#just dial up his genuine affection for the world to an extreme and make it tinged with Scientific Interest

[braisedhoney]

fighting back? against who? they're so happy—they've been waiting for you.

you are wonderful. don't you know that?

bonus: they play sims together :)

[southeastasianists]

Editor’s note: The following is a guest piece authored by LGBT+ advocacy group Heckin Unicorn on so-called conversion therapy in Singapore. It was not produced by Coconuts Singapore.

Sam embarked on a journey of self-discovery in his 20s. He had been through many abusive relationships, and for reasons he couldn’t quite grasp, he’d always felt that something was missing in his life. Sam wanted to get in tune with his emotions. He wanted to heal.

At 26, Sam flew to Japan to attend a spiritual workshop. The workshop’s exercise was simple, but intense: attendees were paired up, and for 3 hours, each pair had to stare meditatively into each other’s eyes. The poetic beauty in this exercise wasn’t lost to him: staring into the windows of another’s soul would help him get in touch with his own.

Yet for hours, nothing happened.

Then his sensei came over and gently touched his chest, or what spiritual practitioners called the “heart space”. And in a single stroke, Sam’s inner soul broke loose with an explosive force. He started shrieking — so uncontrollably, in fact, that he had to be restrained by several workshop attendees. Anguish, anger, and confusion raced through his mind. It was an excruciating 30 minutes of raw physical reaction, as if years of emotions ripped through his body. Yet it was nothing compared to what was about to hit him in the months to come.

Because in that moment, something clicked into place. Sam suddenly recalled that he was a victim of “conversion therapy” over a decade ago. He finally understood why he’d always felt that something was missing, and why he felt so strongly that he had to heal himself. Deeply repressed and harrowing memories came rushing back like an avalanche.

Sam fought to stay alive over the next 3 months. He suffered from hallucinations, and would cry inconsolably for days on end. He would vomit uncontrollably. His body burned in pain. He wanted to end the suffering. He wanted to end his life. But in between the painful outbreaks, Sam found the strength to fight for his survival. He knew that to live, he had to find out more about what had happened to him. He began researching extensively about “conversion therapy”, and the more he researched, the more he recalled the lost years of his adolescence.

Slowly, his memories fell into place.

Sam went through a lot at a young age. He learnt that he was gay while going through puberty. And through interactions with his closest family members, he learned that it was something he needed to get rid of.

When he came out to his mum at 13, she told him that she expects a grand funeral when she dies. It was her cold, indirect way of telling him that she expects him to bear children and grandchildren for her. When Sam turned to his aunt, she called him derogatory names and told him that people will not accept him if he continues to be gay. The message from his family was clear: turn straight, or else.

So at 15, Sam scoured the internet for answers about his sexuality. In the age of dial-up internet, genuine LGBTQ+ content was hard to come by. The information that he found about STDs scared him — HIV was still called the “gay virus” back then. Sam started getting desperate. He needed to find a way to turn straight.

And then he found a solution — or so he thought.

Sam began attending a “conversion therapy” programme offered by a local church when he was 15. It marketed itself as a counselling service that could help people who were “struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction”, and sounded exactly like what Sam was looking for. Even though he only signed up for their counselling services, he felt compelled to attend their church services as the years went by. His family never knew that he was participating in “conversion therapy” sessions; they were more concerned that he was converting from Taoism to Christianity.

Perhaps the scariest part about the “conversion therapy” programme was how, to 15-year-old Sam, it just felt right. Sam’s 1-on-1 sessions with his counsellor felt like normal counselling sessions. Sure, scripture was quoted a lot in their hour-long sessions, but to Sam — and anyone who desperately wanted to turn straight, for that matter — everything seemed to make sense. Because in a world full of rejection, the programme claimed to provide all the answers.

Sam’s memories about his counselling sessions are hazy, but their core message remains clear in his mind: you’ll go to hell if you’re gay. It was a powerful and terrifying message, and it fueled Sam’s desire to continue with the programme. He didn’t know back then that his sexual desires were innate and perfectly normal, so he confided his feelings with his counsellor and followed everything he was instructed to do. For a long time, everything he heard in his counselling sessions made him feel like turning straight was a real possibility.

Celibacy was a strong mandate of the “conversion therapy” programme. Sam’s counsellor told him many times that he would go to hell unless he stopped masturbating. He told Sam that it was wrong and sinful to have sexual desires. And as an impressionable teenager going through the peak of puberty, Sam absorbed and believed everything his counsellor told him.

Throughout his 4 years in the programme, Sam suppressed his desires and took things to the extreme. He would hold tightly onto his bed frame every night before going to bed to prevent himself from touching his body. It was a physically and mentally exhausting exercise, but Sam managed to push through every night for 6 consecutive months before he succumbed to his desires. He wouldn’t know this until years later, but this extreme psychological conditioning left him with a debilitating inability to touch himself.

In one church session, the pastor discouraged churchgoers from listening to secular music. Only Christian music should be allowed in their lives, the pastor declared. The next week, Sam brought his entire music CD collection to church, and watched it being burnt and destroyed. Sam was so enthralled by the programme’s promises that no physical coercion was required to get him to engage in such extreme activities. To him, listening to everything they say was the only way to not end up in hell.

There were a few reasons that ultimately made Sam leave the programme after 4 years. First of all, nothing worked. Sam knew that he was still gay, and that all he managed to do was to suppress his innate desires and convince himself that he isn’t worthy of love. He was also harassed by a cell group leader, but nothing seemed to be done about it after he raised this up to the church leadership. And in an attempt to negotiate some joy back into his life, Sam asked a church friend if God would accept him if he were to be in a loving gay relationship, but abstained from sex for life. The answer: an unequivocal no.

When Sam left the programme at 19, he wasn’t a changed man — he was broken. He left not because he realised that their teachings harmed his mental health, but because after 4 years of trying, he has resigned to his fate of going to hell.

Sam turns 38 this year. And in the last decade or so, he’s been to hell and back.

After spending thousands of dollars in medical scans, Sam was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In simple terms, he experiences chronic physical pain induced by his extreme psychological trauma (side note: psychological trauma isn’t the only factor that could induce symptoms of fibromyalgia). These painful outbreaks aren’t just unpredictable, but also incurable. His chest would tighten and he would gasp for air; his face would twitch suddenly and uncontrollably; he would suffer from the inability to speak; he is often fatigued and would suffer from migraines.

Sam also faced considerable financial challenges over the last couple of decades. There were months when Sam was unable to get out of bed. His inner demons would take control, and he would find himself once again fighting for his life. Because of this, Sam had been in and out of jobs. This, coupled with his expensive medical treatment and therapies, set his finances back considerably.

It would be nice if we could end Sam’s story on a positive note. But the truth is that even though Sam is a fierce survivor, his experience with “conversion therapy” still affects him decades after the sessions have ended. Sam isn’t ready to date yet, because he thinks that he carries too much emotional baggage for any relationship to work. He continues to face difficulties fully accepting his sexuality, even though he understands that there’s nothing wrong with being gay. And he continues to sleep with his arms wide apart, because physical contact still makes his body burn in pain.

Let this be clear: “conversion therapy” practices exist in Singapore. Many of these programmes continue to showcase “success” cases without acknowledging, or perhaps understanding, how “conversion therapy” can irreparably damage a person’s psychological and physical wellbeing.

According to the United Nations, any attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of “conversion therapy”. Many international psychiatric organisations have condemned “conversion therapy” practices because the medical consensus agrees that they not only don’t work, but could cause mental harm to participants (page 115). Taiwan has fully banned “conversion therapy” practices, while Germany has done so for minors. Other countries such as Canada, Israel, New Zealand, and the UK are considering legislation that would make them illegal.

Yet “conversion therapy” remains legal in Singapore. Many teenagers like Sam will continue to enrol in programmes that psychologically condition them to suppress their innate sexuality. Most of them would emerge from the programmes with their sexuality unchanged, but mental health deeply affected. Some of them will kill themselves.

[atlas-of-a-human-soul]

Saving Grayson {5}

Summary: Three weeks have passed since Grayson's last near death experience and Y/N finally takes her guardian angel duties seriously.

Warnings: fluff, angst

Saving Grayson Series Masterlist

She found herself immersed in her vision once more, right where the flames are seeking their next victim and Grayson was at their mercy.

"It's you." He turns again, his hand reaching for hers once more and while his fingers rubbing her knuckles eased some of the sadness inside, calming the panic, she bores her eyes into his, searching for an emotion alike fear.

Furrowing her eyebrows, she can't help but wonder why do his eyes convey everything but. If there is one emotion in particular he felt, it was love. Pure, unadulterated, deeply passionate love and for the first time since she met him, that didn't make her scoff nor did it frighten her.

Smiling despite the danger, her vision self nods fondly. "It's me."

She woke up with a loud gasp, her hands trembling and her feet still extremely warm. Running her hand through her hair, Y/N frowned at the sweat on her forehead.

"That's not sexy." She groaned, more so when she found Grayson gone.

It's been three weeks since she had decided he'd never leave her sight and they spent every waking moment together, even slept next to each other as Grayson agreed to stay around when she made up a story of being scared to sleep alone.

They both knew it was an excuse for him to stick around and while Grayson was wondering what secret she's hiding, he refused to ignore his best chance at earning her affection.

It certainly allowed them to discover the most intimate parts of their personalities. Y/N had noticed Grayson is a morning person, already chipper and his positivity rubbed off on her as well. While she wasn't so happy about his caffeine intake or botched dinner attempts, she loved the way he did everything with love, even if he failed.

"GRAY?" Y/N called out, hating how cold she suddenly feels, the lack of warmth his body usually provides making her shudder.

Checking her phone, she sighs instantly at the lone text she received.

Went to pick up some clothes, Ethan is out of town. Might take a while. Don't miss me too much while I'm gone. Xx

Jumping out of bed, she frantically dials his number, leaving it on speakerphone as she put on the first thing she could find which included his hoodie and her leggings. She could already see him smirking at her choice and oddly enough, she didn't mind the thought of it.

"Yo."

"Yo? Really?!" Letting out a relieved sigh, Y/N couldn't help but shake her head as her eyes filled with tears. For a moment there she was scared, genuinely scared about his safety. He could have been dead by then for all she knew and it was certain that he'd be the reason for her early grey hair.

"Didn't want to wake you. Did you see my text?" Smiling at his cluelessness, Y/N sits down, finally able to breathe. Rubbing her forehead, she stops herself from screaming at him unnecessarily. It's bot his fault, he doesn't know the dangers of them being apart.

"Yeah...Guess I just got used to waking up next to you. Sorry I freaked out." Chuckling, she gnawed on the inside of her cheek, waiting for him to speak. The silence has always been awkward, but never long. It's as if he knew it made her uncomfortable and made an effort to always fill the silence.

"If you want to, I can text you the address? Maybe we could stay for a few days, no one would bother us up here." His suggestion held a secret meaning, she could tell. While it was great spending so much time together, it was a subtle way of saying he was ready for something less platonic and her mother being around was better protection than condoms.

"Uh...sure."

It didn't take her long to get on the road, noticing the drive is almost half an hour from the city, in the middle of nowhere.

She didn't realize people lived in the woods so close to the mountains, but the more she thought about it, more it made sense. It fit his personality perfectly.

His adventurous spirit may drive her crazy but it demanded nature and it demanded space. She was happy he had a place that offered that.

However, driving up to the house had given her chills, the kind that run deeper than skin and bone, down to your soul.

"Gray?" She calls out, swallowing nervously, her eyes darting around to find him.

"Up here! There's a ladder!"

Her eyes widen as she realizes he's up on the roof, her fear of a new accident spiking and she's quick to get up there, shaking when her mind thinks about all the ways he'd get himself killed.

But that was the least of her problems. When she finally stands, taking a good look at the flat roof he's standing on, his back turned to her, Y/N pales as vision and reality blurs and it's impossible to misinterpret this - the roof, Grayson? This is where it happens.

"Holy shit." Her words force him to turn around just in time as her world goes black, her body dropping.

Tags: @dolansontheblock

[ranposlittle]

hi, can i have a matchup? :0 i’m pan and nb (they/them), 5’5, and i’m black with light pink dyed hair and dark brown eyes. i looove to cosplay, draw, sing and dance, and idols like in love live are my biggest inspiration and biggest dream! i work hard at what i care about, and i’m also super goofy! i’ve never cussed (but don’t mind it!), get flustered super easily and can’t flirt well, but i’m still a hopeless romantic! my mbti type is enfp! thank you so much! 💕💕

❴🐰❵┊ I ship you with ➸ . . .

────── 「 𝙾𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚞 · 𝙳𝚊𝚣𝚊𝚒 」 ──────

You're not even in a bar or any place where flirting usually takes place but still, here you are — in the middle of a cosplay convention — getting shamelessly hit on by a beautiful stranger. He doesn't seem intoxicated nor under the influence of any drugs. As a matter of fact, as the richness of your brown eyes gaze at his own, his eyes are clear and even... glimmering. You took notice of everyone's eyes being on you as the stranger (who later introduced himself as Dazai) kneels on one knee, hand in yours like an old school Romeo, and your face immediately heated up beyond the boiling point. You stuttered at your words but eventually was able to agree on his proposed date before a tall blond man dragged your strange suitor away, leaving you to stand in the middle of the wreckage of the situation he caused. The whole ordeal felt like a dream to you, except for the crumpled paper in your hand with the man's name and number jotted down.

Despite numerous days have already passed since the fateful day, it still never fail to make you extremely flustered whenever you're reminded of it: whether it be by the teasing of your friends who witnessed the whole thing take place or the times you look at the piece of paper and contemplate whether to call him or not. But a long weekend approached fast, you were getting tired of staring at your ceiling and waiting for any of your friends' invitation to hang out. After the evening settled in with no such luck, the clumsy way the numbers are scribbled kept appearing in your mind.

You've always been drawn to embracing new ideas and approach things with curiosity because the free spirited ENFP is born to explore. You're in constant search of things that rings true to you and will unhesitatingly work hard for it. This is a chance for you to connect with another soul, you thought. It could be nothing but you also thought about the possibility of all of this having a deeper meaning. You took a deep breath. Gathering your unshakable conviction, you started dialing the number and press the call button before you could even talk yourself out of it. The voice of your doubts became louder and louder with each ring that goes unanswered. He picked up on the fifth ring, and without any prior questions about you, the first words out of his mouth was: “I was waiting for you. You certainly took your sweet time, beautiful.”

He was a big flirt, that you have confirmed after going on just a few dates with him. So he's always successful in making you a blushing mess whenever you are together; in public or in private. And if you attempt to flirt back (as good as you could at least), he'll just tease you even more until your words run dry. You guessed that making you flustered must be his love language.

Despite his antics though, Dazai does have deep feelings for you, it just came through time. Whenever he's with you, there's always a genuine smile on his face, and he just has a lot of fun. You're quite spontaneous and was even successful to pull a few surprises for him, which he greatly appreciates. His day is instantly better when you come to the Agency unannounced, a lunch in hand for the two of you to share. Sometimes, you'll just ask him to dress up because you already have tickets for that movie he once told you about. Dazai can see your commitment to him in small but significant things that you do; the way you never forget to greet him good morning no matter where you are, all the “I saw this and it reminded me of you” moments, even the way your thumb would brush against his whenever your hands are intertwined– he can feel your love all around him. He stopped saying his usual tag line about wanting to go in the afterlife with you a long time ago, because now, he's starting to see the world through your eyes, and it looks like a world that he actually wants to keep existing in.

Overall, I chose Dazai to be your match because I think your relationship will be filled with so much fun but at the same time, with so much love. Your relationship will not be boring and you'll be able to give each other the personal freedom you require. There will also be a lot of opportunities for you two to experiment and experience new things together (even in the bedroom, if you'd like). I also think that Dazai will see you as the cutest person he's ever been with. Aside from the fact that you've never cursed, your height difference is perfect for him. The fashionable color of your hair also adds to your charm. Even other people will find you to be such an adorable couple, freely goofing around with each other. You'll get a lot of compliments with Dazai because he can see how much you appreciate them. A hopeless romantic like you would have a good time with a flirt like Dazai. He will shower you with his affection, in words and in actions, and you'll do the same for him. No one will have a doubt on your love because even a blind would be able to know that you're just head over heels for each other. Because of that, rest assured that Dazai will be your number one fan. He'll be there in every cosplay event, every gig, with a camera in hand and shamelessly cheering you on. He would even often joke about how you should hire him as your own personal bodyguard once you're all famous. You would just laugh it off, but he really is serious about it. Dazai supports you with each one of your dreams and it would be his greatest pleasure to be by your side through it all.

▮ ❝ Hello there, glyxiebear~ Sorry to keep you waiting for so long, but here's your matchup! I hope you like it and please know that I'm also rooting for you! Don't stop working on your dreams and please don't forget me once you're a star (*,,˃ ᵕ ˂ )✰*｡ hehe I'm also an aspiring musician and I know how tough it is, but let's keep going and eventually we'll get there 💗 Take care! ❞

[smuttymess]

bts astro soulmate reading | for ellen

sign: leo sun | aries moon | scorpio rising

lover: Park Jimin | soulmate: Kim Seokjin

This reading is for the beautiful, smart, lovely Ellen! I really had fun writing this one as I think this is truly a match made in heaven. Hope you enjoy too :)

Action-oriented, strong-willed and enthusiastic, Leo Suns are truly a force to behold. Add in a fiery Aries Moon and you've got yourself a powerhouse who will work tirelessly to achieve any goal they set their mind to - be it a seemingly impossible project at work or playing matchmaker to a notoriously picky bestie. A big-picture thinker, you live in the here and now, focusing less on fantasy and more on the expansive potential of your reality. Supported by your innate self-confidence that radiates from your soul, you are a naturally charming and strong leader, bringing people together and making beautiful things happen (see: events!) Scorpio is a curious sign as it has the intensity of fire, but all within the magnificent depths of water as its core element. While your Aries Moon and Leo Sun is a roaring fire that burns passionately and bright, your Scorpio rising - which dictates how you present yourself - often results in a cooler exterior, with an incredible emotional current flowing just beneath the surface. To those who first meet you, you are seemingly reserved and aloof - avoiding frivolity and small talk like the plague - preferring instead to simply listen, observe and absorb before revealing your true self. This is to your benefit, as your Leo/Aries combination often lends to bluntness, sharp words, and sometimes hurt feelings - the Scorpio rising dials that back a bit, making you more cautious with your language but also perhaps standoffish at times. Despite this occasionally ice exterior, you are very keen to connect with people on a deep, emotional level, and nobody knows this better than the people closest to you. While you have many friends and admirers, there are only a select few that get full access to your heart - and to them you are unfailingly loyal, warm, compassionate, reliable, and generous. Once your trust is earned, you are likely to give your all in your work, familial, and romantic relationships - your love is big, bold, and boundless. Unlike more passive, agreeable signs, you definitely expect equal love in return - Leo/Aries needs praise, recognition, and appreciation for all of your fabulousness, and like a true fire sign, you're not afraid to ask for it. A goal-setter, there is nothing you do in life that isn't deliberate or without meaning. Your desire is to leave an impact, making your mark on the world with your own fiery personal brand, and its likely that your influence already spans further than you realize.

A true connector and creator, you naturally seek ways of construction experiences that meet your expectations and exceptional taste levels - who better than you? Being a lover of fantasy and spectacle, nobody is surprised when you create a Studio 54-inspired pop-up party, wherein you show off your curves in your best 70s get up. Blissed out in a sea of glitter, sequins, and champagne, you are simply shining beneath the dazzling lights as disco floats through the air. The tone of the evening is simply fabulous, and surrounded by friends new and old you are truly in your element. You are unstoppable, the star of tonight's show, and the only thing that could make it better is a dance with the beautiful stranger sauntering around the club in his perfectly tailored bellbottoms and silky button down shirt like he owns the place. Wanting nothing but the best in your life, you are attuned to the fact that you want him, strategically positioning yourself in the middle of the dance floor as the music plays and meeting his eyes with an inviting stare. With ample confidence and mysterious aura in your arsenal, Park Jimin does not stand a chance once your sights are set, and it is not long before you two find yourselves immersed in each other's company under the flashing lights and the sheer electricity of the evening you've created. You tend to leave people wanting more, so you are not surprised to find the flirty Libra boy in your DMs the next morning. So, when is the next party?

Developing from a flirtatious friendship into something a bit more fun, Leo and Libra are an instant hit. This is a combination of fire and air, with Jimin acting as the wind beneath your sails as the easy, go-with-the-flow, partner in crime for all of your big schemes. Possessing an innate love of beauty, of fantasy, and romance, Jimin provides a level of optimism that your fantastical mind requires - he genuinely believes that there is nothing you cannot accomplish, helping your dreams along to become a reality. A Libra's extremely affable, adoring nature is like kryptonite to the romantic Leo who does not know the meaning of too much praise. It is no surprise when these two meet it is nothing short of a whirlwind relationship, with Jimin doting on your every wish without hesitation. The combination of Jimin's Libra Sun and Gemini Mercury makes him expertly aware of how to charm you, giving you exactly what you need at the right time. A true people-pleaser, you are delighted to find Jimin highly amenable to your emotions and desires, wanting nothing more than to ensure you are content. When you feel the genuine nature of this person that simply wants you to be happy - and unwavering loyalty of his Gemini moon - you are able to fully let down the walls posed by your more mysterious, reserved Scorpio rising that initially avoids vulnerability so soon. As Leo and Libra falls in love, there is an infinite level of romance and adoration. Suddenly, you find that you are in fact a hopeless romantic, loving being that sickening couple that sits next to each other in the corner of wine bars. He helps you slow down to access a more sensual side of your sign, your fingers intertwined underneath the table in a playful exchange while his hands graze your thigh despite. Jimin's Gemini Mercury allows for a bit of mystery and impulsivity, and there is something exciting to you about not knowing what you're going to get from him on any given day - while he can easily seduce you, is more than happy to let your more assertive Aries Moon take control when the mood strikes.

While Leo and Libra are typically quite compatible, there are some underlying issues presented by your charts. While you enjoy Jimin's free-flowing nature and desire to please, you become unsettled when this behavior is not just limited to you. His eagerness to please makes him quite susceptible to peer pressure, something that you simply cannot relate to with your heightened sense of independence. When he shows up late for date night, flushed and tipsy after a couple of extra rounds with the boys, you grow less amused by this side of his persona which you begin to see as inherently weak. Additionally, his moody, sensitive Moon in Gemini combined with a Venus in Scorpio makes him an especially possessive partner, not fully allowing you to be the social butterfly you are at your core and also requiring a level of affection and attention that you cannot always provide. When you feel that your needs are not being met to the level you expect, your Leo bluntness alongside the sting of your Scorpio rising are likely to hurt the softer Libra who is effectively allergic to criticism or discomfort in their personal and romantic lives, causing him to retreat. This only serves to exacerbate the problem, leading you to end the relationship on a swift and final note.

Always on the move and averse to any type of wallowing, Leo Sun/Aries Moons are constantly ideating, creating new ways to have fun and enjoy life to the fullest. You are truly the architect of your life, moving on your own terms which often leads you in the pursuit of food, travel, music or any other experience wherein you can connect on a sensory level with the world around you. Travel to another city for a concert? Consider tickets booked. Try a foreign cuisine completely unknown to you? Why not! Your friends are more than happy to go along for the ride, knowing that wherever you're going is where they want to be. You enjoy activities which showcase your profoundly adventurous, spirited nature. Independent and proud, you adore a challenge but not known for asking for help even when you need it say, during your first foray into rock climbing experience at a facility in the mountains. Despite your assuredness that you've got this (you don't!) it is when you're stuck midway through the advanced wall you insisted on climbing that a pair of big, strong hands are firmly grabbing the harness around your waist and steadily guiding you back down to earth. Before you can even process all that just occurred, your eyes widen at the sight of the gorgeous man in front of you shaking his head in disapproval. "You weren't listening to my instructions at all, were you?" His words are stern, but his eyes bright and lips pursed into a smile as he senses your competitiveness. In true Leo form you're soon able to charm your way out of what potentially could have been a lawsuit, enjoying taking to the smoke show who reintroduces himself as Kim Seokjin before explaining the basics you so diligently ignored. Impressed, you remain composed despite the incredible visual of Jin swiftly scaling the wall with ease. Like this, see? Our Sagittarius Jin is not always extroverted, but certainly has the confidence to ask for what he wants, and it's not long before he's proposing a 1:1 lesson in the very near future. Your Scorpio rising knows to play it cool but also when to seize an opportunity, and undoubtedly this one is too good to pass up.

This is a duo that may play a few games in the early phases of dating, but one ignited there is no extinguishing this spark.  Jin's Sagittarius Sun is an ideal match for your Leo Sun as you share a warm, good-natured aura that you exude in every area of your life - its one of your signature qualities that you find most attractive in yourself and others. While there is a lot of ego in this pairing - both of you aware of your individual greatness but also in each others - you find a true partner matching your profound level of adventure, curiosity, and genuine experiences. This manifests itself in somewhat of a condensed dating phase, equipped with elaborate dates wherein the sky truly is the limit. Such a fiery countless hours together bonding over both new and shared interests - think skiing in Aspen, racing on a closed-course, a food tour of Rome - allowing them to show off their own skills while igniting their competitive fire while learning something new. Initially there is likely to be more of an investment in fun than an emotional commitment - a Sagittarius's specialty - and were it not for your other placements this could easily dissolve into a longstanding friends-with-benefits or fun summer fling. Luckily, your compatibility is deepened exponentially by several specific pairings that overlap and compliment each other. Two Moons in Aries are equally ambitious, fair, independent and honest, and you both take pride in this character trait that you are so appreciated for and allows you to be extremely successful in work and your social circles. Once you begin to explore the "why" behind your ambition - your desire for connection, improving humanity, making an impact - you are both able to open up into a deeper level of emotional understanding that few others get to access.

It is here that you find true romance, with his Venus in Capricorn appealing to your sensitive, dreamy, and romantic Pisces rising/Leo Sun. True to your Leo brand, you also need to be praised, worshipped and adored. You rule with your emotions, so acting up out of sheer passion is not unlike you. Not everyone can handle this wide range of emotions, but adaptable Jin is up for the task. He is perfectly able to navigate your moods, with the patience of a saint combined with a Mercury is in Scorpio which makes him extremely observant and strategic in terms of his communication. There is no staying mad with a Sagittarius (no matter how annoying he may be) as his need to move forward at a rapid clip makes it nearly impossible for problems to fester too long. With Venus in Capricorn there displays of grandiose affection you adore: two dozen roses at your door just because, renting out your favorite restaurant for a private meal on a random weeknight, a fully packed suitcase at the edge of your bed with an accompanying note. Madrid tomorrow morning? This is a couple that fucks like rabbits, often beginning the foreplay long before they reach the bedroom. He certainly enjoys watching you slink around the room at any party or event, entertaining the crowd with your charm and basking in the limelight, looking absolutely stunning in a dress he's gifted you. There is an air of excitement as the night goes on, knowing full well that he will be the one that has his hands all over you as soon as you get home. Its likely that the two of you get off on being the power couple that nobody can get enough of, and even more satisfying is that is just comes so naturally to you - there is no faking this level of chemistry! A mutually impulsive nature exists at the core of this dynamic, meaning you may not wait until you get home (why would you, when there's a car?)

Fiercely independent and fast-paced, more than anything you need someone who can both keep up with you and challenge you as well. Jin the Archer is notoriously hard to lock down, seeking someone who will let him be his fully adventurous, fun-loving self, and he successfully finds that in the equally on-the-go Leo. Your sensitive Leo thinks funny guy Jin may initially be a bit over-the-top in his playful teasing of you, enjoying pressing your buttons a little bit, but over time you learn that this is simply how a Sag shows love. It is this highly humorous element of his personality that opens you up to access a more playful and lighthearted side of yourself that embraces your humanity and flaws without taking them too personally. Together, Leo and Sag guide and drive each other in your respective careers, acting as partners and confidantes, while innately understanding the others need for space like few others can. At the core, this pairing has a strong foundation of friendship upon which everything else is built, creating a very open and respectful relationship which allows the other to stay true to their deeper selves without fear of judgement for being "too much". The life created between this pairing is one of fun, great wealth through your many successful enterprises, and the strongly rooted presence of family. Fiery, bold, passionate selves, this pair grows even stronger as they move through life together, inevitably making their mark on the world through charitable and culture contributions with their infectiously energetic personals and uniquely creative minds.

[toffeebuzz]

The Wristwatch As a Jewel - The Timeless Gift of Love

It's somewhat dubious discussing extravagant wristwatches chez nous. Reality is, I have a cabinet loaded with Rolexes, Omegas and Tags, yet they're all phony, the aftereffect of a few occasions in extraordinary spots where such things are exchanged by road merchants for next to no cash. Obviously the Business Manager (Mrs P) needs me to dispose of them  Manufacturing Jeweller Nor did it help when, around 15 years back, I went to a closeout where the excess load of a resigned diamond setter was being auctions off. There were in a real sense many watches and I was unable to oppose offering on a his 'n' hers pair of Zenith battery-driven positions, which were modest however fairly more cash than I suspected she'd figure I ought to have spent.

In this way, not wishing to confront her rage on getting back, I did an arrangement with a lady I worked with in the workplace. We split the expense and she paid me half for the woman's rendition. It was an error. I ought to have confronted the fury and given the BM the other watch. She's never let me overlook it.

It doesn't help that Valentine's Day is additionally her birthday. In this way, I thought I'd cast around to check whether I could locate an extravagant watch that she may appreciate. I sense it will be a long hunt. With genuine Rolexes, Omegas and Tags costing a little fortune for the thing is, pursuing all, simply a way to tell the time, my considerations went to getting her what I assume is known as a dress watch, that is something of a style explanation too.

Obviously, with champagne taste however lager pocket cash it will be none of the ones envisioned here. These aren't simply watches, they're gem encrusted smaller than usual show-stoppers, carefully assembled by specialists, that not just game the absolute generally unpredictable, exactness made developments, yet in addition mixes of valuable metals and gemstones that take their eye-watering esteems into some other time region.

Curiously enough, the main watches were made by locksmiths and of course, the absolute best were situated in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, truly the specialty and mechanical heart of Europe, which was additionally the home of early precious stone cutters. The development of the loop spring made the production of convenient timekeepers conceivable and the primary genuinely compact watch is said to have been made in the mid sixteenth century.

In her will dated 1566, Mary Queen of Scots left Darnley, her subsequent spouse and father of James I, a watch embellished with 10 precious stones, two rubies and a line of gold. Wristwatches were to some degree later creation, the primary showing up in around 1790.

Shrewd dream watches were extremely popular among the rich during the eighteenth century. The dudes in European Courts competed with one another to be wearing the most showy design conceivable and to brandish the most ludicrous gems that each could bear. The person who turned up with a gold and red lacquer strawberry on the finish of a chain or strip which opened to uncover a watch was presumably profoundly envious of another demonstrated as a stunning small mandolin in blue veneer, set with a gold blossom and a fragile theme of a part of music original copy.

The design proceeded even into the nineteenth century, when one of the most intriguing models I've ever observed was a watch molded like an insect with articulating wings and ruby eyes, all set in gold set with rose precious stones.

The principal wristwatch appropriate for women didn't show up until around 1900 and it was something of a cheat. Beforehand, dandy watches suspended from sensitive fastens or, more than likely clasps to be stuck like a corsage to a dress or coat were a lady's most ideal approach to monitor the progression of time. Inevitably, these turned out to be sufficiently little to be joined to a cowhide lash and worn around the wrist. Surely, some can be found in both gold and silver which were fit for being either, the ornament pin being separable.

In any case, practically all were constantly in plain, utilitarian cases with almost no trace of embellishment spare maybe for straightforward motor turning or lacquer featuring. Such changed after the First World War. Similarly that gems produce became unquestionably more brave after the lean long periods of the mid twentieth century, plain watches and styles turned out to be more colorful and attractive. Ladies removed their adornments from protection in bank vaults, already scant valuable metals turned out to be all the more promptly accessible and the Art Deco time called.

It was a time of wantonness and it went on until the 1930s, during which time ladies gain the option to cast a ballot and with liberation missed the mark dresses and weaved hair, red lipstick and the wrap of unmistakable themes and plan components which can be seen in both gems and wristwatches: shapes were mathematical, affected by the Cubist development; jewels were set in platinum, the main difference from white on white being the expansion of emeralds, sapphires and rubies and impacts from Egypt followed the revelation of King Tutankhamen's burial place in 1923. The precious stone encrusted mixed drink watch was an absolute necessity have with pieces via Cartier, Tiffany and Van Cleef and Arpels among the most alluring.

In any case, it was presumably in the Sixties that the watch as a gem at long last showed up and keeping in mind that it is inappropriate to guarantee that exact timekeeping was the fate of optional significance to makers and their clients, it is unquestionably evident that as a rule it is just the two hands of the watch that demonstrate its actual reason. Most loved dial shapes remain the circle and the oval, the last worn either vertically or on a level plane, however they are regularly without numbers, just seldom have a date gap or seconds clear hand and at times, even the winding catch is covered up.

Among the world's most alluring watches are those by Piaget, an organization established in 1874 by Georges Edouard Piaget, a rancher in La-Cote-aux-Fees, a town in the Jura piles of Switzerland. In 1960, Valentin Piaget made the flattest self-twisting development on the planet for now is the right time - it estimated 2.3 mm - empowering the organization to create watches with amazingly thin profiles including some that were made to speak to coins. The genuine advancement came when it dispatched the principal dials to be produced using hard stone, for example, rich dark onyx, turquoise, clear opal, malachite, coral, brownish tiger eye and lapis lazuli.

Utilizing platinum or 18 carat white and yellow gold, the watch cases and lashes were decorated with all way of valuable gemstones in plans which, on the off chance that you'll exonerate the play on words, stay immortal. Jackie Kennedy and Gina Lollobrigida were among the traveling clients who wore Piaget watches and helped the extravagance brand accomplish global acknowledgment. Simply don't make reference to it to the BM.

[gyeommine]

MONSTA X as Best Friends

this is one of my lil’ au’s that i whipped up whilst i was away with no internet. i need to write more mx stuff(: i tried anyway - i hope y’all like it.

(gif credits to the original owners)

Shownu:

(boiii look at u w that bandana !)

biggest dad friend you'll ever have in your life

makes sure you're fed

gives you lifts whenever you need one

also makes sure you never have to walk on your own.-will fight a mean s/o who he may have had a bitter disliking to anyway bc it's you

basically is super protective of u

he is always v sleepy tho, esp if you're just chilling at your place.but you forgive him bc he's an overworked dad of 6

he is super down to earth and most chill human being in your lifehe is also super dependable, and is always there when you need him

he also gives the best hugs – they're rare but bOI are they worth it

is always awkward about you seeing him at shows or watching shows he's on bc he doesn't feel like he's a big idol, he's just your best friend

but you force him to tell you when he's doing anything so you can shout the loudest

most easily mistaken for your boyfriend

is a lil' bit dense at times, and is least likely to laugh @ your jokes

doesn't get sarcasm either

he's also clumsy

but apologetic, extremely apologetic

he can be a lil' blunt and straight forward at times but he's never as bad as the 'shownubot' he is v sensitive to your emotions, and is super caring

you also see the cute side of shownu

him beaming at small animals, when he talks about his fave food or his parents

again, far from the showminator everyone sees on variety shows

buuuuuuut he's v difficult to read, thanks to that beautiful but often blank face he has 

you also get really flustered when he juST strips??? boicouldunotwearepalswthpls 

you look at him awkwardly but he'll either not get it or be like “what? We are friends?”

and you remember your best friend is the most endearingly dad-like human in the world and nobody can change that

Wonho:

(a d o r a b l e)

I am convinced he will just giggle 24/7

ray of sunshine hoseok will just make you so energised and happy when he's in the same room as you

which makes you fiercely protective of him

you get to see his cute, bubbly side all of the time and it's literally a goddamn blessing

you guys just eat together

you'll deliberately plan on going to different restaurants or food places just so you can sample everything

but his eyes will always light up when you say “Ramen?”

like dad!sonhyunwoo, he is fairly shy about the stuff he does and is v bashful when you compliment his idol stuff

he'll shrug it off like its nothing and you'll be like “??? ur one of the most talented people ever you can literally fite me”

wonho and you could literally make anything fun, so hanging out w each other is never ever dull like, you'll create random dumb shit to do that only kids would think of and it would be great

but he's a really sensitive and sweet friend

he just gets you, and will immediately be on the same page as you w whatever you are feeling

he is so supportive and cares about you to the moon and back

it's bloody adorable literally treasure this man 

like he will literally stay up to ridiculous hours in the morning to listen to you rant or console you 

(my heart is melting whilst writing this send help)

but as we found out in the monsta x ray finale, boy needs that support since he spends all of his energy worrying about his pals and like how he gets you, you completely understand him it's weird, neither of you understand how you're in so in tune w one another 

but it's great honestly a++ friendship

Minhyuk:

(y’all don’t even understand how much of a look the red hair was wOW)

most of the time he just ??? you can't explain him ???

he is one of the loudest, and goofiest people you know

when you guys go out together, ppl are stunned bc he's super handsome

but you know that he's not this super cool, standoffish model-type – he's an idiot

he sends you pictures of cute animals all the time

or he tags you in them on every social media possible

and you guys watch a lot of disney

w a perfect aladdin duet where minhyuk is jasmin (ofc)

lil' dumb things like that brighten your day

he just has a knack for cheering you up

and he just radiates kindness – he's just a sweetheart

but when you guys are together, the sheer amount of noise you guys make is incredible

you guys are literally tied at the hip

you do everything together, a lot of spontaneous stuff too

lots of random sleepovers where you stay up way too late

you hang out so much, that the rest of the mx are just used to having you around

like an 8th member tbh

it gets to a point where you guys miss each other like crazy when his schedule is packed

and the guys tease that you might as well go out

but it's fine, you've both talked and thought about it (midnight chats is all I can say)

but you both know that you're more like siblings

and that's chill

like wonho, he just gets you

he knows when your sad, and exactly what to do

he'll have some takeout on speed dial and a shoulder to cry on

he's actually one of the most attentive people

and sometimes it makes you sad when people just assume he's a shallow idol

but you're just happy to have him in your life.

Kihyun:

(his lil’ smile i swEAr)

he's so sassy w you

he's literally like a middle aged mum

yes, so he's often ruthless but he gives the best advice

someone treating you like shit? cut them out

it makes him incredibly reliable

he's always got your back and is ready to stand up for you 

you guys wingman for each other too 

you pretend to be in a relationship to fend off unwanted ppl in clubs 

people think he's adorable but you know he's cut throat – and you love it

 yet, there are instances where you catch him cooing at a baby or a dog

despite appearances, he would literally drop everything for you 

he's loyal 

if something has happened to you, he's right there if you're crying and listening intently

he genuinely wants to give you the best advice possible 

he does love you, he just has v sarcastic ways of showing it

“i mean, if you were the last person on earth sure” 

and you roll your eyes and just continue 

probably will ask you weird questions at 3am 

doesn't get that you not responding means stop so he keeps going

he has a ripe selection of mugshots of you and will utilize them 

he's probably protective in a lowkey way, like he tries not to show it

he'll walk you home w the excuse “nothing else to do”

“for a sec, I almost thought u were showing affection!” and he'll scoff 

you nod in mock acknowledgement but ofc you think it's really sweet beneath the unending sass you will tease him with predebut mx and it's rich 

you always tell him you bias shownu just to irritate him

“he's not even that cute” he'll mutter bitterly

doesn't mean you won't have a funny picture of kihyun as your lock screen for months

Hyungwon:

(look at this dumb dork w his dumb ass smiley cute face what a dumb human)

one of your memeist friends

sends u dumb shit even if he's sat right next to you

also your laziest friend

if you guys arrange a time to meet, you always mentally add an extra 15 minutes

bc he's always late

he's also extremely sarcastic

even if it's just through an eye roll, he's a piece of shit

he's also a lil' awkward

you first met him through the rest of the guys, and he barely spoke

you just spotted a literal model on his phone in the corner

but as you were round there more, he let himself go

and came to know the lanky piece of shit u now tolerate

very much a love-hate friendship

from afar, it looks like you guys have no boundaries and you will say anything 

but both of you just toss it aside w “character building” and you laugh sometimes he's sweet and it surprises you (like w the kids ep in monsta x-ray omg) 

like he'll buy some food for a homeless man, or pull a funny face at a kid on the bus 

and you tease him about it again, just character building;)

he's silently supportive

he's not great at the words and talking bit, but he's happy to just sit and listen

or he will instantly know what to do, and just order some food before you say anything

so you know ppl are wrong when they say he's just a lazy and standoffish idol

but he's extremely good looking and you had to learn to avoid stares when you guys go out together

he probably has a gift he bought you abroad from 2 years ago

says he'll give it to you, but still forgets

you really hope it's not candy that went off months ago

as much as you love your best friend, you don't want mouldy sweets

Jooheon:

(cutest cutie that ever cutied)

funniest

whether he's making you laugh or you're laughing at him - he's funny

you guys were definitely childhood friends

and everyone loves him

your close family always talks about him, asks about him

he's like a brother you never had (as cheesy as that is)

most friends drift apart, especially w his idol career

but - you guys are the definition of inseparable

you met bc someone was picking on you at nursery and baby jooheon intervened

and since then, you guys have never been a part

he is v protective

even little things like accompanying you home when it's late

any partner he has to meet just to make sure they're good enough for you

you sometimes have to tell him you're okay on your own

and he'll apologise, that he's just looking out for you

he doesn't mind you ringing him at early hours when something's on your mind

and the same with you

when you guys hang out, it's simple

going out for a drive and just watching the sun go down

you'll blast your favourite music and enjoy each other's company

cheesycheesycheesy

it's like something out of a movie

he'll sometimes even treat you – like take you out to dinner or something

to say thanks for being such a good friend all this time

you tell him he's cheesy, that it's not necessary

but he just blushes a little and says it's no big deal

he's the boy you'll mum will nudge and say “oh isn't he lovely”

you'll roll your eyes and say“he's just my best friend”

but you've thought about it, trust me he's definitely thought about it

who knows, all I can say is that it could happen

I.M

( i fell in love w changkyun while writing this i am such a sap )

you guys are like the chillest pair of best friends known

that's probably bc lil' changkyun is definitely more the introvert

he would much rather retreat to his studio to unwind than go out

which you're all for

you guys sit for hours in his mini studio

you listen to his stuff, and you just beam as he talks about his passion

it just fills you w joy when your best friend is so talented and you get to hear it

you do have to bring him out of his shell a little

bc this dorky, funny side comes out that has you cackling

you guys get food together mainly

and he loves it when you cook

you also feel it your duty to take care of this smol

feed him, look after him bc he's still your lil' maknae although nobody thinks he is

but it's not patronising, he's completely chill w it

the guys joke that  he had/has a major crush on you

sometimes you question it, but he's like a younger brother to you

so you just throw something at minhyuk and jooheon to end the teasing

although changkyun always gets a tad shy when they mention it ??

there's never any arguments bc you guys are so alike

you have the same music taste, like the same foods, have the same opinions, watch the same tv shows and movies

it's really weird, but neither of you are complaining

makes life 10x easier !

he always feels super bad that he can't see you more

(which is v fucking cute fite me)

so he tries to plan these elaborate well thought out days for when he gets back

but he gets really bumbly and shy about it

bc it feels like a date but it isn't but he kinda hopes it is

so you guys always opt for a night long catch up w pizza

and you don't mind bc you're happy to see your fave human

i can assure you, so is he;)

hoped you guys enjooooyed! idk, this kind of helped me suss out their characters in my head a bit more - which is nice !! ty for reading <3

[krakenator]

CHAPTER 9 aka “Let’s go lesbians!”

SPOILERS are sprinkled around extremely liberally for The Property of Hate

Masterpost here

Melody and Julienne join The Party! A singer, a dancer, and an actor make a triple threat baby!

Though the true triple threats out there are the people who can do all those things. I would put myself as an example but said Real Threats are people who can do it all well

…y’know we haven’t seen RGB dance but… it would not surprise me. My god. That’s why he’s so strong. He dances

Maybe the real triple threat was the object-heads we met along the way

Still on that opening page though, have I talked enough yet about Melody’s dialogue? Because a glissando is an excellent way to convey and agreeable hum.

Wow parents really were right that tv would rot my brain look at this poor doggo

Yo yo yo that’s the snail from the Pool of Tears in chapter 2!

So all I need to do to get Inspired is to lick a technicolor dream-snail, got it

Oh damn it, it’s a bright idea

Ey the picture frame clouds are back. Wow they are moving fast- heckuva wind

Oh yeah and TOby’s there. Enjoy the view lil buddy

Looks like the armchair Hero slept in at the House of Paint’s become more realized as a What. Wonder why it’s heading down to/past the Pool of Tears

How often do you think someone in this world goes to, like, hang their coat only to realize the coat-racks missing and just go “oh damnit it went sentient and wandered off. Well. Inconvenient. But godspeed I guess”

So I know the ball and chain Hero’s fashioned for her TV guide (FUCKIN JUST REALIZED THAT ONE) is rolled like like a yarn ball, but my boat-brain looked and it and said “monkeyfist. Big ol’ monkeyfirst for swinging around. Throw RGB REAL far”

How is modmad so good at speechbubbles. RGB’s shaken text/box is hilarious. Melody’s notes are connected by a beam, she’s beaming

rekted for the 11th time in 4 days

This is a good opportunity to take a moment for me to appreciate modmad’s HANDS. RGB’s hands are always exquisitely drawn. Like, the third panel especially, goddamn. Second appreciation is how damn expressive RGB is. I gushed about my love for the wives designs last chapter, I guess it’s finally time for RGB’s turn

For having NO ACTUAL FACE the man is supremely easy to read as a character. He doesn’t have eyes, yet you know when he’s smiling for real anyway! Looking back at the first few pages, that’s SUCH a fakey-fakers smile to the genuine ones seen throughout the rest of the comic. Combined with his body language- just fantastic

And then! The drooling! The initial reason I wanted to do a more thorough reread was when I realized the colors correspond to emotions and whatever RGB is feeling most strongly in any given moment, those are the colors he drips. Which is! Fantastic! It gives yet another avenue by which to see RGB’s character and an excellent supplement when the man is, again, emoting with NOT-A-FACE

His antenna crack me up. They start the comic so straight. So ironed out and spiffy and like 3 days into his newest Hero they are chronically crinkled up like tissue paper. It gives him this impression of being completely frazzled at all times, which. accurate

Back to your daily scheduled TPoH though; eeey, Assok’s speech-texture has some black triangles in here for copying Julienne’s words!

Yikes. RGB’s tried to take Heroes back before huh. Considering he hasn’t given up on his “save this doomed world” plan after all this time, how absolutely/repeatedly disastrous was “get my friend back home” for him to concede it as impossible??

Aaaand we’re off to the races Market!

RGB: LETS GO LESBIANS LETS GO!!

BIG DAMN SMOOCH! YES!! LOVELY! Also Julienne’s resting the blunt side of her knife on Melody’s head and I’m die

Melody’s dialogue is the symbol for a “natural” note. She’s replying “naturally, duh” to RGB’s question

If Julienne wasn’t already married to Melody I’d seduce that big instrument lady myself

Accept the compliment Assok! You did good!!

Random thought and back to RGB being stealth STRONK- Hero found the [—–] to be heavier than it looks and yet RGB is walking around with it all tied to one foot completely unimpeded

Im fucking snorting. The way RGB says “…that’s the sea.” Like he can’t believe Hero is being this dumb. If course it’s the sea! Obviously!

NO RGB, NOT OBVIOUSLY

D’you think if RGB saw how water and seas behave in our world he’s be equally bewildered as I was the first time I read this page

So I took the time to look up Julienne’s name and now im BIG MAD. Julienne is a way of cutting things into long thin strips! It’s a fucking culinary pun!!

Y-yo… that’s just a big damn eye.

AND/OR an impact crater. Except the ground they’re standing on wouldn’t be flat if that were the case

But it is also DEFINITELY a fairy ring, as the next page describes this is EXACTLY how fairy rings work

K so this entire page is just that one verse from “Cover is Not the Book”

Bruh. This looks like myelin sheaths on nerve axons. Myelin is an insulator just like [—–] is described to be! Except the metaphor ends there because myelin is supposed to be there and protects the axon/accelerates signal speed. Assok is basically chewing nodes of ranvier into existence instead of the breaks between myelin forming naturally. And that’s my degree put to use for the week

Also HEY. I had the thought earlier that the sick tree might be a Yggdrasil thing but didn’t put said thought down cause there wasn’t a whole lot behind it save for “big tree, big big tree”. But NOW it turns out there was a small SERPENTINE creature CHEWING AT ITS ROOTS

ASSOK’S THE NIDHOGGR

Everyone: RGB smart?? as if. RGB: EXCUSE-

absolutely huge mood there buddy

HEY MODMAD. TURN ON YOUR LOCATION WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT PAGE 162 FORESHADOWING HOW RGB BELIEVES THE SUCCESSFUL HERO’S JOURNEY HAS TO END

Hero is the flower that will die even though she’s saved the World >:(

“all flowers must die to complete their purpose” is also a funny phrase to be throwing around when Negative’s presence sprouts blue roses which shatter apart when he leaves

“Flowers need roots to live”, further implicating Negative as the (ha ha) root cause of the blue roses and vines. and we again see here, the flowers die but the branches they bloomed from remain

ALSO consider the flowers seen around characters heads when they dream/are asleep- those flowers also must go away when people wake up

Taking this a step further, Negative can be further associated with RGB’s subconscious/being unconscious by his flower-spawning

Lesbians Fight TV-Dad for Custody of Daughter

It’s “make fun of RGB hour” on TPoH and im living. Sharp, sour, cheesy poop indeed

Gotta remember to contrast this against when Hero actually drinks his colors later

gotta remember that this is 4 PEOPLE THAT RGB HAS FUCKED OVER BANDING TOGETHER TO GIVE HIM SHIT. LIKE, HE’S KIDNAPPED THEM ALL, HE CAN’T COMPLAIN

Under the sea, under the seeea~

Uh oh. UH OH THAT’S A SCISSOR BLADE

UH OH

Melody shouted in sforzando but it’s already too late ;_;

Oh! And the notation on top- that tells you to use a mute. God dammit

I knew this was coming and yet I am devastated anyway. goodbye my sweet wives your time was too short. Please come back one day

It’s also notable that Hate cut them out right at the border before the third and final protection on the Market begins. We know later that the darkness blots them entirely out of Hate’s view, so if they’d made it just a bit further She wouldn’t have been able to capture them like she just has

D’you think RGB knows exactly what’s happened to them?

If bodies of water are another form of Good Protection, then Fears hanging around the Pool of Tears is doubly weird

Yikes tho good thing Hero hopped off, can you imagine if Hero had gotten snipped away alongside her moms?? Terrible

Jeebs are you telling me that Hero would have eventually started to fade if she’d carried that pile of [—–] long enough?! RGB! BAD DAD! GET ‘IM HERO

Then again, this means he was probably planning to carry it himself most of the way. He has certain advantages after all- he overgenerates color for himself. It’s probably why he lasts as long in the storm of Nothing as he does…

Oh no OH NOOOOO ASSOK HEARD MELODY’S SHOUT

Is that-? Could it be-? By jove, it is. RGB IS INITIATING AFFECTION AND COMFORT EVERYONE! YEEEEEEAH, MAKE UP FOR THAT BAD-DAD BEHAVIOR!

HEY NOW WAIT THE FUCK A MINUTE THERE- BUTTERFLY SHADOW

HEY. Her schism’s opening back up! Nothing on page 166, but once Julienne and Melody are gone in page 167 we see it starting to open back up

!! RGB OFFERS HER HIS HAND? HIS PHYSICAL, ACTUAL HAND?? HELLO????

And the third return of “just this once” is killing me dude

Poor Assok get scronch

Girl what makes you think TOBY and JULIENNE trust RGB?! Additionally, why are you including Dial on the list?! Is he just That Charming?

IN FACT,  every single person Hero just listed? RGB has personally ruined their life! he’s killed ALL of them! HERO I UNDERSTAND YOU’RE 6 BUT

Hero trusts Dial oh no. this can only result in bad things

Butterfly, flying off in defeat: goddamn fucking idealistic children making it hard for me to steal them away and end their story, come on! Dump the chump and let me end you!!!!

Back on that schism though- it opened up once they started fighting at the sun tree, and just now when the wives disappeared. I would say it’s ripped open by experiencing fear, but it definitely was not open when Hero saw Neggy Boi wrecking shop

Join me in the next chapter when our intrepid duo speedrun Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It’s Dark Outside! 

[theartofbeinganerd]

So, I’m working on a multi-chapter fic right now (that I’m pretty excited about!!) and I’m about half-done, so I want to spend the next few days working on it. I’ll still try to post previously written fics every night, and I promise I will get back to prompts when I’ve finished with the other fic (or even before if I get inspiration who knows??), I promise I will not forget about them! :)

Here’s the next part of my One Night Stand AU, which is a bit shorter than the first, but I hope you all still enjoy (and just know that the third part is currently shaping up to be my favorite so far...)!

(Ao3)

-

“Oh my god! This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!”

Jemma glanced up from the line of strollers and car seats she’d been inspecting to find Daisy waving the tiniest little pink dress she’d ever laid eyes on. “Daisy,” she sighed in fond exasperation, “It could very well be a boy. You do remember that, right?”

“Well yeah, but I’ve just got this feeling,” Daisy insisted, shaking the dress once more. “Plus, all the cutest clothes are for girls, and I wanna spoil my honorary niece by buying her the biggest little baby wardrobe ever.”

“That she’ll wear for a few months before growing out of it all,” Jemma reminded her. “If you want to help, you can read up on the cribs in the next aisle and figure out which is the best in regards to safety, efficiency, and quality.”

Daisy groaned, dropping her head back dramatically. “You mean boring stuff? You know, you wouldn’t be having to drag me along on all of these baby errands if you’d just call Fitz and tell him he knocked you up.”

Jemma made a face, quickly turning away from Daisy and pretending to be engrossed in the product information accompanying the closest stroller. “Oh, well, I think the time for that has passed, Daisy. It’s been three months, I can’t exactly ring him now and say, ‘oh by the way, you’re going to be a father, sorry for keeping you in the dark all this time’. I mean, I don’t have a valid excuse for doing so.”

“You were scared, Jem. He’s gonna understand, I promise. Fitz seems like a really good guy. I think he’d want to know.” Daisy’s tone was genuine, but Jemma still couldn’t quite believe it.

Regardless, she offered Daisy a weak smile and nodded. “Yes, I know.” Unsettled by the knowing quirk of Daisy’s eyebrow, she quickly turned back to the strollers and said, “I should be done for now. After all, I do have another six months to figure this all out.”

“Alright,” Daisy agreed slowly, eyeing her speculatively for a moment. “I just need to put this adorable little dress back.”

“And I actually need to make a trip to the ladies’ room.” Jemma rubbed her bulging little baby bump with a sigh. “They’re on my bladder again.”

Daisy chuckled, patting Jemma’s arm sympathetically. “Gotcha. I’ll meet you outside then.”

With that, they briefly went their separate ways in the big-box store not far from Daisy’s apartment, though Jemma had no doubt that Daisy would somehow end up getting sidetracked by junk food or the bikini sale they’d passed on their way to the baby section.

It was a few minutes later, when Jemma was leaving the restroom, that she happened to pass through the book section on her way to the exit. She paused, perusing the small selection of maternity books the store offered. She was leafing through one she hadn’t read yet when she heard a startled call of, “Jemma?”

She whirled around at the sound of her name, and couldn’t believe her eyes when she found none other than Fitz standing at the end of the aisle. His jaw was hanging slack, and his wide eyes were focused right on the baby bump very visible in her stretched t-shirt.

Of all the people in the world to run into…

Clearing her throat and casually replacing the book she’d been skimming, Jemma forced a smile and greeted politely, “Hello Fitz. How have you been?”

He blinked a couple of times, gaping at her incredulously. Then, finally, he seemed to find his words, though they didn’t quite form a complete thought. “What are you… How can you… I can’t… What?”

She chewed her bottom lip, anxiously wringing her hands in front of her. “I…I’m sorry.” It was all she could think of to say.

Fitz seemed to pale at her apology, reaching out to steady himself on the nearest shelf. “So it…it is…” He trailed off, apparently unable to verbally finish the thought, and instead gestured jerkily with his free hand toward himself.

Jemma winced, hooking her hands nervously around her neck even as she nodded slightly in answer. “Yes,” she confirmed quietly.

“Holy shit.” The shelf now seemed to be the only thing holding him up, and it didn’t appear to be the sturdiest surface. Worriedly, Jemma took a couple steps closer, automatically reaching out to offer support. However, Fitz absently waved it away, taking a couple of deep breaths. After a moment, he dropped his eyes to the floor between them and asked lowly, “Why didn’t you… I mean, Bobbi has my number, she would’ve given it to you.”

“She…um…she did,” Jemma admitted uncomfortably, “when I asked for it three months ago.” Fitz glanced up sharply at the admission, and she hastened to explain, “I nearly called you dozens of times, you have to believe me. But, every time I went to dial your number, panic would wash over me and I was…I was afraid of what might happen, afraid that this development would be an unwelcome one. I suppose…not knowing was easier than finding out with absolute certainty that it was.”

His gaze softened at that, and he blew out a quiet breath and reluctantly released the shelf to take a step closer to her. “You shouldn’t have worried, Jemma. I mean, I know we…well, barely know each other, but I’d never do that, okay? I’m not that kind of guy.”

“I didn’t think you were,” she insisted, “but the tiny fear that I was wrong was enough to stop me from telling you. I truly am sorry. It wasn’t fair of me to keep this from you.”

With a slight smile quirking his lips, Fitz waved away her apology. “I mean, I get it, don’t worry.” Pausing there, he reached up to rub the back of his neck uncomfortably. “Are you…uh…have you made…decisions?”

“I’m keeping it, if that’s what you’re asking.” Jemma shifted uncomfortably, one hand automatically rising to press against her stomach.

“Okay. Okay, um…d’you…uh…know…” He trailed off, gesturing to her stomach as though that would somehow finish his sentence.

“The gender?” she guessed, and Fitz nodded gratefully. “No, not yet. I’ll be far enough along to know in a couple more weeks.”

“Ah.” Fitz awkwardly wrung his hands together, obviously searching for anything else he might need to know. “Oh! Uh, when are you, uh…due?”

“October.”  When he simply nodded, soaking the information in, Jemma cleared her throat and started uncomfortably, “Fitz…you don’t need to feel obligated, or –”

“I don’t!” Fitz hastily cut in to exclaim. “Trust me! I mean, yeah, this is a weird situation and I’m kinda still in shock right now, but…but it’s…it’s my kid, you know? It’s my responsibility. You don’t just abandon your kids like that.” His tone was surprisingly impassioned as he spoke the last sentence, and Jemma had feeling that there was something more than obligation behind it.

Seeing his sincerity, she smiled warmly and reached out to squeeze his arm in gratitude, though she was sure it couldn’t truly convey how relieved she was to find that Fitz wanted to be a part of their child’s life, that she would no longer have to do this all alone. “Alright. Why don’t I give you my number then? Oh, and the date and time of my next appointment.” Realizing immediately that she might’ve taken too many steps too soon, she quickly backtracked and corrected, “Well, if you want to come, that is.”

“I do,” Fitz quickly assured her, nodding. “I’ll be there, I promise.”

Jemma bit her lip to stop a huge smile from breaking through as she entered her number into his phone, along with the details of her next appointment. “We’ll be finding out the sex that day,” she explained as she handed his phone back.

Fitz’s eyes lit up and he asked excitedly, “Yeah? Good, ‘cause my mum’ll likely want to get to knitting little baby booties and blankets, and she’ll want to know whether she can cover ‘em in flowers or not.”

“I’m sure the baby wouldn’t care either way,” Jemma replied with a quiet laugh, though she was more than a bit preoccupied by the fact that Fitz was excited to tell his mother he was having a baby with a woman he’d slept with on a one night stand. Or, perhaps, she was just preoccupied by how excited he was to be having a baby in general. It was making her heart beat unevenly, warmth trickling from her chest out into her extremities.

“You’re probably right.” Fitz shoved his hands into his pockets and gave her a slightly awkward smile. “I’ll…uh…I’ll see you then, I guess. And feel free to call or text me if you ever need anything – I mean it, anything, even like… pickles or freshly squeezed orange juice in the middle of the night or something, and I’ll get you it.”

Jemma’s heart swelled with affection, and she couldn’t help her soft smile as she teasingly assured him, “Oh, I’ll be sure to make use of that offer then. You’ll regret making it soon enough.” Knowing that Daisy was waiting on her (even though, strangely, Jemma didn’t quite feel ready to say goodbye to Fitz), she told him, “I’ll see you soon. Goodbye, Fitz.”

“See you.” Fitz gave her a little wave, then adorably enough, he then waved to her baby bump. “And I’ll see you soon, too.”

Pressing her lips together to keep from…bursting into tears or giggling uncontrollably or whatever something was bubbling up in her chest, Jemma returned the wave and left the aisle, heading for the exit and to where Daisy was waiting.

Once outside, she was quick to find Daisy on a nearby bench, focused entirely on her phone. When Jemma perched on the bench beside her, though, she looked up and groaned in relief. “Finally. Did it really take that long to pee? Jesus Jemma, you could’ve gone before we left my apartment you know.”

Jemma rolled her eyes at Daisy, though she couldn’t seem to rid herself of the smile plastered firmly on her lips.

“And…what’s with the goofy grin? What the hell happened, Simmons?”

As Jemma spilled the whole story to Daisy, that warmth that had permeated her whole body during her conversation with Fitz didn’t seem to be going away. And the strangest thing of all, there was a fluttering feeling in her stomach, like butterflies taking wing inside of her (though there was hardly room for them in there, what with the baby she was housing and all).

Somehow, Jemma was getting the feeling that things were going to turn out much better than she could’ve ever hoped.

[go-asdasd-us-blog]

England coach Chris Silverwood wants Test team to get the basics right

Bob Silverwood preached a return towards the old-fashioned ideals related to batting time plus relentlessness using the ball as the new England men’s trainer outlined his eyesight associated with a Test group that can restore the Ashes in 2 years’ period.

The 44-year-old Yorkshireman, that comes within the picture from the particular a part of England’s bowling instructor carrying out a title-winning mean within charge at Kent, has been presented at Lord’s upon Thursday. Ashley Giles, the particular director of Cricinfo that appointed him, recognized a good “outstanding” home-grown trainer in whose strong relationships can hyperlink up the state group with the internet advertising game create them “the most respected” is generally the entire world.

England come across the new boon concerning Chris Silverwood yet a fresh huge enhance | Vic Marks Silverwood, who explained he wishes his height inspires extra English instructors, sets away there in direction of this high aim employing a tour to Fresh Zealand that leaves from the particular summary of typically the specific month. A deliberately natural squad play five Twenty20 games – the begin of usually the road to the Planet Cup within Australia subsequent year – before May well Root’s Test side, today fourth in the ranks, face a two-match sequence and then four inside S. Africa after Christmas.

Together with the white-ball set-up thus well-grooved following your summer’s 50-over World Cup succeed and Eoin Morgan’s recommitment to the captaincy, Giles restated that the filling device must now be nudged back towards Test Cricinfo. Silverwood, witness to typically the 2-2 Ashes blend close-up quarters, sights this since a come back to several basic long-form principles.

He or the girl said: “Job No simply one is helping Later on Main, supporting him, generating positive the Test group commences moving forward, therefore, any moment we head to Australia inside two years all of us can create a genuine impact available.

Australia retain the Ashes after England fail to save the fourth Test in Old Trafford “

“One thing we’ll look in is building a playing baseball group that can softball bat a long time, stack up plus put pressure around the resistance. It sounds old‑fashioned yet we’ve got to recognize that. We need the particular right folks within the correct places in the purchase.

“And then you want to be able to produce a bowling strike that may be persistent. We all did find a good example this specific particular summer: the Aussies had been fit, sturdy and produced existence genuinely difficult. ”

The root is practically 3 years into his / her Check captaincy and although prospects have ebbed in addition to running, there has been the perception that, sometimes, this person has tried too challenging to emulate the one-day team’s buccaneering approach.

Silverwood is confident his many other Yorkshireman is on a panel with dialing it lower a touch, something signposted by the call-up for Dom Sibley – Warwickshire’s opener faced 1, 009 more balls than the next most obdurate batsman in Division One this year – and Root’s return to be able to No 4.

“Joe in addition to I had an extremely good long conversation, ” Silverwood said. “I need to make certain that coming from the get-go Joe and I also usually are aligned. Merely what accurately I’m speaking about to you about these days are Joe’s thoughts considering that well. ”

Using this certain shift in outlook appeared an acceptance from Silverwood that Test results may well not follow right away. Players need to have got time and energy to be able to adapt ~ “some cogs will switch faster as compared to others. I found that at Essex” ~ and anxiety concerning failure must not glide in. “They can be found in and they could propagate their wings and they will also fly, ” he or she mentioned.

Silverwood, therefore, symbolizes a new continuation of the peaceful environment under his precursor Trevor Bayliss. But fewer than a week to the career he has previously got one off-field occurrence to address, after photos attained at the Specialist Cricketers’ Association awards meal typically the other time emerged demonstrating Ben Stokes with his / the woman left palm on most of the face regarding his wife, Clare, between a said altercation.

Clare Stokes gives since explained that this specific specific is how generally typically the couple show affection in the direction of each other, instead of anything at all more sinister, while Dan Harrison, the chief professional in England in add-on to Wales Cricket Panel, explained his satisfaction of which, next conversations with all the pair and others present, the majority of the context was “innocent”.

Silverwood, who has similarly applied to the all-rounder thinking of that, said: “As considerably since I’m concerned, just about all typically the questions are questioned. And it’s completed. I wasn’t right this moment there. [But] I'm happy together with just what I’ve been advised. Typically the new lesson for every and every particular person. You know, these usually are high-quality [cricketers]. An individual has to be capable of being careful because blameless items can be obtained out of context. ”

To that end, Silverwood stressed the midnight curfew for England’s cricketers ~ implemented during the post occurrences of the Bristol occurrence in 2017 – may remain in place. Nevertheless, bar this, and although acknowledging he or she must take a new step again from having the ever‑amenable soccer ball instructor, he wants to be able to encourage his charges.

“People are the center regarding my coaching philosophy in addition to seeing them do properly, with the dreams and just what they’re seeking to do, tends to make me smile, ” he or she said.

“That’s why I actually do it. I would like to generate self-thinking, self-sufficient cricketers of which will be successful in addition to if we could do of which, you know what, it’ll cause me to feel the smile. ”

source by https://uccricket.ucweb.com/article/England%20coach%20Chris%20Silverwood%20wants%20Test%20team%20to%20get%20the%20basics%20right/cs-798082544484020.html

[male-emporium]

Editors’ Picks: Our 10 Favorite HSS Posts of 2016

from He Spoke Style - Men's Style, Fashion, Grooming, Tips and Advice

Our favorite posts aren’t the most popular – does that mean we have bad taste?!

While we enjoy writing each and every post on the site, there are always some posts that are simply more enjoyable to write for one reason or another.

A subject that scratches a creative itch or allows us to dig deeper into a bigger editorial idea. A scope of work that challenges us to go above and beyond in both our written and visual storytelling. Or a newfound passion that reignites the flame of curiosity.

These are the things that keep us energized because we don’t write because we have to, but because we want to.

We don’t write because we have to, but because we want to

If there was ever any doubt about that statement, I would respectfully ask you to take note of the fact that none of the posts included on our “favorites” list appear on our list of most popular posts of 2016. Do we wish some of our favorites would be your favorites too? Sure. But that’s not what it’s all about.

To that end, we’re thankful to have an audience that indulges our more creative and long form side from time to time. You are known by the company you keep. And we’ve got some amazing readers.

So here are our 10 favorite He Spoke Style posts of 2016 – in no particular order – and the stories behind the stories.

1. Speaking Style With Edward Sexton

A huge highlight. It’s not every day that you get to sit down with – and get measured by – a living legend. And Edward Sexton is about as legendary as they come in British tailoring. In addition to hearing all of Edward’s amazing stories and meeting the house’s exceptionally astute Creative Director, Dominic Sebag-Montefiore, this was a big moment for us in terms of content creation.

As a bunch of perfectionists dedicated to producing the highest quality product all the time, we can sometimes paint ourselves into a corner and induce paralysis when it comes to the actual execution of a high-level project.

The fact that we shot this on two cameras in the span of about three hours and produced an immersive, image-rich post along with an insightful video interview that generated a ton of positive feedback, gave us an immense amount of confidence in our ability to be light on our feet, mobile and create exceptional content even when time and resources are less than ideal.

Read the full article here.

2. Some Thoughts On Embracing Luxury

We’ve made very clear our position on transparency when it comes to our brand partnerships. As I know you’ve heard me say before, we are fortunate to be in a position where we can be selective with the brands we choose to partner with. We’ve worked with brands in the very distant past who have been incredibly prescriptive. And we’ve learned from those experiences that those arrangements never turn out positively for anyone – especially for you, our readers.

We want to work with brands who respect our editorial voice and vision, who know that we know our readers and brands that we are honestly very passionate about. In other words, brands who get it.

IWC is one of those brands. As part of a three-part content series centered around the release of a limited edition Portugieser (see below), we were turned loose and allowed the freedom to dig into a bigger cultural idea. I can tell you from experience that being given that sort of latitude by a brand is exceptional and is one of the reasons why we truly love working with IWC.

Read the full article here.

3. A Menswear Meet Up With Fabio Attanasio

Via the medium of Instagram, I’ve been able to discover and connect with like-minded and passionate people all over the world. And also via Instagram, one day in NYC I saw that one of those people, Fabio Attanasio, was in town as well. Though we were members of a mutual admiration society and had engaged online a bit, I’d not met Fabio in person. Until this day.

Our meeting was short – much too short, honestly – as Fabio had to catch a plane back to Italy later in the day after a successful trunk show in the city. But it was great to finally make a real life connection. Most important, however, was learning that Fabio IRL was the same Fabio I “knew” from Instagram. That’s not always the case these days and it was refreshing to know that there are some truly genuine folks out there.

Read the full article here.

4. HSS At Three: The Lost Art of Blogging

This was a big one for me. Did everyone like it? I don’t think so. I ruffled more than a few feathers – which I honestly intended to do in a free advice/teachable moment kind of way – and got called out for swearing. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Why? Because it started a conversation.

In the past I’ve seen some of my favorite websites have some serious head-eating-the-tail moments so being self-reflective – even if it happened to be in a public forum – and honest about the space we work in was important. It allowed me to be up front with all of you and to reinforce to you and ourselves by laying it all out there, why it is that we believe we do it “right”.

Read the full article here.

5. The IWC Portugierser Tourbillon Edition “D.H. Craig USA”

I enjoyed writing and creative directing this post immensely. It was something completely new for us. Styling and shooting watches is not easy. It’s tedious. It requires excellent light. And it’s time consuming – no way around it. You shoot with a macro lens on a tripod and hold your breath while you’re making video files to turn into cinemagraphs. But it’s all worth it when you know you’re delivering a finished product of a quality that few others will actually take the time to produce.

Here’s an extremely interesting tidbit. If you’ve read the post – or just happen to be a watch nerd and/or IWC fanboy – you know that there were only 27 of these $57,000 pieces made. However, what we discovered after the fact was that the particular watch that we had been given to shoot and play around with was actually one-of-a-kind.

When we submitted our post to IWC for review, someone in the company noticed a small, but important, detail on the dial. Recently, IWC updated the font used for “Schaffhausen” from one with a serif to a sans serif font. Our watch, which was actually a prototype, had the serifed font. The watches available to the public used the new font. Don’t believe me? Check out the actual dial on the watches that were sold!

Read the full article here.

6. Remembering Bill Cunningham

When Bill Cunningham passed away on June 25, 2016, Instagram was awash with people posting photos of themselves that had been taken by Mr. Cunningham adorned by captions expressing how “honored” they felt to have been photographed by him.

Within this sea of ambulance chasing narcissism, our own Robin West penned a heartfelt, respectful and very sincere personal remembrance of a man – the progenitor of modern street style photography – who inspired her (and countless others) to express herself through the medium of fashion and to pursue a career in the industry.

This is the kind of relevant and affecting content so in line with our “don’t look at me, listen to me” ethos that we wish was possible to post three times a day.

Read the full article here.

7. A Rare Experience: The Macallan Rare Cask

One of the pillars of advice from our guide to drinking whiskey like a gentleman is “friends first”. So when the opportunity arose to partner with The Macallan to highlight their Rare Cask offering, inviting my buddy (and HSS whiskey editor) Chris Sarangoulis to experience it one afternoon was a no-brainer.

As someone who has pretty much tasted it all, Chris can be something of a skeptic when it comes to trying something new. And since up until that point, scotch hadn’t piqued his interest the same way that bourbon and rye had, he was doubly dubious of this NAS offering. While the food and the company were fantastic that afternoon, my favorite part of the experience was Chris saying, “Wow, that’s really awesome scotch!” And now he’s really into scotch…

Read the full article here.

8. A Guide To Buying Your First Rolex

This was a personal post. But one that turned out to be very useful to more people than I thought. Luxury watches are not cheap. In fact, they’re extremely expensive. And buying one is not an activity to be taken lightly. It’s a big deal. As I note in the post itself, it took me the better part of a year to research and decide which exact Rolex I was going purchase as my first. I thought by sharing my personal journey – both the good and the bad – that others in the same situation could benefit from that experience.

We have a set of three questions written on our white board in the studio designed to guide everything we do and every decision we make. We revisit them constantly. The first of those questions is, “What is truly unique about He Spoke Style?” And one of the answers to that question is the personal connection we’ve created with our readers.

We are not just another mostly voiceless editorial publication that is beholden to advertisers and the perpetual fashion calendar cycle, publishing boilerplate editorial because we have to. Over time we’ve nurtured a relationship with our readers to where you want to know what I – what we – think about this, that or the other thing.

I’m extremely proud that this particular article took nearly an entire year of actual, real-life research to write. I think it shows. And it is what, in my opinion, makes it stand out amongst the many similarly styled pieces – many from larger, “big league” publications – that exist out there on the interwebs. I wrote this because I had something I was passionate about and wanted to share with others who may share that passion, not because we needed this piece of content in our portfolio.

Read the full article here.

9. Italian Prep: Going From Polo To Pellegrino

Amidst a slew of posts focused on higher-level editorial ideas and personal and team achievements, a single outfit post might appear to be something of an interloper. But for a very simple reason, I like this one. A lot. For many guys, especially those just beginning their personal style journey, Italian style can seem a little advanced and very flamboyant. In keeping with our idea of approachability, the aim of this post was to demonstrate that this is not always the case. With a few simple tweaks, we showed you how to transform a classic preppy look into something a little more European – no excessive flair necessary.

Read the full article here.

10. What’s It Like To Drive a Ferrari?

This was a favorite (and absolutely amazing) for obvious reasons. Driving a Ferrari up the PCH on a pristine late-spring day is the type of once-in-a-lifetime experience that will never be forgotten. It was also a whirlwind. In less than 48 hours, I was on the east coast, in Big Sur and then back on the east coast after an overnight flight.

Aside from the apparent, there were two other personal highlights I’d like to note from this trip. First, connecting with a select few on the trip who I deeply respect and admire for their work. Second, having the opportunity to work with the photographer Michael Shaffer.

I rarely – hardly ever, actually – work with anyone other than Rob. In fact, it gives me great anxiety to step in front of someone else’s lens, especially for a high-profile project. Are they going to get it? Do they know how we regularly shoot? It’s scary when you’re required to create something without the person you create with 99.9% of the time.

But on this trip I had Mike. Lucky me. You’ve likely seen his photos gracing the pages of magazines like Motor Trend and for big advertising campaigns by luxury auto manufacturers all over the world. So it should be pretty easy to understand why I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to work with him.

Read the full article here.

What were some of your favorite HSS articles of 2016? Chime in below!

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Stylishly Yours,

Brian Sacawa He Spoke Style

Photography by Rob McIver Photo

The post Editors’ Picks: Our 10 Favorite HSS Posts of 2016 first appeared on the men's style blog He Spoke Style - Men's Style, Fashion, Grooming, Tips and Advice

First found here: Editors’ Picks: Our 10 Favorite HSS Posts of 2016