#used to be darina

[hah-studios]

Day 22: Aria and Pyro from my future Christrian Furry webcomic

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

Prologue

tags: prince gojo x princess f!reader, arranged marriage au, mentions of abuse from reader's family, tw: she is yelled at and stuck, her name is lia ravencrest (oc), gojo will appear in the next part

series masterlist (to be updated soon)

"his majesty satoru gojo has pledged his support in exchange for lady Ravencrest's hand in marriage." your family turns, stunned to see you speak with a crumbled letter in the fist of your hand. "he calls for nothing in return, only wishing to unite both kingdoms under one. his family asks the Ravencrest's that lady Ravencrest live alongside her husband, as it has been for customary "

"so it's settled." your stepfather, crowned king of your wing of the kingdom announces. "you shall marry into the gojo clan."

"we must commence the wedding plans." your mother chimes, "she'll look beautiful in lunaris silk."

you watch, hurt and deflated as the two adults discuss your parents until you interrupt, "Is my presence here so insignificant that you plan my life without a word to me?”

the regret fills your body as soon as you are thrown inside your room by your stepfather. your mother's cries muffled by the large doors of your room held back by servants per order of the king. he strikes.

"you ungrateful petulant being!" the man roars, "have you forgotten? It is I who picked you out of the shit! no one wanted to marry your mother but me! and I took care of your mouth, fed you, and you dare disobey me?!" his screams leave you silent, trembling as his hands point at you. "you have truly shamed us. go ahead and say no. deny the prince! say no! go on, if you say you have no voice then use it. we'll send you off to a whorehouse. maybe that is where you belong." whenever he acts like that and leaves, the servant girls peek. they're too shy, maybe too scared to approach you, but they always leave you water and something cold to soothe the pain in your cheek.

"his majesty gojo will be fortunate to have a bride like you." says a servant girl, brushing your hair the next morning, "my lady is too kind, far too gentle."

"have you heard word of his majesty?" you ask, knowing she might not have any knowledge, but hopeful. "what is he like?"

"none from me, but one of the house ladies says she spoke to the gojo clan messenger. it is said he is fair tempered, a good head on his neck."

you hum, clearly not so pleased with limited information. was that all? fear thumped along your heart. what if he was like your stepfather? what if he was better? if he was, could he change into something worse? continue as your mother but worse?

"darina," you speak, the name of your servant girl with such softness. your memory was far better than your mother's, able to know nearly everyone's from the castle, "do you think... my stepfather... is cruel?" she exhales.

"his lordship has... firm character, yet I believe he has an interest to improve the reputation of the family."

"I didn't ask if he was cruel to the crown, rina. I asked if he was cruel to his family."

"he... he could be kinder. that I am certain. it pains me to see my lady sad."

"don't worry." you say, "I have already accepted the marriage. in 30 days I shall become bride to the next king of the north. I may be a princess, but no one shall touch me as queen."

[lolotheparagon]

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free

Here is my long overdue drawing of a Palestine critter having a picnic by the river. I designed this one based on the mountain gazelle, which is the national animal of Palestine and worked in a watermelon design into her hijab and dress. I also looked up actual Palestinian dishes to include in the picnic, like the awameh in that bowl there.

I hope I got nothing wrong in my language there.

Remember to click daily Help the Palestinian People with a Click | arab.org

Esims for Gaza are always appreciated - eSims For Gaza (gazaesims.com)

Care For Gaza (@CareForGaza) / X (twitter.com)

Here are some Gofundmes! Even if you can't donate, please share them around!

Fundraiser by mohammad isa : Seeking Help to Evacuate My Family in Gaza (gofundme.com)

Support Sondos Maher on Ko-fi! ❤️. ko-fi.com/sondosmaher - Ko-fi ❤️ Where creators get support from fans through donations, memberships, shop sales and more! The original 'Buy Me a Coffee' Page.

Fundraiser for Ishak Yousef Moshtaha by Mahmoud Mush : Help Mahmoud rebuild his artisanal bakery (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Haytham AbuFoul : Help evacuate Haytham’s family out of Gaza war (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser for Husaam bakron by Husaam Bakron : Help my family get out of Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Esraa Radi : Helping a family leave Gaza to escape the war (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Huda Alshaikhsaleh : Emergency :"Evacuate Sohad's Family out of Gaza" (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Mohammed Okal : Help Mohammed's family evacuate from Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Rani Alnuaizi : Help me Escape Gaza! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Donia Rabia : Help Zinh and her Family to be safe in Gaza! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Thaer Inshasi : Help me and my family to escape from Gaza war! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Hamza Murnakh : Donate to me, to make someone's life better (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Sarah Aljamal : Help us save what is left of us and our dreams! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Mohammed Abu altarabish : Help me rebuild my life & rebuild my family's home (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Tull Osman : Escaping Hell: A Family's Fight For Survival (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Darina Bishop : Escaping Gaza To Pursue My Dream In Medicine (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Jae Brieffies : Help Walaa and her family evacuate from Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Milena Markovic : Help my family evacuate Gaza and reach Canada (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Angela Hays : Help Yousef escape Gaza and treat his cancer (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Zaki Thompson : Feed The Fasting In Yemen This Ramadan (gofundme.com)

@TalkAboutSudan | Linktree

[drunes]

ACE. A playing card character template.

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

FREE to copy and use for any OC your heart desires. Feel free to add and adjust as wanted.

All character images and text are customizable. (I used a background remover and a filter on the photos to match the style of the cards)

Fonts used: Grenze Gotisch, Caveat

Character pictures: Darina Belonogova via Pexels

Please use the following instructions to change character photos. Using other methods are liable to alter other aspects of the template.

To change character photos:

1. Double click on border of the page you wish to change. This will open the drawing tool.

2. Click on image you would like to change.

3. Click the “More” (three dots) button on the top right.

4. Click “Replace image”.

5. Upload picture of choice.

6. Click “Select”.

7. Review your change. Alter if necessary.

8. Click “Save and Close”.

Notes on text

-   Changing fonts/font sizes may cause changes to tables. Use caution and remember the undo button!-   Amounts of text which increase the size of a table may alter the template. If you run out of space, adding further text elsewhere and linking to it may be your best bet.

Happy RPing!

[bottle-of-harpoons]

Remember to click daily Help the Palestinian People with a Click | arab.org

Esims for Gaza are always appreciated - eSims For Gaza (gazaesims.com)

Care For Gaza (@CareForGaza) / X (twitter.com)

Here are some Gofundmes! Even if you can't donate, please share them around!

Fundraiser by mohammad isa : Seeking Help to Evacuate My Family in Gaza (gofundme.com)

Support Sondos Maher on Ko-fi! ❤️. ko-fi.com/sondosmaher - Ko-fi ❤️ Where creators get support from fans through donations, memberships, shop sales and more! The original 'Buy Me a Coffee' Page.

Fundraiser for Ishak Yousef Moshtaha by Mahmoud Mush : Help Mahmoud rebuild his artisanal bakery (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Haytham AbuFoul : Help evacuate Haytham’s family out of Gaza war (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser for Husaam bakron by Husaam Bakron : Help my family get out of Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Esraa Radi : Helping a family leave Gaza to escape the war (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Huda Alshaikhsaleh : Emergency :"Evacuate Sohad's Family out of Gaza" (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Mohammed Okal : Help Mohammed's family evacuate from Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Rani Alnuaizi : Help me Escape Gaza! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Donia Rabia : Help Zinh and her Family to be safe in Gaza! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Thaer Inshasi : Help me and my family to escape from Gaza war! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Hamza Murnakh : Donate to me, to make someone's life better (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Sarah Aljamal : Help us save what is left of us and our dreams! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Mohammed Abu altarabish : Help me rebuild my life & rebuild my family's home (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Tull Osman : Escaping Hell: A Family's Fight For Survival (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Darina Bishop : Escaping Gaza To Pursue My Dream In Medicine (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Jae Brieffies : Help Walaa and her family evacuate from Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Milena Markovic : Help my family evacuate Gaza and reach Canada (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Angela Hays : Help Yousef escape Gaza and treat his cancer (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Zaki Thompson : Feed The Fasting In Yemen This Ramadan (gofundme.com)

@TalkAboutSudan | Linktree

Please continue to spread the word and don't loose hope.

[000samael]

Hi! I’m using my platform here to promote Bashar’s GoFundMe, along with Operation Olive Branch. Escape funds and starting a life in a new country are both very expensive, so please consider supporting him and those listed on the spreadsheet. If you can’t donate, please share their fundraisers around.

Click here for links vv

BASHAR’S GOFUNDME:

OPERATION OLIVE BRANCH SPREADSHEET:

[readingsbytea]

free pendulum & oracle readings

hi everyone! my name is tea and i would like to offer free pendulum & oracle readings!

i used to run a blog (@firsthousesaturnian) and did some pendulum readings every once in a while but i became quite rusty so i need to practice again!

my rules are:

1. no questions about health or death

2. try to ask as many yes and no questions as possible, i can answer "when" or "how" but that would mean i need to ask my pendulum at least 10 questions to get the answer right and it would tire both me and my pendulum out

3. i use three oracle sets so you can choose whichever you find yourself more in tune with and we can do an oracle and pendulum reading at same time

4. i work full time so please be mindful of that and have patience

that's it for now!

if you want to ask more than 5 questions you can but in exchange i ask you please to donate to a gofundme made by a Palestinian trying to seek help.

the gofundme that im asking for people to help this week is:

if you donate €5 i will give you 5 free pendulum readings (and 3 oracle readings), if you donate €10 it'll be 10 pendulum readings (and 6 oracle readings) and so on. i will ask for proof of donation with a simple screenshot.

have a nice week everyone!

[asherenjoysart]

My attempt at collecting as many Palestinian gofundme’s as I can! You can reblog with more for me to add!! (I currently don’t have that many, apologies for that.)

A thread on twt I found with some gofundmes:

https://x.com/undyinghero_/status/1763986248518033540?s=61

Last updated: March 2nd, 2024

Also, do your daily click. It’s free and takes only a few seconds!

[dragonsrain]

Neon Rain Lore

Dragon/Darina Dragunovina

Darina is only 27, and was 12 when The War ended. She was born in the midst of that long, drawn out conflict, and in fact, lost her family to the fighting in Russia. Either side could have been to blame, but she was picked up by a Ghost Corps patrol after the fighting had destroyed most of the small town she had called home. By the time The War actually ended, Darina had already undergone some of the new experimental processes Red Wolf was pushing to gain an advantage over the Patriot heroes, and was undergoing extensive training and reeducation to ensure extreme loyalty to Ghost Corps. It was drilled into her that Patriot and the United States were responsible for the deaths of her family. She was beaten if she asked questions, beaten if she didn’t perform up to the high expectations Red Wolf expected of his star experiment.

Before her training was complete, The War came to an end, and Ghost Corps was ostensibly disbanded. The Russian government reasserted itself and the enhanced soldiers were banned. However, Red Wolf still operated in the background, exerting influence through the vast sums of money he had accumulated over his abnormally long life. Ghost Corps continued to operate in the shadows as well, now billing itself as a company on the leading edge of medical technology and the advancement of androids, called Advanced Nanocorp. In fact, they did create a series of increasingly advanced androids, as well as nanotechnology that worked faster to heal and eradicate diseases. This earned them a great deal of goodwill, but their advances came at a price. The old Ghost Corps heroes were living quiet lives among the populace, partly to draw attention away from the continued existence of Ghost Corps, and partly because Red Wolf felt he no longer had a use for them. Dragon had shown that she was more advanced than the previous generation of heroes, and further experiments on her and other children abducted by Ghost Corps fueled the technological innovations they rolled out to the public. 

Dragon has grown up as a torture victim, but may also be the single deadliest person on the planet. She possesses superior speed and agility, even when compared to other enhanced soldiers. With the newest nanobots, she can heal even broken bones in a matter of hours. Her weapons of choice are a plasma pistol in her left hand, and a katana in her right hand, with which she is quick and skilled enough to deflect bullets. Normally she wears a tight, black, spandex uniform that is both comfortable and functional, as well as some light pieces of armor if the threat of taking gunfire is high. The best feature of her outfit, however, is the full face mask that relays all kinds of useful information to her, such as vulnerable areas of her opponents, the trajectory of incoming projectiles, and even weakpoints in the terrain. Through the use of Ghost Corps nanotechnology, the mask is also able to fold itself into a choker, and project the image of any outfit Dragon finds appropriate for the current mission. Normally, her hair is kept short, maybe spiked, and pure white. She has icy blue eyes and an intense gaze that tends to scare off strangers. 

Current Status:

Dragon is operating in Seattle, a city which Red Wolf holds a particular grudge against, and where many of the Patriot heroes were settled after The War. She has been tasked with eliminating the Patriot population of Seattle in advance of Red Wolf’s larger plan for the city. So far, she has executed this mission to perfection, eliminating veterans with minimal resistance and remaining hidden from the authorities and the public. To date, she is responsible for the deaths of 12 former Patriot heroes, earning her quite a reputation in the right circles.

She has no friends and no family, except for Jani, and a complicated relationship with Red Wolf, and her handler, Shadow. Her main goal is to be the best assassin in the world, and impress Red Wolf, a man whose approval she has sought for her entire life, but which has remained just out of reach. She is arrogant about her skills and feels she already deserves the highest honors Ghost Corps can bestow upon her. 

Known Associates:

Red Wolf (father figure/torturer/boss)

Evgeny Gerisimenko/Shadow (mentor/handler)

Janiece “Jani” Wallace/Inferno (lover/fellow Ghost Corps member)

[hedgewitchgarden]

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread

Posted on January 15, 2014 by My Kitchen Wand

Can you believe we are half way through January already!?!? The time is flying for me and it is a good reminder that reaching my goals means staying on track. Imbolc will be here before you know it.

Imbolc happens at the same time as Candlemas and they have many connections as traditions from one are layered over the other. In the Celtic calendar it is considered the beginning of spring, a time when the ground is first awakened. The Goddess of the spring in Celtic traditions is Brigid. She is associated also with fire, arts and crafts, as well as livestock such as dairy cows and poetry.

A common custom of farmers was to take a loaf of bread, mix it with milk and sacred water before laying the mixture in the first plowed furrow. St Brigid, whose feast day happens at the same time was honoured with a loaf of bread left on a windowsill, like milk and cookies for St Nicholas.

This is a very traditional, hearty loaf that goes great with cheese, soups, or steaming from the oven with a little butter and jam. My understanding is that a softer variety of wheat was grown in Ireland and consequently baking soda was a better option than yeast for making breads rise. Additionally, whereas over time, England moved towards the concept of bakeries and bread making “in house” lessened, Irish housewives kept the tradition of daily bread for much much longer and soda bread was the bread of choice.

A 100% traditional loaf would be only whole wheat. White, all purpose flour is a relatively new invention and once it arrived, it was seen predominantly on the tables of feudal lords. This recipe is a 50/50 blend, not as heavy as days gone by and still full of flavour.

Buttermilk is the preferred liquid in soda bread. The acids in the buttermilk work with the baking soda to create bubbles and help the bread to rise. This makes absolute sense as buttermilk is the liquid left over from churning milk and all good farms used everything available for something. It is called buttermilk not because it is made from butter but because it is the liquid remaining once the butter has been made. Commercially made “cultured” buttermilk, which is what most of us have access to today has added Lactococcus lactis culture to turn regular milk into buttermilk.

You will need:

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 1/4 cups buttermilk

Deep Breath…..”In my kitchen filled with care, I welcome, Water, Fire, Earth, Air“. Let’s begin.

Soda bread would have been baked in a bastible ( think cauldron) over an open fire hearth. Bastibles come with an indented lid so that the cook could put coals on the lid allowing for heat to come from both directions to bake the bread. I will assume you will be using your oven.

Grease and flour your pan. I would suggest only the area the loaf will sit on as this is going into a 450 degree oven and the excess flour will burn. ( Turn oven on to 450 degrees ).

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Darina Allen from Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, says do this with your hands, allowing the flour to drizzle through your fingers ( a women after my own heart ). She says it will incorporate more air into the mixture, making the finished product lighter.  

My reference comes from my training days when the kitchen instructor would shout at the class, “God gave you hands before he gave you utensils, USE THEM!” Probably not what you would hear in the classroom today.

Make a well and add the buttermilk.

Your intention is to work gently and quickly. Overworking will make your bread tough and it will not rise as well.

Old recipes will say use your hand and mix the ingredients together by opening your hand and holding the fingers stiff. Keeping one hand clean will make life easier.

If you would prefer a spoon, start in the center and stir outwards to the edge of the bowl.

Once mixed a little more than the picture shows, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently shape it into a ball.

It will be soft.

Press down to about two inches and cut a cross in the top of the loaf. Cutting the cross will allow the bread to rise even more. You will also recognize the symbol the loaf makes as the wheel of the year.

I read somewhere that Darine Allen says in her cooking school that cutting the cross “lets the fairies out“. I can’t remember where I read it but I always remember the words when I am making soda bread. It is highly appropriate right now as spring is the season of fairies.  “Garden fairies come at dawn, bless the flowers, then they’re gone“.

And what is Imbolc if not a time to bless the land and the seeds that will keep the community healthy in the coming year?

Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes and then reduce the oven to 400 degrees and continue baking for another 25-30 minutes. The bread will be done when it sounds hollow when knocking on the underside. Allow to cool.

Now, Spotted Dog. All countries cuisines have their unique names and this is one of them. If you add raisins (say 3/4 cup but it is up to you) to soda bread it becomes Spotted Dog. Usually, a couple of teaspoons of sugar are added as wellas you are making a sweet bread.

Additionally, if you had eggs on the farm, one might be part of the liquid mixture to help with the rising of the bread. When using an egg, it is a good idea to lower the temperature and bake the bread a little longer as eggs assist in the browning of baked products.

Life is returning to the Earth and things are starting to grow again. Whether you make this recipe to place on a windowsill or an altar or beside a bowl of hearty body warming soup; if you add the raisins and gather a group of friends together with butter, jam and a cup of tea; or bake it plain to serve with other tasty bits, I wish you and yours the time and peace to enjoy the customs of Imbolc, in whatever way you choose to honour them.

[outsidereveries]

Do you know if kai isn't okay at all the problem with his situation service military and being ex bestie with ravi?please just detail about past abd current relationship as friends between ravi and kai

i’ll ask all of your questions instead?

kai’s opinion about his enlistment: nine of cups, eight of pentacles rx, the empress rx • the hanged man

basically what he said in his live, this is accurate. on the one hand, he’s sorry he won’t promote with exo in june. on the other hand though, his wish comes true! kai is actually really that happy for going there. he feels really that grateful for enlisting now because apparently his idol life became boring to him (although not suprising, sme’s decision to buy mr. rover’s rights from virginia records* in this case is actually great relief to kai? idk, this came out of sudden)

— kai x ravi’s friendship — using 9 cards

past: the fool, four of pentacles rx, ace of wands rx

i feel their friendship wasn’t that great at all before. was there stealing lyrics or beat in music?? did someone got greedy of something?

my head isn’t thinking enough of the role four of pentacles rx has. there’s missed opportunity for sure but in which way? in stealing more instrumentals/text lyrics?

present: the sun, the empress rx, the hanged man

the same energy all over again. just different cards.

i think both of them didn’t forget it.

future: nine of swords rx, three of pentacles, two of wands

i see one of them saying “i am really sorry” about the stealing situation. so this got released? oof, this is even worse.

bottom card: five of cups rx

they’ll get over this issue but they won’t be friends again, for now.

*darina yo-i mean, dara’s agency (bulgaria)

[mariacallous]

On March 8, 2022, the global magazine publisher Condé Nast announced it was suspending its operations in Russia in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leaving the country’s elites with no prestigious glossy mags in which to read about themselves. After more than a year with no indication that Vogue or Glamour will return any time soon, a group of former pro-Kremlin youth activists decided that enough is enough: they would create their own culture and society magazine. The result is Moskvichka, a publication whose first issue covers topics ranging from fashion in the village of Suzdal to resorts in the Seychelles, all in service of the argument that “loving Russia is not a bad thing.” Meduza’s special correspondent Svetlana Reiter and iStories journalist Maria Zholobova took a look at who’s behind the new project and how exactly it came to be.

In mid-November, a release party for a new glossy magazine called Moskvichka (“Moscow woman”) was held at the Vladey Gallery in Moscow. Its publisher, Rare Books Publishing (IRK), was founded by propagandist Kristina Potupchik, the former press secretary of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi and the owner of a wide network of pro-government Telegram channels.

The magazine’s editor-in-chief is Darina Alexeyeva, a friend of Potupchik and the author of Bakhchysarai Carnations, a popular Telegram channel about Russian culture and high society. “Kristina helped me launch the channel,” Alexeyeva told the authors of this article.

She said the idea for Moskvichka came from Potupchik, as well as from Nikita Tomilin, a former member of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Molodaya Gvardiya (“Young Guard”) and the director of the briefly viral propaganda video “Time to Move to Russia.”

Moskvichka’s creators refer to the project as a “post-sanctions magazine,” and several media outlets have dubbed it “the Russian Tatler” for its focus on the lives of Russia’s elites. The real Russian edition of the British society magazine Tatler was discontinued after the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, as were Condé Nast’s other Russian magazines likeVogue, GQ, and Glamour.

According to two sources familiar with Moskvichka’s publication process, Kristina Potupchik discussed the idea for the new magazine with members of the Putin administration. As a rule, she also usually coordinates her initiatives with Putin’s deputy chief of staff, Sergey Kiriyenko, as well as his subordinate, Sergey Novikov, who heads the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects. (Sources who spoke to the authors of this piece referred to Novikov as the “main censor of Russian culture.”) Novikov did not respond to requests for comment.

According to two acquaintances of Potupchik, the Kremlin approved of the idea. “We don’t have a glossy magazine [in Russia] right now; they all left. We need to show what import substitution really looks like. And that we’re also fashionable, cool, and rich,” joked a former editor of a Russian fashion magazine who’s familiar with the details of Moskvichka’s launch.

“Why do you assume I have to coordinate with the presidential administration? That’s a very strange question,” Potupchik told the authors of this story.

Moskvichka is not registered with Russia’s federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, as a mass media outlet (and as a result, it’s prohibited by law from releasing more than 99 copies). According to one knowledgable source, the Putin administration’s first deputy chief of staff, Alexey Gromov, who oversees print and television media for the Kremlin, was opposed to the idea of letting the magazine register.

“Gromov is old school. He’s used to working with traditional media. Unlike Kiriyenko and Novikov, he doesn’t understand anything about Telegram channels, which are a big part of Potupchik’s work. And in general, he’s long thought Potupchik is strange,” one source said. An acquaintance of Darina Alexeyeva agreed: Moskvichka’s chief editor, she said, has complained that “Gromov isn’t giving them a media license because he hates Kristina.” Gromov did not respond to requests for comment.

When asked why Moskvichka wasn’t given a media license, and whether Alexey Gromov was involved in this decision, Kristina Potupchik responded:

Both the magazine’s licensing and its release to the public in general were opposed by many unpatriotic people who don’t like the fact that Russia is getting its own brands to replace the international publications that left and the “foreign agent” publications, of which yours is one.

I sincerely hope everyone who opposes the release of this magazine will pick it up, read its high-quality articles, look at its beautiful photographs, and understand that loving Russia is not a bad thing.

At the same time, Sergey Novikov personally attended the magazine’s release event at the Vladey Gallery. Other attendees included Alexey Goreslavsky, the head of the Internet Development Institute; Vladimir Tabak, the head of the Dialog autonomous nonprofit organization; Sergey Kapkov, the former head of Moscow's Culture Department; and Grigory Berezkin, who owns the RBC media holding.

In addition to a dance routine by women in traditional Russian headdresses, the presentation included a video in which prominent figures in the city praise “beautified Moscow” and its mayor, Sergey Sobyanin.

“We love Sergey Sobyanin and praise him without reservations. However, we’re open to proposals [for other collaborations],” Alexeyeva said in an interview with fashion blogger Madonna Mur. According to three acquaintances of Potupchik, her publishing company, IRK, funded the first issue of Moskvichka (its creators have gifted issues to their friends and sell them on online retailers Ozon and Wildberries for 450 rubles — around $5). A source from the Moscow Mayor’s Office said that Potupchik has not asked Sobyanin or his deputies for financial support.

‘Just name your price’

Kristina Potupchik registered her publishing company, IRK, in 2019, though rather than listing its address as that of her own office in central Moscow, she registered it at a five-story building in the northern part of the city that also serves as the legal headquarters of nearly 200 other companies. In November 2023, shortly before the first issue of Moskvichka was printed, Potupchik was replaced as the publisher’s director by someone named Yulia Barsanova, according to legal records.

A woman with the same name and birth date as this person previously worked in the Vladimir region’s Department of Organizational and Large-scale Work and Personnel (Potupchik is also originally from the Vladimir region). Additionally, Yandex data leaks show that Barsanova has had meals delivered to Potupchik’s office in Moscow. Potupchik redirected journalists’ question about the transfer of the company’s ownership to its lawyers, and Barsanov did not respond to questions.

One other figure who works with IRK is Vadim Veterkov, a former Nashi leader who runs the Bakhchysarai Carnations Telegram channel along with Darina Alexeyeva. He’s written for Moskvichka, where his author bio reads: “Cultural critic, political analyst, man of wit, and bon vivant.” “I’m afraid I can’t help you,” he told the authors of this story when asked for comment.

Alexeyeva herself was not a member of any pro-Kremlin youth movements (at least the authors of this investigation were unable to find any records of her membership). However, the website of her alma mater, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), mentions a poem she wrote to celebrate the “reunification of Crimea with Russia.” Additionally, on Potupchik’s birthday in 2019, Alexeyeva showed up in a t-shirt with Vladimir Putin’s face on the front.

In an article for Moskvichka about her favorite “places in the capital and its outskirts,” Alexeyeva wrote: “On the veranda of Kristina Potupchik’s office, where I work, […] Vadim Veterkov whips up a delightful Aperol spritz at lunch time and an excellent Bloody Mary for dinner. And in general, we get no shortage of guests […] from governors to socialites.”

However, according to a former Russian fashion and lifestyle magazine editor, assembling a team of stylists and photographers willing to work for Potupchik’s new magazine was no Aperol spritz: “They invited people from abroad [who left Russia after the start of the full-scale war], and when these people said they were afraid to return to Russia, they were told, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll guarantee your complete safety, we’ll arrange everything,’” the person said. As for salaries, according to the source, the potential employees were told: “Just name your price.”

An acquaintance of Alexeyeva confirmed that the magazine’s creators had difficulty finding employees; according to this person, many people declined because they didn’t want to be involved in “that Kremlin fuckery.” Alexeyeva herself insisted to this story’s authors that they had “no issues finding employees.”

The magazine’s masthead includes, among other names, Viktoria Davydov, the former editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of Vogue; Albert Galeyev, the former editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of Tatler; Andrey Karagodin, a former member of Russia’s now-banned National Bolshevik party; and Eduard Limonov, who previously worked at the Russian editions of GQ and Glamour and studied under Eurasianist philosopher Alexander Dugin.

‘I was born near Odesa, but my country is Russia’

The editor’s letter by Darina Alexeyeva in Moskvichka’s first issue reads as follows:

In the pages of Moskvichka, Moscow men wear jackets made by Russian designers, while Moscow women adorned with Siberian gemstones saunter through the Cosmoscow art fair, Suzdal, and the restaurants at Patriarch Ponds. All of these jackets, jewelry, wines, beauty salons, cars, restaurants, and hotels had to be made, opened, designed, built, sewed, or organized by somebody. These people were not intimidated by sanctions or global cancel culture; they chose Russia, deciding to stay and contribute to their country’s development. The glitter of lights in Moscow’s restaurants, the displays of the city’s boutiques, and the jewels on wrists are the brilliance of precisely these people.

The magazine’s first issue has three different covers. One of them shows Ksenia Shipilova, a former member of Molodaya Gvardiya who now owns a Moscow beauty salon. “I was born near Odesa, and my mom is Bulgarian. But I always say my country is Russia,” the magazine quotes her as saying.

The second cover shows Snezhanna Georgieva, the owner of the Crimean winery Zolotaya Balka. On the third cover is Sati Spivakova, a TV host whose husband, conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov, supported the annexation of Crimea in 2014 but signed a statement calling for an end to the war in Ukraine in 2022. According to producer Yana Rudkovskaya, who attended the new magazine’s release party, Spivakova was photographed for Moskvichka in Paris.

The magazine’s Culture section includes an interview with Elizaveta Likhacheva, the new director of the Pushkin museum. Likhacheva, a former participant in the Walking Together pro-Kremlin movement, replaced the museum’s former director, Marina Loshak, in the spring of this year after Loshak left abruptly following the dismissal of Tretyakov Gallery Director Zelfira Tregulova.

Meanwhile, in the issue’s Travel section, writers weigh the pros and cons of two resorts: the Maldives and the Seychelles. In the article, Victoria Shelyagova, whose husband, Oleg Shelyagov, owns a funeral business closely associated with billionaire and close Putin associate Arkady Rotenberg, laments the lack of “cool hotels” in the Seychelles, explaining that she and her husband “had to buy” their own apartment there. Elsewhere in the section, the writers praise Suzdal, a historic town in Russia’s Vladimir region, adding that it’s been on the “cutting edge of fashion” for 1,000 years.

The magazine has also found its first advertisers: the Moskvich automobile plant in Moscow; the company Bosco di Ciliegi, which belongs to the owner of Moscow’s GUM shopping center; and several beauty salons and jewelry stores.

It’s unclear how much it cost to produce the first issue of Moskvichka, which will be released every three months. “As far as I know, the cost of producing an issue is a trade secret in any publishing house,” said Alexeyeva. An editor from another Moscow magazine estimated the cost of Moskvichka’s first issue at around two million rubles ($21,700).

[meetmeatthecoda]

Somehow, even though I haven't watched in years - and am 0% tempted to tonight - I've still got this tiny sliver of anxiety about the ending of The Blacklist. Is that crazy? It's like I know they can't possibly wrap up the story in a way I'll be happy or satisfied with (and after the 8th season I mostly gave up caring about what happens in "canon")...and yet I'm sure when I hear about what happened in the finale it's going to feel like one last, poorly written gut punch.

How are you feeling about tonight?

Hiya, anon ❤️ Ugh, can I just say that you summed up my tangle of feelings absolutely perfectly? 🥺 More specifically, no, that is not crazy at all. I am in the same place as you with not caring about any of it anymore - not since 8.22 ripped my fucking heart out - & I literally can't think of anything I'd like to do less than watch the series finale. But even in the years since 8.22, there was still that awareness that the show was still out there somewhere, even if I only heard drips & drabs, & I scoffed at it all, & I didn't give a tiny rat's ass what happened. And while that remains true, the fact that it's OFFICIALLY ending (despite the fact that it ended for us two years ago) is... a little sobering. For me, I think it's a reminder of the pain & grief of The Terrible Awful™️ 😓

Also, yes, anon, I completely understand the sliver of anxiety & dread... I felt the same thing when I heard that they were finally blessedly cancelled & again when I realized the last ep was coming up... I can only speak for myself, but I think it's bc I still care at least a little about Red &, deep down, I still want a happy ending for him, even though I fully believe he can't have one without Liz. But I have zero faith in TPTB & I'm sure they will make it a nebulous, "cool" ending with no real answers, like always, or they'll confirm godforsaken R*darina, or they'll just kill off Red because they're incapable of writing anything else. And I'm sure every other aspect of it will be disappointing, like Ressler being the hero or something (LMFAO) & it will be awful all around. I have no other expectations & I suppose I have to either accept it and/or ignore whatever happens AND/OR consider it all a crap AU & Lizzington as our canon. But the way you describe it, "one last, poorly written gut punch", perfectly describes how I feel. I tell myself that none of it matters anymore - it's not like we're getting a Lizzington ending lolz - but I think I'm just afraid of being hurt again bc, for all my posturing, I know TPTB still have the power to do that, simply bc I still care just a tiny bit. Despite all the heartbreak I've already felt... a little remains of the show, the characters, & my heart for them to destroy 💔

Idk if that made any sense at all, anon, but I hope I communicated at least 3 things: 1) you're not alone in the way you feel, 2) the ending will probably hurt & ache & betray in just the way we're afraid of, & 3) we simply have to deal with the residual hurt, know that TPTB failed us & it's not our fault, &... cherish what we had by holding our Lizzington AU close to our hearts & keeping them alive through fanfic... at least, that's what I plan on doing. So, feel free to drop another ask if you want to talk more, anon, I would certainly love to commiserate & work through our feelings together tbh, & btw I'm very flattered you came to my ask box with this & wanted to know how I feel, thank you for being so sweet. In the meantime, hang in there, anon, you're definitely not alone, & much love to you, my friend ❤️

[steelandblood]

83%?

83%. When was the last time they were crushed with disappointment? How did that impact them? Did it have a lifelong effect on them?

Mirwen usually doesn't have high enough expectations to be disappointed, but there was her first and last attempt at a relationship.

During her basic training in the army she met this other girl, Darina, and they became really close friends. It started more or less equal, but quickly turned into a situation where Darina was not 100% intentionally using Mirwen, who in turn was totally in love with Darina and was willing to do everything for her just because she was being nice. Darina always joked that they are so close like a couple, and Mirwen started to hope that maybe the friendship might turn into something more.

On their last day of basic, before they were shipped off to their bases, Mirwen decided she had nothing to lose and confessed her feelings to Darina, only for her to laugh in her face

Mirwen was obviously crushed and disappointed, but mostly with herself, for daring to hope someone would actually love her. From then on she never allowed herself to forget that she is only liked as long as she is useful, and even than it's more like tolerated than anything else and she should be satisfied woth that and never hope for more.

[bottle-of-harpoons]

Please check the links below!

Click once a day (it's free) - Help the Palestinian People with a Click | arab.org

Esims are always appreciated - eSims For Gaza (gazaesims.com)

Care For Gaza (@CareForGaza) / X (twitter.com)

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

Here are some Gofundmes! Even if you can't donate, please share them around!

Fundraiser by mohammad isa : Seeking Help to Evacuate My Family in Gaza (gofundme.com)

Support Sondos Maher on Ko-fi! ❤️. ko-fi.com/sondosmaher - Ko-fi ❤️ Where creators get support from fans through donations, memberships, shop sales and more! The original 'Buy Me a Coffee' Page.

Fundraiser for Ishak Yousef Moshtaha by Mahmoud Mush : Help Mahmoud rebuild his artisanal bakery (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Haytham AbuFoul : Help evacuate Haytham’s family out of Gaza war (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser for Husaam bakron by Husaam Bakron : Help my family get out of Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Esraa Radi : Helping a family leave Gaza to escape the war (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Huda Alshaikhsaleh : Emergency :"Evacuate Sohad's Family out of Gaza" (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Mohammed Okal : Help Mohammed's family evacuate from Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Rani Alnuaizi : Help me Escape Gaza! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Donia Rabia : Help Zinh and her Family to be safe in Gaza! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Thaer Inshasi : Help me and my family to escape from Gaza war! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Hamza Murnakh : Donate to me, to make someone's life better (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Sarah Aljamal : Help us save what is left of us and our dreams! (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Mohammed Abu altarabish : Help me rebuild my life & rebuild my family's home (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Tull Osman : Escaping Hell: A Family's Fight For Survival (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Darina Bishop : Escaping Gaza To Pursue My Dream In Medicine (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Jae Brieffies : Help Walaa and her family evacuate from Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Milena Markovic : Help my family evacuate Gaza and reach Canada (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Angela Hays : Help Yousef escape Gaza and treat his cancer (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Zaki Thompson : Feed The Fasting In Yemen This Ramadan (gofundme.com)

@TalkAboutSudan | Linktree

Fundraiser by Yosef Kassab : Help my family to evacuate from Gaza to Egypt. (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser for Mohammedsharif Alghusain by Fady Abdallah : Rebuilding Hope: Support a Family in Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser for Nisreen Shaheen by Judy Shahin : Support my family in Gaza (gofundme.com)

Fundraiser by Umm Hamzah : Tamer, Misbah and their family need our help! (gofundme.com)

Even if you can't donate, please share around the links!

[simphonyoflife]

“Would you like to come and visit me at my place at the weekend?” Darina was taken aback by this question. She still knew very little about Darion. She didn't know where he worked, he never talked about his family and he had never told her where he lived. But she wanted nothing more than to find out. “It may not be what you think it is.” He seemed unsure, which was uncharacteristic of him. “I'm sure I'll lo-… like it.” She blushed because she had almost used the L-word in his presence. The confident smirk returned to his lips.

That weekend, she drove out to Oasis Springs. Arriving at the address he'd given her, she found herself in front of a shabby trailer. He came out as if he'd been waiting for her and kissed her as if he'd missed her for a long time. “Come on, I'll show you around. I mean, it's not much, but it's my home.” And although it was anything but what she had expected and what she knew, she loved it. It was simple, the setting in Oasis Springs was gorgeous and life here seemed good. They drank cheap beer, played cards and grilled chicken skewers and soon Darina didn't want to leave the trailer anymore. She had her study things here and some clothes and only left the caravan when she had to go to college. That didn't seem to be a problem for Darion. Without ever having said it, they had become a couple, that was certain.