#were all safe on my lanyard I wear everywhere

[dragonatthedinnertable]

It's been a hell of a week.

I left the dentist in a painkiller stupor (4 shots on my bottom jaw!) and somewhere between there & getting off the bus I misplaced my wallet.

The bus lost-and-found dicked me around, and I don't think it's gonna turn up.

Not counting the cash, and replacing the physical wallet, that's gonna be like $100 to get new cards for everything.

Then my shaver head broke, so I've spent the whole weekend with an itchy face--hello dysphoria. I went to buy a replacement head today, and it was gonna be $70!!! A whole new shaver was only $100 (on discount), so I just got that.

On top of that, I've been dealing with depression, trying to cope with it with Map Men on yt and Dungeon Meshi. At least I got to play games yesterday with @siaanme & @avron and a friend from polytech. (And my mum, who shouted me lunch yesterday.)

[hughesysgirl28]

Luke Hughes~Fate pt3

Here’s part 3 to fate!🫶🏼

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I stood there in my room deciding on what to wear to the New Jersey Devils game with Nick since after that Luke and I were going out to get something to eat. “So either this.” I said pointing to the outfit with a pair of jeans, white shirt, and leather jacket. “Or this.” Pointing to the other outfit that had a different pair of jeans, a black shirt, and a New Jersey Devils hoodie. “My black converses go with either outfit.” I added on looking at Nick to decide for me. He inspected each outfit carefully then looked over to me. “I say the second option. You’re going on a date with Luke afterwards so why not show your support for the Devils?” Nick said holding up the Devils hoodie. “That outfit it is then. I’ll be down in about 30 minutes.” I told him and he nodded giving a thumbs up then left closing the door behind him. I changed into the outfit putting everything on. After changing into the outfit I put on some light makeup and brushed through my hair then headed downstairs once done. “Alright, let’s go so we can get there before puck drop.” I said to the boys grabbing the car keys and tossing them to Matt. After that we all got in buckling up then heading to the arena. As we were driving Matt opened up the sun roof so I stuck my arm up looking up as my hair was blowing everywhere and took a picture for instagram.

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Liked by lhughes_06, njdevils, nhl, and 367,938 others

yn_diangelo: Devils game here I come‼️

Tagged: njdevils and prucenter

lhughes_06 be ready for after pretty girl

| yn_diangelo already am ready ragazzo carino:)

| user20 OMG WHAT?!

jackhughes Luke won’t shut up about you again

Liked by yn_diangelo

User7 IS NO ONE GONNA TALK ABOUT WHAT LUKE AND YN WAS SAYING?! OR WHAT JACK SAID??

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I smiled reading Luke’s comment and laughing at everyone freaking out over our interaction in the comments as we got out the car after arriving at the arena. We all walked to it and walking in we got stopped? I don’t know why. “Are you Y/n Di Angelo?” The security guard asked. “Yes…” I said hesitantly while also confused. “This is for you. From Luke.” He said whispering Luke’s name while handing me a lanyard with a card on it. I looked at it and it was a pass to go back to where the teams arrived and everything. That’s why he we got stopped. I turned around to the triplets. “Go find our seats. Please? I’ll be back after.” I said and they just chuckled. “Go get your lover boy.” Chris said patting my back and I smiled then the security guard who gave me the pass led me to where I’m assuming Luke would be. It took a few minutes but we got there to an empty room and after the security guard left I was greeted with a hug from Luke. I hugged him back quickly sinking into his hold. His arms were around my waist with his hands rested on the small of my back. “Did you like the surprise?” He asked as we pulled out of the hug but his hands gripping my waist gently. Something about his hold made me feel… safe. In a way. Despite most of his hockey gear being on already. “I love it.” I smiled up at him. “I’ll come and get you from your seat after the game, yeah?” He asked and I nodded. He leaned his forehead against mine. “Puck drop is gonna start soon. You better go ragazzo carino.” I said with a grin. He grinned back stepping a step backwards. “What does ragazzo carino mean?” He asked and I gave a soft laugh. “Figure it out Lukey. I’ll cheer for you from the seats.” I told him with a smile which he returned then headed to my seat next to the triplets.

Luke’s POV

I smiled at the girl walking out shaking my head. We had just met the other day and I already liked her. After I didn’t see her anymore I left back to the locker room and put my gloves on. I wish she would tell me what ragazzo carino meant. I know it’s Italian. Well I’m assuming it is because she’s part Italian. Wait. Nico would know. “Hey, Nico?” I asked looking over to the Captain who was getting ready for the game. “Yeah?” He asked looking up. “What does ragazzo carino mean? Y/n the girl me and Jack bumped into keeps calling me that.” I asked grabbing my hockey stick. Nico chuckled shaking his head. “The girl has been calling you pretty boy in Italian.” He said and I instantly got red in the face. “Nice to know.” I whisper trailing off.

Back to Y/n’s pov

I had gotten to my seat and the boys shockingly didn’t question what happened. I was kind of relieved in a way. Soon enough the game came and gone. The Devils winning again 6-2. Luke even scored two of the goals. “Luke’s coming to get me from the seats here. You guys can go ahead and go home now.” I told them as everybody started piling out the seats not paying attention to our conversation, thank god. “Ah, no.” Chris said shaking his finger no. “Why?” I asked confused. “We have to make sure nothing bad happens to you tonight while with him.” Matt told me and I groaned dropping my head back. “Really?” I asked bringing my head back up. “Yes. Really.” Nick said as the boys all gave me a joking look. During our conversation I hadn’t realized about everyone was out by now. Luke was also heading our way now. I stood up once I saw him and smiled. He was in a normal outfit now. A New Jersey Devils hoodie and black sweatpants with shoes obviously. “Y/n-” he said but was interrupted by the triplets standing up right in between us. “Uhhh.” He said confused backing up a step and I rolled my eyes. “You better not hurt her.” Nick said crossing his arms while the other two did the same. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Luke said still confused. “If you so happen to by any chance.” Chris threatened. “You will know extreme pain.” Matt added onto the threat. I stood there mouth dropped at them three boys in front of me. I snapped out of it and walked in front of of them then turned to the side so I could introduce all of them. “Ignore their threats. But, Luke, this is Matt, Nick, and Chris Sturniolo. My best friends.” I said pointing to each triplet when I said their names. “Boys as you know this is Luke.” I said gesturing to Luke. “It’s uh.. nice to meet you three. I promise I won’t hurt her ever.” Luke said with a small smile. “Good.” The three of them said. After introducing them all the triplets left and now it was just me and Luke there. “So, what did you think of that?” I asked Luke nervously as we started walking towards the exit of the arena. “They were interesting. Protective of you. But that’s what best friends are for.” Luke said with a smile as we got outside and he led me to his car. He put his arm around me and I did the same. We smiled to each other and chuckled as we continued our walk. Eventually we got to his car and he let go of me opening the door for me. I smiled getting in and buckling up then he shut the door and got in himself and buckled. “So where are we headed to?” I asked him looking over to him as he started the car pulling out of the parking lot and driving onto the road. “A cafe. I figured you’d like it from what I’ve seen on your instagram.” He said and I blushed looking down at my lap realizing he went through my instagram feed to see all of the times I posted about myself going to a cafe. He turned the radio up and Sweater Weather by the Neighbourhood came on. “Ooo. I love this song!” I beamed looking at the radio as the song played. “You’re cute.” He muttered smiling while focusing on the road. I smirked and leaned back in the seat finally then he held my hand with his. I blushed somehow more than I did earlier. I hummed along with the song as we arrived to the cafe. Luke parked then got out running over to the other side and opening the door for me before I even could unbuckle. “Such a gentleman.” I said with a chuckle unbuckling and getting out. “For you? Always.” Luke said shutting the car door and we walked into the cafe hand in hand. When we got in there we ordered our stuff. “A cinnamon coffee and a slice of red velvet cake please.” I said to the cashier. “I’ll have the same thing as her.” Luke said while taking out his wallet. “I pay for the next date.” I whisper to him and he nodded smirking. “Sure thing.” He said as he handed the cashier his card and payed. The cashier gave back his card and then we went and waited in a booth for our coffees and slices of cake. “So, what’s it like being a famous nhl player?” I asked him leaning forward resting my chin in my hands and Luke did the same.

“It’s hard at times but it’s also eventful and I’m grateful for it and all the opportunities I get because of it.” He said while keeping eye contact. Looking at them now genuinely his eyes are so pretty. I could honestly stare at them forever. I quickly shake the thought from my head as our coffees and cake slices come. “Here’s the coffees and cake slices for the lovely couple.” The waitress said and I almost froze. Yes we were on a date but we weren’t a couple. Yet, hopefully. “Thank you.” Luke said then I also said thank you. I dug into my cake enjoying every bit of it. “Do you eat red velvet cake much?” Luke asks and I swallow the piece I was chewing to answer. “It’s my favorite type of cake.” I said then took a sip of my coffee. “Noted.” Luke said then started eating his cake. We finished the cakes quickly and when we left decided to take our coffees with us. When Luke got back to my house we had already finished our coffees and he said he’d throw them away at his apartment when he got back so I wasn’t too worried about it. We walked up to my front porch and stood in front of the door like in some cheesy romance. “I enjoyed tonight a lot, Luke.” I said as he wrapped his arms around me and I did the same with him. Our foreheads and noses touched with our lips almost grazing. “Good. Can I kiss you?” He asks in a whisper. “Yeah.” I smile then he kisses me. I kiss him back and it’s a gentle and soft kiss. We pulled apart and was about to kiss again when we got interrupted. “Rootin rootin get to shootin.” Chris said opening the front door and I about died. Out of laughter and embarrassment. “Christopher Sturniolo!” I jokingly yelled while red in the face and Luke just laughed. “I’ll see you soon, pretty girl.” Luke said giving me a quick hug which I returned. “Hopefully real soon, ragazzo carino.” I said as Chris still stood at the door but I ignored it. I gave Luke one last smile then went inside the house in front of Chris. Chris closed the door behind us and I saw Matt and Nick sitting on the couch. “So what happened?” Nick asked and I plopped down on the couch. “It was great.” I said and explained everything that happened. Whatever was going to happen with me and Luke I was ready for it.

A/n: that was longer than usual😭 I lowkey enjoyed writing that alotttt also the end part with Chris saying that rootin tootin get to shootin came at the absolute most random time

[the-cosmic-ghost-18]

Green Dress - Chapter 13 of Bacon Bits A William "Ironhead" Miller Fic

Pairing: Will “Ironhead” Miller x F!Reader

Notes – Two chapters in two days I really am feeding you guys. We have everything in this one. Soft Will, Protective Will, Jealous Will and more. Enjoy. It's also mainly from Will perspective.

Warnings - Smut, unprotected PiV (wrap in before you smash it silly)

Wordcount - 3.3K

Masterlist

It was Benny’s fight night. Will and Benny had gone to the venue early to prep Benny for the fight. So, I was at the house getting ready. I was trying to choose between two dresses. I was holding them up to the full body mirror in the room.

“Wear the green one.” Turning I saw Santi stood at the door. He was wearing a fitted shirt and jeans. “He likes that colour. We are leaving in about 20 minutes.”

With that confirmation I needed, so I slipped the emerald, green knee-length dress over my head. Checking my makeup, I put one last layer of lipstick on. Forgoing a bra due to the thin straps I grabbed a jacket and went downstairs. Looking around the only person I could see was Santi. He looked up from his phone and motioned for me to twirl. So, I did.

“Will is a lucky man.” He said.

“Santi keep your voice down. Frankie and Lindsey don’t know yet.” I said while walking over to him.

“Trust me they are a bit preoccupied to hear what I just said.” He said while pointing to the small downstairs bathroom. I could hear the faint sound of moaning and slapping skin. Well, they took wanting to have a baby very seriously. Before we knew it we heard a groan and some mumbling. Then the door open. Frankie came out first. He was rearranging his hat on the top of his head. His shirt collar was also sticking up. Lindsey follower. She was rearranging her shirt and hair. They both hadn’t realised we were there. That was until Santi coughed. They both looked up and went bright red. Me and Santi on the other hand tried not to laugh. Frankie shrugged it off and went out to start the car with Santi trailing behind.

“You are really taking baby-making seriously.” I said while helping Lindsey fix her hair.

“Well, I am ovulating.” She said with a laugh. She grabbed my hand and started to walk to the front door. “Come on before Frankie starts to moan about us being late.”

Jumping in the back of the truck Frankie set off. It didn’t take us long to get there. The car part was heaving. Cars and people everywhere. Luckily on one had parked next to the Miller’s truck. Pulling in Frankie parked the truck and we all pilled out. Santi passed out some lanyards with access passes for the event. Getting inside I and Lindsey made our way to the seats while Santi and Frankie got us some drinks. It was busy. You couldn’t even hear yourself think. Grabbing my phone out of my jacket pocket I text Will.

At the venue

Will and Benny were sat in one of the locker rooms. Will was wrapping up Benny’s hands ready for the fight.

“When I tell you, Will. Emily. She is amazing.” Benny said. He looked happy talking about her. They had been seeing each other regularly for about a month or so now. And that was long for Benny. Will was happy for him. “She has a sister you know.”

“Benny, will you stop trying to set me up with people.” Will said while grabbing the next wrap for Benny’s hand.

“Come on Will, when was the last time you got laid.” Will knew exactly the last time. He kept replaying it in his head. The two of you hadn’t done it since that night but had slept in the same bed. This morning he woke up to you laying on his chest. He had woken up before you had and just admire your sleeping form. So calm. So peaceful. Your skin was so soft. And you always smelled amazing. He loved the little noise you made when you finally woke up and stretched. How you always seek out warmth. Even if it meant your cold feet rubbing up against his legs. He didn’t mind it though as long as you were comfy and safe.

“Will.” Benny said. This pulled Will out of his trance. Looking down he saw that he had wrapped Benny’s hand wrong. Unwrapping it he looked up to see his brother looking at him confused. “What’s got you distracted?”

“Nothing.” Will said back quickly. He continued to rewrap his hands. Benny wasn’t having any of it.

“It’s Y/N isn’t it.” Benny said. Will stopped wrapping Benny’s hand. “It is.”

Sitting up Will looked at his brother. He knew Benny wasn’t stupid. When he first met you Will had said some things off-hand about you. Benny had a huge grin on his face.

“Come on tell me you finally got the guts to do something.” He asked. Will kept his mouth shut. Getting up to put the rest of the stuff back in the gym bag. “You can try and ignore me Will but I know you.”

Benny got up to stand against one of the lockers next to Will. Will tried not to look at Benny but couldn’t help himself. He knew he couldn’t lie to him, but he could miss out on some info. Like the fact that you and he had already slept together.

“I don’t want to lose her Benny.” Will said while moving to sit on the bench. “She deserves someone who’s not fucked up in the head.”

“For starters, you won't lose her. And second, she doesn’t care about that.” Benny said while moving to sit next to his older brother.

“And how would you know that,” Will said.

“The weekend we all went to the beach. She came up and help you after you had an episode. She cares about you, Will. Who did she go to when that shitbag showed up?” Benny asked. Will didn’t answer he just looked up at his baby brother. And that was all the confirmation Benny needed. He waited for a few moments before continuing.

“She trusts you, Will. She went to you when she needs someone. That must tell you something. Just please get the guts to do something before someone else does.” Benny said while getting up. “Now come on I have a fight to win.”

With that, the Miller brother made their way to the front. Will could hear the music blaring through the doors. The people cheering and the current fight finishes up. Will felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Taking it out he saw a text from you saying good luck. There was also a text from Santi him that you guys were here. What he didn’t see was Benny looking over his shoulder, he saw Will background. Before Benny could say anything, the announcer calls his name.

Walking out Will followed behind Benny. He searched the room till he meets your eyes. He looked down to see what you were wearing. You had a green dress on. The one he saw on your bed before he left. Green was one of his favourite colours. Well, any colour on you was his favourite. Looking back to your eyes he saw a large smile on your face. Before he could do anything, he watched you turn to talk to Lindsey.

Will looked over at Benny who was now jumping about in the ring. At this point, Will needed to concentrate. So, he avoided looking over at you. He knew if he looked over again, he would get distracted. So he watched Benny like a hawk.

“Come on Benny.” Will heard from across the room. It was you. Stood on your feet cheering Benny on. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face. Every day he found something about you that made his stomach do somersaults.

Will turned his head back when the bell rang out and chaos ensued. Benny was quick when he was in the ring. Most of his fights never went longer than one round. Will watched as his little brother throw a great left hock which knocks the man back. The man then ran forwards and hit Benny on his face. It throws Benny to the ground. Will jumped up.

“Benny get up.” He shouted to his brother who hands started to move back up. “Come on Benny.”

That was all he needed. Benny got back up. He stubble on his feet before he steadied himself. Before he could get another punch in the bell rang out. Will jumped into the ring. Sitting Benny on a stool he started to clean up the blood. He looked into Benny's eyes to check he was still with it. Leaning down to grab a towel he saw you. You were stood on your tiptoes to hand Will the clean towel. You looked concerned for Benny.

“Thanks.” He said taking it from your hands. The ref called for everyone out of the ring so Will jumped out. He stood next to you. He could smell your perfume. Vanilla. He could smell the coconut of your shampoo. He loved the way you smelled. You had given him back one of his sweatshirts recently and it still smelled like you. He can’t remember if he washed it before he wore it again.

Pulled out of that thought he heard the second-round bell went off. With that Benny did his thing. Within seconds the opponent is on the mat. Benny had thrown a nasty left hook. The room exploded with shouting and cheering. Will was surprised when you jumped up into Will and gave him a huge hug. He moved his head to smell your hair. God, he loved that smell. He dropped you as the announcer announced Benny as the Winner.

He watched you climb into the ring and pull Benny into a big hug. He watched as Benny pick you up and spun you around in the ring. Benny put you down and jumped out of the ring with you. Will looked at his brother who had a big gash on his eyebrow, a cut lip and the beginning of a bruise on his eye.

“Come on Benny let's get you cleaned up.” Will took his brother's arm and swung in over his shoulders. He watched as you grabbed the gear Will had set ringside. The three of you walked through the big double door and down the hall to the locker room. As they opened the door they were meet with everyone. They must have made their way to the room as soon as the fight was over.

“That was one hell of a fight Benny.” Santi said while giving him a slap on the back. Will kept trying to get Benny to sit down. He really needed to dress the cut on his eyebrow. Looking around he tried to find some clean water. Will noticed your moved to the bottle on the bench. It was empty.

“I’ll go and get some.” He watched you walk out of the room. Getting back to Benny he did what he could till you got back with the water.

After a while, you hadn’t gotten back so he went out to check on you. As he walked down the hall, he heard you laughing. As turned the corner he saw you chatting with one of the fighters who won a fight earlier in the night. You were both stood by a water station. The other guy kept putting his hand on your arm. He then used his hand to move a piece of hair from your face. With that Will stormed over.

“You okay dude?” the man asked as you turned to see Will. Will had a look of jealousy in his eyes.

“No. Not really.” Will said in his commanding voice.

“Well, I am in the middle of talking to his pretty girl so why don’t you keep walking.” The fighter said. Will moved his hand to rest on your hip. He pulled you closer to him till your back was flush with his chest. His hands which were on your hip moved to rest on your belly. You could feel his heart rate pick up, but his breathing stayed steady.

“How about this. Why don’t take your hands off my girl and walk away.” Will said with an emphasized-on, my girl. You both watched as the man walks off. Probably the best choice for the man. Will stood head and shoulders over him. Before you could do anything Will pulls you into one of the locker rooms and locked the door. You stepped back till your back was pressed into one of the lockers.

“I didn’t take you for the jealous type.” You said. Will on the other hand walk up to you. Like a predator stalking his prey. He towered over you as he stood in front. Next thing you knew he was on you. It was rough and quick. Sloppy is probably the best way to describe it. His hands were all over you. He used his weight to push you against the lockers. Breaking away he moved to kiss your jaw.

“I only get jealous when people touch my girl.” He moved his hand to the side of your thighs and lifted the hem of your dress. His hands finally reached your arse. Will let out a groan when he didn’t feel any fabric covering you. He tapped at your arse which signalled you to jump. You wrapped your legs around his waist. He moved to kiss your neck and down to your chest. He took one of the hands that were holding your arse and tugged at the strap on your shoulder. This freed one of your breasts. Which Will took in his mouth. He could feel you grinding yourself on his now painfully hard cock.

“You want this?” Will asked between kisses. You nodded. But Will didn’t take that for an answer. He stopped kissing you, causing you to whine. He looked your right in the eyes. “What did I tell you about using your words baby?”

“Yes, Will. I want this.” Quickly Will moved his free hand to unzip his jeans and pull his cock out. Normally he would have made you cum a few times before he even got to this part but right now he just needed to be in you. He quickly bottomed out in you. This cause both of you to moan and groan.

“Move Will.” You moan out. With that Will set a brutal pace. The sound of skin slapping echoed in the locker room. Will had his head buried in your neck trying to keep quiet. You had one hand tugging in his hair the other rubbing at your clit. Will knew you were close. He could feel you clenching around him. Your breathing had picked up. He was also close. You were so warm and tight.

“Come on Baby,” Will said through gritted teeth. “Come for me baby.”

With that Will felt you lock your legs over his back and shake. You moan out his name like a prayer as you came. Will wasn’t far behind. He pushed himself a deep as he could as he felt the coil in his abdomen snap. He held on to you as he buried his face in your hair. Will pulled himself from your neck and looked at you in your blissed-out state. He could feel his cum leaking out of you as he started to soften in you.

“Shit.” He said. He looked up at the point where the two fo you meet. “I forgot to put a condom on.”

“It's okay.” You said while moving your arms around his neck. “You’re lucky I have an IUD and I’m clean.”

Will chuckled at that. He slowly dropped you onto your feet. He looked around and saw some paper towels by one of the sinks. He walked over and got one. Damping it he came back and pulled up your dress. He whipped away any remnants of himself on you. Throwing the paper towel in the bin he helps you readjust your dress and hair.

“I’m going to go to the toilet. You should get back and patch up your brother before anyone gets suspicious.” You said before getting on your tiptoes and kissing him on the lips. Will moved his hand to envelop your face. Pulling away he looked down at you. God, he thought, how did he get so lucky. “I will meet you guys by the cars.”

With that Will watched you walk out of the room. Getting up with a little extra spring in his step he got back to Benny’s room and finished patching him up. They packed up and made their way out of the room. As Will started to walk out Santi stopped him. He took one of the wipes in Will’s bag and moved Will shirt to the side. He whipped at the part of Will’s neck where his shoulder meets his neck.

“If the two of you want to keep this a secret.” Santi held up the wipe. It had your lipstick on it. “You need to be more careful.”

Will stood in the room. He walked over to the mirror and check. Where Santi had rubbed the lipstick off a small purple mark was forming. He did up the buttons on his shirt to try and hid it. Opening the door, he made his way out to the trucks. He saw you chatting with Lindsey. Benny has sat in the truck already. Benny was getting to the point where his energy was going to crash and get cranky.

So, they all piled into the trucks and made their way back to the house. Will kept the radio off as they drove. Benny was nodding off while you had started to yawn. See that Benny had closed his eyes Will moves his free arm to rest on your shoulders. This allowed you to rest your head on his shoulder. You started to nod off just as Will pulled into the driveway. Benny stirred and got out leaving the two of you in the truck.

“I’ll leave my room unlocked tonight.” Sliding out you stood with the door open. “Use that info as you will. Goodnight.”

Will watched you made your way into the house. He was the last one to go through the front door. He made sure to lock the front door. He slowly walked up the stairs and walked into his room. He peeled of his boots and clothes. Looking at the door Will debated going into your room. He turned to his draw and pulled out a shirt and some sleep shorts. Laying in the bed he looked up to the ceiling.

“Fuck it.” Will jumped up and out of his room. The room you were in was only one down. He slowly opened the door. You had left it unlocked. Looking in he saw you fast asleep on the bed. You were in one of his sweatshirts and a pair of underwear. He quietly shut the door and locked it. Tiptoeing he gently got into the bed. Pulling the blanket off he shuffled till his chest was against your back. He watched you shift until you got comfy again. He pulled the blanket over the two of you as he knew you would get cold in the night. He moved his arm to rest over your side while his other was under your head. He buried his face in your hair. He loved the smell of your hair.

“Goodnight Will.” You said in a quiet voice. Soft even. He felt you hug at his arm which was resting against your chest.

“Goodnight baby.” Will said before falling asleep quicker than he has done in a long time. He could get used to falling asleep next to you.

Taglist -

@aimee-wildner @my-name-is-alice-ayers @whiskeymeaway92

[prof-peach]

Forgive me for asking another question but you mentioned a core 10. Are they your main pokemon you keep around to help maintain the island?

My core team are are allocated specific tasks, I’ve trained them over many years to perfect their skills, and excel in areas they show interest in.

First up, Valka, vulpix, my quiet, stealthy shadow. She’s got eyes everywhere, networking with many other Pokemon to get a clear picture of events that go on around the island. She is incredibly strong now, being 27 years, older than me, and when we get Pokemon in without pokeballs, her telekinetic abilities are how we move large bodies about without moving any damaged limbs or areas. This is especially true with spinal injuries. She also commands a lot of respect amongst new comers, exerting pressure in the atmosphere to put aggressive Pokemon in a more submissive state of mind.

Booker is the muscle, a teddiursa with no limits. He has in every sense gone above and beyond everyone’s expectations, mine included. He organises the island patrol squads, and occasionally will oversee sports days, though begrudgingly. The patrol squads are teams of 4 Pokemon that keep an eye out for goons trying to poach rare species, and generally protect the visitors from any danger, and maintain island order. He makes sure each squad is evenly balnced and can see potential where others may not. He is a very loyal, very grumpy, very sweet boy.

Minerva the lopunny is the queen bee so to speak, she clashes with Booker as she’s very showy and flamboyant. She uses her feminine appearance to deceive any obnoxiously aggressive Pokemon and fights with me and my team to maintain order and balance in the grounds. She is also a handful, and can be seen slacking off a lot to sunbathe or eat snacks. She probably the least reliable of the bunch but comes through when it truly matters. She’ll happily run errands, likes to stroll about keeping an eye on things.

Quintin the scizor is my go to guy when I need to clear forest for new trees, or handle damages during storms. He’s got a green...thumb? Claw? So he helps me maintain the grounds, growing many species along side me, making sure everything’s watered and healthy while I’m away. He is the leafy heart of the island, and will jump at the chance to do some gardening, despite his bug-type nature. Very charming, very polite.

Summer a ‘summer skies’ variant of a Meganium, with double petals and a pastel purple and white color to them. She’s very sweet, and matronly, looking after little ones with a soothing presence. She is great with guests and uses her abilities to help those who come in with severe injury. Her smells can help those recovering from injury of the mind and body. You can often find her walking between the greenhouses, caring for those inside, and making sure visitors are safe and not too close to anything too dangerous.

Potato an old bulbasaur, unevolved but very durable. He helps Summer out a lot, but has a much more prominent irritability. He takes on stroppy young Pokemon to train them in battle, enjoying the challenge of difficult students, having been one himself. He will offer guests help should they need it.

Apollo a noctowl with people skills and comedic timing. He’s the islands messenger, running notes about the place, and bringin in deliveries and mail from johtos mainland. He is a very strong flier and certainly fast.

Dutch a polygon-z with a nack for technology. Being given a patch disc, he is stable and relativly glitch-free. He helps peach with the island technology as she is terribly impatient with computers, and seems to fry anything that is within range fro unknown reasons. She chalks it up to bad luck. Dutch is key to anyone finding anything in the chaos that is their labs filing system, and usually has good memory for where items were last found.

Iggy an Eglyem, he started off as quite the trouble maker, erasing people’s memories, and trapping people in otherworldly states of existence. I decided to investigate when one of my own team members went missing, having been taken by him. He is who I go to when I dust the ol’ ranger badge off and go out to bust some dumbass crime circle up. He helps me trap humans and see the intentions of people and Pokemon within range. A clever little thing for sure. On the island he’s happy to be left with a number of species, though he’s happier with the bigger ones, sitting atop shoulders for good views of the groups below. Since we bonded his trickery has become more controlled.

Donut my mount, a stantler whos size and strength is huge, the leader of the herd we have on the island, who oversees the woodland areas, and helps me get places fast. He’s gentle and will enjoy any scratches given out. If he likes you, the rest of the herd will too. Can scale almost vertical mountain sides without trouble, potentially got a little gogoat DNA in him, but i]he looks pretty ordinary bar the larger horns. Good jumper.

These are the core 10, but there’s odd little ones who help out all around the place. Everyone who works at the labs has a team, and has been on adventures of their own, gaining friends and family. You can identify one of these helper Pokemon by the lanyard they wear, and they’ve all received enough training to aid any visitor with issues, apart from Iggy, who is still naughty.

[unexpectedreylo]

The Straight Dope On Galaxy’s Edge

I went to Disneyland Aug. 7-10 for my birthday because where else would I rather be than in the GFFA?  

It’s amazing!  It’s like a Ralph McQuarrie painting come to life.  Even though it is “set” during the ST, it tries to have a little bit of something for every Star Wars fan.  And maybe even for your friends and family who aren’t into it as much as you are.

Don’t believe the hype that it’s not doing well.  Disneyland has had annual passholder blackout dates to keep attendance below crazy levels and while overall attendance is down 3% (probably due to fears of massive crowds as well as higher ticket prices),  I can safely tell you that there was a great deal of interest in Galaxy’s Edge by attendees.  On Thursday and Saturday, everyone made a beeline for it just as the park opened in the morning.  I was doing the Griswold family dash to Wally World myself, power walking the best my middle aged/out-of-shape self could as kids and teenagers went past me.  Requiring reservations for Oga’s Cantina and Savi’s Workshop (where you build the lightsabers) prevented hellacious hours-long lines for those attractions.  Smuggler’s Run has had waits as long as three hours over the course of the summer.  It reached its 1 millionth rider in mid-July.  On Thursday, the longest I wait I saw was 80 or 90 minutes and that was on a weekday blackout date.  The section of the park was busy both Thursday and Saturday mornings.  For what it’s worth, it seemed like half the people at Disneyland overall had some kind of Star Wars t-shirt on.  It was like a Celebration with rides.

Attendance isn’t the only metric.  What really matters is whether people are spending money there and I can vouch that people were buying.  The lightsabers are $200 a pop alone.  There were merchandise I wanted to get but weren’t available, such as the japor snippet necklace and the Rey vest (sizes XS-L were sold out).  White kyber crystals are still sold out.  I saw signs everywhere limiting certain items to one per person.  People were packing the cantina and all of them got drinks.  Ronto’s Roasters did pretty steady business.

Just bear in mind that parks play the long game and it probably serves Disney’s long term interests to allow paying attendees and not just local APs the chance to experience Galaxy’s Edge.  Hell crowds would just make people angry they spent all of that money and couldn’t see or do a thing.

Now, here’s where I’m going to dish some advice to those of you who are planning to go either to the one in Anaheim or at WDW.  The WDW version is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so some of this won’t apply to the Mouse House East but I think a lot of it will.

Tip #1--Your best bet is on a weekday, first thing in the morning as the park opens.  If it’s an AP blackout date, that’s even better.  Remember, Disney is like con...you don’t come to sleep.

Tip #2--Stay at a Disney hotel to take advantage of Magic Hour.  I know, I know, they’re $$$ while there are many cheaper alternatives but if you really want to beat the crowds this is the way to do it.  Galaxy’s Edge will not be accessible during Magic Hour (at DL it’s just Fantasyland that’s open) but you can start lining up at the ropes in front of Frontierland and Adventureland.  While GE at DL has three entrances, they will send you the looong way through New Orleans Square and Critter Country when the park fully opens.  If you’re at WDW, stay at the Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, or Pop Century resorts...they’re the ones closest to Hollywood Studios though you’ll still have to take the Disney bus to get there.  (The Swan and the Dolphin are on Disney property but are NOT Disney resort hotels, so no Magic Hour.)  

Another perk to staying at a Disney hotel now is that as part of our travel package we all got free exclusive Galaxy’s Edge lanyards with a pin!

Tip #3--Ladies...I think with the exception of the First Order boutique and the cosplay items, I liked the a lot of t-shirts and stuff for kids more than the ones for adults!  So if you are on the small side, you might be able to fit in the bigger kids’ wear.  For instance I got a great Black Spire hoodie for $40 at Jewels of Bith...the adult hoodie was like 20 bucks more.  My mom liked it so much she got one for herself and my niece.  Note:  the merch you buy inside GE don’t say “Galaxy’s Edge” or have Star Wars logos.  If you want those, you’ll have to buy them in the regular Disney stores.

Tip #4--Oga’s Cantina.  Reservations are required so as soon as you plan your trip, go on the DL/WDW app and reserve right away.  I think now you can reserve up to 60 days in advance...if not, definitely 14 days in advance.  You are NOT guaranteed a seat.  You are given an area to hang out in (at the bar, at a table, or at a booth) and you are to remain there.  You can’t run and grab a booth for instance if a party leaves.  Your limit is 45 minutes and two drinks.  I will say though that service is fast (I guess most drinks are pre-mixed) and in our case, we didn’t even need to stay the entire 45 minutes.  I got the Cliff Dweller (I don’t drink) while my brother got whatever they call the beer and my dad got the teal-colored “white” wine.  My older niece got the blue milk with the Bantha cookie.  She gave rave reviews for both.  The younger niece got the stuff that came from the creature tank.  It sounds gross but she liked it.  There are no restrooms inside the cantina btw.  

Tip #5--Savi’s Workshop.  Again, reservations are required and they should be made as soon as possible.  The lightsabers are $199 and you pay when you check in.  The day I went they were running behind, so while my reservation was at 3:00, I didn’t actually get in the building until like 3:30.  The process takes about 20 minutes.  You are ushered into a shop and there’s a whole narrative and everything.  The “gatherers” have harvested scrap metal and kyber crystals and crafted lightsaber parts.  Based on the “theme” you selected at check in (stuff like “power and control” or “peace and justice”) you are given trays with parts to choose from and a crystal (blue, green, purple, or red).  Your guides are in character and sometimes it’s all earnest af, but then again so are the movies.  I found it surprisingly easy to put these together.  The “gatherers” put the blade in for you then you step forward, turn on the switch, and yay, you got a new lightsaber!  You get to wave them in the air and stuff.  On the way out you are given a free sheath bag to put it in.  If you don’t want to lug your new lightsaber on a plane or have to check it in, you can have it shipped home for $17 at the First Order boutique (though I don’t know if other stores will do it for you too).  

Tip #6--Smugglers’ Run.  The best time to go on the ride, since to date there are no fastpasses, is right when the park opens.  Thursday morning at 8:10 a.m. had the shortest wait, 15 minutes but I pretty much walked right onto the ride.  The next best option is going single rider, which is what my brother and I did the second time we went on it.  It was about half the regular wait time.  Have your camera ready to get that chess table photo op because you will get called right away for your “boarding group” (assigned with a color).  Two pilot, two shoot, two “engineer.”  The light up buttons make it easy to figure out what you have to do but accuracy is tough.  I piloted the first time, shot the second time.  The good news is I did not crash either time.  Which is miraculous.

Tip #7--Other food and drink.  Unfortunately I didn’t get the opportunity to eat at Docking Bay 7 or Ronto Rosters.  I’m told the breakfast wrap at Ronto Roasters is phenomenal.  Don’t expect typical Disney fare in Galaxy’s Edge; the closest it comes is the Star Wars popcorn.  No galactic churros or Mickey ice cream pops here.  In fact an in-character cast member and Chewbacca were really curious about our churros when we went into Galaxy’s Edge on Saturday.  My younger niece even tried to give Chewie a piece to try, LOL.  What you can get is blue milk and green milk.  We got one of each on Thursday to try.  Both were better than the notoriously sweet butterbeers at Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Tasty and refreshing on a hot day.  But I kinda think we all leaned more toward the blue milk.  In fact the nieces insisted on another round of blue milk when we returned on Saturday.  You can get the Aurebesh label soda and water at a variety of stands and at Docking Bay 7.  (Maybe Ronto Roasters too.)  They’re pricey but everything at Disney is 30-50% more expensive than they would be anywhere else.  And the Aurebesh bottles make for low cost souvenirs.

Tip #8--Characters.  Chewbacca and FO stormtroopers were around quite a bit.  I saw Vi Moradi twice and Kylo a couple of times (Chewie and Kylo get treated like rock stars), but I totally missed Rey.  My parents saw her though.  Characters here do NOT sign autographs, something my nieces found out the hard way when they tried to get them from stormtroopers.  LOL.

Tip #8--Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.  This is where you buy your holocrons and loose kyber crystals (only with purchase of a holocron).  They were still out of white crystals so I bought a red one.  When you put a red crystal in your Jedi holocron, Yoda warns you about the dark side.  Bonus:  the kyber crystals you buy here can be put in your lightsaber from Savi’s Workshop.  So if you buy both a holocron and a lightsaber, make sure you get a different color crystal for each so you can switch them around!  Here you’ll find a lot of Jedi cosplay, Leia cosplay, and the headdress Padme used in AOTC as part of her peasant disguise, among other goodies.  The stained glass portraits of Leia and Queen Amidala were stunning but they were kinda big and 95 bucks apiece.  They had a set of ceramic busts of everyone’s favorite mother-daughter duo for $55 but I didn’t feel like lugging those around at the time.  For older Star Wars fans, this is probably going to be your favorite store.

Tip #9--Other merchandise/shopping.  The First Order boutique is located right next to Kylo’s parked shuttle and across from the “milk” stand.  The Resistance has two carts at the entrance in front of the (unopened) Rise of the Resistance ride.  I kinda like that the underground Resistance is on the “outskirts” of the outpost while the conquering FO is right there in the center of town.  Makes sense for the narrative.  Savi’s and the store where you can build a droid (no reservation necessary...this was a hit with kids) are next to each other.  Everything else is in the marketplace in a series of smallish stalls.  Keep an eye out because nobody has signs.  (Note:  layout might be slightly different at WDW.)  

Tip #10--Wear a hat and sunscreen.  The marketplace is the only area in GE with shade.  The rest of it is out in the sun, so be prepared because in CA it’s easy to get a sunburn and in FL, it’s easier still.  Bring a rain poncho if you’re at WDW because of those hit and run thunderstorms.  

Tip #11-- You don’t have to be a passive tourist.  Some cast members get into it more than others but you’ll get more out of Galaxy’s Edge if you play along.  As Star Wars fans, you’ll get the lingo (for instance they do call kids “younglings” and talk about money as credits) so that’s no problem.  When you’re inside of Galaxy’s Edge you can go on the DL/WDW app and activate your “datapad” and scan stuff at various locations.  My brother did this with his phone while we were poking around and you can earn rankings and stuff within the different factions.

Overall I think what Galaxy’s Edge is now is just the beginning.  Rise of the Resistance opens this winter at both parks and from what I’ve heard, more attractions and shows are in the works.  Personally, I’d love a hair braiding station where you can get your hair done like Leia or Rey or Battle of Geonosis Padme since that’s probably her easiest style!  I want a Reylo night time show!  But it’s absolutely worth visiting as it is.  You can easily spend half the day or longer there, depending on how much you want to do.  Few Star Wars or Disney experiences will ever top entering Galaxy’s Edge, huffing and puffing from having to go up and down hills, hearing the music over the loudspeakers and the cast members and various characters coming out to wave hello to everyone.  Even the stormtroopers.  I felt like I’d just finished the Batuu 5K!  And then seeing everyone gawk at the Millennium Falcon in front of Smuggler’s Run.  

[marlahey]

we stumbled in the dark; i knew we’d be alright (part five)

a shawn mendes rpf fic rating/warnings: standard teen language; prepare for some feels. misc notes: if you suspect that ellie’s lanyard and dress are things that I personally own, you would not be wrong. ignore the weird timeline anyone who doesn’t think shawn is at least fifty percent hufflepuff can fight me.  fun fact: I could see basically all of cophenhagen from the moment I started this fic. please reblog and/or drop me an ask if you enjoy this; it’s one of my favourite parts :)  (previously; start at part one here)

copenhagen; now “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god–”  “El?”

You jerk your head up so quickly that you nearly bang your head on the underside of the bed. Shawn seems so much taller than usual from your half-sprawled position on the floor. You didn’t think that was possible.

You should be a little mortified probably: there are clothes and towels and bedsheets everywhere.  But Shawn has seen you first thing in the morning, with gunk still in your eyes. He’s seen you crampy and irritated; he’s also seen you so ill that the tour had to leave you behind. There’s something acutely liberating about being around someone who has seen you at almost all of your lowest moments. In theory, you can only go up.  You’re also almost crying, so the mess is secondary.  “Av wanted me to...” Shawn trails off, tilting his head down at you. You pull yourself into a sitting position. “What’s wrong?” You muster yourself up to tell a lie, but he catches it before the words can leave your mouth. “Tell me.” “My mom’s ring.” You worry the fingers of your naked left hand. “I just noticed it was gone, and I–” The tornado of the room is overwhelming, suddenly. “I can’t find it anywhere. I have no idea where it might have fallen off, like, what if–”  It feels like you might be sick. “What if I left it in Berlin?”  Shawn’s crouched down in front of you now. “No way. Have you asked Ava?” You shake your head. Shame crawls up your throat, hot and tight. “I can’t tell her I’ve lost it.” You stare at his boots. “We’re supposed to go out tonight to celebrate–” You can’t finish your sentence. Your breath shakes on the way out.  Shawn’s hands curl around your elbows. “C’mon El,” he murmurs, and you let him pull you gently to your feet so he can push you equally softly to sit on Ava’s bed. “Just hang on a second, okay?”  You’re too focused on breathing properly to refute him. The bed dips as Shawn drops down beside you, so close you’re pressed together from hip to shoulder. He leans into you, just a little; the pressure is grounding. Concentrating on him is pulling you out of your hysteria. “Hey Mike. You’re still at the arena right? Can you do me a huge favour?”  Ava’s still there too, working. You should have called her. You should get Shawn to stop; sound and engineering should not be hunting around for something that will be impossible to find in fifteen thousand seats. The crew doesn’t even know what it looks like. When you look up to inform Shawn of this, he’s still speaking. “–gold, with little pearls? Three. Yeah. Probably? Pablo was being weird so she...yeah. Yeah dude, call me back. You’re the best.” He hangs up. “You were wearing it this morning. It must still be there.” Shawn finally glances down at you. “You okay?” “How...” It takes a conscious effort not to gape like an idiot. “How do you know what my mom’s ring looks like?” Shawn makes a face, as though he can’t decide between smiling or being offended. He picks up your left hand and pulls it towards him; old calluses are rough on your skin as he thumbs over the tan line on your first finger. “It’s the only one you never take off.” It strikes you then, like it has alarmingly often in the past two and half weeks, that there could be something different here. You can feel it in the way your heart lurches in your chest, in the arguably absent sweep of Shawn’s fingers over yours that leave tiny sparks jumping beneath your skin.  There’s that little voice in your head again. You’ve been hearing it a lot lately.  Careful.  When you decided forever ago that it would be near impossible to ‘catch feelings’ for Shawn in the fleeting moments between and within tour stops, as you slowly but surely amassed what feels like an enormous secret box of knowledge about him, a somewhat foolish part of you had never accounted on him knowing you, too.  Or what that would mean, if anything.  So much for the break between albums making everything go back to normal. Although, the first single drop didn’t help.  We agreed that night goes under the heading ‘Never Talk About Again’  When you look at Shawn, it’s mostly to prove that you still can.  “It’s gonna be fine,” he says, and you’re weirdly grateful at your current crisis that likely masks how newly anxious you feel. His expression is of a familiar soft certainty; faced with it, you can feel yourself almost instinctively comforted. “They’re gonna find it.”  Buried somewhere on the other side of the room, your phone pings with an Instagram notification; the noise is so startling that you jump and grip at Shawn’s hand. His amusement is familiar too, but he doesn’t let go. If anything, he squeezes back.  “Shut up,” you mutter, taking the universe’s exit. You rise to dig your phone out from beneath your backpack and some makeup. When you find it, Shawn’s still sitting where you left him, not quite laughing. But he wants to. You can tell.   “I didn’t say anything.” You make a face at him. Your phone is another welcome distraction, although you still can’t stop rubbing at your hand where your ring should sit. Hannah’s posted a video. Your throat goes tight for another reason altogether as a wave of navy gowns crosses the football field. The traditional graduation processional song is tinny, but still audible through your speaker. You can make out Hannah; her huge curls are impossible to miss.  As a half-hearted effort, you sweep your bag and make up off the floor and attempt to straighten out the contents. You can feel Shawn’s eyes on you. He looks at though he wants to say something, but is interrupted by his own phone.  You don’t dare hope. But you can see the emotion in his face, there and gone like he wants to hide it from you.  “Mike, hey. You did? Fuck, that’s amazing.” Shawn’s grin and thumbs up sweep relief through you, a flash flood that leaves you a little weak in the knees. “Yeah, I’ll get her to– yeah. Mhmm. Yeah, see you soon. Thank you. You’re a rock star.”  You have to sit down in the armchair on the far side of the room. His footfalls are muffled on the carpeted floor. “Cam found it in the green room. You must have shaken it off when you were getting Pablo to work earlier.” Shawn crouches down again. Sometimes, you think, it seems impossible that he can fold himself in half so easily.  “Hey.” His swallow on your knee. That grounding little bit of pressure. He could probably wrap his fingers all the way around, if he wanted. You look up at him through your lashes. “It’s okay, El. They found it.” You can feel your lip wobbling; you have to clench your jaw to get it to stop. Shawn looks torn, like he wants to hug you, but if he does that now you’re definitely going to cry.  You promised yourself you wouldn’t cry today. As if he can sense your resolve, he doesn’t move.  “Paul’s here to get me,” Shawn says. His thumb traces a half circle just above the bend of your leg and it weirdly tickles a little. You’re not sure when you got so comfortable with him touching you, or how you never noticed how much he does it till now, or how both of those things can be true at once.  It’s a thought you have to put away for later.  “I’ll make up some excuse to get Ava to come down to the arena before you guys go out. We’ll get you the ring back before she can even notice it’s gone. Okay?” You just nod. Even though there’s now momentarily less than a year between you, you feel very young, inexplicably, with Shawn hovering over you; it’s like there’s an invisible safe place extending through the lines of his body bent close to yours, as though all you have to do is fold yourself into the spaces of him and everything will be alright.   Resisting the desire to give into it is becoming harder the longer you sit like this. Again, as though he knows, Shawn pulls away from you and stands up. He flexes his right hand a little, like it hurts, glancing at his phone as it pings. “I gotta go. I’ll see you tonight, okay?” “Shawn.” You jump to your feet when he reaches the door. It’s just Shawn, you think, berating yourself. You’re not scared of him. “Thank you. I uh, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” The vaguely odd look on his face from Spain returns. You flush a little. You want to bend beneath it but you refuse to. Shawn smiles. “You too, El.” 

tour prep; before “Uh oh,” Ava says. Shawn pulls his earbuds out to find you standing over him and the couch, fuming. “You’re in for it now.” Your sister barely looks up from her book. “That’s her offended face.”  He looks like he’s about to laugh. It only stokes the flame. You hold out your phone, paused on Shawn’s Hot Ones interview. He looks from it to you, before a dawning comprehension lights his eyes. “Hang on–” “I’m so appalled at you, Shawn Peter Raul Mendes.”  Shawn visibly winces; Ava actually barks a laugh and he shoots her a murderous glare before looking at you again. “Don’t start El,” he says, a little pleading. It doesn’t work. “I can’t believe you would disgrace Harry Potter like this.” You stab at your phone and everyone listens as Shawn’s voice says, “They just like mean nothing. Sorry to all the Harry Potter fans who are offended by that, but I could I care less about Hufflepuff.” “Cedric Diggory did not die for you to slander his house,” you say, pointing accusingly at him. You crack a smile, just so Shawn knows you’re not actually mortally wounded. He sits up from his horizontal lounge. “Neither did Tonks.”  Shawn reaches forward and yanks your lanyard from where it dangles out of your pocket. Your house, school gym locker, and arena office keys you keep for Ava jangle against the tiny clay mint chocolate chip ice cream cone that Hannah bought you last year. The burgundy fabric and gold house letters and stars swivel as he holds it up.  “Says the Gryffindor.” “I’ve sat through the full sorting quiz at least four times.” You go to take your keys back. Your fingers tangle beneath Shawn’s and there’s a mischievous glimmer in his eyes, as though he might actually play tug of war with you. But he doesn’t. “I’m only like ten percent more Gryffindor than Hufflepuff. But it still wins out, every time.” “I’m leaving,” Ava announces, and strides to the green room door. “You two dorks can battle it out. Just no duelling, okay?” “Way to abandon me!” Shawn calls after her. He fixes you with an amused grin. “Did you actually sit through a thirty minute video of me when we were sitting like four feet apart?” You’re almost immune to the blush now. “Hannah sent it. And don’t change the subject! You’re at least half a Hufflepuff and you don’t even know it.” He raises an eyebrow. You start ticking things off your fingers. “You’d rather hug people than fight, you tried to help James up after he was the worst skater I’ve ever seen–” Shawn snorts. His ears are slowly turning red, but you won’t stop. “You shake the hand of every person working every new arena we go to. You’re so loyal to your fans that you’re almost late to rehearsal all the time because you can’t stop taking pictures with them.” “You don’t think I’m brave?” He asks then, a challenge and a genuine question at the same time. This is probably one of the most ridiculous conversations you’ve ever had, but your battered copy of Deathly Hallows in your bag compels you try and get him to understand. Hannah and Ava indulge you, more than anything. But they don’t get it.  Shawn’s Carpool Karaoke had made you laugh so hard you cried. But you know that if he was willing to do the skit, if he was willing to show that to the world, then his love for these kids’ stories is just as big as yours. It’s stupid probably, that this is still such an important part of your life. But it is. “I’ve honestly never met anyone as brave as you.” The admission is out before you can temper it with a joke. His open surprise almost dries up the rest of your words inside your mouth. “I could never do what you do and put myself and my art out there. But that’s not...” You flick your eyes away, and then back.  “Not what?”  There’s so much more weight here now than you thought. “That’s not what I admire most about you.” It’s crazy what eight weeks of non-stop touring and almost nine months of intermittent covert contact with someone will do to your understanding of them. Shawn’s looking at you like it’s hard for him for the first time, as though he’s afraid of what you might say. Fondness twists inside you.  Well, this is happening. “You have a good heart, Shawn. It’s amazing how much you care about other people.” You’re definitely not immune to the blush anymore. “And that’s the most Hufflepuff anyone can be.”

You’ve never seen Shawn speechless before. It’s oddly satisfying. “El...” “Also,” you say in a rush, because this is all getting a little much, “I didn’t know you made such a great Dumbledore.” His laugh is so loud that Ava pokes her head back inside the room. Shawn looks at you and shakes his head a little, like he can’t quite believe you’re a real person. You should probably be embarrassed. But you feel warm instead. “You’re ridiculous.” You shrug. “As long as you don’t go around bad mouthing Hufflepuffs anymore. Badgers are vicious, you know.” Another head shake. “Whatever you say.”

copenhagen; now “Hey I’m back,” Ava says just as you nearly burn yourself with your flat iron. “You getting ready?” “Almost done,” you call from the bathroom. Wrangling your normally quite flat hair into something resembling a curl is normally a challenge you could do without, but this is a special occasion. Your sister meets your eyes in the mirror. You drop your left hand beneath the countertop. “What?” “Is that what you’re wearing?”  You look down at yourself. “What, you don’t like this dress? Did you buy it for me?”  Ava rolls her eyes. “Well yeah, but it hardly says, ‘I graduated from high school with honours with distinction and a half-point away from valedictorian.” “I didn’t pack it,” you tell her. You’ve been holding onto this secret for weeks. It’s a bit of a relief to confess to it. “The dress from Nashville. I didn’t want to just remind you of what we’re missing on this tour. It seemed silly to bring a dress we got for an event we’re not even going to.” Your sister makes a face, an almost annoyed affection. “You’re the weirdest kid ever.” Before you can reply, she disappears back into your room. You turn off your flat iron and contemplate your only three lipsticks.  “This one,” Ava says, picking up the mauve rose. “And put this on while I shower, will you?” She’s holding an armful of cream lace. Your ‘don’t cry’ mandate wavers for a second. “But–” “Remember the night before we left? I went through your closet looking for my sweater.” It’s your turn to roll your eyes. “I told you I didn’t have it!”  Your sister waves your objection away. “I saw you left this.” Ava reaches out and squeezes your shoulder. “Just because we’re not there doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, Lenny. You still accomplished something amazing. And this is what you should wear when we celebrate.” Don’t cry. Don’t cry.  You have to take four deep breaths in a row.  Your mascara holds.  * “I’m sorry about this,” she says as you step carefully out of the car in your heels. You shake your fingers a little through your hair; your wrist clinks and jangles. Despite your birthday ring on your right hand, Ava still hasn’t noticed what’s missing. “Sometimes I swear all these boys would be lost without me.” “It’s fine,” you assure her. “I want to see the final set up anyway. I never get to see the whole thing.” Because Shawn insists on using real flowers as much as possible, final touches are never made until the last minute, by which time you’re either sequestered in the green room or back at the hotel. Though, you like to set out the signs and green bags for compost as crowds leave the venue yourself. Andrew will take no chances; you care too much about the success of Shawn’s third world tour to even want to argue. You and Ava show your crew badges to a woman at the very back entrance, weaving your way through long concrete halls. It’s hard to decide if the fact that all these backstage spaces look the same is disturbing or comforting. Your sister waves at Paul, who has his walkie talkie to his mouth as he nods at you.  “Hey Paul, I got a message about some kind of emergency? Where’s Shawn?” “He’s down on the floor,” Paul says, pointing down the hall to the huge set of double doors. Her heels echo on the concrete. He turns to you. “Hello there, little one. I’m told a celebration’s in order?” You tuck hair back behind your ears. “I was supposed to graduate today. We’re just gonna go out instead.” Paul’s eyes are warm. You think about his own daughter, a twenty-one year old college student whose photos make the security agent smile more widely than you’ve ever seen. “Congratulations.” Your chest twinges through your smile, though you’re suddenly not even sure why. But then you remember why you’re here. Even with Ava safely out of earshot, you lower your voice a little. “Do you know where Cam is, Paul? He has something of mine that I really need back.” The man nods. “He’s up helping onstage. Here come on, I’ll walk you.” You glance down the hall where your sister has disappeared. “Don’t worry Ellie. We’ll make sure you two find each other.” So you follow. Hall, doorway, hall, doorway. You can see the stairs leading up onto the stage. You don’t know why you’re hesitating. It’s suddenly occurred to you that while the crew and the band have seen you at your worst, they’ve never seen you like this; waves in your hair, heels that stretch your legs, a dress that bares skin you’ve never shown anyone. It doesn’t matter, exactly. And yet... Shawn’s never seen you like this either.  You don’t know why the thought makes you so nervous.  “You look beautiful, by the way.” Paul says, as though he can read your mind. “I wouldn’t worry.” You flush. “Thank you. But I might need help on those stairs,” He just chuckles. “Please.” “Alright then.” From inside the arena you hear a distant shout. Light pours onto the stage. Paul holds out his hand; you squeeze a little harder than is probably necessary but he doesn’t seem to mind.  The smell of roses invades everything else. You have to blink against the brightness, until tall figures take shape across the stage floor and you can finally see it. “Wow.” Garlands of roses dangle from the steel ring electric above the stage; white forget-me-nots and vines twist around the speakers; the entire back panel that reaches up towards the screens is covered in blossoms and dotted with lights; petals – pink, white, red – are strewn all over the floor. The piano on B stage is open and exploding with even more flowers.  “Wow is right.” Brian, leaning a little on his mic stand, nods at you. Geoff is grinning. “I told you we were underdressed.” Your face heats immediately. “Underdressed for what?” Acoustic guitar reaches your ears. “Is that–” You let out a disbelieving laugh. “Is that Pomp and Circumstance?” Something lands on your head and dangles in your field of vision. You tug; a blue graduation cap falls into your stunned hands.  “Welcome everyone,” says a voice. Mike stands at the top centre of the stage. A single rose snakes to the top of Shawn’s stand. “to a very special pre-show.” Now that you’re actually onstage looking out, almost the entire technical crew is assembled on the floor. Ava leans against the barrier. She looks just as surprised as you. A spotlight bursts to life; you stare down at the circle edge at your feet. It’s so warm beneath the glare; you look up towards the hotspot and shield your eyes. “Is this really necessary, Kristen?” you shout.   “Put the cap on, graduate!” calls the voice of the lighting tech from somewhere above. Someone else hoots from the floor; applause fills the arena and suddenly your knees are shaking. Paul reappears at your shoulder, plucking the cap from your hands. He places it very gently on your head again, winding the tassel so it swings in and out of view of your right eye.  Paul steers you further downstage, closer to the edge. Mike is holding a scroll of paper tied with a blue ribbon, and on the far side, you finally see Shawn, plucking away at the processional song on his guitar. You could be misreading the look on his face, one that catches your breath in your throat, but there is no mistaking the awkward twang as his hand slips.  Geoff and Brian laugh. Shawn doesn’t seem to notice. “Ladies and Gentlemen,” says Mike with a grin once the bad final note fades, “Please welcome the Shawn Mendes Tour class of 2019, Eleanor May Sinclair.”  You haven’t heard your full name in so long. You’re frozen, until heavy hands land on your shoulders. “Go on, little one.” Paul leans his head close to yours. “If you don’t make it all the way across, all the kid’s planning’ll have been for nothing.” A certain, secret wall in your heart caves in. The magnet of Shawn’s gaze pulls you forward. Emotion you don’t even fully understand stirs in your chest, which becomes a genuine pain when you reach Mike and he hands you the scroll of paper. “I know that your parents would have loved to see you take this walk, Ellie. But we just want you to know that you are very much part of our family.” You chance a look out to the floor. Ava is crying; you have to turn back to the sound engineer. His gaze is so tender and you remember abruptly that he has kids, too. “We love you. And we’re so proud of you.” Mike’s hands squeeze yours. Your mom’s ring presses into your palm. You can’t speak so your mouth forms a silent thank you. He nods. “Congratulations.” Wrapping both hands around the underside of your fake diploma, you slide it onto your finger. Only when it’s back can you find the courage to look across the stage again. You think about how this moment, this rite of passage, has scared you for almost as long as you’ve been working towards it, because even though Ava is the best sister you could ever ask for, she knows that there is a hole in your heart that will never be filled. You look at Shawn now and it’s like he knows too, still. You flash back to earlier in the hotel room, to how you’d dangled on the edges of a safe place with him. Just get to Shawn. But before you can take more than two steps away from Mike, he’s shaking his head at you. You stop. Shawn mimes a motion across his forehead and you suddenly remember the cap. He gestures outwards, at a view that’s normally only his. You look out towards the floor.  You turn your tassel with a trembling hand and the crew erupts with cheers. Shawn claps in your direction, grinning. You stare at his smile until it blurs in a prism of too-bright light; it’s more than five steps to the other side of the stage but you only get that far before he’s there. You might fall into him a little but it doesn’t matter, because Shawn just pulls you in.  In your heels, you can actually wrap your arms around his neck. The cap falls. Shawn’s hands land on your bare shoulder and your back, calluses on skin. You shiver. His nose presses into your temple as Shawn speaks softly into your hair, just above your ear. “I know you’ve been trying to keep it together.” You're shaking again. His arms tighten around you. “I know I’m not who you want right now. But I wanted you to have this, okay, El? You deserve it.” You press your eyes shut a little harder, but tears slide down nonetheless. “I’m here, if you need me.” You find a grip on the soft cotton of his shirt. “I’ve got you.”  Shawn’s fingers trail up and down the length of your spine, which only makes you shiver more; he pulls you, almost impossibly, closer.  “Andrew’s gonna kill me,” he says, and you laugh before you can stop yourself.  “His Skype meeting is almost over.” It’s enough that you can step back and wipe your face with a weak laugh. “God, I’m a mess.” 

Shawn smiles with just one side of his mouth. “No,” he says, and you’re too overwhelmed to move when he reaches up and brushes at a tear with the heel of his hand. “Not at all.”   There it is again: that look. “Okay okay, give me my sister back.” Ava’s eyes are red. She squeezes so tight it aches, before holding you by the shoulders and nodding firmly. “Where’s that cap? We need photos.” “No,” you protest, but your sister’s already found it and Shawn’s already pulled out his phone. “This is happening.” Ava drags you back to centre stage. “You guys too,” she calls. Brian, Geoff, Paul, and Mike lope forward. “And you.” Ava grabs at Shawn’s wrist before he can jump off the stage. “I can’t believe you pulled this off right under my nose.” His grin is cheeky and proud. “Learned to plan from the best.” You line up in a row. As Cam struggles with Shawn’s fancy new phone, the boys hoot and holler. You end up sandwiched between your sister and Paul; from behind Ava’s back, something brushes your hand. Shawn glances over Ava’s head, and then away.  He hooks his pinky into yours. “Ready?” Cam calls. You drag your eyes forward. “One, two, three!” The flash bursts colour across your vision. For once, you don’t mind.  (part six)

[stimtoybox]

When I'm anxious I'll fuss (fidget? stim?) with whatever I have with me, which can get destructive. It's usually with trash objects. Ex: I'll be talking or reading for class and snap a wooden coffee stirrer until the pieces are too small to break anymore. I'll shred napkins, break the clips off pens, and poke holes in cups. I'm a nail biter too. 1) is it bad to destroy things I'm going to toss anyway? It feels weird. 2) do you have any suggestions for alternatives that are small and discreet?

My fellow anxious fidgeting and stimming anon, please, go ahead and destroy things that are going to be thrown away. Please. Do it with glorious, gleeful abandon! These things are only going to be compacted further in process of being thrown out/recycled and processed, after all!

As long as you’re not breaking the clip off someone else’s pen, there’s nothing wrong with this. You’re not even doing anything wrong if you decide to break-through-stimming your own toys, although replacing them can get expensive. (But if you can afford to do it, you’re not causing yourself or someone else harm by doing so and it makes you happy or allows you to cope or just feels right? Do it.) But look at it this way: you bought that tea or coffee, right? You got that serviette (sorry: napkins)when you bought a doughnut or cake? You bought the food or drink those items came with, so you also bought the right to stim with the wrappers, cups, cutlery, bags or anything else. In this light, you’re actually getting more value for your money than non-stimmers (who do nothing with their cups and wrappers and stirrers) so I will argue it’s less wasteful to eat a muffin and tear the wrapper before tossing than it is to eat the muffin and toss the wrapper untouched. And even if you’re buying packets of serviettes just to shred them? If that makes you happy, how is it more wasteful than using a serviette for its intended purpose, which is also more wasteful than using and washing a plate?

We - anyone who stims - is having to endure a world not designed for us or situations that trigger us. Stimming helps us survive, helps us be ourselves. It doesn’t have to be cute or pretty or involve glitter-decorated stim toys to be valid. Sometimes stimming is wild flapping of hands, swaying from side to side, yanking up grass from a flower bed or tearing up paper bags.

(People will appreciate it if you pull up weeds over planted flowers, though!)

My only concern here is one of safety: chewing on a broken plastic spoon, for example, or poking yourself with sharp edges/getting splinters from broken wood, or tearing your nails below the quick. If you are not harming yourself or destroying someone else’s possessions through your more destructive stimming, I don’t see a need to change it. If you like chewing your nails, you’re not hurting yourself and you don’t mind how your nails look, it isn’t a problem.

(And poking holes in cups is a seriously underrated stim. The feeling of the pen tip going through the cardboard or polystyrene is so nice. That moment of resistance and the the pen sliding through? Wonderful.)

I’ve got several posts already, I think, that offer suggestions on small, discreet stim toys, so I’ll discuss them and link them below.

(By the way, I don’t expect anyone to go through eleven pages of asks before asking. I only remember what I’ve answered because I answered it!)

First up is a recent ask about listing lots of small, ordinary household items that we often use for stimming: pebbles, dice, cotton balls, erasers. Most of these are common and discreet, and you might find some good ideas here that shouldn’t draw much attention or even be visible outside your hand.

This ask discusses small, on-the-person-portable, subtle fidgets. (If you only look at one of these links, look at this one.) This one is pretty link heavy, so you might want to take a little time to click on the links and see what’s available. I also link to different kinds of fidget jewellery in this post, which is really the ultimate in stealth fidgeting. I wear my bead ring necklaces everywhere and nobody has ever once remarked on them being a stim toy.

This ask discusses silent classroom fidgets, which I mention because you referenced study - the erasers and pencil cases might be options for you when it comes to stealth fidgeting.

For portable fidgets, you might like to look at this post describing toys that can be attached to a lanyard. Most of these things can also be attached to zippers (bags, pencil cases) making them an item that shouldn’t draw too much attention.

There’s a world of objects like tassel or pompom bag charms, beaded necklaces, hair ties, elastic bands and other common household or accessory items that are super stimmy for fidgeting and so ordinary nobody will comment on them. I was recently given several roller bead fidgets, two of which I have attached to my satchel, and when I’m in shops with family members where I don’t feel safe enough to pull out my Tangle, I stim with those. Nobody has said anything yet about it (but they do comment on my Tangle) and it really makes a difference in my surviving shopping hell. For some reason I do not understand, neurotypicals see a difference in how I look to others in fidgeting with something attached to a bag as opposed to grabbing a stim toy from the bag to fidget with it. It’s so illogical, but there’s no shame in finding the safest ways to stim in a world that doesn’t accept us. No shame at all.

If you need more specific breakdowns of anything, anon, or information about where to find things, or if you want to discuss replacement stims for anything that does bother you, please let me know.

But I think, truly, that serviettes were invented for shredding!

[eng200fandoms-blog]

Believeland

Believeland

“In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have. I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home” said LeBron James on July 11, 2014 to announce his return to Cleveland (Jenkins). The city fell still in that moment. A feeling of hope filled the air and reached each Cleveland Cavaliers fan differently. Some could not believe it, others cried, while others celebrated. The King was coming back to his throne. Not only was he returning, he promised to bring a trophy with him. He wanted his city, his home, to feel what it was like to win a championship—a feeling Cleveland had not experienced in fifty-two long years. LeBron’s return sent Cleveland fans into a frenzy. Our city’s symbol was back and better than ever, ready to dominate in every aspect. Cleveland fans were not only impacted emotionally by their king’s return, they changed their city with the sudden basketball craze that increased revenue to the city, eventually leading to the iconic NBA finals in 2016 that turned fans into family.

LeBron James is arguably one of the greatest basketball players the world has ever seen, and Cleveland fans see that and more in this legend. A team player, a leader in his community, a role model for young people everywhere, and one of our own—Cleveland  fans consider themselves to be the luckiest people to have an icon like him. He pushes the community and his team to be the best people they can be. Not only do fans love him on the court, they religiously follow his immense involvement in the Akron and Cleveland community. In Akron, LeBron’s hometown, he originated the “LeBron James Family Foundation” that was implemented to help the education system. He is a big supporter of giving children the chance at an education, a life he was not able to have growing up. In 2015 his charity spent 41 million dollars to give local students from “troubled” backgrounds the opportunity to enhance their education and attend college. LeBron’s main focus is the youth of Cleveland because he is striving to make a better home for the future. He believes that Cleveland is a special place that deserves all of the talent we can get. Both on and off the court, he is making strides to be the best he can be and push his city to do their best. During games, he is the motivator and often takes over as the coach to get the team where they need to be. In the final games of the NBA championship in 2016, LeBron had to be at his peak performance and this was evident his immense focus. He knew he had to be all of the roles at once for his team. In game 2 when Kevin Love was out with a head injury, LeBron felt the pressure but was able to compose himself and put up a good fight against the Warriors. This demonstrated his incredible sportsmanship. Only one man was able to pull his team out of the gutter and it was him. LeBron’s return was a game changer for the city and geared the fans up for what was about to be a successful season.

Cleveland was in a rough spot financially when LeBron left in 2010, but with his return in 2014, times changed and the city was regaining financial strength. The games became something fans wanted to go to, evidenced by tickets selling out immediately. The filled arena did not stop fans from getting in on the action. Cav’s followers filled bars, restaurants, and just about every location with a T.V. for every game, big or small, they were there. Even surrounding cities had their local establishments filled for each game. Businessmen would come after work in their suits, even nurses in their scrubs. It did not matter what you were wearing as long as you brought your Cleveland spirit, you were accepted. This brought money, and a hefty amount of it, pouring into the city. Not only were the restaurants filled, hotels became booked when our team began to play its rivals, such as the Boston Celtics. Boston fans would come and stay downtown to get in on the city’s action. Cleveland fans were excited to be back in action and always enjoyed having the opportunity to watch, or even attend, a great game. With ticket sales booming and more people flooding Quicken Loans Arena, that meant more fans had to fit the role. Jerseys, t-shirts, hats, lanyards, socks and just about anything with the Cav’s logo on it was flying off the racks. With each fan purchase, more money was being pumped back into the city they loved.

Energy was racing through the city as the Cavaliers, the team no one thought would ever make it, were on their way to the championships backed by a fan base of champions. In 2016, all of the pain and suffering was left behind and fans celebrated after a long, hard season. When the Cavaliers made it to the NBA playoffs, no one thought they would be able to make it to the finals again, but the fans kept the flame going and believed in their team that had come so far. When the Cav’s made their way into the finals, the fans went into a frenzy, as the whole city united. With game one quickly approaching, the Q began something Cleveland had never seen before: watch parties for away games. They opened their doors to everyone for a safe space to be part of the atmosphere, but not actually at the game. Other cities had done this in the past, but none of them had ever done it Cleveland style. When the Q was at maximum capacity, they opened up the outdoor area surrounding the arena. This created more opportunities for individual fans to become family. Cleveland became united. After losing games one and two, there was not a sadness over the city but rather a motivation. The determination to come back after a deficit so major was felt within each fan. Game three was a nail-biter. During the final seconds, we won. The team that no one thought would win powered through. By winning game three, the team forced games four, five, six, and eventually seven. With each win, the pressure grew. By game seven, the city was electric. Fans called off work, people caught flights, news cameras set up across the city, all for one team. No matter where you were that night, your heart and spirit was in Cleveland, Ohio. Once the game started, not a single fan sat down until the final buzzer. Each fan was there through every announcement, every foul, every bad call, cheering on their team. “Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for a lay-up, WOAH! BLOCKED BY JAMES!” exclaimed the announcer, Moymoy, after a game changing block by Cleveland’s own LeBron James (Madu). Fans knew in this moment that their city was about to be important again. It was after that when Kyrie Irving nailed a three-pointer from well behind the line that set the stage for the rest of the game. During the final seconds the city was still, fans did not know how to react to what was happening before their eyes. “It’s over, it’s over! Cleveland is the city of champions once again! The Cavaliers are NBA Champions!” yelled announcer Mike Breen (Deitsch). Cleveland, a city once marked by a 52-year streak with no champions, had won against all odds. It was a sight like no other. No one knew how to react. Fans flooded the streets, horns went off, middle aged men fell to their knees sobbing in front of their children, unlikely people hugged and became friends in that moment. Even police officers stopped people, not to stop them but to be there with them. The feeling was one that only a Cavaliers fan could describe.

Being from Cleveland, I was able to experience each and every emotion from that game. I was not able to be downtown in the crowd, but I was twenty minutes south of the Land and still felt the energy. As my friends and I stood around the small TV on my back deck, our worlds were changed. The buzzer went off, and it was a moment like no other. My dad crying and mom unable to speak, the kids jumping up and down. This was the moment that Cleveland needed. After those initial shocking seconds, suddenly everyone’s lights came on in the houses, neighbors ran through the back yard and loud booms could be heard from every angle. All of Northeast Ohio felt the energy from our 2016 NBA Final Champions.

In 2014 when LeBron James came home to his city, the energy was recharged, fans reunited, and there was a championship to be claimed. Each Cleveland Cavaliers fan was with their team each step of the way. This fandom is not one to be reckoned with. We will go to the ends of the earth to support our team and will do so with an army behind us. Being Cav’s fans, it is in our blood to support and love our teams no matter what but you do not have to be a native to feel the spirit Cleveland has to offer. After our win, more and more people from all over the country joined the Cavaliers family and became life-long fans.  we come from all over with the same spirit behind us. In 2016, our dreams came to life when we won against the world. Our city was put back on the map for everyone to see. Being a Cleveland fan means more than just attending the games. It means being part of something bigger than yourself. When LeBron James dropped to his knees with tears in his eyes at the end of game seven and yelled “Cleveland, this is for you,” in that moment, everyone felt what it was to be a Cleveland fan.

[scstoll]

Everything Is True: Inside China’s Dream Factory

 “Dreams, you know, are what you wake up from.“  — Raymond Carver (Cathedral)

“You wanted to be honest, right?” 

And there he is. Picture him as best you can. Johnny Bravo. A  bureaucrat who exists on the middle to upper level of Hailiang Education; a multi million euro company in the back arse of Zheijang Province. The drinker of litres of green tea brewed in beautiful expensive kettles by nervous secretaries. The only man who will conduct an interview formally and then spit in the middle of it. Sitting there in his freshly ironed short sleeved white shirt, even though it’s pushing 30 fucking degrees outsides. Like the world’s most polite Godfather, he was the one who made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, or live with. He beamed up at me. It was the earnest smile of a man who believed in a system whose only job was not to believe in him.  And there began our troubles in China. Call it an ‘adventure’. Adventure being a code word for a supposedly safe thing I’ll never do again. 

In many ways China is quite a big country. But it’s also a small one and it’s shrinking everyday. A shrinking list of people who can traipse around in expensively ironic t-shirts compared to those who can’t. T-shirts with pastiche slogans like the “Antisocial Social Club” and “Make Your Own”.

Here you can sponsor a tree for the cost of an education, and girls you meet on Tan Tan will respond to the question “What do you want to be?” With the answer “Skinny”. Unironically.

But I didn’t know any of that then. So as Johnny Bravo began to ramble on in his self taught English about the immense privilege my being there would bestow on their institution, I sat back and I felt flattered. I liked the idea of being respected because you were ‘uniquely qualified’, which is much the same thing as being male and white. I liked the idea of getting to wear a sharp leather lanyard with the words ‘Master’ emblazoned on it. I especially liked the idea of being presented with this lanyard at a special welcoming ceremony, bowing to receive my prize like a skinny, Irish Luke Skywalker. Smiling noncommittally as the school’s collection of beautifully mannered and well heeled students burst into Hailiang’s anthem “We are Family” in a tone deaf zeal which bordered on desperation. These were children whose parents were exclusive members of the Got Rich First crowd in the People’s Republic. The people who everyone else was meant to emulate but never could. Here it was the hallmark of successful parenting to send your children away from you to an expensive corporate institution as quickly as you could. So it was that the Got Rich First parents did indeed complain that the levels of homework on national holidays were too low. This left them with the unfortunate possibility of having to speak with their offspring. An unfortunate scenario which they paid lower class people to do. And so Johnny Bravo could have saved me the pep talk and let me see what really happens when you build a school campus in the middle of rain forest, fueled by nothing but a dismissive attitudes toward planning laws and the social anxieties of your number one educational consumer, the parent. But that would take time.

It took time to realize that here billboards are secrets, whispers are lies. In China’s dream factory only the lies are true. In many ways this was the university of the quick visa. Everyone was a photo opportunity without a caption. Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the world’s first truly postmodern post primary school.

Even visiting Western academics soon found the lure of an institution based almost entirely on self promotion to be almost irresistible. As an ‘esteemed foreign guest’ I sat on numerous meetings where Chinese Principals and heads of Irish colleges talked for hours about “Educational partnerships, yada yada yada visa visa visa.”It turned out that vague corporeatise was a language which transcended borders. But worse was to come.

My first assignment was to shadow a Bangladeshi teacher who had long ago lost his final straw of sanity. He began everyday by typing on a keyboard which was worryingly not connected to a computer and then shouted out instructions to take down notes from a PowerPoint which was never displayed. The terrified students complied in silence.

Yet another foreign teacher had long let slip the bonds of common sense to read curriculum plan templates all night while teaching students exclusively about her fractious private life. Repeat after me, she drilled into the ever willing class with her shrill English accent

"I have developed trust issues, that’s past continuous kids”, she intoned.

An eager student would invariably thrust forward his hand.

“Yes Phoenix?” She asked wearily.

“Present continuous means it continues into the current situation.” Phoenix said seriously.

“Thanks Phoenix, tell me about it.” She sighed.

But all of the foreign teachers put together couldn’t match the appeal of Hailiang’s two Crown Jewels. A pair of beautiful blonde teachers who were either brother and sister or dating, admittedly this was an ambiguity which was at once novel and deeply troubling. Everywhere they went you were sure to be informed that those two teachers were from Oxford. This was like a label of untouchable platinum whiteness affixed to their very souls. And if they have child I can tell you that while that child may have been born in China it will be inextricably an Oxford child. Of course the Oxford crowd weren’t as popular with the rest of the Irish teachers. Especially Brady from Cavan. "Oxford can go away and shite” said Brady.

Of course the sense that most things here were done or said mostly for show didn’t just restrict itself to the exclusive campuses of the Got Rich First crowd. It was Lee from Arklow who had first discovered that here the taxi drivers had also imbibed the sense that it was the speed of the journey rather than the exactitude of the destination which counted. In many countries taxi drivers would be precluded from practicing their craft if they were either illiterate, or drunk or had a general difficulty with directions. Yet it was in Shanghai at 5am in the morning that Lee would find out that even a gentleman in possession of all three of these attributes could readily find employment behind the wheel of an official taxi.

The driver stared in sheer perplexity at the hotel’s directions which were clearly displayed on Lee’s phone.

"Woo, woo!” The clearly drunk driver shouted.

“You’re a fucking retard like” Lee said.

“Woo!” He repeated in forlorn stubbornness.

It wasn’t that the meaning had been lost in translation, there had been no real meaning to communicate in the first place.

Everywhere appearance trumped reality, in a manner which was much too earnest to count as deception.

Even in KFC the customers who ordered ice cream were presented with a cardboard cutout and an apologetic shrug.

Welcome to the desert of the real.

Indeed the barometer of just what the fuck was actually going on here could be measured by China’s most successful fast food franchise, Kentucky Fried Chicken. KFC was so ubiquitous that it could peddle products which were clearly both wrong and unappealing. Like Chiza, a piece of chicken with pizza drizzled over it that was quickly snapped up and splashed all over Wechat by happening twenty-somethings. It was one of those things that if you thought about too much they could become an issue, China was jammed with things that if you thought about them enough you could be hit with a kind of mental brain freeze that could take decades to clear.

Another one of them was the trend of Shanghai beggars to stand outside nightclubs that Westerners frequented with what was for all intents and purposes a small monkey dressed in a prisoner’s outfit.

We all stared in amazed astonishment as one of these little monkey inmates clambered joyfully onto Lisa’s shoulder and posed happily for pictures. It took another moment for the potentially dangerous part of the situation to sink in on us.

“Is that a fucking monkey?” Exclaimed Lee thoughtfully. It was. And it bit down on Lisa’s flesh with a desire which was both wrong and unappealing, like Chiza.

Even more traditional customs could look to us like everyone had taken a kind of national leave of their senses. We walked by open mouthed as two chefs took turns kneading dough with massive wooden mallets. “Look” said Brady, “two lads bating the absolute shite out of their dinner”

There is a chasm between genuine ignorance and willing collusion. The first stemming from a lack of information about the outside world, the later stemming from a dearth of knowledge about ourselves. We would learn that from Paul and Debra. Two middle aged semi-professionals from England who saw teaching in China for what it was; a market inefficiency that could be exploited by the callous and the desperate.

We met them in the centre of Hailiang’s  vague Campus;  Life Experience Square. The school’s authorities just named places after the things they wanted and then were disappointed when students didn’t obtain them through some kind of fucked up spacial osmosis. Paul and Debra took us to the night market in Yiwu, where we haggled for bargains on fake t-shirts and they laughed as a beggar with no limbs dragged himself past us on a skateboard.

“Hilarious, isn’t it?” said Paul.

I mean at the end of the day, you could forgive the odd bit of baldfaced lying, hell even whole societies built on patently inaccurate foundations have been consigned to the dust bin of history with nothing but a regretful shrug. But you can’t ever forgive unwanted honesty. And so that’s what really fucked us up. China wasn’t some grim facade. It was a two way mirror and behind it was us. Playing the same games with a lot more makeup. You can’t unsee through people. You can’t unsee through yourself. If the eyes were the windows to the soul then no amount of tint is going to help us now, for fucks sake.

Johnny just sat there, his tea beginning to fester. His eyes alight with a glow which wasn’t so much enthusiasm as it was fear. And so I looked down the barrel of Johnny’s offer, gulped once and got out of there as fast as I fucking could. And for what, like? Even now back on the disappointed streets of midlandia, I find myself looking through people like they’re CVs. Weighing up profit and loss, balancing up awkward shifts against another evening falling asleep while Netflix buffers. Let’s put it this way, it’s not necessarily living. Maybe Johnny was right. Well, certainly not right. But unlike the rest of us he has been afforded the unique social and economic skills to persevere in his wrongness, and who wouldn’t want that? We don’t all have the apparatus of a heavily militarized state to ensure the stubborn persistence of our own personal dream factories. To make sure our flights of fancy are laced with enough denial to stave off reality indefinitely. But if we could do that, then we would in a Hailiang heartbeat.

You wanted to be honest, right?

[protox21-blog]

Welcome Back! List #3 has 4 amazing shops that I found perusing the many Etsy shops available. Each one is unique and it was really hard for me to pick and choose the items I wanted to use in my own Etsy shop, https://www.etsy.com/shop/VerlaCo. I love doing multiple styles and designs in my shop so I need to visit many different shops to find materials that I love and that my customers will love as well. Whether it’s an item I need for great props, beads, gems or charms, I do so much browsing and searching for the right items. These four shops each have something very amazing to offer to the Etsy community.

Allow me to introduce…

FeelingstoneGiftsLLC,, rainbownativetraders, AngiolettiDesigns, and TheBlueBeadle

Feeling Stone Gifts LLC                               https://www.etsy.com/shop/FeelingstoneGiftsLLC

Jackie Koppany from Hermiston, Oregon is the creator of Feelingstone Gifts LLC and has been on Etsy the scene since 2013. Not only is she an artisan herself, but she teaches her amazing skills locally. Her shop has a large variety of amazing items to choose from.         If you do beading as a hobby or own a business yourself, take a look. 1,380 items to choose from and 15 great categories.

Bead Loom Sliders

Spirit Stones

Gemstone Pendants

Tumbled Stones/Chakra

Gemstone Gifts

Gemstone Beads

Cabochons

Crystal/Miyuki/Czech

Jewelry Supplies

Jewelry /Tutorials

Wire

Delicas/

Tools

Lapidary Rough, Supplies

Sale Specials

The lava beads are amazing! I chose to use them on a lanyard and paired them with upcycled wood beads, ceramic beads, and elk bone beads. Being able to wear this while using aromatherapy on the go was an excellent choice and I could not have done this without Jackie’s shop!

I chose the Lava beads due to their useful and healing nature along with the beautiful shape, earth tone colors, and size. They are 26mm by 19mm and are great for oil enthusiasts. Wearing these stones along with your choice of oil is brilliant and recently trending due to the fact that you can not carry around a humidifier with you everywhere. They offer on the job stress relief, yoga relaxation enhancement, and just being able to wear your oil infuser is such a fabulous way to go through the day. I used these in two of my Lanyards and plan on purchasing more from this shop. These would also be a great addition to any jewelry, such as bracelets or necklaces. I hope you get a chance to see all that Jackie has in her shop. If you do stop by and create something beautiful, please share with us!

Rainbow Native Traders                                     https://www.etsy.com/shop/rainbownativetraders

This shop is owned by Cindy DeMeyer, another artisan who has been doing this for 15 years and works closely with Native American gathers who collect expired animals that have died of natural causes. They then repurpose the remains for art and jewelry. She wrote me with my purchase telling me that those who have gathered these animals have very high respect for them and believe all the parts of the animal are useful for many purposes. This is a very old and traditional art and I am very honored to be a part of that and to share a bit of Cindy’s story. Rainbow Native Traders has 424 items available and 9 categories to choose from. Her gorgeous shop holds steadfast to the traditional style of this ancient beautiful art.

Animal Parts/Taxidermy

Buffalo Bone/Glass Beads

Craft Supplies & kits

Reglia & Camp Supplies

Handcrafted Jewelry

Recycled Animal Jewelry

Native Style Chokers

Native Inspired Items

Turtle & Medicine Bags

I bought these outstanding rabbit’s feet, and though they had a slight smell it was due to the curing and sterilizing process. I was able to take a mint oil, put it on a paper towel, folding it and placing it in a zip lock bag with the rabbit feet and in an hour the smell was completely gone.

I really wanted to make unique key chains with these! They were always something I thought was cool as a kid and wanted to add them to VerlaCo. Let me know what you think about these rabbit feet keychains! I am very nervous about what others think and my husband is no help. I love it, but others may not, so please, leave a comment and let me know; Yea, or nay?

I hope you are able to visit and find amazing items for yourself. I would love to hear about your purchases and please share any amazing creations with us.

Angiolettie Designs

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AngiolettiDesigns

Holy tea and crumpets you guys! This amazing handmade china is to die for! It is almost as if Edgar Allen Poe had something to do with the influence of this design. Yvonne Angioletti is from Portland, Oregon. GO OREGON! Yvonne has been in the Etsy seen since 2010 and her vision and art has been greatly noticed by many in the Etsy community.                       I am so incredibly happy with my purchase, having something handmade like this from such an artisan has been thrilling.

I am so incredibly happy with my purchase, having something handmade like this from such an artisan has been thrilling!

She creates and designs all of her beautiful china. Have something customized or pick from an array of designs.  All of her pieces are dishwasher and microwave safe making them last longer. Decals on the glass are scratch and fade resistant.

Yvonne has 324 items and 14 categories to choose from. Try not to find something you’ll love!

BIRDS AND BUGS

CAKE STANDS

CLOSEOUTS

CUSTOMIZABLE DISHES

DAY of THE DEAD

MERMAIDS/NAUTICAL

OTHER

OTHER ANIMALS

PLATTERS & BOWLS

SKULL DISHES

TEA ITEMS

UNICORNS

VINTAGE PLATES

WEDDING

I purchased my tea cup and saucer because I fell in love with the beautiful ravens in Fairbanks Alaska. I also wanted something pretty when I staged my photos for my tea infusers. 

As you can see, this was perfect, my charming tea infusers look even more amazing with this tea ensemble. If you end up making a purchase please share with us below!                         I love seeing other folks Etsy plunder so share, share, share!

The Blue Beadle                                                                             https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBlueBeadle

Coming out of Trinity, Florida, Haley Vice has a jewelry supply mecca. She has something for everyone in her shop from antique style brass, to fun and cute Kawaii donuts. Searching for items in her shop was easy and full of great choices. I chose the mystery bags and pendants for something different and fun, and that is exactly what I got! Color and cuteness poured from the tiny bags that I received with a lot of promise and ideas. I found it a challenge to make something without design or color scheme knowledge.

My can-do spirit has really enjoyed this purchase. I bought the Kawaii mix bag and received a frenzy of colors and designs, and the large surprise grab bag was just plain fun! I was able to spend time with my nieces and let them design and create precious little things. I made this bracelet for myself, and why not?

Foux Rock Pendant

I end up with allot of extra materials so I wear the leftovers, and it ends up being amazing. I used the Aventurine that I got in my mystery bag, and I needed them. Blue aventurine is the stone for inner strength, and self-discipline, add the aromatherapy to the lava stone and BOOM! My day gets better! 

With 244 items to choose from and 11 categories, you will see some great items for jewelry making!

Mixed Bag

Pendants

Beads

Charms

Findings & Chain

Cabochons

Tools

Jewelry Supplies LOT

Connectors

Bead and Jewelry Kits

Watch Faces

The fun items I chose didn’t even hit the tip of the ice burg with what great quality items that she has. You’ll have to go find out all on your own! I merely just point the way.

List #4 is in the works, I have more amazing shops and can’t wait for you to see them.

Please share your comments and ideas below. I would love to hear from you.

My Etsy Shop Verla Company where I create and design great jewels and trinkets. Key chains, Purse bling, Planner accessories, and wine charms.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/VerlaCo

I do reviews of the great products that I buy from Etsy and other noteworthy purchases.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXTE8pnQQqnEWe59zd_b-Sw

Get the latest updates quick and fast posts letting you know what’s going on!

https://twitter.com/Verlaglam

Fabulous photos of gorgeous items before they go up on Etsy.

https://www.instagram.com/verla_co/

The code below will get you free shipping on any item at my Etsy shop!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/VerlaCo

My List #3 Welcome Back! List #3 has 4 amazing shops that I found perusing the many Etsy shops available.

[lovecoffeewithkelly-blog]

Tips and tricks for DISNEY trips!

Going to Disney World is no cheap endeavor. For most people its not something you can afford to do every other month. These tips and tricks are for all, but mostly those looking to get the most out of their time at Disney, and maybe, hopefully save a little money.

1)      Pin-Trading: DO IT!

Disney pin trading is awesome! It’s this thing you can do with the cast members. At the park. If you have official Disney pins, you can go up to Disney cast members who have lanyards with pins on them, and ask if they do pin trading (they do) and pick one of your pins to trade for one of theirs. The best part is since Disney gives the cast members their pins, they will trade any of theirs for ANY of yours! Why is this great? Wellll you can buy bulk pins online (for pretty cheap) and get trade some mediocre pins for awesome limited edition pins that the members have! There are so many Disney pins to collect it’s insane! You can even use the pins to make a cool memory box when you get home. Just take a shadow box picture frame, line the back with cork, print up a favorite trip photo to put in the center, then stick your favorite Disney pins from your trip all around the photo in the cork. Great souvenir!! And let me tell you, the pin trading is just plain fun for everyone. My husband was skeptical at first, but when we got there, he was more into pin trading than I was. If you want to get some awesome bulk pins, check out this etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuckyFeetTrading?ref=l2-shopheader-name (Lucky Feet Trading). Amazing customer service and 100% satisfaction with the pins. We even ended up keeping half of them we liked them so much!

2)      Get the Disney World app.

It’s free. Download it. You can use it to pretty much plan your entire vacation. You make a profile, you link your fast passes to that profile. You can see all your reservations, all your “plans”, your hotel (if you’re staying on property), there are maps for all the parks! It works really well, it’s an easy to understand lay out and it’s definitely worth the effort it takes to download.

3)      Take the time to plan out, in detail, each day you will be at the park.

Why is this a good idea? Well, because the parks are huge. And if you have never been to Disney world before, you are going to want to at least try and see most of each park. AND this can really help with choosing restaurants, fast passing rides, and deciding what you want to cut. For me, having the whole trip at least relatively mapped out, makes the trip more enjoyable and less stressful. I don’t want to miss anything when I’m at Disney! I make sure I’ve fit everything in by just taking a few minutes to map out my days. For your convenience, I have created a “day planner” for Disney. Take a look! (it will be the document posted labeled Disney Day Planner).

4)      Check out a crowd calendar and plan your park days based on crowd size.

Here is the website I used to determine when we should visit and which parks to go to each day. As a general rule, Magic Kingdom is the most busy on Saturdays/Sundays, so choose to visit the most iconic park on a week day. Here is the calendar: https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/crowd-calendar/February-2017/

I also think this helps eliminate some people’s desire to spend the extra money on park hopper tickets. If you get to a park and it’s too busy, with park hopper you can just move along to another park. But I personally believe in the plan ahead method of seeing Disney, so you don’t spend the extra cash on the hopper passes, and fast passing really makes getting all your favorite rides in super easy and pain free.

5)      Chose at least one “relax” day where you can go visit Disney springs, swim in the pool at your hotel, visit the beach-something relaxing!

Why do I suggest this when Disney-ing? Well, because theme parks although fun and amazing and worth every dime, can be stressful. Crowds are stressful, getting to reservations on time…. Stressful! So it’s always a good idea to plan a more casual and relaxing day while visiting the happiest place on Earth. There are also some amazing shops and restaurants at Disney Springs. Our favorite? T-Rex! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the whole experience there! Which leads me to tip #6…

6)      Make your dining reservations WAY in advance.

With the Disney World app, this is super easy, but you just gotta do it. When I planned our honeymoon trip, I started reserving our restaurant stops almost 5 months in advance…. And there were STILL restaurants that were already booked solid! But also keep in mind that not all reservations for Disney’s restaurants are booked online. They allow about half the reservations to be made online, so if you don’t get into a restaurant you are dying to try or go to, you can always check the wait times when you are at the park. You can also check for updated reservations on the app! There was one restaurant we really wanted in at, so I just kept checking, and about 5 days before our trip, there was a spot that opened up and I snagged it!

7)      Get some friggin’ Mickey ears and spend a week letting your inner kid out!

There are so many amazing Mickey ears out there for sale! And some of them are just perfect! Find some, buy some and join in the fun of wearing Mickey ears for a week. I also highly suggest the more crafty of you to just make your own. 3 of the 4 day we were at Disney, I wore ears I had hand made and got a top of compliments. They are so simple to make, and really inexpensive. Most of the ears you find at Disney online or Etsy are at least $20, most going beyond that. So, maybe it’s time to let that inner craft goddess out for a spin.

8)      Oh please, please get memory maker!!

It is $150 and worth every penny!

Disney has photo pass people EVERYWHERE. Photo pass people will take anyone’s photo, but if you have memory maker, the pictures end up being cheaper. On our last trip, we ended up with 300+ photos and not a single one that I just hated. They were all good! And in key locations. A lot of the photo pass people are also in spots where they can get a shot of you (and your loved ones) posing in front of iconic Disney places with few people in the back ground. The photo pass people are also next to most of the characters you can meet, and will take several photos of you getting your autograph book signed, the characters hugging you, and several candide photos. They are willing to take your photo with your phone too, but they do not turn out as well. Totally worth it. It was also fun to seek out the photo pass people and see how many photos we could get at different locations. We got lot. :P

9)      Play Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.

Because it looks awesome! I have not actually played this myself, and just recently learned about it. But it looks like something anyone going to Disney should at least look into. Here is the official Disney World page on it: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/sorcerers/

10)   Don’t be afraid to ask cast members to take photos of you and your party.

Some of our best photos are from cast members aside from the photo pass photographers. They are all more than happy to help you get a perfect shot and are super nice about it! While we were at the Aztec temple at Epcot, we ask a shop keeper to help take a photo of us beside the restaurant in the temple. When she wasn’t tall enough to get what she thought was a good shot, she asked another cast member, who helped her and who also made sure line ropes and people were out of the way! It was crazy! And made us feel so appreciated. I could not believe how accommodating they were! This was not the only instance that a cast member made some amazing, embarrassment feel photo dreams come to life, but it turned out to be one of my favorite photos. Definitely ask, they are more than happy to help! On a side note, also remember to be happy while at Disney World, you are at the happies place on EARTH and all the cast members are there to help make it the happiest days of your life. So, don’t get mad! Have a great time! And let your inner kid out. There were a few times someone got upset at a family member, or you could tell they weren’t happy, and it was so odd, it made everyone uncomfortable! I’ve never been on a vacation where it was more noticeable when someone was upset or angry.

 11) Get a fanny pack!!

Not a fanny pack from the 90′s, a super hip, super cute fanny pack! There are a lot of choices out there (including some fanny packs from some pretty high end retailers) but my favorite’s were found on Etsy. There are a lot of cute, relatively small fanny packs for sale and they come in fun designs and patterns. There are also some leather, sequin, shiny ones that are a lot more expensive but still very wearable and amazing and cute! There are literally fanny packs for everyone’s style and price range. Now, why should you have a fanny pack at Disney? Well, because it makes keeping your valuable money and cell phones safe. AND it makes taking photos so easy! Just slide the pack to your back and it’s out of sight, or do what I did and show it off because it’s super cute (see example in above photo!). They are also light weight, and can fit everything you really need at the parks. It also makes going through security much easier, and riding rides without power gripping your purse. My favorite fanny pack etsy site (where I got my panda fanny pack I used the last time I was at Disney!) is from Chiradesigns, link below. Check them out! Let me know what you think. Are fanny packs something you would try for Disney? 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Chiradesigns?ref=search_shop_redirect

I may have to add some more tips later, but these are the first 10 11 I could think of that everyone should follow! Hopefully the planner helps, and you get use out of the included sites! If this post helped you plan your vacation to Disney, share! And please let me know what you’re planning for your Disney vacation and if you have any advice for me! 

Thanks for sharing some coffee with me! Hope you enjoyed!

(Post edited January 23rd 2017- #11 added!)

-Kelly H.