#NYE aftermath

[cricketnationrise]

A gift for @pallidvixen for @fandomtrumpshate 2023! Hope you enjoy it 💜🦗

For once, Dex wakes from sleep slowly. There’s no blaring alarm, no pounding of feet from the kitchen above him as the rest of the Haus wakes up. No practice or class or shift or anything to run off to – just a slow float to the surface. It’s positively lazy in a way that he never allows himself normally and Dex ruthlessly pushes aside the faint guilt that threatens to rise and lets himself bask in the cozy atmosphere. The air is chilly where it meets the exposed skin of his face. He goes to burrow further into the comforter, stilling and then smiling when he meets sleep-warm skin instead of bedding. or Dex wakes up on New Year's Day.

[rekant]

hiiiiii. this is a starter call

[3terna15unshin3]

Then Because She Goes

Instagram AU (volume iii)

volume i — volume ii — back to masterlist

a/n: heyyyyy here it is!!! a few people have asked for this and i kept saying i’d do it but i kept putting it off for so long😭 they’re always so fun to make and now that i’ve written so many blurbs there is so much more material to work with so it was especially fun this time around, hope u enjoy🌟🌟

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este.manansala

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este.manansala NYE🌟 (+ aftermath)

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rass1975 Pho after a night out is crazy

↳ trumanblack Actually the most ideal time for pho

giveurself4try I’d recognize that chest tatt anywhere

_catekeeling this COAT?????? omg

↳ este.manansala i pretty much live in it

1 January, 2021

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trumanblack added to their story

28 January, 2021

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este.manansala

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este.manansala Valentine

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noacfdefender so cute😭😭😭

trumanblack Mine

↳ este.manansala hi x

14 February, 2021

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trumanblack

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trumanblack Bea❤️ Last day on earth out now!!! x

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radvxz !!!!!!

este.manansala Obsessed

bedforddanes75 Why were you in a dressing gown

↳ trumanblack Idk studio felt sophisticated that day

24 March, 2021

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este.manansala added 4 posts to their story

8 April, 2021

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este.manansala

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este.manansala I’m begging you to go read Crying in H Mart !!! jbrekkie is such a fucking light, it is a privilege to know her and i am so moved/forever changed by this book❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

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jbrekkie Este 🌈 Thank you for reading!

denise_welch ❤️❤️❤️

trumanblack I wept the whole time jbrekkie

3 May, 2021

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trumanblack

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trumanblack My este.manansala turns 30 today. Please never ever ever ever leave my side, there's no me without you x

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trumanblack That last slide will be us in 40 years btw

charli_xcx dirty thirty!!!!!! the cutest ever <33

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1975adam Happy birthday bestie este🎂

↳ este.manansala "bestie este" lmfao ily

denise_welch That is totally you two in 40 years!!!! Xx

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este.manansala I love you

↳ trumanblack LOLML

↳ trumanblack LOMOL!!!**

↳ trumanblack LOMOMLLOLMOLLOLOMMLOL!!!!!!***

↳ trumanblack fuck sake

2 July, 2021

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trumanblack

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trumanblack Stop asking me when DLID is coming out

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turnthebiglightoff We wouldn’t be asking if you hadn’t told us it was finished 😐

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rass1975 Mate… that fucking mug

↳ trumanblack What about it?

**↳ Liked by este.manansala

_catekeeling u cut me out of the second slide

28 August, 2021

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este.manansala

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este.manansala Cali for a bit

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trumanblack LA SUXXXX👎

↳ percyjmanansala Come home then!

**↳ este.manansala soon!!!!!!!

unitepariahs yall are in LA.. things are happening arent they

phoebebridgers 🤘🤘

19 October, 2021

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23 October, 2021

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14 November, 2021

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este.manansala

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este.manansala I’ve missed you Manchester🎄🎁❄️

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_catekeeling don’t leave me again :(((((

trumanblack My first kamayan😎

bedforddanes75 I dream about your mum

↳ bedforddanes75 Her cooking ^^^^^

g3orgiaheadley Dano!!! My fur baby!!

24 December, 2021

[truebluehue]

Fall Surprises

╒══════════════════════════════════════╕

It was unexpected. The random cornucopia filled with fake pumpkins and squash. Jake never thought that any of the scientists would decorate for holidays, especially an earth one. So he shrugged it off as a newbie with homesickness. But then more popped up. A vase of fake sunflowers and chrysanthemum, a different cornucopia this time filled with fake pine cones, cinnamon and more squash. So of course he has to ask Augustine about it.

“So,” Jake starts as he wheels to the link pod, Augustine calibrating his unit to run as smoothly as possible. Ever since his run in with the Navi, Jake’s been building some trust to get Augustine back in. Once he delivered the news, Augustine was excited to finally get a chance to see the Omaticaya. “Who’s leaving all the decorations around?” Jake asks, already moving to open the pod, ready to feel the freedom only Pandora could give.

“Tech engineer. She started it one year as a joke and it's been stuck since.” Augustine gestures to him, no longer offering to help.  “The part that always remains the same is that no one can catch her. We know who it is but she’s never caught. Y/n is actually the one who keeps these things going. Now let’s get moving. The Omaticaya are always on the move.” And that was the end of that.

It took another week, a bunch more flowers, and the new addition of tiny turkeys in random places before he finally got to put a face to the mysterious decorator. Jake’s used to waking up early, thanks to the military, so he’s glad he did when he made his way to Augustine earlier than usual. She’s swearing up a storm about his link pod being faulty thanks to a broken fuse. He must have come at the tail end of the lash out as Augustine lights a cigarette. “Fuse blown huh?” Jake says with a smirk and then he looks down, seeing a pair of legs under his usual link pod.

You shake your head, head swimming already at the amount of things that could go wrong. Damn pod’s electroencephalogram was completely fried, don't know how Grace even kept this thing running. “Sorry Augustine. Gotta look for the part in the big warehouse. Hopefully it's been cataloged but I doubt it.” You call out as you stand up and look at Jake. “You must be the hot shot who got in with the Omaticaya. Name’s Y/n.” You hold out your hand.

Well I’ll be damned. Jake has seen his fair share of breathtaking people back on earth, but you. You were dropped dead gorgeous. Jake lets an easy smile fall onto his face, might as well shoot his shot. “Nice to finally put a face to the person decorating. Name’s Jake, hot stuff.” Jake shakes your hand, not at all surprised by the quite firm grip on his hand.

You let out a chuckle. “How can you be so sure?” You drop his hand. “I’ll go see about the part. Grace. Jake.” And with that you walk away, already typing away on a tablet. Hot stuff, huh? You smile, planning away.

Jake was tired. The Colonel in one ear. Grace and the Omaticaya in one. Half of his brain wanted his legs back, the other wanting to roam on a significantly taller set of legs. Power or freedom. The never ending battle. Jake sighs as he enters his room, ready to at least get a couple hours of sleep. Though he doubts it. Ever since he came to Pandora he feels as if he left one war and jumped into another. From defending governmental assets, dealing with the aftermath of being deemed useless by the government, to grieving for his brother's death by under-dealing with a militarized Bill Nye wet dream. Hooah, am I right.

Jake gets ready for bed, the earlier difficulties of changing made easier by time. He goes to wash his face when he’s stopped. Now I would remember leaving that taped up. Pulling the note down, Jake is quick to open and read.  Mouth agape he opens his bathroom door, a machine printed Flor de Mayo flower on his counter. “Well I’ll be damned.” 

So a marine, huh?

Wasn’t sure if I had any flowers from there so I made this one from scratch. I’ll be ready at 7 on Friday.

Hot Stuff There were oil spots on the bottom corner and it was crinkled, but Jake held it like it was a winning lottery ticket. Jake touches the pink and white paint of the flower. Wasn’t expecting to be the one asked on a date. But he’s sure as hell gonna take it. Who woulda thought I liked flowers.

╚═════════════════════════════════v═══╝

Flor de mayo is the national Venezuelan flower. Men deserve flowers.

Hope you enjoyed. :)

[invisibleicewands]

This life story begins at the end, with Aneurin “Nye” Bevan in a hospital bed, befittingly for the visionary political colossus who created Britain’s National Health Service in 1948.As Bevan (Michael Sheen) is creeping towards death, flashbacks of memory bring a hallucinatory quality reminiscent of The Singing Detective: beds and ward curtains are woven into scenes of his childhood as a Welsh miner’s son and a stammering schoolboy bullied by his headteacher. We follow his rise from local council politics to the House of Commons and high office under Clement Attlee (Stephanie Jacob, slightly sinister in a bald wig). Doctors and nurses morph into a bevy of characters from his past, the cast juggling this multiplicity adeptly, and there is a surreal song and dance breakout number as, one presumes, Bevan’s morphine kicks in.In a production written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris, there is some inspired stagecraft as the hospital curtains of Vicki Mortimer’s ingenious set swish to reveal debating chambers and libraries. But the narrative is too long-reaching and schematic, its extensively researched material not fully absorbed dramatically.Co-produced with Wales Millennium Centre and running at over two and a half hours, Nye is a too full, yet too simplified, survey of the personal and political elements in Bevan’s world, with some high-pitched moments accompanied by syrupy music.

Bevan is presented as a renegade, Jeremy Corbyn-like figure of his day: both a thorn in the side of Winston Churchill (impersonated well by Tony Jayawardena) and the Labour party. There are council meetings, parliamentary debates, his first meeting with his wife, Jennie Lee (Sharon Small), the war and its aftermath. So much is packed in that the momentous invention of the NHS is tackled, as if in summary, in the last half hour.

Only then do we hear how the nation’s doctors were heavily opposed to Bevan’s proposition. There are exchanges on a screen with an army of hostile medics who look like Minority Report holograms, but we whizz past this opposition, which has enough in-built conflict to be worthy of is own full-length drama.

Sheen (grey helmet hair, chequered pyjamas) is well cast for his natural charm. He brings a curious fey playfulness and vulnerability but does not plumb the depths of his commanding character – or perhaps the busy script simply does not allow it. However, Bevan’s limitations as a son to his dying father bring some emotional mileage as he is too busy caring for the nation’s wellbeing to be there for him.

Small is not given much room for manoeuvre either, and Lee is used for exposition purposes rather than dramatic ones. She talks of her open marriage, describing Bevan as a “rutting stag”, which sits at odds with the cutely pyjama-clad man on stage. There are brief reflections on navigations between her career as Westminster’s youngest MP – and one of only five women – and her marriage. Both she and Bevan hailed from working-class backgrounds and there is a moment when he talks about “impostor syndrome” in this hallowed space. She is unequivocal in her outsider status: “That’s why this place needs us.” Despite these feisty lines, she remains flat, which seems a crime – her character could have been far richer.

Nye is still a vital play because Bevan is a vital man of British history. It succeeds in showing us just how high the hurdles he faced were. When he describes prewar healthcare – one service for the rich, one for the poor – it rings of today’s two-tiered system. “I want to give you your dignity,” he says, as the NHS launches. It is a rousing moment yet contains a terrible, tragic irony, given what is coming to pass with his precious legacy.

[loustyleshtommo]

What happened in New York, mentioned in both taylors and louis' songs hoax and Dlibyh

@el-soupp I think it’s a story of hurt spanning the time Haylor held hands in Central Park and shared NYE kiss in Time Square which effectively kept them both locked up in the closet, all the way to when Taylor was about to come out during NYC Pride 2019. But the news of her masters in Big Machine being sold to Scooter, stopped Taylor from doing so.

This line in Louis’s DLIBYH specifically “on our way to 27” seemed to reference the 27 Club, a cultural phenomenon where popular musicians/actors died young due to suicide/drug overdoses/other unnatural (sometimes violent) causes. One of Louis’s favorite artists, Amy Winehouse, is on the list. Taylor & Harry has an age average of 27 at the time of the failed coming out.

I think Louis wrote Don’t Let It Break Your Heart for both Taylor and Harry. To make sure they won’t end up joining the 27 club in the aftermath of their best laid plan falling through. And Hoax was Taylor’s response to that. She was hurting so badly that the request to keep going/staying alive felt terribly cruel.

[ohnomytummy]

NYE = pure holiday belly aftermath agony

[slowlystupendousdelusion]

So I saw Nye the other day

Assorted thoughts:

I didn't know that much about him beyond him being Welsh, NHS architect and that they have a statue of him outside Cardiff McDonalds which has the largest amount of bird shit on a statue I have ever seen, so this was also educational.

(Side note: isn't it mad that he's not really talked about that much? Like they spend so long in school banging on about the war they don't talk about the social reforms in the aftermath? Actually this may be due to me dropping history in year 9)

So first of all NT is lovely (at least the inside of it is, I'm clearly a philistine cause I can't get behind the architecture 😅) and we had fairly cheap tickets in the stalls but were still quite close. We were off to the side so the view of one side of the stage was slightly impeded due to the curtains but this didn't impede my enjoyment!

The conceit of the play is that Nye is on his death bed and having morphine-fuelled flashbacks to moments in his life. And the play really takes you through a whole gamut of emotions. (I was going through them like a sine curve)

The joy in the scene where Nye is shown a library for the first time is absolutely infectious. Him chatting up Jennie also made me beam. Before watching, I was worried this scene would be a bit cringe, but Sheen really sold it.

Actually there were quite a lot of laugh out loud bits throughout which felt like quite a feat given that it's interspersed with being on the verge of tears.

Him trying to keep busy to avoid the reality of his father's sickness and impending death and the frustration of his sister is so heartbreaking and so so real. And then later Jennie saying We don't talk about/ he doesn't want to talk about it (emotions) is so sad and really rings true for men of that era.

There were some quite clear parallels being made with politics today which I found quite depressing. Why have the conversations on benefits not moved on in 90 or so years?? (Side note: At the time I really thought that the pandemic would be a catalyst for change in the same way the war had been. The fact that it has not been is so disappointing to me and i was rudely reminded of this when watching) Seeing him raise himself up to MP is quite inspirational, but it did make me question how possible that would be today.

It was quite refreshing to see Churchill portrayed more disparagingly. I wonder if it was perhaps a bit uncharitable to Jennie Lee? She tries to hide the severity of his condition and they speak far more about her infidelity (while glossing over Nye's) which doesn't exactly cover her in glory.

I'm not sure the ending worked that well for me - I think it was supposed to be a celebration that the NHS was able to give people dignity at the end of life, but I came out sad that even with all his hard work, the NHS wasn't able to save him.

Anyway, obviously Michael Sheen was very good, and turns out he can also sing? He is very much front and centre on this - the other characters are rather more in the background. I was also impressed Kezrena James who switched effortlessly between accents when switching characters.

So for the set I love the use of the hospital curtains as curtains (lovely colour too!) and this really makes the red pyjamas pop against them. And obviously you couldn't put Nye in the more traditional blue striped pyjamas for party political reasons. Jennie also wears a lot of red (and I had shoe envy in the hospital scenes too). The way they adapted the curtains to look like the house of commons seats was really clever.

The use of beds was interesting and I suppose needed to stop the hospital setting becoming a bit static. Actually there must have been a lot of choreography needed for this and they make it look effortless. Some of the humour is derived directly from the movement too.

The use of lasers to show a rock face in a coal mine while showing a heart rate was visually interesting but I'm not sure how well it worked for me - maybe it worked better from a head-on seat? I did enjoy the miners lamp lighting the dark stage prior to that bit though.

I think my favourite scene aesthetically was the one right before the interval as his father is dying and the stage is all dark, evoking the coal mine, the spotlight on the (white) bed with his dad laying across it also all dressed in black.

So overall there was quite a lot going on in this play. The song number doesn't feel jarring because of the context of fitful dreams. I almost think it might work better in a film context than theatre though? I don't know whether it's maybe trying to accomplish too much - it tries to cover both the story of Nye the person and the creation of the NHS and switches focus between the halves. Both of those topics (albeit intertwined) would be more than enough to cover within a two hour play! There are so many things that are mentioned in passing but they don't have time to explore - the unconventional marriage, why did Jennie have to give up her career for Nye? (I assume 1930s 30ing but I don't actually know and it's not obvious?), did his relationship with his sister improve?, what was going on with the Labour party factions etc etc. But I guess part of the point is to encourage people to find out more.

There isn't that long left of the run but I definitely would recommend for an enjoyable evening if you can make it (and you might even learn something!)

[wicbkc]

when did you join ? what made you join ? what do you remember from the plotlines that were current at the time ? where were you in life when you joined and where are you now ?

march 2018 ( i checked ). hailee and i had been a few groups earlier and she told me to apply. i didn't listen to her at first but threw all these ideas and wcs at me and i couldn't resist! i was working on my bachelour's degree and now i'm working and doing a bit of research on the side. i'm still so tied to university that surprisingly little has changed haha !

which characters have you written over the years ?

zhenya, ennio, wiebke, ilona ! i don't think i've written anyone else ?

what is your favourite plotline that you've been part of ?

i have so many !!! i think wiebke ( with kaspar ) was the most interesting politically. i had never written something like that and it was so exciting. i consider wiebke my most successful character. i came up with traits and hc for her that made her a delight ( and a challenge, ngl ) to write. the beginning of wiebke and kaspar was a lot of fun because it was almost like writing crackthreads bc we did our best to make them look like lovers skdgn but i cannot not mention zhergio. i think it's one of my few ships that have been 100% organic. idm planning ships, but there's always something a bit special about writing a relationship from start to finish. i think their second or third thread was really fun to write !

what about other people's plotlines ?

i'm so biased bc of hailee but i loved reading each and every reply between the croys, tekla and fanni's relationship especially. lea and isa wrote out some very difficult emotions and each reply had so much substance. from a psychological standpoint, they really stand out ! and honestly the biannual major croÿ fights were always so much fun to watch. i'm sad they aren't tight anymore :(

who is your favourite character from the ones you've played ? why ? what made you love them ? what made them so fun to write ?

i think zhenya ? i appreciate wiebke the most and consider her the best i've ever written, but there's a reason why i kept bringing zhenya back. zhenya's plots had something that made her easy to write and kept me logging in ! i had a really easy time with her but i think the credit about that goes to naomi and hailee who in the beginning made sure she was so connected. but i'll also have to give a special mention to ilona bc for a brief time, she was the only thing that kept my muse up. she was a lot fun !

if you could relive a plotline, which would it be ?

either the beginning of zhenya, like the first 3-5 months ? or the first few months of kaspar. i think they are periods of time that i will remember the best ! a special mention goes to the monaco nye and jo when her ukrainian pulled that whole stint on wiebke. i hadn't had the opportunity to portray wiebke's neurotic side that much and it gave me an opportunity to do that <3 writing the aftermath between wibbie was really intense too and i remember waiting for each reply skgbdjs

is there a plotline that you'd edit now if you could ?

natennio. i feel like i picked him up and ignored him so badly and i'm so sorry for ash :( i never really knew what to do with him. the most dramatic stuff was so exciting but i failed to keep the energy ! i feel like i could have explored so many things with natennio and i would have loved to enjoy ash's writing more !

what's a plotline you wish you would have been able to finish before closing or just write more of ?

i'm very pleased with where i ended things ! i was planning to do a couple of threads, zhenya & levente for sure for the sake of a full circle, but unfortunately i never got around to write it. i think i would have liked to spend more time on wibbie's ending. it was rushed but i had lost muse for writing SO BAD at the time that a few replies was the best i could do :(

what is your favourite ooc memory ?

probably something naomi or evy did. they were crazy girls ksgbdsjkg i did adore the ooc posts on the dash. it always meant that someone was invested in someone else's story and i think that's what group writing's all about !

where can others find you if they want to get in touch ?

i think i'm done. it's been a long time coming !

where can others find you if they want to get in touch ?

i had an amazing 6 years here. i never thought i'd get so invested in these little stories. it feels really tough to admit that it's not coming back and i will not stay up until 4 am writing with everyone. every person i've written with, have given their 110% and i appreciate that so much. you welcomed me into the group with such warmth that it made staying really easy. i didn't get to mention all the things i remember and appreciate from the plotlines i've written so here i go:

zhevente's beginning was amazing to write and it was fun to read hails explore levente's softer side. idk why but i feel like the friendship (that we didn't write too much towards the end skgbdsjg) between the characters was like a symbol for me and hails <3 i have a lot of love for them

everyone who put up with ennio and me, honestly. i felt so flaky and a terrible writing partner. my muse was gone half of the time but every time i considered dropping him, you shot me a starter that made me feel so inspired !!!!! thank you so much for that. ash and mickey especially !!!

idk i just want to give a special shoutout to jo. she had the best energy and i think every once in a while we needed her crazy ideas here <3

and abby! i don't think i would have been allowed to write wiebke so much if it wasn't for the work abby had done prior, and the cool interactions we wrote together!

the russians will always have a special place in my heart. they were something special and i don't think i've ever been part of a dynamic like that. i never felt like i was forcing zhenya into the family, everyone made it clear from the start that she was an important family friend and truly cared for <3 it helped me not feel intimidated

i also have to mention alexei's poisoning plot. it was EPIC. i loved it and i love it now

that takes me to jude. both nadya and kaspar helped me to write my characters better. you made sure the basel plot evolved when i didn't have the energy to spare it a thought. you made sure the ship didn't sink. in your replies, i could always tell that you had a good understanding of my characters and you cared ! not everyone's like that. thank you!!!

and ash! i said it earlier but without you, i don't think i would have been able to keep ennio alive for more than a few months. i always adored your writing and i hope i managed to offer even something for you too <3

eve... i owe you my greatest thank you because without your inspiring adopt post, i never would have brought wiebke. wiebke made me feel inspired to write again and gave me so much motivation. i was ready to pack up and leave and wiebke was my last hail mary. i ended up staying for 4 more years aksgbsdgbsj the basel-france-germany plot was so much fun to be part of

evy !!!!!! you have no idea how much zhergi means to me. i know i dropped zhenya ( and them ) but i think their story was so much fun to write <3 you had an amazing energy and i hope you never lose the metaphorical twinkle in the eye (that i've never seen)

naomi, you are like 39% the reason why i joined in the first place. vitaliya is an amazing character and i was always in awe of your writing. your ranGE! you could write a sweet kind sol and then just as easily and convincingly type the cruelest things on vitaliya. you never failed to keep vitaliya entertaining. you didn't pick her up "to write an old character", you were just writing a character that happened to be old.

hailee. sigh. i think i'll come into your ims but i want to sound a bit more formal when i say this: writing with you, reading your stories, and chatting with you is the most important part of my time on tumblr dot com. i don't know how things would have turned out if i hadn't befriended you and if i hadn't let you convince me to join. ily so much <3

[whumpbump]

Cw: skin picking disorder

“What’s your NYE resolution, Whumpee?” Friend asked excitedly, “oh um, it’s a secret.” Whumpee smiled. “Hey, what did you do to your hand?” Friend asked. “Nothing! I just uh, scraped it.” Whumpee lied.

Next week:

“Hey Whumpee! How are you- oh my gosh your FACE! Are you ok?!” Whumpee’s eyes filled and threatened to spill over. “Well. My NYE resolution isn’t really a secret anymore.” Whumpee took a deep, shaky breath as Friend gave Whumpee time to speak.

“I have dermatillomania. It means I can’t stop picking my skin and my NYE resolution is to stop. I decided that if I was picking, that I’d put a bandage on the spot to stop myself. As you can see, this is how it’s going. There are more under my clothes. I look like the aftermath of a cheese grating incident.” The tears began as they whimpered the last sentence. There was so much bitterness in their voice as they truly believed they were worth less for their condition.

Friend stood there in silence, stunned. They knew Whumpee had some weird scars but never knew the origins. “D-doesn’t it.. hurt?…. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.” “No it’s ok to ask. I’m glad to be able to talk to someone about it. I can’t really feel it in the moment. At the time, I’m too focused on the picking. And I really want to stop because it’s embarrassing. I’m literally doing this to myself but I don’t have control.”

“Have you tried talking to a doctor about this?” “I’m afraid they’ll put me away in a hospital thinking I’m doing it on purpose to hurt myself.” “Right, but you aren’t. This is a symptom of a condition and you deserve to have it treated. At least, that’s my opinion.” “Well, I guess it’s worth a shot.” “If you want, I can come with you as like, an advocate! Or I can just sit in the waiting room. Whatever makes you feel safer.”

Whumpee’s eyes filled again. “Thank you.”

[happinessismusic]

Aftermath of Gwen’s NYE show with Todd. 😊

[sebeth]

The World Of Ice And Fire: The Giants (Revised 11/18/22)

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

   The chapters are written from Yandel’s perspective, and he explains some of his information may be truth, or myth, or a mix of the two. In essence, we have an unreliable narrator. Unreliable narration applies to real-world history as well. A common saying is “history is written by the winners” along with historians who have their own personal biases. Along with events that happened so long ago we can only estimate what occurred using surviving evidence.

The unreliable narration allows GRRM wriggle room in future stories if he decides to change the events in the world book.

Back to the book…

 The Dawn Age:

The Maesters obtained the small amount of knowledge from the “oldest of texts: the tales written down by the Andals, the Valyrians, and by the Ghiscari, and even by those distant people of fabled Asshai”.

Yandel notes these are ancient races but would still be considered children during the Dawn Age. Primary sources – very slim pickings.

“The eastern lands were awash with many people” but Westeros only had two: The Children of the Forest and the giants.

No one has collected the legends or histories of the giants. The Wildings claim the giants and the Children of the Forest lived (uneasily) alongside each other. The giants are simple, huge, and powerful hunter-gatherers. Night’s Watch rangers state the giants are covered in fur. They were 12 to 14 feet tall, and did not make clothes, homes, or weapons. The gaints appearance seem to resemble Yetis or Sasquatches. The television show removed the fur and gave the giants a ridged face with a shape that reminded me of a Neanderthal.

The last known report of giants occurred during the early years of Aegon V (Egg). Maester Aemon (Egg’s brother, stationed in the Night’s Watch) found numerous reports of rangers’ encounters with giants and the Children of the Forest.

Are Aemon’s findings the “last known reports” or does Ser Duncan the Tall get to fight a giant when he heads North? There are two possible times Duncan could fight a giant in the timeline: the first when Dunk & Egg interact with the She-Wolves of Winterfell and the second when he escorts Maester Aemon and Bloodraven to the Wall. I want this fight to happen so we can see Dunk’s reaction to being the tiny one in a brawl.

The most notable account is from Redwyn, a Night’s Watch ranger during the reign of King Dorren Stark. He recounts traveling from Lorn Point to the Frozen Shore and claims to battle giants and encounter the Children of the Forest.

Dorren pre-dates the Stark Lineage listed in the book so Redwyn’s encounter with giants would have been well over two hundred years ago.

A Maester Kennet is mentioned. He served Winterfell under Cregan Stark. He’s most known for studying the barrow fields, graves, and tombs of the North.

Was Kennet researching Northern burial practices or was he searching for signs of magic in the Stark tombs and the barrow fields of the Dustins?

Yandel believes the giants are extinct – even beyond the Wall. The readers know that is untrue. Tormund and other wildings have encountered giants in the present day. It’s been since the release of A Dance With Dragons since I’ve done a re-read of the series but If I remember correctly, the Wildings stated the giants were near extinction. Mag the Mighty, King of the Giants, died battling Donal Nye during the Attack on the Wall and Wun Wun tore the Stormlands knight (Justin Massey?) apart in the aftermath of the mutiny. I think those are the only two named giants in the main series.

The television series had the same giants. They were wearing clothes and were rather hairy, but no fur. Fur wouldn’t be bad thing to have if you lived North of the Wall!

The Night King had giants in his army but they were walking corpses. Love Lyanna Mormont, still don’t believe she could kill a giant.

A Maester Kennet is mentioned. He served Winterfell under Cregan Stark. He’s most known for studying the barrow fields, graves, and tombs of the North.

Was Kennet researching Northern burial practices or was he searching for signs of magic in the Stark tombs and the barrow fields of the Dustins?

Up next, the Children of the Forest.

[darnedchild]

Possibly unpopular opinion

In my possibly unpopular opinion - All sex in fic is not explicit.

The Mature rating is there for mature topics.  Which include--but are not limited to--Sex, Drugs, and Rock-N-Roll.

The Explicit rating is, as the name implies, there for Explicit topics and scenes.  Which include--but are not limited to--down and dirty delightfully detailed smutty sex, graphic violence, gore, descriptions of graphic drug use/aftermaths, (some would argue) self-harm, and (some would also argue) perhaps some of the more esoteric kinky stuff out there in the wide-wide-world of erotica.

I recently saw a hot take that sex, all sex, should be rated E in fics.  Which means the OP was essentially equating two characters having vanilla missionary sex with vore.  And if you don’t know what vore is... don’t look it up.

Look at it like this - General is to G as Teen and Up is to PG/PG-13

Therefore, M is to R as E is to NC-17

That’s like math or something.  Math doesn’t lie.  It’s a science.  Just ask Bill Nye. Who, now that I think about it, seems to be the kind of guy who would be totally okay with finding smut in his M rated fanfic.

[hookingminor]

24 & 25 for scenarios w/ andrei svechnikov

24. New Year's Countdown

25. NYE Party

-

Stealing a champagne flute from the tower you so meticulously built for this party, you flitted around like a buzzing bee to entertain your guests.

Andrei had insisted on just letting the Slavin’s host the New Year’s Eve party like they usually did, but with you being new to the Canes’ list of significant others, you wanted the chance to get to know everyone better. Plus, it only seemed fair that the young couple without kids hosted a party for those busy parents to catch a break.

“Thank you for tonight,” Gracia said, pulling you aside. “Also, I love your outfit.”

You thanked her and did a little twirl to show off the ensemble you were quite proud of. “Of course! I just wanted to make a good impression with everyone.”

“Trust me, we all adore you,” she laughed at your slight hesitation. “It’s always nice to add someone new to the group. And it’s nice to see the young ones calm down a bit when they find someone. Last year Andrei did shots during the countdown since he had no one to kiss when the ball dropped and ended up throwing up thirty minutes into the new year.”

“God, he better not do that tonight,” you groaned. “I’m already dreading the clean up tomorrow.”

Gracia patted your back with a knowing smile. She’d been in your shoes before and didn’t envy you one bit. It was one of the perks about not hosting big holiday parties like this; you never had to worry about the aftermath.

Just then, Brady interrupted your conversation, tugging his wife into his side as he greeted you with a hello.

“That is probably my cue to find my boyfriend,” you chuckled, excusing yourself from the couple when you noticed the time.

“He’s out on the balcony,” Brady supplied, and you nodded your thanks.

You left your now empty champagne glass on the kitchen counter as you maneuvered your way through the crowd of couples gathering together as the time ticked by. The large clock on the TV screen had hit sixty seconds. Martinook plopped a ‘2022’ New Year’s headpiece very crookedly on your head as you passed by, shooting you a wink.

You made it to the balcony door finally, crooked headband now properly in place as you stepped out into the chilly winter air. “There you are.”

Your boyfriend whirled around to face you with a tipsy smile on his face, nursing a beer as he stood at the railing that overlooked downtown Raleigh. “I was just about to come find you,” he said, pulling you closer by your hand when you reached him. Looping your arms around his shoulders, you pressed against his body for warmth.

“I should hope so, we’ve got about thirty seconds until midnight,” you teased.

“That soon? Time must’ve gotten away from me,” he apologized. “Thank you for doing all of this tonight. You really didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to. I had a good time tonight,” you said. “Though I’m not too excited to clean up all this glitter in the morning.”

“I’ll help you out,” he proposed. “Promise.”

Ten! Voices shouted from inside your apartment.

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One!

“Happy New Year, babe,” Andrei said softly.

“Happy New Year,” you repeated. With no more preamble, you pressed your lips to Andrei’s in a sweet kiss, both of you smiling too hard for it to deepen any further.

“Now that that’s all over, can we kick everyone out now so I can have you all to myself?” Effectively ruining what was a tender moment, you lightly hit his chest and stepped out of his embrace.

“You’re insufferable,” you teased. Before you could get too far Andrei was pulling you back in, hands on your hips and a smirk on his lips. “One more hour and then you can.”

“Deal,” he agreed. “Now come on, we have to ring in the New Year with shots.”

[scaarletwiitch]

scaarletwiitch's Clintasha Advent 2021

I can't believe I actually finished this!

I chose not to take part in a secret santa because it seemed too Christmas-y for someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas, but here I am 22 fics into an Advent challenge...

Anyway, here they are gathered in one place (all links lead to Ao3) for you to peruse. Let me know what you think!

Day 1 - Weather (Rated G) Natasha's early days at SHIELD and a snow storm disrupts Strike Team Delta's extraction plan. (wc 2 813)

Day 2 - Hiding (Rated G) Natasha just wants to keep Clint's Christmas presents a surprise but he won't stop looking for them. (wc 750)

Day 3 - Family/Friends (Rated T) Natasha and Clint disrupt Steve's attempt at a team-building secret santa. (wc 1 105)

Day 4 - Magic/Supernatural (Rated G) In the aftermath of the Battle of New York Clint and Natasha consider their options. (wc 678)

Day 5 - Time (Rated G) Stephen Strange gets drunk and takes pity on a grieving Clint. (wc 1980)

Day 6 - Language (Rated G) Clint helps Natasha to process some news after Katie's two-month check up. (wc 548)

Day 8 - Alternate Universe (Rated G) “You’re a science teacher. You’re working part-time though, especially after you had your son. Your husband, he renovates houses.” (wc 1 781)

Day 9 - Domestic (Rated G) Clint decides to send holiday cards. (wc 575)

Day 10 - Missions (Rated G) Clint is frustrated to find his holiday plans ruined by yet another mission. (wc 763)

Day 11 - Colours (Rated G) She has dyed her hair and he has lost his hearing aids. (wc 799)

Day 12 - Gifts (Rated G) Kate and Yelena offer unsolicited advice to Clint and Natasha on gift giving. (wc 1 105)

Day 13 - Hurt/Comfort (Rated G) After joining SHIELD Natasha's serum begins to wear off and she gets sick for the first time. Clint nurses her through it. (wc 745)

Day 15 - Traditions (Rated T) Between them they have some pretty awful Christmas traditions. (wc 408)

Day 16 - Around the World (Rated M for graphic depictions of violence and heavy petting but no sex) This was written as a pinch-hitter that was not needed in the end for the be_compromised gift exchange. Prompt: "Natasha's family can be very nosy. And inconsiderate. And even though Natasha has her own safe houses all over, they just keep finding them an barging in at the most inopportune times. Lucky thing Clint is a very patient man (and also, it's happened so often, he's used to it by now.)" (wc 4 926)

Day 17 - Emotions/Moods (Rated G) Natasha has a lot of feelings about Clint being send on a mission without her. (wc 2 038)

Day 18 - Tropes (Rated T - tw for school gunman lokckdown) Five times Clint and Natasha fell in love via fanfic tropes in alternate universes and the one time they fell in love in our universe. (wc 3 186)

Day 19 - Furry Friends (Rated G) Movie nights in which Lucky loves Natasha and Tony gets attacked by Liho. (wc 835)

Day 21 - Senses (Rated G) Natasha wakes from the mind attack by Wanda and tries to recognise her surroundings. (wc 458)

Day 22 - Food & Drink (Rated G) Clint attends a holiday gathering with the Widow Fam and has to find himself a second stomach. A continuation of Day 8's AU. (wc 2548)

Day 23 - Separation/Reunions (Rated G) Clint and Natasha reunite after the fall of SHIELD. (wc 895)

Day 24 - Signs (Rated G) Five signs that Lila Barton misses that indicated her dad and Natasha are living together and one sign that gets thrown in her face. (wc 2 200)

Day 25 - Christmas/Holidays (Rated G) Clint's ex, Bobbi Morse, organised this year's NYE party. Phil insists that Clint should attend. Natasha offers to pose as his date. Clint begins to see his partner in a whole new light. (wc 2 319)

(Total word count for the challenge: 33 552 words in 28 days)