#maybe not thaaaat loose but.

[every-eye-evermore]

murderbot is not immune to my everpresent desire to stick everyone in cheesy 60s inspired scifi outfits. I’m showing a remarkable level of self restraint here

[queen-simia]

lrb: honestly all of this and more has me nervous about the two leads and their relationship in the upcoming comic. folks who know me and my particular leanings will be kinder, I know, but once it escapes containment, all hell may break loose

thought barf below the cut

I already know Virgule will probably be polarizing. he's pansexual by nature as an incubus (when sexual energy is your food, it's best to be omnivorous, knowhutimean), which I already foresee as Problematic™... and he's technically genderless but identifies as masculine, though I write him harder on the camp/femme side. all that plus the fact he's an inhuman being (a demon, to be specific) adds up to poor Virgule potentially being a hate lightning rod ("she should know better as an ace! aces get coded as robotic/inhuman all the time, why would she turn around and do the same to gncs and pans if she claims to care so much???").

the funny thing is, Virg's camp and charisma are all based directly on the stage persona of a straight cis man: Dylan Charles Germick (Planet Booty's front man). and that persona is played as fully sex-positive and lovingly as possible, and is derived heavily from Prince (who was straight *and* very genderfucky, as you know). so, it's not like Virg's character background lacks nuance or is just "lol them silly sex-hungry fairy boys~" but I can easily see how critics could jump to that conclusion

and there's a not-insignificant plot point early in the story that involves consent and boundaries that Virg starts out on the wrong side of (and also introduces the possible interpretation that his feedings may involve dubious consent). thaaaat's gonna be fun to deal with~ 🙃

but again! it's not just for salaciousness! it's to establish a strong part of the dynamic between Virg and Sonrisa re: trust and expectations. could it be done differently? ...not really, given the context of the story and the characters' natures...? it's something I've agonized over in the years I've been developing this story, trust me. :p but it's definitely something I know will be a sticking point when it comes out. maybe it'll cause a fall-off in readership, maybe it won't, but I've been online long enough to anticipate the worst

sorry to say it's stuff like this that had me wondering at several points whether I should bother at all. but, I'm stubborn and vain enough to want a story centered around a short, fat aroace woman that doesn't view any of those traits as negative that I'm going to do it anyway.

tbh I already know having Sonrisa be fat is going to attract loads of mouth-breathing chuds—already inoculated against that 1) from First Contact's 4chan reception of my buff strong-featured Femshep, and 2) lived experience as a fat chick. that funnily enough will hurt less than any potential queer audience blowback. I guess because while it's undeniable I'm fat, my relationship with queerness is much more tenuous.

I already feel like I'm treading on toes as not just an aroace (who, like our bisexual cousins, are already regarded as Schrodinger's Queers), but a demiaroace who seems to prefer mascs ("why don't you just admit you're straight, gawd"). thing is, my lived experience is very much *not* heteronormative, to the point where I've cried and had depressive episodes over possibly having to marry someone I don't love just to survive... and that was *before* I knew asexuality even was a thing. I've experienced medicalization of my lack of sexual attraction. I've lied about my orientation to avoid awkwardness, both socially and medically. I have more in common with your flagship queer identities than I do with straights... but because the four people I've fallen in love with—and only one of whom I've actually had sex with—over 43 years of life happen to be cis men, it still doesn't feel like enough.

so I guess I fear if I tell my story in a way that offends people who are "worthier" queers than myself, I'll have proven myself even less deserving of inclusion than before.

fat-shaming? used to it, next. betrayal of found family? utterly shattering.

bah. still gonna draw my dumb comic. just... still pretty nervous about it, I guess.

[helluvaflames]

@jizzlords sent in:

❝ Look, ❞ he's taking the alcohol ... away from Stolas. In earlier days, maybe Ozzie would've swiped it for himself but instead — he'd cast the bottle away (it was almost done? Damn). ❝ I get you're having fun and everything but it's a shame you went a little too hard, birdy babe. ❞ Lifting Prince's chin with a talon, Ozzie's tilting his head to meet Stolas' gaze. ❝ Let's get you something to eat, yeah? Verosika's parties can get pretty scarce on food, heh. C'mon? ... How long have you been here, anyway? Meet anyone fun to match? Heh. ❞

Drinking wasn't something that he did on a regular basis. But after everything that happened that morning, he was ready to let loose. Versoika's party seemed to be the best opportunity for him to do that. Out of everyone here the last person he had expected to see was Ozzie. The owl especially didn't like the fact that his bottle was snatched away from him. He lets out a whine as he reached for it. Only to have it be poured out instead. "Pfft, I didn't go thaaaat hard."

Stolas had almost fallen into Asmodeus after the other lifted his chin up. Although eating did sound wonderful, he didn't exactly get any cake after all. He chuckled a little as he wrapped an arm around Asmodeus. "Only a couple hours." Stolas states. He perks up a little at the next question. "There was a cuttte imp that asked me to dance." Stolas said. He's not sure where that imp was right now. Nor did he even remember if he ever got his name. Stolas uses his finger to reach up and boop where Asmodeus' face. "You're cuterrr though."

[hansolmates]

shiver | 01 (m)

banner done by the wonderful @dnrequests​

summary; jungkook changed since he moved out of his small town church community and attended college. when he returns for a christmas mass, you suddenly crave a taste of his fun and carefree life. in exchange, jungkook craves a taste of you pairing; bad boy!jungkook x church girl!reader genre/warnings; childhood friends to lovers, brief childhood friends to enemies, fwb!au, catholic guilt, jungkook is a meanie who eventually turns into a soft tsundere, bicuriosity, sexual exploration, virgin!oc, eventual smut—in this installment: touching over the clothes, mc is hornee, *pulls out cards against humanity* “a gentle caress of the inner thigh”, panty kissin, mc is a big ol’ pushover and hopeful for jkk:(( w/c; 1.9k a/n; it’s here! aaaaaa!!! i’ve been really eally realllyyyyyy nervous to post this. even though this is just a drabble series  let me know how you feel about it! enjoy [shiver masterpost]

“Oh, you’re so dead.” 

Jeon Jungkook isn’t thaaaat buff, he's more of a skinny kind of muscular. You don’t understand the hype, why everyone croons over Jungkook’s strength and physique. However, how else could you explain Jungkook being able to climb the currently dilapidated fire escape to the top floor of the chapel. The ladder is rusted beyond repair and is definitely a fire hazard rather than a fire escape. Yet he barely breaks a sweat doing it, and he wipes the minor sheen off his brow with the back of his hand. There’s some soot and whatever nasty residue from the fire escape that gets on his face, a black streak marring his already annoying face. He’s currently wiggling his fingers in a sarcastic “hello.” It makes you sneer, your two consciousness (inappropriate and appropriate) warring against each other to determine whether you still find this man attractive or not. 

Convincing yourself that Jungkook is ugly is the worst quick-fix idea you’ve ever had. 

The words of your Aunties, the family friends in the church, echo in your ears. Jungkook’s bad. They’d say over and over. It would cause you to snort and giggle, unable to imagine what sort of things he’s done to warrant such a cliché label. Yet some of the girls your age, girls that have gone off to college agree with sultry looks and longing eyes that yes, Jungkook’s bad. So bad, it’s good. 

You haven’t a clue what he’s actually done to earn such a hushed title, his parents are lip-tight about his doings, unless it’s his achievements in the architecture graduate program. You hear things, though. Things that make you shamefully green with envy, envious of sin. 

As soon as he finds proper footing in the storage room, he goes to the closet, immediately finding his backup clothes. They’re plain white button-downs, awkward long shirts with no shape or definition to them. They belong to the church, and no one ever uses them because they’re stiff and itchy. Yet Jungkook wears them like it’s tailored, and you have to look away when he quickly knots the bottom half of the shirt, fashioning it into a tasteful double knot in order to cinch his lean waist.

“Pretty sure it was just you that saw me,” Jungkook says dismissively, “so it’s fine.” 

This bristles you the wrong way, and you put down the catering covers you were supposed to return to the storage room. You smooth out your Sunday dress, this shade of Boring Beige looking particularly pale in the morning sun. “How do you know I won’t tell?” you turn your nose up. 

“Because I know,” he doesn’t even look at you, focusing on rolling the sleeves of his shirt. You weaken when you see the black shadowing across his forearm. That’s new, then again you haven’t seen him since last Christmas.   

“Know what?” 

“That you have a crush on me,” Jungkook says into the air like it’s common knowledge, adjusting the leather jacket on top of his outfit so the white-startched collar pops on top, “I mean, it’s hard for anyone not to know. You’ve been into me since youth group, Bunny.”  

You hold your breath, counting to ten as you close the door behind you. A vision of you playing “Duck Duck Goose” as a five year old plays in your head, where you’d pick a bushy, big-eyed Jeon Jungkook each time, hopping over to him to pat his fluffy head so he’d chase you around. 

It’s old news, your puppy love for Jungkook. How could you not like him? He's clever and sweet with his mother and always told the best stories in youth group meetings.  Everyone thought your affections were so sweet, and while that attention weaned over time, your feelings have only increased the more self-aware you’ve become. 

With a mind as open and honest is yours, it’s hard to ignore how well Jungkook has grown. What has also grown is your curiosities since the two of you have moved onto university. Jungkook goes to the university uptown, a far drive which only forces him attend masses during the holidays. You attended the local community college, wrapping up a bachelors in some vague major that you’re not attached to. You’re currently looking around for some graduate schools, but unfortunately you’ve been so wrapped up doing duties for Pastor Nina that you haven’t been able to look around properly. 

Jungkook’s probably living a fun life, with the way he’s grown rough and loose, you resent him. 

When you turn back around, Jungkook’s right in front of you, trapping you between his body and the door.  

“Don’t be embarrassed, Bunny,” you furrow your brows, nearly growing cross-eyed when he leans in. “I think your crush is cute.” 

You’re not sure what he thinks of you. Sure, he considered everyone a friend when you two were in youth group, but that was youth group. Premeditated, parents forcing other children to do the same things with each other for years upon years in the hope they’ll practice together forever and ever. Jungkook did not want that, evident from the way he dipped his duties as soon as he got into university. 

You hate how easy he dips back into it though, calling you Bunny and making you feel like a little girl all over again. Bunny, because you’d hop around to him whenever he was in sight. Bunny, because Jungkook had been fondly compared to the wide-eyed, diamond-toothed creature. It was cute when you were five. Now, it’s just discomfiting. 

“Don’t call me that,” you bite, “and I don’t like you anymore.” 

“Sure you don’t,” he rolls his eyes, and you flinch when Jungkook’s hand rests on the curve of your waist, fingers slotting themselves between the pleats of your skirt. “That’s why you’re not moving away when I’m about to put my hand under your skirt. Because you don’t like me.” 

You press yourself further into the door, your skin hot and vibrating. So warm, you feel like you could melt through the door and escape from Jungkook’s gaze. Sure, the young ladies in the congregation talk. Maybe you’ve heard a story or two about Jungkook being seedy, a result of being repressed after years and years of stiff routines and expectations thrust upon him. You could care less about Jungkook’s sexual appetite, until this appetite has reached you. 

“Mm, you’re pretty,” Jungkook’s eyes roam your form, the daisy white blouse doing nothing to barricade Jungkook’s sudden interest in you, “you’ve never been touched like this, have you?” 

“I’ve touched myself like this,” you hiss in defense, and it’s more out of anger than in pleasure. You don’t need a man to comfort you, but Jungkook’s eyes sparkle in mirth at the new information. 

“That’s really sexy,” Jungkook slips down, roams his fingers down to your ankles and plays with the silver buckles of your Mary Janes. You shiver when his hands trail up up up to your knees, the swell of your thighs, and catch right under the elastic seam that holds your secrets together, “but I’ll have you know, it’s different when you have someone hold your pleasure in their hands.” 

You’re in the storage room of your church, fifteen minutes before the Christmas mass, with Jeon Jungkook’s head between your legs. Your skirt is long, and Jungkook doesn’t bother to ride it up your waist. 

It feels more forbidden that way, Jungkook hiding under the fabric of your skirt to get to your honeyed center, sneaking his way in with rough hands and soft touches.

“J-Jungkook,” you whimper, pressing your full spine against the wooden door, “we shouldn’t. N-not like this.”

What is wrong with you? Is it sheer curiosity? Do you just want to know what it finally, finally feels like? You should be pushing him away. There’s red lights flashing back and forth in your brain like sirens. Yet, do you really want to turn away the attention you’ve been aching for years? 

You imagined your first time to be relatively special. The bare minimum, a bed, a talk, and a partner you’re mutually committed to. None of those things are met. Now you understand why all the young women in church whisper about sex like this. It’s a spur of the moment, it’s an unbridled pleasure you don’t want to stop, no matter how forbidden and sinful the act is.  

“How else then?” you feel his deep voice straight through your panties, his lips whispering between the pink cotton like he’s sinking liquid heat into your skin. “I can’t sink my fingers into your sweet cunt during the candle lighting. Or when we open presents with the family after. That would be inappropriate.” 

Your replies come out in breaths, puffs of air that conceal the moans you so badly want to let out as Jungkook pokes and rubs at you. He does nothing beyond the cotton fabric, only slides two fingers up and down your slit as he gathers the arousal between his digits. 

“So wet already, that’s so sexy,” he’s kissing your core, and you sigh fretfully at the pleasure that feels so close yet so far away. 

“P-please, Jungkook…” 

“Please what?” Jungkook teases, fingers slipping back and forth between the elastic of your underwear, “please stop? Please touch me? Please fuck me?” 

The church bell answers that, and Jungkook’s nose knocks right into your bud at the sudden intrusion. You yelp at the jarring stimulation, pulling him from under your skirts as the loud noise echoes in the room. Both of you wince at the pain, the moment interjected. 

“You first,” Jungkook casually opens the door for you, as if he didn’t have you ten seconds away from begging him to make you come. 

You don’t even look at him as you dash away, not bothering to take the elevator in favor of running off the heat. Two minutes before the procession. The church is packed to the brim, only the back seats left. Your family probably gave up on waiting for you up in the front. As you sit down in the corner, you’re momentarily distracted by the beauty of a decorated church on Christmas. Even though you’re part of the decorating committee and commanded most of the design, seeing the stained glass lit up with fairy lights and the poinsettia plants blooming burgundy on the altar, you’re impressed. 

“There’s a draft here, you must be cold.” Jungkook talks to you so politely, a perfect picture of a gentleman as he drapes his leather jacket over your lap. He speaks as if it’s a pleasant surprise, a childhood friend he hasn’t seen in nearly a year. 

You can’t tell him to move when people are watching and Jungkook is seconds from interrupting the procession, so you reluctantly scoot over so he can sit next to you. His scent overwhelms you even more now that you’ll have to sit next to him for a whole hour, lavender and vanilla overtaking your pew. 

The jacket is heavy and heady on your lap, and you force yourself to stare straight ahead. Jungkook cannot weaken you like this, not anymore. 

Thirty minutes later, his fingers are hovering at the start of the homily, caressing your thighs under the jacket with his big hands. A draft? Please. You clamp your thighs together, knocking your knees and hoping they’d lock together for the rest of the mass. Jungkook’s a master key, easily parting his way as if your muscles are pure jelly. You turn your head sharply, glaring at him with all the fire in the world. 

“Careful,” Jungkook mouths, eyes flickering to the symbol atop the podium, “he’s watching.” 

His fingers finally brush the damp blush cotton of your panties, and you shudder. 

[purecamp]

If you get inspired.... 6 (and?/)or 12 for Witney <3

this may be one of the funniest things i have ever written, but let me warn u that i did this thing i often do where i take the prompt which is obviously leading me in a very clear direction and then i wildly run away with it to make it something completely stupid and different instead. i hope u get a kick out of this bc it's the dumbest thing ever flgkjsslkjs i love u

“Is there a reason you’re naked in my bed?”

It’s just one of those days, where you come home from a long tiring day at work and you just know that a green smoothie and a good yoga routine will put you right back on track again. There’ll be time for a bit of journaling, maybe even some meal prep, and if she’s feeling really indulgent, Courtney might even treat herself to a granola bar. Now this is living.

Except – Willam’s in her bed. Under the covers, granted, but stark naked as the day she was born. She flashes the covers to prove it, then resumes protecting her modesty as if that matters in the slightest. Courtney gets the feeling that her nice calm evening will maybe not go down as planned.

“There is! And it’s not a sex reason!” Willam announces proudly.

Well, thank god for that.

“Spill, then. I think we need to talk.”

She launches into a tale.

“So here’s me and Alaska, right? We decide to go out for brunch, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her properly, turns out it’s because she’s been holding out on us but we’ll get into that later. So I’m like hey girl, let’s meet up for lunch today and she’s all ugh babes I’m so sorry I can’t do lunch I have to go pick up you-know-who from the you-know-what and I’m like okay that’s fine so how about brunch then? A little earlier? And she’s like sure thing darling text me the address and I’ll meet you!

Of course I’m fashionably late but I get there looking gorgeous as anything, little flirty wrap skirt and a crop top and my amazing beach tan because hello, look at this complexion darling. Laska’s already there and we grab a bite to eat and then we find out they’re offering a bottomless brunch package and Alaska’s like hey, I know I gotta run but we have time for one, I mean she would encourage this right and I’m like duh of course she would and plus I really wanted to get into those mimosas so I wasn’t gonna say no.

Anyway we’re just slamming them down like there’s no tomorrow and then some girl walks past and Alaska like dives under the table, which by the way is a terrible thing to do when you’re as tall as she is because she smacked her head off the fucking thing, but I ask her what’s going on and she’s like help I slept with that girl a few nights ago and she had to leave in just her big t-shirt because she couldn’t find her skirt and I told her I’d text her if I found it but then it was so cute that I just didn’t text her and now I’m wearing it and if she sees me I’m dead.

Like isn’t that hilarious? Court, I’ve taught her so well.

Naturally I offer her my skirt and we can trade, so we run to the bathroom and do a little switcheroo, girl ends up none the wiser. I promise all of this is relevant. Then Alaska realises she’s late to grab you-know-who from the you-know-what so she just calls her and she’s like heyyy gorgeous so sorry about thaaaat and venmos her for an Uber and the bitch won’t stop complaining but we’re both kinda tipsy so we didn’t care.

We decide to go to the beach because it’s like five minutes away and it’s empty and hey we want even tans. We just stuffed all our clothes in Alaska’s bag and sunbathed and it was so fucking hot I love it, this is truly the best time of year. So that’s all going great and it’s like half an hour and then the phone rings and Alaska picks up and it’s you-know-who again and she’s outside Alaska’s place but she doesn’t have a key and all fucking hell is gonna break loose if she doesn’t get there because – well, you know what she’s like.

So Alaska gets dressed and grabs her shit and rushes off, says to me we’ll meet up again properly soon and I’m all down for that. Then I realise five minutes after she’s gone, my clothes are still in her bag.

Anyway so I had to stroll along the beach completely naked because running would make me look desperate and insane and I couldn’t go along the paths in the city instead because I’d get arrested for being this sexy so I had to stay on the beach which made my journey much longer and I realised it’d take me like fifty minutes of naked beach walking to get back to my place, or it would be twenty minutes of naked beach walking to yours, so I did that. I found your spare key under the doormat because apparently you’re just inviting robbers into your home and then I got cold and got into your bed. I didn’t wanna grab any of your clothes because they’re all ugly and also too big for me because you’re huge.

So that’s how I got here.”

Courtney blinks. “Did you get sand in my bed?”

“Just for you, baby.” Willam winks.

[lalalariot]

I’m watching again gossip girl(never watch it lineally) BUT I’m doing this for HBO I guess (and this Nostradamus series predicting my love life to an extent )

Soooo....

1 .I still don’t like Vanessa,the most annoying character being hypocrite .

2. “SereNate” is a horrible and forced shipping . Serena wasn’t over Dan in the whole series and Nate had a platonic love towards Serena,wasn’t that real to begin with ,he was in love with the fantasy of Serena not “the flawed Serena” as Dan did(he started platonic but they loved each other even with flaws)

3. Georgina is a boss (not as good as Blair but second best) she was like Cassie from skins but evil .

4. I still love Blair ,she is childish sometimes but she is the best character

5. Jenny and Nate had WAY more chemistry than most other people they dated (Vanessa,the gay,Damian,Serena ,Milf and the ginger) They should approach more this characters and they did dirty to Jenny (yes ,she slept with Chuck but she should loose here V card with Nate ...Not Chuck)

6. Chuck is a character I have mixed feelings .

7. The shippings were toxic AF but they had sense somehow .I meant ... they talked things specially Dan and Serena .

8. Dorota and Cyrus were the best

9. I don’t understand why Georgina and Carter never dated . They could have been a power couple.(she looks good with Jack tho)

10. Eric deserved more scandals or being into the main characters drama more

11. Dan is the less toxic of the main characters ... but has an inferiority complex .But e less toxic was Vanya(the Russian door keeper) the rest were more messy

12. I don’t think Serena is a bad person BUT she always plays victim roll and put puppy eyes to justify her mistakes .EDIT she doesn’t have the right to raise her voice to Rufus for her daddy issues

13. I think Williamis pretentious as F ...

14. Why all Brooklyn people are “poor” or feel less than upper east siders?! (Maybe was the time the series was done because Brooklyn now can be as expensive as Manhattan)

15. I felt bad for Jenny ... not even hating her ,just pity her

16. When those robbers took Chuck’s ring my heart broke ;( ,honestly ... I mean,he deserved all Dan’s punches honestly BUT taking the engagement ring that was going to be Blair’s ... sad

17. Why didn’t Blair call Chuck saying she was running late because she was supporting Dorota while she was on labor.

18. Dorota’s wedding no was beautiful,thank you Chuck and Cyrus for making that wedding beautiful!

19. Eva is so nice ,I think Blair crossed the line with her for jealousy and inmaturity.

20. Juliet(Columbia chick ) is worse

21. Vanessa was nice supporting Dan and Milo (the baby) I liked Dan and Vanessa while taking care of Georgina’s baby as a couple

22. Chuck was a better person with Eva , but I sill love Chuck and Blair more but was not bad with Eva,don’t hate on her just because she dated Chuck lol... if she was a snake like Juliet or Vanessa maybe but she was nice ,just a prostitute but a nice person.

23. I can’t relate to Juliet ,her brother is nice but sheeee .I don’t know ,she had to go to far for a grudge that is not even hers , her cousin was helping her ... what kind of sabotage is this?

24. Serena is kissing a lot of guys ... damn,this is so annoying and awkward

25. Can’t believe Serena leaves Blair and acts up like is the end of the world if Blair is busy,double moral much ...so Blair has to be ok with Serena leaving following guys and Blair can’t leave while pursuing her goals?

26. Russell vibe reminds me to the guy from Shark tank ... the whole vibe ,wouldn’t be surprise if the author did based the character on him

27. I don’t want Chuck to loose his empire

28. Raina is not a bad character BUT if she has to be dragged to save Chuck’s empire we’ll .... it has to be done

29. Damian is a thot level 100 ... first Jenny then Jenny’s best friend, Eric ! That’s so low ... this guy is so complicated

30. Jenny is just easily manipulated ,but Vanessa and Juliet are bigger snakes.Still no empathy to neither

31. I still don’t think Nate’s dad is a reliable lawyer .

32. Just a genuine question ,why all characters that are not from the upper east side have inferiority complex?

33. What Lily did with Ben was HORRIBLE but I don’t think he’s for Serena,he deserves better.

34. Dan and Blair are getting into each other?! Is not bad

35. I like Charlie(way more than Vanessa or Serena)...lets hope they don’t screw her having some inferiority complex to make everyone look nice 😂

36. Selfish Serena

37. Jack Bass looks SO NICE WITH BEARD ... I would keep him ...

38. Chuck crash a window and he finally fights for Blair when she has an engagement ring?!

39. Snake Serena ...

40. Russell Thorpe has a double moral but Chuck’s dad is not behind.

41. Why everyone banish others “go,never come back to New York “ .Blair did it with Jenny and Chuck with Russell .

42. Cyrus is so nice ,he’s helping so much Blair ! God bless this man

why she made her cousin spend her trust funds ?!

43.Is getting pretty dull and boring all this boring royal family and Ivy’s boyfriend ,he’s plain imo ... never mind

44.I still like more Ivy/Charlie than Vanessa

45. Serena’s auntie is a mess,I liked her as a teen but this lady is greedy and lazy .I liked her but she goes so low :( ... this is how you destroy a good character

46. Chuck and Blair in therapy ... something that should happen way before if you ask me ,but we wouldn’t have as much seasons

47. That milf is so annoying (Elizabeth Hurley’s character) ... why can’t she make her mind if she loves Nate or is a toy boy (but we all know he’s everyone’s toy boy)

48. Nate barely has self respect ,that’s not something just women should have ...men also

49 I can understand Ivy but she goes too far ,she could run away with the money and that’s it ! That family is rich af and will “recover “ in less than a month .

50 low key Ivy and her ex dynamic is so toxic ... both greedy people who try to climb social class seducing or stealing ... damage each other during and after the relationship,wtf

51 Honestly I could care less about those two ...

52 I would rather to have Rhodes family crazy flashbacks

53 Dan is so entitled ,he says he doesn’t care what people say about him and goes to his hater’s address.Kinda creepy

54. Nate’s cousin ... Chip is not thaaaat bad :(

55 But he got what he deserved

I’ll give more insights while I advance ...

*EDIT #1 started season 4

*EDIT#2 Season 4 almost over

* EDIT#3 season 5,half way

[puppyluver256]

Calypso (Fuchsia)

A somewhat hyper panda-eyed Pink Gen with an oddball sense of humor and a love for dance. Calypso is often upbeat and optimistic, though is also extremely sensitive to her feelings being hurt or hurting the feelings of others. Despite this sensitivity, she enjoys playing jokes on people, though she tries her best to make sure the target of the joke can take it before doing the deed. She runs a sandwich shop that also sells cakes, where she can sometimes take the term “sandwich artist” a bit TOO literally. She enjoys visiting Indicity for the atmosphere and the Aqua and Blue realms for swimming. Ironically for that last bit, she can’t swim very well. Doesn’t stop her from trying, though!

Tone Details When Rendered with Jess, Calypso gains access to her Tone abilities. They take the form of pulse waves, which can be formed in her open hand or by impacting a hard surface, the usual method being incorporated into her dance-like fighting style with her steps and kicks. The Full Drain form of this is a radiating shockwave of vibrations, going out to a 5-10 foot radius.

-----

So guess who’s getting inspired for Engelbaum stuff again and redoing their Gen refs! Maybe this time I’ll have a good grasp on more than just Calypso and like three others. XD There will be some design alterations for some of the others, and I’m trying to keep things loose enough in preparation for when the Gens are introduced in-story so I can change things if need be, but overall I’m pretty happy with the way Calypso was so I didn’t feel the need to change anything aside from now gonna color my Gens’ nails with their color (something I bummed from an older gift art of Cally hehehe). Also I’m gonna be including at least one alternate outfit for everyone, Cally’s here being her sandwich/cake shop outfit. Because a dance outfit with open-toed shoes is NOT practical for a professional kitchen! (EDIT: Added pride flags since these refs are using the same template as the TH ones and I wanted to keep that cuz it’s good.)

(also Tumblr why did you take away the line divider I needed thaaaat)

Engelbaum, Gens, and other related concepts © Lynne Triplett Calypso and artwork © PuppyLuver Studios

[teehjayy]

Easier than others

Pairing: T’Challa and his little girl

Summary: T’Challa shares a quiet bittersweet moment with his daughter one morning.

Warnings: Everything I touch turns to angst and tragedy.

A/N: Another depressing T’Challa fic coz why not?

Wowowowowowowoowowowow my ovaries out here doing backflips

“Baba, can you fix my hair?”

T'Challa looked up from the papers he was signing, a mildly surprised expression gracing his features. It quickly turned to one of amusement, which he tried to hide, as he took in his daughter’s appearance. Her hair was matted and unkempt, the heavy mass ready to spring free from the hair tie that loosely secured it out of her face.

“I thought you wanted to try it for yourself from now on?”

N'Yami scowled, puffing her cheeks out like a frog, before exhaling slowly. “I don’t have time to do it right today… Please?”

Chuckling under his breath, T'Challa gestured for her to take the seat opposite his desk as he moved to stand behind it. N'Yami did so, dropping her book bag by her feet.

T'Challa gently pulled the hair free, running his fingers through the thickness. N'Yami whined quietly, twisting her face in pain, as his fingers found knot after knot in her unruly curls. He worked carefully until the pick comb could run through her hair without getting caught.

He tried not to show it, but T'Challa was happy his daughter asked him for help. It seemed as she grew older she wanted to do more things all by herself. Pretty soon she’d be old enough to not want to spend time with him at all.

Bast willing, it would be a long while before then.

“How’s this?”

N'Yami reached out, touching the two new afro puffs as if to test them out. She looked up, gazing upside down at him, a big toothy grin on her lips. “Good! Thank you, baba!”

“You’re welcome,” T'Challa leaned down and kissed her forehead, causing her to make a face and rub at the area furiously.

“Yuck. Don’t do thaaaat! I’m about to go to school, and Auntie Shuri said boys are peft- peftsi… peftiferos?”

“Pestiferous?”

“Yeah!”

T'Challa merely grinned in reply, nudging her towards the covered plate of food that was her breakfast. She clapped eagerly, proceeding to gobble down everything in sight.

T'Challa took his own seat opposite her, as he did every morning. She always liked to have breakfast with him, even when he was so busy, so they had come up with a solution. She would eat in his office while he worked. But T'Challa cherished every moment with his daughter, so much so that as soon as N'Yami stepped into his office, everything else immediately seized to be important.

He smiled as he watched her, the sight tugging at his heart, and the image before him slowly dissolved into another.

When she was out in public, N'Yami’s mother was the perfect definition of grace. She would engage complete strangers in polite small talk, coming off as reserved but yet warm at the same time. Her words were always gentle, and she’d take small bites out of her food and hold her glass a certain way. People often stated she was born for her role as Queen.

But at home, in the privacy of their four bedroom walls, Y/N would be quite the opposite. Oh, she was still the kind and warm woman he loved. In fact, her real self made T'Challa fall harder for her. She’d tease him, dance and run around the room half naked, telling him to let loose, to have fun. She had a loud and unrestrained snortle, and cussed so much and so often she made Mr Krabs’ thirteen bad words look like child’s play.

She wasn’t the most graceful eater either when she really liked something. She was also quite clumsy when she wasn’t paying attention.

N'Yami was the spitting image of her. Sometimes it hurt, looking at her and remembering that Y/N was gone. Not just for himself, but for N'Yami too, growing up without a mother.

T'Challa had been so lost at first, not knowing how he was going to raise a little girl all by himself. But with the unwavering determination and gentle push from the women in his life, he somehow managed to not totally screw up. It helped that raising N'Yami, as well as ruling an entire country, kept him too distracted from thinking about Y/N for so long.

Of course, she asked about her. What little girl wouldn’t want to know about her mother? Most of the time, T'Challa would answer her questions-

“She was always happiest when it rained.”

“She was secretly scared of the Border Tribe rhinos.”

“… Captain America.”

“She loved you more than anything,”

-But sometimes he couldn’t… He just couldn’t.

He couldn’t talk about the day they met, or the song she sang just for him, or even the last words they shared. Maybe that was selfish of him… but until it stopped hurting, that would be his secret to keep. Their secret.

“Daaaaaaaaaddyy!”

“Hm?” T'Challa blinked, his world coming into focus again. He looked beside him to see N'Yami on her tip toes, stretching herself as tall as she could. She slapped a hand to her forehead, shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, N'Yami. Did you need something?”

“I gotta go to school now…” she pushed herself back, opening her arms wide out, an expectant look on her face.

T'Challa smiled soflty and pulled her close, hugging her little frame tightly. Thankfully she didn’t feel like she was too old for his hugs yet.

“Love ya, baba,” came her muffled voice against his shoulder. Her kissed her temple, and this time she didn’t complain. She pulled away and smiled at him.

“I love you too, sweetheart… learn something today, alright?” he teased, setting her down.

N'Yami groaned playfully, throwing her book bag over her shoulders. “Baba, that’s why I go to school,”

T'Challa leaned over the desk and pulled her cheeks lightly. “Baba!” she laughed, pulling herself free.

“Love you!” she waved over her shoulder as she sprinted out of his office, disappearing behind the closed door.

T'Challa finally sighed when he heard her retreating steps turn around the corner.

His eyes easily found the large portrait on the wall of him, his wife, and their beautiful baby girl. Frozen in time, smiling at him from somewhere he could never reach. A moment he could never capture again.

Running a hand over his tired eyes, a sob racked his whole body. Some days were easier than others.

He allowed himself a few minutes to grieve, before pushing himself up. His people needed him.

A smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes ghosted over his lips as he noticed the framed photo of N'Yami’s first day of school on his desk.

All he needed in life was his daughter, and everything would be fine. It had to be.

He just hoped he would one day believe it.

Taglist: @brianabreeze, @myrikal324, @cjphoenix135, @raveennn, @aveatquevale-, @stillheregayandweird, @wakanda-4evr

P.S: N’Yami is actually T’Challa’s biological mother’s name :)

[gwenpaint-blog]

==> Candy coatings

The trickstering of Paint and Karkat

@theuniverseisher @croupiergin

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Last Saturday at 9:45 PM

This is a bad day to be you. You being Gwen Paint, nurse of the Midnight Crew. You admit that this is partly your fault for panicking, but it didn't help that the grunt who'd agreed to go with you to restock the pantry had up and vanished. After being ditched and the sky going nuts and being told to run, you'd gotten into a rather big bit of trouble. The man chasing you had a knife and even though you'd thrown your money to him he still pursued. He laughed and talked of selling off  your meat. You'd managed to get out of his line of sight long enough to hide behind some garbage cans and send a frantic text before turning it off so the buzz wouldn't give give you away. He's walking around the alleyway, calling "Come out little piggy. You're not escaping going to market!" Oh dear Frog! He's getting closer! The garbage cans are pushed aside as you pull out the gun you were given and take aim. 

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Last Saturday at 9:55 PM

"NOT THAAAAT'S NOT NIIIICE~" You arrive in a shimmer of starlight, the alleyway warping around you as you materialize behind the would-be mugger.  The man turns with a confused shout, and then you're on him, quick as a flash.  You just love how he squirms as you tickle and kiss him, and you love even more the pretty red stains he leaves behind on the floor and down your dress and iin your mouth! Slurp!  So sweet. You stand to full attention once more and you beam brightly at the frightened miss with the gun. "THERE YOU ARE, SWEET GIRL~"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Last Saturday at 10:02 PM

You stare up at her, gun trembling in your hands. Even in this state, she is an impressive and majestic figure. You've never seen the black queen, Snowman, before, but you don't doubt this is the regal queen of the felt whom you've been avoiding online. This is not who you'd hoped might rescue you. And to top it off, you've just watched your attacker get torn open by her. You panic screams at you to run, but what's to keep you from ending up like him? She's the universe, so shooting her is not an option. You lower the gun and offer a nervous trembling smile as you slowly stand. "Th-thank you for saving me.... Your m-majesty, yes?..." you say, praying to make it out of this alive.(edited)

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Last Saturday at 10:07 PM

"YES INDEEDY DO, SWEET PEACH~" You float over to the poor trembling thing and you take her sweet, soft face into your hands, coating her in that sweet red as well.  When you give her cheeks a pinch and a pull, they aren't quite so loose and elastic as Scratch's before, and you can feel the hard shell of a carapace below.  How cute!!! You smile wide and say, as you continue playing with her cheeks,  "AND WHO MIGHT YOU BE, SWEET SNOWCONE?"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Last Saturday at 10:13 PM

"G-Gwen Paint...." you're used to blood. You're not used to blood being smeared on to your face and you feel a little ill. The pinching hurts a fair amount, but you bare with it and keep your nervous smile. "S-seems to be an interesting n-night..." you attempt to converse. Hopefully if she takes a liking to you you'll walk away okay. Your more pessimistic side whispers to you 'Not a chance.'

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Last Saturday at 11:29 PM

"GWEN PAINT~ PAINT PAINT PAINT I LOVE PAINTING DO YOU LIKE TO PAINT?"  You begin to paint little flowers and stars across her sweet pale face, a hum in your throat as you create your art.   Your head bops this way and that as though you're dancing along with an unheard song, and you say, "IT SURE IS~ IT'S SO LOVELY AND EXCITING, ISN'T IT~?"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Last Saturday at 11:35 PM

You do your very best to still your trembling as she works on your face. Smiling a little more sincerely, you say, "Yes, I love to paint... I um... have my sketchbook if you'd like to see..." you offer hoping to distract her from all the blood she's painting on your face. Keep her happy. Keep her happy. If you're amusing you can live maybe is what you repeat to yourself again and again.

October 14, 2018

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 12:14 AM

Your eyes light up and you beam widely, and you clap your hands and give a twirl!! "OH YES, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE~~~"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 12:20 AM

Pulling out your sketchbook, you open it to some of the little watercolor paintings you'd done. Lots of flowers and a few portraits of yourself and other crew members.  You offer it to her saying, "I'm still practicing always, but I'm pretty proud of these..." Maybe conversing is becoming easier the longer you're not getting disemboweled, or there's something else at work in making you feel less in danger...

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 1:03 AM

You sidle up close--real close--to the good Miss Paint, your arms slung around her neck in an all-too-familiar hug.  You peer down intto her sketchbook and you smile and coo, giving her an excite squeeze at each new painting you're shown.  "OHHH, GWENNY GWEN YOU'RE SO GOOD AT THIS~!! OH MY GOODNESS YOU SHOULD PAINT MY PICTURE TOO!! YOU SHOULD, OH YES, PLEASE, WOULD YOU~?"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 1:09 AM

"Oh, certainly... I don't have my paints with me here, but I can create the sketch?" you offer, hoping she's not going to be disappointed that you can't paint for her exactly. But maybe this is your chance? "If I can get home I can get my paints and meet back with you..." you offer, doing your best to not make it eager sounding. Just an offer, there if she wants it. Wow she is really close to you... You've only had people this close to you recently and that was people you'd gotten to know. If you'd ever heard of the word, scaroused you'd be confident that you are that in this moment. Maybe that's the effect of queens.

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 8:03 PM

"OHHH, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE~!!!" Your arms squeeze around her and you pull her close, squashing her face rather brazenly against your bosom.  You pout down at her, though you can't even fake that expression for long before you're all smiles again.  "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE~ I WANT TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH YOU!!"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 8:07 PM

You're squished against her and your sketchbook is smashed against your chest as you nose is plunged into her own chest. You can't even speak, not only from anxiety, nerves and panic, but also also because you face is enveloped in boobs. You make a little panicked sound.

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 8:13 PM

You've got her pinned there, and you know, she is just the prettiest thing! Even if her shell's all wrong, this hair of hers is the prettiest red you have ever, ever seen!!  You lean in and nuzzle your face against the top of it and you say, "PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE, I THINK I SHOULD LIKE TO KISS YOU VERY MUCH NOW~ YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD FRIEND AND A SWEET FRIEND AND I BET YOU TASTE LIKE MARSHMALLOWS~"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 8:17 PM

"K-k-k-k-kiss?!" you squeak as you pull away only long enough to get in that one stuttering word. Oh Frog... What happens if you tell her no? You remember what the Inspector told you about the infectious nature of this madness and you are terrified. You can't help it, you're trembling again as she holds you and nuzzles your hair. Of all the days to have gone out for groceries...

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 8:49 PM

WELL you take that as a yes! With careful and loving and bloody, oh so very bloody!, hands, you tilt Gwen's head upward and you press your lips to hers in a loving kiss! It's just as you suspected--she does taste like Marshmallows~

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 8:57 PM

Your face is being moved again and your brain hardly processes it as her lips are pressed to yours. As your mind catches up, you make a muffled sound of surprise into her mouth. Then you feel it, creeping, crawling, seeping and oozing through you. Like sweet sweet happy happy sugar melting off her lips and into your mouth and filling you from head to toe! You start to smile into the kiss and drop your sketchbook as your hands rise to softly cup her cheeks. You start to giggle wildly and pull away long enough to say, "Well isn't this the BEST first kiss a girl could ask for~!!!" Then you smash your lips on hers again, seeking the sweet sweet candy that is her. You need it so so much. She's so so so amazing at kissing. Wow, wow, WOW!!!

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 9:04 PM

Your name is KARKAT VANTAS AND BOY ARE YOU PISSED!! You heard that Paint was in trouble and went with Hearts as soon as possible to help her. Once you're near her last known location, you hear yelling and sounds of struggle, and absolutely book it in front of Uncle Hearts. Smart? No. But you are not smart. You see Snowman macking on Paint and before your brain can realize what that means you howl in fury and run towards them, shoving them apart and Paint behind you. "You stay away from her!" You yell to basically a deity, and then your brain catches up. "...Fuck." You turn and yep, That's A Trickster. Mother FUCKER.

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 9:09 PM

"YOUR FIRST KISS~?? OHH, I AM SO HONORED TO HAVE IT~" You dive back into her seeking lips happily, and oh, you could just die here like this!  Your hands are starting to move to locations Most unchaste when a shout brings your attention up and away!  Though you're loathe to break away from that kiss, and indeed, it is a struggle to, you turn your head to stare and Smile at Karkat at the mouth of the alley! "MY MY, MYMYMY HELLO THERE~!!"  You're holding onto Paint, but you take a step forward, your heel digging into the messy remnants of the man you decimated before with an audible squish.  You're smiling brightly, and your teeth are still covered in his blood.  "AND WHO MIGHT YOU BE, CUTIE~???"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 9:14 PM

Oh wow! OH WOW! You love her hands! You love how she touches you! But oh now she's paused and turned away. But then you see why and you're just so HAPPY! You beam at Karkat. You're so so happy to see him! "Karkat! Karkat it's you!!!" you yell as you hug him tightly and rub your cheek against his. "I was in so so much trouble and Ms Snowman saved my life~!!!" you say joyfully. Ehehe... That squish sound is funny. Ehehehe....

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 9:17 PM

"Oh, fuck me running." Is all you're able to say before you're being gently and fondly squished by miss Paint's admittedly EXTREMELY soft cheeks. No. No, don't get distracted!!! "Oh, did she? Uhhh. Hello, miss Snowman." You feel embarrassed. She's...you know. And you're......you know. Even as a crazed trickster she's so much more than you. "Thanks for taking care of Miss Paint."

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 9:20 PM

You clap your hands excitedly as you float up and give a twirl in the air, hands tucked under your chin as you float in close--real close.  Why, now YOU'RE cheek to cheek with Karkat as well!! What soft skin he has! So warm! "SO YOOOOU'RE KARKAT~ HELLO, DARLING, IT'S SOOOO GOOD TO FINALLY MEET YOU!!! YOU'RE SO MUCH CUTER THAN I COULD HAVE EVER DREAMED!!!"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 9:24 PM

"Isn't he just?!" you agree vehemently. You continue to hug him cheek pressed to cheek as you say, "Karkat is one of my very BEST friends! He's got the BEST tastes in movies and books too!" You reach your hands to Snow and squish Karkat between the two of you as you add her to the hug.

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 9:25 PM

Well now you're fucking blushing on top of being squished between, let's be frank here, boobs. You are too damn short to not be smooshed into tits right now. You clear your throat and make feeble attempts to move. "Well! If...you're okay, Paint, that's great! I was worried. I should. Go??"

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 9:47 PM

"NO~" You take Paint's hand and squeeze it gently, before looping your other arm around the boy and her and gather them both in a tight, floating hug! All of them, floating! Just a little, just a foot off the ground now, but oh, you just can't help it!! You say, "PLEASE, NO, STAY~!! WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US~"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 9:55 PM

You giggle in delight as you float. It's so nice to float and you love it~! "Don't leave Karkar~ That would be so sad!" you plead making bright green puppy eyes at him. You want your best BEST friend to see how happy you are and maybe he'll want to be happy too!

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 9:59 PM

Why, in this godforsaken timing, can you only think of "cursed" in your stupid, useless brain. Anyone else would have been able to get out of this. Anyone else wouldn't have even gotten INTO this. Fuck. "Er....I.........Guess I have to because we are in fact, floating in the air and I am not blessed with blood powers."

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 10:15 PM

You laugh and you say, "WE'RE NOT FLOATING VERY FAR, YOU KNOW~ IF I DROPPED YOU NOW, YOU WOULDN'T HURT..." You then float Much further up in the sky, above the two story next to you, and then you say, "BUT IF I DROPPED YOU FROM HEEEERE....~"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 10:19 PM

Oh wow this is so so fun!!! But you do hold Karkat tighter just in case. He is your BEST friend after all and you'd never let anything happen to him! "It's so so pretty up her Ms Snowman!!! I wanna kiss you up here~!!!" you squeal in delight.

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 10:20 PM

"Oh lord. Yep. Yep, I would fucking straight up die because I am not fancy at all, I am in fact rather mortal." To your utter mortification, you have to cling on both of them because AAAAAAAAAA!!!! "I don't wanna get in between your sugary makeouts, haha"

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 10:29 PM

"NO SUCH THING, KARKAT~ KARKAAAAT, KITTY, KARKITTY~ SEE, BECAUSE, I WANT TO KISS PAINT AGAIN, IT'S TRUE--" You turn your face to stare at him, nearly eye-to-fucking-eye now.  "BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE BETTER?? KISSING THE BOTH OF YOU, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!!"

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 10:32 PM

More of your giggles fill the air as Snow speaks. Wow she really just has all the best ideas! "You'll like it Karkat~! She's a great kisser! So so great~!" you declare. "You should say yes. Yes, yes, YES~!!!" And if he said yes to Snow, maybe he'd say yes to you too!

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 10:35 PM

"Uhhhhhhhh" What fucking choice do you even have? If you bore her she might drop you despite Gwen's death grip on you, and you aren't joking about not living long through a fal like that. You take a deep breath. "......Fuck it. Sure."

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 10:37 PM

You gasp with delight, even though you never once doubted that he would say no! I mean, who says no to KISSES??? You sure as hell wouldn't!  So when he says sure, why, you dive right in to press a kiss to the corner of his lips, leaving enough room for Paint to get in on this good good kiss boy too!

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 10:39 PM

He said yes! He said yes!!!! You join Snow in the kiss and it is so so sweet! You hope Karkat is tasting all that sweetness like you are!

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 10:41 PM

You don't have very long to think about what a nightmare your life is right now, because you are being kissed. And, yeah, you've been kissed before but it's never been quite so...electric. Or probably not electric but more like your body is going into septic shock from the sudden rush of candy. This is it. This is how you die. You kiss back, giggling at both of them.

Carro (DD/08/WQ)Yesterday at 11:05 PM

Oh, you're so delighted, you could just scream! The three of you, kissing and twirling and floating in the air, together!! Ohh, what a dream come true, that you didn't even know you had until just now!!  You continue to float through the air as you make out ever-higher into the technicolor sky!

Lissa (Paint/Feferi/Kanaya)Yesterday at 11:10 PM

You kiss them both in delight before throwing your head back and whooping loudly into the sky! It's getting harder to breath but isn't that just so NEAT?!

Nyssa (Karkat)Yesterday at 11:13 PM

When you pull from kissing you're so lovely and sparkly and openly wearing all your hearts right on your sleeves! You beam at them both and cling to their hands, interwining their fingers and kissing the backs of both. You are nothing if not a romantic after all! "You're both INCREDIBLE!"

[missguomeiyun]

Thai iced tea

I’ve always considered myself as a coffee>tea person but a few months ago when I tried Thai iced coffee for the 1st time, I really liked it! It just so happened that a few days ago when Diana & I were eating at Bubba Gump, we were talking about travels & stuff, & she recommended me the following Thai tea (loose leaf) from T&T. She heard about it from our mutual friend Katherine, who said it was legit! Diana got it a few weeks go, & I purchased it on Monday from T&T under her recommendation :)

Looked small in the photo but it’s a 1lb. bag. Diana said if I make it (single serving) once or twice a week, it could easily last a few months. 

Here is the back. They offer 2 recipes. They are both essentially the same: 4 tablespoons of tea, 1 cup boiling water, a glass containing ice cubes, 2-3 tbsp. of sugar (flavour to taste, of course); however the one with milk includes condensed milk. I personally like teas/coffee that’s bitter (chocolate too!) so I went for the iced tea with milk but minus the sugar completely. 

This was the condensed milk I used. 

The apparatus! I had an idea in my head but lacked equipment lol so in the end, I went with this set up. I needed to steep & strain the tea, but need the hot tea in a cup so I could stir in condensed milk. THEN I need to pour the condensed milk + tea into the glass of ice. The concept is identical to Vietnamese iced coffee. 

Here’s my 4 tbsp. of tea in the strainer inside my cup. 

Oh man.. the smell is exactly like the one from the King & I! The colour too. I remember it being very orange. 

Not sure how long I should keep the tea steeping for but I mean. .. the longer the steep, the more flavour, right? So I just let it sit there while I got my other stuff ready: ice cubes & opened my can of condensed milk. 

Took out the strainer & mixed in 1 large tbsp. of condensed milk. 

Ta-daaaa! It was tasty! I will try it with more AND less condensed milk in the future & see what I like more. I liked this one bcos it was not very sweet, but the restaurant one was & I liked that. The tea on its own is quite bitter. So yeah.. more experimentation =)

I didn’t realize there were so much fine powdered leaves (??). When I scooped it out with my tbsp. I thought the tea laves were quite coarse so my strainer would do the job but I guess not- this won’t do for the next time.. . 

So then. .. yesterday before heading to evening shift, I used the following method.

My coffee machine! I just have the traditional/simple coffee machine that requires a filter each time; the filter system, I thought, would be the best for the tea as it has filtered out fine grinded coffee in the past. I scooped 7 tbsp. of tea leaves. 

& poured in 3 cups of water. I still don’t quite know how this thing works tbh. I pour in 3 cups of water, but it comes out as just over 2 cups of coffee. When I pour in 5 cups, the resulting product yields 4 cups. I know the filter itself & the coffee absorbs water but it can’t possibly take thaaaat much, even with the vapourizing. .. Anyways, I plugged it in & turned it on. 

As expected, the colour of the tea is very orange. 

Expectation #2 also fulfilled: 3 cups of water yields just over 2 cups of product. Coffee or tea makes no difference. 

That gradient is real!!

I did something different with my “technique” this time. In a glass of ice (half full; 4 ice cubes), I poured in tea bit by bit. So in another cup, I mixed condensed milk with some tea, poured that into the glass. Then I used the same cup & poured boiling tea into it (rinses the condensed milk out), then poured that into the glass. I did this again for the 1st time. So gradually, I got diff shades of orange-ness. In total, I used 1.5 tbsp. of condensed milk this time. I didn’t add sugar this time. .. maybe next time haha. Also, I didn’t mix the tea when I drank it, so I literally went from bitter to sweet! 

Overall, I am super happy with this purchase & I’m gonna make more (obviously! Bcos I have a whole bag of leaves).

[official-schwaebisch]

As German memes have no “Know your meme” explanation page, in an attempt to improve international meme relations, I’m going to try to unravel this list for all y’all English speakers:

- ‘Nein! Doch! Ohh!’ (No! Yes! Ohh!) comes from a 1971 French movie called ‘Hasch mich - ich bin der Mörder’ (original title ‘Jo’) starring Louis de Funès, a television icon in Germany. In the scene in question, the detective confronts Louis with several facts he found out. Louis, trying to seem oblivious, exclaims No! -Yes! - Ohh! each time. The iconic pronunciation makes this an often used phrase throughout Germany

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4aLThuU008

- several of these are TV and radio ads jingles: 

‘Feierabend wie das duftet. kräftig deftig würzig gut’ (End of the work day, how does it smell, strong, tangy, spicy, good) from the ad for Pommersche sausages

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2X6i7FMagA

‘Seitenbacher Müsli - Müsli von Seitenbacher‘ (Seitenbacher cereal - cereal by Seitenbacher) is from a series of Swabian radio cereal ads, in which the Swabian ad text is ended with this forced sounding Standard German statement. As we say in Swabia: We can do anything - except speaking Standard German. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt1w9nA6b5U

‘Vielleicht bin ich gar nicht deine Freundin... sondern Manuel Neuer’ (Maybe I’m not even your girlfriend - maybe I’m Manuel Neuer) is from a Coca Cola ad staring German football keeper Manuel Neuer. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o6-JyISBcA

‘Einmal hin, alles drin’ (Go there once, everything’s there) from the ad for the supermarket ‘real’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ0x4MlP9d4

‘20% auf alles außer Tiernahrung’ (20% off everything except animal food) This one is getting increasingly obscure, as the hardware store it is advertising (Praktiker) closed several years ago. They used to have the same sale every now and again, offering 20% off everything, always with the clarification ‘except animal food’, which led to a number of jokes, the most popular one being ‘I drink all alcoholic beverages over 20%, except animal foods’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBT0E3fFQ80

‘morgens halb zehn in Deutschland’ (half past nine in the morning in Germany) is the start of several ads for Knoppers, a popular snack since the 90s, sparking numerous bad jokes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFTQIFLCdt8

‘Dann geh doch zu Netto!’ (Then go to Netto) obviously from the ad for the Netto supermarket. Children play supermarket, the boy complains that it would be cheaper at Netto, the girl screams ‘Then go to Netto!’, simple as that. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t16WeW_Nc0g

- ‘halt stopp jetzt rede ich!’ (hold on, stop, I’m talking now) is from the German reality show ‘Frauentausch’(wife swap) in which one particularly unpleasant participant completely looses it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNzRYXgW8gQ

 - ‘Kann man machen, muss man aber nicht’ (One can do that, but one doesn’t have to) is a common German idiom to off-handedly exclaim your disapproval of someones plans or actions. 

- ‘Chantal, heul leise’ (Chantal, cry silently!) is from the YA movie ‘Fack ju Göhte’ (Fuck you Goethe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DTPBtkYBag

- ‘Superperforator’ and ‘Space Taxi to the sky’ are from the iconic Bully Herbig comedies ‘Der Schuh des Manitu’ and ‘(T)Raumschiff surprise’. These are packed with often cited references and contain their very own style of comedy, which is far too difficult to explain, sorry. Have the videos anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMa5pNSu17c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOuPwPkRtk4

- ‘in jeeener Nacht’ (In thaaaat night) is from the comedy movie ‘ 7 Zwerge – Männer allein im Wald ‘ (7 dwarfs - men alone in the forest). In that, every time someone mentions that particular night, lightning strikes. It has become commonly used to refer back to a bad night out with your friends.

- ‘hauptsache alessio geht’s gut’ (at least alessio is well) refers to the divorce of the two German talent show winners Pietro and Sarah Lombardi, who during their divorce kept emphazising on twitter, that despite all, their child is doing fine. It became a meme to add to every bad news. 

- ‘Junge, warum hast du nichts gelernt’ (Boy, why haven’t you learned anything) is the first line of the song Junge by Die Ärzte, usually used to answer a particularly stupid exclamation. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cIW1n3oP_g

- Hufe klappern, Pferde traben’ (hooves clap, horses trot) is the first line of title song for the childrens movie Bibi & Tina. Catchy and horrible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br3RdqYQegw

- ‘ich trinke ouzo, was machst du so’ (I’m drinking ouzo, what are you doing) from this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCeGbWyUB34

- ‘warum liegt hier eigentlich Stroh rum?’ Absolutely ICONIC line from a German porn movie. The dialogue goes: ‘That’s the fuse box, that we have problems with, if you could take a look at it’ - ‘Yeah ok, but why is there straw everywhere?’ - ‘And why are you wearing a mask?’ - ‘Then blow me’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj1UAXFXH-w

-’Der die das wer wie was, wieso weshalb warum, wer nicht fragt bleibt dumm’ (the the the (there are 3 german articles, duh), who why what, why why why (again German is so much more precise than English), if you don’t ask, you’ll stay stupid) is the theme song of the German sesame street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPHi5xn_q5c

- ‘HALLO DA IST PFAND DRAUF’ (are you mad, there’s Pfand on that). Pfand is the German system of getting 9-25 cents back for returning an empty bottle to the store. 

- ‘Hätte hätte Fahradkette’(lit. would have, would have, bicycle chain) basically means ‘Woulda, coulda, shoulda’ but it rhymes. 

- [Merkelraute] (Merkel rhombus) is the hand gesture, that German chancellor Angela Merkel often makes, sometimes compared to Mr. Burnes. 

- ‘UND. DIE. SE. BIENE. DIE. ICH. MEINE.’ (and the bee I’m talking about) is a line from the chorus of the title song of the 70s childrens cartoon ‘Biene Maja’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNWferBsNCw

- ‘Früher war mehr Lametta’ (There used to be more tinsel) is a line from a christmas sketch (Weihnachten bei den Hoppenstedts) by German comedian and national treasure Loriot. 

- ‘Selbst Einstein hatte nur ne vier in Mathe und war später mal total genial’(Even Einstein only had a D in maths, and was a genius later on) is from the title song of the childrens TV school drama series Schloss Einstein. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-dnnhc3ILA

Ich hoffe ich konnte Ihnen weiterhelfen.

meme overload (credit to @moami)

[wallcrawlparker]

"Well, well, well. Imagine thaaaat. A Supe loose on the streets pretendin' to save someone's ass. Or are ya' just a wannabe Supe?"

                      Peter spun on his heels, tilting his head a little as he looked toward the owner of the scratchy voice. Turns out, the man was just as grungy and dark as he’d imagined in the half second during which he was turning around to face him. Huh, how cool is that? 

“Uh.. A what? Excuse me, mister, do you need help with something?” Maybe this one’d had one beer too many, wouldn’t be the first time Spidey would help a drunk guy get home. “Are you lost?”

[dwtspd]

World of Dance - the Cut pt 2

Team Division (continued)

As of last week, Swing Latino are currently in first place with Super Cr3w a few points behind.

Kinjaz - They want to show that Asian Americans can be sexy. I won’t say this routine was sexy, but it was suave. A little different from what they usually do, music and setting wise, but still with all the intricacies and cleanliness that makes them great. Average=93.5. They take first place and eliminate Super Cr3w. I’m not surprised.

Chapkis Dance Family - They’ve only gotten montage shots so far and I still don’t really know what their “thing” is. Seems to be hip hop and jazz funk. They danced to Britney Spear’s Work Bitch and that song is one of my guilty pleasures so I wish they at least showed us their full routine. They tore off their suits halfway through to reveal braided hair, white T-shirts and shorts. I think it was meant to be funny but the judges didn’t respond well. Average=85.8

Ian Eastwood and the Young Lions - They are wearing loose white shirts and light-coloured plain pants so you know it’s gonna be at least somewhat emotional. Ian says it’s about his journey through dance and life in general. Ne-Yo makes a very good point about how the story must be comprehensible by the audience. Technically this was a relatively simple dance, but visually it was effective. Better use of the smoke machine, some floating umbrellas. Ne-Yo had some doubts, and JLo says their dance style is kinda repetitive and needs to change. I don’t think it’s thaaaat repetitive. Average=89. Not enough to make the cut. I didn’t expect them to make it but it was a valiant effort on their part, and as a new group, they’ve gotten their name out there.

Upper Division - mentored by Derek

Luka and Jenalyn - Having ballroom backgrounds, they were thrilled to meet Derek. JLo still wants more dancing and I agree. Misty says Jenalyn is connecting to the audience more than Luka, which is a bit unfair to him since he is kinda a prop for Jenalyn. Derek says they need to work on connecting to each other, and Luka says something like “yeah, maybe it’s because we’re too busy doing tricks, we don’t really have time to interact with each other.” By the way, their costumes look like they are made of duct tape. Average=80.5. It wasn’t that bad. I don’t think they made any progress from their last dance but it’s not like this dance was a huge step backward for them.

Fik-shun - The fact that he is going second has me nervous for him. He is using a bench and an umbrella. Lucky for him, Derek LOVES dancing with furniture (so much that I complain about it when I talk about DWTS). Ne-Yo said it was a bit safe, not his best, and he could have incorporated the props better and Derek gives a "Whaaaaat??” expression on the spot. I must say I like how his actions were linked to the lyrics of the song (even though I don’t really like this song). And when he rolled under the bench and folded his arms...that moment just sticks out to me. Like, I could see him making his character ‘age’ throughout the dance but that part just hit me. I’m happy he did a more lighthearted routine after two angsty dances without losing the emotion in the dance. Average=84.2. I thought he deserved a bit more.

Pasion - The flamenco troupe. Why couldn’t we see Derek talking to them why??? Another group that’s only been shown in montages so far. I don’t think Livin the Vida Loca was the best song choice given their style. Hardly any of their dance is shown, so I can’t really judge though. Average=78.8.

Les Twins - They looked very very tame in the rehearsal, but ultimately came out with more dynamism. I saw them go out of sync a lot of times throughout the whole dance which is unlike them. The judges raved but I personally wasn’t wowed. It was quite underwhelming. Like, their first routine had some emotion, and their second one had some vague story going on plus an impactful ending, but this dance was average. Average=93.5 I don’t think they should have been scored THAT high. I would have scored it around the same as Fik-shun, and no way were they equal to Kinjaz.

Keone and Mari - They don’t want to just be known as the happy couple so this dance was about challenges in relationships. I was quite thrown by the song change and the screaming. I thought they used the band really well, but I don’t understand the point of the streamers falling at the end. That aside, this dance was very well-thought out and I thought it was the best dance in the division for this round. Average=93.2. Very very close to beating out Les Twins.

I’m gonna miss you Fik-shun! Good thing I still get to see you on SYTYCD.

Funny how the two Upper finalists are both duos...

What did you think of the Cut round in general. Was the outcome what you wanted/thought it should be? My inbox is always open.

So next week will be the divisional finals. It’s Diana vs Eva, Swing Latino vs Kinjaz, and Les Twins vs Keone and Mari. I think the Team division has the most predictable outcome. Swing Latino may be fast, but they lack the cleanliness, precision and cohesiveness of Kinjaz. That said, I’m still looking forward to see what they bring. Between Diana and Eva, I feel like Diana will make it through just because JLo loves her so much, but I think Eva is a stronger and more mature dancer (not to mention she has a better choreographer behind her, whoever that might be. Or are both girls choreographing their own dances?) I’m personally rooting for Eva.

I’m don’t know how to feel about the Upper division. Neither pairs were my favourites to begin with (RIP Quick Style, I’m still not over you). The judges seem completely enamoured by Les Twins, but I think Keone and Mari put more thought into their routines and have more artistry as both choreographers and performers. K&M’s routines are also some of the most memorable throughout this competition. I guess personally I want K&M to win, but I probably care the least about this division.

[curlicuecal]

Just wanted to drop in and say that I just read your cyberbunny au for the millionth time and it's still my all time fav! I was wondering if we would ever get a pov that's not AR or mituna. I love them both to death, but I also really really REALLY want to know what the general is thinking about everything.

Omigosh, you’re really sweet for telling me.  This was such a nice thing to hear today.

Let’s see…  there are about 6 (ish?) chapters left in the current cyberbunny story. (Two of them are written! YAY)  Those will all be AR/Mituna POV.  (wait, except the epilogue.)

After that is planned a sort of intermission/loose-ends short story from IDK but probably AR POV? Maybe Kankri.

And after thaaaat the world goes all big and plotty again.  Definitely going to add at least 1 new character POV there, but not any of the current characters.

But!  I have been brainstorming ways to make the narrative a bit more tractable with my current schedule/writing-brain issues and I think I might try to do it more like a series of short stories in an arc, in which case I’d probably take full advantage of as many POVs as possible.  :3