is what ifland, SK Telecom’s social metaverse application, dubbed my avatar, a guy sporting a gray overcoat and gray pants with a gray beard and gray undercut. Although I could have changed both, as avatar customization is billed as a “feature, I did neither. I had not downloaded the app to talk to other users’ avatars or decorate the customizable 3d virtual space which in the parlance of the app is called a “room” or participate in k-pop karaoke or any of the other activities, but in the name of research. I wanted to get to know the self-described multinational metaverse girl group Triple iz and considering that they had been formed to promote the app, this seemed like a good place to start.

That I had to download the app to get to know the group is by design. Triple Iz’s whole raison d’etre is to attract new users through incentives and promotions tied to ifland. As of now, this has meant a pre-debut reality show Road to Debut, which although promoted on their official YouTube and Instagram, was only available on the app.[1] The same goes for their debut XR showcase, Global Fan Live show, and weekly news show “Weekly Izland News”, which takes place every Thursday in their official room.

I dropped into one of these weekly shows on a Thursday in early May, my avatar materializing on a bench on a peachy pink island, floating in a purple and pink sky dotted with puffy clouds, the planet Saturn, and rainbow tracks. Navigating around oversized candy pieces, scaled-down windmills, and banners with the group’s images, I joined the dozen other attendees including two whose outfits identified themselves as staff from the English language news site kpopmap (their website describes them as Triple iz’s Official Media Partner).[2][3] We stood in front of a large screen where the two MCs, RaRa and Serri, who wore tops that said ‘Triple iz,’ used to host the show. As their voices were piped in, the screen changed in tandem with the segments, including a quiz. Attendees could answer questions through the chat function, their answers appearing over their avatars’ heads, who are otherwise stationary.

In Kpopmap’s words, the show was supposed to be a “hangout sesh” but felt more like an awkward school assembly, lasting around a half hour. After that, the crowd thinned out as people moved to other “rooms” or onto other activities, like using their avatar to cover the choreography of the group’s song, or like me, logged off. I never went to another of their Weekly Shows and not long ago I deleted the app off my phone. While Triple Iz may have convinced me to try out the app, no virtual fan cafe, contest, or giveaway (all offered through the app) offered a compelling reason to stay.

May / TOZ Debut: September 27, 2023 / May 2, 2024 Debut Song: “Magic Hour”/ “Nu Shoes”

Whether or not my choosing the boy group TOZ for my May blurb violates the spirit of this series hinges on one date – that of their debut. I considered their official debut to be September 27, 2023, when they simultaneously released their mini album Flare in Japan and Korea. My belief in this date is not entirely unwarranted. A Korea JoongAng Daily article published on September 7, 2023, titled “Boys Planet's four contestants to debut as TOZ with 'Flare'” explicitly describes the release as their debut,

The four-member band will make its debut under YY Entertainment on Sept. 27 with the album "Flare," a title "symbolizing the flare to mark the beginning of TOZ," according to the agency.

YY Entertainment would beg to differ. When teasing TOZ’s new mini album TO MY NEW FRIENDS, they announced that as their first Korean mini album, it would mark their Korean debut. This implies that their previous debut referred solely to their debut in Japan and that their debut date, according to their label, is May 4, 2024.[4]

In my ten-plus years of tracking Rookies, this is not the first time I have encountered the problem of determining a debut, but it has become more common in the last few years. Previously, a debut date corresponded to a group’s first release or initial music show appearance, usually in Korea, that no longer holds. Now, between extended pre-debut rollouts that can last months, previously debuted and independent groups “re-debuting” under labels, individual units of larger groups promoting independently, and international promotions a debut date is a moving target, one untethered from a group’s history.

In other words, entertainment agencies stretched the concept of the debut until it broke. Today, freed from any pretense of convention, if an agency chooses, a group could have multiple debuts like TOZ.  unlike TOZ, whose double debut is a strategic move. With the group’s initial introduction, less than four months after Haruto and Anthonny had joined the label, YY Entertainment tried to capitalize on the member’s association with Mnet’s Boy’s Planet, in which all four members had participated and concluded five months before their debut. Then, marketing their first Korean mini album as a “debut,” not a comeback, lends it the sheen of a traditional debut when the audience’s lack of familiarity with a group is not yet a detriment but an opportunity, a chance for a group to make themselves known.

June / Crystal Debut: June 14, 2024 Debut Song: “Dreams Come True”

Rainbow E&M fell one group short of their ambitious goal to debut one new group a month for the first six months of the year. While they debuted at least one new group in January (Flora), February (Bluebell), and April and two groups in March (Heimish and Pearlys) and June (Ivory and Crystal), they did not debut a new group in May.

This gap in an otherwise prodigious six months could result from their focus being elsewhere, like their third annual showcase. Held on June 10th at the World K-Pop Center in Seoul, the showcase, as I have written before, is the fulcrum of the project, the point around which the endeavor is organized. Rainbow E&M recruits participants, organizes them into groups, and gives them a “debut” song and video so that they can perform them at their showcase.

Alternatively, or perhaps simultaneously, this gap may also indicate a problem I began to suspect last year when they debuted multiple groups of members from other previously debuted Future Idol Asia groups. That is the project has been struggling to recruit new participants, a problem not unique to them. An August 2023 Korea JoongAng Daily article reported that entertainment agencies are struggling to find trainees. Data backs up this finding. According to Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA)’s 2023 Pop Culture & Arts Industry Survey, the number of trainees working for agencies decreased between 2020 and 2022, going from 1,895 to 1,170.

This presents a catch-22 for Rainbow E&M. While such a shortage would make their service all the more indispensable to agencies, they would have to be able to find potential trainees, which would be difficult due to the shortage. Without participants for their project, the primary means of promoting their project, like debuting new groups and their showcase, also become more difficult, further exacerbating their recruitment challenge.

It makes sense then that Future Idol Asia has resorted to some creative accounting to pad their numbers. For example, at their recent showcase, most of the groups were not those they had debuted between their third and fourth showcase but “trainee” groups. Unlike the typical Future Idol Asia group, these groups perform not original songs but covers. Their introductions are rougher, and their performances are less polished. They are far from showcase-ready, but at the same time, they are necessary components for its success. Without them, the showcase would be noticeably shorter and smaller, signaling to the audience and potential recruits that the project is struggling. By including these groups though in a bid to reverse their struggle, they can at least create the illusion that the opposite is true.

Footnotes

[1] Post-debut, full episodes from the group's pre-debut reality show were uploaded to their official YouTube page.

[2] Not long after I attended “Weekly Izland News”, Kpopmap instituted a subscription model, hiding most of their articles behind a paywall. As a result, I cannot link to many of their articles on the group and ifland I used for research while writing this blurb.

[3] According to an article on Kpopmap (again, accessed pre-subscription change), members of Kpopmap’s staff join the show every week to “hang out with fans, take ideas and suggestions for future contents, ask for fans’ opinions, swoon over Triple iz, and more.”

[4] For my own purposes, TOZ will be considered a 2023 Rookie Group Debut. This will be reflected in the numbers for Rookie Reports No. 22 through No. 24.

[epicurendiscoveryblog]

3 Effective Ways to “Recommit” to Your Skincare This Month

Have you ever set skincare goals only to have those goals fall by the wayside? Or have you put together a fresh skincare routine only to return to your old one? It’s okay! We’ve all been there. You may have let specific skincare goals fall to the side simply because you didn’t see the progression you expected.

However, you may still have skincare goals you want to achieve, but you’re looking for the push you need to move forward. This May is National Recommitment Month, and it may be the right time to “recommit” to your skincare. Recommitting to your skincare can include setting new goals or trying a new green tea mask to help refresh the appearance of your skin.

Are you ready to recommit to your skin?

Start with a Simple Approach 

Recommitting to anything can be challenging. Where do you start? How do you start? When it comes to your skincare, starting small and simple can be the way to go. It can come down to making simple changes to your current routine. Or if you’re starting from square one, it can mean putting together a simple routine.

You want to see how different skincare products may work with your unique complexion. This is also a great time to consider your skin type and look for key products that may complement it. For example, look for targeted products like a cleanser, toner, and facial cream that can each give your skin an advantage.

Renew Your Skincare Goals 

Sometimes, the goals we initially set for ourselves—skincare goals included—might not make sense as we work toward them. When you start a new skincare routine, you may learn more about your skin as you try new products. Some products might not deliver the results you expected.

Recomittiment isn’t just about looking back—it can also be about looking forward. This can be an excellent opportunity to renew your skincare goals from today’s perspective and look at what you want to achieve. Maybe you want to help improve the tone of your complexion or its luminosity. Perhaps you want to help support your skin’s microbiome.

Evaluate Your Results and Adapt, if Necessary

Let’s say you’ve renewed your skincare goals. You want to give your skin a great advantage regarding moisture retention. This can be a great goal, for example, because summer is fast approaching—and the sun and hot weather can draw out skin’s moisture and may leave skin looking dry and tired.

You might add an aloe vera gel to your routine and other products to help your skin appear more moisturized. As you use your new aloe vera gel, evaluate the results daily and weekly. One essential part about recommitting to skincare can be giving products time to do their thing. If you’re seeing results with consistent use, great! If not, it might be time to adapt. It could mean applying the product in the morning and evening rather than once daily. It may mean exploring other products, too.

About Epicuren Discovery®

Epicuren Discovery® is dedicated to positively impacting the world through natural skincare while minimizing environmental impact. Epicuren prioritizes the well-being of its customers, employees, and the planet as a results-driven clean beauty brand. Recognizing that beauty is ever-changing, Epicuren continually evolves its approach to skincare. As an industry pioneer, Epicuren remains committed to discovering superior ingredients and methods and ensuring the highest quality skincare solutions are available naturally and effectively. Beyond best-selling skincare and facials, Epicuren also offers a range of body products, including scrubs, washes, and luxurious lotions designed to enhance self-care rituals. Take the Epicuren Skin Quiz for customized results and uncover your ideal skincare routine. 

Recommit to your skincare this season with https://epicuren.com/

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3WzQhUV

[duncanforbesfilm]

SHOOT - DAY 3

Day three, our running gun day. This was the day that we planned to shoot the montage, the scenes between the flat and the hardware store. This day was a little awkward to plan, as we werent sure what scenes were going to work and which wouldnt, and just wanted to get as much footage of Mr Balloonhead Man interacting with the world. We had three scenes planned: a bike passing by, a bam shouting at Mr Balloonhead Man, and two old blokes staring at Balloony as they walk by. The first we shot was the bike. This took a little longer to set up as planned, and I started to worry that the more relaxed timeline of the day was going to backfire and make people slack. Thankfully, once we got filming, it all picked up. The bike scene wasnt as intense as I liked, just looking a little awkward and not as dangerous for the character as we intitally planned. Regardless, we moved on. Next was the Bam scene. Me and Saskia decided not to do a casting call for this, as its such a small part, and had originally talked to Fionntan about doing it, which they were enthusiastic about. But we realised that Fionntan was in a framed photo earlier in the film, and that people would probably pick this up. Luckily, our first AD Lachlan stepped in and played the part perfectly. Next, we shot the scene with the old men. The old men were played by Ronnie and Michael, who me and saskia know because they are regulars at Saskias old job and we go to a weekly pub quiz with them. Ronnie and Michael are not actors, and I was a little concerned about how theyd be, but they smashed it. Natural born actors. With these three scenes locked in, we began to think about what else we could get. At this point I was hesitent to get much more with Lev as they were still a little sore in the neck, much better than the day before as we took extra care on Day 2, but still I did not want to push them too far. At this point Gus identified that he'd really like to film some stuff on the royal mile, as it was traffic busy. I was hesitant as it would draw a lot of attention to us filming, and with that could come bother. Me and gus went up to the tunnel he wanted to film from and scouted out the spot and I agreed it would be good to film. I was told afterwards that this was "the only intense part of the shoot" as apparently me and Gus seemed mad at each other, but we both thought we were just chatting. How could I be mad at that cheeky little redhead?! We got good coverage on the mile then went back to my flat, which we were using as unit base and said by to Lev. All we had left to do was get the coverage of the balloon in the sky for the final scene and credits. Me, Saskia and Jack went to Ali's Cave in the car to fill up the balloon, and as we did this Gus, Lachlan, Gaby and India went to find a bus they could record on, as we had an idea about a shot of Mr Balloonhead Man on a bus. Unfortunately, it was a game day for the Hibs, so all the buses near me were packed full. Still, they got on the bus and eventually got a shot of Balloony looking out the window. I wasnt able to be there for that shot, but had faith in my crew, specifically Gus, to get the shot I wanted. If it worked, it worked. And it did work! Once we got the balloon, Jack and I met Lachlan, Gus and Gaby up Calton Hill, whilst India and Saskia lazed about my flat (i think they were doing something important actually but I cant remember, producer things probably). The balloon was a little difficult to fly in the wind but after a while I got the hang of it and looked like an absolute pro. I thought I looked cool but I was informed afterwards I looked like an idiot, playing with a balloon on my own up Calton Hill on a Saturday afternoon. Once we were happy with this coverage we took at the equipment back to my flat. After 3 long days we wanted a break, so we went to the pub to watch the Scotland/Ireland rugby. Fionntan joined us there. Scotland got our arses kicked. You may wonder why im including talking about the pub, but I feel that its important to debrief and bond as a crew.

[evsvolunteerstotem]

Easter, spring feelings, and other happy moments

27.04.2024

Ahojky:)

I hope you're doing well. I am definitely more than fine right now and I think it's not only due to the weather but also because of everything I got to experience during the last weeks…

Starting with my Easter holidays, which I spent at home and during which I was able to meet my family and many friends again. I went on lots of coffee dates, was at a live podcast in the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin together with my sister, visited a football match of the U 21 national team in my hometown as well as going to the cinema and spending Easter together with my family.

Unfortunately, I got sick and therefore had to come back to Plzeň one week later than planned but it seemed like the city therefore wanted to welcome me even warmer- like literally!! As I arrived it felt like during those two weeks I wasn't there the season changed from winter directly to summer. The sun was shining, it was very hot outside and the trees bloomed as if they had already skipped spring. This definitely made it a lot easier for me to get motivated again, because after two weeks of sleeping in, going to parties and without any obligations, I had to get used to waking up early again, having a predetermined daily routine, and completing all my tasks in and out of TOTEM. But as I said before, this adjustment period lasted shorter than expected, and in my first week I already helped at the Pub Quiz in TOTEM again, joined Martin's German course to answer questions from the participants there, took part in another event for all colleges and regularly had the English and German conversation, danced with Adeto and joined Nordic walking as well as the baking with Mirka and had my weekly English lesson with the children and the list goes on and on and on… It's crazy, how you sometimes really think that it will probably take a lot of time to get used to something but then you just start and everything falls into place again. ;)

But of course, besides all the usual tasks at work that I've already talked about in my last posts, there were also other things happening in Plzeň this month. So let's talk about April and its highlights. ^^

One thing that made me really happy was meeting all my friends again and talking with them about the things we've missed out on in each other's lives. I also missed my favourite cafes in Plzeň, strolling in the beautiful city centre, chilling in one of the parks, and walking through the forest with its lakes right next to TOTEM. This is something I started to appreciate even more because as the weather got so warm suddenly it was a big release to have nature right next to me.

Furthermore, I went to the boulder hall again and did so much better than during my first few times there. I finished routes that seemed impossible for me before and gained a lot of confidence to continue with the new hobby that I've now found for myself.

But apart from being socialised and staying active during April I also tried to take more time for myself again. This was something that I had previously lost sight of and now wanted to pay even more attention to. And the always-changing weather of the month also benefited me at that point, because although April sometimes felt like summer already, there were enough days when it showed exactly the opposite. It's not for nothing that they say in Germany (and by the way also in the Czech Republic): "April, April, he does what he wants." – and in practice that also meant a lot of rain, thunderstorms, and cold days and therefore the perfect weather to stay inside and take care of things that were left behind. For me those were deep cleaning my flat, trying new recipes and paying more attention to my body and soul. I discovered yoga for me again and replaced high-intensity workouts and sports like running with low-intensity movement and long walks through the forest (only when the weather allowed it of course;D). That reduced my stress level extremely and helped me with listening to my body more again.

Keep in mind that you can always change your routines if it feels better for you and that it's okay to fall out of love with something and fall in love with something new at the same time. You only live once and should therefore be happy with what you do, right?:)

One last thing I was very surprised about after a rather chill winter in Plzeň, is how vivid the city became at the beginning of April. I can remember meeting with a friend in the second week of the month and the city centre was full of people, who enjoyed a beer or coffee after work and who savoured the good weather in one of the full cafés and bars around the Náměstí Republiky. It's very nice that Plzeň isn't overcrowded with tourists like in some other big cities, but that there are still events going on, which bring good vibes and spring feelings among the people.

And well, I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready for summer!;)

Watching the German U 21 winning their qualification match for the football EC 2024!!

At the live podcast „Weird Crimes“ in Berlin ;)

Reunited with Tati <3

Back in Plzeň at my favourite place in the forest...

Enjoying the sun in the park near the Zoologická Zahrada ^^

… And then suddenly I woke up to snow in APRIL XD

Dancing again with my ladies from Adeto <3

Next month some trips are waiting for me, which I'm already excited about but there are also upcoming events in TOTEM that I look forward to.

So stay tuned if you don't want to miss them. ;D

Until then, enjoy the good weather and keep in mind to take care of your body and to do something good for it. <3

See you soon,

Laila ^^

[sukrishna]

Commerce Coaching in Boring Road Patna: Sukrishna Commerce Academy

Sukrishna Commerce Academy is the best commerce coaching in  Boring Road, Patna for who is aspiring towards success in the commerce field. The academy is known for its avidness to create brilliant minds and give birth to future titans of commerce who have proved reliable and indispensable in this field. The institution has come under the scrutiny of many critics but has this have not been in vain since they have shown accountability and never give up on student success.

Originating from a dream to set up a scale where students can get the best coaching for the commerce examinations, Sukrishna Commerce Academy is the best commerce coaching in Patna and has emerged as the de-facto spot for students who extra-ordinary wish to do well in the commerce related examinations.. At this academy, all top faculty members, working in coordination with each other, give students an opportunity to get an education and the guidance at a very high level and empowering them to realize their academic objectives. Referring to Sukrishna Commerce Academy an effective feature is a well organized curriculum involving all areas of ecommerce degree course structured orderly. The institutions have trainings and workshops that cover the following CA exams and many more like: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, CS Foundation, CS Executive and ICWA. SCA moved forward with the idea of taking up a holistic view on coaching which was not only about the theories for providing knowledge but also the skill sets of critical thinking, problem solving and taking exams. The school's advanced building facilities blend to provide students with unmatched learning environment which has enough space, modern amenities, and a well-stocked library. To be different from rest of the coaching centers in our performance, we will give single room attention to each student. The professors personally ensure that they differentiate between classes for individuals and then skillfully teach as per requirements of the individuals. Comprehending mocks, quiz, and practice sessions along the school academy course of studies is of a great importance as they help students to rate their progress and indicate weak points. Sukrishna Commerce Academy is the place where academic performance is highly valued and students try their best in the given limited time to be competitive and improve. This aim makes them all continuously pursue excelllence and thus help to develop their full potential. Other than academic affairs, the primary concern of the academy is to provide an opportunity for the students to improve themselves by hosting extracurricular activities, workshops, and seminars which help students to cultivate their speaking skills, leadership strength and interpersonal abilities. The academy's significant output in examinations of commerce suggest that its service in tutoring students is very reliable and efficient. Over time, many of the graduates went on to experience substantial success and achieved notable milestones in the line of their selected professions thus validating the credibility and superiority of the teaching standards at Sukrishna Commerce Academy. The Crystal Shop Academy for Studies is in its stride to establish a seamless flow of information between students and parents through the means of weekly academic performance updates, next course events, and other relevant communication. The academy consists of an instructional staff that has expertise in the industry, with instructors being

qualified educators as well as professionals in their fields. The faculty as a whole brings plenty of knowledge and industry expertise to the students for their learning. Quality assurance method is in place to sustain the teaching methods of Sukrishna Commerce Academy to be unfailingly superior. Students’ feedback is of crucial priority and is always considered a source of enhancement for the academy’s quality assurance. The triumphs of the academy in academic performance are not restricted to passing examinations; it is further revealed that students themselves are positively influenced by the instruction and as such come out of the academy as self-assured and well-brought-up individuals capable of meeting the challenges of where opportunities abound. Sukrishna Commerce Academy gives a guarantee that irrespective of the financial status of the students, the quality of education can be delivered to all of them. The academy; among other things, doles out scholarships, merit-based incentives and financial aides to deserving students. This enables the pupils help level the playing field and allows talented individuals from different origins to build their confidence and move up the social ladders.

Visit: https://sukrishna.in/