#its about soda themed name puns

[imogentemlt]

anyways kill six billion demons remains peak in story, characters, and design

[karastroph1c]

⊶An introduction to: Yaretzi D'macro⊷

◈Name meaning Yaretzi: The name is of Aztec origin, with the meaning being "You will always be loved" With Raea giving this name to her daughter so she'll know that no matter what happens. Her mother will love her, and will watch every step she takes. D'macro: This one is actually a pun, as a "macro" is a programming pattern that specifies how a certain input should be mapped to a replacement output. This is in reference to Raea birthing Yaretzi so she can 'pass the torch' when she dies ◈ Kanji(?) ヤレツィ ◈Age 18 ◈ Height 5'8 ◈Ethnicity Greek/Puerican ◈Birthday February 31st ◈Gender Female ◈Zodiac Pisces: The water element and the ruling planet of Neptune, Pisces are in tuned with their emotions, and are able to judge whether someone is good or bad. With a strong moral compass and a sensitive heart, Yaretzi BARELY fits with her stupid little sign. ◈Birthstone Amethystos: A remedy against drunkenness, as the Greeks thought it could prevent intoxication. It's associated with Bacchus due to its wine like color. Raea would wrap a necklace made from it before sending Yaretzi off to school after forcing her to drink a cup of Alcopop because she 'needed' it. At first, she loved her little necklace even though it always felt snug and tight. Because she thought it was gifted out of love, but now she can't stand to look at the purple dog collar, let alone the gem itself. Crushing it under her foot when she arrived at Japan was cathartic. ◈Occupation ⚬ 3rd year student at Ryoutei Academy ⚬Waitress: Because when your greedy as hell $700 a month isn't enough (and 5-dollar coffee money stacks up sadly). Yaretzi was strolling down the streets of Tokyo until she sees this big, pink cafe and just stares in awe. One of the waitresses beckons her to come in and she realizes it's one of those themed bars and all the staff were dressed as magical girls. This woman goes BERSERK and spends over $50 on desserts and soda and the extra $30 went in her server's pocket as a tip. Needless to say, she's very much welcomed there and was even more welcomed to apply as a waitress. Now she calls herself 'MAGICAL GIRL OF PURITY YARETZI!!!!' and poses like a dumbass at work. She only hopes nobody she knows sees her. ◈ Languages ⚬ English: Her native tongue, she's been speaking it all her life so there's not really much to say. ⚬Greek: Another language she's fluent in. Her mother taught her in the 5th grade because she wanted her daughter to learn more about her heritage. After years of studying the words flow out of her tongue as easily as English. ⚬Japanese: Yaretzi would rather shit out glass than relearn kanji. Hiragana was fine, Katakana was tricky, but she jumped over that hurdle. But KANJI? No, never again.

BACKSTORY SNIPLET

By the time I finish writing this my sister and I will be long gone from this place, and because of that I can finally call this 'place' a hellhole. But do not be mistaken, I'm in no rush to finish this note just as Yaretzi and I are in no rush to leave. The sounds of screaming will make our ears bleed no more and the smell of blood will curl our stomachs will cease to be. I'd like to believe our very mother is ceased to exist as well. After all, consuming such a race is bound to have side effects to the human body. I don't know who will find this note first, our mother or someone else. But please know we were, despite everything, good children. Yaretzi, IS a good child. She resists freedom and will always resist freedom for the sake of our mother. She will reject stable impulse for the sake of Raea. She will deny stable values for Raea. I'm getting a bit too emotional, so I'll cut this short. I pray the day Yaretzi finds her place in the world our mother won't be present when she looks in the mirror and instead the sweet little girl deserving of love.

[ozma914]

The Great Hamster Escape

When hamsters came into my house years ago they had little plastic balls, so they could run merrily all over. (Humans now have those, too. You’d think we could just walk.) We did have to close the door to the basement while they were out. I thought it would be kind of funny to hear the “thump-thump” of a rodent taking a ride, but the kids thought the hamster wouldn’t appreciate an E-ticket at Disneyland.

One day I found one of the balls in the kitchen, sans hamster. The lid had popped off. This triggered a panicked search, which was about as successful as panicked searches usually are. The hamster – Ranger, named after a slippery, hard to track character from a Stephanie Plum novel – was gone.

My daughters were very upset. I looked at it as a challenge … but before you congratulate me for my attitude, I should point out that I hate challenges.

After a time – a long time, during which I could have been doing more important things, like nothing – I found a little white puff ball behind the oven, as far back into the corner as he could possibly get. I could have done a few different things, but I didn’t have a gun on me, and in my experience napalm is dangerously unreliable. So instead, I tried to entice the furball out with a handful of his favorite snack, which looks suspiciously like shreds of colored paper.

Ranger instantly disappeared into the wall.

He’d discovered what I, in ten years, had not – the hole mice use to get into my house every fall. (They stopped coming after we got the pet snake, but that’s another story.) It led behind the cupboard and from there to – who knows? A rodent superhighway, perhaps, or a mouseport, or a hamsterteria.

The next morning, I found a very old mouse carcass on the floor outside the hole. I’m talking mummified. Ranger had not only made himself at home in the former mouse house, he’d even dug up the cemetery.

  “Yeah, I’m bad, I’m bad–you know it.”

Now what? Offering amnesty wasn’t likely to help. There is a homemade trap you can build, making steps out of books that lead to a trash can. Water and food goes into the can, and once inside, the sides are too steep for the hamster to get out again. The problem is, Ranger is afraid of heights. Seriously. It took him a week to climb down out of the upstairs apartment in the hamster house.

I considered leaving him in that hole, until the squeaking started.

The only time they made noise was when they started fighting each other. Every now and then they’d get into a quarrel over who gets the best piece of trail mix, or who controls the remote. Then they’d squeak like crazy until they were all squeaked out, and ten minutes later they’d be happily sitting together again. And yes, it reminded me of my daughters.

The conclusion was inescapable: Ranger wasn’t alone down there. Hopefully we weren’t hearing loud rodent sex.

  “You should have sent me in, coach–I’d have those rodents for breakfast. Literally.”

  A few days later we found the little white furball, huddled behind a bookcase that turned out to be an excellent place to trap him. I was never so happy to be a book packrat. Or is that a bookrat? Ranger was none too happy, and who can blame him? He’d had free run of the house, so it was like moving out of the Taj Mahal and into a one room trailer. He was in a foul mood, and proved it with a couple of knock down – drag outs with his old roommate.

I never found out whether his mouse friend kicked him out, but later that day I saw the mouse trying to fit an entire soda cracker through its doorway. Eating for two? How friendly they were, I don’t know – can hamsters and mice cross breed? Was I in danger of being overrun by white mice, bent on freeing their dad? I’ve had a few disturbing nightmares.

All I know is, after his brief escape Ranger was awfully squirrely– if you’ll pardon my rodent-themed pun. I feel like I’ve separated Rangero and Julie-rat.

Find all our books here:

http://markrhunter.com/ https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

[typical-zodiac-blog]

Sign Associations

Aries: angry crying in bathroom stalls, feeling the sun on your skin for the first time in days, pierced nipples, rosy cheeks, crushed soda cans, black dogs, swearing, burritos from taco bell, wrestling, ripped fishnets, loose change, older car radios

Taurus: flower petals up close, coffee with so much sugar and cream that its not even coffee anymore, teak wood, wrought iron, long wavy hair, handwritten love notes, small dogs in dumb costumes, pianos, trinket boxes, old books, making small talk

Gemini: Mario Kart, Minecraft, olives from the jar at midnight, Snapchat, healing crystals, marijuana, blonde curls, crying until you laugh and laughing until you cry, Shrek, charades, gossip at the dinner table, someone putting their head on someone else’s shoulders, tooth gaps

Cancer: arcades, milkshake dates, trading food with each other at a restaurant, soft blankets, martinis, drive in movies, candid photos, bear hugs, rainy days, binge-ing a series in the shortest possible amount of time, button up shirts, swallows, anchors, forehead kisses

Leo: makeup from last night, small laughs, wide eyes that have an unhinged aura, jokes about being god, messy hair, painters hands, smelling like old cigarette and incense and bonfire, peanut butter out of the jar at 4am, cats laying in weird places but acting nonchalant about it, phone never being charged, nachos bell grande

Virgo: glasses, going to the gym religiously, storage totes, sustainable gardening, sun freckles, writing, flannel shirts, tractors, vitamins, planners with something written in every single day, dirty laundry, hugs that are awkward but still comforting, slugs on a tent after it rained, lake days, lists

Libra: baby pink, Tupac, rose hip oil, face masks, finding out what other people think before forming an opinion, laughing at your own jokes, combat boots, holographic makeup, keyboards, phone themes, spotlights, Gouda, talking in front of the bathroom mirror with the person they brought with them, good nails, key chain charms

Scorpio: chain link fences, eyeliner, saying “hm” when someone is sketchy, ignoring calls, finding the resident animal at parties, seeing how long you can stay underwater in a pool, box braids, gold name necklaces, turtlenecks, baby hairs, sending messages to the mothers of men who send unsolicited dick pics

Sagittarius: philosophical debate as foreplay, feeling uncultured, lighthouses, crunch wrap supreme, the pina colada song, taking a teddy bear when you travel, crew cuts, pink hair, indie rock, Target trips, ignoring doulingo notifications, memes

Capricorn: empty notebooks, burning sage, gray t shirts, olive oil, gel pens, index cards, sangria, bubble baths, perfume bottles, having a car chapstick, a house chapstick and a purse chapstick, white candles, sunsets, vision boards, dart boards, dream catchers

Aquarius: ferrets, Polaroids, bath bombs, exposed hard drives, awkward laughs, psychedelic art, zebra print, shoe strings, horror novels, geodes, lighters, walking around the suburb neighborhood with friends, square glasses, broad shoulders, taxes, poetry,

Pisces: wet hair, shimmer eye shadow, dragons, stars, clouds, The Last Unicorn, baby teeth, acrylic nails, freckles, cabins in the mountains, fresh linens, b-rated horror movies, glass jars, butterfly kisses, dragonflies, puns

[phoenixpinks]

Things Team Lazarus said during EoD starters

"When all else fails, Lex Luthor intends to kill Superman with Death." "HOLY BAT, BATMAN!" "WAIT SO WAIT WHAT???" "We're not in any danger! We're just nerds solving riddles on the internet!" "I ain't dressing up every night to find someone to punch" "I don't need to dress up every night to find someone to punch" "my son won't respond to my texts about wearing a bullet proof best, he is so grounded" "HELLO NAUGHTY CHILDREN IT'S TIME FOR FEAR" "NO FORTS. ONLY JUSTICE." "we're conventing court in the fort" "We pun to forget tears though" "Im gonna release all of these come the end of this, nothing is sacred" "he faked his death to get away from us" "but, it's all in good pun" "This is our life now" "you could have fit a meme in there" "oh god it is going to be a time thing" "yes how dare you say a meme I don't know, or whatever that is" "it only hurts if you let it hurt" "lies, I almost cried last night I will have none of your nonsense" "i am of a sensitive disposition. everything hurts" "Worse than my solving my problems with ___ and cocaine idea?" "you don't mix ANYTHING with cocaine, instant death" "Can I mix water with cocaine" "I may not have a coffee problem but I am surrouned by 5 different types of soda cans rn" "the soccer van, but for super villains" "we can alwats tie some people to the top of the car with bungee cords" "free test subject right here" "Ya'll gnna get yourselves killed" "My guy I'm lowekey terrified 24/7." "you're always screaming" "ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT" "I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ANYTHING" "you do not need to focus on that" "bye whoever’s leaving, I can't keep track of all of you" "you're attractive and love crime, I'm attractive and love crime. Let's be attractive and commit crimes together." "Dr we will never send puns again if you promise to stop getting into death traps" "I only said it was nice to see him again with the living. I may not sound it, but I'm absolutely ecstatic" "wow I mean he's probably not the best at running" "Kick him in the knees" "Hes DIED, He'll be fine" "I COME HOME TO PAIN!!!!" "fuck you ____ you suck at taking care of yourself" "Yes now shut up and sleep in a bed tonight instead of a ditch" "Being unconscious does not count as sleep" "IT'S NOT THE PUNISHMENT YOU DESERVE, BUT IT'S THE PUNISHMENT YOU NEED" 'We need justice for these puns" "Honestly anyone int he crowd might have snapped and shit him just to shut him up" "it was me guys" "you did the world a service fam" "YOU HAVE TAINTED HIM" "WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE, ____" "Nnnnnng that hurt me" "i gtg, I want to finish this report before 3 A.M" "procrastination at its finest" "get in losers we're going spooping" "Why have we formed a cult" "This was not what i expected when i first asked to join the skype group" "All groups of friends make cults at some point" "would it be irresponsible of me to send a message saying 'run bitch run'? "WHEN I TOLD HIM TO KICK ASS AND TAKE NAMES THIS ISN'T WHAT I MEANT" "I GO ON WARCRAFT FOR TEN FUCKING MINUTES AND IT ALL GOES TO SHIT" "I instinctively covered my ears at the gunshots but then I remembered I was wearing headphones" *does the 'I'm so smart' dance "Mother always told me I was special" "I hope we're blowing this way out of proportion but at the same time this would be a hilarious plot twist" "WHOO BOY SCREENSHOT" "He's moved from senpai to fam" "He's probably lughing in his cellar" "dial dow the thirst there my dude lmao, ily thou" "I for one always overreact" "I never overreact. WHY. ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPLY SOMETHING" "___ ARE YOU ON HELIUM???" "I COME BACK AND WHAT DO I FIND" "WHY CAN'T THE RIDDLES LEAD SOMEWHERE SAFE!?! LIKW I DON'T KNOW! A DUCK POND OR I DON'T KNOW!!" "because my mind went from 'do we know any duck themed villains' to that weird French duck from courage the cowardly dog" "SHE'S HATING ON MY BOI JULIUS CAESAR" "it's been 2060 years __ im" "knife to meet your boi julius caesar" "Ok i'll hit you up next year when it's 2061" "YOU CAN HIT ME UP WHEN I'M DEAD FAM" "___ has nominated me as a Fish, or a frog, I don't even know" "if im bill the lizard youre gonna be a fish w me" "MAYBE I LIKE BEING DROP KICKED" "there is so much anger on that voice that is just covered layer of 'fuck this'" "Really? Legwork? Oh, this is grand." "give me your free time im dying in work" "it's a supervillainy way though" "I'm already dating a weeb and then I come here and WHAT DO I SEE" "I'm going to smack you all" "Everyone go stand in the corner" "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS OH MY GOD" "I never had an anime phase I win" "everybody loves him but the sentiment is not reciprocated" "i will be ashamed for the rest of my life, but sure" "time to Google... aight Google isn't helping" "Tfw you kill ___, Reblog if you agree" "he looks like you should just start punching him and never stop" "when did we start being about ____'s butt" "We're allowed to be proud because it's obvious the guy is salty and not happy with our success." "I'M DISOWNING YOU ALL, EVEN HIM" "oh hey it's midnight" "you can't cheat the champion of cheating" "you cheated and I shall cheat harder" "I'd hope that I'd at least be captured by honorable idiots" "NO DUMBO RIDES. ONLY JUSTICE." "you and I are on separate wavelengths than" "OKAY STRICTLY UPDATE THEY ARE NOW PLAYING WAKE ME UP INSIDE WHATS HAPPENING" "don't meme shame me bro" "Your memes are stale, and you are stale" "lol what is romantic human interaction" "what is human interaction" "what is interaction" "What is human" "this is the worst thing I have ever created and I will burn for this" "I look at him directly and said fuck you" "I gotta go eat dinner y'all are fucking insane" "I WILL RUN EXPERIMENTS IN THE BASEMENT WHO'S WITH ME??" "Do you have any redeeming qualities" "c'mon skype lemme transer sewing via you...." "are you kidding, this is better than all the tv shows I'm behind on" "MURDER ROADTRIP" "Rosaceae are refuscent, Violas are cerulean, Cane crystals are saccharine, homogeneous to you" "WE ARE THE BEST GROUPIES" "shes not even here, she chickened out of the fight" "Tfw your brain is memes" "Twf yer also an adult" "Yup. Exactly Sad O'Clock" "So sad o'clock is midnight o fifty, got it"

[kn1ghthawk]

Meet The Muse (No picture yet)

|| The Basics ||

Name: Victor Winters

Nickname(s): Vic, Blue, The Silver Shroud 

Age: ~33-35 during events of Fallout 4

Species: Human

Alignment: Chaotic Good

|| Personal ||

Religious Belief: Here is more important than hereafter.

Sins: Lust / Greed / Gluttony / Sloth / Pride / Envy / Wrath

Virtues: Chastity / Charity / Diligence / Humility / Kindness / Patience / Justice

Primary Goals In Life: Making tomorrow better than yesterday.

Languages Known: English, Chinese.

Secrets: His son isn’t his, the date of his deployment doesn’t match the birthday. 

Quirks: He collects keys, his dad was a locksmith so he’s always been fascinated by them. just the right sequence, just the right pressure in the right spots, opens any door. His wife was a redhead so he is both always tempted and sorely hurt by Cait’s presence.

Savvies:  Always tinkering with a new project. In the war, he was the one in charge of arms and armor maintenance. (That was him over the shoulder of the solider in the opening sequence.) 

|| Physical ||

Build: Slender / Scrawny / Bony / Fit / Athletic / Herculean / Babyfat / Pudgy / Obese / Other

Height: 5′10″

Weight: 200lbs

Scars/Birthmarks: The right side of his face is horribly scarred all over along with both his forearms and underarms, but the left side of his head survived. He shaves his scalp close and wears a black pompadour to cover up his missing hair.

Abilities/Powers: Preternatural with machines. As good with a scoped pistol as others are with rifles. He almost seems too familiar with radiation and often lets himself get to glowing before doing something about it.

Restrictions: Unlucky in love, he feels mostly to half his face being covered in burns and scars but his militant personality, remote intellect and dark humors or seemingly always angry being more likely. Ever since the thaw he has had no endurance, he just cannot seem to keep enough air in his chest.

|| Favorites ||

Favorite Food: Canned Dog Food reminds him of beef stew MRE’s

Favorite Drink: Nuka Cola/Nuka Dark

Favorite Color: Black

Favorite Music Genre: Mostly rock, but he feels every album ever had at least one good song for the whole set.

Favorite Book Genre: science fiction.

Favorite Movie Genre: westerns.

Favorite Season: Winter

Favorite Butt Type: jiggly.

Favorite Swear Word: ...Fuck.

Favorite Scent: Leather

Favorite Quote: "If-Than-Else” Programmers guide. “DAMN, this... Gunshot wound!” Silver Shroud.

|| Fun Stuff ||

“Boss” Theme Music: Johnny guitar, a soft and sorrowful draw to keep his pulse slow and even as he puts round downrange.

Loud Burper Or Soft Burper: Long, he liked to get five to fifteen seconds from a soda bottle.

Sings In The Shower: Yes / No

Likes Bad Puns: Yes / No / Only if they are relevant to the situation

Source: its-sixxers

[burlybanner]

Syzygy

Notes: New story. Will be putting it in installments, probably once/week. This is more or less to keep me honest with writing it. If I don’t, I won’t finish. I know me far too well. It’s a monster, probably close to NaNoWriMo levels if I’m honest. But it’s a nice monster. Note the tags.

Syzygy

Rating: M (themes/language mostly)

Pairing: Stark Spangled Banner

Special note: an AU of Infundo (post-Infundo Chronicles).

Summary:  They’d always been a triad - sun and moon, encircling a heavenly body...

***

The question was so out of the blue, so perplexing, so - fuck no, he must be losing his hearing - insane that Tony dropped the spanner. It bounced and clanged angrily across the lab's cement floor causing one bot - U - to chirp softly and pick it up. U tried returning it to its creator by repeating bumping against his leg, but Tony focused on one thing right now. One person.

"Run that by me again?"

"You heard me." Bruce Banner stared at an oil smudge between their feet. It was twisted in an odd shape, reminiscent of pancake-shaped licorice. "I don't think I need to repeat myself."

"Oh hell, no. No." Tony yanked the spanner from U's grip and tapped his shoulder with it while pacing the floor. "You don't drop a bombshell like that without giving a guy a hint. What brought this on?"

"Honestly?"

"Yeah, honestly."

"It looks comfortably soothing, I’m tired of running, I like who I am...and." He bit down his response, holding it between his teeth, but Tony could see Bruce mentally shifting gears - frustratingly choosing to conceal a portion of truth. A skill Bruce was, unfortunately, still good at doing.

Bruce sighed. "Maybe I'm warming up to full-on pampering from you and Steve. Do I really need to explain myself?"

"All right, fine. I...get it. Sort of." Tony paused mid-pace and gave Bruce the side-eye, but not without sauntering over to his extremely significant other while poking him in his gut (and Tony's finger sunk in a good five inches, before Bruce swatted his hand away).

Like diving into fresh dough, Tony thought wickedly.  

“Stop that.”

"Whatever. I'm just saying, you're what. Three-sixty? Three-seventy?"

"Three-ninety."

Tony tutted his tongue against his teeth, his eyes scanning Bruce from head to toe. He'd overlooked how round and jowly Bruce's cheeks had become and how much more his heavy belly wobbled over his belt like an over-inflated water balloon.

Tony slowly scraped his lower lip with his teeth and let his libido drink in Bruce's delicious form.  His fat had dissolved all his chiseled edges, smoothing them like candle wax, dimpling him in places Tony never expected to notice. Arms, legs, face, chin, chest, neck - even elbows and fingers Pillsburied up into scrumptious fat. Bruce'd blown up like a county fair attraction and Tony couldn't tell where he'd even put on the extra twenty; Bruce’s fat had settled into all his body’s spare nooks and crannies. All that lovely jiggling Jell-o. Waiting for touches, prods, tickles, and gropes—

"Earth to Tony," Bruce muttered, snapping his fingers in Tony's slackened face.

Tony snorted, pretending Bruce hadn't mesmerized him and turned him so the fuck on. Was he becoming more like Cap these days? Wouldn't doubt it. "ANY-hoo," Tony said, grabbing a rolling chair. He took inventory of Bruce more thoroughly by rolling around the scientist, taking a good 360-look while Bruce stared at his circular pattern.

"Are you trying to orbit me?"

Tony laughed. "No. Although that could be an experiment for another day." Tony poked and prodded Bruce’s flab, freely grabbing fistfuls of his favorite butterball and fluffing his ample butt cheeks.

"Tony," Bruce cautioned.

"Sorry. Couldn't resist."

"What are you plotting?"

"Me, plotting? Perish the thought. I'm planning, Banner. I have ideas, I have a million ideas. But we're gonna have to get Cap involved. He'll want to know."

Bruce fidgeted somewhat, which surprised Tony. Didn't seem like something Bruce would be shy about.

"So soon?"

"Well, yah, the sooner the better." Tony narrowed his eyes at him. "What's bugging you, Care Bear?"

"Nothing," Bruce said, but Tony didn't believe him. He let it slide as he rolled back to his desk.

" 'Nothing' for now, babe, but I'll challenge that declaration later." He did a quick calculation in his head and pulled up Jarvis' keyboard. "J, open a new file for me. Call it, 'Operation Supermax.' "

"Seriously?"

"Don't mock the name, Brucie Bear. It's not like I had time to come up with something better."

"New file created," Jarvis intoned, flooding the room with his soothing AI voice. "Would you like to add to it now, sir?"

Tony grinned at Bruce. "Scan Brucie for me, Jarvis. Put all his current vitals in there. Show us what we're working with."

Jarvis threw up a 3D image of Bruce‘s body and stats. “I will say, I'm quite curious, sirs."

"So‘re we, J. Especially interested in what'll happen after we tell Cap."

Bruce looked less enthused at telling Steve, but whatever. Steve was their partner; not telling him would be ridiculous. "Sure you don't wanna say why you're lookin' grim?"

"I'm not grim," Bruce stated, and Tony waggled his finger at Bruce's lie.

"Not my monkeys, not my circus. But you know Steve'll get it out of you if I can't, Pooh."

"I know."

"Easier to rip off the band-aid."

"I said I knew, didn't I?"

"Fine, fine." Tony toggled a few buttons on his keyboard. "J, call Steve down. We're gonna have a family meeting."

**

But Steve relayed a message through Jarvis saying he'd meet up after he'd finished his workout.  Bruce had grabbed five pounds' worth of snacks and wanted to wait for Steve in the media room, but Tony cajoled and wheedled him until he caved. Which was why he ended up joining Tony in the exercise room instead, ogling Steve's lifting routine.  Well, “cajoling and wheedling” wasn’t exactly right, to be fair. Watching Steve work out was a damn privilege.

"I feel like a stalker," Bruce muttered, unwrapping one of his remaining chocolate bars. He wasn't not staring, though.

"He probably knows we're here. He says he doesn't, but I think he does. I'm just obeyin' my thirst."

"Quit watching those dumb commercials." Bruce scarfed down his jumbo Snickers bar with two or three grateful grunts and gulped down his soda. And no, Bruce's Adam's Apple bobbing so deliciously up and down did not mesmerize Tony. Certainly not.

Nope.

"Mmf--and/or, get off social media. Sounds like you’re trying too hard to fit in with the cool kids."

"Heh. You can't tell me Steve doesn't like teasing us right back." Tony pointed his chin at Steve powerlifting weights rivaling Thor's class. "Look at 'im, you can't tell me he's not a thirst trap."

Bruce made a face as he tossed his wrapper and soda can in the trash. "Definitely too much social media."

Tony's eye lingered over Bruce's dwindling dragon hoard of snacks, which teased a lecherous smile from his lips. "You startin' early, or what?"

"Gotta keep up my strength."

"Mhm." Tony went into his head, thinking about how Steve'd go bonkers. In a good way. Probably in a good way. "You know Steve'll have his own ideas. You gonna let him go hog wild?"

"Oh, hardy-har." Bruce tore into a packet of mini donuts. "Yeah, okay, fine," he grunted. A smattering of donut crumbs sprayed from his full mouth before he put a hand to his lips to stop them. "You figured out why I'm apprehensive. Don't rub it in."

"I'm not tryin' to, Brucie. In fact, I think you're blowing this up way out of proportion." And don't think Tony didn't recognize the pun, even if Bruce didn't. He casually watched Bruce scrape crumbs from his shirt. "Don't you think he cares enough that h--"

"Oh, hey, fellas!"

Steve finally noticed them salivating in front of the spy window. Which was what Tony called it. Really, it was a breezeway with a window to the exercise rooms so folks could check for occupied training floors. But Tony mostly used it to indulge his naturally nosy nature.

Steve grabbed a fresh towel and wrapped it around his neck while Tony bit his tongue. Making lewd comments was tempting and although Steve wouldn't have minded, Bruce would get skittish if he ramped up the tension now. And if Bruce bolted, well...kinda made what he was about to do moot.

"What's up?" Steve dabbed sweat from his forehead and plunked next to Bruce on the thirst trap bench. His cheeks reddened when he noticed the mound of opened goodies. "Is it an emergency? Fury call us in?"

"Oh, nothing like that," Tony said. He propped his feet beneath the breezeway window. "Bruce has something he wants to say."

Bruce wiped powdered sugar off his lips while swallowing thickly. "Well, not...exactly."

"Yeah, ya do, exactly," Tony said, nudging Bruce's shoulder. "Boy Scout," he said, calling to Steve. "D'you think you could steel yourself enough to not act like a kid in a candy store?"

"Tony..."

"Bruce, hon', it's all good. Steve," he started again. Poor guy already looked five kinds of confused. "It's something that'll affect the three of us but unless Bruce explains with his big boy words I'm not gonna help him."

"Traitor," Bruce huffed.

"Only way to kick you out of the nest."

"What," Steve said, finally getting a word in edgewise, "the hell. Are you two talking about?"

Bruce shot Tony a narrow look before turning to Steve. "It's...it's not enough," he began slowly. "I-I mean, we're fine," he stuttered, gesturing to each of them. "We're great. But I want. I want more. And I'm not sure how you'll take it."

"Just know," Tony interrupted, "I'm on board 100% if you are. But I'm looking at this from a scientific perspective more than--"

"I thought you said I should tell him."

"Well, you're taking too long, Banner. Cut to the chase!"

Steve held up a hand, motioning both to shut their traps. "Thank you," he said once they quieted. "Now. Bruce. Muffin." He stroked Bruce's chubby cheek and Bruce melted like butter in his hand. "Gimme the specifics. Let me decide if I'll be okay or not with whatever it is."

But Tony could see the small trembling smile on Cap's features; Steve was noticeably scared. He made a face, hoping Bruce hurried it up before causing irreparable damage.

"I want," Bruce sighed heavily. His glance went back and forth at the men in his life, then to his hands. "I'm not exactly happy at my current weight."

Steve's lips thinned. He looked like someone had taken his favorite toy away, but the expression fled before Bruce caught it.

Tony noticed, though.

"So you want to lose weight," Steve sighed. He kept his voice level but Tony detected his disappointment. "Well, I understand. It's not like we expected it forever and--"

"No," Bruce interrupted, quieter than before. He wrapped his hand around Steve's, stilling the man's jitters. "You've misunderstood. It's...ah. It's the opposite."

Steve's cheeks flared while Tony choked back laughter from Steve's startled expression.

"W-what? You wanna gain more?"

Bruce slowly nodded. "I know you've always been encouraging, and you seemed satisfied when I tapered off. But I really like it when you and Tony feed me." Bruce reached for Tony's hand and rubbed his thumb across their knuckles. "I like breakfasts in bed, lazy nights watching B movies, and eating crappy takeout. I like feeling overstuffed, and the headiness the feeling brings me. I think I've gotten as large as I can on my own. So I'll need help from you and Tony to get...um. Larger."

Steve visibly gulped. "Um. H...how much larger are we talkin'--?"

Bruce glanced Tony's way, and Tony encouraged him with a nod. "Um. To a point where I can  stay sedentary. I'm happy at home - I'm happy here. With us. I don't want to run anymore, and I want to feel grounded. Literally. So--"

"He wants to become immobile," Tony explained, butting in again. "Which is no mean feat, with his metabolism. Even with Bed, even with all the snacking and meals he gets, he's probably leveled off. But if we're talkin' immobility, we're probably addin' another three hundred to him, more or less."

Cap let out a shaky sigh. "Whoa..."

Tony shrugged. "Again, more or less. Depends on what 'immobile' means to a guy like Bruce. 'Course you know," Tony said, sobering. "He's wouldn't be totally immobile, not really." His dark eyes roamed Bruce, emphasizing the seriousness of his next words. "The only way that would happen is if we separated him from the Hulk."

"Which I'm not asking for," Bruce quickly piped. "That's not my goal."

"Good. 'Cause that's more than my paygrade. What'dya think, Spangles?" Tony turned to Steve. "You in, or what?"

"I...I'm not even sure." His expression remained pensive before hovering between Tony and Bruce. "I think I want to understand what that means before I agree to it. It'll change our 'rules,' our dynamics, the team--"

"Absolutely," Bruce agreed. "But I guess...I'd like to retire, if that's okay. From the team. I've already spoken with the university--"

"What?"

"You have?"

Bruce motioned for his boyfriends to calm down.  "I'm not giving up teaching, I'm just switching to an online format. I'll still be an adjunct but I won't teach in person or in front of a classroom. And besides..." He sighed, but a small smile teased his lips. "I won't be mobile enough for a classroom. At least that's what I'm hoping."

Tony shared a look with Steve who looked both mesmerized and stunned. But then Tony noticed something else a sly, (dare he say it), evil mastermind grin on Steve's face rivaling their greatest enemies.

"Steve. Your bad boy expression is showing," Tony muttered.

"I know, I know," Steve breathed. "But I kinda I wanna know how soon we can start."

Part two: https://burlybanner.tumblr.com/post/185854349769/syzygy-2

[dilfsdotnet]

Yo you should answer all of these scene questions👀👀

:OOO

you think so lad???? shit dawg i was thinkin just a few at a time but if that what u want my dear nonnie i will supply

1. wats ur scene name?

i was thinkin maybe ‘gods mistake’ would be a good one but then. i found a way to make it both danganronpa related, and, even better, a fucking pun as well. ‘kamukura kamukura jasqueen’, or just ‘kamukura jasqueen’ for short is good k thxxx

2. describe ur dream outfit!

oooo gosh this ones trickyy!! there are so many good outfits out there, especially in the scene community!! but it’d have to have a few tiny elements of dr cosplay to add a lil of my dangan-weeb culture in there ofc! more specifically, id really love to get one of kazuichis jumpsuit and just wig out and add shit like this just because i could:

(id just rlly love going out in all those glowy/shiny things at night like all that haha..and yes the shoes would probably kill me/my fuckin feet if i tried to walk in them but shut up i love them theyre cute as fuck)

3. describe ur dream haircut!

oo another tricky one!! i do like my regular hair, and honestly id be lying if i said i didnt love ibuki’s hairdo too but id defs have to go with something like this!!

yaaaassss, so pretty and spikeeeey! maybe id dye my natural hair colour black and/or add some funky colours if i ever actually got this style down!

4. describe ur dream room!

i have a lot of ideas for dream bedrooms actually, but heres a visual image of one of them i found!!!

MIKU ROOM MIKU ROOM MIKU ROOM MIKU ROOM

(this specific idea arose mainly just for the aesthetic but i also find it super cute and a good environment to be in general hhhnnggg)

5. if u could make anything out of kandi, wat would u make?

oh you mean those colourful beads and bracelet things??? i love those man!!! theyre so visually appealing to me aaaaa…id probably just make a fuck-ton of those and most probably use the little letter beads to say random words/phrases like ‘aubergine’ and ‘despacito’ knowing my shitposter self lmaooo! id definitely make a sansmaeda themed one too thoo fr

6. wat would u write on ur shoez?

it’d probably range from things like a simple kaomoji doodle to something randum and stupid like ‘seesaw’ bc yes asjnd

7. wat kinda piercingz/tattooz do u hav/want?

i dont think i rlly want any real piercings (at least not atm) but id totally go for those fake stick-on gemstone lookin’ ones! and as for tattoos, i cant rlly see myself gettin one of those rn either, but id want something like a mario power-up, preferably the bell one/cat suit powerup!!! its my favorite powerup and its sooo cute!!!

8. fave genrez?

i dont rlly have a specific genre, i like most kinds of music, but i rlly like energetic music that i can dance tooo!!! >w

9. fave bandz?

im a big fan of gorillaz and botdf!!! i like p!atd as well but havent listened to it in a while.. gatta catch up loool

10. fave songz?

my favs alternate a lot, but atm im super into ‘slow dancing in the dark’ by joji!!! so much emotiooon quq…also rlly hooked on botdf and jefree star’s ‘sexting’ tooo lmaooo

11. fave lyricz?

‘The world keeps spinning Among this sinning Oh what a cruel and disgusting place The purest moonlight Is bloodied by plight And screaming resonants But somehow I know That it’s all for show The world will reveal it’s true beauty soon And we’ll all reach towards the moon ‘

its so deep but its from a fucking kaito momota fansong and i love that asnkjdnefe

12. hav u evr been to a concert?

not in a damn long while my lad,, rip australians not havin many artists they like from other countries tour there ;-;

13. do u wanna be in a band?

ive always thought thatd be pretty cool ngl!!! tourin around with ur bandmate friends, makin awesome fuckin tunes, people lovin u and ur music, just livin the dream in general,, nice

14. wats da best soda/energy drink flavour?

havent rlly had any as of rn  my lad so i wouldnt know :/

15. wat do u miss most abt old internet?

i loved that we could all just be ourselves and act like the kids we are inside without bein reprimanded at all.. it aint rlly that much of an issue for me but i still think itd be a lot nicer if it was like that again sometimes,,

16. wats da best old meme?

ooohhh there are so many i still miss man! numa numa ermagerd and doge still remind me of the glory days…when old animeme was good and you could still haz ur cheezburgers in peace. also rage comics! rage comics were good what happened

17. best place 2 buy clothez?

i dont think theres any hot topics in australia but if there is. i will hunt it down you hear me

18. wat r ur fave accessoriez?

OH THERES SO MANY GOOD ONES??? as i stated b4 i rly love kandi bracelets and other glowy/led things!!! also rlly love ties with cute and fun patterns and long colourful and/or ripped socks like ibuki’s too hehe

19. wats ur best tip fr ppl that just got into scenecore?

im not rlly the best at advice, but my main point would be-just hav fun here dudes!!! dont let anyone else bulli u abt it, we’re supportive people, u can talk to me or anyone else whos willin to listen an/or help for reassurance ofc

20. opinion on furbiez?

oOH MY GOD YES. FURBIES. MY BABIES I WANT 10 OF THESE CHILDREN…I ACTUALLY HAVE A FURBY HE LIKES SLEEPING IN HIS SPECIAL DRAWER AND HIS NAME IS TINGLE I ADORE HIM I’LL POST A OF PICTURE LATER MAYBE

21. opinion on funko popz?

i like em and ive seen lots at eb games, but i dont buy em much..i do have a megaman pop with a broken arm tho loool

22. wats ur fave pattern? (zebra/leopard print etc)

i looove a lot of patterns but not gonna lie im always a sucker for rainbow checkerboard patterns yknow hehe!

23. fave color combo?

i dont have one rlly…soooo many possible comboooos…cx

24. sumthing u liked as a kid dat u still like?

im still going on girlsgogames and recently, ive finally mastered sues beauty machine!!!! its so good and fun all of ya’ll should try it my dudeeees

25. wats ur most used emoticon? 0w0

as most of ya’ll probs alredy know i spam ‘:O’ a lot, but one of my bigger favs is actually ‘x3′ and my fav kaomoji is ‘ଘ(੭ˊ꒳​ˋ)੭✧’ (both of them are so kyooot >w

26. wats ur fav typin quirk?

i luv talkin like dis, but i dont rly do it that often loool…i awso wuv tawking in ‘owo’ speak wike dis >//w//>

27. do u wish ur fllwrz talked 2 u moar?

hellz yeaaa!!! i luv followr interaction my dudee! it makes me super happi when u all talk to me heehee! x3c

28. tag ur fave scene blawgz!

:O !!! oh gawd!!! i dont know many atm but heeereee!

@xxadam-antidotexx (op of the ask meme)

@glitchkichi (not sure if this counts but their stuff’s rlly cool >v

@otonashi-banana (scene boyf…wuv im more than anythin >///w///>

29. wat got u into scenecore?

i dont remember exactly how it happened but i’d always sorta wanted to go back to the glory days that was the old web and the scene era, and that, coupled with a bright, colourful aesthetic that i could really enjoy, drew me in like a moth to a neon colored flame ig looollll

30. how long hav u been scene?

i’ve only been officially apart of the community for about a few months now (at time of writing) i reckon so some things are still a lil new to me ig ^^;;

31. wats da best thing abt being scene?

the freedom of bein able to express myself 4 one thing, and its just so fun being so ‘out-there’ yknow???? it feels so great really

32. do u hav a fursona?

i…actually used to but ive moved on from the furry fandom and ive grown more attached to my human sona anyway sooo :/

33. r u in sum “cringy” fandomz?

YEA man!! i dont rlly think dr is inherently considered ‘cringey’ but undertale is and im in that one for sure!!! i also kinda technically never left the skylanders fandom(?) so theres that too ig??? oh yeah and who wants to let me draw my old moshi monsters characters COWARDS

34. do u liek plushiez?

YASSSS QUEEEN!!!! i have HEAPS of them in my room on my desk with my gonta shrine

35. do u liek stickerz?

also a big yaaassss from me dawggg!!! i love them and i love those ones that you stick on your fase like this!

its so cuuute!!!

36. do u hav a friendproject?

i dont, not at the moment a least, actually! didnt even know what it was til recently but it looks kewl haha

37. do u hav any other scene account?

well, i haz this one, and i also have an emowire account for shuichi if that counts!!

38. do u make art? (drawingz, blingeez, etc.)

YES!!! i love to draw and i also make blingee edits sometimes!!! ITS SO FUN XD !!!

39. wats da most scene thing? (anything!)

hmmm, weeell…i think the most stereotyped thing would be that kewl, suuuper big hair like this;

its really prettyyyy, and i love all that colouuur!!!

40. ask ur own randum question!!

hm, oh wowie, since the anon didnt specifically ask this one…POTATOES!!! X3

phew, finally done, that was a lot of typing! this was so fun to do though, so thank u nonnie!!! :3

[polyglotinprogress]

pictured above: Charly García and Gustavo Cerati. [1]

Rock en español is a topic I’m pretty passionate about, and also something that I feel like has not received a lot of attention in the anglophone world. There is a lot of complexity to this topic--easily enough to fill an entire book. However, I’m going to try to break down the basics for anyone looking to get their feet wet with some new Spanish-language music, as well as try to provide a bit of historical context. 

Since there is no way I can cover everything in one post, there will be a certain amount of bias towards music I personally think is significant--but I will try to cover music that is typically considered universally known or important. We’re starting with Argentina, because of their massive influence on the genre in general.

1. La Balsa, Los Gatos (1967). A “balsa” is a raft, and the theme of this song is, essentially, a generation “shipwrecking” itself. This is the song credited with really starting Argentina’s rock nacional, selling 250,000 copies, inspiring the name for a band (”Los Náufragos”), and becoming an iconic reflection of the youth counterculture of the time. What’s important to understand about this song is that this is the era of the Vietnam War, of Cold War tensions, and of a desire to break with tradition, particularly in regards to sexual relationships & gender roles. Under Juan Carlos Onganía (president 1966-1970), long hair in men and “immodest” clothing for women was particularly targeted (you can read more about that here). The original lyrics started off with “estoy muy solo triste acá en este mundo de mierda” but were later replaced with “estoy muy solo triste acá en este mundo abandonado” [2]. Musically, their first album has a very Beach-Boys vibe to me, but more melancholy. 

*For a song that speaks pretty openly about the feelings of this time period, try listening to Rebelde (1966) by Los Beatniks.  

The next biggest players to show up in the 1960s and ‘70s are “El Flaco” Louis Alberto Spinetta (1950-2012), and Charly García (1951-Present).  

2. Muchacha (ojos de papel), Almendra (1969) & Bajan, Pescado Rabioso (1973) are the songs I am choosing to highlight. Spinetta has had quite a few bands over the years, but to me his most impactful projects were the album Almendra I and Artaud. Spinetta is known for his very poetic songs, and sort of spiritual, otherworldly sound. Artaud in particular is very surreal, psychedelic, Pink Floyd-esque. This was the era of Operation Condor and a lot of senseless violence and social change, and many feel that Spinetta’s nod to the writer Antonin Artaud (and his “theater of cruelty”) is a sort of reflection of the Zeitgeist of the time. It does not feel to me like an overtly political album, but more introspective and melancholy. Regardless, both are considered classics. Personally I’m particularly fond of the song  Que el Viento Borró tus Manos. 

3. Charly García - García is credited for nearly 50 albums so far in his career, and so summarizing his impact is a bit of a challenge! Starting off with his involvement in the band Sui Generis (Latin: “of its own kind” i.e., unique) during the years 1969-1975, I want to mention the songs Botas Locas and Canción para mi muerte, which describe his experience in the army after being drafted. García more or less faked insanity and health problems to get kicked out of the military, as he considered the service unethical (and has been known for his somewhat erratic behavior his entire life) [3]. Some of his songs were censored, and he later became known for writing subversive songs that could escape censorship, famously Los Dinosaurios--the implication here being that certain politicians were “dinosaurs” who would one day disappear. During his Serú Girán era (1978-1982), he wrote some really interesting songs like José Mercado, which speaks directly to the increase in consumer goods available in the ‘80s, and one of my favorite songs, Viernes, 3am, which is a beautiful, haunting song about suicide. During his career as a soloist, his style has varied tremendously, but I would be remiss to not mention the album Clics Modernos (1983), which is where I feel like people should start when getting into this tremendously influential artist. 

*Pappo and Manal are also extremely influential during this time. 

What happens in the 1980s is a complete explosion of rock en español and the first time it is really shown to be commercially viable and exportable on a large scale. And a lot of that is due to the influence of Soda Stereo. 

4. Soda Stereo & Gustavo Cerati. I need to explain that even despite the success and influence of bands in the ‘60s and ‘70s, that rock music in Spanish was still somewhat seen as of “lesser quality” than the British Invasion bands, and that many Latin Americans listened to music in English, regardless of whether or not they understood the lyrics. However, something happened in 1982: Argentina went to war with the United Kingdom (Falklands War). During this time, English language music was actually banned from being played on the radio, and for the first time, Spanish-language bands got enough airtime to really compete and gain a following [5]. In 1983, Argentina elected Raúl Alfonsín, effectively ending the military dictatorship. Soda actually released their first album in 1984, capitalizing on and quickly dominating this emerging market for Spanish-language rock. Soda is remembered for more of a pop-rock sound and for creating great hooks, as well as for creating a massive fan base--take a look at this version of Nada Personal from 1987 and the size of the crowd--this is a real turning point for rock en español. These bands spread to the rest of Latin America and inspired the conception of many more.  

Soda had 7 studio albums and numerous hits. The songs everyone knows are Persiana Americana, De Música Ligera, Nada Personal, and En la Ciudad de la Furia. Many people remember them for their danceable rhythms and frivolous lyrics, but I think that’s oversimplifying them a bit too much. They are typically seen as apolitical but they are not entirely--their first album features a fun song, Diatético, which is ostensibly about dieting--and contains the shouts El regimen se acabó! Se acabó! -- a clever pun on the Spanish word for diet (regimen) and (military) regime. What Soda does in their first albums is essentially “celebrate” this newfound freedom with feel-good, romantic, “fun” music, which in a way was inaccessible during the dictatorship, and a sharp contrast to the more melancholy music of the ‘60s and 70s. However some of their later albums have very different feels, and Dynamo (1992) in particular still stands out to me as a very progressive, unique album. 

Cerati went on to produce five solo albums before his death in 2014, the most essential of which is undoubtedly Bocanada (1999). This is a beautiful, complex album that (in my mind, anyway) has no rivals. And I am not the only one who thinks so [6]!     

In the 1990s and 2000s, rock en español in Argentina (and everywhere else) begins to multiply and take on a number of sub-genres (punk, alternative, indie, grunge...). 

I don’t have the space to explore all of these artists, but I will mention a few that are popular. Personally I am fond of Bersuit Vergarabat, who are difficult to classify genre-wise, but try the song Sencillamente. Los Piojos are quite popular, and everyone knows El Matador by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. Babasónicos is also very well known, and I do love Carismático. 

5. Fito Páez. Páez is the last artist I will mention here, and has achieved pretty significant popularity in the ‘90s and 2000s. He’s won five Latin Grammys, and to me is more pop than rock, but everyone loves 11 y 6 (1985) and Mariposa Teknicolor (1994). Cerati, Páez, and García did some collaborative work in the late ‘90s, which is actually pretty cool. 

Okay, I think that’s enough for an introduction. There’s a lot more music out there to be explored, but this should give you guys a good basis. Let me know if you end up liking these artists! Music has been an incredibly helpful way to learn both languages and history for me, and I think you’ll find the same. Suerte!  

[travelonlinetipsofficial]

Late Night: Restaurants in Hong Kong

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Late Night: Restaurants in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is pretty much a 24-hour city, and it’s rare not to be able to get a bite to eat at any time of the day or night.

Pretty much whatever you feel like eating will be available somewhere in the small hours, as the city’s restaurateurs have worked out there is a substantial market for late-night bites. Pride of place goes to The Flying Pan, which is open all day (and night), every day, every day of the year. Asian eateries figure largely, with Edition, a Korean gastro pub heading the new wave. And of course there’s always some great Hong Kong home-grown establishments, such as Under Bridge Spicy Crab, which started out as a humble stall and has since grown into three pukka restaurants.

What Hong Kong could really do with is a proper food truck scheme – however a pilot scheme launched in 2017 has yet to get off the ground.

Photo courtesy of Ho Sing

It may call itself a coffee shop, and it may be called Ho Sing, but anyone who is anyone calls it Andy’s, and while they may come here for a coffee, the real draw is the fried rice, which is not only filling and flavorful but also astonishingly cheap – a mere HK$46 for a plate. Quite a few of Hong Kong’s hardened party animals keep HK$50 in their sock so they have enough money for a feed at the end of the evening. Truth to tell, Andy doesn’t open till 4am, although you might find one or two famished revelers banging on the shutters before then.

Recommended for Late Night because: Cheap eats deserve some recognition, and this is a great spot to conclude a night on the town.

Ed’s expert tip: Of course, this is very much a workaday eatery, so don’t expect anything too fancy.

Read more about Ho Sing Coffee Shop →

Photo courtesy of Sun Hing

Sun Hing is on Smithfield Road, which was named after the former meat market in London. In days gone by there was an abattoir in this part of town too, and when the workers knocked off they were more than ready for a meal. Recalling those times, Sun Hing doesn’t open till 3 am, when it rolls out vast quantities of dim sum. The custard buns have their own fan club, and there’s usually a roar of appreciation when they emerge from the kitchen. More than a few party animals have insisted that staying up for half the night is more than worth it if you can end up at Sun Hing.

Recommended for Late Night because: Open in the middle of the night, closing at teatime: Sun Hing is almost in a parallel universe.

Ed’s expert tip: Lines start forming outside from about 2.30am onward.

Read more about Sun Hing →

Photo courtesy of Ichiran

Here’s oodles of noodles, and then some. You can argue about whether Marco Polo supplied the recipe to the Chinese or brought it back to Italy with him: at the end of the day a bowl of noodles doesn’t so much hit the spot as score an eternal bulls-eye. There are two branches of Ichiran (the second is in Tsim Sha Tsui) and both are open 24 hours a day, catering to workers coming off shift at odd hours, insomniacs, jet-lagged travelers, and late-night revelers whose tums are crying out for sustenance. However you like your noodles, whether it’s thick or thin, spicy or plain, Ichiran is happy to fall in with your wishes. And, as a note about table manners, it’s perfectly acceptable to slurp in these parts.

Recommended for Late Night because: Open 24 hours a day, on both sides of the harbor, Ichiran is a must-include!

Ed’s expert tip: If you like spice but are not used to Hong Kong’s version, it’s best to hold back on the chili, as it can be very strong.

Read more about Ichiran →

Photo courtesy of The Flying Pan

Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, Eggs Maharajah, Eggs Oscar, Eggs Norwegian, Eggs Nantucket … you get the idea. Just about every breakfast combo is up for grabs here, in significant portions in relaxing surrounds. They serve alcohol, there’s a kids’ menu, they roll out special stuff at teatime: basically, whatever the time of day, and pretty much whatever you feel like eating, they’ve got it covered. There’s a second branch in Wan Chai, which is practically a carbon copy. The clientele is largely expat, often trying to recover from a fairly large celebration the previous night. All in all, this is a very cheery and hearty eatery.

Recommended for Late Night because: The Flying Pan (good pun, huh?) is a Hong Kong institution, and deservedly so.

Ed’s expert tip: Whatever the time, you’re never too late (or early) for breakfast, or any other meal here. In other words, it’s open 24/7.

Read more about The Flying Pan →

Photo courtesy of Burger Circus

As might well be expected, what you get here is freshly ground burgers, together with fries and sides which are complemented by a selection of house-made milkshakes, sodas and classic cocktails suitable for any time of day. Burger Circus, known as BC to its regulars, is housed in a playful and inviting train carriage-themed dining room which pays homage to the original late-19th century American diners, which were operated out of abandoned railway cars. BC opens at lunchtime, but comes into its own at weekends when it stays open till the wee hours. Many customers pitch up here for what’s jocularly referred to as DinFast, a cross between dinner and breakfast, after a night out drinking and dancing in SoHo or one of the city’s other mainstream party zones.

Recommended for Late Night because: It’s difficult to fault this eatery: everything seems just right, and that includes how they cook their burgers!

Ed’s expert tip: Burger Circus’ Spiked Shakes, incorporating your favorite cocktail, are in a league of their own.

Read more about Burger Circus →

Photo courtesy of Stockton

As the adverts for cruise lines used to say: getting there is half the fun. Tucked up a little alleyway off Wyndham Street, Stockton is a hidden late-night gem. The menu is pretty tempting: think roast beef sandwiches, black truffle risotto balls, and chorizo Scotch eggs, all delivered in very “olde-worlde” surrounds, with low lighting, antiques, and tables tucked away in nooks and crannies. The music can be a little loud, so perhaps this is the joint you come to when you want to party on, rather than wind down at the end of a long evening. Either way, it’s very enjoyable.

Recommended for Late Night because: Well done Stockton for thinking not just out of the box, but miles away from it. This is a Hong Kong original.

Ed’s expert tip: If it’s food you’re after, the kitchen closes not long after midnight.

Read more about Stockton →

Photo courtesy of Edition

If the words Korean, Fusion and Gastropub seem like a bit of a mixture, you’d be right. But it’s a great mixture. Settle in, and let your wildest culinary meanderings take you for a ride. Kimchi fries are nothing if not revolutionary, likewise a bulgogi slider.A bibim steak sandwich is a treat in itself, and the same can be said for pork belly lollipops and seared scallops with citron. Late at night, when you and your taste buds feel like a bit of a challenge, easing into this edgy establishment is just what the (dietary) doctor ordered. And naturally soju backs up the list of beer, wine and cocktails.

Recommended for Late Night because: This is one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive places to dine, atop one of its most distinctive skyscrapers.

Ed’s expert tip: Soju packs a bit of a kick, so go easy if you are not used to this hefty Korean liquor.

Read more about Edition →

Photo courtesy of Tokyolima

TokyoLima dishes up Nikkei cuisine in the atmosphere of a buzzing izakaya, Japan’s answer to a British pub. Embracing a casual approach, Peruvian Chef Arturo puts together a menu that balances the heat of Peru with the delicate flavors of Japan. Dating back for more than a century, Nikkei cuisine originates from Peru’s Japanese population and is best described as the melding of both cultures.So you get Japan’s love for fresh seafood and fresh, delicate flavors plus the punchy heat and colorful zest of Peru. There’s something to discover on the drinks menu too. As well as 20 different sakes, the cocktails infuse South American and Japanese ingredients with daring combinations and intriguing flavors.

Recommended for Late Night because: Rather than just somewhere to fill your face, this is a stylish restaurant with a menu well worth pondering.

Ed’s expert tip: Lyndhurst Terrace is just near the Central-Mid Levels Escalator, which is handy if you are headed uphill.

Read more about Tokyolima →

Photo courtesy of Under The Bridge Spicy Crab

There are more than a dozen different seafood dishes at this restaurant, but a plate of fragrant and tongue-numbing crab is what everybody lines up for. Crabs from Vietnam and Canada, averaging 2.5 kilograms in size, are wok-fried with bright-red chili, spring onion and enough garlic to cover every inch of the crustacean. The spice meter is high at this formerly under-a-bridge dai pai dong, but fortunately you can choose from among five tiers of spiciness. There is a belief that eating crab can ward off hangovers – whether or not that is true, the late-night atmosphere here is thoroughly invigorating.

Recommended for Late Night because: What started out as a tiny stall is now a thriving part of Wanchai’s food and beverage scene, and a slice of heritage to boot.

Ed’s expert tip: There are three branches of this humming little eatery, all within walking distance of each other.

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Photo courtesy of Ciao Chow

Ciao Chow: geddit? Serving top Italian food in China’s most famous port city, CC has been a roaring success since the day it opened. At ground zero Lan Kwai Fong, there are few surprises here and a lot of solid, tasty comfort food. Think pasta, think pizza, think filling up on something chewable after too many hours ingesting liquids of an alcoholic nature. There are also chicken, chops and other more robust options, and should that sugar craving strike after midnight, tuck in to custard pudding, chocolate tart and all their sweet cousins. You’ll find Ciao Chow is as popular at night as it is in the daytime.

Recommended for Late Night because: Ciao Chow has been a hit from the day it opened, thanks largely to its fun atmosphere and bright open kitchen.

Ed’s expert tip: The three-step Create Your Own Pizza (base, cheese, topping) is as much fun as it sounds, and tastes.

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Arplis - News: If rainbows and happiness came in packages, I’m pretty sure they would be in the form of a Christmas basket

They’re a great way to spread joy and one of the best ways to let someone know you care! Whether it’s for your better half, your boss or the old lady at the supermarket who always greets you with a smile on her face, this basket is like giving a compassionate part of yourself to the other person. And isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Spreading joy, making memories, showing your loving personality with others…..being a good Samaritan! Use these awesome ideas to make some really memorable, fun, and decorative Christmas baskets. Who said Christmas was only decorations and stuffing yourself with food? These baskets are easy to create, and will definitely make that special person’s day! Read on to find out how to gift people physical bundles of joy. 1. You Scream, We Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream! Credit: Onegoodthingbyjillee Who said ice cream was just for the summer holidays? In my opinion, ice cream can be eaten at any time of the day. It’s the perfect treat on any day, whether you’re going through a breakup, casually rummaging through the fridge, or want to gift someone a delicious flavor! Plus it covers the three most important food groups: sugar, dairy, and happiness. This DIY basket includes cones, chocolate syrup, sprinkles and other fun toppings like marsh mellows and nuts.  What’s not to love about a basket with all the makings of ice cream? Plus it’s a great way to propose, so if you fellas out there are running out of ideas, ice cream, without a doubt is the way to a woman’s heart. 2. The Cooker Basket Credit: Theglitterguide Want to gift somebody a cute and functional basket? This thoughtful cooker basket will give your special someone an advantage over the Christmas feast! Complete the gift with a cookbook, some rare wine, and some custom napkins. It adds a bit of elegance to this already thoughtful gift. You’ll have moms eating out of your hand for a year after gifting them this unique basket. Until next Christmas when you have to top your own gift! 3. C-O-F-F-E-E Basket Credit: Thetomkatstudio Can I get an Amen for my coffee lovers out there? Do I have your attention? There’s no doubt coffee is pretty much as addictive as Marvel movies. This coffee basket will definitely entertain a crowd, and is perfect for the holiday season festivities. Fill it with your favorite apple cinnamon, blueberry or warm banana nut muffins, as well as your favorite coffee beans, and mugs. This will warm your guests’ hearts in no time, making the holidays a lot more fun and filled with the taste of coffee of course. What’s Christmas without family time on the couch, a Christmas movie playing on TV, and a hot drink on hand? 4. Sweet and Savory Basket Credit: CountryLiving There’s no doubt that the contents of this basket will be gobbled up in about 5 minutes. The cause of this wonderful catastrophe? The rustic and visually pleasing cast-iron skillet that literally every woman wants in her household. It’s rustic, multi-functional and makes everything taste good. Basically, the Iron Man of kitchen tools. Cook up a sweet and savory breakfast, with cute things like pie in the skillet, a jar of peach jam, and of course, some butter! No rustic meal is complete without butter! Calories be damned. 5. Easy Paper Plate Basket For Muffins Credit: its always autumn This really cute DIY muffin paper plate basket replaces the need for huge wooden baskets. Plus, you don’t have to run out to your local craft store. Use paper plates to make the basket, wrap a ribbon around it and call it a day. It’s the thought that counts! 6. Banana Bread, Honey Butter Credit: JennySteffens Did the title banana bread catch your eye? You’re not the only one! I’m a huge sucker for Banana nut bread. It’s a snack that gives you a warm feeling down to your toes, and can turn any rotten day much better. Banana bread and honey butter? Forget it, I’m set for life. I’m not leaving the couch anytime soon. 7. Sweet Tooth Basket Credit: Prettyhandygirl If you’re the type of person who adds sugar to normal food, because the level of sweetness ain’t cutting it, this basket is perfect! Gift someone with a sweet tooth this basket, as a gesture of appreciation for the sweeter things in life. OK, that pun was kind of intended.  Fill it with caramel popcorn, chocolate kisses, filled truffles, and peppermints! Just in time for the holidays as well! 8. Elegant Popcorn Basket Credit: CountryLiving Can you hear the sleigh bells of Santa’s sleigh? No? Sorry guys, that’s just the popcorn popping! For popcorn maniacs like me where the butter has to be layered, and eating popcorn is an experience and not just a snack, this basket is delightful! It’s a crunchy surprise for the receiver, so go all out with the whole shebang. Include your favorite kernels, along with some cute Christmas greeting cards to really bring the festive mood. 9. Pop and Lock Credit: Lilluna Don’t recycle those soda pop bottles or old beer bottles! Wash them out, take out the labels and replace them with cute Christmas stickers, or personalized messages that can be stuck as labels on the bottles. Fill the bottles with types of candy, peppermints or whatever floats your boat. It’s a wonderful gift, and is perfect for families that are traveling or constantly on the go! 10. Spa Day at Home Credit: Thediymommy Perfect gift basket for any mom you know. There’s no such thing as a “deserving mom”. They’re all beyond comparison! Fill this basket up with spa goodies like soft hand towels, aromatic bath salts, refreshing face masks, and of course, a bunch of candles. Plus a few chocolates or goodies. Because why not? 11. The Ultimate Basket for Fathers Credit: Forcreativejuice Is your dad one of those people who can’t resist showing off on the grill? And insists grilling everything to show off his superior skills before realizing not every food item can be grilled? Like eggs. This gift is excellent for over-enthusiastic grilling fathers. This basket includes barbecue sauce, seasonings, and other items to fix up a grill! 12. Pedicure Gift Basket Credit: Laura’scraftylife This is honestly so cute, I’m pretty sure any woman on the planet in her right mind would love it! Not sure what to get your mom for Christmas, and want something sentimental but inexpensive? This will work in your favor. Especially if your mom just yelled at you for the 5th time for not cleaning your room, and you’re trying to get on her good side. Trust me, this pedicure “gift basket” will definitely let you off the hook for a week. No chores for a week? Yes please! 13. Peppermint Soap Basket Credit: apumpkinandaprincess If this doesn’t scream Christmas themed, nothing else will! Peppermint is pretty much the epitome of Christmas spirit. I mean, if there isn’t at least one candy cane or some peppermint candy somewhere in the house, it’s a crime against Christmas. Scrooge would be proud. This peppermint soap basket encompasses the spirit of Christmas. And peppermint. 14. Cupcakes anyone? Credit: Notoygifts I say cupcake, you say hell yes! Which kid doesn’t love cupcakes? Create this cupcake kit basket for those crazy kids running around the house. Because the sugar will definitely make them infinitely more energetic, so they won’t resemble children anymore. Just sugar hyped bouncing balls. This baking kit is affordable, comes with a few cupcake wrappers and one or two tools to help whip up some fluffy cupcakes. How cute is that? 15. Calling all Potter Heads Credit: kookinwithkimberly Know somebody who’s obsessed with Harry Potter? Are they also suffering from Harry Potter withdrawal since there aren’t any more books to read? We’re in the same boat. This gift will lift their spirits and stop the withdrawal symptoms. You know, like when they say Alohomora before realizing they require physical keys to open a door? Been there, done that. 16. The Sweetheart Box Credit: Momsandmunchkins This type of “basket” is great to give another couple, or your other half to relive all those nostalgic, memorable moments. Fill it to the brim with sweet treats like candy, chocolate, popcorn and of course a F.R.I.E.N.D.S. box set. If you’re really feeling fancy, add in a set of PJ’s to top off the sleepover vibe. If you’re giving it to your better half, add in a few cute love notes, because why not? You’re never too old for showing off how cheesy you are. 17. Candy Fever Credit: Hometalk Candy, quite honestly, is like a fever you can’t shake. Tootsie pops, starburst, skittles, oh the candy I could name and salivate over. Gift this unique and visually appealing basket to a fellow candy lover and watch their eyes literally light up.  I would probably grab this basket from them before they even handed it to me! Because, hello! Candy!! 18. Fancy a cuppa? Credit: DIYnetwork Of course, no one can do tea like the British. I mean, American tea is kind of the knockoff version of the traditional tea if I do say so myself. Gift this elegant tea basket to a fellow tea lover. Fill it with items like biscuits, butter, jam, a kettle, and of course tea powder. Add a tea towel for a simple, yet decorative touch. Nothing says Merry Christmas more than a red and white towel! 19. Bend It Like Beckham Credit: Giftbaskets4kids Honestly, it’s times like this where I really appreciate how much though moms put into gift baskets like this. Include a tiny soccer ball, a whistle, a soccer-themed watch, and other cute soccer themed toys to really get your kid in the mood. This is also perfect to give out in batches, especially during the holidays for your kid’s soccer team! #Soccer Moms are the most creative 20. An Overload of Chocolate Credit: Allthingstarget I’m pretty sure you started paying attention after I said chocolate. I know I can’t outdo Joey Tribbiani in terms of how much I can eat, but I can certainly try to outdo him in how much chocolate I stuff into my mouth! Why go for a bar of chocolate when you can curl up on the sofa with a nice cup of hot chocolate? Gift this to a friend or loved one, and have no qualms about them liking it or not. There’s nobody on the planet who doesn’t like hot chocolate. Yes, I’m also including the coffee lovers here! 21. Italian Dinner for Two Credit: DIYnetwork When I was little, I always wanted to take a bath in spaghetti. Then again, I wasn’t the brightest. Because I also wanted to go round and round in the washing machine. Was anyone else as weird as me? No? Wonderful. After a long day of holiday shopping, making dinner seems like a monumental task. This is one basket you can gift yourself and your neighbor, especially before the Christmas Eve/Day hustle involving long hours in the kitchen to prepare a feast. Include some rich marinara sauce, your favorite type of pasta, some classic Mozzarella, and of course….wine! 22. Christmas Morning Gift Credit: Anightowlblog I mean sure, it’s great to get presents from under the tree. But when someone delivers a basket full of goodies to your doorstep on Christmas morning, you’re basically guaranteed to have a good day. To quote Forrest Gump “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” 23. Shades of Candles Credit: Insidethefoxden Candles are my second favorite thing to smell, the first thing being my mom’s fabulous incomparable cooking. Include warm flavors like pumpkin spice and cinnamon apple. Pair these with refreshing scents of Christmas like peppermint bark and holly. 24. Cookie Basket Credit: Thetomkatstudio Whenever I watched Sesame Street, Cookie Monster was my idol. Seriously! Cure your friend’s winter blues with some freshly baked cookies and some cute, thought felt notes. 25. Winter Survival Kit Credit: Onegoodthingbyjillee Are you worrying about your kid at college, or your best friend who often forgets to take care of herself during the wintertime? Send her a mason jar of lip balm, moisturizer, tissues, coffee packets and notes telling her how much you care and how proud you are! 26. Natural Beauty Basket Credit: Helloglow Pamper that special someone with products that will enhance their natural beauty like moisturizer, towels, and face cream. A perfect gift basket! 27. The “Guy” Basket Credit: Onegoodthingbyjillee The perfect gift for your foodie friend! Stuff some of their favorite junk into a mason jar, and watch them eat everything except the jar. 28. The Burger Romance Credit: Ithinkwecouldbefriends Who said romance only had to involve cuddling, chocolate, cheesy movies, and wine? Gift your man with all the makings of a burger, and have the most memorable date night ever! Include all the condiments of course. This really gives meaning to “the way to his heart is through his stomach!” 29. Calling All The Marvel Fans Credit: Storenvy After Endgame, I can sincerely say that I’m suffering from a serious Marvel withdrawal. I mean, there’s only so much emotion one human can take. First Iron Man, then Black Widow? Gift your fellow Marvel crazed friend this basket to cure them of the Marvel bug. 30. Movie Night With a Kick Credit: Ithinkwecouldbefriends Uninterrupted. What an amazing word. When I have movie nights, I want everything around me, including food and drinks and company so I don’t have to get up at all! Perfect for date night, include a box set, your favorite snacks and some wine to top it off. 31. Orange You Glad That Christmas Exists? Credit: Onegoodthingbyjillee Forgive the pun, I was having an annoying orange moment. Fill up a mason jar with orange chewing gum, candies and soda, and gift this unique basket to someone special. Especially if they love orange. The sky is the limit! 32. Classic Wine and Cheese Credit: Ithinkwecouldbefriends Trying to impress a fellow colleague or teacher? Show off your wine and cheese expertise with a collection of goodies in one basket. Throw in some fresh loaves of bread to really show you care. And to show off your bread expertise too. 33. Taco Kit Credit: darlingdoodlesdesign There are days you wake up and want tacos. Then there are other days where you wake up and realize you don’t just want one, you’ll die for one. Cure those Taco Tuesday cravings with a friend, by making a basket with all the makings of a taco. With a cute label on the basket-like  “Inhale tacos. Exhale negativity.” 34. Baby Basket Credit: Fantabulosity This basket is filled with awesome baby essentials to get you through those long long nights. Perfect gift for someone who just had a new baby. 35. Happy Housewarming! Credit: Tastysouthernchic As if you don’t already have something to celebrate, gifting someone this basket will make the house more….warm. OK, bad pun. But still, welcome your neighbors with a cute basket of towels, wine, and a small plant to welcome them. 36. The Frozen Basket Credit: Makelifelovely Include Elsa themed toys, some mints, and of course the Frozen DVD. This will make your kids excited to the point where they’ll start naming every snowball Olaf. If they don’t already. 37. The Book Lover Basket Credit: Woodsofbelltrees As a fellow book nerd and lover, this basket is seriously my dream basket as is the case with many other book lovers! Make a gift basket for your fellow book lover with a few novels, a blanket and of course some chocolate. 38. The Guest Basket Credit: Happygoluckyblog Although it’s always wonderful to have guests over during Christmas, it’s a little difficult to find personalized, meaningful gifts for them. Make this basket epic by including some cute water bottles, toothbrushes and of course some extra goodies like cookies and chocolate! 39. It’s Snowing Way Too Much! Credit: Thediymommy Make these baskets for those “snow day survival” days. Like when it’s so cold outside you wonder if you’ve suddenly moved to Antarctica. If you look out the window, you might see a penguin or two. This basket will help whomever you gift it too, with thoughtful items like cookies, hot chocolate packets, a blanket and lots of other goodies. The sky is the limit until the basket gets full! All in all, Christmas baskets aren’t that difficult to create. Whether it’s for your other half, a friend or a neighbor, spread a little joy with baskets made of thoughtful simple items. Watch the Christmas spirit really manifest! If you found the post helpful, then do share the post! The post 39 Fabulous DIY Christmas Gift Baskets appeared first on OffbeatBros. #Christmas

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