#sorry to rain on the parade folks

[dappercritter]

So... Revenge of the Kongs now, eh?

[bluinary]

Imo it's the desire to experience a fantasy that motivates these comments. In these people's eyes, The Nice Guy At Work should either be perfect and emotionally mature with no character development needed, or he should crash and burn and prove himself an incel for the audience's satisfaction, while Retsuko learns to be happy alone. But you're right; folks forget that Aggretsuko's main thesis is teaching us how to *accept reality*.

If you're looking for love in your 20s-- which Retsuko is-- no man within a healthy age range of you is going to be fully formed and as emotionally healthy as, say, Kristoff in Frozen II. You're supposed to grow together, which Retsuko and Haida do.

Also, examining the "nice guys" trope Retsuko and Haida may fall into, people fail to examine Retsuko's reasons for saying "no" to Haida, or Haida's reasons for "pursuing", which he never really did after he got what felt like a clear "no". He's not just some dude from work-- he was in Retsuko's inner circle for quite some time. Maybe she felt like she "didn't know him that well," which she said a lot, but in actuality, she spent more time with him than everyone except Fenneko. The context seemed more leaning toward the feeling that Haida was her work friend, and nothing more, which was a boundary Retsuko placed.....for what? (Bear with me here.)

Because she knew that giving someone from her department a try would maybe be more difficult and risky, yet simultaneously boring, than dating, say, a mysterious dude from her Driver's Ed class. It would also be less exciting, because she *already* knew a lot about Haida. And let's be real; Retsuko's big character arc, in addition to gaining her confidence and her voice without exploding, is mainly about her losing her taste for whirlwind hijinks. Remember that her plan in S1 was to "get cute", find a rich guy, get married ASAP, and then leave her boring, crappy accounting job for good. But she grew to realize that her boss, while an asshole, wasn't the Devil himself. Tsunoda wasn't the workplace Succubus she imagined her to be, just predictably shallow in some areas of her personality. Kabae was more than a nuisance; Tsubone held a lot of wisdom to offer. Even Anai had a chill button. A steady job wasn't a bad thing. And throughout her development, Retsuko had to also reasses her relationship with Haida. Because while her "no" meant "no", and Haida took it as such without cutting her off as a friend, Retsuko had to change how she saw him as she did with all of her coworkers (save Fenneko) in order to grow as a person. And, while frustrated with some of his flaws, she saw that Haida was fundamentally kind, mostly easy-going, and extremely dependable when she needed a friend. Maybe not as exciting as Tadano, or seemingly mysterious as the Space Cadet, but Haida was an ideal long-term partner. Retsuko just had to grow up a bit to see it.

And that message isn't for Nice Guys. Remember that the Aggretsuko brand was made specifically for us-- young, disillusioned women in our 20s who needed something a bit more relatable than, though just as cute as, Hello Kitty. And as someone who's been with a *lot* of dudes, the message rings true: compatibility doesn't lie in excitement. And while we should make our voices heard, the world will also feel like a much kinder place when we see everyone around us as human beings instead of caricatures or tropes. This also explains the lack of focus on Retsuko for the last few penultimate seasons; she had a HUGE arc accomplishment when she finally gave Haida a chance. Not for him, but for *her*. Being someone actively looking for a long-term partner, Retsuko's mental state and worldview was almost always reflected in one way or another by the man/ men she was dating in each season. Including the Otome men who made her broke. When she was finally able to cut through her own excuses for not giving a perfectly great potential partner an honest try, knowing that he could provide everything she truly wanted and needed, Retsuko broke through the last hang-up on her main character arc of the show: accepting reality. And these last few seasons, while she isn't perfect, she still maintains that development as she's slower to rage at little things, is still vocal about her wants and needs, and sees almost everyone around her as a necessary piece to the life she enjoys. She's found an amazing balance.

And as for Haida-- we're seeing a mostly static, already seemingly well-rounded character have his own arc. The important thing, I think, is that Retsuko isn't *responsible* for Haida's growth and development, even if she sometimes feels like she is bc she cares so much. Haida ultimately comes to his own conclusions, fosters his own growth, and works hard with the motivation of being a worthy partner for Retsuko. It's not the fantasy of him being the Perfect Man for their entire relationship, or somehow rescuing Retsuko from the issues she began the show with, but their relationship is mutually supportive and insanely healthy. And ykw...healthy is boring 😂 I saw someone saying "they don't do couple stuff", like what did they expect? Good relationships are boring and functional, and that is what Retsuko and Haida are. We can write fluffy, spicy, or angsty fanfic to fill in the gaps. But making their relationship more "interesting" would serve no purpose to the story. Though ofc, I wouldn't complain over a tag-team karaoke rage at Haida's dad, lol. (But even that didn't happen bc of great character development, bc being healthy and well-adjusted is.....say it with me.....boring 😂😂😂).

All of this to say: OP you're right and you should say it!!!

SO Ive seen several people say that Haida and Retsuko's relationship dident work this season due to their poor relationship skills and miscommunication. But I would argue that their relationship does work.

It works in that even after the two-way lying and miscomunication and tax fraud, their relationship still stands.

You guys have to remember that being in a relationship -- a true relationship -- is a big fucking hurdle to jump through. Yes, Retsuko had been in other relationships before, but this the first true relationship that has had any weight to it.

Throughout the 4 seasons we saw Retsuko's other relationships crumble to dust over the tiniest things.

Retsuke was a unmotivated wet napkin of a person and when he didn't commit to the relationship that Retsuko wanted, Retsuko told him and broke it off.

Tadano was a good egg, but Retsuko ultimately discovered that both Tadano and herself had conflicting future relationship goals --Retsuko wanted to get married and start a family, but Tadano wasn't interested in getting tied down (he said so himself, he though that marriage was a waste of time, and that hurt retsuko because one of her dreams through the entire series was to get married and settledown to have a family)

and the same thing happens with Haida and Inui. Like, they were a very cute couple and possibly would have gone somewhere, but Haida's feelings for Retsuko would have (for lack of a better word) stained the relationship. Inui saw how much he loved Retsuko, and very maturely, decided that she couldn't compete for his affections. So like, she cuts it off before it begins. Like, knowing that your relationship would have gone down hill due to uncontrolable outside influences and then cutting it off before it could get worse is a mature thing to do.

Also I've seen someone say that Retsuko was passive about the entire tax fraud and I'm like???? she wasn't???? She knew very well that her boyfriend was keeping secrets from her, and when those secrets were confirmed that her boyfriend was doing company-wide tax fraud for the CEO, instead of taking it to the Japanese national news, she formulated a mission impossible heist plan with all of her co-workers in order to get the information needed to confirm that they were infact commiting tax fraud in order to get the CEo fired and then had a talk with her boyfriend about how what he was doing was wrong. Like, she took the step and called him out and that untimely gave Haida the confidence to step up to the CEO and call him out on his bullshit????

Like how is that passivity????

And everyone needs to know that Haida in the thick of it as well. Like his paranoia and fear wasn't something that came out of no where. Hadia said so himself that anyone else in the company had a fair chance of getting fired due to budget cuts and low profits, and so the pressure to succeed was growing. People were getting pressured to quiet left and right thanks to the new CEO. Mr. Tone was demoted then forced to quiet a job he really loved; Kabai was forced to quit as well from a job she really liked because everyone was making her feel worthless for having a family to take care of instead of being at work.

and when Haida showed that he had a good chance with his new accounting software to succeed and NOT get fired, he took that chance to rub elbows with the new CEO. And not only that, but thanks to the new CEO, the company was falling behind and had to commit tax fraud in order to stay afloat, and again DUE TO NOT WANTING TO BE FIRED AND DEEMED WORTHLESS TO THOSE AROUND HIM, Haida took up tax fraud in order to survive. On top of wanting the praise that he so badly needed. There were multiple times where Haida laments that Retsuko is on a whole new other level than him, and that he feels like he just one of the fanboys in the crowd. In the season, when he sees that Retsuko has restarted her screaming channel and has started growing back her following, that feeling comes back. He really does love Retsuko so much and wants to be where Retsuko is so badly but he feels as if none of what he's done in life fits with Retsuko's life.

Like, for christ sake, Retsuko is the ex-girlfriend to the aggretsuko version of Mark Zuckerberg who also one-hit-wonder pop idle star who nearly got murdered by an incel and Haida is a wanna-be British rock band bass guitar player who does accounting by day who still lives in his parents' apartment complex rent free (lucky bastard)

and on top of all that, there was Retsuko's lies. Like, his suspicion and jealousy was not unjustified??? Like, wouldn't you feel the same way if you saw your significant other lied in front of your face about what you were doing, arrive home in the fancy-ass limo of their ex-boyfriend and then notice that said ex-boyfriend FLIRTED BACK AT HER????? on top of using the pet nickname that he gave her when they were dating???? Like him calling Tadano out on his not-really-flirting-but-kind-of-is-flirting-flirting was no unjustified????

AND EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT MESS OF DRAMA, THE END OF SEASON 4 CONFIRMS (though some would argue that its very ambiguous) THAT THEY'RE STILL IN A RELATIONSHIP. EVEN AFTER THE TAX FRAUD AND MISCOMUNICATION AND NEARLY THROWING YOUR SIGNIFICANT OUT THE WINDOW, THEY'RE STILL GOING OUT.

this is what Gori's soulmate app said about Haida and Retsuko. Even after so much shit, they're able to keep going to work on each other.

Aggrettsuko has stated that multiple times that romance is not a fairy tale, and that it takes work and that you may not get it right on the first time or the third time, but its good to keep working at it.

And Haida and Retsuko are working on it 🥺

[ellewritesalright]

Second Best - Part 4

Nikolai Lantsov x reader

Masterlist --- Part 3

A/N: Buckle up folks, things are about to get wild.

Synopsis: When you were a child, the Lantsov king and queen arranged for their second son to marry you, a rich Ravkan noble family's only daughter. After many years, after all the destruction of the war, and after Nikolai was crowned king, Nikolai breaks off the engagement. But the complications of your past and your strict parents make it a nightmare to find a new fiance, so Nikolai promises to help you, yet he slowly realizes the mistake he's made.

Warnings: Angst! (fluff too) Strict and low-key abusive parents, self-image issues because of said parents, arguing/angry shouting, mentions of illness and death, kinda confusing and purposefully ambiguous details that will be important later in the story (bear with me please [we have almost reached this part of the story]), pls lmk if I've missed anything else.

Word count: 4000

..........

"And this is the lower deck," Nikolai said, motioning around the wooden cabin of the Kingfisher. He was giving you a tour before he left for another trip across Ravka tomorrow.

You grazed your hand along one of the hammocks. "How does one sleep while airborne?"

"I'm not sure. I never sleep while we're flying." He stood beside you, patting the canvas fabric and making it sway. "These are more for the crew."

You nodded, looking around some more.

"There's not much else to the Kingfisher. It's mostly utility, since flights don't take much longer than a few hours usually."

"How does it fly in the rain?" You inquired, eyeing the grates overhead, the blue sky poking through the gaps.

He smiled. "Not perfectly, but we make do."

"Why does that sound like it's a more harrowing experience than you're letting on?"

"Oh, hush," he laughed, "it's perfectly safe."

You walked back up the steep steps to the upper deck.

"Thank you for the tour," you said as you stopped near the boarding ramp.

"Anytime." He leaned against the railing. "I'm just sorry I'll be missing your birthday soiree."

You rolled your eyes. "You mean the parade of unsuitable suitors?"

"That's the one," he smiled, giving your upper arm a short pat. "Cheer up. It's not every day a lady turns twenty-one."

You scratched at your collar for a moment, then clasped your hands together in front of you. "She's going to be insufferable."

He instantly knew you were talking about your mother. "No more than usual."

You gave him a look.

"I'm just saying… maybe she'll be distracted with the hosting."

"She can multitask my misery, don't you worry."

Nikolai sighed, eyes empathetic.

"You'll have to have a doubly good time in East Ravka, to make up for the suffering I'll be enduring," you told him. "I command it."

"You're commanding the king now?" He smirked.

You gave him another look, and he laughed, his hand touching your upper arm again.

"Yes, ma'am."

……….

The house hadn't been this packed since you were a small child. The last time you remembered the Antonovs hosting as extravagant an event as this, you were young enough to be sneaking peeks from the servants' halls. But now, you were in it. Men were twisting you about in the ballroom, eyeing you up from the great hall, whispering in your ear in the dining room.

The man on your arm at present was General Halinsky. He was leading you through a rather stiff waltz. You moved with him, his one hand tightly clasping yours, the other a strict presence on your back. You had to wonder if it was because of the last you'd spoken to him; calling him less accomplished and worse at his military job than King Nikolai. He stared at you without hunger or lust, which was more than you could say for some of the other men your mother invited. But there was a hardness and annoyance to his eyes whenever they narrowed on you. He probably thought you were merely a petulant girl.

When the waltz ended, Halinsky didn't let go of your hand.

"Another dance?" He asked, putting on a charming smile that did not match his viper eyes.

"I'm feeling a bit parched, I could use a drink first," you excused yourself, offering him a polite shake of your head.

"Let me fetch you something," he said, leading you over to a table. He had you sit, then he left.

You kept your back straight despite how you wished to collapse into this chair. Saints, you were exhausted. It seemed like every man was staring at you, all lured in by your mother and her promises of your intention to marry. They all stared, and you were fearful to meet any of their eyes, else they might take it as a sign and approach you. So you kept your eyes on your gloves. The elbow-length white satin covered your little scar. It was the only evidence of the life you used to have.

Your mind went to Nikolai, as it often did. You hoped he was having a pleasant enough trip to East Ravka. He'd flown there, which you still couldn't quite believe; watching him lift off with his crew and a few of his political advisors was a marvel that left you more than a little slack-jawed. You'd have to ask to study the blueprints of the ship once he got back.

He'd sent a letter yesterday, not a singular mention of potential suitors in his swooping cursive. It was more about his journey, another apology for missing your birthday, and a promise of a surprise when he returned.

You smiled to yourself as you pondered the surprise. Perhaps shells from the eastern shore, or a new tool set? You hadn't a clue, and that thrilled you.

A throat cleared in front of you, and you looked up, seeing your mother clutching the forearm of a too-eager middle aged man wearing too much cologne. She introduced him as some northern count, then forced you into a dance with him.

So then you were stifling down sneezes as he had his arm around your waist and his odor overwhelming you. After four excruciating minutes of this, the song ended and you excused yourself as quickly as you could. You noticed Lord Alexei near the left wall of the ballroom, and you started towards his friendly face. It would be nice to speak to someone normal.

But before you were even two paces away from the dance floor, General Halinsky was beside you, a glass of golden bubbly in each hand.

"There you are, my lady," he said, a hint of impatience under his words.

You offered him a smile as you took a glass. "Thank you."

He sipped his glass and looked across the ballroom. "All these people, all here for you."

"It's a good birthday," you said with a convincing chuckle. Your polka-dot scar itched beneath your glove.

"You've many friends, it seems."

"It certainly does seem like that," you nodded drolly.

"You don't think so?"

"I think my mother invited a great number of guests. I'll confess, I don't know everyone here."

He looked at you, studying your face. "Girls like you don't have to know."

You blinked at him. "What does that mean, General?"

He tilted his chin at you as he noticed the sharp undertone of your words. His snake-like stare made you look just as closely at him, studying his cold eyes.

"You're soft," he said, not in an accusatory or insulting tone, just as an observation.

"Excuse me?"

"Soft. Unprepared for life. Like a baby bird in a nest."

"I'm no child, General."

"It's not an insult that you're young and inexperienced. It just means you need someone to guide you in life."

"And you think you're that someone," you remarked, trying and failing to hide the bite in your voice.

"I think you've a large estate that could use assistance. Once your parents pass on, you'll need all the help you can get."

"Forgive me if I am wrong, but my parents are barely ten years your senior, General. I should rather think I need a husband with less years."

He sucked a breath of either annoyance or amusement through his teeth. "That's not what your mother and father think."

"They don't decide who I marry, General. You'd do well to remember that." You cast a glare at him, then you glanced across the room at Lord Alexei. "If you'll excuse me, I have other guests."

You walked away, abandoning Halinsky and your glass with him.

"I sure hope that scowl isn't for me," Alexei chuckled softly as you approached him.

You hadn't realized you were still frowning, but you wiped it away, making your face pleasant again.

"Sorry. I'm afraid I'm nearing that point of a birthday where things aren't fun anymore," you sighed. As if your birthday celebration was fun to begin with.

"Too much birthday, as we call it in my house," Alexei nodded. "My Ana has always been prone to crying on her birthdays or on holidays. She gets so excited and then when one thing does not match that excitement it comes crashing down on her."

You gave a sympathetic chuckle. "Poor girl."

"She is learning to better manage her expectations," he smiled softly. He looked at you for a moment, then said, "I hope you won't find it too forward… but I was wondering about you and my cousin, King Nikolai."

You blinked at him. "Whatever for?"

"Well, it seems to me that you two are quite close. And I plainly remember a time when you two were betrothed."

You managed a smile. "We are no longer betrothed. The king is just a good friend."

"I see," he nodded, but his eyes had something else to say.

"You don't believe me?" You tilted your chin up at him slightly.

He raised his hands. "I believe you. I simply wanted to know if I'd be wasting my time with you, considering how my cousin so clearly likes you."

You scoffed in amusement. "He is a friend of mine. Besides, he has been helping me find suitors."

"And how is his success rate?"

You pursed your lips.

"A-ha." Alexei smirked beneath his mustache. "He's a poor matchmaker."

"He's done his best."

"You'd be married by now if he was truly trying his best."

"Lord Alexei, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this conversation," you said with a polite detachedness.

"Very well. I know when to quit." He glanced around the ballroom, at the swathes of men and their black suits. Then he murmured, "Too bad the rest of these men don't know they've been beaten."

With that, Lord Alexei bowed his head and moved on.

The evening remained a long and tiring event, but now as you faked smiles and acted charming, you also had to hide the hive of thoughts buzzing in your head. When the night finally ended and the last guests had been sent home, your mother made you speak to her.

"You were surprisingly well-behaved tonight," she remarked with a dry stare at you.

You nodded. "Thank you."

She wiped at your cheek, seeing some form of imperfection. "You look tired."

"I am tired."

"Then go to sleep," she said, leaning back in her chair.

"I wasn't aware I was allowed to," you said, standing up again.

"There's that tongue of yours," she rolled her eyes. She seemed too tipsy to be completely angry with you. She snapped her fingers at your father. "Darling, come see this one to bed."

"Sure, dear."

Lord Antonov sighed and offered you his arm. He walked out into the main hall, bringing you towards the staircase. "Where's your precious king tonight?"

You wanted to protest that he wasn't only your king, but you sighed and swallowed the remark.

"East Ravka. Novokribirsk, I believe."

Your father sighed again and patted your arm as you walked. "I recieved several offers for you tonight."

"Oh?" You said, your voice almost clipped.

"Lord Feng, that Kerch Banker Mr Van Sessen, General Halinsky, Viscount Ulrich…" Your father stopped outside your bedroom. "Which do you like best?"

"Most of those men haven't spoken more than a few words to me, how could I know?" You shrugged.

"Then who spoke the most?"

You stifled a groan. "Halinsky."

"General Halinsky," your father pursed his lips, appraising him. He patted your arm again. "Very well. Goodnight, daughter. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight," you nodded softly.

You watched him leave for a moment before you went inside your room. You shut the door and stripped off your long gloves, your big gown coming off too. Your heels ached nearly as badly as your head as Lord Alexei's words hummed like a swarm in your ears, the hive of questions, counterarguments, and wonderings still awake.

You collapsed in bed, trying to fall asleep, but you weren't immune to the revelation about Nikolai that Alexei made. You tossed and turned, every movement a question, an exasperated game of "he loves me, he loves me not." It was difficult to say if Nikolai had been giving his full efforts in seeking a match for you. But Alexei was certain in his words–Nikolai would have found you a husband by now if he wanted to--and you had no reason to doubt Alexei.

……….

A few days after your birthday, a letter arrived, addressed from Novokribirsk. Nikolai would be home Saturday afternoon, and he was hoping to come over for tea. You wrote back that he would be welcome, but that you expected to visit the Palace very soon and see his design plans of his flying ship.

You did not mention your anxiety after your birthday celebration, how his cousin had sent you into a tailspin of questions and high hopes. Nothing was worse than raised expectations, so you were trying to muscle them down and stop them before they destroyed your life and friendship completely.

Even so, Nikolai had a small bag with him when he arrived for tea on Saturday afternoon. He set the bag down beside the sofa as you brought him into the library. A belated birthday gift, you figured. He stood by the window for a moment as you walked across the room again. You felt bold enough to shut the door, leaving the two of you alone. You poured tea for Nikolai, preparing it with as much milk as could fit before overflowing.

You felt as if this was a moment you should remember. The blue rim of the teacups, the way he stood with his back to you as he looked out at the gardens, the near-shake of your hands, the glint in Nikolai's eyes as he slowly turned and approached the seating area. Then again, you tried not to build up this moment in your mind; Nikolai was your friend, and he would go on as your friend. That was all.

"I'm terribly sorry to have missed your birthday. I heard it was quite the event," Nikolai said as he sat a respectable distance beside you on the sofa.

"Yes. There were more bachelors and bubbly than anyone could have stomached. My mother went all out."

He raised a brow as he raised his teacup. "And I presume you danced with every last one of them."

"Just about." You rolled your eyes a bit. "One of the bachelors was the ancient Duke Shapovalov."

"The Duke Shapovalov who's wheeled around by nurses?"

"The very same."

"Saints, your mother is creative. He's got to be as old as Ravka."

You chuckled, and Nikolai seemed to lean closer to you.

"I'm sorry you were left to fend for yourself," he said softly.

"It's alright, I'm used to it."

"All the same, I have a surprise that might make up for my absence." He grinned at you, a sly glint in his hazel irises. “Close your eyes.”

You were wary, but you did as he said. The loss of your sight drew your attention to the fact that you could feel your heartbeat in your throat. What was he going to do? You heard him move, and there was a quick rustle of his bag, then he moved again. You could hear him take a breath.

"Hold out your hands"

Again, you followed his instructions, extending your hands. Something soft was set in your palms, balancing a little lopsidedly.

"You can open your eyes now," Nikolai said after a beat.

As soon as you did you felt your heart leap out of your chest. A grey stuffed bear sat in your hands, its nose round and eyes gentle. It was Viktor, your old friend and most trusted bear. This Viktor’s limbs weren’t worn like your old Viktor’s were from trailing the halls after you, but his arms and legs were just the lengths you remembered. And his fur was slightly darker than the original’s, yet it was just as soft and warm. While he wasn’t an exact copy of your childhood bear, he was damn close, and your eyes pricked with tears as you brought your new Viktor to your chest.

“Do you like him?” Nikolai asked.

You beamed, “He's the best gift I’ve ever received. How did you manage this?”

"Well, I used the drawing you sent me, then I asked the staff at the Antonov estate house about a stuffed bear that you used to carry around. It was difficult to track down anyone who knew of Viktor, but finally one of the cooks remembered."

This difficulty made sense to you, seeing as the Antonovs had gradually replaced most of the staff after the firepox outbreak.

Nikolai chuckled as he continued, “I may or may not have passed along your sketch and his description and to a fabrikator.”

"I don't know what to say, Nikolai, I…" You heaved forward on the sofa and draped your arms around his shoulders, doing the improper thing as you hugged him. If your mother caught you she would scream like she was being murdered but you couldn't be bothered. This was the kindest, most considerate thing anyone had ever done for you. Nikolai wrapped himself around you, squeezing you gently. It was difficult to pull yourself away from him. But when you finally let him go, there were tears in your eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked, hands bracing your arms as he looked at you in concern.

"I'm excellent," you sputtered. "Better than alright. I just…" A grin spread along your lips and you quickly hugged him again. "Thank you."

"I take it I'm forgiven for missing your birthday?" You felt his question burble in his chest as you pressed to it. You sat away from him again.

"You are more than forgiven, Nikolai Lantsov. If we had the power, Viktor and I would declare sainthood for you."

He laughed. "I can see it now: Sankt Nikolai the Dashing and Bold."

"Not quite. I'd name you Sankt Nikolai the Kindhearted."

He smiled softly at you. "I can live with that."

The library door opened and you flitted away from him with dizzying speed. He raised a brow as you sat on an armchair a full coffee table away from him, but you ignored his silent probe, toying with Viktor's ears.

"Your majesty," Lord Antonov greeted with a sigh, balancing a stack of papers under his arm. "How long have you been here?"

"Not long, Lord Antonov. Your daughter and I were just having tea and then I gave her a birthday gift. Perhaps you'd like to see it."

You proudly held up Viktor, matching Nikolai's grin as you peered at the bear.

"You got her a stuffed animal?" Your father peered down his nose at Viktor. He grumbled, "It's a rather peculiar gift for someone her age."

"The bear is a replica of a toy she used to have when she was young, but if you don't remember him, perhaps I haven't done a very good job."

You wanted to say he'd done well, that it was the best gift you'd ever received and you were grateful even if the resemblance wasn't exact, but you were quickly over spoken.

"I remember a scraggly bunch of stitches she used to drag behind her, but we got rid of it and the countless diseases it undoubtedly carried after she recovered from a terrible, terrible illness. The memory is an unpleasant one, your highness, and I am appalled that you would dredge up such a horrid moment in our family's past."

Your stomach turned to lead.

"Father--"

"Quite frankly, I don't see why you've given my daughter a gift at all," he said coldly, eyes lethal as he looked at Nikolai. "She is not your fiance. You two are no longer engaged because you broke the tie between our families. You decided we weren't suitable to marry into your royal line. And despite how incredibly irresponsible your actions were, I forgave them. But I will not tolerate your blithe flirtations with my daughter when you have no intention of marrying her!"

Nikolai stood firm, his mouth pressed in a calm line though you were sure your father's lashing must sting. It was difficult to accept the fact that your father was right, but he had compounded a fear of yours. Knowingly or unknowingly, Nikolai led you on.

"Lord Antonov," began Nikolai. He rubbed at his chest, just over his heart, and for a moment it seemed he didn't know what to say, but he soon composed an apology. "I am truly sorry. I meant no offense--"

"I know what you meant, sending my daughter letters and giving her gifts and false hope. I'm tired of your meddling, boy."

Nikolai's lip twitched and his arms dropped to his sides. "Boy? I am your king, Lord Antonov. Regardless of what you think of me, you will uphold that respect."

"I couldn't respect you if I tried," your father spat. "Now, you'd better leave my house willingly before I have someone escort you out."

Nikolai glanced at you, perhaps wishing you would speak up for him as you had before. But when you folded your arms and looked away he got the message. You were done fighting for him.

He scoffed and shook his head at you, then he stormed from the room. His footsteps could be heard in the main hall, halting for a second to gather his coat, then continuing through the front door. It slammed behind him, the noise bouncing into the library.

You had little time to process the rather one-sided conversation that just played out before you. The realization that you were no better than a fish dragged along on a hook but never reeled in was the only thing you seemed to register. It made you a bit ill to ponder, but you were grateful to your father for pulling back the curtain and confirming your situation with Nikolai. After all, Nikolai had no defenses against it, nothing to say the contrary.

Your father walked to the library door and let it click shut before he whirled around on you.

"You stupid girl!" He hissed. "How blind could you be? Your mother and I share some of the blame for letting this drag out like it did, but honestly, how foolish are you?"

"I'm sorry." You absentmindedly tugged along Viktor's ear. You had clutched him tight the entire time your father aired his grievance with the king. "I was stupid."

"Not as stupid as telling him about this blasted bear! What else did you tell him, girl? Does he know the truth about my real daughter?"

"No, he doesn't know!" You insisted

Your father scoffed and you felt your chest tighten. Your eyes watered as you gave a weak huff.

"I didn't tell him. I promise, I didn’t say a thing,” you whispered. “I only said I had a stuffed animal that was burned after the outbreak."

His glare was as pointed as a needle’s tip. "You'd better not be lying to me, girl. If the truth got out… well, we would both be ruined, wouldn't we, daughter?"

"Yes, father."

He straightened out his jacket. "Leave me now." He pointed at Viktor. "And get that thing out of my sight."

You left without another word. It was a mindless journey to your room, and you wondered why you felt so numb. Five minutes prior you were the happiest you'd been in a long time. You were receiving a thoughtful gift from what you thought was a trusted friend, and now you sat collapsed on the carpet of your room, uncontrollable tears blotting your cheeks.

You should be stronger than this. You'd withstood a tumultuous childhood and lonely youth. You lost your mother to a pair of greedy nobles. You were denied friends and love and always made to feel lesser, like you were a vile sight and poor replacement for what was lost to the Antonovs.

You cried into Viktor's head, your chest aching with the weight of not being good enough–both for your supposed family, and for your once-fiance and former friend, Nikolai.

..........

A/N: Evil ending for this part, am I right? Anyway... Thanks for reading! Feel free to like, reblog, and comment if you want to read more, I really appreciate the feedback! If you want to be tagged in the other parts of this series or to be added to the Nikolai taglist please comment on this part or send me an ask. And if you want to request a fic, please feel free to send in an ask. Otherwise, I hope you have a great day/night :)

Masterlist

Taglist:

@xceafh @rhaenyrakryze @thecrowsgambit @nghtwngs @hauntedenthusiasttragedy

@stuffyownswrld @sublimepenguinpeach-blog @iwantmyredvelvetcupcake @angie-likes-to-read @take-me-to-ny

@historianthesecond @kataraluvr @lunamadhatter99 @lareinaa007 @folklorde24

@a-candle-maker @elicheel @charmingpatronus @chaoticswampwitch

@radiantactions @auranightangle @girlofthunder

Nikolai Taglist:

@sweet0pia-uwu @notoakay @naushtheaspiringauthor @marchingicenotes7 @eyeofthestorm

@poseidont @hashcakes

[loonysama]

Happy Halloween!!!

I usually write something for Halloween, and despite my break from fanfic, I was trying to get something together for this year (y'all, it was going to be a Practical Magic AU!). Sigh. Instead here's some of the Halloween/Fall Frozen fics I have written. Artwork by @keeshya6 and @justfrozenthings , both for The Jakku Lantern. I have started something for Yule, so hopefully I can manifest it! My WIPs are also always on my mind, but sorry I still have a block on them. In the mean time, Happy Halloween, everyone! Hope you enjoy.

Halloween Fics

To Dye For (Kristanna, E)

Anna, an aspiring hair stylist, hopes to get to know her crush/co-worker Kristoff better when he asks her to dye his hair blue. Everything goes well until it doesn't.

The Jakku Lantern (Kristanna, T)

It’s Kristoff, his Mandalorian helmet, and Olaf the Pumpkin King, against Raggedy Anna and Elsa AKA Maleficent, in a pumpkin carving contest judged by Sandy Claws Sven. Will Mando get a happy ending, despite the helmet that just won't budge, in this alternate version of the charades scene from Frozen II?

The Headless Horseman, a Chilling Tale (Kristanna, T)

One Halloween night, Anna finally left her violent and controlling husband Hans and fled through the dark hedges, which were said to be haunted by a headless horseman in search of blood and heads, to get to her sister Elsa. While the headless horseman was only a legend, Anna's cruel husband was real. Will the horrors of the forest be worse than than the husband she left behind?

The Grandfather Clock (Kristanna, T)

There's a demonic presence in the house Anna has inherited from her parents, who died in unexplained circumstances. Determined to sell it and be rid of the burden, she's enlists the help of her ex-husband Hans and Honeymaren's paranormal investigation team, but she finds herself relying on the local sheriff's expertise instead.

When It Rains, It Pours Drabbles (Kristanna, T)

Doorman Kristoff has a run of bad luck when Anna, dressed as the Morton Salt Girl for her friend's Halloween party, walks into the building with a bluster of wind and a dripping wet umbrella. Is it Friday the 13th? Or is it just Anna?

Fall/American Thanksgiving Fics

Ginger Sweet Love (Kristanna, M)

Anna and Kristoff get a second chance to tell each other how they feel when Kristoff shows up unexpectedly at Anna’s Halloween/Friendsgiving party. Let's hope 17 years later isn't 17 years too late.

Uncertain Uncertainties (Kristanna, T)

After getting caught sneaking out of Hans' dorm room, Anna gets stuck helping her folks out at the reenactment of the first Harvest Day at the Olde Arendelle Historic Village instead of spending it with her friends. She's happy enough to play dress up and help out until she gets stuck on table setting duty with Hans' nerdy roommate Kristoff, the guy who ratted her out.

Iduna's Apple (Kristanna, T)

Kristoff had been giving Anna baskets of his best apples for her Harvest Day pies for years, but he was always too shy to express his affection in any other way. Everything changed, though, when Anna got a goat named Sven with a taste for apples.

To Be Continued (Kristanna, T)

Kristoff had less than a week left to finish building his company's float for the Arendelle Harvest Day Parade and he had everything planned out… until his boss Olaf insisted that his niece Anna help out.

[syrcaljirk]

Disclaimer this post is completely opinion please do not try and find where I live or cancel me lol I am a teenager

so tmagp! this post is gonna contain spoilers up to the most recent episode that came out today. (mag 10)

oh also if you don't want to see criticism/negative opinions don't read this

I am, so far, um not enjoying it, to say the least.

For some context, I got into TMA just before the season finale or so? And I was excited when I heard about tmagp because I wanted to try and figure out stuff myself before it was said in series you know?

and I wanted to like it! and I do, it's really good, but every episode something has been irking me

whether it's the Fandom analyzing every single line (and I get the temptation completely I really do) or the constant callbacks to TMA when they said this show would be a good jumping in point for new listeners

But I think my main issue is the speed at which it's going, the cliche/just genuinely not very scary statements, and the characters actions themselves

Let's take this by section (please ignore my horrible horrible grammar)

Speed: this season has been so quick I keep forgetting we are on episode 10 of season 1 of 3

I get that they're going to go a bit faster than they did before because this is shorter but it's genuinely pissing me off a little bit

I have almost no emotional attachment to these characters. and that feels mean to say when so many people love them and make fic and stuff about them!

But i just really don't know them or their personalities enough to feel that sort of connection to them.

Other than Alice maybe (also why does everyone think she's evil please explain that to me if you want bc I don't see why)

Every episode feels like you're being slapped in the face with lore and it just isn't very pleasant

The show doesn't feel like TMA did and I wasn't expecting it to, really I wasn't. But I expected it to feel at least similar?

Let's get into the most recent episode. I almost hated this episode. And that is so mean of me to say I know.

Let's get into the episode thing now! I haven't been genuinely scared by a single of these episodes. Full stop no lie. Everything is so predictable including the plot and it's really messing with me. Don't get me started on some of them.

But the thing with Bonzo...it's so. Ugh. Like, I came into this expecting slow burn horror with actual tension. And this episode felt like a bad comedy bit. Maybe it's scarier to British folks because of what was his name, um, Mr Blobby?

Anyway this could be bad faith criticism and I am trying my best to enjoy this show and I am but it's. Very different. And I don't know how I feel about it.

The ending felt like a very clear "oOh cLiFfHaNgEr!" thing. I tried to care about it but I didn't feel anything. There was no tension and I didn't even hear the tape recorder. That felt cliche too.

I'm sorry if this comes off as me being an asshole or raining on your parade but this is how I feel about it. I'm a random teenager on the internet I know nothing I'm legit dumb

My opinion doesn't have to be yours, but if you do agree, let me know! I'd like this post to be a respectful place to discuss things that we didn't enjoy instead of just the positives, you know?

And there are a lot of positives! This show IS really good. But there were things I didn't like and that's okay!

[flyingpurplepeopleprogrammer]

Tropetalk, hypnokink edition:

I have a dirty, shameful secret: I really, really, really like working with hypnokink naive subjects.

I don't mean young or inexperienced, though. I mean folks who haven't been caught up in the vortex of spirals and "subliminals" and mindless trances and every other hypnokinky trope that seems to dominate the smutosphere.

Now, some readers will be raising a suspicious eyebrow and - honestly? - valid. There's no shortage of shady fucks who want to play with people who don't know anything about what's unwise. You can think that about me or not, but that's not my why of things.

My why is that they aren't caught up in The Meme. They don't have this fuzzy, idea in their head of what hypnosis is like amalgamated from what is - sorry to say - largely samey smut. They don't automatically assume that hypnosis is Like That, and so when you sit down with them and explore, you sometimes get something a little different.

People who don't think of hypnosis as a state of docile passivity - it turns out - don't necessarily slip in to a simulation of docile passivity. People who don't think of hypnosis as an authority-based relationship might banter and quibble and inquire their way through fun new experiences. Or, well - really anything - that's the point.

So much of what we do with hypnosis is tied into what we think hypnosis is or what we expect. Letting that limit us, to me, is tragically sad, because hypnosis is mind control. Not in the fantastical sense you see in stories, but in a truly fascinating and potentially phantasmagorical sense that lets us ask that lovely mind of yours would it pretty please... feel this, think that, imagine and daydream and experience and - just about anything the mind can do, really, so long as we ask it very nicely.

Don't get me wrong, I'm here for a lot of the kinky tropes. I have fun with them, too! But I think we're missing a trick, as a community, if our smut is giving newbies the idea that that's all there is. We're dodging the magic of how neat hypnosis is if we don't show folks - hypnotists and hypnotees to be - that their hypnotic experience can in so many ways be whatever they want it to be.

So hey, if you're into exploring and you make content, maybe make something a bit... weird next time you feel the itch. Or not. I get you've got bills to pay. Or if you're out there learning, maybe try something a little different - just to see if you like it.

And for those of you who know what you like and are happy with it, honestly, great. Please don't mistake my hypnotic wanderlust for raining on your parade. The world needs trance-addled toys and spiral-throwing hypnotists, too.

[ask-missparker]

Hello old friend. 🍎 ONCE UPON A TIME AU 👑

Cinderella!Roch & Snow!Mia short blurb

The birds were chirping but the sky was gloomy, clouds brushed against each other looking around for space.

The last couple of days felt very lonely to say the least. However she tried to make the best of it and keep herself busy around town, helping Ethan and the others with restoring the place. They had a few mishaps lately with Alexander, people breaking into stores, fights among the folks who lived there and questionable behavior from the former team members.

Villains trying to resurface their past selfishness and corruption to the heroes here too.

With the recent curse lifted, she couldn’t blame them. It felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Half of their friends—family members were gone in the Enchanted Forest, leaving them with uncertainty over whether they will survive or not. But she tried to have hope, even if her brother-in-law Alexander wasn’t helpful, just trying to rain on her parade every-time she tried to visit him for answer of any kind.

Now she sat here in her apartment, scrolling through Netflix while snacking on a handful of grapes. She thought about requesting keys to her husband’s rather large home but she didn’t have any idea on how to get that information, besides she enjoyed the smaller space.

While in the middle of scrolling through the page, as a result of questionable content appeared on her screen, a knock appeared on her door. She raised an eyebrow not expecting anyone to visit her today, opening the door to assume it being Cassandra or someone with a similar interest in her query today. But instead she was greeted by a smile unlike no other and bright red curls that lit up a flame in anyone’s path.

“What? Not happy to see me?” Said the redhead who reached out to snap her back to reality.

“Huh? What, no! Rochelle honey come in!” She replied chuckling, letting her enter the living quarters of her home.

“I would’ve arranged to be here sooner but the weather was very bad this morning and the kids wanted to play in the backyard before visiting their uncle.”

“I’m just surprised that you know my address..”

“Oh I asked about! Cassie gave it to me, well no, technically Melissa overheard our conversation and knew exactly where you would be today, since you’re usually at home on Saturday afternoons even while you were cursed—sorry I’m rambling! I just needed a break from the kids and work, and all of town’s folk. When this is over we’re going to The Rabbit Hole!”

“The rabbit hole..? Is that reference to Wonderland?”

———

Rochelle chuckled at her old friend’s response. Usually she was the one who was native and innocent for the most part when it came to the world around her, having lived as a servant girl then became a princess overnight. Yes she knew Mia was rather slow and a bit clueless at times, but this was new to her. Mia was always the first person with her head pointed in the right direction, depending on the circumstances at hand, so seeing her like this made her smile.

Then again Rochelle has lived in this world longer than she has, her friend was in a coma for 16 years at the hospital, and she wondered around places a lot more over the years, so it made complete sense that she would seem this way. Recent events had made it a little difficult to find a moment of peace, hell even Rochelle was worried and confused about their current situation, but she tried to look in the more positive direction.

After a moment the redhead spoke again, “Yes, The Rabbit Hole! It’s a very good bar in the town, it’s nearby Grandpa’s place, they serve drinks and food. I will definitely have to take you there soon.”

“I don’t know if a bar would be my cup of tea..oh god, I sound like my Cassie..and you, no offense.” Mia replied, pouring them both two glasses of lemonade from the fridge.

“None taken, I get it, I wasn’t into the whole bar scene until Jeremy, Melissa and I went one night years back. Best decision ever made. They served me the most delicious Apple martini! And then—”

Rochelle paused sipping her glass of lemonade realizing the last part of her sentence, she messed up knowing she doesn’t have a good enough past with apples. Looking at Mia’s face she expected a disapproving look but instead she was met with a smirked expression.

Mia laughed and nodded, “You’re good don’t worry! I am learning my lesson from that experience.”

“Oh thank heavens I thought I said something wrong!” Explained the redhead who laughed, “So what’s going on here?”

“Not much. Just trying to take it easy..”

“I know you miss them, we all do. I could only imagine how you’re feeling right now, with our friends gone..I could go nuts knowing my children and spouse were gone. I don’t even know how you’re so calm right now! How are you so calm?”

“I’m keeping myself busy actually. Like yesterday, I went to the stables with Cole, we had a small picnic and entertained the horses.”

“What about Alexander? He’s uh, something else..no offense!”

“None taken, I just tolerate him.”

———

Amelia remembers how two days ago, she arrived at Alexander’s home as requested by her boss at the hospital to check on his bandages. She refused to do so but Rose, a fellow nurse, kept her company until further notice that day. Alexander was rather difficult for her standard procedure, as he wasn’t pleased with having two nurses at his home and exclaiming how he can take care of himself. But one bark and bite from Rose brought him down a peg to be looked at by her and Mia.

She remembered how Alexander kept giving snarky remarks, odd expressions and engaging in some sort of banter with both nurses. However due to the man having his cuffs tightened on his wrist and being injured previously, there was a sense of vulnerability and humor to his presence that day.

Yes, Amelia disliked the man and was rather reluctant about her orders to make sure he was doing fine, but a small part of her almost smiled seeing him this way. She knew if it was left to Rose, she would’ve made the check harsh enough for Alexander, resulting in them staying longer in the man’s home.

——

Both women took towards the couch in the middle of the room, grabbing the remote control to see what’s on TV for the day as they tried to relax. They spent their time chatting and watching television together, until a certain cartoon appeared on the screen.

Well more like a movie.

Disney’s Cinderella.

To say Rochelle’s jaw dropped was an understatement as she watched what was supposed to be her counterpart on screen. Amelia couldn’t contain her laughter at her friends expression and exclaiming certain moments across the film. Yes Rochelle knew about the story, especially from her children and Cole’s views on her experiences, and how everyone has their own interpretations of things, but this wasn’t what she expected.

Amelia watched on television as it showed a young blonde woman dressed in a sliver almost blue dress talking in her fairy godmother. She remembered the tale from her friends, hell she was there during the ball, so she knew this wasn’t how the story went.

It was settled in her head for a movie night for everyone one of theses days to react and comment on theses versions of their stories.

“Ok first off, i ain’t some blonde bimbo who cried the whole night, I mean I did cry but still, and secondly i didn’t have some old ass fairy godmother to help me! I had a magic business man dressed in freaking leather pants who sassed me half the time!” Rochelle said with such enthusiasm and sass in her tone, “Cole did not look like that!”

Amelia was leaning into her seat, resting her elbow against the armrest of the couch, “Mhmmm yeah I remember. And he was wearing his engagement ring too.”

“Exactly! Wait when was he engaged?!”

“Jeremy proposed to him a few weeks before Michelle’s ball, if I’m correct. He showed me that ring like it was a gift from the gods.”

“Wait what?! Ohhh damn slay, I guess.”

“I’m sorry if you just say ‘slay’?”

“Gen Z slang I think? I found the kids using it. Don’t judge me!”

Instead Mia just laughed.

~~~~

I know this is short! But it’s what I came up with right now. I will definitely continue this discussion soon

Anyways let me know what u guys think 💙❤️

Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @gcthvile @blueboirick @cherrysft @meiramel @ask-starrk @thechoooooosenone @wizzzardofoz @finlayholmes @ethan-lensherr @purpleprincessonfyre @luna-d-marsh @rickb-chaos

[cutekoala1001]

I made Spotify playlists for a couple of Sing characters that didn’t get one! (Song lists are under the cut) ↓

And I made a new Buster playlist! Since he has TWO playlists from the first and second movie, I combined them into one and added some showtunes, some upbeat jazzy stuff, and a few songs that gives off Buster vibes ♡ (sorry it’s so long, he had a lot of music! Mostly oldies but goodies ♪)

♘ Eddie Noodleman ♘

✿ Miss Crawly ✿

⭐︎ Buster Moon ⭐︎

EDDIE:

8TEEN (Khalid)

Moonshadow (Cat Stevens)

Let’s Go Surfing (The Drums)

Ukulele and Chill (Cody G)

Sunflower (Post Malone, Swae Lee)

Ventura Highway (Paco Versailles)

Love Your Days (Cherokee)

Swept Away (Vanilla)

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham!)

No Rain (Blind Melon)

California (from The O.C.)

Days Like These (Lakey Inspired)

Dream With You - Bosq Remix (Jeffrey Paradise)

Young Folks (Peter Bjorn and John)

Tropical Heartache (Poolside)

California Sunset (Poolside)

Weather (Ralph)

Inbetween Days (The Cure)

End of the Line (Traveling Wilburys)

Pink Sky (Bay Ledges)

Australia (The Shins)

Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard (Paul Simon)

Baroque Hoedown (Perrey and Kingsley)

MISS CRAWLY:

Lagoon (Havana Swim Club)

You Make Me Feel So Young (Frank Sinatra)

What A Little Moonlight Can Do (Billy Holiday, Teddy Wilson)

Chop Suey! (System Of A Down)

April Showers (Proleter)

Frenesi (Artie Shaw)

Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra)

When I’m Sixty Four (The Beatles)

Shooby Shooby Do Yah! (Mocean Worker, Steven Bernstein)

C’est Magnifique (Kay Starr)

Blinuet (Zoot Sims)

The Last Time I Saw Paris (Vaughn Monroe)

Them from New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)

Sweet Happy Life (Peggy Lee)

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (The Beatles)

きらきらキラー (Kyary Pamyu Pamyu)

BUSTER MOON:

Flirty Cha Cha (The Daniel Pemberton TV Orchestra)

Safe And Sound (Capital Cities)

Don’t Rain On My Parade (Barbra Streisand)

There’s No Business Like Show Business (Harry Connick, Jr.)

Gimme Some Lovin’ (The Spencer David Group)

My Type (Saint Motel)

Walking On A Dream (Empire of the Sun)

The Showman (Little More Better) (U2)

Blinuet (Zoot Sims)

Come to Me (Koop, Yukimi Nagano)

Cake By The Ocean (DNCE)

Dream A Little Dream Of Me (Teddy Wilson)

Over and Over (Session Victim)

Soulful Strut (Horst Jankowski and his Studio Orchestra)

Dancing in the Moonlight (Toploader)

A Happy Song (Victory)

Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen)

Lovely Day (Bill Withers)

End of the Line (Traveling Wilburys)

Seasons of Love (Rent the Musical)

Times Are Hard for Dreamers (Amelie the Musical)

Keep Your Head Up (Andy Grammer)

Hang On Little Tomato (Pink Martini)

Smile (Nat King Cole)

When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) (Louis Armstrong)

My Song (Labi Siffre)

Wouldn’t It Be Nice (The Beach Boys)

Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra)

Faith (Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande from Sing)

I Got You (I Feel Good) (James Brown & The Famous Flames)

The Wind (Cat Stevens)

Hallelujah (Tori Kelly from Sing)

I’m A Believer (The Monkees)

Faith (George Michael)

You’re All I’ve Got Tonight (The Cars)

Keep It Comin’ Love (KC & The Sunshine Band)

Happy (Pharrell Williams)

Sing (Ed Sheeran)

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell)

Sing a Song (Earth, Wind & Fire)

Your Song (Elton John)

Golden Slumbers (The Beatles)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)

Listen to the Music (The Doobie Brothers)

I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (The New Seekers)

Saturday (Twenty One Pilots)

Someone In The Crowd (La La Land soundtrack)

The Blue Room (Zoot Sims Quartet)

Turandot, SC 91, Act III: Nessun Dorma! (Giacomo Puccini)

Viva La Vida (Coldplay)

You, Me, Here, Now (Dam Swindle)

Dancin’ - Krono Remix (Aaron Smith, Luvli, Krono)

Feel the Heat (Ghosts of Venice)

Flashing Lights (Kanye West)

Beautiful People (feat. Khalid) - NOTD Remix (Ed Sheeran, Khalid, NOTD)

Get Down Tonight (KC & The Sunshine Band)

Got To Be Realm(Cheryl Lynn)

Sing a Happy Song (The O’Jays)

Do You Believe in Magic? (The Lovin’ Spoonful)

You Can’t Stop the Music (The Kinks)

Can’t Stop The Feeling! (Justin Timberlake)

Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House)

Take A Chance On Me (ABBA)

The Moonbounce (Koop)

Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) (Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars)

Off White Limousine (Client Liaison)

Old 45’s (Chromeo)

Pick Up The Pieces (Average White Band)

He’s The Greatest Dancer (Sister Sledge)

You’re The Top (Jeri Southern)

Let’s Go Crazy (Prince)

Daydream Believer (The Monkees)

Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)

It’s Gonna Be Good (Next To Normal the musical)

[moonliched]

Hi neighbour!

The aftermath of pride, as promised! It's a long story, so be warned!

I wasn't able to go to any of the earlier celebrations because I got sick :(, but I was well enough to go to the actual parade, and I was also able to make an outfit for it (artistic recreation linked at the end). Day of, I ended up going with my mam and sibling, and it was a little bit of a rush in the morning because:

1. My mam only decided to go last second (and also to drag sibling in),

2. It was raining,

3. And we had to get a bus.

Luckily, after missing the first bus, we were able to get the next one, and we got in about 10 minutes after the parade started.

It. Was. Amazing! There was so much colour and vibrancy and life from everyone, in spite of the (lashing, mind you) rain. People were so friendly as well! There were groups from mental health services, there were groups protesting the treatment of trans people in healthcare, there were support groups, youth groups, clubs, scouts, performers, people showing their support for Palestine and Ukraine, a mobile library, and so much I ended up missing!

At the end of the parade was "Pride Village" (which my mam found a hilarious name), where a bunch of the services marching had stalls, there was a shop, a quiet area for the nd folk who needed some peace and quiet (though I'm pretty sure it was just called that and they let next to anybody who needed it in), an area for all the Pride sponsors to show off (also the only sheltered spots, which made them very popular), a couple of food stalls (options, if I'm remembering correctly were standard fries/burgers/hotdogs, coffee/tea, some kind of Korean fry, a random assortment of food from Just Eat, rice bowls (I had these, they were sooo good), and a few other things that are escaping me right now), and the stage with a DJ and Sign Language Interpreter.

The first show was done by a drag queen whose name I could not find anywhere, and she sang several songs until she was interrupted by Palestine protesters who, in fairness to them, made some very valid points about the companies funding Pride this year. But their speech felt a little disrespectful to all the people who came to pride protesting for Palestine, as if it was written with the assumption that there wouldn't be so many people showing solidarity.

They were allowed to make their point, though, and the next person on was able to handle the topic and shift in tone with so much grace and respect. I was really impressed by it!

After that, a choir came on to sing. We were able to stick around to listen to one song (it was ABBA, so we had to) but it was still raining and we had a confusing journey home with how all the buses (which suck here regardless) had been diverted for the parade and the Taylor Swift concert traffic, so we ended up getting food and heading.

Even as we were leaving, we were still seeing people dressed up brightly and enjoying themselves and it was just so heart-warming.

In terms of outfits, I was able to get my makeup done the way I wanted to and it lasted the entire day as well, even with the rain! My mam let me do hers since I was still on the high, and that turned out well too (even by her standards). I had my nails painted to match, and here's the link to my outfit!

https://64.media.tumblr.com/3b7f409fb9e5a22a0d5c237c41b94deb/133189c8f19d253d-e8/s540x810/a258fb61fe242f5e96108037d9b047fd5aef1394.jpg

Hope this is enough for you to live vicariously through me!

THE (legally obtained) RAINBOW SHOELACES, yayyy! the outfit looks very cool :D i'm sorry to hear you weren't well, it's a shame to miss anything bc of it :( i hope you're back to 100%!

the Pride Village n food sounds awesome! looks like there was a real variety of stuff to enjoy even in the rain☺️ you got a real gift, i feel like i was there!

pride makeup is the best makeup, and i bet your nails look amazing! it's rly nice your mam and sibling joined in with the celebration. and me too now in spirit! aaaaaaa it sounds like such a kaleidoscope of good memories, i'm so glad you enjoyed your time at pride!!!

btw i rly like your outfit pic, i keep going back to look at it xD thanks for sending, it's improved my day💐🌈

[cuddyclothes]

I deleted my response to a discussion post about Izzy's death being queer-coded and wrote my own post instead. I'm sorry for raining on folks' parade and suggesting their opinions are wrong. I put myself in their shoes and realized it could be interpreted as mean and hurtful. I didn't mean it to be but it's how it came across.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and feelings and I wasn't put on earth to be the interpretation police.

Sorry.

@justusmice

I need to learn to be soft.

[teaveetamer]

I knowwww not to rain on anyone's parade and I 100% think people in different corners of the fandom should leave each other alone but god. Your recent post about the politics of 3H made me remember how some of the stuff portrayed as obvious in the fandom just makes me so. Hgggggghhh. Like "hey guys a war started by the literal regent of a disgraced empire is exactly the same as a revolution of the proletariat, right?" Tbf I completely blame the actual game for that considering it has a fucking child's understanding of politics. Doesn't it also literally use the word revolution at some point or did that get ingrained into my head from too much fandom exposure?

Like "AM is the centrism route" seems to be their favorite argument but that's just the entire game!! The whole game is so insistent on having every ending be totally good, please ignore all the weird implications in some of the paired endings everything is fine aha :) Just fucking centrism central. And half the time it can't seem to remember itself what the characters' political aims actually are, like I swear every ending card for CF implies something completely different from each other.

But idk I guess if you only play one of the routes and even then only once and then completely work off of headcanons forever then sure you can pretend the writers are totally 100% in agreement with you I guess. And AM isn't even my favorite route!!! My fave house is just the one that gets perpetually ignored and at this point I am 100% okay with that. This must be even more annoying to you folks. Sorry for the rant but reading your post made something click in my head

Oh I 100% agree that people can like what they want and we should all get to have our own little fandom corners, but yeah some of the pervasive sentiments in the fandom about 3H are honestly baffling. Also thank you for the ask, I love rants :)

At the end of the day, I just don’t understand where people are pulling this “deep political storytelling” from. It’s a mass market product designed to be understood by 12 year olds (it’s CERO B aka 12+, and ESRB T aka 13+) It is going to try to be as bland and inoffensive as it can be to maximize reach and profit, and it’s not going to contain anything too dark or complex for a preteen to process.

12 year olds are not stupid, and you can absolutely have some more mature things packaged in an age appropriate way (e.g. ATLA tackles genocide in a product aimed at an even younger target demo) but? A game aimed at 12 year olds is not going to have complex political theory. It’s just not. It’s never going to be as deep as you want it to be, and some members of the fandom need to just let it go. There are hundreds of pieces of media aimed at adults that tackle more complex topics of politics and morality if that’s what you want. You don’t have to try and force 3H into that box.

[wishuponroses]

Sorry to rain on your parade, folks, but I have a sudden prayer request. My sister's boyfriend's dad is in critical shape at the moment. (Built up fluid, my sister's bf seemed pretty shaken up over the phone.)

Please keep the three in your prayers tonight! Thank you.

[sqinsights]

Navigating the NAS Landscape: A Deep Dive into Global Consumer Trends

The NAS Market Unveiled: 

In 2021, the NAS market flexed its muscles with a whopping USD 85.60 billion. But here’s the kicker — it’s not just growing; it’s sprinting towards a staggering USD 131.2 billion by 2030. And the real showstopper? The 2-Bay designs, striding ahead with a neck-breaking growth rate. Sorry, 1-Bay, it’s a 2-Bay world now.

Decoding NAS for the Uninitiated: 

NAS (Network Attached Storage) is your personal cloud sans the ominous clouds. It’s where your files throw a housewarming bash, and all your devices are on the VIP list. Why? Because NAS lets you access your data hassle-free, no drama of external drive connections. It’s the unsung hero of data storage.

Size Matters in NASville: 

In the NAS universe, size is the name of the game. The 1-Bay design caters to individuals and small-scale users, compact and cost-effective. On the flip side, the 2-Bay design is the versatile superhero, accommodating two hard drives and flaunting a feature set that would make any 1-Bay blush.

End-User Chronicles: 

The IT and telecommunications sector is flexing muscles, driven by global ICT spending hitting the USD 5.5 trillion mark in 2022. Meanwhile, the retail and e-commerce sector is on a growth spree, fueled by the online shopping frenzy. NAS is the silent guardian, supporting these sectors’ data storage needs.

Region Wars: 

North America takes the crown, thanks to industry giants like Buffalo Americas Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., and friends. Europe, with its commitment to digitalization, is gearing up for a growth spurt. The rest of the world? Well, they’re catching up too.

The Drama of Drivers and Restraints: 

The rising adoption of NAS systems is pushing vendors to tailor solutions for businesses with insatiable data appetites. But wait, there’s a twist. The cloud is looming on the horizon, threatening to rain on NAS’s parade. However, a hybrid approach could save the day — cue the hero music!

For More Information: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/consumer-network-attached-storage-market

Meet the NAS Avengers: 

In the competitive landscape, we have the Avengers of NAS — ASUSTOR, D-Link, Seagate, and more. They’re not just saving the day; they’re innovating like there’s no tomorrow. Seagate and QNAP even teamed up to create enterprise storage solutions, a power move in the NAS universe.

Conclusion: 

And there you have it, folks! The NAS market is not just about storage; it’s a saga of growth, challenges, and innovation. As we navigate the data-filled future, remember that NAS is not just a solution; it’s the unsung hero keeping your digital life in order. So, whether you’re a business mogul or a tech-savvy individual, NAS has a spot for you in its data-driven universe. Happy storing!

About Us-

SkyQuest Technology Group is a Global Market Intelligence, Innovation Management & Commercialization organization that connects innovation to new markets, networks & collaborators for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Contact Us-

SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

1 Apache Way,

Westford,

Massachusetts 01886

USA (+1) 617–230–0741

Email- info@skyquestt.com

Website: https://www.skyquestt.com

[katierosefun]

B99 tcw au: Anakin: Jake | Padme: Amy | Obi Wan: Charles | Ahsoka: Rosa | Rex: Terry | Cody or Mace: Captian Holt

i hear what you’re saying anon, and b99 has a special place in my heart too, but i feel odd thinking of a b99 au in an age of police brutality, sorry :(

[kingdomoftyto]

I said I would watch unless two VERY SPECIFIC things happened

Well

Who has two arrows and is definitely not watching the last 3 and a half episodes?

—> THIS blogger <---

[aimlessarchery]

@redmessenger (from here)

“Heh, that’s right. The feelings are messy.” Lukas hardly knows how to feel about all of this—he’s used to comforting others, not being the one comforted. Vulnerability doesn’t come easily to him, but among people he trusts, Lukas allows himself to indulge in the warmth and security Forsyth and Python provide. Squeezing Forsyth’s hand in return, he hears his voice begin to waver, “My father was no longer the man I knew after my mother died. He oft spoke of wanting to return to her side, with dark words I dare not repeat… Now that they are reunited, he must finally know peace. I’ve been taking some comfort in that.” …With a sigh, Lukas returns to his drink, finishing off the last of what’s left. There’s not much else to say on that particular matter, nothing else he feels like divulging on what’s supposed to be a fun reunion. After collecting his thoughts, he breaks his silence with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for souring the mood. Allow me to get to the next round to make up for it. “To get to the point, after his death, my brother inherited our lands and titles. Our family is not a wealthy one—we grew up house-poor, and last I checked my father was still trying to pay off our debts. Add in my relationship with Markus, and you might understand why I wasn’t expecting anything to come to me…” Lukas takes a sip of his water. “Well, I did. Not just money, but a small portion of our land that is now under my name. My father did not leave a will. So it was Markus’ decision.” Honestly, even now it’s hard to believe this happened. Lukas can’t help but smile to himself, laughing slightly, “In all the time I’ve known him, he’s been strange with money. He can ride into battle without an ounce of fear yet balks at the sight of a checkbook… I can’t imagine why he would do such a thing, but it’s certainly made me richer. Combined with my savings, I was able to retire from the Brotherhood. Now I aim to become a teacher.”

Python has just enough tact not to scoff at Forsyth's choice of words. Losing a parent isn't difficult at all, in his book—it's what comes after that's hard. How hard it is depends on what kind of parent they were. He holds his tongue, though. Mostly because Forsyth's final statement really is true. Not that it seems Lukas needs much material support from the two of them, given his apparent new status. "You hear that, Fors?" He rests a hand atop the joined hands of the two knights, already conveniently located near his own arm. (It was a bit awkward being sandwiched between their little moment without being included, y'know. May as well make it an intentional sandwich.) His head lolls backward, far enough to nearly rest on Forsyth's shoulder with the way the man's bent forward to reach Lukas's hand. "Our Lukas, a landed noble. Who'd've thought!" He snickers under his breath. "And Moneybags still has the gall to insist I pay for my own drinks 'til he starts feeling bad about raining on our little parade." It's a feckless little jab, preemptively dismissed with a shake of his own head. "You'll fit right in, Luke. Hell, you'll fit in better than some folks already here, myself included. I'm still not quite used to running around with lordlings and churchfolk. And the paperwork." He lets out all the air in his lungs in a sharp, dramatic sigh, drooping forward over the bar as he deflates. "Uuuugh. I've done more reading in the past year than the entire rest of my life."

@viridescent-lance up next, on a fresh new post yeehaw

backstreet's back, alright!