#pre pandemic

[amythehobbit]

This was trending on Twitter so I thought I’d do it here!!

Pre pandemic - Post pandemic

[verdigrhys]

Sharing some old minis

[shironezuninja]

I don’t understand why some of my iTunes playlists have to reduce their volume level or pause a song if I stray a couple blocks from or return to the house. I thought iTunes wasn’t going to be affected from several Wi-Fi signals when I took it for its first test run in Pre-Pandemic February 2020.

[spongebobafettywap]

I still really miss the pre pandemic times period of life

[apprehensive-scribbles]

1:19am

as i walk past dilapidated houses, my mind wanders into dark, starry skies filled with violet clouds and burning red horizons.

i look up, imagining every other human who is also thinking of this picturesque thought, for i cannot be the only one.

the most common failure among humans, i believe, is not connecting with those around you.

its getting so caught up in the wind in your mind that you cannot see outside the glass box you have put yourself in,

its generating hate towards others who often share the same painstaking troubles that have consumed your being whole and burned a handprint in your soul.

walking through former harrowing neighborhoods full of grief and despair,

looking at the old houses that have your fears pouring out of them,

that is how you reconnect.

cutting open your plasticine wounds to fill them with support from the other foreboding figures around you, allowing them to wipe your tears and venture forth from your self made foe-filled community.

that is how you grow and accomplish yourself.

[elodieunderglass]

Horror isekai where Perceiving the Weird Eldritch Thing gets you catapulted into a nightmare labyrinth of puzzle-solving.

I.e Those Who Perceive The Hunt of the Goblin King Must Partake In The Labyrinth and Can Only Be Freed If They Complete It In One Day and One Night. By Fae Law. For Reasons.

But the definition of “perception” clearly needs to be updated because some normal guy simply films the Hunt of the Goblin King Behind Arby’s, and puts it on Facebook -

No, not instagram or TikTok, it’s important that it be Facebook -

Because the rules are pretty clear, “the rules are the rules” as is carved ominously in elvish runes above the grim gate, and the Contract is Sealed. and so therefore the guy and 25 of their most random real-life acquaintances must run the gauntlet together. It’s Some Guy, their immediate neighbors, their first partner’s mom, their friends from hobby Facebook groups (oh this poor guy and their hobbies; the elderly birdwatchers from Facebook and the young up-and-coming drag king community), their random teen kid niece, college friends, a dog who also watched the video, a couple consisting of a woman who is the guy’s Facebook friend and showed her husband the video, and the husband doesn’t even know Some Guy, so he’s in the labyrinth and absolutely furious about being forced to be involved, and they proceed to break up over the course of the puzzle.

It’s important that the narrative keeps trying to be a sexy dark horror isekai! but within this the comedic reality of Catherine, 52, the guy’s horse-riding instructor, being passionately involved in escape-room-style puzzle solving and grappling with minor goblins. They are in fact speedrunning the gauntlet.

The Goblin King finally has to say: all right, actually, I only really set all this up to fuck with one (1) guy at a time, thanks for your willingness to participate, but I think all 25 of you can consider the gauntlet fully run.

And the group would be quite hurt by that. The rules are the rules. We have a contract, actually. Let Catherine cook.

[thedaveandkimmershow]

The word is "normal".

Maybe it means something different to you than it does to me. I'm sure it does in the specifics. After all, you 'n I are born of different experiences.

However.

In generalities, I also have a slightly different take on "normal" anymore. What I mean is...

Before the pandemic.

We had a little bit of that tonight. At the Blue Star Cafe & Pub in Wallingford. Not just because of the pub. It was a combination of things I think. Linzy picked up a last minute gig there so she was there performing her set. The place wasn't packed (they're a month into re-establishing their dinner crowd) so it also wasn't chaotic. It was pretty chill. Also, it was last minute we decided to have dinner. Also, the cafe & pub had a very neighborhood vibe. Also we got to just chill and chat up each other, listen to the music a little, even clap a little. To converse with our waiter a little. To enjoy the moment a lot. Then after, we got to converse with one of the teachers at the nearby Off The Wall School of Music. Also before... we snapped some fun pictures against that wall of Archie McPhee's next door.

Also, it was the end of a sunny, summer day in April. It was flip flops and shorts. It was rollerblading. It was riding in the car, top down or, at least, windows down with sunglasses on and one arm draped over the driver's side door.

It was everybody simply enjoying the day. Walking to someplace, somewhere with their friends. Going to the beaches, the shores. Enjoying Life.

That's the context in which our evening out took place.

So...

"Normal".

We had a little of that tonight.

And it

Was.

Lovely.

☺️

[mimi-mindless]

there is this twitter trend where you post your pre pandemic self versus now but with a picrew and I think that's very cute so here's mine :)

You can make yours here: https://picrew.me/share?cd=cIz4rXLWmS

[xtrablak674]

Barefoot in the Night

[ Originally presented on Ello 7 November 2017 in a Journal Entry]

As I released my bladder and aimed the flow of water I heard a "HERE", I looked over my right shoulder, not sure why since I live alone and the sound sounded like it came from a speaker.

That couldn't be my plug-in speakers, because they were unplugged and my Bluetooth was powered down, more importantly neither of these speakers was anywhere near me in the bathroom which is the farthest room in my studio apartment. I am not sure if it was "here" or if it was something else, but it wasn't the splashing of my voiding in the water below, that was the only thing I should have heard.

Forty one degrees, the lowest temperature to date that I had traversed to the bank and to the supermarket had been sixty, this morning we would try out this real winter temperature and see how I fared. Albeit, there is that word sneaking into my writing again, I seriously use it at least once a day, I really need to reach for the thesaurus the next time this word comes to mind. Damn it, now I forgot what I was going to 'albeit' about taking the time to follow that last thought off an artistic cliff. Clearly it wasn't that important.

Bundled up in layers a scarf and a hat. I slipped my sneakers into the purple bag Mr. Berry bought back for me from Thailand and headed out the door. This had been my first time leaving the house since I think Friday and since I was so well stocked and now the heat was on, I was not apt to leave the house at all. I still had a moment around five thirty to go up to the roof and check to see if number five was open, it wasn't. Those roof checks I don't really see as leaving the house, I equate going out of my front door, which still has a broken pane as 'leaving the house', and this time I was only going to do three things, take the trash out, get my cash benefits from the bank and restock my groceries.

I preferred to do these things in the cloak of night because I was more apt to interact with the minimal amount of people. It is funny I live in one of the most populace cities in the world and I make a consorted effort at avoiding interaction with other carbon based bipedal lifeforms.

Speaking of I come across a nocturnal quadrupedal of the feline species, I think my silence scared it. I also stopped to see what she would do, she thought this wasn't a good situation and turned around and headed back out into the street. I called out to her to watch out for the traffic.

My thoughts wandered over my last conversation with my brother, when I had told him that I walk to the supermarket barefoot twice a month, he had thought it not safe because of debris. I told him what kind of neighborhood do you think I live in. The block I walk down has four million dollar brownstones, you know they make an effort to keep their sidewalks clean, and particularly since my destination is in the direction of the more affluent neighborhood everything is actually better maintained the closer I get to the Slope.

Cold, that is the big difference in cooler weather. I actually loose sensation in my feet due to cold weather. Which is perfectly logical, so I decide to slip into my sneakers when I get to the bank, after the nervous hello I received from the doorman on the corner. Loss sensation is hustling backwards, I go shoeless to feel more sensation. I allow my feet the warmth they need as I head to the supermarket. The bench of the Hungry Ghost is empty I am guessing it is too cold for the homeless man who I have seen there the last couple of months to be out, I am not surprised. Silently I hope that he's doing okay.

In the supermarket I instantly realize I have abso-smurfly no appetite. My diet of the last week of pre-sliced cake, oatmeal and pasta has left me quite full. I knew that I wanted to diversify my diet tonight so I grab about six of the pre-made dishes, so edamame, microwavable bacon, chicken nuggets which were on sale, margarine also on sale (for my pasta), Entenmann's Pop'Ems three for $9.99, I get one box. As I pass the dairy section one of my favorite seasonal beverages calls to me EGG NOG, and they have like six different kinds, I decide against the pumpkin because of the orange dyes and I go with the vanilla egg nog, which will make an excellent sweetener on my oatmeal. The last things I pick up as I approach the register are some dried mangos slices and some dried cantaloupe slices, which I call my healthy snack, when I truly don't have any idea whose healthy these pre-packaged dried foods are.

Back outside I decide to walk the first block in shoes and take my sneakers off after that. I notice a car idling across the street with its hazard lights on, I still proceed to slip off my beige Puma ninja sneakers. I slip them into the top of my very full bag and step out into the street which is covered with a few autumn leaves. My second brain thinks, who cares what they think they are your feet.

Other than a biker I at first mistaken for a delivery person my trip back home is uneventful. Barefooted I walk up my carpeted stairs into my darkened apartment, put my bag down, disrobe then put my groceries away. I haven't been up at this time in a while I feel like I should go back to bed, but that experience in the bathroom inspires me to capture the moment before I loose it. Groceries in their place, I sit my bare ass in my Herman Miller chair, pull my laptop closer and begin to write.

[Photo by Brown Estate]

[pastelfirefly]

Everyone's like merry Christmas while I'm processing that 2023 is mere days away and it is not, in fact, still the Pokemon Go summer of 2020

[verdigrhys]

Chibi

[sacred-gayze]

Me in 2019

[reese-tasteslikepepsicola]

PRE-OUTBREAK JOEL MILLER ~ONE-SHOT~

He holds me in his big arms

Drunk and I am seeing stars

This is all I think of

—

“Three! Two! One!” The children and adults chant as Tommy and Joel light the Fourth of July fireworks. The two men start running back to the crowd of people, everybody equally drunk and excited to see the beautiful sparks light up the sky.

Your boyfriend runs up to you, pulling you into a heated kiss. You could feel his smile against your lips,

“Happy Fourth of July, sweetheart” You grinned as he walked behind you, wrapping his arms gently around your neck in a safe, comfortable chokehold. You giggled as he began planting kisses on your cheek and neck, his beard tickling you,

“I love you” Joel gave your butt a pat and whispered into you ear, replying,

“I love you, too” Looking up at the sky, the stars felt blurry behind the red, white, blue fireworks, your head felt dizzy in a delightful way.

It could’ve been the glasses of wine you had been consuming all night, Tommy refilling your glass every time and telling you to,

“Loosen up, pretty girl! I want every person tonight getting shitfaced!”

As you and Joel stare up at the stars, Sarah comes running over, pulling you both into a tight group hug,

“Happy Fourth of July!” You both give her kisses on her cheeks. She laughs at your dramatic antics and leans her head on her Dad’s shoulder,

“Happy Fourth of July, baby girl” She puts her free arm around your shoulder and looks up at her dad,

“Uncle Tommy told me to tell you that he wants to play a game of pool with you. If he wins you owe him a fuck ton of money” You let out a snort and Joel flicks her forehead,

“Language, Sarah” She shrugs and practically skips away to join back with her friends.

Joel shakes his head but grins, turning back to face you,

“That kid, I swear” You laugh and wrap your arms around his neck, playing with his damp hair, the sweat of the Texas heat sticking to him,

“She’s the funniest girl I know” You said. He nods,

“Yeah, she is” He mumbled, pressing his lips to yours once again.

He starts to let his hands travel to your butt,

“Woah, cowboy. Go play that game with Tommy before you owe him a fuck ton of money” He grumbles and pulls away,

“Only if you come watch me” He says, raising an eyebrow. You bite your lip teasingly and shrug,

“I’ll be your little cheerleader” He grins and motions to the house,

“Well come on then, cheerleader”

~

Joel had won, showing Tommy the middle finger and then giving you a wink before hitting his last striped ball.

You dramatically squealed and jumped up, giving Joel a kiss on the lips,

“I didn’t have enough chalk on my stick! Ain’t my fault!” Tommy began drunkenly slurring, every single beer and shot catching up to him. You laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheek,

“You tried your best! That’s what matters” You teased. He turned away, trying to hide his blush, your red lipstick now on his freckled face,

“Yeah, yeah, whatever” He places his stick on the shelf,

“If I lose to Joel, can Y/N give me a kiss on the cheek, too?” Dallas, a friend of Tommy’s asked from across the basement. The other men began roaring with drunk laughter,

“Alright now, that’s enough” Joel said, shooing them away. You cackled and wrapped your arms around his waist, curling into his side,

“I’ll play you next” You said, smirking. He smirked back,

“Oh yeah?” You nodded and patted his back,

“Yep” He passed you a stick and began setting up the balls,

“Your on, sweetheart”

~

Everybody had left, excluding Tommy and Sarah.

Tommy was passed out in the guest bedroom, and Sarah was asleep in her own room.

That left you and Joel alone downstairs, eating the leftover fruits and rolled up sandwich meat platters that neighbours had brought, talking and giggling like two teenagers. You passed him a beer,

“Alright, I think this is your last one, baby” You said.

He groaned and sat down on the living room couch, staring at you as you sat on the carpeted floor in front of him, your underwear peaking from underneath your yellow sundress.

Joel always thought it was cute how whenever you were tipsy or drunk, your immediate quirk was to lay down or sit on the floor,

“Your too far” He said, rubbing his Jean clad thigh.

You leaned back and spread your legs, giving him an open clear view of the sweet flower between your thighs that Joel always found himself buried in every night, devouring with such eagerness and determination, obsessed and drunk on your taste.

“Your tryna kill me, sweetheart?” Your shrugged, feeling mischievous, the alcohol from drinking all night releasing your seductive, confident side that Joel loved so much,

“C’mere” He said, patting his thigh.

You bit your lip and began slowly crawling over to him, giving him another beautiful view, your breasts almost spilling out the top of your dress.

He watched with a smirk, drinking his beer at the same time nonchalantly. You placed your hands on his knees, slowly coming up to face him. You leaned and purposely dodged his lips when he tried leaning in.

You stood up and smiled,

“What’re ya doing, baby?” He asked, his voice gruff and raspy.

You slowly pulled the thin straps of your dress down, rubbing your hands against your curves as you did so.

Joel watched your every movement, eyes dark and lust filled, yet, he still hadn’t put that damn beer down, continuing to sip it.

That yellow sundress was his favourite out of the fifty other pairs you owned.

Once the dress fell down to the floor and pooled around your bare feet, you walked over to him, straddling his waist,

You pressed delicate kisses on his adam’s apple and the side of his neck. You gasped and pulled back when you felt the cold beer bottle touch your bare back,

“Jesus Christ!” He chuckled at your reaction,

“Put that damn beer bottle down, Joel” He shook his head and took another sip of it,

“I ain’t finished it” You glared and crossed your arms over your bare chest,

“Hm, okay. Then I guess I’ll just call up Tommy’s buddy Dallas and ask him to satisfy my needs then, huh?”

Joel practically growled and chugged the rest of it down and tossed it to the side,

“Like hell you will” You giggled, always knowing how to press your man’s buttons.

You gasped as he picked you up by your waist and dropped you back down on the couch so that you were now laying on your back.

He was on top of you, in between your legs, the weight of his body on you feeling so good and safe.

Everything you did was for Joel Miller.

[luminarai]

Thank you all so much for participating in my ‘help me post old stuff’-poll! To my surprise this was the winner, it’s probably the oldest one of the entire list and it’s just two sketchy studies of Joe and Nicky in historical garb (I can’t even find the ref photos anymore but I know I had some). It’s absolutely itching in my fingers to clean them up and add some light etc but I promised myself not to so here ya go!

[utilitycaster]

tbh it does feel like the early setup for Bells Hells was a cool experiment but ultimately had some ongoing drawbacks because I do agree with Matt here that there has been time for watch conversations - there were plenty of opportunities for that or for just regular conversations in Whitestone, the Shattered Teeth, the Feywild, and their most recent long rest - but it's just not something the party got into the habit of doing because of the early pacing. It's just not a party that naturally falls into easy conversation with each other for the most part, and I think because he's never had to do this in prior campaigns, particularly this late in the game, Matt hasn't been very obviously laying out "anyone want to have a scene now, during downtime" the way one might with newer players.