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chispas-and-broken-bindings · 4 years

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Someone requested a fix for their birthday...I don’t have the next chapter for I Just Think I’ll Scream quite ready for prime time, but here’s a sneak peak:

Ch 20 Sansa

Robb and Ned were up and away before Sansa emerged from her shower in the morning. The house is chaos as Catelyn tries to wrangle the remaining Starks out the door. "Sansa, stop feeding Shaggydog scraps from the table and get dressed! Bran, there are two boxes of gourds by the back door that need to be brought to the store for the window display. Be a dear and put them in the car. And where are Arya and Rickon?"

Sansa skips up the stairs before she's pulled into the hunt, almost knocking into her younger sister as she slides down the bannister. "One of these days that's going to break."

"Whatever, killjoy."

"Mom is looking for you, but you better change. We are supposed to wear floral for the Women's Club Bake Sale. It's themed and Cersei Lannister is going to be there, so we have to be on our best behavior." Her little sister is wearing their dad's old Falcon's sweatshirt and ripped up jeans, looking for all the world like she's about to spend the day painting a house or cleaning out a garage, and not hobnobbing with their mother's friends and clients.

"I'm not working the bake sale. I'm selling tickets to the haunted fun house with Mycah."

"Says who?"

Before Arya can respond, Catelyn is at the bottom of the stairs. "Me. You know that it'll be better for everyone if Arya isn't cooped up all day in a tent with the Women's Club ladies. Help me get through the midday rush, Sansa, and you can slip away and spend the afternoon with Harry if you'd like."

"Gods, Mom! They broke up weeks ago! Catch up!" Arya yells as the back door slams behind her and Sansa is alone, staring down the steps at her mother whose face has fallen into a look of concern.

"Oh, Sansa, dear. Why didn't you tell me?"

She sighs, "It's fine, Mom. Like Arya said, it happened weeks ago, and it was just a high school fling. They aren't meant to last." She turns back up the stairs, not waiting to see if her brush off was convincing. She dresses in the dark maxi dress waiting on her hook, with its long flowy sleeves and pattern of intricate woodland flowers. Usually, she feels like Florence Welch in it. Today though, as she inspects herself before the mirror, it's coming off less stylishly bohemian and more dowdy Victorian with the small ruffles along the high collar and shoulders. Ygritte would never wear something like this, a small ugly voice whispers.

Just as she's about to dive back into her closet, Bran yells up the stairs, "We're going to leave without you, Sansa," and it makes her choice for her. It's fine. She'll just hide in a corner of the tent with Old Nan and sneak lemon cakes all day. No one has to see her. So what if the band is playing this afternoon? It's not like any of them care if she watches their show, and she's basically heard the whole set already in rehearsals. It's not like Robb told everybody at school about it. It's not like she promised to get there early and save a spot up front with Marge and Jeyne.

Ygritte will probably be there to watch Jon. Best to skip...at least until she gets over her absurd crush.

"Sansa! Mom is literally starting the engine!" Bran yells again.

"Coming!" The best she can do is throw on sunglasses and a wide-brimmed fedora and hope no one recognizes her. Outside, Arya is still arguing with Rickon about buckling his car seat and Cat is on her phone, pacing up the driveway while Bran sits on the back step, whistling the march from Bridge Over the River Kwai. "Liar," Sansa flicks off his baseball cap. "We're nowhere near about to leave."

"She was starting the engine before her phone rang."

When they finally find a parking spot, it's apparent to everyone that they would have been better off leaving the car at home and walking. Though the festival hasn't officially started yet, the main street is closed off, and the big parking lot has been covered in carnival rides overnight. Arya peels off from their group when Mycah gives her a holler from on top of the Ferris wheel, leaving Bran and Sansa to lug the several boxes filled with decorative gourds to the hardware store, while their mom takes Rickon and their contributions to the bake sale in the opposite direction.

Outside the store entrance, Benjen is struggling with his pop-up tent, which keeps leaning to one side in the wind, while Meera watches him from the front step. "This is your fault, Sansa! Making me set up a stand, like I'm some lady selling doilies at a craft fair," He curses when the whole thing folds up on top of him.

"Good morning to you too, Uncle Ben," she rolls her eyes. "Where is Robb? He can get you bags of sand to anchor the tent. And don't knock doilies. There are entire rooms at the Met devoted to Myrish Lace alone. You can poke fun at craft fairs once even one of your pieces is on display at a similarly storied institution. Until then, you better get comfortable setting up this tent because I have three holiday craft markets lined up for you this season."

"You're just supposed to be sprucing up my website, not taking over the business! And don't get me started on your brother. I haven't had my morning caffeine fix yet because he disappeared on a coffee run ages ago. How long does it take to pour a bloody cup of coffee? If Jon Snow is holding up my joe with some pumpkin spice, whipped cream nonsense-"

On cue, Mr. paparazzo himself, appears in the doorway and before Sansa can land on an emotion, he's lifting the box from her arms with a gruff "G'morning Sansa," and then he's back in the shop, leaving her empty-handed and a bit empty-headed.

"He looks like he needs caffeine more than you," she remarks at last, meeting eyes with her uncle.

Meera sniggers. "You think? He looks like he spent the night sleeping under a car." Sansa wouldn't go that far, but it was hard to miss the circles under his eyes or how pale and papery his skin looked in the cold morning light.

"Give the kid a break. They played their first show last night, didn't they? If he's a bit wrung out this morning, that just means he's doing it right." Benjen jumps to Jon's defense.

"Well then, he's been doing it right every weekend. He's looked like this every morning since he started at the store," Meera says, heading back inside to supervise since Robb is still M.I.A. Sansa thinks about Ygritte's Instagram feed with its late night cigarettes and coffee at the diner and regular parties in what looks like someone's grungy basement. So, Jon works hard and plays hard. It's not entirely shocking. It niggles at her though; how tired he looks and how he doesn't talk about partying when he's at Winterfell. Her other friends are always eager to share their weekend escapades, but when Sansa asked how his party went when his Mom was out of town, Jon just gave her a noncommittal shrug and told her it was fine.

That's because you aren't really friends. She turns, more than ready to join her mom at the bake sale, when Robb comes skipping across the street with a drink carrier in hand. "Sansa! Just the girl I'm looking for." Her brother is as chipper as ever, seemingly inured to whatever effects from last night's show have taken the wind from Jon Snow's sails. "Can you help with the window display? Mom told me to spiff it up for the festival, but you've got a better eye for that kind of thing."

"Oh, sure. Skip out of work for an hour to flirt with some barista and then come back at the last minute to coerce your sister into doing your job?" Benjen barks and Robb's face turns scarlet.

"I… uh, what? No… I wasn't flirting…"

"Aren't you doing the same thing to me, Uncle Ben?" Sansa retorts, saving her brother from his bumbling. She makes a note to stop by the coffee shop and find out who this barista is. Uncle Benjen may be onto something. "Come on Robb, give Uncle Benji his coffee and I'll spare a few minutes for a consultation."

Inside, Bran and Meera are balancing tiny pumpkins on their heads as they wind through the aisles, trying to trip each other up. Jon Snow is leaning against the paint counter, looking ragged. She fights the urge to ask him if he's okay, opting instead to tip over Bran's pumpkin and herd him over to the window display. "Here, help me before Mom walks by and turns Robb into the headless horseman." They distribute the gourds in artfully artless piles throughout the window, as Jon and Robb hang a paint chip mobile over their heads; the autumnal pièce de résistance that Sansa spent hours making last year.

"Sans, I wish you could have been there last night. It was amazing," Robb excitedly recounts the band's show, "Jon was on fire, and apparently some promoters from White Harbor were there and Satin thinks he can book us some shows at North State! Isn't that great?"

"Yeah, though, won't that be hard with swimming?" She doesn't want to rain on Robb's parade, but maybe Arya is right. She is a killjoy.

"I have a meet in White Harbor next month. Maybe we can book a few gigs around it. What do you think, Jon? You up for a weekend road trip?"

"Uh.." Jon scratches at his neck, blearily. "I mean, that's a long drive to do late at night."

"Don't worry, we'll get a hotel for the weekend!"

"I don't know-"

The bell jingles at the door, and before Meera can scramble off the counter where she's been reading a comic, Catelyn is inside, gazing around the space, looking deeply unimpressed.

"Mom, uh, we were just finishing up with the decorations." Robb wobbles on the ladder in terror, unable to hook the last end of the mobile in place, and Bran ducks behind a pile of pumpkins, trying to hide his glee.

"Robb, you should have opened the store fifteen minutes ago. How are you just now finishing the decorations?"

“Well, the gourds only just arrived-” Robb starts, lamely.

“Never mind,” their mom sweeps through the space, picking up the boxes still out from stocking, tidying the candy by the register, before turning one last critical eye on her teenage employees. Jon cups his neck as he holds the ladder with his other hand. Robb scrambles down, having finally managed to hang the mobile correctly, rushing forward to grab the empty boxes from his mother. “Cersei Lannister is going to be here any minute. Get this garbage to the back. Meera, flip the sign and Jon, take the ladder back and...splash some water on your face or something. You look like death, warmed over. Jory is coming around ten, if you need to take the afternoon off.”

Jon’s ears turn pink as he folds up the ladder beside Sansa, and she looks out the window, mortified. “Sorry Mrs. Stark, but that’s not necessary” he begins, but Catelyn is already walking back to the office with a tired wave.

“I said it was a lot of hours you were taking on between school, the lumberyard and this. Just make sure you are fitting sleep in or you’ll make yourself sick, dear.”

#i just think i'll scream #jonsa fic #jon x sansa au #for k #happy birthday #wip excerpt

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doesitsparkjoytho · 3 years

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"The Happy Harpy Post" - Medieval Craigslist

(**For anyone not in the U.S., Craigslist is Facebook Marketplace's janky, super sketch predecessor, basically an online site to list items for sale, jobs, "Missed Encounters," etc.**)

[For Sale / Trade]

Realm's most powerful -- and evil -- sword

Just in time for that long-awaited conquering!

The realm's most notoriously blood-thirsty sword has reappeared from the dark abyss yet again. The last band of heroes battled death to cast it into oblivion some centuries ago, but like a merciless rash, it will not stay banished.

Features:

Authentic blood stains and nicks

Possessed by an extremely evil and demeaning spirit, rumored to be that of Lord Archbane himself

Crafted from the finest dragon's bone and titanium, ensuring years of slicing, thrusting, hacking, mutilation and general intimidation

This weapon is not for the faint of heart. If the latter is not black as pitch, I assure you that the blade will drive you mad in its attempt to corrupt your soul. I stumbled upon the sword but three weeks past, but already the power of this dark artifact threatens to consume my being. However, one with the strength of spirit to master it stands to gain an instrument of unimaginable potential.

Willing to trade for guaranteed safety during new owner's reign of terror, a residence in owner's general vicinity, and a small (negotiable) re-homing fee for myself / the sword. ***And please note: the sword has attached itself to me in ways that I dare not speak of. If you try to kill me and take the sword in place of a transaction, it will be lost for many more centuries. It has assured me of this.

If interested, please find or send for innkeeper Finbar Ruild of Heshire, Eastern Province.

Free Pulsating Crystal Thing

Are you a dark being of some authority seeking an artifact of unknown power and antiquity to enhance your castle/cave/fortress/tower/dungeon's mystical atmosphere? Are you perhaps also wishing for a handful of random occurrences to shake things up, or to rid yourself of a few pesky, traitorous, or bumbling minions too curious for their own well-being? Then look no further! This strange, eerily glowing crystal pulsates as if containing life and is sure to amuse and amaze guests. In addition, this nifty crystal can easily lull one to sleep with its deep, otherworldly and ominous croonings. I guarantee you won't stumble upon another artifact of such myriad uses and features. I'm only parting with it because the lady of the keep has suggested that I have one too many "unique" trinkets.

Serious inquiries only (No minions, peasants, slaves or other lowly beings, as I dread the repercussions of this falling into the wrong hands). Please contact Lord Vasuvian at the black tower. You can send a messenger by horseback, pigeon, falcon, hawk, bat, dragon, etc. I promise its safe return.

[Services]

Haircuts for Heroes

Are you a hero? Do you want to be? Nothing says "hero" like a unique hairstyle. I offer dying, cutting, braiding, and lime-washing. Be the first to try out my new Dark and Dangerous dye, made from a fermented leech and vinegar mixture which is entirely unique and promises the darkest, longest lasting black available.

Stop announcing your triumphs and displaying your spoils to earn the trust of the town and start standing out!

My shop, Haircuts for Heroes, is located in North Ghestfel.

Live-in Mage for hire

Have you ever wanted life to be a little easier than it is? Do you ever find yourself wishing that your floor would clean itself, that your fire would stay lit through the night, or that those pesky birds would cease pecking the thatch from your roof to build their nests?

Now you can make your wishes come true! Mage with 20+ years of experience in the Way is willing to lend his talents in exchange for room and board. His only request is that you don't treat him as a servant and allow him time for his own studies between your requests.

If interested, please send word to Octulus Drolp so that we may arrange a meeting and home viewing.

[Missed Encounters]

At the smithy - M4W

You, dearest woman, had four children in tow and were berating each of them as they touched everything in the shop. I smiled at you, but you were too busy to take full notice of me. Your voice was the sweetest music to my ears. I doubt a lovely lady such as yourself with four energetic children would be without husband, but if that is indeed the case, I beseech you to come and find me!

Make inquiry for Will at the stables.

O4H

To the ruggedly handsome human who passed through the southern Fivhren woods yesterday morn:

As I emerged from my cave, sleep still crusting my eyes like fairy dust, I was struck by a most unusual but welcome sight. Upon the knoll beyond my cave, a dark-haired man (you) knelt by his steed. My orcish heart pattered- and I am not easily moved, particularly by those of diminutive form. A dark green cloak enfolded your manly form, and you seemed intent on starting a fire, perhaps to make your breakfast.

Not wishing to startle you, I went about my morning as routine demanded, beginning with my rejuvenating spritz in the creek just beyond my cave. I began to hum to catch your attention. When you spotted me, I tried to act alluring, splashing my heaving green bosom with water from the nearby creek and rubbing my face sensually. In reality, I was merely taking my morning bath and desperately attempting to remove the morning crust from round my black orbs- but I figured 'hey, why not kill two birds with one stone?'

I locked my gaze unto yours, and your visage was overcome with- dare I hope- alarmed intrigue? You quickly gathered a few of what I assumed were your belongings, leapt onto your steed and rode away. Without me.

I am sorry if my forthcomingness frightened you away. I am willing to take things slowly, if you are lacking a mate and or have any interest in lady orcs. I enjoy, I imagine, many things you humans do: fishing; rolling in the mud and baking in the sun afterward (it's good for one's skin); eating and cooking (I prepare an astounding seared pig, and my frog-eye soup is unmatched); clubbing and stoning small, pesky animals; and, last but not least, dancing.

If you ever pass my way again, don't hesitate to peek your beautiful head into my cave and holler. But you'd better holler fairly loudly, as I'm a heavy sleeper.

Sincerely yours,

Ghrus'yula

[Community Notices]

Your Daughter Is No Treasure

Dear Lady Fitz,

Please cease advertising your daughter as the most enchanting creature in the land. I had the misfortune of crossing her path in the market this Saturday past, and she was neither lovely, endearing, soft of voice, or willow-thin. In fact, I have seen female trolls more alluring. If you were to place her in a tower for one to rescue, those stupid enough to brave the perils set before them on faith of your word alone would, upon seeing her, leap to their deaths or fall on their own swords before they carried her out of there with them. I am not trying to be rude, I am merely pointing out the truth which I think you should know. If you really wish to marry your daughter off, be honest. It also might not hurt to throw in some gold.

Sincerely,

A man saving fellow men from unhappy futures

To my neighbor to the east and south, the marauding tyrant

Dear kindred conqueror:

Being a power and land hungry tyrant myself, I acknowledge that certain consequences can be expected from claiming new provinces. For example, I realize that valuable farmland will likely be laid to waste in the process, forest burned and the animals inhabiting it slain, and villagers and townspeople dispatched from their homes.

However, it is the latter which concerns me. Far be it from me to advise you on proper warmongering, but your actions have brought the consequences of war to my borders. In the towns and villages dotting our shared borders, beings fleeing your terror-inducing campaign are piling in by the hour. However, that's not the main issue here. No, what concerns me is that these humans, orcs, elves, etc. are crossing my borders and falling dead in my towns, creating an awful sight and stench which, in the end, I am left to deal with. Not only that, but my denizens are becoming worried that I might gather my army again and attempt to take the few provinces I have allowed them to keep. I have worked hard at gaining their newfound trust in the last few years following the end of my campaign, and your actions are threatening the fragile halcyon of my new kingdom.

If you would kindly see to it that more of your soon-to-be subjects did not escape your borders, or at least died within them, I would be most grateful. If you do not comply, a few thousand of my most sickly denizens may somehow find their way into your lands just when you think you've established yourself in your new domains.

Yours to the west and north,

Lord Belus III

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So I used to write. A LOT. Before fanfic, I was an aspiring fantasy novelist, and I wrote pretty much all the time. I'm trying to get back into it, so I've been looking at my old pieces and taking stock of what I like/don't like. This is one of my all time favorite pieces so I thought I'd share!

#fantasy #writing #creative writing #shorts #medieval #fantasy humor #funny #craigslist #drabble

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rosedavid · 5 years

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cyrus and iris friendship hc’s!!

yes!! I was so excited to see this prompt in my inbox because cyrus and iris deserve a friendship redemption arc!! thank you :)

They meet up again in high school when they’re both in film club together. At first, it’s really awkward, but once they catch up they become quick friends again. Also, Cyrus tells her about TJ, and she’s super supportive and happy for him.

They’re not like *super close* friends, but they do hang out sometimes. They’re both still big dinosaur geeks, so they’ll go the museum together a lot to see the new exhibits and watch the new documentaries (because you bet they’re both members)

Sometimes they’ll study together in the library before school because they both love the library, and the librarian loves them. They are both total Book Nerds and discuss all the books together.

Iris helps him with writing his own screenplay, and in return he helps her rehearse for theatre club (which later on he gets persuaded to join as a crew member by both Amber and Iris).

Even though neither of them are that good at crafts, they use some of Andi’s leftover beads from her bracelet phase and make friendship bracelets.

They’re the type of friends who always support/compliment each other. They’ll start “compliment wars” (kind of like in the movie Booksmart) where they just say a bunch of sweet things about each other until they burst into giggles. // “That’s a gorgeous necklace, Iris!” // “Well your science pun shirt is positively hilarious!” // “Is that a new hairstyle, because I love it! //

Iris is the Mom Friend and Cyrus is also the Mom Friend, which is one of the reasons they get along so well. They’re both always watching out for their friends (and each other). They’re always the first to chastises others about putting on sunscreen and staying hydrated. Together, they’re an unstoppable force.

TJ really likes Iris. She’s super sweet and funny and gives Cyrus someone to geek out with who actually understands him. Iris is surprised that TJ is a jock, but she warms up to him quickly when she sees how good the two of them are for each other.

Cyrus and Iris knit each other a lot of lopsided stuff for fun because they both enjoy it. Somedays, Cyrus will be wearing a way too big hat while Iris will be sporting a mismatched scarf.

Iris enlists Cyrus’s help for making baked goods for a bake sale for one of her clubs she’s in. They’re actually both really great bakers, and Iris sells the most. After that, all of their friends want them to make desserts for them.

Send me Andi Mack headcanon prompts!

#andi mack #andi mack headcanons #cyrus goodman #iris #my headcanons #prompts #answered

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moniq31gamer · 5 years

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TS4 STARTING OVER CHALLENGE

Starting Over is a task-based challenge, which requires you to build or refurbish all of the neighbourhoods in your sims 4 world. You can start with an empty world (one is available here - updated for the pets expansion) or you can refurbish existing neighbourhoods.

In order to complete each neighbourhood you must:

Build or refurbish community venues;

Unlock jobs/careers;

Complete a set number of gameplay tasks/events; and

Complete a set number of social tasks/events.

When you have completed each level you can move on to the next.

NEIGHBOURHOODS & LEVELS

Each neighbourhood will have a certain style/vibe (called ‘levels’) based on the description of maxi’s neighbourhoods found here. The types of sims, homes, community lots, jobs and tasks available will depend on the level you are playing. For example, the level 1 neighbourhood in Oasis Springs is made up of trailers and abandoned buildings in need of refurbishment. The sims here are poor, with no money and very little job opportunities. @pictureamoebae has the perfect starter neighbourhood for Bedrock Straits in Oasis Springs: Sandtrap Shack, Sam’s Bar, Nookstone Bunker, Pebble Gas and Johnny Zest’s Trailer which i use in my own game. See ‘Neighbourhoods’ section at the end of the script for a description of building styles in each district.

Each district (Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, Newcrest, Windenburg and San Myshuno) are made up of 4 neighbourhood levels:

Level 1 will be a poor, run-down neighbourhoods with few job opportunities;

Level 2 will be a working-class neighbourhood with low-rent homes but better job opportunities;

Level 3 will be a mix of well off residences and commercial neighbourhoods with good job opportunities; and

Level 4 will be a wealthy neighbourhood where professional careers are available.

As you move up through the levels there will be different careers/lots available and tasks will become more difficult as you progress.

SIMS

You can use any sims with any skill levels, either existing maxi’s sims or your own sims, but you must use sims that reflect the type of level you are playing (trailer trash, poor but respectable, slobs, snobs, wealthy elite); so, for example, the Llandgraabs would not live in a level 1 neighbourhood. You can use any of the households that you have moved into your neighbourhoods to complete tasks, but you may need specific types of sims to complete certain tasks (ie. single sims, married sims, teenagers, toddlers etc), so be sure to add appropriate households to accomplish your tasks.

(Optional) Your sims will begin with a capsule wardrobe, with a few items worn over different categories (see this post for an example of a capsule wardrobe). Once you have a clothing store your sims can have as many outfits as you wish, but until then your sims can only have 3 everyday outfits and 1 of all other categories.

Homes will be purchased using the ‘freerealestate’ cheat but households will start with no money (a list of cheat codes can be found here). However, opportunities for making money (through jobs/careers and tasks) will increase with each level. You can also move your sims to a better neighbourhood once they can afford it.

JOBS & CAREERS

Until jobs/careers are unlocked your sims can only earn money selling goods they have crafted or collected. A list of all collectibles can be found here.

There are set jobs/careers available for your sims depending on what neighbourhood your sim lives in – job opportunities increase as you progress through the levels, and you need to build/refurbish certain lots to unlock these careers. There are also requirements for custom careers if you have these (links included). You may take a lower level job/career if you are playing a higher level neighbourhood, but you cannot take a higher level career if you are playing a lower level neighbourhood (a sim in a level 1 neighbourhood cannot take a level 4 job but a sim in a level 3 neighbourhood can get a level 1 job/career ).

Level 1 & 2 Jobs/Careers:

Fast-food Employee - need a Diner

Retail Employee - need a Retail Store

Manual Labour Employee - need Furniture/Hobby Store

Criminal Career - need a Dive Bar

Culinary Career - need a Bakery

Welfare - need a single parent

Babysitter - need a Baby/Toy Store

Barista - need a Café

Tech Guru - need an Arcade/Bowling Alley

Writer - need a Library (can be a School)

Painter - need an Arts Centre

Detective - need a sim in the Criminal Career

Education - need a School (set as a Library,

Teen Hangout or Generic Lot)

Self-employed - if you have this mod

Vet - need a Vet Clinic

Level 3 & 4 Jobs/Careers:

Athlete - need a Gym or Pool

Business - need 2 new Retail Stores

Entertainer - need a Lounge

Social Media - need a Nightclub

Scientist - need a Museum/Gallery

Fashion - need a Beauty Parlour or

Photography Studio

Military - need a sim in Detective Career

Biology - need a sim in Science Career

Doctor - need a Spa

Critic - need 2 Restaurants (not Diner)

Politics - need a Clubhouse

Secret Agent (Diamond Agent) - need to max the Detective Career

(Villain) - need to max Criminal Career

Astronaut - need Athletic Training (a sim in

Athlete Career)

HOW TO START

Select a Level 1 neighbourhood in Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, Newcrest, Windenburg or San Myshuno;

Build or refurbish homes in a level 1 style (see ‘Neighbourhoods’ section at the end of this script);

Build or refurbish any community lots you may need to unlock level 1 jobs/careers (these can be built in any district or neighbourhood)’;

Choose or randomize Gameplay Tasks/Events that you need to complete (see ‘Gameplay Tasks/Events’ below); and

Choose or randomize Social Tasks/Events that you need to complete (see ‘Social Tasks/Events’ below).

When you have completed the tasks for this neighbourhood you can move on to Level 2 in the same district or start a Level 1 neighbourhood in a new district.

Please tag #TS4 Starting Over so we can see your challenge posts

GAMEPLAY & SOCIAL TASKS/EVENTS

You will select by choice or randomizer (find a randomizer here) a set number of tasks depending on the neighbourhood level you are playing.

Level 1 neighbourhood - complete 3 Gameplay Tasks/Events; and

complete 2 Social Task/Event

Level 2 neighbourhood - complete 3 Gameplay Tasks/Events; and

complete 3 Social Tasks/Events

Level 3 neighbourhood - complete 4 Gamplay Tasks/Events; and

complete 3 Social Tasks/Events

Level 4 neighbourhood - complete 5 Gamplay Tasks/Events; and

complete 4 Social Tasks/Events

Level 1 & 2 Gameplay Tasks/Events

1. Wish for money at the Wishing Well;

2. Win on a scratch card – add $1,000 to family funds

3. Unexpected bill – deduct $200 from family funds

4. Fined for J-Walking – deduct $100 from family funds

5. Failing – do no school homework or job-required tasks for 3 consecutive days

6. Your sim is arrested – evict a sim from the household (move in new household if property is empty)

7. Taken into care – remove a toddler, child or teen from the household

8. Make $200 from computer hacking

9. Visit the Flea Market in San Myshuno

10. Go to the gym and increase fitness skill by 2

11. Ask 2 sims for a loan

12. Go Bowling with friends on a Saturday night

13. At the weekend, order pizza and watch a movie with the household

14. Woohooty Call – trawl the local bars and have woohooty with a sim you do meet there

15. Go on a weekend camping trip to Granite Falls

16. “Always bringing home strays”: adopt the frst homeless pet you come across

17. Laundry Day (if you do not have laundry facilities at home then build and visit a community laundrette)

18. Apply for a $500 bank loan - roll odd number for a yes, even number for a no

19. Day Trip - take the family on a day trip to Deadgrass Isle, in Bridlington Bay

20. Welfare (if you have this mod) - have a single parent quit their job and go on welfare

21. Adopt a toddler, child or teen

22. Glamping – rent a cabin in Granite Falls for the weekend

23. Have a sim max a skill

24. Make a wish at the Wishing Well

25. Gone to University – have a teen sim move out of the home and into a low-rent apartment

26. Library books are overdue – visit the Library and spend 3 hours reading

27. Visit a Festival in San Myshuno

28. Give a sim a makeover (new hair and clothing style)

29. Snow Day – children/teens have no school for 2 days

30. Home makeover – redecorate and refurnish 2 rooms in your sim’s home

31. Write a book in your sim’s favourite genre

32. Join/Set up a club and spend 3 hours at a club hangout

33. Complete a sim’s aspiration

34. Dance/Karaoke Marathon - spend 5 days practicing singing or dancing and on Saturday night head to a bar or club and dance/sing the night away.

35. Host a toddler’s playdate, at home or in the Park

36. Fireworks night – invite friends to a bonfire (at home or a community lot) and end the night with fireworks

37. Go on a diet – visit the gym and only eat salad for 3 consecutive days

38. Faking it – call in sick for 2 days and spend both days at community lots

39. Bake Sale – you baked extra goodies, take them over to a neighbor

40. Day Trip – visit The Bluffs, Ancient Ruins or Von Haunt Estate in Windenburg

41. Become a Vet - there are so many pets in your neighbourhood that it’s time to build and run a Vet Clinic

42. Go on a weekend camping trip to Salvadorada and discover the local culture (reach level 5 of the Salvadorada Culture skill)

43. “The Cat Lady” - move in a strange neighbour and have them adopt 3 cats

44. Secrets - Discover and visit a Secret Lot

45. “Puppies For Sale” - adopt a puppy

46. The Repo Man - your sim cannot pay the bills and the repo man comes for your stuff. Sell all items in 1 room (and deduct their value from family funds).

47. Grocery Day - an empty fridge means it’s time to head to the Grocery Store. Build/visit a Grocery Store and stock up.

48. Seasons are here - build a new seasonal clothing store and buy some new clothes (for example a Summer Swimwear Store, a Winter Woolies Store).

49. Earthquake - you live in an earthquake zone (set as a lot trait). Eventually you will experience an earthquake. When the next earthquake strikes you must turn your sim’s home into a quake disaster zone (pull down walls, tatty decor, boarded up windows etc) until you can afford to rebuild.

Wait, did you have disaster insurance?

roll odd number = yes, add $5,000 to family funds

roll even number = no insurance, unlucky!

50. "I want to Believe" - it’s time to search for the illusive Sixam. Find Sixam, meet an alien and attend a party there, before returning to Simsdom.

Level 1 & 2 Social Tasks/Events:

1. Fishing Trip - spend 1 day fishing at different locations. On the next day, hold a BBQ for friends/family and only serve the fish your sim caught.

2. Visit 2 neighbours

3. Have a BBQ and invite all the neighbours

4. Get a single sim pregnant and claim child support – add $500 to household funds once the baby is born

5. Make an enemy and have a fight

6. Become a stalker – get to level 3 Mischief Skill by pranking the same sim

7. Make an enemy at home (sibling, spouse, parent, roomie etc)

8. Have a single sim woohoo with 2 different sims

9. Teenage Menace – have a teen perform 10 mean and 10 mischief interactions

10. Go to a Karaoke Bar with friends

11. Throw a Gold Star House Party

12. Meet 2 new sims

13. Befriend a neighbor – become good friends or lovers

14. Divorce Settlement – one spouse gets the house and kids, the other must move out to a low-rent apartment

15. Get married - build a Church or Wedding Store and throw a Wedding Party

16. Have a married couple try for a baby – complete when pregnant

17. Single parent – a single sim must get pregnant and have the baby as a single parent

18. Date Night – go on a date with a spouse or loved one

19. Retirement – move out an elderly family member and move them into a retirement home, apartment or make them homeless

20. Accept all invites made by phone for 1 sim week (date, celebration, party, club outing etc)

21. Throw a Birthday Party and age up a sim

22. Go on a Singles Night at a Bar

23. Have a teen go bowling with friends

24. Have an affair – a married sim must begin a romantic relationship with another sim

25. Spend 2 days at school with a child or teen (build a School lot, set as a Library, Teen Hangout or Generic lot) and do kid/teen stuff

26. "Having a Bad Day" - your sim has a bad day at work and comes home to take it out on the kids. Have them argue and punish a child/teen.

27. Throw a Party - throw any kind of party at home just because you want to.

28. Go to a burger joint with the family (build a lot if you do not have one)

29. BULLY! - Your child/teen sim is being a bully at school. Choose a child/teen sim of the same age and do negative interaction and pranks on them until they are enemies.

30. Unrequited Love - have a sim date a non-commital sim and have them be rejected for a marriage proposal

31. Family Photoshoot - it’s time to get some family photos done. Build/visit a photography studio and get photographs of the whole family.

32. The Hangover - you will pay for that one drunken night! Go to a bar or club alone and make only inappropriate interactions with all other sims.

33. Suspicious Minds - have a sim follow their spouse/partner to 3 different locations and watch them from afar (do not interact with them). Are they having an affair? You decide…

34. Male Bonding / Girlie Weekend - send 2 guys or 2 girls (not friends) on a vacation together to GF or Salvadorada and have them do activities that involve 2 or more sims (fishing, exploring etc) until they become friends or lovers.

35. Complete Autonomy - turn on full autonomy and have your sim do what they will for 2 consecutive sim days.

Level 3 & 4 Gameplay Tasks/Events:

1. Your numbers have come up in the lottery – add $50,000 to household funds

2. You lost all of your money in a Real Estate scam – move household into a dingy apartment and start over with no money

3. Spend at least $2,500 on landscaping

4. Invest in a Store - buy an existing business (using ‘freerealestate’) and transfer $2,500 to Business Funds. You can keep the store or sell the business the store is has a net profit of $5,000

5. Complete a collection for a bonus of $10,000

6. Moving on up - move to a nicer house or apartment (in a Level 3 or 4 neighbourhood)

7. Start a Business from scratch – buy an affordable empty lot and use only household funds to furnish and run a business

8. Grow up well – have a toddler max all skills, then age up to a child

9. Homeless – following a series of unfortunate events, one sim must be evicted and remain homeless

10. Have a child/teen get an ‘A’ grade at school – reward them with something new (toys, computer etc) up to the value of $1,000

11. Real Estate Mogul – sell current home for 2 x the value (use money cheat to add double the value to household funds) and move into a new, affordable home.

12. Get a drunken tattoo – select a sim who would not normally have a tattoo

13. You’ve been burgled – place all electronic equipment in the home into the household inventory for 1 sim week (you can then replace them,purchase more or return items from inventory)

14. Have a sim be abducted

15. Complete a sim’s aspiration

16. Mid-life crisis – have a sim quit their level 3+ job and start a new career

17. Demoted (use this demotion cheat)

18. Find and visit a hidden lot – take photographs to hang on the wall at home or at work

19. Spa Day – your sim will visit a Spa and get 4 treatments (manicure, pedicure, sauna, yoga, mud bath, meditation, massage)

20. Become a vegetarian – change a sim’s trait to vegetarian and the household can only cook vegetarian meals for 1 sim week (after this, non- vegetarians in the household can cook meat again)

21. Have a family vacation at a Villa in Salvadorada and discover a relic worth more than $1,000

22. Feeling Friskie - your pet wants a companion and a family (complete when your female pet has a litter of kittens/puppies)

23. "All About Clutter" - spend $1,000 on clutter for your home

24. Back to Basics - a family member must age up and move out of the family home into an apartment with only the basic needs and no money (use free real estate and money cheats)

25. Pay Grade increase - Your sims has worked hard and finally earned a degree - start them at level 5 of their chosen career

26. Income Tax Evasion – pay a fine of $20,000 (deduct from household funds)

27. Make 5 donations (to charities or political causes)

28. Buy (use ‘freerealestate’) and run a successful restaurant with a star rating of 3 or more

29. Visit a Museum/Art Gallery and spend $2,500 on new art for the home

30. Bankrupt – reset family funds to $0

31. Early retirement – a YA/A sim will cash in a retirement plan of $100,000 and retire (cannot have any other job/career)

32. Max a Level 3 or 4 career

33. Complete a sim’s aspiration and cash-in all aspiration reward points

34. Find your inner peace – health and personal growth is more valuable than money – visit the Spa and max the Wellness skill

35. Bad Hair Day - make over a sim with a bad hairstyle and keep it for a sim week (after a week your sim can keep the style or fix it).

36. Musical Prodigy – have a child/teen reach level 5 of all musical skills available to them

37. Kill off 2 random townies (you may build a church or graveyard to display headstones)

38. Inherited a Mansion – move into an unfurnished Level 4 mansion or penthouse apartment (use ‘freerealestate), using household funds to redecorate and refurnish

39. Cowplant Suicide - have a sim die by cowplant.

40. Retail Therapy – send your sim on a day out with friends and go on a shopping spree valuing $5,000 (if you cannot buy retail items of this value then you can deduct $5,000 from household funds)

41. Looking for adventure - have a sim quit their job and become an explorer (complete when the secret temple has been discovered and treasure is found)

42. Pedigree - have your pedigree cat or dog breed with another pedigree and sell a litter of purebred puppies/kittens

43. "Life’s a Gamble" - your sim has become addicted to gambling and has put up the family home as collateral - roll a dice: even numbers will result in you winning (add $150,000 to family funds), an odd number will result in your sim losing the family home and becoming homeless (move the entire family in to an empty apartment and set money to 0)

44. “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword” - write 3 best-sellers and receive a $100,000 advance for your next book

45. “City Slicker” - once your sim has maxed the Social Media or Critic career, move them and their family to a Penthouse apartment with a Butler (use free real estate cheat)

46. New Restaurant - a new restaurant has opened up. Build/visit a new restaurant with the family.

47. Pyromaniac!!! - Have your sim set a fire (by cooking, lighting fires, fireworks etc) and let it get out of control until someone dies.

48. Corner the Market - where is there a niche in the market? What sort of store is missing from your game? Do you need a bookstore for your genius /bookish sims? A toy store for your childish/parents? A comic store for your geeky/gamer sims? Build and visit a store that meets your current sim’s needs.

49. Flower Garden - design a beautiful garden of approx 5 x 5 in size (can be bigger depending on the size of lot) and use landscaping features and only perfect flowers (you do not need all flowers for this challenge but what flowers you use must be perfect).

50. The Red Carpet - a new club or lounge has been opened and they are having a red carpet opening event. Attend the event and get glammed up for the cameras. Post screenshots of your sims at this event.

Level 3 & 4 Social Tasks/Events:

1. D.I.V.O.R.C.E – sell the family home, move both spouses out and split the household funds. Each spouse must then buy/rent an affordable home or apartment

2. Make a good sim become evil (use cas.fulleditmode cheat) and make an enemy at work

3. Have a teen sim ‘Mess Around’ with another teen sim

4. School Reunion – throw a party for friends only (no acqaintances or family)

5. Girl’s/Boy’s Night Out – go out in a group (can be a club group) and play pub games (cards, bowling, darts etc)

6. Caught breaking curfew – have a teen be caught breaking curfew or sneaking out late at night

7. Slumber Party – On the weekend, have a child/teen invite friends over to a sleepover (make sure there are plenty of group activities to keep them busy)

8. A brief affair – a married sim must have an affair with another sim but break up after woohoo

9. Feeling adventurous – woohoo in 3 public places

10. Looking for Love – go on 5 dates with 5 different sims

11. Join/Start a club and go on 2 club outings

12. Seclusion – spend 2 days alone in Granite Falls to work on skills/ collections in the peace and quiet of the countryside

13. Netflix & Chill – watch a movie at home with a romantic interest and follow the movie with woohoo

14. Playdate – visit a friend’s house with a toddler, child or teen

15. Eat out at a romantic restaurant with a partner, spouse or romantic interest

16. Gold Digga – a YA sim must marry a wealthy A/E sim

17. Take the family to a Photography Studio for some new family portraits

18. Let’s do Lunch – go for lunch with friends at a café, bar or restaurant

19. A Trophy Wife (or husband) – a wealthy sim must divorce their spouse and remarry a YA sim

20. Have a One-Night Stand – romance a sim, woohoo with them, then never speak to them again (this will take longer than one night)

21. Unexpected argument – perform 10 mean interactions with a friend

22. Pool Party – have a teen throw a pool party

23. Have a sim start a new romantic relationship

24. Throw a Gold-Star Dinner Party

25. Spend the day with the family at the Park

26. Have a cat/dog person neglect their pet for 3 consecutive days.

27. Growing Pains - have a child age up to a teen with a renegade style (punk, emo, goth, biker etc) or any other fashion statement.

28. Family Dinners - it’s time to spend some quality time with your family. Have breakfast or dinner with all household members for 3 consecutive days.

29. Separated a Birth / Evil Twin - An identical twin you were separated from at birth turns up on your doorstep (use CAS cheat and add your sim’s twin, and add them to your household). Roll the dice:

Roll even number = befriend your twin

Roll odd number = your twin is evil - become enemies.

30. Teen Angst - have a teen sim become enemies with 1 or both parents.

31. Unlucky in Love - have a sim go on 3 disastrous dates.

32. Frenemies - have 2 siblings in the same household make as many friends/enemies in a sim week. One sim will make friends, the other will make enemies. The LOSER must move out.

33. A new wine bar has just opened – build an exclusive club, lounge or bar and go on a night out with friends

34. Graduation – a teen sim has graduated. Throw a party or prom for teens only (at home or build a school/prom venue)

35. Spend Saturday night with friends, order pizza and watch a movie

NEIGHBOURHOODS

Oasis Springs:

Level 1 - Bedrock Straits Low-class neighbourhood made up of cheap trailers, dingbat style homes and run-down community lots

Level 2 - Parched Prospect Moderately-priced single storey homes in the mid-century modern style

Level 3 - Skyward Palms Expensive Spanish Villas in a gated community

Level 4 - Acquisition Butte A wealthy neighbourhood with 2 luxury mansions with beautiful landscaping

Oasis Springs Commercial District The main commercial district overlooking the sea can also be set for residential use

Dessert Bloom Park A great place for wilderness buffs with many collectibles

Willow Creek:

Level 1 - Foundry Cove Small and cramped shotgun style homes that are affordable but need plenty of TLC

Level 2 - Courtyard Lane A moderately priced are made up of Craftsman Bungalows, with good-sized gardens close to the river

Level 3 - Pendula View A pleasant but pricey neighbourhood with Colonial style homes arranged around an intersection

Level 4 - Sage Estates Exclusive neighbourhood consists of 2 southern-style mansions with extensive landscaping

Commercial District Located on the waterfront, the commercial district has many historical southern-style buildings for commercial or residential use

Magnolia Blossom Park A historical community park set in a lush, green environment

Newcrest:

Level 1 There is no level 1 neighbourhood

Level 2 - Bridgeview Affordable neighbourhood with craftsman style homes built across the bridge from the canal

Level 3 - Llama Lagoon Middle-class neighbourhood of American colonial homes

Level 4 - Ridgeline Drive Affluent neighbourhood overlooking the high- rise business district across the lake, featuring a mix of moderne and split-level style homes

Magnolia Promenade:

This riverside plaza is the main retail district built in a post-modern urban style. Although built for retail use, there are also apartments built above the retail units that can be turned to residential use. The Hospital and Police Station are within view of the promenade.

Windenburg:

Level 1 - Old Town A mix of residential and community lots in an open-spaced area built in a Tudor style

Level 2 - Waterside A modern area with many amenities close to the ocean built in a range of modern architectural designs

Level 3 - Countryside The countryside is dominated by large, expensive timber-framed houses and some affordable cottages

Level 4 - Island An exclusive neighbourhood with a range of different building styles (from simple beach houses to grand estates) surrounded by cliffs, beaches and ancient ruins

San Myshuno:

Level 1 - Spice Market Low-end neighbourhood offers cramped apartments in need of TLC, with brownstone buildings and dockside warehouses

Level 2 - Arts Quarter Low to mid-rent apartment buildings in a bohemian style overlooking a large, spacious plaza

Level 3 - Fashion District Luxury apartments with spacious rooms and generous views of the city, features buildings with modern glass designs

Level 4 - Uptown High-class neighbourhood is home to the rich and famous, with luxury penthouse apartments. The spacious high-rise apartments give panoramic views of the bay and civic plaza

Myshuno Meadows A large Centre Park surrounded by trees and expansive cityscapes, perfect for outdoor events

Brindleton Bay:

Level 1 - Whiskermans Wharf Low-end harbor docks with refurbished warehouses and cheap apartments above run-down community buildings

Level 2 - Sable Square Mid-century restored homes built along a charming square, with plenty of space for families and pets

Level 3 - Cavalier Cove Sprawling coastal properties and secluded cottages all overlooking the coastal shores of the Bay

Level 4 - Deadgrass Isle Once the site of a mysterious shipwreck Deadgrass Isle is home to the Brindleton Lighthouse and some mysterious apparitions…

Granite Falls:

Vacation district with campgrounds and rental chalets/cabins for exploring the wildrness

Salvadorada:

Vacation destination in a new culture, with camping or family villas full of excitement and adventure

#REBLOG #SIMS 4 CHALLENGE

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thefinalcinderella · 6 years

Text

Tsurune Book 2 Chapter 3-Bow-Crazy (Part 2)

*wheeze* *wheeze* It’s finally out...after more than a month...of being with irl stuff...

After finishing this part, I feel like Tsujimine fits the mold of “underdog school in sports anime” more than Kazemai, even though they have more members. It would be cool to get a story from their point of view.

Also, I recently started reading Beastars since it’s getting an anime and I’m amazed that the mangaka somehow made a deer more attractive to me than 90% of hot bishounen out there...

Glossary here

Full list of translations here

Translation Notes

1. An ukeita is a hole set up on the wall for archers to string their bows. They show up in the anime a lot

2. Biku is “ an unconscious and abrupt contraction in kai”

3. The word used here, en ( 縁) is a difficult concept to describe in English. It’s not as grand as “fate” and “destiny” but more like a connection or a bond between people, e.g. the red string of fate. Something like a lucky encounter or a coincidence, divinely preordained. So basically Nikaidou think that Minato was lucky enough to meet Saionji and Shuu, and be enrolled into a high school with its own kyudojo and a kind, helpful advisor.

4. A zabuton, according to Wikipedia, is a cushion for sitting. In sumo, the audience throws zabuton at the ring when a yokozuna is defeated by a weaker one.

5. A yokozuna is the highest rank in sumo.

6. Minato says sorry but it’s slurred since his cheeks were being pulled. I couldn’t express that in English without making it really cringy so I will leave it alone for now

7. An uchidake is the inner face of a bow

8. This paragraph made me wonder what exactly Masa-san studied in university. Anyways tebanasu is 手離す and hanasu is 話す. And kogoru is 凝る. Apparently kogoru is actually an accepted origin for kokoro.

9. Heki-ryuu is a school of kyudo. Don’t ask me what their specialty is, but apparently some of its branches still exist today.

Previous | Next

Nikaidou chased the flowing clouds with his eyes. The sunlight would be intense today as well.

A non-portable target was set up in a corner of the schoolyard, and there were two tatami mats placed behind it for whenever someone missed. They would have liked the shooting line to be in the shade if at all possible, but as they were limited to the area they could use, they could not expect too much.

Tsujimine High School did not have a kyudojo.

They had been practicing in the gym until last year, but with the new school year, they have been banned from using it. As there were many clubs that used the gym, such as the basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and badminton clubs, the kyudo club, which had never won, was told to refrain from using it. They also borrowed a public kyudojo for practice, but they only went there about once a month because of their bad location, which meant a one-way trip there by car took two hours.

All the third-years, other than those participating in the tournament, had retired, and currently there were twenty-two members. Since their advisor was only nominal and almost never showed up, in the absence of a coach, the form of upperclassmen teaching their juniors continued for generations. Even Higuchi and Aragaki, detached from the real world, could not accept to being driven from the gym in their last year of high school. At any rate, they had to earn results that could be clearly seen with the eyes. Words such as, "Let's do our best," had no efficacy whatsoever.

There was only one thing to obtain.

"Victory" at the national tournament.

Nikaidou smiled and turned his sharp gaze towards Fuwa.

"The regional tournament the other day. We were defeated by Shuu-kun's Kirisaki, but I feel super great for defeating Kazemai, where Minato-chan and Seiya-chan are."

"You sure hate your fellow middle school schoolmates a lot. And they're your kouhai?"

"No way, I love them. I have no interest in almost any of the Kirisaki guys, but Shuu-kun and Minato-chan are special."

"I'd like to avoid your special in particular."

"Same. Even I might not like my special. You understand well, Koushirou."

Fuwa pulled on the edge of Nikaidou's hood, which he had pulled over his head.

"More importantly, why the hell are you wearing a hoodie in this stupidly hot weather?"

"This white hoodie is a UV cut type for summer. You don't want to get a half-baked sunburn, right?"

"Are you a girl?"

"I look like a girl to you, Fuwa? Your eyesight is amazing."

"You're twisting words all on your own. If you hate getting a sunburn, then put up a parasol."

"Aah, a parasol might be good, actually. There are only two girls here, this kyudo club. I guess if you aren't fanciful enough, you won't join."

"Well, I guess it'll be creepy to see a corpse rolling around."

Beneath the shade of a tree, Higuchi was sleeping while lying face down. If someone who didn't know him saw him, he really would look like a corpse.

"Higuchi-senpai, you should at least lie down on the picnic sheet."

"Nnn, got it!"

The sloth-like Higuchi quietly got up and curled up on the sheet. He was like a rechargeable battery with a small capacity, quickly exhausted. He seemed to be especially bad with sunlight, and he needed to diligently take naps.

On the contrary, there was another man who vigorously did muscle training whenever he had spare time. He was always moving his body, and his love of muscles knew no bounds.

"Conscious breathing is strongly inhaling with the assistance of the serratus posterior superior muscle, the pectoralis minor muscle, the trapezius muscle, and the levator scapulae muscle, adding the rectus abominable muscle, oblique abdominal muscle, and serratus posterior inferior muscle, and strongly exhaling. Breathing is closely connected with muscle action. Ooh, it's the very mystery of the body!"

"…Kuro-chan sure is knowledgeable."

"Oh, just leave it all to me. This is love too, it is."

Good grief. Even my backhanded compliment didn't get through to him.

Seeing Nikaidou getting guilelessly brushed off, Fuwa's mouth slackened.

Aragaki arrived late. During this period, third-years could not devote their undivided attention to club activities because of teacher interviews and the like after school.

"Aragaki-senpai, I will help you string your bow."

Aragaki raised his hand in a gesture of thanks, and then Fuwa held the top part of his bow, the urahazu. Normally, an ukeita (1) that was installed on the wall of a kyudojo would be used, but in their case someone else would hold up the bow for it to be stringed.

After he finished preparing his equipment, he finally took off his mask. He always used masks of the same brand, and his spare was also flawless. It seemed that it didn't hurt his ears, the texture was nice, and it made him look like he had a small face—all things that he refused to compromise on, but Nikaidou and Fuwa couldn't tell the difference between it and a special bargain sale brand.

Nikaidou took out his phone and recorded everyone's shooting forms.

Aragaki was glued to his own image. From Nikaidou's point of view, there couldn't have been much difference between his face yesterday and today, but Aragaki was immersed in delight every time he saw his own profile.

Nikaidou himself also had a video of his shooting taken by Fuwa.

"Thanks, Fuwa."

"The other day, I was on a trip and I took the opportunity to stop by Shigeyuki-san's kyudojo, but it was closed. Was the practice day changed?"

"Yeah, apparently he's busy with work."

Even as he was saying that, he put away his phone in his bag after he confirmed that everything was saved.

Fuwa was watching him as he did so.

Nikaidou passed through the automatic doors.

As soon as he entered, he was met with a large aqua terrarium.

Without looking at the colourful fish swimming in the miniature garden tank, he searched for his familiar favourite. The dark, ugly fish that always stayed still in the shade of a rock. He didn't know its name. It did not move, as if it was stuck there, and its form could not be identified unless one went all the way around to the side of the tank, so it made little sense for it to be an aquarium fish. It was irresistibly lovely how it did not care at all about the intentions of humans.

After he announced his name at the reception desk, he climbed the stairs, not using the elevator at all.

The hospital room was on the fifth floor.

At the destination to which he climbed step by step, there was a room.

"Shigeyuki-san."

"Hey, Eisuke. You're visiting a lot."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling especially good today. Since no matter what, you got a twenty-shot kaichuu at the regional tournament. I'm so proud to have such an excellent nephew."

"It looks like your shots, since I've always been watching you shoot, Shigeyuki-san."

"Is your eloquence like me too? How strange, I'm supposed to be a quiet man."

Nikaidou Shigeyuki was Nikaidou's uncle.

He was an archer with a muscular body and whose specialty was extremely sharp shots. His love of kyudo grew so intense that he even constructed a kyudojo on the premises of his own home, and a lot of neighbourhood children came to play there. Nikaidou was also one of those children.

The hand-crafted kyudojo, with space for two people to shoot, had its range become a vegetable plot, with different kinds of vegetables planted in it for every season, and many insects, such as butterflies, gathered there. The sight of an arrow flying above all of that was idyllic, more like something from the leisurely and quiet life of a mountain hermit than a strict discipline. But, Nikaidou thought that if he really was a mountain hermit, he wouldn't have gotten sick. Stress and pressure were major factors for the damage to his internal organs.

After they had chatted for a while, Nikaidou took out his phone from his bag.

"It's the usual thing, but please do it for me again."

"Oh, I wonder if everyone has improved? Ooh, Fuwa-kun has a great hanare. The pushing of his left hand is also good. I think he should lower his left shoulder just a little. Higuchi-kun's kai is as long as ever. It is rare even for hanshi-level masters to maintain it that long, but as long as he doesn't get motare or biku (2) then it can stay as it is. And then…"

Shigeyuki was the shadow coach of Tsujimine High School.

The Tsujimine High School Kyudo Club had an advisor, but no coach. For that reason, Nikaidou turned to Shigeyuki. He was currently hospitalized, but readily accepted Nikaidou's request.

Shigeyuki spoke.

"Eisuke, you seem to want to master the way to use your right hand at hanare."

"I don't think my technique can be imitated by the high schoolers over there."

"'Kakehodoki' is making a grinding noise at your right thumb and then shooting the arrow, but there are many archers who don't do that."

"Is that so? I thought it was something everyone did if they were skilled."

"It depends on the shape of the yugake, and there is a wide variety of shooting techniques. It's not like my knowledge is absolute. Fujiwara-kun, who does shoumen uchiokoshi, is not made to do kakehodoki, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"Fujiwara-kun truly is Saionji-sensei's best disciple. And besides, the left hand is essential for hitting the target, after all. To begin with, you should learn the correct way of using your left hand."

"Okay. Thank you, Shigeyuki-san. I'll pass it all on to everyone."

Nikaidou loved talking about kyudo with Shigeyuki. On the other hand, he also felt uncomfortable about it, because he did not genuinely love kyudo.

Sometimes, he wondered why he was doing kyudo. He started in fourth grade, and now it was his eighth year doing it. In middle school, he had accomplished winning the individual competitions, but honestly speaking, he had been shooting while thinking, I want to quit, I want to quit. The time of it being incredibly enjoyable and him being happy about winning had already passed. On the other hand, he also did not want to go even farther with it.

He had seen his limit.

Always hitting, never missing—that was only aiming for the absurd.

Even professional archers couldn't make a living from kyudo. Almost all kyudo teachers were volunteers.

He wanted to shut up those who said ridiculous things like, your wishes will come true if you want them strongly enough. Things like not putting in enough effort or putting in effort in a different direction were the objections of winners, and the great majority died without ever being able reach the heights. They were insensitive words from someone who did not notice the heaps of corpses that were rolling at their feet, and spat on them.

He wanted to be free of it all soon.

He wanted to put an end to his archer life.

But despite all that, the biggest reason for why he hadn't quit yet was the existence of Shuu and Minato.

Fujiwara Shuu even had Saionji as his master. He probably had the power of his family and money. It wasn't bad to utilize what he had to the fullest extent, and in fact it was what he should do. However, Minato was different. Even though he was supposed to be a commoner and an average person like himself, why was he the only one who was blessed?

What Nikaidou didn't have and Minato did was "chance." (3) What other people would call the love of a god. Something that couldn't be obtained with effort.

The love of the god of archery? How laughable.

Shigeyuki-san, just watch me. I'll end my career with victory.

I'll strike an arrow back at them.

Minato held the leash and headed for the main street.

It had been a long time since he walked Bear in the evening. Bear cheerily walked ahead.

Ultimately, Minato took a break from club activities. After returning home, he had himself examined at Seiya's father's hospital, and brought Bear along with him. He would have ridden his bike, but gripping the handlebars made his left wrist hurt from the strain. It seemed that he had no choice but to obey his orders until he was completely healed.

He left it to Bear to lead him forward. Honeybees and flower chafer beetles gathered at the white flowers blooming in the buckwheat fields, and white-tailed skimmer dragonflies flew back and forth by the waterside. When he went on a path lined by spotted bellflowers, he came to a place with a good view.

There was a new shop. Enticed by the delicious smells of homemade bread, Minato opened the shop's door. He was told by a shop assistant that since not only locals, but also trekkers and cyclists who drop in, it was common for things to sell out in the early hours.

When he left the shop, Minato was holding cinnamon rolls, its hallmark product. Drawn in by the sales message of "they go amazing with coffee," he bought them before he knew what he was doing.

What should I do with these?

There probably isn't an opportunity for me to give them to him.

Ever since Masa-san took up the job of being the coach for the Kazemai High School Kyudo Club, there had been no opportunities for the two of us to shoot together at the Yata no Mori Kyudojo. He doesn't drink coffee during the practices at school, so even if he was in Yata no Mori, he would definitely turn them away. And my pocket money is tight this month, so I really am a hopeless idiot.

"Bear, what should I do? Is it better even just to go and watch practice? But I can't really concentrate on it…"

For Minato, the kyudojo was a place where his mind felt at ease. And yet, seeing the unfamiliar pairing of Masa-san and Shuu made him feel irritated.

Their levels were so different that it was like looking at something unreal. The sound of the flying arrow sent out from that gifted body was sharp, and it could only be thought of as something done by an inhabitant of another world. Even for the things that Minato couldn't easily improve at no matter how many times he was told to, Shuu could clear them extremely easily. After all, even for those who taught, there was probably worth in teaching people like Shuu, who picked things up quickly.

Minato sat down on the ground. He stroked Bear's thin eyebrows, and he licked Minato's hand. That naturally led to him rubbing Bear's head and back. Bear had always comforted him like this since a long time ago, but perhaps sensing something on this day, he stood up all of a sudden.

"Bear?" a voice came from behind.

"…You surprised me. Why are you in a place like this, Onogi?"

Kaito took out his earphones.

"Shouldn't I be the one surprised? I was wondering if Seiya was here. I'm heading home from club. My mom dragged me here to buy some bread filled with red bean paste, which is limited to one per customer, for Nanao's house."

"Then, Seiya will be home soon."

"Narumiya, you came when you were told not to, and didn't when you were told you could come. What exactly do you want to do? Didn't they talk about how useful it is for you just now? Simply watching practice is also valuable."

"I know that."

"You know, so what's up with you?"

"…I hate having my own lack of skill spelled out for me when the current Shuu is right before me."

"Hah, so stupid. I can't believe you're letting this rare opportunity get away for that kind of reason. Ultimately, you still have no excuse. Why do you think Tommy-sensei invited Fujiwara?"

"Wasn't it a request from Shuu? Ryouhei invited him too."

"Did you already forget what you yourself said? Didn't you say that watching skilled people shoot is one way to gain knowledge? Since Kazemai doesn't have cutthroat battles to become regulars like at a powerhouse school, so we lack the enthusiasm to 'absolutely get better.' There's no air of tension from being overwhelmed by a skilled guy. Isn't Tommy-sensei trying to fire us up by showing us Fujiwara's shooting from up close?"

Indeed, Shuu never lost focus at any time.

Even in practice matches, he showed his relentless strength. He maintained his unashamed attitude of being the one to stand above all high school archers for three hundred and sixty-five days.

"Could it be that the reason why Tommy-sensei said that he couldn't praise us even if we all got kaichuu was—"

"Because our minds were 'slackening.' And, we settled the reasons for why we lost with 'it can't be helped.' Seiya and the others were also talking about that during today's practice. They were saying that even if we didn't intend to, somewhere in our minds, we might have been thinking something along the lines of 'we don't really have to win this regional tournament by overextending ourselves.' Isn't that attitude putting down the other archers who are shooting their bows seriously? Well, you felt angry, unlike us."

Minato bit his lip, and then pressed the package from the bakery into Kaito's hand.

"Sorry. Take this."

"What? Isn't this all of it?"

"I didn't put it in a backpack, and I'm carrying something in my hand even though I'm walking Bear, so it's a bother. Well then, I'm going home now."

Minato broke into a run without waiting for Kaito's response.

"That guy, why did he buy this even though he's not eating it…?"

Kaito's muttering, as he held the bag of bread, did not reach anyone's ears.

It was the last day of Shuu's practice at Kazemai High School.

Minato showed up at the kyudojo for the first time in a week. Seiya, Kaito, Nanao, and Ryouhei were practicing while commenting on each other's shooting forms.

Shuu and Masa-san were shooting in a two-person tachi. The two, who were tall and had similar builds, worked together smoothly as though they were old friends. Masa-san raised his bow, parted it, and released his arrow as though tracing Shuu's movements. The tsurune resounded loudly. No ordinary person could imitate the both of them, who shot right through the center of their targets. It was most likely a state only those who had fully honed their skills could reach. It was a beautiful dance of only two people.

Minato was the only one not wearing kyudogi there. Even though he felt like quickly leaving as soon as possible from the loneliness of being left by himself, on the other hand, he also wanted to stay.

The archers he admired were here.

Even being reproached for watching them was no different from being told to stop breathing.

When Shuu finished zasha, he approached Minato, who was standing in the corner.

"Minato, are you going to shoot today?"

"No, I still didn't get permission."

"I see, that's a shame. This is my last day here, but I learned a lot from being shown Masa-san's shooting. Saionji-sensei never talked a lot, but I realized that we were instructed with a good deal of meaning put in."

"That's good to hear. I'm really sorry for being completely useless… I'll be going to the hospital from now on. See you another time, Shuu."

Shuu moved his face closer to Minato's shoulder, who had looked away.

"Don't show it on your face so readily. It'll make it too hard to see you off."

"What do you mean?"

"Seiya's father is examining you, right? It's fine, you can shoot once you've healed. Let's shoot together next time we meet."

"…Yeah. You really are cool, Shuu. You're like a samurai."

Shuu opened his eyes wide.

"…Of course I am," he said, then lightly bumped Minato's right hand while it was hanging by his side with his fist.

Now that he was taking a break from club, the days passed in a blink of an eye.

They had just entered the suspension period of club activities that took place before exams, and because he thoroughly did the practice that did not involve using a bow when he had hayake, it became his specialty.

On the day the end of term finals was over, Minato was at Seiya's family's orthopedic surgery clinic. A sumo wrestling match was showing on the television in the waiting room. In it, there was a scene of zabuton (4) flying after the match was over. A young boy, seeing that, spoke to a man sitting next to him who looked like his grandfather.

"Grandpa, why's everyone throwing their zabuton?"

"That's because the stronger wrestler won by using a technique used by the weaker wrestler, so the people watching that got angry."

"Huh, why are they angry even though he won?"

"Sumo is a martial art, after all. The wrestlers are too proud to win by cowardly methods, of course, but also by cheap techniques. Even if they get hurt, if they don't show the true power of a yokozuna (5) when standing in the ring, then wouldn't that be rude to their opponents?"

Minato secretly kept the two's conversation to his heart.

In the examination room, the doctor, Seiya's father, spoke.

"Does it really not hurt anymore? I don't want to get scolded by Seiya if I don't find out you're lying."

"It is true. I wouldn't do anything like lying since I of course also don't want to drag this out."

"It was worth it for me to ask Tommy-sensei to have you take a break until you are fully healed, since you would probably not be able to endure watching kyudo without being able to shoot, Minato-kun. Though, in the beginning, Coach Takigawa seemed to have thought that it would be good for you to study by observing, at least. Alright, your examination is finished."

When Minato returned home, he threw himself down on his bed in his second-floor bedroom. He raised his left hand high above his head and tried moving his wrist. There was no more pain.

The sumo conversation he had listened to in the clinic's waiting room not long ago had something in it that could be related to kyudo. If it was someone who never did kyudo, they might think it was great as long as your hitting rate was good. However, it was different for archers. They would feel irritated at seeing a person resolutely hitting with a messy shooting form.

What Seiya's father had said was unexpected. Masa-san had not said anything like that at all to him. He would have obediently accepted it a little if he had heard that.

Minato shouted on top of his bed.

"Masa-san's an idiot! That shitty dirty old geezer——!"

Even if he denounced his master in a nook of the countryside, he keenly felt the insignificance of his own ability, and it only felt all the more futile.

A sound poured down on him when he closed his eyes.

A cold and tender melody.

He wanted to hear it by his side rather than in his memories.

His phone that had rolled to his pillow was ringing. Perhaps Seiya had heard his roar just now. When he looked, he saw that the sender was Masa-san. The text read, (look outside your window).

He got up and saw Masa-san holding a bow and quiver below the window. From the design of the bow cover and other things, they were without a doubt Minato's. Minato rushed down the stairs and opened the door.

"First of all, I guess I should say, good evening."

"What, um, why are you here, Masa-san?"

"I was adjusting everyone's equipment today. Though when I planned on doing it for Minato as well and stopped by, I heard a distant howling from somewhere. 'Masa-san's an idiot!' or something like that."

"Oh. …So-sorry."

Masa-san lightly pinched Minato's cheeks and pulled them.

"You're half right, but don't shout that while your window is open, since it's embarrassing."

"…I'm so sorry." (6)

Minato led Masa-san through the front door.

"My dad still isn't home yet. Should we go upstairs?"

"No, here is fine. More importantly, try gripping your bow."

Masa-san took out the bow from the bow case.

"You have relatively large hands, so I put in a piece of paper about as thick as a postcard for the grip to try to make it a bit thicker. It's a semi-cylindrical shape, but there's also a way to slightly raise the right side of the uchidake (7) so your fingertips will reach the corners more easily. I had everyone else do it by themselves, but to celebrate you recovering from your injury, I did yours myself."

Minato received his bow with a new grip.

The original leather grip wrapping (nigirikawa) was used for a long time and became slippery, but this new leather felt good to the touch. Though it was easier to grip it when it was thin, thanks to its raised height, the fitting of his little finger was good as well.

"It feels great. Thank you, Masa-san."

"Your arrows were also the length of those used by beginners, so I had them shortened a little at the kyudo equipment store. Even a slightly lighter one would decrease the burden on your wrist. I also took the opportunity to expose your arrow feathers to steam and straighten them."

"You knew my yazuka really well."

"Well, it might not seem like it, but I am your master after all."

Masa-san grinned.

It felt like it had been a long time since he saw Masa-san smile like that. His heart hurt a little.

"Masa-san, I want to try shooting."

"Do you want to go to Yata no Mori?"

Minato got the backpack he used for kyudo, and got into the passenger seat of Masa-san's car.

The stars were twinkling above the mountains. From the slightly open windows came the lively sounds of insects carried on the wind. The frogs rejoicing in the rainy season made up the background chorus. The stretching lights illuminated the streets at night. Their distant destination was covered in darkness, but there was a road in the range where the lights reached.

A road that appeared by moving forward.

Minato tugged at his seatbelt for no particular reason, and Masa-san gave him a sidelong glance.

"Does your seatbelt feel uncomfortable?"

"No, that feels fine. Um, Masa-san. I'm sorry for calling you a shitty old geezer the other day and just now…"

"Were you worrying about those kinds of things?"

"It's not just that."

"You still have other insults for me? Since we have the time, I'll listen to them."

"Masa-san, I'm happy that you became the coach for Kazemai, but I'm also not."

"Why is that?"

Minato exhaled loudly.

"…Because I can't keep you to myself."

When the car stopped at a red light, Masa-san ruffled Minato's hair.

"You really are just a little kid after all."

"Don't call me a little kid! And don't mess up my hair!"

"Alright, alright."

"The light turned green, you know!"

As Minato was fixing his tousled hair, the car began moving again.

"It's just the story from when I was in high school, but because I couldn't do what Grandpa told me to do very well at all, so I had other teachers take a look at me. Even so, whenever I went to get taught by other teachers, Grandpa would always get in a bad mood. I couldn't understand why, but now I can understand his feelings."

"What kind of feelings?"

"The feeling of 'don't you meddle with my student.'"

"Huh?"

"I know that your hitting rate will increase if you improved your right hand. However, even though we were working hard on correcting your left hand first in order to not harm your left wrist, some outsider had the nerve to tell you to do something uncalled for. Even though he never saw you everyday, what could he understand from only seeing you shoot one or two arrows?"

Sorry, Minato murmured in his mind.

"But, didn't you make Shuu touch your belly?"

"If anyone else heard only that, I would sound like a pervert, wouldn't I? Did you want to touch it too, Minato?"

"I'm not a pervert, so I'm fine."

"To begin with, you have too many weak spots! Your thinking is too naïve! Your range of behavior is strangely wide, you act way too recklessly, you're an airhead—I can see why Seiya got so overprotective of you."

"There's no need to go that far…"

"Because of that, I was waiting for you to say something, but I should have been the one to act. I suppose a coach who can't even manage his athlete's health is less than third-rate——?"

Masa-san put his left hand to his temple to cover his eyes.

Minato grabbed that hand with the wristwatch and brushed up the strands of hair hanging by his cheek, driven by the urge to look into those hidden eyes. But, he quietly swallowed.

"My master will always and forever be Masa-san. I want to listen to your tsurune forever——. Please take care of me from now on, Master."

"I should be the one saying you shouldn't be too hard on me."

Their mouths loosened.

"I sort of feel more relaxed when I talk with you, Masa-san."

"Oh, since ancient times, conversation has been a kind of therapy. There are various theories on how words came to be, but with 'o' standing for big, and 'ko' standing for small, o and ko have lingered in people's ears and became 'oto' and 'koto'. 'Oto' doesn't have any meanings such as an idea or concept, and 'koto' does. The origin of kokoro (heart, mind) is 'kokoru—kogoru (to congeal, to stiffen)'. Kokoro meant something heavy in the first place. 'Hanasu (to talk)' was to release a stiffened heart, let go of it (tebanasu)." (8)

"It seems like the 'hanare' of kyudo is also connected to that."

At the Yata no Mori Kyudojo, the blue hydrangea flowers were in full bloom. His heart danced at reuniting with Fuu the owl. Fuu, perched on his shoulder, tilted its head as usual.

Minato and Masa-san stood side-by-side before the targets. Minato lightly drew the bow in his hands, making a bang sound.

"I think that I was acting proud because I've been doing kyudo for a bit longer than everyone else. Not being able to shoot well because my wrist hurt was just an excuse for me to say. If I'm standing at that place, I must not make excuses for myself, not to mention for the people who are watching me."

"Do you have an answer for what is the responsibility of your own ochi?"

"Yeah. It's rare for a beginner to be an ochi. As a senpai, it is my duty to show the 'way of the bow.' I have the role of lighting the way from behind, so that everyone would not go the wrong way."

"A good answer. I learned something as well."

Masa-san smiled.

"I won't overstretch myself and copy Shuu, and I'll commit myself to strengthen my left hand like you said. And then, I want you to tell me how to do dantian breathing once more."

"Well, when you thinly exhale at 'kai,' I believe that you can personally feel the useless power in the shoulders going away, and force being applied to your abdomen. Your dantian is fulfilled when you exhale eighty to ninety percent of your breath rather than all of it. The moment that leads to the time of hanare from nobiai is called 'yagoro' in Heki-ryuu, (9) and there is a good practice for remembering that timing, but these days you might get scolded by the other archers for being noisy."

"Oh, could you be talking about 'yagoe'?"

"Yes, shouting 'aiiee!' or 'yaa!' or something like that when you're releasing your arrow. Fujiwara was talking about Saionji-sensei also teaching it to you guys in the past."

"Yeah, we practiced producing our yagoe."

"Hanare is not done when you completely exhaled at kai, but at a good time when you are able to let out a yagoe."

"Can I try shooting together with you, Masa-san?"

"Yes, of course."

Minato stood in front of Masa-san.

The two simultaneously spread their feet, parted their bows, and lifted them. They slowly spread their chests.

Words were not necessary when a person becomes one with their bow. The long breaths that occurred over and over and the back that bended as it was stretched. Letting go of the unorganized words, the "feelings," packed in one's chest, abandoning one's body to sensation to the point of outrageousness, and waiting for the moment to fly off.

The two's yagoe dashed into the night sky.

When they finished after who knows how many rounds, Minato opened his backpack.

"Masa-san, here's something to drink."

"Oh, is that a new brand of canned coffee? Thanks. That's right, I also have something to eat."

What Masa-san took out was a bag from the bakery Minato went to the other day, and it did not contain cinnamon rolls, but homemade oyaki.

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#tsurune #tsurune translation

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thesunlounge · 5 years

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Reviews 298: Afrodesia

It began with a phone call between then Best Record label manager Marco Salvatori and Dario di Pace, a producer well known for his esoteric grooves as Mystic Jungle and his work with Raffaele ‘Whodamanny’ Arcella and Enrico ‘Milord’ Fierro in freakadelic collective The Mystic Jungle Tribe (as well as their record labels Periodica and Futuribile). The two were discussing a brief yet magical period in the 80s referred to as the “Afro-Italian movement,” one specifically centered on Les Folies Studio in Milan and artists/producers such as Daniela Paratici, Ennio Ronchelli, Daniele Losi, and Roberto Barocelli, which saw forward thinking combinations of analog synthesis, vocal exotica, machine drumming, hand percussion, and live instrumentation used to craft expansive adventures in paradise disco and fantasy jazz fusion (prime examples of which are Roberto Lodola’s Marimba Do Mar, released by Best Record earlier this year, Helen’s Zanzibar and Tunis Tunis, and Losi’s Tom Tom Beat). Yearning for the timeless groovescapes of these productions...especially Lodola’s far out “Afro” mixes...and seeking to bring the same exploratory spirit into modern times, Salvatori, Mystic Jungle, and Whodamanny decided to join forces for a project called Afrodesia: an ambitious undertaking marrying the interstellar groove and future funk mastery of Mystic Jungle’s and Whodamanny’s synths and drum machines with a cast of live musicians featuring Giulio Neri, Andrea Farias, Davide “Duba” Di Sauro and the late Italo-Nigerian percussion master George Aghedo, who appeared on many of the original recordings from which this project takes its inspiration.

Simply titled Episode One, the Afrodesia 12” marks an exciting new chapter for Best Record Italy, as it is the first release of original material from the label since the early 90s. After having closed shop during that time due to poor sales, Claudio Casalini’s influential label reformed in 2014, with Salvatori joining the operation and helping it ascend towards the upper echelons of Italo reissue quality. And now, having rescued an almost unbelievable number of obscure or rare dancefloor treasures, at least a few of which have become all time favorites, change is in the air, for Salvatori is embarking on his own new venture called Spaziale Recordings, while Casalini will continue leading Best Record as always. As well, the Afrodesia 12” sees Periodica and West Hill Studio main men Mystic Jungle and Whodamanny further refining their already sorcerous production skills, this time augmenting their Casio, Yamaha, and Roland synths and old skool rhythm boxes with saxophones, guitars, and perhaps most arrestingly, dreamy Afro atmospherics and heavenly voice harmonies from Arcella and Neri. But if you’ve been following the West Hill crew as closely as I have, these forays into worlds of African and Italian pop romance are hardly as surprising as they seem, for both Whodamanny and Mystic Jungle have been increasingly experimenting with vocal and pop textures to great effect, whether through Marcelo Antonio’s JKRNDA 7” on Futuribile Record Club, the vocoder sexualities of Mechanismo, di Pace’s co-production on Modula’s deep soul groover “Argonauta (I’ve Been So Lonely)," or Arcella’s journeys into vocal sensuality and synth-pop ecstasy on The Dance Sucker.

Afrodesia - Episode One (Best Record Italy, 2019) Helen’s “Zanzibar” is referenced directly by Afrodesia’s “Deep Down in Zanzibar,” which re-purposes lyrics and licks from that classic into a joyous new form. Snake tails introduce a low down disco beat, with cowbells ringing, güiros scraping, and timbale fills crashing through the stereo field. Hats and snare hold down the groove while cymbals generate waves of static and as the kick drum cuts away, claps delay into the void. All of a sudden, a greased up funk riff enters, with Duba’s bass guitar slithering around the fretboard, all fat-bottomed warmth walking through a tropical paradise. Quacking wah guitars percolate in as the kick drum returns to guide us through Afro-Italo dream worlds, with wiggling synth leads crawling across the sky and e-pianos generating balearic atmospheres. At some point, synths tuned like 60s psych organs scream while guitars work between hypnagogic riffscapes and bluesy acid solos and if that weren’t already perfect enough, Neri and Arcella descend upon the mix with their joyous croons…the vibe whispered and sensual…fragile and warm…with a voice in each ear singing softly and trailed by synthetic pianos and saxophones that skip across sunbeams. Sometimes the vocals fade away, leaving space for wailing saxophonics and clattering percussion cascades that seem to fill up the spectrum. Elsewhere, we move into a freaky funky riff jams before devolving into pure rhythm, with minimal and mechanized beats spreading further out as claps echo and laser blast oscillations morph into galactic fluids. And from here, Whodamanny and Mystic Jungle continue leading their session players through a coastal landscapes of African fantasy…a world of bass guitar sexualisms, joyous vocalisms, balmy synthesis, fusion guitar freak outs, and screaming tenor refrains.

In “Desert Storm,” reverberating hand drums pop amidst rising waves of noise while synthesizer squiggles swim through blasts of granular static. A simple snare beat enters as one of the best basslines all year drops, recorded so hot and up-front that you can practically see the dust snapping off the strings. Double-time hi-hats tick irresistibly as everything builds in anticipation, with the kick drum finally dropping while blasted funk riffs converse ear-to-ear, space age synthesizers weave neon threads, and wah guitars hammer on and scrape. Sometimes the melodic elements fall out and we’re led through rhythmic bridges, wherein the liquid funk basslines of Duba are replaced by that more familiar West Hill synth-bass squelch and screaming voices from the cosmic void descend from a stormy sky. Interstellar noise bursts careen across the mix and chaotic chordscapes bleat over the reverb-soaked disco drum tropicalisms, all while mutant basslines stoke alien dancefloor magic. As we drop back into the live instrumentation, with shakers rattling and bass guitar and six-string working through ultra-tight jam patterns, the terrifying screams still disperse through the stereo field while horror-tinged synthesizers move through gothic themes and rainbow colorations. For most of the rest of the track, we switch off between these two moods: a squelching synth bass groove out awash in Mystic Jungle-style sci-fi boogie sorcery and a stoner groove paradise led by sunshine guitars and funk bass fluidity. During one of the live instrumentation passages, a druggy synth solo drifts into focus, all zoner cosmic magic hovering like an LSD haze…minimal, spacious, and absurdly confident in its wafting, almost apathetic flow. And capping off the track is a baked coda of machine disco rhythmics and fluid funk guitar psychedelics.

The title of “Meet in Tunis” is perhaps another nod to Helen, though the music here seems less referential than in “Deep Down in Zanzibar.” Emotive riffscapes flow over uptempo snare and hat patterns while hand drums and further palm-muted guitar textures billow in from nothingness. The beat sees kicks stomping, snares breaking and gliding, tom fills sucking air out of the skull, and cymbal taps and bell tones ringing all throughout the background...the vibe mysterious and awash in dark disco intensity, though eventually tempered by romantic feedback melodies…as if Arcella’s Casios are mimicking Alessandroni western whistles while synthetic pianos float through golden cloudscapes. The guitars sparkle like Chic and Neri’s sax sounds hollowed out and spectral as it presages the upcoming vocal fantasias and indeed, he and Arcella work through earworm repetitions of “Tunis” before ascending into rapid fires soul verses that overflow with 70’s disco pop perfection…pushing almost towards all out Bee Gees ecstasy, except devoid of overt leads and flowing instead like a closed eye daydream. It’s so ebullient and transportive, with my imagination drifting to a Tunisian beach paradise…some sort of exotic seaside fantasy overflowing with forbidden romance. There are moments where the vocals cut out as we flash into zany percussive storms, with rave whistles flying over psychosonic rhythm cascades. All the while, Duba’s bass continues slipping, sliding, and growling through timeless funk riffs, with shakers pushing the groove euphoria to a maximum. And after another passage of wild percussive ritualism, with snares, bongos, and crashing toms sitting beneath quacking riffs and whistles, we flow through saxophone sensuality into a final “Tunis” vocal refrain, which repeats hypnotically as everything else fades to silence.

Closer “Orion Beat” comes to life on blasting kicks and rocketing claps before before settling into a slamming electro beat. Burning siren waves arc across the mix, bringing that kind of freaky atonal synth psychedelia that could only come from Mystic Jungle Tribesmen. Growling synth bass lines are smothered in cavernous verb as palm-muted guitars flutter overhead and the drums are so hot and heavy, with cymbals spitting fire and snares and claps cracking through the air. There are moments where the burning synth waves usher in passages of interstellar jam perfection, with guitars holding it down while panoramas of phase-distortion and frequency modulation synthesis generates dial-tone scats and telephone tracers while bleeps and bloops are repurposed into fusion fire. Elsewhere, we move into sections of slinky stoner bass guitar riffing while harmonious pads swim through the sky, their hovering chords of heavenly majesty surrounding an electro-funk zoner jam. Then following a bridge that leans towards progressive rock, the mix reduces to just kick drums and claps before dropping into an amazing passage of Afro-tribal intensity…the vibe like entering an otherworldly jungle, wherein crazed hand drum tapestries flow through deep space reverb tunnels. The groove stutters and stomps before smoothly gliding back into electro breakdance magic…like cruising the cosmos on the tail of a comet with starshine gas trails flowing all around the spirit. And after further burning wavefronts of dissonant synthesis subsume the mind, the Afrodesia crew work themselves into dueling harmony magnificence, with synths and e-pianos descending together in pure retro-funk majesty and bass guitar ripping through romantic soul motions…brief yet so perfect as the heart is carried way to paradise realms far beyond the stars.

(images from my personal copy)

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fardell24b · 5 years

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Quinn’s Code - The Esteemsters Code - Part 8

Thursday, September 23. 2005

Daria and Jennifer entered Jane's room with takeaway breakfast. Jane was watching a tabloid show on the TV.

“This is just astounding! Here you are, blind, deaf, and barely able to walk, yet you conducted simultaneous affairs with three members of the Royal Family! The question on all of America's mind is: how did you do it?”

“What?”

“You don't get it. It's the Royal Family. You'd have to be blind,” Jane said as commentary.

“Hi Jane, is that Sick Sad World? I was wondering when it was on here,” Daria said.

“Hey Amigos,” Jane said. “Yeah, its on in the morning, although I have heard that they are going to change it to the afternoon,” Jane said.

“Quite an interesting show,” Jennifer said.

“Definitely,” Daria said. She and Jennifer sat down next to Jane. The scene on the TV had changed to a UFO convention that was being held close to Lawndale.

“Hi! I'm Artie.”

“Artie, hello. Tell me, what brought you here, Artie.”

“It was a cone-shaped craft about 15 feet long, with an air speed of, oh, I'd estimate mach 12. They kidnapped and stripped me, examined me briefly, returned my clothes, and dropped me here.”

“I see.”

“They pressed my pants. Did a nice job.”

Daria turned down the TV. “You both know all the answers to the questions on the release test, right?”

“I've got them in my notebook,” Jane said.

“I do too,” Jennifer said.

“Well, why don't we just take the test this afternoon and get out of the class once and for all?” Daria asked.

“How would I spend my afternoons?” Jane asked. 'I would have more time to paint, that is for sure!' she thought.

“UFO conventions,” Daria said. 'I can think of many activities. Not the least of which is exploring what this town has to offer that I would like,' she thought.

“Now you're talking,” Jane said.

“Yes!” Jennifer said.

“And so, for tomorrow, I want you to make a list of ten ways the world would be a sadder place if you weren't in it,” Mr. O'Niell said as conclusion for that day's session of the Esteem-a-Teen class.

“Oh, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. O'Neill?!” 'The Head' asked, waving his hands, trying to get the teacher's attention.

“Yes, um... you.”

“Is that if we'd never been born, or if we died suddenly and unexpectedly?”

“'Oh no!' Mr. O'Neill thought. 'I didn't expect that!' he thought for a moment, trying to salvage the situation. “Never been born,” he said.

The class started filing out, except for Daria, Jane and Jennifer.

“Yes?” Mr. O'Neill asked.

“We want to take the test,” Daria said.

“We all want to take the graduation test,” Jane said.

Jennifer gave a small smile.

“Well! I'm glad your self-image meter is on the uptick! But there's still three more weeks of class left,” Mr O'Neill said. 'They need to stay in the class for the whole time to get everything out of it,' he thought.

“This first week has been a real eye-opener. It must be the way you teach,” Daria said.

Mr. O'Neill was flattered. “Oh, well... thank you very much,” he said. “You look familiar somehow,” he said to Jane and Jennifer.

“So can we take the test?” Jennifer asked.

Mr. O'Neill gave in and gave them the test.

“I don't think we have to go any farther. I am really pleased! I think the whole school needs to hear about this at assembly!” Mr. O'Neill said a few minutes later.

The three teens looked at each other. Their expressions said the same thing. 'Uh, oh!'

Andrea looked at the VBScript code on the screen.

Option Explicit

Set oWMI = GetObject("winmgmts:" & _

"\\.\root\cimv2")

Set myObj = oWMI.ExecQuery _

("select IPAddress from" & _

"Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration" & _

" where IPEnabled=True")

…

“That is rather good, Quinn,” she said. It looked exactly as the flowchart and the pseudocode had laid out. “You can run it now,” she said. 'I am certain that there are no errors. I think she corrected them all in that proofreading,' she thought.

Quinn minimised the IDE screen and double clicked the .vbs file. The script ran without error and a drive letter on Quinn's XP system was mapped to one of Andrea's network shares.

“Cool!” Quinn said.

Andrea smiled. 'If she is this good at VBScript...'

“So I delete it now?” Quinn asked, about the connection to the network share.

“No, keep it. All the members of the Programming Club have the connection. Its a common file repository. As long as you are on my network. It's accessable,” Andrea said.

“So, if I use a VPN to connect to it, the share is available?” Quinn asked, wondering why Andrea had a share that all of the Programming Club members could access...

“Yes,” Andrea said.

'She is up to something. It may be worth joining the Anime Club, afterall,' Quinn thought, as she started closing the programs on the laptop.

Friday, September 24, 2005

Quinn entered homeroom carrying the information sheet on the Anime Club. As she had expected the person whom had invited her to join was the President. 'Jenna Schwartz, she's a sophomore. I'll talk to her at recess.'

Jenna Schwartz was surprised when Quinn Morgendorffer walked up to her in the corridor.

“Hi, Jenna. I would like to take up your offer to join the Anime Club,” Quinn said.

“That would be cool, Quinn. But why did it take so long to decide?” Jenna asked.

“I wasn't sure if I wanted to be in a third club, but I do like Anime so the Anime Club is a good choice. Also, that Andrea is so weird,” Quinn said.

Jenna chuckled. “She definitely is. Come with me and I will give you a form. Once its filled out, you're in,” she said.

“Cool,” she said.

Unknown to Quinn and Jenna, Stacy Rowe had overheard them from her locker. 'The Anime Club. If Sandi wasn't such a hardcase about things, I would have joined a few weeks ago,' she thought. She closed her locker and headed to the bathroom where Sandi and Tiffany were waiting for her.

The end of week school assembly was in progress.

“And once again, the bake sale was a tremendous success. We raised more than $400, which was subsequently stolen from the office, but I am confident we will get that money back. In a related note, the school nurse will be visiting homerooms on Monday to collect DNA samples. Now, Mr. O'Neill has exciting news about our after-school self-esteem class,” Principal Angela Li said.

Mr. O'Neill stood and approached the podium.

“This is really going to help me gradually ease into student life,” Daria said, sarcastically.

“Usually when I have this dream I'm wearing pink taffeta,” Jane commented.

“I always wanted to be on assembly. Not!” Jennifer said.

“Thank you. You know, self-esteem is a little like your car's brake fluid. You may not even know you're low on it until, one day, you go to shift gears and nothing happens,” Mr. O'Neill said.

“That's transmission fluid!” One of the students in the audience yelled.

“That's... what I said,” Mr. O'Neill said, trying to cover his mistake. “Anyway, I'd like you to meet three students who have completed our self-esteem course faster than anyone ever before! Please join me in congratulations as I present these certificates of self-esteem to... Daria Morgendorffer, Jane Lane and Jennifer Burns.”

There was some applause from the audience, but not much.

“Oh, what the hell,” Jane muttered as she stepped up to the podium. “I just want to say how proud I am today. Knowing that I have self-esteem gives me even more self-esteem.” She paused, looked at Daria and Jennifer and smirked. “On the other hand, having all of you know that I had low self-esteem makes me feel... kind of bad... like a big failure or something...” she said histronically.

Most of the audience began to laugh at Jane's behaviour.

“I, uh, I want to go home!” Jane said, as she let out an exaggerated sob and ran off the stage.

“Jennifer, wait!” Mr. O'Neill called out as he ran after Jane.

'That's Ms. Lane, not Ms. Burns!' Ms. Li thought, she knew that Jane was faking it even if her head Language Arts teacher didn't!

Jennifer stepped up to the podium with trepidation. There was a reason why Jodie always read the reports for the Computer Club at assemblies.

“Thank you. I am happy to have high self-esteem rather than low self-esteem. I feel I can better contribute. Thanks again,” she said. She walked away from the podium and breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at the audience.

She could see Jodie, Mack, Quinn, Kristen, Cindy, a few other friends, members of the Computer Club and a few others clapping. She smiled as she went back to her seat.

Daria stepped up to the podium. “No one can battle a terrible problem like low self-esteem on their own. It takes good coaching... “

In the audience, Sandi was sitting boredly between two boys. 'This is stupid!' she thought.

“Who cares about these losers?” one of them said.

“Hey, beats algebra, though, doesn't it?” the other, Corey Bateman said. He then high-fived his friend over the top of Sandi's head.

“Hey!” she snapped.

“Oops,” the other said.

“Did you hear what I said, Sandi? I said, like, who cares how bad this is - it's still better than algebra!” Corey said.

“I, like, heard you the first time, Corey. I't's not funny!” Sandi said forcefully. 'Of course its better than algebra!' she thought.

“Ok,” Corey said, leaning slightly away from Sandi.

#andrea hecuba #angela li #daria #daria morgendorffer #esteemsters #fanfic #jane lane #quinn morgendorffer #sandi griffin #stacy rowe #timothy o'neill

1 note · View note

a-sad-excuse-of-everything · 6 years

Text

Hard Candies, Hard Life

Hard candies, hard life

Pidge x Reader

Description: Pidge helps a rather odd senior at the school fair, and knowing her comes in handy in the end

Prompt: Your main character is a young woman in her late teens, who can be quite secretive. The story begins at a fairground. Someone is driven out of their home. It's a story about pride. Your character attempts to keep a low profile.

Fair day was always interesting.

The last day of school before winter break, fair day always took place. All of the students gathered round and made booths for various reasons, college applicants, clubs, businesses, vendors, food, crafts, games, fundraisers, and more. It was something the entire school got involved in. If you were a senor getting some award or you had been a fair volunteer from day one, you got your own booth to do whatever. Some people made theirs into a garage sale, others just made it a hang out spot. But when (Y/N) (L/N) was asked if she wanted to do a booth, no one knew what to expect.

She was a great student, top of her class, but she was a bit spooky. She had no friends whatsoever, read mysterious, old books all the time, and was rumored to be seen walking alone in the woods at night talking to herself. She was an oddball, but everyone was quite curious to see what she would whip up. Since freshman year she was a manager of the fair doing whatever she could, so whatever was going to happen was going to be well executed.

The day of the fair approached, and all was silent throughout the school as the seniors and others set up for the fair take place. The second half of school was going to be hectic, so everyone was running around and getting things done quickly, while also trying to be quiet enough not to disturb the students outside the gymnasium. In the farthest corner to the left side was (Y/N) setting up tables and taping colored paper to the wall. She turned at the sound of the door opening, relieved to see the freshman helpers had arrived.

Certain freshman who signed up could help seniors with their booths during fair week. Depending on the table, someone could have one partner to ten. Freshman signed up for the booths they wanted to help, so of course (Y/N) was expecting for no one to show up due to the favor to the more popular and sociable seniors. As they were given general directions to their selective booths. A few minutes passed and the volume in the gym had increased, and so did a voice behind (Y/N).

“Um, excuse me?”

She turned around to see a boy with auburn hair and circular glasses staring up at her from the step ladder.

“Yes? Are you looking for your booth?”

The boy laughed slightly and shook his head. “I signed up to help your booth, your (Y/N) right?”

They stood in silence for a little bit, (Y/N) registering that someone actually signed up to help her booth. Giving a small smile and excited for some interaction, she nodded.

“Alright, could you refill the tape dispenser?”

It stayed like this for about an hour. (Y/N) giving orders and the boy, who she found out was named Pidge, obliging to her requests. Some small talk was spoken in between, but other than that their interactions were quite bland. Eventually (Y/N) stepped off of her step ladder and wiped her hands on her pants, looking up. Pidge slightly gasped at the display.

The paper had formed an abstract river scene similar to ‘Starry Night’ by van gogh. The color scheme was purples and blacks, however, and the boy was confused. He turned to ask the senior he had partnered with, but she had disappeared under one of her three tables, dragging out heavy boxes behind her. Jumping slightly, he rushed to help the girl out. As he approached she waved vaguely at the box next to her.

“Start opening that one and unpacking the stuff in order to be sold, and don't break anything.”

He nodded and opened the box in front of him. Lifting the cardboard he looked inside and was surprised at what he saw. At this dark themed booth with this goth teenager, there were cupcakes upon cupcakes wrapped in their individual boxes ready to be sold, all being different and having a different ‘magic’ effect. He lifted one up and turned.

“Cupcakes?”

She got up from her own box, filled with pie slices, and nodded. “I made some witchcraft themed sweets for today. I have sold them before and they tend to sell, especially the ones with spells attached to them.”

He nodded and started to line them up.

Another hour later the three blank tables form the previous hour had been filled with gothic goods and the descriptions of what they’d do. Some cupcakes guaranteed true love, some slices of pie said to give you a mark to see your soul mate, and so on and so forth. Candy bracelets, cookies, chocolates, and more, and all for a reasonable price as well. They both looked back and smiled at their work.

Minutes later, the school was about to be let loose into the gymnasium. (Y/N) turned to Pidge and handed him a box.

“Ÿou are on register, I will tell people about the sweets. If you take anything I will find out about it.”

Pidge smiled and nodded at her request, getting ready to serve the hundreds of students about to be released into the area. Immediately things were not as bad as he thought. Looking around, only around five people crowded the spacious booth made by (Y/N), all surprised at her friendly atmosphere and excellent speaking skills. She entranced their heads with a silky soft voice and a small smile that could let her get away with anything. Pidge saw this and observed, ringing all who approached the booth up with the various sweets they intended to buy. The way her legs moved gracefully across the floor and her crisp yet dark clothes seemed to bring people in.

Soon, however, many busy hours passed and most of the treats on the table had vanished. The school bells had rung, and the regular students were set free onto their winter break, leaving the seniors and freshmen to clean the gymnasium of the afternoons activities. Pidge started to put some leftover baked goods into some boxes while (Y/N) counted the money received from a hard day’s work. She smiled at the fruits of her efforts, and tucked the bills safely into her wallet, hanging around fifty dollars in the boy’s direction.

“Here, as thanks for helping me today.”

He looked shocked, and pushed her hand away. “No thank you (Y/N), I signed up for volunteer work, you do not have to pay me.”

She smiled and shook her head, jabbing the money in his direction. “Take it.”

He shook his head once more, an idea popping into his head. “I don’t want your money, but I sure will take some of these sweets.”

She looked a little shocked at his reply, but nodded. Opening the only two boxes the leftovers filled (smaller ones then how she had received the sweets in the beginning) she pulled out many different cupcakes, pies, and candies, putting them into a custom bag with her sweets logo on it. She put it aside and continued to work in the pale light of the gym lights.

Soon the two were done, and they both stood outside of her car in silence. With a slight rinkle, she handed Pidge’s sweets to him in a purple paper bag. He smiled in reply.

“Thank you for your help today, Pidge, I really appreciate it.”

He nodded. “Thank you as well, (Y/N), I am sure me and my family will love your sweets.”

“Well I hope so.” She responded.

The two said their final farewells and went their separate ways. (Y/N) went home to her apartment and organized her things, happy that with the money from the sales she did not have to worry about rent for the next few months, while Pidge went home to his brother and father who were eager to hear about his day. As (Y/N) fell back on her bed in tiredness, Pidge spent all his time with his brother and father with a movie night to have something to remember them by as they were leaving the next day for a trip. All was well in their separate worlds.

Weeks had passed since the fair, and school was back in session. Since seniors and freshman did not have much long term contact, Pidge and (Y/N) had many encounters in the hall where a smile and wave showed their acquaintanceship. As (Y/N) made more and more videos and packaged sweet orders for her online shop, Pidge was at home alone studying and living by himself. Weeks went by and their only contact was a smile and a wave, not knowing what was to come soon enough.

Pidge was at home one Saturday afternoon, a book in one hand and a bowl of (Y/N)’s hard candies in the other. He and his family had eaten all the more perishable items early on despite looking very thin for the amount they consumed, but when he looked into the large paper bag one night urging to satisfy his sweet tooth, he found a bag of hard candies. He had hit the jackpot with these, the candies being his favorite out of all of her sweets (it was a tough call due to them all being so good however). While he was supposed to be reading his book, however, his mind drifted off into wonder. His father and brother worked in the military for quite a long time, and often came home late from missions before, but it never ceased to worry him. As he continued reading, in another short burst of focus, he heard a knock on his apartment’s door.

Getting up and placing the book and candies down, he reluctantly adjusted his glasses and went towards the door. Opening it casually, he was shocked to see two officers standing at his door, both being vaguely familiar from the rare parties he attended with his sibling and dad relating to their workplace. Looking up, he spoke.

“Can I help you?”

One man, known as Ryan, cleared his throat and looked at the short boy in front of him.

“Pidge, I am sorry to say this, but your father’s aircraft has disappeared. They have been announced disease at ten this morning. I am sorry for your loss.”

Pidge looked at the two men in shock, looking down when they handed him a few belongings relating to his father. Closing the door when the exchange was finished, he went to the couch and tried to withhold the sob that were inevitable. At that moment he had refused to believe they were dead.

It had been around a month, and (Y/N) was living her life well. She had seen Pidge in the halls around class, looking stressed and tired, but always seemed to brighten slightly at the sight of her. She was curious to ask what was going on, but did not dare due to only knowing the boy so much. She continued with her sales and eating alone at lunch, thinking and reading. Her mind often wandered towards family, but she shook her head and smiled, paying attention to whatever else was around her. As time progressed her worry for the auburn boy in the freshman class worried her. He had bags under his eyes and seemed to get sadder by the day. He seemed to have some friends, you had seen them in the halls before, but they even had yet to lift his mood.

Walking down the street another Saturday, (Y/N) twirled the lact parasol in her hand while walking about a local park. she adjusted the bag on her shoulder and looked around for a good spot to draw in. (Y/N) had gotten some brand new art supplies that day and wanted to draw some pigeons that resided by an ornate fountain she frequented quite often. Smiling when she saw the fountain in view, she walked towards it and noticed a familiar face there as well.

Pidge sat on the wooden bench in front of the fountain, staring deeply into its bubbling waters. He had a backpack next to him, and his head rested firmly between his hands. Sitting down next to him, she closed her parasol and looked over. He looked up when feeling the bench lean to the opposite side of him and seemed to be relieved to see (Y/N) staring intently at him. He wiped his eyes with the forest green sweater he was wearing and smiled weakly at her. She smiled faintly back, getting out her sketchbook and beginning a sketch of some friendly pigeons pecking at the ground below the two of them. Some even came by and pecked at her feet. (Y/N) giggled while doodling, but grew more and more curious towards why Pidge seemed to be so sad. Once again, however, she refrained from asking and continued to draw until the sun started to set.

Closing her sketchbook, she turned towards Pidge, still sitting there despite three hours of drawing. Thinking something was off, and the fact he seemed to have nowhere to be, she cleared her throat grabbing the boys attention.

“Would you like to come to my apartment for dinner? I just got some wonderful looking breads.”

He sighed and contemplated her offer. He did not want to intrude, especially if family was involved, but not having a good meal in awhile hit him hard. Getting up, Pidge replied.

“Sure, as long as I am not intruding.”

She smiled and shook her head.

“No, not at all! I live by myself, so some company would be greatly appreciated.”

She seemed to perk up at the thought of having a guest over for dinner, and he seemed to be relieved when he learned she lived alone. Walking back to her house, she invited him in and started prepping dinner. Two steaks, a few rolls, and some cheesy broccoli later, they both were talking comfortably. Pidge seemed to still be sad, but happier having a decent conversation with her. Her interest with what was going on still nagged at her, and she decided to ask despite the obvious consequences.

She placed down her napkin and looked at the table before looking Pidge in the eyes. “I have a question for you, Pidge.”

The boy looked a little taken back, but it was barely noticable. “Yes?”

She seemed to stall a little, clearing her throat and taking a sip of her water. “Well, I was curious to why you have been so sad as of late.”

He froze slightly, contemplating what to do. His initial reaction was to excuse himself and leave, but something about her seemed to keep him in his seat. Seeing his reluctant demeanor, (Y/N) apologised profusely.

“I’m sorry if I was being intrusive, you do not have to answer if you do not want to.”

He was about to take up that offer, but stopped. He could not keep this in forever, especially towards his friends who seemed to ask the same question every time they were around him. Sighing, he decided to tell her, thinking her three year seniorship would help guide him in this rough time.

“Well, my brother and father were recently lost on a mission, they work for the military. They were declared deceased, so of course I was left with everything. The rest of their savings were put in a trust declared by will, but it is not enough to pay rent. If I can't pay rent, then I will be taken away by child protective services, and I have too much here. I have considered working, but even after a full time minimum wage job it is still not enough.”

He rubbed his face in aggravation and worry, and (Y/N) looked at him with slight sympathy. Seeing the worry in his face, an idea popped into her head.

“You can live with me, I have an extra bedroom and I am sure whatever you can give to pitch in will be enough.”

He looked up out of his hands in victory, but decided to keep modest. “I would not want to invade, that is a lot to give to someone you barely know.”

She smiled and shook her head as she often does. “It would be nice. It’s lonely here alone, and your company would be appreciated. I trust you clean up after yourself and will not steal from me.”

Pidge smiled gratefully and reached his hand across the small table they sat at. She took his hand in hers and shook it, agreeing then and there they would be housemates.

The following Sunday you moved Pidge’s valuables into your rather spacious apartment and settled him into a bedroom. She learned he really enjoyed the color green, and was quite sentimental. He was settled into a room with an adjacent side room and a bathroom, so he had his own privacy. While (Y/N) learned about Pidge, however, Pidge learned about (Y/N). She seemed to be very gothic, yet bright at the same time. She did not have many mirrors, but had many photos from antique stores around town of people from the 1800’s. Why she lived alone he did not know just yet, but he was content with being here anyways.

And that is what started an amazing new friendship

#pidge #pidge x reader #voltron #voltron x reade #voltron reader insert

57 notes · View notes

rxnctus · 4 years

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How to Make Room for More Storage Space in Your Home

One thing Pandemic has taught Americans is that we do not have enough storage space in our homes. Whether in family groups or alone in a home with your stuff, pandemic reinforced the realization that either there were too many things, or too many people, or both in your home. It’s a lot easier to declutter stuff than people, but even if you’ve carefully pared-down, being able to store what’s left efficiently will help you have more usable living space.

How to Make Room for More Storage Space in Your Home: Build Higher Cabinets

Millions of Americans have fallen in love with learning how to not only cook their own foods, even baking homemade sourdough! What this means, though, is a great deal more kitchen equipment. One of the best ways, if you have the means, to increase household storage in general and kitchen storage in specific is to revamp or replace your cabinets in the kitchen so that they reach all the way to the ceiling. That extra foot and a half on the top of the cabinet is a waste of space otherwise! With the help of a three-step ladder, your kitchen becomes capable of storing far more.

Use Bed Risers

While your ancestors probably felt a box spring was necessary to have a comfortable bed, modern beds do not have this issue. If, therefore, you want to use bed risers and get a platform, you won’t have to pole vault into bed, and yet will reclaim a great deal of space. Consider a frame with sixteen or eighteen inches underneath. That amount of space can hold large storage boxes. You could clear out of season clothing from your closet, or reclaim some pantry space!

How to Make Room for More Storage Space in Your Home: Smart Furniture Storage

With increasingly small apartments being used in large cities, furniture storage options are becoming common. An ottoman, for example, can hold a twin sized mattress folded within it. With the use of piano springs, a modern style Murphy Bed can fold into a couch, or even a bookcase. Engineers are getting increasingly creative with the applications for strong hinges, hidden drawers, and even hydraulics!

Convert Your Garage

Often people think they have room for storage in their garage, or their cars, but not both. You can move your car into a modular garage to make room for more storage space. After you’ve decluttered your spaces, and have figured out what you need to keep, then you can determine what things specifically need storage. The concept of a modular garage is that it has specialty spaces for individual groups of items of projects. For example, instead of storing boots in several different bedrooms, or in a large pile inside the garage (you know who you are), modular storage has shelving for boots in one section of the garage. Other sections might involve sports equipment, tools for special projects like woodworking, and spaces for household necessities like your grill, or spare toilet paper.

How to Make Room for More Storage Space in Your Home: Look Up and Down

Chances are, there are spaces in your home which can be used, which you might not have yet considered. It’s easy to move into a space and set furniture into a location, without realizing that there might be a better option for that space. A top shelf can hold a great deal, if it’s in a long, thin box, or if it’s a large item like a rolled blanket. Likewise, consider other spaces which might be underutilized. Find what works best for the ways you use a space. A chest of drawers might hold linens, socks, or be a spice or craft cabinet. Just because your mother always put cans in her kitchen island doesn’t mean yours can’t hold a trash can and your appliances. Your home is supposed to work for you!

Storage Chests

There’s good reason your great great grandparents had Lane chests and steamer trunks used in the house even when not traveling. A storage chest can be used for many purposes, and yet hold a volume of things inside. Besides being used for blankets, a storage chest can be used for games, or even as a side table or television stand, depending on how often it needs to be accessed. Besides adding a stately and grounding old-school look to a room, storage chests are often made to maximize strange locations which are difficult otherwise, like the foot of a bed, or within a closet floor.

Build It Openly

If you own your own home, being able to build in small projects can help a great deal in otherwise inaccessible storage areas. For example, building a small shelving space into a bathroom wall in a midcentury home would be both within the need for storage in a house, and fit in the aesthetic of the time frame while providing a place to put toothbrushes and extra toilet paper. A small bookshelf build or a built in chest of drawers in a child’s room could increase play space considerably. Under stairs closets can be built in with additional shelving, shoe racks, or other specialty areas as needed.

When in Doubt

Having less clutter is good for both your sense of optimism and your overall feeling of peace in life. Often, the hardest things to let go of are “aspirational” in nature. In other words, they are things you want to get around to someday. Set yourself a timer of when “someday” will come. If you pay, as is common, over $100 per square foot of space in your home, would you use that one hundred dollars to house Great Aunt Martha’s Lamp? If not, let it go.

Your home is not a storage unit for unwanted items. It can become a beautiful place that is meant to be a haven for your family. My maximizing your storage space, and jettisoning things you don’t use, want, or love, you can make it one. It will be easier to enjoy a peaceful area with organized and easy to find possessions, and easier to enjoy an organized you!

Are you looking for your perfect new home? Let us help you!

Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.

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SQFT

19847 Eagle Trace CtNorth Fort Myers, FL 33903Pine Lakes Country Club Subdivision

1 / 28

$275,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

1,878

SQFT

2552 NW 20th PlCape Coral, FL 33993Cape Coral Subdivision

New Listing - 4 weeks online

1 / 16

$199,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

1,306

SQFT

207 Gordon Ave NLehigh Acres, FL 33971Lehigh Acres Subdivision

1 / 9

$235,000

Multi-Family For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

1108/1110 Hightower Ave SLehigh Acres, FL 33973Lehigh Acres Subdivision

New Listing - 4 weeks online

1 / 9

$225,000

Multi-Family For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

2101/2103 Park RdLehigh Acres, FL 33971Lehigh Acres Subdivision

New Listing - yesterday

1 / 2

$39,900

Land For Sale

Active

0.258

ACRES

LEE

COUNTY

3509 NW 7th TerCape Coral, FL 33993Cape Coral Subdivision

New Listing - 6 days online

1 / 34

$279,900

Multi-Family For Sale

Active

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

18693/697 Bartow BlvdFort Myers, FL 33967Fort Myers Subdivision

1 / 7

$199,900

Land For Sale

Active

0.914

ACRES

LEE

COUNTY

17107 Serengeti CirAlva, FL 33920Serengeti Subdivision

1 / 35

$999,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Pending With Contingencies

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

3,786

SQFT

17301 Palm Beach BlvdAlva, FL 33920Alva Subdivision

1 / 19

$140,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATH

1,317

SQFT

311 Alabama Rd SLehigh Acres, FL 33936Lehigh Acres Subdivision

1 / 29

$119,900

Single Family Home For Sale

Pending With Contingencies

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

920

SQFT

118 Andros StLehigh Acres, FL 33936Lehigh Acres Subdivision

Price Change - 7 days ago

1 / 34

$119,000

Mobile Home For Sale

Active

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

826

SQFT

4915 Needlefish LnSt. James City, FL 33956Pine Island Cove Subdivision

1 / 22

$165,000

Villa For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

1,341

SQFT

444 Bethany Village CirLehigh Acres, FL 33936Villages of Bethany Subdivision

1 / 18

$175,000

Single Family Home For Sale

Pending With Contingencies

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

1,321

SQFT

710 Leeland Heights Blvd ELehigh Acres, FL 33936Willow Lake Subdivision

1 / 27

$239,999

Single Family Home For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

1,967

SQFT

223 Jefferson AveLehigh Acres, FL 33936Lehigh Acres Subdivision

1 / 10

$239,999

Multi-Family For Sale

Pending

BEDS

TOTAL BATHS

617/619 Hawthorne Ave SLehigh Acres, FL 33974Lehigh Acres Subdivision

1 / 1

$64,900

Land For Sale

Active

0.25

ACRES

COLLIER

COUNTY

205 S 2nd StImmokalee, FL 34142Immokalee Industrial Park Subdivision

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The post How to Make Room for More Storage Space in Your Home appeared first on Steelbridge Realty LLC.

from Steelbridge Realty LLC https://northfortmyersonline.com/2021/03/07/how-to-make-room-for-more-storage-space-in-your-home/

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moxiegirlsfightback · 7 years

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Hi, so I got Moxie 2 days ago and I finished it in two hours (It is soooo good). I really related to it and since then have been getting into Riot Grrrl stuff. I had a lot of problems with sexist administration in my old school like in the book, but since I've switched to the highschool the town over I haven't had those problems. My question is: Since I no longer experience those problems how can I help girls that do? (Sorry, this is long!)

Hi! Thanks so much for writing us! We’re really glad to hear that you love the book.

We’re also glad to hear that you’ve gotten out of the situation, and that even though it’s not a problem for you anymore, that you care to help the girls who are still affected. Empathy, bravery, a strong sense of justice, and passion are the very core values of activist movements like feminism.

One of the best ways to help out in your position is simply to be supportive. If you have old friends or classmates, reach out to them to see how they’re doing, and how the situation is going! Whether it’s through text, a call, or in person, checking in and lending a sympathetic ear may seem obvious or even inconsequential, but it makes a world of difference. For people who, every day, are putting themselves out there, are fighting, often being told that they’re wrong, and even putting up with abuse for their beliefs and actions, a supportive and sympathetic ear can be incredibly healing.

You can also direct friends/classmates to resources to help them start a movement or club at school. We have our own tips on how to start a feminist club (and so does Amy of Feminist.com), and there are plenty of online resources like hotlines for specific issues or examples of ways to fight back against institutional sexism. If you know of any sympathetic teachers or staff, mention them to your friends/classmates by name; they could make great advocates or supervisors for clubs.

One of the ways you can hit hardest is by publicizing the injustice; bad press is one of the greatest motivators for change because it can cause anything from shame and embarrassment to complaints, reduced enrollment, and even cut funding. You can help make flyers to post around school or write about the situation on social media. The more people you can rally under the cause, the better.

If your friends do anything like host a bake sale for their club or produce art/media for their cause, help out! Buy some cookies, and tell your friends about it. Share their events and and their work on your social media to boost their voices. Writing, arts, crafts, dance, coding... any skill can be useful! Make art or social media accounts or fliers or embroidery and show it off.

That’s about all we can think of for now... But our inbox is always open for anyone in need. We hope this helps, and wish you luck in your mission!

XOXO,

Moxie Girls Fight Back!

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anamorales · 4 years

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Friday Faves

Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope you had a lovely week. It started off as a bit of a rough one over here – I was just feeling a bit overwhelmed and emotional about everything going on – but these two little monkeys have really lifted my spirits, even though they probably didn’t know I was in a funk. The Pilot was gone this week, so the girls and I enjoyed our slow mornings, did some baking and crafts, and swam every single day. P has been swimming more often without her puddle jumper, which is a huge deal!

We’re still cranking away on redoing our bedroom. I ordered some new furniture from West Elm and figured I should list our furniture on Facebook Marketplace. I thought it would take a week or so to sell everything, but it was all sold and gone by that night. For now, we’re sleeping on our mattress on the floor. The new bedroom reveal post should be ready soon.

(I think Bella is convinced we put the mattress on the floor purely for her convenience.)

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

Read, watch, listen:

Hamilton is on Disney+ tonight and I CAN’T WAIT. Are you watching tonight?

Throwback picture from Hamilton in Chicago a few years ago. I had been obsessed with the music since P was a newborn and seeing it live was beyond anything I could have imagined.

Book ideas if you’re looking for inspiration.

Interesting perspective on working with a life coach.

SO HAPPY Never Have I Ever is getting another season.

What’s your comfort movie?

I’m really looking forward to this one.

Fashion + beauty:

Summer dresses! I’m doing a post with some of my faves next week (it feels nice to put on a dress every now and again even though we’ve been mostly staying here at home), but here’s one of the ones I love right now. (The fact that it’s called the Frida dress made it destiny.)

Lots of 4th of July sales this weekend:

Nordstrom sale finds! Miller flip flops (I have 4 pairs and love them), the infamous Leith dress (SO flattering and only $40 right now), this super cute side-ruched midi dress, classic blazer for $56, I got this dress in a Trunk Club last summer and it’s so easy to dress up or down, and I love these tunics when I want to look put together without making a huge effort.

J. Crew 50% off full-priced styles. This dress is gorggggggeous and this coverup is so bright and fun.

gap is up to 75% off everything. I buy almost all of the girls’ clothes at gap but I have no clue if I should order school clothes or not… For now, they’re well-stocked with swimsuits and pajamas.

Madewell extra 30% off. These leopard low-tops are amazing.

20% for new clients is back! (There are some exclusions, like the new Vitamin C serum, Skin Twin, regimens, and Flawless in Five.) Just sign up for their email list here and they’ll send you a code to use for 20% off.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of my very faves that are part of the deal:

Color Intense Lipstick – this long-wearing lipstick isn’t drying like other brands I’ve tried. Brunch is my favorite pink nude!

Countertime Supreme Cream – the most luxurious night cream made with safe ingredients

Resurfacing Peel – this no-peel peel that makes a huge difference in brightness, texture, and can help to reduce discolorations and smooth out wrinkles

Charcoal mask– I use this every weekend! I consider it a deep clean for my skin and it always feels tighter and smoother after using this

If you need personalized recommendations, fill out my skincare survey and I’ll send you some ideas!

For an even sweeter deal, add Band of Beauty to your cart for only $29 for the entire year. You’ll get free shipping on orders over $100, 10% back in product credit, and a welcome gift when you spend $50 at enrollment. This month it’s a smaller combo pack of two of our bestselling products: the charcoal mask and peel! Sign up here.

Fitness + good eats:

Red, white and BOOTY circuit for the weekend!

In honor of the Hamilton premiere, check out this Hamilton workout. It’s one of my fave workouts I’ve ever done for the blog!

lululemon acquires Mirror. This is HUGE news and I’m so pumped to see what it does for the platform. I took a couple of free workouts on the lululemon site last month and really enjoyed them.

Exercise can slow or prevent vision loss.

Goodies from my friends at Nuttzo. Nuttzo is one of my all-time fave nut butter brands and I was SO PUMPED when they sent us a goodie pack of different nut butters and bites. If you can find the bites near you, I highly recommend them.

Hope you all have a great weekend and a safe and happy 4th.

I’ll see ya soon and thank you so much for stopping by the blog today.

Gina

The post Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Friday Faves published first on https://immigrationways.tumblr.com/

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mindthump · 7 years

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50 Work-From-Home Jobs Paying as Much or a Lot More Than the Average American Salary http://ift.tt/2Ded3G7

There was a time when working from home was a pipe dream. Thanks to technology like Slack, there’s been a surge of legit jobs you can do from home.

Whether that’s working remotely for a company or starting your own business there’s no shortage of work-at-home opportunities. Here are 50 work from home jobs that most make above the average American salary.

1. Affiliate Marketer

For those unfamiliar with affiliate marketing, it’s simply referral marketing where you earn a commission. Let’s say that you have a website and refer a book on Amazon. When the visitor clicks the affiliate link and buys the books, Amazon will pay you a percentage of the sale.

People love affiliate marketing because you can start earning money passively with little start-up costs.

Related: 5 Ways to Ensure Remote Employees Feel Part of the Team

2. Animator

Are you an artistic and creative individual who is able to create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other types of media? Then you can work at home as freelance animator. I’ve seen animators make between $25 to $106 an hour on sites like Upwork.

3. Baker/Caterer/Chef

If you have a knack for baking or cooking, then turn your passion into a side business. From your own kitchen you could start a catering or personal chef business. If you’re a baker, you could sell you goods to friends, neighbors, online, or at local farmer’s markets.

4. Blogger

Blogging is inexpensive and easy to start. It could be as simple as you just writing about your favorite music or food. Eventually, this hobby can start generating some money for you.

Just keep in mind that you need to pay patient when it comes to cashing-in on your blog. If this is something you want to pursue, check out this guide from the person who taught me six-figure blogging. Zac took me from earning nothing blogging to a solid six figures in 18 months.

5. Bookkeeper

Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a CPA to start bookkeeping. Just sign-up for a bookkeeping course at a community college or even online, such as this course from the Accounting Coach. Once completed you can start making a start earning. The median salary is $34,000. There are some stay at home bookkeepers I've talked with making upwards of $70,000.

6. Child Caregiver

I’m sure that you have more than enough friends, family, and neighbors who could use someone to watch their children. Whether if it’s just for a couple of hours or for the entire day, running a childcare business from your home can be lucrative. Just make sure that you obtain the correct licences and permits.

7. Clinical Research Coordinator

As noted in Business Insider, this is where you, "Assist in the management of daily clinical trials operations; provide oversight of all organization, clinical, site, and vendor activities; and manage trial master files." You can make over $48,000 and you don't need a bachelor's degree.

Related: Bashing the Stereotypes: What You Need to Know About Gen Z

8. Consulting

If you have experience and knowledge in a specific area, then share it with others. For example, if you’re an accountant or lawyer, then you can provide advice to small businesses for a pretty penny. You could also consult businesses on how to use a new software program or how to become more environmentally-friendly.

My company has this consulting guide to get started.

9. Customer Service Rep

Do you possess excellent communication skills? Do you also have a landline and reliable internet? Then you can earn between $8-$15 per hour as a customer service rep.

10. Data Entry

Inputting data for businesses isn’t the most of exciting of jobs. However, you don’t need any previous experience and you can start at $10 per hour.

11. Direct Salesperson

This will require a little investment upfront, but you’ll receive all the tools and resources to get started. However, you’ll receive 20 percent to 35 percent of sales in commissions. And, you can find a direct sales opportunity to match your passion since there are companies that sell jewelry, coffee, wine, pet products, or gardening supplies.

12. Ecommerce Store Owner

There are five types of eCommerce business models; dropshipping, wholesaling, manufacturing, white-labeling, and subscription. And, thanks to sites like Shopify, Magento, or WooCommerce, you can quickly launch your own ecommerce store.

13. Editing and Proofreading

Companies like Book in a Box pay $20 per hour to editors, book jacket designers, and proofreaders.

14. Event Planner

Whether if it’s planning a wedding, birthday party, or corporate event, people are looking for organized individuals to do most of the event planning for them.

Related: Learn the 4 Principles That Helped This Virtual Company Become One of the Best Cultures in America

15. Film and Post Instructional Videos

Are you really good at something? Then create a YouTube account and start filming yourself instructing others your unique skills. To start earning some cash, enroll in YouTube’s partner program so that you can make $1 to $2 per 1,000 hits.

16. Grant Writer

Universities, hospitals, and nonprofits are organizations that need to apply for grant money. Since these can be difficult to write, they turn to talented grant writers. As a grant writer you can make between $40,300 to $67,000 per year..

17. Graphic Designer

Businesses are in need of someone to design their logo, website, or visual ads. If you have a degree or certification in this area, you can make a comfortable salary or $45,000 annually. This is starting, the better you get, the more clients will refer other clients over to you. Here is a killer guide I put together on how to build a website that should help you get started.

18. Handmade Crafter

Do you make handmade products like jewelry or furniture? If so, set up an Etsy shop and start selling your handmade crafts online.

19. Instructor

Do you know how to play a musical instrument? Can you get people in shape? Whatever your knowledge or experience, people will pay you to share that information with them. Even if you don’t want people coming into your home, you could always start an online instructional program.

20. Internet Security Specialist

As an internet security specialist, you monitor networks for security threats and implement security standards. You may als install data protection systems as well. Given the attention that online security has been receiving, this job is expected to grow steadily over the next several years.

Related: How to Stay Motivated Working From Home

21. Online Juror

When attorneys prepare for a trial they often seek feedback on their case. Depending on the mock jury site, you can make between $5 to $150 for your opinion.

22. Online Teacher

Are you a teacher that’s looking for a more flexible schedule? Then consider teaching via Skype or in a pre-recorded session through organizations like K12 (K12.com) and Connections Academy (ConnectionsAcademy.com).

23. Patent or Intellectual Property Lawyer

Applying for a patent or protecting intellectual property are both areas where expert advice is needed. As such, if this is your area of the law, you can make between $112 per hour to $121 per hour.

24. Peer-to-Peer Lender

Thanks to sites like Lending Club and Prosper, you can easily lend money to a business or individual. As an investor, you make money on the paid interest of the note.

25. Pet Groomer

Do love being around animals? Are you also patient enough to clean and style pets? If so, this is a perfect home-based business.

Related: The Biggest Do's and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

26. Photographer/Videographer

Even though everyone has a camera on their phone these days, there’s still a need for these types of professionals like for events like weddings. You can also sell your images on sites like Foap.com.

27. Product Reviewer

This may sound too good to be true, but you can actually make a decent living just by reviewing the products that you use daily. In fact, you can earn between $20,000 to $95,000.

28. Programmer

Learning a programming language, such as Ruby, can make around $61 per hour. Not too shabby. If you’re interested, here’s a handy programmer guide to get you on your way.

29. Realtor

While you can run a reality business from your home, as long as you have your state’s real estate license, you still have to show potential buyers the home. And, don’t forget that you also have to prepare the home for showing too. However, thanks to technology, you can become a virtual realtor where you can show a property without having to physically be there.

30. Renter

Do you have an extra bedroom? How about a car you don’t drive everyday? Are there household items laying around collecting dust? If so, rent them out to people who could use them. I personally made over $50k renting out my basement in 2017.

31. Repairer

If you have a knack for fixing things, like bicycles, cars, or computers, then launch your own repair business. It probably doesn’t cost more than a little marketing to get started since you probably already have the tools and resources.

Related: 3 Ways to Keep Employees Productive at Home

32. Short Tasks

A short task is a job or assignment that can be completed quickly. Examples include writing a review, taking a survey, or watching a video. They may not pay much, but it’s a fast and easy way to make money from home. Here’s a list of short task sites you should check out if interested.

33. Social Media Manager

There are a lot of organizations who need someone to manage their social media accounts. Some organizations may even want you to completely develop a social media strategy for them.

34. Stylist

If you love fashion, and want to work from home, then you can become an online stylist. According to the Penny Hoarder, you can make $15 per hour.

35. Survey Taker

This won’t make you a millionaire. But you can get paid between $1 to $50 for taking an opinion poll, answering questions about shopping habits or reviewing a product. You’re usually paid by check, PayPal, or points that can be redeemed for gift cards.

36. Tax Preparer

Even though this is a seasonal gig, you can make a salary of over $30,000. Don’t forget to register with the IRS before you start this home-based business.

37. Become an Expert

Nowadays people are going online to find someone that is an expert at things they are struggling with. A growing trend is hiring an expert vs hiring a large company to come in and help them fix problems. A great resource that I've found is Catalant.

I've been able to hire some of the worlds leading experts from this site. Average hourly is from around $15 all the way up to $280/hr making this a great option if you're looking to help others with your knowledge.

Related: How This Mom Grew Multiple 6-Figure Businesses From Home

38. Telephone Nurse

If you’re a registered nurse, then you could work for health insurers or health management companies like Humana, Aetna and UnitedHealth Group. They actually hire nurses remotely to handle case management, treatment authorization, and patient education.

39. Transcriber/Transcriptionist

This job is essentially you just listening to audio files and then typing out what you are, such as a lecture or doctor's medical dictation. It’s an entry-level gig that can pay up to $25 per hour.

40. Translator

Are you fluent in another language? Start earning a living off of these skill by translating documents or being an interpreter.

41. Travel Agent

Despite the fact that there are numerous travel sites that make planning a trip a breeze, it can still be time-consuming. What’s more, there may be certain travel conditions that you are not aware of. That’s why there’s still a need for travel agent to scour the web for the best deals, share advice, or plan your itinerary.

42. Virtual Assistant

If you’re organized and can handle office duties like replying to emails, calendar management, entering data, and assisting with social media, then this job is perfect for you. And you can make between $10-$15 per hour.

Related: 4 Reasons Not to Be a Stiff About Employees Working From Home

43. Virtual Public Relation Rep

For small-to-mid sized businesses, they don’t have the budget for a dedicated CMO or VP of Marketing or even a public relations firm. But, they may have the funds to hire a virtual PR to take care of duties like promoting a business or managing a crisis.

44. Virtual Recruiter

This is pretty much the same position as an in-house recruiter - expect you get to work wherever you want. The other major difference is that you search the web to find the right employee for the right position. You’re also responsible for screening the applicant and being a part of the interviewing and negotiation process. There are even recruiters being paid upward of $125/hr for building resume templates.

45. Virtual Tutor

If you have extensive knowledge in a specific area, then you could earn between $12 to $35 per hour by tutoring students either over-the-phone or Skype.

46. Voice Acting

If you have a golden voice, you can make somewhere between $56 to $72 per hour.

47. Web Developer

Depending on the specific job, as well as your expertise, you could bring-in between $55,000 – $175,000 per year to build websites from scratch.

Related: The Legal Implications of Expecting Employees to Work After Hours

48. Web Search Evaluator

In order to deliver the most accurate search results, search engines pay individuals to analyze search results. You don’t have to have much experience and you can haul-in $12-$15 per hour.

49. Website Tester

Businesses want to make sure that their websites are intuitive and easy to navigate. As such, they’ll assign instructions for people to follow to check out their site. Each test usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes. In return, you’ll be paid $10 to $15 per test.

50. Writing Gigs

Businesses of all sizes need written content, like blog posts, website copy, or eBook. As a result, there are thousands of writing gigs available that pay anywhere between $10 to $100 per hour.

Related: 50 Work-From-Home Jobs Paying as Much or a Lot More Than the Average American Salary Is a Coworking Space Worth the Cost if You're Already Working From Home? 5 Ways to Work Remotely Without Being Overlooked

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