#but truly nikki a masterpiece

[windswept-fields]

My favorites of 2023

I wanted to make little wrap up of 2023, so here are my favorite movies and performances from 2023

Top Five Favorite movies

#5 The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snake - dir. Francis Lawrence

I am a YA/dystopian boy through and through. I thought this was a very faithful adaptation and very visually stunning. The performances were all great and I just really liked it. However, I had my problems with the book itself and I felt the movie didn't do a great job truly villainizing Snow (I found him too likable until like the end of the film) All in all though a fun watch.

#4 Saltburn- Dir. Emerald Fennell

If there's one thing I'm gonna do on this account, It's support a boy's wrongs. This movie has so many visual details and story details, it truly blows my mind. The soundtrack? Banger after banger. I'd never heard Murder on The Dance Floor before this movie but now I want to dance around a mansion to it. The cast? I mean just look at them. I do think occasionally this movie occasionally felt like it was just being shocking for shocking's sake and I got a little tired of it.

#3 Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse- Dir. Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, and Joaquim Dos Santos

I love art. There's no other way to say it. I am in love with creativity. The amount of details that are in this movie are so utterly mind blowing that every time I read about a new one, I feel like I have to rewatch this movie. The first Spider-verse film is an absolute masterpiece and this movie was not about to disappoint it. From the voice performances to the bleeding-water color, to animating on every other frame, this movie just had me floored. I hope it wins an Oscar for best animated feature or I'm throwing shit. I do want the second part before I fully judge the story but so far I think this is one of the best superhero stories in a while

#2 Barbie- Dir Greta Gerwig

I have never cried harder to a Nikki Minaj song. But actually, this movie made me fall in love with the simple act of being alive. It's a movie about a doll and yet its about enjoying life and growing up and how everything's so messy and it's so beautiful and we're so beautiful and I just. I get it. I get why Barbie wanted to be a human. We are all so fascinating. The ending montage alone is enough to make anyone with a heart cry. I hope that one day everyone is as in love with the world around them as this movie made me.

#1 Asteroid City- Dir. Wes Anderson

If you don't know the I'm Wes Anderson's number 1 fan, I'm doing something wrong. Truth be told, I didn't get this movie at first. I left the theater knowing that there was some deeper meaning but...what? So I thought about it for two weeks and then it hit me. There is no clear answer. There's no clear answer because the actors can't find a clear answer. There's no clear answer because the in-universe playwright didn't write one and maybe Anderson himself didn't write one. The movie has clear themes of grief and love and identity but at the end of the day what you choose to make of it is all up to you. There's also a lot to be said about how the play is existential and about uncertainty in the future and I think that's another reason I liked Asteroid City. I'm always so worried about the future. It terrifies me. But what can I do. And with that I once again realized that Wes Anderson was truly genius, and I don't think I'll ever see a film quite like Asteroid City again.

Favorite performances from each film

#5 Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird

I never got the hatred for Rachel Zegler. She was absolutely phenomenal in the 2021 West Side Story and she ate up Lucy Gray Baird. I just felt through the screen that Rachel understood her role so well. She played Lucy to all her vulnerability and strength and goddamn I am in love with her voice!! The old therebefore gave me absolute chills.

#4 Allison Oliver as Venetia Catton

being complete honest she's who I wanted to be in like middle school. Allison Oliver managed to play her as both such a free spirit and then to haunted on such the drop of the dime. From her subtle emotions to her snapping at Oliver in the bathtub she had me eating out of the palm of her hand. She would've loved Tumblr.

#3 Shameik Moore as Miles Morales

He had me laughing, crying, cheering and getting goosebumps the whole time. The absolute power Shameik Moore gives Miles is truly what tie the whole movie together. I feel like his performance often gets overshadowed for some of the bigger names in the cast and I truly find that shame. He gives Miles such a powerful and realistic portrayal that I admire it so deeply. From "Nah, I'mma do my own thing." to his conversations with Gwen to arguments with his parents, Shameik Moore makes Miles feel like a teenager who's trying to figure out who he is and a superhero saving a multiverse from collapsing

#2 Margot Robbie as Barbie

I'm fucking sick of only hearing Ryan Goslings name mentioned when we talk about the BARBIE movie! It is Margot's movie!! SHE ATE THAT SHIT UP!! She managed to so subtly bring in the changes of barbie being only a doll to being a real person. She provides so much of the movies comedy too. Her laying down crying had me wheezing not gonna lie. But she also shows us that how strong Barbie is and how she's so multi-faceted.She is truly someone little girls should see and be inspired by. Margot truly brought Barbie to life in all the ways that the audience and the script needed. She had me laughing, crying and smiling so goddamn wide the whole film. Here's to you, Margot.

#1 Jason Schwartzman as Augie Steenback/Jones Hall

It was the year of Schwartzman and nowhere was the proved more than in Asteroid City. Here we see, Jason Schwartzman playing and actor playing a single dad war photographer. Schwartzman manages to play all these layers so well, letting them blend together through on intense common factor: grief. Jones' grief bleeds into Augie in such a fascinating way that you might not even realize at first. It's so subtle and yet, it complete makes the performance. When we see Jones on his own a few times, though Jason Schwartzman manages to make him feel like a completely different man than Augie. The entire scene from Jones walking offstage to us being returned to 'Asteroid City' is truly some of my favorite acting of the year. Even through subtle expressions, we can truly see everything that Jones is experiencing. It's just such a sight to watch and it blows me away.

Some honorable film and performance mentions

Oppenheimer- Dir Christopher Nolan. Good film but a little too long if you ask me. Sorry!

Fav performance- Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer. She might not have been in a lot of the film but she stuck with me

Renfeild- Dir Chris McKay. Sorry I like fun camp! sue me!

Fav performance- Nic Cage as Dracula. I'm sorry Nic Cage is just so goddamn funny

Poison- Dir. Wes Anderson. Maybe the real snake was the Benedict Cumberbatch we met along the way.

Fav performance- Dev Patel as Woods. Wes please cast Dev Patel in a longer on of your films he ate this up.

Five Nights at Freddy's- Dir. Emma Tammi. I wanted to like it more but it felt like 3 different films until the last 20 minuets

fav performance- Matthew Lilard as William Afton. I want Stu Macher back after this.

The Swan- Dir. Wes Anderson. (Last time I mention Wes in this post I swear.) Hey Wesley! Quick question! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?? Thank youuuu!

Fav performance- Rupert Friend as Narrator/Peter Watson. Yeah he was the only guy speaking and he carried! The one moment where he breaks the stoic delivery and truly pleads for them to not kill the swan? Wow.

Gaurdians of The Galaxy Vol 3- Dir James Gunn. I have never cried over cgi this hard in my life!

Bradley Cooper as Rocket. Just hearing him scream sob almost had me open mouth sobbing in public.

Scream 6- Dir. Matt Bettinelli-olpin, Tyler Gillet. Starting to get real pissed at radiosilence.

fav performance- Jasmin Savoy-Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin. She's so funny, I love her.

If y'all want I also have a favorite tv shows of 2023 post

#shut up pretty boy #the balad of songbirds and snakes #saltburn #across the spiderverse #barbie #asteroid city #rachel zegler #allison oliver #shameik moore #jason schwartzman #lucy gray baird #venetia catton #miles morales #margot robbie #augie steenbeck #jones hall #oppenheimer #scream vi #fnaf #gotg vol 3 #renfield 2023

[platinumaspiration]

Hi Nikki, thank you again for the amazing set of defaults - they're truly a CC masterpiece. I wanted to let you know I found a tiny error with mhatfedoraband_red - it looks like it is missing the non-hat hair for CM red. Obviously not a big deal but figured I'd give you a heads up! Thank you again for the ton of work you put into this! 💚

Ooo, sneaky little devil it is! I blame the hair binner as it put the red hatless instance for TM and CM as 2. Couldn't have been me...😅

You can find the hot fix here or here

The main files at LC and MF have been updated as well (not that you need it for this hot fix)

Thank you for the report, atomtanned! And thank you for the reblog earlier as well 🤗

#updates #another fuggin update #chrimedy enough with the updates

[userofwords]

august, personified

There is no greater feeling in the world than

opening your eyes to see your love peaceful beside you.

Morning shines through the window above her bed, 

where I sit up and watch her with awe stricken eyes as she lays there, 

trusting, bare, vulnerable, beautiful,

like a muse posing for her painter, a masterpiece waiting to be realized,

and sometimes I wish I could pick up a brush and fill a canvas the size of a mammoth

with strokes of stawberry blonde for her hair and bright prismarine for her eyes

and hold it up in the city center for everyone to worship because

I have truly never seen somebody so beautiful in my life and I need others to know that

she is mine.

Instead to heal my heartache I write laughable poetry with the rawness of paper, ink and quill 

in attempts to share my visions and emotions through words but

the words to describe the hurricane that swells in my brain at the mere thought of her

simply don't exist.

Instead I tell people how she is like August, her warmth like the sun, 

her love so fleeting like the summer month that escapes my arms

as soon as I am finally able to embrace it 

and I become an ascetic while I wait eternities in my frigid sorrow for her return.

I long for her arms to be the blankets that protect me in my slumber every night and

for her smile to be my "good morning, honey," every day,

but for now I sleep a 17-minute drive away as a licenseless citizen

torn from the tenderness I’m starved of

and meet her a paltry once a week just to make sure

we don't perish of yearning hearts.

So on days when I am with her

and text my mother good morning at nine but

don’t eat my breakfast until twelve, it isn’t because

we stayed up past midnight dancing to Darling Nikki and Dirty Diana,

but because I relish in dawn shining into her bedroom and the touch of her skin on mine

and let the gentle trace of her fingertips on my back and

the soft kiss of her lips on my cheek linger so I can

continue to feel her presence when I am back at my house.

There, I feel the greatest loss in the world

unable to wake up to see my love peaceful beside me.

#help #poem #poetry #love poem #sapphic #sapphic poetry #i miss her #this is a cry for help #unedited #shitty poetry #love poetry #wlw #wlw poem

[ibizamarinecharter]

Experience Luxury On The Waters Of Ibiza: Renting The Sunseeker Camargue 50 For Rent In Ibiza

Ibiza, known for its vibrant nightlife and breathtaking beaches, is a dream destination for travelers seeking both relaxation and excitement. While the island offers a multitude of ways to enjoy its natural beauty and nightlife, a unique and luxurious experience awaits those who choose to explore Ibiza's crystal-clear waters aboard the Sunseeker Camargue 50. 

In this blog, we'll take a closer look at what makes Renting the Sunseeker Camargue 50 for Rent Ibiza an unforgettable experience.

Introducing the Sunseeker Camargue 50

The Sunseeker Camargue 50 is a masterpiece of modern yacht design, known for its sleek lines, luxurious amenities, and exceptional performance. This motor yacht combines comfort, style, and power to offer an unparalleled experience on the waters of Ibiza.

Luxury and Comfort

Step on board the Sunseeker Camargue 50, and you'll instantly be greeted by an ambiance of luxury and comfort. The yacht's spacious and elegantly appointed interior provides the perfect retreat from the sun and sea. The main salon features plush seating, a well-equipped galley, and a dining area, making it an ideal space for socializing and relaxation.

The yacht's three beautifully designed cabins offer comfortable accommodations for up to six guests, making it suitable for couples, families, or a group of friends. Each cabin is thoughtfully furnished and equipped with en-suite bathrooms, ensuring privacy and convenience.

Alfresco Living

While the interior of the Sunseeker Camargue 50 exudes luxury, it's the outdoor areas that truly capture the essence of Ibiza living. The spacious deck areas provide ample room for sunbathing, alfresco dining, and enjoying the island's stunning views. The aft deck features a large sunbed, perfect for soaking up the Mediterranean sun, while the foredeck offers additional seating and a sunpad.

The yacht's flybridge is a standout feature, providing panoramic views of the sea and coastline. It's an ideal spot for sunset cocktails or simply taking in the beauty of Ibiza from a unique vantage point.

Seamless Performance

The Sunseeker Camargue 50 isn't just about luxury and style; it's also a high-performance yacht designed for cruising the open waters with ease. With powerful twin engines, the yacht can reach impressive speeds, allowing you to explore the various coves, beaches, and hidden gems around Ibiza effortlessly.

For those seeking adventure, the Sunseeker Camargue 50 comes equipped with a range of water toys, including snorkeling gear and a tender. This means you can dive into the crystal-clear waters, explore hidden caves, and enjoy water sports right from the yacht.

Professional Crew

To make your experience even more enjoyable and stress-free, many Sunseeker Camargue 50 for Rent Ibiza come with a professional crew. The captain and crew members are not only experienced in navigating the local waters but also skilled in providing top-notch service and ensuring your safety and comfort throughout your journey.

They can recommend the best anchorages, secluded beaches, and must-visit spots around the island, helping you make the most of your time in Ibiza. Plus, they'll take care of all the details, leaving you free to relax and savor the moment.

The Ibiza Experience

Renting the Sunseeker Camargue 50 for Rent Ibiza opens up a world of possibilities. You can explore the island's renowned beach clubs, such as Blue Marlin or Nikki Beach, arriving in style and making a grand entrance. Alternatively, you can anchor in secluded coves for a private and tranquil day at sea.

As the sun sets, you can cruise along Ibiza's coastline, taking in the vibrant nightlife from a unique perspective. Ibiza's famous beach parties and clubs are just a short yacht ride away, allowing you to dance the night away before returning to the comfort of your luxurious yacht.

Conclusion

Sunseeker Camargue 50 for Rent Ibiza is more than just a vacation; it's an unforgettable experience of luxury, adventure, and relaxation. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, exploring the island's natural beauty, or immersing yourself in its vibrant nightlife, this exceptional yacht offers the perfect platform for an unforgettable Ibiza adventure. 

So, set sail and make memories that will last a lifetime on the beautiful waters of Ibiza aboard the Sunseeker Camargue 50.

#Sunseeker Camargue 50 for Rent Ibiza

[queenelleee]

Your rb tags 🥺 I just feel so grateful and humbled that you've taken so much time to give me such a lovely gift - thank you elle! It's truly uncanny how you've been able to see the details and undercurrents in the story, the reader is indeed sad when everyone else is happy, but she's getting better in hyogo, learning to live and fall in love and argh im rambling but anw.

Ty for reading my fic elle meimei.

Thank you Ate Nikki >.< you flatter me so much (even when I can be wrong with my interpretations). I enjoy giving my thoughts to your story because I sense the layers you put in a character/situation/concept. At the same time, I enjoy knowing your thoughts about the chapter/story and comparing them to mine so that I'd have an idea of what I missed or failed to interpret hehe.

And yeeeaaahhhh, I can see that she's finally stepping into the light. You cannot imagine how my face crumbles when the reader recognized Kaiyo and Ichika as their "friends". My heart felt so warm when I read them teasing each other coz it's something the reader didn't experienced when they were young.

I've been so lucky to have read your fics. They are all beautifully written masterpieces. And if ever you decided to write a book one day and publish it, please tell me your 'author's name' and I won't hesitate to grab a copy of your book hehe.

#answered asks #mutuals <333 #Ate Nikki<33

[lyalii]

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Nats a simp for Gracie

And Gracie is a simp for Nat too

thank you Nikki that was beautiful. I'll read it to gracie on the night of our marriage when we elope from the brothel and live happily ever after in a humble homestead on the prairie.

#i have a whole story about me and gracie after the brothel #like in my head #i should tell yall sometimes #but truly nikki a masterpiece #i love poetry #young love is heady and intoxicating

[refinedbuffoonery]

Flawless (7)

Con Artist AU. masterlist. 

Content Warning: swearing, PTSD, violence, sex

Before we get started here, you all need to know that Flawless will be going on a mini-hiatus. This chapter is the end of my original outline, and I need to spend some time planning out the next plot arc before I write the next chapter. 

(Also, shoutout to the lovely humans who translated the line in French. Y’all are the real MVPs.)

Anyway, this is it. The chapter you’ve all been waiting for. The heist. It feels so surreal to finally write it. As always, thank you for coming on this wild ride with me. ❤

*****

In the shadow of its brightly illuminated landmarks, Paris hummed to the tune of debauchery. 

Paparazzi gathered around the Louvre’s glass pyramid, waiting to capture a clear picture of a celebrity guest entering the afterparty. Riley shielded her face with her clutch as she walked in, careful to remain unidentifiable in the barrage of photos. The gold buttons on her emerald jacket-dress caught the warm light emanating from the pyramid and the bright camera flashes. She was well dressed, but not enough to stand out. Tonight, Riley needed to blend in. 

She ran a hand through her hair, making sure the loose curls covered her earpiece. For the sake of stealth, the team’s comms were skin color, but they were Nikki and Cage’s skin color, not Riley’s. 

Riley was half-tempted to throw her comms into one of the fountains out of spite. 

She was the last of the Five Eyes to arrive. They staggered their arrivals to avoid being associated with one another, as a precaution. Pulse thrumming in anticipation, Riley bounced on her toes slightly as she waited in line to check in. The Louvre security team meticulously checked each guest’s ID against the guest list; there would be no party crashers tonight. 

It had been all too easy for Riley to add the Five Eyes’ cover identities to the guest list a week ago. Now, she handed the stone-faced security guard a drivers’ license bearing her face and the name “Danika Jackson.” Returning her ID with a nod, the security guard stepped aside, allowing Riley to enter the party. 

Everyone is responsible for their own entrance and exit. That was her new rule. She got everyone’s names added to the guest list, but her assistance ended there. If someone ran into trouble, it was on them to bail themselves out. 

Riley had learned that rule from her mentor when she first dipped her toes into the world of two-faced schemes and nimble-fingered cons, but she never truly understood it—or saw the need to enforce it—until she felt the bite of handcuffs digging into her wrists. 

It was a mistake she’d never make again. 

Riley strolled through the hallway bearing massive Italian paintings, slowly making her way to the room containing the most overrated painting of all time—and the rendezvous point. 

The Mona Lisa room was empty aside from a blonde woman in a beaded, blood-red cocktail dress standing much too close to the glass-encased painting. Riley stood to the woman’s right and studied the painting as well. It was underwhelming. 

“You’d think the most beautiful woman in art would be wearing a prettier dress,” Nikki remarked.

Riley snorted, crossing her arms. “Says the woman who just bought a four-thousand-dollar cheetah print pantsuit.”

Nikki feigned offence. “You’re just jealous because you couldn’t pull it off. Anyway, quiz time. What year did da Vinci paint the Mona Lisa?” 

“1503,” Riley answered easily. “And the woman’s name is Lisa del Giocondo.” Nikki’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What’s that look for?” 

“I didn’t think you actually listen when I talk about art.” 

Riley offered her friend a small smile. “I’m always listening to you.” The sound of heels clicking down the hall made them pause. When the coast was clear, Riley murmured, “Is everyone in position?”

“Yeah. Desi and Sam should be inside already, and Jill checked in a few guests in front of me.”

“How did that go?”

“Easy peasy.” Nikki glanced at Riley and softened her tone. “Are we sure Jill is ready for this?”

“We’ll find out, won’t we? Don’t forget, it was your idea to recruit her.”

Nikki turned back to the Mona Lisa. “You know, you really do suck at pep talks.” 

“Oh shut up.” Riley rolled her eyes. “Are you sure you want control room duty?” 

Nikki spared her a sideways glance. “I’ll do it. You did it last time.” Her second sentence hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the job gone horribly wrong. And a reminder of all the things they still hadn’t talked about. 

Riley brushed it aside. They could talk after they were each forty million dollars richer. 

Pulling a flash drive hidden inside an old lipstick tube out of her clutch, Riley instructed, “Plug this in, and it’ll do half the work for you.” 

“Thanks.” Nikki put the tube in her own purse. “See you on the other side.” 

“Don’t get caught.” 

“Don’t get caught,” Nikki parroted, and Riley strode down the hall toward the party.

She followed the pulsing music and the stream of guests to a room in the far corner of the museum, passing the employee door Nikki would sneak into along the way. Crossing the threshold, she couldn’t conceal her gasp. Riley had seen plenty of opulent rooms over the years, but the Galerie d’Apollon was something else entirely. Gold moulding framed the dozens of paintings covering the walls and the arched ceiling. Display cases containing the French Crown Jewels formed a line down the middle of the rectangular room. Despite the party’s couture dress code, the bedazzled guests looked entirely underdressed compared to the grandeur of the gallery.

She only let herself be awestruck for a few seconds before getting to work, marking the exits and security cameras. Riley didn’t like how deep the gallery was in the museum—and how far she would have to walk to make a clean escape with the jewels. 

She would be the one walking out with them. No one else. Riley had made that crystal clear during the team planning meeting a few days ago. 

Draped in black fabric, the case containing the designer jewelry sat in the middle of the gallery. A security guard stood by it, no doubt to ward off nosey guests wanting a sneak peek. 

A wave of nausea passed through her, reminding Riley that the closest thing to a substantial meal she���d eaten all day was the two pastries she ate a few hours ago. She slipped through the crowd with practiced ease, heading for the snack table. Jill was already there, gorging herself on bread and cheese. Eyes wide, the blonde froze as Riley sidled next to her, evidently thinking she was in trouble. 

But Riley simply reached for a piece of bread and asked, “Which cheese is the best?” 

Exhaling audibly, Jill pointed a manicured, light blue nail. “That one.” Riley tried it. Jill was right; it was delicious. 

“You ready, Blondie?” Riley asked, lowering her voice. “There’s no job unless you get this right.” 

Jill rolled her shoulders back, snarking, “No pressure or anything.” There was a bite to her words, one Riley noticed only came out when someone, namely her, pushed the blonde a little too far. 

“Sorry,” Riley said, and she meant it. “You can do this. Don’t second-guess yourself. Commit.” 

Jill merely nodded, swallowing another piece of cheese. 

Riley wandered off, not wanting to stay with Jill too long. With her back to a wall, she scanned the room in search of Desi and Cage. When she didn’t see them on her first sweep, Riley furrowed her brow. Where the hell were they? 

A bright laugh carried across the room—Cage. There you are, Riley thought. She spied her teammate enjoying the spotlight in the center of a group of models all cooing over Cage’s pale pink dress. It suited Cage, with its billowy sleeves and flowy skirt that hit just below her knees. Cage giggled again, putting her hand on a woman’s shoulder a little too boldly for the gesture to be casual. 

Predictably, Desi wasn’t far away, staring daggers at her shameless flirt of a girlfriend. 

Riley unmuted her comms. “Easy there, Des. It’s just an act.” 

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” she snapped. Even from a distance, Riley could see Desi’s tight grip on her champagne flute. 

Riley cooed, “So jealous.” 

The woman wrapped a proprietary arm around Cage, clearly welcome to the blonde’s advances, and Cage beamed at her. 

It was enough to push Desi over the edge. “Don’t forget whose bed you’re sleeping in tonight, Samantha,” she snarled. “And I don’t remember agreeing to share.” 

Cage excused herself from the group. “My love, did it ever occur to you that I’m making you jealous on purpose? Because we both know—”

Nikki cut her off, rescuing the team from whatever filthy thing was about to come out of Cage’s mouth. “Don’t be gross, you two.” Riley stifled a laugh. She and Nikki had been subjected to many things they didn’t want to hear over the years. This would hardly faze her now.

Focus. They needed to focus. 

Riley finally spotted the sharp-eyed assistant she noticed at the runway show. Always two steps behind the designer, the young woman obediently trailed him as he floated from group to group. The assistant finished her drink, setting it on the tray of a passing waiter, and strode toward the main hallway in this wing of the museum. 

“I think she’s going to the bathroom,” Jill said. “Do I follow her?” 

Snagging a drink of her own, Riley answered, “No. Bump into her when she comes back.” She watched Jill make her way toward the far side of the gallery, ready to intercept the assistant and steal her keys. 

Everything was going to plan. Jill just had to steal the keys, and then all they had to do was hurry up and wait for the big reveal. Eight o’clock, Riley was told upon arrival. The designer would commence his speech at eight, then reveal his masterpiece to the world. 

Riley checked her watch. Thirty more minutes. 

She knew she’d been standing in this spot for too long already, but Riley was loath to give up the relative safety of having a wall at her back. The twinge of fear she’d felt earlier at the runway show came raging to the surface, rooting her stiletto-clad feet in place. Leaving the wall meant having people in her blind spot. No one’s going to hurt me, Riley promised herself. This is a party, not a prison. 

Her legs felt like lead weights, but Riley forced herself to re-enter the crowd, one agonizing stride at a time. She made it as far as the nearest display case before she had to stop, and her eyes landed on a tiara resting in the center of the display. Countless tiny diamonds formed flowery swoops and swirls, with a handful of emeralds scattered between them, filling what would otherwise be empty spaces. In the center, the diamonds framed a large, round emerald, mimicking the shape of a flower. 

It was exactly what Riley would have stolen had the Five Eyes agreed to rob the Louvre itself, rather than this party. Maybe she’d come back for it, one day. 

Using the case as a pseudo-wall, Riley took a deep breath and re-scanned the room in search of Jill. Unsurprisingly, Jill was exactly where Riley had last seen her.

She kept an eye on the recruit, knowing Desi and Cage were doing the same. Riley was impressed; Jill had quickly figured out how to linger without being obvious she was waiting for something. Jill mindlessly pushed up her glasses—the only visible sign of her nerves—and the movement drew Riley’s attention. 

But not to Jill. 

To another blond head, far behind her. One Riley desperately hoped to never see again. 

“We have a problem,” Desi said. 

“I saw.” 

Nikki’s ex-boyfriend stalked into the gallery, a taller, older man at his heels like a shadow—the same men who chased Riley, Nikki, and Jill through the taco shop a few weeks ago. 

Fuck.

Ducking her head to avoid being spotted, Riley hissed, “Nik, get your ass to the control room and lock the door behind you. We’ve got company.” 

“Already here. Accessing system controls as we speak. Whoever designed the security system in this place should be fired, because this is ridiculously simple. I should’ve left it in French just to keep it interesting.” A pause. "Who's here? Wait. No. Let me guess. Interpol? The mob? That bitchy designer I once robbed point-blank?" 

"Your ex." 

"Oh."

"You didn't tell him about our dream job, did you?" The words came out a little too accusatory, but Riley didn't care. She needed to know. 

"No! Of course I didn't. He— Look, I don't know why he's here, and we can figure that out later. Right now, you need to keep him busy. He's smart, Riles. Maybe even smarter than you. Be careful." 

Riley scoffed. "Smarter than me? We'll see about that." 

"I'm serious, Riley." 

But Riley ignored her, instead giving instructions of her own. "Cage, you watch Jill. Des—" 

"I've got the big one." Classic Desi, never letting her finish a sentence and yet always knowing what she was going to say. The habit was obnoxious at first, but over time Riley learned to appreciate it. "See the bulge on his left side? He keeps touching it." Desi said. "He's armed." 

“He’s what?” Jill exclaimed. 

Chuckling, Desi said, “Now look at my left side. We match.” A small, terrified squeak was the only response. “Well, what did you think I meant when I told you I’m the team’s exfil specialist?” 

“Not that!” 

“And Nik’s ex?” Riley asked, redirecting the conversation. 

“Seems clean.” 

“He is,” Nikki confirmed. “Mac hates guns.” 

“You know,” Riley said, studying the larger of the two men, “The other one kind of looks like a guy who dated my mom once.” 

“Really?” Desi asked. “Think he’s the same guy?” 

Riley took a closer look. He was tall, with broad, muscled shoulders and a buzzed haircut, and considering how often he fidgeted with his tie, he didn’t get dressed up often. He smiled at a passing waitress. He had an open, friendly smile, which totally contrasted with the systematic way he scanned the room. “Nah.”

Jill squawked, “Wait! Are we really still going through with this? Didn’t it just get a whole lot harder?” 

“You say harder, I say more fun,” Cage said. “Just stick to the plan. You’ll be fine.” 

Jill, it seemed, wasn’t so easily reassured. “Am I the only one who sees this is a trap?” 

“It’s only a trap when you don’t know about it. When you do, it’s a challenge,” Riley said. 

“But what if the plan goes wrong? Then what?” 

At the same time, all four women answered, “Improvise.” 

Riley muted her comms as she approached Nikki’s ex; Jill didn’t need the added distraction. Help her, Riley pleaded with the universe. You owe me. 

Pushing her concerns about Jill to the back of her mind, Riley studied her target. There was a champagne flute in the spy’s hand, but he didn’t drink it—not even a sip—and his methodical gaze swept the room, no doubt making note of each guest and who they interacted with. 

He was cute, she had to admit. Definitely Nikki’s type. 

Purposefully not watching where she was going, Riley collided with him, narrowly avoiding sloshing his drink onto her shoes. She pretended to stumble, and his free hand caught her waist, ensuring Riley stayed upright. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going. Pardon me.” 

His hand left her side. Frowning, he asked, “Do I know you?” 

Don’t lie. Evade. Her former mentor taught her that. 

Riley smirked. “I bet you use that line on every beautiful woman you stumble into.” 

“Only when I’m too blown away to say something original.” He winked. 

Maybe this would be easier than Riley anticipated. “Care to wander the museum with me while you practice your next line?” 

“Normally I would, but I just got out of a relationship, and I’m not looking to start anything new.” 

So much for that plan. 

His honesty, however, was surprising. 

“Not even a little fun?” she goaded, but Nikki’s ex declined once more before excusing himself and vanishing into the crowd. 

At least Desi had better luck keeping the other spy occupied. She had him cornered, her body carefully angled to prevent him from seeing the slight bulge from the gun hidden in her dress. The plunging neckline had two purposes—easy access to the gun holstered at her side while providing a distracting view of her chest and intricate tattoos. It was just enough to snag wandering eyes and keep them focused on the front of her body, rather than the side. To the spy’s credit, his eyes remained pointedly fixed on Desi’s face. 

“Got the keys,” Jill announced. Perfect timing. 

Riley breathed a sigh of relief. “Good work, Blondie.” 

Now, all they had to do was wait.

*****

While the designer yammered some pretentious bullshit about fine jewelry as the centerpiece of fashion and art, Riley slowly pushed her way to the front of the crowd gathering for the reveal. A few feet away, Cage did the same. Across from them—closest to the still-covered jewelry display case—Desi and Jill took their places. None of them were particularly interested by the designer’s speech, but Nikki would be hanging on every word if she were here. 

The designer rambled on, explaining how particular pieces among the French Crown Jewels influenced the designs of his own work. It was awfully arrogant, Riley thought, comparing his own work to such timeless pieces. The longer he spoke, the more Riley disliked him and didn’t feel even an ounce of guilt for robbing him. 

Lingering on the edge of the crowd, Nikki’s ex and his partner seemed content to remain out of the way. For all Riley cared, they could stay there all night. 

The gallery lights flickered once. A few guests glanced up nervously, but the majority remained transfixed on the designer. 

Nikki’s voice crackled through the comms. “Everyone ready? Nod once if you are.” Riley nodded. One by one, so did everyone else. “Alrighty then. Lights out in five…”

Riley counted the number of paces between her and Cage—six. 

“Four…”

Paces from Cage to the jewelry case—eight. 

“Three…”

Paces from the case back to her original position—ten. 

Two…

Closing her eyes, Riley waited. 

“One.” 

Several women shrieked when the lights went out. 

Riley opened her eyes, and before they’d even adjusted to the dark, she strode toward Cage. Six steps. She collided with Cage, dropping her purse on the ground and taking Cage’s identical one, containing replicas of the necklace and earrings. 

Cage shouted that someone stole her purse, causing a scene. She’d chatted and flirted with enough people throughout the night for her voice to be easily recognized, and a murmur broke out among the agitated crowd, creating just enough background noise to cover the sound of Riley’s heels clicking on the floor. 

Eight steps to the back side of the jewelry display. Riley could just make out Jill and Desi unlocking the case with the assistant’s keys. She braced for an alarm to sound, but there was nothing. Atta girl, Nikki. 

Riley opened the purse. Carefully, Desi replaced the real jewels with the fakes, depositing the real ones inside Cage’s purse. 

Jill locked the case and replaced the cover, and Riley returned to her original position among the crowd. The designer and his assistant remained oblivious to what transpired behind them, even as Jill slipped the keys back into the assistant’s dress pocket.

“Lights on in three,” Nikki warned. 

Emergency lights flickered on, casting a harsh white light over the murmuring crowd. A man angrily questioned what happened, followed by a chorus of “Yeah, what he said!”s in a variety of languages. The assistant urged the crowd to remain calm, promising everything would be sorted out shortly. 

Riley looked over her shoulder, searching for Nikki’s ex. He was nowhere to be found. She narrowed her eyes, but with two hundred million dollars worth of jewelry in her hand, Riley decided she didn’t particularly care. 

The woman Cage flirted with the longest stepped forward, picking up the purse Riley had tossed near Cage’s feet. “Isn’t this your purse?” she asked Cage. 

Riley’s teammate feigned embarrassment, gracefully reclaiming the purse. “Yes, that’s it. Thank you.” 

Just as an outraged Cage exclaimed the purse was empty, Riley melted into the dispersing crowd, slowly making her way toward the museum’s exit. That was the plan. She’d leave first, and once she escaped with the jewels, everyone else would exit as well. 

Riley retraced her steps, heels clicking on the hardwood flooring of the museum’s endless long hallways. She didn’t look at any of the art as she passed, not even a single glance. Art had always been more Nikki’s thing than hers. 

Weaving her way back to the exit, Riley prayed Nikki hadn’t missed any of the cameras. She was supposed to loop them all, allowing Riley to leave the museum unseen. But with each additional camera—some obvious, some not—Riley’s anxiety rose. 

Nikki knows what she’s doing, Riley reminded herself. She won’t let anything happen to me. 

Two years ago, that reassurance would’ve been enough. 

Now, her distrusting brain shot back, Are you sure? 

Riley didn’t dignify it with a response. 

Passing the museum’s security checkpoint, Riley smiled at a bored-looking security guard. “Vous partez déjà?” he asked. 

Riley hoped the security guard asked why she was leaving so soon. She never did get around to brushing up on her French. “Oui, I have a flight to catch.” Not a lie, although the flight wouldn’t take off until early tomorrow morning. 

The crisp night breeze prickled Riley’s bare skin. She took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill her lungs. For the first time that night, Riley finally felt her body start to relax. The vast, empty plaza felt so much safer than the packed gallery. Still not safe enough to let her guard down, but safer. Riley slipped her hand into the purse, fingers closing around an earring. It was surprisingly heavy in her palm. 

Another flawless job. The Five Eyes were back in business. 

She was halfway across the plaza when Nikki started cursing, but Riley didn’t slow. Everyone is responsible for their own exit. The job was done. No turning back now. 

There was a distinct male voice in the background, but Riley couldn’t make out what he said. 

“What do you mean, ‘I had a feeling you’d be here’?” Nikki demanded. “We haven’t spoken in months, Mac, and I know you didn’t track me here on your own.” 

Her ex’s voice was nothing more than a low, indiscernible rumble. 

“What?” Nikki whispered, her voice breaking mid-word. 

As much as Riley wanted to know what he said, she kept walking. But that didn’t stop the others from hissing Nikki’s name, demanding to know what was going on. 

Nikki yelped, and then the male voice purred, loud and clear, “I know you’re listening, Riley. Why don’t we go on that little walk now?” 

With a cold laugh, Riley said, “In your fucking dreams.” How did he know her name? As far as she knew, Nikki never mentioned her. 

Still, she kept walking. Everyone is responsible for their own exit. No matter what. 

Riley muted her comms, and Nikki’s piercing shriek filled her ear. A muffled grunt followed.

Then nothing. 

Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay. 

“Riley, you need to come back,” Jill pleaded. “Nikki needs help.” 

She didn’t answer, clenching her jaw with the effort to keep silent. An airplane flew overhead, and Riley tracked its path across the sky. Every step brought Riley closer to her own flight home—and the freedom that entailed. Turning around now would only put that in jeopardy. 

But every step also took her away from her best friend. The woman she once believed she’d do anything for. 

Jill was overreacting, Riley reasoned. Nikki was more than capable of getting herself out of a bind. Riley lost track of the number of impossible situations she and Nikki had found themselves in over the years, and they always found a way to escape. 

“Sam is getting Jill out,” Desi said, slightly out of breath. “Riles, I don’t think I can get Nikki out on my own. Jill is right. You need to come back.” 

Riley faltered. If Desi thought there was a problem, then something must’ve gone really, really wrong. 

Maybe Jill wasn’t overreacting after all. 

“Des—” Cage started. “They opened the case.” 

“So?” 

“They know the jewels are fake. If Riley comes back, it won’t just be Nikki going to prison.” 

Prison. 

Riley didn’t think she was breathing. Heart thudding wildly, her stomach tied itself into knots, and her clothes became damp with sweat. The sense of safety she’d felt earlier was gone, and Riley fought the urge to run. Every little noise—traffic, pedestrian chatter, a siren in the distance—was coming for her, ready to drag her into some dark hole she’d never emerge from. 

Nothing was logical anymore, like the part of her brain capable of rational thought had gone to sleep. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, trying to wake up, but it was no use. 

Run, while you still have the chance, her body screamed. 

Everyone is responsible for their own exit, her brain repeated. 

She needed to turn around. Nikki couldn’t go to prison. 

Two years ago, Riley had gone to prison in Nikki’s stead. She let herself be arrested to protect her friends. Her family. 

If Nikki went to prison now, then Riley’s sacrifice would be in vain. 

But Riley’s body refused to turn around. Her worst memories from prison flashed before her eyes—ones Riley desperately wanted to forget—like a cougar crouching in the shadows, waiting for the exact moment she was at her weakest to pounce. 

She couldn’t go back there. She couldn’t go through that again. 

She wouldn’t survive it twice. 

“Riles,” Nikki pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Where are you?” 

Run, that voice in her head said. Don’t look back. 

Her steps were slower now, less sure. But Riley didn’t stop. She couldn’t. 

“I need you.” 

Save yourself, girl. 

“I’m sorry,” Riley whispered, but her comms were still muted. With a shaking hand, Riley unmuted them one last time. 

It’s better this way, the voice promised. You’ll see. 

It was all too easy to slip into the brutal, emotionless persona she’d built while in prison, the process having become instinct. It was necessary then, to keep her safe and alive. Now, it did the same, preventing Riley from making a mistake every cell in her body knew she wouldn’t come back from. 

In a cold, unflinching voice, Riley said, “Everyone is responsible for their own exit.” 

She threw her earpiece into a nearby fountain, and the click of her stilettos echoed in the night. 

~ Tag List ~ Want to be added? Send me an ask.

@macrileyedits / @hellishrose / @losingitovermacriley​ / @mylifequotesshowallofthem / @thecarrieonokay / @holbytlanna​ /

#beth writes #flawless au #macgyver #macgyver fanfiction #riley davis #nikki carpenter #desiree nguyen #samantha cage #jill morgan #angus macgyver #jack dalton #<- look who's back

[choicesholidaygiftgrab]

THE CHGG MASTERLIST🎁

Howdy,everyone💞!

How are you doing?

2020 has challenged us in all the ways possible, mentally, physically and emotionally. We organized the Gift Grab as a way of spreading joy, positivity and happiness💫 during the testing times and hoping that these little tokens would bring a smile on the face of the receivers🌟.

We are so very overwhelmed with all the amazing gifts we got to see from all the insanely talented people of this fandom🧡. All the support we received for the event is amazing, and we can’t thank you all enough🥺🥺.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, our lovely Grabbers💜, who put so much time and effort into creating the masterpieces. Thank you very very much🧡

Now let’s dive into the pool of awesomeness and fetch out the beautiful gifts gifted during the Choices Holiday Gift Grab🌟!

ARTS 🖌:

🎁 The Gift: The Best Christmas Present 

Feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey and f!MC from Open Heart

Gifted by: @churning-the-sea-of-milk to @mysticaurathings

👨‍⚕️ The Gift: Snarky Ethan Ramsey Part 1 and Part 2

Feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey from Open Heart

Gifted by @homeformyheart to @drethanramslay

AESTHETICS & MOODBOARDS 🌟:

💞 The Gift: I followed my Heart for you 

Feat. Beckett Harrington and f!MC from The Elementalists

Gifted by @anotherbeingsworld to @homeformyheart

😍The Gift: A very Happy ‘Happily Ever After’- Complete Masterlist 

Individual moodboards:

👑 The Countess  

💉 The Doctor 

🌠 Then the stars align 

🎀 They tie the knot 

💑 Happily ever after 

Feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey and f!MC from Open Heart

Gifted by @angela8754 ​ to @aestheticartsx ​

❤The Gift: Together is a wonderful place to be 

Feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey and f!MC from Open Heart

Gifted by @aestheticartsx ​ to @withbeautyandrage

💋The Gift: Badass Christmas Babes  

Feat. Zoey Wade and f!MC from Queen B,

Gifted by @mysticaurathings ​ to @ezekielbhandarivalleros ​ 

🦋The Gift: I feel the whole damn zoo when I am with you

Feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey and f!MC from Open Heart

Gifted by @drariellevalentine ​ to @angela8754 ​ 

💜The Gift: All that you are is all that I will ever need

Feat. Beckett Harrington and f!MC from The Elementalists

Gifted by @drethanramslay ​ to @miss-smrxtiee ​ 

EDITS ✂️:

🌟The Gift: That Pretty Girl

feat. Zoey Wade from Queen B

Gifted by @raleigh-edward ​ to @bisexualdumbass-blog ​ 

⛵The Gift: My heart lies with that seafarer

feat. Edward Montomer from Distant Shores

Gifted by @bisexualdumbass-blog ​ to @raleigh-edward ​

👨‍⚕️The Gift: Dr. Santa

Feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey from Open Heart

Gifted by @ezekielbhandarivalleros ​ to @nikki-2406 ​

🤶🎅The Gift: Mr. and Mrs. Claus 

feat. Dr Bryce Lahela and f!MC from Open Heart

Gifted by @gamechoices-player ​ to @anotherbeingsworld

HEADCANONS ✏:

🎿The Gift: Ski Lessons

feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey and m!MC from Open Heart

Gifted by @rookie-ramsey to @churning-the-sea-of-milk

FICS 📖: 

💍 The Gift: The Proposal 

Feat. King Liam Rys and Duchess Olivia Nevrakis from The Royal Romance/Heir

Gifted by @twinkleallnight to @gamechoices-player

📽 The Gift: Hallmark & Hugs! 

Feat. Edenbrook’s Favourite Doctors from Open Heart

Gifted by @miss-smrxtiee to @nmvord

🛣 The Gift: Ethan’s Day Out 

Feat. Dr Ethan Ramsey from Open Heart

Gifted by @nikki-2406 to @rookie-ramsey

🎄The Gift: Christmas isn’t Christmas 

Feat. Leo Rys and f!MC from The Royal Romance/Rules of Engagement

Gifted by @annekebbphotography to @twinkleallnight

So that's all for the Gift Grab🧡! We are so very grateful for all the support we received and we hope you enjoy the gifts as much as we did💜!

Yours Truly,

Manamee @monsoonblooms12💫 and Charmi @nervoussaladsludgeopera💫

#choicesholidaygiftgrab #chgg🎁 #happy gifting! #the chgg masterlist🎁

[anikkis-fantasirealities]

“LiVELY Legacy of Japan’s Lionized Anisinger”

➀ Personality Profile ┊ ˢʰᵉ ʷʰᵒ ˢʰᶦⁿᵉˢ ᵗʰʳᵒᵘᵍʰ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵗʸˡᵉ··· ˢᵐᶦˡᶦⁿᵍ ˢʷᵉᵉᵗˡʸ ʷʰᶦˡᵉ ˢᵃˡᵘᵗᵃᵗᶦⁿᵍ ˢᵘᵖᵖᵒʳᵗᵉʳˢ·

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ꒰⁺˚₊·₍₍loading...₎₎ ㅤ ✎...۪۫❁ཻུ۪۪ -ˏˋ 🎤 ˊˎ-

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ

༘✶ ㊉ ㈦〘 ⅯⅯ 〙⋆｡˚𓆟 ༉ ║ Posted : ０６/１５/２１° ｡༄ ‧₊˚ ๑ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ •ଓ.° ｡❍ ㈩ ㊇

- - ——— ꒰ An article by Nicole “Nikki” Elaine S. Chua of NEU-IS ꒱

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ₊·͟͟͟͟͟͟͞͞͞͞͞͞➳❥ ࿐ྂ—͙❬₊° ᶦ ᵃᵐ ᵃ ᵇˡᵒᵍᵍᵉʳ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵃˡˡ·“= ‹⸙͎

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

ㅤㅤ ㅤ❝ Madamada iku wa yo~! ❞

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ- LiSA (Rally Go Round)

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ.ılı.lıllılı.ıllı. ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤᴺᵒʷ ᵖˡᵃʸᶦⁿᵍ﹕ᵍᵘʳᵉⁿᵍᵉ ⁻ ᴸᶦˢᴬ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ0:11 -◦————— 3:59 ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ〔 ↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ╵╻↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ╻╵⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ 〕 ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤVolume: ▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ █ 100%

Lush, loose—lofty and lovely. Lucent and lavish—lustral, laid-back, & luxuriant. Luminous. Legendary. Limitless. Light hearted and letter-perfect. There is not enough words for me to describe her overflowing talent for music, and the impact she has created for tech-savvy usernames cheering on their favorite idols & animations alike. Nowadays, most millennials and Gen Zs go neck-to-neck with their clashing interests of two international sensations: one known for the funky beats of charismatic boys dancing in synchrony, and the other, notable for moving illustrations of all kinds of stories that allure the imagination. Yes, let’s admit it, my generation has fallen in love with the influence of K-pop and anime, though I cannot blame anyone because of the fun & happiness they bring. Do you agree with me?

Well, even if you cannot agree or relate with me, I’m sure you would be able to find this article interesting! This personality is not someone of looming authority nor power—she is not a lady from the West, nor the Northern isles or even the Southern seas. She is here: the Rising Sun’s pride and honor bestowed by a sharp katana slaying all evil. It is where that familiar tune of hers is empowered with the narrative of a young man and his breathing techniques—a tale beloved by many anime fanatics. Yes! I’d like to introduce to you, one of Japan’s famed singers of all time: 𝙇𝙞𝙎𝘼! Make your entrance, please!

╭╼|════════════════════════════════════|╾╮

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ 【 今日もいい日だつ 】 ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ❝ Today is another great day! ❞ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ- LiSA ╰╼|════════════════════════════════════|╾╯

My life is truly music-inclined, even if I have two left feet and a raspy, rough voice. Those foreign lyrics ring out in my head, every time I enter through the gates of Japanese culture and enter my fantasy I know so well. I mean, cool right? I can still remember how I first embraced her beginning chords in January 2020, when that song, Gurenge, was heard throughout the spacious stadium of the New Era University college department. It was the opening ceremony for Intramurals 2020, and as soon as the melody played, the crowd sang along in a noisy type of harmony.

𝙂𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚, it means “red lotus” in English—the title of the Japanese opening theme for the animation called, “Kimetsu no Yaiba,” or more acclaimed as “Demon Slayer” by millions of anime ethusiasts across the web. I wondered what that range of vocals wanted to tell me. Those beautiful notes and the intensifying instrumental that accompanies such an epic story. Slowly, I understood why she is adored by many people, rain or shine, sun rays to lunar silhouettes. Now, here I am writing with everlasting conviction, to share everything I know about her—the reasons why that captivating rhythm, those inspiring words, and the pleasant emotions, made me sing along. So, let’s rest for a while, and I’ll tell you more about LiSA, behind the reflection of that worn out blade.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

LiSA, or Risa Oribe in real life, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and lyricist from the Gifu Prefecture—in the small city of Seki. She is 165 centimeters tall, which is quite tall for a Japanese woman. She is known for her multiple song hits used in Japanese animation titles such as the Fate series and Sword Art Online. Though, did you know that she also sang for the music-based anime series, “Angel Beats!” as one of the main characters who so happened to be a vocalist, as well? This was LiSA’s professional song debut in the music industry, which she lunged into when she was given a chance to step onto the reknowned arena for some of Japan’s history makers: Nippon Budokan! As a kid, Risa Oribe was taught lessons in piano, dancing, and singing, which continued onto her junior high school years. After auditioning in the infamous Budokan, she held onto the dream of becoming an artist on the next journeys she would walk on outside her hometown.

Believe it or not, the name “LiSA” is an stylized acronym, consisting of confident letters that possess unique dignified meaning from one another. The stage name is adopted from a blast from the past, of the times Risa Oribe had travelled to Tokyo to form a band. “LiSA” stands for, “𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙡” which may sound weird for English speakers, nonetheless, its significance still pulls my heartstrings all in all. Prior to becoming the individual singing artist, “LiSA,” Risa Oribe has always been a part of bands ever since high school—one of them being a cover band of indie rock music, “CHUCKY.” Despite the risk of working with the band in exchange for her accredited certificates from university, she continued to reach for her ultimate dream career as a singer. Unfortunately, “CHUCKY” only lasted for three years, and this is what led Risa Oribe to test her luck in the capital of Japan—persevering for that aspiration, because there’s no turning back now!

╭╼|════════════════════════════════════|╾╮

ㅤㅤ 【 じっと見つめた　キミの瞳に映ったボクが生きたシルシ 】

ㅤㅤ ❝ As I stare intently into your eyes, ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤmy reflection there is the proof I exist, ❞ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ- LiSA (Shirushi)

╰╼|════════════════════════════════════|╾╯

LiSA’s musical influences are, surprisingly, internationally respected musicians of the English language. Some of these prominent figures in her life are Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Paramore, and Rihanna. She is well-known for memorable hyped performances filled of power and passion. Sometimes, if people are granted the opportunity to be mesmerized by remarkable skill, she is also able to play the guitar and key harmonica in her concerts. She can sing in Japanese, obviously, but her words weaved with melody extends into Chinese and English perception, too. As a songwriter, she personally wrote some of her produced masterpieces like “Shirushi” and “Rally Go Round.” Though, perhaps you’ve never would guess that LiSA had a voice acting debut in 2015, too! Don’t get your hopes up because she did not give life to any anime characters, but instead, she became the Japanese voice of Madge Nelson in the film, “Minions.” I know, don’t get me wrong, it’s a shocking difference from the person LiSA is famous for.

However, for Risa Oribe, it was not something to be shy about, for she absolutely loves Minions! For avid fans of LiSA, they would often spot sightings of Minions merchandise in her social media accounts. It’s a fact that wouldn’t make you think that she can be that intimidating performer on fire, once she leaps onto stage. She still has that gentle vibe, especially when she raises her arm to greet the audience with a simple peace sign. The dark packed venue would chant along the bridge instrumental, rapidly waving their lightsticks until the song performance is finished. It’s as if the stars have landed in a small part of Earth during the night fall, to take a day-off head banging to the beat of rock. LiSA’s concerts deliver the message that “𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙎𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨,” as it is the running title pinned to her lives from then to now.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Speaking of which, here’s a fun fact! Did you also know that LiSA’s albums all start with the letter L? From “Letters to U” and “Launcher,” to “Leo-Nine” and the recently revealed “Ladybug,” each album has a motif that follows her musical style. LiSA’s original songs tell stories of hope, determination, and love. Ever since she released her first solo single debut, “Oath Sign,” for the anime, “Fate/Zero,” her name would never vanish from the music charts of new singles and albums in Japan. Songs like “Crossing Field,” “Catch the Moment,” and “ADAMAS,” of “Sword Art Online” were also noteworthy for their impact on LiSA’s career as a singer, not only for Japanese animations, but also for Japanese TV dramas and live-action films. Her very own, “Homura,” for the anime film, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Train” have even outstretched to the Billboard charts across the Pacific ocean!

Today, she has celebrated her 10th anniversary in the music industry—a realization that it just seems like yesterday when she got to meet her fans in different countries, go on tours to perform everyone’s favorite anime songs of hers, and made her mark as an “𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧” of the Rising Sun. That is why she is, indeed, an artist with a lively legacy to our current era—a personality deserving of a profile article from yours truly. It’s been great having you with me in this article, and I hope you were able to find admiration for LiSA and her work! Thank you for reading! I’ll see you again in another blog where my fantasies become realities! A Nikki reminder: don’t always go with the flow, and be yourself! Good day!

╭╼|════════════════════════════════════|╾╮

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ 【 生き残ったこの世界で　新しい　眩しい　 ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ 開けを迎えに行こうか 】

ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ❝ In this world I live in, there will be a new glow, ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ for now let’s welcome the new dawn! ❞ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ - LiSA (dawn)

╰╼|════════════════════════════════════|╾╯

· * ✫ * ⊹ * ˚ . . 　　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · . * · . · · + . ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ· ** ˚ . . + 　　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · . *

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ. . + 　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · .˚ ⊹ · * ✧ ⋆ · * . · . · · .. . .

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ· + ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ· * ✫ * ⊹ * ˚

ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ · ** ˚ . . + ㅤㅤ　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · .˚ ⊹ · * ✧

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ⋆ · * . · ㅤㅤ . · · .. . . · + .

ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ. · + . *

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ⋆ * . * . .

ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ . · ·

ㅤㅤ﹙dedication. ﹚ ୨˚୧ ˚ ༘♡.↳ ₊˚‧

This blog is dedicated to my sister, who is a big fan of LiSA. I am grateful that you’ve made me sing with her, forevermore.

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ﹋﹋﹌﹌﹌「 🎀 」﹌﹌﹌﹋﹋

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ┊彡 Credits

➥ Cover Edit

➫ Background

➫ Stand-out LiSA holding a microphone stand

➫ Sitting LiSA

➫ Butterfly themed LiSA

➫ Kimono LiSA

➫ "Brave Freak Out" promotional picture

➫ "Only ≠ Lonely"

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ GIF

➫ "Gurenge" Music Clip ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ First Blog Divider

➫ "Datte Atashino Hero" Music Video

➫ "KiSS me PARADOX" -LiVE is Smile Always ～PiNK & BLACK～ Live

➫ "No More Time Machine" Music Clip

➫ "LEO-NiNE" Limited Edition A Album Cover

➫ "LUCKY Hi FiVE" Single Cover ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Second Blog Divider

➫ Raising Arm LiSA

➫ "ASH" Single promotional picture

➫ "Unlasting" promotional picture

➫ "ADAMAS" article by Billboard

➫ "Shirushi" Music Video ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Third Divider

➫ Red-themed LiSA

➫ "Letters to ME" Music Video

➫ "Surprise" Music Video ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Source of Information

➫ LiSA Wikipedia page

➫ LiSA’s Discography Wikipedia page

➫ Every Anime Song by LiSA fan-video compilation

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ﹋﹋﹌﹌﹌「 end. 」﹌﹌﹌﹋﹋

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ⭆ Back to Homepage ⭅

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ Next Blog ⇨

#NEU-IS PH #Creative Non-fiction #Feature Article #Blogging #Personality Profile #aNikKis Fantasirealities #LiSA #Anisinger #Youtube

[nikki-fucking-sixx]

Together Without You: Chapter Four

A/N: Hey guys! I am SO sorry this took so long to write. I had a bunch of midterms and then it was spring break and then I was in Spain and then coronavirus happened so life has been a shitshow and a half. BUT now I am back! I hope you all like this chapter :) 

You enter your apartment and feel that you never want to leave ever again. You thought you had some sort of direction to how Nikki would react to this. He was a rockstar for a living, guys like that don’t want kids. Guys like that just want to live the bachelor life until the end of their days. Yet, Nikki said the unthinkable, he wanted this baby. Your baby. His baby. 

You walk over to the couch and collapse. Everything inside of you just wanted time to stand still. You did not want life to move forward to the point where you would have a child with a man who you did not love. Being that girl always seemed second class to you. Something that you were above. Something that you laughed at when you saw girls your age with baby carriages. But here you were, about to be that girl you looked down upon. You sigh and lay down on your side, staring at the wall in front of you. How could you sit around for three days waiting for him to call? What if he doesn’t even call? You did give your phone number to Mick as he seemed to be most responsible out of the remaining three men. These thoughts rattled through your head at such a high of a velocity that you did not seem to notice Maria wander in.

“Long day at work?” She sits beside your horizontal body.

“One could say you,” You say, feeling like this has got to be some sort of cruel joke. 

“Wanna talk about it?” You look up at her, she’s looking at you with a concerned expression on her face.

“Maybe later.” She nodded at that and stared at the spot on the wall that caught your attention. 

“Well,” She looks back at you, “If you change your mind and want to talk, I am right down the hall.” 

“I know, Mom,” You say mockingly, not before feeling a sudden pang in your gut at your accidental choice of words.

“You know I’m always on your side (Y/N).” Now she was acting suspiciously. You slowly look up at her. “You should never have to feel like you cannot tell me something. I’m not going to judge you. I care about you a lot and I just want you to know that I am here for you.” She knew. 

“When did you find out?” Your voice putters out of you.

“Earlier today. Saw the positive pregnancy test and knew it couldn’t be mine.” She places a hand on your shoulder. 

“I should’ve hidden it better.” Maria snorts softly.

“Or maybe I should have been less nosy.” You smirk. She was the household’s busy body. You both were silent before Maria brought up what was truly on her mind. “So what’s the plan?” 

You sit up.

“That seems to be the million-dollar question.” You run a hand through your hair and let your palm fall into your lap. “He wants it for some fucking reason.” You were getting worked up.

“Do you want it?” 

“I have no fucking idea!” You almost screamed in frustration, a lump beginning to form in your throat. “This was never the plan, ever.” 

“I’m so sorry, (Y/N).” You rested your head on her shoulder and held her tight. You both stayed in that position, quiet. You did not want to move from this comfort but you also did not want to be pitied any more than you already have been in the last few days. You pull away from your friend.

“I think I’m going to bed early tonight.” She nods. You get up, walk over to your bedroom, and lock the door. You collapse on top of the comforter. These next three days were going to be tedious. 

You spent those days doing everything but thinking of the life growing inside of you. You cleaned the whole apartment, worked doubles and slept. Your brain was constantly occupied, so when you finally got the phone call, it took you by surprise.

“Hello?

“Yeah, hi, I’m coming over.” You were caught off guard.

“Excuse me, but who is this?” 

“It’s Nikki. Where do you live?”

“627 Maple Street” You felt your voice soften slightly.

“Alright, be there in five.” And then you heard the dial tone. Well shit, guess he was coming over. As he said, he was there in five minutes. When you opened your front door, he looked as how he always did, stoned, pale and dangerous. He left his sunglasses on as he walked past you and sat on the couch. He leaned back into the cushions and took a cigarette out of his jacket pocket, lighting it with the lighter that had magically found its way to his other hand. He did look like a masterpiece of some sort, that bad boy that every girl wanted one night with just to prove that they could. Unfortunately, you could.

“So, what exactly is this conversation going to be?” You say as you sit on the couch as far away from him as humanly possible. He took a deep puff of his cigarette and seemed to stare off into nowhere. 

“You and the baby,” He said curtly, “And how I will support you both.” You did not like that phrasing at all.

“Well when you put it that way, it sounds like I’m going to be your fucking burden,” You let the anger come through into your voice. “Besides, I don’t even think I want this baby.” 

“No,” He looked over at you, “You are having this baby.”

“Why do you even want this?” Your confusion was beginning to get to the same level as your anger, “This is a baby you made with some random girl you met at a party. Why would you want this kid?” 

“Because it’s my chance to do something right for once,” His voice now was rising, “Do you know what it’s like to be a fuck up all your life? Your Dad leaves and wants nothing to do with you. Your Mom is a whore who wants you out of the house the second you turn fucking 15. They were a bunch of assholes who never forgot to remind me how much they didn’t want me and it made me do shitty things. Now this baby is the chance for me to do something good for once in my life like my dad and mom never did for me. I would love that kid unconditionally because that is what a kid deserves and what I want to do.” 

You sat there silently taking in all the words. This was so much more than you originally expected. Not only did he want this kid, but he also wanted to love it too. You stare at him as he takes another drag from his cigarette, letting out a frustrated huff of smoke.

“Nikki… I understand where you are coming from,” Well that was a shitty way to start that sentence, “But my life is also just starting. You may have millions of dollars and an established career, but I have none of that and a baby will just make it so I can never get anything remotely like that.” He sighed and put the cigarette out on your coffee table.

“I know I am asking a lot out of you, I’m aware of that.” He took his sunglasses off and you could see the exhaustion and sadness in his eyes, “And I know you don’t know me and you only know the side of me that parties. I can be more than that and I want to be.” He moved toward where you were sitting and suddenly pulled your hands into his. “I never beg, but please give this a chance.” Even when he touched your hands, you felt something that he didn’t. There was no way that you could say no.

“Fine.” You let your hands remain in his, “Let’s try this.” You saw the essence of a smile on his lips. It went away as quickly as it appeared.

“Ok,” He pulled away from you and put his sunglasses back on. “We have to figure out-”

“But,” You cut him off and he turned to you, “That does not mean I trust you. Nikki, I have heard about what you do and I know that you and your lifestyle are two things I am not familiar with. If you fuck over me or my child, we’re leaving.” He pursed his lips and avoided eye contact with you. He relit his next cigarette.

“I won’t-”

“I don’t know that Nikki.” He took in a deep drag.

“Fine,” He looked at the floor, “If I fuck up, you can leave.” 

“Good,” Although he was beautiful, he was like gasoline. Anything he does wrong could ignite something that would have God knows what kind of consequences. You could not help but stare at him as he lifted himself off your couch and began to make his way to your door.

“I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for next week,” You said as he was halfway out the door, “You should come.” He looked back at you and nodded.

“I will,” And at that, he was gone again.

#nikki sixx #nikki sixx fanfiction #nikki sixx fan fiction #nikki sixx one shot #nikki sixx fan fic #Motley Crue #Tommy Lee #tommy lee imagine #The Dirt #Douglas Booth #douglas booth imagine #The Dirt 2019 #the dirt2019 #theatre of pain #doctor feelgood #Vince Neil #Mick Mars #rock #glam rock #80s rock #nikki sixx imagine

[tabloidtoc]

People, May 25

Cover: Valerie Bertinelli Learning to Truly Love Myself 

Page 1: Chatter -- Pete Davidson on a woman delivering drugs to his mother’s house during the pandemic, Regina Hall on looking forward to going to a salon after quarantine, Jake Gyllenhaal on his shifting priorities, Ryan Reynolds on isolating with wife Blake Lively and their three kids, Katy Perry on finding alone time while staying home with fiance Orlando Bloom, Cardi B on how she spent Mother’s Day 

Page 2: 5 Things We’re Talking About This Week -- Tom Cruise prepares for takeoff, Cobie Smulders sparkles again, Robert De Niro wants to play Andrew Cuomo, Selena Gomez gets a cooking show 

Page 5: Contents

Page 6: StarTracks -- Fun with Furry Friends -- Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas walking their dogs 

Page 7: Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her dog Gino, Ryan Reynolds and a baby goat, Justin Theroux walks his rescue dog Kuma, Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes walking her dog Thunder in Miami -- Please Adopt, Don’t Shop 

Page 8: All About Family -- Lauren Akins and three daughters Ada James and Lennon Love and Willa Gray on Mother’s Day, pregnant Lea Michele and mom Edith Sarfati, Blake Shelton and sister Endy and their mom Dorothy, Mario Lopez and his sons Santino and Dominic 

Page 9: Maren Morris and her first son Hayes Andrew, Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky and his mother Leonie, Fergie and her mom Theresa, Kevin Hart and his pregnant wife Eniko and kids Kenzo and Hendrix and Heaven 

Page 10: Sarah Michelle Gellar wearing the prom dress from the season 1 finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Brody Jenner on an electric surfboard in Malibu, Jessica Chastain FaceTimed a friend from a park in L.A., Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall placed flowers and a wreath at the Balmoral War Memorial to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day 

Page 12: Cute Couples -- Pregnant Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt gave husband Chris Pratt a quarantine haircut, Selma Blair and boyfriend Ron Carlson wore masks during a Mother’s Day coffee run, Eva Longoria and husband Jose Baston go for a walk, Jessica Alba and husband Cash Warren 

Page 15: How Adele changed her life 

Page 18: Heart Monitor -- Rob Giles and Caterina Scorsone separating after 10 years, Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez going public, Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson split, Ray J and Princess Love divorcing 

Page 20: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Archie’s first birthday at home in Los Angeles 

Page 21: Kristen Bell on pandemic parenting, Elon Musk and Grimes all about their baby’s wild name 

Page 23: Katharine McPhee on love and a Smash reunion 

Page 24: Passages, Why I Care -- Mackenzie Davis is helping educate girls in Kenya 

Page 25: Lost to COVID-19 -- Roy Horn 

Page 27: Stories to Make You Smile -- a beagle and a bunny forge an unlikely and unparalleled friendship, a tea shop turns TP’ing from a prank into a present 

Page 29: People Picks -- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend 

Page 31: The Great, One to Watch -- Never Have I Ever’s Maitreyi Ramakrishnan 

Page 32: The Trip to Greece, Snowpiercer, Q&A Daveed Diggs 

Page 33: Labor of Love, Lucinda Williams -- Good Souls Better Angels, The Story of Soaps 

Page 35: Books, Star Picks: Quarantine Reads -- Katie Couric, Sebastian Maniscalco, Nikki Reed 

Page 36: Cover Story -- Valerie Bertinelli loving the way I am today -- after decades of worrying about her weight the star, now 60, says she’s finally learning to find the joy inside 

Page 42: Justice for Ahmaud Arbery shot dead while jogging -- he was killed while out for a run but it took 2 months and 1 viral video for authorities to make an arrest 

Page 44: Double Talk -- Emma Thompson and Beanie Feldstein -- our funny friendship -- the Oscar winner and the rising star talk about accents, chocolate and their new movie How to Build a Girl 

Page 46: Little Richard -- Rock’s Wild King -- the pompadoured star who launched classic hits like Tutti Frutti and Lucille was sexy, fierce and didn’t care about rules and good golly, what a performer 

Page 49: Tracy Morgan can’t wait to hug everybody -- the proud dad and star of Scoob! and The Last O.G. is spreading love and laughter during lockdown 

Page 52: DNA Expert CeCe Moore -- the woman who solved 109 criminal cases -- the genetic-genealogy supersleuth has turned murder into a science and forever changed the way law enforcement catches criminals 

Page 57: When Stars Were Students -- High School Hopefuls -- as seniors these celebs aspired to do great things, now they hope to help inspire today’s graduates -- Yara Shahidi, Barack Obama 

Page 58: LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai, Megan Rapinoe, Lena Waithe 

Page 60: Jerry Stiller -- a life of laughs -- the comedian who became a superstar at 66 made a career from family, fatherhood and Festivus 

Page 62: Andre Leon Talley -- in and out of Vogue -- he worked alongside fashion’s legendary Anna Wintour for decades and now he reveals what it took to win and keep his seat in the front row 

Page 66: Creativity in Quarantine -- Masterpiece Makeovers -- people around the world are taking the Museum Challenge and reimagining iconic works of art 

Page 70: Molly Sims finding joy and staying sane -- the actress and model talks about life at home with 3 young kids during quarantine and how a little humor always helps 

Page 73: Face Masks We Love -- Andy Cohen 

Page 75: The Best Drugstore Eye Creams -- Drew Barrymore 

Page 87: Second Look -- Darius Rucker 

Page 88: One Last Thing -- Wendi McLendon-Covey 

#tabloid #tabloid toc #valerie bertinelli #ahmaudarbery #adele #archie windsor #little richard #ahmaud arbery #prince harry #meghan markle #justice for ahmaud #kristen bell #katharine mcphee #roy horn #emma thompson #beanie feldstein #tracy morgan #cece moore #jerry stiller #andre leon talley #molly sims #wendi mclendon-covey

[darkarfs]

This is gonna make so many horrible people unhappy. EVERY Takeover has had at least one match-of-the-year candidate on it. Some of the most emotional moments in that brand have come from cards that even aren't quite as good. I even considered not doing this list, because, by all accounts, NXT Takeover: Tampa isn't even going ahead. But then I thought, fuck it, let's celebrate, taken all together, for my taste, the best wrestling product in the history of mankind. It's not just moves; it's emotional investment, sharply-focused, character-based storytelling, intricately-performed spectactle from the greatest physical specimens ever to lace their boots. It FINALLY legitimized Western women's wrestling in the mainstream (Michelle McCool, Trish, Molly, Mickie, Jazz, Victoria, you all were stunning performers in your own right, but you and your kind were, until NXT, only given 3 minutes: the longest women's match IN HISTORY, until 'Mania 32, was Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James at Wrestlemania 22, and it got 9 minutes.), it's got some of the greatest tag wrestling ever seen on ANY brand, it's created the longest-drawn storytelling ever, it's the best of the indies, the best of the WWE, wrapped up in a sequence of shows that were epic without being FIVE FUCKING HOURS LONG.

Where do I even start...?

Honorable mention: Takeover: R Evolution (I have to, because I've only got 10) Sami Zayn spends over a year, clawing and sweating and tearing walls down, just to get to the top of the mountain in NXT. He has the opportunity to cheat, but does it his OWN way, as beautiful, unique babyface Sami Zayn...before being no-scoped by his best friend, who debuted THAT NIGHT. The undercard isn't as strong, so I can't officially include it, but this payoff, this triumph, and this tragedy represents everything the first era of NXT was, and kickstarted it, truly, onto its first golden era. So, properly, then...

10. Takeover: Rival If you leave this list feeling like the title reigns, and thus, ERAS, of Zayn/Owens are a little under-represented by it, I completely understand. After all, so much good came from that time. American Alpha soldifying themselves as the dominant tag team, the Iron-Woman match between Sasha and Bayley, Becky Lynch putting all the pieces together, Enzo and Cass actually being GOOD...it was, still, at its heart, a developmental brand at that time. It had indie megastars, yes, but it also had the likes of Bull Dempsey. And that's not a dig at Bull Dempsey, it's just that those early Takeovers were an eclectic mix of skill levels, which is what NXT was at that time. It was a place to showcase these people. That said, some of these cards were truly *fantastic.* Case in point: Takeover: Rival. Not only was the undercard completely stacked (Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze over-delivered; we had the first and still SOMEHOW ONLY Fatal 4-Way match between the Four Horsewomen; and Finn Balor vs. Neville was a solid match of the year candidate), but the main event was the first step in one of the most storied rivalries in the history of wrestling: Zayn vs. Owens. The video package is one of the best NXT ever did, and the match...was a masterpiece of simple-but unexpected booking. Zayn mistimes a leap to the outside, hits his head, and Owens responds by powerbombing him over...and over...and over again, until the ref stops the match. Zayn loses nothing, because he was never pinned, Owens is made to look even MORE the loathsome monster, and Zayn's title reign ends after just a month, without the champion nor the championship devalued in any way. It showed that NXT knew, even then, how to reward fans for their emotional investment.

9. Takeover: Portland Right now, NXT feels like it's approaching the very end of a special time in its life. Like it's on the verge of hitting critical mass. One of either Gargano or Ciampa probably leaving the company after the next Takeover, and the reign of the Undisputed Era seems to be crumbling, too. In yesteryear, this would indicate a raft of very important call-ups, neccessitating a shift in the roster and a period of calm centered around more patient character-building. NXT's existence now as a third brand throws that formula into uncertainty, but it definitely feels like they're ramping up to a finale, because goddamn, this is NXT almost at a point of self-parody. Every match is so. MUCH. Lee/Dijakovic is the pinnacle of HOT wrestling (and Lee, will you marry me?) Bianca Belair breaks out as an actual superstar...just as Charlotte decides to visit and to ruin everything, which is just dreadful timing. Gargano/Balor being everything we need it to be, and also Balor pinning Gargano with his fucking dick. And the Broserweights being VERY DUMB...but also VERY, VERY GOOD. The only thing that lets this card down...and this is obviously subjective...is that NXT has almost come TOO FAR, now, in its delivery on its main events, in that every kickout starts to beggar belief. On the level of Triple H/Undertaker at Wrestlemania 28, in that I still love it, but...hoo, it can be exhausting. Depends on how much Ring of Honor you like in your gumbo, I guess, but it feels like everyone on the roster is racing toward Tampa to explode, like a wrestling Crisis on Infinite Earths, and then MAYBE...things can calm down. Just a hair. Y'know, if Tampa even...still happens.

8. Takeover: Philadelphia If there's one man that's become synonymous with NXT, it's Johnny fucking Wrestling. You know, what would happen if a meerkat put on muscle mass and became the best set-piece wrestler this side of Daniel Bryan. We knew since he started his tag team with Tommaso Ciampa that he was an exceptional wrestler, but it wasn't until Philadelphia, and his INSANE match with Andrade "Cien" Almas, that we saw him as truly the industry's next star. It was the first Takeover match to go over 30 minutes (Sasha/Bayley at Respect went EXACTLY 30, don't @ me), it was the first NXT match to get 5 stars from Dave Meltzer (if that matters to you), and it set a new bar for Takeover main events. And while the undercard doesn't live up to it, it's still loaded with excellent matches. A.O.P. vs. the Undisputed Era is something special. Shayna Baszler makes her Takeover debut, and while she's nowhere near her prime, it cemented her immediately. Velveteen Dream and Kassius Ohno have a very fun match, and Aleister Black and Adam Cole have a ludcriously stupid no-holds-barred match, featuring two men doing with chairs what no one ought to do with chairs. But as good as all of that is, it's really a one match show, but what a match, and Ciampa ending it by being an utter bastard yet again.

7. Takeover: Brooklyn I Does the first Brooklyn Takeover feature Canadian Destroyers, 18 kick-outs and "fight forever" chants? It does not. Does it create moments of wrestling happiness that are rarely, if ever, replicated? It sure does. Firstly, Blue Pants appears and helps the Vaudevillains defeat Blake and Murphy. Seems quaint to look back on it, but it made everyone SO goddamn HAPPY that night. If you're forgetting, Leva Bates (that wrestling librarian in AEW right now) was once a comedy jobber in NXT, who wore Blue Pants. Adorable. Ignore what happened on the main roster (which is something you'll probably have to do with a lot of these shows, I imagine), but the Vaudevillains were once incredibly over (I promise!), and their win was one of several beam-inducing moments from this stellar night. Samoa Joe destroyed Baron Corbin at the height of his game, Apollo Crews debuted brilliantly (again, ignore what happens next!) and Balor and Owens' ladder match was also fantastic. Also, what's Jushin Thunder Liger doing here?? Wrestling like he's in his early 30s, that's goddamn what!! But of course, the reason we're all here is Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, and...there's still something in my eye. Anytime people want to rag on NXT for being "predictable," remind them that giving the people a moment they've genuinely prayed for...is a good thing. Bayley besting Sasha Banks at her prime just made us all...so happy. All of us. Everyone. When that curtain call took place, it was so earned. The narrative of women's wrestling dominated most of 2015, and this moment, this match, was the apex of that narrative.

6. Takeover: Chicago I And speaking of feelings...hello, Ciampa, you godless fuck. And so begins maybe the actual greatest rivalry in all of NXT. It is truly an odyessy, with twists, turns, injuries, betrayals, wounds torn open, and this is the nexus point. Well, the seeds had already sort of been planted, because Triple H knows what he's doing. Ciampa almost ALMOST turns on Gargano after their terrific match in the Cruiserweight Classic, only for the team to die another day...and what a death it was. After a great ladder match, the two stand atop the ramp, and you think "will it happen?" And the absolute bastards show you the copyright logo, just to make you think the show ends there, because it always does, seconds after that happens. You unclench, you breathe out, relax...Ciampa whispers "this is MY moment" and then...It is a perfectly engineered bait-and-switch, and exactly as vicious as it needs to be. Pats on the back, all 'round. This moment alone makes this a worthwhile Takeover, but there's also a hell of an undercard. The women's triple-threat (Ruby Riott vs. Asuka vs. Nikki Cross) is stellar, Bobby Roode and Hideo Itami have their respective best Takeover matches ever, and then there was Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne. An absolute show-stealer of a match, a star-making performance for both men (especially Dunne), it cemented the career of several men, and was a fully-formed GREAT show, as opposed to a good show in service to a storyline.

5. Takeover: Brooklyn IV Gargano and Ciampa's battle of brotherhood, betrayal and brainwashing was supposed to blow off at Takeover: New York, but because God hates necks, Tomato Champion was out of action, making this the final singles encounter to date, until Tampa (again, IF it even happens). This is the weakest of their 3 excellent encounters (which still makes it better than any match over SummerSlam weekend), but it also features Johnny Stupid running into a speaker, because his dumb ass can't seem to quit Ciampa. It's one of the greatest long-form feuds for a reason, mirroring Bret and Owen from 1993 into 1994, with all the repeated imagery, the callbacks, the nuances, the psychological cruelty. The street fight at Chicago II is MAYBE better, but this undercard, for me, is a lot stronger. It featured the Undisputed Era vs. Moustache Mountain, aka the Brothers Shithead vs. the Proud Circus Bear and His Beautiful Son. Velveteen Dream vs. EC3 was the closest NXT got to WWE-style storytelling and was still brilliant (remember when EC3 wrestled?), and HEY, wouldn't you know it, Kairi Sane was once a character with dimensions, as evidenced by an amazing match with Shayna Bazsler. But what makes this undercard truly stellar is Adam Cole vs. Ricochet. It is so nice to see Ricochet used well, etc., but I will still never stop pissing myself at Cole nailing him square in the jaw with a superkick WHILE HE'S MID-MOONSAULT UPSIDE-DOWN SWEET JESUS. Sometimes...sometimes...things fall exactly into place.

4. Takeover: WarGames (2018) The WarGames Takeovers are just so silly. It's a silly shoebox, filled with huge, silly men who only barely know why they're killing each other. It's as close as we ever get to WWE's now-terminal problem of "set aside whatever feuds you have right now, because it's Stipulation Month!" (see: Hell In a Cell, most Money In the Bank shows, though Elimination Chamber largely sidesteps this). The other Shoebox Takeovers are really good, no doubt, but this one stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. But there is not a bad match on this card. Kassius Ohno rides Matt Riddle's knee all the way to heaven; NXT shows why 2-out-of-3-falls is fast becoming its signature stipulation with the excellent blowoff between Sane/Baszler; Sexy Mindgames Prince had a star-making match against Tommaso Ciampa, showing why he may be the best overall character in NXT right now, and sweet lord, Aleister Black vs. Johnny Wrestling. It somehow showed that Gargano was JUST AS, if NOT MORE engaging as a dirtbag than as a good guy. And those Black Masses are presents just for me, a guy who tends to like more community theater in his wrestling than flips ("I ABSOLVE YOU...OF ALL YOUR SINS!"). And then we get to the Shoebox, and gosh it's silly! The Viking Experience, Ricochet and Pete Dunne take on the Undisputed Era, and...its a fucking LOT. 45 minutes of spots and smashing, with just a sprinkling of story, with Fish locking Dunne in his cage so he can't participate in the match. Since this seems to be what this match is designed for...let's rattle off some spots! Ricochet, jumping from one ring to the other! That amazing face-off that recreates the Captain America: Civil War poster! Perhaps the beefiest Tower of Doom in all of wrestling! And then Ricochet proving just how amazing he is...with the double moonsault off the top of the cage. What a stupid thing to do in an amazing, amazing show.

3. Takeover: Dallas I get it; a lot of people might not rank this Takeover quite so high. But it might be my actual personal favorite...? Overall...? More than any other Takeover, this show feels the most like it's filled with living, breathing superheroes. Many NXT stars are seen as just indie guys whose only gimmick is "I'm a very good wrestler," making them almost anti-WWE at the core. But NXT doesn't get enough credit for being, at its core, the best aspects of WWE. The showmanship, the things that elevate mere wrestlers to things like monsters, gods, and demons. I will always like my NXT WWE-style: the best wrestling cut with the most theater, the most camp. And Dallas is that concept, writ large. Baron Corbin coming out with lil' skulls on his shoulders. American Alpha finally becoming Super Saiyan Nerds. Asuka killing our hero, because Bayley is a person, and Asuka is a goddess who can perform brain surgery with her feet. Finn Balor coming out and going actual Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Samoa Joe. It's excellent wrestling, near-mythic visuals...and then we get to Nakamura/Zayn. The most special moment of a very special night. It is, from nearly every perspective, perfect. The hype of the crowd, salivating with anticipation. That moment when Nakamura appears in silhouette, and that violin note slides like a knife across steel, to reveal the man who set New Japan aflame. Sami Zayn getting the best possible swan song in a promotion built almost entirely on HIS back. The end of his era. That bit where they just KEEP PUNCHING ONE ANOTHER. I know it's not a perfect show (Balor/Joe stops for 3 minutes to address a cut on Joe's forehead, stalling its momentum; that Corbin/Ares match isn't as good as it could be) but that all means nothing. It's a sentimental choice, and I'd make it #1 if I could.

2. Takeover: New Orleans I went around and around in my head, and this one and #1 kept jockeying for position in my brain. But these top two Takeovers are literally note-perfect, from ship to shore, soup to nuts, top to tails. So if this is YOUR favorite? (Honestly, maybe 1 person I know who loves wrestling as much as I do will even see this mess). I'm here for you, and I understand. But this show has TWO 5-star matches from the Wrestling Observer, and I don't ever agree with that. In this case, I agree with BOTH, in the North American Championship ladder match, and the first (and so far, BEST) match in the Gargano/Ciampa feud. Everything. Is. Amazing. Shayna Bazsler became Women's Champion after BEAST-MODING her SHOULDER back INTO IT'S SOCKET to show that, YES, she gets pro-wrestling. Roderick Strong shocked the world (and the System) by joining the Undisputed Era and becoming the final Chaos Emerald needed to make that stable Super Sonic. Aleister Black took the championship from Andrade "Cien" Almas and SMILED, I fucking SAW IT! And it all depends on what you want from your wrestling, but Gargs/Tamps might actually be the best main event in Takeover history, at least from a storytelling standpoint. The crutch, the neckbrace. Each man going back to their DIY roots (the tag team - they didn't build another ring when that one broke), and then sitting side-by-side, like they did at the Cruiserweight Classic. Brothers. Completely spent. Destroyed. No one but each other. And then Ciampa shits any chance at redemption up the goddamn wall, cementing his own destruction. Every. Bit. Counts.

and #1...

Takeover: New York For a whole bunch of other wrestling fans, this has the greatest main event in Takeover history. But first, let's take a minute to appreciate how lucky we are, or were, that NXT exists. It justfies the existence of WWE, artistically, almost by itself. If this one's only slightly worse than New Orleans, it is argued, it's that the North American title ladder match was TOO good, and hurt every other match on the card. It has been argued. Not by me, but this one is somehow the most perfectly paced, perfectly sized wrestling card, on its own, ever. Every match, through alchemy or magic, manages to enthrall the crowd equally, and completely. The Viking Raiders vs. Grumpy Smaller Undertaker and the Human Pinball was off the hook incredible, and that warm "thank you" feeling has translated, currently to a man trapped in a room and a man trapped in Vince McMahon's scorn for smaller wrestlers, respectively. Matt Riddle and Velveteen Dream put on an absolute fantasy match, pitting the best of MMA vs. the best of WWE-style theatricality, and adds to the complete, demented character-world of this brand, and the fact that Dream WINS against one of the hottest new prospects is so deserved, and shows that he can, and will, shine forever brighter. Then AAAAGH WALTER vs. Pete Dunne! WALTER LAYS into poor Dunne, his chops alone having you believe that after the match, he's going to run into the arena's parking lot to FIGHT THE CARS. Then Shirai vs. Baszler vs. Sane vs. Belair and goddammit how do I even expound on that without crashing thesarus.com? And then Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole wrestled for. 40. MINUTES. With Gargano as the defacto heel because it was allegedly Cole's time. And by the match's end, he had the crowd more behind him than maybe they ever had been before. Is it a bit much? Yes. Too many kickouts? Probably. But it stands as the apex of Johnny Wrestling's journey. After everything had been taken from him: DIY, his health, his sanity, even his chance at revenge...the only thing he has left is the NXT Championship. And in that moment, he is invincible, he is more than enough.

What a show. What a host of shows.

Thanks for reading, everyone.

#long post

[eunbinppap]

Memories

This is my contribution for @popnikkiofficial​‘s Summer 2018 Zine. Hope you enjoy!

[ao3 mirror]

-x-

Dusk is fast approaching in Wintermount. A soft breeze blows through the beach. The sky, painted in rose, blue and lilac, remains clear, save for a few clouds on the edge of the horizon. Gulls fly ahead, cawing and chirping without a care. Waves sweep in and out, crashing gently against the sand, masking the sound of Nikki’s footsteps.

It’s strange being on her own. Usually she has Momo and Bobo accompanying her. Without the two of them bickering or Momo criticising her outfit every five seconds, the beach feels quieter. Lonelier even.

She sits near the water, letting the sea wash over her feet.Now that she thinks about it, Nikki can’t recall the last time she’s ever truly been alone. Before she had come to Miraland she had Yoyo, her sister. Her dad was there too, before he’d left for his photography trip. And of course, there was Momo. Because when had that darned cat not been there with her?

She still remembers the day Momo first spoke to her. He had been in their family for three years and had acted just like a regular house cat up until the grand reveal.

-x-

It happened eight summers ago at her aunt’s wedding.

The church was small but beautifully decorated. Pale fairy lights were woven through flowers to make them glow. Petals fluttered gracefully throughout the ceremony. The seats filled rapidly thanks to the many relatives attending, and soft, orchestral music was playing as they settled.

Nikki stood near the back, the petals in her hand shaking. It was her first time being a flower girl, after all, so she really didn’t want to mess it up. Yoyo was by her side, trying to calm her down.

“Nikki, breathe.” She moved her hand, as if conducting an orchestra. “In and out… in and out…”

Nikki tried to concentrate on her big sister’s voice, taking deep breaths until she heard the music change. Her ears prickled at the soundz, and she nearly forgot to breathe. But Yoyo smiled and she took a final, shaky breath.

She began to walk, leaving coral petals in her wake. The bride was only a few feet behind her, following her trail. She could vaguely hear the clicking of Dad’s camera. Nikki finally felt she could actually do this. She reminded herself to smile, but based on the expressions on the faces of her family, she knew she could make it. I can do this, she thought proudly. 

Then halfway down the aisle, disaster struck.

“What on earth are you wearing Nikki?!”

The audience gasped at the shrill voice. Nikki froze dead in her tracks, eyes comically wide, smile dropping instantly. She turned around to see a truly bizarre image in front of her.

There, at the end of the aisle, was Momo, standing on his hind legs and wearing a cape for some reason. He was pointing at her feet, a smug, mocking look gracing his features.

She slowly looked down at her own outfit. Her face grew hotter by the second. She was wearing a pale pink dress with a magenta ribbon around the waist with matching gloves and socks.

And crocs. 

Bright, neon pink crocs. 

“Trying to match your face I see,” Momo continued, as if he didn’t just ruin her aunt’s big day. “Here’s your first styling tip: never, ever, wear crocs at a wedding!”

Suddenly there was a thud. Everyone looked behind the cat to see Yoyo on the ground, hand on her forehead. Her flower crown had fallen off.Silence. Tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then...

Click!

-x-

Nikki laughs at the memory. In Momo’s defence, wearing crocs at a wedding was a bad idea. Unfortunately, Dad had that specific picture framed not long after, forever immortalized above their fireplace.

She honestly doesn’t know where she’d be without Momo. Under his (usually) helpful guidance, her styling skills have flourished. He’s been with her basically all her life and stuck with her throughout all of her crazy adventures. A true ride or die, for better or for worse.

Reminiscing on the past makes the beach feel less lonely, Nikki finds. It’s nice to think about times gone by as she watches the sun set. The sky takes on more of a reddish hue now. Makes the sun itself look more like an egg yolk. It’s nice to know that no matter what country (or dimension) you’re in, the sun stays the same.

The image takes her back to a simpler time. A time where she didn’t really think about what she wore. A time where her biggest concerns were creating the best sandcastle and getting ice-cream. A time where she could be with all of her family.

-x-

Mom had finally come home after a long business trip, so with Dad, they all decided to go to the local beach. Nikki and Yoyo were excited as it was their first time going to one. Yoyo spent at least an hour trying to decide which swimsuit to wear and ended up wearing a purple one piece with matching flip-flops. Nikki wore an indigo one piece with a bow at the side, an orange sun hat and lime green crocs (because at six, she hadn’t developed a fashion sense or found Momo just yet).

The beach was an hour’s drive so they stopped for ice-cream on the way. This was where Yoyo had the bright idea of eating grilled fish ice cream with squid sauce. That went great, if one considers contracting food poisoning the next day to be fun.

Once they got to the beach, though, the two girls didn’t hesitate to start searching for materials they could use to build and decorate their sandcastles. Yoyo’s castle fell apart almost immediately because she didn’t wet the sand enough. When she saw Nikki’s perfectly intact masterpiece, she got annoyed and destroyed it when her sister wasn’t looking. Both of them burst into tears and Nikki ran to her parents.

“Daddy! Yoyo ruined my castle!”

“Did not!”

“Did too!”

The squabble escalated to a full on sand fight with Nikki chasing Yoyo all across the beach and into the ocean. It wasn’t until Dad suggested they bury him in the sand that they calmed down.

“Mommy, look! Look!” Nikki cried, a bright, gummy smile on her face. “Dad’s stuck in the sand!”

“Nikki!” Yoyo covered her mouth in an attempt to shush her, but ended up getting sand in her mouth.

“Hey!”

While this was going on, Mom was relaxing on a beach chair. Long, pink hair sprawled around her. She was holding a silver reflector, presumably to get a tan. She lowered her oversized sunglasses to watch her kids play and smiled.

After swimming in the ocean and getting thoroughly soaked, they took a picture in front of the setting sun. All smiling, all happy, all peaceful.

Soon after, Mom announced that she had to leave.

“Gone to visit a friend far away,” Dad had said. “Should be back any day now.”

That day never came.

-x-

It’s raining. The sky is darker and cloudier. The air is colder. The tide is coming farther and farther in. Nikki knows that she should be heading home soon; that whatever thinking she needs to do can be done on the way back to Bobo’s house. But she can’t bring herself to.

The sand is damp and squishy beneath her feet. Her hair darkens. Starts sticking to her face. She can barely feel the hot rain rolling down her cheeks. She should’ve listened to Orange’s advice and brought rain-proof clothing, or at the very least an umbrella.

Does it have to rain so much in Wintermount? This city almost makes Ireland look like a desert in heat. And that place was practically underwater it was so wet. It was a beautiful country, though. She, Yoyo and Momo went to visit the Cliffs of Moher last summer while looking for their father, and the view was spectacular. Tall, green cliffs surrounding a vast, blue ocean  stretched as far as the eye could see. The sun melted into the horizon, leaving golden hues in its wake. It was truly worth the effort to get there in Nikki's opinion, but the minute they reached the cliffs, Momo fell flat on his face, crying out for grilled fish until it was time to leave.

“It’s beautiful,” Yoyo had said, an expression of wonder on her face. Then her face softened. Her eyes gained a faraway look.

“I wish Dad could see this.”

Nikki remained silent. Hesitantly, she took her sister’s trembling hand. She felt it tighten around her own, much like her heart as she thought of sharing this sight with her family.

-x-

“Nikki! There you are!”

Momo’s voice breaks her trance. Nikki’s suddenly aware of the harsh wind blowing against her face. She hears a roar of thunder in the distance.

Her vision is blurry. Her throat is unusually tight. She blinks quickly. She places her hand against her chest and clenches the material of her dress, taking a few breaths to steady herself. She puts on her usual smile and turns around to see Momo running towards her. Bobo is close behind with an umbrella in one hand and a towel in another.

“My goodness, Nikki,” Momo exclaims. “We were worried sick! What were you doing out here?”

Good ol’ Momo, she thought. Straight to the point as always.

“Just thinking,” she replies. Her smile turns sheepish. “Sorry for staying out so long.”

Momo sighs and crosses his arms. “Well. Make sure to tell us before you pull another stunt like that, young lady.” 

Nikki chuckles at the comment. “Roger that.”

Momo huffs before letting out a big yawn and climbing onto Bobo’s shoulder. He curls up and not even a few seconds later, he begins to snore. Bobo rolls her eyes at the cat before turning to Nikki.

“Ah, thank you,” Nikki says, giving her a grateful smile as she tries to take the towel from her. Bobo grasps her hand and pushes it down.

“Here. Let me.” Bobo stands on her toes and rubs the towel against Nikki’s hair to dry it.

They stand in silence for the next few minutes. It feels nice, having Bobo dry her hair. She has such a gentle, caring way of doing it. She likes it.

Suddenly she feels a hand caress her face through the towel. She looks at Bobo, confused. Her face feels warm all of a sudden.

“Your face was wet,” she explains. Her blue eyes are filled with concern.

Ah. “Just... the rain,” she says, a sheepish grin on her face. “Yeah.”

Bobo looks like she doesn’t believe her but doesn’t press on the issue. She strokes Nikki’s cheek one last time before turning.

“Let's go home,” she states. “Momo looks like he needs a bed.” She begins to walk away. Then she pauses and looks back. She smiles at Nikki and reaches out a hand. “You do, too.”

Nikki nods and takes her hand. Together, the three of them begin to head back to Wheat Field.

Her dad always told her that home was where memories are made. She wonders if, one day, she can call Miraland home too.

-fin-

#love nikki #love nikki dress up queen #love nikki fanfic #nikki the stylist #bobo love nikki #momo love nikki

[xpeachesncream]

hello nikki ✨ i actually started writing a very long ask but then put my phone down for 2 seconds and i totally ignore if it was sent to you and i didn’t finish it 😭😭 so here we go again 😫

soooo i was saying that i finally caught up the parts i needed to read to reach the famous chapter 11 of lowkey!! as soon as i start reading it, i was completely heartbroken for oc because damn, she doesn’t deserve that at all!! but it clearly leaves me wondering how did jungkook went from being the biggest sweetheart to the biggest dick so fast?? like why did he have to be so rude to oc in the last part?? but in a way, i feel oc should have told him earlier how she felt about him because maybe he wouldn’t have gone this wild so fast! it’s clear that they share so so much affection for one another and i love them so so much 😭😭😭 i truly hope oc isn’t going to forgive him this easily because jk has become a second seokjin and that girl doesn’t deserve that!!

EITHER WAY, I LOVE EVERYTHING YOU DO BABY!! I’VE BEEN TELLING YOU THAT A MILLION TIMES BUT ILL NEVER STOP SAYING IT ❤️❤️ YOURE BLOODY TALENTED AND IM SO HAPPY YOU CREATED THIS MASTERPIECE!! ❤️

CATIE 🥺 i cry, you are the sweetest thing and i absolutely love you with everything in me. thank you for your support and for always being there for me, i appreciate you so much 😭💗💗💗

and okay, yes absolutely it goes BOTH FRIGGIN WAYS! oc def could have communicated better but also jungkook— what the fuck??? lmao but things will unfold and oc will do her best to keep doing the damn thing like she always is, even if shes hurt. we luv our peanut and we got our girl! and sunmi! and boys! 😤

#asks #xpeachesncream #catie ✨ #jimidol #lowkey series

[overthehilly]

Camp Camp All Grown Up

Just how I think the Camp Campbell characters will be in 10-15 years. I just set their ages around like 22-25. Counselors are in their mid thirties. 

Max - Max went to Sleepy Peak community college to get his general education. During the summer he works at Camp Campbell (not his decision) and does some handy work around the camp. Max has a passion for guitar, woodworking, and secretly knitting, which comes in handy during the chilly season at Sleepy Peak. Max decided he wanted to become a teacher after realizing he can make a difference in kids life like David did with him. Not like he’d ever admit it though.

Nikki- Nikki worked year round at Camp Campbell and helped preserve the natural beauty of Sleepy Peak. After battling with Cameron Campbell, who wanted to make the camp into a four star resort, Nikki now owns the land and has turned into National Forest. She also takes kids at the local schools on adventure field trips. She is very popular around the town and does not plan to leave anytime soon.

Neil - Neil obviously did not stay anywhere near Camp Campbell, but he does visit his friends whenever he is free. Neil graduated from Northeastern College with a degree in computers and mechanical engineering. Neil started his own business by creating hyper-real simulations for the gaming industry, but ultimately started working with Space Kid (now Space Man) for NASA.

David- Nothing in the entire world would ever tear David away from Camp Campbell. David now works with Nikki to make sure the Camp is top notch, and to preserve the Sleepy Peak platypus. David also spends his time taking care of his kids, who of course love Camp Campbell as much as he does (not really they just want him to stop singing).

Gwen - Miraculously, Gwen’s degree did come in handy! She went back to school and became a psychiatrist. Gwen stays around Camp Camp just in case one of the kids get traumatized by Max or Nikki, or if some of the kids need a little something to make them chill out.

Space Kid- Space Kid/Man, or as he claims “Neil Armstrong II”, actually achieved his dream of entering space! Kind of. He works at NASA as a janitor at first, but now they use him to test space-like conditions. He did achieve to leave the atmosphere and go onto a burning satellite, but that’s because no one else wanted to do it. Space Kid also relies on Neil as being his best friend/brother figure. He also has matching coffee mugs for them that say Neil #1 and Neil #2.

Nerf - Nerf did not attend college after graduating, but instead tried to make a living doing blue collar jobs. He was a cook, construction worker, and delivery man. After a quick stint in jail for assault, he cleaned up his act and became a mechanic and owns a successful shop. Also after exploring his sexuality for many years, Nerf settled with his longtime partner Chris. They have two kids together and they seem to be very happy together.  

Nerris - Nerris has not changed a bit since she left Camp Campbell. She still plays magic games and even cosplays for a living. Nerris is very famous in the cosplay community and is a headliner at many convention across the world. She even created a tournaments for young girls that like to compete in magic games. Also after a long love/hate relationship, she began dating Harrison, but nothing is set in stone with them yet.

Harrison - Alongside Nerris being a famous cosplayer, Harrison became a great illusionist. Harrison upgraded his amatuer magic tricks to spectacular illusions and events that capture many fans. Harrison has made buildings disappear, escape a death maze, and even faked his death a couple times. Harrison has also thought of proposing to Nerris, but he lost the ring in an illusion he was practicing. Oh well.

Ered- Ered sadly did not make it that far in her extreme sport career. She won a few titles in local competitions, but did not qualify for any of the national events. Ered didn’t mind though, as she found a love for cars and worked with Nerf. Ered goes racing a couple times a week and hopes to get good enough to compete. Ered also has an on again off again relationship with Erin, the Flower Scouts, but keeps her options open.

Preston - Preston has appeared in all the productions he could get his thespian hands on. Whether it is Romeo and Juliet, or something student written, Preston will produce or act in anything just to get his name out there. After years of trying, Preston is now part of a traveling thespian group that performs improv and miniature plays. He is truly content with his life as he is surrounded by people that share his passion.

Dolph- Dolph was a struggling artist, even at time felt like he being scrutinized by a regime of oppression (okay no holocaust jokes). Dolph actually made it into art school and has been featured in many galleries with his symbolic masterpieces. Dolph will sometimes drop in and visit his friends, almost with no warning, and check out how their lives are doing. Mainly Dolph stays to himself, but is content with his fulfilling life of art, and juice. He loves juice.

#camp camp #cc max #cc nikki #cc neil #cc david #cc gwen #cc narrison #cc nerf #cc space kid #cc nerris #cc harrison #cc ered #cc dolph #cc preston #cc makki #cc future #camp campbell #cc cameron campbell