#i did see one where the start time was 10am and it went until like 6pm but it was really far away and i wasn't qualified

[guinevereslancelot]

my worst trait is the need to get 12 hours of sleep every night. if i have to get up at 6am well i should be in bed by 6pm. combine this with my natural inclination to stay up really late and you get me waking up past noon because i was up past midnight. if there is no external force like school or a job keeping me on my early bedtime schedule i will revert to sleeping til noon within a few days

[buglord-isaac]

Life Model - Part 1

Four weeks off sounded like a living nightmare for Ghost. Training and fighting was what kept him in routine and out of destructive thoughts. But… being shot in the leg did cause… issues. For his time healing, he had to walk with a crutch under his right arm, so he didn’t put weight on his injured right leg. Price had forced him to take those four weeks off, and had sent him to a paid-for apartment in a nearby city. Surely, he must’ve thought, Ghost would find *something* to do in a city.

No.

For the first week, he sulked in his room, laying in bed until he eventually went stir crazy and started exploring the surrounds. Coincidentally, that week of sulking and not moving did wonders for his leg. Sure, he wasn’t able to walk on it yet, but it was a whole lot less achy when he was out walking.

He started by establishing a walking route. This apartment he was forced to stay in was in the outskirts of the city. It would take an hour to walk to the city centre and an hour back. This was what Ghost decided to do. An hour to the city centre, buy food, go back ‘home’, eat, go walking in the nearby park.

This new ‘schedule’ turned out… rather good. The walking made him feel more useful. Less stir crazy. He was able to soak in the sun, or what warmth from the sun seeped through his jumper and mask. It was refreshing.

On the third day of these walks, Ghost noticed a community noticeboard full to the brim with papers advertising jobs, sales, events, and various religious preachings. Maybe here would be where he would find something *entertaining* to do.

“Group Prayer” - no thanks. Ghost didn’t particularly believe in that mumbo jumbo.

“Join the army!” - been there done that.

“Markets on Sunday morning! 6am!” - he’d consider it. Markets always had the best food.

He flicked through some of the notes until he found a hand written one pinned up with two blue pins. The penmanship was phenomenal.

“In need of life models to draw. Quiet environment. Music or no music. Any body shape, any gender, any clothing choices. Text me:”

This… wasn’t something that would usually interest Ghost. But today, after being cooped up in an apartment for months… it piqued his interest. He took a photo of a few of the notices, then made his way back to the apartment. He had bought a few food items that he could store and eat, as well as some fancy looking tea to drink while doing mundane and brain numbing shit such as reading a book Price had given him.

He made a cup of said tea, no sugar and no milk, he was sweet enough already (he lied to himself), and sat down at the tiny dining table. Here, he could write the dates of some of the interesting events from that noticeboard. When he got to the life drawing advertisement, however, he put down his pen and journal and texted the number.

He was acting on a whim and he knew it, but this would surely be more interesting than staying home.

“I saw your notice in the city. I think I would be interested in being drawn.”

The number responded almost immediately.

“Nice!! When are you free? :)”

Emoticons… stupid.

“Any time. The sooner the better.”

“Oh sweet :) tomorrow? I live about half an hour away from the city.”

“Time?”

“Any time in the morning, then we can have all day. Sound good?”

“Yes.”

“Cool!” The number sent their address. “I’m Johnny, by the way.”

“Ghost. I’ll try to come around 10:00AM.”

“Sounds perfect, see you then :)”

Tomorrow, 10am… with this overly friendly man named Johnny who he’s never met… fun. Ghost sipped his tea and sighed. Hopefully he wouldn’t mind him having a mask on and crutches. He *had* said anyone could be drawn. And yet… he felt as if he had to warn him.

“By the way, I’m a military officer on a break because I’m injured. I have a crutch and I will be masked the whole time. Is that okay?”

“Perfectly fine. I like variety.”

Johnny responded so fast…

[silentcartoonist2018]

CU Epilogue AU Chapter 2-The Red Ring

Chapter 2-The Red Ring

Mr. Krupp was tired.

He ended up getting home late at around 10pm and woke up at around 9am. The alarm on his potato alarm clock ended up completely broken. Hours were spent looking for an ideal gift for Edith on his smartphone, but all were in vain. Sadly, it wasn’t like he was able to play hooky. Otherwise, he would be spending the day going into town, shopping for a gift. 

Mr. Krupp ended up skipping his inbox and headed straight for his office where he sat on his chair and slammed his head down on the desk. Reid had been waiting in the office the whole time reading her little book with a custom trident cover. 

“Late again, I see?” She said, “You took so long I ended up having my third cup of decaf.”

“Yeah…”

“You look tired…again,” said Reid, examining the principal up and down.

“Well I wouldn’t be so tired if I wasn’t drinking decaf!” He shouted. “Is that stupid coffee maker fixed yet?”

“Still undergoing maintenance.”

“Then did you at least bring me instant coffee that’s actually regular??”

“Sorry, that’s all the coffee for today. You’d have to make a new carafe” 

Mr. Krupp raised his head. “Oh yeah, I brought th’potato clock for ya t’fix. Can ya do me a solid?”

“Um…Of course.” Reid cleared her throat and took the clock. The potato looked about three times the size of a regular potato and it actually took two hands for her to pick it up. 

“Thanks, Reid,” Krupp mumbled.

“Yeah, well, as stimulating as this conversation is, I have work to do and it looks like you have sleep to cut into your responsibilities, so I’m gonna go…bye!”

Mr. Krupp didn’t notice Reid leave, his eyelids growing heavier by the second. Just as soon as he was about to pass out… WHAM! His head hit the desk, violently waking him up.

Grumbling angrily to himself, he got up and stomped his way towards the teacher’s lounge where he passed by Mr. Meaner and Ms. Ribble. There was a strong aroma of coffee in the air, he had hoped it meant that somebody made more coffee and used regular coffee grounds. It was up until he overheard Mr. Meaner and Ms. Ribble that he knew that the smell was a trap.

“For being a sixth grader, Reid’s quite the coffee yeah-yeah-yeah connoisseur.” Said Mr. Meaner

“I know!” Exclaimed Ms. Ribble. “I’ve never seen such a large variety of decaf!”

Mr. Krupp didn’t exactly get the whole hype around everybody switching to decaf. He just wanted something regular to wake him up. As he scrounged about the coffee cabinet all he could find was Arabica Decaf, Columbia Decaf, Incredibly Expensive Blue Mountain Decaf, Breakfast Blend Decaf, Lunch Blend Decaf, Hot Cocoa, Lavender Tea…

“Why isn’t there any regular coffee?” Mr. Krupp whined.

“There’s Instant Avocado Tea in the back of the cupboard,” said Ms. Ribble. 

“Does it have enough caffeine to wake me up?” 

“I don’t think there’s caffeine in yeah-yeah-yeah avocados,” said Mr. Meaner.

“Then why was it invented in the first place?” 

Nobody knows.

…………………………….

The bell rang for the end of First Period. Students were frantically scrambling about to get to their next class especially with Mr. Krupp patrolling the halls. There was something different about him. Everybody did notice that he was dragging his feet slightly, but they were too afraid of his particularly grumpy expression to let their guard down. 

Even though it was just about to be 10am, Mr. Krupp was just about done with his day.

He suddenly noticed a glint in the corner of his eye.

A ring.

A red ring. In the middle of the hallway.

A lightbulb went off and his heart started to beat faster. 

Maybe…just maybe…could it be….

Before he could finish the thought, Krupp quickly cupped the ring in his hands as he saw one student—he couldn’t tell who—peek out the classroom. A quick scowl managed to scare them away.

As soon as he was alone again, Krupp made a run for it into his office and slammed the door behind him.

His heart was pounding. This ring was clearly a sign. A sign that it was time to level up his relationship…

From the date-zone….into the engagement-zone. (He’s positive that the current generation is using that term but isn’t quite sure…)

He was smiling so hard that his cheeks almost started to cramp up. He was so giddy that he couldn’t stop jumping around in his office and not garner attention from Ms. Anthrope. His chair wouldn’t stop squeaking from the sheer amount of times he spun himself on it.

He could almost foresee himself and Edith signing the wedding papers at Town Hall.

But then he slapped himself and took a deep breath to calm himself down. This was WAY too good to be true.

On one hand, it’s a bit too early, isn’t it? This ought to be something best saved for the big Fifth Anniversary next year, right? It’s only a year away, after all. But on the other hand, his relationship may as well be down the toilet if nothing changes soon. Edith is bound to be equally as thrilled as he felt when he found the ring. So this is his big chance to change things up! So what if he’s unprepared to commit to this? His relationship is on the line! This was the big break he was looking for!

Then again this ring in particular was too small to fit on her finger. And getting a proper, pricey engagement ring within the day on the budget he has may be next to impossible to obtain. What if she said ‘no’? That would be hundreds of dollars wasted.

Then again—-

“Principal Krupp?”

“AAHH!!” Krupp exclaimed, accidentally throwing the ring in the air, not noticing where it went.

Edith had stopped by the office again.

“Edith! You…you came here early.” He said, quickly as he looked around the room searching for the ring. 

“I actually came in earlier, but you weren’t here. Then I heard you probably overslept.”

“Just a fluke, won’t happen again” he poked his head up from looking in the file cabinets.

“Oh, thank goodness. I almost thought you were sick or somethin’. But look at you, all excited and everything.”

“Y-yeah me too!” Krupp’s answer didn’t quite make any sense, but Edith brushed it off.

“Actually,” Edith pipped in. “You look kinda busy. I’ll come by later with some avocado toast!”

Krupp screeched to a halt and walked up to her. “Do you by any chance have it now?” He asked with anticipation.

Edith pulled out a brown bag with Krupp’s name on it. “You know me!”

Krupp graciously accepted the bag with even greater anticipation and pulled out a toast slathered with his beloved guacamole. It even had a sunny side egg on top of it! 

“It’s the least I can do since you’re the one who made the reservation for the restaurant.”

Krupp stopped before eating the first bite of his toast and started sweating again. Oh yeah! The reservations! He thought.

Krupp immediately started ushering Edith out the door. “Well, I guess we oughta get some of our work done. I got soooo many phone calls to make today!”

“R-right!” Edith answered promptly while exiting the door.. “I-I’ll leave you to it! See ya later!”

The door slammed shut, and Krupp let out a sigh. 

“GAAHH! HOW COULD I FORGET TO MAKE THE RESERVATIONS!!” He shouted as he quickly ran to his desk and dialed the number for It’s Amore!

“H-hello? I’d like to make a reservation for tonight. Yes around 6?”

He then sat down on his chair, where suddenly…

*CRUNCH!*

Mr. Krupp jumped up in the air and looked back at his seat. It was the ring. He abruptly dropped the phone back onto the receiver and examined his ring from all sides. There was a slight crack at the top and noticed the sides had barely legible letters that he couldn’t make out.

“Oh good, it’s not that broken” He sighed in relief. At least it’s just a substitute and not the real thing.

Upon closer examination, he noticed there was something oddly familiar about this ring. 

No.

He might have seen this exact one before, ages ago, but he can’t remember when. He could have seen it on a cereal box or inside a capsule toy dispenser. Or it could be one of those superhero rings they sell at comic book stores (not that he knows for sure).

Mr. Krupp looked intensely at the top of the unfortunately cracked face. But he couldn’t quite remember when he last saw a little red ring like this.

He ended up gripping the ring a bit tighter until…

*CLICK*

The ring’s spiral started to move and emit sparks.

Startled, Krupp threw the ring away. The ring bounced once with a CLACK and then started to hover above his desk, slowly orienting its face towards Krupp’s eyes, and finally fired a big red flash.

Krupp reflexively covered his eyes but they were still stinging from having seen something so bright. As he reopened his eyes, he saw that the ring was projecting a sort of glowing red, wobbly, spiral cone at him. 

“Ok, so this toy has a gimmick,” the principal thought out loud. “Kinda weird, but no biggie. I just got to…”

Krupp rubbed his eyes again and realized that his whole office was melting away. The door. The cactus plant he placed on a shelf in the far corner. His accolades on the wall, even the clock on the wall behind him.

He then noticed that his desk was sinking into the floor and with a step backward, Mr. Krupp realized his foot was stuck in something like quicksand. He struggled to get out, but he kept sinking even faster. He reached out to his desk and clung on for his life hoping to stay afloat.

Above his head was the ring, still projecting the spiral at him. Mr. Krupp instinctively figured that this whole fiasco is happening because of this stupid toy. So he tried to grab it.

But he kept missing. Again and again. Krupp couldn’t tell where the ring was even though he was staring right at it. Again and again, his hand kept missing the ring as he felt like he was swiping right through it. He was starting to feel dizzy and even more drowsy at the same time. Again and again, he cried for help from Ms. Anthrope only to realize that he couldn’t hear his own voice. Again and again and again, the ring remained out of reach. Still he tried clawing at the air, hoping that everything was a nightmare, even as everything faded to black.

………………..

He didn’t realize this, but this whole mess actually had been a dream, right from when the ring first flashed into his eyes. 

[anonsally]

Day 7 of family vacation

The trip did not end exactly as expected. We were supposed to be out of the vacation rental by 11am sharp. So I set my alarm for 7:30am, even though I only got to bed after 1am.

However, sometime around 10am we got a call from the gatehouse letting us know that if we did not leave more or less immediately, we would be trapped for a few hours as the water was rising and would flood the road!

We were told that if we could leave quickly, it would be okay to not strip the beds, etc. And otherwise (if we couldn't leave that fast), we would be allowed to stay in the house until the gate was reopened.

I didn't want to drive home in the dark, so we frantically tried to pack everything up and get it into the car, and Wife and I left--the others were still loading their cars. I drove through a large deep puddle that was perhaps not the best idea, but we made it through safely and got on the road leading to the exit gate. The river had risen dramatically and in some areas was starting to cover one lane of the road; so it wasn't a big surprise to find, when we reached the gate, that it was already shut because the (only) road leading from there back to the highway was currently flooded out. The woman there said that it would probably go down by about 2pm and we'd be able to leave then.

So, we drove back to the house. The beach was closed, but we crossed the street and went up the stairs to look at the ocean. The waves were intense, and some of them were actually getting so high on the beach that they were crashing up against the stairs leading down to the beach from where we were watching. Eek!

I went inside and played Blokus with Sister-in-law (there hadn't been time the previous night, as there were other games happening), and lost again.

Then my parents and I went for a bird walk along the river. We saw a bunch of good birds, including a Say's phoebe, a black phoebe, a belted kingfisher, some western meadowlarks, a pair of savannah sparrows (I think? they looked like streaky-fronted sparrows but with yellow on the head--on one of them, the whole head seemed to have a yellow wash to it) [EDIT: most likely guess is that these were actually house finches that, for diet-related reasons, ended up yellow instead of red.], coots, buffleheads, greater yellowlegs, a goldeneye, mallards, and a bird of prey I couldn't identify. I guess the most likely thing is a dark-morph red-tailed hawk, but it seemed small for that. @lies, does that description fit any other kind of raptor?

Around 12:20, Wife phoned from the house to let us know that we'd been informed that the gate had now been reopened and it was safe to leave. So we returned to the house and helped finish the final cleanup, and set off to drive home. I drove the whole way without stopping, and the cats were happy to see us when we arrived. (Also, the new furnace heated up the house very quickly! yay!)

[lucy90712]

Pecco Bagnaia- I do

It feels like just yesterday that Pecco and I got engaged but in reality it's been over 6 months, the day was just perfect because Pecco had gone all out to make it a special day which he did very well. I often think back to that day and remember the twinkle in Pecco's eyes as he asked me to marry him and the smile he had on his face when I said yes and he put the ring on my finger, it's such a fond memory that I hope to never forget even as I get older. That being said since there has been a lot of stress in trying to plan our wedding because Pecco is often away so we only have limited time to actually go and look around venues and organise vendors which has meant that I've been handling most things while he's away but we always talk through FaceTime before making any final decisions.

Although it's been a lot of work the last few months things are coming together so I can do the things I'm really excited about like finding a dress. I have been to a few dress shops but none of the dresses I tried seemed right even if they were really pretty they just weren't what I had pictured in my mind for my wedding dress. Today seeing as its a Saturday and Pecco is at a race me and a few friends are all going to go dress shopping and as I'm the first friend in the group to get married everyone is very excited probably more excited than I am. They have been sending me pictures for the last week and even all woke me up incredibly early this morning by sending pictures back and forth on our group chat which I tried to ignore but I was well and truly awake so I just got up. The plan was to go in the afternoon but at just after 10am there was pounding in the door despite the fact there is a doorbell right there that scared the life out of me but when I answered it it was just my friends who practically dragged me out the door after letting me grab my keys and shoes.

When we arrived in the nearest city they dragged me through the streets until we got to a small boutique that had some incredibly fancy dresses in the window which were at all my style but they still made me go in just to look around. As soon as we entered a worker came up to us and asked me all sorts of questions about what I was looking for before showing me to a section of dresses that matched the description I gave. There was so many pretty dresses but most of them just weren't my style but there was a few I liked so I picked them out to try them on and my friends picked a few that they wanted to see me in and the worker picked one she thought would suit me.

Trying on the dresses was actually quite disappointing as all the ones I thought would look good just didn't and even the one the worker picked just didn't seem to suit me, it's frustrating because all I want is a dress that I love but all of the ones I try just look awful on me to the point that I'm starting to wonder if I'll even find a dress in time. The last dress I went to try on was one that I picked because I thought it looked nice even though I was convinced it wouldn't suit me but as soon as I looked in the mirror I fell in love. The dress itself was fitted right until my knees where it flowed into a beautiful lace train, at the top the neckline was kind of deep but not too revealing and there was little sleeves with the same lace that covered the rest of the dress which looked like leaves and flowers. Looking at myself in the mirror I almost let a few tears slip down my face as I pictured myself marrying Pecco in the dress which is how I knew it was the one. I still wanted to show my friends just to get their opinion and as soon as I walked out to where they were stood they all loved it and said it was the best one I'd tried on.

I tried the dress on with a veil and everything before getting all my measurements taken so that the dress could be altered to fit me perfectly even though it already fit quite well it just needed to be made a bit shorter. Of course I had to take a million pictures first to send to my family who have been dying to see what I picked out and to keep as memories, Pecco has also been begging me to send him pictures of the wedding dresses I try but I refuse because I want to wait until the day for him to see the dress although it is hard to keep it a secret when I usually tell him everything. Leaving the store I was overwhelmed with happiness thinking about the fact that this wedding was really going to happen and I was going to marry Pecco in the most beautiful dress I've ever seen that I almost forgot about everything else thats left to organise.

~~~~~~~~~~

Finally it's the big day after 10 months of organising things it's officially the day that me and Pecco are getting married. We spent the afternoon yesterday traveling the few hours to the venue we picked but after having dinner we haven't seen each other as I had to be up earlier to get ready and I still didn't want him to see my dress so I decided to stay with my best friend in a room together. She woke me up quite early so we could head to the venue with the rest of my bridesmaids to start getting ready and just to oversee everything even though my friend is kind of in charge of all that as she's a wedding planner but I just wanted to be there in case of an emergency. The whole car ride I was so exited to see the venue again with things set up as when me and Pecco went to look at it the place was empty but it had the exact vibes we were going for and had such potential that we had to choose it but it will be cool to see it decked out in everything we chose. As we walked through the reception area they were setting up the tables and the decorations on them which looked so much better in real life than I could have ever imagined.

Time went by so quickly and before I knew it my hair and makeup were done and it was time for me to get my dress on which I haven't seen since my last fitting which wasn't that long after I brought it so I'm quite nervous that it won't fit right as it's been a few months since then. The train if the dress was is so long that I needed 5 friends to hold it to allow me to even step in the dress then more people were needed to help do up all the buttons at the back which took a while but when it was done I felt really good as the dress felt like it fit perfectly. I had help putting my heels on before I got to look at myself in the mirror, I was shocked by my own appearance when I got a glimpse of myself because I've never looked this good in my life which I suppose it a good thing seeing as it's my wedding day. The dress fit me perfectly but wasn't tight to the point that I wouldn't be able to eat anything and my hair and makeup were done to perfection in a way that made my features really stand out in the best way possible.

Once everyone was ready we still had a few minutes before the ceremony started and even then I had a few more minutes before I had to walk down the aisle and as much as I was really excited to get married I was also really nervous for many reasons but mostly that Pecco would get cold feet and leave me at the alter. I know its stupid to think that way because we talked so much about marriage before we got engaged and Pecco has been so excited for this day for months so there is no reason that he would leave me but you never know what will happen on the day. My mind quickly went through all the negative thoughts and then straight to thinking about all the jokes me and Pecco had made about being stuck with each other once we are married but they always end with us saying how we can't wait for that day so I know he will be just as excited as I am waiting for me at the alter.

Before I knew it the time came for me to walk down the aisle and my dad came over to walk with me, he gave me a quick smile and squeezed my arm before putting his arm though mine as we walked into the building through the doors allowing me to see inside for the first time. Music was playing as I took a quick glance at all of mine and Pecco's family and friends standing as I walked in but my gaze quickly turned to Pecco himself so was stood at the alter where I had hoped he would be. The rest of the walk I stared into his eyes and the closer I got the more evident the tears coming down his face were which made me want to cry but I held off as best I could as not to ruin my makeup yet but it definitely wasn't going to last too much longer. When I got the the aisle my dad let go of my arm and Pecco took my hands for a second before letting go which I used as an opportunity to wipe his cheeks before the officiant started the ceremony officially. The ceremony itself didn't interest me too much but I followed along just waiting for it to be over and soon enough the time came where we got to say our vows and I had spent ages writing mine so I was ready to say them but Pecco was first.

"Y/n being here with you is really like a dream come true the minute we met I knew there was something special about you and by the end of our first date I knew we were meant to spend the rest of our lives together. From them I always told myself I would take care of you and love you with everything I have and now that we're getting married that isn't going to change in fact I'll do my best to love you even more and I promise that I'll me there for you whenever you need me and even when you think you don't because we're in this together now" he said struggling to say some words because he was holding back tears

"Getting married is something I've thought about since I was little and I've had an image of what that day would look like in my head for years but one thing that was never there was the person I'd be marrying that was until I met you since then it was clear to me that you were the only one I'd ever want to share this dream with. My life only feels complete when you are here to the point that I'm not myself when you are away because its like an important part of me is missing thats how much you mean to me and how much I love you Pecco. Spending the rest of our lives together is about the only way life could get any better which is why I'm over the moon to be stood here and getting to call you my husband" I said well and truly in tears after Pecco's vows

We were both in floods of tears but the time we had finished our vows and the not crying had completely gone out the window but when I saw a few other people in the audience crying too it made me feel less like a sappy mess. The ceremony continued but me and Pecco were barely paying attention as we were staring into each other's eyes as well as wiping the tears that ran down our faces.

"You may now kiss the bride" the officiant announced

Pretty much instantly his lips collided with mine in the most passionate kiss we have ever shared as his arms went around my waist and mine around his neck. After a few moments we pulled away and I quickly pecked his lips again before we walked back down the aisle and out the doors where I finally felt like I could breathe so I let out a sigh, Pecco must have felt the same as I heard him do the same which made us look at each other and laugh at how we had clearly been holding our breath more than we knew. The rest of our guests walked out as we stopped laughing along with the photographer ready to take pictures which is something I wasn't looking forward to too much as I don't really like being in front of a camera or posing but if there was any day to do it it would be today. We posed for photos with families and friends as well as the entire wedding party before we started to do pictures of just the two of us that I was convinced would be awkward but Pecco kept making me laugh and I completely forgot about the fact there was a camera in front of us.

Soon enough we were done with the staged photos and were allowed into the reception but first I put on some flat shoes as not to hurt myself by wearing heels all day. When we walked into the room it was just spectacular everything was set out perfectly and there was even things that I don't remember adding in, there were little glass bowls with little decorations in themand in mine and Pecco's places there were little heart decors with writing on that I couldn't read at a distance. Pecco had hold of my hand and led me over to our families who were talking to each other so that we could talk to them and right away they congratulated us and complimented the decor which I thanked them for but I wasn't responsible for some parts of it. We talked with them for a while before going round and talking to all the other guests to thank them for coming and just to talk to them as some we haven't seen for a long time but eventually we had made it around everyone and got to go and sit down for a moment to be together.

"You look beautiful in that dress" Pecco complimented as we sat down together

"Thank you you look great in this suit too" I said

"I can't believe how good everything looks when we were planning it I never thought it would come together like this " he commented

"I know it looks so great but I don't remember deciding on half this stuff like when did we add those flowers and the table decors?" I ask wanting to try and jog my memory or work out that we didn't plan it and that I wasn't crazy

"We didn't but I did" he replied

"What?" I questioned still very confused

"Well you were really stressed about all of the wedding planning and like getting all the big things organised so I thought I could set up some little things that you'd enjoy on the day plus it was actually really fun and I enjoyed getting everything together to surprise you" he explained

"Aww Pecco thats so sweet of you you did a wonderful job too" I said

We talked a little more before everyone sat down to eat and then people began to make toasts which I was dreading because I knew my friends would embarrass me but to my surprise they were all very sweet and talked about nice memories which I was very thankful for. Pecco's friends whoever weren't so nice and they told stories from the time before we were together when he used to do stupid things in front of me while trying to impress me which I do remember but to hear it from their point of view was funny. Me and Pecco then made toasts to each other which were a little boring as we hadn't prepared anything outside of our vows but no one seemed to notice.

The rest of the evening went by pretty quickly but we had a great time facing and talking with family although we both just wanted to get out of there towards the end so we could have some time alone. Late in the evening people began to leave and Pecco seemed to take that as our chance to get away too as he grabbed my hand and pulled me out to the car taking us back to the hotel. Once at the hotel he helped me out the car and then just picked me up over his shoulder and carried me up to our room where he put me down in the bed and grabbed his phone and began to play our favourite song. He pulled me up and put his hands on my waist while I put my arms around his neck as we swayed back and forth to the music although that didn't last too long as he started to kiss me and the music was quickly forgotten about when we got into bed to spent the night together.

[heymeowmao]

2022.08.12 - https://weibo.com/l/wblive/p/show/1022:2321324801729421246826

I’m a little sleepy, so I’ll only stream for a little while~~~~

LYN: Hallo everybody and good night. I am Modern Brothers’ Liu Yuning. Welcome. LYN: It’s been a long time my friends.

C: Why don’t you follow the celebs back? LYN: Did someone start following me? I don’t know, I don’t really check. Can you tell me who it was? So I can follow them back, otherwise it’ll look like I’m being ignorant. C: Ning-ge, I’m following you. LYN: What are you telling me for? Am I at the level where you need to announce even that?

LYN: I haven’t streamed for a long time- it’s been about ten days. The reason is because the crew is being good to me and they and Tao-jie have been working hard and running long days in order to get me out sooner. We’ve been shooting a lot, until very late in the night. Today we wrapped up a bit early so I decided to come stream. LYN: I really am very tired sleepy today though, so please understand if I’m not as “happy” as normal. Don’t misunderstand it as me being in a bad mood either- nothing’s going on, I’m just tired. I haven’t been sleeping very much lately. This drama is wrapping up soon and I’ll be entering into the next one, so I don’t know when the next time I’ll get to stream is. Today I wrapped early so I decided to persevere and stream a little.

- /Ning-ge has been speaking relatively softly, for him/ C: What’s wrong? Do you have a sore throat? LYN: No, it’s because I was filming a lot earlier. I needed to shout. /makes a sudden shouting exclamation/.

C: Do you have to shoot tomorrow? LYN: Don’t ask. Should I ask for a schedule from the director and send it to you? What do you need to know for??  C: Ning-ge’s shooting a brand spokesperson thing tomorrow. LYN: How do you know everything?! Is there a hidden camera installed in my room or what? It feels like I’m being watched. C: Your studio announced it. LYN: Oh. - C: Why are you so mean today? :c LYN: Stop pretending to be cute. There might be new fans and just passersby who are watching my stream and think that I’m mean when in reality I’m just a fool. This is just the way I stream. I like to joke around and backtalk my fans. I used to be a lot meaner, and didn’t have a filter. You can look up videos online. I’m actually a lot more tame now, because I'm afraid of being evil-edited. As my age grew my IQ had to grow, too. 

C: Ning-ge, your eyebrows look a little weird today. LYN: YOU look weird! What do you mean they look weird? I went with my mom and they gave the second eyebrow half-off (referencing a previous stream)! I’m joking though, please don’t spread that around. - abs are coming at the end of the year. he’s working on them, so don’t rush. C: Next time you do your eyebrows, call me. LYN: LOL. I’m a bit weird in that my eyebrows are pretty thick but I can’t grow eyelashes- isn’t that strange? Usually if your eyebrows and arm hairs, or body hair in general is thick, then your eyelashes will grow long, too. My arm hairs aren’t too thick/long... my eyebrows are just unusually thick.  C: You have a lot of leg hair too. LYN: Let’s move the focus upwards. Arms are okay, legs are... not so much. LYN: Forget about my leg hairs, sometimes I think about waxing my facial hair. Sometimes when I’m shooting something you’ll notice that I’m clean-shaven in the beginning and then later you can see my facial hair as clear as day. I saw a comment that read, “Look, Ning-ge’s so tired his beard has come out.” Usually when I shoot a drama I bring a razor. We’ll start at around 10am but then in the late afternoon at around 5p I’ll have to shave again. But it’s not convenient to just use the razor without the shaving cream, so I’ll have an electric one and just have a run around my face.

C: I just finished watching Hot-Blooded Youth. LYN: Are you a fan of HZT??

C: Talk about The Oasis. LYN: I’ll wait for the episode to air first, because I know my fans will go to check it out. :) I only have one opportunity a year to participate in a variety show, but even so I don’t really have a space to show my strengths. I need to do better. Honestly, my fans know that I rarely shoot variety shows- and it’s not because I think too highly of myself or anything, I like them and they’re fun. It’s just that I don’t really have the time. Right now I’m spending my time focusing on my acting and my music, and it’s enough to keep me busy. The fact that I was able to get a “residency” in a variety show is already fulfilling enough for this year.

C: Where’s The Truth’s QR code? [t/n: BC in a pre-show interview, LYN said he would get 90% accuracy rate on the cases, but his actual accuracy was more around 67% in the end. He lost the bet so the show gave him two QR code acrylic stands to promote the show on his stream.) LYN: People know I used to do streaming, and even while I learned other professions, I’m still more of a pro in this field. I’m better than most artists at this (streaming) only because I’ve been doing it for a long time already. It’s been seven years. The thing is no matter what industry you’re in, there are always certain habits/manners you pick up. Just like when I was a waiter in the customer service- I developed a habit of directing the way with my hand and not just a finger. When you drop something, it’s the same- you’re going to crouch for it, and not bend at the waist and stick your butt out. It’s an “occupational disease” that I learned. People who are watching my stream and work or have worked in customer service know what I’m talking about. There are certain manners you have to adhere to. LYN: For streaming, one of the rules is that it’s better not to have any QR codes or things of the like. Why? I think it’s unprofessional. Imagine if I’m promoting some sort of code and it turns out to be a scam? All my viewers would fall victim. That’s why I don’t have any codes while streaming. Otherwise, I would just hold up my own WeChat QR code for you to scan (and send me money) and I’d be rich. But if you stream, you’re not allowed to show any sort of code like that.  LYN: But, I did keep my promise to the show! Because whenever I stream I have talked about The Truth for at least five minutes each time. More than five minutes, even. I told them I wouldn’t be able to show the code, but I WOULD make sure that everyone who watches my stream knows about the show called The Truth.

C: 寻一个你 (Searching for You) [Love Between Devil and Fairy OST] LYN: What song is that? XD LYN: Wait a bit. I’m a little tired today, but I’ll see if I can pull it off. C: You have too many songs, you can’t think of it? LYN: I was joking; It was on purpose! How would I NOT know when it’s my own song?

C: Ning-ge, are you going to Gansu? LYN: The last time I streamed I might have mentioned that my next drama starts off in Ningxia- I think that’s what I said. And then... a lot of my friends seem to have connections in many places. Which means.. they were able to find out my flight information. You must not be watching The Truth, because that’s illegal. Buying another person’s information is illegal, please don’t do it.  - Later he found out it was a different location because the crew had changed it, but forgot to tell him about it. They changed location the day BEFORE he announced it, so it’s not his fault. :p He’s actually going to Dunhuang.  C: It changed again. LYN: Yeah. C: Isn’t Bai Sanwan (Bai Yu) also in Dunhuang? LYN: I think he should have wrapped up and left already. I’m sure they’re done already, but I don’t know! 

- talking about the weather in Chengdu -> It’s HOT. LYN: I’m so hot I think I could d*e. I feel like it’s at least 40C out. I’m a Northeasterner, I’m better at standing the cold than the heat! I mean, I can stand some heat, but this is TOO MUCH. So it’s about 40C outside but usually we’re filming in a tent. When we’re doing outdoor shoots it’s actually not that bad. I don’t know if any of you Southerners have a steam room- where you’d set dough aside to rise? It’s like that- my goodness, so hot. C: Aren’t you not great at handling cold either, though? LYN: I’m okay. What can I say.. my body’s just a little weak. I’m still young. LYN: But the reason Northeasterners can stand the cold is not because they’re made to withstand the cold, but because we have more tools to help us counteract the cold. When winter comes over there we’re all wearing woollen pants. Southerners in winter might at most add a pair of leggings and wear their normal pants over them. But Northeasterners all wear woollen pants on the inside. When we were kids we’d wear sweat(er) pants- you know the string you’d use to knit a sweater- but pants instead.  

C: Ning-ge you’re a little feminine today. LYN: Shut your mouth! I’m such an old man and you’re calling my girly, are you s*ck? Are you trying to sway the crowd? You’re trying to get them to think LYN’s girly? Huh?! When I stand up I’m 1.9m tall, and you’re saying I’m like a little girl?? C: You turned manly in an instant. LYN: /manly voice/ Right? I’ll just talk like this from now on. Let’s see who dares to call me feminine. MWAHAHAHAHA. LYN: /manly voice/ Us Northeasterners can’t really stand the cold. It’s just that in the winter we have layers upon layers of clothing. 

- [t/n: referencing something, idk. this man speaks in douyin memes only.] LYN: /manly voice/ If your boyfriend finds out you’re buying me lollipops, he won’t get angry, right? LYN: /manly voice/ Wow~ Your boyfriend is so fierce! Not like me, who only knows how to ~~feel sorry for gege~~ LYN: /sighs/

C: Can you speak properly? LYN: Right. It’s because a lot of people will see the videos and edits my fans make of me, and they might be thinking, “Why is LYN talking in such a strange manner?” I’d like to once again defend myself and say: I really DO know how to speak the Standard dialect. When I shoot dramas I have to use it. If you have doubts you can watch The Long Ballad and Heroes... and my future dramas. Because ever since The Long Ballad, I’ve been doing my own voice-acting; most of the characters speak the standard dialect. So I can speak it. LYN: I like using my Dongbei dialect while streaming because I want there to be a distinction. When I’m streaming and when I shoot variety shows I’m usually more relaxed. I want you to feel like you’re seeing a different person when you watch my dramas vs my streams and variety show appearances. I want you to doubt yourself and think, “IS this LYN’s voice?” C: I don’t believe it’s you. LYN: But aren’t I using Standard right now? I can use Standard for the whole stream right now, but I don’t want to. I just don’t think it feels as close. If I use Standard during my streams I’ll think I’m not being honest. I’ll feel like I’m tricking you, lying to you, acting with you. C: Be more normal. LYN: I’m very normal. But someone called me girly earlier and I got scared. I’m already manly enough, don’t scare me. Thanks. That’s why I’m trying to lower my voice. How’s this? Do I still sound like a girl?

C: How long will you be in Dunhuang? LYN: Maybe about half a month? There’s a pretty big scene that takes place there and when we’re done shooting we’ll head back to Hengdian. I don’t know- I’ll know the details when I finally enter the crew.  C: Is Daimi going? LYN: Yeah. If she doesn’t go who will look after her? C: Don’t forget to take pictures. LYN: I will. Usually when I go out to a nice place I will take some pictures and share on weibo as “beautiful scenery”- all my old friends know. Honestly the pictures I take are extremely average, but I just want to share. C: Chengdu doesn’t have scenery? LYN: I haven’t had the time to look. // ? Am I being too sensitive or is this friend trying to stir up some trouble? You can be the judge. I said I would share the beautiful scenery when I got to Dunhuang and this person asked, “Well, what about Chengdu?” As if to say “Does Chengdu not have beautiful scenery? Are you looking down on Chengdu??” I don’t know- am I being overly sensitive, or is this person really trying to trap me. C: You’re being too sensitive. LYN: I see. I was too sensitive, you can blame me. But the problem here is that they’re cursing at me, not you. Honestly, the crew here has been taking very good care of me and have kept me busy. I don’t get the opportunity to look around, because usually I am filming in a tent or at home. I’m not on the streets very often either. It’s not like Jiang Junhao can be sitting around and then suddenly get transported to the desert. There is no such situation, so I’m usually in a tent. But when we get to Dunghuang, we’ll be filming outdoors and not in a tent. We’re there to see the scenery and get nice shots of the sky, desert, and stone forests and whatnot. C: Jiang Junhao was cooking and then whisked away by a UFO. LYN: That’s unnecessary. 

C: How many scenes will you have in YNGS? LYN: Hm, let me think. Maybe about 60 scenes? I come out in the first episode and someone k*lls me. I’ll be a little soldier who is k*lled in the very first scene and I lay down right there. My appearance in the rest of the drama will be from the FL remembering this scene. A very important role, indeed.  C: I don’t believe you. LYN: That’s on you. C: You must have 600+ scenes. LYN: Not THAT many. Here’s the thing- I the soldier I told you about is about 60 scenes. And then, I play about 6 soldiers. Every time you see me I’ll be k*lled in a different way. My purpose in the drama is to show you how to d*e a hundred ways in olden times. XD C: I’m pretty sure that’s nonsense. LYN: This is a LIVESTREAM! Come on, I’m not here to give you classes but can you grow a bit more wise?? We’re all just here to relax and listen for entertainment. Eat some melon seeds, chew on some duck necks and leave. Are you really trying to learn something before you leave? My stream is pretty much like a drama in itself. When you watch a drama and two immortals are fighting and flying through the air, why don’t you think THAT’S fake??? Right? It’s the same- my stream is like a performance. When you’re watching a xianxia drama, are you sitting there asking, “How can people fly?” Why aren’t you picking on that?? You’d be thinking, “These people can’t exist.” My streams are like a drama, and each one is written by a screenwriter.

- /trying to fix the lagging/ LYN: If it’s lagging, don’t leave. It’ll clear up in a bit, and goes in and out. I guess everyone in this hotel is watching my stream right now. They’re taking up my net speed (bc they’re on public wifi) to watch my stream.

C: Ning-ge, 寻一个你 (Searching for You) is so popular! LYN: If it’s popular, I have the drama (and actors) to thank for that. My song is complete all thanks to their imagery. Whenever one of my OSTs sees popularity I have to thank the production, because not only did they pay me but they’re also getting my music out there. LYN: Whether it’s popular or not... does matter. XD I bet you thought I was going to say it doesn’t matter, but it does. As a singer, how are you supposed to survive without some charity (free publicity)?? - Wasn’t going to sing today, because he really is not in the greatest condition. He didn’t want to make a song that was popular... not popular because of how he sings it. X’D C: Just play the track then. LYN: .. Fine, I’ll sing it. // I’ll try it out. If I get to the middle of the song and feel like I can’t finish it, I’ll stop myself. We’ll say the stream lagged. - /the internet is killing him, because it doesn’t even work to look up the song/ LYN: Is it really lagging?? Don’t- I meant /I/ would say it’s lagging. If YOU’RE saying that it’s lagging, then I think it’s REALLY lagging. So is it working or not??  - /still troubleshooting/ -- 寻一个你 (Searching for You) [Love Between Devil and Fairy OST]

- /lost his glasses, and says someone stole them straight out of his streaming room/ - /found them on the other side :p/

LYN: Wait- have I streamed yet after the finale of The Truth? Like... have I streamed yet since the ending? So now you know who the big boss was- have I streamed since that reveal? No? Then I can talk about it today. I’m a little confused (in regard to time) lately. Because my brain is going non-stop and sometimes I think about what I want to say during a stream and forget if I was just thinking it or if I actually did have the conversation. C: The big boss wasn’t you! LYN: What can I say except I have a the face of a big ol’ villain. I don’t LOOK like a good person, and it’s true too. XD If I had never smiled during the course of the show, someone who doesn’t know me might think I’m asking for a beating. I think a lot of people don’t like me because they don’t understand me- once you get to know me I’m a nice guy and make fast friends. I have a good personality and don’t come with scandals. But just from appearances, I don’t look like a good person.  C: It’s because you like giving an evil smirk. LYNL I don’t think I did? An evil smirk would look like this: /demonstrates/. I didn’t do that, right? I was very normal!

C: But why didn’t Liu Xialai have a bed?? LYN: This is why you have to come watch my streams, because sometimes I’ll have the answer to questions that were never solved. Some people were even guessing that I didn’t have a bed because I was actually sleeping the the Happy Home. Jiejie, can you rub a braincell? Didn’t you see how dusty it was in there? Liu Xialai normally walks around neatly! He has his makeup and hair done, and there’s even hairspray. Did you really think he could live there, when it was so dusty? LYN: I said it last time already- he doesn’t have a bed because he lays out a mat! Do you not have sleeping mats at your house?? When I lived in Dandong, just about everyone had a bed (frame), but I didn’t. I bought a mattress and just tossed it on the floor. It was still quite comfortable. So there wasn’t a bed because I slept on a mat. All I’d have to do was take it out of the closet and roll it out and sleep. C: Was there a bathroom? LYN: If you’re thinking the fact that Liu Xialai’s room didn’t have a bathroom is a cause for suspicion then this variety show really doesn’t suit you. Now you’re thinking TOO much. But if you want to know, there really wasn’t a restroom in there. People can’t go, but the dog could. Apartment 11 had public restrooms. XD C: Then does that mean that Liu Xialai didn’t wash up, either? LYN: !__! Apartment 11 has a public bath! It has scrubbing, cupping, gua sha, everything you could want. When I had time I would go there and have a shower. 

C: Then why was your door open? LYN: You mean when we were going to the Happy Home, why was my apartment’s door open? I want to know, too. When we got to the fourth floor, someone said “Hey, Liu Xialai, the door to 401 is open!” I’m well-versed in variety and I’m also an actor. If someone gave me a line I have to be able to roll with it. This happens sometimes with acting- your partner will say a line you weren’t expecting and you have to be able to pick up the dialogue otherwise everyone will make fun of you. Not really, but you’ll feel like they are. I really enjoy when we improvise; it’s a test for me. So when we got to the fourth floor and someone asked why my door was open, I wanted to know why, too. But I rolled with it and said it was because the smell of dog was too great and I wanted to air out my house. I totally made that up on the spot. LYN: Later I was thinking about why it was open- doesn’t that mean the program crew wanted to frame me? I already don’t look like a good guy. They wanted me to be a scapegoat.

C: Ning-ge, explain why you weren’t scared when the lights went out in the Happy Home. It seems like in the previous episodes you were always shouting when the lights went out, but in the last episode you didn’t have a reaction. - /he’s trending/ C: He got used to it. // After being exposed so many times, he matured. // He’s not afraid of the dark anymore. LYN: You’re all wrong. Me being afraid of the dark has conditions- if it’s somewhere unfamiliar, I’ll be afraid. But we were standing around in that room for a long time already- in the show it might have been only twenty minutes, but we were in there for around two hours! I already scoped out in all directions- there was no door that anyone could come through. When it went dark, I didn’t care because I knew nothing would be coming at me. Usually in the dark I was afraid that there would be a person hiding in the darkness. But at that moment all of us were around, so I didn’t care. I’m not afraid of the dark itself, I’m afraid of the dark and unfamiliar. When it went dark I just thought, “This again?” The program edited it like my non-reaction was strange, they were trying to play it like I was the big boss, see? LYN: It’s nice that they made me out to be the most suspicious, though. It gives me a greater presence, doesn’t it? :) C: Did they give you more money? LYN: They did not. Is there an extra payment for being the scapegoat? No.

C: What’s with the money in your meal cards? LYN: Each episode the crew will give us our cards, but honestly there’s no saying how much will be on them at any given time. Usually the process is that we go one round of investigating and one round of interrogation, then break for food. After our meal we do the second round of investigating then get together to make our final decisions. It’s technically a prop, and the money was part of it. LYN: Let me walk you through why /I/ think the money was there- I don’t really know, but this is my guess. One meal was 58RMB- they didn’t want to make it easy for all six of us to eat. We needed to find a way to either get out of paying, get a free meal, or borrow money. They wanted the six of us to interact. They were able to make a whole other show (Check-In Diary) based on one meal card alone. Now tell me if that design element was genius or not?

C: What about the 5M? LYN: You mean my inheritance? I almost forgot about it. I should ask the program about it. If I really did they’d think I’m crazy. I’m too into the role and I can’t escape it. XD C: To buy your Ferrari. LYN: I actually did say that, though. In the scene we were fighting with Cao Baba- when he recognized my voice and asked if I was Cao Yueguang. He wanted his money back and I told him I spent it all, on a Ferrari. He wanted the car, and I told him we would resolve our family matters later. But the crew is too good to me, and probably thought someone would take that piece as hate-material on me, so they cut it out to protect me. XD They were trying to protect me, but really I always tell you in my streams that my dream is to buy a Ferrari. ~To buy a Ferrari, I need to sing more OSTs~ C: Do did you really buy one in the show? LYN: Have YOU fallen into the narrative??

LYN: You all are too good at finding details. Someone asked why the other five guests all had blue pens, but mine was black. That’s why they thought mine was a voice recorder. I don’t know! I lost my (blue) pen!! I left it on some table somewhere, and then I ended up borrowing my follow-PD’s pen. It just happened like that, it wasn’t part of some scheme.  LYN: It’s because when you’re watching, you’re already set on the fact that I’m suspicious. So no matter what I do, it will look wrong to you. I can’t be too calm, and I can’t be too serious.  LYN: In the last part of the episode when we were all together in the Happy Home, I was already flustered. The moment I said that someone among us was a mole, I was already having a breakdown. It’s a profound feeling- I just couldn’t believe it. There was no way. The feeling is complicated- a little excited but also sad, you know? I knew I wasn’t the mole so I was happy, but I was sad because that meant SOMEONE was. I had chills down my spine.  LYN: We were in there discussing for a long time, but the way the show edited it kind of made it seem like we were all fools. We went through everyone, and in the end we still couldn’t figure it out. Honestly, I only really targeted Bai Sanwan and didn’t suspect the others. I thought he was acting strange and he always has this inexplicable smile. So I targeted him, but in the end he wasn’t it. Later I found out that we were in that room for about an hour and in that time Zhou Keke only said three lines. He might have said more, but I wasn’t paying attention. It was just a sudden realization that he hadn’t spoken all night. He’s shooting three variety shows at the same time, how could he NOT say something? You need to talk more so that the program thinks you have value, but that night he didn’t talk! Strange... That just wasn’t like him. In the end I determined it was him. LYN: In the moment though everyone looked suspicious. As a viewer you have a clearer picture, but on scene in the maze it’s dark and you can’t see each others face’s clearly so you have a sense of terror and you don’t think ANYONE is a good person.

C: In the promo pictures, why was everyone else’s question mark white but yours was black? LYN: Did you think the program would hide clues there? You really think they’d put a clue in a place so obvious?? As if you will skip watching the show entirely, and conclude who is the murderer through promo posters alone. Is that what you’re saying. C: It’s possible. // Yeah. LYN: You’re too naive. But before the program ended they made a post asking who people thought was the end-boss... and the header image they used was Zhou Keke. After they posted it GQL sent the post to the group chat and said, “It turns out the answer was looking us in the face the whole time.” Because we had finished recording, so we already knew who the end-boss was. See? They’ve handed the answer to you in a video and you’re over here looking at the posters! C: Ning-ge, I always knew it wasn’t you. LYN: It doesn’t matter. It really was a fun show to record for. It’s unlike any variety show I’ve been on before- I just came to have fun. I just don’t have the time normally to play murder mysteries or any escape rooms. I had never played a murder mystery before and when the program contacted me they told me to download an app and get the feel for it. I played twice- one I was the murderer and the second time I just guessed and was right. But the thing is the plots of these mysteries in the app are total nonsense! C: Will you go to the second season? LYN: If they invite me, I'll go. If I have time, of course. C: You didn’t sign a contract that (last) day? LYN: Only Guo Baoyou signed it. Who else out there is as smart as he is? The program designed a punishment, and he had his be a second season. If I go to the next season, I’ll have learned. They will ask me how many I will predict to get right and if there are ten cases, I will say all ten. And if I lose, the punishment is that I have to accept the Ferrari the program has to buy me. Genius! I’m joking- I’ll say I guess all of them right, and if I can’t I “punish” myself with ten seasons of The Truth. I’ll record until I’m in my forties. It’s like this isn’t a variety show contract at all, but an insurance plan. :)

LYN: Does The Oasis air today? Is it today? // ... Tomorrow? Oh. Okay, then you can watch my stream today and The Oasis tomorrow. Usually if I have something airing I’ll try not to stream. 

- /trending/ LYN: No, I don’t believe it. // Let me take a look.

C: The comments are so slow today. LYN: You’re so strange. What do you mean by that? Are you trying to say that LYN is not popular anymore, no one’s watching so the comments are slow?? It’s a fixed speed, don’t worry about it. Otherwise it would go so fast no one would see clearly.

C: Will you stream on 817? [t/n: Ning-ge’s anniversary, of sorts.] LYN: I’m busy! I can’t stream for you ALL THE TIME. With streaming, it’s always if I have some time left over between my “real” work of singing and acting. If I’m busy with work I can’t stream, but I still have to work first.

C: Was it fun to shoot The Oasis? LYN: It was quite fun, yeah. It’s a sibling program to The Truth, so I went there as a representative on behalf of our Reasoning Team. It counts as a kind of collaboration. Usually with these running-type variety shows I don’t go because I don’t see the need to torture myself, but this one was fun. In the end variety shows depend on not only the mood of the show, but the relationship between the players. Your motivation for watching a drama or a variety show is the same: you want to see the interaction between certain people and what will come out of it. You’re not there to see what interesting games the program has designed next. So with normal variety shows (where you only shoot one day) I don’t see the point, because there’s not enough time to establish those relationships between people. 

C: You’re really trending now! LYN: :) I can tell because there are a lot more people watching than before. Once it gets up in the trending topics people just come rushing in.  C: Look at Ning-ge’s lip corners moving upwards. LYN: You caught me. LYN: Of course I’m happy! I don’t like pretending- and what I mean by that is I don’t like “having taken advantage of you but still trying to make you pity me”.  You know what I mean? The type that will respond to “You’re trending” with “I don’t think trending is important. I think the most important thing is that I can bring you good music and good works. In the future I’ll work harder to bring you better songs and better performances.” I don’t like those types of responses. It’s not that I CAN’T say them, though. If you want me to talk pretty, I can talk very prettily. But I don’t like it. I like telling what I consider to be the truth. For example I’ll reply to “Ning-ge, you’re trending” with “That’s great! I haven’t been trending in so long, I bet tons of people are going to start watching. If I send out an invitation card, I bet I’m going to gain at least 2000 more fans. I’m too amazing. I’m going to be popular.” C: Did you send the invitation? LYN: I did. You didn’t see it because you’re already following me. // Some people are kind and will subscribe to my weibo if they see it. I’m sure I gained at least 100 new followers. C: Only 100? Other people get 1000. LYN: Don’t look down on small numbers. If I gain 100 every time I stream, and I stream so many times a year- how many followers do you think that gains me? Think about it- in ten years’ time, won’t I be on fire? XD C: It went up by 5000 people. LYN: Don’t go around paying people off! Don’t mess around! I’ve already said before there’s no difference between having one million vs two million weibo followers. The work you acquire is all the same. There’s no difference, and it’s not like they’re going to pay you more for being more popular.  C: You gained 100 red bean buns. LYN: Are you calling my fans red bean buns?? What do you mean by that?! People who follow me are definitely not red bean buns, they’re... hold on, let me think of what filling is more expensive... lotus seed paste buns!

-- bathroom break #1

C: LYN, it’s my birthday. Why don’t you wish me a Happy Birthday? LYN: Why are you so fierce about it? I know we say the person celebrating their birthday is the “top” but you’re going overboard a bit, there. LYN: Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday. The fact that you’re here means that you think of me as a friend and are celebrating with me. I think anyone who sees me as a friend has good taste. Happy Birthday to you, alright?  C: It’s my birthday. Not only do you have to spend it with me, you need to give me a present. LYN: 去你的. I have to prepare a present for you? You’ve gotten so bold on your birthday you’re overturning the heavens! Why don’t I go to your house, knock on your door, and give you a great bow?  LYN: How dare you! // The last time I streamed I treated some fans to takeout, and you’re here wanting something from me AGAIN?! That’s going to create some trauma for me- eventually I’ll feel like all of you are just here to trick me out of my money.

C: It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, will you give out mooncakes? LYN: People used to say that I definitely had some big company backing me, otherwise how could a mere street singer like me get to where I am today? They thought I had someone backing me and resources and people investing in me. If you understand me even a little you wouldn’t say such bs. I just wanted to say that I do have someone backing me- that’s all of my fans. When I first came into this entertainment industry I brought my fans along with me. Not only are they my fans, they’re also my very first employees. So that’s why they’ve come and ask for mooncakes. Let’s do this.. uh..... if you want to eat mooncakes, go to the market and buy some. Keep the receipt, and then one day when I hold my concert- /cracks up/- You can take the receipt and cut the cost from the cost of your ticket. By proxy, it’ll be like I gave you all mooncakes. C: Ning-ge, I bought 1mil in mooncakes. LYN: /speechless/ Is it possible to eat that much in mooncakes?? You’re the type of person who thinks over-exaggeration has no consequences.

C: Is your background fake? LYN: Say it again! /empties his water bottle and chucks it/ Is it fake?!  LYN: I’ll pick (the bottle) up later. But I really CAN have fake backgrounds on here... I’ll show you next time... /trying it now/ I don’t have a green screen! Next time. C: Your teeth even turned purple... lol

C: Sing something. LYN: Not today. I’m sang one earlier and I am pretty tired. Trust me when I say as long as I have one last breath I’d sing for you, but I really am tired today. I won’t sing, and just stay here to chat with you. Let me adjust my condition.

C: I’m a fan of LYN, can you play one of his songs? LYN: You like LYN? You like LYN??? I guess that’s... pretty nice. :) C: We have good taste. LYN: Let’s not over-compliment each other. There are some new people watching my stream for the first time today and I don’t want them to come in and see us just endlessly complimenting each other. Let’s be more honest and real for these new friends of ours.

C: I’m OOO’s fan. LYN: That’s not important, when you’re here we’re all friends. I may be someone in this industry who sings or acts, or maybe in your hearts I’m something else entirely... but that’s not important. I’m also a normal person, a viewer just like you. When I watch dramas I will look at the comments, and will make my own comments. When I hear a good song, I’ll also add it to my playlist. We’re all the same, here. All just people. I will also post my opinions in public forums. XD LYN: Sometimes in variety shows or whatever I will see a singer or an actor and think, “Oh, I’m your fan!” or whatever. Or, not fan, but I really like them! The reason is because when I was nothing- like before I even debuted and I was singing on stream. Whose songs were I singing? All the big stars! I was singing WSLs songs! XZQ, MBY, DZW.. I was always singing other people’s songs. I didn’t have any of my own. So in my eyes they’re Singers, right? Then I was able to debut and meet them and become friends with them- it’s the same feeling you have when you meet your idols. I am just the same as you. - /talks about how nervous he was meeting DZW for the first time, and also how nervous he was to shoot RXSN/HBY with HZT./  LYN: I only work here, but my mindset is like all of yours. LYN: If he yelled at me, do I hit back or?? I’m sure the whole crew wouldn’t want to get involved, so in this situation should I retaliate or just silently take it? If I just take it, I wouldn’t be able to lift my head at all while I am in this crew. So I decided if he yelled at me, I would throw a fist and if he dodged it, I would follow up with a kick from my left foot. If he happens to knock me to the ground- that’s perfect. I could be beat by him, but I can’t stand being humiliated without doing anything to defend myself. I know they all say that HZT has learned wushu, but as a man I had to at least TRY. - /saying that HZT is a good person though, and a lot of people are different from how they appear on screen/how you imagine them/ C: When you met him did you have the song 爷们儿要战斗 (Men Have to Fight) running through your head? [t/n: *remember this bc he’ll keep bringing it up, I just didn’t type it out :p] LYN: /sings it/ But no, at that time I hadn’t heard of this song yet. LYN: So, I understand your point of view, and that’s why I can understand where you’re coming from. I also have points of contention I can’t look past. But it’s been four years since I’ve debuted and become just a very small public figure, so I have to watch what I say. I don’t want to hurt any innocent parties, so I will be more aware of what I am saying.

C: Tell us about any fun stories from BYOL. LYN: Is there anything fun? /thinks/ There are, but regarding this question, you will need to monitor the Youku site because I have already been interviewed by them and replied to this question. You can watch the two interviews, there’s really a lot of content. - /talks about how interviews are usually held around the time the drama airs, but by that time it’s been about 1 to 1.5 years since filming wrapped and any actor would struggle to think of anything interesting that happened on set./ LYN: They’ve probably already shot five dramas in the space of time between that specific one and the interview. Now you want them to think BACK five dramas ago and try to remember what happened on set? You’d be lucky if they even remember their character name! LYN: But not me! If nothing else, I have a great memory! If you don’t believe me, you can test me. ** Interesting stories from past dramas: - Hot Blooded Youth - his first time meeting HZT and fighting back if he got yelled at - Ultimate Note - almost d*ed while riding in Fan Ming (San Shu’s) car. The show was filmed in Yunnan, in the remote wilderness. It’s a two hour drive from the hotel, and another 30 minute walk through the forest to get to filming location. One day after rehearsal they were getting ready to film the take and it started raining. Profusely. They couldn’t just LEAVE because it took so long to get there, plus moving all the equipment, so they decided to wait it out. But they also couldn’t film through the rain, because it was HEAVY and if there happened to be a mudslide it would cost a lot more than if they has just decided to wait. FM’s driver was more skilled than the rest and instead of leaving the car at the base of the mountain, he was able to drive up halfway to meet him. LYN: I was on my way down with my acting coach and FM’s car drove up next to us and they were very welcome, telling us to get in the car and they would escort us down the mountain. I sat in the middle with FM-laoshi while my coach took the front, and we got to chatting. As we were, we noticed that instead of driving straight, the car was moving down the mountain sideways. I’ll never forget that moment. We almost d*ed. LYN: Because the road is at a 45 degree angle, which is not bad but after all the rain there was no traction. We started sliding. After about five seconds of silence, FM told his driver to turn the steering wheel so it was straight and just slide down with the flow. But as we were sliding, we were gettin closer and closer to the edge of the mountain! I was in a daze. At any moment we would roll over the edge and that would be the end for us. But he was able to adjust course at the last minute. LYN: It was awkward because I was scared to death. People always say they’re not afraid of death but when that moments comes- we’re all just bluffing. It’s not like I could stand up and say, “I’m not sitting here anymore. Let me off the car.” I wanted to run. It actually only takes 20 minutes to walk down the mountain, but we were sliding in that car for longer than that. In the end I suggested my coach and I get off the car, because perhaps it was too heavy with the additional people and it was sliding for that reason? THAT or, FM-laoshi could get off WITH me, and we could take a nice rainy stroll. He said it was fine, and let me off the car.  LYN: It became an unforgettable lifelong memory- an awkward one, at that.

C: Any stories for Hao Du? LYN: Any stories that are memorable are that way precisely because you have been injured. I think happiness is easily forgotten. When I was filming for The Long Ballad, there were TOO many "interesting” stories. [i.e: got kicked by a horse on his first scene EVER, sprained his ankle, sliced his thumb, accidentally punched in the face, etc.] C: Did it hurt (getting kicked by the horse)? LYN: Do you think it wouldn’t? Think about how big a horse’s leg is. If you cooked one (leg) I bet it could feed at least thirty people. I was kicked dumb- but, as men will do, you can’t express your pain. You can’t cry- you have to laugh. You have to laugh and cry on the inside. It’s not because I was trying to be professional, but because they already gave me a salary and I needed to do the work. We continued filming after, but Director Zhu- who I am close with- did ask me if I was alright to keep going, as long as I didn’t run. The worst was the second day- I don’t know if any of you work out. You know the soreness you feel on the first day is actually not that bad, but the next day- that’s when it REALLY hurts. LYN: That drama was shaky because I just kept getting injured. But it’s fine... martial artists will always have bumps and bruises. LYN: The next scene I had to carry my yifu and run with him on my back down a path made of large uneven rocks. I twisted my ankle. With a person on my back! So it was pretty bad. After that scene, the next day I went to the temple. It seemed like I wasn’t having a good time, so it was time for me to pray.

- ALZ on the other hand, was a VERY comfortable filming experience. Luo Mingxi is a scholar with an ill-disposition. He didn’t have to ride horses, and he didn’t have to fight bc LMX doesn’t have any martial arts skills. - but the incident of the toothache/face swelling DID happen during this filming period, which was unfortunate because it happened to coincide with a gig he had for Honor of Kings. They already rescheduled a lot to accommodate LYN but who would have thought that the night before their promised date, his face would swell like that. They were really kind about it but LYN was conflicted, wondering if they thought he was continuously putting them off. LYN: I told my studio to send them the photo of my face, to prove I wasn’t lying to them. They told me it wouldn’t make a difference because the photo looked too much like something that come out of photoshop. What could I do? How could I prove to them that I truly had an ailment?? I posted the photo (publicly) to weibo. LYN: I don’t know- I usually get sick really badly at least once a year. A few days ago I had that cold, remember? While filming ALZ I had this tooth problem. They let me take a few days off, but it’s not like I could rest FOREVER. I still had scenes to shoot, so I went to set and asked the director if it was still alright. /stuffs a tissue in his cheek/ The director told me to take whatever was in my mouth out, but I didn’t have anything. I think it was on this side- anyway he said he would try to only shoot my good side and avoid the bad side. But it only worked for a few scenes because it’s not like I could NEVER look at my acting partner head on! C: Your partners didn’t laugh did they. LYN: !_! What are you saying?! All the people I work with are professional actors, how could they laugh?? They’re very professional. C: How many days did you get an IV? LYN: I think I did three days. I couldn’t just wait around, I needed the inflammation to stop so I could continue with filming!

- Floating World & Zuo Bufan didn’t really give LYN any trouble, but through this drama he learned that all things in life have a balance. LYN: LMX didn’t have a single fight scene, but 50% of ZBF’s scenes were ONLY fight scenes. LYN: As soon as I see a person I evaluate whether they are worthy of a fight and we duke it out. After 50-60 blows, I’ll say, “Not bad. You were able to cross swords with me for so long. I’ll take you down in the next 50 moves, because I can see that you’re already getting tired.” And then we fight some more. Right at the final moment, there come thirty people- all bearing arms, aimed at my face. At this moment, I have no choice but to... run away. The 爷们儿要战斗 bgm immediately stops and I run. I’ll see the guy in another couple days and then I’ll say to him, “Our fight the last time wasn’t satisfying enough. Today, let’s fight to our hearts’ content.” - They exchange another 100 blows but at the critical moment, two cars roll up and he has no choice but to retreat. They meet AGAIN another day and exchange another 200 blows, but at the critical moment 50 armed men come up at aim at his nose, and he says “Is there no end??” But this time he is with his fellow disciples and he tells them to retreat first. Before the armed men start shooting at him, because he has something they want, he takes out that item to threaten them. “If you shoot me, I will swallow your Master’s ashes.” At this moment, they are under his control. He throws the ashes into the air and while the armed men watch the ashes he takes his opportunity to run. LYN: This part I told you about- Our scene is taking place up here and there’s a small ditch at the bottom. I wanted to look cool. You already know what song is running through my head, right? I threw the ashes and ran, jumped to fly over the ditch- and overdid it. I was looking for a place to land but there were only reeds below me- people who have it near their homes will know, they’re quite sharp. If I went down face-first I would be ruined. I turned my body in the air, so that my back would hit the floor. I hit the floor and no one- no one came to help me up! They were stunned, and after a while came over while laughing. They didn’t laugh when I fell, they started laughing when they came over to help me up. - This isn’t the end of the story, because he meets the same guy again, and they fight “till the death.” After the first floor, they move to the second floor, exchange another hundred blows and at the critical moment- the Japanese come. As they are both Chinese peoples, they postpone the fight with a promise to end it the next time. LYN: This fight is destined to never end. I really like the character of Zuo Bufan, though. There’s a certain helplessness associated with the character that stems from being part of this particular transitional time period. [a swordsman in an era where people already have guns]

- /plays 爷们儿要战斗; is confused by the lack of “growl”/ LYN: Maybe the version in my heart has it. 

- Zichuan & Di Lin: /thinks about it..../ /laughs at himself/ LYN: Di Lin... I had fun shooting that drama. I don’t know what to say. C: The 20M wire. [being strung on a wire 20M from the ground.] LYN: Your memory is better than mine! - /recalls that on the first day of filming (in a tent) they had to be in a desert-like landscape, so the props just put sand/dirt directly in front of the fans and when you opened your mouth to say your lines, your mouth would just fill with sand. /chews on sugar to give us a feel of what it was like/ LYN: The Director is really good, I even went to cameo in his other drama. But he likes to shoot without lights. You probably haven’t really seen any drama that doesn’t use lights. What does he use instead? Fire. // If you can see, that’s great. But if you can’t then too bad! LYN: That’s why with acting sometimes you have design it yourself- because people can’t see you! You have to find a way to say the lines nearer to the light so people can see your face, but also make getting there natural. The result though was very nice! It really has a texture.  LYN: A lot of the scenes were filmed at night! But I liked it, because as you all know I have a thing where I can’t see the sunlight. When there’s sunlight I have to squint my eyes (the light’s too bright). As with any drama, when I go back to do the voice acting there are regrets, and always things I think I could have done better. 

-- bathroom break #2

- Heroes & Bai Choufei LYN: Bai Choufei... has been cursed out by too many people, I don’t want to talk about him. It’s saddening. Let me recover first, and then I’ll talk about it. I can’t remember anything too interesting, because I remember I was streaming a lot back then to promote it. I did my best.

- Be Your Own Light & Jiang Junhao LYN: I play a cook named Jiang Junhao. You can call me Jiang-ge or Hao-ge. As for interesting stories, let’s wait until the drama has aired first. I can’t tell you too much about it. 

LYN: Every drama will have something interesting. C: Mu Tianhe (Le You Yuan cameo) LYN: Mu Tianhe? I only went for one day, do you think anything interesting could have happened?  C: How many scenes was it? LYN: Like four or five? I just went to have fun, and get the sense of what it was like in a different drama crew. I got to know a lot of other actors, and got to learn from them too.  C: What did you learn? LYN: ?_? I was just saying that to be nice. Now you’re testing me?? Everyone has something you can learn from. Even if I DID learn something, it wouldn’t do me any good to tell you. What, are you an actor? What would you need to know for??

C: It seems like Ning-ge got younger! LYN: /laughs/ Was I acting very old in front of you before? Maybe it’s because I’ve started working out. It really does help with your skin and overall condition. Tao-jie keeps complimenting me, saying that I’m in much better condition than I was in when I first started shooting. She said I looked like I was one second from passing out, before. But look now- my face is glowing and I’m standing taller than I ever was. :) I used to only really eat one meal a day but now I’ve adjusted to two. My whole life is a lot more regulated, so I’m in a much better condition. But when I told Tao-jie this, she said, “Isn’t this all for your next drama, though?” and I replied, “I take EVERY drama seriously!” But I was only one or two days from drama wrap. XD The reason Tao-jie has gotten so far is because she sees things transparently, and she’s sharp enough to catch you off guard with it, too.  - /talks a bit about how Tao-jie is teasing him for his better condition :p/

C: Are you hungry? LYN: You must not have heard me- I went from eating one meal a day to two. I used to only eat one. But the thing is, if you’re listening and wanting to lose weight and think that eating a little less every day will do it- the food is not the most important. What’s important is that you exercise/work out. I’m eating much more than I ever have but because I’ve been working out, I didn’t get fat and instead have gotten thinner/fitter. If you don’t exercise, no matter how little you eat, you will still have the weight.  - /doesn’t have an instructor (like many other artists do) because he thinks it’s something he can take care of on his own. the whole internet is full of free content, and once you look up one video it’s all they will recommend you./ - he’s not working out to lose weight, but to gain muscle (there’s a difference) - /says that he’s made this promise (to get fit/show muscle) to his fans about seven or eight times already, but this time he is set on finally reaching the goal./  LYN: Now all my fans are making guesses as to what caused this change in me. Is it that I feel like I’ve gotten old, so now I want to work out to regain my sense of vitality/youth?? Some other fans are saying that I must be working out because in my next drama I’ll have to show some skin for one reason or another. Friends, that’s not it. The next drama doesn’t have such a scene, alright? There are so many different guesses, because I’m being so serious about it this time.  C: Then what’s the reason? LYN: I see so many other people in great condition and I wanted it too. I’ve said I was going to for so many years, so this time I’m determined. It’s just the start though, so who knows. Maybe I won’t be able to keep it up in the end. I’m more serious. Ive been influenced by the 爷们儿要战斗 song. When I hear it I feel like I’m full of energy. 

- /talks about how his inward hunch was a result of the chest muscles being worked out more (with daily tasks, in comparison to the back muscles) and tightening. so now that he’s working out the back muscles, they will firm up and his back/shoulders will be straighter as a result. The back brace he bought earlier didn’t help at all and was in fact a waste of money./ [t/n: I am NOT an exercise/work-out person (though I need to be) so excuse me if my explanation of how muscles work is inaccurate/lacking. :p] LYN: I’ve always been pretty weak as a kid and don’t have a lot of stamina, so my improvement is slow, but there. Let’s not talk about this anymore, because I’m not really clear on it myself. I’m just blindly practicing on my own, and we’ll see what my results are at the end of the year. C: My mom bought me one of those braces. LYN: Don’t use it. Don’t... I think it would do you more harm than good. I’d rather you stand against a wall (to straighten your shoulders/back) than use it. It could hurt you. - /workout vlog is coming/

C: Talk about YNGS, ge. LYN: I have’t even entered the crew yet, what do you want me to say? I can’t spoil the plot for you. You want me to tell you what happens in the first episode, and who appears in the second, etc? Alright- the first episode depicts a little soldier, and he gets pierced through the chest and the camera pans in on his face like this: /expression/. He dies. From then on, the female lead keeps remembering this soldier that she killed. I only appear in her memories. I told you about this, right? 60 or so scenes. C: Aren’t you the male lead? LYN: It doesn’t matter. The thing is that whenever the FL has time, she will think about this soldier. She’ll remember his expression- and in her heart he is the ML. But whether or not he’s the ML in the overall plot, I don’t know.  C: Nonsense, again. LYN: Listen for your entertainment. Did you really think I could tell you what’s going to happen in the drama?

C: So is your name “Yi Nian” then? LYN: The FL is “Yi Nian” and I’m “Guan Shan”. From rankings, she should be in front of me.  LYN: There are some insiders here- they always know what my characters’ names are. How annoying. How can I retain a sense of mystery now?

C: Have you met with Shishi-laoshi yet? LYN: I’m in Chengdu. I haven’t gotten to meet her yet. What, do you want me to call her up? How ill-mannered of me. If I meet her, it will be officially, when the rest of the crew and director are there. 

C: Have you met with Fang Yilun? LYN: Well, I CAN call HIM up. But no- I’m in Chengdu, how many times do I have to tell you? He got in touch the other day, asking when I would be there. We chatted for a bit, and I asked him if the script-reading was going well. He said “It’s fun” and I told him “As long as you’re happy.” When I get there, I’ll let him know what true happiness is. /threateningly/ He’s happy too early. XD C: Don’t scare him. LYN: I’m joking! A lot of the things I say in my stream are jokes. How could I really talk to him that way?? Did you also think I would really reply with “Shut up” every time he says his lines? How could I? All this talk is just idle chitchat, so bide the time in my stream. Don’t trust me too much. LYN: Do you know what FYL’s character name will be, too? I want to see if there are really insiders here. Does anyone know? Come on! C: Don’t know. / Not important. LYN: What do you mean? XD You can say you don’t know, but don’t say it’s not important. There are no small roles in this world, only small actors. There’s not one role that is unimportant. I’ll tell you- his character’s name is Mao Shiba (18).  C: I don’t believe you. LYN: It really is! Remember this name and wait until an official announcement is out. See if I’m lying to you. Names aren’t much of a secret, especially with such an interesting one as Mao Shiba. C: Ning-ge, could he be called Wei Shuyu again? LYN: /LOL/ His name in the previous drama was “Wei Shuyu” and you want his name in the next drama to be “Wei Shuyu” again? There’s nothing wrong with this way of thinking, but the thing is no one DOES that. So If I played Hao Du in TLB, in Heroes I would say, “Hello, my name is Hao Du”?? I don’t think it’ll work. C: Hao Du 2.0 LYN: And in the next one I’ll be Hao Du 3.0. XD But TLB had an original product to work off of, and this drama is an original script so if you really want him to be called “Wei Shuyu” maybe I can go back and discuss it. I’ll send FYL a message and tell him that there were a lot of fans watching my stream today and they would anticipate more of his character  if he was named “Wei Shuyu”, so would he consider changing it? LYN: Alright, let’s stop teasing the poor kid. I bet his fans are already thinking I’m trying to put him down. It’s all good. It’s just a joke- I only joke around with people I am close with. I don’t have any ill-intent. 

C: Are you really that close with him? LYN: Pretty close. I mean- I don’t know. Let me ask you- there are so many people in my streams who are much more educated and cultured than I am- how would you define being “close” with someone? Tell me. What do they need to do together to be considered “close”? C: Going to the restroom together. / Sleeping together. / Having no pretenses around each other. / Sharing one bowl of rice. / Playing together. / Chatting together. / Curse at them.  LYN: (@ the “curse at them” comment) Being your friend must be unlucky, if they cursed out by you.... C: Go to an amusement park together. / Farting in front of each other. / Laugh together, cry together. / Kiss them. LYN: Sorry- I was strict enough. The conditions are: 1. we’re of the same gender, 2. I said “friends”, no other emotion there. Can you give me other answers? [t/n: come on, ning-ge. as they say, you’re not best friends unless people think you’re gay for each other...] C: Holding hands. LYN: You must be a girl. You want me to go out with him and then hold hands with Wei Shuyu? Wouldn’t that look strange? C: Travel together. / Wear the same pair of pants. / Make fun of each other. / Watch LYN’s stream together. LYN: That’s a real friend, there. C: Share fun stories. / Share clothes. / Play with mud. / Hate the same person. / Wash together. LYN: That’s normal, for us from the Northeast. We all wash together.  LYN: You all didn’t really say anything I wasn’t expecting. Other than the “sleeping together” part. // In any case, based on this I guess you could say we’re close enough. We’ve had meals together, we’ve worked together, and we have a common hated person, too. C: Wash each other’s backs. LYN: That’s fine. I don’t know if this is overstepping, but in the Northeast friends go to the bathhouses together. Sometimes we’re not even friends! You’ll go to the public bathhouse and wash yourself, but you can’t scrub your own back so you turn to the guy next to you and ask if they could scrub your back, and you’ll return the favor. It’s a common situation. - /since he’s worked in one, talks in depth about the bathhouses in the North and how someone who hasn’t should experience it at least once./ - /literally walks us through the whole process and steps of entering a bathhouse and what comes after: -- signing up for particular memberships -- getting your shoes cleaned -- choosing a locker (bottom ones are usually nicer) -- choosing which pool to soak in (including the temperatures of each) (1st floor) -- saunas (some people like to “steam” themselves and then immediately jump into the cold pool, but ning-ge hasn’t done it bc “I don’t want to d*e.”

C: Do you wear clothes? LYN: Of course not. C: It’s not awkward? LYN: As long as I’m not embarrassed, YOU’RE embarrassed- I mean, I guess I hadn’t thought about it too deeply. I’m sure there is some level of discomfort, but like- you can cover yourself with a towel. We’re all just people.

-- moving on to the scrubbing portion (and the selections of tool (towel or scrub) and cleansing agent (none, salt ($), milk ($), vinegar (free), or lemon (free)) C: Are you marinating a piece of meat? LYN: You think we’re making Thai-style Chicken Feet? No.  C: I don’t want any of them! I can’t take it!! >.< [t/n: this is, scrubbing the dead skin from your body after having a soak.]

-- happy new year! LYN: I got too into talking about the bath! Thanks for spending another year with me. I hope all goes smoothly for you in the year to come. Happy New Year, everyone!

- /continues the bathhouse talk/ -- after the scrub, rinse yourself off -- after that, two options: 1. go home, or 2. continue exhausting your funds at the cafeteria! (3rd floor) -- enjoy a cup of tea or a beer with a friend in the lounge area where you can play a game of chess or chat (4th floor) -- take a rest or a nap in a dark room (5th floor) -- massages/procedures (6th floor) - /when you’re all set, you can choose to go straight home, or take another shower first and THEN head home/

C: When you were getting your back scrubbed, did anyone recognize you? LYN: I was always the one scrubbing other people. Joking. When I was going to these public baths I wasn’t popular yet. Ever since I got popular I’ve never been back. I don’t dare. LYN: You know how some artists say the biggest fault of being a star is loss of freedom? Mine is that I can’t go to public baths anymore. XD C: Wear a mask then. LYN: You want me to wear an Ultraman mask and walk in to a public bath? A Sun Wukong one? Zhu Bajie? It would have been fine if I didn’t wear one, but now EVERYONE would be looking at me. C: Beauty mask. LYN: But if I wash my hair, I’d still have to wash my face, wouldn’t I?

LYN: The one I went to back home was just one story and only had the public bath. I don’t know if this is because of poorer economic status, but when I was a kid we didn’t have a hot water heater at home. Many of the neighboring houses didn’t either. If we wanted to wash, we would need to go to the public bathhouse. It’s not because we couldn’t AFFORD to have one, but there was a sense of ritual. Just like how you would go to the theater to watch a movie.  - /only washed in the bathhouse once a week when he was a kid, and didn’t have the luxury of washing every day like he does now./ LYN: It’s a regional difference, I think. Because unlike the South, the North is very cold in the winter. If you were having a bath every day it would freeze you to death. The Autumn season was pretty cold, too. C: What about summer? LYN: If you family was better off, you’d wash twice a week.  C: What about the sweat? LYN: We would have basins of water, and towel ourselves off instead.  C: It didn’t smell? LYN: Not really? What are you eating that would make you (& your sweat) so smelly?? We were just kids. A good towel-off was clean enough.  LYN: The temperature in the Northeast doesn’t get very high. Around 20C or so. Your so called “summer” to us was only 26C (78.8F). Over there when someone said “It’s so hot, I can’t take it” it would only really be 28C (82.4F). Or, “I’ve never been this hot before!”- is only 30C (86F). What was there to sweat about?? Especially in Dandong, we’re near the coast, so the temperatures don’t fluctuate all that much. People from the South could say “It’s so cold. It’s already 0C (32F), but for someone from the North we’d say, “It’s pretty warm today.” At -6C (21.2F). Can you understand the difference? // I’m sure that anyone from the South would already by dumbfounded at 4C, let alone -6C.

C: It’s a natural freezer. LYN: Yeah, when you walk into a restaurant, they’ll ask if you want a cold drink or a room temperature one. If you ask for one at room temperature, they’ll bring you something frozen. If you ask for a cold one, that’s fine because it was only in the refrigerator. 

C: In the winter would you lick steel pipes? LYN: /laughs/ I see a lot of people say they would try licking a steel pipe in the winter. I have never done such a foolish thing in my life. I don’t think there’s any need to do that. C: I’ve done it before. LYN: You were young but now that you’ve grown up, please don’t pass these foolish ideas to your children. Why would you lick metal in the winter? Are you sick?? Can you be like normal people and just buy your kid a popsicle? This is why we young people need to work hard, so that our children can live good lives.

C: Ning-ge, I’m sleepy. LYN: I’m about done too. I saw that today was Friday and people would have the day off tomorrow so I wanted to stream a little longer. Let me grab a bottle of water... - /picks up the water bottle to try to talk into it, thinking it was his mic./ C: It’s Saturday now though. LYN: I know. If I don’t SLEEP I don’t count the day as over. So if I say “Tomorrow when I wake up...” I don’t mean “saturday’s tomorrow morning (sunday)” but “friday’s tomorrow morning (saturday)”. Even though it’s Saturday already (it’s still Friday to him because he hasn’t gone to sleep yet). 

C: Does your drama have a wrap party? LYN: It does, but I can't go. I’ll have to check the schedule of the next one and if I am free I’ll come back to Chengdu to eat a high-class meal. I’ll come back for a free meal. 

- people in the comments trying to scare him LYN: Friends, it’s like this. I’m afraid of the dark not ghosts. The lights are on so no matter what you say I won’t be afraid.  LYN: I saw some friends say they started watching The Truth and got scared. I don’t think that’s warranted. If even that level of horror scared you to death than I think you need to eat some sort of pellet (弹子 - dan zi).  长长胆. (zhang zhang dan - “grow some balls”) [pun on the “dan”.] LYN: There are so many people with me in my stream, isn’t it great? I’m sure you’re all.. living people, right? LYN: Alright, I’ll stop scaring people. It’s time for me to rest and then get to sleep. I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing night. It was great to have me, and I hope I brought you joy. I see that a lot of people are commenting that you can’t stay up anymore- hurry and go to sleep. Goodnight everyone. I hope the next time I stream I can see all of your happy smiling faces. Even though I can’t see you. So I hope you can see MY happy smiling face. If you haven’t subscribed to my weibo yet, please do so. I am Modern Brothers’ Liu Yuning. Hope to see you next time. Good night everyone. 

[bklynbabe114]

My Day in Court

I will say that I’m happy I took the day off work because I have time to process everything today. If I didn’t, the news would’ve preoccupied my brain today at work and that wouldn’t have been good.

The court hearing was scheduled to start at 9:30am. I arrived in lower Manhattan at around 8:40am on a beautiful NYC day. Now I tried to look around to see if Kevin was walking down the street or not but apparently I was a bit early. And wasn’t sure where the entrance was (my 1st time at this court building). He came in probably 5 minutes after I did. After going through security and leaving my electronics at the security desk, I went up to the 21st Floor of the court building. I headed to the bathroom that’s next to the elevators and when I found it, an elevator door opened with all these people. I went through the bathroom door, turned around, and out of the elevator came Kevin and his lawyers. I was star struck inside but very calm. Afterward, I walked into the court room (very pretty by the way - wood paneling, carpeted) and Kevin was sitting with his two lawyers - Chase Scolnick and Jay Barron. Chase is kinda young. I’m guessing maybe late 30s/early 40s. Scolnick did all the questioning today. Barron is also like in his 40s.

Kevin looked EXACTLY like he does on TV (lol). He was wearing a light grey suit with a dark tie and black shoes. He has light brown hair (probably dyed) with a bald spot. He did slim down a bit from a few  years ago. He was quiet but seemed confident. I was sitting behind him on the opposite side next to the aisle.

Next came in 2 of Rapp’s laywers - Robert Steigman and Peter Saghir. Both guys are like in their mid 50s/early 60s. Then I saw a whole slew of people come in. I didn’t recognize anyone until a blondish guy walked past. That was Anthony Rapp! He was accompanied by his fiance, Ken, and four other people (2 men and 2 women). I was shocked that he was here (but I realized why he’d come... details later on). Then other people - members of the media - came in. A lot of people had notebooks and notepads. Even the guy from Inner City Press was there - I even recognized him with a mask on. In total, it was about 25 of us in the court room.

At about 9:35am, Judge Kaplan came in with a few people. He’s an older man - probably mid/late 60s with silver hair. He started the proceeding. Kevin was the only witness of the day since he matter was about Kevin’s domicile. Because the plaintiff generated the motion to remand to state court, they asked questions to Kevin first, Then the defense asked their questions. Now I’m not going to get into what was asked because EVERYTHING that was debated today can be found in all the court documents. There was nothing new. But Kevin answered everything the best he could. Kevin was on the stand for about 90 minutes.

Around 11:10am, the Judge gave everyone a 15 minute break. I hightailed it to the bathroom because I had been sitting there for like 2 hours. So when I got out and headed back to the court room, I noticed that all of Rapp’s lawyers were huddled together. I walked in and no one had come back yet. A few minutes later everyone came back. Before Judge Kaplan returned, I did notice that Steigman & Saghir were having a little convo with Scolnick & Barron. I didn’t think anything of it because lawyers talk to each other all the time and they’ve been communicating throughout the discovery process. So everyone comes back and the Judge recommences the hearing. At this point, we’re at closing statements and this is when Steigman drops the bomb that Kevin has been charged in the UK. I’m thinking “What! OMG!” and kinda froze for a bit. So Steigman continues with his closing argument and then Scolnick followed. At about noon, the Judge ended the hearing and everyone left. Before he left, basically the Judge let it be known that he was most likely going to rule against the plaintiff’s motion. There was too little evidence to support the motion.

I didn’t stick around the 21st floor because I knew I had to find out the details of the news (remember my phone is downstairs!), but I noticed that the lawyers on each side began huddling with each other. I left the floor got my belongings at waited outside for a bit for Kevin to come out. I didn’t see him and couldn’t wait any longer because I didn’t know when he was going to come out so I left. Before I left I did see Rapp and his fiance leaving from the other building exit. That’s when I came here to Tumblr to leave you guys that message.

It was such irony that when I got outside again, I was in the midst of a beautiful sunny day but I understood that storm clouds had once again formed over Kevin’s life. He’s won a few battles in this civil case but his biggest battle is now on the horizon. It was hard reading all the stuff on Twitter, including the UK Crown Prosecutor Service official statement. So this wasn’t a fun day for me. But I’m glad as hell that I went today. I got to see my favorite actor and it was good to see that the US government institution of Law is still functioning - at least for the most part. I just hope that this isn’t the last time I see him.

[barricadebabe]

Greta Van Fleet - Kalamazoo

Welcome to the first ever Barricade Babe concert review. 🍒This week I wrote about the first concert I attended this year! On March 10th, I attended Greta Van Fleet in my hometown Kalamazoo Michigan. Tickets for this show ranged from $70-$100+ depending on where your ticket was purchased from. I bought my ticket during Greta’s Pre-Sale with a code emailed to me for being a part of the Peaceful Army. You can typically join bands/artists fan groups by signing up through email, where you receive special offers and announcements earlier than the normal public.

The Outfit

Picking out an outfit for a show has to be one of my favorite but also most difficult things about the concert experience. It is a way for every individual to be able to express who they are in a very safe, loving and positive environment. It’s an opportunity for people to dress up and feel confident about something that is very important to them. I can feel & see the time and love people put into curating their outfits especially for a GVF show. For this show, I was given an amazing pair of butterfly bell bottoms pants from Free People for Christmas. There was a lot of blue, pinks, reds, oranges and creams in my pants so I went with a blue silk top to make the blue butterflies really stand out! I am notorious for always wearing my Sinclair zip up Doc Martens, which are comfy and go with almost everything. Lastly, I had a last minute idea of making a DIY cowboy hat that I wrote “ DO IT JAKEY” on the front and bedazzled little strings around the brim of the hat. This small little DIY project happened to set the trajectory for bedazzled, funny sayings, cowboy hats for the remaining DIG shows.

Pre-Show: “The Battle at the Grassy Knoll”

My friend and I showed up to camp out the day of the show at around 8:30 am. The venue, The Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo was not allowing on site camping until 10am the day of. Now my friend and I went and had breakfast around 9am because there was no organized “fan line” that would give people the opportunity to line up on property at 10am. Due to the fact there was no established line or system of how the fans would line up at the doors, this created the Battle at the Grassy Knoll as the fans would like to call it. I think this was a little unfair to the fans who had been waiting across the street from the venue longer than others. But when people started arriving we were all patiently waiting for security to give us better direction. He kept referring to the little curb before the parking lot as the “Grassy Knoll” and at 10am people started “walking” aka RUNNING to one of the two doors they were letting people in through.

Now this is where things became a little unfair due to the fact if someone was a quicker runner then others they would hold the spot for themselves and 10+ other people. We were able to secure a spot and basically just ended up sitting on the ground on blankets until the venue opened doors. The whole experience waiting all day was probably one of my most memorable experiences. I met some of my best friends in the whole world in this line and continued to go to many other shows with them. Believe it or not the March Michigan weather was nice enough to us, it was sunny and warm enough people were comfortable waiting throughout the whole day. (Even though when the concert was over at 11pm it was full blown blizzarding outside). The venue was not organized in the sense of people getting to their spots in line. But this venue did do security/tickets very smoothly and the way most fans would prefer. Only four security checkpoints when you entered the doors and your ticket was immediately scanned after, then you were in the venue where you could walk onto the floor. There were two separate doors, one for Sammy’s side and Jake’s side (North and South doors). My friends and I were probably within the first 50 people on Sammy’s side and even though we did not get barricade we were directly in the second row.

The Merchandise

About an hour before the doors opened letting in people waiting for GA, Greta’s Merch team set up multiple tents outside the venue where people were able to purchase merchandise before going into the show. When you got inside the venue they also had multiple other tables where they were selling merch. Greta’s merch is very fun giving a wide range of t-shirts, sweatshirts and other items such as posters, necklaces and scarves. They were also selling the other performers merch. One thing we learned at the first DIG show was that GVF was selling not only tour posters but specific concert date posters designed by local artists. If you were not able to purchase one of these signed artists posters at the show, they released a link (12pm) the next day with 200 more signed artist posters. Also giving fans the option to buy a non-signed artist poster for a discounted price. I was able to get a tour poster and also a signed artist poster online the following day. If you wanted to meet the first opener The Velveteers after they performed, they tend to hangout at the Merch booths selling and meeting fans!

The Openers

Speaking of the openers! I LOVED the openers for the first leg of the DIG tour. The first openers are The Velveteers, they are a rock trio band from Boulder, CO! The band consists of guitarist/lead singer Demi Demitro, guitarist/drummer Johnny Fig and drummer Baby Pottersmith. It is extremely amazing and liberating to see a female lead singer and guitarist absolutely put on a breathtaking rock performance. Along with double drummers for a majority of their songs it is almost impossible to not love The Velveteers. They bring such a badass, confident, want to headband your hair off performance. My favorite song off their debut album is probably Motel #27 along with their most listened to song the Charmer and the Snake.

Secondly we have the band The Rival Sons. The Rival Sons formed in 2009 in Long Beach, California. They are joined by lead singer Jay Buchanan, lead guitarist Scott Holiday, bassist Dave Beste and drummer Michael Miley. They are also frequently joined by Todd Ögren keyboard player. Being raised by my rock father, I had heard of a handful of their music before seeing them open for Greta Van Fleet. After watching them perform live I became an avid fan and listener. My favorite song is Nobody Wants to Die which is their newest single released this past October. Scott Holiday is an amazing guitarist always showcasing his skills and large guitar collection throughout the set. Along with great vocals and overall great stage presence, always talking to the fans which I loved and I will continue to see this band in the future.

The Performance

It is no new information that Greta Van Fleet puts on an amazing show, but this show being the first show of the Dreams in Gold tour I had no idea what to expect having been to previous concerts in years past. I also knew the atmosphere was going to be a little different due to the increase of fans over the past couple months. Before the show, the crew puts up a big black curtain (which later debuts with symbols from their album The Battle at Gardens Gate) so they can change sets for Greta. Once the curtain drops, the stage is set up with futuristic almost apocalyptic and also heavenly structures paired with white equipment boxes, amazing panels of lights, a silver/white backdrop and a large white rug on the stage. The show also has pyrotechnics that increases and enhances the music and the overall performance.The band opened with the song Heat Above, which to my knowledge was the only show which opened with their first song on TBAGG. Opening with this song, truly made you feel like you were ascending into heaven and were about to commence on a musical journey with everyone in the arena.

Set List

Heat Above

Safari Song

Black Smoke Rising

Caravel

Age of Machine (Drum Solo)

Light My Love

Trip the Light Fantastic

The Weight of Dreams

Watching Over

Built by Nations

When the Curtain Falls

Encore

Age of Man

Highway Tune

My Way, Soon

During Safari Song, I compulsively decided to throw my bedazzled hat on stage to where Sam, the bassist of the group, decided to put it on and play the rest of the song as a cowboy. This is why I am now known as the cowboy hat girl and continue to make hats for the rest of the GVF shows I attend and throw them on stage for Sam.

This DIG show was a little different then the others regarding the set list, I think because it was the first show of the tour. They typically have a rotation of the same songs now, occasionally changing it up. Some of the songs they don’t play as often now in this tour include Trip the Light Fantastic, Watching Over and May Way, Soon. Personally, one of my favorite songs performed live is Light My Love along with The Weight of Dreams. Light My Love is one of my favorites live because not only is this song a fan favorite but the stage lights up in the most beautiful rainbow colors. I think this song is important to a lot of people and really brings together every soul in 4 minutes and 29 seconds. It’s almost impossible to put into words the whole show GVF puts on because every show I have been to has been extremely different even though they play very similar setlists. The boys tend to play different riffs, interlude songs and interact with the crowd differently at each show. The lead singer Josh always takes a shot with some of the people in the crowd and eventually (later on in the tour) starts to sit on security's shoulders to hand out white roses to fans.

The Atmosphere

I would rank it a 9/10 only because where I was standing in the crowd, I was standing on the “lip” of the barricade on the ground, my legs and knees were extremely sore the next day. As for the rest of my surroundings, I was surrounded by very nice and kind people. I made many friends with the people around me in GA and had great conversations about all things. The security from my experience was average and gave people water or provided aid when asked/needed. As for the Venue itself, Wings Event Center is a small local hockey arena that also hosts lots of other events. I think it was a perfectly sized venue for a concert of this size. Small enough as to where anywhere you are seated in the venue it feels intimate but big enough to host a larger group of people. I do wish the concourse was a little bit bigger only because trying to leave the venue took a little bit longer than normal because of the capacity of people trying to leave in a small hallway.

Post-Show

This show was one of my top 5 best concerts I have ever been to (right now). The venue was a great size, the show itself was life changing and it felt like such an intimate show. I believe that all of these factors mentioned above really make or break how you experience an event. Greta Van Fleet is one of my favorite artists and has been for years. Every time I see them no matter where I am in GA on the floor or even having seated tickets (in the past) they always put on a great memorable performance. I would recommend getting a chance to see them if you have not had the opportunity to do so yet. If you have not had a chance to see them and want to or just want to watch some cool videos, please indulge yourself in photos and pictures I took myself below. Until next time, see you at the barricade.

[elch-im-ausland]

Monday Feb. 19 2024

I woke up a bit late around 10am. My host was also at home working on her art project that is going to be part of an exhibition in Karlsruhe next week so we had breakfast together (coffee and bread with butter, tomatoes, salt) and I ended up helping her film the video she was working on until 13. It's a bit complicated because she wants to film herself watching a short film (that she also made) and then film herself watching herself watch the film and then film herself watching herself watching herself watch the film and so on so we filmed a clip and then airdropped it to the Mac and the WeTransfered it to the old laptop that was connected to the TV and then put the new video on the TV screen. And she didn't even end up using the Monday footage because the lighting wasn't very good but she's fun to talk to so it was still fun. We also had this yummy but unusual tea that was Vanilla and Krauter (herbs? I think) flavor and she made pasta for lunch.

Then I went to the German Spy Museum, which my dad told me to check out and it was pretty cool, there are lots of interactive activities like a lie detector test and a laser maze and puzzles to solve. I think it would have been more fun as a kid (indeed there were lots of families with kids) but even with one other person to go with I would have been able to do the partner activities and maybe done the laser maze which seemed cool but I would have felt weird doing it by myself so idk. But there were also spy tools on display like mini radios, bags and lipstick with hidden cameras, a microphone hidden in a pen, and tiny audio recorders so it was really cool to see those. And everything was in English and German <3

After that I went to the Berlinische Galerie. I was a bit behind schedule so I only had about 90 minutes there. Never rush an art student at an art gallery cuz I love to examine every single piece and then read the little info card, think about the info card, look at the piece again, look at all the pieces on display in the same room, think about the connection between them all that the curator wanted to highlight, think about the information about the artist that was given at the start of the exhibit, think about what information may have been left out, think about what was happening in the world when the piece was made, how it makes me feel, how the artist achieved certain textures, relate the art to my own art, feel inadequate, get depressed, etc etc so I take a really long time and 90 minutes is not enough time even if the gallery is on the smaller side. But there were some cool exhibits.

The first installation by Nasan Tur was in a big room with taxidermied animals on the ground made to look like they were shot along with big paintings? of hands making shadow puppets and a video installation of a female hunter being interviewed.

Then there was a retrospective on Hans Uhlmann in the man section of the gallery. He was an engineer originally but then he became an artist and mostly made abstract, geometric metal sculptures and sketches, as well as abstract drawings with chalk. He has a few sculptures around Berlin. I had never heard of him before so it was really informative and beyond art he led an interesting life too.

There was also a room about urban planning I think, this part was all in German so I didn't fully get it. And another room about building structures with fungi, wood, and mud. In the center of the room was a little house the artists had constructed out of wood and fungi panels they grew themselves that you could sit inside on benches with pink and yellow pillows dyed with fungi dyes and there were guest book to sign as well it was really cute.

The second floor of the gallery is the permanent exhibition with classical, historical art. This is where I started to run out of time but I did see the impressionism and expressionism sections, as well as the Dada section (that one's always obvious because there's always some funky random shit happening, for instance in this room there was a figure of a pig suspended from the ceiling) but there were some Hannah Hoch pieces! Very cool to see in person. What was especially interesting about this section was that in almost every room there was a sensory version of a select painting. For example there was a Eugene Spiro painting titled Tänzerin Baladine Klossowska. It's of the painter's younger sister in a black ruffled dress with gold trim and in front of the painting is a 3-D relief version with a real fabric dress that people can touch if they can't see the painting. I'm not doing a good job explaining it so here's a picture but I'd never seen that before and I thought it was cool so there

Well after the gallery I was really tired from walking around and standing all day so I decided to go home and on the way I realized I was really hungry so I stopped at a restaurant and got wontons, Tom Kah Gai soup, and crispy chicken with green curry to go and had dinner at home. I met my host's other roommate who is the closest to my age. She is studying something computer science-adjacent, it include mechanics in some way and on Tuesday she has her final semester project (building a rocket from scratch, predicting the trajectory, launching the rocket and hoping that the parachute opens and the rocket survives the landing). She was also very nice. Sadly I ordered too much food so I had to save some for Tuesday but it was actually quite tasty and spicy which I could never say about Asian food in Stuttgart.

After dinner my host and I talked about art. I showed her the photobook I made for my photography class and she showed me the photographs she had taken for her classes and was trying to decide which ones to take with her to the exhibition. She's a really good artist, I felt a bit silly showing her my stuff and then she pulls out these innovative and abstract photos that look really cool. I seriously think she's amazing but idk I tried not to be weird about it since we just met.

Then I went to bed because my feets and my legs hurt

[trickster-shi]

02/11/24 Project Updates

Well, my week did not go as I'd originally planned it, for sure. This week and last week were ones I had a low number of spoons to work with. The day job got most of them, and then my writing and things like cooking and housecleaning split the rest. I came home early on Friday to run some errands during the afternoon. Ended up going to bed at 6pm and sleeping until 10am on Saturday. So, it's safe to say I needed some rest.

I'd really hoped to post an update on my fics last week and then on this past Wednesday, but every time I sat down at my computer I lost all energy and motivation to talk about them. Some days were like trying to get through fog and mud, anyway, so the words just weren't there.

So I scaled back, tried to both rest where I could and persevere where the priorities were highest.

Project Zander:

Chapter Three Word Count: 7807

Cut Words: 616

I turned in chapter two to my beta readers on January 28th, a few days ahead of schedule and took a break for a few days to get myself geared up for chapter three before diving in. This chapter is from Elivia's POV and has a messy feel to the prose since her POV is slipping between past and present thanks to a fever brought on by a broken arm.

I'm such a sucker for good whump and angst, okay? I really can't help it.

Anyway, she's been much more forthcoming about her past than either Zander or Darius for this story, so I'm sure I'll have a hell of a time cleaning it all up when I get to editing, but when I did work on this chapter it tended to flow, so that was extremely nice. Except when it wanted to flow when I was stuck at work, then I had to be sneaky and write while I was supposed to be working, but it ended up panning out.

I wrote the first and third scenes for the past couple weeks and yesterday started on the middle scene that takes place in the past. Most of the cut words are from that scene, as it went off on tangents several times that petered out to nothing. I'm still working on an ending for that scene, something poignant that works with the theme and will have a nice circle back moment at the end of the story.

I also have an outline for one more scene that could possibly go at the end of this chapter. The one currently written already has a nice little cliffhanger. The new scene would have an even bigger one, so I'm trying to decide if I want that now or if I should stretch it out for some tension in chapter four for a real gut punch to the reader. Still undecided, though. I think I will finish up this middle scene and then give the whole thing a read-through to see if it would benefit from it or not.

Fanfics:

Due to the low spoon issue I didn't work on any fanfics for the past two weeks. I thought about them and did some mental work on all of them when I couldn't write and was scrolling on Tumblr while exhausted, but nothing was put down in Scrivener. I will try to make some time for them in the next week or so, spoons permitting.

[destructive-ilya]

long ass messy explaining of today:

well he hit/choked my mom for just trying get our stuff to leave like he had a tantrum we do for leaving a light in our room on at night w us in it and didn’t like taht she barked AT HIS SCREAMING then because he got arrested when he came back (me and dog locked out could remove our stuff had to wait until officers came to like help/oversee) he screamed get out off property then started throwing rocks and bricks at me and nova , keep in mind busy city suburb she has no collar or leash atm (inside and also all of our stuff) so the only safe place is in gate until we can all leave together(either to take her seprate but safe which is why from 9/10am-2pm i was trying to find smth) if she was out that gate she’d be gone. his sister JUST lost a dog in a car accident at same time as he was trying to force open gate while i begged not to shes get out and officers and my mom onw that second to get our stuff and remove us someone else walking by had a dog get out of their leash and he was trying help them “cause i just lost a dog this way” EXACT SAME SECOND

then he like ran off, at the throwing bricks point called 911 (cause i was supposed to anyway so we could remove stuff ) when i was on phone i gave wrong street twice in the panic so it took forever at this point i’m at 2% then officers come plus my mom with water (have had none except the two i asked some guys behind their gate for eternally grateful) and guy has disappeared (hiding out friends place hoping we just leave (everything we own?)) my mom calls him and officers talk to him he says half hour doesn’t get there for a full one and while waiting trying to figure out what to do for nova that’s best for her and maybe we could see again, they decide we could put her in a car and take to station with us u til we could get a shelter, then he shows up and chucks like only a couple things out and when officers walk through HE JUST LIES saying all of ours is his. upwards of thousand dollar worth of food maybe more considering spices (he had border nothing except what we’d given before we even went just cause he had nothing) my toiletries?? a tub of irreplaceable items , photos of my papa who died, birthday card, pictures sent to me, art and drawings given to me/done in treatment, my mom’s computer, a water bottle, a sport bag with my stuffie in it, and some of my clothes and some other things cooking supplies, my dogs food what? for his cat? (he doesn’t deserve that cat, absolutely love not fault on)

and he can do that, they knew he was lying but it’s his residence and it’s like there isn’t anything to do besides sue, i wanted my things back. had to have officer go back for a back pack cause it had my wallet and a cash app card w my name and my mothers meds so i mean he gave that over eventually , and then with like a bunch of stuff just thrown in his back yard we needed to like figure out what had what’s gone and what throw away cause can’t bring that much, and as going throw officers are like we don’t want to stand rushing over you while you go through causing forgetting things, so just call 911 when your done and we’ll come escort you and dog then, they leave, maybe 5 or 6:30, phone is dead now, got rid kf two thirds then he did come out while sorting for his garbage , like yeah we’re in way but it’s almost 8 we were calling that second and finishing up, he’s screaming off property and shit talking again, we were where we were supposed to be i said i’d just deal with his trash if it was so heinous n he didn’t want us touching. he wasn’t supposed tp b there til we had left . so we wait for officers it gets dark and cold and drizzly 5hrs go by nothing i’m just watching creepyass bugs on pavement after i magiver a leashe waist harness thing for her anyway something happend and all cars were redirected no one came until 2/3 am and they were SHITTY mostly mom talked to upfront , nova had been laying falling aslee but she did bark at them cause ya know middle of night she has no food no sleep watched some shit w all of us taday, and they’re like no. and can’t at night anyway no resources too late. so now we’re back in old apt w border nothing comparitive go 24hrs ago just until morning and it’s 4am and i STILL HAVENT SLEPT

[loiswolf]

Day 42 July 12 Winnipeg - Cedar Creek 132kms

Yesterday was another enjoyable rest day. My apartment was awesome and right in the city. I went out walking in the morning….it’s a city. It seems to have a lot of car parks on the east side where I was staying. The bicycle infrastructure is excellent so I’m surprised a lot more people don’t take advantage of it, especially since Winnipeg is flat. There were cyclist, but not as many as you would expect.

I did see this interesting structure

it’s the human rights museum. Hmmm, not really my thing. I was keen to see the famous Forks Markets. It didn’t open until 10am so I did a big walking loop back to it and ended up there right at 10.

They’re not really markets. Just a lot of food places downstairs and overpriced souvenir shops upstairs. The best feature was this outdoor area by the river where I was able to take my coffee and cinnamon bun and relax for a while, reading my kindle.

Today I was packed and ready early. I had to get out of the city before hitting the highway. I navigated it perfectly, helped by the fact that I’d been out that way, over the river the day before to go to the supermarket.

There was almost 10kms of dealing with lights and traffic before the Trans Canada Highway 1.

It has a good shoulder and it’s very flat. The wind was coming from the side today but it’s wasn’t too strong. As the day went on and the road veered to the north my speed would increase noticeably each time I caught the wind.

I knew there wouldn’t be anywhere for a break for a while but I did see a couple of interesting things. First this

it’s the centre of Canada! Not the centre of my ride however, as I started way back in Anchorage which is a lot further west. I also had to go north up to Tok before heading south again. I’m also not going all the way across. I should be done in 20 days. 😁

Next I came upon this lady walking

She didn’t hear my bell ringing as I came up behind her so I got a face full of flag. This is Glenda who is walking with her family to Ottawa to call on the Federal Government to launch an inquiry in missing, murdered and neglected indigenous men and boys. They had a support car just ahead and were taking turns to walk.

I didn’t think it was worth diverting into Ste.Anne’s so I had gone almost 60kms before reaching Richer. There was a very nice looking place selling local produce with a cafe at the side….which was shut. The owner was a very cranky man who just snarled when I asked about coffee. Yes, Shirley had knocked over one of the metal chairs out the front when I was parking her, but I did pick it up. We moved on to the Subway/Service Station. So it was coffee and Subway cookies again for my break. At least they have tables and chairs and are friendly.

A map check revealed a restaurant called Sophie’s about 40kms up the road and 1km to the north. The next 40kms were pretty easy as I was catching the wind a lot. This restaurant was the only thing in a town called Hadashville but it was worth the diversion. It was run by Ukrainians who were doing all the baking. It smelled fantastic!

Only 33kms to go and it seemed to pass quickly. The Highway is split in a lot of places and you can’t see the other side. I knew I would have to take one of the little roads which joined both sides, then double back to my motel. Yep! I picked it perfectly.

This is not a town. It’s just a RV park and motel. It’s a little overpriced but I’m glad it’s here because it’s another 80kms to the next town.

Looks like a shorter day tomorrow!

[wonwoonlight]

long message incoming im so sorry 😭😭

haylooooo, miss khione!! hope you're doing great rnn <3<3 it's been a while since our last interaction haha ! i hope you're taking care of yourself? saw your latest post in the garden and wow let me tell you 😭 it looks like it came from a literal movie like wow !!! it's really pretty 😭 also you look stunning <3 hope you enjoyed your little trip there!

so i don't know if you're aware (i'm pretty sure you've heard it somewhere tho...although i don't really know 😅😅) buuut regarding seventeen's be the sun tour, they're having two additional shows! one is in Jakarta and the other in Bulacan (in the philippines). the ticket selling for this was on oct 28 (was the carat membership presale) and oct 29 (the general sale). originally, i wasn't planning on going to the bulacan show since 1) I didn't want to go through the stress i went through the first ticket selling. 2) the accessibility of the venue and additional expenses just to go there. 3) concert quality of the venue. but.....haha guess what 💔 i bought a carat membership and joined the presale 😭😭😭 and like things get sort of worse here. so october 28, 7am, i woke up then did my usual morning stuff (wow okay why did i share that 😭 😭) by the time i finished it was alr a little past 8am (sloth era) told the cafe babies i'd be late to work (ik it wasn't nice for me to do that since work is more important that seventeen but,,,,,,yeah i didn't think about that before 😭😭) ANYWAYS that happened. so yeah i prepared myself mentally and physically, made a shrine as well as a manifestation table) lowk looked like i was sacrificing my laptop to who knows where). since the waiting room started at 9am (yeah well i thougnt it starts at 9am like last time) still had a little more time to do that arrangement. so 9am comes and i was alr in the livenation website looking for the link. guess what,,,it wasn't there 😭😭 i realized that there would be no waiting room and we go straight to the website at 10am 😭😭😭 so i patiently (no i didn't i was highk stressing, well i mean at least my 😭 boyfriend 😭 was there to calm me down [he was giving pacemaker dino tbh] anyways 10am we were given the link. "we are sorry but our website is currently experiencing heavy traffic right now. you will be let in once a slot become available" screamed at this and opened twitter to see if i was the only one 😭😭 there were so many carats experiencing the same thing aurmg 😭😭 so i waited to be let in but it was taking so long, NOT UNTIL MY SAVIOR ARRIVED 😭 someone sent a direct link to the queuing and i got to the queue 😭 i was at 18k on my laptop and then 16k on my phone had to wait for only like 30 mins until i was in the website on my phone so i went in the website, was shaking, trying to go for my desired seats (no vip sc too tiring 😭😭) so i got them (planned to go with my mom, im so sorry mom but once you go in that venue i believe you wouldn't get to escape caratland) was about to complete my transaction then suddenly my payment failed 😭😭 SO I HAD TO CALL THE MALL'S CUSTOMER SERVICE 😭😭 luckily they answered, then they were amazing enough to reset my carat membership code. i had to also call the bank but they weren't answering so i had to use another type of payment and then my desired seats were taken so spent about 5 mins looking for a good seat </3 and 😭😭 and then i got the tickets 😭😭 until now it hasn't sank in for some reason 😭😭 but 😭 im seeing seventeen on december 17 😭😭😭😭 this was so anticlimactic </3 so i got the tickets like only in 2hrs which was amazing 💖💖 most seats are now taken in the arena but we're still hoping for a sold out show bc imagine the articles that are like "kpop group seventeen sold out a 55k capacity arena!" that was an ew headline but 🤩🤩 it's the story that counts HEJDJXJD so yeah rn it isn't sinking in yet but like i hope it does before the concert so i can actually prepare myself mentally <3

so that's it 🤩🤩 im so sorry for this long message 😭 i had sm to share 😭😭 hbu? do you have any stories to share <3 (if youre comfy ofc !!) stay safe ms khione!

Shey hi 😭😭😭 i knoooow! I havent been online anywhere due to irl duties 😭😭 glad you've been fine and, as always, I truly enjoyed your story 🤣 don't feel sorry abt sending long ask!!

I'm glad that you got the ticket on top of all those stress!! Please do have fun with your mom at the concert🤍 is there a reason why she's coming with you tho???

And me... welll.. if we're talking about me during the time i type this... I'm not in my best state but I'm here to find escape so, thank you for giving me comfort through your story!

[learningnewways]

Oslo - Day 4

After yesterday’s late night out, we all slept in until 10am this morning. 10am?! That’s crazy! We couldn’t believe it! Once we finally got out of bed, we made breakfast and did laundry, and once again had a slower morning. We left the apartment at around 1pm for our city exploring.

We started at the Oslo Public Library which was really cool. It opened recently and has some cool spots to hang out in, great views of the waterfront as it’s right beside the Opera House, and it had this really awesome eight metre high colourful art piece that was impressive. We then went to Munch Museum, which holds the artwork of Edvard Munch, a famous Norwegian artist. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this art museum. I’m usually a fan of realistic art like Tim Wilson and Peter Geen, whereas Munch is more abstract. Buuuuuuut, I didn’t know that Munch is the artist behind the famous Scream paintings! So cool! There were also some really giant paintings, like eight metres wide, that they had to crane into the building! Wow!

The museum itself was super interactive, with chances to do art yourself using techniques Munch used. One of my favourite things was this labyrinth maze type area that was full of walls where people could write whatever they wanted onto it without colourful markers. It was like graffiti art! There was a glow-in-the-dark area too which was so cool! Of course, I wrote my name on it, as did Johanne and Cody, so now we are part of the museum’s exhibition in Norway! How cool!

After the museum trip, Cody went to go meet with some friends for a late lunch while Johanne and I had some well deserved donuts on the waterfront. We’d been talking for ages, but once we sat down with those donuts, we were quiet and enjoyed those delicious treats! Haha. We then walked down the waterfront and came to an area called Salt which had food stalls, cute sitting areas, beautiful views of the waterfront and city, and even had a group of people doing Latin dancing! It was a vibe! Johanne and I got some food and drinks, and enjoyed the spectacular atmosphere and views. Watching the dancers have a great time got me excited for next year, when a good friend and I back home are going to take Salsa lessons. I’ve always loved dancing and wanted to take up lessons again as an adult and try something new, so that’ll be so much fun!

We then met up with Cody and his friends for a drink further down on the waterfront which was nice. When I say a drink, I mean they had beer and I had a mango lassi, haha. We then headed home for dinner which was burgers, yum! Johanne also made us some Norwegian waffles which were interesting. They are similar to normal waffles, but you have them with sour cream and jam. Yes, sour cream! And also brown cheese, which is strange, kind of like butter or soft caramelised cheese... It’s a confusing taste!

Overall it was another enjoyable, relaxed day here in Oslo. Sadly tomorrow is my last full day with Johanne and Cody, which I’m pretty sad about... It’s so wonderful being here with them and I know it will probably be a long time before I see them again. But I’m trying not to think about that and just enjoy being here for now. It is truly wonderful!

[ladyanthropology]

July 22nd, 2022

Today was the day! Today Buckingham Palace opened back up to the public and I had managed to get one of the last tickets for the Royal Day Out (a combination ticket that allowed me to see all the exhibits).

Before I started my Royal Day Out, I witnessed The Changing of the Guard. This ceremony happens every morning and it is so cool to witness. The ceremony at the gates of Buckingham Palace didn't start officially until 11am, but the actual ceremony technically started at 10am at St. James' Barracks, where the new guard were being inspected and then they marched down. I wanted a good seat, so I got to the Queen Victoria Memorial at 8am (which means I was up at about 6:30 am) and just sat in my spot reading my book. Good thing I got there early - the place was packed! I had a really good seat, so I recommended getting there early in order to be able to watch it. I also recommend getting a spot on the top of the stairs, leaning over the stone railing, of the Queen Victoria Memorial. While you cannot really see the guards when they are behind the gates due to people - they really just stand there. You can hear the music perfectly well from the Memorial and you get to see them march in and out. Speaking of music, for some reason today's ceremony had a Battle of the Bands segment? There were the two guard's bands, and they went back and forth playing music and the music was popular songs! They started with Happy Birthday and even played Living on A Prayer. According to a woman behind me, she didn't see this that last time she came to this ceremony. I have no idea why they did this, but it made the ceremony even more fun!

First, I went to The Queen's Gallery, which was currently exhibiting the Queen's Japanese art and artifacts. There was a lot of history in there and it showcased a lot of artifacts that were the first diplomatic gift between Japan and the UK many times (the original first and the first one after WW2). All of it was very cool and pretty.

Second, I went to The Royal Mews. This is the stables. I saw many different coaches as well as the one used in the Queen's coronation and the one used in the Royal Weddings. I read a lot of fun facts and info about the place and learned that the apartments above the stables are for people working in the Palace (how strange does it have to be to look out your window while you're eating lunch and see a bunch of people looking around where you work and such, like I know they're probably used to it but still). I also saw a few horses!

Last but not least, I went to Buckingham Palace's State Rooms. They were gorgeous and you can just feel the history around you when you walk through them. You can tell a lot of care was put into these rooms in order to maintain them throughout history. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photos while inside the Palace so I have no photos to show here but you can also look up the official photos released on Google.

After I finished my Royal Day Out, I headed home to finish up the last bit of my homework and to get ready for my final day - I'm seeing Come From Away tomorrow and I'm really excited.

================================================

“It is going to take more than just a couple of good-hearted souls to raise this child. It will take a graveyard.”

I just really enjoy this quote as it's clearly a reference and play on the proverb "It takes a village to raise a child". You can also see this clearly in the book as all the different ghosts and creatures helped raise Bod.

“If I come back, it will be a place, but it won't be a home any longer.”

This quote was from the very emotional ending of The Graveyard Book, and it really highlights people's feelings when they leave home. When a child leave's for college or even when a soldier goes off to war, when they return to their home, it doesn't feel like it did before. Whenever you leave your home to go be your own person and to experience and live life, when you return you don't get the same feeling you had before - you are changed and no matter what, it reflects in your feelings to a place. Home is home, but it isn't once you left. You have found a new home somewhere else, even if you don't realize it sometimes.

“You're always you, and that don't change, and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it.”

The previous quote segways well into the next one, as this quote shows why you can never really go home anymore but still can at the same time. You can go home - to that safe, comforting place and feel that because it's still a part of you but at the same time it feels different because you have changed. This quote doesn't need much explaining as to why I picked it - it simply reflects the reality of life that most people are either afraid of or try to ignore. Change is a part of the cycle as well as Death, there is no hiding, running, or stopping it. One must embrace that in order to truly live.