#newly discovered album

[actualgoron]

song of the night

[hwaightme]

I will wait

(masterlist)

🍵pairing: seonghwa x gn!reader 🍵genre: comfort, healing, fluff, confession, friends to lovers, implied slowburn 🍵summary: you would have never expected to be facing your biggest fear over a cooling cup of tea, but here you are, gazing into seonghwa's loving eyes. 🍵wordcount: 2.8k total 🍵warnings/tags: semi-edited, slightly dark humour, mention of relationship trauma, learning to love again, emotional exhaustion, present tense, seonghwa is a loving understanding boy, inner monologues, y/n pov, mutual friend joong 🍵 taglist: at the bottom of the fic 🍵 a/n: hello <3 slowly trying to make a return, feeling very rusty... sorry <3 i hope this brings comfort to you <3 reblogs, thoughts and feelings always appreciated.

Wrapped up in routine and basic survival, it is easy to forget your own heart. Similarly, when your heart bears more metaphorical scar tissue than ground for new beginnings, it is easy to abandon frivolous affections in favour of basic human function - so long as the worn out organ beats, everything is good enough. Long gone are the days when you boldly dive into a journey without evaluating the potential consequences, hoping for smooth, never ending roads. Cold, calculated, you consider. And almost one hundred percent of the time, nothing is ever worth it. What could another person bring to you that you cannot bring yourself? Down to heartbreak, you have no trouble being your own worst critic, and happiness? Well, you know what you like best. There simply is no room for anything else, anything more. You float, trying to keep your head above water. 

You have heard far too many things about yourself to continue caring about relationships. Everyone seems to have their own idea and theory about why you are perpetually single, from you being too threatening, to you behaving in some type of way. Well, if your behaviour does not suit someone, you are not about to go out of your way to change yourself to fit another’s standards - you have tried to do that before, everything collapsing and ending catastrophically, leaving you in shambles. If someone is threatened, it is their problem, first and foremost, not yours. Again, you are not going to diminish yourself, admonish yourself when you are trying your damn hardest to stay standing in a world and society that is challenging enough to exist in.

Many have told you to try to flirt ‘for sport’, ‘for fun’, but in your eyes it is a colossal waste of time, energy and your ability to lie. You do enough of that when masking your exhaustion. Some talk of their own successes; relationships that stand the test of time, crushes that turn into partners and long distance turning into close proximity. So what? You are happy for them, in fact, you are elated. Just because you yourself are not in a relationship does not mean you are void of happiness - something that a lot of people appear to either not understand or forget. Much like you get irritated at others not minding their own business, you stick to such rules yourself: your discomfort with people, past disappointments and the occasional pang of solitude are nobody else’s truth but your own. You are the keeper of your life, fatigued, but at least you are honest. To someone. You are not sure who this someone is, but you feel honest.

Jasmine tea in a tall cup in front of you, a dessert, the name of which you already forgot - some kind of special, stand in front of you proudly, aromatic and flavourful. A newly released album by a singer who you discovered a little while ago is playing on the speakers, ever so gently muted by the occasional burst of steam or rumble of the barista machine. It is not the first time you are hearing these songs - on loop, again and again, you are starting to memorise some of the lyrics. Lulling chatter of the workers at the cafe in a language you cannot understand - so melodic, so comforting, so familiar. And here you are, imagining yourself to be another decoration, a chair, a table, plant or light, sitting here, unmoving, soaking in the atmosphere of what you have grown to adore with your whole heart.

There is a reason why you love this little place, tucked away inside the side streets of a busy city. So many people, so many events, so many ups and downs, and through it all, this place stays standing. You met ‘what ifs’ here, spent hours chatting away with someone who you used to know, indulged in maybes, passions, friendships, and through it all, your heart was still so happy. You consider yourself to be harmlessly simple when it comes to things like this - very little is needed to bring a smile to your face and reassure you. Yes, there is never a problem in ‘what’ brings you joy. The issue is in who it is ‘who’ brings, or is meant to bring, this happiness to you. For this reason, you are perfectly content with how you are, having ordered the drink and dessert for yourself, sitting alone at one of the tables, and, with a view unobstructed by some individual who would probably turn into a stranger, taking in the interior and the world visible through the windows. You feel just a smidgen stronger when you step inside this place. A regular, you can chat with the baristas happily and relish in the mutual recognition and warm wishes. This is a tiny little home for you. A home for your heart.

Until right this moment, that is. Until you look up and see an awfully familiar figure slinking past the entrance and giving a light bow to one of the baristas who had spotted him. Until you lock eyes with this personified elegance, and, bewildered, follow his increasing proximity to your table. He is dressed comfortably, but even the most casual garment is made priceless when worn by him - that much you have learned to not be surprised by. Straightened black hair that reaches his shoulders in the back is, again, very befitting the weather and the aesthetic. You cannot hate him nor his looks even if you tried. But would you reveal anything except indifference? Only time can tell. For now, even before he can utter your name - his parted lips suggesting an impending greeting, you merely point at the register, motioning for him to make an order first. It has been only a couple of seconds, but you already want to hide. Looking at your phone you check the time, wondering if you can make up some other travel plan or appointment. Alas, nothing is coming to mind that qualifies as an unwavering obligation. Here’s to being caught off-guard. Particularly embarrassing considering that it is not the first time. Seonghwa - an endearing but dangerously handsome nerd who crashed into your life, as most of your friends had done, is just that little bit too dedicated, that little bit too curious, that little bit too committed to ‘being there for you’. As a friend, surely. 

You sneak the occasional glance at him while he is waiting for his drink of choice - probably a strawberry tea or whatever else that is the antithesis to bitterness. It takes a bit of strength to convince yourself that this is all pure coincidence. Just two friends who happened to see each other in the same cafe that they have both been to before. You do not want your nerves to take over and persuade you to think that there is anything more. It is all too tiring. And so you hide away your unresolved debates in a box deep in your chest, somewhere far enough from that bloodied fist that is making you lightheaded, so far that you find it harder to breathe. But it is nothing; nothing you aren’t used to. It is simple enough - giving Seonghwa a quick smile when he approaches you again with that silly little red drink in his hands, gesturing at the seat opposite you, waiting for him to settle and look up at you with a sparkle in his endless rich chocolate eyes.

“Must be fate, huh?” he jokes, while your grin falters. There he goes again.

“Are you following me, Park?” Your question is delivered without much emotion aside from a raised brow. But you know well enough that this is about as good as using cotton in place of a bullet; Seonghwa keeps on grinning, and takes a quick sip of his tea. 

“No need when you’re always on my mind,” you pretend to feel nauseous from his corny flirting, and roll your eyes. It is despicable how his presence really is entertaining.

“Oh dear. Must be a nightmare. Need a therapist?” 

“This would be the best diagnosis one could ever receive, I fear,” he is spectacularly bold today, that much you can deduce. Contrary to popular descriptions from your other mutual friends, Seonghwa has never been ���shy’ towards you, and his affection knows no bounds. Be it a random trinket, song link or a sweet word, he truly does seem to have an infinite supply of it - something both perplexing, and enviable. He is a person who is so full of love that it overflows. In short, your opposite.

“Right…” you trail off, not quite sure how to respond. His eyes remain on your face, softening from a bright eagerness to tranquil admiration, “well… what brings you here?”

“Cutting straight to the chase?”

“Tired of running,” your deadpanned response clearly has some kind of impression, as Seonghwa momentarily pauses and purses his lips. 

“Fair enough.”

Tap, tap, another tap on the side of his cup. Finger restlessly tracing his nervousness into the curves and edges of the ceramic. Newfound fascination in counting the crumbs that are like stars on your plate. You count seconds, but each one drags on until it has no meaning. What could be so challenging to put into words? You know, but hope with all your being that you are completely and utterly wrong. In your books, once a person has given up, there is no point in ever reigniting that naive fighting spirit that suffered defeat, only for the risk to have the fall repeat. You wait patiently, suppressing the urge to stand up and walk out.

“Okay, so, I did ask Hongjoong where you were-” he begins with a light simpering smile to mask what you can only read as worry.

“Figured.”

“Mm, alright. Uhm, well. How can I even- so…”

All the signs are evident. You should have known from the moment he entered the cafe. And if not then, then at least from the way he was acting right before this. But you do not have the courage to stop him anymore, choosing to let anguish settle in your bones. He clears his throat, barely audible, perhaps to ground himself yet again. You feel sorry - the trepidation of the heart, the wishes and dreams blending with the present vision, adrenaline and foolishness forcing action. Thankfully, this twisted bouquet of emotional torment is not terminal, if treated correctly. You wait.

“Goodness, I wanted this to be a casual setting and here I am making a big deal out- well, it is a big deal… or, well, it could be if you wanted to- what am I saying-” he stumbles over his own words, which is most certainly something uncharacteristic to him. Seonghwa, normally the one who can encapsulate any situation and sensation in the most wondrous collections of phrases, is at a loss. Might this be terminal?

“Perhaps it is best that I start from the end, then,” you prepare yourself for the worst, “I… I really like you. Really, really like you.”

At least you are prepared.

“Oh…” the single syllable betrays your irrevocably increasing agitation. You don’t ‘love’. You don’t ‘like’. You can’t. You shouldn’t. Does Seonghwa not know what he is walking into?

“I- before you say it, let me… I know that this is terrifying, and hell, I’m so sorry for crashing into your day like this. It was selfish of me. But I just want you to know that no matter what, you will always be an important person to me, a very very important person who makes my life brighter than any star,” you swallow whatever retort lodged in your throat, remaining silent. You cool like the tea in your cup, curious who will leave this cafe shattered. A lukewarm kind of sadness.

Shame on you, for being so closed off. Surely, you should be blaming yourself. Objectively, Seonghwa is beyond lovely. To some, he might be everything. Maybe even to you, he might be something of a balancing force. His fire to your ice, if you were to let yourself indulge in being a tiny bit cheesy. Subjectively, the ice would melt, and put out the fire, or instead turn to wispy steam, blending into promises, equally as airy. It is easy enough to figure out that you are stuck in the latter maze of conclusions.

You could cry. Seonghwa, having noticed a droplet by your cup- be it condensation or a careless descent from a sip turned sour, immediately reaches for a napkin and wipes it away, as if everything that is happening is only natural. As if confessing is nothing out of the ordinary to him. Perhaps this is indeed the case, and you are the only one who has gone to great lengths to disassociate yourself from all things ‘love’. Ballads turn to taunts, poems turn to curses, bouquets turn to rotting litter. How dare Seonghwa show up in your life like this, and threaten to never leave? Your gaze crawls slowly upwards, a frail candlelight extinguished with the roar of his glimmering orbs, already having trailed back to studying you. Your skin crawls at the possibility of him reading your distress - he can, you know he can, he probably is. A shiver travels up your spine. Thankfully, Seonghwa does not mention it, despite the furrowing of his brows being obvious even from the briefest glimpse.

“Well…” your thought ends where it has begun. Words fail you. You clench your fist, instinctively looking for the sleeve of your top to offer some kind of distraction. 

“Hm?” He could be a painting. Every movement effortlessly graceful, he puts models to shame, and gold loses its meaning when faced with his heart. You cannot utter the question plaguing you out loud, but you know that it is the only thing you could possibly manage, and even then, you’d rather forever hold your silence than to see your friend, or not quite friend, be crestfallen. He would lie, he would pretend, all in the efforts to not turn into your mirror. 

“...Why? Why did I say it, right?” Clearly, he knows you too well. You bite your lower lip, and give him a tiny nod while cradling the cup in your hands. His chuckle awakens unwanted butterflies that you attempt to kill with a sword of memories. To no avail. He is not mad nor disappointed, is not lashing out at you and does not seem in any way discouraged. Instead, his hands hover beside yours as he whispers for permission, which you mutely give. He grins, and soon enough, the palms of his hands are caressing your knuckles - reassuring, gentle. 

“I think we are quite similar in some ways. Guided by our morals and beliefs, we act and shape our futures. It just so happens that I believe in love,” a turbulent pause, “...and you. I believe in you. And so I dive headfirst. Into you. And I don’t mind what happens to me, because I still would consider myself lucky to feel what I feel for you.”

“Then you must be aware that… hm, that I am perplexed by this progression?”

“I can explain as many times as you’d like and need.”

“Do my views not bother you? Seonghwa, you are familiar with a lot more than the average person, isn’t that repulsive?” you make an attempt to ruin whatever image he had built up of you in his head, but he would not budge.

“Why would they? I did, I do and I will strive to understand.”

Time fades, and all that remains is an invitation. Hands outstretched, calling for you to take the leap. You are scared out of your mind, unable to see what the future holds. Stone cracks and echoes in your ribcage, sending a ripple through what you had buried. You really shouldn’t, for Seonghwa’s sake, but that little voice in your head is singing, and daring you to try. Would you hate yourself if you would be proven true? Or would parting with Seonghwa be just as sweet as the beginning?

“And what if I- what if I want to… but I need time… to like you…”

“Then I will wait. For as long as you want,” he takes your hands by the fingers, gingerly grasping them and running soothing lines with his thumb, for as long as you need.”

It may be easy to forget your own heart, it may be the case that you are happy alone. But at the same time there is someone who remembers your heart, hoping you would remember theirs. Someone who will wait for you on the other side of solitude, unfreezing and turning the clocks from past to present. Someone who, with every passing day, finds more and more of you to love.

🍵 perma-taglist: @shakalakaboomboo @charreddonuts @miriamxsworld @innsomniacshinestar @preciouswoozi @wooyoungjpg @wowie-hockey @hongjoongs-patience @jaehunnyy @maddkitt @ren-junwrld @marsstarxhwa @yeooclock @yeonjunnie @asjkdk @northerngalxy @my-loves-my-life @http-gyu

enjoyed? please do consider reblogging, thank you <3

[blueiscoool]

Lost Chopin Music Uncovered in ‘Thrilling’ Discovery

A curator at a museum in New York City has discovered a previously unknown waltz written by Frédéric Chopin, the first time that a new piece of work by the Polish composer has been found in nearly 100 years.

The waltz, written on a small manuscript measuring about 4 inches by 5 inches, was first discovered by curator Robinson McClellan in 2019, who then sought outside expert help, according to a statement from the Morgan Library & Museum on Monday.

“He found it peculiar that he could not think of any waltzes by Chopin that matched the measures on the page,” reads the statement.

“Chopin famously wrote in ‘small forms,’ but this work, lasting about one minute, is shorter than any other waltz by him,” adds the statement.

“It is nevertheless a complete piece, showing the kind of ‘tightness’ that we expect from a finished work by the composer.”

McClellan asked Chopin expert Jeffrey Kallberg, associate dean for arts and letters at the University of Pennsylvania, to help authenticate the waltz. “Extensive research points to the strong likelihood that the piece is by Chopin,” according to the statement.

This research included analysis by paper conservators who found that the paper and ink match those that Chopin normally used.

The Morgan Library & Museum believes that the fact that the manuscript is so small could mean that it was meant to be a gift that the recipient would have kept in an autograph album.

Chopin was known to sign manuscripts that were gifts, but this one is unsigned, which the museum says suggests that he ultimately decided against giving it away.

“This newly discovered waltz expands our understanding of Chopin as a composer and opens new questions for scholars to consider regarding when he wrote it and for whom it was intended,” said McClellan in the statement.

“To hear this work for the first time will be an exciting moment for everyone in the world of classical piano.”

“Our extensive music collection is defined by handwritten examples of the creative process and it is thrilling to have uncovered a new and unknown work by such a renowned composer,” said Colin B. Bailey, museum director, in the statement.

The discovery of an unknown piece of work by Chopin has not happened since the late 1930s, according to the museum.

The Polish composer was born in 1810 and was best known for solo piano pieces.

Chopin died in Paris, France, at the age of just 39. He’s one of Poland’s most famous sons, and his name adorns the airport serving the capital Warsaw, as well as parks, streets, benches and buildings.

His works and image are ubiquitous across the central European country, and his residences bear unmissable plaques. Busts and statues of his likeness are dotted across several major cities.

Even his heart, preserved in alcohol after his death in 1849 is sealed into a wall of Warsaw’s Holy Cross Church.

But recent suggestions about Chopin’s private life collided awkwardly with Poland’s staunchly conservative traditions – and caused some to question whether the story of Chopin that Poles are told from a young age is true.

According to a Swiss radio documentary released in 2020, the composer had relationships with men, and those relationships were left out of history by successive historians and biographers; a potentially thorny charge in one of Europe’s worst countries for LGBTQ rights.

By Jack Guy.

Chopin - Waltz in A Minor (Discovered in 2024) - Played by Lang Lang

[emilky-whim]

Folklore Legacy Challenge

Hey Ya'll! I've been working on this one for a little while and I can't wait to share it with you! It's a 16 + 1 generation legacy challenge for the Sims 4 based off of Taylor Swifts album Folklore! There aren't many solid rules for this one, I mostly just want ya'll to have fun and play it in a way that makes sense to you. That being said: - Mods and cheats are ok to use (I even encourage it). - Each Gen must have at least one child to play as the next heir. - I have used lots of packs in making this, you will need: City Living, Cats and Dogs, High School Years, Get Together, Crystal Creations, For Rent, Outdoor Retreat, Island Living, Dream Home Decorator, Parenthood, Discover University, Dine Out, Stranger Ville, Get Famous, Spa Day, Growing Together + more that I've probably forgotten. - If you do not have the required packs, feel free to change what you need to as long as it is somewhat similar to the original.

Gen 1: The One

You’re a meticulous gardener with a penchant for perfection, fiercely loyal to your craft and to your loved ones. Despite your somewhat snobbish tendencies, you dedicate yourself to finding true love, and when that journey ends, you never REALLY get over it. Yet you continue to cherish your familial bliss and vibrant social life.

Career - Gardener (Either Branch)

Traits - Perfectionist, Loyal, Snob

Aspiration - Curator 

Complete the soulmate aspiration with only one sim. Your sims permanently ‘separate’ once the aspiration is complete.

Always accept invites/calls from other sims.

Adopt at least one child.

 ‘’ = You may separate them as you choose.

Gen 2: Cardigan

You're a charismatic politician, oozing self-assurance and intellect, always in the know. As a Renaissance Sim, mastering myriad skills comes naturally to you. Amidst your political pursuits, you find time for youthful adventures, savouring bar dates, maybe one day you’ll finally settle down with a cherished companion.

Career - Politician (Charity Organiser)

Traits - Self-Assured, Genius, Insider

Aspiration - Renaissance Sim

Master all the skills needed for the politician career. 

Go on at least 5 bar dates as a young adult.

Eventually marry a childhood friend.

Gen 3: The Last Great American Dynasty 

You're a devoted stay-at-home parent, balancing material desires with a deep love for family and furry companions. Despite setbacks like a failed marriage and neighbourhood feuds, you find solace in nurturing your family and friends, building a home filled with love, even amidst domestic changes.

Career - Stay At Home Parent (You can work any career until you parent a child)

Traits - Materialistic, Dog-Lover, Family-Oriented

Aspiration - Mansion Baron

Have one failed marriage.

Become enemies with at least one neighbour.

Have your first child as a newly aged up young adult.

Move in with friends for at least one year.

Gen 4: Exile

In the world of espionage, you've always stood out. While others excel in covert ops, you thrive in building connections. Romantic at heart, yet socially awkward, you're drawn to leading, seeking solace in your club's camaraderie. After heartbreak, you relocate, shying from commitment but embracing your chosen family.

Career - Secret Agent (Diamond Agent)

Traits - Romantic, Socially Awkward, Gloomy

Aspiration - Leader Of The Pack

Create and lead your own club. Become friends with all the members.

After a major breakup, move to a different world.

Never get married or stay in a long-term relationship.

Gen 5: My Tears Ricochet

Amidst canvases and clay, you've always preferred solitude to the bustle of social affairs. As a critic, you explore the depths of creativity, while crafting jewellery and crystals on the side. Despite your artistic fervour, relationships falter, leaving you to nurture your creative progenies and seek solace in your craft.

Career - Critic (Arts Critic)

Traits - Loner, Creative, Art Lover 

Aspiration - Crystal Crafter 

Have a side business selling Jewelry and Crystals.

Get left OR leave someone at the altar.

Have at least 4 children.

Gen 6: Mirrorball

In the spotlight's embrace, you dazzle as an entertainer, with moves that mesmerise and demands that rival divas. Behind the glamour lies a heart yearning for connection, seeking solace in fleeting affairs. As you master the arts of song and stage, you flit from home to home, craving new experiences and relationships to fulfil your insatiable appetite for life.

Career - Entertainer (Musician)

Traits - Dance Machine, High Maintenance, Generous 

Aspiration - Friend Of The World 

Have a secret love affair, with whom you’ll eventually marry.

Master the singing, piano and acting skills. Never master any other skills.

Live with at least 3 different sims over your lifetime. 

Gen 7: Seven

Beneath the stars, you find your playground, a whimsical astronaut drawn to the great unknown. Childhood antics linger as you escape the mundane, running away with a friend to explore the world. Haunted houses hold no fear for you, just another adventure in your quest for outdoor thrills. With each holiday, you uncover new wonders, embracing the vastness of the universe.

Career - Astronaut (Space Ranger)

Traits - Childish, Loves Outdoors, Good

Aspiration - Outdoor Enthusiast 

Run away from home as a teenager with a friend/s

Live in a haunted house. 

Go on a holiday seven times over your lifetime. 

Gen 8: August

In the vibrant world of social media, you craft narratives with precision, driven by ambition and a hint of envy for the spotlight. Amidst beachside dreams, you seek solace in Sulani's embrace, drawn to its sun-kissed shores. An affair with a married sim sparks passion, leading to a child and an obsession, anchoring you to the idyllic island life, forsaking love for the serenity of the sea.

Career - Social Media (Public Relations)

Traits - Jealous, Ambitious, Neat

Aspiration - Beach Life

Have an affair with a married sim you meet while on vacation.

Have at least one child with the married sim.

Live in Sulani for most, if not all, of your lifetime.

Never date again after your affair ends.

Gen 9: This Is Me Trying

Driven by a desire to transform spaces, you carve your niche in the world of interior design, fueled by ambition yet shadowed by melancholy. As a youth, you flee, severing ties to forge a path of your own. Love finds you in the arms of a cheerful soul, grounding you upon your return, where you rebuild bridges and strive to be the ultimate caregiver to your children, overcoming personal demons along the way.

Career - Interior Decorator 

Traits - Ambitious, Overachiever, Gloomy 

Aspiration - Super Parent

Move away as a teenager/young adult and lose most of your sims relationships.

Get married to a Cheerful sim. 

Move back as a young adult/adult and re-make all the relationships you lost.

BONUS (Only if you have the Basemental Drugs MOD) Become addicted to at least one substance and successfully complete rehabilitation for it.

Gen 10: Illicit Affairs

In the courtroom's halls, you weave tales of justice as a private attorney. Driven by wanderlust and a fear of commitment, marriage comes swiftly, but it's the thrill of forbidden affairs that ignites your passion. Caught in multiple webs of deceit, divorce looms, leading you to Henford-on-Bagley, where you navigate the complexities of parenthood alone, seeking solace in the quiet countryside.

Career - Law (Private Attorney)

Traits - Non-Committal, Advenutrist, Clumsy

Aspiration - Serial Romantic

Get married young and have at least 4 affairs before getting caught. 

Have at least one child through an affair.

Get divorced 

Move to Henford-on-Bagley to raise all your children by yourself.

Gen 11: Invisible String

You always dreamed of sizzling pans and crafting culinary delights, a romantic at heart with a green thumb to match. Love's journey takes unexpected turns—a tumultuous romance with a mean spirit, a dance of uncertainty with a lifelong friend. As the years pass, you find your soulmate as an elder, nurturing both your restaurant empire, a family and a thriving garden.

Career - Own your own restaurant (or multiple restaurants)

Traits - Romantic, Good, Green Friend

Aspiration - Soulmate

Be in a long-term relationship with a mean sim and eventually break up.

Have a ‘will they, won’t they’ type of relationship with a life-long friend sim.

Get married as an Elder.

Have a well-maintained garden.

Have all restaurants at 5 stars.

Gen 11: Mad Woman

Betrayed in your youth by those you trusted the most, you harbour scars deep as loyalty binds you to your cause. You ascend the ranks of the criminal underworld, fueled by anger and an unyielding pursuit of justice and vengeance. Marriage offers solace, yet the thirst for retribution remains, driving you relentlessly until old age grants the serenity you seek.

Career - Criminal (Boss)

Traits - Hot-Headed, Perfectionist, Loyal 

Aspiration - Seeker of Secrets

As a teenager, have an ex friend/friend group/lover ruin your reputation/life.

Spend the rest of your adult life trying to get revenge.

Marry a friend. 

Only find peace/let go as an elder.

Gen 12: Epiphany 

Straight out of high school to the covert operations of the military, you excel, driven by duty and a longing to provide for your family. Medals adorn your chest, earned through dedication and sacrifice. Love finds you in the arms of a medical professional, but shadows linger, as memories of battle haunt your days, a silent reminder of the price of service.

Career - Military (Covert Operator)

Traits - Overachiever, Family-Oriented, Good

Aspiration - Big Happy Family

Join the military immediately after finishing highschool.

Retire/quit your job as soon as you earn all available medals.

Date and marry sim with the medical career.

Live with PTSD (you can use a mod for this)

Gen 14: Betty 

Your high school romance blossoms into marriage, yet jealousy festers, leading to a massive indiscretion that fractures the trust you’ve built. Amidst the wreckage, you strive to mend what's broken, seeking solace in weekly garden dates as you navigate the rocky terrain of love. In the digital realm, you thrive as a freelancer, coding with confidence and a hint of cringe-worthy humour.

Career - Freelancer (Programmer)

Traits - Cringe, Jealous, Self-Assured

Aspiration - Joke Star

Marry your high school sweetheart. 

Have weekly dates in your back garden.

Have an affair for an extended period of time before being caught. 

Spend the rest of your life trying to heal the connection between you and your spouse. 

Gen 15: Peace

Unable to make friends, you shed the burden of high school to focus on working toward your dream job and pursue the limelight. Amidst the glittering lights of fame, you still struggle to find your place and people in the world. Eventually, love finds you in the presence of an outgoing spirit, but as stardom ascends, so does the weight of its demands, testing your quest for inner peace amidst the chaos of stardom.

Career - Actor

Traits - Socially Awkward, Creative, Squeamish

Aspiration - Inner Peace

Dropout of high school and work a part time job to earn money.

Master the acting career.

Master the acting and wellness skills.

Marry an outgoing, good sim.

Become a Global Superstar and struggle with the price of fame.

Gen 16: Hoax

Born amidst the urban hustle of San Myshuno, your artistic soul yearns for expression amidst the city's chaos. Love's path proves rocky, a journey of unfulfilled connections and shattered dreams. Seeking solace in a fresh start, you depart the city's embrace, yet the ghost of past loves haunts your brushstrokes, forever captured in the vivid hues of your yearning canvases.

Career -  Painter (Master Of The Real)

Traits - Gloomy, Vegetarian, Generous

Aspiration - Painter Extraordinaire 

Grow up in San Myshuno.

Be in a long-term, unfilling relationship with sim you have bad compatibility with. Eventually break up.

Have a failed relationship with a family friend. 

Move out of San Myshuno to get a fresh start. 

Never get over one of your previous relationships and spend the rest of your life yearning to have it back.

(Bonus) Gen 17: The Lakes

Amidst the rustle of leaves and the whisper of pages, you find your muse as a writer, enchanted by the dance of words and the embrace of nature. Poetry flows from you, a testament to your romantic soul. Holidays are cherished escapes, moments of tranquillity by the water's edge, fueling your creative spirit. Yet, it's in solitude that your greatest works are born, a testament to your dedication to the craft.

Career - Writer (Author)

Traits - Romantic, Bookworm, Loves Outdoors

Aspiration - Bestselling Author

Only write poetry (unless specified for the aspiration)

Go on Holiday with your spouse and family often, staying as close to a body of water as you can get.

Complete the gemstone collection.

Leave the world behind for a period of time to focus on writing (completely alone)

[otmaaromanovas]

Another new photograph of OTMA

The newly shared photograph is on the left. The photographs are captioned ‘After breakfast at Headquarters. August 1916’ and were discovered in Pierre Gilliard’s album by the wonderful Ilia, lastromanovs on flickr. Спасибо, Илия!

The image on the right has been discovered before, but is now available in high quality.

Photo 1, left to right: Tatiana, Maria, Olga, Anastasia

Photo 2, left to right: Anastasia, Alix, Olga

[dancingtotuyo]

drabble. love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears

Woman | Joel Miller x Female Reader

Rating: Mature/Explicit

Chapter Summary: some days, the fear still lingers.

Tags: Joel Miller X Female Reader. Age Gap (13/14 years). HBO Characters. Mostly cannon compliant for show & game. Timeline is changed.

Chapter Warnings: anxiety, panic attack, hurt & comfort

Notes: yeah I saw that picture too and it sparked a bunch of inspiration.

Words: 787

Series Masterlist | Author Masterlist | Playlist

Peace is hard to come by in this world. Even within the protected walls of Jackson, it alludes you with ease, but you manage to find small pockets of it. As your life has changed, as you’ve grown these past couple of years, it’s easier to come by. Joel’s hand in yours on your evening walks. Mornings spent in his arms. Pancake breakfasts with your kids. Ellie’s continued fascination with everything new. The rise and fall of Carter’s chest as he sleeps, limbs spread like a starfish. Willa’s head on your chest. Joel’s soft snores. It’s so easy now, lulling you into a false sense of security. 

It hits you without warning from time to time, the fear of losing everything again. You can be standing in the kitchen laughing at a joke and that little voice echoes that it’s only a matter of time before the hundredth shoe of your life drops. Sometimes you can push it away, diving back into the moment, but not always. 

Joel seems to sense it if he’s around, the tense of your shoulders, the glaze of your eyes, and the way you still. That’s what happens tonight with Carter chatting on at the kitchen table as he colors and Willa cooing contently as she plays with her newly discovered hands in a laundry basket as you chop vegetables. 

Joel’s hand covers yours, guiding you to safely set the knife down. His callused finger traces your hairline from forehead to your ear. “What do you need, Sweetheart?” 

You feel his warmth so close, yet giving you the space you need. Your mouth’s gone dry. You repeat the words in your head. You need to get outside. You need to move. You need to be alone. “Walk,” is all you manage to get out. 

“Alone?”

“Yeah…” 

“Go. I’ve got things covered here.” 

You nod, moving instantly toward the front door. You hear Carter ask where you’re going but you feel far removed from it all. 

Only once you’re at the farthest point from the houses, at the edge of the cattle fields do you slump to the ground, surrendering to the panic in your body. Tears race down your cheeks, chest tightening with each breath as you ride it out. 

The sun is set when you enter your home. Carter is practicing his reading on the couch. He offers you a smile and a hug when you come in. Your body is exhausted, but it helps soothe you. 

“Daddy took Willa upstairs.”

You smile, running your hand over his head and kissing his cheek. “Thank you, buddy.”

He beams at you before returning to his spot on the couch. You’re halfway up the stairs when Joel’s singing greets you, pulling you in like the ocean tide. The room is dim, the only light coming from the open door. 

Joel sits in the rocking chair, his head tipped back against the headrest and eyes close. Willa sleeps soundly against his shoulder as he continues to sing a slowed, softer version of Fleetwood Mac’s Monday Morning. You lean against the door frame, watching them in this quiet moment. You’re not sure when he decided that would be the best lullaby for your infant, but oddly enough, it works. 

You’ve never been able to track down a copy of the band’s self-titled album, and it tugs at your heart to hear it after two decades. Then, Joel makes it to those last few lines of the chorus. 

I don’t mind. I’ll be there if you want me to. No one else that could ever do. 

His voice is so soft, a deep baritone that coats you in warmth everytime you hear it. Accompanied by the slow creaks of the rocker, it tugs you further into the room, closer to him. 

Got to get some peace on my mind. 

You rest your palm on his shoulder. Joel’s eyes flutter open slowly as if he was singing himself to sleep. He offers you an easy smile, free hand wrapping around you, settling against the side of your lower hip. He shifts Willa up on his shoulder more, making room as you slide into his lap, nuzzling into his opposite shoulder. Your legs rest over the arm of the rocker. You are positive you’re cutting off circulation in Joel’s legs, but he never complains. 

You lay a hand over Willa’s back. Joel kisses your forehead as he starts to rock again. The slow creak of the floorboards start again as he sings the chorus over, but this time it feels like he’s singing to you.

I’ll be there if you want me to.

No one else that could ever do.

Got to get some peace on my mind. 

Taglist: @pedrotonin @amyispxnk @joeldjarin @ilovepedro @justagalwhowrites

@missladym1981 @jessthebaker @annieispunk @ashleyfilm @moel-jiller

@eloquentdreamer @lizzie-cakes @hiroikegawa

[theprice-if]

DEMO (TBA)

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Roaring stadiums, filled to the max with screaming fans, as you stand with a microphone in hand. Your heart pounds against your chest as you get ready to perform. Shouts of adoration filter past your ear as the lights finally turn on; the show truly begins. With you in the center of it all.

Except… that isn’t you. You’re to the side, watching it all, with a clipboard pressed to your chest. Making sure that nothing was out of place.

You’re just an assistant, an assistant to the biggest star gracing the stage in the past decade, but still just an assistant.

That is until you woke up alone in a room that was way above your pay grade; with a shiny ring on your finger. Your new spouse? The very star that you have been working for, for the last two years. The same star that many believed would never settle down— until you came along.

These rapid-fire events thrust you into the spotlight. Rocketing you towards the twinkling lights of stardom as you desperately try to figure out how to come to terms with everything.

The media and tabloids are just the tip of the iceberg. The very star you’re married to offers you the deal of a lifetime.

Stay married to them for a year and get a record deal; the biggest reason you moved to L.A.... All of your dreams will come true after twelve months.

If only you had known what the price of stardom truly brought.

The Price is rated 18+ for explicit language, sexual themes, alcohol/drug use, questionable behavior, and more!

★ Features ★

Customizable MC: name, gender, appearance, facets of your personality, hobbies, and more!

Get into the studio and start preparing for what will come when the year is up. Find the voice that you have always wanted to showcase in the industry!

Create your own music! Cultivate your debut album and show the world what it's been missing!

Interact with your fans and the music industry as a whole through social media! Will you become an upcoming star that the media loves or a black sheep that'll keep them returning for more?

Engage in romance with a variety of characters. Will the fake one become real with your pretend spouse? Or perhaps you'll find passion building with the less complicated-- and fun-loving-- photographer?

Discover what truly happened the night of your marriage. Or, if you choose to do so, leave it as the hazy fog in the recesses of your mind.

And much more as the story continues forward!

Are you willing to pay the price for your dream? Will that dream change over time?

★ The ROs ★

Adrian/Ariana Ocean ★ He/Him or She/Her ★ 28 ★

Your boss, and also your spouse, the most sought-after star in the entertainment industry. With a reputation as spotty as one would expect with someone at the top. However, with the news of your marriage, people seem to be seeing them in a new light; something that they’ve been wanting for a very long time. Let’s hope it’ll last.

Blake Turner ★ He/Him or She/Her ★ 28 ★

A Hollywood starlet that’s coming off their recent Oscar win; who also happens to be your ex from college. An ex that dumped you when they dropped out of college to become a star. A story that you never truly got to hear the entirety of. And suddenly, just like that, they’re back in your life with the same smirk from before. The one that made you fall in love with them, to begin with.

Liam/Leah Shaw ★ He/Him or She/Her ★ 29 ★

Your newly assigned bodyguard, you still have to get used to that, who is supposed to protect you whenever your spouse can’t be with you. You just weren’t expecting them to start affecting you the way that they have. Their warm smile is like a beacon in this unfamiliar world.

Isaac/Isabel Carnell ★ He/Him or She/Her ★ 27 ★

The photographer who is tasked with taking lovely shots of the newly wed couple. One of the only people, besides management, that actually knows what the hell is actually going on. Their general cheerfulness does wonders to lighten your spirits. Not to mention the pictures they take are absolutely divine.

Carson/Cara Madden ★ He/Him or She/Her ★ 33 ★

The lawyer that is making sure everything goes smoothly; while also trying to not get gray hairs throughout. An aloof individual that only cracks a smile around a select few people. However, they’re good at their job and that’s what should matter most to you. Even though you sort of wish they’d smile at you. At least just once.

[konpeico]

cause when i ride with you, i feel my love renewed

Soul Restruct is a sci-fi action yuri visual novel. Grey, a retail worker with a journalistic eye for beauty in the mundane, gets brought into the exploits of the elementally-powered "New Six."

As the newly-appointed chronicler of this team, Grey follows along to discover the meaning of civilian disappearances caused by a horde mechanical beasts, and the ambitions of the Tyrants in control of them. (all screenshots not final)

Soul Restruct will feature character and CG art by @jellyfishfortuna, background art by Ahruna and Nate D Hernandez, character designs brought on by the likes of khwany! On the soundtrack are @jamiepaige and @shadolith!

@teffiniwynn is the lead writer, producer, and director on Soul Restruct! Els White has been a great help co-writing. Studio Coattails is handling voice casting and Syon Santeria the direction! We'll do character and cast reveals over the coming days.

We're aiming to have a demo, and sometime afterward a crowdfunding campaign, in 2024! Stay tuned for further developments.

You can follow along the game's itch.io page as well!

We've also opened a Patreon if you want to support us in advance and receive extra development tidbits!

Not only that, but @jamiepaige has also released a single featuring the main theme of Soul Restruct -- Love Renewed, with album art by @reverieque! Grab it here!

[allwaswell16]

A fic rec of One Direction fics based on Taylor Swift songs as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

- Louis/Harry -

🎶 would it be enough if i could never give you peace? by hemakeshimstrongx

(M, 129k, Taylor & Travis au) Harry's fresh off a break up when the media starts shoving a romance that does not exist down his throat, and the throats of everyone in the entire world. When he starts chatting with the footballer stuck in the middle of all this with him, Harry ends up experiencing something he'd never anticipated, and certainly had never felt before

🎶 The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by @kingsofeverything

(E, 109k, cheating) Louis’ life is steady and calm, moored by his marriage, and tied to his hometown, but after a chance encounter with another man, it’ll never be the same.

🎶 even if it’s just pretend (say you'll remember me) by sideofzemblanity

(E, 45k, hate to love) an enemies to lovers au based on taylor swift's wildest dreams

🎶 it always leads to you (in my hometown) by InsightfulInsomniac / @insightfulinsomniac

(E, 40k, Christmas) A holiday story of returning home — not just to a place, but also to a person. ‘tis the damn season and This Love inspired AU.

🎶 the road not taken by teenytinytomlinson / @hs3lt2

(E, 35k, Christmas) the one where Harry returns back home for the holidays after a successful debut album, leaving Louis to unwrap gifts as well as old complicated feelings. Cue: hometown holiday hookups, overbearing siblings, and a disastrous New Year’s Eve party. A 'Tis’ the Damn Season' inspired au.

🎶 it was all by design ('cause i'm a mastermind) by tempolarriefics / @tempolarriefix

(E, 21k, coworkers) the childhood friends to strangers to coworkers to enemies to lovers fic that you never knew you needed

🎶 'tis the damn season by YesIsAWorld / @louandhazaf

(E, 17k, girl direction) Harry returns to her small hometown over the holiday season and starts to think about the road not taken.

🎶 i just wanted you to know (this is me trying) by harrysboy / @calumsboy

(M, 7k, baking) the one where louis bakes to express his love, and harry can't bake for shit, but he still tries.

🎶 Castles Crumbling by babyhoneyhslt / @babyhoneyheslt

(G, 6k, omegaverse) Being an unmated Omega and a king, Harry came under a lot of scrutiny. But when he makes a deal with Scotland, his world comes crashing down.

🎶 in a different life (we would've been timeless) by liberty_barnes / @liberty-barnes

(T, 6k, historical) Five lives in which Harry and Louis met and the one where they got their happy ending.

🎶 So It Goes... by ThoseFookin_Avacados / @harrystomlinson

(T, 5k, spy au) “I’m going to kill you.” “Go right ahead, love.”

🎶 Red by @disgruntledkittenface

(E, 4k, exes) All he wants to do is lie on his couch and listen to Taylor Swift alone. But when the pain is too much to handle on his own, he calls the one person who understands how this feels.

🎶 Twenty Stitches In A Hospital Room by betty_and_i

(NR, 3k, paramedic Harry) H is a paramedic and him and L broke up a few months ago over something stupid which caused them to not talk again. Fastforward L is in a situation that causes someone needing to call the paramedics for him and H is the one to be there at the scene

🎶 Electric Touch by babyhoneyhslt / @babyhoneyheslt

(G, 3k, omegaverse) Harry had given up on love, until his friend Zayn sets him up on a blind date with Louis.

🎶 Timeless by babyhoneyhslt / @babyhoneyheslt

(G, 3k, omegaverse) After visiting an antiques shop, Harry gets transported through time, and discovers that he and Louis are Timeless.

🎶 Lights Are So Bright by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird

(G, 2k, famous/famous) Newly first-string quarterback Louis Tomlinson mentions enough times in interviews that he's a fan of mega-famous popstar Harry Styles that people start to notice. At least one person does...

🎶 'Tis the Damn Season by zanni_scaramouche / @zanniscaramouche

(M, 2k, exes) The door will open and he’ll smile wide and genuine at the people who raised him, his teary-eyed mother and rosey-face step-father. He won’t think about the cabin in the woods again until next December.

🎶 You are so gorgeous (it makes me so mad) by @dreaminrainbows

(M, 2k, pining) Louis is a hot bartender and Harry is pathetically in love with him

🎶 I Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend by temptationaccomplished

(M, 2k, established relationship) “I only bought those shorts so you could take them off.” He whispers.

🎶 Are We In the Clear by asphodelknox / @iamasphodelknox

(M, 1k, historical) Louis and Harry meet across a crowded court at a time when falling in love would mean their destruction. With help from a friend, they run for their freedom.

🎶 i see sparks fly whenever you smile by sbreadyn

(T, 1k, New Year's Eve) It's New Year's Eve. Louis's running late because Niall took his car. Harry only agrees to go out because of Zayn and Liam.

- Rare Pairs -

🎶 Taylor Swift Has Probably Written A Song About This Feeling by neerdowellwolf

(E, 20k, Louis/Nick Grimshaw) Nick isn't sure how he ended up fooling around with Louis Tomlinson and he's definitely not sure when he fell in love.

[aziraphales-library]

Heyy, do you have any recommendations of fanfics named after Hozier's (our lord and savior) songs? Especially more recent ones since both season 2 and his new album were released relatively close.

Thank you very much, your work is amazing!!!

There are... so many. We're previously recommended some fics inspired by Hozier here. Here are some series two Hozier fics...

no grave can hold my body down (i'll crawl home to you) by AK_Qhyrstol (T)

Keep driving, keep driving… He’d been holding his breath for hours, trying not to let the lump in his throat and the burn in his eyes win. His lips were pursed and tight, desperately holding back the sobs screaming in his lungs. Where could he even go? There wasn’t anywhere for him to go. -- Or: After Aziraphale leaves Earth for Heaven, Crowley gets in the Bentley and drives, and drives, and drives...

The Choiceless Hope in Grief (That Drove Him Underground) by aac0577 (NR)

Post-Breakup, Muriel and Crowley talk. Aziraphale and Crowley do too.

It's More the Being Unknown by sam_rvb (G)

The last few months have been a bit of a blur for Crowley, who has been trying to figure out what to do with himself since Aziraphale left him for Heaven. He's taken up residence in the bookshop alongside Muriel, who finds a new room to explore and asks Crowley if it's okay for them to read the newly discovered books within.

from eden by tlsonetwothree (G)

In the wake of Aziraphale’s destruction of Crowley’s heart, there is a certain solace he finds in the Earth they once shared. The demon takes a road trip to a cottage in the South Downs, where he tries to pick up the pieces of his heart and soul, both of which left when his world did.

The fear in its eyes, Gone out in an instant. Your tear caught the light, The Earth from a distance. by bl0rb0 (T)

Aziraphale has never seen Crowley cry. He’s been there in the rare moments the man-shaped being has done so, but Crowley always turns away or flees somewhere unknown. Aziraphale doesn't know that a piece of the Starmaker resides in Crowley, in the form of his tears. Crowley’s tears are filled with Holy Water and every time he cries, his tears make themselves known on his cheeks as a form of scars and burns. When Aziraphale leaves to heaven, Crowley hides in his beloved Bently to cry his sorrows away. He hoped it would be a short cry, one that goes just as quickly as it came and then he can return to his sarcastic and bitter self. But years go by and Crowley’s cheeks and hands have scarred over and he refuses to come out of hiding until a lighthearted and once naive angel pulls him out.

Don't Fall Away From Me by dream_animal (NR)

“Ok…” Crowley ran a hand through his hair. “Ok, ok, so - we need a plan. And to do that, we need information, yeah?” “Right,” nodded Muriel, enthusiastically. “Right,” said Crowley. “I suspect it will be a bit more difficult for me to just waltz through Heaven this time, so you’re going to need to—” he cut off with a gasp, like he’d been punched in the gut, and inhaled sharply. “What—" Muriel felt it a moment later, unbidden tears spilling from their eyes. A great despair. A wave of agony and anguish. A cosmic imbalance, ripping across the ethereal plane. Angels and demons alike shuddered under the weight of unbearable grief. The universe wept. It was a feeling that had not been felt for millennia. Crowley dropped to his knees. Muriel turned to him, horrified. “It- it’s…” An angel had Fallen. In which Crowley deals with life post-Aziraphale, and Aziraphale deals with the consequences of his decisions. Can they pick up the pieces in time to save the world, again?

Heaven isn't built to house a love like you and I by ItsScottiesStark (T)

They did it. They stopped Armageddon. They survived. This was it, the first time they were actually free to finally figure out what their side entailed. Aziraphale is a being of love. Always has been. And now, all the love he has for Crowley is free to flow from the edge of his fingertips to the demon's, in a gesture that could only mean one thing; I'm with you. I'm here. As much as his hands itch to reach out for the love of his existence, his words seem to fail him, time and time again. He knows Crowley deserves more than gentle hand holding and forehead kisses in the dark. He aches to scream his love from the top of his lungs, for the whole world to hear. And the demon knows it. And he waits. Because he'll wait forever for Aziraphale. Because he knows they are meant to be one. We take a peak into Aziraphale and Crowley's "peaceful, fragile existence" they slowly carve out for themselves after Armage-not. We get to see Aziraphale slowly but surely reach out for the demon time and time again, bringing them closer than ever. Until Jim happens. And it all goes to shit.

- Mod D

[isntitdelicatevivi]

﹙𝓙 ﹚𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐲 ! 𝐀emond | Modern AU.

⠀⠀⠀⠀──────────── 🥀

♡ ◟𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 : You are a rock star. You, Aegon and Aemond are part of a band, and Aemond discovers that you are having sex with Aegon too, and he wants exclusivity. Chapter 1 (?).

♡ ◟𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 : 18+, rough sex, jealous sex, dirty talk, rage sex, fingering.

English is not my first language, sorry.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀───────────────── 🥀

It all started when she was fifteen. When her parents told her she would be a failure, and then, suddenly, as if her subconscious wanted to play a trick on her, she put her insecurities aside and began to work on herself. "I've never heard a voice like yours," was what her first singing teacher had said to her. "It's the kind of voice that deserves to be heard," was one of the comments from one of the vocal coaches who had examined her. And then, everything seemed to make sense. Even when she played alone in the empty parking lot of a shopping mall, or when she played in a bar, to a unique group of drunk men. Part of her was there just for the music, but the other part wanted more. She also wanted fame.

"You've got an email," said her roommate, in the first month of college, close to her seventeenth birthday, when she had almost lost hope that music would really work out. And that she would have to convince herself that the covers for the internet were nothing more than just fun. She clung to the thought that not every artist makes it to the top and becomes the bright star everyone wants to see. But... Her feelings weren't buried that deep, not at all. And she only realized this when she read the email. It came from a discreet agency, an email dictated and sent personally, to the next toy of two Targaryens.

The fusion of Aegon, Aemond, and her occurred like the awakening of a future in music, of course, initially there were those who said that real talent was not the band's strong suit, that Aemond and Aegon, the two brothers; sons of the most powerful man in Westeros, were there only because of nepotism and the name they carried, and were using a promising and innocent young woman to divert the spotlight from their own lack of humility. Whether that was the case or not, people cared little after the first album. Obviously, money is power, and influence as well, some strings were pulled, but it became undeniable that they were indeed artists. And it all started with an email one April afternoon. And after that, she finally got what she wanted, the fame. Which, coincidentally, was one of the ways to prove her worth to her own family.

Being a rock star always meant a lot to her, it wasn't just about getting on stage, holding a microphone, and rocking out. There were also sore throats, calluses on the vocal cords, rehearsals, constant visits to doctors, singing teachers, and vocal coaches, hours on the treadmill, singing and running at the same time to train her breath, the exhaustion of always being in the camera's crosshairs, and a newly discovered lack of peace, but somehow, she survived all this, because deep down, she liked it.

The credit, however, was not solely in the peculiar ability she had to deal with fame, it was also in Aegon, and Aemond. At the beginning, when they met, there was a period of awkwardness between them, after all, it’s not every day that two "heirs" send you an email with a job proposal, which besides, was the realization of your dreams. But as the days passed, the pieces fell into place.

Aegon was funny; he was always cracking jokes in the studio, he was the one who would finish off the donuts, and who frequently fell asleep in the middle of a recording, with a cigarette between his fingers. He was the one who was always late to appointments, and somehow, he managed to make the situation funny.

He was also the one who dragged them to the most expensive clubs, to strip clubs, and other unhealthy places, where drugs became common. Aegon was like the sunshine, warm; cheerful, vivid, even with his negative sides, such as the obvious substance abuse, mommy issues, and depression; which turned into a joke for him. But within him resided a certain grace. Which was the perfect opposite of Aemond.

Aemond was cold, and distant. He hardly ever spoke, preferring to let the perfect sound of his guitar speak for him. He plucked the guitar strings like no one else, and was strictly professional when they were in the studio. He rarely smiled, not at Aegon's jokes, nor when she looked at him and stuck out her tongue, a common playfulness between the two; he was reserved, quiet, and yet, she could read him like a sad and somber book.

Aemond was like the midnight rain, cold, dark, frightening. And yet, beautiful. Perhaps it was Aemond's austere personality, or the way Aegon showed up high in the studio every day, or how Aemond liked to flick his fingers in the air, as if his muscle memory didn't want to stray from the guitar, or how Aegon was responsible for making her smoke her first joint, or how Aemond looked much more handsome without the patch over his glass eye, or how Aegon's stubble pricked her cheek when he kissed her... It was something between that, which made her fall deeply in love with them. And as the wise Katherine Pierce once said, "It's okay to love them both."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀─────────────────

The flashes hit her face non-stop, so much time had passed since the first time she had to face the paparazzi, and yet, she never got used to it. The published photos always left her a nervous wreck, capturing her grimaces, or her face missing; she always told herself she would try to smile next time, but she never could. The car smelled of cheap cigarettes and sweet, exaggerated feminine perfume; it was always like this when she entered the car, the odor of smoke and sex greeted her much better than Aemond.

─ How did the photos go? ─ Aegon asked, sitting on the left side, his legs spread as if he owned the car, his silver-white hair was disheveled, and he held a glass of champagne in his hand, it was always a day for toasting for him. Hickeys were spread across the milky skin of his neck; it wasn't a surprise, and no one needed to know that those marks were actually hers.

─ I kind of had to wear a weird outfit. ─ She replied, sitting in front of them. She pulled down her skirt because the fabric insisted on riding up, and she was almost certain that it was intentional.

─ I saw. You looked like a slut. ─ The voice from the right side echoed. Aemond. His legs were crossed, and he held a book resting on his knee, not looking at her, not needing to and not even bothering. His long hair was tied up in a sort of messy bun, and the fringe fell over the patch on his eye.

─ Thank you? ─ She asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise, unsure whether that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult. ─ I'm going to be on the cover of KL Magazine. ─ She added, a smile spreading across her plump lips. Being on the cover of a magazine as prestigious as KL was like receiving a handshake from a king; she was so radiant that her glow spread throughout the car.

─ Fuck, wow! You're hot, this is going to be a hit. We should celebrate. ─ Aegon winked at her. His tongue gently passed over his lips, and she was almost certain she knew what kind of celebration he was talking about.

─ I'd rather throw myself in front of the nearest car than have any kind of 'celebration' with you guys. ─ Aemond replied, his sharp words cutting through her mood. He didn't even compliment her, and that definitely upset her. For a moment she even forgot Aegon's teasing, and how his tongue had passed over his own lips, which reminded her of how that same tongue so deliciously passed over her clit.

─ Gods, what's gotten into you today? Need a lay? ─ Aegon asked, a sarcastic laugh coming from him as he topped up his alcohol reserve with another bottle of champagne.

─ As you and her have been doing? No, thanks. Besides, you don't moan as quietly as you think. ─ For the first time since getting in the car, Aemond looked at her. That single shining violet eye, which seemed to hunt the secrets of her soul, pierced her reddened cheeks before shifting back to the page of the book.

An awkward silence echoed in the car, the sound of the wheels sliding on the streets, and the traffic seemed much louder now. She didn’t know what to say because she knew exactly what that meant. Aegon didn’t know she was also sleeping with Aemond. And Aemond didn’t know she was sleeping with Aegon. Well, apparently he knew now.

She always tried to maintain a relationship with both; it was common sense that a woman like her couldn’t ignore them. Each had their own charm, their foolproof method of seduction, and each had managed to take her to bed. In the beginning, it was easy to hide one from the other; they never even suspected that she was involved with both at the same time.

But Aemond, unlike Aegon, wasn’t so foolish; she should have foreseen that he would find out sooner or later. Aegon wouldn’t have the capacity to notice the tension between them after Aemond’s remarks, but she knew that the way he spoke indicated indignation and jealousy. A lot of jealousy.

─ Tsk. Jealous, Aemond? I bet you would like to make her moan too. Don’t be dramatic. As if you don’t ruin the mood everywhere you go as it is. ─ Her heart froze when the words "I bet you would like to make her moan too" came out of Aegon’s mouth. And mentally she cursed him for saying that so deliberately.

─ If it were with me. I bet she’d moan louder than with you... ─ Aemond murmured, and she saw him focus his eye on her again, like a subliminal message of what was true. Her hands began to sweat, and looking through the window, a sudden urge to throw herself from the car crossed her thoughts.

─ Can you stop talking about me as if I'm not here? Thank you. I think I have the right to do certain things, since as far as I remember I'm not committed to anyone. But, thanks for the heads-up, Aemond. ─ Although it wasn't a lie, she knew this would be held against her later. She didn’t have a serious commitment with Aemond, but they had spent so many nights together that it felt as if they did.

The journey to the hotel was uncomfortably silent after that. Nothing more was discussed among them, but she could almost read Aemond's dark thoughts and Aegon's lascivious ones. The elevator felt as hot and cramped as the car after what happened; for the first time, she felt claustrophobic and all she wanted was to throw herself on her soft bed and sleep until it was time to catch the flight the next morning. However, things never go as she wants, why would today be different?

─ I’m hungry. Anyone want to order something? ─ Aegon announced, as he threw himself on the nearest sofa, pulling out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and a cheap lighter from his pocket.

─ Ah... I’ll take Dornish food. ─ She said, trying to sound casual; she wasn't, however. Not at all.

─ I don’t like Dornish food. Can we order something from the cuisine of Essos? ─ Aemond replied with a sarcastic snort. His fingers stuffed in his pants pockets as he leaned against the wall. She looked at him, one eyebrow raised, trying to understand his argument, since she knew he did indeed like Dornish food.

─ I like Dornish food, I thought you- ─ Her words were cut off when she felt Aegon's firm hands pull her by the waist, dragging her in a quick motion onto his lap. Her cheeks burned instantly, not because she was embarrassed, but because she knew this would increase the jealousy and anger that Aemond must have been feeling.

─ Relax, babe. We can order both Dornish and Essos food, I don't mind. ─ Aegon said, his fingers sliding down to her hips, pulling her deeper into his lap. His right hand rested on one of her thighs, gently caressing the area. Although she wasn't looking directly at Aemond, she could feel his gaze piercing through them.

─ Great. Just don’t start making out while I’m still here. ─ She heard the loud snort that came from Aemond's lips. Of course, that was the reason for all the bad mood. And Aegon being far from discovering it made everything worse.

He stood up, leaving her seated on the cushion, a bold slap on her thigh made her shiver, and she had to look away to not see the expression on Aemond’s face when Aegon did that.

─ I'm going to the restaurant downstairs. Try not to kill each other, and don't light up any joints without me. ─ Aegon's footsteps echoed out of the room. Her body tensed on the upholstery as the door closed, and she knew she was alone with Aemond. The silence was beyond uncomfortable, it was torturous.

─ Aren't we going to talk about the elephant in the room? ─ Aemond finally said something. But she still couldn't look at him. ─ Fine, then I'll talk. What the fuck is this? You're sleeping with my brother? ─ His tone of voice wasn't the friendliest. She had witnessed it a few times, when he and Aegon would argue over the lyrics of a song, and she had to intervene before they started hitting each other.

─ Aemond... I— She was interrupted. Her bones trembled when she felt his hand grab her by the jaw, forcing her to look at him. His fingers were pressing, and she couldn't resist the thrill that ran through her when he did that.

─ Look at me, damn it! ─ He said, pushing her face back as soon as their eyes were fixed on each other. She felt her adjacent jaw ache, but it was the kind of pain she liked.

─ Aemond, I'm not going to be the 'I can explain' type of person, but... I don't know, it just... happened, the same way it did with us...

─ It happened... You blinked and suddenly you were with your legs open on his bed?

─ Aemond... I... What do you want me to say? Do you want me to apologize? I will, but I don’t understand why you're acting like we had something serious. ─ She stood up from the sofa, slowly making her steps toward him. His figure seemed imposing there. So tall and serious.

─ Was it just once? ─ He didn't even need a verbal answer; the way her lips tightened said it all. ─ How long? ─ She stayed silent, she didn’t know what to say, or rather, how to say it. ─ How fucking long?! ─ He shouted this time, his loud voice made her knees tremble, and she felt her clit throb; it was strange, but the way he reacted turned her on.

─ It was before you... ─ She finally answered, biting her lips nervously. She would probably leave there without Aemond, or maybe without both if he told Aegon too. But now the damage was done. She heard him snort.

─ What the hell... You were already with him when you slept with me for the first time? What are you? A whore? Are you so selfish and greedy that you needed both of us? What the fuck... I don’t even know what to say because now all that comes to my mind is you fucking with Aegon and then coming to fuck with me! ─ His voice was so loud, she thought maybe they would receive a call from the hotel reception, asking if everything was okay. She clenched her fingers, and crossed her knees softly, trying to contain the wetness that began to form in her pussy. ─ Fuck... You’re turned on...

─ What? ─ She looked up at him, shaking her head in denial as she watched him approach dangerously.

─ You cross your knees when you’re turned on. I know that because I always leave you like this. ─ His fingers grabbed her jaw again, pulling her closer to him. She could feel his hot breath against her face, he was fuming with anger, his eye closed over that proximity, and she felt his forehead pressing against hers as he squeezed her harder. ─ You’re such a whore...─ He whispered. Before kissing her. His lips pressed so hard against hers that her lower lip hurt. She could feel his tongue pushing into her throat violently, and yet, it was an exciting kiss.

Aemond's free hand clutched the hem of her skirt, and he used the fabric to pull her closer to him, pressing her small body against his aggressively. His lips devoured hers mercilessly, her jaw was weak from the grip and how he forcibly kissed her, the sensation was pleasurable, and she could already feel her panties wet, and her clit throbbing with such suggestively violent interaction. Aemond pulled away, his lips moist with saliva, as were hers, she supposed, he looked her deep in the eyes before gently pulling back.

─ Is it Aegon you want? You can have him as many times as you want... But first, I'm going to fuck you so hard you'll remember me when you're with him, you little slut. ─ His hand slid from her jaw to her nape, and he pushed her aggressively onto the coffee table in front of the sofa. His fingers dug into her skin, making her lean against the cold glass, her cheek stuck to the table, as well as her stomach, her knees were forced to bend, and she found herself completely vulnerable to him.

And this excited her even more. Without any care, Aemond pulled her skirt down, the buttons broke with the force he used to strip the clothing from her body, leaving it tangled at the bend of her knees. His fingers gently brushed her ass, like a gentle caress, before he gave her a strong slap on one of the cheeks. A soft moan escaped her lips, her fingers clutched the edges of the table as she tried to look at him from the corner of her eyes.

─ What's the matter? Prefer it when Aegon is slapping you, whore? I bet he doesn't even know how to do it the way you like...─ Another strong slap burned her ass, making her moan again. She could hear a soft laugh escape Aemond's lips, the way he was enjoying this only drove her crazier.

─ Aemond... ─ He pushed her harder against the glass before she could speak, squeezed her ass tightly, almost burying his fingers in her soft skin.

─ No 'Aemond' bullshit. I don't want to hear you say anything unless I tell you to, got it? You only speak when I tell you to. ─ He said, delivering another slap, even stronger on her ass. ─ Did you fucking got it? ─ She nodded immediately, making him release her just a bit.

He grabbed the start of her panties and pulled them down, making them slide down her thighs. A sigh, leaning more towards a moan, escaped Aemond's lips, and his fingers slid up to her tight pussy.

─ Your panties are soaked... Is this how Aegon leaves you? Or is it because of me? Or maybe... You're such a greedy slut that you're thinking about both of us fucking you at the same time. ─ At the end of the sentence, Aemond slipped a finger inside her, she was so wet that his finger was swallowed by her cunt, her walls tightened around his finger, prompting him to insert a second finger. Hearing her moan from this, he began to thrust his fingers rapidly inside her.

─ Aemond... Please... ─ His hand moved from her nape to her hair, he wrapped her strands around his fist and pulled hard back, making her cheek lift off the table.

─ What did I say about you speaking? I said you speak when I tell you to, bitch. I'm not fucking Aegon, if you don't obey me, there will be consequences. ─ His fingers began to move faster inside her, the sound of the thrusts caused by her wetness became audible in the room, along with the whiny moans escaping her lips. His other hand tightened around her locks, pulling her hair even harder.

Aemond pulled his fingers out of her after a few more thrusts, soaked with her juices, he knew they were sweet, he loved her smell, her taste, but now, he was too angry to focus on those details. His wet fingers passed around her lips, before he pushed the two fingers into her mouth, down her throat, making her softly gag.

─ Now. I'm going to fuck you. And I want to hear you moan loud. ─ He said while swirling his fingers inside her mouth, pressing his own body behind hers. She could feel his erection rubbing against her ass through the fabric of his jeans.

Aemond released her hair, also removing his fingers from her mouth. His hands moved to the buttons on his own pants, and he quickly opened his jeans, pulling them down just enough for what he wanted, along with his boxers. His hard cock freed from the fabric prison it was in, and she could already feel the tip touching her wet cunt. His fingers embraced his own erection, and he gently stroked it while looking at her ass, and the few red marks he had already left there.

─ Does he fuck you with a condom? Or are you so slut that you ask him not to use one?... Either way, I'm going to fuck you without one today, and I'm going to cum inside you until every drop of me is buried in your pussy. ─ Using his own hand, he dragged his cock across her pussy, making the length rub against her lips, brushing her clit, moans returned to the room, each time he rubbed against her, and only the tip of his cock bumped into her cunt. Finally, Aemond positioned himself at her, pushing everything in all at once. Her fingers gripped the edges of the table more firmly, and a louder moan escaped her lips, feeling him hit the right spots inside her on the first thrust. A pleasurable sigh escaped Aemond's lips, and he stayed still for a moment.

─ So tight... You got me addicted to your pussy... ─ He thrust hard at the end of the sentence, stopping again. ─ Made me fuck it every week... ─ And then another thrust, and another pause. ─ And I find out you were doing the same with that jerk... But even he won’t fuck you better than I do... ─ And finally, his hips began to move, thrusting several times inside her, the sound of his skin slamming against hers soon became audible, along with his panting breath and her moans. His hips moved faster and harder, hitting the pleasure spots inside her, making her tighten around him, which resulted in soft grunts from him. His fingers grabbed her hair again, holding it like reins in his hands, and pulling harder as he fucked her.

─ Who’s fucking you now, bitch? Speak! Say my name. ─ He said between pleasurable sighs, delivering another hard slap on her ass, his cock burying deep inside her with each thrust. But it wasn’t enough for him; he went faster, harder. The sounds became louder, as did his hunger.

─ Aemond! It's you... Gods... Aemond! ─ She moaned pleasurably, her teeth sunk into her lips, trying to control the loud moans that escaped because of the series of violent thrusts he was giving her, but it was impossible.

─ That’s right, little slut... I’m going to make you scream my name... ─ He released her hair, placing both hands on her shoulders, and using them as leverage to go even deeper inside her. She felt her womb being destroyed with Aemond's strong thrusts, every part of her body ached in pleasure with what he was doing. Her legs were already trembling and her knees hurt from being propped on the hard floor, but she didn’t care, she wanted this. She deserved this. The sound of their skin colliding filled the room, her moans were as good and pleasurable for Aemond as her music, her voice was absurdly perfect in every aspect, but he should have been the only one to appreciate her moans like this. Or so he thought.

─ Aemond... I’m almost... I’m close... ─ She whispered, her voice hoarse with pleasure, she tried to cling to the table, but her fingers were too trembling for that. Her eyes were already closed and she allowed herself to be guided to heaven, when she felt the climax on the edge of her senses.

─ What did you say? Did I just hear you're going to cum? That’s right... Cum, bitch... Cum on my cock while I fuck you... ─ His voice was as pleasurably suggestive as hers, he bit his lower lip while squeezing her shoulders, the sensation of her walls crushing him with each thrust was incredible, and he would never admit it out loud, but she was the first woman who made him feel so alive.

His hands moved down her back, grabbed her hips, and in a swift movement he pushed her to the floor, placing her back on the carpet, and her eyes fixed on him. It hardly seemed humanly possible that he could switch positions like that without coming out of her, but he did, as if his own body refused to let her go.

─ I want you to look at me while you’re cumming... I want to see your face when you get there screaming my name... ─ His hand circled her throat, squeezing excitingly while he used the other hand for support on the floor, continuing the firm thrusts, her parted lips left moans behind, as she did everything to keep her eyes fixed on him, but it seemed almost impossible, especially when her body trembled intensely, and the orgasm arrived.

─ Aemond! ─ She shouted, exactly as he said she would, the spasms hitting her in an extremely pleasurable way, her fingers clutched the wrist of his hand on her neck, digging her nails into his skin, her back arched and she made clear how intense that orgasm was. Aemond's hips continued, moving violently inside her, deeper and harder each time.

─ Yes... That's it, slut... ─ He whispered, feeling the juices of her orgasm soak the carpet and his pants as he continued thrusting hard into her. The grip on her throat tightened, and he let the full weight of his body fall on hers, burying his face in the strands of her hair spread on the floor as he also came. His lips were glued to her ear, and soft moans escaped his mouth, making her shiver even more. The thrusts slowed down in rhythm, and she felt every drop of his seed fill her.

His breathing was panting, just like hers, both seemed to have run a marathon, their bodies sprawled on the floor, him on top of her, still buried deep inside her, but with his hips now stopped. His fingers did not release her throat, but she no longer cared. Her mind was smoke, she could only focus on the intoxicating sensation of post-orgasm, and remember everything that happened there. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and with her eyes open, she watched on Aemond's face, the most cruelly victorious smile she had ever seen.

─ You're mine... This pussy is mine... Understand? ─ He whispered, his warm breath on her ear, making her shiver. She closed her eyes again, and nodded gently, trying to swallow her own saliva, with his hand pressed on her throat.

─ Good girl... I hope this doesn't happen again... It's me or him. ─ It sounded authoritative, it sounded serious. Part of her wanted to accept the terms, but another part did not. What harm was there in having both? She loved them equally, there was no room for doubt, she had spent time getting to know them, on and off stage, she knew she liked them, and she knew she couldn’t lose either of them.

But she also knew that it would be a tough time trying to convince them of that. She chose not to respond, but Aemond couldn't tell if it was because of exhaustion, or not. So he let it go. In a sweet gesture, he kissed her lips softly, releasing the fingers from her neck and taking them to her cheek, which he caressed gently. It seemed like a good moment, it was romantic, his lips on hers felt right. But... It all ended when...

─ What the fuck is this?! ─ Aegon arrived.

To be continued?

[actualgoron]

song of the night

[writingmochi]

starring MATZ as the illest villains

cast: matz (hongjoong and seonghwa) ✗ fem.reader (featuring ateez and other idols)

synopsis: strickland is known to be the land without expressive freedom. but, strickland's underground is in a frenzy with the newly-discovered old form of expression: music. leading the underground scene, the maddest MATZ uses the audio and visual arts of hip-hop as the anchor for a brewing rebellion. but, the underground is so much deeper than what they have conquered. besides, what's wrong with backing the villains of the world?

genre: superhero fiction (any form of art/music is portrayed as a superpower), dystopian future, science fiction, adventure, action, mystery, thriller, drama, romance, angst, mature content (rebellion and war, underground illegal things, explicit smut)

based on: music madvillain’s “madvillainy” album (2004), comic batman's gotham city and rogues gallery, ateez's strickland lore, and music history (a gateway for me to nerd out about music)

status: to be released

message from the moon: remember that this story is fiction and do be careful and read the warnings at the top. all the idols mentioned here are not what they are in real life.

first set of ateez fics and it's an anthology?! each matz will have their own respective readers/mcs which you can see below the cut. posting this so i can remember that this is to be a priority wip. the masterlist will also be updated accordingly :] and the story, though anthology, will be linear in the timeline

taglist? right here

SUPERVILLAIN THEME

cast: villain!hongjoong ✗ villain!fem.reader

synopsis: coming soon

OPERATION LIFESAVER

cast: villain!seonghwa ✗ anti-hero!fem.reader

synopsis: coming soon

taglist: @raeyunshm @leilasmom

© writingmochi on tumblr, 2021-2024. all rights reserved

[btr-rewatch]

Big Time Rush Season 1, Episode 18: “Big Time Concert” (Part 4)

Highlights: The band is back together (except not really. except yes it is), Jamez, the power of friendship, kidnapping, and happily ever after. A lot going on for the boys.

Great news, everyone! James survived getting hit by the car!

Over at the Knight house, Logan's attempting to fill out an application form. He's trying to figure out what to put down as his biggest weakness. Carlos points out that Logan can be indecisive, but Logan can't decide whether or not to write it down. He settles for "weak bladder." Logan, you are a gem.

Someone rings the doorbell, and Kendall goes to answer it. It's Gustavo and Kelly!

He's putting the band back together and asks the guys if they want to give this whole thing another try. Kendall makes the decision for all of them and says no. They all want to move on to bigger and better things—a hockey scholarship, medical school, running around in a costume fighting crime. All that stuff.

"You didn't even say goodbye," Kendall tells Gustavo, and y'all, there is so much emotion in his words. He's not angry; he's genuinely hurt. And he has every right to be! The guys put months of hard work into building up the band. They worked long hours, got yelled at, and gave up their lives back home to be Gustavo Rocque's next big boyband. And for all their issues with Gustavo, they grew to like him. Care about him. Then everything comes crashing down, and Gustavo lets them leave without so much as a goodbye.

The abandonment! The betrayal! Send Gustavo TO JAIL!!!!

Gustavo responds by yelling about how he (much like Kendall) isn't good at goodbyes. BUT! The guys have taught him a lot about friendship, loyalty, and family. He wants them to come back and give the band another go. They agree and set off to find James.

(Love how James wasn't included in any of this conversation. They didn't even say, "Oh, hey, let's track James down before we talk to Gustavo. He should probably be in on this conversation." Nope.)

James's dad says he left with Hawk a while ago. This is not good news. Also, hiiii Mr. Diamond; good seeing you for 5 seconds; we'll never ever see you again for the entire series. (I've always wished the parents had popped in more often and been more involved but alas)

The Knights + Carlos and Logan return to L.A., where they discover that Rocque Records is in shambles. Gustavo's had to sell everything to get them back, and there isn't even any money for them to stay at the Palm Woods. So, they'll be staying at The Rocque Woods. "It's not much, but...well, it's not much," Kelly says. Love her delivery on this line. I also love how the first thing Carlos does is reach out to touch one of the hanging electrical wires.

Gustavo tells them that the first thing they need to do is find James, so, naturally, the boys run back to the Palm Woods to see their girlfriends (girlfriendless Carlos is greeted by Lightning the Wonder Dog). They learn that James is living at the Palm Woods in their old apartment. They head on over and get quite the surprise when they ring the doorbell.

Inside, they share the good news with James, who doesn't care in the slightest. He's given up on BTR and gone all in on Hawk Records, where he's been offered a 3 album deal, a newly renovated apartment, and a personal servant.

And like...I understand that James's driving force is fame. I understand that his dream is to be a singer and that he was also frustrated and hurt by the sudden end of the band. But I find James hard to like in this portion of the episode. Just in the sense that it tells us a lot about his personality: he's willing to drop his friends and sell-out for the promise of fame and some shiny new stuff. He also is apparently pretty good at holding grudges, since he throws the whole "You told me to get a life, so I did" thing back in their faces. I don't know. I don't like this side of him. It feels like a mean-spirited alter ego of his from a parallel universe or something. It feels like Mirror!James has taken over his body.

Anyway, this line would make me and my sister lose it.

Oh, to have a Sebastian offer me toys and money at random during the day.

The rest of the guys decide that if James wants to be petty and hardheaded, they can be too. They're going to find a new James.

At Hawk Records, James learns that his name is now "Jamez," the poster of him has been altered to have fuller lips, and he's already got a new single even though he's hasn't recorded anything yet. He's feeling hesitant about the whole thing but his mind is quickly changed when Hawk shows him the ad in the paper announcing auditions for a new member of Big Time Rush.

James. Sweetheart. The guys were just explaining to you that the band was back together and they wanted you to join them. You rejected the offer quite firmly and all but told them to get lost. And now you're insulted that they're moving on without you, just like you were doing to them??

*grabs James by the shoulders and shakes him violently*

I think it's funny that there's a prominent "all together" on James's shirt during these scenes. My boy, that's the whole POINT of this episode. You can't do this alone; you guys need to be ALL TOGETHER. You need your buddies. READ YOUR SHIRT.

I also think it's funny that the audition ad specifically calls for a "tall, slender, pretty singer."

We go to the auditions then, which are a spectacular failure. They decide BTR is now a trio.

Meanwhile, James is sulking around 2J. Good ol' Sebastian tries to talk some sense into him, pointing out the superficiality of Hollywood and the hollow, friendless life James now has. Love Sebastian.

Our trio begins their concert rehearsals again. It does not go well.

😭😭😭

Gustavo threatens to destroy them unless they start looking and acting like they're having a good time, so Kendall launches into the "Giant Turd" song. Suddenly, a fourth voice joins in to end the song.

IT'S JAMES!!!! The reactions are priceless.

With the band all back together, the next item on their list is to (very quickly) promote their concert that's in only a few days. We get a nice little montage, and then it's the night of the show. The boys excitedly run to the dressing room, which is actually a trap set by Hawk to kidnap them. They're taken to a large, empty warehouse and tied up. Good news! Hawk is not going to murder them. Bad news! They're going to miss their first concert, which Hawk says will kill their music careers.

And, um...I don't know about that, Hawk. I mean, let's just think about this. There's a highly anticipated concert from a new band; it's sold out and lots of investors are going to be there. The time comes for the concert to start, and the entire band is suddenly mysteriously missing. The door labeled "dressing room" has a gaping hole on the order side of it. My guess is most people's reaction would be, "Wow, something Very Bad obviously happened to these guys," not "What jerks! How dare they not show up."

Also, Hawk's plan is to contact Gustavo and Kelly after the show to tell them where to find the guys. This is a very short kidnapping, and it's CLEAR Hawk is the one behind it. He can't do anything to keep the guys quiet. In a matter of hours, the whole ordeal will be a major news story. "Hey, here's the incredible story of four teenagers in a band who were kidnapped by a rival record company!"

Tell me that wouldn't have the OPPOSITE effect Hawk's intending. This would make them overnight sensations! This is not a well-thought-out plan.

He would've been better off just killing them.

Carlos tries to channel his inner superhero to save them, and he manages to do just that by hopping around in his chair until he tumbles down the stairs and gets himself freed.

The guys escape and are picked up by Sebastian, who rushes them over to the concert venue.

The concert goes flawlessly, Griffin signs the band to a great contract, and all is set right in the world of BTR again.

And guess what!! Guess what Kendall did? He sent Sebastian to Minnesota to be Mrs. Magicowski's personal limo driver.

I can't. This is so sweet. Kendall's such a good egg.

We end, of course, with this

What a way to end the season. I had a lot of fun with this one. And look, I crammed it into 4 posts after all!

I think I'll take some time to work on some gifsets and other posts before jumping into season 2.

A huge thank you to everyone who has ever checked out a post, left me a nice comment, followed me, etc. When I decided to rewatch one of my favorite shows after so many years, I knew this would be a fun project, and you've all made it even more fun. See you soon for season 2!

[fatehbaz]

[T]he modern environmental history of sandalwood (a widely-accepted 16 species of fragrant trees within the genus Santalum including the species Santalum album [...]) [...] [is] a history defined by anthropogenic impact endangering the genus across its range. [...] Selling at about $147,000 per metric ton, the aromatic heartwood of Indian sandalwood (S. album) is [among] [...] the most expensive wood in the world. Globally, 90 per cent of the world’s S. album comes from India [...]. [T]he species came to the brink of extinction [...]. [I]t is not until 1974 that supply of the most valuable species of sandalwood was depleted in the major sandal-bearing region of India. [...] Part of the difference, then, lies in each region’s history of governance and relationship to the market.

Islands [in the Pacific] abruptly brought into the modern world system were quickly overexploited, whereas areas such as southern India [...], which had [...] been centres of world sandalwood trade since at least the eleventh century, managed to negotiate the pressures of the European trading companies and forest bureaucracies in the nineteenth century. [...] In contrast [...], much of the Pacific was introduced to the international market by sandalwood traders who moved from one island to the next harvesting the tree until there was no more left to harvest. India and Timor had been the sole suppliers of sandalwood to the world market until the late eighteenth century.

While there had long been a world market for S. album, at the end of the eighteenth century European, American and Australian merchants tried to take control of the sandalwood trade by selling newly discovered Pacific species of sandalwood to China. By the mid-nineteenth century these sandalwood traders had systematically stripped most of the Pacific islands of this precious tree. Time and again sandalwood species were exploited until they went locally extinct, or nearly so, often with massive ecological damage, not to mention the political and cultural toll on the islands.

In Hawaii, also known as Tahn Heung Sahn or ‘the Sandalwood Mountains’ to [some of] the Chinese, the sandalwood trade collapsed by 1828, only decades after it began.

The first shipwrecked Europeans to land on Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu, also called it Sandalwood Island. The sandalwood trade collapsed there within 20 years of its discovery and inauguration.

In the Marquesas, the British and Americans decimated sandalwood in just three years, between 1814 and 1816.

A similar story can be told in the case of S. austrocaledonicum of Vanuatu.

---

All text above by: Ezra Rashkow. "Perfumed the axe that laid it low: The endangerment of sandalwood in southern India." Indian Economic and Social History Review 51, no. 1, pages 41-70. March 2014. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[otmaaromanovas]

Two newly discovered photographs of Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana in 1913

Photo 1: Tatiana standing on the left, Olga on the right taking a mirror selfie in their mirrored wardrobe (a new photo to add to the collection of Romanov selfies!)

Photo 2: Tatiana sitting by the balcony window, Alexander Palace.

These photos were taken the same day as these already known photographs, completing the scene. Spring, 1913.

As always, these new findings are from Ilya, @ LastRomanovs on flickr. These discoveries are thanks to his amazing and tireless effort to digitise all of the Romanov's albums in high quality for viewers to view online.

Source: LastRomanovs, GARF f.611 op.1 d.98 pp. 3-8