#so that would make a clean mashup more difficult

[g1rlr0b1n]

Look guys!!! It's G1rlR0b1n 💖💖💖 (bet you didn't know this is what my handle meant lol)

Yet another commission by the super talented @tamdrry!!! (this was done a while ago I just hadn't gotten around to posting it)

So, there was actually a fic that was supposed to go along with this but... I never got around to finishing it 😭

If you want to see what I had planned to write you can check it out under the cut. 👇

One of my personal headcanons is that Damian is nonbinary (or trans but for this particular story, just nonbinary for now)

Anyway, he starts to discover this after spending a lazy afternoon with Cass and Steph in Cass's room.

They're cleaning out her closet and think it'd be fun to play dress up with her little brother. He relents because he likes feeling included and he enjoys their company and doesn't 'want to mess this up'. They're several piece swaps and a whole makeover in when the girls finally settle on what they have decide is the perfect 'fit. Damian turns to see himself in the mirror, mini skirt, crop top, fish nets, combat boots, smoky cat-eye, glossy lips, and he just…freezes… doesn't react… until he does. He starts to cry and flees from the room. The girls don't know what to do but they run after him. He nearly knocks Bruce over in the hallway, then the girls come storming after and he stops them.

Bruce: what's going on?

Steph (she looks worried): we were just messing around, we didn't mean to make him cry!

Cass (also upset and crying herself): we didn't mean to hurt him.

Bruce: ok, let me talk to him. Go back to your room, we'll chat in a bit. Try to calm down, ok?

The girls nod reluctantly but turn and go back to Cass's room. Bruce had long suspected that Damian may be having a difficult time with self-discovery from little things he's picked up on and from when he was at that age himself. he had a feeling something like this would be coming sooner than later, after all, emotions and individuality were not traits looked highly upon by the League of Assassins… or (he admits) with the Batman. he knocks on his door and when there is no answer he peeks in. Damian is sitting on the carpet in front of his floor length mirror.

Bruce: hey chum

Damian:

Bruce: can I sit down?

He says nothing again but scootches over slightly

Bruce: you wanna talk about it?

Damian:

Bruce: Cass and Steph think they've upset you.

Damian shakes his head: I'm not mad at them. (He emphasizes the word 'them')

Bruce: are you mad at yourself?

Damian nods but says nothing else. Bruce pulls him into a hug and he allows it, buries his face into him, cries, and Bruce just holds him there. They say nothing else until Damian finally let's go an eternity later. Bruce tells him he won't make him talk about it and he won't make him explain himself to the girls but he is going to tell Cass and Steph that he isn't upset with them unless he would like to do it himself (he'll tell them nothing more than that, he emphasizes). Damian's not ready to face them, he tells his father he can relay the message, and he does, later once Damian has asked to be left alone. The girls are relieved, they don't ask questions, they respect Damian's privacy. It's one of the reasons why Damian loves them.

A week later Bruce takes Damian to go to a fashion show with him, he goes because his father has been nagging him to put more effort into him public persona long before this anyway. There he sees androgynous models wearing mashups of typically male and female clothing and something starts to click. He feels seen for the first time but the feeling is uncomfortable and he begins to sink into himself, Bruce pulls him into his side, and he doesn't pull away.

Another week goes by and Damian comes home to find a large box on his bed, tied up with a large red ribbon. There is a tag that just reads, "fighting evil by moonlight". He opens the box and there is a new Robin uniform inside reminiscent of one of his favorite characters, Sailor Moon. The tears he cries are from happiness this time.

[sleepiest-writing]

Hello✨✨ man I e been wanting to a mashup since forever so TYSM for this opportunity I genuinely greatly appreciate it✨

Ok so let’s see, I am 5’3 early 20s mex girlie (no real care for pronouns I’ll go by all and any) and non labeled sexuality (I’ll fall for anyone for any reason) possibly adhd or autistic but undiagnosed so no medical proof on that, I am a Scorpio, infp and year of the goat (idk I’ve seen those included in stuff) I love anything art related (arts n craft)? I draw a lot, and in turn also adore seeing peoples art journey, style and character designing. I also adore cooking and baking, but I am a beginner, learnings is so much fun anyways. I’ve been told that I can be energetic, kinda clingy, really forgetful and sweet. Which fair, my head is a constant mess that rarely runs on organized thoughts, most of it is impulsive,how fun. I get distracted easily, my attention span is pretty much nonexistent, and I forget a concerning amount of things throughout the day. I struggle to keep my areas clean but I’m getting better. My love/affection language would be physical touch, words of affirmation and gift giving, not even expensive things, for the most part it’s been homemade meals for my sisters, and small trinkets I find for my friends. I’m also a hopeless romantic, and I love all things horror :3 I also have little to no self preservation, and dares are always a go (I once ate a dandelion cuz me n my sisters thought it would be funny, and it was) oh yeah, I’m also an ambivert who loves to go outside, socializing is a nightmare but people are interesting and I wanna be more social, I’m just stupidly shy. I also have a lot of habits that others seem to like? My sisters have commented I’m very expressive via eyes, and on more than one occasion have caused them to fall laughing. A lot of my relatives have said I’m very loving and have way to much to give because I’m always hugging people I like and clinging to them (ex my favorite Tia), and friends have told me I need to stop being attached or wanting the attention of those who aren’t… All that good to me, I have a difficult time accepting things, change is hard and I can be irrational about things pertaining to my well being. And my last habit would be, that I’ve been called weak willed and dense as fuck, weak willed because it doesn’t take much to sway me, or get me to do something. And dense cuz social cues are difficult, like how am I supposed to know this person genuinely finds me enjoyable to be around, I call bs

Uh for the mashup I would like it romantic, and long If possible (idk if this is enough, sorry for the mess of info I hope it’s good enough :’3)

TYSM for granting this long time wish✨✨💕

Hello Hello! You sound absolutely wonderful, thank you for the matchup!

Also thank you for your patience because I know you've been sitting in my ask box for quite the while! Here's your lover boy ;D

꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒥

I match you up with....

TANG ! [US!papyrus]

☁︎‎‎‧ This guy WILL make you shitty crafts about your most recent interest!

☁︎‎‎‧ He LOVES when you cling to him, lets you grab his arm in public, hell depending on who's around he'll let you climb him- he loves it.

☁︎‎‎‧ he's an extroverted introvert because of his brother, so he's chill with socialising and helps create segways that include you in the conversation without that weird awkwardness.

☁︎‎‎‧ However he is also absolutely horrendous when it comes to social cues, so he tends to fall back on his jokes as a backup.

☁︎‎‎‧ Adores how expressive your facial features are, catch this idiot looking at you and just melting - especially if you're mid-ramble.

☁︎‎‎‧ Again because of this brother, He's good at cleaning and organising- So tries to help whenever you let him, he'd never move your things around without asking. He would buy so many folders and binders for you for any art you may create.

☁︎‎‎‧ At first, he'd panic a bit about you being irrational about yourself. He'd have to ask questions to try and help, he's trying.

☁︎‎‎‧ Lastly, He'd not stand for anyone calling you weak-willed, he knows how to set healthy boundaries while also dealing with people who are used to walking all over others. Hopefully you pick up on how to put your foot down, but there's no rush for that, he understands it takes time and a lot of mental effort.

꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒷꒥꒷꒥꒷꒥

I hope you enjoyed this matchup! Once again I apologise for being so late with it but I hope your happy with it! I loved writing this :D

[yeowninefive]

1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 20, 21, 29, 30 (So sorry for the question dump!)

1. Autodesk Sketchbook Express when I first got my tablet. Photoshop Elements and Paint Tool SAI I don’t use for regular drawing anymore; but they still get irregular use for other purposes (image edits and drawings for academic works; i.e. flowcharts for programming).

On a similar note, while I use Clip Studio Paint for practically all of my regular drawing nowadays, I did use that program years ago for a short animation; before going to try and learn Opentoonz. I would like to return to it at least once, for a colored animation; since I’m still trying to get over OpenToonz’ learning curve.

2. It’s not something I really think of much, but I guess I draw characters facing right more often that I do drawing them facing left.

3. This is a stretch / loose interpretation. But even though I haven’t drawn / posted any new ones as of late. I would say my videogame level maps / level design draw their roots from my earliest (traditional) drawings when I was younger, which were maps of highway / interstates. I sometimes still think about doing a true “throwback piece” to those days and draw a new highway map.

4. I would really like to get back to drawing more detailed environments like I used to do when I first started getting into digital art. But I have trouble getting started in any meaningful way; and the newer landscapes I do are still simpler compared to my earlier stuff. I imagine part of the problem is that my earlier, more detailed landscapes were traditional drawings on paper, so maybe I was more willing to spend more time filling in/adding blanks compared to digital? I’m still trying to work it out.

8. I have a bunch of art and videogame concepts / projects I have that are perpetual shelf occupants, stuff that I might go back and tinker with, others that go untouched for years. Some are lucky to get rescued and either finished or reworked to finally see the light of day. I imagine at some point I’m going to have to essentially “clean out the closet” and decide what stays or goes.

10. Tall boots! They’ve kinda always been a mainstay for me.

11. It varies between music and podcasts (which are typically movie reviews). Right now I think I’ve hit a regular track where if I’m trying to draw something new or develop a concept; I listen to music for inspiration (which varies a lot—videogame instrumentals, jazz, R&B, alternative, piano instrumentals, mashups, etc.). If I have a concrete art idea that I just need to develop into a finished product (i.e. doing construction, coloring, etc.).

12. I don’t think I have any, since I keep trying to vary my approach in constructing bodies. Each of them tend to be somewhat difficult for me, at least in terms of getting the proportions right. I suppose drawing arms and legs are what I have the easiest time with.

13. I don’t really have any that comes to mind. There’s probably some, I could certainly name particular genres or studios; but not individual creators.

16. I’m not sure, admittedly. I guess that I would probably be pretty good with fanart (and likely would be more popular than I currently and historically have been). It’s not so much I don’t like drawing fanart, than it is that it’s mainly not been my focus. It’s something that I’ve previously said that I’ve been hoping to rectify in recent years, hopefully this year.

20. Honestly, I don’t know what I (used to) draw that would be considered difficult. I guess drawing level design would probably be up there; at least in the sense of it probably being difficult to plan out, or figure out a way to try and make it engaging or interesting. Like I said earlier, my interest for drawing highways I imagine was a prelude to drawing maps/course design. My parents like to say that I should have become an architect.

21. Highly detailed aesthetics for character designs and environments, usually of a realistic style. Although I try to shuffle my aesthetics around regularly, I’d say I usually do hit a limit with my art where it’s either at least stylized and/or simple to some degree.

29. Not sure. I guess the closest thing I can say to answer this question is that there’s a bunch of things I like and/or outright love, but I don’t regularly create fanart of. (As I said previously, I normally don’t draw much fanart in general, and I’d like to try and change that this year.)

30. There have been some pieces I’ve done that I’m proud of, mainly because I put extra touches of flourish on and/or think are probably among my best (recent) works; but I can’t say they have gotten any notable attention (especially here on tumblr, which as of late gets less traction compared to Twitter and sometimes deviantArt). A recent piece I feel has been overlooked a bit is included below (original post to it here); but here are links to some other pieces from last year I feel were overlooked here on this site.

[sleepyivoryrose]

Well...things come, things go, people come, people go...that's life in a nutshell. I am so emotionally confused right now, and I don't know that comes from the overdose on sugar I had or if I'm just feeling under the weather, but...

Short story long, one of the Vtubers I like stops streaming. Just as I thought yesterday, I have reached peak incel if I'm crying over Vtubers and listening to "eroge girlpop" playlists. Or rather I should say, rock bottom.

But I'm working on myself. These days im spending a few hours with translating again. And I am doing the bare minimum of house work. It helps that my sleep schedule isn't fucked up for once.

Things take time. I can't be a new person from one day to another. I have to be patient with myself.

I can do this, definetly.

Good news are, that tomorrow releases Persona 3: Reload. I was really excited for it, but it's almost...too clean. Too sterile. Maybe I'm just getting old, but from the things I saw, I don't like it as much. I will watch the Let's Play on Youtube anyways. I'm still mixed on the matter, maybe I will like it? Minato (I refuse to call him Makoto) looks very pretty though. It's difficult to go wrong with his timeless style. I'm not a fan of refusing something without even trying, so I will definetly give it a go (unless it's drugs. Don't do drugs, kids)

I guess I'll just vibe a little bit to music.

These last months I've been really enjoying mashups ( don't mind the thumbnail. I know, it's...quite something.) The rnb x city hop or classical x rnb are really good. It does a lot for a song to just change up the beat or the lyrics to be able to listen to it again on loop. Turns the vibe completely around.

Actually, I don't have a lot to talk about. This month I have a lot of doctor appointments...every one or two months they just pile on. I suppose it's still better than having every month come something up.

But I am glad that I picked up translating again. It makes me feel useful. I hope it flows well enough that it doesn't become a hassle for my friend. I really want to recommend her my favorite book series, but it's all in spanish, so...I am interpreting it into german. I'm quite rusty, after what, well 10 years? But I remember the basics as I go along, and it brings back great memories.

The inflation is killing me, on another note. The food prices are through the roof. If you want to eat fish AND meat, you better pay up. Sometimes I think it would be a bit cheaper, if I enjoyed more vegetables...well, it's never too late to start, I think. But I'm too lazy to google recipes. And I don't enjoy cooking very much...but...I have to get thinner if I want to be able to stand 2 hours in an anime music concert this year...well, if I took this seriously, I probably wouldn't have bought a shitton of chocolate and sweets. Sometimes I think I might have a slight sugar addiction. That's not good for a person, who has a way higher probabilty than others to get diabetes.

Man does only learn from their mistakes, when they're already commited...

...the card is the means by what it all is revealed...in search for knowledge, mankind clings to a dim hope...

[cardboard-box-of-beans]

so I discovered some distressing information earlier

so I was talking in the tags of my "Sage's theme music mashup" post yesterday about how Infinite's theme and Aviators' "Too Late for a Savior" could mash up well- I'd associated the two in my mind for some time since they're both in C# minor, they both have strong industrial/electronic influences and a dark tone, and both of them have lyrics pertaining to the narrator's inner turmoil as they lapse into evil (Infinite's lyrics are more about putting on a facade of strength to hide one's weakness, while Too Late for a Savior's lyrics are more about a moral struggle and whether or not a path to redemption is possible for the narrator, but my point still stands)

but just to prove my point, I knew Too Late for a Savior has a BPM of 138 (it's listed as such in the Godhunter instrumentals album on Bandcamp), so I decided to use a metronome to time Infinite's theme (it's ~144 BPM)

but thinking of metronomes, my garbage brain lost its train of thought and immediately thought of the metronome section from the song "BANG!" by AJR

and from that, I realized that a) BANG! is also in C# minor, and b) it has a BPM of ~143, so sections from it can be mashed up with Infinite's theme pretty easily

TL;DR: three-way Aviators vs. AJR vs. Dangerkids mashup when

[tortoisesshells]

for the fanfiction mashup prompt... James x Nellie, Space AU + Bodyguard AU! which one of them is the bodyguard? up to you :}

kind friend, I have fallen down a RABBIT HOLE of world-building and consideration of how hard-sci-fi I want this to be, so please accept this relatively brief write-up instead of what's shaping up to be an actual novel at the rate I'm going! special shout-out to @theonlyredcar & @vimeswasright for talking scifi and brainstorming with me!

Wrecking’s mostly legitimate, as far as the shadier side of space goes: after all, it’s not Nellie who’s sweeping in, lasers blazing, and making off with the moveables – there’s money to be made in salvage and parts, if you don’t mind cleaning up a little blood and viscera along the way. It’s just the how that’s where she gets in trouble – it’s not that she’s blundering about looking for wrecks, so much as – well – depending on the pirates (like her brother on Nassau, John) to tell her where the ships’ they’ve destroyed are.

It’s a living. And after her partner died, leaving her with bad debts, two young children, and a serious lack of options (not that being from Bravo Colony within the wider Empire ever gave anyone a surfeit of options to begin with), it’s the best living she can manage.

It was another job, a regular job, smashed-up Imperial Navy destroyer way out in the no-man’s-land between the Empire and the next one – and then they got the distress signal. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone left. Instead, a lifeboat with three castaways. It would be smart to leave them, but there’s a badly plasma-burned boy aboard – Midshipman Jarsdel, only a year younger than her daughter, clearly neither Bravoan nor Imperial, and she can’t let him suffer and die out there, away from his own people … even if it means saving his two immediate superiors, Lieutenant Groves and Captain Norrington, of the Imperial Navy, along the way.

(at least Norrington had the good grace to offer enough money to make abandoning the salvage job worth her while.)

So that’s how Nellie Treat ended up smuggling three imperial officers across a hostile system to a place of relative safety for them: a soft heart and several thousand credits. It seemed like a bad idea at the time, and it only got worse – solar storms, rival crews, and mechanical failure drag what ought to be a short run out through several weeks, and if Nellie ever thought that time with the damaged helix reactor was the closest she’d ever come to dying, she’s forced to re-evaluate her position after trying to get James Norrington out of a barfight in some backwater sailortown because his sense of personal honor is as easily bruised as a mango (Groves, his infinitely more reasonable second in command, swears that he’s not usually like this, but the loss of his ship’s magnified his “more difficult qualities”) and he’s got the self-preservation instincts of an Old-World lemming.

Still – they’re not all bad, galling as it is to admit. Jarsdel reminds her so much of Polly (who’s nearly of age for Imperial conscription, and fuck knows how Nellie’ll get her out of that), Groves cheats at cards nearly as much as she does, and Norrington - ? Well, she knows something about losing everything, even if he’s an ass and an idiot and the greatest fool in the universe to be heading back to Albion itself, when he admits he’ll be court-martialled and worse. (Hendricks, over several tankards of plonk, not-so-kindly points out her type’s always been tall, loyal-to-a-fault idiots, and it’s been three years since Sam’s accident, and Norrington’s not exactly disinterested, so why not … ?) They part on good terms, and none of them ever expects to see each other again –

So of course, several years later, in the middle of the next imperial civil war –

It comes as something of a shock to all parties when Captain James Norrington - thoroughly disillusioned, fresh off committing several acts of treason and running for no-man’s-land - runs squarely into Nellie Treat, now a wanted criminal herself, bolting for the safety of rebellious territory with her family in tow. Hopefully, they'll all survive deciding to fight their principles instead of accepting the worlds around them.

[plush-anon]

Would you ever write... a Scooby Doo and Phantom of the Opera crossover?

Ooooo, that would be a tough one to do. I would LOVE to say yes... but I honestly don’t know what I would really write, if that makes sense. 

(now allow me to vibrate intensely in place and hyperfixate over two of my earliest and most influential fandoms for about a thousand words please and thank you)

As much as I love these two fandoms (and I REALLY do. POTO 2004 helped pull me out of a REALLY ugly spiral in middle school - I dare say my worst - and Scooby Doo was THE fandom I first wrote/posted fanfiction for), meshing them would be... difficult.

Some Scooby properties have already played with Phantom some - Stage Fright actually did okay on their Phantom monster figure, esp in that he was a spirit focused on ego and NOT obsessing over Daphne (like they’ve done in other films - thanks Music of the Vampire TT_TT) - though considering every OTHER misstep made in that movie, it’s a damn miracle they even got THAT right. And Be Cool Scooby Doo had an episode with a Ghostly Prima Donna that hits a lot of the same points - amazing opera singer who wreaked havoc on a theatre when scorned by the owners.

(And if you wanna get into the actor side of it, Lego Scooby Doo: Haunted Hollywood’s plot focused on the ghost of a Boris Karloff/Lon Chaney Sr mashup haunting the studio with his horror characters, with the unmasking being the Mashup Actor JUNIOR wanting to carry on his dad’s legacy, a la Lon Chaney Jr. Again, not a great movie, but the mystery/monster element was handled alright)

The meshing of the two doesn’t really inspire much plot to it that hasn’t already been done to pieces. If it’s just a traditional Scooby mystery at a music competition the Phantom is trying to control/ruin, well - just see the above examples.  Regardless of the rest of the movie/episode’s flaws, WB actually did okay with the Phantom-esque elements. If it’s a modern POTO retelling with Mystery Inc trying to stop the Phantom, then, well. It’s basically rehashing Sherlock Holmes and the Phantom of the Opera adaptations all over again (of which there’s at least five and a comic miniseries - no joke, those actually exist), but with wacky hijinks and a talking dog. Not much new or interesting there, IMHO.

It would be VERY tired, low hanging fruit to have Daphne get kidnapped as the Christine replacement, and Velma’s family history is firmly established in Germany from Frankencreepy (and while that movie has... many problems, Velma’s family backstory is actually pretty damn good on its own, barring some minor quibbles over details mentioned).

I guess you could do Fred as like... the descendant of Raoul and Christine? Christine was OG Swedish in Leroux, and Fred’s family is primarily blonde and blue-eyed by WNSD standards (I refuse SDMI on principle). There could be something about Fred being targeted by Erik for conflicting reasons, his spirit sent into extreme emotional flux with what was Raoul and Christine’s great-great something grandson, while another mystery goes on framing Erik for something else... There could be something there, but I wouldn’t be the one to do it; main reason being, I am NOT great at writing Fred. 

For me, Fred is a difficult character to write, period; I have a better time of it with the live action Scooby movies Fred because I can play around with the flaws (read: bashing in the first movie) more. Fred in general is a tough character to write bc he’s played as the straight man, the generic leader (tho I forever mourn my lost draft of my post-SCOOB AU mashup with Orpheus in Eurydice - I actually had him there! *cries*).

More recent stuff plays around with him being an engineer - BCSD played him up as a neurodivergent mechanic, and I love that one to pieces - or a charming enough if frustrating at times himbo (WNSD), or in some cases an obnoxiously jealous dumbass who doesn’t know how to use buttons or listen to basic fcuking instructions (Moon Monster Madness, Music of the Vampire, also WNSD) or occasionally the dude SO obsessed with the Mystery Machine he may actually want to fcuk it (Frankencreepy, Happy Halloween SD!).

On the whole though, he’s not one ever really associated with music except when forced unrealistically (see again, Stage Fright for the sake of Fraphne baiting that they NEVER fcuking act on in these movies, to the point it’s legitimately frustrating and cheap to pull - Stage Fright esp so, bc Fred and Daphne spend the ENTIRE goddamn movie talking about having feelings for each other, KISS ON STAGE, and WHAT do they do?!? WHAT DO THEY DO?!??!?! THEY QUESTION THE KISS AND REVERT BACK TO STATUS QUO GODDAMNIT IT I’M JUST WHY) or when the gang is suddenly a band (WNSD, Legend of the Vampire, a background shot with him playing guitar in Witch’s Ghost, BCSD Screama Donna) or both (honestly all of the above, though BCSD played it for laughs best with Fred on the drums).

The closest we EVER got to Fred being interested in singing/music was an old ‘Behind the Characters’ short Hanna Barbera made for Cartoon Network, where Fred admitted he used to be in theatre and loved singing tunes from Showboat.

So him being the tie to Erik feels like a dead end to me. Not impossible, but still just... yeah, not a clean fit in my mind.

As for Shaggy and Scooby... they have enough problems to deal with without adding Erik on top of everything else. ‘Nuff said.

So yeah, unfortunately I have to say no on this one. There’s nothing I feel like I could do in them that wasn’t already tired (as opposed to the ROTG/POTO mashups I thought up forever ago), but hey, that could just be me.

[nad-zeta]

How’s the most precious girl doin? I’m just here to get a ikesen and maybe ikerev mashup If your ok with that~ Hobbies: - music - comics - bored games - editing - writing My personality: I’m pretty outgoing but I don’t like crowded areas. I like quiet places or just being around a few good friends. I love making people laugh so I’m pretty funny~ and I find it hard to trust others. I’m pretty clumsy and get injured a lot too. I love sweet things and I get distracted super easy. Thx again❤️

Hi, there, dear! I hope you are doing well ❤️ Thanx so much for the request lol! I hope you enjoy it! ❤️ 

So I match you with.......................... Hideyoshi

The first time you got to Azuchi you and Hideyoshi did not get on well, at all. You were by no mean a quiet, meek lil lamb, so you definitely told Nobunaga how it is. You are loud and outgoing, and not afraid to let your opinions be known. Nobunaga found this to be extremely amusing, and as he went to touch your cheek, you legit slapped his hand away, you may have saved him from a burning building, but he was still a stranger. Hideyoshi was shook to his core, how dare you lay a hand on his lord. He saw red, he staked up to you, hand on the hilt of his sword. You stared him down. The atmosphere around the two of you was thick, just then you spotted a monkey playing in the garden. Like Wft, where did a freaken monkey come from? You watched the monkey play, forgetting all about the tense situation happening around you. Your face lit up in a bright smile when you saw the lil monkey chase around a butterfly man it was so cute.

 Hideyoshi cleared his troat still staring you down, shit you got distracted. You started telling him exactly what you thought of him, when all of a sudden, a fawn now appeared in the garden. Like, are these people secret zookeepers or what. You had to resist the urge to run outside and pet the lil cutie. As you were lost in your own world, distracted by the animals, the warlords started laughing and teasing you and Hideyoshi. “Haha, Looks like the lass got distracted again, I told you its boring to listen to your lectures.” “The little mouse certainly is an interesting little thing.” Even Nobunaga laughed “Seems like our new lucky charm has found a way to block out Hideyoshi’s annoying lecture, a skill I wish to learn from her. It might make my candy stealing lectures pass by much quicker.” Hideyoshi legit stood there dumbfounded. Shit, you got distracted again, damn these people and their cool wildlife. You stared up at Hideyoshi, all traces of your anger and frustration had melted away, there is just something about seeing cute animals that just calm you right down. Nobunaga finally decided to chime in telling Hideyoshi to calm the hell down and to leave you be

You worked super hard for the castle and its people, and you loved getting to know all the maids and castle staff. You had a particularly good day one day when you found the castles music room, you were low key surprised at the wide variety of instruments on display. You spotted what looked to be a piano in the corner of the room and couldn’t help but drift to it. Your fingers effortlessly glided along the keys, playing one of your favourite songs. Hideyoshi just so happened to walk past the music room at that exact moment and was awestruck at the beautiful melody you managed to produce. No one around had known how to play the western instrument that Nobunaga had acquired as tribute from his newest ally. He stood for a while and listened to you play. 

All of a sudden midway through the song you fell to the ground. Hideyoshi sprinted across the room and cradled you in his arms. It was the first time he really had a look at you. He saw dark rings around your eyes, and your skin was ghostly white. He had been so busy suspecting you and criticising your work that he had looked past the fact that you were working yourself into an early grave. He effortlessly lifted you up into his strong arms and carried you to your room. He carefully tucked you into the futon. It had been a full month, and you hadn’t done anything shady, sure the way you talked was a lil strange but other than that, you were actually just a sweet, kind girl, trying your hardest to fit in. Hideyoshi felt like kicking himself for being such an idiot.

You woke up the next day and was absolutely shook. Hideyoshi came into your room and served you breakfast and tea in bed. You had to rub your eyes to make sure you weren’t dreaming. He then bowed down low and apologise profusely for being such an ass to you. The way he was apologising you could have sworn he killed your firstborn son or something. You just smiled at him and shrugged saying it was cool and there was no hard feeling. Since that day you got to see the true doting mother-hen come out. He took you to the markets and insisted on buying you everything and anything you wanted. You were a little reluctant… that is, until you saw the candy stand. You sprinted to the shop and examined all the small candy treats they sold. Honestly, the thing you missed the most about home was not being able to eat sweets. You looked up at Hideyoshi with puppy dog eyes. He bought the whole shop’s stock, although he restricted your candy intake like he did Nobunaga. Needless to say, you were not happy about that. 

One night your sweet tooth was acting up, and you just needed to get your hands on some more candy. You snuck your way to the kitchen, climbed onto the counter and reached up to grab the jar. You got a fright when Nobunaga had climbed up next to you and grabbed the jar at the same time as you. “What are you doing here,” “Same as you fireball, stealing candy cause Hideyoshi has restricted me to only one piece a day, a restriction I find unacceptable of course.” After the two of you had munched on a few handfuls of candy, a familiar light flickered down the hallway and just like that Nobunaga disappeared into the shadows of the night, leaving you with the evidence. Hideyoshi came into the kitchen and saw you with the candy jar in your lap. He literally lectured you for three hours on the importance of not eating too much sugar especially at night, what he didn’t expect is that he would crumble under your puppy dog eyes, as since then he would give you some candy every time you went to visit him for tea. TBH he low key favoured you above Nobunaga giving you sweet candy treats just so he could see that cute smile grace your face

You were definitely giving Hideyoshi more grey hairs than Mitsunari ever could with your clumsiness. If you weren’t falling over your own feet, you were accidentally knocking vases down. It was for this reason that Hideyoshi would insist on holding your hand whenever the two of you went out to the markets. You clumsiness truly knows no bounds as one day Hideyoshi took you to one of his fav tea houses to relax and eat some lunch. You were so engrossed in conversation with the mama bear that when you reached out to take a sip of tea, your fingers slipped spilling piping hot tea all over your lap. You tried to play it cool like you didn’t just burn your legs with the hot as hell tea, but nothing gets past Hideyoshi. In an instant, he was by your side, helping you clean up the mess and dragging you back to his manor to evaluate the damage. You were so freaken embarrassed as he rubbed some salve onto the small burn wound that had formed on your thigh, Hideyoshi simply gave you his bright sunshine smile and patted your head. You found it difficult to trust people, but somehow his man now patting your head had managed to break through all your wall. You didn’t know the exact moment you had fallen for the castles mom, but you were definitely in love.

And Hideyoshi had long ago fallen in love with you. You meant more to him than anyone in the world… well, there is Nobunaga, but he loved you just a lil more than him. He had spent hours watching you draw little pictures in a book. You had told him you were busy writing your own comic book. You had shown him your favourite comic book from the future and told you it had inspired you to make your own. 

He got a cool idea of how to ask you to be his lover, when you had one day forgotten one of your comic books in his room. He pulled out a few sheets of paper and started making little sketches with speech bubbles. Finally, his masterpiece was complete. He wasted no time inviting you to his room to give you the gift. You opened the parcel, and your eyes went wide when you saw a small handmade book resembling one of your comics. You opened it up and started to read. It was a book about you and all the things Hideyoshi loved about you, and on the very last page, there was a little doodle of Hideyoshi with a speech-bubble stating that he loves you. You beamed up and him and jumped into his arms.

The two of you were the sweetest most doting couple. You want cuddles and snuggles Hideyoshi has got you. You and Hideyoshi have made it a tradition to have a weekly board game night where neither of you is allowed to focus on work. You know Hideyoshi has a tendency to overwork himself, so you designed this night to help him relax, plus you freaken loved playing board games. Most of the time you would sit in his lap while the two of you played. He would rub your back or gently stroke your hair as the two of you were played. You would make jokes and chat about your days. TBH it was often that these board game nights would lead to something *ahem* a little more steamy.

This man will pamper you day in, and day out, whether it is running you nice warm bubble baths or massaging your back after a long day of work, you can definitely expect to be spoilt rotten. Expect lots of soothing head pats and forehead kisses. His man will also give you a flurry of small lil kisses every time he sees you. His favourite is when you rest your head on his thigh while he gently strokes your hair while working. You truly love this big mother hen, and your fav is to be in his arms, cuddling him for hours on end.

Other potential matches.............. Sasuke 

Hope you enjoyed it, dear! 🥰

[eerythingisshaka]

Wakanda Got Y’all

[Black Panther x Insecure Mashup]

Word Count: 2.7k

A/N:  This was something a friend of mine and I thought of after like the second or third time watching Black Panther together. I wrote this back in April, actually.  Since Black Panther is coming to America to do his community service and whatnot, it’s only natural that Issa and We Got Y’all somehow gets involved too for research purposes!

“What time are they supposed to be here by?”  Issa asks Frieda in a deadpan tone.  

“Uh, 2 o’clock.  It’s only 1:45, they are still on the way for sure.”  Frieda assures.

It was put in motion a month ago that We Got Y’all would be making a collaborative effort with an international organization to create a revamp to the kids after-school program.  Things had become a bit stale for Issa and her co-workers at their respective locations.  The children were acting out due to the boredom; they felt from the same old field trips and curriculum they are forced to consume every semester.  

“I know, but what happened to ‘early means on time, on time means late.’  We been sitting here forever, I’m ready to ghost already.”  Issa rolls her eyes.

“Ooh, you’re preaching to the choir.  Big weekend plans?”  Frieda perks up.

Issa thinks to herself.  Her netflix list is hoarded with documentaries and old shows she keeps meaning to binge through, but then she has Real Housewives and of course it was a wash day.

“Um yeah, probably gonna hit the town up with Molly.  Scope out the man meat running around the jungle, know what I mean,”  Issa laughs whilst lying.

“Yeah man.  That sounds so cool, I wish I had your energy.  I’ll probably just be in channel surfing, shaving since I’ve been putting that off.”

Issa stops smiling as she was embarrassed, thinking about why she felt she had to lie to make herself seem cooler.  She was supposed to be cool by default being the black representative at her office but she always felt ten steps behind in relevance except for with Frieda.  But whenever she got gumption to open up, Frieda would say some really dumb shit that would just jade out Issa.

Soon the door to the conference room opened.  In walked two women, bald and dressed like Sharon Stone at Coachella.  They didn’t say a word or crack a smile as they stared into the depths of Issa and Frieda’s souls.  Frieda hops up, “Hello ladies.  I’m Fri-”

“Silence!”  One on the right said in a foreign tongue.  Issa stands up next to Frieda.

“The hell is this about?  Is security knowing about this?”  Issa whispered.

“Security hasn’t been around here for about three months now.  The budget wasn’t accommodating for it.”  Frieda explained, nervously.

Right after finishing her sentence, a man walks in with purpose.

“Good Afternoon, ladies.  I apologize if we kept you waiting too long.”  he says walking in.

Issa looks over a quick moment, wondering who in the hell would be wearing a wool trench and all black in the middle of Crenshaw but he wore it without problem.

“Oh, no problem at all!  I was a little put off by your Stepford Baddies rolling in with you though.  Are they joining the conversation or…”

He looks away at them, nods and they disperse.  Turning back to Issa and Frieda he is apologetic.  

“No, they are my royal guard in a way.  Dora Milaje is what we call them back home.  Ayo and Okoye are my most trusted, but they can be a bit abrasive to outsiders.  Please let me introduce myself, I am T’Challa.”

He reaches his hand out and Issa takes it, “I’m Issa, and this is Frieda.”

Frieda tucks her hair behind her ear and shakes his hand vigorously, smile taking up her whole face.  “It is so good to meet you, Your Highness. I hope your travels weren’t too difficult to get here.”

He shakes his head, smiling, “No, not at all.  Much easier then finding my country, that’s for sure.”

Frieda and T’Challa laugh at this, but Issa is lost.  Why is a third world country being remote a punchline?  She joins their dying chorus of chuckles a little late and continues.

“Were there others that were supposed to come though?”

“Yes, they will be joining us any minute now.”

On cue, a woman and man walk in to join them.  1a woman in green with bantu knots comes in slightly irritated looking but brightens ups quickly at the sight of Issa and Frieda.

“Hello!  You must be Issa and Frieda from We Got Y’all.  Apologies for the staggered entry.  I am Nakia, I’ll be working directly with you guys on the outreach program.  And this is Erik.”

The man is standing against a wall in the back, also wearing a jacket on a sunny California day.  He plays with a  toothpick in his mouth and says, “What’s up, how you doin’, Is?”  

Issa squints at him, put back by his attitude.  She thought about how he fits in with the international outreach program team.  He sounds like every other nigga in Los Angeles.  But looks a whole helluva lot better than them.

Issa stammers, “Hey, um nice to meet all of you!  Let’s have a seat and we can go over the points.”

Gathered around the table, Issa starts.  

“So, I wanted to start off by saying how great it is to have you here.  We could really use your influence to get some great things going here.  Do you want to share what made you decide to start with us?”

T’Challa paused, and as soon as he began to open his mouth Erik jumped in, “Yeah, he just trying to atone for the sins of his father and ancestors ignoring his people for so long, right cousin?” He leans, golds twinkling.

T’Challa says, “N’jadaka, you gave me your word-”

“Yeah, and I told you not to call me that in the States either.  Got a reputation to keep on.”  He looks at Issa, smiling wryly.  “But I’d love to hear you call me a liar.  You know what it is, Wakanda been had all these resources and manpower to get shit done, didn’t do shit; so now shit gotta get cleaned up.  And NOW here his ass come.”  He leans back, scoffing to himself.

Frieda looks around confused, “I’m sorry, but we didn’t get a clear history of your background T’Challa.  The United Nations summit speech revealed you all were well endowed- or, sorry equipped- or tsk, you all hold a lot of materials that can benefit a host of people.  But to start here in LA, what makes this area stand out.”

“We have a past here ourselves.  Our War Dogs have many posts throughout the world and a couple of decades ago, my Uncle, Erik’s father, laid a lot of groundwork here in a way that was ahead of his time but a little short-sighted.  We want to do right by this area for what it has been plagued with since, and use it as an example to go forward in other communities.” T’Challa says.

“And with a bit of a push at home, we have decided that now is the best time than any to open our borders to distribute aid.  Wakandans are an intelligent, proud people and we have no reason to waver on this endeavor.” Nakia adds.

Issa nods, “That sounds great! So what is your first order of business?”

T’Challa starts, “We want to buy out the building my Uncle was posted in, and the surrounding units.  We hope to repurpose them , make them into office/community center spaces to educate and equip people with the resources to do well for themselves.”

“He wants to give y’all a fancy YMCA for now, just to get his feet wet.  Putting his money to work for him, we will see how much work HE put in though.”  Erik sneers.

“Nakia has already been appointed as the head of this project, you know that.” T’Challa chimes in annoyed.

“Yeah, yeah.  Wakandan women break their backs just to stay second place to their men. You know, I hope you gave your Dora some raises cuz if it weren’t for them sistahs, you’d be-”

T’Challa jumps up, “N’jadaka!”

Erik rose as soon as T’Challa had twitched a muscle.  Eyeballing each other, this created a bit of an awkward moment for everyone.  Nakia has her hands out between them, saying to them in Xhosa, “Aye!  We are here to do business!  A truce has been put between you.  We cannot let a grudge stop us from helping our communities.  Keep your masculinity to a minimum, we are in a meeting for Bast’s sake!”

Nakia smiles, stretching out her hand, “I hate to cut this short for myself, but I have other matters to attend to.  It has been a great pleasure to speak with you both.  I will email you on some event ideas for the future.”

T’Challa and Erik keep their eyes on each other until Nakia boxes them both on the chest, before walking out.

T’Challa turns to Issa, “Thank you, Issa.  My apologies for our outburst; death and family squabbles are all that is guaranteed in life, as the saying says.”

Issa quirks her face up, “I thought it was death and taxes…”

“Is it?  Sorry, taxes are not a thing in Wakanda’s economy, I confess.”  T’Challa says meekly.  

Issa looks at him shook, “No taxes?  You know how much money I would have if I didn’t have taxes?  You have any extra citizenship cards or….”

T’Challa chuckles, “No, but let me make it up to you with a drink or a bite to eat, both of you.  We can go over particulars more closely as well.”

Issa smiles a little more goofy than she meant.  This fine African King wants to strut the town with her?? Well, it’s a professional dinner date, but still!

Issa exclaims a little too loudly, “Yeah, of course! Ahem, um, we can make that happen.  Just give me your contact info.”

“Thank you, Mr. T’Challa. I can’t wait to really pick your brain.  Maybe I’ll get a haircut prior!”  says Frieda, smiling gleefully.  

T’Challa and Issa look at her confused.  

“The fuck you talkin’ bout lady?”  Erik asks.

“Well, you seem to keep a lot of women around, well not a lot but with short cuts, and with Issa in the mix, I was just trying….trying to fit in there.”  Freida mumbles, her energy dying with her supposed joke.

“Ha HA!  She said you only rock with bald headed baddies, my guy.  And for real, she got a point.  He the romantic one anyway.  Not like he would do much hair tugging any damn way.”

“Erik, I am so glad you gave me the opportunity to finish our challenge.  Remember how that almost worked out for you?”  T’Challa says threateningly, pointing towards Erik’s face.

Issa swiftly turns back to T’Challa, “This really has been fun!  A drink sounds really good right now I’ll go over the quirks of California humor while we’re there too, huh?”

“So, I can’t join your little tea party?”  Erik looks dramatically shocked, clutching his pearls.

“Oh, well yeah you can.  I didn’t know how involved you were trying to be in this project.”

“Oh I’m getting involved,” takes a step closer to Issa. “Very involved.  Plus, why would I turn down a reason to pop bottles on cousin’s tab,”  Erik bites his lip, clapping T’Challa on the back.

Frieda clears her throat, “Then we can make ourselves a double date then!  It works out just fine that way.”

Erik looks sideways at her, “Who the hell said date, Felicia?”

T’Challa grabs Erik’s shoulder, “Be polite, remember?  Excuse his attitude, it does not come from my side of the family.”

“Neither does style, my nigga. Shit, your sister just got you out of your Samaritan sandals yesterday.  Keep it pushing man.”

The back and forth continues as they leave the building.  Issa and Frieda collectively sigh.

“Oh my God!  That was cray, right?  A King, his subjects, his antagonizing brother, I feel Shakespearean!”  Frieda says excitedly hyperventilating.

Issa laughs, “Yeah, they just seems like a regular Black family to me, with accents.  But I’m going to go so I can be ready for tonight.”

“Oh, we should coordinate our outfits.  Are we doing professional, casual, sexy?”

“I’ll let you know when T’Challa hits me up with the location details, ok?”

------

Issa sits at a table waiting for her friend to join happy hour; ain’t no way she was going to go out without getting some information to and from her.  She trots up and sits down, breaths out deep.

“So, when are we getting our royal wedding? Did he present you with a gift yet?  What color were the rose petals he steps on?” she says with a hair flip, tongue out gagging.

“Uh-uh, Molly.  We just got a Black royal, no way can there be two.”  Issa says.

Molly rolls her eyes, “But bitch, there is two, more than.  I read the nigga T’Challa is deadass the richest one out here on the planet!  And he is inches away from you and you not tryna trap him?”

Issa massages her temples in frustration, “I just got out of a relationship.  Why would I subject myself to a low level as to offer my body and time to someone just so that I can have a possibility at a wealthy life?  One that I have never seen evidence of yet, by the way.”

Molly says out the side of her mouth, “So you had a man last year, life goes on.  Plus, it’s better than seeing every broke part of these niggas and still fucking with them in spite of it all.”

“Wow!  Are we here to read or are we here to drink?  Cuz school is done, the kids are put to bed, and you’re not my mama.”

“Girl, somebody’s gotta be.”  Molly quips before the waiter steps up to the table to take their order.

Issa starts, “So anyway, me and Frieda are supposed to meet him and his cousin for a drink to talk over We Got Y’all.”  

“Ugh, why do people always have to involve their family with their business?  That’s a recipe for disaster.”  Molly says fanning herself.

“I mean, they say he is like their American liason at this point.  His cousin is from here, so in case things get lost in translation, he can bridge the gap.”

“Oh?  What’s his cousin name?”  Molly asks intrigued.

“Erik.  And I swear he was coming on to me in the middle of the meeting.”

“Is he foine?”  Molly asks.

The waiter comes back with their drinks in time for Issa to sip.  “Woo!  Yeah girl, he is finer than a rat tail comb.”

“Ok, cuz I know Frieda ain’t going after one of them seriously; I think I need to come with you to scope the real estate.”  Molly says stoically.

Issa giggles, “Girl, what?  This is business, not a speed date.”

Molly raises her hands, “I know, I know!  But listen, these are international and halfrican ass niggas you are associating with.  If they looks are worth an ounce of the wealth they possess, I’m packing one to go, and winging the other one for you.  Cuz it ain’t fun unless the homies get some!”  Molly says giving Issa’s hand a motherly shake.

“Ugh, fine.  But don’t do the most!  This is my job, I’ll give you the signal when it is time for you to swoop in and sink you talons into the prey.”  Issa says demonstratively.

Molly peers at you, “So you callin me a bird, bitch?”

Issa shrugs when her phone dings for a text.  Looking at it she sees it is T’Challa asking about a date for the meeting.

Swirling her drink, Molly asks, “What’s up?”

Issa says, “The guy, T’Challa wants to know if tomorrow is good for our dinner meeting.”

“That works for me!  Ask him if you can bring a plus one!”  

After texting T’Challa back, Issa sucks her teeth, “Molly, Frieda is my plus one!  I told you this is business until I give you the signal.

Issa gets a message back.  Reading it, Molly asks what it says.

“He has someone else that will be coming to.”  Issa reads.

“See!  If he bringing someone, you can too!”

“Hmm, someone named M’Baku.  Just showing him around the city from what it sounds like…”

Molly claps, “Another one!?  Oh my God, that’s a lotta brown chirren on ya Forbes list!  Let me at it.  Bitch, Whatchu got in your closet?  Do we need to shop?”

Issa gives Moly a look, “With what money hoe?  I got some stuff I can put together.”

“Nah, we aren’t patching shit up, we are arranging a look, building a fit.  If you need something let me know, cuz your success somewhat depends on mine.”

“Thanks for saving my poor ass.  But ok, I’m peeping that.  Leggo!”

Part 2

Other Works

King Kil’mawalls  

T’akia

Some Weeks Are Better Than Others

Commencement Day

Song of Stevens

The Coffee Prince

N’Jadaka’s Helpful Hands

[memoriesofyccjungrk]

mga season 4 episode 5 ― mashup

#4007 ― choi yoojung  •  i’m bad x empty mashup  •  line distribution @rkyngsun, @rkdonghyun, @rkars, @rksxngyeol

yoojung knew it was only a matter of time before she ended up crying on the show. she was an emotional mess almost 99.9% of the time while she was working with the others, so for her to finally break down was unsurprising. once again she found herself in the bottom ― this time at the bottom. and when juyeon was sent home, yoojung just couldn't understand. how hadn't it been her ? he had been in the top ranking team the round before, how could it have possibly been him.

she tried not to dwell on it too long ― she still had another week, she shouldn't be crying ― but that didn't stop the tears from slipping down her cheeks. as they were given their new tasks, yoojung kept her head down, trying not to be captured by the camera; she wouldn't be able to live down crying on television in and of itself ― but for her to have to, at some point in her life, see herself crying ? no, she'd rather her hair cover that up. but she knew she was crying ― anyone who looked at her probably would've been able to see. the moment they were freed from the stage, yoojung rushed away and closed herself in one of the bathrooms, wiping off all the makeup that had been put on her before going on stage ― not that any of it looked nice now.

having spent some time in the bathroom, yoojung eventually emerged, still just as upset but at least not bawling anymore, and was quickly picked up by kyulkyung, who took the younger under her wing and attempted doting on her to make yoojung feel better. she spent the night with the elder instead of in her own apartment, and the change of scenery seemed to help slightly as they ate too much pizza and watched movies to try and make yoojung feel better. even though she knew she'd be regretting it tomorrow, yoojung found that it helped just enough, and somehow she had the energy to get up to head back to the trc building once more the next day. although yoojung hadn't exactly been comfortable heading back, didn't think she deserved it after ranking last among the teams, she knew that wasn't the solution.

so, the next morning she said her goodbyes and thanks to her dear friend, before heading out to a building she never thought she'd become familiar with. she knew the way to the studios like the back of hear hand at this point, and even greeted the receptionist by name when she entered. while she really didn't need to say hello, the woman seemed to appreciate it, and yoojung was one who typically stuck to a routine. she'd stepped hesitantly into the studio once again, perhaps a bit more apprehensive now that she was the lowest ranking member of her team. she knew that it really didn't matter too much, or at least realized it shouldn't, but couldn't help the anxiety that settled in her stomach as the members all met up.

much like she had the last two times, yoojung realized they were nicer than her mind had assumed they would be, and once they were all together and talking, they got along swimmingly. when it came to the song, yoojung was thrilled that they had two members who were willing to work on mixing the songs together for them ― sungyeol and youngjae were more than willing. the hardest thing it came down to was fitting together two songs with a similar bmp. it made it easier that the group was full of strong vocalists; yoojung felt strange being the only rapper, considering her last groups, but she realizes quickly that it really opens their options. yongsun suggests nu'est's “i'm bad”, to which the group agrees. the choreography is easy, as yoojung remembers, and fairly vocal-heavy ― however, the second song's a bit of a struggle. eventually, yoojung suggests winner's “empty” off-handedly ― “it has a similar bmp, and their themes would go together nicely … ” and the two songs are decided.

for the first time, yoojung was chosen as leader ― although she was apprehensive, no one else was able or willing to take the title, so yoojung decided she would. she had no particular strong feelings about the title, but promised to do her best as leader to their group.

from that, they're all on their way ― youngjae and sungyeol begin working on mixing almost immediately, and yoojung gets a demo of what songs will be used when fairly quickly. she and yongsun work together to split up the lines, and a sheet goes to each member once they're done. from there, yoojung begins working on meshing together the choreographies, and making smooth transitions between them. it isn't terribly difficult, after all both songs have very minimalistic choreography ― which, she quickly realizes, is very good, all things considered. for most of saturday, each member is doing their own thing ― only to all come together on sunday with a mostly-finished product.

yoojung takes the time to teach the choreography. they both work nicely together, and it's easy to teach to the rest of the group. considering how simple everything turned out to be, they're able to began working in the vocals quickly, and yoojung thinks they're making progress. she makes sure to try being as uplifting as possible, and even takes moments with each members to make sure they're comfortable with everything ― whether it be their part, their dancing, or just being there in general ― and she feels marginally better about being the leader of the group than she had at first. it helped keep her mind off the last ranking ceremony, anyway ― which made her feel slightly better about herself.

she needed to stop feeling so sorry for herself ― these things happen.

it wasn't like she was just able to push away the thoughts; she let them linger at the forefront of her mind as they ran through practices as a whole. she couldn't help but realize how much it was going to hurt if they ended up at the bottom, and it was her own fault. couldn't stop picturing the way her former leader had broken down upon losing a teammate ― knew that if the same thing happened to them, she would do the same thing. of course, she guessed, if anyone was to leave it would be her. if they ended up in the bottom, after all, it would be her own fault. the thoughts tried to consume her as she practiced her rap in the mirror, practicing facial expressions as she memorized her lines. and although they were always there, although yoojung always felt the uneasy realization that she would end up being the reason the team would either make it, or break it ― she wouldn't allow it to overwhelm her. or, at least, she would try.

instead, she kept it there as a reminder that she had a duty to do, as a leader. it made sure that she adjusted a member when their arms weren't in the right position, and reminded her to make sure the members were all feeling confident in their lines ― and, if they weren't, to try and help as much as she could. most of her actions as a leader where of quiet care; they were quiet reminders to take care of oneself. they were gentle adjustments to make sure someone was in the right position, and words of encouragement after every practice ― because they were good, no matter what anyone said. with the vocal power there was in the room, yoojung knew they would all do well. hoped that she herself would be able to live up to the talent she was performing with.

backstage, yoojung feels unusually comfortable ― mostly because of the simple clothing they were able to wear. to yoojung, the off-the-shoulder, white-and-black pin-stripe top and black jeans were more like something she would wear on a regular day; the addition of black jeans was just to make it look cleaner. her hair flowed freely down her back, styled to look slightly tousled ― she had to thank the stylists for that. before they were called to make their way toward the stage, yoojung looked around at her members, all standing tall around her, and murmured, “ we’ve got this. just perform it how we practiced, and there’s nothing to be worried about. ” she paused. “ you’re all beautiful vocalists. let’s show them just how great you can be. ”

it felt surreal the moment they stepped on stage.

introducing themselves as 'team desolate', yoojung tried not to let the word fall heavily on her. while the name had been a joke, throw-out name yongsun had suggested, they’d decided it fit anyway. that didn’t mean she felt any better about it, however. she'd felt down since day-one of this week, but standing on the stage again was making her feel that much worse. as they moved into their positions, yoojung took a long, deep breath ― closed her eyes and tried to let the feeling float away. she hadn't been terrible over the week, really; she'd handled herself well in her position, despite her fears of what that meant. ultimately, she knew she would be the one blamed if the group didn't do well. if she couldn't lead her team well, what was the point, after all ?

but she didn't want to let that rule the performance. while her melancholy mood hadn't exactly shifted as the music started; sungyeol's voice started the song out with donghyun's adlibs ― and they were on their way. the simple movements that accompanied nu'est's “i'm bad” made the performance look clean and kept the vocalist's lines solid and stable ― yoojung was sure they'd be that way, regardless, but that didn't mean she hadn't thought about how most of the team wasn't particularly skilled in dancing. that, yoojung was sure, made the performance look that much cleaner. she'd ensured they all knew the dance to the best of their ability, and were able to convey the music through their movements, no matter how simple they may be. after all, their vocals would bring the song to life ― the choreography didn't need to be complicated to convey what they needed to.

좋았던 날들과 슬펐던 날들 힘들었던 날들과 행복했던 날들 이젠 지나 가버린 시간 속에 추억이 되어

once yoojung's part came, she walked forward, ahead of her members and stared into the camera. her forlorn expression fit perfectly with the lyrics.

과거에 머물러 있는 그대와 나는 over 현실로 돌아온 것 같아 삶의 이유가 사라져 머리가 복잡해 아침에 눈을 뜨면 가슴이 텅 빈 것 같이

thanks to her previous members, yoojung's flow had improved considerably since her last performance; her verse fell comfortably from her lips, melodic to the ear. the edge of longing to her voice isn't lost as she raps, and consumes the words she speaks out just as it did in the original. yoojung could relate to the yearning that comes after losing someone; focused on how she'd felt only shortly after her mother's passing and channeled those forgotten, suppressed feelings. while the heartbreak she'd felt back then wasn't the same as that sung about in the song, they still evoked the same ache when spoken about.

공허함을 느껴 너를 만나기 전과 똑같아

she finishes off, before moving on in the formation, and youngjae takes over once again. yoojung decides that she would never not be impressed by her teammates; lets the music take her over as she dances easily beside them. their vocals are silk that each move through as the song continues on; the melancholy mood of the song is actually quite beautiful as it's performed; high and low voices mingling sweetly in the air.

네가 없는 내 주위는 공기 조차 무거워

yoojung knows she'll forever be jealous of the vocal prowess her members have.

너란 꿈에서 깬 현실의 아침이

she'd never wished she was able to sing before standing on the stage. while their practices had given yoojung a good idea of what she'd hear, she was sure it was better than the times they'd performed in the trc practice room before. hoped, as yongsun took on the chorus, with sungyeol and donghyun taking the descant over her, that they had done enough. that, for once, her group had managed to impress the judges ― impress the public. prayed, once youngjae took over the chorus, and yongsun sang softly over him, that they were good enough.

donghyun finished off the song, asking for another meeting.

yoojung hopes they would be able to do just that.

once again, yoojung hopes for the best as the performance comes to a close ― wishes that each one of them gets to meet once again on the stage.

this couldn't be the last week for any of them ― but the reality of yoojung's past performances didn't keep doubt from creeping into her mind.

a single tear slips down her cheek once the lights come down.

[sizzites]

Upcoming May Releases

Since it’s May 1st, I felt like it would be fun to talk about some of the awesome games that are coming out this month! There was a huge list of releases this month, so I tried to narrow it down to a couple big releases to keep this post from ruining anyone’s timeline today… so here we go.

Destiny 2: Warmind (5/08/18)

This is an interesting entry to start with. Personally, I never quite got into the Destiny community, but I know that those of you who did get into this community are quite invested in this game. I’ve also heard from those same players that the release of Destiny 2 has not gone exactly how a lot of you were hoping. Destiny is one of those multiplayer games that is supposed to have longevity and that just hasn’t quite happened for Bungie yet. This expansion that is being released may fix a few of the quirks that people have been less than excited about, but the biggest upside is what happened just recently in Seattle, WA. Bungie recently had a large group of players from the Destiny community in to talk about the future of Destiny. This is out of character for them as a company (they usually take the secretive route with development), but it seems like a good step. They genuinely want to improve Destiny and give it the longevity that players really want. Taking input from the community in this forum would seem to be the best way to course correct and, although all of this may have been too late for the Warmind expansion, I think Destiny is going to be one to watch going forward.

Little Nightmares: Complete Edition (5/18/18)

Here’s a release I’m very excited about! For those of you who missed this little gem when it was released almost exactly a year ago in April, 2017… it’s time to get back in the loop. Little Nightmares was a brilliant little platforming/puzzling game which captured my heart and never gave it back. I’m a huge fan of horror games, so the foreboding atmosphere of the levels in this game really spoke to me. It’s puzzles ranged from simple puzzles that might take only a minute or two to solve all the way up to some real head scratchers that you might force you to put the controller down and come back later with a fresh mind. All in all, it’s a great little game to have and I’m glad to see all your Switch players out there will soon have the complete edition available to you!

State of Decay 2 (Xbox One & PC, 5/18/18)

Let me start by saying, I am a huge fan of just about anything involving zombies… the first State of Decay game was fun, but I barely played it enough to really appreciate it. That being said, I am all aboard the hype train for this new game! The fact that this new game veers away from the previous game’s linear sequence of fetch quests and fights by introducing a more open world concept is very exciting, in my opinion. I’m also excited for some newer methods of zombie slaying… I’ve seen videos of everything from exotic weapons to mowing down Z’s in a 4-door sedan. It seems like this game is going to be a playable mashup of the movie Zombieland and GTA. The community building aspect of this game is another thing to look forward to. The need to upgrade skills, weapons, and housing for an ever-growing community brings a level of realism to this game. I’m interested to see how it pans out because the characters in your community are not only playable, but they can die permanently… Sorry, Sally, didn’t plan that raid out very well! I absolutely can’t wait to play this (and maybe get my hands a little dirty cleaning up the Z’s) and I’m thinking a lot of you are just as excited!

Mega Man Legacy Collection (5/22/18)

This release will be a cool nostalgia trip for a lot of you! The Megan Man Legacy Collection is going to include the first six installments in the series along with some extra goodies. Now, this has already been out for quite some time on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo’s 3DS… but it’s finally making its way to the Switch for those of you who have been so patiently awaiting its arrival! The updated 16-bit graphics are great and this collection is a terrific addition to any gamer’s library. Even if your console or PC version is already out, make sure you snag this collection!

Runner 3 (Switch & PC, 5/22/18)

Runner is one of those addicting side scrolling games that you just can’t get enough of. It seems too simplistic until you suddenly realize you’ve been rage-playing this game for hours on end! The newest installment is coming out for Switch and PC gamers later this month. If you’ve never played one of these games before, I highly recommend picking up a copy of the new release… unless you can’t wait that long and then the older releases are just as great! This game provides endless hours of fun as you sprint through a variety of levels with interesting little tasks and collectibles along your path. Developers Choice Provisions have done a phenomenal job with these games in the past and I have no qualms over assuming they’ll deliver again with Runner 3!

Dark Soul Remastered (5/25/18)

This is a big release for all those of you much more skilled than myself. The remastered Dark Souls game is to be released on PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC this month and it’s tempting even to a talent-less game n00b like myself for the updated graphics alone. This is one of those iconic games that was not only beautiful, but extremely difficult. Dark Souls is known for being completely unapologetic and unrelenting and you’ll likely be finding yourself stubbornly refusing to give up or rage quitting with this game. If you enjoy a challenge, this is definitely a title worth picking up at the end of the month!

Detroit: Become Human (PlayStation exclusive, 5/25/18)

This is probably the game I am most excited about on this list. I have always been a huge fan of games which force you to make game altering decisions throughout their story. After playing the short demo for this game multiple times (I NEEDED to know what all the possible endings were), I was already more than hooked. The graphics are phenomenal, the voice acting is spectacular, and the tension this game can build throughout scenarios is unlike any other game I’ve ever played. In fact, I think that’s the most important piece to mention here. The weight of the decisions you make causes them to genuinely feel like they matter (at least in the free demo). I was a huge fan of Until Dawn because of the choices available and how they affected your story along with clues you needed to discover, but this game takes that concept to a whole new level and somehow just feels… different. This is one of those games I’ll be rushing out to bring home right away… and possibly having to call off sick from work the next day to keep playing.

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (5/29/18)

As you’ve probably noticed, May is a month full or rereleases and special collector’s editions, but this is probably the biggest nostalgia moment of them all! Street Fighter is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a BANG by releasing this collection on all the modern platforms (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC). Personally, I never owned one of these games, but they have always been my go to choices whenever I find myself in an arcade with a handful of quarters and nowhere to be. Street Fighter has always had a fun solo/story mode, but the best way to play is (and always will be) with friends! So, when you grab this game, which I know a lot of you will, make sure you’re not forgetting to set aside some time to play against friends and strangers alike in the online multiplayer mode!

So that’s my list of upcoming releases this month! Like I mentioned before, there are TONS of games coming out this month… so what are you excited for? Let’s chat in the comments! As always, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe and thanks for stopping by!

[easyfoodnetwork]

Closing Time

Mei Lin boxes up a short rib to go | Wonho Frank Lee / Eater LA

Mei Lin made the difficult decision to close her LA restaurant Nightshade due to coronavirus. That was just step one.

In early January, Mei Lin, the chef and owner of Nightshade, a modern American restaurant in Los Angeles’s fashionable Arts District, read about a new virus spreading rapidly through China. “This is something so serious, it’s super contagious, and I knew it was going to affect the industry somehow if and when it came over to the States,” she said recently of her thinking at the time. Two months later, on March 15, when the city of Los Angeles issued its short-lived order that restaurants should reduce their dining-room capacity by half, the effects arrived, and they were far worse than she’d feared.

That night, she told her staff the possibility she’d warned them about had come to pass: They would temporarily close. “It was very somber, everybody looked sad, and I was just very apologetic,” she said. “I think everybody understood that it needed to happen.” Even at half capacity, the numbers wouldn’t work: Nightshade’s ambitious menu required a large staff of cooks and servers, and operating at anything less than full capacity wasn’t financially viable.

How do you close a restaurant? In even the most stable times, the restaurant industry is a risky bet, and closing is a decision plenty of owners have had to face in the wake of failing business or plain bad luck. But except under the worst luck (or worst business practices), there’s time to plan. Mass closures happen in the wake of natural disasters, but while there’s a bit of ambiguity about whether to say, ride out a hurricane (though, uh, don’t?), it’s clear when the storm has arrived and departed, and what wreckage it has wrought. Now, across not merely cities or regions but the entire country, and increasingly much of the world, restaurants are shuttering en masse with days’ or even hours’ notice. The path forward is murky at best, both economically and in terms of the actual crisis. In shuttered cities with inadequate testing and mounting cases of COVID-19, we wonder, is the hurricane here yet? Is it still offshore? And will the first glimpse of blue sky mark the end, or the eye?

Lin, an Eater Young Gun and Top Chef winner, spent years working toward opening Nightshade, which landed on several best new restaurant lists in 2019, including Eater’s. Her cooking mixes inspiration from her childhood, spent in her parents’ Chinese restaurant, with techniques gleaned from her time in high-end kitchens; her mapo lasagna, a sophisticated mashup of comfort foods, is one of the memes of dining-obsessed Instagram.

Nightshade earned a reputation as a stylish, playful restaurant that thrived in the swanky Arts District with 160 to 180 covers on weekend nights packed into the small, buzzing dining room with green velvet banquets. Lin said that as news of the novel coronavirus grew worse, the restaurant saw a drop in reservations, but peak weekend hours were still busy. “That actually shook me,” she said. “Why are people still going out? Stay home.” Her decision to close came in part because she realized there was no way to create six feet of distance between diners and staff to prevent the spread of the virus — their business model required that they were busy, and the risks of busy were too great.

Winding down a restaurant is not like shuttering any other kind of business; you can’t just lock the doors when most of your inventory can rot. The biggest item to grapple with was a wholesale order of short ribs for the restaurant’s showstopper dish. Lin decided to try doing takeout for a few days, primarily to partially recoup the costs of those short ribs, and advertised solely on Instagram. Nightshade didn’t partner with any delivery service, though it offered to provide curbside pickup for customers who didn’t want to come into the restaurant.

Lin decided to sell the short rib dish, which includes bibb lettuce and several types of pickles, for $65 instead of the normal $130, because that approached break even. On Tuesday, the first day of takeout, Lin said they only did eight orders. But after a story on Eater LA ran about her takeout efforts, she said customers called and placed orders while expressing their concerns for the restaurant. The short ribs were gone three days later.

Even after several days of takeout, there was a great deal of produce left over. All of it went to her staff; people could go into the walk-in and take whatever they needed. A local farm provided vegetable care packages to take home, too. Lin laid everyone off, she hopes temporarily, and encouraged them to apply for unemployment (though those systems are currently under strain). She’s not taking a salary, but the people she’s worried for are her employees. “It’s really difficult to even think about everybody trying to feed their families and pay their rents,” she said.

Every thinking restaurant owner in America right now is trapped on this same mental seesaw of risk, and the double-barreled lack of clarity about the number of COVID-19 cases and any economic relief only makes it tip back and forth more violently. Laying off staff leaves them in economic peril at the worst possible time; trying to keep people employed increases everyone’s risk of contracting the virus, and those haggard weeks of increased exposure might not even be enough to keep jobs afloat.

Lin considered keeping takeout going, but she’s still not convinced it was economically feasible. To make takeout work, she has to make $3,000 a day to cover supplies and labor, and she doesn’t know if there will be that level of demand now that every restaurant in the city is offering takeout, and as the looming recession’s shape and scope is yet to be determined. “I want to be able to provide jobs for some of my cooks that are temporarily laid off, but at what cost?” she said. “I know some people don’t even want to work, and I respect that.”

Shutting the doors on the restaurant itself, at least temporarily, was relatively simple. A few staff who wanted to keep working helped Lin do a deep cleaning of the dining room and kitchen, then rounded up some of the restaurant’s nicest dishware and other precious objects to put into storage. “I thought, Are people going to start looting soon?” she said. “I’m just trying to prepare for the worst.”

In part thanks to those four days of takeout, Lin has enough money to pay her April rent — $8,000, which is low for the Arts District — but nothing after. She’s sent an email to her landlord about the situation, but has yet to hear back. “Hopefully we get a break,” she said. “If not, we’re going to need to figure it out. [My landlord] has a lot of properties and is often out of the country.” By the time Lin was able to get to a grocery store to fill her own mostly empty fridge, the waves of hoarders had already been through. There was very little chicken left in the store, and absolutely no toilet paper.

Lin is still weighing whether to reopen and offer takeout; she’s hoping to reevaluate in two or three weeks when — and if — things settle down. Even if the crisis were to have passed a month from now, Lin could not simply reopen Nightshade. She would need the kind of capital she had at her first opening all over again. “We definitely need some dollars to reopen, I would say at least $50,000,” she said. That would cover food costs and payroll, including the expense of rehiring and retraining staff if those she had to lay off had moved on or found new jobs. If she kept the restaurant going with takeout, those costs might be blunted, at least a bit.

For now, Lin is trying to stay busy and keep moving at home, because otherwise she fears she will become paralyzed on the couch and eat everything in her fridge. “I’m one of those. I stress eat for sure,” she said. She can’t speculate on what happens if she can’t reopen; instead, she urges her customers and concerned diners to call their local representatives to make sure the crisis in the restaurant industry isn’t ignored. “I’m sure they are busy, but they really need to help us figure something out,” she said. “Otherwise there’s going to be no restaurants to go to.”

Meghan McCarron is Eater’s special correspondent

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2ygrcpf https://ift.tt/39lx9xW

Mei Lin boxes up a short rib to go | Wonho Frank Lee / Eater LA

Mei Lin made the difficult decision to close her LA restaurant Nightshade due to coronavirus. That was just step one.

In early January, Mei Lin, the chef and owner of Nightshade, a modern American restaurant in Los Angeles’s fashionable Arts District, read about a new virus spreading rapidly through China. “This is something so serious, it’s super contagious, and I knew it was going to affect the industry somehow if and when it came over to the States,” she said recently of her thinking at the time. Two months later, on March 15, when the city of Los Angeles issued its short-lived order that restaurants should reduce their dining-room capacity by half, the effects arrived, and they were far worse than she’d feared.

That night, she told her staff the possibility she’d warned them about had come to pass: They would temporarily close. “It was very somber, everybody looked sad, and I was just very apologetic,” she said. “I think everybody understood that it needed to happen.” Even at half capacity, the numbers wouldn’t work: Nightshade’s ambitious menu required a large staff of cooks and servers, and operating at anything less than full capacity wasn’t financially viable.

How do you close a restaurant? In even the most stable times, the restaurant industry is a risky bet, and closing is a decision plenty of owners have had to face in the wake of failing business or plain bad luck. But except under the worst luck (or worst business practices), there’s time to plan. Mass closures happen in the wake of natural disasters, but while there’s a bit of ambiguity about whether to say, ride out a hurricane (though, uh, don’t?), it’s clear when the storm has arrived and departed, and what wreckage it has wrought. Now, across not merely cities or regions but the entire country, and increasingly much of the world, restaurants are shuttering en masse with days’ or even hours’ notice. The path forward is murky at best, both economically and in terms of the actual crisis. In shuttered cities with inadequate testing and mounting cases of COVID-19, we wonder, is the hurricane here yet? Is it still offshore? And will the first glimpse of blue sky mark the end, or the eye?

Lin, an Eater Young Gun and Top Chef winner, spent years working toward opening Nightshade, which landed on several best new restaurant lists in 2019, including Eater’s. Her cooking mixes inspiration from her childhood, spent in her parents’ Chinese restaurant, with techniques gleaned from her time in high-end kitchens; her mapo lasagna, a sophisticated mashup of comfort foods, is one of the memes of dining-obsessed Instagram.

Nightshade earned a reputation as a stylish, playful restaurant that thrived in the swanky Arts District with 160 to 180 covers on weekend nights packed into the small, buzzing dining room with green velvet banquets. Lin said that as news of the novel coronavirus grew worse, the restaurant saw a drop in reservations, but peak weekend hours were still busy. “That actually shook me,” she said. “Why are people still going out? Stay home.” Her decision to close came in part because she realized there was no way to create six feet of distance between diners and staff to prevent the spread of the virus — their business model required that they were busy, and the risks of busy were too great.

Winding down a restaurant is not like shuttering any other kind of business; you can’t just lock the doors when most of your inventory can rot. The biggest item to grapple with was a wholesale order of short ribs for the restaurant’s showstopper dish. Lin decided to try doing takeout for a few days, primarily to partially recoup the costs of those short ribs, and advertised solely on Instagram. Nightshade didn’t partner with any delivery service, though it offered to provide curbside pickup for customers who didn’t want to come into the restaurant.

Lin decided to sell the short rib dish, which includes bibb lettuce and several types of pickles, for $65 instead of the normal $130, because that approached break even. On Tuesday, the first day of takeout, Lin said they only did eight orders. But after a story on Eater LA ran about her takeout efforts, she said customers called and placed orders while expressing their concerns for the restaurant. The short ribs were gone three days later.

Even after several days of takeout, there was a great deal of produce left over. All of it went to her staff; people could go into the walk-in and take whatever they needed. A local farm provided vegetable care packages to take home, too. Lin laid everyone off, she hopes temporarily, and encouraged them to apply for unemployment (though those systems are currently under strain). She’s not taking a salary, but the people she’s worried for are her employees. “It’s really difficult to even think about everybody trying to feed their families and pay their rents,” she said.

Every thinking restaurant owner in America right now is trapped on this same mental seesaw of risk, and the double-barreled lack of clarity about the number of COVID-19 cases and any economic relief only makes it tip back and forth more violently. Laying off staff leaves them in economic peril at the worst possible time; trying to keep people employed increases everyone’s risk of contracting the virus, and those haggard weeks of increased exposure might not even be enough to keep jobs afloat.

Lin considered keeping takeout going, but she’s still not convinced it was economically feasible. To make takeout work, she has to make $3,000 a day to cover supplies and labor, and she doesn’t know if there will be that level of demand now that every restaurant in the city is offering takeout, and as the looming recession’s shape and scope is yet to be determined. “I want to be able to provide jobs for some of my cooks that are temporarily laid off, but at what cost?” she said. “I know some people don’t even want to work, and I respect that.”

Shutting the doors on the restaurant itself, at least temporarily, was relatively simple. A few staff who wanted to keep working helped Lin do a deep cleaning of the dining room and kitchen, then rounded up some of the restaurant’s nicest dishware and other precious objects to put into storage. “I thought, Are people going to start looting soon?” she said. “I’m just trying to prepare for the worst.”

In part thanks to those four days of takeout, Lin has enough money to pay her April rent — $8,000, which is low for the Arts District — but nothing after. She’s sent an email to her landlord about the situation, but has yet to hear back. “Hopefully we get a break,” she said. “If not, we’re going to need to figure it out. [My landlord] has a lot of properties and is often out of the country.” By the time Lin was able to get to a grocery store to fill her own mostly empty fridge, the waves of hoarders had already been through. There was very little chicken left in the store, and absolutely no toilet paper.

Lin is still weighing whether to reopen and offer takeout; she’s hoping to reevaluate in two or three weeks when — and if — things settle down. Even if the crisis were to have passed a month from now, Lin could not simply reopen Nightshade. She would need the kind of capital she had at her first opening all over again. “We definitely need some dollars to reopen, I would say at least $50,000,” she said. That would cover food costs and payroll, including the expense of rehiring and retraining staff if those she had to lay off had moved on or found new jobs. If she kept the restaurant going with takeout, those costs might be blunted, at least a bit.

For now, Lin is trying to stay busy and keep moving at home, because otherwise she fears she will become paralyzed on the couch and eat everything in her fridge. “I’m one of those. I stress eat for sure,” she said. She can’t speculate on what happens if she can’t reopen; instead, she urges her customers and concerned diners to call their local representatives to make sure the crisis in the restaurant industry isn’t ignored. “I’m sure they are busy, but they really need to help us figure something out,” she said. “Otherwise there’s going to be no restaurants to go to.”

Meghan McCarron is Eater’s special correspondent

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2ygrcpf via Blogger https://ift.tt/2WLSuxF

[delerithmoriwen]

Hex and the city: The curse of his salvation - Klaroline Mashup day 3

So 3 day event 3 drabbles yay me! This is for day 3 of the Klaroline Mash up event: Magic & Bedsharing! And because it’s my birthday it’s extra long! Enjoy! Set after TVD season 4 finale no magical babies! I don’t own TVD or TO

Caroline tried to drive through the crowds of the New Orleans nightlife. But her head was getting very dizzy and the sweat made her hands slippery on the wheel. Her sight was getting hazy as well and she prayed that she would find the address soon because she didn’t know how much longer she would be able to drive safely without being a danger to herself or others. She bit her teeth hard as another burning pain shot up and down her body her muscles tensing painfully. Only for a second the world went black.And in that second she heard the crash and felt the shock of her car coming to an abrupt halt. She had never had an accident before - or at least not one that she caused - but now she had crashed right into a concrete roadblock. Thankfully not another person she managed to think to herself. The hood of her car was dented and there was smoke coming out of it. Worried and curious people were gathering around her car. With the little strength she could master she kicked the door open hard nearly breaking it off it’s hinges people staring at her wide eyed.

“Are you ok lady?” A half drunken frat boy walked up to her.

Caroline could hear his blood pulsing through his arteries. She was so thirsty and so weak.And he smelled so delicious...She needed to get out of here fast! It couldn’t be far now. She pushed herself through the crowd hoping that in the middle of the drunkenness of whatever party was going on in the city here she wouldn’t be noticed. Looking up she saw she had the right street now and in the middle of it was the house the lady in the bar had described.She stumbled to the door trying to stay up straight by holding .on to the doorframe with one hand, and holding on to her stomach with the other. She felt like her body was splitting in two pieces. She knocked on the door hard hoping SOMEBODY would be home.

She was relieved when she saw a vampire opening the door. He was large and mean looking but at least she was probably at the right spot.

“What do you want?” the vampire asked rather rude.

“I’m looking for Klaus Mikaelson!” Caroline breathed through her pain.

“He’s in a meeting , no visitors today” The vampire wanted to close the door again.

Caroline tried to put her foot in the door to keep it from closing completely.

“No you don’t understand it’s urgent…. My name is Caroline Forbes, please just tell him i’m here” Caroline begged the man shaking like she was in heroin withdrawal.

“Look lady!” The vampire started to raise his voice “I don’t care what your name is, he said not to disturb him so get lost before I rip your head off”

“Ronald what seems to be the issue here?” A familiar deep voice emerged from the back.

“Elijah!” Caroline gasped relieved before she fell on her knees letting out a painful scream as she clutched to her head.

“Miss Forbes!!” Elijah pulled her up again supporting her under her shoulder.”Go get Niklaus” He barked at the vampire named Ronald.

“But he said not to disturb him….” Ronald whimpered.

Caroline was annoyed by how scared he sounded for somebody so intimidatingly looking.

“I don’t care go upstairs tell him Caroline Forbes is here and she’s hurt… GO!” Elijah shouted as he placed Caroline on the sofa.

With vampire speed Ronald was all the way on the other side of the compound, the smell of sage hitting his nostrils. He couldn’t hear any voices coming from the meeting area but he knew they were there. Gently and politely he knocked on the door 3 times.

“Enter!” Klaus’ voice bellowed through the door.

Ronald swallowed hard before he walked into the room. At a long table the most powerful supernatural beings of New Orleans were joined discussing territory and power.

“I thought I said I did not wanted to be disturbed” Klaus growled deeply.

“I know sir...I- I’m sorry but your brother send me….he said it’s urgent” Ronald tried to explain.

“And what could possibly be so urgent that he said to disturb me during a faction meeting” Klaus asked him contempt filling his voice.

“A girl named Caroline Forbes just arrived sir, she seems to be hurt” Ronald said in one breath hoping Klaus wouldn’t rip his heart out.

Klaus’ eyes widened only for a second before he regained his composure.

“Meeting is adjourned!” He said calmly waving his hand towards the door.

“Klaus we were in the middle of an important discussion” Marcel reminded him not realising why they all had to leave so sudden.

“I said the meeting was adjourned!” Klaus barked again.

The rest other faction members hurried out the door as soon as klaus raised his voice leaving only Marcel in the room.

“Do you know how difficult it is to get all these people in one room?” Marcel asked annoyed following Klaus as he rushed downstairs.

Klaus found her sitting on the sofa next to Elijah shaking vigorously. She was nearly blue pale and her hair clung wet to her face from the sweats. Her lips were cracked in multiple places and her eyes sunken deep into her face. She looked on the verge of dying. He was next to her in an instant holding his face in between her two hands.

“Caroline” he whispered in a soothing voice trying to catch her gaze.

“I didn’t know where else to go” Caroline apologized her voice cracking from weakness.

“That’s ok love, I’m glad you’re here….’ Klaus smiled. She felt hot and feverish to his touch. “Now drink up” he continued as he bit his wrist open bringing it to her mouth.

“Who is that?” Marcel asked confused as to how caring Klaus suddenly was to this unknown young girl.

“Hopefully….his salvation” Elijah whispered under his breath as the two of them looked at the pair.

Her body seemed to relax after his blood ran through her system calming the firing pain to a dull ache like being sore a few days after falling down the stairs. Her breathing became more regular  but still shallow and she was still shaking and grey looking.

“Who bit you?” Klaus asked with a growl scouring the visible parts of her body for bitemarks. Whoever did this was in for a world of pain.

“I don’t know” Caroline coughed letting go of his wrist wiping a stray drop of his blood from her lips. “One second I was in my dorm room getting ready for class the next I wake up in the forest feeling like i’m on fire I don’t remember anything.”

“Send a few hybrids to Mystic falls let them question every wolf around until you find whoever bit her.” Klaus barked at Ronald who nodded and made himself scarce.

“There’s an empty room upstairs for you to rest up love, do you think you can stand?” Klaus asked her grabbing hand and pulling her up straight when she nodded.

As soon as she stood up the room started spinning again. A wave of dizziness and nausea hitting her like a brick. She fell to her knees again in agonising pain gasping for air before puking out all Klaus’ blood again on the carpet her body shaking hard again.

“CAROLINE!” Klaus yelled trying to keep her straight. He felt powerless not knowing what was wrong with her. But when he saw the blood she was puking turning a near black color he knew it was bad…. This wasn’t a wolf bite this was magical. “Get me Sophie Deveraux!”

“She’s not going to want to help after what happened with her sister!” Elijah said carefully looking too Marcel for confirmation.

“If she wants her and her coven to live she will!” Klaus yelled again picking up Caroline from the ground and holding her close to his body.

“I’ll come with you, maybe I can put in some leverage” Marcel said nodding reassuringly before leaving the compound with Elijah.

Klaus carried Caroline up to the spare bedroom next to his placing her on the soft bed. She was coughing hard nearly choking and struggling to breath.

“Hold on ok, we’re going to save you I promise!” He whispered stroking a wet streak of hair out of her face.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Sophie said as she put away clean shot glasses.  

“Come on Sophie We’re just asking you to check out what kind of magic is used” Marcel said sternly.”Besides I wasn’t really asking”

“And what will you do if I refuse? Murder me like you did Jane-anne? I don’t care anymore” Sophie bantered back.

“There are worse things we could do to you then murder you Miss Deveraux” Elijah suggested darkly.

“Yeah well try your best shot because I’d rather die a hundred tortures then help an Original...so either get on with it or get the hell out of my bar” Sophie gestured them out.

“Come on” Marcel pulled Elijah out by his arm back to the streets.

“Well that went splendidly, are you going to explain this or Niklaus then?” Elijah said sarcastically.

“I have a backup plan, go back to the house i’ll meet you there” Marcel grabbed his phone.

“And what might that be?” Elijah inquired looking at Marcel suspiciously.

“Look I can help you, but to do that i’m going to need you to trust me and let me do what I need to do ok so you go back to the house and i’ll be back in an hour…” Marcel said annoyed typing in the digits on his phone.

“You have 30 minutes” Elijah said sternly before vamping off.

As soon as Elijah was out of side Marcel pressed the call button listenin to the ringing until there was an answer on the other side.

“Hello?” The voice on the other side picked up the phone.

“Hey it’s me , i’m stopping by I need a favor” Marcel said before hanging up again keeping the conversation short.

“If Sophie Deveraux didn’t want to do it why do you think I would?! I thought you said this Klaus guy was like the ultimate bad guy” Davina asked surprised sitting at the end of her bed looking at a pacing Marcel.

“Because D. she’s a young girl around your age….and she looked genuinely scared like you were” Marcel tried to persuade her hoping that if he could help her relate to the young girl she might give into helping them.

“What makes you think I can even help? I don’t know that kind of magic!” Davina protested.

“I believe in you ok, you’re more powerful than you think… “ Marcel looked at her hopefully with a smile.

“It would mean I’d have to come out of hiding, the witches would sense my magic and they’d know i’m alive and come to find me” Davina doubted getting up from her bed to the window of the attic looking out of it over the city.

“True, but the Original family would owe you a favor for helping them, and they could protect you...they could help you with your magic much better than I ever could.” Marcel explained putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know Marcel” Davina sighed turning around and looking at him.

“Look D.” Marcel put his other hand on her other shoulder holding her in a tight grasp. “If i thought you would be in any kind of danger i wouldn’t ask…Think about it, you’d be free to walk around the city again under the protection of every vampire in the city….free to leave this attic... I’m not asking you to trust them...i’m asking you to trust me. ”

“Alright, I guess I could give it a shot” Davina smiled convinced.

“That’s my girl” Marcel put his arm around her as they both walked out of the attic for the first time in a very long while.

Although the bed was comfortable and luxurious Caroline couldn’t seem to relax. The pain had taken over her body again agonising her to the point where she was going insane. She had crawled up into a little ball in the bed panting hard. Her hands crossed over holding her arms like she was trying to keep herself together literally. Rocking back and forth. Her nails were digging into her own skin scratching it till the point of bleeding, healing over in a second only to be cut right open again.

“What is taking Marcel so long!” Klaus paced through the room. He couldn’t stand seeing her like this and not being able to do anything about it.

“He said to trust him Niklaus” Elijah tried to reason with his younger restless brother “patience”

“WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR PATIENCE!”Klaus shouted angrily.

Caroline shot up again with a bone chilling scream the fire in her head taking over again making her gasp for air harshly leading her to gag up her empty stomach again.Klaus quickly sat next to her holding her hand and caressing her back trying to sooth her. His eyes shot meaningfully to Elijah. He could hear her sob now lightly under her pain. Breaking from exhaustion.It was the last straw.

“I’m going after him it’s taking too long!” Klaus said stubbornly trying to get up from the bed.

Her hand weakly held on too his shirt trying to keep him from leaving.

“Klaus….please don’t leave me” She uttered nearly inaudible. “I’m really scared”

Another cough escaped her lips before her body relaxed slightly again after the painful attack. Klaus bit his lip looking from her to Elijah. He was torn. He wanted to save her so badly but she had never begged him to stay by her side before and she looked so fragile lying there.

“I’ll go” Elijah said silently nodding at Klaus before he left the room again closing the door behind him.

Klaus sighed as he sat on the bed again next to her. She looked at him with teary eyes full of fright and agony. Kicking off his shoes Klaus laid himself next to her on the bed with his back against the headboard watching over her.

“Am I gonna die?” She suddenly whispered tears streaming down her face.

Her question took him by surprise, she was always so full of hope and light but now lying here it almost looked like she had given up. He couldn’t even imagine how much pain she must be in if she began to think like that.

“Ofcourse not sweetheart...I will ensure it” Klaus smiled at her pulling her into his chest and holding her tight.

She seemed to relax as he held her, her breathing calming down and the uncontrollable shaking reduced to a soft quiver. He could hear her softly falling to sleep.

When Davina Claire arrived in the compound she shivered slightly. There was a dark aura about this place. She could sense it. She hadn’t quite grasped the full possibilities of her new power yet but magic had definitely touched this place. Marcel and the original named Elijah guided her to the upstairs where she would fine the girl Marcel had wanted her to help. She was glad her guardian was with her because even though the man named Elijah seemed very polite and gentlemen-like he creeped her out. She could feel there was blood on his hands. And lots of it.

Though the sense she got from him was nothing compared to the aura that had hit her when she entered the room and found the original hybrid sitting next to the bed watching over a beautiful young blonde girl like a hawk. She had to take a minute to regain her composure reluctant to show any sign of weakness. The girl however exhumed no darkness at all. She was surrounded by light. She was pure good that was simply surrounded by evil. Davina wondered why she would be in such company.

“Who’s this” Klaus barked at Marcel waving his hand to Davina.

“My name is Davina Claire and i’m here to help you” Davina said bravely straightening her back. She had once learned that when face to face with an aggressive animal the best thing to do was to make yourself as big and intimidating as you could. Not easy when you were so small as she was.

“I asked for Sophie Devereaux, and elder witch, not the weekend student help” Klaus said sarcastically.

“Davina is no ordinary witch, she’s the last standing Harvest girl, I saved her before the ritual was completed. She has all the power of her coven now.” Marcel shot back stepping next to Davina.

“Why haven’t we heard of her then?” Elijah asked surprised studying Davina more carefully now.

“Because her coven is looking to kill her to complete the ritual. She’s been under my protection. Which leads me to our demand, if she does this… you vow to protect her as well” Marcel negotiated.

“And why would I agree to that...i’m trying to keep the witches in check, i could just tell her to help or i’ll deliver her to her coven for her death sentence” Klaus threatened he didn’t like meeting other people’s demands.

“Look do you want my help or not, because the way I see it is she doesn’t have a hell of alot of time left” Davina interrupted the two men’s pissing match.

Klaus seemed to take her words into deliberation for a second weighing his options. Caroline was getting worse, fast!

“Yes fine, if you succeed I promise you no harm will to come to you by the witches.” Klaus agreed holding out his hand to seal the agreement with her.

Davina walked past him ignoring his invitation for the handshake. She held her hands out above Caroline’s body whispering in an unknown language. A wind formed in the room circling like a small storm located in this part of the house alone. The lights began to flicked and a dark grey mist formed around the two girls. Objects started to fly around as the room began to shake and Davina started chanting louder. Blood softly dripping from her nose.

“D!” Marcel shouted trying to stop her but he was stopped in his tracks by Elijah.

“Let me go man! She’s killing herself” Marcel shouted trying to fend Elijah off.

“This is very dark magic, if you pull her out now all three of you will die” Elijah explained to him.

The words had just been spoken when the entire room came to the halt. All flying objects falling and shattering of the floor. Marcel was just able to catch Davina before she fell backwards panting hard from exhaustion.

“You ok?” Marcel asked her looking to see if she was hurt in anyway.

Davina nodded before standing up again. “She’s been cursed..”

“Well then uncurse her!” Klaus yelled annoyed!

“It’s not that simple, I’ve never seen this magic before I only heard of it when I was very young. It was banned long before I was born. A dark magic used in ancient times to rid the world off vampires. Set the balance of nature back. Her body had been hexed to repel vampirism, that’s why she’s throwing up blood. It forces her to dessicate. But this kind of magic needs a tangible totum in this world to draw its power from , find it destroy it and she’ll live.” Davina explained.

“That could be anything anywhere she doesn’t have that time!!!” Klaus sighed frustrated rubbing his temples.

“Magic like that always leaves a trace, I should be able to track it if I have a starting point, some kind of lead”Davina went on turning to Marcel ignoring Klaus completely.

“Start with Mystic Falls in Virginia, she has a bennett witch friend there, i’m sure she can help” Klaus sighed giving her Bonnie Bennett’s number from his phone on a piece of paper.

“I’ll get right on it… in the meantime i suggest getting her on an IV drip of blood, that way it’s forced directly into her system and she can’t regurgitate it.” Davina nodded taking the phone number from his hands and following Marcel out of the door.

“Compel a nurse to set up a station for her” Klaus looked at Elijah gritting his teeth. This was taking too long!

In the hours that followed Klaus had been able to turn the bedroom into a fully functioning hospital room with an IV drip in the inside of her elbow and heart monitor attached to one of her fingers. Caroline at this time was falling in and out of consciousness and her body temperature was rising rapidly. The more she deteriorated the more Klaus became on edge. Worried creases forming permanently on his forehead. He never left her side just like she had asked him too which was difficult for him because he severely disliked sitting around and doing nothing. He felt useless in protecting her this way. He remembered the last time they had spoken to each other like it was yesterday.

3 months ago

Klaus watched her clean up the various caps and gowns as he walked up to her. His dear sweet full of light Caroline, always cleaning up the messes of other people even literally. While the other members of her superhero god squad were off celebrating or brooding or whatever it was they did to fill their days, Caroline chose to process the day's events while cleaning. Lucky for him, because this would mean she was alone and he could say to her what he had prepared in his head for days now upon receiving her graduation notice. She must have heard his footsteps or sensed his presents because as soon as he got close she turned around. Smiling slightly as if she was actually happy to see him. With these circumstances she probably was although he hoped that maybe it wasn’t just because they needed his blood, that maybe it was also just for him. Maybe this amazing blonde goddess actually deemed him worthy of being her friend.  He had chuckled when receiving her millionth voicemail where she told him now was not the time to decide he was over her. How could she possible ever think he would be over her. She was impossible to get over.

“How did you get here so fast?” She asked tilting her head slightly.

‘I was already on my way” Klaus explained trying not to let his excitement get the best of him “I received your graduation announcement… It was very subtle”

The slightly embarrassed giggle that came out of her warmed his heart.

“I assume you’re expecting cash?” He teased her putting the announcement back into his pocket.

“That… Or a mini fridge” Caroline joked back.

“Well I had considered to offer you a first class ticket to join me in New Orleans, but I knew what your answer would be” Klaus smiled slightly sad looking disappointed because they both knew he was right. The look in her eyes confirmed that.

“So I opted for something I knew you would accept” He went on suddenly looking at her very seriously. “Tyler is now free to return to Mystic Falls”

She looked at him in shock like she couldn’t believe this was happening and would wake up any time soon.

“What?” She breathed looking at him like he had just given her a unicorn.

“He’s your first love” Klaus explained a rare warm smile gracing his features “I intend to be your last… However long it takes”

He moved in quickly to kiss her cheek softly and for a moment he was sure she wanted him to kiss her, to seal this utterly selfless and romantic gesture he had just done for her with their lips softly grazing over eachother. She was truly happy at this moment and that was the most important thing. To give her this moment of utter happiness and to be the one who caused her to feel this way. It was worth it to push past his pride for this one occasion.

“Congratulations Caroline” He whispered softly into her ear. He meant it. After all the misery and drama she went through she had made it. She had managed to graduate and hold on to that last speck of her human life.

He could tell she was moved, nearly in tears by the emotion of the situation.

“Now let’s get out of here before twelve angry hybrids decide to pick a fight” Klaus joked offering her his arm as they walked away from the football field.

They had talked for a while about what her plans were for college and what courses she would take. What her plans were for summer and he even tried to convince her that maybe she should try and visit New Orleans for spring break. She had dismissed the invitation again as he knew she would. Nevertheless he turned to her took her hand into his and looked at her deeply.

“I’m being serious Caroline, I can no longer protect you and that makes me more uncomfortable than I care to admit so I have something else for you” He whispered taking a vile out of the inside pocket of his vest.

“This contains my blood, I want you to keep it on you at all times. You were lucky this time that I was already on my way, if somebody bites you while I am in New Orleans I will not be here on time to save you so consider this my insurance policy, should you need to use it you simple call me up and i will send you a replacement” Klaus told her rubbing the back of her hand with this thumb and never losing her gaze.

“Klaus..I” Caroline whispered taking a hold of the vile. It was so clear how much he loved her.

“However it comes with a promise” Klaus explained swallowing hard due to the tension between them.

“Yeah sure” Caroline whispered.

“Should you find yourself in any kind of trouble whatever it may be… Promise me you will come to me straight away…. Do not rely on others to protect you ….trust me to always keep you safe… “

She moved into him and for a moment Klaus thought that maybe this time she would actually kiss him. He nearly closed his eyes in anticipation of her lips when she wrapped her arms around him tightly pressing her face in his neck and embracing him.

“I promise” She whispered nearly silently not letting go.

He wrapped his arms around her as well hugging her back and smelling her hair. She smelled like Jasmine and vanilla. He could feel her breathing against his chest and hear the slightly faster beating of her heart. She was soft to his touch and warm. It mesmerized him so that he had uttered the words before he had even realised it.

“I love you Caroline”

She released him cupping his cheek with her hand tilting her head slightly and giving him a sad smile.

“I know you do”  

Present

Klaus was awakened from his memory by the ringing of his phone. He shook his head slightly to regain some of his composure as he picked his phone from his jeans looking at the caller on the screen. It was a number he didn’t recognize. Realising it could be Davina with an update he answered on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Is it true? Is she with you is she safe?” The voice of Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes asked worriedly on the other side of the line.

“She came to me for help yes…” Klaus said calmly recognizing the voice.

“Is she ok? Can I talk to her” Liz begged nearly in tears.

“She’s resting right now Sheriff, i’ll have her call you when she wakes up “ Klaus said hoping to end the conversation quickly.

“If you hurt her..”Liz started to threaten.

“Rest assure that no harm will come to your daughter as long as she is in my care, I am just as invested in her well being as you are you have my word” Klaus cut her off annoyed.

“Alright… I trust you to save her”  Liz warned him.

“I will protect her with my life” Klaus agreed before hanging up and ending the conversation.

Caroline didn’t wake up for nearly twelve hours after having received the 4th bloodbag in a row. The bags seemed to keep her a little more at ease, it relieved her of the horrible pains for the most part dulling it down to a soft ache and it helped with the shivering. But she was getting weaker he could tell that time was running out. She had called her mother just like Klaus had promised when she awoke in the middle of the night and he could tell she was trying to be brave and make light of the situation as to not worry her mother to much. But he knew how scared she was, he wasn’t quite sure if she had been hallucinating when she asked him to stay by her side because she was scared, but he knew her well enough now to know she was terrified even if she tried to hide it.

When she hung up the phone he had explained to her that the witch had  sensed dark magic on her and that they were out trying to find and destroy the totem. He explained to her that the IV drips helped keep her somewhat fed and functioning when her body was repelling the blood.

“Thank you for saving me” Caroline eventually said able to slightly sit up from from the bed.

“Thank you for keeping your promise” Klaus replied giving her a weak smile. “So I hear you and Tyler broke up?” he said a little to cheerfully.

Caroline had to chuckle slightly at his enthusiasm making her cough painfully. “Not now Klaus” She waved away his flirtations.

They talked for a while longer. Klaus tried to distract her mind for the pain and situation she was in by inquiring about her new life, in college. The classes she was taking and her professors. How her friends had been faring with him gone ...All the while avoiding the matter or her recently obtained single status. Eventually she had grown tired and fell asleep again. The sun was setting in New Orleans it had been little over 24 hours now since she had arrived. But Klaus had not spend a minute away from her. As he was watching her his eyes fell weary and he very slowly drifted into sleep.

“I’m picking up on something here...we’re definitely getting closer” Davina said as she softly stood in the middle of an open spot of the woods.

She was holding on to the hand of the Bennett witch they had met up with about an hour earlier channeling her powers to get the best reading. She had never met a Bennett witch before but she had heard of them. Several witches in New Orleans spoke badly of them because of their generations long affiliation with Vampires. But Davina had never judged about things like that, after all she befriended a few herself. Josh, Marcel… they had meant more to her in the last year then most of her family had in her entire lifetime.

Behind them were Marcel and Elijah who had come along for muscle power after all they had no clue what to expect once they had found the totum. The two men kept their distance leaving the girls to focus on the task at hand.

“Elijah can I ask you something?” Marcel asked when they had been waiting for over 15 minutes.

“Go ahead” Elijah nodded breaking a twig from a tree and twirling it between his fingers.

“What did you mean when you said his salvation?” Marcel asked curiously, he had been wondering what Elijah meant by that and why klaus seemed to be so uncharacteristically caring towards the girl.

“You know as well as I do that throughout the centuries I have fought for Niklaus’ humanity. To make him care for something other than himself whether that be family or mentoring you. But everytime I think we get close he’s proved me wrong by doing something to push all of us away….” Elijah started explaining the story.

“Yes I know that, it still doesn’t explain the girl” Marcel cut in, anxious to hear more about this mysterious girl.

“I’m getting to that now… You see about a year and a half ago Niklaus and I were in Mystic falls on a quest to find an alleged cure for vampirism. Miss Forbes who you have met earlier today was a new vampire turned by Katherina Petrova to be killed as a sacrifice in the ritual that would turn Niklaus into a hybrid. However young miss Forbes seems to have a knack for surviving even in the most dire of situations. This was also the case when she was bitten by her wolf boyfriend. In the end Niklaus came to her rescue because for the first time in his life he pitied someone, I think he must have thought her to be very beautiful” Elijah went on.

“Well she’s pretty i’ll give him that even when near death you could see she’s pretty” Marcel agreed.

“After he had fed her his blood, he changed. He always kept an eye out for her. Protected her but he also craved her attention. At first I think it was because she blatantly rejected him over and over. Niklaus always wanted what he could not have. But then it became more. You see Miss Forbes is everything we are not to him. She is loyal and full of light and she was always honest with him even when he did not want to hear the truth. She challenged him both openly and personally. She dared him to be better. She saw more to him I believe.... “

“Are you saying… He fell in love?” Marcel said in disbelief.

“With my brother there is never a guarantee, but in my opinion...yes he fell in love, for the first time since we were human I believe he fell in love, and it is in that love that I hope his salvation lies” Elijah ended the story.

“She must be one special girl” Marcel thought out loud thinking he never saw his mentor to be capable of such a thing.

“That she is” Elijah agreed.

“I hate to break up this little bromance, but Davina seems to think she discovered the location of the totum. So if you could break up your little moment i’d like to go and save my best friend” Bonnie interrupted the conversation.

“Very well Miss Bennett lead the way” Elijah nodded gesturing his hand for her to guide them.

As the night progressed Caroline got worse. Her system was now severely rejecting any form of blood and the heart monitor was only barely registering a heartbeat. Every time it took the monitor a little too long to peep Klaus would feel a panicky jolt going through his chest like an electrical shock. He had barely fallen asleep for an hour or two but was more awake than ever. The call from Mystic falls had awoken him. Elijah had said they found the location of the hexed totem and they were now on their way to destroy it. He just needed her to hold on a little longer. She was shivering uncontrollably again slipping in and out of consciousness. She had also definitely started hallucinating. They had a few hours left to save her at most. The hallucinations had been the worst part. Klaus had to watch helplessly as she relived every horrible memory from her past. It surprised klaus that for somebody who was so pure and light she had been through so much in her short lifespan.

First had come the memories of Damon biting her and trying to kill her. She had screamed in fear mistaking him for that sorry excuse of a vampire. It had taken him nearly twenty minutes to calm her down making her realise where she was and by that time she had weakened herself severely. The next hallucination was one of her father torturing her trying to condition her to not need blood anymore. She was just barely awake for that so Klaus thought it might have just been a bad dream. Nevertheless he crawled back into bed with her holding her and trying to sooth her through the worst of it.

The last hallucination was the one she was experiencing now. It was calmer but equally as horrible. She was crying. Heartbreaking sobs against his chest and he had no clue why. She whimpered something from time to time but she was too weak for it to be understandable. His shirt wet from her tears he tried to reach her, but the empty gaze in her eyes told him she was gone. Lost in whatever the hallucination showed her. In the end she kept repeating the same sentence as a whisper over and over again. And when he finally realised what she was whispering his heart seemed to break into a million pieces.

“Why did you leave me, Klaus?”

“Caroline?” He said in a shaky breath trying to get through to her. “Caroline i’m here….I didn’t leave look at me love….I’m here”

Her eyes became slightly more focussed when he spoke to her again, telling him she was out of whatever hallucination she was experiencing for now. But her skin had started to turn slightly grey and Klaus realised they might have even less time than he thought.

“Klaus?” she whispered looking up into his eyes slightly wondering why she was lying in his embrace on a bed.

“I’m here love…” Klaus smiled back.

She coughed , little spats of blood staining his shirt. He didn’t mind.

“I’m so tired” Caroline complained trying to keep the fog out of her head.

“I know love, I know but i need you to hold on for a little while longer....”

“I can’t anymore” tears rolled down her eyes.

“Don’t say that” Klaus said angrily he wasn’t going to let her give up. Not now that they were so close.

“Klaus I-” Caroline started to speak shakingly.

“NO! Caroline no! I won’t let you give up’ He started to raise his voice.

“Listen to me…” Caroline begged silently.” I need to tell you’

“Tell me what sweetheart?” he asked confused not knowing what she was talking about.

“I’m sorry…”

“Sorry for what , you have nothing to be sorry about I told you if you were ever in trou-” Klaus interrupted her again.

“I’m sorry for never telling you….”She coughed again “How I felt about you..”

Klaus smiled softly at her as she tried to keep speaking. “You’re hallucinating love”

“No i’m not” She went on determinedly. “ I need you to know I was just scared of admitting it and I need to tell you now before it’s too late “

Klaus kept her close to him trying to calm down her tensing body.

“You can tell me later love, when you’re better”

“No I need to tell you now” Caroline sobbed before placing a hand on his cheek and softly pulling him towards her. Slowly her broken cracked lips met his brushing against him with the softest kiss he could ever imagine. And in that kiss he felt more of her then she could ever express in words.

When they parted after what seemed like ages but could’ve only been a couple of seconds her body started going limb and the heart monitor started beeping like crazy. Klaus’ eyes widened as he realised she was dying.

“CAROLINE!!!” He screamed thinking that this way not the way things were supposed to go for them. “CAROLINE!!” He shook her hard forcing her eyes to stay open.

It was then that a thought came to him. The last possible resort he could possibly imagine.

“Caroline look at me…. Are you on vervain?....... Are you on vervain love answer me?!!!” He yelled at her.

Panting weakly her head shook only just for no.

“Look at me…. You can’t die on me! Do you hear me! I forbid you to die!!” he looked into her eyes deeply and saw her pupils dilating. He prayed for it to work.

“This is it” Davina whispered as the foursome halted at an empty space at the edge of the woods.

“I don’t think this is right D, there’s nothing here”  Marcel said looking around to see if maybe there was some freshly covered dirt that indicated something was buried.

“Hold on”Bonnie closed her eyes trying to sense something. She raised her hands up before her chest whispering something in Latin.

As by smoke a small Cabin appeared out of thin air. It was a small old thing. Looking like nobody had lived in it for over a decade. It’s windows were shattered and the wood had a mossy green color from bad maintenance. Looking at each other the four of them carefully checked to see if the door was open. It swung open at the touch indicating there was definitely magic around. As the boys tried to step over the threshold there were stopped by an invisible force field indicating that they had to be invited in.

“Well that’s an inconvenience” Elijah sighed banging on the invisible wall that kept him out.

“We’ll go check it out you guys wait here” Bonnie said stepping over the threshold.

Marcel stopped Davina grabbing her by her arm. “Be careful” He whispered meaningfully.

The girl simply nodded as she followed the other witch inside.

Inside it looked no better than the outside. It smelled horrible like there was something rotting and the single room looked like somebody had come in and trashed the place with a baseball bat.

“Hello?!” Bonnie yelled into the darkness grabbing the flashlight she had conveniently packed into her bag and turning it on. There was no response.

“Nobody’s here’ She whispered as they checked the space.

“Yes there is… I can sense it” Davina frowned her brow.

“Let’s just look for the totem” Bonnie said nervously starting to rummage through the place.

“You will never find it” A deep hollow voice whispered eerily from the darkness.

“Who’s there… show yourself?!” Davina yelled.

A figure emerged from the darkness stepping into the little light that shone through one of the cracked windows. An old woman who looked like she was at least a hundred years old appeared. She was small and her silver white hair hung braided over her shoulder. She hunched a little and needed a cane to walk. It was her eyes that freaked the girls out the most, pitch black with no iris’ or whites in them. They were hard against her wrinkled translucent skin creating a nearly demonic look.

“Who are you!” Bonnie asked taking a step back creating a bit more distance between her and the old crone.

“It does not matter who I am...you girls need to leave here… now!” The woman said in the same unnatural voice.

“Not without what we came for” Davina joined next to Bonnie.

“It is no use… I have seen the future and you are too late… As we speak the saviour is dying” The woman stepped closer.

“Look I don’t know what kind of creepy ass scientology shit you’re into lady but I’m here to save my best friend so give me that totem!” Bonnie said angrily to the old woman she had feared they were running out of time and she was stalling.

The woman reached into her blouse revealing a big silver amulet glowing blue through the cabin and dimly lighting the place. “As soon as this stops glowing your friend will be dead, and our future’s as witches will be ensured. With her death we will live!”

“What are you talking about Caroline wouldn’t hurt a fly!” Bonnie yelled back at the old woman. Clearly she had the wrong person.

“No, but the hybrid wouldl...When he rises to power he will unite the factions of all species leaving no room for us ancient practitioners....Vampires are already stopping our rituals and sacrifices...meddling in affairs they have no business in...you are the living proof of that miss Clare”

“What does that have to do with Caroline?!” Bonnie asked confused keeping her eye on the ever fading amulet.

“It is foretold that she will be the one to save him and his humanity. To inspire him to unite the factions. Inspired by her love for him he will find his power. So in removing his salvation he will turn to darkness and fall into the hands of his enemies” The woman explained.

“But peace between the factions is a good thing! We would all live together and be stronger for it!....the old covens are dying because of their inability to see this….” Davina rebutted in disbelief.

“Witches used to rule this earth….and it is their destiny to rule it again...to rule over these anomalies of nature that walk among us!....and now you are to late to stop us” The crone laughed wickedly.

When she spoke her last words the crone started chanting and the amulet started vibrating heavily along with the rest of the cabin. The two girls nearly fell off their feet trying hard not to fall over.

“What is she doing?!” Bonnie screamed through the noise of clattering junk falling to the floor.

“She’s tapping into the power of the amulet Bonnie take my hand now!” Davina yelled loudly.

“What are you going to do” Bonnie asked over the noise grabbing Davina’s hand.

‘I’m going to try and tap into the power of the ancestors to stop her but I can’t do it alone, I need your lineage too so hold on!!” Davina started chanting as well.

As soon as Bonnie started following her chant she could feel a surge of power coursing through her body. She could feel the essence of her ancestors around her harvesting so much power inside of her she felt like she was going to explode. She looked over at Davina who was still chanting in all her might. Blood pouring from her eyes , ears and nose. The spell was killing her but she kept on going.

When the air became too thick with power there was a giant explosion sending both girls off their feet into the ground and obliterating the cabin all together. The next thing she knew Bonnie was on the ground panting hard as burning debris fell  in every direction. A loud ringing in her ears disorienting her. She tried to sit up and take in her surroundings, the old crone was nowhere to be found but a few feet away from her Davina was lying motionless to the ground in her own blood.

“Davina!!” She could hear Marcel screaming as he ran towards the girl’s lifeless body he cradled her into his arms biting into his wrist letting drops of his blood fall into her mouth.

“Come on! Come on wake up” He screamed at her in a panic.

There was a moment of complete silence where Bonnie feared the absolute worst for the girl before she jolted up breathing in deeply.

“Thank god…” Marcel cried out hugging the girl close to his body. “You’re ok...you’re ok” He whispered soothingly.

“The Amulet!” Bonnie came back to her senses looking around to find it.

“Destroyed” Elijah joined them holding the now in three pieces broken amulet in his hand.”We have to bury the pieces in separate locations to keep them from rejoining but you did it!”

“Give me your phone!” Bonnie shouted to Elijah who took it out of his jacket and tossed it to Bonnie.

Bonnie hurried through the contacts clicking on Klaus’ name. He answered on the first ring.

“Klaus! We destroyed the Amulet….where’s Caroline were we on time?!” She asked rapidly.

“Listen for yourself” Klaus’ voice said softly on the other end of the phone.

There was a slight rustle on the other end of the phone and then another familiar voice spoke.

“Bon?” The voice of Caroline asked sounding much stronger than the last time they had spoke.

“Care thank god!” Bonnie cried laughing through her tears. “Are you ok?!”

“Yeah… a little shaky on my feet but i’m getting there… are you?” Caroline asked also sobbing.

“Yeah we’re all fine….” Bonnie laughed.

About two days later Caroline was sitting on the edge of the curb in front of the compound in New Orleans waiting for Elijah, Marcel, Davina and Bonnie to arrive. Though Klaus was sitting right next to her they had barely spoken since she had been cured from the hex. Bonnie had said she would come and find her once they had rested up a bit from the battle. The clouds were dark and grey announcing a thunderstorm would cross over the city of New Orleans any second now but she didn’t care. She was to excited to see her best friend. And as the black SUV turned around the corner she jumped up in excitement. The two girls hugged excessively the second they saw eachother both of them glad the other one was ok.

Caroline then went over to Elijah and Marcel to thank them both for the part they played in her rescuing. When she walked up to the other girl Caroline couldn’t help but hug her also.

“Thank you!” She whispered as she embraced the girl tightly.

“You’re very welcome…” Davina smiled awkwardly.

“No really… you don’t know me yet you risked your life for me.. Not that i’m ungrateful but why?” Caroline asked her seriously.

“Because I also believe in a world where the species can live together in peace… and i highly hope you can contribute to that” Davina squeezed Caroline’s shoulder before walking into the compound with Marcel. The rain now slightly dripping on her shoulders.

“What did she mean by that?” Caroline turned to Bonnie and Klaus as al three of them also walked inside.

“Care we need to talk about something.. “ Bonnie took her best friend by her hand and sat her down in a private corner of the courtyard. “You might want to hear this too Klaus”

“That old woman that hexed you….it wasn’t a random act” Bonnie sighed looking at her feet.

“What do you mean ? What did I do wrong?” Caroline asked surprised at this revelation.

“Nothing...yet…. I mean you’re not going to do anything wrong the way I see it...but other people might see it that way….” Bonnie started rambling.

“Bon you’re not making any sense and you’re scaring me” Caroline looked from Bonnie to Klaus for an explanation he looked just as confused and worried as she did.

“What do you mean?” Klaus asked looking at Bonnie intently.

“The crone was a sort of oracle, she could see into the future… And she made a prophecy that you Klaus will unite the supernatural world under your leadership” Bonnie explained.

“Not that that doesn’t sound bloody brilliant love, but what does that have to do with Caroline” Klaus asked confused.

“Because according to the prophecy it is the love between you too that will inspire you to do so...Without her you can’t…” Bonnie muttered.

“Oh…” Klaus said turning to Caroline with a big smile.

“Wait… Hold on…. You’re saying the fate of the supernatural world is resting on some epic love that there is supposed to be between us…” Caroline started freaking out. She was not prepared for this.

“Yeah…” Bonnie said looking slightly guilty for being the one to tell her this.

“So if I don’t give in to feelings I may or may not have towards the evilest being in the world i’m basically dooming us all” Caroline had the wind knocked out of her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Klaus yet and this all felt like she was being forced. She felt like she was going to puke again and the walls were closing in on her.

“I need to get out of here!” Caroline whispered running out of the front door into the streets.

It was pouring rain outside and Caroline really wished she hadn’t crashed her car earlier that week because it would make running away from her problems alot easier. She could hear Klaus following her.

“Caroline!” He yelled after her.

But she kept moving the rain soaking her instantly from head to toe. Thunder and lightening rumbling high in the sky.

“CAROLINE STOP!” Klaus yelled as he ran after her.

She could hardly see him through the rain as she turned around. Her hand removing wet hair from her face.

“WHAT?!” She yelled back at him.

“Sweetheart came back inside it’s pouring!!” Klaus urged her.

“NO!! I cant!!!” Caroline yelled back rain falling in streams from her face.

“Why not?! What did I do wrong” Klaus asked her as he caught up with her grabbing her by the shoulders.

“You did nothing wrong Klaus!” Caroline said turning her head away from him.

Klaus grabbed her chin in his hand and turned her head back to him to look into her eyes.

“Then why are you running from me?”

“Because this isn’t how it’s supposed to go!” Caroline shouted over the sound of the rain.

“You’re not making any sense darling how is what not supposed to go?” Klaus asked her looking at her cockeyed.

“US!! I won’t let you break my heart. I”m not settling for being second choice ever again because you taught me not to do so! You made me see that I deserve to be loved for me...so you should want to be with me for me! And not because some witch told us it was going to bring you power” Caroline explained her hand running through her hair again to remove wet strains from her cheeks.

“Caroline listen to me…. I don’t care about all that… I never have with you…. I just want you….I always have...screw everything else” Klaus proclaimed.

“Really?” Caroline asked suddenly alot calmer.

“Ofcourse...haven’t you been paying attention? Everything that you think is good about me is all because of you… Because I want to be better for you...It was always you!.... But If you need me to stand here in a thunderstorm to explain that to you over and over again I will… Because if you would give me the chance to be yours I will stand here for as long as you want me to remind you that you will always come first with me…So what do you say Caroline…”  Klaus asked her with a look of total vulnerability in his eyes holding his hand out for her to grasp.

“I say right answer” Caroline mouthed as she grabbed his hand and walked up to him crashing her lips to his, kissing him hard and passionately in the middle of a thunderstorm with rain pouring down on them.

FF link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12395780/6/The-realisation-Caroline-Forbes Please leave a review! (come on it’s my birthday :p) 

[sherrydramsey]

My Top 5 Sci-fi Series Worlds http://bit.ly/2PRb0z7

Coming up May 15th-19th I’ll be participating in OWSCyCon, an online genre convention (all genres!),  for readers, authors, and others in the publishing industry. I’ll be hanging around the science fiction, fantasy, and urban fantasy sections, and I have a lot going on that weekend, including a Facebook takeover event, a world-building showcase blog hop, a big giveaway, some Cover Wars brackets, and a Character Battle! Whew, it’s going to be busy and fun.

In the leadup to the convention, some of the Sci-Fi participants are posting “My Top 5” blog posts, and this is mine: My Top 5 Sci-Fi Series Worlds. I love world-building and talking about world-building, so this seemed like a natural fit for me. However, I’ve read books set in many great fictional worlds, so this took some thought! In the end I’m not sure these are truly my “top 5” or if they’re more like “5 of my top favourites plus one,” but I tried. ;) Read on to see what I decided…

Honourable Mention: Gateway (The Heechee Saga)

Books: Gateway, Beyond the Blue Event Horizon, Heechee Rendezvous, Annals of the Heechee, The Gateway Trip, The Boy Who Would Live Forever Author: Frederik Pohl Why it’s great: fabulous worldbuilding and intriguing aliens

It’s a long, long time since I read Frederik Pohl’s classic series, but the books, the world, and the characters have stayed with me in a way that many don’t. If I recall correctly, I first read Gateway during the university science fiction English course that had a big influence on my life. I think perhaps it made such an impression because it was one of my first introductions to a really believable alien encounter scenario. In Gateway, humans can take chances on piloting mysterious artifact spaceships without knowing where they will take them, and I realize there are echoes of this idea in both the wormhole-spelunking explorers and the types of aliens I try to write in my own Nearspace series–echoes that persisted in my brain for long years after I read the books. If you love a beautifully-realized future with intriguing characters and aliens and a relentless plot, you should give Gateway a try. It’s a classic, but it holds up pretty well.

#5 Mindspace (Mindspace Investigations Series)

Books: Clean, Payoff, Sharp, Marked, Vacant, Fluid, Temper Author: Alex Hughes Why it’s great: believable future worldbuilding and a perfect main character to guide you through the world

The “world” of the Mindspace Investigations series is our world, but in a future where telepathy is real, Tech Wars have torn the world apart, and telepath/drug addict Adam finds himself pulled and pushed in many directions as he tries to get his life back. I love this series in large part because this world is so well-imagined–I mean, what would humans do if some of us had telepathic powers? How would we react? And how would we function in a world where technology had been forced to fall back from its current prevalent position? It’s all very believably drawn and imagined, and there are so many storytelling possibilities inherent in the world itself! Of course, I’m also a sucker for books that mash up genres like science fiction and mystery, so it’s not surprising I’m sold on this series. If you like that kind of mashup set in a realistic sci-fi near-future, these books are for you.

#4 Rimway (Alex Benedict Series)

Books: A Talent for War, Polaris, Seeker, The Devil’s Eye, Echo, Firebird, Coming Home Author: Jack McDevitt Why it’s great: far-flung future worlds paired with intriguing deep space mysteries

While Mindspace takes place in our near future, the world of Rimway is far, far off–thousands of years in the future, in fact. Humanity has expanded across many planets and the far reaches of space, artificial intelligence is actually intelligent, and–finally–flying cars! ;) However, against the backdrop of this highly detailed and beautifully imagined future world, humans are still very much the same, which adds so much to the overall verisimilitude of the books. Despite our progress, there are still explorations to be made and mysteries to be solved, so these books offer just what I love in great science fiction.

#3 The Galactic Empire (Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse Series)

Books: Terminal Alliance, Terminal Uprising Author: Jim C. Hines Why it’s great: the twist of a future where humans are not on top, and the wonderfully imagined alien races

And now for something completely different…janitors in space! In the Galactic Empire of Jim C. Hines’ post-apocalyptic series, humans have been relegated to cleaning the toilets and tidying up after all the other sentient races who’ve fared better than we have through the march of history. I’ve been a fan of Jim’s for a long time and even had the pleasure of belonging to an online writer’s group with him long, long ago. However, it’s the exquisite combination of humour and world-building that really make this “world” a standout for me. I know, I know, there are only two books in the series yet! But that doesn’t stop it from being a definite recommendation from me if you love the lighter side of science fiction.

#2 Alternate History Earth (Oxford Time Travel Series)

Books: Fire Watch, Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, Blackout, All Clear Author: Connie Willis Why it’s great: the unusual occurrence of time travel that actually works!

It’s a little difficult to actually name the “world” where these books take place, since it’s our world in an alternate timeline where time travel is actually possible. However, I have to include it on this list because in the Oxford Time Travel series, Connie Willis actually makes time travel work. This is no small feat and although it’s been attempted a zillion times, writers are rarely able to pull it off without issues. You may not agree with me that this constitutes a “world” but to me it does; and in addition, Willis deftly navigates multiple times and historical events to bring them to life for the reader, while still tying them all together with the timeline and experiences of the main characters from the “present.” I think this series is a magnificent example of world-building, and if you’re skeptical that time travel can really be done well, I suggest you give it a try. You can read almost any of them as a standalone book, although you should read Blackout before reading All Clear, since they’re really one book that was published in two volumes. To Say Nothing of the Dog is one of the few books I re-read on a regular basis.

#1 The Expanse (The Expanse Series)

Books: Leviathan Wakes, Caliban’s War, Abaddon’s Gate, Cibola Burn, Nemesis Games, Babylon’s Ashes, Persepolis Rising, Tiamat’s Wrath Author: James S.A. Corey Why it’s great: the pure breadth of imagination in the world and civilization building

For sheer scale and imagination, I have to give the number one spot on this list to The Expanse. As I wrote in my original review of this first book on Goodreads, I fell in love with it because it had “grand-scale space opera, fascinating characters, tons of complexity and some great sense-of-wonder stuff.” The first book in the series is one of my favourites ever, in part because the world of the Expanse — the Belt, the Outer Planets, all of it — and the inhabitants of the world, are so brilliantly imagined. It all just works, drawing you in and not letting you go. The transition to a television series also seems to have captured this particular world-building magic, although I’ve only seen the first season. All in all, The Expanse has to be #1 on this list.

So, what do you think? Have you experienced any of these worlds? Do you want to fight me over my choices? (Just kidding, I don’t fight on the internets) However, I’m happy to hear your thoughts on the science fiction worlds you love!

OWS CyCon officially runs May 17-19 with the CyCon website and Facebook events acting as the hub for all of our events. Sign up for our newsletter or RSVP to the event to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the bookish goodness we have to offer. Plus, you can read more about our participating Sci Fi authors and their Top 5 favorites in Sci-Fi before CyCon starts. Visit the blog hop page any time leading up to CyCon for the latest posts and your chance to enter our MEGA giveaway (open May 10).

[carajay1317]

DJ, Turn It Up! 50 Song Shuffle Meme

(This challenge originally belongs to FiretoIce on DeviantArt)

Tagged by @szeherezadaa​ -- thank you!

I’m challenging @gilrael​ @yallmight​ @negare-boshi​ @kevinkevinson​ @katsukiisyuurii​ @the---cc​ @ohprcr​ @rynezion​ and/or anyone else interested!

50 Song Shuffle Meme

[ I’m pulling all these songs from my “unsorted” playlist so they’ll be pretty random! ]

1. I have a fear of…

Be My Baby by Bea Miller

To be fair, I’d probably be a little weirded out if someone randomly told me that

2. I hate…

Du courage by Louane

Bravery...? If you go by the lyrics, though, I definitely do want to change the world. If I didn’t make any difference at all I’d probably hate that

3. I hate you because…

Australian Summer by Govs

the government I whisper (I’m imagining that meme where they pull off the paper and the guy goes “A CHILD”)

4. I love…

Drummer Boy by MisterWives

MisterWives’ latest album is awesome! Very summery ☀

Ironically I used to tell people I liked “invisible drummer boy” when they asked if I had a crush

5. I love you because…

Capsize by FRENSHIP and Emily Warren

too many feels? haha

6. She said…

Lo Que Quieras by Denver

"What you want” I can’t tell if this is more of a “whaddaya want” or “anything you want” vibe, hmm

7. He said…

Insecure by Shane

Well that’s as good of a response as anything 😂

8. We said…

Malibu 1992

A good time and place to be if we went time-travelling, I think!

9. I caught a disease from…

Parallel Lines (Live Acoustic) by Robby Hecht and Caroline Spence

my approximate feelings toward math

10. I would sing … as a love song.

IOU by Annabel Jones

The first lyric is “I make you so sad, I know that I do” so I don’t think that’d go over too well ahahaha

11. I found … in my room.

Hello by Allie X

A hello! Makes me think of that time I cleaned out my closet and I found 3 bags worth of handwritten letters from my first friend :’)

12. I would kill someone if they…

In The Wild by ROMES

This is literally the most chill song ever I would not kill someone to this tune and I don’t know if I’d be killing anyone anyway, haha. I guess in the wild is a good place to get away with a murder though? #strangerthings

13. I would marry someone if they…

Wild One by Lucky Rose, Tep No

If this song was our relationship dynamic I could definitely see why! 

14. I would kill for a…

Sheep In Wolves Clothes by little hurricane

... no comment?

15. Air is really made of…

See You Again, Love Me Like You Do, Sugar (Acoustic Mashup)

"mashup” is pretty accurate

16. I think about…

Move Together by James Bay

uhhhhhh good song, not usually on my mind?

17. I am…

No Average Angel by Tiffany Giardina

my dream future haha

18. The secret ingredient is…

Wake Up by AWOLNATION

productivity only happens in the wakeful hours! 💪

19. I will dance with my love to…

Cry Baby by The Neighbourhood

I’m not sure what kind of dance it is but clearly it’s quality 😂

20. I have a crush on…

Aeroplane by Holly Throsby

Plane flights are the best 💕

21. I got hurt because…

Vibe by JoJo

someone killed my vibe? true

22. My last words will be…

24K Magic by Bruno Mars

Oh my god, hahaha YES (esp about the intro)

23. The song at my funeral will be…

If This is Love by Ruth B.

Aww :’)

24. I died because…

Beautiful Mess by Kristian Kostov

If you ask @the-wayward-weeaboo​ what my reaction was during Eurovision this year that’s pretty accurate. Very accurate. Really accurate.

25. The story of your life is…

For You by Lucy Rose

💕

26. I like to eat…

The Wave by Colouring

This reminds me of that saying “EAT DIRT” pffft but like 10x more chill?

27. I live because…

Chewing Gum by Nina Nesbitt

Literally in the last tag game I did I think I mentioned that I’m not a fan of gum hahahaha

28. I’m immortal because…

Someone To Stay by Vancouver Sleep Clinic

refer to #25 here for proof of this truth

29. My superpower is…

LÉON’s Lullaby by LÉON

The power of singing? Yesss

30. Tonight I will…

FALLING IN LOVE by RossyPP

I was planning to watch a new TV show so that’s good news :D

31. They insulted my mother by…

Feel Good Inc. by filous, LissA

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THO

CAPITALISM AT WORK??

32. I will dream of…

I Can Only. (feat. Alessia Cara) by JoJo and Alessia Cara

33. I licked…

Hearts on Fire by Molehill

See this is why I never get a S.O. hahaha

34. My nickname is…

Clash (Slash Remix by Shiny Mob) by Caravan Palace

Oooooh a sICK nickname! I’m taking it

35. My best friend is…

Arrullo De Estrellas by Zoé

A lullaby of stars

36. I would remove … from the world.

Invincible by Two Door Cinema Club

e q u a l i t y GO

37. I wanted to be … as a kid.

Flashlight by Kasia Mos

I’m fairly certain it was ballerina/author/equestrian tho... 😂

38. I wish I could juggle…

Venus by Sleeping At Last

That would be a cool hobby

39. I would bring … with me to a desert island.

La Revolución Sexual by La Casa Azul

Typing this out was difficult because of my laughter OohMYgOsH

on a side note I actually have no idea what this song is about I just liked that it was catchy hahaha

40. In my underwear you will find…

Chambre 12 by Louane

Apparently it’s very roomy down there I’m so sorry

41. Your children are like…

Sweet Madness by Sons of maria, Angelika Vee

That’s a pretty accurate description of kids tho

42. I would trade my soul for…

Just A Little Bit by Kids of 88

Desperate times call for desperate means

43. I think the moon is made of…

Scar by Foxes

Man in the moon’s got it rough

44. I will bask in…

Into The Sunset by Mako

👌

45. I lost THE GAME because…

Bigger Than Me by Katy Perry

a legitimate reason

46. I would lose a fight because…

Rewind by The Undercover Dream Lovers

Let’s not replay my mistakes hahaha it’s like a bad viral video

47. My deep dark secret is…

Move Me by Wet

hm.

48. My friends would describe me (as)…

Lost Boys Life by Computer Games and Darren Criss

49. My favorite song is…

Sophisticated Bad Girl by Colby O’Donis

Not my actual fave but a good jam haha

50. This meme was…

Purple Yellow Red and Blue by Portugal. The Man

Definitely pretty interesting! Haha

This was fun! Not the best songs tbh since it’s from my random-maybe-I-like-it playlist, so I’ll definitely have to do it again with a different playlist! Thanks @szeherezadaa for the tag! also Disco Pogo omg haha

[junker-town]

New Era shows the Marlins how neon baseball merch SHOULD be done

Neon is great ... if you do it right.

On Friday, two baseball mainstays released new versions of their existing product. For one, the Miami Marlins, it was the launch of redesigned uniforms, primary team colors, and logos to better represent the city they represent on the field. The other, New Era, released a limited edition clothing line collaboration with designer Eric Emanuel that reimagines baseball merchandise as resort wear for four MLB teams — the Yankees, Braves, Pirates, and Dodgers.

Both releases attempt to do one of the most difficult things for baseball: update some of the most traditional designs in all of sports for a younger audience without coming across as pandering or making a hideous traditional/hip mashup. If executed properly, it would hopefully inject some much needed excitement into the baseball merchandise market — not just the hats and shirts with a different font for the team name or some crystals thrown on the logo that companies currently present as the most creative alternatives for fans to represent their teams.

Surprisingly, or if you know the Marlins at all maybe not so surprisingly, New Era pulls this off far better than Miami was able to mostly because they actually pushed the limits of what baseball merchandise can look like whiles the Marlins didn’t go far enough to make the gambit worth it. They played their redesign safe, and ended up with a color scheme that allows people to see what a truly good neon version of their uniforms could look like while not actually delivering that satisfaction.

New Era’s collaboration with Emanuel — their first licensed apparel in North America so a big step for the company and their baseball offerings — uses neon pink, green, blue, and orange in simple designs that still feature the traditional logos for each team, just altered. A neon green script “A” for Atlanta on a navy satin hat, a Pirates hoodie and hat combo that takes cues from the Pittsburgh-hailing Wiz Khalifa’s usual look.

The goal of the collection was to make apparel that does not lean towards any gender, and it succeeds because of this. That freedom let Emanuel get as far away from the usual color schemes as he wanted without having to abide by an industry’s tendency to market a pink pair of team shorts specifically to women. The Yankees sweatshirts and shorts are neon pink with a navy script logo screen printed on them because he wanted them to look that way, not because they were crafted with a specific fan or fashion lover in mind. For all the fans, and all fashion lovers.

And all neon. These designs don’t leave traditional aspects of the four teams behind — every product has the traditional primary or secondary logo featured somewhere — but they move so far away from anything you’d expect out of baseball in every other aspect of the look that it strikes the correct balance between bringing fun to baseball designs and still being a baseball design. Just because you’re wearing neon blue terry cloth shorts doesn’t mean they can’t be an obvious baseball product.

In this, New Era found a way to have a lot of fun while still making sure the designs are representing the sport, not ignoring what the sport’s designs have to offer completely. After years of companies trying to broaden designs and make them more “hip” or “fun” to accommodate more female or casual fans, these succeed because it seems the designs came first and they’re so enjoyable it only makes sense that fans from all walks will follow.

The Marlins, on the other hand, clearly had a good idea in mind. The new team logo isn’t bad! The jumping fish stays, in a less abstract form than the previous design, and the script is clean and appealing. The neon pink and blue are in line with the “Miami Vice” look that fellow Miami team the Heat have embraced with their city uniforms and court design — both of which are as universally loved as an alternate uniform can probably be.

Marlins new uniforms/cap are available at https://t.co/LkmD0JGgAi. pic.twitter.com/osq2Ty5afD

— Daniel Álvarez Montes (@DaniAlvarez_16) November 16, 2018

Yet with this neon plan, Miami didn’t go nearly far enough. The new look is being rolled out with flashy videos and an #OurColores slogan, a blatant attempt to get the local fans more involved by embracing what makes Miami special. This is a goal Jeter has outlined in every version of his plan to turn the team around — get locals attached to the team and fill more seats.

Through that lens, the effort was there. The campaign comes across as sincere and only a little pandering, and it does represent Miami in a way. But that way is further from the Heat’s unimpeachable success and close to watching a Florida sunset after taking a triple dose of Nyquil. Miam-eh Vice. The redesign’s accompanying video has multiple shots of neon lights and signs throughout Miami, but then the uniform falls short of matching that same spirit.

Apart from the blue alternate uniform — which is the best thing from this relaunch — the energy that should be emanating from these uniforms is just not there. They nailed the colors and then didn’t commit to using them other than in token touches in the logo. It’s closer to a botched gender reveal than a celebration of the city’s color and reputation.

Surely this stemmed from a desire to balance the style of younger fans more open to change with the preferences of the fans who have somehow kept their allegiance to the team over two decades of mostly losing seasons. But by splitting the difference, the team ended up with something that exemplifies neither. Instead of saying “let’s just go for it and hope enough of the fanbase loves us trying something different” they went for a half measure that can barely be classified as neon.

Incorporating new color schemes far from the traditional palette of baseball is hard, especially something that doesn’t appear naturally in uniforms like true neon colors of this ilk. But New Era cracked the code by fully committing and not letting baseball’s tradition limit them, but simply touch on the new and colorful direction.

The Marlins had one eye on tradition while designing the new logo and it shows. For a team so set on reinventing themselves in the hopes of turning the franchise around they didn’t go far enough towards the new. And it ended with only a hint at what could have been in a bright, neon-speckled city instead of an awesome new uniform unlike anything baseball has tried before.