#and just the overall pressure to perform (on both sides)

[wttcsms]

michael kaiser or tooru oikawa, pick one

[guided-by-stars]

Everyone’s always talking about facades in ISAT. Loop’s facade weaving itself into their true self, Siffrin’s acting breaking down over hundreds of performances, how Isabeau uses masks to cover his insecurities. But not all facades are constructed purposefully and not all are so consciously maintained.

I think a lot of people underestimate Mirabelle. Both in our world, and in theirs. She’s very disarming, isn’t she? Anxious, biting her nails, conciliatory, kind, overly careful with others. The first member of the party, the protagonist, but always letting everyone but herself take the lead, except when dealing the final blow on the King. You’d be forgiven for thinking she’s shy. But she’s not, is she? She was given incredible responsibility by her mentor that could, by all her knowledge, be dead, and instead of crumpling under that pressure, like many might have, she seeks out the Defenders to ask for their help, and even after they deny her, she ventures out, with only one person by her side, unquestionably dedicated to her quest to save Vaugarde.

She’s incredibly brave! And smart too! It’s hard to stand out in that regard, when you’re traveling with a Researcher, head always buried in books, reached the age of 40, almost twice as long on this world as you have been, and a man who grew up the literal stereotype of a nerd, who still knows how to calculate numbers in his head in an instant as if it’s nothing, and this mysterious traveller who has been disarming all these traps for you and finding all these keys and has an incredible number of random skills and survived on his own for how many years? But Mirabelle is clever and perceptive! And the most emotionally intelligent and least repressed out of anyone there. She always notices when Siffrin is feeling awful and attempting to hide it. In Dormont, in Act 3, she asks if he’s okay, and when he says that he is, she straight up pushes back against it and says that she’s pretty sure that he’s lying about being fine. She’s aware that Siffrin has put up a wall, she just doesn’t like overstepping. If she was the type who didn’t care about pushing boundaries, she would have confronted him far before Act 5. And she knows how to do so many things!! She’s taken over a hundred classes. One thing about Mirabelle, is she’s absolutely ravenous to learn. Everything.

Sure, she holds some things back. She’s not open about how much responsibility she feels has been placed on her back, and is nervous about how others will perceive her lack of interest in dating, but overall, she’s far more open about her own feelings than anyone else in the party. When she’s anxious, she says it. When she needs help, she accepts it. Now this. Is crazy.

And then there’s her interest in the schadenfreude of it all. The morbid. Mild mannered Mirabelle loves seeing little guys being put through… the horrors. (Oh Mirabelle…you would love In Stars and Time) She has a collection of gory books in her bedroom, and takes the horror anthology into her pocket when you find it. Part of it is because seeing others in danger makes her aware of how safe she is by comparison, part of it is the catharsis, the emotional relief of seeing the Chase being fulfilled. But I think some of it is just fascination and curiosity. As mentioned earlier, she desires very deeply to Learn Everything. Learning how someone might be torn to bloody pieces by the Beast? Part of that.

Mirabelle is kind, sweet, and cute. Yes. But she is also incredibly capable, clever and perceptive, tremendously brave and courageous, and is fascinated with horror and gore and danger. When Euphrasie blessed her, said that she was the only person who could have done it, she was right. I feel like people in general are prone to flattening out optimistic and positive characters and seeing them as more shallow, while digging deeper into more negative and externally emotionally turbulent ones. Mirabelle is not shallow!!!

And all of that is said without any mention of her fixation on Changing!! I am going to explode!! This post is too long already but maybe I’ll make another one about her unhealthy fixation on always Changing and how that drives almost everything she does, both before and during the same!! It is so core to her psyche! Ahhh fantasy religion!!

[therhythmafterthesummer]

Backseat (M) ~Lee Know

Pairing: BestFriend!Minho x F.Reader Themes: Smut | Best Friends to Lovers Word Count: ~1k | AO3 Warnings: graphic depictions of intercourse (pwp. smut warnings under the cut). Summary: Unable to wait a single second longer, you found yourself laying in the back of your best friend’s car.

Author’s Note: happy new year ! first piece posted in 2023 and it’s not a fantasy AU? wow, a shocker. i am working on a bigger piece right now, but words aren’t coming as easy as i’d like them to (it’s moving tho, slowly, but surely), so i wrote this as a bit of a warm up and also because i am weak as hell. if you’re reading this, hope you enjoy !

Due to all the abovementioned warnings, this story is intended for an adult audience only. Minors please do not interact.

Smut Warnings: oral [F.Rec], semi-public/car sex, protected penetration [piv], slight exhibitionism?

Disclaimer: the story represented in this work does not represent Stray Kids in any way; anything described in this story and all actions performed by the characters are purely fictional, this was created just for good fun.

“Minho… Oh, fuck–”

Spending your Friday evening at the beach wasn’t uncommon. What was uncommon was having your best friend’s head between your legs, with his mouth on your clit and two fingers knuckle deep into you, giving you some toe-curling head on the backseat of his car.

You usually came here together to just hang out and try to relax from the long week, to enjoy the sound of the waves and the darkness of the night. It had become a routine of sorts, especially this past year. Minho had been your friend for a few years now, what started as a simple online partnership to defeat raids more efficiently in a game you both played turned into this full blown friendship.

Minho eventually became your best friend when you finally moved closer to him, when you finally got to meet him frequently in person and got to be more present in his life. Honestly, you weren’t sure how it happened, but one random Tuesday morning after staying over at his place, the moment you saw him come out of his room, his face swollen with sleep and his hair tousled, it hit you like a ton of bricks. You had developed a crush on him… You were crushing on him… Hard. And for the longest time, you thought it was one-sided.

Tonight, you weren’t really sure how it happened, either. You were sitting thigh against thigh on the breakwater, talking about nothing in particular until suddenly Minho dropped the most random ‘can I kiss you?’ to which you replied ‘yes’ almost in a heartbeat. And before you knew it, you were here, panting, crammed on the backseat of his car as he diligently lapped you up.

It had taken Minho a while to find the right motions, but once he did you just couldn’t stop the noises that were coming out of your mouth anymore. His tongue added just the right pressure on your clit, his fingers curled against your sweet spot, and that, added to the occasional groan coming out of his mouth and the fact that it was him between your legs, had you close to your high–almost embarrassingly quickly, if you might add.

Every time you tightened your grip on Minho’s hair, he did the same on your thigh, making you dizzy with the strength of his grip and just the overall feel of his touch, and before you knew it, you were trembling with your release, moaning his name as his tongue and his fingers helped you enjoy every single wave of your pleasure until you were whining in oversensitivity and pushing on his head to get his mouth off of you.

Making his way up your body, Minho kissed your lower belly, your stomach, between your breasts, until finally, he found your mouth. You were panting, breathless, and you could hear a ringing in your ears, but that didn’t stop you from cupping his cheeks and kissing him back, tasting yourself on his tongue and swallowing every single sound that slipped out of his mouth.

“Want you…” Minho mumbled against your lips, sounding just as worked up as you felt.

“Have me…” Was all you mumbled back, pecking his lips one last time before he pulled away from you to blindly reach for the bum bag he’d discarded on the driver’s seat a few hours earlier.

“This might be a bit difficult…” Minho chuckled once he fished his wallet out of his bum bag and pulled a condom out of it.

“We’re about to have sex in a car, wasn’t really expecting anything else”, you chuckled, watching as he tore the packet open and slid the latex over his length.

Minho scoffed, but you could faintly see the smirk on his face with the barely there illumination of the faraway lights by the coast. “We’re only having sex in this car because someone couldn’t wait until I got them home”.

“Didn’t see you complaining–Woa!” Your sentence cut short as Minho suddenly took a hold of your hips and pulled you closer to him, setting himself between your legs.

“How could I complain when the prettiest girl was begging me to fuck her? I’m just a weak man with a crush, baby”, Minho chuckled, holding himself up with a hand next to your head and dragging the tip of his length over your folds, lightly teasing your clit with it only to finally line himself with your entrance.

Licking his lips, Minho paused for a moment, looking you in the eyes. “You sure about this?”

You cupped his cheek, lightly stroking shapes on his skin with your thumb. “Yes”.

Slowly, carefully, Minho entered you, centimetre after centimetre diligently stretching your walls around him. You bit your lower lip to suppress a whimper. You felt like whimpering not because it hurt–even if you hadn’t done this in a long time, you were so aroused your warmth was just effortlessly letting him in–but because you had spent so long dreaming of this moment you just couldn’t hold back any sound.

“Fucking hell…” As soon as Minho bottomed out, he lowered himself, propping his weight on his elbow as his mouth seeked yours, kissing you deeply. “Warm…”

You just hummed, kissing him just as intensely as he did. He, too, was warm within you, and the feeling had your mind fogging with desire immediately. With his hand holding your head both to keep you in place and to prevent you from hitting yourself against the rear door, Minho started to move, rocking his hips at a slow pace, gradually building his tempo until you were once again a whiny, whimpering mess under him.

Pretty, soft, warm, so good, so tight, heavenly, Minho just kept mumbling random words against your skin as he fucked into you, kissing your lips, your cheeks, your neck, your chest, anywhere he could and as much as he could within the tight space you were in. The windows of his car fogged up quickly, the entire vehicle was rocking with his motions, and if anyone saw this car from afar you were sure they’d know exactly what was going on inside.

Even if it was the middle of the night and there was no one close by, the chances of someone walking by were very real, and somehow that fact had more heat pooling in the pit of your stomach, had you moaning a bit louder, mindlessly digging your nails on Minho’s back, coaxing the most delicious noises to leave his lips with the motion. 

Your lower abdomen was tightening harshly, both because of the strain caused by fucking in such a crammed space, but also because of the new angle in which he was fucking into you, hitting all the right places within you. Sneaking a hand between your bodies, you found your clit, and you diligently rubbed that sweet bundle of nerves between your legs, working yourself up and enhancing the feel of Minho in you, all over you.

“That’s it, baby… Fuck, you’re gripping me so hard, don’t think I’ll last much longer, huh…”

At this point, it didn’t matter what he said, anything that came out of his mouth had your head spinning, and it wasn’t long until you got your sweet release, spreading warmth all throughout your body and dragging the most desperate swears out of your mouth.

“Fuck, fuck, gonna–” Minho’s hips snapped into yours hard, and you could hear the back of his hand hitting the rear door as it pushed your body against it with each thrust. Until finally, he stilled, buried as deep as he could within you, the most sinful of groans falling from his lip as he reached his peak.

Minho collapsed on top of you, panting, breathless. You held him tightly, pressing kisses on the side of his face and softly massaging his scalp with your fingers. You both stayed like that for a moment, all tangled limbs and a bit sweaty, but so incredibly satisfied.

With a content sigh, Minho pulled himself up, kissing you briefly for a moment only to pull away. Carefully, he slid out of you, holding the condom in place at the base so as to not make a mess. 

You could vaguely register him moving around in the car, hearing the ruffling of a plastic bag, and the odd huffs and puffs as he got rid of the soiled latex. Eventually, he sat down properly, with his back against the backrest, laying your legs over his lap.

“This is all I have right now”, he reached between your legs, carefully wiping you clean with what you figured was a napkin.

“Always so considerate, Minho”, you chuckled once he was done, teasing him a bit but also feeling your cheeks heat up at the tender gesture–maybe your standards were just that low, or maybe you just really liked him…

“Just want to take care of you”, he wasn’t teasing you at all, he actually sounded really serious about it, and the comment warmed you up from the inside out. 

“Mm…” Your body was starting to ache from the weird angle you were laying in, along with the aftermath of being fucked in the backseat of a car, clearly.

“So…” Minho cleared his throat, just as his thumb lightly traced circles on your calf. “Wanna go for brunch with me tomorrow?”

You propped yourself up on your elbows, looking at him. “As… Friends?”

Minho was quiet for a bit, until he took a deep breath, finally answering your question. “As… A date”.

You looked at him for a few more moments, taking in his side profile and his heaving chest. Finally you sat down, moving to straddle him, and cupping his cheeks. His hands found your thighs, softly massaging your skin as you looked at him. And as you got lost in the warmth you could see in his eyes, you couldn’t help the smile that made its way onto your face. “A date it is, then”, so you pressed a brief kiss on his lips to seal the deal.

“A date it is then”, Minho mumbled, wrapping his arms around your waist and hugging you tightly against him.

All of a sudden, he lightly smacked one of your buttcheeks, earning a surprised, almost incredulous gasp out of your lips. “Now, as much as I love seeing you naked, we should get dressed before we get arrested for public indecency. Better we continue this at my place”.

With a chuckle, you slid off of his lap, blindly reaching for your clothes and feeling anticipation building inside of you once again at the prospect of the long night ahead of you.

Tagging: @raspbinniecreme @staaa96 @oiminho @dundullresident @honey-lemon-goose @tasteleeknow @carefully325 @lavenderxkies @biribarabiribbaem @meowmeowhoon @dearalice If you want to be removed from the list just PM me. If you want to be added fill in this form~

© therhythmafterthesummer 2023. all rights reserved. do not repost or translate my stories.

Constructive feedback (or even keysmashes, really) is always welcome :)

[nayeonline]

Ari's K-Pop Roundup: May 2024 (aespa, NewJeans, IVE, tripleS, YVES, ARTMS + MORE)

sorry this one was a little late - it was partly due to my personal life being a bit hectic at the moment, and partly due to the amount of stuff I wanted to say about this month's releases. check out last month's installment here, and happy pride month :)))

Supernova + Armageddon - aespa

Instant classic. 'Drama' in all its electric cyber-crush glory is a tough act to follow, but 'Supernova' holds it's ground from the first second and starts being fucking iconic in the next five.

Dem Jointz is all over this track, I love how he gets to go a little wild with the complexity of his production when working with groups like aespa and NCT. The beat bounces and booms, taking the listener on an intergalactic roller coaster ride of dance-pop rhythm, with the aespa girls as our celestial guides. 'Supernova' is a masterclass in vocal mixing and ad libs, Ningning's vocals sound especially addictive on this track, low and oozing confidence. It's an instant hit, and one of aespa's best.

While 'Supernova' feels very much in aespa's usual territory, 'Armageddon' takes a few more risks - it's slightly less dancepop, a little more edgy; less first-listen club banger and more third listen unexpected groove. Don't get me wrong, it definitely maintains the hallmarks of an aespa title track: full of unplaceable futuristic synths, tin-can trap beats, and a deep sliding baseline, but something about that half time chorus and the switch up to focus on the members lower registers more feels so confident. 'Armageddon' depicts an aespa utterly assured in their abilities as idols, musicians, entertainers, and performers, and regardless of it you liked the song or not, I think it is clear to anyone from this title track that aespa have far from reached their peak, and they still have much more to do in this industry.

Frustratingly, the album did not live up to the quality of the titles that represent it. There are a few stand out hits, like 'Bahama', which pulls off y3k h2o just add water mermaidcore effortlessly, as well as 'Set The Tone' a classic aespa style track evocative of the 'Drama' and 'Savage' EPs in sound, and 'Licorice' which apparently is controversial to enjoy, but I can't help but love its bounce and rhythm; but much of the rest of the tracklist fell short. I couldn't help but notice a lack of coherence both in the sound and concept of this era. The album feels like a hodgepodge of tracks rather than a deliberate project - there aren't any through lines between tracks other than aespa's flagship futuristic production style (which isn't actually present on every track but whatever), and each song seems to be appealing to different scenarios of streaming music - BAHAMA is for a summer beach date, but Supernova is for the club, but then Live My Life is for a disney channel original movie starring Demi Lovato?? The overall vibe seems to be disjointed.

This is a problem I have with a lot of aespa's releases since the 'Savage' EP - on the EP or mini album or album or whatever around 65-90% of the tracks are certified bangers, life changing hits, and then there are a few dull fillers to pad the runtime. I know there is a pressure for groups to release something twice a year or so, but I think aespa is at a point in their career where they can certainly afford to release an album once a year if it's for the sake of quality music.

Great titles, poor b-sides - aespa deserves more than a top-heavy album, SM take more than six months next time you want to make an album for them I beg.

How Sweet - NewJeans

It's been a rough couple of months over at HYBE, and considering how sick we are of it as fans and listeners, I can't even imagine how exhausted the members are of the whole ordeal. Being at the centre of one of k-pop's biggest company dramas in history in the middle of your comeback season isn't for the weak, but NewJeans make it look easy. They are back, stronger than ever, with yet another instant classic.

'How Sweet' is the complementary reversal of 'Bubblegum', capitalizing on the members gorgeous lower registers and pairing them with a 90s hip-hop vibe, featuring their signature NewJeans production flairs as always. I've seen a little bit of criticism that this song feels too much like 'ETA', (which I think is a bizarre comparison, it much more sounds like a lovechild of 'OMG' and 'Ditto') but I don't think that groups releasing music in their established sound is a bad thing at all. NewJeans aren't rookies anymore, they have more than proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with both on the charts and on the stage, and with the korean general public and bunnies themselves consistently loving the NewJeans sonic identity it makes no sense for them to abandon it entirely. They've grown a lot since 'Attention' and 'Hype Boy', and their performance of this song shows that clearly.

The girls' vocals on this song are to die for, every line they deliver exudes confidence and assurance in their capabilities. Danielle and Hanni's little chant of 'Toxic loverrrrr you're no betterrrrr, 거기 숨지 말고 얼른 나와, you little demon in my storyline, don't knock on my door, I'll see you out' is adorable and SO catchy, Danielle's delivery in that outro with her Aussie accent being a highlight of the song as a whole.

Yet another banger from (in my opinion) the most exciting kpop group out right now - it is becoming clearer and clearer to me that the day NewJeans release a bad song is the day pigs fly.

Girls Never Die - tripleS (<ASSEMBLE24>)

The final lineup for tripleS is here, and with it, one of the groups best songs to date. Juggling 24 members in one song is feat few have successfully managed, but tripleS expertly uses the plethora of voices they have at their disposal to deliver a title track as hypnotic as it is anthemic.

'Girls Never Die' has all the hallmarks of a tripleS song we've grown to adore, from y3k style production to the classic 'lalala' hook in the chorus - sonically it both calls back to the groups humble beginnings with Acid Angel From Asia's 'Generation', and looks to the future of the group with its united 24 members. The verses tend to lose me a little, but although they are dull, they are thankfully short, and the chorus is a stunner. The finale of the track is a triumph, the final refrain of 'girls never die 절대 never cry' closing the song giving the effect of a battle cry - to me 'Girls Never Die' says tripleS are here to shake things up in the industry, and release fun music while doing it.

I've enjoyed many a tripleS project before this, with the +(KR)ystal Eyes EP and the 2023 ASSEMBLE album being real highlights. '<ASSEMBLE24>' is immediately one of ( if not their best) albums, b-sides such as 'Beyond the Beyond', 'White Soul Sneakers', and ESPECIALLY 'Chiyu' bringing the heat fully.

tripleS are one to watch, and while I have genuinely no clue what 'decentralized kpop idol group' means or what the fuck an objekt is, trust when I say I will be watching.

Accendio - IVE (IVE SWITCH)

After the exciting return of an IVE that is worthy of their hitmaker epithet with 'HEYA', I was intrigued to see what 'Accendio' would bring to the table other than a matching cherry-red wig moment for the members (which was iconic btw.)

'Accendio' borrows some ideas from garage, but generally just feels very kpop - it's functionally the epicentre of the sounds of the industry right now; a little bit tripleS, a little bit (G)-IDLE, but 100% IVE. It has an ethereal quality, but in the sense of a fallen angel, with the lyrics bringing a sense of Catholic guilt (not sure why this is becoming a trend right now but sure!). The chorus is half high-fashion girlpop with their chant of 'watch me, don't touch me; love me, don't hurt me', and half rhythmic acid trip with the onomatopoeia and the refrain of '주문 걸어, accendio'; it's a highly successful marriage of opposites. To me it recalls the sound of their Japanese single 'WAVE' which I personally loved, and while 'HEYA' is technically a more advanced kpop song production-wise, 'Accendio' just has a pace and rhythm to it that 'HEYA' lacks, making it feel more exciting and engaging.

It's actually kind of crazy how good the rest of the album is, like IVE's b-sides have never been criminally bad, but this is wild. Potentially a niche reference for you 4th gen stans, but 'Blue Heart' and 'Ice Queen' are to 'Accendio' what 'Clue' and 'Note' are to SHINee's 'Sherlock'. 'Blue Heart' expands on that vogueish, runway style sound from the first part of the 'Accendio' chorus, and 'Ice Queen' explores that gossamer flowy sound from the refrain. I doubt this was intentional, but I love any sense of sonic consistency in kpop albums (@rinas4ki this kind of what we were talking about) and all three tracks are very successful.

'WOW' is a little bit of a wildcard, an acoustic style girly type of track that sounds like the kind of thing SM used to force aespa to sing, but it works very well for IVE. That post chorus of 'wowowow' is very cute. 'RESET' also has a little bit of a garage sound, and reminds me a lot of Yves debut (which will be discussed below), and while it is pretty catchy, it isn't especially memorable, especially in the context of IVE's discography and the quality of the other tracks on this mini album, but it is still worth a listen for sure.

Overall I am very impressed with IVE this time around, 'HEYA' is very enjoyable, 'Accendio' is even more enjoyable, and the b-sides don't put a spanner in the works at all, in fact they in many ways boost the overall quality of the comeback, a feat frustratingly rare in the kpop scene. If you missed the 'IVE SWITCH' album this month, I would definitely recommend giving it a listen.

LOOP - YVES (LOOP)

It feels good knowing all 12 members of LOONA have redebuted after leaving BBC, and what a way to end it. Yves has always been one of my biases in LOONA, and this solo debut proves exactly why she's so special.

'LOOP' is a uk garage style kpop classic, and while Lil Cherry's rap occasionally wanders into questionable territory, Yves' vocals melded with the gorgeous Pink Pantheress style production (no she didn't actually produce it, but a girl can dream, right?) make the track the hit it is. I've seen the use of 8-bit sounding vocal processing being criticised online, but I personally love the computerized sound it brings - with Yves lilting 'ooh's and refrain of 'yeah I'm lost but I like it' 'LOOP' creates an atmosphere of a virtual euphoria.

'LOOP' is great and all, but for me the real star of the album is the beautiful, the stunning, the AWE INSPIRING, 'DIORAMA'. It's so effortless in it's production and that chorus is so subtle yet addictive, it's seriously good. 'DIORAMA' has been on repeat since it's release, I can definitely see this one finding a spot high on my top kpop tracks of 2024 list.

The mini album as a whole is amazing, Yves is such an exciting soloist, she clearly has a lot she wants to achieve, and 'LOOP' is evidence of that.

Virtual Angel - ARTMS (Dall)

WARNING - PLEASE READ: If you wish to support ARTMS after reading this review, please be warned that the music video for 'Virtual Angel' contains repeated flashing scenes, and has been reported to trigger seizures, epilepsy and headaches in a small minority of viewers - even the 'Human Eye Ver.' has some flashing elements. Please stay safe!

I think i speak for all orbits when I say we had big expectations for 'Dall'. Both of the Loossemble albums so far have been excellent, Chuu and Yves have been bringing it in their solo projects, and everything we've heard out of Modhaus concerning Loona has been incredible - for ARTMS to stumble with this album would be immensely frustrating. Fortunately, they did not stumble at all, they smashed through the finish line of the Loona redebuts, and elevated the groups post-BBC discography to another level of excellence.

'Dall' is an album that is difficult to put into words. It has the essence of Loona beyond just having Heejin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, Choerry and Haseul involved, it is genuinely quite moving how it echoes that 'Hi High' sound from so long ago. I say this as a joke a lot, but 'Dall' is genuinely an album that feels like an ascension to another plane of existence - it is euphoric and ethereal, especially in the context of the fight the members and orbits have put up since 2022.

I consider 'Girl Front' the gold standard for Loona songs, and 'Virtual Angel' genuinely comes close to snatching that crown. The whole album is so fucking good, and while I would usually go through the charade of describing every track and its genre influences and whether the hook is catchy or not, I refuse for this album - I will not steal the experience from you of hearing this album for the first time.

So yeah, this is probably a mildly shit review, but PLEASE go stream this album, if there was any post BBC Loona album you were going to listen to, let it be this one (but also the Odd Eye Circle album lmao). 'Virtual Angel' is a triumph, 'Dall' is a triumph, 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy', 'Sparkle' and 'Unf/Air' ESPECIALLY are triumphs.

In conclusion... stan loona.

MINI REVIEWS:

Taxi Blurr - Jay Park (feat. Natty of KISS OF LIFE): i may not like Jay Park, but Natty is and always will be my girl, so here we are. I really love the 90s r&b style of this track, and Natty especially sounds amazing on it - her vocal colour is so beautiful. The two's voices blend really well in my opinion, the harmonies in the bridge are satisfying as hell.

Mona Lisa - Soojin (formerly (G)-IDLE)): questionable album titles aside, Soojin is back with her second comeback post leaving (G)-IDLE. This song is frustrating because it's not really offensively bad in any sense, but it is also not really especially good in any sense either. The budget for the MV is kind of crazy, but I wish they had put some of that into the making of the actual song.

No Biggie + Algorhythm - ITZY: (requested by @a-moth-to-the-light) If you've been on my blog before, you will know that JYP's direction of ITZY's korean releases has been irking me for a while, but somehow when ITZY gets on that plane and lands in Japan I am always obsessed. I'm into pretty much all of their Japanese releases, like Ringo went triple platinum in my mental chart. 'No Biggie' is really cool actually, super catchy and Yuna sounds amazing on it - it feels very laid back and relevant to the 2024 music space, something that ITZY's korean singles seem to struggle with. 'Algorhythm' is also SO GOOD, in production, style, and vocal performance. The music video and song also have major old red velvet vibes, which I love. ITZY - please stay in Japan a little longer, the discography over there is so solid. I miss Lia so much though, I hope she's doing well.

LOST! - RM (BTS): I really appreciate namjoon's artistry, and I actually enjoyed his 2022 album 'Indigo', quite a bit, but this song just doesn't work for me. I have heard from others that the album is something special tho, so if i have a spare half hour I might give it a listen.

나의 이름은 (ROTY) - YOUNG POSSE: I would like to redact my previous statements on young posse, I get it now, and this song is so fun. Very 2000s, very y2k, beautiful production, great raps from everyone, what more could you want.

Supernatural - A.C.E: Saw a GIF from the music video on my dash and decided to check it out, and I was severely impressed. 'Supernatural' is not an ear-splitting noisy headache of a track I have come to expect from kpop boy groups, it's a light hearted, classic Bruno Mars style pop hit. Good music and a well produced fun concept? I need to check out this group more.

[sequinsmile-x]

Her Warmth, His Peace

Emily was always cold before him.

-x-

Hi friends,

Just some soft Sunday night smut for you!

This genuinely might be up there with one of the most romantic things I've ever written, so please floss afterwards because it might rot your teeth!

I hope you like it, and let me know what you think <3

-x-

Words: 4k

Warnings: Smut, 18+

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily shivers as she sinks back into Dave’s couch, the chill of the cold November air wrapped tightly around her, having snuck in under her skin in the brief walk from the car to Dave’s front door. He’d thankfully set up his log fire in his living room before they all arrived, so she hoped it wouldn’t take too long for her to warm up. She’d always been someone who felt the cold, even when she was somewhere warm. Her mother would always comment on it, on the fact she always seemed to be cold even in summer when they were living in the Middle East. 

It was pasta night, which had become a regular feature in the calendar since her return from Paris. At first, it had been something to bring them back together as a group, to fix the fractures that had appeared in their dynamic caused by Ian’s appearance and Emily’s fake death, but it had changed into something else over the last few months. 

It was time for them to spend together without the pressure of work, time when they truly felt like the family they had been before everything fell apart. She looked forward to these nights now, the initial trepidation she felt every time she stepped over the threshold into Dave’s house nowhere to be found. She no longer felt like she was performing, forcing a smile on her face and going out of her way to be the Emily they all wanted her to be. She now felt like she was being herself, the person she’d stitched together out of what she’d been left with after Ian had torn her and her life apart and what she had now. 

“Here you go, sweetheart.” 

She smiles as she looks up and sees her boyfriend holding a glass of red wine out to her and a glass of scotch in his other hand intended for him. She takes the wine from him, her fingers lingering over his as she does so, her smile widening as Aaron raises an eyebrow at her.

She knew he had a lot to do with the fact she was doing better.  

It had only been a couple of months since their friendship had moved into more. A dinner that had turned into a date without either of them discussing it, a natural step that she somehow hadn’t seen coming. Now she couldn’t imagine her life without him by her side. He was her support and she was his. They looked after each other, they understood each other. 

They loved each other, even though neither of them had said it yet. She felt loved by him, his feelings weren’t in doubt, but she knew they were both a little cautious, neither one of them allowing the words to escape no matter how much they knew they would mean them. She knew it was the last time she’d be saying it for the first time, that he was it for her, so she wanted it to mean something no matter how ridiculous that felt to admit to even herself. 

“Thanks, honey,” she says, smiling softly at him as she shifts ever so slightly towards Derek who was sitting on her left, a silent, and unnecessary, plea to her boyfriend to sit next to her. He joins her on the couch, his seemingly unending warmth drawing her in as she moves closer to him, her thigh pressed up against his. 

“I’ve got to say,” Dave says, smiling at them from the couch opposite them, “I didn’t take you two for a nickname kind of couple.” 

The team had only known about them for three days. Emily knows she would have preferred to keep their relationship secret for a little longer, but Derek had caught Aaron leaving her hotel room early one morning on the case they’d just returned from, and the decision had been taken from them. Overall, they’d taken it well, barring a few barbed comments from Derek, but this was the first social setting they’d been in with them since they’d found out. It felt like she was on display, their friend’s curious gazes fixed on them from the moment they arrived together. 

“I think it’s sweet,” Penelope says, a smile on her face as she watches them, her enjoyment at any slight peek into their relationship clear. 

“Thanks, Pen,” Emily replies, raising her eyebrow at her friend and shaking her head. Aaron places his hand on her thigh and squeezes, and she looks up at him. A smile breaks out over her face as their eyes meet and she places her hand over his, linking their fingers together. She looks back over at her friends and sees how they are all staring at them and she rolls her eyes, “Are you guys ever going to stop staring?” 

“Maybe one day when we’re used to it,” JJ quips, smiling as she sips her wine and nods towards Penelope, “I can’t promise Pen will ever stop.” 

Emily lovingly shakes her head and sips her wine, sinking further into Aaron’s side as she lets her friend’s conversations wash over her. She lets herself enjoy the simplicity of it, something that she’d craved so desperately when she was in Paris. She shivers as Spencer opens the living room door to go get another drink, a cold draft filtering in from the hallway and disturbing the warmth of the fire. 

“You okay, Em?” Aaron asks as he squeezes her thigh, she nods as she tilts her head to look at him.

“I’m okay,” she assures him, “Just a little cold.”

He smiles at her, lifting his arm and wrapping it around her shoulder, pulling her closer into his embrace. She always told him how warm he was. She always sought it out, looking for the warmth and comfort he provided her just by simply being next to her. It was something about her that had surprised him - the fact that she liked to snuggle. She’d sleep practically on top of him, one of her hands under the hemline of his shirt, seeking his warmth from the source, and her forehead pressed into his neck. 

He loved it. Loved her. Loved the fact that someone who had been fiercely independent since they met wanted his affection as she did - even in front of their friends. It made something close to pride swell in his chest, the words he’d stopped himself from saying so far pushed even further up his throat. He clears his throat to stop himself from saying it. He wanted it to be private, a moment for just the two of them, so he smiles at her whilst he runs his hand up and down her arm.

“Better?” He asks, and she smiles and nods, leaning up to stamp a kiss against his lips. 

“Much better,” she replies, drawn in by his smile, by the tender look in his eyes that she knows is love. For a moment she forgets that the others are there. It’s just the two of them, smiling softly at each other. She’s pulled out of it by a squeal from the other couch, and she watches as her boyfriend’s smile turns into a knowing smirk. 

“You guys are adorable.” 

Emily rolls her eyes and looks at her friend, “Pen. Seriously.” 

___

Emily steps into her bedroom as she switches off the light in her ensuite bathroom. She smiles at the sight of her boyfriend sitting up in her bed and she walks across the room quickly. Aaron pulls the covers back for her and tucks them back around the two of them when she slips into the bed next to him. 

He chuckles when she wraps both of her arms around one of his and hugs it to her chest. She presses her lips against his shoulder through his t-shirt and hugs his arm even tighter. 

“Still cold, sweetheart?” He asks before leaning down to kiss the top of her head. He places his other hand on her bare thigh and squeezes, smothering his smirk in her hair, “It would probably help if you didn’t wear tiny shorts to bed in the middle of winter,” he says, stroking his thumb up and down her inner thigh and pulling back when she shivers, something they both know is nothing to do with the temperature, “Not that I’m complaining.” 

She playfully narrows her eyes at him and releases his arm, sneaking under it to get closer to him, smiling when he wraps it around her shoulders without further encouragement. 

“I don’t like how it feels wearing long pants in bed,” she grumbles, “Plus I have no need to when I have my own personal giant radiator of a boyfriend next to me.”

He hums as he hooks a finger under her chin and makes her look up at him. He kisses her soundly, stealing the breath from her lungs as he licks through her mouth, and he smiles as he pulls back and she chases him.

“Good to know that’s why you keep me around.” He quips, and she stamps a kiss against his lips and sighs, cupping his cheek as she holds him in place. She pulls back just enough to speak.

“You have other uses,” she says, kissing him once more before she settles back into the crook of his arm, sighing contentedly as he wraps his arms around her tightly. She wraps her hand around his wrist, smiling when she encircles her hand around it and her finger and thumb come nowhere near touching each other. She strokes her thumb back and forth over his skin and smiles to herself as she thinks of their friends, of how she’d felt like an exhibition at a zoo all evening, “Do you think they’ll ever stop staring at us?” 

Aaron laughs as he looks down at her. He’d felt it too, the curiosity from their friends that bordered on being intrusive. It was a natural reaction, he knew that, and they’d only known about the shift in their relationship for a few days, but he didn’t necessarily enjoy it. He wanted to be affectionate with his girlfriend without feeling like he was being studied, every kiss or touch watched like they were their friend's favourite TV show couple.

He had a feeling for Penelope they may as well be just that. 

“They’ll get used to it” he says, his smile crooked as she raises an eyebrow at him, “Or they’ll just find something else to obsess over. Whatever happens first.” 

She chuckles mirthlessly, “Well, I hope it happens before we get married otherwise I’m not inviting them.” She only realises what she’s said after she’s said it, her eyes wide as it clicks. She panics for a moment, the thought of bringing up marriage when she’d only been with him for two months something she knows would seem too fast, but he’s smiling at her, and she releases a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. 

He’s known since the moment they first kissed that she was it for him. If he believed in soulmates, which he didn’t, he would know she was his. That everything he’d been through over the last few years had led him to her, his prize at the end of the most treacherous of roads. 

He wanted everything with her. 

“Well, if it comes to that,” he says, pressing a kiss to her forehead, “I’ll tell Garcia she can’t be godparent to our firstborn.” 

She presses her lips together to stop herself from smiling too widely, and she feels giddy. A feeling she hadn’t felt since her first crush when she was a teenage girl who didn’t know any better. Part of her wonders if she should be mad at herself for it, but she can’t bring herself to be. She wanted it all with him, and sitting here in her bedroom after a night with their friends speaking about marriage and kids in absolutes instead of maybes, finally lets the words she’s been holding back since their first date slip free. 

“I love you.” 

As soon as she’s said it, it feels right. She isn’t sure why she’s been waiting, why she thought it needed to be special. This itself was special. The almost aching normalcy of it, a simple moment with the man she loves. A part of life that, not that long ago, she would have told herself she simply wasn’t meant to experience. 

He doesn’t leave her hanging, not even for a second, and he cups her cheek, pulling her in for a kiss that is both fierce and tender, holding her in place as he does so. He smiles at her as he pulls back, his forehead against hers, and he strokes his thumb back and forth over the skin of her cheek. 

“I love you too,” he says, his voice rough, torn open by his feelings for her, the almost absurd knowledge that this was it, this was the last time he’d be saying this to someone for the first time, “So much.” 

She kisses him, pulling him back into her with her hand buried in his short hair, her nails blunt against his scalp. He licks across the seam of her mouth and she immediately grants access, moaning as he deepens the kiss. 

He shifts them so they are on her side of the bed, her back flat against the mattress as he lays on top of her, the covers laying over both of them. She opens her legs automatically, sighing into the kiss as he settles into the cradle of her thighs, fitting against her like they’d been made for each other. He pulls away from the kiss, both of them heaving in a breath as he pushes her hair back from her face. He leans down to stamp his lips against hers, smirking devilishly as she chases him, her hips rolling against his of their own accord. 

“Still want me to warm you up?” He asks, one of his hands drifting down to her waist, the heat of his skin against hers under her t-shirt making her shudder. She nods, her teeth sinking into her lower lip.

“Please,” she says huskily, looking up at him through her lashes, “Please.” 

He doesn’t need asking again, and he disappears from view. She laughs at the lump of him under the covers, the movement matches with how she can feel him shifting down the bed on top of her. The laughter is stolen from her lungs when he hooks his fingers into the sides of her shorts, purposely making a point of ensuring his callused thumbs stroke against the sensitive skin of her hips. He pulls her shorts and underwear down her legs in one go, kissing her exposed skin as he goes, disposing of them somewhere down at the end of the bed, tangled up in amongst her sheets. He takes off his sweatpants too, abandoning them with her pyjama shorts. 

She tenses, clenching around nothing, when he kisses her low on her belly, nipping at the skin over her pubic bone. She wraps her fists around the sheets around her and closes her eyes. Not being able to see him, to guess his next move, was heightening everything, and that’s what makes her moan when he licks through her once, his fingers tight around her thighs, pushing them further open as she presses them together automatically. 

“Fuck,” she breathes out, her hips jolting against his face as he does it again,  “Aaron.” 

He smirks against her, groaning at the taste of her as he continues to slowly build her up, hitting all the spots he knew drove her crazy. He starts to feel a little too warm, the heat of her, of them, making it almost suffocating under the covers, so he changes tactics. He releases one of her thighs and licks through her once more before he withdraws. Her disappointed whine is cut off as he slips two fingers inside of her, the heel of his hand replacing his tongue against her clit. 

The air of the room is cool around him as he slips back out of the covers, still laying over her as he lazily pumps his fingers in and out of her. Whilst he’s grateful that he can breathe a little easier, it’s her that he needs more than oxygen. He loved to watch her, watch how he could tear down all the walls she’d so carefully constructed around herself over the years. She was always beautiful to him, even when he was married to somebody else, but seeing her like this, her eyes wild and dark with desire, was something else. 

She was his, and he was hers. 

She pulls him in for a kiss, her hands releasing the sheets around her as she grasps at his hair. The kiss breaks almost as soon as it begins as she groans into his mouth, her forehead against his as the tension builds low in her belly. 

“Fuck,” she breathes out, her eyes closed as she tries to grind harder against his hand, seeking out the release he was slowly dragging out of her. 

“Look at me,” he demands, something she complies with immediately, her eyes springing open. He starts moving his hand faster, pumping his fingers in and out of her and grinding his hand against her clit so quickly he knows if it wasn’t for the covers over them, muffling any noise, it would sound obscene. He can tell she’s close, her thighs trembling on either side of him, her grip on his hair bordering on painful, “Look at me when you come, you’re so fucking beautiful like this.” 

It’s the mix of the compliment and the demand that tips her over the edge, the commanding tone of his voice something that had always turned her on, even when she hated him. She pulls him in for another kiss, slow and lazy and loving as she comes down, his fingers slowly pumping in and out of her as he draws out her high. 

She smiles as she pulls back, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as she looks up at him. She cups his cheek before she pushes some of his hair from his forehead. She reaches between them and grasps him, both of them groaning at the heavy, hot, weight of him in her hand. She pumps him up and down a few times, smirking to herself when he rests his forehead against hers. She shifts her hips, and guides him into her, her teeth once again sinking into her lip as he pushes forward, the familiar stretch of him making her eyes roll back as she presses her head into her pillow. 

“Em,” he growls, his face against her neck for a moment whilst he forces himself to stay still, “You feel so fucking good,” he says, kissing her neck, her collarbone, any part of skin that was exposed by her t-shirt. 

She rolls her hips against his, desperate for him to move, “Baby,” she breathes out, “Please.” 

He moves his hands, seeking out hers as he links them together and places them next to her head on the bed. He starts to move his hips, pulling almost all the way out of her before he slowly pushes back in, the usual almost feral pace they had most of the times they’d done this nowhere to be found. It’s nowhere near less amazing though. It’s like she can feel every detail of him, the movements inching her closer and closer to the edge as he seemingly carved out a space inside of her meant only for him. 

The sex had been incredible from the start. All consuming and overwhelming. He knew her body like he’d studied a manual for it, like he’d written the damn thing. It was explosive and they were insatiable for each other, making up for time neither of them had realised they’d lost until their first kiss. 

This was different. It was intimate, soft. She gasps as he pushes into her again, his forehead against hers, her stuttered breath skipping across his skin. It’s the kind of sex she had always avoided with anyone else. She knows that with anyone else it would make her feel vulnerable, exposed even though she’s still got her t-shirt on and they are under the covers. 

But with him it’s different. Tender. She feels oddly empowered by it. The vulnerability she would have once considered a weakness pushing her closer to the edge, the closeness she felt to him sparking something deep in her belly. 

She squeezes his hands and pushes her hips up into his, matching the rhythm he had set. For once she doesn’t try and push this along, doesn’t try to race to the finish line, she just allows herself to enjoy it. Allows him to love her in the way she’s never let anyone else love her. 

He kisses her, as slowly and tenderly as he’s fucking her, and she can’t believe she’s as close to coming as she is, her body tightening around his. 

He groans as he breaks the kiss, his forehead against hers as he loses himself in the feel of her. She was perfect. Made for him. And not just because the sex was amazing, but because she was. She knew him, better than anyone else ever had, and it was a kind of love he never wanted to be without again. He grunts as he feels her clench around him and starts to feel his hips stutter, faltering as he gets close to coming himself. 

“Aaron, I’m…” she trails off as she moans, her eyes lashes fluttering as she tries to keep her eyes open, “Fuck I’m close.” 

“Me too,” he says, squeezing her hands, smiling down at her as he makes a point of pushing his hips flush against hers, capturing the groan she releases as he kisses her, “Let go, sweetheart,” he says, his lips against her cheek, “Come with me.” 

She tips over the edge and he follows quickly after her, coming deep inside of her in a way that makes her gasp, her head back against the pillow as she tries to catch her breath. She pulls him in for a lazy kiss, letting herself enjoy the feeling of him on top of her, well aware from experience that he’d move soon, always worried about crushing her. She smiles when he pulls back just far enough to look at her. 

“I love you,” he says, unhooking one of his hands from hers to stroke his knuckles down her flushed cheek. 

She turns her head to kiss his hand, her smile so wide she’s worried her cheeks will start to hurt if she carries on like this.

“I love you too,” she says, hooking a shaky leg around him to keep him in place when she senses he’s about to move, “So fucking much.” 

He rolls them, shifting them so she’s on top of him. She rests her head on his chest and closes her eyes as he wraps his arms around her, one of his hands sneaking under her t-shirt to stroke up and down her back. She shivers at his touch, her body always so reactive to him, and he chuckles into her hairline.

“Surely you still can’t be cold, sweetheart?” 

She smiles as she lifts her head to look at him, her eyebrow raised in challenge as she doesn’t correct him, doesn’t say it’s him that had made her shiver, that she feels warm and pliant and content. 

“I guess you’re just going to have to try a little harder to warm me up,” she says, her smile turning into a laugh as he hauls her upwards, pulling the covers over them both as he kisses her. 

She had a feeling she’d never have an issue with being cold again. 

-x-

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[heeheesang]

ʂƚɾαɳɠҽɾ ∂αɳɠҽɾ ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

six -> the meet.

“ynnie!” riki yelled as he bursted through the doors of our recording studio. he opened his arms wide and lifted me to the air as we laughed and hugged, “hello to you too, riks.” soon enough, the other two caught up with the younger one and i bowed, “hello.” i greeted as they smiled at me. i held eye contact with jungwon as i can’t help but be reminded of the night we met again.

“so… where do we wait..?” jay asked and i snapped out of my trance, awkwardly laughing off the fact that i was staring at jungwon and he was staring right back at me. i led them to the judge seating area as i ran backstage, meeting my members before the show started.

“yn unnie, good luck..! i know how stressed you are about this especially since you’re first seat and you feel pressured… so i made you a little flower! judgement is in two more episodes, two weeks, so this is a good luck flower!” the group’s youngest member, eunseo, hugged me as she wrapped a flower bracelet made of paper on my wrist.

i smiled and thanked her before we had to go up on stage, hearing the fans yell our names as we started our first performance, ‘dalla dalla’ by itzy. in front of us were the judges and riki kept making funny faces to get me to break character on stage but i just held it in until we finished the song. there were a few parts where i slipped because of the wet stage but it wasn’t so bad.

“hello, we are team ‘dalla’. i’m elle, leader of the group and these are my members. hyewon, eunseo, wonbyul and yn.” elle introduced us as we bowed and greeted the other groups along with the judges.

“hello to all of you. that was an amazing performance… i must say, your vocals are stable even though the dance was pretty challenging..” the male judge said as we thanked with bright smiles. “let’s see what our special judges think of it… our special judges, jungwon, jay and ni-ki..!” the fans in the crowd yelled for them as they introduced themselves.

“i think they did very well, they carried out the steps smoothly.” jay smiled widely at elle as elle went crazy on stage, turnimg around just so she could giggle it all out. “i agree with jay hyung… the co-ordination is crazy, everyone was on time with the steps.” riki stated, smiling as he did a thumbs up.

last person to make a remark was jungwon. we all turned to face him but my face heated up when i caught his stare on me, the camera even caught that. “sorry, i was looking at the backdrop.” he lied and smiled directly at me, a slight blush creeping onto my cheeks as i looked away.

“overall, the dance was perfect. hyewon’s and wonbyul’s raps were great even though you have a high pitch. elle’s and eunseo’s dance were perfect, and yn was… perfect.” jungwon gave his input as my eyes widened, perfect in what way? don’t make me panic.

“ah.. i mean, yn’s vocals were really great and her dance was almost perfect. the slippery stage made it hard for her— for them, to dance well. but overall, she— they were all equally good, even better than i am.” jungwon continued as he smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“thank you, enhypen sunbae.” we thanked as we got off stage and took in our deep breaths, hugging each other as we all cheered at our positive remarks. “yn unnie, you and jungwon sunbae hm?” hyewom teased as they all poked my sides, “we’re just friends.. don’t be weird!” i replied as a few knocks were soon heard on our door. i excused myself from the hug as i ran to the door and opened it.

“hey,” the tall brunette greeted me as he towered over me, smiling down at me before greeting my groupmates. “hey..? anything wrong..?” i asked as i closed the door behind me and the gap between us was closed, almost non existant. “first, i’m sorry if how i acted earlier was weird.” jungwon admitted as i chuckled, “there’s nothimg weird about being my fanboy..!” i joked as we both laughed.

“secondly! riki told me it’s your second last episode, second last week before the final ranking so… i got you a little something.” he continued as he dug in the back of his pocket, taking out a bracelet.

“a little good luck charm. i have one too.” jungwon said as he lifted up his sleeve to reveal the bracelet i had made for him back in college, “you… still keep it?” he nodded, “call me toxic for keeping it or whatever but this, this is my good luck charm.” he took my hand and tied the bracelet around my wrist, smiling as i admired the bracelet.

“thanks. for, all this. i appreciate all this… maybe we could have dinner soon? after my final ranking?” i asked as i fidgeted with the bracelet on my wrist, the thought of him still keeping the bracelet i made him made the smile on my face permenant.

“of course, anyday ynnie. i have to go now, goodluck for your next show..! i’ll be watching,” he puts his hand up for a hand shake but i chuckled and pulled him close to me, hugging him tightly before going back in.

what a day.

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hhs’s notes! sorry i’m so sorry for the long wait😭 i’ve been super busy with intern lately and i apologise😭 how are you guys? i hope you’re all doing well and taking good care of yourselves🤍 i hooe this chapter wasn’t confusing… yang jungwon finally making moves!! 💪🔥 my boy frl HAHAHHAA🥹🥹 thank you for reading and enjoying this chapter! next chapter will probably come out on tuesday or tomorrow if i have time!! thank you all i love you all mwahs! 💗💗

[imagine-perfect-life-with-him]

Finding out Rose is pregnant...

And telling Harry.

We talked a lot about having kids, especially before getting married. We both knew how important it is to want the same things, regarding key life aspects, for a relationship to work. Children were something we both saw in our future, the timing of having them was what we had to compromaise on though.

Harry was ready to get to work straight after our wedding a little over a year ago, I however needed more time to focus on my career, as I have been in progress of doing some huge things.

For a few years I’ve been working on starting my own dance company with dance academy for teens to come from all over the world to train professionaly while also obtaining overall education. That dream of mine came true about half a year before I walked down the aisle and married Harry. So naturally soon after tying the knot I was still under a lot of pressure and had to give a lot of my attention to my still very new project. 

Harry was more than understanding though. He said he was ready but he would wait for me to get there. He not once pushed the topic or tried to persuade me to give him what he wanted. He was sweet and supportive of me pursuing my career the way I always was for him. We were also still really young, me at 23 and him 25, so I just thought we still had time.

However about half a year ago I started experiencing some bad side effects from my birth control pills so together with my gynacologist and after talking it out with Harry we decided that I would switch to an IUD and see how that goes. The first step of changing birth control option was to get me off the pill, so I stopped taking it straight away. Timing was also quite convinient as Harry was away on tour in Australia and Asia so I would be done with the transition by the time we would see each other again. 

But after about 2 weeks of him being gone a perfect oportunity for me to go see him came up. I had been invaited to do dance workshops in Sydney and my assistant was able to arrange everything so that it could happen exactly when Harry had his shows in the same city. This way I was able to see him.

I landed in Sydney early morning and went straight to have some meetings, they took so long that I didn’t get to catch my husband before he had to go on stage. I made it to the arena just in time for the first song. 

His shows were always something I loved to attend, I love the atmosphere that all his fans create but more than that I love seeing Harry doing what he loves the most. I also always found the way he is on the stage incredibly hot, which should not be that surprising considering how teasing and sexual he can get while performing. 

This time was no different and as I found out soon after joining him backstage after the show finished he was also quite turned on from the adreanaline high. This was something we both knew very well. Having sex backstage in his changing room before or after a show was a regular whenever I got to be there. And so before I knew it I was being dragged, from the area where everybody was, to his own private space.

Harry and I had one rule when it came to backstage sex, even though I was on birth control we would almost always use a condom just to limit the messiness of the situation to the minimum. 

Almost is an important word here, becasue this particular time we were so into each other and so eager to get satisfied that I didn’t even give it a singe thought when he said he didn’t have any condoms and basically begged him to fuck me anyway. And he hapilly did just that. 

We were aware of the fact that we had unprotacted sex while I was not on any birth control at the moment but I didn’t think much about it as it happened only once and we just used protection for the rest of our time together before I headed back to LA and Harry continued his tour. We would be apart for more than 2 months this time.

Once back in the States I got caught up in work and was so busy that I didn’t schedule an appointment to have an IUD put in until 5 weeks later.

On the day of the gynecologists visit I had a lot of things at the company go in the wrong directions so I stumbled into the doctor’s office in a rush ready to get it over with and get back to work.

The appointment started with a regular blood work and ultrasound to make sure we were good to go. I wasn’t even paying attention to what was going on until the doctor didn’t say something.

‘Unfortuanatelly we won’t be able to do the procedure today, Mrs Styles’ she announced while having the ultrasound wand inside me.

‘What? Why? Is there something wrong?’ I asked woridely thinking that my health was trying to kick my ass once again

‘Well...’ she started carfeully ‘It seems that it is a bit too late for the birth control’ 

I looked at her confused, not really getting what she was saying.

‘You’re pregnant darling’ she explained, pointing at the screen where what seemed like an air bubble could be seen, before continuing ‘6 weeks today it seems’ 

It took me quite a moment to realize what I just heard. Yes I didn’t have my period but it was never regular and since I was coming off the pill I just put that as a reson for it. I didn’t have any other symptoms that would make the thought that I could be pregnant even cross my mind. 

‘Okay I see you’re quite surprised and since you did come to get an IUD, I’m assuming that wasn’t planned’ she gave me a concerned look ‘So you can get dressed while I print the images and then I can walk you through your options’

‘Oh no... that... that won’t be necessary’  I clariefied quickly.’I mean I’d like the pictures, but no need to explain options’

Sure that wasn’t exactly planned to happen now but in the end I wanted to have a family with Harry so there wasn’t really anything that I would have to think through like that.

I left the clinic and went straight back to work. I didn’t quite yet know how I was feeling about the news that I got so I found an empty dance room and let myself get absorbed in creating new choreography for upcoming classes I was teaching. I spent several hours locked in that room, away from everyone. 

One other reason why I wasn’t so keen on having a child yet was the fact that Harry’s solo career was also very fresh but I could already tell that he would do huge things all over the world. He just released his first album and the tour promoting it has sold out quicker than anyone has anticipated. He was already looked at with a lot of respect in the industry which he rightfully earned with his talent and hard work. 

Being with him through the One Direction days I knew what that meant. For at least few next years I will have to share him with the rest of the world. I was used to long hours in the studio and then him being away for months or me having to fly to the other side of the world just to see him for a couple days. Don’t get me wrong we made it work and I was and always will be so proud of him and so happy that he gets to do what he loves that it made all the sacrifices absolutely worth it. 

It would be a totally different story when a little human would get involved into that life though. I didn’t want to in a way be a “single” mother. Just me and a baby at home all alone while my husband spends every night in a different city. I know that Harry wouldn’t want it like that either but I can’t imagine him giving all his life up. I guess good thing is that he has only two more months of the tour left so he would be able to plan future projects around the birth of our child.

Oh God I realized I won’t see Harry for another 5 days so I will have to sit on the news for almost a week since I refuse to share something like that through the phone. And I can’t imagne telling anyone before him so it means I’m gonna be left alone with my anxiety for the next days.

Once back home I went straight to the bathroom and took a shower. When I was done I found my purse to take out the ultrasound images that I got as well as my phone.I noticee 3 missed calls and a text from Harry

From Harry:

Everything alright love? Haven’t heard from you all day x

I decided to just text him back not trusting myself to facetime him.

To Harry:

Had an intense day. So much work.

Just got back home and I’m exhausted so going straight to bed.

Call you tmrw. Love ya x

 I climb into bed and look at the pictures in which you can actually already see an tiny outline of the fetus. I put my hand on my stomach as I would be able to feel something there at that point. When I was in the bathroom I inspected myself in a mirror but it is to early to see any bump. 

We had unprotected sex once. Once in 5 years of being together and straight away I got pregnant. That is some kind of sick luck.

I am increadibly anxiuos about how it will be but I am also starting to feel excited as I imagine tiny Harry’s look alike running around our house.

I get a text back from Harry and go to sleep.

From Harry:

Sleep well. Love you too!

----------------------------------------------------------

5 days later

I woke up in our apartment in New York City. I got here last evening and today I will be joined by Harry who is travelling from Nashville where he played yesterday. He has today and tomorrow off and then he plays in Hershey and Philadelphia which are not that far from here so that’s why he decided he would just travel there from NYC so we could get some time together. 

I love the city, that’s mostly way he bought us this apartment as a kind of an engagement gift and so now I love coming here even more but unfortunatelly we don’t get to do that as often as I would like.

I check my phone but it’s only 7 am and Harry is suppoused to get here around noon so I decide to head to the gym to get a quick workout in. 

It’s after 10 am when I get back and I go to take a shower so I have enough time to get myself ready for when my husband will come.

Just I step in under the hot water I hear the front door open.

‘Harry is that you?!’ I yell in hopes that it is in fact him and not someone breaking in.

I don’t get any answer and so as I am about to get out and go check what is going on , Harry steps into the bathroom. Completely naked, wearing only his signature smirk.

‘Mind if I join you?’ he asks but doesn’t wait for me to respond, instead steps into the shower, grabs my face in his hands and kisses me.

‘Hi’ he smiles

‘Hi.’ I give him another kiss ‘What are you doing here already? I thought I had some more time to get ready after the gym.’ I tell him

‘Mmm... I think you are very ready.’ he smirks ‘ Couldn’t imagne you welcoming me in any better way.’ his strong hands grab my hips to pull me even closer against his body. 'Missed you' he says into my ear and starts leaving kisses down my neck 'so much' he adds now he's kissing down my chest

'Missed you too' I moan as he gets on his knees and soon his mouth is on my most delicate part.

We are out of the shower when I decide I just can’t wait any longer and have to tell him that about the pregnancy, Harry is sitting on the edge of our bed dressed only in his boxers and I come up to stand between his legs, dressed in one of his t-shirts and panties.

‘We need to talk..’ I start ‘ I mean I have to tell you something’ my voice shakes a little

‘Everything okay?’ he questions ‘You’re making me worried baby.’ 

‘No, no don’t worry.’ I calm him down ‘Everything is fine’ I get onto his lap, my thights on the sides of his. ‘I think you’ll actually be very happy’ I tell him and give him a quick kiss

‘Okay.. Now I’m intrigued’ he looks at me waiting for me to spill it

‘Well, so you know how I was suppoused to get the IUD around a week ago, right?’

‘Yeah’ 

‘Well... I couldn’t get that put in.’ I start and he looks at me, confusion visible on his face

‘Why?’ he asks and I see him think about something before he adds’ Wait... so you’re on the pills again? Cuz we didn’t use condom just now.’

‘Not exactly.’ damn he has no idea ‘ You remember when I came to Sydney and we fucked backstage and didn’t use condom either?’ I ask

‘Yeah..’ he looks so lost ‘I am really confused right now’ a little nervous laugh leaves his lips ‘So continue please’

‘You remember how I was also not on any form of birth control then?’ he nods and I can see his trying to make sense of what I’m saying

‘So that was 7 weeks ago’ I say and in that moment I think it hits him. Confusion turns into realization, his lips form an O shape, but he doesn’t say anything, not wanting to asume wrong, he’s waiting for me to say it

‘Well... I am 7 weeks pregnant’ I finally tell him, anxious but happy smile on my face

He doesn't say anything, he buries his head in my neck and holds me so tight it's hard to breathe.

We stay like that for a moment. When Harry finally pulls away we look into each other's eyes. His are filled with tears but by the grin on his face I can tell those are happy tears. I wipe them away with my thumbs.

'You're pregnant... ' he finally whispers still in disbelief 'Geez! I'm going to be a dad! '

'Yeah, you will '

'Damn, baby. I don't know what to say... I'm just so happy'

'That's all I needed to hear' relief can be heard in my voice

'Of course I am! It's just quite unexpected you must admit' he chuckles ' I guess I have really fucking good swimmers if one time without protection is what it took' he laughs

'Yeah really fucking funny! ' I smack his chest 'it's gonna be fucking pills and condoms from now on.' I smirk

'Yeah sure' Harry grins 'anyway for the next... What 7 months? ' he wonders 'we won't be needing any of that' he explains and makes me laugh

'A little bit more than 7' I tell him 'that's another freaking thing only could happen to you! I'm supposed to give birth end of January so right freaking for your birthday! ' I try to sound annoyed but truth be told it's quite exciting that he might get the best gift for his birthday

'You kiddin'! 'he gets excited about that thought too ' that's amazing! ' he kisses me

'But wait.. ' he looks worried ' I'm getting excited and all... But what about you? ' his eyes are burning into mine 'are you happy? Not so long ago you were saying how it's not the time yet. '

'It's not... ' I start 'but I am happy. And I know we will figure it out. '

'We will. ' he assures me 'it's gonna be so great. '

'Yeah.. Do you want to see the ultrasound picture? '

'Of course I do '

I get off his lap and walk to my bedside table to get the piece of paper before handing it to Harry.

'Whoa... You can actually see a shape' he says shocked ' I was expecting to look at it and not know what I'm looking at. But this I can see our baby!' He exclaims

'Well... I'm almost 2 months so it was like exactly at the point when people usually come for the second visit to see the baby and hear heart beat'

'You heard the heart beat?'

'Yeah.. ' I say ' I wish you could've been there with me' I admit

'Damn, I wish so too. ' he hugs me ' so wait, how long have you known?'

'Almost a week. The freaking longest couple days in my life'

'I'm so sorry you had to do it alone' he looks sad 'I love you so much and promise to be there from now on. Always. '

'It's okay Harry' I assure him ' I know I always said that I'm worried I would have to do this alone, but it wasn't planned so I don't want you to feel guilty about doing all the things that you have already scheduled. Just take it into consideration while planning your next moves '

'You have no idea how much it always pains me to leave you already.' He expresses 'but now, it will kill me whenever I miss any milestones'

'We will do our best to make sure you don't ' I kiss him ' speaking of which, I made an appointment for us today so you could hear your baby's heartbeat too'

'You did? ' he looks at me with excitement and I nod 'Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ' there is a kiss placed on lips between every thanks.

'Are you showing already? ' he asks and gets me off his lap so I'm standing in front of him 'no you're not I would have noticed earlier' he answers himself but still lifts my shirt and looks at my belly.

'Are you saying that you're always paying that much attention to whether I gained a few pounds or not? ' I challenge him

'Makin' sure you didn't starve yourself when I was away' he smirks but I know that it actually might be true even though I've been really good with food for a few years now

'Well yeah no bump yet' I tell him ' Baby is a bit small so I got doctor orders to eat more and exercise a little less. ' he looks at me with those sad and a little disappointed eyes that I know too well ' I have been doing that so stop looking at me like that'

He wraps his arms around me, his face in my hair and whispers 'you have to look after yourself more than ever. After yourself and this tiny human' he puts his hand on my stomach and looks me in the eyes ' and I promise you I'll look after the two of you too. '

[corvuscore]

SMILE! :D

This isn't exactly a review, I just needed to talk my feelings through for a while.

If the mashups haven't made it clear, Porter Robinson is an artist that means more to me than I can put into words. Nurture is my favorite album in history for innumerable reasons. The profound, almost religious experience I had the night Nurture dropped was unlike anything I've ever experienced with a piece of music. So despite all of that, I knew I had to measure my expectations for tonight so I wouldn't be disappointed.

And I'm not. Not at all.

SMILE! :D was another hard pivot from the past, just like Nurture before it, but not without some guiding lines shared from Nurture. Where Nurture was a meditative, wise sage disseminating words of wisdom and encouragement to those who needed it, SMILE! :D is a frustrated scene girl with a lot on her mind who vents her negativity out through loud noises and dancing. She's under constant pressure, trapped in a world that doesn't know how to feel anymore, until she makes something beautiful and suddenly everyone won't leave her alone about it, contributing to another layer of pressure. She gets mad quickly and lashes out at people she loves and has to have those awkward conversations where she has to ask for a forgiveness she hasn't earned. She's had moments in the past where she's stared into the unforgiving face of time and accepted that it will wash her and everything she loves away, but that doesn't mean it won't stop scaring her, because accepting what you can't change doesn't take away all of its power over you.

To put it quite simply, SMILE! :D is... me.

Nurture was something I needed to hear when at my lowest, and it continues to provide me comfort and pull me out of low points to this day. But SMILE! :D, despite how extremely personal to Porter it is, has also found a way to worm itself into an unspeakable part of my heart - a darker, more spiteful part, who knows all those same sage words that Nurture has provided, and doesn't give a fuck because one too many things pissed me off today. The part of me that wants to be left alone even when I try to make new friends, that has that short fuse never given time to grow back no matter who is supporting me, that knows the end is coming and still just can't let it end. As much as we want out, it's not the way for us, and the reasons for both of those conflicting feelings are at the same time both selfish and selfless. And yes, the part of me that looks at this expression of one man's heart and the most fucked up parts of it in such a beautiful, colorful sonic tapestry, and makes it about me, me, me.

But in my defense, Porter did make it about me at the very end. His last note to me, to you, and to anyone else fortunate enough to have seen him perform or connect to his heart through a song, was a thankful one - those moments when we get to stay in that song with him mean "Everything To Me", he says. Having attended the Nurture tour myself (shoutout to the opener James Ivy, a credited producer on SMILE, who you should absolutely be listening to when you're done with it), I feel so incredibly fortunate that my moment quite literally crying in the club, on the phone with my husband while Porter played his loving ode to his now-wife, is a moment that meant something to Porter too, even when he doesn't even know about it. And as I truly let the weight of SMILE! :D set in for me, what hit hardest was the final track's conclusion to the thread of "addressing complicated feelings toward having any sort of fanbase at all" - gratitude for supporting him, sharing his art and emotional release with him, and admitting that no matter what, the love that we share for our respective total stranger on the other side of it is real, in its own way. And with the way my life has turned in the past couple years, I've had a (very very miniscule in comparison) taste of that feeling myself.

So, yes, overall my experience with SMILE! :D was very positive, as expected. But what I didn't expect was that he truly was in the mirror - I saw so much more of me in this project than his previous work. Not inconsolably emotional this time, but maybe it just hasn't really hit me yet. Regardless - thank you Porter, as always, for giving us so much more than we deserve of your heart and soul. More than anything, I hope that you are able to truly smile.

[leqclerc]

honestly i think that with a car like THIS and a team like THIS that fact the charles "struggles to perform/makes mistakes" (let's assume this as a fact and not talk about how the same number of mistakes are differently perceived for the two drivers) was bound to happen. i feel like he has no trust in the team, because the team seems to not have trust in him, despite fred's presence. I know charles is very good at compartmentalise and reset, but this situation is the result of months if not years of things piling up. I think he still hasn't given up and he will still try, but the moment is uhm delicate and difficult like nothing else in his ferrari years

No because when people said Le Mans was like an indoctrination event to keep him invested in the team/brand 😭😭😭 Might be onto something tbh 🤔

It's really hard to make sense of it when you're hit with two conflicting narratives. On one hand both he and others around him keep reiterating that he's committed to the team, that they intend to pursue a future together... but then on the organizational side we keep running into the same issues and topics that were a problem already last year, there's still lots of miscommunication and dissonance. Despite bringing it up over and over again and despite assurances that they're doing something about it, it doesn't seem he's being listened to any more than he was this time last year.

Like, okay, the championship is firmly out the window this year if you're not a Red Bull driver. With the gains Aston and Mercedes have made third overall would be a huge success; fourth in the Constructors' is probably the more accurate and realistic prediction. But if you don't have the car to make it work, at least try to improve and make up the difference elsewhere? I mean last year they fell into the trap of making mistakes because they were under pressure with the championship. Now they've got the relative leniency of being in the midfield and everyone kind of knows and understands it's a transition year for them and it's going to be a largely forgettable season. I don't understand why it's so hard for them to just... apply what they seemingly keep internally discussing with Charles. Because the thing is, it doesn't seem to even be a matter of "okay we heard your suggestion and crunched the numbers and we think this is the best approach..." it's more like whatever he says just goes way over their heads and they have no intention of even considering it, because the ~simulations or [checks notes] whatever Max is doing at the moment is more important. They're very inflexible in that way. Not to mention the weird narratives allegedly coming from the team about whatever the hell happened in Spain, for example. 🤨

Charles has the patience of a saint when it comes to the team and refrains from putting them on blast (also, drivers who were vocally critical of the team in the past, even with good reason, tended to pay the price...) so when even he is letting frustration loosen his tongue like that, you know it's not great. In the post-qualy statement he chalks his frustration up to knowing the pace was there and knowing they could've and should've done better all around, and there we have him reiterating yet again that he loves the team (boy, we know 😭). But surely...there will come a time when love isn't enough of a glue to hold this partnership together, especially if he continues to not be given the support, trust and consideration he feels he needs in order to perform at his best.

[my-skull-is-full-of-sunken-ships]

A couple of years ago, when I was graduating from university, I struggled a lot with completing my work on time. My scientific supervisor, who was basically the Gordon Ramsey of my faculty (competent af, but the amount of pressure she put on you was indescribable), didn't make it any easier for me. I was stressed out 24/7 for a whole year.

The worst times were, of course, the days before deadlines. I was supposed to finish yet another chapter of my thesis and complete a hundred tasks and projects for my lectures and seminars.

I have a problem with concentrating on anything for longer than 10 minutes (which may be undiagnosed ADHD, a weird side-effect of my antidepressants, or something else - I don't know), so I have to be creative when it comes to time management. I have two time management tools that I created or adapted for myself. One of them is for when I have tons of work and several days to do it all, and the other is for desperate situations when I have only one day to complete everything.

Here I'll tell you about the first one, which is my favourite: it only requires a pen and a single stick-note (or any piece of paper, really, and it can also be adapted for excel and I’ll show you both variations). Here’s how it goes:

There is a certain number of tasks that you need to do - each one takes a different amount of time and is generally different in complexity.

I usually spend some time figuring out how complicated and time-consuming each one actually is and give them a score from 1 to 10 (or 1 to 5, it depends)

Then there is the number of days I have for these tasks: I subtract one for either rest or (more often) in case I don't manage to do enough in any of the days.

I divide the sum of points I assigned to my tasks by the remaining days and voila - I have a quantitative measure that I need to achieve every day to be certain that I can do everything I planned in time.

It's great if I manage to do more, of course, but overall, when I reach the required number, I can be sure that on the last day I won't have so much work that I won't be able to afford to take a break.

Plus, relatively large and complex tasks can be performed step-by-step without worrying that I have been working on one thing for too long without crossing anything off the list. For example, I might not have finished a chapter but I’ve done enough to give myself 4 points out of 6.

Here’s how my stick-notes looked like:

And this is my excel version of the method:

(don't mind cyrillic writing, these are mostly just disciplines I needed to know for my finals)

I hope it'll be useful for some of you. I'll make a post about my second-best time management tool sometime later.

[f1]

No huge breakthroughs but weve moved forward Mercedes describe quiet satisfaction after Melbourne

After an improved performance at the Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes believe they are now “starting to get on terms” with Ferrari and Aston Martin, while applying some pressure on early-season pace-setters Red Bull as well. After a tricky start to 2023 with the W14 car in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, last weekend’s visit to Melbourne yielded a much-improved P2 and P3 in qualifying, and the runner-up spot on race day. READ MORE: Hamilton hails ‘amazing’ Melbourne podium as he says Mercedes closing gap to Red Bull will be ‘tough but not impossible’ Both Mercedes drivers jumped ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at the start of the race, only for George Russell to lose out under a red flag and then retire amid technical trouble, and Verstappen to overhaul Lewis Hamilton when the action resumed. Reflecting on the race weekend in Mercedes’ usual debrief video, the team’s long-time technical guru, James Allison, painted a largely positive picture as their push continues to get back to race-winning and title-contending ways. Asked what the main takeaways were from the weekend in Australia, Allison said: “Overall, a sense of quiet satisfaction that we have moved the car forward that, from a performance point of view, we probably got as much as it is able to give right now. Both Russell and Hamilton got the jump on Verstappen at the start of the Australian Grand Prix “That happiness, of course, is tempered by the disappointment that we only got one car to the flag and that George was not able to show what he was capable of in the car on race day, having performed very strongly up to that point in the weekend. “We didn’t have huge breakthroughs, but we moved forward a little bit. We put a small amount on the leaders Red Bull, and we are starting to get on terms with, and maybe just nose a whisker in front of, the Ferraris and the Aston Martins.” MONDAY MORNING DEBRIEF: With strategy on a knife-edge, how did Mercedes get the better of Aston Martin in Australia? As for whether Mercedes’s performance was track specific or a result of things they had done to their car for the weekend, Allison added that it’s “always a very difficult question to answer”. “Was [our performance] expected? Broadly yes, because the performance level in Australia was not markedly different to that in the other two tracks so far this year. Different yes to Red Bull, but not a completely different animal compared to the rest of the field,” he continued. “I think the biggest shift in Australia was that Red Bull were a little bit more off form in qualifying compared to the rest of the grid, and that sort of closed up the field. But if you look at the relative pace of our car to the Ferrari, our car to the Aston Martin, it's been close-ish all year. After Russell retired with technical problems, Hamilton gave Mercedes their first podium of the season “Yes, we are a little bit on the better side, but it wasn’t seismic. So, was it expected? Well, we expected to be in the fight with Ferrari and Aston Martin and pleased to have our noses in front, but we did expect to be there. “How much of the overall good results of the weekend was track specific and how much came from things we did? Time will tell. We’ll go to some more very different tracks in the next few weeks. TREMAYNE: Did the Australian GP create fresh hope or just a false horizon for Mercedes and Ferrari? “We’ll see whether this was the sort of initial bellwether of general uptick in our performance which we hope for, or whether it was related to the quite unusual track conditions that we saw this weekend in Melbourne.” Mercedes hold third in the constructors’ standings after the first three rounds of the season, nine points down on Aston Martin and a further 58 behind reigning world champions Red Bull, who remain undefeated so far. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

[akshayyj]

Exam Pressure

This is exam season in India for students of almost of ages & with exam comes “Pressure”. Pressure comes from the thought of performing well for one self & for many others like, Immediate Family, Distant Family, Friends, Classmates, Teachers, etc to count a few. 

While some pressure can be beneficial in motivating students to study and perform well, excessive pressure can have negative consequences on their physical and mental health. It is important for parents to understand the effects of exam pressure on their children and take steps to maintain a balance between pressure and support.

On the positive side, exam pressure can be a motivator for students to work harder and perform better. It can help them develop time management skills, improve their focus and concentration, and increase their self-discipline. Studies have shown that a moderate amount of pressure can lead to improved academic performance and higher test scores.

However, excessive pressure can have negative consequences on children's physical and mental health. Children who are under excessive pressure may experience symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress. They may also have difficulty sleeping, experience fatigue, and have a lack of appetite. These symptoms can lead to a decline in their academic performance and overall well-being.

Parents can play a critical role in helping their children to manage exam pressure. One of the most important things parents can do is to communicate with their children and understand their concerns. Parents can also provide emotional support and encouragement to their children during the exam period. They can also help their children to develop good study habits, such as setting up a study schedule, breaking up study sessions into manageable chunks, and taking breaks to rest and relax.

Parents can also help their children to maintain a positive attitude towards exams. They can remind their children that exams are just one part of their education and that there are many other opportunities for success in life. They can also help their children to set realistic goals for their academic performance and celebrate their achievements along the way.

However, Pressure is not just limited to academic pursuits. Pressure can come from many sources and can have both positive and negative effects regardless of the field or area of interest.

When a person is pursuing something they are truly passionate about, the pressure they feel is often self-motivated and can be a driving force for success. However, when a person is pressured to pursue something they are not interested in or do not have a natural inclination towards, it can lead to negative effects such as lack of motivation, low self-esteem, and burnout.

It is important for parents and caregivers to understand their children's interests and passions, and to encourage and support them in pursuing those interests. By doing so, they can help their children to develop a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their pursuits, leading to a more positive experience of pressure.

On the other hand, it is also important to understand that pressure is a natural part of life and is an inevitable part of achieving success in any field. Positive pressure can be a motivator and can help a person to push through challenges and overcome obstacles. It can also lead to personal growth and development.

To help maintain a balance of pressure, parents and caregivers can encourage their children to set realistic goals, and to break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. They can also provide support and guidance to help their children develop the skills and strategies they need to succeed. Additionally, they can encourage their children to take care of their physical and mental well-being, through adequate rest, healthy diet, and regular physical activity.

Bhagavad Gita teaches us the best way to handle any kind of pressure by performing one’s Karma (actions) without being attached to the fruits of those actions. By not being attached to the outcome, one can maintain equanimity in all situations & is able to perform their duty without feeling pressure or stress.

https://imojo.in/GitaKaAks - eBook on Bhagwad Gita by Akshay at INR 299 only

[actionadventureps]

The best action-adventure games in the world

The action-adventure game type is a hybrid genre that can encompass a variety of games that might better generally be categorized under more and more narrow categories. Most of the time, games that are pure adventure are characterized by situations that the player must solve but with minimal or no action. As the name indicates, action gaming titles tend to be more intense. Your participation in every story is constantly changing, focusing primarily on fighting whether you're making use of swords, guns, or even tactics. Although you may encounter mysteries and calmer side missions now then but the main intent for this type of game is to test your hand-eye coordination effect experience and ability to overcome challenges under great pressure. The result is that these games engage both reactions and solve problems in vicious and non-violent environments.

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima is set in the latter half of 13th Century Japan which was during what is generally known as the Kamakura phase. This was anytime the Shoguns were the only ones to have actual power in Japan, additionally, the Samurai reigned as the warriors supreme. Ghost of Tsushima can tread the thin line between reality and fiction, praising the real occasions that had taken residence during this period, and weaving an epic tale that is entertaining and plausible. The Mongol chief Kublai Khan is truthfully mentioned throughout as well as the fantastic Khotun Kahn assists since the game title's main adversary. The protagonist of the game has a character who is imaginary Samurai, Jin Sakai. Jin has been dubbed the Lord of Clan Sakai and the very last remaining person in his direct lineage. His Uncle Jito is Lord Shimura, Jito of Tsushima, and is one of the characters you'll meet throughout The Ghost of Tsushima.

Ghost of Tsushima is a masterful way of touching on these super cornerstones of character and causes the player to evaluate the actions they can make through the eyes of Jin Sakai, but furthermore continues to be true to its roots as a video game, and lets players put besides those elements once they aspire and exclusively perform. It isn't heavy-handed or nihilistic and manages to truly address challenges of duty, honor, family, and responsibility without becoming so bogged down in the message that the game is no longer enjoyable.

The actual game-play loop of gameplay in Ghost of Tsushima is truly someplace between a Far Cry recreation and an Assassin's Creed game. The fight is a move of stances as well as light and heavy attacks, perfectly timed parries, and brutal counterattacks. The ghost weapon and throwing objects such as sticky bombs or the kunai are used later on also but they aren't required in a fight. A large component of the side quests and exploration of the world is returning the islands of Tsushima within the Mongols and taking over Mongol strongholds and camps. This represents a lot like present Far Cry titles, with the gamer obtaining total versatility to pick a stealth plan or even to enter and strike directly. The game will do an amazing occupation of reiterating the design of Jin's transforming strategies and character as the players challenge to liberate the island. The player witnesses changes in Jin's nature just as the story unfolds, and the reactions of his friends also change. At initial, Jin is clumsy and slow anytime attacking stealth due to his inexperience with the strategies. As the gamer upgrades the arsenal of weapons and tools and weapons, which is in perfect harmony through the narrative that shows Jin gaining more and more confidence as the "Ghost", his attacks ended up being more smooth, less noisy, and much more dangerous.

The overall game is truthfully among probably the most graphically inspiring of our time. The illumination is truly spectacular, especially at daybreak and dusk and the sun dappled through the thick leaves of the forest never becomes dull. Character dames are exceptionally great but are not at the standard of recent Sony exclusives such as God of War and Spider-Man. Traversing through trails and towns can cause Jin's clothing and boots to be covered in sand. This could ramp up to be close to "Arnold in Predator" encased from head to toe if people spend time rolling and running around the battlefield.

It is a stylish island. Tsushima is a unique place distinctive with some of the most stunning scenes I've ever witnessed in an event of this magnitude. Utilizing the wind and environment as your primary guide is as effective as it can do because the landscape is built that you got from the ground up to make the subtlest breezes. Tall grass perpetually sways towards the next target, leaves and flower petals are a dance of Jin as the man moves from one location to another. If you want cheap games, there is no need to enter the link.

There are few options totally "new" to be found in Ghost of Tsushima, although it's likely that players haven't encountered numerous navigation choices as enjoyable to use like that of Tsushima's Guiding Wind, or engaged in a relaxing activity such as producing haiku in a secluded spot next to a waterfall or preparing to prepare for battle absolute usually. It's how Ghost of Tsushima combines details gamers are both used to and not acquainted with which makes it nice to have fun with, plus one that enthusiasts will want to continue enjoying long after the credits have ended. Ghost of Tsushima is the most enjoyable Assassin's Creed recreation you can find and is likely to be the closest that players will ever be able to experience what it's like to live as the samurai of 11th-century Nippon.

Kena Bridge of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the game that PlayStation 5 needed and more significantly, it's a whimsical and entertaining fantasy platforming adventure that looks gorgeous on the next-gen gaming console. In addition, it features an extremely relatable and likable hero titled Kena, a young soul guide with the ability to assist spirits to move through the ages. Supporting the narrative the game is influenced by Japanese tradition, especially its psychological form and the way spirits are generally processed which allows for a very invigorating alter from what's currently available on the market at the moment.

In the form of an action-adventure Kena: Bridge of Spirits lets players explore a vast and various environment to battle bad spirits and clear the kingdom of Corruption. Armed with a sword and ready to draw upon the energy of spirit, Kena is adaptable in just what she will be able to conduct.

The story is truthfully delivered through fully-voiced cutscenes, several of which take advantage of the game engine, while some use fully animated CGI and all blending like something from Pixar or Dreamworks. The display is truly beautiful through its spiritually charged universe which draws inspiration from Eastern civilizations. As you aid one set of spirits and other arcs, you are guided by the same deep narrative concepts desirable of an entire feature film. It's a world not difficult to get lost and the ensemble is very captivating as they experience a journey of failure and wishing in their unique way.

You'll find quite a bit of fighting in this game and for the most part, it is perfect - though if you are performing on almost everything apart from the 'Story' issue, it is extremely challenging. Ordinary adversaries will go down without a lot of difficulties However, more difficult opponents and top dogs, of which you'll get more than you can count on require precision and skill. It's good to know that Kena is armed with a formidable arsenal, and early on in the game, you'll begin to develop powerful skills. Her staff members enable you to perform heavy and light strikes. Rapidly you'll get a bow that lets you attack from a distance. Add to that the know-how that you're able to unlock for your Rot - such as the capability to transform it into a powerful "Rot Hammer" that gives you a superb array of songs to keep your enemies from happening. You are going to regularly need to stay quick on your current feet, avoiding outside the method of the attackers and using the shield, a magical bubble that covers Kena for a short moment - right at the most suitable second to make a parry.

There tend to be plenty of totally different jobs or tasks you'll be able to attempt, some as effortless as having the Rot set a statue directly into the residence and others that require the next step and testing your current quality with bows in a firing challenge that unlocks another Rot. One of the things I love is the cursed chests, which are tied to a specific battle task to overcome that you must finish unlocking them all.

The action portion of the action-platformer is truly formidable, the platforming half is a bit less luminous when compared to the jumping. Invisible walls appear as players attempt to jump over rooftops or platforms they're not created to climb, and the jumping, particularly the double jump, appears fluid, however, the choice to make it vertical is a misstep and not just because this doesn't feel well, even so, it making you think you will be able to get to certain areas that invisible wall structure eventually keep you from. Kena: Bridge Of Spirits might draw upon some aged influences, but the way it puts the countless parts of the problem-solving alongside makes it appear very contemporary actually. The overall game does amaze players with its charming universe, only to smack you around a little with the brutality. The gameplay is the weakest point, but overall Kena is a fun experience that is not to indeed be forgotten.

Returnal

The game begins with hitting the ground on the planet of an unknown species. You exit your damaged ship, get yourself armed, and rather quickly begin exploring the weird-ass world. The monsters are certainly not at all welcoming. The surroundings are broken pieces of masonry and enigmas. In the maze of rooms are objects which can either help your cause, harm you, or hurt and help you. Does not this audio like thrilling? If you do die most of the thing you collect is absorbed when your whole life reboots however there are some things that you can maintain. They are a challenge to obtain, but they are a great difficulty as hell.

Returnal is a film that draws inspiration from several of sci-fi's finest films, moments, and surroundings, but this never appears as if it's simply replicating those elements. Every step firmly establishes its very own style while paying humble homage to exactly what set the stage. It's easy to list a myriad of attributes that have appeared to have an influence, both sci-fi, and remarkable video games--everything from Aliens to Journey to Hades. But the gentle reverence of these influences is a tidbit of the strong identity of this video game. The game is Housemarque. It truly is Housemarque, unlike anything you've caught Housemarque previously, however it is a Housemarque game without exceptions.

The stunning images can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning -- especially before your vision happen to be trained to read the alien areas and always keep the mini-map in view constantly -- however, the extra familiar you become with Atropos the easier it can be to lose yourself in it. The theme of awe is common throughout "Returnal," even when you're in one of the most stressful combats, nevertheless, the ambient tale is much more evocative by the details than the spectacle. This is true for the backgrounds and also the lighting and how the creatures of the earth react to your presence but it also applies to how Housemarque utilizes the PS5 technique to cloud the lines between exactly where you end and the controller's start point.

The noise quality is amazing and adds to the ambiance around the globe. It's a must to invest in a quality pair of audio speakers, or even the PlayStation Pulse 3D wireless headset to realize 3D sound in all the splendor. These features create an immersive experience that may just happen with the PS5. The overall game is also running at a consistent 60 fps at 4K and features a ray tracing system that particularly adapts to the changing landscape of Atropos. The stunning particle effects are well rendered and every detail, within the weather conditions towards the gunk stuck to Selene's spacesuit is amazing and well-detailed. The loading time is quick, thanks to the use belonging to the PS5's powerful SSD. It is a spectacle in many approaches, and it's precisely the category showing the PS5 needs at the moment.

Returnal is an awesome video game flirting with flawlessness. It's the most satisfying game-play loop Housemarque shows created to date and that's a huge statement considering the facility's breed. If the other PlayStation PS5 exclusives feel even less satisfying than Returnal will do, supporters are in for a blast of an experience on the console.

[elitepromo02]

Top Benefits of Hiring a Promotional Staff and Exhibition Staffing Agency in London

Promotional and exhibition events are key to building brand visibility and customer engagement. Whether you're launching a new product, attending a trade show, or hosting an event, having the right people to represent your business can make all the difference. The city of London, being a bustling hub of commerce and culture, offers numerous opportunities for companies to reach their target audience. To succeed in these high-stakes environments, many businesses are turning to professional staffing solutions for promotional and exhibition needs.

Why Professional Promotional Staff is Vital for Your Brand’s Success

Hiring professional promotional staff ensures that your brand is represented by people who understand your message, appeal to your audience, and can create a lasting impression. In the competitive London market, businesses face numerous challenges in standing out from the crowd. Well-trained promotional staff helps bridge this gap by acting as brand ambassadors who engage potential customers effectively.

Moreover, the expertise of promotional staff goes beyond just handing out flyers or samples. They are skilled in understanding the dynamics of consumer behavior and can tailor their approach based on audience reactions. This is where investing in promotional staff can elevate your marketing efforts, offering a personalized touch that digital advertising often lacks.

How an Exhibition Staffing Agency Enhances Your Event Performance

Exhibitions are crucial for businesses to showcase their products, network with industry leaders, and attract new customers. However, without the right team on the ground, your booth could easily be overlooked in a sea of competitors. That’s where an exhibition staffing agency comes into play.

Exhibition staff are more than just representatives; they are experienced professionals trained to handle high-pressure environments. Their main objective is to draw attention to your booth, facilitate meaningful conversations with potential clients, and provide product knowledge. With skilled staff members on your side, you can maximize the effectiveness of your exhibition, ensuring every opportunity to convert leads is seized.

Promotional Staff and Exhibition Staffing: A Winning Combination

Combining both Promotional Staff London and exhibition staffing agency services ensures that your business gets the best of both worlds. Whether you’re promoting a new product in London’s busy streets or representing your brand at a high-profile exhibition, having a specialized team for each purpose enhances your overall impact.

Promotional staff can create a buzz around your brand leading up to the event, while exhibition staff take the reins during the actual event. This seamless transition allows for a cohesive brand experience from start to finish. Moreover, having trained personnel who are already familiar with your brand can offer a more consistent message across different platforms and events.

Finding the Right Promotional and Exhibition Staffing Agency in London

Selecting the right staffing agency can make or break your event. It's important to choose an agency that not only understands your business but also has a solid track record of providing professional, reliable staff. The agency should offer staff who are not only well-trained but also adaptable to various event settings.

In London’s fast-paced market, hiring an agency with local expertise can be crucial. London’s diverse population and vibrant business scene require staff that are not just professional but also culturally aware. This helps in tailoring the communication style based on the demographics attending the exhibition or event.

Maximizing ROI with Expert Promotional and Exhibition Staff

Investing in promotional and exhibition staff may seem like an additional expense at first, but the return on investment can be substantial. Skilled staff can increase foot traffic, improve engagement, and ultimately lead to higher conversions. Their professional demeanor, coupled with expertise in your brand, creates an interactive environment that encourages meaningful customer interactions.

In the long run, hiring professional staff helps you make a strong first impression, build customer relationships, and generate leads, all of which contribute to your business’s growth. The London market offers endless opportunities, and with the right team, you can capitalize on them to the fullest.

Choose Expertise for Your Next Event

When it comes to hiring promotional and exhibition staff in London, opting for a professional staffing agency is a wise move. By working with experts who understand your business and can deliver your message effectively, you enhance your brand’s visibility and impact. Whether it’s a street promotion or a large-scale exhibition, a specialized team will ensure your success.

For a trusted partner in staffing solutions, consider Elite Promo UK Ltd., a leading provider in the industry, known for offering top-tier promotional and exhibition staff to meet your unique business needs.

[developbyme]

Tennis Tactics Unveiled: How to Dominate the Court and Elevate Your Game

Have you ever watched a tennis match and marveled at how players seem to be a step ahead of their opponents, effortlessly placing shots and anticipating every move? It’s not just sheer athleticism at play—behind every game-changing shot is a well-thought-out tactic. For more expert insights into tennis strategies, visit http://jaglacrosse.com/. Think of tennis as a high-stakes chess game where each move requires precision and strategic foresight. Whether you're a beginner looking to up your game or a seasoned player seeking an edge, understanding these tennis tactics will help you dominate the court and elevate your performance. Ready to serve up some serious skill? Let’s explore the strategies that can transform your game.

Understanding Tennis Court Basics

Before diving into tactics, it’s essential to understand the layout of the tennis court. The court is divided into different zones—baseline, service boxes, and net area. Each zone plays a crucial role in your strategy. For example, staying near the baseline is ideal for defensive play, while approaching the net can help you finish points effectively.

The Importance of Footwork

Footwork is the engine that drives your game. Good footwork means you can move quickly and position yourself accurately to hit the ball. Imagine footwork as the rhythm in dance—without it, your movements lack coordination and fluidity. Practice moving efficiently and staying light on your feet to enhance your overall performance.

Mastering the Serve

The serve is your first opportunity to control the point. A strong serve can put your opponent on the defensive from the start. Focus on developing a serve with speed, spin, and precision. Experiment with different types of serves, such as flat serves, slice serves, and kick serves, to keep your opponent guessing.

Effective Return Strategies

Returning serves effectively can neutralize your opponent's advantage. When receiving a serve, position yourself well and anticipate the direction and speed of the ball. Use a balanced stance and practice both aggressive returns to pressure your opponent and more conservative returns to ensure you stay in the rally.

The Art of Positioning

Positioning yourself correctly on the court can greatly impact your game. By reading your opponent’s shots and positioning yourself to cover the most likely areas, you can respond more effectively. Think of positioning as setting up a chessboard—placing your pieces where they’re most likely to be effective.

Playing with Spin

Spin adds complexity to your shots and can give you a significant advantage. Learn how to generate topspin, backspin, and sidespin. Topspin causes the ball to bounce higher, useful for deep shots, while backspin, or slice, keeps the ball low, ideal for approaching the net. Mastering spin can make your shots more unpredictable and harder for your opponent to handle.

Utilizing the Drop Shot

The drop shot is a strategic tool used to surprise your opponent, especially when they are positioned far behind the baseline. This shot involves hitting the ball lightly so it barely clears the net and drops quickly. It’s like a sneaky move in a game of hide-and-seek—catching your opponent off guard and forcing them to rush forward.

The Power of the Volley

Volleys are key for effective net play. A volley is a shot hit before the ball bounces, typically executed when you’re close to the net. To excel at volleys, focus on positioning and using short, controlled swings. Volleys can be powerful tools for finishing points and putting pressure on your opponent.

Understanding Opponent’s Weaknesses

Identifying and exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses is a critical tactic. Pay attention to their playing style, preferred shots, and areas where they struggle. For instance, if your opponent has a weak backhand, you might aim your shots more frequently to that side. This strategic approach can give you a significant edge.

Building Stamina and Endurance

Tennis matches can be long and demanding. Building stamina and endurance through regular fitness training is essential. Incorporate cardio, strength training, and flexibility exercises into your routine to improve your performance and maintain energy throughout the match.

Mental Toughness on the Court

Mental toughness is crucial for success in tennis. Staying focused, maintaining a positive mindset, and managing stress are all important aspects of mental resilience. Developing mental toughness helps you stay composed under pressure and recover from setbacks during the game.

Analyzing Your Game and Adjusting Tactics

Regular analysis of your performance allows you to refine your tactics. Watch video replays of your matches, review your stats, and adjust your strategies based on what you observe. This self-assessment helps you identify areas for improvement and adapt to different opponents.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding common mistakes can prevent unnecessary points lost. Frequent errors include over-hitting, poor shot selection, and inadequate preparation for shots. Being aware of these pitfalls and working to correct them can enhance your overall game.

Training Drills to Enhance Your Skills

Incorporate specific drills into your practice sessions to enhance various aspects of your game. For example, practice serves and returns with a partner, work on footwork drills to improve agility, and use target practice to refine your accuracy. Regular, focused practice helps accelerate skill development.

Conclusion

Mastering tennis tactics involves more than just hitting the ball. It requires understanding the court, refining your skills, and applying strategic thinking to outplay your opponents. By focusing on key areas such as footwork, serving, and positioning, you can elevate your game and dominate the court. So grab your racket.

[jer-fit]

Designing the Ultimate Custom Basketball Jersey: A Comprehensive Guide

Basketball is more than just a game—it's a culture, a community, and a way of life for many. The uniform worn on the court represents the team's identity, unity, and pride. A well-designed custom basketball jersey can elevate the team's spirit, enhance performance, and leave a lasting impression on fans and opponents alike. At Jerfit, we understand the importance of creating a basketball jersey that not only looks good but also feels great and performs well under pressure. This guide will walk you through the essential aspects of designing the perfect custom basketball jersey for your team.

Why a Custom Basketball Jersey Matters

A custom basketball jersey is more than just sportswear; it's a statement of your team's identity. It embodies the values, culture, and spirit of your team, whether you're playing in a local league, a school tournament, or a professional setting. Here's why investing in a custom jersey is crucial:

Team Unity: A uniform fosters a sense of belonging and unity among team members. When players wear the same jersey, it reinforces the idea that they are part of something bigger than themselves—a team that works together towards a common goal.

Professional Appearance: A well-designed jersey gives your team a professional and polished look. It signals to opponents, fans, and sponsors that your team is serious about the game and committed to excellence.

Branding and Identity: Custom jerseys allow teams to showcase their unique identity. Whether through colors, logos, or slogans, a custom design can capture the essence of your team and make you stand out on the court.

Key Elements of a Custom Basketball Jersey

Creating the perfect basketball jersey requires careful consideration of several key elements. Each of these aspects plays a vital role in ensuring that the final product meets your team's needs and preferences.

Design and Aesthetics

The design of your basketball jersey is the first thing people will notice. It should reflect your team's personality and make a visual impact:

Team Colors: Choose colors that represent your team’s spirit. Whether you stick with traditional school colors or opt for a bold new palette, ensure that the colors are consistent and visually appealing.

Logo and Graphics: Incorporate your team’s logo and any additional graphics or text that represent your team's values or history. The placement of these elements should be strategic to ensure visibility and aesthetic balance.

Numbers and Names: Customize each jersey with player numbers and names. The font and size of these elements should be clear and easy to read, while also complementing the overall design.

Material and Comfort

The material of the jersey significantly affects player performance and comfort. Here's what to consider when selecting the right fabric:

Breathability: Basketball is a high-intensity sport, and players need a jersey that keeps them cool and dry. Materials like moisture-wicking polyester are ideal for managing sweat and ensuring breathability.

Flexibility: A basketball jersey must allow for a full range of motion. Stretchy materials like spandex or fabrics with mesh panels can provide the necessary flexibility for dynamic movements on the court.

Durability: Basketball jerseys undergo a lot of wear and tear. Choose materials that are durable and can withstand the physical demands of the sport, such as polyester blends that are known for their longevity.

Fit and Durability

A well-fitting jersey is essential for both comfort and performance. The fit should allow freedom of movement without being too loose or restrictive:

Sizing Options: Offer a range of sizes to accommodate all players, from youth to adults. Consider providing both standard and custom fit options to meet individual preferences.

Reinforced Seams: Ensure the jersey has reinforced seams, especially around high-stress areas like the shoulders and sides, to prevent tearing and extend the jersey's lifespan.

The Process of Creating a Custom Basketball Jersey

Designing a custom basketball jersey involves several stages, each requiring attention to detail to ensure the final product meets your expectations.

Initial Concept and Design

Start with a clear concept of what you want your jersey to look like. Collaborate with your team to decide on colors, logos, and overall design elements. At Jerfit, we offer design consultations to help you create a jersey that embodies your team’s identity.

Material Selection and Testing

Choosing the right material is crucial for comfort and performance. At Jerfit, we provide fabric samples so you can feel the material and test its durability and flexibility. Consider the climate and playing conditions when selecting the fabric to ensure it meets your needs.

Production and Customization Options

Once the design and material are finalized, the production process begins. We offer various customization options, including sublimation printing, embroidery, and screen printing, to bring your design to life. Our production team ensures that each jersey is crafted to perfection, with attention to detail in every stitch.

Tips for Ordering the Perfect Custom Jersey

Here are some tips to ensure you get the best possible custom basketball jersey for your team:

Involve Your Team: Get input from your team members on design preferences and fit. This will ensure that everyone is happy with the final product.

Order Samples: Before placing a bulk order, request a sample jersey to check the fit, material, and design quality. This step can help you avoid any surprises.

Plan Ahead: Custom jerseys take time to produce, especially if you’re ordering in large quantities. Plan your order well in advance of the season or event to ensure timely delivery.

Consider Future Orders: When designing your jersey, think about how easy it will be to reorder or make changes in the future. Keeping a consistent design will make it easier to add new players or update uniforms.

Conclusion

A custom basketball jersey is more than just a uniform—it’s a symbol of your team’s unity, pride, and identity. By carefully considering design, material, and fit, you can create a jersey that not only looks great but also enhances performance on the court. At Jerfit, we are dedicated to helping teams create custom jerseys that they can wear with pride. Whether you’re looking for a classic design or something bold and unique, we have the expertise and resources to bring your vision to life. Let’s work together to create a custom basketball jersey that your team will love and that will make a lasting impression.