#Creative sports prints

[sultaul20]

Discover the newest sports T-shirt designs with beautiful logos. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends by shopping now!

Custommized T-shirts all colour avalible

[techdriveplay]

Top Hobbies for Men: A Comprehensive List to Fuel Your Passion

Are you a man who wants to discover exciting new hobbies that will fuel your passion? Look no further! In this comprehensive list, we have compiled the top hobbies for men that will keep you engaged, entertained, and fulfilled. From adrenaline-pumping adventures to creative pursuits, there’s something for everyone. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, consider taking up hiking, camping, or fishing…

[caityjay13]

Dear Followers,

This is a PSA. Hikaru no Go (2020) is now available to stream on Prime Video. You should watch it.

But Caity, you may ask. Why should I watch this Chinese live action drama based on the popular turn-of-the-millenium Japanese manga and anime of the same name? The answer, my friends, is because it is fucking phenomenal.

Hikaru no Go is my favorite sports anime. It was one of the first manga I ever read. When I own a home someday and have bookshelves, it is one of the only manga series I wish to own in its entirety in print. The story is deeply compelling, moving, funny, relatable. It truly has something I haven't found in another animanga in twenty years.

And the Chinese live action adaptation takes that perfect, beautiful source material and creates something equally perfect and beautiful (if not more so? feels blasphemous to say, but boy howdy I'm not NOT saying it).

The way in which the original Japanese story—the characters, the culture, the game of go—is translated into Chinese is really masterfully executed. The story is incredibly faithful to the original, and when it does differ, it does so in really creative, thoughtful ways that really work.

The actors fucking nail it. Honestly all of them, but I'm looking at the kids in the first two episodes in particular. Blown away by the performances of a couple of ten-year-olds. Kids have a bright future ahead of them, damn.

This show has the budget. If y'all know me at all, you know I'll enjoy a low-budget wuxia flick because it's a good time, but damn, if I had standards, they would be met and exceeded by this show. The hair, the makeup, the costumes, the effects (there is an effect every time the "ghost" is on screen where he is partially translucent. It is perfectly executed and incredibly impressive, at least to my layman eyes). The very first opening credits scene is super beautiful, the end credits are beautiful, it's all just so pretty and polished and feels good on my eye holes.

Honestly, I cannot gush enough about this show. It ranks up with Nirvana in Fire in my heart (which I do not say lightly, considering I went through my entire list and lowered the ratings I'd given each show accordingly after I first watched nif so that the 10 weighed more heavily).

tl;dr: If you liked the hikago animanga, you should watch this show. If you never read/watched hikago, you should watch this show. If you did not like hikago, you should watch this show. Please watch this show, I am begging you.

Sincerely, A Rabid Hikago Fangirl

[stinmybubs]

"Do It For Us." Pt.4

AN: I LIED SHE IS IN UA CUZ SHIKETSU IS TOO STRICT AND SHE NEEDS CREATIVE FREEDOM.

Summery: quirkless and weak, two words treat have defined this girl for too long. She can be useful to her friends, she can finally carve out a way into the hero life. From the sidelines. But…Izuku has a quirk? When? How? He’s a liar….

M. Izuku x AFAB! Reader x B. Katsuki

Pt.1 | Pt.2 | Pt.3

Being an inventor had opened your eyes, so many possibilities with creating things you realize heros will need. Some quirks can’t be regulated without support items which means you would be a vital part of history!

And some quirks weren’t hard to replicate. In a way you could research quirks and make your own. You had so many plans and ideas to share, especially after taking your first step in your classroom.

You felt your heart racing, transferring a month into school was stressful, everyone already knew each other and probably had clicks.

The support course, you were able to branch off after your main classes into the little indoor laboratories or whatever they’re called to create. Of course of of them were taken, two people in one garage.

Of course you were lucky enough to have one more spot so you didn’t have to walk across the entire school to get to an empty one. The teacher had told you that your partner will be a girl since of your record.

You nervously approach the lab, a box of blueprints and tools in your hands and you push the door open to see a girl with a big smile on her face laughing maniacally while creating her creations.

“My babies will be perfect! After I showcase these babies they’ll have to recruit me and buy my precious babies!” The pink haired girl cheered holding one of her ‘babies’ in the air.

You simply sneak into the room, making your way to the long desk across the room. Surprisingly it was empty, you thought since she was alone she’d take up the whole space.

“Hiya!” You felt a hand suddenly on your shoulder making you scream. “Oh my god!” You drop your box on the desk turning around to see the pink haired girl who had grime all over her face smiling at you.

“I was told a female transfer student will need space! So I kicked the guy who was in here outta here!! Of course I wanna work with a girl! We can create precious babies together! By the way the names Mei Hatsume! Wanna see some of my babies!? Oo what’s in here!” The girl was spouting so much you couldn’t even comprehend anything she was saying, everything was happening so fast.

It kind of reminded you of Izuku.

“Oh! That’s just my blueprints…I wanna see if I can replicate complicated quirks maybe even see if you can like I dunno…change some? An example would be if Mount lady could control her size! It would be super useful especially when navigating a large city with cramped roads. Mount lady would-“ you cut yourself off as you saw the girl listening intently, you face flushing realizing you were rambling like Izuku normally would.

“That’s a brilliant idea! Me and you are gonna get along just fine! You’re also just in time for the sports festival! It’s literally in 2 days!” She cheered helping you set up your side of the room.

Mei was a doll, you loved her bright energy and her ability to create was grand! You two spent the day going over blue prints and possible tools you could bring to the sports festival.

This is where you heard that class 1-A was the most popular class right now, the hero course. That’s where you could assume where Bakugou and Izuku was, well either 1-A or 1-B.

“Yeah that Bakugou guy is a real snob!” You flinch at the name, currently you were fetching some history books with a fellow classmate to stock up in your home room class.

“Yeah should’ve known class 1-A would be to egotistical. Only a select few get into the hero course.”

Class 1-A huh? You thought, spacing out at the thought of visiting Bakugou. He’s only a few halls away, you could totally just pop in. But we’re you ready?

“Ah!” You didn’t know what was happening, one minute you were walking with a stacks of books the next you were falling. Turns out a whole group of students starting bombarding the halls.

“What the hell!?” You look around, picking yourself up noticing the group of students making their way down the halls. “They late for class or?”

“Nah, they’re checkin out class 1-A, not only did they survive a real villian attack but in the sports festival they can switch you into the hero class if they see you fit for it. Meaning some kids, gonna get moved out.” Your class mate stated, helping you pick up your books that you had dropped.

“It’s not like I wanna get in so…-“ your class mate continued talking while you stared down the hall. Thoughts racing through your mind. You hadn’t seen Bakugou in months.

I wonder how he’s doing…

I’m just not ready.

The days before the sports festival past quickly, you told mei that you didn’t think you could participate in the sports festival due to your anxiety. She understood right away and told you she will represent your babies at the festival in your steed.

Mei was such a sweet girl, she always knew exactly what to say to you and how to make you feel better. You felt so lucky.

You watched from the area your class was assigned, you were basically the only one there as all the classes walked into the large stadium. You heart raced, you immediately could see the two you longed to see the most.

They haven’t changed. You smile watching as the classes line up to listen to the hero Midnight announce the rules and who’s going to sing the pledge.

“Bakugou Katsuki!” The skimpy suited hero yelled, unexpected. You thought that Katsuki would be the last person to represent a class, due to his very aggressive behavior. You simply watched as he walked up into the podium, hands stuck in his pockets.

“I just wanted to say. That I’m gonna win.”

Oh my god…

Your jaw drops and you cover your mouth, trying to hold your laughter in. God damn it Katsu! Honestly you should’ve known he’d do something like this, his bold confidence was something I’m you used to admire. Come to think of it you were doing fine seeing him.

MaybeI am ready…

But you just didn’t want to risk it, ruining your own life after another episode, you don’t think you would ever recover from another episode. Especially after finding your calling.

As the games went on, you watched the first event intently, seeing Bakugou fighting for first place gave you a rush of your own. You couldn’t help but be internally rooting for him.

Until you saw Izuku flying past the the two boys fighting for first place. Your eyes widen, like in slow motion you saw the boy you admired all your life. Izu..

You stood up in your chair, now you had no clue who to root for! Woah! Izu is so smart…he used the bombs to propel himself in front of the rest of them. He always was the smart one, you know instead of a hero he couldn’t taken the support course. With that brain he could make fine equipment for hero’s.

Your smile fades, how did he get into the hero course..? Only the best of the best, with quirks can get in…

Before your mind begins to race, you quickly calm yourself down, settling back in your seat to continue watching the race play out.

As the games went on, the Calvary battle gave you a good laugh watching Bakugou fly around and angrily yell at his teammates.

You smile as both your childhood friends made it to the finals, Bakugou was fighting a cute girl! And Izuku was fighting a todoroki. Well the only fights you were interested in paying any attention to, you kind of spaced out for the rest of the fights until theirs came.

Well of course you had a very good laugh when Mei toyed with that glasses guy!

Finally it was Bakugou’s fight, of course you were voting for him. Watching as he basically bullied the girl, her quirk…they said it was gravity right. Yknow if I had it I would. Then you realized what she was doing, looking up to see the broken pieces of the stage floating above the stadium.

I fucking love her. You thought excitedly, you kind of hoped this would work, the girl was tirelessly charging herself at your blonde haired friend. Hearing the crowd booing Bakugou broke your heart, not only for Bakugou but the fact that they’re totally underestimating this girl!

One of the announcers lectured the heros booing him, as the rocks came falling down, it was an amazing sight. Woah! The hero course is so…amazing. But with one blast Bakugou countered her attack basically ending the fight there after the girl collapsed due to exhaustion.

You felt a hand land on your shoulder startling you as you realize it was just Mei. “Did you see our babies Y/n! They did so good! Don’t worry if any agencies ask about them I’ll let them know you helped me too! And of course some of them are your design.” She cheered giving you the biggest hug as you watch Izuku step out onto the stage.

You tuned out the world during this fight, there was no way he was going to win. Especially without a quirk. Your memory remembered the time where he told you that he had a chance to get in. Does that mean…? No…so was he not quirkless? Did he find out he had one?

So he wasn’t like you?

As the fight when on, he managed to counter every attack which made your heart sink. Confirming your thoughts as you watch his bones break with each powerful use of his quirk.

He had a quirk? When? Since when did he get a quirk?

You didn’t know how or when. All you knew is that he wasn’t like you anymore, he wasn’t quirkless. A weakling it be pushed around all your life, a defenseless bug to be squashed underneath everyone’s feet.

Or was he just lying…did he lie about not having a quirk? Laughing behind your back all these years as he pretended to be your friend? Your alley? Your only hope? Your mind raced with thoughts you didn’t even know you had streams of tears rushing from your eyes down your face, Mei calling out your name.

Since you weren’t budging, staring at the fight as she Mei quickly rushed you out into a waiting room. “Is everything okay Y/n!?? What happened?” You snap back to reality, just breaking down in tears.

You felt like a fool. You felt so betrayed, your heart felt so broken in that very moment. You couldn’t be here anymore, you couldn’t.

“Did you hear?”

“Yeah some girl from the support course was in tears over this fight.”

“Heard it was a quirkless transfer.”

“I wonder what that was about.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes at the bumbling rumors going around the students, watching as Izuku and todoroki fought.

“Her name I think was.. Y/n L/n?” He immediately perked up, turning to the class that was sitting above them to try to listen closer. She must’ve saw Deku usin that stupid quirk. What a fuckin idiot. Katsuki clenched his fist, getting out of his seat to fines you.

He needed to see you.

At least one more time.

AN: maybe this will be a long term series I keep cutting off the romance 😭 IM SO SORRY I LOVE YOU GUYS Xoxo Stinmybubs

[ultimac]

CLİPART - DRAGON+ (6)

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[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

gosh im brimming with mini headcanon ideas

um okay so mini headcanons for mc doing m6's makeup? or just doing each other's makeup :3

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Doing each other's makeup

Julian: he knows how to do makeup, but he only knows how to do one kind of makeup, and that's stage makeup specifically. be prepared to sport a face of major contouring and overdrawn eyeliner. he's happy to wear whatever you put on his face, however it looks

Asra: they can do make up really well, but they're also a person gifted with Artistic Vision, so what starts out as a light, glowy face will (d)evolve easily into neon sparkly rainbow leopard print highlighter. he'll let you make him up, but the intimacy might sidetrack him

Nadia: will happily do your makeup if you ask her and will go bold glam each time unless you request something else specifically. she in turn is happy to let you do hers, but please use her products specifically. And this color palette. And this technique ...

Muriel: makeup is not a familiar concept to him beyond hearing Asra describe it as "art that goes on your face" as a child. sure, you can put it on him, but he's not letting anybody else see it no matter how it looks. will do yours very delicately if you insist that you need his help

Portia: oh my gosh, yes, let's do this every day (if you have time). she'll wear whatever you put on her all day, after touching it up a little if something doesn't sit right with her. she's not the most creative with makeup but she can and will replicate any look you show her

Lucio: he hopes you understand, MC, that you are the only person he'd trust to touch his beautiful face (and precious eyeliner!) and that he expects you to take his appearance seriously. he doesn't know much beyond a base and eyeliner, but he's incredible at doing them

[carionto]

The Revitalization League of Extinct Sports

Documentation!

Every culture and civilization creates mountains of records of all kinds, though sadly the ones that have the highest chance of surviving beyond the ages are also prone to retain the least amount of complete information.

Wear and tear of physical mediums is unavoidable, no matter the precautions and measures taken. Thus there are countless organizations and individuals dedicated to finding, preserving and restoring information that has been lost to time.

One such group aims to recover the lost art of athletics, physical competitions, and exercises of pure strength and speed. The results have been...

mixed.

Their primary sources of "inspiration" have been ancient print media depicting the lives of a subgroup of Humans called 'Alpha Males', though DNA analysis has yet to identify a consistent genetic code to substantiate their actual existence. Nevertheless, there are quite a few depictions from a limited spectrum of Human history of these Alphas engaged in a variety of dangerous activities.

Some speculate that it was a mutation that had a predisposition towards recklessness and so if these Alphas truly were a Human sub-variant at some point, their nature made them extinct within just the span of a few generations. However, their exploits have survived to this day and age, and the Revitalization League of Extinct Sports has replicated these, within reason, of course.

This particular display of strength and endurance, has been named "Naked and Ferocious". The goal of this activity, we speculate, was to showcase ones individual prowess against a seemingly inferior opponent of another species, but who had numbers on their side.

Events often seen in nature, where the goal is survival, are sometimes reintroduced by a society where such conflict has been eliminated to maintain some connection with their origins, to never forget the cruel reality that awaits should civilization collapse, or most commonly a simple showcase of strength for personal ego reasons.

The League, naturally, cannot offer one to fight actual living creatures, that would simply be too chaotic and dangerous for everyone involved. Plus laws exist, but only because to some the obvious problems are, apparently, not obvious. What they offer instead are robotic replicas, as lifelike as the real deal, but programmed to either not cause any harm, or if the participant signs a warrant, limited harm.

It's... quite popular among some crowds. Of Humans mostly. It can be a little, actually, a lot off-putting to see a bare chested Human crush a mechanical creature MADE OF METAL that kinda resembles some members of the Galactic Coalition.

Humans are incredibly terrifying, no matter what they do or if they even have access to their literal planet destroying machines or just their own bodies.

The creativity of destruction knows no bounds.

[silluuuu]

La petite robe noire

salut mes ami(e)s et welcome to Reverb 2024, La petite robe noire! i've had so much fun putting together this story with my artist partner @jadedkappa. it's been such a treat to hang out with you over these past couple of months, even with our crazy décalage horaire de 9 heures !!!

pls enjoy this very silly Art School AU, featuring a Death the Kid POV (a very fun experiment for me haha), lots of shenanigans, and of course, a sprinkle of Soul/Maka. big love to @toweroftunes for betaing and to the @reverbmod team for hosting and reviving this event! check out the beginning of the story below!! <3

If there's one thing Death the Kid hates, it's chaos.

Bound to one of his kitchen barstools, he taps a foot impatiently as he stares down at his phone, the crease between his brows forming a trench of Mariana depths as yet another message lights up his notifications.

He doesn't hate group projects, in theory. In practice, however, he is forced to remember the company he keeps, his hailstorm of a cohort of classmates and the inevitable chaos they incite at every turn. He wants to rip his hair out - though he knows this would disturb both his haircut and his perfect dye job, so he refrains. Sporting an off-kilter coiffe feels like he's breaking some kind of art school law. The rule of thirds for the scalp, as it were.

Ping, ping, ping! He reaches across the kitchen island to silence the phone, fingers clenched around a lukewarm cup of coffee that is doing nothing to combat his frazzled nerves. His screen continues to betray him with a whack-a-mole assortment of pop-ups, new windows appearing faster than he can close them.

It's not even technically a group project - he'd elected to bring his friends into this, though he's the only one getting a grade. As a fashion design student, he needs to be able to 'play nice with others', as his father had so cheerfully suggested throughout his youth. Over the years, he had mostly succeeded in fine-tuning his people-averse personality to make that happen. In this particular instance, the handsome compensation he'd offered them had certainly helped to grease the wheels.

The true chaos had started with the unfortunate development of this group chat. As much as this project is his brainchild, that had not been his idea.

It'll be easier to keep in touch with people! Liz had said. We can be creative together! Patty had said. You can stay organized, Liz had added at his continued reticence and, forever beholden to the concept of organization, this argument had been compelling enough for him to cave.

The chat is decidedly disorganized. Black Star has been sending them byte after byte of explosion noises with no end in sight, for seemingly no reason at all. Liz drops Instagram makeup tutorials every ten minutes - most of which seem suspiciously targeted at her own makeup needs instead of their project, but he digresses. Patty has been sending eyeshadow swatches, which she's been practicing on everything skin-like in the house - a definition that, he'd recently discovered, can differ greatly from person to person. In entirely related news, he must now deep-clean all of his silicone muffin tins after this project is done.

He's wading through chaos, up to the waist of his perfectly-pressed pants. He feels like a puzzle with pieces scattered every which way, and the most important ones are still lying under the table, invisible to the eye and impossible to meld with the others.

Choose a classic piece of clothing, and promote it through a printed poster and a video advertisement. This is the task he has been set, and while he's assembled a qualified team for both the poster and the ad, he's still lacking in both article and model for said piece. Without those two things, he's a sitting duck in his little chaos-pond.

At this moment, Liz walks in, surveys him in his state of many discomforts, and offers him a metaphorical hand.

"Do you want me to show you how to turn off notifications?" she says, expression deadpan.

Read the rest on AO3 :D

[captainofthedauntless]

S/O's Hobbies HCs

This wasn't requested, but I wrote down the first little idea and then it snowballed wildly out of my control. Have some Bay Boys and how they engage with their partner's hobbies.

Like their namesakes suggest, these are Renaissance men, okay? They do a bit of everything (partially because they've always had a lot of time to fill), and they absolutely want to learn about whatever you do.

Donnie is naturally curious across the board. He wants to know a bit about everything all the time- and you happen to be his favorite subject to study! Even if your hobbies aren't his thing, he absolutely wants to learn about them.

He also loves to apply his own knowledge to them! If he knows something about it that you might not, he loves to offer it up- exchange of knowledge is this guy's love language. He's careful not to sound condescending, he's just excited!

If you're into woodwork, he's over the moon- he hates doing it himself. He'd much rather weld for three days straight than have to work with wood for any significant period of time. However, he does love dropping tree facts on you ("You know, this tree is actually considered invasive in parts of Europe.").

If you're into anything with a chemistry element, like cooking or baking (or makeup or traditional art), he's all about it. He views it all from a very chemistry-heavy angle, so he adores hearing and seeing your thought process and perspective. He knows how the ingredients you're using (or were used in your supplies) work together to create the end product, but he loves to learn about how you use them.

If you're any kind of performer, he loves seeing you practice! Please show him videos of your performances, he'll love every single second. He is your biggest cheerleader. He'll notice little details in your work ("I love how you said that line! Quick and angry but still speaking so clearly- that's so impressive, love." or "Oh!! That spin! Look at you go!" or "That note was perfect, sweetheart- I could listen to this all day.") and will absolutely study up on your art of choice so that he can better appreciate what you do!

Same with sports! He loves to watch any clips you have, even if they're from your friend's shitty eight year old camera that has about 12 pixels to offer. Don would absolutely do drills with you if you asked- pitch a ball, guard a goal, swing a bat, whatever. He likes trading warm up and cool down routines, too!

You're into mechanics? Machinery? He's so excited to compare notes. You love driving- or even better, being driven? Dates on the road. All the time.

If you write, he would love to read anything you'll give him! If you write nonfiction, he loves to see your thoughts and findings and keeps a little notepad of questions and observations to talk to you about. If you're a fiction person, he loves to find your voice in the descriptions and characters! He gets absorbed in the story- right up until he sees a phrase you use a lot around him, and he has to take a second to be all smiley because he loves you before he keeps reading. Poetry? He somehow admires you even more than he already did. Will absolutely ask you if he can print a copy of one of your poems to keep by his computers- it doesn't take long at all before he could recite your work from memory.

Please tell him all about your creative choices, no matter what your hobby is. Painting? Tell him why you chose those colors, that angle, that medium. Dance? Talk about why you chose that song and did that wave with your arm. Music? Explain why you switched up the notes in that cover you did, or why you chose the chords you did in that song you wrote. Writing? He wants to hear about every single scrapped concept.

If you have a performance or a game or a display of any kind, he's absolutely either sneaking his way to watch- even if it's through a window or skylight- or hacking into whatever camera he can.

If you give him something you've made- be it a painting, something you wrote, a sculpture, a bowl, a stuffed animal, whatever- it's going where he'll see it every single day. It's his prized possession. It makes him smile even when he feels like shit.

Leo's a big believer in the value of mindful hobbies. He uses his to relax (something that does not come naturally to him, especially these days), but also to keep his mind as sharp as his swords.

He's an even big believer in the value of you. He loves sharing his life with you, and cherishes any time you share yours with him- including your hobbies!

This acts of service bitch will do anything he can to help you out with your hobbies. If you're an artist with traditional mediums or makeup, he's offering to wash your brushes. If you paint on wood or canvas, he's happy to prep them for you. If you work with watercolor, he's emptying and refilling your paint water as often as you want. You're building something and need supplies or equipment held or moved? You mean, an excuse to show off help his partner? He's in heaven.

Any gear or equipment you use that needs to be cleaned, he's there and ready to help. However, he's careful to only help with permission- the boys all have a lot of respect for people's possessions and space. There weren't many ways to separate their things growing up, and even fewer things to separate, so (with some siblings-gonna-sib exceptions) they're all very, very good about not touching your shit. Leo specifically makes the comparison to his katana- if someone cleaned them without his permission, he'd be royally pissed. He's not about to do that to you. Just know that all you have to do is ask, and it's as good as done! (And it's done well, too. He'll pay intense attention to your instructions and follow them to the letter, taking his time and moving very carefully.)

He's a bit intense in general, actually. When you're showing him your work or your process, you have his entire focus. Nothing else matters. It's sweet, but it probably makes you trip over a few words while you're explaining.

He puts the constructive in constructive criticism. Critique is the key to improvement in his opinion, so he's definitely offering his thoughts unless you specifically ask him not to. A big part of Leonardo's life is wanting to be the best he can possibly be, and he does everything he can to help his loved ones do the same, including you! You whip up a meal? "This is delicious, baby. I think a little char would make it legitimately perfect." You're practicing choreography? "Looking good! Swing that leg just a little higher!" Writing? He's the perfect beta reader, if you really want to catch errors. He has a flawless eye for misplaced commas.

He loves anything to do with words, so if you're a writer, songwriter, poet, actor, whatever? He's delighted. He soaks up your work like a tree soaks up sunshine. Words have power, and you have power, and putting the two together means he's in awe. Will read and reread your work as many times as he can if you write. If you're a speaker- actor, spoken poet, whatever- he's front and center for every practice session you let him witness. Will take notes on his favorite moments and shower you in praise after.

He also loves music. Loves it. You play an instrument? The moment you're willing to share, he LIVES to hear you play. You sing? He's pretty sure he's actually falling more in love, and he didn't know that was possible. You're an avid listener? Please, please, please share your favorite tracks and albums and artists with him. Please have him over to your place- away from the noise of Don's work and Raph's weights and Mikey's Mikeying- and put on your favorite record and cuddle up to listen. Listening dates are one of his favorites- one of his favorite activities with one of his favorite people? Bliss. Add in some snacks and he's pretty sure it's what perfection feels like. (If you really, really want to make him happy? Listen to his music with him, too. Talk about it with him after. Tell him which songs you loved and how you noticed the beat in Song A matched the beat in Song B, and they felt like they belonged together.)

If you're an athlete, he's all about learning everything there is to know about your sport and your personal routine. He's a big fan of learning from as many different disciplines as possible, so he loves to hear about all of the little details. What stretches you do, what exercises you rely on, how you practice- all of it! He'll incorporate parts of it into his own routines if he sees benefits for his own body and abilities.

Honor Boy will also sneak his way into whatever events you have, be it a gallery or a performance or a competition. If there's a shadowy spot to hide, he's there! If not, he's finding a secluded window. Failing that, he's not above asking Don for help with cameras. (It will be on the down low, though. He doesn't need Raph and Mikey making fun of him for the next six years for being too impatient to wait for the photos and video you'll share later.)

Give him something you've made? It's getting put in the safest spot he can possibly come up with, and he looks at it every morning. It becomes a part of his routine- brush teeth, stretch, look at wonderful gift from wonderful partner and think about how lucky he is. It's instant stress relief. You cared enough about him to make something, you trusted him enough to give him the result of your time and energy. He loves it and he loves you and he loves having another reminder of you in his space.

Mikey has the strangest, most eclectic bunch of information tucked away in his mind. He goes on YouTube journeys bouncing from one suggested video to another and has learned a little bit about all sorts of obscure topics, so there's a decent chance he'll surprise you with prior knowledge of your interests! Into history? He saw this crazy video about agriculture in India in the 1500s- he should totally pull it up for you! You're a welder? He's picked up some of the basics by hanging around Donnie, just enough to know how damn impressive your work is, and follow along with what you're saying. He knows an almost unsettling amount about the arts in general, too.

Dance, cooking, baking, music, painting, drawing, sculpting- hell, origami? He's done a little bit of all of it, and would love to learn all about your methods. He wants to see (or hear!) everything you create. He eats that shit up.

He's the loudest, happiest, most extra cheerleader you could ever possibly hope for. He will offer critique if you ask, but it's always always sandwiched by compliments- not because he wants to soften the critique, but because he genuinely thinks you're the shit. You're the next great master, his name be damned. Anything you do has notes of you in it, and he adores you more than he will ever be able to put into words (not for lack of trying), so obviously he adores your work.

You're a performer? He's the best audience ever, baby! He's fully focused on you, cheering as much as you can tolerate, straight up whooping when you do something particularly impressive. "Lookin' good, baby cakes!" and "Go off, cutiepie!" and "You're the next Shakespeare, sweets."

You make something? He's in awe. He's admiring every little aspect of it. Every stitch, stroke, flavor, whatever.

You make him something? He's is literally protecting it with his life. Anyone even looks at it wrong and he's ready to get rude. (Now, nobody's safe from him making them look at it. He shows it off every chance he gets. You're very lucky you make Mikey so happy, because otherwise Raph might start to dislike you a little for how often he has to look at it. Raph does make comments, though. "No more gifts until the holidays. I can't take any more show'n'tell sessions from this nitwit." Subtext? Mikey loves it, you make him happy, good job.)

Please let Mikey join in your hobbies. Out of all four, he's by far the most excited to get hands-on. Teach him to make your favorite recipes, teach him choreography, challenge him to matches in your sport of choice. Have painting dates. Trade mediums with him and teach him what you know- and let him teach you his! Have him help you build a table! Have jam sessions with your respective instruments! Whatever you're into, try and find a way to include him. He's gonna love you forever anyway, but that will really be the cherry on top.

Like Leo, he loves a listening date, so if you're into music please share it with him! His are much noisier, though. It's damn near a karaoke night, and he's probably dancing around like a dumbass and asking you to join him. (Please join him.)

You're performing, competing, showing off your work? He is there. He actually does not give a shit what Leo says about it, either. You'll see him, too. He'll be sure of it. He's sneaky and subtle and will be hidden from your audience, but you'll know he's there to support you, even if he has to text you a selfie from his hiding spot with a fuckton of emojis and words of encouragement.

You say you're "just" anything, and this guy is ready to go off. "Just" a beginner? Bitch, please. That's how everyone starts- and look what you're doing already! "Just" an extra? That's where movies get their depth! That's how plays feel alive! Extras give the story dimension, baby! "Just" backup vocals? First of all, you're upstaging the lead by miles in his book. Secondly, without you, none of that sweet harmonizing would be there! He's relentless and will convince you of your own amazingness or die trying.

Raph's quality time ass is a SUCKER for learning about your hobbies. He wants to hear you talk about them for hours. He wants you to sit in his lap and show him something you made and explain every little detail. He wants to watch you practice.

He's pretty private about his hobbies beyond martial arts and lifting, so he sees you sharing yours as trusting him with part of you. It means more to him than he's ever going to say unless you express a similar opinion- he feels too corny trying to articulate it himself. He's worried you wouldn't see it as being that deep, and he'd sound cheesy. But if you say it, he's agreeing wholeheartedly.

If you really want to make him feel loved, tell him about what goes into whatever you do. What inspires you? What does it make you feel? Why do you do it? Why that specifically? How'd you start? All the fine print details that make the hobby personal to you- share them with him. He wants to know, and he knows how personal his hobbies are to him, so you sharing that information makes him feel extremely special. He loves to connect with you like that. It's doubly important if you create from emotion- Big Red has big ass emotions and channels a lot of them into things he does, so if you do the same, he feels like you're got that much more in common. Like you get him even more than he thought.

He's the most subtle and relaxed about your hobbies outwardly, but never to the point of looking disinterested. You know him well enough to know exactly what that look in his eyes means- he's invested as hell and is downright studying whatever you're doing. He reads up on your hobbies on his own time, because he doesn't want to make a fool of himself by not knowing something "obvious", and tries to subtly slip that knowledge into his questions and comments. ("Why'd you go for the ladder stitch, babe?"). It's sweet- especially because he soaks up any information you give him like a damn sponge. He remembers more than you remember even telling him.

If you're into something he has some history with- mechanics, woodwork, knitting, athletics- he's constantly absorbing your methods. If you're observant, you'll start to notice little details done the same way you'd do them. Some of it is a conscious recognition of your knowledge and competency, and some of it is his subconscious absorption of you into every possible aspect of his life. Your metaphorical fingerprints are on everything.

If you're an athlete, he wants to work out together. He'll incorporate exercises that you do into his routines just so you can do them together. He loves it- not just because you're hot, or because it's when he feels the most attractive, but because he loves what you can do. He loves seeing your body at work. There's a level of attraction there, obviously, because he finds you exceptionally hot (even if you don't feel that way about yourself!), but a lot of it is very innocent love for what your body allows you to do. He loves movement, loves working out, loves being physical, and getting to share that with you is very special to him.

Your number one supporter. I don't care what you do. He may not get it, but he'll be damned if you doubt that he loves it, loves that you do it, and supports you with every ounce of his being. Anything he can do to help you do what you love, he's doing.

He loves to hang out while you do your thing. He just likes being in your space.

And, yeah, he's gonna be there for any exhibit, competition, performance, whatever. Consequences be damned, he's going. He'll only tell you beforehand if he thinks it would help you to know, though, and he probably doubts it. If you don't tell him straight up that you wish he could be there, he probably assumes it wouldn't help. He'll tell you after, though, pulling you in with his hands on your hips and "You were amazing out there, y'know that? I'm proud of you." and squeezing you gently.

If you make him something, he's going to try and play it cool, but he's like, massively impacted by it. Externally, he's "Thanks, baby," and slipping an arm over your shoulders and pulling you close. The only indication that he's a gooey mess on the inside is the way he holds what you made (like it's made of glass, of diamonds, like it's his actual heart in his hands and one wrong move would have devastating consequences) and the way his eyes don't drift from it for long (studying it, eyes all soft and fond and in awe, a lot like how he looks at you).

He'll rearrange everything he owns to give it a place of honor. It's treated with care and respect, and he stares at it at night and when he's having a rough time and it takes the edge off. It's like micro-dosing on you, on the love and joy you bring to his life, and it makes everything significantly less shitty.

[ash-wilson-fanpolmamki]

My headcanons: Efude Nurimono.

~~~💙( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )~~~💙

1) Her room is filled with numerous anime merch: on the table and shelves there are figurines with characters from games and all sorts of creative things on the anime theme; in the closet there are many T-shirts with prints of anime characters, as well as other wardrobe items; on the bed there are many pillows with toys in the form of different animals and even there is a dakimakura; The walls are plastered with various posters of backgrounds and characters from anime. The Efude's room is quite spacious: a large bed at the end of the room, a small computer table and many cabinets and shelves for books.

2) Efude is quite friendly — she can find a topic of conversation even with those who don't fumble for anime or who are not particularly talkative. She is also the only person in the art club, and indeed, with whom Borupen has never quarreled.

3) She can often call her friends affectionate nicknames in English — "cinnamon bun", "bunny", "kitty, cat", "sunny", and also often strokes others on the head if they don't mind. She is very tactile and never against hugs; she can kiss close people on the cheek, forehead or on the nose, as well as take their hand.

4) About her food and drink preferences: Efude loves to drink different coffee drinks — starting from regular coffee with milk, ending with cappuccino and macchiato. She doesn't mess around with it, but when he goes to a cafe he always orders some coffee; he also won't give up a strawberry or banana milkshake, but coffee remains the number one favorite. Regarding food, Efude doesn't like something too greasy and bitter, but she is omnivorous. She prefers brownies among desserts.

5) Efude is very good at drawing different poses of people and learning how to make animations. It's not working out very well so far, but Efude continues to watch guides on this. She also tried 3D modeling once, but quickly gave up because she had a weak computer with a bursting folder of drawings (lol). She also knows how to knit and sew — not at a professional level, but quite well.

6) Hyperactive, so in addition to fine arts, she loves martial arts, as well as sports. Efude is on good terms with all the members of these clubs.

7) She is friends with Dora Tamamoto, Kiba Kawaito, Maka Tansei, Shima Shiya, with all the girls in the gardening club and the entire video game club (the only ones she does not communicate with are Gema Taku, for obvious reasons, and Midori Gurin). She lives next door to Sukubi and Shozo, but she still doesn't know them very well. She is also interested in making friends with boys-loners at school:

🫂•Efude thinks Otohiko Meichi is cute, as well as his passion for becoming a cosplayer, and wants to make friends with him, but he constantly refers to business and leaves her company, so they communicate for a maximum of five minutes, no more.

🫂•Efude thinks Toga Tabara strange and always wonders why he wanders the corridors. Once, during lunch at school, they had a good chat about something, although Efude pulled out the dialogue, and Toga just listened with interest. So Efude later concluded that he was a good listener, but not a good storyteller at all.

🫂•Efude thinks Kyuji Konagawa is windy but cool (for some reason she compares him to dudes from anime). Once Efude tried to help him confess his love to Osana and even gave him a keychain with a kitten so that he would give it to Osana, for which Kyuji is very grateful.

🫂•Efude considers Hazu Kashibuchi to be quite talented and is pleasantly surprised by his ability to sew so skillfully. Sometimes they are in complete silence after classes and the club hanging out in a sewing class and chatting together: Efude talks about his ideas to make a couple of cute anime toys, and Hazu, although he does not watch anime, also expresses some thoughts.

🫂•He considers Taro Yamada uninteresting and of the same type, but, nevertheless, Efude is impressed by his well-constructed speech, rich vocabulary and imagination.

8) Her speech is expressive and filled with various diminutive words (for example, surprise — "oh, mommy!", yes it sounds "great")…

9) She is very well versed in the humanities and natural sciences, but poorly in the exact ones.

10) She is a member of many fandoms regarding anime, video games, TV series and movies. There are many groups on such content on her social networks, and she is also subscribed to many Japanese anime artists. She is also very active in the comments under posts on these topics (ah, yes, she always writes with kaomoji and cute emojis ;D).

11) She has many acquaintances on the Internet, including foreigners. Efude usually talks to them about watching anime.

12) Outside of school, he goes to anime shops, comic-con and all that with Mai Waifu. They often meet during the holidays in the city center, have lunch at the Efude's beloved cafe and go to different places.

13) Efude's parents initially did not quite approve of the fact that she would like to become an animator/artist (they wanted to make a doctor out of her), but later resigned themselves and now actively support her. They are proud of her and her success.

14) She doesn't do cosplay, but she would really like to.

15) Her school bag is decorated with key chains and badges with anime characters, which is quite logical. Also, pair of small badges can be attached to her jacket/shirt of her school uniform.

16) She has naturally short hair. They were never long, at most just below the shoulders. Efude gets in the way of bangs, so she always pins it with all kinds of hairpins and a rim. By the way, she dyed her hair twice: the first time in red, and the other time in blue (she left it that way). The natural color was dark brown.

17) She is Japanese, but she has quite a bit of Canadian roots.

18) She has never been fond of music (but Dora advised her a couple of bands that Efude never listened to) and listens only to her favorite openings or anime soundtracks.

19) Efude not a fan of Yaoi and Yuri (wlw and mlm), but has nothing against it. She is also not very picky about shipping characters.

20) Efude has many old and outdated tablets and phones, but many of them are no longer working.

~~~💙( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )~~~💙

[scotianostra]

On July 6th the Scottish author Kenneth Grahame died.

Remembered for his children’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, Grahame was born in Edinburgh, on March 8th 1859. He had three siblings: Helen, Willie, and Roland. After the family moved from their Castle Street home to Inverary,, where his father was appointed Sherriff substitute, his mother Bessie contracted scarlet fever and died soon after. he took to drink and soon proved inadequate to raise his growing children.

His father fought to overcome his drinking problem and regain custody of his children. After he had a significant relapse, however, the children returned to their grandmother’s care in Oxford, while their father moved to France. The Grahame children were not in contact with their father after that time.

These years left a positive impact on young Kenneth--the stately country home and its gardens and orchards proved to be fertile ground for his young mind. They attended church in nearby Cranbourne where Kenneth's favourite uncle, David Ingles, acted as curate. Kenneth tended to be shy and he had a great imagination and love of nature. Boating on the nearby River Thames and jaunts in the surrounding fields and woods became some of his favourite past times and proved to be excellent fodder for his future creativity as a writer.

Excelling in both academic and sports pursuits like Rugby whilst attending St. Edward's School in Oxford (from 1868 to 1875), Grahame did not continue on with his dream of a university education due to the financial constraints of his Uncle John Grahame, who had been supporting him. In 1879 Grahame obtained a position with the Bank of England in London on Threadneedle Street as a clerk. He found the routine dull and boring and so, from his rooms on Bloomsbury Street, turned his pen to fiction and non-, submitting articles and stories to such publications as St. Edward's Chronicle, the National Observer [previously The Scots Observer], St. James Gazette and The Yellow Book. His first published story was titled By A Northern Furrow in 1888 and his most famous short story is, probably The Reluctant Dragon.

Grahame's works were printed in collections titled Pagan Papers (essays, 1893), his stories of orphaned children in The Golden Age and it's sequel Dream Days To critical acclaim. There is a ten-year gap between Dream Days and the publication of Grahame's triumph, The Wind in the Willows.

During that decade, Grahame became a father. The wayward, headstrong nature he saw in his little son Alastair he transformed into the swaggering Mr. Toad, one of its four principal characters. The character in the book known as Ratty was inspired by his good friend, and writer, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. Grahame mentions this in a signed copy he gave to Quiller-Couch's daughter, Foy Felicia.

Despite its success, he never attempted a sequel. The book is still widely enjoyed by adults and children. It has given rise to many film and television adaptations, while Toad remains one of the most celebrated and beloved characters in children's literature. In 1929, A. A. Milne wrote the play Toad of Toad Hall, which is based on part of The Wind in the Willows, which won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958. In the 1990s, William Horwood produced a series of sequels.

Grahame died in Pangbourne, Berkshire, in 1932. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford. Grahame's cousin Anthony Hope, also a successful author, wrote him an epitaph: "To the beautiful memory of Kenneth Grahame, husband of Elspeth and father of Alastair, who passed the river on the 6th of July, 1932, leaving childhood and literature through him the more blest for all time."

He was buried side by side with his son in the same grave.

The blue plaque and house in the pics are his birthplace at Castle Street Edinburgh.

[invisibleicewands]

“In every room I go into, every office, every institution, people tell me, this is what we’re doing to encourage more working-class writers.  They reel off all the things they’re doing, and it sounds impressive, it sounds amazing. And you think: if all these people are doing all this, WHY ARE THINGS NOT CHANGING FASTER? WHAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY?”

Under the hot, bright lights of a packed-out auditorium at the 2024 London Book Fair, Michael Sheen is getting angry. His is an unthreatening, crowd-rousing kind of angry, but still, in an appropriate way – he’s mad.

The actor and philanthropist is speaking on a panel convened to discuss A Writing Chance, the programme co-founded by the actor with New Writing North and Northumbria University that helps working-class writers enter the writing industries. So far, the programme has been successful. The theme emerging on the panel is, if changes have been made in some areas, what’s holding things back in others? And what cultural changes might have to come before we solve the problem?

“You have to admit there’s a fundamental conflict between the system that’s set up, and what we’re trying to achieve,” says Michael. “I don’t know what the whole answer to that is, other than revolution.”

It says a lot about the mood in the room – and, we suspect, the rest of the country – that the laughs prompted by this conclusion feel rather approving. We firmly believe that elites have been hogging and hoarding opportunity for too long now. The support for A Writing Chance confirms that many, many people agree.

The initiative was launched in 2021, with 11 unpublished writers awarded places on a programme of support and mentoring. One, Tom Newlands, publishes his first novel this summer; another, Maya Jordan, signed a deal at the book fair. A new cohort will be selected soon, with the programme now supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Michael Sheen, the Charlotte Aitken Trust, Faber & Faber, The Daily Mirror, Substack, Audible, with research supported by AHRC, Northumbria University, Bath Spa University and York St John University.

For the London Book Fair panel, Michael is joined by Professor Katy Shaw from Northumbria University, plus Tracey Markham, head of UK at Audible, Farrah Storr, head of writer partnerships at Substack, and the Huddersfield-based novelist Sunjeev Sahota. Katy and Michael begin by reflecting on the successes of the first completed programme: writers emboldened and published, policymakers in the Houses of Parliament briefed and, most importantly, great writing exemplifying the talent out there waiting to be discovered. “What came in was just way beyond anything we had hoped for really,” says Michael. “And there was a sense of revelation, the feeling you were seeing into worlds that have just been closed off, into experiences I had never thought about.”

Ideas about how to give working-class writers more confidence and access to publishing are peppered through the hour-long conversation: a creative curriculum in schools; intervening with gifted people at younger ages, like sports coaches; encouraging more people to take advantage of digital platforms, even if printed-book authorship remains the ultimate goal. Around halfway through, Sunjeev makes a brilliantly clear-eyed analysis of what being working class really means, and how it relates to identity politics. At the same time, he provides a devastatingly simple explanation of why working-class writers need support.

“Publishing is an elite space, but it’s quite a diverse space in terms of people’s racialised or sexualised identities. However, it’s not at all diverse it comes to people’s economic backgrounds, or family income. Indeed, many of the non-white people I encounter in publishing are often from just as comfortably-off backgrounds as their white counterparts.

The creative industries, he says, have tended to treat class as being another cultural identity, as if class should be considered in the same way that we might talk about race, gender, or sexuality. “But I think a more universal, class-first politics will do more for the weakest members across all identities than any identity-first kind of politics. I find that taking an identity-first approach just tends to benefit the elites within the identities.”

Lest anyone doubt the existence of a market for work originating outside the elites, the extremely upbeat Tracey is on hand to reassure them. Audible attracts a notably diverse audience, with large black and Asian listenerships, and a high proportion of young men. To satisfy this audience, the old-style audiobook, with its middle- and highbrow titles and Received Pronunciation narration, has been overhauled in favour of books more suited to audience tastes, and accents.

“Our customers really want accents! We spend a lot of time working with voice agents to widen access to the audio-narration industry. I think what’s super-important now is that your accent is not prohibitive – if you have a Welsh accent, say, that doesn’t mean you can only read stories set in Wales.”

Tracey stresses there is “so much more to be done” to widen socio-economic diversity in the whole publishing industry. But although it might still be a case of taking “baby steps”, a wonderful thing about books is their power to drive change elsewhere. “You know, it’s hard to explain to someone that’s not from the UK how much your accent kind of signifies to people when they first meet you. And with voice, we can kind of break down a lot of those barriers, and actually encourage it and welcome [diversity].”

There’s a similar note of flexibility and responsiveness to audience needs in Farrah’s account of what Substack offers. The relationship between digital and print is always evolving, and in her vision, it’s a question of the one complementing the other. Printed books still have more prestige than publication on digital platforms, but the latter can help offset the material challenges associated with the former, she argues. Echoing Sunjeev, she points that “the problem for people from a working-class background is that your advance gets paid in separate lump sums. People feel, I don’t have a regular income, I can’t make this work, I might end up falling out of the writer ecosystem.

“So, on Substack, we say, well, okay, you’re writing the book, but you’re probably going to have thousands of words leftover. So just put them on Substack and talk about the novel at the same time.”

Lots of people she works with end up making liveable incomes and building readerships for their work, which ultimately is what keeps them in the game. It’s a reminder that we shouldn’t necessarily define “writing” as the production of traditional forms such as novels and plays.

No one at this event – the queue for which was so long that dozens were unable to squeeze inside – believed all the barriers facing working-class writers would be dismantled any time soon.  Few, though, can have left without believing that A Writing Chance has begun the job – and that that job is worthwhile.

Wrapping up, Michael recalls someone from the inaugural group who told him that in their community, becoming a writer seemed about as likely as becoming an astronaut.

“They said that there was no chance of it. They said, ‘I didn’t know anybody else who lived where I live who was a writer, so I didn’t know how to begin, or where to start. It was like saying I want to go into space.’ But that changed for them.

“And of course, now, there are all these wonderful spacemen.”

[moregraceful]

Packed everything that needed packing in the shed...the amount of dead spiders and cockroaches in some of those boxes really did not spark joy...neither did opening a journal at random to brush some bugs out of it and seeing some lethal teenage self-loathing...but it is done. I have the kitchen (easy) and random odds and ends in the bathroom and my bedroom to deal with (annoying but manageable) and then I'm basically done? I think? 🥳 And then after I do an inventory with the moving company next week, I get to enjoy the excruciating ordeal of figuring out cross-country travel logistics with a drugged up and incontinent dog.

My fic brain has completely turned off -- I think if you asked me to construct two lines of dialogue between two people I would just start puking blood -- so I've been poking at more sports poetry. I've been thinking of putting together a chapbook or zine, probably throw it online for free and/or donate any proceeds to charity from a print run bc I don't trust professional leagues not to try to nuke joy off the map. It's an interesting project to poke at; I have written quite a bit of sports poetry but not enough that I like to dedicate time to wanting to publish in any kind of way so it's been a nice challenge to think about narratives and career arcs that have always interested me. I don't know. I'm going out of my mind, but not having a creative project to work on has never made any bad situation better.

Just over a week 😤

[urbanthreads]

The Evolution of Style: A Deep Dive into Men's Urban Clothing and Fashion

Introduction

The world of men's urban clothing is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape where style meets the streets, and culture shapes fashion. In this extensive exploration, we delve into the essence of men's dressing style, highlighting the best men clothing websites and the latest trends in young men's clothing, particularly focusing on urban wear for men.

The Historical Context of Men's Urban Fashion

The tapestry of men's urban fashion is rich and varied, woven with threads of cultural, musical, and socio-political influences. Its roots can be traced back to the bustling streets of New York City in the 1970s and 80s, where a revolutionary movement was brewing. This was not just a fashion trend but a powerful cultural expression that resonated across generations and continents.

The Birth of a Movement

In the 1970s, New York City was a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and artistic expressions. Amongst this vibrant chaos, the hip-hop scene emerged, not just as a genre of music but as a lifestyle that encompassed a unique way of dressing. The attire of this era was more than mere clothing; it was a form of identity, a bold statement of presence and resistance. Early hip-hop fashion was characterized by oversized silhouettes, sports apparel, leather bomber jackets, and flashy accessories, embodying the gritty and raw energy of the streets.

Art and Fashion Intertwine

Graffiti, an integral part of the hip-hop culture, played a significant role in shaping urban fashion. The bold colors, graphic lines, and rebellious nature of graffiti art found their way onto clothing, making fashion a canvas for self-expression. Brands that embraced this art form quickly became synonymous with urban wear, creating a visual language that spoke of defiance, creativity, and individuality.

Influences from Music and Dance

Music and dance were pivotal in propelling men's urban fashion forward. Breakdancing, with its athletic and acrobatic style, demanded clothing that was not only stylish but functional. Tracksuits, athletic shoes, and caps weren't just practical; they were integral to the dancer's persona. Similarly, rappers and DJs donned outfits that would amplify their presence on stage, often incorporating bright colors, bold prints, and oversized jewelry.

Socio-Political Statements

Urban fashion was never isolated from the socio-political environment. In the 80s and 90s, as hip-hop began to address social issues like racism, poverty, and police brutality, fashion became a tool for activism. Clothing with messages, symbolic colors, and designs that reflected cultural heritage became mediums to express solidarity and raise awareness. This era saw the rise of brands that specifically catered to the urban community, creating fashion that was not only trendy but also carried a deeper socio-cultural significance.

The Evolution into a Global Phenomenon

As hip-hop culture spread globally, so did its fashion. By the late 90s and early 2000s, urban wear was no longer confined to a particular group or locale. It had infiltrated mainstream fashion, with designers and high-end brands incorporating elements of street style into their collections. This fusion brought about a new era of urban fashion, one that blended the authenticity of the streets with the sophistication of high fashion.

The Contemporary Urban Style

Today, men's urban fashion is a diverse and dynamic field. It continues to be influenced by music, art, and current events, adapting and evolving with the times. Modern urban wear pays homage to its roots while continuously pushing the boundaries of style and self-expression. From the resurgence of vintage styles to the incorporation of sustainable materials, urban fashion remains a symbol of innovation, resilience, and identity.

In essence, the historical context of men's urban fashion is a story of transformation and empowerment. It's a narrative that speaks of the streets, the struggles, and the spirit of a culture that has profoundly shaped the way young men dress and express themselves today.

Defining Elements of Urban Style

Urban style, a term synonymous with individuality and cultural expression, stands out for its unique elements that have continuously evolved over the years. This expanded section delves into the specific fashion elements that constitute men's urban wear, highlighting the innovations by designers and brands that have made certain styles iconic within this genre. We'll explore the role of color, fabric, and design, each contributing to the distinctiveness of urban fashion.

The Significance of Color in Urban Wear

Color plays a pivotal role in urban fashion. It's not just a matter of aesthetics; color choices often reflect cultural, social, and personal narratives. Early urban styles were influenced heavily by vibrant hues and bold prints, mirroring the energy and dynamism of the streets. Designers have used color to make statements, with black often symbolizing strength and rebellion, while brighter tones like red, blue, and yellow represent vibrancy and vitality. The use of color blocking and the juxtaposition of unexpected colors have become trademarks of modern urban wear, allowing wearers to make bold statements through their attire.

Fabric: Blending Functionality with Style

The choice of fabric in urban fashion is a careful balance between functionality and style. Initially, durable materials like denim and leather were popular due to their longevity and ability to withstand the rigors of street life. As urban fashion evolved, there was a shift towards more versatile and comfortable materials. Cotton, especially in its heavier forms, became a staple for t-shirts and hoodies, offering both comfort and a suitable canvas for graphic prints. The introduction of athletic materials like polyester and Lycra catered to the needs of those who sought clothing that was not only stylish but also adaptable to an active lifestyle.

Design Innovations in Urban Wear

Design in urban wear is where creativity knows no bounds. Oversized garments, a hallmark of urban fashion, are not just a style choice but also a nod to the hip-hop influences where larger-than-life attire symbolized presence and power. Designers have innovated by introducing asymmetrical cuts, layering, and unconventional silhouettes that challenge traditional fashion norms.

Brands have also embraced the fusion of streetwear with luxury fashion, creating pieces that are both opulent and street-ready. This blend has led to the creation of unique items like high-end sneakers, designer graphic tees, and luxury sportswear. Collaborations between leading fashion houses and streetwear brands have further pushed the boundaries, leading to collections that are culturally relevant and fashion-forward.

Graphic Designs and Logos

Graphic designs and logos are integral to urban fashion, often serving as symbols of brand identity and cultural affiliation. From bold statement prints to subtle logo placements, these elements add character and distinction to urban wear. Street art and graffiti have been significant influences, with many designs featuring intricate artworks that tell stories or convey messages.

Accessorizing in Urban Fashion

Accessories are not mere additions in urban style; they are essential components that complete the look. Snapbacks, beanies, oversized chains, and statement watches are more than just fashion pieces; they are part of the urban identity. Footwear, particularly sneakers, holds a place of reverence in urban fashion. The rise of sneaker culture has seen collaborations between artists, celebrities, and brands, turning sneakers into coveted items of fashion and collectibles.

The Role of Cultural and Social Influences

Urban fashion is deeply intertwined with cultural and social influences. It's a reflection of the wearer's background, beliefs, and experiences. Designers and brands have recognized this, often incorporating cultural motifs and social messages into their designs. This aspect of urban fashion not only adds depth and meaning to the clothing but also connects wearers with broader cultural and social narratives.

The Digital Revolution: Men's Clothing Websites

The landscape of men’s fashion, particularly urban wear, has undergone a dramatic transformation in the digital era. The advent of online shopping has not just made fashion more accessible; it has revolutionized how men interact with fashion. This section delves into the nuances of digital marketing, online retail trends, customer behavior, and the overarching impact of social media in the realm of men’s urban clothing.

The Emergence of Online Fashion Retail

The early 2000s marked the beginning of a new era in fashion retail. E-commerce platforms began to emerge, offering a variety of clothing options that were previously limited to brick-and-mortar stores. Men’s urban clothing found a new avenue, with websites dedicated solely to this genre. These platforms offered a wider range of sizes, styles, and designs, catering to a diverse audience. The convenience of shopping from anywhere and the ability to compare products and prices quickly became appealing aspects for the modern shopper.

Digital Marketing and Its Impact

Digital marketing has played a pivotal role in shaping men's urban clothing trends. Through targeted advertising, fashion brands have been able to reach their ideal audience more effectively. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter have become crucial for brand promotion, enabling labels to showcase their latest collections, share lookbooks, and even directly engage with customers. Influencer marketing, where fashion brands collaborate with social media influencers, has emerged as a powerful tool in driving brand awareness and sales.

Online Retail Trends in Men’s Urban Clothing

The trends in online retail for men’s urban clothing have seen a shift towards a more personalized shopping experience. Websites now use data analytics to understand customer preferences and offer tailored recommendations. Limited-edition releases, exclusive online drops, and pre-order options have become common strategies to create hype and exclusivity around products. Furthermore, the rise of mobile shopping has prompted websites to optimize their platforms for mobile users, offering seamless and user-friendly experiences.

Customer Behavior in the Digital Space

Customer behavior in the context of men’s urban clothing has evolved with the digital age. Shoppers are more informed and have higher expectations. They seek authenticity, quality, and exclusivity in their purchases. Online reviews and customer feedback have become significant influencers in purchasing decisions. Consumers often rely on these reviews as a source of trusted information, impacting the popularity and sales of specific items.

Curation of Collections on Online Platforms

Men’s clothing websites carefully curate their collections to align with current trends and customer preferences. This curation is not just about selecting items; it's about creating a narrative that resonates with the target audience. Websites often collaborate with designers, artists, and influencers to curate exclusive collections. Seasonal trends, cultural events, and even political and social movements can influence these collections, making them relevant and timely.

The Role of Social Media Influencers

Social media influencers have become integral to the fashion industry, especially in urban wear. Their ability to influence public opinion and trends is undeniable. Influencers often partner with clothing brands to showcase new collections, share outfit inspirations, and offer exclusive discounts to their followers. Their endorsement can significantly boost a brand's visibility and credibility.

The Impact of Online Reviews

Online reviews have become a powerful tool in the fashion industry. Positive reviews can enhance a brand's reputation and increase sales, while negative feedback can lead to a decline in customer trust. Men's clothing websites often encourage customers to leave reviews, as these serve as valuable feedback for both the brand and potential customers.

Youth Fashion: Pioneers of Urban Trends

The world of youth fashion, particularly in the urban landscape, is a continuously evolving tapestry of style, culture, and expression. Young men, especially, are not just consumers of fashion; they are trendsetters and pioneers, significantly influencing the direction of urban style. In this expanded section, we delve deeper into what drives trends in young men's fashion, incorporating insights from interviews and quotes from young fashion influencers, designers, and stylists. We also examine the impact of global events and shifts in popular culture on these trends.

The Voice of Influencers and Designers

"Young people are looking for authenticity in their fashion choices," says Jordan Lee, a noted fashion influencer. "They want clothes that tell a story, that resonate with their personal journey and the culture they are part of." This sentiment is echoed by Mia Wang, an up-and-coming urban wear designer, who adds, "Today's youth are blending traditional elements with modern cuts. They're not afraid to mix and match, creating a style that's uniquely theirs."

Renowned stylist Elijah James comments on the practical aspects, noting, "Functionality has become as important as aesthetics. Young men want fashion that suits their active, on-the-go lifestyle but also makes a bold statement."

Influence of Global Events

Global events have a profound impact on youth fashion. The recent pandemic, for instance, has seen a surge in the popularity of comfortable yet stylish home wear, with an emphasis on versatility. "The lockdowns led to the rise of ‘Zoom fashion’, where the focus is on waist-up dressing. It's all about striking a balance between comfort and presentability," observes fashion blogger Emma Liu.

Environmental concerns are also shaping fashion choices. "There's a growing demand for sustainable fashion among the youth," says sustainable fashion advocate, Ryan Gomez. "Young people are more conscious about the environment and are seeking brands that align with their eco-friendly values."

The Role of Popular Culture

Popular culture, particularly music and movies, has always had a significant influence on youth fashion. The rise of K-pop, for instance, has introduced a whole new aesthetic into the urban fashion scene. "K-pop stars are not just music icons; they're fashion icons. Their unique sense of style has a huge fan following worldwide," states music and fashion journalist, Sophia Kim.

Social media, especially platforms like Instagram and TikTok, have become a showcase for youth fashion. Influencers and ordinary young men alike use these platforms to display their fashion choices, often setting trends in the process. "Social media has democratized fashion. Now, everyone can be a trendsetter," says digital marketing expert, Tyler Chen.

The Future of Youth Fashion

Looking ahead, youth fashion is poised to become even more diverse and inclusive. "We're moving towards a more inclusive fashion world, where there are no rigid gender norms or rules. It's all about self-expression," predicts gender-neutral fashion designer, Alex Parker.

Exploring Current Trends in Young Men's Fashion

- Athleisure Evolved: Sportswear and casual wear merge to create a comfortable yet stylish trend.

- Retro and Vintage: The resurgence of vintage styles and their reinterpretation by today's youth.

- Eco-Fashion: The growing demand for sustainable and ethically produced clothing among young consumers.

The Future of Urban Fashion

As we gaze into the horizon of men’s urban fashion, the future promises an exciting amalgamation of technological innovation, sustainability, and evolving consumer trends. This expanded section offers a deep dive into the anticipated future trends, spotlighting emerging designers, cutting-edge fashion technologies, and the shifting paradigms of consumer behavior. Additionally, we will delve into the growing significance of sustainability and ethical practices in the urban fashion sphere.

Emergence of New Designers and Aesthetics

The urban fashion landscape is continually refreshed by the influx of new designers who bring with them innovative ideas and unique aesthetics. These emerging talents are redefining the boundaries of urban style, infusing traditional elements with futuristic designs. "We are witnessing a renaissance in urban fashion, where new designers are daring to challenge the norm, blending cultural heritage with modern design," notes fashion critic Lara Edmunds. These designers are not just creating clothes; they are crafting narratives that resonate with the modern urban dweller, often drawing inspiration from global cultures, street art, and contemporary issues.

Technological Advancements in Fashion

Technology is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of men's urban fashion. Wearable technology, smart fabrics, and digital customization are areas ripe for exploration. Tech-infused clothing that can change color, regulate temperature, or even display dynamic graphics is on the horizon. "Imagine a jacket that adapts to the weather or a t-shirt that reflects your mood through dynamic designs. These are not far-off concepts anymore," states tech-fashion innovator, Raj Patel. The integration of virtual and augmented reality in fashion retail is also transforming how consumers interact with clothing, offering virtual fitting rooms and immersive shopping experiences.

Shifts in Consumer Behavior

The urban fashion consumer of the future is expected to be more informed, discerning, and value-driven. There's a growing emphasis on personal style over blind trend-following. "Future consumers will look for fashion that aligns with their personal identity and values," explains consumer behavior analyst, Mia Zhang. They are likely to favor brands that offer customization, personalization, and a strong narrative.

Sustainability and Ethical Fashion

Sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity in the future of fashion. Young consumers, in particular, are increasingly conscious of the environmental and social impact of their clothing choices. "Sustainable practices will define the future of urban fashion. We're seeing a shift towards eco-friendly materials, ethical manufacturing processes, and circular fashion models," notes sustainable fashion expert, Oliver Greene.

This movement towards sustainability is driving innovation in materials, with the emergence of biodegradable fabrics, recycled textiles, and plant-based leathers. The concept of circular fashion, where clothes are designed with their end-of-life in mind, is gaining traction. This approach not only minimizes waste but also encourages practices like recycling and upcycling.

Ethical Practices in the Fashion Industry

Ethical practices in the fashion industry are becoming a significant factor in brand perception and consumer choice. Transparency in manufacturing processes, fair labor practices, and support for local communities are aspects that modern consumers are increasingly prioritizing. "Brands that are committed to ethical practices are not just doing good; they are building trust and loyalty with their customers," states fashion industry analyst, Sarah Kim.

Conclusion

As we culminate this comprehensive exploration of men’s urban clothing, it becomes evident that this style transcends the boundaries of mere fashion. Urban wear is not just about the clothes we don; it's a powerful medium of personal expression and a reflection of a lifestyle deeply ingrained in modern culture. Throughout this blog post, we have navigated the rich and multifaceted landscape of men's urban style, uncovering the layers that compose its vibrant history, distinctive elements, and progressive future.

From its historical roots in the bustling streets of New York City, echoing the beats of hip-hop and the vibrancy of street art, to its current status as a global fashion phenomenon, men's urban clothing has consistently been a mirror reflecting societal changes and cultural trends. It's a style that tells a story, one of rebellion, innovation, and resilience. The defining elements of urban fashion - bold colors, innovative designs, and statement accessories - are more than fashion choices; they are symbols of individuality and creativity.

The digital revolution has significantly transformed how urban fashion is consumed and perceived. With the rise of online shopping, men's urban wear has become more accessible and diverse than ever before. Digital platforms have not only changed the shopping experience but also revolutionized marketing strategies, creating a new paradigm in the fashion industry. This evolution is a testament to the adaptability and forward-thinking nature of urban fashion.

Youth fashion, particularly in urban wear, continues to be a driving force behind emerging trends. Young men are not mere followers of fashion; they are pioneers, constantly pushing the boundaries and setting new standards. Their choices are a reflection of their identities, beliefs, and the world they inhabit. This dynamic nature of youth fashion ensures that men's urban clothing remains fresh, relevant, and exciting.

Looking ahead, the future of men's urban clothing is bright and promising. With the advent of sustainable practices, ethical fashion, and technological innovations, urban wear is set to evolve in ways that are not only stylistically groundbreaking but also socially and environmentally responsible. The integration of personal values with fashion choices marks a new era in the urban clothing narrative.

In conclusion, men's urban clothing is much more than a trend. It's a cultural phenomenon that encapsulates the essence of modern urban life. Its ability to adapt, reflect, and influence makes it a significant part of the fashion industry. As we move forward, it will continue to be a fascinating area of study and appreciation for anyone interested in the intersection of fashion, culture, and personal expression. 

[duckprintspress]

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[veronicaphoenix]

IKIGAI (or A REASON FOR BEING) — CHAPTER TWELVE

“Did you get a new tattoo?” She asked. Noah, with a playful grin, stopped to show her. Lia leaned over the kitchen island with her elbows set on the counter, narrowing her eyes at the ink under one of the green leaves on his neck. After a moment, she managed to read what the black ink said, and her eyes went wide open. “No way.”

Chapter tags: best friends living together, fluff/comfort, platonic love?, sexual innuendos, early bad omens. | Word count: 1.738 | Cross posted on AO3. | Series masterpost. ✧.*

CHAPTER 12

Lia is 19. Noah is 20.

The late morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over Lia's makeshift art studio in the living room. On the carpeted floor, surrounded by sketches, paint palettes, and fabric swatches, Lia was deep into her creative zone and lost in her imaginary. The boys' band was gearing up to launch some merchandise, and Lia had been working day and night to get some designs worthy of being printed on t-shirts and hoodies.

As she chew on the cap of a black pen and zoomed out with two fingers in one of the drawings that she had transferred to her iPad, the main door of the house opened, and Noah burst through carrying a few grocery bags in his long arms.

The sight of him instantly lifted Lia's spirits, and she returned his smile from her seated position on the floor.

Noah set the bags down on the kitchen isle, and the first thing out of his mouth was a complaint about the rising cost of Lia's favorite Thai noodles. However, he quickly redeemed himself by announcing that he had bought a bunch of instant noodles for her. Lia's eyes lit up with delight, and she abandoned her artistic endeavors to help him sort out the groceries in the kitchen.

In her socks and black leggings, Lia sported one of the early printed Bad Omens t-shirts featuring her own artwork; it was white and a bit oversized, the colors of the art still not holding the tone desired, it was a work-in-progress, really, but it was comfy enough for her to wear around the house.

As soon as she reached the isle, she stood on her tiptoes and eagerly peeked into the bags, searching for any guilty pleasures. Her eyes widened with glee when she discovered a box of frosted cookies and cream pop-tarts. She muttered a triumphant “yes!” and unable to resist, she opened the box, took one out of its wrapping and settled on one of the stools to indulge in it while Noah unloaded the bags.

As she savored the sweet treat, Lia's eyes wandered, and she caught a glimpse of a reddish mark on Noah's neckthat hadn’t been there in the morning, when he had come down from his bedroom into the kitchen, putting a t-shirt over his bare chest, eyes still sleepy. It piqued her curiosity, and she couldn't quite make out what it was from her vantage pointas he kept on moving and turning.

“Did you get a new tattoo?” She asked.

Noah, with a playful grin, stopped to show her. Lia leaned over the kitchen island with her elbows set on the counter, narrowing her eyes at the ink under one of the green leaves on his neck. After a moment, she managed to read what the black ink said, and her eyes went wide open.

“No way.” Looking at Noah for confirmation, she found it in the proud glint in his eyes.

He had tattooed her name on his neck. It was a small tattoo, barely visible, but it was there. Forever.

“You didn’t,” she muttered.

Noah, unfazed, replied, "Yeah, I did."

Lia, torn between amusement and concern, shook her head and took another bite of the Pop Tart.

"You're never gonna get a girlfriend like this."

“What do you mean?” He asked, keeping his gaze on her as he opened one of the higher cupboards to keep new tea boxes next to the coffee.

"How do you think they will feel when they see another woman’s name tattooed on your body?"

He moved his shoulders up and down.

“They’ll have to deal with it. This is my best friend and the most important person in my life,” Noah retorted.

“That will change when you fall in love,” she told him, but she couldn’t hide her smile and the slight blush that tinted her cheeks.

“We’ll see about that,” Noah replied, determined to defend his position. He pretended to be uninterested as he continued emptying the grocery bags and putting each thing on its right place.

They didn’t have a scheduled shopping routine. Whenever someone went out to get something, if anything was missing in the house, they would take the list that hung in the fridge door and get it.

“Well, this might sound selfish,” Lia continued with her mouth full. She licked her lips. “But I hope nobody falls in love with you, that way I can keep my best friend forever.”

He circled the kitchen island with a few things gathered in his hands, and in response to her comment, Noah leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, playfully taking a bite from her pop tart as he moved away to place a jar of pickles and canned corn in the low cupboard behind her.

“You can keep me anyway.”

He finished setting the groceries, engaging in a quick work with Lia that consisted on her emptying the bags from the remaining items inside and handing them to him as he moved from left to right in the space in the kitchen. It wasn’t long before he noticed Lia’s raised cheeks and the cheeky glint in her eyes and smile. He frowned as he finished folding the carboard bags and kept them in one of the drawers underneath the space where they had the microwave. He could sense she was holding something.

He quirked an eyebrow and set his elbows on the counter as he fixed his eyes on her.

"Okay, I know that look. What have you done?"

Lia hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before finally confessing.

"I got my left nipple pierced.”

Noah froze.

"You what?" The surprise in his voice was evident as his eyes widened.

Lia nonchalantly tugged at her t-shirt, flattening the thin white fabric against her chest, revealing the subtle glint of the tiny beads at each end of the metal bar of the piercing. The fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra was not a shocking reveal to Noah. Despite living in a house full of boys, Lia felt entirely at ease shedding the confines of that conventional piece of underwear when there were no outing plans for the day, and the domesticity and normalcy of it was something that they were all accustomed too. She was also used to finding Jolly or Mike walking around the house in just a towel wrapped around their hips and droplets of water falling from their hair. Nobody paid attention to each other’s skin. At least not when it came to showcasing or hinting at those areas of skin. However, Noah felt a lump in his throat as his eyes fixated not solely on the small but noticeable accessory, but on the little bud that held the piercing and the mount that was Lia’s left breast.

"When?" he managed to ask, the words almost automatic.

"A couple of days ago. It still pains," Lia admitted, releasing her shirt and breaking Noah's trance. “But I love it.”

"Who did it?"

Lia furrowed her brows, catching onto the unspoken question in his eyes.

"Are you gonna ask me if it was a guy who did it?"

"No, I just..." Noah began, struggling to articulate his thoughts.

Yes, he wanted to know.

"Amanda did it. From the tattoo shop downtown, next to the Vietnamese restaurant where we celebrated Bryan’s birthday last year,” she told him with a smirk.

Noah let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, the tension releasing from his shoulders. Lia, chin raised, stood up and walked past him, and he couldn't help but watch her with a striking adoration.

"It's a shame you're not gonna be able to see it," she remarked with a sly grin.

"Very funny," Noah replied, trying to regain his composure while secretly grateful for the distraction. “Anyway, want some coffee? Tea?”

“Green tea, please.”

Five minutes later and with two cups in hand, he placed hers on the coffee table in front of the tv, where Lia had her iPad, her MacBook, and a handful of white papers with unfinished drawings on them. She was back on the floor, seated with her legs crossed, and Noah took a seat behind her, on the couch. His eyes scanned the myriad of sketches spread before them.

“How’s that going?”

Lia leaned back so that her head touched the side of Noah’s right knee, and perched on it comfortably as she lifted her iPad to show him her new ideas.

“I’m pretty happy with this one. What do you think?”

Noah took the iPad from her hands.

Soon enough, they found themselves deeply engaged in one of the so often discussions related to their art, exchanging ideas and tweaking designs. Noah’s suggestions always found a way to complement Lia’s artistic visions, and together they managed to craft concepts that felt uniquely representative of the band. As they solidified their choices for the upcoming drop, Lia’s fingers danced across her iPad while Noah’s danced on her hair, straightening the long strands, soft as silk and vanilla scented.

Five minutes turned into an hour, and come afternoon, the house was filled with the sounds coming from different voices, tuned instruments, and mixed sounds coming from the speakers in the room that the boys had neatly turned into the closest it could be to a real studio.

On days like this, the house transformed into a temple of art. The walls reverberated with melodies coming from the strumming of guitars, the beat of drums, and Noah’s melodic voice.

That space was the place where dreams were shared, and the tangible magic that enveloped the house was exactly what Lia had dreamed as a child, when she could only hear her mother’s screams and the rough voice of random men coming from the main bedroom in the house at late hours of the night.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Noah went to bed with Lia’s silent and ever-lasting appreciation in his skin. She had touched his cheek before disappearing into her bedroom, reminding him with that soft, gentle, and nearly ethereal touch that she never forgot  hat he took her out of the shadows and gave her a place where she could explore herself and her abilities and skills as an artist. He had given her a chance to make magic, and for that, she would forever be grateful.