#especially in the indoor theme!! so real!!

[lottalove01]

loveeee the pathologic classic soundtrack bc like... those are train sounds

[sylvies-chen]

my mother said something really interesting about this episode (yes, she also watches the show and is a huge fan of dani rojas just like me) and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. she said: “it seems to me like this whole episode was about intimacy”

and like… yeah! that’s exactly it! the amsterdam trip set the perfect scene for it too, because people are normally a little more lax on vacation, a little more adventurous, a little more lenient and able to put themselves out there.

you have the pretty obvious contenders for this point: rebecca having her little fling with that nameless bald man and learning to open herself up to real connection and intimacy again, to be able to envision for herself a life and a love that is unmoored to her past with rupert and is able to exist in its own little intimate pocket. you’ve got jamie and roy learning to trust in each other, to be intimate and vulnerable about their pasts and about their present situations too (especially for roy, who is still right now a man who would rather break up with the woman he loves that admit, that he doesn’t think he’s good enough for her). and you also have, of course, the true soul of the episode, which was colin and trent’s discussion, and how colin feels that ache to be able to show the more intimate parts of him to the world the way heterosexual couples do, to be able to merge his intimate personal life with his fun if not a little reserved professional life. how to achieve a balance between intimacy and privacy.

and then you have the less obvious ones maybe, like higgins and will going to the jazz club— which isn’t really that hard to decipher when you think about it. it is, after all, where higgins opens up about an intimate detail of his love for jazz, and then gets to share his previously very intimate and private activity of playing the bass with the crowd. he even starts the night complaining of how exposed their seats feel, and ends up standing on the stage by the end of it. and, of course, will potentially had a threesome. so there’s a kind of intimacy for you. the one that truly isn’t obvious is the team pillow fight which honestly, I think is just a way of showing that sometimes a more intimate, fun yet indoor activity makes for better memories than something like a sex show or a club, which are both very grand and exciting yet impersonal and detached kinds of activities.

then of course you have ted, who is sort of lacking what my mother called an intimacy with himself. he’s been feeling a little lost, a little “stuck” as he put it. and I don’t think he understood why until this episode, until this adventure he went on with the museum and the american themed restaurant. it was a way for him to spend quality time with himself, to be alone with his thoughts while still not totally unable to absorb his surroundings and learn something. and in exploring his more intimate thoughts he was able to think of something really good! something that will make him a better coach!

and yeah, when it’s framed in this way I think this episode was sooooo killer. I love seeing people open up a little bit, to show these deep and intimate parts of their being. it’s so so so good.

[tyun4airy]

Uhmmmmm, I might need stoner minghao now that I have read your keeho story 🤭 (also with male reader pls, but the reader is clearly a bottom)

why of course my dear friend 🤭 stoner!minghao is so real

— STONER!MINGHAO WHO...

xu minghao (svt) x male!reader

warnings/tags: language, drug usage (marijuana), nsfw themes under the cut, non-idol!minghao, established relationship

main masterlist | svt masterlist

stoner!minghao who wears sunglasses 24/7 even indoors cause he's usually high as hell trying to do normal things

stoner!minghao who is the chillest guy ever when he's high, just sitting in the corner silently watching everything

stoner!minghao who goes and buys the most expensive clothes when he's shopping while high

stoner!minghao who met you through one of your friends at a party to which by the end of the night you were already high and making out with him

stoner!minghao who owns every smoking device possible, he's basically one of those influencers that post on instagram and twitter but without the actual influencing part since he doesn't film himself smoking, but he has a cabinet with everything he has

stoner!minghao who uses his resin with the rig to get himself super fucked up when he's out of bud only to have a bad headache afterwards and wonder why

stoner!minghao who celebrates 4/20 every year with his craziest smoking device (a 4 ft long bong...)

stoner!minghao who gets butter from his friend to make the most delicious but completely undosed edibles that leave you both laid on the couch or bed

stoner!minghao who experimented with mushrooms once and never did them again, he tried watching a show and couldn't stop focusing on all the colors, deciding to just stick to weed

stoner!minghao who likes when you sit on his lap with people around, especially at a party where you're both smoking and he can't keep his hands to himself

stoner!minghao who smokes a blunt while you ride him

stoner!minghao who hotboxes his car and pulls over in an alley to fuck you in the backseat

stoner!minghao who gets more vocal when he fucks while high, dirty talking to the max and constantly saying how good of a boy you are for him and how he loves that you take him so well every time

stoner!minghao who will gag you with your boxers if you're getting too loud and his friends are in the other room, pushing your face into the pillow to keep you quiet

stoner!minghao who takes a while to cum when he's high for some reason, so when you've came twice he's just barely getting to his first orgasm

stoner!minghao who will fuck you in a dressing room when shopping cause you just look so good in that outfit you're wearing that you end up having to buy it since it's ruined with cum stains

stoner!minghao who will overstim you to oblivion just cause he wants to until you're physically shaking and on the verge of tears

stoner!minghao who loves seeing you cry when you deepthroat his cock and he fucks your face, wiping the tears with his thumbs as he makes you swallow every last drop

[intimidating-fettuccine]

I edited more incorrect quotes. I hope you enjoy!

Slender: I don't know why you're so confident you'll win. You still don't even know the names of all the pieces.

Toby: But I do know the names. I've simply rebranded them. My queen is Beyonce. My king is Rhianna. And this little guy is y/n. Would you be willing to murder Y/n, the love of your life?

Slender: Yes. Chess Y/n means nothing to me.

--

Jeff: I wasn't injured. I was lightly stabbed.

Y/n: I'm sorry. You were stabbed?!

Jeff: Lightly stabbed. I didn't want to scare you.

--

Slender: Do you remember anything about a key or Y/n doing anything unusual that day?

Jane: They did make us stop by the indoor gym before they left because they wanted to drop something off for Jeff. Y/n had a real bad crush on him.

Jeff: [laughing] Oh, babe! You had a crush on me? That's embarrassing.

Y/n: We're married.

Jeff: Still!

--

An hour before Jason and Y/n's wedding-

Jason: [half way out the window as Laughing Jake holds onto him]  I have a better tie at home! It's cornflower blue. It's cornflower blue!

Those are very accurate. Especially the Slender one and the Jason one.

Slender would slaughter chess Y/N and then give real Y/N a smooch on the forehead. And Jason absolutely would try and get a better tie last minute because he suddenly thinks it’ll match his outfit and the wedding theme better

[feelingpure]

Fellow Travelers | The Orange Elephant in the Room

Alright, let's talk about it.

For those who've watched the available episodes of FT so far; I'm sure we've all noticed the citrus haze they all seem to be living in.

Especially if you've attempted to edit/GIF any portion of it. The struggle is real and I'm sure has inspired many colouring dilemmas.

And we're all asking "WHY?!".

Now, I'm writing this having not looked up anything about it. So I dunno if anyone responsible has made a formal confession.

One of my initial thoughts around it was; okay... so is this just a 1950s thing? But after watching (and rewatching) episode 2, I feel like it's part of the story in a different way; It's clearly a stylistic choice, yes (I should hope that doesn't just happen by accident). But it also seems to double as a narrative choice.

Putting the rest, with image examples, under a cut because it's kinda long.

Warm vs Cool

The conclusion I've come to is pretty simply, one that we've seen used across media in a lot of movies and shows. Warm tones used to colour scenes that are meant to literally be 'warm'; a loving environment or somewhere where the character(s) feel like they can be themselves. Cool tones used for scenes where it's quite the opposite; a cold hostile environment where the character(s) does not feel welcome. Gradients in between for all the neutral/'greyarea' spaces.

Consider

Cool/neutral outdoor bench scene (with park spies around):

Maybe it's an indoor/outdoor thing? No...

Indoors (even with the mandatory orange lamps nearby) they stay pretty neutral:

Night time/day time thing? No...

Night time vs day time in Tim's apartment:

Compare it to day time neutral alone Tim in the same room before. The difference is that he's with Hawk, out of sight of any would be naysayers.

So yeah, while I am mad about the colouring for giffing needs, I do think what they're doing is pretty neat, and the POC in the show look glorious in the warm tones.

The warm/cool motif is dialled up even more in episode 2, with the contrast of Mary's warm welcoming party and Hawk's cold af family gathering (even though they still have the orange lamps/sconces around, they add nothing to the warmth):

🥺 Ugh, Tim at Mary's party. Might be my favourite part of the episode, alongside the kissing n spooning. Anyway...

The transition of Mary from the same living room where she hosted that party, to the kitchen they were just questioned in:

That transition made me start paying more attention and go back to rewatch previous scenes just for colour themes.

Interestingly Hawk's apartment seems to live in this neutral/warmish space. It was more warm earlier in the episode, especially when they were in the bedroom the morning Tim left his glasses. But in general it's a lot less warm than Tim's apartment when compared; still their skin glows with a hint of tangerine:

Of course, not only the lighting/colouring but their outfit choices say a lot. Tim is usually in the warm browns with his dress, while Hawk pretty much sticks to black, white, grey (hints of a cool toned blues and reds in his ties). This coupled with the differences in their own living space probably reflects a lot about the character and how 'welcoming' they are to others. Idk... or I could just be thinking too much about it.

This is another really interesting transition in episode 2. As Hawk hangs up the phone in that cool toned side room, opens the door to the main room of a gay bar, the warm tones literally seem to absorb him in. Which makes sense, this is obviously a gay friendly place in San Francisco. He doesn't have to try to hide any part of himself, like he probably was still trying to do on that voicemail to Lucy just before.

Now, I could go through and screenshot a load more examples (some scenes with Lucy are interesting, and that lounge/club), but you probably get the gist, you see the pattern. If not before, on your next watch, you'll certainly see it.

This has got longer than intended; I'd be surprised if anyone got this far, I did NOT fully organise my thoughts before I started this, I just began rambling and I feel like it could've been more organised and laid out better. But if you have thoughts about the colouring, I'd really like to see those too. 🤗

[lookismaddict]

Lookism Characters and Their Favorite Disneyland Rides/Attractions

(Inspired by my day at Disneyland ✨ Hope y’all enjoy!)

Daniel Park: Peter Pan’s Flight (Daniel loves the theme of flying to Neverland, a place where Peter Pan could take children to escape from their reality. He somehow relates to it, as it’s some sort of a dream- like place that he’d want to go to. However, he’s bummed from how short the ride was, as it didn’t even last a whole minute. It made him question if it was actually worth waiting in line for twenty minutes. Just thinking of going on a ride that took less time than the actual wait time, made Daniel tired.)

Zack Lee: Space Mountain (Zack would love Space Mountain because of how it was a really cool indoor rollercoaster. He loves the feeling of the breeze going through his hair and the fast movements of the ride, underneath the bits of red lights in the dark. It was thrilling for sure, and it was not a baby ride where he can just fall asleep to. At least he can stay awake in a ride like this.)

Vasco: Mad Tea Party a.k.a Teacup ride (He’d bring Jace along with him to the ride and Vasco would be curious to see how fast their cup could go, so he asks Jace to help him spin the wheel as fast as they could. Jace would of course, do all of the work as Vasco would be too dizzy to even do anything. And once they got out from the ride, Vasco would immediately want to throw up somewhere in the bushes, forgetting that he had motion sickness. Even though Vasco couldn’t handle the ride, it became a memorable experience since Jace was there to support him.)

Jay Hong: “it’s a small world” (He’d want to take Daniel with him on that boat ride. Just seeing the smile on Daniel’s happy face while looking at the cheerful vibe over the adorable characters featured in the ride was enough for Jay to feel contentment.)

Mira Kim: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Zack isn’t into the idea of riding it since he thinks the ride is meant for babies. However, ever since Mira mentioned to Zack that she likes Winnie the Pooh, Zack would insist on taking her with him to the ride just for her.)

Zoe Park: Snow White’s Enchanted Wish (She’s a fan of Snow White since she finds the idea of having to wake up from a prince’s kiss to be romantic, and she wishes that would happen to her if Little Daniel was her prince in that scenario.)

Vin Jin: Pirates of the Caribbean (He would love the ride because it’s dark and exciting. He could even take his glasses off most of the time without having anyone to look at his face in the dark. When he first got onto the ride with Mary Kim, he thought it would be one of those slow chill boat rides like Small World, but little did he know, he was greeted with a big drop near the beginning of the ride. Even Mary was caught off guard as she let out a shriek of terror. After the drop, they’d both make fun of each other from how they reacted to that unexpected drop. However, they both weren’t aware that another drop was coming…)

Johan Seong: Haunted Mansion (Johan would love the dark theme and the creepy aesthetic of the ride. Even though the ride stops sometimes due to technical difficulties, he finds it relaxing just sitting there in the ride, just taking in its ambience. He’d even laugh at how Zack would get freaked out over the littlest things in the ride, when he goes with him.)

Jake Kim: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Jake would be intrigued by how real the setting is when he entered a big futuristic ship. The whole idea of escaping from Kylo Ren’s ship reminded him of when he had to rescue Sinu from the Workers, which was similar since it was a bit exciting and badass that they got out of there alive.)

Samuel Seo: Matterhorn Bobsleds (This psycho would laugh at the misery of people getting scared by the Abominable Snowman, especially the annoying kids who would whine while waiting in line. Samuel thought that they’d get a taste of their own medicine as they cried during the ride, making him smile in delight.)

Joon Goo Kim: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (He’d totally be a sucker for fast rides and steep drops. The ride was a bit dangerous too, since there weren’t any sturdy seatbelts in the seats, so he had to hold onto the cart that he was in. When there was a drop, he almost flew out of his seat from how steep the drop was. *insert Goo’s psycho laugh here*)

Jong Gun Park: Indiana Jones Adventure (Gun likes the idea of having to fight off things for riches as the theme for this quick paced ride. Also, he likes how wild the ride gets when it jerks back and forth in an adventure jeep, and would totally laugh in such a manic way from how thrilling it is.)

This is completely unrelated, but while I was at Disneyland, my cousin got hooked on Lookism ever since I showed him the anime. So, all he mostly did while we were waiting in the lines was just reading the actual Webtoon. Bro was addicted and I’m proud. Just wanted to share 💀🖤 (Also I turned him into a simp for Gun, since he looks like Chamber from Valorant. LMAOOO HELP-)

[doubleddenden]

I got to play Indigo Disk a bit after some trials and tribulations.

MY opinions after a few hours: enjoying it but frustrating that things are still not fixed.

The good:

Environments look pretty great, especially indoor ones. Outside environments dip in quality but look much better than Paldea or Kitakami

Music is fun in all sorts of ways I can't spoil. We lost some dynamic music, but the substitute is worth it

The characters so far are a hoot and have some hilarious dialog and banter. I love how much of a piece of shit Drayton is, and new Kieran, imo, is way more entertaining than old uwu shy bean Kieran. He's ironically hilarious trying to act all badass while being like... 12 lol. I'm happy to see Carmine again too, she's toned down and a little more friendly but her fun bitchy side comes out sometimes and makes me smile.

The mid:

The difficulty is very refreshing. I was thinking that the pokeinfluencers were being led on because they were given awful teams, but the struggle is real. I fought 2 trainers with life orbs, a double intimidate strategy, helping hands, it's actually refreshingly difficult and kind of giving me Colosseum vibes.

Synchronization is also fun! I tested it out with my shiny Hisuian Samurott, and it's super neat. It's like a step beyond Let's Go mode imo, and it's fine until you have to stop because you- despite having a move with a type advantage- get folded after getting hit once by a Pokémon with a technical type advantage. But I did notice that Samurott swims really well, too, so its not just flying, and there seems to be no limit to how far you can go within the terrarium- although you can't go beyond it apparently to use it.

Maybe it's just me, but something about the new uniforms just aren't clicking. We get about 6 uniforms early on, which is refreshing, but for some reason it doesn't look as good in practice as it did in promotion. I can't really find anything I'm 100% happy with for my character despite knowing some of these designs have lots of merit.

Idk, I'm really missing being able to match tops and bottoms like the old days. Like if you gave me the track top with the winter pants, I'd be pretty stoked. Or maybe give me something actually like Drayden or Kieran's jackets. Idk man. It's not bad, I'll say that, but I'm not satisfied.

The bad:

Performance remains unchanged. I'm not joking when I say Game Freak really needs to give back that award for "excellence" they got a while back until they finish the damn game and stop publishing unfinished crap for full price and beyond, because this is beyond unacceptable, NOT excellent, and at this point and I'm tired of nothing being done about it. It is so immersion breaking when environments flicker and pop in and out during dialog and exploration, and the slow downs... ugh. Not to mention I had a game breaking glitch where I exited a store and couldn't move or open menus or anything- my first time encountering this particular glitch as far as I can recall, and I lost progress. Like come tf on Game Freak. You've had OVER A FUCKING GOD DAMN YEAR after launch to fix things. They really must have abandoned ship at this point, and honestly they should be ashamed that it's not optimized for the ONLY system the game and dlc are available for at the moment after all of this time.

World's Richest Franchise, TM

Minor nitpicks are the new hair and accessories which... suck ngl. Aside from an Electabuzz family themed backpack, nothing new here really sparks joy, especially the hair styles, which look boring, bland, bad, or not enough.

Overall:

I'm enjoying what I can, but the bad stuff still docks points, so 6/10 so far, which is just barely passing. May go higher, may go lower as I progress further.

You may think I'm harsh, but honestly it's deserved for a product that was paid for. You can enjoy a bad game, but the game seriously needs optimization on the fucking double.

[taegularities]

As someone who went there last summer just same time around may-june (prefect time to be) it's pretty awesome even best if you by chance gets to see some left over autumn it's such looker

As for the heat it's pretty alot like I'm from Brazil so yk shouldn't be a problem for me that much but I swear that moment I step out like heat is pretty bareble If you all cover up and suncream rolled and not so much direct contact with sun BUT IT'S THE HUMIDITY which just big no but after 3-5 pm in the afternoon you are good to go for outing and gets to explore even better places at evening time

Or you really wanna explore early market you can go out from 7-10 am best time to find some old tradition places and for closed space idts it's makes much difference almost all the good spots are pretty much open and welcoming

people there in Japan are very hostile and friendly especially old peeps.. But just be careful at coward places like metro station or parks and all because of other tourist who are actually so rude while taking picture and they don't even look for other's privacy or have any kind of manners just keep an eye there

ALSO DO VISIT AS MANY RAMEN NOODLE SHOPS YOU CAN I'M TELLING BESIDES SOME REAL DELICIOUS NOODLES YOU WILL ALSO GATHER LOTS OF GOOD MEMORIES

Yea I hope you enjoy lot and it's one my top 5 favourite places to visit again

AH i've heard spring (i guess that's what you meant?? but i heard autumn in japan is amazing, too, and very red!!) is a perfect time to go there. it's just so BLEH bc in my job, it's not easy to get time off; summer is far more doable, but i'm so badddd with the heat 😭 if nothing else seems possible, i might just risk it and endure the humidity and plan indoor activities for the worst part of the day. as someone who's been to india during the worst time of the year, i just. humidity is just. 🥴 a no no. also guessing you meant hospitable hehe bc lots of people do say that everybody's very nice over there, so that's a relief. AND BEST BELIEVE I'M GONNA HIT UP EVERY RAMEN PLACE POSSIBLE LMAO i wanna go to a naruto ichiraku themed restaurant so bad :') </3 thank you so so much, love!!!

[tetsunabouquet]

Kiyoshi as a tragic teddybear (Headcanon)

I’m so happy seeing more and more KNB fans come across my headcanons and liking them! It is such a good motivator! Reminder, requests are open! With that out of the way, let’s begin with probably my favourite non-GOM KNB husbando. -Kiyoshi is the first to come in mind when asked which KNB characters I think do volunteering work. Especially when it comes to the elderly. I genuinely can see him doing errands for his grandparents friends circle, making the snacks for bridge evening even though he’s not the best cook, those kind of things.  -If his s/o were to be a volunteer, he’d probably help you and your cause in any way he can. -Let’s be real for a second, this guy is an orphan. Where are his parents? His grandparents are too frail to even come to a national competition in their own town to support him so they’re not the best caretakers out there even if they wanted to be, and which parents would be douchebagey and neglectful enough to expect such people to take care of their own kid? Either Kiyoshi’s parents are both dead, or one of them is with the other being deadbeat or they both completely abandoned him (either of which leaves him emotionally as an orphan). It’s the most logical explanation, especially if you think about how crafty he is and how he knows to entertain himself, kind and willing to shield his youngers from Hanamiya’s abuse on the court. In that regard, he’s just like that typical oldest orphan trying to take care of the younger ones in an orphanage that I’ve seen in various media like Tobey Maguire’s character in The Cider House Rules (a 90′s movie). -Undoubtedly his maturity is parentification. His grandparents are literally super old and frail. He’s probably doing all kinds of things for them. -The most reliable guy in the Seirin team. Due to his parentification he has garnered the most wisdom as well as adult life skills compared to his teammates as a result.  -So if you come to him with a problem, he’s there for you, but you can bet your money on at least a nice headpat when he’s comforting you. -If you’re his s/o, his encouraging headpats willl be massive bear hugs instead. -He’s not the type to be clingy in public, but indoors when it’s just the two of you, he’ll search out physical affection all the time. Hugs, patting, curling up together, all that jazz.  -So as a s/o, you better be a hugger. -His ideal girl being strong of heart, comes from him being parentified. He’d be a super supportive boyfriend, but he doesn’t wants a girl who relies on him too much as that is what everyone else is already doing. He doesn’t wants to be a girl’s daddy, let’s just get that clear. -Adores game nights, and he and his s/o will be wearing comfortable Pjs and fluffy onesies whilst the two of you are playing something like Mahjong.  -Is especially fond of his s/o wearing a fluffy animal-themed onesie just because it gives him an excuse to hug you and nuzzle his face in the fluffy fabric. -I can picture him being interested in moving away to the countryside as an adult and starting a farm with a plethora of animals together with his s/o to just enjoy a simple, happy life filled with cuddles (wether from you or the animals you have) and playing his harmonica on the porch.  -In that scenario, the two of you will be sharing your bed with at least the cats that will whine whenever you two are hugging each other and not them, and stare at you filled with judgement whenever those times escalate until you shoo them out of the bedroom (Kiyoshi is terrified of rats, so a farmlife without cats is impossible). 

[cookinguptales]

So I went to Philly's Flower Show yesterday! It was exciting to see it finally come back to the convention center this year; obviously I'm glad they had it outside for a few years, but that did make it so I couldn't attend in the heat.

This year it was back indoors and I celebrated by going to the Flowers After Hours party too. :o

Anyway, I took like a hundred photos but tumblr will only let me upload 30. Either way, they're under a cut!

The first thing I did when I got there was hit the flower crown station. These are always fun to make here, and this year they had real flowers and wire, not just fake ones and a glue gun. I... may have spent too much time on my crown. lmao

So before I played arts and crafts for an hour... and after:

Bats are my favorite pollinator, though bees are very close. :')

Then it was time to enter the flower festival proper! The entrance was so pretty. I wish I could have quite gotten how trippy the lights were in there. They were constantly changing because this year's theme was The Garden Electric! Lots of interesting lights, which was especially fun at the party that evening.

(I forgot to take in the dress at the waist before I left but that's okay, it's still cute. lmao)

Had a lot of fun wandering around looking at all the prize-winning plants. There were hundreds and hundreds so I had to pare these down a lot lmao.

And then all of the art and arrangements! Again, there are just. So many of these. Jewelry, pressed flowers, arrangements, miniatures, huge dioramas, etc. But 30 images. So.

Look at the dresses this year! Some of them were so pretty.

I die!!

And the pressed flowers! Look at what the children made! ;o;

And the adult pieces were lovely as well

The little miniature rooms are always my favorite, though. The winner this year was a little herbalist cottage from Edinburgh in 1661 and when I tell you this bitch was vibrating thinking about Sleep No More. lmao. But there was also a Mexican market, an Italian street, a Japanese tea house, a Monet-inspired garden scene... Just gorgeous all around.

Some of the flower arrangements were really fun this year because they got into the electric theme.

And I always love the plant arranging categories that are like "...oh, I guess that's a thing" like "best doorway" lmao.

Most of the big exhibits had suuuuper long lines, so I waited until the party to see them when there'd be fewer people.

So then once the lights went out... I changed into my Party Noir look to match the party's dress code!

(I....... forgot my black mask at home, leave me alone.)

And oh mannnn the big displays were so nice this year.

Only the tip of the iceberg tbh but image limit!!

Had a lot of fun walking around in the indoor gardens, too!

The party itself was fun, if maybe not something I'd do again. Lots of alcohol to sample and some very loud music, but the big group of people wasn't super easy to get around in using my chair and I kind of got a headache from it all.

BUT there was also some fun entertainment (like fire juggling AWAY FROM THE PLANTS, burlesque-esque dancing, contortionists, etc.) and it was nice to get a chance to get closer to some of the big displays while other people were getting selfies with some of the selfie-bait sections of the show. lmao

(I got some, too!! I was not immune to the trippy flower backgrounds. But 30 images!)

ALSO THE BEE PEOPLE CAME OUT AND THEY BROUGHT BEES

Like an hour and a half into the party I came back to the bee people and was like "MAY I SEE THE BEE AGAIN" and when they pulled him out of his little habitat and let him crawl on their hands (it's a mason bee, they don't sting) I was like "I'M SORRY I'M TOO TIPSY TO HAVE ANY CHILL ABOUT THIS" but they laughed so it was okay.

ALL IN ALL, I had a really good time! I bought too much honey and balsamic vinegar! I ache today, but I guess I earned it!

yay, love the flower show. 💜🌱🐝🦇

[cilogram]

The Sparks 2022 Japan Tour Extravaganza

(AKA. my time spent Sparks-ing for 4 days in a row)

Friday, Aug 19th:

Sonic Mania, Chiba

For this festival show I had a friend with me, and I regret that I was too embarrassed to pull him away from another band he knew to get to Sparks unreasonably early. We ended up arriving 20 mins early, which was not enough, haha.

Still, I was smiling like an idiot about 5 rows back, thankfully well within the front zone of the keyboard. I think from my blog you may have noticed that I like Ron. Obligatory keyboard photo before the show began:

In any case, Sparks came on at 11pm. When I saw the moving stage cameras, I was so excited to realize they'd be filming the performance professionally. You've probably all seen the video of this show by now and, if so, you'll know they did an abridged version of the 2022 US & Europe setlist.

I had sent my friend a playlist of Sparks songs the day before so he'd be ready for the show, including Shopping Mall Of Love, giving the caveat that "they probably won't play this one to a festival crowd." I was so happy to be proven wrong! That track was a personal highlight.

Other highlights of the Friday show for me include Tips For Teens (an all-time favourite) and Angst In My Pants, as well as, of course, every other track.

(And, lest we forget, Russell's banana dance.)

All That was a beautiful closer to a stellar show. The energy both on- and off-stage was so high, and my friend (who stayed til 5am when the festival ended) said that Sparks gave the best performance of the whole event :')

I felt pretty mesmerized hearing their songs live for the first time, seeing Sparks being real in front of me...

Everything I love about their music was just all coalescing and it was such a fun experience. The crowd was also great, as you can see in the video. What a night!

Saturday, Aug 20th:

Ginza Tsutaya book shop: the Q&A

This particular book shop is really beautiful, and has a very impressive arts section. You can't see its beauty from the Q&A video because the event space is a small, screened-off area, but please enjoy this image from their website:

When we went in at first we got our blu ray or dvd of the documentary, signed by Ron and Russell.

(Not very relevant, but adorably one of the staff members tested sitting on the interview chairs and failed at least 6 times to get on one, such was the tight arrangement of the furniture)

The MC explained that they'd taken audience questions beforehand and would pick 'the good ones' (a bold lie!) to ask Sparks. I say that just because a few were quite inane questions, and some they've been getting asked since the band's inception. Poor Sparks, they can't seem to escape such things... but the answers they gave were all very thoughtful, and they politely answered even the not-great ones with patience and tact. Russell especially steered a few awkward questions into something a bit more worthwhile. Ron did most of the talking, though, if I remember correctly.

Edit: if you haven't seen it, you can watch it here.

And if you fear the bad questions, I suggest at least watching the very end for amusing parting words from Sparks. (Out of respect for Ron and Russell, I obviously cannot disclose details of the depraved scene that took place after the camera was switched off.)

Admittedly, I wish it had been a more intellectually-themed talk about their career and living an artistic life, as the event description seemed to suggest, but with it also being a promo for the release of The Sparks Brothers on DVD, I understand it was mostly aimed towards new fans.

I was glad that I went, anyway. Getting to hear them talk normally in person was really nice. They seem very personable, (and patient, I say again!).

Sunday, Aug 21st:

Summer Sonic in Osaka.

A mostly-outdoor festival, at which Sparks played on the only indoor stadium stage (thank you, Sparks, it was a humid 36° outside).

This was much wilder than the Chiba version of the festival on Friday. Learning my lesson from that day, I made sure to go to Sparks' stage eeeaaarly. 2 whole acts early. And it paid off! I got to stand in the front row, something I'd never done before at any gig, and the experience was really... incredible. Obligatory keyboard photo before the show began, #2:

I've never danced so much in all my life. I'm not kidding when I say I almost threw up on the way back to the hotel from how much jumping around I'd done.

The audience were great in Osaka, too. Impressive synchronization with the songs, so many hands in the air at all times. The setlist that day was pared-down to just the big hit, danceable songs, which I very much understand for this kind of festival. At the end of the set, while Russell was blowing kisses to the audience, Ron dramatically wiped his mouth in disgust instead. Peak Sparks activity.

On the way out of the stadium, I met (Instagram user) satokina_2, whose illustrations you've maybe seen, and who showed me this incredibly impressive album art kimono made by (fellow IG user) ready.Freddie.1977

It's so well-made and vibrant... really something else!

The final day of the tour, Monday, Aug 22nd

WWWX Shibuya in Tokyo: the solo show

On the way to Tokyo, I of course listened to Bullet Train on the bullet train, and many giggles were had. I also watched the official video of Friday's show and relived all those good moments. I only wish the audio sounded as good as it had in real life, but that's to be expected. As someone who can't bear to bring out a camera/phone when artists are onstage, it means a lot that the festival recorded one of them in full.

When I got into the venue on Monday night, I did want to get some merchandise, but it meant queueing for it then and there and sacrificing a place near the front... I just couldn't do it.

Instead, I made it to about the 3rd row, again in direct Ron-view. Obligatory keyboard photo before the show began, #3:

The stage at WWWX is quite low, so although I wasn't front row, I was still so close to that glorious keyboard. I can't say how lucky I feel to have gotten ideal locations at all these shows.

Ron walked on with an umbrella up over his head and then... threw it away, still open. Yeahh! Russell walked on cheerfully, sans umbrella. He had on a black jacket instead of the full banana ensemble, with Hello Kitty badge and a rosette usually worn by event MCs.

The setlist this time was even closer to the US & Europe tour one, just without Edith Piaf and Get In The Swing. That meant we got 8 songs we hadn't heard until that night!

Hearing I Predict live for the first time was such a joy! One of my loves.

Same for Under The Table With Her. Russell's voice on that one, especially, was transcendental. Unbelievably perfect vocals... I wish I could hear it again!

(Truly the only way it could have been improved was if Ron had come in with the 'Dinner for 12. Thank you' XD)

Again, I may have danced and jumped too hard this time, but I had (reluctantly) skipped dinner so I wouldn't be in danger of throwing up again from all the jumping.

Speaking of danger, Ron took a step back near the end of Shopping Mall Of Love and tripped over the lights by the drum kit, but he yet lives. He proceeded to replace the 'yeah's in the song with a gently rueful, 'small stages...'

(The stage was indeed very small. The venue was, too)

Russell's performance during I Married Myself was so great, it was one of the best crowd-pleasers of the night, judging by the reaction it got. He really sells the 'hey baby!' looking into that mirror (another first for us at the 2022 Japan shows).

And how many times have I sat in my car, listening to the dramatically drawn-out "wonder boiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiíiiiiiiiiii" line, dreaming that I might one day hear it live? The answer is: many. And on Monday my dream was fulfilled, with an impeccable vocal performance!

We Love Each Other So Much was equally impeccable (impeccable impeccable, yeah)... I'm in awe when Russell does that song. I was so grateful to hear it live because the only studio versions available to listen to are of course from Annette, with just the actors singing. They deliver it well for the movie, but they're not Russell ;_; This is unrelated to everything else, but after one of the songs he almost thanked us in French and then stopped himself. Amazing.

We also got the 'boyfriend' version of Lawnmower, which I consider a grand and auspicious blessing.

For the encore, Ron came out wearing a t-shirt for his beloved film series, 'It's rough being a man' (男はつらいよ), and Russell stood behind him and held up the fabric at his arms so it was easier to see.

When the encore was over, Russell announced that their new, upcoming album is finished(!). Then he thanked us for supporting them and their work so much, and professed Sparks' Japan-love a little more, which was touching.

At the very end, he gave a cute 'see you later!' in adorably American-sounding Japanese, and then Ron said 'I love you!' in Japanese as he left the stage.

Such a cute, lovely way to end the show. All the gigs just had this incredible positive energy... such a great experience getting to hear all those songs live and see Ron and Russell up there playing for us. Their whole approach to creativity is so inspiring, and it just... feels good to be here on the earth at the same time they are. I'm so happy I made it to these shows.

Well, if you read this far, I really applaud you and thank you for indulging me in my tedious retelling/feelings.

Misc:

After the show, I was lucky enough to meet our very own @adreamofroses, who surprised me with some wonderful, hand-made Sparks pin badges. Thank you so much! I'll cherish them forever :')

And satokina_2 was giving out these beautiful commemorative art cards, and kindly held onto mine for me until the show was over (I didn't have a bag to keep them safe in). Thank you, satokina, for your great friendliness!

Enjoy the upcoming US festival shows, everyone! I can't wait to see photos and hear all about them. ✨

[misc-obeyme]

Nightbringer: Initial Thoughts

I have a lot of thoughts about Nightbringer, but I don't want to have one massive crazy post, so I'm gonna break it up a bit.

This first post is about the general gameplay, nothing story related. So there aren't any spoilers, just my thoughts on the app and updates.

Ruri☆Tunes

I LOVE IT. Listen, Ruri is adorable. I am right there with Levi. Like if this was a real anime, I would absolutely watch it. She's so cute! Did you guys see the background for Lesson 7 where there's a Ruri themed Miss Em doll? The cuteness nearly killed me.

The rhythm game itself is HARD. At first I didn't realize that you need to tap the actual objects. So by switching the controls to up and down, then turning my phone, and tapping the actual objects as they hit the line, I got WAY BETTER. I reblogged a post about this I think yesterday? It explains it better and thanks to that, the levels are now pretty fun.

I love the songs, of course, though some of the remixes are a little funky. But I loooove all the graphics! The lil donuts! And the lil demon chibis! And Luke's chihuahua! Oh yes and my favorite thing ever is Asmo's little "hai!" when he jumps over one of those green puddles. It's so cute.

Overall, I much prefer this to the dance battles. That being said, the levels are not really any easier than the OG. I was hoping we wouldn’t need to have a bunch of crazy high leveled cards to get through the story, buuuut it’s really looking like that might still be the way of it. I mean to be fair, the whole point of this is to make money so...

I don’t really hold it against them. I mean I do but I also don’t lol. The story is good enough that I can look past the money making motives. However I will say that this is just the case for me personally. I am lucky enough to have a little bit of disposable income to spend on apps, but I know a lot of players don’t.

Moving on before this becomes a rant about the evils of capitalism…

Wanderers Whereabouts

It sure is… something… Aside from the horrors of 3D models, I don't understand why they're playing sports in MC's room. Would it have been that much of an issue to give us an outdoor space as well as an indoor one? At least let them play sports in a field or something, you know?

My favorite ones so far have been when there's multiple demons in there, though. The way they interact with each other is so cute. And even though I find the whole thing a tiny bit weird, I DO like hearing their voices and seeing their interactions. Plus they do some really cute things when you give them an MC plushie.

But I think we all agree that the best part is watching Levi chase Mammon around on the map.

Fab Snap

This is supposed to be like TikTok, right? Once again I'm not a fan of the 3D models, which is probably due to the whole uncanny valley thing. However, I do still enjoy the shenanigans because what the fuck are those guys even doing? I'm sure you've all seen the musical chairs situation. I did like the one with Luke doing the snack test thing and you can hear Simeon who is recording the video. It's definitely cute to see them doing fun little things like that.

Everything else...

... seems to be the same except for some updated graphics and such. The story interface still has the 2D sprites thankfully and as far as I can tell, it works exactly the same as the OG. I've seen some people saying they're worried about the options changing the story, but they don't anymore than they did before. I think that's just their way of saying you get intimacy points with different characters depending on the options you choose. As far as I can tell, nothing seems to be any different on that end?

I love that they have entirely new special guest and home screen dialogue. The special guest dialogue especially seems more lovey and flirty than the OG. Solomon straight up says he loves you if you get the full heart reaction. You can still get annoyed reactions, though. From what I can tell, the reactions are the same as the OG app. If you get an S, it's the same as if you got three stars in the dance battle. I'm not sure about if you get lower than a B... but the three star reactions seemed to work for S, A, and B.

Also, I looooooove Karasu. I hope we get more Karasu beyond the tutorial, but I don't know if that's actually going to happen. I'm sure many of us will now refer to Mammon as Noodle Boy, though, because c'mon, that's excellent.

Okay there’s more I could talk about, but this post is already long lol. I like the mix of familiar stuff and new stuff. So far, I’m enjoying all of this. Stay tuned for posts about the story itself because there are so many thoughts.

I am also happy to receive any asks about your opinions on all of these things or if you have actual questions or anything else, of course.

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Weather Themed (2) Masterlist

part one

All the Ways to Phil Lester's Heart (ao3) - lastrosarysold1117

Summary: During Christmas Eve with his family, Phil reflects on all the ways to his heart, to the tune of "The Christmas Song" more commonly known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" by Nat King Cole.

A million little suns (ao3) - jestbee

Summary: Dan is just trying to get as far away from his home town as possible at Christmas when he gets stuck in a snow storm. He's rescued by an enigmatic stranger who take him back to his cabin in the mountains. What Dan doesn't know is that his rescuer is prolific, best-selling writer of erotica, Ricky Blitz. Will Dan end up with a porn-worthy situation all of his own? (hint: yes)

Porn with feels and some Christmas magic.

A Stranger and a Storm (ao3) - Phandiction

Summary: Phil comforts Dan during a terrifying storm

baby, it's cold outside (ao3) - pasteldanhowells

Summary: Dan is traveling to his parent’s house for Christmas. There’s a blizzard expected to hit just as Dan’s leaving, but Dan doesn’t think anything of it, not until his car breaks down and he’s stranded. Kind stranger Phil steps in and offers to help Dan.

Between The Seams (ao3) - Tarredion

Summary: Bone-tired lovers meet thundering downpour, rediscovering the best way to confront fear in the meantime

campfire cuddles (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: dan takes a week vacation and gets stuck in a tent with phil lester, who so far could be the most annoying childish person he's met in a long time. but a storm can change people's mind.

Keeping Warm (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: Dan is always cold, especially when their car breaks down in the middle of winter.

Look How Warm You Are (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: It snowed during the night after Dan's first day back in Rosendale, so Phil brings him out on a bit of an adventure to explore in the snow.

Rainy Day - shookethbrooketh

Summary: Pastel!Dan and Punk!Phil didn’t appreciate their plans being cancelled due to rain, but after Dan pulled together some indoor activities for them, they both found themselves enjoying their rainy day together.

Rainy Days - phan-panda

Summary: Dan convinces Phil to play in the rain with him.

rainy days at the library (ao3) - pasteldanhowells

Summary: Even on rainy days Dan winds up at the library, but it's not so bad when his company is the cute librarian.

Snow - fiction-phan

Summary: “You’re my new neighbour and we’ve never spoken but you saw me shovelling snow all day and I guess it must be pretty obvious how cold I am because you brought me a jacket and hot cocoa.“

Snowday Surprises (ao3) - FandomFeels17

Summary: Snowball fights and kisses, what more could they want?

snow fairies (ao3) - sunflowerwitches (orphan_account)

Summary: it all started with a few snowflakes sprinkling down from the sky and then all of a sudden, there is a thick blanket of soft snow spread across the london streets

Sunshine (ao3) - thewakeless

Summary: Summer sex (with consequences)

Sunshine and Wind (ao3) - boffinhatwithapipeYuekagami

Summary: "I am here, Dan because I love you.”

three's a (snowed in) crowd (ao3) - plinth_of_life

Summary: Dan and Phil struggle to take care of their three-month-old baby as a massive blizzard hits London.

When the Weather Breaks (ao3) - sierraadeux

Summary: Sitting across from Phil on that worn out velvet Starbucks sofa, sharing sickeningly sweet coffees and what they would like to think were hushed giggles, was the first time Dan felt a glimpse at what real love could feel like.

or Perception checks, pining, and peppermint mochas.

[brainyxbat]

Venus x Shelly: Christmas

Venus and Shelly celebrate their first Christmas as a couple; not to mention Venus’ first real Christmas. VxS AU!

(Hope it’s good after the long wait 😅😅😅)

🎅🎄⛄

In the Kanto region, a rare occurrence came to Lavender Town soon after Thanksgiving: Snow! Kids immediately took advantage, playing in the frozen fluff with sleighs, forts, and their Pokemon.

Venus Wisteria watched the white puffs fall from inside the small, two-story house she shared in the gloomy town of her origin, with her devoted partner of now almost a year. She had little experience with snow, so her aforementioned partner coaxed her out to show her how to have fun with it. She was apprehensive to the cold, being more than what she was accustomed to, but the promise of warm snuggles and hot tomato soup afterwards changed her mind.

It was now December, as she sat in the windowsill bench in “PINK” loungewear and Stantler fuzzy socks, with her loyal Zubat on her shoulder, watching the snow sparkle in the sun. Sunshine wasn’t common in Lavender either, thought not enough to call it rare; the area was mainly covered in a fog that gave it a ghostly, gloomy vibe.

It seemed Articuno decided to give the residents a white Christmas this year.

“V-V!~” She heard her partner call her in a singsongy voice. A fair-skinned young woman standing 5′7″ in height with long, red curly hair entered the room, also dressed comfortably, followed closely by their Skitty. “Oh, there you are,” Shelly Wisteria (formerly Izumi) sat closely in front of her on the bench. “You excited for today?”

“Yeah,” Venus smiled with her usual shyness, not one to be chatty.

“Be sure to dress warm; those Christmas trees aren’t exactly indoors. And it’s going to be a cold one with the snow.”

“I will,” She nodded, her voice more quiet than she meant, as her gaze stayed on her lap.

Shelly caught on to her somber demeanor, and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You okay, baby?” She asked, ruby eyes filled with concern.

“Oh, y-yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that, well...”

She didn’t need to finish, as Shelly nodded. “I get you. This is your first real Christmas, without... them.” She tucked some green hair behind her ear, keeping her hand on her cheek. “I’m going to make sure it’s the best.”

Venus blushed, as her smile grew. “Thanks. With you, I know it will be.” 

They shared a short kiss, Shelly relishing her sweet-smelling, sugar cookie body spray. “I’m gonna get dressed; I suggest you follow my lead,” She joked, “It’s a little cold for PJ’s.” Venus flinched and squeaked when she poked her flat stomach, making Shelly snicker. “No sadness at the Christmas Tree Farm. I’ll be back.” She kissed her temple, and left.

🎅🎄⛄

Before long, both women were ready to head out. Venus was in black leggings with a “Creepy Christmas” theme, a green denim skirt, black wedge winter boots, a green and white striped scarf, a black fuzzy cropped sweater, and her black faux fur-lined winter jacket. Shelly wore tan Ugg boots, dark denim bootcut jeans, a black sweatshirt, a Stantler pom-pom beanie, matching gloves, and a red buffalo plaid jacket lined with warm, white faux Sherpa. Venus snickered at Shelly’s shirt and jacket; both featured Mickey Mouse. “You’re such a dork,” She jokingly teased. It was no secret that she was a fanatic for the entertainment giant; especially the absurdly expensive theme parks. “You own anything not by Disney?”

“You own anything not for Halloween?” Shelly retorted in a just as good-natured way, knowing it was her favorite holiday. Not to mention her regular style year-round.

“Touché,” Venus giggled, as they, along with Zubat and Skitty, piled into the redhead’s car. Zubat handsomely sported a festive red bow tie printed with snowflakes and buffalo plaid, while Skitty had a green ribbon tied expertly around its neck. “We have the decorations ready, right?”

“Yep! Once we’re home, Crawdaunt and I will get the boxes up from the basement.”

Venus rolled her eyes with a small sigh. “Shell, why do you always do all the heavy lifting? I feel useless,” She pouted.

“Alright, firstly, you are not useless,” She replied firmly, always hating her putting herself down, “Secondly, you tend to overdo it,” She added more gently, “You get a little reckless. Remember when we were assembling that giant skeleton, and you fell from the ladder?”

“Oh right,” She winced at the memory. Back in late September, while the two women decorated their house for the spooky season, Venus had practically barreled past her taller wife to use the ladder, and be more active in the big stuff. One little misstep from her fast-paced entrance, and before she knew it, she was going down from a bad height.

“You’re lucky I was in the right spot at the right time. You could’ve broken something; and I don’t mean a fake Pumpkaboo.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Venus smirked, “I understand.”

“Good.” Shelly didn’t want to be bossy, but simultaneously, she worried deeply for her petite partner’s safety. She tended to push boundaries more often than not. “But you’re not useless, okay? Far from it; you have great decorating skills. You can help with stuff high up, but please be careful.”

The Goth smiled, and nodded. “I will; promise. Thanks.” She leaned over, and kissed her cheek, earning a grin back.

“Glad to hear it, babe.”

🎅🎄⛄

After a few minutes of driving, they arrived at the Christmas tree farm outside of town. Shelly turned the car off, then went around to open the passenger door for her wife. Venus went to step out, but at the last minute, decided to jump into her arms instead, her legs around her waist. “Oh!” Although surprised, she held her up easily through laughter. “See what I mean, by you being reckless?” She joked.

“Yes,” Venus giggled, and planted her lips on Shelly’s. Her small, black-manicured hands moved to Shelly’s cheeks, rosy from the chill in the air, while the redhead kept her own hands together on her back. “I love you, Shell.”

“I love you too, cutie.” She set her down on her feet in the snow. “Let’s pick out our first Christmas tree.”

“‘Kay.” Hand-in-hand and alongside their Pokemon, they trekked through the small shed/gift shop combo, and walked straight back outside, entering the fenced-in yard. “Whoa...” Venus breathed in awe. There were many kinds of Christmas trees as far as the eye can see; some short, some tall, full or nearly bare.

Shelly smiled, and rested her cheek on her head. “They’re beautiful, huh?”

“Yeah,” Venus nodded, “It’ll be hard to choose just one.”

“Impossible,” She agreed, “Well, the perfect tree pr’y won’t be here for long. Shall we?”

The two women browsed the inventory, adding to the footprints already in the snow from previous customers. The blue eyeless bat licked some of the middle-height branches passing by, while the pink and yellow kitten batted at those lower to the ground, occasionally shaking snow off its head. “Skitty,” Shelly called when it lingered in one spot for too long. As it bounded back, the redhead made a mental note: measure Skitty for a gift harness. It had a tendency to either lag behind, or run ahead when out with its masters.

Venus fingered at some pine needles, absently rubbing the stickiness on her jacket on occasion. Shelly smiled; she could tell her wife was enjoying the experience. She recalled feeling a terrible heartache when Venus opened up about how the holidays of years past had been quite horrible, not at all different from her childhood overall. Not being allowed to participate in any fun, festive activities; she wanted to give little Venus a hug, as she heard tales of how she watched everything go on. She couldn’t even eat a full meal! One part that really made her blood boil more, was how apparently, she tried harder to be included in wrapping gifts, and got a cut on her wrist for her troubles. It didn’t need stitches, but the mental scar definitely stayed with her.

Shelly had taken her shopping in Celadon City for Christmas clothes and decorations to cheer her up after tears fell; those decorations were the ones waiting to be put up, while the clothes were frequently worn since their purchase. Shelly knew it was a good idea while witnessing Venus viewing the festive selection with awe. After returning home, their stomachs satisfied from a delightfully juvenile takeout dinner, they spent the day leafing through recipes and ideas online for sugar cookies and icing, along with cupcakes. 

All in all, the somber moment resulted in pure bliss, as they cuddled together. They slept on the couch that night, covered with a cozy blanket, having sweet dreams.

“What about this one?” Venus’ question snapped her out of her thought bubble.

“Umm...” Shelly looked it over, and measured the height with the measuring tape provided by the farm faculty. “I think it’s a bit tall for the house. We’ll need room for the topper we got.”

“Ah, okay. True.” They continued looking, keeping their hands held together. “This one?”

“Umm... still too big.”

“That one?”

“Too choppy on the right side.”

Venus rolled her dark green eyes. “Shell, can we just pick one? I’m getting hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” Shelly smirked, “And I want to find the perfect tree.”

“Because it’s my first one?”

“Yeah.”

Venus smiled up at her. “You’re sweet. But I’d like to find the perfect one today,” She teased.

“I know,” The redhead giggled, “Let’s keep looking, then we’ll grab lunch.”

“‘Kay, thanks.” They continued looking, until finally, the perfect tree was in both of their lines of vision. Not too big, not too small; plus nice, full, and green. “This one!”

“Perfect!” Shelly beamed, and wielded the ax from faculty. But a pair of small hands snatched it away, surprising her. “Ah! Venus!”

“I’ll chop it down!”

“Venus, no-”

“I’ll be careful!” She grunted when the blade hit the ground.

Shelly sighed in defeat. “Fine. But I’ll be ready to call the hospital.”

“A’ight.” Only half listening, Venus managed to lift the heavy tool up, and felt triumphant. She really was strong! She made the wind-up for the first cut, but the ax’s weight proved superior; she accidentally did a whole backflip, and landed butt-down in the snow.

Shelly gasped in alarm, and immediately came to her aid, as the Goth blinked her eyes, feeling a little delirious. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” She nodded, holding onto her, as they both straightened up, “Just had the breath knocked out of me there.”

“Here, sit down,” She set her down on a smooth rock, “I’ll chop it down.”

“‘Kay.” Venus watched from her seat, now with Zubat on her shoulder and Skitty in her lap, as Shelly went to work. Being the stronger of the couple, she lifted the ax from the ground with little struggle, and made the windup. With an impressive swing, she managed to thrust it into the thick trunk; but when she went to pull it out, it didn’t budge. She groaned and grunted, as she tried with all her might to release it, but it seemed to have a powerful magnetic grip. “You okay there?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Just a little stuck.” Shelly’s eyes and mouth clenched shut, as she mustered all her strength to get it out. With one last yank, she managed to pull it free! But it slipped right out of her gloved hands, making her stumble in its direction, and flew on the ground close to an unsuspecting couple. Both women winced, as the couple jumped away, then glared at them. “Sorry!” Shelly exclaimed sheepishly. The yuppie couple went about their business with a huff, as Venus stifled a laugh.

She stood from her spot with Zubat and Skitty, and approached her wife. “I have a better idea.”

🎅🎄⛄

Later, the young couple exited the local craft store with a long, large box. Venus suggested buying a fake tree instead; no shedding pine needles, pre-lit, and her special first tree would last for years, if not forever. Once the box was safely stashed, they headed for home with a nice, warm takeout bag in the Goth’s lap. “This was a good idea, V-V.”

“Thanks,” She smiled shyly, “This one looked so pretty in the store.”

“Agreed.” The tree was a classic green, stood 7 1/2 feet, and featured lights that changed colors in pattern. Perfect for their cozy little home, and the presents soon to loiter underneath.

After feasting on burgers, they went to work in putting the tree together.  Venus was allowed to screw the top on, while standing on the ladder. Shelly held onto her hips, giving a warning beforehand to avoid startling her, as she secured it in, completing the tree. “There we go!” She stepped down, as Shelly cautiously drew her hands away, and plugged the cord into the nearest outlet.

“Where’s the remote?” Shelly quickly found it on the coffee table, and turned the lights on. When it was set to change colors, the middle didn’t match with the top and bottom; the middle stayed yellow, while the top and bottom changed colors. “What the-?” Shelly walked over to investigate. “Weird.” After several minutes of adjustments and research, they managed to get all the lights to cooperate. “Yay,” She giggled, and flopped on the couch next to Venus. She had to admit, the memory of her fiery wife jumping up and down like Clark Griswold, lights cord in hand and cursing, would stick with her. She had a hard time not laughing at the hilarity.

“Thank goodness,” The Goth agreed, and laid her head on her taller wife’s shoulder. “Looks pretty, huh?”

“More than pretty,” Shelly replied, “It’s beautiful; more so than in the store. But... it’s got nothing on you.”

Venus blushed deeply, as she kissed her hair. “Same for you.”

“You’re so sweet,” Shelly’s own cheeks turned as red as her hair, and they shared a kiss, their matching lotus wedding rings reflecting the lights from the tree, and the ceiling.

“I love you, Shell.”

“I love you too, V-V.” They snuggled together. “Why don’t we put up the rest of the decorations?”

“Mmm, later,” Venus mumbled in her hair, “I want to stay here.”

“V,” Shelly giggled, “If we cuddle all the time, decorating will be done in June. It won’t take long; afterwards, we can relax as much as you want. Deal?”

Venus smiled, and lifted her head up just a little. “Alright.”

“Awesome.” After a brief kiss, the two stood back up, and began lugging boxes of decorations up from the basement.

🎅🎄⛄

After around two hours, decorating was all done! The ladies made their house ready for the holidays, both inside and out in the front yard. Inside was garland weaved around the staircase rail, pillows and blankets on every chair and the couch, a trio of treat holders resembling a festive Disney train on the kitchen table, a table runner made by Shelly, a Froslass tree topper, various ornaments (one being a frame with the current year, ready for their picture in the near future, to commemorate their first Christmas together), and a homemade tree skirt with “The Wisterias” embroidered in. Outside featured colorful lights lining the roof, a wreath on the front door, lit-up animatronic Stantlers, a multicolored cone tree, and a light projector.

“It looks amazing!” Shelly praised.

“It does,” Venus agreed, a little out of breath, but smiling regardless. Decorating was fun, especially with her wife; the feeling of accomplishment drove out bad memories of her past holiday experiences, replacing them with good memories. She laid on the couch, her head on a festive pillow. “Phew, I’m tired.”

“Same here.” Shelly sat closely to her on the floor. “After we rest, we can start on dinner.”

“‘Kay.”

Later, they were enjoying homemade Indian curry, warming their bodies inside, as snow fell. “What should we do after we’re done?” Shelly asked.

“Watch a movie?” Venus suggested. “I think Elf starts at 8 o’clock.”

“It’s a date.”

They spent the next couple hours laughing and feeling emotions at the festive classic, and smiled at every romantic scene. When the time to turn in came, Shelly surprised Venus by carrying her bridal style to their bed, not unlike how she did at the start of their honeymoon in Kalos.

🎅🎄⛄

December 23

“Alrighty,” Shelly tied her long hair into a high ponytail, “Ready to start baking for the party?”

“Yep!” Venus nodded, after her own hair was in a messy bun. Reluctantly, she used a festive barrette to clip her long bangs back, revealing her right, blind eye. Only Shelly had seen it, but Venus was still quite shy about it around her. “What should we do first?”

“Let’s start with the picture cookies,” Shelly replied, “Since they’re easy.”

“Sounds good to me.”

In the kitchen after washing up, they pulled out some trays from the cabinet, along with cookie sheets, and pre-heated the oven to the proper temperature. “Which box first?” At the market, they couldn’t decide which available, festive designs to get, so they went with the easiest solution: All of them! The three for the holiday they had were Christmas trees, snowmen, and the Elf hat.

“Umm... trees,” Venus picked out.

“Good choice.” Shelly put the other two boxes back in the fridge to keep them cool. Once the tray was ready, they began laying the raw cookies along the sheet, keeping an even distance between them. They blushed anytime their hands brushed together, and smiled at each other through their work. “That’s all of them!” Just then, the oven was ready to start its job, signaled by the ding. “Okay, let’s get these in!” They both went to the other side of the kitchen, Venus discretely putting on festive oven mitts.

“AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!” The Goth quickly swiped the tray from Shelly’s hands, and slid it in the oven. A while back, Shelly had accidentally burned herself when baking a birthday cake for her boss Archie. A hospital trip was not needed, but Venus frantically tried her best to mend her wound. 

From then on, she forbade her from taking things in and out of the oven.

“Thanks,” Shelly giggled, “Though I do want to start using the oven at some point, you know.”

“Too soon,” Venus smirked, as she set the timer, and started the baking. Shelly snorted with a grin and eye roll of amusement.

After a few minutes, all three boxes were emptied, and three trays were occupied with adorable, sweet-smelling cookies. Skitty leaped up on the island, and started closing in, but a pair of small, ivory hands stopped it. “Uh-uh,” Venus giggled, “These are still too hot to eat, silly. Wanna play outside?” Smiling at its excitement, she let it outside to frolic in the snow with the other Pokemon. “Okay, what’s next?”

“Red velvet cupcakes!” Shelly beamed. “The oven’s already at the right heat for them!”

“Awesome! I get to stir!” Venus eagerly grabbed the black stepstool.

“Fine,” Shelly laughed at her adorable wife, “I’ll get the pan and liners.”

The Goth made quick, impressive work at the batter, looking at the recipe on Shelly’s tablet for reference. “Looks like blood,” She remarked.

“Yeah,” Shelly snickered, “You always make such amazing treats, babe.”

“Thanks,” Venus blushed, “That’s why I called dibs,” She giggled with her. Once the batter was ready, she scooped it into the liners in even amounts, avoiding dripping as best she could. “Alright, and here we go.” She carefully stepped down from the stool, and put the pan in the oven, adjusting the timer for the red treats. During the 18 minutes, they took a break, and sat at the table. “What next after these?”

“Uh...” Shelly looked over the list of recipes they chose from, “The shortbread cookies go in at 375 degrees, so those next, and then the spritz cookies.” She let out a loud, playful huff. “Arceus,” She laughed, “We’re doing so much. Let’s get takeout for dinner tonight.”

“Good call,” Venus giggled.

After they had been baking for over an hour, they were done! They both flopped down in kitchen chairs next to each other, as the oven recovered from the use. “I’m tired,” The redhead laughed, “So much baking; everyone better enjoy these.”

“Yeah,” Venus agreed, “We still have decorating to do, for the cupcakes,” She couldn’t hide her smirk.

Shelly’s ruby eyes rolled back in exasperation, though still had a smile. “After dinner.”

“Deal.”

After eating tacos, and resting up, they returned to working. Shelly gathered the dot matrix icing decorations they picked out on the table, as Venus began working on icing colors, with tube bags close by. “I love these things,” Shelly remarked, “Have you ever had these?”

“Nope,” Venus shook her head, “My family used them, but I was never able to eat them... or the desserts they were on.”

“Ohh... I’m sorry, V. But today, that changes.”

“Yep,” She grinned through stirring thick, white frosting, “I can’t wait to try them.”

“Well, they’re very good.”

“I trust you on that.” She finished the frosting, and scooped it into the bag. “Okay, white’s done!”

“What colors are we using?”

“Uhh, white, red, green, and light blue.”

“Cool. If you need a break, let me know.”

“I’ll be fine.” Minutes later, when she was starting on the last color, her mixing arm started to ache, as evidenced by her grimace.

Without a word, Shelly walked up and took over in mixing. “Here, I got it. Rest your arm, V.”

“Thanks.” After receiving a kiss to her head, she sat at the table, resting her arm on the smooth dark wood, and admired the textured icing decorations under the clear plastic. She was tempted to sneak one, but her wife would surely bust her. “It’s the last color needed.”

“Okay. You did great on all these.”

“Thank you, Shell.”

The redhead finished mixing, scooped it in, and brought the bags to the table, where Venus and the cupcakes waited. “Once you’re all rested up, we’ll get started. And we’ll split the bowls in cleaning.”

“Yep.”

The girls went to work; they piped on frosting in different colors, leaving half bare for those wanting none, and added sprinkles and icing decorations to the frosted half. Venus sneaked one of the latter, though Shelly saw, and relished the sweet, sugary taste.

After some taste testing and a nice dinner, they sat on the couch in front of the TV, with The Nightmare Before Christmas playing in the background. “The treats are good, huh?”

“Definitely,” Shelly agreed, “You oughta run your own bakery; you’ve got a real gift.”

“Oh,” Venus giggled with out-of-character bashfulness, “I’m not that good.”

“Yes you are, V. They’re amazing.”

“Thanks, Shell. Hopefully,” A yawn cut her off, “Everyone will like them,” She finished, her voice deeper with fatigue.

Shelly brushed her soft, green hair from her sleepy face. “Everyone’s going to love them; I know it. You did a good job.”

“Thanks.” 

They ended the night with snuggles in bed, tired from the busy day.

🎅🎄⛄

December 24

“Venus, you ready?” Shelly called. “Everyone’s gonna be here soon!” They were hosting a party that day, reserving the 25th for family time; or in the couple’s case, alone time. Shelly wore a red velvet v-neck mini dress with long sleeves, a black lace-up waist belt, and a white faux fur lapel collar, and trimming on the hems. Matching were red and white striped knee-high socks with white faux fur cuffs, and a red buffalo plaid Santa hat with Mickey ears, and a matching plaid bow with snowflakes. She was holding another, matching hat with black in place of the usual white.

“Yep! Coming down!” Venus walked downstairs, now wearing a dark navy, slightly cropped sweater with a pair of Sawsbuck on the front, a green sequin Santa skirt, red buffalo plaid leggings with snowflakes, and black slipper socks, the left sole having “Naughty”, and the right having “Nice”, both in white. “Wow, you look amazing.”

“Thanks, so do you.” Shelly held out the hat. “I got this for you, when I got mine!” She eagerly put the hat on her head, pulling it down for good measure. “Aw, so cute!” She giggled.

Venus looked in the mirror, and smiled at her reflection. “Thanks, I love it. Now we’re matching!”

“Yep! Want to help me set the treats out?”

“Sure thing.”

A few minutes after they finished, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it!” Shelly ran to the door.

Before long, the party was in full swing. Venus’ friends from Team Rocket (Butch, Cassidy, Jessie, James, Meowth) had attended, while Shelly’s from Team Aqua (Archie, plus Maxie, and Matt) came as well. “These are amazing!” James gushed over one of the cupcakes. “I love red velvet!”

“Yeah, our little chef here makes beautiful masterpieces.” Shelly held a bashful Venus closer by her shoulders.

“Th-thanks, guys.”

James went to munch on the icing decoration on top, but a paw swiped it off. “Hey!” He glared at Meowth, who stood on a chair to reach.

Venus snickered, and grabbed a cupcake for herself. “Meowth, no stealing. We’re at a party.”

“Aw, fine,” He pouted.

“I’m glad you like the cupcakes, James.” She took the icing decoration off, and handed to him, keeping an eye on the talking cat.

“Thanks!” He popped it in his mouth, and beamed with joy at the taste.

-

“What are your plans tomorrow, Archie?” Shelly asked.

“Just some gift openin’ with Maxie. I got 'im a sweater to wear for then; if he refuses to wear it, I know how’ta convince him.”

“I bet you do,” She snickered, “That oughta be fun. Venus and I are going to do the same; I’m excited for then.”

“Me too.” Archie grabbed one of the tree-shaped spritz cookie, and smiled brightly. “Wow, that’s amazin’!”

“Isn’t it? Venus made all the treats; she’s so talented.” Shelly had one herself, resembling a snowflake. “Should she run her own bakery, she’d be very successful.”

“I hope she didn’t do all their decoratin’ by herself,” Archie teased her.

She snorted, and rolled her eyes with a smirk. “I helped her with decorating, smart-ass. And when her arms got tired from mixing. Although I can’t go near the oven when it’s on,” She giggled.

“Still forbidden from it after that accident, huh?”

“Yep.”

Archie laughed. “The little lass has ye wrapped around her finger.”

“I am not!” She laughed with him. “I’m the more dominant one in our relationship. She just gets protective; we both do, matter of fact. And even though she is tough and intimidating, I’m the luckiest girl in the world to be her wife.”

“Well, I’m happy fer ye, Shelly. I haven’t seen ye this happy since ye ladies tied the knot.”

“Thanks, Arch. She does make me very happy.” She jolted with a yelp when a pair of thin arms wrapped around her waist from the side, but laughed upon noticing it was Venus. Speak of the devil. “Arceus, babe,” She caught her breath, “You scared me.”

“Sorry,” Venus giggled, “I couldn’t help overhearing. And I think we’re tied, on being the luckiest girl.”

“Aww.” They shared a short kiss.

“Hey, save that for alone time, will ye?” Archie joked.

“Oh hush up,” Shelly laughed, “You and Maxie are no better, and you know it.”

“Yeah, you guys are worse,” Venus playfully retorted.

“Very funny, little girlie. I’m gonna find Maxie.”

“Little??” The Goth raised an eyebrow.

“See ya, ladies!” He ran off to find the male redhead in question.

Shelly giggled, and turned to Venus. “You can be scary.”

“When I want to be,” She smirked, before a sip of Coca Cola.

“Having fun?”

“Yep; more so now.” Venus sidled up to her.

“Same,” Shelly held her closer.

🎅🎄⛄

December 25

The couple’s Christmas together was less eventful, and more peaceful for them. Since they were alone, they stayed in their pajamas; Shelly in red Sawsbuck shorts, a Santa suit tank, teal green “Sleigh” and “What” fuzzy socks, and a pink Deerling sleep mask worn like a headband, and Venus in a black tank top with a red glittery bow on the front, red buffalo plaid shorts, matching fuzzy socks, red buffalo plaid scrunchie accented with snowflakes, and a Stantler sleep mask worn the same.

They exchanged gifts, had a nice dinner, and played movies. Shelly gave Venus a firm hug when the latter shed tears of joy; they were the first Christmas gifts she ever received. She was the same on her October birthday, when Shelly went all out to make it the best. 

In the present time, she fawned over a black lace-trimmed sundress printed with skulls. “When I saw it, I immediately thought of you.”

Venus smiled up at her. “Thanks, Shelly. I love it.”

“Well go ahead, my little Christmas angel, try it on!” She encouraged. Venus eagerly ran upstairs to their bedroom, changed out of her PJ’s, and into her new dress.

Shelly smiled widely when she came back downstairs. “Oh my gosh, you look adorable!” She gushed.

“Thanks,” She shyly turned her gaze to the floor, and sat back in her spot next to her.

“It’s the right size?”

Venus nodded. “It’s perfect; I love it. Uh, here’s a gift for you.”

“Thanks!” Shelly tore off the paper, opened the velvet box, and gasped. In the box rested a silver lavaliere necklace with four bows. “Oh V, this is gorgeous!”

“I, I know it’s not a like dress, but-” Venus was cut off with another hug.

“No self-deprecation, I love this. It’s so beautiful; I’ll treasure it forever.” Shelly initiated a kiss between them.

“Well, I’m glad you like it.” Venus helped put it around her neck, then snuggled up to her. “It looks great on you.”

“Thanks, V.”

That night, they crawled into bed together, back in their sleepwear, to rest up. “So, did you like your first Christmas?” Shelly asked, fondly playing with Venus’ hair.

“I did,” She nodded, “It really was the best.”

“I’m glad, V-V.”

She smiled up at her. “I’ll have to wear that dress for spring and summer dates.”

“Well, I’ll wear that necklace everyday.”

“I look forward to it. When I saw it in the store, I knew it was perfect.” Venus laid her head on Shelly’s shoulder. “It’s beautiful, but it’s got nothing on you, Shell.”

She blushed as red as her hair, and rested her cheek on her wife’s head. “You’re so sweet.”

“You are too.” Venus pecked her lips, then visibly slumped down, now not smiling.

“What’s wrong?”

She smirked sheepishly. “Just a little sad that Christmas is over.”

“Ah, okay. I kinda am too,” Shelly admitted, “But I hate seeing you sad, so I’ll help you turn that frown upside down.”

Venus' top teeth laid over her bottom lip with a grin of anticipation, as Shelly’s hands moved up her shirt. She thought they were going to get busy; but when she saw the devious grin on her face, her own quickly disappeared. That was clearly not the case. Her fingers wiggled like Spinarak legs against her sensitive sides, sending her into howling laughter in seconds. “Aah, Shelly!” She thrashed and squirmed in the bed, trying to hug herself. “St-stop it! I-hehehehe-I’m smiling now!”

“I love how ticklish you are, V; it’s adorable!” Shelly gushed.

“Oh yeah-hahaha?!” Venus taunted. “S-so are you!” She turned the tables around, and her small hands ravaged her armpits.

“Aack, Venahahahahahas!” Shelly burst into laughter. “Stop it!”

“Nohohoho!” Venus retorted.

After a few minutes, their playful tickle fight came to an end. They laid next to each other, panting and heaving through giggles to catch their breath. “I, I totally won that fight,” Shelly smirked.

Venus snickered. “You may had started it, but you sure as hell didn’t win.”

“Oh, that is Tauros-crap,” The redhead laughed, “You’re the most ticklish person I’ve ever met; Maxie’s a close second, according to Archie.” She laughed even harder when Venus gave her the akanbe gesture in response. “Yeah, that’s what I thought, little Missy. Okay, let’s get some sleep; come here.” She smiled when Venus gave her a cautious look. “I won’t tickle you anymore tonight, I promise. Come on.”

The Goth smiled, and scooted into her embrace. “Goodnight Shell, and Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, V-V.” Shelly kissed her head, “Goodnight, my angel.”

They both slept peacefully, recovering from the holiday excitement.

🎅🎄⛄

December 27

“Thank you for calling the Walt Disney Parks company. How can I help you?”

“Finally,” Venus muttered, “Hi, yeah, uh, what time do tickets for Christmas go on sale next year?” She nodded while listening to the answer, then wrote it down on a notepad. “Okay, thanks, you too.” She hung up.

“Venus, I’m home!”

She quickly stuffed the paper in her pocket, and played innocent. “Oh hey, Shelly!”

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Tagging @magma-queen​, aka @prismtowerprincess​, for the Hardenshipping references!

[roller-coaster-tycoon-classic-95]

Roller Coaster Tycoon Classic: Six Flags over Texas

I decided not to go in order, obviously, because I knew that if I did them in order I would lose interest and never get anything done. SFOT is an iconic park for me, and since I’ve been to this park in real life, I can tell you that the layout is hilariously wrong. Rides are closer to other rides than they should be, rides are missing, the park is much more compact than in real life, and there are many sections of this park I know existed in 2002 they just aren’t built in game.

I started this park by fixing the symmetry of the entrance square, things like that bother me, I’m never sure why parks in RCT are built so haphazardly. I moved the swinging ship in Spain to the side, added a circus, and added a train station to this area, making the total 3 train stations (2 felt too little). I did not touch La Vibora. The log flume had to be moved and rearranged a bit for pathway reasons, as there’s now a connecting path from Spain to Titan.

I lowered the station for Titan since the station previously was 30 feet high which is ridiculous, I reprofiled a lot of the ride too, adding some airtime hills. I redesigned the pathways and the area next to Titan, including it in a new area called Wild West. In Wild West there is a new mine train ride since the park wasn’t designed with the pre existing Runaway Mine Train, also a powered coaster called Rodeo.

In the center of the park I’ve moved the Splash Falls ride to the back (East) side of the park, replacing it with a wooden twister coaster called Lone Star. Texas Giant has no chances except for the pathways and the scenery around the station and the train station. I’ve kept the building for Runaway Mountain but thought it was too dramatic of a building for the ride inside it so I redesigned it to be an indoor-outdoor double launch coaster similar to Verbolten at Busch Gardens, with the outdoor section flying over the rapids ride. There was no space for the power towers in their current spot so I placed them in the area behind the Oil Derrick. Shockwave is unchanged.

I’ve made the lakeside to the east of the entrance more enticing and enjoyable, adding boat rides, a fountain, and several picnic areas. Next to Judge Roy Scream I’ve added an inverted shuttle coaster, themed loosely off of Adventurelands Dragon, because it also is between a wooden coaster and a lake. The entire area around Flashback and the Bumper Cars is redesigned to have more of an old park theme, Missile Chaser has been moved here.

The lake where Missile Chaser was has been turned into a normal lake, next to it is a pair of very familiar coasters, a blue launched shuttle coaster called Frostbite and next to that a yellow inverted coaster called Longhorn. Wink wink. They’re a little too iconic as a pair not to at least give a nudge. I filled in the rest of the open area beyond bumper cars with a water coaster themed to medieval Merlin, a few flat rides, and the moved Splash Falls.

Overall this park was super easy, especially since there were fewer rides than SFMM, I made money much faster than SFMM too. This park only took about 20 years to complete. A lot of the existing coasters were built to my standard in this park, so I’ve mainly adjusted only pathways and the areas around these coasters, creating a perfect balance of old and new. I finished SFOT with 42 rides including 14 coasters.

[playtecequipment]

10 Tips for Buying Quality Playground Equipment Parts

Navigating the market of outdoor recreational equipment components can be a challenging task, especially when aiming to balance quality, safety, and budget. Whether you're outfitting a local park, a schoolyard, or a community centre, understanding the nuances of selecting the right commercial indoor playground parts is crucial.

The importance of choosing high-quality parts for recreational spaces cannot be overstated. These components not only determine the durability and longevity of the equipment but also directly impact the safety and enjoyment of those who use them. With numerous options available, it becomes essential to know what to look for and what to avoid.

This comprehensive guide aims to streamline your playground parts purchasing process, ensuring you make informed decisions that will stand the test of time and use.

Prioritise Safety Standards

Safety should always be your top priority. Look for parts that meet or exceed relevant safety standards and regulations. Check for certifications from recognized safety organisations. Ensure that the components are designed to minimise risks like pinching, entrapment, or sharp edges.

Consider the Material's Durability

The longevity of equipment parts largely depends on the materials used. Opt for materials that are weather-resistant and can withstand heavy usage. Galvanised steel, high-density polyethylene, and aluminium are popular choices for their durability and resistance to corrosion.

Evaluate Manufacturer Reputation

Research the manufacturers thoroughly. Established companies with a good track record are more likely to provide high-quality parts. Read reviews, ask for references, and consider their history in the industry.

Assess Age Appropriateness

The parts you choose should be appropriate for the age group that will use the equipment. Different age groups have different needs and abilities, so it's essential to select parts that are suitable and safe for the intended users.

Check for Customization Options

Customization can greatly enhance the functionality and appeal of outdoor equipment. Look for suppliers who offer custom parts that can cater to specific needs or themes, adding a unique touch to your project.

Understand the Maintenance Requirements

Maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity of equipment parts. Choose parts that are easy to clean and maintain. Low-maintenance parts will save time and money in the long run.

Ensure Compatibility with Existing Structures

If you're adding to or replacing parts of existing structures, ensure that the new parts are compatible. This not only concerns physical dimensions but also the structural integrity and overall design aesthetic.

Consider the Warranty and Support

A robust warranty and reliable customer support are indicators of quality. They provide peace of mind and assurance that you can get help if issues arise.

Factor in Installation Requirements

Some parts may require professional installation. Consider the complexity and cost of installation when making your selection. It’s often worth investing in parts that are easier to install to reduce overall costs.

Balance Cost and Quality

While budget constraints are real, it's important not to compromise on quality. Investing in high-quality parts can be cost-effective in the long run, as they are less likely to need frequent repairs or replacements.

Investing in high-quality parts for outdoor recreational equipment is a decision that yields long-term benefits. It ensures safety, enhances user experience, and contributes to the overall appeal of the space. By following the tips that are listed above, you can make informed decisions that align with your objectives and the needs of your community.

Remember, the key is to strike a balance between quality, safety, and budget. It's not just about making a purchase; it's about creating an environment that fosters joy, health, and community engagement. As you embark on this journey, keep in mind that each choice you make has a profound impact on the experiences of those who will use these spaces. Let these tips be your guide to creating safe, enjoyable, and durable recreational areas for years to come.

If you have questions or need more information about the topic discussed in this guide, please feel free to get in touch with a reputable service provider near you to get professional advice.