#literally once a postal service person

[sarasa-cat]

Me: refreshing email every 5 minutes to see if my much deserved gift to myself has cleared the hold up at customs inspection.

[gallusrostromegalus]

Soul Society is top heavy when it comes to power. With rare exceptions (Ikkaku), the gap between captains and rank-and-file troops, let alone normal citizens, is astronomical. How does Soul Society handle the reiryoku classism problem in and out of the Rukongai? Do the lower seats think of themselves as cannon fodder? Are there any major political factions that try to tackle the issue (ethically or not)?

So the gotei-13 is actually kind of a solution to this problem on accident.

The thing is, as powerful as the captains are, there usually only about a dozen of them, and a maximum of 2600 shinigami total. They are VASTLY outnumbered by literally everyone else, and because they need drastically more food than others (everyone in soul society needs to eat, but shinigami are at a drastically higher calorie demand and risk of starvation), they are VERY dependent on the rest of society. Zaraki made a fair fist of being a roaming menace but even he had to bow to the economy and work jobs to eat.

Hence, there IS reiryoku discrimination but it's largely in the other direction- shinigami are extremely exploited as workers, and that's the GOOD job. Other psychics are frequently drafted, kidnapped, enslaved for imprisoned so the rich and politically powerful can exploit their abilities. Even if a captain class individual were to say, take out a whole clan in self-defense, the rest of society would come down on them like a hammer and kill them or let them starve.

Yamamoto didn't found the Gotei-13 all at once. Originally it was just him, Sasakibe, the 200 spiritually aware students in his dojo, and the dojo was there to train the postal workers how to defend themselves against people trying to kill them for the messages they were carrying, but secondarily so spiritually powerful people didn't get press-ganged into serving the noble houses.

The first organization for psychic souls Yamamoto ever made was a... Relatively Safe Haven. He was also up against a wall dealing with the noble houses and other political factions so he needed anyone who could push back to do so, so a psychic would be expected to serve in at least some capacity. But the souls under his care were free to marry who they chose if they wanted or have children or not, or travel if they felt safe doing so, and even to just be weird without major repercussions, which was a vast improvement over the way they'd be treated as livestock by the noble houses. Even 1000 years later, Byakuya had to fight his family to marry who he wanted. Imagine what a psychic born in a random village and no legal protections would be facing.

So everyone with even an ounce of spiritual capacity was joining the postal service for his protection. It was a boon to the non-psychic messengers too- not knowing if a random Mail carrier could set would-be attackers on fire with their mind made all carriers safer.

...and them the Quincy attacked.

Yamamoto was now even more up against a wall because while having a united front had been helping him it was now a problem-the Quincy were attacking psychics specifically, something that endangered his ENTIRE organization.

...so he hired every spiritually powerful person he could find, including thriteen real bastards directly off of death row and organized them into an army to fucking deal with Yhwach.

Once yhwach was gone though, he had an army. And a lot of nobles looking to exploit or destroy that army.

Fortunately, one of the real bastards he'd hired had fallen for his peculiar charms and become his wife, and what Lady Tsubaki lacked in battle prowess, she more than made up for in political shrewdness. Be magnanimous, she explained. Be generous and speak of peace in our lifetimes and extend the olive branch to those who harassed you for so long. They won't realize it's bait.

So with her help, Yamamoto proposed that his army become the COURT GUARD in charge of protecting the very real and definitely alive Soul King, as well as all the people of soul society from the hollows and other misfortunes that may befall them. Finally, *proper* employment for all those spare heirs and potentially dangerous village psychics, doing the noble work of protecting society.

Why, he even helped found the central 46, a council of sages and scholars and general brain trust to work on the greater problems of soul society (a problem later but at the time, a VAST improvement over the eternally warring clans), that Yamamoto himself would be beholden to, just to show how civic-minded he was.

And just to finally, fully bury the hatchet- Yamamoto offered five of the captain's seats to the five remaining great noble houses, to be passed from scion to scion, ensuring each line would have a place in the direction of this army... Not realizing it was a trap to trick them into handing over any psychics they had, but also the high mortality rate of captains would kill scion after scion and gradually weaken the clans to the point of irrelevance.

And it WORKED.

By the time Ichigo turns up, the scion of the Shihouin clan is in exile with no plans of returning, the Shibas are reduced to a roaming band of pyromaniacs, the Tsunyashiro clan has been gone so long they don't even appear in the manga, and while the ISE and Kuchiki clans still both have representation within the captainacy... The Ise clan only has a brother-in-law and the Kuchiki are at a genetic dead end, and both those men are FAR more loyal to Yamamoto than their own clans.

Yamamoto has done what he set out to do- make a safe haven for the spiritually powerful to work the (not great but still best) protected jobs in the afterlife, destroyed his enemies the great noble houses, and largely wrested government control from them.

It's not perfect, but you can't fault the man for his accomplishment.

[the-matron-of-ravens]

Genuinely curious, what are your thoughts on Dancer and FCG cuz like, he Literally, not figuratively, tried to kill her and did kill all of her companions at the time. I can see being critical cuz she doesn't seem to treat them like sentient beings, but even in the canon... most of the automatons aren't. Just some of the really old ones from Aeor/other old cities, right? So? She got a whoops!sentient microwave, treated them like a microwave, they killed all her friends and almost her and she's supposed to....? Be good buds with them? Also I know it's said that she trauma dumped on FCG, but let's switch it from microwave to personal journal - how would YOU feel if your personal journal popped to life and attacked you for trauma dumping? IDK haha I guess Idk you opinions and I'm just responding to my projected assumptions of your opinion. REALLY I'd 100% sincerely would like to hear your thoughts. I was really bothered by FCG pushing to meet with Dancer. Like jeez just leave her alone, you're her literal sleep paralysis demon, read the room.

Hey! Thanks for the ask, I put this a little bit in the tags but I can elaborate more here. (Edit: elaborate A LOT MORE it seems)

So here goes, I don’t know if you meant it this way but the analogy of a journal or microwave is helpful here because that’s exactly how Dancer treated FCG - as a tool to be used. But they *aren’t*. FCG is a whole being with emotions and thoughts all of which are apparent and so clearly distinct from other automatons.

So tbh, I think the perspective of “whoops! Sentient bot” makes sense for like a month, max. Not years. After all, we have seen NPC after NPC recognize FCG is a sentient being almost immediately after meeting him. I find it VERY hard to believe that Dancer never realized it herself.

Additionally, we need to step out of the plot itself and look at FCG’s mechanics. We know that every time he heals, takes damage for someone else, etc. he takes stress points, and that once past a certain threshold his switch flips and he goes full Murderbot.

We also know that rest and recovery are what reduces FCG’s stress points. So that tells us that Dancer was using and using and using FCG and not letting him rest (enough? At all?) even though he needed it. Because again he’s a person not a tool.

Even when they met back up recently and FCG sobered her up she remarked how she missed him doing that for her. And while I don’t expect her to miss him, I do think it’s indicative of her interest in him never being about him as a person but only how he could serve her.

And if we want to criticize FCG for his lack of boundaries, inability to take no for an answer and pathological need to fix Dancer sure that’s fair. He needs to unlearn a lot of that and quick. But we then have to ask ourselves where did those traits come from? They didn’t come from nowhere.

FCG is mentally extremely YOUNG. Aside from the 6?-ish Months spent with Ashton all he remembers is his time with Dancer. So, if FCG has a pathological need to fix others, to help them, and feels worthless if he’s unable to do so - that comes from how Dancer treated and trained him.

That doesn’t just go away; ESPECIALLY not when FCG doesn’t even remember going postal and doesn’t see to have the (IMO) most clear and realistic view of his and Dancer’s relationship.

After all look how he interacts with the Changebringer. She’s his surrogate Mom/Dancer. He needs someone to tell him how to feel, think, and what’s Good and Bad because he doesn’t know how to do it for himself - because he wasn’t *taught* to.

But here’s my real question. What do we call one person keeping another person in service to them, with no compensation or personhood to be had, and with no intentions of releasing that person from that service? That’s slavery my dude. AT BEST indentured servitude.

(but that implies there’s a debt. What debt? Waking him up? He didn’t ask for that; that was her choice.

And again this sounds a lot like children being “indebted” to parents for giving them life, housing, feeding, etc. )

That’s the part I can’t get over. And that’s the part I can’t get behind where FCG is the abusive one. The power differential was NEVER in FCG’s court; he never once thought of himself as a person or as anything but in service of “Soul Touched”. That complete sacrifice of yourself and your needs (or an inability to even know you HAVE needs) comes from being in relationships where those things are expected/demanded.

So, yeah, he literally tried to kill her, and I gotta be real I’m not surprised. Even children of abusive parents who they love snap sometimes. Because again, that’s mentally what he was at the time. A child.

But even then, no I don’t think it’s unreasonable or unrealistic for Dancer to be traumatized or not want to see FCG again. I don’t even think she’s wrong to say “I can’t give you closure” because closure isn’t something other people give you.

But the way she’s been discussed to be largely clueless about his sentience, blameless in his blow up, and FCG’s victim? I just can’t get behind that. Like at all.

[ibringyouasong89]

My friend and co-worker (we work in retail together) was directly impacted by this. Her boyfriend works for UPS and was almost out of a job before the negotiations were finally agreed upon. My poor friend was riddled with anxiety and highly stressed out because they depend more upon his income to pay rent, bills, and help buy food for them. She had been trying to convince him to look into working for DoorDash, as a driver, while the strike was going on (had the contract’s deadline not been met and Teamster and UPS not come to any agreements). She obviously was not going to tell him to cross the line and work while hundreds of thousands of people - including his friends and co-workers - were all out, still on strike, over things like air conditioning units for the trucks, better pay, better work environment, and more work-life balance needs being met.

I sat and watched, read and highlighted, and prayed with her about the outcome of these meetings between the UPS and Teamster's unions. I talked her down when the stress was mounting as the deadline’s date got closer and closer. When the news came out that the negotiations had gone well and the contract renewed, I found out before her, and texted her the good news. She was in disbelief and basically googled to see if it was true (which it obviously was/is) and then proceeded to hug me, when she’s not a touchy-feely person (like me), out of sheer relief and exhaustion. Like, she doesn't even do high-fives, even when she's happy (it's cool, I respect that).

AND THIS IS WHY UNIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT!

Yes, they are obviously, and incredibly, NECESSARY for the workers…but they are also incredibly necessary for the FAMILIES of those workers too. It’s 2023 and we are still having to fight the fights so that blue/brown-collar workers deserve fair treatment and pay…but we also, as a nation, DESERVE to have unions of every kind so that ALL WORKERS, of whatever-colored-collar-they-wear, get the same equal pay, rights, benefits, environmental and technological upgrades, AND PROTECTIONS that is afforded to police, EMTs, teachers (or soon-to-be-one's like me), postal service workers, mechanics, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc.... If not for those professions, unions would be non-existent, and once upon a time, it was UNIONS that brought forth such a change to Americans and working life, it became a song decades later. "Working For the WEEKEND," by Loverboy. Look it up; it's a good, catchy song from the 81'. That’s how remarkable and life-changing unions can be.

This has literally been the “Summer of Strikes” and, in all honesty, I hope to see more because it’s time for this nation of hardworking people (no matter the shape and color of the collar; class, gender, non-gender, sexual or religious identity, or ethnicity) to get what they deserve! It’s time to organize and unionize! PSA: Also, start looking into CREDIT UNIONS...which are better, and safer, than banks!

#Everything is better when it's part of a union or unionized #Because it's FOR the people #BY the people #OF the people

UPS has reached an agreement with the Teamsters union to equip its iconic brown delivery trucks with air conditioning for the first time for new units.

The agreement, announced by UPS on Tuesday, comes as the delivery giant and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters negotiate the terms of a new contract for more than 330,000 U.S. employees. (source)

Unions work, unionize.

[c0metm0th]

Cyno x gn! Comedian reader

(Edit: this is the first fic I’ve written in a while so don’t expect too much)

Warnings: none

“So you’re saying this [Name] person, can make people laugh easily?” Cyno raised his hand to his chin as his head ran with thoughts.

“Yeah, their a stand up comedian. Maybe you would benefit from seeing them” Tighnari laughed jokingly

“You’re right” Cyno stopped and looked at him “let’s go see them”

That caught the other off guard

“what- now??”

“Yes now, I wanna hear how funny they are” Cyno dragged him by the warm all the way to Sumeru city “ok ok- uh take care Collei!”

Once they arrived Cyno began searching the area, vividly. This, of course, caught many people by surprise. They muttered to themselves ‘is he looking for someone? This can’t be good’

It wasn’t until he heard the sound of laughter coming from, a small stage where you had taken the crowd by storm.

So of course he has to come in and check it out.

“And I said ‘no, why would I transport it myself? We literally have the traveler for that’”

The crowed roared in laughter even Tighnari cracked a chuckle.

But not too long after the laughter quickly died down. You looked around and noticed Cyno himself standing there.

“Ah, am I trouble general?” You chuckle to yourself has you sit down on the stage

To that he shook his head “no no, I’m just hear to enjoy your set”

“Oh thank goddess, I was scared you heard my jokes about the sages-“ you muttered that last part

“Anyway! So my Akasha terminal was acting up recently, I asked it to show me the best place to get a massage in Teyvat because- well you know how hard it is to stand around all day right?”

The people laughed

Cyno nodded “I think this is what you call a self deprecating joke?” He thought to himself

“Anyway I ask and it sends me back the Sneznayan postal service”

“They must’ve said message instead of massage-“ Cyno whispered to himself taking mental notes

You take a sip of your water before sitting back down “hey general! Got any jokes for us?”

The scholars look to you as if you just committed an offence but, to their surprise Cyno nods

“Ayeee come on get up here!” You took his hand and helped him on stage

“Give it a shot, yeah?” You handed him the microphone.

Cyno thought for a moment “smart people are pretty hot”

You tilt your head “how come?”

“Because, they have more degrees”

You watch as the crowd irrupts in laughter, you look back at him putting your hands on his shoulders “hey they love you” you chuckle.

For a swift moment the two of you looked into each others eyes, this moment was interrupted by you taking the mic from his hand “I’ll take it from here general”

Cyno nodded and went back to his seat, not without a light nudge from Tighnari.

After the show was over you helped pack up your stuff but before you could leave Cyno stood before you.

“Oh hey! Did you enjoy the show?” You smile

“I did, you’re really great up there. Actually I was wondering something?”

“Oh? What is it?“ you asked as you take a sip from your water

“can you teach me how you do your sets?”

You choke “I’m- I’m sorry??”

“Your ability to make people laugh is incredible. Can you teach me how you do that?”

You thought for a moment “hmm well I’m not sure how I’m supposed to do that but I can give it a go”

He nods seeming satisfied “please take this as a token of appreciation” he got something out his pocket and placed it in your hands, then he vanished.

You look down at your hands to reveal a scarab “oh nice, 200 more and I can ascend-“

Special thanks to @trashcanfills for the inspiration behind this fic!

[houseboatisland]

Do you ship Molly with anyengine?

I think you should ;)

"Anyengine," I like that :3

Molly, as has been said many times for other reasons, is a complicated engine. I wouldn't necessarily call her aromantic, but she tries to snuff out any potential feelings she has for others out of a lack of confidence. "Why bother?" is her mindset in this regard. Per my headcanon, her self-esteem was blunted in her youth by the constant bullying of her sisters. They resented her as an engine comfortable with the commoners, and thus "common" in their eyes, so how dare a common engine shed with them and also be in reserve for Royal Trains? And that was drilled into her smokebox any time she was within earshot... for years.

Her sense of self-worth has grown by leaps and bounds since arriving on Sodor, and being allowed to blossom individually and separate from her sisters, (who are all now Hella Dead.) Still, her mind always stops abruptly at that invisible set of buffers between her and the idea of a significant other, habitually. There were SOME Sudrians she pondered. She eyed Henry from afar right after her arrival in '38, but then a certain diesel-hydraulic named for a hibernating forest animal came along, and that was that.

Now, if you want to hear some real gossip that'll make you pull a landline onto the bed, twirl the wire, and go "No. Way.," hear this:

Gordon fancied Molly once, but he once again hoisted himself by his own boiler sludge and could never bring himself to approach her after the fact.

Now, our headcanon goes that Molly arrived on Sodor in 1938 as a loan in anticipation of Gordon's upcoming rebuild. She would join him, James and Henry on the Express Rota, learn the ropes, and help cover for him until his return. Molly also came with the added benefit of not minding pulling trucks, and she was chomping at the bit to be transferred anywhere as long as it was away from her sisters. Sir Nigel Gresley hadn't forgotten dear old Gordon, (although his pet ducks ranked far higher,) and while the LNER's Board couldn't be convinced to send another Pacific over, Gresley interviewed all potential transfers personally, and decided Molly, out of dozens of candidates, was the best. No small praise coming from the man who was basically the LNER incarnate.

Her service record was virtually perfect, her discipline log was literally free of entries, and after several calculations, she was the fastest Claud Hamilton based on her accumulated train timings. And she never so much as bumped a teacup saucer all the while. Her sisters were, in a word... f u m i n g. And you know what? Molly smiled back at them, for the first time in one of these situations. She was living her best life in that moment, God friggin bless. It would later turn out to be the last moment she saw any of them, and honestly what a perfect note to end on.

The Fat Director, who had been putting off Gordon's rebuild for five years now, knew that Gordon would in modern terms, go postal if he found a way to convince himself that Molly was here to replace him and not just fill a temporary (temporary!!!) void, so great pains were taken with choreographing it all. But they needn't have. Timid Molly, it turned out, was Most Popular Girl in the Shed from the minute she showed up. The Sudrian engines up to this point had been through nigh twenty years of petty feuds, circular arguments, and enough trauma to warrant a therapist at Crovan's Gate if it were in the budget, so a new face who disliked confrontation as a rule was... everything they could have ever wanted.

*willie rushton voice* Gordon was fyeurrius.

Gordon was by this point worn out and paranoid, and the more worn out he got, the more paranoid he became. Despite everything to the contrary, he was sure the knives were out for him. He was a prototype who broke down increasingly frequently, and this new girl swans in acting humble and instantly being in everyone's good graces. He's humble!!! (He isn't.) The last straw of course was when Molly, accidentally, bested his fastest timing on the express to Barrow, and that was after she had started late. Gordon's Berserk Button was hit, let me tell you.

He was dragged to Crewe believing he'd be scrapped in an enemy territory workshop, cursing Molly's name and frankly making an ass of himself, you could cut through the theatrics with a saw. Like, it was embarrassing. Like, Gordon... dude. This naturally shook Molly to her core, and any new confidence she had just dissipated. The other engines would've written Gordon off then and there if he was around when she experienced this. Molly was their rock, and for a moment, Gordon was almost dispensable.

Then comes the war.

Archivists disagree on why, but for one reason or another, the LNER just... lets the NWR have Molly in the last minute it's still within their power to decide it. If you want my opinion, a dying Sir Nigel who still remembered Molly so fondly decided she should be allowed to stay on Sodor. No records exist, but in all likelihood he got Molly's difficulties with her sisters out of her, and acted on those as well as the praises Hatt sung her in his correspondences during the loan. So Molly becomes a Sudrian engine on paper, and this is later revealed to her in early 1940.

Gordon had by this time come back, and his time being rebuilt coupled with the national mood had sobered him up considerably. There was no time for fighting, that's what the Jerries want us to do, there's a war on, you know! As all the engines came to wear black and be worked to the frames, Gordon made his peace with Molly, who accepted it because again, she hates fighting. If she were a more combative engine, Molly probably would have torched Gordon a second tender for his behavior and wedged his apology in it. Gordon, for his part, was honestly contrite, but his uppity nature, history of rudeness and constant references to the war made this a bit hard to believe. The other engines forgave him in short order too, but not because they wanted to. So, even though Gordon was legitimately sorry for a change, it fell flat some.

The war drags on. Gordon is being put on goods work more and more, because passengers are suddenly second-rate, and all pretenses and class are out the window. Increasingly, he and Molly are double-heading the heaviest and fastest freight trains, like the iron ore and coal bound for the steelworks and shipbuilders in Barrow. These are stressful journeys lacking in light and made under risk of enemy bombardment. But it brought them together, as little as they may have talked.

And Gordon felt differently about Molly, very very different.

She had a knack for picking herself back up in the face of adversity, rising above the fray whenever others fought, something Gordon envies very much this day, she inspired confidence in you when it seemed she had so little, and she was beautiful. For the first time, the only time, Gordon saw a mixed-traffic workhorse covered in soot and grime and drab unlined black paint, and thought she was the most beautiful thing to ever grace two forever parallel silver ribbons of rail diving into a tunnel of night bombers blotting out the bloody moon. (Didn't account for Gordon being a poet, did you?)

The war ends, and there's a new deal for everyone. The welfare state is born, key industries are to be nationalized, Crovan's Gate and by extension the embryonic NW Region become critically powerful as the Attlee Government lets them keep all loaned materiel during the war, at no charge. (Sodor has consistently returned Labour MPs ever since.) The engines are returning to their old colors, and years of neglected maintenance are being seen to.

It's Molly's turn to be repainted. Rather than return to Apple Green and be like her sisters, Molly cuts her own path and chooses a slightly loud but altogether very becoming and gorgeous livery of yellow with red and gold stripes, and white wheel rims. Hatt would've allowed her to choose whatever she wanted, and you'd think this livery was a bit much for him, but no. He was enamored with the color scheme and even mused in his memoirs about making it a new postwar uniform livery. In the same line of course, he admits it would never happen, ("lest a Third World War begin on our railways on the heels of the Second!")

Gordon loved it, although he was incredibly subtle when it came to applauding it. This may have seemed cold, but he was ashamed of his earlier behavior. He had been so rude to Molly, and here she was, reaching new heights of popularity and success without so much as a hiccup. She's Ms. Perfect, and he's soiled his chances of bettering himself in her eyes forever.

It took him years, but Gordon managed to shove it all down... just. He still dreams of it, but he knows in his heart of hearts that they can never be together. Even if Molly truthfully forgave him, on top of her earlier wartime forgiveness made out of necessity and fear of disagreements, he wouldn't believe her. There would be no way, from his point of view, that she could say such and mean it. And why should she? He wouldn't deserve it.

And... Molly becomes the last engine Gordon has romantic feelings for. He's just... done.

Does Gordon ever tell anyone ANY of this? Not a chance. Who knew about it? Nobody KNEW, but Edward had a theory. It's Edward. He knows Gordon like a book. Does Edward ever voice his suspicions, even to Gordon alone and in the strongest confidence? No.

Did Molly know? No. Did she ever wonder? No, not even a little. It's Molly. No one could POSSIBLY go for her, could they? It's unrealistic. So, she'll just stuff that behind her tubeplate and get back to these trucks, that's what she'll do.

And there'll be no more of this nonsense.

[kingjasnah]

What are your top five fantasy series that you’d recommend to someone who’s pretty new to that genre?

srry this took a while but i gave it a lot of thought! this is a tough question cause it's pretty subjective, like what id rec to someone depends on their interests or what they'd read outside of fantasy or even their age, but here's an imperfect list:

Way of Kings (separate from the stormlight archive), Brandon Sanderson: wok is still imo THEE fantasy book for people who dont like fantasy. i can no longer in good conscience recommend the entire series cause ob onwards cosmere knowledge becomes almost necessary and that's too big a commitment to spring on someone new, but I have seen this work in practice. I know three separate people who loved this book despite not reading fantasy before. It's to give a reader something epic but also clear their mind of the idea that fantasy world building is solely reliant on a tolkien model.

Tamora Pierce's Tortall books: I would be remiss if I didn't mention the absolute power fantasy series of my preteen years so if the person u are reccing to is younger and wants a comforting arthurian aesthetic you cannot do better than literally any of these. My personal fave is protector of the small but song of the lioness by rights should be first. they are dated but like.....i do think people should read 90s fantasy just to know what's up

The Broken Earth trilogy, N.K. Jemisin: the whole time i was reading this i was like......ok this is my new fantasy for not fans rec, but imo this is the ideal stepping stone for people who read lots of sci fi but don't read fantasy. the series exists in the midpoint of left hand of darkness and earthsea. I think it could be good for new fantasy fans still just because 1) the prose style and the pov is interesting enough to be a drawing factor in itself 2) the magic system tricks you, you get a decent primer in hard and soft varieties just by figuring out what's going on 3) it does the best job of having not only modern english but also a full lexicon of planet specific jargon that never feels confusing

The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch: i don't think this book/series is perfect and it's very literally a bit of a boy's club of a book but let's just say if you really really really really like heist media and thief crew dynamics, this is a good starter that'll lead you into the genre....personally its definitely a book i reread for Fun often

Wyrd Sisters/Going Postal/Monstrous Regiment, Terry Pratchett: i want to make it clear i am NOT reccing all of discworld. i would never be like 'oh you don't like fantasy? here's 40ish books making fun of tropes you don't know' like clearly I'm a huge fan but i picked these three specifically as the ideal books to give to someone as a starter. this is easily consumable, non confusing fantasy. As for which one, it gets subjective and yes i know everyone says to start with guards guards but the dragon book is NOT one you're going to want to give to someone who doesn't have a history of liking dragons

English majors/Shakespeare fans/gay people who love Hamlet....go for wyrd sisters. it's very funny but it works the book around both hamlet and macbeth so it's very sinister at the same time.

For people who genuinely don't want to read fantasy cause the magic/mythic elements feel too silly, go postal. i don't know a single person who dislikes this book. it will make u think about public services, you know, like the post offices under capitalism.

monstrous regiment is my personal favorite. it is a war tragedy. so yeah give this one to your lesbian friend but also give it to the one person in your life that's read the things they carried more than once.

But I believe that it's way better to recommend fantasy based on the person you want to read it too....like i recommended Pratchett's Soul Music to my bestie because of their encyclopaedic music history knowledge. Someone gave me Priory of the Orange Tree because i had just finished a ten week seminar on spensers the faerie queen (the ideal way to consume that book by the way). if somehow you have a friend who plays dnd but somehow doesn't do the required reading give em Mistborn and a magic system to chew on. read lotr in general. fantasy is so full of sub genres literally any book can be a good starter if a potential reader can engage and relate to plot they already know that they like💕

(feel free to add ur own recs to the tags/notes there really aren't any wrong answers here)

[upthewitchypunx]

Oh hey, guess who is having website issues again? That's me! Just when I do enough to feel confident with it I fuck something up and have to contact our OpenCart person to fix it. At least the got the siteup but no one can order or register and it's frustrating and above my understanding.

So, if you wanted to place and order at Portland Button Works or the PBW Witch Shop, message me and I can make an offsite invoice for you. If it is just books or zines I can even arrange for Media Mail shipping, which will take a bit longer but is way cheaper and only for books and media.

Speaking of mail, this postal witch is sad I had to complain to the USPS about our new postal carrier. We haven't had a consistent one in awhile and haven't had great service for a few months. When we only have enough orders to fit in our our post box we just lift the red flag to let our carrier know that we have outgoing mail (that's how it works in the US) I figure if it is enough to fit in the mail box, it's enough for the carrier to pick up. Any more than that, we'll put in a postal pick up request or take it to the post office and drop it off ourselves. Our old carrier was great and if we were outside and he didn't pick up what was in the post box he would tell us and swing back around in his truck to pick it up.

Well, about once a week now our carrier has just left our out going mail there in the box, sometimes even putting the incoming mail ON TOP of the outgoing mail even when the red flag is up. So, I finally got annoyed with it and messaged USPS. I told them we could put in a postal request but sometimes we won't know if we have more orders until we pack them in the morning so we can't put in a postal request the night before for orders we don't know we have and wondering if we were wrong to expect the carrier to pick them up. The called and said that they will remind the carrier to check for outgoing mail and that we should keep putting in postal request when we know we have outgoing mail.

Maybe I should do a spell to get a new permanent thoughtful attentive postal carrier and I can give them lots of snack and crows to follow them? I'll have to think on that.

I usually celebrate my Candlemark celebration right about now but I'm not so up to it this year. Between the website and a few other things going on, I'm just running on low energy. We did get some herbs, flowers, and onions planted in our spare room which is part greenhouse and part shop stock. Heathen B and I made a planting schedule a few weeks ago so we have new things to plant every week it seems. but at least we got started on that. Ian B also planted some Cannabis seeds from the plants we grew last year so we know they are acclimated to our yard.

We still have some records available up on discogs if you wanted to check them out and maybe pick some up. I literally just paid the last 1/3 of my property tax by selling records, which I think it hilarious.

I did have to cancel my trip to Chicago for the zine fest. I'm bummed about it, but it's for the best. Travel with covid is iffy and I can't exactly afford it right now.

[rpf-bat]

@witchy-mac Ok so. I looked at my calendar and realized the events I’m about to describe actually happened two Saturdays ago. Me and the concept of linear time have been divorced for many years. Anyway.

Up until last month, there was a post office located ten minutes from my house. That location just got shut down, indefinitely, because they had a fucking armed robbery. Nobody was hurt. I just live in the hood. Smh.

So, now, I have to go to the other post office instead, which is 35 minutes away from home. Postal workers are struggling everywhere rn because it’s the holiday season and a pandemic, but only my post office is currently trying to meet the needs of two towns at once.

On Saturdays, the post office is open until 2 pm. I got there at like...1:15. The line was literally out the door. Wrapping around the building. Like a concert or smth. Holy shit. 

Someone yells, “why is only one cashier working?!”

They explain that the other girl is on break. 

“Make her come back early!” someone demands. So, she does. Reluctantly. 

Then some Karen pipes up, and says she wants to see a manager.  The cashiers explain that their manager is not even fucking there. They have a shortage of delivery drivers, so he is apparently on mail truck duty. 

They wound up having to stay open late. At 2:15, they announced that they would wait on whoever was already in the line, but they were locking the doors. People were still walking in. They were like “No! We’re closed! No more people can join the line!” 

At 2:30, I was still standing there. Some of the building lights, which were apparently on a timer, started shutting off. It was time to go fucking home. 

I ask them if they have my PO box mail. They claim they do not. The tracking number says they fucking do. I politely ask them to look again, because even though I’m mad, I don’t want to be the third person to shout at them per hour.

Miraculously, they found my shit in the back. I thanked them for their service, wished them a happy holiday, and got the fuck out of there. 

I then slipped on ice within five minutes of leaving the building and skinned both my knees. Fml. 

[ghost-in-the-stalls]

Neil Josten's Playlist Part 5 - Nicky, Aaron, and Kevin

Masterpost and link to the playlist in its entirety here

Not as much to say about these three here - they each kind of speak for themselves I think.

Nicky

18. Relief - Chris Garneau

Of all the foxes, Nicky shows Neil more music than anyone else. Typically, though, it’s music Neil isn’t super into. Nicky knows Neil isn’t into most of the stuff he shows him, but Neil will still sit and listen to it with him if he is asked and isn’t busy, so Nicky keeps doing it anyway. I can imagine Chris Garneau being one of Nicky’s favorite artists, but one he keeps close to his heart. Several of his songs just hit me like they’re talking about the trauma and just general impact of growing up queer and topics like that, and I feel like it’s stuff that would really hit Nicky.

So Nicky listens to Chris Garneau (though he never was able to listen to Halloween the same again after what happened with Drake), but he doesn’t show Neil any of the songs intentionally. But one day Neil gets out of a class early and walks in on Nicky playing this one. He opens up to Neil about how much this music means to him, and Neil decides he likes the song. He keeps it.

33. Rocket Man - Elton John

Nicky loves Elton John. It's one of the artists he usually blasts on Sunday mornings in Columbia when they're all fighting hangovers. One morning he played this one and even got Aaron and Kevin singing along a bit (they were both still a bit drunk). Neil thinks back on that day and remembers it as a good one. Andrew looks back and remembers it as one of the more annoying ones.

60. Your Song - Elton John

Neil caught Nicky quietly singing this to Erik over video chat one morning in Columbia. For as boisterous and unapologetic as Nicky is (and for as much as he's always trying to get Neil and Andrew to act more like a "normal" couple with PDA and shit) it was a very vulnerable and private moment that Neil was a bit surprised by. He didn't walk in or make himself known, but he added the song to his playlist (and sometimes plays it on the car ride back from Columbia weekends for Nicky when he knows he's missing Erik).

Aaron

43. Up the Wolves - The Mountain Goats

Aaron has a lot of anger for someone who is only 5 feet tall. Neil may find him obnoxious as hell, and may deeply resent the way he holds that anger against Andrew. But I personally feel that an intrinsic and necessary step in repairing Aaron and Andrew's relationship comes with some sort of acknowledgement from Andrew that - regardless of what Tilda deserved, and regardless of what series of events unfolded upon her death - he hurt Aaron with what he did. He made a decision that Aaron did not ask him to make, nor did he want him to do it. And Aaron has every right to hold it against him. He doesn't need to regret doing it, but he needs to understand that doing it hurt Aaron deeply. I think it takes a long time for Andrew to reach this point, and when he does I don't think Neil really gets it at first.

However, I think once Neil has accepted and understood it as much as he can (he still struggles with his own mommy issues, okay?) he begins to understand Aaron much more. This song is a bit of an enigma in a lot of ways; I've never met someone who really fully gets what it's about exactly. Even the artists themselves have vague and changeable understandings of where it came from. But the clear theme of the song is anger and resentment, and carrying forward with those feelings. Maybe you'll let them go, maybe you'll act on them. Maybe you'll just keep feeling them for a while. Who knows when the hurt will go away? You're justified in your anger, but it doesn't make it any nicer to feel. Neil doesn't fully understand Aaron, but he starts to understand how he feels, at least.

62. Such Great Heights - The Postal Service

Listen. Neil doesn't willingly think of Aaron when he hears this song. It's a very nice song and he won't let that bastard ruin it for him.

Did he have a phase where he listened to it a lot to try and get himself to not associate it with Aaron? Absolutely. Did it work? Absolutely not.

In all seriousness, there are only a few songs that make Neil think of Aaron and this is one of them SOLELY because Aaron drunkenly mentioned it was his and Katelyn's song when it came on the radio one time. Something about hearing that and then listening to the sound felt very real and human to Neil. It helps remind him that Aaron does have feelings, actually, and does have it in him to care about other people. These are good things to keep in mind when he's trying really hard not to punch Aaron in the face for Andrew's sake.

Also it has a really nice sound. So he has begrudgingly added it to his playlist and he listens to it spitefully.

64. Wake Me Up - Avicii

Neil wouldn't believe Aaron listened to music this carefree and positive if he didn't witness it himself. He learns a bit more about Aaron every day they interact (against his will of course) and this is another song that helps him understand Aaron a bit better.

He has dreams and goals and he really wants to be happy. He wants to enjoy life. And it's really fucking hard to do that for anyone in their group. Neil seeing Aaron actually hold some amount of passion or desire for something better gives him a better view of the guy. Neil guesses everyone must need some amount of optimism once in a while.

Kevin

4. Amsterdam - Guster

So obviously Neil has never been through a breakup (well I actually hc that he and Andrew almost broke up after Andrew graduated, but they pulled their asses together and that’s a post for another time). But the thing is that Kevin absolutely has! And we all know how Kevin wallows when he’s upset. And Kevin Day is a Guster fan. You cannot take that away from me. So Kevin goes through a breakup and is blasting Guster in the dorm like no one else lives there.

Now Neil is pretty observant and analytical. I mean he had to be for years, so it’s kind of just in his nature now. Most breakup songs he hears are louder and angrier and predictable to him. Not in a bad way, but he expects that they’ll pretty much usually be either angry or sad in style, neither of which he tends to be very fond of. So he heard this one and it’s more upbeat tune without being overly loud or aggressive and I think that really intrigued him. It gets stuck in your head, but it’s the kind of breakup song that - even if you are going through a breakup - leaves you just feeling pretty good! Even if it is in a bitter way. So Neil’s brain just sort of latched onto this one and kept it close. It helps that it reminds him of Kevin in a way that is so intrinsically HUMAN. He can try to be an exy player before a person all he wants, but even Kevin experiences heartbreak and frustration. He's a whole person, too - just like Neil.

40. Still - Ben Folds

Yes, Nicky and Matt made him watch Over the Hedge. Yes, that is where he found this song. Yes, it still kind of makes him think about the sad turtle. Don't tell anyone.

Seriously, though, Neil latched onto this song initially for the smooth, sad sound. Then he listened to the lyrics. It really hits him once he's captain and he suddenly has all these added responsibilities piled onto him. He now has to appear respectable and put-together, and he doesn't have room for mistakes. It doesn't help that Kevin is reminding him of their deal with the Moriyamas at literally every turn, as if Neil doesn't KNOW the stakes and the pressure on him at any given moment.

But, oh, Kevin. Neil can roll with his punches with ease because, really now. Kevin is more terrified than he ever lets on anymore. "No room for weakness", but he hits himself with that reminder before taking it to Neil. He's stubborn and frustrating, and he can be downright cruel and unreasonable. But he's hurting himself with his scathing remarks long before they leave his lips to attack anyone else. Neil thinks about this, and he doesn't have it in him to be quite as angry anymore. He sees Kevin, and he know Kevin sees him too. He just doesn't know how else to provide support, and he isn't really in a good spot to be supporting anyone else at the moment anyway. Neil can only hope that, with time, Kevin can let himself feel safe the way Neil is learning to.

56. Dance Monkey - Tones and I

Neil heard this song and applied it immediately to Kevin. He's seen first hand now how much work it is for Kevin to maintain his image and career the way he does while balancing all the baggage that comes with it. The people in the audience who root for him the strongest are the same ones who rooted for Riko and the Ravens a while back. They're the same ones who thought he lost a brother the day his abuser died, who thought joining the foxes would be a huge gut punch to his career.

There's a lot that's expected of Kevin, and there's a lot of trauma he carries that people seem to think are memories he looks back on fondly. And that's a facade he has to keep up.

Neil sees this and he knows how hard it is for Kevin. He knows.

[mittensmorgul]

Hi! Not trying to be difficult, but I saw that you like Rowena/Samwhich. I see a lot of fandom likes her - I personally can not get over her casual murdering if people (like service workers) from many season ago. know there's a similar dislike of Ketch for his murdering and am wondering what's up with the adoration? People liked her before the redemption arc so I'm wondering how much forgiveness she gets/got from people just because she was a 'badass' woman. Or the arc is what swayed you/people.

Hi there! I’ll start by saying that I’ve always liked Rowena because she’s a good character, not because she was a good person, you know? Like Metatron, she was an amazing villain. She was fun to root against, which is what you want in a good villain. But I’d venture to say that her redemption arc began even before we met her. Crowley had mentioned her twice before that, as a witch who taught him a few tricks, and wasn’t a good parental role model for him. And the show began redeeming her just a bit from even her first few appearances.

Sure, she didn’t start rescuing puppies and reading to coma patients in her spare time, but we did begin learning about her and her life. Not all the people she killed from the start were just casually murdered, you know? Her actual goal had been murdering the demons running the Raul’s Girls brothel scam. If she happened to kill a few of the girls herself, well then... at least her objective was met already.

And if that’s all your objecting to about her character, then I invite you to look at Crowley, who we know has casually killed all sorts of people, and yet... had a redemption arc from his first appearance on the show, too. I invite you to look honestly at Sam and Dean and all the people (yes, and monsters, but also innocents who died because of their doing), and tell me that makes them unforgivable and irredeemable, as well.

But the show has spent the last 5+ years actively writing her a redemption arc. Not a shoehorned “oh didn’t you hear, I’m a good guy now” literally attempting to handwave everything bad from the past by lampshading it with a “fake identical twin” story. Which... is what they’ve done with Ketch. At this point, after having been physically present in something like 33 episodes, and at least mentioned or on the phone helping Sam and Dean and Cas in several more, she officially has the longest, most consistent and persistent character growth and redemption arc in the history of Supernatural, other than Cas (if you even think of Cas as a character who needed “redemption” in the first place).

The first four episodes Ketch was in, we didn’t even see his face. He was set up as the Boogeyman of the BMoL, who even the agents we did see on screen as cold (they tortured SAM! and felt justified about it the entire time!) were scared of him. He was the Last Resort, he was the Executioner brought in to “solve problems” for them. Cold, calculated, efficient. And they set him as a spy on the Winchesters. He remained unrepentant through his brainwashing of Mary, assuring her she’d feel better once she had no pesky will of her own to resist the orders he set for her to kill, and genuinely drew pleasure from torturing and killing people and monsters. Even people who were supposedly his friends, even Mary he’d had what passes for a romantic encounter with. Then after his miraculous resurrection, we learned of his history with Rowena and how he GOT her charm in the first place-- implied that he tortured her to death and then witnessed her charm kick in and resurrect her.

And folks, that’s exactly the story of Rowena’s ENTIRE LIFE. Tortured for fun and then abandoned as disposable when they’d used her for what she could give them by people she’d sought protection and shelter from. She’d spent the last 300 years bargaining for her own life and safety by trading her body and her magic-- cast out by everyone from Crowley’s father to the Grand Coven to the Loughlin witches from 12.11, and EVEN BY SAM at the end of s10, when he had her literally chained to a table to force her to cast the spell to cure the Mark.

Then even after Ketch’s return, he’s remorselessly torturing and killing his way through a string of witches trying to find Rowena to make him another resurrection charm. When the Winchesters trap him, he lies and lies until he can’t keep it up any longer, and then we discover he’s actually now employed by Asmodeus, who’s ordered him to keep tabs on the Winchesters, in the episode where Asmo literally captures Cas, locks him in a cell, and then convinces Dean that Cas got away by impersonating his voice on the phone. Ketch... was part of all of this. Until he discovered Asmo’s secret power source and decided to disarm the demon... I don’t think Ketch brought Gabriel to them out of the goodness of his heart. He even told Dean that he saw a chance to escape retribution from Asmodeus in the AU, so he took it. It took him going to an alternate universe and fighting for the resistance forces there for us to even begin to think they could consider giving him a redemption arc. And he only had one on-screen appearance in s14, via a video call after sending the One Thing They Needed To Stop Michael via postal mail and having it delayed arriving to them as a result... but hey, at least he was trying to be helpful, right? >.>

They repeatedly lampshaded that he’s continued to do his Hired Gun thing, basically Supernatural Being murder for hire. He took a contract on Belphegor’s life, for example. So other than the fact he’s been occasionally helpful to TFW, and the fact he’s stopped actively trying to kill them, they haven’t actually written him any sort of redemption arc to speak of.

Unlike Rowena. We’ve delved into her history, heard in her own words why she became what she was when we first met her, and not only why she abandoned Crowley as a child but also seen her genuine grief and torment after his death-- after having lost any chance to ever try to seek his forgiveness or truly have a relationship with her son. And honestly, we have seen both Sam and Dean go to those sorts of lengths to get each other back, you know? Rowena’s actions in 13.19... are exactly the sorts of things we saw Sam doing in early s10... literally in the episode Rowena was introduced.

So I invite you to consider... if you forgive Sam for that or drinking demon blood or releasing Lucifer, if you forgive Dean for selling his own soul to save Sam or taking on the Mark of Cain and all that led to, if you forgive Cas for basically all of s6 or saying yes to Lucifer in s11... then... you should probably consider taking another look at the entirety of Rowena’s arc and see if you can’t see how they’ve written her the same redemption beats and more.

She’s helped the Winchesters, even when held against her will that first time, even when Sam demanded she kill the one person she’d ever let herself truly love in order to save Dean from the Mark. But since then she’s helped them of her own free will, gradually going from doing it as a quid pro quo to doing it because she was genuinely beginning to care about them going all the way back to 12.11. She ran afoul of Lucifer-- which experience still tortures and terrifies her to this day-- because of the Winchesters. And in return, Sam especially has grown to show her trust and care as well. He gave her the page from the spell book she wanted to protect herself and trusted she wouldn’t use that against him. Then we learned their fates were intertwined-- Sam destined to kill her. But instead, they mutually chose to try and save her. I mean... that’s been the foundation of her arc for the last 3 seasons. And to reject that character growth, you have to bend over backward and ignore the fact that in their lives, Sam and Dean and Cas have done just as terrible or worse. It’s only a wee bit hypocritical to dismiss her honest development into someone Sam and Dean both think of as at least Winchester-adjacent if not part of the extended family at this point. The story’s been working overtime to bring her to that point where she now actively CHOOSES to care for them, even at her own peril.

She literally did exactly what Dean did in 13.23, saying yes to Michael because he promised he would spare the people she cared about. She literally has sacrificed herself for them out of love. So... tell me, what would it take for you to get past what she was when we first met her? Because everyone in-story got past that years ago.

[kakashibestie]

2, 10, 25, 26, 30!!

thank you!

2. what’s your feel-good movie?

oooh i have a bunch but off the top of my head: the star wars original trilogy all of it, mamma mia, pride & prejudice (2005), amelie

10. what’s something you’re excited for?

ok so im quitting my job in two weeks to go back to mexico city and start saving up to move n go to college!!!!!!! it’ll take me around 3-4 months to get the money i need and since the school postponed the admission exam dates i have all the time i need to prepare :’) i dont want to jinx it by talking about it too much and i might also chicken out in the end so let’s. put it out there just this once.

25. what’s the best personal gift someone could give you (playlist, homemade card, etc.)

a handwritten letter/homemade card hands DOWN. fuck the mexican postal service for losing the one my best friend sent me for valentine’s day this year but also like...i love writing letters and making cards myself bc it’s just...a tiny piece of me they can keep and look at and treasure and aaaaaaaa

26. what movie would you want to live in?

my 70s movie i havent even started writing yet but it’s happening and i’m totally going to be in it. but also pride & prejudice (2005)...as elizabeth obviously. 

30. what reminds you of home (doesn’t have to mean house… just things that remind you of the feeling of home)?

warmth and heat and...oddly...sand. but also empty city streets at night and lights reflecting off wet pavement and RAIN and the radio (my dad listens to it a lot and so does my grandma and i guess they passed it on to me because whenever im at their place i just...mindlessly turn it on and listen). also freshly mowed lawns. and...the smell of carne asada on a weekends (literally means grilled beef...as in people pulling out grills and cooking for others on weekends). basically things that remind me of where i was born and where i grew up, those are the only places where i’ve ever truly felt at home.

soft asks to get to know people

[fresh-outta-jams]

Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Part 7

Namjoon x Reader Author: Admin Mo Summary: When your soulmate tattoo shows up, an address, you figure it can’t hurt to send a letter, right? Warnings: Some swears, soulmate fluff Word Count: 2.1k

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Epilogue

Namjoon’s letter arrived a few days after your first video call. You read it with a grin. You’d just got back from your classes. Any minute, your phone would ring with your daily call from Namjoon, as soon as he woke up, which meant you got to hear his husky morning voice and see his beautiful bare face.

The sudden buzzing sent your heart racing, and as quickly as your fingers would allow, you picked up the phone.

“You thought I would hate you for being RM?” You asked without so much as a greeting.

“Well good morning to you, too.” Namjoon chuckled. “Got my letter, huh?”

“You’re dodging the question.”

He let out a sleepy sigh that turned into a yawn. You watched the way it stretched his features, his eyes squeezing shut. God, he was so cute sometimes…

“So maybe I was a little afraid you would hate me. But can you blame me? You’re literally the coolest person on the planet, it’s no wonder you took it in stride. Anyone else...someone who had been an ARMY for a while, maybe…”

“I get it. That’s scary.” You nodded, setting him at ease. You weren’t mad at him for being afraid. You didn’t think you had it in you to be mad at him for that. “But, everything happens for a reason. There’s a reason I didn’t hear about BTS until recently. Thanks for the song recommendations, by the way, you dork.”

“Any time, darling.” He grinned. Your heart took a little leap forward. Until recently, pet names were sort of uncharted territory, they still were. So even this little one made in jest was enough to get your blood pumping. “What are your plans for the day?”

“Not much. I already finished classes, so I’ll probably just spend the rest of the night writing your letter.”

“Time zones…” Namjoon lamented. It did look a little dark outside your window…

“Time zones.” You agreed. “You’re living in the future, Joon. Your today is my tomorrow.”

“That’s deep.” He chuckled. “I sent out your Christmas present the other day. I was hoping you and I could do a video call and open them together once they both come in.”

“That’d be perfect. I sent yours out too, so it should be on the way there, but the US Postal Service is weird, so it might not get to you for a while.”

“I’m patient.”

“Good thing, too, or this whole thing wouldn’t have worked out.” You laughed, and so did he. Even though you had only been in immediate contact for a little while now, you couldn’t imagine going back to a world where you barely knew what he looked like. Now, however, you had an abundance of information about him ready at your fingertips.

“Hyunggggg,” whined a voice beside Namjoon. He continued saying something in Korean that you didn’t understand.

“It’s not my fault you stay up late playing video games.”

Oh, that must have been Namjoon’s roommate, Tae, you figured, upset that Namjoon was up so early making noise.

“Sorry about him. What were you saying?”

“It’s fine, Namjoon. Tell Tae I’m sorry for waking him up.”

“It’s okay, (Y/N)...” Tae mumbled from the next bed over, shifting and turning away from their fearless leader.

“So I’ve been watching all of your old music videos.” You grinned at the way his face paled, eyes widening. “It’s kind of fun watching little teenage Namjoon. You were what, like eighteen when you debuted?”

“Jeez, something like that, yeah. Ugh that’s so embarrassing.”

“You were still fine as hell, though.” Your face scrunched as you thought. “Well, after the mini-afro, maybe.”

Namjoon shook his head, making a noise of disbelief. “I still can’t get over the fact that you actually find me attractive.”

“Okay, but I’m not the only one, though. There are entire Facebook pages dedicated to your dimples. I joined like three of them the other day.”

“That’s ridiculous.” He laughed, showing them off. You swore, you almost swooned at the sight. “I’m really not that attractive.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re kidding me. Namjoon...I don’t know how to express this in words. You are the hottest human being I’ve ever laid my eyes on. When you’re performing, there’s just this leader energy about you and it is so sexy. And then there are those videos of you at fansigns and you are so frickin cute. I don’t even know what to do with you. You’re not allowed to be that cute and that hot simultaneously. It’s not fair.”

By the time you finished, your soulmate resembled a very flustered tomato, covering his eyes with his long fingers. “Stop…”

“Not until you realize how fine you are. I could go on and on about how much I like the way you’ve been parting your hair lately or how gorgeous you always look, even in the mornings like this when you don’t have makeup on and-”

“Okay, okay, I get it. It’s just...hard to believe things like that when it’s a literal goddess telling me.”

“Oh hush. I’m not-”

“You are. You are so, so gorgeous. All I can think about is kissing your perfect lips and running my fingers through your pink hair.” It was your turn to blush. “I seriously…” he huffed. “I really just need you in my life. I need to hold you. Like. Now. I need to hold you now. I think I’m going to die of (Y/N) deficiency at this rate.”

“Cheesy-ass dork.” You snickered, shaking your head.

Someone knocked on Namjoon’s door. When he looked up, Yoongi was coming through. “Breakfast is ready.”

“Thanks, hyung. We’ll be out in a second.” Namjoon told the shortest rapper, who nodded and left as quickly as he’d come. Namjoon looked at you, a longing look in his eyes. “I’ve gotta go, baby. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Have a good...right, it’s not morning there. Have a good night. Text me if anything interesting happens.”

“Will do. Have a good day, Joonie.”

And then you hung up, that familiar warm, yet empty feeling settling over your heart. You clicked your pen a few times, looking over the paper sitting in front of you. Recently, you’d purchased some nicer stationary with little crabs and seashells on them. You had yet to send Namjoon one of them, but you figured the purchase would encourage you to write fewer rough drafts.

You lowered the tip of the pen to the paper and the words started flowing.

***

“Dear Namjoon,

I had a very similar dream to yours. I was wrapped up in one of your sweaters. The sleeves hung past my fingers and I was baking Christmas cookies. And then you walked into the kitchen and I woke up. I’ve been trying to get back to that dream, though. It does, however, make me feel a lot better that it won’t stay a dream forever.

As you can see, I have enclosed a picture of myself from a Christmas party last year, something festive to make my Halloween picture a little less lonely. I expect a picture in return, as agreed upon.

I cannot wait to read your book. Send it whenever you’re ready for me to read it. As soon as I get off for break, I’ll have a bunch of time on my hands to work on it. Do you want edits or just feedback? I can do either. Or both. Whatever floats your boat. Ending books isn’t easy. It’s actually really hard. I think the key is to close the doors that make sense to, and leave the rest open. That way, there’s room for a sequel. It helps to read through everything again and make sure you didn’t leave any storylines hanging.

Also, after reading your letter and talking to you face to face every day since the first time, I can’t believe you were so nervous to tell me who you are. I mean, I can believe it. I get it. It’s tricky. You’re a worldwide superstar, a rising American heartthrob, if you will. I’m just a film student with no idea what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Meanwhile, you’re filming music videos the likes of which I couldn’t even dream of creating. Spring Day’s MV seriously made me cry. The cinematography in it is so beautiful. The lighting, the colors, the song, your face...it seriously blew me away. Not to mention all of your other MVs.

I also watched some of JK’s Golden Closet Films, and I’d just like to ask: HOW? How does this boi...this BOI with no formal film education churn out something as beautiful as he always seems to? The editing, the skill, I just...wow. If you could ask him for some tips for me, I would be super grateful.

Talk to you soon,

-(Y/N)”

***

“Dear (Y/N),

I don’t think you were baking Christmas cookies in my dream. I don’t really remember all of the details. I’ve been trying to get back to it for the past few weeks, but I can’t seem to, unfortunately. I’ll keep you posted, though.

You should have warned me that you were going to send me the cutest picture on the whole planet. I love your Rudolph sweater. Does the nose light up? Also, is that your natural hair color??? You said you’d never had any crazy colors before pink, but I guess that doesn’t really apply to colors that could be deemed ‘natural’.

I have also attached a picture of myself. It was really hard to find one of me that isn’t already online, so I asked the other members for help and they managed to dig up that one that they had been saving to use for my birthday this year, but forgot. Consider it a sneak peek.

As far as my book-to-be goes, I would love edits and feedback. Really, whatever you think needs to be fixed, I will do it without a second question. After so many NaNoWriMos, you have to be a pro, right? I’ll email it to you. Mine is namjoon94@naver.com.

I think you forget that I’ve seen one of your film projects. I have. And it made my cry uncontrollably. It was beautiful and heart-wrenching and every other emotion I can think of. Though, to be fair, I didn’t have much to do with the production of the video. That would be our director, who has tons of experience in the field. All you need is time and then you’ll be cranking out masterpiece after masterpiece. That Oscar is right around the corner, baby, just you wait.

I asked Jungkook for some tips for you, and he said the key is to just keep playing with things until you like how they look. Play with the colors, the music, the speed, the cropping, whatever you want. Granted, he basically grew up in this industry, so it’s no wonder he’s so good at it.

I can’t believe Christmas is coming up so soon. Your last letter put me in a cookie mood, so if I put on weight because of it, I’m blaming you. Jin’s been trying out some recipes at my suggestion, and they’re all really good. His only request was that I stay the hell away from the kitchen. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m clumsy as fuck and I break and/or burn everything I touch. You have that to look forward to. Sorry jagiya.

Hope to hear from you soon,

-Namjoon”

***

Snow drifted down, covering your little city in white fluff, truly transforming it into a winter wonderland. Namjoon’s latest letter was between your fingers as you read it by the fireplace, a mug of cocoa sitting on the table beside you. At long, long last, you were home for Christmas. He’d told you in your phone call about a week ago that his tattoo had changed, and you’d had a mini heart attack before he read off the new one, only for you to discover it was your home address, where your parents lived.

So, you sat there, as cozy as you had been in a long, long time, wrapped in the softest sweater you owned, a warm blanket draped over your legs. Every once in a while, you would look up and imagine what it would be like to see Namjoon’s tall figure leaning against the doorframe to the den, mistletoe hanging over his head. Everything would be better if he was there, you decided. And yet, because of the miles and miles and miles stretched between you, you’d have to remain separate for at least a little while longer.

Your thoughts were only pulled from your warm thoughts of Namjoon when there was a knock at the door. When you opened it, it was all of your friends standing outside in the snow, wearing the ugliest Christmas sweaters they could find. You let them in with warm hugs and well-wishes.

“Merry Christmas, (Y/N).”

You smiled. “Merry Christmas...”

Tagged: @ffantasylandd, @jooniefluff, @chimchimsauce, @mrs-saeyoung-choi, @theprinceoftheundead, @angyexoxo, @copenhagenspirit, @lovelylittlekittn, @lilgaga98, @iminlovewjjk, @feed-my-geek-soul, @loveandwitch, @recoveringflowerchild, @demonic-meatball, @maddieisaacs, @scissorsandtonfas, @carirosesg, @backtonormalthings, @local-mochi, @faliwi, @spoopyela, @nanie5, @ingenu--e, @undiscovered1personality, @andalos, @calspixie, @filtermono, @fryedshiken, @mikey-girl12, @lilliaflurr, @hypophrenium, @sitkafay, @spiicyari, @andeerwilson

[vladimir-botthov]

Klaus, on netflix

quick review of the first 5 min bc i need to get this out of my head:

i really love this movie already & can’t wait to see the rest !!! it’s “about a story of letters” & hoe people started sending letter to santa klaus

which is funny, bc i def was not interested in watching it, thinking it was just another animated christmas kid’s movie; i’m not a big fan of christmas movies in general, but i’m not against watching them lol (home alone 1 & 2 are my faves lmao) & not trying to rag on “kid’s” movies either bc i also watch those

anyways, the trailer was semi-interesting to me so i decided to watch it bc i really like the animation style,, & so far here are my thoughts, (had to stop 5.20min in bc it’s too much for me to handle):

*also i’m gonna try to keep it as vague as i can bc i don’t want to spoil anything*

.5) (i changed my mind about it being a kid’s movie, i mean it’s still a kid’s/family movie bc that’s the actual genre, but when the rating for rude humor came up i literally rubbed my hands w glee lmao)

1) i’m really into the movie’s concept of/take on postal services & i’m gonna read on the history of postal services later like the fucking nerd i am (but also fuck the military)

2)literally had no idea what was going on for the first 3 min of the movie lmao, bc the trailer was semi-interesting to watch but didn’t give anything away imo (i had to keep replaying those first 3 min, god lmao)

2.5) oh also another reason i decided to watch is bc panic! at the disco’s ‘high hopes’ was playing in the trailer, & i was just listening to panic! earlier today & i absolutely love that song bc i identify w it a lot (gay (which i am)) ! Oh & also the last clip of the trailer really cracked me up lmao

3) LMAO THEY REALLY WENT THERE AND USED THE WORD PRIVILEGE the context is so fucking funny to me as a brown person😂😂😂😂😂

4) there was a point in the movie where i felt an intense feeling of nostalgia almost ?? idk what that was but it’s bc a certain scene/interaction between these 2 characters gave off BIG ‘the emeperor’s new groove’ vibes, & that got me excited bc i def love that movie too !!

4.5) there was a horse that reminded me of ‘el dorado’, another fave ! & also of ‘spirit’ (....another......fave )

*the first 5 min are just really fucking amusing lmao so good 😂😂*

———————————————————————

3 min later: ‘i think i’m gonna do this live’

so, def Spoilers™️ now:

• lol, rich parenting done right for once

• def still feeling the emperor’s groove vibes

•lmao, “heat wave” (i live in tx)

• wow i love how ominous Smeerensburg actually is

• ok, now that i saw an adam’s family thing i’m expecting more lol

• i love how chaotic the kids are too

• OH GOD the fucking BELL ROPE LOL

i need to stop wow

• LOL NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS ??!

[noona-clock]

iKonic Fairy Tales: Sleeping Beauty

A modern fairy tale series in collaboration with @cramelot - stay tuned next week for the next story featuring a new member! ✨

Genre: Royalty!AU

Pairing: Yunhyeong x You

By Admin B

💤 Part 1, 2, 3, 4

Once upon a time, you were Mia Thermopolis.

Not actually her, but your life did take a very strange turn like hers had. Except you were in college, not high school. And all the popular kids weren’t vying for your attention and selling you out to the media because... you were in college. There were no popular kids.

You had come home for winter break during your Junior year, and your mother had sprung some... news on you. Apparently, that great-grandfather nobody had ever been able to find had been somebody pretty important.

Thanks to modern-day technology (i.e. DNA testing), one of your dad’s cousins discovered this mystery ancestor had actually been a literal King of a very, very microscopic country.

And now, I guess, that very, very microscopic country was about to be without a ruler. 

It was actually a pretty confusing situation, but here’s the bottom line: you were next in line for the throne.

See what I mean? Your life had turned into The Princess Diaries. A very delightful movie, yes, but you’d never in a million years had ever expected it could actually happen.

To you.

After speaking with the country’s Parliament, you were allowed to finish up the rest of your degree before packing your bags and moving half-way across the world to your new home.

Which was literally a castle.

Like... a real-life, legitimate, full-blown castle.

It was wild, y’all.

It had already been about a year since you’d moved in, however, and you found you’d gotten used to your new life pretty quickly.

But don’t take that to mean you’d fallen into the role of a Perfect Princess by becoming this demure, graceful, elegant, barely-says-anything, curtsying-all-the-time, timid, meek girl.

No, no, no, no.

You were still the headstrong, independent, take-no-shit-but-do-no-harm, don’t-believe-in-true-love-or-relationships-because-I-can-take-care-of-myself female you’d always been, and kind of surprisingly... the people of the country seemed to accept that about you.

Honestly, the thing about your new life you’d had to get used to the most was having a staff. In particular, you had three lovely ladies who were by your side day in and day out, hired to help you with whatever you needed.

Floriana, the beautiful and fashionable Italian, was your wardrobe specialist. She made you look not just good, but damn good.

Fawn, the straightforward and organized Brit, kept your schedule on track and informed you of all of your activities and meetings up to a week in advance.

And then there was Mei Lan, the artistic and sassy hair and makeup artist from China.

You had specifically asked for a diverse staff, especially if they were your close, personal staff, so you wouldn’t get too sheltered or close-minded as you ruled on the throne. You wanted your new home to be at the forefront of tolerance and inclusiveness; you wanted to be ahead of the times, not just to keep up with them.

But, anyway. Back to the actual plot.

You were currently sitting at your vanity, holding your breath as Mei Lan painted on your eyeliner for the day. Floriana was steaming the blouse she’d picked out for you to wear to the parliament meeting, and Fawn was reading out all the details of today.

Just as Mei Lan whispered ‘You can open your eyes now, Your Highness,’ a butler entered your room with a thin letter in his hand. He handed it to Fawn who thanked him in that business-like tone of hers.

She quickly opened it, her brow furrowing slightly as her eyes flitted across the page.

“What does it say?” you asked curiously as Mei Lan began to sweep some peach-colored blush over your cheeks.

“Hmm... It seems your schedule is to be completely rearranged for the day,” she muttered. “I don’t like this at all.”

“What?!” you cried. “What do you mean ‘rearranged for the day’?! What am I doing instead of a parliament meeting?!”

Fawn’s lips pursed as if she’d just tasted a very sour lemon. “Apparently,” she began, clearly emphasizing the fact she was very annoyed. “Some monarchs from a nearby kingdom are coming to visit.”

“Today?!” you panicked. “Since when?!”

“I guess they sent word last month, but... Good lord, the postal service in this country is abysmal. Please, Your Highness, make sure the first thing on your agenda when you take the throne is to give money to the postal service.”

“Will do,” you answered distractedly. “How long are they staying?”

“Two weeks.”

“Oh, sh -- shoot.” 

Something you actually had changed about yourself was your proclivity to use swear words. You knew, whether you liked it or not, you were now a role model for all of the young girls in this country, so you at least wanted to cut back on your foul language.

“Good catch, Your Highness,” Floriana drawled as she put the blouse back and began to search for a more appropriate dress. “You’re getting better.”

“Thanks,” you murmured. “Okay, so. A royal family is coming to visit. Today. And they’re staying for two weeks. That’s not... that’s not that bad, right? I mean, we can pull this off. It’ll be fine!”

Your eyes darted around the room to your three staff-turned-friends, a very anxious smile on your lips.

“Right?” you asked.

“Oh, of course!” they all replied, nodding and assuring you it would be fine, and you just had to leave everything to the staff. You only needed to worry about being a welcoming and hospitable hostess.

After Mei Lan finished your hair and makeup and Floriana had zipped up your quirky but still appropriate dress, Fawn accompanied you downstairs to the foyer to await this royal family’s imminent arrival.

“Their Majesties, King and Queen Song of Ikondia, along with their son, His Royal Highness, Prince Yunhyeong,” she explained, the passive-aggressively bitter tone finally absent from her voice. “They will be your guests for the next two weeks, and it’s vitally important they leave on good terms.”

You almost stopped walking at her statement, but you were currently walking down the stairs. In heels. If you broke your concentration for even a millisecond, you would certainly break something. Like a bone.

“Why would they not leave on good terms?” you asked, trying not to be offended.

“No reason at all, Your Highness,” Fawn replied. You weren’t looking at her, but you could just tell her lips were pursed.

“I’ll be nice! I won’t try to shove my feminist agenda down their throats, okay?! Those diplomacy lessons are actually really helping,” you retorted, finally reaching the last step. You let out a sigh as you reached the actual floor again, silently celebrating another staircase successfully climbed in high heels.

“If you say so,” Fawn muttered under her breath.

You decided to ignore her as she led you over toward the castle entrance where more of the staff was already waiting to greet your royal guests.

“I believe they have arrived,” the main butler announced just as you took your place in the foyer. He waited for you to nod in approval before moving to open the front door.

You plastered on a smile, your heart speeding up when your guests appeared in the doorway. They grinned and nodded their heads to your butler; you took this as your cue to step forward, wondering if you would ever get used to something like this. Greeting an actual King and Queen.

It was still so surreal.

“Welcome, Your Majesties,” you said as you dipped into a small curtsy. “I’m so honored to have you here.”

“Oh, it is so nice to meet you, Your Highness,” King Song greeted, reaching out to shake your hand. Queen Song followed suit, smiling warmly at you. “And this is our son, Yunhyeong.”

A young man (probably around your age) stepped out from behind them, a sweet smile on his lips, his eyes dreamily sparkling.

“Your Royal Highness,” you greeted, curtsying yet again. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, of course,” he replied. The way he spoke, while rather princely, was not smug or arrogant in the least. He didn’t sound bored or like he was pretending not to be bored. He sounded genuinely happy and excited to be here.

“Would you like a tour?” you offered, eyebrows slightly raised.

“Oh, we’re much too exhausted from the journey,” Queen Song replied. But she hastily reached out to take Yunhyeong’s elbow and pushed him toward you. “But Yunhyeong would love one, wouldn’t you, sweetie?”

“I absolutely would!” he chuckled. And then he held his elbow out to you. “Shall we?”

You weren’t sure what was going on here, but you knew you couldn’t voice any suspicions about the Queen’s intentions. That would be incredibly unroyal of you.

“We shall,” you replied, slipping your hand into the crook of his elbow.

You already knew Fawn would hurry upstairs and tell Floriana and Mei Lan about this, so you were fully expecting to have to spill all the details later that evening.

There wouldn’t be any details to spill because it was just a tour, but... Your three friends had somewhat of a vivid imagination. Always trying to pair you up with somebody, find you someone to be your future King.

Little did they know (actually, they did know because you told them. Frequently), you weren’t getting married. Ever. There was no future King. Nobody was going to come and sweep you off your feet before dragging you to the altar. 

It just wasn’t happening.

Part 2

Tagging @sun-shinee-world @leilaammartin @daelicious-jongbulge @sweg-imsorrywhatwasthat @baekinmylife @xiusmybeautifulnightmare @lost-girl-inc @brie02 @peach-sm @jong-yixing @haveanotherkpopblog @sundropsoo @constellxtion  @akutagawahakuryuunosuke @lazypostfandomer  @cupcakemintylash @smut-wars @mistressoflight22  @veryhotkpop @chanyeolol @shawoltzen @garlandcrowns  @lostintheendlessvoidthatislife @nicht-so-schnell @jinhuwuan  @dark-changbin @lafilleestmorte @tokyoseo @prettywordsyouleft  for updates! Readers, let me know if you would like to be added to this list!

-Admin B

iKonic Fairy Tale Series: Aladdin | The Little Mermaid | Sleeping Beauty | Cinderella | Snow White | Rapunzel | Beauty & the Beast

Master list // RULES // Submit a Request! // Read About the Admins

[valentinebrux]

Two Headshots for Two Cranes.

lucky renter

I just moved here a couple of months ago and it was right out the blue. Someone or something was calling me to this place and I said “ok, enough. I get it. If I see one more Palm Tree it’s gonna have the be the real thing.” so I literally almost vomited all of the shit out of my apartment, curbed it, whatever, gave it to friends and then all I had was me, my car and my camera that I was still paying off.

Once I got here I felt peace for the first time in twelve years. I could stretch out my arms in public and I wouldn’t hit a single person. I could even do it in the grocery story, Publix, and I still wouldn’t hit anyone.

I didn’t think you could love a place until now. I don’t have to talk to my neighbors. I don’t have to do anything involving neighbors. I went from renting a one bedroom in a stuffy city to renting an entire house for the same price from this guy who wanted to trade places. He’s the sucker in this situation. He even left his car behind, which he said I could use in case of emergency, until I get my own.

The place is situated on one of three man-made lakes in the community. Three lakes. They should have called it that, but instead they named it Valencia Shores II. I still haven’t found the first one, but boy am I grateful to Valencia. Our neighborhood has a gym, a small nature preserve, two parks and three pools of varying sizes.

All of this for a rental? Again, I’m sorry but you don’t even know how impossible that sounds to me. I went from paying $1,200 a month. Boy America’s a freak. Money is a freak too! But I am the luckiest freak of all.

There are these huge cranes that live in the lake too, along with various other birds I’ve never seen before. Even the ducks are tropical. Tropical Ducks. That’s the Mighty Ducks movie that forgot to make, that’s for sure.  I like to sit out in the screened patio smoking a jay and drinking some white wine. There’s a market next to my place that sells white wine for two dollars a bottle and like I said, never been this peaceful in twelve years.

I feel like the lord above guided me to this sweet spot and after all I’ve been through I know I deserve it. Even now I’m going through something.

You see, I was so excited about all of this space, all of these places to go to be alone, that the first time a neighbor actually did say hi to me, I tried to say goodbye so quickly that I fell backward over the step in the garage and broke my foot. I know you’re thinking, how the hell did you break your foot doing nothing? Well I really really wanted to get away. That’s what this is suppsoed to be for me, a relapse from the faces peering in on me. It’s not that I’m unfriendly, I was just trying to get in some one on one time you see? I was daydreaming so hard that my new neighbor startled me into a panic.

The night before I was sound asleep and I guess some guy or gal drunk as a hefer came tearing down the street with a vengence for the U.S Postal Service and they gave all of the mailboxes a good wacking to. My neighbor’s mailbox was connected to my mailbox like two siamese twins and ours deinitely got the worst of it. They were looking more like one mailbox than two. But I didn;t notice this in the nighttime, and I didn’t even notice it in the day time, since I had yet to forward anyone my address or to be honest, I hadn’t even told my family where I was.

I was just into this zone. I was daydreaming about trees. Just picturing them in my minds eye. Their leaves would come in and out like silhouettes from the darkness and all I could hear were the birds chirping and the distant sound of smooth traffic. I was in bliss and my neighbor just didn’t understand or know or maybe even care. He came up into the garage where I was sitting on a red and white fold out chair and said “you gonna get yours fixed?”

“My what fixed?”

You see I am a bit anxious and I knew right then and there, or I thought right then and there that he meant my brain. Was I going to get my brain fixed?

“Looks like somebody took a bat to that thing”

My brain? My face?

He must have been talking about my face. I am, to be perfectly frank, not a beautiful woman. I wouldn’t call myself a beautiful girl either. Maybe inside if you looked at the trees I saw but on the outside...

“You gonna get yours replaced?”

I opened my eyes and looked at him as if he had just insulted me because honestly to me he had insulted me deeply.

But then I looked up for real, and after the shock of seeing a large man towering over my in my own garage I realized what he was talking about.

“I’m just renting but I can tell my landlord. Maybe but he might think it was my fault”

We enhanced introductions and he said he was sorry to startle me and I said that’s OK and that maybe we would see each other again soon. He laughed and said “we’re neighbors now lady, of course we will” and I prayed that not be true.

Then I looked down and felt embarrassed that I was wearing crew cut socks with a puppy jumping on a woman doing yoga under my three inch platforms shoes.

I waited for him to turn around and clear the garage. Then, under the pressure of feeling extreme startling surprise I darted to the button to close the automatic garage.

But, being completely new to this home of mine, I didn’t realize there was an entire extra level of cement between myself and safety. So when I lunged, I just rushed my feet straight into ledge. The platform shoe spun around my foot like some sort of choker and pushed up against the cement in such a way that it shattered my entire right pinky toe. 

I let out this terrible yelp while the garage was half way down and my neighbor stopped the door and lifted the entire this back up with one hand like it was nothing. 

He ended up rushing me to the hospital. On the way I found out he is actually a very nice man and his name really is Steven.

snapshot for sale.

Being in a new place all alone with a broken foot is one of the most unfun, unpleasureable things you can do.

Crutches are good for someone who has a lot of friends. They’re good for someone who has money to eat out or better yet money for take out. But they’re not good for me who didn’t have a job or any cooking utensils in her kitchen.

You see, I moved here and had paid about two months rent with the intention of getting a job in that time before the third month. I knew it was risky but I also knew that if I stayed in the city I’d explode on some poor person on the train on the way to work and then I would feel even more bad.

So I quit my entire job cold turkey.

The doctor told me it would take about two months for my foot to heal and that I was lucky to be young because if I’d done this five years from now, it would have been a doozy. She said doozy, not me.

So I could basically nurse myself back to health before I was out on the street. The streets in my new neighborhood didn’t seem quite to terrible to be honest. I thought about trying to live in the community club house or just setting up camp near the pool at the far edge of the neighborhood that no one seemed to use much, but the reality was I would still need to eat and use the internet.

There was a starbucks within walking distance which was nice, but I couldn’t walk.

So I thought about jobs that were minimal and then I remembered that I still had that camera that I was supposed to be paying off.

It took a while for me to think about what kind of job I could do with a camera now that I was in Palm Beach. Were there advertising agencies in Palm Beach? Maybe, but I didn’t really have a portfolio. I was amateur at best but I knew i had a flare for seeing the magic in the lens.

I asked Steven about jobs and he told me that he was a real estate agent. I said “I don’t think I’d make a very good agent” and he said “But I bet you could photograph them”