#th: florence 2

[evermore-fashion]

Met Gala 2023: My Top 10 Women’s Looks

Here we go, this is my 10 women’s looks from the Met Gala 2023. Just to remind everyone that my opinions are mine alone, so feel free to agree or disagree with me as much as you like. However I will not tolerate any hate personally aimed at me if you disagree with me to the point where you want to start an argument. So let’s keep it respectful, clean (language wise) and more importantly let’s have some fun with this. Like I said, if you’re looking for an argument, then you’re following the wrong fashion blog. 

1. Kim Kardashian wearing Schiaparelli. This was the first look I saw this morning when I switched my phone on and I was blown away by it. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Kim after her look from last year that got a lot of people talking. So I was pleasantly surprised to see her in an original design that shows off her body in all the right places and I love the draped pearls across her breasts (which are actually covered by a nude bra). Overall it was another Met Gala and another show stopping moment from Kim Kardashian.

2. Doja Cat wearing Oscar De La Renta In comparison to Jared Leto, Doja Cat understood the theme and took it to a whole other level that was both unexpected but not at the same time. I loved the use of prosthetics that complimented her simple yet stunning crystallised gown. Plus who doesn’t love a gown with a hood that has cat ears coming out the top that makes you look like a fashionista rather than someone attending a Halloween party?

3. Gigi Hadid wearing Givenchy I’m a sucker for a black gown that comes not just with a corset but a lot of tulle draped perfectly in all the right places as well. Gigi just looked stunning in this and considering a lot of attendee’s were also wearing either black or white, her Givenchy gown stood out when I was scrolling endlessly through all the looks earlier today. Simple, yet perfect sums up her look that I couldn't not add to my top 10 favourites. 4. Cardi B wearing Chenpeng Studio  I just loved the edgy yet alternative bridal look that also incorporated a masculine energy through the shirt and tie design blended with a corset that still made the overall gown look and feel feminine as well as beautiful. I’m not a fan of Cardi B as a rapper but like Kim Kardashian her Met Gala looks have never disappointed and I think this look was one of her best yet. 

5. Devon Aoki wearing Jeremy Scott Even though it’s yet another black & white gown, I just love the cartoon styled wings on the bust line of the corset. To me it made this gown stand out in the sea on monochrome that plagued the Met Gala 2023. Without that unique design, this gown would’ve gone unnoticed and it would’ve easily become another gown that was worn to the wrong event.

6. Florence Pugh in Valentino Florence has been killing it with her red carpet looks in the last 18 months or so, so it was no surprise that she would turn heads at the Met Gala. Whilst I'm not a fan of Valentino since Pierpaolo Piccioli took over as creative designer when Maria Grazi Chiuri left for Dior back in 2016, I can’t help but love this look. A simple white gown paired with a huge feather crown just looked stunning on Florence and it’s another reason why we love seeing show stopping numbers like this one.

7. Glenn Close wearing Erdem Moralıoğlu Similar to Florence Pugh’s look, Glenn Close just looked phenomenal in her Erdem Moralıoğlu design. Once again it was simple yet stunning and I loved the colour on her. It suited her to a tee and what better way to pair a simple gown that with a huge pale blue cape and the sparkliest jewellery of the night. It just goes to show that anyone of any age and can look amazing when dressed perfectly for the Met Gala.

8. Liu Wen wearing Tory Burch I just love how simple the gown is yet at the bottom it’s filled with white flowers that make the Tory Burch gown stand out amongst hundreds of Met Gala looks. The whole look screams red carpet but it’s also the ideal gown for a bride who doesn’t want to wear white to her wedding. Liu Wen just looked stunning in it and it’s why her look has made it into my top 10. 

9. Salma Hayek wearing Gucci I just love that it wasn’t black or white and the sharpness of the red looked phenomenal on Salma both in the PVC corset and the long tiered skirt. Plus the subtle draping of the pearls as straps just topped the look off altogether. Once again I loved everything about it and I can’t fault it at all. It was perfect.  10. Tems wearing Robert Wun This gown was a standout for all the right reasons. Tems looked absolutely gorgeous from head to toe and I love how all the feathers are perfectly placed on both the gown, the gloves and the headpiece from stepping over that line from haute couture into a costume. The shape of the gown also compliments her body to her a tee and I couldn’t think of anything better that Tem’s could’ve worn to the Met Gala.  So this concludes my top 10 looks from the Met Gala 2023. I have to say picking this list was hard because there were so many another amazing designs worn last night, however these 10 stand out to me the most. Feel free to leave your opinion in the comments about which was your standout garment from last night, perhaps it’s on my list and perhaps it’s not. 

I look forward to hearing what you all have to say about this year’s fashion.

[yourdarlingness]

　◞◟　argenti　names · pronouns · titles　!

　　·　requested by anon

　more npts from others　—　1　2　3

　◞◟　NAMES　✦

　:　Adorne . Adornelle . Adorinly . Amore . Amour . Beau . Charme . Charmelle . Lovelynn . Mercy . Noblique . Nobleanth(e). Rosaric . Rosanthe . Rosaire . Virtuor 　:　Atticus . Avery . Caine . Calix . Ernest . Florence . Flynn . Lucian . Lucio . Lucianne . Lucinda . Lucy . Rosito . Rosalio . Rosette . Rosetta . Roselia . Rosa . Sebastian . Prince

　◞◟　PRONOUNS　✦

　:　kni / knight . re / rose . chi / chivalry . qu / quest . hon / honor . pet / petal . che / cher . chae / chaer . chae / charm . beau / beauty . blo / bloom . ado / adore . mer / mercy . h🌹 / h🌹m . sh🌹 / h🌹r . th🌹y / th🌹m . 🥀 . 🌹 . 💐 . ⚔️ . 🗡️

　◞◟　TITLES　✦

　:　the knight . one of the knights of beauty . the noble one . the noblest (one / knight) of all . the knight of beauty . the knight who charms all . the beauty and the knight . the knight who upholds the name of beauty . the knight with aesthetic virtues . the knight with prn shining armor . (the one / prn) who sees beauty in all . prn (elegant / rosey) fragrance . prn gracefulness . prn who honors beauty . prn who blooms like roses . prn knightly duties . prn who embodies roses . prn chivalric acts . prn charming smile

[x] can be replaced with any nouns or terms you prefer

[yelenasdiary]

You Did What?!

Pairing: Florence Pugh x Reader

Summary: Flo comes home with a little surprise 

Fluff | No Warnings | 1.2K | 

AC: If you watched the new interview, I hope you heard my tears of joy! 

With A Good Person just released and your girlfriend on a press tour from London to the States, it was hard not to miss her! Of course, if you had the time off work, you would've traveled with her without a second thought. The two of you have been spending plenty of time in the newly built home in London while Florence took a short break from filming and press, luckily for you your job allowed you to work from home via conference calls etc. 

Florence texted and called you every day, even if she only had a quick 2 minutes to say hi and that she misses you. You loved how no matter where she was, you both were able to make things work. 

When Florence texted you in capitals out of pure excitement, the biggest smile tugged at your lips as you read "I'M DOING THE PUPPY INTERVIEW!!!" It's been on her bucket list for a while now. Just to be surrounded by puppies, who wouldn't want that?! Almost instantly you called her to ask all the questions of when and where.

"I'm doing it tomorrow! I wasn't going to tell you and just wait for you to see it but I got too excited" she chuckled over the phone. Your smile only grew bigger by the sound of her voice and the happiness you could hear. "There's no way you could've kept this from me for too long" you replied in a sarcastic tone. 

"Just be prepared for all the behind-the-scenes selfies" Flo commented. 

"Oh, I'll be waiting! I better get more photos of puppies though" you joked. Florence playfully huffed, "Are you saying I'm not as cute as the puppies?!" she asked. "That's exactly what I'm saying, sorry babe" you chuckled as you pictured what her facial expression would look like right now. 

"I get it, I mean, if you were in a room full of puppies, I'd go for the puppies too" Florence joked pack in a put-on hurt tone. The two of you were well known for always laughing and making fun of one another. 

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're standing there with your free hand on your hip right now totally not offended that I think puppies are cuter than you" 

There was a moment of silence before Florence chuckled once more, "Are you spying on me baby? Have you got eyes one me?" she asked. 

"Always, I'm everywhere" you playfully shook your head, "I have a conference call in 5 minutes baby but I hope you have a wonderful time tomorrow, I can't wait to see the puppies!" you added when your eyes caught the time. 

"Don't let me keep you love, say hi to Billie for me! I miss you both" 

"I think Billie is going to have second thoughts about you after I show her the photos you'll send" 

"Don't you dare! Billie, baby, don't listen to her! mommy loves you!" You'll never get over the sound of joy that comes from her giggle. "I love you hon but I really have to go, I'll text you after" you pouted as your eyes stayed glued to the time on your laptop. 

"Alright darling, have a lovely meeting! I miss you" 

"I miss you too love, stay safe!" 

You both kept the phone to your ears until the beeping died out and silence filled the room. Billie looked up at you as she lay by your feet, a sigh came from you as you looked down at her. "Only a few more days, Billie!" You smiled softly. 

----

Those few more days felt like forever as you and Billie waited patiently for Florence to walk through the door. As normal, Flo messaged you when she landed and that she'd only be a few more hours until she was home, and you could finally tackle her to the floor (with Billie's help) and attack her with a giant hug. During those hours, you decided to cook her favorite dinner and pop open a bottle of her favorite wine before setting the table. 

A playlist that Florence made on your phone played softly in the background, your excitement building by the minute as the clock ticked on, just waiting for the sound of a car pulling up and Billie racing to the front door. Even though the house was filled with the delicious smell of dinner, that never stopped Billie from getting distracted by the sound of Flo at the door. Her bark alerted you that somebody was at the home, and you couldn't help but smile as you quickly poured two glasses of wine and sat them on the dinner table. 

"Darling! I know you and Billie are waiting to take me down but just give me a second to show you something first" Florence's voice came from the other side of the front door. 

"I don't think you're getting out of our love that easy" you chuckled. 

"No, my love, I have a surprise" Florence replied, "could you please hold Billie?" she added. 

You frowned slightly as you gently got down to Billie's level and held her back, "Go ahead" you called just before you saw the door creep open. "Don't be mad but" Florence paused as the door creeped open even more. Slowly Florence stepped in holding a little brown puppy with a tiny white patch on its chest. "Uh, baby" you gasp, "I don't think you were meant to steal a puppy!" you added as Flo slowly walked over to you and Billie, both dogs tails wagging wildly as Florence gently placed the puppy on the floor.

 "I didn't steal her, I adopted her" Florence smiled proudly as she looked up at you, "You did what?" You raised a brow in shock. 

"I adopted her, I don't know how to explain it but leaving her behind felt wrong, I hope you're not mad. Look at her cute little face" 

It was no lie, the puppy was adorable, you just weren't expecting Florence to bring home a puppy! Although Billie quickly showed a liking to the little pup, sniffing her and rolling onto her back to let the new family member sus her out. "You know I can't stay mad about this" you playfully glared at Florence whose smile did not fade an inch, "what's her name?" you asked. 

"She doesn't have one yet, that's for you to pick" Florence watched as the unnamed puppy made her way over to your lap. Her big dark brown eyes looked up at you as you gently picked her up, "You really are just adorable aren't you" you coo'd. After a few moments of petting her and rubbing her chubby puppy belly, you looked up at Florence and smiled. "How about Layla?" you questioned. Florence chuckled, "Did you also notice the little L shape bite mark on her collar?" she asked, you nodded. 

"Layla is perfect!" Florence smiled as Layla jumped off your lap and wagged her tail as Billie came closer to her, "What do you think Billie? You have to be a good big sister and make sure Layla doesn't cause too much trouble" Flo added as she petted Billie gently. "You're picking up after thou, I'm still mad you brought home a dog" you playfully winked at your girlfriend who just shook her head at you as she reached over and kissed you softly. 

"I missed you" she whispered against your lips.

"Do that again and I may forgive you" you smiled softly before she kissed you once again, this time deeper. "I'll think about it" you chuckled as you tackled her with a tight hug, "I missed you too my love" you couldn't help but kiss her once more.

Taglist: @red1culous | @bentleywolf29 | @jeyramarie | @lissaaaa145 | @high--power | @parkerdaramitzzzz | @mmmmokdok | @wackymcstupid | @kiwiana145  | @sophie-xox | @shin-conan-kun | @nattyolw | @ripofflizzie | @get-the-fuck-outta-here | @goofy-goonie | @makegoodchoices | @apollo2907 | @marvelfan98 | @wandaroman0ff | @dumb-fawkin-bitch | @lovelyy-moonlight | @santana1437 | @sophie-xox | @fluffyblanketgecko | @inluvwithfictionalwomen | @jaymieflorissssssss | @tita001 | @youralphawolf72 | @crescent-witch | @randomnessbecausewhynot | @natashamaximoff69 | @a-dorkier-book-keeper | @hehehehannahthings | @blue-serendipityy | @secrettoallofyou | @romantic-slaps-on-the-asss | @marvel-fan-2021 | @mmmmokdok | @riveramorylunar | @ripofflizzie | @toldthatdevil | @itsmv3 | @katiemay-025 | @livresjaunes | 

[skidmark4]

hello skid how r u how is ur day going

hello florence 💯 all quiet ovr here & im ab 2 boot up th sims 🏠 how u doin ?

[melanie-ohara]

Whumpuary2024 Masterpost

As well as every story I've written this month I also want to include some Fun Stats! about my experience of the challenge, as well as a playlist of all the songs I used lyrics from in my titles. Here we go:

The stats:

Words written: 53,034 (!!!!!)

Stories released: 17

Longest story: Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful, 4,165 words, Mass Effect Andromeda

Shortest story: Like a Mouthful of Rain, 963 words, Original Work

Favourite story: Do You Want Me On Your Mind? 2,950 words, Baldur's Gate 3

Chocolate bars consumed: 20

Times cried while writing: four

Main prompts used: 27

Alt prompts used: 3

The stories:

These are all available on tumblr too, but for expedience and convenience these are all AO3 links. I'm also listing the song I used for the title, which wasn't something I was doing intentionally until the third story, at which point I figured it was better to lean into it and find songs that work for the characters I'm writing about rather than straining my poor brain to think of an original title.

Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful

Mass Effect Andromeda, Sara Ryder/Vetra Nyx

Prompts: Snow, Captivity

Title stolen from Let It Snow by Ella Fitzgerald

My Heart Was Wired in Thorns

Baldur's Gate 3, Dark Urge (Sithla) & Wyll, Dark Urge & Lae'zel

Prompts: "Get away from me", Choking

Title stolen from Circus Bazooko by BRMC

In The Woods Somewhere and Take Yourself Apart For Me

Star Wars Ahsoka, Wolfwren (Sabine and Shin)

Prompts: Stabbed, Used as Bait, Lightheaded, "Help me"

Titles stolen from In The Woods Somewhere by Hozier and Haunt by BRMC

Hollow Yourself in the Mercy of Man

Original Work - Sci-fi

Prompt: Can't Move

Title stolen from Mercy of Man by Robert Levon Been ft. S.G. Goodman

Like a Mouthful of Rain

Original Work - Medieval

Prompt: Kidnapped

This one was hard to write. The previous day's story was such a failure in my eyes that I scrapped the planned second chapter and almost didn't write anything at all, until I threw this together at the last minute. I liked it quite a lot, in the end.

Title stolen from Revolver by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Alive, Just to Watch the Bruises Heal

Mass Effect, Shepard/Thane Krios

Prompts: Exhaustion, Old Injuries

This one got pretty dark, but it's something I've been thinking about for literally years. I'm not the first person to justify the ME1 scars not being in ME2, but I might be the first person to think about Shepard putting them back.

Title stolen from Bruises by Band of Skulls

I'm Not Here Looking For Absolution

Star Wars, Nitearmor (Bo Katan/The Armorer)

Prompts: "I didn't know where else to go", Bruises

It is genuinely surprising to me that this is the only smut I wrote for this month

Title stolen from Bedroom Hymns by Florence + The Machine

Like a Broken Sail

Dishonored, Billie Lurk

Prompts: Hostage, Muffled Screams

I really liked this one because I got to subvert the second prompt a little. I was looking forward to it for days before I got to write it

Title stolen from Future Starts Slow by The Kills

The Working of My Hands

Baldur's Gate 3, Tav (Emily of Rivington)/Lae'zel

Prompts: "Do you trust me?", Restraints

Title stolen from De Selby, Part 2 by Hozier

No Hope For Me, Your Last Serving Daughter

Original Work - Etagne Empire

Prompts: Desperation, Can't Stay Awake

This is a story about a character from my work-in-progress book, MYSTERIES IN THE LAND OF ICE.

Title stolen from Hope In The Air by Laura Marling

Do You Want Me On Your Mind?

Baldur's Gate 3, Nocturne/Shadowheart, Tav (Mellephora)/Shadowheart

Prompts: Memories, Forced to Watch

Another prompt I had fun subverting

Title stolen from Fuel to Fire by Agnes Obel

Rulers Make Bad Lovers

Dishonored, Emily Kaldwin/Wyman/Alexi Mayhew

Prompts: "You're awake", Unfair Fight

Title stolen from Gold Dust Woman by Copilot Music + Sound (originally by Fleetwood Mac)

See How Deep the Bullet Lies

Mass Effect, Shiara (Shepard/Liara)

Prompts: Left to Die, "I'm fine"

Title stolen from Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush

I'll Be Your All For Now

Dishonored, Cecelia/Callista

Prompts: Sleep Deprivation, "Let me see"

These two are my number one rarepair, I love them

Title stolen from Echo by BRMC

Can't Touch You Now and A Soft Caress, As Cold As Death

Baldur's Gate 3, Tav (Calarisa)/Karlach

Prompts: Touch-starved, Aftermath

Titles stolen from Because the Night by Garbage & Screaming Females (originally by Patti Smith), and I Want to Live by Borislav Slavov ft. Ilona Ivanova

The songs I stole lyrics from

Here is a spotify playlist of all the music I used, most of which fit the stories or characters in them. They do not flow into each other at all and there's an over-abundance of BRMC (they're my favourite band, shoot me), but these are all songs I really love. Apart from Let it Snow. That's there because I didn't plan any of this.

Final thoughts

Whumpuary2024 is the first month-long challenge I've undertaken, and it was extremely hard and really rewarding. I aimed to average a thousand words a day and blew clear past that most days, and a few times I barely stumbled across the line as beaten and bloodied as the people I was writing about. I'm incredibly glad I did it and I will probably try again next year (though maybe not a prompt a day next time!). Thank you @whumpuary for the fun event and for randomly crossing my dash at a moment when I was feeling creative enough to sign myself up

If anyone made it this far, thank you for reading! I hope you like the stories. It's not a secret that I'm adding a secret 18th story as a follow up to the Wolfwren series, but this is your special confirmation that it'll be out February the first and second

[comfy-whumpee]

Jane 2

Whumptober 18 - tortured for information.

Avis ordered her clothes, toiletries and treats. Tenten cooked her meals. Paris, now called Florence, sat next to her and snuck glances from the corner of their eye. Kamala went where Florence went, for the most part, but at other times paid her devotion to the cartoons and comics she adored. Roman hid from her. And then there was Boo.

What a ludicrous name. They were clearly living some kind of delusional fantasy, to be acting like one of the real rescues here, accepting a cutesy nickname and allowing the others to treat them like an equal. It was shamefully obvious what had happened to Mistress Tara’s first hunter. They had been tempted by freedom.

‘Jane’ was the living proof that Mistress Tara’s hunters could never be free. She wasn’t as experienced as ‘Boo’, but she could do enough to find them, and find simultaneously their target. Now she was here, as they were, to be taken on as a rescue. But she would not swallow their lies.

At the end of her first day, Avis showed her to a small room, equipped with the barest minimum furniture, and apologised. “It’s a guest room,” she explained inanely. “The bathroom is right across the hall. My room is at the other side, there’s a sign on the door with a bird on it. Come and knock if you need anything at all.”

Jane nodded. The room was warm and had carpet, so it was already a far cry from what she was used to.

Avis withdrew. Jane closed the door, sat down underneath the window with the curtain drawn back, and waited.

-

Boo didn’t sleep.

It was impossible. The nightmare had come true. There was, in this house right now, someone who meant to do them all harm. Florence being returned to their Sir was bad enough, but losing them would destroy Kamala. She needed to devote herself to someone, and after the presumed death of her old owner, losing Florence would reopen that emotional wound. Tenten and Roman, with their trained invective to be perfect, would naturally assume guilt for something they had nothing to do with. And Avis… Avis was doing this all because she had lost her son. If she lost someone else…

There was nothing for it. Boo stayed awake and listened. They listened to the footsteps settle into silence as each of them went to their own rooms. They listened to the light switch turn off in Florence’s room next to theirs. They listened to the pines creak and settle. They listened to the faint shift of wind across the roof. They listened, waiting, for a door to open.

They listened without moving. They could do this for hours, and they did. It was the dead of night when the traitor made her move.

They heard the door open. The footsteps were almost silent, but she didn’t know where the floorboards were solid and where they creaked. Even as she did her best to creep along the landing, she set her foot on the board between the third and fourth railings around the stairs, which let out a short groan.

Boo listened, tense for the sound of Florence’s door opening. Would she try to abduct them straight away? Would she threaten them? Try to win their trust? Think. What would a hunter do? What would Mistress Tara expect?

They darted back from the door a moment before the handle started turning. She was coming in here. She was coming in here and they hadn’t locked the door because they were complacent and used to being safe here and now she was in the doorway, closing the door behind her, locking the door behind her as they’d neglected to do and now they were face to face.

They stared at her. She stared back.

“Hunter,” she said.

“Hunter,” they returned. The word came out instinctively. The first time they had spoken since arriving here.

That was what Boo had to do, they realised. They had to act normal and tell their practised lies. If she realised that they had betrayed their Mistress, she would make them pay.

“Why are you here?” they asked, forcing their voice to emerge smoothly without the rasp of disuse. They couldn’t let her see how true their presented self had become.

“Mistress grows impatient,” she replied, still staring them down. “You have made no progress in three months.” “I have made progress,” they return. Their voice is level, not defensive. They are colleagues exchanging information. “I have earned the trust of the target and the others here. They view me as damaged and pitiful. Working here takes subtlety, because our work is illegal. The dynamics here are delicate.”

Could she tell, they wondered, that this was another act? Could she see the terror beneath their confidence? They breathed normally. They did not tense, blink, wince, or give any tell. Control yourself.

Her face was impassive. “The client demands action. We play this role because we can do the illegal and suffer no consequence. I will call for transport tomorrow. You will get the target out of this house.”

“Impossible,” they say flatly. “Have you not noticed the structure? Outings are dictated by Avis. Kamala and Paris will not be separated. Kamala acts as their caretaker and chaperone at all times.”

“She is weak and can be overpowered.”

Boo did not flinch. But the factual statement made them pause nonetheless. Mistress Tara’s methods had changed, from one hunter to the next. Had she trained Jane alongside them? Or afterwards, when she noticed their failure? What threats and promises had she instilled in her second pet?

“I was discouraged from harming other pets,” they tell her, to explain their surprise. She would no doubt have noticed.

“We do what is necessary,” she replied.

Boo considered her again. This was what they had been. This was how they had looked from the outside: dead-eyed and driven, seeing no way out but forward, imagining no other path, no other life. Avis had given them one without asking for permission, and Boo was glad, because they would have said no.

Could Jane be offered the same? They doubted it. She had been sent with a strict time limit. She had no time.

Even if she did, and she was sent on to another shelter, what then? Mistress Tara would not stand for it. She would sent more hunters. She might even come herself. Even Boo wasn’t sure that they could stand up to her in person. But still…

Avis – and Florence – would want there to be a way.

“We do,” they agreed. “When is the deadline?”

The knife appeared without warning and was against their neck a moment later, their back shoved into the closed door, hand around their arm, pushing it back from interfering. Boo froze, instincts drowned in the need to stay in control. Their pulse raced but the rest of them would not move.

Jane’s expression was unchanged as she pressed the stolen kitchen knife to their throat. She looked down at them without emotion. They looked back the same.

“You hesitated,” she told them. That was that. “Tell me what would make Paris leave the house.”

Boo exhaled. Their heartbeat was pounding all the way through them, down to their fingertips and toes. She was loyal as they had been. She was determined to succeed. She had no mercy, no sympathy, or none that she could ever act on. They felt their back sting with the slash of the whip. She was fresh and bold and implacable. They had more experience, but they had grown weak. Despite every workout, every sweep of the house, every night spent awake planning and plotting in case of danger – they had grown weak.

“Five,” she said. Mistress Tara did the same thing. Their strategies were learned from her. Their tactics were taught. Even their accents were the same as hers.

“Four,” she said.

“You are too rash, sister,” they tried, hoping to at least shock her with the offer of family.

She showed no reaction, but the knife jabbed down into their shoulder, breaking through cloth and skin, but only just.

Boo did not tense.

“Mistress Tara explained your weaknesses,” she warned them. The tip of the knife grazed the edge of their bullet wound scar. “What would cause Paris to leave the house?”

Control yourself! Their back burned. They could feel the blood welling up. “Paris leaves for their music lesson,” they answer. They do not stammer or tremble. “Every Tuesday. That is the best time. They travel with Avis, no Kamala.”

Tuesday was almost a whole week away. Jane did not consider it for a second. The knife pressed more deeply. “They leave tomorrow. What causes Kamala to separate from them?”

“Florence sleeps late,” they offer, knowing it is useless. “Nobody expects to see them before mid-morning.”

Whoever was collecting them wouldn’t have time to arrive. Jane still stared with her tranquil gaze as the knife pierced through the scar entirely and broke the tender muscle underneath.

The pain meant very little, but they would have trouble using that arm if she continued. Dr Davies would notice. Kamala would notice. Avis might. They would ask. The truth would have to come out. All of it.

“What tension is there between Paris and Kamala?”

Boo realised their mistake with a cold breath. Paris. They hadn’t said Paris.

“I see of none,” they lied again, as steadily as they can. “Kamala is a Platonic. She bends herself to their every whim, and they know no different.”

“You are useless.”

Their eyes slam closed as she removes the knife. Their expression could be carved from marble. They had been called useless countless times by Mistress Tara, and clearly… So had she.

“I will kill Kamala,” she told them, “or you can leave the house now. If you are missing in the morning, I will have my opening, and nobody will be harmed.”

Would they sacrifice Kamala for Florence? Yes. Florence was the one they owed. But Kamala would not be the only death. Even if Jane escaped with Florence alone, it would be the end of that bright, curious person that Boo had come to know. Florence would bleed out. Only Paris would be allowed to remain.

“I’ll leave,” they agreed. In the vain hope of bringing her back to their side, they added, “You would be suspected of the murder instantly. It would hinder your escape.”

She did not react. She reached past them and unlocked the door.

“You have sixty seconds,” she whispered.

They did not react. They turned away, and walked down the stairs, stepped into their shoes, and after a moment’s consideration, left through the glass patio door at the back of the house.

She remained upstairs, ready to kill Kamala if they faltered. Perhaps to kill Kamala anyway.

The night was bitingly cold. The blood trickling down their shoulder was the only warm thing about them. Their ears were ringing for no reason and their heart still beat like they were moving at a dead sprint.

The lane was dark. They walked down its centre, knowing there would be no cars. Hardly anyone lived this far out. The seclusion had been perfect for a shelter. Perfect for a murder spree, too.

The wind whispered between the leaves of trees. The road, barely more than flattened earth, was damp beneath their soles. Boo avoided leaving the Birdhouse, and had never walked down this long road. They didn’t know where it would lead them.

Kamala was probably already dead. The others would be next. Might as well kill them all.

But then, why let them escape? No, she was trying to do this without bloodshed. She simply knew they wanted that too. She had seen and bargained on their stupid attachment to those people.

Those pets. Pets like Boo, who would never escape what they were trained for.

Their feet came to a stop.

They weren’t trained as a hunter. Not originally. No, that had come later, with Mistress Tara. There had been an owner before Mistress Tara. A rich, powerful man, one with enemies, one deep in the volatile world of crime. A man who had needed a bodyguard to take his bullets, and that, Boo had done.

They were trained to protect.

[callmearcturus]

aw yeah lets do this

S-Tier, AKA the Legitimately Good Tier:

HAWKEYE: Maybe my favorite MCU thing I have ever watched.

+ If you let Jeremy Renner actually act and give him a script, he's fucking great. + Kate Bishop is a perfect mess and I love her, I love she's young and excitable but also takes things seriously, she feels like she's a work in progress, I love her. + MAYA. Holy shit the gravity well of this character, how her presence dictates any scene she is in. Truly stellar. + This entire miniseries is like an extended apology for Hawkeye in every other appearance. "Sorry we dropped the ball with this character so consistently, we will bring the A game here." + The importance of disability. I'm among the ppl who was upset that Hawkeye's disability was dropped, so the way it is centered over and over and over in this, how its practical, how it's funny, how it's sad, how it gives us the most devastatingly emotional scene in all of the MCU yes I am talking about the phone call scene, finally. Fucking finally. + Florence fucking Pugh and her entire charm offensive. + The car chase scene.

- The first episode is unfortunately REALLY slow. - Nah that's all I got. I love this one.

THOR: RAGNAROK

+ "Asgard isn't a place, it's a people" is maybe the most poignant message any MCU film has ever managed. + Literally the funniest movie, but also basically a repair job of character building for everyone in it. + The camerawork in this one makes me so happy. + Tom Hiddleston is given so much to do and he's there with heels on, spectacular. + The giant turret/pegging visual pun, god bless. + Cate Blanchett can kill me.

- uuuuuuuuh. It's not as good as Hawkeye. Yeah.

GOTG Vol 2

+ Sorry but I am a GOTG Truther, I really do think its the one storyline in the MCU that is allowed to get away with really fucking intense character drama because it's not considered "main line." There is a reason ppl rioted when they tried to remove Gunn, and I'm with them. + The only good thing Chris Pratt has done since Parks and Rec. + The way this storyline centers on death and grief is devastating. + Rocket Racoon is the best character in the MCU and we all know it.

- I think the initial treatment of Mantis is REALLY rough even though in the end I think it works, but that's a hell of a hump to get over.

A-TIER, AKA the Great for a MCU Flick Tier:

BLACK PANTHER

+ My biggest problem with the MCU is the creative desert of its set and costume design, the way it feels like nothing is given time to breathe in the creative process. BP is the antithesis of that. I would watch a four hour documentary just on the visual design of this movie, from the architecture to the costumes to the make-up, everything. I don't want to hear from the director or writers, I want to hear four hours of just the craftspeople talking about their work. It's monumental. + Best Villain in the MCU, bar none. + Only MCU film to move me to actual tears in the movie theatre.

- I loved this movie! For the life of me I could not tell you the plot. I understand the plot of every Mission Impossible film but I don't know the plot of this movie. - If this movie was allowed to cut, like, 20 minutes of action and replace it with more character drama, it'd be the best MCU film.

IRON MAN 3

+ The MCU Movie That Pulls Exactly Zero Punches About Being About Mental Health And PTSD Holy Shit + Rhodey and Pepper get so much to do and I like an ensemble piece so much + Shane Black is in love with RDJ and I'm so happy for him + Pepper gets to be a lil monsterfied and that's hot

- Doesn't have Sam Rockwell. - The plot is kinda fully secondary to the character work, which imo is fine, but yanno.

GOTG Vol 1

+ All the stuff I said about GOTG Vol 1

- It's not Vol 2, which benefits from having all the bedrock foundation built by this movie to spring from.

B-TIER, AKA It's Fine I Guess:

IRON MAN 1

It's good! It invented the wheel! Part of it are fucking agonizingly painful to watch in 2023 but it also has more heart than 80% of the franchise so.

IN A CAVE. WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS.

LOKI

Okay it feels shitty of me to judge this one on its technical faults bc apparently it was shot during the pandemic and that causes a lot of the issues with the camerawork, the awkward editing, and just how Weird everything was put together. But also it's REALLY stilted and awkward, which butts up against the good script and the better acting, so IDK man.

Owen Wilson is amazing. Even my mother thought the way they canonized Loki being bi was a cop-out. And the final twist pissed me off. I hope Season 2 is better.

THOR 1

I DUNNO WHAT TO TELL YOU, BUT KENNETH BRANAGH UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT.

DR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS

This movie is a mess but once i figured out it was trying to be The MCU Does Gothic Horror, I was a lot more on board. It has all the flaws of the original Dr Strange and is hard to visually follow like most MCU films, but also has America Chavez, who I adore.

IRON MAN 2

It has Sam Rockwell, I don't give a fuck.

C-TIER, AKA I wish I cared but I do not 8C

DR STRANGE

I dunno I like the actual character of Strange weirdly, I like what a complete fucking asshole he is, I like his god complex and how he reacts to his disability as a surgeon. On the other hand what the fuck is Tilda Swinton doing here, this is just awful. My biggest issue with this film is that it didn't have to be this terrible but every decision made about it feels so fucking thoughtless and myopic.

WANDAVISION

yanno. i cannot even explain why i fell off this so hard. Like, this one Had Me all the way up to and including the Agatha reveal, but like the final episodes after that reveal somehow left me completely cold and uncaring. it's genuinely weird.

D-TIER, AKA Oh my god no thank you

AVENGERS

I hate the writing. Like, I haaaaate the writing. I feel like the only likeable relationship in this is Tony and Bruce, and that does not carry this movie. The quip-driven writing, the way the need for a joke supercedes naturalistic voices and dialogue making sense, it pisses me off. I hate the writing. Heartless movie.

BLACK WIDOW

oh my god i'm actively angry at this movie okay because for the first 20 minutes, I was like "wait, is this going to be a real movie," because it felt smaller, the action felt more realistic, that fight between the Widow and Yelena in the beginning felt like it could have been out of MI: Fallout, and the other fight between Natasha and Yelena in the safehouse was also good, I really thought for a few moments that this could be Good

and then it just took a hard right into The MCU Tries And Fails To Make MI: Fallout (They Even Stole The Mask Gag, What The Fuck Was That) and not only was I disappointed, I was like retroactively pissed for the 20 minutes when I had hope in my heart. If not for David Harbour's character, I would have just left in the middle of this movie.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Its not at bad as Infinity War! Nebula and Rocket carried this movie on their fucking backs. But what do I know, I liked Renner's mohawk of sadness.

F-Tier, AKA Fuck This Movie

INFINITY WAR

Fuck this movie with a rusted steel dildo, fuck this entire fucking movie, I despise it. The writing is so actively fucking terrible I want to fistfight whoever is responsible. I fucking hate the attempts to humanize Thanos over how sad he is about the daughter he abused and then murdered, boo fucking hoo, I hate the joylessness of the superhero combinations, I hate the quip-driven writing, I hate this movie with a burning passion. This might be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Soulless and destitute.

[thedarkone121]

Fallen Prince Playlist: The Results are in!

Well, things can certainly change in one week, huh? From getting an opportunity to do the job I want and planning my weeks around it sure is something. Honestly, I should have put that poll in 24 hours and I could have saved myself from peeking at the poll. But what’s done is done and now I can finally tell you all the results!

It’s Fanfiction Time, Baby

In honor of this decision, I’ve thought to include the names of the chapter titles. A nice little sneak peek before I begin writing 😉

Fallen Prince Playlist Chapter Titles:

Grenade by Bruno Mars: Chapter 1

Decode by Paramore: Chapter 2

Bury a Friend by Billie Eilish: Chapter 3

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs by Fall Out Boy: Chapter 4

Daffodil (Visualiser) by Florence + The Machine: Chapter 5

Pity Party by Melanie Martinez: Chapter 6

Falling Inside The Black by Skillet: Chapter 7

Move Your Body by Eiffel 65: Chapter 8

And now it’s time to be made fun of for my songs choice 🤣 Listen, I feel like I have certain tastes and I don’t think I listen to enough music to have a whole library of it. But these are songs I know and the ones I thought would best fit the story.

If you haven’t heard a few of these songs, I recommend giving them a listen to. Who knows what you might like! Excuse me, I need to go start writing Chapter 1

🏃‍♀️💨

[avaford2009]

It has 9 original songs written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez from upcoming social media art and literature platform Dreamworks’ Princess Amelia and the Pied Piper

It inculdes 9 original songs written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

1. Welcome to Hamelin (Parody of "Welcome to Rosas" from "Wish")

2. I Almost Remember (Once Upon A December) (From "Anastasia")

3. This Journey To The Past (From "Anastasia")

4. Life's Too Short (From "Frozen")

5. And This Is The Thanks I Get?! (From "Wish")

6. I Make This Wish (From "Wish")

7. Let It Go (From "Frozen")

8. Let It Go (Reprise) (A Fanmade song from "Frozen")

9. I Make This Wish (Reprise) (From "Wish")

Welcome to Hamelin (Parody of "Welcome to Rosas" from "Wish") is about when in the film and social media art and literature platform’s opening number, Amelia (voiced by Ariana DeBose in her singing role) introduces us to the town of Hamelin where she lives from her new home, where everyone is content because they know the rat catcher and magical flutist Pied Piper (Emmanuel Pahud, the flutist when Pied Piper is unable or chooses not to speak) for their hearts desires and wishes for him to tell the story of him for the 5th anniversary of the story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin.

I Almost Remember (Once Upon A December) (From "Anastasia") is about when Amelia is reminiscing about her life as the princess of Hamelin. She distantly remembers of her childhood living within the palace, and she feels a strong sense of nostalgia as she wanders from room to room. Later on, she imagines the ballroom coming to life as dancers waltz across the floor. She sings of remembrance, memories, and a sense of forgetting something she once held near and dear to her heart.

This Journey To The Past (From "Anastasia") is about Amelia has just recently wandered the forest and is now making her way to the kingdom of Far, Far Away in an impulsive decision to find her old home. She sings about finding her path through life and making it to her way, where her old home must live and where her past must reside. In other words, she is on a “journey to the past”—the past that she had been her old home before. Pied Piper follows his lead to Amelia's path.

Life's Too Short (From "Frozen") is the hero and villain duet song is about Amelia trying to using Goldilocks to be her sister, and the two former sisters finally being friends now that Goldilocks' secret is revealed. Their opposite personalities keep them away from one another, though.

And This Is The Thanks I Get?! (From "Wish") is the villain song is about the citizens of Hamelin and the people of Far, Far Away are close to revolt as they press Goldilocks (voiced by Judy Kuhn in her singing role) for greater transparency regarding what she is doing with her entire life as she spies on Amelia falling in love with Pied Piper. Goldilocks goes back into the Far, Far Away palace and vents about the ingratitude of her subjects, amid much complimenting herself on her good looks.

I Make This Wish (From "Wish") is about Amelia (voiced by Ariana DeBose in her singing role) has found out that Pied Piper (voiced by Emmanuel Pahud, the flutist when Pied Piper is unable or chooses not to speak) has no intention of not paying the piper that the citizens of Hamelin have fooled to him. Outraged, she finds a high spot outside the castle and sings this song about wishing she had the power to help not only Pied Piper or Goldilocks, but everyone in the town of Hamelin and even the kingdom of Far, Far Away. And she looks up the stars and makes her wish.

Let It Go (From "Frozen") is about Amelia with her struggles to find her place in a world that knows her and a life she’s knew that she too many bad things of.

Let It Go (Reprise) (A Fanmade song from "Frozen") is about when Amelia (Ariana DeBose in her singing role) pleads to the people of Far, Far Away and the citizens of Hamelin to change its future and stop Goldilocks (Florence Pugh in her speaking role).

And the final song is I Make This Wish (Reprise) (From "Wish") is about an aftermath of Goldilocks' defeat, Amelia saw Pied Piper statues him to death, she wishes for him to come back alive, promises him to see her as the magic of an act of true love. Amelia hugs Pied Piper and cries. The people of Far, Far Away and the citizens of Hamelin watches in shocked despair and in somber silence. But all of the sudden, Amelia's wish was granted and it came true, Pied Piper begins to thaw, the statues breaks and cracks, he came back alive! And Pied Piper embraces Amelia as the magic of an act of true love.

Coming this Fall to a social media art and literature platform near you!

[talesfromthecrypts]

🎵 music tag game 🎵

13 songs I’ve been listening to lately🎵 (in no particular order) 1. The Bomb - Florence + The Machine 2. Rainy Day - Ice Nine Kills 3. You Were the Beat of My Heart - The Lure Soundtrack 4. Hell's Bells - AC/DC 5. Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails 6. Werewolf Hearts - Dead Man's Bones 7. I'm Not Okay But I Know I'm Going to Be - Raleigh Ritchie 8. Dragon Attack - Queen 9. Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy 10. Vampires Will Never Hurt You - My Chemical Romance 11. The Undertaker - Puscifer 12. I Want to Live - Baldur's Gate 3 Score 13. Teeth - Lady Gaga

tagged by: @gresit tagging: @mycupofstars, @bilestat, @feodor-dostoevsky, @thesoldiersminute, @markhoffmen

[illustrious-beauty]

Tag Nine People You'd Like to Get to Know Better!

I was tagged by @musesofhororr

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐑(𝐒): Green, Purple, Blue

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑(𝐒): generally something savoury, sour, do have a soft spot for sweet flavours like cotton candy

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂: Hozier, Mitski, The Civil Wars, Classical music, Mäneskin, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Queen, Tamino, The Neighbourhood, Muse

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: Francesca by Hozier

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄(𝐒): Crimson Peak, Casablanca, The Philadelphia story, Roman Holiday, Thor: The Dark World, Thor, Pride and Prejudice (2005), Shakespeare in love, Tristan & Isolde, Ever After, Memento, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Troy (2004), Prince of Egypt

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄: Bridget Jone's Diary (2001)

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: Secret Bridesmaids business (K*tie McGr*th plays a bisexual lawyer in it; need I say more), The Last Kingdom, BBC Merlin, This is Us, The Killing, X-Files, The Fall, Sons of Anarchy, i Medici (Masters of Florence), The Borgias

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: If we go with what I finished then The Fall otherwise last watched Monarch on Apple TV+

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆: X-files (on s2 rn, love it so far), The Morning Show, The lions of Sicily, Vikings, Criminal Minds

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆: Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍: The second chapter of a 2 part fanfiction, the 6th chapter of a multi-chapter fic and a one-shot

Tagging (only do this if you'd like to + whoever sees this on my blog and wants to do it): @justanothermultimuse @esoterium

[halchron]

𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄 .

Share at least 5 songs that you associate with or remind you of your muse!

prompto

1. still feel - half•alive

2. control - halsey

3. perfect machine - starset

4. gasoline - halsey

5. like real people do - hoizer

sugawara

1. song of the ancients / devola - square enix music

2. vague hope ( cold rain ) - keigo hoashi

3. dog days are over - florence + the machine

4. thnks fr th mmrs - fall out boy

5. stand by me - florence + the machine

tagged by: @yeonban tagging: whoever wants to !

[ecodweeb]

Welcome home, Darcy!

I adopted a cat from a rescue in Columbia, South Carolina. Of course this meant we had to drive to go get the cat, and it turns out there’s more than one route to go pick up the cat. Let’s take a deeper dive into that and then I’ll tell you how things really went.

Route 1: US1 with a charge stop in Lilesville

This route is more direct, taking a little over 4 hours door-to-door with a charging stop on both the outbound and return legs. This station is run by the Pee Dee Electric Member Cooperative on the ChargePoint network and only costs 14-cent/kWh (about 3-cent more expensive than home charging), but it’s only a 50kW charger. 

Route 2: US1 with a charge stop in Hamlet

This route was roughly the same as Lilesville, however, the Duke Park and Plug stations here are 150kW each (so we’d get the full 75kW if the battery was low enough) but they cost more at 41-cent/kWh (30-cents or 3.7x the cost of home charging). In theory, we’d spend less time here since this system can max the car out -- but it also assumes that we’d need to be at a very low state of charge to achieve that maximum power.

Route 3: I-95 to I-20 with charge stops in Florence

Every single mapping app suggested taking 95 to 20, and at the time the Electrify America app said that all the stations at Florence were reduced to 50kW power -- so no maximum charge rate. It’s also 36-cent/kWh (25-cents more / about 3.2 times the cost of home charging). This route seemed the least attractive as the travel time was at best 12 minutes faster and we’d certainly be charging for longer, however this location does have good food options to chew up that time (har har, I made a pun!).

The Winner is...

My husband wanted to see what taking US1 to Columbia was like, as this is my alternative route to get to our campground in Georgia. So we decided to take the Hyundai down to Lilesville and then to Columbia. We left around 7:00am with a target arrival time of 12:00pm in Columbia (I budgeted 1 hour for charging). With 100% state of charge we set off for Lilesville and arrived with 58% after driving 110 miles. We only had two or three scary downpour moments from the severe storm front that was moving through the area.

As I plugged in I was inspecting the charge handle and noticed the rubber around the button was cracked. When I plugged into the car I did not hear the usual “click” of the latch on the plug locking into the socket on the car. However, the station said “Waiting for EV” and the car engaged the charge lock and the status ring in the charge port went green, followed by the ChargePoint station clicking and delivering power. Turns out the latch was broken, so it was pure luck that the station started charging. We never topped 48kW due to the state of charge, and we charged for 42 minutes to 90%. While PlugShare said this station was a 62kW, the screen said it’s a 50kW -- missing 12kW can make a big difference, but since the battery was over 50% the car wasn’t going to charge faster than 50kW anyway so it was a wash. This stop cost $3.52.

As we are pulling out of the parking lot, the foster texts me and says that she won’t be home before 1pm -- I tell her no problem, we will get lunch and see her at 1. The problem with charging at places like the Pee Dee main office is that there’s no bathrooms available outside their Monday-Friday business hours. Right as we went to leave, the urge to pee hit me. I asked Google for a truck stop and picked a Love’s that was on the way -- a little over an hour out. As we snaked our way into South Carolina and over to I-20, we watched as the sun peeked out of the clouds and the rain seemed to stay behind us. 

The Love’s I’d picked was off of I-20, and before we got there I spied another truck stop that also had a Subway -- this would be ideal for lunch. My husband’s like “Subway? Really?” and I told him that I know I can get something from Subway that won’t upset my stomach (remember I take Ozempic and I basically don’t like the “read meat burps” I get if I eat burgers and such from fast food places anymore). We pulled off at the Pilot travel center and hit the restroom, then walked into the Subway where we each ordered a wrap -- $25 later (when did Subway become so expensive?) we headed to the car to continue our trip. By this time we’d decided, since we were arrive around 12pm, that we’d go to the Electrify America and top the car off so we could drive straight home from the foster’s home.

Unfortunately, the Electrify America in Columbia was in worse shape than Florence -- only one station was operational, but it was running at 150kW. That said, it was in use according to the app when I checked about 20m to the exit. I decided to try the Nissan dealer down the road, seems the station works fine but the NAYAX card reader (ugh, I can’t stand these guys) was problematic and it might take a few tries to get the card to read. The Nissan Dealer is a mile or so from the Electrify America, so if it didn’t work we’d just wait for the person at the Electrify America station to finish and then plug in. As luck would have it, it started raining when we pulled up to the charger. I tried using Google Pay on my phone and it was rejected. By the time I got my wallet from the car, it had timed out so I had to run through the steps to start a charge on the screen again. This time I put in my chip card and it said not authorized. I tried swiping, it said to insert it, I put it in and it said not authorized. Then it timed out, so again I ran through the steps and got to the payment screen and I tapped my card. I got an error and then on a whim stuck the card into the chip reader and volia -- it started processing the payment! Third time’s the charm. The station fired right up, and as we were again around 56% state of charge, it never went above 48kW. We charged for about 42 minutes while we ate our wraps (it was tasty) and then drive the 6 miles to the foster house. The cost was around 42-cents/kWh with a $1 session fee, all said it was $9.39 to charge up here.

Darcy was more beautiful in person than any of the photos I’d seen. Her sister, Dixie, was also way more adorable in person. Dixie is blind, and despite that, she was the more social of the two and came up and head butted my ankle and rubbed on me. Now, my previous cat was blind... and I told the foster I’m really torn now. But we both agreed (tho me not 100%) that our household was way too active for her to adjust to, she panicked when she came into contact with any of the other cats living in the house that were not her sister or their room mate in the quarantined section of the house (a bathroom and a hallway that has a few bedrooms -- all doors closed, of course). Darcy was aloof and not really interested in meeting us or letting us pet her, but the foster said she was confident she’d be affectionate after she had time to settle into her new home.

When we brought in the cat carrier, the foster went and got gloves just in case Darcy decided to claw at her (she said she didn’t have a habit of it, but this was safety protocol). We opened the door to the carrier and low and behold Dixie marched right into it and checked it out. She was not scared of it at all, and then Darcy walked into the carrier behind her to check it out. We were both dumbfounded that the cats just put themselves into the carrier -- no cat likes the carrier! The foster put her gloved hand into the carrier and ushered Dixie out (she never bit, but she did growl), and Darcy never made a sound. Once Dixie was outside, we closed the cage door -- not even quickly, slowly. It wasn’t until the door clicked shut that Darcy’s Siamese yowl started. Oh, boy, this ride home was gonna be fun. It was at this time that the foster tells me the cats ate about an hour and a half before we got there... remember that, dear reader.

We spent well over an hour at the foster home before we loaded Darcy into the car and headed back towards North Carolina. About 10 minutes into the drive -- we’d just gotten onto the highway -- the smell hit. She pooped. In the carrier. Then she sat on the poop. We killed the AC and vented the sunroof and opened most of the windows -- it was sunny and comfortable (low 60s) so this wasn’t bad. Once we went nose blind to the smell, we closed up the windows and turned on the AC just in time for another surprise rain shower! We drove straight home with only one stop to pick up Pho for dinner about 4 miles from our house. When John got back in the car after getting the food he commented on how the nose blindness had worn off, and he gagged a little before rolling down his window.

As soon as we got home, Darcy was taken into her quarantine bathroom and let out of the carrier. I set the carrier outside and shouted “someone please take this carrier outside for me” and proceeded to get a wash cloth and my Lush “Honey I washed the kids” bath gel. Poor Darcy, who only made a few peeps on the drive home, was about to yowl like no tomorrow. I turned on the shower and the sound of water immediately made her start scrambling for a place to hide. I scruffed her (grabbed her by the back of the neck) and took her into the shower. Much to my amazement, she didn’t fight me. The only injury I sustained was a small claw puncture to my pinky finger. This cat can jump, though. She got on the shower seat and about cleared the top of the glass shower door. Once I got her soaked and sudded up, I rinsed her and wrapped her in a towel and dried her off. She never fought me, not once. This is a very good sign about her personality, so I was relieved that the worst was over.

After the bath, I moved a small cat tree into the bathroom and used it to prop open the sink cabinet and draped a towel over the opening so she had a level of privacy. I set out food and water, and let her be. Luckily she ate the next morning while I was sitting in the room with her, and she used the bathroom the night before in the litterbox. Now we wait for her to settle into her new home, and I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees how big this house is.

So there you have it, folks. We went to Columbia SC and back to Raleigh NC for $13 in charging, about 450 miles in total.

[munamania]

tagged by @gaygaius to list 10 songs on shuffle thank uuu helena <33 i love sharing my music lol

1. daffodil by florence and the machine 2. heaven is here by florence and the machine 3. funny honey from chicago (movie) (when she goes look at him go. RATTIN on me. oh my god) 4. yuck by charli xcx 5. bridezilla by mommy long legs (SAUR cunty. when they growl ‘we’re gonna make the perfect little baby’ ohhh it scratches my brain) 6. thriller by fall out boy 7. so special by muna 8. bang the doldrums by fall out boy 9. this is why by paramore 10. thnks fr th mmrs by fall out boy

tehe ok tagging @munadyke @farewellnverland @livvyofthelake @jovalencia !

[isabelwcna]

Open Your Future: Top CNA Classes in South Carolina

**Unlock Your ⁢Future: ⁢Top CNA Classes in South Carolina**

Are⁤ you considering a career in the healthcare industry as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)⁣ in South ‍Carolina? If so, finding the​ right CNA ‌classes is crucial to your success. By enrolling in top-notch CNA classes,​ you’ll gain the knowledge‍ and skills needed to excel in ​this rewarding​ and in-demand‌ profession. In this article, we’ll explore⁤ the top CNA classes in South Carolina to help you unlock your future in the healthcare field.

**Why Choose ⁣a​ CNA Career‍ in South Carolina?**

Before we⁢ dive into the top CNA classes in South Carolina, ⁤let’s discuss why‍ pursuing a CNA career in ⁢the ‌Palmetto⁣ State is a great ‌choice. South Carolina offers‍ a‍ growing number of job opportunities for CNAs in hospitals, nursing⁣ homes, home healthcare agencies, and other‌ healthcare settings. Additionally, becoming a CNA can ⁣serve as a stepping stone to advanced healthcare‍ careers such as Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered⁢ Nurse ​(RN). With ​the ​aging population and increasing demand for healthcare services, the need for CNAs in South ⁢Carolina is expected‌ to continue to grow.

**Top CNA Classes in South Carolina**

When choosing a CNA program,‌ it’s essential ⁢to ‌consider factors such as‍ accreditation, ⁢curriculum, instructors, facilities, and job placement assistance. Here are some of the top CNA classes in South Carolina that meet these⁤ criteria:

1. **Florence-Darlington Technical College** ‌- Located in Florence, ⁢SC,⁤ Florence-Darlington Tech offers a comprehensive CNA ⁤program that includes classroom instruction, lab training, and clinical experience. The program is accredited by the South Carolina‍ Department of Health​ and⁣ Human Services and ​prepares students for the state certification ⁢exam.

2.⁣ **Trident Technical College** – With multiple campuses in the Charleston area, Trident Tech is known ⁤for its high-quality healthcare programs, including the CNA⁣ program. Students receive hands-on training in‍ a simulated clinical environment and have access⁣ to⁣ experienced instructors who are committed to their success.

3. **Midlands Technical College** – ‌Based in ⁣Columbia, Midlands Tech offers a CNA program ⁢that covers essential topics such as infection control, communication skills, and patient care. The program includes⁢ both classroom instruction and clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities.

4. **Greenville Technical College** – Greenville Tech’s CNA program is designed ⁢to prepare students for entry-level positions in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare ⁣settings. The program emphasizes hands-on skills training and provides students with the knowledge and confidence to excel in their ⁢careers.

**Benefits of Enrolling in Top CNA Classes**

– Accredited programs ensure that you⁣ receive quality education and‍ training. – Experienced instructors can provide valuable‌ insights and guidance throughout your CNA training. – Job placement ​assistance​ can help you ​secure employment after completing your CNA program. – Hands-on training prepares‍ you for⁣ real-world scenarios and helps⁣ you develop essential skills.

**Practical Tips for ‌Success in CNA Classes**

– Stay organized and manage your time effectively to balance coursework with ⁢clinical experience. – Participate actively in class discussions and ask questions to clarify any‍ concepts. – Practice hands-on skills regularly to build confidence and proficiency. – Seek feedback​ from instructors and peers to improve your⁢ knowledge and skills.

enrolling in top CNA classes ​in​ South Carolina⁢ is the first step towards a successful and fulfilling⁣ career‍ in healthcare. ‍By choosing⁣ an accredited ⁢program with ⁢experienced​ instructors and hands-on ‌training opportunities,⁣ you’ll​ be well-equipped to excel ​as‌ a Certified Nursing Assistant. Take the initiative to unlock your future today by exploring‍ the top CNA classes‌ in South ⁣Carolina and pursuing‍ your passion for helping others in need.

https://coursescna.com/open-your-future-top-cna-classes-in-south-carolina/

[edwin--artifex]

Video from the series "String of Pearls" directed by Cinzia Th. Torrini/ Written & directed by: Cinzia Th. Torrini / Production: Cassiopea Film Production S.r.l., Rome/for Marchesi Antinori S.p.A., winemakers

Voice over: Edwin Alexander Francis

N°. 1: Le Mortelle

The Le Mortelle estate is located in the Tuscan Maremma near the town of Castiglione della Pescaia. It was once part of a even larger property called La Badiola, important enough to be already identified on the maps of Grand Duke Leopoldo II of Tuscany in the 19th century. The Hapsburg Lorraine rulers of the Grand Duchy, by draining the marshy and malaria-ridden area around Grosseto, the local capital, wished to make their La Badiola and Alberese estates model properties for the raising of cattle.

The estate has belonged to the Antinori family since 1999, and it has worked both on the vineyards and the new cellars with the firm conviction that the area, at the time just emerging into prominence in the overall panorama if Italian wine, had a very significant potential for the production of high quality wine. The family also believed that here the finest characteristics of the terroir and the varieties to be planted could fully find an excellent expression.

Mortella is the name of the wild myrrh which characterizes this coastal area of Tuscany and is the symbol of the property: it also derives its name from this fragrant Mediterranean shrub.

for in-depth info ->

The Antinori family ->

N°.2 ->

The Guado al Tasso estate is located near Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, 96 kilometers (60 miles) to the southwest of Florence. The 300 hectares (750 acres) planted to vineyards on the property are in the center of the so-called” Bolgheri amphitheater”: rolling hillsides which surround a splendid plain which slopes gently towards the sea and create a micro-climate with unique characteristics. Guado al Tasso, the flagship wine of the estate, expresses all of the force and suppleness of this corner of the upper Maremma. It has contributed to raise Bolgheri to the level of the most important areas of Europe’s viticulture, expressing a decisively Mediterranean character of power, elegance, and balance.

N°.3 ->

The Fattoria Aldobrandesca estate is located near the town of Sovana in the isolated, uncontaminated southern part of the Tuscan Maremma. The area is characterized by its fertility, indeed by its virtually wild character. In this rich territory, the Aldobrandesca estate represents a microcosm of incredible variety. In the space of a very few hectares, the soil takes on many different shadings of color: white pumice stone, tufaceous soils which range from yellow to garnet red, black volcanic rock. And, yet again, all the various shades of brown. It is here, with this diversity of minerals, that international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are cultivated, as is the native Aleatico, all with interesting results, immersed as they are in a microcosm of differing soils and in a temperate micro-climate which benefits from the nearby presence of the Argentario peninsula, jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea.

for in-depth info ->

N°.4 La Braccesca estate - Montepulciano

Just a few miles away from the city of Montepulciano, near the border between Tuscany and neighboring Umbria, the La Braccesca estate is surrounded by a splendid territory, first Etruscan and Roman, then medieval and Renaissance. The property extends over 508 hectares (1255 acres) where, once upon a time, the holdings of the Bracci counts– who gave their name to the estate - were located: the counts, whose name means “arm” in Italian, also gave their coat of arms to the property, an armored arm which holds a sword. The land owned by La Braccesca is situated in two very close, but entirely different, zones: Montepulciano, the classic and prestigious area of “Vino Nobile”, and Cortona, which has made a name for itself in world markets principally with international grape varieties, above all Syrah. These two different “souls”, the essential spirit of different terroirs, represent the La Braccesca style with its respect for tradition and, at the same time, tireless research, its balance between the old and the new, its professional mastery in its work and its passion for quality. The wines of the La Braccesca estate are the results of this happy synthesis.

for in-depth info ->

N°.5

The Tenuta Tignanello estate is in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. It extends over an area of 319 hectares (788 acres), of which about 130 (321 acres) are dedicated to vines. Two of the estate’s prized vineyards are on the same hillside, Tignanello and Solaia, on soils that originated from marine marlstone from the Pliocene period rich in limestone and schist. The vines enjoy hot temperatures during the day and cooler evenings throughout the growing season. The estate’s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been defined by the international press as “among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture”.

for in-depth info ->

N°.6 ->

The Castello della Sala towers over a tufaceous promontory of the Umbrian Apennines (at 534 meters, or some 1750 feet, above sea level) just a short distance away from the boundary with Tuscany and approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the historic city of Orvieto. It is a lovely medieval fortress, surrounded by historic, hillside Etruscan villages, halfway between the Paglia river and the peak of Mount Nibbio. The estate consists of a total surface area of 500 hectares (1250 acres), 140 of which (345 acres) are planted to vineyards located at 200-450 meters (650-1480 feet) above sea level on clayey soils rich in Pliocene-epoch fossils of volcanic and sedimentary origin. Approximately eight hectares (20 acres) are covered by olive groves for the production, for domestic use, of extra-virgin olive oil.

for more in-depth information on the Castello della Sala castle and vineyard, please click on the link below ->