#or being a filler article in a newspaper

[ongoing-catastrophe]

This is honestly one of the greatest barriers in my putting my work out there. I have faith in my essays, and my short stories, and even my poetry, but I dont want to advertise myself. I hate the idea of posting my face on a public account (all my personal accounts are private), I hate having to essentially sell myself online for free for an undecided amount of time just to make publishers pay attention or give me a chance.

The literary landscape has become, in a sense, fast fashion-esque. And I hate it with all my heart.

More than that, you’ve got to actually spend your time doing this stuff on the off chance that the algorithm picks it up and people care about what you have to say. You’ve got to spend your time doing this even though it’s corny and cringe and your friends from high school or college will probably laugh as you “try to become an influencer.” You’ve got to do it even when you feel like you have absolutely nothing to say, because the algorithm demands you post anyway. You have to do it even if you’re from a culture where doing any self-promotion is looked upon as inherently negative, or if you’re a woman for whom bragging carries an even greater social stigma than it already does. You’ve got to do it even though the coolest thing you can do is not have to. You’ve got to offer your content to the hellish, overstuffed, harassment-laden, uber-competitive attention economy because otherwise no one will know who you are. In a recent interview with the Guardian, the author Naomi Klein said the biggest change in the world since No Logo, her 1999 book on consumerism and inescapable branding, came out was that “neoliberalism has created so much precarity that the commodification of the self is now seen as the only route to any kind of economic security. Plus social media has given us the tools to market ourselves nonstop.”

Oh hell yes. An article that supports my half-joke that a corporate app's demand for constant self-promo is technically classist.

[slocumjoe]

Peer-Reviewing “The Synthetic Truth.”

And a long rant about irresponsible journalism

This will be a long read. As mentioned before, I was going into careers for this thing. But I’m not anymore, it’s been a while, and I’m doing this for fun in my free time. So, if you notice something I don’t, feel free to point it out. The coolest thing about my Piper rants are the other writers nodding furiously. But at the same time, disagreement is a source of learning, so don’t be shy if you have a counter-point to anything.

The point of this is to pick apart Piper’s reporting and figure out everything wrong with it. Why? Because people agree with me when I say she’s bad at her job, but I don’t think they understand just how bad. The articles themselves are long, boring slogs to read through, full of filler paragraphs and unimaginative ways of making a point. They’re forgettable. Pair that with the fact that many likely haven’t read them, and it’s easy to buy into Piper’s shtick of being a sharp, charismatic field journalist. 

Consider this post a refund. 

Noodles. We all eat them. We all love them. And Diamond City's Power Noodles has supplied this sustenance for the past fifteen years. From the stilted mechanical cadence of Takahashi's programmed Japanese, to the fragrant steam that wafts from each bowl, to the scalding tang of each delicious mouthful - the ordering and eating of noodles is but one of many shared human experiences. Or is it?

October, 2287

The Synthetic Truth

By

Piper Wright

This opening is weak and poorly connects to the next paragraph. The thesis of this article seems to be that Diamond City has a synth issue; we’ll get to that later. Noodles have nothing to do with the overall idea of the article, and she’s wasting a lot of ink on it. Remember, this is a post-apocalypses newspaper. You’d think she’d want to make things easy on her printing press and not waste her resources.

Now, the closing line here is awful. I’ve seen classmates ripped to shreds for hypothetical questions. Do not ask hypothetical questions, especially if you’re not going to outright respond to them. It’s a lazy way of getting to your point. I can just see my writing workshop teacher’s red ink on this one. 

Also, I have two nitpicks. Firstly, the description of the ‘noodle experience’ doesn’t work. It described Takahashi, but then the noodles. If it was Takahashi’s Japanese, then something else, then noodles, it would work better. When doing a three-point description, you want 1-1-1 or 3 of one thing. This is 1-2. Doing 1-1-1-1, or four points, is on shaky grounds. 3 is a magic number; not too little, not too much.

Secondly, the line “And Diamond City’s Power Noodles has supplied this sustenance for the past fifteen years” is awkward. With the first three sentences, this paragraph opens with “Noodles. We eat noodles. We Love noodles. Power Noodles makes noodles.” It’s clunky. I won’t suggest fixes because the entire paragraph needs to be thrown away.

I was struck by this very question as I sat at the counter of Power Noodles last Wednesday night, just after 5:00 pm, enjoying a dinner I had so many times before. That's when I noticed our very own Mayor McDonough sidle up to a stool, and engage in the very same ritual. Right hand extending. Mouth opening. Teeth chewing. Yes, eating noodles. The shared experience of almost every Diamond City resident.

This paragraph also needs cutting. Really look at the content of it. It describes the act of eating food. This paragraph wastes ink and paper, time, and most importantly, reader attention. The average person is not going to sit down and read through this, Piper. Aside from the creepy, stalker-like tone of this paragraph, it’s also counter-intuitive to her point.

Piper is trying to convince everyone McDonough is a synth. Here, she describes him doing something that would be very odd for an Institute agent; he goes and gets dinner at the same place she does, while she’s there. Knowing he’d be scrutinized for it. This paints the rest of the article in an unflattering light, as Piper is accusing McDonough of being a synth, while not providing proof, at the same time she’s describing ordinary behavior. 

This paragraph also fails to connect to her hypothetical question. Piper asks the question, and describes when she herself asked it. She doesn’t properly acknowledge it. This is a journalism crime. Hypothetical questions are bad, and using one, then shuffling past it, is even worse. So much red ink needed here.

So it must have also seemed to the residents of Diamond City nearly sixty years ago, on an uncharacteristically warm May evening in 2229, as they sat around this very same counter. But that was before the days of Takahashi and his noodles, when the bar served not noodles, but ice cold Nuka-Colas, frothy beers, and stiff shots of whiskey. The barman's name was Henry, and that night, he facilitated the shared human experiences of drinking, smoking, talking and laughing. That is, until tragedy struck.

The focus has shifted from an odd, pointless note about McDonough eating dinner, to the Broken Mask incident. The first paragraph is about noodles, the second is about McDonough eating noodles, and this third paragraph is about how this noodle stand used to be a bar. If Piper was writing about the noodle stand itself, this would be acceptable with some changes. But this isn’t about noodles, it’s about synths in Diamond City, but we’re still talking about the damn noodle stand.

Some nitpicks: ‘uncharacteristically’ can be cut; ‘facilitated’ is an odd word choice; 1-1-1-1 description use, ‘talking’ and ‘laughing’ could be lumped in together under ‘merriment’, ‘partying’, or some such. 

This is a matter of personal taste, but I would have left out the final line. That way, it would be of some shock when the tragedy actually strikes. It would better fit the tone Piper is going for. If this article were more objective and historical, prefacing that there is tragedy would be appropriate. 

There aren't many among us who are even old enough to remember that evening - although some of the city's Ghoul residents certainly could have, had they not been forcibly removed, thanks to Mayor McDonough's anti-Ghoul decree of 2282. But there is one person among us who does remember, distinctly, the events of that evening: respected matriarch Eustace Hawthorne, who recounted her story in a Publick Occurrences exclusive interview.

Unless Piper wants to make a point about the ghoul exile, half of this paragraph is unwarranted. Simply take the last part about Eustace and put it on the end of the last paragraph. “Eustace Hawthorne remembers the evening well.” That’s all you have to do. Saves ink, time, and reader attention. 

"Oh, I was there all right. Sitting right at the bar, sure as you're sitting in front of me now. Twenty-two years old or so, and just looking to have a good time. I was safe behind the Wall - we all were - so what was the harm? And let me tell you, that Mr. Carter made it easy. He came into town earlier that day, said he was from out west somewhere. It didn't really matter. What did matter was his smile, and his laugh, and the way he'd make everyone feel at ease. That night, at the bar, we all just sort of crowded around him. Everyone wanted to exchange a word, or hear about the state of the Commonwealth. And Mr. Carter, he was all too happy to oblige. It was just so wonderful. Until it wasn't."

What Eustace is describing is, of course, is the infamous event known as the "Broken Mask," when the people of the Commonwealth learned for the first time that the Institute, the shadowy scientific organization responsible for the creation of combat androids, had actually succeeded in creating a model so advanced, it could effortlessly infiltrate human society. Unbeknownst to the people of Diamond City, the Institute had somehow evolved their androids into true synthetic humans. Synths.

Eustace continued her account of that evening, and the moment when things turned sinister, and the truth about Mr. Carter was revealed.

"We'd been drinking, and carrying on, must have been three hours. Mr. Carter had four or five drinks in that time. He seemed a bit drunk, I guess, like the rest of us. Then something just sort of happened. He was smiling, but the smile sort of went from his face, all in an instant. And then his cheek started twitching, kind of funny. And I remember watching him, clear as if it happened just yesterday. He reached inside his coat, took out a revolver, and then 'Blam!' - He shot Henry, the barman, right in the head. Didn't hesitate, didn't show any emotion - Mr. Carter killed Henry as casually as if he were paying him for a drink. But his cheek never did stop twitching. Let me tell you, all Hell broke loose after that."

"After he shot Henry, that Mr. Carter shot three or four other people, too. Like I said, all Hell broke loose. The guards came running, they opened fire, and Mr. Carter he kept shooting, and throwing people around left and right. Finally, those guards put him down. Seemed like they had killed a man who had flipped his lid. Gone crazy. And he lay there like a dead crazy man, sure enough. God, it was horrible. But then we saw the plastic and the metal - this was one of them early synths, you see - and we realized it wasn't a man at all. It was then we all knew. The Institute wasn't just 'out there.' The Institute was everywhere now. Among us."

Oh, Piper. Sweetheart, god bless. 

Never, ever, ever use a full quote like this. Ever! A cursory Google search will tell you to use quotes sparingly. Any middle-school teacher will tell you to not just drop them in and leave, like you’ve written a paragraph. Every writing resource out there will tell you to do something with a quote, and give it a point. This paragraph fails on all metrics.

When using large blocks of quotations like Piper is doing, for the love of god, paraphrase. Piper, in this section, has two paragraphs; one is saying that Eustace’s quote isn’t done yet, and the other is describing what Eustace is already describing. If I put anything like this in front of any of my teachers, they’d call in for a welfare check, asking if I’d lost my mind over night.. Piper writes nothing of her own substance here. You cannot use a quote like this. Sure, this is an interview, and maybe interview articles have different rules, but surely this is a massive amount of ink, spent recounting Eustace’s winding manner of speech.

I’m doing the same thing here, but the difference is that I am directly examining each paragraph; Piper is just dropping in her quotes and continuing on. This is a rookie mistake. I know Piper wasn’t properly taught these things, but it still is a sign of weak, purposeless writing. If you have a point, and you care about it, and, crucially, it has the legs, you don’t need to prop it up with a quote dump like this. 

It was never determined precisely why the synth known as Mr. Carter went on his killing spree. Some suggested he had somehow been remotely controlled by the Institute, who wanted to test his combat effectiveness. Still others felt he had simply malfunctioned (a hypothesis supported by the twitching cheek), and was never meant to kill anyone. But at that time, the "why" hardly seemed important. What mattered was that the humans of the Commonwealth had been truly infiltrated by an organization whose intentions and motives were, and still are, a complete mystery - using a model of synth even less advanced than the ones the Institute has in service today.

I can’t tell if this paragraph looks alright to me because of the horror of the quotation section, or it’s genuinely inoffensive. It’s boring, sure, but it has a point. It lays out the theories behind Mr. Carter’s attack, and then pushes the point that it doesn’t matter; there are now synths among them, hiding in plain sight. The last sentence is a bit of a run-on, though. It could have been broken up into two sentences. 

This paragraph gets a solid B. Unimaginative, a bit too long, but it has a purpose and fulfills it competently. It uses too many adverbs, though, but that’s a common issue throughout the article. Precisely, remotely, simply, hardly, truly - it’s a small thing, but once you get an eye for it, you’ll never stop noticing it. 

Which brings us to noodles. Specifically, the noodles consumed by Mayor McDonough last Wednesday night, in the same spot that Mr. Carter the synth went haywire, and mercilessly killed several people - after spending hours sharing an experience the people of Diamond City assumed was reserved for members of the human race. They were wrong.

This paragraph attempts to connect McDonough to Mr. Carter through this stand, citing it as a common denominator of Institute meddling, the heart of Diamond City now invaded. But she does this through the fact that Mr. Carter went haywire here, and the fact that McDonough eats here. This is false correlation. Piper herself eats here, but in her eyes, McDonough taking an action that Mr. Carter also took is proof that the Institute is pulling the strings. To her, this noodle stand is a symbol of a lost security. But objectively, she’s still just talking about McDonough getting dinner.

This is not how you do set up and pay-off. I’ll give a demonstration of tying the ending back to your opening at, obviously, the end of this post.

Are we?

You ended. On a two-word hypothetical question. 

If my teacher received anything, no matter how well the rest of it was, with a two-word hypothetical question for a closing paragraph, she would have stood up on her desk, pointed at it with her red pen, and gone into exhaustive detail for the remainder of class why you don’t do this.

But for all the bad writing decisions in this article, they aren’t the worst thing.

Let’s talk about journalism, and the responsibilities of it.

Accountability 

A keen eye will have noticed the inflammatory nature of this article.

This article is somewhat insidious, as the wording and topic choice leads to a subtle hint towards paranoia. “They were wrong...Are we?” wants the reader to wonder if they, themselves, are in danger of a synth going haywire, or a synth walking past them like anybody else. Piper wants her reader to keep this in mind, every single day. She wants them to never not think about the Institute infiltrating their home. 

Piper writes about nothing, but the subtext is everything. She encourages a reader to view everyone with suspicion; after all, if a synth can eat noodles and drink and make merry with anyone, how do you trust anyone? It’s a valid point, yes. But it’s a shortsighted one. How do you trust anyone in the wasteland, synth or not? Someone could be trying to rob you, sell you into slavery, kill you. Piper singles out the Institute as the only real threat in her articles. Need I remind you, Piper is unaware of Quincy’s recent siege and take over by the Gunners? 

Quincy was a large, thriving city, and was a major trading hub. There’s a reason Piper picked Quincy as your fake origin. The wealth and resources are why the Gunners attacked in the first place. It was a massacre. On a trading hub. Think of what that would do for the weak economy. Think of how many people would know the traveling traders, or had friends and family living in Quincy. Piper doesn’t go to the Quincy survivors for their account, or Preston for his side of the story as the failed protector. To Piper, the Institute is the most urgent threat to the Commonwealth. She fixates on it. The Institute is a threat, yes. Remember University Point? But Piper doesn’t write about that, either, and there’s been time for the news of U.P to reach Diamond City. For Quincy, I’m willing to forgive her. It was a recent attack. But as a reporter, Piper should be keeping her ear to ground for these sorts of things. 

A quick list of things Piper should be writing about, for the good of her community.

The Ghoul exodus, and the pointlessness of racism in a time where you need every friendly hand you can get.

The Gunners and their encroaching presence in the Commonwealth

Quincy being commandeered. 

The Brotherhood rolling into the Commonwealth.

News about crops and economy from other settlements.

Homesteading information that would be useful for a post-apocalypse home, such as preserving, tailoring, and the like. 

The Railroad.

Goodneighbor, and the difference of leadership between Hancock and his brother. 

Dangerous areas in the Commonwealth, safe routes you can take to other locations.

Merchant routes.

Bunker Hill.

The rebuilding of the Minutemen. 

Institute top-side activity, such as in University Point, the Mayoral Bunker in the west, and more.

The destruction of the Commonwealth Provisional Government, and why the Institute wouldn’t want the Commonwealth to be united.

But that isn’t what she writes about. Piper writes about synths in Diamond City. Diamond City is already paranoid about the Institute after the Broken Mask Incident. Piper can write about the Institute; she just doesn’t do it in meaningful ways. Her paper literally has an advice column; this isn’t a reputable source of information, it’s her own think-pieces.

If I was a journalist in the wasteland, I would be trying to unify my community. I would be looking for important news, useful information and survival tips, and trying to find answers where there are questions. I would not be rallying my community against each other, telling them that our leader is a fraud, that any of them could be frauds. And then I wouldn’t insist to anyone willing to listen, that no one is believing me, despite the town being in a constant state of dread. 

That’s the real problem I have with Piper; she can’t take no for an answer, even when she’s getting ‘yes’. Piper’s articles are working, but because they can’t just throw McDonough out, she blames the residents of Diamond City. She calls them cowards, sheep, brown-nosing. The guards are talking about synths, the residents are talking about synths, people want Nick thrown out after all his good deeds because they just can’t trust him anymore. If you walk around Diamond City, people will tell you they broke up with their girlfriend because she did something weird, so she must be a synth. Cathy at the barber thinks the mayor’s secretary is a synth, because her hair is too nice. The general store owner, Myrna, who has to interact with more people than most, can barely run her business because she’s so terrified that she isn’t interacting with who she thinks she is. 

And Kyle, a DC resident, thinks something killed his brother, Riley, and stole his face. Angry, grieving, deluded, he tries to put down the mockery, only for guards to execute him. There were no synths, but someone still died because of the fear that there might have been. 

And where does this happen?

In front of the noodle stand. 

(See? That’s how you bring things back around.)

Piper writes that the Institute first invaded Diamond City at this stand, the heart of town, and now, a synth leads Diamond City while eating here. But the Institute isn’t what is hurting Diamond City. It’s fear. Everyone turns on everyone else, for fear they’re a synth. There is still violence, for fear of history repeating itself. 

Fear that Piper will not stop perpetuating.

[cryleforhelp]

do you have any k2 fanfic recommendations??

HI ANO N Very honored u came to me for this lol i'm also going to be including fic recs my friends gave to me because i haven't been reading (ive been busy lately!) fic recs below the cut!

Mysterion Begins | K2/Kysterion | T | TW: None author: indirectkissesiniceland I'm still reading this! The chapters feel short but the pacing + story is so good. Kenny and Kyle's relationship in here is sooo ;;_;; it's so soft to me and I'm such a sucker for pining.

SUMMARY: Four years of college didn't get Kyle any closer to figuring out what he wants to do with his life, but his friend Jimmy pulls through for him with an opening in the newspaper office where he works. Newbies have never been known to get glamorous work, of course, and Kyle's first assignment proves it: a filler piece on a costumed vigilante calling himself "Mysterion." When a dangerous situation brings him face-to-face with the hero himself, however, Kyle—and the growing number of readers his articles on the friendly neighborhood superhero bring in—seeks the answer to a question that burns within him: Who is Mysterion? it's three am, i hope you're home | K2/Kysterion | T | TW: None author: JuniperTrees AGH.. SORRY I'M A SUCKER FOR KYSTERION. THIS ONE WAS VERY GOOD, I want to tell you my favorite part but I don't want to spoil it for you!! I think when you read it, you'll know which part it is (hint: it's near the end. LMFAO) SUMMARY: Kyle knows what he wants, but Mysterion keeps climbing in through his window. back to december | K2 | T | TW: None author: JuniperTrees AJGSKLKJHFG9AOJLGKHSHSJODGDKLHJSAGNBLDKFSHJSJGISLKBMSDHJSOIGKLSAGJNASKHSAJSGJSALDK TTHE Y FALL IN LOVE. AND THEY GROW OLD. AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. One of my favorite fics, I just really love seeing K2 grow up together and the way the author wrote it was phenomenal. SUMMARY: Kenny has always been involved with Kyle’s holiday celebrations in one way or another. Take Me High and I'll Sing | K2/Kysterion | E | TW: domestic violence, smut author: Courtanie sorry for being kysterion trash i didnt mean it. i actually really enjoyed this fic, i think the author did a great job on portraying kyle's character when it comes to him being concerned about kenny being mysterion (idk if that makes sense). it gave me a rollercoaster of feeLS and ugh... its... its soft. im so bad at giving opinions im sorry LMFAO SUMMARY: For far too many years Kyle has watched Kenny slipping in and out of his heroic persona, wondering each night if it would be their last together. But when it's his needs stacked against the safety of the rest of their town, finding common ground is far more difficult than either of them could have accounted for. Lionheart | K2, Creek | T | TW: None author: indirectkissesiniceland i haven't read this one, yet! though, my good friends recommended it twice AND it's by indi so i trust that this is v v v v good :) SUMMARY: For far too many years Kyle has watched Kenny slipping in and out of his heroic persona, wondering each night if it would be their last together. But when it's his needs stacked against the safety of the rest of their town, finding common ground is far more difficult than either of them could have accounted for.

Ok, Cupid It Isn't Funny Anymore | K2 | T | TW: None author: Courtanie this one is my favorite because i love the oblivious pining and k2 being the dumbest people on planet earth when it comes to each other. stan is so sick of their bullshit here KLJDSGLKSGJSDFLKJ SUMMARY: Years of sabotaging one another's dates and dancing around feelings have led Kenny and Kyle to fall into states of pitiable loneliness. Living under the same roof sure doesn't help the situation, but some vodka might. Playback | K2 | T | TW: None author: Corrupted_Quiet i love britney spears ok and kenny here loves her too. this is one of my favorite fics !! i hope you like it as much as i did too, i thought it was really cute and the way author uses music here is fun! SUMMARY: Kenny's always listened pop music, with its bumping beats, simple lyrics, and easiness at capturing the complexities of love. Sometimes he feels himself in those songs, especially when pining over Kyle Broflovski. No one else knows that part, though, secret kept between himself and his playlist of Britney songs. But one day, his music decides to stop playing quietly, and start blasting out of his head. Oh, baby, baby, how was he supposed to know?

Daywalkerpox | K2/Kysterion (Side Stendy & Creek) | E | TW: sexual content author: Zormikea THIS WAS THE FIC THAT MADE ME SHIP K2 EVEN FURTHER. I have to reread this fic because it's been a while but oh my god i could not stop reading it when i first saw it.. SUMMARY: It’s not love. It’s not affection. It must be a disease, then.

Kyle wonders if it’s curable. Kenny knows it isn’t. Peering Through Windows | K2, Cryle (Side Stendy) | E | TW: graphic depictions of violence, non-con, major character death, sexual content author: jwink85 PLEASE be super cautious going into this fic as it does include a lot of heavy topics and depictions of said warnings listed above. that being said, this was one of the first fics that i read coming back to the fandom (i found it through the animatic based off this fic LOL). personally i like it, i really enjoy the author's storytelling here and how she takes care of certain events happening in the fic. i get that this might not be everyone's cup of tea though! please note that craig here plays a heavy villain in this story and kyle is the victim of the villain in this story, so if they're one of your favorite characters and you don't want to see them this way i think it's best to avoid this one! SUMMARY: Kyle was so in love with the good doctor until he revealed himself to be a monster...by then, it was too late. Fell In Love with a Dead Boy | K2 | T | TW: None (character death but it's kenny's) author: spirograph I NEVER READ THIS ONE!! BUT MY FRIEND SAID THIS AS A RECOMMENDATION SO I'm going to put this down here for you! I hope you like it, anon! SUMMARY: In the 3rd grade Kenny dies for the first time. OKAY, I'll stop here. Let me know what you think when you read some of these, anon!!!!! if i had to suggest what to start off with first i'd suggest mysterion begins and/or daywalkerpox!!!!! two very very very good fics!!!!!!!! if i have anymore in mind, i'll reblog this with add ons!!!!!!!!!!! :DDD @herbietales and @allymumu helped me out with fic recs so if needed, you can ask them too!! <333

[vialae]

Past DU ask: 55, 63 and 80 about Kaidos?

55. Did the gazette ever print an article about them (or their deeds), what's the headline and what did they feel about it?

Most likely when he was younger and much less skilled, in that limbo between killing his adoptive family and being taken into the Temple of Bhaal, something was probably printed. I think I briefly mentioned it in that fic I did from Sceleritas' POV (Know That I Love You Most) that there were rumours around the Lower City of 'a creature with eyes that burned as hot as Avernus' killing animals and people.

From that little bit, I feel that Baldur's Mouth Gazette would probably do one of those articles of 'who is this ghost lurking in the shadows??? how much do we know about this monster???' just for it to end in them not knowing really anything at all about him.

Within the moment, Kai was probably freaking out about too many other things to even read a newspaper and ultimately would have been unaware he was turning into an urban legend. However, Sceleritas Fel easily could have little cutouts of the articles and then show them to Kai later on in a 'look how you started out so young!! oh im so proud of you!! type thing. And then at that point, he likely would just be frustrated he was ever so sloppy to let something like these articles even have a chance to come about.

63. The sweet sweet smell of gore, we've all heard about it. But is it really sweet to them? Or does it just smell like metal and rot?

I'm sure Bhaal would have put something in a Bhaalspawn to hardwire them to like the smell of blood.

Kaidos wouldn't be any different, with or without the insanely sensitive sense of smell I gave him lol. I feel like he would like it, but then he is covered in it so much he becomes immune to the smell and forgets what it's actually like.

I also take from that one bit in the colony under Moonrise where if you take Astarion to Durge's smashed up pod, he can recognise the smell of the blood being your own specific 'bouquet'. I feel like Kai could do that too, and he would especially like the smell of, say, well fed nobility (and gortash). They eat rich meats, and bread without fillers added to them, and so they probably smell like an absolute treat to Kai when split open.

80. What went through your head when you crafted these little Durge doll, dear creator? Are they a self inserted of sorts or as far removed from you as possible?

When I first decided to make a Durge, I already knew the spoiler about them being Bhaalspawn. So I went into it with mainly just the image of a guy who could do all those horrible things, but just with the brute force of his bare fists. So not only did I want a monk, but I also wanted a guy that just really looked the part of being evil and strong. I went with a tiefling not only because obviously they are very cool but also the vanilla face that I use for Kai?? SO gorgeous and handsome. Every time I see another person using that same head I feel like that wojak of the guy pointing.

But Kaidos is nothing at all like me (thankfully lol). But me making big strong scary tiefling came first, then all the extra personality parts of him beyond canonical durge traits came second after I properly got to learn the origin story.

I guess it's just very lucky that I really loved my first durge this much (and I genuinely can't see myself ever making another at this point) and accidentally got colour schemes that fit the theming of the Bhaalist cutscenes.

[ayeshadhall]

This is the cover photo of the article in Marie Claire titled I Spent a Whole Week Without Looking in a Mirror—And Here's What Happened by Elizabeth Kiefer. Pixel Perfect and The Age of Instagram Face talk about how digital retouching and penetrative retouching like Botox and filler have created a completely false reality that appears in our magazines, newspapers, and phones. This forces people (mostly women) to look at their own mirrors and expect to see the perfection that is reflected in the ad campaigns of their favorite celebrity and when they do not, they are left with a “bottomless feeling” that Jia felt after she visited plastic surgeons to gather research. Thus, I was drawn to this image as it talks about the same idea of scrutinizing oneself in the mirror as being an after effect of all the content we consume today.

[kaolinclaysupplier]

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The Role of Kaolin Clay in Eco-Friendly Manufacturing

As industries strive for sustainable practices, kaolin clay has gained popularity due to its natural and biodegradable nature. This mineral serves as a perfect substitute for synthetic materials, reducing the environmental footprint of manufacturing processes. Picture kaolin clay as the green superhero in the world of industrial materials, fighting against pollution and waste!

Applications of Kaolin Clay in the Paint Industry

Kaolin clay is an essential ingredient in paint formulations. It enhances the durability, opacity, and smoothness of the paint, resulting in a superior finish. Its ability to improve the flow of paint also leads to better application and coverage, making it a favorite among paint manufacturers.

Applications of Kaolin Clay in the Paper Industry

In the paper industry, kaolin clay acts as a filler and coating agent. It enhances the brightness and smoothness of paper products, contributing to their overall quality. Without kaolin clay, our newspapers and magazines might look a lot duller!

Kaolin Clay: A Sustainable Choice

Using kaolin clay aligns with the principles of sustainability. Its natural abundance means that it can be sourced with minimal environmental impact. Additionally, the production process for kaolin clay generates less waste compared to synthetic alternatives. It’s like choosing a reusable water bottle over single-use plastic—simple choices can make a significant difference!

The Sharad Group: Leading the Way

The Sharad Group, a prominent name among kaolin clay manufacturers, is dedicated to sustainable practices in the mineral processing industry. Their commitment to quality and eco-friendliness ensures that the kaolin clay they produce meets the needs of modern manufacturers while being gentle on the planet.

Future Trends in Kaolin Clay Production

As the demand for eco-friendly materials increases, kaolin clay production is expected to evolve. Innovations in extraction and processing techniques will enhance the efficiency and sustainability of kaolin clay manufacturing. Imagine a future where every product we use is not only effective but also environmentally friendly—kaolin clay is paving the way for that reality.

How to Choose the Right Kaolin Clay Manufacturer

When selecting a kaolin china clay manufacturer, consider factors such as sustainability practices, product quality, and customer support. Look for companies that prioritize eco-friendly processes, like The Sharad Group, a leading mineral processing company, which not only provide high-quality kaolin but also care for the environment.

Challenges in Kaolin Clay Sourcing

Despite its many benefits, sourcing kaolin clay can come with challenges. Issues such as supply chain disruptions, fluctuating prices, and regulatory concerns can impact the availability of this valuable resource. However, with the right partnerships and sustainable practices, these challenges can be effectively managed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, kaolin clay is indeed a key player in the future of eco-friendly manufacturing. Its unique properties and versatile applications make it an invaluable resource for the paint and paper industries. As manufacturers like The Sharad Group continue to champion sustainable practices, kaolin clay will play an even more significant role in creating a greener future.

FAQs

1. What is kaolin clay used for?

Kaolin clay is used primarily in the paint and paper industries, where it enhances quality, durability, and sustainability.

2. How does kaolin clay contribute to eco-friendly manufacturing?

Kaolin clay is a natural and biodegradable material that reduces the need for synthetic alternatives, thus lowering environmental impact.

3. What are the properties of kaolin clay?

Kaolin clay is known for its fine particle size, smooth texture, high purity, and non-toxic nature, making it suitable for various applications.

4. Who are the leading kaolin clay manufacturers?

The Sharad Group is one of the leading kaolin clay manufacturers, focusing on sustainable practices and high-quality products.

5. How can I ensure I'm choosing a sustainable kaolin clay supplier?

Look for suppliers who prioritize eco-friendly practices, maintain high product quality, and offer transparent sourcing methods.

[sandyhookhistory]

Morning, folks!

Please enjoy the (Thursday) December 9th,1943 edition of Fort Hancock's soldier-run newspaper, the "Sandy Hook Foghorn" which was issued Eighty Years Ago, today! A weekly publication, the paper represents an incredible "snapshot in time" of the day to day life of the Soldiers of Fort Hancock during World War 2.

This amazing historic resource comes from the holdings of the Monmouth County Historical Association in Freehold, NJ, where they are available to the public.

The Foghorn had an entirely enlisted staff, with a small board of officers as advisers. Printed on-site, it told the stories of the Post and our sister site, Fort Tilden, in Breezy Point, across the harbor.

Due to the heavily censored nature of the day - and being on the front lines of the Battle Of The Atlantic - you'll see that specific units and persons are mentioned via nicknames that would be known only to those stationed there, thus providing no useful information to the enemy.

Rounding out the paper are articles on upcoming recreation events, movies, VIPs, and a handful of one-panel cartoons, drawn by military personnel and "syndicated" across the services. Nearly every ship and post had their own newspapers, telling of the daily life at each location, and major stories, photos, and cartoons were used as filler across the board. Please remember that these stories, articles, photos, and cartoons are products of the era, and should be viewed as such - and not responded to in an inflammatory manner when seen through the views of 2023.

Of note, with Americans pouring into the Service by the millions, the military intentionally drew upon each new recruit's professional background as much as possible. This was especially seen in the technical services, aaanndd... the media.

Those troops who had served in civilian journalism as reporters, printers, broadcasters, and photographers often found themselves right back where they came from, now working in the Signal Corps or running post newspapers, such as the Foghorn.

The images are a little fuzzy, but by zooming in, you should be able to read them. Enjoy!

🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

🇺🇲🇺🇲 ** Please Like & Follow "Sandy Hook History" on Facebook & Instagram for more amazing maritime and military histories of the Garden State and New York Harbor as well as a review of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle Of The Atlantic and World War 2** 🇺🇲🇺🇲

Photos: Monmouth County Historical Association #visitmonmouth #newjerseybuzz #thejournalnj #locallivingnj #journeythroughjersey #centraljerseyexists #discovernj #yesnj #newjerseyhistory #newjerseyforyou #sandyhookbeach #sandyhooknj #sandyhookhistory #forthancockhistory #forthancock #battleoftheatlantic #foghorn #soldierrun #militarynews #randr #militaryjournalist #armynews #historicnewspapers #vintagenewspaper #forttilden #jerseyhistory #monmouthcountyhistory #highlandsnj #localnewspaper #localpaper

[honestmagpie]

I actually have an only half-serious theory that states that due to some (Almost definitely filler) text on some of the newspapers that I squinted at for far too long, there's actually a mention of Imperial Japan near an article about the Psychonauts defeating Maligula. But Japan stopped being an empire in 1947. So one could technically argue that Maligula was defeated in 47 and Oleander just doesn't know the dates very well. (This same guy wears a German WWI helmet and what appears to be an iron cross in spite of not being able to recognize Sasha is German).

Like I know that's almost definitely not true but if you're going to pick random text, maybe just use lorem ipsum instead of filling your newspaper with actual text that people WILL read, Doublefine. 👀 (I like to stare at game assets, sue me).

There is nothing proving that Psychonauts takes place in 1982.

I know it’s not a huge deal but this is such a weird bit of misinformation that’s treated like a fact and so many people are just… not questioning where this comes from. So… I’m going to go into where that year comes from, and why the “proof” of it doesn’t really hold water.

The date comes from a handful of flawed logic, starting with this:

[ID: A texture from Psychonauts 2 of a magazine reading “YOU! Monthly, Oct 1962″ with a portrait of Ford Cruller. The main article is “MEET FORD CRULLER: THE ECCENTRIC PSYCHIC WHO SLEW A MONSTER WITH HIS MIND.” Other articles read “FIX YOUR BRAIN IN 2 EASY STEPS” and “Better Yams in 5 minute or less.” /end ID]

As you can see, this magazine was released in 1962 and features an interview with Ford, who “slew a monster”–AKA Maligula–”with his mind.”

Pretty definitive proof that the Battle of Grulovia happened in 1962, right?

…Well, no, not really.

The problem is, this interview did indeed take place after the Battle of Grulovia… but we don’t know how long after the battle. It could have taken place the same year, or it could have taken place years later. We don’t know.

The other part of the equation comes from this:

[ID: A screenshot from Psychonauts 2, showing Raz and Oleander on the jet. Oleander’s caption reads, “Maligula? She’s been dead for twenty years!” /end ID]

Throughout the game, we see characters say that Maligula’s been dead for twenty years, or that the Battle of Grulovia happened twenty years ago.

So if that interview happened the same year as the battle, then that plus twenty is 1982! So that’s when the game takes place, right?

…Again, no. Even if the interview were to take place the same year of the Battle of Grulovia, that still wouldn’t guarantee the game took place in 1982. This is because we don’t know if “twenty years” is a rounded figure or an exact one.

You’ve probably heard some people say (or said it yourself) that an event that happened in the year 2000 happened “two decades ago.” That is, of course, not literal–it’s a rounded date. The year 2000 was 23 years ago, but it’s simpler to give a rounded figure.

The characters in the game may very well be using “twenty years” as a general rounded figure, which could mean anywhere from twenty years exactly, to 24 or maybe even 25 years.

In other words, neither the magazine date nor the “twenty years” quotes are reliable, exact sources to pintpoint the year in which the game takes place.

If you want to headcanon that the games take place in 1982, that’s fine, but as far as canon goes… well… there is no canon date.

[creatingnikki]

twenty-six things I’m grateful for at twenty-six 

growing up. the feelings of helplessness and frustration slowly washing away as you gain access to money and information. 

strawberry cream cakes, strawberry cheesecakes, strawberry chocolate brownie cakes, strawberries. 

a good night’s sleep. sleep that is 7+ hours, sleep that is not disturbed or day time sleep. but sleep at the “normal” night hours, sleep that is deep and restful. 

book readers who annotate their books and write the year/place of when they were reading it on the first page because when I come across second-hand books like that my heart.

fleeting intimacies. those brief, beautiful conversations and moments you share with strangers that you will never meet again. at a café, at the airport, at the open mic night. connections that are purely happenstance and a time being in your life. the beginning is the ending. but it doesn’t matter. they add something, if not to your life, but to your energy. even if you can’t trace it. 

the concept of crying. the release, the relief. if I didn’t have this, if I didn’t have this way of letting out my disappointment, overwhelmingness, tiredness, frustration, sadness, and pain, what would I do? what would I even do. 

dog/cat/pet owners who understand that just because they love their pet not everyone has to and some people are genuinely afraid and not horrible human beings for not going awww but uhhh when they see their pet.

translators, more specifically book translators. thank you so much for all your effort into making sure I can enjoy such beautiful literature from other cultures and languages. 

people who realize they were wrong about a certain perspective or life philosophy or stance and then course correct and acknowledge the same.

credit cards and essentially having quick access to credit in times of absolute need (fine line between hating cc and capitalism and using it to your advantage, I know). 

people who introduce me to new imagery which sounds so simple but hits my brain like the freshest of oxygen like my father saying my mother’s face began to glow like the moon when she smiled or a tumblr writer saying something makes their heart beam. 

earrings. long earrings that dangle against my neck and make me feel grown up, sometimes graceful, sometimes sensual. other types of earrings too. jhumkas. hoops. 

sunflowers. filler flowers. flower shops that keep newspaper to wrap flowers in. people who show up to my apartment with flowers. 

emails. I like that emails can be that perfect distance in communication but also so very efficient. they don’t demand instant replies like instant messaging. functional and timely. emails at work that exist in place of long meetings and emails from friends and lovers. my inbox feels like a mix of a treasure chest of precious words and an arcade of advertisements. 

older women who look at me not as competition but with this sentiment of wanting to protect/guide me, with this feeling of fondness, words of advice that aren’t patronizing but so very well meaning. 

good-quality, well-researched, engaging articles/blogs. blogs full of facts and figures that put things into perspective. blogs written in a witty and humorous tone that feel like you’re having a conversation with someone smart and warm. 

my family. my friends. for loving me even when I am difficult. even when I am bratty. for understanding the subtext of my words and actions. for accepting me even when I don’t accept myself. for reminding me of who I am when I can no longer understand the concept of self. thank you. 

clothing brands that have sizes bigger than large. clothing brands that have beautiful clothes and designs for sizes other than xxxxxxs. 

people who know how to make important days about you like your birthday and your first day at work and your heartbreak date idk. just people who aren’t so dense and don’t know what their energy/focus needs to be at what time when with others. 

glitter. glittery eyeshadow. glittery phone covers. glittery everything. all that glitters may not be gold but it does something to my brain and I love it. 

people who can help me let loose. goofy and silly and light doesn’t come naturally to me. my disposition is pensive, internally. even though externally I may seem so exuberant.  

context. the context behind a painting at an art gallery. context behind a meme. nothing is anything without context. so people who give you context, content that gives you context. 

selfies. give me a sense of control over capturing myself and my moments because with someone else behind the camera I am as awkward as awkward can get. 

the moon. stars. the sky. faraway things that are more complicated than just pretty things that make me calm. that make my mind calm. that make my heart feel less lonely. 

space. physical space, emotional availability, mental headspace. in me and in others. required but rare. 

all my past selves, all my younger selves for being. thank you for your wholesomeness, thank you for your resilience, thank you for your pureness, thank you for your decisions, thank you for your hope, thank you for your hard work, thank you for your crazy, your messy, your real, your beautiful. thank you for it all.

today is my twenty-sixth birthday and I wanted to take a bit to list down everything that makes my life lighter. there’s much more but now it’s time to go eat cake and click blurry, happy selfies. 

[quietlywatchingwritingreading]

my opinion about the flowery newspaper article is that it was intended as something for filler. 

Forgive me for being unfamiliar with the newspaper, but I believe sometimes there are slow news days. But there’s still a certain level of physical paper that has to be filled out. Empty spaces would look unprofessional. 

So submitting long, verbose articles that can easily be edited/cut  for space makes sense to me. It’s easier to remove text then it is to make up additional text, especially on a deadline. 

[peterjakes]

Frank x Karen ‘a million smiles cover your heart’

Karen and Frank meet in the park. They become closer, closer than before. They end up exactly where they need to be.

a slightly shorter fit this time! I wasn't too sure about this one, felt like it was too much filler but now I'm finished with it I'm actually pretty pleased with it! hope you enjoy x

also posted on ao3; https://archiveofourown.org/works/37680754

“You’re moving up in the world.” Frank gestured towards the newspaper in his hand. He’d flipped to the middle, and there it was. Another article on the great work of Nelson and Murdock and Page. It was short, could only be a few paragraphs long but it was enough. Enough to make him feel a sense of pride. Pride for Karen. She’d already done so much and was bound to do a whole lot more. He was sure she’d probably already seen it but wanted to show it to her regardless. It was as if he wanted to show her how much he cared. In the past he’d kept tabs on her, wanting to make sure she was keeping safe, make sure she was good. But now it was different. Of course, he still wanted to make sure she was safe, but something had shifted. He didn’t need to keep ‘an eye’ on her, not anymore. She was her own person. But he wanted to keep up with her. Her life, her news, things that had happened at work, everything. Frank wasn’t exactly sure when this had happened. But it was a feeling he didn’t want to let go. He was letting Karen in, just as she’d let him.

The two had met in Central Park, one late afternoon. Work had almost destroyed Karen this week she and needed a nice distraction. Her workload just seemed to rise and rise with no true light at the end of the tunnel. She couldn’t complain though, this was what she wanted to do, what she had to do. For herself and everyone else. She missed being in Frank’s company, though. It wasn’t as if she spent every waking moment thinking about him, but he often plagued her mind. No matter how much she tried to not get so distracted.

Frank’s week hadn’t been as busy as Karen’s. He had tried to occupy himself, keep himself busy. The hustle and bustle of New York made it pretty easy at times. But sometimes you could feel like loneliest person in the world. That loneliness and anger, those feelings Frank had gotten so use to feeling, that didn’t feel as strong now. Sometimes they were still there, of course they were. But whenever Frank thought of Karen or was with Karen, something better took their place. Something more hopeful. Something better.

“Maybe.” Karen was biting her lip, her eyes focused on the photograph in the article. This had become a weekly occurrence; it was rare that the smaller cases got any publicity but that wasn’t why they did it. It certainly wasn’t why Karen did. She just wanted to help people. But that didn’t stop her from feeling just a little embarrassed. She couldn’t exactly pinpoint why, maybe it was Frank. Of course, it was Frank. It always was.

“Don’t be so coy.”

“I’m not, I’m not. I…I don’t know.” Shaking her head, Karen’s fingers found a loose strand of hair covering her face and tucked it behind her ear. Karen knew what they were doing was good work, of course she did. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have doubts. There were never any doubts about Foggy or Matt. No, the doubts always laid with herself. It was hard, trying to shake off that feeling. Trying to rid the idea that she was a bad person. That anything bad was her fault. That she didn’t deserve a good life. Karen had never been good at taking praise. But there was something different when the praise came from Frank. It never felt superficial or false. Frank was many things, but he wasn’t a liar. He was always honest with Karen. Always. Maybe not in the way she had expected. But still.

“You’re doing good work.” Frank said this so sincerely, as if he couldn’t believe anything else. Karen was special, in so many different ways. It wasn’t just the work she’d been doing, although that was enough for anyone to burst with pride. She was always special. She saw the good in people, when they couldn’t even see it themselves. She believed in people, she wanted to help them. Karen almost made Frank forget all the bad, forget everything that had happened. Karen made Frank almost believe that there could be something, something more for him. Something for both of them.

“Yeah?” Her eyes diverted from the article over to Frank. He was slouched against the park bench, looking relaxed. More relaxed than he had been in the past weeks. It suited him, looking this way. And it made Karen happy, seeing him so comfortable, so comfortable outside, even. Karen herself was sitting only a few inches away from Frank. But for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to move any closer. It was as if something was forcing her not to. The two knew how they felt about each other, even if those words hadn’t exactly been uttered. But they didn’t need to. They knew and that was enough.

“You’re smart, you’re brave. You care about people. Stubborn as hell. Won’t take no for an answer.”

Karen nodded silently, not in agreement exactly with what was being said, but almost acceptance. She wanted to accept what Frank was saying. Maybe he was just trying to big her up, but there was something in the way his lips formed the words, in the tone of voice he took, the look in his eye. He believed in her and so should she.

“So, construction?”

“Ah, yeah. Good at it, so.” Frank shrugged, avoiding Karen’s eye. He first focused on his fingers, enwrapped with each other. Before too long, his focused shifted around the park. Looking around, he watch people jogging around the path. Dog walkers. Couples. Families. Children. A slight chill seem to enclose around Frank for a moment. It wasn’t the cold, autumn breeze. No. It was almost like a reminder of what had been. In a different life, Frank could be sitting in that very spot. He could be alone. Karen could disappear. Or he could be like any other family spending a day in the park. His family… But that wasn’t what was happening. Karen was beside him; life had moved on. Frank knew that. And he was moving with it.

Karen gave him a gentle smile, without any hint of sadness. Not this time. Karen hadn’t expected Frank to say any more than that. And she didn’t need him to elaborate, not really. If he was happy, she was happy. And she expected Frank felt the same. She hoped he did.

Frank furrowed his eyebrows at Karen’s smile, not in anger, never in anger, but in almost curiosity. When Karen smiled like that, when she smiled at Frank, it destroyed any inhibitions he had about what they were doing. Whatever it was exactly. Frank wasn’t very good with labels and in all honesty, hadn’t even thought about it. Maybe Karen had thought about it. Maybe she’d thought about it far more than Frank had. But as long as Karen carried on looking at him like that, Frank could never be unhappy. He would never be lonely again.

“What?”

Karen’s eyes smiled, a small glint appeared, as if she was very happy with herself. Frank couldn’t stop looking at Karen now, his eyes firmly planted on her. Sometimes he wondered if she knew what she was doing to him. If she knew how sometimes she drove him absolutely crazy. If she knew how much she meant to him. Maybe he needed to show her. “Oh, nothing. Nothing, Frank.”

Frank started to twirl a loose strand of her hair with his index finger, she watched it go around and around, almost mesmerised by this touch. “I didn’t think I’d get you out.” This had blurted out of Karen, almost unexpectedly. She hadn’t meant it to come out as it did. It wasn’t exactly harsh, but not kind either. Frank had become a bit a recluse since back in New York, or at least that was what Karen had seen. The only time they saw each other was in her apartment, and sometimes that was few and far between. She’d asked to meet this time. Just a simple call was all it took for Frank to come. He hadn’t kept his hood down, as if he wasn’t worried about being spotted. Maybe that wasn’t important to Frank anymore. But from what Karen had gathered, Frank still didn’t have much of a life. Or at least not like before. She wanted to help. She wanted to change that. He deserved a life. He deserved one that was good. He deserved something.

“I’m not a recluse, Karen.” Tilting his head, Frank gave Karen a bemused look, a small chuckle managed to escape from his mouth. Maybe it seemed that way to Karen, but Frank had been trying at least. It was different this time. There wasn’t this big battle Frank knew he would one day have to face. Life was much calmer now, almost stationary. His whole life had been filled with so much anger, so much chaos. And now it wasn’t? Frank wasn’t exactly sure how to deal with that. But it would be different now. Now he had Karen.

“I know, but this is kinda big, right?”

“It’s a park.” Frank glanced around, almost laughing. His hands found his jacket pocket, trying to find something to hold onto. His keys were the first things he found. Twirling them around, he faced back to Karen. She was looking at him, clearly she’d been watching him these past few minutes, trying to gage his next move.

“Ssh, you.”

“You’re right, though. I, uh, don’t get out that much.”

“Why?” Frank gave Karen an incredulous look, as if the answer was obvious. “You did before, why not now?” Things had changed, things were different. Karen knew that, of course she did. But there weren’t any ties now. Frank was essentially free. Like he’d said, he was Pete. Pete didn’t have a past, only a future. He could do whatever he wanted, whatever he pleased. But Karen doubted that was going to be easy for Frank. She never wanted to push or probe, but sometimes she had to ask. That was what she was good at after all.

“Easier that way.” Frank said this whilst managing to avoid Karen’s eye once again. Easier. It may seem that way to Frank, but was it easy? Really? Sometimes it didn’t feel that way. Easier to not let anyone in. Easier to shut off. Easier to forget. Easier to be alone. But it couldn’t go on forever, it couldn’t always be this way. And Frank didn’t want it to, not anymore. He was slowly coming around to the idea.

“Is it?” Karen almost whispered this, as if she didn’t quite want to ask the question. It may easier in some ways, Karen knew that better than anyone. But she didn’t want that for Frank, she couldn’t let that happen.

“I wanna try, Karen. I do.”

She relished in that admittance. She relished in knowing that this meeting was special, regardless of what Frank had said. She knew in his heart he didn’t mean it, and he did too. It was just his way. But the more they spent precious time together, like this, Frank was opening up. He was sharing more of himself with Karen. He was allowing her in. He was handing her his heart, piece by piece. She was taking it and would never let go.

“I know. Me too.”        

Karen couldn’t help but let a small smile escape from the corner of her mouth. She took the paper from Frank’s hand and scooted up next to him. Their thighs were touching now, and Karen made sure to smooth out her pencil skirt, trying to ease both herself and Frank. Without realising, her fingers seemingly fell down towards Frank’s thighs which were stretched out on his side of the bench. She allowed her fingers to drift across a small patch of Frank’s darkened jeans, moving ever so slowly. Only watching them for a moment, Karen’s eyes moved up to Frank’s who too was glancing down at Karen’s slender fingers. He quickly moved his left hand over Karen’s, his fingers brushed against her. This small, but delicate touch almost made Karen jumped as she hadn’t expected it. Whenever Frank touched her, it was also so gentle, so calm. He was never rough, never too quick. As if he could never be too careful, like he didn’t want to do anything to hurt Karen. To make her leave. To let go of her. The roughness of Frank’s hands brushed against Karen’s still, she could feel the remnants of a few old cuts. But there was an almost softness in that touch. A touch that Karen didn’t want to let go of.

Moving more slowly now, Frank’s hands moved across up to Karen’s face. His hands were warm, shocking her pale cheeks, contrasting with the cold chill in the air. His fingers brushed against her cheekbone, as if they were trying to find a more comfortable position. His thumb moved across the cheek, caressing them nice and slowly. Karen couldn’t help but close her eyes, as if wanting to get lost in the moment. But then there was something else. As if she didn’t want to let go of Frank, she didn’t want to stop seeing him. Just before she could open her eyes again, Frank planted a small but sweet kiss on her lips. Blink. And she would have missed it. He would have missed it. But it had happened. It was there. It was enough.

It wasn’t just a regular kiss. Frank had kissed Karen before. Karen had kissed Frank. They’d kiss each other in the darkness, finding each other regardless of everything. They’d kissed in the morning light, eyes still tired from the night before. They’d kissed each other when nothing else would do. But here, out in the open, for all of New York to see. Frank had kissed her. And she had kissed him.

[thr-333]

Drastic Measures- Part 7

@daminette-december2019-2020

~Chill~

Wrote it all in an hour and 20 minutes just about? Not bad, not bad at all.

Ao3

First< Previous

----------

“Why! Why does it have to be so cold!” Marinette pulls on her coat tighter.

“Why did you come if you’re just going to complain?” Damian scowls, looking over the list they were given.

“Dick asked me to,” Marinette shivers, “Besides I need to get out and see the city, you said you would show me,”

“I only agreed to this because Dick insisted I apologize for trying to kill you,”

“You were trying to kill me?”

“... No?”

“Damian,”

“Fine,” He pulls off the sweater he was wearing, the one she had made him, “My bad, now keep warm,”

“My bad is not an apology,” Marinette chides pulling the sweater on, “If you didn’t like the sweater you could have just said so,”

“That's not-” Damina turn to see her smirk, tutting then turning back around, “You're incorrigible,”

“Your apology is accepted,” Marinette giggles skipping slightly to catch up, she takes note of how he shivers as a gust of wind blows through, “Hey you're cold now right? I have an idea,”

“I’m not cold,” Damian snaps, picking up the pace, “Unlike you, I have more discipline than that,”

“Oh please, you grew up in the desert right?” Damian glares at her, “What? You think I didn’t know anything? Maman not as good at hiding things as she thinks she is,”

“Be careful where you say that,” He warns, they walk for a little while more the temperature dropping. Marinette continues to keep an incredulous eye on Damian. After ten minutes he sighs, “What's your idea?”

“It involves me getting on your back,”

“Not a chance,” Damian tuts, “You could stab me in the back,”

“Literally or figuratively?” Another glare but Marinette just smiles under it, “Fine then, I’ll just take this sweater off and we can both freeze,”

“Don't be ridiculous,” Damian snatches it off her, “I’ll just wear it,”

And so he does. They walk for a while longer Marinette simultaneously congratulating and cursing herself for picking such a warm fabric for Damian's sweater as she shivers in the cold Gotham winds. Her teeth are chattering and they are still a long way off from their destination. Marinette starts to slow down, ever since she had become ladybug her tolerance to the cold was lowering, like how Adrien's eyesight at night kept improving; although she probably got the short end of the stick for that one. Her thoughts are interrupted by a long suffered sigh from Damian.

“Fine, we’ll do your plan,”

“Really?!”

“If we actually want to get there today, yes,”

 ---

 “This was your plan!” Damian shouts as they run down the street.

“It’s a great plan!’ Marinette clings to his back.

“Everyones staring,” Damian scowls, the sweater just big enough to stretch over both of them locking Marinette against his back.

“Then run faster!”

“Maybe if you stopped strangling me I would!”

“Oh please, stop being dramatic,”

“Why don't you start running and we’ll see whos being dramatic!”

“I could probably get there before you!”

“Yeah right, you-”

“Wait! Wait! Go back!” Marinette tugs, Damian lets out a choked sound stopping as he brings his hands up to remove hers.

“What,” He is unable to get her off with the sweater around them both.

“Pet store,” Marinette shimmies down, managing to get out with some difficulty, “Look how cute- wait,”

“Where are you going!” Damian calls as she storms into the pet store, he trails reluctantly behind her. Marinette walks right up to the desk slamming her hand down.

“Excuse me are you in charge of this store?”

“I’m the manager, yes,” The man raises an eyebrow looking up from his newspaper.

“Are you aware that the enclosure out there is filthy?” 

“Animals get dirty,”

“It’s a health code violation,” Marinette scolds, “You're going to make the animals sick,”

“Tt, she’s right,” Damian looks around the store, the rest of the cages in even worse condition, “Just what sort of business do you think you're running? These are live animals, you can’t even see into the fish tank at this point,”

“I’ve followed company policy,” The manger huffs, going back to the newspaper adding a mocking, “So if you want to take it up with anyone take it up with them,”

“Oh I will,” Damian hisses, before going to the other end of the store intently tapping at his phone.

“Ha, have fun getting bounced around the phones for the next ten hours,” The manager barks, Marinette rolls her eyes turning back to him.

“Look it may not be required by your employer but try to have some compassion these are living creatures, they look miserable,”

“Well then, why don’t you buy them if they look so miserable,”

“That's not the root of the problem and you know it,” Marinette reasons with the unreasonable, “You’ll just replace them with more animals, this place isn’t fit for that,”

She could just feel the negative energy coming from the place, a place of suffering for those who had no way out. Her magic had perked the animals up a bit but that wouldn't solve the problems at hand. Not that any of this seemed to get through to the manager as Marinette kept arguing. She brought up her phone and articles to help support her argument. Only finding to her disdain that the pet store franchise itself had a long history of animal abuse, that this was the norm, not an exception. They just threw money at any lawsuit that came their way and bribing inspectors.

“Why are you even working here if you hate-”

“Excuse me,” A new customer walks up, Damian close behind, “Could I look-”

“Do whatever you like!” The manager snaps, “Can’t you see I’m busy here?!”

“Do you treat all your customers like this? No wonder your not getting any business if the facilities alone didn’t scare people off,” Marinette finally snaps. Damian, dare she say looks impressed, which probably isn’t a good sign.

“You’re insulting me now?”

“I’ve been insulting you the past hour, nice of you to catch on,”

From there it devolves into a full argument. They rage while Damian and the other customer poke around the store, talking to each other. Damian keeps on making calls and Marinette wishes he would stop and come help back her up, he seemed just as disgusted with this place as she was. But whenever she sends a look his way Damian just brushes her off going back to his call.

The argument escalates. Marinette's magic lashing out, subconsciously sending the animals into a frenzy. Barks and howls ring out mixed with cat yowls and whatever noise the other animals can manage.

“Quiet down you!” The manager roars, winding up to hit a puppy yapping at him, Marinette moves just a fraction of a second too slow.

“How dare you,” Damian catches the fist, twisting the arm in a painful unnatural position, “You’re fired,”

“You can’t fire me!” He struggles in Damian's grip, who in turn looks completely unfazed by the effort.

“Actually I can,” Damina flips his screen around to show a contract, “I just brought the company,”

“You what?!” Both Marinette and the manager shout at the same time.

“Yes well, it was easy enough to get in touch with the president of the company, when I put in my offer he laughed me off,” Damian shrugs letting the shell shocked man go, “So I called in one of our best lawyers,”

Damian nods to the other customer, who nods back.

“She built a case for us compiling evidence from this store, thank you for full access by the way,” Damian looks smugly at the manager gaping like a fish, “Other lawyers were in charge of inspecting other stores and researching past allegations, and I had some working internationally look at the branches in other countries, the results were not flattering,”

Damian's glare turns cold and piercing. Marinette had been on the receiving end of that glare and would like to think she handled it better than this guy was.

“Couple that all with the declarations I recorded from you arguing with Marinette,” Damina inclines his head to her, Marinette nods kind of dumbly, “And we had quite the case to shut the business down, you can guarantee the Wayne influence and lawyers would prevent this all from being swept under the rug,”

“Wayne?!”

“Yes, and as you can imagine after we sent through the case file the owner wasn't laughing me off the phone, he agreed to my price,” The man was sweating buckets now as Damian advanced looming over him, “The contracts aren't finalized or signed yet but you can guarantee by the end of the week I will own this place,”

Damian leans over him as the manager tries to sink into the floor.

“So. You. Are. Fired.”

 ---

 “So are you going to teach me the glare that makes grown men pee their pants and run for their lives or do I have to figure it out myself?” Marinette teases, picking through the stocks in the back.

“You wouldn't be able to pull it off,” Damian shoots back, taking the bag she hands him, “An emergency demand was put out for new workers, they’ll be here soon to do this,”

“Oh no you don’t you little rich boy,” Marinette laughs at the face he makes, “You don’t just get to roll through here, throw some money at it and expect your job to be done, you took this company on so show a little responsibility,”

“I am taking responsibility,” Damian scowls, “I fully plan on improving this place,”

“What? By hiring someone to take over with the vague demands of ‘make it better’?” Damian sour look is all the answer she needs, “No way, this is your own responsibility and no one else's, so you need to take a long hard look at what's wrong and figure out how to fix it,”

“If I recall this all is partly your fault,” Damian stacks another bag where she told him too.

“If I recall I didn’t tell you to buy an entire pet store franchise,” Not that she didn’t approve, “But fine, I’ll help you out if you want,”

“I didn’t say that,”

“You didn’t have to,” Damian huffs and looks away, Marinette smiles and picks up a bag of food, “First things first, the food is horrible quality, it’s all filler with little nutritional value,”

“I’ll order new stock right away,” Damian takes out his phone, Marinette snatches it from him.

“Hold on now,” Damian gives her that little put off look she finds adorable, “You have to look at all the problems first then make a plan of action or you're just running around like a headless chicken,”

“Your point?”

“The staff are also underpaid, it’s not enough to live off and certainly not enough to motivate a good work ethic,” Marinette hands back the phone, Damian pockets it, “So before you go around firing everyone that's ever worked here why don’t you try changing the bones of the company then picking out the bad seeds?”

“Alright,” Damian concedes, “... You have a point,”

“Was that tough to admit?”

“The only excruciating part of it is your smugness,”

“Why hello kettle,” Damina gives her a light glare but she just laughs it off.

“All these changes are going to be expensive,” Damian frowns looking through the statistics the lawyers had sent them, “The company was already falling into debt,”

“It needs a hook,” Marinette hums, “Something new and unique that no other chain has…. I got it!!”

She brushes past him, going for her sketchbook and starting the brainstorming process.

“Would you like to share your epiphany?” Damian asks after about five minutes of watching her sketch. “An exclusive pet clothesline!”

“Oh boy,”

 ---

 “See I was right wasn't I?” Marinette finishes fixing the outfit onto Titus.

“I was under the impression you were going to make something vapid and ridiculous,” Damian deflects, looking at the raincoat Marinette had made for Titus, it fit him perfectly and worked well with his fur color as well, “This is at least useful,”

“Wow, that might be a bigger compliment than ‘it’s well made’ or is it?” Marinette cocks her head to the side, “Should I start a ‘Damian's compliments’ tier list?”

“Do not,” Damian calls Titus back to him, taking off the raincoat, “This should at least partly help make up for the new expenses,”

“What changes should we make first?” Marinette follows Damian inside, already sketching new designs into her book.

“There's no point in launching the pet clothes until the company goes through its rebrand, and that will take some time anyway,” They settle in a study they had commandeered to work together in, a sewing machine up near the window, “By the way whats your design fee?"

“Hm… make me a co-owner and we’ll forget about the design fee,” Marinette smiles as Damian doesn't immediately look disgusted by the prospect, “Besides If I recall this is partly my fault,”

“Fine co-owner,” Damian rolls his eyes at her, “I guess we’ll be drafting a new contract,”

“Make sure our shares are 50/50,”

“80/20,”

“Awe you’d let me have 80%”

Damian gives her a withering glare with no heat.

“50/50,” Marinette holds out her hand, “Equal,”

“... Equal,” Damian takes her hand, “You better design a lot of clothes,”

“Already on it,” Marinette holds up her new sketchbook, dedicated to just this, “Plus I’ll be part of the planning so let me in on it,”

“I was-” Damian cuts off glaring towards the door, Marinette follows his eye to see Dick and Adrien caught like deer in headlights looking at them with phones held up.

“Adrien!” Marinette starts towards them getting overtaken by Damian as they both start sprinting.

“Delete it or I destroy your phone!” He threatens, chasing them down the hall.

“Already backed it up to several computers!” Dick calls back, disappearing around the corner, the three yells disappearing into the distance. Marinette chuckles to herself, going back to finish up her designs.

--------

No tag list :P

[mahoushoujo-core]

tokyo mew mew review pt. 2 !!! ( spoilers ! )

I’m back again! now discussing ms. Zacro formally joining mew mews ! this will be a much less broad commentary but instead just touching up on the things I’d like to hehehe

there were an amazing amount of filler episodes but they were all good so I can't complain

TOPLESS RYŌ ????

I loved this scene animated Oh my GODDDDD THEYRE BOTH SO CUTE EEEEEE she really said " I wouldn't be staring if you just had a shirt on 🙄" but ! i have one complaint. in the manga, there's this sweet, little moment of transparency between the two. her just running away is hilarious by itself.

gay little mint

as a member of the lgbtq+ community, I obviously cannot express how much I love to see queer content in the magical girl genre, or in anything really. but!!! the one thing that really sticks out in Tokyo Mew Mew is how... unbothered everyone is with Mint’s crush on the idol Zacro Fujiwara. in both the manga and anime alike, it’s no secret how utterly infatuated Mint is with her, and no one had a thing to say about it other than the teasing that literally anyone would do if their close ( and usually quite cold and serious ) friend was down bad, regardless of who the object of their affections was. she’s even, in the anime, is caught with a photo book ( J-pop idol photo books are typically, from my own experience, bikini modeling, “ fan service ”, and the likes ) which Pudding then proceeds to chop the fuck up. 

Actually, I really loved this scene as a whole. If my memory serves me, literally none of this happened in the manga, but I can’t complain. 

Lettuce comes in with a magazine ? newspaper ? with a front page article about what looks like a Mew Mew, including a photo which contains nothing but a dark silhouette. Everyone starts to panic and, instead of battling their worry with basic fact, Bu-ling begins comparing the figure of the silhouette to each of the known Mew Mews. ( This alone was hilarious because she whipped out a picture of them in swimsuits, one which no one recalls being taken. )

It was meant to be humorous, calling both Ichigo and Mint flat* and Lettuce “ too curvy* “, but for me, personally, I like to headcanon the body types of different characters in manga and anime. Typically, in anime or manga, the only real differentiation between bodies is maybe height and, among girls, whether or not they have big boobs 🙄 Bodies in real life, of course, vary much more than just these vague details, so I guess it was nice to see that applied even if it was just by verbal affirmation.

* I don’t believe that this is in any way body-shaming but directly, factually comparing their bodies to that in the photo

zacro actually joining the mew mews

This all occurred rather quickly in the manga, but, in the anime, there were a ton of added details and scenes. So much so that I was beginning to think “ hey.... is this gonna be anything like the manga ??? ” But, amazingly, it all came full circle and I was very, very satisfied with how it turned out.

Still... there was one thing I wanted to specifically touch up on. You see, in my last little commentary post, I mentioned how happy I was with a large amount of the suggestive / sexual content being omitted, and it should be pretty obvious as to why. No matter what we do, however, there is one obstacle which makes it pretty difficult to avoid these scenes altogether. That is... the predatory nature of our main antagonist, Quiche. ( Quiche, Kisshu, Kishi... whatever you like to call him, I fuckin’ hate this guy. )

* heavy sigh * Well... amidst the grand conflict of the 11th episode, something really concerning happens. I won’t describe it in detail, but ! it seems like he’s attempting to sexually assault Ichigo. He throws her onto the ground and gets on top of her, to say the least. Love this ( /s )

“ It’s troublesome if four other girls like you appear at once, but it’s not hard if I do it one by one. But, I won’t kill you, Ichigo. You’re my important toy. “

She knees him in the balls though. Thank god.

Of course, ofcourseofcourseoFCOURSE, I hate this. I really, really, really, hate this. But, I must say that there’s one thing I am happy ( ? ) about. That is... how sheerly negative this is portrayed. You see, throughout the manga up until now, every suggestive scene exists purely for shock value or for the giggles of the viewers, whether they be teenage girls or... unfortunately... men. 

In this scene, though, it is shown quite clearly, I think, that this is bad. She’s struggling and fighting her off of him. It’s unpleasant to watch.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that instead of someone making perverted comments, instead of an older boy lifting up her skirt, instead of a non-consensual kiss from a stranger... all with no, idk, point to say “ Hey, this is wrong “, we have something, unfortunately, more extreme but with the message that this is wrong. 

Hhhhh.... anyways, on that note, fuck Quiche 😌🖕

[thebestplltheories]

Twenty years ago, a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, in the present day, a group of disparate teen girls — a brand-new set of Little Liars — find themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant and made to pay for the secret sin their parents committed two decades ago, as well as their own.

Well the reports ended up coming true! I have quite a few thoughts.

Pros:

It’s by-passing Freeform and going straight to HBO Max which means it’ll likely have mature themes.

It’s described as “horror-tinged, coming-of-rage”. Don’t get me wrong, coming of rage is a childish punchline, but I like the overall message of a darker tone.

It’s been ordered for a 10-episode first season which theoretically means it’ll have less filler content. The Perfectionists also only had 10 episodes and that was relatively action packed with minimal filler.

From the description, it appears that the show won’t have a Spencer, Aria, Alison, Hanna and Emily. It feels like these characters are being respectfully put to rest rather than re-creating them. Thank god.

It’s set in a new town miles away from Rosewood, called Millwood.

So it appears A is coming back. The “who is A” storyline is one of the most addictive and intriguing storylines to ever hit television. Regardless of how the storyline ended, there’s no denying that you were dying to know the answer. I’ve been missing this kind of thrill in my TV shows lately. I wonder if they’ll make me care again.

Cons:

I don’t like Riverdale, I think it reached a stupidly high level of corny, so I’m not excited by the writing team.

If Millwood is “miles away” from Rosewood, there’s the confirmation that this is set in the same universe. So we may hear about the original Liars, perhaps on the news on TV or in a newspaper article in the background. Whilst this was initially exciting to me, I’m putting it in the cons because I just don’t want the Riverdale writers to put a single finger on the original characters. They didn’t create those characters and they don’t know how to write for them. I don’t like the possibility of them butchering the characters we know and love or portraying them in a disingenuous way, even in background noise on the news on TV. The fact that this show exists in the same world as the original show is absolutely terrifying to me.

Also... Millwood? They couldn’t even try come up with something different than Rosewood? The laziness is already apparent. If they start vaguely copying storylines too, I’ll be mad. Watch someone have a twin lmao

My biggest complaint and the main point of this whole post: if it’s miles away from Rosewood and has new characters, why the hell is this called Pretty Little Liars? It’s pretty obvious: they’re banking off reuniting the fanbase that they had no role in creating in the first place. This can easily exist as its own seperate, standalone show. If The Perfectionists flopped after one season and that had two fan favourite original characters, what makes the writers think that a brand new cast will succeed? Are they not getting the message: let the PLL franchise REST for crying out loud. There is no demand for more PLL yet. PLL should only be brought back in the form of a reunion with the original cast at some sort of milestone (such as 5 or 10 years later).

Teen characters were confirmed in the press release. This is where I’m very confused. They’re using the PLL name to reel in the old PLL fans, but don’t they realise that hardly any of us are teens anymore? We were when we started watching the show, but we’re not teens anymore a decade after season one premiered. This just goes to show that the writers are already out of touch with their fanbase, because they never played a role in creating it - they never connected with us. Although The Perfectionists wasn’t the success Freeform wanted, they at least were aligned with the fanbase and gave us a university setting with older characters. We aren’t teens anymore.

I had the “who is A” above in the pros but it also needs to be down here in the cons. It’s just not their story to tell man. I’m just opposed to the whole idea of a reboot. Leave it alone. Okay, you legally bought the rights to it and you’re legally allowed to tell this story but that doesn’t mean it’s morally okay. Come up with something new and seperate from PLL, reel me in with your new addictive story and then you’d have my full support.

So there’s a bit that I like and a lot that I don’t. Overall I’m not a fan. The cons significantly outweigh the pros. I just don’t think this show needs to exist. Will I check it out? Well yeah I kinda have to, I’m a PLL fan. But I’m going into it with low expectations and I’ll be gritting my teeth the whole time, frustrated at its mere existence. I think it’s incredibly lazy that they’re slapping PLL on the title instead of making a new show. They saw that “who is A” was trending on Twitter every week and they want their turn at telling that intriguing mystery. Fucking lame. Be original. Respect someone else’s legacy and let it rest. Yes, legally they acquired the rights to this story but I’m just talking human respect at this point. If I go on to watch the second episode, it’s only because the first one was so good that it made me forget about all my grievances.

I’m curious what the rest of you are thinking, please let me know!

[doof-doofblog]

"Another Time, Yeah?"

Tuesday 15th June 2021

(Part One & Part Two)

Hello again everyone, as promised I'm back with another post - 3 blog posts from me this week, that's more than I did last week!! But anyway I'm going to review everything from Tuesday's episodes in this post.  

So without further ado, I'm going to begin with mentioning Ruby. The day after her second miscarriage, Martin is surprised to learn that once again she has every intention of going to work and forgetting about the events that have occurred. Martin tries his best to convince his wife to rest for the rest of the day but as Ruby tries to explain her reasons for wanting to go to work, she notices the screen on Martin's laptop, it shows that he's been looking up options for IVF.

Understandably, Martin is trying to help in any way he can to make sure he and his wife have they family they've been longing for. However Ruby makes the valid point that it's not the getting pregnant that's the problem, it's being able to stay pregnant. Martin tries to explain that if they really want to have a family they can consider other options available, but Ruby then drops the bombshell that after everything she's gone through she really can't bring herself to go through any more trauma and loss. She informs Martin that instead of trying to fight to have a family, she's going to embrace the family she already has.

However, later Ruby is seen alone, visiting the memorial that she and Martin created for their lost baby, she gently adds another stone to commemorate the second baby she has lost. As the camera spins we see that just across the patch of grass, Jean is sat on her own but as she turns around and notices Ruby, she joins her. Jean realises exactly what's happening and speaks softly to her. Informing Jean about the decision to not try for another baby and to accept the family she has, Jean makes a very touching statement - "You know what I see? I don't see a woman who's given up, I see a woman who's grieving, and I believe there's still a lot of fight in you!" - as beautiful as those words are, it completely hits Ruby to the core and she softly begins to cry, such a moving moment.

--

The next thing I'm going to mention is Tiffany and Keegan. It's the day of their photoshoot and Tiffany is completely excited about the press and media attention. Wanting to get her name out there also, she informs Keegan that she's come up with a name for their joint business - Something along the lines of "ButcherBakerBeauty-Baps?" ... (I'm sure they'll come up with a better name eventually!) Suddenly when Tiffany sees herself in the mirror she's horrified to see that the day of their photoshoot she been graced with a spot on her chin, frantically she begins to flap, claiming that she needs to look good for their photoshoot - I have to be honest the main thought that was entering my mind at this point was "The photoshoot isn't even meant to be hers so why is she making such a fuss?" - without meaning to be mean, but I don't know I guess it just didn't sit right with me, she shouldn't be focusing on her and should be supporting her husband instead.

As Tiffany calls her friend in desperate need of some assistance, it seems that her friend manages to get someone round to do Tiffany's make-up. However when Tiffany compliments the stylist's skin, the lady informs her that she does cheat by using injections such as Botox and fillers. Realising that injecting herself with something could change her appearance to the way she wants, Tiffany urges the beautician to use the injections on her for her photoshoot - even though the beautician warns her it can be very pricey! Again, I have to be honest - as soon as I realised that Tiffany was going to ask for injections my mind just went racing - how much do you want to bet that Tiffany is going to become addicted to beauty injections?! It could be a possible new storyline for her which could end with serious consequences?

Even though she is thrilled with the end results, Tiffany is shocked to see the price she has to pay for the treatment and asks whether she can pay half now and pay the rest within in the next couple of days. Later as Keegan and Tiffany are enjoying the photoshoot - the photographer is keen on focusing on Keegan and asking him questions about his business. But when Keegan tries to turn their attention to Tiffany so she can promote her business/brand - you can see that the photographer is the least bit interested.

The next day, as everyone is gushing about the article in the newspaper about Keegan, Tiffany buys herself a newspaper hoping to see a whole page spread of herself and her husband in the newspaper. But she is visibly devastated when she realises that she hasn't even been mentioned and the whole article is about Keegan and his business. She later voices her annoyance and devastation to her friend Chloe, claiming that she has spent a fortune on injections for nothing! But worse still, how is her husband going to react when he finds out she's spending money on things she doesn't need!

Chloe then suggests that in a way to make as much money as she can so Keegan won't suspect anything is for her to flog diet pills. She claims she doesn't know how they work and has never used them but manages to sell them and get decent enough money for doing so. For a split moment I had hoped that Tiffany would know better than to sell some dodgy diet pills, but it looks as though she is very tempted. Later when she meets up with Bernie, she confides in her friend about the money she has spent on fillers to make herself look good for the photoshoot.

Of course Bernie is sympathetic towards her friends, but then suddenly Tiffany starts rummaging in her bag for something and empties out the contents of her bag, quickly Bernie notices the tubs of diet pills she's in possession of and asks where she got them from and whether they work, it's then that Bernie drops the bombshell that she needs to lose weight quickly, and Tiffany is a bit surprised by her choice of words, asking why "Quickly". It's then that finally Bernie feel able to tell someone about her plans and informs Tiffany that she's agreed to be Rainie and Stuart's surrogate, much to her best friend's shock. Tiffany warns Bernie to be careful where Rainie and Stuart are concerned because when she offered to be their surrogate she recalled that they didn't leave her alone. But Bernie is adamant that she needs the money for her family and claims that her Mum believes that she'll be getting a bonus from the call centre. Eventually she practically begs Tiff to allow her to use the diet pills, she claims she can be her guinea pig in a way and will pay her once she's made her money from the surrogacy. Tiffany looks really reluctant to do so but makes Bernie promise that she'll read the instructions before taking them.

Honestly, I fear this is going to be a massive downward spiral for the both of them. Tiffany getting hooked on beauty injections and then Bernadette getting addicted to diet pills and both making themselves ill. What do you guys think?! I'm really intrigued to hear your thoughts on this one!

--

Elsewhere on the Square, Shirley is still reeling about the news of Linda's pregnancy, she still can't understand why she wasn't told much earlier on when she arrived back in Walford. She admits to Nancy and Frankie that she feels as though her family are shutting her out. I have to say though I loved the banter between the three of them in this scene. Nancy tries to swerve the conversation from her parents sex life to Shirley's own love life and happens to point out that she hasn't been with anyone since Buster!!!

Oh my goodness, do you guys remember Buster??? It was proven that he was in fact Mick's biological Dad, which makes him Nancy and Frankie's Grandad. Hearing that Frankie has a Grandad seemed to excite the girl, but she and Nancy still continue to make fun of Shirley - claiming that for her next birthday they're going to buy her a pair of slippers and a throw as they claim it's time for her to hang up her knee-high leather boots. I do love the jip that Shirley snaps back at them, it makes the whole scene much more comical and the dynamic between them all is just brilliant!

It's then they Frankie points to Terry sat on his own and urges Shirley to ask him for a drink, at first Shirley shows no interest but after being goaded by her Granddaughters, she eventually gets the courage to approach Terry and (in not so many words) informs him that he will be buying her a drink. The one thing that completely confused me though was that Terry called himself by the name "Rocky" as he introduced himself to Shirley, can anyone explain to me why? His name is Terry right? I don't understand where the "Rocky" came from? - Unless it's similar to Callum's name - Callum "Halfway" Highway?!

Meanwhile, as Terry agrees to have a quick drink with Shirley, Sonia is at home prepping a lovely roast dinner meal for herself and her Dad to celebrate and early Father's Day. But back in the pub, as Shirley and Terry begin to chat and get to know each other, Nancy and Frankie keep showering them with drinks. As the sisters notice that they appear to be getting on, Nancy places down another drink in front of them claiming it's on the house, while Frankie sneakily changes the time on the clock.

Terry is adamant he can only stay until 1pm as he has a lunch date with Sonia, but as he looks at clock to see he still has plenty of time, he continues to drink. Unfortunately though, both Frankie and Nancy reveal to each other that instead of giving them single vodka drinks, they've been serving them triple vodka's all shift. Eventually as things get a bit loud, Nancy and Frankie realise their mistake. Shirley and Terry are both drunkenly singing along to "Come On, Eileen!" and then eventually "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)".

I have to admit, even though it was hilarious watching drunk Shirley singing along to the music and having a laugh with Terry, you do feel sorry for Sonia as you realise that Terry has accidentally stood her up for her meal. Arriving at the Vic and seeing the drunken state her Dad is in, she demands Terry to leave Walford and to never come back. Over the next day or so, Terry is desperate to make it up to his daughter and he appears to think that the only way he can do it is to roll out the red carpet in her house for her and make her a meal of her own and instead of calling it "Father's Day" makes it a "Daughter's Day".

As Sonia agrees to give him one final chance, they make it up by taking a selfie together. But when Terry leaves his phone on the table and Sonia takes a look at the picture, she begins to scroll through his phone and sees that there are other photos of houses on his phone. What could these mean? Is he planning on moving to Albert Square for good? OR is he in some kind of business where some of the local properties are going to be knocked down? Who knows?!

--

The next thing I have to mention is Kat and Phil. Kat is completely excited to learn that things are on the move where her business with Phil is concerned. Phil has confirmed that he has bought the laundrette for their business opportunity and they're just waiting for the paperwork to go through. Only her happiness doesn't seem to last for long as when she enters the café and is confronted by Sharon, it seems that Sharon warns her that anything that Phil is involved in is never legit. Although Sharon's relationship with Phil was completely different compared to Kat's relationship with him, it seems that Sharon's words fill Kat's head with doubt. Eventually she takes it upon herself to confront Phil, claiming she wants to see the paperwork to make sure everything they're doing is legit. She claims that she has already been prison once and doesn't want to end up there again, she needs to be completely certain that going into business with Phil is the right thing to do. I think people are too easy to judge Phil, they should give him a break, he informs Kat that he shouldn't listen to a word that Sharon's said and to trust him, he wants to focus on their future and having something in place for both of their children, but more importantly if she is wanting this as much as he does, then she needs to learn to trust him. I still think that if all goes well for these two, Kat and Phil could potentially be the new power couple on the Square! What do you think?!

--

Lastly, Callum is still appearing to struggle with the trauma of what happened with his partner. The one person he's been able to confide in is Whitney. After anxiously waiting to hear news about his partner's condition, he was completely relieved when Ash informs him that Fitzy's operation was a success and he should make a full recovery.

As he excitedly informs Whitney about the good news, Whitney reminds him that he should tell Ben now, considering that Fitzy is going to be okay. Callum kind of shuts that comment down and asks Whitney whether she'll accompany him to the hospital to see his partner. However, without their knowledge, Ben sees them from across the Square getting into a cab together, I have to say Ben & Callum's married life hasn't really started off well has it? They've come back from their honeymoon, Phil is still reluctant to talk to either Callum or Ben as he stills holds a grudge against Callum for going behind his back, and Callum has had to deal with the trauma of witnessing his partner being stabbed on the job.

But even though Callum maybe wants to tell Ben about his, Ben did at the start find it hard to accept Callum in the police and had the cheek to ask him to quit, but realising that he loves Callum for who he is and not is job, changes his mind and just requests that Callum never speaks about work to him. So of course, with that in mind, Callum must feel that he has no one else to talk to about recent events, which is why he has leaned on Whitney over the past couple of days. But when Ben sees them getting into that car together, you can tell he's beginning to speculate what they could be up to.

Unfortunately, after returning from seeing Fitzy in the hospital, it looks like it hasn't really helped Callum cope with it, he begins to fret and lash out claiming it was his fault that he's in hospital with wires all attached to him. Almost hurting himself on the garden gate, Whitney acknowledges that she has seen Callum this way before, and it's all down to his PTSD - (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) - we know that he went through it when he was in the army, but now it appears to be resurfacing. The one thing that crossed my mind was, is Ben aware about Callum's PTSD? Has that always been a thing that Ben has known about, I'm a bit unsure?

However, it seems that Whitney is eager for Callum to inform his husband now more so than ever that what's been happening. But when Callum arrives home and Ben asks him how his day at work was, Callum lies to him once again claiming he's had a really busy day and just wants to have a shower alone. Now Ben knows that Callum is lying about being in work, so obviously he's going to be wondering what else he's lying about or not telling him. As Callum makes his way into the shower, Ben grabs his opportunity to search his rucksack and it seems he's completely stunned to find an engagement ring - of course he's going to be completely clueless and wondering why his husband has an engagement ring, but we know that before Fitzy was rushed to hospital, Fitzy gave it to Callum to give to his girlfriend.

I think Callum really needs to talk to Ben soon before he jumps to conclusions and lashes out, accusing Callum of something he's completely innocent of. Overall a good few episodes I have to say, I've really enjoyed being able to type up a couple of blogs this week, I was getting myself a little stressed out that I was so far behind and hadn't posted in a while, but again I want to thank you all for continuing to follow me and show your interest in my blog, it really means the world. Please feel free to send me any thoughts or opinions you may have on the current storylines. Enjoy the rest of your week and I'll be back very soon! Love you all xXx

[wherearemyglassesbro]

Uhhh monster FrUK for FrUk week hnngggg

Fran’s a vampire and Art’s a doctor with access to....the blood storage fridge

It didn’t even cross Fran’s mind when they first met, he just fell head over heels for his stubborn englishman

He’s only been a vampire for a couple decades, he turned in the 60s so hes stuck as a 24 year old forever. He’s totally technologically stupid, he can’t figure out his phone to save his life so he has three apps that Arthur has painstakingly taught him to use. His texting app, his alarms, his camera app and candy crush. That’s it. His $700 phone is used for four things.

They’re a very good match cause Fran is actually old and Art just acts old so they do a lot of old people activities like golfing. Fran just has to cover up when they play! And he doesn’t get hot or sweat so he has a bit of an unfair advantage. Art just gets sunburnt, sweaty and agitated when he loses

They also go on a lot of night trips to places like the beach and park cause it’s not nearly as hot and they can have more fun under the stars than under that wretched sun >:(

Art shifted his schedule as much as he could so he could work during the day while Fran’s asleep so he could be home at night when he’s wide awake but that doesn’t work out for healthcare workers that much Lol theyre on call at all hours anyway

Fran also has a job, he writes a lot of filler articles for magazines and newspapers, usually recipes or product/restaurant reviews. He gets paid pretty well for them! He can’t actually taste anymore but he tell if food will be good or not by the smell and texture!.......He also watches everyone else’s reactions to stuff lmao. Also, despite not being able to taste he can still cook. Art thinks it’s embarrassing that he’s bested by his dead husband again :)

^^^Fran isnt like...out cold during the day. He could be up if he wanted to but Vampire Instincts make him drowsy and cranky during the day. And at night he’s back to his normal, dramatic self. With a hint of Hangry-ness. He always feels hungry around Art cause he can smell his blood and hear it pumping through his veins, it’s awful! Just torture! But he doesn’t want to feed off of him cause...Uh...His last relationship that went like that didn’t end on a happy note. He doesnt want to get food and love from the same person like that, if that makes sense.

^^Art has offered before to let Fran feed off of him but Fran always has and always will refuse

^^And because of his instinctual-love-personal-hate relationship that he holds with blood, he eats just enough to keep himself functioning normally, he doesn’t need to eat every day so luring men behind grocery stores and biting them is only a twice a week event. Not that Arthur knows how he gets blood when he does eat. ‘No no no, I don’t want to know love honestly...’

Fran has a small circle of vampire friends which just astonishes Arthur ‘Huh??? I thought vampires were rare? How are there so many around here??’ ‘Cher, we live in a high crime city! That is a major pull factor for people like me’ ‘So you were living here to feed off of criminals before we met?’ ‘Just the unconscious ones. What were they gonna do? Run away?’ ‘FRANCIS-‘

When Fran’s friends start to ask him things like ‘So? Is your human gonna get ‘juice’ for ya from work or what?’ Huh...now THAT is a good idea!!

Arthur is not a fan of that plan at all. His job would be at risk if he decided to try and do that!! But it would be easy...and a lot of donated blood is thrown out anyway...And he does worry about where Fran gets food from?? What if he just kills people all the time?? He doesn’t but what if he did? And he could prevent that by bringing home a bag of blood or two a couple times a week?? Hm...

‘You know, I prefer O negative’ ‘You’ll eat what I got you or you won’t eat at all’ ‘Thats the romantic man I fell in love with~’

It creeps Art out a little as he watches Fran stab his fangs into the bag and drink from it but he’d rather watch that than watch him actually drink from a person lol

On a lighter note, Art’s family doesn’t know what Francis is so they make fun of him for covering up so much “Hey Mother Gothel!! What’s with the cloak? HAAAA!!” “Very funny...”

“Arthur, your blood pressure is rising” “....Stop listening to that! You know I can’t stand that!’ ‘Hm, you really must be angry huh’ ‘Knock it off!!!’

((I realize now that this jumps around a lot lmao I’ve come back to write for this multiple times today and I don’t feel like editing ;) ))