#10-11 and i liked parts of it but found others so annoying. i wish id of just watched smile instead bc its so much better

[be-good-to-bugs]

:)

[producerguk]

pendulum, epilogue

➝ pairing: jeon jungkook x reader

➝ genre: angst, fluff

➝ warnings: swearing

➝ word count: 5,7K

 » it’s hard to move on from something you thought you would always have. you have to decide whether to fight for it or let it go. 

➝ a/n: this is the final part of pendulum; i’m very proud of the outcome, given everything i’d originally thought. i’d like to thank @btsflufflysmut for editing. i hope you enjoy it; let me know what you think. 

➝ playlist 

part 1 

“Vanilla or cappuccino?” Joohyun asks when she stumbles upon you, wandering around her apartment at three in the morning.

“Don't you have an early schedule today?” you ask, dropping your weight down on the couch.

“Yeah, but what's the fun in having my best friend as my roommate again if I don't get to binge eat?” she teases, opening the fridge to get your favorite flavor of ice cream.

“Movie or reality show?” you turned the TV on, not paying attention to the drama playing.

“I think it's best if we talk, don’t you?” She throws a silver spoon your way, digging her own in the white cream.

“Joohyun…”

“You’ve been here almost two weeks and you still haven’t told me how you feel,” she sighs, mouth full and wearing a frown, her stare filled with worry.

“I know, I just…”

“I don't care about how you broke up — or what he told you. I do care about what’s on your mind, though. I hate seeing you like this.”  

You let out a heavy sigh, letting the ice cream melt onto your tongue as you force yourself to think back on the feelings that still kept you up at night. Joohyun bites down on her lips, expectantly waiting for you to finally share the reason you still cried and ended up seeking comfort in her bed, every night.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get over him,” you confess, and she calls your name, resting her hand on your knee with a pout on her pink lips. “It's not that I think I’m not enough, or he’s the last dick on earth-,”

“Good, because he isn't,” she cuts you off, leaning her head on your shoulder as she takes another spoon of ice cream. “There’s pussy too.”

“It’s because I forgave him that same day we talked,” you ignore her remarks, sighing to hide a smile. “And I miss him like crazy, Hyun.”

“Of course you will, baby,” Joohyun pats your thigh, her voice no louder than a whisper. “You guys dated for two years, it's only natural.”

You run your fingers through her hair as you dug into the ice cream again, letting your eyes fall on the TV. You didn’t bring yourself to say it, but what made it worse was not being sure if you even wanted to get over him. Your heart ached every time you remembered why he wasn't beside you, the only thing keeping you from going back being your stubbornness and hurt pride.

“Jungkook definitely misses you too,” Joohyun says, honesty bathing her eyes and words. “But I think you should give yourself a chance of being happy without him.”

“Thanks, Hyun-ah,” you whisper, kissing the top of her head.

Despite the memories that messed up your sleeping schedule and clouded your judgment, Joohyun was right. You decide to give your thoughts a break, focusing on the movie you’d watched a thousand times before, binge eating ice cream and cuddling your best friend.

Giving in to your feelings could wait for another night.

┈

You wake up with your phone ringing, resisting the urge of throwing it against the wall again, unwilling to waste so much money in less than two weeks. You answer, not looking at the ID of the caller.

“I better be rich or someone’s gonna be dead,” you threaten with a raspy voice caused by sleep, moving to the other side of the bed, wrapping yourself on the blankets.

“You’re rich with my love,” the other person jokes, bringing a wide smile to your lips as you recognized who it was.

Park Jimin.

“Oh, hey, how are you?” You ask him, propping yourself up on the bed.

“I’m good, although I really miss you.”

“I miss you too, Chim.”

It wasn't a lie. Out of everyone you met while dating Jungkook, Jimin was the one you got along with the best, becoming one of your best friends not long after. Namjoon even used to joke you should be dating Jimin instead of the maknae.

“How about we meet? We can go to that coffee shop you love and talk about how talented Taemin is.”

“You had me on coffee,” you laugh, getting out of the bed, already looking for some clothes.

“I’ll pick you up in fifteen. Wear something warm, it's cold outside,” he says, and you heard a door closing in the distance.

“See you in fifteen.”

 For the second time that week, you allowed yourself to take a break from Jungkook and all the overwhelming thoughts in your mind. Seeing Jimin after everything was certainly going to raise up a few eyebrows, but you didn't care.

The world could kiss Jungkook’s ass about his ex-girlfriend meeting his band mate for coffee. You were dying to see Jimin again and no rumours would stop you from doing so.

┈

You loved cotton candy skies. The light shade of pink mixing up with blue and purple, a few stars appearing alongside the moon, slowly saying goodbye to the sun and welcoming the night. You felt at peace. A way for the sky to assure you everything would be fine, someday. The bitter coffee warmed your insides, creating a contrasting tone with the almost cold wind that hit the rooftop patio of the coffee shop.

Besides the strong coffee that never failed to please your senses, the aesthetic of the place got a hold on you. The rooftop was reserved for only a few customers, a way the owners found to repay the love and kindness in which you treated them. Having known them ever since your high school years, they treated you like a daughter and took your idea, decorating the rooftop with countless flowers and little plants, small lanterns illuminating each wooden table, alongside small cacti and a few magazines and books.

“I missed this place,” you confess, holding the black mug filled with coffee.

“I missed your cute face,” Jimin tells you, drinking his mocha to suppress a smile his eyes failed to hide.

“How are you? How are the boys? I miss your annoying faces.”

“We all miss you. We’re working hard for the comeback, it's in a couple of weeks, and we haven't gotten where we wanted to, yet.”

“But isn't the album ready?”

“Yeah, but Jungkook keeps messing up the choreo and his solos so much that we end-,” he doesn't finish, biting his lips and closing his eyes, cursing himself for mentioning him. “I’m sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up.”

“It's okay, Chim,” you assure him, forcing yourself to smile. “I don't mind.”

At least that's what you told yourself. The first step to forget about Jungkook was holding no grudges and not wishing he choked on his own spit. It was the only rule you had, and your heart lived by it. So far, you were doing ok, but didn't mean it didn't hurt.

“He showed me the choreo once, it was solid,” you try to force Jimin to continue. You had to know how Jungkook was doing, that being your best way of trying, indirectly.

“Yeah, but his head is not in the comeback anymore,” Jimin mumbles, running his hand through his black hair, probably wondering if he should tell you.

“You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.”

“He’s fucked up,” sighing, he looks at the sky as he remembers his best friend’s behavior. “Ever since you left he’s been staying at the dorm. He’s not eating, he can’t control his emotions when he sings, and he doesn't sleep. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Is this why you called me?” You ask him, unconsciously wishing he would beg for you to contact Jungkook — you would gladly do so.

“What? No. Listen, Jungkook is my best friend, but he deserves it,” Jimin assures you, holding your hand. “He fucked things up and I would never ask you to give him another chance because he’s having to deal with the consequences of his mistakes,” he sighs, looking deeply into your eyes. “He’ll get over it.”

“Will I, though?” You let out, your eyes filling with tears at the image of him getting it as hard as you, if not more. “I miss him a lot, Chim. Sometimes I wish we could go back in time and re-do everything we did wrong.”

“I know that, but don’t you think it is best to try to find your peace without Jungkook? I mean, you guys lost yourselves in each other.”

“Joohyun said the same thing,” you were reminded, biting your lip as you looked at the moon, much more visible now on the darker sky.

“Why don’t you try with her?”

What?

You looked at him as if he’d told he was pregnant. It was absurd. Joohyun was your best friend, and an idol. It would be impossible.

“What? You guys always seemed to have a sexual tension,” Jimin laughs, his eyes almost closing as his teeth appeared. “And we both know she would fuck you on sight, come on.”

“Chim, she’s an idol. It’s impossible.”

“Bitch, you dated Jungkook on the low for almost a year, what the hell are you talking about?”

You shake your head. It would be too much, even for you. You had a thing for Joohyun ever since you met her, in her trainee years. It didn't disappear when you started dating Jungkook, and Joohyun started dating Seulgi, and both of them always joking around about a foursome, with you being the one that kept it from happening. But even now, you weren't sure that would happen.

“I don’t know, Jimin.”

“I wouldn't pass the opportunity,” he jokes, taking a bite of the cake you shared. “But seriously, think about it. You deserve to move on.”

“I certainly will,” you laughed, not sure about which of the sentences you had agreed on.

┈

[07/03 11:23AM] JEONGGUK: i’m sorry.

[07/15 04:33AM] JEONGGUK: i love you.

[07/31 03:21PM] JEONGGUK: i miss you.

[08/17 02:08AM] JEONGGUK: i hope you’re doing okay.

[08/26 10:32AM] JEONGGUK: fuck, i still love you.

[Today 9:51PM] JEONGGUK: i hope you’re having the best time of your life.

Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up — it’s your mantra, at 00:21AM. The feelings that washed over your body with the small display of affection from him had you dialing the number known by heart. You had nothing in mind to say to Jungkook, but the call was still on, every ring making your breath hitch in your throat.

The sound suddenly became cold, a low breathing on the other side of the line, a sad melody playing in the background. He had picked up. You bite your lip, running your hands through your hair locks, unsure of which step to take next.

“Hey,” Jungkook whispers, so low you doubted he really had said something.

“Hi,” your tone isn’t higher than his.

You slowly moved out of the bed, careful not to wake Joohyun. Sitting down on the couch, you allow yourself to inhale a deep breath, still unsure of what to say.

“How have you been?”

“How are you?”

Both of you ask together, causing each other to chuckle lightly, slowly easing the tension in the atmosphere. Butterflies flew in your stomach at the sound of his laugh, making you doubt if you were entertained by your awkwardness or by him.

“It’s been a long time, huh?” He says, hanging on to every word. You could almost imagine him lying in bed, a hand under his head as he bit his lips, eyes locked in the ceiling.

“What are you doing?” You couldn't help yourself.

“I’m staring at the stars, they’re beautiful tonight.”

“I can see the moon from the couch,” you sigh, biting your lip as you hugged your knees, eyes locked on the satellite through the window glasses.

“Is the same apartment you lived together before, right?” He asks and you nod, aware he wasn’t able to see. “It has a great view.”

“Do you remember when you used to build forts in the living room just because you wanted to look at the sky without actually having to go outside?”

“It was winter, it was cold,” he defends.

“It was the middle of the summer, Gguk,” you laughed, reminded of how hot it got under the covers.

Fuck.

“You’re lying,” he joked, acting as if he hadn't heard you calling him by his nickname after so long. “It was literally snowing and I have videos to prove it.”

“You always film everything, god.”

“I have to remember the good times. And sometimes it's too beautiful to let it slide.”

He was always taking pictures and making little movies in his spare time. Most of them involved you and his friends, the people he loved. You heart stung with flashes of the times he’d held cameras for you, his smile wide behind the lenses, his eyes shining brighter than the full moon in the darkest sky.

“You’re happy, right?” Jungkook asked once the silence settled again, your heartstrings jumping and breaking.

Were you? Joohyun was funny, lovable and always there, despite her schedule. You felt okay, although dark days always crept their way to you in the night, your tossing and turning in bed unable to shake the bad thoughts away.

“I’m trying to be,” you were honest, exhaling a breath you had no idea how long you had held in.

“I want you to be happy, okay?” Jungkook says, the sound of his footsteps on the marble floor telling you he was moving around in his own bedroom. “I fucked up with you, but that doesn't mean everyone else will too. Give happiness a chance.”

“I know.”

You did, but knowing that did not fill the emptiness you felt. He felt guilty for gifting you with trust issues and self-doubt; for leaving under the same circumstances he found you in.

“You deserve to be happy too.” Saying that wasn’t easy when you still wanted him to be happy with you. “I forgive you.”

“It doesn't ease my heart to hear that,” Jungkook whispers, his sobs and the weakness in his voice giving away that he was crying.

“You’ll always have me, okay?” You confess, forcing your own tears back. “I’ll always love you. Do you remember that promise we made?”

“On our birthday?” He remembers, sniffing away his troubled thoughts. “You told me you were mine.”

“I will always be yours, one way or another,” you whisper, closing your eyes and moving your head to the back of the couch. “Nobody ever loved me like you did and I’ve never loved someone as much as I love you. And to be honest, I don't think I can.”

“But I hurt you so bad. W-why do you still feel like t-this?” He stutters on his words, tied knots wrapped around both your throats.

“Because you’re home, Jungkook,” you cry, hugging yourself tighter. “You will always be my home.”

“No one can ever replace you,” he promises, as lowly as you.

You stayed in silence, both digesting the words that left your mouths. Could you ever be as happy with someone new as you were with him, despite everything? Would you ever move on and leave your romantic feelings behind? Should you?

“You are my home too,” Jungkook says, more controlled with his emotions. “I’ll always be here for you, in every way, with all of me.”

“Thank you.”

You end the call. That wasn't the emotional roller coaster you had signed up for. In your head, you would fight and tell him to move on, lying your way out of his life even if meant hurting him. But you ended up by confessing the feelings you still tried to suppress, making more promises you could never break.

┈

Ceremony Awards were your private hell on earth. Being a part of the legal team under IU’s management, you were used to being in the background with two phones in hand in case the cameras caught something they weren’t supposed to — which wasn’t impossible to have happen since the woman loved some public action.

“Please, no runs for the bathroom this time,” you beg her as another girl fixed up her dress, both fighting to suppress a smile.

“Sit by my side, then,” she offers, putting a strand of her hair behind her ear, an innocent smile on her red lips. “This way, if I need to relieve myself, you can just come with and keep an eye open for any party breaker.”

“Who buys your face doesn’t buy your nymphomaniac personality,” you joke, typing away on the company’s phone to see if her plan should have a go.

“People love a cutie on the streets and a freak on the sheets, what can I say?” Jieun laughs, already looking around the place for a possible lay. “But you’re good now, right? Your break was long.”

The whole world knew who you were, if not for being one of IU’s staff, then for being Jungkook’s girlfriend. As soon as the picture of the woman, who wasn't you, sucking Jungkook’s dick trended all over the internet, the company asked for you to take a break from work, as a way to not stain their best act’s image — since you were always seen together. You wanted to drown in work to help you forget everything, but you were forced to stay in hiding, having all the time in the world to think about Jungkook’s cheating and wallow in self-pity. They only allowed you to come back after two months, when people were already over the cheating of the year.

“Yeah, I’m good. Time is really a remedy,” you tell her, checking the phone for a confirmation that you were free to sit alongside her, although you should be kept in the shadows for your own safety.

“Shitty that every medicine can cause an overdose if in large doses,” Jieun mumbles, clearly bitter with your ex-boyfriend.

She was the one to introduce Jungkook to you. A rookie on the team, you were still struggling to not mess everything up on the award, an eye attentive to her every move and the other on possible crows, thirsty to ruin the image of the nation’s golden girl. Jieun brought you to him in the backstage, begging to congratulate BTS on their performance, after the ceremony was over. You fell for her enthusiasm and humbleness, happy to lead the way to the seven men about to receive a compliment from her.

You barely got to talk to their representatives about the whole deal when she pulled your arm and practically threw you into Jungkook — a smug smile as she babbled an “you’re welcome” to the man, that kept his hands on your elbows, to prevent you from falling straight to his chest.

After that night, Jieun was happy to be his beard to every date you had, but always denying the rumours that came up. She was the first to express her support for your relationship when Jungkook willingly let your name slip during a live, causing people to realize what happened behind the curtains.

“You don't have to be mad with him,” you told her, smiling truthfully. “I’m good now.”

Jieun said something back, but everything came to a halt when you saw the movement behind her. Namjoon had just passed, walking straight to his designed seat, nodding and waving politely to people he crossed paths with — the rest of BTS closely behind.

Your eyes fell in Jungkook’s, slowly walking and waving to the rest of the cameras on the red carpet. He looked like a god, his smile so radiant and contagious. You almost forgot the faint dimples he had on his cheek. His red hair blew you away, the rest of his forehead and the eyebrows displayed in such harmony with the rest of his face. He fixed his suit and gave them a final wave, entering backstage with his head down and no smile, avoiding everything and following Taehyung’s shadowy silhouette.

Your heart ached, about to explode in your chest. Suddenly, the air was rarefied, the room too warm and your thoughts too fast. He was motherfucking ethereal. Your sweating hands and jelly knees made you leave Jieun talking to herself, being the one to take a run for the bathroom to try to compose yourself.

Despite what anyone could think, you weren't hurt by his image. You were excited — maybe even turned on. He looked better than you’d ever seen before, even if clearly surrounded by the heavy gray cloud in his mind. All you thought about was if he still smelt the same, if his skin was still as smooth and warm as your mind remembered. All you could think was if his mouth was still as sweet and soft, if his hands would find your weak spots and how long it would take him to make you see star again.  

After washing the sweat off your face countless times, you exit the bathroom, looking around to see if destiny was on your side and brought him to you. But you let out a heavy sight with a bit of disappointment when your eyes lay on Seokjin, rather than Jungkook.

“You look amazing,” he compliments, leaning in to give you a hug and checking out your black and white suit, perfectly designed for running after sasaengs and breaking their noses.

“You’re one to talk,” you laugh, brushing invisible dust off his head-to-toe Gucci set.

“We should hang out someday — catch up and everything,” Jin invites, fixing his hair with a smile painted on his lips. “It’s been almost a year, already.”

“I think so too, I miss your cooking skills,” you joke, playfully punching his arm.

“I miss your drinking skills, brat.”

“I gotta go find Jieun, but take care, okay?” You tell him, looking down at the unread texts vibrating on your phone.

“You too,” he kisses your head, gently squeezing your shoulders. “Don’t forget me.”

“Never, Jinnie,” you promise him, imitating his blowing kiss as you walk away, his laugh filling the room with sweetness.

You wouldn't. Even with how things turned out, meeting Bangtan was one of the things you were most grateful for — and that, you wouldn't take for granted.

┈

Jungkook keeps an eye on his figure in the mirror, letting a few sighs out of his mouth as the staff sets up his harness. He could barely recognize the guy standing in front of him.

So much had happened in the last year that he felt like a different man. Losing you caused him to lose many other things, too. A huge amount of his fans took your side, reasonably, and the hate he got was massive. His relationship with his friends changed since they no longer bothered to protect him as much, letting him take full responsibility for his actions.

But that caused him to grow up, faster than he would’ve acknowledged. Most songs on the new album had a part of him, the little movies he made were filled with meaning — he wanted to remind everyone of who he was, and who he loved. Yoongi even told him he was different, that he was a better version of his past.

He dyed his hair as a way of burying his old self, his mistakes and fears. Jimin told him it would help, that changing something about his appearance was the first step to being completely healed, so he did.

Bright red, almost pink. He aimed for forest fire, but hit cherry blossoms — it meant you, either way. Forest fire for burning everything to ashes, for the destruction he caused, for the way his heart felt beside yours. Cherry blossoms just for you.

“She’s back with IU,” Jin says, snapping Jungkook out of his thoughts. “And she’s still pretty as hell.” Jimin laughs, agreeing.

“I think she will probably hang around at the after party,” Yoongi says, adjusting his choker. “We should stay for a bit.”

Jungkook blocks out the rest of their talk, cleaning his sweaty hands on his leather pants. You were there, hidden somewhere backstage, probably three phones in hand and watching IU as a hawk. The first time you both shared the same roof in over a year.

Would you watch their performance? Congratulate them after, highlighting the better parts and hugging each of them, like you used to? Would you see him?

The thought of you somewhere in the crowd, eyes locked on him, made Jungkook shiver. His heartbeat quickened and the anxiety that washed over him was for the performance.

“You guys are up in forty seconds,” a staff chimes in, adjusting his mic and looking for anything out of the ordinary.

It was showtime.

That meant he had to focus now — the setlist, the choreo and the lyrics taking over his thoughts, pushing you to the back of his mind. Going over as many times as he could before actually stepping foot on stage. The boys gathered around in a circle and pulled him in, professing encouraging words and shouting the group’s name, briefly sharing hugs and smiles as they went to their positions.

The shouting of the crowd was louder than ever when the lights came on, his solo eager for them to continue, as he followed the steps he himself had come up with. Jungkook didn't look to his colleagues once during the first three songs, too focused in his own mind and the adrenaline in his veins — that, strangely, brought peace to his heart.

But now is the fourth song, and they have to interact with the fans, gathered on a small area in front of the stage. His shyness takes over, without a reason to. Hoseok notices his flushed cheeks and waves to Jungkook to sit beside him, feet hanging off the platform. As he bends to sit, the lights come out his focus and he has a clearer image of his fellow idols watching their performance and the fans below, crying and screaming profanities about their wardrobe choice. He laughs when someone shouts something about Taehyung’s tongue, looking over his band mate to see if he’d caught it too. And that’s when he sees you.

On the other edge of the stage, right beside Jieun. Although the cameras and lights are focused on her, to Jungkook it’s you that shines the brightest. Time stops when he focuses his gaze on you, especially on the wide smile adorning your red lips. All the butterflies in his belly come alive and before he knows, he’s mirroring your smile. His heart is as steady as when he’s asleep, the adrenaline replaced by all the excitement and wonder your starry eyes brings him.

And then you give him a shy wave, running your tongue over your lips, pride for him showing off in every action you made. He gets on his feet and bends over, bowing to you from across the room, his smile so wide it’s impossible to hide.

After that, every pair of eyes in the room are attentive to your interaction. But Jungkook doesn't care, he keeps his eyes locked on you until their performance ends. You look breathtaking, even in your suit. The way you silently congratulate him with thumbs up and small reactions makes him feel alive again, waking up the part of him that’s been asleep the whole time you’ve been gone.

┈

You only move after the ceremony comes to an end, Jieun with an arm intertwined with yours, a huge smile on her face for the award she won. You bow to every idol that comes up to congratulate her and the staff, sharing educated smiles as they go find their way to the after party.

“Okay, I gotta do something now,” she tells you, observing your reaction. “Please, come with.”

“The party? I don’t know…”

“No,” she shakes it off, biting her lips in anticipation. “Come congratulate Bangtan with me. I don’t want to deal with my exes on the way there and you scare them off.”

You almost laughed at her obviousness, but you maintain your facade. You never wanted something more. In one of your weekly meetings, Jimin told you how hard they were trying, how much the last album took from them. Seeing them perform with such ease and passion almost had you on your knees, so proud of the outcome of their hard work. All you wanted was to hug every single one of them and tell them they brought art to the stage, in its purest form.

“The things I do to keep my job,” you joke, already walking to the dressing rooms.

“I love you, you asshole,” Jieun nudges you, laughing lightly.

You look around, still checking for paparazzi in the room. Luckily, they were banned backstage, but you still had to make sure none could capture you and Jieun going in — simply to avoid any rumor.

As soon as you passed through the black curtains, a weight was lifted from your shoulders. The staff gives you nods of recognition and allows you to make your way to the last dressing room, where BTS was in. You didn’t have to check to be sure — they always opted for it because it was closer to the bathroom. You knocked on the open door to announce your presence, a wide smile on your lips as the men turned to face you, mirroring your reaction.

“You killed it!” You congratulate Jimin as he comes to hug you, picking you up from the floor, laughs filling the room.

“It was breathtaking,” you hug the rest of them, taking your time. “Tae, your vocals blew me away, what the hell.”

“Did you like the second song?” Hoseok asks when you kiss his cheek, a heart-warming smile painted on his lips. “I made it, every piece of it.”

“It was my favorite!” You confess, laughing as Jieun agrees, resting her hands on Taehyung’s shoulder.

But before anyone can say anything else, the steps that followed made the room freeze in expectation, serious faces glancing between you and something behind you. The perfume gives him away, the smell of flowers and vanilla clouding your senses. You slowly turn to face him, unconsciously holding your breath and biting your lips.

His starry eyes are solely focused on you, as if there wasn't anyone else in the room. He smiles shyly, not showing his teeth. You thought he looked good when you first saw him tonight and during the performance. But to see him up close, eyes and smiles only on you, his cherry red hair falling on the sides of his face leaving his forehead showing, the eyebrows so perfectly drawn and on display, it was an out-of-body experience.

You were sure that Jungkook was the face that every single poet and artist used as their muse. He was art.

“Hey,” you both say together, chuckling; stupid smiles adorning your faces, mad butterflies on your belly.

He bows as you take a step closer, unaware of how much you wanted to hug him — though he doesn't freeze when you wrap your arms around his frame, taking him in. Jungkook hugs you back, his hands wrapped around your waist and face hidden on your hair, as you hide your own on the crook of his neck, allowing his perfume and natural smell to drown you completely. Despite the heart attack you thought you might have, his embrace calms you, the butterflies chilling with the comfort of home.

“Your hair looks amazing,” you confess, distancing yourself just enough to take a look at the color, slowly running your fingers through his locks.

“You look beautiful,” he whispers giving you his bunny smile, his hands still on your waist.

“I loved the stage, your presence was out of this world.”

“Thank you,” he moves a hand to your hair, taking it away from your face to see your rosy cheeks. “It means a lot to me.”

You could kiss him, right now. You wanted to. His lips were rosy and plump, slightly open from his grin. His eyes wavering between your eyes and your mouth, still so close you felt his warm breath on your skin.

That’s when you knew it was gone, the fear of not being enough. Right there, in his arms, his stare as if you were the most precious thing he’d ever seen, the way his breath mirrored yours, the hand on his neck giving away your hearts beating at the same pace. Right there, in his arms, you found home again.

“Go out with me,” you ask him, locking your eyes on his, words no louder than a whisper. “We can go to that coffee shop we had our first date, the one with the rooftop.”

“No,” Jungkook tells you. You can hear your heart breaking before he circles your cheeks, with a cocky smile. “Let me cook for you.”

“Since when do you cook?” You tease, trying to hide how close you were to crying from his joke.

“You made me begin when you told Jimin you would only marry if it was with someone who can cook.”

“I have this effect on you, huh?”

“Always.”

You smile and hug him again, hiding away in him chest as he laughs lightly, feeling fully alive for the first time in a while. He spins you on the ground, as a way to hide himself from his friends, leaving you to face them. They have huge smiles on their faces, watching attentive to both your actions. Jimin gives you a thumb up as Yoongi mumbles a “kiss him” and laughs. You hide more in Jungkook chest, defying whoever said two bodies can’t exist in the same space, and he keeps drawing circles on your waist, allowing both of you to recover from the lack of each other in the past year.

You lift your head, kissing his cheek before returning to the crook of his neck, your hands tugging on his black button up to keep him closer. He lets a heavy sigh out, kissing your forehead.

“I’m never letting you go again.”

“Me neither.”

[creamypudding]

Reblog - ask thing

I feel like wasting time so I’m gonna answer an ask thing I found -

1. coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans? Water Bottles

2. chocolate bars or lollipops? Chocolate bars

3. bubblegum or cotton candy? Bubblegum

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you? Shy

5. do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups? Glass cups

6. pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear? Boho

7. earbuds or headphones? Headphones

8. movies or tv shows? TV Shows

9. favorite smell in the summer? Baked earth

10. game you were best at in p.e.? I wasn’t good at anything, but I enjoyed Hockey the most. Though does running count? I made it to some cross-country running thing once. I like running too.

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day? Toast with cold cuts of meat

12. name of your favorite playlist? -pass-

13. lanyard or key ring? Key ring

14. favorite non-chocolate candy? Skittles

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment? To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee

16. most comfortable position to sit in? Cross-legged and with my back leaning against something

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes? Sneakers

18. ideal weather? Sunny, warm, but with a cool breeze.

19. sleeping position? left side, hugging a big stuffed toy.

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)? Laptop/Phone

21. obsession from childhood? Dinosaurs!!!

22. role model? Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec.

23. strange habits? If there are two light switches next to each other they need to both be facing the same way (especially annoying when one of said light switches controls a light which has a separate light switch somewhere else, so the off and on position can vary.)

24. favorite crystal? Emerald

25. first song you remember hearing? Mmmbop by Hanson (probably)

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather? Sit under a fan

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather? Sit under a blanket

28. five songs to describe you? -pass-

29. best way to bond with you? Talk to me about video games we share an interest in.

30. places that you find sacred? Moss covered forests and valleys

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names? Jeans and a tshirt

32. top five favorite vines? -pass-

33. most used phrase in your phone? -pass-

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head? -pass-

35. average time you fall asleep? 20 mins

36. what is the first meme you remember ever seeing? -pass-

37. suitcase or duffel bag? Suitcase

38. lemonade or tea? Tea

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie? Lemon cake

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school? Probably lubricant getting spread all over the stairwell banisters.

41. last person you texted? A friend to organize a GoT viewing party.

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets? Jacket pockets

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket? Hoodie

44. favorite scent for soap? Milk and Honey

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero? Sci-fi (though all three rolled into one is the ULTIMATE)

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in? Soft flannel PJ’s

47. favorite type of cheese? Brie

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be? -pass-

49. what saying or quote do you live by? -pass-

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have? -pass-

51. current stresses? Work and self-imposed writing deadlines.

52. favorite font? Verdana and COMIC SANS! FIGHT ME!

53. what is the current state of your hands? Clean. Slightly moist.

54. what did you learn from your first job? Med students are fucking pigs.

55. favorite fairy tale? -pass-

56. favorite tradition? -pass-

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome? Public speaking, making new friends, not being so shy.

58. four talents you’re proud of having? -pass-

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be? Cool beans!

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be? Fantasy - like 12 Kingdoms.

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.? -pass-

62. seven characters you relate to? -pass-

63. five songs that would play in your club? -pass-

64. favorite website from your childhood? When I was a kid we didn’t have websites. But I guess... when I was older... Neopets, until my account got hacked.

65. any permanent scars? A deeply rooted inability to open up to people face to face - oh, does that refer to physical?  XD Part of my ear is missing

66. favorite flower(s)? cacti and succulents.

67. good luck charms? -pass-

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried? Mixing coke and milk together - do not.

69. a fun fact that you don’t know how you learned? -pass-

70. left or right handed? Right

71. least favorite pattern? My inability to keep a consistent exercise routine going.

72. worst subject? Maths

73. favorite weird flavor combo? -pass-

74. at what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an advil or ibuprofen? 8

75. when did you lose your first tooth? Probably the normal age for kids to lose teeth -6/7.

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)? Chips

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill? Cacti/succulents

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store? Sushi

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo? I haven’t had a school ID in too long. Passport photo looks better than my driver's license photo.

80. earth tones or jewel tones? Earth

81. fireflies or lightning bugs? Fireflies

82. pc or console? PC (master race)

83. writing or drawing? Writing

84. podcasts or talk radio? Podcast

84. barbie or polly pocket? Polly Pocket!

85. fairy tales or mythology? Fairy Tales

86. cookies or cupcakes? Cupcakes

87. your greatest fear? Drowning

88. your greatest wish? To have more money.

89. who would you put before everyone else? Myself

90. luckiest mistake? -pass-

91. boxes or bags? Bags

92. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights? Lamps

93. nicknames?  -pass-

94. favorite season? Spring

95. favorite app on your phone? Google Docs

96. desktop background? Random images

97. how many phone numbers do you have memorized? 6

98. favorite historical era? -pass-

[killian-whump]

OUAT 3x01: Rewatch Blog

Welcome aboard, mateys! It's time to start rewatching Season 3! As usual, I'm a bit behind everyone else on this rewatch, but I've decided it's more fun for me to move at my own pace, so I probably won't be catching up anytime soon ;)

That said... Let's get started on Once Upon a Time Season 3!!!

Whoa. Wait a minute. Eleven Years Ago?! I really AM behind... ;)

Seriously, though. Do they really have to handcuff her ankle to the bed? Do they have a problem with women in labor jumping up and escaping prison right at that precise moment in their lives?

That's sad, though :(

Ooooh... I love the deadly stillness after the ship "lands" in Neverland. It's so... eeeeeeeerie. 

Ahhh, and the ominous look on Killian's face.

You can just FEEL the tension in the air.

"Aye. Neverland."

AHHHHHHHH TENSION AND ANGST

Kinda lame title card, haha.

Aw, great. It's this guy. NOBODY MISSED YOU GREG. YOU CAN GO BACK TO WHEREVER YOU WENT DURING THE HIATUS NOW.

SHIT. HE BROUGHT TAMARA, TOO.

I really hate these two, guys. Like, really.

Oh, come on. Don't shove a fucking kid, you asshat. Fucking GREG. You're an insult to your name, and I don't even like your name.

Oooooh, spooky noises. I love the atmosphere they built for this realm.

"Who we work for is not your concern, kid." Well, according to YOU as of about 20 minutes ago in show time, it's not YOUR concern either, dipshit.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THERE'S SAND IN YOUR BATTERY COMPARTMENT, YOU FUCKING MORON. WHO PUT SAND IN YOUR BATTERY COMPARTMENT, HUH? YOU FUCKING IDIOT.

Shut up, shut up. I know it was Peter Pan. LET ME HAVE MY MOMENT.

"It's a good thing you guys don't ask any questions." Hahahaha, bested by an 11-year-old and sand.

...and there he goes, shoving the damn kid again. You're just a colossal jerk, aren't you, Greg?

At least Tamara has the sense to look mildly concerned right here.

"Oh, I know, my hot-headed queen."

I JUST DIED. Forward my mail to my gravesite.

I totally forgot that line ever happened. I love rewatching this show.

"I hope not, or we've wasted our lives." AAAAAAANGST

"Your lives... well... THEY'VE SUCKED" hahaha, Why don’t you tell them what you really think, Emma XD

"We found you." Awww... "And lost Henry! And Neal!" Well, to be fair, it's not like you can expect them to give two shits about Neal. They met him, like, last week. And he's kinda a dick. And his Dad's, like, evil incarnate. But okay.

"Oh, that's a great use of our time: A wardrobe change." One of the best lines ever, really.

I mean, did Rumple really need to do the dramatic cane-spinning exit, though? It makes for good TV, so it's cool and all, but imagine it in real life. Like, just a boat full of people staring at where he once stood, thinking, "JFC That was unnecessarily dramatic."

OH, YEAH, LET'S LIGHT A FUCKING FIRE, GREG. THAT'S A GREAT FUCKING IDEA, GREG. Fucking loser.

Yes, I do plan on doing this until he dies. You have your hobbies; I have mine.

"You making S'Mores?"

HAAAAAAHHAHAHAHA OMG LOOK AT HIS FACE:

Fucking goon. Haha. I named that screencap "assface" when I saved it, because I feel it's fitting for both the character AND the face he's making.

"What if the empty communicator wasn't an accident?"

You mean the one someone OBVIOUSLY filled with sand instead of batteries ON PURPOSE??? Noooooooooooo.

"Don't let the kid get in your head." He's not even TRYING, Greg. He's just hungry and wants some fucking S'Mores. I want some S'Mores, too. We all want fucking S'Mores. S'Mores are delicious, FuckingGreg.

OH LOOK, IT'S FELIX.

AND ALL THE REST OF THE LOST BOYS ONES BOYS. I think we’re calling them “Boys” now. Must have gotten the rights.

Kill him, Felix. Somebody. Anybody. I'll even settle for the annoying Lost Boy with the face that annoys me, although I don't think he's in this season, but he's welcome to join it IF HE KILLS GREG.

"Then you're not getting the boy." Oh, Greg. It is entirely too late for you to do anything remotely likable now. Like, I literally want to throw Henry at them now just to spite you.

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSS RIP THAT MOTHERFUCKER'S SOUL OUT OF HIS BODY. TAKE HIS SPINE, TOO. THE ENTIRE SKELETAL SYSTEM. MAYBE A DISEMBOWELING'S CALLED FOR HERE?

Or, you know, you can just leave his husk there by the fire to rot away. That's good, too. I'm not picky.

GREG IS DEAD, EVERYBODY.

Tamara and Henry are running! Oh no! Will they make it? Will they-

This is a great scene, everybody. Thank you so much. This is the best thing to ever happen to me and the season only started 10 minutes ago.

Hahaha, they even show us a close-up of Tamara lying motionless on the ground, and then Greg. Like they KNOW we've all been waiting for their demise and they wanted to give us screenshots for our scrapbooks.

Anyway, thanks Felix! That was pretty cool. Much obliged.

Hey, look. An enterprising young chap has helped Henry up. There's no way he could be a bad guy.

I have to say, of all the "twists" in Once, this was one of the worst ones in terms of how OBVIOUS it was.

To some extent, it's the casting department's fault, because Robbie Kay is just TOO fucking perfect for Peter Pan. Like, he just EXUDES Peter Pan and he's not fooling anybody.

Heeheehee CS flirting <3

"What do you want?" All due respect, but it's HIS fucking ship? Like, he doesn't really need a reason to be below deck on his own ship?

"I didn't realize you were sentimental." "I'm not."

I love it when he spits the cork out, but how many corks does this man go through?!

Oh, look. Speak of the devil - It's Neal.

"Tell Emma I'm alive. And I love her."

Well, that's a GREAT message to pass on through your kiiiiiid. Won't get his hopes up or anything.

ANYWAY.

"Long enough to know I miss him, too." T_T

UH OH. TROUBLE'S AFOOT!!!

Oh, Dave and Snow are at the helm. That explains it. LEARN HOW TO DRIVE, SNOWING. Gosh.

Pun intended. I'm so sorry.

Regina: "What the hell are you two doing?!" Ahahahahaha :D

"Prepare for attack!" "Be more specific!" I love all these interactions. This is like the WORST family vacation EVER and I love every second of it.

"What's out there? A shark? A whale?" "A kraken?"

YOU FUCKING WISH.

Actually, no, Dave probably doesn't wish... but Kraken-san does! :D

Emma's response is classic. "Mermaids?!" Like what the fuck else does she have to put up with in this crazy sham of a life NOOOOW?

Dave's kinda hot manning that cannon, I gotta say. He's showing off some guns firing off that gun, if you know what I mean.

But really, what did they plan to DO with one mermaid, anyway? Especially after Regina chased them all off with her fireballs?

Oh, look. Henry and Totally-Not-Peter-Pan are on the run!

I'm super fooled by him talking himself up in third person, though XD

"If Pan wants you... he WILL get you."

"Pan will rip their shadows into oblivion."

"Pan loves nachos with spicy cheese."

"Pan is the awesomest guy on this island."

Aw, man. This scene is a snoozefest :/

Literally. They're all just watching Aurora sleep XD

Wait. HOW is Neal feeling better? He got shot, like, 10 minutes ago in show time and he's had no REAL medical care, aside from whatever they bandaged him with, since none of these folks here have magic.

HOW IS HE FEELING BETTER?!

I gotta be honest, though. Rumple is hot as SHIT in this season. I ain't gonna pretend otherwise. This leather clad badass thing WORKS for him.

Oh, look. Tamara's still alive.

"C-Can you forgive me?"

I'm gonna guess that is a HARD ASS NO, bitch.

Haha, love the way he flicks the dust off his fingers.

"GET THAT THING OFF MY SHIP!"

I love how panicked he is by the mermaid XD It gives my entire life meaning :D

I wish we had more information in canon about Hook's time in Neverland. We can tell this is FAR from his first skirmish with mermaids, but how/when/why/what happened? I NEED TO KNOW! Especially if it involved wounds or peril or other things relevant to my interests...

Touching Mulan and Neal chat.

More running in the woods with Not!Pan.

"Well, I'm all out of fish food." Love you, Regina <3

"Fillet the bitch." Seriously, love you so much bae <3

Snow's face, tho XD

This is 110% why I watch this show. SHENANIGANS.

...and a pirate. Don't forget the pirate.

"I've outrun many a storm!" We know you have, babe. We know. You keep telling us...

SHAMPOO COMMERCIAL TIME!!!

PERIL ON THE HIGH SEAS!!!

CERTAIN BLETH DEATH!!!

SUPER DRAMATIC MUSIC!!!

...as we cut to a peaceful, though somewhat dilapidated, castle in the Enchanted Forest. Birds are singing, dawn is breaking, the world is alight with hope and possibili-

JUST KIDDING. GET BACK TO THE FUCKING DRAMA STORM, SHOW.

I hate it when they do this.

Hey, Sean. Nice intro.

"You don't want to see ID?" Neal... ISTFG.

Disappearing arrow, heehee. SHENANIGANS.

I love how interested Robin is in what's inside the vault XD Always a thief, eh?

"This isn't a storm. It's bloody damnation!" Love that line <3

"Let the slags go!" Haha "Don't call my wife a slag!" Haha!

BOY FIGHT!! BOY FIGHT!!!

They're all wet, too! Slow down, cameraman! I wanna see ALL of this!!!

Oooh, almost gutted with his own hook. Haaaaarsh.

Emma, no one's listening to you. Emma, no one's... They're not... They're not even looking or paying any attention at all... They won't even- Oh. Okay. Somehow everyone saw you jump, despite literally being in a fight for their respective lives. Neat.

...aaaaaaand cue the convenient rigging falling loose and hitting her in the head.

SHENANIGAAAAAAAAANS

Oh, look! They're flying!!!

This would be super touching if it wasn't, you know, exactly what Pan wants XD

Haha, Emma looks so ethereal floating there, unconscious, in the waters of Neverland, facing certain death.

Awww! A big group effort rescue!!! Good job, team!

"Told you." Right, but no one was listening...? So how do they even know what she's talking about? Well, I guess maybe they WERE listening...?

Shenanigans? idek anymore...

SHENANIGANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awww... Bobby's acting is so great right here. This is awesome. Very moving. The part after the shenanigans, I mean. Although they’re great, too.

Felix, you're kinda a dick, though. That’s kinda a compliment, tho?

I love it when magic flops :D Dramatic music aaaaaand... nothing.

"Actually, I quite fancy you from time to time, when you're not yelling at me."

You like her even more when she's yelling at you, son. IT IS KNOWN.

His offended face when Charming says, "With him?" XD DAVE, WHY WOULD YOU SAY THIS ABOUT ME. DAVE, I THOUGHT WE WERE PALS. DAVE. DAAAAVE.

Hahaha, his adorable shrug to Regina. SHENANIGANS <3

"You couldn't be more right, Henry."

I'm so glad they didn't try to drag out the reveal of Pan to another episode, because he seriously wasn't fooling aaaaaanybody.

Except for Henry. Oops?

It's so great how ominous they're being at the end of this episode, advancing on Henry like that...

Although Pan's "let's play!" is a lot less frightening when you know he literally means "let's dance around a fire and create a rhythmic ruckus" but hey. It still works for the ending of this episode, which is now... OVER!!

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!! PEW PEW PEW!!!

[transgenderlies]

Countering transgender lies about Stonewall

Transgenders consistently lie about what happened at the Stonewall Inn in 1969. Their lie holds that the Stonewall riot was variously spurred by or chiefly carried out by transgenders, specifically “transwomen of colour” and even more specifically an “instigator” named Ray “Sylvia” Rivera. If you’d like all Stonewall-related transgender lies collected in one place, I would refer you to the so-called Transadvocate.

Of course this isn’t what happened. It was illegal to appear in public in the attire of the opposite sex in New York in 1969. You couldn’t just sashay down to the Stonewall of a Friday night for a watered-down drink served in a dirty glass, at least not without expecting hassles from cops. The Stonewall Inn was not an early Woody’s with weekly drag shows. The primary clientele was gay males, with some lesbians, and they were dressed like men and women, respectively, in most cases. Whatever “transgenders” frequented the Stonewall were actually drag queens, though that is a distinction without a difference here.

The facts are well established, except to lying transgenders. We have not merely the eyewitness accounts of gay men who were at the Stonewall that night (or the next two nights, or some combination), as in PBS’s Stonewall Uprising. We further have the direct statements from Sylvia Rivera herself, as recorded by recognized historians.

Eric Marcus, Making Gay History

Actually, it was the first time I had been to the friggin’ Stonewall. The Stonewall wasn’t a bar for drag queens. Everybody keeps saying it was. The drag queen spot was the Washington Square Bar, at Third St. and Broadway. This is where I get into arguments with people. They say, “Oh, no, it was a drag-queen bar, it was a black bar.” No. Washington Square Bar was the drag-queen bar.

If you were a drag queen, you could get into the Stonewall if they knew you. And only a certain number of drag queens were allowed into the Stonewall at that time. [...]

That first year after Stonewall, we were petitioning for a gay-rights bill for New York City, and I got arrested for petitioning on 42nd St. I was asking people to sign the petition.

I was dressed casually that day – makeup, hair, and whatnot. The cops came up to me and said, “You can’t do this.” I said, “My Constitution says that I can do anything that I want.” “No, you can’t do this. Either you leave or we’re going to arrest you.” I said, “Fine, arrest me.” They very nicely picked me up and threw me in a police car and took me to jail.

Martin Duberman, Stonewall

Washington Square was Sylvia’s special favo[u]rite. It opened at three in the morning and catered primarily (rather than incidentally as was the case with Stonewall) to transvestites[.] [...]

If she was going out at all... she would go to Washington Square. She had never been crazy about Stonewall, she reminded Tammy: Men in makeup were tolerated there, but not exactly cherished. [...]

If the raid went according to the usual pattern, the only people who would be arrested would be those without IDs, those dressed in the clothes of the opposite gender, and some or all of the employees. Everyone else would be let go with a few shoves and a few contemptuous words. The bar would soon reopen and they would all be back dancing. It was annoying to have one’s Friday night screwed up, but hardly unprecedented.

Note 39:

Section 887(7) of the New York State Criminal Code was the one traditionally invoked by the police against transvestites. The law was supposedly ignored on Halloween, though the police-department handbook specified that even then, someone dressed in costume had to be wearing a certain number of garments “appropriate” to their sex.

Note 40:

The eyewitness accounts in RAT (July 1969) specifically credits “one guy” (not a lesbian or a queen) for precipitating a scuffle by refusing to be put into the paddy wagon.... At least two people credit Sylvia herself with provoking the riot.... But I’ve found no corroboration for either account[,] and Sylvia herself, with a keener regard for the historical record, denies the accuracy of both versions. She does remember “throwing bricks and rocks and things” after the mêlée began, but takes no credit for initiating the confrontation.

David Carter, Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution

pp. 261–2:

The question of who gets credit for starting the riots is one that deserves consideration. The question, however, contains a premise: that an individual or group of individuals can be singled out as the prime mover in a complex process that many person s collectively created. This is important for two reasons. First, as John O’Brien pointed out, there was a continuum of resistance ranging from silent persons who ignored the police orders to move to those who threw objects at the police. O’Brien maintains that it was because of those person standing around and blocking the streets and sidewalks and keeping the police from being able to operate efficiently that he and others were able to engage in their tactics as effectively as they did: if there had been only about fifteen youths lobbing objects at the police the young men would have been quickly caught or chased away.

Second, I wrote the account of the first night to reflect my understanding of what happened, namely, that until the definitive outbreak of rioting when the police retreated inside the Stonewall Inn, there was throughout the evening both a gradual buildup of anger and, correspondingly, a gradual escalation in the release of that anger. In the course of that buildup there were numerous turning points, some more critical than others. With these qualifications noted, I think it is clear that special credit must be given to gay homeless youths, to transgendered men, and to the lesbian who fought the police.¹⁰

Footnote 10 from above:

Charles Kaiser suggested to the author that Stormé DeLarverie (see The Gay Metropolis: 1940–1996 [Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997], p. 198) was this woman, but she could not have been. To cite only a few of the problems with this thesis, DeLarverie’s story is one of escaping the police, not of being taken into custody by them, and she has claimed that on that night she was outside the bar, “quiet, I didn’t say a word to anybody, I was just trying to see what was happening,” when a policeman, without provocation, hit her in the eye (“Stonewall 1969: A Symposium,” June 20, 1997, New York City). DeLarverie is also an African-American woman, and all the witnesses interviewed by the author describe the woman as Caucasian.

And here’s what The Gay Metropolis actually says:

Several spectators agreed that it was the action of a cross-dressing lesbian – possibly Stormé DeLarverie – which would change everyone’s attitude forever. DeLarverie denied that she was the catalyst, but her own recollection matched others’ descriptions of the defining moment. “The cop hit me and I hit him back,” DeLarverie explained [in Kaiser’s own interview with her on 1995.12.09].

Continuing:

Among these, we can name three individuals known to have been in the vanguard: Jackie Hormona, Marsha Johnson, and Zazu Nova.

A common theme links those who resisted first and fought the hardest, and that is gender transgression. While we do not know how the lesbian who fought the police saw herself, we do know that her clothing was masculine, in keeping with her general demeano[u]r. We know from Pine’s testimony that the first significant resistance that he encountered inside the bar came from transvestites, and Joel S. places them among the first outside the bar to resist. Marsha Johnson and Zazu Nova were both transvestites, and, as the reader has seen, the street youth were, generally speaking, effeminate men. All available evidence leads us to conclude that the Stonewall Riots were instigated and led by the most despised and marginal elements of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community. My research for this history demonstrates that if we wish to name the group most responsible for the success of the riots, it is the young, homeless homosexuals, and, contrary to the usual characterizations of those on the rebellion’s front lines, most were Caucasian; few were Latino; almost none were transvestites or transsexuals; most were effeminate; and a fair number came from middle-class families.

Footnote 11 from that same chapter:

It is remarkable – and no doubt inevitable given human psychology – that in the popular imagination the number of transvestites at the riots is always exaggerated. Readers will note that in the [Fred] McDarrah photos of the riots there is one transgendered person[,] and none of the persons I interviewed, some of whom knew her, ever saw her actively involved in the riots. (Note that the McDarrah photographs, which do feature the street youths, were taken late on Saturday night during one of the lulls in rioting, when nothing in particular was happening....) The Ambrosini photo does not show a single transvestite. Craig Rodwell told researcher Michael Scherker that “one of the myths about Stonewall is it was all drag queens. I mean, drag queens are part of what went on. Certainly one of the most courageous, but there were maybe twelve drag queens. In thousands of people.”

Transgenders lie about Stonewall in part because they are fundamentally dishonest (about themselves and about human anatomy, to give two examples), but they do it here to establish primacy over the legitimately constituted lesbian and gay community. The way they tell it, we owe them because they bravely instigated the Stonewall Riots that led to actual gay and lesbian liberation. (Even that last part isn’t true just in the U.S. context, as veterans of the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis will attest.) As far as they’re concerned, transgender is the supercategory and we gays and lesbians are mere variations of trans. And Stonewall proves it.

Well, all of that is untrue, honey, and nobody’s buying what you’re selling, literally or figuratively.

(Original post)

[spiicemarket]

1-117 , 117 is Apple or Samsung?

You guys are almost as annoying as meOkay speed roundLet’s start with a tricky one; what is the real reason you are confused right now? I mean you have to specify what kind of confused I'm confused on all levels possible at all times 2: Do you ever get “good morning” texts from anyone? Lol no 3: If your significant other smoked pot, would you care? Lol no as long as it were legal and they didn't smell like it all the time 4: Do you find it easy to trust others? No 5: What were you doing at 11PM last night? Live streaming on instagram with my friend lol 6: You’re drunk and lost walking down the road; who is with you? No one 7: What would you do if you found out you had been cheated on? break up with the person? : Are you close with your dad? I mean no 9: I bet you kissed someone last night, right?Lol no 10: What are you listening to? Im in the car so sounds of a highway?11: You can only drink ONE liquid for the rest of your life - what is it? w a t e r (shocking, right?) 12: Do you like hickeys? Ew no wtf I'm a child of God 😩😩😩 13: What time do you go to bed? Depends on the day 14: Is there someone who continuously lets you down? Yes15: Can you text as quickly with one hand as you do both? No16: Do you always answer your texts? I mean yeah17: Do you hate the person you fell the hardest for? Yes actually I fell face first in front of this annoying kid while playing soccer when I was 8 18: When was the last time you talked to one of your best friends? Idk yesterday 19: Is there someone that makes you happy every time you see them? My doggo!!20: What was your last thought before you went to bed last night? (Already answered)21: Is anyone else in the room with you? Im in a car lol 22: Do you believe what goes around comes around? ???23: Were you happier four months ago than you are now? No 24: Is there someone you wish you could fix things with? Mmmm no 25: In the past week, have you cried? I mean probably 26: What colour is the shirt you are wearing?It's gray and mint 27: Do people ever call you by your last name? Lol no 28: Is anyone ignoring you right now? No29: Do you have a best friend? If you count internet friends then yes 30: Would it be hard seeing someone else kiss the last person you kissed? I haven't kissed anyone lol 31: Who was your last call/text message from? My mom lmao 32: Are you mad at anyone? No33: Have you ever kissed someone older than you? I HAVEN'T KISSED ANYONE DHEIOW34: How old will the last person you kissed be on his/her next birthday? STOP RUBBING IT IN MY FACE 😩😩😩😩😩35: How many more days until your birthday? It was 5 days ago so 360? 36: Do you have any summer plans yet? LOL NO EXCEPT MAYBE PLAYING SIMS ALL DAY 37: Do you have any good friends of the opposite sex? yes38: Are you keeping anything from your best friend(s) now? mmm idk 39: Do you have a secret that you’ve never told anyone? Yes40: Have you ever regretted kissing someone? hdjeowosjfjc41: Do you think age matters in relationships? I MEAN IF IT'S A CHILD AND AN ADULT THEN YEAH 42: Are you available? what like as a date I mean sure man44: If you had to get a piercing (not ears), what would you get? Ew I hate piercings I guess nose45: Do you believe exes can be friends? I mean maybe46: Do you regret anything? Tons47: Honestly, what’s on your mind right now? (Already answered) 48: Did you ever lose a best friend? Yes 49: Was your last kiss a mistake? OMG50: Why aren’t you pursuing the person you like? I don't like anyone.. 51: Has the last person you kissed ever seen you cry? OMFG DJIEOWKSJ 😩😩😩52: Do you still talk with the person you LAST kissed? ... 53: What was the last thing you ate? A roast my dad made that I microwaved for lunch54: Did you get any compliments today? No id think so at least 55: Where are you going on your next vacation? Idk?56: Do you own anything from other countries? Hmmmm no 57: Are most of your friend guys or girls? Girls58: Where have you lived most of your life? Florida 59: When was the last time you took a long drive? Yesterday 60: Have you ever played Spin the Bottle? No wtf man that fizzes up my soda 61: Have you ever TPd someone’s house? Lol no 62: Who do you text the most? My mom lmao 63: What was the last movie you saw? (Already answered) 64: What’s preventing your current boyfriend/girlfriend from going back to their ex? .... 65: How many boyfriends/girlfriends did you have in 2011? Okay im starting to realize maybe this wasnt good questions for me 66: Is the last person you kissed younger than you? 😩 67: Do you curse around your parents? Yes 68: Are you happy with where you live? Yes 69: Picture of yourself? Hahahahahhaha. No.70: Are you a monogamous person or do you believe in open-ended relationships? Monogamous 71: Have you ever been dumped? No 72: What do you most like about making out? *audible sigh* 73: Have you ever casually made out with someone who you weren’t seriously involved with? *louder sigh*74: When you kiss someone for the first time, is it usually you who initiates it or the other? *fucking helicopter propeller loud sigh* 75: What part of a person’s body do you find most attractive? Uhh idk76: Who was the last person you talked to last night before you went to bed? My friend because we went live on her instagram then FaceTimed for a while 79: What makes your heart flutter and brings a big cheesy smile to your face? When people send me asks !80: Would you get involved with someone if they had a child already? No81: Has someone who had a crush on you ever confessed to you? Lol no 82: Do you tell a lot of people when you have a crush? AHAHAHHAHAHA no 83: Do you miss your last sweetie? Yes I had a lollipop this morning it was really sweet 😩😩84: Last time you slow danced with someone? *slowly dabs* you, bitch 85: Have you ever ‘dated’ someone you’ve never met? ...86: How can I win your heart? Give me food plz87: What is your astrological sign? Capri I think 88: What were you doing last night at 12 AM?Probs going to bed 89: Do you cook? Ramen? Cuz yeah man 90: Have you ever gotten back in touch with an old flame after a time of more than 3 months of no communication? ?no?91: If you’re single right now, do you wish you were in a relationship? Lol no 92: Do you prefer to date various people or do you pretty much fall into monogamous relationships quickly? The second one 93: What physical traits do you look for in a potential interest? Idk 94: Name four things that you wish you had!1. My new laptop 2. Ice cream 3. I really want salad rn don't judge man 4. Um just basically every type of food please 95: Are you a player? Monopoly player? Cuz yeah96: Have you ever kissed 2 people in one day? Lol no98: Ever meet anyone you met on Tumblr? Yes I have meet a person I met on tumblr.. (??) 99: Have you ever been deeply in love with someone? Lol no 100: Anybody on Tumblr that you’d go on a date with? Yes on simblr actually but I won't put any names 👀👀👀🤞101: Hugs or Kisses? Neither I hate touching people102: Are you too shy to ask someone out? Sure let's go with that 103: The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Their hair 104: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you babe? Ew no 105: If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was in relationship, would you go for it? No 106: Do you flirt a lot? Hahaha no110: If you could kiss anyone who would it be?(I got rid of 111-115 bc they were just the things I've been saying this whole time) 116: Are you happier single or in a relationship? Single 117: Your own question that you want me to answer. Just write it. Samsung!

[hurricane-jenn]

Bullet Proof- Chapter 11

Hey guys, I feel like all I do is apologize for how long it takes me to upate fics, and I’m sorry about that. Please read my last post for an update on my life and my plans for my fics. As always thanks to @jordan202 for her support and for catching all my typos. As I said in my last post, this will be the last chapter of Bullet Proof, for now. Don’t get too worried, I am already planning a sequel, this will just be the end of this part of the story.

There is a special reference to one of my favorite TV shows that only lasted one season. It is in the form of words spoken between Owen and Amelia, over the phone and again at the end. I highly doubt anyone will get it, but if they do please message me because you are automatically my new BFF.

Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“I think I just stepped on a pressure plate,” she looked up to meet his eyes. “I’m pretty sure I just triggered a bomb.”

Concern flashed across Owen’s face. He took a step in Amelia’s direction trying to think of a plan for how to get her out of this.

“Owen wait!” He felt Teddy grab his arm to stop him. “You can't go over there, for all we know there could be more explosives. We need to wait for the bomb squad.” She looked over at Amelia with a worried expression. Though she was trying to be the rational one here, the idea of running over to Amelia’s aid had gone through her mind too. She finally found someone who could be a confidant, a friend, and immediately that person’s life was put in danger.

Owen shrugged off Teddy’s arm and made his way towards Amelia. Before he could get too much closer Amelia called out to him.

“Detective Hunt,” she said formally. “I really appreciate the concern, but I’m okay over here. Why don't you go make sure the techs are gathering evidence properly. I see someone over there not wearing gloves.”

Owen was taken aback by Amelia’s formal tone, but he followed her instructions. Making his way over to the techs he realized Amelia was wrong, all of them had gloves on and were following proper procedure. He then realized she must have been trying to get rid of him. The formal way she had called him Detective Hunt reminded him that they were coworkers, and were supposed to be behaving as so. Right now he was acting like a worried boyfriend, and Amelia must have picked up on that. Owen took a deep breath, though he was worried about Amelia, he had a job to do too and he needed to remain professional.

It had been over an hour since Amelia had stepped on the bomb, and she was still standing there. The bomb squad had arrived about half an hour ago, but no one had given Amelia any indication of how much longer she would be here. Everyone kept casting her worried looks and she was getting tired of it. In fact she was tired in general. She has been trying to keep herself incredibly still for the last hour, and she was exhausted. Her body was beginning to betray her, she could feel her legs shaking and she was starting to wonder how much longer she could stand.

The bomb squad tech, Dylan something or other, and his team continued to whisper and send worried glances her way while they stood a safe distance away. Owen and Teddy were supervising the collection of evidence, but they too were keeping a cautious eye on her. Amelia was done with being out of the loop on her own crisis. No one had even spoken to her in the past half hour. It was as if they were scared talking could set off the explosive.

“Hey,” Amelia yelled across the field. “Is anyone going to tell me what the hell the plan is?!”

Dylan stepped forward and raised his voice so she could hear him. “We apologize for the wait Miss Shepherd, we-”

“Doctor,” Amelia interrupted.

“What?” Dylan replied confused.

“It’s Doctor Shepherd not Miss.” Amelia replied annoyed.

“Right, well as I was saying… we are working on a plan to get out safely, the problem is we do not know yet if there are more explosives in that field. We need to ensure our path is clear before we come in to get you.”

“Cool so I'm just supposed to hangout here and wait?” Amelia deadpanned.

“Do you have your phone on you? You could play CandyCrush,” he joked.

Amelia didn't laugh, but instead got an idea. “Can I make a phone call?”

Owen had never been a good actor. In middle school he was cast as a pirate in his school’s production of Peter Pan. He had a huge crush on the girl who was playing a Wendy, and he tried out to impress her. He almost didn't, but his sister convinced him to. A regular in the school plays, Megan assured him she would be there to support him. It turned out he had never been bitten by the acting bug like Megan had and was a terrible pirate. On opening night Owen, who still didn't have the choreography down, tripped over a set piece and fell into the backdrop. He brought the whole scene down with him. Megan, bless her heart, stayed true to her promise of having his back, and pretended the whole thing was her fault. Needless to say he did not get the girl, and he never set foot on the stage again.

So now here Owen was having to pretend he was a professional doing his job, all the while the woman he cared very deeply for was in grave danger only feet away. He really wished now that he was a better actor. Teddy hovered near him equally worried. Neither knew exactly what to do. The bomb squad seemed to be handling it, though from where Owen was standing it just looked like that bomb squad asshole was checking Amelia out. Technically him and Teddy didn't need to be there anymore. Their part of the crime scene was covered and it was up to the MEs now, and of course the bomb squad. If it had been anyone else on the bomb him and Teddy probably would have left already. But it wasn't anybody else, it was Amelia. And though neither of them voiced it they both knew they weren't’ leaving until she was okay.

Owen was shaken out of his thoughts by the ringing of a phone. He didn't realize it was his own until his partner elbowed him in the ribs.

He assumed it was Chief Sloan asking why they weren't back yet so he answered without looking at the caller ID. “Hunt.”

“Don't turn around,” the familiar voice said.

Owen had to resist the urge to turn and meet Amelia's eyes. Instead he took a few steps away from his colleagues for privacy. Teddy met his gaze and nodded knowing.

“Hey,” he replied eagerly. “Are you okay? The techs keep whispering and I can't hear what they are planning.”

“I'm doing okay,” she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. “I have never needed to sit down so bad in my life. This is worse than all the long surgeries I observed in med school. At least those I knew I could walk around and stretch my legs a little without putting my life in danger.”

Owen chuckled despite his increasing worry. It was his job to keep her calm. “Listen, I'm sorry I can't come over there, I tried but that bomb squad guy is an ass.”

“That he is,” Amelia replied. “And I swear he's spending more time staring at my ass than he is trying to get me out of here.”

“You noticed that too?!” Owen replied, his voice laced with jealousy.

Despite her circumstances, Owen’s jealous outburst amused Amelia and she burst out laughing. This caused Dylan to whip around and smile at her, which made Amelia laugh harder. Dylan took this as encouragement and threw a wink her way.

Owen saw this and mumbled into the phone, “that bastard.”

“Awe do I detect jealousy Detective Hunt?” Amelia teased. He chuckled in response but then a silence went over them. It was if they were both brought back to reality. And the reality was she was standing on a very unstable explosive, and the man who was supposed to save her was too busy winking at her to actually make a plan.

“Look Owen,” Amelia started.  “If I don't make it out of this I just want to say-”

“Me too,” Owen cut her off. He turned around and met her eyes. They shared a sentimental smile.

Amelia didn't actually know what she would have said if he hadn't cut her off. I like you? I have feelings for you? I love you? No definitely not the last one, it was way too soon to think about that.

Before Amelia could reply she heard Dylan shout, “Alright Miss Shepherd. We've cleared a path to you, I'm going to make my way slowly toward you.” Owen nodded at Amelia and hung up the phone. He walked over closer to the bomb squad guys needing to be close to her. Teddy came and stood by his side wrapping her hand around his. On her other side Henry appeared and took Teddy’s other hand in his. There they stood in a line, none of them spoke, but they were all there, Amelia’s people.

Dylan crossed the field slowly followed by one of his team members carrying something large. “Alright Miss Shepherd-”

“It's Doctor,” Amelia sighed frustrated. Why can't he get that right?

“Right sorry,” he apologized throwing her a wink. “So here's what's going to happen, Agent James here has a sand bag. She is going to place it onto the pressure plate to make up for your weight. But this is the tricky part, we need to put the sandbag on at the exact second you step off or else it will go off, and all of us will be blown to smithereens.” He and Agent James shared a good laugh before that, but Amelia just stared back at them terrified.

What happened next was all a blur to Amelia. She heard Dylan count down, she saw Agent James nod, and then she felt the ground beneath her disappear. She felt a jolt go through her body as she hit the ground, then the weight of someone else falling on top of her. She didn't know if she passed out or not, but when she opened her eyes she saw a pair of eyes staring down at her. It was Dylan, he was smiling in a sort of predatory way. She tried to sit up but she was pinned down by his body. He must have been what landed on top of her, he must have tackled her out of the way. She glanced around and realized the bomb didn't actually go off. She struggled to get up again but an intense pain went through her shoulder. Fuck, I'm sure it's dislocated. If fucking Dylan would get up it probably wouldn't hurt so bad.

All of a sudden Dylan was pushed off of her and she was met with the face of a very frantic Owen. She smiled up at him, relieved she wasn't blown to smithereens so she could look in those eyes again.

He pulled her into a sitting position and threw his arms around her in a tight embrace.  She winced in pain and he pulled back with a concerned expression. “You okay?”

“Yeah I think my shoulder is dislocated, but I'll live.” He stared back at her obviously not finding her joke funny. “Too soon?” she asked.

“Yeah a little,” but he grinned at her anyways. He helped her to her feet and steered her over to the waiting paramedics. They set her shoulder and put it in a sling, all the while Owen never left her side. Henry and Teddy made their way over to them as well and they all shared tight hugs, no one addressing how close a call it had been today. As the paramedics were finishing up with Amelia, Dylan came wandering over.

“Hell of a close call today Shepherd,” he said clapping her on the back. She winced, her shoulder still tender. “So what are your plans tonight? Wanna grab a beer and celebrate me saving your life?”

Amelia froze, too stunned to speak. Owen tenses up beside him, his eyes shooting daggers at Dylan. Teddy grabbed Henry’s hand, both worried how that would play out.

“Oh..umm,” Amelia stammered. “I'm flattered, but I'm actually seeing someone.”

Dylan's chuckled, “well it's okay, he doesn't need to know.”

Before Amelia could say anything Owen stepped forward, throwing his arm around her good shoulder. “Like she said, she's seeing someone.” He glared at Dylan, but when the bomb tech didn't seem to get the message he pulled Amelia into him and claimed her lips in a possessive kiss.

Dylan suddenly got very embarrassed and slowly inched away. While Teddy giggled at her friends and Henry let out a loud wolf whistle.

When Owen pulled away he noticed that many eyes at the crime scene were on him and Amelia.

She stared at him stunned, “wow I think I like jealous Owen.”

“Well he likes you too,” Owen replied trying to steer attention away from them. “Come on, I'll drive you and your car home, you've had a long day.”

Owen walked her over to the car and opened the passenger door to help her in.

He was about to close the door when Amelia stopped him. “You know, umm, back there when I said ‘If I don't get out of this’ what did you think I was gonna say?”

“Uh I dunno,” Owen replied, unsure how to say what he had really been thinking. “What were you gonna say?”

“Thanks,” Amelia said smiling at him.

Owen leaned in to kiss her but Amelia put her hand on his chest to stop him. “Owen, what if someone sees?”

He chuckled. “I think the cat’s already out of the bag in that one.” And with that he leaned in and captured her lips with his own.

[tomhsparker]

missing you - tom holland imagine #4

about : Tom is away at SDCC while promoting Spider-Man Homecoming. Things start to go downhill as a Facetime call ensues and jealousy arises. 

Warnings : a teeny bit sad. drunk tom!

-

The ID caller showed up on your phone and you grinned, flopping down onto the bed as you answered the call. Tom’s smiling face filled your screen and you giggled, greeting him with a simple ‘hello Thomas’.

 “Y/N! It’s crazy here!” Tom shouted, “I’ve never seen anything like this before! There were thousands of people on the panel it was insane!”

 “Are you having fun?” You asked, a small yet tired simper reaches your lips.

 “Loads! Everyone’s amazing! Laura is here, Jacob is here, Tony is here, oh and Zendaya is here too!” He continued to ramble on about how everyone had secretly arrived to the convention but your heart sank at her name.

 Tom was an extremely sweet person, and he was definitely good-looking. Your biggest fear from letting him leave to Atlanta was him finding someone new. What if he found someone else prettier, smarter and better than you? Maybe he was already tired of you.

 And it didn’t help that Zendaya was a part of your worry. She was the kind of girl you’d always want to be. She was gorgeous and successful, not to mention extremely talented. You let your insecurity get the best of you sometimes and you would always feel a bit glum whenever you saw them together. However, Tom wasn’t aware that you felt that way.

 “Isn’t Zendaya pretty?” you piped up randomly, playing with the hem of your sweatpants.

 “Yes, she is. Why?” Tom sounded confused. He looked at something behind the camera and he laughed, slapping his chest.

 “Oh, that’s amazing, Z,” he chuckled before looking back at you on the phone, “sorry babe, were you saying something?”

 You were about to say something before he interrupted you, laughing again and talking to someone you could only assume was Zendaya. You could hear her laughter too and you flinched, feeling annoyed. Anger and jealousy was already bubbling inside of you. Rolling your eyes, you scoffed at how he was so oblivious to you on the phone as he dropped his phone to his side so all you could see was his pants.

 This was the first time in days he had facetimed you, and you felt so put off by how he wasn’t even paying attention to you.

 Pissed off, you pressed the end call button hardly, ending the facetime. You put your phone beside you and picked up your laptop, trying to calm yourself down.

 It seemed like the world wanted to rub everything in your face when you clicked on a random song on your spotify. Everything I’m Not by The Veronicas came on and you gasped, throwing up your arms in anger.

 “Oh, come on!” You yelled at no one in particular.

 The song blasted on your speakers and you sighed, letting it play.

 Your phone beeped once.

 Twice.

 Thrice.

 Tom’s face popped up on the screen, indicating a call coming in from him.

 You ignored it, letting the ringtone play amongst the loud tunes of The Veronicas.

 It stopped for a few seconds before ringing again. This time you decided to decline the call.

 A text came in. You peeked.

 Tom x : babe, what’s up? u  just hung up?

10. 50 pm

 Tom x : y/n? Im gonna call u again.

10. 52 pm

 Tom x : why did u decline the call?

10. 58 pm

 Tom x : did i do something wrong?

11. 05 pm

 You snorted, picking up your phone and typing a quick reply.

 Me : idk ask zendaya lmao

 Me : im gonna sleep. Have fun at comic con.

 Just as you were about to put away your phone, it vibrated.

 Tom x : I think I know what’s going on. Are you jealous of Z?

11.08 pm

 Tom x : I hope you know I love you, and that I will never eye another girl that’s not you. I understand how you feel, I get sad whenever I think of all the other boys that are with you everyday. So i dont blame you. But you can trust me love. I promise.

11.09 pm

 Tom x : z and i are just friends, nothing more babe. Im way too in love with you. Also im sorry if ive been distant. I miss you so much and i havent been able to really talk to you. Ive been very busy with work and everything else i just idk i feel really guilty now.

11.11 pm

  Tom x : call me back when u wanna talk. Im sorry, i love you. Xx

11.13 pm

 You sighed, giving in. You could tell he was feeling really crappy about it as you watched a livestream of the convention. Marvel was holding a livestream for the interviews and you saw Tom pop up in the screen when you opened the website.

 His eyes were downcast even though he had a small smile on his face. Tom was less energetic and gave the interviewer half-assed answers. He kept crossing and uncrossing his arms and he fidgeted a lot on his feet.

 His iPhone was gripped tightly in his hand, and every few seconds he went to check it.

 Probably for my reply, you thought.

 When the interviewer ended, you saw him walk away from the camera. The interviewer was about to interview Lupita Nyong’o next when another text from Tom came in.

 Tom x : love i really am sorry. maybe u went to sleep already. Im sorry. I love you. Goodnight. Xx

11.25 pm

 “Meh screw it,” you mumbled, pressing the call icon on his contact name.

 He picked it up immediately after the third ring.

 “Hello?” he said quickly.

 “It’s okay,” you sighed, slumping on the bed, “sorry, I just got jealous. I shouldn’t have hung up on you like that.

 “It’s just..I miss you so much Tom. And we haven’t facetimed in so long and.. I don’t know I was pretty pissed off by how you weren’t paying attention to me.”

 “I know, I know,” you could hear his guilt from across the line, “I’m really sorry. There’s just been a lot going on right now.”

 You sighed, “okay, now go and have fun. We can talk more later. I’m not mad at you anymore so don’t worry.”

 “Are you sure?”

 “Positive, I’ll be fine,” You lied through your teeth, even mustering a fake smile.

 Tom hummed, before speaking again, “I’ll call you when you wake up. I love you so much, Y/N. Goodnight, love.”

 “Goodnight,” you mumbled back as you hit the ‘end call’.

 Grabbing a pillow from the top of the bed, you clutched it tightly into your chest as sobs began to rack through your body. The tears didn’t stop flowing, even after half an hour.

 You’d think he would notice that you really weren’t okay.

 You missed him so much.

 And it already felt like, to you, he was slowly drifting away.

 -

 The next morning was horrendous. You woke up to the feel of your soggy pillow and puffy eyes. Rubbing your face, you snuggled further into your duvet.

 There was no way you were going out today. Your heart felt the heaviest it had felt in a long time and nothing seemed to motivate you to get out of bed.

 You missed him too much.

 Making calls to everyone, you apologised for not feeling well and rescheduled everything.

 Nothing mattered more than the ache in your heart. If your mind wasn’t in the game, there would be no point in getting into the game in the first place.

 You decided to check your notifications and was surprised by the amount of texts Tom had sent in.

 Tom x : Good morning, babe. I hope you slept well. I’m out here in San Diego, in some bar. Missing you. 💛

7.30 am

 Tom x : I hope you’re not angry anymore. It’s been bothering me the whole day. I’m still sorry.

7.45 am

 Tom x : baEb i lpve you si much…….im sorry yoi think i luv zebdaya….i dont… i love you im sorry

8.30 am

 Tom x : jacOb says in Drunk! Haha@ he keeps tellinf me that i should go homE

8.35 am

 Tom x : i sAid wherE? LonDon? He saiD no You IdioT the Hotel

8.36 am

 Tom x : i saiD it aInt HoME UNLESS y/n is wit me

8.38 am

 Tom x : jeusu chrisy i lovw you

9.00 am

 Tom x : i jusT PUKED  I WISH YORE HERE Y/N YOU MAKe me FEEL BETTER

9.28 am

 Tom x : I MISS YOUUUY

9.35 am

 You stared at the screen, taking it all in.

 Tom got drunk last night.

 Yet, all his words seemed so sincere. Just before you could exit the chat, a new message came in.

 Instead, this was from Harrison.

 Haz O : hey y/n, i think you probably read the drunk texts tom has been sending. just want to tell you. tom has been drinking a lot for the past 2 hours. he’s upset, y/n. after he puked on the sidewalk, he cried. he cried about how much he missed you and how he didn’t deserve you. that you lie when you say you’re okay. he said that it would be easier if you both broke up. you could find someone better. so, stop being mad at tom. there's nothing going on between z and tom. If they did, i would've told you. he’s feeling so guilty for no reason.

 You felt hot tears gathering at the side of your eyes. He was beating himself up because of your jealousy. Guilt took over you as you fumbled to type out a quick reply. A plan was already forming in your head and although it involved a lot of money, you knew it would help in fixing this problem.

 It was probably too reckless and spontaneous, but you had enough of missing Tom and clearly, Tom was sick of missing you too.

 You : I’m getting on the next flight to San Diego. Take care of Tom for me. x

[bxnseki-archive]

// stole this OC questions sheet from here! super fun ya’ll should do it :’0

if you want to do it pls do i want. to kno abt ur ocs. you dont need to do all 100 bc i sure af didn’t

1. What is your OC’s name? Kimiko Ijichi 2. What is your OC’s gender? DFAB - Cis - she/her 3. What is your OC’s sexual orientation? Demi-asexual! 4. How old are they? I typically rp her as 16, but I like to imagine her in her late teens or early 20s 5. What species are they- human, animal, alien, robot, none of the above? Human 6. What is their family like? Do they have one? Yes!  She’s an only child with a mother and father.  Gengyo is a very loving and passionate father, though tends to be neurotic, paranoid, and spoils his daughter to no end.  Ritsuko is also a loving mother who puts compassion for others as a first priority, but has been struggling with her dysthymia and thus has been a less enthusiastic parent in Kimiko’s life.  More info on Gengyo here, and more info on Ritsuko here! 7. Who is their best friend? Why? Her designated best friend was and forever will be Isaki Matsuna.  Kimiko refuses to refer to anyone else as a best friend.  Isaki had been with Kimiko since early elementary school.  Her typical form of expressing affection was through taunting, and while that did seem odd to Kimiko, Isaki truly did care for and look out for her.  They were complete foils of each other; ultimately, they were perfect contrasts. 8. Do they have a partner/significant other? Why are they together/not together? Zak & I are working on a ship, but we have yet to really rp the start of it -- so no. 9. What is their most prized possession? Why is it so important? A ribbon from a beginner’s level riding competition!  It was the only competition she rode in, and she only got 7th place (they gave ribbons to all the competitors), but Isaki was there to train her, to cheer for her and put it in a really fancy frame.  The framed ribbon is nailed right above her desk at home! 10. Do they prefer to be warm or cold? She prefers to be chilly. 11. If they could only eat one food for the rest of their life, what would it be? No way would she settle for this. 12. Is there anything they’d like to change about themselves physically? She really wishes she had long hair like Isaki’s.  Down to the butt.  But she would never be able to manage it. 13. Who is the most important person in their life? Isaki was and always will be her inspiration; but from someone who is living, her father!  Although he’s eccentric, he’s the light of her life, as is she to him! 14. Are they a cat person? A dog person? An okapi person? Birds!!  She’d love to have an African gray parrot when she retires!  Calm, friendly cats seem like nice companions, too. 15. What sort of books do they like to read (if they like to read)? Mystery, thriller, crime, autobiographies and memoirs, and books on psychology mainly.  She doesn’t strictly stay with these genres, though. 16. What’s their favorite thing to do on a rainy weekend? Turn on the news channel or turn on the radio and listen to the police scanner.  Arrange her blossoms from her flower pressing into little designs to frame.  Study, ofc.  And go shopping. 17. Where were they born? Hiroo, Shibuya 18. Where do they want to live? She wouldn’t mind staying in Japan, but doesn’t need to stick with where she’s living now (Ikebukuro).  She does prefer big cities, though. 19. Do they have a job? As a student, no.  But during college she’d probably get a part time job as a waitress or something before getting her internship.  Then she’d intern at a therapy facility only to start work as a psychologist & therapist.  Slowly but surely, she’d move her way on to more difficult, struggling people involved with touchy cases.  But that wouldn’t be until she’s in her mid-30s. 20. If they could work anywhere, where would it be? Chicago.  A big city full of crime. 21. Do they use any sort of weapon? If not, what would they want if they could have one? When she starts to work as a criminal psychologist with rather dangerous people, authorities would prompt her to keep a taser on her.

22. Do they have any sort of special power/what power would they want? Nope.  Wouldn’t want any.

23. What’s their fashion sense? Form-fitting comfy young hipster librarian with pastels.

24. What do they think of snakes? Interesting, but keep them away from her or so help me God.

25. What is their biggest pet peeve? Regarding someone as a bad person for mistakes they have made in the past.

26. What is their greatest fear? Not being recognized for her work in her department, and that she won’t be able to help any of her clients or the police force.

27. Do they have any sort of disability, disorder, or health issue? I am thinking about her having dysthymia like her mom, or some other form of depression, since trauma can be “passed down” and she’s gone through a lot.  Still trying to figure out where and how that’d fit though.  She’s also lactose intolerant if that qualifies here.

28. Who is the person they hate the most in their life? She tries not to hate, and she doesn’t truly hate anyone, but her ex-boyfriend Hoitsu Mifune is someone she really, truly, strongly dislikes.

29. Is there anyone they want to be more like? Isaki.  She was always super cheerful, fun-loving, spontaneous, and very go with the flow.

31. Their home is on fire- what do they do? Get out of there according to the fire escape plan she and her family have practiced.

32. Do they like children? Yes!!  While rowdy ones tend to annoy her a bit, she still likes them all the same!

33. Would they rather take a short cut or take the scenic route? Depends on where she’s going.  If it’s a lazy day with no plans, scenic route always.

34. What’s their strongest belief? If you don’t care for others, you’re not human; you’re a monster.

35. What’s their opinion on lying? It can come in handy from time to time, so long as it’s not meant to harm anyone.

38. Which family member are they closest to, if any? Her father as of lately.

39. Do they ever want to get married and/or have kids? YES. YES. YES. YES. yes.

40. What was the hardest decision they ever had to make in their life? Going to see Isaki’s father in the hospital while he was on his death bed.

41. What was the happiest day of their life? Not sure.

43. How did they meet their last/current/future significant other? Or their best friend, if non-applicable? She met Isaki in elementary school when they were partnered up together to do a report.  They were inseparable after that.  After Isaki’s death, Kimiko met Hoitsu when she was 15 through a teammate on the tennis team.  They were together for nine months before she ended it.

44. If they were a class in a fantasy RPG, what class would it be? Probably a cleric.

45. Do they have any birthmarks or scars that they’re embarrassed by? She does have some birthmarks running up her legs and some on her chest, but she’s not embarrassed by them.

46. What’s their favorite color? Lavender

47. Do they have any piercings or tattoos? Do they want any/any more? Her ears are pierced, but that’s it.  She’s content with that.

48. Have they ever tried drugs or alcohol? Nope!

49. Are they an idealist or a realist? Idealist

50. Are they more introverted or extroverted? Extroverted!

51. What is their main goal in life? To become a criminal psychologist.

52. What are they willing to sacrifice to accomplish that goal? Her time, her well being, her friends.

53. Would they ever kill somebody (what would they consider a justifiable reason to kill someone?) Nope!  Not at all.

54. Have they ever kissed someone? Do they want to? She kissed Hoitsu a few times, though he was uninterested by it.  She likes romance, so I guess she wants to?

55. Have they always been comfortable with their sexual/gender identity, or is it something they’ve struggled with? No, she doesn’t even know she is demi-asexual.  She just thinks she’s uninterested because she isn’t ready to be sexually intrigued by someone.  Which is technically true.

56. Do they have any special ability or marking that sets them apart from others of their species/race? Why is it so remarkable or strange? Nnno?

58. If they had a Tumblr, what would they blog about? TBFH. she’d probably be either a studyblr or post about psychology and self care.

59. Any kinks or fetishes? Rich-Looking People.

60. If they only had one day left to live, what would they do? Say her goodbyes to her friends and family, then cry.

61. If they found a wallet with the equivalence of 200 dollars in it, what would they do? Find the ID and report it to the police to be given back.

62. If they live in a world without magic/without mainstream magic, do they believe in magic? Excluding Kiyo, no she doesn’t believe in it.

63. If they could have any pet ever, what would it be? AFRICAN GRAY PARROT. PLEASE.

64. Who is the person they admire most? Why? Isaki; go back to #7 and #29

65. Do they think they are attractive? Yes!

66. What is their biggest regret? Not asking for Isaki and her family to stay home the night of the crash.

67. What would they do for a klondike bar? she’d kill a man

68. The most important person in their life has been bitten by a zombie/whatever qualifies as a zombie in their world. Do they put them out of their misery, or try to find an alternative? Find an alternative.  If it resulted in having to kill her father, then she’d kill herself afterwards.

69. Is there anyone in their life they just can’t say no to? Why? Her mother; she knows she’s struggling with a lot of things and can’t seem to balance all she needs to, so she wants to help her in any way possible.

70. Are they more math, science, or art oriented? Science!

71. Is there anything they like that would be considered geeky in their world? Forensics??? Maybe?  Just knowing and spewing weird trivia about it?

72. Did they/would they leap at the call to adventure, or were they/would they have to be dragged along? If asked, she’d happily tag along, so long as safety is guaranteed.

73. Do they think there is more to life than whatever they are doing right now? Oh yeah.

75. What’s their most positive trait? She’s utterly compassionate.

76. What’s their fatal flaw? She’s utterly compassionate -- to the point where she needs to baby those who are struggling, which in turn sacrifices her well being and ultimately doesn’t help those she’s caring for.  Savior complex tbh.

77. What do their friends/family/teammates find most annoying about them? She’s loud, most jokes go over her head, she’s blunt, and she probably is nosy about their lives.  She just has to know if they need her.

78. What are their biggest strengths? She knows how to remain calm and rational during a panicked event; compassionate; ambitious; does her best not to be judgmental.

79. What are their weaknesses? She has a savior complex; very invasive about personal lives; self-sacrificial; depressed; spoiled.  Fun fun.

80. What is most memorable about their appearance? Uhh either her height or her eyebrows?

82. Do they dwell on the past, or live in the moment? OH BOY.  She preaches about living in the moment, and accepting and learning from the past to progress in The Now.  BUT.  She dwells.

83. Why is their main goal so important to them? What set them on that path? Becoming a criminal psychologist interested her at the age of nine; it was said to be an exciting job that paid very well.  But after Isaki’s death and evidence to show that she was involved with drug use/dealing and underage gambling, Kimiko changed her mindset.  She now wants to become one since she knows criminals are still people.  She wants to help them in any way she can, to help them lead healthy lives again.

84. Do they believe that people are inherently good? YES. She’s adamant about it.

87. Is there any other fictional character you would compare them too, personality or appearance-wise? tbh I did start to design her with traits from Ishimaru and Kirigiri.  So I guess them?

89. What sort of music do they/would they like? Pop!  Soft pop about romance is typically what she listens to when she’s doing her work.

90. What do they consider the worst evil in the world? Abuse, cruelty and neglect to children, as that traumatizes them and sets them up for a difficult life, only to repeat the abuse to their children.

91. What’s the closest they’ve been to dying (or, if they’re already dead, how did they die)? She attempted suicide soon after Isaki’s father died in the hospital, as he was the last of her immediate family who was living.  She attempted by hanging, but her knot was lousy and undid itself.

93. Do they like their name? Is there any name they’d rather have? She does!  Ijichi is a name rather well-known since her father’s family has an attorneys practice starting with her great grandfather Ijichi.

94. What is the significance of their name? Kimiko ( 君子 ) means “noble child”; Ijichi ( 伊地知 ) I cannot find the meaning of for the life of me. Italy, earth, knowledge? idk

95. Have they ever been bullied? Have they ever bullied anyone? There’s always bullying in the school yard; she’s never been horribly bullied, nor worried too much about it.  Isaki was the one who would usually torment others, so Kimiko was just her henchman.

96. Are they a light or heavy sleeper? Average?

97. What do they dream about when they sleep? idk, random things. Dreams are weird.

98. Do they prefer an urban or a rural setting, or something else? She does like rural settings to stay at for a while, but ultimately she’s a big fan of urban settings.

99. Is there any moment or event that they feel defines their life and who they are now? Isaki’s death.

100. Why is this character important? To you, and/or to their world? Oh man.  When I get an idea for an OC, it’s always in a short spurt, so pretty much all my OCs are really under-developed.  But for whatever reason, I stuck with developing Kimiko.  RPing her also helped SO MUCH in terms of figuring out why she is the way she is and adding new traits and perspectives to her. idk.  I just love her a lot and I’m glad my pals here like her as much as they do. ;;;

[johnmuffus]

eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master Review

eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master Review (Hunter Cesare Course)

eCommerce courses are the rage right now. With every month bringing at least a couple new courses, but they all mostly offer the same recycled content.

Today, we’ll find out whether Hunter Cesare’s eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master is just another one from the same pile or not.

Let’s dive into the content, the author, and my own experience with it to see if it’s worth your money.

Who’s the author?

He owns a YouTube channel that’s been growing quite modestly but steadily since he started providing content (and more significantly since he released the course). His videos are your standard eCommerce YouTube content: tips and methods for running your online business.

They also focus mostly on using Facebook Ads and the classic “6 figure” systems for Shopify. However, his activity has dwindled, and he doesn’t add new content as often.

He claims to have quit college after figuring out that he could earn more money through the internet than by getting a career. He’s just 21 years old, but he seems to live a very busy life managing his stores and tutoring on his course.

Besides his YouTube channel and an Upwork profile, there isn’t a lot of information on him, however.

What is eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master

It’s a course by Hunter Cesare, who’s a young entrepreneur with a YouTube channel, and he also says to be an expert in online market. His course is available on Teachables, a platform for creating and selling online courses, viewable on virtually all devices.

The course is an introduction to online marketing, specifically for an eCommerce, and it’s mostly focused on doing so through Facebook. Besides that, it also offers a bit of content on email marketing and your standard Shopify store creation, although the content isn’t really extensive.

Hunter says he created the program because there weren’t any guides like it when he started his eCommerce venture. However, you and I know that that’s definitely not the truth today.

The course has a few tips that could help beginners, and it’s divided into 11 different modules that go from getting started to the strategies that can help you reach your goals, with examples from his stores.

Each module has various videos, and while some are a bit longer, the majority is brief. He also recommends different tools that can help you create your business and offers an explanation of the theories from his success.

Reviewing eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master

There are 11 modules with Hunter’s course. They cover everything from starting your business to working on your marketing and scaling it. However, it’s mostly focused on Facebook Ads, so it feels more like a Facebook Ads tutorial with a bit of other content mixed into it.

Module 1

The first module is the classic video on how to start with Shopify: creating your account, getting used to the interface, and setting up different features like payments and shipping.

Module 2

The next module has a few videos on the best products you can start with, how to do your research, labeling each item, and how to write descriptions that will attract your customers.

There’s also a lesson how you can create a logo for your business. Hunter recommends you use AliExpress, for he says it’s the best place for you to find cheap products to start out.

Module 3

The 3rd module is a simple walkthrough guiding you through store design. It’ll tell you how you should create your contact form, keeping an eye on your emails list, and ensuring that your customers can trust your business so that they can feel more committed to you.

Module 4

The next module focuses on how to advertise your products on Facebook’s Ads platform. There’s a list with downloadables you can use for inspiration and reference. There are also some basic guidelines that will help you stay out of trouble.

The videos cover your basic content: advertising, evaluating audiences, retargeting, and manual bidding and conversion ads. You also get to see Hunter’s account as an example.

Module 5

This module is the first approach to marketing on Facebook. It explains you how you can create an ad with just $5 and promote it.

Module 6

The 6th module the goes into how you can optimize your ad promotion strategy to get a larger audience. It does so with just 2 videos.

Module 7

This module then goes into why it’s recommended to use manual bidding in some scenarios as opposed to automatic bidding. It’s just one video, though, so don’t expect much depth.

Module 8

This is another single-video module, and this time, it’ll give you a strategy (purely theoretical) for you to scale your ad from a daily $25 all the way to $1,000. He explains the steps and the (again, theoretical) result.

Module 9

The 9th module works as an introduction to email marketing. While the strategy is a lot more complicated that what this makes it seem, it’s still a good foundation for you to expand later on.

Module 10

Here, you get 2 videos explaining how you can fulfill orders. You can do so manually, or you can hire a virtual assistant to do that for you.

Module 11

The last module is an exemplification of all the concepts and lessons taught in this course. They’re demonstrated via Hunter’s own ads campaigns and the results generated from them.

eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master Thoughts

I felt slightly annoyed at how basic this course was. It’s just a basic guide for people who never worked with Shopify or Facebook Ads. While it does deliver the content quickly and without rambling, it overdoes it and often misses very important concepts like email marketing.

Despite paying for what’s supposed to be a full course, you’re still forced to do your own research on most of the processes and tools mentioned in the modules.

I also didn’t like how he teaches you a strategy that’s never been used before. It’s just theory, and there’s nothing proving it’ll go the way it’s supposed to.

He also recommends using the free features of many tools for designing your store. It would’ve been better just to recommend students to subscribe to them, or get a full-featured theme like eCom Turbo.

Again, it feels like a basic Facebook Ads course with bits of eCommerce and dropshipping thrown in for the sake of it.

Target audience

This is an intro to eCommerce from a young man’s perspective. There’s not enough depth, and it definitely fails to convey how much knowledge Hunter really has about the concept of online marketing. It’s just an overview of the basics.

Therefore, it’s a course for beginners: those with no ide about online marketing and need a digestible first exposition to the concept. It focuses on marketing through Facebook Ads, which are intuitive to use.

On the other hand, if you already know something about the business model and how to create a store, this definitely isn’t a course for you.

He does provide a few interesting approaches, but they’re theoretical and lack real results to prove them. People interested in making a bit of money with little effort might also enjoy the course.

Most students come from Hunter’s YouTube channel, and he uses it to provide additional tips and hints. In fact, this course is just an extension of his content on YouTube, but it’s still cheaper than most courses available.

You definitely won’t get more value than what you paid for, but some beginners might feel their investment was met.

Final Verdict

While this course definitely isn’t a scam, it’s just a bad product. Sure, it’s cheaper than most courses available today, but you’re still paying for basic content that you can find for free online from YouTube or searching on Google.

I also hated how it charges almost 50% more if you want to pay in two parts.

The course even skips too much content that isn’t Facebook Ads, and even when it focuses on a single marketing approach, it doesn’t provide enough content or depth. You’re also out of luck if you wanted free traffic and marketing from SEO or email marketing, as the latter’s module is just an explanation of why it’s important.

Best Alternative

Another reason why I can’t recommend it is that it costs the same as the best eCommerce course available today: eCom Elites.

You can pay for eCom Elites with the same money: the standard plan costs $197, the same as Hunter’s course, and the premium package is $297, so you can still pay it from what the same course from Hunter would have charged you for two separate payments.

Besides, you get almost 200 different videos covering everything. You also learn many other marketing channels like Google, Instagram, and even Snapchat and chat bots.

I hope you found this review useful and if you have any questions, please comment down below. I’ll be more than happy to assist you.

Once again, thanks for reading my eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master Review and I wish you the best of luck.

The post eCom Hunter Drop Shipping Master Review appeared first on Only Genuine Reviews.

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[dazzledbybooks]

“The Little Mermaid” takes a twisted turn in this thrilling sequel to villainess origin story Sea Witch, as the forces of land and sea clash in an epic battle for freedom, redemption, and true love.  Runa will not let her twin sister die. Alia traded her voice to the Sea Witch for a shot at happiness with a prince who doesn’t love her. And his rejection will literally kill her—unless Runa intervenes. Under the sea, Evie craves her own freedom—but liberation from her role as Sea Witch will require an exchange she may not be willing to make. With their hearts’ desires at odds, what will Runa and Evie be willing to sacrifice to save their worlds? Told from alternating perspectives, this epic fairy tale retelling is a romantic and heart-wrenching story about the complications of sisterhood, the uncompromising nature of magic, and the cost of redemption. Sea Witch Rising (Sea Witch #2) by Sarah Henning Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Release Date: August 6th 2019 Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings Book Links: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42800505-sea-witch-rising Amazon: http://tiny.cc/hmyo7y iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/book/sea-witch-rising/id1441299835 B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sea-witch-rising-sarah-henning/1129708887?ean=9780062931474#/ Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/sea-witch-rising-2 Google Books: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Sea_Witch_Rising.html?id=2SV2DwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y Bookdepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Sea-Witch-Rising-Sarah-Henning/9780008356064?ref=grid-view&qid=1559513162298&sr=1-3 Review: Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid. This story follows Alia and Runa, twin mermaids and daughters of the Sea King. Alia is in love with a human. Not just any human. She is in love with Niklas the grandson of Niklas from book one. We already knew this was coming. She decides to make a trade with the Sea Witch. The Sea Witch gives her four days. Four days to prove that the human shows true love for her.  If Alia is unable to prove this true love, then she will lose her voice for forever. Sounds familiar right? Runa doesn’t understand why Alia would make this bargain. What is it about this human that is so important? Runa is concerned that her sister is throwing her life away for nothing. Evie is trapped by the Sea King and she is desperate for her freedom. She struggles with her lack of power. Evie continues to make bad choices because she is struggling. As the reader we really get to discover who the Sea Witch is. How she became stuck and chained to her lair. We learn of all the pain and heartbreak she has gone through. I found Alia to be a bit flat. She tended to be more annoying that interesting. I think her sister Runa really steals the show in this book. Runa show the reader what sisterly love looks like. She wants the very best for her sister and she wants her sister to be taken care of. Runa is really trying to find herself in this story. The Sea King is a greedy fool. He keeps his daughters close to him for their power and magic because he desires to have it all. He tends to be cruel and cold hearted. Who is the real Sea Witch in this story? He definitely had a much bigger part to play in this story than his counterpart in The Little Mermaid. One of the things I really enjoyed in Sea Witch Rising was that Alia and Runa used sign language to communicate. They’ve known sign language since they were little so when Alia lost her voice, this was an easy way for them to communicate. I loved the use and creativity for this one. This novel definitely served as a platform for some political issues as well. I felt like the push of politics was a little much for the story. I didn’t feel like it added anything but it focused on greed, invasions and the invention of boats a lot. How humans are harming the ocean. At least that is how I took it. I don’t think it is a bad thing to add your views into a novel, I just wish it flowed with the story better. I think this retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid is a good one. I like the new perspective. I am really enjoying the backstory to one of the most beloved villains out there. These books really show why we should sympathize with the Sea Witch and I love getting to know her back story. I am interested to see if Henning will expand anymore on this world and these characters. Playlist: Sea Witch Rising Playlist – Sarah Henning https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/sea-witch-rising/pl.u-RRbVvxDCmad2Re 1. Blank Space – Taylor Swift 2. All Our Lives – Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness 3. Cecilia and the Satellite – Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness 4. Cold, Cold, Cold – Cage the Elephant 5. Trouble – Cage the Elephant 6. Lovefool – The Cardigans 7. Sit Still, Look Pretty – Daya 8. Ship To Wreck – Florence + The Machine 9. Let Me Go – Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso 10. Rivers and Roads – The Head and the Heart 11. All We Ever Knew – Signs of Light 12. I Keep Going to the River to Pray – Julie & The Dreggs 13. Praying – Kesha 14. Rise – Katy Perry 15. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 16. Crazy for You – Madonna 17. Like a Prayer – Madonna 18. The One Moment – OK Go 19. This Too Shall Pass – OK Go 20. We Belong – Pat Benatar 21. I Want You – Savage Garden 22. &Run – Sir Sly 23. You Need to Calm Down – Taylor Swift 24. We All Die Trying To Get it Right – Vance Joy 25. Fire and the Flood – Vance Joy About the Author: Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool. Author Links: Website: https://www.sarahhenningwrites.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14671253.Sarah_Henning Twitter: https://twitter.com/shhenning Instagram: http://instagram.com/shhenning Giveaway: Prize: Starts: 16th July 2019 Ends: 30th July 2019 a Rafflecopter giveaway Tour Schedule: https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2019/06/tour-schedule-sea-witch-rising-sea.html July 16th The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club - Welcome Post July 17th NovelKnight - Interview The Reading Corner for All - Review + Favourite Quotes + Dream Cast Jrsbookreviews - Review Adventures Thru Wonderland - Review July 18th Luchia Houghton Blog - Review + Favourite Quotes The Reading Chemist - Review + Favourite Quotes A Dream Within A Dream - Review L.M. Durand - Review + Favourite Quotes July 19th Moonlight Rendezvous - Review + Favourite Quotes Library of a Book Witch - Review Utopia State of Mind - Review + Favourite Quotes Dazzled by Books - Review + Playlist July 20th Confessions of a YA Reader - Guest Post Here's to Happy Endings - Review The Book Nut - Review + Playlist Morgan Vega - Review + Favourite Quotes + Playlist July 21st Kait Plus Books - Interview Frayed Books - Review Bookish_Kali - Review + Favourite Quotes Bookishly Nerdy - Review + Favourite Quotes July 22nd The Reading Life - Guest Post Amy’s Booket List - Review The Desert Bibliophile - Review Book Rambler - Review

http://www.dazzledbybooks.com/2019/07/seawitchrisingblogtour.html

[canaryatlaw]

alright, let’s get going here. the last 24 hours or so have been fairly odd, at least the first 12, because after I logged off last night and tried to fall asleep I found myself unable to do so. Usually when something like this happens it’s because I forgot to take some of the meds I need to fall asleep, but I knew I had taken them because I had specifically checked to make sure I had them before taking them that night. so I really don’t know what that was about, but I ended up being up to at least 5 am, that was the last time I checked the clock anyway. I did go on my phone at some points at ended up in a pinterest spiral of looking at different candy recipes, so I now have like 6 different types of candies I want to make right now (like, twix, homemade jolly ranchers, and homemade pop rocks to name a few) so that was slightly good at least. eventually I did fall asleep, and woke up to my 1:30 pm alarm. My original plan for today was to get up at 11 and go vote in the Chicago Mayor’s election today before I had the webinar from the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund at 2. Since it took me forever to go to sleep I decided to switch it up and vote afterwards, so I woke up in time to get set up for the webinar. It was pretty interesting, about the intersection of disabilities and sexual harassment law, definitely a lot to learn there, this was part 1 so part 2 will be next week. I was also looking at recipes while it was going on (because I like to multitask) and made a short grocery list for the candy recipes. So when the webinar was over at 3:30 I got changed into actual clothes and ran out to go vote. Luckily for me my voting location is literally just across the street from me, and at this time of day it was virtually abandoned, like two other voters in there, so it took me very little time to get set up and into voting. There was a total of 14 candidates running for Mayor (none of which are actually aligned with political parties, they’re all just running on their own platform) which is a tad insane, and there’s been smear ads running on tv for months now about it, along with incessant text messages from different campaigns that are annoying AF. but my decision was based on the fact that there was precisely one candidate who had mentioned juvenile justice reform in any of the ads I saw from anyone, so I voted for her (the fact that she was a WOC and not a white man was also a big plus). So I got out of there in less than 10 minutes total, and walked down the street to the grocery store to get eggs and some random ingredients I needed. They didn’t end up having everything I wanted (I mean, to be fair your typical grocery store probably isn't going to carry non-fat dry milk powder, but I tried) but I got gelatin and heavy cream (for the caramel) and some extra fine sugar (which is not the same thing as powdered sugar) and a few other random things. They only had the jumbo pack of gelatin left that came with 32 packets and was a whopping $15, but given that they didn’t have several other things I wanted I just said fuck it and got it anyway. I’m sure I’ll put it to good use. Checked out and headed home, when I walked in the door kitty was trying to examine the door crack (like where the hinges are) that comes open when the door opens, and when I went to close it I heard a very pained screech, at which point I saw that she’d managed to get one of her paws stuck in the crack, so I had to reopen the door to let her get it out, then of course she darted away and was freaking out and I was just like !!! baby!!! Just let me make sure you’re okay!!! so I chased her down after a few minutes and picked her up, thankfully there was no visible injury on her paws so that was comforting at least. Like ya really gotta scare me like that kitty??? smh. Anyway. I put the groceries away and then started to get set up for the podcast episode we were going to record tonight after having to postpone it from last night. so we did that, I won’t spoil anything but it’s about 30 minutes long and we talk about the casting news as well as some of Batwoman’s appearances in the comics, and overall I think it went pretty well, so I’m pleased that should be coming out soon. After we finished with that I turned on the tv and went to amazon prime where I decided to start their new show “Lorena” that all the true crime groups I’m in on fb have been raving about for weeks now. In case you’re not familiar, it follows the story of Lorena Bobbit, who made international headlines after cutting her husband’s penis off (and not gonna lie, I was a bit of a giggling mess throughout the first episode). But it gets a lot more into how much she was abused and raped by him and just how much of a disgusting shitty person he was, so it’s really interesting. Just before 8 I switched over to actual cable to watch The Gifted season finale. I wasn’t sure how they were going to wrap everything up in one episode, but they actually did a fairly good job with it I’d say. Major spoilers ahead, **YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED** Reed :( god that was so heartbreaking, I was dead. But it was such a self-sacrificial thing he did for the safety of his family and the world at large by taking down Reeva. On the other hand, I was very glad to see Clarice return and not be dead, because I very much like her as a character and was saddened at her apparent death. And yeah, it was a really solid episode that I liked a lot, I like cried at the end when they showed Lorna and Marcos with their baby, like all the tears honestly lol. So I liked that a lot. After that was over I kept the news on because they were talking about the election results coming in. So the deal was in order to win, a candidate had to get more than 50% of the vote, and if nobody got that high, the top two would be in a run-off election at the beginning of April. Now, with 14 candidates, the chances anyone was gonna reach 50% were pretty damn slim. I was happy to see though that the candidate I voted for was in second place and ultimately remained there and got a spot in the run-off election with like 15% of the vote, and the candidate in the lead with 17% of the vote was also a WOC who also happens to be an out lesbian, so that’s pretty awesome. I’ll have to do more thorough research on both of them before the run-off election. So basically I kept that on for the rest of the night and followed it until I decided to get ready for bed, then procrastinated, and now I am here. Amazingly (probably only because I took my meds) I am getting sleepy now, so I’m going to at least attempt to fall asleep, hopefully I’ll have (much) more success than last night, wish me luck. Goodnight dears. Hope you’re having a great week.

[ideocosmonaut]

1. Is it just me or do people in all the face wash commercials seem to not wash their foreheads? its pretty weird I guess

2. What are all the different area codes in your contacts list? nice try

3. What artist do you have the most songs for in your iTunes/music library? death in june

4. Does your room have a certain theme to it? dirty

5. What languages do you speak? How hard would it be to learn them? english. not very.

6. What shows have you seen almost every episode to? so many

7. Do your friends do surveys too? no

8. Are you friends with the same people from middle school? not really

9. What are the last five songs you downloaded? probably something retrowave

10. Do you support sports teams from your state/town? no

11. Are you going to go to grad school? no

12. Have you ever kissed anyone that has a tattoo? no

13. What’s your blood type? dunno

14. Do people ever say your name wrong? How do they say it? not really

15. Which do you like better, biographies or autobiographies? autobiographies

16. What do you and your family do for fun? we dont

17. Have you ever had complications at the airport? nah

18. Do you think that your parents give you a lot of freedom? yeah

19. What was your last essay topic? hell if i know

20. How many kids are in your graduating class? 100 or so

21. Which do think is classier, black clothes or white clothes? black

22. Have you ever seen a ghost? Explain: no

23. What did you last yell about? stupid people

24. What is your main ringtone? retrowave

25. Do you like oatmeal? yes

26. How much sugar do you put in your coffee/tea? none if i can help it

27. Would you rather have a normal phone or one with a QWERTY keyboard? keyboard

28. Do you have secrets that no one knows? yes

29. Does the polish on your fingernails match the polish on your toes? n/a

30. Are any of your friends in a band? kind of

31. Is your family open to your views? not really

32. What is the worst food experience you’ve had? raw onion

33. Would you ever go to a taping of SNL? yeah

34. How many people have you kissed? none

35. How would you feel if your current boyfriend/girlfriend left you for someone else? If you don’t have one, imagine that you do: i imagine id be suicidal

1. Do you think it would be interesting to visit a zoo in every state, or would that become boring after a while because you would be seeing the same animals over & over? it’d get old for sure

2. When was the last time you entered a contest / raffle / something where you could win a prize? Have you ever won? probably some fast food thing for a playstation. never.

3. How long does it take before your hand becomes tired from writing a note / essay / whatever? a few minutes

4. Is there something you make & eat so often that you know the exact time & temperature necessary to cook it? yes

5. Do you call it a strainer or a colander? strainer

6. If you had to endure 4 hours of listening to music by one of the artists /bands, which would be hardest to endure? What about easiest? hardest would be... probably chiptune or something annoying and grating. easiest would be slow meadow

7. Have you ever noticed that sweat smells similar to onions? yes

8. What is the dirtiest room / area in your house? bedroom

9. When you input your first name plus the word ‘is’ into the Google search, what is the first thing that comes up in the drop down? ___ is my hero

10. Do you care about celebrities birthdays? If yes, do you do anything to celebrate? not really

11. What is the most common word you use for potatoes [potato, spud, tater, etc.]? potato

12. Have you ever collapsed from sadness & just laid wherever you were & cried until you couldn’t cry anymore? yes

13. Do you feel claustrophobic in tight spaces? depends on if i can move or not

14. What do you think is the scariest thing about the world? its so easy to end up alone. you have no insurance for that.

15. What would you do if someone broke into your house at this very moment? Would you be prepared at all for something like that? i got something for them

16. If I said ‘zitch dog’, would you have any idea what I was talking about? no

17. Have you ever made a traditional snowman, with hat, carrot-nose, coal eyes & all? no 

18. Where is the ticklest part of your body? ribs

19. Is there something specific you do every day at the same time? sleep i guess

20. Did you ever think a thesaurus was a type of dinosaur? no

21. If you ever became famous, would you be willing to let the public view your Tumblr? no

22. Do you know anyone that keeps making the same mistakes over & over again? yes

23. Have you ever stood behind a podium? If yes, for what purpose? yeah to give a speech/presentation

24. When you clip your nails, where do you usually do it? Indoors, over a garbage can, outside? wherever

25. If you could go anywhere for a meal right now, free of cost, where would you go? village inn if the ride was also free

Do you drink liquor straight? sometimes

Done anything you regret? yes

Do you brush your teeth as soon as you wake up? no

What are you wearing? pajamas

This past summer, did you have a “thing” with anyone? no

What are your feelings for your ex-boyfriend? dont have one

Do you think it’s stupid to have more than one best friend? nah

Have you ever been so embarrassed that you cried? yes

Are you a slut? no?

Do your jeans have rips, tears, and holes in them? no

Have you ever kicked a vending machine? yes

Are you cocky? no

Do you wear your shoes in the house? yes 

Is anyone on your bad side now? not really

Do you sleep with socks on? sometimes

Do you watch college sports? no

Would you dye your hair? maybe

Is there someone that makes you happy every time you see them, or talk to them? yes and no

Does it bother you when someone lies to you? of course

Do you know anyone whose name starts with a Z? not personally

Do you know a guy named David? yes

Has anyone ever told you you were beautiful? not exactly

What color is your bathroom? white

Do you play sims? not really

How many people have told you they were in love with you? none

Is any part of you sad at all? always

Do you have unlimited texting? no

Last February, were you single? yes

When will your next kiss be? never

Have you chewed gum after someone else already has? no

Are you ever a freak about cleanliness or organization? not really

Last thing you ate? summer sausage

Do you currently have a hickey? no

Did you ever waste too much time on a certain boy or girl? no

Are you multi tasking right now? no

Do you believe in karma? only bad karma. when you do bad things. good deeds go unrewarded.

Tell me where you will be Saturday afternoon?? next saturday, probably doing laundry

How do you feel?? sad and tired

Be honest; name of the last person to text you?? verizon

Are you easily scared by horror movies? a little

Are you mad at your significant other? n/a

What was the last thing you drank?? vanilla coke zero

Is it easy for you to accept loss?? no 

I bet you miss somebody right now?? yes

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough? ? always

What was the last thing you got grounded for? ? i dont remember

Will you be in a relationship in the next couple months? no

What time is it? ? 1:20am

You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go? japan

Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you? ? yes

Do you have another window open? If so, what are they? facebook

Have you cried today at all? just did

Do you wear eyeliner?? no

When was the last time you ate Taco Bell and with whom?? months ago and alone

Do you pick your words carefully, or just tend to blurt everything out?? half and half

Are you nice to everyone?? i try to be

Is there someone you just can’t imagine your life without?? yes

Do you think things will change in the next 3 months?? probably not, barring some disaster

How important is the truth in a relationship?? very

Are you wearing a ring?? no

What color are your eyes?? gray

Do you like to cook/bake?? sometimes

How long have you lived in the house you live in?? 9 years

Have your friends ever stopped by your house just to say hi?? rarely

Do you like Chinese food?? yes

Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?? sadder

Which is harder: walking away from somebody you love or coming back?? walking away

Do you have one of those formspring accounts? no

Are you waiting on an important call? ? no

Have you gone to the beach yet this summer?? nope

Did you recently hang out with someone you haven’t hung out with in a long time? no

Have you done any shopping for something in specific recently? ? yes

Are you the type of person that likes to wear a different dress to every formal event you go to, or will you just wear the same dress every time (if you don’t wear dresses, use whatever type of formal outfit you wear)?? i wear whatever

When was the last time you sat there and realized you were truly satisfied with your life at that exact moment?? never

Do you still live in your hometown? ? yes

Do you have any exercise equipment in your home? yes

Do you hate to hug people? ? no

Is it easy to make you cry? ? if you know me

If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, how long have you guys been together? ? n/a

Have you ever slept on a couch with someone? yes

Are you short?? yes

How many pregnant people do you know? two

Do you know anyone whose birthday is tomorrow? ? 2018

What was the last thing you found that you thought you lost forever? ? i wish i could say a reason to live

Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop for the New Year’s? no

If you have a Twitter, do you use something else besides the computer to update your tweets? no

The last time you said ‘I love you’ to someone, who said it first, them or you? ? i did

When was the last time you uploaded pictures from your camera? i dont have a camera

What was the reason behind the last time you stayed up all night? ? insomnia

Have you ever had a UFO sighting or a sighting of strange lights in the sky? no

Who was the last person you caught lying to you? ? dont know

How old were you when you were first pulled over by the police? ? 20?

Was there ever a time that you lived on an island? ? no

Have you ever made a time capsule? ? i think so

When was the last time you drank out of a champagne glass? couple years ago

[justintimbershit]

1-116

1: Let’s start with a tricky one; what is the real reason you are confused right now?

I’m confused as to why this is double spaced. i don’t want it to be double spaced, yet its double spaced. why? fuck off. 

2: Do you ever get “good morning” texts from anyone?

occassionally but not on a regular basis which is tragic 

3: If your significant other smoked pot, would you care?

no. thats fun. 

4: Do you find it easy to trust others?

i trust too easily but i shouldn’t and it bothers me but like, when it matters i don’t trust that easily. i don’t think.

5: What were you doing at 11PM last night?

sitting in bed thinking i should sleep and then not sleeping for a couple hours bc I’m annoying as fuuuuuUUuuuuUuuck 

6: You’re drunk and lost walking down the road; who is with you?

molly and lex definitely lol

7: What would you do if you found out you had been cheated on?

probably cry forever and die 

8: Are you close with your dad?

not really but its fine 

9: I bet you kissed someone last night, right?

i didn't 

10: What are you listening to?

jennifer talk like always when I’m doing these questions 

11: You can only drink ONE liquid for the rest of your life - what is it?

probably just water so then i can add flavoring #hacks

12: Do you like hickeys?

yes they’re nice 

13: What time do you go to bed?

whenever the fuck i want I’m an adult, but usually not before midnight ever 

14: Is there someone who continuously lets you down?

nacho boy. this bitch. like u bought me nachos. then told me u wish u were buying me nachos. and then u tell me u wanna not talk bc ur talking to another girl. how many times can u fuckin say we’ll hang out then cancel on me then tell me i look hot then tell me ur busy for the rest of ur life then tell me u want me then ignore me and let our snap streak die. fuck YOU. 

15: Can you text as quickly with one hand as you do both?

not as quickly but i can still do it 

16: Do you always answer your texts?

usually always yes. unless I’m ignoring u. but even then ill answer eventually.

17: Do you hate the person you fell the hardest for?

ummMmmMm idk who i fell hardest for tbh. but chances are yes bc i hate everyone  

18: When was the last time you talked to one of your best friends?

im one of those ppl who constantly has to talk to her friends so like…5 seconds ago lol 

19: Is there someone that makes you happy every time you see them?

JOEY!!!! THE LOML!!!! he picked me up last time i saw him despite him being literally half my weight. i love him. he could never make me sad. he’s one of my safe spots. always happy in his arms. 

20: What was your last thought before you went to bed last night?

ummmmm i was waiting for a boy to message me back so probably about him tbh 

21: Is anyone else in the room with you?

there is not………that i can see 

22: Do you believe what goes around comes around?

justin timberlake would say yes so i say yes 

23: Were you happier four months ago than you are now?

no. i am 75634728930% happier now than i was four months ago. i love college. but I’m still not happy. just happier. ya KNOW 

24: Is there someone you wish you could fix things with?

ye i don’t know if things are necessarily broken but they def need fixing but also I’m not gonna try if they’re not gonna try YA FEEL 

25: In the past week, have you cried?

yes. i cried over a dog. 

26: What colour is the shirt you are wearing?

white.

27: Do people ever call you by your last name?

my teachers used to but not really anymore

28: Is anyone ignoring you right now?

umm the love of my life on tinder is potentially ignoring me or is maybe just really busy i don’t know but i love him and want him to message me back. also, nacho boy like always but iM OVER IT. 

29: Do you have a best friend?

id say i have many 

30: Would it be hard seeing someone else kiss the last person you kissed?

no. lol 

31: Who was your last call/text message from?

mary was my last text and my mother my last call 

32: Are you mad at anyone?

everyone tbh. i hate people. I’m mad at everyone forever. 

33: Have you ever kissed someone older than you?

yes like…..4 hours ago 

34: How old will the last person you kissed be on his/her next birthday?

25

35: How many more days until your birthday?

ONE MONTH EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

36: Do you have any summer plans yet?

lmao tf no i don’t even have plans for tomorrow 

37: Do you have any good friends of the opposite sex?

yes joseph and peter r cool 

38: Are you keeping anything from your best friend(s) now?

i do not really think so, but who tf knows 

39: Do you have a secret that you’ve never told anyone?

i do not really think so?

40: Have you ever regretted kissing someone?

not that i recall. i mean like now looking back, yes, obviously. but at the time no.

41: Do you think age matters in relationships?

to an extent yes but also to an extent no 

42: Are you available?

not emotionally but physically 

43: How many people have you had real, strong feelings for since high school ended?

like………i don’t even know if my feelings are real. don’t fucking ask me this. bye. 

44: If you had to get a piercing (not ears), what would you get?

nips 

45: Do you believe exes can be friends?

i think so, if its the right kind of exes ya but shits never gonna work if there r still feelings 

46: Do you regret anything?

yes, being born 

47: Honestly, what’s on your mind right now?

how fuckin TIRED I AM I WANNA DIE 

48: Did you ever lose a best friend?

indeed i have, my dude 

49: Was your last kiss a mistake?

i wouldn’t say so 

50: Why aren’t you pursuing the person you like?

bc hes involved w Satan (the girl not the devil) and i cant deal w that right now 

51: Has the last person you kissed ever seen you cry?

no he has not 

52: Do you still talk with the person you LAST kissed?

ummmm we haven’t talked since he dropped me off but he may text me tomorrow but I’m not about to text him first 

53: What was the last thing you ate?

restaurant style tortilla chips made w 7 seeds and grains 

54: Did you get any compliments today?

i think so. if the boy i had sex w didn’t compliment me i shouldn’t have had sex w him. I’m sure he said something 

55: Where are you going on your next vacation?

i don’t even know if I’m going on a next vacation 

56: Do you own anything from other countries?

i do not think so, which is tragic 

57: Are most of your friend guys or girls?

girls currently 

58: Where have you lived most of your life?

illinois all my life which is LAME 

59: When was the last time you took a long drive?

friday when my mom picked me up from school and drove me home 3 hours

60: Have you ever played Spin the Bottle?

yes in like 7th grade lol but not since i do not believe 

61: Have you ever TPd someone’s house?

i don’t think so? 

62: Who do you text the most?

ummm this is a great question. maybe mary or ola. 

63: What was the last movie you saw?

i watched zootopia yesterday. i think it was yesterday. idk but i think that was the last movie i saw. unless I’m going crazy. wait jk i watched the beginning of mr. woodcock tonight but didn’t finish it 

64: What’s preventing your current boyfriend/girlfriend from going back to their ex?

i don’t have a current boyfriend/girlfriend 

65: How many boyfriends/girlfriends did you have in 2011?

zero 

66: Is the last person you kissed younger than you?

no he is not U ALREADY ASKED THIS 

67: Do you curse around your parents?

nope they’d kill me i think 

68: Are you happy with where you live?

i suppose. it could be better but it could also be much worse 

69: Picture of yourself?

imagine a pile of shit inside a trash can filled w trash….thats me 

70: Are you a monogamous person or do you believe in open-ended relationships?

i like monogamy if its w a good person ya know.

71: Have you ever been dumped?

i do not believe so because i don’t recall ever being in a relationship 

72: What do you most like about making out?

when they stop making out w u and kiss ur neck  

73: Have you ever casually made out with someone who you weren’t seriously involved with?

yes, thats what all my make out sessions r like. I’ve never seriously been involved w anyone ever 

74: When you kiss someone for the first time, is it usually you who initiates it or the other?

1000% other person bc I’m a PUSSY 

75: What part of a person’s body do you find most attractive?

smile but also like…abs. fuck me up 

76: Who was the last person you talked to last night before you went to bed?

either alex or sam 

77: Had sex with someone you knew less than an hour?

that has indeed happened lmao. 

78: Had sex with someone you didn’t know their name?

that has thankfully not happened.

79: What makes your heart flutter and brings a big cheesy smile to your face?

when boys call me baby :))))))) and flirts w me :))))))))) i love attention and boys being nice to me 

80: Would you get involved with someone if they had a child already?

ummm. depends what ‘involved with’ means. fuck? yes. date? no. 

81: Has someone who had a crush on you ever confessed to you?

no bc nobody has ever had a crush on me lol 

82: Do you tell a lot of people when you have a crush?

i tell my friends and i have a decent amount of friends. 

83: Do you miss your last sweetie?

my last sweetie does not exist, sweetie. jeez get off my fuckin case bro. 

84: Last time you slow danced with someone?

probs never. i don’t ever recall slow dancing w anyone 

85: Have you ever ‘dated’ someone you’ve never met?

that was never a thing that happened. 

86: How can I win your heart?

PUPPIES and soft blankets and FOOOOD 

87: What is your astrological sign?

sagittarius 

88: What were you doing last night at 12 AM?

nothing much different from what i was doing at 11pm last night 

89: Do you cook?

i do not :( 

90: Have you ever gotten back in touch with an old flame after a time of more than 3 months of no communication?

no bc i have no old flame 

91: If you’re single right now, do you wish you were in a relationship?

kinda, ya. :( 

92: Do you prefer to date various people or do you pretty much fall into monogamous relationships quickly?

ummm. i don’t wanna fall into a relationship too quick but also if i like someone i wanna date them ya know

93: What physical traits do you look for in a potential interest?

nice hair, nice smile, nice body 

94: Name four things that you wish you had!

1. a smoothie 

2. a boy to cuddle me to sleep rn 

3. medicine to cure my brain 

4. money 

95: Are you a player?

i wouldn’t consider myself to be 

96: Have you ever kissed 2 people in one day?

according to the definition of a day being 24 hours i believe yes but according to my definition of a day being from when you wake up to when you go to sleep no. 

97: Are you a tease?

I’ve been called a tease but i don’t think i permanently am. i just looked hot and had to get attention from a boy

98: Ever meet anyone you met on Tumblr?

i don’t think so??? 

99: Have you ever been deeply in love with someone?

yes. justin timberlake 

100: Anybody on Tumblr that you’d go on a date with?

probs

101: Hugs or Kisses?

hugs 

102: Are you too shy to ask someone out?

yes 100% 

103: The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?

smile 

104: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you babe?

YES 

105: If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was in relationship, would you go for it?

um id probs talk to them about it but tell them i wouldn’t if they were still in a relationship regardless ya know 

106: Do you flirt a lot?

i try but i fail a lot 

107: Your last kiss?

like 4 hours ago w a boy named colin 

108: Have you kissed more than 5 people since the start of 2012?

yes

109: Have you kissed anyone in the past month?

yes 

110: If you could kiss anyone who would it be?

justin timberlake or brandon saad 

111: Do you know who you’ll kiss next?

i have a solid idea 

112: Does someone like you currently?

i think so yes. possibly multiple guys yike 

113: Do you currently have feelings for anyone?

i do and it HURTS 

114: Do you like to be in serious relationships or just flings?

id like to be in a relationship but everyone i want to be in a relationship w makes it impossible to do so 

115: Ever made out with just a friend?

yes. i have, thank u v much 

116: Are you happier single or in a relationship?

ive never been in. a relationship so i don’t have anything to compare it to.

[bbgleeproject]

[2/7/17, 10:30:15 AM] Ruthie: (*) WILL YOU BE TRYING TO SHOWMANCE ANYONE THIS SEASON? (*) [2/7/17, 12:11:14 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): trying to showmance is hard because no one woukd want to with me so I probably won't try [2/7/17, 4:17:13 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): also I don't know what to dr about except that I am not winning hoh for my clique lol [2/7/17, 6:18:04 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): dr: Daniel told me to shut up so if he gets put up his ass is grass [2/7/17, 9:59:50 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): when Nicholas won and I am safe, plus safe in bbdarkness so yay safety

[2/7/17, 11:03:56 PM] Ruthie: (*) NICHOLAS WON HOH.  HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THAT? (*)

[2/7/17, 11:11:12 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I feel I answered this, but I am glad because I am safe and I am glad for that. [2/8/17, 10:14:01 AM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): so Daniel is digging his own grave I think like he started a fight at 6 am with matthew henning he is so extra [2/8/17, 10:24:47 AM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): there was no personal attacks ruthie :P I am sure Daniel doesn't mean it he clearly is trying too hard to be funny week 1 that's it lol I mean It makes me not want him in this game and if he goes up I want to vote him out but personal? this wasn't really he is just being  extra to be iconic or something [2/8/17, 1:30:40 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): Daniel is so arrogant lol like I got he was trying to be funny it just wasn't funny I- [2/8/17, 1:31:36 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): no one was offended though matthew henning doesn't really get offended we just made it clear that it wasn't funny shrugs [2/8/17, 1:33:28 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): no like I am saying he thinks people were offended I was in a call with people they weren't [2/8/17, 1:33:34 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): they just found him really annoying [2/8/17, 1:34:04 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): and matthew hennings skype is as matthew henning so why would he need to make a new one [2/8/17, 1:34:55 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): no like I am saying I was on call with these people they weren't anyway I am more talking about that bull apology [2/8/17, 1:35:33 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): it wasn't real he knows matthew hennings name matthew henning is matthew henning on skype so to me he is just being arrogant [2/8/17, 1:37:02 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): but yes it has gotten offensive not because of what he thinks that people are "sensitive" but because he has over done it to the point where it's not funny [2/8/17, 1:40:51 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): On 2/8/17, at 1:28 PM, da Divine Damned Daniel wrote: >  i'll call u by ur name but idk id recommend a new skype if u don't wanna be called icemystic1216 like it's matthew henning on skype like does he need proof or something? [2/8/17, 1:42:15 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): On 2/8/17, at 1:29 PM, da Divine Damned Daniel wrote: > and the other girl i forget ur entire name but i'm soz for whatever i did i dunno lol but u were sticking up for ur friend so and I feel like this is referring to me and he knows my name he seems to just want to start fights with people even [2/8/17, 1:43:03 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): i am sure it's for drama in this game but like it's week 1? and he isn't safe from eviction [2/8/17, 1:51:34 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): yeah idk him at all I met him in the bbglee vl i thought he was nice at first but idk if he's ever played big brother before but he can't do this week 1 when he is not safe that's probably why no one is fighting him because I am sure Nicholas will be putting him up [2/8/17, 1:53:09 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): no I get that I love newbies but newbies need a big brother do and don't for week 1 lol [2/8/17, 1:53:20 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): clearly he does anyway [2/8/17, 1:54:06 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): he reminds of this housguest from house of shade 9 who we banned from house of shade because he went really personal on someone after being voted out week 1 hopefully he is not like that after we vote him out if he goes this week [2/8/17, 1:55:24 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): also he just sent a holocaust joke meme and that's not funny at all like andie just said [2/8/17, 2:07:55 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): so he called me a foot infection interesting I only told him matthew hennings name like [2/8/17, 2:08:57 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): On 2/8/17, at 2:08 PM, Matthew Henning wrote: > WHO TF IS CHRISSA IS THAT A FOOT DISEASE IM THE BIGGEST GLEE FAN U BLISTERING FOOT ZIT Daniel said this earlier Mathew henning sent me I didn't see it because I was sleeping [2/8/17, 2:10:20 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I never personally claimed I was the number 1 glee fan I just said I really love it like what? [2/8/17, 2:24:28 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I also think the apology about calling me a foot disease was fake but I am not fighting him because he is just gonna be voted out, he seems to have a huge ego [2/8/17, 2:37:34 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): tbh he can do that all he wants I love him ruining his game week 1 lol [2/8/17, 2:41:47 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): a lot of people on the detention call already wanted him gone and Nic wants him gone Ncholas was on that call he will put him up as I said this is like that houseguest from house of shade 9 who was messy week 1 lol [2/8/17, 2:42:36 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I hope this atleast teaches Daniel a lesson if not I don't feel I can be friends with someone like him [2/8/17, 2:43:10 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): i am never easily offended either to be honest he is a different case [2/8/17, 2:44:27 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): it didn't teach houseguest a lesson as he still went off on people after being voted out and houseguest was 23 sometimes the egos are too big [2/8/17, 2:45:24 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): like if Daniel thinks this is a joke he probably doesn't care how his words affect people [2/8/17, 2:47:24 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): whew I love this game though [2/8/17, 3:31:03 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): On 2/8/17, at 3:28 PM, da Divine Damned Daniel wrote: > ok I'm gonna leave so you can all celebrate and what not, but quite frankly i don't want to be in a group were people get hurt over small things, and i don't wanna be the one to cause people pain and hurt, so I'm sorry if ive offended you in some sort of way but i feel its best and I'm sure some of you will agree if I'm not around, i hope someone replaces me who you all get along with much better and is less 'intense' as me i guess but just letting u know theres a certain person here u all love thats just playing u so i hope u don't make the wrong decisions and no its not christa, emily or connor its someone i haven't fought with or whatever this is anyways i wish u all luck and i hope u love glee as much as i do by the end xxxxxxx ps. elizabeth better get my spot he really wants to be this extra [2/9/17, 10:47:24 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I don't have anything to dr about except dom and Zach are on the block and that's crazy but I am split on who to vote at the moment lol idk

[2/9/17, 10:53:19 PM] Ruthie: (*) HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CLIQUE? (*)

[2/10/17, 7:00:19 AM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): so I can't sleep but that's not new lol so I am just here lol thinking about how I am jesse st. james trash but Sydney got him first lol [2/10/17, 8:19:12 AM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): also I will answer: I love my clique honestly I get along with all of them.[2/11/17, 2:08:45 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): Also the best part of that recap is the meninist alliance being the most short lived alliance in bb history we did that

[2/12/17, 2:00:08 AM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): DR: I love Matthew henning zack ruining his chance ata possible hoh sad I hope his week 2/3 curse is broken though, Matthew henning always gets screwed over and it makes me honestly sad. [2/12/17, 2:02:21 AM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): also Julia Roxy is an icon that is all [2/12/17, 3:15:15 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): IS JAY ALIVE CAUSE I HAVE NEWS IF JULIA ROXY KISSES ELIJAH I AM HOH AND I AM TERRIFIED that is all [2/12/17, 3:16:15 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): i love after i wasn't kissed though nic said hi to me [2/12/17, 6:10:41 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): is hoh ever going to end? or will it just go on forever [2/12/17, 6:10:43 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): :P [2/12/17, 6:12:08 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): did Julia pick or is she still too busy [2/12/17, 6:12:11 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): :P [2/12/17, 6:24:10 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): she told me she sent her kiss don't be keeping me waiting :P [2/12/17, 6:34:28 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I was so close I knew she picked him already for some weird reason she wants nic to be safe [2/12/17, 6:44:15 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I came in here to cry at how I never get hoh's this is genuinely the saddest I have ever been about losing a comp [2/12/17, 6:45:18 PM] AshleySarah ~Glee Host~: It's ok!!!! U were close!!!! There will be other ones that you can win!!!! It's only week 2!!!!! [2/12/17, 6:45:34 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): no you see [2/12/17, 6:45:42 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): this is the only type of comp I can win [2/12/17, 6:45:51 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): i can't win flash games and other types of comps [2/12/17, 6:46:43 PM] AshleySarah ~Glee Host~: That's why we included a variety!!!!! I promise there are more like this!!!! No skill or knowledge of anything!!!! [2/12/17, 6:51:06 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): i hope so i honestly wish i could win competitions i honestly don't get why i am not good at any of them but then i remember how bad I've been genuinely all my life at games maybe it has something to do with having no hand eye coordination or my autism in general i was never really good at anything ever so why do i get my hopes up that i am now [2/12/17, 6:54:54 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): unless it's something like the kissing one I might not usually if it involves a score I never get higher than anyone else [2/12/17, 7:56:19 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): the issue with comps like normal ones I have at winning I figured it out so I really an inept at math if studied science i'd get an A but if I studied math all I would get is a B, um and so most normal comps somehow involve math so my brain goes into shut down mode because it's not ready for math lol [2/12/17, 7:59:53 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): it's like that episode of spongebob when he became the waiter and cleared his mind and all the spongebobs are freaking out because thy threw out his name but for me the name is math anything [2/12/17, 8:10:32 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I can't technically even tell time that's how bad I am [2/12/17, 8:10:44 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): 20 minutes when is that idk [2/12/17, 8:11:06 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): yesss [2/12/17, 8:14:34 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I also can't believe the lit detention chat started because someone added jeff week 1

[2/13/17, 12:08:12 AM] Ruthie: (lips) HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ELIJAH WINNING HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD? (lips)

[2/13/17, 12:09:34 AM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): you know how I feel honestly but I hope he is being honest and I am safe this week, I am kind of more over it now and I am happy for Elijah [2/14/17, 12:06:20 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): I truly want my valentine to be my husband Jay, that is all. [2/15/17, 7:20:38 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): people are fighting it's so extra my mood is now now revived [2/15/17, 10:32:31 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): Elijah is so stupid, so stupid because I have a really huge chance of not staying thanks to Julia rae being on the block beside me like who'd vote out Julia rae? no one. and if this backfires on him I will never forgive him he told me I was safe this week, why did he have to take a shot at Julia rae? like she isn't aligned with everyone he is such a bad hoh. [2/16/17, 8:05:23 PM] Chrissa Todd (circleofhappiness host): yep Elijah is dumb that's confirmed lol

[christineannetang]

2) Things to Know About CityU

(My boyfriend reminded me to present the Hong Kong List Guide in a form that would be easier to read and share. The PDF has all the same content, but I split the guide up into 0+5 sections for easy reading. If you want the guide in one whole PDF, click here. Otherwise, read on!)

Some things I wish I knew when I first started at the university.

1. CityU doesn't utilize DrexelOne (obviously) or Blackboard Learn.

Instead, they have something called the CityU Portal (https://www.cityu.edu.hk/portal/), which is kind of like DrexelOne, but once you log in, it doesn't give you direct access to Canvas (which was the equivalent of Blackboard Learn), AIMS (the academics tab of DrexelOne), or your CityU email, which was a huge inconvenience. You have to log in again. I suggest going to the actual website directly to log in.

Additionally, when signing into your email, you do not use just your electronic ID (EID), which is weird. You have to put "-c" after your EID. For example, my EID is "christang7," so my log-in username for my e-mail only was "christang7-c."

Also, your email address is ridiculously long. It's "[EID]-c@my.cityu.edu.hk."

The loading screen for Canvas.

The loading screen for Canvas.

2. Wifi at CityU isn't as easy to get as it is on Drexel's campus.

The older dorms (I think perhaps all dorms except 10 and 11?) do not have wifi in their rooms, just the common room on each floor. To get wifi in your dorm room, you or your roommate have to get a router. The thing is, routers are technically not allowed in the rooms. It's also a pain because you're supposed to register your laptop to use the ethernet jack in your room. Like what?

The campus wifi for CityU is called "Universities Wifi." Just log in with your EID and password.

3. There is no free air conditioning or heat in the dorm rooms.

Yeah, you heard right. Hong Kong's summers are ridiculously hot and it's annoying to have to pay extra for something that is always included in (American) dorms. There's a cute little scanner inside each room that only takes payment in the form of money stored on the residence card. The residence card can also be used to pay for laundry ($5 HKD for each wash, $1 for 4 minutes of the dryer). However, the common rooms on each floor have air conditioning free of charge.

Rooms don't come with heat, either, so those who get cold easily should get an extra blanket or something.

Example of a washer. Scanner is on the right.

4. There are 3 dining halls, and people have strong opinions of each one.

There's the AC1, AC2, and AC3 (in academic buildings one, two, and three, respectively) canteens. The first canteen has the cheapest food, but students say it has the worst food. AC2's canteen is a bit more expensive than AC1's, but the food is supposed to be better. AC3's canteen is the priciest, but the food is the fanciest.

In AC1, you pay before you get your food. What I loved about AC1's canteen was that you can order food on a touchscreen monitor and pay using your Octopus Card. In AC2, you order in person, get your food, and then pay. AC3's canteen requires you to pay first before getting your food.

Example of a touchscreen order machine in AC3. The orange thing is where you scan your Octopus Card.

Fancy pizza in A3's canteen.

5. You can wirelessly connect your laptop to the printers as long as you're connected to "Universities Wifi. "

This is so incredibly convenient! The link below states the printer locations and how to connect your laptop to the printer. I never had to wait for a computer lab computer to print since I did it directly from my laptop. Additionally, all students basically get free printing. Each person's student ID has a certain number of printing points on it, and it's really impossible to use all of those points.

http://www.cityu.edu.hk/csc/install-guide/QuotaFastPQ_Notebook.htm

 6. The campus is spread out, yet... Small?

You have to cross a footbridge to get from the dorms to the academic buildings, and vice-versa. I suggest you give yourself 10-15 minutes to get to class. This long, treacherous walk, however, includes some beautiful scenery. Luckily, Hong Kong isn't overwhelmed by smog, so you will see blue skies often. There are only 3 academic buildings at CityU; there aren't so many buildings like the Creese Student Center or PISB or MacAlister. I didn't know that the academic buildings were separate from the dorms, and nobody explicitly said anything, so that was frustrating.

My daily view from the footbridge -- walking to class every day.

7. People in classes will be different.

The following points are taken from my posts from drexelstudyabroad.wordpress.com:

Don’t bother going to class more than 10 minutes early. The lecture halls are packed back-to-back, so you can’t go into the classroom because there would be a class in session immediately before yours.

Here at CityU, you have lectures, tutorials (the equivalent to recitation), and labs. I don’t have any labs, and tutorials are 50 minutes, very much like how Drexel works. The lectures, however, are so long! While at Drexel, lectures were maybe 1.5 to 2 hours max, while all of my lectures at CityU are at least 2 hours long. My biological psych class is 3 hours long and it’s extremely painful to sit through. What I like here, though, is that the professors give us a 5-10 minute break every hour.

All the classes here are taught in English, but the professors (that I have, at least) have an accent when they speak. It isn’t affecting my learning too much, but I find that I have to concentrate harder to understand what my professors say.

What I find really, really annoying is that students talk in class. They’re kind of loud, but I don’t know if they realize it. The professors don’t usually stop their lectures to address them, though. I’m going to admit that sometimes, I turn to look at them with a disapproving eye to inspire them to stop, but it doesn’t usually work. I would say something out loud, but I feel that it’s not in my place because I’m an outsider. Talking in class may be the norm in Hong Kong, for all I know. Also, many students come in late, but they are loud about it! It’s really irritating. Instead of closing the door to the lecture hall quietly, they let the door slam.

I had a friend from Canada studying abroad, too. She always mentioned that she hated that "no one" in Hong Kong holds the door for the person behind them. Growing up in a society where door-holding is such a normal thing may make you think that it's universal, but a huge part of studying abroad is learning about other cultures, which may or may not hold doors. Learning these things is an exciting part about studying abroad. I encourage people to consider things like this before getting annoyed at people.

8.  Around the school are lots of stores where you can get fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and other things.

I used to go to the Nam Shan market (take lift 17 in AC1 to the ground floor, make a left, and go straight) for vegetables. Nearby is a supermarket called Wellcome (not a typo). Near the end of my time, however, I ventured a bit father for groceries. The Skek Kip Mei wet market was my favorite. It was a maze in there but there was so much more, and all of it was more fresh.

I wrote quite a bit about grocery stores around CityU in my blog, too:

You’ll find that eating out in Hong Kong adds up after a while. The canteens have food at a reasonable price and the restaurants off campus slightly more. If you’re trying to save money like I am, you will probably turn to making your own food. Benefits include saving money and being able to make food that reminds you of home. There are three places you can buy your food, all of which are within walking distance from campus.

The first place is Taste, an international supermarket located in Festival Walk, a mall that is practically connected to CityU. If you’re a person who doesn’t want to travel too far for groceries, and if you miss the familiar foods from home (like pretzels, U.S. eggs, and Sara Lee pound cake), this is where you want to go. The drawback of Taste is that things are pretty expensive.

The second place that I go to for groceries is Wellcome, a regular supermarket that is located in Nam Shan Estate. It only takes about 7 minutes to get there from the school if you walk. Things are a bit cheaper compared to Taste, but there isn’t as big of a selection. The fruit selection has your regular fare — apples, oranges, bananas, etc. This is where you want to go if you want fruit (Taste’s prices are ridiculous). The vegetable section is pretty small, but gets the job done. It has enough. If you’re looking for basic things like pasta, ramen, and sauces, this is where you want to go. For an easy meal, I get the Lee Kum Kee packet sauces, which tell you how much meat or other ingredients you need to add to the sauce. It’s super easy and quick.

The third place I found out about only recently (almost two months into my stay here) is the Shek Kip Mei Market. This is really similar to the Nam Shan farmer’s market (I mentioned it in blog post #5), but way bigger and more lively. The Nam Shan market is closer to the school but doesn’t sell a bunch of stuff, including wonton wrappers. It is ridiculously difficult to find wonton wrappers around here… I bought a bunch from a lady in the Nam Shan market once, but I never saw her the few times I visited market after that. Spooky.

Somehow, I found out about the Shek Kip Mei market online and decided to go check it out. My friends and I were making hamburgers that day, too, and went there to get onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and lettuce. I wasn’t expecting much from the market but it was HUGE! It was probably two or three times bigger than the Nam Shan market. People come here every day to buy their groceries. Everything is fresh, of course. Coco, the friend who came with me, said that the markets open early, maybe like 6 or 7 AM because the meat and fish are delivered in the morning. There were tons of people selling fresh fruit and vegetables, raw and cooked meat (they’ll cut up the meat into smaller chunks for you), fish (yep, still swimming around. Either that or flopping around because they were recently taken out from the water), and cooking condiments. The prices for certain things were great compared to Wellcome and Taste (plus I found things there that I couldn’t find in Wellcome). Another great thing about the Shek Kip Mei market is that you don’t have to buy things in bulk. For example, if I wanted onions in Wellcome, I would have to buy a bag of 6 onions, but I could buy only 1 onion in the Shek Kip Mei Market.

Drawbacks include the language barrier (as mentioned before), the environment (I saw a cockroach on the wall, and Coco told me this is a common thing to see here… Wash your fruits and veggies well, guys), the language barrier, and the distance from the school. It is actually a subway stop away from the school but is also definitely within walking distance.

Nam Shan market. Shek Kip Mei market looks practically the same.

Meat in Shek Kip Mei market.

9. There are always events going on, just keep an eye out for flyers and emails.

Your e-mail will get flooded with event invites, whether it be from your college, your floor, or the student residence office There is just so much to do -- I love the enthusiasm that Hong Kong students have -- so you really should make the most of it and go to as many events as you can!

There are organizations that host trips to places outside Hong Kong. I remember seeing ads for trips to China, Macau... And a few for North Korea. I really would have gone except it was ridiculously expensive, way out of my budget. I actually know a person who went there (AND came back!).

10. There's a bus stop right at the school that goes directly to the airport.

Hong Kong is in such a convenient place -- situated in the smack dab of Asia. Tons of my exchange student friends traveled a lot. I myself went to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China, and Taiwan. Going to these places, however, requires getting to the airport. Luckily for CityU students, the bus E22 right outside the Shek Kip Mei Park goes directly to the airport! It costs $18 HKD to get on, which is cheap compared to the MTR + airport express line, which is $60.

To get to the bus stop, cross the footbridge in the direction from the dorms to the academic buildings. Instead of making a U-turn at the foot of the stairs, turn left.