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trueishcolours · 6 years ago

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Six Seeds

She was a princess of Gweek, one of the spice kingdoms that crowded along the narrow strip of land between the desert and the sea. The kingdoms throve on the spice trade that supplied all the cooks and apothecaries and witches of the world, and whenever one of them throve more than the rest, its neighbours tried their best to snatch its fruits for themselves. So they lived in a state of mingled prosperity and warfare, and their semi-piratical merchant fleets kept them proof from attack over the sea.

She was a princess of Gweek, and her name and title was Kore. It meant that she was a maiden, and the maiden: the eldest woman of marriageable age in the royal house. When she married she would take another name.

And marry she certainly would, for in the spice kingdoms marriage went hand in hand with war. The only way to secure a kingdom against invasion – for a generation, maybe, or half that – was through a marriage alliance with a strong neighbour.

Gweek’s chief export was hot red chillies, and Kore was an expert in their growing. One evening, she was sitting on her veranda overlooking the palace courtyard, working on a small chilli plant in a tub. She was teaching it about fire so that it would learn how to make its fruits hot, and the plant, like most of its kind, was squirming its roots petulantly into the wet, dark earth of its pot and taking little interest. As she raised an arm to invoke the sun and give the topic some relevance, a servant hurried forward to announce a visitor, whom her father wished her to entertain.

‘He is a suitor, of kingly bearing,’ the servant said, ‘and your father is well-disposed towards him. He asks you to talk a while with the man, and decide how you like him.’

Kore was astonished. A marriage proposal should have been the occasion for much inquiring, bargaining and sending of gifts, with her own opinion sought along the way. For a suitor to be all but chosen as soon as he was announced was unheard of. When the servant ushered the guest forward, however, she thought she had an answer. The guest did not look kingly, and when invited to sit he chose a chair in the shadow of the courtyard wall. He looked like a middling hedgerow wizard; the sort who, with boldness, might befuddle a king and obtain an introduction to his daughter.

But I’ll wager I can resist whatever spell he’s weaving,’ Kore thought, for he doesn’t know that I’m a witch myself. I’ll talk to him and see how the trick is done.

‘Good evening,’ she said aloud.

‘Ah,’ the stranger said, in the voice of one who sees a beloved face at the end of a long journey. ‘There you are, my intended. May I be seated?’

‘You are most welcome to join me,’ Kore said tartly. ‘I should like to get a good look at you. But you are mistaken to call me your intended.’

‘Really?’ the man said. ‘When I left your father he seemed quite determined to give me your hand.’

‘When you left my father he was quite bewitched.’

‘That may be so.’

‘Move into the light,’ Kore commanded. ‘I cannot make out your face clearly.’

‘There are few who choose to see me clearly, if they can avoid it,’ the man said. ‘Princess, I have a gift for you. Chilies grown in my own country, of quite surpassing heat and fragrance. One small fruit is enough to season a dish all through, and only the strongest constitutions can consume one raw.’

‘Your kingdom must be close to mine, then, to have soil suited for the same crop?’

‘My kingdom is very close to yours, yes,’ he said gravely.

‘My people too pride ourselves on the piquancy of our fruit,’ she said, ‘and engage in contests to see who can grow the hottest, and who can bear to eat them. I am reckoned a good grower, and a good taster too.’

‘I would be honoured if you would taste what my people can grow,’ the stranger said.

‘I’ll wager I can do so without flinching,’ Kore replied, ‘and moreover that the fruits of my plant here are hotter than yours. I hope you don’t think me rude, sir, but if I’m to marry you, I want to at least be sure that you know your trade.’

There is no kingdom along the shore whose spices are too strong for me, she thought, and perhaps a mouthful of chili will get him to drop that glamour of his and let me see his face.

From a packet in his pocket the stranger took a single, dried chili, blood red. Kore placed a bronze dish on the table, and the man crushed the chili into it, so that the seeds sprinkled out of the hollow inside.

‘The seeds are the hottest part,’ he said. ‘I advise you, Princess, to begin with just one.’

Kore plucked a fresh chili from her plant. It whispered the slow, drenching heat of the sun to her fingers as she cut it open and scraped out the seeds.

‘Together, then?’ the stranger asked. They each pressed their finger down on a seed and placed it in their mouth.

The burning started as one little spot where the seed touched her tongue. It spread as she bit down. A good hot chili, well-bred. Its aftertaste was like bitter smoke.

She looked to see how the stranger was reacting, but tears had blurred her vision.

‘A fine specimen,’ he said. ‘Your own?’

‘I brought them up, yes.’

‘I wonder,’ he said, ‘why people go to such lengths to cultivate a plant that it hurts to eat.’

‘For excitement,’ Kore answered at once. ‘Of all the animals, humankind are the only ones with energy to spare. That is why we have magic and agriculture and ascendancy over all things. And when life does not provide outlets for our energies, we make our own.’

‘Perhaps,’ he said. ‘Or perhaps it is because pain is inevitable and you wish to experience it at a time of your choosing. What think you of my crop?’

‘It is bitterer than we breed for here. The flavour reminds me of something, but I don’t know what. I shall have another seed and get the taste again.’

She took another seed and so did he.

‘Nothing is inevitable,’ she said once she had chewed. She felt the sweat spring up on her neck and brow.

‘Really?’ he said. ‘I have often heard people say that some things are. Taxes, for example.’

‘Ask any town where the people have thrown off their ruler and set up for themselves and you’ll find that that’s not true.’

‘And what of the fates of people?’ he asked. ‘It is inevitable that the farmer’s son shall sow and reap, that the tradesperson’s daughter shall keep shop, that the king’s daughter shall marry for alliance – ’

‘And that this king’s daughter shall marry you, no doubt,’ Kore scoffed. The pain of the chili had kindled her temper, the way pain always did. So had the nerve of the stranger, and the way he spoke his nonsense so solemnly, as if it were fact. She wanted to glare at him, but his glamour still hadn’t faltered, and that infuriated her further.

She dabbed up another seed.

‘Princess, the spice has already brought you to tears,’ the stranger said.

‘I can eat my subjects’ spices,’ said Kore, ‘and no other kingdom grows hotter.’ She pushed the dish towards him. ‘Eat. I will certainly never marry a man who cannot match me at the table.’

He took a seed. It satisfied her to see him obey her.

‘Away down the south coast, I hear,’ she said, ‘maidens choose their own husbands, and the law prevents anybody who tries to interfere. Nothing is inevitable.’

‘Would you like to live thus?’ the stranger asked.

‘Of course, if I could,’ Kore said. ‘Who would prefer to have their life arranged for them, if they could marry for love?’

‘Then why do you yourself not tell your father that you will settle for nothing less?’

The spice caught in Kore’s throat as he asked his question. She had to pause and swallow hard before she could answer.

‘Because I know that my father – provided he is not bewitched – will ask me to do what is needful for the kingdom.’

‘Just so,’ the stranger said. ‘There is delight in freedom, but comfort in knowing that one has done one’s duty.’ His voice reminded her of the plant’s roots twisting through wet, dark earth. It breathed coolness over her heated skin.

‘Do you think that you are surprising me with whatever spell you have put on this chili, wizard?’ she demanded. ‘I am familiar with the growing of spices, and I can handle their heat, and all the magic that they can work besides. Another seed will give me a better feel for what you have done.’

‘I shall match you, Princess,’ he said, and for a fourth time they ate.

‘The people of the southern coast are happy,’ Kore said, ‘because each of them can choose the spouse most likely to increase their happiness.’

‘And yet I have heard that some of them are not happy,’ he said, ‘and their unhappiness is all the greater because they feel that they have made it for themselves.’

‘Better to be imprisoned by others than to choose your cell yourself?’ Kore said.

‘Better to accept that our lives cannot always be of our own choosing, and let go the blame together with the freedom. Is a woman to blame if her life turns out ill? If she believes that the choices were her own, she must also lay claim to the consequences. To try and seize all blessings in life by your own power, Princess, is to make yourself responsible for any misfortune that might come instead.’

‘So we should accept our fate and do our duty, wizard?’ Kore said. ‘There may be some truth in what you say. I should certainly be afraid to choose poorly, if I had to choose my spouse myself. But I have noticed that men are quick to council women about fate and duty, and not so quick to submit to those powers themselves.’

‘A fair rebuke,’ the stranger said. ‘Perhaps I need a wife to teach me better.’

The burning was fading from Kore’s tongue, and her mouth felt dull without it, so she reached for another seed. She had given up on disentangling the flavour; it reminded her of no other variety she had tasted. But she felt proud that the heat troubled her not at all; that she found it only agreeable.

The sun had fallen behind the high wall of the courtyard as they talked. Her visitor was shadowed once again.

‘Why will you not let me look at you?’ she asked.

‘I am before you, if only you would see,’ he replied.

‘You speak in riddles, wizard,’ Kore said.

‘And yet that does not displease you.’

‘True,’ she said, surprised to feel that her ire had faded. ‘I seem to have sweated all the anger out of me. Your charm must be working. But I think my fruit is too hot for you.’

‘I will match you,’ he repeated, taking his fifth seed.

‘You will not best me,’ she said, ‘but I admire the attempt. Tell me of this kingdom you think you will sweep me away to.’

‘You would not find it beautiful, perhaps,’ he said, ‘but for weary travellers it is. The moon is high there, the stars are sharp, the soil black and rich.’

‘Full of dead things,’ Kore said, feeling the worms sliding in the pot.

‘Full of the richness of decay. In my kingdom there is no choice; there are no questions; there is no worry or ill fortune or bad council. In my kingdom every person lives according to their fate, and all are at peace.’

‘It sounds like a nightmare.’ She reached for a seed to drive away the chill. He copied her motion as smoothly as a reflection. ‘No choice.’

‘Everyone may choose the path they take, but nobody may choose their final end.’

‘It’s not true.’ Her voice wavered. ‘It’s not true that everybody has a fate.’

‘Can you think of none?’ he asked softly. The answer came to her unbidden as she met his eyes at last.

‘Death,’ she whispered.

‘I am he,’ he said.

She saw his face at last: fine-boned, spare and empty, bright white in the gloaming. It was beautiful, if scaffolding can be beautiful. And she recognised the taste of the chili. Its bitterness was the smoke of a pyre.

‘I thank you,’ he said, ‘for tasting my fruit and for sharing yours.’

‘I will not go with you!’ she gasped. He did not reply as he got to his feet.

‘I will not!’ she shouted. He turned and walked away across the courtyard.

An enchanter, a gardener, a god? Trailing unanswered questions behind him! When she blinked, the after-image of his face hung before her eyes. She dashed across the courtyard and caught his elbow, arresting him right in the gateway.

‘What spell have you cast on me with your seeds?’ she demanded.

‘There was no magic in the seeds,’ he said.

‘I will go with you because you have enchanted me,’ she choked. Then he spoke, and every word had the force of a catapulted stone.

‘You will go with me, Kore of Gweek, because I am powerful, which you desire; because I need you, which you desire; and because my kingdom is peaceful, which you will come to desire. You will have power over everything, and only Death will have power over you. And your bride-name shall be Persephone.’

‘You say that there was no magic in your seeds,’ Persephone replied, ‘but there was magic in mine. And so I say, six seeds I ate and six months shall I spend in your kingdom, and you matched me and shall spend six months in mine. Death shall not have total dominion over life, but shall destroy only at the proper time, and what you take in autumn you shall give back in spring.’

Persephone saw that the god of death could not turn his hollow eyes away from her. She knew that she had bargained well.

‘Tell me, Hades,’ she said boldly, ‘what the God of Death wants with a wife.’

‘A counterbalance and a co-regent,’ he said. ‘Death does not delight in marriage.’

‘Life does,’ Persephone answered.

Then she learned that a death’s head could look bashful.

Standing underneath the palace gate, on the threshold between this world and the next, Hades and Persephone met in a kiss that seared with ice and fire.

#original stories #mythology #hades and persephone #nyc midnight short story competition #I'm through to the second round!#word limit: 2500 #word count: 2490 #writing time: 7 days #if you enjoyed please reblog!#monstrous blogs

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aion-rsa · 3 years ago

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My Universe: BTS & Coldplay’s Sci-Fi Music Video Explained

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BTS and Coldplay went fully, gloriously sci-fi in the music video for their collaboration, “My Universe.” In the new music video, released at midnight on September 30th, the two bands exist in a futuristic reality where music is forbidden. In spite of the ban, and with the help of a space DJ, the groups come together for a high-energy, galaxy-spanning performance of their new song.

The “My Universe” music video/short film is directed by Dave Meyers, an American filmmaker best known for his commercials and music videos, which include MVs for artists Drake, Ed Sheeran, Pink, Normani, Ariana Grande, and many, many more. High-concept, genre-driven music videos are par for the course in the visually immersive world of K-pop, but are less common in western music videos, which (save for some outliers, like Janelle Monae’s funky, political sci-fi adventures) have more “grounded,” realistic aesthetics, even when they skew fantastical. A great example of the latter is Harry Styles’ “Adore You” video. Also directed by Meyers—it has a speculative fiction premise in which Styles has a literally blinding smile, falls in love with a fish, and is able to power his sailboat using the winds of his jarred yells, but keeps its visuals down to Earth to tell its fairy tale-like story.

“My Universe,” on the other hand, embraces the science fiction aesthetics of working class space operas like Space Sweepers or Guardians of the Galaxy, with some (and I mean this as a compliment) Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century thrown in for good measure.

Rebellion is a popular theme in the space opera subgenre, and it’s one that “My Universe” embraces. The video is set in an intergalactic future in a place known where all music is banned. Three different bands—BTS, Coldplay, and a fictional alien supergroup called Supernova7—who live on three different plans defy the ban to create music together via hologram. They are hunted by The Silencers, who enforce the no-music status quo.

Most importantly, the music video doesn’t prioritize either Coldplay or BTS’ worlds. While we may visit Coldplay’s dry, graffitied planet first, where we first meet BTS in their holographic forms, we also go to BTS’ industrial-dystopia home, where Coldplay visits as holograms. The music video’s best moment, in fact, comes when we follow a flickering, holographic V from Coldplay’s planet back to his own, where he—and, with him, the six other members—bloom into more tangible form.

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The design and CGI for the video is impressive and varied, though a little too busy to fully appreciate the stunning outer space visuals, Tron-esque spaceships interiors, and alien planet-scapes. The video includes visual callbacks to the official lyric video for “My Universe,” which is beautifully designed to feature the multi-colored English and Korean-language lyrics zooming through space. The colors and premise are also reminiscent of the video serial that was part of BTS’ Muster Sowoozoo Concert in June. In the story, the seven members of BTS make their way across an alien landscape in a camper van, searching for a safe place to meet ARMY. While the Sowoozoo serial was much cozier and more chill than “My Universe” video, I’d love to hear some good head canon about how these videos exist in the same fictional universe.

What Does the “My Universe” Music Video Mean?

Both the “My Universe” song and music video have a pretty broad, easy-to-get-behind concept. The love song is about a relationship that transcends boundaries. Thematically, the idea of coming together across divisions or differences is particularly poignant when performed by bands from different sides of the planet. This is reinforced by the decision to include Korean-language lyrics in the collaboration. BTS has proven themselves more than capable of singing in English. Three of their latest hits—”Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “Permission to Dance”—are all sung fully in the English language by the Korean band. However, BTS and Coldplay chose to feature Korean-language elements as an integral part of the collaboration, emphasizing the multicultural nature of the song and its message.

The music video doubles down on the theme of people coming together despite distance and differences. In it, BTS and Coldplay (and, OK, alien supergroup Supernova 7) are excited to collaborate. Together, they make something beautiful and special that brings them joy despite the seemingly dismal worlds that surrounds them both. Here, the enemy is not difference, but a mysterious, totalitarian force that has banned all music. Personified by “The Silencers,” this antagonist can be broadly interpreted by the societal prejudices that can sometimes keep up apart, but also by a pandemic that has made the most basic rituals of togetherness more complicated. It doesn’t seem a coincidence that the fictional versions of BTS and Coldplay featured in this video are unable to be together in person. It’s a representation of the forced physical distance that has come to define much of the past few years. It’s why seeing the bands find a way, despite their harsh reality, to share a joyful experience so damn inspiring.

While the visuals of “My Universe” may be intentionally futuristic, the ability to play together across vast swathes of space is not. Just last week, Coldplay and BTS performed as part of the Global Citizen Live event. The bands were in two different countries—Coldplay in NYC, and BTS back home in Seoul—but came “together” on stage. The seven members of BTS were featured as holograms on a backdrop as Chris Martin sang both English and Korean-language parts of the song. (The Korean-language rap sections performed by Suga and J-Hope were pre-recorded.) Coldplay notably traveled to Korea to record “My Universe” during the pandemic.

“My Universe” Music Video Ending Explained

The breakout character from the “My Universe” music video is arguably DJ Lafrique, played by actress Joe Diao. DJ Lafrique is the character who is able to bring Coldplay and BTS together, across the universe. She is the most powerful figure featured in this story, and her rebellion comes at a high risk. At the end of the video, The Silencers find DJ Lafrique’s ship, which is making the intergalactic jam session possible. The Silencers’ power up their Death Star-like weapon in preparation to take out DJ Lafrique. However, BTS and Coldplay are able to buy her time by rocking out even more intensely (as you do); she powers up her hyperdrive and blips away before The Silencers can silence her forever.

The ending works for the video; it would be jarring to watch a music video featuring BTS that doesn’t end with a message of hope. The Korean band’s full name, Bangtan Sonyeondan, can be translated as “Bulletproof Boyscouts,” and the group has always seen it as one of their primary missions to act as a buffer between young people and the harsh stereotypes and pressures they face. While the group has always worked to be a balm in a harsh world, this has especially been the case since the outbreak of COVID, which has brought with it unprecedented mental health challenges. In the wake of the global crisis, BTS has worked to be a comfort to their global fandom, known as ARMY. When they released album “Be” in November 2020, member Jin said during the accompanying press conference: “Our goal with the music on ‘BE’ is that it can be a comfort to a lot of people … If many people can relate to it, I will be really thankful.”

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What did you think of “My Universe”‘s science fiction concept? Let us know in the comments below.

The post My Universe: BTS & Coldplay’s Sci-Fi Music Video Explained appeared first on Den of Geek.

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#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

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frangipanidownunder · 4 years ago

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Wow! I just got my assignment for the NYC Midnight short story competition and I’ve been gifted another horror challenge. I am on a real horror writing kick at the moment, so this is perfect!

#writing #nyc midnight #short story challenge

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lauraperfectinsanity · 4 years ago

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1) Different First Meeting: Carlos, while patrolling, gets into a car accident. He isn’t seriously injured, but he’s stuck in his car and concussed. He gets rescued by TK and the newly re-formed Station 126. Concussed Carlos flirts non-stop with the gorgeous firefighter but when he wakes up in the hospital, he thinks he hallucinated the guy to his rescue. ------> “You and I, Collide” by @bellakitse

2) TK is obviously seeing someone. Everyone at 126 can see that, but they don’t know who the mystery guy is (they tried to pry the information from TK, but he’s tight-lipped). One night, while the team is out at the bar with the paramedic team and Carlos, Paul’s attention is caught by TK’s hand on Carlos’ hip while passing him by. He does his “thing” and observes them: the subtle smiles and looks, the subtle flirting and touching, a longing look while the other walks away and a little jealousy when someone approaches the other. They aren’t obvious, but Paul puts together the pieces and ends up blurting out “YOU’RE THE MYSTERY GUY!”. ------> “Secret Smiles” by @brillliantbanshee

3) Different First Meeting: In the first weeks in Austin, the station 126 is still under renovation, and TK, used to take advantage of his station’s gym equipments, needs to find himself a gym to go to. The one he chooses, happens to be the favorite of a certain APD’s officer. ------> “One for the Pro Column” by @bellakitse

4) Michelle has been trying for years to find a boyfriend for her best friend Carlos. Everytime she tried to introduce him someone, though, it ends up a failure. When Michelle meets the new firefighting crew of the Station 126 and meets TK Strand, she’s sure she has found the perfect fit for Carlos. Carlos is very skeptical, despite Michelle’s descriptions and praises of the guy (he has experience with her terrible matchmaking skills), but he still agrees to stop by the station. ------> “The Last of the Romantics” by @bellakitse

5) A couple of Carlos’ sisters are out one night. When they spot their brother, they’re about to say hi, when they notice he’s not alone. It looks like their brother is picking up takeout food with a gorgeous guy and it looks like they aren’t just friends. The two scheme on how to bring up the topic with their brother, and they decide to do it at family dinner, in front of everyone.

6) The 126 tries to guess TK’s full name for years, but the mystery remains unsolved. The mystery is solved when Carlos proposes to him, calling him “Tyler Kennedy Strand”. ------> “The Name of the Game” by Gwenders

7) Carlos and TK have the same phone’s model. One morning, while in a hurry, TK grabs accidentally Carlos’ phone. He’s waiting for a call so, when the phone rings, he doesn’t even look at the caller ID and answers. He doesn’t expect it to be someone looking for Carlos, his mother. ------> “Crossed Connections” by Aklusmos

8) The 126 firefighting crew, the paramedics team and Carlos are out at their favorite bar for the night. Carlos needs to unwind a bit after a difficult week and he’s slightly drunk, but also really cute, clingy with his boyfriend and filterless. ------> “Cuervo Confessions” by @bellakitse

9) The 126 answers a call about an unconscious vlogger who passed out during a live video. TK brings down the door, they enter the apartment and set to help the unconscious patient, unknowingly, in front of the live camera. Despite Marjan, Paul and Mateo’s ongoing competition for social media fame, it’s TK who steals the show and goes viral, becoming, unwillingly, an internet sensation. (NOT SPECIFICALLY A TARLOS PROMPT, BUT STILL COULD BE ONE)

10) It’s Carlos’ birthday and his family is planning a surprise party for him at his own apartment, for when he gets home after his shift. They turn off the lights and wait for him to come home. But it’s actually Carlos that surprises them all when he shows up while passionately kissing, making out and undressing with a unknown guy (like in 1x02). ------> “Birthday Surprises” by Aklusmos

11) The 126 answers a call about a car accident. In one of the cars there’s a woman, not too badly hurt but stuck in the car. TK crawls in the car wreck to check on her while the others work on how to free her. The woman says something about him being charming and probably being a ladies’ man, but he tells her he plays for the other team (like with Owen’s chemo friend in 1x05). The woman is even happier and she tells him she has a very handsome and single gay son, but TK, even if endeared, tells her his boyfriend wouldn’t approve. But TK is shocked when a frantic Carlos shows up, cause the woman in the car is actually his mother (and yes, she doesn’t know her son has a boyfriend). ------> “Collisions” by Aklusmos

12) TK and Carlos have been chosen to go to their district’s high school for Career Week representing, respectively, the Fire and Police Departments, to have someone closer to the students’ age. The students expect the usual middle aged guys when the two come in. ------> “Somebody Call 9-1-1″ by Aklusmos

13) Owen comes back home a day early from a short trip. The last thing he’s expecting is to find his son with a naked man in his bed (Is that Officer Reyes??). TK insists it’s a casual thing with no labels and little feelings, but the leftovers of a romantic dinner and the way the two behave and kiss each other goodbye, tell Owen otherwise.

14) When his sister asks Carlos to quickly borrow his phone to make a call, he doesn’t think twice about lending it to her. What she finds is a photo of her brother with a hot guy as the home and lock screen. ------> “Shout it to the World” by @brillliantbanshee

15) When TK and Carlos hooked up, it was always a rush thing, never even reaching the bedroom, and always ending with TK leaving before even getting to catch his breath. TK tried not to get too attached, even though he’s actually a really cuddly person, especially after sex. With the time passing and them getting to know each other, Carlos starts to see glimpses of this side of his non-boyfriend. When they officially get together, TK has no reasons to hide his cuddly side from Carlos.

16) TK is at the mall looking for a present, when he meets a little kid who lost their mom and uncle in the mall. TK is pretty good with kids and is still in uniform, so the kid trusts him and goes with him to the information desk to call for their mom. TK certainly doesn’t expect for his brand new boyfriend Carlos to show up with his sister, the kid’s mother. ------> “Let’s Go to the Mall” by @bellakitse

17) Mateo is out with some friends one night, when he spots TK. He’s about to call out to him to say hi and maybe invite him to join them, when he notices TK isn’t alone, he’s with officer Reyes and yep, they’re kissing. He doesn’t know what to do with that information and decides to keep it to himself, until one day he accidentally blurts it out to everybody.

18) One morning, Carlos shows up at the 126. Owen thinks officer Reyes is there to give him, the Fire Captain, some documents, or he’s there to meet with Michelle, since he knows they’re good friends. Instead, Carlos surprises him by being there to bring TK the phone he left at his apartment that morning.

19) TK has to go back to NYC for an old friend’s wedding and he brings Carlos as his date, even if they’re dating for only a few months. At the reception, they meet Alex, who thought he would meet an heartbroken and lonely TK, begging to be taken back (THIS IS AN ALTERNATE VERSION OF THE PROMPT #20). ------> “A Puzzle I Love to Solve” by @brillliantbanshee

20) TK has to go back to NYC for an old friend's wedding. At the reception, among the guests there's Alex who's hoping to meet his old boyfriend TK to reconnect and maybe give their story a new chance. All his hopes are gone, when TK shows up with a husband and their kid (THIS IS AN ALTERNATE VERSION OF THE PROMPT #19).

21) TK and Carlos are casually seeing each other without putting labels on it and without the others knowing. TK spent the night at Carlos’ apartment, but he wakes up very late, he doesn’t have a car and waiting for a uber is a further waste of time. It’s Carlos’ day off and he offers him to take his car. TK then shows up at the 126 with a gorgeous blue Camaro, among everyone’s surprise.

22) TK and Carlos are casually seeing each other, without putting labels on it and without TK’s team and dad knowing. One night, TK bails on a team outing with an excuse, to see Carlos, when they accidentally end up at the same place as the 126. ------> “Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Aklusmos

23) In the middle of the night, while on shift, Marjan wakes up to grab a glass of water, and finds an unusually soft TK talking to someone over the phone. It’s obvious it’s someone important to TK and Marjan is so very curious (TK and Marjan’s friendship). ------> “Midnight Talk About Boys” by @bellakitse

24) During a call, a guy shamelessly flirts with TK while he works, and Carlos shamelessly glares at the guy while trying not to arrest him.

25) TK and Carlos are seeing each other, without labels and without TK’s team and dad knowing. One night, the two accidentally fall asleep at TK’s house, and, in the morning, Carlos is a little late sneaking out and ends up reaching for the door in the exact moment Owen comes back home from the night shift.

26) One morning, TK is still asleep at Carlos’ house, while the latter is already at work. TK wakes up hearing sounds in the house and is getting ready to face a possible intruder, when he finds a middle aged woman in the kitchen re-stocking the fridge. It sure isn’t how TK thought he’d meet his boyfriend’s mother.

27) One of Carlos’ siblings is getting married and Carlos asks TK to go to the wedding with him as his date, and to introduce him to his family.

28) Carlos is injured on the job, nothing serious, but he’s in a hospital room with his entire family fretting over him, when a frantic TK, in uniform, shows up. Time to meet the family that didn’t know you existed!

29) Carlos is bringing his brand new boyfriend to a family BBQ to introduce him to his family. During the party, though, one of Carlos’ cousin, who’s pregnant, is starting to go into labor there, in the house backyard. Luckily, there’s a very calm and professional TK, who has experience in helping pregnant women and delivering babies.

#Tarlos #Tarlos Prompts #TK Strand #Carlos Reyes #911 Lone Star #911: Lone Star #9-1-1: Lone Star #IT'S TARLOS BITCHES #TK and Carlos #Tyler Kennedy Strand

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sofiaisms · 4 years ago

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only five minutes ‘til midnight , and we just spotted SOFIA ROMERO , known for their OVERFLOWING GLASSES OF BUBBLY , SUN-KISSED SKIN GLISTENING WITH SPECS OF GLITTER , & PRETTY LIPS SPEWING UGLY WORDS IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT at club nouveau , ringing in the new year ! the TWENTY-TWO year old is usually known for their job as a REALITY TV STAR , but tonight , they’re just another reveler in the crowd . when they wrote down their new year’s resolution , they wished for A NUMBER ONE PODCAST RATING & A HEALED HEART FREE OF ANY PENT UP ANGER OR RESENTMENT . funny enough , they had also mentioned how they hoped to forget about the time that they REDACTED . for what it’s worth , i truly hope they can put the old year past them . [ cindy kimberly , cis woman , ‘our favorite love island ship has sank : break-up rumors confirmed by sofia romero during latest podcast episode’ ]

* / ✩ / .. 𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙖 , 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘩 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 . . .

hello friends ! sorry for the late intro , i was napping 😌 but i’m very happy to be here & i look forward to writing with each & every one of you <3 i’m lia ( she / her ), twenty years old , & vibing in the cst . this is my brand new girlie , sofia . under the cut is a ( hopefully ) brief summary + some listed wanted connections . but if you wanna dive deeper , i’ll leave you with her full bio & stats page in the google doc , her pinterest borad , & a lil wanted connections sideblog i threw together for inspo . feel free to hmu for plots any time via im’s or discord dm’s ! <3

𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗚𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗖 + 𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧 + 𝗪𝗖 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢

*+.. 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗦 ↴

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄: sofia anisa romero 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄(𝐒): sof 𝐃𝐎𝐁: 15 june 1998 𝐀𝐆𝐄: twenty-two 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑: cis woman 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐒: she / her 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: bisexual biromantic 𝐙𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐂: gemini sun, pisces moon, capricorn asc 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄: staten island, ny 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍: staten island, ny 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍��𝐄: new york city, ny 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: reality star / influencer with a podcast akin to “call her daddy” called hot stuff 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: graduated high school, went to parson’s school of design for a BFA in fine arts but never completed her degree

*+.. 𝘽𝙄𝙊𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙋𝙃𝙔 𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔 ↴

youngest daughter to high-profile lawyer, victor romero ( think og rob kardashian ) and plastic surgeon to the rich and famous, irene romero. her sister, isabella, is an a-famed journalist and new york time’s best selling author. and sofia is... well the family disappointment

her parents are rather cold and calculating people that didn’t exactly create a welcoming environment for creativity and self-expression in their home. and sofia pretty much broke every single expectation they had for her, leaving them without any idea on how to properly parent her. so she grew up rather independent and distant from her family

her one true passion is art-- particularly painting. hanging out in her school’s art room was her favorite thing in the world. most of her middle and high school years were spent competing in art competitions and earning awards for her work. by the end of her high school career, she had a promising future as an artist with an acceptance to a good arts school in the city secure

but creating art at a collegiate level among other future professionals was a lot different than high school UIL competitions. sofia struggled with feeling less talented and capable than her peers which hurt her self-esteem and put a damper on her dreams. it was at this low point during her junior year in college that an opportunity of a lifetime was presented to her

she was approached by one of the producers of love island usa with a casting opportunity. going on a reality tv show was honestly never something that sofia saw herself doing. but she figured she didn’t have much else to lose ?? and it could be fun ?? so basically she said YOLO and auditioned for the show, resulting in her being cast as a season 1 islander babyyyy

long story short: love island was fun as hell. she did in fact find love, was a fan favorite, and won the whole damn show. she and her boyfriend moved in together shortly after becoming $100,000 richer. and you would think that a couple strong enough to win love island would be together forever, right? HA

it basically ended up in disaster for sofia with her finding out he cheated on her and had her out here looking STUPID. she was truly heartbroken considering they had been in the talks of engagement. but what can ya do?

she’s done many different side jobs in hopes of staying relevant in the media but her most successful endeavor so far is her podcast. it’s basically the “call her daddy” podcast where she shares stories about love, sex, relationships, and hook-up culture in nyc. it can get very raunchy and she’s definitely exposed herself more than anyone probably should ??? but it’s fun and it keeps her name in the headlines

safe to say her parents only had to hear one episode of the podcast to decide that they were beyond disappointed in her. they’re on the brink of disowning her at this point, which would sever what little connection she has to her family + make her lose access to her trust fund. but she’s trying not to stress about it since she makes her own money now

*+.. 𝙒𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙀𝘿 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙉𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎 ↴

pls if anyone is down, give me a co-host for her podcast. they could just be two best friends sharing stories of their crazy lives & wildest hook-up experiences. i’d love to see it

i think it could be interesting if she had an ex that she was dating before going on love island. like imagine if she broke up with them to go on the show ??? and they hadn’t talked since but they had to watch her move on, publicly on tv. and frankly, it could be karma that her relationship from that show ended badly. idk there’s just potential drama there and the chance for her ex before the show to laugh in her face, which is deserved probs

on the platonic side of things: pls gimme best friends, maybe a roommate, party buddies, good influence, bad influence, childhood friends, confidant, adventure buddies, family friends

on the romantic side of things: other exes on good terms or bad terms, current friends with benefits, past hook-up that she may or may not have talked about on the podcast ( either fondly or derogatory ), tinder matches, enemies with benefits, crush, will they / won’t they

other fun ideas could be: enemies, rivals, someone she’s had as a guest on the podcast, frenemies, friends of friends that haven’t had the chance to bond on their own but they always run into each other, neighbors, they know each other from social media and they hype each other’s instagram selfies or whatever but haven’t met in person yet, ex-friends, pr enemies that actually get along really great in person but are always beefing on social media for the clout

#nouveau.intro #sorry this is late !!!#i'll be comin' at y'all for plotting soon hehe <3

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gooche942-blog · 4 years ago

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Latest Happenings . . .

Well, I haven't written anything on this page for ages and it seems as if I may have dropped off the face of the earth. But, dear reader, don't fear and never fret. I am here to save you from your hum-drum lives and let you peer into my hum-drum life. I have been plenty busy since my last post oh so long ago and in a galaxy far, far, far, far, far away.

Firstly, I and my family have recently moved from Sacramento to Ramona, CA. Secondly, I recently entered a writing contest: The Short Story Challenge 2020 (nycmidnight.com). My story, Falling, was well received. Here were some of the feedback:

"The story buil[t]d tension wonderfully in both of the scenes with each of the women. The story paces well alongside the plot and character development, and you get a sense of both setting and the personality of the characters."

"The concept is captivating and both Sarah and Sh'Hera's personalities emerge strongly from the start. It invites us to try and imagine how they could help each other. More so, their dangerous situations hype up the stakes right away."

"It was clear you put a lot of thought into the naming of different characters and locations in this story, and the saying that Sh’Hera uses to engage the amulet is fun. You drew the two storylines together effectively as it becomes clear that Sh’Hera and Sarah are now inhabiting the same world."

However, I didn't progress beyond the first round of the competition. I might do another one in the future with NYC Midnight. Although, I am still licking my wounds and I know that to be a writer you must have thick skin. Yet, I can't get the feeling that the judges weren't just judging my work, but me personally. Though, I got to keep telling myself to shake it off.

I will add my story to this page a bit later. I may even take some of the criticism from the judges and develop a full fledge novel out of my short story. And who knows, I may end up publishing. But, everything in due course.

Lastly, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be turning this page and it's musings into a podcast. I am envisioning it as a podcast about writers, for writers, and by writers. The podcast is currently in development and it is actually part of a project for my Toastmasters development course. The podcast will carry the same name and I hope it will be entertaining. So, as soon as I get the first episode published, then I will let you know my faithful reader. Until then, always be In The Write Mind!

#nyc midnight #toastmasters #writerslife #author #writerscommunity #speaking #podcast #short story

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eyanril · 4 years ago

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2020 Fic Year in Review

Thanks for the tag @phelfromgrace!

Total number of completed stories: 1 fanfic + 7 original fiction

Total number of words: 58,230 (fanfic) + roughly 10,250 (OF)

Fandoms written in: Star Wars ST (Gingerrose & Reylo)

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you’d expected?

Definitely way more. And this isn’t even counting all my unposted WIPs, which is another 10k+. I blame working from home and the ability to turn my chair from my work computer to my personal computer and jot down dialogue and snippets, etc., while I’m waiting for the stupid VPN and the work server to do its thing.

What’s your own favourite story of the year?

Probably Second Skin, because it was so effortless. I wrote it over like four days and it just felt right.

Did you take any writing risks this year?

Does writing a post-apocalyptic story about sexual slavery count as a risk? :P LOL Just the fact that I started posting fanfic again after a 12-year hiatus was a huge risk for me, but the response I’ve gotten has been very affirming.

Do you have any fanfic or profic goals for the new year?

Finish at least one of my WIPs (“It All Starts With Wanting” being the prime candidate). Actually start submitting OF stories to literary fiction mags and somehow get one thing published (I’ve got about 15 stories of varying lenghts that I’ve written for NYC Midnight comps over the last 3 years that I need to edit and/or flesh out).