#pre project venus

[milliemuus]

Day TWO of toxicchaintober is rolling around, and the prompt was chains!

This is kind've sad, but necessary. Evil villain plot stuff, yk? Maybe don't get so greedy, Kieran smh

Speaking of villain origin story, why don't I write y'all a little excerpt?

READ BELOW THE CUT (!!!!MASSIVE TRIGGER WARNING FOR ASPHYXIATION!!!!)

It was a very dark night.

Kieran hurriedly raced away from home, having snuck out of the house without getting caught. His adrenaline, mixed with both fear and anticipation, rushed through his veins with each trot as he made his way to the bridge that seperated town from the wilderness. He knew he really shouldn't be out here this late, but given the circumstances, he didn't care.

It was about time he grew up, anyway.

As he reached the path that led to Kitakami Hall he took a turn, headed down the slope and toward the river.

"I just have to remember how to get to the woods, and then out of sight for a little while." He panted, coming to a stop before approaching the bubbling stream before him. He looked down at the water for a moment, taking in his reflection.

"I look...I look so tired..." he whispered, still drawing in deep breaths. He brought a hand up to his cheek.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you doing this?" He asked himself, feeling the small, familiar flicker of irritation as he began to recall the events since coming back home.

"You make your first friend, want to prove to her you're not some loser wimp and then your stupid sister comes in and swoops her away! And now she won't even talk to you, much less look at you!" He growled, his panting becoming slower. Even still, his heart pounded in a mix of bubbling frustration and fatigue.

"You can't even make friends right, much less DESERVE ANY!" His voice rose, echoing through the still air as he swiped the water with his hand, as if to eradicate the insecure reflection before him. This caused some neaeby ducklett to quack from being startled.

"I hate you! I hate this stupid town, and I hate my sister. It's all your fault!" He rambled on.

"If you weren't SO WEAK—" He grit his teeth, near forgetting why he was here before he felt a rattling in his pouch, nearly causing him to fall over in surprise.

"Ghh-?!"

His fanny pack rattled again. Oh...right. He shouldn't be here wasting his time. The thing rattling in his backpack had reminded him of wby he was headed to his destination in the first place.

He sighed, taking a deep breath.

"If I stay any longer, someone'll be bound to find me. I gotta get going." With that, he set off once again, this time he was going to make sure he didn't lose breath.

...

After what felt like forever, he recognized the thick greenery of the forest. Many had warned him of the dangers, but he didn't care. He stopped, clenching his fist.

"I have to go in." He swallowed "I have to prove my worth. Maybe then she'll like me then." He then began scaling the steeper hill of the forest, making sure he didn't tumble on the way down.

As he landed at the bottom, he whispered "I wonder how she does this...I'm already done outta breath..."

He sounded disappointed in himself, shaking his head.

"No, Kieran. Steel yourself. Part of the training is tolerance!" He growled softly, pushing deep into the dark woodland of Timeless Woods.

Thankfully he was wearing his jacket—so many swaths of bramble had poked out, scraping his legs. As annoying as it was, he would just stomp them to the ground with a flare of annoyance.

"No doubt meemaw is going to question how I got these in my sleep," he thought to himself.

"Maybe I can just say my Sentret did it out of excitement....seems believeable."

Convincing himself, he pushed forward, a branch near hooking his headband. He growled at this, struggling for a moment before it let go.

"Geez...!" He adjusted his headband.

"To be honest, is this even worth coming so far?" He began asking himself, now wandering aimlessly. "That voice said it would be...so I guess it wouldn't hurt. Still..." As he was about to speak, a loud shriek echoed in the distance, the hair on the bsck of his neck standing up.

"A-Aw man....I oughta make this quick, then-"

Without further hesitation, he knew he had no choice but to go forward. He whimpered slightly, throat burning in fear as he picked up the pace.

"Did we really have to meet out here...?!" He panted again, already losing the air pocketed in his tiny lungs. The terrain here was unstable; what if he fell? What if a scary pokémon caught up to him-?!

The panic rose in his chest. He felt more hypervigilant, the rattling in his pouch only startling him further.

"W-Wait...!" He puffed "We're almost there—"

He could faintly make out an area in the distance, his focus locking onto it. The pouch rattled again, this time with more ferocity.

"C-Can't you just wait?! I'm trying, here!" He wailed, his hands travelling to his fanny pack. Whatever it was, it was ready to come out compared to when he was near Mossui.

He began unzipping it, eyes still locled onto the clearing ahead.

Zzziiiiip-!

"Okay, I'll give you some ai— Wuuaahh—!" Suddenly the weight under his feet was gone, his body feeling as if it was soaring. A choked cry escaped his throat before it was automatically stifled by his front-half landing on the ground.

"Oomph—! Oowww..."

Kieran whimpered. He slowly sat up onto his knees, trying to rub his eyes.

"Mmghhh...uh?" He stopped, his vision refocusing. That's when he noticed something small and a pinkish-purple laying in the grass in front of him, moonlight reflecting off of it.

He began grabbing at his pouch, realizing that it was now empty as well.

"What-?! How did-?!" He scooched up further, about to grab it and stuff it back in the bag before his eyes landed on two, yellow orbs that stared right back at him.

"WH-WHAT THE--?!" He took his hand away. The item-now-turned-creature hissed.

"Silence, child!"

It rattled, this time the weird, soft shell began to undulate.

The air felt like it was sucked out of Kieran's throat. What the hell was going on...? Had he hit his head too hard somehow? Maybe ate too many sweets the day prior?! He had to slap himself for a moment, as if he was dreaming.

"Ugh....this is just a dream...it has to be a dream..."

The creature rolled its eyes for a moment before Kieran felt something—something that physically wasn't there—grab his face. This grabbed his attention, his whole body tensing up as he sensed danger.

"You call yourself a "trainer", yet you can't tell when a pokémon is right in front of you or not. How pathetic..."

With it's soft outer shell, the creature hoisted itself up. It was shaky, much like the spherical-shaped robots breaking down like in sci-fi movies Kieran had seen. He watched in horror as the peach-shaped pokémon lifted itself in the air.

For him, this was like witnessing the birth of Arceus, or the existence of life itself. Did Millie know what this thing was?

As he sat there, dumbfounded, the tight, invisible feeling left his face. He reached to rub his chin instinctively, looking at the creature that was slowly regaining its strength.

"You...you can speak?" He asked shakily.

"Yes...I suppose I am able to now..."

"Now?"

"It does not matter. What matters right now is that I have brought you out here for a multitude of reasons..." The creature's yellow-eyes squinted at the child. Kieran sat there, watching its every move as it began floating around him, as if to observe him. It stopped above his head, leaning in a little closer.

"Wh-What are you doing...?" Kieran asked, confused.

The peach-shaped creature's horns seemed to move back for a moment before it floated away from Kieran, looking down at him.

"Studying you...you'll see." The creature finally answered. Kieran tilted his head.

"Studying me? Why?"

The creature floated up to his face, glaring at him.

"It is simple, foolish child. I need your help." The creature insulted Kieran, which he slightly looked away in agitation.

"We both are in a predicament, and I think we could benefit from one another, no?"

This caught Kieran's attention. His eyes flickered for a moment.

"Y-Yeah!" He barked, before his face contorted in confusion.

"Wait...how did you know I was going through somethin' right now?" Kieran, now struck with realization, stared down the anomaly in front of him. The creature gently shook from side-to-side.

"Peh-heh-heh...you really are so stupid...I really did hit the jackpot with you..."

Kieran's fists balled up as he sat there, becoming impatient.

"Enough with the insults! Just...answer my question." Kieran's voice was more demanding, it taking all of him to not just grab at the creature and scream at it. The critter made a weird groaning sound, rolling its eyes again.

"I don't know how it couldn't be anymore obvious...but I've kinda been alive the whole time..." It revealed, "To put it simply: the first time you touched me, I suppose it activated something within me to wake up. Then I had to play the waiting game...make sure you're worth my time-"

"Worth your time...?" Kieran squinted, perplexed.

"You're so hopeless. Anywhoooo...." The creature tilted to the side.

"You said you wanted to get stronger, right? I kinda overheard when you rudely stuffed me into your little smoking-case there—"

"H-Hey, woah-!" Kieran put his hands in front of him "First off, this isn't a smoking-case, it's a pouch! Aren't those like really old, anyway?" He scratched his head "Also, I suppose yer not wrong. Sorry for doing that, by the way-" He looked down, blushing slightly from embarrassment. The creature looked down on him.

"Coulda swore that was something else. Anyway, to repeat what I said—"

"Yeah! I do wanna get stronger!" Kieran, impatient with excitement, grabbed his own knees in anticipation.

"...Okay, kid. Slow down."

"Sorry!"

"Oookay...anyway...I need your help. If you wanna get stronger, then I have two favors from you. I really think these things could help you get stronger..."

Kieran leaned forward, now in a semi-bowing-position.

"Please! I'll do anything!" He cried, his head bowing to the ground. The creature wanted to giggle at his patheticness to work for him.

"Wow...that didn't really take any convincing and I didn't even get to tell you the conditions yet. Consider this...a sub-challenge..." For a moment, it felt pity for the kid. How desperate would a kid his age have to be? It almost seemed unfair-

When was it ever fair, anyway?

Kieran sat up again, nodding. The peach began to float to-and-fro.

"Firstly: You really need to prove your strength by helping me re-unite my buddies and I together. What better way to prove your strength than through friendship?" It began to explain, nearly cringing at the last few bits. Before it could continue, Kieran piped up again.

"Who are your buddies?" He asked. It would only be natural for him to ask just so he knew what to do.

"Err...they are very...anonymous folk. They prefer to keep their identity hidden."

Before Kieran could say anything else, it continued,

"Secondly, I need a few, specific masks retrieved."

Kieran's eyes widened, and he piped up again once more.

"Like...like The Loyal Three's?"

The creature looked at him in surprise. The Loyal Three?! If it wasn't so upset at them for failing their job previously, it would have been pleased with the title.

"Look, save your questions for later. Once I see 'em, I'll let you know, okay? For now, I'm just trying to work this dea—trade—out with you."

His voice sounded stern for a moment. If things went his way successfully, he wouldn't have to explain his reasons. It's not like he was going to remember anyway-

Kieran looked embarrassed once again, nodding in understand.

"Okay-"

"Thank you." The creature sighed before floating up into his face.

"If you can do those two things for me, then I can grant you the power you seek. Do those conditions sound good to you?" It asked. Finally finished with it's propisition, it now waited desperately, looking into Kieran's cat-like eyes.

Kieran was quiet for a few moments, which was completely agonizing for this mystery pokémon. If it had hands, it would have its fingers tied behind its back.

'Just take the bait, kid. Come on!' It thought, tensing a little.

Kieran tapped his finger against his chin before he finally spoke.

"So, if I find your friends and retrieve these mystery masks, I can catch you and join my party?" He asked, genuinely curious.

"Indeed— Wait...catch me?"

"With a pokéball!" Kieran beamed, looking up at it with moon-round eyes. Never had the pokémon been so confused and offended before. What the hell was a pokéball?! It made a weird "peh" noise before shaking itself again.

"Y'know what? Yeah, we'll work that out when we get to it..." It grumbled. Might as well save itself another headache before it wastes the little energy it has...

Kieran had never been so overjoyed before. He was finally going to be able to achieve his dreams of becoming the strongest trainer in the world, and finally have an attempt at impressing Millie! His heart began to pound and, before he could stop himself, he blurted out the fastest "Yes" his body could conjure.

For a moment, the creature was too stunned to speak. This was easier than it thought it'd be. Was this kid really that gullible? Did he never get the lectures most kids got when he was younger? The creature blinked, before the answer finally hit it. It finally got what it wanted.

"Yes?" It asked "Are you absolutely sure?" It wanted to clarify that it had not heard things, making sure that Kieran could undoubtedpy be bound to it.

"Yes! If you can give me strength, then I will do these things for you! Kieran repeated, bowing again.

Wow. This kid WAS serious.

"Pehra, Pehra..." It made a noise akin to a pokémon, sighing. It was excited, but it also pitied the kid to a degree.

"Okay, kid! You got yourself a deal!" It cheered, it taking everything not to squirm too much so its shell didn't open up too much.

"Sit up and hold out your hand!"

At its command, Kieran sat up for a moment, confused. He just shrugged, thinking ut was just the simple gesture the mystery pokémon had picked up from others when it came to sealing deals.

"Okay!" And with that, he held his hand out, eyes closed in a smile.

The creature could hardly believe it; it was going to be able to take Kieran's vessel (and smoothly, at that)! It made a little chirp, the chirp becoming a few quiet giggles as Kieran felt something invisible wrap around his wrist.

The pokémon's eyes remained closed, the noise getting happier as the invisible force began to tighten agonizingly around Kieran's wrist.

"Ow ow, hey-" Kieran opened his eyes "I know you're excited, but—" Before he knew it, the pokémon began glowing a faint purple around itself, now looking back at him with dark intent.

"You really are so STUPID....!" It snarled. Kieran's eyes could do nothing but hopelessly watch as the invisible pressure he felt began to glow purple, materializing into a faint, circular object that seemed to stretch from the sides of the pokémon.

It was at this moment his heart dropped, the atmosphere around him turning into one of despair.

There was no doubt about it; he had been duped, used yet again by another creature that saw him as nothing but weak. He could feel his heart quicken in terror, his immediate instinct to pull away.

"S-Stop it!" He cried, trying to pry his arm away from the sinister creature that had a death-grip on it.

"Let go of meee...!" He grit his teeth, his arm screaming in pain as he pulled as hard as he could. The pokémon drew closer, laughing darkly at the kid.

"I feel bad, kid. I do," It faked the pity; in reality, it had played its cards right, and Kieran had fell for its plea

"But you did agree to this trade! Fair's fair!"

Kieran growled in panic, his eyes welling up with tears.

"I NEVER AGREED TO— MMMPHHH—" Before Kieran could scream at it, he the weird texture of the unidentifiable object the creature was using dart into his mouth, as if to stifle him.

"Whazzat?" It asked "Did a totodile bite your tongue?"

Kieran glared at the pokémon, the familiar ache in his chest swelling. He couldn't make any noise as the chain-like miasma pinched his tongue. He did squeal, his throat burning as the prongs pinched harder.

As Kieran began to struggle, the chain that was snaking up his arm suddenly lunged, now wrapping around his throat. He began to panic, realizing exactly what it was trying to do. His eyes welled up with tears as the creature floated behind him, chuckling.

"That's a good kiddo. If I didn't have my toxic chain in your mouth, I'd totally give you some mochi as a reward!" It chimed. Kieran growled, struggling some more. Not only was this pokémon actively going to kill him, but it was offering one of Kieran's least favorite foods.

The despair ate at Kieran. He had followed a disembodied forest out into Timeless Woods, accepting some sort of stupid offer. He was disappointed; it was as if life was just out for him.

'This is my fate..." Kieran thought, the chains getting tighter. He could feel his throat slowly close.

'Maybe this is what I deserve. Maybe sis was right about me being a stupid child that doesn't know any better...' As he began to pity himself, the chains fully closed around his neck, closing his windpipe. The tears slowly stopped, him unable to heave any air.

'I'm going to die. I'm going to die in the middle of the woods.' Kieran looked up at the sky, trying to gasp for air as the creature's other chain used it's prongs to stretch his mouth open.

'I'm going to die alone, and nobody will be here to save me.'

Suddenly, Kieran began to miss everything. His house, his school, his family, his friends....

...Even Millie. Why was it that, even at the face of death, she was the one that crossed his mind? The despair gnawed at him, and he was helplessly a victim to it.

He began to panic, clawing at the chains that held onto him, sucking the oxygen out of him. This only caused the creature to wiggle the chains, laughing.

'...I really need sis right now...' He finally felt a heavy weight upon him. It was as if Carmine was tucking him into bed, telling him things would get better.

"Looks like we've got a fighter! I hate to tell you this, but the more you struggle, the worse it'll get!"

It was taking excitement in Kieran's suffering. He could feel his vision tunneling, white, fuzzy spots dotting it. His struggling became less amd less, the movements becoming mere twitches.

'I feel so cold...' Kieran thought.

'If only sis were here...I need her...I need...sis...'

And that's when the weighted feeling took over, as if a blanket had fallen over him, one that Carmine was holding, telling him that things would get better and that tomorrow they would make things better.

Just like she used to. Right before he felt like he didn't need her love or comfort anymore.

Before he knew it, he had slipped into the comforting void of darkness.

.

.

.

.

.

.

[sceneloc8]

Top Restaurant and cafes Location For Shooting in Mumbai

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Possibilities for creative content:

Pre-Wedding Shoots: To add a touch of class to your pre-wedding photos, take pictures of timeless moments of love and romance in stylish cafes or fancy restaurants.

Photography: Look into the unique interiors and architectural details of Mumbai’s best cafes and restaurants to take pictures that show off both delicious food and artistic skill.

Set the scene for your music video in a trendy café or a cozy bistro. The atmosphere and energy of these busy spots will come through in your images.

Vlogs: Show your viewers your cooking adventures and dining experiences through interesting vlogs shot at Mumbai’s famous restaurants and cafes, giving viewers a taste of the city’s lively food scene.

Filming: To make your scenes seem more real, use famous Mumbai cafes or high-end restaurants. This will immerse viewers in the city’s rich cultural tapestry.

Advice for people who make content:

If you want to shoot in a Mumbai restaurant or cafe, keep these things in mind:

Permission and Cooperation: Make sure you get the right permissions from the business before filming or taking pictures. This will make sure the shoot goes smoothly and without any problems.

Time: Plan your shoot for a time when it’s not busy so that there aren’t too many people around and you can get a good sense of the atmosphere of the place.

Respectful Behavior: When you’re shooting, be aware of other customers and staff and treat them with respect. Stay professional and polite the whole time.

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The restaurants and cafes in Mumbai are great for content creators in many ways:

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[trashprinxe]

Let’s have a talk about malleability and TTRPGs

I come from a theatrical background. Did theatre for most of my life, majored in stage management, the works. Plays and the way they function are deeply embedded in my psyche.

So when I design and play games, I come from that theatrical framework.

Now — on the one hand, you have Shakespeare. Fairly universal stories, yeah? You can cut it up, switch things around, put it into a multitude of settings. And it still works! King Lear in space. Romeo & Juliet as pirates. The Scottish Play (old habits die hard) done avant-garde. It’s malleable!

On the other end, you have hyper-specific plays about hyper-specific themes. Angels in America. The Laramie Project. Venus in Furs. Etcetera. You can’t remove the core themes, change the setting, switch scenes around: without erasing the core intent of the work and the story it’s trying to tell.

And in the middle, you have plays that are somewhat malleable. Almost, Maine, for instance. It’s made up of vignettes; you can do only some of them, if you so choose. It’ll still have the same impact.

I believe TTRPGs exist on a similar spectrum.

You have systems that can accommodate many different genres or play styles. People play dnd this way. Pathfinder comes with pre built settings that run the gamut

PbtA games are hyperspecific. Monster of the Week is about, well, monsters of the week. Remove that, and you’re playing a different game.

Call of Cthulhu can be set in any time period, but you still have to be up against Eldritch horrors. If you’re able to fight the monster, that’s a different intent than the game was built for.

Lyric games are akin to 4.48 Psychosis (everyone should read that, by the way, it’s a master work of avant-garde theatre).

And so on and so on.

Nothing is better or worse than any other. It just exists, on a spectrum, in the same vein as playstyle or crunch do. Everyone has their preference.

But with any game, there comes a point where you’re no longer playing that game.

10 Things I Hate About You is not The Taming of the Shrew, though it were based on it. There’s a limit to even the most forgiving game to where you’re no longer playing that game, but something you and your table have created for yourselves.

You can’t take the queerness or religion out of Angels in America. That’s a different play altogether.

It’s a spectrum.

I choose to design in the specific. That’s what resonates with my brain. You may want to play something that’s capable of handling more universal narratives. That’s fine too!

But we can’t ignore the bones of the system, and it’s incorrect to say we’re putting on Hamlet, when we’re actually performing The Lion King.

So: the Theory of Malleability (working title).

I don’t have a great end to this. Just musings. But I hope it makes sense to you too.

[katakaluptastrophy]

Thinking about which Houses are on which planets, and particularly the question of whether the Third or the Fourth is on Saturn.

Mythologically, it could be both: the infant Zeus, son of Saturn, was raised on Mount Ida and Ops (the birthplace of Jeannemary) shares a name with the Roman equivalent of Rhea, the wife of Saturn.

But House order might shed some light on this. We know the House numbers are in order of foundation. The Second, on Mars, was established first. Mars is near earth, but it also had some significant infrastructure present pre res:

What about the Mars installation, what about the fusion batteries? We’ve still only got room for five million tops up there, guys, and we haven’t worked out how to feed them either.

As long as the early Second kept the numbers down, they were probably pretty good to go.

So what might the Third have grown out from? What other major infrastructure gets mentioned in NTN?

Even when they were constructing the other ships we got told straight-up that it was nothing, they were being sent off to the Kuiper installation to be on point for the full-population evac...

The Kuiper installation is mentioned alongside Mars as rejected possiblities for evacuating large numbers of people from Earth.

So where was the Kuiper installation? Probably near Neptune.

The other pre-res installation that gets mentioned is a "shell" being build at Uranus, presumably incomplete at the time of the Resurrection. If fan theories that the Eighth are Uranus are correct, they may be living somewhere very sci fi indeed. Perhaps by the time the last 'proper' House was founded, they had the time and tech to complete it.

If the Third are Neptune, originally the Kuiper installation, then by process of elimination that would put the Fourth on Saturn. There's no mention of any infrastructure near Saturn predating the Resurrection, but perhaps there was some kind of mining on its moons?

I actually have a theory about the Fifth. Why is the Koniortos Court an installation in the atmosphere of Jupiter? A cryo project for 10 billion would need a lot of helium 3. That's not hugely plentiful on earth. But it is in the atmosphere of Jupiter.

The Sixth seems to have been built ex novo. The Seventh on Venus I fear might be evidence that John is perfectly capable of fixing global warming when he so chooses.

And the Ninth? A drillshaft sounds rather like mining again.

[tumbleweed-writes]

Never Lost: Chibs Telford X Reader

18+ Only

President Chibs Telford needs some reassurance from his ol lady as his worries about the future of the club become too much to bear alone.

=======

She knew that no one would ever believe her when she said it but Chibs Telford was by far the gentlest soul she had ever had the privilege of meeting.

She knew that most people would scoff at such a declaration. The entire aura that surrounded Chibs Telford screamed anything but gentle.

The President of the Redwood Original charter of the Sons of Anarchy did not exude any overtone of sweetness.

By Chibs’ appearance alone the outside world perceived him as being brutal and menacing.  

As club Pres Chibs had found that it served him well to carry a certain sense of intimidation to outsiders and anyone who may wish harm upon him or his brothers. 

He had only been wearing the President patch for less than a year upon their first meeting, but in that time he had learned to wear any sense of danger he might emit with a sense of security.

He had always been intimidating to the public of course; given his history with both the MC and the cause in Ireland.

He was well versed in causing alarm to those who lived within the societal norm.

The scars Jimmy O’ had left along his cheeks had helped give off this impression of danger and fear.

Chibs could admit that he’d coped with the injury Jimmy O’ had left him with by using it to his advantage. He’d allowed people to gawk at his scars and allowed their imaginations to run wild taking the evidence of such savagery as a sign Chibs Telford was not to be fucked with.

Chibs had learned not to allow people’s reaction to his appearance to bring him down. He had learned not to care if people were afraid of him. He had learned just how helpful it could be to be perceived as rough and intimidating. He was not ashamed to have the average man recoil upon one intense gaze from him.

Chibs Telford wore his ability to intimidate and frighten like a crown; appropriate for the King of SAMCRO.

Y/N Y/L/N had failed to feel any sense of intimidation upon first meeting the King of SAMCRO.

She felt even less intimidated now that she wore his crow inked over her right shoulderblade.

She sighed exhaustion flooding her body as she exited her car slamming the door shut behind her and locking it.

She made the short trek up the pavement heading towards the storefront that had once been Scoops and Sweets. The shop that had once sold ice cream and other sugary treats now operated as a home for Charming’s local outlaw MC.

As the club recovered and some money had begun to stream in, Chibs and the boys had been able to buy out Jacob Hale for ownership of the property as well as the few other abandoned storefronts beside it.

The space had been turned into a large enough clubhouse perfect to house what remained of SAMCRO.

The boys had remained in the porn business working with Lyla to film projects for Red Woody Productions though Y/N knew money was at times tight. There was a ton of competition in the world of adult entertainment.

The MC was surviving though; they were doing all they could to stay out of the red and keep going.

Y/N was not surprised to be met with a hug as soon as she entered the clubhouse. She chuckled, able to smell a hint of booze on her hugging partner’s breath as he spoke, appearing more like an overeager kid than a grown man. “Hey, Doll. Good to see you.”

“Hello, Tiggy. You doing alright?” She dared to ask, spotting the clear sign of intoxication on his features it was obvious that he was not abstaining from indulging even on a weeknight, though she knew she should not expect less from an outlaw biker.

“I’m alright. You want a shot?” Tig asked releasing her from the hug heading to the bar that had been added to the space upon a pricey remodel of the interior.

She managed to shake her head, her voice soft as she tried not to yawn. “Maybe later. Venus around?”

“Nah, she had a job tonight. Something involving a chastity device, paddles, cherry preserves, and whip cream.” Tig remarked a lovesick grin crossing his features at the mention of his ol lady.

Y/N raised a brow not sure she would ever get accustomed to the odd factors behind the chosen career path of one Venus Van Dam. 

She pushed any questions from her mind about how those items might possibly be used together telling herself it was best not to know. “My old man around?”

Tig nodded off towards the staircase in the far corner of the room. “Upstairs in the chapel, been looking over the books for hours now. He’ll be glad to see you; old bastard needs a break.”

She shook her head, tempted to point out that if Chibs was old then Tig was just as ancient.

She kept the comment in saying nothing as she headed upstairs. She rolled her eyes as Tig called out to her a giggle leaving his lips. “Remember to tell Chibby to wrap it before he taps it.”

She made her way down the hallway passing by closed dorm rooms and walls lined with mugshots knowing the way to the club’s chapel by now even though she was rarely permitted to enter the space.

She did not bother to knock, creaking the door open a soft sigh leaving her lips at the sight of her old man bent over a stack of ledgers tension clear in his body.

He gazed up at her, a tight tired smile crossing his lips as he gazed at her over the frames of his reading glasses. “M’angel ye didn’t have to come up here.”

She shrugged her shoulders, sending him a crooked smile in response. “I have discovered that our bed at home is too big when you aren’t in it. Thought I might give the bed in your dorm room a try tonight.”

He let out a tired chuckle shaking his head as he replied. “Aye, sorry to disappoint ye, Love, but I migh not be makin it to my bed tonight.”

She furrowed her brow making her way towards him, her hand reaching out to press to his shoulder not surprised by the tension she felt radiating off of him. “The books won’t let you sleep?”

He sighed, shaking his head, his voice tight. “Fraid not, got too much to go over..thought we were gonna be more outta the red by this point. We were doin good fer a wee bit. I mean, we had enough to buy out the shops next to us and remodel…shite was doin good with Red Woody, Lyla found some new talent gotta a few new girls signed to do a few videos fer us…and we had a good few months where the money was pourin in…we got fuckin arrogant and spent more than we shoulda though with the clubhouse remodel, shite cost more than it shoulda. We didn’t anticipate things slowin back down. Doesn’t help that rival studios keep tryin to poach our talent. We’re hittin the red again. I’m sure ye know that though given yer role in the business.”

She let out a soft sigh nodding her head knowing that though she worked as an editor for Red Woody Productions, she was well aware of the financial struggles of the business. “Yeah, things have been stressful at the studio lately. The subscription service seems to be picking up, but the videos keep getting leaked to free sites.”

She could admit she had recoiled just the slightest the first time Chibs had shared with her just what kind of business the Sons were tied up in. 

She could admit she had assumed the worst. 

Meeting Lyla had soothed her preconceived notions about just what was involved with Red Woody Productions. 

The offer to work for the porn studio had been a bit of a beggers can’t be choosers situation for Y/N.

She had been out of a job and out of a home when Chibs had come to her rescue. Chibs had insisted that he might be of some service as she’d panicked over what she was going to do without any home nor any money.

She had paled when he’d first mentioned the studio to her. Of course she had wrongly assumed he was suggesting she might want to work in front of the camera…in fact she’d maybe slapped him when he’d first uttered the words “I gotta idea, Love. The club I’m in…we got a production studio that will hire ye, porn.”

She had of course grimaced the second her palm had met his cheek and the anger in her had cooled off. She had been certain that she had made a dumb choice, slapping the outlaw biker who was so kindly offering her help in a desperate situation.

Much to her relief Chibs had not taken her slap personally and had quickly soothed any misunderstanding. “Ye said ye have experience as an editor, Lass. Ye did say that ye did that fer yer old job…I’m not suggesting ye make videos, I’m suggesting ye edit em. Our last editor quit on us, ye might be a good replacement.”

Y/N felt her stomach churn as Chibs let out a soft sigh glaring down at the books dreading her reaction to the words that were about to leave him. “The Irish got in touch with me…there’s interest in rekindlin our relationship at some point. I’m puttin it up fer a vote next week.”

“Filip.” She sighed, unable to say anything more, the information hitting her like a brick to the head.

Her touch to his shoulder tightened, tension of her own building in her body. She felt her stomach drop knowing the business Chibs was discussing returning to was filled with pain and violence. 

She had not known Chibs Telford during the time the Sons of Anarchy had been involved in gun running for the IRA.

The club had been out of the gun business by the time Chibs Telford had come into her life.

She had heard the stories about those days though…she had seen Chibs wake in a cold sweat from nightmares about those dark days and the loss he’d endured from them.

“I know, Love. I know. I’m fraid we migh not have a choice though. If SAMCRO wants to survive, we migh have to get back into that shite. I hate it, but it ain jus my call to make…it ain’t jus my club.” Chibs admitted cringing at the clear fear written across his ol lady’s features.

He reached up, placing a gentle hand over hers as he spoke from the heart. “That was the mistake Jax kept on makin…the mistake Clay always made…the club ain jus the president’s. Choices bout club business need to be made in chapel. The gavel might be in my hand, but I ain the only one callin all the shots. I gotta put it up fer a vote, m’angel. If the lads want back in…I gotta take the Irish up on the offer.”

She let out a heavy sigh shaking her head. “You can’t just not put it up for a vote? I mean…you have to bring up the offer? You can’t just ignore the request from the Irish?”

“Fraid not, ignorin it would be me makin a choice on my own. Guns were club business long before I joined up with the Sons. Jax spent all his time tryin to get us out…he made a lot of choices on his own on the path of gettin us out…I hate gettin us back in, after all his did to…” Chibs started shaking his head, his throat growing tight, emotion building up in him.

She reached down wiping a stray tear that threatened to work its way from the corner of his eye, it so clear that the pain of losing Jax Teller was still fresh for Chibs Telford even years later.

He took a deep breath releasing it a shaky sigh leaving him. He managed to find the words leaning into her touch. “I loved Jackie Boy. I know he pictured somethin more fer the club…a lot of the shite that went down, Love…it was fuckin dysfunctional at best. Jackie Boy was a haunted man at the end. His demons tainted choices he made. Ye already know the whole story, so I won’t bore ye with shite ye already know. I don’t know if I’m a fuckin fool, thinkin I can do anything different from Clay and Jax. The gavel corrupts, that’s what one of my brother’s use to say. I’m tryin so hard not to let it change me. I am so lost, m’angel. I aint felt this lost since the gavel was firs put in my hand.”

Y/N did the only thing she could think to do. She knelt in front of him, gazing up at him, her hand sliding down his cheek caressing his skin. “You aren’t lost, Filip. You are not corrupted by power or fear. You have your brothers. I know it’s got to be so hard…knowing they all look to you for guidance. You just want to make the best choice for everyone. You’re right though…it’s not only your choice to make.”

He let out a shaky breath the words leaving him. “I can’t do this on my own, Lass. I know this shite scares ye. I know ye have heard the stories bout how bad it got…all the loss. I am tryin so hard to make sure shite is different this time, I need ye by my side. I need yer strength to get me through this.”

She let out a soft sigh a voice in the back of her head exclaiming that he was a fool to think she could leave him to face this on his own.

Filip Chibs Telford had been her salvation.

They had met at a highly unstable time in her life.

She could still remember their very first meeting. 

She had left a stable job and friends to follow her then boyfriend Liam’s hairbrained plot to move across the country up to Northern California for some job opportunity he had taken.

She had reluctantly agreed to make the move with him, draining any savings she may have had to put towards the move, because of course her boyfriend was not going to fund it entirely himself. 

Liam was not the world’s most considerate boyfriend. Honestly selfish would be the easiest way to describe Liam. He was more concerned with his wants and his needs. Y/N had grown accustomed to being an afterthought in the relationship.

Liam had chosen to react to their latest argument by shoving Y/N out of the Uhaul and tossing her purse at her before driving off leaving her in his dust.

It was an explosive end to an often explosive relationship.

Once the rage had faded Y/N had realized just how fucked she actually was.

She had been stuck out on some Northern California backroads with very little money to her name and zero cell signal.

She had done the only thing she could think to do; walk down the dusty road hoping she could find some sign of civilization somewhere.

Her sign of civilization had come from the roar of a motorcycle.

The rough looking man riding the Harley had looked just as shocked to see Y/N as she’d been shocked to see him.

Chibs was not sure why he had pulled over his bike. He guessed he’d just been alarmed to spot some pretty young thing walking down the road in a sweet looking yellow cotton sundress appearing so distressed.

She could admit she’d been alarmed by his appearance as he’d stopped beside her pulling over to the side of the road. 

She felt ashamed as her eyes landed on the scars embedded into his cheeks she telling herself that it was so rude to stare.

She had spotted the leather kutte on his back next and the different patches sewn into the thick black leather; Sons of Anarchy, MC, California, Redwood originals, In Memory of Opie, President.

She felt her mind spin having briefly recalled a documentary she’d come across once on a lazy sick day in bed. The documentary had covered outlaw bikers. 

She had scolded herself for recalling the memory, a voice in the back of her head snapping that just because this strange man appeared to be in a motorcycle club that didn’t mean he was some kind of criminal.

She had felt a strange sense of comfort when he’d spoken his accent not at all being what she had anticipated. “Ye alrigh, Love? What are ye doin all the way out here? Is yer car broken down?”

The Scottish brogue was pleasant and rich sounding. It felt like heavy velvet or thick ale across her senses. 

She furrowed her brow at the thought. She had never thought that an accent could be so appealing.

When he’d peered at her over the lenses of the sunglasses he’d been wearing she had suddenly realized that the accent was not the only appealing thing about this man. He had lovely eyes; dark and soulful. His gaze fixed upon her and did not feel as though he was looking upon her with judgment. There was almost a sense of gentle concern behind his gaze.

She had studied him further spotting a pair of plush lips concealed under facial hair that was mostly silver. The hair on top of his head appeared to have been quite dark at some point but it also appeared to be peppered with quite a bit of silver as well. 

She had not imagined she might ever find an older man to be so attractive. 

She had shoved the thought from her mind, deciding to just spill her guts. “I got into a fight with my boyfriend.”

“He ditched ye on the side of the road?” Chibs blurted out a small frown crossing his brow, a sense of disapproval in his voice.

She shrugged her shoulders a soft sigh leaving her trying not to panic about the reality of her situation looming over her. “Something like that.”

“Ye need a lift home?” He offered the sense of panic weighing down on her all the heavier.

She felt the tears fall, ashamed to be falling apart in front of a total stranger. She had felt the words spill from her that sense of shame growing all the more palatable. “We were moving. I have no home to be taken to. I have nothing.”

“Shite, is there anyone ye can call?” Chibs remarked that look of disapproval on his face deepening to something she could not quite place; anger on her behalf?

She shook her head rapidly, her voice growing panicked. “I have no one. I don’t speak to my mother anymore and I don’t really have any friends outside of my old job, none that would care. He was all I had. I don’t know what to do.”

Chibs had taken her by shock as he’d spoken nodding to his bike. “Get on, Love. Let me take ye to get a bite to eat. We can get some food in ye and figure somethin out. I always feel better after a good bite to eat.”

Despite every warning bell going off in the back of her mind telling her not to get on a stranger’s motorcycle, Y/N had realized she had no choice.

She had told herself that perhaps this Scotsman was some kind of odd godsend.

Much to her shock as they’d sat at some greasy little diner not far from where Chibs had picked her up an offer had been made “I know a lass, an ol lady of one of my brother’s, Venus, she’d be happy to let ye stay with her while ye get back on yer feet. Now fer work…ye got any skills? What’d ye do before, ye mentioned a job?”

She had stared at him dumbfounded her mind going a mile a second. “I can’t do that, I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure this uh…ol lady you’re mentioning wouldn’t want some stranger moving in with her.”

“She won’t mind, she has a thing fer wounded wee birds.” Chibs had remarked not missing the grimace on Y/N’s features at the comment.

He was fast to speak again, reassuring her. “We all get wounded from time to time, Lass. Ain’t nothin to be ashamed of. Now, work, what’ye do?”

“Editing. I did some commercial work, some independent movies.” She blurted out her mind still going a mile a second.

Of course that had worked the mention of Red Woody Productions and a slap from Y/N proving she was less of a wounded wee bird than Chibs had proclaimed her to be.

The path from rescued wee bird to ol lady had not been a simple one.

Chibs had hated to admit that he’d been smitten with the distressed young woman he’d found on the outskirts of town.

He had felt guilty for the attraction. He had told himself not to pursue a thing as it would be a massive power imbalance.

Y/N had been just as attracted but just as reluctant to follow attraction telling herself Chibs Telford saw her as a wounded bird; something to help.

A friendship had blossomed; a flirty friendship but a friendship all the same.

Chibs had not been surprised that his brothers had adored Y/N. She had been a hard worker for Red Woody and she had such a sweet demeanor. It was hard not to like her. Venus had adored her; happy to take her in just as Chibs had assumed she would be.

Things had scooted along for months, a friendship forming and a certain romantic tension hanging in the air that neither had been willing to address.

The break in the romantic tension had come by the arrival of Liam to Charming.

He had shown up at the clubhouse of all places having finally tracked his ditched girlfriend down.

He had tried to coax Y/N into coming with him less than politely.

Chibs could still remember the words he’d walked up to his stomach churning spotting the distress on Y/N’s features as she appeared to be arguing with some arrogant looking young man.

“Are you serious, Y/N? What the hell is keeping you here?”

Chibs had felt the words leave him his chest puffing out attempting to give off the most unwelcoming energy he possibly could to the man. “I am. She’s stayin here Laddie, I think ye best go.”

Liam had scoffed at Chibs before glaring back at Y/N, his words harsh. “Who the fuck is this? Are you fucking him?”

Chibs didn’t have a chance to react because Y/N held her head up high, her words proving once again that she was no wounded bird. “Leave, Liam.”

“You can’t be serious? You’re fucking this freak? You always were demented, you know that? I never thought you’d become some kind of biker whore though.” Liam snarked the words cruel Chibs stepping forward ready to throw a punch.

Y/N spoke deciding to make a point even if she was partially lying. “I’m only his whore. He’s twice the man you ever were.”

With that she had put on quite the show turning to face Chibs yanking him down by his kutte her lips sliding along his the kiss deep and sloppy.

Chibs had kissed back once he’d gotten over the shock of the sudden act.

Apparently the kiss was enough to piss Liam off the man proving he was all bark and no bite as he stormed off screaming out expletives in Y/N’s direction.

As soon as he was out of sight Y/N pulled from the kiss apologies spilling from her lips. “I am so sorry, Filip. I know that was so uncalled for. I just know that guys like Liam don’t back off unless they think some other guy has a claim. I promise you I will never do that again.”

Chibs spoke, surprising himself and her by his words. “Please don’t promise that, Love.”

She gazed up at him feeling breathless as he spoke again, deciding to shoot his shot even if it scared the hell out of him. “It wasn’t uncalled fer. I want ye to that again…though I’d prefer ye to kiss me when ye aint tryin to make yer prick ex back off.”

He cleared his throat feeling less like the intimidating confident President of SAMCRO and more like a nervous older man who had not dated in far too long. “What I’m gettin at is…can I take ye on a date sometime, Love? We can try dinner before another kiss.”

He cringed fearing she was about to shoot him down and call him an old fool for thinking he had a shot at anything more than friendship.

His fears had died though as she leaned up her lips sliding along his cheek. “I would like that. Dinner would be nice.”

They had not looked back after that. She had become his beloved ol lady and the queen of SAMCRO.

It was a role she could admit she struggled to sink into. It was a role she was willing to take on for Filip Telford though.

Her mind pulled from the past as she spoke, her voice gentle and adoring. “I am here, Filip. I’m not going anywhere Baby.”

She spoke again, her hand leaving his cheek placing at his thigh sliding along the thick denim as she worked her hands upwards. “Let me take care of you, Baby. Just sit back and relax. Forget the books and let me make you feel good.”

He groaned, his head falling back she so easily knowing his body by this point. 

She slid her hands along his belt unfastening it and working his jeans open as she spoke. “Lift your hips up, Honey. Let me take care of this cock.”

He groaned obediently doing as she said, she worked his jeans and boxers down his hips, he kicking them down to rest around his ankles.

She rested between his parted thighs, her lips pressing to his knees working her way up slowly sliding along his warm skin.

She pressed soft adoring kisses to his skin, her voice low and full of sweetness. “You work so hard, Filip. You take care of everyone but who takes care of you?”

“You do, Love.” He remarked gazing down at her his hand reaching down to stroke her hair as she worked her lips up his thighs.

She gazed up at him as she spat in her hand before reaching forward placing a hand over his waking cock giving it a few lazy strokes working a moan from him. She kept her strokes light and teasing as she spoke. “I love taking care of you, Filip. You deserve it.”

He groaned as she slid a thumb along his sensitive tip smearing a hint of precum leaking from him, her voice soft. “My sweet man, takes good care of me. My angel.”

He groaned at the statement a drowsy giggle leaving him at the last part of her statement. “That’s my line, Love. Trus me, I aint no angel.”

She spoke a playful glint in her eyes as she spoke. “You are a devil sometimes, but a tempting one.”

He did not have a chance to reply as she leaned forward, her tongue sliding along the sensitive glans of his cock. She wrapped her lips around him her plush lips heavenly on his heated member. She kept her gaze locked on him as she eagerly bobbed her head.

He groaned his voice thick with lust as she worked him, taking more and more of him with each bob of her head. “Fuck, Lass. Take it, Love.”

She moaned around him, preening at the low curses that left his lips. He spoke as she took more and more of him down her throat, the heat making his cock throb. “Ye are so perfect, Love. Jus takin my cock like this, fuck. This was jus what I needed, my girl always knows what I need.”

She moaned around his cock relaxing her throat, breathing through her nose as she took him even deeper, he hitting the back of her throat with a cry of her name.

She gagged around him, Chibs placing a hand on the back of her head stroking her hair as she held him there. He grunted, resisting the urge to thrust against her knowing that this moment was meant to be a little gentler. She was focused on taking care of him. This was not a moment for a rough fuck.

She pulled up of him a disappointed groan leaving him. The disappointment did not last she wrapping a hand around his slick cock stroking it, his hand sliding along her cheek caressing it.

She kept her gaze up at him not helping but to find him beautiful in moments like this where he was feeling only pleasure. In her opinion he deserved all the pleasure in the world after he spent so much time worrying and stressing over everything and everyone. 

She was stunned as he pulled back from her his voice thick with desire. “Bend over this table, Love. Pull up this dress.”

She did as he said, pulling the little sundress she’d been wearing up over her hips as she bent over the Reaper table. 

Chibs groaned approvingly as he stared at her spotting the little pink thong she’d worn today.

He was unable to resist reaching forward, giving her backside a swat wanting to make her skin so flushed she matched the pink fabric of her panties.

He spoke the need so evident in his voice. “Need to fuck ye love. Been fillin wound up all day. Need to find some release.”

“Please, Baby. Do it. Want you to feel good.” She replied turning her head struggling to gaze up at him as he shoved the chair he’d been sitting in back managing to stand over her.

He yanked the thong she was wearing down she kicking it across the room. He ran his hands down her thighs, a groan leaving him as he spoke. “Yer so soft.”

He ran his hands along her inner thighs close to her bare center moaning at the hint of wetness that he discovered. “Shite, Love. Yer so soaked ye dripped down here.”

He ran his fingers along her slit, a groan of approval leaving him as he slid one finger between her lips. He added another finger thrusting them and scissoring them wanting to make sure she was ready for him. “Ye feel so good, m’angel. Gonna feel like heaven round this cock.”

She rocked back against his fingers, a low giggle leaving him. “Christ, look at ye. So Desperate fer me that you’ll take my fingers jus to get off. This pussy has been longin fer me aint it?”

“Always longing for you, Baby.” She replied the comment, working a smack to her backside from his free hand.

She whimpered when he pulled his fingers from her he chuckling at the reaction. “Jus wait, Love. Gonna give ye something more than my fingers.”

He brought his fingers up to his lips suckling her wetness from them, a low moan leaving him. “Shite, when I’m less desperate to be in ye, yer sittin on my face.”

She moaned at the suggestion not having long to focus on it as he took himself in hand sliding his hard cock along her center teasingly a groan leaving him.

She whined, her body trembling with anticipation knowing she was so desperate to be filled by him. No one filled her as well as Chibs Telford.

She spoke knowing just what to say. “Fuck me, Please. Give it to me.”

He groaned a hint of amusement clear in his voice. “Greedy, Lass.”

He gave in, thrusting forward his cock stretching her as her heat enveloped him fully to the hilt.

He groaned, his hands resting at her hips giving them both a moment to soak up the initial first thrust it always taking their breaths away.

He’d never imagined that when he came across that panicked woman on the side of the road that she’d one day be bent over the reaper table with his cock buried in her pussy and his crow on her back.

He groaned, pushing her hair aside, giving him a full view of the crow inked into her skin. She moaned knowing exactly what he was doing. He loved seeing the tattoo on her; a reminder that she was his and that she was in this life with him.

She had never anticipated that the odd Scotsman who had come to her rescue that day she’d been abandoned by her ex on the side of the road like trash, would become the love of her life.

She would have never believed she could find comfort in a world that was so dangerous nor with a man who society told her would only cause harm.

Chibs and the world that come with him had given her a sense of comfort though. It was a sense of belonging she had never known. He was her salvation in more ways than one.

She spoke the need she felt for him growing. “Please, Baby. Love me.”

“Always, m’angel.” He groaned, rocking in and out of her his movement starting out slow and gentle wanting to soak up the feel of her.

She did her best to rock back against him but found it difficult the table and his body keeping her sandwiched and helpless to his ministrations. She had a feeling though that this was his intention. 

She soaked up the feel of him rocking in and out of her so lovingly. He moaned from behind her the fact that she could not turn to see his face almost maddening. She adored how deep he managed to get in this position but found it frustrating to be unable to hold him or gaze up at him.

She made a silent promise to ask him to love her in a different position later; one where she could hold him and gaze into his eyes. 

For now though she was happy to bend over the table in chapel and let him work out his anxiety and stress on her body. She was delighted to please him. 

She gasped holding on to the side of the table digging her nails into the wood as she soaked up the feel of him sliding in and out of her, able to feel every vein and every pulse of him.

He was by far the most skillful lover she’d ever had and easily the most passionate.

He groaned, it not taking him long to give into need his thrusts growing more frantic cries of his name leaving her lips.

He spoke his voice thick with lust. “Fuck yes, Take my cock, Love.”

She whined reaching up to place a hand over her lips remembering that Tig was downstairs most likely within ear shot and who knew who else was around the clubhouse able to hear her cries of pleasure.

Chibs reached forward tugging at her hair pulling her head up his voice demanding. “Nah, none of that, Love. Take that hand off yer mouth. Don’t care who hears ye. Let em all know jus how good I fuck my ol lady. Let em hear me fuck my queen.” 

She did as she was told a cry leaving her lips he groaning at the sound praising her. “That’s my girl, fuck.”

He released her hair grasping back down on her hips using them for leverage as his thrusts became a little rougher, more cries of his name leaving her.

She whined knowing if she wasn’t currently bent over this table she would have collapsed to the ground with as good as he was making her feel.

She had long ago figured out that being fucked by Chibs Telford was a full body affair. He had a way of completely overtaking her and fucking her stupid. He could make her cock drunk with very little effort on his part and the arrogant jerk knew it too and used it to his advantage.

He spoke, his voice teeming with adoration and lust. “Needed ye so bad tonigh Love. Fuckin stressed outta my mind. Needed ye to come fuck the stress outta me. My good sweet queen, knew I needed er, aye?”

“Yes, Baby. Wanted to take care of you.” She whined the admission making him moan his grip on her hips tightening.

She whined as he spoke. “Touch yer clit, know it makes it so much better fer ye. Play with yerself Love.”

She did as she was told, reaching between her body and the table finding her clit the action clumsy but so rewarding.

She rubbed circular patterns into the sensitive bud, her knees trembling his name spilling from her lips.

She whined knowing at this rate she was going to cum far too quick. Chibs may have claimed he’d been wound up needing release all day, but she had to believe that she’d been in the same boat.

That was part of what had led her to the clubhouse tonight.

She spoke not caring how loud the volume of her voice was growing “You feel so good Filip.”

“Aye, ye feel like heaven Lass. Hot, wet heaven.” He groaned his hips slamming into hers the sound of his skin meeting hers and moans spilling out filling the room.

She gasped the stimulation to her clit and his cock sliding in and out of her working her so close to the edge. Chibs Telford’s dick had zero right making her feel this good.

She spoke, unable to stop the words from leaving her. “How are you this good at fucking me?”

“Lots of practice, Love.” He remarked not leaving a hint of arrogance from his voice.

The comment was quickly followed up with a low moan as he spoke again. “Was practicin fer ye. Jus didn’t know it yet.”

She whined gripping on to the table all the harder her body shuddering as he found that one spot in her that made her practically see stars. She did all she could to thrust back up against him, her fingers not letting up on her clit a cry leaving her. “Please, Filip, I’m so close, so fucking close.”

He groaned at the admission, a low growl leaving him. “Fuck, m’angel. Yeah, ye cum on this cock. Let it go fer me.”

She continued to rub tight little circles into her clit, a coil winding up tight in her belly growing more taunt by the second the sensations almost too much.

“Oh, Fuck, Filip. I’m cumming, I’m. Oh” The words spilled from her dissolving into unintelligible cries as she fell apart underneath him, her body trembling her pussy clenching around him.

He groaned doing all he could to keep rutting against her through her orgasm, the sensation of her falling apart below him always taking his breath away.

He had never thought he’d be worthy of someone so stunning and so gentle and lovely. He had never thought he’d take an ol lady but now that he had found one he knew he would never let her go.

He groaned his words thick with lust “Yer so fuckin gorgeous, m’angel. Jus stunning cummin round my cock. Christ, ye feel so good.”

She pulled her hand from her clit, the stimulation too much. She moaned against the table pathetically, her body limp and overstimulated. 

Chibs groaned not letting up his cock thrusting in and out of her soaked heat, she feeling even more sopping wet now that she’d cum all over him. 

He spoke knowing he would not last much longer now. He groaned uncertain if it was a side effect from the painful fact that he was getting older now in his fifties, or if it was just that the woman who gave him the privilege of fucking her was so good that he couldn’t last as long as he may have in his twenties. “Where do ye want it, Love?”

She whined it hitting her lust worn mind just what he was asking. She spoke, the answer seemed so clear. “In me, Baby.”

“Aye, ye want me to cum in ye, Love? Ye want me to fill this pussy?” He groaned knowing that she was the only woman he’d been with in so long where this was even an option.

The fact that she loved him and adored him enough to even give him the option made him adore her all the more.

“Please, Baby. Do it. Want it.” She barely managed to work out as he felt himself fall over the edge, his thrusts growing sloppy and rough.

He let out a groan as he fell apart, his last few thrusts practically knocking her against the table as he came spilling into her in hot thick spurts.

He groaned the words low and satisfied as they left him. “Fuck yes, take it. Perfect lass. Love ye so much.”

He practically collapsed against her, pressing her down into the table, his body bending to rest over hers, they both hot and damp with sweat.

He groaned as he reluctantly slid out of her the mess they made dripping from her. He groaned as he fell back into his chair, a moan leaving his lips at the sight of his cum dripping out of her well loved center.

He reached forward sliding his fingers across her slit causing her to moan she feeling over sensitive a low chuckle leaving him as he gathered their mixed releases on his fingertips.

He reached forward, his fingers sliding along her lips. She obediently ran her tongue along his fingers cleaning their release from them a groan of approval leaving him.

He spoke a heavy sigh leaving him. “Come here, Love.”

She stood up ignoring the smirk on his lips at how wobbly she was as she stood up his cum dripping down her thighs making her cheeks flush.

He scooted back, opening his arms she happily standing between his parted legs allowing him to wrap his arms around her waist.

He held her against him, she wrapping her arms around him. She ran her hand along the back of his head he burying his face against her stomach as she spoke reassuring him. “I’m not going anywhere Filip. I mean it, No matter how lost you feel…I’ll always find you.”

She paused as he gazed up at her his eyes filled with awe. “I love you Filip Telford.” 

“I love ye too, my queen.” He responded holding her all the tighter any worries he had about the future of the club were too far away to grasp.

He didn't know what the future held for the club, but he knew whatever it was he could manage it as long as he had her by his side.

[mediadollz]

             LUNARIX is a six-member fictional girl group that debuted on July 17, 2023 under ANGELICO Entertainment. Rookies thrown into the UNFORGIVING landscape of the entertainment industry, Lunarix stands out amongst the rest with their UNCONVENTIONAL and QUIRKY sound and concept.

Originally known as "ANGELGIRLZ" during their pre-debut phase, the group faced immediate scrutiny. Their debut announcement quickly followed the disbandment of Angelico's top-performing groups, VENUS and DeepDive. Accusations arose, claiming that ANGELGIRLZ copied Venus' "VENUS PROJECT" with their pre-debut project, "The Angel Project." Angelico chose not to address these allegations.

The negative reception toward ANGELGIRLZ intensified when their leader, Angel, was exposed as a school bully. The group's pre-debut single, "Chu~♡," received a poor response from the public. Following this setback, Angel was removed from ANGELGIRLZ, and her contract with Angelico was terminated.

On their debut date of July 17, 2023, Siyeon, a former DollsWorld member, joined the lineup, completing the current six-member configuration. Despite this addition, Lunarix still struggles to gain widespread public affection and often becomes the target of online hate trains.

Siyeon, the leader of Lunarix, was born on May 13th, 1999 in Daegu, South Korea, to a bustling family of six siblings. Siyeon's path to stardom seemed destined from the start, as she was born under a Waning Crescent moon.

From a young age, Siyeon displayed a big personality and an undeniable need to be on stage, setting her apart from her siblings. Her innate charisma and talent caught the attention of many, earning her the title of the "survival show princess." Siyeon participated in numerous survival shows, consistently making it to the finale but never securing a spot in the final group. Despite this, she remained a beloved contestant among viewers.

SIYEON'S SURVIVAL SHOW RESUME !

KARA Project: RANK 3rd

PRODUCE 101: RANK 18th

IDOL SCHOOL: RANK 17th

MIXNINE: RANK 5th, failed to debut.

UNPRETTY RAPSTAR 2: Third runner-up

THE UNIT: RANK 12th

PRODUCE 48: RANK 14th

GP999: RANK 11th

In 2019, Siyeon finally made her official debut with the group DOLLSWORLD under Stormedia. However, the group's journey was short-lived, with only two comebacks before silently disbanding as all the members terminated their contracts.

Undeterred by the challenges, Siyeon embarked on a new chapter in 2021 when she joined Angelico Entertainment. Alongside her commitment to training, Siyeon continued to participate in various survival shows, showcasing her resilience and determination.

Siyeon became Lunarix's new leader, main singer, and visual after Angel, the group's previous leader, was removed before their debut. Siyeon's strong singing and attractive appearance brought fresh energy to the group and contributed significantly to its identity.

ﾞ . ✩ . ' ۫           INFORMATION!

STAGE NAME :: Siyeon

BIRTH NAME :: Oh Siyeon

Birthday :: May 13th 1999

Zodiac :: Taurus

Birthplace :: Daegu, South Korea

Hometown :: Daegu, South Korea

Ethnicity :: Korean

Nationality :: Korean

Faceclaim :: Lee Yeoreum

Height :: 160 cm || 5′3

Liala Davis was born on January 20th, 1999 in Songkhla, Thailand during a Waxing Crescent moon. She grew up in a home filled with music, as her father was a copywriter and her mother was a journalist and part-time singer. They provided a rich environment full of musical inspiration for Liala to grow up in.

Liala grew up in a musical family. Her mother sang beautifully, and her father played the guitar in his spare time. This upbringing instilled in her a deep love for music. As an only child for much of her life, Liala was often pampered by her parents. Because of this, her friends and family referred to her as "Princess."

During her school days, Liala's fascination with becoming an idol began after she and her friends watched a performance by 4minute on YouTube.

Liala was a natural leader who took charge as the head of her school's dance team. She loved performing and showed her skills and passion to everyone. One day, she caught the attention of Angelico Entertainment and they accepted her into their agency. Liala dedicated herself to training and her exceptional talents quickly set her apart from others. She left Thailand to train in South Korea and while she was away, her parents welcomed another baby girl into the world, making Liala a big sister.

Liala spent three years practicing and improving her singing and dancing skills. Finally, she made her debut as the main singer and lead dancer of Lunarix.

ﾞ . ✩ . ' ۫           INFORMATION!

STAGE NAME :: LIALA

BIRTH NAME :: Liala Davis

Birthday :: January 20th 1998

Zodiac :: Aquarius 

Birthplace :: Songkhla, Thailand

Hometown :: Songkhla, Thailand

Ethnicity :: Mixed ( Black + European )

Nationality :: Thai

Faceclaim :: Madison Bailey

Height :: 175 cm || 5′9

Kim Taerin was born on August 12th, 2000, in Seoul, South Korea. She is a talented individual with a complex past that adds to her intrigue.

Taerin has always kept her childhood a private matter. While there isn't much information available, some internet detectives have uncovered some heartbreaking details. When she was 5 years old, Taerin lost her parents and older brother in a terrible house fire. She was then adopted by a couple in Seoul. She has openly stated that she prefers not to think about her childhood, and the people who raised her are no longer a part of her life.

Taerin struggled with her studies and social life, but found solace in music. At just 15 years old, she began producing music on SoundCloud, showing that she was talented at making beats and melodies. She adopted the name SEEU and started making music for lesser-known groups and Korean hip-hop artists. This helped her grow up fast as she navigated the producer scene.

Taerin faced challenges when she decided to pursue her craft independently at the age of 17. It's unclear how she caught the attention of Angelico Entertainment, but this was a turning point in her life. Under Angelico's guidance, Taerin worked on her image and kept most of her past hidden.

She'd debut in Lunarix as their main rapper, lead vocalist, and producer.

ﾞ . ✩ . ' ۫           INFORMATION!

STAGE NAME :: Taerin

BIRTH NAME :: Kim Taerin

Birthday :: August 12th 2000

Zodiac :: Leo

Birthplace :: Seoul, South Korea

Hometown :: Seoul, South Korea

Ethnicity :: Korean

Nationality :: Korean

Faceclaim :: Kim Suhyun

Height :: 173 cm || 5′8

Evangeline Rostova, who goes by Evie, was born on June 5th, 2001 in Vladivostok, Russia, during a Full Moon. She is the second of three children in a family of academically talented siblings. Evie confronted the challenge of distinguishing herself among her siblings, but found her true strengths in dance, singing, and gymnastics. Despite not being great in academics, her mother was pleased with her gymnastics talent.

Evie was a successful gymnast at the age of 17, with a good chance of making it to the Olympics. However, she decided to leave her gymnastics career behind and go to Korea. She wanted to train with Angelico Entertainment, a prestigious training company.

Evie's pursuit of her dreams had consequences. Her mother didn't support her and cut off all communication, calling her a disgrace. However, Evie remained in touch with her siblings.

Evie was a talented performer in the Korean entertainment industry. She nearly secured a spot in the popular girl group VENUS and worked on other projects with Angelico Entertainment. After much anticipation, the time came for her to make her highly-anticipated debut.

When Evie joined Lunarix, she took on three roles: Main Dancer, Lead Singer, and Rapper. Her versatile talents added an extra flair to the group, making their performances even more dynamic and captivating.

ﾞ . ✩ . ' ۫           INFORMATION!

STAGE NAME :: Evie

BIRTH NAME :: Evangeline Rostova

Birthday :: June 5th 2001

Zodiac :: Gemini

Birthplace :: Vladivostok, Russia

Hometown :: Vladivostok, Russia

Ethnicity :: Russian

Nationality :: Russian

Faceclaim :: Nova

Height :: 157 cm || 5′2

Jang Yoomi was born on October 10th, 2001 in New York City. She moved to Ulsan, South Korea when she was seven years old. Yoomi faced challenges during her move, including her shy personality and difficulty learning Korean since she had not spoken the language before. She was born during a Last Quarter moon and started her life in a fast-paced environment in the United States.

Yoomi and her siblings grew up in a family of successful business owners and CEOs. They went to the most prestigious private school in Korea. Despite being academically strong, Yoomi had a difficult time adjusting to the new environment. Her limited Korean skills and introverted personality made her a target for bullying and harassment. The situation reached a boiling point when she suffered a broken nose and cracked ribs from a particular incident.

Yoomi's parents decided to withdraw her from school due to the worsening situation. They wanted to ensure that their daughter was in a safer environment, so they used their connections to secure her a trainee position at Angelico Entertainment. This change was aimed at providing Yoomi with a more supportive setting to develop her talents. Yoomi continued her schooling online and thrived in her role as one of Angelico's top trainees, demonstrating her resilience and determination.

She officially debuted in Lunarix as their main dancer, lead rapper, and vocalist.

ﾞ . ✩ . ' ۫           INFORMATION!

STAGE NAME :: Yoomi

BIRTH NAME :: Jang Yoomi

Birthday :: October 10th 2001

Zodiac :: Libra

Birthplace :: New York, New York

Hometown :: Ulsan, South Korea

Ethnicity :: Korean

Nationality :: Korean-American

Faceclaim :: Lee Chaeryeong

Height :: 162 cm || 5′4

Navi Pandya was born in Odisha, India on November 7th, 2002, under a Waxing Crescent moon. Despite her young age, Navi has an impressive portfolio that showcases her commitment to her craft.

Navi's early childhood is not widely known, but it is known that dancing was an essential part of it. She was inspired by her four sisters who were all accomplished dancers themselves, and she aspired to be like them. Navi was influenced by K-pop bands such as Wonder Girls and Miss A, and started her trainee journey under JYP Entertainment.

Navi first appeared on the K-pop scene through the reality show SIXTEEN where she competed to become a member of the group TWICE, but unfortunately didn't make it. She didn't give up and later participated in Produce 101, where she ranked fifth and went on to debut with I.O.I. Navi won the affectionate nickname "nation's baby" for her performance.

Navi's career came to a halt after I.O.I. She was expected to debut with ITZY, but a disagreement over her contract with JYP changed things. She joined FLOWERBANK Entertainment but faced challenges with mismanagement of her solo career and several promised group debuts that never happened. This period led to a decline in the momentum gained during her I.O.I days.

In 2022, Navi made a significant move by joining Angelico Entertainment, marking a turning point in her career. Debuting with Lunarix as their main dancer, center, and lead rapper in 2023.

ﾞ . ✩ . ' ۫           INFORMATION!

STAGE NAME :: Navi

BIRTH NAME :: Navi Pandya

Birthday :: November 7, 2002

Zodiac :: Scorpio

Birthplace :: Odisha, India

Hometown :: Odisha, India

Ethnicity :: Indian

Nationality :: Indian

Faceclaim :: Sriya Lenka

Height :: 170 cm || 5′7

[elminx]

Energy Update: October 2024

October is a “9” Universal Month [10 (October) + 8 (2024) = 18 = 1+8=9] in a “8” Universal Year. In numerology, “9” is the number of completions and endings. For some, big projects will finally be coming to fruition. Others of us may be dealing with endings, for good or ill. This aligns with the month’s astrological energy, which includes our last solar eclipse in Libra in this lunar node cycle and some significant planetary shifts.

The Set Up

We begin the month with the Sun and Mercury in Libra, Venus in Scorpio, Mars in Cancer, Jupiter in Gemini, retrograde Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, retrograde Uranus in Taurus, and retrograde Pluto in Capricorn. By month’s end, the Sun and Mercury will have moved into Scorpio and Venus into Sagittarius. Additionally, Jupiter will have retrograded, and Pluto will station direct. Mars will also have entered its pre-retrograde shadow in Cancer.

The Nitty Gritty

The month begins with a bang with a solar eclipse at 10° Libra on the second. Otherwise, all eyes are on Pluto, who is on its last legs in Capricorn for the next two months, and Mars, who is entering its pre-retrograde shadow. These three events not only set the tone for the month but will ripple through the rest of the year and into the coming one ahead.

Our Lights: The Sun and the Moon

The Sun will spend 3/4 of the month in the cardinal air sign of Libra and the last bit in the fixed water sign of Scorpio. This is our last Libra season before our lunar nodes switch to the Pisces-Aries axis in January of 2025, and we all have one final reckoning to meet around the themes of independence vs. togetherness. We’re coming out of a pandemic that highlighted both ends of this spectrum: on the one hand, we all felt the loneliness and isolation of the quarantine times, but on the other, it took a considerable amount of working together to create and distribute novelle vaccines to the entire world. We all got a deeper glimpse into how big and how small our lives really are. How interconnected, but also how separate.

I don’t mean to downplay this event or the trauma it has caused us all, but instead, to emphasize its complexity. What I have found the most fascinating about these past four years is how differently people experienced and synthesized these moments—sometimes even people who lived in the same house as one another! When somebody we loved could understand our experience with the pandemic, we felt more connected; when they did not, we felt more isolated.

Although this certainly isn’t over, it IS a good analogy for what is happening inside all of us and what is being highlighted by this last Libra eclipse on the Aries-Libra axis. All of us, every human on this planet, have a baseline of where we fall on the individuality to connectedness scale. Some of this comes straight out of our natal birth charts – Aries, often, are quite independent, and Libras are most certainly not. But our backgrounds, experiences, triumphs, and traumas all shape who we are and what we are comfortable with. We have all been forced to look at where we fall on this scale; we have all been weighed, and some of us have been found wanting. I don’t mean to imply a universal right or wrong in this regard, but there may often be for a certain place at a certain time.

Then you have two choices: You can adapt, or you can leave and find a place that is more to your liking.

Because the Aries-Libra axis is one of independence and connectedness, relationships have been on the hot seat for a long two years. Many of us really had to consider whether what we were doing (and with whom we were doing it) was worth the sunk cost. I don’t just mean Big R Romantic relationships here, either. All human interactions are relationships. Some will be worth every effort we put into them. And others were never worth our time.

All of this will come to a head leading into our solar eclipse on 10/02 because Libra is the sign of relationships and togetherness. This is a mixed energy eclipse as it involves the energy of a new moon conjunct to the energy of the South Node, our axis of past-facing fate. Also, our two relationship signs (Venus in Scorpio and Mars in Cancer) will be in a wide grand trine with retrograde Saturn in Pisces. Many people will ask themselves, “Is this really meant to be?” and likely coming up short. Because, after all, is ANYTHING truly meant to be? This astrologer says no, not that way anyway; that’s just not how fate works.

But this isn’t a post about synastry and how we fulfill lessons in each other’s lives. It’s about the cosmic, often overdue, realization that you cannot live for another person – you must live for yourself. That’s the lesson of our North Node in Aries, and we’re almost out of time.

Some relationships will end in and around the solar eclipse, that’s just the way of things. It may be hard, and it may really fucking hurt. But people who can’t agree on what a relationship means, who can’t bend and align to live a life together with interconnectedness rather than codependence, well, they really aren’t meant to be, aren’t they?

I know that there are some Libra types out there who have never learned this lesson and who are very mad at me for writing this. What can I say? I have an Aries moon. That’s my bias. Do you know what yours is?

This new moon is a 5/5 moon.

7 (Libra moon) + 7 (Libra Sun) = 14 – 1+4 = 5. 5 (Libra new moon) + 9 (October 2024) = 14 = 1+4 =5.

5 is a bit of a warning, a conflict number. This aligns with the energy of the eclipse pretty seamlessly. It’s not that what is meant to be is easy, per se, but when you are well aligned, you can get through conflicts easily. Pay attention to that during the eclipse and the days surrounding it.

Otherwise, our Sun squares off with Mars in Cancer on 10/14, which will be a rough-and-tumble fighty sort of day. Be ready to get into it, or step the fuck out of the way. You might be able to channel this cardinal energy into a project if you’ve got a well-aspected Mars in your natal birth chart but don’t push your luck with other people during this time. The Sun’s trine with Jupiter on the 13th may smooth things over, but only if you’re especially lucky. (Jupiter is retrograde and in its exile, after all)

Our full moon on 10/17 falls at 24° Aries and will pull in a lot of energy from our Sun-Mars square and our total solar eclipse last April through the Moon’s conjunction with Chiron. Our solar eclipse was at 19° Aries and was part of a major stellium between the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, and Chiron. Now slow-moving Chiron is still sitting at 21°, holding that wound.

This is an 8/8 full moon.

1 (Aries Moon) + 7 (Libra Sun) = 8. 8 (Aries Full Moon) + 9 (October 2024) = 17 = 1+7 = 8.

8 is the number of the ouroboros and the infinity sign; it is a reminder that what comes around goes around. Everything that goes up must come back down, and vice versa. Expect the highest highs and the lowest lows on an 8 moon, which is a double 8 moon. You can work with the Stength card or the Wheel of Time in the tarot to further this energy.

As the Sun prepares to exit Libra on 10/22, it forms a quick square with Pluto in Capricorn, repeating the theme of endings this month. Pluto is the planet of death and transformation, and he will be in Capricorn for a scant two months more for the next two hundred years! If you couldn’t put it down on the eclipse, do it now.

This energy will shift rapidly as we exit our very last eclipse cycles and enter Scorpio season. Things may get dark and moody, but they will certainly feel less fated as our luminaries pull away from our lunar nodes.

Mars

Mars gets near-to-the-top billing this month as it enters its pre-retrograde shadow on 10/04. This retrograde will occur between 06° Leo and 17° Cancer, so the switchover from cardinal to fixed sign will be in the hot seat for the next seven months. You read that right: 7 months from 10/2 when Mars enters its pre-retrograde shadow to 5/2 when it exits its post-retrograde cycle.

I feel like we’re in for a reminder here. All retrogrades happen in three stages as the planet will pass over the same points in the horoscope wheel thrice: first in forward motion (the pre-retrograde shadow), secondly when moving backward in retrograde, and thirdly as it moves forward the final time in its post-retrograde shadow. This is why (how?) retrogrades tend to bring with them our deepest lessons: any aspect that Mars makes with your chart will happen three times in the next seven months.

I will explore this energy more in my Mars retrograde Update, but the transition from cardinal to fixed signs is one of actualization. Cardinal signs are the searching signs and the first signs of the season. Fixed signs are the root signs; they take what the cardinal sign has uncovered and plant it/make it solid. Mars is the planet of action. Retrogrades are a time of re-s: we get to rethink, revise, revisit, renovate.

Mars will be in the pre-retrograde shadow phase for the entire month. During this phase, Mars will be in aspect with all of our personal planets and Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Chiron. Because this astrological event lasts for seven months, we can acknowledge the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Venus as a part of this story. However, we know they will be across the horoscope and into Taurus season by the time this transit resolves. Our outer planets and Chiron move much slower; they are the meat of this retrograde cycle.

This is looking ahead a lotta bit (but this will go until May 2025 so stay with me here), but this theme of hoovering on the edge between two planets (which Mars will now embody) has been in place all year as Pluto moves back and forth over the line between Capricorn and Aquarius. Now, looking ahead to 2025, Uranus will do so on the line between Taurus and Gemini and Neptune between Pisces and Aries. On top of that, our lunar nodes change signs in January!

Mars can get a little bit off of its game when so much is going on. Mars is also in its fall in Cancer., where it will be all month.

If you don’t know where to turn or what path to take, know you are right on time. It’s frustrating AF, I’m sure, but it is a part of the process. As we transition into this new era, many of us are finding that the ground underneath us has shifted. What made sense before may not make sense now.

You can consider these next seven months our planetary adjustment zone.

Things to remember: Cancer is considered the fall of Mars because the crab doesn’t move in a straight line. The crab is also known for holding on for dear life, so maybe work on loosening that death grip (you know what I mean if that is intended for you).

This will affect everyone because Mars is one of our personal planets. Mars is also the one personal planet that is beyond the Earth, which means that it works a little bit differently from Mercury and Venus. Mars isn’t tied to the Sun, which seems important to note here. These are the people that will be most affected by our Mars retrograde. Note here that you may have more than one and each compounds.

Anyone with Sun, Moon, or Ascendant between 00-06° of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) or 17-29° of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) with additional emphasis on Cancer and Leo/conjunctions

Anyone with Mars in those degrees of any sign (but the ones listed above most specifically)

Anyone with Mercury of Venus in those signs/degrees

Any Aries or Scorpio Sun or Moon

Anyone with a Mars dominant chart

Anyone with a luminary or personal planet between 00-06° Aries and Sagittarius or 17-29° Scorpio and Pisces

I’ll get into what this means more as we start working through this transit (I have seven months to write about it, apparently), but it’s time to become aware right now. And to give yourself grace is your work – whatever that means to you – happens more slowly.

Mercury

Mercury will be in Libra until the 13th when it enters Scorpio. In Libra, it will square off with Mars in Cancer, which may make the days around the 6th challenging and bitey. The next day, it will trine Jupiter in Gemini, so this likely won’t have any lasting effects.

Before it enters Scorpio, it will square Pluto on 10/13. I think this may feel like a bit of a release. This is the last time Mercury will square Pluto while Pluto is still in Capricorn. This day may feel somber, as if the hollows are extra hollow. You can work with that.

Mercury in Scorpio trines retrograde Saturn in Pisces on 10/22, reminding us of where we’ve been and how far we have come in the last four years. This will sit better with some people than with others, and it may be a deeply emotional day for some. At the end of the month, Mercury meets up with Neptune and Uranus as it begins to make moves to switch signs again. This could be intense for some, but it will mostly pass uneventfully.

Venus

While Mars is mired in its pre-retrograde shadow all month in Cancer, we look to Venus to see if we will get anywhere at all. Both Venus and Mars are our two movement planets; their interactions with each other show us how we attract (Venus) and go out and get (Mars) what we want. The world will run a bit smoother when Venus and Mars are better aligned. People will get along better. The two, especially poorly maligned, have indications for war and other human-made calamities.

Venus begins the month in the fixed water sign Scorpio until 10/17, when it enters the mutable fire sign of Sagittarius. As the Morning Star, Venus is at full speed, rushing ahead of the Sun. For as long as the Sun is in Libra, Venus will be our guiding planet, and she will be the intense watery depths of Scorpio. Note here that this is the sign of Venus’s exile as it is the opposite sign of Taurus, its domain.

Venus in Scorpio can be quixotic and demanding. She may not tell you what she really wants but instead, expect the world to read her mind. Monsters are lurking in those depths. She does have magnetism, though, something that Venus LIKES. This may be why Scorpio is the sign of Venus’s exile; Venus loves the power that Scorpio provides her, and that much is clear. The problem comes when the rest of the world doesn’t exactly enjoy how she is yielding that power.

Great responsibility and all that…

Venus in Scorpio trines Mars in Cancer on 10/08, which is generally indicative of lovey-dovey weather. It’s worth noting here that retrograde Saturn is a part of this equation and in a grand trine to them both during this event. Yeah, sure, love might be in the air, but consequences are also on the table. This is echoed twice as Mars has just entered his pre-retrograde shadow. Stay aware of who you cuddle up with during this time; what glitters may not be gold.

If you’ve said yes before and the two of you love getting mushy together, this will be a great day to have a watery date. Real Valentine’s Day energy. But, like with V-Day, it may be better to sit it out of you don’t trust your potential date. And definitely don’t sign any contracts (romantically speaking).

We will still be a bit hung over from our solar eclipse, which was all about the pitfalls of relationships. Don’t do somebody that day just to have somebody to do it, if you catch my drift.

Venus will lighten up some once she enters Sagittarius, but she, too, needs to come clean with Pluto on the way out of Scorpio. Again, some romantic relationships are not meant to make it all the way to November this year. This square with Pluto will be the last time Venus makes a major aspect with Pluto before it exits Capricorn next month.

In Sagittarius, she immediately trines the North Node, again, for the last time before the North Nodes switch signs in January. There are a lot of endings here.

After that, Venus in Sag squares off with retrograde Saturn in Pisces, putting even more tension on the consequences and endings we are experiencing all month.

Jupiter

On 10/09, Jupiter will station retrograde at 21° Gemini. As one of our intermediary planets, Jupiter retrogrades aren’t felt as deeply as those of our personal planets. The days immediately around this retrograde may feel liminal or a bit uneasy, as always happens when a planet stands still in the skies. Jupiter – the planet of expansion – is weaker while it is in retrograde, compounded by the fact that it is in the sign of its exile (Gemini).

Pluto

On 10/11, Pluto will station direct at 29° Capricorn. This is a big shift as it is the final curtain call on our Pluto-in-Capricorn era. In November, Pluto will move into Aquarius for the last time in this cycle. Outer planetary shifts happen very slowly; Pluto changes signs every 15-30 years. It’s the end of an era. Most people won’t feel this personally as this is our outer most dwarf planet, but the effects of this will ripple forward through 2025 and beyond.

The Details

10/02 – Solar Eclipse 10° Libra 10/04 – Venus in Scorpio trine retrograde Saturn in Pisces, Mars enters its pre-retrograde shadow 17° Cancer 10/06 – Mercury in Libra square Mars in Cancer 10/08 – Mercury in Libra trine Jupiter in Gemini, Venus in Scorpio trine Mars in Cancer 10/09 – Jupiter retrogrades 21° Gemini 10/11 – Pluto stations direct 29° Capricorn 10/12 – Retrograde Jupiter in Gemini sextile Chiron in Aries 10/13 – Mercury enters Scorpio, Sun in Libra trine retrograde Jupiter in Gemini, Mercury in Libra square Pluto in Capricorn, Mars in Cancer square Chiron in Aries 10/14 – Sun in Libra square Mars in Cancer, Venus in Scorpio opposed retrograde Uranus in Taurus 10/15 – Venus in Scorpio trine retrograde Neptue in Pisces 10/17 – Full Moon 24° Aries, Venus in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn, Venus enters Sagittarius 10/21 – Venus in Sagittarius trine North Node in Aries 10/22 – Sun enters Scorpio, Sun in Libra square Pluto in Capricorn, Mercury in Scorpio trine retrograde Saturn in Pisces 10/25 – Mars in Cancer sextile retrograde Uranus in Taurus 10/28 – Venus in Sagittarius square retrograde Saturn in Pisces, Mars in Cancer trine retrograde Neptune in Pisces 10/30 – Mercury in Scorpio opposed retrograde Uranus in Taurus 10/31 – Mercury in Scorpio trine retrograde Neptune in Pisces

[knightpetrichor]

A teasing smile. "Ideals, huh?" It doesn't hold the same viciousness as his earlier remark; not amiable, exactly, but thawed. Almost amused. The stranger shrugs, and, after a moment, ends up taking the seat next to him, hands still firmly stuck in his hoodie pockets. Kunikida takes the opportunity to observe his new companion. They look nice in the venue's ruby light. The color matches their hair; crimson red curls that frame his face perfectly. Whoever they are, there's something dangerous about them—he's not sure why, or what, but his instincts scream at him, and there's a reason Kunikida's survived Yokohama's backstreets for so long. The kind of person you shouldn't mess with. Still, Kunikida can't suppress his curiosity. - (Or: After sneaking out to go see a concert, Doppo Kunikida runs into an interesting stranger.)

🎸2.2k, teen & up, kunichuu

🎸set pre-dazai, chuuya, 15 years old.

[venusvity]

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🍒✧˚.⋆ UR MY BABY! HELLO, I'M BAEBI!

cw: sexualization + controlling company

  JUNG YOONAH took on the stage name BAEBI in 2018 upon her debut with VENUS and the world was never the same.

Baebi would take the world by storm with her solo debut the same year Venus would debut, sparking much discussion among fans over favoritism, a debate that still rages today. But who cares about favoritism when the music is good? Bubble Pop! Would take the Kpop world by storm, becoming the song of the summer.

It peaked at number two on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart and charted atop the US Billboard World Albums. As of 2023, it has sold 560,000 copies in South Korea. 

Bubble Pop! 's commercial success was the main contributor to Angelico Entertainment's leading music sales. The song peaked at number one in South Korea, where it has sold over 2.5 million digital units. To accompany her solo release, Baebi held a series of small concerts called Baebi's Summer Splash. She was awarded Best Female Artist at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards and at the 2019 Golden Disk Awards.

Chart data is boring. Let's talk about something else.

Returning just a few months later with the mini album "Tell Me More" and a title track of the same name, fans grew slightly more concerned over Yoonah's concept as a soloist. According to her most dedicated fans, her sound and look were very mature, very sensual, and bordering on sexual, which didn't really match Yoonah's character.

No one would be shocked at the music and content Baebi would be releasing when looking at her creative team:

The Son Brothers, Jinhwa and Roan, would be the proud creative directors behind all of Baebi's solo work. Bubble Pop! would be Son Roan's, later turned CEO of Angelico after his brother departed from the label to become CEO of Mydol, Angelico's now parent company, first project in the Kpop realm.

"I like working with Baebi because she's something different than what you're used to seeing from the other idols out there. You can do things with Baebi you can't normally do with other idols and I find that very exciting." – Son Roan when asked about the Baebi brand in 2020.

2020 Baebi hit a career-high with her mini album "Glassdoor" and the lead single, Gashina. This song was everywhere, but even more to an extent, no Angelico artist had ever seen. Baebi was an international sensation. She'd go on a mini world tour as a soloist, the first and only Venus member to do so, promoting internationally, being the first soloist under Angelico to do so internationally.

A point of contention in Baebi's career is the botched release of her first full album, "Hello Baebi!" with the poorly promoted single, Hello. When Baebi was coming back, you knew about it, your friends knew about it, your mama knew about it, hell, even your grandma knew about it. For Hello Baebi? Not a peep. Even Baebi fans were confused when Ktown4u posted a pre-order poster for the album before Angelico even posted teasers. Which, mind you, she only got four photo teasers and a single video trailer for a full album.

When the comeback happened, promotions only lasted for two weeks, something unheard of for Baebi and the outfits? Fresh off the Forever21 rack. The stages? Bare. Nothing. The MV? Budget cut in half. Something wasn't right...Then when you looked at the album credits, neither of the Son brothers were anywhere to be seen. The entire album was made by Baebi herself, something she shared often on her Instagram or during the few interviews she did during this era.

Either way, Hello Baebi, her one cute era completely controlled by her, was deemed a flop and the Son brothers used that to their advantage, taking full creative control over Baebi's image again.

Which is where Touch came in.

Touch was noted for its overtly sexual music video, on-the-nose sexual lyrics, and latex outfits Baebi would promote in. The single, which was, of course, promoted ions better than Hello Baebi!, was phenomenally on the charts and in sales, "proving" that the mature concept is what people wanted from Baebi. At least, that's Jinhwa's belief.

Baebi's release after Touch would be a mini album titled "Stupid B—" with the promoted track TWIT. Fans that worried for Baebi would be soothed by this less sexual yet mature concept and the actual look of enjoyment on Yoonah's face when performing the song, something that seemed to be lacking when she was performing Touch.

After a year break from solo activities, Baebi would come back swinging in 2024 with her second full album, "Choke On It," and the title track LIPLOCKER, which was a hit, of course. Though the concept was leaning more toward sexual than mature, Baebi seemed more comfortable performing and actually had fun during this promotional period. She'd go on to say that LIPLOCKER was her favorite comeback since Hello Baebi!, which fans are hesitant to believe, but whatever makes her happy!

[drearymondays-05]

Love is in the Hair

Jily Week August Day 1

@kay-elle-cee and @sunshinemarauder , Thanks for the opportunity.

Lily entered the wedding venue fairly early in the morning. There was a lot to be done if they wanted to follow the schedule. She took in the view and all the ongoing preparations and sucked in a nervous breath. This was it. One of the most important moments in her life to date. Her wedding. She repeated the word in her mouth. She had been so swept in with all the needed preparations, Order work and excitement that she had no moment to feel this anxiety. Her past with James flashed in her mind. Their first date, first kiss, first time together, moving in and now this.

The flashback however did not ease her worries down. If anything, it just reminded her that they were awfully young and the circumstances the wizarding world was currently in. They were, after all, just nineteen. Nineteen and fighting a war that did not look like it would end anytime soon. Was that the reason they were getting married so soon? Because they wanted to hold on to that fleeting chance of happiness in this drowning world of desperation. Would they have gotten married if they were a normal couple and not shackled by the restraints of this life? Only because of love and not a ticking time bomb threatening their very existence.

Were these pre-wedding jitters or was she genuinely rethinking her decision now just before the wedding? Just as she as she was lost in her thoughts, she saw two men enter from the other side. Up close she saw James explaining something to Sirius with exaggerated hand gestures and Sirius shaking his head in amusement. In both of them, she saw something she had not seen in months. Genuine joy without a smidge of worry, carefree laughter and a relaxed stance. She knew how rare and precious they were especially now. Somehow James turned exactly at that moment and looked right into Lily’s eyes. Pools of hazel on liquid green. James smiled at her and ran his fingers through his unruly hair distractedly. It was exactly this simple yet familiar action that managed to calm her down. It reminded her of all those times he fiddled with his hair strands. It was just so like her James.

She knew it then and there that she would marry this man despite and whatever situation, world or age they were in. There wasn’t a single thing that could keep her away from him. She had fallen for the boy he was at sixteen and was going to get married to the man she adored and loved at nineteen. And she would not change it for anything. Love filled all the emptied pores in her body as she smiled and rushed towards him.

James was feeling giddy from the moment he woke up. He was never known to have less energy but today he was more lively than usual. He wanted to meet his fifteen-year-old self today and reassure him that he was indeed going to marry the witch of her dreams. From the moment he fantasized about his wedding, he saw Lily Evans as his bride in those daydreams. Love for James was always a sacred concept. As he grew up under its warm shelter, he saw sheer power and impact love could have on people’s lives. Now though for James, the word love was synonymous to Lily. His Lily.

He entered the venue joking around with Sirius as he saw Lily looking at him. Even in the most mundane clothes, she looked like an angel glowing just for him. As she jumped into his arms, he caught her and twirled her around. Happiness was flowing unbridled in both their faces as they kissed each other. They felt their world click into place as their bodies fit against each other. Later in their honeymoon suite, after the wedding and fresh from their lovemaking, Lily would recall her nervousness about the wedding. She would surmise that it was his running his fingers through his hair that broke her anxious spell. The very one habit she had once claimed to hate, then loved secretly and fantasized about doing it herself and then ran her fingers through his hair whenever she could. James would just do that for her again for the sake of it and they would break into delightful laughter and somehow that would lead them back to each other again.

[fictitouscore]

BEST COMEBACK (FEMALE) IS A GRAND PRIZE AKA DAESANG AWARD!

Who had the song of the summer? Meet the seven stunning female artists who are nominated for BEST COMEBACK!

STARDOLL - SUMMER OF LIFE ! ... SUMMER OF LIFE is the second full album from STARDOLL. It was released by NEWTRO MUSIC on July 7th 2024, and contains thirteen tracks. They performed "#TooSPICY" for three weeks in music shows and received seven music show wins. \\ @stardollism

HIJINXX - MY WORLD ! ... following the low perception of their debut single, HIJINXX seemed to take the hit personally, returning back to the scene on october 4th with their first mini album MY WORLD. a six track project leading with the title track MAKE YOU CRY, it follows the girls on their journey towards finding the tear in their universe and exploring the newfound xverse, meeting their otherworldly lookalikes. \\ @hjnxx

VENUS - VENUS VICTRIX ! ... Venus Victrix is the third full album of the fictional South Korean girl group VENUS. The album was released by Angelico Entertainment on December 18th, 2023. Before the release of the highly anticipated album, the girls released two pre-release singles, "DRAMA" and "I AM THE BEST," both getting two weeks of promotions and being met with widespread praise. With a total of twelve songs, VENUS would promote "THE BOYS", "UNTIE", and "BYOB (bring your own bestie)" for three months. \\ @venusvity

STUPID CUPID - TRUE VALENTINE ! ... STUPID CUPID, a dynamic force in the music industry, made waves with their latest release, the 10th mini album, TRUE VALENTINE (LET'S TALK LOVE!). this captivating collection of seven tracks, launched in may, showcases the group's unique concept and musical style. \\ @stcpidcupid

BAD GIRLS CLUB - HOT ISSUE ! ... HOT ISSUE is the first extended play released by fictional girl group Bad Girls Club. The EP features 5 songs, two being title tracks, one being a pre-release single, and the final two being side tracks. The EP did well, exploring a new concept for the girls, retro futurism and old Hollywood. The albums contents including the music itself, was criticised due to provocative imagery and sexual innuendos through out it. \\ @badgirlswrld

VIVID - MIDAS TOUCH ! ...  "Midas Touch" features signature sounds and synthesizers from the 2000s whereas "Nothing" is a medium-tempo R&B song inspired by the same era. "'Midas Touch' sings about love at its very early stages, while 'Nothing' is about the love reaching an end — love that changed and the lack of emotion in relationships" \\ @alwaysvivid

JUDY - FALL IN LOVE ! ... The extended play features twelve tracks, including the title track FALL IN LOVE (with you). The EP was released on July 12, 2024, containing ten tracks, including the title track. The single debuted atop the South Korean music charts, keeping the number-one spot for nearly two months. \\ @anqelsweep

  ┈─★ ⠀⠀⠀CLICK HERE TO GET TO VOTING!

[milliemuus]

I'm hopefully not late, but today I figured I'd post day one of @arianimates toxicchaintober! The prompt being Peach!

Wait, but that isn't all! I wish to write an excerpt from this interaction, as I feel it would kick off day one! So with that....

READ UNDER THE CUT

"Sentret's down for the count! That means Millie made you eat dirt, Kiki!"

Carmine's voice rung in the air, her doing a little victorious hop. Kieran reluctantly withdrew his pokémon, a blush of embarrassment on his face.

"Aw man...and I really wanted to show off..." He muttered to himself. No doubt in his mind he was going to lose to Millie, the outstanding Champion of Paldea.

"Why did I even think a battle was a good idea...?" As his ungloved hand pressed against one of his heated cheeks, Millie was headed his way, a smile plastered on her face.

"That was amazing, Kieran!" She lifted out her hand, going to touch him on the shoulder. Kieran hesitated, before letting her do so. She carefully placed a hand on his shoulder, a shudder running down his spine.

'Wow...to think I'm getting a compliment from her...I feel so much motivation...' He thought.

"...Kieran?" Millie called his name again. Had he not responded?! He shook his head, looking up at her.

"S-Sorry, ma'am-!"

As he looked deeply apologetic, Millie chuckled. "Hey, you don't have to treat me so formally. I'm here on a vacation, and Wanna get to know about you and your sister's culture from a personal perspective." Her voice came out in an odd twang that sounded vaguely similar to his. As she spoke, his eyes widened.

She wanted to get to know more about me?

Millie continued, taking her hand off of his shoulder.

"That being said, just treat me like I'm your next-door neighbor!" She waved her hand as she explained her ideal way of wanting to be viewed, Kieran simply blinking.

"O-Okay...!"

They really had a long way to go...

As the two of them stood there, Carmine raced up to them. "Kiki! Stop looking goo-goo eyed at our new guest and get to work! Your battling probably just took up a good bit of the research time you and her both have!"

As her words snapped into his mind, he felt a flicker of irritation that stung in his chest. Even still, it felt like the words stuck in his throat, making it hard for him to voice his discomfort with his sister.

Millie waved her hands in dismissing "Hey, he's fine. I really didn't mind the battle. Plus, I plan on stopping by that shop over there, so I'm probably really adding onto our limited-time."

Millie's words of dismissal made Kieran's heart palpitate.

She was defending me...?

A sense of understanding and comfort ran over him, something he never really felt before. Already, he felt like he could share anything and everything with the Paldean Champion. She was so kind...so considerate; nothing like his annoying sister who liked to humiliate him all the time.

As he stared deep into her, he just kind've stood there awkwardly, not really knowing his mannerisms were very abnormal. He looked over every detail...her hair, her eyes, her clothes...as if trying to retain every single detail.

"Wowzers...." He murmured in adoration for his new "friend". "I wanna be just like her someday..."

Carmine had noticed his awkward silence once again, groaning.

"Geez, Kiki! You're utterly hopeless. Pairing you up with Millie feels like a bad idea now-"

Before she could finish the sentence, he suddenly blurted out "No!"

This surprised both Millie and Carmine, the two girls staring at him in surprise. He realized what he had done, his whole body now feeling hot as he rubbed his neck.

"I m-mean...please don't." He replied to his outburst. Stupid, stupid! How could you make yourself look like an idiot like that in front of Millie-?!

Millie shook her head, laughing softly. "Again, I'm sure little dude'll be fine with me. How about this: you go ahead and go find your partner, and I and Kieran will do our own thing." She suggests, Carmine looking reluctant at first but shrugging.

"Okayyyy, but don't do anything stupid! I have my eyes on both of you, by the way." Her voice was very accusatory, mostly directed at Kieran.

"Don't make me regret this decision, toodalooo!" As she gave one last glare to Kieran, whom seemed to quietly return it, she turned, jogging off. Kieran let out a hefty sigh, Millie picking up on it.

"Hey...she's only actin' this way because she cares for you, don't beat yourself up about it." Her voice was very soft, very reassuring. Kieran's irritation faded quickly, turning into a small smile."You really think so? She's always so...so annoyin'. It's like anything I do and she's breathin' down my neck or nagging at me!"

He chews on his lip, remembering all the insults or complaints his sister had about him. Millie seemed to laugh it off, not in a disrespectful manner, as she looked down at him.

"I'm sure she has her own ways of dealing with it. I mean, especially at your age, there's a lot of things she's bound to worry about. It's going to be annoying, but it's not the end of the world." As she explains this to him, it's like it opened his eyes. Maybe Carmine wasn't trying to actually be annoying, but maybe she really was just trying to help, even if it was an irritating way to go about it...

He didn't know how to respond at first, being immediately opened up to a viewpoint that was obvious. "Thank you, Millie. I never really saw it like that..." He felt sheepish—how was he so ignorant compared to Millie? She seemed so wise...Wait, of course she was, she was a Champion, for goodness sake! This made him curious and, before he could stop himself, he let the words tumble out.

"Millie...you just met me and my sis, but it seems like you've known us for moons. How are you able to know what Carmine is feeling?" He asked, Millie furrowing her brows at the question.

"I wouldn't say I 'know' what your sister feels. I'm simply putting it in my shoes and what I've observed. I mean, she's still a girl who lives in the country, and as far as I know, she's probably the most responsible out of the both of you." She looked in the direction Carmine ran off to, seeing her just vaguely converse with her teammate. Carmine looked up from the conversation, her eyes landing on Millie's with a glare. Millie inhaled sharply, looking back down at Kieran.

"I mean...I could be responsible!" Kieran replied "She just never lets me! She's always hovering over me an' making sure I don't do anything stupid..." He felt bad, airing out his dirty laundry about his sister so early, but at the same time, it felt good to get this frustration off his chest. Because of their reputation of being "troublemakers" in Mossui Town, he never really talked to the other kids, who were even younger than him. Millie crossed her arms, grimacing.

"Well, Kieran," she starts "It's not that you're not responsible. I would say that, her duty as an older sister, is to protect you. I'll also point out that with your current party, you wouldn't stand a chance." She was a bit blunt, causing an ache in Kieran's chest. Millie noticed his look of disappointment right away, her eyes widening slightly.

"That doesn't mean you're a failure or you're inherently weak, okay?"

As she stood there, looking apologetic, his feeling of rejection suddenly turned into one of desperation. Without thinking, he grabbed onto her jacket, tugging at it.

"M-Millie..." He shakily spoke "You're really good at battlin' right?" He asked, Millie feeling his hand tremble through thr fabric of her jacket. She wasn't at all surprised by the touch.

"I wouldn't say I'm the greatest in the world..." She responds. Kieran tightens his grip on the fabric. That was nonsense! She went and beat both he AND Carmine, who was the strongest person he'd known before her. Millie tilts her head.

"Why, what's up?"

Without missing a beat, the words stumble out of his mouth

"D'you...d'you think you could teach me to battle???" His eyes looked up at her pleadingly. His heart was pounding so fast— he had never been so forward with someone that wasn't his family! Millie stared at him for a few moments, the question half-surprising her. For such an anxious kid, he sure did have guts. Millie smiled.

"Maybe...I'll have to think about it. In the meantime, why don't we head over to that store?" She thumbed over to the store near Mossui's riverbank, his eyes following in that direction.

"Peachy's?" He questions. "I mean, I guess. The lady there has always run it since I was real little, sometimes even through the night. I dunno why, but that place always gave me the heebie-jeebies."

Millie frowned "Well, we don't have to go there, then-"

Kieran immediately stopped her, waving his hands like crazy. "Nono, you're a guest, right? We can go if you want to!" He smiled nervously, mentally kicking himself for showing any vulnerability. Millie, confused, just nodded.

"Alrighty."

They both headed over to the shop, the old woman running the stand greeting them.

"Welcome, welcome! Please, feel free to look or buy, if you please! For half the price, I also will sell my hand-made trainer gloves!" Her voice croaked gently, Millie dipping her head in a greeting. As Kieran made his way up to the shop, the old lady beamed.

"Ahh, if it isn't the youngest of the Kitakami siblings!" She continued. "I see you have already made a friend with one of the transfers?" This made Kieran's face go hot again. He didn't know how to respond at first, friendship kinda being a big deal to him.

"Well u-uh..m...I mean, if y-you put it that way I-"

The lady simply laughed,

"Oh ho ho! No need to be so shy, dearie. I didn't ask if she was your girlfriend."

Millie visibly tensed at this "No, I wouldn't even dream of it, ma'am." Millie wasn't used to comments like that, even if they were harmless in nature. She looked pver at Kieran, who looked like he was a few seconds away from fainting. She shook him, causing him to look away from her.

The old lady noticed this and tisked "My, I didn't mean to cause you both a fright there. I do apologize if it came off the wrong way." She genuinely looked sincere, realizing she probably got carried away at her age. Millie shook her head "No ma'am, it's okay! You were just making conversation."

That made Millie come to a realization that yeah, times were really different, and she already had someone. Even still, Kieran was way too young, and emotionally immature. She would never admit that to the kid, though.

The old woman nodded, ending the awkward conversation. Millie turned to Kieran again, who was still looking away from her. Internally, the little dude was freaking out. How was he supposed to reply or react???

As he was stiff as a board, Millie spoke to him.

"Hey, lil' squirt," She tried to get his attention, using a more emdearing nickname. He came to, looking up at her with moony eyes.

"Is there anything you want from here, like a snack?" She asked. Kieran blinked twice, still trying to process the situation.

She wanted to buy a snack for him?

"Uhh-" His mind was racing, eyes flickering between the products on the shelves. He came here sometimes, but never really brought from the place since his grandparents always made snacks at home. Now he was put to the test of choosing something he wanted.

Millie waited for a few moments, slightly amused by how much he was having to grow up without his sister. A few moments passed and he slightly poked at the weird purple peach-thing that was sitting on a pillow.

"What about that?" He asked shakily. The old lady laughed once again.

"That's not to eat, silly boy! That's an antique from my store! That's an old antique that was passed down to me!" As she explained, he looked confused.

"If it isn't for buying, why display it?"

"It's to add onto the rustic atmosphere of my shop, I suppose. Besides, I wouldn't want such a precious antique collecting dust. It could mean something one day."

The old lady's words struck Kieran's curiosity.

"Mean somethin...?" He asked to himself softly. As he kept observing and prodding at the antique, Millie wasn't paying much attention to the conversation, already looking for something for herself. She finally finds something she wants, pointing at it.

"May I have a pecha berry or two, ma'am?" She asks. The old lady smiled

"Why, certainly! That will be 15 PoKé!"

Millie was surprised. That was very cheap compared to the prices she had to pay back at home. As she was exchanging items, Millie looked back over at Kieran, who was still poking and prodding the antique.

"You sure you don't want anything, Kieran?" She asks, catching his attention for just a moment. He looks up at her, his mind elsewhere.

"Huh? Oh yeah no, I'll be fine, ma'am." His words were more direct and polite, his mind shifting back to the weird, purple thing that sat upon the Peachy's outdoot kiosk. As Millie shrugged, she made the payment, putting the berries and other merchandise away, thanking the old lady.

"Alright, lil' squirt! I think that's everything!" She tugged on her bag until it was in the front, putting away the berries.

"And that will be for me, because I need to eat healthier." She mainly meamt that comment to herself, Kieran overhearing it but not processing it. She looks back over at Kieran, snorting.

"C'mon, lil man. We should probably get going before the other teams beat us. I don't want your sister to have my head."

Kieran's attention snapped back to Millie, straightening up before nodding.

"Okay! I'll...follow you from a distance, if that's okay?" He asks, Milloe nodding.

"Sure! As long as we can keep up with one another!"

With that, the two departed from the store, the old woman waving at them.

"Have a good trip, and feel free to stop by at any time!"

As the lady turned away from the outer kiosk, the purple "thing" that lay upon the mattress trembled. It did not utter a word, but as a breeze blew past, a faint whisper could be heard.

"Yes...he is the one...I can feel it..."

"He will be my new vessel. I just need to promise him great power...and beckon him to me...then I can regain my strength..."

"I have finally crossed paths with the child...he will be foolish enough to accept me. My time of power is now..."

[gallifreyanhotfive]

Random Doctor Who Facts You Might Not Know, Part 26: Gallifrey at War Part 4

TW: classic Gallifrey at War death, destruction, and violation of autonomy

Cass Fermazzi's ship was crashing only because the Time Lords had indiscriminately opened fire on a group of ships.

The War in Heaven had 920 fronts across space and time.

The Twelfth Doctor assisted the General in the War Room while the first thirteen incarnations of the Doctor were working to freeze Gallifrey in a pocket universe.

The Beyond was a place created by the Last Great Time War where overwritten timelines got remembered. While here, Braxiatel was devoured by one of the Ravenous.

This specific Ravenous had once been Zara, a soldier in the Last Great Time War who was being forced to relive the explosion of a star she had gotten caught up in over and over again.

Lehena had Susan go back to 1963 Earth to collect the Hand of Omega. Unfortunately, she had been a Dalek duplicate, and the Daleks wanted to use the Hand to destroy Gallifrey. The Eighth Doctor recognized Lehena as a duplicate of a Time Lord in the year above him at the Academy that he had had a massive crush on.

The Venue Accords were the only attempt at a peace treaty made during the War in Heaven. Negotiations lasted a single picosecond, and they concluded that peace was impossible.

The Tharils, Porfue, and Krajonnu were all forcibly sterilized by Rassilon during the Last Great Time War to ensure that there would be no other time-traveling races to threaten the might of Gallifrey.

The Clock-People were humanoids with clockfaces instead of human ones. They were the remains of members of the Faction Paradox clinging to life after the War in Heaven. They could manipulate and corrupt others' biodata to insert themselves in their timelines.

During Remembrance of the Daleks before stopping at Harry's cafe, the Seventh Doctor was contacted by the same Time Lord messenger from Genesis of the Daleks (by some accounted named Jelpax, Valyes, Ferrain, etc). The Time Lord warned the Doctor of a counterstrike that was being made by the Daleks - part of the Last Great Time War. The Doctor became concerned for the Hand of Omega and ended up electrocuting a Slyther that the Daleks had been using to obtain it.

During the Last Great Time War, the Doctor and the Master were both hit with a degeneration gun, causing them to uncontrollably flick between all their different faces, including ones they hadn't even had yet.

Once Padrac had become a member of the High Council, he discovered that Gallifrey would be destroyed in the future, possibly by time war, invasion, etc. The only projected future where Gallifrey would survive was the future in which only Gallifrey remained, so Padrac set about to destroy the whole universe and convert their life force into regeneration energy to make the Time Lords immortal.

A tour operator took advantage of Gallifrey's fall after the War in Heaven to organize time tourism. They said that since the Time Lords and the Enemy used time travel to pre-empt each other, the War was continuously getting shorter, its climax getting closer and closer to present day.

The Tenth Doctor became embroiled in the Last Great Time War again when the War Master sent him telepathic summons. During this time, both of them were restrained and telepathically contained by the High Vectors (to be put on trial and probably erased), but the Master managed to escape and erase them before this could happen. The Master then retrieved the Doctor, and they parted ways.

Scarlette - one of the many who had at one point married the Doctor - was a child of the Faction Paradox's remembrance tanks in Pompeii.

Two other time wars that predate the Last Great Time War include the Halldon-Eternal skirmish and the Omnicraven Uprising.

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

[bananaofswifts]

Whether she's breaking records or breaking Ticketmaster, Taylor Swift has proven time and again that she's one of the most powerful figures in modern music — and the Eras Tour is a manifestation of that.

By TAYLOR WEATHERBY

But after witnessing it in person, it's clear that Swift is not just delivering the tour of the year — it's the tour of her generation.

Sure, Beyoncé fans can't wait for her tour this summer; Harry Styles is about to embark on the final leg of his highly successful Love On Tour trek; BLACKPINK sold out stadiums around the country too. Yet, it's hard to imagine that any other tour this year will have a cultural impact as big as the Eras Tour — something that's wildly apparent whether or not you were there.

Even before Swift hit the stage for her first night at Nashville's Nissan Stadium on May 5, her influence was felt. Practically every fan of the 70,000 in attendance (a record for the venue — more on that later) was wearing some sort of reference to their favorite Swift era: a beloved lyric, or an iconic performance or music video look. While that's not necessarily a new trend in the Swiftie world, seeing all 10 of her eras represented throughout a stadium-sized crowd was equal parts meaningful and remarkable.

As someone who has been to hundreds of tours and most of Swift's — including the Reputation Tour, which I naively referred to as "the peak of her career" — I didn't think this one would feel much different than a typical stadium show. But even when Swift was just a few songs in of her impressive three-and-a-half hour set, a feeling came over me like I wasn't just watching one of music's greats — I was part of music history.

Below, here are five reasons why the Eras Tour will go down as one of the most iconic of Swift's generation.

It's Treated Like A Holiday

In the week leading up to the shows and over the weekend, Nashville was abundant with special events in Swift's honor. From Taylor-themed trivia nights to pre- and post-show dance parties to wine lists transformed into "eras," practically every place you went was commemorating her return (she last performed in Nashville in 2018).

While it's unclear whether this kind of takeover is happening in every city — after all, she does consider Nashville a hometown, as she said on stage — it's rare to see an artist have such a ripple effect by simply just coming to town.

During her May 5 show, Swift added to the excitement by sharing the highly anticipated news that Speak Now (Taylor's Version) was coming on July 7. Upon the announcement, three of Nashville's monuments — the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, the Tennessee State Capitol and the Alliance Bernstein building downtown — were illuminated in purple, the album's color.

It's Breaking Records Left And Right

Though Swift is no stranger to breaking records, she continues to do so with the Eras Tour. After setting the all-time attendance record at Nissan Stadium on night one of her Nashville run, Swift topped herself (something has become accustomed to on the charts as well) with another attendance record on night two.

And despite the controversial ticketing frenzy the tour caused, Swift also broke a Ticketmaster record with more than 2.4 million tickets sold — the most by an artist in a single day — in the presale alone. If Swift announces an international leg of the tour, Pollstar projects that the Eras Tour could surpass $1 billion, which would add yet another first to her ever-growing list.

It's Spawned Parking Lot Parties

As if history-making attendance and record-breaking ticket sales aren't indication enough of Swift's power, the Eras Tour is so highly in-demand that fans are sitting outside of the venue to still be part of the show. Fans crowded barricades and camped out in the parking lot of Nissan Stadium, ready to watch (and sing along) Swift on the big screen — something that has seemingly been happening in every city.

It Can't Be Stopped By The Elements

Adding to the magnitude of the Eras Tour, Swift performs 45 songs across three and a half hours. And to make her last night in Nashville even more momentous, she did almost all of that in pouring rain.

Swift didn't get to take the stage until after 10 p.m. on May 7 because of storms in the area (she normally goes on around 7:50 local time), but that didn't mean she'd be shortening her set. Carrying on until after 1:30 a.m. — even through the "element of slippiness happening," as she joked — Swift made it clear that she's determined to give each show her all regardless of the weather.

It's Simply A Feel-Good Celebration

Perhaps it was the five-year gap between the last time she toured. Perhaps it was the four new albums of material. Perhaps it was the celebratory nature of the show. Whatever inspired the vibe of the Eras Tour, I've never seen Taylor Swift or her fans so alive. The passion was tangible, the energy was magnetic.

Though Swift has always been known as an artist with a very loyal following, it was still mind-blowing to hear 70,000 people belt out every word for three hours straight. There aren't many artists whose catalogs are as equally beloved as they are extensive, especially one who hasn't even seen her 34th birthday. No matter how many albums and tours are in Swift's future, the Eras Tour captures a special moment in time — and celebrates a legend in her prime.

[ms-m-astrologer]

The Week Ahead: August 26 - September 1, 2024

We’re in a waning Moon this week. This is not a good time to start anything, but it’s very supportive if you want to stop doing something. (Quitting a bad habit, for example.) While the Moon is in Cancer, it’s a good time to prune things that you want to grow back slowly (like a high-maintenance hairdo?); when it’s in Gemini and Leo, it’s a good time to weed (or get rid of unwanted body hair).

Lunar Phases

Monday, August 26, 09:26 UT - Last Quarter Moon, 3°38’ Gemini

The key phrases for the Last Quarter lunar phase are “turn away,” and “tear down old structures that no longer serve us well.” One way to determine what to do, is to look at what we have lost interest in. What bores us? What do we have a hard time focusing on? What are we using as a distraction? We’re probably mentally sluggish (Mercury rules Gemini, and is stationary), so we’ll be patient trying to sort through our thoughts.

Friday, August 30, 02:17 UT - Balsamic Moon, 22°12’ Cancer

The key phrases for the Balsamic lunar phase are “let go of the past,” and “envision the future.” This is a holiday weekend in the US, and if you have the extra time off, take the opportunity to nurture yourself. Even if you have to work*, you can still make sure you eat comfort food, hydrate, and rest.

* Ms M remembers long ago, when everybody had Labor Day off. We’d all remind ourselves to fill up our cars beforehand, as the gas stations wouldn’t be open on Labor Day. Sigh.

Void of Course Moon

Monday, August 26, 01:40 UT (Taurus) - 03:04 UT (Gemini)

Wednesday, August 28, 07:14 UT (Gemini) - 08:47 UT (Cancer)

Friday, August 30, 15:24 UT (Cancer) - 17:09 UT (Leo)

Monday, September 2, 00:25 UT (Leo) - 03:48 UT (Virgo)

Retrograde/Direct/Etc.

Pre-retrograde shadow: Jupiter/Gemini

Retrograde: Mercury/Leo (until Wednesday the 28th), Ceres/Capricorn (until Monday the 26th), Saturn/Pisces, Chiron/Aries, Uranus/Taurus (starting Sunday the 1st), Neptune/Pisces, Pluto/Aquarius-Capricorn, Eris/Aries

Post-retrograde shadow: Mercury/Leo (starting Wednesday the 28th), Ceres/Capricorn (starting Monday the 26th), Pallas/Scorpio

Transiting Ceres stations direct on Monday, August 26, 07:38 UT, at 7°29’ Capricorn. As she re-retraces her steps in this sign, between now and November 11, we can implement structured plans, with more of an eye on the longer-term. October 10-17 should be an especially productive time.

Transiting Mercury stations direct on Wednesday, August 28, 21:14 UT, at 21°24’ Leo. We aren’t out of the “Storm” until September 3, though, so continue to be cautious!

Transiting Uranus stations retrograde on Sunday, September 1, 15:18 UT, at 27°15’ Taurus. Those parts of our lives that feel stuck in a rut (even if it’s a comfortable rut), are “encouraged” to change, Uranus-style. Look for sudden surprises and disruptions. Uranus stations direct on January 30, 2025, at 23°15’ Taurus.

Ingresses

Thursday, August 29, 13:23 UT - transiting Venus enters Libra

Lasting until Sept. 23, we need to work hard on being more Eleanor Roosevelt and less Lady MacBeth. We want connection, and we need to be honest and reciprocal about acquiring it.

Monday, September 2, 00:10 UT - transiting Pluto retrogrades into Capricorn

One final visit, until November 19. A final chance to work on choosing integrity and responsibility - as opposed to being a status-driven control freak.

Et Cetera

There is one Opportunity Period this week: Wednesday, August 28, 08:47 UT - Friday, August 30, 17:09 UT. “Very good opportunity to implement changes and return to projects that were stuck during Mercury’s retrograde period.” (The next OP happens on Monday, September 9, so if you work with these be prepared!)

Format change - due to health concerns, this week I’m going to cut back on writing posts. Hence I went into more detail with this forecast! After this week, I will probably continue with a “beefed up” weekly and limit other posts to lunar phases.

______________________

Venmo Mary_Brack

PayPal MaryVBrack

Thank you!

[goldenpinof]

curious about your perspective – what do you think is the primary reason for the current comeback, and for the large scale of it (daily videos, new heavily marketed merch, etc)? are they trying to make up some monetary loss? is it true revitalized passion? the influence of the new management? lead-up to a major project/announcement? i'm guessing there's an element of at least the first three, but interested in your opinion as a noted non-cynical cynic (compliment btw)

under the cut because that's a lot. and it's not even all of my thoughts, unfortunately.

no one is gonna read it. but if you are, i'm sorry in advance.

ahaha. about merch. did you notice how they just continue to promote the calendar and the catboy sweater even though the initial release and promo had a deadline aka till December 1st? this is a fishy marketing right there. and i would love to know: why they did what they did (i'd assume they printed more calendars than people ordered by Dec 1st, but that's not our problem as customers. we shouldn't have been put into a framework in the 1st place if there was a chance for this shit to go south. this theory goes against the "pre-order" with a start of shipping in 2-3 weeks); why their managers allowed it (from a legal perspective); and why dnp didn't say anything. anyways.

i do think that Dan is trying to compensate for wad losses. and i know that he was "joking" about not making money or making negative money on tour. but i saw ticket sales a day before each show (only public information, not the inside official data from venues), it's still on my blog. and the sales didn't look good. so, how much of it was a joke? and compensating by making content that we and they enjoy isn't a bad thing, btw! i also think that he feels guilty for leaving us and the dnp brand behind for so long without actually giving us anything in return. thus so many comments on this 5-year hiatus and potential future ones. blame youtube originals, i know. not really his fault, but his choice of (the lack of) communication is his fault. and again, i always come back to wad. something fucking clicked in his head when he saw not as many people as he hoped for (or expected), how dedicated were some of those who still supported him during wad, and also he realised that without stronger managers he was not gonna make it solo. and he dragged Phil along because they do everything together and only then it works the best, and also dnpg's return in full force needed new energy for the amount of sponsorships they decided to do (i think, it's mainly Phil's pushing, because he is pro-sponsorships, they just need to be more careful with it on dnpg because Dan (hopefully) has principles when it comes to this. which is amazing. you go, girl!)

i'm very suspicious of dnp's new management right now. so idk. i think, again, most of it comes from Phil, because Phil thrives on their gaming channel, and that's basically the only easy way to survive on youtube and make money right now (for him). i'm glad dnp separated dnpg from their solo careers at least on the management and content levels. it gives Phil the room to use dnpg as a brand to pitch and fund his ideas/projects if it's ever needed. and now, after we survived the hiatus, they can pause dnpg for a couple of months to focus on their solo projects without losing the majority of the audience because technically we would know the reason and also we grew a thicker skin.

i do think that Dan is using dnpg to later help himself with a stand-up special or tour or some sort of series (danisnotokay). i also think he will use it to promote wad dvd (which is good. i will be disappointed if he doesn't use dnpg. like, bitch, why are we even here then? those who went through wad with him, i mean). i wonder if Inter Talent (i'm separating their name intentionally at his point because they piss me off) was smart enough to announce Dan and Phil's signings 2 weeks after UTA announced Dan to just make us pay attention to Dan's solo career again. as a hint of something coming our way. you know what i mean? i wonder if it was intentional. like UTA made a huge announcement, Dan retweeted it and posted it on instagram stories. it was a big deal. meanwhile, dnpg began thriving again and our eyes were on Dan anyway, so of course we noticed that solo career was on the maps again. Inter Talent was basically silent as another representative of Dan (and Phil), despite having them on the website for at least a month. and now 2 weeks after UTA's announcement (which was on November 22, 2023) Inter Talent was like, "hello? do you remember we signed Dan? and also Phil, and their joint channel?" Dan said wad dvd is almost cooked. wouldn't it be genius to stir our interest up step by step? (a part of me still thinks that Inter Talent's social media managers are just slow as fuck though. also they don't even care to check facts about their clients. UTA didn't fuck the announcement up like that, btw. and i doubt Inter Talent realises how nosy dnp's audience is, and that we are very likely gonna notice and spread even this stupid announcement. maybe they are dumb and it's me who is a fucking genius planning steps to present wad dvd to the masses, ugh. when will Dan pay me, like for real.)

i'm surprised you don't think it's heavily connected to new projects. i would bet my kidney it does. Dan will fuck off the moment he needs to focus on danisnotokay or someone offers to sponsor another tour (which, please, someone do. i need to see him for professional reasons). the question is, fuck off for how long and if it's gonna be communicated thoroughly or not. i'm not saying he will leave for 6 months without giving us something in return to balance things out. no, no, no. i don't think he would dare. but 3-4 weeks, maybe 2 months? sure.

is it true revitalized passion? well. *nervous laughter* i'm gonna defend Phil like i'm a phillie, even tho i'm not. he wanted it just as much as we did. so i believe it's a true revitalized passion at least on his part. i hope he fights for it if it's necessary, i hope he asks us for help if needed. i hope he threatens Dan with an actual divorce and forever home if needed. like, bitch, if there's a chance to keep dnpg alive without Dan actually losing his will to live, we should use that chance. Dan's stubbornness and delulus are not the reason to kill the most fun and profitable thing they ever created aka dnp brand. let it exist, even if alongside solo projects, even if it's 2-3 videos a month. damn, even 1 video (i don't mean during pauses made specifically for the peaks of solo projects). i do think Dan enjoys the attention, money, and possibilities their returned audience can give him. he also enjoys working with Phil. he certainly does not enjoy promoting their videos. and he is lucky he has Phil for that. is it a true passion for the gaming channel and joint branding solemnly? i genuinely don't think so. now, this dnp brand puts Dan into a framework, unfortunately. and i understand his desire to grow as a "strong independent Dan", and i wish him the best. i will root for him no matter how much of a floppy-ding-dong it can potentially be. i want him to fulfill his dreams and have a team that will fight for his interests. and i hope to god, UTA and Inter Talent are the ones. don't fucking tempt me with your unprofessionalism. but do i think Dan's head and heart belong to dnpg or dnp brand? no. i'm happy that he is at least trying. a part of me doesn't even care about the reason. i'm curious, but in hindsight, it wouldn't matter or change anything.

other thoughts, because apparently i decided to vomit on a keyboard tonight:

i'm glad dnp took back a bit of control over the editing on dnpg. i hope they will try to edit more themselves when gamingmas is over. or they will teach their editors better. because man, we need to slow down with these cuts.

i do think that dnp brand will expand, and dnpg and merch aren't the only things we should expect. (twitch, podcast or liveshows, onlyfans or its equivalent, vlogging series not limited by ditl, and other things that i forgot). reaction videos are already a thing and it's very funny because it's what youtube wants, so Dan must feel amazing right now falling for it :)) it's good thought because it's fun and torture for all parties involved.

i think by these reaction videos they are trying to rewrite their internet history a little bit for those who are new. it's not gonna work with us but at least dnp can control the narrative in new people's heads (i wonder for how long though).

with new people, the phandom will become more generic and dnp will love that. it can actually help Dan with new projects i think. Phil as well, but we don't know shit about it right now.

i wonder if Dan returns to working with charities.

if they involve more phannies, not only artists, it's gonna be interesting.

in case i'm wrong, don't step on my neck, i don't know anything for a fact. half of it is alleged, the other half is wishful thinking <3