#milestones are milestones even when they come from things you don't create to make numbers

[re-discover-communication]

1000 hits for Woodwork Cookies and a hug for all of you

[jeonghaniehaee]

svt reblogs

master post

reblogs consist of various fics i’ve found that i personally enjoy and hope you do too 🦢

read at ur own risk! some works are 18+ and not meant for younger audiences

there will be some bias towards other members mainly cause i personally read theirs more

order will go: name/link + author, synopsis, and my notes

please support the writers by reblogging their works! everyone in general would appreciate 🕯️

seungcheol:

dad of the year @/wondernus

seungcheol accidentally reveals he has a daughter on a first date and doesn't know how to tell you that his daughter is a dog

notes: i loved this one so much it was just so 💕💞💘💗💓💖

your cherry flavored kisses @/hannyoontify

as his mom always said, kisses are the best kind of medicine for boo-boos

notes: omg sosososo cute 🥹 i loved this one oh so much you can’t believe it 

hello tutorial @/97-liners

it’s your final year of college, and you’ve been elected president of your sorority. this is all great and fine, but as the semester goes on, you find yourself having repeated run-ins with the president of the fraternity next door in a series of unfortunate coincidences (that might not actually be coincidences, as you come to discover). 

or 

in which you’re trying to deal with your crush on seungcheol in a normal way, but the meddling kids are making it harder than it needs to be. 

notes: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS LIKE ALMOST ONE OF MY FAVORITE FICS OF ALL TIME I LOVE IT OH SO MUCH!! please read this it’s actually perfect ive reread it so much just cause of how much i love it. THIS FIC IS THE EPITOME OF MY LIFE. THIS WRITER DESERVES AN OSCAR AND EVERY SINGLE AWARD IN THE WORLD

boyfriend texts @/lololololchips

notes:so cute and sweet ☹️🫶

fifteen to forever @/gyuswhore

Fifteen was the age you had met Choi Seungcheol at a school hockey game. Forever was the age you would find yourself spending with him. 

notes:THIS FIC IS ACTUALLY SOO SWEET I LOVED IT SO MUCH. must read fr💯💯

jeonghan:

nothing new @/luvhhannie

no one would’ve thought that unspoken feelings would’ve been the best for you and jeonghan

notes: hanahaki is such a painfully good au and this fic just perfectly captures it!! i would recommend it wholeheartedly

to live again @/viastro

it’s been years since your last milestone birthday; a time when everything still felt right in the world with youth and ambition. now that you’re older and times have changed, would you dare take a chance to save someone else in the past at the cost of your own future?

notes: oh. my. GOD. this fic is oh sosososo good and i loved the slow burn too. i never expected to have such a lasting impression on a fic but this one is just *chefs kiss* i love it so much, it’s definitely somewhere at the top of my fav fics

ode to you @/lovelyhan 

if there's one thing you've learned from all the lives you've spent together, it's that jeonghan isn't always someone you'll end up wanting. he can be crass. he can be secretive. he can be nothing short of vexing. but in the end, he's everything you need him to be. or:  25 lives in which you find and don't find jeonghan.

notes: this story was so cute and i love how it was created 🥹 i really liked it and i hope yall will too cause this is a great read, and every single life was so good 

proud @/blue-jisungs

hi this is a req ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ i am SUCH  a strong believer that jeonghan babies u no matter what or when. even in front of his members n theyre js like erm get a room?

notes: this is super cute and fluffy, also scoups 😭😭 so funny

my heart is beating for two @/seuonji

you’re a worker at the daycare and of course, your main priority is the safety of the kids. how’d you deal with an unfamiliar face trying to pick up one of the kids one day? 

jeonghan becomes fond of the daycare worker he met the other day, seems like fate is on his side through this journey, or is it?

jeonghan becomes fond of the daycare worker he met the other day. they finally exchanged numbers! how does it go on from there?

notes: all three parts are all sososo good and i loved reading each one. this story is so cute and i just loved reading it and i reallly recommend it🥹

daisies @/viastro 

the best type of revenge is to hurt the person that means the most to them. aka, in which jeonghan is in charge of making you fall in love with him, just to break your heart. 

notes: OMG THIS IS SO GOOD!! i really enjoyed this and i loved reading the whole thing 🫶🫶🫶

beef @/wondernus

in which yoon jeonghan (the random guy you gamed with) found your twitter account, prompting the largest and ugliest twitter beef you've ever been in.

notes: this is so. incredibly. funny. i literally never knew i needed this fic in my life its just so good 😭

the selfish dilemma @/joonsytip

It was love at first sight ever since you laid eyes on Jeonghan. To him, you are the annoying co-worker who keeps asking him out. No one is new to your courting agenda which only pisses off Jeonghan but what happens when you stop, all at once....

notes: this series is incredibly good and i loved. reading it. i really recommend cause it was a great fic and it still stands as a great one

love café @/chocosvt

while you’ve spent the last few months pretending the love café doesn’t exist, you realize you need its services now more than ever. this brings you face to face with jeonghan, the son of a luxury fashion designer who’s got money to burn. your exchanges are strictly business. until they’re not. 

notes: LOVE CAFE ACTUALLY MAKES MY HEAD SPIN I LOVE IT SO MUCH. THIS WRITER WROTE IT PERFECTLY I ACTUALLY ADORE IT SO MUCH!! PLEASE READ I LOVED IT 🙏 JUST EVERYTHING AHHH, IF YOU DONT LISTEN TO ANYTHING ELSE I SAY LISTEN TO THIS LOVE CAFE IS GREAT

the long way @/trblsvt

 it was just like any other shoot. go in, pose, drink water, don't get food on the clothes, and don't joke around with the staff. easy. except it wasn't that easy.

notes: i loved this one so much it was a perfect read and it’s just 😭🫶

the christmas boyfriend @/rubyreduji

when you tell your mom the little white lie that you have a boyfriend, you don’t expect it to evolve into bringing your friend with benefits home for christmas. what can go wrong?

notes: this is actually one of my TOP favorites of all time and of jeonghan fics. if it’s not even first, that is. i loved this so stinking much it’s not even comprehensible. PLEASE im begging you read this. i loved it so much. even if you aren’t reading this at christmas time, it is still a perfect fic and i absolutely love it. one of my first (maybe also my last 🤭) top fics

iris beauty @/wonunuu

you and mina have been best friends for as long as you remember. after your parents passed from a horrible car accident, mina’s parents kindly took you in, tending and caring for you as their own. at such a young age, you have learned the meaning of debt as this is your constant feeling towards your best friend and her parents. to compensate, you have showed them undoubtable loyalty, respect, love and kindness, just as they have showed you; you do everything they tell you without question. so when your best friend asks you to pretend to be her in meeting a guy she has been talking to online, your loyalty and trust are tested when you unintentionally develop feelings for him. 

notes: this smau is genuinely so good and one i will read over and over again no matter how long it is. the storyline is mapped out PERFECTLY and i mightve read this all in one sitting…

how many times does it take to get smarter?

how many chances are too many chances? @/veethefreeelf

Jeonghan and you start a fwb relationship after years of being best friends. He only has two rules: no feelings and no kissing. Who’s going to break the rules first?

It’s been 6 months since the night you and Jeonghan went your separate ways. You’re sure he has moved on and you… are working on moving on. Nothing can go wrong, right?

notes: AHHHHHHHHH THE ENDING IS SO CUTE OMGGGGGGGG HAHAHAHAGAGAHAHAHHQHQHQJAHA. PLEASE READ IWHQHQGAGQGQH SO GOOOOOD

joshua:

isohel @/toruro

fairytales can be rather misleading, can't they? when you and your mother are ripped away from your life at the castle, you spend over a decade resenting the royalty. so naturally, when you find prince joshua at your doorstep, you’re more than eager to shut the door on him. but as your life takes twists and turns, you happen to find yourself in the arms of a man you never thought you'd have to see again.

notes: THIS MODERN ROYALTY AU IS JUST. PERFECTION. i believe this is a must read for all carats🫡 i loved it so much!!

untitled @/som1ig

you waited for him, and he still came, unbeknownst all odds

notes: ong this is so sweet and i loved reading this. it’s so good 🫶 (short but sweet)

you were beautiful @/viastro

a modernized cinderella au. in which you and joshua meet through your love for boba popsicles, but end up living out your very own complicated, mess filled, cinderella story.

notes: ONE IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND EACH MOMENT MADE ME WANT MORE. the angsty parts.. the fluff.. this one is defff a top read!! i recommend it to all (even non-joshua stans but idk if i trust u if u arent one even in the slightest 🤨)

so beautiful @/blue-jisungs

whipped prince!joshua

notes: AGAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA IM TOO HAPPY OMGGGG JOSHUA IS PORTRAYED SO GOOD AS A BF OMG AHAHAHHAHAHH AGHHHHHHHHH🙏🙏

jun:

hoshi:

wonwoo:

gamer bf! wonwoo hc @/blue-jisungs

notes: ngl i thought it would be how he would be like a discord mod bf.. (💀) but in reality it was vv cute and nice 🙌

for the books @/trblsvt

wonwoo's students seemed intent on matching him up with a fellow teacher. he didn't really want to stop them, it was too funny for him to break up their fun. plus, he didn't mind the certain someone he was being "set up" with. 

notes:this one is a good one!! very nice and the students are 💯 top tier

take it easy (slowly carve out my heart) @/savventeen

wonwoo's assignment: become your husband and bide his time until given the command to kill you. a simple mission, really — one that shouldn't have been hard. except, he never accounted for the fact that he might actually fall in love with you. too bad he's the perfect little soldier.

notes: in my own words, “this made me truly sob. made me wrench my heart out. this is amazing angst. this is the only kind of amazing angst i want to read now ♾️♾️♾️” 

to my youth @/viastro

in a world where everyone finds out who loves them within a 10 meter radius through the app love alarm, confessing your feelings without the use of the app is no longer considered normal. however, you refuse to download it in hopes that you’ll be able to fall in love without being dependent on love alarm.

notes:ngl in general ALL of viastro’s smaus deserve to be read fr.. like this one is so cute!! wonwoo in some of the moments just make me 😍😍 also the angst was fr sooo good 

woozi:

dokyeom:

mingyu:

minghao:

seungkwan:

vernon:

dino:

multiple:

camp half-blood @/som1ig

the camp half blood is a greek demigod training facility located on the north shore of long island. this series is about thirteen of its residents.

notes: i was SUCH A PJO FAN that these fics like actually cured me. i love every single one!! another must read fr 🤭

svt reaction to having a gf that’s cold on the outside, sweet and caring on the inside @/haecien

notes: this one is so cute! i loved each one and i thought it fit them well too 💕

thoughts ??? @/hanggarae

one shot smau’s about svt being horrifically down abysmal in chronological order 

notes: naw these are all super funny and great to read and support when you want to have a good laugh 💯

bf texts from maknae line when they’re on tour @/holdinbacksecrets

notes:overall just vv comforting texts between reader and maknae line 🫶

it’s complicated @/lovelyhan

one commoner, two princes, and three tales far too complicated to comprehend.

notes: currently only the dino and joshua one are uploaded (waiting SO painfully for the jeonghan one) but even though them being long might make you not want to read them, every single word was chosen perfectly and both stories just blew me away i loved them so much, definitely in my top 10 fics

you still sleep with plushies (vocal team) @/blue-jisungs

notes:what can i say these hcs are just really cute 

untitled @/nonranghaes

jihan finds you bundled up

notes: LMAO this one is just overall cute and some parts are def funny too

take a pic! @/cheolism

text messages of u asking ur boyfie (hyung line) for a pic <3

notes: these texts are soo funny and the pictures are chosen with care, i legit could tell, AND YOU COULDNT HAVE STARTED WITH THOSE CHEOL PICS LIKE WHAT 😫

inflection point @/lovelyhan 

you love yoon jeonghan. no, scratch that. you fucking adore yoon jeonghan; so much that the moment he asks you to be in an exclusive set-up with his current partner, you accept the offer in a heartbeat. what you fail to consider, however, is who your boss’ boyfriend actually is.

things make a turn for the worse (or the better?) when jeonghan leaves you with the most insufferable person on earth. but maybe a few weeks alone is exactly what you and seungcheol needed after all.

after reconciling with your first love, all seems well in your relationship thus far. but when you notice jeonghan distancing himself from you and seungcheol, you're determined to get to the bottom of it.

notes: AHAHAHHAHAHHHHHAHHHHHH INFLECTION POINT IS SO. GOOD. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE READ IT CAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! the story is great, the story writing is even better, and it is just overall a superior fic 🙏

svt when you call them a new pet name @/lovingseventeen

notes:i actually adore this fic so much it is so cute and it’s just 🤧🥹

“saw this and it made me think of you” @/babyleostuff

notes:this one is GENUINELY so funny like how’d you find all these pictures 😭😭🫶

teasing you over your crush on them - hhu, vu, pu @/hanniehaee

notes: i loved each one and especially the style they were wrote in 🤧🫶

accidentally ditching you on your bday - hhu, vu, pu @/hanniehaee

notes: THE ANGST IS ACTUALLY SOOOOO GOOD OMG. idk if yall knew this but i used to be a diehard straight angst fan and this really reawakened that part of me. i loved how it went and the part 2 was definitely great also. (p.s. the first time i read i cried, and it’s been a while since ive cried cause on angst so i loved the pain🙏)

amortentia @/http-mianhae

love stories at hogwarts with 13 particular people

notes: currently, only 95 line is there, but each fic is perfect. it’s a hogwarts au love story, and i especially love each one. every single one is perfect and captures everything oh sosososo well. i’m really excited for future updates !!!

svt hospital @/taeyegu

four different departments, four different love stories, all in one hospital; hospitalplaylist!au

notes: omg.. this sooo cute and super funny!! i loved each one and they genuinely made me smile and laugh

have something to add? send in a request and i’ll put it in 📦

want me to make a different groups recommendation list? add in an ask too 💌

[pleb-the-original]

this might be a bit weird but there's some feelings that I've kinda been dealing with that I just kinda wanted to get out into words. I'm an artist, right? still a beginner but at least now I make art that I actually like to look at, but I still don't really fully feel like an artist proper. like, kinda imposter syndrome-y but more in the sense of like I'm doing something wrong. like I'll see or read about the experiences of other artists and just feel strange that I haven't experienced the same things. I never had self-inserts, I never drew on the sides of my school assignments (I can't even draw when in the general vicinity of a person), I didn't watch anime growing up, I couldn't do a yearly art summary since I started this year and I can't remember when pieces were drawn, etc. I just feel like an anomaly compared to other artists. I mean my go-to drawing place is the floor of my closet, my sketchbook (can it really be a sketchbook if its mostly completed pieces) is a complete mess with space being gerrymandered, I barely know how to use any brushes on krita (I still can't even find a glitter one), and the only reason I use kirta is to get the colors that I can't achieve with my physical supplies. I think this mainly stems from the difference in how I developed. with my writing and character creating, I just kinda fumbled through making pretty garbage pieces until I got the hang of it just through going at it over and over again. same with making ocs, I fumbled my way through making characters for years until I figured out how to easily add depth. These things I did on my own without much outside influence so they truly feel like things I am proud of being able to do. I'll come across videos on youtube about "how to design a character" or "how to write an oc" and I'll just kinda smile and be like: "I already know how and its way weirder and much cooler than you could ever imagine". fumbling around and figuring things out on my own has just been how I developed creatively (do you know how much fumbling I did to make the ads? every ad was one take because I wasn't sure if I could time the slideshow to prerecorded audio nor do I know how to combine audio pieces together beforehand for the musical number) but with drawing, I've been surrounded by outside influences and ideas for how to make good art. my friends are artists and I look up to them. I see art all the time. so it feels wrong to just fumble about and figure it out on my own because I can clearly see everyone else going through the same milestones which makes me worry that I'm supposed to be hitting them when I'm not. like take my lineart for example. I can do pretty good lineart but I mainly learned by freehanding other people's reference images. heck, I'm still eerily good at that. but now I'm kinda worried about drawing humans since I've only really done so by that freehand copying. same with art style. do I have an artstyle? at what point do I recognize my artstyle as something coherent and with deliberate choice? the only choice I can recognize is bold colors. ironically, I think my greatest art strength ties to my writing by my ability to put a character in a situation instead of just in a pose by taking into account their traits and abilities. but I developed that and the lineart copying by fumbling through artfight. maybe I'm just being worried over nothing. I already own my eccentricities in my other creative endeavors, why not accept that I'm a anomaly of an artist too? maybe its just because of how late I started and how amateur I still feel in comparison to my peers. and the thing is that I like what I make and I know other people like what I make. but I'm still gonna feel like a outsider to this space because I just didn't have the experiences and can't relate to others. although reasonably, I know that my methods work and I should just stick to that, but it still feels a little isolating to not be able to engage with others in that way

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 25th July

And we're back on the Elvis train, this time with a song that I'm not entirely sure I know? It's got a fun name, and is from a film that I'd never even heard of - sounds promising!

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley (peaked at Number 3)

I've not thought much about Elvis as a film star, mostly because he just hasn't done it much at this point. Apparently Elvis grew up attending and then working in his local cinema, and always had ambitions to become a film star, but he only got his break in 1956's Love Me Tender, and while that film did include some songs, none of them broke the UK charts. So this is the first song we've seen that's come from an Elvis film, 1957's Loving You.

I have to say, when I think of Elvis as a film star, it feels a bit like Elvis "selling out". It's not quite jumpsuits and Vegas, but there's definitely a line of thought that by the time he's big enough to be a star attraction for films, he's already making stuff that's less explosive, more suited to a mass audience, than the stuff he started with. It's a line of thought that this song doesn't exactly disprove - this is goofy as heck, and definitely lacks the energy and teeth that tracks like Heartbreak Hotel had, or the weird experimentation of things like Blue Moon. It's poppy, for lack of a better descriptor.

Unfortunately, you really have to pick and choose your Elvis tracks for this argument to properly land. For every sexy, bluesy number, you've got Blue Suede Shoes and All Shook Up, neither of which came from films and both of which subscribe to exactly the same brand of goofiness that this song does. Elvis isn't some hard-nosed rocker being forced into singing crowd-pleasing cheese against his will; you get the feel that he's just as into this as the songwriters were!

So yeah, we end up with a song that's all about Elvis begging Baby, let me be your lovin' teddy bear / Put a chain around my neck / And lead my anywhere. And just in case that came off kinda kinky, which let's be real it totally did, Elvis cutes it up again, inviting his love to Run your fingers through my hair / And cuddle me real tight. And that's basically it. He doesn't want to be a tiger or a lion, because they're rough and not cuddly, and Elvis just wants to cuddle.

Throughout there's a knowing sort of smile to Elvis' voice that almost comes off a bit smarmy, but somehow does work for me, thanks perhaps to the backing singers, who are really giving it all with their "ba-ba-da-da" bits. This and the hammering piano gives the song a momentum that makes it just about unsinkable, whatever Elvis does. Also, true to form, Elvis also packs the track with enough interesting little vocal details and turns to keep me engaged, despite the cheesiness of it all. So there's that.

So yeah, as a song for a film, I think it works. Audiences apparently agreed, as Teddy Bear was noted as one of the highlights of the film. Honestly, it looks like the film was a vehicle for the song, and another Elvis song, also called Loving You. It' has a plot that looks pretty convoluted's got a plot, but it's basically about Elvis, a simple but talented country lad, getting into showbusiness and being drawn into a love triangle with his rather unscrupulous manager and her other star musician. The manager, in all this, seems like the most interesting character, a real grifter. But she settles back with Tex, Elvis' rival, while Elvis goes off with another girl, having been lead around like a teddy bear a little too much. I'd probably go see this film, honestly, but it sounds like a trashy mess.

It's not my favourite Elvis song by quite a margin, but it's not terrible. And it's our first Elvis song from a film, which feels like some sort of milestone. Honestly, it's been interesting seeing how linked the charts were to cinema, back in the 1950s, and how important it was to cast singers in films, to the point where whole stories were created around one musical star. I don't think you see that as much, now - it's not completely unheard of for singers to branch into acting, but they usually seem to want to distance the two branches of their career a bit more, to prove that they can be a "real actor", somehow, and not just a stunt casting. Which I can admire, but it's clearly not how Elvis was thinking here. And hey, it's not terrible, you know?

Favourite film tie-in song of the bunch: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

[themomsandthecity]

14 Birthday Party Ideas Your Tween or Teen Will Love

When your child hits the double digits, it can be hard coming up with birthday party ideas for tweens and teens. The guest list can be problem enough, but even once you've settled on the right number and the right mix of friends, coming up with teen birthday party ideas your kid will love is a whole other challenge. Tweens and teens definitely want a party that expresses their new maturity and budding individuality, after all. And parents want teenage party ideas that won't cost a fortune, require a year's worth of planning, or end in tears (although that's sometimes out of our control). That's a tall list, but we're up to the task. Here are a dozen suggestions for teen birthday party ideas, all of which will celebrate your kid's milestone and make sure all their closest friends have fun too. (Plus, we've got 30 great ideas for the best gifts for teens, here.) Related: These Are the Best Tween Birthday Party Themes of 2020 - Get Ready to Celebrate! Birthday Party Ideas For Teens and Tweens 1. Night Games and a Bonfire If your tween or teen is looking for a coed party, start with a barbecue and then play some familiar games. (They'll seem more mature when they're being played after the sun goes down.) Think ghost in the graveyard, kick the can, and capture the flag. You can close out the night with a bonfire if you have the space and your kids are old enough to properly practice safety. Who doesn't love roasting marshmallows and s'mores? 2. Scavenger Hunt Bring back the scavenger hunts you organized for your kids when they were younger, but blow it out and make the boundaries bigger. Divide the guests into teams, hand out lists of clues, have the kids use their smartphones to snap the items on the list, and meet up after an hour or so. Don't limit the clues to simply finding places or historical markers; include some silly acts that teenagers secretly love to do like singing a hit song from their early years or doing cartwheels in the park. Or move the hunt to somewhere cool, like the mall where they'll have to pose with mannequins or manage to get a picture with a crazy hat on. This is great for a coed party, too. And if you want to stretch the party out some, kick things off by having each team decorate T-shirts. Just make sure to have a robust supply of fabric markers and Sharpies. 3. The Classic Sleepover Don't knock the standby classic of a slumber party. Since the kids are all older, you likely won't have to deal with separation anxiety in any of your guests. Activities can include making pizzas, decorating cupcakes, an ice cream–sundae bar, and watching a movie. Be ready to create a memorable breakfast, like Funfetti pancakes or a waffle charcuterie board. 4. Hotel Sleepover If you don't want to host a classic sleepover, then move the party to a hotel. Having a hotel sleepover will put you at the top of the "cool moms" list. Reserve a few connecting rooms for you and the kids and decorate with fun balloons and streamers. Fill the room with all their favorite snacks and beverages. Then, plan out the night with pool games, scary story hour, and movie watching. Related: 15 Waffle Cakes That Would For Sure Make Leslie Knope Pass Out 5. Pool Party If you have access to a pool in your own home or neighborhood, have a pool party. The activity is easy - swimming and splashing (although it requires a watchful eye for safety; even better if you have other parents on hand to chaperone). Win cool points by adding some festive floats to the mix, like a unicorn or slice of pizza. And you can always end the party with a barbecue or pizza feast. 6. Gaming Party If you've got a gamer on your hands, embrace it and book a mobile gaming truck for their birthday party. These trucks often feature an iconic gaming theater with stadium-style tiered seating, high-def TVs, and laser and neon-lighting that will make all their gaming dreams a reality.… https://www.popsugar.com/family/Birthday-Ideas-Teens-Tweens-30863246?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[itssolved10]

CRM VS ERP: Know The Difference And Choose Wisely

In the fast-paced world of business technology, terms like CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) are frequently thrown around. But what do these systems do, and how are they different? Let's embark on a journey to demystify CRM vs ERP by breaking down their complexities into everyday language.

CRM - Customer Relationship Management

Imagine a reliable assistant for your business that keeps a record of every interaction you have with your customers. Initially designed for sales teams, CRM has evolved to assist with customer service and marketing as well. Picture it as a digital notepad where every piece of information about your customers and their connections with your company is neatly organised.

For instance, when a salesperson goes to meet a customer, the CRM system can quickly tell them if that customer has any unresolved issues. Similarly, customer service teams can swiftly identify if a caller is a valuable customer or someone who might become one and direct them to the right support team.

ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning

Now, envision an ERP system as the control centre of your business, much like the motherboard of a computer connecting all essential parts. ERP holds all your financial and operational information, from budgeting and payrolls to inventory management and order processing. It's like a colossal digital filing cabinet that holds everything your company needs to function smoothly.

When a business uses ERP, it can generate reports effortlessly. You don't need IT experts or finance gurus to crunch numbers for you. This feature enables businesses to make faster, data-driven decisions, which can lead to increased profits, greater efficiency, and better overall performance.

Benefits of CRM vs ERP

CRM benefits:

Deliver Better Customer Service: No more long waits or repeating yourself. CRM system keeps all customer info in one place for faster, smoother service.

Boost Productivity: CRM automates tasks and makes communication easier, so your team can focus on important work.

Gain Valuable Insights: It collects data on customers, helping you understand them better and make smarter decisions.

Increase Customer Loyalty and Sales: By using all this data, you can build stronger relationships with customers and sell more effectively.

In a nutshell, CRM is your tool for happier customers and more sales!

ERP Benefits

Data Organiser: ERP system gathers all company data in one place, making it easy to find.

Time Saver: It automates tasks, saving time and reducing errors.

Money Saver: ERP stops duplicate work and lowers costs.

Speeds Things Up: Helps deliver products faster.

Smart Decisions: Provides clear information for better choices.

Team Player: Encourages teamwork between departments.

Security Guard: Keeps sensitive data safe.

ERP is like a helpful assistant that boosts efficiency, saves money, and improves teamwork for businesses.

Why Do You Need CRM?

Imagine you're a personal trainer with a bustling fitness studio. You have a diverse group of clients, each with their own unique fitness goals and workout preferences. Some prefer cardio, while others love lifting weights. You want to keep track of their progress, remember their workout schedules, and even send them motivating messages when they hit milestones. That's where the CRM system comes in.

It's like your fitness buddy who helps you manage all this information. It allows you to create personalised workout plans, set reminders for follow-up sessions, and keep tabs on your clients' achievements. In a nutshell, CRM is your secret weapon for building stronger connections with your clients, helping them reach their fitness goals, and growing your fitness business.

Why Do You Need ERP?

In the modern business landscape, managing and optimising internal processes is crucial for achieving operational efficiency and competitiveness. This is where Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems come into action. ERP software integrates various functions and departments within an organisation, such as finance, human resources, supply chain, manufacturing, and more, into a unified platform. This integration streamlines data flow, reduces manual data entry and errors, and enhances decision-making capabilities. ERP systems provide real-time visibility into critical business metrics, enabling leaders to make informed strategic decisions.

Furthermore, they help organisations respond more effectively to market changes and evolving customer demands by providing a holistic view of the entire operation. Overall, CRM helps you understand your customer while ERP is indispensable for businesses seeking to optimise resource allocation, reduce operational costs, and remain agile in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Why Do You Need Both?

As a company grows, it often finds that it needs both CRM vs ERP systems. Small businesses might start with just one, depending on their immediate needs. If your company has a small customer base but complex financial operations, you might choose ERP first. On the other hand, if you have numerous customers to manage, CRM systems could be your starting point. However, most businesses eventually realise that having both systems is essential to run their operations smoothly.

How They're Similar

CRM vs ERP are like two close relatives in the software family. They both operate as large digital databases that store and analyse data. You can choose to install software on your computers or access them through the internet (cloud), depending on what suits your needs best.

Integration

When you use both CRM and ERP, they must communicate effectively, like two friends sharing stories. This synergy between CRM and ERP, often referred to as CRM vs ERP, is crucial for seamless business operations. For instance, a salesperson might need to know if a customer has paid their bills before offering them new products or services. So, these systems must work together seamlessly. Some software vendors make this process easy by offering pre-built connections.

Challenges of Integrating CRM and ERP

Technical Complexity: Combining two complicated systems can be tricky from a technical standpoint. Think of it like trying to merge two intricate puzzles.

Cost: The process of integrating these systems can be quite expensive, akin to making a substantial investment.

Data Quality: To make the most of the integration, the information in both systems needs to be accurate and top-notch, just like having high-quality ingredients for a recipe.

Change Management: Integrating CRM vs ERP systems may require altering how your business operates. It's like shifting the gears in a car; it can be challenging but necessary for a smoother ride.

If you're curious about how CRM integration works, you can simply click here to read our informative article. It'll explain the process in an easy-to-understand way, so you can get a clear picture of what it's all about.

Companies are making $1.1 trillion using AI in customer relationship management (CRM) software, according to Salesforce. CRM software now relies heavily on AI for tasks like automation, email marketing, and contact management. This massive trend is a game-changer.

Choosing the Right CRM vs ERP System

Your Business Needs: First, consider what your business specifically needs in terms of managing customer relationships or resources. Think about what tools will suit your business best.

Your Budget: Determine how much you're willing to spend. Think of it like budgeting for a home improvement project; you need to know what you can afford is one of the biggest deciding factors in choosing between CRM vs ERP.

Your Technical Abilities: Do you or your team have the know-how to set up and maintain the system? Think of it as deciding whether you can build something on your own or if you need to hire a pro.

Company Culture: Be open to changing the way your business operates, like adapting to a new recipe in your kitchen. Some changes may be needed to make everything work seamlessly.

Implementing a CRM vs ERP System

Requirements Gathering: Start by identifying the specific needs your CRM or ERP system should address, like making a shopping list before heading to the grocery store.

System Selection: Choose the right CRM or ERP system that matches your needs, like picking the right tool for the job.

System Configuration: Customise the system to fit your requirements, similar to adjusting your car's settings for a comfortable ride.

Data Migration: Move your data from your old system to the new one, just like moving your belongings when you change houses.

Training: Train your employees on how to use the CRM or ERP system, much like teaching them how to operate a new appliance in your home.

Support: Offer ongoing support to your employees as they use the CRM vs ERP system, similar to assisting when someone learns to use a new gadget.

Ongoing costs of a CRM vs ERP system

Software Licensing Fees: You'll need to pay for the right to use the CRM or ERP software, like paying for a subscription to a streaming service.

Implementation Costs: The initial setup and integration can be costly, similar to the expenses involved in setting up a new business location.

Maintenance Costs: Regular upkeep and support for the CRM or ERP system come with ongoing expenses, akin to maintaining a vehicle over time.

Training Costs: Investing in training for your employees is essential, just like sending your team for workshops or courses to keep their skills sharp.

Integrating CRM and ERP systems can be complex and costly, but with the right planning, it can greatly benefit your business, much like renovating your home to improve its functionality and value.

Conclusion

CRM is all about taking good care of your customers, while ERP helps keep your finances and operations running smoothly.

Now, when you're starting out, you might use one of these systems that fits your needs best. But as your business grows, you'll often find that the choice between CRM vs ERP is like having some important pieces of tech to succeed in a tough market.

Here at IT Solutions Solved, we're experts in this stuff, and we can help your business grow using CRM and ERP. It's like having a guide to show you the way.

So, if you want to see how well your current CRM system is working, just click here for a free CRM checkup. We'll give you tips on how to make it even better. And guess what? We're offering a free 45-minute consulting session with our experts to discuss how CRM vs ERP can help your specific business. No strings attached!

Just think of us as your friendly helpers in the world of business tech. We're here to make your life easier and your business better. Get in touch today, and let's talk about how ERP and CRM can give you the edge you need to succeed.

Thanks for taking the time to read about how CRM and ERP can boost your business! We're here to help you every step of the way.

Looking forward to helping your business thrive. Talk to you soon!

[grad604-amber]

Break SDL: 20 object Rationales

Over the break along with further research, I started to notice patterns in my first lot of 20 objects I had chosen and photographed. From there, I have begun to gather more and solidify a theme and direction.

20 Objects

Above is an image of the objects laid out together and numbered. Nostalgia allows you to understand the journey of personal growth you have undertaken through the years. For me nostalgia provides insights into my identity, highlighting how my past experiences have influenced who I am today in many different aspects of my life but specifically who I am becoming as a creative.

A lot of my objects are things from my childhood and items that represent important and significant moments of my childhood and growing. These things all build and relate to who I am as a creative and the work I produce. The collection of objects theme and consistency may be unnoticeable to others but to me, it is pronounced that these things represent my personal growth.

Jewellery Box: This jewellery was gifted to me by my Nana and Grandad when I was four years old and just moved to Aotearoa from England. I wasn't old enough to care for a jewellery box but now it holds this new significance now, to it feels like this token of 'coming home' Although when I came to NZ it wasn't my 'home', this box now represents the beginning of the place that holds the most significant moments of my life.

Photo album: This is the biggest photo album I own, started by my parents and then continued on by me. While it represents and incases significant milestones in my life it was also the beginning of a creative spark. From as young as five there are little doodles filling the pages creating a very individual and unique book.

Cyanotype print: This is a print I made in my first year of university, it is a cyanotype print. This was my first time trying cyanotype and I was immediately drawn to the way the process was. Starting by painting a blank canvas and then creating pieces digitally and with nature to then be placed in the light. It almost felt magical to me. Through the first year of uni experimenting with so many different forms of design this really solidified my love for analogue processes.

Teddy bear: The teddy bear I received when I was first born, there isn't a deep and meaningful reason behind why my parents got me this, rather my Dad's work just gave it to him as a congratulation. But it became my favourite thing and ever since there it has been with me everywhere. Even now as a 19 year old it still sits perched on my desk. Teddy was once bright pink and fluffy when first received but now it is worn and faded. Teddy represents my growth, we both have grown and changed so much and Teddy represents that for me.

Journal: I use this journal not really as a way to record how my day was or my feelings with words, but rather using it as a creative outlet, I don't use a pencil or a rubber, I use pens and create doodles markings or any scribbles that come to mind. This is an important part of my design process I need to get all the ideas out no matter how silly or whether or not they make sense.

Coaster: This is a coaster from a pub in England - the first time we went back after moving to NZ. At the time I was 10 and my sisters and I decided to 'borrow' it and take home as a souvenir. Now it reminds me how although I don't consider England my 'home', home can be more than one place.

Pounds: Pounds are the currency of England, I chose these specific ones not to represent my birthplace but rather the significance of when it was given to me. When I went to England this year for the first time in nearly 10 years, we saw our dad's side of the family (who are Pakistani) for the first time in a very long time and celebrated Eid for the first time. It isn't something our dad has really shared with us growing up so being able to celebrate Eid and embrace this side of our heritage for the first time was very special. And this was the Eid money I was gifted.

Tiny home: Art is all around us and I think the beauty of op shopping is finding little treasures, I found this at an op shop and loved the physicality of the ceramic work, while it also has a purpose of being a container to hold anything in.

Postcards: These postcards I have taken back with me from England. I liked the way they were showcasing art rather than photography.

Easel: This baby easel was gifted to me by my sister, It is not something I really even intend on painting but her reasoning for it was 'it was just so you'. I have always considered myself a 'creative' in my own way, growing up I was always drawing, painting or creating something, whether it was good or not, it was just something I loved to do.

Flax flowers: These are fla flowers that I made with my Nana when I was younger, I am part Māori from my mum's side and while it is something I have always been proud of it is something I have felt disconnected from most of my life. Moments like this with my Nana have always been important. She taught me different weaving processes as she thought this was a way I could connect with the culture in a creative way.

CDs: These are the few CDs that I grew up listening to and that feels very personal and significant to me. Music helps me feel comforted and surrounded when isolated, it helps inspire my work and is something I always feel goes hand in hand with a creative process as it is always lingering in the background.

Seaglass: I have always loved looking for sea glass when going to beaches, I started a collection when I was younger, I was so drawn to them because of their softness and organicness, also their uniqueness each one was different, from their shape to colour and even to texture. I didn't know it at the time but it was the start of my love for physical forms of art, and how I as a creative am drawn to creating analogue work as opposed to very digital work.

Handmade mug: This is a handmade mug I bought years ago with my pocket money while in New Plymouth. I remember being given an allowance by my Aunty and Uncle and they were surprised that out of anything I could have chosen that was it. I just loved the way it felt so personal and unique and wouldn't look like all the other mugs in our draw at home, rather handmade and my own.

Beatles poster: This is a little Beatles poster that I found in the op shop, I always loved the Beatles as it is the kind of music I would listen to with my mum growing up. I think Music and artists always have the most creative and fascinating designs for album covers and it is the first thing I will always look at before the tracklist or anything else.

Knitted patch: Another product from an activity with my Nana, when I was younger and stayed with her we always found something creative to do. She taught me and my sisters how to knit. This was the first thing I ever made. I then fell in love with it, Although my range just consists of scarfs, I liked the idea of a physical outcome.

Notebook: This handmade notebook I bought in Raglan when on a camping trip with my best friend. I immediately loved the illustrations on it as hand-drawn illustrations are some of my favourite forms of art.

Washy tape: Washy tape is something that takes me back to intermediate, I used to use it to decorate all my school books, collecting many different sizes, colours and patterns and using them to create fun markings on my book.

Pens: These coloured pens that I feel like I have had forever have always been my go-to when starting to plan something or even just scribble something. Sketching something as boring as packaging for one of my other classes with a big colour pen makes something that isn't really considered fun feel easy careless and creative.

'A' book: This book is something that was gifted to me, it was from a small gift shop in Dublin and it is handmade. I have had it for years now and have never really drawn or added anything to it as I find the craftsmanship of the object itself so perfect and intriguing that I have never wanted to mark it. Handmade and analogue pieces of work are always something I find to be so much more valuable then anything else.

Little tokens of mt childhood

Concepts:

Now that I have begun refining my 20 objects I am starting the process of planning and ideating how my poster is going to be presented and in what format. We were given many examples such as mapping, publications, journaling and videos. Below are some of my initial ideating sketches.

very rough and initial ideation stage.

[captainamericasmotercycle]

married?

pairing: jake seresin x wife!reader

summary: after jake is called back to top gun for a mission, him and the dagger squad go out to the hard deck one night where javy gets absolutely hammered and lets it slip that jake has a wife. (request by @bookaholics-stuff )

warnings: talks of alcohol and being/getting drunk

wc: 1.5k

a/n: i feel like this was super rushed and might rewrite it but i hope you guys like it!!

Javy “Coyote” Machado is Jake’s best friend and someone that you have grown to know and love over the time of knowing both him and Jake. You met them both in a Navy bar years ago in Texas while out with your sister and friends. 

You met them when your group left you for a couple of guys on the dance floor and you walked up to the bar, ordering straight whiskey. After hearing your order, Jake knew he was going to marry you one day and that is exactly what he did. 

After much reassurance and a confidence boost from Javy, Jake was finally able to approach you and start a conversation. He introduced you to Javy and the three of you hit it off well, you had talked so long that you completely lost track of time and ended up losing your party. They offered you a ride home and after you ruled them out as serial killers, you let them take you home. You left Jake with your number and quick goodbye. 

You were a doctor for the military, you would move from base to base to assist with incidents and accidents. And you just so happened to be moved to the same base where Jake and Javy were currently working. You became closer and closer with Jake and just after a couple months, the two of you started dating. 

Through a year of dating, neither of you had been moved or deployed, until about the year and a half milestone of your relationship. Jake was moving bases in a couple months and you were supposed to stay. When the news broke, you were both devastated, and Jake thought of only one solution to keep you together. 

A week after his transfer announcement he took you out to a scenic place and proposed to you. A little over two months later, you two were getting married. It was a small gathering on the Seresin Estate, consisting of both of your families and a couple of friends. 

Javy was Jake’s Best Man and part of your wedding party, your sister was your Maid of Honor; though the wedding was small, the two of them put in so much of their time and effort to make it the best wedding you could have ever imagined. It was like a dream. 

Now that you were married, you got to move simultaneously with Jake whenever he would be transferred to a different base. His most recent transfer was being called back to Top Gun Academy, so you packed up your little lives and headed out to Fightertown, USA. 

You found a cute place that was a good distance from the academy, but was still on the beach. Quickly purchasing the house, the day you moved in was so exciting. A new start, freshly married, buying your first house together, and being able to work close to one another. 

Jake was sent on this mission he was called back for, but then was requested to stay for a longer amount of time, possibly a long-term situation. You also learned that Javy was called back as well for the mission and that the two of them created many close bonds while training for and on the mission. 

Tonight they were going out to a well-known bar, The Hard Deck. 

“Baby, you sure you don’t want to come with us?” 

“Jake, its a team thing, I don't want to intrude,” 

“You could never,” you smile at him from the couch. Man, you are so in love with him. 

“It’s alright, babe, maybe next time,”

“Whatever you say,” he grabbed his coat and made a hat tipping motion at you even though he wasn’t wearing one. 

“Don't drink too much! I don’t want to have to carry your drunk ass into bed!” You yelled as he walked out the front door, receiving a thumbs up as a response. 

-

Jake walked into the Hard Deck to see everyone already into a couple of drinks. “There he is!!” Javy slurred, Jake smiled. “Was the missus holding you up?”

Jake froze, the rest of the team doesn’t know that he’s married and hadn’t found the right time to introduce you to them yet. I guess tonight wouldn't have been the best night for you to come with him to the bar. 

Jake smiled sheepishly, “No, I just wanted to eat first.” The others didn’t seem to register the information that Javy had just spilled, which Jake was grateful for. It’s not like he was trying to hide you, he just thought that explaining his marriage to a bunch of drunk people probably wouldn’t go too well. 

As the night went on, the rest of the Dagger Squad drank more and more, but Jake limited himself, he knew you would not want to drive all the way down there at 11 at night to pick him up because he drank too much. 

“Man, Jake, you’re not drinking as much as you usually do,” Bradley slurred. 

“Right,” Javy agreed, “I remember when he drank so much at his weddin’ that he almost fell over.” After he let that slip from his mouth, he slapped his hand over it. 

The team turned and all looked at him, “You’re married?”

“What?”

“Jake is married??”

The small chatter surrounded the table, until Jake finally spoke up, “Yes, I am married,” he rolled his eyes at the shocked faces of the aviators. 

“I want to meet her!” Phoenix slurred, a chorus of ‘me too’s’ began throughout the table. 

He rolled his eyes again, “I’ll bring her tomorrow, is that cool?”

“Yeah!”

“Yeah!”

Jake looked down at his wristwatch, “Speaking of the missus, I’ve got to get home. Promised her I’d take the dog out before we went to bed,”

“Aw, look at Jake being all domestic and house-wifey,”

Jake turned back to the table one more time, “Phoenix, I will personally shoot your plane down the next time it's in the air.” The group burst into laughter and Jake left with an eye roll and without another word.

When he left the other aviators turned to each other to make bets on what they thought you were like, though they couldn’t get anymore out of Javy. They all bet on you being just a female version of Jake, which seemed scary, but if that's what it was, then there was nothing they could do to change that.  

“Bitchy and cocky?”

“Oh for sure,”

-

The night rolled around and the two of you were riding in Jake’s truck to the bar. The anticipation from the group only grew as time went on. 

Finally you walked into the bar, holding on tightly to Jake’s hand. Javy was the first to notice 

you, “There they are.” The team turned and looked in your direction, you looked so sweet? Maybe they were looking in the wrong place, but you were with Jake. There’s no way.

You walked over to the table and sat in an end chair, only Jake beside you, “This is my wife,” he introduced you to the group and you gave them a smile and a shy wave. Phoenix and Bob looked back and forth between you and Jake a couple of times before settling their eyes on you. Phoenix was the first to speak, “Blink twice if you’re being held against your will.” 

You giggled softly and blinked twice, Phoenix stood up and walked over to you, she grabbed your hand, you stood up next to her, “Sorry, Lieutenant, but she’s going to have to come with me for an official investigation,” she spoke to Jake.

She led you over to the bar where you sat and met Penny. Phoenix ordered you both drinks and sighed, “Man, I hope you come around more often, I’m getting tired of all the testosterone.”

Letting out a sharp laugh, you turned back to Jake and the rest of the team who were pretending not to be looking at you, Penny and Phoenix. “I plan on it, you all seem like a fun bunch, I would love to spend more time with everyone,”

Penny spoke up, “I’m glad, now I’ll finally have someone to call the next time Jake gets absolutely hammered,” she winked at you. Jake watched from afar, how you interacted with the other two women, he wondered why he didn’t introduce you to them sooner. 

As the night came to an end, you had become acquainted with everyone from the Dagger Squad and had even exchanged phone numbers with Penny and Phoenix. When everyone was finally worn out, you grabbed Jake’s hand and walked out with everyone to the parking lot. After saying your last goodbye, you got into the car and laid your head back.

“I had a lot of fun tonight,”

“Is that right?” You turned to look at him and smiled.

“Yes, I actually did,” as he started down the road that led back home, you spoke again, “So, when’s the next outing?”

[dystopiandilfs]

Dream's discord podcast. Basically him answering questions for 2.5 hours. This will sort of be in order but I fucked up my notes so it might not be in order completely. (From 13th May 2021)

For reference the photos at the end are: A prototype of fidget spinner merch as loads of people asked, a reference photo of his favourite merch and a photo he sent of his hair to prove he wasn't a brunette.

•He said his teeth are mostly straight but he's thought about getting Invisalign. He's never had braces. He has a tiny gap in the left side of his mouth and his canines are longer and sharper (vampire arc). He's never had teeth surgery so has his wisdom teeth still.

•He thinks pineapple on pizza is good.

•He likes seafood like lobster and crab. He had crab made in an air fryer last night. He like peas. He thinks quesadillas are good and likes most food.

•He hates Coffee and most drinks

•The Dream Shorts team is Ken who is his personal reminder (Ken's main job is to spam him with texts so he doesn't forget things as he's got a habit of reading texts and not replying) and also comes up with a list of sets for Dream shorts. The builder is a friend and munchymc builder "his talent gets wasted on Dream's shorts but we pay him so"

•His editors are currently Dizzy, Firesale and Mjcr. Willz doesn't edit for him anymore

•The mask animation isn't done but Mask should be released May 21st. He wants to release them together as "the whole song is a double meaning and the whole nuance will be lost without the animation" but no matter if the animation is done the song is getting released on the 21st.

•He and Sapnap eat together often.

•He and Sapnap prefer medium rare Steak

•He wants a home gym it's something he's willing to splurge on. They currently have a weight rack but they haven't even set it up.

•"Eat the rich? Shut up shut up" - Dream

•Talked about money basically saying "Most people don't understand how money works I don't have millions in my bank account it's in assets like merch, land and warehousing for that stuff" (He's not in his landlord arc)

•He's been debating Pride Merch because of Rainbow Capitalism. He doesn't want it too be seen as a money maker and if he does most proceeds would go to charity. He's currently super busy merch wise with Sapnap joining and George in the middle of joining. He did say "Only if the LGBTQ+ community in this community wants it" He thinks he's going to at least change the merch website to a pride one. Sapnap wants to make pride merch including a rainbow flame on his.

•He wants to create a charity that's centered around helping LGBTQ+ one day because he thinks that there's a lack of them. He mentioned that creating a charity was expensive and took a lot and was a complicated process including a board of directors but he wants to do it someday.

•He wanted to buy a bunch of houses in Florida which was a service to house mostly LGBTQ+ youth and people stuck in abusive households for free to get them out of bad home environments. But he didn't because he didn't want people thinking he was profiting of of abuse victims and LGBTQ+ community.

•He said he's terrible with time management and replying to people which is why Ken helps him (and also helps George and Sapnap). He mentioned how Sam messaged multiple times and Dream just forgot to answer but felt bad "I feel like people think I hate them..... Cause I'd be mad if people did that to me"

•He tries to reply to a few texts a day (community number). He also can't do birthday messages everyday because you can only reply at certain times so it's not abusing the system so if you get one it's special. He said he does try but it's got a weird time gap.

•Him and the manhunt winner are trying to come up with a good time to film

•He wants to stream this MCC on twitch and says his team is good.

•He talks about why he's not partnered with Twitch. Basically Twitch has a lock rate (in which you make money) and you legally can't stream on YouTube. So legally if Tommy wanted to stream on YouTube he couldn't. Someone then mentioned how Bad is a twitch partner but still streams on YouTube "Bad streams on YouTube but he has for a while and I don't think that he cares" - Dream

•He likes to reply to every donation he gets on stream and feels bad when he doesn't so he'll turn them off when he streams and wants a platform deal where he can be payed to stream (not twitch). If he gets a streaming partnership he will stream a couple of times a week. He looked in to Facebook but they don't have an alias system meaning you can see everyone's actual Facebook account and personal info, he doesn't like seeing real names on Facebook so it would require a lot of altering if he was to stream there so he's thinking it's probably going to be YouTube.

•He was asked about if his demographic was what he expected and he said he went in with no expectations, he didn't even know what stans were, wasn't really on social media so he wasn't aware of the fan culture. "You guys are a handful sometimes but it's worth it"

•He also mentioned how he and the DreamSMP changed the twitch audience demographic. It used to be male dominated in both streamers and audience and now it's almost split which is unheard on.

•He has 5 fidget spinners in his house. Two in his bedroom. Two in his office. One in the living room.

•He likes his Minecraft skin as he thinks the arm is cook and you never see the rest of his skin really. He says it's unique and different and "me". Dream: You can't even tell half the skins apart on MC.

•He's not lost the motivation to stream. Most of the times if he wants to stream he gets George or Sapnap to do it and he just turns up. It's more beneficial to them as they have donos and subs on. (Don't we fucking know it "can you say hi to")

•He has listened to Lovejoy. Says the ep was great and they're very talented and awesome. Doesn't know what his favourite song is but probably would pick One Day because the chorus slaps.

•RIP to acoustic Roadtrip. He said instead of acoustic Roadtrip we get Mask so no losses today for Dream stans.

•"With Roadtrip I went to Parker and I said Hey I have a story I want to tell through music. I have no experience with that can you help me" He said sure. He crafted the music and melodies and how things are formed where it's catchy. I have less comfort singing that. I love the song and it's my song, it's very representative of me and I'm sure I could sing it but it's a song I'd be kinds of scared to sing live, with Mask I basically did everything. I sat there the entire time and maybe an hour out if the 100 I wasn't in the call. Dream came up with the lyrics and main melody for Mask (First one he's ever come up with) "That was just notes in my fucking voice memos"

•The clip we heard of Mask was a prechorus not the actual chorus. He thinks he'd be more comfortable to do a mask acoustic and it's more melodic than Roadtrip. The chorus also has a lot of instruments similar to Roadtrip. Mask starts of slow and guitar with minimal reverb and is more raw.

• He doesn't want music to be his main thing. It's something fun to do and he's passionate about it as it's a way to express emotions. He wants to release mask then go from there. He wants to release at least one more song but has nothing on his mind currently. His two ideas were Roadtrip and Mask.

•He wouldn't quit his job to become a pizza delivery man.

•His favourite features on himself are eyes or freckles and he also confirmed that he does have eyebrows.

•He was told that Parkour warrior would be bought back some time in the near future and he got excited for it. "Even if I don't win, which I will, it'll be fun"

•Went on about his MCC team but I'm not going to put that in as we should be getting them today. He did say he wasn't on Pink but he did sound confused. (For reference he's always in Pink as it's the last team announced and keeps the hype up by announcing the biggest streamer last)

•Said he and his mum had the Mr Beast burger. He recommends because he likes the avacado. He mentioned how Mr Beast uses "Ghost Kitchens" which is basically where he gives restaurants permission to cook his food so it's restaurant quality food.

•His favourite piece of merch is the circle smile. (The pool photo on Instagram). He said the quality was bad (he worked with a different company and didn't have his own company) and it was elasticy feeling and he's planning on re-releasing it again but with good quality.

•He's started to send merch out in custom packaging. So his bags have the smile and will mostly be green. Sapnap's has the flame and is either black or white. He's also trying to make it so every order has the sticker packs for both him and Sapnap.

•He loves the coins as it's cheaper than a hoodie but still celebrates the milestones and will last a long time. He mentioned how the old coins are getting removed off the site and how if you have any of the coins your special because only a few thousand get made. He's kept around 100 of each coin that he wants to give away in person.

•He wanted to have a cool store where you could access computers that give you access to the DreamSMP in spectator mode. But it's too costly and would require too much time and isn't safe fight now. He doesn't think it'd be worth it financially.

•Most of the hoodie are black instead of multiple colours because of limited supply and covid. Getting the colours are harder because if the pandemic which hopefully won't be an issue soon.

•He wants to do a short meetup tour with Sapnap and George with a few locations in the US (and if others nearby want to join like Quackity or Karl they can). He also wants to visit Australia, UK, Canada, Mexico and Philippines and do something like that there but definitely at least visit with George and Sapnap.

•He's never been to the Philippines but his mum has. He wants to set up a place in the Philippines where he can ship merch in bulk and it would help to reduce shipping. However it would probably be big milestone merch.

•He's not got the vaccine yet but will get it when he needs to. He doesn't leave the house so he doesn't see the point.

•He's the ideas man. George's footcam video was Dream's idea. The T-shirt video was Dream's idea. Most if not all of the Dream Team's videos are Dream's ideas.

•Said he's got a similar/the same hair colour as Froy (Dream buddy at this point the only difference between you and Froy is that one of you is dating Richard Madden /lh)

[heloisedaphnebrightmore]

Heloise's 3.5k Followers Sleepover [Closed!] and Writing Challenge [Closed!]

Hello my lovelies <3

On Wednesday we reached another milestone once again! I can’t tell you how happy I am to know that so many of you have been enjoying my writing. All the support I’ve gotten from my followers has been beyond my expectations and I’m just so very grateful. I never imagined getting 50 let alone 3500 followers. Mind blowing really! I wanted to do something fun for such a huge milestone and as it’s a writing blog, I thought, let’s write. I want the writers to enjoy writing and the readers to enjoy reading. However, on the other hand, I didn’t want to leave out my non-writer followers so a sleepover should be in place as well.

Therefore, welcome to⁠—

Heloise’s 3.5k followers Sleepover and Writing Challenge

Part 1. Sleepover [Closed!] (Please click on the link above!)

Part 2. Writing Challenge [Closed!] (See below the Keep Reading option!)

Let's have fun and send your Ask! ^^

Heloise's Map | Masterlists

Heloise’s 3.5k Followers Writing Challenge Masterlist

Part 2. Writing Challenge!

Disclaimer! I do not own any of the prompts listed below, they all belong to @screnwriter and @dreamy-prose and each prompt list I have used for creating this event are listed at the bottom of the post. [Numbers] next to prompts refer to the prompt lists you can find them at.

Rules!

➵ You don’t have to follow me to participate, although it would be much appreciated. ➵ Chose as many prompts as you’d like. No limits. ➵ Write for any universe and any pairings, I basically read everything. ➵ No incest, racial, religious, or sexual hate openly, not related to the story line, but to hurt others. If you have any of the above in your fic, I will not reblog it. ➵ Fluff, angst, smut, anything goes, just please use appropriate Warnings!  ➵ Use the Keep reading option above 500 words. Tutorial from phone is Here! ➵ No deadline for submission, but deadline for entry closes on 27 September 2021. Clarification: You can submit your fics even next year if you wish. End date is only for entering the event. I will not be able to accept entries after 27 September 2021. ➵ If you would like to participate, just send me an Ask with the prompt(s) and character and Reblog this post. ➵ Please use the tag #heloises3.5kcelebration and tag my name @heloisedaphnebrightmore when you post your fic. If it's not reblogged in 48 hours, please send me an Ask or DM. My tags seem to be funny at times. ➵ And most importantly, Have fun! :)

I decided to use both Scenario prompts and Dialogue prompts to take on a different approach compared to my last writing challenge.

Scenario prompts

Enemies to lovers / Tension prompts

1. “I’ll kiss you right now to prove that I don’t feel anything for you.” “Okay.” The two characters kiss, and whoops they felt something, followed by lingering, as they’re catching their breath, trying to make sense of what just happened, and the feelings rushing through them, and then there’s this urge to dive back in for another kiss. [5]

@goddessofdawns (x) Loki Laufeyson x Reader

2. Your enemy has never let anyone touch their scar, until you come along. [7]

@natashxromanovf (x) Bucky Barnes x Reader

3. Character A and B kiss each other to prove there's nothing going on between them, but they get so caught up in each other, they prove the exact opposite. [2]

@wearywinchester (x) Dean Winchester x Reader

4. For one night, Character A and B give into temptation and sleep with each other, hoping it will solve the tension building between them. It does the opposite. [2]

5. Character A and B avoid each other after sharing an intimate moment, be it a kiss, a hug, holding hands, or just looking at each other's lips longer than appropriate. [1]

@wearywinchester (x) Dean Winchester x Reader

6. You're upset one night, and you don't know where to go, so you end up at your enemy's house, and as they open the door, you stay silent for a second, before saying “I don't know where else to go.” Your enemy doesn't say anything, instead they pull you into their arms, giving you a shoulder to cry on. [1]

@goddessofdawns (x) Bucky Barnes x Reader

7. The best friends to lovers “Let’s just kiss to see what it’s like.” They kiss, followed by the characters pulling away, eyes still closed, forehead against forehead, lingering… and then they go in for the second kiss. [5]

@goddessofdawns (x) Newt (Maze Runner) x Reader

8. You threaten your enemy, and when they close the distance between you, you realize how attracted you truly are to them. [1]

9. Pinning your enemy against the wall. Or straddling your enemy’s hips whilst they pin your arms above your head. [1]

@theravenclawgal (x) Sirius Black x Reader

10. You end up on your enemy's lap, and you yank the belt from their pants “Let's just get this over with.” [1]

11. You're about to leave the room, but your enemy slams the door shut, and with one hand on either side of your head, barricade you against the wall... (cue the reckless make-out session). [2]

@band--psycho (x) James Potter x Reader

12. You’re sharing a bed with your enemy and being told “Stay on your side or I'll set this whole bed on fire”. Only to wake up the next day with your enemy's arms wrapped around you. [2]

@forever-and-more (x) Lorcan Salvaterre (Throne of Glass) x Reader

13. Your enemy has been badly wounded, and somebody needs to bandage them up, so you agree to help them, and suddenly they're shirtless, and you can't help but admire their body, something that cheeky bastard takes notice of. [1]

14. You've been wounded, your face is all bruised up. Your enemy puts a finger under your chin, bringing your eyes to theirs, asking “Who did this to you?”. When you don't answer, they ask you again “Who did this to you?”. [1]

@band--psycho (x) Klaus Mikaelson x Reader

@grimdevil (x) Regulus Black x Reader

15. You've just been hurt, you're bleeding out, and your enemy is freaking out, dropping the “I love you. I can't lose you” card, begging you not to close your eyes. [2]

@goddessofdawns (x) Loki Laufeyson x Reader

@forever-and-more (x) Lorcan Salvaterre (Throne of Glass) x Reader

16. Two characters look at each other, a tense silence between them and then bang, lips crash into each other as they can’t resist anymore and then one of them pins the other against the wall. [6]

@forever-and-more (x) Lorcan Salvaterre (Throne of Glass) x Reader

17. You had a really good time on the date tonight, and your date is asking for a good night kiss. It was only meant to be on the cheek, but then you pull back, our eyes meet, and there's a gravitational pull pulling you closer again. [6]

18. You’ve never been kissed before so your friend volunteers, but you decline because you’ve been best friends and it would be weird. But a couple hours later you lay awake in bed and can't stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss them and suddenly you regret what you said. [6]

@queen-of-brokenhearts (x) Hermione Granger x Female!Reader

Intimate / Domestic prompts

19. You are wearing your lover’s clothes when they say, “Can I get my shirt/hoodie back?” and you say “No.” or “Come and get it.”. [4]

@oliverwoodmarrymepls (x) Oliver Wood x Reader

20. You're talking on the phone and your lover quietly comes up behind you, wraps their arms around you, and starts gently kissing your neck. You begin to lose focus on your phone call as you concentrate on not making any noise. [3]

@band--psycho (x) Fred Weasley x Reader

21. You’re supposed to be mad at your lover but they’re holding your face and smiling, and you just can't resist it when they're pouting like that. [6]

22. You and your lover sitting next to each other at a table, and they rest their hand on your thigh, gently rubbing their thumb back and forth. [3]

23. Looking at your crush or lover only to find them already looking at you and when you make eye contact, they smile at you. [3]

@iliveiloveiwrite (x) - Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

24. You think mistletoe kisses are lame, but your love interest brings you under one, regardless of the season and suddenly you're all for it. [6]

25. You and your lover are in bed, when you say, “It’s time to get up.” and your lover pulls you back down, wraps their hands around your body, snuggles up close, preventing you from getting out of bed. [4]

26. Your lover is resting their head on your lap, falling asleep whilst you are playing with their hair. [4]

@oliverwoodmarrymepls (x) Oliver Wood x Reader

@band--psycho (x) Young!Remus Lupin x Reader

27. Having a piece of hair brushed off your face as you're reading or looking down. [3]

28. You're sick, and you can't kiss your lover, and it's an absolute torture. [6]

@msmarvelouswinchester (x) Jensen Ackles or Dean Winchester x Reader

29. Being asked “Are you sure?” (There's nothing sexier than consent) [3]

30. When it’s a slow burn, and the characters just look at each other like “Fuck it, I’m done with this.” and they finally kiss. [4]

@acourtofbooksandfantasy (x) Azriel (ACOTAR) x Reader

Dialogue prompts

Flirty / Sarcastic prompts

1. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I like the sound of your voice, because you don’t seem to ever shut up.” [9]

2. “Is that a challenge?” [9]

3. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.” [15]

@will-be-a-fineline (x) Harry Styles x reader

4. “When have I ever put you in danger? Actually, don't answer that.” [11]

@wearywinchester (x) Dean Winchester x Reader

5. “I dare you.” [9]

6. “If you don’t shut up, I might as well kiss you to put that mouth to good use.” [9]

7. Character A: “Do yourself a favour, get laid.” Character B: “Why, are you offering?” [9]

@grimdevil (x) Draco Malfoy x Reader

@theravenclawgal (x) Sirius Black x Reader

8. Character A: “What if bite you?” Character B: “I’m into that.” [10]

9. Character A is returning a priced procession to Character B and says, “I want something in return.” Character B “What?”  Character A “You.” [2]

10. Character A: “What changed your mind? “ Character B: “You.” [7]

11. Character A: “What do you want?” Character B: “You.” [9]

12. Character A: “Just admit it.” Character B: “Admit what?” Character A: “I’m the best you’ve ever had.” [13]

13. Character A: “You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said, have you?” Character B: “And yet for some reason your mouth just keeps on going.” [8]

@wearywinchester (x) Dean Winchester x Reader

@theravenclawgal (x) Sirius Black x Reader

14. Character A: “I shouldn't have kissed you” “ Character B: You're right. But I should've.” [7]

15. Character A: “Do you flirt with everyone?” Character B: “Unfortunately, you’re the only one who caught my attention.” Character A: “Unfortunately?” [8]

@sexysirius (x) Sirius Black x Reader

16. Character B: “I like to keep my options open.” [8]

17. “I hate you. Oh, I hate you so much right now.” [11]

18. “Jesus Christ, you're annoying.” [11]

First kiss / Confession prompts

19. Character A: “Come over here.” Character B: “Why?” Character A: “You said you’ve never been kissed before. I’m planning on changing that.” [10]

20. Character A: “Just… don’t make this weird, all right?” Character B: “Meaning what?” Character A: “Meaning, don’t treat me like I haven’t been kissed before.” Character B: “But you… haven’t been kissed before.” Character A: “Look, I just want this over and done with, okay. I don’t want to be treated like a delicate flower. Kiss me like you mean it.” [10]

@band--psycho (x) Damon Salvatore x Reader

21. Character A: “I love you.” Character B: “I know.” Character A: “You knew?” Character B: “You haven’t exactly been discreet.” [15]

@band--psycho (x) Natasha Romanoff x Reader

22. “Listen, I know you’re busy, but… it’s important.” [15]

23. “I love you, and I don’t care if you don’t love me back. I just need you to know that I do.” [15]

24. Character A: “Do you have feelings for me?” Character B: “What?” Character A: “Do you have feelings for me?” [14]

25. “Is that truly, all it is? Just, two friends, hanging out?” [14]

@pregnant-piggy (x) Sirius Black x Reader

26. “I need to ask you something and I don’t want you to brush off the subject or turn it into a joke… I need you to be honest with me.” [14]

@grimdevil (x) Young!Sirius Black

27. “Are you… are you in love with me?” [14]

28. “I can’t stop thinking about you.” [14]

29. “All this time I thought you didn’t want me.” [14]

30. “If there’s something you want to tell me, now’s the time.” [14]

@wearywinchester (x) Dean Winchester x Reader

31. “There’s nothing going on between me and Character C. because the person I want to be with is standing right in front of me.” [14]

32. Character A: “I want this to work. I really do.” Character B: “Then we’re on the same page.” [16]

33. “I’ve missed you so much. I didn’t even think it was possible to miss someone this much.” [16]

34. “I know we're not together, but I might die today so I'm going to kiss you just in case there is no later.” [6]

Reassurance / Sweet prompts

35. “You could stay here, tonight. For as long as you'd like.” [7]

@oliverwoodmarrymepls (x) Oliver Wood x Reader

36. “Could you ever love someone like me?” [7]

37. Character A: “I've never been in love before.” Character B: “Then let me show you.” [7]

@goddessofdawns (x) Sam Wilson x Reader

38. “I can’t get up. You’re gonna have to carry me.” [11]

@goddessofdawns (x) Sam Wilson x Reader

39. “Are you okay with me kissing you?” [12]

@deanwanddamons (x) Jensen Ackles x Reader

40. “I feel safe with you. I always have.” [12]

@band--psycho (x) Newt (Maze Runner) x Reader

41. “I need you to know that you can always come to me.” [12]

@iliveiloveiwrite (x) - Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

42. Character A: “You’ll wait for me?” Character B: “For as long as I need to.” [12]

43. “I’ll always be there for you. Don’t you ever doubt that.” [12]

@band--psycho (x) George Weasley x Reader

44. “Don’t hide from me. you’re even more beautiful in the morning.” [13]

@will-be-a-fineline (x) Harry Styles x reader

45. “I’m going to kiss you until you’re sick of it.” [13]

@goddessofdawns (x) Sam Wilson x Reader

46. “Just hold me. I’m not ready to wake up.” [13]

@pregnant-piggy (x) Sirius Black x Reader

If you have any questions, don’t be afraid of sending me a message. My inbox is always open for everyone :)

Prompt lists used from @screnwriter and @dreamy-prose

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

[sashi-ya]

So, a little recap of this 2021 that's finally becoming to an end…

This year I’ve lost a bunch of things, but by doing so I won one of the best things in life I could ever ask for: this blog and ALL OF YOU.

A little story about this blog and how it positively affected my life…

For those who have no idea, this blog is 11 years old, it used to be called “/agostiinaa” (because of my real name, Agostina). My poor blog hadn't been active since 2018 until one day during the past April, I decided to post my very first OP fic. It was called “Learning to Love” and it was about reader being in love with Zoro. The thing is that back in April I didn’t know about the existence of the “read more” cut (I thought Tumblr included it after a specific number of words) so I posted 11k words ALL IN ONE FUCKING POST 🤣. You can imagine how pissed some people were of my post taking so much space when searching for the #ZoroxY/n tag HAHAHA. I think the fic was up for less than an hour, perhaps less. I felt like SHIT and decided of course to take it down for the sake of the other readers.

Luckily, I felt discouraged to post my writings for less than two days, because soon after I started writing the very first Law fic: Law x F! Best Friend.

From then on, my blog started growing from 5 followers (friends and family) to the first milestone: 200 followers. (I wasn’t aware about the 100 followers’ milestone so, I just did it when I hit 200). I thought about an event, my very first SPICY WEEK! and that made me know almost all my mutuals that soon became my FRIENDS. I’m not gonna name them because I KNOW they know who they are, if you feel like you are one then you are. I love you, so so much.

At first I didn’t expect to gain so many friends, but slowly and surely this blog reached +1.6K followers up until today… I often sit in my room and think about all of you at a big party all together and I try to visualize the amount of people and it certainly AMAZES ME. To know many of them will be reading what my brain has to offer, makes me as happy as flattered. And sometimes I even can’t believe this is really happening… I swear!

What comes next is pure sentimental shit, so bear with me…

When I started writing I did because I was in a very dark, low place.

I refugeed myself into an alternate world, the One Piece world. I know many of us feel the same way, and I know many of us think Eiichirō Oda had the ability of create a universe so vast that was able to hold us when no one else did. If I have to be honest with you, it might sound pathetic and sad, but I felt so lonely back then that Oda’s characters were the only ones able to make me smile when I needed it the most. (I have friends and family, but you know… I’ve always been the one taking care of others but never receiving care from them).

The day I started writing, I took it as a joke… I even felt cringy. Truth is, I realized how much of my anxiety was relieved when my fingers began typing those words. And you know what? the very moment I saw people were interested in my ideas I felt like I was listened to for the very first time in my life.

For that and for brightening up my days, I wanna THANK YOU and wish you all a WONDERFUL 2022!

Thank you for returning a smile to my face, thank you for making my life worth living, thank u for being there when no one else was. Thank you for making me happy! I'll be always here for you, even if you we don't talk or interact, my heart and good intentions are always with all of you💖 ~

ㅤ A HAPPY AND FULL OF LOVE AND HEALTH 2022! ㅤㅤ I love you,

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ Sashi-ya ♡ ~

[cipheress-to-k-pop]

Hello rush dear, was wondering if I could please get a letter for your 2k event? (Massive congratulations again my dear!)

The name is Hannah and I go by she/they pronouns! I would like a romantic letter please and with my favourite man of all time, Dick Grayson!

I’ve been pretty okay recently, been really anxious coz we are on our last assessment for uni before we finish next week! Imma miss my friends. It’s my birthday the day of sending this in so that’s funky fresh, why is 19 such an ugly number? But yeah, I’ve been alright aside from that! :)

Much love Rushie 🥰

Thanks my love, I just had to reply to this asap in honour of your birthday! Happy birthday, lovely! Thanks so much for the support til now I love you so so much!

Onto the letter!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE HANNAH

God, I'm so bad at writing letters but I figured that I would as a birthday gift. Personalized and sentimental gift and whatnot. I can't believe you're one year more beautiful. Actually I can, considering that every time I look at you, my pupils quite literally turn into the shape of hearts and even Damian pointed this out so it just has to be true.

Thanks for being by my side for this long and allowing me to be by your side for all these years. I love you so much and I can't wait for the years to come where we both get older together. I love you so much and I love you more each day.

You're one of the most beautiful, sweetest, kindest and most creative people I know and your passion for the things that you love is one of your most attractive qualities. Whenever you get excited about the things you create, you have this energy about you that I fail to appreciate completely each time because you distract me with just how captivating you are.

I would literally give you my kidney

I love you so so much, Han. You have no idea what I feel for you every time I look at you. What goes through my head each time you smile. That my heart literally beats for you and the whole reason for my existence is you. Never leave me, I don't think I'd ever survive if I woke up one day without you by my side.

Not only is it your birthday but you're so close to finishing your last assessment in university?! Wow, milestones all over, I'm so proud of you. Maybe this is your year of refreshing and reinvigorating starts (I mean it makes sense, considering you're born close to the summer solstice) ? Everything except the both of us though. Everything except the both of us can be a new, refreshing, reinvigorating start because you're never leaving me (in the least creepy way possible)

I know how hard you've worked til now and you truly deserve everything the world can give you and more.

And I'm sure this is only the start for you, the world is a big and beautiful place and there's so much left for you to explore and I'm so excited for all the good things to happen to you.

Hopefully, one year later, when you're celebrating your 20th birthday, you'll remember this letter I sent you and look back and realize just how far you've come.

I love you so much, Hannah.

So much that I can't express it in words.

So much that I'll never know the bounds to my love for you even if I try and find out.

I just love you so much.

I love you.

Yours forever,

Dick Grayson

[actuallyjomd]

How I survived Intern Year in a Pandemic (and sometimes didn't)

Intern year is ending??? ... everyone was right when they said:

"The days are long and the year is short."

I still feel like it's March 2021, or maybe 2020??

All this to say, just a couple of things I hoped to reflect on. Maybe share and be helpful to others despite the fugue I'm in. Full caveat, I'm a pediatrics resident, but have some good friends in Anesthesia, Med-Peds, Emergency Medicine and will hope that this brain dump is helpful regardless of specialty.

Be an intern: When I started, I was constantly worried about the milestones I was supposed to meet, deadlines I might be forgetting, people's expectations for projects and research. DON'T DO THIS. It's time wasted. Just be an intern. Learn how to do intern things - logistics of placing orders, calling consults, writing efficient notes, being a good team member. All the other things can wait, for 6 months at least.

If you love something, pursue it: For those who have vested interests in advocacy, subspecialty, research, feel free to run hard after those things. I think the general rule for residents is you're adults now and you should be a self-starter and initiate unless you're in a dedicated program or track. And don't let anyone make you feel bad about your passion. Love NICU? Go for it! Intubate, place lines! Love Nephrology? Go for it! Spin the urine, ultrasound those kidneys! Surround yourself with the things you care about

Take care of your body: I opted for the high-deductible insurance through my residency program... mistake. I went to the doctor far more than I expected simply because I was prone to dehydration, sleep-deprivation, and therefore more little mishaps. Got my first cavity. Got super ill and started having hives. Got norovirus. Because of this I cannot stress enough, get a good health insurance package and make appointments for your doctor, your Ob/Gyn, your dentist, your ophthalmologist, your psychologist. Your health in all respects will carry you through.

Be intentional with friendships: Your schedule is not normal. Normal is working weekdays with some overtime and having weekends and government holidays off. I worked every holiday except New Years Day. To form strong friendships in a new place, don't be afraid to reach out. I was surprised by the number of friend crushes I had reciprocated in my own residency program. And the friends I have outside of residency, I have done my best to plan ahead because I want to see them. Even on nights, on the long 13 day stretches of call. These relationships create a net, a cushion, a haven so you have a community to support you

Cry when you need to: Starting residency in a pandemic in a long-distance relationship was hard. There is grief in more ways than one - plus the emotional burden of personal struggles and the hard situations we encounter in our workplace. Feelings of inadequacy, exhaustion, loneliness, they can be really overwhelming. Don't ignore how you're feeling. Find a place to process, whether its journaling, taking a mental health day if/when you can, or call someone who loves you. On the regular.

Learn from your mistakes: They come in all flavors and it's hard not to think everything is ruined. I told the wrong family one time that their child had MIS-C and even gave him IVIG before my mistake was realized. His condition actually got better, but I still remember how intensely upset I was, that it was me who caused this father to sob, that I could have caused unintended side effects. I felt awful and sometimes I still do. It's not failure though. It's a healthcare system that cannot work 100% of the time and we are growing and figuring things out within it. The best we can do is to recognize that we must stay vigilant for our patients and rely on our team to keep us accountable to growing in that direction. I appreciated my seniors and mentors who helped me grow in weeks after that.

You are more capable than you think: I was asked to do things I hadn't done in a year (or ever) with little to no supervision. People would document "MD examined" and it was me who came to do the assessment. I would take sign out from transferring EMTs, answer phone calls from outside hospital attendings about transferring patients, called to Code Blues, Rapid Responses, pronouncing the time of death and people let me call the shots. We are backed up by our amazing colleagues and seniors to become confident even when imposter syndrome is raging through our veins and we're scared out of our minds. We aren't ever going to be completely ready but we stand on the shoulders of our mentors.

This is the moment you trained for. You're going to be great.

Message me anytime and would love to have more reblogs to add to this list from my fellow now PGY-2s.

[everafterkeiji]

Song: La La Lost You by Niki

Summary: With him being the pro hero he is, time slips away while distance grows.

Pairings: Katsuki Bakugo x fem! reader

Word count: 4.8k

Warning: angst, cursing

Quirk: You can read minds and portray them in real life. Example: If they thought about a gun, you create the image of the gun and use the gun. Same goes for you, if you think about a bomb, a bomb is already in your hands ready to use.

Symbols: Italic= flashbacks

A/n: can you pls let me know if you'd like a part 2 fnejdn

While I'm on Sunset, are you on the subway?

While I drive, are you gettin' on the L-train?

Bakugo can feel the longing in his heart as he watches a couple pick out engagement rings. His fists tighten at the sight as he feels an ache in his heart while he longs for an embrace his body misses, a body he missed to cherished, pair of lips he missed to place upon his. He lowers his head as he does his nightly patrols. Winter coming in closer than he realized, another year passing by. He thought he wanted this year to end as fast as it could yet here he is, sorrow and regret on his shoulders. Half of his heart gone, nearly falling apart as he stares at every happy couple his eyes fall upon. Even if his fans came to him, no matter how loud the praises and compliments were thrown at him, he felt nothing.

All he wanted to feel was her.

He wanted to feel how warm she was pressed against him, he wanted to feel her lips on his once again, he wanted to hear her voice again. Not the voice he last heard that was full of sadness but the voice he loved to listen to whenever he had his nightmares, his insecure nights. The softness in her tone, the way every laugh of hers would sound ethereal to him, the feist in her words whenever they had their battles. Now all those sounds seem to grow deaf to him. It's been a year, a year without her. A rather long year for him. Everyday he had to wake up to a cold bed, no arms wrapped around him, no view for him to enjoy when he opens his eyes. The way your moments were held in the walls surrounding him, every milestone of your relationship cherished in one household. He felt as if it was mocking him, making him remember the happiness your relationship brought him.

Hope that eases the pain

So you remember to miss me

Before, your house was filled with pictures of you two. Now it was empty, a house for one man when it was supposed to be a house for his ever after with her. Where was his savior? Where are the soft melodies she'd sing to him whenever he had his insecurities drag him down? All these moments he can only replay in his mind.

As he opens the door, he remembers the smile that falls on his lips no matter how exhausted he was, ready to see his girlfriend safe and sound in their own house. He'd catch her asleep on the couch with her favorite blanket cuddled up to a stuff toy he won her in a game.

He lets out a tired sigh before stepping in the shower. He closes his eyes, trying to surpass the way his eyes wanted to shed tears at the sight of her without his side. The more he tries to ignore it, the farther she gets from his view. He only remembers the way he raised his voice at her, the tears that ran down her cheek. The hurtful things that left his mouth, he never meant to say.

Unsaid things only to be said to a wall as his chances were slimming down as time passes. The words he wanted to say only being said when he was intoxicated but the person he badly wanted to say it to wasn't there to listen.

Does the trick for all of the things left unsaid

He didn't dare to face his friends, knowing questions and reactions are the only things he's gonna get from them. They'd be the ones to mention your name when they notice your disappearance. Kirishima knows about the split and has made many attempts to get the blonde back on his feet like he used to but every attempt would just end in bottles on the floor and carrying Bakugos intoxicated body back in your old couch.

Kirishimas heart wanted to cry for him.

Whenever your name was mentioned in missions or groups, he'd noticed the sadness that sets in his eyes and expression while he tries to hide it by being his aggressive self. Even as his best friend, there's nothing that he could do when the only solution to Bakugos heart was you.

You tried to ignore the fact that every night for a year you drowned out your emotions by overworking yourself and thinking that by being surrounded by lights and alcohol brought you contentment while you had no clue of what your other half was doing. Like him, you craved nothing more than to be with him.

Some have tried to contact you, you tried to sound believable as possible. Trying to sound like the boy you love was still around you pulling pranks behind you or him randomly wrapping his arms around you.

But you're on the other side of the country.

An offer you couldn't possibly lose, not even letting him know where you were. Him only knowing when the news had caught you fighting off villains in a city he can't just run to when he missed you. You knew that distance never fixed anything but at this point is there anything to be fixed? When laid out in front of you two are broken pieces of your own hearts. Scatted in cities where he remembers you by, scattered in his clothes that fit like a dress on you, scattered in streets making a path for you two to retrace your steps and fix what's happened. Hanging onto memories day by day. Trying to grasp a reality that was too good to be true.

All my demons have your smile

Unlike him, your surroundings were new.

Everything was new. You weren't stuck to suffer in the place where your love blossomed, the new environment insisting you to change but the way you saw couples and kids ticked you off to the very least.

December hasn't been this cold than you remember it. You shed a tear or two whenever you overheard one of the heroes ramble on how excited she was that she was engaged. It would've been 6 years with him by next month and a ring should've been placed in your very hands by now knowing the shared conversations you two had about marriage.

Saddened by the thought of it, you head home changing out of your hero clothes. You sat in the train, your exhaustion getting the best of you as you opened your eyes to see Bakugo sitting in front of you but as you blink he was gone. As the train goes under a tunnel, you look at the window as your memories play like some movie scene. You turn to look at the couples that surrounded you and your mind betrays you thinking of a girl that can make Bakugo happy like you did.

The darkness of the train enabled you to cry. You covered your face in your hands as you let out a sob. As a hero you couldn't care if people saw you like this, everyone had a breaking point. You've had enough of today. You continue to cry as you tighten the grip on your sweater and on the necklace that you wore.

"Who knew you could do things like this?" You teased as he taps your nose. You were set on his lap as he brings out a box. His hand caresses your cheek as he looks at you with love, love and nothing more.

"Shut it, dumbass. Now turn around." You rolled your eyes as you turned around, your back facing his chest. He sits up properly, gently moving your h/c aside as a cold piece of jewelry was placed around your neck. Once it was attached, Bakugo pressed light kisses on your shoulder as he whispers for you to face him. When you did, he smiled.

"You look amazing, Y/N." He says with pink painted cheeks. You blushed at his words your hand playing with the necklace.

"What's this for, Katsuki?" You asked as you intertwined your hands with his. He kisses the back of your hand as he looks at you.

"So you'll always have me."

As you wipe your tears, you felt a buzz in the pocket of your jeans. Picking it up the name "kiri<3" flashes before you. Sniffling a bit, you decided to answer.

"Kirishima? Is everything okay?"

Meanwhile on the other line, Bakugos breath hitched at the sound of you. It was another night where he dragged Kirishima to another bar and drown his feelings. He begged Kirishima to dial your number, just to hear it even if it wasn't meant for him.

"Hey Y/N! Sorry if I called a little later than expected, you doing okay? This is really random and unmanly-"

"Kiri it's fine! I'm fine yeah just heading home. How are you by the way?" Bakugo stays silent as he hears your voice. He missed it so much. He hadn't felt this desperate since you left.

"Well I'm doing fine too, Y/N. Guess I kinda just miss my partner in crime." You smiled at his words, finally feeling relieved after your session of crying.

"I miss you too, Eiji. How-"

"Y/N!" A familiar voice suddenly rushing to your ears as you sit up. It's him. Bakugo tries to steal the phone from Kirishima but Kirishima won't give it to him, thinking it was wrong for Bakugo to talk to you in a state like this.

"Bakugo-" The call ends before you can even say anything else. Kirishima sighs as Bakugo notices the call has ended.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT FOR SHIT HEAD?!"

"WHY CAN'T YOU CALL HER ON YOUR OWN, BAKUGO!" Kirishima shouts. Bakugo is taken aback by his sudden burst of words. Bakugo stays silent as Kirishima puts his phone in the pocket of his jeans.

"If you love her why don't you call her yourself? Make some fucking plans with her, talk it out. You're suffering because you're weak enough to reach out to her. This would've been simple from the beginning when you actually had the balls to talk to her and apologize!"

"If you feels so shitty about Y/N leaving, we're her friends too you know. We also lost her. I always have your back Bakugo, but this time this is your problem." Kirishima leaves your apartment with a sigh of defeat as he glides over your phone number, texting a sorry before he went home. Bakugo had his head hung low, taking in every word he heard.

He's right. He thought.

You had a hand placed on your heart when you heard him. You figured that it didn't end well for Kirishima when the call ended. Your screen flashes before reading the message.

kiri<3: I'm really sorry about that Y/N, but I do miss you. we all do. especially bakugo.

When you were home, your hand traces over the blocked contact of your other half. You smile as you reread your past conversations. But as you hug your pillow shutting the device off, you felt your eyes close remembering the warmth you used to have when he slept beside you.

He came home from a patrol, promising to save as many as he can but ended up saving only half of what he intended to. The cries of people ringing in his ears. He felt low, unworthy, selfish, weak. He couldn't save them, he could've been better. Now he realizes the fear that grows on him that he can't always save you.

"What the fuck did you say, Katsuki?! You don't get to say shit like I'm not a hero like you! We're both fucking exhausted. I'm asking you for one, one day." You shout.

He wasn't as strong as you. He utters words that mean the complete opposite of what he wanted to say, even denying love when he first experienced it. So scared of feeling emotions since the only thing he relied on was himself. He is strong in battles, the thrill giving him life, excitement. This is what he wanted. To live the life of his idols, to surpass them and show them he meant every word when said he wanted to be #1. What he didn't want was a girl who held his heart with strings. Playing with his emotions, discovering the branches of love. Discovering how his world changed when he fell for the girl he could never reach. He didn't want his heart to be fragile. He wanted it to be tough and unbreakable, a barrier around it where no one can see through his sharp demeanor. But there she was. Breaking every barrier with ease. In this moment, his heart made barriers once again.

"I fucking meant it when I said I don't have any time to be with you anymore. I need to work, Y/N! Why cant you get that through your fucking skull" He shouts back, a finger to your forehead pushing you back. Your cheeks were from the anger that sprung to your spirits. Every part of you was aching with anger. Tears spilling from your eyes as he watches you.

"That's all you ever fucking do Katsuki! Do you just purposely forget that I also work hard and here I am asking for one night with my boyfriend and you're pushing me aside like I'm nothing to you!"

"Nothing?! Maybe you just don't fucking understand what I'm saying! I have my own shit to deal with and I can't always drop everything for your needy ass. Do you need me to pat you on the back for being a good hero? You shouldn't even call yourself a hero when I'm the reason you even made it this far, princess." You closed your eyes as your hands turned white from how much you were tightening them.

Y/N, don't believe it. Please. I'm begging you-

"OF COURSE YOU GOT ME HERE! Call me anything you want. Weak, laid back, unworthy, low, insecure, stupid, worthless, have at it but I'm fucking drowning in my own stress, shitty paper work and patrols. I am a hero. You don't get to fucking remove that title from me. While you got me here, you're forgetting all the shit I did for you!"

"The things you did for me? What, like love? That's nothing to me."

Love.

All the smiles you've given him. The moments where you made him realize that if he wasn't the #1 hero, the only thing that mattered him was you. The memories of you with your head on his shoulder enjoying the sunset while he talks about how much he loves you. The feeling of his hands intertwining with yours as you danced in your living room. The moment where he said he'd catch you no matter what. The moments where you would wake up to his kisses on your face. The feeling when you see him safe and sound as you hug him enjoying life when his love surrounded you. The feeling when you imagined yourself marrying the perfect man for you.The promises. Future plans. The kisses. Never ending hugs. 5 years with the person who made you the happiest, who made you determined, who made you feel like you can conquer anything, who made you believe in love even in the toughest ways.

It was all nothing.

You bite your lip as your head hung low. He hears your sobs and it wasn't enough for him to wake up from all this anger. He needed you just as much as you did, but in this moment he didn't realize it. He thought he needed a break, some silence to drown out the cries of the people he had left behind but now he can only hear his heart shattering. Piece by piece. Torn. With every word he says. With every glance he gives you, seeing you so hurt because of him. He bared no meaning to his words and he hopes you can see that he too needed saving but he notices the drop in your tone. Dull eyes, tear stained cheeks, unsteady breathing.

"I just w-wanted to be with you.. t-to be saved. To be saved from this asshole of a man claiming he loves but me pushes me away like dirt. A man who tells me an empty promise of always being there to catch me. Katsuki, was it all really nothing y-you?" He bites his lip before taking a step forward but you step back, life drained out of you. Every color saturated to liveliness was nothing but black and white now. Storms and heavy weather. Tears and broken hearts.

I can't do this.

"I just can't save you anymore." He whispers but you heard it clear as day. You let out the most painful sob as your knees give in, a thud to the floor as you cover your face in your hands. Now the fear in his head of him never saving you, he only faces the truth that he can't save everyone, even you. Your sobs echoed through the house as he turns around to wipe away his tears, a hand to his pained chest. As his back was turned to you, you left to go to your room. He notices your disappearance as he only sits on the couch, knowing the events that were to happen next. You grabbed a bag stuffing in whatever you could as you continued to release your sorrows. When you were finished you took a last good look on your room. The room where every nightmare was comforted with love, the room where secrets were shared, deep fears, everything. You take a deep breath before opening the door. You see him sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.

-

You both wake up with tears in your eyes as your head weighed a ton, making you grip your pillow with such force, completely unhappy you were greeted this way. You looked up at the mirror to see bags under your eyes, puff cheeks, and a version of you that you despised to see everyday.

Not a single glow of happiness.

You weren't ready to face another tiresome day at the agency but your limbs forced you to knowing it'd be another patrol then by the night some paperwork and then patrolling once again. His words replayed in your mind, still affecting you with how he belittled you as a hero. Sure, you couldn't save millions but you saved hundreds, even if you were on brim of your quirk affecting your mental state, you would still save thousands.

And it pains you that he doesn't even notice how your quirk affects your mental being.

It takes immense focus for you to portray what you needed, and it requires you to be sharp and quick with your mind. Yet, overusing it alters the reality you wanted. Your mind playing a sick game to your overall being, stuck in the darkest part of your mind, leading you the same night that started it all.

But he still wouldn't save you.

-

Bakugo had his vermilion eyes on the road, as the others discussed on the upcoming mission. He didn't even bother to pay interest on where they were going, more focused on fighting with the villain and finishing the job.

Maybe it was the hundredth time today where he thought about you.

He looks at the beautiful scenery in front of him, and his mind leads him to remember your smile and your features he loved to gaze his eyes on. Now, villains and explosions were the only things that clouded his vision or sometimes the sight of his companions, which didn't really help him.

Then the vehicle comes to a stop, his eyes landing on a store. Seen through the glass was a beautiful dress, painted in her favorite color, with the perfect length and dainty design. He smiles to himself, visualizing how stunning she'd look wearing it, especially seeing her skin looking so bright and healthy under the winter atmosphere.

She'd love that. He says to himself, feeling bittersweet that he wanted to buy it, but who would even wear it? He can't just give it to her without having a conversation. Even if it's been nearly a year, how can he prepare for something he avoided?

He steps out of the vehicle, feeling exhausted thinking about her. He hears his companions talk about splitting up so each hero wouldn't be suspected, he agrees with them, not even bothering to give them a snarky comment. He was too occupied with the thought of you in that splendid dress.

He wonders around the city, hands to his pockets. Especially in his hero costume, he received so many stares from the people. He'd either glare back at them or ignore them completely, but this time he just let them stare for as long as they liked. The only pair of eyes he wanted to land on him was yours, your ever stunning ones.

He remembers the moments where the sun beamed perfectly on your eyes, depicting the color with such grace and beauty. He remembers every memory where your eyes were gateways to your emotions, filled with such genuine and love. It even helped him at times where words weren't needed to express the way he felt. He loved how you managed to read him so easily, like a book she's memorized every page of. Even the slightest change in his tone, you were able to pick it up and soon interrogate him if he was okay.

He watches a couple who had boxes in their hands with smiles evident in their eyes and lips. He watches as the man gestures to help the girl but she declines walking ahead of him, he follows behind the girl making sure the boxes wouldn't fall.

"Katsuki stop!" She shouts with a giggle, he ignores her completely, pushing her slightly to make the boxes fall. She completely looses balance as the boxs fall on the floor. She gasps as she runs to punish the blonde as he quickly puts down the boxes as he runs away from her. You can hear her screaming profanities at the man as the couple runs around outside their house.

Bakugo hides from her, eyeing her from his secret spot. He takes the opportunity when he sees her completely confused he was gone, so he takes you by surprise by slinging you over his shoulders, chuckling at how she threw mild punches at his back.

"Babe! How are we gonna finish moving in our stuff!" She says with a laugh, still trying to beg for him to put her down. He spins around making her laugh even more as he sets her on the ground. The sun beams down on them, her eyes glowing so beautifully under the golden light. His hand reaches her cheeks, squishing it lightly as he smiles at her expression.

"Who said we even needed to finish it today? C'mon. We have the house all to ourselves." Katsuki says, as you sighed giving into him. He smirks to himself as he lifted you off the ground once again, swinging you over his shoulders too easily.

"Baby!"

His eyes wander elsewhere, feeling his chest tightening once again at the memories that resurface upon him.

After a long fight with a villain who kept scarring you with their weapon, your mind was completely going to collapse at any minute. You've been creating bullets and barriers for so long you didn't notice how other objects that you didn't need were suddenly made, dropping behind you. You can feel the throbbing pain of your head as you limped to the town. Random objects still were popping up every minute and it annoyed you how your quirk was out of your grasp.

(TW! Hallucination/Panic attack)

You simply wanted water and some first aid kit to make sure you make it to your agency but when you imagined the bottle of water, you immediately acted like it was created but it wasn't. All the things that you thought you made weren't there and you felt your eyes feel droopy as you let your hand hold onto the wall for support. It was starting to alter your reality, making it worse for you to think straight while your thoughts were all tied in loops from overusing it. Your vision blurring at the sight of people who were walking by.

Your mind was growing more and more explosive as you felt pain surround your head. You let out a scream as you felt every part of your head ache as unnecessary objects were still appearing beside you. This scream alerts the people but they chose not to gather around you, unsure what was happening. They were all muttering questions but this only added to the problem as you started panting, harshly closing your eyes trying to avoid any eye contact from them. You heard a loud shout before your mind completely goes blank, feeling like you were shot. It happened all too fast as you fall to your knees, mind empty and damaged, your system completely failing to support you as a person was seen pushing through the sea of people.

Then, their eyes met.

[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/4/2020: SOCIETY

Without having a survey to back me up, I feel comfortable asserting that as a horror fan, you go through different phases with SOCIETY. It’s a basic fact of life, and yet it morphs and mutates underneath you, shocking you anew just when you think you’ve got a grip on it. You never forget your first time, because there is simply nothing like it. Then, after you get over the initial shock of its patented brand of body horror, you start to take it for granted; it's so broad and monolithic that it becomes something like the Grand Canyon--when it’s not right there in front of you, you begin to experience it more iconically, as part of the wallpaper of existence, rather than an in-your-face confrontation with the limits of experience. Then, you revisit it every few years (or months, depending on what sort of person you are), and the prophylactic layer that your brain has wrapped around your memories of it--the one that allows you to think of SOCIETY as a fun, wacky cheap thrill--begins to crumble, and you realize all over again how iconoclastically vile it is. Wherever you happen to be at, with this inimitable genre landmark, you'd be hard pressed to deny that it earns its royal status among horror movies, just for being so uniquely fucked up.

Filmmaker Brian Yuzna is best known as the co-creator of the indispensable RE-ANIMATOR (or as the co-writer of HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS...depending on what sort of person you are, again), itself a milestone achievement in the blending of sex and gore that so characterized '80s horror production. That film clearly brought out the best in Yuzna and frequent collaborator Stuart Gordon (also of HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS fame...among other things), but it's interesting to see how they operate apart, to understand the unique ingredients that each filmmaker brought to the more perfect union of their classic Lovecraft adaptation. Gordon skewed darker and more intellectual, as evidenced by the end of his career with the shattering mob thriller KING OF THE ANTS, the disturbing true crime drama STUCK, and the Mamet-penned EDMOND. Yuzna, for his part, is almost anti-intellectual, preferring to cook up blackly comic, semi-pornographic nightmares like his two increasingly horny RE-ANIMATOR sequels, the terminal S&M fantasy RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3, and the shamelessly hokey comic book adaptation FAUST: LOVE OF THE DAMNED. Yuzna's lack of shame is really his defining feature as an artist, and nowhere is this more obvious than in his directorial debut and signature masterpiece, SOCIETY.

Salvador Dali's "The Great Masturbator," a chief visual inspiration for SOCIETY.

Yuzna was able to leverage the success of RE-ANIMATOR to lock in two directorial opportunities, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, and a bizarre body horror exercise about a Beverly Hills orphan who discovers that not only are his adoptive family from a different bloodline, but they're not even from the same species. That both pictures employed the writing team of Woody Keith and Rick Fry gives you a little taste of what to expect from SOCIETY, but to be frank, the latter threatens to make the former look like a very special episode of ER; "overkill" barely begins to describe SOCIETY’s ambitious assault on the human body. In a recent interview, the philipino-american director giggles perversely, "I think my friends were a little embarrassed for me (when they saw SOCIETY)," and this sound bite reminded me that the last, most important ingredient that Yuzna contributes to any project is unabashed joy. It's a little hard to imagine stomaching SOCIETY without it.

In this unusual scene from the class struggle in Beverly Hills, Billy Warlock (son of HALLOWEEN 2's Michael Myers, Dick Warlock) plays Bill Whitney, a rich, handsome, athletic high school student with a heavy duty anxiety disorder. Although he appears to have it all, he is plagued by nightmares and hallucinations, reflecting suspicions that the family that spoils him is also out to get him. Perhaps this is all understandable, though. Bill is under a lot of pressure these days, with his parents devoting all of their attention to his sister's coming out party, and his narcissistic girlfriend pushing him to ingratiate himself to the assholes higher up the social ladder; it's enough to make any teenager feel alienated and insecure. But, do these garden variety anxieties account for his visions of his sister's body deforming itself unnaturally, or the dubious evidence he finds that her debutante ball involves incestuous orgies and human sacrifice? Is Bill simply crumbling under the strain of societal expectations, or is the friction with his shrink, his parents, and his peers all symptomatic of an elaborate plot against him by elites who are truly less than human?

I can’t believe they use this cheapo blanket trick MORE THAN ONCE in a movie that is famous for its unforgettable special effects, and I guess I kind of love it.

In case I haven't made the answer abundantly obvious, I'll add that while SOCIETY is the purest expression of Yuzna-ness on the market, it has an important co-author in Screaming Mad George. The eccentric japanese FX master, whose name is apparently an amalgamation of Mad Magazine, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and...George, has produced some of horror's most outrageous makeup and visual effects, mostly for Yuzna, many of them in SOCIETY. If you've seen even a trailer for Alex Winter's 1993 oddity FREAKED--which is itself a grossout criticism of American social standards--then you are already familiar with SMG's trademark style. He specializes in twisted perversions of the human form that would make a cenobite blush, driven by a penchant for puns, and influenced equally by THE THING's Rob Botin, and Big Daddy Roth’s Rat Fink style. Screaming Mad George is instrumental in articulating Yuzna's premise: that behind the shimmering veneer of success and sophistication, the upper class are just a bunch of degenerates, who literally degenerate into something unimaginable behind closed doors. It's impossible to imagine SOCIETY without his sinuous, slithering monstrosities, or his indescribable realization of their most important social event, "the shunt".

One of many great images from a zine I wish I owned, on SMG’s Facebook page.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by SOCIETY's visual impact, but its message is just as potent now as it was at the end of the Reagan era: Rich people are not only different from the rest of us, but in fact, they aren't even human. Writers Keith and Fry make an interesting choice of hero to help put this across. A lazier writer would have selected any archetype from the Freaks and Geeks set to create an easy Us vs Them tension, but SOCIETY is led by a promising young man who, for reasons he himself does not yet understand, is just not "the right kind of people". Bill appears to have every advantage in life, including a level of popularity that wins him presidency of the debate team despite his nerdier rival’s superior prowess--and yet, he suffers from a stigmatizing psychiatric disorder that is the natural result of feeling indefinably different from one's peers, and intuiting that, as a consequence, they don't even really like you. The shallow jock with deep-seated emotional problems is a much more interesting protagonist for this kind of social allegory than the charismatic outcasts that you get in movies like THE FACULTY and DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, for whom the idea that the elites could be aliens is just de rigueur.

It's worth noting that this complexity of character extends to Bill's love interest, sympathetic society girl Clarissa Carlyn (Playboy Playmate Devin DeVasquez). At first, she seems villainously eager to introduce Bill to the many splendors of "the shunting", but as the plot against him mounts to its horrifying conclusion, she defects. There appears to be a reason for this, although honestly, this is the most difficult part of SOCIETY for me to wrap my head around. Clarissa lives as an essentially independent adult, only burdened by her mother (Pamela Matheson), a possibly brain damaged hulk who lurks in and out of various scenes just to be disturbing, always announced by some toots on a tuba, before eventually siding with our heroes. I'm really not sure what's supposed to be going on in this part of the movie, except that this character contributes to a number of distasteful jokes. But, I hold on to the idea that by virtue of whatever disorder Mrs. Carlyn suffers from, she serves the purpose of priming Clarissa to rebel, since her very existence makes her daughter something of a societal outcast herself. That's the best I can do.

In any case, everyone working on SOCIETY commits completely, with Mrs. Carlyn being no exception. The movie's climactic orgy of the damned is an all hands on deck operation, just as reliant on Screaming Mad George's artistic abilities as it is on the actors' responsibility to make you believe that this fucked up shit is really happening. There's a visceral patina of sleaze spread over the entire film, dripping from the way that characters talk to and touch each other, flirting and flaunting their bodies in a distinctly unseemly fashion, even when it stays within the realm of mundane reality. This constant sinister, insinuating attitude on the part of the whole cast lays the foundation for what is to come, and while I appreciate everybody's hard work, my favorite performance is from an actor who only comes in at the very end: David Wiley as society king Judge Carter. Wiley's career consisted almost exclusively of the most ordinary sort of television work, which makes his outrageous turn in this alien porno flick all the more respectable. While other characters transition from suspicious pod people to full-on mutated perverts, Judge Carter has to show up just for the finale, establish his authority, rip off his clothes, and plunge straight into a sea of slime, happily fisting his way through the cast. Wiley meets this challenge with aplomb, making of himself a hybrid of Robert Englund and Gene Hackman, perfectly embodying the movie's joyful absurdity, and never betraying the slightest hint of embarrassment. 

SOCIETY is very much a don't-look-down type of endeavor, a fairy that could expire at the slightest lapse in faith. There's a visual pun in the last act that's so gross, so offensive, so frankly idiotic, that I don't have the courage to describe it; my whole body tenses up when I know this scene is coming, as if it were the meat hook scene in TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE or the brutal rape in the middle of SHOWGIRLS. I don't like it, but at the same time, I respect Yuzna's unhesitating commitment to show it to me, and I think that actor Charles Lucia should get some kind of award for shouldering the burden so valiantly. SOCIETY is a daring movie in the truest sense, a film with more balls than brains, and in this it exposes the limitation of intelligence and taste, and the real need for pure transgression, in producing art of any real value. You might argue with me about whether Yuzna's masturbatory magnum opus really qualifies as art, but to respond to that, I'll quote the great transgressor Alejandro Jodorowsky: "If you are great, EL TOPO is a great picture. If you are limited, EL TOPO is limited." So stick that in your shunt and smoke it.

PS Here, have this stuck in your head for the rest of your life.

[illfoandillfie]

Hi! I was wondering if your tarot readings are still open? If they are, could I get a Month Ahead Reading? Ngl, I don't know much about tarot readings but i feel like they'd be fun to get into. PS I really love your writing hahaha

here you go darl!

Week 1: 4 of wands + Gibbous Moon (You’re very close to achieving your goal)

So the four of wands is partly about rest and being at home and at peace, and partly about celebrating. A lot of people refer to it as a marriage card because the traditionally imagery was, if i remember correctly, based on/inspired by like country town wedding customs. The tall poles erected on the farm and calling in friends and family to celebrate. It’s certainly one of the most positive cards in the deck though. I think it symbolises that May will kick off relatively smoothly for you. There’s also a lot of potential for this to be a period where you can complete some tasks or make progress towards a goal of some sort. The Gibbous Moon speaks of being close to achieving your goal and it might be reaching a particular milestone or accomplishing something which is cause for celebration in early May.

Week 2: 8 of pentacles + Grape (Abundance)

The 8 of pentacles is about apprenticeship. It relates to people who are starting new jobs or new paths of study or even just learning a new skill. There’s skill here but also a desire to improve and a passion for what you do. You’re holding yourself to high standards this week. The 8 of pentacles is a card of ambition and hard work and finally feeling as if you’re on the right path. And the Grape card symbolises that this week is a fertile one. There’s an abundance of potential in these early weeks of the month. If you look for opportunity and inspiration you’ll find them.

Week 3: The Magician + Snow Leopard (The Watcher)

The Magician represents willpower, desire, creation, and manifestation. He is in control of all four suits and so all four elements but he’s using his own power to make things happen. This card is a sign that this will be a good time to take action. You have the power and the confidence and the talent to create the future you want and now is the time to push forward with your plans. The Snow Leopard is an interesting once considering how action oriented the Magician is. The Snow Leopard is the watcher. He observes things closely before he acts and prefers to keep a little mystery about himself. So it seems that while this will be a good week to create and manifest your desires, it’s also worth noting that this will take time. You may not see results overnight. But show patience as the snow leopard does and you’ll be rewarded.

Week 4: Temperance + Animals

Temperance is a card of patience. It represents moderation and self-control. If you’re expecting the end of the month to bring stress or anxiety, this card is a reminder to be calm, to breath, and to do your best. It may also be a sign that you need to rebalance some things - reflect on and examine where your priorities lie and decide if you should make any adjustments. It might be something external like prioritising work too much and forgetting to take care of yourself. Or it could be more internal. Animals suggests that, if possible, you should spend some time with a pet - playing or just showing them affection. It could also be suggesting you take some time out to sit in nature and try to spot some animals as a way to relax and de-stress. It could also be related to working with an animal related charity or organisation.

You got 2 of the sacred self care oracles. Ground Yourself and Look For Fairies. 

Ground yourself suggests that connecting with the earth and the present could be beneficial to you this month. To ground yourself, sit or walk barefoot on the ground. Meditate, if that’s your jam, and focus on the sensation of connecting with the earth. Picture yourself drawing energy from the earthand using it to nourish your mind, body and spirit. It can be a way to recenter yourself if you feel off or help to calm yourself down and clear your mind. Gardening is another way to connect to the earth, or by eating a meal which includes root vegetables. If you’re more artistically inclined, you could mould something out of clay or just get outside and make mudpies and potions like a kid does. 

Look For Fairies is about doing just that, When you’re next outdoors, look around you and try to spot fairies or where they may hide. Because this card came out I also drew you a card from the fairy oracle deck. 

Purity - Always trust in the purity of your heart. Look inside your heart and within it you will find the answer to your question. 

This card is about listening to your intuition and what your heart really wants and believing in yourself. You may not feel like the magician but you are capable of harnessing his power. Tune in to your own inner thoughts and feelings because the will help you know what to do next. 

From the numerology deck - Synchronicity

This is another card related to believing in yourself and your own powers. But it’s also about believing that the universe will provide the right opportunities at the right time. Even if it seems completely impossible that you’ll have success with something, trust that success will come. It could also be a sign to look out for synchronicities within your life. Reappearing numbers - for instance if you see the number 111 everywhere - or meeting lots of people with the same name or hearing the same song on the radio every time you turn it on. It may be that these synchronicities and patterns are trying to point you towards a particular direction. 

And finally, 2 words from the destiny cards deck. Leadership and Patience. Both of these will be key for your journey this month. Patience has definitely appeared within these cards so remind yourself to be patient if you find yourself feeling worried or frustrated. Leadership could be related to you taking up a leadership role in work or school or within your family. Of course, if it immediately brought to mind something, listen to your intuition.