#strains of martial music

[free-and-to-none-accountable]

I got a very early lesson in how not-dangerous cities are b/c I was 19 when I moved from The Woods(tm) to The Big City(tm) for the first time and I was also suicidally depressed and I got it into my head that if I spent enough time wandering about in The Bad Part of Town(tm) eventually some manner of Dangerous Criminal(tm) would show up and attempt to do violence to me, which sounded like a decently rock-and-roll way to die when you're 19 years old and have a lot of untreated mental illnesseses.

So what happened was I spent a lot of free time getting drunk and aimlessly wandering around the city, where I had lots of interesting conversations with lots of perfectly nice people, which helped a lot with the suicidal depression it turned out.

[dangerousstrawberryshark]

Comradery

🇺🇸Pairing(s)🇺🇸→ Pre-Serum Steve Rogers x Buff male reader ⚠CW⚠→ Sub top Steve Rogers, dom bottom male reader, anal rimming, Steve worships your body, he tries not to trigger his asthma, size difference, nipple play, breeding kink, and Steve whines from overstimulation. 🇺🇸Rating🇺🇸→ Explicit 🇺🇸Request🇺🇸→ Yes

🇺🇸Word Count🇺🇸→ 1.5k

🇺🇸Summary🇺🇸→ Steve was depressed after being rejected again by the U.S. Army enlistment. He looked in envy at you, his secret boyfriend. You decided to calm Steve down and alleviate him with sex. 

Read before continuing: IF YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN 18 OR ANY OF THE WARNINGS MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, DO NOT CONTINUE READING! 

Steve was depressed after being rejected again. The rejections were chewing away at his sanity. He wanted to join the army desperately so he could be with his boyfriend– friend! He wanted to be with his friend while in service. He was mainly denied due to his numerous health complications. 

You were saddened by Steve’s mood and decided to visit him. You sneaked from the base in the middle of the night. It was risky because you could be caught and given severe consequences, such as being court-martialed for desertion. Only commanding officers can grant someone leave, but you decided to take matters into your own hands. 

It was important not to get caught sneaking or worse– being caught having sex with your boyfriend. The practice was heavily illegal across the country and it could have you kicked out of the military. However, that was the least of your concerns. 

That’s what led to the moment now. 

Steve was breathing raggedly as he looked at the sight before him. You were lying on his bed naked, and all the muscles you accumulated during training showed. Your pectorals were large and soft after all those bench presses, incline presses, and push-ups during the rigid training exercises. 

“They’re huge– In a good way! I like them.” Steve stutters as he tries to hide his embarrassment. He lays next to you, his hand reaching out and groping your pectorals. Your breath hitched as you felt him playing with the muscle. Steve was envious but marveled at the way it felt– it was firm yet soft to the touch. 

Steve continues his ministrations. He began groping both pectorals with his hands before moving down to play with your nipples, pinching the small nubs. “F-fuck, Steve…” you moaned as your cock was pointing upwards from your nipples being played with. The blonde man could feel his clothed cock straining against his pants,

You felt shivers going down your spine as Steve took one of your nipples into his mouth. His slick tongue swirled around the nub, his other hand tweaking the other nipple. Steve began rutting against your muscular thigh and you could feel the blonde-haired man’s erection. Despite the size difference, you being much larger than Steve, Steve had a bigger cock. 

“Please don’t stop.” You whimpered as you started thrusting into the air. Your throbbing cock bobbing as it oozes precum from the slit. Steve grinds as he is the only one who can make you like this. This feeling surged through him as he pulled back, a string of saliva connecting his mouth and your nipple. 

Steve was getting hasty as he then buried his head into your neck, sucking and nibbling on the rough skin. His hands returned to pinching and playing with your nipples. He was gently and roughly sucking on your neck. Your moans were music to Steve’s ears as his hands moved further down your chest. 

“You’re so bulky,” Steve says as one of his hands glazes over your chiseled abdominal muscles. He went as far as to knock on your stomach, feeling how rough and hard it felt. You gasped as the blonde-haired man was touching all the right places. His ministrations caused all the stimulation to rush to your brain. 

“H-Hey, calm down. You’re getting too hasty.” You said as you noticed Steve’s breathing was becoming more ragged and you could hear him wheezing. He was so caught up that he didn’t realize he was breathing heavily from going too fast. Steve pulls back as he tries to control his breathing, holding his chest and calming himself down.

“You’re good. Just calm down.” You said as you turned over onto your side with Steve lying on his back. The room was quiet besides the heavy breathing of Steve and your movements as you repositioned to face the blonde-haired man’s pants. 

“Fucking hell…” Steve moans as he restabilizes before looking down to see his pants along with his underwear being pulled off. He groans from the feeling of his aching cock making contact with your cold hands. His eyes roll back as your large and rough hands slowly stroke his cock. 

For someone of Steve’s stature, he had an impressive cock. Looks to be 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) with a good amount of girth. You looked down to see a heavy set of balls, Steve must be pent up. It made sense since you rarely see him due to your military training. 

The blonde-haired man’s chest heaves as he looks to his right, being met with the sight of your muscular ass. He couldn’t help himself, reaching out and touching it. Your buttocks felt similar to your pectorals, firm but soft. 

Steve takes a big gulp of air as he feels your soft mouth wrapped around his cock. His hand squeezes your muscular ass as you sucked on his cock. He starts whining and whimpering from the warm and wet sensation. The blonde-haired man even started thrusting into your mouth, grinning at the sounds of you gagging and wet slobbering.

You change positions again, 69 position. Steve’s big cock in your mouth with your ass in Steve’s face. Steve was shocked momentarily before he grabbed onto your hips and pulled you closer to him. Like the munch, the blonde-haired man is, he began worshipping your ass. You made sure to arch your back to let Steve get more. 

Steve began kneading the flesh of your ass with both hands. As he did that, he began licking stripes against your puckering hole. His wet appendage glides against the tight ring of muscle as he squeezes your fat ass. A trail of saliva coats your crack as Steve completely buries himself between the two mounds. 

The blonde-haired man’s ministrations motivated you to suck him faster, bobbing your head up and down Steve’s large cock and fondling the set of heavy balls. You pulled back with a loud pop, breathing heavily as you looked to see Steve’s throbbing cock coated with saliva. After recovering for a few moments, you went back to deepthroating. 

Both of your sounds were muffled by each other. Steve’s moans and whimpers were muffled by your ass while you were with his cock. You then felt the blonde-haired man wrapping his hand around your cock, stroking it while eating you out. 

Your moans sent a tingling feeling through Steve as his cock responded by gushing copious amounts of precum into your mouth. The blonde-haired man strokes your cock faster, his thumb smearing and lathering your cock with precum. Your balls tightened as it was ready to spurt its load, but you didn’t want that. 

“I want you inside me.” You said without shame in your voice. You repositioned for a final time, now face-to-face with Steve. The blonde-haired man groans as he feels your complete weight on his frail body. Your thick thighs were on both sides of his as you positioned his aching cock at your entrance. 

The room was filled with sounds of moans and groans as you ground yourself on Steve’s large cock. You bite your lips as Steve’s cock pushes to the hilt. The cockhead pressing directly against your prostate. “You feel so good inside me…” you moan, there were a few minutes of silence as you waited for Steve to control his breathing.

After a few minutes, you started moving. Bouncing on Steve’s cock, the sounds of skin-slapping echoed through the room. It has been forever since Steve has been inside you, the warmth and tightness of your ass hugging his cock was too much.

Steve lets out a loud groan as his balls tighten before spurting thick loads of cum into your ass. You were shocked and surprised by how much cum was flooding inside. It feels hot and thick as it paints your velvety walls. “S-sorry for cumming early…” Steve said as he was embarrassed for cumming early. 

“It's okay, baby,” you said, collapsing beside Steve and stroking your cock. It didn’t take long before your load spurted on your muscular chest. Breathing was heavy between you two, the room smelt like sweat, musk, and sex. You could feel Steve’s hot thick cum oozing out your hole.

“I love you, Steve.”... “I love you too.”

XXX

Steve woke up to you no longer being beside him. You returned to the base before he woke up. He sighs before falling back asleep. ‘Curse this… curse my fucking life.’ He had to get up though since he was going to the Stark Expo with Bucky later in the day. 

This one decision would change everything for him. 

THE END

A/n: Hello, my strawberries! I hope this was good! I need to watch the Marvel movies so I can better understand. Does this fic follow the timeline of the MCU? Probably not. Will there be a part two? I dont know…

Anyways, very special thanks to my proofreader, @sagethgaywitch

TAGLIST: @hiddens-eden @spnfanboy777 @meyocoko @buckyshusband0 @zamfam4272 @raspberryyuuki @maxxioislost @furiousflowercreation

[jokeroutsubs]

An interview with Bojan Cvjetićanin and Nace Jordan in Jana magazine, published 10.10.2023. Featuring a very special shoutout! 😁

On the couch with Joker Out: about the big changes in their lives

Still good, sober boys

We’ll play this and then we’re off – to switch off

The time we have with them is tightly limited, but that’s appropriate for stars of their kind. They are the most popular musical group right now, and they’ve thoroughly conquered many hearts far beyond both Slovenian and Balkan borders. At sold-out concerts, Finns are swooning because of them, Poles, Serbians, Croatians and Spaniards are fainting, not to mention the girls back home. No one prepared them for this kind of craze, but they’re holding up pretty well – they’re still humble guys with good manners, which can (also) be seen in their polite greeting and relaxed chatting in front of their rehearsal space, a comfortable hideaway somewhere between Ljubljana’s warehouses with an unappealing blue door.

Floating into their sanctuary, you almost hit your head on a collection of hanging bras with various affectionate messages written on them. A few more steps, and we plop down on the couch with Bojan Cvjetićanin and Nace Jordan. Jan Peteh and Kris Guštin (damn, he’s tall!) are busy with another camera, and Jure Maček is nowhere to be seen.

How’s your health doing with your (as it seems if you look at the crazy number of concerts all around Europe) pretty exhausting life? How do you take care of your physical fitness?

Bojan: By working out.

Nace: Well, you and I work out, the others only do it a little.

Bojan: Well yeah, she asked us.

Nace: So: we work out a lot, we play badminton, I run, we go to the gym and hike, Bojan also does mixed martial arts.

You’ve found yourselves at a turbulent stage in your career, and like you’ve said before, you cannot be fully prepared for that. What about mental preparation? Do you have to pay extra attention to that or do anything you've never done before?

Bojan: Yes, we have to rest. We haven't had any rest ever since everything became much more intense. My mind and body are now really begging to switch off.

Nace: I agree. Just the other day, we were talking about how we haven’t truly rested since the pre-Eurovision performances. Two- and three-day trips don’t count.

So you’ll only be able to turn off for a bit, after your big concert in Stožice?

Bojan: That’s right. Well, we maybe planned our break a little poorly, because we’re going on a holiday together. (both start laughing loudly)

Nace: Everyone has the same stunned reaction that you did.

You really have to love each other and have a good time together, that’s all I thought. Can you reveal where you’re going?

Bojan: Far away, somewhere warm. As to whether us going together is smart, we’ll tell you when we come back. If we end up needing another holiday after this holiday, then we didn’t make a very wise decision.

Since you really hang out with each other so much, do you perhaps understand any better why some bands get into fatal quarrels or even break up?

Bojan: We definitely understand it a lot more. In a short time, I’ve realised that this rock and roll lifestyle presented to us by rock legends (myths, stories, Hollywood) is truly something that is untenable in the long term. If we look at all the most famous bands, they actually existed for a very short time.

Nace: And, as an interesting fact, most of them broke up while on tour.

Bojan: You can’t do rock and roll and be devoted to your music, concerts, travels, if you’re constantly under the influence of any substances (drugs, alcohol). You really can’t do that, because neither the human body nor the mind are made to withstand this kind of strain, sleeplessness, pleasure, dopamine. All those legends either died young or the bands broke up. Sure, they did a lot, left a permanent mark, but at what cost? We’ve realised that if we want to enjoy what we’re doing, we have to be sober, and you truly enjoy yourself a lot more if you’re sober and feel physically and mentally ready and cultivate friendships. I think that this way, we’ll remember a lot more after a few tours than many rock legends do in their longer careers. How much can you even remember if your brain isn’t even with you on the same stage?

I see that you’re drinking plenty of water, and we remember you, Bojan, from Eurovision, when you were walking around with a bottle of water and blowing into a straw. What was that for?

Bojan: It’s a technique to warm up your vocal chords, based on the principle of blowing into a slightly wider silicone straw in a water bottle. You blow into it, in the correct way and because of the water in the bottle, a negative pressure is created that puts your vocal chords into the most natural position and it works like a massage for them.

Did you discover this for yourself or was it recommended to you?

Bojan: I had never paid special attention to my voice before that, I’m not a trained vocalist, but luckily I naturally developed the correct technique. Otherwise I would’ve lost my voice long ago. So, on the stage, this mechanism luckily developed in a very positive direction for me, which was also confirmed by singing coaches and the doctor I went to for my vocal chords check-up. A phoniatrics specialist, a wonderful guy, helped me during Eurovision. Before the Eurovision performance, my voice gave in a little due to nerves, so I was constantly in contact with a doctor – and we didn’t even really know each other – who gave me advice over the phone. Then, at the first sound check, everything opened up and sounded like it should. It’s really interesting what happens with your voice, it gets incredibly affected by your mental state. Your vocal chords can be perfectly fine, but if your mind is not in the right place, your voice won’t work either.

I also went to get advice from singing coach Nataša Nahtigal, who really helped me a lot. I especially needed that preparation from a psychological point of view.

Did the other band members also need coaches for anything?

Nace: Me and Kris also visited Nataša, because at the beginning we thought that we’d be singing the backing vocals live on the Eurovision stage. So we also practised with her a few times. We also had rehearsals with a choreographer for the optimum stage performance.

We’re having this conversation five days before your biggest concert yet, in Stožice. Does that require any special preparation?

Bojan: It’s a special concert, because it’s the first time we’re encountering the organisation of something this big; it is, after all, the only arena in the country. It’s a lot for us, Magnifico also told us that he was kind of in the dark the first time, but now they’re acclimatised to it. It’s a different type of preparation: we have to prepare the show, the lights, the stage appearance …

Have you even internalised what you’ve managed to do, all the places and the number of people you’ve played to in the past few months (from Ireland to Great Britain, Finland, Norway, Belgrade, Zagreb, Vienna, and now in December, you've got Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona …)?

Bojan: I think that will be a task for the upcoming holiday. When things just keep happening, you’re in this cycle and don’t even really differentiate between one peak and another, so we need to come down a bit to start retroactively comprehending what really happened. Because it’s really wonderful. We were in cities and countries we’d never been to, and then we were there – to play our own sold-out concerts. We absolutely never thought anything like that would ever happen to us.

Nace: Often it’s only when I come home from this kind of tour that I think to myself: wow, look at where we were! We’re playing on a stage where world legends had played before us! Now, in the club in Helsinki, Foo Fighters and AC/DC had played there, among others. Any musician would wish to play there, let alone sell out that concert.

When you walk around these European cities where you have sold out your concerts, do people already recognise you on the street?

Bojan: It’s pretty bizarre, but now they’ve really started to. I think that on this Nordic tour there truly wasn’t any place we went to without at least someone recognising us – either on a train, on the street, in a restaurant, at the airport. Foreign fan culture is a little different, as they get prepared to meet us, in a way – for example, they know when we’ll be at the airport, and they wait for us with gifts, they don’t just come to take photos with us. They bring along our merch shirts, various things for us to sign, they give us gifts. Fans make a lot of things on their own – bracelets, dolls, there are a lot of drawings, crafts; I have two knitted Joker Out scarves at home.

Nace: In Finland we got a lot of knitted socks, hats …

Hand-knitted socks?

Bojan: Yes, with a Slovenian and Finnish flag, for example.

The Scandinavian youth are clearly well-versed in that.

Bojan: Let’s go, Slovenian youth, start knitting Joker Out stuff too! (laughter)

And what is it like to walk down the streets of Slovenia? Can you go to the store in peace?

Bojan: It’s nice to walk down the streets of Slovenia, but we truly always get recognised, that’s a fact, it’s not as inconvenient in stores as it can be when you’re out for drinks, when you constantly feel like someone is eavesdropping next to you.

How difficult is the rockstar life?

Bojan: It’s really nice – every time we’re on the stage, the audience rewards us with a really nice energy, you can’t compare that to anything else, but like any profession, ours has negative sides as well, with the biggest difference being that you’re constantly in the public eye. Very few things are truly personal – you also have a hard time judging for yourself what’s private and what’s not. It’s more of a mental game with yourself – that’s the hardest part of it all. As well as not sleeping, because you travel a lot.

Are there any big disappointments or unexpected things – perhaps that some fans get “carried away” or that not everyone is as well-intentioned as you thought?

Bojan: Absolutely! You suddenly find yourself not only belonging to a home crowd, but also becoming an internet hashtag. The internet has no limits, people have no reservations there, they hide behind a nickname. Each of us has definitely had a few of these moments that shocked us, that’s why we’ve started to pull back from social media.

That’s probably pretty tricky: for the sake of advertising and contact with fans, you have to be present on social media, but meanwhile you’re aware that you need to take a step back for the sake of your health. How do you stay on the safe side? What’s your strategy?

Nace: Primarily, we’ve all stopped reading Twitter, the comments … We have to maintain a certain distance.

Bojan: To be completely honest, I’d like to find someone who could handle my personal profile on social media. It also bothers me that you really waste a lot of time on social media and subconsciously create a lot of unrealistic expectations, because you’re constantly swiping through people’s perfect lives, faces and situations, it’s all quite absurd.

Do you want to influence teenagers in this area, to pass any important messages on to them?

Bojan: Yes, find some wonderful analogue way to follow us and delete your social media.

So, knit a Joker Out scarf or socks instead and listen to their music – that’s pretty analogue. Then, you can also do a charity auction of your fans’ knitwear.

Bojan: Exactly!

One small revolutionary move would also be if concerts or gigs at various parties started earlier. Us slightly more mature citizens also like to go to concerts, but we also like to go to bed a little earlier.

Bojan: I can say that after our Stožice concert, people will be able to be asleep by midnight. But actually, when we were abroad, we got used to gigs starting very soon – sometime between seven and nine in the evening – and the party is definitely not any worse because of that.

You say that you’re full of creative energy. Does your creative process continue under the covers too, do you have notebooks on your nightstand?

Bojan: All the ideas come to me just before I go to sleep. The most recent song Sunny Side of London also happened on the last day before we went to the studio – I couldn’t sleep and I came up with those base lyrics while in bed.

Even though your latest song is in English, due to most of your songs being in Slovenian, you’ve unintentionally become ambassadors of the Slovenian language as well.

Bojan: It was never our goal to become ambassadors of the Slovenian language, but we consciously decided to sing in Slovenian at Eurovision. It means a lot to us, and we hope that our fans will accept that we want to widen our listener base and that there will be some more songs in English because of that. I think that people all around Europe or even further singing twenty of our songs in Slovenian is already a lot, and shows that we’ve done our job. In the future, we’ll create in foreign languages a lot, but we’ll also stay loyal to Slovenian.

A lot of your TV appearances can be found translated to English on the internet. Is that your doing?

Bojan: No, the credit for that goes to a group of fans from all around the world called “Joker Out Subs”, who follow our videos and concerts and translate into quite a few global languages (recently even into Hebrew). They’ve already translated a huge amount of our content, and they do it voluntarily. They’ve also connected with each other in that way, and they’ve told us that 20 of our fans, who met online because of us, booked a house together for our concert in Amsterdam (in December). They’re all coming to the concert and they will stay there together.

Nace: A lot of people have connected like that because of us, which is very nice.

What’s it like at home? Is everything the same at home despite your stardom?

Bojan: Yes, it’s all the same – go mow the lawn!

Nace: I, for example, still drive my grandmother around to run her errands.

And your grandmother listens to your songs?

Nace: She’s definitely listened to some, but I doubt that she’s playing our entire discography. (laughter)

Bojan: Oooh, mine plays it every day, she goes through everything 150 times!

Have you made any changes to your menus?

Bojan: I’ve started eating vegetables – bowls (various healthy ingredients, served in one bowl), Nace got me into that.

Nace: Isn’t it nice to savour something together that’s healthy and that we all like? (Kris pipes up from the background, saying that Nace has gotten them all into Asian food.)

Translation of the captions on the photos:

1) The special friendship with Finnish Eurovision representative Käärijä continues. Together on Finnish stages in September.

2) Bojan loves Swedish girls, says the writing on his shirt.

Translation cr: Joker Out Subs

EDIT: to celebrate the JokerOutSubs shout-out, we prepared a giveaway for Tumblr! You can read more aboout it here!

[infravioletsea]

Shrek 5 predictions:

Shrek's daughter (who I will be calling Shrendaya from here on out) wants to go away to a human college but Shrek (despite his human in-laws) doesn't want her mixing with humans. Queen Lillian is inexplicably missing, presumed dead.

The secondary protagonist is the son of Prince Charming, who he calls Junior, but prefers to go by CJ (because he thinks it's cool). He's got little to no personality except for being "awkward" where his father is confident

The main antagonist is the ghost of the Fairy Godmother. Her main motive is looking for a MacGuffin that'll bring her back to life so she can take down the Shrek family.

As part of her plan, she enlists CJ to seduce Shrendaya so she'll get them to the MacGuffin. Unfortunately, he starts to catch real feelings for her, despite their total lack of chemistry.

Shrek is apprehensive of CJ at first, which puts a strain on his relationship with Shrendaya who thinks he's being humanphobic. Eventually he and CJ have a heart to heart which is around the time that he decides to abandon his Fairy Grandmother's plan

This is when it all comes to light, leading to a third-act breakup and Shrendaya singing a sad ballad cover of an Olivia Rodrigo song. This scene exists as a soft launch for Zendaya's music career

There is a scene where Fiona injures herself in a martial arts fight because her joints aren't what they used to be.

During a fight sequence, there's a scene where the Shrek Family stand back to back while the camera circles them like that one group shot in the first Avengers film

There is a scene of someone flossing. I don't know who, I'm leaning Donkey but the thought of him doing anything bipedal terrifies me.

There is a singular cameo from Puss, in which he has a litter of kittens and is struggling with fatherhood. He's also "let himself go"

There's a brief Arthur cameo. There is a "this will ruin the tour" joke

Shrek's son is "openly gay". This means that near the end, he is seen holding hands with an unnamed background human man. The critics lose their shit over this, despite there being so much queer coding in previous movies (Doris, Big Bad Wolf, the whole plot of S2, etc.)

Donkey and Dragon are in a rough patch. There is a sexy evil girl donkey who exists solely to tempt Donkey into having an affair. She has boobs and eyelashes. Dragon kills her at the end.

Regardless of canon, the dronkeys stay at the age we last see them, and exist mostly as marketable plushes

Shrek is insecure about getting older. His arc is about how if he loves his kids he should let them go and recognise that the world has changed

There is a True Love's Kiss at the end between Shrendaya and CJ. Neither of them change into a human or ogre respectively.

Said kiss happens when Shrendaya punches CJ and says "THIS is for betraying me. And *this* is for everything else"

There is a dance party closing sequence. Possibly to a Charli XCX song.

The Snow Queen is set up as an antagonist, but is killed off early on, as she's about to break into song. Someone inevitably makes a snide "Let it go" comment

The fart jokes are cranked up to 11. A LOT of them are about how Shrek Is Old Now

There is a mid-credits teaser for another sequel or spinoff.

If they're teasing Shrek 6, they'll set up Rapunzel as the main antagonist

[theoperatives]

[   matthew daddario,  homosexual,  cismale  +  he/him,  osteokinesis  ]  bishop  cross  is  a  chaotic neutral  agent  of  pandora  selected  for  their  work  in  a  classified  sanction  of  the  cia,  his  exceptional  pain  tolerance,  and  combat  prowess  that  made  them  an  ideal  candidate  and  underwent  the  top-secret  mutation  process.  to  the  rest  of  the  world,  the  thirty-five  year  old  originally  from  chicago is  deceased  or  missing.  however,  in  atlantis,  they  are  now  known  as  fracture of  wrath  after  developing  the  ability  to  create,  control,  shape,  move,  manipulate,  and  interact  with  bones,  up  to,  but  not  limited  to  bone  spears,  breaking  bones,  changing  the  density  of  bones  within  himself  or  others.  the  agent  has  been  with  pandora  for  seven  years  and  is  trusted  for  being  resilient  &  proactive,  but  once  reprimanded  for  being  tactless  &  ruthless.  

c:\projectpandora\agents\fracture\bishop-cross\basics

NAME & CALLSIGN:  bishop cross. AGE & DATE OF BIRTH: 35 / december 07, 1989. GENDER & PRONOUNS: cismale / he & him. SEXUAL & ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: homosexual & homoromantic. OCCUPATION: classified cia agent. HOMETOWN: chicago, illinois. FAMILY: [ restricted and removed ]. DIVISION: wrath. YEARS IN PANDORA: seven years. SPECIAL ABILITY: osteonkinesis ( bone manipulation ).

c:\projectpandora\agents\fracture\bishop-cross\physical

FACE CLAIM: matthew daddario. HAIR: black, slight curls, some graying streaks showing at his temples. EYES: honeyed molasses, a hazel with flecks of deep emeralds; at times can look like dark mahogany. intense stares, too long held eye contact. BUILD: bishop stands tall, with broad shoulders, tappered waist, powerful legs and built arms. he takes care of his body and doesn't mind letting it show. he works out, lifts, runs, and participates in many forms of martial arts. PRESENCE: imposing, present, self assured. he does not cower. he stands casually, most of the time, but that's mostly due to the fact that he doesn't think anyone could take him if it really came down to a fight. DISTINGUISING FEATURES: some tattoos that remain covered, some scars on his chest and back.

c:\projectpandora\agents\fracture\bishop-cross\psyche

ALIGNMENT: chaotic neutral. TEMPERAMENT: sanguine-choleric. ASTROLOGICAL PLACEMENTS: sagitarrius sun, aries moon, scorpio rising. POSITIVE TRAITS: resilient, proactive, indepedent, courageous, adventurous. NEGATIVE TRAITS: tactless, ruthless, risk-taking, rebellious, brutal. LIKES: fighting, working out, cinnamon infused baked goods, black coffee, sex. DISLIKES: plenty of people, failure, screamo music, dentists.

c:\projectpandora\agents\fracture\bishop-cross\abilities

EXPERTISE: pain-tolerance, battle-field endurance, athletics. PROFICIENCY: acrobatics & evasions, intimidation, languages, tactical foresight, brute force. SUBSTANDARD AREAS: hacking & cyber warfare, biochemistry & medicine. ABILITY OVERVIEW: osteokinesis. ⸻ the ability to manipulate, create, and control bones.

with practice, he can create weapons made of bones. manipulate and control the bones in others, change the density of bones to become heavier or lighter, hardening them or making them more brittle. LIMITATIONS: if things don't have bones, if he gets too physically exhausted he won't be able to wield his powers. it can take a physical strain on the body, which is why he makes sure he is in as peak condition as possible.

[ophernelia]

Imogen Sumner

Age: 19

Birthday: June 22nd

Hometown: Oasis Springs

Species: Human

Sexuality: Demisexual

Current Status: Alive

Partner(s): Lou Howell

Originally from Skyward Palms, Oasis Springs, Imogen Sumner is the only child to Dallas and Cale. Imogen spent most of her time alone growing up in Oasis Springs. Though she had the occasional company of her cousins, Imogen struggled to make friends in school and was often viciously bullied and ostracized by her peers. Often returning home with cuts, scrapes, dirt or dried blood on her. Though Imogen would typically silent in school, she was often targeted by her peers. They found her unsettling, odd, and monotoned. This mistreatment would often continue throughout the summer whenever Imogen would go to camp. Ultimately, Cale and Dallas opted to take more family tips instead. However, during a summer trip to visit her grandmother Hattie in Copperdale, Imogen met her soon-to-be lifelong bestfriend Lou. For the three months the Sumner’s would visit Copperdale every summer, Imogen spent all her days with Lou. Though she was still quite shy and quiet, Lou adored her company and she adored his. The two remained in touch throughout the year. Often talking every single day for hours upon end. During her teenage years her grandmother fell sick and came to stay with her family in Oasis Springs temporarily. However, the temporary stay became permanent and soon-enough Hattie passed. During that time Imogen lost touch with Lou and was forced to deal with her grief alone. Only speaking to him sparingly that summer, it put a bit of strain on their friendship. After the passing of her grandmother, Imogen's family moved to Copperdale and stayed in her grandmother's home. She and Lou reconnected upon her move to the city. Navigating an entire new social scene her senior year of high school was no easy feat, but at least she would have the company of Lou.

Fun Facts:

Imogen is musically gifted. An exceptional pianist and guitar player, with a heavenly set of pipes to match.

Imogen has a deep love for books and plants.

Imogen is the third youngest of the entire Brice clan.

Imogen is very monotoned. She likes to think of herself as a black Wednesday Addams.

Imogen has a deep love for the Twilight series. She would have chosen Jacob over Edward.

Imogen is professionally trained in martial arts.

Imogen's theme song is I'm Low On Gas And You Need A Jacket.

[serkan-bayindir]

— no one mourns the wicked.

playlist — pinterest

— INFO: Name: Serkan Bayındır DOB/Sign: March 22, 1993/Aries Hometown: İstanbul, Türkiye Affiliation: Castenada Family- Mercenary Occupation: Owner of the Velvet Lounge Neighborhood: The Flats Positive Traits: Resilient, loyal, charismatic, protective Negative Traits: Impulsive, guarded, stubborn, impatient Myers-Briggs: ESTP Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Likes: Boxing, thunderstorms, fixing things, coffee, concocting new drinks, late nights, live music, playing guitar Dislikes: Hospitals, snow, anything grape flavored,

— BACKGROUND: Born to a tight-knit, yet complicated family in İstanbul, Türkiye, Serkan has always understood the meaning of loyalty, as well as how fiercely it must be upheld. His upbringing was far from conventional, with his father a well respected presence within İstanbul’s criminal underground and his mother an innocent bystander, but Serkan and his younger brother, Kerem, never knew that. To them, the violence and chaos was practically woven into the fabric of who they were. It was normal, even if it never should have been. From a young age, both brothers found themselves subconsciously following their father’s lead, much to the chagrin of their mother, who’d hoped her boys might choose a different path. But they were their father’s sons, armed with restless, fiery spirits and a relentless drive, and their mother could see it. Neither of them would ever play it safe with a typical nine to five livelihood. No, they’d chase each thrill as it came to them, same as their father.

When Serkan was ten years old, his father’s endeavors with black market arms dealing uprooted the Bayındır family and relocated them to Devil’s Junction, Illinois. At the time, Serkan was largely unaware of what his father’s dealings with the Castenada family truly meant, but his father’s loyalty to them was never lost on him. Over the next few years, his father continued to work closely with the Castenada family, participating in one gun deal after the other up until his untimely death when Serkan was fourteen. Stricken with grief, his mother pinned his father’s death directly on his business relations and hoped it might deter her sons from that life, but if anything, his death only served as a catalyst. Balancing his family on his shoulders in the wake of his father’s passing, Serkan dove in deep, curbing his grief by beating it into something that he could use. In the years that followed, he honed himself into an asset for the Castenada family, into a weapon that could be used by the organization that his father had given his life for. If that put him in the crossfire just like his father, then so be it– wasn’t that loyalty, after all? Since he was twenty years old, he’s been a hired gun for the Castenadas. While very close to his brother, his work has certainly strained his relationship with his mother, though they’re still very present in each other’s lives. Despite his mother’s objections, Serkan strives for loyalty to both his given family and his chosen family, the Castenadas. About a year ago, he acquired the Velvet Lounge, both to pursue his own interests and to potentially set it up as a spot for the family to use if needed. — HEADCANONS:

Serkan lives for the fast life, whether that be through muscle cars or motorcycles, and enjoys fixing them up in his spare time.

He’s an avid boxer and mixed martial artist. It’s stress relief for him and a way to stay sharp and in shape.

A bit of a mixologist– he loves concocting new drinks

Fluent in three languages: Turkish, English, Spanish

Has a new kitten– a little gray girl named Mey. He found her abandoned in a dumpster outside of the Velvet Lounge and she’s become his entire world. 

— CONNECTIONS:

Friends: Though it's a bit hard for him to connect sometimes, he's loyal to a fault, so I'd love some ride or die friends for him. Once he's befriended you, he's a friend for life.

Employees: I love work relationships, so would love to have any of his employees whether it be a bartender, waitress, security, etc. I'm here for all of it.

Sparring partner: He loves to box. Fighting keeps him grounded and centered, so he'd most likely rely on this person a lot to randomly meet him in the ring and just help him sort out whatever is going on in his head.

Brother: Would looove to see his brother, Kerem, in play. The two of them are thick as thieves and always have been.

Enemies: Always down for some conflict. He's having a bit of a hard time adjusting to uniting against a common enemy, particularly because his father was likely killed by one of the other families, so old habits tend to die hard.

Fwbs: He's not been much of a commitment man in recent years, preferring to keep most everyone at arms length, but he still longs for connection.

Exes: Definitely open to this. I like the idea that he's had a "one that got away" situation, etc.

[tinywitchgoblin]

Heya!

If you are still doing ship requests I would love to participate.

I'm a 24 year old female who has a degree in film focusing on producing and currently work as a medical receptionist.

I am someone who is a bit more on the shyer and friendly side when I first meet people, but when I open up I am sarcastic, talkative, incredibly loyal and even become the mom friend, it does also take a lot for me to trust someone. I am an ENFJ, Ravenclaw (With Slytherin and Hufflepuff as a close second), I would also be a Daughter of Athena.

My hobbies include, Reading (Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Mythology, dystopian, etc.), Writing, Ice Skating, Martial Arts, D&D, Playing Video Games and Graphic Design (More so Image Manipulation), on a rare occasion photography and listening to music (wide variety of music but mainly Kpop, Rock, R&B, Alternative and Pop.)

I am 5ft 3in, and more plus sized. I have just past shoudler length red and orange hair, icy blue eyes and wear glasses when I can so my eyes don't strain. My style is a bit all over the place as I usually only wear shorts, a tshirt of a fandom I love or it would be a nice stylish shirt with heeled boots. Or I would get fully dressed up. But heeled boots are the main thing I would wear as well as a lot of jewellery.

I am so excited to see who you would match me with!! And I hope you have a wonderful day!! 💜💜

Of course, you too! 💜💜

I ship you with...

Echo!

Considering that Echo is also a Mom Friend(tm), you and he got along pretty well from the start. He loves your caring but sarcastic personality, and he couldn't help but fall for you. Once you open up to him, he sees aspects of your personality that remind him of Fives, and he only wished you would've been able to meet him.

One of Echo's favorite things to do with you is train. Having had ARC trooper training, he's quite skilled in martial arts, so he really enjoys sparring with you (if you're open to it, of course). He's especially proud when you get a hit in, or even knock him flat on his back. That's his girl right there.

Echo loves learning about all of the types of art you partake in. From filmmaking, to graphic design, to photography, to your sense of fashion, he's all over it. He'd never really been given the opportunity to express his creative side (he din't even know he had one until he met you), so being able to learn about so many art forms is new and exciting for him. Echo especially loves when you involve him in your art, because it's his favorite way of you showing him that you love him.

-

Thanks for reading! If you want a ship request like this one, drop it in my ask box, and don't forget to reblog 💚

[mystalwartheart]

name. Jill Valentine

nickname(s). Jillybean, JV, Val, Regina, The Master of Unlocking

title. Branch Captain, Special Tactics and Rescue Service Los Angeles-Pacific and Senior Field Agent, Bioterrorism Task Force

P E R S O N A L .

morality. lawful/ neutral / chaotic / good / grey / evil

religious belief. Private, like a lot of Jill's personal life. She is either mixed or part of a diaspora though, so her spiritual beliefs likely reflect that blending of cultures.

sins. lust  / greed / gluttony / sloth / pride /envy/ wrath

virtues. chastity / charity / diligence / humility / kindness / patience/ justice

primary goals in life. To be the best person she can for the people in her life, and to "protect and serve" where possible. She hopes to play some small part in building a better world for the Year 2000 and beyond.

languages known. English, Tahitian, German (fluent), Korean, Spanish, Dutch (some). Do please note her mun is not fluent in all these languages XD

quirks. - She's a young woman from Los Angeles. It's the 1980s. Do the math XD If you see this side of her, it means she trusts and feels comfortable around you.

savvies. - Physical strength, agility, martial arts, military tactics, operational strategy, criminology, leadership, navigation, maritime and civil engineering, stealth, the ability to sustain deep cover, lockpicking, explosive ordinance disposal, combat diving, classical piano, surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, cooking, singing

P H Y S I C A L .

build. slender/ fit / athletic / curvy / herculean / babyfat / pudgy / obese / other

height. 172 cm (5 ft 8 in)

weight. 56 kg (123 lb)

scars/birthmarks. None to speak of.

abilities/powers. - Natural immunity to mutagenic viral strains such as the Clay Progenitor Virus and its descendants.

F A V O U R I T E S .

favourite food. Honestly? Probably hamburgers: They're fast, compact and filling. Hinano is right up the street from her, and In-n-Out is all over the city.

favourite drink. Smoothies!

topping. Your basic pepperoni.

favourite colour. Blue

favourite music genre. You'll most likely catch her listening to pop, but Jill is an ex-rock groupie from LA and her sis is in a punk/chamber pop revival band. She has harder stuff in her library, and don't forget this is also the era where there's a lot of overlap between those genres.

favourite book genre. Literary fiction

favourite movie genre. Anything lighthearted or thought-provoking. Jill doesn't like being reminded of work off the clock, so nothing super dramatic or angsty.

favourite season. Summer

favourite curse word. "Damn" or "Shit"

favourite scent. Giorgio Beverly Hills

F U N S T U F F .

bottom or top. Top as a general rule, unless you're really special to her.

loud burper or soft burper. Uh, you won't hear anything because that's uncouth and not ladylike??

sings in the shower. yes��/no

likes bad puns. yes / no - More like tolerates. You'll get an exasperated groan, but she'll still probably smile at least a little.

their opinion on the mun. "She cares a lot, is very loyal and dedicated but she works too much. She needs to take care of herself and rest more. We're alike in that way."

Tagged by @red-man-of-mustache

Tagging: Anyone who wants to!

[talesofpassingtime]

‘Weber passes by us amid a romantic landscape, conducting the ballads of the dead amidst weeping willows and oaks with twisted branches. Schumann follows him, beneath the pale moonlight, along the shores of silvery lakes. And behold, here comes Rossini, incarnation of the musical gift, so gay, so natural, without the least concern for expression, caring nothing for the public, and who isn’t my man by a long way — ah! certainly not — but then, all the same, he astonishes one by his wealth of production, and the huge effects he derives from an accumulation of voices and an ever-swelling repetition of the same strain. These three led to Meyerbeer, a cunning fellow who profited by everything, introducing symphony into opera after Weber, and giving dramatic expression to the unconscious formulas of Rossini. Oh! the superb bursts of sound, the feudal pomp, the martial mysticism, the quivering of fantastic legends, the cry of passion ringing out through history! And such finds! — each instrument endowed with a personality, the dramatic recitatives accompanied symphoniously by the orchestra — the typical musical phrase on which an entire work is built! Ah! he was a great fellow — a very great fellow indeed!’

— Emile Zola, The Masterpiece

[valleyfthdolls]

What about the clubs? Not every character in them, but the groups as a whole

Hang on lemme google the clubs again

Cooking club: The cooking club gets extra credit for their involvement. They’re kind of exclusive: kids with bad reputations are not allowed in their club. They’re otherwise the same- pretty tight knit, very positive, and they have a lot of respect for Amai.

Drama club: Only describes the students who engage in the drama program year round and not just during show season. Some of the members are very hardcore and look down on people who won’t engage year round (such as Kizana and, to a lesser extent, Tsuzuro). As of 2019 (when my rewrite takes place), they are performing Yotsuya Kaidan, one of the most influential Japanese ghost stories of all time. They’re not very close- in fact, they tend to be quite competitive, even though they do bond during production.

Occult club: A religious group with a focus on spiritualism. Believes the school is haunted or at least has some kind of a negative energy. (They are right.) Most of the occult club has decent reputations, but due to the stigma around their religious practices, they aren’t fully trusted. They’re quite tight-knit, and a bit like a coven of witches.

Art club: The art club has a pretty good reputation among the school because their art is used for the clubs and programs at school’s promotional posters, which livens the atmosphere of the school. It’s fun by Shoku (cooking club temp leader)’s little sister Geiju, who has presented masc/androgynous for enough of his life that people have kind of forgotten he’s a girl (butch he/him lesbian). Geiju is a little weird, but he’s well liked anyway. He has no reservations against having disliked students in his club, unless they show a disrespect for art.

Light music club: Well, if Miyuji’s bandmates don’t like you, you’re not getting in, but even if you’ve never looked at a musical instrument in your life, Miyuji has no reservations about letting people in. She has a sort of “the more, the merrier” view of it. The band as it is is pretty close, but they’re also very welcoming and will take new members under their wing without a fuss. They get on well with some of the other alt kids at school (like the gyarus- especially Hoshiko, who’s rokku gyaru- and the occult club). If Miyuji doesn’t like you, word will spread among the other alt students.

Martial arts club: It’s kind of the same, but Masato (Budo, club leader) had more of a complex about having to be a teacher to everyone. This is what drove Emiri (Raibaru) away from the club: when she stepped down as leader, she was planning to stay, but it strained her relationship with Masato because he suddenly felt totally responsible for her. Generally respected.

Photography club: Mostly photographs scenery. Will photograph whatever people want for a price. Frequently commissioned by info-chan, despite her also finding them a massive nuisance. They find it necessary to find proof of every rumor. From a gameplay standpoint, they would be an easy way to bully a student- gossip to them and let them find the proof.

Science club: The roomba is their pet. They named it wan-chan (essentially they call it “doggy”). They’re less deranged mad scientists and more a group of total nerds. Mostly computer scientists. Yaku is either a TV head kid with a working screen or a protogen furry. Either way I think he made the screen himself and he’s not allowed to wear either to school so he settles for that visor.

Sports club: Don’t care about these people. To be frank I always forget they exist.

Gardening club: Uekiya is kind to everyone, but I figure she’d probably also not allow club members with bad reputations.

Gaming club: Also a bunch of massive nerds. Actually an e-sports team and compete nationwide. They’re also pretty competitive, but in a friendly way. That being said, they’re not really close, and new members fit in about as well as anyone else.

Delinquents: Were bullied in middle school and adopted the delinquent persona to protect themselves, but they are an outright criminal gang. In the game, Sakyu says that they protect bullied students, but not only do we never see this, they actually do the opposite: they physically harass and assault classmates for getting too close to them, berate and insult everyone who passes by, and when Ayano tries to become their friend, they assume it’s because she’s being bullied and needs help, and they ridicule her for it. I would lean into this: the delinquents became your stereotypical boy bullies to protect themselves against bullying. The bullying thing is something I’ll get into in a sec.

Student council: An entirely formal relationship. They’re very hard on new members.

Gyarus: A group of social but highly defensive and combative girls. All of them having been bullied for their styles (as well as Kashiko for being half black, Hoshiko for her weight, and Kokoro for being trans), they’re quick to become defensive against others. They’re VERY tight knit and bordering on a polyamorous relationship of some kind. It would take a lot to fully fit in with them. They beef a lot with the delinquents.

Clubless students: Hosho, Hazuki and Otohiko (Horuda, Hazu and Otohiko) stick together mostly because they’re all really shy and bullied students. Hosho hangs around the art club, but is too shy to draw, Hazuki likes sewing, but the only other seamstress in school is Ayano, and Otohiko I feel likes crossword puzzles a lot which is a very niche thing to like. All of them are very forgiving of students with bad reputations- Otohiko has a reputation as an easy target, Hosho as a freak and a creep, and Hazuki as an unsocialized weirdo. Toga and Kyuji are not really friends with them, but they’re all kinda at the same spot in life, so there’s some solidarity there. Kyuji and Toga are kinda close, though.

The rainbow kids: they’re there! In my rewrite :) Yui and Haruto are lowkey bullies.

As for the bullying thing, I think it’s been mentioned that in the main game, there’s supposed to be 5 levels of bullying so here’s what I imagine that like. Most groups engage in the bullying, all feeling justified in doing so. Content warning for increasingly more traumatic bullying.

Level 1: Students start gossiping. The gyarus will cut the victim off if they were friends and the delinquents will become more aggressive. The photography club will look for proof that the rumors are true. Domino effects will begin among friend groups- one student dislikes the victim, which makes their friends dislike them, which makes their friends dislike them. The victim will be removed, if applicable, from the gardening or cooking club.

Level 2: The victim will be removed from any clubs. They will begin getting pranked and having their belongings stolen. Notes will be left in their locker.

Level 3: Bullies will begin interacting with the victim physically: classmates will push them out of the way and trip them, delinquents will threaten them, etc. They will begin to write on their desk.

Level 4: Bullying turns physical. Delinquents will beat the victim if they see them.

Level 5: At this point, the victim will withdraw from school or worse.

[institutestrength]

How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Today's Youth?

Institute Strength Copyright 2024

Institutestrength.com

Excessive screen time for children under the age of 12 can have several negative effects on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Here are some key detriments:

1. Physical Health Issues:

- Vision Problems: Prolonged screen use can cause eye strain, discomfort, and even long-term vision issues such as myopia.

- Sedentary Lifestyle: Excessive screen time often replaces physical activity, leading to a sedentary lifestyle that can contribute to obesity and related health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular problems.

- Sleep Disruption: Exposure to blue light from screens, especially before bedtime, can interfere with the production of melatonin, disrupting sleep patterns and leading to sleep deprivation.

2. Mental Health Concerns:

- Attention Problems: Constant exposure to fast-paced, attention-grabbing digital content can reduce a child's ability to focus and pay attention for extended periods, potentially impacting academic performance.

- Increased Anxiety and Depression: High levels of screen time, particularly with social media use, have been linked to increased rates of anxiety and depression in children.

3. Cognitive Development:

- Delayed Development: Excessive screen time can impede the development of essential skills such as language acquisition, critical thinking, and problem-solving, especially in younger children who benefit more from hands-on, interactive learning.

- Reduced Academic Performance: Overreliance on screens for entertainment rather than educational purposes can negatively affect academic performance and reduce the time spent on homework or reading.

4. Social and Emotional Impacts:

- Social Isolation: Children spending too much time on screens may miss out on crucial face-to-face interactions, which are essential for developing social skills, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

- Behavioral Issues: There is evidence to suggest a link between high screen time and increased behavioral problems, such as aggression and difficulty managing emotions.

5. Addiction and Dependency:

- Screen Addiction: The engaging nature of digital content can lead to addictive behaviors, where children become dependent on screens for stimulation and entertainment, making it difficult for them to engage in other activities.

To mitigate these risks, it's important for parents and caregivers to set clear limits on screen time, encourage regular physical activity, ensure a balanced schedule with time for homework and social interactions, and promote screen-free zones and times, especially before bed.

Engaging children in physical activities can be both fun and beneficial for their health and development. Here are some effective ways to get a child engaged physically:

1. Outdoor Play:

- Sports: Enroll them in team sports like soccer, basketball, baseball, or tennis. These activities not only provide physical exercise but also teach teamwork and discipline.

- Biking: Encourage regular bike rides in the neighborhood or on local trails.

- Hiking: Take them on nature hikes to explore the outdoors and enjoy physical activity.

2. Interactive Games:

- Tag or Hide and Seek: Traditional playground games are a great way to keep children moving and interacting with peers.

- Obstacle Courses: Create a fun obstacle course in the backyard or park, challenging them to run, jump, and climb.

3. Dance and Movement:

- Dance Classes: Sign them up for dance lessons such as ballet, hip-hop, or jazz.

- Dance Parties: Have impromptu dance parties at home with their favorite music.

4. Structured Classes:

- Martial Arts: Enroll them in martial arts classes like karate, taekwondo, or judo, which also teach discipline and self-defense.

- Gymnastics: Gymnastics classes can help improve flexibility, strength, and coordination.

5. Family Activities:

- Walks and Jogging: Go for family walks or jogs in the morning or evening.

- Swimming: Spend time at the pool or beach, swimming and playing water games together.

- Gardening: Involve them in gardening activities, which require physical effort and teach about nature.

6. Creative Play:

- Treasure Hunts: Organize treasure hunts that require them to run around and solve clues.

- Interactive Playgrounds: Visit playgrounds that have various equipment for climbing, swinging, and balancing.

7. Home-Based Activities:

- Fitness Videos: Use kid-friendly fitness videos or apps that make exercise fun and engaging.

- Indoor Games: Set up indoor activities like balloon volleyball, hopscotch, or jumping rope.

8. Involving Friends:

- Playdates: Arrange playdates with physically active friends to encourage social and physical interaction.

- Sports Clubs: Join local youth clubs or leagues where they can participate in organized sports.

9. Setting Goals and Rewards:

- Activity Challenges: Create challenges with rewards for achieving certain physical activity goals, like a family hike or a fun outing.

10. Lead by Example:

- Be Active Together: Show them the importance of physical activity by being active yourself. Children often mimic the behavior of adults.

By incorporating a variety of these activities into their routine, you can help children develop a love for physical activity, ensuring they stay active and healthy.

Consider hiring a personal trainer to help you reach your goals today!

Visit Institutestrength.com for more details & sign up for our Patreon for exclusive SOCIETY member training rates !

[thelastrenaissance]

The Day Is Done Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The day is done, and the darkness Falls from the wings of Night, As a feather is wafted downward From an eagle in his flight.

I see the lights of the village Gleam through the rain and the mist, And a feeling of sadness comes o'er me, That my soul cannot resist:

A feeling of sadness and longing, That is not akin to pain, And resembles sorrow only As the mist resembles the rain.

Come, read to me some poem, Some simple and heartfelt lay, That shall soothe this restless feeling, And banish the thoughts of day.

Not from the grand old masters, Not from the bards sublime, Whose distant footsteps echo Through the corridors of Time.

For, like strains of martial music, Their mighty thoughts suggest Life's endless toil and endeavor; And to-night I long for rest.

Read from some humbler poet, Whose songs gushed from his heart, As showers from the clouds of summer, Or tears from the eyelids start;

Who, through long days of labor, And nights devoid of ease, Still heard in his soul the music Of wonderful melodies.

Such songs have power to quiet The restless pulse of care, And come like the benediction That follows after prayer.

Then read from the treasured volume The poem of thy choice, And lend to the rhyme of the poet The beauty of thy voice.

And the night shall be filled with music And the cares that infest the day, Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, And as silently steal away.

[all-the-fun-of-the-cirkus]

alright, first-time listen of the year no. 2 is hawks & doves by neil young, which is honestly a much weirder album than i was expecting

more than pretty much any other artist i tend to consider neil young a standalone album guy. take, say, genesis for instance; other than the odd aberration like the lamb, you can draw a clear line from trespass to invisible touch where every album is more or less a logical followup to its predecessor. neil young, on the other hand, just does whatever the fuck he wants. i mean, this comes after his proto-grunge album, but if you were just listening to his discography without any guide you'd put it right next to harvest, and i'd defy anyone to tell that this album came out in 1980. the standalone thing means you never really know what you're getting, and you certainly can't rely on other people to articulate it for you

the weirdest thing about this album is that it has a reputation as the Country One and as being a throwaway, which is arguably true... for side 2. but then the only songs from it people ever talk about are from side 1! it's baffling. and to be clear, side 2's alright; union man's a little too silly, but the first two tracks are enjoyable throwaways, comin' apart at every nail is... interesting, in a way i can't quite figure out yet, and the title track is alright (i haven't the foggiest whether it's a pisstake or a sincere statement, but that's par for the course with neil)

side 1, however, is excellent in its entirety. the thing that stood out to me, oddly enough, was neil's voice; it's real high in the mix, like he really wanted those lyrics clear, and he sound oddly tired and strained, particularly in little wing. wonder if that was intentional or if he really was just tired and strained. anyway everyone tips their hat to little wing, which is a great moody opener (it very much sounds like it was recorded in his bedroom, to its credit), but the obligatory "what the hell is he on about" track in the old homestead is the highlight for me. for some reason, it sounds to me musically like a more lowkey version of it's alright ma, and of course it's not as good as one of the greatest songs of all time, but there's a quiet intensity to the whole thing despite (or maybe because of) the absolutely baffling lyrics. fab arrangement, too; the saw could absolutely have been higher in the mix but burying it lends the whole song a really eeriness, and the stiff, martial drumming adds to the atmosphere too

the other two tracks are less impressive but still good; captain kennedy is a nice sea shanty pastiche, and lost in space is a fairly generic song absolutely jumping out of its skin to be interesting anyway (the frazzled, confused lyrics, the tempo changes, that weird nursery rhyme bit, the lovely dual guitar melody in the breaks). i think i actually might have more to say on this at some point but it's four in the morning, so. not an all-time great, but i was pleasantly surprised, good album

[19blogmk]

Tunisians Mourn a Hard-Fought Freedom Rapidly Slipping Away

Mosaïque FM, Tunisia’s most popular radio station, comes to life each morning around 5:30 a.m. with the martial strains of the national anthem. Next comes a voice crooning a verse from the Quran, then music and news, followed by the political show “Watch What They Say,” which has chronicled the floundering of the country’s young democracy and its recent U-turn toward autocracy. The show’s host,…

[18blogmk]

Tunisians Mourn a Hard-Fought Freedom Rapidly Slipping Away

Mosaïque FM, Tunisia’s most popular radio station, comes to life each morning around 5:30 a.m. with the martial strains of the national anthem. Next comes a voice crooning a verse from the Quran, then music and news, followed by the political show “Watch What They Say,” which has chronicled the floundering of the country’s young democracy and its recent U-turn toward autocracy. The show’s host,…