#Espi's Love in a Minute Series

[espithewarlock]

Happy @1016week! Day 2 - Social Media!

This is part 4 of a 4-part piece, but it's being released first because of the prompt order! (They can be read in any order and I actually like that this one is coming out first!)

（。＾▽＾）

It was honestly so surprising how many people believed the narrative. They had been soft-launching their relationship for years and all anyone ever talked about was what such good friends they were.

Charles couldn’t help but giggle as he thought about their social media posts over the years. From the dinner dates, to the basketball dates, to the tennis dates, to driving together, to arriving at the track together, to arriving at the track late together, to vacationing together, to the nicknames, and everything in-between.

They weren’t exactly hiding that they were together, but nobody believed it.

Sure, there was a small subset of their fans who would take the pictures of them together and edit them with a soft filter and hearts and poetic quotes, but the vast majority of those people didn’t believe it either. It was all wishful thinking. Their little fantasy in their heads. No possible way it was actually true.

Even their PR teams were in on it, playing up the narrative whenever it suited them. From ‘The content you REALLY want (Piarles)’ and ‘It wouldn’t be a driver���s parade without these two finding each other ✌’ captions to the way Grill the Grid would edit their answers about each other to be right next to each other. It was almost too obvious sometimes.

Well, none of those PR teams actually knew the truth, but if playing it up for the fans helped their public image then Charles was not going to complain. They were really just doing his work for him, albeit unknowingly.

It was still objectively funny that nobody even suspected that what they were sharing with the world was the simple, honest truth.

He didn’t know how he could be more obvious about it, aside from sticking his tongue down Pierre’s throat in the middle of a press conference. Even if he did that, there was still a very good chance that some people would tell them what great friends they were.

Hilarious.

Charles could recall the days following Monza 2020, their relationship still relatively fresh and shiny and new, and how much he agonized over using the calamar nickname, the squid emoji, and the blowing a heart kiss emoji.

He really shouldn’t have worried since everyone just went ‘Friends 😍’, even with Pierre’s response calling him his petit calamardo.

Again it happened in Baku, following a thrilling on-track battle he used the squid + blowing a kiss emojis and nobody suspected that it was real.

Now their relationship, their true relationship, was more than three years old and they were preparing for Monza yet again.

Pierre was stunning, as he always was, and the entire week following his first podium with Alpine had him positively glowing. (Well, he was already glowing before he got the podium, but the podium was the obvious reason. Everyone knew about it. Nobody bothered to dig deeper.)

Charles had typed out a new Instagram post, started it ‘Congrats for the podium Mr. Gasly 😘’ and made sure to hit post after they put their phones on ‘Do Not Disturb’ for their morning run.

Of course, Pierre hadn’t seen it until they returned, by design, which explained why Charles was now sitting on their kitchen counter, giggling, while Pierre stood between his legs.

“I just wanted to congratulate you on your podium,” Charles said innocently, watching as Pierre’s eyes flicked up, halfway between exasperated and amused.

“You know very well that is not my last name anymore,” he said pointedly, leaning forward to nip at Charles’ lower lip teasingly.

“Hmmm,” Charles pretended to think for a moment as he chased Pierre’s lips, “well, I couldn’t just go around calling you Mr. Leclerc-Gasly, now could I? People might find out about us.”

He affected a scandalized look as Pierre threw his head back and laughed with his full body. Charles started giggling once again.

At the beginning of the summer break, they had grabbed Arthur as their witness and drove to Nice to get married in a small, private, quick ceremony. A bored government official barely checked over their paperwork and identification before pronouncing them husbands.

Another bored government bureaucrat changed their last names with the barest of confirmations that their photos matched their faces and the names matched the papers. They left that office with fresh new photos, IDs, last names, and smiles as wide as the ocean.

It all felt so anticlimactic after everything was said and done. They spent the summer break, their honeymoon, lounging in the sun and completely lost in each other. It was absolutely perfect.

After Pierre had calmed down, he matched Charles’ fond smile. “What do you think everyone would say if I changed my race designation? There would be chaos.”

“Well, we can’t have two LEC’s on the grid,” Charles pointed out, “you’d have to be something different.”

“I’d go with LEG, for me,” Pierre raised his eyebrows and grabbed Charles’ ankle to shake his actual leg around, “you know, for LEclerc-Gasly.”

Charles’ giggles started up once again as he was tilted backward. “You know, I picked up on that all on my own, funny enough.”

Pierre ignored him and held his foot like a pretend microphone, affecting a terrible British accent. “It’s the final lap of the race, and Leclerc-Gasly in the Alpine is fighting with Leclerc-Gasly in the Ferrari for the win!”

“They’re through the first chicane and Leclerc-Gasly is in the lead! Then into the Curva Grande and Leclerc-Gasly overtakes Leclerc-Gasly in a gutsy move! He’s putting up a brilliant defense, but then Leclerc-Gasly gets DRS to put him back in front!”

It was completely ridiculous. Pierre was such a younger brother sometimes and Charles tried to push him away with the foot that wasn’t being used as a microphone. It was not effective.

“Leclerc-Gasly holds onto the lead all the way into Curva Parabolica, but Leclerc-Gasly has the inside line! They’re wheel to wheel and they almost touch! The chequered flag is out! It’s going to be a photo finish! Leclerc-Gasly comes across the line to take the win, less than two hundredths in front of Leclerc-Gasly! The crowd goes insane!”

Pierre kept holding onto his ankle and shaking it around excitedly as Charles was physically incapable of stopping his giggles. This was one of the many reasons he fell in love and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Eventually, Pierre did release his ankle and Charles used it to hook his husband closer to him. “I wouldn’t mind a LEC-LEG one-two this weekend,” he murmured, laughter still present in his voice.

“Excuse you!” Pierre made a completely shocked face, “who said it was a LEC-LEG? Maybe it will be a LEG-LEC!”

“Maybe,” Charles conceded, “but who is up there on the podium with us?”

Pierre shrugged and brought his hands to Charles’ waist, “it doesn’t particularly matter. Probably Max, if we’re being honest.”

“Ugh, do not talk to me about Max,” Charles rolled his eyes, “can we have Carlos? Lando? Alex? Esteban?”

“I’ll give you Carlos on the podium if Esteban can come in P4,” Pierre’s eyes sparkled, “a 1-4 is more points than a 2-3, after all, and the tifosi would love having you both up there.”

“And what, the Red Bulls crash each other out in turn one to make that happen?”

“Anything is possible,” Pierre said lightly, “it is Monza after all.”

Charles just shook his head, then had a brilliant thought. “Maybe Arthur will get a seat soon and we can have an all-Leclerc podium,” he said excitedly.

“That would not confuse the commentators at all,” Pierre said, sharing in his amusement, “Leclerc won the race? Which one?”

“Mr. Leclerc-Gasly, of course,” Charles wrapped his legs more securely around Pierre to pull him even closer and kiss him soundly.

“I like the sound of that,” Pierre murmured against his lips, “race winner Mr. Leclerc-Gasly.”

“I’ll post that on Instagram for your next race win,” Charles promised.

“Deal,” Pierre grinned and captured his lips again, his hands pressing into Charles’ back possessively. Charles responded by threading a hand through his husband’s hair so he could tilt his head back and deepen the kiss.

“I think you should take me to bed, Mr. Leclerc-Gasly,” Charles whispered across Pierre’s lips.

“Of course, Mr. Leclerc-Gasly,” Pierre responded with a smile as he picked Charles up off the counter.

Charles giggled the entire way as Pierre carried him into their bedroom.

[xo3ll1e]

Bweakfas!

Caregiver!Daryl x Little!Reader

This is set in the post-apocalyptic time period, during Alexandria because so cool and yum yums :D  Also, I call Daryl as his name at first, but then it transitions to Daddy, just gotta clarify that <3

As the sun rises the sun peeks through the blinds shining over your eyes, as you rouse you let out a big yawn and whine. You turn your head to look at Daryl, only to not find him there. You whine louder, now upset, and look for your stuffie. Not finding her either. With your morning now ruined (as if you ever liked mornings) you start to cry. Your wailing causes heavy footsteps to come to your shared room and as the door opens, in comes Daryl. 

“Oh honey,” He says in a babying tone, “come here sweetness.” 

He says grabbing you and placing you on his hip. He showers you in kisses and brings you to the bathroom. He grabs your F/C toothbrush and puts a pea of toothpaste. He hands it to you as you start brushing, bouncing you up and down he spins causing you to giggle. You finish brushing and you lean down to  spit out the toothpaste and wash your mouth. Daryl grabs your kitty face towel and runs it underneath the tap, he wipes your mouth, folds it, and wipes your face. He places it back on its holder and walks you down the stairs to the kitchen. 

He walks over to the couch and plops you down, you giggle and squeal as the sudden drop surprises you. 

“Alright baby, lemme finish our breakfast.”

 He brings out your basket of toys from various runs and places some on the floor for you. You drop to the floor and crawl towards the toys, grabbing your calico critters and lps. 

As he walks back to the kitchen you start playing pretend with your lps, placing them into the little house and babbling, acting as if they’re talking to each other. 

“Ababababaaa!” You ramble out, grabbing more of them, making it look like a party. 

You crawl to the kitchen, witnessing Daddy (Daryl) reading from a paper that’s in Carol’s handwriting. You crawl quickly, bumping into his legs, he quickly looks down to see you reaching your hands out asking a silent “Uppies?”

“I’m sorry little one, Daddy can’t righ’ now. I’m cooking, go play with your toys.” He says in his usual gruff voice. 

You huff in annoyance but crawl back to your spot to continue playing. After ten minutes you hear Daddy go 

“Sweetheart! C’mere!” 

You gasp in excitement making your way to him, he crouches down, welcoming you into his arms. He gives you a big squeezy hug and a kiss on the forehead. 

“Ready for breakfast sweet pea?” He asks, looking down at you in his grasp. He places you into a cushioned chair and sits next to you. 

“Later on, you’re gonna have to say thank you to Carol alrigh’? She was the one who gave me this recipe.” 

You look down at the plate that consists of eggs (however you want them) and chocolate chip pancakes, that were (supposed to be) in the shape of a bear. You clap your hands and nod in excitement. He cuts the pancakes into tiny shapes and picks one up as you open your mouth. He feeds you and as you chew he starts to eat his own food. 

annndddd.. thats all folks! Honestly I really wanted to make this longer, but I decided that this will just be a mini-series maybe? I'm so sorry it took me so long out with this, I was rereading my other one and decided that you guys deserved more! Love ya, stay safe <;3

~Babie Espie

[spiltscribbles]

The One Where No One Is Ready

~Notes: I’m reposting this because I deleted the series off of AO3 <3<3

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Send Me A Friends Storyline/Prompt  |  A Reblog Means EVERYTHING!

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Their is T minus forty-five minutes until James is expected to enter the arena for this year’s Espy awards, where he— a longterm representative of the UK’s top athletes, with a social media following that can rival a B list celebrity’s— will be presenting the award for the best international football player, and rumor has it that Ludo fucking Bagman is going to win. This is a dream come true— more than that even! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!  And it was thanks to his mentor, Minerva McGonagall, that he even can do something that he’s dreamt of doing since his days playing in the child leagues as a lad. It’s going to be one of the best nights of his bloody life. So it only makes sense that his sodding best friends aren’t even taking this with an ounce of seriousness. In fact, instead of doing the decent thing and getting ready as efficiently as possible, those pricks are lounging over the breakfast table goading Sirius into drinking the fat from the icebox that Lily stored for whichever cooking masterpiece she is sure to whip up later this week. Not a one of them even showered.

Bloody blunders.

“Oi, Moons,” Sirius crows loudly, grinning wolfishly down at him with a glint in his steely eyes and a smirk on his face. “Promise if I chug this down you’ll give us a little kiss.”

James feels a migraine coming on.

“In your dreams Black,” Remus retorts,  wrinkling his nose disapprovingly, while Marlene only guffaws and James feels his head literally beginning to pulse with pure exasperation.

Absolute pricks..

“You gits, we’ve got less than an hour till we have to call the cabs. Will you all just get dressed for Christ’s sake.”

“No need for the snappy tone Prongs.” Sirius says with a cluck to his tongue.

“It’ll take us only a tick to get ready,” Remus says, waving him off airily. And James really regrets the fact that he’s moved in with Sirius now that James and Lily are in marital bliss. Sirius’s a bad influence on him, and James should’ve predicted as much.

“Besides, ’s not my fault your wife’s hogging the bathroom,” Marlene tacks on— having dashed over here after her shift at the same firm as James, still dressed in her slacks and leather jacket. 

“Well Marls, you don’t have to get your hair done now that you’ve chopped it off as short as your ears,” Lily defends herself as she steps out the aforementioned bathroom in James’s powder blue robe, thankfully her makeup is set and hair is pulled back into an artful bun and she’s as beautiful as ever. James can’t help but feel his insides go all goopy and his stomach begins to tumble every time she even looks his way, especially when she smiles that private little grin that she only uses on him.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph does he love her to his very core, tells her as much once kissing her softly amidst the groans of the other three. “You are my angel.”

“I know,” Lily preens, green eyes bright and dimples in full effect. “Now I’ve just got to pick out what to wear and we can go.”

James thanks her profusely before pivoting back around to Marlene, begs her to get on with it already.

“Alright, alright potter. God you men only like to rush, no time for foreplay.”

“I like foreplay,” Remus contends as he sits on the loveseat and begins flipping through a magazine Lily’s left laying around, which makes it so Sirius’s face goes wrecked and pale and very nearly makes the cup of fat in his hand fall to the ground— is only saved by James’s old footie reflexes.

“Get it the fuck together man,” James hisses with a glower. But then quickly amends, “But not tonight. Tonight just get dressed for fuck’s sake.” There is absolutely no time to deal with this melodrama between Sirius and Remus that basically amounts to heady glances and licked lips and sexual tension that’s frankly obscene.

Sirius swallows down, hard, and gives a perfunctory nod, but instead of walking across the hall to bloody change already, he only sits besides Remus and grins at him in a very scary, very intense way. James is almost convinced that poor Moony will end up naked and swaddled  in saran wrap— Dexter style— by the end of the night. But he can’t warn him considering that there’s a knock to the door and he finds Dorcas—

 beautiful and elegant in a pale yellow dress that contrasts in a lovely way against her dark brown skin— on the other side. “You look fantastic.” James breathes out, worshipingly.

“I know,” Dorcas beams as she struts in, helping herself to the pita crisps and hummus left out.  “But don’t let Marls hear you else she gets all pouty.”

“Do not!” Marlene yells from the loo, to which Dorcas only silently mouths, does so, over James’s shoulder to a snickering Sirius.

“Right, well seeing as the ladies are all accounted for, we’re just waiting for Wormtail and you berks,” he points angrily at the pair now arguing over the remote. 

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Minnie can be left waiting,” Sirius snorts.

“Our table is at the very front Pads! She’ll see us walking in late! And then they might give my slot to that prick Mulciber!”

“A travesty,” Sirius intones.

“He might be on to something Pads,” Remus points out.  “It takes an hour just for you to primp your hair.”

“Rome wasn’t built in a day Moony!”

“Are you implying that your hair is as extravagant as Rome? Because I think you might be seriously over estimating yourself.” Remus leers, and Sirius only gapes at the lip. God, if James has to watch them dancing around each other for another day he’s going to go rudding gray at the temples.

“You are a plonker Lupin!” Remus narrowly avoids Sirius’s punch aimed for his shoulder, and scurries off across the hall, Sirius’s gaze never leaving his arse all the while.

“That’s lewd,” Dorcas tells him.

“Pitiful from where I’m looking at it.” James snorts.

Sirius only glowers and tosses them the bird. “Come off it.”

“I bet you’d like to come off with’m.” Dorcas sneers, and James actually let’s himself laugh at the increasingly reddening face Sirius has just pulled in retort. Thankfully, none of his curses have a chance to spill out because of Peter strolling in— clad in a suit that’s a little short on the legs  and a little tight in the middle. But he looks presentable at least, which is more than what Sirius could say.

“What’s wrong Pete?” Dorcas asks him as she perches on the armrest of the sofa.

“What do you mean what’s wrong? He’s dressed. He’s brilliant!” James beams, clapping him on the shoulder, noticing a beat too late how Peter’s acting a bit dodgy— hands rinsing in front of him and eyes darting every which way.

“I messaged Marry.”

“Oh Pete.”

“Bloody hell.”

“Why the fuck would you do that!”

The three of them chorus in various tones of disappointment.

“She, erm. Well She posted this picture of her at home with her puppy and I saw a sweater.”

“A sweater?” Sirius repeats, wry as all get out.

“A man’s sweater I mean.”

Dorcas rolls her eyes at him now. “Sweaters don’t have genders Peter.”

“Well this one did!” Peter fumes indignantly. 

James raises his hands, as if he’s calming a spooked animal. “All right, all right. It was a man’s sweater. What did you message her bout it?”

Peter ducks his head once more, flushing pink. “I asked if her new boyfriend is as allergic to Pippa as I was.” Queue another round of discontent moaning.

“You bloody imbecile.” Sirius groans.

“It all just happened so quickly!”

“Things Sirius’s conquests say on their walk of shame for a thousand Alex,” Remus snickers as he steps back inside, fitted in an admittedly fetching, charcoal suit and a different colored tie in each of his hands. “Oh, you all look shifty.”

“Don’t ever criticize my shagging prowess again Lupin!”

“Peter made a mess of things with Marry,” Dorcas says before Sirius can get on one of his tangents.

“Oh Pete.” 

“It happened so quickly,” he tries to explain once more.

Remus only shakes his head and pats his shoulder agreeably. “Sure it did.”

“Well did she read it yet?” Dorcas asks.

“Erm, she was online when I sent her the snap.”

“Oh Peter,” they all groan.

“I need a minute.” He says before retreating to the balcony.

James checks his watch, exactly a half an hour until they all have to go. No time for Peter’s dramatics. Maybe tomorrow James’ll buy him a pint and let him cry over it but they really need to get on with things already.

“C’mon pads, get up.” Remus instructs, trying to tug him off the couch, to which Sirius only smirks.

“You forfeited when you got up Lupin.”

“Oi! I got up to get dressed so James wouldn’t go barmy on us!”

“And I thank you Remus my sweet.” James pipes in while handing Marlene her bag of clothes she had left by the table.

“Pshaw, doesn’t matter. You left it.”

“I left for like five bloody minutes you arse!” Remus shouts.

“So you agree then,” Sirius counters with a cocked brow. “You left it.”

James has to deftly pull Remus away before he pounces on him. “Padfoot don’t be a wanker and just get up and get dressed, won’t you.”

Sirius eyes them both before a look James can’t decipher passes across his face, leaving behind a grim determination. “Righto mates.” He leaps up right then, snatching the cushions up with him, and  swaggering off.

“Oi! What the hell Padfoot!”

“I gave you the seat Lupin.”

“But— But—“ Remus sputters. “You took the  cushions! That’s the entire ruddy essence of the seat!”

“That’s right Lupin!” Sirius glows with far too much smugness for the situation at hand. “I took your essence!”

Remus is left balking after him and James promptly chugs down a handful of Ibuprofen.

“All right boys?” Marlene asks as she strolls out the bathroom in her black dress and heals, pecking Dorcas hello..

“I’m going to murder Sirius bloody Black with my bare hands,” Remus answers, fists tight around his ties and his face scrunched up mulishly.

“I’ll help!” Dorcas crows, before beaming at Lily who’s just clambered in— half dressed with a shawl  in one hand and a different blouse entirely in the other.

“Do you guys reckon I should wear this with my purple pumps, or those new flats I got with a nice pair of slacks.”

“Lily, my love, the angel of my heart, the stars of my night,” James begins, a hand against his chest. “We’ve got twenty-seven minutes till we have to be downstairs.”

“Oh I know love, I just want to look nice for you and your big night,” she says poutingly, kisses his cheek before glancing over at the girls. “Wotcher Dorcas, you and Marlene look lovely.”

“I know,” Dorcas preens.”

“You’re in a jaunty mood?”

“She’s helping Lupin murder Black later tonight,” Marlene explains, lips curled with laughter. 

“Oh lovely.”

“I’ll show him essence,” Remus growls from where he’s still holding vigil to the shut door.

James rolls back his head now, eyes alone definitely not cutting it anymore. “Damn everything.”

“Oh Re you look so smart in that suit,” Lily crows, walking over to him, but begins to cluck her tongue. “But neither of those ties match.”

Sirius used the rest of my ties to use as a rope for his halloween costume last month.”

“Of course he did.”

“He’s dead Lily.”

Lily smooths back his hair dotingly. “Sure he is darling, now c’mon. James has got a wonderful velvet tie that would look ravishing with this fit.” Remus lets Lily drag him away while Still muttering about Sirius and essences and the god forsaken guillotine of all things.

“There’s a video!” Peter shouts as he rushes back inside— blonde hair mussed and cheeks reddening as bright as Lily’s hair.

“Bloody hell Peter!” Marlene scolds, hand pressed to her chest. “Don’t be a git and scare us like that.”

Peter only repeats the fact that there’s a video— of what? James does not know nor does he want to find out. God he just wants them to act mentally sound for one damn night.

“A video!”

“Settle yourself Peter,” Dorcas scolds, a hand on her hip and a scowl twisting her pretty face. James reckons that if she were his history teacher in secondary school he might’ve actually been scared enough not to fall asleep. “Now explain yourself.”

“Mary posted a video of Pippa rolling over and there was a bloke in the background laughing along!”

“You saw a random bloke?” Marlene asks.

“No but I heard’m! Clear as day.”

Dorcas sighs, clamping a hand over his shoulder in solace. “Eh, think logically Peter, you lot only split up a couple weeks ago. I seriously doubt Mary’s gone off and shagged someone else so soon.”

“But I heard’m! Maybe she finally realized she could do better.”

“Oh none of that bollocks Peter Pettigrew.” Marlene bellows, joining her girlfriend to stand in front of him now. “Oi, wasn’t she close with that younger brother of her’s?”

Before Marlene’ even finished asking the question, Peter’s worried expression melts away, brightening ten fold and beginning to  grin like an absolute lune. “Oi McKinnon! You bloody genius! Your right! It’s Marcus! It’s definitely Marcus!”

“Brilliant!” James hurriedly interjects, the time ticking down to only twenty minutes left. “It was obviously, certainly Marcus this entire time. Now why don’t you be a doll Peter and call us the cabs, I don’t want to risk not grabbing one in time. Especially in this miserable weather.”

Peter nods cheerily, picking up his mobile and idly noting that he’s begun to feel a bit peckish.

“There’s some fat in the fridge if you want,” Marlene calls after him, her snickering dining down once the front door to the flat swings open to a harried looking Sirius. James is about ready to row considering that the only notable differences seem to be the fact he’s no longer wearing his DR Martens and his hair’s even more disheveled than before.

“Where is Lupin!”

“Oi, Black! Not the bloody time for your little lovers quarrel.” James snaps.

“He took my pants!”

“Pardon?” Dorcas wheezes with pure delight.

“That sodding little slag stole my pants!”

“You stole my essence!” Remus bellows, storming back into the main room, shirtless and heated. James almost feels bad for Sirius who’s gone all flushed and blotchy at the sight.

“Remus! No, no, no! Why are you getting undressed! We want you all to be fully damn clothed!”

“Oh, that was my doing,” Lily pipes in, thankfully clad in a lovely, green number that brings out her eyes. “I thought that if Remus changed into one of your white undershirts that it’ll help accentuate  the purple tie.”

James really wishes he could stay properly angry at Lily for longer than a second at a time so that he can rebuke them for this little dress up game. But alas, he simply can not, so he’s only left to nod like a daft idiot at her explanation.

“And then I smelt rubbish and so I knew Sirius had returned.” Remus snarls.

“I smell like a fucking field of daisies!”

“Bet your trousers won’t smell that way after an entire  night pantsless,” Remus sneers, and James silently  reminds himself never to cross the scrappy bugger, (It’s always the quiet ones indeed).

“That’s not on Moony! I don’t want to have my bits out for show, everyone will be focussed on their magnificence over poor Jem and his little presenting gig.”

Heatedly, James tosses him the bird.

“Then give me back the essence!” Remus retorts caustically.

“Fine Lupin, you want to play it this way. Game on!” With one final, haughty harumph, Sirius dashes over to his own apartment and Remus only scoffs as he rounds back to the bedroom. 

“What does that even mean! Absolutely nothing that’s what! Damn arse!” Remus grumbles to himself, slamming the door shut after Lily follows, still barefoot herself.

Discretely, James checks his watch once more, feeling a looming sense of dread once realizing that there’s only fifteen minutes left until they have to be out the door.

“Hiya Marcus,” James swings his head up so quickly that he swears he’s got vertigo, but at least Dorcas and Marlene look just as concerned from where they’re also gawking at Peter. “I just wanted to see if you were in town— Oh yeah, yeah. I thought I heard you on the back of that last video Mary posted.”

“Hang up Pettigrew!” Marlene hisses, trying to grab for the phone and is elbowed out the way for her trouble.

“Oh yeah, she did block e after the whole snag with me running over her cat. But you know how it is, making a fake account— Oh, erm I didn’t think it was that weird really.”

“Hang up Peter!” James yells, feeling absolutely hopeless. “Hang up the damn mobile!”

“I know plenty of people who do that! No need to get all shirty!” Peter hisses at Marcus, the color slowly draining out of his face. “No, no you don’t need to tell Maz, ’s not that serious!”

“I need a bloody shot.” Dorcas moans.

“What’s happened?” Remus asks from where he and Lily stroll out the bedroom, fully dressed thank god and both glancing over at a sweating Peter with concern.

“Mary’s surely going to getting a restraining order,” Marlene says with no context, shrinking back when the flat’s door opens once more to Sirius.

“You mad wanker,” James breathes out, not even having enough wits about him to shout. Sirius is standing there, absolutely drowning in countless sweaters pulled up over one another and sweat pants over sweat pants.

“What the bloody hell are you doing!” Remus screams.

“You take my pants, and I wear all your clothes Lupin,” Sirius grins glowingly, eyes glinting with pure mischief.

“You’re going to stretch them all out you absolute beast!”

 “I’ve got to say Moons, your sweats are real comfortable without any pants, nice and soft.” Sirius does a forward lunge right then, wiggling around for good measure. So James really shouldn’t be surprised when Remus actually pounces, knocking him over to the ground.

“My money’s on Lupin, the scrappy bugger,” Marlene cackles.

“I can’t believe I did that,” Peter groans, slamming his head against the table, while Sirius and Remus continue to writhe on the ground like a pair of bloody mutts in heat.

“Get it together you plonkers! We need to leave in ten minutes!”

“He, oof, he took my essence!”

Sirius beams victoriously when he finally gets Remus beneath him and pulls up for breath, “You took my pants before I ever did that Lupin.” 

“Because you’re a insufferable  berk!” Remus hisses, wiggling around and canting forwards, both his and Sirius’s faces going suddenly red, and James shutters to think of what might’ve slid up against each other to elicit that response. Though his imagination is buoyed when Sirius suddenly rocks forwards in a very deliberate way, his head dipping down closer to Remus and it’s like instinct when their lips devour one another’s smolderingly, Remus’s hands fisted in Sirius’s hair, and Sirius’s own sliding around to cup his arse cheeks.

“Oh for bloody hell,” James snarls, absolutely fed up. He grabs the cup of discarded fat and pours it on the pair of them, making it so they both jump apart in a flash— panting breaths and flushed cheeked and both of the sporting obvious hard ons— even through the layers that Sirius has got on.

“You lot have got eight minutes and thirty five seconds to get it the bloody hell together, change into something respectable and then meet me downstairs,” James instructs, seething and brooking no arguments.  “Now disperse damn it!”

.-

They end up fifteen minutes late, and McGonagall just gives James a cool glance above her flute of wine as they scramble to the table, but it’s fine, because James gets to shake Ludo Bagman’s hand and everything while up on stage— Even if Remus and Sirius make a conspicuous retreat to the gents the moment he sits back down and don’t meet up with everyone until after the ceremony ends.

James repeats, bloody blunders.

.-

MY OTHER WOLFSTAR FICS  |  BUY ME A COFFEE<3

[ericsonclan]

A Morning With You

Summary: Minnie spends the morning with Renata enjoying the simple joy of cuddles and making breakfast together.

Word Count: 1499

Read on AO3:

Minnie tiptoed through the house, making sure to not make too much noise and wake up Renata. She wanted to get some more cuddle time before waking up her wife with the surprise bouquet of flowers she had gotten her this morning. As the redhead carefully navigated her way towards the bedroom she heard the soft pitter patter of paws. Glancing over, she noticed Esperanza walking towards her. The dalmatian happily wagged her tail and tried to follow Minnie to the bedroom.

“No, Esperanza, you can see Ren and me in a bit,” Minnie whispered over to the dalmatian who listened to her words but didn’t follow her instructions. As soon as the door to the bedroom was open Esperanza trotted forward and hopped up onto the bed. “Shit, Esperanza!” Minnie whispered hissed but it was too late. The dalmatian had settled by the foot of the bed and looked up at her with big eyes. “Fine, you can stay,” Minnie gently closed the door and tiptoed towards the bed. Lifting up the cover, she slipped back into bed which caused Renata to turn in her sleep.

“Min?” Renata asked sleepily as she reached out for her wife. Minnie was about to respond and apologize for waking Renata up but stopped when Renata moved forward and wrapped her body around her wife. “Warm,” Renata’s breath tickled Minnie’s ear and a shiver of happiness went down her spine as Renata nuzzled her face against Minnie’s neck. Within seconds Renata was back asleep, the faint sounds of her teapot snores filling the room once more.

Minnie settled down in a comfortable spot, her arm sliding across Renata’s waist and pulling her even closer. Soon she felt herself drifting off into the comfortable bliss of cuddles.

After about an hour Minnie stirred awake and tapped her phone screen to see what time it was. To her relief it wasn’t too late at all; it was nearing ten. That was around the time Renata liked to wake up anyway. Glancing down at her wife, Minnie felt her heart pulse with a steady love. She was adorable when she slept and her soft snores only added to that. Minnie pondered what she should do next.

After a few moments Minnie wrapped her arms around Renata and awkwardly guided herself off the bed with Renata safely tucked in her arms. Renata hummed happily and instantly enveloped her legs around Minnie’s waist. Minnie gave a light laugh and started to walk out of the bedroom and towards the kitchen. Esperanza gave a bark and leapt off of the bed and followed behind her.

“Mmm, morning, Min,” Renata moved her lips towards Minnie’s neck and began to pepper it with small kisses. The romantic gesture made Minnie freeze for a moment. Her face grew warm and her heart was pounding like mad. Renata looked up with a smug smile until she was surprised by a kiss from Minnie. Now it was Renata’s turn to feel overwhelmed as her heart soared. Renata quickly recovered though and noticed Minnie’s confident smirk as she strode into the kitchen.

“So, Ren, what do you want for breakfast?” Minnie glanced down and saw the playfulness dance within her wife’s eyes as a flirtatious smile pulled on the corners of her lips. Minnie had an idea where this was heading.

Renata remained quiet for a few seconds before loudly declaring her choice. “French toast!” she crowed with joy then stole a quick kiss from Minnie who was momentarily speechless once more. Renata wrapped her arms around Minnie’s neck, her usual playful smile returning to her lips. “What did you think I was going to say?” She quirked an eyebrow.

Minnie looked away and began to stroll over to the fridge. “Nothing,” She opened the fridge and felt her heart flutter when Renata nuzzled her face against her neck again. Renata continued to try and pry answers out of Minnie’s lips but Minnie brushed it off as she grabbed the ingredients she needed for French toast: eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, bread.

“Come on, Minipie, what were you going to say?” Renata tried once more but Minnie quickly spun around, turning her back to the table.

“Notice anything new on the table, Ren?”

Minnie’s question made Renata shift focus from one curiosity to another. Her eyes wandered across the table and quickly landed on a vase filled with light pink Mexican roses. Renata’s eyes grew large and her koala-like grip on Minnie loosened, causing her to gently land on the floor. “You got me flowers?” Renata’s soft eyes looked into Minnie’s.

“Yeah, I thought I’d surprise you by getting some after my morning run. So,” Minnie scratched the back of her head then gave a somewhat shy smile, “Surprise,”

Renata’s eyes danced with happiness. Quickly she got up on her tiptoes and curled her hand behind Minnie’s head. Leaning forward, Renata guided Minnie’s head towards hers and captured her lips in a soft kiss. In an instant Minnie’s hands wandered down to Renata’s waist as she deepened the kiss. One kiss turned into many before the pair pulled back for air.

Minnie gave a smile then turned and walked towards the table. Her fingers pulled a single flower from the bouquet and with a few steps she closed the distance between her and Renata once more. Gently the redhead tucked the flower behind her wife’s ear, fingers tracing the spot before softly caressing the side of her face. The flower brought out the beauty in Renata’s eyes and her long brown hair that was usually tied into a side bun.

Renata felt her heart overflow with pure bliss as she looked into Minnie’s eyes. She was really lucky to have found Minnie. Without a word she took both of Minnie’s hands in her own. Slowly Renata placed a kiss on Minnie’s fingers one at a time.

The tender gesture made Minnie’s eyes fill with love as she watched Renata for a few seconds before her wife’s eyes traveled up and looked into hers, holding the same emotions. The two soon became lost in each other’s eyes, the world melting around them as they focused on each other.

Until suddenly Esperanza headbutted Renata right in the ass. Renata gave a dramatic gasp and spun around to face the dalmatian. “Espy!” She placed her hands on her hips in mock anger. Esperanza smiled, proud of herself, then feigned innocence by tilting her head to the side. Renata shook her head knowingly. “I’ll go grab Espy some breakfast. I’ll be right back and then we can make French toast together,” Renata gave Minnie’s hand a gentle squeeze and was a few steps away when a realization struck her. “Oh!”

“What? What’s wrong?” Minnie’s eyebrows furrowed.

Renata had turned sharply on her heel to face Minnie. Silently she walked forward and cupped Minnie’s face. Immediately she began to give Minnie a series of kisses. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!” Renata said, counting after each kiss. “I have a surprise for you,” Renata smiled playfully. “That wasn’t the surprise though, just a bonus. I’ll be right back!”

“Okay,” Minnie had a dreamy smile on her face, clearly in a happy daze from the surprise kisses. She waited for her wife who she could hear walking around loudly followed by the soft tapping of Esperanza’s paws close behind her.

After a few minutes Renata returned with her hands tucked behind her back. Her usual smile appeared on her lips and she leaned forward. “Okay, close your eyes,”

Minnie looked at Renata for a second then listened. As she waited patiently she felt her left wrist being lifted up and something being placed upon it.

“Okay, open your eyes!” Renata said in a sing-song voice and Minnie listened, her eyes fluttering open then looking down at her left wrist. There on her wrist was a homemade bracelet made from a fuzzy pink worm on a string toy. Next to the clasp that held the bracelet in place was a chain that led to a pink translucent plastic heart.

“It's named Goomy!” Renata declared, smiling brightly.

“Goomy,” Minnie whispered, her gaze still on the gift, “I love it!” She smiled warmly over at her wife then gave her a quick kiss.

Renata beamed at those words and began to cover Minnie’s face with kisses once more before turning towards the ingredients. “Alright, let's make some killer French toast!” Renata pushed up her sleeves which immediately fell back down.

“Okay,” Minnie gave a determined nod and grabbed the cookware they would need then returned to Renata’s side.

Renata ducked under Minnie’s right arm and snugly secured herself in front of her wife. “Time to be the ultimate duo!” she declared and Minnie gave a soft laugh.

The two began to work in well-timed harmony and soon the smell of French toast filled the air. It was bound to be another great morning. It always was when they were together.

[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2020.06.21

Sunday, June 21st:

(exclusive/streaming): Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (netflix), It's Okay to Not Be Okay (netflix, Korean dramedy, 2nd timeslot premiere)

(highlights): 2020 ESPYs Countdown (ESPN|ESPN2, 90mins), "A Bigger Love Father's Day" (ABC, a John Legend special), "United We Sing" (CBS, a Grammys Tribute special, 2hrs), "The Beat Don't Stop" (TVOne, D.C. music documentary, 2hrs), John Bolton Interview (ABC News special), The 2020 ESPY Awards (ESPN|ESPN2, 2hrs), Why We Hate (DSC, docuseries bonus "The Reckoning" special, 2hrs)

(earlier - hour 0): 60 Minutes (CBS), Hollywood Game Night (NBC), "Mechanics of Love" (UP original movie, 2hrs)

(hour 1): Bunk'd (Disney, season 5 opener) /   / Disney Fam Jam (Disney, dance competition resumes), VICE (SHO, season 7 finale), Hightown (Starz)

(hour 2): Grantchester (PBS Masterpiece), Snowpiercer (TNT), Good Witch (HALL), Worst Cooks in America (FOOD, season 20 opener, 90mins), Yellowstone (PAR|CMT|POP|TVLand, season 3 opener, new night), The Chi (SHO, season 3 opener, new time), Perry Mason (HBO, limited series premiere)

(hour 3): Beecham House (PBS), Tournament of Laughs (TBS, comedy competition bracket premiere), NOS4A2 (BBCAm|AMC, season 2 opener, 66mins), Penny Dreadful "City of Angels" (SHO)

(hour 4 - latenight): Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

[note: I May Destroy You (HBO) moves to MONDAYS starting tomorrow.]

[preempted, returning next week: Celebrity Family Feud (ABC), Press Your Luck (ABC), Match Game (ABC) ]

[maplestreetsims]

get to know me tag!

so, i came to catfish you all with my updated simself, also i made her with alpha cc bc why not?

I saw @galaxsims did this and i thought it might be fun, so the point of this is to make a simself and answer some q’s so people get to know you better

I’m going to tag anyone who wants to do this, Just go crazy 

   - trash under cut -

1. What is your full name? Constanza

2. What is your nickname? most people call me coti, i had a few friends that called me constance tho

3. Birthday? July 1, 2000

4. What is your favorite book series? i dont read as much as i used to so i dont have one

5. Do you believe in aliens or ghosts? aliens yes, ghosts...maybe? just for the spookines of it all tbh

6. Who is your favorite author? i dont read dont come for me

7. What is your favorite radio station? i never listen to the radio, mostly spotify

8. What is your favorite flavor of anything? anything cheese flavored, or like pizza? idk im thinkin chips here

9. What word would you use often to describe something great or wonderful? amazing, cool!

10. What is your current favorite song? literally queens entire discography??? like i saw bohemian rhapsody last week, i liked queen before but now im like on hyperdrive or something

11. What is your favorite word?  chaos

12. What was the last song you listened to? Somebody to love, by (you guessed it) queen

13. What TV show would you recommend for everybody to watch? hmm... i dont know, skam, maybe freaks and geeks

14. What is your favorite movie to watch when you’re feeling down? pride (2014) always makes me feel happy when i watch it, i really like it

15. Do you play video games? yes

16. What is your biggest fear? Ending up alone, but not romantically, more of like no friends, or family

17. What is your best quality, in your opinion? i dont know... i just try to be a good person?? like i put myself in others peoples shoes and treat them how i would like to be treated i guess, bc i know how its like being treated like shit and i wouldnt want that for anyone lol

18. What is your worst quality, in your opinion? my socializing skills? or lack thereof 

19. Do you like cats or dogs better? i like them both the same

20. What is your favorite season? i dont like any season sjdjsdk

21. Are you in a relationship? nope

22. What is something you miss from your childhood? just.. happiness?? not only my own but like everyone in my family (yikes) also my innocence 

23. Who is your best friend? haha ha

24. What is your eye color? brown

25. What is your hair color? Dark brown 

26. Who is someone you love? no one honestly, maybe my pets?

27. Who is someone you trust? literally anyone who is nice to me, that’s bad

28. Who is someone you think about often? my friends, classmates

29. Are you currently excited about/for something? nothing currently

30. What is your biggest obsession? The sims, life is strange and detroit become human.....also queen?, weird combinations

31. What was your favorite TV show as a child? Art attack! also the cocodrile hunter??? that was my shit!!

32. Who of the opposite gender can you tell anything to, if anyone? I know i just said i trust everyone but like....i dont open up, like ever

33. Are you superstitious? No

34. Do you have any unusual phobias? Elevators?? and cars...are those phobias?

35. Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it? Behind

36. What is your favorite hobby? Editing, playin sims... u know

37. What was the last book you read? I cant remember fghjkljhg probably something for school

38. What was the last movie you watched? Bohemian rhapsody rip

39. What musical instruments do you play, if any? i wish i could play any musical instrument, but i suck tbh

40. What is your favorite animal? cats and dogs™

41. What are your top 5 7 favorite Tumblr blogs that you follow?

@pollinationqueen​ @cosmic-espie​ @omiscanking @bloomlet @gunthermunch @cowberrys and @mellocakes ♥♥

42. What superpower do you wish you had? telekinesis??? um hell yeah why would anyone want anything else

43. When and where do you feel most at peace? this is weird but when im riding the bus home, listening to music

44. What makes you smile? my simblr, youtube videos...

45. What sports do you play, if any? i wish

46. What is your favorite drink? coca cola beech! 

47. When was the last time you wrote a hand-written letter or note to somebody? I dont even remember, but i had to write something like that around this year at least

48. Are you afraid of heights? yes

49. What is your biggest pet peeve? it used to be hearing people chew, but i think im over it

50. Have you ever been to a concert? no, never

51. Are you vegan/vegetarian? No

52. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? a vet

53. What fictional world would you like to live in? idk sis

54. What is something you worry about? my future, and my life

55. Are you scared of the dark? sometimes

56. Do you like to sing? yes, only when im alone

57. Have you ever skipped school? yeah, but i tried not to, it felt like i was missing out and that kinda made me feel like shit??

58. What is your favorite place on the planet? i dont think i have one, but more like a bunch of them? and only at specific times if that make sense, like the outside of that theater at nightime when i went to see a play with my friends a while ago

59. Where would you like to live? mmm maybe the usa? or anywhere where i could get to speak english all the time

60. Do you have any pets? a cat and a dog, Mercury and Candy!

61. Are you more of an early bird or a night owl? Night owl, def

62. Do you like sunrises or sunsets better? Sunsets, im never up for sunrises anyways, unless i stayed up all night

63. Do you know how to drive? no but i hope that i do at some point, although im scared of cars

64. Do you prefer earbuds or headphones? headphones

65. Have you ever had braces? nope, my teeth are as straight as me

66. What is your favorite genre of music? rock, indie...maybe pop rock?

67. Who is your hero? i dont have one

68. Do you read comic books? not really

69. What makes you the most angry? myself sometimes

70. Do you prefer to read on an electronic device or with a real book? Real book all the way, when i do read that is

71. What was your favorite subject in school? cinematography class???? idk how it translates properly but that was my fave, although the teacher fucking ruined it for all of us tbh

72. Do you have any siblings? nope

73. What was the last thing you bought? a bus ticket

74. How tall are you? 4′9...yikes

75. Can you cook? not at all

76. What are three things that you love? this blog, my family and my pets

77. What are three things that you hate? hooo boy

78. Do you have more female friends or more male friends? i have 0 friends what does that mean? jk i actually would say its pretty equal 

79. What is your sexual orientation? yes

80. Where do you currently live? Uruguay, montevideo

81. Who was the last person you texted? my dad

82. When was the last time you cried? last week

83. Who is your favorite YouTuber? jenna and julien, and probably every sims youtuber(seriously)

84. Do you like to take selfies? not so much

85. What is your favorite app? tumblr, or youtube

86. What is your relationship with your parent(s) like? its alright

87. What is your favorite foreign accent? portugeese

88. What is a place that you’ve never been to, but you want to visit? mmm all of them

89. What is your favorite number? 7

90. Can you juggle? Nop

91. Are you religious? no

92. Do you find outer space or the deep ocean to be more interesting? The ocean

93. Do you consider yourself to be a daredevil? hahah no

94. Are you allergic to anything? i used to be allergic to a bunch of shit when i was a kid but im not allergic to it anymore?? like chocolate, oranges....cats, and dust

95. Can you curl your tongue? Yes

96. Can you wiggle your ears? Yes

97. How often do you admit that you were wrong about something? always hopefully

98. Do you prefer the forest or the beach? Forest

99. What is your favorite piece of advice that anyone has ever given you? i dont really ask for advice that often so...idk

100. Are you a good liar? No, but i try

101. What is your Hogwarts House? Hufflepuff

102. Do you talk to yourself? i used to talk to myself all the time, but now i barely do it, thats a good thing right?

103. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Introvert

104. Do you keep a journal/diary? no, i used to when i was a kid but it was pure garbage

105. Do you believe in second chances? Depends

106. If you found a wallet full of money on the ground, what would you do? look for an id to see if i cant turn it in, if not....well

107. Do you believe that people are capable of change? Yes, but only in certain things

108. Are you ticklish? i dont even know, probably not

109. Have you ever been on a plane? no

110. Do you have any piercings? yeah, my ears

111. What fictional character do you wish was real? idk

112. Do you have any tattoos? No, but hopefully i will some day!

113. What is the best decision that you’ve made in your life so far? i dont know....

114. Do you believe in karma? yeah

115. Do you wear glasses or contacts? no

116. Do you want children? yeah why not

117. Who is the smartest person you know? honestly i don’t know

118. What is your most embarrassing memory? doing a cindirella theatre play for my school when i was 12, i was cindirella, i dont wanna talk about it njxkcfxf

119. Have you ever pulled an all-nighter? not that i remember, i always end up falling asleep, dosent matter if its like 10 minutes 

120. What color are most of you clothes? green.........i dont even like green

121. Do you like adventures? yeah maybe, depends on what it is

122. Have you ever been on TV? yeah i have actually lmao, it was on a kids tv show 

123. How old are you? 18

124. What is your favorite quote? “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents” 

125. Do you prefer sweet or savory foods? savory!!

[sincerepositivethings]

Issue One Hundred Twenty-Nine

Click here to subscribe to Sincere, Positive Things in your email!

Here's what I'd like to say: I'd like to say that awards are stupid. It's nice to be recognized, but ultimately it's not awards that matter. It's quality. Did I like this movie? Is this athlete good at their sport? Does this vehicle have the greatest safety in it's class? Take a hike, the Oscars, the ESPys, and J.D. Power & Associates, respectively! But, I can't say that. Man do I love award shows. I know they're silly, and tacky and occasionally corny, but that's fine! So am I. We are in the middle of film award season with Oscar nominations on the horizon (bringing with it the Oscar animated shorts!) and I am ready for a new season of red carpets, musical montages, and In Memoriums. A thing I didn't know about myself is that with the right writer behind it, I could even get excited about the Baseball Hall of Fame induction process. My favorite sports writer Joe Posnanski has been outlining this year's process and it is intense. Basically: players are voted in by a committee of sports writers five years after they retire. Each voter can pick ten players. If they get 75% yeses on the ballots, they're in. But this year, several players from the steroid years are on the ballot and the Hall and MLB have basically said to the writers, "you figure it out." Should people who tested positive for PEDs be allowed in? Basically:  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As the deadline nears, some sportswriters have written up their choices and explained their reasoning. Then, Ryan Thibodaux and his stats junkies compile that data into a huge, fascinating, scary-looking spreadsheet. Lookit all that data! Anyway, it's award season, everybody! Let's celebrate the stuff we like!

Generally speaking, the Internet doesn't really want videos to be longer than, oh, 45 seconds. That might even be pushing it. (And as someone with a very narrow attention span, I say that without judgement.) So, me pitching six videos that run in excess of 90 minutes might not be my most popular move. But, it's Laurie Anderson! Way back in the first year of the pandemic, electronic music and artist Laurie Anderson gave a series of lectures via livestreaming video that are as fascinating and unique as the rest of her work. I don't anticipate you'll watch these end to end or in one sitting, but I've enjoyed what I've watched so far and find them both soothing and engrossing. Art on the Internet!

Laurie Anderson's Norton Lectures

[ramseyesscom]

Issue One Hundred and Twenty-Nine

Click here to subscribe to Sincere, Positive Things in your email!

Here's what I'd like to say: I'd like to say that awards are stupid. It's nice to be recognized, but ultimately it's not awards that matter. It's quality. Did I like this movie? Is this athlete good at their sport? Does this vehicle have the greatest safety in it's class? Take a hike, the Oscars, the ESPys, and J.D. Power & Associates, respectively! But, I can't say that. Man do I love award shows. I know they're silly, and tacky and occasionally corny, but that's fine! So am I. We are in the middle of film award season with Oscar nominations on the horizon (bringing with it the Oscar animated shorts!) and I am ready for a new season of red carpets, musical montages, and In Memoriums. A thing I didn't know about myself is that with the right writer behind it, I could even get excited about the Baseball Hall of Fame induction process. My favorite sports writer Joe Posnanski has been outlining this year's process and it is intense. Basically: players are voted in by a committee of sports writers five years after they retire. Each voter can pick ten players. If they get 75% yeses on the ballots, they're in. But this year, several players from the steroid years are on the ballot and the Hall and MLB have basically said to the writers, "you figure it out." Should people who tested positive for PEDs be allowed in? Basically:  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As the deadline nears, some sportswriters have written up their choices and explained their reasoning. Then, Ryan Thibodaux and his stats junkies compile that data into a huge, fascinating, scary-looking spreadsheet. Lookit all that data! Anyway, it's award season, everybody! Let's celebrate the stuff we like!

Generally speaking, the Internet doesn't really want videos to be longer than, oh, 45 seconds. That might even be pushing it. (And as someone with a very narrow attention span, I say that without judgement.) So, me pitching six videos that run in excess of 90 minutes might not be my most popular move. But, it's Laurie Anderson! Way back in the first year of the pandemic, electronic music and artist Laurie Anderson gave a series of lectures via livestreaming video that are as fascinating and unique as the rest of her work. I don't anticipate you'll watch these end to end or in one sitting, but I've enjoyed what I've watched so far and find them both soothing and engrossing. Art on the Internet!

Laurie Anderson's Norton Lectures

[evstenroos]

Wishing you a happy holiday season!

From the archive: December 21st, 2020

WISHING YOU AND YOUR LOVE ONES A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As 2020 comes to a close, we would like to send a big THANK YOU to our loyal customers for sticking by EVStenroos during these challenging times. During the most crucial time -right before the holidays- several of our major suppliers experienced shut downs due to positive cases for COVID-19, which in turn affected orders on our end. For those of you whose orders this has impacted, thank you for being so gracious and understanding in these circumstances.

THERE ARE A FEW OF HER FAVOURITE THINGS...ELLINOR’S FESTIVE PICKS FOR A COZY HOLIDAY

Over the holiday break, we will be cozying up with one of our latest favourites: Corporate - an easygoing, funny and lighthearted series found on Crave. Much like many of the other 'office culture' shows that we love, there's plenty of satire and lots of the 'mundane, yet accurate nuance' of office work highlighted in the 3 seasons currently available. Easy laughs, low commitment if you're tired, and some quirky plots to keep you coming back for more!

On extra challenging days as an entrepreneur, some of the office minutia is even painted in an appealing light!

Shopping for the holidays proved to be extra interesting this year because I have a common-law partner to shop for. Normally, I hand out leftover jewellery to my closest friends and family as my energy is rather sparse this time of year due to being generally over-worked.

In search of a gift for my partner, David, and with cufflinks out of the running this year (working from home, anyone?), I found ESPY to be a great gift resource for the man in your life.

I won't spoil what I picked up for him - because he'll read this - but I suggest you check out the Inglewood boutique for perfectly stylish gifts for the person who has just about anything they need.

Because I work up until mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve, and quite often have found myself commencing both Christmas gift shopping as well as grocery shopping at 3pm on Christmas Eve, we decided to eliminate at least one of those stresses this year.

We chose Harling Food Co. to provide us with an easy to prepare/pre-made Christmas Eve meal, as well as a holiday brunch for the following day, and I can't tell you how relieved I feel knowing we will eat something delicious without the stress of the 'last minute' crowd on Christmas Eve.

We know the Holiday Season looks a lot different this year, but that won't prevent us from celebrating and dressing up.

Growing up, Christmas was a very special time that you dressed up for - even when just gathering for dinner with the family at home. And although we'll be celebrating Christmas in just our two person household circle this year, I still insist on taking the time to celebrate Christmas with great food, togetherness and warmth (albeit tired).

You can count on me to apply a bright red lipstick for Christmas Eve, Dinner on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve - and I can't tell you how much I love that my wonderful friend, Trena Laine, has created the perfect lipstick for this occasion. Check out her website for online sales for the quickest way to add that perfect holiday cheer to your lips and face, all the while catching that 'support local/feel good' feeling!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Last, but not least: a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our new and existing clients for supporting us through what has been the craziest year yet!cWithout you trusting us with your special occasion jewellery, your heirloom pieces, redesigns and unique gifts, we wouldn't be here. We love what we do, and we think it shows.

From every supplier in the chain that makes the pieces we put our name and stamp on, THANK YOU for trusting us and for allowing us to be part of telling your story.

We can't wait to create more beautiful pieces for you in the new year, that tell your life story - or the special moments in it - perfectly... because after all, life and love is a beautiful thing to celebrate.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Ellinor

[espithewarlock]

Happy @1016week! Day 3 - Blasphemy!

This is Part 2 of my 4-part series, Part 4 was released yesterday!

╰(*°▽°*)╯

Organized religion was really more of a habit these days than anything else. There was something comforting about the idea of an omnipresent devine entity and a serene afterlife, but belief was a separate thing entirely.

Pierre believed in what he could see, hear, feel, experience with his own senses. He worshiped exclusively at the altar of Charles Leclerc.

He was aware, of course, of the warnings against worshiping false idols, but he also figured he would be given a pass for this one.

Charles was perfection. There was really no point in pretending otherwise.

His existence brought light into Pierre’s world and he would happily spend his days in devout worship as a congregation of one.

There was so much that Pierre loved about Charles. Laughter was a known constant when they were together, free and wonderful. His compassion, kindness, and selflessness off-track was admirable. His dedication and ruthlessness on-track even more so.

All of those things, though, were intangible. Pierre liked to feel when he worshiped.

He ran his finger lightly over Charles’ brow, just over eyelids that were closed in sleep. Pierre didn’t need those eyes to be open to admire them. The color was permanently burned into his brain. A brilliant green that filled his dreams.

There was a slight flicker as Pierre traced his finger across cheekbones and the spaces where dimples were currently invisible. Those were incredibly lovely and it was one of Pierre’s favorite things to make them appear in an unexpected bout of joy.

Charles’ mouth was incredible. Pierre was always enraptured with every word that spilled out of it. The plush, pink lips fit perfectly with his own and were absolutely flawless when wrapped around his fingers or his cock.

In fact, it was one of Pierre’s favorite fantasies to indulge in on a busy day. Just the idea of walking through the media pen, shoving his thumb into Charles’ mouth without preamble, and watching his eyes darken with lust in front of everyone was enough to send shivers down his spine.

(Of course, Pierre was just as likely to drop to his knees and worship Charles with his mouth in full view of everyone. The particulars didn’t matter in this fantasy.)

Pierre felt a strong exhalation as he ran his finger across Charles’ bottom lip and felt his face curl into a smile. His eyes began to sleepily flutter open as he came to wakefulness.

“What are you doing?” Charles asked, voice low, husky, and thick with sleep.

“Admiring how beautiful you are,” Pierre said softly, once again running his finger across Charles’ forehead, cheekbones, and down to his chin.

A little sigh, exasperated and fond, slipped out of Charles’ mouth. “Pierre…” he started to protest but was cut off.

“You are beautiful,” Pierre interjected, “and I’m going to show you exactly how beautiful I think you are.”

Another little sigh escaped from Charles, but he did not argue. Instead, he gave a tiny nod and let his eyes flutter closed as he surrendered himself to Pierre.

It was so easy to worship at the temple that was Charles Leclerc.

Pierre shifted so that he could brush the faintest of kisses across Charles’ mouth. As much as he loved spending time there, he did not linger long. He started kissing along Charles’ jawline, feeling him tilt his head up to grant Pierre better access.

The trail of kisses continued down Charles’ strong neck. They both had to work hard to maintain the muscles that were required to safely operate their cars, and Pierre loved Charles’ neck.

He longed to mark it up, to claim Charles with bruises and bites for the world to see, but Pierre held himself back. No visible marks was their tacit agreement.

Still, Pierre let his teeth scrape lightly against the soft skin. It was a promise that someday they would share that they belonged to each other. For now, Pierre contented himself with featherlight kisses across the entire expanse.

He continued his journey down the right side of Charles’ body. His neck gave way to the broad lines of his shoulder that Pierre loved to see shaking with laughter. The way he hunched his shoulders when laughing, as if he was embarrassed by the sound, was incredibly endearing.

After Charles’ shoulder, Pierre decided to continue down his arm. He worked his way over the bicep, kissing every bit of the muscle he could reach.

When they went to the gym together, Pierre loved to take a quick respite to watch Charles lift weights. His arms were so strong and the sight of them flexing while he concentrated always made Pierre want to feel those arms wrapped around him instead.

He planted a quick kiss to the crook of Charles’ elbow, then lifted his arm for better access to the top of his forearm. He reached the wrist and kissed the bones there. It was currently bare, but Pierre was very familiar with the multitude of bracelets and watches that were frequently found decorating him.

Pierre took Charles’ hand in his own hand and kissed the back of it, right in the center, as if he was a lucky knight kneeling before his prince. Well, Charles was his prince, and Pierre made sure to kiss every single knuckle in reverence before flipping his hand over.

More kisses were planted on the pads of Charles’ fingers and Pierre took the opportunity to rub them across his own lips. He adored Charles’ fingers in every situation. Holding a microphone, his water bottle, his steering wheel in the paddock. Curled around a hot mug of tea in their kitchen.

Shoved inside of his mouth. Tugging at his hair. Giving long and languid or quick and frantic strokes to his cock.

Anything involving Charles’ fingers was enough to make Pierre’s pulse quicken. He made sure to lavish the inside of every joint before he started back up Charles’ arm.

Pierre could feel Charles’ pulse as he kissed the inside of his wrist. It was strong but not frantic as he willingly accepted the attention Pierre was giving to his body. He smiled as he licked and kissed his way up Charles’ arm to arrive back at his chest.

Once he got there, he purposefully dragged his tongue in a straight line to Charles’ nipple. Pierre got his first gasp as he circled it with his tongue, then clamped his mouth over it to give it a strong suck.

Charles arched his back at the sensation while Pierre continued his ministrations. He teased it with his teeth, then brought his lips around it to add pressure while he pulled. Charles’ breath started to escape in short, quick pants while Pierre lavished the area with his mouth.

Eventually, he released the bud to continue peppering kisses across the flat plane of Charles’ stomach. He spent a minute kissing along Charles’ hipbones, again using his teeth to scrape along the outside.

The hips were one of the few places on Charles’ body that Pierre was allowed to leave marks. Those usually came in the form of bruises when Pierre grasped them too tightly, but he was also known to pinch them on occasion or brush his fingers across them even while they were in public.

He ignored the area between Charles’ hips for a moment while he continued down the outside of Charles’ leg. The powerful thighs were lax under his mouth and hands, but Pierre knew exactly how strong they were when wrapped around his body. He loved the feeling of Charles using his legs to pull them close and hold them together.

More kisses were planted in a line over Charles’ knee and on his calf until Pierre reached his ankle. He gave the outside bone one soft kiss before shifting so that he was between Charles’ legs.

Pierre wrapped his hand around Charles’ ankle and used the leverage to lift his leg, pushing until Charles’ thigh was flush with his chest. He took a moment to admire the view, the entire expanse of Charles' nude body, as he kept pushing Charles’ leg sideways until he was spread completely open for Pierre.

Charles was so pliant as he went with the motions and looked incredible. The sight of him, bare and exposed, slightly flushed and semi-hard, was more than enough to make Pierre’s blood boil.

He was so beautiful like this. A sight for Pierre’s eyes that nobody else would ever get to witness.

A privilege and an honor for his most devoted follower.

Just because he could, Pierre pulled and pushed Charles’ leg in another circle. He watched as an amused smile curled across Charles’ face as he once again laid himself open for Pierre.

“So beautiful,” Pierre murmured while he kissed the inside of Charles’ ankle. He slowly lowered the leg back down to the bed as he kissed along Charles’ calf until he returned to the thigh.

The inside of Charles’ thighs were a blank canvas, and Pierre was an artist. This was a place where he was truly able to mark up and he started painting.

Soft kisses covered the entire surface to start. Then, Pierre rubbed his beard until there was a healthy flushed tint to the skin. After that, he sank his teeth in. Hard.

Charles actually cried out at the first bite. It was in surprise, not in pain, and Pierre could feel Charles’ thigh trembling as he held it in place.

More bites followed that first one, scattered around and mixed with kisses as he sucked and marked up the skin. Charles squirmed as he tried to hold himself still.

This was the one place where Pierre could claim and mark Charles’ body as his own. It had been far too long since he had last indulged. He mentally promised to never again be so remiss in his worship.

Once he was satisfied with the markings, the blood pooling and bruising underneath the skin, Pierre leaned in close right between Charles’ legs. He flicked his tongue briefly against Charles’ hole and received a hitched gasp in response.

Pierre loved Charles’ hole. Adored it whenever he got the chance. He would happily spend hours languishing attention there with his mouth, his hands, or his cock.

But that was not his goal. At least, not his current goal at that very moment.

He repeated the attention he gave to Charles’ right thigh on his left thigh, knowing that the marks would last for days. Both of them would be able to see it when they were like this, bare with each other, and Pierre knew that Charles would be feeling it constantly.

The thought was thrilling and Pierre hoped that Charles would be willing to reciprocate soon. (He knew that he would, of course, but not today. Today was about Charles.)

Pierre mirrored his actions onto Charles’ left leg until he was biting once again at his hip. When he got there, he could see that Charles was fully turned on, hard and leaking, but he ignored his cock. He needed to save the best for last, after all.

He continued across the strong, flat abs and felt Charles suck in a breath as his beard brushed the sensitive skin. Pierre kept up the trail of light kisses until he returned to Charles’ chest.

His nipple was waiting for him, pebbled and prominent against his chest, and Pierre did not need an invitation. He attached his mouth to the nub and sucked, not relenting as Charles pushed his chest up to try and ease the pressure.

A smirk crossed his face as Pierre kept working the nipple with his teeth and lips, causing Charles to cry out incoherently with the sensations.

Pierre knew that they must be overwhelming from the way Charles was shaking, but he did nothing to try and stop Pierre. It was incredible that Pierre was allowed to play with Charles’ body in such a way. He was completely devoted to bringing Charles pleasure.

Eventually, he relented and Pierre trailed kisses along the inside of Charles’ arm. He stopped at the hand once again, pressing the pads of Charles’ fingers to his mouth before flipping it over to kiss every single knuckle with reverence.

The last knuckle on Charles’ fourth finger, his ring finger, got some extra attention. Someday soon, Pierre was going to put a ring there. He had one waiting in the back of one of his drawers and had a plan for how he was going to propose.

It wasn’t going to be today, but that didn’t mean that Pierre couldn’t tease. He ran his tongue completely around the base of the finger, forming a temporary ring out of his saliva.

Charles would know what he was hinting at. He knew that Pierre wanted to be the one to propose to him and this would tell him that day was coming soon.

As soon as he was done lavishing attention to Charles’ hand, Pierre slowly worked his way back up his arm, fighting the impulse to rush impatiently.

He eventually made it back to Charles’ shoulder and tucked his face into the crook of his neck. As much as he, again, wanted to mark the skin there, Pierre refrained and held himself to teasing instead of bruising sucks.

The trail of kisses continued across Charles’ jaw until Pierre finally reattached their lips together.

Unlike the first kiss of the day, barely more than a light brush of their lips, this one was deep. Pierre devoured Charles’ mouth and moved so he was completely covering his body.

He felt Charles’ hardness against his hip and broke their mouths apart so he could whisper directly into his ear.

“What do you want, mon amour,” Pierre said, voice low and suggestive, “my hands? My mouth? My hole? It’s all yours. Everything I am belongs to you.”

Pierre could feel Charles trembling beneath him but there was no immediate response from the other man. “Or maybe you want something else,” he continued, “do you want my tongue in your hole? My fingers? My cock? Do you want me to split you open until you see stars?”

The moan that Charles gave sounded so delicious that Pierre had to try and swallow it. Their lips glided together while Pierre circled his hips, showing Charles exactly what was available to him.

“Anything,” Charles gasped between breaths, “I want anything you’ll give me. Just…please Pierre, I–”

Pierre cut him off with a swift kiss that left him panting. Charles’ request was simple since there was no part of Pierre that would deny him anything.

He grinned as he slowly worked his way back down the center of Charles’ body. It was so easy to worship at the altar of Charles Leclerc.

[biofunmy]

Lack of male attention creates ‘bit of an insecurity’

CLOSE

Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk” is redefining the way celebrities tell their stories. USA TODAY

Ayesha Curry had everyone buzzing after an appearance on “Red Table Talk” Monday. 

Curry, a cookbook author and TV host, is married to basketball player Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. She opened up on the Facebook Watch series hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris about her self-doubt. 

After addressing the topic of women approaching her husband, Curry revealed what irks her.

“Something that really bothers me, and honestly has given me a sense of a little bit of an insecurity, is the fact that yeah, there are all these women, like, throwing themselves (at him), but me, like the past 10 years, I don’t have any of that,” she said. “I have zero – this sounds weird – but, like, male attention, and so then I begin to internalize it, and I’m like, ‘Is something wrong with me?’ ”  

Pinkett Smith admitted she “dealt with that for years, too” when she was younger.

“I don’t want it,” Curry added, “but it’d be nice to know that, like, someone’s lookin’.”

“You’re beautiful,” Pinkett Smith reminded her guest. “Don’t ever think for one minute that it ain’t no some men out there looking at you like, ‘I wish.’ And I’mma tell you who knows that more than anybody: Your husband.”

More: Ayesha Curry: Secret to long marriage to Stephen Curry is putting him first, not kids

More: Ayesha Curry shuts down Instagram critic for talking about her daughter’s hair

Stephen and Ayesha Curry arrive at the ESPY Awards on July 12, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Naturally, Twitter had opinions. 

Curry’s remarks surprised some.

“A holy woman like Ayesha want attentions from the dogs?” a tweet read.

“Ayesha is married to a great man that she has kids with … but Is worried bout not getting male attention,” a person wrote, adding a confused emoji.

Others agreed with her.

“I don’t look for the attention of other men but it is nice knowing like ‘damn, I still got it’ regardless of if I have a man or not,” revealed one person. 

“Having strangers compliment you make you feel good every now and then,” another wrote. “I’m in a secure relationship but others acknowledging me being pretty or smart makes me feel good”

Some came to Curry’s defense. 

“People hating Ayesha Curry for admitting how she feels is (expletive) backwards to me,” read one post. “We’re all insecure in some area. She shouldn’t be getting crucified for telling her truth.”

“I can’t believe you guys are still talking about Ayesha. Leave the girl alone,” one person tweeted. 

“Let her express herself and however she’s feeling,” another posted. 

On Facebook, a user wrote: “Don’t worry we are looking but giving respect to your man because we love him !! But you are super hot !!”

“Ayesha, you are a beautiful girl, focus on the inside and don’t worry about who notices, the RIGHT people, will notice you,” commented another. “And the ones that matter. Beautiful family. Thank you for your honesty.”

More: Ayesha Curry got a breast lift after becoming a mom: ‘A Kit Kat wasn’t going to fix this’

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Sunday, June 21, 2020 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: UNITED WE SING: A GRAMMY SALUTE TO THE UNSUNG HEROES (City) 8:00pm 90 DAY FIANCÉ: HAPPILY EVER AFTER (TLC Canada) 8:00pm THE CHI (Crave) 9:00pm PERRY MASON (HBO Canada) 9:00pm THE 2020 ESPYs (TSN/TSN4/TSN5) 9:00pm NOS4A2 (AMC Canada) 10:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT     JOHN LEGEND AND FAMILY: A BIGGER LOVE FATHER'S DAY (ABC Feed) IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED: THE JOHN BOLTON INTERVIEW (ABC Feed) LUCY WORSLEY'S ROYAL MYTHS & SECRETS (PBS Feed) DISNEY FAM JAM (Premiering on July 05 on Disney Channel Canada at 7:00pm) BUNK’D (TBD - Disney Channel Canada) CLEOPATRA: SEX, LIES AND SECRETS (TBD - Science)         LOST CITIES OF THE AMAZON (TBD - Science) WORST COOKS IN AMERICA (TBD - Makeful) TOURNAMENT OF LAUGHS (TBD)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME/CRAVE/NETFLIX CANADA/CBC GEM: AMAZON PRIME PETE THE CAT

CBC GEM 2020 INDSPIRE AWARDS (Streaming at 8:00pm)

CRAVE TV THE CHI (Season 3 Premiere) PERRY MASON (Season 1 Premiere)

NETFLIX CANADA MARCELLA (Season 3)

SUMMER SOLSTICE CONCERT 2020 (APTN) 6:00pm:  APTN with your host, Charles Bender, are proud to present a unique concert special with some of Canada's best Indigenous artists to celebrate Summer Solstice Concert 2020.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (CTV) 7:00pm: Good timing, CTV. The Civil War is very trendy right now.

2020 INDSPIRE AWARDS (CBC) 8:00pm: The Indspire Awards bestow the highest honour on Indigenous people who have made significant contributions to Indigenous education, arts, culture, business, health, law, sports and public service in Canada as well as three youth awards to First Nations, Inuit and Métis role models.

STALKED BY MY DOCTOR: PATIENT’S REVENGE (Lifetime Canada) 8:00pm: When Dr. Beck is found not guilty of kidnapping, he vows to rehabilitate himself and finds a teaching job at a medical school. Sophie Green, Dr. Beck's patient and victim, enrolls at the school, hoping to hand out her own form of justice.

SANDITON (BBC Canada) 8:00pm/9:00pm:  When Dr. Beck is found not guilty of kidnapping, he vows to rehabilitate himself and finds a teaching job at a medical school. Sophie Green,  In Episode Two, Charlotte and Sidney join forces to try and rescue Miss Lambe; Tom tries to save Sanditon and his marriage; Edward and Clara devise a plan to seize Lady Denham's legacy.

YOU ME HER (Crave) 8:30pm

YELLOWSTONE (Paramount Network Canada) 9:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE):  John Dutton, patriarch of a Montana ranching family and owner of the largest ranch in the U.S., fights to defend his land and his family from the modern-day forces that threaten his way of life.

OSHKIKISHIKAW: A NEW DAY (CBC) 9:30pm:  Twins, 12, cut their hair for the very first time in a Cree coming-of-age ceremony.

SCOTT'S VACATION HOUSE RULES (HGTV Canada) 9:00pm: Scott transforms a hilltop cabin into a luxurious ski chalet worthy of Whistler or Aspen.

MANHUNT: DEADLY GAMES (Super Channel Fuse) 9:00pm: Eric manipulates locals, militia and FBI alike as he plans a major counterattack; Richard appears on "60 Minutes" in a high-stakes gamble to save his reputation once and for all.

ELTON JOHN: UNCENSORED (BBC Canada) 10:00pm:  Elton John reflects on his career and performances, talks about addiction and how fatherhood has changed his life.

[thisdaynews]

Breaking News: Hillary and Bill Clinton Go Separate Ways for 2018 Midterm Elections

New Post has been published on https://www.thisdaynews.net/2018/05/21/breaking-news-hillary-and-bill-clinton-go-separate-ways-for-2018-midterm-elections/

Breaking News: Hillary and Bill Clinton Go Separate Ways for 2018 Midterm Elections

For years they dominated the party, brandishing their powerful financial network and global fame to pick favorites for primary elections and lift Democrats even in deep-red states. They were viewed as a joint entity, with a shared name that was the most powerful brand in Democratic politics: the Clintons.

But in the 2018 election campaign, Hillary and Bill Clinton have veered in sharply different directions. Mrs. Clinton appears determined to play at least a limited role in the midterms, bolstering longtime allies and raising money for Democrats in safely liberal areas. Her husband has been all but invisible.

And both have been far less conspicuous than in past election cycles, but for different reasons: Mrs. Clinton faces distrust on the left, where she is seen as an avatar of the Democratic establishment, and raw enmity on the right. Mr. Clinton has been largely sidelined amid new scrutiny of his past misconduct with women.

Mrs. Clinton is expected to break her virtual hiatus from the campaign trail this week, when she will endorse Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York in a contested Democratic primary, her spokesman, Nick Merrill, confirmed — a move sure to enrage liberal activists seeking Mr. Cuomo’s ouster at the hands of Cynthia Nixon, the actress turned progressive insurgent. Mrs. Clinton has also recorded an automated phone call endorsing Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic leader in the Georgia House, who is competing for the party’s nomination for governor on Tuesday.

It is unclear whether Mr. Clinton will be involved in either race.

Mrs. Clinton’s stunning defeat in 2016 delivered a blunt-force coda to the family’s run in electoral politics, and many Democrats are wary of seeing either of them re-engage. They worry that the Clinton name reeks of the past and fear that their unpopularity with conservative-leaning and independent voters could harm Democrats in close races. And among many younger and more liberal voters, the Clintons’ reputation for ideological centrism has little appeal.

President Trump, meanwhile, has continued to level caustic attacks that have made the Clintons radioactive with Republicans. A Gallup poll in December found Mrs. and Mr. Clinton with their lowest favorability ratings in years.

So far, the couple have avoided high-profile special elections in Alabama, Georgia and Pennsylvania, and engaged sparingly in the off-year elections for governor in New Jersey and Virginia.

Even in their former political backyard — in Arkansas, where Mr. Clinton was governor — there is scant demand for their help. In Little Rock, Ark., where on Tuesday there is a Democratic primary election for a Republican-held House seat the party covets, none of the four candidates running has reached out to seek the Clintons’ support, their campaigns said.

“I see the Clintons as a liability,” said Paul Spencer, a high school teacher running as a progressive in the Arkansas race. “They simply represent the old mind-set of a Democratic Party that is going to continue to lose elections.”

Still, Mrs. Clinton plainly maintains a following in the party and aims to help in corners of the country where she can. She introduced a political group, Onward Together, after the 2016 election, and has directed millions to liberal grass-roots organizations, like Indivisible and Swing Left. And she is in talks about campaigning for some Democratic candidates in the fall, likely in a cluster of House districts where she defeated Mr. Trump.

“We have to win back the Congress,” Mrs. Clinton said during a seven-minute speech Friday in Washington, at a women’s leadership conference organized by the Democratic National Committee.

Her interventions for Mr. Cuomo and Ms. Abrams are rare steps for the former secretary of state, who has rebuffed other requests for help and signaled even to close allies that she would not meddle in primary elections.

The difference in her approach toward the two races underscores the delicacy of her role: In New York, where Mrs. Clinton is popular and Mr. Cuomo needs help mainly with fellow Democrats, she intends to deliver her endorsement publicly, at a state party convention on Long Island. In Georgia, where Mrs. Clinton’s imprimatur could harm Ms. Abrams in a general election, the endorsement will be delivered only through phone messages to Democratic voters — making the appeal imperceptible to everyone else.

But Clinton associates say the bulk of her activities will be in the fall.

Former Representative Ellen Tauscher of California, a close ally who is on the board of Onward Together, said she expected Mrs. Clinton to campaign later in the season and cited Senator Dianne Feinstein’s re-election campaign in her home state as a likely choice.

“People she has supported for a long time, like Dianne Feinstein and others, know she’s with them,” Ms. Tauscher said.

Mrs. Clinton’s husband appears far less welcome on the trail, with his unpopularity among Republicans compounded by new skepticism on the left about his treatment of women and allegations of sexual assault.

Mr. Clinton is said to remain passionately angry about the 2016 election — more so than his wife — raising concerns that he could go wildly off message in campaign settings, several people who have spoken with Mr. Clinton said.

Democrats have been keeping their distance: During the special election for Senate in Alabama in December, Doug Jones, the Democrat who won the race, considered enlisting Mr. Clinton’s help before abandoning the idea as too risky.

When Mr. Clinton offered to campaign for Ralph Northam, now the governor of Virginia, Mr. Northam’s camp responded cautiously. Rather than headlining a public event, Mr. Clinton was urged to attend a fund-raiser already scheduled in the Washington area — a suggestion that offended the former president, according to people briefed on the awkward exchange. The Northam and Clinton camps discussed a church visit in October but failed to agree on a date.

Yet Mr. Clinton appears eager to engage where he can, holding an event last fall with Phil Murphy, now the governor of New Jersey. This year, Mike Espy, Mr. Clinton’s former agriculture secretary who is running for Senate in Mississippi, told a fellow cabinet alumnus, Rodney Slater, that he was hoping to reach Mr. Clinton. Minutes later, Mr. Espy has told associates, his phone rang: It was the former president, who launched into a monologue advising Mr. Espy on campaign strategy and pledging to deliver fund-raising help.

Angel Ureña, a spokesman for Mr. Clinton, said the former president has been focused on nonpolitical projects, including the publication of a thriller next month. Noting that Mr. Clinton left office nearly two decades ago, Mr. Ureña called it “remarkable” that questions were being asked about his role in the midterms.

“Candidates from across the country have been in touch about him supporting their campaigns,” Mr. Ureña said. “But we’re not past primary season, and he’s focused on the work of his foundation and his book.”

Mr. Merrill, the spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, said she had been largely focused on her new political group, and promised “there will be more to come.”

“While Republicans are hellbent on focusing on the past, she is focused on the future,” Mr. Merrill said.

But Mrs. Clinton has stirred frustration among Democrats who hope she plays a muted role in 2018. Last year, she chose to focus quite a bit on the past, revisiting the particulars of her 2016 defeat in a memoir, to the consternation of other Democrats. And in a series of public speeches, she has offered cutting criticism of American political culture.

During a visit to India in March, she seemed to suggest that many women who voted for Mr. Trump did so because of pressure from their husbands. This month, Mrs. Clinton declared in New York that her support for capitalism had hurt her in 2016 — because so many Democrats are now socialists.

At least two Democratic women have nearly begged Mrs. Clinton to stay away from their high-stakes red-state Senate races. After Mrs. Clinton said in March that she won parts of America that are “moving forward,” unlike Trump-friendly areas, Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri rebuked her.

“I don’t think that’s the way you should talk about any voter, especially ones in my state,” Ms. McCaskill said.

Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota was blunter when asked, on the radio, when Mrs. Clinton might “ride off into the sunset.”

“Not soon enough,” she replied.

Associates of Mrs. Clinton said she is aware of the political pressures that make her unwelcome in red states, and they do not expect her to charge into races where she is undesired. They generally anticipate she will focus on fund-raising.

Her bond with Democratic donors was on grand display last month: In late April, Mrs. Clinton convened a gathering in New York for the liberal groups backed by Onward Together, meeting for hours with organizers and donors at an airy conference center overlooking the East River.

Mrs. Clinton delivered an unsparing critique there of the Democratic Party’s political infrastructure: She said the left had failed to match Republicans’ enthusiasm for party-building and lamented what she called the poor state of Democrats’ electioneering machinery in 2016, according to several attendees.

“On the Democratic side, she talked about how we want to fall in love with the candidate and Republicans will fall in line,” said Cristóbal Alex, president of the Latino Victory Project, a group backed by Mrs. Clinton’s organization.

But Mr. Alex said Mrs. Clinton had not taken aim at the man who defeated her.

“I don’t remember her uttering the word ‘Trump,’” he said, “but so many others did and you couldn’t escape that context in this meeting.”

[mediafocus-blog1]

Apps that help you get to sleep

New Post has been published on https://mediafocus.biz/apps-that-help-you-get-to-sleep/

Apps that help you get to sleep

Cosy up in a mattress, get exceptional and comfortable and when you’ve geared up close your eyes…”

So start the dulcet tones of Tamara Levitt, one of the maximum famous readers on Calm’s Sleep Stories, where her soothing voice facilitates the various 9m folks who’ve already downloaded the Calm app fall to sleep every night time. Including me.

A chat sometime in the past with a colleague led me to analyse whether or not sleep testimonies for grown-united states of America had been some thing that first, wasn’t laughable, and second, would possibly just work for me. Could that acquainted sense of consolation a lot of us realize from early life, that of memories lulling us to sleep, enhance my ability to fall right into a greater restful sleep and extra speedy in addition? I downloaded the app, just the trial version to start, which has three or four stories (which include one geared toward kids) to be had totally free.

I’m the form of man or woman who lies in bed at night time mulling matters over in my head. Not even disturbing problems, however, the whole lot from making plans what colour I’d like to paint the living room to which appointments or interviews want to be lined up that week. I may want to see that lack of sleep or the lack of ability to fall asleep early enough became beginning to impact on my well-being all through my waking hours. Instead of lying awake considering stuff, should the testimonies no longer most effective be soothing enough to make me loosen up, but could the very act of taking note of a narrative take my thoughts off the worries of the day?

The Calm app becomes launched through two entrepreneurs, one in all whom, Michael Acton Smith, is likewise the inventor of Moshi Monsters, with all their eye-popping, actually-now not-sleep-inducing colourings and individual. From shiny and playful to restful and considerate, the Calm app became a new move for Acton Smith.

The app firstly started out lifestyles as a meditation aid but the team of builders began to note that a lot of their customers had been doing meditations in the evening time and so, ultimate December, the business enterprise brought sleep testimonies to it.

There are presently around 30 tales to concentrate to, which range from fictional testimonies to nature essays and nonfiction essays read by means of narrators inclusive of (my favourite) Tamara Levitt and Ben Stein, who performed the droning economics teacher in cult conventional Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The complete model of the app prices around €10 in step with the month to get entry to and you may do a loose trial.

Acton Smith tells me that the fulfilment of his sleep stories app has surpassed even his expectancies with very fantastic critiques and over two million listens according to month and it looks set to grow as humans grow to be greater informed approximately the advantages of an awesome night time’s sleep.

If our parents always stated that “Sleep is the first-class medicinal drug” it seems the advantages of sleep have become an area of multiplied interest with satisfactory-promoting books through the likes of Arianna Huffington espouses the advantages of a good night’s sleep.

“We spend a 3rd of our lifestyles asleep but most of us realize little or no approximately it,” says Acton Smith. “It has a large impact on our health and health that’s why greater people are taking an energetic hobby in a way to improve the first-rate of our sleep… It’s extraordinarily critical and we are able to do extreme damage to our quick-term and long-time period health via failing to treat our sleep with the honour it merits.”

Acton Smith’s organisation has learned that it’s now not a case of one length suits all — a few users love the fictitious testimonies while some pick the nature essays; some decide upon the voices of the male narrators even as others select woman voices. For me, the commonplace thread is the tempo of the speech in addition to the tone — my favourites generally tend to characterize a low tone and a slow tempo which is a function of the transport of most of the narrators.

Acton Smith didn’t invent the sleep story and there are different human beings doing it. There’s Sleep with Me: The Podcast that Puts you to Sleep — a series of bedtime stories that “helps you to forget your issues and progressively gets duller until you fall to sleep”. It’s a unfastened podcast to be had on iTunes, where the tales are downloaded over a million times each month. Topics encompass the distinction among a venture and a quest, the science behind mood earrings, and different wacky, weird, humorous, and yet interestingly uninteresting tales introduced within the trademark low-check in the drawl of the narrator, Drew Ackerman, who goes by using the name of Scooter.

There appears to be a pattern in sleep inducing stories — some of them entail a journey to a stunning location and regularly it’s far the journey itself and the setting that is soothing.

In the case of Ackerman’s tales on Sleep with Me, it’s his voice and the rambling, nonlinear story strains which can be sleep-inducing and he has tens of millions of lovers who’ve found his voice and bedtime ramblings, which he spends many hours high-quality-tuning, a slave to the racing mind and an aid to sleep.

Acton Smith says that the sleep tales on the Calm app remaining around 20 mins for youngsters, with the minimum required for adults being 20 minutes long and the “candy spot” is 35 mins.

On Sleep with Me, the stories average around an hour in the period but enthusiasts say that they never get to the end of the memories earlier than drifting off to sleep.

Statistics from World Sleep Survey by way of Big Health, creators of the sleep app Sleepio (which fits by way of supporting human beings to control their sleep time table and by using cognitive behavioural remedy strategies and realistic advice to help users enhance their sleep) reveal that the common UK employee loses eight.Five days of labour a year because of bad sleep.

Presumably, it’s a similar situation in Ireland.

Professor Colin Espie, co-founder of Big Health and professor of sleep medication at the University of Oxford, says: “The consequences of a terrible night’s rest affect us now not handiest physically however also mentally and emotionally, significantly impacting our overall performance at paintings.

“Physically we can experience torpid, mentally we come to be slowed down with poorer concentration and reminiscence, and emotionally we might also turn out to be irritable and alternatively down, with bursts of hyperactivity. In phrases of everyday existence, no aspect of everyday functioning is unaffected through sleep — least of all our jobs.”

I won’t be afflicted by insomnia but stress and my natural disposition to fear were inflicting me sleepless nights. Now, thanks to sleep testimonies, I’m drifting off more effortlessly to the Land of Nod. I’m no longer announcing it’s a treatment-all however if soothing, winding and sure, probably dull, narratives laboured for me they could simply be well worth attempting in case you’re having problem nodding off at night.

[ourhealthyfoodblog-blog]

New Post has been published on Healthy Food and Remedies

New Post has been published on http://healthyfoodandremedies.com/2017/02/28/17-apps-help-sleep-better-deserve-good-nights-rest/

17 Apps To Help You Sleep Better, Because You Deserve A Good Night's Rest

Sleep is one of the biggest factors to your health and, luckily, there are apps to help you sleep better. Having struggled with insomnia most of my life and, like many Americans, I rely on medication to help me get a good night’s rest. So I’d much rather download an affective app than swallow some pills at night. Wouldn’t you?

According to The Atlantic, not only are people using sleep meds more than ever, people are misusing sleeping pills, and ending up in the emergency room. The United States Library of Medicine reported that physicians are prescribing zolpidem, the generic form of Ambien, which is a nonbenzodiazepine medication often prescribed for sleep.  at record rates. In fact, the number of zolpidem prescriptions has grown 30 times over from 1994 to 2007. From experience, zolipdem is not only habit-forming, but for me at least, it stops working as effectively the more you use it. My physician warned me against taking more than the recommended dosage, and I’ve been pretty good about following his instructions, but on those nights when all I want is to fall asleep, it’s tempting to pop another pill.

Because I don’t want to rely on meds for a natural bodily function, or end up in the emergency room, I’ve been practicing guided meditations to help sleep, and I have to say, they work, at least for me. If meditation isn’t your thing, here are a ton of apps that can help you sleep.

1. Deep Sleep With Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson is known for his guided meditation programs, so it’s no wonder he has an app called Deep Sleep With Andrew Johnson ($2.99) that employs similar principles. Namaste.

2. Relax & Rest Guided Meditations

Meditation Oasis created Relax & Rest Guided Meditations ($1.99) for people who suffer not only from insomnia, but also anxiety around sleeping. This app was among the “Best Sleep Apps of 2014” and “Best Anxiety Apps of 2014” as named by Healthline.

3. iSleep Easy

USA Today recommended iSleep Easy ($4.99) for guided meditations to help you fall asleep get into a deep sleep. Meditations come with several choices of music or nature sounds.

4. Sleep Pillow

If you’re a fan of white noise, Sleep Pillow ($2.99) is the app for you. This app features over 70 different kinds of white noise, and you can even mix n’ match to create a custom white noise that will help you get your Zs.

4. Relax Melodies Premium

Featured in Amazon’s Top Best Apps, as well as People, Relax Melodies Premium ($2.99) is a collection of soothing lullabies for adults and babies alike. Zen out to these tunes and you’ll be sleeping in minutes.

5. Sleepmaker Rain

Soothing raindrops will lull you to sleep, or so is the thinking behind the app Sleepmaker Rain (Free). Timer functions allow you to choose how long you want the app to run. If only real rainstorms worked that way.

6. Sleep Genius

As the name of this app implies, Sleep Genius ($4.99)was developed by a team of neuroscientists and gained praised from The Today Show, CBS-News, ESPN, Huffington Post and more. Using neurosensory algorithms this app claims to ready your brain for sleep, as well as to guide your brain through each stage in the sleep cycle, and wake you with a soothing alarm.

7. SleepBot

Recognized by the United States National Institute of Health and the National Academy of Engineering, SleepBot (Free) is an app that claims to track your sleep cycle and create a customized alarm based on motions in your bedroom as well as sounds throughout the night.

8. Sleep Well Hypnosis

Surf City Apps created Sleep Well Hypnosis (Free) using principles of hypnosis and guided meditation, using unconscious thoughts to help rather than hinder sleep.

9. Dormio

Soothing sounds and a timer function make Dormio (Free) a snazzy sleep app for nature lovers. Yep, there will be crickets.

10. f.LUX

f.LUX (Free) is a headline-making app that automatically changes the color of your computer’s display screen to go “warm” at night, so you get a more restful sleep. Scientific American noted that exposure to white or blue light inhibits sleep. With this app, your computer adapts to nighttime, ridding your room of white or blue light from your laptop.

11. Sleepio

Created by Professor Colin Espie at University of Oxford, Sleepio (Free) is an app that teaches you cognitive behavioral techniques to revamp your sleep habits.

12. To bed

Remember when your mom would ready you for bed? To bed can’t take mom’s place, but this app will remind you (based on your schedule) when to call it a night. A must for nocturnal procrastinators. (Free)

13. phizz

The app phizz (Free) claims to solve your sleep problems using a patented algorithm of soothing sounds to get you drowsy and fall asleep.

14. Sleepytime Sleep Scheduler

If you lack discipline when it comes to setting your bedtime routine, Sleepytime  (Free) is a choice sleep app. Based on the 90 minute sleep cycles, this app will “choose” your bedtime and when you should wake, well-rested.

15. Power Nap App

For those of you who love an afternoon nap, but don’t want to sleep too long during your siesta, Power Nap App (Free) is ideal. The Sleep Foundation recommends power naps last from 10 to 30 minutes. Any longer will leave you groggy when you wake, and might interrupt your nightly sleep patterns. No snooze button on this app makes sure you get up when you’re supposed to.

16. Yoga For Insomnia

If you’re a spiritual gangster then you will adore this Yoga For Insomnia ($2.99) app, guiding you through a series of poses that will induce a sleepy state of mind and body.

17. Sleep Cycle

CNN, Wired, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, and The New York Times raved about Sleep Cycle (Free), an app that calls itself an “intelligent alarm clock.” It works by analyzing your sleep cycles and wakes you when you’re in the lightest sleep phase, which according to WebMD, is the ideal time to wake up and feel rested and refreshed.

[espithewarlock]

Happy @1016week! Day 5 - Boat!

This is Part 3 of my 'Love in a Minute' series! (Part 2 & Part 4 have been released, Part 1 will be on Day 7! They can be read in any order!)

(´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)

They were finishing up a lovely day out on the water, just the two of them out on Charles’ boat in the middle of the sea. Charles had been about to restart the engine to bring them back to the dock when Pierre had other ideas. He peeled Charles’ swim trunks down as he pushed him into the captain’s chair and spread his legs.

He had a plan, of course. An ulterior motive. While Charles was otherwise distracted a few minutes earlier, Pierre had pulled out the small box he had hidden away in his bag and slipped the ring into the pocket of his own swim trunks.

Now that Charles was properly blissed out, breathing heavily and coming down from his high, Pierre grabbed the hand that was tangled in his hair and slipped the ring onto Charles’ fourth finger.

It took Charles a full minute to notice. Once he did, he startled and jerked forward, nearly kicking Pierre from where he was still kneeling.

“Pierre, what the hell is this?” Charles practically shouted, eyes flashing between the ring and Pierre’s amused smile.

“Are you saying no?”

“Am I saying…what the fuck…I’m not…you haven’t even asked me a question!”

“It doesn’t seem like I need to,” Pierre shrugged lightly and let his smile curl the corners of his lips.

Charles groaned and put his hands over his face. “I am not telling people that you proposed by giving me a blowjob on my boat and then slipped a ring onto my finger when I wasn’t even looking!”

“Why not? That’s what happened.”

Charles actually kicked him for that one and Pierre couldn’t help but laugh at the glare on his face. The glare held for a few seconds, then Charles dissolved into the most adorable giggles.

“Oh my God, Pierre. Please. I am begging you to ask me properly so I can look maman in the face when I tell her we’re engaged.”

Pierre gave a long, suffering, exaggerated sigh. “Well, if it’s for Pascale, then I suppose I must,” he looked up at Charles innocently and cleared his throat, “will you, Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Lecle–”

Charles smacked his shoulder. Hard. Pierre started laughing again and brought one of his hands up to protect himself.

“You are impossible,” Charles muttered, “be serious. Please.”

Despite the words, there was amusement and entertainment in his eyes and a smile on his face. Pierre knew that Charles wasn’t mad, far from it really, but he also knew that he had teased the other man long enough.

Pierre straightened himself and grabbed Charles’ hand, rubbing his thumb gently over the ring that he had already placed there. He knew exactly what he wanted to say.

“Charles,” he started softly, feeling him relax at the more serious tone, “Calamar. Mon amour. I have loved you from the moment I met you. The first time we kissed, I knew what true perfection was. There is so much I love about you, from your brilliance, to your determination, to your compassion and love for the world. You are my perfect partner, my soulmate, my whole world, and I want to be by your side for the rest of my life.”

He took a deep breath and stared up into Charles’ green eyes that seemed to be shining with happy tears. “Charles Leclerc, will you marry me?”

There was a pause where it looked like Charles was too choked up for words, then a mischievous grin curled over his face.

“I don’t know,” Charles said lightly, “some asshole just put this ring on my finger and assumed–”

Pierre threw his head back and laughed loudly, standing up and pulling Charles up with him. “Now who’s the one not being serious?” he teased, tilting their foreheads together and wrapping his arms around Charles’ waist.

He felt Charles’ arms come up around his shoulders and hug him close. Pierre absolutely adored the way that Charles’ eyes sparkled and his dimples gave away how happy he truly was.

“You know,” Pierre continued slowly, “I’m going to tell both of our Pascales that you called me an asshole instead of answer–”

“Yes, of course I’ll marry you, Pierre Gasly, you idiot,” Charles connected their mouths together, before Pierre could retort, and swallowed his laughter.

They kissed slowly and sweetly for a few seconds, then Pierre felt bubbles building up in his chest. He bent his knees slightly to get a more secure grip around Charles’ waist and lifted him up so he could spin them around.

The bubbles spilled out into gleeful laughter for both of them. Pierre had never felt this light and happy before with his fiancé…his fiancé…in his arms.

He knew, of course, that Charles was going to say yes. They had talked about getting married and decided together that it was something they wanted to do.

Still, knowing that Charles was going to say yes and actually hearing it out loud were two very different things. Pierre couldn’t hold back the grin that threatened to split his face open and he didn’t want to.

After a few seconds of spinning to the sound of Charles’ delighted laughter, he set his fiancé back down as the boat rocked gently under their feet.

They breathed together for a bit, simply existing in each other’s spheres as the happiness and satisfaction of the day washed over them.

Pierre could feel Charles’ wrist twist against his shoulder and he turned his head to see Charles flexing his fingers in the sunlight.

“This ring is gorgeous, Pierrot,” Charles said, almost absently as he admired the piece of jewelry.

It truly was lovely in its simplicity. It was a black ring that sparkled in the sunlight with tiny black diamonds and had a thin, white-gold band in the center.

Pierre had visited several stores to find one that fit Charles’ masculinity and his love of fine jewelry, without being plain or boring. This ring suited him perfectly and Pierre was incredibly satisfied to see it resting in its permanent home.

“You’re gorgeous,” Pierre retorted, leaning in to kiss Charles’ cheek and hearing him giggle in response.

“Stop it, you sap,” Charles playfully tried to push him away and escape.

Pierre only tightened his arms in response and chased Charles’ lips with his own. “Never,” he promised, kissing him deeply, “you’re stuck with me forever now.”