#Time to write the next best seller collection of short stories

[milkywayan]

hi. could you recommend medieval literature? thank you :)

uuh, yes i can but that really depends on the fact if you can understand german! i dont know if there are english translations of it (i read them in dual language editions, with middle high german and new high german) - i only have read one book that is not german

But in case you can, here are the ones i read in the past year (the not german one is the last one):

Collection of poems by Walther von der Vogelweide - one of the most famous german speaking minnesänger, lived from 1170 - 1230, and has stolen my heart with his diss tracks to the pope; author of the Famous 'Palästinalied' written as propaganda during the crusades

Collection of poems by Neidhart von Reuental - another important german speaking minnesänger, born around 1180/90, so a younger contemporary of Walther, sings a lot about the 'stupid peasants' and how they try to emulate life of the nobles (great fun, the peasants hated him); the Neidhart persona was very self depricating, depticting an unlucky knight; my favourite song of his is 'Meie din liechter schin'

Der Ackermann by Johannes von Tepl - probably one of my absolute favourite books ever, written in the early 15th century as a story for a friend of Johannes von Tepl, who himself was an educated man from northern bohemia; technically already early new high german and not middle high german; the story is a dialogue between a man and death - the mans wife has just died and he starts insulting death, demanding to bring her back. it goes back and forth, and they discuss life, death, humanity creation, god and grief. i loved it

Ein kurtzweilig Lesen von Dil Ulenspiegel - written around 1515 by an anonymous author in early new low german; german speaking people are more familiar with the modern name Til Eulenspiegel. I grew up with the modern adaptations of the story, but the late medieval ones are so, so much more crude. it is a collection of short stories, telling the tale of Dil Ulenspiegel, a silly boy/young man who does silly things. a medieval comedy, nothing profound. the original print has nice wood cut illustrations. it was widely popular, because medieval people could read (although they couldn't necessarily write)

Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach - written around 1200-1210 in southern germany, picks up athurian legend. i am half way through and have personal beef with wolfram. but it is good, a lot of depictions of noble life and medieval morals and ideas. makes A LOT of references to other writers of the time, including Walther von der Vogelweide, Gottfried von Straßburg (see next book) and Hartmann von Aue (see below)

Tristan by Gottfriend von Straßburg - written around 1210, is the german adaptation of the tale of Tristan and Isolde. I have not read it yet, but the books are on my shelf to be read as soon as I am done with Parzival

Erec by Hartmann von Aue - written around 1180/90 is said to be the first arthurian story written in german and an adaptation of the old french Erec et Enide - same as above have not read it yet

Iwein by Hartmann von Aue - second arthurian story, written around 1200, also adaptation of the old french story - same as above i have to still read it

The tale of the two lovers by Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (future Pope Pius II) - written in latin (there are english translations!) in the mid 15th century for a friend while at the court of Vienna, this is the most famous medieval erotic novel we have! It is about a married woman falling in love with one of the holy roman emperors men while they visit the town in italy she lives in, and the spicy affair they end up having, probably based on a similar story that happened. Aeneas lived a wild life and was old beyond his age, having 2 kids with two different women in two different countries out of wedlock and being a well travelled poet. he also hated women, like, A LOT. after he became pope he wanted to supress the circulation of the book, but is was a best-seller so it didnt work evidently, as i have read it in the 21st century

In addition to that, as a historical fencer I also read the sources, but these will be boring to people who dont care, but here are some anyways:

The Art of Swordsmanship by Hans Lecküchner - most famous source for Langes Messer techniques

Das Fechtbuch by Albrecht Dürer - yes, THE Dürer wrote a fencing book, completely in verse with nice illustrations!

Jude Lew - his fencing manuals are also nice, no illustrations only text

Hope this helps in a way.. again, i read mostly german medieval literature, so idk if this is useful as idk if any of these books have been translated

#personal #medieval literature #middle high german #medieval studies #any real medievalists could add something that is more useful #i am just a hobbyist reenactor

[cockasinthebird]

Hey Cock,

How are you doing?? I haven't seen you around for a lil bit and I know life is busy so just wanna check in and say that I hope things are good 💕

🍒

Dear anon,

First off, let me say, 🥺😳❤️💕💝💖💘💗❣️

Thank you so much for checking up on me!!!!!!!! Life is uneventful for me, I really do nothing else than wake up around noon, mostly after, play videogames, eat, binge watch Netflix, then go to bed at EARLIEST 3am, all the while stewing in my own depression whilst I maneuver through welfare and treatment to hopefully eventually be stable enough to have a proper job again ✊😔

I've said time and time again that I lost a lot of steam when I got flagged for two weeks, and sadly that just never came back to me? By now I haven't written a single word in over a week, and I fear that I am finding myself thinking less and less about Harringrove, and while that does free up space to think about my own projects, it means that I won't be able to engage as much with the fandom as I used to

I'm not gonna do a dramatic goodbye, I'll keep the blog up ofc, maybe reblog a thing or two here and there, but I'm not expecting to post or actively interact with the fandom for a good while

It is absolutely NOT personal, it has NOTHING to do with any of you guys; you have all been absolutely astounding and I've loved every single minute of this fandom ok, really and truly, and I've met some of the most incredible and amazing people here, and if any of you read this, sorry I haven't responded to your DMs and messages, I am simply mentally over encumbered, I still love and adore you ❤️💕

Time passes, and with it we must follow, thank you all so much for having me and loving me and enjoying my content, it's been tubular 🤘😌🥰💕

#Again this is not a goodbye #If anything it's vaguely a hiatus #Dividing up my energy more evenly #The first month or so I lived and breathed this fandom #Woke up and wrote till I went to bed #It has been the most incredible and productive time of my life #Time to write the next best seller collection of short stories #Just you all wait #I have every faith in myself on this #Anonymous #Answered #I have more asks like this lying about #And answering even this took SO MUCH SOCIAL ENERGY #Battery DRAINED #But I love you Cherry🍒

[itsclydebitches]

Discredit Pt. 2: More Recommended Reviews For A.Z. Fell’s

Alright, folks. Some notes first: 

1. You all rock. I’m sending out 20k+ virtual hugs for all the notes I NEVER expected to get on this nonsense. 

2. This is probably the final section, just because I’m not sure I can adequately follow up part one and it might be foolish to attempt it here. Let alone twice. But for now, here we go. 

3. Kudos to the anon who reminded me of Aziraphale’s cash-only policy <3 

4. Nicole Y’s review is based off an actual comment I read years ago, but heaven only knows where online it was. I’ve got the memory of a goldfish. 

5. Trigger warning for the use of a queer slur in this. It’s the same review as above, number 5 if you want to avoid it. 

6. There’s a text-only version of just the reviews at the end, after all the images. I’ll upload that to my Sparse Clutter collection on AO3 in a bit. 

Bonus 7. People thinking this is a real shop deserve all the good things in this world. 

That’s all I’ve got. Hope you enjoy! 👍

****************************************************************************

I’m a simple guy who likes simple jokes. If there’s a whoopee cushion I plant it. I will call you up to ask if your refrigerator is running and then tell you to go catch it. (Actually that one died out so thoroughly it’s actually capable of a comeback now!). Yes, I’m a dad and yes, I have a t-shirt that says Dad Jokes? I Think You Mean Rad Jokes! which I wear un-ironically every Saturday. All of which is just to say that my wife was well prepared for my stupidity when I walked into Fell’s.

I? I was not.

You see the bibles when you walk in? The ones to the left? Let them be. Don’t even look at them. Definitely don’t pick out the fanciest one you can find and absolutely don’t walk up to the owner with it held in your pudgy little fingers, grinning like a loon, cheerfully asking whether this should be in the fiction section. Just don’t. Mark my words you’ll regret it. Though your wife won’t. She’ll get a great old laugh out of it all.

In conclusion: it’s quite possible that mama did raise a fool and he just got his ass verbally whooped by a guy in a bowtie.  

***

Shout-out to Mr. Fell for being the only decent bloke in this city. I’ve popped in and out of his store for years—including before I started transitioning. So he knew my dead name, dead look, whole shebang and I was definitely nervous to play the ‘You know me, but this is what’s changed and are you gonna throw a fit about it?’ game.

You know what he said? “Oh, Rose! What a lovely choice. Crowley dear, why aren’t you growing any roses? Some white ones would look splendid next to my Henredon chair.”

That’s it. He just went straight into dragging his partner for not giving him roses. So hey, Mom? Next time you’re snooping through my social media why don’t you explain to all these nice people why the 50+yo book seller accepts me in ways you won’t. Don’t go telling me age is an excuse or that you’re ‘Stuck in your ways.’ I’ve watched Fell dress in the same damn clothes since I was ten!!

Yeah. Sorry. Rant over. Fell’s a gem. That’s my take. Rose out.

***

Anyone else in the shop when that guy started yelling about buying pornography? And then got escorted into the back room for some ‘private conversation’? Well done, Mr. Fell! Didn’t know you had it in you.

***

Alright alright alright alright I am TOTALLY calm about this.

Went into A.Z. Fell’s last Thursday. Not because I knew anything about the place. Just because I’ve been hitting up every bookshop within a twenty-mile radius, asking if they’re hosting any book signings. Long story short I self-published my novel Blight last month—which you can get for a mere £5 here but I swear this isn’t a promotional thing I’m just BROKE—and have been looking for networking opportunities, tips, stuff like that. So the owner listened politely as I explained all this. Then said he didn’t do anything of that sort, which didn’t surprise me given the shop’s vibe.

But then? Then??? He offered to let me do a signing there??????

As said. Totally calm about this. This man either plans to kidnap me or is actually giving me my first shot at an audience outside my blog. AKA totally worth the risk.

Tuesday the 9th. 7:00pm. Just in case anyone’s interested ;)

***

holy sweet baby jesus i was tripping balls last week you tryin’ to tell me that kING KONG SIZED FANGED FUCK SNAKE IS REAL

***

Witnessed the most perfect exchange the other day:

Grumpy Dude With No Manners: “You. Boy. Where’s the man I spoke with over the phone?”

Mr. Fell’s Partner Who Knows Damn Well Only Two of Them Work There But Clearly Doesn’t Like This Guy’s Tone: “Did this man give you his name?”

Grumpy Dude: “Might have. Don’t remember. Sounded like a fairy though.”

Me: “....”

My girlfriend: “....”

This Poor Sweet Startled Kid On Our Left: “?!?!?!?”

Fell’s Partner In The Drollest Voice I’ve Ever Heard: “None of us have wings. Out!”

***

This shop gets full stars simply because every time I walk in they’re playing Queen.

I mean, I’ve walked in once, but once is enough when you’ve got Crazy Little Thing Called Love blasting full volume.

***

Okay, I’m still kind of shaken up but I needed to write this out somewhere and this seemed as good a place as any.

I spilled my latte on a book. Just tripped on thin air, popped the lid, and chucked a venti’s worth of coffee all over a very expensive looking text. I didn’t mean to, obviously, but it happened and I just started bawling on the spot. Full on sobs because this semester has been absolute hell, I ruined this guy’s antique, there’s no way I can pay for it, I can’t even sneak away because I’m drawing the whole store’s attention...just all the things all at once. I really was straight up panicking and was seconds away from pulling out my inhaler. I couldn’t breathe.

And then Mr. Fell showed up.

Jesus it’s embarrassing to admit but I think I hit him once or twice. On the arms I mean, because he was trying to touch me and I figured, I don’t know, it was a restraint or something. He was going to call the police and hold me until they got there. But then he managed to start rubbing my back and I lost it like I hadn’t already been bawling my eyes out in this shop. Ever cry into a perfect stranger’s chest? I have! But if Mr. Fell seemed to mind he definitely didn’t show it. Just kept holding me while I probably ruined his shirt and then took me into the back and made me a new coffee in this cute little angel mug. He let me stay there while I called my sister and waited for her to arrive.

She’s a good twenty minutes outside of Soho, so we talked for a while. It’s not like Mr. Fell could fix my shit roommate or bio classes, but I guess just talking about it all really helped. I was a lot calmer by the time my sis arrived and Mr. Fell insisted I come back any time I wanted—for browsing or more coffee.

Of course, sis offered to pay for the book herself. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone look so surprised in my life. “Certainly not!” he said. “Contrary to popular belief, no one should pay for their mistakes. It’s what makes you all so wonderfully human.”

So yeah. Thanks, Mr. Fell.

***

This little shop must have started a book club for kids! Lately I’ve seen the same group of children hanging out at Fell’s. Three boys and a girl. They’re a bit rambunctious at times, but who isn’t at that age? So wonderful seeing literature passed down to the next generation. Even if some of it is rather questionable looking...

***

It’s an honest crime that more of you aren’t talking about what a wonderful bookstore this is.

I’m a book lover at heart and Fell’s always makes me feel like I’m coming home. I just arrived somewhere safe and familiar after a particularly harrowing day. I’ve slipped under the covers of my bed after dinner and a bubble bath. It’s something like that, but with an element of surprise too. One of the reasons why I adore private and used shops over chain stores is that little touch of chaos. You walk in and sure, there are general sections to browse, but everything is just a little bit disorganized from people leafing through books and then putting them back somewhere else. There’s no real record keeping, you’ve just gotta head to one particular corner and hope for the best. It’s not the sort of place you go to if you want something specific because the chances of them having it are slim—that’s just how the universe works—and even if they did no employee knows where it is anymore.

But if you wander the shelves for a while, crouch down low to get a look at everything on the bottom shelf, pay attention to the books that don’t have easy to read titles or any summaries to speak of... you just might find something you didn’t know you were looking for. That’s Fell’s: the comfort of the familiar and the excitement of the unknown.

*** A lot of people might assume that these stories are embellished or outright made up, but as a bookseller myself going on twenty years I believe every single one of them.

That being said, I accidentally moved a rug and found chalk sigils that look like they belong in a cult. Make of that what you will.

***

There’s a special place in hell for 21st century shop owners that only take cash. Who carries cash anymore? Not me! I haven’t bothered with that nonsense in years! You can get a card reader for 15 pounds on Amazon. Or you know what? Be stingy and pay 7 for the little attachment on your phone. This place is nuts if it thinks it’s going to survive much longer on a cash-only policy, especially with some books that look like they’re worth hundreds or thousands of pounds! Yeah, yeah, just let me pull out this giant wad of bills for you. I’ll carry them around a crime-laden city because there’s no ATM near you either.

I mean jesus, you’d think this guy didn’t want to sell anything.

***

I walked in. There was a man screaming at a fern while another threatened him with an umbrella. I walked out.

5 stars do recommend.

***

I once walked in on the same (?) guy yelling at a book for daring to fall on the owner’s head. I think that’s just a Thing over there.

***

Like a lot of people here I didn’t actually go to Fell’s for any books (flat tire, Angel Recovery taking forever) and ended up staying three hours (not because of Angel). No, I wandered towards the back and found this ancient CRT set propped on a table of books, the kind that my Dad used to watch Twilight Zone on. This lanky guy had a marathon of Gilmore Girls going... though how he was managing that with a broken antenna and no DVR, I really don’t know. But yeah. He told me to pull up a chair and I did. Guy gave me popcorn.

I wish I’d paid a little more attention to his name. Charlie? Curley? I really can’t remember, but thanks for the enjoyable afternoon, man.

***

I BOUGHT A BOOK HERE

Not sure how though. Just kinda happened. First edition of Just William. Frankly I didn’t even want the thing, but the owner basically shoved me out the door with it when I took two seconds to look at the spine. Odd that he was so willing to part with this one.

Update: ... hold up. I didn’t buy a book because I never actually paid the guy. ‘Basically shoved me out the door’ was literal. Do I go back??

***

This page has really gone feral the last couple of months so I’m just gonna bite the bullet and say it:

Anyone notice that Fell’s snake and Fell’s partner are never in the same room together?

***

I really don’t like the implications of this…

***

This is precisely why the Internet has turned into a cesspool. You all should be ashamed of some of the stuff you’re writing here. Can’t two men just be friends anymore? Two real life men? These guys aren’t some characters for you to ‘ship’ or whatever. Quit making outrageous assumptions about their sexualities and use this website for what it’s actually for: reviewing the bookshop. Honestly I’m so sick of this sort of this shit.

***

Dude. They run a queer-focused shop together with a flat on the second floor. Fell calls the guy ‘Dear’ and he’s always calling him ‘Angel.’ People have literally seen them kissing. If you want I can give you the number of my physician. He might be able to help you pull your head out of your ass.

***

What the hell is your problem? I’m literally just reminding people to stop making assumptions. It’s gross and insulting. These guys check their Yelp page. You really think they’re gonna be okay with this stuff?

Also: I’m not the five-year-old relying on insults, so.

***

Making an account purely to set the record straight: I’m the hot twink in question and I married that angel. Peace

#good omens #ineffable husbands #air conditioning #good omens fic #guess who spent 48 hours doing nothing but writing and formatting #can I get a wahoo

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

She [3]

Warnings: non-consent sex (series)

This is dark! Steve and explicit. 18+ only.

Series Synopsis: Steve Rogers’ life is turned upside down by a reporter.

Chapter Summary: The reader finds herself at the center of even more unwanted attention

Note: This is a slow slow creep but that’s always the best kind. Thanks everyone who is reading this. The series is in full 10 chapters and they are all DONE! So we will have a smooth ride from here on out.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

Reader

The morning was more hectic than any before. There was a brief lull, right after the story drop. The long wait for the verdict. Was it a hit or a flop? You sat at your desk, typing away at your latest assignment. Nothing so glorious as the famous super soldier. Merely a fluff piece on a local foundation for children in need. The usual fare.

Then it began. The comment section on the article was overwhelming and the coverage of the printed article was just as fervent. The Google alerts on your phone threatened to drain the battery and the stationary phone on your desk began to flash. You answered.

“My office. Now.” Poppy’s demand was followed by a click.

You stood and tucked your cell up your blazer sleeve. You knocked on her transparent door and she waved you in as she remained sitting. One leg was crossed over the other as she leaned back and swiveled back and forth.

“Do you know what you’ve done?” She asked. Your eyes rounded. “You’ve set the world on fire. I have been on the phone all morning and who do you think I’ve been talking about?”

“I don’t--” You began.

“You. And Steve Rogers.” She trilled. “Even heroes must be mindful of the press.”

“What do you--?”

“Tell me haven’t been divulging in all that praise, hun,” She chimed. “What are you working on right now?”

“Um, well, I just went down the Centre for Advocacy and Assistance and I’m--”

“Drop it. Throw it on an intern’s desk,” She interrupted again. “You’ll be much too busy for that.”

“What do you mean?” You stood just behind the acrylic chair.

“Interviews!” She almost shouted. “Everyone wants to know what it was like to face down Captain America.”

“Interviews? No, no. It wasn’t like that.”

“You know what you wrote,” She jabbed a pointed nail in the air. “I think you might be as hot a commodity as he is.”

“I don’t want to be interviewed.” You said. “I’m a reporter. I don’t--”

“This is an opportunity,” She insisted. 

“It’s one article. I can’t just depend on that.” You said.

“Think about it.” She said. “Even so, clear out your desk. We’re moving you to the features department. I hope you know what that means.”

You nodded. That was a win at least.

“Long hours. Better pay.” She leaned an arm on her desk. “But it’s hard work. One wrong pitch and your back down to blurbs.”

“I know,” You assured her. “Thank you.”

“Thank me if you make it a year,” She adjusted her glasses. “And keep those eyes open. You might not want the attention, but you’re going to get it.”

🖋️

You headed out for your usual midweek lunch. As you stepped out the front doors, you were surprised by a lens. In your effort to find the card to collect stamps for your sandwiches, you stumbled and your bag fell to the pavement. You knelt to gather the scattered contents and quickly righted yourself.

You flitted past the photographer as he called after you. “Miss, miss, are you afraid of Steve Rogers?”

You rolled your eyes at the question and dipped into the sandwich shop. You got your usual turkey club on rye but not to go. Instead, you ate in, still on edge at your run-in. As a member of the press, it was startling to get a taste of the other side. You were determined in your work, but never the one to unnecessarily hound a subject.

You wiped your mouth and sat back as you checked the time. You wondered how bad it was for him. You had underestimated yourself; your article. You had ignored Poppy’s prediction that the article would be a best-seller and let your self-doubt get the best of you. And now, it was all a mess.

You hadn’t meant to villianize Steve Rogers, merely humanise him. To make him more than the man behind the perfect smile and golden hair. You thought a glimpse into his internal dilemma would be grounding, not ostracizing. You were wildly mistaken.

You tidied up and threw away your garbage. You set off back to work and passed another photographer, her curly hair barely contained under a wool cap.

“Miss, why did you smear Steve Rogers?” She asked as you tried your best to ignore her. “Can you confirm--”

You hurried through the front doors and tripped on your own foot as you entered the lobby. You cursed under your breath and caught the elevator before it could close. Your bag shook as your phone began to dance once more. You cringed and gripped the slender strap of your purse. You didn’t feel too sorry for yourself, you were sure it was much worse for him.

🖋️

The rest of your day dragged on. You were greeted by the same probing photographers but evaded them in the subway. The crowded train had you even more on edge than usual. You kept your eyes on the phone, your notifications muted but for your work e-mail. You played the little farming game as you waited for your stop.

The same walk as any other day. Short but it saw the sky greying by the time you reached your building. Your keys jingled with the overzealous keychains and attachments, an empty bottle of sanitizer clung to the mess.

You climbed up the stairs, one at a time. The wood was old and warped beneath the mats. Your door jammed and you fought the thick barrier until you forced your way inside. You flipped on the lights and locked the door behind you. You kicked off your shoes and dropped your purse. You wriggled out of your blazer and stretched as you looked around the cramped space.

You went to the buzzing refrigerator and pulled out your leftover shawarma plate from the night before and a can of sparkling water. You popped open the styrofoam and took out your phone. You leaned on the counter and at the chicken and rice cold and scraped up the last of the pickled turnip and cabbage.

Poppy wanted you in early the next morning. That couldn’t be good. Your junk box was quickly filling too as you redirected e-mails from your cohorts asking for statements and explanations. You didn’t feel the need or desire to justify what you wrote. It was the truth.

You thought of how quickly the meeting with Steve Rogers had turned tense. The mere mention of his old friend was enough to rile him but you had continued to poke. Well, that was your job. To follow the scent until you could latch onto the sinew of a story.

You tossed the container and went to the couch. You turned on the television and stretched out. You listened to the re-run of an early 00s sitcom and your eyes slowly closed. You were exhausted and expected to be more so after tomorrow. You only hoped the news cycle spat you out sooner than later.

You turned onto your side as the breeze rattled the fire escape outside your window. You switched the channel as the credits rolled and yawned against the pillow. As tired as you were, you knew you’d spend too much of your night on the couch; wakeless and watching episodes you’d seen a dozen times before.

🖋️

You knew something was off as you walked into the office. It was earlier than your usual start time but several others were already at their desks. You wondered if a few had even left the night before. You passed your old desk and looked at your vibrating phone.

‘Where are you?’ Poppy’s text popped up and you didn’t even stop to stare at the shell of your former workspace.

You continued onto her office and froze as you peered through her transparent wall. A man stood by her desk, his back to you and a bald head with a crooked thin strap around it. His long leather jacket hung to his knees and Poppy sat upright as she watched him tinker with the hummingbird ornament she kept on the corner.

You held back a gasp and continued forward. You raised your fist to knock but Poppy caught the movement with her seafoam eyes. She pushed her glasses up her nose and waved you in impatiently. The man turned to watch as you entered.

“Hey?” You said confused. “What’s--”

“Ma’am,” The man interjected and looked back at Poppy. “This is her?”

Poppy nodded as her lips formed a thin line.

“Hello, I’m--”

“Nick Fury.” You finished for him. “And I assume you know who I am already.”

“I know who everyone is.” He assured you and held out his hand. You shook it and felt a crushing strength in his grip. “And you know why I’m here?”

“About the article but I don’t know what you would want from me.” You said.

Poppy’s eyes widened. You’d never seen her so rattled. It was usually her doing the rattling.

“A conversation.” He said. “I understand you must be busy but I’m certain you can spare me a couple minutes.”

“I guess,” You shrugged.

“If you find yourself too busy, I can return with a subpoena.” He offered.

“A subpoena? Really?” You blinked at him. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“I would agree,” He put a hand on his hip and you spied the sidearm there. Was that intentional? “Is there somewhere private we might talk?”

“Take the conference room,” Poppy offered. “Just over there.” She pointed through the wall.

Fury nodded and you turned back to the door. He followed, his boots heavy on the floor behind you. You led him to the conference room and he closed the door swiftly. You didn’t sit as he began to pace around the long table. You stayed by the wall and hugged your purse.

“Look, I don’t know what you want. The article’s already out there and I didn’t write anything by the truth.” You said nervously. “I can’t control how people react to--”

“You have the recording still?” He asked as he stopped sharply. You nodded. “Good. Can I listen?”

It wasn’t really a question. He stared you down with his single eye and you took out your phone. You searched the files and hit play. You set the phone on the table as it began. You listened silently as your voice began and Steve replied. 

The conversation filled the airy conference and Fury crossed his arms as he listened. He wasn’t happy as Steve’s tone deepened and his words turned venomous. You felt a chill roll along your spine. You’d almost forgotten how hateful he’d sounded. You felt as if he was there now, his eyes boring into you as his lip curled.

As it ended, Fury nodded and rubbed his chin.

“Well,” He snatched your phone off the table. “Thank you.”

“What?” You neared the table as he tucked your cell in his pocket. “Wait, that’s my phone. I need that!”

“Your phone? Under the authority of… well, me, I am seizing it.” He declared. “For your security and every one else.”

“You can’t be serious.” You huffed.

“I can’t have this leaking.” He said. “I hear Best Buy’s having a promotion on iPhone’s. Looks like you need an upgrade anyways.”

You frowned and kept your lips sealed. He didn’t need to know about your cloud back-up. You’d have enough time to download the file before he could find it for himself. You rolled your eyes.

“Is that it?” You asked.

“I got what I wanted, like I always do,” He said. “But there is one more thing.”

You watched him. He was worse than any nosy photographer or internet troll.

“I don’t take these things lightly. You’ve sidelined one of my best men and compromised my team.” He hooked his thumb in his pants pocket. “But we’ve taken note of you and we are always vigilant of our enemies.”

“Enemies?” You shook your head.

“I suggest you steer clear of any public statements,” He warned. “Or I would consider some legal representation in the near future.”

You squinted at him in disbelief. You rubbed your forehead, tired and unprepared for your early morning interrogation. You still had a full day ahead of you. 

“Are we done?” You uttered. “I know my work isn’t as important as yours but I do have a job.”

“For now,” He said. “The public has a short attention span, miss, I suggest you find a new subject soon.”

With that he rounded the table and left you in the conference room. You sighed and grabbed the back of a chair. What the fuck were going to do without your phone?

🖋️

With your back-up done and a five minutes crash course in being a features writer from a new cohort, you felt entirely lost. You hid the flash drive in your purse and headed out on the guise of research. No one seemed to care very much, they all just thought you were off to search out a pitch to keep hold of your new position.

What you were truly off to do was sit in line for one of only three mobile associates at the electronics shop. When it was finally your turn, you asked for the most affordable yet reliable option. You brushed away the offer for the latest Apple shill and walked out with something a lot more comfortable next to your wallet.

You dreaded a return to the office. You were thankful for your sudden step-up as it meant a longer leash. You could check in once a week at most as long as you presented something to explain your absence. You weren’t so concerned about that anyway. 

You were more worried about getting this phone set-up. Oh, and creating new accounts because as it was, Fury and his people now had every drop of info on you. That meant, at some point, you would have to visit IT and get a new ID. For now, you forwarded all your messages to your new private e-mail and stopped by the coffee shop around the corner from your building.

You hated this new normal. Not only did you have to be aware of those who thought they could jump on your cloud, but those who would label you an enemy of the people. You were certain Fury would be keeping tabs on you and judging by the influx of bings from your phone, you were fairly certain the blow back was building by the second.

You didn’t bother delving into the chaos of the comments section. People arguing with each other over your exposure of the heroes versus those who felt it was a betrayal and misrepresentation. You had never expected the spotlight to include you but you were centre stage alongside the American hero. You only assumed it was much worse for him.

You thought on what Fury said. ‘Sidelined’. Did that mean Steve Rogers was no longer an Avenger? Had he stepped down or been forced out? Hmm… you were tempted to dive down that rabbit hole but did the flames need any more fuel? And yet, it was your job to prod and poke at the vague. 

However, it would be better to steer away from that and not rely on that one trick. Besides, you didn’t truly think there was anything particularly deceptive about Steve or his associates. They were secretive only because they had to be. They were doing their jobs as you did yours.

You sat by the window and picked at the curled lip of the paper cup. What would you pitch then? If you couldn’t grasp onto your momentary high, you might find the way down steep. You leaned your chin in your hand and watched the steam rise. The door chimed and you kept your eyes on the dark brew.

Maybe it was best to move along and sniff out your next bone. It would help you forget about the mess you had created while keeping your career alive. The only thing you could do was move forward and hope that this was all just buried by the next headline.

#Steve Rogers #dark steve rogers #dark!steve rogers #steve rogers x reader #dark steve rogers x reader #dark!steve rogers x reader #dark fic #she #dark!fic #fic #series #au #mcu #marvel #captain america

[marbledinner03]

10-reasons-to-read-enders-game-by-orson-scott-card

10 Reasons to Read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card Over the four years since I first read this book, I have recommended Ender's Game to nearly a dozen people, and no one who has read it has been disappointed. No matter your age or taste in books, you'll find something to like in Orson Scott Card's classic. 10 Reasons to Read Ender's Game 1. Read the Book Before Seeing the Movie The movie adaptation of Ender's Game is set to open on November 1, 2013. As any slightly-uppity critic will tell you, you want to read the book before you see the movie. 2. Consider This Your Intro to Science Fiction Even though good science fiction is one of my favorite genres, I don't recommend sci-fi to almost anyone. I recognize that it isn't everyone's cup of tea. Ender, however, is not your typical sci-fi novel. When she married me, Rachel had a very negative opinion of science fiction, and I can't say that's changed just yet. But she greatly appreciated Ender's Game and plans to read the sequels some day. Even if you don't love science fiction, you'll appreciate Orson Scott Card's masterful writing, and the characters will keep you intrigued throughout. 3. This Book is Far More Than Young Adult Lit

Before "young adult" existed as a genre, Card popularized the child hero. Now, adolescent protagonists like Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen are seen as the norm; think about it - how many enormously-popular best sellers have adult main characters? As a predecessor to young adult lit, Ender's Game does not suffer from the genre's weaknesses. Its characters are more realistic than most in the genre, and the writing does not pander to the uneducated. This is a book about children, but it is written for adults. 4. This Book Has an Enormous Depth of Thought Speaking of this book as a contrast to most young adult lit, how many young adult novels have spawned dozens of books and essays analyzing the philosophical, military, and life lessons in their pages? Ender's Game has that distinction, with Ender's World the latest in a series of books analyzing Card's masterpiece. In Ender's World, well-known authors and thinkers take the reader in-depth into how Ender's Game influenced their thinking. The authors who credit Card with influencing their development include military commanders, television producers, and best-selling writers. That diversity speaks to how much Ender's Game has to offer in terms of food for thought. 5. You Will Return to this Book Time and Again Believe me, as soon as you finish this book, you'll begin to consider reading it again. This story is that good, and your first reading won't be enough. The common experience of Ender readers is a deep itch to reread this book, and often on more than one occasion. 6. Reading This Book Will Open a Whole New Series to You If you end up liking Ender's Game, you will be happy to learn that nearly a dozen sequels are out there. In my study, I have an entire shelf devoted to Orson Scott Card's novels, and there are still times when visiting book stores that I find new books or collections of his essays. Unlike series that begin and end far too quickly, Ender's Game is the beginning of a substantially-long series. 7. This Story is a Great Metaphor for Life This point is a topic for another post, but Ender's Game is a story that serves as a perfect analogy for so many aspects of life. I don't think Card wrote this book to be a metaphor for anything, but nearly everyone can see parts of their life reflected in the story. After you've read Ender, you'll find your mind returning to it time and again. 8. This is a Great Conversation Starter As I mentioned above, Ender's Game is a story that appeals across ages, sexes, and backgrounds. So whenever the topic of books comes up in conversation, you'll be amazed at how many people know and love this book. I place Ender on a short list of books I think everyone should read for cultural literacy if no other reason. 9. Check Out the Amazon Rating In case you doubt me, take a look at the user ratings on Amazon. At the time of this writing, Ender's Game has 3,868 reviews on Amazon, and 2,976 of those are 5-star ratings. Overall, the book enjoys a 4.6-star rating - an astounding average. (For a comparison, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has a 4.7 rating.) 10. Everyone Likes a Good Novel No matter how rarely you read and no matter how little free time you have, you can always find a few minutes where a quick fiction story is a welcome treat. Whether it's waiting for a doctor's appointment or those few minutes before you fall asleep at night, you can always find time to read. Even if you're not persuaded by all nine other reasons, read Ender's Game for fun. Read it for pleasure. Take this book on your next vacation, or read it during your lunch break to feel like you're on vacation. You'll thank me. So there you have it, my 10 reasons to read Ender's Game. http://medicalstart.biz/ What would you add to my list?

#kesehatan #games #berita hari ini

[twigotter9]

10-reasons-to-read-enders-game-by-orson-scott-card

10 Reasons to Read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card Over the four years since I first read this book, I have recommended Ender's Game to nearly a dozen people, and no one who has read it has been disappointed. No matter your age or taste in books, you'll find something to like in Orson Scott Card's classic. 10 Reasons to Read Ender's Game

1. Read the Book Before Seeing the Movie The movie adaptation of Ender's Game is set to open on November 1, 2013. As any slightly-uppity critic will tell you, you want to read the book before you see the movie. 2. Consider This Your Intro to Science Fiction Even though good science fiction is one of my favorite genres, I don't recommend sci-fi to almost anyone. I recognize that it isn't everyone's cup of tea. Ender, however, is not your typical sci-fi novel. When she married me, Rachel had a very negative opinion of science fiction, and I can't say that's changed just yet. But she greatly appreciated Ender's Game and plans to read the sequels some day. Even if you don't love science fiction, you'll appreciate Orson Scott Card's masterful writing, and the characters will keep you intrigued throughout. https://gamerz-stream.com/ 3. This Book is Far More Than Young Adult Lit Before "young adult" existed as a genre, Card popularized the child hero. Now, adolescent protagonists like Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen are seen as the norm; think about it - how many enormously-popular best sellers have adult main characters? As a predecessor to young adult lit, Ender's Game does not suffer from the genre's weaknesses. Its characters are more realistic than most in the genre, and the writing does not pander to the uneducated. This is a book about children, but it is written for adults. 4. This Book Has an Enormous Depth of Thought Speaking of this book as a contrast to most young adult lit, how many young adult novels have spawned dozens of books and essays analyzing the philosophical, military, and life lessons in their pages? Ender's Game has that distinction, with Ender's World the latest in a series of books analyzing Card's masterpiece. In Ender's World, well-known authors and thinkers take the reader in-depth into how Ender's Game influenced their thinking. The authors who credit Card with influencing their development include military commanders, television producers, and best-selling writers. That diversity speaks to how much Ender's Game has to offer in terms of food for thought. 5. You Will Return to this Book Time and Again Believe me, as soon as you finish this book, you'll begin to consider reading it again. This story is that good, and your first reading won't be enough. The common experience of Ender readers is a deep itch to reread this book, and often on more than one occasion. 6. Reading This Book Will Open a Whole New Series to You If you end up liking Ender's Game, you will be happy to learn that nearly a dozen sequels are out there. In my study, I have an entire shelf devoted to Orson Scott Card's novels, and there are still times when visiting book stores that I find new books or collections of his essays. Unlike series that begin and end far too quickly, Ender's Game is the beginning of a substantially-long series. 7. This Story is a Great Metaphor for Life This point is a topic for another post, but Ender's Game is a story that serves as a perfect analogy for so many aspects of life. I don't think Card wrote this book to be a metaphor for anything, but nearly everyone can see parts of their life reflected in the story. After you've read Ender, you'll find your mind returning to it time and again. 8. This is a Great Conversation Starter As I mentioned above, Ender's Game is a story that appeals across ages, sexes, and backgrounds. So whenever the topic of books comes up in conversation, you'll be amazed at how many people know and love this book. I place Ender on a short list of books I think everyone should read for cultural literacy if no other reason. 9. Check Out the Amazon Rating In case you doubt me, take a look at the user ratings on Amazon. At the time of this writing, Ender's Game has 3,868 reviews on Amazon, and 2,976 of those are 5-star ratings. Overall, the book enjoys a 4.6-star rating - an astounding average. (For a comparison, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has a 4.7 rating.) 10. Everyone Likes a Good Novel No matter how rarely you read and no matter how little free time you have, you can always find a few minutes where a quick fiction story is a welcome treat. Whether it's waiting for a doctor's appointment or those few minutes before you fall asleep at night, you can always find time to read. Even if you're not persuaded by all nine other reasons, read Ender's Game for fun. Read it for pleasure. Take this book on your next vacation, or read it during your lunch break to feel like you're on vacation. You'll thank me. So there you have it, my 10 reasons to read Ender's Game. What would you add to my list?

#gaming #health #kesehatan #berita hari ini

[techbranding]

Does My Startup Need A Tech Branding Agency?

We recommend having bi-weekly check-ins to discuss the process, open questions, etc. However, we prefer to present results and updates asynchronously − it saves a lot of time for both sides. SketchesAt this stage, we explore concepts and general directions on how the logo could look. We follow Visual positioning and Brand expression findings and recommendations. This stage helps to examine a lot of concepts and shapes fast. These Terms of Participation permit you to join the Discussion only https://craftandroot.com/industries/tech-startups/.

We are aware of this issue and our team is working hard to resolve the matter. Take your marketing to the next level with our insightful posts. Be sure to subscribe to stay current with the leading trends and strategies. Join over 1,000 marketing pros who receive monthly B2B marketing tips and insights. Write your growth story and leave a lasting marketing legacy.

Tonal launches 300% ahead of target by bringing the digital into the physical. Launching the most important insurance brand since the birth of the internet. A $4.5B HR Tech startup and the biggest brand comeback of 2017. Everything you need to know about rebranding your business - and avoiding costly mistakes. Everything you need to know about rebranding your business-and avoiding costly mistakes.

proven tools and processes that we’ve created and which we tailor to each client. brand agent you need as a partner to take your business to the next level. brand consultant as an affordable, ideal resource for their needs. In fact, even a short consultation and advice session with a brand specialist can prove quite lucrative. For this reason, many proprietors will rely on DIY campaigns for marketing that may remain inadequate, misdirected, or that doesn’t offer the return on investment. Stand out from the crowd with professional production, aerial drone shots, and even 360 films. Download our free VR/AR 101 Guide to begin your journey in understanding how Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality may be the answer to your marketing needs.

The tone adapts to communicate with them while upholding the overall voice’s focus. (Namer is pretty close — after all, a name is a very, very short poem that captures a brand’s eidos.) When not creating kickass names, she may be found kayaking with her son or making music with her husband.

We are not condoning or admiring this approach but it’s almost certainly part of a bigger strategy. Intel uses video to spark emotion and create a connection with their audience. Health care workers, ventilator makers, teachers, drivers and key workers. It’s a play on their key messaging “what’s inside” but it’s on trend and very smart.

Watch our event replay from Tuesday, January 19, where we continue to discuss and answer questions on the new coronavirus relief bill and how it pertains to small businesses. CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

Gift card fraud can be a gateway to stolen payment credentials, drained bank accounts and even stolen identity. Certain projects, images, and products are trademarks of and/or copyrighted by their respective owners. Develop a Personality.Your business has a personality – a tone that it uses to communicate to the audience. Many businesses don’t sufficiently develop a personality, or don’t keep it consistent. Yes, send me the BizBuySell SellerNewsletter, which contains advice on selling a business and email only promotions. We are sorry, we were not able to submit your issue for this listing at this time. The information in this listing has been provided by the business seller or representative stated above.

Brand Name Creation

Taco Del Mar gets a brand refresh and a fresh new point of view. Their expertice created additional revenue we would have received from traditional advertising alone. Two entrepreneurs came to us with a new app that puts power back in the hands of patients. The brand we developed helps consumers get on the right path when navigating their healthcare. We are data-backed creatives who get the most out of every click. All TOP agencies combine deep subject expertise with world-class execution. Applying consistency in your brand’s voice and tone helps build your reputation, trust, and ultimately stronger brand recognition.

Our referral partners enjoy a sweet finder’s fee and peace of mind knowing their client is in good hands. Cambridge Technology partnered with Mower to modernize their brand and update all platforms the brand touches. The GIF of the XPS 12showed the face of the tablet flipping to morph into the laptop. The screen was filled with Windows software to illustrate that the convertible was a Windows 8 product as well as a touch screen. Dell uses videos, gifs and live behind the scenes to grab attention and explain and introduce their products. And the cool kid theme continues on Twitter where Apple actually don’t follow anyone or tweet anything and yet has 4.3 million followers.

If your startup can bend light, slow time, or stretch infinitely, we should talk. Established in 1996, the website is an international marketplace of businesses for sale.

A play on okey-dokey, Mochidoki makes use of the product descriptor in a fun and playful way, all while recalling the product’s Asian roots and sounding bite-sized and delicious. Designed for business owners, CO— is a site that connects like minds and delivers actionable insights for next-level growth.

Cast a wide tech branding agency net at first and bring the top three back to go through the process with you. Be incredibly clear about the goals and objectives of the project. Tap your network, do your research, check the rankings to see what firms measure up. Omni-channel marketing campaign showcasing the “connecting” benefits of being able to access Tower Health’s growing health system. Thank you for Trajectory’s splendid healthcare rebranding work. You’ve done an outstanding job blending respect for the past with gentle nudging of inherently sensible and winning ideas. Our health system brand is an emotional lightning rod for many, and you navigate it extraordinarily well.

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See how they perform while juggling multiple responsibilities. It can be either a small internal project or an external one. Moreover, they offer a free audit in case you would like to refresh your brand rather than building it from scratch. You will enjoy collaborating with them for your small business or startup. Their process starts with an expansive review of your brand’s current status. Afterwards, they run a collaborative workshop with you and your stakeholders to define the organization’s goals. Then, target audience research and competitive analysis follow.

Also, they consist of strategic analysts, information architects and UX interface designers. After getting to know your startup, they can help build it and take care of it along the way. Because you can lose a lot of audiences if you just use one word wrong in your messaging for your small business or if you come up with the wrong color. Video marketing is highly effective in capturing B2B leads; also, 80% of video marketers say video has directly helped increase their sales. To convince prospects that they, and not their competitors, are the right choice, iOFFICE uses ebooks, webinars, slides and graphics, videos, demos and podcasts created with expert input. Screenshots, sliding menus and striking calls-to-action to watch the demo of the product in action serve to educate the prospective buyer.

Thanks for sending that over, one of our team will be in touch real soon. Go from over 15,844 agencies to a shortlist with Agency Spotter. Firebrand has given my team the bandwidth to focus on what's really important. Webgamma produced effective deliverables that contributed to significant growth of our brand.

Having an expanded offering will give you an access to the opportunities you would not approach otherwise. We are an independent partner who knows Marketing & Advertising agencies’ competitive landscape. Tell us your needs and we’ll tell you the agencies you must meet. At Insane Lab, we know what we are exceptional at what we do. We are great at designing and developing applications for modern platforms – web, mobile and mixed reality.

With a BA in English Literature from Dartmouth College and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts’ English MFA for Poets & Writers, Stevie is also no stranger to the power of words. As head of Catchword’s East Coast operations, he’s typically the project lead on all right coast accounts, and recently managed projects for Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Kellogg, and First Alert. He graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in History, and earned his JD from the State University of New York at Buffalo. is a collection of ultra-premium brandable dot-com domains—merging the best in messaging, memorability, length, and flow. Our linguistic and cultural evaluation is backed by an international network of native speakers in more than 100 languages. And, when Catchword first sampled Gordon Dessert’s new line of mochi , we knew we were naming a truly category re-defining confectionary.

Let us guide you on how to use the appropriate tools to reach your marketing goals. Abundant growth opportunities; little to no marketing up to this point. We apologize, but the feature you are trying to access is currently unavailable.

Payment schedule should be adjusted to the project you are running together — so the initial investment on your side is reduced. What I would like to show you is that with a right partner you can focus on your strengths and outsource other tasks without losing business. More than that, you can expand your service line and utilize your talents on new platforms that you did not have an access to.

BizBuySell has no stake in the sale of this business, has not independently verified any of the information about the business, and assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness. We partnered with Oculus to pioneer VR’s mobile and social future.

Their posts aren’t strictly oriented to the product but are tied to events and occasions that people everywhere find significant and interesting. You have an innovative, ground breaking idea – now it’s time to share it with the world. A full-spectrum agency leading the legal profession into a future of equal justice. Class action firms benefit from the speed with which we can launch your initial marketing campaign. We have been working together for several years now, helped them revamp their brand, built a new website and campaign sites, and most recently a transit campaign that can be seen all over the Bay Area.

We provide a cost-effective route to market for business owners and their representatives and a one stop shop for aspiring entrepreneurs and business buyers. You will receive newsletters, updates and offers about business and franchise opportunities. We will also send you information about related business and franchise events. BusinessesForSale.com is committed to protecting your privacy. Ticking this box means you are consenting to us sending you marketing emails. You can change your mind at any time by clicking unsubscribe in the footer of our emails. Just because you don’t have time to deal, doesn’t mean you have to completely give the work away.

They keep their brand voice highly practical and focused on solving prospects’ pain points. They use demo videos to educate and inspire confidence in their products. This is an example that companies do not need to invest their energy into all available channels, but rather pick one or two to focus on. Partner testimonials, PRs on closed deals, fundraisers and case studies by the likes of Yahoo Finance and Harvard Business Review communicate the reputation and importance of this brand. Communicating diverse topics across different channels whilst maintaining voice consistency and brand integrity. The Facebook page features a cover video with main takeaways of what the company stands for and a striking summary of their offers. They connect their user base with immersive food and beverage tours, skip-the-line tickets for attractions, craft classes, niche offerings and other immersive experiences.

[ad1thi]

meri pyaari tony

okay so @iam93percentstardust got me rly excited about this new au and even though im never going to write it i just wanna write a lil so enjoy everybody!! (hopefully this will clear up what i meant by not a happy ending but also not an unhappy ending)

//

The phone rings once, twice before it cuts off, and James’ back stiffens.

On the table, his mother’s fingers have stilled - frozen in the action of pushing the birthday card for his 10 year old nephew into an envelope.

The phone rings again, just twice, long enough to be unmistakable but too short to actually answer.

He looks out to the heaving rain, and without even thinking of reaching for an umbrella, he’s already sprinting across the grounds of his house, uncaring of how soaked he’s getting as he pushes himself up and over the gate of the neighbouring house and into the attic.

In the molten, rusty room, on top of an old suitcase that he’s seen Tony sit on countless times with his feet swinging off the ground - is a 6 year old boy; fiddling with the buttons of his jacket.

James runs his hands across his face, wiping off the water that’s collected in the creases of his forehead, and walks over to the kid.

He must look a state to the kid, sopping wet and uncharacteristically happy despite said dampness, but he can’t bring himself to care.

“I’m really hungry,” he says to the boy, grinning, “do you think I can borrow one of your fingers to eat?”

Instinctively, the boy puts his hands behind his back, shaking his head fervently and James pouts, “not even the one? You have 10!”

The kid is saved from answering from a call of “Peter!” ringing outside the attic, and James turns, watching Tony fumble with closing an umbrella and he pushes into the attic.

Its a scene that James has imagined a thousand times over, watching Tony meet him in the attic where their childhood selves because friends all those years ago - and yet his imagination somehow didn’t do justice to the scene in front of him.

It takes Tony a couple of seconds to realise that James is there, and his face splits into a hesitant smile thats over-run with a frown when the kid barrels into his leg.

Tony runs his finger through the kid’s hair, “go find your Papa Peter - I’ll be down in a couple of seconds”

He waits until the kid’s disappeared down the stairs to turn back to James, “so, are you guys bestfriends yet?”

“No,” James says, smiling that private smile he’d reserved for Tony, “but you know me - I grow on people”

“Its good to see you Rhodey,” Tony says, and its only the fact that he’s carrying his bodyweight in water while Tony is wearing an expensive suit that keeps him from crossing the room and wrapping his arms around Tony.

“I forget,” Tony says, settling down on the suitcase his son vacated, “was it 2 rings or 3 rings? Our emergency code?”

“2,” Rhodey says, lifting up his fingers, “but then again - everything was an emergency for you so we never had any other code”

“Dad told me you’d stopped by,” Tony says, “didn’t realise you cared so much about this old dump”

Rhodey chooses not to answer that, “So you’re finally taking Major Stark to your house huh? Took you long enough”

“I know,” Tony huffs, “we’ll be at each other’s throats by the end of the week, but what can you do?”

Tony gestures around the attic vaguely, “I wanted to give Peter a chance to see this house before he sold it though - let him see where his Dad grew up”

“Peter?” Rhodey raises an eyebrow, “like Peter Pan? And here I thought your child would have one of those weird names with an unnecessarily pretentious pronunciation”

Tony raises his hand to swat at Rhodey, and for a second its just like old times.

Rhodey settles down next to him, shoving him with his hip until Tony shifts enough to make space on the suitcase for him.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment?” Rhodey says softly, “I’ve imagined it 1000 times over. ‘Course, in my version you were in distinctly less clothing, on your knees begging for forgiveness while an epic revenge tune played in the background”

Tony chuckles, eyes crinkling into familiar crow’s feet, and Rhodey thinks that for all the years he spent hating Tony - nothing can compare to the decades he spent loving him.

“So, New York Best Seller Writer huh? You finally did it Rhodey,” Tony leans in with a conspiratorial look on his face, “I walked out on you way too early”

you shouldn’t have walked out on me at all, Rhodey thinks, but this isn’t the right time for that conversation.

(he wonders if there ever will be a right time for that conversation)

Instead, Rhodey asks, “have you read any of them?” and Tony scoffs, “have you met me?”

“I can barely get through the first couple of pages of essential stuff like manuals, do I look like I can read?”

“That being said,” Tony says, “with a cover that says The Wild Washerwoman will wash you away, and - fuck what was the other one?” he scrunches up his nose in thought, “Tricycle - it will puncture your life, how could I resist?”

It warms something dead inside Rhodey that Tony reads his books, that Tony knows them well enough to recite the gaudy catchphrases his PR team used to sell them.

“Yuck man,” Tony says, “honestly how far have you fallen for a couple of sales. I gotta say though, extremely entertaining”

“Yeah well,” Rhodey shrugs, “horror is easy. I’ve been trying to write a love story for the past three years now and I’m not sure how to end it”

the why goes unspoken, hanging in the air and making the room thick with tension.

Tony reaches out and cups his cheek, and it takes everything in Rhodey to not lean into it.

“you’ll finish it,” Tony says softly, “You’re my Rhodey - ‘course you’ll finish it”

Rhodey pushes off his seat suddenly, making it half way to the door before he remembers to turn around and tell Tony to “stay put, don’t move I’ll be right back”

And he runs through the rain again, ignoring the shouts of his father and his manager to grab the manuscript on his bed.

He pushes it under his jacket roughly and runs back, where Tony is still sitting on the old suitcase - legs dangling just above the floor.

He puts the manuscript in between his hands, and says in one short breath, “read it”

and so Tony does - though he does flip through large portions of the book and crucial plot points.

Its okay though, because Tony lived through those moments, so he’s allowed to embellish and skip to the end.

When he flips the last page and looks back up at Rhodey, there’s tears in his eyes - but Rhodey’s known him long enough to know that these are happy tears

“This is your version Rhodeybear,” Tony says, “mine would be a little different”

Rhodey shrugs delicately, thinking about the night he tore through 10 pages trying to get that final last first kiss right, “a happy ending sells right? Why - what would be different in your version?”

“Does it matter?” Tony’s voice is wet, “I like your version better”

“But you found your Mr Right,” Rhodey says matter of factly, and Tony just shakes his head, “more like Mr Right place right time”

“But,”  Tony wipes away the stray tear on his cheek, “he gave me Peter so I can’t complain. You should see me as a dad platypus, it’s like I was made for this role. Being a dad, thats the one thing I’m not a disaster at”

Tony holds out the manuscript, but Rhodey pushes it back gently shaking his head, “I don’t want anyone else reading this. Not my manager, not your husband, nobody else. The story in those pages, that’s ours, just ours.”

Tony leans up and presses a soft kiss on Rhodey’s cheek, featherlight but its what makes Rhodey reach out and say.

“I can still take you away if you want. Just say the word and I’ll carry you over my shoulder - away from all of this”

Tony opens his mouth to reply, but he’s cut off by Peter barrelling in, making grabby arms at his father.

Tony hefts up his son, arm caught around Peter’s waist and he looks at Rhodey with a mixture of nostalgia and regret, “I think I might be a bit too heavy for you now honeybear”

Tony leans in and rubs his nose against Peter’s cheek and in Rhodey’s mind, he’s right there with Tony - arms around the two most important boys in his life.

But in reality, there’s a distance between them, a space that try as he might, Rhodey can’t cross.

For the first time in almost 5 years, that doesn’t make him sad anymore.

you should see me as a dad platypus, Tony had said, and Rhodey’s seeing it now.

Oddly, it doesn’t hurt quite as much as he always thought it would.

“We have a party to get to right?” Tony says finally, setting Peter down so that they can walk down the stairs, “your nephew’s 10th birthday is it?”

The rain hasn’t let up, but in all fairness to his family - neither has the party because Rhodey and Tony make their way down to see a gaggle of uncles and aunts dancing in the grounds anyway, music coming from a speaker hidden away safely from the porch.

Peter runs across the field to a man with blue eyes and blond hair, who instantly bend down and picks him up - spinning him around and smiling when Peter shrieks about how wet he’s getting.

“One dance?” Rhodey asks, extending his hand out to Tony, “for old time’s sake?”

The look that Tony sends his way cannot be described as anything but pure adoration when he accepts Rhodey’s hand, giggling when Rhodey uses the momentum to pull him in close to his chest and snag an arm around his waist.

He’s consciously aware of the weight of the metal band around Tony’s finger pressing into his as they sway to the music, but it doesn’t bother him anymore.

To the rest of the world, he’s always be a Mr someone - but to Rhodey, he has and forever will be, his very first love, Tony.

Fin

#my writing #rhodeytony #ironhusbands #meri pyaari bindu au #bollywood but make it gay #meri pyaari tony #they're in love #but its not enough #and thats OKAY #because tony found someone who made him happy #and rhodey flourished in his career #and they have this bond that nobody can ever break #and they got their happy ending even if it wasn't with each other #also the distinction between james and rhodey #is cuz to the rest of the world he's james #but to tony - he's rhodey

[arcticdementor]

In the fall of 2008, America’s wealthiest companies were in a pickle. Short-selling hedge funds, smelling blood as the global economy cratered, loaded up with bets against finance stocks, pouring downward pressure on teetering, hyper-leveraged firms like Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. The free-market purists at the banks begged the government to stop the music, and when the S.E.C. complied with a ban on financial short sales, conventional wisdom let out a cheer.

"This will absolutely make a difference," economist Peter Cardillo told CNN. "Now, if there is any good news, shorts will have to cover.”

At the time, poor beleaguered banks were victims, while hedge funds betting them down as the economy circled the drain were seen as antisocial monsters. “They are like looters after a hurricane,” seethed Andrew Cuomo, then-Attorney General of New York State, who “promised to intensify investigations into short selling abuses.” Senator John McCain, in the home stretch of his eventual landslide loss to Barack Obama, added that S.E.C. chairman Christopher Cox had “betrayed the public’s trust” by allowing “speculators and hedge funds” to “turn our markets into a casino.”

Fast forward thirteen years. The day-trading followers of a two-million-subscriber Reddit forum called “wallstreetbets” somewhat randomly decide to keep short-sellers from laying waste to a brick-and-mortar retail video game company called GameStop, betting it up in defiance of the Street. Worth just $6 four months ago, the stock went from $18.36 on the afternoon of the Capitol riot, to $43.03 on the 21st two weeks later, to $147.98 this past Tuesday the 26th, to an incredible $347.51 at the close of the next day, January 27th.

The rally sent crushing losses at short-selling hedge funds like Melvin Capital, which was forced to close out its position at a cost of nearly $3 billion. Just like 2008, down-bettors got smashed, only this time, there were no quotes from economists celebrating the “good news” that shorts had to cover. Instead, polite society was united in its horror at the spectacle of amateur gamblers doing to hotshot finance professionals what those market pros routinely do to everyone else.

…

The episode prompted calls to regulate Reddit and, finally, halt action on the disputed stocks. As I write this, word has come out that platforms like Robinhood and TD Ameritrade are curbing trading in GameStop and several other companies, including Nokia and AMC Entertainment holdings.

Meaning: just like 2008, trading was shut down to save the hides of erstwhile high priests of “creative destruction.” Also just like 2008, there are calls for the government to investigate the people deemed responsible for unapproved market losses.

…

The only thing “dangerous” about a gang of Reddit investors blowing up hedge funds is that some of us reading about it might die of laughter. That bit about investigating this as a “pump and dump scheme” to push prices away from their “fundamental value” is particularly hilarious. What does the Washington Post think the entire stock market is, in the bailout age?

America’s banks just had maybe their best year ever, raking in $125 billion in underwriting fees at a time when the rest of the country is dealing with record unemployment, thanks entirely to massive Federal Reserve intervention that turned a crash into a boom. Who thinks the “fundamental value” of most stocks would be this high, absent the Fed’s Atlas-like support in the last year?

…

In other words, it was all well and good for investment banks and executives of phoney-baloney companies to gorge themselves on funhouse profits on a funhouse economy, but when amateurs decided to funnel just a bit of this clown show into their own pockets, finance pros wailed like the grave of Adam Smith had been danced upon. The worst was Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman, who issued a somber warning that those behind the recent market frenzy are “in for a very rude awakening,” adding, “I don’t know if it is going to happen tomorrow, next week or in a month, but it will happen.”

This is the same James Gorman whose company just saw its 2020 fourth-quarter profits go up 51% versus the year before, with total revenues up 16% to $48.2 billion, matching almost exactly the 16% rise in the stock market last year. If you’re going to rake in $33 million as Gorman did last year captaining a firm that just siphoned off billions in essentially risk-free profits underwriting a never-ending bailout, should you really be worrying about someone else getting a “rude awakening”? There are 19 million people collecting unemployment who might be reading those profit numbers. Does this man know how to spell “pitchfork”?

GameStop has prompted more pearl-clutching than any news story in recent memory. Expert after grave-faced expert has marched on TV to tell Reddit traders that markets are complicated, this isn’t a game, and they wouldn’t be doing this, if they really understood how things work.

…

Furthermore, everybody “understands” what happened with GameStop. Unlike some other Wall Street stories, this one isn’t complicated. The entire tale, in a nutshell, goes like this. One group of gamblers announced, “Fuck you!” Another group announced back: “No, fuck YOU!”

That’s it. Or, as one market analyst put it to me this morning, “A bunch of guys made a bet, got killed, then doubled and tripled down and got killed even more.”

Regarding improprieties, leaving aside that the Redditors were doing exactly what billion-dollar hedge funds do every day — colluding to move a stock for fun and profit — the notion that this should be the subject of a federal investigation is preposterous.

…

While it isn’t a complicated story, some of the awesome humor of GameStop is in the mechanics.

Unlike betting on a stock to go up (i.e. betting “long”), where you can only lose as much as you invest, the losses in shorting can be infinite. This adds a potential extra layer of Schadenfreude to the plight of the happy hedge fund pirate who might have borrowed gazillions of GameStop shares at five or ten hoping to tank the firm, only to go in pucker mode as Internet hordes drive the cost of the trade to ten, twenty, fifty times their original investment.

Short-sellers bet by borrowing shares from so-called prime brokers (Goldman, Sachs and JP Morgan Chase are among the biggest), selling them, and waiting for the price to drop, at which point they buy them back on the open market at the lower price and return them. The commonly understood rub is that prime brokers don’t always really procure those original borrowed shares, and often give out more “locates” than they should, putting more shares in circulation than actually exist (as in this case). GameStop is exposing this systematic plundering of firms using phantom shares and locates, by groups of actors who now have the gall to complain that they’re the victims of a “get rich quick” scheme.

…

The home of James “rude awakening” Gorman, Morgan Stanley, got its bank holding company license (and the lifesaving Fed credit lines that came with it) late on a Sunday night in September, 2008, because the firm couldn’t have opened its doors without it the next Monday morning. They’d have been blown to bits, by “fundamentals.” Instead, they got rescued, given a forever pass to keep feeding at the neck of society while claiming, falsely, to be not-failures and not-welfare recipients, better somehow than the “dumb money” they think should be theirs alone to manage.

The rank selectivity of this makes any moral argument against the GameStop revolt moot. There’s no legitimate cause here, just an assertion of exclusive rights to plunder, which will doubtless be exercised now in the form of bans, investigations, and increased barriers to market entry. Probably also, in the political spirit of our times, there will some form of speech crackdown on platforms like Reddit, to protect us from the mob.

About that: there are many making hay of a description found on a Subreddit, to the effect that wallstreetbets is “like 4Chan found a Bloomberg terminal.” A columnist at the Guardian, settling into the rhetorical line sure to find acceptance among the wine-and-MSNBC crowd, admitted to finding the rampaging-id dynamic on 4chan funny as a young person, but strange now to “witness a brief and regretful adolescent occupation re-emerge as a prominent cultural force.” The author wanted to admit to laughing at this “intentionally senseless” behavior, but ultimately decried the “transgressive attitudes” of the Redditors.

This is where society will ultimately come down, of course, uniting to denounce $GME as financial Trumpism, even though it actually comes closer to being an updated and superior version of Occupy Wall Street. It’s likely not any evil manipulation scheme, but ordinary people acting — out of self-interest, but also out of sheer enthusiasm for one of the best reasons to do just about anything, because you can — on a few simple, powerful observations.

They’ve seen first that our markets are basically fake, set up to artificially accelerate the wealth divide, and not in their favor. Secondly they see that the stock market, like the ballot box, remains one of the only places where sheer numbers still matter more than capital or connections. And they’re piling on, and it’s delicious, not so much because they’re right, but because the people running for cover are so wrong, and still can’t admit it.

Buy the ticket, take the ride, nitwits. If you earned anything, it’s this.

#matt taibbi #read the whole thing

[dalamjisung]

a cliche for when you need one ❁ lee minho

genre: fluffiest fluff out there

word count: 3650

pairing: reader x lee minho

description: everyone needs a cliche in their life. Is that true?

Books were your life; and not to say that in a ‘quirky’ or ‘nerdy’ way, but in the most literal sense of all– books were your life. Your dad owned an independent book shop right under you guys’ apartment, and that was the only source of financial income you guys had. So yes. Books really were your life. It also didn’t help that you worked there every day after school and every afternoon on the weekends. The Literary Corner was never closed. 

To say you grew to love books was wrong; it felt more like it was engrained on your DNA. There was no way you could’ve come out not liking to read, and even if you did, you wouldn’t have much of a choice. Your dad didn’t have enough money to hire someone to work the store while he was gone, so he pretty much relied on you– not that you minded, of course. To work at the store meant that you had enough time to do your homework, and sit on the bay window, in between Fiction U-Z and Non-Fiction A-D. That was your favorite spot, especially in between the times of 4PM and 6PM, when the sun is low enough to shine that golden light it produces after a long, tiring day, warming to the heart, but carrying no actual heat at all. 

It was just one of those days; perfect weather, perfect feeling, perfect everything. You walk out through the gates of school feeling relieved– you couldn’t wait to sit on your window and read your brand new edition of if on a winter’s night a traveler. Italo Calvino was one of your favorite authors, and the sun that shone bright as you walked home would be the perfect company for a great read. You were excited to get home, chatting away with you best friend, Kim Seungmin. As weird as it sounds, you both met at the store, when he came in to buy the mandatory books for you advanced literature class, and that’s when you found out that he was a student in your school. Better yet, that you were in the same literature class.

“Did you see who’s getting transferred to our class?” Seungmin asks. “Professor Jeon said that he didn’t enroll to take them, but the principal thought that the other class was too easy for him…”

“I didn’t hear about any of this!” You gasp. “Who could it be? We didn’t really get new students this semester.”

“Rumor says it is one of the trouble boys,” He wiggles his brows and laughs. “Maybe one of them is secretly smart.”

“Pff,” You snort. “What a cliche.”

Laughing, you guys forget about the subject altogether. It was good that your school was starting to demand more from its students, but you really hoped it wasn’t the case Seungmin was talking about. You never had an encounter with one of those boys, and even though you hear plenty about them, you never cared enough to pay attention. The truth was that literature class was your favorite– one of the few things you were able to excel at school,– and you didn’t want someone who didn’t really care about it running it for you. 

“I have to go,” You point to the store. “But I’ll see you at school. And don’t forget that we have our scheduled movie night after my shift tomorrow!”

“How could I forget, Y/N?” He laughs and waves. “We have it every week.”

“Yeah, yeah,” You chuckle. “See you later!”

You take it all in as soon as you’re inside; the smell of books–your personal favorite– surrounded the place as if it owned it. Your dad ran past you, kissing your forehead and bidding you goodbye, as he was probably late for another date with his mysterious girlfriend. You smiled, shouting a ‘good luck!’ into the air as you watched him run with a bouquet of flowers. You walk behind the counter, already listing your daily tasks as you drop your bag on the floor. 

#1: Restock the best-sellers at the main door.

You walk to the table where a few books were missing and count them in your head, memorizing their names and authors, treating each one as a different person. You go to the back room and star collecting the necessary items. Enjoying while the store is empty and silent, you put some music on, allowing your earphones to drown the world outside into nothingness. 

#2: Put the disorganized books back into their place.

#3: Dust the shelves.

Humming, you were quick to get the job done. This was something that you did everyday, with the utmost care in the world. You liked getting home and doing your tasks; the repetitive actions turning into a natural de-stressor. 

#4: Count the cashier.

#5: Water the plants.

#6: Check stock.

And for your favorite part:

#7: Help Ms. Lee with her weekly search for a new book.

For the past five years Ms. Lee has come to the store in search of new books. They could be newly published classics or newly written contemporaries, she’d buy them all. She would come in and look at the book that you’d have in hand; I have a grandson, you see, she’d chuckle. A handsome boy, around your age, and he loves to read. What could you recommend, dear? 

For the past five years, you’ve been reserving two copies of the same books; one for you, and for Ms. Lee’s grandson. You started to adore the boy even without meeting him. As Ms. Lee would tell you what he said about the novels, you noticed you started having book debates with this boy through his grandmother, and you completely adored it, so you’ve started patiently waiting for her to enter the store, with the reserved book and a glass of water. 

As the door dings, you smile from where you’re crouching down behind the counter. You were working on a delivery package of three books and you were looking for boxes. 

“Good evening, Ms. Lee!” You say, smiling as you get up. Your smile was quick to shatter, though, noticing that the tall figure in front of you wasn’t the adorable old lady you were expecting. Well, it wasn’t a lady at all. “Oh?”

His mouth is covered with a black mask and he is wearing a beanie. His brows go up in surprise, probably from you popping up out of nowhere. You signal him to wait and walk to the front door, peeking outside in search of your customary client. Nothing. 

“Hm, excuse me?” You hear from the inside of the store. “Are you Y/N?”

You halt. How did this stranger know your name? You mind starts racing; your dad was occupied with his girlfriend and would take too long to come help if anything were to happen, same with Seungmin, and you were alone with this stranger who apparently knows who you are-

“I’m Ms. Lee’s grandson,” He chuckles. “She told me to look for you.”

Before registering what he said, your mind goes crazy. “Oh my, is she okay? Did anything happen?”

“She’s fine,” He says, and you notice he’s smiling because of his eyes; they were smiling too. “She’s just tired, so she sent me instead. I hope that’s okay?”

This is when it downs on you; this is the boy you’ve been admiring for the past five years. He was finally here. In person. Talking to you.

“Y-yes, of course!” You chuckle awkwardly. “… nice to meet you?”

“Yes,” He says pulling down his mask and he was indeed smiling. “Nice to meet you.”

“So,” You clear your throat. “What can I help you with?”

“Oh, yeah!” He digs inside his backpack and pulls out a sheet of paper. One that you were surprised to find out you knew too well. “I hope it’s not too much trouble, but I need those books.”

“Wait,” You frown. “You go to the school near the shopping mall? Just a few blocks away from here?”

“… yeah,” He frowns too. “How do you know?”

“I go there too,” You say, and your heart is beating rapidly. “I’m actually in this class.”

“Oh, how do you like it?” He asks leaning on the counter. His eyes are innocent and curious, just like a cat. “I’m being forced to switch, so I’m a little scared.”

“Don’t be,” You laugh ducking to pass under the counter and walk to the shelves where you knew those books laid. “It’s really fun. You clearly like reading, so I don’t think you’ll have any problem.”

“That’s good to hear.” He chuckles from behind you as he watched you struggle with a high shelf. “Let me help you.”

And you can just feel the warmth of his body as he stepped closer and grabbed the copy of harmless person to you by Choi. This collection of short stories was really dear to you, and you were happy to be able to discuss it in class. 

“I’ve read this before,” He mumbles. “It’s really good.”

“It really is,” You nod, and as you both fell in a rhythm, the comfortable silence accompanied. After a while, all books were pilled in the counter. “Finally done.”

“These are too many.” He groans, hiding his face in his hands. 

“I’m pretty sure you’ve read two thirds of these already,” You mumble, scanning all of the items. 

“How do you know?” His voice seems genuinely surprised.

“Because I have too,” You chuckle. You eyes travel to the copy of if on a winter’s night a traveler and you extend it to him. “Although I am pretty sure this one is new to you.”

“It is,” He checks the back. “I like some of his other works, though. The way he switches his style of writing even new book is amazing.”

“I know, right?” You squeal, a little to excited.

“How much for this one too?” He asks with a wide smile. So genuine, you think. 

“A present.” You say, blushing. “Consider it a present from me. See you tomorrow?”

“Definitely!” He grabs the bags. “Thank you Y/N!”

“No problem!”

And it’s only when he’s gone that you remember.

I didn’t even ask his name.

———————————

For the next day of school, you don’t wake up late. You wash your face for the first time forever and you take your time brushing your hair. It’d be stupid not to, now that you knew Ms. Lee’s grandson was in your class. 

“What are you doing?” You dad asks from the door, squinting his eyes. “Since when do you get all pretty to go to school?”

“I look the same, dad,” You laugh and somewhere in your mind you are sure you’ve read that conversation in a book. The character would later get ignored by her crush in school and bla bla bla. Just the thought of such cliche is funny to you, making you chuckle. “Come on, let’s eat.”

Every time you sat down to have breakfast, you thanked the lord for your dad’s girlfriend. She was an angel on Earth; always coming by to visit and check-up on you two, always making sure there was plenty of cooked meals in the house, since neither you or your dad were reliable enough to cook, always inviting you to come over and stay with them when your dad slept over and you were alone in the house. After your mom died, it took a while for you two to get back on your feet, but she helped. She was there first as a friend, and then as something more. You loved her for it. 

Your walk to school was more peaceful than usual; you had your earphones in, humming the same song you were before, back in the store when Ms. Lee’s grandson came in. You smile, unconscious of the fondness of the memory. A tap on your shoulder is enough to drag you out of the music induced trance you were.

“Hey,” You hear someone say– him say. “Going to school?”

“Hey!” You say excitedly, smiling wide. You put your earphone on your backpack, sure that you won’t need them now that you had company. “Yeah, why don’t you walk with me?”

“Sure,” He smiles. “My name is Minho, by the way. Lee Minho.”

Now that you knew this information, you chuckle. You’ve definitely heard of him before. Heartbreaker. Player. Lazy. All adjectives used to describe this one boy that now rambled on and on about the first three chapters of Italo Clavino’s book, and how the usage of the second person narrator was a fantastic choice to involve the reader into the plot. You nod, not actually listening to him, but knowing what he’s saying anyways, because you’d say the same things. When it came to books, you two always agreed.

“Are you even listening?” He laughs, poking you with his elbow. 

“Of course,” You blush a little. “Second person voice and all; great choice.”

“I was talking about coffee,” He says with wide eyes and a playful smile on his face. “Wow. You really weren’t listening!”

“What?” You panic. “I’m sorry! What about coffee?”

“Wanna grab some after school?” He says, straightening his back and clearing his throat. “I know a great place nearby the bookshop.”

“I wish I could,” You say and for the first time you cursed the moment in which you’d have to go straight to the store. “But I take over the store after school, everyday… my dad needs to do some things, so I try to help him out.”

“Oh I see,” His eyes lower to the ground and he kicks a pebble. “What if I brought the coffee to you? I can buy some and stay with you in the shop– I could even help out!”

“Really?” You say, impressed. Your mind travels to a parallel world, in which you and Minho work at the store together, laughing and talking about book all evening. And when the golden hour washes the place, you two sit at the bay window, and everything is just calm and beautiful and golden. “I’d love that, thank you.”

“Great!” He says excitedly. “It’s a date then.”

And the rest of the walk goes by peacefully quiet. Just you two and the early birds chirping. Today was bound to be good– you could feel it.

Classes came and went, lunch too, and it was time for your final class of the day– advanced literature. You were excited because of the new vibe that would wash over the room today, Minho being a new factor into the dynamics of the place. You were all there except him, but he makes it seconds before the teacher, and sits way in the back, ignoring all the swooning girls that waved at him. You chuckle, but it doesn’t escape you the fact that he ignored you too. 

During class, he doesn’t say a thing, and you would be lying if you said you weren’t disappointed. You thought he’d be different. What is wrong with me?, you think, rubbing your eyes. That’s such a cliche thing to think. You force your attention back to the teacher, and you remember absolutely nothing from the lesson except the moment that the bell rang. It made you jump from your seat and you heard someone snickering. You turn to Seungmin and see him holding his laugh in.

“Idiot,” You mumble, holding your laugh too. He get’s up but you hold him by the hand. “Oh, wait up really quick, I need to talk to someone.”

You turn around and see Minho looking at you. You smile and start walking to him.

“Minho,” You call, but he speed walks past you, his shoulder bumping into your and making you lose your balance for a second. Seungmin is quick enough to push you forward, stoping you from falling on your ass.

“What was that?” Seungmin asks as you two walk out the school. “Lee Minho. You know him?”

“Yeah,” You mumble. “We walked to school together and he was pretty nice. Maybe I said something to offend him?”

“I doubt it,” Your friend says and that was it about it. You two talked about anything and everything, but Lee Minho. You felt confused, and a little hurt; your fantasies shattering to the ground as you walked home. 

You barely noticed the bookshop showing up in your line of vision, and you definitely didn’t see the boy sitting down on the curb, with two cups of coffee in hand. 

“Y/N,” Seungmin says, stopping in his tracks. “Is that Lee Minho?”

Your head whips around and your eyes adjust to the image really quick. He wasn’t in his school uniform anymore; his hair was hidden under a beanie again and the glasses were back. He looked cold, breath coming out in small puffs, and jacket seeming to flimsy to handle the weather. 

“Yeah, that’s him…” You say, starting to walk to where he was. “I’ll see you later?”

“Call me right after this is done,” He says winking at you. “I wanna know everything.”

“Just… no.” You laugh as he whines. “Go home, Minnie. I’ll talk to you later.”

“You know what?” Seungmin says with a smile that you’ve known to cause trouble. “I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to movie night tonight… oh too bad, don’t rush him have fun bye!”

And before you could complain he runs away laughing like a maniac. Shaking you head your best friend’s antics, you go to where the root of your confusion was, trembling from the cold.

“Why are you outside?” You chuckle, feeling slightly awkward. “The place is open.” “I thought that if I was inside you wouldn’t be able to see me,” He sniffs. “And you would’ve thought I bailed on you. Which I didn’t.”

You were speechless at this point. “This makes no sense,” You say, brows raise. “I hope you know that.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that,” He laughs. “Let’s go inside and talk, yeah?”

Shaking your head, you walk in first, dropping your bag at the counter. 

“Give me five minutes,” You say, walking to the back where the stairs to your place were. “I just need to change real quick.”

Uniform discarded, and sweatshirt and jeans replacing them, you walk down, putting your hair up and making your daily mental list. 

“Okay,” You say, grabbing the coffee he got for you. “Thanks. Let’s talk after I finish the tasks? They take around thirty minutes…”

He shakes his head. “I want to help.” And that was it.

He checks the inventory while you reorganized the books. He dusted the shelves as you counted the cashier. You water the plants together, and it’s low-key adorable. Once you are done, twenty minutes later, the coffee is cold and the weather is unforgiving. There is no golden sun illuminating the store, and there is no peacefulness in the bay window. There is only rain and thunder, but Minho still insists in sitting and watching the water pour down from the skies. 

“I love rainy days,” He sighs. “They are perfect for reading.”

“I hate it,” You chuckle. “I don’t like thunders.”

“Are you scared?” He teases you, and open his arms wide. “You don’t have to be when I’m here. I can protect you.”

“Says the guy that almost pushed me to the ground today!” You gasp, laughing. You didn’t take it to heart, really; you were sure he had an explanation, but if he could tease, so could you. 

“What?” He shouts, looking actually surprised. “When?”

“After class, but it’s okay, I didn’t fall.”

“No, it’s not okay,” He says making a face. “Are you alright? I’m so sorry, it was an accident.” And you just let your head fall to the side in a sign of confusion. “But I called your name…”

“I had my music on,” He chuckles, clearly embarrassed. “As soon as the class finished I put them on. I was on a hurry to get home, change, and buy the coffee before you got home. I wanted to get here first.”

“Oh,” You say, face blushing and smile wide. “Well, this is definitely a surprise.”

“I’m also sorry about kind of ignoring you in class, I guess,” He mumbles looking to his coffee. “I just… I get a lot of shit in school. My friends and I, I mean, and I just didn’t want people to bother you too, if they saw you talking to me and all…”

“Oh my gosh, Minho,” You whine loudly, laughing right after. “That is such a cliche!”

He smiles. “I can be a cliche,” He says leaning forward, just a few centimeters from your face. “Whenever you need one.”

You squint your eyes, and quickly kiss his cheek. “I don’t know when I’ll need one,” You say watching him gasp with your bold move. “But sure.”

“I’m in love,” He says dramatically, and you squeal.

“SO CHEESY!” You shout, laughing and stomping your foot on where both of you sat. “Look, look! I have the chills, that was so bad!”

“There is so much more from where that came from,” He laughs, pulling you by the ankles, making you slide close to him. He kisses your forehead and you cannot stop laughing. “I read a lot, you know?”

“Oh my god,” You hide your face on his chest. “Stop. I need to breath.”

And that was how the afternoon went by. Minho would keep blurting out romance novels cliches and you’d laugh and run away from him, as he chased you with open arms, ready for when you decided to run to him. 

He was right, after all. Everyone needs a cliche once in a while… and he was yours. 

#skz #skz imagines #skz imagine #stray kids #stray kids imagine #stray kids imagines #kim woojin #bang chan #Lee Minho #seo changbin #hwang hyunjin #han jisung #lee felix #kim Seungmin #yang jeongin #imagine #imagines #one shot #kpop #stay

[knightofwalpvrgis]

Feeling Good About Fantastic Beasts 3 (Discussion/Rant)

I just wanted to put out a post because I’m getting a little weary about some of the negative Fantastic Beasts talk. As a fan of all things Potter, Rowling, Beasts, and Wizarding World in general, I try not to come across as the delusional fanboy whenever I can, but even with acknowledging, accepting, and sympathizing with some of the criticisms of Crimes of Grindelwald being made by critics, fans, and the general audience, I also realize that there’s a huge environment of pre-determined and melodramatic hatred that is poisoning honest discussions about the franchise, the story, and Rowling’s writing, to the extent that you can’t make a post about it on Reddit or anywhere without someone scoffing at you or calling the film “one of the most poorly received films of all time” - an honest to god quote from someone on the r/BoxOffice forum in regards to the film. People really gatekeep on here, if you try to talk about FB. It’s like you *have* to dislike and dismiss it.

First, I’d like to address the box office, and be somewhat realistic about what we can expect from the Fantastic Beasts franchise:

1) I don’t think Warner Bros, Rowling, and the creatives thought that making a five film story, starring mostly completely unknown characters, with no books to adapt it from, with no brand recognition for the Fantastic Beasts title, would be easy or as lucrative as Potter. I think this is where people are faltering in their observations of Beast’s success and maybe it’s lack thereof: it doesn’t have the literary phenomenon behind it that Potter had, that extended to the franchise name itself. They had to have known that such a film franchise had a high, almost complete chance of not performing as well, and definitely expected more erratic dips and rises in box office intake, as well as fan and critic reception. I think the fact that people were so quick to turn on the entire Fantastic Beasts franchise, not to mention Potter and Rowling as a whole, after one “misfire” (relative to the Potter franchise) indicates that we really aren’t thinking rationally here. 653 million dollars worldwide is the low end for Marvel. This is the Wizarding World’s first and only critical non-success. It even came after a hugely successful film, that was remarkably unprecedented in its success. Why? It had absolutely no recognizable characters, settings, no discernible proof of concept, and a title that had no brand associated with it, yet people, including in the US, showed up for it, beating out a Marvel film that opened just before it. It was the first film in the series to win an Oscar, it won BAFTAS. It received good reviews from critics and fans, and good enough WOM to hold really well. Why are people so down on a franchise that, despite its apparent commercial unviability, (relative to its predecessors, that is) had an opener that did extremely well in every possible way? It is still showing up in highest grossing Blu-Rays for 2019! So the success is carrying over.

2) The Crimes of Grindelwald was, all things considered, a disappointment domestically, but a moderate financial success overall. It garnered BAFTA and guild nominations. The WoM wasn’t the best, but wasn’t as disastrous as those few fans who emotionally despised the story made it out to be. The film bested the first’s global opening, and earned 494 million overseas while increasing and stagnating in most global markets, including significant increases and good performances throughout continental Europe and much of Latin America and East Asia. It’s hold in the US wasn’t good, but it didn’t “crash” as some people stated. And so far, the film is one of the best performers in 2019’s ancillary market, being in the top 5 best selling Blu-Rays and DVD’s for the year in the US, and showing much better user reviews and WOM across Amazon and HBO streaming. It’s ended up in the top 10 highest grossing films of 2018, even with films like Avengers: Infinity War taking up much of the worldwide movie-going audience’s money for the year.

I accept the need for skepticism here, and know why heavy skepticism exists among those who are comparing it to the success of Harry Potter, or even franchises like Marvel, but really guys, this franchise doesn’t need to make it to a billion dollars for a film, or be a runaway phenomenon, to be a success in its own right.

In short, the negative hot takes about the Fantastic Beasts series “probably not making it to 5 films, having to make drastic changes to the creative team, kicking out Yates and Rowling, needing to soft-reboot the story,” aren’t realistic. The collective gross of the first two films and the unexpected success of FB1, not to mention its great performance in the ancillary market, means we are sure to get the complete five films, even if they have to adjust the budget and make minor changes going forward. Rowling has a vision for the series that WB is confident in, and they won’t throw it away because of one misfire. Rowling knows the end of this story.

I don’t know why it’s happened, but the fact that everyone seems to have conveniently forgotten and ignored the track record of this franchise, and the built-in, locked down global audience of fans that it has, to the extent that it can make an unknown name like Fantastic Beasts become a success, that the Potter and Beasts films are still massive sellers years (and, for the former, nearly a decade) after the film’s release, goes to show that this franchise will always have an audience that will attend the films to keep them from losing money or outright flopping at the box office. It is just one of those franchises.

This isn’t like Star Wars, which recently had an installment fall to 300 million at the global box office and only grossed 100+ million worldwide, because it doesn’t have the global audience or consistent acclaim that Potter has. It OF COURSE isn’t like the Divergent franchise, which never performed as well as Beasts, let alone Potter. “Bad word of mouth” for one film can only go so far in damaging this series, and I believe with Fantastic Beasts 2, we’ve seen it’s bottoming out - in the US. I don’t believe the next films will fall to any notable extent below 653M WW at the box office even if they fall, bad reviews or not. The global nature of the story, as has been indicated by the box office trend of FB2, means we’ll have even more of a built in global audience for those who want to see their Wizarding community depicted.

Also, 2021 is not as active a year for huge blockbusters as was 2018 or 2019. I expect it to be able to gross more without as many films throughout the year competing for global audience’s attention and money.

FB2 was trending for a much higher opening. It only ended up being a lower opener because of the unprecedented negative reviews for a Potter film, combined with the crowd that insisted on boycotting it. But the people that saw FB2 will almost all return for 3, and general audiences will go to see it if it looks interesting. That’s it.

As far as creative criticisms go, I don’t subscribe to the notion that Rowling is necessarily a “bad screenwriter”. That certainly wasn’t what people were saying about her when FB1 came out. Many actually said the opposite: that she was a great screenwriter. And then FB2 came out, and people flipped completely on that opinion.

The real problem of FB2 is the time constraints put on a story that is too dense and long for them. Therefore, the editing in post made her story flow, develop, and breathe worse than it would have if most of those scenes were left in, and she was allowed a longer film. This problem, combined with audience’s usual distaste for films that don’t stand alone and film’s with slow drama and dark content pertaining to the death of infants, made the film really hard to love for many. But I don’t think the tone or the content itself should be policed: it’s still Rowling’s story.

I don’t agree that the film’s problems were anywhere near as crippling as many made them out to be. I don’t think the rote, cliché imputations of “plot holes”, and the gatekeep-y cries of “messing with canon” say anything about whether the film, or the story, is good or not. You should not be basing your opinions of an entire film and story on whether or not you personally agree with Queenie’s characterization, or wanted the film to be “less dark”, or because a character makes a brief appearance. Often, criticisms that are too personal don’t fall under the banner of “professional film criticism”, and I think the fact that people ignored the dynamic direction, the amazing cinematography, the strong performances, the award-winning design, and the prescient world-building and written dialogue courtesy of Rowling because they “couldn’t believe” the ending cliffhanger, is sad. And I’m not a fool: it’s very easy to see that the way a large demographic of people treated FB2 was pre-determined, dishonest, and extremely unfair and un-objective.

In any case, I think that the problems FB2 does have are being fixed with the minor adjustments needed, and the 5 film expansion of the franchise was a choice made by Rowling to be able to tell and properly develop her story with more coherency and precision: now that her story is properly set-up and developed, her plotting will become tighter and more focused. And I think positive reviews and reaction are more likely to come from that.

I think the Fantastic Beasts franchise will do fine. I want to see us as a fandom encourage Rowling to complete a story, rather than see us hope that she is forced to give up what she feels so passionately about, she tries to learn how to write in a whole different medium in order to give back to us. Don’t make Rowling take back what she said about her fans being the reason she keeps writing in this world, and think about how everyone involved in the Fantastic Beasts stories would feel, both fans and hard working creatives, if they were forced to give up on this story because of those who claimed to be fans tearing the story down.

#harry potter #fantastic beasts #fantastic beasts and where to find them #newt scamander #dumbledore #grindelwald #credence barebone #gradence #fbawtft #fbtcog

[mikaalyssa]

Now Serving : In My Blood by Bo Bech

In My Blood (2018) is the first Now Serving event I went to. Now Serving is a cookbook store in Los Angeles’s Chinatown, and you can read some great stuff about the shop and the owners here. Ken and Michelle are warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable, and Frankie is adorable. 

Confession: It took me so long to go to one of these because I just assumed you had to purchase the book being profiled in order to attend. Turns out it’s 100% free and purchases are optional (but really difficult to turn down!). 

Danish chef Bo Bech (Restaurant Paustian, Geist) was wearing a black shirt and loose black shorts. Casual, friendly, easy-going. The night was moderated by Chad Robertson (founder of Tartine). He was sporting a baseball cap and has an assortment of floral tattoos on his arms, with a couple Eight Balls sprinkled in.

Tartine has recently expanded to LA, and Bech and Roberston crafted a special brunch prix fixe for the Manufactory. This story comes with the importance of being flexible and changing what doesn’t work. An uni + croissant dish wasn’t getting the attention it deserved, so for the second seating they moved the uni to a cracker. 

It’s great listening to the restaurants and chefs that other chefs will mention. When Robertson picked Bech up from the airport, they went to Holbox for lunch. At one point during the talk, Bech makes a reference to Roy Choi’s Kogi truck. Bech called Roberton’s croissants one of the best in existence. 

Bech has a slight accent but, as with most non-Americans, his English as an additional (Second? Third? Who knows.) is near perfect. Twice he asked if a word he said was indeed a word. And those words were “dishonest” and “diary.” 

He was cheeky, too. A couple attendees left early. After the door closes behind him, he says it’d be great if they came back with a double espresso. 

Bech often goes off-topic or askew, but you forgive him because everything he says is so engaging and important. There’s something about Europeans that you don’t see in Americans (personal opinion). He holds eye contact with such intent and really speaks to whomever he is speaking to. He would often grab Robertson’s leg or shoulder when speaking to him or about it. 

This talk made me wish I had brought some sort of notebook, but taking in the moment was great as well. Some standout vignettes that I can remember, in no particular order. 

Begeistret. This word is printed on the back of the book and means something along the lines of “enthusiasm.” It was the original name for the restaurant Geist in Copenhagen. There should be an enthusiasm about food, an enthusiasm about life, and Bech hoped the restaurant would foster and impart that enthusiasm. But perhaps it would not be an easy word for all to say, so it was shortened and the restaurant gained the name “Geist.” 

It was meant to represent all the same ideas and feelings, but Bech learned later that it can mean “ghost” in other languages. But oh well. 

Publishing. The book is self-published. It’s done the way Bech wanted it done, and not done the way a publishing house would have told him to do it. The photos are done by Bech (he would not call himself a photographer but he would call photography his hobby). And the watercolors are done by studio All the Way to Paris. 

Writing a recipe. Is difficult! Because how do you explain what you have been doing naturally. The book was cut down from 200+ recipes to 100. Maybe because 100 is a nice number. Maybe because he was tired of writing recipes. 

He grabs Robertson’s leg while saying, how are you supposed to explain how something should feel when you touch it? What size pan you should use and why? What color something should be when it’s done? When all these things are natural to him at this point. 

He tried to make the recipes written as simply as possible. He didn’t want readers to get bogged down with words. 

Eat your own food. He noticed and called out that chefs don’t really take the time to eat their food. They’ll taste spoonfuls here and there, but it’s so rare they sit and consume the full dish(es) as a guest would. Bech said, smartly, that chefs should be eating their own food. Really taking the time to see how it sits with you, feels with other dishes, etc. And when he had this realization, he himself made sure to sit down and eat his own food. 

Proust Questionnaire. Bech didn’t talk about this, but while flipping through the book, one of the first elements (a section called “Safari”) is his answers to some questions, the Proust Questionnaire. It’s “said to be capable of revealing any person’s innermost thoughts.” 

It was very fitting and very unsurprising that Bech opened with something like this. That honesty and authenticity really shone throughout the talk and sets the tone for the book. 

Opening a restaurant. He described this as an act of good. If you’re opening a restaurant, you want to do something good for someone. If this isn’t what you want to do, perhaps you should not open a restaurant. 

The Bottleneck. Bech described this term as one would describe “micromanagement.” He preached the important of stepping back and trusting others to fill in, because that’s how growth and evolution happen. And sometimes you’ll find that someone does something better or in a better way than you do. Again, it was great to hear someone in his position acknowledge that. 

Don’t Be a Ghost. A little girl (I’m bad at aging children, but let’s say ten) was in the audience. At the end of the quick Q&A, he made sure to ask if she had any questions. She had none. Did she want to be a chef? She wasn’t giving verbal responses but I can assume her answer was either a “no” or a shrug because next he asked if she knew what she wanted to be. Dad pipes in to say she’s not sure yet.

Bech sits back and says, “I was a ghost until I was twenty-four.” Twenty-four was when he found a passion, his passion for food. Before his passion he was a ghost. He was collecting money so he could come home and hang out with his friends. “Don’t be a ghost.” 

Upcoming. When asked about a next project, Bech did not confirm one way or the other, but offered this dream. He wants to study what happens at the dinner table and speak on it. Conversations, how we enjoy food in company. And to photograph it as well. If that project ever comes to fruition, I would love to check it out. (Or be part of it, honestly, one can dream). 

There were so many more gems from this talk and this evening, but it’s getting late and if I don’t finish this soon I’ll get bored of it and abandon. 

I wasn’t planning on buying the book, because I’m trying to Marie Kondo my life and make intentional purchases. But his personality really sold me, and my friends saying they were sold really sold me. 

When we got to the register, it was a shocking $93.08 (the most I have ever spent on any singular book, easily), but we were at the point of no return. 

All books had been pre-signed, but Bech was at the register to personalize and chit chat. Again, really holds eye contact, really makes you feel everything he’s saying is genuine and just for you. 

When I got home and flipped through the self-published behemoth, it became clear it was so much more than a cookbook. It’s an art book. And that $90 price tag started to make more and more sense. 

I also did some internet digging, because I was curious. In My Blood cannot be found via Barnes and Noble. It’s available on Amazon but only through third party sellers, and starting at around $160. There’s a signed copy on ebay going for $190 (and that’s marked as a 33% decrease in price). 

It can, of course, be bought directly through his site. But I couldn’t begin to guess what an international shipping fee looks like. 

As always, consider buying books directly from the author or from your local independent bookstore :) 

Looking forward to many more Now Serving events (thought my wallet is going to need to chill). 

#bo bech #chad robertson #chef #now serving #bookstore #book event #book signing #cookbook #cooking #geist #tartine #2019 #los angeles #book #event

[eleanor-writes-stuff]

10/10 would buy again [Ficlet]

Rey has spent all her life living on a tight budget and scavenging for the best deals around. Now in college, she's developed a tiny bit of a reputation for her reliable product reviews - and they get even better when hints of her personal life start popping up.

A relationship chronicled in Amazon reviews.

Also available on AO3.

KNEE-LENGTH EMERALD GREEN SLEEVELESS TEA DRESS Bargain_Scavenger

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆   Perfect summer dress June 19, 2016

I spent a good two hours searching for a decent summer dress before landing on this steal. It arrived in time for a first date at a summer festival, and held up just fine throughout an entire evening of fair activities.

Definitely consult the size chart to get a perfect fit! Re: length, I’m 5’7’’ and it falls just below my knees. The material is listed as polyester, but it feels nice and silky and didn’t wrinkle much even after two hours on a picnic blanket. All in all, a great dress at an amazing price.

Bonus: even my date loved it. We’ve known each other for two years now, and this was the first time I’ve ever seen him speechless!

INTERMEDIATE AND ABOVE 33-PIECE CALLIGRAPHY SET Bargain_Scavenger

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆   A diamond in the rough December 27, 2016

I bought this as a Christmas present for my boyfriend, who’s been practicing calligraphy for about a decade now. I had to rely entirely on reviews and my gut since I couldn’t consult him, but I’m so glad I picked this over the dozens of similar-looking sets! My boyfriend loves it as well, and he’s already putting it to good use – I woke up this morning to a beautiful note on my nightstand.

If you’re looking for a professional set at an affordable price, this is the item for you!

PEACHES AND CREAM FRONT-CLASP LACE BRALETTE AND PANTY SET Bargain_Scavenger

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆   Bye, Victoria’s Secret October 21, 2017

Half the price and double the quality! I wanted something special enough for a birthday surprise but comfortable enough to wear to dinner with his parents beforehand. I was worried that this might be more bra than bralette thanks to the front clasp, but it’s not uncomfortable at all! All the comfort of a bralette without the awkwardness of getting all tangled up in it when you’re in a rush to get undressed ; )

The lace is slightly stretchy so if you’re between sizes, I would advise sizing down rather than up. No loose threads or change in shape after the first wash, and it looks like this will hold up for a while. I’ll definitely be buying from this seller again!

NAVY BLUE THREE-SEATER MID-CENTURY MODERN SOFA Bargain_Scavenger

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆   Suspiciously great value for money July 6, 2018

My boyfriend and I recently moved into our first Real Adult Apartment, which we had to furnish on our tiny fresh-out-of-college salaries. We’re happy with nearly all of the pieces we purchased, but this is our favorite by far. It’s long enough for him to stretch out on (for reference, he’s 6’2’’) and wide enough to accommodate cuddling. We’ve also dozed off during a few movie nights, and woken up with no complaints in the morning.

If this is the kind of sofa you’ve been wanting, go ahead and add it to your cart! I know it seems too good to be true, but trust me on this one.

12-PIECE CRYSTAL CUT STEMWARE SET Bargain_Scavenger

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆   Ballin’ on a budget November 23, 2019

My fiancé and I are hosting our first proper Thanksgiving next week, and we decided it would be best not to serve drinks using the mismatched assortment of glasses we’ve collected over the years. He was actually the one who found this set (I’ve started teaching him the ways of bargain-hunting) and is very pleased with it, which is probably saying something coming from someone who grew up in a household with heirloom crystal glasses.

Here’s hoping his mom will be just as impressed!

FLUTTER-SLEEVE V-NECK FLOOR-LENGTH WEDDING DRESS Bargain_Scavenger

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆   David’s Bridal could never June 13, 2020

After a lifetime of bargain hunting, I knew I was definitely not buying an overpriced off-the-rack dress for my wedding. Still, I’d heard enough horror stories to know that wedding dress hunting on Amazon is a challenge even for the most seasoned of internet shoppers. It took me eight months and two returns (if there’s ever a time to be careful with return policies when purchasing, this would be it!), but I’m writing to let you all know that it’s definitely possible to find the perfect wedding dress on Amazon.

Consult the chart very, very carefully – if you can get measured by a professional, that would be great – and be prepared to take the dress to a reliable tailor for small alterations. I used professional measurements and still ended up going in for three fittings. To be fair, the dress was perfect by the second fitting - an unexpected surprise necessitated the third.

All in all, this is a beautiful, unique dress at an unbeatable price – and trust me, no one will be able to tell that you bought it off the internet unless you choose to let them know (if that’s the kind of thing you worry about).

I can’t wait to see my fiancé’s face when I walk down the aisle next week!

IMPORTANT: the note Ben writes for Rey using his new calligraphy set says 'I love you' - and yes, dear reader, that is in fact how Ben Solo chooses to tell his girlfriend he loves her for the very first time.

ALSO IMPORTANT: Rey is four months pregnant when she and Ben get married on their fourth anniversary.

Okay, now that we've gotten those very important details out of the way...

I have no idea what this is, or how I managed to keep it this short. Is this the shortest fic I've ever written and will ever write? Quite possibly! Is it also one of the oddest ones yet? You bet! But I hope you enjoyed it all the same, and thank you for giving this a chance. I'm not at 100% - haven't been in a while, really - so thank you for bearing with me while I try to get out of this rut and get back to normal.

As always: if you enjoyed this, please don’t hesitate to like/reblog/comment!

#reylo #reylo fic #reylo au #rey/kylo ren #rey/ben solo #reyben #star wars #modern au #rey #ben solo #kylo ren #ficlet: would buy again #my fics #fic archive

[acehotel]

Interview: Michael Arceneaux

Michael Arceneaux is a writer who contains multitudes. A gifted essayist whose work navigates religion, intimacy, doubt, fear and self-actualization, he makes the tightrope walk between levity and vulnerability look easy. His debut essay collection I Can’t Date Jesus landed him on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and his essays — which have been published in Essence, Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The New York Times and more — breathe a renewed sense of possibility in prose, dressed by his signature wit and flair. 

In the latest installment Dear Reader, Tin House invited Michael to spend a night at Ace Hotel New York and, while there, pen a letter to an imagined audience. The contents of his letter have been kept secret until today, revealing themselves to the light in each room of the hotel. 

If you could correspond with any fictional character or literary figure via letters, who would it be? And why?

Michael Arceneaux: I would love to write back and forth with Zora Neale Hurston. I tend to read mainly nonfiction, which I know is like "whew chile, the ghetto" to a lot of the more refined writers and what not, but I am a fan of hers, especially a lot of her short fiction as I do enjoy a lot of short story collections. I have always appreciated her use of Black dialect 'cause I'm country. Also, I think the way she used it made for a much better understanding of her characters. The obvious character would be Janie in Their Eyes Were Watching God, but it's true of much of her fiction.

However, I know that some were critical of that at the time (along with other matters related to her work), so while I know this may make me sound like the Andy Cohen or Nina Parker of The Real Housewives of The Harlem Renaissance: Reunion, but if I could write, "Sis, Richard Wright needs to have a sip and shut up about this book," I'd be totally into it. I apologize to the ancestors and living elders in advance if I'm already offending y'all. But seriously, I do value her work and I hated that she died poor. It's honestly been one of my fears in trying to have a career as a writer that I would die poor and only be truly appreciated until long after I was gone.

Do you map out your writing, or do you discover your path as you go? How often does your work go in directions you never expected?

As a working writer, particularly one who writes heavily for various outlets across Al Gore's internet, a lot of my writing assignments are time sensitive so generally I have an idea of what I want to say when I pitch or am pitched to. When it comes to my book writing, I have a general outline, too, because one, you already sold your book on proposal so the template is already there, and two, I've just become wired that way after having done largely digital media work for nearly a decade. I apologize to fans of spontaneity and the rush of unforeseen creative inspirations that transforms prose. However, there were instances on I Can't Date Jesus in which two chapters ended up a lot differently than I anticipated. One chapter in particular about my father wasn't trashed per se, but had to be changed after I had a talk with my sister. In learning more about my dad's relationship with my uncle before he died, I didn't have to put aside my feelings and experiences, but she added so much more context. So I had to sit with it. I mean really sit with it; not to just react to new intel, but table it, process it, and then go back and pour myself out all over again. It made everything for the better.

I have more recently been making much better use of the Notes app. I like to hand write a lot of things, but I've come to realize doing it on the phone is better for me because I can jot down some idea, and while traveling—particularly on that awful MTA in NY — I build little by little on it. A lot of my second book ideas came out from toying with the Notes app and handwriting an outline while eating brunch solo and casually talking to a beautiful bartender that isn't into men, but what the hell, he's still cute so I'm going to chat anyway.  

Dear Reader tasks you with writing for an imagined audience of strangers. How much do you think about your audience when you write? Have you ever been surprised by who is drawn to your work?

My main intentions with my work are to make people laugh and to make people think. I try not to think too heavily about anything else because it can become distracting. Like, I'm aware and conscious of the things I say and how I say them, but I try not to overthink because if I do, God, it's just going to take me so much longer to get anything done. I want everyone to read me so I do the best I can and hope it reaches as many as possible.

I still think of myself as a bit under the radar (to the boos and hisses of select friends and colleagues), so I am always pleasantly surprised when anyone reads my work, but I am actually never surprised at having a diverse readership. One of my very good friends and former editors once told me "You write for Black people." What he meant was I don't focus on the white gaze nor do I concern myself with worries that if I sound too uh, colloquial, that I will alienate non-Black readers. I Can't Date Jesus is a book I wish I had growing up as a working class, southern Black gay boy. I wrote it from that perspective and knew people like me would be the first to gravitate towards it. I'm so proud of that, but there are also a lot of white people in their 70s reading it. I know because they email me all the time. Others — namely in publishing — felt I would be "niche," but I write about religion, intimacy, doubt, fear and learning to love myself and enjoy pleasure. Those are universal themes, so while I may be not surprised the book is connecting with a wide readership, I'm glad they are surprising the people in publishing who often fail to give non-white writers the benefit of the doubt.

What's a book that you wish more people knew about?

Bitch Is The New Black by Helena Andrews. She is probably tired of me saying this, but I adore her as a writer, I love her book, I love her voice, and I think she was, in hindsight, somewhat ahead of her time because she definitely paved the way for a new generation of Black memoirists and deserves her flowers. This is also just another good way to publicly push and get more books out of her. If I can get a bonus, Bulletproof Diva by Lisa Jones.

Do you have any rituals, ceremonies or requirements that accompany your writing process?

I shoot up at 6:00 a.m. pretending that I'm going to immediately get to writing, but in reality, I'm just going to turn on Morning Joe because my body literally now wakes up to its schedule. How long I watch depends on how quickly someone on the panel says something that annoys me so then I go freshen up. Next up: my morning jig, a thing I do every morning in which I dance to some song in order to have a little joy before someone tries to ruin it. Eventually, I decide to write a little on my phone because I'm not ready to sit at that desk yet. I'll have some caffeine — ideally something I already have in the fridge or I'll convince myself that paying $5 for an oak milk latte will really get me going when I know this is just me wasting time and I have private student loans — meaning I shouldn't be in that coffee shop anyway. Obviously, hours have passed and then I finally settle down to write after Wendy Williams finishes “Hot Topics,” of course.

I don't really get to writing until I end up using the Freedom app to block me from the internet so I can spend hours writing. I don't recommend this, but in my defense, my discipline has waned because I have yet to take that vacation that's probably seven years overdue now.

Dear Reader is a collaboration of Tin House and Ace Hotel New York.

#dear reader #tin house #michael arceneaux #ace hotel new york #ace hotel #ace hotel nyc #new york #writing #i can't date jesus #interview #yes

[littlemisssquiggles]

Pinehead Headcanons: Oscar the Dreamer.

What if...Oscar's been dreaming about events in RWBY due to a premature connection with Ozpin established since the day he was born.

I have this little headcanon where Oscar is secretly a writer who loves to tell stories and keeps collections of short stories he’s written over the years in private journals he normally keeps to himself. I picture Oscar being the kind of closet storyteller who's not only very shy when it comes to sharing his work with others but because he moved to Mistral to live with his aunt, he's lacked the motivation to write given the drastic changes made to his life in recent times (such as the possible loss of his parents).

But here's the twist about Oscar being a writer. What if...prior to the story, Oscar was the kind of kid who would write about events and characters he saw in his dreams. Because that's another thing Oscar was known for back in his old neighbourhood. He was the kid who would always have these weird bizarre dreams about places and people he's never seen or met before. So much so that he developed a knack for talking about them a lot; mostly to his folks.

I peg Oscar to be the type to have come from a home with loving parents who meant the world to him. I really dig the concept of Oscar being a writer and keeping journals of dreams. Like as a kid because of his frequently-occurring ‘dreams’ his folks would encourage him to keep a journal to chronicle all his imaginings.

Imagine... Oscar owning a collection of large hard-cover journals as thick as text books. Perhaps Oscar’s mom was a book-binder of some kind in his previous home so paper and books were never a shortage for Oscar. Imagine Oscar having a large journal for every chapter of his life from toddler to teenager, each containing archives of his dreams as well as any other aspect of his life Oscar wanted to record. And to make it fun for him, what if… since his folks would often be entertained by his dreams as stories, Oscar wrote his dreams as self-insert short stories from his perspective.

I’m just having a good laugh, picturing a younger brighter-eyed Oscar seated around a small dinner table with his momma and papa; giving them a hearty rendition of his recent dream for their amusement and one of his parents---usually his father, would then encourage him to become a writer when he grows up or some similar profession; turning his dreams into a best seller due to Oscar’s love of books and his passion for telling stories about his dreams.

I really hope my hunch about Oscar having a passion for books and writing is true. Especially if it ties into another hunch I have about his aunt---Auntie Pine also being a retired authoress and/or at least an avid collector of books from all over Remnant.

But here’s the twist to the twist. What if...the dreams Oscar’s been having were actually memories; past and present that he was actually seeing through the eyes of Professor Ozpin?

What if...Oscar has been bonded to Ozpin since the day he was born?

I imagined that the reason why Oscar’s parents named him ‘Oscar’ was in reference to the colour gold since he was their golden boy---their miracle child.

Like suppose…the Pine Family almost lost Oscar when Mama Pine suffered complications during childbirth and because their village doctors lacked the resources, she ran the risk of losing her baby. However, similar to Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Ozpin unknowingly reached out and connected to this dying small soul in his dreams and offered part of himself to bring him back, giving life to the Pine’s newborn son---Oscar.  

Y’know how with Cinder, she took half of the previous Fall Maiden’s power and once Amber was killed, the other half sought out its counterpart and went directly to Cinder. So imagine Ozpin giving half of himself to resurrect the soul of a young boy, now being born into the world. But it all happens in a dream-like state that Ozpin isn’t fully aware of himself. After all, we’re not sure how Ozpin’s reincarnation cycle works including the circumstances under which he chooses his next successors. A lot about that is still left up for debate. But my theory is that Ozpin ending up with Oscar is no mere coincidence. I think Oscar has been bonded to Ozpin since birth and the old wizard passing and winding up in his mind was not their first encounter.

So my guess is that Oscar was born into Remnant with his soul tie to Ozpin already intact so that when Ozpin officially died, the remaining part of him went immediately to Oscar.

The funny thing is, neither Oscar nor Ozpin knew each other. Oz knew he once dreamt about generously giving part of himself to save a young child but he never knew the child’s name. Same for Oscar, Oscar never knew that long ago, he owes his life to Ozpin since he practically saved him. But this is just a presumption. It’s probably too farfetched to be canon anyways but I digress.

So growing up Oscar would have these weird dreams from time to time and he would always keep a record of them in his journals; writing vivid depictions of said dreams. But they weren’t dreams. Imagine how cool it would be if Oscar used to dream about events that happened during the Beacon Trilogy. 

Like he dreamt about Ozpin's office back in Vale. He dreamt about Ironwood and Glynda, the faces of two people he never met. He probably even dreamt about past memories that Oz had involvng Salem, the Relics, perhaps even the Silver Eyes---he dreamt them all in such vivid detail that he was able to replicate them in words on paper.  

I really love the idea of Oscar dreaming of these events from since he was a kid but because he's a kid and because he believed his dreams to be dreams, he came up with fun creative names for them such as:

The Emerald Tower of Time (Ozpin's Office at Beacon Academy) The Great Battle of the Emerald Tower (The Battle of Beacon)

The Duel with the Dragon Lady (Ozpin vs. Cinder Fall) The White Hood (Summer Rose)

The Shadow Empress (Salem) The Death of the Scarlet Gladiator (Cinder vs. Pyrhha)

What if...Oscar developed some kind of of premonition abilities where thanks to Ozpin, he can see events of the past (Ozpin's past) but also glimpse the future of people connected directly to Ozpin (like the Maidens, Salem and essentially even Summer Rose).

What if...Oscar dreamt about Summer's death but to him, it's just another dream. Another entry for his dream journal. Another crazy story to tell his parents. Imagine Oscar viewing these events but he doesn't see faces just vague silhouttes and uses his imagination to fill in the blanks.

When Oscar would tell his parents about his bizarre dreams, the two would jubilantly laugh it off as their son having a vivid yet wild imagination. But unbeknownst to them and their son, the things in Oscar's dreams were real and existed in the real world oblivious to their knowledge.

I really like the idea of Oscar dreaming of Ozpin's past memories while getting visions of events through Ozpin's eyes, feeling like he was there as it was happening because in the dreams, he is Ozpin (ironically). 

We already got a glimpse of this being canon in V4 C1 when Oscar suddenly woke up from possibly dreaming about Salem's meeting with WTCH. 

Not to mention, in V4 C7, Oscar was able to describe Leonardo's office in Mistral in great detail. So who's to say, Oscar wasn't having dreams like that before but just perceived them as dreams.

Imagine the team are socializing with Oscar and during their interactions, the young former farm boy tells his teammates of his old journals filled with the dreams from his childhood. However in reading some of the stories, the group recognize something oddly familiar about some of the depictions in Oscar’s dreams.

Like perhaps in the journals, there are code words that match up with events that took place during the Beacon Days.

Like for example, in his dream journal Oscar wrote about a dream he had about an Emerald Tower of Time; which we know to be Ozpin’s former head office at Beacon. Imagine Oscar's journal revealing what the relics are: A Lantern of Wisdom, a Sword of Destruction, the Wand of Life and the Crowning Key to Light and Darkness or something like that.

I really dig the concept of Oscar enjoying writing as a hobby while possessing journals that held secrets to Ozpin's memories that Oscar has unknowingly been dreaming about from since he was a little boy which contain secrets to everything in Ozpin’s past.

If Oz is temporarily taken out of the story for V6 to give our precious farm boy more opportunities for development then that leaves Oscar as the primary source of the old soul’s memories and archive of wisdom. And what would make things even more compelling is if Oscar is having difficulty tapping into Ozpin’s memories without his presence to guide him through the ordeal. But, fortunately, there is another source of Ozpin’s memories provided by Oscar himself.

I don’t think V4 dropping that hint about Oscar being able to describe things from Ozpin’s memories was a coincidence. It was a small taste of something to come; possibly for the next arc. There will come a period where this ability of Oscar’s will come in quite handy for the group especially in the event of Ozpin’s absence. I still stand by my hunch that V5 foreshadowed Ozpin being scarce for V6.

Overall, as I’ll repeat again, I really love this idea now of Oscar being a writer and owning journals that contained dreams he had that were secretly Ozpin’s memories of the past, present and perhaps even future. Who knows? I'd love it to be canon now just to give the kid more personality, y’know what I mean? I really hope we get to see more of Oscar’s character fleshed out for V6 going into the Atlas Arc.

As a matter of fact, can I just get more of Oscar in general. As I’ve said before, he’s my favourite right now and it’s disappointing that his character is still pretty much a blank slate even after two whole volumes.

Hopefully V6 will be the Season of Oscar that us devoted Pineheads are secretly praying for. Fingers crossed ya’ll.

~LittleMissSquiggles (2018)

#rwby #rwby theories #oscar pine #professor ozpin #oscar and ozpin #pinehead headcanons #squiggles pinehead headcanons

[simonalkenmayer]

So the physical book you published, is it just one of the three you already published online as a physical book or is it an entirely new fourth book?

I published two books and a collection of interactive short stories on the Tapas App.

Now those are coming out in ebook and print form. The books are both out in ebook and print. The short stories are coming out in ebook format on a monthly basis. They will be out in print as soon as I can finish this bloody short that has turned into a novel, because I’m terrible at shutting up, apparently, which is amusing to me given how long I’ve spent collectively in my existence, not saying anything.

I’ve digressed...

Yes, so the shorts will be out some time next year in a volume, likely only the first, if I continue to write shorts.

During this month, the first book is going to be split up into its four original parts and re-debuted in ebook form. Why? Because it’s a long damn book that was never meant to be one, and I thought it might be better to offer the stupid thing cut into pieces than as a solid massive file of text.

I’m simply trying to make the information easier for you to obtain, in any way or means you wish to obtain it. This is an experiment, after all. I have never profited from it in any monetary sense and likely never shall, because I don’t fancy myself the sort of talent that spreads in such a way...

It could also be that I spend a lot of time telling people that they’ve been idiots and refusing to offer them any romantic (in the poetic sense) involvement with me or my history. There’s no teenage girl about to become my bride, no nefarious magical mayhem to escape. There’s no plot of any kind, because I’m a living being and lives don’t have plots. It’s boring and counter to all the sorts of “fiction” humans consume. So I don’t expect it to ever become a best seller.

I’ve rambled again.

Apologies.