#and I guess this is more 1850s ish

[ghouljams]

PLEASE DON'T HOLD BACK I WANT THE COWBOY AU INSIDE OF THE COWBOY AU!!!!!!! PLEASE IM ON MY HANDS AND KNEES!!!

(also can I be 🐇anon if it's not taken???)

You hear the shots before you can stop the duel. You’re just in time to see the dust settle on two bodies as you grip the handle of your kit. Two dead, what a waste. The mortician is already measuring one for a coffin. You sigh and push your hair back, start making your way to help before movement catches your eye. You whip to face the apparently alive deputy, and watch him push himself up to sit, gripping his bloody arm. That you can fix.

You hurry over to him, dropping to your knees to start pulling the needed supplies from your bag. “Almost had me worried, Price,” You tell him, cutting his shirtsleeve at the shoulder seam to yank it down. He hisses, grips his elbow to keep from flinching as you work.

“Can’t even spare me a ‘Deputy’?” He asks, watching you prod at the wound.

“Deputy is for winners,” You dip back into your bag and whistle at the saloon patrons for a stiff one. 

“Only you would consider this a loss,” He sighs, reaching for the glass the barkeep brings out. You grab it before he can and dunk your instruments in it. He grimaces, no longer interested in the drink. You hand him a strap of leather to bite as you shake the whiskey off your tweezers.

“You got shot didn’t you?” You tilt your head for a better look at the bullet lodged in his shoulder. Bullets lead to infections. You click your tweezers a few times to warn him before pushing them into the wound. You always hope the pain will be enough to deter any more duels in the future, but Price hardly does more than grunt. He’s got an iron will you suppose. 

You pull the bullet free and drop it in his waiting hand, a souvenir. Your fingers feel around the entry point, checking for any bone chips or loose lead. Price lets out a long breath through his nose, exhaling the pain. Seems shallow enough, and you don’t feel anything but the oozing of blood around your fingers. You grab the whiskey glass and tip it over the wound.

“Mmmmmmfuck.” He groans, and you can’t say you blame him, but you need to get some of the blood off. The alcohol works just as well as clean water at washing blood away. Even if the sting of it makes Price’s muscles tense, his breath shaky. You do your best to ignore it while you grab bandages from your bag. “Fuckin’ sawbones.” He grumbles.

“If you don’t want me to hurt you stop getting shot,” You give him a quick raise of your brows. You’re quick with the bandages, it’s better to be quick before the wound bleeds too much.

“Then how’d I see you?” He smiles, and you try not to smile too much in return.

“You could come to the clinic for once,” You tell him, tying off the bandage. His hand moves to rest on your knee, a comfortable weight you know well. He better watch that hand, you still need to get a sling on him.

“God I’d be good to ya’,” Price sighs.

“Yeah?” You tuck your supplies back into your bag and stand, offering a hand to help him up. He grasps your forearm with his uninjured arm and grunts as you haul him to his feet. “How’d you be good to me, when you can barely be good to yourself?” You twist to duck under his arm and wrap it around your shoulder. You think the way he leans against you may be slightly exaggerated as you help him towards your family’s clinic.

“I’d be good to ya’!” Price laughs, “Build ya’ a nice house and all the furniture in it, keep ya’ well stocked with patients.”

“You’d let me keep workin’?” You aren’t going to comment on how happy that makes you. Most men would be more insistent on their partner staying home, popping out kids, you like your work too much to give it up. Probably why you’re still single.

“Can’t deprive the town of their best doctor,” Price huffs out a heavy breath as you sit him down in the front room of the clinic.

“I thought you said I was a sawbones,” You set your bag down and go to dig through the clean clothes for a sling.

“And I’ll let you hold that against me the rest of my life, God I’d be good to ya’,” The way he says it, the explosive admission of it, makes you shake your head fondly. You focus on bending his arm into the sling, trying to keep the pain to a minimum. He grabs you and pulls you down onto his lap when you finish, both of you careful not to bump his arm.

“I think the heat’s gettin’ to ya’ deputy,” You tell him, making yourself comfortable on his lap.

“When’re you gonna say ‘yes’ to me?” He asks, and you wonder if most engagements happen like this. You don’t think so, Price is one of a kind.

“When you win a duel without a new hole to show for it,” You reach to brush some of the dust from outside off his beard, he kisses your fingers as they move over his lips.

“Might take a while then,” he relents, though you know he’s lying. You know better than anyone he’s never this careless when you aren’t on duty. It really is his best excuse to see you. You’re the only one he lets patch him up, and that’s just fine with you.

“Gives you plenty of time to build me a house.” God, you’d be good to him, you already are.

[skzhua]

Felix fics recommendations | SKZHUA

~ : personal favourites

I’ll keep updating this list as I keep reading. Props to all the writers here for their amazing work, you’re doing great.

WARNING: Some of these are 18+ so please look at the warnings before reading.

MAIN FIC RECS LIST

 ~ young & beautiful by @missinghan | 13.1k words

zombie apocalypse!au; punk! au.

~ beauty within by @changbeanie | 4.5k words

fluff, angst, beauty and the beast inspired au.

in another life. by @galactichen | 5.4k words

romance, angst, royalty!au.

wedding cake samples by @caseiloveu | 4.9k words *author privated it*

strangers to idiots who like each other a lot, fake dating, fluff, food mention, flirty felix, he has a secret but there is no conflict, only two cuties, little shit jisung, i do not know how wedding cake tasting works, i have never been to cake tasting, you are definitely able to tell that i have given up on dating apps, don't download them.

cookie taste tester by @/caseiloveu | 3.2k words *author privated it*

part two of wedding cake samples. can be read as a standalone.

idiots who like each other a lot (to lovers), fluff, food mention, flirty felix (again but more flirty this time), maybe a bit suggestive but not really, felix is just gorgeous and you don't know how to deal with it, jisung makes another apperance, bonus points if you guess who the flour-buttprint menace is, minors and ageless blogs dni.

~ Comfortable With You by @lixesque | 10k words *author closed their blog*

roommates-to-lovers, fluff.

Matters of the Head and Heart by @skzsauce01 | 13.1k words

Steampunk-ish AU set in 1850s Victorian London. Historical accuracy not guaranteed.

live stream by @haiyuta | 2.7k words

camboy!felix, jerking off, smut, kinda soft.

SUNSHINE by @j-0ne25 | 7.4k words

smut, fluff, a tiny bit of angst, nonidol!auu, friends2lovers.

omg by @teacasket | 0.6k words

fluff, gamer au, streamer au.

[inklingofadream]

I just finished my latest nonfiction bedtime book, which was Paperback Crush

It's a very fun tour through the themes and esoterica of 80s and 90s scholastic book fair fare, the things "we all" remember (more or less; many of the same series were still going strong in the 00s)

And I cannot emphasize enough. How little I am included in "we all"

Not a single book until the chapters on "Danger" and "Terror" when we get to books about ghosts, kidnappings, etc

The stuff she talks about at the beginning of every chapter/section? Establishing the candidates for first YA novel or the beginnings of children's books about the genre to hand?

Like 70% hit rate. The long list of Stratemeyer Syndicate detective stories? Not only was I into Nancy Drew, with her tens of thousands of reviews per book on Goodreads, and Trixie Belden, with her thousands, I read (thrift store find) The Dana Girls, who are lucky to have a book break 100 ratings or reviews, and who have shot up fabulously in popularity because when I was a little kid I could not, for any price, find additional books on ebay

Haven't read a single book in the "Romance" section... except of course for the supporting point for romance being a big driving force in all eras of the history of English-language publishing, Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded. For a class, sure, but I do regret renting that one instead of buying my own, and will probably end up doing so eventually (Its first half-ish could go up against any "Dark Romance" pull of today, except for how the author absolutely does not know that). It's literally the only one I read as an adult, though.

Sicklit YA, especially then, has a lot of vibes of Victorian etc era stories about angelic, virginal heroines driving others to self improvement with their illness, it's true! What's that? Your example? What Katy Did! Not merely a moderately-obscure pull in which the heroine suffers a debilitating spinal injury and eventually is cured when she cheers up a little (lol. lmao. yes really, with a side of "not being a tomboy" to bolster that), it is of course. Unironically. Second grade Ink's actual answer to "what's your favorite book?"

Not even in a hipster way. I didn't even realize it was that old until, in something of a pattern, I was old enough to find out from Wikipedia that it had sequels. Which, in something of a pattern, I could not lay hands on- but more because the original was an audiobook in our local library than difficulty of acquisition, they're public domain now. By the time I was up to the physical book version I had been gifted a vintage copy of What Katy Did At School :)

So Like. If anyone finds a book covering through a nostalgic lens the literature from the childhood of those growing up any time between 1850 and 1970 let me know, I guess!

[meduseld]

I should have guessed someone had screencapped and scrutinized the full list of Shadyside Killers, because there are very definitely some women’s names on those stones - Frances Kearney (#3, second after Pastor Miller, circa 1690s?), Amy Dodd (#5, c. 1710s?), Rachel Rikken (#16-ish, c. 1850-60s, Civil War?), and Velma Barber (“The Farmer of Death”?, c. 1890s). I honestly thought there were more, but the list seems mostly made up of guys. (Thanks to u/ASuddenHeapofRandom on Reddit!)

Oh how fantastic, thank you for sharing! Never should have doubted the internet. It's just a little glimpse but they all sound like they have good stories there.....

[vintagesimstress]

1840s dress for toddlers

Hi everyone!

Lately I was working a bit on my decades challenge - more specifically, on my og sims and their background. I created extensive family trees for both of them, invented a whole bunch of new characters and in general was proceeding really well, but when I wanted to finally make those ancestors in game... I realised half of them have nothing to wear. And I quickly understood that if I really want them to look their part, I'll have to fill the CC gap myself. So - the impossible happened. I decided to go back in time and make some 1830s-1850s pieces.

This won't be any big project or anything, just a couple of things for specific sims. I don't even know if I won't lose my motivation halfway through. Still, maybe some of you, early or mid-Victorian simmers, will enjoy those couple of creations I'll hopefully make.

I decided to start with a simple early/mid 1840s dress for toddler girls. Bonus: it comes with pantalettes and a petticoat-ish texture underneath (it's not very good, I suck at texturing, but I guess it's better than nothing, huh?)

25 swatches:

polycount: ca. 4,5K

Base Game compatible

HQ mod compatible (…still hoping)

all LODs

custom thumbnail, bump and specular maps, no shine

tagged as everyday, party and warm weather

found under long dresses subcategory (by EA standards it is long)

colour tagged

allowed for random

PDN for recolours included - you don��t need it for the mesh to work. Let me know if you’d rather have the PSD file!

I haven't spotted any problems, but please let me know if you notice any. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD (free on Patreon, no ads)

PS. Cute toddler boots by Nexus, you can find them HERE. Socks, obviously, by Linzlu.

***

Terms of Use

Don’t: claim it’s yours or monetise in any way

Do: convert, recolour, include the mesh, edit the mesh to create something  amazing - just please tag me once you publish it, so that I could also see it!

[fratboykate]

For some reason, the only way I can imagine 1800s KYPAU is with Emily Dickinson and Amy March, my brain is broken I swear.

I mean...nothing wrong with Emily. That's accurate. Emily died in 1886. The show would've been set in 1850s and eventually jumped into 1860s into the war. It would've been time appropriate-ish fashion and society custom wise. New York City would've just been a bit more progressive and active than Amherst.

Yelena just needs more suits than Amy but I have this idea that she eventually starts wearing dresses and starts dating a man to spite Kate after Kate says some fucked up shit during an argument. Shit just begins to get really tense between them the closer Kate's wedding starts to loom so Yelena is like "well since you're gonna marry a man, I guess two can play that game 🖕🏽" and shows up at a ball all glammed up with a dude that's sorta been after her for a while trying to make Kate jealous. Motor Mouth™️ starts WILDING and you know how the night goes. They both start trying to upstage each other and both guys are like "???????? The fuck is wrong with you right now????" So the Amy March thing also works for a while if you want to haha.

[jj-ktae]

Papers, I

Title : Papers Pairing : Park Jinyoung x Fem!Reader Genre : Victorian Era, Romance, Fluff, Angst, smut-ish,  Words : 3076 Summary : In the merciless 1850′s, Park Jinyoung finds solace in tiny pieces of paper and their owner.

Will be updated every Wednesday at 9 p.m CEST.

Prologue  ➳  II, III,

I,

Jinyoung wouldn’t call himself lucky. He doesn’t believe in such subjective things and his mind only sees things from a direct perspective. He knows a writer should be less down-on-earth, but he finds it hard to be laid back when everything is so harsh around him. 

He doesn’t even know why he assumes he has to think like a writer.

It’s probably because it is the only future he can foresee.

He receives an answer to each notes he leaves behind him. The conversation is casual but Jinyoung finds it more stimulating than any other mundanities. He is tired of having to avoid the other students and being ignored. It might be what the etiquette is about, but neither him nor his friends will ever understand the difference between two similar human beings.

They all blame it on the lack of education at the orphanage. It’s true that things were hard and revolved around beating up kids more than functional education but Jinyoung doesn’t get how it makes him unworthy of picking up a classmate’s handkerchief to give it back to him.

Jackson hates every minute of these moments. He hates how he has to stare at the ground or keep quiet when he hears the others talk about them like they carry the plague. Jaebeom ignores the whole situation, his introvert side taking the upper hand now while he would end up in nasty fights back then at the orphanage. 

This is exactly why he enjoys the candid answers he gets. He starts wondering who the person is, what they do, where they live. He doesn’t say much about himself; he knows enough to shut his mouth on the part where he is an orphan. Maybe the other one will stop answering, maybe he will have to deal yet again with that social difference. 

So cowardly he calls himself a literature student, a writer wannabe who lives in the rich part of the city. He writes no name after his notes, and he gets none in return. While he interacts with The art student, he begins his own narrative. It builds up slowly, with steady steps about the encounter of two people and lost pieces of paper. He starts again and again, never satisfied until he gets a note that offers more answers to his own interrogations. Jinyoung ends up imagining so many scenarios that it almost turns him crazy but for the very first time in his damned life he feels alive, eaten by something that isn’t hatred.

He even forgets about his surroundings and it feels like heaven. 

“Did they tell you about themselves?” Jaebeom barely questions him about it. He understood one thing about Jinyoung, and it doesn’t involve explicit talk. “You seem to be….vivid, these days.” 

Jinyoung looks up from his old notebook, his brow furrowed as the sun blinds his vision. They never stop outside, they barely let themselves feel vulnerable outside of their home. Society is about showing the bright things and they aren’t part of the jewels of the country. “I didn’t ask,” he says, closing the book with careful hands. “If I try, I will have to do the same.”

“Fair enough,” his friend answers, yawning so wide he receives curious glances from the other students. “You don’t want them to know who you are, but don’t you want to know who you’re talking to?” 

“I do,” Jinyoung chuckles, “but it doesn’t matter. I get answers, so it is enough for me.” 

Jaebeom leans against the wall, smiling when he sees two young students greet each other with stupid bows and fake smiles. “How do you think we would be living if our parents were still alive?”

It makes Jinyoung sigh way too loudly. “I don’t think about such things. It’s not like we can change anything.”

Jackson’s loud voice startles the whole tiny garden, putting it to silence as everyone stares at the sweaty boy. “Am I late?” He pants. 

Jinyoung looks around, doing his best to ignore the soft yet sharp comments ringing into his head.

“Let’s go.” Is all he says before getting up and escaping as fast as he can toward the classroom. 

He finds the anticipation of a new note way too stimulating. 

--

A  woman. 

It’s a young woman. 

Jinyoung didn’t expect the person to be a young lady. He barely comes across any at this tiny school. It’s a small academy of literature and arts, it has nothing to do with the big and horribly expensive schools of the city. It has its standards though and it’s filled with young people, fancy and fitting perfectly.

It changes everything. There are a thousand things you can’t say and do around a lady, so there must be the same rules for writing. Jinyoung takes his own piece of paper and coughs, not sure why his handwriting becomes so neat.

“A girl ?” Jackson’s voice startles him as his ideas vanish yet again. His friend observes the piece of paper, lips pursed. “aren’t they...not supposed to do such things?”

Jinyoung nods, surprise still visible on his usually neutral features. “These hold no face, it is only paper and ink. She must think of me as one of notables’ son and it gave her courage.”

His friend scoffs, “Does this even help you?” he whispers, letting the paper fall softly on the table.

Jinyoung doesn’t answer. 

It does.

He thinks for a minute before picking the note. It’s nothing but small talk, nothing important but he reads it over and over again.

I am an only child and I have no plans for the future. I just end up coming here and on a not so hectic day I found your note. I have to say it is not common for a young lady to do such tricks…

Tricks. Is this how they call it, in the mundane world ? Maybe it’s a distraction for you, something you do because you’re not allowed to. It’s probably the only thrill you get on a boring day and Jinyoung understood you fully.

He starts writing when his brain summons him to stop overthinking things again.

I understand.  I am an only child too, but my comrades are like brothers to me. Never did I think that I would get an answer initially and judging from the way you present yourself, I would have put my guess on a fellow gentleman. I suppose boredom makes us do the unthinkable.Tell me more about your week next time and as insignificant as it will likely be, I will let you know about mine. 

Jinyoung doesn’t need to ask as Jackson offers his chewing-gum silently with a wink. He puts it tight against the wood before crossing his arms.

--

A gentleman. 

He is a man. 

You pick up the note with shaky hands, not believing what you just read. You thought it was a lady, someone who was bored and needed distraction. It is not behaviour for a gentleman, as bored as he can be. You are not supposed to interact with them and considering the situation, you are not to interact with anyone.

Answering would mean not following proper etiquette, and you’ve transgressed a few rules already.

Still, he seems to be puzzled, as if eager to know more about a lady who would be daring enough to do such things. There is no harm in continuing and he has no clue about who you are exactly. The lack of interactions between you and the rest of the people assures a certain hideout.

He will never know. He must never know. 

You look around, the silence evident and deafening. Each answer is a risk you’re not sure you’re willing to take. 

As you pick up a forgotten piece of paper and rip a corner, you pray for tranquillity. 

You will probably be disappointed as I’m afraid nothing exciting happened so far. It is repetitive, filled with night and day. I come and I go in silence, avoiding society. I don’t loath my surroundings but I fear the dexterity of social gatherings. I might not be cut for such a delicate exercise. I stay away, running when I can and watching when I have to -

Maybe it’s too personal. He shouldn’t guess anything, especially not your hatred toward your own self.

“Y/N! If anyone sees you we will be in trouble!” The high-pitched voice makes you nod, your eyes meeting the worried features of your friend’s face.

“I’m almost done!”

- I act like i am complaining but be assured that I enjoy life as far it can take me. I had a busy day filled with nothing worth sharing. I will probably let you know if anything exciting occurred in my next note, if you are still inclined to keep the exchange. Do not forget to let me know about your week as you promised. 

You use the same gum to hide the note  - and you hope he doesn’t notice it, before getting up and leaving. 

“You will be the end of me, Y/N.” Your friend whispers angrily as you leave the classroom. She is fidgeting with worry as her eyes wander the corridor.

“Nothing will happen to us. No one is here at such a time. I made sure no one finds the note, Vivi.” You try to appease her fear by throwing an arm around her shoulder but she hushes you, an upset smile appearing when you start laughing.

“If someone were to see the way we behave…” She shakes her head before stopping in front of the door. “As soon as we get there, I want to see the note!”

Vivienne is a good person. She is the neighbour’s daughter and your lives have always been as entwined as they could be. Her smile is contagious but she takes things too seriously.

Well, you’re probably the one not caring enough.

You open the building’s door and hook and arm around hers before rushing back home. You don’t let go of the tiny piece of paper.

Vivienne takes the notes from your hand as soon as you enter your room. She follows you like she always do every week. Today is the day you always come back late so she stays with you. 

She reads it with dreamy eyes before letting it fall on your bed. Her position change as she can finally be herself.

“A Gentleman ? Y/N, does he know ? I thought you were entertaining another stupid young mistress. I cannot believe such a thing is happening. He should never-

“Never know who I am. I know.” You finish with a sigh before jumping on your bed. “He doesn’t say who he is either, so nothing will happen. He seems so bored and serious.” You laugh when Vivienne unties her tight dress. 

“He is a rich literature student living in the city, what good is it to do such unholy things, especially with a lady?” She wonders, taking a deep breath when the air finally enters her constricted lungs. “It has always been a game, to them.”

“Drop it, Vivi. We know enough about etiquette to understand it is not made for us. It must be entertaining for him to know that a young lady of good education can interact with a gentleman with no worry. I don’t find it shocking in any other circumstances; we both know it isn’t a crime to talk with a gentleman but they don’t. I’m more worried about the gossip and what i will lose if anyone discovers what I have been doing.”

It is true. You talk with the kids in your neighbourhood every day. The young boys here are friendly, if not more caring than any other boys. You are not used to follow etiquette as it isn’t needed; you know it only because it is necessary to survive and remain. Speaking loudly, laugh, sing, fight, eat messily, hug, all of this is normal life and you can’t imagine it being forbidden. 

“Boring. They must be so boring.” Vivienne concludes, her voice dying and another one shaking you both.

“Time for dinner!”

--

Jinyoung finds it unusual. He never anticipates a class. Creative Writing is interesting when it doesn’t involve endless talking. He hates it when he has to lock his brain into his head and listen to whatever happens and it often happens. 

But today he is eager to enter the class and hopefully discover an answer. He ignores Jackson and Jaebeom’s witty remarks about how a Lady has taken an interest in him and merely answers. She must be too bored and in need of something thrilling. It is the way they live.

He pulls the paper from under the table as soon as he takes a seat. He doesn’t even try to hide anything.

“You should be careful. You will be in trouble if they start meddling in your business.” Jaebeom taps his pen on the table rapidly before glancing toward the professor. “She will be, too.”

What trouble could she get? Money is enough to make your way out of trouble. Trouble is for people like us, Jinyoung wants to answer. 

Instead he nods before opening the note.

It sounds different this time. He was expecting lines of useless tea gatherings and uninteresting chatting but he finds more depth than he thought he would have. She seems lost and far from the acts of the Upper class. Jinyoung doesn’t quite understand why would anyone not enjoy living among the rich in such hard times so he gets puzzled as to what he could answer.

He wants to say he hates the rich, he wants to yell at whoever deemed it good to let people behind to they own misery. He cannot speak though, his tongue is tied and his soul gone with the promise of a disturbed future. 

A wave a melancholy hit him and against better judgment, he keeps the answer neutral, like nothing is triggering him.

On this we do agree. I am myself not fond of such games. I stay evasive when needed and watch my surroundings. This is why writing heals more than it is supposed to - it is not surprising for a literature student, you may think. I am afraid my days aren’t exciting either. I am working on a piece that I will have to submit to my teacher so it takes most of my time. Considering the amount of stimulation I receive, I can say it is not going smoothly. 

Jinyoung stops when he thinks about how ridiculous it is to act like someone he isn’t. What the hell should he feel ashamed of what he is?

So his last sentence hits the papers way faster than intended. He hopes to find excitement, he believes it is to get a better view for his works but in fact he wants to disturb. He wants to pique, if not face to face, then on papers it will be. 

ps : If I may ask, what do you think about the rich? Please do not fear of my reaction and do not answer if such questions disturb your tranquillity.

He snorts at himself before sticking the paper again. Why would he even care about disturbing the empty life of the powerful?

When class ends he leaves, furious at no one and nothing but filled with a rage to change the balance. He will not end like this. 

--

“What I think about the rich?” You ask yourself, crouched behind the table.

It is ridiculous, why would anyone ask such a question? You start to panic when you imagine the probability of being discovered. Speaking badly of them would be ill-mannered, but no one would ever be able to tell it is you who wrote those words.

You are not even supposed to know how to write. 

Vivienne is busy next to you, her dirty dress swiping the floor with every step.

You grab a piece of paper you had previously taken with you and try to find an answer.

Before you can think you start writing messily, like someone is watching from behind.

If you don’t mind, you can share the subject of your writing with me. I see we both fancy peacefulness- 

You stop, not in the mood to act like you want to know more. 

About your question, I don’t know what it is that you mean but I would say that they are the essence of our society. Their intelligence is building the country and our wealth is nothing to be ashamed of. If you mean to put it in confrontation with the poor, I would say they do nothing but maintain an order which every peaceful monarchy should have. The rich have the knowledge and power and it is what it is. It is natural for humanity to place its bets on the survival of the fittest.

You feel nauseous as you finish the paper. It is probably what he wants to read so you wrote whatever would please a rich person. It is disgusting and untrue but there is only so little you can do without rising doubt in the mind of this young gentleman.

If he wants someone to flatter his pride, then so be it.

It has always been that way. 

--

The notes get shorter after that. You are not sure whether you did something wrong or not, but the answers get colder and colder. There are still here though, every weeks and with the same beautifully written letters.

You answer, even though it is nothing but wind in an empty shell. 

Jinyoung doesn’t know what he was expecting. He knew from the start who he would be corresponding with and it is no surprise. 

It is after one class that the story gets blurred. 

He is about to leave when the professor interrupts them. 

“Starting next week we will gather in the main amphitheatre. This room is only used for creative writing and in spite of how inspiring I think it is, it will no longer be used in this way.”

Jinyoung freezes, his notebook almost falling. 

While Jaebeom and Jackson are leaving, he speaks, startling them.

“Sir, no other lessons are being held here?” He looks vivid.

The teacher is as disturbed as the rest of the class. “No, it hasn’t been used by anyone else in the past five years.”

-

[jossujb]

One teeny tiny nitpicky thing I am perplexed about the writing in the new Jago & Litefoot is that they in many points insist that the time they spend on the alternative universe was just few days, but they arrive to their correct one 3 months late.

I dunno what it serves, why couldn’t they just simply told they spend three months there? It would definitely make sense, as like, according to s13 they end up renting a shitty apartment and selling all their valuables, and like, I find that much more consistent and realistic if it just took them 3 months to get back.

I personally am gonna headcanon it that way, cos it makes better sense, just like I headcanon that their exploits in the 1960′s took at least 6 months, if not more, cosnidering that Jago did a whole tv series and Litefoot got a bookshop.

I guess in both cases the writers might have been worries that the timeline could be screwy, but like, I think they kinda like in Heartbeat kinda universe. In heartbeat the 60′s just never turns into 70′s, and in Jago & Litefoot I think that it’s about 1890 at the first season and then it’s 1899 around the Justice of Jalxtar and then after that you’re supposed to imagine they live like forever extended 88 of something xD

And now that I am in a mood of rambling, I was reading TARDIS wiki again, and they were like giving exact details to when Litefoot moved from Peking to London permanently and started his studes, I think they state 1867? That’s just 100% impossible, because the story they’re referring to features Wylds Great Globe, which was destroyed 1862.

I think that Jago & Litefoot reality isn’t exactly like ours so dates are like approximate, and you know, the globe is full of baby eating bat nannies in their world, but you know. Given that Litefoot was born in 1835-ish, I think the most reasonable date of him beginning his medical studies is like late 1850′s. I’ve personally used in my fanfictions 1857 as a base year.

Not that it matters, especially cos everyone knows that DW wiki is full of shit anyway, but I admit I was kinda peeved just because like, I personally like to make my fanfictions as close to canon as possible and people take what wiki says to be a fact xDD

[drlauralwalsh]

The Lusty World of Lesbian Widows

I’m really frustrated that COVID has gotten in the way of my grief achievements.  I figured 3 months in, I’d be doing the television talk show circuit, sold my book, and set up a non-profit foundation.  If only this pandemic hadn’t gotten in my way.

In my life before, if I spent too much time alone (like, over 4 hours), I’d start texting my sister-in-law that I was unsupervised and feral.  Uh oh.  I’d start going down rabbit holes and come up with weird stuff like how buff male kangaroos get.  Or questioning if my parents were really married since I couldn’t find a record of their union in the limited online databases. I could have paid for real records but I’m cheap.  I know, sounds crazy.  

But now, I’m alone for long stretches of time.  I’ve managed to channel some of this agitated energy into writing essays that speak to weirdos like me (shout out to my fellow weirdos!).  I spend hours researching (me-searching as we said in grad school) and discovering overachieving methods to dam the waters of my new spouse-less life.

I’m not just your average widow.  Oh no no no.  Of course, I have to be special so allow me to tack on some extra layers - lesbian, stepmom, and young (-ish, right?).  At 45, I have finally found a way to inch back towards the youth and relevance lost as you enter the fourth decade of life.  Today, I’d like to let you into the wonders of lesbianism.

I’m going to assume you’re not submerged in this subculture so I’ll tell you some secrets.  People are fascinated by lesbians.  To be fair, we live pretty mysterious lives.  We leave you hanging on profound questions like who takes out the trash and how do they have sex without a woody woodpecker? Sometimes, other communities get lumped in with us but they are actually quite different.  Of these witches, spinsters, and women who wear comfortable shoes, I only belong to only one of those so far.  I’m working on my stovetop skills and hope to someday conjure a penis.  Not a real one; that would be weird.

Amazon’s book market best represents the variable interests of our fan club members.  Right after my wife died, I launched a search for books on “lesbian widows.”  You’d think the algorithms would have pegged me by now (ha ha).  I was dismayed yet amused by the grand interpretation of what Amazon thought I meant.  The following is an unedited list of the top books recommended for me to purchase under these auspicious terms:

Lesbian Widows: Invisible Grief

by Victoria Whipple (Kindle $25.98, Paperback $46.95, Hardcover $907.71)

I’m impressed that the first one actually included my search terms but dang, it’s expensive to be a lesbian widow.  To be fair, you can rent it for $9.21 a month.  It’s also terribly niche within an already  small niche - invisible lesbian widows?  Published in 2014, you’d think it would be a little more hip.  Maybe it’s because I live in Chicago but even as an introvert, I’m decently visible.  Still, glad it exists and appeals to all eight people who each gave it a 5-star rating.

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows: Feminine Pursuits

by Olivia Waite (Kindle $3.99, Paperback $6.99)

I must quote the basic plot description for you to get the full impact of this novel: “The last thing the widow wants is to be the victim of a thousand bees. But when a beautiful beekeeper arrives to take care of the pests, Agatha may be in danger of being stung by something far more dangerous…”  The cover depicts said wapish widow sit/leaning against her handsome, pants suit-clad beekeeper.  At the much less expensive price for kindle and paperback, I’m only slightly put off by labeling bees as pests.

Odd women?: Spinsters, lesbians and widows in British women's fiction, 1850s–1930s

by Emma Liggins (Kindle $73.24, Hardcover $95.00)

The period is a little off but at least it includes diverse, international women.  I was looking for a self help book but this seems slightly more academic.  Not sure why there’s a question mark in the title as there’s no question about our oddity.  The description reads, “Women outside heterosexual marriage in this period were seen as abnormal, superfluous, incomplete and threatening, yet were also hailed as ‘women of the future’.”  Aw shucks, I *am* ahead of my time.  Dang that price tag!  No renting option for this one.

The Grass Widow

by Nanci Little (Kindle $0.00, Paperback $14.95)

It’s unclear where we’ll find the lesbian widow in this 2010 novel but the description yields some mild foreshadowing: “As a familiar civilization fades into the distance, she is nineteen, unmarried and pregnant, and has no reason to think that the year 1876 won't be her last...Joss, in her brother's clothes and severely lacking in social graces, has no time to mollycoddle a pampered, pregnant New England lady. It's work or starve, literally. There are no servants, no laborers - just a failing farm, impending winter and the two of them to face it together.”  It sounds like the shameless Joss needs her own dose of mollycoddling (wink, wink) to get through the chilly nights.

Her Widow

by Joan Alden (Paperback $18.00)

More popular with 10 people giving it an almost stellar rating, this tomb’s immodest summary insists it belongs on every bookshelf.  YOU WILL PAY ATTENTION TO US!  That’s how I read it.  Seriously, of all the books this one comes the closest to what I actually wanted.  Waiting for the kindle unlimited edition….(having no man money makes us frugal).

Made For You 3

by K. Shantel (Kindle $4.99)

Apparently, Made For You 1 and 2 were not as popular. Despite the fair price, this tale omits widows opting for the groundbreaking combination of lesbian romance and football.  While tragedy surely threads through this plot, it falls short of crossing the threshold from football to death (it probably does).  Shocker, I defy the sporty lesbian trope and instead prefer to spend time among my vast, treasured collection of power tools.  Just to be clear, I mean the ones for home repair (get your mind out of the gutter!)  If the lady protagonists of this book had been thrown together building a Habitat for Humanity house with their 10 dogs using only their Subaru to transport lumber, I might be more captivated.

The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, Book 1 of 1: Feminine Pursuits Series

by Olivia Waite (Kindle $3.99, Paperback $6.99)

I’ll give the author the benefit of believing there are more to come in the series. The title of this one intrigues me (I may steal it later) but sadly, it also defaults to worn stereotypes.  This collection of lesbian tropes finds my kin scoring yet another toaster for the conversion of a hapless straight lady.  Lesbians for the win!  Lady Reads-A-Lot gave it 5 stars and commented, “This was poetic and lovely, full of beautiful descriptions that knew exactly how to leave you breathless and then stop just before tipping into tedious.”  I’m guessing she means the sex scenes?  If you’ve ever watched any real lesbian porn, you know that it’s far better for the participants than the viewers.

Erotica: The Forbidden Adventures Of A Grieving Widow (Seduction, Lust, Lesbian Sex, Interracial Sex, Bondage and More)

by Amy King (Kindle $0.00)

This one is hands down, my favorite title and you can’t beat the price.  The author keeps the marketing short to sell you her novel: “All Ava wanted was to erase the memory of her recently departed husband. Little did she know that in trying to do so, she would experience mind-blowing adventures and lust across the globe. Ava would never be the same again as she ravenously eats up whatever adventure blows her way.”  Even though it’s another toaster novel, as a grieving widow ‘ravenously eats up’ does resonate.  I don’t think she means jars of cookie butter.

Of the eight masterpieces on the list, five are romance novels, one is academic, and two are in the ballpark (excuse the sports metaphor).  Scrolling further only yields more erotica including another novel titled, “Football Widows (lesbian)” by Amanda Mann and Deadlier Than the Male Publications.  Now I get it that we make up a small percentage of the population but this is some seriously messed up shit.  

Removing the lesbian and searching only for ‘widow’ yields twenty pages of books. I know what you’re thinking - “C’mon Laura, what’s the big deal?  Just get the standard widow book.”  And believe me, I’ve amassed quite the collection and am waiting for just the right intersection of not too devastated but ready to sob.  Bear with me for a sec - think about how we just want to be seen when we’re at our lowest.  When I first typed those words into the search bar, I just wanted something that used wife instead of husband.  

Every grief has specific salient elements and it’s too super niche to touch on all at the same time.  It would be weird and/or maybe nice to find another lesbian widow stepmom psychologist who lost her cop wife of almost 5 years to a PTSD-induced psychotic break and suicide.  That’s a Subaru full of identities.  If this person did exist, I’d be suspicious we’re the target on Incel trolls, longing to read the words of more seductive, witchy lesbians.  Instead, I plan on taking the high road.  I’ll get my knowledge and support from those who accept me by the category.  Obviously, one out of one lezzies agree there’s a market for lesbian widow self help guides - at the right price.  I may still write that book but if I want to get rich, I’ll definitely have to add more sex scenes.

[a-briefexposure]

I’m starting this blog on January 1st, 2022, and it will exist until January 1st, 2023. I’ve always wanted to keep a blog, but I’m extraordinarily lazy and can never remember to write without purpose. I fail at all diary-keeping endeavors. In fact, I have three different notettaking apps that I’ve tried to use as diaries, but ultimately just use as notebooks.

A blog isn’t quite as intimate as a diary, but maybe that’s what will help me keep the habit: the fact that I can still, or would still have to retain some of my “mask.” I do find myself often thinking about things somewhere between my personal life and my “professional” life that I have no space for––I hope to just dump them here. Notes, comments, photos, maybe old texts. I’m aware of the benefits of text-dumping.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about January the 1st. For about a decade we would celebrate it collectively with a huge breakfast, and the rest of the day would always pass way too slowly and I remember feeling very impatient and annoyed. I would always want the afternoon to be over quickly and just get on with it, let’s just move on into the year. These days I regard the date differently––with more attention. In some traditions, like the “cabañuelas” popular in the Caribbean and Spain, today marks the beginning of the “omen days”; in other places they start on December 26th, the same time as the 12 days of Christmas. Regardless of the tradition, the first week of January is full of information about what will come, what the weather (meteorological and, I guess, affective) will be like each month. From the days you distill a general sense of the year. So I ask, what are the signs so far? A wasp, a fly, a cloudy sky, a steaming cup of coffee, a slight headache, the smell of nutmeg, a noisy flock of birds, a blue-lilac dusk. There is a day’s full of omens to watch out for.... Starting a blog on January 1st! I hope to have created an omen for myself: you will write and enjoy writing. You will find a new mode of writing, a mindset that is more calm and maybe, at the same time, more joyful. You will find a better way to join together all the parts of yourself that seem incongruous.  

I end this post with a comment about the above images of the tarot. The Wheel is one of my favorite Major Arcana, because when it appears in a reading it produces a ‘reckoning.’ Are you (is “the querent”) at the top or at the bottom of the wheel? Does it matter? What matters is that if you are up you will come down, and if you are down you will go up. The “Rota Fortunae” is and has always been spinning. I can see how this concept could be unnerving, but I am convinced that it is profoundly comforting deep down. If historically the allegory of the Wheel had been employed to emphasize the transitoriness and capriciousness of earthly events, it serves a similar purpose in the tarot. After all, if we ask a deck of cards for advice, it is usually because we strongly desire or fear some sort of disruption. The Wheel tells us that we can’t hold off fate, but we can trust that nothing stays the same forever, and whatever is permanent about existence will not be destroyed by one more turn. All in all, the implications of the Wheel (impermanence, the only constant is change) used to make me nervous, but now they soothe me... perhaps because I never feel very stable myself. And so after the wheel has done its December Turn, we find ourselves in January, like the Fool, full of desire and formless energy. Formlessness can be frightening, but on January 1st, it’s liberating: the path to still travel, the year yet to be shaped––by our own will, instincts, and emotions, as much as by the whims of fortune.

I guess this is how, officially, this exercise in self-destructing writing begins. Happy new year.

Images: The Wheel of Fortune is from the “Jeu de tarot de fantaisie ‘égyptien’ á enseignes italiennes, dit ‘Grand Etteilla’” (c. 1850-ish), and the Fool is from the Jean Noblet Tarot (c. 1650). Etteilla was a French occultist whose system I’m very interested in learning but... I’m still trying to fully absorb the Marseille tradition. Maybe this year.

[crinkled-emotions]

Autumnal Asks

I was tagged by @its-me-theicequeen

lantern - how did you meet your best friend? What were your first impressions of each other?

So, I met my oldest best friend when I was 7 (I'm 17 now damn) and basically we started talking because we both liked horses I think. We fought like crazy and we're in completely different states of Australia now but I still love her heaps and love talking to her when I get the chance.

The second best friend I made when I was 12. We actually didn't talk until I was 13 or 14 when I properly became friends with her. To this day I still consider her one of my closest friends. Fun fact; we hated each other for a period of time.

Oof, now the girl I could seriously consider my second sister at this point- we met at the start of the year due to being one of the only four new kids in our dorm at school. We met during orientation, and haven't separated since. She's hilarious and always up for a fight, but luckily the mum friend in me always stop her before she does something stupid haha.

frost - if you could give some advice to your younger self, what would you say?

Mate, you've got a lot to learn. I know it seems like your life is great and you know everything there is to know, but tone down the know it all and actually give people the time of day to talk to you. You never know, maybe you'll stop being lonely.

maple - is there a hobby / skill that you’ve always wanted to try but never did?

You know, I actually really love netball; the sport, if you haven't heard of it before. My friend plays it and I got to be good at it when I was younger, but I hated the girls at my school therefore I didn't pursue it, so my netball career never exactly started off. Would definitely give it a good go now, in fact I'm starting next year. It's never too late!

harvest - what fictional character do you most identify with? Why?

I can't answer this. Personally, I relate to Georgie from Heartland; gosh, I love her. She is mature and level headed, but underneath that calm personality shows a girl who doesn't know what she's doing the next day, let alone with her life.

fireside - if you had your dream wardrobe, what would it look like?

Hm. My style is really simple, so it'd probably be full of comfy t-shirts, 5sos merch, SuggLife hoodies, black skinny jeans and Converse. Maybe a pair of vans or my slippers. Life would be great my dudes. Ooh, actually I would love to have a shit ton of makeup just to experiment and play around. It's a lot of fun tbh.

cider - a food that you disliked as a child but now enjoy?

I was going to say nothing, but then I thought about this tomato pasta thing my mum makes and I used to HATE it- like my mum would threaten me with bed or eating it and I'd just go to bed- but now I actually adore it and it's probably one of my favourite meals; especially with heaps of parmesan cheese. Yum.

amber - share an unpopular opinion that you may have.

I'm one of those people that doesn't really have unpopular opinions- either I think of them right before they become popular, or I see someone say something and I just agree with it. That being said, I ship Joe and Byron hardcore and no one really seems to so I guess that counts?

fog - how well do you think you’d do in a zombie apocalypse scenario?

I would die on the first day. I'm no good when I'm camping, I can't imagine how I'd be in that kind of situation. I'd probably hide somewhere and never come out.

jack-o-lantern - if you could look like any celebrity, who would you choose?

Anna Maynard! She is so humble and shy and relatable and GORGEOUS. Her eyes look gorgeous against her blonde hair, and she always wins with her makeup. Total babe, 10/10 would recommend. Also super happy for her with her new gig hosting a talent show, that sounds awesome!

spice - have you ever encountered a house that you believed to be haunted?

Yes, actually! I used to dream that the house on the end of my street was haunted- I moved before I could explore it sadly. I might try when I go back there for the Summer

orchard - share one thing that you’d like to happen this autumn.

Well actually, it's spring for me oops but hey. I can join the Americans/ the Brits for a while. Honestly, this spring for me would be the prime time for me to work on my horse riding, especially my jumping since that's my favourite thing. I'd also like to start my first full- length Joe x Byron story after my exams.

crow - which school subject do you wish you had an aptitude for?

Math. I HATE math and I'm the dyslexic where I only struggle with math (I mess numbers up constantly, can't keep track of formulas, think a 7 is a 1 sometimes etc etc...) so if I could improve anything it would be my math. My ATAR score would soar up. That or my plant production course- I'm not the best at that course and I don't enjoy it but I'd like to try harder in it and improve my grades.

bonfire - describe your dream house.

I'm one of those sad people who are either in the middle of the city with everything accessible, or a farm with a tiny town fifteen minutes away. I'm kind of leaning toward the farm (I'm at agricultural school so I'm biased lmao) so that my kids have plenty of room to run around, get dirty, and learn how to take care of themselves. I'm big on independence but also being able to scrape your knee etc. I'm not a bubble wrap-type of person, I don't think.

cinnamon - if you had to live in a time period different than the present, which would you choose and where?

You know what? This is going to sound so random, but I would love to visit the 1850's during the gold rush in Victoria, Australia- a lot happened and I would have loved to experience it. I've done a lot of research about those times and they were rough, but I think it'd make you a better person in the long run.

cobweb - (if you’ve graduated) do you miss high school?

I graduate next year lol, not sure I'll miss it for a couple of months after that.

cranberry - what’s one physical feature that you get complimented on?

My eyelashes and my eyes! Since I'm Irish, my hair is really thick and it's dark so my eyelashes are naturally long and thick. I always get lots of compliments on them which is really nice for an insecure little shit like me. My eyes also get lots of compliments since they change with my mood hahahaha.

maize - share the weirdest encounter you’ve had with a stranger on the street.

I was standing in line for Maccas and one person tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and she complimented me on my SuggLife hoodie! It was really nice of her but super sudden. I can't really call that weird but I still remember it. It's either that or the time a guy pushed me out of the way as he ran from the cops. That was terrifying.

quilt - how do you take your tea (or coffee)?

I hate tea (with a passion), and I don't drink normal coffee since it reacts badly with my anxiety medication. I drink decaf though, and I put in two teaspoons of both coffee and sugar, sometimes a little more sugar than coffee. I'm more of a hot chocolate person to be honest.

pumpkin - do you think that humans are inherently good or bad?

I've seen a lot of shit, been through a lot of shit, but I don't believe humans are inherently bad. I think there's always a breaking point for everyone, and once it's reached it's hard for someone to go back to the way they were.

moonlit - are you a neat or messy person? Is your room / house orderly?

I'm freakishly neat a majority of the time, but when I'm sad I don't clean my room or change my sheets and it gets really gross. That reminds me, I need to clean my room again.

flannel - have you ever gone on a bad date?

To go on a bad date, you have to have been on a date right?

cocoa - if you could have any type of hair, what colour and cut would you have?

I wish I still had my long hair! I recently chopped all the ombre off and now my hair barely goes past my shoulders which sucks. I'd love to redo my ombre when my hair is a lot longer and healthier. I want it healthy before I damage it again.

ghost - is there someone that you miss having in your life?

Yes, actually. It sounds random but I grew up with this guy since we were born (he's two months older than me) and we sort of hated each other but I was honest with him and he was honest with me, we had a good system. Our parents were close friends and I haven't talked to him at all since I moved from Victoria, but I wish him all the best. He was one of the rudest, asshole-ish guys when I was a kid, but it kept me on my toes so I guess that's a good thing.

I'm also tagging people on Wattpad! For Tumblr, I tag: @seductivebuttercreams. Good luck

[surveysonfleek]

457.

5000 Question Survey Pt. 19

1801. How many smurfs can you name? never really watched it. just smurfette and papa smurf. 1802. Do you keep track of your life using a planner or calendar book?Would you be lost without it? i have a planner that i only use for busy months. 1803. Have you ever fully eradicated a bad habit that you had? yeah. biting my nails. 1804. Where do snowflakes come from? the sky. 1805. What do these latin phrases mean? Et tu Brute: Congito ergo sum: no idea on both.

1806. You're writing a story. The super hot (guy or girl?): guy is about to kiss (who): a frog Just then they get interrupted by (what): the princess and somebody screams, (what):"wtf" but it is too late. Fortunately (who): the king walks by and does something (what): nothing and they all live (how): unhappily ever after. 1807. The radio is playing U2, The Defects, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Pointer Sisters, Staubkind, and Dr. Dre. on different stations. Which band are you most likely to listen to? dr dre. 1808. How do you feel about the tsunami that killed over 100,000 people in December 2004? it’s actually quite shocking to reread the amount of people that lost their lives that day. crazy. 1809. What is the difference between madness and brilliance? brilliance is more of what society would find impressive. 1810. Write any random sentance here: you spelt sentence wrong. 1811. Say the sentence you wrote out loud. Did anybody answer? no. 1812. Turn on your TV if it's not on already, what channel is it? no thanks, remote is too far. 1813. If you were to hit redial on your phone right now, who would it call? work. 1814. Hit edit paste on your browser and paste the last thing you copied here: this survey... so no. 1815. Miracle on 34th street, original or remake? i forgot both tbh. 1816. Have you ever been in a parade? nope. 1817. Why don't people just walk up to each other and become friends? i’m sure it’s happened. 1818. Do you turn the bass up all the way in your car (or would you if you had a car) and blast the music? yeah it’s on max. 1819. Do you care if what you do annoys others? to some extent. 1820. What keeps you from being happy? people bringing me down. 1821. If you could go back in time and talk to yourself five years ago what would you say to yourself(You can only stay in the past for FIVE MINUTES so make it COUNT!)? i’d definitely give myself a direction to go career-wise. 1822. Write a surreal (Having an oddly dreamlike quality) sentance: no. 1823. Can you talk for one hour without using the word 'like'? possibly. 1824. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? no. 1825. Say something nice about: yourself: i’m kind to the people i love. me: thanks for coming up with questions to help me kill time. your dad: he is the most generous person i know. your mom: she’s the best mother anyone could ask for. the one you love: very patient lol. 1826. Questions from random movies: Why is it that a fly can't bird but a bird can fly? You know what people are liking at night? cool. 1827. What is your favorite movie that Denzel Washington has been in? coach carter for sure. 1828. What websites are addictive to you? youtube, reddit, tumblr. 1829. Who do you love so much that you would clean live maggots out of their garbage pail just so that they didn't have to? ummmm. i don’t know... 1830. Who do you think will read all 5,000 of your answers to this survey? no one. or someone who’s redoing them. 1831. Out of everyone reading your diary, how many people know your first name? not many. 1832. When you die and your tragic story is a human intrest spot on the news will you want your friends and family to say you were the greatest smartest and kindest person ever...or tell the truth? tell the truth. i’m dead anyway. 1833. Have you filled out an organ donor card? no. 1834. Who do you never want to end up like? my boyfriend’s mother. 1835. How many oxymorons can you think of? pretty ugly. microsoft works. haha idk. 1836. How many years old is your diary? - 1837. How could today get any worse? no. 1838. What will you never ever do again? not sure... 1839. What's the most terrible lie someone could tell you? something that i already know? 1840. Would you ever wear vinyl pants? probably not. 1841. What was the last thing that you printed out? tickets. 1842. What would you say to Flavor Flav if you saw him walking down the street? nothing. 1843. What are you dependant on? my mother. 1844. What do you look forward to each day? eating and sleeping. 1845. What did you think of the Columbine shootings? tbh i don’t know much about it. 1846. Did you take lessons as a kid? what? gymnastics and karate. 1847. What's the best song to listen to after a break up? boyz ii men. 1848. The radio is playing Poison, Inxs, the Psychadelic Furs, Dio, and Matchbox 20 on different stations. What do you listen to? none. 1849. Do you know what it's like to take care of someone else? yes. 1850. Would you rather take care of someone or be taken care of? obviously be taken care of. but it’s also nice and rewarding to take care of someone else that needs it. 1851. What is the worst 80's song in your opinion? idk. 1852. What song makes you so happy that just want to dance and dance and DANCE? haha plenty of songs. old school rnb i guess. God, does it even matter if you think you "can't dance?" nope. 1853. What has been your most beautiful magical memorable cloud nine manic ecstatic incredibly happy bouncy air-light moment of this life??? watching my boyfriend win on roulette with one single bet in the private section of the casino in monaco. 1854. According to Depeche Mode, "Everything counts in large amounts." According to the Crow, "Nothing is trivial." Do you believe this is true? idk. 1855. Are you enjoying this thrilling lucious roller coaster ride of a life as much as I am? sure. 1856. Do you know how improbable it is that life exists at all? haha don’t get me started. 1857. Are you kind to strangers? most of the time. 1858. Do you go out of your way for other people? if i like them and if they’d do the same for me. 1859. Make a promise: i’ll try and finish this 5000q survey. 1860. Will you keep it? keyword: try. 1861. What do you think of the author of this survey? idk. What's my gender? female? What's my age? this is 10yo so maybe you’re 30+? What bands do I like(you must have SOME idea by now)? 90s stuff. Anything else?? no. 1862. What makes something "literature"? Also, what makes something "art?" to me personally, literature is basically any piece of written work and art can be seen/heard/felt/smelt/tasted in anything. 1863. Why are you even doing this survey?? Doesn't it TELL you something that you have NOTHING BETTER TO DO than fill out a 5,000 question survey??? i’m incredibly bored. 1864. Has answering these questions been a learning experiance for you (writeing them certainly has been for me)? the spelling mistake though. 1865. Have you ever been so happy you could cry? yes. 1866. Do you know that the one you love is the one you will spend the rest of your life with?? haha no i didn’t know that. 1867. Have you ever asked yourself, 'Is there any more to life than this?' yes. 1868. What did you answer yourself? nothing. 1869. Do you let the restrictions of society restrain you? nope. 1870. Or are you just too full of life to be stopped?? sure. 1871. We are spinning on a bright blue bulb that is bursting with life. How could you possibly feel alone? eh... 1872. Is there something you'd like to try? sure, first class! 1873. What makes your heart smile and your skin get all tingly-ish? any time i’m happy. 1874. How long has it been since you danced the night away? quite awhile... 1875. Are you willing to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to get the most out of life? at this stage in my life, no. but i want to. 1876. Are you willing to give the very best most beautiful part of yourself to the world? sure. 1877. Is there love in your heart? yes. 1878. Do things tend to go your way more often when you're happy? i guess so. 1879. What do you do while everyone sleeps? work or surveys lol. 1880. What is one thing you will you never ever ever get any more of? idk. 1881. What's your favorite short story? idk. 1882. Have do you feel about beauty pageants? they’re terrible for children and teens. it sets them up for an insecure mindset if they’re being judged on their looks all the time.  1883. If it ain't broke (say anything but 'don't fix it'): enjoy it. 1884. What is your favorite DIY related website? (mine is probably http://www.homeofthesampler.com) pinterest. 1885. Do you bruise easily? no. 1886. In William Shakespeare's play, "All's Well That Ends Well," the character Parolles makes an interesting speech about virginity, saying that "Virginity by being once lost may be ten times found; by being ever kept, it is ever lost...To speak on the part of virginity is to accuse your mothers; which is most infallible disobedience...virginity murders itself; and should be buried in highways, out of all sanctified limit, as a desperate offendress against nature. Virginity breeds mites, much like a cheese; consumes itself to the very paring, and so dies with feeding his own stomach. Besides, virginity is peevish, proud, idle, made of self-love, which is the most inhibited sin in the canon. Keep it not; you cannot choose but lose by't..." What do you think of this? tl:dr. 1887. Would you prefer to stay in a motel, hotel, inn, lodge, or resort? resort. 1888. Have you ever gone scuba diving? no, too scared. 1889. What kind of bread do you like? soft white bread. 1890. Do you usually behave the way you want to? yes. 1891. How does the idea in your head of what you want to be like match up to the reality of what you are like? no. 1892. Do you realize that in 111 questions this survey will have more questions than there have been years since christ was born? haha crazy. 1893. Are your air and water as pure as you want them to be? probably not. 1894. Would you ever visit an insect zoo? i guess i would. 1895. Can you enjoy life without stimulants (coffee, ciggarettes, drugs, alcohol)? i could. 1896. How many hours do you sleep every night? between 5-8. 1897. Is this survey your friday or saturday night date? yes hahaha. 1898. I go crazy when I'm without _______. sleep. 1899. Can you do the robot dance? no. 1900. How much thought do you put into your dance moves? not much at all. 1901. Are you able to recognize patterns, habits, routines and break out of them? yes.

[kazosa]

Second Chances - Jeff x Reader: Chapter 17

Summary: Reader and Jeff work a project and become fast friends. The project ends and they go their separate ways, neither forgetting the other. With Hollywood being a small community, you two bump into one another either at events or projects, but there is always something keeping you apart. Will the obstacles ever end? Chapter 17 Summary: Norman stops by, trip plans, reader reveals about her family Warnings: language (as usual), smidge of fluff A/N: Please leave comments or let me know if you want to be tagged, etc Word count: 1850(ish) Catch up here: Masterlist Tags: @jml509  @jasoncrouse  @yellatthetopofyourlungs  @bookchic20  @prettyepiic  @rizflo-blog  @curious-sub7  @backseat-negan  @warriorqueen1991

     Finally, it got to be the end of May and that meant that your movie was done and you were back in the states and Jeff was done with TV season. You had two amazing weeks together of doing absolutely nothing and it was perfect. On one particularly lazy, late morning, you both were just lying in bed watching a movie when Jeff’s cell phone rang.      He picked up his phone, looked at the display and flipped it open.      “Norman, what’s up, bubba?” he said.      Ever since Norman had gone down to Burbank to help you with the Norton, you and Jeff had him over for a few weekends here and there, especially after he and Helena ended things. He was nice to hang out with, easy to talk to, good listener. He and Jeff would spend a lot of time either riding bikes or they would go out for drinks; you usually went with them for the drinks. Those nights out were a lot of fun, but the mornings after were rough. You liked Norman a lot. He was quiet, very warm and such a flirt. You thought of him as a friend and that made Jeff happy, too.      “What’s wrong? Is he okay?” you whispered.      Jeff held up his finger to quiet you, he looked like he was straining to hear Norman. “Yeah buddy, be right there.” He flipped the phone shut.      Jeff looked at you, “Norman is here, needs a place to stay while he’s working.”      “Like here, here?” you asked. Jeff nodded. “Shit,” you sprang out of bed and ran your fingers through your hair. Jeff followed right behind you as you went jogging to the front door. You turned the locks and opened the door for Norman.      He gave you a once over and you were painfully aware that you hadn’t gotten out of bed all day. You had on one of Jeff’s funny t-shirts, shorts, and that was it.     

     Jeff watched as his buddy checked out his girlfriend. Norman always appreciated a gorgeous lady and (Y|N) fit that easily, especially looking the way she did just then. Hair all messy, wearing his t-shirt, her shorts barely showing making her legs look like they went on for days, and they did, sexy as all hell. It made Jeff happy that his best girl got on so well with his best buddy. He watched as she welcomed him in with a hug. Norman was all too happy to accept the hug and Jeff smirked when Norman flipped him off while he hugged (Y|N). Norm just grinned back.

     You knew Norman liked you too, but you’d made it clear Jeff was your boyfriend and he came back with, “I know, but I’m still gonna flirt with you.”      Well then… “Okay, so long as you know, I’m in love with him,” you said.      “Don’t worry (Y|N), I think it’s great you’re with him. He’s damn near beaming. It’s almost gross how cute you two are,” he said.        He was faking his disgust and you socked him in the shoulder.

     “Sweetie,” you said to him, “we’re going to go on a trip soon, will you be okay here by yourself?”      “Oh man, I’m sorry, I shoulda called sooner. Do you want me to go somewhere else?” he was turning a little pink.      “Norman, we’d never ask you to leave, I just want to make sure you’re okay on your own. You can call us any time if you need to talk. But we’re gonna leave in a couple days,” you explained.      “Nah, you guys go, I’ll be fine. Things are okay with me and Helena,” he said. “Just bring me back something cool.”      You smiled at him. Norman was an odd duck and you liked that about him.      “Make yourself at home,” you told him.      He already had, actually. Norman had spent a lot of time with you and Jeff over the last year and the spare room was now referred to as “Norman’s room” by you both.

     The two days passed quickly and you were glad Norman had been there. If there was anything that Norman was good at, it was being a distraction. The trip you were going to take had been put off for almost five months. You could have stood to have it put off much longer, but if you’d tried to tell that to Jeff, he would have said it had been put off too long, already.      “You ready, sweetheart?” he said making sure the sure the bags were secured to the roof of the Jeep.      “I… I need to go tell Norman something,” you said and started to walk away.      “(Y|N),” Jeff’s voice was firm and it made you stop. “You already told Norm everything…twice. Get in, please.”      Bisou was getting impatient and let out a low ‘woof.’ You got in the Jeep on the passenger side and Bisou gave you a very wet kiss on the side of your face and part of your ear. You reached up your left hand and rubbed her face and neck.      “Sit back, baby,” you told her.      You watched her as she did what she was told. The big dog settled on the back seat, looking all around out the windows. Oh, the joy of being a dog and NOT knowing where you were going, just being happy to be going for a ride.      Jeff climbed in and you almost laughed at how cramped he looked, but you were too anxious to think about it. He reached down and slid the seat the rest of the way back and tipped the seatback a little as well. When he finally got comfortable, he looked at you. He was so excited. You tried to smile for him.      “My parents are going to love you,” he said, finally starting your Jeep.      You were sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that Richard and Sandy Morgan were the two scariest people on the face of the planet, not even Jeff would be able to convince you otherwise. You were finally going to go up to Washington to meet Jeff’s parents. From what you understood, this was something that normal people in normal relationships did. You’d never had such a relationship before. When you were in high school, you didn’t really date anyone, just a few trips to the movies that never really amounted to much. There was just way too much family stuff going on to even think about serious dating. Besides, if you had, you’d come from such a small town that you already knew everyone’s parents. College wasn’t much better.      And now, you sat in the passenger seat of your Jeep with the intention of being a real adult and meeting the parents of the man you loved. Terrified didn’t even touch what you were feeling. You were going to do everything in your power to make sure Jeff drove slow and did some sight-seeing.      “I sure hope so,” was all you could manage to say.

     It was after the second fill-up and after your repeated requests to stop for the night and get dinner that Jeff ultimately asked you questions that had been bothering him for a long while, something you had been avoiding for just as long.      “Are you secretly wealthy?” he said bluntly. “Money never seems to be a concern for you. Are you a trust baby? Why don’t you ever talk about your family?”      You knew you couldn’t avoid it forever and you were in the Jeep with him for at least another day. You figured you may as well tell him.      “Am I secretly wealthy? No, not secretly and not especially wealthy either. My grandparents were really smart. My grandma was an accountant and Grandpa was in construction, that was a really good business to be in back then. She managed the shit-load of money that he brought in and grew it. When they died,” you heard your voice hitch, it always did when you thought about them. “When they died, they had a sizeable…estate, I guess… I didn’t get to touch it until I was 25 or my parents died.”      You looked over at Jeff and knew he was doing the math. You’d be 25 in just a few days and in the almost 5 years since you’d met, you’d never talked about your family and if you had, it was only in little scraps. He knew your parents weren’t in your life, but he didn’t know why, you were sure he suspected though.      “Grandpa died when I was 14. Grandma and my dad died suddenly when I was 16. Mom tried to hold on for me, they were her parents, and then my dad, too, she just couldn’t do it. The doctors said it was a heart attack, but I know it was a broken heart. My dad’s parents had died when I was little so, when I was 18, I was on my own. I’ve been careful with the money. I’ve never really needed much. Turns out, I’m good with numbers, too. I’ve been living off the interest I’ve made from investments.”      Jeff reached over and took your hand. He didn’t say anything, he just squeezed your hand and you rode on in silence for a while. It wasn’t awkward, just the peace of the open road.

     Jeff knew she’d been keeping something buried down deep, he just hadn’t expected what she told him. Her whole family was gone. It just broke his heart that she’d been without a family for so long. He didn’t even care about the money, but it was nice to know that she had something to fall back on if she needed it. She didn’t go overboard on anything, the most outlandish purchase he’d seen her make was the Jeep he was driving and even so, it was three years old. When he turned to look at her, she was already looking back.      She always seemed to know what he was thinking.      “We could stop for the night here,” she said.      “You don’t have to be scared to meet my parents, they’ll love you,” he said. They were on the 101 outside of San Francisco. “I know you’re trying to stall.”      “Isn’t Alcatraz here?” she asked, ignoring his comment. “That’d be so cool to see.”      He shouldn’t have been surprised, he always wanted to see Alcatraz, and she almost always liked the same things as him. The only thing he liked but found that she didn’t enjoy was horror movies, even then she still watched them with him. More like, she burrowed into his chest while HE watched the movie. It may, or may not, have been the reason he watched those movies with her.      He could feel himself relenting, “Devil woman.”      “Would it be too rude? We could catch it on the way back,” she compromised.      He slowed the Jeep as they came to an off-ramp. “I’ll call my mom and see what she and Dad have planned.” Her being scared to meet his parents made a lot more sense now. She wasn’t just scared to be meeting her boyfriend’s parents, she was scared to be part of a family again.

[rosecocoas]

okay okay i picked a few questions of the 100 OC asks thing but they are a LOT so if they are too many feel free to skip any c: 3, 5, 7, 14, 15, 31, 32, 37, 42, 47, 56, 57, 63, 65, 68, 69, 81, 84

I cannot thank you enough leaaaaaaa!!!!!!! This’ll really help developy children ;v; (also I switched the chatracters I’ll be using to Jaspar, Glen, and Tessa, because they’re my least rounded out people!) Also sorry idk how to do the under the cut thing on mobile,,,,

3. Biggest motivator?

Jaspar’s motivation in life is equality and/or justice! Glen’s is just morbid curiosity, he lives to do things just to see what the effect would be. Tessa is motivated largely by happiness, and the satisfaction of finishing/starting/doing something.

5. How do they deal/react with pain?

Hm. Physical or emotional pain? Because Jaspar would hide both tbh, and check on others before seeing that he is okay. Glen will just get super pissed off either way, and will probably break something to get out his pain. Tessa will isolate herself if she’s emotionally hurting, but if she gets physically injured she will just go into panic mode and hyperventilate, she’ll try her best to fix it on her own before going for help.

7. Which of their relationships have impacted them most positively?

Jaspar’s friendship with Emery made him feel strangely… alive. He’d been watching this boy from afar for 17 years, learning about Emery and yearning to form any kind of bond with him. When he finally does, he just wants to gush to him about everything! (Emery doesn’t stop him, despite not knowing him as long as Jaspar had known him.) Glen was really positively changed when Jaspar was introduced into his life. Someone to control the self-destructive impulses that Glen harbors in a nonviolent way (he’s very used to people in his life telling him what to do and using violence to enforce it), and to offer emotional support even if he can’t really convey his problems in words. Tessa’s life changed for the better when she met Chris, honestly? Originally she’d only seen him in the premonitions she would get, and in those he was shown doing… Bad Things. But he seemed like a whole different person when they ran into each other officially? He was aloof and didnt seem to sweat the small stuff, and (even though he didnt try to), he taught Tessa to not stress about things as much and just let life carry you sometimes, which she really needed 😊

14. How do they react to/deal with betrayal?

Jaspar will just softly grieve, and maybe disappear for a couple weeks to figure out what the logical thing he should do next is? (Because he’d be in utter shock, reasoning it out will be the only thing to help). Glen will make it a point to show people that he wasn’t affected by it, but he finds himself randomly spacing off and thinking about the person that betrayed him, he’d probably try to justify what they did and blame himself. Tessa would be a MESS. She’d feel lost and adrift. because she forms bonds with people fast and easily grows attatched to people, it’d just utterly break her entire being.

5. What is their greatest achievement?

Tbh it’s hard to say for Jaspar and Glen, bc their lives got cut short? Butttt I guess Jaspar’s greatest achievement (when alive) was raising $200 (this is 1850s-ish money, so it would currently be around $6,000?)for his family-run restaurant that was going under. Glen’s was getting his band a gig in the most famous venue in his state! Tessa’s was getting awards for three of her works in her colleg’s art contest (she submitted almost several pieces)

31. Are they more organized or messy?

Jaspar: Very. Very. Organized. Glen: sorta inbetween, he prefers organization but doesn’t want to deal with cleaning. Tessa cannot function unless there are papers strewn about absolutely everywhere in her room!

32. Pet peeves?

Jaspar hates when people grind their teeth, and also when people fish for attention. Glen HATES being told to calm down or be quiet, or seeing someone else being stifled. Tessa hates when people randomly interrupt conversations, and also when people click their pens (which Glen does A LOT.)

37. Last time they cried?

Jaspar cries at least once every week. Glen cries once every blue moon. Tessa, bless her, cries almost every other day… usually it’s stress.

42. Do they have any bad habbits?

Jaspar hums when he is thinking deeply, and shakes his leg when he’s sitting down. Glen, as said previously, WILL click a pen rapidly if he can get his hands on one (sometimes he steals them just so he can have something to do with his hands), he also chews on the inside of his cheek a lot which leads to really scarred up inside cheeks. Tessa picks at split ends and bites her nails!

47. Romantically interested in anyone?

Jaspar: YES. very much so. It’s Emery. Hardcore loves that boy. Would die for him. Glen: honestly he prefers friendships, he’s afraid of commitment. Tessa: sadly she still has feelings for Rocky, this ass dude who cheated on her, but she’s slowly getting over it!!!!

56. Hogwarts house?

Jaspar: Ravenclaw, Glen: Slytherin/Gryffindor , Tessa: Hufflepuff … or maybe Ravenclaw

57. D&D alignment?

Jaspar: Lawful good (?) , Glen: Chaotic Good. Tessa: Neutral good

63. Do they have an accent?

Jaspar just has the normal american accent. GlEN HOWEVER. HAS A VERRY THICK AUSTRALIAN ACCENT. WHY HASNT HE LOST IT YET??? Tessa has a slight sweet Minnesotan accent that refuses to leave her even though it’s been years since she lived in Minnesota.

65. If they knew they were going to die, what would they do/say?

Jaspar would leave and go on a road trip to all the places he wanted to visit, after saying goodbye to his family and friends.. Glen would not go down quietly, and cause havoc by committing a string of crimes. Tessa would probably get a lot quieter, she’d stop going to school too. Her dads would stay at home with her to keep her from thinking about it too much.

68. Do they become squeamish at the sight of blood?

It’d be funny if Jaspar didn’t like blood lol. Glen enjoys it. TESSA, she PAINTS with the stuff, so she isn’t made uncomfortable by it.

69. Anything they find really gross?

Jaspar- backwashed water. Glen-all bugs. Like, even butterflies. Tessa- moldy food. She barfs a bit in her mouth every time she sees it.

81. Do they try to hide their emotions? Are they successful?

Jaspar TRIES to, but he just can’t help it. When he’s feeling something he will tell people. Glen actually hides what he’s feeling really well. Poor guy is usually very overwhelmed with everything, but he doesn’t show it at all. Tessa wears her emotions on her sleeves.

84. What are some physical features they find attractive on people?

Jaspar is a sucker for freckles. Glen thinks blonde hair is really cute. He really has a thing for blondes. Tessa doesn’t think appearance matters much, but she’s enthralled by people with deep green eyes.

Gosh, again, thank you !!!! Some of these really made me have to think a little bit, and I loved the challenge!! I should’ve brought Ravi into this too tho :c Next Time!!! (I just hope they don’t sound boring/generic??? My only worry.)

[neurotic-nimrod]

“Big Character” (Diving Into Rasteau’s New-Old Identity)

Well… I’m in the unenviable position of having to date myself.

Embarrassingly (not because of my age, about which I mostly don’t care, but because of my obvious lack of knowledge), I knew little about the Rasteau appellation prior to visiting it on a recent Rhône media jaunt, aside from the fact that it was the home of some bad-ass Vin doux naturel sweet wines (which were permitted under the Rasteau AOC since the 1940s). Ok, more like I knew nothing about the appellation outside of its VdN wines.

But the area has been making its dry red wines based primarily on Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre playing heavy roles) under the Rasteau AOC for nearly two decades now, having been approved in 2010. That’s a long enough time that a self-professed wine pro type should have known something about it, but in the relative Rhône timeline is recent enough to force dry Rasteau producers into a market game of catch-up.

And catch up they have. Rasteau’s best producers are doing well by their appellation’s new-old identity, now exporting over 40% of their collective production. There’s a bit more soil variety in Rasteau than in much of its neighboring Rhône AOCs, to the point where its wines have enough going on to mark them as distinct.

Specifically, Rasteau reds are, as Domaine Combe Julière‘s Laurent Robert put it during my visit, “Big character” experiences. “Spicy wines; well-concentrated and powerful, but with elegance.” This was a sentiment echoed by other vintners and proprietors in the area. Réjane Pouzoulas of Domaine Wilfried had this to say when asked about Rasteau ‘s typicity: “You can have full-bodied wine, of course; but with finesse.”

“In Rasteau, you can have wine that can age,” remarked Lavau‘s Benoît Lavau. “The appellation has the potential to do whatever you want. It’s always [about] the balance between tannins and acidity.” He went on to describe their wines as “sunny and strong!” That’s an impressively consistent set of responses based on Rasteau’s new-ish identity; either that, or an equally impressive effort of coordinated marketing planning. Based on my tastings, I suspect the former…

Laurent Robert of Domaine Combe Julière

Domaine Combe Julière “Cuvée Aimé” Rasteau, $NA

Laurent Robert’s father was in a co-op, and the family were negociants for two decades before releasing Domaine Combe Julière’s wines from their organically-farmed vineyards under their own label. In some cases, their  old-vine Grenache plantings (dating back to the 1920s) need to reach ten meters down in the stone-and-clay soils to find water. The area is a preserve, so new plantings “are difficult” according to Robert. The old plantings are going strong, based on this blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Carignan from the Saint Didier vineyard. Dense, ripe, spicy, juicy, and silky, the black fruits abound in a purple, powerful, and deep red that evokes mint and licorice. The tannins will need a ton of time to come around, but it’ll be worth the wait.

2016 Domaine Domaine Combe Julière Vin doux Naturel Rosé Rasteau, $NA

All Grenache, and all about pleasing people, this is a floral and minty rosé, sporting quince, strawberry candy, and almond flavors. The sweetness is tempered by ample freshness, so much so that you could easily get into trouble… this 17% abv beauty is just that easy to drink.

2016 Domaine Elodie Balme Rasteau, $25

If it takes a tough man to make a tender chicken, sometimes it takes a diminutive lady to make big wines. Elodie Balme’s dad also worked with a co-op (sensing a theme here?), but since 2006 she’s grown the family plot under her own name from 4ha to 17ha (5.5 of which are dedicated to Rasteau). Balme avors concrete for aging, and it seems to lend refinement to the power of her reds. Her dry Rasteau includes Carignan, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with its Grenache base, and it starts with earthy, mineral tones that usher in fresh blue fruits and licorice. Spicy, bold, and approachable.

2016 Domaine Elodie Balme Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel, $NA

Violets, raisins, plums, violets, and licorice (duh) mark this finely-grained, deep, and structured sipper. While it doesn’t lack for elegance, this Grenat (Grenache-based) VdN has its bedroom eyes going on, in which one can find themselves getting easily lost.

  2016 Lavau Rasteau, $18

Lavau have been in Bordeaux’s St Emilion since the 1800s; in the `60s, Benoît Lavau’s dad made wine in Tunisia before eventually returning to France. They’re now the 2nd largest producer of Rasteau dry reds, bottling under their own label starting in 2008. A true GSM, from purchased fruit, and aged in used oak, this is an exercise in tannin management, and is downright silky by Rasteau standards. Black fruits, black licorice, grit, and power, this one isn’t fooling around, but it’s clearly out to make friends.

  2016 Domaine Wilfried Rasteau, $NA

This 5th generation producer now farms organically, crafting this Grenache/Syrah/Carignan blend into a grippy, dusty, sexy red that’s spicy, floral, juicy, minty, and showing off alluring aromas of cedar and licorice on top of its ripe plum flavors.

  2016 Domaine La Colliere Rasteau Esprit d’Argiles, $NA

You can take a guess as to the soil form which this “Clay Spirit” originates. The spirit has much Kung-Fu: licorice, meat, red and blue fruits, dusty herbal spices, mint, wood, minerals, and a thick, full palate. It’s big, bold, and in search of flank steak.

  2016 Domaine les Evigneaux Rasteau, $23

I found it difficult to beleieve that this mix of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Cinsault doesn’t cost more like $50. 60 year old vines, 20% new oak, 100% overachieving, you get herbs, licorice, violets, dark plums, dusty tannins, ample grip, tight acids, and powerfully density. It’s a wine that ought to last a good long time in repose.

2015 Domaine Grand Nicolet Rasteau Les Esqueyrons, $NA

These guys had the first private cellar of Rasteau, and their know-how is on full display in this blend of single-vineyard, 80 year old Grenache and 60 year old Syrah. Put simply, it’s stunning – particularly in its balance of richness and vivacity. Spicy, minty, juicy, and complex, you could spend hours contemplating the textural elements here, in which a superb balancing act of structure, concentration, and suppleness are taking place.

2016 Domaine du Trapadis Rasteau Les Cras, $NA

This  producer has been in the Rasteau area since 1850, and now employ their 5th generation of family vintners, who recently expanded their cellar to keep pace with the production from their 25ha of organic and Biodynamic vineyards, which range from yellow marl to calcarous sediment, sand, pebbles, and (in this win’es case) red marl. Trapadis’ Les Cras is an elegant introduction to dry Rasteau, with its emphasis on red fruits, red licorice spices, vibrancy, and textural complexity.

2016 Domaine du Trapadis Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel Grenat, $NA

Wow. Clocking in at 15.5% abv, and 100 g/l of residual sugar, and all of it exquisitely balanced with minerality, freshness, and floral, minty aromatics. It’s bursting with blue fruit, dried figs, dates, cherries, and a sense of power, culminating in a finish that is enviably long.

2013 Cave de Rasteau ‘Rasteau’ Domaine de Pisan, $25

Sixty percent of the regional production for Rasteau comes courtesy of this co-op, a collection of 80 growers (each averaging 5-10ha of vines); it’s the operation that, in terms of modern wine market history, put Rasteau on the map. As is usually the case with co-ops, I found their higher end dabbling to be the most interesting. To wit: Domaine de Pisan, a supple GSM with ample mineral and spice notes, offering a mouthfeel that is at once both powerful and well-developed, refined, and totally approachable.

Numero 75

2016 Domaine des Escaravailles Rasteau Heritage 1924, $36

I had the good fortune to end my stint in Rasteau at restaurant Numero 75, tasting with members of the Ferran family who have owned Domaine des Escaravailles for three generations. Their fanciful name dates back to a time when penitents working in fields wore black, causing the locals to unceremoniously label them “beetles.” Their Heritage red is made using old-vine Grenache grown at 300 meters elevation; it’s fresh and delightful, big but balanced, with a ton of cherry fruit, and long tannin chains (courtesy of the elevation and long ripening times). It’s a good ager, too (the 2011 was coming along quite nicely, and still has some way to go before it peters out).

2016 Domaine des Escaravailles Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel Blanc, $NA and

2016 Domaine des Escaravailles Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel Grenat, $NA

The Beetles are also purveyors of two excellent, high-quality VdNs: the white (Genache Blanc from stony, hillside soils) is nutty, earthy, and floral, dominated by sweet pear fruits; the red (Grenache, also from stony-clay hillsides) is rich, floral, and concentrated, with cocoa and black cherry action. Both are worthy of your time when the sweet-tooth comes a-callin’.

Cheers!

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Copyright © 2016. Originally at “Big Character” (Diving Into Rasteau’s New-Old Identity) from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers! Source: http://www.1winedude.com/big-character-diving-into-rasteaus-new-old-identity/