#double fifth festival

[beyourselfchulanmaria]

Dragon boat festival (Double Fifth Festival)

端午節是在農曆的五月五日，划龍舟(Dragon boat race)、吃粽子(Rice dumpling is wrapped with bamboo leaves) 、做香包 (To make fragrant sachet)、掛艾草(Hanging moxa) 、立蛋 (Standing the egg on its end) and 喝雄黃酒(Drinking realgar wine)

(Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Double Fifth Festival, is an important festival in our history and Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of the poet Chu Yuan. 端午節是為了紀念詩人屈原的死。)

and The last about 白蛇傳 Legend of the White Snake. ◠‿◠

well, enjoy your holiday for 4 days(started yesterday) this year 2023 in Taiwan and Chinese world. My daughter go to solo traveling to Thailand again lol (I guessed she meet one elephant good friend so never tired. hahaha Her boyfriend is still in military service and will be retiring in a few days. I like her boyfriend, because he respects my daughter and he's gentle more than my daughter. XD) and my son enjoys to stay home. both children are different personality, really nice and interesting. and my holiday is a secret. hehe! HAPPY WEEKEND ALL. xoxo Lan~*

[gabzlovesu]

"𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄"

╰ ft. takami keigo/hawks !

warnings: fem!reader, breeding kink & rut — BABY FEVER, creampie (reader gets double-stuffed like a fucking oero), overstim maybe?...

author's note: this was supposed to be a submission for a breeding collab i joined before my hiatus but that account is no longer active so yeah... enjoy this fic was collecting dust in my docs :)

Was this round three or four? Or maybe it was the fifth… You couldn’t tell and the feathers flying everywhere were just as disorienting as Keigo pounding into you from behind. All you knew was that one moment you were walking down the hall of the bustling house, and the next you were pressed against the door of the upstairs bathroom. 

Today your family had a little summer cookout, but you could tell something was off with Keigo. His wings would ruffle up at random moments, followed by him looking flushed and antsy. Not to mention the crazed look on his face when you held your baby cousin, bouncing the little boy on your hip and doing the stupid baby talk that most people hated — but he adored it. And whenever you finally escaped the death hugs of your family, you would waltz right back to your boyfriend’s side only to see him stuff his hands deep into his pockets and stiffen at your touch.

Then he disappeared. 

You searched almost every inch of the house for an hour until he found you, pulling you into the small bathroom of your parent’s house.

As soon as your back met the white door, your lilac sundress was hiked above your hips and Keigo was muttering about how the mother look suited you and he wanted to give you a child of your own.

The entire thing caught you off guard, especially when his rut was last month because you vividly remember taking an entire week off from work so that he could wreck your insides for hours on end. 

But even now as you look at him through the mirror, it’s clear that he was in another rut and you were the cause. The animalistic nature, avian pupils constructed as he focused solely on the feeling of your pussy, and his nails felt like talons as they dug into the plush of your hips…all of the signs were there.

Everything was hot and going numb. The sensation of his fingers circling your clit — using his own release that leaked out of you as lube — was faint and you were sure you wouldn’t be able to feel anything soon if he kept this up. When you finally crash from yet another orgasm, you release the breath you subconsciously had been holding and grip the sink tightly to support yourself.

Keigo was close. So so soooo close. His aching dick twitches deep inside of you and his breaths became ragged and shallow like his thrusts. 

“Just one more… One more, please.” A bit of desperation tangles with the lust that spews from his lips. He promised the same thing in the beginning when he fucked you against the door, then when he had you sitting on the sink, and now he’s saying it again as he props one of your legs up on the sink to plunge deeper into your sloppy cunt.

All it takes is a few more taps against your spongey sweet spot that has him emptying another load into you. Too bad that you’re completely stuffed to the brim so the sticky cream dribbles down your leg to the growing pool on the floor. The sight of his seed being wasted drives him insane and only encourages him to keep bucking his hips, to keep pushing it back in so that he could finally give you a baby. 

TAGLIST FORM

tags: @hungrynessforfics @rinhoes@indiecursor @protectpancakes @fight-me-bitch @nneedynymph @po3ticb3auty @haitani-plague  @festive @apollostears @thenerdyrebel @4ngrysgf @daichisbunnybaby @urwifey2 @picayunne @kookieflvr @woahhajime @syomi @chrolloderulo @kutosznn @takemichiluvr @sweeneyblue1 @tyga-lily @jeanslove @getoswhore @thicksimpx @sakurashell @38riku @hyeque @wiserebelpartypie @sleepy3 @yuujilove @imperatorkhaleesi @sukunas-left-nut-sack @lawscorazon @sailewhoremoon @chaoticevilbakugo @xxrwzy @wh0reforlevi @nekoriots @yeagerfushiguro @chaotic-fangirl-blog @sftbunny-blog @dukina @momoewn @thithesandofferings @justdevine @hyeque @chittakii @breyspage

[scarletwinterxx]

but i loved you harder - jaehyun scenario

hello ~ so this one is a request and coincidentally i was writing something for Jaehyun. I too am deep in my Yuno feels (i don't think ever recovered honestly😂) hope you like it!!!

if you have a request or scenario you want me to do, just send me a message I'll see what I can do😊💌

For my other works you can check them out here, and for my other story series’ you can check them out here.

All works are copyrighted ©scarletwinterxx 2024 . Do not repost, re-write without the permission of author.

(gif not mine, credits to rightful owner)

"Dude, I said no. She'll be so mad at me if I do"

"It's for our funds" Johnny insists

"But-"

"No buts, once we reach like $100 I swear I'll cut the line. I have faith in you"

At this point Jaehyun can't say anything that would stop Johnny. He's thinking about bringing in his last card but he'll save it for the last minute so for now he says yes.

Come the day of the festival, word got around that Jaehyun was going to do the date booth so ofcourse the line was long by the time he arrived there. Johnny right in front calling even more students to join while Haechan stands beside him collecting payments.

"Oh here's our star of the day. Okay so who's up first?" Johnny was answered with tens, maybe 20 or more screams from the crowd. Jaehyun shoots a shy smile before going behind the booth.

It's only the fifth girl before he heard the shouting from somewhere in the back.

"JOHNNY J. SUH I SWEAR TO GOD YOU BETTER RUN" Jaehyun hears you before he could see you. He then looks at Johnny, seeing the nervous look on his face and an even more scared Haechan beside him.

"You're on your own, hyung" Haechan mumbles, hiding behind the 6 foot tall guy.

The girls at the very front and the one Jaehyun was just talking to turns their heads towards you, seeing what the commotion is all about.

"What the heck is this?" you ask, eyes blazing.

"A booth"

You stare down the guy taller than you, giving him a chance to change his answer. "Oh come on, it's for our frat funds. And Jaehyun said yes" Johnny says

"Well" Jaehyun interferes making the three of you look over at him, Johnny shoots him a look while you glare at him. He knows the anger isn't really directed towards him, but you can be very scary when you want to be.

"I doubt that, this whole thing has yours and yours name written all over it" you point at the double AA and triple AAA brothers

"How much do you need to raise?" you ask "Like hundred dollars" Haechan answers

You pull something from your back pocket, a crisp hundred bill before putting it inside the jar Haechan was holding.

"There, done. Show's over people. You, let's go"

"Yes ma'am" Jaehyun gets up from his seat, not needing to be told twice. Following behind you.

When you were a few booths away, he catches up with you. Pulling you back by you arm.

"You're not really mad at me, are you?" he asks

"Depends"

"Hey, I swear I told Johnny no. I was gonna tell you about it but honestly I just wanted to watch you rip at him" he tells you with a smile, his dimples showing.

Just like that you feel some of the annoyance and anger melting away. When you don't say anything back, Jaehyun takes this chance to step closer to you. Holding both of your hands in his.

"Don't be mad, please?"

You roll your eyes at him, all is forgiven already.

"I'll buy you ice cream?"

"WIth two scoops?"

He smiles, intertwining your fingers together before leading you towards the ice cream stand. "Two scoops of cookie dough with extra chocolate drizzle just for you"

"You can't still be mad at me"

Currently you, Jaehyun and Johnny are sitting outside a cafe just to hang out. Even though Johnny gives you headaches half of the time, he is a very good friend of yours.

"You'll be surprised with how long I can hold a grudge" you answer back

"I gave your boyfriend back"

"Exactly, he's mine so stop using him for profits" you bite back, Jaehyun listens quietly beside you. His arm resting behind your chair.

"We got that pingpong table from the car wash benefit we did last summer, we're trying to get a pinball machine next" Johnny says

You do remember that frat event. You've never seen so many girls and some guys line up for a carwash done by a bunch of frat boys. Yuta definitely put on a show, Jungwoo also had fun being the adrenaline junkie that he is following whatever Yuta was doing. Mark and Jeno were more shy about it but had one of the longest line.

And Jaehyun, well safe to say you made him wash your car a few times until the line behind you got tired of waiting for their turn. You were debating whether to cut their water supply line but you know Taeyong would scold you so you didn't.

"Go find someone else" you grumble

"Okay then let me ask you, let's say you're in a cafe inside with another friend and this other friend got cold. Jaehyun's the only one who got a jacket, is it okay if he lends her his jacket?" he asks you,

Jaehyun smirks from beside you, waiting for your answer.

"Do you enjoy having your head attached to your neck?" you ask Johnny

"Come on, will you?"

"Of course not! Did your mom not raise you to always bring a jacket in case it gets cold?" you sassily ask back

"I don't see you bringing a jacket around" Johnny counters

"That's cause I have a Jaehyun. She can get her own boyfriend to borrow her jacket from, but until then have fun being a human popsicle"

Jaehyun smiles, his hand absentminded drawing circles on your back as he listens to you.

It's endearing to him really. To some it might sound like you're too much, too jealous, maybe even insecure but Jaehyun knows it's the opposite. And if he's being honest, he's way worse than you. If sees a guy even looking at you for a second too long he's right behind you hovering, a silent warning to back off.

When in public together, if he's not holding you he'll always be a step away. At parties he would be attached at the hip with you, even going to the bathroom to guard the door for you.

If positions were switched he'd be livid too if he sees you in a dating booth smiling at a random dude. Only he can make you smile, only he can make you blush and laugh and moan.

Shaking his thoughts away, he looks over at you still arguing with Johnny. Noticing the breeze got a bit colder since the sun is setting, he shrugs his jacket off to put it around you

"Oh my god, I cannot with you two" Johnny says as he watches the two of you. Slipping your arms through the sleeves, immediately smelling Jaehyun's perfume around you.

"Like I said, I have a Jaehyun"

It's finally the end of a long week, you invited Jaehyun over your place to cook dinner and have an indoor date to end your week together.

The two of you love cooking together, when you first started dating you used to cook for him and bring him packed lunches. Then one time he invited you over to cook dinner for you. At some point cooking became part of date night and it's now one of your favorite things to do with him.

While Jaehyun stirs the noodles on the pan, he feels you hug him from behind. You stand on your tiptoe to kiss him on the jaw, earning a smile from your boyfriend.

When it's just the two of you, you're more clingy towards him. In contrast with your strong personality around his friends, you're more soft spoken and gentle when it's just him around.

"Your birthday is coming up, what do you want to do?" you ask him

"Do you want to go on a date? It's valentines"

You shook your head, stepping to the side to look at him. Jaehyun peaks down at you, "You don't want to go out?"

"If that's what you want, we can celebrate valentines some other day. I want to celebrate your birthday" you tell him.

Jaehyun smiles at you, rubbing his nose against yours before giving your lips a quick peck. He can't get too distracted since he's still cooking. He burnt something before when the two of you forgot about the ramen you were cooking and got busy making out on the kitchen counter.

In his defense he craved you more than the ramen.

"Well if that's the case. What I want for my birthday is to go on a date with my favorite girl"

You smile at him, "Anywhere or is there somewhere you want to go to?"

"Can I plan it?"

"But it's your birthday"

"And I really want to take you out on a date, give me your day and consider that the best gift you could give me"

You look at him, he looks back at you waiting for you to fold. When you roll your eyes at him he knew he won.

"Fine but I'm getting you another gift, you can't say no!"

The two of you enjoy dinner, cleaning up afterwards before putting on a movie you're not really going to watch.

You'll give it to him, a record time of 4 minutes after the movie starts before he pulled you on his lap to kiss you breathless.

"That's a record" you mumble when the two of you broke apart to catch your breath

"What?" he asked, still dazed

"You made it past the opening credits" you giggle, tangling your hands behind his neck to pull him closer to you until he's a breath away.

"I was trying to see if you really wanted to watch the movie" he smirks, holding your hips down against his

"Liar, you would've distracted me whether I wanted to watch it or not"

"Okay you got me there, but what can I do. I just want to kiss my girlfriend all night and all over. Am I not allowed to do that?" He smiles before capturing your lips again, then he's leaving a trail of kisses along your skin. From your lips to your cheeks to your jaw down your neck. His hands now under your shirt to grip your waist.

"Yuno Jeong, believe me when I say this you are allowed to do all of that to me whatever it is you have in mind right now"

"You, you're all that is in my mind right now"

[nubianamy]

Guilty Pleasure (9-1-1 Buddie coffeeshop AU, PG-13, 9k)

“I always wanted to bring Christopher to this spot,” Eddie said, glancing at Buck. “But I could never find a way to do it that was safe enough.” 

Buck nodded, watching him. He moved close enough for their shoulders to touch, looking over the surf. “You’re a really good dad,” he said. 

Eddie kept his eyes cast down. “Not always. Ever since his mom died, I’ve had to say no a lot more than I used to. And he’s getting older. I don’t know how I’m going to handle finding a new school for him after fifth grade. It’s…” He sighed. “I didn’t bring you here to complain about parenting.” 

“No, it’s okay,” Buck said, nodding. “I know you don’t mean it like that, but it’s a lot, raising a kid on your own. I don’t know how you do it.” 

Eddie laughed, sounding a little broken. “I don’t know how I do, either.” 

He wasn’t sure what else to say. “You’re letting people help, right? I mean, you’re letting me help. That’s one person.” 

Eddie pressed in closer, until their shoulders and forearms were sandwiched together. They held that connection for what felt like a long time, Buck’s heart beating double time. 

“You’re not just any person,” Eddie said quietly. 

Read more on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/57751849

Written for @kimannebb for the 911 Fanworks Festival. This was a really fun AU to write, and technically my very first Buck/Eddie fic!

[buffetlicious]

The Dragon Boat Festival or Duan Wu Jie (端午节), is also known as Duan Yang Jie (端阳节), which means “Upright Sun” or “Double Fifth” (重午/重五). Falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month around the summer solstice which happened to be 10th June 2024 this year. The festival is also commonly referred to as the Fifth Month Festival amongst the Chinese. Its origins can be traced to southern China, and festivities include boat races and eating rice dumplings. The festival had evolved from the practice of revering the river dragon, to the commemoration of Qu Yuan (屈原), a third-century poet and political figure of the state of Chu in ancient China.

Legends and Myths - River Dragon (蛟龙)

The dragon was initially viewed as the benevolent spirit of the waters. It exemplified the masculine principle or yang in the Chinese ideology of harmony. Among common folk, it was believed that the River Dragon (蛟龙) controlled the rain and was thus worshipped during the summer solstice. Requests would be made for a balanced rainfall – sufficient to ensure a good harvest, without over-abundance that would cause destructive flooding.

Legends and Myths - Qu Yuan (屈原)

Primitive worship of the river dragon was often practised during the summer solstice. The Dragon Boat Festival was associated with Qu Yuan’s story only in the second century. Qu Yuan (屈原) was a poet and a statesman for the Chu kingdom (楚国) during the Warring States Period (战国时代). He served in high office and he advocated a policy of aligning with other kingdoms against the dominant Qin. However, political intrigue led Lord Huai to banish Qu Yuan instead. The ministry was left in the hands of corrupt statesmen and Qu Yuan helplessly watched his motherland decline. Depressed, he penned beautiful, patriotic poetry such as Li Sao (离骚) which means Encountering Sorrow, an allegorical poem stating his political aspirations and Jiu Ge (九歌) or Nine Songs, which gained Qu Yuan great renown.

With his top adviser gone, the king fell for the trickery of the Qin and his kingdom was eventually conquered. Upon hearing that his kingdom’s capital had been overtaken by the Qin, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Mi Luo River (汨罗江). As he was adored by people everywhere, the local people did everything in their power to try to either save Qu Yuan, or at the very least, to protect him in the afterlife.

Hereupon the legend varies. Some suggest that fishermen at the scene attempted to save their minister. Having failed, they sought to appease his spirit by throwing rice stuffed in bamboo stems into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body. Others say that the rice offerings were snatched by a river dragon and the rice had to be bundled in chinaberry leaves instead and tied with five different coloured silk threads in order to be effective. The triangular Rice Dumplings (粽子) thus became entwined with the festivities. Another version tells of farmers rowing out in dragon boats in their attempt to save Qu Yuan. Hence, Dragon Boat Racing (赛龙舟) has been held annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, in honour of the memory of Qu Yuan.

Or if reading through a wall of texts is not your cup of tea, here is a pictorial guide to summarize on the history of Qu Yuan (屈原) and how we ended up celebrating Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) with dragon boat racing and rice dumplings on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

All images are from the internet. Selected text info from here.

[madameaug]

Please don’t tell me jungkook or oc cheats because they just had a baby 🥲

Jungkook would never! If anything Jennette giving birth to little Peanut only enhanced is love for her.

Jungkook During the 40 Weeks of Pregnancy

Finding Out

Jennette didn't experience the typical signs of pregnancy. No morning sickness, no excessive weight gain, no mood swings. Nothing like that at all. She was perfectly fine. She was taking down the silver and gold Christmas-themed tree in February. Still in her festive onesie, Jungkook noticed something quite odd. An open jar of smooth peanut butter.

"You bought peanut butter?"

Taking a big lick from the spoon, Jennette nodded her head.

"Babe you can't stand peanut butter. You literally gag at the smell. Now your eating it straight of the jar."

"I don't know why, but I've been craving it. The smell isn't bothering me right now."

"Are you sick?" Jungkook placed the back of his head on Jennette's forehead.

"I'm fine."

Jungkook found that moment weird, but didn't harp on it. Maybe she was giving peanut butter another chance. Surely that was just the explanation. But it didn't stop there. More peanut butter treats arrived in the house in the next few weeks. Nutter Butters, Reeses Cups, and an unhealthy amount of peanut butter jelly sandwiches.

Jungkook watched in awe as Jennette ate her fifth Reeses in one sitting. The empty wrappers were piling beside her, as she watched an old episode of Martin.

"Jungkook I can literally feel your eyes glaring holes into my face."

"Jeanie are you sure nothing is wrong? Like you aren't hiding anything from me."

"I'm not sick, Jungkook. I'm not coughing, no sore throat, and no fever. I'm literally fine- stop asking."

Six hours later while Jennette was lying in bed, Jungkook lay on his back, deep in thought. The amount of peanut butter products Jennette had been consuming in the past three weeks was absurd. How could she go from gagging at the smell of the ingredient to finishing family-size jars by herself in three days. Jungkook needed to get to the bottom of this. Slipping out of bed, Jungkook went to the 24/7 pharmacy. He went up and down the aisles, hoping to find some fancy brand to explain the eating habits shift.

Tylenol?

Advil?

Metamucil?

No no no.

Soon enough, he found himself of the family planning aisle. In front of him were three rows of Clear Blue pregnancy tests. His heart skipped a beat as he contemplated picking up the pregnancy test.

Better safe than sorry.

The drive back to the house seemed longer, despite him going ten over the speed limit.

"Jeanie... Jeanie baby, wake up." He gently rocked Jennette awake.

"Go away." She yawned turning on her side. She nuzzled into her pillow.

"I need you to take this test for me."

"What test?" Jennette's cracked.

"Just take it."

Irritated, Jennette squinted as she sat up. She slipped her feet into her slippers. She headed into their shared bathroom beside their bedroom. There, she saw a pregnancy test on the counter. Her lips ready to fire off.

"Please just take it. I can't help but think this could be why you have been acting so different lately."

Closing the door, Jennette just went with the motions. Taking the test and peeing on the stick. She wasn't even anxious about the results in the slightest. She wanted to just get back in her bed, before her spot of warmth disappeared.

"Are you done!?"

Jennette washed her hands and opened the door. Jungkook had the edge of his thumb in between in teeth. A soothing habit he only did when he was highly anxious.

Jennette adjusted her bonnet slightly, slipping of her head. She went into her nightstand and put on her signature purple glasses. She couldn't read the test because of her astigmatism in both eyes. The lines would be moving too much for her to read the test accurately.

"See, look, one line." The thin second line arrived as she turned the test to gloat in front of Jungkook.

"Oh fuck."

"Wha-. shitttt." Jennette did a double take, seeing the positive pregnancy test.

Weeks 7-10

The next day Jeannette and Jungkook scheduled an appointment at the doctors office. She got her pre-natal vitamins and an official test done. They found out that they were seven weeks pregnant. The couple wasn't actively trying for a kid, but they were't devastated by the news. They were 29 respectively and could now use the next seven-ish months to prepare themselves for parenthood.

During this time they got their first sonogram. Jungkook was moved to tears and asked for several copies of the picture. One of them going in his car, one on the back of his phone, and the other in his night stand. The picture was so precious to him

It was only one time Jennette experienced morning sickness. She blames the vertigo spell for pushing her over the edge. She was doing perfectly fine, but when she was riding in an elevator one morning. She got nauseous all of a sudden. She told Jungkook, and he ordered her to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Weeks 11-14

This is when the nickname Peanut came about. Now, reaching the end of the first trimester, Jennette and Jungkook was looking at their developing child on the screen. Jungkook could point out their eyes, and tiny toes.

"Looks like this angel is gonna be on the chunky side." The OBGYN commented.

"Their so cute, though. Look at ‘em."

Moving around the wand on Jennette's small belly, they looked at all angles.

"What are they doing doing, doctor?" Jungkook wondered.

"Oh just sucking their thumb."

Jungkook gushed harder at the screen. "Look at our little Peanut."

Weeks 15-18

Time for the long-awaited gender reveal. Jennette and Jungkook opted to keep this moment more intimate. They didn't want a crazy gender reveal party. They were going to keep the gender of their little Peanut a surprise until she was born. But they still had to create a memorable experience.

Surprisingly both Jennette and Jungkook believed that they were having a baby girl. The April weather allowed for Jennette to wear a baby pink shirt and skirt set. Her bump was protruding more, especially from a side-profile perspective. Jungkook was wearing a pink button-up jacket. White t-shirt with pink pants to match. He found this really cute plushy online called 'Cooky'. It was a pink bunny, a perfect gift for the little girl he hoped to have.

"Are you ready to find out the gender of your baby?"

"Yes!" The answered at the same time.

Applying the cold gel on Jennette's belly, the doctor handed the wand to Jungkook. Allowing him to do the honors. He grasped the wand, eyes wide-looking for any declaration of the child's biological sex.

"Wait slow down, bug. Go a little more to the left." Jennette guided. The angle they were looking at they could only see her legs and stomach.

In a gasp of excitement, Jennette saw the outline of a labia majora. Stronger than she anticipated, she gripped Jungkook's shoulder and shook him.

"We're having a baby girl! OMG! OMG!"

“Peanuts a girl! She’s a girl! I’m a girl dad !!!”

Jungkook jumped up and down. The wand was long forgotten as it hit the ground. The OBGYN enjoyed watching the couple celebrate their baby girl.

Week 19- 22

Jungkook was very protective over Jennette's now obvious baby bump. Whenever they were out in public together, he walked slightly in front of her. Avoiding from touchy strangers, placing their filthy hands on her stomach. Only he could touch Jennette's stomach. His little peanut was inside, and he was obligated to protect her, and her mother of course.

On a lazy Sunday morning, Jungkook was playing with Peanut. Jennette was able to feel her kicking, and her moving around in her stomach. Her baby was quite receptive to her father's voice. Jungkook would stand on one side of Jenentte and speak. Watching the little imprints of hands and feet press against her stomach. Indiciating that Peanut was following her father's voice.

"Oh Toodles." Jennette jokingly tapped her stomach. Jungkook was coming closer to her, to do his daily quality time with his baby. She felt a flutter in response.

"Peanut. Come to me sweet girl."

"Ooo!" Jennette reacted to the sudden dart across her stomach.

"That may have been the fastest she's moved." Jennette paused in between her words. Her little Peanut was developing some speed, which always tired her. Even though she hadn't moved a muscle.

"Okay come to this side." And peanut did. Jungkook capturing the moment on his phone.

"I'm for sure showing her this when she's older." He snickered. "Okay I'm over here now."

Week 23-26

Jennette and Jungkook were sitting a frozen yogurt creamery looking at another sonogram picture of their little Peanut. They had gotten a really nice close-up of Peanut's face. Her lips and eyes were well-seen in the image.

"Peanut will be the first person in my family who is bald."

"Everyone in my family is born bald. Including me.” Jungkook commented. He dug deep into his camera roll finding an image of him when he was just a few days old.

"Oh-" Failing to hold in her laughter, Jennette's stomach shook with a violent laugh. Poor Peanut probably thought she was on a roller coaster.

"Most black babies I've seen were born with a head full of hair. It would explain why I don't have heartburn." Doing the same Jennette pulled up a picture of herself when she was a baby. She was born with a mini afro, just like her mother and her sister.

"But look I can already tell she has your eyes. I just know they are gonna be so pretty."

Jungkook agreed. "I make some pretty babies."

"I make pretty babies." Jennette emphasized.

"Can't argue with that baby." Jungkook took a scoop of Jennette's yogurt. "I hope she looks like you."

"I hope so too."

"Just because you said that, Peanut will look just like her daddy." Jungkook kissed her belly. His tattooed hand rubbed over the now darker vertical line running down her bump.

Leaving the yogurt shop, Jungkook and Jennette walked around the area, getting some exercise. Like an excited dad, Jungkook told random strangers he passed about his "twin".

"My twin is in there."

"She only has four more months left."

Week 27-30

Jennette is super clumsy. Don't hand her anything fragile that can break. She has butter fingers unlike ever before. Jungkook had to move the precious pottery to the top of the cabinets. No way would she step on a ladder to get it, so it would require Jungkook to assist you.

"Bug you up?"

Jungkook had a tough training session in the gym and was trying to take a cat nap on the couch. It was 2 am and he believed that Jennette had already been sleep.

"Huh? What's wrong? Peanut good?"

"Yes, she's good. A craving is just hitting me."

"Peanut butter is in the pantry. You can reach it." Jungkook pouted his lips, looking so adorable in Jennette's eyes. She felt bad for waking him up.

"But I kinda want something different. I'm sorry baby."

"Don't apologize. I got you." With one eye barely open, Jungkook got the sweet treat Jennette had been craving. Being the good boyfriend that I knew he would be.

Week 33-36

Peanut's baby shower was a busy affair. Jennette's side of the family flew out to Korea. Her parents, grandma, and her little sister Asia were all able to come. Jungkook's parents handled all the food matters for the party. Jennette was hanging up some decor on the walls.

Jennette felt as big as a house. She looked exhausted and greasy. New growth from her braids were taking over her scalp. The August heat was not making her feel any better. She was already constantly warm with a growing child in her belly. The external temperature of high 80s didn't help either.

It was smart for her to get dressed later in the day, as she would have sweated out her yellow sundress. Instead, she was in her comfy maternity shorts that were extra-large. Cream-colored stretchmarks ran rampant across the surface of her stomach. She hasn't been able to see her feet in the past month or so. She could only imagine what her feet looked like.

Jungkook came down the stairs. Blothes of paint on an old graphic T-shirt. "Baby, there you are. I have something to show you." Jungkook was cheery this morning despite the few hours of sleep he got. He waited at the airport to pick of Jennette's family before coming home around 2 am.

"Come look." Jungkook gently dragged Jennette up the stairs. He had been cooped upstairs with his friends for the last four hours.

"Voila!"

Peanut's crib was set up along the purple-colored walls. There were small animals along the wall. The purple went along nicely with the accent color of white. White flowers were thinly painted, creating a beautiful garden of flowers. Which all came ahead above where Peanut's crib was.

"Bug I love it!" Not wanting to cry, Jennette felt so moved by everything she saw. The nurse was so homey for their Peanut. The carpet was soft, a mobile spun slowly.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Jennette thanked Jungkook's friends, her Peanut's uncles. She would forever treasure the beautiful work that they did.

"Come on you need to get dressed. Guest will be coming in less than an hour."

Week 37-40

Jungkook is the type of boyfriend with labor emergency kits in every vehicle. So that no matter what car they were in, if they needed to drive straight to the hospital then they could. With Peanut arriving in less than a few weeks, Jungkook has become a lot more stressed.

He overreacts to any groan coming from Jennette.

"Was that a contraction?"

"Did your water break?"

"Do you feel her head coming out? Lay down, let me look."

Jungkook was getting on Jennette's last nerves. His pre-parental panic was cramping her style. She looked like a goddess. Afro out, wearing slightly form-fitting clothing. She was like Rihanna, making her bump an accessory with her outfit. Not hiding it under maternity clothing. She does several solo maternity shoots before inviting Jungkook to do a couple with her.

The afternoon of August 31st is when Jennette's water breaks. She was baking peanut butter cookies when a liquid trickled down her leg. Jungkook who was in the shower, wasted no time ushering his pregnant girlfriend to the hospital.

It was seven o'clock and Jennette was only four centimeters dialed. She bounced on a huge yoga ball. She did breathing exercises, and Jungkook was attentive the entire time.

Rubbing her back when requested. Holding her hand, kissing her forehead.

"You are doing amazing baby. I love you so much."

Jennette could FaceTime her mother for a couple of hours as she slowly dialted to eight. Her contractions were becoming closer together, and Peanut was slowly lowering herself into the birth canal.

"I don't think I could do this again." She huffed. She wasn't in pain but was in extreme discomfort. She couldn't get comfortable laying on her back. It just felt wrong.

"Whatever you say baby. Peanut is enough for me."

"Bug can you hold me up. I don't think I can lay down any longer."

Jungkook did just that. As Jennette moaned through her contractions, Jungkook rubbed her back. Trying to keep the hospital gown as closed as possible, he didn't want her ass out for any passing staff member to see.

"Thank you so much Jeanie." Jungkook was on the brink of tears. With the help of three other nurses, Jennette was lying on her back again. The doctor had declared Jennette at 10cm. She could start pushing, and her contractions were much closer together.

"AHHHHHH!"

"GET HER OUTTTT! NOWWWWW" Jennette tossed and turned her head. Her screams of discomfort broke Jungkook's heart. He didn't know what else to say but 'Thank you' and 'I love you'.

Jungkook held Jennette's hand for the entire twenty minutes she was pushing. Jennette's head hit her pillow with a soft thud. All energy left her body, as she watched the doctor hold Peanut in the air. Her lip was quivering with no sound.

"Why isn't she crying?" Jennette choked out, trying not to cry. The nurses didn't respond, wiping Peanut's face of all the mucus. Jungkook's eyes never left Peanut. Her little pink self. He couldn't help but smile and notice that Peanut was bald. Very little hair was on her head, but Jungkook didn't care. She was the prettiest baby he had ever seen. Bald or not.

The doctor smacked Peanut's bottom, eliciting a scream.

"Oh my baby." Jennette smiled, arms open, ready to hold her. Peanut was placed on Jennette's chest. Jennette nuzzled her cheek against hers. Loving the warmth Peanut radiated. Jennetted motioned for Jungkook to get in the bed with her.

"Come on, come hold her. Take your shirt off for skin to skin."

Jungkook was a crying mess holding Peanut. This was the same person scattering across Jennette's stomach as the sound of his voice. He was now face to face with his Peanut. Yeah Jungkook was crying real bad.

Her eyes were like Jungkook's. It was too early to determine her skin complexion as she was just different shades of pink and slight grey. Her nose and lips were like Jennette's. After being washed up and dressed she took a nap on her mother’s chest. Preparing for her baldness, Jungkook put on a gentle (non-squeezing) bow on her head.

Looking at the time, Jungkook smiled even harder.

"Guess it was fate for Peanut to be my twin."

"What makes you say that?"

Shaking his phone, Jennette saw the time.

12:28 am September 1st.

"You got your twin bug. You definitely got your twin."

Series Masterlist:

[dilf-in-peril]

Here are some matches I recently watched and enjoyed.

Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale (AEW Double or Nothing 2024) - I simply loved seeing Willow throw and smack Mercedes around and Mercedes performs pain-mania-insanity so well.

Leon vs Kaori Yoneyama (JWP Pure Slam 2005) - Tag team partners killing each other like only tag team partners can, close and personal and painful. Surprisingly good camera work given it's 2005 joshi.

Jimmy Rave vs. Nigel McGuinness (ROH The Fifth Year Festival: Finale) - Great heel performance from Rave as usual, and a unique match structured around a guard rail that gave me anxiety, because there's bits sticking out of it, dear god!

Combat Toyoda vs. Megumi Kudo (FMW Fighting Creation '96 - Day 11: 7th Anniversary Show) - Toyoda's retirement match, at the time, performed with all the blood, tears and drama she deserves. Just incredible melodrama and aesthetics, and Megumi suffers so beautifully.

Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (AJPW Super Power Series 1995 - Day 15) - Leave Kobashi alone! Peak Japanese tag wrestling, building to emotional heights that you can only get when you take all that time to get there. Also it's always fun to watch the crowd react.

Nigel McGuinness vs. Kevin Steen (ROH Northern Navigation) - I love when Nigel gets to be that bitch.

[autobotjazzweek]

Happy Fifth Anniversary to Jazz Week!!!

Hey there, Autobots, Decepticons and gentlebeings of all persuasions! Moderator @eerian-sadow here to give a few more details for Jazz Week, where we celebrate the smoothest, coolest cat ever produced by Hasbro.

Jazz Week, or Autobot Jazz Week to keep confusion among the music festival crowd to a minimum, is a themed prompt week that runs from July 14 through July 20, 2024. This is our FIFTH YEAR! And boy am I excited about it. Every year, y’all just get better and better. 

This year’s timing might overlap with at least one other fandom challenge, but I haven't heard of any others this week. But, if I'm wrong, you can absolutely overlap your challenges. I don’t expect anyone to turn out two or three or more pieces per day, so please double or triple dip for THIS challenge. After all, it’s fine to wear the same dress to more than one party. ;) AND this is an “All Fanworks Welcome” challenge! Whether you paint, draw, write, knit or make floral arrangements, any fanwork that celebrates Jazz is happily welcomed here. The most important thing is that you are having fun! (We're also all ratings, so tag/warn accordingly, please!)

Like most theme weeks, we have some prompts! This year, they are:

July 14: Mirrors / Forgotten

July 15: Singing and Dancing / Under Pressure

July 16: Secrets / Street Urchin

July 17: Remedy / Snipers

July 18: Vampires / Hiding in Plain Sight

July 19: Once in a Lifetime / Magic

July 20: Creator’s Choice

The prompts are presented in pairs, one lighter and one darker, and you are welcome to take inspiration from one or the other or both or neither! (Again, the fun is the point.) 

When posting your works, please remember to use the official Jazz Week tags (written so they don't overlap with the music festival scene,  again) #AutobotJazzWeek and #AutobotJazzWeek2024 (Twitter, Tumblr, Pillowfort, Bluesky & Instagram) On Dreamwidth, the tag is Jazz Week 2024.

For everyone on AO3 there is a collection: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/AutobotJazzWeek2024  (AutobotJazzWeek2024) 

And if you only manage one fill for the week? Don't sweat it. One fill is a success and you've added to the net joy of the universe!

Happy Fifth Anniversary everyone! Don’t forget to share this (and the prompt posts all week) wherever you’ve seen it, and have a great fest!

[blithesometrait]

BLOOM | EDGEWAVE 2023

Del Sol Times - June 7th, 2023

"When you think rock music, does Mozart, flowers, and pastels come to mind? No? How about now, after the performance breakout band BLOOM had at Edgewave 2023 right here in Del Sol Valley!? This may be their first concert but it certainly won't be the last! With the combined vocals of Charm Marchetti, Blue Velazquez, and Davie Lee (the latter of the two doubling up on drums and guitar, respectively) BLOOM offers a fresh take on a beloved genre and serves as one of many performers in the hottest simblr music festival of the summer, hosted by Tumblr user @aniraklova. The event began on the fifth of June and will continue on through the eleventh. See you there!"

[mimihanyuu]

Panic room.

Just a lil something I thought of after trying a 5 minute meditation....yeah.

Cw: anxiety symptoms, fem!reader, sap

If you had realized the kind of day you were in for, you would never have gotten out of bed.

For one thing, you had woken up with a migraine that pounded when you took a step. You had stayed in your dark room for an hour until you lost hope and went to eat and take medicine. But, of course, your companions at headquarters had chosen today to throw a raucous party for whatever arbitrary reason they came up with this time (Komui was always planning parties). When you were recruited to help set up, you had refuse, only to find Emilia and Miranda pouting at your rejection. You had sighed and allowed yourself to be dragged into the job. Lenalee and Lavi shot you apologetic looks and Allen, who didn't know you well, had merely teased you about how rare it was for you to appear without your friend Kanda. You failed to understand this, gritting your teeth and resisting the urge to clarify Kanda as your friend, and nothing else. Besides, you thought, this would only egg the naysayers on, including Allen, who stepped back as irritation seeped from your very pores. Good, you thought. That'll teach him.

And so, you helped obligingly with decorations, cringing with each and every loud crash and screech and stupid mistake made by your companions. No matter, you thought. You'd slip out when the festivities began.

Your close friends had left you decidedly alone once the party started, sensing your drab mood and opting to let you sneak away. But others such as Gigi and Komui and even Reever, who liked you but, like Allen, didn't know your telltale signs of nervousness and irritability, encouraged you to join the festivities. In fact, Gigi had drunkenly dragged you back into the dining hall as you attempted to leave, claiming in a slurred haze that there weren't enough women at headquarters for any of them to be skipping parties.

Your eyebrow had twitched at that, but you kept quiet, though whether it was out of exhaustion or true compliance you weren't actually sure. A mere hour into the party, though, you found yourself sitting in a corner with a glass of water, watching people mill about as your knee bounced up and down nervously. You'd given up on leaving by then, and thought you'd be content to just sit.

You were not.

Your head ached, your heart did backflips, your stomach churned. The noise and movement that engulfed the room had become too much. You felt like you needed to run, but you were glued to your seat in fear, as if leaving were just as bad an option as staying right where you were.

And now, hours later, you have managed to drink a full glass of water, and sit anxiously for an unknown but far too long amount of time. Too shy to go refill your glass, and too lightheaded to remain in the room, you decide then to take the opportunity to sneak out the large double doors that lead into the overflowing room.

One step out the door, two, then three. By the fourth, the fifth, you're jogging. The ninth and tenth steps become more like a run, and by the fifteenth, you are sprinting through the halls of your vast, strange home towards a location unbeknownst to you.

Finally, you reach your mystery destination and slam open the sliding door, panting and startling the room's one occupant. You dont look at him, though--you can't, you're sure you'd cry if you did--as you smack the door shut again and flop onto the mats of the training dojo next to him. You let out a long, shaking huff of air and Kanda stares at you, his sharp eyes watching you intently. His expression holds only the slightest hint of his shock at your dramatic arrival.

"They got you, huh?"

You grumble. Of course he knows exactly what happened! He always manages to escape the torture of social gatherings. You glare up at him upon realizing it.

"You got out of it," you point accusingly, although you're half joking. "How do you always do that?"

"Welcome to the panic room," he mutters. "I just hole up in here and ignore them when they talk to me. But anyway," Kanda narrows his eyes in scrutiny, his gaze scanning your features for signs of distress. "You should meditate. You're obviously tense."

"I'm not tense," you drawl. "I'm pissed."

"Meditation is good for that, too."

And with that, he's back in his cross-legged position, his hands resting on his knees, back straight and eyes closed. You frown. Once he's in that pose, he's going to ignore you; he's proven this many, many times. So instead of poking and prodding at him to elaborate, you simply sigh with a good, intentional amount of drama and settle in next to him, in the same pose.

Truthfully, you've never understood meditation. You try to focus on your breathing, concentrating on deep, full inhales and long exhales. Inhale, exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale....

Exhale.

But your mind wanders several times to several places. How will they manage to clean up after the party? Will you have to help? Hopefully Cross won't be there to cause any trouble for the women. And what about--

"Your breathing is shallow," Kanda whispers so that you can barely hear him, but you swear you feel him scoot closer. "You're distracted. Every time that happens, let it go and focus on your body again."

You scrunch your eyes shut, trying to follow his instructions. For the next few minutes, any time your mind wonders, you inhale deeply again, attempting to center yourself once more.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

You open your eyes.

As if sensing something, Kanda peeks at you from one open eye, still in his meditating position. "Better?" He mumbles, and you're sure this time that there's an affectionate undertone in his voice, one you never hear unless he's speaking to you. It makes you feel special somehow.

With a long sigh, you lean your head on his shoulder. "Yeah," you whisper. "Thanks."

Kanda doesn't respond.

You wake up in your bed the next morning, in the same clothes and unsure how you got there. I must have fallen asleep in the training dojo.

(The second you exit your room, you're met with the news that Kanda nearly skewered Lavi the night before, and you realize that only one person could have carried you back to your room--and was obviously caught in the act and thoroughly teased).

[bigfrozenfan-fanfics]

Chapter 80 - Yuletide

Links: Chapter overview, Character list, Map, Glossar Rating: M over all Publishing cycle: around every 2-3 weeks

Remarks: all my chapters contain carefully selected music tracks (try to use headphones). It’s your own decision if you want to use them or not while reading. The purpose is to musically support the respective mood of the plot. If you can please use a browser for reading (not the Tumblr app) due to the text formatting and music.

Elsa was still fast asleep and had a very vivid dream. She was trudging through deep snow in the freezing cold and heard the loud crunching of the frozen snow with every step she took. The view ahead at dusk showed an endless white expanse in the bright moonlight, without contours and without any dwellings in sight. A beautiful winter landscape spread out before her, above it the bright greenish wafting northern lights and a herd of reindeer and many people who looked like Northuldra pulling sledges behind them.

          Elsa didn't know how long she had been trotting behind them, but footsteps beside her made her glance to the side. She saw Maren trudging through the snow beside her, not two steps away. Maren looked very thoughtful and tired, but her expression also showed Elsa determination and a touch of sadness. She wondered what she was thinking about.

          Elsa reached out a hand to her and was about to address her, but the images of the dream were already beginning to fade and something was pulling at her. The next moment Elsa realised that she was lying in bed in her room and unfortunately it had only been a dream. How much she would have loved to be at Maren's side on the journey to the far north.

          It was still dark in the room, before dawn. Something must have woken her up, but she was sure no one else was in the room apart from her.

          She listened to her inward thoughts, sat up and peeled herself out of the thin duvet to get out of bed. An inner feeling suddenly told her that winter had arrived in Arendelle, and the darkest season had begun with it. She could almost feel it in her bones, as she always did at the end of the year. As soon as the first frost came, the Yuletide began and with it all the festivities and preparations surrounding Christmas.

          She blew into the barely existing embers in the fireplace, started a small fire and lit a candle. She took off her night robe and, with one of her typical hand gestures, dressed in a midnight blue dress with a thin, airy robe over it that featured sparkling diamonds in the four colours of the elements. She didn't want to wear her white Spirit robe and loose hair every day, but she didn't mind the meaningful adornments she had received since the one night of Ahtohallan that appointed her as the fifth Spirit. She then plaited her typical long braid and let it hang over her left shoulder as usual. Some things never changed and she had got used to the braid over the last few years and liked it very much.

          Elsa went quietly downstairs into the small ballroom, pulled open the first large double-leaf door to the castle courtyard, took a quick look into the corridor next to it, where the stairs led up to the bell tower, and pulled open the last two doors that led outside. Elsa made her way past the chapel and into the castle garden. A few guards were silently making their rounds at the top of the battlements. As she stood in the garden, she glanced up at the triangular window of her old childhood bedroom and remembered watching her little sister trying to skate on the frozen duck pond without suitable footwear. The next day, she surprised Anna by giving her real ice skates incognito and made her very happy.

          Elsa had to giggle softly at this wonderful memory as she finally knelt down in front of the pond and touched the thin layer of ice on it. Yes, once again her instincts had not deceived her, the first frost had arrived and so the Christmas season would begin in four weeks' time.

          One of her favourite traditions in recent years had always been a weekly picnic with Anna, which lasted from summer into the depths of autumn. Until the last leaves fell from the trees, signalling the approach of winter. But since last autumn, everything had changed, because she had become the fifth Spirit, stayed in the enchanted forest and, apart from the equally traditional games evenings with Anna and the others on some Fridays, there had unfortunately been no more time for it. She swore to herself that they both had to revive it.

          Elsa walked on and stopped at the end of the small jetty in the icy air. The water of the fjord was still warmer than the cold surrounding air and a thick fog had formed over it. It was so dense that even the view of the opposite mountain flank of the Vestvidda plateau was obscured. In the harbour basin, the fog had spread in gently moving swathes as far as the waterfall, but was not quite as impenetrable as on the fjord. It was an almost magical sight in the pale light of the moon and the twinkling starry sky above her.

          At that moment, Elsa couldn't help but think back to the impenetrable, magical wall of mist around the Northuldra region last year, and how it had prevented Olaf and Kristoff from attempting to cross it by vehemently pushing them both back again and again. It was almost as if the fog was alive and had a consciousness.

          Only when she touched it herself, holding her sister by her other hand simultaneously, did the previously impenetrable barrier open, revealing the four tall monoliths in front of them that their father had told them about and inviting them all to move on. But the magic of the phenomenon obviously had very special plans for them. They were suddenly all pulled in and something pushed them forcefully through to the other side, right into the centre of the enchanted forest that no one from outside had seen for over three decades.

          Elsa couldn't help but carefully touch the natural mist in front of her with an outstretched finger, expecting something special to happen. But nothing of the sort happened. She only felt the natural humidity on her skin, nothing more. Almost disappointed, she wanted to withdraw her hand again, but then had a crazy idea.

          Elsa used her magic and froze the mist before her into a wafer-thin layer of ice that spread across the entire harbour basin and hovered there motionless. The layer was so thin and smooth that it formed a perfect mirror, reflecting the moon and the stars. It was almost as if Elsa was now standing above them in the sky and looking down on them. Now the whole event was indeed magical! She couldn't help but laugh quietly with joy at the sight. It was just a shame that Anna wasn't here to see it now. Kristoff would certainly have enjoyed it too, because ice was his life, as he always liked to claim. But by the time they woke up, this natural spectacle would have vanished into thin air.

          Elsa briefly considered whether she should just leave her ice formation floating here for them until they got up, but this fantastic sight simply wouldn't be the same in daylight and so, after a while, she sadly flicked her finger at the edge of the fragile layer. The sight of the starry sky shattered quietly, clinking into millions of tiny pieces that drifted slowly and sparkling away on the surface of the water.

~~~

The next day, the sky had closed in and thick snowflakes floated down onto the roofs of Arendelle. In the following hours it began to snow more and more heavily and would not stop. The white season had finally arrived and within just a few days it covered everything in a thick blanket of snow that drowned out all the sounds of the city. Many citizens of Arendelle prepared themselves for a long winter, quickly stocked up on wood and made the most necessary purchases, and when one looked down on the quiet, dreamy town with its smoking chimneys in the evening and the candlelight in the windows cast yellowish glowing spots on the glistening snow in front of it, Arendelle showed itself from its most beautiful and picturesque side. It almost looked as if the city had become a colourful collection of gingerbread houses covered in sugar.

          For the children, the most beautiful time of year had arrived and they were given the next few months off school. On their last day of school, the teacher told them, as she does every year, about the tradition of St Lucy's Day, the day of light, which was coming up soon and which, along with the ringing of the Yule bell the following day, was the most important day in the dark season.

          Then the teacher told the children another story, about the old tradition of giving Tomse porridge with butter mixed in on Christmas Eve so that the little gnome, who usually lived with the farmers in a barn, would look after them well the following year and make sure that nothing happened to them or their animals.

          “But you shouldn't eat his bowl of porridge,” she said with a raised index finger. “People say that you'll be beaten by him for it and have to dance with him all night long. That's what happened to a poor servant girl who was found almost lifeless by the farmer the next day.”

          At home, most of the children prepared for the event with their parents, dressing up as St Lucy or Tomse for a trial run in his peasant clothes with the red pointed cap on his head. Elin, who to the delight of Halima and Mattias had become close friends with a few girls, also wanted to participate in a candlelight procession for the first time.

          In the afternoon, children's laughter could be heard throughout the streets and alleyways as they rushed out to play in the snow. They had great fun and had loud snowball fights. Elin was also there, playing all sorts of mischief with them or lying next to them in the snow, laughing and making snow angels with her arms and legs.

          The next day was hardly any different, only today the children had a royal audience.

          Anna stood next to Elsa on the balcony and watched the hustle and bustle down on the market square with her.

          “When I look down there, I wonder if you remember what we promised each other in the Northuldra camp a little while ago?” she said with a mischievous smile.

          Elsa looked at her and nodded with a grin, “Of course, sis, how could I forget something like that? Let's go downstairs right after breakfast and find out if you can win against me this time.”

          “Great! Kristoff should join in though and can help me out a bit and … wait … I've just got an even better idea. What if we form two teams with the children? That would be great fun. It'll even things out a bit against your snow magic and it'll be the first competition of the Arendelles Winter Games.”

          “Well, we'll see,” laughed Elsa. “But let's have a cosy breakfast first.”

          A little later, the three of them were surrounded by a crowd of children, Anna and Kristoff on one side and Elsa on the other. They whispered to each other and drew up a battle plan. The aim for the sisters was to be the first to get behind their opponent's line in order to win. Whoever took too many hits in the team had to sit out. Kristoff would play the referee. Anna had wrapped herself up in thick winter clothing, so the whole thing could take a little longer.

          As many people in the streets had already shovelled away the snow as best they could, they all walked together up the long mountain road almost to the mill. The children were already very excited to organise a snowball fight with the queen and her sister.

          To make it a little more difficult for Elsa and her team, she had to try to win uphill and she wasn't allowed to magically whisk away approaching snowballs. Anna's team built two snow barricades on the path and a few of the smallest children ducked behind them unnoticed. Her plan was to trick Elsa, but of course in a nice yet unexpected way. They all stood not too far from each other, mainly because of the children's reach.

          Kristoff finally gave the starting signal and dozens of snowballs instantly flew through the air. Elsa moved closer and closer with her ten children, ducking again and again, and Anna redoubled her efforts. She grabbed one snowball after another from the prepared pile and threw them rather unerringly at anyone who got too close. Two of the children from Elsa's group rushed forward, but caught more than five snowballs at once. That put them out of the game for the time being, as Kristoff called out, and Kristoff also took out three on the other side. Elsa signalled to her children to follow her and attack all at once. She formed a giant snowball in the air and ran towards her sister, laughing, to scare her and the others in the team.

          It worked at first and many of them backed away in fright. Anna grabbed as many small snowballs as she could carry in the crook of her arm and also backed away, throwing one at her sister again and again, but missing. But that was the plan and as soon as Elsa had passed the barricades, two of the youngest children stood up behind her and threw their snowballs at Elsa's back in quick succession.

          “Elsa's out!” Kristoff shouted with a laugh, unaware of Anna's plan, and Elsa stopped in mid-stride in surprise. She let her now useless snowball plop down on the path in front of her.

          Anna raced past her, giggling, and threw her last few balls, ducking away again and again. She reached the back of her opponent's line unhindered and threw her arms in the air triumphantly with a ” Hooray!”.

          “Team Anna has won!” Kristoff shouted to loud cheers from all the children on both teams, nodding in approval.

          Laughing, the sisters immediately hugged each other and were embraced by a dozen children's arms.

          “Well, what do you say now, sis?” asked Anna, smiling from ear to ear.

          “That was a clever move on your part and really came as a surprise to me. Congratulations, Anna. You've actually beaten me.”

~~~

It was the thirteenth of December, the day of St Lucy. The snowfall had stopped overnight and it was getting noticeably colder. It also remained very dark and the sun barely rose above the horizon, only shining for a few hours a day. The streets were already decorated for Christmas. Men were leaning ladders against all the lampposts in town, hanging banners and richly decorated evergreen wreaths, and the first houses were traditionally decorated with straw-woven Christmas bucks, Gävle goats, straw wreaths and bundles on the front doors and walls. Of course, all the banisters on the staircases were lovingly and festively wrapped and all the preparations were made inside the houses for the various family traditions.

          Even Oaken had come into town with his sauna wagon to give everyone a chance to warm up in the cold. Later, of course, he would celebrate with his family in his trading post with sauna, but for now he wanted to keep his new little shop open for a few more days and offer coffee as well as hot gløgg.

          In the evening, the melodious children's choir could be heard from the castle chapel, white candles were burning everywhere in Arendelles cemetery and behind every window in the city. It was the darkest time of year and it was only during the winter solstice that the cycle was reversed. As the teacher had already described to the children, joyful candlelight processions now occurred throughout the kingdom, not just here in town. Columns of children dressed in white with candles in their hands, led by a girl with a crown of candles, walked through the streets singing merrily, enchanting all the citizens of the city, giving away the sweet Lucy buns to all the good and dearest people in Arendelle and setting the mood for the thirteen days of Christmas, which would begin tomorrow at noon.

          For the first time in a long time, Elsa created her unique ice decorations on and around the castle. The only thing missing now was the return of the two ships with the much-needed supplies and the sisters were beginning to worry about that.

          Kristoff, meanwhile, had other things to worry about as he wondered whether he would be entrusted with putting the Yule Bell in its place in the tower this time too. He was already unofficially married to the queen and technically already the crown prince of Arendelle. Still, no-one apart from the castle staff knew this fact yet - nor could anyone until the summer of next year, when the official big wedding would take place. Therefore, in theory, he would no longer have to do it in his new position; he thought.

          But basically he looked forward to it every year, with the possible exception of the first time when the clapper of the bell was lost through his fault; at least that's what he thought. It would therefore possibly be the very last opportunity for him, because after the marriage he would pull the rope on the bell together with Anna and Elsa to ring the bell.

          Kristoff knocked on Anna's study, entered and found both sisters there, having a lively discussion with a hot cup of chocolate in their hands.

          “Hello, you two, am I interrupting something?” he asked, leaving the door half open to be on the safe side.

          “No, not at all. Why don't you come in and join us, darling,” said Anna, pointing to a free chair. “We're just wondering where our two ships are. Both captains, Holmstein and Dahlberg, had promised that they wanted to be back before the yule bell rang, and that's tomorrow at noon!”

          “Oh, they'll make it by tomorrow morning,” Kristoff replied confidently and sat down with them. “After all, they wouldn't want to miss the event for the world, would they?”

          They both looked at him a little uncertainly until Elsa finally nodded and said, “I'm sure you're right, let's be hopeful until tomorrow, especially as there are still so many supplies missing in the city.”

          “And for the winter ball,” Anna added. “But tell me, why were you looking for us, Kristoff?”

          “Erm, well, I was wondering if I could look after the Yule Bell this year, as I have done in previous years.” He briefly explained his concerns.

          “Oh darling, but of course you can! Nobody can forbid you to do that, whether you're only engaged to me or already married. We're relying on you,” said Anna, leaning over with a sympathetic smile and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

          “We'd love you to ring the bell with us this time,” Elsa added.

          Kristoff's face began to glow with joy and he could only say “Thank you” with relief.

~~~

Next day, as if Kristoff had foreseen, the signalling bell rang out at breakfast time at the top of the watchtower. It was rung three times twice, signalling the arrival of three ships.

          Anna, Elsa and Kristoff, surprised and happy at the same time, left everything at the table and rushed out onto the west balcony to look out over the fjord.

          On the way up, Anna called out to the others, “Three ships? I really didn't expect that, did you?”

          “No, Anna, me neither! Are they foreign ships? But no, it can't be, because then the bell would have sounded the alarm. Who could it be?”

          “Visitors from another kingdom,” Kristoff surmised and was absolutely right when they spotted them standing next to each other on the balcony.

          The two ships in front bore the flag of Arendelle on their main masts, while the third, surprisingly and without any doubt for the sisters, was recognisable as a ship from Brinnon.

          “Brinnon?” Anna asked half aloud in a puzzled voice. “How can that be? Is Queen Valorai coming to visit?”

          “I don't think so, because then there would be another flag flying on the mast, identifying the vessel as a ship of the crown, and besides, it wouldn't be coming alone, but with an escort,” Elsa realised, “No, there must be a dignitary on board or … to be honest, I have no idea.”

          “Let's greet them down at the harbour at once while you, Kristoff, let the staff know that they should be ready for a distinguished visitor and prepare everything they need,” Anna suggested. “I just need to get changed quickly.”

          A short time later, they were both standing on the pier, curiously awaiting their arrival. The ARN Crocus had already dropped anchor in the fjord, while the other ship from Arendelle, the ARN Sunflower, entered the harbour. Captain Dahlberg was letting himself be transferred in a dinghy when Captain Holmstein already disembarked and bowed to the sisters with the usual greeting.

          “Good news, Your Majesty. Our mission was highly successful and the ship's belly is filled to the top with food for the capital citizens and the cattle. On the way back we met the Crocus by chance and both sailed to our final destination. But Captain Dahlberg had better tell us about that, he'll certainly be there soon and have a lot to say.”

          “That's great news indeed, captain, thank you very much. I'm pleased that both ships made it to the ringing of the Yule Bell in time and, I hope, safely, just as promised,” said Anna, impressed. “But say, we saw another ship from the castle that …,” Anna glanced briefly past the bow, “… is just about to enter our harbour. What's it all about? Do you know more about it?”

          “Thank you, Your Majesty, it's been an exhausting few weeks at sea, sometimes with heavy weather, but the ship and crew are safe and sound and I'm looking forward to seeing the family again. But now to your question. The last place we visited was Brinnon and as far as I could tell, Ole was approached by a lord who is probably aboard the ship. I can't say exactly why, but I'm sure Ole will tell you everything else in a moment.”

          “I'm really looking forward to that,” said Elsa.

          When the captain of the Crocus had finally climbed out of the dinghy, greeted everyone and brought equally good news, the sisters decided to listen to both reports together in the castle in peace with a hot cup of tea and the warmth of a fire. There was enough time for this until midday.

          Shortly after, the third ship docked at the same pier, only on the other side, and after a few minutes a couple of the foreign sailors had moored it. The gangway was lowered and a tall, elegantly dressed man disembarked. Judging by his clothes and his confident demeanour, it must be someone from Brinnon's upper class. His eyes were fixed on Anna the whole time as he approached and Elsa wondered why. Anna was wearing her royal green and black day dress, but not her crown. Did he recognise her from her previous visit or had she been described to him by someone, possibly Queen Valorai herself? Or was it just Anna's red hair that captivated him?

          He pulled his black cylinder off his head with his left hand as he stood confidently but respectfully in front of Anna, revealing parted, light brown hair that reached down to his ears. He bowed deeply and then did something very surprising as he took Anna's hand and gallantly indicated a kiss on the back of her hand.

          “May I introduce myself, I am Lord Francis Macik of Brinnon, fifth Baron of Lackshirewood and I am delivering a letter from Queen Valorai to Her Majesty Anna of Arendelle. I presume this is you, from the description I received from her,” he said with a smile and a pleasant voice.

          Anna cast a fleeting glance at Elsa, who was smirking as she scrutinised him. He had green eyes, was clean-shaven and wore a half-open, calf-length overcoat made of the finest wool, which suited the cold weather. Underneath, he wore a patterned, light-coloured silk waistcoat over a white shirt with a high collar. The chain of a pocket watch dangled from the pocket of the waistcoat. He also wore a matching bow tie under his chin, light-coloured trousers and high, polished leather boots. All in all, his appearance was impressive, with the respectful demeanour of a baron to match.

          “Indeed, Baron Macik, I am Queen Anna of Arendelle and here beside me is my sister Elsa.”

          “Your Highness,” he said with a small bow to Elsa, pulling an envelope from an inside pocket of his coat and handing it to Anna.

          “What brings you to Arendelle? Not just because of your queen's letter, I suppose,” Anna asked. “But what am I talking about, it's cold here at the harbour and you surely want to warm up. Why don't we go to my castle, where we can talk about everything else in a cosy atmosphere?”

~~~

Kristoff and Frederik the blacksmith were already hoisting the Yule Bell into place. This time it only had to be taken out of the storage room behind it and hung in the front. Frederik may not have been very tall, but he was very strong. Together they managed it after half an hour. The blacksmith quickly checked its function and sound, but everything was fine and he nodded with satisfaction. At the end, the bell rope was ready to be lowered.

          Kristoff then went to his room and changed for the ceremony. The collar was still far too tight and itchy, but he would get through it. He then went in search of Anna and Elsa and found them all in the fireside parlour talking to the two captains and a stranger, no doubt from the ship Brinnon. The three men had been served hot, wonderfully fragrant gløgg and let it warm them up. Anna had also already dressed festively. Elsa wore her spirit dress and her hair down.

          “Hello everyone,” he greeted, “I just wanted to let you know that the bell is now in place and ready for the ceremony.”

          “Kristoff, come and join us,” said Anna. “May I introduce you to Baron Macik from Brinnon? Baron, this is Kristoff Bjorgmann, my fiancé.”

          The baron stood up and they greeted each other with a handshake before Kristoff pulled out another chair and sat down next to Anna.

          “The Baron has come to Arendelle to experience a really deep winter and watch our midwinter festivities, perhaps even join in?” Anna continued, looking at him questioningly.

          “I'd rather not, Your Majesty, I'm afraid I'm not that sporty, but please just call me Francis in the future.”

          “With pleasure … Francis. How long are you planning to stay, if you don't mind me asking?”

          “Well, my business in Brinnon is not so urgent at this time of year, not until spring, when the trade routes at sea are safe again due to the weather.”

          “Wonderful. May I perhaps invite you to attend our winter ball? A guest room has already been provided here in the castle, so you don't have to take accommodation in the city. Your luggage on the ship can be taken upstairs by our servants.”

          “That's not necessary, Your Majesty, I have my long-time assistant and confidant with me who can take care of it and it's not too much.”

          “Anna, I think it's about time,” Elsa interrupted the conversation with a glance at the longcase clock, referring to the start of the Christmas season in Arendelle.

          “That's right, it's our most important issue at the moment and has been a tradition in our kingdom for decades, Francis. You are welcome to join us. The castle courtyard should be filling up with the citizens of Arendelle right now. My sister, Kristoff and I want to greet everyone, as we do every year.

          “Well, let's go down then,” said Kristoff and everyone rose together.

~~~

The castle courtyard was filled to the brim with the capital’s people, dressed in their best festive attire. Everyone was cheerful and chatting with each other until the sisters came out with Kristoff and greeted many of them personally.

          In a few minutes it would be time and Kristoff went up the stairs to the tower to lower the bell rope through the small opening under the Yule bell. A quick glance at the clock tower in the city told him that he had to hurry. Just in time, he stood next to the sisters, who had now been rejoined by Olaf, just like the year before. As always, Gerda, Kai, Olina and another member of the castle staff stood behind them.

          The two captains had mingled with those present in the front row, while the Baron from Brinnon watched from inside through the window. Then it was time and the tower clock struck midday. This time, four of them pulled the rope and rang the bell. The beautiful and long sound enchanted not only them, but the whole capital.

          As it slowly faded away, everyone clapped and their queen stepped forward to make the traditional announcement with a smile. For Anna, it was the second time in her role as queen and she smiled from ear to ear as she exclaimed loudly, “Let the Holidays begin!”

~~~

Of course, royal duties at this time of year were completely different from usual, because instead of being buried in the study under piles of documents and dealing with them plus the concerns of the citizens of Arendelle from morning to night, Anna was now out and about in the city with Elsa. They wanted to take care of the planned competitions. Therefore they took a lot of time to be close to the citizens and asked many people if they wanted to be part of the jury to select the winners of the various competitions in the Christmas-decorated city. Elsa and Anna wanted to take part in the fun of the events, hence needed trustworthy citizens to do so. In the end, the two Diaz blacksmiths, the baker Blodget, the librarian Oddvar and, of course, Oaken, who was already looking forward to it, agreed.

          The ice harvesters had brought enough ice blocks down from the North Mountain to enable many people to carve ice for the annual competition. The figures would be viewed in the light of many fire baskets and lanterns on the square in front of the clock tower.

          The biennial night-time sledge race would also finish nearby, at the lower end of the mountain road. The chosen route, starting at the bridge in the north, not too far from the city, would be lit by lanterns at long intervals, not just on the sledges themselves, and would lead through the woods, the upper stone gate and down the winding mountain road to the festively lit city.

          The highly challenging three-day Arendelle Cup would not take place until spring, when the days were longer again and therefore more daylight was available. In midwinter the competition would be far too risky for the participants and then the sea routes would be safer again.

          However, Anna had considered a third major competition in compensation for this event and as well as an addition to the children's competitions, which could well take place in one of the next few days. It would be the very first of its kind and would not be feasible without some preparation. However, she not only needed the help of Elsa and her ice magic, but also the active support of some citizens.

          Meanwhile, the streets of Arendelle were filled with the singing of vocal societies and choir groups, musicians were happily making music and since new supplies were available, the bakers and confectioners had their hands full making all the necessary treats for Christmas. As usual, the Waffle Brothers fought over who had the best cake and many treats and breads were made privately for the neighbourhood. The traditional Christmas beer was sold and the streets soon smelled of delicious pastries and hot gløgg.

          In the meantime, Kristoff had travelled to the farmland with Sven to check on the progress of the building work, as promised. He was pleased to see that everything was almost finished and that the cattle were finally being looked after. This meant that nothing stood in the way of a happy Christmas for the families there.

          The fishermen had also had a good catch. The fishing shops in the town were buzzing and lots of fish of all kinds and crabs were passing over the counters.

          Olaf also felt in his element, travelling here and there, appearing all over the town, playing with the children he met or reading them stories in the public library.

          Mattias and Halima also decorated their house and thought about their own traditions for Yule, which this time finally promised time together with a daughter they loved, albeit an adopted one. So this year they were not only thinking about presents for each other, but also for Elin, who was feeling very happy. Of course, Olaf also came round a few times and tried his hand at painting on canvas for the first time under Elin's guidance.

          Anna spent her free time thinking about a special birthday present for Elsa. It would be on the night of the solstice and that was only a few days away. When her sister had left the castle to use her ice magic to create an ice rink for young and old in the city, Anna crept into her room and searched for the jewel that Mattias had received from Honeymaren before the war and had given to Elsa.

          She didn't have to search very long, borrowed it and took it to the best jeweller in the city to have it made into a necklace with a pendant and a tasteful box to present it to her as a gift. However, she didn't want to let a hole be drilled in it, but rather have it set in silver. She also wanted to return Honeymaren's gift on the same day, as unnoticed by her sister as possible. She then wanted to finish the necklace herself on her birthday and the surprise would be perfect. Anna hoped that Elsa wouldn't be mad at her for rummaging around in her room without being asked.

~~~

The sisters met up in the city and watched the skating, even joining in for a while themselves.

          ”Hey, I need your help with a new idea of mine in the next few days, sis,” Anna asked as they walked leisurely back to the castle.

          “Of course, Anna. Whatever you need. What idea did you have?” replied Elsa.

          “I thought we could organise an Arendelle biathlon, with skiing and archery, just like our ancestors used to hunt, only as a sporting competition, you know? It would be the very first biathlon ever here.”

          “Oh, Anna, that's a wonderful idea! So that's what you were planning in your study a few weeks ago. I'm absolutely sure it will create a buzz in the city!”

          “Thank you. Well, here's what I had in mind, because it's always so dark during the day now, just like in the old days when you still had to go out hunting in winter to survive. So if you could put your glowing ice crystals on the trees along the route as markers, like on the day we were both looking for Olaf - remember?”

          “But yes, how could I ever forget that day. That's no problem at all, have you already chosen a suitable route?”

          Over the next hour, they planned everything together, the route, the number of participants, the criteria for the competition and the judges, who would make notes of the shooting results on the straw targets, also the number of these spots and where the final shooting was to take place. In the end, they would both take part themselves and it would be the second competition between them this winter.

          The whole thing took finally place just before Christmas Eve and the eight participants, including the sisters, were brought to the starting point by sledge. They followed the planned route and Elsa created her glowing crystals on the trees about every fifty meters. The start time was set and when everyone had put on their skis and strapped the bows with the arrow quivers to their backs, the start signal was given.

          It was a silent and beautiful ride through the snow, with only the dipping of the ski poles and the steady grinding sound of the skis to be heard. The group spread out further and further, with Elsa and Anna in the middle of the pack. Half an hour later, the first lantern-lit post came into view. Anna was the first to fire her two arrows, strapped everything back on her back and skied on immediately afterwards. Minutes later it was Elsa's turn, but unfortunately she didn't score as well as expected and hurried to catch up with Anna. From now on it was a relatively steep downhill and she was actually able to gain ground until Anna appeared in front of her. Her sister was pretty sure-footed on her skis, she turned every bend with confidence and used her ski poles from time to time.

          At the next station, they both shot almost at the same time and this time it was Anna who had to look after her because Elsa set off faster. At the next two stations, Elsa was well ahead and the city was already in sight. They came down the hill to the south-east of the harbour basin, drove over the narrow bridge above the now frozen waterfall, past the mill and down the mountain road to the castle, for the last arrows in the castle courtyard.

          Two competitors had been faster than her and their arrows were already in the targets. This time, Elsa was able to take her time and hit the bullseye. She was then able to watch in peace until the end of the competition. Anna also hit both arrows in the bull's-eye again and approached her with a smile to watch the others with her.

          “How do you feel about your presumed final result, Elsa? Are you satisfied with yourself?”

          “Not really, because you're simply much better at archery than I am. Well, we'll see, it was exciting anyway, sis. Thank you for this great idea and this new experience.”

          Later, everyone met in the square in front of the clock tower, looked at the ice sculptures and finally the participants of all the competitions gathered in front of the judges' table to find out their results. Many of them cheered when they were the winner and the audience clapped every time. Then it was the sisters' turn. Neither of them was among the winners, but Anna at least came second, followed by Elsa in third place. Nevertheless, they hugged and applauded each other.

~~~

Two days later, two ships docked in the harbour. One was from Vakretta with Mitya and family on board, who had travelled to the upcoming Winter Ball and wanted to spend a few wintery, beautiful days in Arendelle. The other one was from Akerselva in the south, below Snoob, with the Baron and Baroness and their son Caspar on board. The Baron of Snoob had also travelled with the Baroness, accompanied by Captain Søren and his wife. Two surprise guests from Snoob were also on board, Kai's brother Karl and his wife Hanna.

          The Crocus and the Sunflower had already returned to the naval base days earlier. The crews wanted to spend Christmas Eve with their families. But the captains promised to return with their wives for the Winter Ball, presumably on the day of the Polar Festival. As did the young captain of the Voyager, who was still unmarried.

          It was the day of the winter solstice and also Elsa's birthday. Anna was the first to congratulate her at breakfast, followed by Olaf, Kristoff and the castle staff who met her in the following hours. In the festively decorated castle, presents from and for all the staff were already waiting under the Christmas tree in the library, and while Elsa helped with her very own decorations in the castle courtyard in preparation for the Polar Festival, Anna sneaked into her sister's room to get Honeymaren's memento. Shortly afterwards, she finished it off as a pendant on a silver chain in her study with the help of a small pair of pliers. She held it up in front of her and was extremely pleased with the result. Everything fitted perfectly and she could now put the necklace in the box and wrap it all up as a birthday present with a gold-coloured bow around it.

          Anna went downstairs and found her sister standing on the steps to the courtyard, pondering over the results of the preparations. She tapped her on the shoulder from behind and Elsa turned round in surprise.

          “Come with me, sis. I've got something for you that not everyone needs to see right away,” Anna said mysteriously.

          Elsa followed her with a raised eyebrow. When they arrived in the currently empty throne room and went to one of the empty tables there, Anna took out the present and held it out to her sister with both hands.

          “Happy birthday again, Elsa. I love you!”

          “A present for me instead of a party?” Elsa giggled, but accepted it with a smile. She then carefully unwrapped it, placed the packaging on the table and slowly and expectantly opened the box. However, she hadn't expected the content and her mouth and eyes opened wide in surprise. Then she took the necklace out of its case while Anna took the now empty box from her.

          “Oh Anna, that's … I …,” she was speechless. Then she simply hugged her sister tightly. “Thank you, that's so sweet of you and a really extraordinary idea. Why did I never think of it?”

          “Now you can always carry something of Maren with you, right above your heart, Elsa. When Kristoff sailed to Weselton, I felt incomplete and terrible. So I know it must be painful to be away from her. But I'm sure that Maren feels the same and misses you very much. But be patient, before you know it a year has passed. And sorry for just rummaging around in your room. But I couldn't ask about it.”

          Elsa let go of Anna again, shook her head with a smile in agreement and a small tear rolled down her cheek. Anna stroked it gently and sympathetically, then took the necklace from her hand and placed it around her neck. Elsa looked at the pendant again and her thoughts wandered off into the distance.

          “I had a dream about her just a short while ago …”

          “You mean the two of you together and at the, erh…”

          Elsa giggled, “No, no, not what you think. I saw her in the deep snow, following her people and the reindeer, with only the stars and the bright Northern Lights above her.” Elsa paused and Anna took her in her arms, nodding.

          “Come on, let's go outside and put the finishing touches to the festival together.”

~~~

The polar festival was a rotund success and the castle courtyard was full of visitors from the city until after midnight. Unfortunately, there were no Northern Lights to be seen this time, but the atmosphere in the torchlight and lanterns was still very good.

          The sisters spent the following Christmas Eve with Kristoff and Olaf in the cosy fireplace room. They told each other stories or read books. Most of the castle staff spent the evening with their families, if they had one, or those of friends. It became quiet everywhere and thick snowflakes began to fall again.

          The last big event the sisters were looking forward to would take place in the great throne room after the holidays. The last guests arrived in the morning, including Princess Mari and her father with a small entourage. They had travelled overland and changed for the winter ball in their guest rooms in the early evening. Mari loved the colour purple, so it was no surprise that she wore a pastel, loose-fitting dress in this colour, high-cut to the neck with a white crinoline underneath. Over this was a dark blue stole and a necklace around her neck with a set, faceted amethyst as a pendant, matching the colour of the dress.

          Maren and her team had worked hard for Anna and Elsa over the last few days and customised a new ball gown for each of them. With her help and that of a few servants, the sisters now got dressed for the ball.

          Anna's floor-length ball gown was a dark green, with deep pleats at the waist and gold-coloured crocus symbols at the hem. Underneath was a crinoline for a narrow bell shape that allowed less underskirts and more legroom for dancing. A tight, low-cut top with semi-sheer, airy sleeves and, starting at the waist, a two-piece V-shaped overskirt that fell in airy waves over the dress underneath and featured gold-coloured, wide embroidery at the hems, with semi-sheer white lining on the inside. It looked truly regal. Anna wore her hair pinned up with her crown on top and a silver necklace with a small blue pendant made of light blue moonstone around her neck.

          Elsa's dress was simpler and much more figure-hugging. She didn't like it when her gowns had too many layers and were therefore too warm for her. Nevertheless, for this occasion she preferred a ball gown made of actual fabrics to a dress created with her ice magic. The dress was made of thin fabrics, tailored in several pieces in graduated shades of light blue, with a tight bodice that, transcending the usual conventions, emphasised the bust and hips, then cut out at the front and flowed wide from the knees to the floor. In addition, starting at the waistband from the lower back, an airy train in sky blue spread out in waves to the floor. Apart from the train, almost the entire dress was embroidered with ornaments and decorations in pale gold and silver. Elsa wore her long golden hair loose and Anna's necklace, the pendant of which was hidden in Elsa's cleavage.

          When they had finished dressing, they looked at each other with satisfaction in the high mirror in the dressing room.

          “Anna, you look simply marvellous!”

          “Thank you, sis. Yours is really amazing too and it suits you perfectly … but quite daring. You're guaranteed to get the looks of the evening, I bet. But it doesn't look like you want to dance in it, am I right?”

          “You know, Anna, that I'm not particularly good at dancing. I prefer to stay in the background.”

          “Well, honestly, staying in the background looks a bit different to me,” laughed Anna.

          “Maren, I must say you've made your most beautiful dresses for us so far. They both look simply stunning. You and your team have done a great job and I hope that you will also appear at the ball. I'm sure the guests will have plenty of questions about your masterpieces.”

          “Thank you, Your Highness, perhaps we'll join you a little later,” Maren replied and left the room with the other girls just as the large longcase clock struck seven o'clock.

~~~

For the sisters, it was only the third ball including the two after their coronation ceremonies, so it was something special for both of them. They strolled slowly down the grand staircase side by side and promptly attracted a lot of attention from those present. The small hall at the front was occupied by a long table filled with hot and cold dishes to suit the time of year and season. This room was also intended as a retreat from the dancing and loud music, as the evening would surely last until after midnight. The inner doors to the castle courtyard were closed because of the cold, but someone always was outside to open them for guests coming in from the city or the harbour. The cloakroom for the overcoats was conveniently located in one of the two side corridors.

          The ballroom slowly filled up and everywhere visitors were chatting in small groups or in pairs while holding plates of sweet pastries or a glass of champagne. Many of them had not seen each other for a whole year or longer and therefore had a lot of news to exchange. There were certainly around sixty ball-goers present, all dressed in their finest clothes for the occasion, and the large hall echoed with their conversations. It took the sisters a while to greet everyone and make their way to the throne platform. Envious glances were cast after them, both by the men and their female companions, especially at Elsa.

          Kristoff was already waiting by the podium and his jaw dropped when he saw them both approaching.

          “Well, Kristoff, my darling, you're speechless, aren't you?” said Anna with her most beautiful smile.

          “You bet, darling. You look simply fantastic. And you Elsa, … um … quite daring … but in a good way, of course,” he added quickly and kissed Anna on the cheek. Elsa grinned.

          King Jonas and Princess Mari had been standing a little to one side, but they approached now the three of them to greet them. Both had two glasses of champagne in their hands. Mari handed these to the sisters and her father gave the other to Kristoff. Then they greeted each other and clinked glasses.

          “Mari, I don't think I've ever seen you in an evening dress, but you've stayed true to your favourite colour, I really like it on you,” Anna said admiringly and the princess curtseyed to her with a smile.

          They then all looked around and enjoyed the good atmosphere in the hall and the scent of chocolate that had spread everywhere.

          To the right of them were two tables filled with the best treats Arendelle had to offer, including hot chocolate and a variety of fine drinks. The aroma was too tempting to resist, and the most reticent guests were lured there. Even rare and expensive wines from Albert Monrad's cellar had found their way here, on Kai's advice, due to a lack of available alternatives for the illustrious guests. The sisters didn't like it, but in the end they had no objections, because Kai was the only one who had always looked after the wine stock in the castle cellar, tasting and selecting it. This time there was even a sommelier to advise the guests and pour the wine, which would convince even the most discerning ball guest.

          In between, the musicians had set up their instruments, this time even including a piano. They quietly played some traditional melodies, but without being too loud so as not to drown out the conversations in the hall.

          However, the time came and Elsa signalled to the musicians to stop playing for Anna's speech. Elsa then flicked her champagne glass a few times with her fingertip and the conversations in the hall gradually fell silent. Everyone now looked forward expectantly to the royal sisters.

          “Honoured guests from near and far. I would like to thank you all for coming and wish you all a very merry evening!” She was not the only one to giggle softly and some even applauded. “But before that, I would like to say that my sister and I are extremely pleased and happy that we seem to have overcome the terrible events of the last few months. Not least thanks to the support of all our friendly kingdoms, who have unceremoniously supplied us with everything Arendelle so desperately needed in the way of food for the capital’s habitants and their livestock. I would therefore say that Arendelle is out of the woods and I would like to sincerely thank all of our supporters here today!” She cast a meaningful glance at those addressed.

          “But now I wish you lots of fun. The Winter Ball is now officially open, enjoy!”

          Anna took Kristoff's champagne glass and handed it and hers to Elsa to put away before hooking up with him and making their way to the centre of the dance floor for the opening waltz. Everyone made way for them and as soon as they were in position the musicians played. Kristoff led Anna across the floor with confident steps. She looked into his eyes with a smile and was pleased to see that his dancing lessons had made a big difference, as he hardly made a mistake and kept the rhythm pretty well. It was really amazing what he had learnt in such a short time, she thought. Elsa hadn't missed it either and she watched them in awe.

          More and more people joined them and soon a wide circle of dancers formed on the dance floor. Only a few held back like Elsa, including the guests from Vesterland, Brinnon and the young captain of the Voyager, who didn't find a dance partner for himself, as there were hardly any women present without husbands. He felt a little lost.

          “I'm going to have a look round the delicacies,” Mari said to Jonas and Elsa after a few minutes and made her way to the tables.

     ��    Baron Macik, who had turned up for the evening in a black tailcoat, was nibbling one of Olina's chocolate pralines and watching the proceedings calmly. As he turned round to shove another one in his mouth, he noticed a steaming pot over a teapot, took the ladle and poured the tempting-smelling hot drink into a cup that was standing next to it.

          Princess Mari stood not far from him at the same table and eyed him curiously but unobtrusively as she placed two pieces of krumkake on her plate and poured herself some more champagne. She was unfamiliar with his style of dress and wondered what country this gentleman might be from.

          Francis took a cautious sip and let out a loud “Hmm, exquisite!” with relish. He took a deep breath of the aroma emanating from his cup and took another sip. Then he noticed Mari's amused eyes on him.

          “Excuse my behaviour, but I've never drunk anything like this before. What's the name of this delicious beverage?”

          Mari had to smile. “It's gløgg, our traditional Christmas drink for cold days,” she replied, taking a step closer to him. “But the way it smells, this one is quite strong and made with Akevitt, so you'd better not drink too much of it. It's usually served with pepperkaker, our traditional gingerbread biscuits, which are on the plate right next to it.”

          “I really must take a few bottles of this with me before I sail back.”

          “Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?”

          “How rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself yet. I'm Francis Macik, fifth Baron of Lackshirewood, a beautiful stretch of land in Brinnon. And with whom do I have the honour, pretty lady?” he said, smiling at her.

          She considered whether she should make herself officially known and whether this gentleman would then perhaps be more reserved towards her. At the moment, he seemed to be quite open towards her. Let's see where this conversation would lead.

          “I'm Mari from Vesterland.”

          “Vesterland? Is that a long way from Arendelle?

          “No, not at all, it's just half a day's journey from here near the Arenfjord, a region with many forests and nature.”

          “That sounds like you're a nature lover. Are there lots of butterflies there in summer?”

          Mari was a little surprised by his interest in these little creatures. “Why do you ask?”

          “Well, I've been collecting and studying them for many years.”

          “How can you collect butterflies? What do you mean by that? You don't kill these beautiful insects, do you?”

          How stupid of me; Francis thought to himself, did he have to blurt this out in front of someone who obviously loves animals? He quickly explained the purpose of the whole thing, that he was just an amateur researcher for a society in Brinnon and only did this scientifically and only when he had discovered a new species.

          Mari nodded cautiously and thoughtfully. “We even have a large animal sanctuary that actually belongs to Arendelle, so I'd be careful about mentioning your research in front of the queen. If you like, I can show you around Arendelle and its surroundings.”

          “Thanks for the tip. I'll be happy to take you up on your kind offer in the next few days.” He thought about it for a moment and asked, “But first, may I ask you for the next dance?”

          “Why not, it's a ball after all.”

~~~

Anna and Kristoff had finished their dance and the musicians were already playing something new and lively. They rejoined Elsa, next to whom King Jonas was still standing, but he seemed to be distracted by something.

          She followed his gaze while saying to Kristoff, “You've become quite good at dancing, darling. We should … oh, look.” She gave him a light peck and spoke more quietly now, “Mari must have just met our baron from Brinnon!”

          When they arrived at the throne platform, Jonas was just asking Elsa, “Do you know the gentleman Mari is dancing with, Your Highness?”

          “That's Baron Macik from Brinnon, he's here to establish trade relations and enjoy the winter in Arendelle. Apparently he's a great cloth merchant, but he's also a member of the Brinnon parliament and probably has good relations with Queen Valorai,” Elsa explained.

          “I've never been to this kingdom, how can I imagine?”

          “Well, I haven't been there myself, but Anna has. She told me about a very modern country that even runs a railway line across the country and has a large fleet of sailing ships. Brinnon seems to be a very powerful kingdom.”

          Jonas began to ponder the possibilities for Vesterland and, apart from thanking Elsa, said nothing more for the time being.

          Anna whispered in her sister's ear what would happen if Mari took a little more interest in Francis over the next few days. Elsa nodded and whispered, “Maybe, he would definitely be a good match for her. Let's wait and see, but please don't be too nosy in the near future. Mari will be fine.”

~~~

---

Remark: I hope you have enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment if you liked the story, I would be pleased to read your opinions, even criticisms. If you want to be tagged as soon I publish the next chapter please let me know, except you are already tagged :-)

Note: The next and last chapter of "The Broken Bridge" is in the works and already half written. Together with the epilogue and my last words i hope i can post it in about two weeks.

Tagging: @true--north @annaofthenorthernlights @dronning-formynder05

[beyourselfchulanmaria]

端陽樂 日日安好／Happy Dragon boat festival (Double Fifth Festival)

端午節是在農曆的五月五日，划龍舟(Dragon boat race)、吃粽子(Rice dumpling is wrapped with bamboo leaves) 、做香包 (To make fragrant sachet)、掛艾草(Hanging moxa) 、立蛋 (Standing the egg on its end) and 喝雄黃酒(Drinking realgar wine)

(Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Double Fifth Festival, is an important festival in our history and Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of the poet Chu Yuan. 端午節是為了紀念詩人屈原的死。)

Tonight I’m having "東方美人茶(Oriental Beauty Tea)" 🍵 🫖Tea for you Dear friends, Please!

👆 椒麻麵 the noodle tastes good on this restaurant (非常素食的麵 🫶 其實，平日的我本來就像和尚一樣 🤣，吃的很清淡也很簡單，因爲吃的越素，可以降低生活中的各種「慾望」和渴求。Very vegetarian noodles 🫶 In fact, I am like a monk 🤣 on weekdays, eating very light and simple, because the more vegetarian I eat, the less "desires" and cravings I have in life.) 😏 and very years ago this restaurant ever opened shop near by my studio, but rent cost too high, they're moved to other city, I found it re-open at the north parts of my city, so tonight I am so happy to eat the noodle again. 😃 Lan~*

👇 鮮蝦燒賣 Pork & Prawn Shumai (taste a bit similar with dumplings. and I love having "steamed food／蒸食" 😉)

[unholyverse]

waterparks // alternative press spring 2023

(full article text under the cut:)

TO THE MOON

With their new album INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, WATERPARKS are diving deeper than ever before. The result is an exorcism of deep trauma and the sweet afterglow of catharsis.

STORY: Alessandro DeCaro • PHOTOS: Jawn Rocha • Styling: Josh Madden

Between international flights, jet lag and no days off in between, it is a miracle that Awsten Knight isn’t face down in a pile of pillows. For the past two weeks, Knight and his band Waterparks have been head down in a run of massive shows throughout the U.K. supporting British rockers You Me At Six as well as a series of intimate appearances at record stores with some of the band’s most die-hard fans. It was a landmark run for a group who have hit the road relentlessly the past year-and-a-half, with sold-out North American and European headlining tours, a top slot at the 2022 Sad Summer Festival and even a “bucket list” opening slot for My Chemical Romance. Their latest milestone? They played to 10,000 people — their largest show in the U.K. region — at London’s historic Alexandra Palace. Exhaustion should be Knight's baseline, but instead, he's as chipper as ever when he hops on Zoom back home in Los Angeles. There's only one problem. The bandleader has been on vocal rest for days leading up to this very interview.

“Dude, my voice feels so shot,” Knight confesses from his living room couch. “We did 12 performances back to back, then combined with really short cut-up sleep on the flight, 1 just feel, ugh.” Sleep deprivation aside, Knight is almost at a loss for words (not from the vocal rest) but because the experimental pop trio he formed 12 years ago have unlocked another level of fandom where new listeners are still flocking by the droves. “It turns out there are a lot of people [in this world].” Knight quips, referring to his newfound fans. But in reality, global domination doesn’t really seem too far off.

Knight barely has time to slow down. The band are set to release their fifth studio album, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (out April 14 via Fueled By Ramen). But the self-professed workaholic has never known any other way. “It's a really hard mentality to shake,” Knight reveals. “When we were a local band, we didn't have any family connections in the music industry, and no one cared, so you had to take on every role. Even though we are not local anymore and get to play arenas with our favorite bands, if I'm not actively doing stuff to push the music, then I don’t know if anyone else will."

In some ways, Knight fears downtime or stillness because that's when he feels like his brain will start to turn on him. He admittedly functions better when he's working on something creative, whether that’s writing a new song or simply designing streetwear for his clothing brand hii-def. “It's not necessarily the most healthy thing in the long run, but people have worse coping mechanisms,” he laughs nervously.

But Waterparks remain his main focus. The trio, which initially formed in 2011, began to truly put the pieces together the following year when Knight enlisted his now-best friends, guitarist Geoff Wigington and drummer Otto Wood, to round out the lineup. “Otto loved classic rock and bands like La Dispute and Touché Amoré, whereas Geoff was all about EDM," Knight recalls. “We all had different tastes, but at the core of it, it's guitar and drums.” Their individual musical backgrounds helped craft the genre-less sound they have now cultivated.

"THE BIGGEST REASON I didn’t want that pop-punk label is that I know exactly what we are capable of." - AWSTEN KNIGHT

It wasn't until 2016 when Waterparks finally released their debut album, Double Dare — an intentional choice. “I always felt like if no one was looking at us, why put out a large body of work? I wanted to do cool shit as opposed to oversaturating and waiting until enough people [actually] wanted to hear it.” There is a common adage that you have your entire life to write your first record and six months to write your second, to which Knight agrees, and from there, the band began making records like clockwork.

With those albums came carefully curated eras — a moment in time with a clear aesthetic, theme and overall mission statement. While always writing music from a subversive and experimental perspective, it was when the band released both FANDOM (2019) and Greatest Hits (2021) that they began to stray from the confinement of genre and inaccurate labels. Knight himself spoke out vehemently about being boxed in by the term “pop punk. “I learned [during that time that] you can’t control everybody, and you can only frame the narrative so much,” Knight explains. “Obviously, we grew up loving and still loving blink-182, Green Day, Sum 41 and Good Charlotte, so it’s in our DNA to a degree, but I just don't want that label because it’s so synonymous with the past and what cynical dickheads or mega naysayers say is just for preteens and kids. However, the biggest reason I didn’t want that label is that I know [exactly] what we are capable of and what our output is.”

Take, for example, the breakbeat madness of the FANDOM single “Turbulent” or the distorted experimentation of “Numb” from Greatest Hits. Nothing is off the table for Waterparks. The group join a cohort of other trailblazing acts like Bring Me the Horizon and Paramore, who both successfully pivoted away from the late Warped Tour circuit in favor of mainstream appeal without losing any substance. “There's a song for everybody, and I once tweeted that anyone who doesn't like Waterparks just doesn't like Waterparks yet,” Knight says confidently.

If you have yet to be on board with the band's music, you've at the very least been entertained by — or seen — Knight's fiery social media presence.

It's undeniable that Waterparks’ meteoric rise has stemmed from the bandleader’s unofficial side hustle as a social media celebrity. And at times, his online presence can feel truly monolithic in scale, something Knight has attempted to analyze over the years in many songs, including the aptly titled “You'd Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out To Get You)" When asked if his status as an extremely online figure has influenced the band’s latest album, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, Knight isn't entirely sure but reveals that he has had to set boundaries nonetheless, as someone who's regularly met with constant praise and vicious internet trolls. “I try not to let it influence things too much [lately], and with therapy, I've learned that you can only control yourself. However, that doesn’t mean I'm not still vulnerable in the music that I write.”

He tackles the subject on INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY with closer "A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH" and parts of the song “RITUAL,” where he recalls when he felt things were “caving in" around him due to the pressures of constant attention. “There are people who listen to Waterparks who aren't on Twitter. and then there are those who view the band in this bubble where it's just them and the people who reply to the tweets,” Knight resigns.

But beyond the topic of social media, Knight gets admittedly “introspective” on the record. When asked to discuss the overall lyrical themes and concepts behind INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, he takes a deep breath and delivers a warning: Things might get a little turbulent.

“There is a love story throughout the record that is expressive to and for other people, but the album itself has to do with overcoming, unlearning and growing past religious guilt,” Knight explains. “It's something that I've struggled with for a long time.” On “FUNERAL GREY," he delivers the punchy line “baptized in my spit,” which is a playful twist on a weighted subject. The theme of religious guilt doesn’t just apply to the overall lyrics of the record but also extends to the album's striking cover art, which at first glance appears to be an image of a blue frog over a red backdrop; in actuality, it possesses a much more poignant meaning.

“Frogs have always been one of my favorite animals,” Knight reflects. “However, when I learned that frogs were seen as dirty and unclean in a biblical context, it was interesting to me that something that I saw as so good, natural and beautiful could also be seen as a bad thing through a biblical lens.” In other words, the concept of shame plagued the charismatic bandleader for as long as he can remember, and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY was the moment for Knight to finally face his trauma head-on and “come to terms with himself” once and for all. That explains why a majority of the new songs possess “hypersexualized” energy — a conscious rebellion against a conservative past. “Growing up in church, you're taught that everything is so wrong and bad. I always felt like shit, so [this album] is the breakaway from that specifically.”

By overcoming his religious guilt, Knight was able to tap into an evolved sense of self-worth that he’s since applied to his very own love life, which he details on the album's stripped-down ballad “CLOSER.” “My concept of love has changed throughout the years, and that song is about [looking at the past] and realizing that when I was younger, it was maybe more of an obsession. Now I'm taking it apart and learning more about love and the way I present the current version of myself to other people.” Inversely, there is the alt-radio-ready anthem “BRAINWASHED,” where Knight admits that he still wrestles with the idea of true love, constantly making sure that he’s not just wrapped up in the “honeymoon phase.” Knight jokes that this track and “FUCK ABOUT IT” which features a guest vocal spot from blackbear, are “polar opposites,” as the latter couldn't be further from the “hyperfixation” he details in “BRAINWASHED.," once again proving that he feels the most comfortable when inserting juxtaposition wherever he can.

"I've learned that you can ONLY CONTROL YOURSELF. However, that doesn’t mean I'm not still vulnerable in the music that I write." - AWSTEN KNIGHT

Beyond the emotional clarity that Knight gained during the creation of INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, it's the album's sonic risks and exploration that he is the most fired up about. Though Knight wanted the band to return to their more guitar-driven and organic roots for certain parts of the LP, much of the record ventures into eclectic territory, with hyperpop, trap, synthwave and even subtle elements of hard rock and nu metal. “RITUAL, ‘A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH, ‘REAL SUPER DARK’ and ‘ST*RFUCKER' are the craziest instrumentals we have done ever,” Knight exclaims. “I love the idea of taking something like a guitar or my voice and making it sound entirely like something else” “A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH,” however, is what Knight describes as “the biggest production flex,” and it most definitely shows. “There's fucking elephant sounds in there and weird Batman villain-sounding horns — it's evil and heavy, and not to mention, the outro is just game over,” he says.

Beyond production, Knight pushes his voice and stretches the idea of what constitutes a strong hook on INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. With “END OF THE WATER (FEEL),” Knight is at his most “bombastic,” in a “cartoon-like” state, weaving falsetto melodies that are meant to shock. “I always make a mental note when I hear a song that makes me go…" He pauses, imitating an explosion. “For me, that's when I hear some high-ass vocals that I'm not expecting.” Even on the first day of demoing “END OF THE WATER (FEEL)” in his home studio, Knight was already so confident in the song that he called longtime producer and collaborator Zakk Cervini and “essentially” forced him to come over to his house right then to help finish it. “I also want the record to show that I had a mustache [during this time], too,” Knight laughs.

With collaboration on the brain, Knight is the first to admit that for many years, he was precious about his art and was hesitant to work with others. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, Knight changed his mind, which was evident on Waterparks’ previous album, Greatest Hits. This time around, Knight, who's an outspoken fan of the U.K. boy band One Direction, finally got a chance to live out one of his dreams by working with esteemed songwriter Julian Bunetta, who co-wrote beloved One Direction classics like “Olivia,” “Infinity” and “Best Song Ever,” among others. “I flew to [Julian's] place in Nashville, and we ended up making five songs together, two of them being ‘FUNERAL GREY" and ‘BRAINWASHED,” Knight recalls. And while he still plans to keep the majority of his music close to his chest long term, he won't rule anything out. Knight would undoubtedly jump at the chance to work with everyone from Post Malone and Damon Albarn to Donald Glover and Toby Keith.

"I'd rather make the coolest f*cking thing, RATHER THAN HOLD BACK and make something that wasn't that good." -AWSTEN KNIGHT

Now, with the band's new LP incoming, there raises the question: Does Knight feel a sense of relief after both exorcising his deepest traumas and inviting listeners on his journey to self- discovery? "I still feel pressure with it," Knight concedes. “It would be a lot easier if only strangers heard this, but everyone in my whole fucking life is going to hear this album, so that's what makes it strange." But he's never let any awkwardness or controversy hinder the artistic output. "I wasn't not in trouble when I put out a song like [2018's] 'TANTRUM' where I listed a bunch of dudes I wanted to kill, calling out by name," Knight acknowledges. Though his lyrical choices have sometimes resulted in strong reactions, even within his close circle of friends, Knight can't help but accept that he is meant to be unapologetic. "At the end of the day, I'd rather make the coolest fucking thing, rather than hold back and make something that wasn't that good."

Pressures of lyrical vulnerability and transparency aside, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY is Knight's attempt to "normalize” the catharsis he finds within songwriting, which ties into the album title itself. "Intellectual property is the mental space you give to something in your head. The 'property' may be the thing that you are struggling with. By materializing it and giving it its own world, it's actually a great way to express it and then, eventually, expel it,” he explains. "I want this album to go to the fucking moon." ALT

[1997thebracket]

Round 1A

The Fifth Element: I'm sorry, you'll need a multi pass to access this round. The Fifth Element is a sci-fi action film by French director Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman and Chris Tucker. In simplest terms, the Earth is staring down imminent destruction from a cosmic evil; in anticipation of such an event, humanity was gifted a weapon (the titular Fifth Element) in the form of a woman named Leeloo. The film owes much of its cult status to the bold, eclectic visuals of both the characters and world, aided by the legendary Jean "Moebius" Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières on production design and Jean-Paul Gaultier on costume design. Jovovich's Leeloo, with her choppy tangerine-orange hair and iconic white-strapped bodysuit, is instantly recognizable across pop culture for the look alone; the same can be said for Tucker's Ruby Rhod, whose conical neo-pompadour needs no introduction. Though critics were divided-- it was awarded at the BAFTAs and the Cannes Film Festival, which premiered the film alongside a Jean-Paul Gaultier fashion show and ballet, while also being nominated for a Razzie-- it managed to take on a second life among fans. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive European film ever made, and it remained the highest-grossing French film at the international box office until 2011.

Radiohead's OK Computer: I go forwards, you go backwards, and somewhere we will meet. By the middle of the decade, Radiohead was weary of the ubiquity of their 1993 hit Creep; although the record that followed it (The Bends) was a lusher, more evolved album than their first, it had failed to produce a distinctive enough sound and image for the band to undo what Creep had done. The song threatened to define the band entirely to those outside their devoted following. In 1997 the band swung for the fences with the haunting, abstract OK Computer. It was a move their label cast immense doubt on at the time, and its success then and now would cement Thom Yorke and his bandmates as soothsayers of a sort, draped not in bohemian silk robes but in white hospital sheets. It's an album that speaks to the future with dread more than wonder, that critics described as "nervous almost to the point of neurosis," but marries the uneasy experimental soundscapes with poetic, surrealist, and increasingly prophetic songwriting regarding the parallel lives we lead with technology. Featuring the singles Karma Police, Paranoid Android and No Surprises, OK Computer is hailed by many as the band's masterpiece, and is often cited by music publications as one of the greatest albums of the decade: it's certified double Platinum in the US and five-times Platinum in the UK, and in 2014 it was included in the United States National Recording Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

[thekingsavatar-fan]

Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

The Duanwu Festival, also often known as the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), is a traditional holiday originating in China, occurring near the summer solstice. The festival now occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese calendar, which is the source of the festival's alternative name, the Double Fifth Festival (双五节).

Among Malaysian, Singaporean, and Taiwanese Hokkien speakers, the festival is also known as the "Fifth Month Festival," the "Fifth Day Festival (五日节) ," and the "Dumpling Festival (肉粽节)."

 A notable part of celebrating Duanwu is making and eating zongzi with other family members. People traditionally wrap zongzi in leaves of reed, lotus or banana which give a special aroma and flavor to the sticky rice and fillings. [wiki]

[chorusfm]

Neon Trees Announce New Album

Neon Trees will release Sink Your Teeth on September 20th. Track Listing * Favorite Daze * Secret * Bad Dreams * Recover * Heaven * El Diablo * Past Life * Paper Cuts * Cruel Intentions * Acting * Leave * Losing My Head RIAA Multi-Platinum alt-rock band Neon Trees today announced their fifth studio album, Sink Your Teeth, their first in four years and first on Round Hill Records. Last week, the band shared “Bad Dreams,” an energetic electro-rock single, the third to be revealed from the album. “‘Bad Dreams’ is about escapism and the idea that in your head, or in the fantasy, you can be (or be with) anyone, you can do anything and go anywhere,” says lead singer Tyler Glenn.    “Growing up closeted and not coming out til I was 30, I often felt like my only outlet sexually or romantically was in my head.    “I wanted to capture the sensation of carnal desire, the weirdness and sometimes absurdity of dreams, and how submitting to the ‘bad’ can sometimes feel oh so good, especially when it’s only ‘just a dream.’” Written over the course of three years, Sink Your Teeth offers an opportunity for longtime fans to return and for new fans to discover the band for the first time—proverbially sinking their teeth into the music. It also evokes a sense of bite and rawness in the music and lyrics that is compellingly relatable. For Glenn, the songs reflect a state of mind felt by many in a post pandemic, chronically online digital age, where the uneasiness and anxiety of modern love and modern life are more potent than ever. Like all of Neon Trees’ work, the album reveals a balance between the dark and the light. “The question was, how do I capture that energy and that feeling of anxiety, but not make it solely about a period of time in our lives or make people only reflect on that when they listen?” Glenn says of the album. “The songs do contain some of the anxiety and existential crisis I was feeling at the start of the decade, but there’s also a thread of hope. It’s not wrapped neatly in a bow at the end, but there’s still a hopefulness.” Starting on July 20, Neon Trees will hit the road with 311 and AWOL Nation as part of 311’s “Unity Tour.” A full list of dates is included below. Neon Trees began a rapid ascent from the Provo, Utah alt-indie scene to the forefront of popular culture fueled by their debut album Habits. Its lead single “Animal” scored a double-platinum certification from the RIAA and took home “Top Alternative Song” at the Billboard Music Awards. Success continued for the band with their sophomore album, Picture Show and its hit single, the 5x platinum “Everybody Talks.” The subsequent release Pop Psychology, bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart and produced another hit, “Sleeping With A Friend.” In 2020, Neon Trees returned with their fourth studio album, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me, featuring the single, “Used to Like” which landed at #1 on the current Alternative chart. In addition to chart success, the multi-format band has amassed 1 billion streams and recently logged over 40 million views on TikTok, while garnering acclaim from Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and USA Today. Their live performance continues to electrify with over a decade of countless sold-out shows, marquee festival performances as well as appearances on “Good Morning America,” “Today,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “America’s Got Talent,” and “LIVE! With Kelly.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/neon-trees-announce-new-album/