#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

[overtheggum]

how to get the girl in ten (easy) steps ♡ : three

paring : nonidol!soobin x fem!reader

word count : 1.2k

genre : fluff, such stupid fluff - romantic comedy

warnings : profanity, inaccurate university descriptions, food and drinks, there's like no concept of time they're just in school the whole time ig (i don't even know what counts as a warning so please let me know!)

playlist ! : forty one winks by tomorrow by together, attention please! by enhypen, but i like you! by boynextdoor, pick up your phone by hojean

author's note : this is my first fic ever written so feedback is appreciated!

p.s if you want to be added to the taglist, please either leave an ask or a comment!

masterlist . step two and eight ninths. step four.

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STEP THREE: SLOWLY ENTER THEIR WORLD, INVOLVE YOURSELF IN THEIR LIFE EVEN IF ITS ONLY FOR SMALL MOMENTS.

Soobin always knew that studying Psychology was going to be a lot of work.

All the memorizing, overanalyzing, and trying to understand people when all he really wanted to do was crawl into bed and binge Jujutsu Kaisen until his brain turned to soup. (Okay, maybe that last part was a Soobin-specific struggle—but still. Very valid.)

What really made it worse was the math. Not because Soobin was bad at it—he just would’ve genuinely preferred to eat his own over-salted, undercooked cooking than spend another minute with numbers.

And of course, the only Statistics class that fit his schedule?  7:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. A cruel joke. A crime against humanity. A weekly torture session disguised as education.

The one redeeming factor? He got to sit just behind Y/N.

Ninety whole minutes of staring at the right side of her face under soul-sucking fluorescent lights. Romantic.

Normally, he would’ve considered this his prime window to at least attempt being charming—or, at the very least, presentable. But not today. Not after a full schedule packed with back-to-back assignments. Not after Taehyun dragged him through a gym session that was clearly designed to test the limits of human suffering. And definitely not after surviving on one sad bowl of Frosted Flakes with what may or may not have been expired milk.

By the time Soobin slumped into his usual seat at the back of the lecture hall, he was running on fumes, questionable dairy, and emotional damage.

He couldn’t think. He couldn’t flirt. He couldn’t even remember what chapter they were on. The idea of impressing Y/N tonight? Yeah… she was lucky he was even conscious.

He leaned forward, arms crossed on the desk, already halfway to being unconscious.

Statistics… What even was statistics? A class? A cryptid? An elaborate punishment from a past life?

He needed to think about literally anything else.

He opened his phone.

And there it was—front and center. That godforsaken article. “HOW TO GET A GIRLFRIEND IN TEN STEPS.”

He stared at it blankly. Then sighed.

Maybe rereading it would at least keep him awake.

Or, if nothing else, distract him from the pain of existence.

“...Now that you’ve established yourself as a person to them, try to make an effort to insert your way into their life. Make sure they understand you’re not just a passing figure…”

“Right, because one awkward interaction at a café is definitely enough to make her want to talk to me,” Soobin thought dryly.

He probably should be more optimistic… but honestly, he couldn’t find the energy for it.

He shoved one earbud into his left ear and laid his head on the desk. Should he go window shopping? Start a new show? Take a BuzzFeed quiz to find out what kind of bread he is? Decisions, decisions.

Then—movement. A shuffle, the scrape of a chair from the right. He didn’t bother looking up. Probably just another sleep-deprived student preparing to mentally disassociate for the next ninety minutes.

“Hey, Soobin,” came a voice.

Not just any voice. Her voice.

His head shot up so fast he nearly concussed himself on the desk. Oh. He stood corrected. Apparently, one awkward interaction can make you important.

He blinked. Then blinked again. Y/N was sitting beside him. Not in front. Not across the room. Not a hallucination. Right next to him.

For a second, he wondered if those 50 minutes on the stairmaster had finally short-circuited his brain. But then—they made eye contact.

Shit. Say something. Say literally anything.

So, Soobin did what any emotionally overwhelmed person would do in this situation. He waved. (In his shared dorm room with HueningKai across campus, Taehyun felt a mysterious wave of secondhand embarrassment.)

Luckily, Y/N didn’t seem to think much of it. She waved back.

“Hey.” Okay. Safe start.

“Hi,” she replied easily. Then her eyes widened and she started rummaging through her bag like she’d just remembered something.

Seconds later, she held out a mechanical pencil. It had tiny bunny prints on it.

“I lied yesterday,” she said.

Soobin blinked. “About what?”

“I actually knew you were in this class,” she said, holding the pencil out. “I always end up giving you mine.”

Oh. He was that guy. The guy who never had a pencil. Almost as bad as being the guy who sat next to someone who unironically quoted SpongeBob in class.

“I’m really sorry about that,” Soobin said quickly. He had to defend himself—something, anything. Should he tell her he hated this class? That it drained the soul from his body? But what if she got the ick from guys who don’t like math?

“It’s okay,” she smiled. “It’s kind of memorable, you know. Also kind of… charming.”

Soobin’s brain short-circuited. Charming. She said charming.

He was going to document that in his notes app under “Greatest Moments of My Life (Ranked).”

“Oh! Uh—thank you, I guess.” I guess?? Why would I say that?! What if she thinks I didn’t like the compliment? What if this is the end of everything?

Y/N gestured toward his hand. “Would it be okay if you opened your hand?”

She didn’t know it yet, but Soobin would eat mint chocolate chip ice cream for her. And he hated mint chocolate chips. He opened his hand instantly.

Y/N gently placed the bunny pencil in his palm. “This is for you.”

Soobin felt his heart combust into confetti. “Th-thank you,” was all he could get out.

She giggled. Whether it was at him or the situation, it didn’t matter. What did matter was how that tiny sound made Soobin want to write a thesis on how joy is transmitted through laughter.

“I figured,” she said, “since you always forget a pencil, I might as well just give you one.”

Soobin felt like he was baking alive. 

She was so. Fucking. Cute.

“Yeah,” he said, staring at the pencil like it was the most precious object he’d ever held. (And to him, it kinda was.)

But just when he thought the moment couldn’t get any better, Y/N smiled again and said—

“I hope you don’t mind the bunnies. I picked this one because… it reminded me of you.”

Soobin, in general, hated being compared to a bunny. It made him feel like he wasn’t manly enough. But coming out of her mouth? He was ready to become the King of Bunnies. Leader of the Fluffy Rebellion. Protector of carrots everywhere.

“It’s okay,” he beamed. “I guess it really does look like me.”

And then—of course—Professor Yang arrived.

The lecture hall's most legendary buzzkill. A scandalous old woman who would rather be flirting on a beach than teaching a night class to sleep-deprived undergrads. With a dramatic sweep of her arm, she launched into a lecture on drawing conclusions, her voice echoing off the whiteboard like a threat.

But Soobin wasn’t listening.

All he could focus on was the pencil with bunnies on it.

Resting in his big hands. Given to him by her.

He couldn’t wait to go home and giggle into his pillow about this.

Step Three.

He didn’t just pass it.

He fucking aced Step Three.

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taglist! (open!)

@tubatukimoa @fairyxtailxx @soobskz @page-isa @bear-gyu

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[jaggedamethyst]

circuit breaker 🔬🌌 (part six)

tutor!jayce talis x reader, ekko x reader college au

content: after a week of sessions with jayce, you finally have to take your quiz

i dont think there's any warnings here...sad ekko like the chat requested though!!!

notes: i regret nothing

word count: 2.6k

series master list

。·:*:·ﾟ★,。·:*:·ﾟ☆　　 。·:*:·ﾟ★,。·:*:·ﾟ☆

The start of class almost always was filled with you and Viktor talking. In fact, it was the way you first met—casually asking one another about the syllabus. There was a nostalgia whenever the two of you would meet before your scheduled start time. Viktor was truly a good friend, you’d always thought. You wouldn’t pass up your chats for anything. 

“Me and Jayce had a few sessions this week, I feel like I’m prepared for once.” You looked down at your planner as you spoke. 

Viktor dug in his bag, “I’m glad to hear that. It’s great to know that Jayce is a good tutor.” 

“He is,” you nodded, continuing your writing. 

A sound of your instructor coming in made you grab your laptop. On Fridays it went unspoken that the first task of the day was the weekly quiz. You shook off your hands, feeling a sudden nervousness. 

Viktor placed a hand on your shoulder, “You’ve got this.” He sent you a soft smile before turning to open his laptop—not at all phased by the quiz. 

“Not to change the subject, but,” you leaned over to Viktor, “How’s Sky?” 

You immediately noticed the blush prickle on his cheeks. “I think…we should focus on the task at hand.” 

A knowing smile found its way to you, “Send her my regards, then.” 

The both of you stifled a laugh, your whispers echoing over the quieting class. Soon, the only sound to be heard was that of paper being written on and calculators clacking. It comforted you to know that everyone seemed to take this seriously. In the sea of people, you thought, maybe there were others who also had a lot at stake. You let the thought carry you, almost sinking you into a warmth that made you feel surprisingly comfortable. 

Scrolling through the questions left you to picture your sessions, to imagine Jayce outlining the graph for you. The color coordinated arrows filled your mind, and the answers came flooding in. You had to be sure; you checked, double checked, and even triple checked for simple mistakes you’d made before. Before you knew it, you were submitting the quiz with a sharp breath in. 

You glanced over to Viktor who’d already finished. He looked at your screen expectantly, just as eager to see your result. With one click, the submission page loaded—with another your score appeared on the screen. 

“Oh my gosh?” You whispered quickly and looked to Viktor with wide eyes. 

“Does that say what I think it says?” 

“Viktor… I got an 87%.” 

“I can see that,” he mirrored you wide eyed expression but kept his tone low. “Well done.” 

“With the midterm in two weeks I really needed this.” You nodded to yourself, feeling the tears well in your eyes. As embarrassing as it might be, this was a reflection of your hard work and perseverance—you could do this. 

Viktor rubbed your now shaking arm encouragingly. “Good job.” 

You exhaled the weight of everything as you spoke, “Thank you.” 

With a quick flip of your hand, you pulled out your phone. You made sure to not make much noise, wiping the tears that threatened to fall from your lash line. Scrolling through your recent messages was much more conflicting than you’d imagined. The urge to press on Jayce’s name, to tell him immediately was immense. You let the thought come and go, deciding against bothering him with something so minuscule. Ekko, though, he’d understand. 

You grimaced at the last messages you sent to each other being so plain—empty, even, after what happened with Jayce. You didn’t intentionally push him away—there was just so much going on. 

hi

i miss you !!! 

btw i did good on my quiz…so you should come out with me to celebrate tonight…because im def celebrating 

please? 

You frowned at your phone. Enough time passed where you thought Ekko might be ignoring you. But you couldn’t pester him—that would be even worse than simply being left on seen. Deciding to let it go for now, you paid attention to the lecture, typing away notes that you would undoubtedly bring back to Jayce to decipher later. Just before you closed your laptop, a notification popped up on screen and illuminated the top corner. 

let me know where the celebration is you know i love a good party

As the first text from Ekko went away another popped up in its place. 

i missed you too

——————

For once your afternoon and evening weren’t spent in worry about the next big thing you had to do. Your quiz was done, you’d done a good job, and you still had time to prepare for the midterm. On top of this, you had the opportunity to reconcile with Ekko; you were truly grateful. 

Arriving at the bar, you were immediately bombarded with the sound of people talking and the overwhelming background music. Your eyes trailed the sea of people, searching for any familiar figures until you settled on two. Viktor and Ekko were sitting in the corner, tucked away in a spot they knew you’d like. It was slightly intimate and allowed you to actually talk—you appreciated the thought. 

You approached the table, waving at the pair. 

“Look who finally decided to show up.” Viktor joked, nudging Ekko.

They looked at each other, Ekko speaking up, “Hey, it takes time to look good, right?” 

“Absolutely,” you high fived Ekko as you slid in beside him. The booth was rounded, which you always liked. Instead of being forced to choose what side of a seated booth to be on, you could sit and see everyone equally. You’d mentioned that particularly annoying feeling before—and they remembered. “So is anyone gonna get the fries or should I?” 

“Already ordered,” Viktor said, “Ekko made sure to get those and your drink.” 

Ekko nodded, “Shirley Temple so you can be fake drunk like you do…for the vibes you know?” 

Just then, the ordered arrived. You exchanged looks with your friends, “I love you so much.” 

“And we love you,” Viktor spoke up. “But don’t be angry with me. I saw Sky walk in just a few minutes ago.” 

“In any other circumstance, I’d be a hater…but I know you like her so go ahead.” 

“You are an amazing friend.” He moved to stand, putting pressure on his cane. “I’ll be back, but you’re in good hands.” With that, he walked away and moved toward Sky on the opposite side of the bar. 

The sound of Ekko beside you broke your gaze, “Hi.” 

“Hi.” 

“Congrats on your quiz, knew you could do it.” 

You nodded, “Thank you.” You let silence fill the space for a few seconds before speaking. You didn’t want to face the awkwardness, but it was inevitable. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be sorry, it wasn’t your fault.” 

“But Jayce showed up to help me and it interrupted our whole thing—and I feel so bad.” 

“Dont,” he twisted his lip, and reiterated. “It’s not on you.” 

“You sure?” 

“I just dont like people trying to walk all over you…you don’t deserve that.” 

You agreed, “I know.” You moved to start in on your fries, taking a sip of your drink between your chews. 

You and Ekko fell in and out of conversation, sometimes letting the comfortable quiet sit between you before laughing together again. Between the sweet giggles from the both of you and the crinkles in your eyes from pure enjoyment, Ekko paused. You watched him look at you with a more serious look on his face. 

“What,” you reached for a napkin, “Is there something on my face, or-“ 

“No,” he laughed, then. “There’s just nobody like you, really.” He punctuated the sentence with a slow roll of your name from his lips. You straightened up at that, looking down at your plate of half-eaten fries. 

Usually, you just liked the ambience of a bar. The social setting got you just out of your comfort zone enough to fulfill your quota without overwhelming you. But the ruckus had done just that. To top it off, you weren’t even a drinker. You never drank, in fact. It just wasn’t a taste you enjoyed. So you settled on the somewhat enjoyable appetizers they offered and would call it a night. Tonight was different. You became increasingly aware of the sensory overload, and whatever Ekko was trying to say had you feeling stir crazy. 

“I have to pee.” 

Without another word, you pushed out of the booth and beelined it for the back of the building. You moved away from the blaring sounds of people talking, cutting the corner toward the bathrooms. Even if you didn’t have to go, the solace of a quieter room sounded nice right now. You took your time, going through the motions slow—even making sure to take extra time to dry your hands twice. Your mind wandered between the hand dryer and paper towels; the time dragged but not enough to allow you to avoid the reality waiting just beyond the door. 

You stepped out, a bit disoriented by which direction you had to go in. 

“Funny seeing you here.” 

You perked up at the sound of Jayce’s voice to the side of you. Without thinking, you approached him and paused, before reaching to hug him in gratitude. 

He continued, voice muffled by you pressing into his chest. “Heard someone did well on their quiz.” Viktor must’ve told him, you figured. 

“That would be me,” you looked up at him. “With your help, of course.” 

He backed up, breaking the hug and wiping his hands in a dramatic motion. “Oh no,” he shook his head, “That was all you.”

“Oh, please. We both know I wouldn’t have done remotely well without you.” 

He grasped both of your arms at your sides, shaking you reassuringly. “What did I say about giving yourself more credit?” 

Peering up at him, you didn’t speak, just twisted your face in recollection. You took the time to observe him, his hair looking slightly different. The volume had fallen through the day obviously, and the bags under his eyes were more visible than you’d ever seen them. 

Jayce spoke again, “So how was it? Tell me all about it.” 

You stayed close to him, recounting the details of the quiz. “And like in our sessions, I made sure to go back and check my work. Made me feel way more confident and obviously… it paid off.” You put your hands on your hips, “Eighty freakin seven.” 

Jayce just smiled warmly. Not responding, but rather just admiring you and how happy you were. He reveled in the pride you showed, knowing he had a part but that it was ultimately you who had done the work. 

With a hand on your shoulder, Jayce finally spoke. “You’re really smart, you know that?” 

You suddenly became aware of how desolate the hall to the bathroom was. The sound of people socializing only echoed as opposed to resounding in your ears. Music seemed to dissipate where it would screech. You were left with nothing but the tingling of Jayce’s grip on you and the intense focus of his eyes. 

You continued to study him, watching as his chest rose and fell—mirroring you. You blinked, finally responding through a whisper. “I have a good tutor.” 

The words just barely passed your lips—tumbling off of them slowly in a way that had the man mesmerized. You watched his eyes flicker down and then back up to you. 

The hand on your shoulder found itself snaking around and up to your cheek, a thumb rubbing small back and forth motions into your skin. Jayce allowed his other hand to mimic the motion—both of his hands now cupping your face in intrigue. 

He tilted his head slightly before pushing himself forward with urgency. You hadn’t registered how quickly Jayce’s lips connected with yours until they slowed against you—appreciating the feeling. The tension in your body had released, allowing you to reach your arms up and around Jayce’s neck. Your lips molded into each other’s, like they were meant to be there and intended to stay. You tugged on the hair at the nape of his neck, allowing yourself to nip at Jayce’s lips. 

You pulled back slightly, observing only the lower half of his face. The way the ghost of facial hair lingered there. How the swell of his lower lip almost always resembled a pout—even when he smiled. 

He couldn’t stand the distance and pulled you back in, working on a lip at a time. He groaned to himself, drowning in the sweetness of your lips. He continued to nudge into you, accidentally pushing your back to the wall. Your hands roamed his back, clawing at anything to ground you. His rough stubble, the fabric of his clothes, that scent of him that you loved so much, it was all too much. 

The sound of an approaching person startled you, even more so when you heard it was accompanied by the noise of clinking metal. When you realized, you pushed Jayce away—an apologetic look all over your face. 

A call of your name had you straightening your clothes; Jayce remained still, watching you. 

Viktor had come into view, pausing his steps at the sight of the pair of you. 

“Hey,” you spoke first. “You okay?” 

Viktor looked at Jayce, then at you. “I’m well. Just curious to see where you disappeared to.” 

“Oh…I just,” you smoothed over your shirt again, “Just had to use the bathroom.”

Viktor quickly flickered over to Jayce. “And you?” 

Clearly not paying attention and still looking at you, Jayce let out a sound. “Hmm?” 

“Are you also using the bathroom, Jayce?”

“Right, yeah…” he cleared his throat. “I just stepped out. We ran into each other.” 

With your lips? Viktor wanted to say. 

“Right, well.” You interjected, “I think this celebration’s lasted long enough.” You clasped your hands together dramatically. “I should head home for the night.” 

You allowed your peripheral to linger on Jayce, expecting something from him, before fully turning your head. He masked a smile—but the quick upturn of his lip made the motion apparent.

You awkwardly raised your hand, waving to Jayce and slipping past Viktor’s standing form. Flustered didn't even begin to explain it. You moved fluidly through the now growing crowd of people, the bar becoming more packed as the night went on. Without a second thought you approached Ekko, tapping his shoulder and motioning for him to leave with you. 

“I’m tired, I think. You wanna head out?” 

Without a reply, Ekko stood, following you toward the exit. The brisk air whipped around your skin—a chill there that hadn’t been before the sun went down. You shivered, then, both at the temperature and at the lingering feeling of Jayce’s lips on yours. 

Ekko broke your train of thought, “You okay?” 

You looked over to him, “Yeah, why?” 

“It’s just,” his focus was quickly drawn to your lips. “Just that you wanted to leave so suddenly, I guess.” His mouth seemed to open and close, searching for the words. Ultimately he was taken aback; he noticed the displaced sheen of your chapstick. The shine of the balm that was once properly placed seemed to have traveled and smeared around your mouth. 

Ekko nodded to himself, urging his body to take a step away from where he’d been so close to you. 

You cleared your throat, missing the way Ekko’s body slumped. “I just wanna get some sleep, it’s been a long week.” 

“Okay.” 

Your brow arched at him, then. “You alright?” 

Ekko swallowed in his mouth, controlling his stride and masking his distress. “I’m good…let’s head back.” 

“Okay.” Your voice trailed off. You matched his step back to your place until he stopped to see you off. Without another word, you waved bye—watching him disappear down the path. 

part seven

taglist

@juskonutoh @sseleniaa @aerina127 @sleepysoldier @angelicmisty @1800latenitecreep @venus-in-roses @myxticmoon @rando-no-5

[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??????

[vonkarma2]

sorry for sending you ANOTHER ask like this but. its funny to me. if werewolf castle was real do you think it would be critically acclaimed Prestige television with 10 episodes every other year. or more like a long running monster of the week. Do you think it’d be popular generally or a more niche interest. keep in mind it probably started airing 2014ish. I’m assuming it’s american. If it was british there’d be 3 feature length eps every half decade + a doctor who crossover charity special

you have me making a pitch deck for a show that doesnt exist 😭

i think it being culturally insensitive to werewolves and historically inaccurate is funnier if it's like a super popular drama than if it's an acclaimed historical docuseries

wildly overanalyzing the one page this series is ever mentioned on. ellie says risha from school likes it implying they are not close friends, meaning someone who is not in her social demographic (bullied outcast) would like it, so I take this to believe it's popular in general and not that it's unusual for her or her friends to watch it

wrt subject matter I think the show's first season is based on specific historical events, and then when they got renewed it they had run out of story and started throwing shit at the wall

apparently a series 2 storyline is that a major character gets the plague which sounds to me like grasping at straws already. not a great sign wrt quality. it sounds like a show with a large cast of characters because the first thing ellie does is ask crow his favorite. so I'm thinking it's kind of like a soap opera serial weekly show. which is crazy even in 2019 were they giving people that kind of budget? well i guess they were on series 4 so maybe it had been a while

do they air american tv dramas in england?? i don't actually know what cable tv is like there i thought it was all bbc news, interviews with b list regional celebrities, quiz shows with the same 3 people, and wallace and gromit or some shit. and doctor who

ignore all previous statements i think it originally aired on the cw. only way this makes sense

[theuniversitychallengereview]

Time is a Flat Circle

Warwick vs Queen’s, Belfast

For last week’s introduction, I used excerpts of my University Challenge blogs from the 2016/17 series. For my other blog, a newsletter about hiking and toasters and (this week) colours, I used a report I wrote in 2013.

This might seem as though it is lazy, but as I am addressing the fact that this is what I am doing it transforms the endeavour into quite a transgressive piece of art. It becomes a meta-analysis on the nature of creativity itself, a treatise on the notion of standing on the shoulders of giants, only in this case, I am my own giant.

The University Challenge Review Subscribe for weekly reviews of University Challenge, an irreverant take on Britain's quirkiest quiz showwww.quizposting.com

The stuff I nicked (sorry, reappropriated) from my UC blogs of eight years ago related to the way Paxman used to describe the quarter-final format in ever more complicated metaphors, because he found it to be overly clandestine in nature. I was planning on doing this for each of the quarter-final matches of this series, taking some of Paxman’s analogies from different old series each week.

But when I went back to the first quarter-final from 2018/18, I saw that I had batched the ten quarter-finals in three tranches of 4, 2 and 4 episodes, meaning that there was only a single allusion to Paxman’s poetry.

“The quarter-final stage is routinely described by Jeremy Paxman as something akin to an Iron Man triathlon of the mind. A seemingly never-ending intellectual wasteland”.

So there weren’t going to be enough quotes with which to flesh out the intro, but I got to reading my intro from that post, and it feels relevant, so I am going to include it in full below.

Often, when I think about possible futures I could have, I get caught up in thoughts of how even the most exciting thing would become mundane if it were repeated day after day. Being a musician and playing shows every night would surely lose its lustre after a while.

Anything, if you did it enough times, would take on an irremovable air of monotony. I tell myself this is the reason I never learned to sing or play guitar or formed a relatable yet simultaneously alienating indie pop four-piece.

It is also the reason that when I’ve thought about writing film reviews or think-pieces about rock albums, I never have. So pervasive was the idea that at some point in the future, I would run out of things to say and begin repeating the same tired phrases that it has always been a barrier. Anticipating the problems I would experience in a life that I do not yet have, and am in fact very far from having.

And yet, here I am, 62 posts into a blog about a quiz show. The episodes are pretty much the same every week, and the list of things I can say about them is fairly limited, and I know I must have said the same things over and over again. I reckon I’ve even had a similar ramble about how repetitive I’ve become before. Of all the creative endeavours I could have chosen to pursue, why did I choose this one? And now, finally, I have reached the barrier.

Unmotivated to catch up on the past few weeks’ episodes because I felt like I’d simply be belching out standard lines about ‘buzzing early for the first starter’, I wondered if the time had come to shelve this whole thing. Why keep going if there’s going to be nothing new each week, apart from maybe one decent pun?

Seven years later and I am back at the same point, only now I have written more than 300 of these. When, I wonder, did I get over the fact that I would be spending a significant portion of each week repeating myself? When, I wonder, did I get over the fact that I would be spending a significant portion of each week repeating myself?

The point I made about running out of things to say in things like film or album reviews did hold me back for a long time. If I had all of these good ideas for essays but wrote them all before I had built an audience then what would I write for that audience after I had built it? Some of the essays I’ve written for iambic kilometres have given me the same feeling — shouldn’t I be saving this gold for later?

Both Warwick and Queen’s had impressive wins in round one, but Queen’s took their foot off the gas in the second round whereas Warwick kept up their momentum. Still, that’s proof of nothing — Queen’s had it relatively easy against Cardiff despite the low scores so perhaps they were saving themselves for the last eight.

Here’s your first starter for ten.

Hart and Siddle look like they’re having a race on the first starter, and in the end Hart beats his captain with the 12th century. They take two bonuses, before a neg from Queen’s skipper Rankin allows Watson in to extend their lead.

Rankin makes up for his mistake with Teller on the next starter, pushing Queen’s up into positive figures and another starter by the same man wins them a very tough bonus set on Ye-ye music and the 1965 Eurovision song contest.

The picture starter is a map of the Motherwell postcode region, but its dropped by both sides. Watson wins the bonuses for Warwick and they manage one, on Taunton. One of the towns they miss is Llandrindod, which would surely only be gettable for someone who lives in Wales. There are nine postcode areas in Wales, and this is the toughest to guess by far.

CF — Cardiff

CH — Chester

GL — Gloucester

HR — Hereford

LD — Llandrindod Wells

LL — Llandudno

NP — Newport

SA — Swansea

SY — Shrewsbury

I’d be very interested in what percentage of viewers got that question right because the LD postcode area is the second smallest in the UK (behind KW — Wick in the North of Scotland, which is probably more guessable).

Rankin takes a third starter with hydrogen, but they draw a blank on the bonuses, then Hart takes two on the bounce to stretch out Warwick’s lead. Watson recognises on the music starter and they are into triple figures, but miss all of the bonuses.

Govindarajan takes a starter with Low Wood, and Warwick are cruising. Hart is the star of the show, and ends on nine starters, some of which you sense he gets due to his sky-high confidence, buzzing earlier than he might have if he weren’t already crushing it, like a footballer scoring with a speculative effort when they’re on a hat-trick.

Rankin makes a go of it for Queen’s, ending on seven starters, but no one else on his team manages any, and they floundered on the bonuses, taking a mere 7 of 21.

One of the bonuses they did manage was on the second picture round, on female actors playing male roles in Shakespeare. They recognised King Lear as played Kathyrn Hunter, who I saw in an adaptation of Olga Tokarczuk’s Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead which was one of the most transcendental pieces of media I have ever seen.

The match ends with three-in-a-row from Hart followed by three-in-a-row from Rankin, but it had been over as a contest long before then.

Queen’s 95–215 Warwick

The over-reliance of Queen’s on skipper Rankin finally came home to roost, while Warwick, and Hart in particular, looked supremely confident.

Next week see UCL take on Darwin, another team who have relied heavily on a single player for starter questions.

[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. 

[mentalhealthproviders]

Introduction: Why Cerebral Is on the Radar in 2025 🧠 Cerebral has emerged as a significant force in online mental health care, thanks to its hybrid model that blends licensed therapy with psychiatric medication management. As of 2025, it stands out for its nationwide availability, flexible care plans, and integration with major insurance providers. Initially launched in 2020, Cerebral gained traction during the pandemic and has since expanded to serve millions across the U.S., particularly those seeking treatment for anxiety, depression, and insomnia. What sets it apart from other online platforms is its clinically structured model, which offers not only talk therapy but also diagnosis and ongoing medication management, all from the convenience of home. In this in-depth Cerebral therapy review, we’ll cover: - How its plans and pricing compare to competitors - Who Cerebral is best suited for - Real user reviews from sources like Trustpilot - How its combined therapy + medication model works - Whether it accepts your insurance 🔗 Check out our full comparison of top online therapy platforms in 2025 🎯 Or, if you're unsure where to start, take our 2-minute quiz to find your ideal match. What Is Cerebral? Overview of the Platform Cerebral is an online mental health platform that offers therapy, psychiatric care, and medication management under one roof. Founded in 2020, it was designed to bridge a critical gap in mental health access by making clinical care more affordable, accessible, and continuous. Cerebral stands out for its integrated care model, which allows clients to receive talk therapy from licensed therapists, medication oversight from prescribers, and care coordination—all through a single platform. The service is fully digital, with therapy and medical sessions conducted via secure video calls and follow-ups handled through chat or the Cerebral app. Core Offerings - Licensed Therapy: Weekly sessions with a matched therapist (available in most states). - Medication Management: Prescriptions for conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and insomnia. - Mental Health Coaching: For users seeking lower-cost, non-clinical support with goal setting and accountability. - Care Coordination: Clients are assigned a care team that includes a prescriber and therapist or coach. Cerebral operates on a subscription model, making it easy to plan your mental health budget and stay on track with consistent care. Services are typically available nationwide, though psychiatric support may vary slightly by state. Cerebral’s Unique Therapy + Medication Model One of the most distinctive features of Cerebral online therapy is its integrated approach—offering both talk therapy and psychiatric medication management as part of a single care plan. This therapy + medication model positions Cerebral as a standout for individuals seeking clinical-grade support without navigating multiple providers. 🔄 How It Works Upon signing up, users complete a comprehensive intake assessment, covering mental health history, symptoms, and goals. Based on this information, they’re matched with a prescribing provider (such as a psychiatric nurse practitioner) and, if selected, a licensed therapist. - Initial Evaluation: A video appointment with a prescriber to assess whether medication is appropriate. - Ongoing Medication Management: Regular check-ins, side effect tracking, and dosage adjustments. - Therapy Sessions: Typically once per week, conducted via video with a licensed counselor. - Messaging & Support: Between-session support from care coordinators, therapists, or coaches. 💊 Why Combine Therapy and Medication? A growing body of research supports combining both modalities for conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). A 2023 review in JAMA Psychiatry found that patients receiving both therapy and pharmacological treatment showed significantly better outcomes than those receiving either alone. Cerebral makes this dual approach more accessible by streamlining communication and ensuring all providers are on the same platform, eliminating gaps in care coordination. 🧠 Clinical Scope Cerebral’s providers commonly treat: - Anxiety disorders - Depression - Insomnia - ADHD (in select states) - PTSD and mood disorders (with limitations) 🔗 Explore how Brightside approaches depression with medication 🔗 Compare with BetterHelp’s therapy-only model Cerebral Services Explained: Plans & What’s Included Cerebral offers several subscription-based plans, enabling users to select the level of support that best suits their needs and budget. These range from coaching and therapy-only options to comprehensive care that includes psychiatric medication management. 📦 Available Plans (2025) 1. Medication + Therapy Plan - What’s included: Initial psychiatric evaluation, monthly medication management, weekly therapy sessions, and unlimited messaging with care team. - Best for: Individuals with anxiety, depression, or insomnia who may benefit from both talk therapy and prescriptions. - Support level: High – includes both a therapist and prescriber. 2. Therapy-Only Plan - What’s included: Weekly 45-minute sessions with a licensed therapist, personalized treatment plan, and between-session messaging. - Best for: Users who do not need medication but want structured support for ongoing mental health concerns. - Support level: Moderate – therapy and coaching support only. 3. Medication-Only Plan - What’s included: Prescriber visits for medication evaluation and ongoing management, symptom tracking via app, and check-in calls. - Best for: Individuals already in therapy elsewhere or who primarily need medication for symptom control. - Support level: Medical – no talk therapy component. 4. Coaching Plan - What’s included: Weekly sessions with a certified mental health coach, goal tracking, and motivation support. - Best for: Users with mild concerns or seeking accountability and life coaching. - Support level: Low – non-clinical support only. 🔄 Plan Flexibility Users can upgrade or change plans as their needs evolve, which is helpful for those transitioning off medication or moving from coaching into therapy. 💬 Support Between Sessions Most plans include asynchronous messaging with your care team, allowing you to ask questions or check in between live sessions. All communication is handled via Cerebral’s secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. How Much Does Cerebral Cost? Cerebral offers transparent monthly pricing with no long-term contracts, making it one of the more accessible platforms for comprehensive mental health care. Here's how each plan breaks down in 2025: 💰 Current Pricing Tiers (as of 2025) Plan Type Monthly Cost (Starting At) Includes Medication + Therapy $325 Prescriber visits, weekly therapy, messaging, care team Therapy Only $259 Weekly sessions, messaging with therapist Medication Only $129 Prescriber access, monthly check-ins, symptom tracking Coaching Plan $99 Weekly coaching, goal setting, motivational support Note: Prices may vary by state, therapist credentials, and insurance use. Sliding scale options are not currently advertised. 💸 Is It Affordable Compared to Competitors? Here’s how Cerebral stacks up: - More affordable than in-person psychiatry or therapy (which often ranges from $150–$300 per session). - Less expensive than Talkspace if using therapy + medication combined. - More comprehensive than BetterHelp, which offers therapy but no psychiatric medication support. 🔗 Compare Cerebral’s pricing to other top platforms in our 2025 therapy cost guide Does Cerebral Take Insurance? Yes—Cerebral accepts insurance, which is a key advantage over many online therapy competitors. As of 2025, Cerebral has partnered with several major health insurers to make both therapy and psychiatric services more affordable. 🏥 Insurance Providers Accepted Cerebral currently works with many large providers, including: - Blue Cross Blue Shield - Cigna - Aetna - UnitedHealthcare - Tricare (select plans) - Medicare (in some states) These partnerships help reduce out-of-pocket costs for therapy sessions, psychiatric consultations, and prescription management. 📋 How to Check Your Eligibility To see if your plan is accepted: - Visit Cerebral’s insurance page during sign-up and enter your policy info. - The platform runs a real-time eligibility check. - You’ll see any co-pays or deductible estimates before subscribing. You can also request a superbill if your plan doesn’t work directly with Cerebral, which allows for potential reimbursement via out-of-network benefits. 🔗 Related Reading - 🔗 Discover which therapy platforms accept insurance - 🔗 Compare with Talkspace, another insurance-friendly provider Who Is Cerebral Best For? (Conditions, Demographics) Cerebral is ideal for users seeking affordable, clinically managed care for common mental health conditions—particularly where a combination of therapy and medication is most effective. Its approach is best suited to people who want a structured, consistent treatment model without juggling multiple providers. 🧠 Ideal For: - Anxiety Disorders: GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety - Depression: Mild to moderate depression, including postpartum depression - Insomnia: Behavioral treatment and medication options - ADHD: Medication + coaching support (available in select states) - First-time therapy users: Thanks to a guided onboarding and all-in-one dashboard 🧑‍⚕️ Best Demographics - Adults aged 18–45, though services are expanding for seniors and teens in some states - People seeking online therapy for anxiety or depression who also want prescription support - Individuals who prefer subscription-based care with minimal in-person obligations - Clients who value insurance integration or want bundled care in one place 🚫 Who It May Not Be Right For: - Users needing intensive care for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or complex trauma - Those looking for in-person sessions - Individuals requiring court-mandated or highly specialized therapy Cerebral is not a crisis service and doesn’t treat severe psychiatric conditions that require hospitalization or intensive intervention. 🔗 Compare with Brightside’s anxiety/depression model 🔗 Explore BetterHelp for broader therapy options Cerebral Reviews: What Real Users Are Saying User reviews for Cerebral online therapy reflect a mix of strong satisfaction with affordability and accessibility—alongside some critiques, particularly around care continuity and customer support. ⭐ Aggregate Ratings - Trustpilot: 4.1 out of 5 stars (based on over 5,000 reviews) - App Store: 4.6 out of 5 stars - Google Play: 4.4 out of 5 stars ✅ Common Praise - Affordability: Many users cite Cerebral as a cost-effective alternative to in-person psychiatry and therapy. - Medication access: Positive feedback on fast appointments and convenience of receiving prescriptions online. - User experience: The app’s design and scheduling features are frequently praised for being intuitive and easy to navigate. “I love being able to message my care team and get support when I need it. It’s helped me stay on track with my treatment.” — Trustpilot Reviewer ⚠️ Common Complaints - Therapist turnover: Some users report frequent changes in providers or communication lapses during transitions. - Customer support delays: A few reviewers have flagged delays in receiving help with billing, cancellations, or tech issues. - State limitations: Psychiatric services may be unavailable or limited in some states, leading to frustration. Despite some mixed reviews, most users describe Cerebral as a valuable stepping stone toward managing anxiety, depression, and related conditions—with many noting meaningful symptom improvement over time. 🔗 Check how it compares to BetterHelp and Talkspace here Cerebral vs. Competitors: BetterHelp, Brightside & Talkspace How does Cerebral stack up against other major online therapy platforms in 2025? While each service has its strengths, Cerebral’s combination of therapy + medication management remains its key differentiator. 🥇 Cerebral vs. BetterHelp Feature Cerebral BetterHelp Medication Support ✅ Yes (prescribers included) ❌ No Insurance Accepted ✅ Many major insurers ❌ Private pay only Best For Anxiety, depression, insomnia General therapy, broad therapist access Therapist Matching Based on intake & care team alignment User-driven with switch flexibility Cost Starts at $129/month (meds only) $240–$360/month (therapy only) 🔗 Compare with BetterHelp’s therapy-first approach 🧠 Cerebral vs. Brightside Feature Cerebral Brightside Medication Support ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Specialization Broader mental health coverage Focused on anxiety & depression Therapy Format Live video sessions Video + digital CBT tools Outcome Tracking Some symptom tracking Advanced, data-driven symptom tracking Insurance Accepted ✅ Most major plans ✅ Most major plans 🔗 See how Brightside handles depression with medication 🧾 Summary - Choose Cerebral if you want integrated care for multiple conditions and insurance support. - Go with BetterHelp if you prefer therapy-only services with unmatched therapist variety. - Opt for Brightside if you're focused specifically on data-driven anxiety and depression treatment. 🔗 View the full breakdown in our guide to the best online therapy platforms of 2025 Conclusion: Is Cerebral Worth Trying in 2025? Cerebral remains one of the most accessible and comprehensive online therapy platforms in 2025, especially for individuals who need therapy and psychiatric medication support in one place. Its flexible plans, insurance integration, and clinical care model make it an excellent option for managing common mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and insomnia. ✅ Pros - Therapy + medication in one subscription - Accepts many major insurance plans - Nationwide availability - Transparent pricing with no long-term contracts ❌ Cons - Not ideal for complex psychiatric conditions - Occasional provider turnover reported - Limited ADHD support in some regions If you're looking for affordable, insurance-friendly mental health care—and prefer a structured treatment model with coordinated support—Cerebral is definitely worth considering. 🔗 Compare with BetterHelp’s therapy-only platform 🔗 See how Brightside approaches depression with data-driven care 🔗 Check out our full guide to therapy platforms that accept insurance 🎯 Still unsure? Take our 2-minute quiz to get matched with the best online therapy platform for your needs, goals, and schedule. Book a retreat: https://bookretreats.com/search?a=lkkfr Read the full article

[t1ck3t-j3rry]

TICKET/SHEEP JERRY NSFW ALPHABET!!

nsfw under the cut!

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

He’ll try giving aftercare, but probably will be too exhausted to get up into his wheelchair and get you water or whatever but he tries, if it was a slower round he’ll have more energy to take care of you.

On him: probably his hands, they’re some of the only parts of his body he has full control of and he enjoys seeing that he can make you cum with only them.

On you: your chest, it doesn't matter if you’re a man or woman or how big your boobs are if you’re a woman, he absolutely adores your chest

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

He definitely prefers coming inside you (plus if you've seen the matchmaking quiz there's a good chance he's infertile), he has a slightly below average amount though when he finishes.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He’s thought about having a threesome with you, him, and his wife. He won’t admit that though, being scared that you’ll both think he's a pervert (and that his wife might want to leave him even more)

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

He definitely has a good amount of experience (if it's him while working at the funfair he’ll be more rusty because phone god knows his wife was not giving him ANY, but if it’s after sheep jerry he’ll be more skilled)

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Absolutely cowgirl. Because he doesn’t have full control of his legs he struggles with any positions where he can’t lay down (that is if he even ATTEMPTS them) and also because of that, he enjoys having you do most of the work, he kinda wishes he could try other positions but he still enjoys having you in control.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

He’s definitely more serious and if you joke about something during it he probably won’t laugh.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

It’s like a jungle. Maybe an occasional trim but that’s it unless you specifically ask him to shave.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

VERY romantic, he’s not a huge fan of stuff like one night stands and only gets romantic/sexual thoughts after knowing that person for a while.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

If it’s him when he’s working the ticket booth and doesn’t really have a good relationship with his wife then he’ll probably get off weekly. Maybe twice a week if he’s really pent up. If it’s sheep Jerry he won’t, like, ever jerk off because he can just have sex with his wife.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

He likes being taken care of and praised, especially when he works at the ticket booth. He's kinda insecure about how his marriage is going and he likes to hear some praise about how he’s not a horrible husband. He’s also into edging (him being on the receiving end), not edging for hours at a time or enough to make him cry from desperation but he likes prolonging his orgasam.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Definitely his bed. its not like he can fuck you against a wall (at least not easily), but he also likes the thought of doing it in his wheelchair, like you riding him while he’s in it or giving him a blowjob (however phone heads do that), stuff like that

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Small touches, like brushing your hand against his, touching his shoulder, small stuff like that makes him weak.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Anything like cnc, it makes him feel gross, even if you’re enjoying it. Also anything in public, absolutely not.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Honestly idk what to put here. Well, however phone/typewriter heads do oral he is a MASTER of eating pussy, less experienced giving blowjobs though. He doesn’t really have experience being with a male partner, but he tries his best.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

It really just depends on how he’s feeling, he loves both. You’ll usually have more control so he can just go with the flow.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Not really a fan of them, as I said earlier he’s into edging so I don't think he could do a quickie without feeling unsatisfied.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

He’s not really into risk and just prefers doing it in his bedroom. If you ask him to do something more risky that isn’t in public he’ll try it out, but it probably won't become a usual thing (he’s pretty vanilla ok)

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Only one or two, he works all day at a job he hates and he's already exhausted when he comes home so he doesn’t have that much stamina (sheep jerry is also one or two, he’s just not AS tired afterwards)

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

He personally doesn’t own any toys but if you do then he would DEFINITELY want to use them on you.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He doesn’t like teasing people, even if the person on the receiving end enjoys it. just not his thing.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

He attempts to only grunt a bit at that but he’s holding them back, when he finally does let go they’re more high pitched but it’s not like he sounds like a girl. He’s also pretty quiet, not a screamer. Also he whimpers argue with the wall.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

I like to think phone heads put the headsets up the other person and make it ring so it’s like a vibrator. Or like if they don’t turn it on it’s kinda like fingering someone?

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

It’s not very high, but if yours is higher he won’t often refuse having sex. He’s more likely to say yes than no, but he won’t go out of his way often to initiate it.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

5” soft 6” hard

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

He is EXTREMELY tired but I headcanon him as an insomniac so it takes a WHILE for him to fall asleep (if he gets sleep at all)

[skylerskyhigh]

Hello, I don't know what to call you so may I call you Sky?

I don't mean to pry, but I think for this one question, I really am prying

I can't help but wonder, since you're in university, what major did you take and how far along are you? How does it affect your writing schedule, too?

Speaking of writing schedules, how do you manage to write a chapter during university, like, what's your tips to at least manage time decently? (Gonna be a uni student soon I need something from an experienced AO3 author in university *ugly pleading face*)

Signed,

~The Terribly-Great, Annoying Anon

Hello! Yeah you can call me Sky ^^ I wasn't expecting an actual ask XD

This is gonna be long so...

First, I am taking a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, currently in my second year. Which basically means I'm studying to become a manager or a HR rep. Its full of math, business, and psychology.

Studying is great when you can actually keep up with it. At the same time, it is not high school. That's a double edged sword. Death hovers over my slumped, sleep deprived, sunless body.

I'm excited for you! Uni is honestly pretty alright. I've been to 2 universities and depending on the type, you're either gonna get a mundane experience or a great one.

Second, how does it affect my writing experience?

Let me do something first.

Ahem

This is ironic for 2 reasons.

1) Nothing motivates me to write more than procrastinating on my uni stuff.

Whenever there are quizes, exams, assignments, projects, or anything due, somehow I find myself writing more instead of focusing on that. Until its like 1 day before the due date and I'm scrambling to focus. But that's just me. It does sometimes prevent me from writing because I have to attend classes, work on said assignments, study, and do my day-to-day life. Which ties back to what I said about a double edged sword.

In high school, all you have to do is study. You have a method of transportation to attend your classes, your meals are set or have been given daily pocket money, mid/finals are the only things giving you marks. It's a bit easier.

University? You're half a step to adulthood. That means all that thing that has been taken care of before? Yeah, now you have to learn to juggle that.

Find a way to get to class. Classes (for me) are mandatory and will prevent me from attending finals if I miss more than 3 classes. Food is expensive, don't be fooled, groceries are just as if not more. You will understand the meme of "broke university student" because man, if your money isn't going into food or books, unless you get a very big allowance, you're gonna have to get creative. In my uni, assignments, quizzes and exams have points. So if I miss one, that's either 5% to 10% of my grade gone. Exams are worth 35% and 50% each.

I'm not trying to scare you. But this is my experience so just be prepared. You're gonna get a bit of a shock at first. Don't feel disheartened if you fumble at first and missed class, get tired, or just forgot things. It happens, you give yourself some time to feel bad about if, but move forward. It's not gonna stop you forever.

2) I actually took a course on time-management. It was an optional course for a semester and I thought "Well I'm bad at it so let's see if it'll improve my time management!"

Spoiler: It did not. I have adhd. The proven methods don't work when you tend to forget time exists.

So this is extra ironic because I got textbook, definitive, researched advice on how to manage my time. And I'm still a mess on time management. Don't be fooled by my upload schedule. If I write, that means I'm procrastinating on something. I usually get demotivated when I have nothing to do.

But since you wanted tips, lemme pull out my notes from that class.

1) Plan your day

Unfortunately, this is unavoidable. You've heard this a thousand times, plan out your day. Get a planner, daily or weekly, depends on whichever works for you, and write down what you want to do for that say. Cut and dry, everyone tells you this.

Let me make it easier; write down at least 1 thing you want to do per day but do not overplan. Don't be like "Oh, I have a free day today, I'm gonna do 5 things!" You're gonna tire yourself out, which is bad because university will tire you. Too much and you'll give yourself burnout. But if you don't want to lose whatever progress you have, then write down at least 1 thing a day. I usually put my max at 3 things.

It doesn't have to be big. It could be as simple as "Do laundry" or "Finish assignment 3 on (insert subject)". That way, you don't feel like you wasted the day when you inevitably scroll through social media for hours.

If you can't finish the tasks for the day, that's fine. Move it for another day. But keep an eye on the due date, especially for assignments. Don't want to pile on your work when you accidentally have 5 things due in the next 2 days.

2) Analyse your time

This is a thing I learned. Basically, get a spread sheet and write your daily routine by the hour. And I mean everything.

A shower takes you 20 minutes? Write it down.

You take 30 minutes to eat? Write it down.

Commuting between your dorm and class takes 2 minutes? Write. It. Down.

Tedious as heck but this is actually useful. Not only does it let you see where you spend the majority of your time, thus, making it easier to see where you should cut back or slide in something productive, but it also makes it easier to form a consistent schedule.

Y'all wanna see my schedule?

The blurred out sections are my clases. I don't follow this to a T.

This is actually a tip the class taught me.

TIME BLOCKING.

Literally block out a section of your day and focus solely on that. Remove distractions, turn off your phone, and put yourself in an environment where you can focus (it can be an empty room or a busy shared study area, wherever makes you not get distracted). You're like a hit man with a target. Focus on that target and don't let anything distract you. It doesn't work all the time but it helps when you have a section dedicated for a task you need to do.

As you see, eventhough it looks filled, there are gaps. And there is a reason. Which brings to the next tip.

3) Be Flexible

Don't fill your schedule to the brim with things you think you need to do. You don't have to do something every single hour. You're a human. Even a robot will burn out if used too long.

If it isn't classes, then make sure your schedule is flexible. Because you will need to move it around. University is not predicable. Sometimes classes get canceled, sometimes you have a program you have to attend, or just things get in the way and change. So you need to be able to move your schedule around and make room for new things. If you're packed to the brim, you're gonna quickly realize that you might need to make some space.

Finally, my last tip cause this is getting long.

4) Schedule downtime

My lecturer literally told us that if we only focus on being productive, we're gonna burn ourselves out. We need downtime. We need self care. That doesn't mean "5 hours of TV every day". But things where you focus on your own health.

I like to section it into parts. Mental health, physical health, and emotional health. There are tips online but it depends on you. Personally, I take 1 hour breaks between studying and it is mandatory or else I'd die. But I also try to talk to my online friends for some emotional health. We are social beings. We need people.

Read a book. Watch a movie. Play some games. Do a sport. Anything that's just for you. Schedule it and don't try to fit in work that you could push it away another time. Your health comes first.

In the context of writing fanfics, if you're not like me and want to be an idealised uni student that has all their shit together, then schedule writing sessions as well.

Here's a tip for writing, write every day even if it's 1 sentence. If you aren't the type of person to cram 3k words in one sitting, then try to write at least 1 sentence so you're still getting some progress done on your story. But, and I need to emphasise this;

Fanfiction is a hobby.

This means that it doesn't take priority over things such as your grades, health, responsibilities, etc. Also, don't treat writing like another assignment you have to do. You're gonna start hating yourself and writing if you do that.

Need to stop writing for any reason? Do so! You do not have to write every day like its your job. You're doing this for fun, sharing stories, and expressing yourself. Fanfiction is a hobby that you like to do. Don't make it a chore you have to do. If you need to take 3 months away from writing to focus on your life, do it. Nobody will disparage you over it and if they do, they're assholes because fanfiction is also free. They're not paying you, you're not doing it for money, so the only investment you give is your time and effort.

Anyway, sorry if it's long. Hope this answers your question ^^

[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