#i have many things brewing in the background however... stay tuned

[quitlebee]

don't forget, i still adore them

[shepard-ram]

Antidote for the Lovesick [Antarctic Empire!Wilbur x Reader]

(Fluff, Not a request: Another one inspired by light anons asks- anyways I'm planning on working on my requests again after this. School will be out for the year soon so I will be writing more in a few weeks!)

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While the Royal family was well known by default, (and fairly well liked as far as monarchies go) none were as popular as the prince second in line for the throne. It seemed he made for the public eye, able to talk himself out of any situation. With the handful of poems and songs that made it to the people rumors and half-jokes that he must be part siren stired around him. There's no doubt that even without his crown he would have made himself an adored public figure.

It doesn't take much thought to see why prince Wilbur was a star in the empire's negotiations. The Emperor himself was a close second but he was often more fussed about internal affairs. The crown prince was intimidating and a genius when it came to battle, but all that confidence melted when it came to social interactions. Meanwhile the youngest prince... let's just say he hadn't developed the filter needed for the job.

So the poet prince sat at the table and charmed his way into countless treaties and alliances. Needless to say he got very friendly with many rulers and ambassadors alike. The more connections the better after all, but it was only a matter of time before the wrong person got a little too attached.

It was a simple meeting with some local nobles, and one enchantress. It could be It's own story. One starting with the prince's usual banter and a crush forming in its wake, but ending in a turned down confession and alot of shouting. By the time he retired to his bed a soon to be revealed curse was taking its hold.

That morning was filled with emotions and panic. At first he wanted to believe it was nothing more than a sore throat. However the more he tried to make any sound the more he was forced to accept what had happened. His voice was turned to a screech akin to a horse being stabbed. He desperately attempted to sing, only producing a sound that sounded as painful was it was to make. He wasn't just silenced, his voice was replaced with the one of dying demons.

His younger brother was the first he ran into. At first the youngest laughed, after all it was one hell of a noise, but he soon realized just how shaken the poet was. From there it was very quick, how the news spread to the rest of the family. The youngest still didn't stop trying to make fun of his brothers situation. But soon the royal doctors where at his bed chambers with whatever potions and medicines that they thought could ease the affliction.

As soon as they came they left without the barest hint of success. As much as the winged Emperor would've preferred to keep this a private matter it was clear they needed as much talent as possible. They needed more ideas and the skills to make a cure to the curse. So an invention spread to every city and almost every town. It was a simple one, explaining the princes condition and offering a hefty reward to anyone who could put an end to it.

This little piece of paper changed your life.

You were a rather young alchemist, specializing in all remedies natural and magical. The money stood out to you more than most. You weren't starving by any means, but no one in your little rural home town was exactly rolling in cash. Before you knew it you were packing up your things and getting the final "good bye"s and "good luck"s from your family and friends as you set off to the capital.

You weren't the first one to try, not at all. In fact you were one of last with the confidence to try. The thing is, you didn't have the herbs you planned to use.

"Why wouldn't you have them ready?!" You understood why the crown prince was on edge, things were looking more and more hopeless with each attempt. You stayed calm and explained it The best you could.

"The plants I need can be very precise with the conditions they need to grow in, and are often conned on the market. I trust my own abilities more than a salesman looking to make a quick buck." You knew your words reached the trio listening to the pitch, so you made your request. "All I need is the space to grow them and time, they'll take about two months at most. Maybe the royal garden?"

They shared a glance, but it seemed they already had the answer decided.

"How much space do you need?"

You quickly got to work, preparing the soil for the medicine and writing down some notes about the exact qualities of the future remedy. By sunset you were tidying up the servants quarters they had provided so you can stay close the growing ingredients.

On one of your first evenings you were tending to the young plants. That was until you heard a heavenly sound drifting from the other side of the garden. At first you just enjoyed the background music while finishing up your current occupation. As soon as you could you put your watering can down you stood up, very eager to track down the source of the wordless lullaby.

It was a painting, the clouds of bushes more than tall enough to hide the silent signer sitting in the middle of them. The grass while not gone completely was worn out, a clear sign the prince sat in the almost enclosed ring often. You stood in the opening of a leafy doorway. Watching in awe as he played a guitar, eye's closed with so much ease you'd believe it was creating the music by itself.

Eventually the music faded, and in a kick of humor you clapped. Startled he jumped to his feet, calming down a little when he saw that you didn't look at all hostile.

"Sorry for the surprise, my prince." You marked with a small bow. You didn't miss the little uncomfortable look that flashed across his face. "But I couldn't help but notice your song, it's absolutely amazing." You offered with a light voice. "I- I get the rumors now." You could tell you caught his interest with that. "Can you play some more for me, these plants grow faster and better with the company of music."

Rather or not that's just a myth you weren't entirely sure, but with a small smile he honored the request. He followed you out of his little hedge room and closer the area you were tending to. Sitting on a nearby bench watching you work on the newest attempt to reclaim his unnatural voice.

"How about I get to know my patient a little?" The music hiccuped in its players curiosity, silently prompting you to continue. "I ask you some questions, yes or no ones. It might be helpful when it comes to fine-tuning this" you gestured to the dirt that would soon be covered with fully grown medicinal plants. In return he gave his first answer, a nod.

Over the days you grew fond of the routine you fell into. Sometimes you would be asking questions, looking up from the garden to catch his answer. Sometimes you would be telling him stories from your home, about the many people who have come to you for remedies. Sometimes there would be no words, just the gorgeous calming sounds of his music. You could both feel how comfortable this was.

"Would you prefer if I called you only Wilbur?"

A happy nod.

Only Wilbur was very different from prince Wilbur. You've always thought of the prince as this fox, prideful and cunning and charming in untrustworthy ways. But only Wilbur wasn't on this higher devine level, he was a person. A person with passions and vulnerabilities. Only Wilbur melted ideas about himself you didn't even realize you harbored. You liked only Wilbur, that was certain.

You made a promise to both yourself and to him that day. You would lift the curse, you had to.

It had been 43 days, the herbs were ready. "Maybe music did make them grow faster" you entertained. It was the only day you were with the plants without Wilbur. He was in his bed chambers so you could focus on brewing.

You looked over your notes thousands of time over. When you took this job you knew it was going to be one of your most important ever, but now you weren't just curing a prince- you were curing a friend. You paused in setting up your equipment. The term friend felt, incorrect with how exactly you felt about Wilbur. You shoved down the thoughts and continued, now was not the time.

Was it hours, or was it a few minutes? You couldn't tell and you didn't care. In a glass bottle you held the product of your labor. Corked and wrapped in many clothes before being nestled in your bag just to be safe. You took a deep breath and set off for Wilburs room.

He hesitated taking the bottle from you, like he had grown attached to his own silence. When he did take the potion it was all still slow and methodical. As if taking the cork off wrong could ruin everything. It felt like your entire body was on stand-by, paused as he downed the entire container. With a small drink of water he waited for a minute.

Then with a little nod from you, he hummed. The simple notes never sounded so rich and deep, filled with over a month of built up thoughts and emotions. Two faces lit up hearing it.

"You- you really did it." Wilbur was so quiet. As if speaking too loudly could break the newly repaired sound.

Then laughter, and the rambling of words that didn't need to make sense. Because you could hear them.

Then a hug, one of so much more than gratitude. One accompanied with an over abundance of "Thank you"s.

"How could I ever make this up to you" He only now slowed down, only enough to take your input.

Looking over at a familiar instrument you gave that input to him, "Can you play some more for me, my prince." He chuckled, a sound that you already loved as he sat back down on the bed with his guitar.

You recognized the song. It backdroped your first siting of him. Only now did you finally hear it in its entirety. It was a love song. Lyrics sweet and sincere and raw all rolled up by the accompanying strumming. When the last cord drifted off he looked at you, eagerly awaiting your response.

"If I understood the rumors then, now I just might be a believer." How much of that was exaggeration, you honestly couldn't say.

"I'm assuming that's good."

"Trust me, it's more than good." Watching as put the instrument back. "You should probably go tell the others the good news. Especially so I can get my money" you added jokingly. With that you got one last hug and thank you before you both left the room.

As you were walking back to your room something hit you. The realization that this was over. You were going to your temporary room and packing up so you could leave. You never expected to bond with the prince this much, and in the moment you regretted it. If only a little. You swallowed the sudden mood shift and started packing.

"Hey where are you going!?" An already familiar excited voice rang out, running towards you.

"I'm getting ready to leave." You said, bluntly.

"Wait, really?" As if he didn't know you weren't moving in permanently. Without thinking he grabbed your arm like you trying to run away. "We're having a big feast tonight, to celebrate your achievement. You should probably be there."

"That sounds great." You could feel the wave of sadness fade off.

"I thought I always sound great." You chuckled.

"I really wish I could deny that."

"No you don't."

"Only because I wouldn't get my money if I could."

"Come on, that's not the only reason."

"Like it's any secret I care about you."

That put an end to his humor, "Here, let's get ready."

[wevegottogetaway]

Thanks fo’ saving my ass (Part 2)

There is a part 3 coming, I think these two deserve the...culmination, but I wasn’t sure if I could have it ready soon enough. Stay tuned for more, hope you enjoy! x

Part 1   -   Part 3*

It starts with a resounding bang. A back curving over maple hardwood; taut muscle stretching soft cotton fabric; twin jades squinted in concentration; a shoulder blade protruding briefly for one swift determining movement. Red, blue, yellow, purple, orange phenolic resin scattering across green worsted wool like a dozen pinballs simultaneously kicked in various directions.

It ends with the deep echo. A ball falling into emptiness before meeting rock-bottom; the release of a soft withheld breath; firm flesh unflexing with satisfaction; two sets of glossy eyes meeting in a knowing look. "Nice break, Styles. Stripes it is," y/n happily comments once Harry leans back from the pool table.

Gibson’s is full of rowdy chatters, tipsy laughs and fulsome smiles. Strangers bonding for a night of undiluted carefreeness, clicking drinks after merry drinks in honor to their new ephemeral best friends. All sorrows have been forsaken on the coat rack at the entrance,  hung in insouciance, leaving nothing but good spirits to sit at the tables and loiter near the bar. Everything about this place is warm and nurturing, a cosy embrace after a tedious day, a home for the people that lets them nurse bottles and wounds alike, and sees them leave later on, cheerful, relaxed and healing. It took but a second for Harry to understand why y/n is so fond of the place and he was not surprised to find her on a first-name basis with the barmaid, the two of them catching up on life while she was preparing the drinks.

Now, fifteen minutes in, they’ve happily made their way to the vacant timeworn pool table at a secluded corner of the bar, drinks and grins in toe. The space is only lit up by a single lamp hanging from the ceiling, casting daedal shadows along the walls and across the table’s carpeted surface. The subdued light and music crooning in the background make for a suggestive atmosphere, air thick with limitless curiosity and enticing promises.

The corner of Harry’s lips quirks in a wry smile and a bold glint takes residence at the crease of his eyes; the telltale sign of a burgeoning idea brewing up in his cheeky mind. "What’dya say we make this a lil more interesting?" The offer is served with a raised brow, a hand on his waist, and one foot perched on its toes over the other as he leans against the cue.

From across the pool table, y/n is quite endeared at the sight but her response comes out in fake offense,"oh I’m sorry, am I boring you already?"

"Quite the opposite actually." His head tilts the slightest bit to the side, gaze unwavering from her face in a mission for persuasion.

Her lips grimace as she tries to suppress a betraying smile to no avail, "fine, I’m listening."

He grins victoriously at her inability to keep a straight face, his limbs dislodging from his casual pose. "We take turns," his motions at the space between them. "F’we pocket, we get to ask one question. No bullshit answer, jus’ the truth." His eyes are wide as he gauges her response.

"A question, huh?" she takes her time to contemplate the proposition just to watch him squirm in impatience. "Damn, for a sec I thought you were about to suggest strip-pool." She sends him a playful look as she walks the length of the table to step closer to him and have a better look at his chiseled features.

"I mean, m’totally down but might be a bit unfair on your part," his eyes briefly trail down her body in silent conveyance of her single-piece attire. He’s got much more material to shed before exposing skin than she does.

"Wouldn’t you like to know." The suggestive retort has Harry’s stomach churn with humid passion, the question of just how many layers she’s wearing exactly, playing with the most lascivious parts of his brain. "Not that it matters, you’d be butt-naked before you’d get a nip-slip."

"Overestimating yourself?"

"Just giving you fair warning," she shrugs in nonchalance running her fingers along the edge of the table, "so you know what you’re getting yourself into."

When she lifts her head back to connect their gaze again, she finds him biting at his bottom lip to contain his signature smirk, "no worries there, darlin’. M’all willing." He almost punctuates his retort with a salacious wink but decides to save it for a more opportune time. Something tells him he’s in for a long evening, not that it’s any cause for concern. Like he said, he is very much consenting to anything her heart desires to do to him.

"Good to know." Y/n quips back with a smile before leaning on her hand resting upon the pool table. "What’s your question then?"

For a moment, Harry forgets he just broke the rack and successfully sent a plain purple ball in one of the table’s pocket, taking him one step closer to victory and granting him one question as per his own proposition. He quickly gathers his reeling thoughts before settling on an easy inquiry, fingers fiddling with the desire to sketch every bit of her character. "Right um, do you have other hobbies besides playin- or should I say, winning pool?"

She wants to slap- or should she say, kiss the smug look off his lovely face, but her answers airs in the same level tone she employs at work, "yes I do."

It’s not enough for Harry’s archeologic curiosity though. He’s barely dusted off the ground beneath his feet to reveal the hint of new groundbreaking findings; armed with sieves and brushes, he is eager to dig a little further, "and what might those be?"

However, y/n is quick to rebuff him, "uh uh, that’s two questions."

Indignation soars through his straightened posture, as he cries out a faint ’what? no!’ and her own ego grows two size at her cunning deceit, "gotta up your game if you wanna keep that perky bum intact, Styles."

Earlier words resonate in the confines of his outfoxed mind then, you can kick my ass at that game of pool as promised, and he tries really hard not to think about the promise following them. Instead he counterattacks in obvious diversion tactic, "that’s twice you’ve mentioned my ass in the past 5 minutes, perhaps I should read into it?"

"I guess you’ll have to wait and see," she lithely deflects as she grabs her own cue with a determined look etched upon her face, "my turn now."

With powerful strides, y/n navigates around the table to position herself at the most promising angle for a score of her own. Once she has both her target and the cue ball in firing line, she tunes out every last bit of stimulus encompassing her; the muffled sound of the music, the sticky oxygen filling up her lungs with sensual tension, the charming presence of the beau intently ogling her every move.

It barely takes her a couple seconds of intense concentration before a sharp thump is bouncing off the table and piercing through the air. The shot is so accurate, clean-cut, vigorous yet graceful and elegant all out once, Harry finds himself mesmerized by her skills more than the subtle form curving out from her bent posture.

The satisfaction is evident in her traits as she straightens up to face him, a pleased rictus forming at her lips. She doesn’t let any suspense unfurl before she cashes in her prize, "so what’s up with the muffin deliveries? You a stress-baker or summat?"

It’s a puzzle that’s been boggling her mind for while now; ever since the first time she watched him gallivanting around the office, handing out kindness and freshly baked goods for the small price of a friendly smile; it’d been a reoccurring thing ever since. The recollection has Harry’s cheeks warm up to a bashful shade of vermillion at the thought of admitting the reason behind his action: he’d bake a basketful of cakes just so he could give her one without exposing himself. Being straight forward with his infatuation may have been unfeasible at the time, but there was nothing against inconspicuously indulging the sweet tooth he knew she had, right?

"I dunno, just like seein' people smile, and everyone likes a good muffin, right?" His answer teeters on the ledge between veracity and evasion, the genuine ‘they were all for you’ being replaced by a less naked truth.

Y/n nods at his answer and waits until he is about to aim for another shot to voice her musings out loud, "mmm, they are quite delicious." Her attempt to distract him turns fruitful when his ears perks at her sultry voice right as he pointedly knocks the white ball with his cue. It’s off by an inch but a near-hit doesn’t help assuage his frustration, "fuck."

"Oh bummer. Guess you’ll have to pass," y/n can’t help but to tease him.

And the pout on his lips does nothing to quell her amusement, "bollocks, you distracted me."

"I did no such thing," she denies before taking his place at the table. The odds are in her favor, a perfect alignment offering itself to sink the blue striped ball right into the closest pocket. And because y/n never misses a clear shot when she’s handed one, that’s exactly what happens. Tucking the cue back at her side, she mulls over the hundred questions titillating her mind and settles for another pass at him,"is this suit the most extravagant you own and if not, what are the others like?"

Harry scrunches up his nose at yet another dig taken at the expense of his clothes, his voice pitching a halftone higher than usual, "hey, s’nough outta you, leave my suits out of it." There is a pout puckering at his lips and y/n giggles at his theatrics when he brings his hands to his chest in a protective gesture. This man and his suits…

"Somehow I don’t believe you give a single fuck about people’s opinion on your fashion choices."

"Very true. But I do value your opinion." For a brief moment, humor and wit give way to vulnerable sincerity as the two of them lock eyes over the pool table. A shy smile graces y/n’s lips, her heart faltering at his sweet sentiment before Harry gently breaks the consuming stare-off, "well, if you’re lookin’ fo’ more extravagant, I actually have a canary yellow flared suit that goes with a violet dress-shirt." And just like that, they found their way back to confidential banter.

"Damn, now I have to see it."

"One day if you’re lucky," this time he does wink at her, and this time he doesn’t let her enchantress juju distract him from the task at hand. As soon as the balls vanishes from the table, the question flies out of his mouth, "do you really find my suits obnoxious?"

Y/n pauses at the inquiry and tries to read into his eyes. She inspects the bright emeralds for  any unsuspected insecurities and when she finds none, she sends him a simple smile, "I love them. I just enjoy too much your reactions when I give you shit about them." Her chuckle tugs at Harry’s lips, before she lets honesty flooding past hers, "you got such a great sense of who you are, Harry, it just shows in the way you dress. I admire that, don’t let that go."

Interiorly, he’s heart is jumping in somersaults at possibly the kindest compliment someone’s ever granted him, the fact that it came from her only sending his beating organ into more acrobatics. Exteriorly, he returns her tender smile and mutters a timorous ‘thanks love,’ before watching her pocket another ball.

This time she doesn’t have to mull it over, "why did you wait?"

"Huh?"

"When we kissed earlier, you said you’d wanted to do it for a while. Why didn’t you?"

Her words are bare of any reproach as they both lean on their side against the table, inches apart from each other. It’s a fair question; one that she doesn’t really own as the word could have easily tumbled out from his mouth instead. It’s him on the spot though, and while he didn’t quite expect to broach such hazardous matters over a game of pool, he appreciates the openness of their bond. "I dunno, you always seemed so attached to boundaries at work, always so professional, I didn’t think you’d want me to make a move."

"I secretly did," she whispers.

"Yeah?"

"Mhm."

Goosebumps race down Harry’s arms as he takes in her confession and the way her teeth are  nipping her lips into a darker shade of pink. His eyes are drawn to them, the urge to close the gap and have her moaning in his mouth growing harder and harder to ignore, "fuck that’s sexy. You’re sexy."

The praise washes over y/n like a cold shower after a scorching day at the beach; startling shivers at first, golden skin tingling, and then all-encompassing relief. She loves how unfiltered he is with her, baring his thoughts to her just as they come, no editing, no secret agenda, no diffidence. Just her pure effect on him plastered across his beautiful face and candy-coating his words with a thick oozing layer of honeycomb syrup.

Leaning the slightest bit towards him, she tempts him with a near-kiss, almost dipping her lips in exquisite spongy fudge, but stops just as their breaths starts blending in one hot mess, "your turn," she purrs against his lips tantalizingly, before stepping away.

Harry looks like he is now the one in need of a cold shower, eyes pinched closed as he tries to compose himself, "right," he clears his throat. It takes him a bit more time to regain enough focus to make a successful go at the game, but once he’s got a good hold on the cue, a stable breath and a clear view of the shot, he takes it with ease and fortune.

As soon as he straightens up, he erases the distance between them, a determined look hardening the subtle lines of his face. "Did you ever think about me like I thought about you? At work, did you ever see me pass in the hallway and it took everythin’ you had not to follow me and kiss me senseless in the copy-machine room while no-one was watchin’?"

"Fuck. The thought might have crossed my mind once or twice," y/n confesses in batted breath. It’s clear the scenario isn’t so much a fabrication of his mind made on the spot as it is  a confession of his own experience, and the thought has the air in her lungs going scarce, as though she’s reached the apex of Mount Everest.

Harry isn’t fending off the heated tension much better, fingers twitching around his cue as he’d rather have her underneath his fingertips instead. He takes one look at the ceiling to stave his yearning some and draws in a deep breath."This is killing me," he whimpers while his lips skim over he skin of her forehead. "Go on, take your damn shot so we can be done with this game."

"It was your idea," she reminds him wryly. All of it, really; coming here, playing pool, playing 20 fucking questions, this heated hodgepodge of salacity and virtuous adoration is all his doing.

"I miscalculated."

"Poor you," y/n gently mocks is disgruntled attitude before scoring another ball, or as she likes to regard, another question, another opportunity to further tease at his already crumbling countenance, "what about you, Harry, do you ever think about me? At work… or otherwise?"

She already knows the first half of the answer and only voiced the double-entendre to rile him up, so she’s quite stunned when he whizzes, "too fucking much fo’ my own good."

The pained expression on his face is almost comical for y/n, she can’t resist probing at his despair, "me too." He groans at the flowing visuals he can’t ban from his filthy mind before she gestures towards the pool table in a gentlemanly way, "and that’s your cue," they both share a chuckle at her silly pun.

If Harry wasn’t so lost in a whirlwind of lustful thoughts, he would revel in the way their intellects seem to dovetail on all fronts; humor, banter, seduction, sincerity, nothing is lost in translation, they seem to talk in the same love language. From teasing digs and dirty innuendos to play on words or heartfelt confessions, they know exactly which frequency to tune in.

"Fuck, I can’t see straight," he laughs as he misses a shot for the second time, and y/n quickly takes over his spot around the pool table. Settle, relax, aim, breathe, shoot; another point to her flawless record. She turns to him, looking intently at his blown irises to stir up the flame already inhabiting them, "was it good?"

"Mind-blowing," he answers without unlocking their eyes, and the whole conversation is starting to get to her too. Her thighs rub against together, knuckles turning white around her cue as she tightens her grip and Harry has to bite his lips to contain a moan. He tries to distract himself by taking his turn in the game, and burst out in laughter when he pockets the ball and y/n cries out, "blue ball in the pocket! I feel like their might be a subliminal message somewhere but I can’t quite put my finger on it"

Once they regain their breath from laughing, tears of joy actually peeling from the corner of their eyes, they go back to staring at each other. It’s Harry’s turn to ask a question, and the anticipation had y/n fidgeting under his consuming gaze. She expects him to bounce back on the previous question, but to her surprise he decides to take a different route, "tell me darlin’, if I were to kneel at your feet and look up that pretty dress right now, what color your lil panties would be?"

The question sounds boyish really, yet instead of rolling her eyes at him, her core clenches around emptiness at the thought of having him between her legs right this moment, "can’t answer that, sorry."

"Oh come on love, you gotta say. Them’s the rules," Harry tries to coax the answer out of her but she’s not budging.

"Sorry, Harry. I’d tell you if there was anything to tell." His eyes widen at her lewd implication, the revelation of just how many layers away she is from being in the nude, coming into light. Damn, he would have gotten much more than a nip-slip.

"Fuck me, I need to sit down for a mo’."

She laughs at his dramatic response before picking up her cue, "you do that, in the mean time…" The rest of her sentence is cut short as she positions herself at the pool table, and the next sound cutting through the humid atmosphere comes from the ball falling into its target.

"Jesus, do you ever miss?"

"I don’t play to lose, Styles," she quips back. "Now, what’s your biggest fantasy? Aside from shagging in the copy-machine room, that is."

Harry takes one step closer, gently backing her against the table with one hand encasing her at either side of her waist. As he towers over her, his ardent look ignites a fire at the pit of y/n’s stomach, flame licking all the way up to her heart and down to her toes. Her core throbs before the words fall out of his supple lips like maple syrup on a stack of fluffy pancakes. "Right now? Bend you over this pool table and have my way with you."

"In front of all this people?"

"What d’you think is stoppin’ me from doin’ it right now?"

"Manners?"

The retort earns her a deep chuckle, as he shakes his head in disbelief, "fuck y/n, I lost my manners the moment you kissed me."

The raw admission sends a shiver down her spine, before she regains her full bearings and pushing his cue against his chest for him to grab, "your turn."

Barely moving from his spot nestled against her, he successfully sends the ball down the drain and doesn’t waste any time before asking in the same sultry voice, "favorite position?"

‘Why are y’asking?"

"Future reference," he announces confident.

"Well in that case, kinda like this…" she brushes against him as she bends over the table, ass jutted out on one side, before adjusting the angle of her cue and aiming for the pocket, "…when everything aligns and it just sinks…" bam, she propels the sphere in one strong hit "…right through." She finishes her demonstration with a score and a suggestive smile, only but one ball left for her to obliterate; the eight ball. "Are you ready to lose, Styles?"

"Dunno, is that your question?"

"Yes. I got everything I want to know already."

"Then I don’t fucking care about losin", s’not the game I wanna play anymore," he trails a finger down the skin of her back, goosebumps erupting at his touch. He is stopped by the tip of her cue pressing at his chest, slowly pushing him back from her space, and his hands meet this air in surrender. She’s got a wicked smile on her lips and a title to uphold after all, "last shot, make it count."

Harry takes the shot hastily, half expecting another miss, but the solid yellow ball disappears into the table’s corner in a vibrant crash. Eyebrows raised and shallow breath, he pivots back towards her, "please tell me this is turnin’ you on s’much as it’s turnin’ me on?"

"Yes," she rubs the exposed skin of his chest, eyes leaving his face to trail down his torso. "I’m just better at hiding it," she brings her lips to his ear, "physically or otherwise apparently." Then she leaves a loud smack on his cheek and goes around the table to sink the last ball standing in the way of her victory. In true y/n fashion, she completes a faultless round with one last graceful hit that leaves Harry transfixed by her dexterity.

"Damn, you are the queen of pool, I’m bowing down to you. Any final question?"

She lays the cue down on the table before coming up to him, "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Take me back to my place?"

His head falls back on its neck, eyes closing in deliverance, "fuck yeah." This whole night may have been the most intense and rousing foreplay he’s ever experienced, he can’t wait to deliver good on his own promise.

➪ Masterlist

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hullo, Steph, and happy new year! Sorry if someone has asked this already, but I’m searching for Jealous John fics (preferably new ones). Just finished reading “White Knight” by DiscordantWords, and it is amazing!!! Once again, thank you SO MUCH for all the work and effort you put into this blog... the fandom wouldn’t be the same without you.

Hi Nonny!! 

Thank you for the well wishes! I hope you had a good holiday season yourself <3

I don’t have very many new Jealous John fics, but I do have some new ones to add to my past lists! So, why not, let’s update my Jealous John and Jealous Sherlock Fic rec list!! <3 I’m sorry if none of them are “new” fics… I’ve SO many fics to read, and I only usually rec fics I’ve read, so if any of my lovelies have some suggestions for Nonny, please let us know!! <3

JEALOUSY Pt. 5

See Also:

Jealous John

Jealous John Pt. 2 and Jealous Sherlock Pt 2

Jealous John Pt 3 and Jealous Sherlock Pt 3

Jealous John and Sherlock Pt. 4

JEALOUS JOHN

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w., 80 Ch. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic, Alternating First/Third Person, Protective John, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Tender Moments, Love Confessions, Hand/Blow Jobs, Cuddling, Jealous John, First Kiss/Time) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock’s closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don’t need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

Hell Sent, Heaven Bound by ConsultingHound (M, 64,381 w, 16 Ch. || Angels / Demons AU ||  Fallen Angel Sherlock / Angel Cop John, Alternate First Meeting, Slow Burn, Case Fic, John & Lestrade are Friends Before Sherlock, BAMF John, Mind Palace John, Friends to Lovers, John in Denial, Sherlock Picks Out John’s Clothing, Clubbing / Dancing, Mildly Jealous John, Awkwardness, Kidnapping, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Sacrifice, Worried / Anxious Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Immortal to Mortal) – Ex-War healer and current angelic guard John Watson is not having the best day. He overslept, he’s underpaid, and now there’s someone tagging the Council’s building walls. However things may be about to get interesting: there’s an unusual stranger hanging around (the definition of tall, dark, and handsome), a literal underground cult is brewing, and rumblings are coming from hell. Can he keep his neighbourhood safe, how and why is he being connected to all this, and who the hell is Sherlock Holmes?

White Knight by DiscordantWords (M, 69,840 w., 13 Ch. || S4 Compliant/Post S4, Marriage For a Case, Jealous John, Pining John, Janine / Sherlock Fake Relationship, Serial Killers, Case Fic, Undercover as a Couple, Weddings, John is a Mess, Misunderstandings, Wedding Planning, Jealousy, Drunkenness, Love Confessions, Angst with Happy Ending) – Green. The word green was used to convey a great many things. Illness. Envy. Inexperience. Standing there amidst Janine’s chattering bridesmaids, watching Sherlock furrow his brow and study fabric swatches, watching him smile and simper and flirt, John thought it a remarkably apt colour choice. Because he felt quite sick to his stomach, he feared the source of said sickness might very well be jealousy, and he had absolutely no idea at all what to do about it. Or: Sherlock needs to fake a relationship for a case. He doesn’t ask John.

The Bang and the Clatter by earlgreytea68 (M, 137,049 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Baseball AU || Slow Burn / Dev. Rel., Possessive/Obsessive Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Mutual Pining, Body Appreciation, Depression, Closeted Sexuality, Family, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Ogling Each Other, Anxious Sherlock, Panic Attack, Drunkenness, Talk of Forever, Big Feelings™) – Sherlock Holmes is a pitcher and John Watson is a catcher. No, no, no, it’s a baseball AU. Part 1 of Baseball

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court.

JEALOUS SHERLOCK

Santa Knows by Itsallfine (T, 1,719 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas Party, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Fluff, Matchmaking, POV Sherlock, Pining Sherlock) – Sherlock and John both get exactly what they want from the Yard’s secret Santa exchange. Pure holiday fluff.

Denial Isn’t Just a River in Egypt by satanatemycat (T, 2,107 w., 1 Ch. || Humour, Friendship, Texting, Bored/Cranky Sherlock) – In which John makes a bet with a co-worker. If he wins, she shuts up about him and Sherlock being a couple. If he loses… well, that doesn’t matter, because he won’t lose. Because he and Sherlock ARE NOT a couple. Right?

The Haunting of 221B Baker Street by earlgreytea68 (M, 10,388 w., 2 Ch. || Post TRF, Halloween / Ghosts, Pining Sherlock, Ghost Sherlock, Stroppy Sherlock, Sherlock POV, First Kiss/Time, Angry Sex, Ghost Sex, Love Confessions, Open / Ambiguous Ending) – In which Sherlock Holmes is a ghost.

The Burning of the Leaves by blueink3 (M, 15,915 w., 3 Ch. || Post S4, Angst, Reichenbach, Parentlock, Past Jolto, Idiot John, Sherlock’s a Mess, Puppies, Fluff, Possessive / Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock POV, Matchmaker Sholto, Melancholic Feelings, Emotional Sherlock, Domesticity, Love Confessions in the Rain, Kissing in the Rain, Pet Names) – After the events of series 4, Major Sholto invites John and Sherlock to lunch one day. It nearly proves to be too much for their tenuous relationship as the past haunts the present, putting the future that Sherlock so desperately wants at risk.

You’re On the Air by prettysailorsoldier (M, 20,616 w., 1 Ch. || Unilock, Matchmaking, Radio, Christmas, Christmas Fluff, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Sherlock POV, Pining Sherlock, Flirting, Bisexual John) – The Consulting Detective and The Woman dominate the airwaves of their university radio station, doling out advice on everything from meeting the parents to sexual positions. When their ratings start to dip before the holidays, however, manager Mike thinks it’s time for some fresh blood, and who better to fill in the gaps than rugby captain–and notorious flirt–John Watson? Part 1 of 25 Days of Johnlock

A Home for Us by sussexbound (M, 30,581 w., 12 Ch. || Scars, Bedsharing, Grief, Doctor John, Hurt/Comfort, Post-TRF, Implied/Referenced Torture, Sherlock POV, Pining Sherlock, Suicidal Ideation, Heavy Emotions, Clingy Sherlock, Hallucinations, Disassociation, Emotional Turmoil) – He has been on the road for two years, and he is exhausted. He’s almost accepted that he will never see London (John) again—almost. But then there are nights like tonight, where he is weak, and all he can think of is the warmth of the flat they once shared, the crackle of the fire in the hearth, the teasing smile playing at the corner of John’s lips, the boxes of half-eaten Chinese takeaway balanced precariously in their laps. He aches at the memory of it, at the realisation that it is something he may never experience again.

The Whore of Babylon Was a Perfectly Nice Girl by out_there (E, 32,897 w., 1 Ch. || Past Drug Use, Blowjobs, Toplock, Mentions of Switching, Rough Sex, Background Cases, Sherlock’s Past, Sherlock’s Sexual History, Experienced Sherlock, Past One Night Stands, Fingering, Cuddling, Possessive Sherlock, Paris Holiday, Bed Sharing, Naked Lie-Ins, Bathing Together, Confessions, Worried Sherlock, Laying in Bed All Day, Meddling Mycroft, Naked Lazy Day) – Sherlock walks into a room and takes all the space right out of it. He does the same inside John’s head.

Guidelines by WithLoweredVoices (M, 43,018 w., 15 Ch. || Winglock || Angels, Fantasy, Angst, BAMF! John, War, Jealous Sherlock, Possessive Sherlock, Jealous John, Falling in Various Ways, Needy Sherlock, Wings) – The Good Soldier, one of the oldest and strongest of the fallen, is offered a bargain: to live as John Watson and to Guide a fledgling archangel so that he will stay on the path of good. Of course, Sherlock Holmes has different ideas about his destiny. Fantasy AU. Warnings for violence, occasional gore, and a whole load of hurt and angst.

Being John Watson-ish by elwinglyre (E, 69,902 w., 17 Ch. || Bodysnatcher AU || Author John, Cranky Sherlock, Angst, Sexual Tension, First Kiss / Time, Falling in Love, BAMF John, Past Soldier John, Feelings, Inside Someone’s Brain, Shy Sherlock, Sherlock Loves John, POV Sherlock, Switchlock, Slow Burn, Internal Dialogue, Mental Turmoil) – When consulting detective Sherlock Holmes steps on one toe too many at a crime scene, he’s consigned to a desk job in an archaic office on the seventh-and-a-half floor of the New Scotland Yard. It’s in this bleak office that Sherlock discovers a portal into the mind of renowned author John Watson. Grander than his mind palace, this new wonderland affords Sherlock new vistas of experimentation. To learn more about the mystery behind the portal, Sherlock seeks out and befriends Watson. But then it all goes wrong when others find the secret portal door—including the man whose brain he visits.

[ladyamber]

Sirenade: Chapter Twenty

Good evening everyone and welcome to Sirenade once again, I know my schedule’s been really out of whack especially since I didn’t post last week. Not because I forgot, but because I really needed a mental break. I’ve been extremely busy with college applications, projects, studying and school that I sometimes barely get a break. Do know that I would love to post to a consistent time which I am working on day and night to fix, but with my life being very unpredictable it might not get fixed for a while. Though I do plan to work on more on Sirenade during Thanksgiving break. God forbid that my teacher’s decide on giving me work over my break. Anyways enough of my rambling, as always I hope you enjoy this week’s chapter and Stay Tuned! For next week’s chapter which I will most definitely see you for! BTW this chapter's going to be longer than normal since I missed two weeks enjoy!

Start: Prologue

Previous: Chapter 19

Next: 12/1/19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 20

Soft music played throughout the Brewery’s Happy Hour time, not too loud but not too quiet either. The rhythmic drumming of his fingers danced with the polished pine counter as he awaited his company and drink. Normally his routine consisted of enjoying a brew or two with friends over the weekend, but this time it seemed different. The atmosphere was calm and casual setting up a perfect conversation accompanied by someone special and a bottle of scotch. He wasn’t a heavy drinker not since he’d moved on from a difficult loss, but he did tend to get a bit tipsy if alone. The smell of fresh food and beer flooded his senses the longer he sat at the booth. He snapped from his thoughts as a glass was set on the counter, “Sorry for the wait Tyler, hope I didn’t keep you too long.”

The small brunette slid his drink across the counter and dried his hands off with the small white towel draped over his shoulders. “It’s funny to see you here on a Wednesday night, waiting for someone special?” The younger male wiggled his eyebrows at him. Tyler chuckled, took a sip of his beverage as he rolled his eyes.

“It’s funny not to see Nogla following behind you like a horny bitch, but I’m not complaining.” Tyler snickered as his smaller friend turned red from blushing and howling in laughter obviously trying to hide it.

“Cabron, I’m not complaining I’m just curious. Who are you meeting in the middle of the week?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see Lui.” Tyler continued sipping his beer as he received a playful punch in the arm from Lui. It remained peaceful as the homemade cold brew sat in his stomach, though it didn’t stay peaceful for long. A petite figure sat next to him at the nearly empty booth, he didn’t mind but found it rather annoying that out of all the seat they choose the one right next to him.

“Evenin’ Miss, what can I getcha?” His taller bartender friend seemed to peak the interest of the small woman, but only for that sparkling interest to fall right on to him. He didn’t look directly at her although from the corner of his eye he swore he saw something else in that innocent appearance she was trying to pull off. It was gone when she turned her attention back to his Irish friend.

“A dry martini, please.” Her voice matched the look she was trying to pull, but Tyler knew better the shine in her eyes somehow made him very uncomfortable.

“Course.” Tyler decided to ignore her for the rest of the night, however it seemed fate had other plans. As Nogla prepare her attention snapped to him when he picked his glass up once again.

She smiled sweetly, “How rude of me to stare, so sorry. Where are my manners, Octavia Dimmer.”

Now he said he’d ignore her presence but being raised to always be polite took over his gut feeling. “Tyler Wine.” He gently shook her hand and exchanged smiles.

He turned his body back to Nogla who’d just  finished putting together her drink. He placed it on a coaster in front of her. “Enjoy!”

With that Nogla scurried back into the kitchen leaving the two now “acquaintances”. “So what brings a man like you to drink all alone?” She bartered her eyelashes at him. He turned his head and rolled his eyes.

“Could ask you the same thing.”

“I asked first though.” She rested her head on her hand while her fingers danced on the shiny counter like his did not too long ago.

“Waiting for someone.” He returned his attention back to the bar when Nogla came back. Smiling as he cleaned one of the many glasses that had been used hours before he entered.

“Well while we wait for this said person why don’t you and I get to know one another?” She placed her hand in his arm again attempting to flirt with him.

“No thanks.” He brushed her off when reaching for his beverage. She huffed and turned back to the bar with a pout.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a bar. I’m here just for work but it was so hard to ignore this beautiful little town.” 

I didn’t ask.

“That’s nice.” Tyler only wanted a peaceful night.

“But it’s harder to ignore someone like you. Broad, tall, strong… handsome.” This time she put her hand on top of Tyler’s.

“What don’t you-“ What interrupted his opportunity to tell this “Octavia” off was not the change in music, the argument happening in the back, and not the loud conversations around him. Through the glass windows of the restaurant stood Craig, dressed to perfection with his choice of clothing hugging every part of his body with absolute sophistication, and a face of dismay framed right where Tyler could see it. His eyes trailed down onto their hands, those soft blue eyes glossed over causing a reaction in Tyler which almost broke him right there. He sadly smiled before running away from the brewery.

Tyler sat shocked blocking out every noise that filled the atmosphere, ignoring the protests of his friend and “acquaintance” (one for not paying and the other for being denied) as he quickly followed right after Craig. Leaving behind a slightly pissed off Nogla and an innocent face eyeing its next person of choice.

~*~

It had been twenty minutes since Tyler ran after Craig. He searched high and low in their little town for him, but it seemed as if he’d disappear. Of course his mind went straight to Craig being in a dangerous situation once again. Eventually his search led him to the woods, not the most practical idea to be in the forest at night but right now Tyler gave two shits about that.

Please let him be okay, please let him be okay, please-

A melody snapped him out of his panic. A sweet song and strum danced with the nature that lived there. It seemed as if everything was enchanted by the voice. Who could blame them even Tyler was in awe by its beautiful song. He quickly followed the song which led him out of the forest and to a small bay surrounded by trees. The melody continued to play as Tyler approached entered the hidden bay. Careful not to make a sound that would interrupt the enchantment.

“Turn off your porcelain face. I can't really think right now in this place. There's too many colors. Enough to drive all of us insane,” The voice became familiar the closer Tyler got. He listened to the lyrics as well he felt as if they were speaking directly to him. The song shifted his emotions of fear into sympathy for the owner of the angelic voice. He kept listening, ”Get a load of this train wreck, his hair's a mess and he doesn't know who he is yet. But little do we know the stars welcome him with open arms.”

The more he listened to the melody the harder it was to keep himself from falling into a trance. Soon enough the effect of the spell took over his mind, causing him to lose control over his hidden position. “Time is ...Slowly…Tracing his face. But strangely he feels at home in this-“

His heavy footsteps shuffled in the sand as he came closer to the voice, but when he gave away his position the voice stood thus snapping Tyler out of his enchantment. “Ty? What- what are you doing here?”

Tyler watched him wipe away his emotions, sniffling softly to hopes of hiding it from the taller male, “Following you.” Tyler mumbled with his head hung low.

“Well you should’ve have. You should be at the pub enjoying a drink, with a lady at your side like always. Isn’t that right?” Craig turned his face away from Tyler’s own blue eyes that shone brightly with the moonlight.

He shrugged his shoulders as he shuffled awkwardly in the sand. “If you’d let me explain myself then you’d know that wasn’t the case, plus I wanted to chase after you.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” He began to walk away from the grassy area and towards the sandy beach that contained a beautiful sight outlined by the luminescence of the night and the ocean waves in the background. Seating himself next to the frail soul he watched as his friends sapphire eyes examined him closing. He wondered if Craig saw him like he did, a wonder underneath the moon. He shuffled on the cool grainy substance trying to find a comfortable position, eventually he did. Turning at lookout into the vast body of water which seemed to stretch for eternity.

“You know, I didn’t know you had such an amazing voice.”

“You can’t compliment your way out of this one Ty… I thought this was going to be a night of just the two of us. I mean when was the last time we’ve had one?”

“I know, I know I’m sorry okay? I did want to spend tonight with you it’s just that bitch wouldn’t leave me alone. You just happened to walk in at the wrong moment. Could’ve told her off if you hadn’t interrupted me.” That word was laced with venom, however the rest of his statement remained truthful towards Craig. He sincerely felt guilt for making him express such emotions in which he never wanted to see again.

“It’s just so frustrating sometimes, you know? To have to chase after someone in order to get their attention. Only this person has the attention span of puppy.” Craig eyes only sparked for a second when he spoke, but it quickly faded as he turned his gaze back at his instrument. Playing a small tune as the breeze scattered the notes through the bay.

“They must be a fuckin’ dumb ass then… Can you play something?”

Craig hummed as he mindlessly strummed chords, “Any requests?”

Tyler shook his head as he placed his head on Craig’s shoulder, listening to him tuning the ukulele before strumming a familiar tune. “Really, Steven Universe?”

“Can you blame me? Though to be fair it’s your fault for introducing me to it.” Tyler chuckled before falling silent to the melody that flowed through his mind.

“If I could begin to be half of what you think of me. I could do about anything, I could even learn how to love. When I see the way you act, wondering when I'm coming back. I could do about anything, I could even learn how to love like you. Love like you. I always thought I might be bad. Now I'm sure that it's true 'cause I think you're so good. And I'm nothing like you, look at you go. I just adore you, I wish that I knew. What makes you think I'm so special. If I could begin to do, something that does right by you. I would do about anything, I would even learn how to love. When I see the way you look, shaken by how long it took. I could do about anything, I could even learn how to love like you. Love like you. Love me like you.”

“Sorry, it's not the greatest but-” Tyler didn’t give Craig the opportunity to finish his statement as he captured the rest of it with his lips. Grabbing every sounds and words that came from his glossy lips. Not bothered by the chilly wind that blew their head in every direction, he parted from the addicting skin to catch the look on Craig’s face. Craig’s face exploded with color, crimson spreading like wildfire, pupils dilated and red lips barely apart from one another.

“Why- Why did you do that?” His eyes widened with every passing second as Tyler remained silent to process his actions. He’d just kissed his best friend, he’d never told any he found interest in another guy, hell he didn’t even know he was into guys. He felt like an idiot for dancing around the truth for years.

“Did you hate it?” He asked with caution expecting to be rejected or hated for his sudden actions.

“Of course not. I’ve always… wanted you to do that, but I never thought you would because of Kelly. And then all those random hookups over the past years. I mean it seemed like you weren’t into guys until now. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Wait, what about Kelly?” Tyler barely kept up with Craig’s rambling, but the mention of his ex-girlfriend’s name made him catch every single word.

“Well... before everything happened. She made me promise to always make sure that you were happy even if I wasn’t because you deserved it.” Tears slide down their faces falling into the sand which simply absorbed the salty liquid. “Even if I can’t help you like a human would I promised I would still try.”

“What did you say?” Tyler saw the panic swirling in his eyes.

“That I should always keep you- you happy.”

“No after that. Can’t help you like a human? What’s that supposed to mean Mini?”

“Oh would you look at the time its way past Smitty’s bedtime. If you’ll excuse me-” Before Craig had a chance to escape Tyler grabbed his waist and sat on top of his legs eliminating his chances of running off. “T-Tyler! Let me go.”

“Not until you tell me what you meant.” Fiery flashed in his dark blue eyes, staring down at the smaller male as he tried not to make eye contact with him. Of course he failed, biting his lower lip. Finally with a heavy sigh he spoke, “I’m not human. I’m a siren.”

At first, Tyler didn’t know how he should have reacted. In his mind he felt that he would’ve screamed and hit the creature he’d always been told to be afraid of, but seeing that the so called monstrous creatures that killed people at sea was his best friend. He didn’t panic as much as he thought he would’ve. Although he still panic, “ Are you going to eat me?”

Giggles turned into loud laughter that ricocheted throughout the forest, slowly dying down as Craig seized his cackling, “What, no. Well only if I’m desperate, but you’re safe for now.”

His eyes widened expressing his slight panic, “I’m kidding we don’t eat people. Those stories are all rubbish, only meant to sympathies with man and belittle our kind.”

“Can I see it?” 

“See what? Oh, you mean… why don’t I show you the wonders of our world instead of just me.” Craig stood up and walked towards a tree, laying down his instrument, taking off his shirt and folding it neatly next to his ukulele. Next thing Tyler knew Craig began to run towards the sea, causing sand to be thrown back with his steps. Jumping into the water, he watched an outline of orange wander the rocks one by one until it came to a brief stop at one. Craig emerged from the water a moment later holding a teal plant in one hand and extending his other. “The water’s a bit cold but you’ll get used to it.”

Tyler hesitated for a moment still unsure about how he should process the information he’d discovered about one of his closest friends. How many more were there? How many of his friends were sirens?

“Ty. It’s okay, I promise I won’t let you go. Or eat you.” He chuckled as he approached the ocean. It played with his feet trying to pull him in closer to its bottomless wonder. Eventually, he walked to where Craig could no longer stand and floated instead. He placed the small plant into his hand and looked up at him with soft blue eyes. “Do you trust me?”

Tyler nodded, examining the plant as he brought them to his mouth, tasting the contrast between the saltiness of the environment but the sweetness of the plant itself. Craig smiled at him, grabbing his hand and submerging them into the cold abyss that hid beauties the world might never see. At first, the water burned his nostrils and eyes when he took his first breath, but slowly the plant took effect and helped his body adjust to the new habitat. Fish and life in the ocean was like he’d never seen before. It all looked so much more beautiful than anything he’d ever seen. What really took his breath away was Craig’s new form, a shiny orange tail replaced his “normal” pale legs, scales littered his skin and his fingers contained webbing in between. It was almost like a dream, but he knew this was real when Craig swam up to him and guided their lips together. Tasting and feeling the heat that cooled with the surrounding water, his scales brightened and flared as Tyler explored every inch of Mini’s mouth. Pulling away to admire one another and to see the audience they had created, fish came out of hiding to see the human and siren explore their world. Hands intertwined with one another.

~*~

Hours passed since Tyler and Craig had entered the water. The effects of the plant wearing off at the last few minutes of their adventure, oh the fun they had felt satisfying as they enjoyed the presence of each other back on the bay. Tyler had never felt so relaxed in his life, for once someone was taking care of him and he couldn’t complain this was the best day of his life. He laid his head on Craig’s lap as those delicate fingers danced and stroked his hair. “Hey, Tyler.”

He hummed as a response letting Craig know his exhaustion, “Thank you for today. I love you.”

He lazily opened his eyes and looked up at the smaller male, Craig pecked his lips soothing him to return to his daze. He closed his eyes once again, smiling as a tune lulled him into a deep slumber, feeling content and happy a feeling he had longed for.

“I guess I’ll have to face, that in this awful place, I shouldn’t show a trace of doubt. But pulled against the grain. I feel a little pain, that I would rather do without. I’d rather be free, free, free… I’d rather be free, free, free. Free, free, free… From here.”

Credits to the creators of the songs. This is Home by Cavetown, Love like you and Escapism by Rebecca Sugar.

[beingallelite]

Hoffman Estates, Illinois — All Elite Wrestling returned to familiar ground in the suburbs of Chicago on Saturday, trying to recreate the magic that launched the brand's leading stars into the wrestling stratosphere at last year's All In.

Mission accomplished.

All Out was a five-hour extravaganza, mixing diverse wrestling styles to create a show unlike anything fans had ever seen from a mainstream promotion. From the old-school southern shenanigans of Cody Rhodes and Shawn Spears to the state-of-the-art stunt spectacular performed by the Young Bucks and Lucha Brothers, it was a wrestling show that had something remarkable for every fan in the building.

The energy was electric—and contagious. The live crowd couldn't get enough, and the building was full to bursting with fans who felt invested, not just in individual wrestlers or storylines, but in the entire enterprise.

Something special is brewing in the wrestling industry, and AEW is at the heart of it.

Last week, Off the Top Rope's Jonathan Snowden talked to one of the event's architects, All Elite Wrestling executive Brandi Rhodes, about the launch of a new wrestling promotion, her savvy use of social media and her role in building a women's division from the ground up.

This week, we continue that conversation with a discussion of one of the most multifaceted talent rosters in professional wrestling history.

Jonathan Snowden: I'm assuming you're often the only woman in the room when a lot of important decisions are being made. Is it kind of your duty to keep an eye out for the other women on the roster and help make sure they aren't pushed in directions creatively that a man might not realize could make them uncomfortable?

Brandi Rhodes: That's the goal. I haven't had any situations like that yet, but we're about to start weekly TV. So we'll see some of the ideas. But there have been for myself at times in wrestling, times when I had to say, 'Hey, wait a minute, I'm not really comfortable with that' or, 'That doesn't work for me.'

It's interesting to see how a lot of people don't see the other side of the coin. Since they haven't been there. Someone might suggest your character say something that they'd never say. It doesn't occur to them that there are people who think differently about something, from another perspective.

I think it probably will be helpful to have me there. I'm also someone who is always looking at things from different angles. There's always two answers. Cody and I run a lot of things by each other. We're able to help each other see things differently than we would singularly.

JS: What's an example of a time you remember when you were asked to do something you didn't feel right about doing? Is there a moment that stands out?

Rhodes: Ideas that made it seem like I wasn't particularly faithful to my husband. That's an area I don't like to go. It's just not for me.

And the fans, they know us. They know Cody and I, and they like our relationship. So, I would never want to kind of scoff in their faces and make it seem like it's something that it's not.

JS: You guys have a slogan, "AEW is for everyone." I know just how real that is, and I wanted to personally thank you for your commitment to sensory inclusion. We have two kids on the autism spectrum, and going to an event like yours can be kind of terrifying. But we came out to Double or Nothing, and the sensory room you put together with KultureCity made a huge difference. Why was this so important to you? Because I was told you championed the cause.

Rhodes: Thank you for sharing that with me. I love hearing from people who had wonderful experiences with the sensory room. It really makes me so happy.

KultureCity actually reached out to me. I didn't know anything about them or their mission, because it was really vague to me what they represented. I met with [CEO] Julian Maha, and he told me that when we said "AEW is for everyone," it might not be true. He said: 'You're missing a big part of the market. You're missing people with invisible illnesses.' I said, 'Wow." Because we 100 percent were, and we hadn't thought about it.

It's just one of those things people don't think about unless it personally affects them. It can easily slip your mind unless you're confronted with it. But I've been to countless wrestling shows over the last seven or eight years. I've been a part of many meet-and-greets where someone had a need like this and no one knew what to do. Personally, it was embarrassing when we didn't know how to help people and they would just have to leave.

So, when Julian brought this up, I was all for it. If I can keep those moments from happening for any family, I'm all for whatever it takes to make that happen. We are fully in with KultureCity and doing everything we can to get them to as many events as possible.

JS: Inclusion seems to be important generally to this company. From Nyla Rose to Sonny Kiss to the Chinese superstars from OWE, you've been finding talent where most mainstream wrestling companies don't even think to look for it. Are there barriers you're intentionally breaking down, or is it just a matter of being open to talented performers, whatever their background might be?

Rhodes: It's not something we set out to do. We never said, 'We need to check these boxes.' That's not a good way to find the best talent, in my opinion. As long as you keep in mind that what you're looking for is the best person, regardless of anything else, you're going to find the best of the best. And I think that's what we've got here.

In our case, we were very, very lucky. A lot of talent just kind of fell in our lap, which is wonderful when you don't have to search very hard for such talented people.

Our agenda was always to have an open mind about everything. When you have someone like Sonny Kiss, who is very much on the surface who he is, there is no way we're going to say, 'Maybe he should be different, do different moves or act a different way.' He is who he is, and who he is is perfect. He's very talented, and we absolutely love having Sonny as part of the roster.

JS: You guys have made great use of social media. Before I was familiar with the wrestling work of many of your young performers, I met them on your YouTube shows Being The Elite and The Road to All Out series. Both those shows are great at making you really care about the people who make up this company.

But is that possible with some of the foreign talents? I think Riho and [Hikaru] Shida had a really compelling match at All Out—how do you present them on a YouTube show the same way with the language and cultural barriers that might be there?

Rhodes: That's always a challenge, as many people have seen in wrestling over the years with characters when English isn't their first language. However, there have also been plenty of examples where it hasn't been a factor at all because they've been able to express themselves in other ways.

There are things we have in mind to let people know more about some of these wrestlers and how they came to be, what their background is and who they are in the ring. It's something you'll have to see as we roll it out, but there are definitely plans.

JS: AEW launches on TNT on Oct. 2, just a few weeks after WWE takes their NXT brand into the mainstream on the USA Network. Old-school wrestling fans have seen a version of this before, but for new fans, this may be the first time they've been asked to make a choice. So, with WWE just a click away, why should fans choose to take a leap of faith with AEW?

Rhodes: We've been at the cusp of something amazing in wrestling, something we're calling a revolution. This is the first time in almost 20 years that there has been another brand that is this strong and on prime time.

The fanbase has expressed that they've wanted this and needed this for so long. It's been proven with the sellouts we've been having at multiple arenas throughout the country that people really, really do want this alternative.

We vow to bring that alternative in many, many ways. We've talked about it across many mediums, and we'll stay true to our belief that bell-to-bell wrestling is the most important thing.

Our roster is so diverse, and I think our show will be different than anything people have seen. We just hope to continue this movement, and fans will come with us and tune in every week so we can keep doing what we're doing. That's what makes this possible: the fans. As long as the fans keep rallying behind us and stick with us, we're going to do really, really well.

Brandi Rhodes is the chief brand officer for All Elite Wrestling and a standout performer. You can follow her on Twitter and YouTube for further glimpses into a life well-lived.

Match of the Week

Young Bucks vs. Lucha Brothers (AEW All Out, Aug. 31): These teams have been squaring off for months, to the point where their combined excellence has become almost routine. A ladder match successfully upped the ante, ramping up the danger, level of difficulty and excitement in ways that would have been unimaginable just two decades ago when Edge, Christian and the Hardy Boyz set the standard for all to follow.

With all due respect to WWE's legends of the form, this match surpassed even their best efforts. It was consistently innovative, daring and almost too much for several people in my section at Sears Centre, who hid their faces in their hands and literally begged for someone to stop the match before someone died in the ring.

No one did, but only because the performers executed some of the most bonkers highspots imaginable and almost never missed a beat.

'Hard Times' Promo of the Week

Chris Jericho was on top of the world as he cruised Tallahassee, Florida, in a limousine on his way to a local LongHorn Steakhouse. Jericho was the new AEW world champion, and to the victor go the spoils.

Afterward, however, there was a bit of a problem: he couldn't find the belt. As the internet mocked him savagely, Jericho leaned into the storm and made the moment his own.

Here's a taste of his genius, delivered in a hot tub with a scarf on, because it's Chris Jericho and he can:

"Now, as I sit here in my palatial estate, in my beautiful mansion, getting ready to have a little bit of the bubbly, I'm just imagining what I would do to that son of a b---h if he was here right now.

"And as a result, I am launching a worldwide investigation, using the top private investigators in the world today, to find out who committed this crime. And trust me, as the AEW champion ... I promise to regain and restore and find—and reclaim!—the AEW championship and once again give you another reason to finally give me the 'thank you' that I deserve.

"You're welcome."

Update: He got it back!

[decadentrpg-blog]

WELCOME AVI, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR THE ROLE OF OPHELIA PREWETT

Admins Note: i was absolutely floored by the clarity and conciseness of your take on Ophelia. I love how you’ve really considered all the facets of tragedy she’s facing. How terribly beautiful and broken she is - I can’t wait to see you develop her and grow her, where she shall become more than the melancholy she has been forced to be. Perhaps Ophelia shall find her own happiness and hope in a way never seen before! Congratulations on your acceptance again, please make sure to head your way to the checklist and submit your account within the next 24 hours!

Out of Character

Name / Alias: Avi Pronouns: She/Her Age: 24 Timezone: CST

In Character Application

Full Name: Ophelia Prewett Sexuality:  Heterosexual Gender/Pronouns: Cisgender Female, She/Her Hogwarts House: Slytherin

BACKGROUND / HISTORY.

Before the Fall.

They say school days are easily missed, easily the best time of your life … and she should’ve listened. Ophelia didn’t think too strongly of how her life might drastically change given the company she kept – how she would turn from burning sapphire, to rouge, to black. Before the decaying transformation, she was simply spoiled. Clueless about the world around her, about how money couldn’t save her from the troubles that brewed. She was sheltered, and somehow convinced to believe that everything would go as she had intended; people would walk to her tune, they would bow, they would dance as she instructed. The world was her dollhouse, and Ophelia played with it to her delight. The spoils of luxury were her first love, after all.

Cupid’s Arrow.

With riches at her fingertips, it was no surprise that she couldn’t buy love. In fact, she had never encountered such a thing before – something that required effort to obtain. Something even her own name, and status, couldn’t bend or break. It was new, it was exciting. What started off as an interest soon morphed into infatuation … only to crumble into an obsession ( a beautiful decay ). Why couldn’t Zion Potter love her? What could she have possibly lacked? The questions were endless as her patience shimmered – it was suffocating. These feelings, this sense of desperation. Love, in all honesty, hurt …  and no amount of money could stop the pain. It felt as if little knives were piercing into her skin, trying to salvage something from the boy she couldn’t have; from the boy that didn’t want her.

Marriage of Convenience.

Perhaps it had been a moment of weakness, a shot in the dark. She tried everything to win over the heart of another … then this strange opportunity had waltzed into her lap, willing. Aelius wanted to marry her, and anyone without an ailing heart would’ve instantly said yes. After all, the Malfoy family had been well respected, well recognized – while her own family might’ve disowned the redhead had she refused. But … there were more reasons to accept than decline this opportune match. It was the hope that maybe, just maybe, her prince charming would come save her. That the entire thing would implode in his face, and he would declare his undying love ( as she ran into his arms, the sunset glowing in the distance ). It was the perfect plan … until it wasn’t. The walk down the aisle couldn’t have been avoided, neither could her shattering heart. And Ophelia was left to wonder if she had been lied to, been fooled … because weren’t all love stories supposed to have a happy ending?

Combustion.  

Like a boiling pot of water, everything seemed to pop! The fairytale wedding quickly turned into a grim marriage – one filled with screaming, and distaste, and regret. Ophelia couldn’t help herself, she couldn’t stop from falling ( from turning into a broken being of sorts ). Her agony was released on her husband as he tossed it back at her, with full force. They fell apart before there was a chance to even be together. While she carried the blame partially, she also carried bitterness. None of this would’ve happened if their alliance had been avoided. None of this heartache would’ve unearthed if Zion didn’t …  look at another in that manner. She was jealous, she was fragile. And in the depths of emotional turmoil, she declared that Aelius would suffer too. He would feel her pain as she intended to never let him go. He would feel the emptiness of loving … and being unloved in return.

Summary / Why this character?

I wanted to get out Ophelia’s thoughts, and her feelings, about her messy relationships. Primarily focused on Zion and Aelius, but also her character as a whole. From being a girl who had everything … to having almost nothing that she truly wanted, it’s quite a tragic depiction. Her name is also something that speaks to her character, because it reminds me of Ophelia from Hamlet, who essentially drowned to prove her love’s worth. It’s symbolic, and dark, and you can see it reflected across a woman who has had such a difficult journey with love. I’m mostly curious to play her because I want her to embrace some self-love, and care, even if she can’t let go of these feelings that haunt her. If anything, she must learn how to cope and manage these relationships. Not to mention, Maxima and Genevieve seem to offer a breath of fresh air that her two boys cannot. She’s an intensely broken, yet powerful character. And I cannot wait to see her bloom in this world.

HEADCANONS.

Fashion.

As a teenager, she would wear a plethora of color – the latest fashion trend easily obtained by her request. It was fun, being able to express herself ( and impress others ) by the clothes that hugged her skin. Not to mention, it only played into the hierarchy of pureblood status; people in her social circle didn’t dress like peasants.

However, during her marriage, Ophelia wore mostly dark colors. It reflected her thoughts, and feelings, about the people around her. About herself. Bright colors irritated her, reminded her of the blissful past where nothing had haunted her ( where her feelings hadn’t unraveled ). Her wardrobe, at one point, probably mimicked a clothing shop specifically tailored for funerals. And the one thing that stood out amongst the shades of gray … was her white wedding dress. Mocking her.

These days, she’s slowly introduced some patterns back into her life. Some semblance of control. Sharp edges and fabrics that brought attention to her form, attention to herself. Perhaps it was a way of deflecting that sad, little persona that Ophelia had embodied, and carried, for years. But it was time for a change – and why not freshen up her wardrobe in preparation?

Drinking. (tw: alcoholism)

There were many ways to numb the pain, but there weren’t many ways to shake up her mind, scramble her thoughts so hard that Ophelia couldn’t think straight – couldn’t think about him. Drinking a glass of wine every night wasn’t anything worrisome, not within her family. However, drinking more than a glass on the bad nights had somehow turned into a routine. It only amplified upon her marriage, upon everything else that had followed. Perhaps it even contributed to her madness. A mimicry of Icarus falling … for she had no wings to carry her, and no lover to hold. Liquor would have to simply suffice instead.

Children.

Ophelia had always loved indulgence, especially during her younger days. It led her to fantasize about having her own mansion one day, with beautiful pillars that highlighted a grand entrance. She would often think about her ideal closet, and the amount of clothes and jewelry that would fit inside of it. She would sit and imagine all sorts of things, and wonder more importantly about family. While she never thought about children from a motherly perspective, the redhead always assumed them to be living dolls. Things she could play with, dress up, show off. Children weren’t something she was dying to have … and especially not once she got married. In fact, her ideal fantasy had shattered the moment she grew older and realized that happy endings didn’t exist – pity. She should’ve kept her eyes shut, kept her dreams flowing.

Foreign.

The journey to the United States wasn’t something she had planned or felt excited about – Ophelia simply had wanted to get away. Perhaps part of her had hoped that a change of scenery would shake all her troubles away, the ones that brewed with unrequited love and the union of marriage. At least her friends would be nearby, knowing that the loneliness that ate at her heart surely couldn’t grow much more. However, the change of pace and faces did nothing to appease her. If anything, it felt like a lost cause – one she couldn’t escape either. If Aelius chose to stay, she would stay too. She wouldn’t let him off the hook so easily ( nor could she turn away from Potter’s presence ). It had been a strange prison of sorts, because in hindsight, she could very easily leave. Start fresh, start anew. Except Ophelia felt compelled to drown further … and reawaken in the very city where she had fallen ( a rebirth that required rising from the ashes ).

In Character Paragraph:

Ophelia stared at her reflection in the mirror, noticing the way red lipstick seemed to bring some life back into her skin. It had been two weeks since she had stormed off, the separation between her husband only growing with each passing second. Oddly enough, instead of feeling panicked, she felt … calm. A sense of ease had settled into her mind ( and she wanted to cherish it ). In fact, the only thing that did feel out of place was the written invitation that sat on her vanity, reminding her of tonight’s affairs.

Pureblood Society would be having a nightly soiree, a gathering where chatter and formalities would be exchanged. Some would call it a chance to socialize … but Ophelia felt as if it had been a chore that she purposely ignored. Until time slipped out of her hands, forcing her to address the situation. It wouldn’t surprise her if that rumors had spread like wildfire – the ones that circled around her estranged husband. The death of a marriage. And yet, she refused to dress for its funeral.

No, not this time.

Upon her entrance, they wouldn’t talk about something that couldn’t be reflected in her image. No more bloodshot, red eyes from crying. No more hoarse voice from the impact of screaming. Nothing about her appearance would suggest otherwise … and they would all look and turn, the loss of words cutting into their throats. Ophelia had a perchance for rage, and vengeance, and tonight … she wouldn’t let anyone speak ill of her.

Not in the presence of her so-called estranged husband.

Adding another touch of powder across her cheeks, the redhead stood up, admiring her appearance once more. She hadn’t felt this dolled up in ages, knowing Genevieve would have to be thanked later ( after all, it was one of her oldest friends that had extended the invite ). Walking away from the mirror, Ophelia felt herself realign, and reawaken, as her heels tapped across the floor.

Despite the short journey, she found herself pausing for a moment in front of the door ( gathering herself again, reaching for the pieces that hadn’t entirely fragmented ). Her jaw tightened, her eyes hardening as gloved fingers pushed through – the slight creak of the door indicating her awaited arrival.

Ophelia smiled, the same smile she had practiced in the mirror. The same smile she had learned to wear throughout her marriage.

The very same smile … except, this time, it felt real.

Extras:

PLAYLIST:

Wicked Game by Ursine Vulpine ft. Annaca Night by Einuadi Ludovico Waiting Game by BANKS Radio Silence by James Blake Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys

[brinatsukinostarfleetmage]

I have slightly more energy today

I feel a little less like I got hit by a truck today. I’m currently spending time catching up on some much needed leisure reading. I haven’t read Harry Potter in a while. But first, I think it’s time I introduced the rest of my spirits, and explained more about how the Celestial Spirit side of my magic works.

I’ve mentioned previously that Celestial Spirit magic is similar to requip magic in that it draws from a different dimensional plane. However, it’s a little more complicated. You see, each constellation, and even some individual stars, has a Spirit, and each of those spirits has a key. Some constellations have more than one of the same Spirit. Those are the more common spirits, and are attached to silver keys. They are generally the least powerful, and less useful in battle, but they each are very special and useful in their own ways. Crux, the Southern Cross, is one of these. As are Lyra, the Lyre, and Horologium, the Clock.

Some constellations only have one or two spirits, but they have multiple keys, and the spirits divide their time between their key holders. These are attached to jeweled silver keys. Much more rare, and generally powerful. These are generally better suited for combat, and take more power to summon, as well. Aquila the Eagle, and Orion the Huntsman both belong to this group. Many of these, particularly those who are animals like Aquila, can shift between shapes. Draco the Dragon is the most powerful of them, and he is on par with the Zodiac spirits.

I’ve already mentioned the Zodiacs. They are basically the leaders of the spirits, at least they have been for a long time. Leo is their leader. The Zodiacs only have one key, a golden key. Lucy and I are the only mages since ancient times to be able to summon more than two of these at once. Summoning them takes an extraordinary amount of power, which is why so many celestial spirit mages tend to stay in the background while their spirits fight. It’s also why most mages underestimate us.

The only spirits that take more power to summon than the Zodiacs are the platinum keys. These keys do not belong to constellations, but to individual stars. Generally either the brightest stars in the sky, or stars at the heart of another spirit, particularly the Zodiacs. They are very wary of humans, and it takes a great deal to gain their trust. Unless they deem you worthy, they’re impossible to summon at all. If you try to summon one without enough energy, unlike the others, you can’t stop. It will kill you. Luckily, after the first summoning, these spirits will use the their own power to fight. All the mage has to do is call. But they should only be used in the gravest of situations. We don’t know how many of these there are, because most of them have been missing for centuries, and some for over a thousand years. I’ve only found one so far: Regulus. The Heart of the Lion. When summoned together, Regulus and Leo are incredibly powerful. From what Regulus has said, he will be the easiest to convince and summon. Which is ominous, because he took a massive amount of power. I passed out the first time. Admittedly, I was mid-battle trying to stop someone else from stealing his key, but still.

There is one more Spirit. He doesn’t actually have a key. The Celestial Spirit King rules all the spirits. Only a mage capable of summoning three Zodiac spirits at once can summon him, and to do so they must sacrifice a golden key that they have a close bond with. Lucy had to do it with Aquarius, her oldest friend, a long time ago. The key eventually reappeared in the world, but it nearly broke Lucy. Luckily, the king is a friend to us both. He’s very kind, actually.

Now, about the individual spirits.

Silver keys:

Antlia- the air pump. She doesn’t actually look like a pump. She looks like a person. Has wind magic. Can be good at dealing with bad weather. Very shy.

Apus- the bird of paradise. Like several others, he’s good for passing messages. Great at causing distractions. He does fly, but he can’t really carry anything. Very full of himself.

Ara- the altar. Very intelligent and empathetic. Good for undercover work. Her main skill is actually puzzle solving.

Auriga- the chariot. One of the most useful silver keys. Auriga is perfect for very fast land transport. If you have an injured party member, or you need to lead someone on a chase, or a quick getaway, Auriga is very helpful. He’s also very respectful.

Bootes- the herdsman. Great with animals. There’s been a fair few monster attacks where I’ve used him to get animals out of the way, and he’s gotten them to actually help in some missions, like with bandits.

Caelum- the chisel. Caelum is basically a glorified weapon to most. He can switch between a sword form and cannon form. He’s actually quite good at helping to build things when given the chance though.

Camelopardalis- the giraffe. I call her Cami at her request. She can actually change her height as needed. Good for reaching high places if there’s not enough space for a different spirit to fly. Very boisterous.

Canes Venatici- the hunting dogs. As their name suggests, they’re very good hunters and trackers and very fast.

Canis Minor- the little dog. Also called Nikora as a species. Does not look like a dog. Most celestial spirit mages keep them basically as pets. Very loyal and sweet. Lucy’s is named Plue. Mine is Nala (no, it wasn’t a lion king reference. I named her before the lion king, or even Disney, was a concept).

Cetus- the whale. Needs water to be summoned. I’ve used Cetus to stop a tsunami before. Very intelligent. A little overpowered for a normal water fight though.

Chamaeleon- the chameleon. Master of disguise, very good at sneaking and getting me into places.

Circinus- the compass. Not that compass. The kind that makes a circle. Circinus is a good puzzle-solver, and is very good at math. He’s kind of a downer sometimes, but we love him anyway.

Columba- the dove. A peacemaker. Columba can calm heightened emotions to a certain point and make it easier to come to a resolution. Also delivers messages, especially over long distances.

Coma Berenice’s- Berenice’s hair. I still don’t understand this legend. This one is meant to be summoned with another, generally female, to increase agility and speed.

Corona Australis- the southern crown. Summoned with a southern constellation to increase strength and endurance.

Corona Borealis- the northern crown. Does the same, but with northern constellations.

Corvus- the crow. Messenger, but is also good for distractions and quick getaways, because his special ability is to cause instant darkness for his opponent in a certain area.

Crater- the cup. Crater can actually brew potions, of which there are many, with many uses. He produces them in a tenth of the normal brewing time.

Crux- the southern cross. He’s the keeper of the library in the Celestial Spirit world. He’s the go-to for research and questions and analysis of data.

Cygnus- the swan. Cygnus actually is a fighter, though his endurance is lacking. He’s fast and graceful though.

Delphinus- the dolphin. Great for a water fight, very fast and strong. And a total sweetheart.

Dorado- the swordfish. Works well with Delphinus. Unlike Delphinus, he can fight out of the water, but he still has to be near water, or on a boat.

Equuleus- the little horse. He’s adorable. He can’t really carry people, but he can carry equipment. He’s a little clumsy, but he’s got great stamina.

Eridanus- the river. One of the strongest silver keys, he has incredible control over water. But he can’t control salt water. Only fresh water.

Fornax- the furnace. Some control over fire. Very good in cold climates.

Grus- the crane. His balance is extraordinary. He’s a fighter, and a protegee of Libra.

Horologium- the clock. Not just for telling time. In times of extreme danger, Horologium can place the endangered person inside himself and protect them. He’s nearly invincible, but he can’t actually fight.

Hydrus- the water snake. Very sneaky and fast. When summoned with Hydra, it makes Hydra much stronger. Has poison.

Indus- the Indian. He showed up much later in my life than some of them. It was not a fun time in Earth’s history. He’s a good fighter, and very in-tune with nature. He can communicate with it and even manipulate it, plants and animals alike. But he’s very sad.

Lacerta- the lizard. Sneaky little bugger. Can regrow limbs to a point. Can shift between humanoid and lizard forms.

Leo Minor- the little lion. We call him Luke. He’s. Well. In my first life, Loke and I were kind of together. We’re not anymore, though we’re still best friends, but. Um. Let’s just say Luke was born as half-Spirit and decided to become a full spirit later.

Lepus- the rabbit. Very quick. A little jittery. Good messenger, good at making and undoing traps, ironically enough.

Lynx- the lynx. A fighter. Very fast. Very strong.

Lyra- the harp. She’s a musician, obviously. She’s good at finding just the right song for a situation. She’s actually quite smart, too.

Mensa- the table. Intelligent. Good planner. Good at strategy. Literally is a table though.

Microscopium- the microscope. Good at noticing the small details that I might miss. Very smart. Often assists Crux in analysis.

Musca- the fly. A great spy. That’s literally his main job.

Norma- the surveyor’s level. Is a builder. Humanoid. Works with several other spirits to repair and build just about anything.

Octans- the octant. Navigation expert. Works with Pyxis to plot a course to just about anywhere.

Pavo- the peacock. Actually a fighter. Uses his feathers as projectiles.

Pictor- the easel. Similar magic to Reedus. Works with Norma to build things. Pictor paints the parts needed into life.

Pyxis- the ship’s compass. Works with Octans, and literally looks like a penguin with a compass on his head.

Reticulum- the net. Actually like a telescope eyepiece. Good at seeing very far distances. Helpful in long range battles.

Sagitta- the arrow. Similar use to Caelum on his own, but when used with Sagittarius, the strength of both is increased.

Sculptor- the sculptor. Also works with Norma and Pictor to build and repair.

Scutum- the shield. Very helpful, especially when I need to fight and defend someone else at the same time.

Serpens- the serpent. Similar to Hydrus. Strengthens the magic of Ophiuchus the snake charmer.

Sextans- the sextant. Works with Octans and Pyxis. Very good at knowing exact location.

Telescopium- the telescope. Stronger with Reticulum. Can also work with Reti and Sagitta to aim long distance.

Triangulum- the triangle. Works with the other builders. Allows me to calculate angles instantly when I have to do really reckless things like jumping near, onto, or off of cliffs.

Triangulum Australe- the southern triangle. Does basically the same thing. Stronger in the Southern Hemisphere. They work well together.

Tucana- the toucan. Mimics voices. Can make it seem like a group is bigger than it is. Trickster. Helpful in carrying out an ambush of a dark guild.

Ursa Minor- the little bear. Unique. Stronger with Ursa Major, but not a fighter. Ursa Minor is one of the strongest silver spirits because he can create a bridge. Like a rainbow bridge from one place to another. Allows for instant transport of larger groups.

Volans- the flying fish. Actually flies and swims. Very versatile. Can allow others to breathe underwater.

Vulpecula- the little fox. Incredibly sneaky. She’s great for blending in. Humanoid form. Good tracker and hunter. A massive flirt.

Now for the jeweled silver keys. Bear with me. Not many more to go. I’ve already talked about the Zodiacs, after all. Many of these are strengthened by the stars they contain.

Andromeda- the princess. Only one of her, three keys total. Stronger with Perseus. Her chains can bind a mage’s magic. Contains the Andromeda galaxy and four other galaxies.

Argo- the ship. Is now split into three constellations, but is still one Spirit. Can only be summoned a few times a year. Can travel vast distances in a much shorter time. With effort, it could likely encompass and transport the entire Enterprise.

Aquila- the eagle. A fighter. Switches between humanoid and eagle shape. Has saved many from falling to death. Myself included. Contains the star Altair, of the Summer Triangle, who is a platinum key. Stronger in the summer.

Canis Major- the big dog. Incredibly strong and fast. Would be much stronger if I could find Sirius’ key.

Cassiopeia and Cepheus- the king and queen. They come as a pair. They won’t form a contract unless the key holder possesses both. Cassiopeia uses fortune-telling magic and can see the future. Cepheus uses what she sees to fight.

Centaurus- the centaur. An incredible fighter with both the sword and the bow. Incredibly fast. Contains Alpha Centauri, a platinum key.

Draco- the Dragon. Contains the platinum star Etamin. Can switch between dragon and humanoid form. The strongest of the jeweled keys.

Hercules- the hero. I don’t think he needs an explanation.

Hydra- the serpent. Cut off one head, two more will take its place.

Lupus- the wolf. Also switches forms. Became stronger when the Romans were strong.

Monoceros- the unicorn. Incredibly powerful protection magic.

Orion- the hunter. Fighter, hunter, and tracker. Stronger with the hunting dogs. Contains one confirmed platinum key- Betelgeuse. It also contains unconfirmed platinums Bellatrix and Rigel.

Pegasus- the flying horse. Strengthens Hercules. Incredibly fast.

Perseus- the Medusa killer. Strengthened by Andromeda. A legend. Contains the star Mirphak. Unknown if platinum or not.

Phoenix- the fire bird. Incredibly powerful. Can use fire, and can heal any wound as long as the key holder has enough power.

Piscis Austrinus- the southern fish. Used to be much stronger. A fighter, specializing in aquatic climates. Contains the confirmed platinum star Fomalhaut.

Ursa Major- the great bear. She’s very protective, and very strong.

I won’t discuss the Zodiacs here, as I’ve said. But there are several other platinum keys I haven’t mentioned. We know very little about most of them.

Sirius- Canis Major; Arcturus- Bootes; Alpha Centauri- Centaurus; Vega- Lyra; Rigel (?)- Orion; Procyon- Canis Minor; Betelgeuse- Orion; Altair- Aquila; Fomalhaut- Piscis Austrinus; Deneb- Cygnus; Bellatrix (?)- Orion; Mirphak- Perseus; Dubhe (?)- Ursa Major; Polaris- Ursa Minor; Alphard- Hydra; Alpharatz- Andromeda; Etamin- Draco

All of the Zodiacs have a platinum counterpart except Ophiuchus.

Hamal- Aries; Situla- Aquarius; Tegmen- Cancer; Algieba (?)- Leo; Regulus- Leo; Aldebaran- Taurus; Spica- Virgo; Antares- Scorpio; Castor and Pollux- Gemini; Alshat- Capricorn; Brachium- Libra; Terebellum- Sagittarius; Alrisha- Pisces.

There may be other individual stars we don’t know about yet. There are even spirits for other mythologies. Like the Chinese Zodiac. But we stay away from those because having the two groups interact can be very dangerous.

I’ve been told that Sirius is waiting for me. That’s who I’m looking for now. No sign yet, but hopefully one day soon.

[yournewapartment]

I noticed you have a knack for house hold hacks and I have 2 questions, if you don't mind :) 1. Do you know of any objects/decor that makes noise for sleeping? I can't sleep in silence and I'll be putting my fan away soon and I also don't have a tv in my room so I'm not sure what else to use 2. Are drawer fragrances a thing? My dressers are wooden and if my clothes are in there for too long they get this weird wood, stale smell that I'm not sure how to avoid. Thanks in advance!

Oh man… I was born for this ask.

I too cannot fall asleep without some sort of white noise generator. I even sleep with a fan on during the winter because I have a hard time falling asleep without noise. I just throw a blanket over it so that it doesn’t blow cold air into my room.

However, there are lots of free “white noise” websites that you can play off of your computer for free that are essentially the same idea. Some of the more popular ones even have iphone apps. Check it:

Sound Generators

1. Simply Noise: If I’m in a hotel or staying over at a friend’s house, this is my go-to generator. Good ole white noise! The website also offers “pink” and “brown” noise, which are different in tambor. They have an app that you can download (also free).

2. Rainy Mood: Possibly the most famous “sound generator” website. It’s a virtual thunderstorm on a thirty minute loop. I personally don’t like this one, because of the loop- there’s a slight pause after the first thunderstorm ends and the next one begins. Super high quality and realistic, and they do have an instrumental tune of the day that you can choose to play over the storm.

3. Simply Rain: From the creators of “Simply Noise”. Simply Rain is highly adjustable (frequency of thunder, etc) and works the same way the sister site does. And no loop! Continuous noise! But it definitely does not sound as realistic as Rainy Mood. They have an app that you can download (also free).

4. Coffitivity: Maybe not the best for sleeping, but this is my favorite “get shit done” website. The creators believe that a certain amount of ambient background noise is helpful to stimulate your brain and get you working. These generators sound like you’re sitting in a college coffee house drinking a nitro cold brew. While not customizable, there are many different “coffee house” recordings for you to choose from.

5. August Ambience: I found this website last winter when I was longing for a little bit of summer. Literally sounds like your parent’s backyard during the summer complete with crickets, cicadas, and tree frogs. Not customizable, but so lovely to fall asleep to. This website is also on a loop, but I’m not sure how long it is.

6. Eco Sounds: I’ve been looking for a good sea generator for a long time, and this is the best one I’ve found so far. Fully customizable in terms of waves, water splash, and seagulls. Relaxing and wonderful, and it does have an app.

Good Smelling Things

1. Scented Beads: I’ve been preaching the word of scented beads for several years now, because they’re so dang cool. Just the look of them is amazing, and I find that they work better than other air fresheners. I would recommend that you avoid buying any Dollar Store scented beads (I’ve had bad experiences) and just spend a couple extra dollars and buy them on Amazon.

2. Pot Pourri: Pot Pourri are essentially dried petals, fake fruit, cinnamon sticks, etc that are lathered in oil and smell AMAZING. While a bit more pricey than some of these other options, I’m recommending them because you can buy a small bag and stash it inside your drawers to save space. They last about as long as typical air fresheners do, but these are somewhat DIY reusable. You can buy an oil of your choice and re-scent them and they’re good to go. 

3. Activated Charcoal: I have not personally used these, but a friend of mine swears by them. He boxes and apparently boxing gloves get pretty rank pretty fast, so he uses these things to control the odor. The more organic option: “Febreze contains 87 different chemicals such as neurotoxins, carcinogens, allergens and skin/eye/lung irritants! Shocked?Activated Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifiers have 1 ingredient: Charcoal, packaged in a beautiful linen bag.This makes it natural, non-toxic, chemical & fragrance-free, reusable, sustainable and entirely “green”.”

4. Febreze: I know, I know. Toxic AF. But these small spaces air fresheners really work, and might be more suitable for sticking in a drawer with clothes. I’ve linked to Amazon, but you may be able to find them cheaper in your local grocery store.

Good luck!

[feeltheblaziker]

Arctic Dogs Movie Review/Rant

So... that movie made me come out of Tumblr retirement, eh? 

If you want to see my review of Arctic Dogs, check out my review at: https://boxd.it/10CTln. Otherwise, if you want to continue reading that review on Tumblr, sigh...

Story and Writing: 0/5 Animation: 0/5 Characters and Voice Acting: 0/5 Score and soundtrack: 0/5 Overall Score: 0/20 Rating: Burn in Hell (0/5) Song: "Look Away" by Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman - youtu.be/B5hBZC-SIsE

The lazy movie poster with the Clipart-grade title card (I refused to call it a movie poster) says it all. It's the worst animated movie of 2019.

Arctic Dogs (or Arctic Justice) is what happens when Battlefield Earth, Aloha, United Passions and Norm of the North all gangbang each other to give birth to the ultimate form of animated movie cringe. I had to see it in theatres for a student price of S$6.50 (or $4.70 USD) and I wish I had my 90 plus minutes and that ticket price back. Heck, even I would want my free ticket back if I have one. So, how bad was it? (Spoiler alert: EVERYTHING)

Story and Writing:

Usually, I would put up a small spoiler-free summary of the movie, but I'm gonna go straight to the chase: it's the worst story of all the animated movies in 2019, period. Even worse than Norm of the North 2.

The story offers nothing new and it featured one of the worst, if not the worst animated movie protagonist of recent memory (We'll talk about him later). It also didn't help that because of the terrible 'writing' that was filled with cringe-worthy 'comedy' and a cliche-heavy script with extremely unbearable dialogue that sometimes don't make sense, not to mention the 90 plus minute runtime felt like three hours (yes, I swore I stayed in the theatre for 3 hours). I watched it in a threate (the biggest mistake I have ever made in my entire life) with my best friend and after the first twenty minutes, he gave up and played a video game on his mobile phone.

To call it 'writing' or even 'first-draft writing' is an insult to the art of animated movie writing or lack thereof. It was such an amazement into how this quality of writing was accepted and greenlit for a wide release animated movie, especially when the writers had written the scripts for Escape from Planet Earth and The Nut Job 2!

Animation:

It doesn't help that it's the same studio behind the Norm series that was in charge of the animation and what I saw was incredible: glitchy animation that looked like it was only halfway through production. In addition, the character designs looked bland, the effects cheap and nasty and the background animation non-existent.

Also, character movement, while acceptable, are not well-animated and the fur animation is half-baked. There are times where the dialogue is out of sync with the mouth movements, a clear sign it's a low budget animated movie (and not one with $50 million US dollars).

I may not be an animation student, but even I would be able to pinpoint the many animation flaws within the movie For a movie on $50 million USD, it should have the budget for a decent, generic animation, but I got unfinished C-grade animation, which is an insult even to the price of the student ticket in Singapore, especially when the easiest element to animate, snow, is so artifical I could easily compare it to Norm of the North (which was made by that same studio).

Characters and Voice Acting:

To talk about how terrible Swifty is as a protagonist is going to be the length of a 2,000-word essay (yes, Swifty was such a terible protagonist I have a whole lot to say about him), so I'm going to say this: Swifty is a terrible role model to kids because he takes advantage of someone's misfortunes without caring for the consequences, nor taking a moment to reflect on his actions. TL:DR, he's an egoistic bastard.

Jade, Swifty's love interest, had a terrible accent that also nothing engaging (Heidi Klum, as much of a nice lady she is, should never be allowed to voice act again), PB was fine but nothing special (actually, I take it back, he's the only bearable charater in the entire movie, pun intended), Magda was the Russian-accented caribou (NOT A MOOSE), Lemmy was supper annoying (was Franco smoking weed while voice acting, as per usual?) and the two French conspiracy theorist otters, Leopold and Bertha, were even more annoying (It doesn't help that Leopold was voiced by Omar Sy, a fantastic French actor who doesn't deserve to voice Norm in the French dub of Norm 1, and Berths was voiced by Klum... again, except even worse).

Otto, as the antagonist, was one-dimensional. And his puffins are rip-offs to the minions. I didn't even mention the Top Dogs, particularly Michael Madsen, who instead of cutting people's ears is delivering mail. Great.

What's even worse is the voice acting. What's the point of hiring well-known actors when they not only cannot voice well, but they made their characters even worse and unbearable? Their voice acting is so half assed, it's not even funny. However, at least Cleese did a fantastic job voicing Otto, even if he's a one-dimensional villain.

Score and soundtrack:

The David Buckley score felt obnoxiously grand because of how terrible the movie was in the first place. However, it's the soundtrack that had me at a loss at words... for all the wrong reasons.

There are 5 Renner songs in the first place. FIVE.

While I applaud Renner's efforts (consiering it's not his first time making music, and "Main Attraction" is not a terrible song in spite of it being an Imagine Dragons reject song), the problem is that all his songs were not only out of place, but up the cringe factor of the entire movie. One of my friends (who only listened to the soundtrack) commented that it's such a dissociation from the Renner I knew from Avengers and Arrival.

This is especially so for "Believer", which highlights Swifty's ego and arrogance, so much so that when I listened to the soundtrack on a train ride home, it was so annoying that I thought my newly bought earphones felt broken. No, I'm not kidding. (The earphones are the AKG-tuned Samsung ones you get when you bought a Samsung phone, and this rumoured to cost about $150 in Singapore (I bought an authentic pair for only $20)).

Conclusion:

When I review movies, my policy was to always give movies a constructive review where I talked about the good and bad of the movie and whether enjoyed it. I usually never talked down on movies since the crew behind such movies have worked hard to make them a reality. However, if the movie I'm reviewing is so bad it pisses me off into how incompentent and torturing the movie was, I will call it out. I never sugarcoat my review to make it sound good; for me, the honest truth matters more, especially if there is little to no effort put into the movie at all.

To say this was one of the most unnecessary animated movies of all time was putting it very lightly. This dared to exist in theatres across the world where it should have gone straight to DVD or Netflix in the first place.

A terribly written story that felt broken, cringe-worthy 'comedy', a virtually non-existent script, low-grade animation, a cast of unbearable and forgettable characters and one of the worst sounding soundtracks of all time. It's everything you expect from an animated movie trainwreck that was completely unnecessary and irredeemable.

While this movie is 100% unsafe for regular consumption and most regular folk should stay away, I highly recommend it to those brave enough to venture into the depths of terrible animation, or for a drunk screening because for sure, the cold brew hits.

However, as crazy as I would suggest, if given a choice, I would rather watch this again than Netflix's The I-Land, because I would rather laugh at this movie's incompetence than raging at the many stupid decisions everyone who worked on The I-Land made. So there, it's not the worst thing that came out in 2019, which is the only good thing from the movie.

Gosh, ranting about this nasty delivery makes me tired... Time to return to the Tumblr retirement home... 

[fluorescentmythicalbeastie-blog]

Fantastic Eggs and Where to Find Them - Chapter 5 - Hello, NY

*Back for more! Thanks to my loyal readers who have followed Newt and Tina on their adventure to find Smidgens’ eggs. I suggest you reading the previous chapters if you haven’t already, for this startup hinges on it. Enjoy!*

“Barely anything.” Tina admitted, warily getting to her feet. Newt poured a cup of tea and slid it across the table, encouraging her with a brief glance. Tina took a thoughtful sip of the steaming brew. Newt had just returned from his forest excursion and, after discovering Smidgens' eggs, was very concerned for the safety of the others.

“They followed Smidgens for two weeks before capturing her. Did you see them while you were watching her?” Tina inquired. “They knew where she was for two weeks? They waited that long?” Newt ignored Tina’s question by presenting two of his own, confusion crimping his face.  He didn’t wait for an answer. He set down Smidgens’ papers and covered the wooden surface with the stained sheets, scanning each one individually. Tina came to his side of the table, equaling his concentration and taking particular interest in his sketches. He thought he heard a muttering of “You’re a great artist…” but he couldn’t be sure.

“There were four eggs in total, Tina.” he muttered, tracing his finger across the trail map of Smidgens’ flight patterns. “You think someone stole them?” she queried. Newt didn’t feel the need to answer. Instead, he straightened and began pacing the length of the room, mumbling to himself. He spun around to face Tina.

“Why would they follow her for two weeks without capturing her? During those two weeks—” Newt presented a small sheet of paper from his pocket “—she had three accidents. One involved a muggle—No-Maj—, the second set a department store on fire and the third…” Newt’s voice trailed away. It was difficult to talk about Smidgens in a way that might make her disrespected. The third incident resulted in death of a young witch. After the first accident, why hadn’t they attempted to capture her to avoid more destruction?—Not to mention the great amount of Oblivation that had to be done.

“What do you know about Igor Orgnuk?” asked Newt, gaging Tina’s reaction as he spoke the name of the overseer of Smidgens’ capture. She sucked in a breath and spoke from memory. “He’s been on MACUSA’s list for years. After so many trials, we aren’t allowed to open an investigation until we receive a complaint or find evidence of foul play.” Newt rapped his knuckles against the table for a moment, considering this. “I suppose I could submit a complaint.” he said. Tina shook her head and dropped her soulful brown gaze to her feet. “Do you think Picquery will take anything you say seriously? She’ll think it’s about revenge.” said Tina truthfully. Newt turned away from her and sighed heavily. He felt as if heavy sandbags were roped to his shoulders, dragging him closer into the pit of despair. He felt useless to Smidgens and her eggs. He was sick of being targeted by authoritative figures.

“Newt?” Tina’s voice cut through Newt’s depressing thoughts. He turned to her, expecting to see a look of pity or remorse. Instead, her eyes were beaming brightly and she was standing at attention. “We should head back to New York. I’ll find out more about Orgnuk and you can take care of the egg.” Tina was desperately trying to keep Newt clinging to hope. Newt drummed his fingers on the nearest surface while contemplating this suggestion. It made sense. There was nothing more to do in the forest. “How are you feeling?” Newt inquired. Tina waved her hand dismissively. “Dizzy spells here and there, but I’ll be fine.” assured Tina.

         Newt agreed to the plan and departed the workshop to do a last minute check on his creatures. Tina also wanted to change into the only extra set of clothes she had brought. Newt knew that this, the plan of heading back to New York, was all for the best, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Tina was trying to shake him off like dust from her shoes. Had she come to a decision about Newt? For once, Newt was on the verge of asking Tina outright. No, he’d wait.

           Newt allowed Tina longer time to rest, claiming she needed to keep an eye on the egg. He disembarked from the briefcase and clasped it shut, trekking through the dark forest alone. It was almost sunup when he began the daylong journey to the nearest road. He hummed little tunes, thought of not-very-funny jokes and soaked in the dawn beauty of nature. While doing all these things, he was wishing that Tina was alongside him. When he caught himself thinking these things, he would perform simple spells to keep himself busy. It wasn’t until noontime that Newt allowed Tina to accompany him. He was attempting to be very cautious with her health. He had never had to take care of an ill person before and he wasn’t sure how to go about it. Luckily, Tina seemed to be on the up and up.

“You know,” began Tina, stopping Newt in his tracks. He turned around, swinging his briefcase in front him. When he caught sight of Tina, he was painfully reminded just how beautiful she was. She stood in a swath of sunshine, glowing against the dim timberland background. An abashed smile spread across Newt’s face, giving him a very dopey appearance. “This really is gorgeous land.” said Tina, affectionately patting the tree she leaned against. Newt made a noncommittal grunt and continued walking. He was having trouble focusing on much of anything. One minute he was feeling helpless and full of despair, hoping to continue onward and find out a way to find the other eggs, but the next he was unable to make a plan to save his life—err, to save the life of Smidgens’ eggs. His mother had once described such a feeling to him; he was unwilling to acknowledge the truth behind her statement.

“Have you been to the jungle before?” asked Tina, trailing closely behind Newt. “Of course! How else am I supposed to find an Acromantula?” Newt replied, casting a lopsided grin back at Tina. “Look in the book.” he added upon her inquisitive stare. To his great disbelief, Tina immediately removed his book from her pocket. He hadn’t known she was going to keep it on her person…“An Acromantula is a species of giant spider…”

         The day withered away before Newt’s eyes. He had to admit, despite the ominous overhang of emotions, he had enjoyed his extended trip with Tina. They Disapparated to the MACUSA Headquarters front steps. The large, stone building came into focus after a sickening trip. Newt wasn’t as quick to relinquish Tina’s hand as he usually was, worried she might collapse. Despite looking slightly queasy, she appeared to be alright. “I’ll find out as much as I can about Igor.” Tina promised, her eyes anxiously flitting across everyone passing by the building.

“Thank you.” Newt said softly. It was an odd thing to say during the middle of their continuous plight, but he still needed to say it. After all, Tina had showed him a whole new possible side to his adventures. She gave him comradeship and lent him her energy and time—that was very important to him.

“Mrs. Esposito will still be awake, so go up the fire escape.” said Tina in a hushed tone. Newt cocked his head to one side, confused. Tina rolled her eyes in exasperation. “You can stay with Queenie. She’ll feed you properly.” Tina whispered. Newt was about to protest, seeing as he’d spend the entire night in his briefcase anyway, but Tina was already bounding up the steps. She slowed her stride to a professional looking speed walk, nodding to a wizard who departed the MACUSA building as she entered. Newt watched her disappear through the windowed doors before rousing himself into action. He checked for any Muggles on the streets before Disapparating to the front of Tina and Queenie’s apartment building.

         Once his Apparation was complete, Newt realized just how high up Tina and Queenie’s apartment was. The fire escape looked in need of replacement and was sopping wet from the continuous spring rain that dripped over New York. Newt doubted he could stealthily climb the rickety structure, but he was willing to give it a chance. He quietly scampered across the street, acting as any other pedestrian would. At the last available step, he darted into the empty alleyway, directly beside the slippery ladder of metal.

         It was quite the task to quietly ascend the steep steps, occasionally having to climb a ladder and throw his suitcase above his head. At last, Newt reached a dimly lit window that he believed to be the bedroom of Queenie and Tina. He stooped low beside it, peering between the streaks of rainwater. He could make out the edges of two beds on either side of the room. One was neatly organized and freshly made while the other was a mess of dresses and blankets. Newt allowed himself a brief smile before quickly rapping his knuckles against the pane. In less than a few seconds, a bright face appeared at the window. However, it was not the bouncing golden curls that Newt expected, but a round mustached face—Jacob!

         The window slid open and two pudgy hands gripped Newt firmly by the shoulders, practically yanking him into the room. Newt was alarmed by the hostility in the digging fingers. He remained silent as his long body, muddy and quite smelly, reconfigured itself in the bedroom. Jacob, still short and indignant, stood before Newt with a grimace on his face. “What do you think you’re doing, mister?” the voice was meant to be a threatening growl, but it stopped short and disintegrated into surprise. Jacob’s eyes were fixed on Newt’s, remembrance stirring.

“Hello, Jacob.” Newt said awkwardly, forgetting that he wasn’t supposed to know who Jacob was. This made Jacob drop his hands from Newt’s arms and take a nervous step back. Newt wasn’t quite sure what to do. He didn’t know what Jacob recalled from their adventure together and he wasn’t certain that Jacob was allowed to be with Queenie alone. Nevertheless, he felt a stirring of sheer joy at the sight of Jacob’s curly hair and corpulent appearance. Thankfully, Queenie appeared in the doorway of the bedroom.

“Mr. Scamander!” she exclaimed gleefully. She clapped her hands together before taking excited little steps towards him. “Come in! You’re soaked! Long journey, I suppose. Is my sister with you?” the remarks and questions barreled into Newt like a train. He had already become accustomed to him and Tina’s simple conversations. “Ah, no, she went straight to her office to do some research.” Newt answered as he was dragged into the living area. Jacob followed closely behind him. “This Igor ‘fella doesn’t sound too savory.” said Queenie, painfully reminding Newt that she could read his thoughts. Before being forced into the nearest chair, Queenie grabbed Newt’s jacket and tossed it into the air. It glided gracefully to the fireplace, remaining stationary to dry. Newt hugged his arms around himself, feeling oddly bare. Queenie whisked away into the kitchen, leaving Jacob standing close by Newt’s seat.

“Jacob Kowalski—have we met before?” asked Jacob, holding out his hand for Newt to shake. Newt pretended not to see, choosing instead to fiddle with the golden clasp of his briefcase. “Might have.” he replied, unsure of what would be crossing the line. Clearly unsatisfied, Jacob took a seat in an armchair and began scratching the back of his neck. Newt stifled a chuckle at his friend’s rousing of memory.

         The Goldstein’s apartment was just as Newt remembered it. The crackling fireplace cast a cozy glow across the room. The furniture was slightly shabby, yet still inviting in the warmth of the room. Newt expected to look up and see Tina and Queenie beside each other, maneuvering a dinner into existence. However, it was just Queenie, clad in an elegant pink dress. Newt sighed, realizing that Queenie wouldn’t release him before had dinner. Truth be told, he was feeling the effects of longstanding hunger, but he tried to keep those thoughts away.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap

Newt and Jacob both heard it. It was a small rattling noise beside Newt’s sofa. Newt inched away from the edge and anxiously peered at the armchair table. He had noticed the table when he arrived at the apartment two days earlier. It was laden with picture frames, each one containing the smiling face of either Tina or Queenie. Some of them had tall figures standing over the little girls, presumably their parents, and a few contained scenic overlooks in the background. One frame, however, caught Newt’s eye.

CRASH

Half the picture frames toppled over. Metal crashed against the wooden table and a few toppled to the floor, causing Newt to spring backwards. The noise was sure to bring the landlady storming up the stairs and Jacob seemed to know it, too. He was on his feet, shuffling towards the coat closet with a fearful expression his face. Queenie was suddenly at Newt’s side, looking as livid as Queenie could get.

“Mercy Louis!” cried Queenie. The shaking of the apartment had ceased, allowing the sound of loud footsteps to echo throughout the building. Mrs. Esposito was on her way.

*Feedback is appreciated!*

[thebandcampdiaries]

Ty Bru is back on the scene with a new, exciting album: Triple Bypass: Under Anesthesia.

June 2021 - Ty Bru is an artist with a focus on pushing deeper, creating diverse and groundbreaking songs that will make a big splash on the music scene. Recently, the artist dropped a brand new album release titled Triple Bypass: Under Anesthesia. This album is more than just entertainment: each song is produced really well, but more importantly, the artist has a very strong focus on crafting meaningful lyrics that connect with the listeners on a deeper level. Of the 11 songs featured on this album, each listener is most definitely going to be able to connect with a track in particular at least. The songwriting is so insightful and diverse that I have no doubt that there is a song for everyone out there, and Ty is able to really channel so much realness and intelligence with his lyrics.

Take the song “Give Me Wings,” for example. This is a powerful and personal story that deals with the story of how a friend of the artist himself help him become more free on a personal level. In addition to that, the track also deals with the aftermath and side effects of using drugs and alcohol, something that many people struggle with to this day.

This album of work flows smoothly, as its production has a diverse background. The all-encompassing nature of the arrangement makes for a thick and organic sound, as opposed to a texture that could be considered more grainy and fragmented. As a result, Ty Bru really produced something that’s big and larger-than-life, and Triple Bypass: Under Anesthesia stands out as a massive achievement on his part. The sound of this release feels like a perfect introduction to the sound of Ty Bru, and it stands out from the herd due to its world-class sound. Fans of conscious hip-hop music are definitely going to enjoy Triple Bypass: Under Anesthesia, and if this is any indication, we are on track for something truly amazing coming from Ty Bru in the near future! Stay tuned, because this one is going to make its way into your heavy rotation!

This full-lenght album will be released on the 12th of June, exclusively on Bandcamp. It’s already possible to pre-order from the following link! 

https://mightierthantheswordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/triple-bypass-under-anesthesia 

From the July 16th, the album will be available on all other streaming sites as well.https://youtu.be/RnGns2RD8i4

We also had the chance to ask the artist a few questions! Keep reading for more:

- On the album, it feels like each song has something special to offer, not only when it comes to the lyrics, but also the production. Was it a conscious choice to make this album so diverse?

It certainly was intentional to diversify as much as possible when it came to content, subject matter and when choosing the production for each song. I wanted a seamless feel for the most part but also a few songs that would jolt the listener into something different enough to remind them that this is more than music, it’s comprehensive art and most times that can turn into something sporadic, and that fits the theme I have for the album as well.

- Do you have a favorite track? And if so, which is it and why?

Without any hesitation, my favorite song is ‘Advice’. That was the third song I recorded and it felt so good to get that all out. Shot out to Brain Staples at Livewire Studio for his guidance on how I ended on the hooks, because it really helps bring it back down to a personal level, the first time my wife heard it, she asked if I wrote it specifically for her because it resonated with her so well.

The song is an attempt at suicide prevention along with saying that it’s ok to use certain vices in times of distress and anxiety. Too often are these things shunned and that type of behavior can lead to over indulgence. We are all human and we all like to feel good, when someone makes you feel bad about using these vices, of course you are going to want to go toward that substance because it can help fill the void of good and understanding friend. After performing that song for the first time at a live streaming concert with the Iconoclast Crew (Ed E. Ruger, Stitchy C, DJ Phillie Phresh & guests DJ Kyng Rash & Marshall Alexander) in February, that same night I ended up getting in a bad car accident, then within a few days contracting COVID-19. Depression hit me harder than it had in recent memory and I started feeling like the song was a lie, like what right did I have to try and help other people when I couldn’t help myself? I felt weak, then I started listening to it as it was someone else’s song and it clicked and help strengthen me up, I stand by that song with all I am.

- Do you approach lyrics first, or do the instrumentals come first, inspiring you to write?

In this case, as in most cases the instrumentals come first. I met the producer of the entire project, Poe Mack in Roanoke, Virginia in 2007 and we hit it off immediately. His background and my background aligned on some pretty specific levels. About 2011 I spent a few weekends with him in Salem and we began working on a project, he made about ten beats and I wrote to about half of them off gate, then after I moved to China for 5 years it got abandoned, like so many of my projects, unfortunately. Then we picked the conversation back up when the pandemic hit in 2020, he was making several beats a day and I picked out ten of them, and wrote the whole album within a month and recorded them in three sessions. I did end up deciding to use one of the beats from 2011 because I loved the evolution of that song and it fit with the concept.

- Is there an underlying theme or concept that ties the songs of the album together?

Yes there is, this is my fourth solo album and all of them relate to the heart and is symbolic to the stages of a heart attack both before, during and after. ‘Triple Bypass: Under Anesthesia’ begins as I find myself confused in an ambulance and then it goes through the steps someone might take after that. I’ll go through the tracklisting with you, for instance.

1- OUT OF THE AMBULANCE: is the confusing feeling and sort of “out of touch with reality” I might feel as I am getting out of the ambulance, getting ready to go into the hospital. 2- BEAUTIFUL FIGHT: they say your life flashes before your eyes as you are about to pass away or during near death experiences and this is a song about my wife, my son and myself which is currently the highest priorities of my life, so of course that’s what I might see

3- GIVE ME WINGS: is when they administer the anesthesia, the feeling I would get

4- BURIED ALIVE: explains the reasons behind the condition of me as a patient, mixed with hallucinations of death and actual feelings I have had in the past

5- ELM STREET: is a continuation of life flashing before my eyes, which began on Elm Street, so what better place to start than at the beginning

6- CANT SIR: is deep in the dream state of anesthesia, where I can’t really tell if it’s real or not, however even though it shouldn’t me, it is very real and shows how the neglect of certain races, overlooking an area of a city or someone blocking your path due to nepotism or racism can stop your heart, a symbolic form of cancer.

7- SYMPHONY OF A HEARTBREAK: is an extension of the previous song, going more into detail of everyday heartaches that could be through the fault of no one or the fault of oneself. Things I might think of while in the dream state of anesthesia

8- 4TIMES: still under anesthesia, this is an actual recollection of the four times I personally saw death so very close and nearly crossed over.

the first was the first steps of drowning in an icy pond when I was 7, the second while I was in London during an attempted bombing on the underground train I was on, the third was when my blood count was all out of whack, numbers that were extremely close to death, due to h1n1, but I neglected it thinking it was a hangover and the fourth, very recently when I totaled my wife’s car in a snowstorm. I was a few feet from a ravine and a few inches from a guardrail splitting me in two.

9- GETS IN THE WAY OF LOVE: is kind of the end of the anesthesia, right before I wake back up, showing the evolution of my courtship with my wife, a good and familiar dream, giving me a reason to wake back up

10- ADVICE: is what someone is giving to me when I am awake, right after anesthesia

11- HATE IS USELESS: is what I have decided that needs to be done after receiving that advice to avoid any further complications to my heart.

- Can you tell us a bit more about the album’s title and what it means for you?

Like I said previously, all of my albums have related to a symbolic heart attack.

ON THE BRINK (2007) was like my habits were leading me on the brink of a heart attack.

HEART CORE HIP HOP (2009) was like a heart exam, to see how the old ticker was doing

TRIPLE BYPASS: IN THE AMBULANCE (2011) was when something went terribly wrong with me and the mixture of habits and health lead me to be taken into the hospital for

TRIPLE BYPASS: UNDER ANESTHESIA (2021)

- Any touring or live performance plan?

Touring is still out of the question for me at this point. I’m not ready for that quite yet in the newly re-opened world. But we are having an album release party performance that I am very excited about at Four Saints Brewing Company in my hometown of Asheboro on July 17, 2021 8pm-10pm. After that we are having a birthday bash performance at The Flat Iron in Greensboro, NC on August 27, 2021. Other than that, I plan on one performance a month until the end of the year, then reassessing the situation then.

[visualpractitioner]

Bringing in the New Year

As the light of day grows longer, I hope the final days of 2019 have brought you insights that ease you into the new year with confidence and grace.

Big Endings and Important Beginnings

Since the solstice and the new moon solar eclipse, I have experienced so much clarity of how to approach the coming year and decade. I’m anticipating you have too! Here are a few things I have found helpful to keep in mind as support:

Let go of the past…year, decade, ways of doing things, patterns, bad habits

Allow new beginnings...Be open to and receive visions, channel ideas, seek soul connections/purpose

Heal your inner child...Give love to your past self in ways your future self will thank you

Integrate the intentions you have set...Be honest and clear with yourself about what you want

Increase your awareness...Observe, tune in, and receive new information and stay present with evolutionary whispers

Experiencing Clarity and Practicing Apperception

As I sip on a freshly brewed cup of ginger tea I feel the warmth on the inside as the freshly laid snow sits just outside my window. This blanket of cold reminds me how different the internal and external environments can be. Reflecting on 2019, I am reminded that I have been living a dream I dreamt 3 years ago. And while I am grateful to have lived it, I didn’t fully enjoy a lot of it because I was busy dreaming the next dream.

In my early thirties I claimed to be a futurist. For many years, I used the term as a way to describe my mindset to others when I was being impatient about manifesting my visions. Internally I could see, sense, and feel trends in technology, large-scale human behavioral shifts, and where I would be in the future before they would happen. I’ve always been a visual thinker, having the predictability factor was a bonus and a bit of a curse at times.

As my body slows and time seems to speed up, my ability to manifest can be elusive. I’m finding ways to work smarter rather than harder—integrating new processes has always been easy for me. In keeping pace with my next dream, I am changing my relationship with social media and putting more into the new relationships that develop in my travels. So it’s likely you will see more writing, less commenting, less posting on Twitter and Facebook and more on my blog, lettering website, LinkedIn and Instagram.

I’m willing to let go of being a futurist in exchange for being fully present. As an artist, I practice being in the Flow state. With a background in Ortho-Bionomy and Reiki, I can “turn on” the presence when healing is needed. And while graphic recording, coaching, or facilitating I use some of the same techniques combined with learned skills of the practice to serve the group. However, when it comes to understanding the emotional body, intuition, and energetic patterns, I’d like to allow the dancers of these to be within me as I function in any of these areas (art, healing, visual facilitation). I’m ready to integrate presence fully into my life. And I’d love to hear how you are finding successful ways of doing this too.

Stay focused and invite joy!

Practicing lettering can be meditative and when focused with intention is a natural portal into the Flow state-of-mind. Make the time and space to gift yourself the growth process you deserve.

Lettering Learning and Practicing Opportunities

Lettering Tips Tuesdays 2020 This free offering is based on the love of making letters and presenting them in pleasing and practical ways. Grab your markers and join me each third Tuesday of the month at Noon MST/MDT. Check your local time here. Mark your calendars to watch live or make time to watch the recordings. Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/311775798 Recordings will live in the Level Up Prep Portal: http://bit.ly/levelupprep

January 21 :: Lettering Formula 1+1, Part 1 Markers and Words: What to Cap and What to Cursive

February 18 :: Lettering Formula 1+1, Part 2 (pre-recorded) Finding Form & Refining Your Style

March 17 :: The Beauty of Palimpsests What is a Palimpsest? How do we create one from the beginning? Launch: Lettering Journey online course *Note LIMITED TIME OFFER for those who have purchased my book: Post a review by March 17—online where you purchased the book—and email me the link to your review. I will grant you free access to the course.

April 21 :: Transform Your Charts into Books and Journals Bring your charts and make a book!

May 19 :: Choosing Colors and Mixing Inks

June 16 :: Writing Letters and Addressing Envelopes (pre-recorded)

July 21 :: TBA

August 18 :: Lefty Lettering

September 15 :: Ampersands and Punctuation

October 20 :: Variations of Visigoth

November 17 :: Bold Moves for the Coming Year

December 15 :: Shiny Objects = Metallic Flourishes

Throughout the year I will be traveling to teach in-person workshops and launching online courses. I hope you will join me!

European Lettering Tour Part 1 :: February Paris: February 5-7 Zeist: February 17 & 18 England Retreats: February 23-28

The Grove San Francisco, CA: June 25 & 26 Learn more at: www.LetsLetterTogether.com/workshops

In the works...

European Lettering Tour Part 2 :: Germany in June Berlin and/or Hannover (tentative - Please email me if you are interested) Neuland HQ: June 15-19

IFVP (tentative - Please email me if you are interested) Berkeley, CA: July

Lettering Meetup Calgary: August TBD

WorldViz (tentative - Please email me if you are interested) Capetown, SA: January 2021

My hope, my wish for you is grace in lettering and moving through the world as we do this very important work. Please let me know how I can support you on your lettering journey.

[john2983miller-blog]

What a Perfect Cafe Need To Be

What a Perfect Cafe Need To Be

A Cafe wont be a Cafe if it is without coffee. That's probably one of the most useful method of explaining a coffee bar or Cafe. The significant making a decision factor in establishing the most effective cafe is by the superb preference of its coffees. Different kinds of coffees and brews are offered in the market as well as it is rather inviting to try each of them. Nonetheless, this is not the only consider identifying what makes an excellent cafe.

The musical background of a cafe Lynchburg is what mostly attracts clients, apart from the establishment's broad array of coffee brews and mixes. The music also accounts for an excellent coffee experience and usually, the very best type of songs to play while sipping a good mug of high levels of caffeine is a soft jazz or heart tune.

www.thebeantreecafe.com

 Every cafe offers chairs and tables for their customers to put their personal belongings and also most importantly, sit with their fresh cup of coffee to relax while they drink every addictive decrease of the brew. The cafe must have a lot of chairs on which their consumers will certainly be seated. A couch is often an excellent concept to provide an extra comfortable and homely feeling inside the cafe. Tables needs to be stable as well as not rocky to stay clear of probable spills of liquids.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bean+Tree+Caf%C3%A9/@37.339657,-79.2278361,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b2d041b964b981:0xb6db309a5dabf530!8m2!3d37.3396528!4d-79.2256474

 Cafes are additionally of different types and one of which is an internet cafe. It is a compulsory for such kind of coffee establishment is the broadband web connection. If it I not a web cafe, it is a plus if the shop has complimentary WiFi solutions as it brings in consumers also.

Every establishment has a style, however whatever it is, what's important is that the chairs, table and also couches are organized in a suiting format in addition to a collection of decorations that match the atmosphere of the cafe. The cellular phone signal is also a pertaining to consideration for people to come in a cafe.

The temperature inside the cafe must enhance the ambient temperature level or the temperature level outside the store. Warm inside if the weather is cool outdoors and the other way around.

Most people say that the most effective coffee companion are donuts, however there may likewise be other foods to accompany this well-loved mixture. So a cafe is one that is finest if it additionally a diverse menu of breads sandwiches and also various other possible food stuffs that might perfectly blend with every sip of coffee. They should also come with an affordable rate. Various other beverages might also be served like water as well as soft drinks.

Coffee is not only a morning staple however it is something that some people like to consume anytime of the day. So a cafe's hours of operation plays an important role in making it 'patronizeable' by clients. Obviously it is always important for the clients to be greeted with a smile at whatever time the shop is open by its team and also staff members. A cafe whose team are friendly, friendly and accommodating is said to be well enjoyed by several customers.

The cafe might additionally include a line of novelty product as well as materiel that might stimulate extra interests from customers. Maybe a minimal design of coffee mugs, tall glasses or mementos birthing the name as well as the logo of the cafe.

 I have taken a trip throughout the nation. And also with every location I have actually gone to, I've drunk on my preferred drink, coffee, in many different coffeehouse Lynchburg. I have actually never been a person to just stop at the closest coffee chain for my coffee fix either. I've constantly been one to look for the "mom and pop" kind coffee area. The places whose character is formed by the proprietors, team as well as those who frequent the shop.

Below are the top 4 things I assume develop a coffee shop's personality and make it what it is.

Music

To me, music can impact anything. Your state of mind, your power, and well, your cafe. Music can substantially enhance or entirely damage the ambiance of a cafe. I seem like a coffee shop need to be consistent in the type of music it plays to its clients. If it plays calming acoustic music one day, yet dancing songs the next, consumers might not know what to anticipate. While variety can be a fantastic point, drawing in a regular sort of client base may not exercise so well if a shop's songs is too diverse. A best instance of not corresponding is when among my preferred coffee shops played digital music regularly and after that someday shrieked vulgar rap songs. I had to leave so I can get my job done.

Staff

A friendly personnel is extremely essential. My daily shop has to do with 50% related to the truth that I know the team as well as really feel comfy at the shop. They understand my name, what I drink and all concerning me.

Environment

The atmosphere of a shop Lynchburg is whatever. It's produced by the individuals in it, the music, the shop's style as well as the art on the wall surface. Every one of these things interact develop an energy and a vibe. Personally, I like uniformity. Additionally, I such as a combination of coziness with a diverse feeling. Pictures, paints, as well as displays of antiques are several of my favorites. Also, below's one that is essential, temperature. Among the most popular coffee chains I can consider seems to want to freeze their customers out by boosting the a/c unit. That's a terrific means to spoil every little thing.

The Coffee Itself

Because I am discussing what makes a coffee bar a "excellent" coffee bar, I probably likewise need to speak about what I directly assume is one of one of the most vital factors in having one. The actual coffee and products supplied. Are there just 3 items offered? Is the coffee really great? Is it as well weak? Does it have a poor aftertaste? Is there coffee constant with every order?

What are your thoughts on what makes a great coffee shop Lynchburg?

Elvis delights in writing about martial arts, cancer cells survivor concerns, music and coffee obviously.

 Are you trying to make a decision if you wish to roast your own coffee for your coffee shop 24502? Are you simply opening a coffeehouse as well as find yourself torn in between toasting your very own coffee beans as well as purchasing coffee from somebody else? Hopefully I will have the ability to put all of it in perspective so you can make an enlightened decision.

There are a lot of variables when taking into consideration roasting coffee for your cafe. This truly is one more job of kinds. You will currently be in charge of more than just roasting coffee beans. You will certainly also need to maintain correct roaster maintenance, buying as well as keeping green coffee, appropriate packaging if you intend to pre-package your coffee (generally not a great suggestion, much more on this later), and also assigning as well as keeping separate an area specifically for toasting.

There is also a great chance that when people know that you roast your own coffee beans in your shop, you will certainly get rate of interest from various other stores, cafes, dining establishments and also other establishments wishing to buy your item wholesale. Try to plan for this as it can open an entire brand-new income stream. Although this is completely as much as you.

Do not make the decision to roast your own coffee beans based upon the cost element alone. Besides green costs being double what they were a year earlier, it is still more affordable to roast your own as opposed to acquire coffee from a roaster. However there are aspects associated with coffee toasting that you should realize before you start toasting coffee yourself, as I will explain during this post.

You also will now have the cost of purchasing a coffee roaster. Whether you pay for it outright or finance it, you still have to pay off the financing or recover the cash you made use of to get the roaster so there is the additional debt service. If you will open a cafe, this added price will certainly add roughly $10k-30k to your tools cost. Yes, coffee roasters are not inexpensive!

If you do choose you want to roast your very own coffee beans, you have other decisions to duplicate gas or air roaster? The gas roasters, in my viewpoint are the better ones. They can operate on natural or lp gas and the heat resource is an open fire on a revolving drum. The inner drum heats like an oven. You can roast small sets from 5-30lbs prior to you enter into industrial-sized roasters. Nonetheless, I believe fire drum roasters offer your coffee beans a more also roast, and generally far better taste account.

The various other alternative is an air roaster called a liquid bed roaster. It makes use of warm, forced air either warmed by a fire, or electrical power (heating element). The force of the blowing hot air inside the toasting chamber keeps the beans suspended in air for even roasting. Consider the old air poppers for snacks. I assume that fluid bed roasters are better for greater capacity roasting of 250lbs or more each time. The air is much hotter and also the roast time is a bit shorter.

Nevertheless establish the ability that you intend to roast coffee beans at: your shop just or you and other stores, cafes as well as dining establishments? If you believe you are mosting likely to try to wholesale, obtain the bigger roaster. You will certainly require a minimum of a 30 pound roaster in order to adequately roast for wholesale. Anything less and also toasting will take you 2-3 times much longer. Having the ability to roast 30lbs of coffee vs. 10lbs is clearly an advantage. A larger roaster will be available in helpful for wholesale. However for simply your own shop it will be an advantage as well since you will have the ability to roast larger sets of coffee beans and also in a quicker period, enabling you to put on every one of your hats a little less complicated.

The roaster needs to likewise be properly vented as well as linked to a gas or propane line, if applicable. It is very likely that you will need to have a plumbing contractor placed in a gas line and/or have an electrician include a power receptacle especially for the roaster. You may additionally have to have a HVAC individual placed in the exhaust stack if you city requires this done by a certified service provider. Be sure to add this price to your list when you obtain your quotes.

In regards to a defined toasting location, this is a must. Roasting coffee in any type of sort of business or semi-commercial roaster is noisy. As a matter of fact, it can be very noisy! You will certainly not want to be toasting during your shop's open hours unless you can segregate the roaster completely or at the very least, partially. Some shops placed the roaster in a space on its own or set up at the very least a 3/4 wall surface so they smother a lot of the audio.

If you are planning on toasting for wholesale also, this specified area is even more damaging. Besides a roasting location, you will require a storage space location for eco-friendly coffee, mixing location, packaging location and also prep/ship location. That is a lot of additional space for the majority of independent coffee shops as well as it's tough ahead by. Pick your room intelligently.

Having stated that, if you occur to be a one-person operation you do not intend to roast when your shop is open anyway. There are way too many distractions that can wreck your roast and even cause a fire if you are not listening. You must pay attention to your roaster at all times. Ask me just how I recognize this.

A word concerning bean screens for your shop: I am a huge advocate of allowing customers to smell the actual beans prior to they get. This suggests putting them in a glass or sturdy plastic jar. Then you can obtain the brownish "Kraft" tin-tie bags, get some tags printed as well as a range as well as sell the coffee beans by the extra pound. You are done!

If you still intend on roasting in your shop, know you are starting something remarkable. It is a great deal of work yes and also focus to information, yet the resulting item will certainly have people talking about the fresh roasted coffee beans you have available in your shop. It takes greater than a need for freshness or to conserve cash; it takes interest for the bean. Good luck to you!

 Having a coffee shop business is a really cool suggestion for a very first service endeavor. Many people really think about beginning a coffee area but don't for a number of reasons. Some do not have enough funding as well as think that that's the end of their coffee shop dreams. You can lend cash from a bank or from financiers, so it isn't impossible to start a coffee service with very little cash.

Another point that protects against people from opening their very own coffee organisation is they think there are currently way too many coffee homes around. They don't want to take on various other cafes. This is exactly how a pessimist believes. Are you a pessimist? Or do you really feel that you can make a coffee shop organisation work? The good news exists are some things you can do to make a coffee house a lot more competitive as well as successful.

1) Supply a solution besides offering excellent coffee. Nowadays a coffee bar needs to have Wi-Fi. A cost-free one at that cousin you can secure free Wi-Fi elsewhere. Some individuals like to work or browse while having their coffee. So, make your coffee shop business pleasant to people that require to go on the internet. Offer fast Web and some tables that are suitable for them to position laptop computers on.

2) Employ employees with good work principles and also who can forecast a great photo for your cafe. Like they claim, your employees are a representation of you, and also your coffee shop business. Screen your workers well and pick those with an upbeat as well as pleasant personality. Observe your staff during peak hrs and see who have the ability to deal with pressure well without ending up being visibly short-tempered. It can get crazy throughout peak hrs. You will want to maintain team that can still remain enjoyable and also job effectively even when under pressure.

3) Find an area where several coffee drinker socialize. These areas are universities, libraries or book shops, and also office buildings. You need to additionally see if there are currently other coffee shops because location. Check brand-new neighborhoods that are being developed. You will have a much better chance of success in position where you set-up shop first. You can seek new areas being built by surfing on web sites of property developers.

4) Bear in mind of the atmosphere in your shop. It is very important that people outside your coffee residence can additionally see a comfy looking coffee home. It will certainly motivate individuals to find within. Make use of a dimmer to change lighting, you do not desire your lights to be also intense or as well white; furnish your cafe with comfortable sofas; offer some reading material; and use colors and also artworks to make your coffee shop organisation more welcoming.

5) Use high quality coffee beans that are freshly ground to highlight abundant flavor. You don't intend to sacrifice taste for profits. Coffee junkies agree to pay more to consume alcohol excellent coffee in a nice coffee house. You can likewise sell coffee beans and also ground coffee to consumers. That will certainly likewise include in your earnings and make individuals be available in the shop to purchase their weekly supply of coffee for their residence. Once they are within, they will likely have a cup of coffee as well as maybe have something to consume.

You can still locate other means to make your cafe click. Being prominent in the coffee shop business will certainly always get you lots of customers. Serve food at your cafe due to the fact that some individuals will certainly intend to consume something apart from having coffee. Offer treats, cookies, pastries as well as cakes. Educate your servers not to make your clients wait as well long. When the desire for caffeine comes, your client will want their solution immediately.

[vivianrhopper85]

Toronto’s Culinary Scene: Interview with Chris Watton (The Sidekick)

Leslieville has really come into its own as a community thanks to super hero small businesses like The Sidekick – a coffee and comics café bringing freshly brewed high-quality coffee, great reads, and a welcoming atmosphere to it’s east end stomping and coffee grounds.

It’s warm and inviting to comic super fans, and those who are looking for a space to sip on coffee, get some work done, read, or meet with friends – something that owner, artist, barista, and comic aficionado Chris Watton prides herself on – a shop that she always wished existed both growing up, and as an adult. Located at 1374 Queen Street East, come on by to discover your newest favourite super hero, purchase some memorabilia for that perfect gift, or just hang out and see what’s playing on the VHS at the back. The Sidekick opened three years ago, and like most heroes it arrived in the neighbourhood as the only comic shop and café, just in the nick of time.

What inspired you to open a comic book themed café?

Growing up, my local café was a sanctuary to escape- a place of good conversation, a space to take a minute and tackle a new book, a creative jump-start for sketching, and so much more! My afternoons and evenings spent there are some of my coziest and most vibrant memories. I was as dedicated to my visits to that hub as I was to my weekly trip to my hometown's comic shops to pick up Wednesday new releases. However, those trips were often peppered with bad experiences, awkward encounters, and dismissive staffers. I often wished that I could have the coffee and good vibes of my favourite café spot along with the books I would trek out to pick up.

When I moved to Toronto, I opened a Pull List (A list of comics people know they’ll be buying every month. Increasingly more comic shops are offering Pull List programs and will set aside particular issues for regular clients who don’t want to miss any issues) at a comic shop here, where picking up my books and interacting with staff became a weekly highlight. We would chat on the fire escape about comics, movies, and everything in between. Then we would go in search of a decent cup of coffee. Again, I found myself longing for both in the same social and creative space. Whenever I was frustrated with school, work, or anything in between, I would imagine a future in which such a place existed.

In a way, The Sidekick was something I wanted for so long, that I hardly remember NOT wanting it.

Tell me about how you got started in the food industry and why you decided to pursue a career in the business?

I have about nine years of café experience ranging from coffee bars to bigger shops that prepare food on-site. Being a barista has always clicked with me and preparing a great cup of coffee or espresso drink for someone is an extremely gratifying experience.

Has comic book culture changed since your own childhood? How has it evolved in Toronto?

I'm a child of 90's comics, so when I first started reading comics Image had just been formed, Spawn was big, and every hero was fighting demons or getting cybernetic enhancements. Grunge in comics was alive and thriving!

While there are still some great hyperviolent grit-dark titles in comics and the Image imprint is still a mark of exciting new creator-owned comics, much has changed in the industry. There are so many new publishing houses to choose from, all showcasing their own range of unique titles and voices! Also, independent and self-published titles are huge in Toronto and a variety of cities. Events like Toronto Comics and Arts Festival (TCAF) and Canzine are just a few examples of great festivals in Toronto dedicated to showing off small press comics, and the push for diversity in storytelling has exploded! It's such a great time to be involved in such a vibrant medium. Because Toronto is a hub, I get to meet more creators than I ever dreamed I would, and showcase their work while providing a great work/meet space.

How do you make sure that your café is both accessible and interesting for comic newbies and die-hard comic fans?

At The Sidekick we take both old-school and new approaches to comics retail. We host a smattering of single issue comics released every Wednesday and offer a Pull List subscription box to regulars who have monthly titles that they wish to follow. That's the classic comics game!

Outside of that, we put a focus on our Best Selling and Staff Recommended Reads, as well as boast a vast selection of all ages books for new readers. All staff at the shop are responsible for suggestions on the monthly orders as well as staying up-to-date on current titles so that we will all be ready to make a new suggestion based on a customer's preferences. By staying in touch with some of our favourite creators over social media, we can provide early insight into titles that are coming or are only available through the creators themselves.

The Sidekick also offers a Weekly Pull Podcast on iTunes, pod bean, and Google Play where we break down the week's releases. All the episodes are sorted by date and recorded Tuesday night to keep it as current as possible.

What advice can you offer to budding entrepreneurs who want to open their own business/café /restaurant?

Be ready for your venture to take over your life. No matter what it is, going independent will eat all your other pursuits, defy your expectations, and change the way you experience the world around you. It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day operations, but never forget what made you take on your project and the passion that fueled it. Mark your progress, celebrate your accomplishments, be grateful to the people around you, and never stop trying to make things better than they were yesterday.

What have been the biggest challenges of opening The Sidekick and running it for three years? What have been the biggest successes?

There are so many challenges to opening a small business that no one tells you about! From renovating a space, to keeping your bookkeeping on track, to staying stocked up and current with your offerings, it's a marathon you run every day of the week. The biggest challenge is seeing the bigger picture and remembering that there was a time when you wanted what you currently have more than anything else. It's harnessing that feeling and staying positive and motivated that is a big challenge I think for everyone, no matter the job.

The Sidekick has exceeded my expectations in so many ways. We are in a thriving community filled with lovely people and regulars of all types, and it's so amazing to see such a diverse range of readers enjoying the space, picking up books, playing games, and crunching out some work. As I mentioned, I have met some of my favourite creators and been able to preview books and review/edit new material, which is always a flattering and exciting request.

Also, last year I purchased a 5kg coffee roaster and now oversee not just the brewing process, but also the sourcing of green coffee and roasting itself, which is a great new challenge and joy. I have wanted to be able to curate every possible aspect of our coffee program, and now I am able to ensure quality at every point in the process from sourcing green coffee straight through to your cup.

What are your favourite items on The Sidekick menu?

I really appreciate a damn fine cup of coffee, so brewing a rotating selection of fresh-roasted single origin coffees in a classic pour-over style allows me to make that happen for even the smallest bar orders.

Our special thing is The Sidekick (which we joke is our "double-double"). It's two double shots of espresso with an equal ratio of steamed milk- so a little 8oz drink with a big kick! It'll get you where you must go.

Businesses have started to tap into adults wanting to have more fun with their food, drink, and spare time. How does The Sidekick tap into adults better tuning in to their inner child and foodie?

We put just as much love into the space as we do our selection of offerings at The Sidekick. We have a variety of music playlists according to weather and desired vibe, as well as a pile of board games and a reader bin of comics for patrons to enjoy. There is also a small VHS player at the back of the shop, so campy classic movies are always playing in the background. Basically, we try to encapsulate all the geeky things we love every day of the week in the hopes that we can build the escapist paradise we want to see in the world.

The Sidekick is essentially several businesses in one, how do you balance the demands of the café and the shop?

I juggle my varying jobs to the best of my ability every day, based on order cycles and the needs of the business. I've always been nerdy about both coffee and comics, so staying on top of trends and new and exciting offerings on both sides was always a part of my life- but now it is also my job! I want The Sidekick to be the best it can be, and that drives me to be constantly making sure our books are stocked, our coffees are on point, and that I'm always planning something new.

Why did you decided to partner with Desmond & Beatrice and Tori's Bakeshop?

I am lucky to be partnered with equally passionate people running great kitchens with awesome selections of wholesale offerings for cafés like mine. I make sure to have a smattering of different pastries from savoury to sweet, regular to vegan, to suit all tastes and food allergies. Thank the lovely kitchen wizards who make that happen!

What upcoming events/projects at The Sidekick are you most excited about?

We are currently trying a Comedy Night at The Sidekick the last Thursday of every month and bringing in local breweries to run beer tastings alongside, so we are excited to see how that goes. There are a couple of signings for local writers/artists with new comics out this year. We have a pay-what-you-can Tarot Card Reader who will be sitting in on the Saturday before Halloween to do readings for patrons, and we also participate in Halloween Free Comic Day, and encourage trick-or-treaters to visit our decked-out space for candy and free comics! We may also host a pumpkin carving night. I am also planning a Teapot Painting in November, so that kids and adults can get on crafting early Christmas gifts.

I'm open to hosting events in our space and encourage people to e-mail me to pitch their ideas. We are a creative community hub and we hope that we can foster a good environment for people to get together and enjoy that familiar coziness or try something new.

Can you name your all-time favourite comic book, hero, villain, and anti-hero?

My favourite running comic series is Hellboy, hero is Spider-Man, villain is Clayface, and anti-hero is Spawn. Come by to check out my favourite new comics anytime!

SMVLKV

from News And Tip About Real Estate https://jamiesarner.com/toronto-life/2018/09/chris-watton-sidekick/

[mahogany-siel]

september 5, this weekend i got dumb high in bed stuy

Have you ever met someone that makes you see all the things you want to be in them without even trying? I have and just in case this blog ever gets famous I will use a pseudonym for her name and call her Lisa Winton. 

Lisa is the type of black excellence that parents all want their daughters to grow into. She’s like Yara Shahidi but like not famous and completely out of reach. Lisa is beautiful, she is multi-talented, has great time management and most of all, is black AS FUUUCK. Not only did she organize a black activism lecture as a f*cking freshmen, but she also snagged an RA position, the same one I interviewed for and later got rejected. She also went to Cuba this summer. Yeah, she wanted to study abroad with other black and brown people because thats how real she is! Oh and how could I forget! She is double majoring in both fashion design (the hardest design major offered at Parsons) and a liberal arts degree (probably in Global Studies or Ethnicity and Race or some other socially conscious shit) and currently has a 4.0 GPA. She has blemish-free glowing cocoa skin and her hair is all natural of course. It’s long too, just like mine would be if I didn’t get that shitty perm when I was ten. But above all of these impressive things, most importantly, she is adorned by the black population of our school. She is like the “Queen of the Black Folk” and is treated by all of her peers as such. This bitch is damn near perfect and it feels like I am confronted with this every time I turn the corner BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS HER AND IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT HER. 

It may sound like I am immensely jealous of Lisa, and that’s probably because I am. Lisa Winton is who I think I want to be like. She seems to have all her shit together and knows who she is. All I want to do is know myself better than I do now and be able to convince people to love me for my authentic self. Lisa always seems to be like herself, she seems genuine and real and I think that is why so many people flock to her. I would love to have a multitude of people flock to me because of how authentic I am. I would love to give an aura of warmth by just being my damn self. Almost every time I talk to someone not my race, I feel like they are judging me in comparison to Lisa. I hate this because I know she represents a lot of the qualities I feel I lack, and I also know I will never be her. I wish white people (and other races) would stop creating such limited archetypes for black women and expecting the different ones to fit these few popularized molds.

Here’s what I think the real problem is: I am trying to be one or two archetypal black women instead of embracing my own interpretation of a black woman. I am Chanel Burns. I am a black woman and I am quirky and weird and I am sometimes uncomfortable to talk to. I have a white man’s sense of humor and my joke and story delivery is flawed. I am not perfect, and that should be okay. 

Wow I swear I am making real revelations on this site let me tell you.

Another black woman I obsessively compare myself to is nineteen year old Kaye Meredith*. She is the earthy, ethereal, always nurturing, carefree black girl type. She speaks with warmth and seems genuinely invested in whatever you are saying. She always adds something interesting or thoughtful to the conversation and you after speaking to her you always walk away with a positive impression, feeling just a little bit better about yourself. She is a Virgo. She is a healer. She lives in Crown Heights and wears braids with funky colored fibers intertwined. She is an illustrator and has a developed aesthetic. She seems to be the mother of her friend group and can be seen as a “melanin goddess” by her adorning Instagram followers. Kaye is from a PWI background but has somehow found a way to navigate the social atmosphere both black and white people with ease. She works at Urban Outfitters, and even though she recognizes the company’s flawed messages, she still is considered cool enough to work in the most stereotypical “cool kids” store. I could only wish. 

I want to be that girl that people flock to for guidance. I want to ooze sunshine and light when I walk in a room or speak. I want to have a lovely sense of style, a beautiful face, and be a strong artist. I want people to see how creative I am and just how well I can pull a vision together. I have so much good shit brewing in my head that I haven’t released yet because I do not know how. I need to carve out time to experiment outside of the Parsons curriculum. 

That brings me to my other point.

When I was in Brooklyn this weekend with Halley and her roommate, I got really reallyyyyyy high that night. In the span of a few hours, I was in Bed Stuy, on 34th Street at a Korean BBQ restaurant, and then on the train coming home to my lovely Greenwich Village dorm with a thing of cotton candy Cold Stone ice cream with gummy bears in it in my hand and all around my mouth. During this very intense high, that I for one, can say I have never experienced before, I came through with a lot of revelations. Most of which are just straight non-sense such as vividly seeing my best friend as thumb person from SpyKids (remember those guys???) for like fifteen minutes and throughly believing I was living in a black and white movie, the whole walk to the subway from Halley’s friend’s house. However, the most repetitive thing I wrote down in my notes was that I need to move to Brooklyn and paint more. I want to be a fine artist as much as I can, but in order to get into the program minor at my school and actually level up with my classmates, I need to dive into this field. A Brooklyn apartment is not necessarily crucial to accomplishing this, but I think living outside of Manhattan may give me some type of break from this fast paced life that would positively influence my mind and my art. I was talking to my RA this afternoon and the two main points she gave me about moving to Brooklyn is scout out areas well before you decide to move and to get a place close to a line near The New School (in other words the L,ACE,BDFM,123,456). 

I kind of have a packed week ahead of me which is refreshing. Tomorrow I have a Student of Color Meet Up which I decided to go to since I unofficially vowed to myself that I would go to every meet up offered in order to build a ~community~ with other black people. Can introverts comfortably fit in a community filled with effervescent extroverts? I guess we will see in coming weeks. I decided to go to one of my former classmate’s launch party on Friday night. I wasn’t sure if I should go since we aren’t really close friends at all and a lot of my black second year folks will be there having fun and conversing leaving me to feel like a f*cking weirdo. But there’s free drinks so...Imma just show my face at least haha. Saturday night I am getting tacos with a guy on Tinder. Is this self sabotage or is this me experiencing what’s out there as a truly single woman? The world has yet to tell me, but God has let me know that it is most likely gonna be the first and not as much the second. Oh well no one’s perfect! Or at least thats what I’ll tell myself for feeling less gullible. Anyway I’ll give more details on these upcoming events and the following topics in my later blog posts:

white boys and relationships with them, community, books that make me feel less lonely, the window lights on telling the stories of the New Yorkers I live across from, companionship and art, my desire for a man, why I shouldn’t always be so down on myself and whatever the hell else comes to mind! Stay tuned. 

*her name is not Kaye Meredith.