#the main new apparel piece is SO COOL?

[abeinginsand]

oakworthy + singing !! (i used a random word generator and the first word it gave me was "straighten" LMAO)

Thanks for the ask, siren!! :D ---- Hermie was in the choir in middle school but lost interest when the main teacher retired. The new teacher was a nice person, but whatever music they chose didn't pique Hermie (well Herman's) interests. Got really hard for Hermie to give their all when the pieces stopped being fun. Practice over lapped with theater too, so they left choir practice behind. After stopping, Hermie would sometimes linger near the choir room. Particularly on a stressful day...whether the stress was from school work or at home. Parents were worried one time when Hermie was late coming back home due to falling asleep listening to the choir while hidden away in a nearby corner.

Hermie continues lingering in highschool too. They like secretly catching up on what songs the group is learning. Always makes sure to slip away before practice ends to avoid any questions/recruitment though. There are collaborations with drama and choir, so its not a clean split. One such project included a December carol performance in the neighborhood near the school. Hermie only did it for the extra credit and singing practice originally. Finding out Normal had signed up to help as well...was interesting. Apparently the cheerleader was covering for a choir member since they had a cold. I'm imagining the two helping each other out with the songs. Probably on the same days that they work on Normal's fanfic together. Again, I feel like Hermie mostly has the singing itself down but may struggle with lyric memorization given they aren't that interested in most of the music chosen. Could be fun if Normal helps them associate certain verses with dc or other musical/play related stuff to help. Normal's struggle....volume control? Tends to have to shout for the usual mascot and cheering chants. With door to door caroling, the distance from the listener is much smaller. Also knowing he won't be able to wear the Teeny costume is a major source of anxiety. The holiday apparel they will be wearing looks pretty cool though (think the men's wear type stuff from that teen fact) and frilly. Probably some before performance shenanigans where Norm forgot his tie and Hermie has a backup. Asks Normal to 'straighten up' and puts the tie on for him while he stands still. Hermie intensely focused on getting the tie right while Normal's flustered about his crush being this close. Second idea, Normal likes coming to Hermie's performances and the actor does their best to come to the games. At first it was about that scheme to take the costume. Normal brought so much energy and passion to the field that the schemer nearly forgot their goal a few times. Enjoying Normal's performaning so much eventually leads to Hermie memorizing some of the mascot chants/songs. Best day of Normal's whole month when over-hearing Hermie's voice among the chanting crowd. Last idea, Normal visiting Hermie on a rest day and humming/singing softly to him. Hermie teasing him a bit about a sudden serenade being a bold move while smirking/smiling some until they end up falling asleep. The sleepy actor wakes up later to see Norm is by their bed-side, sleeping in a chair. Ends up convincing him to use the bed-- a cozy and relaxed moment.

[newmayhem]

Wardrobe & Styling: Risika PT1

As always, I’ll keep using original names if I’m talking specifically about the original iteration and in quotations and stuff, but I’ll be referring to everyone by their new names in all other situations.

Welp, I guess I'm officially back! In a nutshell, work got really busy and I got distracted by a few other hyperfixations (and I also got a bit self conscious now that I realize this blog actually kind of has an audience). I was going to do a big post explaining what I’ve been up to, but I it was taking too long and I didn’t feel like it, so I guess I’m going to just jump right back in!

I recently started watching a lot of youtube videos about fashion and costuming in movies and tv shows, so I thought it might be cool to do a short series about how I’d dress these characters for my version of the story. Starting, of course, with our girl Risika!

Canon outfits

We don’t get a lot of detailed clothing/outfit descriptions in general, but here’s what we have for her:

Chapter 1 (Now) - Black jeans and a black t-shirt

She doesn’t always wear black, but that was the color of her mood that day.

She also says in this chapter that she wears a silver ring set with a garnet stone

Chapter 15 (1704) - Mens clothes and tangled, unkempt hair

Wearing long skirts was getting too cumbersome for her

Chapter 18 (Now) - Black tank top → cropped body hugging gold tank top with black jeans

Generally keeps her hair its natural old gold color until the end when she adds black stripes to it.

Going off of just this, it seems like Risika is pretty utilitarian when it comes to clothing choices. Very simple, no frills (literally), mostly/exclusively black (contrary to her own narration)…up until when she’s dressing for her fight with Aubrey.

I take this to symbolize Risika’s character journey from being depressed, antisocial, and wanting to hide away from the vampire world (or at least pass through it unnoticed) to embracing her predatory nature and being comfortable with being seen and making her mark as a part of vampire society.

My Version

I want to stay along these same lines as the canon, but add some more nuance and details.

Generally, Roksana favors earth tones and natural materials (to show how attached she is to nature and humanity). She doesn't like things clinging to her too much but she also doesn't like things that are so baggy or flowy that they get in the way (to show her yearning for freedom).

She hates button-ups (too stiff and formal); she likes dresses and skirts in theory, but doesn't often reach for them on a regular day.

For the most part, she likes to keep things simple for her main apparel pieces—solid colors, basic shapes. Shoes and accessories is where she likes to have more ornamentation.

She tends to keep her accessorizing to a minimum because she likes to be able to move unencumbered. She hates carrying bags or wearing hats but she has a pretty extensive shoe repertoire. Her shoes are practical but well-crafted and even ornate.

When it comes to jewelry, gold is her preferred metal. She's not super into precious stones or pearls. She likes wooden or clay beads and semi-precious stones like jasper, jade, or lapis lazuli.

These days, she doesn't wear much makeup, but during time periods where heavy makeup was a thing, she'd wear it in order to blend in.

She typically styles her hair in whatever is fashionable at the time, but prefers to wear it down in its naturally curly/wavy state.

She's more interested in how things feel as opposed to how they look, so comfort, mobility, breathability, and texture are very important to her. She doesn't like feeling trapped.

I really want her wardrobe to speak to her innate longing for freedom and her resilience as well as her connection to the past. I also thought it might be interesting to hint at a secret craving for luxury (a contrast to the idealized image she has of her saintly brother in order to make her feel even more guilty and self hating after she becomes a vampire) and a desire for comfort (or rather, to stay in her comfort zone) but at the same time always being prepared to flee.

1701

I'm still researching the specifics of what was worn at this time/place (it's been surprisingly really difficult to find info about late 17th/early 18th century fashion in Mexico) so I'll probably do a more detailed followup post later on, but Roksana would basically be wearing whatever other people of her social class were wearing in terms of silhouette, fabrics, etc. I don't she would have much flexibility when it comes to self expression at this time (clothing was expensive to make so she probably wouldn't be very trendy or experimental as a working class woman). I think she would favor solid colors over prints and she'd wear almost exclusively earth tones except for a blue rebozo (a long woven shawl of Mexican origin; image below) that was her mother's (blue to represent a touch of the supernatural). No jewelry, either, except for her rosary (although, I'm not sure if this actually counts as jewelry) that was passed down through her father's family.

Because she was raised without her mother and apart from her mother's family, aside from the rebozo, her clothing wouldn't really have many indigenous or African elements to it.

NOW

While she's not into metallics and synthetics, I do picture her style as kind of reminiscent of Y2K era R&B singers, especially in terms of silhouette (small, fitted tops, big pants, chunky shoes), but there are also some goth elements like corset tops, square or high necklines, the occasional puff or bell sleeve. She loves crop tops! For bottoms, she liked wide leg pants, utility/cargo pants, and joggers.

STYLE NARRATIVE

Closer to the beginning of the story, Roksana's outfits are very subdued. It's like she's constantly trying to camouflage. She's also wearing more historical looking clothes to show that she's kind of trapped in the past.

Towards the end, she starts to incorporate some bolder, more eye-catching elements, especially metallics, which also feel more futuristic, like she's finally ready to move forward and she's ready to be seen.

She also starts to dress a little more like Andros, who I picture as having very bold style.

Also, because in my version her hair is dark and curly/wavy, the tiger stripes in her hair aren't going to work out so well, so I was thinking of giving her tattoos, like tiger stripes along one arm, her shoulder and down her back (I have no reference photos for this because everything I could find on pinterest and google images looks stupid). This would not only symbolize her embracing being a predator, but it also shows that she's becoming a little more like Andros (who has tons of tattoos).

This post is already getting too long, so stay tuned for Part 2 where I go into specific outfits!

[kiunlo]

i don't even want to post this on my sideblog i like HAVE to say this on my main blog but like...the new familiars and apparel and achievement system on flight rising makes me SOOOO happy there are SOO many cool new apparel pieces for my dragons and i'm just so excite.

[shirtsbargain]

Why the Polo Has Become a Must-Have Campus Style

For apparel retailers catering to the college market, polos have become one of the hottest product categories in recent years. Long a menswear staple, the modest polo shirt has burst onto campuses nationwide as the latest must-have style for students of all genders. Its combination of casual athletic vibe and slightly dressier aesthetic has evidently struck a chord with today's college crowd, encouraging more retailers to invest in wholesale blank polo shirts to cater to this segment.

How did polos get here?

Major label endorsements from fashion-forward brands like Ralph Lauren, Lacoste and Fred Perry have undoubtedly helped drive polo popularity. But the style's enduring versatility, comfort, and functionality, in some cases, are what have solidified it as a campus essential from California to Maine. So what's behind the college polo craze? Let's break it down.

Versatile for Class or Kickbacks

A polo's clean, classic pique knit gives it a smart look that works equally well for class presentations or casual meetups. Paired with chinos or dark jeans, it reads upscale and pulled together. But untucked over shorts or joggers, it's an instant athleisure vibe for more relaxed campus kickbacks. 

This versatile style range makes the polo an easy all-day piece students can wear from morning lectures straight through night study sessions. Rotating just a few polos in different colors provides a simple wardrobe stretcher for lazy laundry habits. Long sleeve polos from Sport-Tek, CornerStone and Port Authority are what our customers mostly prefer when buying in bulk.

Sporty Yet Refined

Compared to basic cotton tees, polos have a more refined, polished aesthetic - but still project that sporty, relaxed attitude college students love, even when the garments come with pockets. Hallmarks like the flat knit collar, sleeve ribbing, and iconic placket pique detailing give polos a distinctly sporty heritage rooted in their origins as a breathable warm-weather athletic uniform.

They look perfect dressed up with a sweater vest for a prep vibe. Or when you leave it unbuttoned over a vintage tee, you get a skater, streetwear-inspired look. There's a definite cool factor to polos that college-goers identify with, that regular tees just can't match.

Performance Functionality

More apparel brands are taking cues from technical athletic wear and updating polos with moisture-wicking performance features. These polos absorb the moisture from the sweat and are conditioned to evaporate it quickly. Some of them also offer excellent odor resistance. It's a game-changer for avoiding sweat stains, bad odors and overheating on campus sprints between classes.

Style-savvy students also love how these technical polos resist wrinkles - ideal for looking presentable after stuffing them into backpacks or wearing for days on end. Top brands like Sport-Tek and New Era offer great options in this pique polo shirts category.

On-Trend Colors & Fabrics

Aside from advanced technical knits, polos made from classic cotton pique in vibrant hues are what’s getting wows on campuses. Appealing to college kids are colors like coral, sky blue, purple, colorblocks and other pastels that look fresh and Instagram-ready.

Brighter shades like green and hot pink are also huge for capturing that retro '90s aesthetic. When it comes to fabrications, cotton/poly blends create cool texture while vintage-inspired piques and heathered knits provide a nice rustic vibe.

With so many stylish fabric options, print/graphic treatments, and colors - not to mention added performance benefits - it's clear why the polo has become a must-have campus style and an all-around lucrative bet for retailers looking to invest in wholesale apparel. For retailers, ensuring a well-rounded assortment of polos from trusted brands like Port Authority, Sport-Tek, and New Era is key to cashing in on this booming trend.

[gennie123]

To Rock 2023, Try These Amazing Trendy Design T-shirts

The start of a new year is one of the most exciting times for the fashion and apparel sectors since it brings in new fashion trends and changes. The T-shirt is among the most remarkable apparel products to have been affected by new ideas and popular culture.

This is due to the fact that they are a basic piece of apparel that serves as a blank canvas to express personal preferences, interests, and personality. They are also versatile and comfortable because they fit with any outfit in a closet. As a result, there will be a number of T-shirt trend modifications and modernizations offered by clothing brands in the upcoming year.

Here are 6 t-shirt design trends you’ll love to have in 2023.

T-shirts with motivational quotes

T-shirts with Motivating or inspiring quotes have a great potential to transform a regular t-shirt into a classy outfit and also add emotion to it. People look for motivation regularly, and having a t-shirt with a motivational quote printed on it reminds them more frequently of their goals.

Life quotes and sayings are similar to motivational quotes that encourage and instruct people on how to live happy lives. Life phrases are known to spread happiness and positivity, so they can enhance the look of a t-shirt purchased for everyday clothing.

Nature T-Shirt Designs

Another major theme that will rule the world of t-shirt designs in 2023 is the beauty of Mother Nature. This is a result of increased environmental awareness.

Mother Nature's beauty, diversity, and power have been a rich source of inspiration for design for centuries. All of Mother Nature’s wonderful creations provide a platform to tell a story about the life-giving force of Mother Nature, how we interact with her, and how we should treasure and care for her.

A funny or humorous T-shirt

Funny t-shirt sayings are profoundly popular. Putting funny characters on t-shirts that attract people. Just to put it another way, humour connects with people on an emotional level, irrespective of their age or personality type. And the main reason

Such a thing happens because everyone's life is under so much pressure in different ways that anything that makes them laugh is welcome. Seeing men's funny t-shirts, particularly for those who may not be having the best of days, can transform their perspective and give them the energy to get through the rest of the day.

Bollywood T-shirts

In India, Bollywood is nearly a religion. People are huge movie fans and highly esteem the dialogue and performers from Bollywood. Any new movie in today's market is accompanied by the release of its associated products. In recent years, movie t-shirts have gained a lot of popularity.

The youngsters also love Bollywood T-shirts very much. They think it's really cool and inspiring. Every time someone wears the t-shirt, it also helps to recreate the magic of some famous movies and characters. Take part in the newest fashion trend to enhance your style.

Graphic T-Shirts

Graphic t-shirts have become a staple in everyone’s closets lately. Today's graphic t-shirt could be a status symbol, a fashion statement, a sign of club membership, or a voice for the voiceless. As a result, the graphic t-shirt evolved into a full-fledged fashion statement as well as a way to convey taste and personality. However, as the graphic t-shirt quickly showed, it could be so much more.

T-Shirt with Cartoon Characters

T-shirts with cartoon characters on them are back in vogue. This year, cartoon-themed t-shirts will rule the trends at all of your favourite brands. They add a playful, humorous, and exciting touch to the design of your t-shirt.

So, if you're young (at heart), add a few t-shirts to your wardrobe, and you'll be nothing less than a style icon. The t-shirts may be coloured or printed with cartoon characters to give them a comical appearance. In 2023, the trend of cartoon t-shirts will remain popular.

No matter what your style is, there is a trendy t-shirt design out there for you. From graphic t-shirts to motivational t-shirts, nature-themed t-shirts, t-shirts with cartoon characters, and Bollywood-themed t-shirts, there are endless options to choose from. And with the rise of sustainable fashion, it's easier than ever to find t-shirts that align with your values.

When it comes to rocking a trendy design t-shirt, the key is to find one that speaks to you and your style. Whether you're into bold, colourful designs or more subtle, minimalist looks, there is a t-shirt out there that will fit your style. And with so many options available, you're sure to find a t-shirt that you love.

So, if you want to rock 2023 in style, consider investing in a trendy-design t-shirt. Whether you opt for a graphic t-shirt, a statement t-shirt, a nature-themed t-shirt, a t-shirt with a cartoon character, or a Bollywood-themed t-shirt, you'll be sure to make a fashion statement that is all your own. And with the rise of sustainable fashion, you can feel good about your purchase knowing that you're making a positive impact on the planet. So go ahead and try out some amazing trendy design t-shirts—you'll be sure to turn heads and feel confident.

Don't miss out on the hottest t-shirt trends of 2023! Upgrade your wardrobe and make a fashion statement with our trendy t-shirts. From nature-themed t-shirts to t-shirts with cartoon characters and Bollywood-themed t-shirts, we have something for every taste. Click the "Buy Now" button to start shopping now on www.Subeasy.com.

[iniquity-fr]

love to have floating bits for regular apparel this year and hopeful that the rest look great but i do wish the light one was more like sparkles or softer glowing bits and not these weird balls

[jokertrap-ran]

(光与夜之恋 Light and Night) Main Story Chapter 2-1: 时间针脚 The Patchwork of Time Translation

“In the vast expanse of space and time eternal, it is my honour to walk the same planet with you and share the same time.”

*Light and Night Master-list *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Join the Light & Night Discord (＾▽＾)~ ♪ *CG Image used with permission from 蓝咕咕 ☆ *Main story tag will be #For Light and Night

There were workers currently putting up a huge ad of Warson's new seasonal line-up in an orderly fashion at the side of the vast Riverside Avenue.

Upon the streets were men and women alike, speeding towards the subways where they then took all sorts of complex routes to reach every corner of the city.

❖☆———————————★❖

Some people pick up their cup of coffee, closing their computers that have been on for an entire night. Whilst some stand in line outside stores, having already joined the long queues in the wee hours of the morning. Meanwhile, some begrudgingly walked up into the buses headed for school.

Today was one of the most mundane of days to ever grace Guangqi City; yet, at the same time, it was also one that held an extraordinary significance to me.

I currently stood before the Warson Group's HQ, staring up at this 56-story high Fashion Empire.

❖☆———————————★❖

Facing the glass panels, I did some last-minute touch-ups to my hair and fixed it before pushing the revolving doors open.

MC: Hello. I'm (Y/n), a new employee of the Design Hub who's starting work today.

The lady at the front desk smiled and nodded her head in understanding, swiftly entering a couple of things into her tablet.

Receptionist: I'm currently contacting the person in charge of the Design Hub. Please wait for a while at the rest area.

MC: Alright, thanks.

I headed to the rest area and was just about to look for an empty seat when I saw a familiar figure leaning against the sofa.

MC: … Gao Cheng?

The figure jolted before timidly glancing backwards. The same timidness morphed into surprise the moment he saw that it was me.

Gao Cheng: Eh?

Gao Cheng: What are you doing here? Did you receive an offer from Warson as well?

MC: Yep!

Gao Cheng: That's great…

He breathed a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing as he did.

MC: We'll be colleagues from today onwards! I'll still often have to bother you about layout problems in the future.

Gao Cheng: Yeah, sure… that's no problem at all…

His face was tinged a slight red as he nodded enthusiastically.

Receptionist: Sorry for keeping the two of you waiting. Here are your temporary work IDs.

The receptionist walked towards us with a smile as she said that.

Receptionist: Please take the 6th elevator from the left. Your destination will be the 34th floor. The person in charge of the Design Hub will help both of you finish up your onboarding process.

MC / Gao Cheng: Thank you.

❖☆———————————★❖

It just so happened that it was currently rush hour, so the lift lobby was crowded with employees waiting for their turn at the elevator. We waited for several more rounds before we were finally able to step into the lift that went directly to the 34th floor.

❖☆———————————★❖

We were both utterly awestruck by the scene that greeted our eyes the moment the doors opened.

The high-ceilinged lobby connected the upper and lower three levels of office areas. Light filters through the glass walls, filling the hall with its brilliant glow.

The gentle, yet exquisite, natural lighting gave the entire space a very transparent feel. There was a huge transparent display case being showcased in the middle of the floor. It was filled with classic works from the various major luxury apparel brands.

The open office area was filled with people rushing back and forth, the very epitome of a busy scene. Countless classic and avant-garde works were created and brought to life here. And then they'll take to the world, influencing the lives of everyone out there.

Gao Cheng: So this is Warson's Design Hub… I'm astounded...

??: Sorry to keep you waiting.

Mya sauntered over to us in her black heels.

She smiled elegantly at us, seemingly a tad different from her strict persona from the contest.

Mya: I know that we've already met each other many times, but let me reintroduce myself.

Mya: I'm Mya, the Deputy Director of the Design Hub. Welcome to Warson.

Mya: Your contest pieces have made a lasting impression on me. I look forward to seeing your future work.

MC / Gao Cheng: Thank you!

Mya nodded, her smile turning down a couple of degrees.

Mya: Follow me, both of you. There are some things I have to tell you.

We visited the whole of the Design Hub with her as our guide.

Mya: There are 4 teams of Fashion Designers in the Design Hub: A, B, C, and D.

Mya: All groups are independent and are of equal standing. Each of them is in charge of different high-end ready-to-wear apparel lines.

Mya: The high-end custom-made-to-order line is under Director Sariel Qi himself.

Mya: All Fashion Designers of Warson are categorized under these categories: Assistant, Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior.

Mya: Your rank determines how important the work that gets assigned to you is.

Mya: Based on your abilities and prior experience, both of you fall under the rank of Junior Designer.

Mya: You're in Team A, led by Zheng Lin. Gao Cheng, you're in Team B, led by Bob.

MC: So we're not gonna be in the same team after all?

Gao Cheng looked sadly at me, sighing lightly.

Mya: Of course, your rank is not fixed.

Mya: You can take the assessment that’s held twice per year to determine whether you’ll get promoted by a rank, or even demoted.

Mya: Please adhere to these rules while you’re working with us.

Mya: Firstly, Warson does not like employees who do not keep to deadlines. Submit work late thrice, and we’ll ask you to kindly submit your resignation within an hour.

Mya: Secondly, don’t you dare try submitting plagiarized work; that will spell the end of your career.

Mya: Thirdly, all Designers are allowed to study and observe the collections displayed in the showroom at any time, but please keep things neat and tidy.

Mya: And lastly, Director Qi doesn't like being disturbed outside of work hours.

Mya: So, please do not try searching for his contact details in the employee address book.

Mya: Of course, you shouldn’t be able to find it now.

Mya: Feel free to approach your direct superiors if there are things you don't understand.

Mya swept her eyes over our faces and we quickly nodded in response.

Mya: Come on then. I’ll bring you to your respective teams.

❖☆———————————★❖

We followed Mya, walking through the corridors, passing by the pantry and meeting rooms on both sides of the hallway before finally arriving at the office area.

The office area was similar to the lobby, designed with many glass walls.

Mya: This is Team B's workspace.

There was a group of people gathered around the large round table in the centre of the office, seemingly in some sort of discussion.

The man facing the door was holding onto a design draft, speaking with confidence, a matching smile on his face. The people around him nodded along to him as he spoke.

Mya knocked on the door before raising her hand and pushing the huge glass door open.

I curiously peeked in, only to be greeted by a certain familiar figure.

… I can't believe it's him.

❖☆———————————★❖

Basked under the light, Sariel was decked out in a slim-fitting light-coloured suit, leaning against the back of his chair with a design draft in hand.

His eyes were squinted in concentration, his expression one of focus, and his lips pressed into a thin line.

His bangs hang softly upon his forehead, the brilliantly white light bringing a warm, yet soft edge to his features.

He looked rather indolent. However, after thorough scrutiny, one could also see the faint unhappiness reflected within his eyes.

Sariel turned his head over, glancing in my direction. Perhaps I'd been staring at him too blatantly.

❖☆———————————★❖

Our eyes met for a split second. His pale golden orbs widened ever so slightly, but they soon returned to their normal coolness.

Sariel: You. Come here.

❖☆————— ⊹ For Light & Night⊹ —————★❖

Previous Part: (Chapter 1-20) | Next Part: (Chapter 2-3)

[guardsbian]

Top 5 fest apparel?

ok ok here we go.. not including recolors bc that's joxar apparel? but they're also a factor

5.) Trickster's Magic Cards

not very versatile so it doesn’t score higher, but like? it just slaps too much to not be here. absolutely fantastic, cards are very cool, hope that a red recolor isn't out of the question

4.) Deeprealm Trident

it's just good. versatile. doesn't add all that much useless fluff and is easily layered. a solid weapon... and the recolor is pretty nice. main drawback is that it's a fest item though? it seems very... average.

3.) Skeletal Chimes

this sort of suffers from the same issue as the trident, and is also very expensive which spites me, personally. but it's so cool!! so versatile!! has a jawbone which is delicious to see. I would use the hell out of this were it not for the price. but, again, as a fest item, is delightfully versatile. a bit sad that plague's aesthetic is so extremely limited to fest items though. more bones 2k21

2.) Flameforger Crucible

it's just cool as hell!! just big enough to be a cool focal point, just held back enough to be versatile. looks great on tons of poses, has a very cool spine effect, definitely works as an elegant fest item

1.) Carapace Arm/Contaminated Infectalons

listen I think these count as one thing. they match, which is very cool!! love that. and it's so perfect for what I want from fest items! versatile, but bold! a statement piece which speaks to the flight aesthetic, but isn't goofy or crowded. my obvious bias is towards the plague aesthetic, and the wonderful color scheme only adds to that without being garish. not to mention the recolor! just as edgy, but definitely putting a new spin on it. delicious. more of this please. and also give us solid plague apparel that isn't stuck as old expensive fest stuff

[irispublishersfashion]

Iris Publishers_Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology (JTSFT)

Traditional Embroidery as a Method of Decoration in Najd Desert Tribes

Authored by Tahani Nassar Alajaji

Abstract

Saudi Arabian Traditional Costumes and textiles are characterized by their variety of shapes, materials and decorative styles. The natural, geographical and climatic environment in Saudi Arabia plays a prominent role in this field. It is the traditional clothing of women that limits their identity through which one can know the area in which they live, through the decoration and embroidery on their clothes. The aim of this research is to identify some of the methods used in Traditional Costumes decoration and accessories and to reveal the aesthetics of traditional embroidery as a method of traditional Najd desert tribes. Moreover, to identify the uses of embroidery method on uniforms or fabric. The research will follow the descriptive, and one of the most important tools used in data collection is the questionnaire and the observation. Among the results is the use of embroidery in many Traditional Costumes and textiles in Najd desert tribes. The variety of stitches used, and the consistency and harmony in the colors used in the decoration of traditional dress in the selection of raw materials and yarns. The use of embroidery helps to strengthen the seamstresses and the edges of the uniform or fabric, and the similarity between some areas in the forms of decoration and colors and raw materials used, and some in the case of damage to the costume is transferred to the decoration of the new costume. The embroidery has increased the aesthetic value of the costume or textile. One of the most important recommendations is to do more studies and scientific research on the traditional decoration methods. Making use of it in the fashion and textile industry in Saudi Arabia. Support and encourage professional practitioners of traditional embroidery, and finally include the traditional embroidery of Saudi Arabia among the academic programs in the field of specialization..

Keywords: Decoration; Traditional; Embroidery; Saudi Arabia; Traditional costume; Textiles; Najd desert tribes

Introduction

Saudi Arabian Costumes and textiles are characterized by their variety of shapes, materials and decorative styles. The natural, geographical and climatic environment in Saudi Arabia plays a prominent role in this field. It is the traditional clothing [1] of women that limits their identity through which one can know the area in which they live, through the decoration and embroidery on their clothes. From being lost or forgotten because of social and economic changes as well as Bedouins settling down in villages and cities. Ahmed, et al. [2] stated that there is a close relationship between the natural environment and the climatic and geographical conditions of the human life, where the human being will be affected by all such factors. The Bedouin dress is characterized by simplicity and wideness looseness, as he wears a long apparel (Thobe), head dress (kaffieh), headband and a cloak made of wool and some wealthy people may add a jacket . The cloak has an important role for the Bedouin, which can use it to protect him against winter cool weather, lays it under his head as a pillow during summer and can carry inside his necessary personal things. Hmami H [3] stated that the Bedouin dresses are long, wide and protruding to let pass a stream of fresh air, and because of their looseness they can help him get rid of the trapped drops of sand. These dresses are best fit to the Bedouin nature and mobility. Alajaji [4] described the Rolla tribes dresses as simple to better suit the quick mobility and the hot climatic condition. “ the dark cloak” worn by the Bedouins in Sinai desert absorbs the extra heat before touching the skin. In Palestine desert the Bedouin woman puts on loose gown to imitate the nature of the environment where she lives as she is familiar with the vast desert [5].

Sidqi M [6] stated that the dark color of dress in the Desert absorbs the winter heat, and to avoid the burning summer heat, the parts exposed to direct Sunlight are embroidered. The Bedouin woman covers her face with a veil, or mask in order to protect her face against weather conditions and winds. She also added some silver coins to the bottom part of the veil so as not to fly while the wind is blowing. Salwa M [7] stated that the Bedouin woman is known for wearing a veil due to the harsh desert conditions and to protect her skin against summer heat and winter cool. Mozl A [8] disclosed that from the dress worn by the Bedouin you can tell which tribe and clan he belongs to.

Laila F [9] stated that the styles and features of ornamentation are considered as inherited customs, where you can find a difference between one gown and the other within the same tribe in Hejaz district is very minimal, however each tribe has its own features of dress decoration which makes it easier to attribute the dress to a certain tribe. The aim of this research is to identify some of the methods used in traditional Costumes decoration and accessories and to reveal the aesthetics of traditional embroidery as a method of traditional Saudi Arabia. Moreover, to identify the uses of embroidery method on uniforms or fabric.

Literature

The decoration of Costumes in Arab countries is basically made by means of embroidery [10]. Embroidery is the handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. Embroidery is most often used on caps, hats, coats, blankets, dress shirts, denim, and stockings . Embroidery is available with a wide variety of thread or yarn color. An interesting characteristic of embroidery is that the basic techniques or stitches on surviving examples of the earliest embroidery ,chain stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch, remain the fundamental techniques of hand embroidery today [11]. Embroidery has a great importance in traditional costumes, in particular in the fabrics worn during certain occasions and functions, where embroidery is made in the prominent parts of the dress and embroidery is generally concentrated around the neck opening, on the chest and sleeves. Sometimes, on certain stitches the ornamental units are spread over the dress [12], and this is considered to be among the key styles of adornment which are widely used in the dress because it combines both aesthetical and beneficial attributes and the availability of its materials [13]. Embroidery constitutes one of the main activities of the Bedouin woman in the Arab Peninsula for fabrics and many types of furniture [10]. The embroidery art is known in all of the Kingdom’s regions, where embroidery is considered as the key feature of traditional dress in Hejaz Bedouin area. In this type of embroidery most modern ways of stitching are used in addition to the stitches which have not been in use before [11]. Most tribes use many stitches in finishing and strengthening of edges, holes, extension and fixation. But in the northern region desert embroidery is known as inscription [4]. Khoqeir R [17] stated that handiwork embroidery used by Harb tribe in adornment of fabrics, accessories and other artifacts and the embroidery used in the fabrics and their accessories are most in a form of geometrical shapes, plant shapes and symbolic shapes such as the crescent.

Bean stitch is the parts added to the dress while or after being made which will be fixed to the dress for the purpose of ornamenting and matching the dress in terms of shape, color and material. The types and shapes of used freckles in the traditional fabrics and needlework are multiple , including: the type made of thread such the ones made of cord threads, others are made of metals such as purls, and plate (tally) [4,14,11] Albassam [14] stated that “ black filet” , is the type of decoration cut in a triangular shape fixed on the trousers foot. Buttons were used for ornamenting traditional fabrics and needlework in different sizes. Pinoll A [10] asserted that special occasions dresses in Arab countries are decorated by means of buttons, precious stones and silver balls.

Beads are not greatly different in shapes in Arab countries by their names are changed from one country to another [10]. They are various types of beads including glass beads, metal beads, wooden beads and beads made of sea materials such as snails, shells, pearl and coral stone. The amount of used beads is different from one country to another, where they are used in small quantities for woman garments at Najd, but among Altayef , Hejaz and Asser and surrounding village tribes and all Bedouins settled in Qahtan and Beni Shaheer regions, used beads in bigger quantities on fabrics and in some case will be added to embroidery. They were also sued in dress accessories and beads work [15]. Readymade beads for woman dress adornment were known for their use for woman dress within Rashayda tribe in Hejaz region [16].

Fringes is a type of ornaments of fabrics and carpets with various shapes, it is merely remains of the wrap end used in the fabrics situated outside the ornaments [12]. Albassam, et al. [15] indicated that woman in the traditional society is keen to make the piece finishing with fringes, especially head cover and belts.

Tassels is a type of decoration used for ornamenting dresses and different needle works. It is a mass of threads folded in the middle of 10-15cm length after folding, then wrapped around the thread string until threads come together to form a mass. The Tassels are normally fixed on the outer edges, bags, and some head covers [12], as well as in making beads works in the Kingdom’s regions. Woolen, silk, cotton and leather and beads straps are used [15]. Fada L [9] stated that all Hejaz tribes used m Tassels made of cotton threads in the decoration of face veils [16].

Patching is a method of where rags of different fabrics are connected together with various embroidery beads [13] and they are manually connected or by sewing machine. Patching is one of the main features of Harb tribe woman dress in the western region of the Kingdom [17]. It is known at the northern desert of the Kingdom by the names of “Tawayer”, Hathawi” or “Rawathei” [4].

Applique literally means “to put on” in French and is a technique used to decorate the surface of fabric by applying pieces of cut fabric on top of a layer of background fabric by sewing or embroidering around the edges [12,17]. Nasser S [17] indicated that using applique is used all over the countries but there are some differences from one country to another. Al-Aql [13] justified the wide spread of applique technique for the shortage of fabrics in different offers and little quantities. Applique was used by some tribes in Hejaz [18,19].

Iris Publishers For More Information:https://irispublishers.com/jtsft/fulltext/traditional-embroidery-as-a-method-of-decoration-in-najd-desert-tribes.ID.000587.php

[lessonsfrommadamexmas]

Lessons From Madame Christmas - CH. 7 - Justice

I haven’t posted new chapters in a lifetime, so to all new followers I introduce the fic that names this blog. Yeah, it’s a thing that exists. If you’d like to read occasional passages about Chris Mustang’s past, as well as Roy’s, check bellow. If you’re an old reader coming to sweep the dust out of this long-lost chest, I gotta inform you this isn’t even a main chapter, but another short intermission. Enjoy. :)

Link to AO3 

- - - -

— We’re really close now, Christmas.

— I hope so — Chris replied, uneasy about the uncertainty in that statement.

He rested his hand on her bust and she gently caressed his arm. Nothing about the skinny Lieutenant-Colonel, with hair and mustache sprinkled in silver as he approached his forties, was particularly attractive to her. However, Chris herself didn’t fit any beauty standards and considered herself lucky to grab the attention of the man she needed. While her wide hips and voluminous breasts shaped a slight waist, they asked for height to harmonize her silhouette, but she wouldn’t be intimidated by said standards. The girl was cunning to make up for the delicate features she lacked with confidence and a soft voice whispering the right words she’d once learned by watching the patrons at the Mustang’s bar.

Something she had always been good at, observing, and which had led her this far.

— I guarantee you. — The man turned away from her and got out of the cotton sheets. — Then I’ll have my promotion and you, your revenge.

— Justice — she corrected, and he turned around with a confident smile.

— No doubt. We’re dismantling the entire network. Lucky us, now we know for sure they’re concentrated in the city and its surroundings. What a great accomplishment it’s going to be! And your identity will be safe.

Despite his voice carrying an ambitious pride, the man also had in him a genuine desire to contribute to society and took no shortcuts in his career. Chris was certain she had chosen the right partner for her mission. She wouldn’t go as far as calling him a friend, but had learned to relax in his presence instead of fighting shyness.

The girl also got up and allowed the cool air from his room to touch her naked skin while she collected her apparel, similarly to the man on the other side of the bed. They talked without facing each other, concentrated on dressing up.

— Tony’s eager to move on and start over… — she pondered. — I’m not staying here forever, you know?

— And he's right. You wouldn’t have a chance to rebuild your place here in the East for at least the next few years, not after this debt scandal your father left behind. You’re eager too, aren’t you? Do you hope to finish this before your brother finds out about your adventures?

— He's too busy working twice as hard to notice where my extras come from.

Unlike their father, Anthony didn’t fall for temptations like gamblling, but his rectitude wouldn’t surpass their bond even when he eventually figured what his sister had been doing.

— I thought you’d want to follow your own course. That you were enjoying the adrenaline of investigation. Eighteen’s the time to plan for the future...

— Nineteen already — she interrupted, embracing the tone of the comment as a compliment to the work she had been doing as an informant, despite her age not yet being a good indication of her maturity and wits.

— Time flies! At least find me a girl as good as you before you leave — he teased her with a sigh, this time referring to her job in bed.

— You know I won't do that, Grumman. Those girls deserve a chance to start over. My future, for now, is with my brother. They took everything from us, I’m not leaving him alone. But speaking of my extras...

Chris circled the bed with her palm extended and an eyebrow raised in demand, expression softened by the playful air in her smirk.

— This way you’ll bankrupt me soon, Christmas.

Adjusting his coat, the lieutenant colonel took a sum from his right pocket to hand it over. He then checked the left one for the piece of paper he’d kept there early on.

— Please, don't do anything impulsive now — he asked in a serious voice. — Do not attempt to infiltrate that brothel. In fact, don't even communicate with the girls without my consent beforehand; a mere description of you may be enough for that man to track you. Patience is essential in this line of work.

— Don't worry, I won't give that bastard a chance.

As tempted as she was, Chris knew she didn't have the luxury of taking risks when it came to a mafia ranging from loan sharks to women traffickers. She just wanted to prove her father's murder and destroy those who thought they could strip her from house, bar and family, before they claimed more victims.

Grumman’s fingertips tapped the shared piece of information and he shot her one last confirming look as he opened the door.

— And this one...?

— She's not betraying us — Chris said firmly, stopping midway out. — It's the chance to break free from that horrible place she’s been waiting for years.

— Desperate people may act recklessly.

— But those with a lot to lose act with caution.

She spoke from experience.

[skyjohny-blog]

LG home appliance service center

In the event that you have any issue with your environment control structure, by then fundamentally settle on a decision to us we will fix a wide degree of contraptions like AC for all models we can give the fixes. Our LG Service Center in Pune. Pros will give the lively reaction to the Customers. They will fix your machine anticipating basically zero effort of cost. Our specialists are open in all spots. We outfit 100% veritable extra parts with 3 months guarantee. We give telephone numbers and regions to progress toward us. On the off chance that you have any issues in cooling you can interface with us through the telephone numbers given. Our master will settle the issue inside 4 hours. If you have any issue with your constrained air framework, by then just hunt us on location LG Service Center Pune. Furthermore, get the best fix organization to your AC.

Innovation is making in our regular daily existence people are reliant on machines moreover, diminishing their concern by keeping pressure on machines. One of the machines people use step by step is garments washer, people have no time in their clamoring schedule to wash their own articles of clothing. So people are depending upon machines to complete their nuclear family works. People buy the machines for their nuclear family reason yet most of them don't have the foggiest thought how to fix it when there is any trouble in the machine for this contact LG Customer Care Pune.

LG Toll Free Number Pune are unapproved sellers for fix and administration for clothes washers, coolers, microwaves and Air Conditioners, we give entryway step administration to Home apparatuses. The organization charges are excessively more affordable than other assistance network. Our specialists will in like manner supersede the main spare parts which furthermore given assurance. They in like manner explain what is the issue upsetting in the machine and give the standards not to happen it once more.

In any case, client care specialists will take grumblings from the client. Through the online by visiting our site LG Washing Machine Repair Pune in the event that client may be spellbound to take our associations, by then essentially call our telephone numbers which are there in underneath in the page of website then our client care authority will give all the data to the client and take subtleties like name, issue of the thing, private region, precise accomplishment zone at whatever point fight are accepted then constantly this activity sheet number will be asked by our client care individuals to understand the requests of the client.

LG Washing Machine has more favorable circumstances. It is the best home apparatus at home these days they are planning different sorts of garments washers like the blend of the washer similarly as the dryer in one machine figuratively speaking. In this machine, we should not to keep more articles of clothing consistently. Since the washer dryer combo can't modify the more weights. This machine has the spinner which washes the articles of clothing by turning the spinner. Garments washer doesn't hurt the articles of clothing and it keeps the articles of clothing advantageously and moreover new. Garments washer needs less water similarly as less force. On account of brands of Washing Machine Samsung is the best and it has the least models and we have the LG Washing Machine Service Center Pune.

It is apparently hard for the workers or washerwomen or house makers. So the usage of garments washer made it basic. There is a significant great situation of using garments washer i.e., numerous articles of clothing can washed on the double. Garments washers save imperativeness, chemical, and furthermore the most critical time. It the time is insufficient in the lives of various people. Cleaning your apparel with the help of garments washer makes easier especially for the people who can't give their time for nuclear family things. In case your garments washer is going up against any trouble call, LG Washing Machine Customer Care Pune, our expert will explain the issues.

In Refrigerator a shine siphon is found its work is to get heat far from the cooler. Inside it a cooler is accessible which freezes things and is colder. Over the long haul various models of the cooler are made with front line highlights and models. A tremendous piece of the impelled coolers is accessible with various highlights, shades, and models. There is a noteworthy extraordinary position that there are wide. The extent of models of coolers are accessible in the market. So fridges are likewise orchestrated in various sizes. It relies on your family with the sort of cooler required by the relatives. On the distant chance that you are the proprietor of Samsung cooler who is checking. For the association, we are isolated as best at LG Refrigerator Repair Pune.

Over the long haul various models of the cooler are made with cutting edge highlights and models. A colossal aspect of the pushed coolers is accessible with various highlights, conceals, and furthermore models. In addition, there is a huge extraordinary position that there is a wide extent of models of coolers that are open in the market. So fridges additionally orchestrated in various sizes. It relies on your family with sort of cooler required by the relatives. On the slim chance that you are the proprietor of Samsung cooler who searching for an association, consequently we isolated as best at LG Refrigerator Service Center Pune.

It is phenomenal contrasted with other home machines which help us taking care of the food things. We can similarly get cool water from the cooler. The refrigerator in like manner has some fundamental issues which happen a significant part of the time. They are condenser not working, weakness in PCB, blower not working, and cooler not cooling, etc. Right when the above issue occurs, the refrigerator won't work suitably. To clear those issues contact LG Refrigerator Customer Care Pune. We respond to you inside a call.

The microwave or consider it the be-all-end-all machines for present-day kitchen. Microwaves were basically used to get ready direct dinner and warm extra. In any case, with time, careful modifications in their arrangement enabled more state-of-the-art microwaves to fire sear. A microwave is a for the most part little, boxlike oven that raises the temperature of food by presenting it to a high repeat electromagnetic field. Microwaves make radiation of a repeat of around 2,450 megahertz by techniques for a magneto which is such an electron tube. Since the warming occurs by an observation technique microwaves ovens will by and large cook certain sustenance unevenly or at different rates. Any issue is happened just connect with us from our site LG Microwave Oven Repair Pune.

These days it is hard to place greater imperativeness in cooking considering nonappearance of time. Individuals rely on machines to complete their works. One of the mechanical assemblies which utilize most by a long shot of the individuals is microwave. The decision reason behind the microwave is to design food. The term microwave in any case called a scaled down scale grill. We can prepare different food things in it. It is a victor among another home machine which spares our time in setting up the food. Individuals who associated with their included life, the microwave is the decision for them. LG Microwave Oven Service Center Pune, it will free any sort from issue if your contraption is at genuine danger. We have talented authorities who can fix a wide extent of microwaves.

Individuals need to complete their food quick and delightful. In any case, now and again it in addition makes late because of the issues that happened in it. The issues by and large happened in the microwave were shines in it, plate not turning, microwave not starting, insufficiency in diode and enormity, and touchpad issue. There is a reaction for each issue; equally LG Microwave Oven Customer Care Pune is open any place all through the city to free any sort from the issue in microwave easily of cost. We also issue authentic additional parts by giving an assurance to it.

An enormous part of the individuals utilizes AC in summers because of protecting themselves from heat which is starting from the sun. The reason behind the AC is to decrease the room temperature and cool the living zone. We use AC for the most part in summer seasons it will cool the zone where it is set and changes the room into a cooling zone. On hot days we need to live in a cool zone, to clear the difficulty we use AC. As we talked about each machine will trouble when it is utilized more, to fix the mechanical gatherings we have various assistance conditions in the market. To get the best administrations to your machines contact LG AC Repair Pune.

A climate control system a framework or a machine that treats air in a characterized, typically encased zone through a refrigerant cycle in which warm air is taken out and supplanted with cooler air. In development, a total HVAC whether in homes, workplaces, or vehicles, its motivation is to give comfort by modifying the properties of the air generally by cooling the air inside the fundamental capacity of the climate control system is to change antagonistic temperature. In other words, the forced air system is a cycle of eliminating air and dampness from the inside of an involved the essential idea driving the climate control system is said to have applied in old Egypt where reed hung in. in the event that you have any issue with your climate control system, at that point simply reach us from our site LG AC Service Center Pune and get proficient support of the climate control system

The atmosphere control framework is to utilize engineered mixtures to change over gas into the liquid. In the past age, the Old’s people used fans and various techniques to keep cool themselves in the mid-year season. Directly a day constrained air framework transforms into the primary source to keep nature cool. It gives us the estimation of cunningness and comfort. There is more differentiation between atmosphere control frameworks and fans. In case your atmosphere control framework makes any issue, by then you can simply take the help of our organization network. LG AC Customer Care Pune is our organization place.

TO CONTACT US: 9494157710

[whnvr]

Brain Drain

Ah yes, hello. It is once again time to drain these brains of mine. A couple of more thoughts on this ‘Morning Pages’ process. Firstly, I’ve decided to take the Artist’s Way wording to heart and think of this as a non-negotiable exercise and, at least for the time being, I am going to do the full 1500 words as a block before I move onto anything else in my day. I’m still going to take the approach of retroactively editing them before I sleep in order to be more formatted, but the main body of text will be done first as, based on yesterday, I think this will focus me far more than spreading the writing out. Secondly, the more I think about it the more experimental I realise this entire process is for me. It’s probably best thought of as a heavily modified and specified version of the ‘Artist’s Way’ approach, as one of the stipulations offered up by Julia Cameron is that these are to be for your eyes and your eyes alone - even then going so far as to suggest that these should be sealed away in an envelope so that even the practitioner does not read them. So in that sense I am both taking a more documentative, methodical approach to the process and I am altering the formula by hosting these in a public forum. I understand that privacy helps to remove any filtering one may do but I also believe that the potential for these to be read comes with its own benefits. To that end this feels like an experiment of being creatively candid in public which is simulatenously exciting and daunting given that it runs so counter to the common approach of creating behind closed doors. I’d love to explore these ideas further as this journal progresses and see how my relationship with creativity changes due to these factors. So, I guess I’ll start by taking the measure of my day, as I am very much enjoying the ‘touching base’ element of these Morning Pages. I definitely feel a lot more blocked than I did yesterday, and it seems as though there’s somewhat of a hump to get over when I do these within the first 500 words or so before I get into a state of flow with it - this was true of yesterday also. Maybe that is one of the possible benefits of this exercise, that 'ramping-up-to-flow’ stage is one I likely experience whenever I sit down to create and the Brain Drain may be a way of me overcoming that before I come to do any of the actual creative work of my day. It seems as though forcing myself to do all 1500 words yesterday put me into the same sort of flow-state I gain from working on a really successful piece of music, and then today I am once again reset back into that familiar place of being 'blocked’, which even now I am slowly working through and unpicking purely by writing these words. Looking back on previous creative work this would seem to make an awful lot of sense. How much more demotivating it is to have to wake up and untease the same blocked feeling each morning on projects that I care deeply about and am heavily invested in than it is to instead get that part of the process out of the way on an off the cuff exercise like Brain Drain each morning. Maybe attempting to ease such a block through the work we care about is where all feelings of 'I’ve lost it’ and 'this project is hard now. Therefore how much better it must be to work through those blocks in a format that we’re not quite so invested in. Even right now there is a part of me that is very much resisting this process. It is an anxiety that masks itself as restlessness and tells me to 'go and watch a film, Aaron. Why put yourself through something so hard?’. As it is the creative enemy I have decided to call this my personal Antagonizer. Other thoughts of the Antagonizer, or the 'me’ that feels uncomfortable and uncreative: - 'Go and make a milkshake Aaron. Don’t do this. It’s 30 degrees outside today. You really need to just cool down.’ - 'Get up and walk around. You really need to release some of this tension that you’re feeling.’ - 'Go and talk to a family member. Telling them about what you want to write would be much easier than simply writing it’. That’s right Antagonizer, I WILL use your criticism in order to help me hit this wordcount. Checkmate. Yesterday has taught me that past this feeling is where enjoyment and flow lie if I can only push through it. I imagine some days will be significantly harder than others, and I imagine that I will even have days where 1500 words won’t begin to scratch the surface of this block, but I would so much rather try to push through this block writing whatever comes to mind over-and-above pushing through this block attempting to create whatever passes for a masterpiece in my world. On to next steps then. I would like to select a new artist to listen to today as I get on with other work. This would also be a good opportunity to show off a little of how I organise my inspiration, despite how embarrassingly over-elaborate it is.

On Spotify I keep a folder of artists who I’m either interest in, inspired by, are important pieces of musical history, examples of current artists who are doing what they do incredibly successfully, or artists that I feel would be generally useful to experience. For each artist, I will create a playlist, and in each playlist, I will save that artist’s entire discography chronologically. I will then slowly work my way through each of the artist’s discographies, deleting what I’ve listened to and categorising songs that jump out to me either in terms of whether I love, like, or dislike them, the emotional qualities that I want to emulate in my own music, or the technical qualities that stand out as exemplary within each song. This allows me to simultaneously build a picture of what my musical tastes are, keep an accurate record of my listening history, and create song palettes for different emotional qualities that I wish to put into my own work.

(Above: the technical qualities of music that I have categorised. This forms up a reference library that I can use to further refine these qualities when I’m working on my own music)Here are the criteria I use to define each of these categories. Idea: the concept behind a piece. Narrative: the story told. Lyrics: how ideas are expressed through words. Mood: the emotionality of a piece. Expression: how ideas are framed and delivered through the articulation of the music. Musicality: the use of harmony, rhythm, and theory to communicate those ideas. Rhythm: the measure, speed, flow, and cadence of a piece. Timbre: the overall texture, tone, and sonic palette of a piece. Structure: the flow of a piece over time. Mix: how the timbre has been arranged as an ensemble. Master: how the piece has been polished. Delivery: the title, artwork, context, presentation, and moving image that contain the piece.

(Above: the emotional qualities of music that I have categorised as a reference library for how artists that I look up to achieve specific emotional qualities in their work). These are decidedly more abstract and are generally more subject to the songs themselves that are being added. For reference, here’s the current list of artists who’s work I want to study, all at various stages of listened to, completed, or not listened to at all: - Labelle - Car Seat Headrest - Snail Mail - Japanese Breakfast - Let’s Eat Grandma - Soccer Mommy - LCD Soundsystem - Big Thief - Have a Nice Life - Beebadoobee - Animanaguchi - 100gecs - Courtney Barnett - Chromonicci - Owsey - Dark Cat - Valentine - SOPHIE - Kamasi Washington - Prince - Aurora - Massive Attack - Haywyre - Maths Time Joy - Counting Crows - Jack Strauber - Blossom Calderone - Goldfrapp - Janelle Monae - Meteorologist - Easyfun - Saint Lewis - Julian Gray - Jade Cicada - Blake Skowron - 92Elm - Maxime - Stereo Cube - Chuck Sutton - Gemi - Queen - Laxcity - Duumu - Oh Wonder - Galamatias - Umru - Underscores - Brockhampton - Fleece - i Monster - Deaton Chris Anthony - Amy Winehouse - The Beatles - Sumthin Sumthin - Radiohead - Flume - Knapsack - Dodie Here are the artists who’s discographies I have completed via this approach: - Sidney Gish - M.I.A - In Love With a Ghost - Bowie - Pink Floyd - Baird - Rudimental - Iglooghost - Madeon - Porter Robinson - 100gecs I use a similar system alongside this over on Pinterest for visual work in order to better inform my visual style and aesthetic sensibilities. Here is how I define my visual observation: Interior & Exterior, the space of dwelling.

Colour, of which idiosyncrasy and primary colours are a main focus.

Tone, subtler than colour. An intangible quality communicated by shifting hues and gradiated layers.

Mood, the way an image feels.

Looks, clothes, & apparel: personal artistic image and identity.

Desolation, a quality not currently present in my own work, but one that I often observe and love within other work, as well as in storytelling and other environments.

Layout, the way things are arranged in relation to one another within a space.

Idea, the concept behind a thing.

Texture, the tactile quality of visual elements.

Form, the shape and bounds of a thing.

Presentation, the context a thing is placed within.

Render, the quality imparted by computer generated imagery.

Type, how words are displayed.

Pattern, the use of repetition.

As you can see, how I define sound and visual art share a fairly common language between them. Anyway, I divert. I’m going to select SOPHIE as the next discography to tear through and I am also going to continue working through the UE4 Beginner learning path, though before either of these I have some university paperwork/admin stuff to finish so I’d best crack on with that. Toodles!

[ambitionsource]

AMBITION Season 2 ♫ “Cold Comfort” [ 2.05 ]

CREATED BY Esther (rapunzles) & Maggie (quincywillows) || S2 Tag || Official Page

ON THIN ICE – The holiday season brings less cheer than usual as reality settles in with the winter. New traditions replace the old. Invitations to the Matthews’ annual holiday party are extended to all, but a select few are left out in the cold.

58 Minutes (14K words) || No warnings apply.

[ ← Valerie De La Cruz ] [ S2 Synopsis ] [ How the Twinks Saved Christmas → ]

( Follow along with the music on Spotify here! )

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DAY

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Christmas Time Is Here” as performed by Vince Guaraldi Trio || Performed by AAA Juniors

Flurries are falling over a chilly grey Manhattan, winter descending upon the city. With winter break right on the horizon, the vocals of the junior class set the mood for what is certain to be an uneven holiday season.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - RILEY’S ROOM - DAY

RILEY MATTHEWS is feeling that uncertainty as she finishes addressing and sealing invitations for the annual Matthews holiday party. She’s got a sizable stack for her classmates in a pile on her desk, just finishing off the last few. She scribbles Clarissa’s name on the top of one and adds it to the stack, methodically moving to the next one.

As she continues to work, a montage shows us little glimpses of how other homes are looking around this time of year...

INT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - DAY

The Hart apartment is cozy but empty, both its inhabitants out on the grind. No decorations are up within the place, which seems off.

INT. MINKUS HOME - DAY

The Minkus home is in the process of being lavishly decorated for the winter and Jewish holiday season, but its only the help participating. Although the aura gives the appearance of being festive, none of the Minki are around to appreciate it.

INT. BABINEAUX HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY

A collection of cutely wrapped gifts has begun to accumulate at the foot of a pretty Christmas tree in the Babineaux living room, JADA BABINEAUX home for winter break and in the process of adding some to the pile.

INT. FOSTER HOME - DAY

No such room for gifts at the foster home, where a gorgeous fir tree takes precedence in the living room but has no collection of gifts to go with it. Instead, letters addressed to each of the foster kids dots the tree like ornaments, presumably holding pricey but thoughtless gifts inside.

INT. GARDNER HOME - DAY

The Gardner home is elegantly curated for the most important time of year, ELEANOR GARDNER putting the finishing touches on the garland and stocking arrangement over the fireplace. She also touches up the glass miniature set of the birth of Jesus set up on the mantle, not one detail out of place.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - DAY

At the Friar apartment, nothing is different. The place is quiet and dark, and the window to Lucas’s fire escape is open even with the frigid weather.

INT. ERIC’S APARTMENT - DAY

ERIC MATTHEWS pulls a rack of cookies out of the oven, frantically blowing to cool them off and dropping them on the stovetop. Behind him, gift bags with the names of his fellow faculty wait to be filled in preparation for the last day of school.

INT. JACK’S APARTMENT - DAY

JACK HUNTER decorates his apartment with simple but sweet touches, SHAWN HUNTER and ANGELA MOORE playfully arguing in the background over where their old stockings should go. Jack seems to have a moment of melancholy, before he’s pulled out of it by ANNE MARIE WINTHROP approaching from behind and giving him a peck on the cheek. She hands him a mug of hot chocolate, which he accepts.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - RILEY’S BEDROOM - DAY

Riley hesitates on the last couple of invitations, all sealed and ready to go but not bearing names. It’s clear she’s debating whether or not to address them at all, glancing up at her rather blank moodboard for guidance. It doesn’t have any, obviously, so she’ll have to make her own call.

Determined, Riley quickly writes the last two question marks on the envelopes -- Lucas and Farkle. Then she adds them to the top of the pile, tying it together with a piece of twine and heading out.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DAY

Riley makes her way down the street to the mailbox, snowflakes catching in her hair. She stands in front of it for a long moment, gazing down at the invitations and attempting to swallow the last of her trepidation.

Then she drops the stack into the mailbox, shutting it and fast-walking back up the street to escape the cold.

Cue title sequence.

This episode, much like the Les Mis one of the first season, takes on a slightly different structure than usual. It unfolds in miniature vignettes, capturing the unique experiences of each of our main players as first semester comes to a close.

Between each story, a small quote indicates a transition in time and focus. So, over black:

PART I There’s a world outside your window, and it’s a world of dread and fear. And the only bells that chime there are the clanging chimes of doom...

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

Even with the uncertain mood permeating the junior class, the atmosphere still feels festive. Lockers are decorated for students’ respective holidays, and with only a day left of class, energy is higher than usual. Students from all different grades greet one another in the halls, dressed in their most cozy-looking apparel and exchanging small gifts.

LUCAS FRIAR is at his locker, evidently not in the same spirit. He looks as disgruntled as usual, fighting with one of his notebooks before just tossing it down in the bottom and calling it a day.

However, he’s got forces working against him to bring the holiday cheer. He jumps when ASHER GARCIA and DYLAN ORLANDO pop up next to him, slamming his locker closed and launching into a goofy, pitchy duet of the opening tones of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” They point to one another as they sing the name “Dasher,” Lucas unable to hold back a smile.

Lucas: You did it, mission accomplished. I’m officially anti-Christmas.

They jeer at him, knowing his whole dismissal is a facade. The two of them seem more than ready for the season, Asher looking sharp and cozy in a burgundy cardigan and Dylan in what might be the most outlandish holiday sweater ever manufactured.

Lucas: [ to Asher ] You look like adolescent Mr. Rogers. [ to Dylan ] And you look like Buddy the Elf.

Dylan, happily: That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.

They go on to ask him what the plan is for the techie party this year is, but Lucas claims he doesn’t know. He isn’t even sure they’re still doing it.

Asher: What? We can’t not do it. It’s tradition.

Lucas: We’ve done it, what, two years? That’s not a tradition.

Dylan: Well, not with that attitude.

The three of them begin walking to class, Lucas expressing that the planning for the party usually falls on Isadora. So they should maybe ask her -- oh, but wait, they can’t, because she’s far too busy hanging with her new diva cult to think about it.

Dylan: [ to Asher ] There’s a cult?

Asher: No, it’s just a -- don’t worry about it.

Dylan: I’m not worried, I’m offended. I thought we were going to start one first.

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

The full A class is assembled on stage, waiting for Shawn and Harper to arrive for announcements regarding the last days before winter break. As they’re hanging around, DAVE WILLIAMS has the eye to point out Lucas’s newest aesthetic feature.

Dave: Hey, man, nice new kicks.

They’re the boots he was eyeing in the store window during Thanksgiving break. He thanks Dave smugly, ISADORA DE LA CRUZ tuning into the conversation and frowning. She knows damn well Lucas can’t afford new shoes, let alone ones like that… she makes eye contact with Riley across the circle, who is wearing a similar skeptical expression.

Harper finally arrives, giving the basic low down of some non-stressful last few days activities they plan to do. Shawn jogs in a few moments later, stating after Harper’s dismissed them into small groups that he needs to meet with the techies separately.

Asher and Dylan look to Lucas, curious if he knows what’s up. He shrugs, the three of them marching off with the rest of the crew to their usual spot in the back.

Once they’ve settled into the chairs in the back center section, Shawn stands in front of them and begins his explanation. He speaks with uncharacteristic hesitancy, so it’s evident that whatever he’s about to tell them isn’t going to be good news. And it’s decidedly not -- he informs them that the technician’s booth will be shut down and off-limits until further notice. They aren’t allowed inside.

All of the techies are shocked by this, pointing out how that’s going to impact their work and wondering how long it’s going to be in effect -- but Lucas is downright feral. He’s the loudest opposition out of all of them, asking how the hell they’re supposed to do their jobs and stating there can’t be a good reason for this. As Shawn notes, however, they’re literally a day away from winter break so they won’t be doing much work anyway.

When Lucas presses on why the mandate was laid down, all eyes turn expectantly to Shawn. He stammers out an explanation about new equipment, claiming they’re running on old juice and it’ll be great for all of them to get some better upgrades.

JEFF MONROE and the others seem somewhat excited about this, but Lucas remains unconvinced. He grits his teeth as Shawn continues on with announcements, already thinking ahead.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - LUCAS’S ROOM - NIGHT

Ousted back into his reluctant abode rather than recluse in the booth, Lucas is cramped in his bedroom with the door locked tight. The window is still open to let in the cold but fresh air, Lucas slouched on the floor in front of his mattress. He’s wearing a worn-out Knicks sweatshirt, an outdated behemoth of a laptop computer on his lap as he squints in the dark.

His focus shifts as his phone lights up with a text from Isadora. She heard about the booth, and is just checking in to see if he’s okay or if there’s any way she can help in the meantime. Lucas opts to ignore it, tossing his phone back down and getting back to work.

On the computer, he’s deep on a web search looking up the models of their equipment in the booth. Based on what he can tell, most of the stuff they have in there is already updated to the latest model. All of this is way too fishy, and he’s not buying a second of it.

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY

Lucas sneaks into the school at the crack of dawn the next morning, still wearing the same sweatshirt and his hair stuffed under a beanie rather than his usual snapback for warmth. He makes his way up to the booth, taking the stairs two at a time.

He takes a moment to make sure no one is around, and then swiftly picks the lock into the booth and breaks inside.

INT. AAA - TECHNICIAN’S BOOTH - DAY

From what he can tell, everything looks about the same as he left it. He goes to get a good look around, double-checking his list of their equipment and his theorized models, confirming his suspicion that the upgraded equipment excuse was a lie. His fellow techies may not notice, but he spends far too much time in the booth to be fooled.

When he goes to check his usual nook, he’s stunned to find that the panel he usually takes out of the wall has been screwed shut. No more easy removal of it. Lucas curses to himself, checking in the other hiding places where he’d keep his overnight stuff and finding nothing.

Everything is gone.

Starting to panic, Lucas’s attention drifts to a safety notice that has been taped up above the paneling. It reads like an inspection notice, stating that the current area has suffered a “pest infestation” and needs to be fumigated and closed off until further notice. Case in point, the real reason they aren’t allowed in the booth.

Lucas scowls, ripping the notice off the wall in a fury.

INT. AAA - JACK’S OFFICE - DAY

The notice is slammed down on Jack’s desk, Lucas hardly able to contain his emotions as he meets with him.

Lucas: This? Is bullshit.

Jack takes the notice from him, making a comment about how he wonders how Lucas got his hands on it. Oh, no, silly him. Of course he just disregarded a mandate from his teacher and barged his way into the booth anyway.

Jack, deadpan: Glad to see we’re remaining consistent right up until the last breath of the semester.

Lucas isn’t in the mood for jokes. Whatever sort of authoritarian bureaucratic fuckery this is, it’s all wrong. They don’t have the right to bar them from one of their most important spaces when they don’t even have a legitimate reason for doing so.

Lucas: I have been in that booth for hundreds of hours -- I practically live in it -- and not once have I seen what I would consider a “pest.” Can’t even make a joke about Minkus or Hart, since we make a point of keeping them out of there. This is unfounded.

Jack: And you can’t trust the authorities in your life that perhaps there is a reason?

Lucas: When all of their excuses so far have been absolute crap? Actually, no, I can’t.

Jack caves, raising his hands in surrender. Lucas wants the truth? Fine. The infestation referred to on the notice isn’t about mice or vermin -- janitor Harley informed him that he discovered evidence that someone or someones might be staying in the booth. That’s a major no-no, not to mention a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Lucas does his best to keep his expression neutral. He continues to stammer for more arguments, but for what it’s worth Jack can see right through him.

Lucas: You can’t just do this based on a suspicion! You don’t even have proof!

Jack: Proof? You really want proof?

Lucas: Well, since you don’t have any --

Jack: Fine!

Jack rises from his desk, going to the small storage closet in his office. He retrieves a full duffle bag of things -- the items recovered from the booth when Harley stumbled upon it. He drops it on the desk, watching Lucas’s expression as it shifts from aggressive to stunned.

Jack: These were the items Harley found in the booth. Look familiar?

Lucas: … I --

Jack: Think they should. I’m fairly certain they belong to you.

Checkmate. Jack knows Lucas was the one staying in the booth, and he knows that’s why he’s taking this whole thing so personally.

Still, he responds with empathy. He attempts to get Lucas to talk about what’s going on, or how long this has been a thing, but such difficult conversations can quickly go nowhere. And with Lucas’s current emotional state, that’s exactly what happens. He lashes out instead, shutting down rather than taking Jack’s offers of help.

So Jack has to switch approaches as well, warning Lucas that he cannot keep doing things like this. His behavior is increasingly causing more issues, and with certain people keeping their eyes on the school this is not the time to be lighting more matches. He can’t continue to look out for him if he’s going to take advantage of it at every turn.

Lucas, defensive: Then don’t. News flash, I don’t care about this stupid school!

Jack tries to get him to stop and actually talk, but Lucas is over it. He scoops his things off the desk -- confirming they are in fact his, to Jack’s clear dismay -- and storms out of the office.

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

Lucas is attempting to stuff some of the things in his locker, any holiday cheer that he may have picked up earlier in the day long gone. Dylan and Asher come to find him again, obviously concerned by his palpable anger and wondering how he’s handling being kicked out of the booth.

Not well, obviously. Dylan tries to say something to cheer him up, but Lucas isn’t hearing it. He’s gathering his things into the duffle.

Asher: Well, hanging out with the crew will make you feel better. We’ll be able to figure out the plan for the holiday --

Lucas, harshly: Pretty sure the party’s off, spaghetti. Not that it fucking matters anyway.

Lucas slams his locker, marching down the hall. Asher and Dylan call after him, wondering where the hell he’s going.

Lucas: Anywhere but here. I’m taking winter break early.

Asher tries to get him to stop, but he’s already gone. The two of them exchange worried looks.

EXT. AAA - DAY

As Lucas is jogging down the steps, he gets a call from Isadora. She asks where the hell he is before class. He brushes off the concern, and when she changes the subject and asks about the techie party plans, he snaps. He states it’s funny that she’s bothering to ask, but she’s wasting her time. He doesn’t feel much like celebrating, and he won’t be participating this year.

Isadora: Lucas, are you kidding? You can’t just bail. If you don’t do the break-in, then what are we supposed to do?

Lucas: Oh, you’ll figure it out without me. You’ve gotten really good at that.

Lucas hangs up before Isadora can respond, stuffing his phone in his pocket. He takes a deep breath, inhaling the icy air and running the rest of the way down the steps. As far away from AAA as he can get, as fast as possible.

PART II Merry Christmas, darling, we’re apart that’s true, But I can dream, and in my dreams I’m Christmas-ing with you…

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

While Lucas is accosted by Dylan and Asher in the background and they launch into “Rudolph,” we’re now following ZAY BABINEAUX as he makes his way through the halls with his duffle. He nods to friends as he passes them, high-fives with YINDRA AMINO as they cross paths outside the black box. But his destination that morning is a bit further away, a quick stop before the rest of the school day unfolds…

INT. AAA - DANCE STUDIO - DAY

He makes it to his and Charlie’s usual studio just as CHARLIE GARDNER is wrapping up a routine, totally focused on the choreography. Zay takes a moment to watch, leaning against the doorframe with a fond smile on his face.

Once he’s done, Charlie whips around and spots Zay. He reacts in surprise at first, claiming he scared him and wondering why the hell he’s just hanging in the doorway when he should’ve just come in. He could’ve easily stopped the run through. Zay brushes it off, sauntering in as Charlie excitedly claims he has something to show him.

He retrieves something from the front pocket of his backpack, turning back and giving Zay a grin and eyebrow raise. When he prompts him to go on, Charlie enthusiastically dangles his key ring between them, now bearing a new car key.

Charlie: Early Christmas present from the folks. I mean, I’m still terrified to use it, but now the option exists. [ with a nudge ] Maybe now you can stop having to drive to and from Queens all the time and I can save you the trouble.

Zay: Whew, Santa, baby. You’re giving me an extravagant gift just from gas money savings alone.

Charlie cracks up, returning the keys to his backpack. Zay takes the opportunity to shift gears, dropping down to unzip his duffle bag. Speaking of gifts… he may have a thing or two for him. Charlie is caught off-guard, claiming he wasn’t expecting a gift exchange. He can’t possibly accept something from him. It wouldn’t be fair.

But Zay is too darn cute to refuse, and he assures him it’s not a big deal. The first thing he presents is a slip of paper, which he brandishes with a flourish as he hands it to Charlie.

Upon closer inspection, it’s revealed to be a coupon for all-he-can-eat French fries at their Queens diner. Charlie laughs again, nodding appreciatively.

Charlie: Okay, okay. If this is what you meant, then I guess me braving my fear of the New York roads to see you is equal enough.

Zay: Hey, that’s a steal of a coupon you’ve got there. Don’t take that generosity lightly. [ a beat ] And there might be… one more piece.

Before Charlie can argue, Zay drops down and grabs his last gift. It’s a bundle wrapped in newspaper. Charlie gives him an eyebrow raise as Zay encourages him to unwrap it, clasping his hands together in front of him.

The newspaper falls away, and suddenly Charlie finds himself holding one of Zay’s sweatshirts.

His expression shifts from playful to something softer, obviously not sure how to react. He holds it delicately in his fingers, lightly shaking his head.

Charlie: Zay…

Zay: Ah, no, don’t worry. I’ve already thought about everything you could possibly say. I’ve thought it all through. I picked the best one based on which would be least likely to raise eyebrows, as well as one you could conceivably have in your own wardrobe... you know, if you ever shopped anywhere other than the GAP for once.

[ Charlie can’t help but laugh. He unfolds the sweatshirt a little bit more as Zay continues his explanation. ]

Zay: It’s also one of my newer ones, so it’s just broken in enough that it’s like, me, but not worn in enough that it would seem like a hand me down. You can easily say to anyone that asks that you just bought it. I really only wear it around the house, so as long as you don’t wear it at my place of living, you should be all clear.

Charlie: What made you think of this?

Zay: Well… I know that this is exactly the kind of thing you’d like to have, but wouldn’t ask for on your own. Thusly… happy holidays, Chuckles.

And he’s exactly right about that. It’s a thoughtful gift for a couple who has been together for six months, even in secret, and it’s more than clear how much it means to Charlie.

Charlie, sincerely: It’s perfect. [ hugging it ] Thank you.

Zay gives him a nod, smiling brightly. Charlie goes on to apologize again, feeling bad that he didn’t try and figure out something similar to give him. Zay assures him that it’s fine, but subtly suggests that he might have a solution.

Zay: You can always make it up to me… by coming over for dinner.

Although the aversion is pointedly less strong than it was even a couple episodes ago, Charlie is still freaked by the suggestion. He claims he can’t do that, but Zay attempts to change his mind by explaining the full context -- his mom is super into like, knowing his friends, and she wants to have an evening during winter break where he invites some of his closest over for a casual dinner sort of thing. His parents are super friendly and not at all suspicious, and considering how often he talks about Charlie they wouldn’t think anything of it if he were in attendance. In fact, it might be weirder for him to not be there.

But that’s not enough. There’s something in Charlie, deeply rooted inside him somewhere, that cannot wrap his head around such a possibility without thinking about the implications. He sticks by his original answer, despite how much it hurts to do so.

Zay tries not to let the rejection sting, but his disappointment is getting harder to hide. The longer they’re together, the more he has to wonder if things are ever going to change the way he keeps hoping they will. He understands, of course, but at what point is it going to get easier? If it ever does?

Zay: Kind of ironic, isn’t it? Most wonderful time of the year, and we’re still so stuck.

The comment isn’t said harshly, but it makes its point. Charlie tries to say something to fix it, but comes up short. Zay walks away before he can stop him, stepping out of reach as he tries to take his arm.

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Blue Christmas” as performed by Glee Cast || Performed by Zay Babineaux

Zay emerges into the hall, launching into the bluesy holiday classic. His voice is heavy with emotion as he saunters through the school, passing by other classmates and friends already reveling in the joy of the season and welcoming the incoming freedom of break together.

More to the point, it’s as if Zay can’t escape the echoes of what it is he most desperately wants. He passes by other students in romantic relationships openly being together, exchanging gifts, joking about mistletoe, making holiday plans. Dylan and Asher fall into giddy laughter by the latter’s locker, Asher nudging him lightly before pulling him into a kiss.

By the time he gets to the last verse, he’s returned to his locker. Across the hall, Charlie is at his, exchanging a quick chat with HALEY FISHER and CLARISSA CRUZ before they saunter off to class. The distance between them is suffocating, in spite of how close they are in every other way.

Elvis and any other performer have no idea what longing means compared to Isaiah Babineaux. He leans against the wall of lockers and watches Charlie disappear around the corner without a second glance. Then he adjusts and tilts his head back against the cold metal, crooning out the last few notes as the piano takes us out.

INT. BABINEAUX HOME - DAY

Winter break kicks off, the front door to the Babineaux home opening to find Riley, Yindra, and MAYA HART there on the doorstep. They cheerfully greet Zay, exchanging hugs with him as they step inside. DONNA BABINEAUX is quick to come greet them, explaining that she just started on food and that Omar and Jada should be home soon.

Maya and Riley head to the living room, Donna hanging by the door and asking Zay if they’re expecting anyone else. What she means, naturally, is are they still waiting for one more. Zay shrugs, trying to cover his ill feelings.

Zay: Wouldn’t count on it.

He follows his friends into the living room without further comment, Donna giving him a curious look as he goes.

INT. GARDNER HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY

As is tradition in the Gardner household, the children are assembled to decorate the tree together. ROSAMUND GARDNER is hard at work, determining where each ornament should go while DAISY GARDNER unwraps them from their tissue paper and hands them off.

Charlie is supposed to be on box duty -- retrieving the new boxes from the storage bin and passing them to Daisy -- but he’s sort of slacking on the job. He’s zoned out, lost in his own head and turning a baby angel over in his fingers absentmindedly.

He’s broken out of his fugue by a soft ornament to the face, Daisy remarking that he’s not being very much help. He tosses it back at her, snarkily excusing himself as he pushes to his feet. Daisy and Rosie watch him go, once again observers to his unusual behavior.

Daisy: What’s up with him?

Rosie, wisely: Testosterone.

INT. GARDNER HOME - KITCHEN - DAY

Charlie enters as his mother is busy slaving away, baking an assortment of holiday cookies for the upcoming festivities. She greets him cheerfully, passing a peanut butter drop cookie towards him from fresh off the rack. She knows how they’re his favorite.

He accepts it gratefully, breaking off a piece and taking a bite. He glances towards the refrigerator, where Riley’s invitation is hanging. He tentatively asks whether or not it would be okay for him to attend the party. Eleanor checks out of the baking zone, glancing at the invitation again and reading it over before granting him permission. It doesn’t conflict with any of their family plans, and Riley has always seemed like a wonderful girl and good friend to him. It would be rather rude of him to decline the invitation when she took the time to invite him, now wouldn’t it? You know, a good friend like Riley…

Implications of how his family thinks of Riley aside, Charlie searches for a change of subject. On the subject of their family plans, he softly questions whether or not Bridgette will be coming home for Christmas this year. Even though she’s not facing him, it’s obvious that the query catches Eleanor off-guard. She tries to skirt it, her nonchalance kind of pissing Charlie off.

Charlie, curtly: Was she even invited?

Eleanor: [ with shocked disappointment ] Charles.

For as quickly as the boldness shot through him, it’s zapped away even faster. He avoids his mother’s gaze, pushing away from the counter and claiming he needs to go call Riley to let her know he can come.

INT. GARDNER HOME - CHARLIE’S ROOM - DAY

Safely hidden away in his room, Charlie leans back against the door and hides his head in his hands. Trying to get a grip on his emotions, which seem to be fluctuating more than ever nowadays. Too bad he has no idea how to settle them.

Well… maybe that’s not entirely true. A thought strikes him, Charlie going over to his duffle bag and digging through his school things. He finds what he’s looking for, grabbing Zay’s sweatshirt and holding it out in front of him.

After a moment, he pulls it on over his head.

Not an instant cure all, but maybe a little bit better. Charlie adjusts it on his shoulders, flopping onto his bed and staring at the ceiling. Lost in the way he wants things to be, not certain how to make them so or if he even has the courage to follow through if he did. He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes and crossing his arms like he’s hugging himself.

As if with the sweatshirt, it’ll be like he’s hugging him.

PART III Christmas Eve will find me where the love light gleams, I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams…

INT. AAA - GIRLS DRESSING ROOM - DAY

Maya and Isadora are in the dressing room together, hanging out before theater lab. While Maya has definitely noticed that Katy has been so weird about money lately, she’s found a new way to spin it in her head that makes it seem like a positive rather than a negative.

Maya: It’s totally some kind of surprise thing. Like a big present for the holidays. Tickets to a Broadway show, or maybe even a trip. God, how cool would it be to go to like… Los Angeles? The Hart women take L.A.

Perhaps a new level of delusion. Isadora doesn’t look sold on the idea, but she doesn’t want to burst her friend’s bubble either. Maya takes her expression as a lack of interest in L.A., lamenting that she’s been there dozens of times to see Valerie, so of course she doesn’t find it all that impressive. She’s jaded to the west coast allure.

Isadora: Ah, yes, the allure of smog and snail trail traffic is truly irresistible…

Maya gives her a look, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Case in point, what Maya wouldn’t give to explore the other entertainment hub of the world. And maybe, if the way they’ve been siphoning away money is any clue, she just might get her wish.

INT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

That night, Maya takes the straight-forward approach in pitching this take to KATY HART. She jokingly asks her when they’re going to stop playing charades, when she’s going to reveal whatever the big secret is. Although Katy continues to act aversive and Maya plays along, it’s clear from the way Katy doesn’t want to talk about it that it won’t be a trip to Los Angeles. Clear to everyone except Maya, who has rooted herself into a state of denial.

Only one more night before winter freedom, Maya declares, giving her mother a kiss on the head and fluttering off to bed. Katy watches her go, a wistful expression on her face. Suddenly, she’s looking all around the apartment with a similar emotion -- it might be a dump, but it’s home. It’s where she’s gotten to raise her daughter, the most important thing in the world.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Slipping Through My Fingers” as performed by Mamma Mia! Original Movie Cast || Performed by Katy Hart (feat. Maya Hart)

Katy gently slips into this nostalgic power ballad, continuing to roam the extent of their small apartment. As she goes, small glimpses of flashbacks come into focus, featuring her and Maya as she grew up through the years. A toddler Maya running away from the bathtub as Katy chases after her, wrapping her in a towel and cuddling her close; the two of them singing together as they make dinner together when Maya is in elementary school; a middle school Maya in her leotard, showing off a routine she just learned in dance class to a fond and proud Katy.

INT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - DAY

The song continues into the next morning, Maya getting ready for the last day of the semester. Katy offers to braid her hair specially in a crown around her head, the two of them sharing laughter as she does so. As Maya heads out for school, she blows a kiss to Katy.

Once Maya is gone, the tone of the piece seems to shift somewhat. Katy begins taking things down, packing certain things away in boxes in her room. She grows tearful as she goes, having to take moments to step away from it.

INT. AAA - DANCE STUDIO - DAY

Maya takes her verse while rehearsing in the dance studio, the thought of whatever might be going on with her mother obviously distracting her. When she turns to face the mirrors, she envisions Katy standing there behind her, encouraging her to keep her chin high and smile on. The exercise works like a charm, Maya going back to run the routine again.

INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY

As song floats through the final verse, Katy wanders the halls of AAA. It’s a bit unprecedented for her to be there, but it’s clear she’s on a mission.

INT. AAA - CORY’S CLASSROOM - DAY

Katy lightly knocks, surprising CORY MATTHEWS from grading papers. He greets her happily, wondering what would’ve brought her all the way to AAA.

From the way her eyes are glossed over with tears, it’s not going to be for anything good.

Katy: I hate to do this, but… I need to ask a major favor.

INT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - EXTERIOR HALL - DAY

Maya is on the phone with Riley as she walks home, confirming that she’ll be at the party.

Maya: Why you decided to mail invitations like we’re in the 1930s, I have no idea, but you do you babe.

After she hangs up, she takes a second to eye their bare apartment door. Then she unlocks the door, stepping inside.

INT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - DAY

Katy is already waiting at the kitchen table when Maya enters, nervously twisting her fingers. Maya doesn’t catch her demeanor right away, commenting that it’s a bit weird they haven’t put up their wreath yet. Or any decorations, really. Maybe they should get on that, with the holiday right around the corner?

Katy, timidly: I don’t think we’re going to be able to do that this year, baby girl.

The moment she hears her tone, Maya immediately loses her teasing attitude. She grows more serious, asking what’s wrong as dread creeps into the room. Katy gets up from the table and guides Maya to sit with her on their couch, indicating there’s more to say.

That’s also when Maya realizes Cory is there with them. He rises from his seat in the arm chair to greet her, but his presence just makes her more confused and thusly, more nervous. She continues to ask Katy what the hell is going on, bordering on panic.

Maya: Mom, what is he doing here? What the hell is going on? Mom --

Katy shushes her, trying to keep it together for her sake. She goes on to explain the situation as coherently as she can -- the diner isn’t making ends meet anymore. They’ve been struggling to pay bills for months. She tried to find additional work beyond the two jobs she already has, but there’s not enough time and she doesn’t have enough credit to her name.

The bottom line is, they can’t afford to live in this apartment anymore. She can’t afford to stay in the city right now.

In an instant, Maya is in tears. She’s shocked, bewildered, and bubbling with millions of questions. How could this happen? Why didn’t she tell her? She could’ve picked up a job, she could’ve helped search. But the true question rises eventually -- what about AAA? How is anything going to work the way she’s known it her entire life if they’re moving away?

This is where Cory steps into the conversation. With prompting from Katy, he calmly explains that they’re extending the invitation for her to come move in with them. Now that Topanga has moved out and they’re rearranging things anyway, they have more than enough room and would be happy to have her.

It’s a nice sentiment, and Maya appreciates it. But… she doesn’t want it. She doesn’t want to leave this place, and she for sure doesn’t want to be apart from Katy. She stammers out as much as she’s overcome with tears, Katy pulling her into a tight hug as she starts to cry as well.

Katy: I know, baby, I know. But it’ll work out. In time, it’ll work out. And you need to be here. You need to be here shining your brightest, I’m not gonna let all this take you away from that. [ pushing some hair out of her face and wiping her tears ] The dream is priceless. We’re not letting you let it go for any reason.

Maya nods, but she’s still crying. The two of them embrace again, dreading the moment they’ll have to let go.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT

Maya drops the last of her things in the sparse master bedroom, all of Cory’s things having been moved and Riley’s stuff scattered in the process of moving. Cory explains that with Topanga vacating and Maya moving in, the two girls could share the master given that he won’t be needing nearly as much space for himself.

He leaves her alone to settle in with a pat on the shoulder. She waits for him to go, closing the door behind her. She starts to go to her suitcase and unpack, but can’t bring herself to do it. Her hands are shaking. Somehow, her entire world has turned upside down.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Home” as performed by Beauty and the Beast Original Broadway Cast || Performed by Maya Hart (starting at 00:40)

In this moment, nothing matters other than Maya’s vocals. It’s one of her most powerful, wrenching performances to date, nothing in the unsettled space to distract from how raw the experience feels. She’s truly lost the feeling of home, and she has no idea if she’s ever going to find it again.

She settles into the undecorated bay window as the number peters out, tears shining in her eyes as she gazes out at her new view of the city. Snow falls gently outside the windows, the melancholy captured in Maya’s reflection through the glass as the screen fades to black.

PART IV They’re singing “Deck the Halls,” but it’s not like Christmas at all, ‘Cause I remember when you were here, and all the fun we had last year…

INT. AAA - PRACTICE ROOM - DAY

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “River” as performed by Glee Cast || Performed by Farkle Minkus

Picking up with soft piano where Maya left off, Farkle demonstrates his piano skills again as he practices alone. His solitude seems to echo off the walls, dominating the performance despite how great his voice is as always. The lyrics speak to his feelings aptly enough, although if he wasn’t saying them under the guise of practice he likely wouldn’t be expressing them at all.

Charlie pops in just as he wraps up, claiming that they’re getting ready to close the building for break and they have to head out. Farkle thanks him for the heads up, gathering his things. Before he goes, Charlie takes the second to wish him happy holidays.

Farkle nods and offers a tight smile, but it’s gone as soon as Charlie is out of sight. It’s clear he’s more of the opinion of like… is it? Are they, really, happy holidays?

Slinging his bag over his shoulder as he leaves, he flicks off the light and sends the practice room into darkness.

INT. MINKUS HOME - DAY

Farkle’s invitation to Riley’s party has arrived, sitting on the top of the pile of mail sitting on the counter by the doorway.

As JENNIFER MINKUS bustles in with URI MINKUS and EZRA MINKUS, one of them accidentally rams into the stack and knocks it to the floor. Jennifer chides both of them, guiding Ezra into the suite and requesting of Uri that he clean them up.

Headphones in and obviously annoyed, Uri flips through the first few and determines they’re all junk. He scoops all of it -- including the invitation -- into his hands to promptly dumps it into the trash, absolving him of the burden without further ado.

INT. MINKUS HOME - FARKLE’S ROOM - DAY

Farkle slips back into his summer habits, reverting back to his appearance and slump of the start of the season. His hair is untidy and even wilder than before now that it’s grown more, and his baggy sweater is going to get worn out from overuse.

He spends a majority of the break sleeping, not feeling the motivation to get out or do much else. It’s what he’s preparing to do that afternoon, drawing his blinds shut from the pleasant view of snow falling over the city, when LILA MINKUS pokes her head in. She’s chewing on a granola bar, back from college for the holidays and distinctly unimpressed with his habits.

Lila: Are you really going to waste your entire winter break lazing around?

Farkle: Are you really going to spend your entire existence annoying the fuck out of me?

Lila: Real classy, germ. If you’re just going to do nothing, you could at least make yourself useful and help mom with holiday prep.

Point made, and hard to ignore. Farkle glances at his bed waiting for him so invitingly, sighing as he slouches out of the room to make his presence on this Earth worthwhile.

INT. MINKUS HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT

That’s how he finds himself assisting his mother with dinner, plaintively cutting up vegetables as she attempts to keep up conversation with him. Given how lethargic he is he’s not all that talkative, but she does her best. She tries to gauge if he has any plans for the remainder of break.

Farkle: No.

Jennifer: Nothing?

Farkle: Just practicing.

Jennifer: Well, I’m sure your friends must have things going on. They can’t all be off on vacations or something. Why don’t you see if one of them wants to do something? [ a beat ] I’m sure that Maya --

Farkle: Trust me, they don’t.

This doesn’t sit well with Jennifer. It’s clear that whatever is going on with Farkle is concerning to her, but she doesn’t know how to confront it or figure out what the real trouble might be. So she continues to problem solve aloud.

Jennifer: I can see who isn’t going out of town, if we’re looking for company. [ excitedly ] Oh, you know who I should call? The Shapiros. I can see if Roberta is free sometime in the next couple weeks, God knows she could use the date --

Farkle, disturbed: No thanks, I’m fine, thank you!

A notification on Jennifer’s phone disrupts their discussion, prompting her to take her medication. She crosses the kitchen to the corner cabinet and sorts through an array of pills to take them dutifully, Farkle eyeing her as she goes through the motions.

He questions what she takes all those medications for, to which Jennifer gives him an offhand and brief run down of what ailments run in their family and what a pill cocktail they’ve got going on in that cabinet. She points out the fact that he might very well also be iron deficient with how sickly he’s felt lately, so she is going to have the doctor run a blood test when he goes in for his annual physical in the spring.

Commotion from the entryway pulls them out of the conversation, Ezra gleefully exclaiming something. Farkle and Jennifer exchange a look, making their way out of the kitchen.

INT. MINKUS HOME - NIGHT

STUART MINKUS has returned home with EZEKIEL MINKUS in tow, fresh from the airport and another successful semester at college. He enthusiastically greets Ezra and picks him up into a hug, joking that he has got to stop growing while he’s not around. Jennifer comes to shower him with affection, Stuart stepping past them and exchanging a playful look with Farkle at all the hubbub.

While the moment of attention from his father is a treasure, getting to see his favorite brother is a pretty sweet deal too. Ezekiel gestures him forward to meet him, wrapping him in a hug that Farkle eagerly accepts. For the brief moments that he’s fully surrounded by family and actually being acknowledged, Farkle seems to relax.

INT. MINKUS HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

The table is more lively than usual as family dinner progresses, Ezekiel acting as a lively contributor to the conversation and the mood considerably lighter given that Stuart is actually in attendance. Lila and Uri argue over something inane, Ezra jumping into any part of the discussion where he can manage to understand what’s being said.

Farkle doesn’t speak, but he isn’t nearly as pallid as he actually consumes his dinner. He smiles lightly as his father and older brother speak, simply glad to be back in their presence even if just as a spectator.

The room quiets a bit as Stuart lightly clinks his knife against his glass, getting all of the family to draw their attention to him. He expresses how happy he is to see the lot of them together again, how this year is always his favorite time of year -- and not just because the stocks are rising (ha ha ha, oh Stuart). He states how wonderful it is to have Ezekiel and Lila home for the holiday, and that he’s looking forward to video calling with Raziel later in the week all the way from Europe where he now resides.

Farkle starts to zone out when he begins lauding Ezekiel’s accomplishments and discussing what good fortunes are going on for their family, lasting much longer than Lila or Uri. However, he snaps back to attention when Stuart begins discussing early Hanukkah presents, simply because he calls Farkle out specifically.

Farkle: [ blinking out of his daze ] Huh?

Ezekiel watches with a knowing smile as Stuart goes on to explain the tradition they have within their family, as sons approach their sixteenth birthday. Given that Farkle’s is in just a couple of months, this year means it’s his turn to accept the early gift.

Stuart passes a small, long gift box across the table. It settles in front of Farkle, who picks it up as Lila watches derisively and Uri continues to stab at his green beans. Ezra leans over and practically climbs on top of Farkle to get a good look, bursting with excitement at the prospect of an early Hanukkah present.

Farkle opens the gift, surprised to find a specially made gold name plate with his name engraved into it. He takes it out and turns it over in his fingers, expression hard to read as he gets a good look. Ezra loses interest, going back to his food. Stuart begins a whole spiel about the tradition, how the name plate is -- in theory -- passed down to each young Minkus man who will go on to uphold the family legacy and invest in the family business.

A nice sentiment, but Farkle is a bit short on emotional bandwidth at the moment. He frowns, lifting his head to lock eyes with his father.

Farkle: What the hell am I supposed to do with this?

This is far from the traditional reaction. Jennifer scolds Farkle, Uri actually tuning into the conversation and Lila choking on her food to hold back a snort. But Stuart assures Jennifer that it’s fine, he just wasn’t clear about the purpose of the present.

Stuart, genially: It’s not so much functional as symbolic. It’s just meant to demonstrate how proud I am of you, and how excited I am for you to one day join me in the family business.

Farkle: But I’m… not. I’m not going into business.

To his credit, Stuart is a patient man. He nods, acknowledging Farkle’s current perspective with only a hint of condescension.

Stuart: Yes, we are all quite proud of the accomplishments you’ve made with the performing arts. [ off Farkle’s disbelieving expression ] I only mean for when you’re older, beginning to think more seriously about your future. When this performing fad passes --

Farkle: It’s not a fad. My passions are not a fad!

An argument unintentionally brews in the midst of all the tension, misguided good intentions and a frayed mental state making for a toxic combination. Stuart doesn’t appreciate Farkle’s waspish tone, turning the tables on him and asking what he expects his future to be then. At what point is he going to stop dreaming and start operating strategically? Farkle defends his ability to be strategic, pointing out that Stuart wouldn’t know what strides he’s making either way considering he’s never fucking around.

Jennifer attempts to end the open fire, but Stuart isn’t finished. He again reiterates the looming question of the future. What is Farkle’s grand plan, when all is said and done? This one stumps Farkle, as anything beyond living day-to-day has kind of felt unrealistic, and the actual notion of a capital-F future seems foggy. The truth is, he has no idea, and that sort of lack of preparedness is simply unacceptable.

While all eyes are on him for his response, Farkle pushes out of his seat and states he’s being excused. Stuart watches him go, immediately beginning to discuss with Jennifer in hushed tones what the hell that was all about. Ezekiel gives his father a comforting pat on the arm, reminding him that growth can take time.

Lila leans forward to pick up the name plate, looking at it with bland disinterest before offering it to Uri. He makes a face, swatting it away with his fork. Major pass.

INT. MINKUS HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

That night, Farkle is crashed on the couch and tuning out everything else. He’s distracting himself by continuing to reread The Great Gatsby, the cover and spine cracked and the pages crinkled from use. It’s not the first time he’s read the novel, not by a long shot.

Jennifer comes in to check on him, perching on the back of the couch and reading over his shoulder for a moment. She comments on whatever is going on in the book, to which he hums in response but doesn’t start a conversation. She changes the subject, getting his attention and trying to placate the situation from earlier. She explains that his father is proud of him, they all are, things just aren’t all that simple when don’t meet one another’s expectations. Farkle doesn’t seem bothered either way, but that’s more likely due to repression than an actual acceptance of complexities to the situation.

She gives him another fond look, leaning forward and brushing some hair from his forehead.

Jennifer: My talented boy. [ softly ] I love you.

Farkle returns the sentiment, but his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Jennifer gives him one last pat on the cheek before heading to bed, turning off the main lights and leaving Farkle illuminated by the lamp on the side table.

Farkle continues to read, slouching further into the couch. The grandfather clock standing against the wall continues to tick on, creating a lulling tempo…

INT. MINKUS HOME - LATER - NIGHT

The room has gone dark, the lamp suddenly out on the table. Farkle has dozed off on the couch, the clock no longer ticking. His arm is dangling off the couch, still holding the novel loosely in his fingers… inches from the hardwood…

He drops it, the moment it hits the floor waking him with a start. He rouses with a deep inhale, sitting up on his elbow and rubbing his eyes. When he realizes he fell asleep on the couch he sighs, falling back onto the cushions and throwing his arm over his eyes.

That’s when he hears the rustling.

He immediately stiffens, eyes open wide as he listens more carefully. The movement from somewhere deeper in the house continues, although it’s not coming from the hall where all his family are fast asleep. Someone else is in there with him, and it’s not anyone he can account for.

Cautiously, Farkle climbs off the couch and eases back towards the other end of the living room. He searches for a way to defend himself, taking the fireplace poker off its holder and flipping it in his hands. Taking a deep breath, he slowly begins to ease his way towards the entryway where the sound seems to be coming from… squaring his shoulders… ready to do some serious diva damage if necessary…

When he spots the figure of the intruder and raises his weapon to attack, the stranger spinning around to face him catches him by surprise. He shouts, stumbling backwards and blinking to make sure he’s not making this up.

Eric: Careful with that, Farkle! You’ll take someone’s eye out with that thing.

Farkle: [ in disbelief ] Counselor Eric? What the hell are you doing in my house?

It’s not quite Eric, see. It’s Dream!Eric. He ignores Farkle’s query, brushing it off and instructing him to drop his weapon of mass destruction. If he does so, then he’s more than welcome to follow him. He was just heading out.

Farkle rubs his eyes, but no. Eric is still there, stepping out into the main hall and on his merry way. Farkle hesitates, before letting the poker clatter to the floor and taking off after Eric.

INT. MINKUS HOME - ELEVATOR HALL - NIGHT

As Farkle catches up to his dream counselor, Eric asks him if he’s feeling blue this holiday season. Disconnected, out of sorts. Farkle offhandedly comments that he wouldn’t limit it to just this time of year. The two of them stop in front of the elevators.

Eric wisely states that often times, people feel immense pressure during the holiday season. Higher expectations, more socializing, and the sheer emphasis that this should be the most wonderful time of year can lead to it always falling short. Sometimes, you could do with a little reminder of what’s really important. Which Eric is happy to help with… if Farkle is willing to take the journey. The elevator dings, the doors sliding open even though Eric never pressed the call button.

Oh, so it’s that kind of dream. Farkle wouldn’t think of himself as any George Bailey, but if Eric wants to It’s A Wonderful Life this sitch, then he supposes he might as well go along for the ride.

He steps into the elevator, glancing at Eric next to him then back out towards the familiarity of the hall to his family suite. As the doors slide closed…

INT. AAA - DRESSING ROOM HALL - NIGHT

When Farkle steps through the doors again, he’s emerged into the dressing room hall at AAA. On the wall next to him, a flyer for the Kossal audition is on display, as well as a signed poster of Les Miserables by the sophomore class. They’ve been transported back to last semester, before everything changed due to an ill-advised fit of emotion. Or, as Eric puts it:

Eric: Before the end of the world.

A good time, Eric says wistfully. Farkle doesn’t understand what he means, wondering why the hell he brought him here… when suddenly the sound of music catches his attention. It’s muted, muffled by the doors separating them from the auditorium. But it’s clear that Farkle recognizes it, remembering the memory associated with it.

He looks to Eric in confusion, who nods him along. He can explore as much as he likes, granted he can get himself to do it. Farkle gazes back towards the doors to the wings, tentatively making his way towards them. Then he’s walking faster, the music growing louder as he pushes through the doors --

INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Mambo No. 5 (a Little Bit of…)” as performed by Lou Bega || Instrumental

The song is already in full swing as Farkle enters the scenery, the classic jam playing over the speakers as the sophomore class is in the process of striking the set from Les Miserables. The performers and techies are working together efficiently, creating a fun time out of it by dancing around and goofing off as they get the work done.

It really is an entirely different era. Everyone is lively, comfortable, functioning as a class. Zay and Jeff have a playful dance off, Yindra cheering them on and NIGEL CHEY poking at JADE BEAMON to join the dance. Dylan and Asher are dancing together, Isadora weakly attempting to pull them back into work before they threaten to pull her into the dance too. Dylan manages it, Isadora laughing and surrendering seeing as it doesn’t seem likely work will get done anyway.

Charlie is goofing off with Haley and Clarissa, twirling the latter. Riley is all smiles as she grooves with Lucas, actually getting him to move a little bit as he spins her under his arm. And front and center of it all is Farkle and Maya, dancing back to back and being their full diva selves as they jam out to the bop. The way they used to be -- when they were friends.

Present-day Farkle navigates the scene as it unfolds around him, awestruck and struck by the nostalgia. He can’t remember the last time AAA felt like this, bright and hopeful and carefree. It’s a lot of fun to step back into, all that enthusiasm and camaraderie…

And even harder to watch disappear. As Farkle steps into the place of his former self the imagery melts away, leaving him standing alone on the empty stage. Dark, quiet, only the ghost light occupying the space with him and casting him in an eerie glow.

He’s startled from his reminiscing when another voice beckons him from the shadows of the audience. He squints, trying to get a good look.

Jack: Come along then, Mister Minkus. We don’t want to be late.

Dream!Jack, dressed professionally as always, doesn’t wait up. He marches back through the doors to the atrium, Farkle scrambling off the stage and running through the aisles to catch up.

INT. MINKUS HOME - ELEVATOR HALL - NIGHT

Farkle emerges from the elevator out of breath, surprised to be back in his hallway. He spins around to try and find Jack, scoffing and holding out his arms.

Farkle: That’s it, then? Giving up on my monster soul already?

Jack: Sarcasm is only charming in small doses, Mister Minkus.

Jack is in fact still there, hanging by the door to his apartment. Farkle approaches, commenting that he doesn’t see how sending him home is going to show him anything important. He spends enough time there alone. Jack corrects him, stating that he’ll find this is no ordinary version of his home. He explains that people often forget the imprint they leave on other people -- and that may be especially true within the Minkus clan.

INT. MINKUS HOME - NIGHT

As they step back through the doors, it becomes clear what has changed in this version of their apartment. On the wall by the coat rack where all the children have their portraits hung up, Farkle is no longer present. This is a scape where Farkle is absent, a figment just like Jack rather than a member of the Minkus family.

Said family is gathered for dinner, business and enterprise dominating the conversation like usual. As far as Farkle can tell as he observes it… it doesn’t seem all that different. Uri looks a little less broody and well-dressed, given that his sibling pecking order changed, but otherwise it looks about the same.

But there are small details that Farkle isn’t picking up on. Like how Ezra is uncharacteristically quiet, far more muted and less eccentric than the way he is today. Lila is exchanging her digs with Uri instead, the two of them no longer semi-comrades in disdain but adversaries. The home is polished and well-maintained, but it also lacks something too. Behind where Farkle and Jack are watching, the grand piano is no longer in the living room.

Farkle states that it looks about the same to him. What did Jack expect to show him, his entire family being miserable without him? Unlikely, since none of them pay attention to one another anyway and he’s the black sheep as it is. Jack tries to point out the nuances but Farkle isn’t listening, pointing out all the ways things seem better, like how no one is arguing about their dreams or storming out of the dinner as an embarrassment to the family legacy.

Jack shifts gears, growing frustrated with his inability to see where he leaves an impact. He spins them to face the living room and throws them back into memories, a series of them shimmering like a mirage. Him and Ezekiel talking together on the couch in 112; his mother having him help cook when he was little, Farkle gabbing on and on with his unbridled energy and Jennifer laughing along; Farkle leading a younger Uri and Ezra in imaginary games, both of them enthralled and delighted as the fantastical story unfolds in their living room. Bringing creativity and unconventionality to a home that sorely needs it.

Then, a moment from a different Hanukkah season years ago. Stuart hands a nine-year-old Farkle his copy of The Great Gatsby, pride shining in his eyes as he gifts the brand new copy. Farkle takes it eagerly, giving his dad a hug and showing how there are common interests between them.

Present-day Farkle edges towards the warm memory, captivated. His eyes are shining with tears, Jack thinking he’s made his point.

Jack: Don’t you see that? Don’t you see how that feels?

Farkle: I see it… [ uncertainly ] But I don’t think I know it.

The feeling of that memory feels about as distant as the time it occurred. It fades, along with Jack, as Farkle settles back onto the couch and the room falls back into darkness. For a moment, Farkle debates going back to sleep to escape all the melancholy.

But the dream isn’t over yet. The grandfather clock chimes, startling him as it bangs out successive clangs to the midnight hour. But it continues to chime even after it should’ve stopped, confusing Farkle and causing him to rise and investigate it.

While the hands are lined up to midnight, the clock isn’t moving. The second hand doesn’t tick onward. It’s completely frozen.

Farkle reaches forward curiously, another familiar voice halting him from messing with the clock when they speak up from behind him.

Angela: Come on, Farkle.

He whips around, eyes wide as he spots his favorite teacher waiting patiently for him across the room. It’s Dream!Angela, and although she lacks the usual warmth and energy of the actress her presence alone is cause for emotion.

Angela: We really should get going.

Farkle lets out a strained exhale, jogging over and enveloping Angela in a hug. She doesn’t respond, as she’s merely a spiritual apparition, but the concept of the gesture alone seems to give Farkle some comfort. He embraces her tightly, only pulling back when she gently nudges him and takes his shoulders. She gives him a wise look.

Angela: We don’t dare be late for the future.

INT. FARKLE’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

As they push through the doors, Farkle finds himself stepping into an unfamiliar apartment. It’s lavish although essentially vacant, the only object worth note being the grand piano that has relocated to the center of the room. Farkle looks to Angela uncertainly, who nods him forward.

Approaching the piano, a flyer becomes visible laying on top of the piano. Farkle reaches for it once he’s close enough, revealing that the flyer is actually a playbill. It’s a Broadway show -- although the details are nondescript, as they don’t matter -- and flipping to the inside, Farkle is first billed. He’s the star of the show. His big break.

Farkle: It’s… I’m… Angela. Angela, look --

He whips around to show her, the excitement wiped from his face when he realizes she’s gone. He’s alone again, facing this potentially successful future… with no one to share it with. Just him, a playbill, and a needlessly spacious apartment.

Angela: Do you remember what I told you, Farkle?

Angela is seated at the piano again, lightly playing a tune on the piano. Upon careful listening, one might be able to identify the diddy as the ending verse of “The World Was Wide Enough,” but it’s hardly the focus of the scene.

Angela: You once asked me if the dream was worth it. And I told you it was. Undoubtedly so. But I told you something else too. Do you remember?

Farkle looks down at the playbill, searching for the joy that seeing such a future should bring him. Then he gazes around the empty apartment, void and cold. The answer is quite simple.

Farkle: Empty.

INT. MINKUS HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Farkle jolts awake, the lamplight illuminating the room signaling that we are in fact back in real time. The grandfather clock has resumed motion, ticking in its usual time. He tries to shake off a sense of panic, breathing uneven as he pushes himself into a sitting position. Footsteps in the kitchen behind him freak him out, glancing over his shoulder with wide eyes just as Ezekiel pokes his head out with a glass of water.

Ezekiel: Farkle? What are you doing out here?

Farkle wants to respond, but words aren’t working at the moment. Ezekiel notices his frazzled state, shifting gears and rushing over to ask him what’s wrong. Settling down on the couch next to him, he reaches out and tries to calm him down. Farkle flinches as his brother wipes tears from his cheek, ones he didn’t even realize he had shed.

Ezekiel: Must’ve just been a nightmare. But it might help if you weren’t sleeping out here on the couch. Come on, let’s get you some real rest, yeah?

Farkle allows his brother to help him up, hands clammy and shaky as he rises to his feet. Even as he goes, it’s clear from the haunted expression on his face that he won’t be forgetting that dream any time soon.

Behind them, The Great Gatsby lays forlornly on the floor.

PART V Somewhere in my memory, Christmas joys all around me, Living in my memory: all of the music, all of the magic, All of the family, home here with me…

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - MASTER BEDROOM - DAY

Riley takes the final segmented part of our story, experiencing a torn existence within the apartment. She and Cory kick off their winter break by moving around all of their things, Riley beginning the process of moving her belongings into the more spacious bedroom.

As she drops her moodboard against the wall by the door, she questions if her father really wants to make this swap. He assures her he’s of sound mind, stating that the last thing he needs is a reminder of all that empty space haunting him. Gloomy. Besides, he goes on, with what Katy requested of him they may very well be giving Riley a roommate to share all the space with.

It’s clear Riley doesn’t know how she feels about that little detail, but she’s happy to provide help where help is needed. She’s feeling jarred enough swapping spaces in the apartment she’s lived in her entire life, she can’t imagine being removed from it entirely.

Their conversation is interrupted by Auggie cheering from the living room. They exchange a look, making their way out into the hall.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - DAY

As expected, Auggie’s fanfare is in response to the arrival of TOPANGA LAWRENCE. She gives him a tight hug and a big kiss on the cheek, offering the same enthusiastic greeting to Riley as she jogs over to greet her. She even grants Cory a familiar kiss on the cheek, obviously in good spirits due to the holiday season.

That, and she does seem simply generally happier. As if the decision to file for divorce and take control of her own life how she wants it is empowering, despite how effectively it’s caused a ripple effect to everyone else around her. It’s evident that she intends to treat this holiday season like any other, pretending everything is right as rain in favor of a good Christmas time.

This includes their annual holiday party. It’s tradition, and they sure won’t be slacking this year. She immediately launches into all of the things they’ll have to get cracking on, operating with that charming discipline she’s so well known for. Auggie grins up at Riley, who gives him a soft smile in return and nudges him along to follow their mother.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - LATER - DAY

Now in the process of preparations, Riley and Topanga work together to set up and decorate the Christmas tree. As they’re hanging ornaments, Riley ventures the question of how Topanga is liking her new place in Midtown. She claims it’s fine, and an invigorating change of pace, but she’s not certain she’ll be staying there long. It’s just a squatting place, a space to regroup until she can figure out where she truly thinks she would fit.

Riley plays along, suggesting some other areas of the island where her mother might thrive. Her phone ringing disrupts it, and although it’s clear she is savoring this actual attention from Topanga, seeing Isadora light up the screen makes her think she should take the call. She excuses herself, jogging back into the hall to her makeshift bedroom.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - MASTER BEDROOM - DAY

Riley answers as soon as she’s alone, Isadora letting Riley know she believes she will be coming to her party. You know, if that’s still cool. Riley assures her that of course she’s more than welcome, she did send her an invitation after all. But she has to admit she’s confused as to why she’s not attending the techie party instead. That was likely going to be the same time, wasn’t it?

Isadora huffs, reluctantly stating that the techie party isn’t happening this year. The cause as to why it fell apart goes without saying, both of them quite aware of how Lucas has been acting as of late. Riley repeats the notion that Isadora is welcome with her.

Isadora murmurs that the holiday season certainly doesn’t feel much like the holiday season this year. Riley can’t help but concur, promising that she’ll see her soon as they end the call.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - NIGHT

And as the party edges closer and closer, the more true that seems to become. While Auggie is never around for the sharpest moments, Cory and Topanga begin exchanging digs and snapping at one another again. Although the apartment sure looks festive, it feels far from it.

As Cory and Topanga get into a tiff about one of the items on the food preparation list, Riley finally cracks. She questions why they’re even bothering to have the party in the first place, since working collaboratively seems to be such a burden for all of them. For appearances? To pretend like everything is fine and dandy? What a lovely, shallow Christmas vignette they make.

Topanga is surprised, and Cory tries to comfort her, but Riley escapes before either of them can get a word in edgewise. She disappears back into the hallway, her parents exchanging sheepish looks.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT

Riley retreats into her new room… only that doesn’t make her feel much better either. It’s in complete disarray, just like everything else, and now Maya’s added stuff feels even more overwhelming.

Without thinking, Riley grabs her coat and pulls it on in a hurry. Then she’s yanking open the bay window, climbing out onto the fire escape.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - NIGHT

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Where Are You Christmas” as performed by Faith Hill || Performed by Riley Matthews

As Riley emerges into the cold, snowy winter night, she takes a deep breath to center herself before quietly launching into an impassioned rendition of this ode to innocence lost. She begins making her way down the familiar streets of the city, the lights and charm of the holiday season the true visual spectacle of the performance.

But as usual, the true star are Riley’s vocals. They build in volume and power as her emotions escalate, reaching a fervent pitch as she makes it to the final part of the song. New York is her stage as she spins around the winter wonderland, lamenting how what used to be her favorite time of year suddenly feels as far away as everything else she once loved.

Even at the lowest times, Riley Matthews truly is too damn talented.

PART VI Everyone would have a friend, and right would always win, And love would never end, This is my grown up Christmas list...

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT

It’s the night of all planned holiday festivities, settling us back in a coherent timeline. Riley and Maya are just finishing up getting their now shared room into a decent state, not bad for a couple days work. Maya says as much, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

After a moment, Riley gently reaches out and touches her arm.

Riley: I’m sorry about what happened with your mom.

Maya accepts the kindness, but brushes it off before she gets emotional again. She changes the subject, asking Riley who else is supposed to be showing up to this shindig tonight. Given that she has literally nowhere else she could be, she’s guaranteed at least one party guest.

Riley mirrors Maya’s mocking laugh, claiming that just about everyone from their class RSVP’d. After a beat, Maya curiously asks if that includes Farkle. The query seems more interested than derisive, which seems like a step in the right direction.

But Riley doesn’t have good news in that regard. She covers instead by expressing that Charlie is supposed to becoming, as well as Isadora. Maya wonders what happened to the techie thing if Isadora is planning to come, since she never told her any different. Odd, considering their new status of best friends. Riley opts not to say anything, however, the harsh pre-lapping tones of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” say plenty…

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” as performed by Thurl Ravenscroft || Instrumental (up to 1:00)

Lucas is seated at his kitchen table, a Grinch-like glower on his face while he’s lost in thought. He’s watching the snow fall outside, stuck in the apartment he hates but is now forced to be in full time. He’s twirling a wrapper in his fingers, absentmindedly twisting it until it starts to come apart with a simple tear. The music is playing from the small radio on the counter, underscoring the dark mood.

GRACE FRIAR pulls him out of his own head, entering the room and joining him at the opposite end of the table. She lightly questions what he wants to do for dinner, beginning to sort through mail. Lucas offers to go through the junk for her, which she declines at first but then allows when he extends the offer again. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget in this household that people can be helpful and kind.

Lucas moves to the counter as he sorts through it, stopping cold when he sees the invitation addressed to him. He removes it from the stack and gets a better look at it, recognizing Riley’s handwriting in an instant. He holds it delicately in his fingers for a long moment, obviously contemplative…

Then it falls into the trash can with all the rest of the junk.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” as performed by Kelly Clarkson || Instrumental

The radio switches to Kelly Clarkson as the Grinch wraps up, a knock at the door surprising both Grace and Lucas. They exchange perplexed looks, Grace asking if he’s expecting anybody. He shakes his head, cautiously approaching the front door to check it out.

When he opens it, he’s immediately accosted by what seems to be the full assembly of the techie crew. Jade is at the front of the pack, carrying their box of decorations and giving Lucas a cheerful greeting as she pushes past him and into the apartment. Dave is next, carrying a small tree in his arms; then Jeff; then Nate, who gives him a playful punch on the shoulder as he lets himself inside.

Lucas turns to watch them take over his apartment, shell-shocked. They’ve got all the goods necessary for their tradition -- food, decorations, gifts -- and start setting up and spreading the cheer without a second thought. Grace pokes her head out uncertainly from the kitchen, Dave immediately rushing over to greet her and shaking her hand enthusiastically.

Dave, loudly: Hi, wow, you’re Mrs. Friar! I’m Dave. I love what you’ve done with the place --

Lucas whips back around to the doorway, finding Asher and Dylan standing together with smug smiles on their faces. They’ve got their hands clasped in front of them and are dressed for the weather, Dylan’s cheeks rosier than ever as they greet him.

Dylan: Greetings, Mr. Grinch.

Slowly, Lucas starts to piece together what’s happening as his shock wears off. He glances back at the party beginning to unfold and his mother being happily guided into the festivities, obviously surprised but not opposed to this unexpected holiday cheer. It’s not a common occurrence in this apartment.

Lucas shakes his head, looking back to his friends with a sheepish look on his face. Clearly appreciative, even if he doesn’t know how to express it.

Lucas: You guys didn’t have to do this.

[ Asher and Dylan exchange knowing looks, raising their eyebrows. ]

Asher, matter-of-factly: Yeah, we did.

Dylan: Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.

Both of them move forward at once, sandwiching Lucas in a warm hug. Dylan gives him a peck on the side of the head, grinning. Lucas stiffens at first… but then smiles in spite of himself.

INT. BABINEAUX HOME - NIGHT

Zay is finishing up getting ready for Riley’s party, Jada and Omar laughing about something in the living room behind him. He’s pulling on his shoes when there’s a knock on their door as well, Donna moving to answer it.

Zay: You expecting someone?

Donna: No, are you?

Either way, there’s clearly someone there. When Donna pulls open the door, Charlie is standing there on the doorstep and quickly turns to face them from looking around at the neighborhood. He looks like a deer in headlights for a second until he remembers that he drove all the way here and chose to do this.

Zay is equally stunned. He blinks at him, trying to figure out if he’s imagining him.

Zay: Charlie? What are you doing here?

Charlie tosses a glance towards him, before clearing his throat and holding out his hand to introduce himself to Donna. She accepts the gesture, stepping back to allow him to step into the house. Charlie states that he’s one of Zay’s good friends from AAA, and apologizes for the fact that he couldn’t make it to the dinner she arranged.

Donna: Oh, well, that’s fine honey. There’s always next time.

Charlie, boldly: [ looking at Zay ] I’ll be there.

Omar and Jada are watching with extreme interest from the living room, Donna subtly questioning what exactly he’s doing there right now. Charlie seems to remember that detail, laughing nervously and explaining that he and Zay are both going to Riley’s party tonight. He promised he’d give him a ride, save him a little gas money.

Jada starts to question if that makes any sense -- does Charlie live around here too? -- but Zay quickly bids them farewell and ushers them out the door before any of them can grill him.

EXT. BABINEAUX HOME - NIGHT

Zay takes his arm and guides him a little ways down the block, wondering what he’s doing there and how he even managed to get all the way out here in this weather.

Charlie: [ holding up his keys ] I’ve got wheels now, remember?

Zay, stunned: … you drove here?

Charlie nods, pocketing his key ring again. That might be one of the most romantic things anyone has ever done for Zay. He’s speechless, trying to wrap his mind around it, as Charlie continues with an explanation.

Charlie: You’re not doing all the labor in our relationship anymore. Emotional or otherwise. I felt terrible about… well, a lot of things, and… I just want you to know I’m in this. I know I’m all over the place but… I’m serious about what we have. I’m serious about you. I’m trying, Zay. I’m really trying.

Zay, softly: I know. I know.

Charlie smiles lightly. He unzips his coat about halfway to show that he’s wearing the sweatshirt, Zay unable to hold back a smile.

Charlie: Sorry I still haven’t gotten you something in return.

Zay: Dude, what you just did? Driving all the way here and then... [ nodding to his house ] That’s the best present you could’ve ever gotten me.

Charlie grins, nodding. Pointedly, he steps forward -- closer than usual in public, although it is dark and in the suburbs -- and slips his hand in Zay’s pocket to hold his hand.

The two of them exchange another fond smile, beginning the walk to Charlie’s car.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - NIGHT

Riley is playing hostess as her friends from school arrive, dancing around and making sure everyone is having a great time. Nigel and Yindra try to get her to relax, but she feels better up and about. She’s hosting the party, and yet she’s hardly participating in it.

She rushes to answer the door when Zay and Charlie arrive together, greeting both of them warmly. There’s still an awkward beat between Riley and Charlie, but it feels less hopeless than before. She gestures for them to make themselves at home, the two of them stepping into the apartment just as Isadora shows up behind them.

She doesn’t look very cheerful, all things considered. Riley states that she’s happy she made it, which Isadora nods along to but still seems dazed. Out of sorts. Not where she’s usually supposed to be on this night.

Riley senses her apprehension. Gently, she guides Isadora inside and leads the way through the crowd, the door closing behind them.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT

Riley and Isadora are situated on the bay window seat, cooped up and escaping the crowd for a minute. For the first time they really get the chance to talk, expressing how things have felt so off this year, right up until the last few days of the calendar year. Isadora feels more disjointed than ever, and Riley can relate given that they’re literally sitting in a half-sorted bedroom.

Still, Riley has to have hope. She has to believe things will work out, even if it’ll take some time to get there. Isadora shakes her head, laughing in spite of herself.

Isadora: I have no idea how you do that. How can you manage to be hopeful when just about everything has given you a reason not to?

Riley: Because if I don’t… [ with a shrug ] then who will?

A lot of pressure to carry on one girl’s shoulders, but something she’s clearly determined to do regardless. Isadora claims that’s always been her best trait -- the reason they all warmed up to her in the first place. The reason Lucas liked her so much, definitely. They all need some of that energy in their own lives, she supposes.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Believe” as performed by Josh Groban || Performed by Riley Matthews & Isadora De La Cruz

Riley starts the thoughtful duet, reflecting the odd emotional state they’re all existing in right now. “We were dreamers not so long ago” is apt enough, and it’s not long before Isadora joins in to harmonize on the chorus. It’s a soft shared moment of vulnerability between them.

INT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - NIGHT

Their voices carry over the rest of the episode as we touch base with the small moments of hope encompassing everyone else. Spirits are high at the Matthews party, a majority of their class enjoying the time together. Maya holds court with a gaggle of the performers, exuding charisma to cover for the hurt she’s grappling with inside. Zay and Charlie actually sit next to one another as they chat with Yindra and Nigel, bumping elbows and exchanging smiles and allowing themselves to just be.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The same warmth is radiating from the techie gathering, where they’ve fully set up their decorations and are just settling into energetic and gleeful conversation. Dylan has his arm around Asher as they’re seated in front of the couch, Lucas coming to settle down next to them and in front of Grace seated on the couch.

He passes a cookie to her over his shoulder, Grace giving him a grateful smile. Actually enjoying the holiday for the first time in forever, love filling a space that usually feels so cold.

INT. MINKUS HOME - NIGHT

All on his own, Farkle carefully lights the first candle for Hanukkah. He tends to the small flame gently, lifting his gaze to glance out at the wintery landscape of the city laid out before him.

So high above it all, trapped in his version of reality.

END OF EPISODE.

[noctiferous-fr]

Lair Review for @starsetfr  

(A Part of my Apparel for Reviews System) 

Under a cut because I wrote a lot lol. 

Starset Lair Link

Right off the bat, I absolutely adore the way you’ve set up the tab description! I honestly might use that concept because my main tab is currently all dedicated to who is on what page instead of like the main clan aesthetic. Your lore sounds really cool too! I love the vibe of a vacation town omg that’s so cute.

I really like your bio setups! They’re very simplistic but the information is all easily accessible. The inclusion of the lil emojis in Threadfin’s bio made me smile – they are so adorable. The aesthetic of the first page is so nice and I love the mixtures of blues and browns. I like this little family unit of Threadfin / Tetra and their kids. And wow! Owen looks fantastic, and I love the little “drippy eyes….” Comment in her bio lol.

Betta’s colors are so pleasing to look at. I love the mixture of the bright colors and the way his apparel matches and compliments his accent.  It’s amazing how you’ve managed to give all these first page dragons a ‘watery’ aesthetic while still managing to make them all look like individuals.

Sardonyx’s colors and apparel are all so pleasing to look at, and his accent is such a perfect match that it took me a while to notice it. I love how the spine in the accent is matched with the rusted metal of his apparel. His lore was very interesting and led me to go and check out Galford.

Omg Galford…. I love him. His lore is so interesting and I am smitten with this angsty, bitter old man. The line at the end about him noticing that the town became a tourist destination made me chuckle. I legit just can’t get over exactly how much I love him.

I’m always here for purple dragons, and Tendril is just gorgeous. I especially love the layering of the daredevil cover and the linen head wrap. It’s just such a good look. The brightness of plum alloy against his more dark tone is so eye-catching… We love to see it. The way the black fabric of the white raven armor covers up a good portion of the bright plum also just looks really neat and I love it. Plum Ghost is just barely noticeable and I really adore the way it peeks out from beneath the head coverings.

Sunshine looks so bright and cheerfully and I feel like I love her. The concept of a shell shop is so stinkin’ cute omg, and I adore her cute lil accent and the shells it gives her. The few pieces of apparel on her look great too, and I love that you’ve left most of her naked so that her accent can shine.

Thulian caught my eye immediately with her purple and green color scheme and I really love her lore. She makes me feel sad for her and she sounds so sweet :( . I always love seeing that accent because my custom progen also wears it! Funnily enough, my progen actually used to be a tree before she was transformed into a dragon by a ‘strange mage’ (well, he used to be a mystery, and then he turned up and everyone realized he was a bit of a dork). I feel like the two of them would get along.

Ohohohooh…. Hollow has such a perfect aesthetic I have chills. I love them. I adore the way their brown / earthy tones are being ‘taken over’ by his icy apparel. All in all it just looks fantastic.

Evika’s apparel is so cool and from the small amount of lore she has I already love her. I actually really love how her apparel doesn’t match her colors and instead adds an entirely new element. The Thresher Flatfins are such a neat apparel item that I haven’t used yet but Evika looks stunning in it. I love the purple tones on her apparel and just her entire look…

Yaeshaun’s wings are the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life. For lots of colors I dislike Iri/Shim but Cyan Shimmer is an absolute stunner. I adore the brightness of them contrasted with his monotone prim and tert. The way the roundhorns match the bright cyan colors is just amazing. His outfit really fits his role too, which is something I personally struggle with in my own lair! Overall just a gorgeous lil man.

Bet you’d never imagined that a shadow lair would immediately gravitate towards Penumbra, huh? She’s so gorgeous that I am almost speechless. I love the mixture of apparel that you’ve used and the layering. It creates such an amazing aesthetic and really just solidifies her shadow-y aesthetic. I was shocked to see her bio say her role is a healer but I really love that! What a great contrast between her look and her lore, and I’d love to know more about her :D

From Penumbra directly to Canidae we go! Gosh, I adore when people mix colors from different sections of the color wheel and I especially love the mix of greens and golds that she has. Peacock Capsule is absolutely gorgeous and I love how you can see it peeking out from under her clothes. Spruce Trail really compliments it well and stops her golden aesthetic from becoming overpowering. I love that all of her apparel is gold-based and contrasts against her secondary / tertiary, and the way you’ve added the obsidian roundhorns to compliment the black candles is masterful.

When I saw Ahkalone I immediately remembered Galford’s lore and clicked on him so fast. His colors and apparel? Fantastic. Love it all. Now onto the lore… oh gosh… I love this story and I’m so invested in them lol. When I read about the ring in Galford’s bio I didn’t expect to get to know who it theoretically belonged to but then I did and my appreciated for Canidae just went through the roof. Ahkalone sounds like such a cool character that I’d love to hate in a way lol.

Trenchdust’s entire aesthetic and overall look? Top tier. Also I love the little bit in his bio lol it’s so relatable for when I’m trying to nail down and character’s role or what they do. The way the ghost hands peek out from under the feathered wing and are only really visible where they are reaching out beyond him is also just awesome looking and something I don’t think I’ve seen done before.

No dragon with orchid or mint will go uncomplimented in my presence! Alaurun is an absolute stunner. I love all of her colors and the way her genes work with them. The learned sage apparel matched with the main mint color so well and gives her such an otherworldly aesthetic.

*deep breath* LUCKY is FANTASTIC. I love me some spirals, and I love the rot look she has going on. She sounds like such a diva and I absolutely love it. Her apparel is so well layered and really adds to her look along with her genes. Just overall such a great looking dragon.

Discordium is stunning and that’s all there is to it. I love the way wine tapir looks and it was honestly shocking to me that he wasn’t an xxy dragon! His colors match so well together and I just love his apparel. The pinks all tie together and he looks so good. His lore is really cool too! I’m all about things like that and he seems so interesting!

[lifeinthebigapple1689]

Week 9 - Hanes/Champion Sportswear

Part 1 - Prior Knowledge of Hanes/Champion Sportswear:

Before heading to Hanes/Champion Sportswear office in New York City, I knew which each of these brands was. Hanes is, of course, one of the biggest brands of basic apparel such as t-shirts, underwear, socks, etc. Additionally, Champion Sportswear is a well-known activewear brand that can usually be found at any of your local Target stores. While I already had an idea of what Hanes & Champion Sportswear was like, I had no idea that Champion Sportswear was actually owned by Hanesbrands Inc. and these two brands were umbrellaed under each other. After discovering this new information, I was very intrigued to head to the Hanes/Champion Sportswear office and see just how similar these two brands operated under one another.

Part 2 - Observations Made During The Hanesbrand Inc. Tour:

When heading into the Hanesbrand Inc. offices, my fellow students and I got to head into the Hanes brand creative office and see how the Hanes brand developed their fashion forecasting for Fall 2019 and beyond. In this meeting, three of the Hanes brand forecasting team showed us how they forecasted the upcoming trends, fabrics, and colors for the seasons to come. The forecasting that caught my attention the most during this meeting was the color forecasting because color forecasting, in my mind, largely determines if a trend for the next season will do well or flop. Furthermore, color is one of the first things that consumers’ notice when shopping, so if you accurately forecast the wrong colors for the next season, the trend will falter and stores will be unable to sell high volumes of clothes they bought with the color forecasting in mind. Regardless of this, what I learned about this specific job is that you have to be meticulous and very well organized when deciding the color forecasting of a season as you will be asked to not only find the main colors for the season, but also, develop color storyboards for each color, create buying cycles for each color, and create a color boards overall for the seasons to come with fabric swatches of each color option you have forecasted/provided to the forecasting team. With this in mind, I find being a color forecaster to be a very interesting job within the fashion industry and think it would be a cool job to possibly work in someday.

Part 3 - Favorite Piece of Advice From Gigi Musarra:

During our tour of Hanes/Champion Sportswear, Gigi Musarra, a fellow Kent Alum & Global Design Director for Hanesbrands Inc., met up with our group showed us around the offices. While Gigi Musarra gave us tours of the Hanes creative office and Champion Sportswear office space, Gigi said something to my class that really resonated with me afterward. What Gigi said that resonated with me so much was that she told my class that it was okay not to know exactly where to go or what to do after you graduate from college. While it may seem difficult to get paired up with your dream company you want to work for, you have to be open to any job opportunity you find in the fashion industry. Even if that first job out of school in the fashion industry doesn’t go well or end up being laid off, it will not be the end of your career in the industry, it will simply be a small learning stepping stone to a bigger and better job. This piece of advice resonated with me the most because Gigi helped me understand that my first job in the fashion industry will not be my final and only job in the industry and that I need to make sure if I am applying for jobs in New York after graduating from college, I should be applying for jobs with companies I have an interest in or have a passion for talking and learning more about their brand. Overall, the Hanes/Champion Sportswear office tour was very educational and allowed me to think more about my career path once graduating from college.

[sonipanda]

Well well well… We have another new brand pop up on the blog. Has anyone else heard of Hanes as I sure haven’t before? So I am super excited to see what they’re all about, and test out the quality of their products.

So this pair I am doing for Elegant Up, which have some pretty awesome brands under their website. I normally tend to get the Collant Studio Ballerina collection from them as they have so many different varieties, along with other more worldwide hosiery companies I haven’t ever heard of!

About Hanes

“HanesBrands is a socially responsible manufacturer and marketer of leading everyday basic apparel under some of the world’s strongest apparel brands in the Americas, Europe and Asia, as well as in Australia and South Africa. Our iconic innerwear and activewear apparel brands found in the United States and elsewhere include Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, Maidenform, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra and Gear for Sports. Outside the United States, we also have dominant national and regional brands, including DIM, Nur Die/Nur Der, Lovable, Abanderado, Shock Absorber, Zorba, Sol y Oro, Rinbros, Track N Field and Ritmo.

We are the world’s largest marketer of basic apparel. We sell bras, panties, shapewear, sheer hosiery, men’s underwear, children’s underwear, socks, T-shirts, sweatshirts, fleece and other activewear. In the United States, we sell more units of intimate apparel, male underwear, socks, shapewear, hosiery and T-shirts than any other company.

Founded in 1901, Hanes has a long history of innovation, product excellence, and brand recognition. In fact, nearly 90 percent of U.S. households have our company’s products in them. We revolutionized Tagless T-shirts and underwear, we invented the sports bra and the stretch-cup T-shirt bra, we were the first to advertise a bra on national television (Playtex), and we are innovating with ComfortBlend and temperature-control X-Temp fabrics and seamless Smart Sizes bras.

Our Sell More, Spend Less and Make Acquisitions strategies are driving growth and creating value for our shareholders, consumers, retailers, employees and communities. Hanes has made more than a half dozen acquisitions, including Maidenform Brands, Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel in the United States and DBApparel in Europe.”

– taken from their website

The Spec

Colour: Little Color

Size: AB / Small – Medium

Denier: 15

Materials: 85% polyamide, 15% elastane

Price: $10.00

Website: Elegant Up – Hanes Silk Reflections Control Top Sheer Toe Pantyhose

!0% Off Discount Code: sonipanda

My Outfit

I was out and about shopping today, so I decided to get something summery on and head out. I wore my cami top with my bodycon knitted skirt ( my statement piece), added my nude hosiery and blue heels to match.

I also blinged it up a little with my choker set and curled the hair to just finish off the look!

My Deets

Cami Top: New Look

Skirt: H&M

Tights: Hanes

Shoes: Zara

Choker: Dorothy Perkins

    The Review

From The Website: Gorgeous sheer that’s better than bare. You’ll swear these are made of silk.

Sleek knit fabric caresses every curve for a flawless fit. Control top waist contours for a smoother tummy, hips and rear. Sheer toe lets you sport your skimpiest sandals. Great color selection for a better skin tone match. 15 denier sheer appearance

  The Packaging: I gotta say it reminds me of Sheer Chemistry and how they do their packaging. I quite like it; looks quite retro! So the front has the model wearing the hosiery along with the brand name, make and sizing in the top and corner.

The back goes into more detail about the sizing guide, hosiery care and the following:

“Silky, Soft & Beautiful –

That’s how your legs will look and feel every day. Silk Reflections Silky Sheer hosiery pampers you with superior fit, silky soft feel plus the added benefit of cool comfort – a finish designed to keep you cool and comfortable all day. Silk Reflections hosiery, a wardrobe necessity that provides a flawless finish to complete your look with beauty and comfort.”

  When you get inside, these come flat packed right from the toes to the control top waistband. You can instantly see the reinforced toe on these which is nice!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

  Getting Them On: so getting them on I would say use the silk hosiery gloves as the cotton wouldn’t help you to scrunch and roll properly. I lined up the toes on each foot and then carefully rolled them on. They don’t seem that delicate compared to other 15 deniers I have worked with before.

These were fine going over anklets once you have set them in place, and they easily glide up the legs.

  On The Legs: so now that they’re on, I can instantly see a colour difference, but I’m not too sure that I like it if I am honest. I went for ‘Little Color’ when I was picking which colour I wanted to review, but now I don’t think I like it. It made my legs look lighter and slightly pasty; I prefer tans really.

Anyways, so the denier was great for that minimal leg coverage for summer. I thought these worked really well with my outfit rather than going for 30+ denier to make it seem thicker.

The quality is really decent; I actually didn’t manage to snag these throughout the day which is always a bonus when I go shopping! These have plenty of stretch in them which helps as it’s not fully tight on the legs; they gently hug them so your legs can still breathe. I like the whole concept where they allow your legs to cool down as well; CdR tend to do a few in their range which actually does work! Today wasn’t a hot day, so I couldn’t fully test them out in the heat, but so far so good!

The colour I mentioned wasn’t really to my liking, but I wouldn’t be put off buying them again in a different shade!

The fit and feel are great; they are super soft, super smooth and feel real nice on the legs. It doesn’t help that my laser is due soon so I have small hairs coming through which were highlighted slightly in these, but nevertheless, I love the shine that they have to them. The images below will show you what they look like in normal daylight and with the flash on so you can see that shimmer they have to them!

  The Toes & Ankle: have a good toe cap on these. They full cover the nails and majority of the toes (front and back) which does help with long nails! These have plenty of wiggle room in them and are great basically! There’s not much I can say apart from that!

Around the ankles, these sit flush against and don’t wrinkle throughout the day either.

  The Control Top & Gusset: so I opted for the ones with the control top, because why not?

So these are around light-medium control; they were comfortable to wear for the whole day without feeling any pressure put on around the waist. These don’t have any markings where your butt would need to fit, or anything like that. It’s more of a tighter elasticated boxer brief and waist control than anything.

One thing that did grate me a little was the waistband does roll over itself giving you that little bump under clothing.

The gusset is built in, with a cotton patch. However what I did find was the stretch markings on either side of these when I was taking them off; you can see where the yarn has stretched and pulled but not enough to be causing rips.

    My Thoughts?

I think these are great and a real reason price for them too. They do their job which is the main thing, and make your legs look great at the same time. I love that shine they have when the light hits them, and the control top is basic so great for beginners.

Overall I would recommend these, but make sure you get a colour that would suit you.

Hanes Silk Reflections Control Top Tights Well well well... We have another new brand pop up on the blog. Has anyone else heard of Hanes as I sure haven't before?