#the gods of music were in my favour today

[damnprecious]

It's official, my ipod is as good as dead TT.TT

[luveline]

hi bae, just wondering if you could write something like roommate!marauders and reader with anxiety where everytime one of them goes out she gets really worried that’s somethings gonna happen to them and waits up for them and just feels like a burden when she calls to make sure they’re alright and just general anxiety things and them being so sweet about it

love u

love u too♡

cw death related anxiety

“Hey, Remus?” you ask tentatively. 

Your housemate lays across the sofa with his dinner half eaten on the coffee table and a book tented on his chest. He's ignoring both in favour of the television, a rerun of Family Fortunes turning the sofa cushions and his pale skin a light blue. 

He drags his blue-tinged gaze from the subtitles to your frowning. “What's wrong?” he asks. You're surprised he heard you over the sound of Sirius’ stereo echoing down the stairs. 

“Where did James say he was going?” 

“I think he said he'd be at the gym for an hour now he's not in work. Want me to call him?” 

“Why would you call him?” you ask, instead of saying yes, please, like you want to. 

“You're worrying again.” 

They know how you are. It doesn't mean they have to understand —it isn't logical to think James is hurt because he hasn't been home today yet, and none of them are required to humour you in your worry, but they always do. 

You feel sick as he takes his phone from his pocket. You've convinced yourself that James is dead, that his car curled around a bend too quickly on the drive in the rain, or that something happened at the gym, or that he never made it there at all, had a fit in the car park outside of work. Even as you think it, you know it's implausible, unlikely, just a repetitive negative anxiety worming its way into your head, but you can't make it stop. 

James doesn't answer the first time, which doesn't help, and then when he does answer the second time you're waiting for bad news. Remus smiles as he talks. “Hello? Jamie?”

James doesn't need speak phone to be heard. “Remus! I'm at the gym, what's happening?”

Remus wrinkles his nose. “What's happening? Since when do you say that?”

“What's up?” James corrects. “I'm on my way out of the gym, can you talk? You can keep me company while I drive.” 

Remus holds out the phone to you. 

“Remus?” James asks into the room. You take the phone before he can hang up, and decide to be honest, but the words get stuck like toffee between your teeth. “Hello?” 

“Hey,” you say, sending Remus a grateful look. He moves over to make room on settee for you, and his arm wraps familiarly around your shoulders as you settle in. He turns his attention back to his show. 

“Oh my god hey, angel. Remus okay?” 

“I was making him ring you, sorry. I thought… you know what I'm like. It's getting late and you aren't home, and I know I don't have the right to pester you about where you are.”

“Yeah you do,” James says, his voice louder, like his mouth is very close to the microphone. “Course you do. I'd worry too if you weren't home yet.” 

“I do this all the time, though.”

Just last week he and Sirius were out late and you'd panicked that they'd both been hurt. You stayed up until almost one in the morning waiting for them to get home from a music shop in the city, each minute after eleven like a shot of ice water in your veins. Sirius jumped when he saw you waiting in the living room, but then he'd given you a hug and rubbed at your shoulders roughly. You didn't wait up for us, did you? 

“It's worse lately, yeah?” James asks. You hum non-committal, and Remus gives you a squeeze in typical Remus fashion. You hadn't even realised he was listening, but his support makes this easier. “You're worrying about us more.”

“Yeah,” you say. “I don't know why. And it sucks because I know it's making me a lot to deal with.” 

“I would one thousand percent prefer it if you rang me then sat there worrying. That would make me feel better. And Remus and Sirius feel the same way, okay? We could all stand to ring each other a bit more anyways.” 

You rub your nose into your hand. “Sorry,” you mumble. 

“There's no need to be. I love you, ‘n I just want you to be happy. If a phone call can make that happen then why shouldn't you do it? And it's not like they're a big imposition, I like talking to you. We all do.”

James is home from the gym what could only be ten minutes later, and he leans over the back of the settee to kiss your forehead chasely. “Here we are, all safe and well.” 

“You haven't seen Sirius yet,” Remus points out.

“I can bloody well hear him. What is he listening to? Is that U2?” James shakes his head in disgust. “I can see why you were so worried I wasn't coming home. Let me go put a stop to that immediately.” 

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

the taste

buttercup, chapter four

a/n: the smutty smut has arrived, folks!

summary: “look, all I’m saying is that he likes you, a lot. He’s never let himself be with anyone like you, anyone who truly made him happy, anyone he actually had a fighting chance of getting a stable and healthy relationship out of.”

warnings: matt murdock x baker!reader, smut, neighbours to lovers, rape recovery, ptsd, kissing, over the clothes fun, dry humping, fingering, dirty talk

word count: 2419

∼ gentle reminder that feedback, but especially reblogs are the way you support writers on here ∽

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It had been the end of June when your parents passed. You didn’t recall much from that summer, most of your memories had just kind of faded away as the brain occasionally does when it’s faced with trauma, but one thing that you’d never forget was the feeling of Howard, each and every morning, gently lifted you out of bed and attempted to let you sleep a little longer, holding you like a tiny baby bear against him, as they went to open up the bakery. 

School was out, and at only nine years old, you couldn’t just stay at home all alone, not with their long hours and especially not with the overwhelming grief you were dealing with. So, they brought you with them.

It didn’t take very long before you forgot about your toys and activity books in favour of just watching the magic that went on in the kitchen. Soon you were running around the place doing all matter of little tasks they could come up with for you and when they noticed the missing glint it brought back to your eye, they began to teach you and truly made you fall in love with the meditative craft. 

At the end of that summer when the next school year rolled around, you didn’t wanna leave. You’d grown up here, you’d healed here, the doorframe into the small lavatory in the back even had little chicken scratches documenting your height. This place was your home.

Sweeping a damp cloth over the steel tabletops, the music emanating from your phone that rested on the dark windowsill suddenly stopped as it buzzed with your ringtone. Putting it on speaker, you kept on wiping the surface down. 

“Matt, hi!”

“Hey,” his deep timbre filled the dim kitchen of the bakery. 

“I’m just about to lock up, if you’re still up for a little company.” 

“Yeah, about that,” he puffed out a heavy breath, “I’m still at the office.”

“Oh,” your moments froze a moment, “is everything alright?”

“Yeah, just swamped with this case prep.”

“Is it just you there?”

“No, the others are here too.”

“Well,” you exhaled a smile, “if you’re gonna burn the midnight oil, maybe I could come over with some of the leftovers from today to keep you guys going?”

Still in the doorway, your arms enclosed around Matt and the stuffed brown paper bag in your hand hung over his shoulder. 

Eyeing the goods, Foggy’s voice found your ears, “is that the–”

“Yeah,” you simply extended your arm in his direction, “here you go, take it.”

“Oh my god,” he snatched it out of your grasp and opened the crinkly bag up, nearly drooling as he glanced through the selections, “Karen, could you–”

“Get some plates? Yep,” the honey-haired woman then moved into the small kitchenette and grabbed some paper plates and napkins. 

Drawing back from the fleeting embrace, Matt then asked, “how was your day?” 

“It was fine,” you shrugged, your eyes briefly flickering over his attire, the tie tugged loose around his unbuttoned collar and his sleeves were rolled up past his burly forearms, “I kinda like it when I get to do the night shifts all alone. It’s so quiet–, oh, and I get to have full control over the music choice. It’s great,” a slight grin brightened your features, “how about you, huh?” you grabbed his hand in yours, “what’s this wild case about?”

A deep sigh flowed from his lips as he squeezed your hand, “uh, it’s this kid who–,” his phone then abruptly began to buzz in his pocket, “oh, sorry,” he fished it out, “I gotta take this.”

Letting go of his fingers, you said, “of course,” and watched as he ducked into his own office and answered the call. 

As you gazed at his visage still visible through the glass, Foggy’s words stirred you from your daydream.

“He’s happy.” 

Turning to blink back at him, you hummed, “huh?”

“You make him happy,” Foggy smiled from the humble conference room, “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him smile that much with anyone else, but then again, you are quite different from his usual type.”

Passing over the threshold into the space, your brows furrowed, “I’m not his type?”

“No! Oh, that came out wrong,” he winced, “Matt just has a tendency to get involved with the wrong kind of girls. You’re just different,” hastily adding, “in a good way.” 

“Oh…” you sank down into one of the chairs, wondering tensely if he was still dating others since you’d never had a conversation about how exclusive you were or how serious this thing between you even was, “does Matt date a lot?” 

“I wouldn’t exactly call it that, since it never really lasts that long,” Foggy said, though when he noticed the look on your face, his features soured in regret, “wow, I’m really screwing all of this up, aren’t I… look, all I’m saying is that he likes you, a lot. He’s never let himself be with anyone like you, anyone who truly made him happy, anyone he actually had a fighting chance of getting a stable and healthy relationship out of.”

Just then, you heard Matt’s footsteps entering the room from behind you, “hey,” he called Foggy’s attention, “you mind going down to the station tomorrow morning, check if Brett can get us any files that might help?” coming to a stop just behind where you were seated, his touch grazed the back of the chair. Reaching back, you caught one of his hands and briefly craned your neck, bringing his palm up to your lips to press a small peck to his calloused skin. 

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll go buy some more cigars,” Foggy sighed, briefly turning his attention back to the computer before him, slumping slightly as the intimidating and tangled laws still flashed back at him on the screen from when he’d looked them up earlier, he then blinked back up at you, “hey, Y/n?”

“Hm?” you hummed, meeting his eye as you weaved your fingers with Matt’s. 

“Have I ever told you that my mom wanted me to be a butcher?” 

“Oh,” you heard Matt sigh dramatically behind you as Karen too bit down on her lip to suppress a smile, “not the butcher story.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry to break the news,” you said light-heartedly as you chewed on the taste Matt had offered you of his curry, “but I definitely picked the better one.”

With his tinted glasses resting on the coffee table beside where your takeout container of Thai food rested, a smile twitched on Matt’s lips, “well, you do work in food, so it does make sense that you’re better at ordering.”

“Here,” you filled your spoon up with the red soup, catching one of the floating pieces of tofu, before bringing it up to his lips, “give it a taste.” 

An airy giggle bubbled out of you as a drop of soup clung to the corner of his lip and you instinctively reached out to wipe it clean, his chuckle swiftly mirroring your own. Though when you then froze, fingers staying close, your laughter faded. The fluorescent light that streamed in through the tall windows of his apartment illuminated his features as you watched him swallow the small taste. Ghosting your thumb across his skin, you traced his bottom lip. You weren’t sure who moved first, but the next thing you knew, you were locked in a kiss. 

You faintly heard him place his dinner down on the coffee table before his palms came up to cup your cheeks. You fumbled a bit, trying not to tip anything as you laid down the spoon in your grasp. 

A yearning whimper seeped from deep within your chest when you felt his tongue faintly ghost against your own before he breathlessly eased back a bit to utter, “you’re right,” stealing a soft peck before he went on, “It does taste really good.” 

Tilting your chin, you fervently captured his lips once more, your touch crumbled up his shirt till it found purchase in his already loosened tie, playing with it as your tongue danced against his. 

When he buried his hands in your hair, his short nails soothingly scraped over your scalp and a small moan flowed from you and vibrated against his kiss. 

The clear pulse that rocked throughout your body accumulated between your legs in a dizzying throb, an enchanting sensation that swayed you to get even closer and crawl into his lap. His wide palms dragged down the length of your spine in a way that caused a shiver to follow along.

Tangling your fingers in his hair as you kissed him back, your hips then instinctively sought to scratch and satisfy the itch that had grown so immense by rocking down against him and the noticeable hardness that tented his pants. 

Breathlessly in between kisses, Matt said, “you wanna enjoy the food before it gets cold?” offering you a gentle escape in case you needed it.

Ghosting the tip of your nose against his, you uttered, “I don’t mind popping it in the microwave,” deliberately rolling your hips against his once more, “do you?”

Sharing his hot breath, you were so close that your lips nearly crashed into one another once more, but they didn’t as your pelvis kept up their slow and teasing grinding. Matt’s eyes fluttered shut a moment as he let out a low groan, “no,” his touch slid further down and dug into the softness of your bottom, “no, I don’t mind.” 

Capturing your lips once more, he slowly began to grow more confident in his touch, though some weariness still lingered as he began to aid your movements. 

As his lips migrated down the length of your neck, you let out a moan, “fuck,” your frame shivering from the pleasure, “oh my god,” yet also out of a deep desire for more, “Matt…” 

“Yeah?” his low voice vibrated against your throbbing pulse on the side of your neck. 

“M-Matt–,” your eyes fluttered shut as he rocked you down harder against him, “oh, holy fuck… could you–, would you–”

“What?” the sound of his words made you feel dizzy, “what do you need?”

“Touch me,” you uttered hazily, head enchantingly tilted back. 

“Yeah?” he reeled back a bit as one of his hands scooped up to find your cheek. 

“Please,” you downright whined, “please, Matt.”

Keeping one hand fast in your hair, the other one moved to caress the soft peaks of your tits. 

“Here?” 

You let out a filthy whimper as he palmed you, “uhh, ngah–, lower–…” his hand teasingly complied, “lower…” till he finally cupped you through your pants. 

“Here?” he pressed down against the seam, “huh? Is it here, Y/n?

“Y-yes!” you shuttered on top of him as he rubbed your thrumming clit so perfectly through your clothing, “oh, f-fuck, you’re good at that–”

He stole a short, yet sloppy kiss from your lips before your head tilted down and buried itself in his neck. Your moans were muffled against the crook of his shoulder as you then glided your own fingers down along the length of his arm, feeling the muscles of his forearm tense beneath your touch as he worked you. Eventually, your hand found what it was looking for, your palm rested atop of his, almost like you were holding his hand as you felt it move beneath yours and stroke you silly. 

Your fingers then grasped his tighter as you plucked it further up and stuffed it into your waistband, guiding his reach all the way down till you soaked his digits. 

“Christ, you’re wet,” Matt groaned as your touch, ever atop of his, begged him to swirl your puffy pearl, “fuck…”

Without the barrier of clothing, your frame swiftly began to crumble from the ecstasy. Your right leg gave out and slid across Matt’s lap to where your other limb was. Your head drifted down as well as Matt’s arms only tightened around your slumped form, keeping you flush against him as you hid your features in the mass of his arm as your free hand clutched onto it. 

Curling into him as he cradled you, the way he petted your pussy nearly made you vibrate, “don’t stop, please,” you unintentionally kept wiggling down against the tent in his pants. 

“I won’t,” he breathed heavily as he kept on caressing you, occasional moans also flowing from his lips, “I’ve got you, I’ve got you.”

His long middle finger then slid down to tease your leaking hole before just shyly sinking in, just barely, keeping everything so light, before fluttering up to circle your clit again and then dropping down to repeat the motion till he had you on the edge. 

When you tumbled over, both of your hands joined at his bicep, digging into it as his name shined through your lewd moan.

Catching your breath, his fingers gently slipped out of your pants. Sluggishly, you clung closer and snaked your arms around him. 

“You okay?” he hugged you tight. 

“Mhm,” you hummed into his warmth.  

Planting a soft peck on your hairline, he then moved to readjust your embrace, lowering you both till you were lying on the leather couch. 

After a moment, your fingers twisted in the southern material of his shirt close to his belt, “do you want me to–…”

“No need,” he shook his head. 

Tilting your chin up, you glanced at his soft expression, “really?”

“Yeah,” a bright smirk tugged at his lips, “just the way you sounded was beautiful enough to do the trick for me.” 

Grinning wide, you felt your face grow hot at the compliment, haven not realised the power he had over you apparently went both ways. 

Cuddling him closer, you lifted yourself up a bit and pressed a slow kiss to his lips. 

When you laid your head back down, he asked, “do you want something to drink?” his warm palm drew slow and soothing patterns all along your spine, “some more to eat maybe?”

“No,” you blinked up at him, utterly spellbound, “could we maybe just stay here like this a little longer?”

“Of course,” he relaxed further beside you, “we can stay like this forever if you’d like.”

A smile then crept up on your lips as you pointed out, “forever’s a very long time…”

Chuckling lightly, Matt nodded, “it is…”

© 2024 thyme-in-a-bubble 

[loonarii]

Idolizing Imperfection: The Ancient Allusions of 'Midas Touch' - KISS OF LIFE (an essay)

I have missed writing kpop essays so much and after watching the new Kiss of Life MV, I couldn't resist doing a scene by scene (with some lyrics) breakdown of the allusions to ancient mythology - (there are lots of other modern references, especially to Britney Spears, but the ancient ones are what I will be focusing on here, believe me there is more than enough to talk about.) I don't have any official qualifications surrounding this field (yet), but I am studying classical civilization and roman literature for a qualification, and I have a long time obsession with Greek mythology especially. Obviously all of these are my interpretations, this is not a definite guide to what exactly the creative direction team at S2 Ent. were thinking about for this comeback, and if you think I missed something or have a different interpretation of one of the scenes, please let me know in the reblogs/comments.

Let’s begin with the title of the track, ‘Midas Touch’. It references the Greek myth of King Midas, who (according to Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’) after winning the favour of the god Dionysus, was granted any wish he desired. Midas chose the ability to make everything he touched turn into gold, a wish driven by greed. Midas revelled in his new found powers, but the problems arose when he realised that all food he touched would be turned to gold too - he had condemned himself to starve to death. The myth is essentially a cautionary tale about the effects of greed; Midas is a tragic hero that brought about his own suffering due to his hamartia (tragic flaw) - his blessing becomes his curse. Today, having a ‘midas touch’ means that everything you are involved with is successful, but the main association of Midas with greed still remains. In the context of the song, KOL are saying that a relationship with them, although destined to end in tragedy, would be worth it for the ‘gold’ they can bring - “위험할수록 재밌잖아” (“The more dangerous it is, the more fun it is”).  Midas may have died a tragic death, but his time alive was quite literally golden. Still, it feels slightly odd that KOL are associating themselves with someone so flawed - an idol should be the image of perfection, and in this way, the meaning of the song becomes quite subversive on a meta level. Keep this interpretation in the back of your mind, we will return to it later.

Within the music video itself, each of the four members are given solo scenes that I believe allude to different women of Greek mythology. Julie is first, depicted lying on a blush pink velvet heart with gold embellishments, shell and heart shaped boxes littered around her. The composition of the framing, as well as the beach imagery seems to allude to Boticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’, linking Julie with Aphrodite/Venus, the goddess of love. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is seen as beautiful beyond compare, but is also often characterised as highly vain and self absorbed. After hearing that some Greeks had begun to worship the ludicrously beautiful mortal woman Psyche instead of her, (and also out of protection of her son Eros to whom Psyche was married), she sent Psyche on a series of impossible trials designed to kill her, so she could remain the most beautiful. Once again, KOL compare themselves to people in the ancient world who were famously flawed.

Natty is seen next, intertwined with glittering spider webs. This is perhaps a reference to the tale of Arachne, a mortal woman who was highly skilled at weaving. She boasted that her skills were greater than Athena herself, the goddess of handicraft (and many other things), and Athena transformed her into a spider as punishment for her hubris (excessive pride). Like the tale of King Midas, Arachne’s story also centres around a fatal flaw bringing your own downfall, and like Midas and Aphrodite, Arachne is not typically remembered fondly within Greek Mythology canon.

Perched on a half dress, half throne that resembles a peacock, Belle is seen next. Originally I wasn’t certain who was being referenced here, but after some research I believe it may be Hera, although if you have another interpretation here I would love to hear it. Hera, the goddess of marriage and fertility, queen of the gods, and wife to Zeus, is affiliated with peacocks as they are one of her sacred animals, and are said to pull her chariot like horses. Hera is also, like Aphrodite, a goddess often portrayed in a negative light in mythology, repeatedly characterised as jealous and spiteful. A famous example of this is when Hera sent two snakes to strangle Heracles/Hercules, the illegitimate son of her husband Zeus, out of spite and jealousy for the boy’s mortal mother. Whether Hera had a right to be annoyed at her husband’s repeated adultery is another discussion, but generally speaking, when Hera is in a myth, she is often the villain.

Finally, we see Haneul, perched upon a corinthian style column (we love a greek column) surrounded by severed heads on spikes, a clearly war ridden scene. This is the allusion I am the least confident about, but I think perhaps she is supposed to be Helen of Troy? Helen is famous for being the catalyst for the Trojan War (perhaps this is the war scene she sits within?), she is the ‘face that launched a thousand ships’. Depending on the source, Helen is either a victim, kidnapped by the Trojan prince Paris, or she was seduced and went willingly, abandoning her Greek husband King Menelaus. The second seems to be the accepted narrative among many Roman authors, with writers such as Martial (in Epigrams 1.62) portraying her as the polar opposite of Penelope, who was seen as the image of loyalty. As a result, Helen is commonly portrayed as disloyal and unfaithful, the opposite of what an ideal woman in the ancient world was supposed to act like.

In their group scenes, there is also SO MUCH Medusa imagery - with snakes crawling all over their faces and hissing at the camera, and half broken stone statues littered here and there. As I am sure you are probably aware, Medusa is very much a villain in the myths she is depicted in, and despite modern reevaluations of her story (that I agree with) portraying her as a victim, in the primary sources, she is essentially an evil monster for Perseus to destroy - her death marks Perseus’s ascension to hero status.

So why oh why are KOL comparing themselves to figures so flawed? In their previous releases, especially their first comeback with ‘Bad News’, the girls are depicted trying to fix injustices in society - they expose corruption in corporations, they combat casual misogyny and sexual harassment, and they call out bullying and abuse. In ‘Midas Touch’ I believe they continue their addressing of injustices and double standards, this time with a focus on the idol industry, their own stomping ground. In the kpop industry, idols are expected to be perfect in every way - beautiful, highly skilled, never controversial, and loyal to their fans. Should an idol fail to uphold these impossible standards, they are relentlessly punished, especially if the idol is a woman. Last month, Karina’s earnest apology to ‘fans’  for falling in love exposed how ludicrous the standards are to the world, and other idols like Sakura, Wonyoung, and Jennie, continue to get bullied on a daily basis for not meeting all of the bars the industry sets them. A kpop idol should be talented, but never show off, they should be beautiful and care about their looks but never be vain, confident but never egotistical, and driven by passion, not the desire for fame and money. It’s all fucking impossible, especially when what constitutes being called the second traits is utterly arbitrary and depends on how many people woke up on stan twitter and decided they didn’t like you that day. In ‘Midas Touch’ KOL calls this out by openly depicting themselves with the traits that kpop stans hate - Julie is Aphrodite, beautiful but vain, Natty is Arachne, talented but boastful, Belle is Hera, confident but jealous, Haneul is Helen, influential but disloyal, and they all are Midas, spurred on by greed instead of passion. They recognise that these accusations are unavoidable, and by reclaiming the imagery of these symbols of undesirable traits, they call out and reject the standards the idol industry places upon them. Like Medusa, they may be seen by many fans as a villain, a hurdle for their favourite groups that have more promotion and budget to overcome on their way to the top, but in actuality, they are victims of an industry desperate to mould them into products to be bought and sold. I’ve seen lots of discussion online about what KISS OF LIFE’s concept is, as it seems to vary every comeback, but after ‘Midas Touch’ I am led to believe that their concept is rebellion, against society, idol culture, and the things they deem as wrong in the world. Other groups have  done concepts similar in the past, such as LOONA in ‘Butterfly’ (you really thought I wasn’t going to bring them up at some point?? Are you new here??) but KOL is doing it explicitly, and consistently, and to me, that's very exciting. The kpop industry is ever changing, and with the foundations of the new 5th generation being established as we speak, perhaps KOL could cause it to change for the better. In summary, I am SO excited to see what they do next.

That honestly took a turn I wasn’t fully expecting at the end, but I hope you enjoyed regardless - I didn’t really talk about the actual song here, but I fucking loved it, and my full review will be part of my April monthly roundup - see previous installments on my masterlist. I encourage all of you to listen to ‘Midas Touch’ if you haven’t already, congratulations KISS OF LIFE for graduating nugudom, stream Birth by ARTMS, stan loona, and prepare for the loossemble comeback - lmk if you have any thoughts on my analysis or any other interpretations, or any topics you want me to write an essay on. cya next time ~ ari

[askew-d]

today i had an idea. that recess therapy channel, but make it wangxian.

teacher lan wangji, who recently adopted a-yuan, carried out his son’s desires to create a youtube channel interviewing other kids. he’s totally inept at it in the beginning, but fortunately his brother helps. and who would've thought? his son ends up making friends and he really finds children’s minds fascinating.

until their channel gets quite big. like, two million subscribers kind of big. other people interviewing him kind of big. and soon enough, his brother says, “wangji, huaisang wants to be part of one of your videos! he said it looks fun!”

nie huaisang didn’t have a large fanbase without reason. he was a well-known digital influencer with over ten million followers and a good writer. though lan wangji finds him odd sometimes, he accepts it. it couldn't bring any harm.

famous last words.

after nie huaisang, a lot of celebrities wanted to join in. lan wangji imagined it was for that facade of selling a good-hearted image inside the industry, but as long as a-yuan seemed to be enjoying, he continued.

in the two years he had the channel, he progressed to five million followers, hosted many top-tier artists along, interviewed hundred of kids — some more enthusiastic than others, that’s rather true — and received some proposals from famous entertainment companies to work with them, which annoyed lan wangji.

he continued being a teacher, a father and a host content creator for long, and one day, his son was checking his emails with him and jumped in excitement, “baba! look, look!”

lan wangji looked. it was a request from a certain wei wuxian’s agency, that, he later discovered, was one of the singer’s a-yuan and his close friends have been listening to lately. apparently, his rock band was very influential internationally, and when having a tour around china once more, he wanted to join for a video (why would his thirteen-year-old a-yuan be interested in rock music when humanity had the classical ones, he could never imagine).

lan wangji accepted, because again, it couldn’t do any harm.

well, maybe he should learn more about that expression, since wei wuxian was absolutely infuriating.

he was just a handsome, dauntless man in tight black pants and an oversized hoodie with the shiniest smile he has ever seen who got his son's favour in just minutes of conversation and could not, for the love of god, stop teasing lan wangji. lan wangji shouldn't be that affected by someone. he shouldn't be affected by the way he didn't care about social manners and plastered himself on lan wangji's side all the while he interviewed the kids as if they were intimate, but oh, what one shouldn't do truly wasn't how one acted or felt.

he found out that wei wuxian did have a good voice, although he secretly thought that he wasted it with those loud songs about rebelling against the government. he found out that he was exceptionally careful with children, withholding a balance of fun and wisdom; he had that carefree creativity and treated their worries with seriousness, struggling not to let them think he judged them childish. lan wangji was truly amazed at his character, and soon, they had recorded about four videos together.

and when it was all uploaded, the comments and views exploded. people focused more on them together than on the kids. it became the most viewed videos of his channels in no time.

"lan zhan, the numbers are growing each day! i'm so happy for that," wei wuxian said on the phone afterwards (when he proposed the idea of exchanging numbers, lan wangji was hesitant, but wei wuxian insisted that it was for them to share bunny videos, so he gave up on fighting the man, but weeks passed and they still talked more about their lives than just sharing said content). "but tell me, lan zhan, i think my amazing presence did bring some touch to your channel, won't you treat me to something as a sign of gratitude? you told me your family had a rule on being polite..."

they did have one. lan wangji told him once and it was enough to be engraved on wei wuxian's mind. he sighed and said, "mn. does wei ying want to have dinner with us tomorrow?"

wei wuxian laughed in apparent joy, and he shook his head slightly. it would be good to have someone over for dinner once in a while, beyond his brother. maybe he'd even buy some wine and meat for him, just as he said he liked.

lan wangji talked to wei wuxian some more, the other explaining about how his band would perform the upcoming sunday. they also talked about children, books and traveling. and on the other side of the room, a-yuan giggled in mischievousness.

[crushedsweets]

four three two fuck you listen up yall this shit is ironic striders beats are best suited to trolls who hooked on phonics karkalicious definition makes terezi loco she wants to know the secrets that she cant taste in my photo dying js to know the flavour i aint doing her no favours no reason why i tease her flush just comes and goes like seasons im karkalicious so delicious no i dont do kismesis and if you read any fanfics all that shit is fictitious i blow kisses dont matter if we're js moirails trolls b lining down the veil for a chance to fill a pail so delicious super sweet fucking adorabloodthirsty so delicious even Egbert wants a piece me im karkalicious lllike candy candy karkalicious def karkalicious def god dammit doc scratch atop fuckign around with my mic karkalicious definition makes the shippers crazy nepetas always squealin cutesy pet names like karkitty im the k to the a r k the a the t and the majority of pairings had better include me im karkalicious so delicious my body stays vicious all the highbloods feelin nervous cuz im doing sum fitness Zahhaks my witness bet that shit curls nepetas tail he'll be needin all the towel cuz imma make him sweat pails im karkalicious super sweet so delicious fucking adorabloodthirsty so delicious even Egbert wants a piece of me im karkalicious baby baby baby baby if u rlly want me honey get sum patience maybe then you'll get a taste call me tasty tasty ill be laced with lacey it's so tasty tasty it'll make you crazy t to the a to the s t e y fucking tasty t to the a to the s t e y fucking tasty d to the e to the l i c i o u s to d to the to the to the ill js spell it out for you all the time i turn around trolls gather round always sniffin at me wanna guess the colour of my blood i js wanna say it now i tryna round up any drama little fucker i js dont want you to know and i guess im coming off as a little insecure although i keep on repeating how the secrets fucking awesome but i try to tell, its a secret that i js dont wanna tell terezi says i smell delicious no i dont do kismesis and if u read any fanfics all that shit is fictitious i blow kisses dont matter if were js moirails trolls be lining down the veil for a chance to fill a pail four three two fuck you my body stays vicious Zahhaks been feeling nervous cuz i got down to business Nepetas my witness ill even let hwr first ship sail js watch that kitten be the first in line to fill a pail so delicious so delicious so delicious im karkalicious lllike candy candy its so delicious so delicious im karkalicious she says my blood is like candy candy t to the a to the s t e y fucking tasty t to the a to the s t e y fucking tasty t to the a to the s t e y fucking tasty t to the a to the s t e y fucking tasty d to the e to the l i c i o u s to the d to the e to the l i c i o u s to the d to the e to the now wait just a motherfuckin second do i seriously have to spell this shit until the very end of the song i mean whoever fucking wrote the original never had access to spell check i guess because t a s t e y does not spell tasty was this fergie douchemuffin illiterate or something? what do you mean human rap artists are the only ones brave enough to write their own grammatical train wrecks and call it music? what the fuck even is will smith doung? he doesn't throw down sick fires anymore? fuck this shit, i quit

You sent me this two months ago and I didn’t reply but I think today I need to finally confront this. Why

[the-fiction-witch]

Hot Chocolate

Media TMR AU

Character Newt

Couple Newt X Reader

Rating Sweet

Fictional Advent Day Eight

so maybe for Newt, you can make an AU story where y/n is a waitress at a restaurant and Newt comes with another girl who’s a mean girl on a date and y/n serves them but the girl that Newt is on the date with is really rude to y/n and is calling her rude names, and it gets to the point where newt gets so upset with the mean girl and yells at her and newt hangs with y/n instead. It’s just a little idea I thought was good! Take your time and happy holidays!

I rushed around like a bumble bee busy with the bustle of the malt shop, listening to the Christmas music playing gently mixed with people cluttering cutlery and crockery as well as the bell often tolling on the door as people came and went, the snow fluttering sweetly down the sky. 

“Thank you so much happy holidays” a lady smiled as she and her family left the table

“Happy holidays” I smiled going to clear their little booth by the window tidying up and adding the five-dollar tip to my little Christmas-themed gingerbread house moneybox, as I started on some more coffee for those at the counter

“Hey uhh, I had a little favour to ask?’ a voice spoke up and I looked and saw a guy who had just come in, in some nice shoes that had a dusting of snow on them, some brown suit pants, a little orange t-shirt and a white button-down slipping off his large coat with a fluffy inside as well as a dark red scarf

“You can ask, I don't know what the answer will be but you can ask”

He chuckled a little “I know it's a big ask but could I take a booth?”

“Booths are normally reserved for parties of four or more you have three friends coming?”

“No, I uhh I have a first date. I know it goes against the rules but you think you could let it slide?”

“No problem, take number seven it has a lovely view over the bridge”

“Thank you”

“Your welcome, and hey if they don't look like their picture just order a blue raspberry pancake and I'll get you out of there”

“Thanks, hopefully, I won't need to” he laughed heading over to the booth setting his stuff down and fixing himself up in the reflective side of the napkin dispenser, I made a note about him and went on with my shift luckily the rush was over and things were dying down, I often passed the guy and offered him coffee or tea but he always politely declined and only got more and more nervous as time went on.

Until she arrived.

I saw her walking down the street before she even got into the shop as she pointed her nose high making it the peak of her face, sunglasses that took up almost all of her face, and nails long enough to pick a lock within some little ugg style boots, a pair of tight leggings, a long sleeve white turtle neck with a beige fluffy vest she came in and put her glasses on her head.

“Hi,” She sighed offering her hand to him, “Newt?”

“Hi, you must be Olivia.” he smiled giving her hand a kiss,

“Yeah.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, You’re just as beautiful as Minho said.” he smiled as they sat together, I gave them a while dealing with some other things before I finally went over

“Hi, how are you two doing today?”

“Uhh excuse me, can we get a male waiter.” She snapped at me

“Uhh we don’t have any male waiters”

“Fine. Whatever” She sighed

“Okay… What can I get started for you, Coffee? Tea? Hot Chocolate?”

“Eehhh just water. In a clean glass.” She snapped

“Sure” I nodded

“I’ll have a hot chocolate,” He smiled

“No problem, whipped cream?”

“Absolutely,”

“Candy cane?”

“Yeah that sounds nice”

“Excellent, I’ll be back with those feel to look at the menu for food” I smiled

“Okay we get it bye,” she said angrily

So I just headed off and got her water and his hot chocolate and I took them over “Here we are” I smiled setting them down “You ready to order?”

“Uhh ohh my god! Will you stop jumping down our throats? How on earth would anyone be ready to order already it’s been two seconds”

“It’s been five minutes miss.”

“Are you talking back to me you chubby slop girl?”

“That is incredibly rude. She was just asking” He spoke up

“I’m not taking advice from someone who still eats sugar. That thing is like six suggested servings yeah no thank you.” She snapped

“I’ll give you another minute” I nodded heading away for a moment but before I even got to the counter she clicked her fingers at me

“Hey! Hey! Slop girl! Aren’t you going to take my order?”

“Yes Miss” I nodded as I headed back over

“Do you have anything that actually observes serving sizes?”

“Our plates are all designed for one person, unless they are specifically in the sharing or extra large section of the menu”

“So no. Fine. I will take a lobster and a salad”

“Miss… we don’t have that on the menu”

“I know I’m not stupid. But I want lobster.”

“We don’t have lobster here miss… we mostly just make pancakes, fries, burgers that sort of thing”

“Uhhhh clean my table again slop girl there must be carbs all over the table” she complained

“That is really rude, your are being insanely disrespectful. You choose for us to come here ” he said

“Maybe I’d be nicer if this slop girl could actually use her brain!” she yelled “Give me a side salad”

“One side salad” I sighed “You sir?”

“I won’t be ordering anything I’m sorry,” he said “I cannot go through with this I’m sorry”

“Aren't you gonna pay for my food?”

“No.”

“Ughhh!” She whined grabbing her stuff and marching out in a huff

“I am so so sorry”

“It’s okay, trust me you hear worse in this job” I answered “Could I get you a slice of cranberry pie? Ice cream on the side?”

“Yeah that would be really nice” he smiled

After a while, he came and moved to the counter and we chatted as I worked for a good while doing my best to cheer him up even giving him a free hot chocolate, and after a while he happily paid

“Thanks so much for everything”

“It's no trouble, Happy holidays”

“Happy holidays” he smiled before he headed out, I gathered up his stuff, and found out he had left a hundred-dollar tip and a note ‘I’m so sorry about her, and thank you so much for cheering me up. If you like I’d love to take you out for dinner one day your not working X Newt’ and then his number I chuckled a little and put it in my pocket so I could text him when I get off my shift. 

[polutrope]

For the modern AU holiday prompts @i-did-not-mean-to requested Beren + accidental drunkenness, and MoonLord requested Thingol, Beleg, Túrin, and Mablung + Decorating a tree. ~2.2k words, rated G. [The Edain in this AU are officially whatever age and relation I want them to be.] Posting these to AO3, here. Prompt list (prompts closed). Beleria Cast of Characters

The flamboyant man at the booth in the back cried out, “Another round for the bar!” and Beren and Lúthien joined the patrons in a celebratory whoop.

Lúthien threw her head back and laughed as a server set two more two more beers on the table.

“I can’t believe this guy,” she said to Beren. “Who is he?”

“His name is Saeros,” the server answered. “A regular. I think he owns a record label or something. Celebrating a chart topper.” She smiled and cleared their empty glasses. “Enjoy.”

“No way,” Lúthien said, and left her mouth hanging open.

“What?” said Beren. Lúthien continued to gape. “What, what? You know him?”

“Yeah! Saeros Green. He offered my brother a record deal years ago.”

“And Daeron turned it down?” Beren asked.

Lúthien dipped her chin affirmatively with an air of pride. “He did. The guy is a smarmy bastard. Milks his artists for everything they’ve got. I mean, look at him!” Lúthien said, gesticulating with both arms in his direction. “Look at all that bling! And the red velvet suit, on a Thursday afternoon, really? Looks like he got in a fight with the Yule display at Mírdain Mall!”

“Ssshh sssh,” Beren said, giggling. “He’ll hear you! Anyway, I like him. Free booze!” He raised his glass in a toast and took a large gulp.

Lúthien was laughing when he lowered it. “You have foam in your beard!”

Beren grinned, making no effort to remedy the situation. “How do I look? More wizened?”

“Like an idiot!” Lúthien blurted, and laughed again.

She was so beautiful. Beren fell into a besotted stupor, staring at her face lit with mirth, listening to her musical laughter… he could die happy right here, right now, getting day-drunk with the most beautiful woman in the world—

“Beren,” she said. “Beren! Your phone is ringing!”

“What, birdie?” he said, surfacing.

“Your phone!” she said, and shoved it into his hand. “Someone’s calling you.”

He looked at he call display: Morwen Ethel-Wang. “Shit,” he said. “Shitshitshit.”

The call dropped before he could answer. Lúthien stared, awaiting an explanation.

Beren exhaled a long breath before giving one. “You remember a few months ago when we talked about my buddy Húrin’s son staying with us for a few days while his wife is at a conference in town?”

“Oh yeah!” Lúthien said. “When’s that happening?”

“Um,” said Beren. “Today. They’re at our place now.”

“Shit,” said Lúthien.

*

On the monitor, the minutes of the last City Council meeting swam in and out of Elu’s vision. He sighed. The permanent bikeway through Hithlum park had been voted down. Again.

His eyes drifted to the thick folder of letters his intern Beleg had dropped on his desk earlier, from the Hithlum Homeowner’s Association — all variations on the same template, laying out the supposed dangers of a “bike superhighway” through a “family-oriented” neighbourhood. Since when were bicycles dangerous? He pushed the folder aside. Well, they got what they wanted.

It was those damn developers from Valin! Hithlum used to be the alternative neighbourhood back in the 80s, where the artists and students hung out, now it was overrun with wealthy— Elu took a deep breath. He valued the diversity of Beleria. He did. But by god if it didn’t make it impossible to get anything done in this city! You would think, as Mayor, that your word actually meant something—

His phone pinged.

Lúthien💮💗

Hey papa! I know you’re working but I have a biiiig favour to ask.

3:14pm

Elu Singh-Goel

What is it, sweetie?

3:15pm

Lúthien💮💗

Sooo Beren has this friend and his kid was supposed to stay with us this weekend and we kinda forgoy

forgot*

Anyway him and his mom are at our place now and we’re… not lol

3:16pm

Elu Singh-Goel

Oh? Where are you?

3:18pm

Lu?

3:21pm

Lúthien💮💗

Sorry!!

We went to Gabilgathol for lunch and accidentally got drunk

3:23pm

Elu drew back from his phone. That was not like his daughter. It was times like these he found it most difficult to accept her choice of partner. Beren was an admirable man, with respectable ambitions, but he was so young. Accidentally drunk…

Lúthien💮💗

Some guy was buying rounds for the house lol

3:24pm

Elu Singh-Goel

I see. And how do I come into this?

3:25pm

Lúthien💮💗

Can she bring Túrin to the office?

3:25pm

Túrin is the kid

Just for a couple hours! Nellas says she can take him tonight if we’re not sobered up

hahaha

3:26pm

Beren says he’s quiet. Just give him some crayons and paper.

3:28pm

Elu’s thumbs tapped out ‘OK’ before his mind had a chance to catch up. He stopped them, hovering over the send button. What had happened to him? There was a time he would have locked Lúthien up in her room for the weekend for getting drunk at 3pm on a Thursday! — but he couldn’t very well lock up an adult woman. Certainly not one he was going to lose.

Well, not lose. Not entirely — that had almost happened, when he’d tried to talk her out of marrying Beren, but he’d soon repented of that mistake when she disappeared for two weeks without a word to anyone. A cold current shivered down Elu’s spine. That had been a terrible winter.

But now, every day was another closer to her and Beren moving to Dead Man’s Isle. It was ridiculous: she had not needed him nearly half her life now, and yet Elu’s heart dropped when he thought of her so far away. Not around the corner, not where he could drop by on an evening stroll to say hello with a container of leftovers or a tin of Melian’s homemade lembas biscuits.

Because of all this, he had become a complete sucker and lost all ability to say no to her. And damn it if she didn’t know it, he thought with a rueful smile.

Elu Singh-Goel

OK.

3:26pm

Lúthien💮💗

Omg thanks so much papa!!

Beren will tell Morwen to bring him by

3:26pm

Elu Singh-Goel

Don’t to worry about it. I think I can send my intern to pick them up. Tell them to wait at The Dimbar.

3:27pm

Elu set the phone down, then picked up the receiver on his desk phone and dialed Beleg’s extension.

“Hey big guy, what’s up?”

Elu smiled. He really ought to impress a more professional attitude on his interns (it’s what they were there to learn after all), but there was something… rejuvenating about this one’s breezy familiarity with him — and besides, it was good for the ego to have some carefree college student call you “big guy” once in a while when you had a pile of letters on our desk addressing you as “Your Worship”.

“Beleg,” said Thingol. “Would you be able to run a little personal errand for me?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“I need you to go pick up a kid and bring him to the office.”

*

Half-an-hour later Beleg rounded the corner at the end of the hall, running with a lanky, dark-haired boy clinging to his back.

“Here he is!” Beleg announced, and let the boy down. “Túrin, the Master of Fate! Isn’t that right?” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “We outsmarted fate six times on the way over, didn’t we little guy?”

“Red lights aren’t fate,” Túrin said, in the tone of a child who thinks he knows better. “They are for controlling traffic flow.”

“Beleg.” Elu did his best to conceal his amusement with a frown. “I hope you were not racing lights in a municipal vehicle again.”

“No sir,” said Beleg. “No racing. All very strategic.”

“Mm, I don’t think I want to know.” Elu rose from his hair and came around the front of the desk. “It’s nice to meet you, Túrin. Welcome to the office of the Mayor. I’m Elu.”

Túrin did not look impressed, and made no move to take Elu’s hand when offered. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Túrin.” Then he turned back to Beleg. “Can we go on your computer now like your promised?”

Elu lifted a brow, for Beleg’s benefit, as he addressed Túrin. “He promised you, did he? Funny, because Beleg does what I tell him to do, and I do not remember telling him to do that.”

Beleg laughed, not sounding nearly as nervous as he should have.

“Oh.” Túrin paused, visibly processing this new information. “Well can you tell him to play games with me?”

Elu had to laugh at the boy’s quick tactical adjustment. “I’m afraid Beleg doesn’t get to play games at work. But, while he was off picking you up, I thought of something else we could do.”

“What?” said Túrin and Beleg at once.

“Well,” Elu perched on the desk so he needn’t tower above them, “in the storage room there should be one of those fake trees and a box of decorations. We used to set it up in my office every year. I’d forgotten all about it, but since we’ve got you here, Túrin, I thought it would be a nice thing to do. What do you think?”

Túrin seemed to be deep in thought.

“Hey!” Beleg nudged him. “Sounds fun to me!”

“I don’t know,” Túrin said. “I barely know you. Tree decorating is for families.”

“Oh,” said Elu. “I suppose it’s something families often do together, yes. But they can be set up by coworkers, too, or even strangers, like us. I bet we won’t be strangers when we’re done.”

“We didn’t get a tree at my house this year,” Túrin disclosed. “My dad is away for Yule so my mom said we don’t need one.”

“I see,” Elu said, beginning to lose hope in this venture.

“All the more reason to set one up here!” Beleg offered.

“Yeah.” Túrin shrugged. “I guess.”

“Excellent!” said Elu. “Beleg, why don’t you take Túrin down the storage and have a look for it?”

*

They were gone a long time, and Elu was just beginning to wonder if he should go looking for them when they appeared toting two large boxes — and another of the interns.

“Hope you don’t mind if Mablung joins us!” Beleg said cheerily, setting the tree box upright in the corner of the room. Mablung placed the box of ornaments on Elu’s desk. “He said he was bored, I said he could help us.”

“Of course, of course. The more the merrier!” Elu said absently, distracted by fiddling with computer speakers in an effort to get the music to play. He groaned and threw up his hands. “Can one of you young people figure out why these blasted speakers have turned themselves off again?”

To his surprise, it was Túrin who answered the summons, running around behind the desk to investigate.

“It’s muted,” he said almost at once, and tapped a key on the keyboard. The bouncy beat of I’m the Happiest Christmas Tree spilled from the speakers.

The other three laughed, but Túrin crinkled his nose and hit skip on the song.

Soon, Beleg and Mablung had the tree set up and were arguing about the best placement for the string of lights. Once that was decided, they turned to debating how best to balance the bauble distribution.

Túrin seemed more interested in rooting through the box for the most unique ornaments. Elu watched him wistfully. He had not realised how much he missed being around children and their infectious wonderment at the world.

“I like this one,” Túrin said, pulling out a golden dragon. “My dad has one like it.”

“Oh, yes, very nice!” Elu said. “Why don’t you keep it?”

“Really?” said Túrin, his face brightening. He did not wait for confirmation before he shoved it in his pocket.

“Hey, what’s this now?” Beleg ambled over. “Mayor Man is giving away his ornament collection? Mablung, let’s see what’s in here!”

Beleg peered into the box, shoving aside some silver baubles and pulling out a long black icicle.

“Oh, sick,” he said, letting it dangle from a finger. “This is some goth sh— stuff.”

“Interesting,” said Elu, watching the strange ornament twirl. “I am not sure where that one came from.”

“Ohh, mystery ornament!” Beleg enthused. “Can I have it?”

“Really, you want that?” Mablung put in. “That’s weird, man. It looks like a weapon.”

“No way, it’s cool!” said Beleg.

“Well, if you want it,” said Elu, “I certainly don’t.”

“No, I want it!” Túrin shouted, and closed his fist around the icicle.

“Hey, kid, whoa, easy,” said Beleg. “You could just ask nice—!”

Beleg screamed. The ornament flew towards the ceiling, then arced back down and shattered on the floor. Túrin careened and toppled backwards, just missing Mablung lunging to break his fall.

Beleg gawked at his finger, which was bent backwards as a very unnatural angle.

“You dislocated my finger!” Beleg cried.

“Damn,” said Elu, and he was thinking neither of his injured employee nor of the crying child on the floor, but of the weeks of workplace accident reporting paperwork he’d just created for himself.

[solarbird]

First: Kamala Harris is doing an interview on Fox News today. That’s important. Every Republican not deep, deep, deep into the cult has given other Republicans permission to vote for her. Watch for how it goes. Early votes are skewing real hard Democratic; we can only hope this starts an avalanche.

Now, back to the shitgibbon:

This wtfery happened a few days ago. Repeatedly. They’re all here. Watch his markov chain generator malfunction.

This 39-minute-long what-is-even-happening happened Monday. He stopped his town hall and decided just to hang out on stage and listen to music for half an hour. (More video.) Most of the time he just stood there, then occasionally he’d dance a little.

Even the Russian propagandists made fun of it. They normally puff him up as serious and important and this was too much even for them. It felt very much like a “look at this clown we’ve put into power. Look at him. Isn’t it hilarious?” victory lap.

He didn’t do much better yesterday, cancelling an interview with CNBC before keeping his appointment with Bloomberg News and the Economic Club of Chicago, where amidst his many lies he also said everyone in the world ever is and has been totally wrong about tariffs being bad for the economy (Smoot-Hartley turning the Panic of ’29 into the Great Depression be damned) and also that children could do the jobs of auto workers.

Get out on the assembly line, kids. Build some more gas cars. Maybe we’ll buy you an ice cream before the ocean floods the coastline some more.

Where, oh where, are the New York Times’s “too old” people now? Where is the drilldown? Where is the baited breath, watching for the stutterer to stutter a little again and declare him senile, broken down, and infirm? Ah, but they want him in office – so why would they do that?

People on TikTok were mostly “he is so high.” I think they might’ve messed up his dosage.

The argument that the real plan is to get him into office and then immediately trigger the 25th Amendment in favour of Couchfuker Vance still doesn’t quite hold up to me – they’ll Weekend-at-Bernie’s this motherfucker until he literally falls over dead, since he’s the God Emperor, and also since that gets Vance a de facto third term without changing or ignoring the Constitution. And he’s not continually breaking down, he’s okay enough a lot of the time. Not all of it, maybe. But enough.

But I have to admit, the Vance idea sounds less unreasonable every day.

The problem of course is that when he’s not having a McConnell-esque stall-out, he’s promising to us the armed forces against his political enemies and making it illegal to say things he doesn’t like, all while his fascist friend Mike Flynn keeps rhapsodising about executing anyone who opposes him.

That’s the hard, ugly reality. They don’t even need him to do that, or really, any of the work of Project 2025. He’s never given a single fuck about policy, just about power and hurting people, and they’ll deliver that for him in spades, all while they end secular government in the United States.

That is Vance’s agenda, after all. And that of his backers. All they need from Trump is the occasional scribbled signature.

He’s signed a lot of autographs. It’s all muscle memory at this point. He’ll do that just fine.

And that’s absolutely all they need.

So. I’ve already given you all the arguments I have to reach anyone who might be reachable. People on the fringes of the cult, people who “don’t like politics” and “think politics is boring” so refuse to pay attention. Trump here himself is destroying the idea that he’s the “vote for my wallet,” given what tariffs will do to prices and the economy, but here’s a bit from Rachael Maddow with more thoughts on that whole nonsense. Maybe you’ll find some good arguments in there.

We’re very much in the home stretch, team. Don’t hold anything back, because as I keep saying, this one is for all of the marbles. Bring everything you’ve got and leave it all out there on the field…

…’cause we’re gonna need it.

20 days remain.

[seamea]

A Steddie AU where Steve meet a famous Eddie at a Taylor Swift concert.

— —

 Steve emerged for his thoughts when Dustin entered the room chanting.

« So I have a favour. »

Steve rolled his eyes. Of course he did.

« I know you are going to the Taylor Swift concert in Cincinnatti. I saw that Eddie Munson from Corroded Coffin said he’ll attend the concert as guests on YOUR night. Could you bring me a pic if you can??? »

Dustin was pleading with his eyes.

« I guess if I found them but I can’t promise anything … But… Corroded Coffin is a metal band right? Why would this guy attend a T Swizzle concert? » He found the whole thing quite strange.

« I don’t know babe. Aren’t you the one that say that she is the music industry? Maybe he wants a collab? Maybe they are friends? » Steve smiled at the thought of a metalhead Taylor. He then wondered which member of the band was this Eddie guy. He then remembered the long haired guy with the pretty eyes from a poster in Dustin’s room.

« Dustin? Is Eddie Munson the pretty one? » Steve winked at him. They had this conversation once before when an album dropped and Dustin was obssessed with it.

« God, your bi ass is impossible. Yes he is « pretty » ».

« I hope I’ll see him then. Swiftie or not»

This ask changed his life forever. »

——

Prologue

Steve has always liked Taylor Swift. He stood by her through the 2016 mayhem. He has the cardigan. He has the freaking clock. But he never had to chance to see her live. So when Robin surprised him with two tickets to the Era’s tour he could not believe it. He screamed and danced and hugged her as if she had found the solution to mitigate climate change (which is taxing the rich, including Taylor, but it is not today’s story).

He dreaded for weeks to not be able to find an outfit so he installed Tiktok in order to find inspiration and he fell in love with the platform. He loved swifttok of course but he also adored teachers’ videos about their struggles, their students and their tips. One morning while he was heading to class and thought of his activities for the day who were Taylor Swift related, he decided to create a TikTok account. He thought he was too old at the prime age of 27 to do something like that but when he met with Dustin, like he often did, he was convinced it was the right move. Dustin liked Taylor as well, even though he was not a «fan » but he knew that Steve needed a passion project.

He also told Mike and Lucas about the idea. At first they liked mocking him about being a fan of something at his age, especially a popstar and Steve faked being unhurt by this. However they said they would obviously follow him if he decided to do something like this and thought it was great for him to share his positive teaching mindset and his anti-bullying methods.

So in February 2023 he created a tiktok account called « @stevetheswiftieteacher ».

He posted several tiktoks about his life as a teacher, about taylor swift, about bullying and how to detect it, about mundane things like the decorations of his classroom, about his workout even and only in a few months he had gathered a little community of 5000 followers, which he found completely insane. But, hey, people liked his jokes (and as many girls were saying in the comments, his looks).

When the school year ended, he made a lot more videos and his popularity grew as well. Especially his make my eras outfit with me serie.

One saturday he was hosting a game night in Hawkins with the group of now adults, that he used to babysit through highschool because he was dating Nancy Wheeler.

They were now living in Indianapolis for the most of them, only Max and Lucas moving in California. It was quite cold for the month of July, and the group was chatting about life while Steve was putting away the board games at the end of the night.

« So how is your sister doing Mike? » Steve asked, really curious about Nancy’s life five years after their last breakup.

« Oh you know, killing it in NYC. She has a girlfriend called Abby if that is what you are really interested in. »

Steve chuckled. Mike was quite clever.

« Yeah I wanted to know that. I hope she is happy. »

« She is working too much if you want my side of the story and I don’t like Abby, she’s a snob. Robin was such a better fit for her but anyway, you know how she gets when she feels trapped ».

Steve looked sadly at the ceiling knowing full well how things ended for both him and Robin.

Imagine a restaurant. Steve’s favorite in Chicago. Imagine a new teacher and a new journalist. They just graduated and came back from a trip in Europe to celebrate.

A beautiful night, stars, flowers, everything. The picture of American happiness.

« Nancy… You are the prettiest girl I know but that is not why I love you. I love you because you are the smartest person I know. Because you are the most independent and badass person I know. Because you ground me. Because I can make you laugh with my lame jokes. Because we made it after all these years, because we found our way back to each other 3 times already. Because you make me bold. Nancy Wheeler, would you mary me? ».

Now, imagine the cold. The cold in August because of the next words that Nancy said.

« I am not in love anymore Steve. »

The next months were excruciating. Steve moved back to Hawkins finding a position at the local school. He had moved to Chicago for her. Robin was here for him all the way, driving from Indianapolis often to confort him.

But the following year, she met Nancy at a environmental fundraiser. She was angry at first but they soon fell in love. It created a riff between the friend group.

However, when Steve saw them together he understood what love was supposed to be and he forgave Robin instantly.

Robin and Nancy moved to New York, he visited them a lot, they were all friends. He knew that Nancy and him were never really in love. He was so happy for them. He, though, had trouble finding love.

And Covid came. And Robin and Nancy were together all the time. And in 2021 they broke up. Robin found a position at Hawkins highschool as the new school psychologist. Her and Steve were, then, inseparable, tied together even more than before.

« Broooooooo »

Steve emerged for his thoughts when Dustin entered the room chanting.

« So. How is your tiktok going? »

« Really well! I had a video go viral about me making my pants for the Era’s tour »

« That’s amaziiiing. So I have a favour. »

Steve rolled his eyes. Of course he did.

« I know you are going to the Taylor Swift concert in Cincinnatti. I saw that Eddie Munson from Corroded Coffin said he’ll attend the concert as guests on YOUR night. Could you bring me a pic if you can??? »

Dustin was pleading with his eyes.

« I guess if I found them but I can’t promise anything … But… Corroded Coffin is a metal band right? Why would this guy attend a T Swizzle concert? » He found the whole thing quite strange.

« I don’t know babe. Aren’t you the one that say that she is the music industry? Maybe he wants a collab? Maybe they are friends? »

Steve smiled at the thought of a metalhead Taylor. He then wondered which member of the band was this Eddie guy. He then remembered the long haired guy with the pretty eyes from a poster in Dustin’s room.

« Dustin? Is Eddie Munson the pretty one? » Steve winked at him. They had this conversation once before when an album dropped and Dustin was obssessed with it.

« God, your bi ass is impossible. Yes he is « pretty » ».

« I hope I’ll see him then. Swiftie or not»

This ask changed his life forever

[shyvioletcat]

“Goodnight, my love.  Sweet dreams.” For MoA, maybe an Elsie scene 😍

I thought this prompt was so sweet I just wrote a little something for it. Like a little tiny bonus chapter. I’m hoping that it might just get me back into MoA gear for you all. Please enjoy!

~ Made of Ashes Masterlist ~

Today had been hard. 

Aelin was exhausted, bone tired, in every speakable way. Her body, her mind—both were ready to give up on her. Today was one of those days that mother’s talk about, the ones where you just need to sigh heavily and remind yourself that you start about tomorrow and one bad day wasn’t going to define you as a mother. Elspeth had become the embodiment of clingy. She had either been attached to Aelin’s hip of boob, there had been no debate for anything else. It could have been a sleep regression or a growth spurt or a sudden new wave of awareness of the world. Whatever it was, Aelin was struggling to keep her patience, was touched out and desperately needed some space. And more than that  it was times like this, she understood how people talked about motherhood being lonely. You were with someone the entire day, but the conversation wasn’t riveting and it was just a cycle of tasks that were essential for survival. The focus that came with keeping a baby alive and happy tended to block out everything else. Aelin knew that her friends and family were right there. They just weren’t in the thick of it like Aelin was. There were things only she could do for her child and sometimes that just became so isolating, especially when she was doing all of it as a single mum. 

She could only thank the gods that it was bedtime. 

“Elsie, baby, don’t fight it,” Aelin pleaded with her daughter as she wrestled her into her pyjamas. Already bathed and fed this was the final task before Elsie could go in the cot. 

Elsie rolled but it somehow worked in Aelin’s favour and the zip sang all the way up to the collar. Aelin sighed, watching as her daughter lay on her stomach, looking around the room. Unsurprisingly she wasn’t content with that and she dragged herself around in a near perfect circle so that she could face her mother. When her green eyes focused on Aelin sitting cross legged on the floor, Elsie’s face broke into a beaming smile. 

Aelin laughed softly, smiling back. Nine months old and Elspeth was still working very hard to have her mother wrapped around her little finger. As if Aelin hadn’t been that way since the moment she was born.

“Come on, my darling. Let’s get you to bed,” Aelin said, gathering Elsie into her arms and then standing. 

The sleeping bag that Elsie slept in was already laid out on her mattress, so Aelin positioned her on it and zipped that up too. This was where the gamble was going to be—if Aelin would be allowed to leave the room. Some nights Elsie did great, all Aelin had to do was put the music on, pat her back for a while, and she would be happy to settle herself to sleep. With how today went, Aelin knew that wasn’t likely. 

Aelin moved away from the cot to start the speaker and her fate was decided. As soon as her mother was out of her direct eye line Elsie started crying, the persistent kind—the same three notes followed by draw out attention seeking cry over and over again. 

“I’m right here, Elsie. Just hold on. I’m right here,” Aelin called out, pressing play on the old phone that was hooked up to the speaker.

Her voice wasn’t enough, the crying kept up until Aelin was reaching into the crib and holding Elsie to her chest. Hushing joined the symphony of noises in the room until Elsie’s cries and then whimpers quieted, then Aelin’s voice eased off too. She’d been bouncing Elsie to soothe her but she was getting tired after their long day together so Aelin retreated to the comfort of the rocking chair. 

“There we go, how’s this?” Aelin said, looking down at tear glossed eyes. “I’m right here with you. Just you and me.”

Elsie reached up, little hand sweeping across Aelin’s cheek. She turned to kiss that tiny palm, before it dropped to the collar of the shirt Aelin was wearing. They rocked back and forth, the motion matching the rhythm of the music. Aelin hummed along, having heard it countless times in the last nine months. After a while Elsie’s eyes began to close, long slow blinks like she was fighting to stay awake.

“Go on Elsie, you’re tired and it’s time for sleep.” Aelin said softly. “Goodnight, my love. Sweet dreams.”

“Mmma,” Elsie mumbled, making Aelin smile. “Mama.”

Aelin’s breath caught, her heart flipping. She was sure it was a fluke, and that Elsie had just mumbled off random sounds. She had looked it up, it could be months before Elsie said any real, meaningful words. 

Elsie’s eyes peeked open, watching, waiting. “Mama.”

This was real, what Elsie was saying was real. 

“Yeah, Mama’s here. Mama’s right here,” Aelin’s voice was tight as her emotions started to overwhelm her. 

That reassurance was what Elsie needed and this time when her eyes closed, they stayed that way. Aelin remained in the chair longer than she had to, too absorbed in the moment to let it go just yet. Today had been hard and lonely, but there was a little bright light at the end of it.  Aelin kissed her daughter’s forehead, watched as her eyelids fluttered. When she was sure Elsie wouldn’t wake up if she moved, Aelin eased herself off the chair and laid the baby down in the crib. The transfer was always a stressful time, waiting to see if the jostling woke up the sleeping girl. Aelin literally sighed in relief when Elsie just stirred a little and then laid out with her hands bedside her head. Aelin crept from the room as quietly as she could, slowly pulling the door closed behind her. Freedom at last. 

She headed to the lounge room, picking up her phone she had left on the coffee table. Even though Aelin was exhausted and tired and really should go to bed, this was the time that she had to herself. This was when she could catch up with all the messages she had missed during the days and not feel so lonely as she communicated with adults or just distracted herself with mindless scrolling through social media. 

There were a lot of notifications on her lockscreen, Aelin gave them a quick flick through before unlocking her phone. At the front of her mind was telling the world that Elsie had called her mama. It still made her heart swell. 

Aelin was about to make the sappiest social media post of her life when a new text popped up on her phone. It was from Fenrys, and she tapped right on it. 

>> Hey, is the little princess asleep yet? Haven’t heard from you much today so just wanted to check in. I hear there’s a sleep regression around the corner.

Over the last few months, since Elsie had been a newborn really, Fenrys had become one of Aelin’s closest friends. Out of everyone, he was the most free of obligations and had used a lot of his free time in helping Aelin with whatever she needed. The friendship had been unexpected, but without it Aelin wasn't sure how she would have coped. Fenrys also hadn’t shied away from all the baby things Aelin tended to info dump him with, sometimes he went and did his own research so he could be included in the conversation. And right now Aelin found that he was the one she was most excited to tell about Elsie’s new development. 

<< She is. Today was long and tiring. But you’ll never guess what happened.

Aelin was grinning at her phone waiting for him to take the bait. 

>> What? Find that dress for her you were eyeing off on sale?

<< Even better than that. Elsie called me Mama

Sending the message off made Aelin squeal. This was a peak motherhood moment.

>> WHAT!? That’s amazing. Congratulations Mama!

She sent off her thank you and a GIF of someone bowing, he sent back a crowd of people applauding. 

>> With that out of the way, time to enact my plan. FEN will be next. 

Aelin laughed, feeling far too giddy for the exhaustion running through her body. 

<< Wanna watch a movie with me?

It wasn’t the first time Aelin had asked, they’d been doing this for a while. They’d pick a movie, watch it together from their separate apartments in different parts of the city. 

>> Yeah, sure. You’re pick this time.

Aelin turned on her TV and pulled up Netflix, considering what might be the most entertaining to the both of them. Or rather, what might be fun to make Fenrys suffer through. It was just unfortunate that she couldn’t see his pain in person. And maybe she could do something about that. Not tonight, of course. But… her phone was in her hand before she could reconsider.

<< Hey, what if like, on Saturday or something you come over and we watch a movie together. 

She didn’t know why she’d sent the message, maybe it was the need for adult contact. Fenrys’ reply came quickly

>> I’ll bring dinner. That way I can hear firsthand how smart the little girl of yours is. And enact step one of my master plan. Lorcan is gonna be so pissed.

Aelin laughed, the rivalry between uncles was in fact hilarious. Lorcan was the winning horse thus far, much to Aedion and Fenrys’ disappointment. It was something special to have all these people around her who loved her daughter unconditionally. How could they not? She was adorable. With plans made Aelin felt a bit lighter, Something to look forward to in the next few days kept to the same pattern of today. And hanging out with Fenrys would be fun. She was very much looking forward to it. 

<< Can’t wait.

~~~~~

Tags: @fucking-winchester-trash // @literary-licorice // @galyxsy // @tangledraysofsunshine // @highqueenofelfhame // @3am-reading // @soup-that-is-too-hawt // @aelinfire-bringer // @nalgenewhore // @highladyofthesith // @http-itsrebecca // @sleep-and-books // @alifletcher2012 // @westofmoon // @sleeping-and-books // @ttakeitbacknoww // @armixers-unite // @mariamuses // @chocolate-eating-bitch-queen // @velarian-trash // @queenofxhearts // @heroesofterrasen // @highladyofstoriesandmusic // @empire-of-wildfire // @camerooonchiu // @crackedship // @lowhangingtreebranches // @over300books // @yourwhisperingshadows // @thesirenwashere // @tswaney17 // @impossiblescissorspeachpaper // @cat5313 // @judelovescardan // @flowerspringsea // @chaoticskyy // @the-regal-warrior // @fanfictrash3000 // @blueeyes425 // @starseternalnighttriumphant // @bamchickawowow // @thehuntressofmoon // @giorgia-the-trashpanda // @flora-and-fae // @thereaderandfangirl // @illyrian-bookworm // @chemicha // @meltalgel // @gay-book-nerd // @that-odd-puzzle-piece // @i-love-all-books // @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato // @girl-who-reads-the-books // @hizqueen4life // @the-third-me // @1islessthan3books // @bestmelle // @cursebreaker29 // @b00kworm // @superspiritfestival // @aesthetics-11 // @maastrash // @mynewdreamwasyou // @the-last-apprentice // @charincharge // @firestarsandseneschals // @scarznstars // @absolute-dissapointment // @thesurielships // @df3ndyr // @trinitybailey2003 // @gwynethhberdara   // @booknerdproblems // @empress-ofbloodshed // @queenophelia // @petrichara // @grandma-noob-lord // @silentquartz // @curlyredqueen06 // @littleboxofthunder // @sjmships // @sanakapoor // @keshavomit // @magicalunicorngypsy // @wanderingjpg // @wordsafterhours // @but-she-was-aelin-galathynius // @yesdreamblog // @motherofdragons155 // @elriel4life // @aelin-is-my-heart // @ireallyshouldsleeprn // @crystalfireandblazingice // @court-of-glass // @larisssss // @sevenfreckles-for-sevenloves // @rolltide7 // @scandinavianromantic // @tillyrubes10 // @starwarsslytherin // @minaidss // @mu-si-ca-l // @hsilberfarb // @aelin-queen-of-terrasen // @alyx801 // @amandaswallowtail // @louiseleblancdiggory // @abookishfreak // @paytin77 // @jesstargaryenqueen // @anntheintrovert // @starbornvalkyrie   // @loudphantomdragon // @woollycat22 // @claralady // @perseusannabeth // @fangirlprincess09 // @maddymelv // @sierrareads // @emilyoftheshadows // @heirofthrnightcourt004 // @azymondias05 // @booksbqueen // @rowanwhitethornisbae // @rabodocardan // @acciowests // @danibutterr // @wanderingjpg // @more-espresso-less-depresso-xx // @jlinez // @lysandra-ghost-leopard // @mis-lil-red // @midnightdreamersthings // @swankii-art-teacher // @rowaelinismyotp // @pullnpeeltwizzlers // @anne-reads // @jadeaffliction // @gracie-rosee // @rowaelinrambling // @tothestarswholistentodreamers // @thenerdandfandoms // @castielspelvis // @vanzetanze // @thegreyj // @lizzyfirebringer // @endlessdaydream // @anidealiveson // @magnifique1807 // @charlizeed // @highlady-brittney // @story-scribbler // @linguine-panini // @pastasiren // @ghostlyrose2 // @themoonthestarsthesuriel // endlessdaydream //   @feysand-loml // @backtobl4ck  // @live-the-fangirl-life // @whimsicallyreading // @goddess-aelin // @khildreth //

[noxexistant]

9, 12, 17, 18

I saw that the one I’d asked for got asked

So here’s more 🥰

that’s so sweet of you :’) i’m glad to be able to give you answers <3

9. do you write every day? if you wrote today, share a sentence of what you’ve written.

i try to write every day! and i tend to, even if it’s only a small edit or adding a sentence. helps me feel like i’m making progress or not totally stagnant, even when i can’t pay attention to actually writing. as for a sentence i wrote today, i’m gonna chest slightly and use a line of dialogue:

“I’d rather go to jail. Real jail. Even if they killed me there. ‘S’long as I got to stay wit’ you.”

12. do you have a playlist for your current wip(s)? share it!

this is the most boring answer, but i don’t 😭 i very often can’t write with music, and when i can i’ll just put one of my usual playlists on shuffle. a couple playlists i do like to write to, however, is “red dead redemption vibes” by jimmay on spotify, and “batman just like me fr” by john rambone.

17. what’s something you’ve learned about while doing research for a fic?

i’ve done a considerable amount of research into 1890s candies and stuffed animals to work out what would be most reasonable for characters to have tried and to favour, or for them to potentially own. stuffed animals were pioneered by the steiff company in the late 19th century - though, of course, have roots throughout history - and their first design was an elephant, first sold as a pincushion. they’re also the company that invented the teddy bear, in 1903, inspired by roosevelt himself. another pioneer stuffed animal of the era was the ithaca kitty - also just called “the tabby cat” - which was introduced in 1892 and is credited as starting the fad for stuffed animals (and was based on a real kitty! the creator’s own, caesar grimalkin). i believe the ithalca kitty was commonly sold as a piece of printed muslin cloth, which was then sewn and stuffed at home by the purchaser.

18. what’s one of your favourite lines you’ve written in a fic?

ooh, man. i’m honestly not sure, i’d have to comb through my stuff to find a real solid answer lmao, but one thing i’ve written recently that springs to mind - and that i mentioned in another answer - is oscar’s whole mental monologue from ‘under wraps’ of all the stuff he can’t articulate out loud to morris.

—

“I can’t lose you, Mo,” he says, quiet and so honest it makes him feel sicker. “‘M’serious, I can’t, you’re—“

You’re everything. You’re the world. You’re my baby brother. I been looking after you our whole lives and I don’t know how to stop, I don’t wanna stop. We been sharing a bed our whole lives and I have nightmares of you lay to sleep forever without me lay with you like it’s always been. I don’t know how to sleep without you. I don’t know how to live without you. Please, God, don’t make me even think about it. But if I do picture you in a grave, I picture myself crawling in beside you and curling myself around you like we’re lay in bed at night.

“You’re my little brother.”

[my-secret-shame]

Hello 👀

Can you decide my fate with any of Oscar's characters, please?

Thanks in advance ❤️

Of course! ♥️

🔮THE FATES HAVE DECIDED🔮

Your soulmate is: Llewyn Davis

And you met: in the classroom

Just using some onomancy to speak to the Fates and they are telling me this: 

Llewyn didn’t think he would like working at a school, hell he’d nearly turned the job down. A friend of a friend of the Gorfeins’ was apparently on the school board.

There had been some new initiative, something about ‘music and the arts’ and education. Basically there was some money for a ‘music teacher’ three times a week, after school, for an hour. Small groups, maximum seven students a session. 

The guy they had got to be the teacher had backed out last minute and did they know anyone who could do it? It would probably only be until the summer. 

Llewyn had reluctantly agreed, more as a favour to the Gorfeins’ than anything. 

But to his pleasant surprise, it wasn’t bad. The pay was okay for what it was, and at least it put a little something in his pocket while he continued to play at the Gaslight. 

Today's lesson had gone well, six students, all eight years old. He was just waiting for the last two to be picked up before he could head out. (At least there was heating in the old school building.) 

You rushed to the school, your neighbour Sally, a kind woman with even kinder eyes was sick as a dog. You had bumped into her as she was trying to drag herself out of her door and to the school to pick up her son from his music lesson. 

There was absolutely no way you were going to let her go there with a temperature as high as she had. You bundled her back into bed and set off to pick up her son. 

You walked into the music room, it wasn’t the first time you’d collected Luke from school, though it was the first time you’d picked him up from a music lesson. 

“Hey-” You faltered as you saw the man sitting at the desk, nursing a steaming cup of coffee. 

Luke and his friend Marie were paying in the corner.

“Oh, hi, I’m, erm,” he was distractingly handsome. “I’m just here to pick up…”

He frowned at you a little, but didn’t get a chance to speak as Luke hurtled towards you, shouting your name and crashing into you with surprised strength. 

Llewlyn stood smiling. 

“Hi, how are you, little guy?”

“Good! We’ve been playing!” Luke grinned.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!” He let go of you and ran back to Marie. 

“I’m guessing you're here to pick up Luke?” Llewyn said, his voice made you jump, you hadn’t realised he had come over to you. 

You laughed. “Yeah.”

He nodded. “Is Mrs Hazel okay?”

“She’s ill, she’ll be fine. Just a bit of a temperature.” 

You and Llewyn ended up talking for much longer than either of you intended. It was only when Marie’s Father came to collect her, that you both realised it was time to go.

A small pang of disappointment echoed in your chest. 

“Do you live far?” You asked as Llewlyn pulled out his bag and suitcase from behind the desk. 

“Erm, well, just,” he paused. The Gorfeins’ didn’t have room for him tonight. 

In all honesty he’d been planning to sneak into the cinema for a few hours, to try to get some sleep in the darkness. 

“Sorry,” you quickly added, mistaking his pause for discomfort. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No.” He said a little too fast. “I don’t really have a… fixed address at the moment.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

There was another pause.

“Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?”

He looks up at you. 

“I mean,” oh god, was this a bad idea? Was this rude? “I have a sofa spare if that’s any help?”

He gave you a smile that was almost blinding. “That would be great.”

Thank you so much!

My Secret Shame's Little Party

[randomvarious]

Today's mix:

True Playa'z in the Mix Vol. 2 by DJ Hype 2000 Drum n Bass

A piping hot slab of late 90s/early 2000s dnb fire here from the UK's one and only DJ Hype. Back in the mid-90s, Hype co-founded his own dnb and jungle label, True Playaz, with the two other guys that he co-habitates most of this mix's tracklist with: DJ Zinc and Pascal, the three of whom are also collectively known as The Ganja Kru. And with Hype himself manning the decks on this one, he churns out a versatilely booming mix that showcases all the dope stuff that he and his labelmates were producing at the time.

And perhaps the single-dopest thing about this mix overall is that not only was Hype responsible for its selection and top-notch mixing, but he also expertly incorporated something else that you don't typically hear on a lot of dnb mixes: turntable scratching. His choice to bring this skillful touch to some of these songs adds an extra special wrinkle to them, enhancing and elevating them as one-of-a-kind must-listens. Pascal's "Serious Sounds (VIP)" is probably not one of the top-tier tracks on this thing if not for Hype adding his own scratches to this already bouncy track 🥹.

And there's not too much in the way of jungle on here, but being that my preferences tend to lean towards that genre in particular, I really love the cosmically eerie-synthed "Toothbrush" by DJ Zinc, which Hype also brings his scratching prowess to at certain points. It's a pretty simple thing, but I am just such a sucker for those moments in jungle tunes when the chaotic break gets suddenly dropped into a serene setting 😈. That shit's like musical crack to me, and it happens a couple times within this very song.

And lastly, the closer on this mix is fantastic too. There's a good dose of hip hop attributes to be found all throughout this session, including sampled lyrics and Hype's own scratching, but Pascal's "P-Funk 2000" has another thing: a whistly-whiny-squealy G-Funk synth that's pretty melodically reminiscent of Notorious B.I.G.'s own "Big Poppa." Really complements the drum breaks well here and the sampling of a not-so-known feature from rap legend KRS-One is a sweet added bonus too 🤌.

So really good stuff here from the True Playaz team all around. Excellent selection and sequencing, and the whole thing's pretty well-mixed too. Both dnb and jungle are known to overlap with hip hop from time to time—people sometimes rap over dnb beats and rap lyrics from other songs get sampled and looped-up a whole lot as well—but the incorporation of scratching into a project like this is not something that I think is very prevalent, and DJ Hype shows you with his own skillset why that's turned out to be a pretty glaring oversight.

Listen to the full mix here.

Highlights:

Freestyles - "Stronger" Pascal - "Favours" DJ Zinc - "Bring the Danger" Mampi Swift - "Reload" DJ Hype - "Closer to God" DJ Nut Nut - "Take Control" DJ Zinc - "Pink Panther (Remix)" DJ Hype - "Only One Life to Give" DJ Zinc - "Toothbrush" DJ Hype - "Peace Love & Unity (Remix)" The Ganja Kru - "Forbidden Fruit" Pascal - "Serious Sounds (VIP)" DJ Hype - "Jump" DJ Zinc - "Stretched" Pascal - "P-Funk 2000"

[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

STAND YOUR GROUND

Daniel 1:8-20

How do we remain undefiled in a society full of tempting morsels and attractions? To be undefiled is to be ritually, religiously and spiritually clean, it's frequently used about moral cleanness, which means to remain clean from the contaminations the world urges us to approve of.

Is anything of defilement worth the consequences?

Because the mind is an integral part of the human personality, cleanness must be applied to attitudes and motives that govern some forms of behaviour like impure thoughts that can result in shameful activities according to Mark 7:15.

Have you ever been in a situation where your integrity, morality and conscience were called into question or where you’ve been expected to follow the rules irrespective of your opinion and stand? There’s a lot of that going on today!

In all ages, God's people are pressured to pollute the purity of their dedication by people, circumstances and even themselves. The pressures can come from lots of quarters and sometimes even within the church.

It was an idolatrous custom to throw a small part of the meat and wine on the ground in libation, as an offering to the gods of the land to consecrate the whole portion of the offering as seen in Deuteronomy 32:38.

To have partaken of such a feast would have been to sanction idolatry which was forbidden by God, even after the legal distinction of clean and unclean meats was stopped in 1 Corinthians 8:7. Daniel and his friends, stood firm on not to become unclean. Like Moses, Daniel "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" in Hebrews 11:25 and Daniel 9:3-19.

All real dignity has its beginning, not in ancestral fortune, but in righteous purpose exhibited. The heart is the seed-plot of every deed, good or bad, it starts from the heart according to Proverbs 4:23.

You and I have similar opportunities to defile ourselves daily, especially in the area of entertainment. We can be defined by the ungodly influences of television shows or movies we watch or the music we listen to. We can also defile ourselves by compromising with and going along with friends who are making wrong choices. We compromise on what we wear and eat and the vocabulary is even more defiling. We’ve joined the crowd in using cuss words and taking the Lord’s name in vain when angry, frustrated and disappointed.

Are you willing to be like Daniel and determined not to defile yourself? Would you stand your ground even if it means losing friends, business and your job?

The distinctive thing about Daniel was his conscience, along with the sense of divine authority in which his conscience stood vested. The undefiled man is always the best-looking in the room. No pot belly, cigarette-stained fingers, no alcohol breath or unhealthy look but clean, fresh and healthy look.

The Lord gave Daniel favour, compassion and lovingkindness with the eunuch, who agreed to allow them to follow their diet if it didn’t harm them. It didn't! It made them stronger and healthier than all the other young men in training who ate the king’s meal. The king was so impressed by their wisdom that he chose them out of all the young men to serve at court as his trusted counsellors because they stood their ground in verses 10-20.

PRAYER: Lord, I ask for your help in making godly choices and remaining undefiled and faithful always, regardless of the temptations and attractions, help me to stand my ground in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

[gudakeshav]

Homecoming - 2027 Part 4

The message flashed on my watch indicated that the drone delivered my food packet at our flat drop box which need to be collected. Even after so much automation, there are still some last-leg tasks left out for us, rather than complaining I found such left-out tasks are a good relief for the routine we are forced into. I went to the drop box and collected the food packet, which is ordered for me without my consent utilizing money from my account, that is the reality we are in, and now no other choice for me other than to enjoy the food. How this thought process enters my mind this evening? It disturbed me. I reached the fridge and opened the door as I like to have some drinks before the meal. The beer tray is in a lock position which is not allowed me to take any bottle from the smart fridge tray. My readings on big data not permitting me to have any more alcoholic drinks as my permitted limit for the day is over. The good old days are over and now we are not the master, means are we slaves?  No, we created all these for our betterment and comfort only, we are the Masters and technology is the slave, my false pride corrected me. With a soft drink cane, I reached back to the dining table, I am lucky my sugar intake for the day had not exceeded the limit. I am not at all interested in the food but I know it is essential to finish it as it is selected based on my body's needs rather than taste. Back in my bedroom, the room was kept ready for my comfort even before my arrival. Temperature and clean air were maintained and the room light was turned on with my entry. Get on to the bed and press the remote for switching the TV screen, but instead of the screen a voice message to me that the entertainment systems are switched off,  need to go to compulsory sleep and rest for the next five hours - not compromisable, which means even I am in a locked position during these hours and getting out of the room is out of the question. The intensity of the light in the room slowly reduced and within five minutes, it reached close to full darkness! A piece of slow soothing music played in my ears which normally takes me to deep sleep. Today even in this favourable situation after fatigue from a long journey, I am not able to sleep. There are uncomfortable feelings and thoughts troubling me. It looks like I am questioning the wisdom of handing over decision-making to machines and their artificial intelligence, the evolution started with non-significant small tasks and finally reached this stage. Are we any better than any of the smart devices we are having? Yes definitely, these smart devices can't think like me and evaluate the situation where we are. That's all, we can think but not able to act as the aides we developed over the years for us are not under our control. These are controlled by the big boss through artificial intelligence and big data analysis. We all got specific tasks, the auto-driving cab reached me for my travel from the airport to my accommodation performed its task, and went for its next task,  this will continued till the big boss with extensive data analysis declared these are out of service. Once put into service no one can take these out without their full life utilisation.  As a human being, I may be slightly better, I can still have the freedom to think, can learn new things, select different professions chose my partner but surrendered a lot more to technology thinking for the betterment, fear of health risks, etc. We all are monitored like any smart device, how true Snowden was, even though I decided to move out of the system and was not ready to board the cab after reaching the airport, still I can't escape. My movements were tracked like my smart luggage, I can come back to my home only with the wish of our new god and the completion of the assignments allocated to me. Even if I am disturbed, there is no choice. I am going to sleep, goodbye to all disturbing thoughts.

#creative#litrature#story#AI#thoughts