#this is me coming out as a filipino are we surprised

[unwri-ten]

✮. 🎀 𝓟𝓤𝑇𝓐𝓝𝓖𝓘𝓝𝓐 🎀 .✮

😍💞💘 𝘼𝙉𝙂 𝙄𝙉𝙀𝙏 𝘼𝙉𝘼𝙆 𝙉𝙂 𝙋𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂💔💏💖

[drvscarlett]

Sweet Nothings (2)

Carlos Sainz x pageant queen!reader

Summary: All that they ever wanted was sweet nothings but everything changed like midnight rain.

Sweet Nothings: 1, 2, 3. 4

A/N: i indulged a lot with catriona so expect a lot of her faces. i like to build up things hehe.let me know your thoughts

YNjpeg posted a photo.

Liked by CarlosSainz55, LewisHamilton, and 543,456 others

YNjpeg thank you for the opportunity for the roundtable to discuss different issues faced by our society [link]

User4 the way she speaks says a lot about her character

User6 I dont need to see any other queen, Y/N is my Miss Universe 2024.

User7 i never knew Y/N is this knowledgeable

User9 right?? i mean before we all knew her as just Carlos' partner User10 is it bad for me to say that i think Carlos and Y/N break up is a good thing? User9 true bestie.

LewisHamilton Wonderful insights, thank you for using your voice!

YNjpeg honored to be appreciated by you Lew! LewisHamilton 👑☝️ User12 real recognize real!

User55 anyone notice that carlos is still liking?

User90 omg i just noticed that! User77 my divorced parents

F1News posted an article.

Carlos Sainz sits down talking about championships, end of contracts, and relationships.

The hottest topic in the paddock at the moment has been Carlos Sainz. He is the driver that has been to watch out for as he becomes the El Matador that crushes Red Bull's streak of victory. The soon to be ex-Ferrari driver thanks the team for building a good car and creating new strategy that allowed them to best Red Bull several times already.

It was no surprise that him and teammate, Charles Leclerc has been chasing Max down for the championship. When asked about how does he deal with the pressure, he mentioned that he kept himself grounded by a note tucked inside of his helmet. He said that the content of the notes cannot be discussed (as well as the writer of the note) but he is very grateful for it for keeping him in touch with reality. The Spaniard is currently sitting at the second place with only 2 points difference from the current champion.

"It has not yet been decided" this is what Carlos has to say regarding where he would sign next. Carlos assures everyone that there are offers but he is still weighing which will be a better option. His focus at the moment was not on the signing because as he states "if I'm a good driver then the offers will just keep coming." He wishes to focus on doing his best with his current team and reiterates that he has no ill feelings with the team.

Another hot topic that Carlos was asked about is regarding his love life. There were rumors about his split with long-time girlfriend and now running for Miss Universe, Y/N L/N. Carlos explained how he is very proud of Y/N and that he wishes all the best for her. He refused to answer questions detailing more about her since he explains that "focus on Y/N as a beauty queen and not because of her relationship. She deserves more than just being someone's girlfriend."

CarlosY/N4ever

CarlosY/N4ever me realizing that Miss Universe 2024 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix is happening together???!!!

User5 wdym together???

CarlosY/N4ever It will both happen in the 24th,the gp will go first at 2pm while the Miss Universe will start at 6pm. User5 OHMYGOD????

User7 So are we going to watch miss universe or f1???

User8 Im gonna watch both User9 rip to us with a different timezone

User10 i love how we can use Y/N's reactions for this

User11 girlie is a walking meme User13 walking meme but still elegant

User19 SO WILL THE GRID BE WATCHING????

User22 what is barbenheimer when we have this going on!!!

QueenYNUpdates just posted a reel

Well my gowns and my costumes have been carefully selected. Everything has a meaning. It is an homage for my country and of course to the best parts of myself. [Can we have any more insights about your evening gown] All I can say is that I want to make Filipinos proud and the color has a very personal meaning.

User10 Im excited to see her final look!

User12 agreeeee,her attention to details is everything!

User7 Our filipina queen! PERIODT!

User13 the color has a very personal meaning + that smile.. anyone wanted to bet with me that its ferrari red???

User15 I might cry if its really red User18 and its carlos' last year to ferrari as well User90 I just want to have a good time on this app

User55 Go fight for the crown!!!! Bring home the crown!!!

QueenYNUpdates posted a reel

[What can you say about your relationship with Carlos, everyone is curious about what happened] This is the only time, I'll talk about this. If you are looking for drama, there is no drama between the two of us. Carlos and I met when we were still young people and we grew up together. We matured as individuals..Its not a bad thing. I am extremely happy and proud of where he is right now. Were both chasing our dreams. What we are, what have been. Its all good. That's all that I have to say.

User5 This basically confirms it.

User6 we are really children of divorce

User7 CARLOS GET HER BACK, ITS NOT TOO LATE

User8 YEAH SHE IS NOT YET MISS UNIVERSE User9 BRO DON'T LET HER GO CarlosSainz55

User11 Its the miss universe curse. If the girl really wants the crown then they will undergo heartbreak

User14 why do we have to sacrifice someone?? User15 so miss universe is just like ferrari strategy? here we sacrifice a boyfriend, in ferrari we sacrifice leclerc User17 that comment got me gagged.

YNjpeg posted a photo

liked by CarlosSainz55, LandoNorris, and 876,525 others

YNjpeg I am ready to represent!!! Flying to Vegas!!!

Charles_Leclerc goodluck Miss Philippines!!

YNjpeg thank you charlieee

LandoNorris can't wait to see you take the crown

YNjpeg lando you believe in me too much LandoNorris I SAID take the crown!!! YNjpeg ON IT!

User5 im so happy that she is still being supported by the grid

User67 bring home the crown Y/N!

User8 Mark my words, she will come back with the crown!

User9 safe flight!!!

CarlosSainz55 just posted a photo.

CarlosSainz55 You always hated flying. You told me that there is a certain discomfort and uncertainty when you are a thousand feet from the ground. Right now, you are flying. I know it has a certain discomfort and uncertainty of what's to come but I believe you can find some joy in it.

You will always be the most beautiful in the universe.

User7 OMG????

User6 CARLOS I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH YOUR GAME

User8 bro really went to tell the whole world that he will be here no matter what

User15 were always talking about how Y/N is Carlos' biggest fan but Carlos is also Y/N's biggest fan

User17 ITS TOO ERALY TO CRY

CarlosSainz55 just deleted the post.

[agendabymooner]

ride home ! carlos s. x ofc (filipino!content creator!ofc)

“and my weary heart has come to rest in yours.”

summary: carlos sainz accidentally outed himself as a married man and his wife is filipino, which is quite ironic if you would look at the history between the two nations. OR mona magdalena was something of a surprise to the f1 world as she’s something of an… ordinary person. but the ferrari driver’s in love with her and that’s enough for anyone to understand.

content warning: established relationship, use of explicit language, unclear plot (intro to carlos sainz’ ofc wife), fluff, lando = knowing something you don’t, poorly translated comments, mentions cheating (no one did), connected to the alessandro/hearth universe (see masterlist)

note: there will be a translation to some of the words in this post (context: spain colonized philippines for 300 years and language/culture/practices were adapted from spain.)

this is a self-indulgent fic. a little bit of it i think. this came from my halo-halo homies’ asks and i was inspired to write. i should write some fernando alonso soon, no? enjoy xx

masterlist

liked by carlossainzjr, landonorris, zildbenitez

user1 CONGRATS MAMITAAAA

user2 welcome back to philippines magda!!

zildbenitez sex or chocolate? liked by monamagdalena

monamagdalena the city by the 1975

user3 i cant believe that you’re working a regular job in spain/england while you’re a whole ass celebrity in the philippines 😭 liked by monamagdalena

monamagdalena duality of a woman 😉

benandbenmusic gimmick sa’n? where should we hangout?

monamagdalena i want some inasal :)

benandbenmusic bet, meet u at the nearest mang inasal then 🫶

carlossainzjr y u so pretty cariño? liked by monamagdalena

carlossainzjr posted a story !!!

this story in unavailable

[translation: my wife should just quit her day job and come travel with me]

[translation: there’s no one i would yearn for more than you, my lovely lady.]

tagged monamagdalena

liked by charles_leclerc, blastersilonga, landonorris

user1 ok but why doesn’t she give wag vibes? did she ever attend any of his race?

user2 she doesn’t seem to be like his type tbh. why does she have a huge fanbase?

user3 bestie they’re married- what more can they do?

user4 she’s hella gorgeous

user5 i didn’t even know who carlos was until now :’] magda really chose the perfect one 😭

user6 welcome to the pits of hell we call f1. ferrari’s at the deepest depth - carlos drives for ferrari

user7 y’all btches blind if you don’t see the heart eyes carlos is giving her

user8 he’s so in love i wish that were me

landonorris ok but i’m rooting for you two though 🥲 liked by carlossainzjr and monamagdalena

monamagdalena thanks, lando! i’m also rooting for us :)

monamagdalena you’re the best partner to have existed. mahal kita sobraaaaaa ❤️ i love you soooo much liked by carlossainzjr

carlossainzjr see you soon cariño ❤️

user8 she really said “colonizing his heart” 😭

user9 who cooks better though?

carlossainzjr her because she grew up with a single mother only and they always make the best cuisines - lena taught me how to cook most filipino dishes

monamagdalena most filipino dishes that NEED to be paired with rice 🥲 i get so lonely having to eat rice by myself at times

landonorris you should have me over so we can eat rice together

monamagdalena you betcha. i’ll be making you dinner like it’s a filipino birthday party lando!

user10 now THAT is the dream 😩 imagine being so sweet that you’d make your husband’s mate some roast pans full of filipino food and pull up the karaoke ughhh so mother of u

bonus !!!

translation

mahal / irog = terms of endearment, “love”

[snickerduu]

What music do you like?

Any specific genre?

Any niche music that you'd recommend or think is underrated?

ooh, i listen to a lot of different genres at different times, so this answer might differ every other month HAHHA but for a very long time i've been a big fan of music that helps calm down my noisy brain -- usually folk/acoustic instrumentals! will never not love those

recently, i've been listening to a lot of hiatus kaiyote, alan gogoll, the oh hellos (their four winds albums are great and mean a lot to me), laufey, takashi kokubo (i always listen to their albums to sleep), and stray kids!

i'm also a fan of local filipino artists UDD and munimuni :)

and some other long-time favorites i always come back to are park bird, elephant gym, plini, erutan, haruno, khai dreams, again&again, ichiko aoba, and a bit of radiohead since my partner axl (who also makes music!! he's made all the music for my animations so far) is a really big fan of them HAHA i enjoy A Moon Shaped Pool the most out of their albums because it makes me feel so sad

for stuff i feel is underrated, i personally think more people should listen to elephant gym and alan gogoll!! genuinely surprised their music hasnt reached over a million monthly streams on spotify yet, they're very pleasant listening experiences 🐛 my earworms (side note i feel like axl has better answers for niche music since he seems to always find really good hole-in-the-wall artists, he's positively influenced the range of music i listen to since before uni! we were in a high school band back then HAHA)

also i listen to ABBA with my dad a lot! their songs and documentaries play every car ride we have so i know every song at this point...but their songs are all bangers so its ok (my favorites voulez-vous and gimme gimme gimme)

these are all off the top of my head so i might've forgotten other ones!! maybe if another music ask comes out next time i'll spew out another bajillion HAHA thank you for asking and for reading this block of text :) !!!

[mrcarmenile]

another hazbin rant lmao im so sorry 😭😭 (this one is about alastor’s design and racial identity, specifically talking about alastor being mixed-race as a mixed person myself)

ik theres a lot of criticism about alastor’s design not properly representing his race, which is a valid concern but

firstly we haven’t gotten the whole show yet and we don’t know how well his character is actually portrayed - so accusing people like viv of being racist or that alastor is shit rep cannot really be properly backed up at this time

secondly alastor is mixed. we don’t know exactly what percentages or whatever, but we know that he is partially black, either half black or less than half black (considering that he is half creole). i see a lot of people saying “that is not a black man” “that’s such a white guy”

i am mixed race. i am not black, but i am half filipino and half white. i myself have been told that i’m too white, or that i’m not really asian, or that i’m not asian enough. my skin is too pale. my hair isn’t thick enough. my facial features aren’t “filipino” enough. i’m whitewashing myself.

i’m not dismissing white washing or bad representation at all - but since we’re, firstly, not sure how alastor is handled in the full show, and secondly, people are SAYING that he’s “not really black” or “not black enough”

mixed people receive this all the time. erasure of our racial identities, feeling like we don’t fit in anywhere because we /look different/. it really upsets me to see people make these comments. if you have your (respectful!) criticisms, then of course let them be known if you would like. spread awareness. but i advise you not to make comments like the ones i pointed out (they can be very invalidating to mixed-race people), and to keep an open mind for the full series - it may surprise you.

idk it just hurts to see another white passing mixed person getting their race entirely dismissed simply because they don’t look like someone who is fully that race, or other mixed people of that race. like ik alastor is fictional but it also makes me feel bad? mixed people look different, sometimes they fully pass as one race, sometimes they look somewhere in the middle - just please don’t make comments dismissing a mixed person’s race. i can understand wanting alastor to look more black, in fact i myself believe that he should have more black features, but. cmon - your words have meaning, even when directed at a fictional character - they affect real people too. these are comments that real people (including myself) receive, and it’s not fun.

[ also try not to speak over the people who are actually being represented (or possibly misrepresented) by alastor - i feel a connection with him as i am also a white-passing mixed-race aroace, but i try not to comment much on this specific topic because i am not creole or black. this is just my stance on how he is portrayed as a mixed person, and people’s responses to that. ]

thank you for coming to yet another ted talk, any racist or disrespectful people/comments will be deleted and blocked. much love <3

[kairiscorner]

I have come with another miguel x filipino reader request that is relatable and comes from another skit.

Hint: Distrust 101

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cv21-4AOnIb/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA OF THE ICE CREAM LAGAYAN NA ME ULAM URGHRHRHRHHRHRHRH we cannot escape it, hence miggy has to deal with us.

it isn't ice cream, is it? – miguel o'hara x filipino!reader

another hot day was upon you, and the only best way you knew how to cool off was through going through a batch of your favorite ice cream. you couldn't remember if you finished it already or not, but when you saw the container in the fridge... you got excited and even hungrier. you smiled as you took the container out of the fridge, it was cool yet it wasn't frozen like ice cream usually would be–but you didn't mind, it was ice cream... right?

usually, nobody would be bothered by the sight of ice cream in the fridge–they'd be excited, usually. but you were in a constant state of uneasiness as you gently shook the container, feeling your doubt pool in your stomach and settle there for a moment as you tried thinking back if you had any soup or stew for dinner last night, or anything small enough to fit in the ice cream container that would be anything but the cold, creamy treat. you contemplated on the odds of it actually being ice cream and it being the dinner or lunch you and miguel had the previous day, and you just stayed that way for a solid 5 minutes until miguel came into the kitchen and saw you in a thinking position—as if you were 'the thinker' statue but in such snug yoga pants and an oversized shirt that was most likely miguel's.

"what's wrong?" he asked you as he went over to get a glass of water. you sighed and took the ice cream container and looked up at him with a crestfallen expression already strewn on your face. "...what's in this?" you asked him all softly as he looked at the container then back at you with a perplexed expression. "ice cream." he told you with a shrug. "are you sure?" you asked him with a harder tone, not wanting to get your hopes up that your treat was actually in there. "yeah? why?" miguel asked you as he took a sip of water. you sighed and tried to stop yourself from smiling. "well, i need you to be sure, because the immeasurable amount of disappointment i'll get if i open this and there's actually some chicken adobo, or sinigang, or bulalo in here, i'll..." you trailed off as miguel chuckled slightly, nearly choking on his water. he set his glass down and opened it for you, and lo and behold, your favorite ice cream was right there in front of you.

you exclaimed in happiness and surprise, your smile reaching from ear to ear as miguel handed you a big spoon for you to enjoy the frozen treat with. "i'd never trick you like that, cariño, what gave you that thought, though?" he asked you as you happily ate the ice cream up, feeling so rewarded and happy that your lunch nor your dinner was in the container. "my childhood gave me that thought." you said in a rushed voice as you gobbled down spoon after spoon of ice cream scoops, with miguel rubbing the ice cream that got on your face off you with the pad of his thumb. "sounds rough." he said with a chuckle as you spoon fed him a scoop and giggled. "you can never be too sure, y'know; i might just do that to you, miggy..." you teased him as he chuckled and nuzzled his face against your hair, pleading you in a sarcastic voice not to do it, not to tease him like that all cruelly.

tags !! @miguelswifey04 @hearts4gabri @hisachuu @wreakingmarveloushavok @fictarian @yuridopted0 @simsrandomstuff @luvstarrstruck @popeheywardssecretgf @meeom @arachnoia @melovetitties @fable-library @ophanimgold @smokeywhalee @capnshtfce

[aethelwyneleigh27]

In honor of Christmas spirit, I will present you with things I love about my moots and why I appreciate them. Hope this there's you guys up no matter what you're going through right now, you deserve to have something good said about you, I love you guys <333

A/n: please excuse the few ones because now I've started to drink.. vodka mule.. hope I don't say anything too weird and I know I'm kinda a weak drinker, still building my tolerance and all.

Alright, let's start with my most favorite moot..

@puff0o0

🩷 You are so pretty love, how dare you ever say anything otherwise. The curly hair and it's beautiful color, facial features that look like they've been carved by a sculptor and down to your sweet voice. Physically hurts me to know that you're gonna say otherwise :((

🩷 Your writing? Fucking top tier fluff ever, those mean comments about it? Screw them, your writing got you to almost 3k followers and they're just jealous because they don't have that.

🩷 You are such a good friend, always caring for everyone and not asking anything for in return. Also please love, give yourself a break and please rest. Never will forget the first time we interacted because you are by far the sweetest creator who so happens to be well known.

@connorsui

🩵 Christmas is the time of giving right? It's time to give some back to you. I'm gonna get this out of the was, sweetie you are the best kind of reader I have ever come across and there's really only one of you, I wouldn't have it any other way.

🩵 You are the kindest and funniest person ever, your commentary keeps us writers motivated. I mean this genuinely, I find myself always looking forward to what you have to say on my works.

🩵 I'm sure many writers you've reblogged will agree with me, your commentary has honestly been the best, you sure know how to make me feel better about what I write. Also I'mma need some of those memes you use, you're so iconic and funny I can't.

@simp4konig

❤️ You don't give yourself enough credit for how much you help people boost their works, saying you haven't done much but commenting, talking to me and just interacting with my work does so much.

❤️ You are literally so nice to me, I don't even know where to begin with the list of things you've done that you refuse to be credited for.

❤️ You're so funny and another great writer, I hope that I see more of your writing along the way.

@blingblong55

❤️ First of all, who gave you the right and talent to be such a good writer? Genuinely, what kind of drugs are implemented in your writing.. you got me to like Makarov.. you're that powerful. I know I'm into villains but I wouldn't be surprised if you got me to like shepherd too... Please don't. (This is not a challenge please 😭)

❤️ How can I say this without sounding like a total fangirl? I'm obsessed with your work as you can tell, so much so that you're one of the creators who inspired me to start writing again and still as of now I think of your works while writing my own.

❤️ I DEFINITELY WASN'T SQUEALING AND KICKING MY FEET IN MY BED WHEN YOU FIRST INTERACTED WITH MY WORK...

@anonymuslydumb

🩵 Love you as the first Filipino person I had interacted with within this app that doesn't happen to be my school friend or relative.

🩵 Mangangaroling po, blue and yellow bills only. Pwede din po through G-cash and ShopeePay, pero no less than 1k pag-ganon AHAHAHA CHAROT, KIMI LANG.

🩵 Mwah <3

@shadofireshinobi

🖤 You are so special I can't even, you're my first ever mutual, first request and first person that I can genuinely talk to here before anyone.

🖤 You've made me feel so comfortable in my own skin and I know you're facing difficulties with your own that I am too but you're in so much more difficulty. I really do wish the best for you, love.

🖤 You are so strong, confident and resilient, you've been through so much and gosh you are the definition of a powerful woman who I wanted to be when I was young. Child me would be the happiest knowing that a motherly figure is looking after her.

Past Friends and Relatives <3

@marshmallowinamess

💚 Do I even have to say this? You are the best person in my life, my soulmate forevermore, we've been through so much together that I don't know where to start. I wish I was able to express how much I love you.

💚 You have been there for me through thick and thin for the most difficult times of my life, you've saved me countless times and though it doesn't feel like I'm doing enough, I made a promise to myself that I will make it up to you even if it will be the rest of my life.

💚 You are the only person who stood up for me when I needed you the most, I just.. don't know what else to say because what can you give someone who's done so much for you? Who has treated you better than anyone in your life, better than your parents? What can you possibly do to repay someone who saved you from yourself?

@ysalinedevreux

❤️ I know we've had conflict and drama in the past and I just wanna say I'm thankful that you contacted me again because we would've missed out on the friendship we were supposed to have.

❤️ A lot has happened and yet you stayed strong and we both learned from our past.

❤️ Happy holidays my dear <3

@rabblebite

🧡 What more could I say to my most favorite cousin in the world?

🧡 Thanks for being there for me always, you've made heartwarming promises and we still have a lot of adventures together (we're both drunk right now)

🧡 Honestly I wish my dad would take me here more often because then I'd get to spend more time and gossip with you guys. Thank you for comforting me like you always do when I needed, immediately noticing the change in my voice and that I'm crying.

Special mentions:

@azereus @rustic-guitar-notes @trepaika @skeletalgoats @icarustypicalfall @ghosts-cyphera @thesnowurzikdjinn @legallymentallyillfuckers @miss-gms-and-the-rotten-womb

You guys are always there to support my works and I want reciprocate that as much as I can, each and every one of you are so talented. I wish I can write more and do you guys justice but my eyes hurt so much and this is overdue. You guys are such good writers and even more amazing mutuals of mine who I know have been through some tough times. Know that all of you are welcome to talk to me when you need to and that my page is open to comfort as much as I can from a distance <3

[theinbornartist]

|| So hi guys—today marks the day of the start of the Christmas season in the Philippines and I just thought of celebrating it by writing a fic. For background: in our country, we have the longest christmas season and it starts September and ends in January. It has been like a custom. Also Filipinos become really excited already when Ber-Months arrive( months ending in ber). Me, I am one of that Filipinos haha. Kidding aside, I do hope you would enjoy this piece I made. Happy First Day of the Christmas Season! ||

ᴡᴀʏɴᴇ ᴍᴀɴᴏʀ, sᴇᴘᴛᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ғɪʀsᴛ

She could not sit idly by—when its already around the corner. What was? Well, Christmas but it was only September so what was she giddy about?

Arnoren knew that it was already the start of christmas season in the Philippines. She could imagine the malls already playing christmas songs, households starting to put up the decorations and selected houses playing christmas music the moment the sun had risen on this particular day. Perhaps the news of a coming tropical storm already being present in various stations. The female only sighed. For her, she had missed those moments.

Gotham didn’t have that. It didn’t celebrate the start of Christmas season. So what did she do? Bring it to Wayne Manor. She hurried down the stairs right after waking up. The manor was silent since everyone could still be asleep. The redhead peeked to see if Alfred was present—then she heard what could be pots being moved about at the kitchen. She darted towards that direction and saw that Alfred was already preparing what could be hot chocolate.

“If you don’t mind, Miss Ren. I already started the rice cakes.” He said ever so politely with that posh accent of his that Arnoren oh so dearly had imitated from time to time. Alfred gestured at the pot that was already on the stove top.

“Oh uhm thanks Alfred.” She chuckled shyly. Arnoren had coaxed the butler, sweetly, of this surprise that she had planned out. Alfred was also curious of her customs so he agreed.

She went over to help him with the chocolate.

“Let me just get this over to the top as well to heat up.” She hoisted the pot and ever so slowly walked to the stove and placed it above, turned it on and placed the lid.

“Thank you, miss.” Alfred said.

“No problem, I’ll be back. Time for the second phase of the operation.” She giddily replied before running out of the kitchen then to the living room.

What do you expect of a billionaire in his living room?

—a high end, high tech, sound system right before your very eyes. Arnoren could feel the “hallelujah” generating from this tech. “You are truly a beauty, you know that.” Arnoren pat the object as she was amused by it. She was shaking her head as well. Right after, she took out her phone. The redhead then connected it to the glorious sound system. “It be funny if you spoke the general: the bluetooth iz now connected succezzfally.” She laughed to herself after mimicking that voice over coming from connected devices. Perhaps those voice overs was made by Chinese? When her phone was connected, she opened Topify and searched for the playlist that she had already planned to use for today. Finding it, she clicked it and lo and behold—the sound system was singing christmas songs.

Arnoren felt goosebumps run across her body—the feeling of dear nostalgia was real.

She smiled to herself and nodded.

“Phase two, complete.” Arnoren clapped her hands and then head back to the kitchen to help Alfred.

Meanwhile, a couple of moments had passed and upstairs, things had began to stir. A door had opened and from by who it was—Tim was the first one to wake up. Maybe he was just a light sleeper on this particular day. Or maybe he was hearing noises downstairs.

He checked his phone and didn’t care about the messy bedhead hair he was having when saw it on the phone’s reflection.

“6Am…thats early. Really early for Bruce.” He said, voice hoarse due to have just waken up. “Huh. So its already September.” He also took note of that. Then something caught his attention.Was he hearing things or was there christmas songs being played downstairs?

That was odd. Pretty odd.

Tim was determined to investigate downstairs but just as he had just placed his foot forward, two doors had opened. Jason and Dick got out.

“What the fuck is going on..” Jason yawned.

Dick rubbed his lidded eyes.

“Is that music?” He asked, looking over to Tim who probably was now fully awake.

“I think so.”

“Did Bruce buy a new track?” Jason walked over to the railing to hear what could the music be about.

“Maybe. He has the money. But why play it so early?” Dick now yawned, starting to stretch his body as well.

“Guys, why would Bruce play Christmas music in September?” Tim pointed out.

Jason turned to face Tim while Dick paused the stretching of his beautiful body.

“What?”

“You heard what I said Jay, christmas music.” Tim replied, now leaning against the wall that was near the stairs.

“Hang on, hang on-“ Dick extended his arms out. “Christmas music?”

“Do we have to repeat bird brain?” Jason playfully hit the back of Dick’s head.

“Ow.” The pretty man looked back at Jason while rubbing the back of his head “Take it easy.”

“But yeah—Christmas music is being played downstairs and thats pretty odd…even for Bruce.” The short haired man spoke. Jason and Dick listened to Tim and weighed it about. He was right.

“So could we have intruders at home?”

Dick suggested.

“That plays Santa Baby and Oh come all ye faithful? Nah. Let’s be real, Dick. Those are some lameass villains.” Jason scoffed.

“Alright fine. How about we check if we’re complete.” He said, opening one door. Dick could see Steph and Cass together asleep. Probably they had a sleepover. Jason saw Duke asleep as well. Tim saw their demon of a brother Damian present but once he had checked Arnoren’s room— she wasn’t there.

“So uhm, my girlfriend isn’t in her room.” Tim spoke. Jason and Dick faced him.

“Hostage situation?” Dick stated the obvious. Jason crossed his arms.

“Right, so Ren is downstairs being tormented with Oh Holy Night and God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen.” came Jason’s additional remark.

“Jason,” Tim sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, too early for all this shit. He also was clearly done with the christmas jokes and was worried about his missing partner.

“Men we need to focus. We could have intruders in the house and they could have Ren and maybe Alfred. So we have to keep our wits about us. We’re going to use stealth.” Dick spoke, feeling right that he was going to lead this sudden mission.

Jason and Tim looked at each other and then immediately guided Dick down the stairs.

“You first—“ Jason pushed Dick.

“Hey what gives?” Dick cried out.

“Your call.” Tim chimed.

They had finally reached the end of the stairs and walked towards where could the intruders be.

“Alright, so we jump them.” Dick pointed to the kitchen. They clearly heard noises coming out of there. Jason and Tim nodded.

“In the count of three-“

“One.”

“Two-“

“You guys look silly.”

Hearing a voice, all three (brave) men had jolted up and then had themselves in a ready stance only to find a laughing redhead. Arnoren could see the confusion and surprise on their faces.

“Ren?!” Tim exclaimed.

“Hi. And good morning to you all! And Merry Christmas!” She cheekily smiled and waved at them. The three men looked at each other still confused.

“What?” Jason and Dick chorused.

“I will explain…but come come—“ Arnoren walked around and guided the three men into the kitchen.

Dick, Jason and Tim could see Alfred cutting out squares from a giant banana leaf. They could also see that there were a bunch of them on the kitchen counter.

“Good morning young masters.” Alfred politely called out. “Miss Ren has prepared for you a special breakfast for today.”

They turned to face Arnoren who was just smiling while there was a stark contrast of the look of confusion in the men’s faces.

“You planned this?” Tim asked her. Arnoren smiled sheepishly.

“Yes.” She answered.

“And Alfred was on this as well?” Dick also inquired, peeking his head from behind Tim.

“Yes.” Arnoren replied again. She made them sit on the chairs.

“I reckoned it was interesting to join in this conspiracy.” came Alfred’s remark.

“Huh.” Dick slumped to his chair after realizing what all this was. Jason watched as the redhead went over to get some mugs for them.

“Whatcha got there, pipsqueak?” Jason looked over. Hearing the nickname coming from Jason, she turned to them.

“Oh hot chocolate. I also have some rice cakes done.” She replied, placing one mug in front of them. Arnoren did see Tim crossing his arms.

“Care to explain?” Tim looked at her. He didn’t look furious but at times, maybe just interested. That wasn’t a glare that she saw right?

“Ahem.” She cleared her throat. “Its already September here and the Philippines—so I thought I’d celebrate the start of Ber-months here.” Arnoren explained, ladling a cup of hot chocolate from the pot that she now held and pouring the ladled contents to the mug. This was something perhaps foreign to the men before her. “Its the start of Christmas season, Tim. Look it up.” She added.

Tim did as he was told and took his phone out. After typing, he searched about and read an article. Being seated in between Jason and Dick, he showed it to the two as well.

“Christmas season starts September huh. Interesting.” Dick said about to take a sip from his mug.

“Wait that needs sugar.” Arnoren cautioned. She then placed the container of sugar on the table. “According to your liking, but yeah. As early as September, we start the christmas season.”

Tim and Jason were watching videos about the topic at hand.

“So that’s why christmas music was playing in the living room. We really thought you were being tortured with We Wish You A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, or Maria Carey-“Jason spoke with a grin.

“But on loop.” Arnoren joined in.

“Nice.” They high fived each other. When it comes to shenanigans—Arnoren and Jason usually gets along.

“Kidding aside,” Dick made sure they heard him. “You had us worried. We thought something happened to you. Tim here…especially.” He added pointing to Tim who was checking the ratio of the sugar for this particular hot chocolate that he has not tasted before. Arnoren glanced at him and went over to her boyfriend.

“Sorry for making you worry.” She cooed, hugging his waist. Tim looked down and ruffled her hair.

“It’s okay just tell me next time, hmm?”

“If the situation allows.” Arnoren replied, giggling, allowing him to mess her hair.

“Meaning?”

“Yeah Ren, why didn’t you tell Tim?” asked Jason, clearly interested.

“I meant to tell him but it be no fun.” Arnoren answered simply.

“Damn.” Dick and Jason chorused. Tim just rolled his eyes and playfully shoved their shoulders.

“Knock it off.” Tim did chuckle a bit.

“Just know that I can handle myself—oh wait rice cakes.” Arnoren then went to get some out of the steamer but Alfred got there first and took it out.

“Here you go, miss Ren.” He said handing the tray to her. Arnoren then noticed that it looked fancy.

“Wow, this is wrapped elegantly.” She remarked.

“I try.” Alfred said proudly.

“Alright gentlemen. This is puto.” She said placing down the tray that the rice cakes. The rice cakes, were purplish brown in color and they were glutinuous or sticky. They were also wrapped in those banana leaves that the three men had seen earlier when they entered the kitchen.

Almost everyone had a different reaction. Tim choked on the chocolate, Dick whipped his head to face her and Jason had an eyebrow raised.

“P-Puto?” Tim stuttered.

“Yes, puto.”

“Puto?!” Dick exclaimed.

“She said puto, dumbass.” Jason hit him in the back of the head as well. Dick glared.

“I-Its not what you think. That’s just a name for our rice cakes. And what you’re drinking is Sikwati, or in other words Hot chocolate. I thought that be the perfect breakfast as a reminder of what is to come during December which is Midnight Mass or Simbang Gabi.”

“I see.” Tim acknowledged her explanation. Arnoren then walked over so that she could explain to Tim what it was.

Meanwhile Dick and Jason tried to say the word: Sikwati. Jason got it on the first try but Dick was having a hard time.

“How can you pronounce it that fast?”

“I read.”

“No fair. You even pronounced that word “habal-habal” in one go!” Dick managed but clearly it sounded still foreign to his tongue whilst Jason,though accent apparent, he did it flawlessly.

“I’m just talented, Dick.” Jason sassily replied.

“It took me weeks to get that you know-“

Arnoren only chuckled watching them. Perhaps she made the right decision about celebrating the start of Christmas season here in Wayne Manor.

“Oh yeah, you guys, we will be hanging up the Christmas decors too!”

“What?” All three of the men chorused.

Later, the other members of the family had gone downstairs only to see that: Dick, Tim and Jason were being rowdy as they helped in putting up the Christmas tree while Arnoren was focused on placing other decorations in place.

“That belongs here.” Jason pointed out, placing a christmas ball on a side of a tree.

“Jay, that place is already crowded. Look.” Tim pointed out. “That place looks bare.”

Dick reached out and took that one christmas ball.

“How about here?” He suggested placing it among the same colored ones.

“Nope.” Jason and Tim, shook their heads. Arnoren glanced at them and came over to help. “Seriously? You can’t even decorate a Christmas tree?”

“What is going on here?” Bruce managed to ask. Alfred came over to them with a plate of rice cakes.

“They can explain, Master Bruce.”

The other members took some of the rice cakes, while actually wondering about the same question as well.

Bruce walked over to the four.

“What are you guys doing?” He asked, his voice clearly holding authority.

Dick, Jason, Tim and Arnoren looked at each other and smiled,

“Christmas in September.”

And I am done! Whew, I started writing this, this morning and ended this afternoon. I was busy hahah. But yeah, I had fun writing this. Again, do please enjoy! See ya guys, soon! 🫡✨🎄

ᴬᵛ2024

[weirdagnes]

okay okay so i’ve been listening wayyy too much We Don’t Talk About Bruno. I can’t help but listen to all English, Spanish and Filipino version (im so surprised i didn’t cringe at Filipino dub?? they all sounded so close to the original voices and the singing voice is damn impressive)

The differences in mixing is interesting! Here’s what I’ve noticed (focusing only on the final verse):

We Don’t Talk About Bruno

Official audio and the audio in the movie have different mixing.

Official Audio:

There’s no moving pans. Everyone’s on the exact same pan where they began.

Pepa on the right, Felix on left.

Camilo on left-center (-20 or so).

Dolores on far left.

Isabela on right-center (+20 or so).

Movie Audio:

PEPA & FELIX

(“It was my wedding…”) Felix is on the left pan. Pepa comes from right pan then glides over to left pan when she and Isabela held hands and Pepa moved stage right.

(“Bruno walks in…”) Pepa is back on right pan but more center, somewhere +10 probably.

(“Thunder!”) Felix is on far right pan now.

(“You telling this story..”) Pepa is on center now.

(“I’m sorry, mi vida…”) Felix is back on far left.

(“Bruno says it...”) Pepa and Felix comes from far left slowly panning to right, matching their animation moving from stage right to left.

ISABELA

(“The life of my dreams...”) Isabela is all over lmao. She starts on left pan (-30) then pan max left as she exits stage right. Then when she and Pepa switched stage sides, Isabela’s track pans very fast to the right.

(“My power would grow...”) She’s back on left pan (-30).

(“He told me…”) She’s on right pan now.

(“And I’m fine…”) She pans further to the right (+40 or so). But on the last “I’m fine”, she pans fast to the left (-20) as her animation also move stage right.

CAMILO

(Camilo’s 1st Stanza) Camilo is on right pan (+40 maybe)

(Camilo 2nd Stanza) Camilo is on left pan now (-40 or so).

DOLORES

(Dolores rap) Dolores is very hard to hear but she very slowly pans from far left (-40 to -50) to center-right (+20 or so) until her rap ends.

(Dolores Verse 2) Dolores stays on right pan.

Overall:

(“Time for dinner!”) Pepa and Julieta are on left and right on both official and movie audio.

The original version is second best in balancing. Dolores is very hard to hear, took me many replays to hear her clearly. Isabela’s “I’m fine” also went over my ears until I heard the stem tracks. Pepa and Felix’s audio dominates most of the first verse.

No Se Habla De Bruno

Official Audio: Same positions as the English and Filipino version. Doesnt move.

(“A la mesa!”) The voices are on center and right pan.

Everyone is perfectly balanced imo. No one is overpowering one another. Amazing! Better than the original.

Movie Audio: Has the exact same panning as the English and Filipino version.

(“A la mesa!”) The voices are separated far left and far right.

Camilo is noticeably quieter all throughout than in the official audio.

Overall:

imo the Spanish version has the best balancing out of the three. You can hear everyone very clearly, especially Dolores whose track is often too buried under in other versions (even the original).

On the final harmonizing “Don’t talk about Bruno” line, they seem to back up the voice actors with choir and it seems to have more wider acoustics on it in the movie audio but not in the official audio? Unless it was super nerfed in the official audio.

Wag Ikuwento si Bruno

Official Audio:

Same positions as the English and Spanish version. Doesnt move.

(“Hoy ang mesa!”) Pepa and Julieta are both on center and the voices that harmonize are on the far left and far right - which is not good imo bc (1) the harmony is too spread out; (2) there’s not much difference in timbre between Pepa and Julieta and they’re both singing the main melody so the center is overpowering and monotonous.

Camilo and Felix are loudest, Pepa’s track is more quiet than Isabela. Dolores’ track is super muddy but can be heard in the first repeat of the final chorus, but on the second repeat, she is as loud as Camilo and Isabela’s track while Pepa and Felix are subdued.

Movie Audio:

Has the exact same panning as the English and Spanish version.

(“Hoy ang mesa!”) Pepa and Julieta’s voice is separated on left and right, but the left side is louder than the right. But it’s so much better than the official audio because they’re on stereo with the harmonizing voices instead of clashing in center.

Felix, Pepa and Isabela are the loudest all throughout. Dolores can’t be heard at all start-to-finish, and Camilo is quieter than in the original and Spanish version.

Overall:

The worst balancing out of the three imo. Dolores’ track is practically non-existent (except maybe the Official Audio, at least she sounds better there).

However, I like this version’s final harmonizing “Wag Ikuwento si Bruno” better than the English and Spanish. I like that the higher register seems to be heard more, and generally the way it was sung felt more powerful.

I also want to note that in Camilo’s verse, Dolores’ last “We don’t talk about Bruno” is noticeably very quiet; I thought it wasn’t sung until I amped up the volume.

Conclusion!

I assume they have like an official guide or notes for how they did the panning for both the official audio and the movie audio. Maybe because the panning had to follow the character animation on where they move on screen so the audio experience matches the visual.

But they didn’t seem to have an official guide on mixing and balancing, probably because of different recording equipment and studio environments.

My ranking based on balancing and mixing:

Spanish

English

Filipino

My ranking based on best harmony:

Filipino

English

Spanish

These rankings also remains the same for other songs (yeah i listened to them all). If a music student or professional comes across this post, I might’ve used incorrect terminology and analyzed the panning incorrectly, so I don’t mind being corrected!

alr yapping’s over

[koi-pond-tears]

Headcanons I love even tho they go against my main beliefs for these characters

Ace/Aro bakugou. Idk why but I just. Love it. So much. Like yes lil dude be free!!! Fuck nobody!!! You never needed bitches!!!

And especially the headcanons where he's like. Absolutely clueless about love. Like Mina will ask "so bakugou what's your type?" And he just looks confused n goes "?? You mean my blood type???"

Izuku and Katsuki being brothers. Like not literal brothers by blood but they have that brotherly bond. I actually do ship dekubaku but this headcanon is still very dear to me and I think in another universe it could work.

Like it's so funny imagining them fighting the way brothers do or being mean to each other but also having each other's backs and protecting/defending the other. I love that for them

Idk why but asexual todoroki just. Wow. I love him

I feel like he would still want a romantic relationship just without the sex part. Like he's totally cool with kissing or cuddling bc cmon there is no way in HELL this boy is not absolutely touch starved.

I feel like while Ace bakugou thinks sex is gross and is repulsed by it, ace todoroki is just indifferent to it. He doesn't rlly care or have any feelings towards it. Like ok bestie go smush your peepees together while I watch the entire Beverly Hills Chihuahua franchise

As much as I love my blorbos bakudeku together I have to admit the idea of izuku being the token straight friend in a class full of the ell gee bee tees is so fucking funny to me. Like he doesn't understand the lingo and is absolutely sweating his balls off trying not to say something offensive and it's just hilarious. He accidentally uses she/her instead of they/them once and almost commits seppuku ( a japanese style of suicide which includes disembowelment)

I'm sure he includes everyone's pronouns in their description in his notebook to make sure he remembers what to use

Nonbinary jirou just. Fits. Like idk what anyone has to say about that but look me in the eye and tell me that bitch doesn't put on a binder

They're an enby and also bisexual bc I am correct about everything.

Trans kiri just works.

If deku doesn't grow up to be tall as fuck then I will literally have a meltdown

does he not look like the tall lanky nice friend that can't even say fuck??? Look me in the eye and tell me that. Do it.

Eri grows up to be really tall

Like idk where this comes from but to me she's just. Tall. Girly doesn't get you things from the top shelf she IS the top shelf

Also I personally don't like the eri x kota ship, I think it's kinda weird to be wanting these whole ass 6 year Olds to date, idk but it makes me uncomfortable

I saw a post once that said that Ochaco would be an active memelord (back when that term wasn't cringe) and oh my god. No. This bitch wouldn't know anything.

She has a fucking flip phone I doubt she has access to motherfucking twitter

I think she'd be like Izuku where she's just absolutely clueless on the lingo and slang and feels left out when her friends reference memes she's never seen before

And even if they do take the time to send her one or two she wouldn't understand it

I also saw this in a different post but tsuyu listens to asmr

Tokoyami too

I love the black Mina headcanons but I'm filipino and so starved of representation so I'll just pretend she's half pinoy but grew up in japan so she doesn't really know much of the language (you'd be surprised how many of us don't speak our native language despite living here all our lives)

Himikos eyebags come from the many long nights she spent as a villain doing literally anything else but getting a good night's sleep. Like I know in the backstory episodes we see her with the eyebags as a child, but when I first watched the show I just assumed that that was the reason she had them, and I'll stick to that till I die

Mirio is autistic. Do not argue with me I am right.

[temporalhiccup]

Heeeeeeeeeeey everybody, it's my birthday!

It's a big one too, I turn 40 today! ❤️

I thought I'd put some of the "Essential Rae Games" on sale to celebrate!

This is a highly personal write up of these games that reflect my time so far in game design, so I apologize if they don't accurately represent what the game is, whoops.

Become One is my first foray into the itchio ttrpg scene, the first time I put out a game on the internet! This was for the sad mecha game jam, and started out as a four page game.

Honestly, this game holds up extremely well, and every time I come back and play it, I'm surprised at how this game plays way beyond my actual design level of the time.

But, to this day, I have yet to make another mech game (as much as I love the genre) or make a game that works so well as a one shot (I have tried and failed over the years haha)

It's funny that this first public game of mine contains so many themes that show up in almost all of my games. Emotions, memory, my absolute distaste for hit points in ttrpgs...

Our Haunt was my first attempt at making a Belonging Outside Belonging game and since then I have made...uh...a lot of BoB games, hah! BoB remains one of my favorite systems to design in, and the poetic constraints have made me a much better designer. I still think there's so much to explore within the BoB space! Coming back to Our Haunt two years later for the final release, and redesigning it to reflect all that I've learned, was really fun!

This is also my first game to actually get published and printed, after making TTRPGs for four years(!!!). I don't have direct access to things like Kickstarter or similar crowdfunding platforms (I'm a Filipino in the Philippines, global south woes, etc), so being able to finally see one of my games in physical book form was...wow. I can't describe it. Absolutely surreal.

Also I kinda wonder how much of Our Haunt's success is because I made a playbook that's basically being a cat. I wrote it for my partner, who is...basically a cat. (He absolutely loves it)

We Forest Three is one of the few solo games I've designed, and it was certainly the most difficult to write. It's essentially a choose your own adventure ttrpg, and I keep wondering if I've become a strong enough designer to come back and try making another game that follows a similar structure. Hah!

I think this game shows my obsession with the conflict between extremes: forest and city, supernatural beings and humans, family and the individual, love and horror.

This is also the game that notoriously everyone else has had better luck than me! Whenever I play this game, I die a horrible death 90% of the time. (I usually roll the worst stats, augh) Good thing I wrote those (many, many) deaths to be really fun I guess!

BALIKBAYAN is undoubtedly the game that caught everyone's attention. Many amazing opportunities have come my way because BALIKBAYAN made such an impression! I really really should get around to uploading the current version of the game, but even this version on itch is a great. I'm proud of smashing together a distinctly 90s anime cyberpunk vibe with Filipino myth and folktales, while also pushing back against Shadowrun's idea that magic and tech are two opposing forces. Instead, magic and machinery are the same thing in BALIKBAYAN.

I'm also really glad that this game has connected to so many Filipinos in other countries, and resonated with them so deeply. It reminds me that even though I'm still perceived a foreigner in my own country (because I'm bi-racial), I can still connect to others like me through games.

One more thing I'll say is that I think BALIKBAYAN has unfortunately given people the impression that I'm very cool, only for them to meet me and realize I'm a dork. Sorry friends, I just write cool games, I'm actually dreadfully uncool.

Spectrum of Horror is a really fun experimental story game, that works well solo and with other people. I try to incorporate using the tarot in a way that's closer to how a tarot deck actually works.

I think this is (one of many) examples of why I would design straight into layout: Spectrum of Horror is technically eight micro games, and each one takes up a single spread. (Of course, a better designer than me could just figure it out with word count or whatever, but there you go)

Also here's a secret: all of the redacted words are still readable. You just have to select and copy the text from the PDF and paste it somewhere else to see what I wrote, heh.

Brinkwood: Despair (still under its original title on my itch page, whoops) means so much to me, because it's my first FAN GAME. I loved someone else's TTRPG just that much that I had to write a prequel for it.

(I LOVE BRINKWOOD SO MUCH THAT I EVEN WROTE ANOTHER GAME FOR IT, but I'll talk about Brinkwood: Refuge another time!)

I think all of my games are games that are in response to other games, really. But Despair has such a special place in my heart because 1) I just LOVE Brinkwood that much 2) I really cherish the playtest memories I have from when I ran games on the Brinkwood discord server 3) Erik has been really generous with inviting other designers to create things in the space of his game.

Despair is almost finished (thanks to @ostrichmonkey-games helping me out on it) and I can't wait for folks to see the finished version!

Shitty Adventurers is here because, like Cozy Town, I think it's one of the few that are so unlike the rest of my games.

I'm not a very funny person. I'm like, your typical serious Capricorn. The best I can manage, only in front of a few people, is dark humor. I'm really shocked I managed to make this game, to be honest. (Tho humor is incredibly subjective, I have no idea if this game is actually really funny)

I think because this game is so outside of my "brand", and comedy TTRPGs aren't in high demand (afaik!), this game tends to get overlooked. Still, I've heard some wonderful stories from folks who've played the game!

Memory Hunter is a prequel to BALIKBAYAN, and it's also another tentative foray into OSR inspired games. I say tentative, but I'm also really proud of the writing and design here! I released Memory Hunter this year recently and it didn't seem to make too much of an impression, but I hope that if I keep working on game expansions that'll change!

There are many reasons I haven't felt comfortable or confident enough to create more games in the OSR space, but over the past year it's become more inviting! I'm really grateful that Tony Vacinda of Plus One EXP immediately offered to publish it (and Tony in general has been one of the most positive forces in the indie ttrpg space, for sure!)

I'm really looking forward to creating more things for Memory Hunter!

[captaintoddpstewartus]

How did the topic come up of your wife fucking other men? Did you bring up? If so what was her initial reaction? Or did she bring it up with you? How long after you met did she fuck other men? Btw your wife is hot, lucky man 😊

I got some really great advice from another blog. If you aren't following her, you should. She is beautiful, sexy, and lives the life I wanted in a woman. I was in a very bad place with the loss of my wife. I wanted to commit suicide and here comes along @lisa-i-am who was very down to earth and spent time replying to my messages. We became great friends and because of her friend Joy, she was able to help guide me on finding love again. I knew what I wanted. I visited the dating sites for Asian women. Be careful there, a lot of scammers. I was honest in my profile of what I wanted. I didn't say in my profile I was looking for a woman who likes fucking other men. I did say I wanted a woman who didn't mind lots of attention and wouldn't mind being a trophy wife. I kind of stole that from Joy's husband who found Joy through a dating site. It took me awhile to find Emz. The Philippines is very catholic. Lots of girls exchanging sex to survive but not interested in letting themselves be shared after marriage.

Emz and I hit it off. She was skeptical at first about me wanting a wife who dresses very sexy. She learned quickly it was true. I told Emz how I came to the dating site. I told her about @lisa-i-am and her friend Joy who is a very hot Filipina. I was very honest with her. I told her how Lisa saved me from my deep depression and gave me the will to live again. I told her about Lisa's lifestyle and shared her blog with her. She was intrigued when I told her how much I wanted her to fuck other men. She was skeptical at first. She told me she thought I was testing her. When she saw how hard my cock would get while we talked about it, she started to believe. When I asked her to fuck someone from the club she did. She was hot about it. She did it even though she thought I would fuck her and leave. When she saw how much I loved it and how much I loved fucking her after another guy, it made her start to believe. It made her want it more. She didn't go all out crazy at the beginning at least not until we got married. I think she wanted to make sure I was serious.

After we got married, she would start fucking guys when I asked her to. We mostly did the hotel bar thing like Lisa suggested. Sometimes a regular bar. Eventually she started wanting to fuck more and asking to do it. I love it when she asks. It's a lot hotter for me. I don't ask to fuck other women except I did tell her if I had a chance to fuck Lisa I wanted to. To my surprise, she let me go to Lisa's huge meet and greet event in Vegas. I took my wife to meet Lisa. She didn't go to the event because it was males only. We had a great dinner with Lisa and her husband. Emz has fucked Mr. C who is Lisa's husband. She really loves his cock. Emz is really good friends with Lisa now and she has developed a friendship with Joy given their Filipino background. Emz has given me the okay to fuck Joy if given the chance. It looks like it might happen. We all were supposed to get together this past fall but Lisa had some health issues she was dealing with. We are all hoping to get together this spring.

Emz is growing all the time with this lifestyle. Kind of like watching Lisa grow over the years. With what I do for work we can't be overt about it. She likes to keep herself mysterious anyway. Thanks man, I'm very lucky to have her.

[bryan360]

No third “On This Day” post share to brought for today. Instead, it’s time that I’d finally wanted to show what I have for ���🏻Christmas 2023🎄….not much. I’m disappointed that I haven’t got any other gifts; aside from my sister giving me before Christmas. Link Here

It was a bit unfortunate knowing my mom didn’t find a single Christmas tree in time. 😮‍💨 However, my “late” Christmas present will surely be arrived by early January; after my mom already ordered from Amazon.com. Still, it was so close of what could’ve been if I can get any gifts in time for the holidays.

Nevertheless, at least I got it improvised as I’d visited to Nintendo eShop through my Nintendo Switch system. Thanks to my sister after giving me a $20 gift card, I’ve recently bought this version of “Rivals of Aether”; an indie fighting platform inspired Super Smash Bros. series. And yes, this is the exact same game that I’d previously had for my Xbox One console since October. 19th, 2017. Link Here #2

So it was unexpected for getting this for Christmas; let alone a third time after owning Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 for my Switch. Guess you would say I’m still a type of fighting platform fan. Do hope there’s something to bring during my gaming progress soon; especially the last time where I’d just shown my custom colors to one of its characters. Link Here #3

However, I’m not done here. While I was purchasing the “Rivals” game this Christmas, our friend @carmenramcat just pop out of nowhere through our message chat by surprise. That’s right, he literally got me this fifth installment of “Forza Horizon” series. I’d never thought it will come, but here we are. Boy sure my Filipino pal getting excited about it. Though just to remind him that I’ll be holding on to this before installing soon.

As you can see, my internal storage needed more spaces as to expected. While Forza Horizon 5 had its 144.6 GB (gigabytes), I’d only have 132.3 GB storage left. So, I’ll just wait if I can get an external hard drive in the meantime. Still, it was very appreciated from @carmenramcat giving me this year’s Christmas. At the same time though, I’m still planning to get through Forza Horizon 3’s gaming progress first. Good thing after sharing some recent videos for our secret blog exclusive this year, right?

Anyways, what did you think of my Christmas gifts this year? I have to wait for another gift from my mom in early January. Do hope I won’t missing out at the start of 2024. 🙂👍

Tagged: @murumokirby360 @carmenramcat @alexander1301 @rafacaz4lisam2k4 @paektu

[mariemarieohcontrary]

Tagpuan (Rendezvous) - Chapter One

Book: The Royal Romance, Book 1

Pairing: Liam Rys/Evangeline Lakandula (MC)

Taglist: @ao719 @tessa-liam @nestledonthaveone @malblk21 @twinkleallnight

Chapter Rating: T

Chapter Warnings:

Sexual Harassment (Starts at "Evangeline ignored their leering smiles...", Ends in “Just let me work, sir!”)

Verbal Abuse/Workplace Abuse (Starts at "What the hell, Lakandula!", Ends in "What do you have to say for yourself?")

Chapter: I - The Trinket Bar

Word Count: 5500+ (im so sorry omg)

Summary: A normal night in The Trinket. (As normal as can be, at least.) A first meeting. Concern. An invitation.

Author's Notes: So while the dialogue is in English save for some words, just understand that dialogues with Filipino characters like the staff and patrons are in Tagalog while the ones with Drake, Maxwell, Tariq and James are in English.

Also uhhhh you'll get to completely enjoy Liam and the others in Chapter 2. For now, it's still setting the scene! I really hope you guys like how this turned out.

Feel free to listen to and loop the songs I set up while reading! I could even provide fully translated lyrics if asked!

If you want to be in the taglist, just tell me! ❤️

(Previous Chapter) | (Next Chapter)

Nalulunod sa pangangamba Puno na ang baga, pasuko ka na Sa'n ka kakapit kung malalim na? Ang sabi ay "Arte lang 'yan" -Lunod, Ben&Ben

TRANSLATION

Drowning in anxiety Lungs are full, you’re giving up Where do you hold onto when you’re falling in deep They say you’re just acting out

"What can I get for you, gentlemen?"

Three pairs of eyes turned to her and Evangeline had to stamp down the desire to balk and run away.

The table she agreed to serve was just as Daniel described. A disgruntled rugged man with hair that was kind of long, a hyperactive man with short brown hair who was fiddling with the karaoke machine (god, please don't break it, Stanley will blame her and it'll come out of her pay—) and one who was wearing an overly expensive suit trying to lounge on a very un-loungable and rickety bench.

And they're all staring at her.

Despite the ill feeling she felt at the pit of her stomach, she just plastered on her Customer Service Smile, and looked at them expectantly.

It was the hyper one who broke the awkward silence,

"Oh, hi!" He greeted, bounding up to her and away from the karaoke machine. "Are you our waiter? I thought our server was the other one."

Evangeline hadn't met a foreign motormouth before.

"Daniel and I swapped," Evangeline said honestly as she reached over to the bench, nudging a tupperware cover she'd been using to balance out the bench to straighten it, "his mother's coming back overseas so he needs an easy shift tonight."

"Ah, from where?" The man in the expensive suit asked, his interest piqued.

Evangeline shook her head.

"It's not for me to say, po," she replied, "only that she'd been away for a year and he's been missing her."

"I'm sure it was a good vacation." the man replied.

Evangeline stilled.

They don't know.

Of course they don't.

What was a fact of life here was barely consequential in other countries.

He looked earnest enough in a carefree way. He definitely meant it as something positive. The hyper man seemed to not have noticed. But the rugged man was frowning.

"Tariq—"" the rugged man started with what was clearly a reprimand.

But it was Evangeline who finished it.

"Daniel's mother is an Overseas Filipino Worker," she explained, her tone quiet as she said it, "she wasn't away on vacation."

The man in the expensive suit, Tariq, looked surprised. Then he looked like he didn't know what to say.

Evangeline figured as much so she took a deep breath and nodded at the three men.

"I'm–" Tariq faltered before he looked down, "I'm sorry, I thought—"

"We got derailed," she cut him off and smiled, it no longer stretched wide enough and didn't even reach her eyes no matter how fake it was, "what can I get for you?"

Tariq was quiet for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Yes, ah, I would like a Macallan Red with filet mignon and bearnaise sauce."

"Steak for me, thanks!" The hyper man added before he ran back to the karaoke machine.

The way they spoke made Evangeline remember the posh students in her high school and college. Speaking a language Evangeline never did and eventually wrinkling their noses when they realise Evangeline wasn't on the same standing as them.

It made the feeling of unease return in her but she only shook her head and gave what she hoped was an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, sirs," she gestured to the front of the establishment where a giant chalkboard filled with their menu items was placed, "we only have beer, some wine and a few other selections."

"In that case, I think I'm fine with whatever!" The hyper man shouted while pressing in numbers for a song.

Surprise was the first to cross Tariq's face. Then disappointment.

"And the filet mignon?"

Evangeline shook her head. "We have different foodstuffs available that pair well with alcohol, but no steak."

The rugged man sighed.

"Just get us normal whiskey or beer and uh, what would be your suggestion for food?"

Evangeline looked at the menu and tried to remember the usual dishes her grandfather had for pulutan.

A conspiratorial smile.

A mischievous twinkle in eyes that had beheld the world far longer than her father had.

"Sisig," she finally said, her gaze landing on the item in the menu, "and lechon kawali."

Aged hands pulled her forward to give her a small plate of lechon kawali and sisig.

Don't tell your mother I let you have some this late at night.

"They both pair well with beer," she paused, trying to remember the brand her grandfather drank, "Particularly, Red Horse."

The rugged man nodded.

"Sounds good," he said, "get us four bottles of beer and four plates of each of those dishes."

Four?

"Four, sir?" Evangeline asked. "Are you one man short?"

"Yeah," the rugged man replied, "he's just handling some things then he'll come here."

Odd to do at a bachelor party.

Then again, The Trinket wasn't even meant to be bachelor party material. She barely even considered it a bar and more like a carinderia. Who brings their family to a bar of all places?

Shaking her head, Evangeline went to the kitchen to hand the cook the order.

By the time she returned with the bachelor party's beers, their mystery companion had yet to arrive.

No matter, that wasn't her concern. It's their bachelor party and Evangeline is just the server.

"Your drinks," she announced, setting each bottle near each of the men present, "your meals are almost done and I'll be back shortly with them."

"Thanks." Was the reply she got from the rugged man.

Turning away, Evangeline pretended not to hear the hyper man begin singing My Way.

Her grandfather would be rolling in his grave if he were here.

Her grandmother would simply be laughing as she tended to do with offkey singing.

Her mother—

Evangeline pushed the curtain to the kitchen aside.

"Ate Alice, are the dishes for my table done?" she asked the moment she entered the kitchen.

Alice, a wiry thirty-something woman with bleached hair kept in a high bun turned to look at her, holding up her spatula and waving it towards the table at the corner as an answer.

"Want me to call Niel over here?" Alice asked, eyeing Evangeline.

Evangeline shook her head as she began trying to fit all the dishes Alice cooked onto one tray.

"I've managed to do this a couple times,” Evangeline replied, “I think I could handle walking to my table without breaking any of them.”

Alice shook her head.

“Just watch out,” Alice warned her, “you know the later the night gets the livelier the customers could be.”

The local drunks.

They'd be coming around this time.

“I will.”

The bar was indeed lively by the time she emerged from the kitchen.

Already, a queue had formed for the karaoke and rowdy patrons had come streaming in. They seemed to be playing nice with the hyper man from the bachelor party but aside from that, they were keeping to themselves and their groups.

Already someone had ordered twelve bottles of beer and was starting to get unbearably loud.

It was normal.

But Evangeline didn’t have to like this type of normal.

Drunk men with their breaths filled with alcohol.

Inhibitions loosed and their demons unleashed.

Fury and folly all gathered under one roof.

It wasn’t comfortable.

From a distance, she could hear some drunk locals talking about the foreigners.

“Shit, are those Americans?”

“They really decided to come here in an expensive suit, huh.”

“Maybe they’re looking for an easy lay!”

Evangeline ignored some of the men's leering smiles. Whenever she ran across them while they were sober, she wasn’t something they’d pay attention to or look twice at. But this happened always anytime they’ve consumed too much alcohol.

She kept her gaze forward and her expression as blank as possible.

“Vangie,” one of the drunks called out, his hands reaching out to pull at her apron, “look, a bunch of foreigners are there!”

His drinking buddy snickered. “You might finally land your shot since you mostly speak English!” He taunted.

Evangeline felt her face burn in embarrassment while she tried to pull herself away.

“S-sir, please don’t call me that,” Evangeline stuttered as she tried to keep a steady hold of her tray while pulling herself away from the drunk patron, “and I really have to get to work—”

“Don’t be such a prude!” The patron retorted. "You're barely even beautiful and you have the nerve to be this picky!"

The uproarious laughter from nearby tables made Evangeline feel ill as her attempts to move away from the man grew in desperation.

"Come on, Vangie!" Another man from two tables near the back shouted. "We're bored! Give us a show! You could dance, right?"

"Please just let me work," Evangeline begged, her voice breaking, "I don't want to be fired!"

"I'll let you go," the man acquiesced, a sharp smile gracing his lips, "for a kiss!"

The man then tried to start pulling Evangeline closer to him and Evangeline could feel her heart beating faster.

She hated working here.

She hated these people.

Her throat grew tight, a burning feeling making itself known in her eyes.

“Just leave me alone!” Evangeline shouted, her voice rising slightly as she managed to jerk herself away from the man’s grasp.

Evangeline felt her feet trip over each other the moment she stumbled away from the drunk.

Her heart stuttered in fear when she realised she was falling.

The tray slipped from her hold.

The plates fell to the ground in a crash that made her ears ring.

"Watch out!"

Warm hands touched her back as she was steadied.

Before Evangeline could process everything, she came face to face with a man of East Asian descent. His eyes were wide with concern.

"Miss," his voice was quiet, gentle, "are you alright?"

Evangeline wanted to cry.

Are you alright?

A customer asked a question just for her.

Asking about her.

A customer who saw her.

Her throat tightened.

She took a deep breath and pressed her lips together before nodding.

"I'm so sorry for the disturbance," she met the customer's eyes and mustered up a smile, "I'll just go fetch replacements for those gentlemen's meals and then I'll have someone tend to you." She promised.

He seemed like an easy enough customer. Daniel should handle him.

The man shook his head. "My friends could wait a bit longer," he said firmly, "they waited this long for me without food, they could wait a bit more."

Friends?

Ah.

Evangeline blinked and then looked down, taking in one deep breath after another.

Letting out a slow exhale, Evangeline looked at the man carefully.

He was dressed like no local, his clothes were of fine quality and looked out of place in the province and though she knew a fair amount of fellow Filipinos who spoke English flawlessly, there was a hint of an accent in his but not in the way that Filipino accents tended to drip into their voices revealing their province.

"You're the fourth member?" She asked instead.

"I am," he confirmed. "I'm James."

Just as the fourth member came, she really ended up ruining their evening.

Wonderful.

"Alright, Sir James, let me get you replacements for your meals."

James only stopped her again, his brows knitting together.

"Are you alright, Miss?" He repeated.

Evangeline's smile returned.

Placating and as true as she could make it.

"I'm fine," she promised, "it's just a normal night here in The Trinket."

James still looked worried.

She would worry about that later. She has a job to do and broken dishes to sweep up.

Turning away from James, she swallowed past the tightness in her throat and entered the kitchen.

"Was that you?" Alice asked from over the stove the moment she came in.

"Just the drunks," Evangeline replied, her voice quiet, "they got too rowdy."

"Is that all?"

"Yeah. You know how it is."

Alice was silent as she plated whatever it was she was cooking.

Evangeline didn't have to ask if Alice believed her or not.

"Take these to your table," Alice finally told her, "your plates were the only ones likely to fall."

Evangeline looked at what was plated and she felt her throat close up again.

Four new servings each of sisig and lechon kawali.

"I called Niel in to get the broken plates swept," Alice added, "he can handle sweeping duty."

Evangeline took a step forward.

Halted.

Then threw herself against the older woman, her arms wrapping tightly around the cook who dropped her spatula in shock.

"Angeline, what—" Despite her surprise, Alice hugged her back just as tightly.

"Thank you, Ate Alice," Evangeline whispered.

"I do what I can," Alice replied, "even if it's just from this shitty kitchen, I'll keep trying."

"And it's more than enough," Evangeline assured, pulling away.

With hands she pretended were steady, Evangeline began putting the plates on her tray again.

"Be careful, Angeline," Alice called out to her as Evangeline hefted the tray on her shoulder again.

"I promise, Ate." She smiled at Alice before stepping back out of the kitchen.

She ran into Daniel who looked at her worriedly. His neatly combed hair was now ruffled, his round face had gone a bit red from running back and forth and sweat was beading his brow.

Evangeline felt guilt claw its way to her throat.

"Niel, I'm so sorry—"

Daniel shook his head.

"Ma will be more disappointed in me if I let one of my friends suffer just because I want to look nice," Daniel explained. "I want her to come home tonight and know I did good. That I could make her proud she raised me good."

Evangeline hadn't spoken with Daniel's mother much save for a few times.

She was a sweet-faced, plump woman who had a tendency to comment on Evangeline's thin frame and eating pattern with excessive concern.

Of course, what followed was her being given food and told to stay for dinner during those three meetings she had with Daniel's mother.

His mother gave tight hugs and beso-besos that are filled with affection for someone she had only met.

Evangeline smiled and bumped her hip lightly against Daniel's.

"Your mother should always be proud of you, Niel," she told the young man, "she raised you well. Far better than most would have."

A home brimming with love.

Kisses every meeting.

Surprise tickle fights—

A lullaby goodnight—

"I want to keep my mom proud of me no matter what." Daniel said decisively.

She had no doubt that he will.

This time, she kept her gaze solely on the drunks who were likely to grab at her. She could feel her body tensing and her breath stopping whenever one of them got too close to her.

The walk to the bachelor party's table felt like an eternity.

The sound of the hyper man's singing sounded like cacophonous noise to her ears.

Still, she made it and she placed the plates carefully on the table, smiling to herself when she managed to do it without making too much of her panic known.

"Thank you," James said, beaming at her.

Evangeline can't help but hesitantly smile back. "I'm sorry for ruining your food the first go, though."

He shook his head. "It wasn't your fault."

"James told us what happened," The rugged man said, his brows furrowing, "are you okay?"

Evangeline nodded.

"Yes sir."

"Drake." He corrected.

"Sir Drake." She amended.

Drake grimaced and he shook his head. "Just-just Drake or even Walker is fine," He insisted. "I'm not some fussy noble or anything."

Impolite.

Have you been taught to be disrespectful?

Evangeline shook her head, her brows knitting together minutely. "I'm sorry, I'd rather call you with the proper respect for customers."

Drake looked like he wanted to protest still but James shook his head.

"She said she'd prefer it that way, Drake," James explained, "let's let her go with what's comfortable for her."

Despite looking like he'd rather not, Drake just sighed.

"Sorry we didn't step in," Drake said in a tone she cant read, "we didn't really know what was going on and we didn't really know if it was something normal or not."

Evangeline remained quiet, uncertain how to respond to his words.

"Thank you for the concern," she said at last, "but it's nothing I can't handle."

Lies.

James smiled at her with that same warm smile. "Of course," he agreed, "but please know you could ask us for assistance if you really need it."

Considerate.

Too considerate. To a server.

She stayed in their presence long enough.

"Excuse me, sirs, I need to handle the other tables."

The rest of her shift went by without further incident, thank the stars.

Aside from disgruntled drunks that were being handled by Daniel who got hauled out of the bar for trying to start a fight with Drake, it went by as Evangeline had been used to.

By the end of her shift, Evangeline just wanted to lie down on the floor of her bedroom and forget the world for a few hours.

Maybe watch something nostalgic (not Cinderella) to unwind.

Call Kuya Ethan even.

Something to quiet her mind.

"Lakandula!" Stanley's voice made itself known in the bar.

There, at the front of the room, with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face was her boss.

"Kitchen. Now." Stanley grit out.

And it took all Evangeline's willpower not to want to run.

With a practised ease, she piled all of the plates and cups onto her tray, her head bowing automatically.

She ignored the bachelor party's table. She could feel four pairs of eyes on her and she didn't need them to know that this is her life when they were clearly just here for leisure. This isn't their issue to handle.

When she entered the kitchen, she noted neither Alice nor Daniel were there resting like they usually did.

Instead, Stanley was the only one there. His tall, sturdy frame was in a threatening stance, his face twisted in unbridled fury, his body was practically vibrating in rage.

"What the hell, Lakandula!" Were the first words that left Stanley's mouth the moment Evangeline entered the kitchen.

She felt suffocated the moment Stanley marched up to her face, his face growing blotchy and reddish in his anger.

Taking a few stumbling steps back, Evangeline scrambled for a thought to stick. For her to figure out how to appease her angry boss.

But static was the only thing that came to her thoughts and her hearing.

"W-What did I do wrong, Sir?" She asked, trying to keep her tone as quiet as she can.

"What did you do wrong," Stanley echoed mockingly. "How about pissing off one of our loyal patrons just to suck up to those foreigners!"

"I wasn't—"

"Do you know who's more important to the business, Lakandula?" Stanley asked, his voice rising. "Our local patrons! But you chose to ignore that just to flirt with some foreigners like youre some pokpok on the streets!"

She wanted to say something. To stand up for herself and point out that those drunks were horrible and groped around where they weren't wanted. She wanted to slap Stanley for each time he shamed her or shouted at her or forced Daniel to stay late hours or make Alice stay trapped in the kitchen. She wanted to shout and scream and rant at him over how shitty of a boss he was.

She wanted—

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Stanley asked, his voice dropping low.

"I'm sorry, Sir," she mumbled, her throat closing up, "I will make amends with the customer tomorrow."

"Your pay will cover the damages to my plates and the ruined meals you let fall." Stanley added, his tone harsh.

What else could she do?

What options did she have?

"Yes sir."

Her answer must have satisfied Stanley because he made a satisfied grunt before making to leave the kitchen.

"Lakandula."

"Yes, sir?"

"Make sure to wash the dishes."

"Yes, sir."

She only knew Stanley was gone by the rustling of the curtain.

But even when she was alone, Evangeline still didn't move from her spot. She didn't know how long she stayed rooted there like a statue but the confrontation with Stanley had left her struggling to breathe.

Her throat felt like it was closing in on her.

Her nose and eyes were burning with tears that have yet to spill.

Her chest felt tight but she hoped it was only in panic and not her asthma acting up.

She just wanted to go home.

Time stopped meaning anything to her mind when she finally made a move to do as Stanley instructed her to do. With steps that were unsteady and unsure, Evangeline made her way to the sink. There was a muffled feeling in her mind and a numbness to her movements as she turned on the tap and reached for the sponge.

She lost further track of time as she kept washing the dishes.

No one came to the kitchen in the time she spent finishing three tables' worth.

She was sure she was the only one left among the staff this night which would mean she'll be the one to lock the bar.

Somehow the thought of it terrified her.

Biting her bottom lip, Evangeline kept a death grip on the sponge and continued scrubbing the plate she was holding.

Distantly, she was aware of the curtain parting again.

She didn't want to know who came in. If it was Stanley, she didn't want to see his face if he was just gonna shout at her over something she did. She was tired. She's had enough.

"Angeline?"

It was Alice.

"Why are you doing the dishes?" Alice asked.

Evangeline didn't reply, the tightness in her throat closing in further.

Calloused hands covered hers, firmly stopping her from washing.

Her vision blurred as hot tears ran finally slipped down her cheeks.

She choked on a whimper, trying to breathe psst the growing tightness that now reached her chest.

"Angeline?" Alice pressed. "What are you doing here? Your shift is over."

"Sir Stanley said I needed to wash the dishes."

"Don't."

It was Alice's firm tone that brought Evangeline out of the muffled world she had fallen into.

"W-what?" She asked, her voice small.

There was resolution in Alice's eyes as she repeated her earlier words.

"Don't." Alice spoke with such a firmness that lacked the heat and anger others tended to have. "Stanley enjoys his power trips, don't let him have that."

Carefully, Alice pried the sponge and plate out of Evangeline's hold and nudged her away.

"You've had a long shift," Alice told her, "you deserve to just have a night to yourself, don't you think?"

"But what about you?" For all her desire to just go home and rest, Evangeline never liked that Alice would often stay in the bar later than others just cause Stanley said so.

Alice snorted.

"I'm going home too," the older woman assured her, "Stanley could wash the dishes himself if he wants them cleaned so badly. Power tripping asshole."

Taking hold of her hands, Alice began manoeuvring Evangeline to the small shelf where the staff keeps their bags.

A part of Evangeline wanted to protest and to struggle.

Another part wanted to give in.

To go home and pretend this night didn't happen.

"Come on, let's get home! "

There was an earnestness in Alice's eyes and Evangeline missed being held onto that tightly like she mattered.

The older woman smiled coaxingly at her and Evangeline felt some of the tightness she was feeling melt away a bit.

After all, who was she to deny a friend?

Snatching her backpack from its shelf, Evangeline pulled out her casual wear and hurriedly changed back into her leggings and her short, white dress. Turning to look at Alice, Evangeline offered her a smile.

"Let's go?" She asked, offering her arm to Alice.

Without hesitation, Alice looped her arm with Evangeline's and the two made their way out of the bar.

After locking the bar, Evangeline saw Alice off at the tricycle terminal near The Trinket, waving goodbye to her as she drove away. When she was certain that Alice was well on her way home, Evangeline jogged over to the parking area where she'd chained her bike at the rack in front of the establishment.

Mounting the bike, Evangeline turned on her bike light and let out a slow breath. She'd gotten used to biking in the past four years but even then, she'd feel this thundering panic in her chest everytime she had to go to busy streets.

Pushing off, she began cycling towards her lodging.

The first twenty minutes was quiet for her. Taking a turn here and there, stopping by a sari-sari store to buy a small bottle of iced tea and then continuing the ride home.

It was in the twenty-fourth minute when she came across a car that she ignored easily enough. It was just another black car with tinting, a bit too nice for this neighbourhood but she gave up figuring things like cars out.

She cycled past it.

"Miss?" A familiar voice reached her ears and Evangeline frowned as she tried to recall who had that voice.

"Miss, wait!" The voice grew louder as the sound of a car door opening and closing followed.

That's when it hit her.

Warm hands.

Kind eyes.

Miss, are you alright?

Hurriedly braking the bike, Evangeline almost toppled over if her feet hadn't gotten off the pedals to anchor themselves to the ground.

She could hear footsteps fast approaching.

Dismounting, Evangeline turned around and sure enough, it was James who had called out to her and was now running towards her.

Deciding to meet him halfway, Evangeline jogged towards him. The moment the two came face to face, James smiled at her.

"Hey."

"Hello, sir." Evangeline greeted him.

"I didn't think I'd see you after dinner," James said, after a short silence.

Evangeline didn't know what to tell him.

"Why would that matter?" She asked, her brows furrowing lightly.

"I just wanted to thank you for handling our table despite everything that happened," James told her "I wouldn't have blamed you if you didn't want to keep working that night."

Evangeline shrugged and looked down. "It's not really like I could stop working even if I wanted to." She told him.

There was a silence and Evangeline tried not to panic. Did she say the wrong thing? Did she upset him?

"I'm sorry this night wasn't a good one for you," James said at last, his voice was still gentle with no hint of anger, "my friends and I— we, we heard yelling before we left."

Evangeline stilled.

They should have left around that time.

"That was just my boss" She mumbled. "He gets angry quickly."

"That's not right."

Don't waste their time.

Evangeline took in a steadying breath, counted to three and looked at James. She was surprised she saw concern there in his eyes and she tried not to be overtaken by emotion again.

"Even if it's not right," she said carefully trying to sound unbothered, "it's just a part of my life."

James frowned. "Even...the drunks?"

Evangeline looked away. "Even those."

"I'm sorry."

To hear someone apologise for her life. For something they didn't do was....jarring for her.

Returning her attention to James, she hesitantly reached up and placed her hand on his shoulder and mustered up a smile.

"It's not your fault," she assured him, "your table at least was easier to handle than the others'."

James looked surprised by the contact she made with him and she was about to pull her hand away when he rested his own on hers.

"I—" he faltered for a moment as a look of uncertainty flickered on his face, "I hope it won't be presumptuous of me but, will you let me make up for your night?"

The way he said it was rushed and eager, his eyes shining under the streetlamp's light. And like Alice, there was earnestness.

Earnestness.

Twice in one night.

Kindness, more than that.

"You don't have to do that," she assured him, "you should enjoy the night with your friends."

And she should go home and assure herself that her day ended well at least. That some people didn't leave her behind or wanted to make her night better. Whether it was leaving work earlier than usual or whatever James planned, they were kindnesses she had missed.

And she didn't want to intrude on them anymore.

"What if I told you my friends and I don't know our way around here?" James asked.

Evangeline smiled at the thought.

"Then I'll wonder why you would go here of all places," she told him, "why not go to Makati or Taguig or BGC? Why the province?"

James shrugged.

"I heard the Philippine countryside was quieter and my friends didn't want any fuss." He explained.

There was something more hanging from his tone. The way he drifted off at the end made Evangeline tilt her head in curiosity.

"But also?" She pried as gently as she could.

James looked surprised that she sounded like she knew that there was more and he took in a breath.

"I also heard some provinces had interesting histories, I just thought we'd be able to learn them even without a tour guide," He said sheepishly. "Ask local people and whatnot, learn different perspectives."

History.

He wanted to hear about history and learn it.

Her country's history.

"Is that what you'd want to do tonight?" She asked carefully.

James was silent, his expression was one Evangeline would call awe but it can't be because she didn't do anything big. Still, he looked like she'd offered him gold and she didn't know what to do with that knowledge.

"I—" James faltered, "my friends wanted to keep drinking."

He wanted to learn. His friends wanted to party.

Evangeline sympathised with him but she decided against telling him. Instead she smiled and took out her phone and began tapping out different bars and nightclubs that would be more high-end and open at this time.

Showing him her phone, she nodded for him to read it.

"Your friends might like these options," she told him, "they have more choices, air-conditioned, dancing, usually the upper class goes there so it's more enjoyable for you gentlemen, I'm sure."

Watching James' expression as he read over the names, his lips slowly sounding out the words as if he wanted to say the name right. Evangeline knew which one he found.

"Tagpuan is good," She assured him. "I haven't been in personally but I know some people who did and they rave about it a lot."

How could she not know when her family always tagged her in their photos.

Whether as a way to include her or to insult her she wasn't sure anymore.

"What does it mean, Tagpuan?" James asked, his enunciation was good but he said it so slowly like he wanted every syllable to be correct.

"Rendezvous point," Evangeline smiled when she saw him nod determinedly like he wanted to ingrain it in his memory. "It's much more poetic in Tagalog though."

James repeated the word silently and he smiled as if discovering something. He nodded.

"I have to agree," he sounded genuinely happy to learn this one word and it made Evangeline feel lighter to see someone hungry for knowledge the way he was, "there's something about the word that makes it feel more than just a rendezvous point."

"The wonders of my mother tongue," She remarked, her smile growing. "I hope you enjoy the night there, and have a safe trip."

Turning away, she made to return to her bike when she felt James reach out for her, his hold on her wrist wasn't tight and she could easily shake him off and she didn't feel like it would tighten.

Still, she stopped.

"Wait," James sounded...desperate? No desperate was stronger. But he still sounded like he really wanted her to wait.

Turning around to face him, her breath got caught in her throat when she saw how close the two of them were.

"What?" She asked, her voice coming out quiet as she can't help but look in his eyes.

Earnest. Too earnest.

How had he survived this world as long as he had with eyes so open?

"I," for once, James looked like he was lost for words, his eyes met hers and it looked like he was trying to find the right words to tell her, to read her like she's read him, "my friends, we-we don't know the way to Tagpuan."

Evangeline knew what he was getting at.

"And I...please let me make up for the night you had," He wasn't pleading and Evangeline heard an option to deny his request but there was no malice in his voice, "you'd be helping us out and if you want to go home, you could."

She shouldn't be contemplating this. She shouldn't be entertaining the thought of letting him make her night better on the condition she gets to tell him of history even in the walls of the nightclub that held little to none. She shouldn't—

"I don't think I could leave my bike here," she tried one last protest.

James smiled. "We'll drop by your house so you could leave it there." He offered.

What the hell.

"Okay." She told him, a small, hesitant smile gracing her lips.

The delight in James' eyes was worth it.

TRANSLATIONS

Po - a form that indicates respect or politeness, could be used sarcastically as well.

Pulutan - Pulutan is the general term used to refer to small plates or snacks served over drinks. These range from those that sizzle over the classic metal plates, like sisig or pusit, to grilled meats like barbecue and isaw, to even bite-sized food like kropek.

Sisig - Sisig is a Filipino dish made from pork jowl and ears, pork belly, and chicken liver which is usually seasoned with calamansi, onions, and chilli peppers.

Lechon Kawali - also known as lechon de carajay or litsong kawali in Tagalog, is a Filipino recipe consisting of pork belly slabs deep-fried in a pan or wok.

Carinderia - a food stall with a small seating area, typically in a market or at a roadside.

Beso-Beso - cheek-to-cheek kiss.

Kuya - Tagalog for Big Brother.

Pokpok - a term for prostitute.

Sari-Sari Store - a convenience store found in the Philippines. The word sari-sari is Tagalog meaning "variety" or "sundry". Such stores occupy an important economic and social location in a Filipino community and are ubiquitous in neighborhoods and along streets.

[invisibleraven]

Happy Friday!! "things you said that i wasn’t meant to hear" and Sweet Tarts?

“Reggie?” Carrie called out. No answer. And Tisdale, their Shar Pei was also absent, which meant that they both would be out for at least an hour. Perfect.

First call was to the caterer. “I went over your proposed menu and we have to nix the pigs in a blanket. Yes I know they’re a hit but my boyfriend has some weird hot dog related trauma and I don’t wanna trigger him.”

She hummed as the caterer proposed alternatives. Thankfully neither she nor Willie were vegan currently so she agreed to the mini quiches readily, and asked for a few Filipino dishes given Reggie had flipped over them the last time her dad broke out his Lola’s recipes.

The decorator was easy; red and black and cowboy themed with some Star Wars thrown in. He took it as a challenge and Carrie promised to give him some exposure in her Insta as well as pay if he captured her vision.

Music was the hard part. Normally she’d ask Luke to recommend a band, but he was also shit at keeping secrets. And what Julie knew, Luke would know, so she couldn’t ask her.

“Hey Flynnie?”

“What do you want demon?”

Carrie rolled her eyes at the nickname. Even after years of being best friends, Flynn would never let her live down her period of being awful right during Rose’s illness and passing. She had long since made amends, but she knew Flynn was determined to keep her humble.

“It’s for Reggie.”

“Well then ask away,” Flynn replied. “Anything for my favourite bassist.”

“It’s his birthday in two weeks, and I want to throw him a surprise party,” Carrie said. “He’s never had one before.”

“Awww, I love how sappy he’s made you,” Flynn cooed. “You need me to DJ?”

“That or find me a band to play that won’t set Luke off,” Carrie replied.

“Surprised you’re not getting the Candis to perform,” Flynn quipped.

“I mean, I’ve got a song written for him,” Carrie replied, feeling her cheeks burn. “But I wanna dance with him and I can’t do that if I’m on stage.”

“I got you girl,” Flynn assured her. “You let me know all the deets via text and I’ll be there with metaphorical bells on.”

“Thanks hun, I owe you.”

“And you can bet I’ll collect.”

Carrie grinned despite herself, and wondered who she needed to call next. Only when she turned around, there was Reggie leaning against the doorframe. “Reggie!”

“Hey doll,” he greeted her with a kiss.

“I didn’t hear you come in,” she said nervously.

“Forgot the B-A-L-L and came back for it,” he said, waving it, knowing Tisdale was busy lapping up her water. “Plus you and Flynn were having a chat, not surprised you didn’t hear me come in.”

“Yeah we we’re making plans for a girls night,” Carrie lied.

“Uh huh,” Reggie said, kissing her cheek, then a line up to her ear. “I’ll act super surprised, don’t worry.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Carrie said.

“I’m sure you don’t,” Reggie chuckled, and leaned in for one more kiss. “Thanks for being the best doll. I’ll be sure to do something doubly cool for your birthday.”

He whistled for Tisdale and waved at Carrie as they went back out the door, and she sighed. Sure the surprised was slightly ruined, but she was sure Reggie would love it regardless.

And she couldn’t wait to see how he topped it come her birthday in a few months.

[softsky-daily]

4/5/2024

Ohh it's been so long since I've seen the sky so purple. It's really lovely.

Positive thing: I finally got my internship site secured, and I had good food with a friend.

Today I actually got to relax for all of it for once, which I really needed. My friend and I went to our usual Korean place and since it had been a while since we hung out we got caught up and stuff. And afterwards I showed her the Filipino ice cream place and that was really good too.

Here's some of our Korean food. I always forget about the side dishes that come with it and it's always a fun surprise when they just start unloading dishes onto our table. Also the chili sauce was so good. It was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy and went well with literally everything.

Also, I decided to accept the internship offer at the crisis stabilization unit after all. The director lady emailed me back and reassured me and said I could just go for the summer and switch to a different site later, so I did that. Now if I end up not liking the work I have an out, which is nice. I think it'll be really good experience though, and I got into contact with the other intern who got accepted there and he seems nice, so I'm sure it'll work out.

I have a lot of papers due next week, so after Conversation Table tomorrow I think I'll pick a cafe and hunker down to work. Or I could hunker down at home and work I guess, but I focus better when my video games aren't right there calling to me the whole time.