#sofia the first mb

[florieta]

　　　　 ❏ᵎ　　𖨂⁺　　👑　　im finding out

　　　　 ❏ᵎ　　𖨂⁺　　🏹　what being royals all about

[tanasha-not-yet]

the day started off weird and ended even weirder and uhhh anyway i just finished the day three of anticedfia week the topic of which is dancing

thought of the times sofia forced an introverted person to go do something public like performing in front of two kings or telling a public speech with no script and such and how i hated these moments when i was little

thought would be fun if she did the social part for once and let her friends stay in their comfort zone idk

[rafecameronssl4t]

You Broke Me First || Rafe Cameron x fem!reader

gif by @rafeyscurtainbangs

Summary: You didn’t expect Rafe to push you aside so easily for Sofia, but it wasn’t shocking when he called you from Morocco, confessing that she had betrayed him in the worst way.

Warnings: angst angst angst (haven't written this much angst in a hot minute) Sofia slander mb, reader ate in this one if I do say so myself 😝😝

Word count: 3,378

MASTERLIST

divider by @h-aewo

Rafe exhales sharply, tossing his cap onto the polished table with a frustrated thud. He rakes a hand through his buzzed hair, his expression caught between exasperation and regret. "C'mon, baby, don’t be like that," he pleads, his tone softer than the storm brewing between the two of you. But his attempt at pacifying you only stokes the fire raging in your chest.

You remain unmoved, your gaze fixed on the pristine, manicured lawn of the country club, arms wrapped tightly around yourself as though you’re physically holding your anger in check. The vibrant chatter of nearby patrons fades into the background, the sound nothing more than white noise to the tension crackling between you. "Like what?" you snap, voice cold and sharp, refusing to look at him.

"Like you're fucking insecure!" Rafe bites back, his words slicing through the air without thought or care. Your head whips toward him, eyes narrowing in fury. "You did not just say that to me," you seethe, the disbelief quickly morphing into a sharp-edged anger that spreads like wildfire. Rafe stares at you, jaw tight, offering no apology, no acknowledgment of the weight of what he just said.

It only fuels your rage. "You think this is about me being insecure?" you spit, stepping closer to him, your voice rising. "You let her hang all over you, Rafe. Laughing, flirting, and touching you. And you just stood there, eating it up like a goddamn idiot while I was standing right there. Right fucking there. Do you even realise how disrespectful that was?" Your words hit like rapid-fire bullets, but Rafe just shakes his head, his silence infuriating you further.

"You couldn’t even pretend to give a shit about me," you continue, your voice sharp enough to cut. "Not a glance, not a word, nothing. You just let her make a fool out of me. Do you even care how that made me look? How it made me feel?" "It wasn’t like that," Rafe mutters finally, his tone dismissive as he runs a hand through his hair again, avoiding your eyes. "Oh, fuck off," you snap, venom dripping from every syllable.

"Don’t you dare try to gaslight me, Rafe. I saw exactly what it was like. She was all over you, and you let it happen. You didn’t even have the decency to act like I was there." Your voice is rising now, no longer caring who might overhear. "You want to talk about insecurity? How about the fact that you can’t say no to someone feeding your fucking ego? God forbid you turn her down, because then what? You don’t get to be the centre of attention for five goddamn minutes?"

Rafe flinches at your words, his posture stiffening, but you’re too far gone to stop. "You’re pathetic," you hiss, stepping even closer, forcing him to look at you. "You love it, don’t you? The attention, the admiration—so much that you don’t even care what it costs me. You don’t care that it makes me look like a joke. That it makes me feel like a fucking idiot for standing by your side." "That’s not fair," Rafe says quietly, his tone defensive, but his voice is barely audible over your anger.

"Fair?" you bark out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. "Do you even know what that word means, Rafe? Fair is treating the person you claim to care about with an ounce of respect. Fair is not making me feel like I’m in this relationship alone while you let random girls flirt with you because it strokes your goddamn ego." Your breathing is heavy now, your chest heaving as you glare at him, your anger a living, breathing thing that refuses to be contained.

For a moment, you think Rafe might say something—anything—to defend himself, to fix this. His lips part as if words are on the tip of his tongue, but he hesitates. Instead, he just stares at you, his jaw tight, his lips pressed into a thin line, the weight of his silence hanging heavy in the air. His refusal to fight for you—to fight with you—burns hotter than anything he could have said.

"Unbelievable," you mutter, your voice dripping with bitter disbelief as you turn on your heel. You pause just long enough to deliver one final blow, the venom in your words leaving no room for ambiguity. "You know what, Rafe? When that Pogue turns on you, don’t you dare come crawling back to me. You made your choice." You don't wait for his response—if he even has one.

Your heels click sharply against the floor as you walk away, your back to him, shoulders squared. The lump in your throat threatens to choke you, but you swallow it down, your anger your shield against the pain threatening to bubble up. Behind you, Rafe doesn’t call out. He doesn’t follow. The soft scrape of his chair shifting against the floor is the only sound he makes, and it sends a pang of hurt slicing through your chest.

You don’t look back. You can’t. You leave him standing there, his cap still sitting on the table, the perfect picture of a man who’s just realised how deeply he’s fucked up. The realisation is written all over his face, but it’s too little, too late.

~

"Hello?" you answer, pressing the phone to your ear. The line crackles with a brief silence, heavy and tense, before you hear a voice—his voice. "She fucked me over," Rafe spits out, his words sharp and laced with anger. "She screwed with me and my fucking money." Your eyes widen, and instinctively, you sink into the nearest seat, your mind racing to process the flood of emotions his sudden call evokes.

His tone is frantic, his words tumbling out in a bitter, unrelenting rant. "What?" you manage, your voice tight with confusion. "What are you talking about, Rafe?" He exhales harshly, the sound of frustration practically vibrating through the receiver. "Sofia," he growls, the name dripping with venom. His words come fast, tumbling over each other in a frantic, furious rant.

"She—she knew. The whole time. She knew exactly what was happening to my money and just watched it happen. Worse, she didn't do a damn ting to stop it because she was a part of it." Your stomach twists as his words paint a picture of betrayal deeper than you’d imagined. "What the hell are you talking about?" you ask, your voice sharper now, though confusion still clouds your tone.

"She was involved," he says bitterly. "The deal—the fucking deal that cost me everything. She kept her mouth shut, let me take the hit, and now I’m the one left to clean up the mess. And the whole time, she stood there smiling, acting like she gave a damn about me." You exhale slowly, trying to process the weight of what he’s saying.

There’s an anger rising in you—not for Sofia, but for Rafe’s blind trust and his reckless decisions. "And what, you just figured this out now?" "No," he admits, his voice dropping to something almost pained. "I knew something was off for weeks. But I didn’t want to believe it. I fucking proposed to her, for God’s sake. Thought if I just… held on tighter, I could fix things. Fix us."

You freeze, the confession hitting you like a sucker punch. "You proposed?" "Yeah," he spits, the word dripping with self-loathing. "And you know what she did? She cried. Not because she was happy. Not because she loved me. Because she felt guilty." He laughs bitterly, the sound hollow and cold. "She couldn’t even bring herself to tell me the truth while I was down on one fucking knee."

For a moment, the line goes quiet, his words hanging heavy in the air between you. "You know, Rafe," you finally say, your voice steady but edged with anger, "this is what happens when you put your trust in someone who’s only looking out for themselves." He exhales sharply, the sound of his frustration practically vibrating through the phone. "I get it," he snaps. "I should’ve listened to you. You warned me, and I didn’t care. I thought I knew better."

"You thought you were untouchable," you counter, your words hitting him like a slap. "And now you’re calling me? For what? To say I told you so?" "No," he says, softer now, almost broken. "I don’t know why I called. Maybe because you were the only one who actually gave a damn about me. Or maybe because I needed someone to hear it—someone who’d understand what it’s like to be completely fucked over by someone you trusted."

You close your eyes, the ache in his voice tugging at something deep inside you. But you push it aside, unwilling to let his pain pull you back in. "This doesn’t change anything, Rafe," you say firmly. "You made your choices. You can’t just run to me every time they blow up in your face." "I know," he murmurs, the defeat in his tone cutting deeper than his anger ever could. "I just… I didn’t know who else to call." You let out a breath you didn’t realise you were holding, feeling the weight of Rafe’s words sink in.

“Where are you?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper, trying to make sense of everything. “Morocco,” he says, the word hanging in the air like a punch. Your heart stutters, and your eyes widen as you try to process his response. “What?” you ask, unable to keep the disbelief out of your voice. “With who?” "Sarah and her friends. Look, it’s... a long story, alright?" You scoff, shaking your head. The frustration that had been simmering inside you spills over, and you can’t keep the bitterness out of your voice.

“Yeah, I can fucking imagine. Jesus, Rafe. What have you gotten yourself into this time?” You feel your hands balling into fists, the anger bubbling up again. How did he always manage to get himself tangled in these messes? There’s a pause on the other end, the kind of silence that feels heavy with regret. Rafe’s voice comes through, softer, almost pleading. “Can you do me a favour? Please?” You hesitate, trying to weigh your options. After everything that’s happened, you weren’t sure you wanted to do him any more favours, but you couldn’t ignore the desperation in his tone.

“Depends,” you reply, keeping your guard up, knowing full well that Rafe’s requests often led to more complications than they were worth. He sighs heavily, as if the weight of what he’s about to ask is too much. “Can you go to my house and check if she’s still there?” You furrow your brow, confusion clouding your thoughts. “What’s she doing in your house?” The words tumble out before you can stop them, your suspicion rising like an unsettling tide. There’s a beat of hesitation before Rafe’s voice cracks slightly.

“I... I asked her to move in with me,” he admits, the rawness of his confession making the words sting like salt on a wound. You feel a cold laugh escape you before you can stop it. “Yeah, of course you did,” you mutter, your teeth clenching as the bitterness grows. The thought of Sofia, the same woman who had betrayed him, now living in his house—it doesn’t sit right with you. It feels like a betrayal in itself, a reminder of everything Rafe never learned. “Please, Y/n,” Rafe’s voice cuts through the tension, quieter now, softer, and the pleading tone in his words makes your chest tighten.

“I just need to know if she’s still there. I can’t trust anything right now, and I don’t know who else to ask.” You lean back against the wall, your eyes closing for a moment as you let out a long, frustrated sigh. You knew it was going to be something like this. You knew Rafe’s charm and his impulsiveness would lead him straight into another mess, but this? This felt like too much. “Fine,” you say, finally, the weight of his request heavy in your chest. “I’ll go. But you owe me one, Rafe.”

~

Pulling up to the house you were once so familiar with, you let out a deep sigh. The place looks the same, but it feels different—distant. Your hand tightens on the steering wheel for a moment before you shift into park. You take a breath and step out of the car, walking up the front stairs with a heavy sense of purpose. When you test the front door, your suspicion proves right—it’s unlocked. Slowly, you push it open, the creak of the hinges breaking the silence inside. The house feels empty, eerily quiet.

You move further in, your footsteps echoing off the hardwood floors, until a voice stops you dead in your tracks. "Rafe? Is that you?" The shakiness in her tone is unmistakable, and it irks you more than you care to admit. You scoff under your breath and follow the sound of her voice to the living room. There she is—Sofia, looking nothing like the confident, composed woman she used to be. The moment she sees you, her eyes widen in shock, and she quickly stands, hastily wiping her tears from her cheeks.

"What are you doing here?" she says, her voice a mix of disbelief and unease. You can’t hide the bitterness that creeps into your words as you respond. "Trust me, I do not want to be here," you roll your eyes, moving to sit on the single armchair across from her, the space between you two feeling as vast as the gulf that’s grown between your lives. "Why are you here, Y/n?" Her voice shakes, but you can see the cracks in her façade. She’s barely holding it together.

You lean back in the chair, crossing your arms. "I could ask the same of you. Rafe wanted you out of here." Her throat tightens, and she swallows hard, trying to maintain some control. "I'm not leaving until I talk to him again," she argues, but her resolve feels weak, as if she knows deep down that this battle is already lost. You scoff, your patience wearing thin. "Yeah, good luck with that, sweetheart. You're dead to him," you say flatly, watching as the color drains from Sofia’s face.

The fear in her eyes is almost satisfying. She’s starting to realise the weight of the mess she’s made. "I-I..." She stammers, her eyes darting around, desperately searching for an escape that isn’t coming. You lean forward slightly, letting the silence linger just long enough before you speak again, your voice cold, steady. "You know what Rafe can’t stand more than anything, Sof?" you begin, watching as she flinches at the mention of his name. "Backstabbers."

The word hangs between you, thick with meaning, and you can see the realisation slowly settle in her. There’s no turning back now. Sofia's eyes dart nervously, avoiding yours as if she’s trying to escape the gravity of your words. She opens her mouth to speak but stops herself, as though the words are caught in her throat. She shifts uncomfortably in her seat, wiping her eyes again, but this time the tears don’t come.

Instead, there's just this raw vulnerability, something she rarely ever lets slip. "I didn't mean for it to happen like this," she finally mutters, her voice a broken whisper. "You don’t understand. I—" "Save it," you cut her off, your tone colder than you expected. "I’m not here for your excuses, Sofia. Whatever sob story you’ve cooked up, I don’t care. The damage is done. Rafe trusted you. He would’ve given you the world if you asked for it. And you—" You stop, swallowing the heat building in your chest.

"You took everything from him, didn’t even think twice about it." Sofia trembles, her gaze flickering to the floor as she struggles to hold back the overwhelming guilt threatening to spill out. "I didn’t want this to happen. I swear I didn’t," she whispers, her voice uneven. "I was hurt. By what he said, by the way he treated me. I—I was just trying to keep things from falling apart, and it got too messy. I couldn’t back out."

You laugh bitterly, shaking your head. "Oh, so that’s it? You were hurt, so you decided to screw him over? That’s your excuse?" Her lip quivers, and for a moment, you think she might break, but then her voice rises, desperate. "It wasn’t like that!" she insists. "You don’t get it. I didn’t mean to hurt him. I thought maybe if I just went along with it, I could fix things—" "Fix things?" you snap, standing abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"By lying to him? By betraying him? That’s what you call fixing things?" You scoff again, crossing your arms. "You didn’t care about fixing anything. You cared about yourself. You wanted to stay comfortable, no matter what it cost him." She stands too, her posture stiff, her shoulders drawn tight. "I was scared," she says, her voice trembling. "I didn’t know what to do. I thought if I stayed quiet, I could keep it together. I didn’t want to hurt him, I swear—"

You cut her off with a wave of your hand, the irritation bubbling to the surface. "Stop acting like I care, Sofia," you say flatly, your words slicing through the tension. "You think I’m here defending him? After what he put me through?” You let out a humorless laugh. "I couldn’t care less about Rafe. But you—" You step closer, your eyes narrowing.

"You think you’re special, don’t you? You think you can walk in here, cry a few tears, and fix everything? And the worst part is, you don’t even realise it." Her mouth falls open slightly, her expression faltering as she processes your words. She looks at you like she’s seeing someone else, someone she doesn’t recognise, and for a fleeting moment, you almost feel bad. Almost.

"You broke him, Sofia," you say, your voice dropping into a harsh whisper. "And now you’re standing here, trying to paint yourself as the victim. It’s disgusting." The silence that follows is deafening, a void neither of you can fill. Sofia doesn’t respond. She doesn’t move. She just stands there, her shoulders slumped, her eyes glossy but dry. For once, she has nothing left to say. "Get out," you say finally, your voice calm but firm, the weight of your words unmistakable. "You’ve done enough damage."

Sofia's lip quivers as she stands there for a moment, motionless, her breath hitching as if she wants to argue but can’t find the words. Instead, she presses her trembling lips together and nods faintly, her head hanging low. Without another word, she brushes past you, her footsteps hesitant but quickening as she heads for the door. The sound of her leaving echoes through the house—the shuffle of her shoes on the floor, the creak of the door as it opens, and the final, resounding click as it closes behind her.

For a few moments, you remain where you are, letting the silence settle over the space. The air feels heavier now, and your chest tightens with a mixture of lingering anger and exhaustion. You reach into your pocket, pulling out your phone with a deliberate slowness. Your thumb hovers over Rafe’s name in your contacts for a second longer than it should, but you shake off the hesitation and press the call button. The line rings twice before he picks up.

"What?" His voice is sharp, irritated, like he wasn’t expecting you to call—or wasn’t in the mood to deal with you if you did. "It’s done," you say simply, your tone devoid of emotion. "She’s gone. You won’t have to deal with her anymore." There’s a pause on the other end, long enough for you to hear him exhale. "Good," he mutters, his voice clipped. You don’t respond right away, letting his words hang in the air.

When you do speak, your voice is distant, detached. "Don’t call me again, Rafe. Whatever this was—whatever you needed—it’s over." "What’s that supposed to mean?" he snaps, the irritation in his voice sharpening into something defensive. "It means I’m done," you say firmly, your grip on the phone tightening. "Don’t drag me into your mess again. Clean up your own life next time." "Y/n—" You don’t wait for him to finish.

You end the call and toss your phone onto the couch, the finality of it settling over you like a weight. For a moment, you stand there, staring at the empty room, the silence pressing down on you. It’s done. Whatever mess Rafe and Sofia had created, you’d played your part in untangling it. But as you look around the house, you realise you feel no sense of victory, no relief. Just a hollow emptiness, as if something in you has finally burned out.

Without another glance, you grab your bag and head for the door. You don’t need to stay here any longer. You’ve said everything you needed to say, done everything you needed to do. And as you step outside into the fresh air, you make a silent promise to yourself: you’re walking away from this for good.

[allthedamnlove]

https://x.com/rafiacomfort/status/1858494671829323876?s=46

sharing this because i know you love rofia and i could talk about them for hours😣💕💕

the parallels between them are like woah… and ppl expect me to believe their not endgame?? PLEASE🙂‍↔��

*Pulls up a chair*

I literally liked that tweet first HELP.

This is a very unpopular opinion but drew and fiona this season had more chemistry than rudy and madison LIKE I AM SORRY BUT I GOTTA BE HONEST WITH YALL

But I love jj as a character and I know jj as a character loved kie to death and kie will probably take a LONG TIME to forget jj. It is impractical for the pogues and rafe to go to Kildare cuz they are OUT FOR BLOOD and will go to lisbon for revenge so kie literally jumping to rafe is NAWT HAPPENING regardless of sofia. So the point I'm saying is, RIARA STOP HATING ON SOFIA YOU FREAKS

Buttt yeses OMG THE PARALLEL. Throughout s3 and s4 there are soo many dialogues and plot lines that can be explored further abt rafe and sofias relationship. The dialogue in the tweet "you are a good girl, how did that happen" itself is very cryptic. Her family which was there yet not mentioned in the story at all. The fact that both were betrayed by themselves (sofia by pushing rafe with hollis and rafe by being a bitch *YES HE IS A BITCH* and shit talking about a person who will literally give up everything for her love by saying she's a pogue behind her back) are insane parallels.

I know KNOW that drew is going to insane levels of fame and heights in acting AS HE FUCKING SHOULD but i would love a small spinoff movie abt how rafe and sofia met. The fact that they didn't even showed how they met yet throwing a proposal (WHICH I AM A OK WITH BTW, it was my favourite scene of the ENTIRE SERIES LEMME TELL U) makes "rafe" fans really weirded out and I kinda agree with them. But I say that it's the writers fault.

Drew and fiona, again and again I will say HAVE INSANE CHEMISTRY. I hate that their dynamics I'd not explored more. Rafe is very very intense and complex and the relationship between a very soft spoken normal girl and a borderline psycho murderer has so much more potential than just being a filler storyline. Rafe has been not loved truly by anyone in his life and the fact that sofia loves him truly even with the amount of minimal screentime shows that these actors are not to be made uses in scarcity

Weirdly with jjs death rafe will probably become one of the centers of the story arc butt again they will be going to Lisbon I don't know how sofia and rafes relationship will be explored. But I know that this is not the end of rofia. I hope to god thar they end up together and we see a montage of them getting married and having kids.

Butt there lies the entire shoupe deal too so im also scared abt that. But I have started praying and there's a year left so atp we can only hope that rafe and sofia end up together.

Also I feel like they should have included fiona in the cast interviews. She is so sweet and bubbly and would have made a great addition to the fun and I WANT TO SEE FIONA AND DREW INTERACT TOGETHER. I hate that even Austin was in the press tour like gtfo.

So basically if rofias not endgame, I will personally b*mb jpates residency so that they don't ruin another ship.

Also thank you so much for sending an ask. Me @araybiaaa and @lostsyren are holding the Fort for rofia so talking about it is so cathartic and less lonely. Hope you have a great day.

[metal-music-quiz]

The Tommy Karevik Quiz: Level 1 (Easy)

Well, happy birthday to the man, first of all! If you've missed the initial announcement, here's a quick recap: this time there are 2 levels of difficulty, each of which has band clue cards and live videos - it's just that the songs in the second one are not that well-known. Unfortunately, I can't add timestamps on Tumblr, so when pausing and rewinding bear in mind that the samples are 50-80s long. 🙂 Hope you'll have fun with this quiz!

Technical details under the cut:

All compressions needed were made to fit in the Tumblr requirements (video - under 10 minutes long and maximum of 500 MB). I own none of the audio, logos, pictures and video shown. This is completely fan-made for non-profit usage. All title, clue and answer cards were created by me. 🙃

Photos courtesy of WeRock.bg (from Kamelot's concert in Sofia in 2022); the video for question #2 is from Seventh Wonder's official DVD "Welcome to Atlanta"(2016), and the one for #5 - from Kamelot's DVD "I Am The Empire (Live From The 013).

[feministfocus]

Generations of Womanhood: An Interview with My Great Aunt, Marie Bocchino

conducted and transcribed by Sofia Bocchino 

Sofia Bocchino: I wanted to interview you today because I know you have had a lot of life experience, and I thought that learning more about your childhood and your career experiences would be interesting. I’m hoping it will allow others to see another person’s perspective through the lens of untold stories. The first question I have for you is how did your childhood interests and passions influenced your future career?

Marie Bocchino: I started playing the piano when I was 7 years old and stopped when I was 10, that's my regret. I wish I always kept that up. It's always in the back of my mind... [At the senior center] we don't have a piano player and I said, look at that, I could have been playing the piano for the seniors! I always regretted that, but I [was still] a happy-go-lucky girl.

SB: How did that make you feel that you didn't continue to practice the piano? Is that a major life skill that you wanted to focus on? 

MB: No, never. If I didn't like something, my father Umberto always used to say “In life, there are more bad things than good things, so you have to try to make something better.” I overlooked that until I became a senior citizen and thought that I could play the piano for the seniors. But that didn't bother me because at least I had an opportunity to play an instrument. Whereas my brother Sal, he played the saxophone and our mother Leena used to say, “Could you just stop for 10 minutes so we can have a break!?” He loved it, that was the difference between us. 

SB: What are some jobs that you could tell me about that you took on later in life?

MB: Well, my very first job, when I was 16 years old, was an usherette in the movie theater in Port Chester, New York called the Capitol Theater, which is still there today. The Capitol Theater, which is a world-famous music venue that the Grateful Dead played at when it was a movie theater. I saw “The Robe” about 27 times! I saw all the movies, and I used to shine my flashlight on the kids who talked! Many years later, I met up with them. They said, “We remember you, you were the usherette in the movie theater!” From the usherette, I became the candy girl. That was my passion - we ate a lot of candy! That was my first job at 16 and I made 55 cents an hour.

I didn't graduate college. My father always wanted me to go to college to become a school teacher. I didn't want to be away from home, and that was another regret of mine. But then I became a secretary at a bank. And from there, I became an administrative assistant. Then I started working for the Senior Vice President of the bank. So I really went up!

SB: What do you think that having those jobs taught you?

MB: I was always very social. I always loved to be with people and talk on the phone. My father had a dry cleaning business and when the phone used to ring, he would say, “put a smile on your face.” And I thought, what is he talking about? But you know, it did come across when I became a secretary, if you're pleasant, it comes across. I find it so different in today's youth. You know, they don't think that way. I always have a smile on my face. I’m always agreeable towards people and it comes across. 

SB: And how do you think having these jobs has influenced you now, looking back on them? 

MB: Well, I think I'm the only person who has a pad of paper and pen next to their phone! And I say to my friends, oh, let me take this number down. Wait a minute, hold on, I have to get a pen, I have to get a pad. I said, “You have to see Aunt Marie! She has the telephone, the pad and the pen.” That's the secretary behind me. It stays with you. Whatever you did in your youth, your teenage years, it stays with you, it doesn't go away. Now that I live in a senior development, I can tell what people were like when they were younger. You don't get like that at an older age. You get like this when you're young. This is your personality. And that's the way I've always been. Is that boring? 

SB: No, not at all, that's wonderful. 

MB: Oh, I'm glad. 

SB: So you grew up in the 1950s, you were a teenager about my age?

MB: Yes, I grew up in the ‘50s. During the Elvis Presley years! 

SB: Can you tell me about what it was like growing up and being a teenager at that time? 

MB: Yeah. I had a big, big party when I was 16. In our garage. Today, people go out and they spend money, but in our garage we had a little band. And that's before your grandfather was in a band. I was 16 and he was 6, that’s a big difference. And my father said, “Look what we have here today. A 4 piece band in the backyard of our home in the garage!” And my father chose one of my cousins, who must've been maybe 25 years old, maybe younger, to be a chaperone at our party in our garage. Now when soft music came on, we turned out the light. My cousin put the light back on. We turned it off and he put it back on. I was thinking, why is he doing this? He didn't want us dancing in the dark! But we had a good time. You know, like I said, it was an Elvis Presley time. 

In my high school, I sang on the Ed Sullivan show. I was in a cappella choir. And Ed Sullivan himself came from Portchester, NY. The community donated $1,000. In those days, in 1954-55, that was a lot of money. I have the tape of our graduation class singing. That stays with you forever, you know? Because we sang like Pearl Bailey (I know you don't know her!) and all these others who were very popular at the time. That stays with you forever. It does. That was really important to me. I hope I'm not boring you. 

SB: You're not boring me at all! Your stories are so interesting! 

MB: I know (laughs).

SB: What do you think was an event in your life that kind of changed you or made you feel differently about the way you went about things? 

MB: Well, I have a regret that I never had children, but it wasn't really my fault. It just didn’t happen for me. And things like that stay with you as you get older. Your child has their life to live also. But a lot of things you go back and you say, I wish, I wish. If you don't want to do something, think about it, think about it, because it gets to you later on in life, you know? You could say, oh, I could have done this and I could have done that. You have more opportunities today than we did. Like if you go to college, that's very important. Pursue something that you would like, of course. 

My father was an immigrant from Italy and my cousin had to interview him. And this is like bringing back memories. He was so proud of that, you know? He said, “You want to interview me?” She said, yeah, because you had to interview an immigrant from another country. And now you're interviewing me, it's great. You see how history sometimes repeats itself? 

SB: What was it like growing up with an immigrant parent? 

MB: Personally, it was wonderful. My father came to the United States when he was 16 years old. He never had an accent. You couldn't tell my father was from Italy. He was down to earth, you know? He didn't rule with a strong hand. But if he had something to really tell me, he used to tell my mother, “Tell your daughter.” I was her daughter when I did something wrong! But he disciplined in a very different way. He was very strong for my brother and I, you know? Like I said, if the phone rang when we were in his store, you had to put a smile on your face. And I know what he meant now. I noticed it when I went to one of the stores in Port Chester when I was in my 20s, and I just wanted to ask the cashier a question. She said, “Oh, I'm sorry, I'm going to lunch.” I thought, she's not going to be here when I come back the next time. And sure enough, I didn't see her. But you know, it's different. It could be boring to you, because your generation is way different than mine. And mine was way different than my parents. But you know something about yourself, and you carry it along with you. Even the way you walk, you know? You carry that with you all the time. Like when I had to wear a dress to work as a secretary. One of the bosses at my job even asked me “Do you wear pants on Sundays?” I know it's a big difference than your generation. 

SB: I mean, we had uniforms when I had my job over the summer, but nothing like that. 

MB: It's all different now. Did you know I used to bowl. I was 142 average.

SB: Wow. 

MB: No, that wasn't good (laughs)! I think I had one 200 game. I bowled on a league every Monday night, and we came in first place and made $300! I don't know what they do today, but we bowled every Monday night. And I used to say, “Oh, why is it Monday night? Friday's better, you don't work the next day.” I used to complain. And one of the girls said to me, “You complain every time Monday night you don't want to bowl. But you bowl. Why don't you quit?” Oh, no, I can't quit. I love bowling! I loved every minute of it…I think I got carried away. 

SB: No, you didn't. I promise. I've enjoyed every moment of this. 

MB: Oh, I'm glad, honey, I'm glad. 

SB: I wanted to ask you as well, what do you think of all of these significant events that have kind of shaped you, and regarding your personality, how did it affect the way you cared for my dad and helped take care of him? 

MB: I dragged your dad all over with me, and my girlfriends were babysitters. They got paid. And I said to your grandma, I said, you know, I take care of him like my girlfriends take care of the kids they are babysitting. Grandma said, “You mean you want to get paid to take care of your brother?” I know it doesn't sound right, the way she said it. I didn’t want to get paid to take care of my brother, but maybe I’d have a little babysitting job on the side, which I did. And that little boy that I babysat for, he loved me. He loved me so much that he hit me in the head with a butter knife! (Laughs). But he didn't hurt me. And then my father used to say to his mother, oh, Arthur loves you, you have to babysit for him all the time. And your grandfather got a little jealous of that. So at one time I had to take them both. I had to take little Sal and little Arthur!

SB: So they were the same age? 

MB: They were the same age. But I got paid to babysit Arthur. Your great-grandma said, “You don't get paid for taking care of your brother!” And I used to take my friend Rosemarie, and my brother out for Halloween. We'd go out trick-or-treating on Halloween and he'd take off his mask and say, “This is my sister and that's her friend.” I said, “You don't tell people who we are, that's why we're dressed in costumes!” But yes, a 10 year age difference, we are very close, very, very close. That's your grandfather. He calls me every day. 

SB: I love that. The family bond is really important. So thank you for sharing all of this with me today. 

MB: Oh, I loved every minute of it. 

SB: I wanted to ask you one more thing. What's a piece of advice, after everything you've shared with me today, you'd like to leave with me, at my age, and other kids my age as well? I'm a [17] year old girl. What wisdom do you have to share with me that could help me later on in life?

MB: First of all, stay close to your family. Family is very important. I was very close with my… I'm choking up. 

SB: It's okay. 

MB: Always close to my parents, always. And respect, you respect people older than you, always. Because they influence you in your life. You learn from them. When it comes to your grandparents, when it comes to just family, I was an only child for 10 years. I understand how you feel, you know? And when my mother asked me, “Would you like a brother or a sister?” I said, “No.” She says, “What do you mean, no? You've been an only child for nine years.” “No, I don't want anybody.” And then I said, “You know, I think I'd like to have a sister.” It wasn't up to me. And then my brother was born. But we're very close, like I said, even with the 10 year gap. But that, and I think as we keep getting older, you learn things, you know? You're on your own a lot of times. Don't forget your parents. Don't forget your grandparents. They're very influential in your life.

[michaellambert]

Reaction to taste test # 249 MB ramen shop sweet chili wings

Reaction to taste test # 249 MB ramen shop sweet chili wings

[kcdoessl]

My mind, heart, & soul...

Can you see em?

»Sponsor»

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~ Credits~

♥Body:

➟LeLUTKA & REBORN

➟MB x Lelutka EvoX Skin & Shape- Sato Brownie

➟VELOUR: The "Ipanema Body" (BROWNIE)

➟.euphoric ~ Min Soo Eyes Applier

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♥Cosmetics:

➟Izzie's - LeL Evo X - Button Nose 17 70%, BOM Knee Details & Body Imperfections 08

➟Delicatta - Joy & Love eyeshadow/lipstick

♥Accessories:

➟.:{Sofia}:. Love&Co Diamond Jewelry Set

♥Pose:

➟Sassy Sweet Poses - Attitude 8

✈︎Location: Corsica South Coasters

[littlemissidontcare]

an someone confirm that that nye story by MB was made// Yes ,it was. First she just posted the party at an hotel in Sofia. Than she posted it again with a capture like:" will you be present? I know I will" something like that. But Maria just play the soon to be wife. The movie it's about Tump and his lawyer

[screenandcinema]

Coming Attractions December 2023

As usual, we present monthly previews of new movies being released. These are the movies that will be hitting your local cinemas (and streaming services) this month:

December 1st

Silent Night - Joel Kinnaman stars as a man who loses his son and his voice and is bent on vengeance in this holiday-themed action thriller from director John Woo.

Candy Cane Lane - Eddie Murphy is focused on having the most festive house on the block in this Christmas comedy coming to Prime Video.

Eileen - This psychological thriller set at a 1960s New England prison stars Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway.

December 8th

Poor Things - From director Yorgos Lanthimos comes this black comedy fantasy starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Willem Dafoe.

December 15th

Wonka - Timothée Chalamet is a young Willy Wonka in this musical fantasy from Paul King.

American Fiction - Cord Jefferson makes his feature directorial debut in this comedy-drama starring Jeffrey Wright that is already getting substantial Oscar buzz.

The Family Plan - Mark Wahlberg may seem like a regular family man, but he is actually a retired assassin whose past comes back to haunt him in this action comedy for AppleTV+.

Finestkind - Ben Foster, Jenna Ortega, and Tommy Lee Jones star in this Boston-based crime thriller coming to Paramount+.

December 22nd

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom - Five years after the first film, a sequel finally comes from out of the sea! Based on all the changes that came to DC Studios as of late, don't expect a threequel.

Anyone But You - Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell star in this romantic comedy from director Will Gluck.

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire - Zack Snyder returns to Netflix with this epic space opera starring Sofia Boutella. Get ready, part two comes in April 2024.

Iron Claw - The Von Erich wrestling family comes to the big screen in this biographical sports drama starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White.

December 25th

The Color Purple - First it was a novel. Then a film. Then a stage musical. Now it is a film version of that stage musical. Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, and Danielle Brooks star in the film.

The Boys in the Boat - Based on the book of the same name, this biographical sports drama stars Callum Turner and Joel Edgerton and was directed by George Clooney.

Ferrari - Adam Driver is Enzo Ferrari in this biopic from director Michael Mann.

Now for a quick look ahead to January my top picks for next month are Mean Girls, Lift, and The Book of Clarence.

-MB-

[daggery]

tagged by @madisonreyes your moodboard is very pretty 

go to pinterest and search:

favorite color + aesthetic

favorite color + outfit + aesthetic

favorite color + shoes and choose which ones go with your style

favorite color + an accessory you like

type a word that identifies you + “quote” and choose the one that goes with you

favorite celebrity + favorite color (if not celebrity then cartoon character)

type your favorite hobby

favorite color + aesthetic again

favorite color + favorite word + aesthetic

idk how much i vibe with this but this was rly fun!!! :) tagging @buffylovebot @go-sullivan @inertiazz @hersilentlanguage @vndooms @moorsgrimhilde

[txemrn]

Hey, sweet friends!

I inadvertently took a smidge of a step back from writing thanks to real life (you all can relate!). Between Covid relief (9 months later *wink*wink* 🤰🏼🤰🏼🤰🏼) and a crazy ❄⛄SNOW⛄❄ storm here in Texas, writing took that metaphorical backseat.

But I'm here, and I've got some WIPs I'd love to share with y'all...  who's ready for WIP Wednesday?  Click "Keep Reading" to enjoy five bits of fics I've been writing (the fourth and fifth are bonuses that I have NO idea when they will be released; they are for your amusement, to tease you a bit *shrugs* or something like that).

Before I continue... @lucy-268 @anjanettexcordonia @ao719 @bbrandy2002 @shannonsaid @khoicesbyk @shewillreadyou @irisofpurple @lem-20 what are y'all working on?

The Missionary’s Daughter (Chapter 1--Name TBD; TRR) 🍋

Halos of blurred auras bleach his vision as Drake cautiously opens one blood-shot eye. His tongue sticks to the roof of his roughly parched mouth as he massages his pained forehead. Clueless of what day it is--much less what he did last night--he is greeted with a sudden glorious sensation: a supple wet mouth on his hardened morning length.

His body relaxes back onto the dampened, disheveled sheets of his bed; he releases a pleasurable exhale as he blindly reaches for the head behind the lips. He strains to focus his view, but can only make out a foggy shape of a nude woman with long, tousled brunette waves.

Of course, it’s her.

Drake smiles; delicately tangling his grip in her strands, he admires how even the afternoon sun catches her beauty perfectly. He quietly smacks his lips. He can still smell her on his stubble; he can still taste her on his tongue.

Did she come clean to Liam? Were they celebrating that they could finally be together?

As she takes in the head of his girth, he arches his back, relaxing his body into her hungry touch. Closing his eyes, he offers a guttural groan deep in his chest as she swirls her tongue around his firm thickness.

“God, you’re incredible, Riley--”

------------------------------- Caroline (Chapter 3--Name TBD; TNA/OH crossover)

"Hello? Anyone here?" Her voice echoes throughout the Dalton penthouse as she pushes the stroller further into the living room.

A stirring Mason catches her attention as she cautiously bends over to settle him down.

"It's okay, um--" she looks at his monogrammed onesie for his name, "--’Mason’. Come here, sweet boy," she snuggles him into her neck, soothing him with gentle rubs and taps on his back. "There, there."

"Sof?"

The platinum blonde instantly twirls around to face the deep voice as she grips tightly around Mason.

"Oh, Sam--" she sighs with a forced laugh. "You scared me--"

"Is Caroline with you?" he stutters as he finishes his whiskey neat.

"No, um--" she bounces Mason on her hip, averting her eyes to a yawning Mickey. "She--she should be back sometime this evening though. I--I don't know--"

"Is--" he interjects, his voice growing husky, "--is Robin here?" Sofia feels the prickling of a thousand goosebumps ignite across her body as Sam's hand glides across her lower back. She clears her throat, stepping away from him.

"C'mon, my little munchkins," she joyfully chimes to the twins as she gathers Mickey into her arms. She sits them softly into their play pin, tossing each of them a musical toy.

As she stands back up, Sam grips tightly to the curve of her hips

"Sam--!" she gasps as he intimately runs his hands across her abdomen to rest on her voluptuous breasts. Her eyes flutter shut; she nibbles on her lips as he nuzzles his nose into her neck. She feels him grow against her backside.

"Sam, please--"

"'Please' what, kitten?"

"Ugh--" she scoffs as she throws his hands off of her body. "We said that the last time would be our last--"

"Please, Sofia, " he stops her in her tracks, "I need--" his lip trembles; liquor dances on his tongue as he leans closer to her dangerous curves. "I need--"

"--your wife."

"Fuck!" He abruptly throws himself onto the couch, raking his hands through his thick, tousled hair.

"I'm losing her, Sof." He leans back on the couch as Sofia cautiously sits next to him. Heated tears streak down his chiseled face as he plays with his wedding band. He lowers his voice as he chokes on his sobs.

"I think I've lost her. "

-------------------------- Boughs & Mockingbirds (Part 5; TRR/TRH)

After modeling three dresses, Hana twirls out in a dreamy white ball gown with a flattering fitted-bodice. The ornate gold filigree bead-work brought out her natural ethereal tones, instantly brightening and highlighting her gorgeous, exotic features.

“Hana--!” Riley spits out her sparkling water. “Oh-- oh my God!”  With a stunned-look plastered on her face, she jumps from her bed, skipping quickly to her floor-length mirror. “Look at you!”

“I’m guessing this is a keeper?” Hana giggles as she walks on her tip-toes, envisioning the dress with her new shoes.

“Uh, yeah!” Riley squeals, twirling Hana’s silky hair into a make-shift up-do to show off her bare skin. Biting her lower lip, she lowers her voice to whisper into her friend’s ear: “Not to mention, a certain ‘Maxwell the Glorious’ won’t be able to keep his hands off of you.”

“Riley! You’re wicked! We’re just--” she blushes while shrugging her shoulders, “--um, friends.”

“I’m pregnant, not stupid,” she jokingly chides. “These past few weeks with the book tour, I’ve noticed you two becoming quite the dynamic duo.”

Hana falls silent; she mindlessly admires the beading of her white gown with her fingers as a joyous smile crawls across her face. Her bright, brown eyes pierce into Riley’s as she slowly nods.

“He’s pretty great--”

“I knew it!” Riley grabs Hana’s hands as they dance recklessly in a circle, laughter filling the room.

“Oh, you’re gonna dance with somebody--” Riley sings, purposely changing the lyrics to jest with her best friend.

“I’m gonna feel the heat with somebody--” Hana cups her mouth, laughing at herself with what she just sang.

“’Heat’?” Riley howls. “Ow! Ow! Now who’s being wicked?” They both grab their bellies as their sides ache from their silliness and excitement.

“Oh gosh,” Riley strains to breathe, “Thank you, Hana. I haven’t laughed like this in--”

“Oh my God! Riley?” Hana’s voice suddenly drips with panic. “Your nose--” ------------------------ Fractals (Bonus wannabe series; crossover of Platinum/TRR; I have fantasized about this series for probably 8 MONTHS, and I finally took off writing a chapter; this is a smidge of that chapter, and this series will come, at the earliest, after B&MB)

“Here’s to living in the headlines,” she mutters to herself, offering her glass as a toast in the air.  She tosses the rest of her drink back. The bartender quickly replenishes the alcohol as she digs frantically in her oversized Dior bag.  Pulling out a lone cigarette, she sets it neatly between her teeth as she searches for a lighter.

“Miss?” a soft, baritone voice calls to her, but floats away as she continues to sift through her purse.  The gentleman clears his throat in hopes of catching her attention. “Pardon me, miss?” His thick, European-influenced accent is more apparent this time, but still she doesn’t notice.

“Excuse me, miss--?”

“What?” She interrupts angrily as she hastily swivels in her barstool, knocking her bag and its contents on the floor. “Shit--!”  she clumsily fumbles to the floor to gather her belongings.

“Here; let me help--”

“You’ve done enough, sir--” she cuts off the young man as she madly shoves tubes of makeup, magazines, loose coins and scrunchies back into her satchel. She looks around the floor for any wayward items when she notices something black being offered to her.

“Miss?”

Looking up, she finally takes notice of the man behind the voice. And freezes. The electricity of his presence overwhelms her fragile senses. He offers her a bright, charming smile, creating dimples that soften his chiseled bone structure. A sensual aura of citrus, guaiac wood and leather dance across his coastal skin as sun rays illuminate brightly from his wavy blond hair. 

She gradually stands along with him, her brilliant jade eyes locked into his striking baby-blues. His strong physique impressively towers over her petite frame. She admires his handsomely neat demeanor of pressed dark-wash denim with a light heather-gray sports coat.

“Hi,” she manages to squeeze out as her mouth confuses between dropping and smiling.

“Hello,” he chuckles with a smile. “Pardon me, but I do believe you, um--well, you, uh--,” he pauses as he glances towards his outstretched arm, “you dropped these.”

Regretfully breaking her trance from his hypnotic gaze, the color quickly drains from her face as the feeling of horror crawls across her porcelain skin. Her crotchless, black-lace g-string tangled effortlessly between his fingers.

“Oh-- oh my God!” she shrieks as she reaches to grab and hide them; but unfortunately, the missing gusset between the leg bands, snags on his gold signet ring, leaving his first two fingers hung on the crotchless portion of the thong.

“I must say,” his eyes twinkle as he laughs harder at her incessant efforts to detangle the fabric from his hands, “I didn’t realize getting into a woman’s undergarments would be quite this easy--” ------------------------- Title TBD (TNA Valentine’s Day: First vs. Last... this is in the Once...Always... Universe, and I just couldn’t get it finished before Valentine’s day. So! It will be coming out on another random holiday lol)

Reaching for the doorbell, she catches her reflection in the apartment number brass plate. And panics.

Oh, God! I--he can’t see me like this!

It has been nine months since Brynn caught her husband cheating on her with their daughter Olivia’s nanny. With the story hitting every gossip column and news channel, multiple women came forward with their private trysts with Sam over the years; however, most of their stories will never be heard thanks to the family’s heavy payouts for their silence.

Sam and Brynn’s divorce was finalized five months ago, two days before baby Charlotte was born.  Despite the scandal, his lies and his betrayal, Brynn wars with her feelings towards Sam.  He was the love of her life; even though he broke his vows, she never dreamed of going back on her own. He made his choice; he didn’t want to be with her the moment he chose to have his extramarital affairs. But, everyday life without him by her side is awful, like living a horrible nightmare. Her heart flutters around him, missing him terribly, but her brain begs her to stop.

Brynn pinches her cheeks to life as she swipes on a rosy color of gloss on her pout. She finger combs her almond tresses into a low ponytail, ensuring the wayward wisps are hidden.

The door suddenly opens, catching Brynn by surprise.

“Mommy!” A curly-chestnut hair Olivia dashes to Brynn with open arms.

“My baby girl!” Instantaneously, she welcomes her oldest daughter into her arms, pulling her up onto her hip for a sweet hug and tender kiss. “Did you have fun with Daddy?”

“Uh-huh,” she beams, “Look what I made you!”  As she pulls out a bright pink homemade Valentine, Sam steps around the door with baby Charlotte in his arms.

“Princess--” he whispers in a deep, syrupy voice, “what do you say?”

“Oh, yeah!” her chocolate brown eyes brighten to her mom, “Happy ‘Valentime’s’ day, Mommy!”

“Happy Valentine’s day, baby girl!” Brynn squeezes Olivia into a tight embrace while she presses her lips into her cheeks. “C’mon, let’s get your things.”  

As Brynn glances back at Sam, the wind is abruptly knocked out of her chest as she sees him dressed handsomely in her favorite Armani slate gray suit with soft petal-pink accents. Her eyes stay glued to him as he fastens a sleepy Charlotte into her carrier.  As he stands back up, she notices his tie is crooked.

“May I?” Brynn steps forward, motioning towards his tie.

“Please,” he chuckles, “I miss your meticulous eye--”

They both awkwardly flinch at his words, Brynn focusing on the knot around his neck as Sam clears his throat.

“So--” he attempts to change subjects, “any special plans tonight?”

“Mason and Mickey are out with friends, so it’s just the girls, me, and--”

“Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown,” he interrupts as he flashes an alluring dark look at his ex-wife. He begins to run the back of his fingers sensually down her arms. “Some things don’t change--”

“But--” she glowers at him, tightening his tie close to his neck, “a lot of things have.”

--------------------

[tanasha-not-yet]

yeah

tw violence

hahaha jk

[spookyrobbins]

I forgot to add this last one to the last dialogue game ask, mb

7)" when I heard that it-it gutted me. because I always got comfort in the fact that if I couldn't have you I'd always have our memories, our happy memories. And then knowing that some random woman you just met managed to make you happier than me... damn it Callie, I was your wife, we spent years of our lives together. the only thing I had left of our relationship crumbled and I got so mad, not at you. I wa-am so mad at myself because I couldn't even be a good partner for you, not even when I thought things were good between us. "

"Arizona, you have to actually talk to me if we're going to do this. At least, I want to do this, I want to try again because I love you and you make me happy and every freakin' time, you talk about how I should be happy!"

"Oh, I make you happy now?"

"Yes- what is that supposed to mean?"

"What happened to 'Penny makes me the happiest I've ever been'?"

"Seriously, Arizona? You're picking a fight over a stupid comment I made ages ago?"

"God, Callie, it wasn't a stupid comment to me! when I heard that it-it gutted me. Because I always took comfort in the fact that even if I couldn't have you, couldn't be with you, I'd always have our memories, our happy memories, our really freakin' happy memories. And then knowing that some random woman you just met managed to make you happier than me? Damn it, Callie, I was your wife. We spent years of our lives together, years that I thought were happy, years that were the happiest of my life. The only thing I had left of our relationship crumbled and I was so mad, not at you. I was, am so mad at myself because I couldn't even be a good partner for you, not even when I thought things were good between us. I was never good enough, never enough for you."

"Arizona-"

"No, no, do you want to know what I spent weeks, no, maybe months doing? I would go back through my memories, our memories, happy memories, my favourite memories and suddenly it was like I was trying to tear them apart. Maybe you only smiled at me that first night because you were being polite. Maybe all of those happy memories from living in the apartment, you were only happy because Cristina was there, Lexie was there, Mark was there. It wasn't because of me. Even our wedding day, Callie, even that, I can't help but think that I, that I, I don't know..."

"What? Tell me."

"That I was just convenient! That you just wanted to be in love with me because I was there and you were scared and didn't want to be alone! I don't know. But God, Callie, we have both hurt each other a lot over the years. But I really don't know if anything ever cut at me like that. I could be okay with you leaving. I could be okay with you moving on. But for you to throw away all the happiness we had over the years? That nearly destroyed me... And I am so scared that we'll get back together and I'll be happy again and you'll leave and I won't be able to come back from that."

"Arizona, I wasn't... I didn't mean to hurt you when I said... when I said that. I just, I don't know."

"Got it."

"Arizona, you have to understand. Nobody, nobody has ever made me as happy as you. You and Sofia, that's what makes me happy. That's who I need to be happy. When I said that... I, I don't know, I was tired of always being the screw up, the one that everyone pities. So I said I was the happiest I'd ever been because I so desperately wanted that to be true. Because you seemed fine and normal and whatever, and I was miserable and so tired of that, so maybe if I said it enough times, it'd be true. But God, Arizona, you're what makes me happiest."

[wincore]

tag games ♡

no rb pls !! 

tagged by: @cinanamon @luvdsc

tagging: anyone who’s mentioned or wants to do this !!

i feel so bad delaying this dhdhjdsj but thank you for tagging me in these !! 🥰🥺❤️

i. ten songs shuffle tag

rules :- put your favorite playlist on shuffle and list the first 10 songs! 

(i just shuffled my liked songs and omg some of them are from when i liked them in 2017 or smth)

1. holo :: lee hi

2. primadonna :: marina & the diamonds

3. shine :: pentagon

4. 2 soon :: keshi

5. reboot :: miwa

6. circus :: taeyeon

7. bite :: troye sivan

8. save :: faime

9. stories :: refs

10. sofia :: clairo

ii. content creator in review

first creation and most recent creation of 2020 :- this jungwoo blurb and atlas (kdy)

one of your favorite creations of 2020 :- runway(jjh) for sure!!! also sour tangerine <33

one creation you’re most proud of :- runway again </3

a creation that took you forever :- atlas but mostly because i kept changing the tone 

a creation from 2020 that received the most notes :- runway :^)

a creation that you think deserves more notes :- sour tangerine (hrj) txmblr rlly said i will disable all your tags 🤩

a creation you made that breaks your heart :- atlas (kdy) im not rlly good at angst but </3 

a “simple” creation that you really love :- this renjun blurb

a favourite creation created by someone else :-  my best friend wants to be abducted by aliens by @choerrypuffs , the dumbing down of love by @luvdsc and seven letters by @ppangjae  ; there’s more at @wincore-recs

iii. bias selfie tag

(removed the selfie haha)

iv.  tag four,,

also tagged by: @mjlkau

rules :- you’re starring in a movie with the last person you saved in your camera roll and the last song you listened to is the title. who/what is it?

i am Thinking,,, 😳

v. daily interests

last song i listened to :- willow by taylor swift

last movie i watched :- ghibli’s kaguya hime

currently reading :- snow country by kawabata yasunari

currently watching :- lucifer on netflix

currently craving :- sushi rolls/macarons/spicy ramen (miss @luvdsc‘s fault 😔)

currently working on :- act iii, incomplete (from my wips) and interview prep/exams irl (im going to pass away </3)

currently playing :- does this mean a song or a game 😭 (for games, it’s league yes i hate it but the last indie game i played was Grimm's hollow)

vi. mb tag

also tagged by: @mithaai

rules :- make a moodboard out of your icon !

the 10 pic limit wouldn't let me make it here 🥲 but dhenene im not very good at these tho <3

[localbizlift]

Fyre Festival meets Mr. Bone Saw

Social media influencers have been known to promote events around the world for the right price — decisions that sometimes prove to be mistakes. Bella Hadid, who’d promoted the failed Fyre Festival with a gaggle of other models who’d vacationed in the Bahamas for a video designed to help sell tickets, later apologized for her involvement.

Not everyone is apologizing for what’s widely seen as a new misstep in the world of influencer marketing: the paid attendance of celebrities and other social media influencers this past weekend to the three-day-long MDL Beast Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The country billed the event as its largest arts, culture and music festival — one attended by “150,000 eager fans from across the region and further afield.”

Among those being called out for dropping onto the scene are models Alessandra Ambrosio and Romee Strijd; actors Ryan Phillippe, Wilmer Valderrama and Armie Hammer; DJ Steve Aoki; and social media stars Sofia Richie and Scott Disick, all of whom were photographed at the event and some of whom also posted pictures to Instagram and other social media outlets, singing the region’s praises and including the hashtag #mdlbeast.

The festival aims to promote the efforts of its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (known as MBS), to reform the conservative kingdom, which is well-known for its oppression of women’s rights and ethnic and racial minority rights. Indeed, the country has been aggressively trying to polish its image amid growing concern over the years-long, Saudi-led civil war in Yemen that has led to mass starvation and more than 100,000 fatalities; the gruesome, state-directed assassination of Saudi Arabian dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was reportedly dismembered with a bone saw; and the kingdom’s many other efforts to stifle dissent.

In just one example of how far the kingdom is willing to go, it staged the first-ever WWE women’s match in Riyadh on Halloween, an effort that Amnesty International’s advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa called “sportswashing.” The MDL Beast Festival is another attempt to highlight how progressive Saudi Arabia has ostensibly come.

Some have pushed against the kingdom’s charm offensive. Hip-hop star Nicki Minaj canceled a planned performance in Saudi Arabia in July at a separate new international music festival there, after the nonprofit Human Rights Foundation asked her to back out of the gig.

At the time, Minaj issued a statement, saying, “I want nothing more than to bring my show to fans in Saudi Arabia, [but] after better educating myself on the issues, I believe it is important for me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community and freedom of expression.”

Model Emily Ratajkowski also turned down a paid invitation to attend this past weekend’s festival, citing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. “It is very important to me to make clear my support for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community, freedom of expression and the right to a free press. I hope coming forward on this brings more attention to the injustices happening there.”

Philippe is meanwhile defending on Instagram his decision to accept the trip to this past weekend’s extravaganza, writing: “i had a magical day with wonderful people. i love travel. i love different cultures. i love how we can find ways to connect through our human oneness, the pure desire for love and freedom. no matter where in the world. hoping those connections help to bring even more positive change and progress.”

It’s a decision that’s likely to earn Phillippe — and other high-wattage attendees — more bad publicity in the coming days. While more than a year ago, the CIA concluded that MBS ordered Khashoggi’s assassination, the kingdom has continued to deny any involvement in his murder, alleging instead that it was a last-minute decision by Saudi agents on the ground. (This narrative, notes The New York Times, “contradicts ample evidence that the agents came with an intent to kill and the tools to do so.”)

Now, in a court today in Saudi Arabia, following a trial that was shrouded in secrecy, five men were sentenced to death and three others to prison terms totaling 24 years over Khashoggi’s killing, while a former top adviser to MBS and a former deputy intelligence chief were both cleared.

The sentences are subject to appeal, notes the Times, which also notes that in Saudi Arabia, death sentences typically involve beheadings in public squares. Either way, the sentencing seems poised to further complicate Western relations with the kingdom, for influencers and a lot of others in the position of having to decide whether or not to accept its money. The verdict, said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Middle East research director, in a statement, is a “whitewash.”