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atomic-insomnia · 1 year

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15 Interview Questions (for Amelia)

thanks for tagging me, @dotr-rose-love!

1. Are you named after anyone?

Eh, not directly. My mother thought it sounded “queenly;” same with my sister Matilda’s name. She was very concerned about that, my mother, sounding royal. You should’ve heard the airs she could put on.

2. When was the last time you cried?

*sarcastic grin* I’m not much for weepers or sob stories. It’d smear my mascara.

[Probably not since she was a kid or at least a young teenager; keeping her emotions hidden is one thing she considers deeply important. It’s partially to protect herself from being vulnerable, but at this point in her life she’s just made it a habit and struggles to honestly open up about anything.]

3. Do you have kids?

Oh Jesus Christ, I hope not! Haha!

4. Do you use sarcasm?

Noo, never.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

The shiny bits. *snort* No, if I’m being honest, I look for their general mood--like, is this someone who’s open to a conversation? Are they trying to go unnoticed? Do they seem the type to fly off the handle?

Now, what I do with that information, that all depends on the situation at hand.

6. What’s your eye color?

Nothin’ special, just...brown. Same old same old.

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

Hm...I’d say the two should go together. The happy ending’s worth nothing if you don’t get your thrills & chills leading up to it, and why put up with the scares if you don’t get a happy ending?

...But that’s what movies are for. Real life usually doesn’t play by those rules.

8. Any special talents?

Any sort of special talent you wish, darling. One look at you, and *snaps fingers* I can tell you all your most hidden secrets, your dreams, your desires--and your future. For a fee, of course. *wink*

[Probably her most useful talents are reading people--which is what all that ‘psychic’/’i can see your dreams’ nonsense really is--and adaptability. Find an unpredictable situation, then figure out a plan so you can say “mmm, just as I predicted, the Spirits were right”]

9. Where were you born?

Good Ol’ Harlem, New York New York. Nothing much to say here that hasn’t been said before by wordier people than me. There’s a lot for the newspapers to get rich suckers crying and wringing their hands about “the plight of the poor.” But there’s more than that. Sometimes I see people say the reason we’ve got so many artists is because art needs suffering--but that also means we’ve got people willing to turn suffering into art. Doesn’t it?

...Whoops, got off topic. Ignore me, haha, I must love to hear the sound of my own voice.

10. What are your hobbies?

I’m out every every night I can be, looking for someplace new to dance! If I really need a quiet night, I go to the moving pictures or a vaudeville theater for a few acts. Usually I only want action, but lately I’ve needed a break more and more often...

11. Have you any pets?

He prefers to be called an “assistant.”

[From across the room: “I heard that.”]

No, but I’ve never been one for animals in the house. ...That, and I can barely keep myself fed, I don’t want to be the one keeping something else alive.

12. What sports do you play/have played?

I’ve played baseball, by which I mean, I’ve swung a stick at a rubber ball and run around the pieces of cardboard we plopped down on the street for ‘bases.’ That was when I was a kid, way back when. Nowadays I only pay attention to sports to keep up with the betting odds.

13. How tall are you?

...Tall enough. What’s it to you?

[Somewhat of a sensitive subject as she’s usually as tall as or taller than most of the men around her]

14. Favorite subject in school?

Oh, easy! Arithmetic. I know, I don’t look the type. Of course, I got a lot more use of it outside of school--betting odds for the local race track, trade value of chewing gum vs. rouge powder...my teacher always told me the only value math had for a woman was budgeting household expenses. My household is a party of two and we both take care of ourselves, so I guess that means my teacher wasted her time, hm? I’m not bitter--genuinely, I’m not--I just can’t imagine wanting a life where you end up as either a repressed housewife, or a schoolmarm who’s jealous of the future repressed housewives in your class.

15. Dream job?

To not have to work, haha. Oh, I’d find a way to keep busy and fill my days--could you imagine spending all day lounging on a beach somewhere? They act like it’s a dream--yeah, because you’d fall asleep soon enough. No, but, look at what the ritzy set gets up to with all their money and free time--parties, vacations, and all the drama of who’s sleeping with who’s wife! Maybe instead of being one of them, I’d rather be the reporter selling them out to the tabloids.

Oh, I’m kidding. I just want the free champagne.

I’ll leave an open tag for anyone who wants to fill out these questions for their OCs!

#oc tag #oc amelia #beg borrow or steal

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janetang1 · 4 months

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alsjeblieft-zeg · 2 years

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371 of 2022

Habits That Offend Others: 1. Being more than five minutes late for an appointment 2. Picking your nose 3. Overly affectionate public displays of affection (PDA) 4. Picking your teeth in public 5. Overusing slang and “text speak” 6. Checking iPhone/iPad at dinner. 7. Eating with mouth open 8. Having alligator arms (never picking up checks) 9. Popping/snapping gum in public 10. Talking during movies Bad Habits That Waste Your Time: 11. Twitter 12. Running errands in rush hour 13. Reddit 14. Watching commercials, infomercials, or advertisements 15. Spending time worrying about spam comments, negative reviews, and Internet trolls 16. Facebook addiction 17. Watching reality television 18. Going to the mall or shopping to kill time, not for any specific need 19. Overindulging on Netflix 20. Video games 21. Finishing a book you hate, just to get it done 22. Watching random videos that scroll across your feed about someone’s child or cat 23. Worrying about things that could go wrong 24. Watching an endless stream of YouTube videos 25. Trying to change another person’s opinions 26. Chasing small money, when your business has a bigger vision 27. Reading Buzzfeed and other mindless entertainment Bad Habits That Impact Your Health: 28. Not getting enough sleep 29. Eating past 8 p.m. 30. Not telling your doctor the truth 31. Overeating 32. Not protecting yourself from the sun 33. Eating too much red meat 34. Poor posture 35. Smoking eCigarettes 36. Spending too much time looking at a screen 37. Not dealing with stress 38. Not maintaining preventative health care 39. Not drinking enough water 40. Putting your health last 41. Distracted driving 42. Not moisturizing 43. Obsessing over things that have already happened 44. Wearing headphones for too many hours 45. Wearing the wrong shoes 46. Frequently wearing high heels for too long Bad Habits Related to Diet and Nutrition: 47. Giant portion sizes 48. Mindless eating 49. Excessive salt 50. Drinking soda 51. Drinking diet soda 52. Eating to quickly 53. Eating candy 54. Drinking coffee 55. Eating white sugar 56. Nibbling while cooking 57. Skipping breakfast 58. Eating chocolate 59. Emotional eating 60. Drinking energy drinks 61. Fast food 62. Eating dairy 63. Eating gluten 64. Too many meals away from home 65. Having meat for most meals 66. Adding too much sugar 67. Too many liquid calories 68. Snacking 69. Too many processed foods Poor Productivity Habits: 70. Procrastination 71. Multi-tasking 72. Not removing distractions/time-wasters 73. Not keeping the big picture in mind 74. Being a perfectionist 75. Not having a work routine 76. Not delegating 77. Being overloaded with information/options 78. Having a huge to-do list 79. Saying “yes” too easily/too often 80. Daydreaming 81. Not automating recurring tasks 82. Being indecisive 83. Waiting for the “right” time to work 84. Over scheduling tasks 85. Spending too much time planning 86. Sitting at your desk all day/never taking breaks 87. Over-checking email 88. Refusing to learn new skills 89. Watching TV right after work Bad Money Habits That Hurt Your Financial Situation: 90. Spending to the limit on credit cards 91. Emotional shopping 92. Not prioritizing high-interest debt 93. Only making minimum payments on credit 94. Buying lottery tickets 95. Overspending 96. Paying too many ATM fees 97. Buying coffee, lunch, and snacks every day 98. Not finding the best rates 99. Unused gym memberships 100. Buying holiday gifts at the last minute 101. Gambling 102. Not sticking to you budget 103. Not taking advantage of a 401(k) match plan 104. Overpaying on entertainment Negative Habits That Increase Your Monthly Bills: 105. Staring into an open fridge (while all cold air goes out) 106. Using incandescent bulbs rather than CFLs 107. Leaving the lights on when you leave the room 108. Taking baths rather than showers 109. Leaving cell phone plugged in, even when it is fully charged 110. Leaving “vampire” electronics plugged in (electronics that draw power even when turned off) 111. Not programming your thermostat 112. Washing only partial loads of laundry or dishes 113. Leaving the heat on when you leave the house 114. Falling asleep with the TV on 115. Not installing storm windows 116. Not cleaning out air filters 117. Leaving fans on in empty rooms 118. Not using energy star efficient appliances Nervous Habits That Negatively Impact Your Social Interactions: 119. Talking to yourself 120. Biting fingernails 121. Unconscious pen clicking 122. Cracking your knuckles 123. Lick or bite lips 124. Humming to yourself 125. Biting your pen/pencil 126. Twirl and pull hair 127. Grinding teeth 128. Rushed speech 129. Tapping your foot 130. Touching your face 131. Fidgety fingers 132. Fiddling with keys Personal Bad Habits: 133. Using devices late at night 134. Staying up late 135. Sleeping in 136. Spending too much time online 137. Slouching at the computer 138. Leaving your keys and wallet in random places 139. Spending too much time and effort acquiring “things” 140. Being all work and no play 141. Watching porn 142. Littering 143. Breaking promises to yourself 144. Spacing out and not paying attention to what people say during conversations 145. Not returning items you borrow 146. Freeloading 147. Stereotyping 148. Speeding 149. Excessively checking your hair/eyebrows/makeup/nails 150. Falling asleep in class or training sessions 151. Worrying but not taking action 152. Swearing in public 153. Leaving the toilet seat up 154. Talking with mouth full Poor Fitness Habits: 155. Being sedentary (sitting for hours without moving) 156. Not warming up before exercise 157. Not doing any muscle strengthening activities 158. Not taking rest days 159. Skipping gym days 160. Not cooling down/stretching after exercise 161. Resting too long between sets 162. Not varying cardio 163. Taking dangerous stimulants 164. Using bad form 165. Rewarding exercise with junk food 166. Not drinking enough water while exercising 167. Working out on an empty stomach 168. Lifting excessive weights 169. Improper stretching 170. Overtraining 171. Phoning it in 172. Taking steroids Bad Grooming Habits: 173. Not bathing every day 174. Forgetting to shave 175. Wearing yesterday’s clothes 176. Not washing off makeup before going to bed 177. Not flossing 178. Too much cologne/perfume 179. Not cleaning ear wax 180. Not cleaning fingernails 181. Not brushing after every meal 182. Not washing your face before going to bed 183. Never moisturizing 184. Never brushing your tongue 185. Not changing sheets weekly Toxic Relationship Habits: 186. Staying in a toxic relationship 187. Not practicing safe sex 188. Kissing and telling 189. Going to social events/parties out of obligation, not desire or love 190. Engaging with people who are judgmental and gossipy 191. Not having regular sex (idk how this is toxic but ok) << me neither lol 192. Telling secrets 193. Losing focus when talking to others 194. Trying to change your significant other 195. Arguing in public 196. Avoiding ALL arguments 197. Keeping score 198. Being melodramatic 199. Feeling it is impossible to live alone (try to live in Belgium lol) 200. Being jealous 201. Excessive complaining 202. Always being negative around others 203. Being pessimistic about everything 204. Not being able to network 205. Never listening to the advice/opinions of others Bad Habits That Are Just Gross 206. Sleeping with makeup on 207. Eating too fast/not chewing 208. Not washing hands 209. Not flossing 210. Not brushing your teeth 211. Picking scabs 212. Hair picking 213. Skin picking 214. Not cleaning keyboard 215. Dropping food and eating it anyway 216. Not cleaning your cell phone 217. Not covering your mouth when you sneeze 218. Popping zits in public 219. Chewing tobacco 220. Leaving hair in the drain 221. Scratching your butt ( 222. Spitting in public 223. Belching in public Bad Habits That Show Lack of Self-Esteem: 224. Saying “yes” to everything 225. Negative self-talk/self-criticism 226. Back down when opinions are challenged by others 227. Being indecisive with simple decisions 228. Fearing failure 229. Taking constructive criticism personally 230. Sweating the small stuff 231. Afraid to share your opinions in a conversation 232. Giving up too easily 233. Comparing yourself negatively to others 234. Slouching 235. Fidgeting 236. Claiming your successes are just luck 237. Buying things because others like them, not because you like them 238. Social withdrawal 239. Excessive preoccupation with personal problems 240. Letting fear stop you from trying new things Bad Conversation & Social Skills Habits: 241. Forgetting names of people you meet 242. Repeating yourself 243. Being unfriendly 244. Not holding eye contact 245. Rambling 246. Excessive throat clearing 247. Forgetting what you’ve told someone 248. Gossiping 249. Finishing other people’s sentences 250. Interrupting others 251. Monopolizing the conversation 252. Saying “ummm” and “ahhh” frequently 253. Picking fights 254. Being overly critical 255. Being argumentative 256. Being a know-it-all 257. Bragging 258. Name dropping 259. Overuse of slang 260. Exaggerating Bad Organizing & Cluttering Habits: 261. Arranging items instead of cleaning them 262. Letting your wires/cables become snarled and tangled nightmares 263. Throwing your clothes on the floor, not in the hamper 264. Not dusting 265. Not taking off shoes when you enter your home 266. Saving broken things to fix…someday 267. Having no schedule for decluttering/organizing/cleaning 268. Keeping items/clothes you haven’t worn or used in years 269. Buying stuff you don’t need only to keep it at home 270. Putting dishes in the sink and not washing them 271. Hoarding Bad Habits You Can’t Fix Alone: 272. Compulsive lying 273. Bullying 274. Physical abuse 275. Mental abuse 276. Stealing 277. Violent behavior 278. Cheating on spouse 279. Excessive/uncontrollable alcohol use 280. Drugs 281. Smoking (if habit is really bad) 282. Being aggressive toward others (fights, abuse) 283. Overmedicating

#survey #bolding survey #categorised survey #themed survey

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miskatebishop · 2 years

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i can't lie, disney+ is so unusable it's easier to just pirate :/

#a) won't load #b) doesn't properly register what you're watching #c) algorithm from hell #d) genuinely SO hard to look through like ms girl youve got an alphabetical website of almost every movie and show ever #they have so many movies that you literally cannot find ANYTHING. like nobody's watching those dumbass sequels and prequels #the budget for disney+ was 5 dollars and a stick of gum and i bet their programmers are overworked and very tired #disney+#disney

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awheckery · 4 years

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Would you mind sharing your brioche recipe?

I DO NOT MIND AT ALL

BUCKLE UP KIDS

GOOD DAMN GLUTEN-FREE BRIOCHE

250g (8.8 oz) cornstarch OR potato starch OR arrowroot starch

150g (5.3 oz) tapioca starch

100g (3.5 oz) brown rice flour

50g (1.8 oz) millet flour

50g (1.8 oz) sorghum flour

30g (1 oz) gluten-free oat flour

20g (.7 oz) teff flour

1 tbsp xanthan gum OR guar gum

1 tsp salt

20g (.7 oz) yeast

1 ½ tsp sugar

80 mL (2.7 oz or 1/3 c.) warm water

25g flaxmeal, preferably golden

80 mL (2.7 oz or 1/3 c.) hot water

40g (1.4 oz) honey

50g (1.8 oz) sugar

5 large eggs at room temperature

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

113g (4 oz or 1 stick) butter plus ~50g (2 oz or ½ stick) separate (it should be possible to substitute coconut or olive oil, but I have not tested this)

320 mL (10.8 oz or 1 1/3 c.) half and half OR high fat unsweetened dairy substitute

NOTE ON MEASUREMENTS: Gluten free baking involves more precision than most other baking, because the flours weigh and behave differently from wheat flours. You could try to convert to volumetric measures with Google but I can’t guarantee that’ll work. This has been tested a hundred times or more with consistent, predictable results. Weigh your ingredients.

Preheat your oven to 170 degrees F (or 75 degrees C).

Measure your flours, xanthan/guar gum and salt and whisk them together thoroughly in a mixing bowl and set to the side.

In a separate, large mixing bowl, combine yeast, 1 ½ tsp sugar and warm (NOT HOT, you will kill your yeast) water, and set in a warm space. Set aside and ignore it for five to ten minutes, or until it’s frothed up and doubled in size.

While the yeast is waking up, in a third small bowl (I know, we’re using all your bowls), combine your flaxmeal and the hot water until it turns into a goopy slurry.

Now, add the sugar and honey to the yeast bowl, along with the flax slurry, apple cider vinegar and four of the eggs. Mix well, then add a half cup or so of your flour mixture. If you’ve baked any sort of bread before, you know that we are making a sponge! This is the part where, if you’ve never made gluten-free bread before, things begin to look a little weird. It's gonna look kind of like thin, foamy cake batter, and that’s normal. Set aside until it’s just about doubled in size.

You don’t wanna let it over-rise because these gums and flax make great substitutes, but they don’t trap the gases from the yeast quite as effectively as gluten. In yet another (microwave safe) bowl, melt the first stick of butter. Stir in the half and half and microwave for thirty to forty-five seconds, or until warm-ish.

Now, mix in the rest of your flour blend to the sponge, adding in alternating increments with the butter/half-and-half mixture. If you’ve made gluten-having bread before, here is where things start to be very distressing, because this is not the sort of dough you can knead. In point of fact, this isn’t the kind of dough you can just throw on a stone in a nice ball; you need a pan. (No, seriously, pan not optional). This recipe makes either two small loaves, or a bunch of rolls, or a small loaf and rolls.

With a flourless cooking spray, liberally spray the interior of your pan(s) and transfer the dough so the pans are approximately 2/3 full. I recommend a spatula, and also spraying your hand with the cooking spray to assist said spatula, because this stuff is STICKY, like soda bread from hell. Smooth the tops of the dough as best you can, and slot your pans into your low-temp oven, because unbeknownst to you, you’ve constructed a no-budget proofer box! Set a timer for fifteen minutes and use the time to wash up, because by now your kitchen is a small disaster area.

Once your timer goes off, take your bread out to continue to relax and breathe in a cozy place in your kitchen and raise your oven temp to 375 degrees F (190 C). While the oven’s heating up, crack your last egg, whisk it, and brush it over the top of your dough with a pastry brush. Once your oven’s preheated, take a very sharp knife and gently saw some slashes in the top of your dough. (You want the slashes because they’re a.) necessary for rising and b.) attractive.)

For rolls, set your timer for fifteen to twenty minutes (loaves need closer to thirty or forty), but keep an eye on the oven. You want a golden brown top and ovens tend to vary on how they hold temp, but you’ll know they’re done when you jab them with a thermometer and they’re 190 degrees F (85-ish degrees C) in the center. Melt the final half stick of butter and give your bread a glaze while they’re still warm.

That’s a lot of very specific words, and maybe you don’t trust like that. Maybe you want visual proof that this isn’t a fool’s errand. Okay. Here’s a roll:

Huh. Whaddaya know, that looks pretty bread-like. But what about the interiors? You tell me.

That thar appears to be… hmm. What’s the word I’m looking for… ah yes. BREAD. IT’S BREAD. IT’S HELLA BREAD. IT IS IN FACT A BRIOCHE.

When it’s warm, it’s light and fluffy like some kind of miraculous cloud. When it’s cooled, it’s dense and hearty rib-sticking peasant bread. It freezes well. It thaws fine. Toast it, use it for sandwiches, crumble it up for breadcrumbs to make meatballs, drag it around a soup bowl to sop up the broth. LIVE YOUR TRUTH.

It makes bread pudding so good you see see god and french toast that’ll make your knees go out, no lie.

I KNOW WHAT I’M ABOUT.

#Anonymous #also tagging #ms-demeanor #recipe #long post #gluten free #brioche #allergy friendly #sucks to be you if you want a 'normal' bread recipe #mark bittman probably has one #I have made this with no gums before #subbing in chia seeds instead #it looked really fucking weird and the rise was compromised but it was still tasty

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jimlingss · 4 years

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The Colour of Our Voices [6]

Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 6.5 OR Chapter 7

➜ Words: 4.1k

➜ Genres: 98% Fluff, 2% Angst, Slice of Life, Broadway!AU

➜ Summary: He wasn’t supposed to hear. He wasn't supposed to know. But the instant Jimin came into your life and pulled the curtains back, you couldn't hide backstage anymore. You were no longer merely a phantom of the opera.

cr.

You try not to let the negative, disgusting feelings get to you. But envy is a monster that keeps hovering over your shoulder, always peering at what you’re doing, always making petty comments in your weakest moments. You try to tune it out, but it constantly tempts you in whispers to be honest with yourself. It’s hard to keep it at bay too when every turn you make, you see Jimin’s face. From the moment you step outside the comfort of your apartment to when you get back — he never gives you a moment to compose yourself, to heal, to overcome the green monster. He sticks to your side like gum and you can’t help the way your resentments build into hatred. “Did you hear?” there are murmurs as you’re cleaning up a spill on the floor, knees sore and bruised blue. The director spilled his coffee and immediately pointed at you and told you to take care of the mess. “What?” “Jimin got a role in the Les Mis production.” “What? Really?” she gasps. “That’s impressive. No wonder he’s not here today.” “I knew he could do it, he’s cute. I’d let him have his way with me.” “God, you’re never satisfied, aren’t you?” There are snickers and giggles. “But he must be really good. Didn’t he just come here too? But we should see if we can get tickets to watch.” “Good idea. I’d love to see him on stage,” she hums. “I wonder if he’ll quit this job.” “Probably. Working as an intern here is pretty much working as a slave for the director. It’s a shitty ass job,” she mutters and you can feel their heavy stares on your backside. “Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.” “Shame,” she sing-songs. “I was hoping he’d stick around.” Your hand crumples into a tight fist, into the dirty cloth that’s stained your skin. Then you scrub harder until your fingernails hurt, until it’s as painful as the way your eyes sting. // Your appetite is gone. You can’t swallow your food despite having skipped lunch — the director had sent you on a wild goose chase to pick up a package at the post office and by the time you were done, your lunch break was long over. You play with dinner using your fork, and Jimin doesn’t notice. He keeps talking about all about him and his accomplishments. You didn’t want to be here in the first place, but he insisted on going out for a celebratory dinner, pressured you into it even when you tried rejecting him. And here you are. “So I came in today for the first time, and it was so exciting. You wouldn’t believe it, Y/N. You were right when you said the Phantom production was low-budget. These sets that some other musicals have are a world’s difference.” “I see.” Jimin stuffs his cheeks with french fries, getting ketchup at the corner of his mouth. “I’m starting officially on Monday, so I’ll probably quit my internship. I already gave the director a call to let him know tomorrow will be my last day and he sounded pretty happy for me. He even said he’d write a recommendation letter if I ever needed one.” You drop the fork in your bowl, retracting your hands into your lap. “Wow, that’s really great, Jimin.” “I don’t think I’ll need a letter any time soon.” Jimin smiles and shakes his head, sipping on his soda. “I’m just so psyched to begin rehearsals. They ran me through a few things and what my costume will be and what it’ll look like before we perform in a few months. Sometimes I just can’t believe that I’m actually there. It’s just surreal to think about how I’ll be on stage. Everything at that production is so amazing, Y/N, completely different from Phantom’s production, you should’ve seen it.” “Yeah. Wish I could’ve….” “And now people are taking my coffee orders! Can you believe that?!” You can’t even muster a smile. There’s a thick lump formed in your throat that hurts to talk past and you’re holding back from crying, not wanting to lose the last shreds of your pride. Jimin doesn’t know that you never asked to hear any of this, that his innocent gloating is grating to your ears. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” He gives a cheesy grin and then bites into his burger and puts it down after wiping his mouth free of the sauce. “Seriously, if not for you, I probably wouldn’t have made the role. I didn’t know what I was doing before you taught me the ins and outs of the industry. I bet I’d still be at home rolling around in bed.” Your tight lipped mouth attempts to pull. “You’re welcome.” “I’d love to make it up to you some time...s-so...uh...I-I’ve been meaning to ask something.” Jimin nervously laughs and scratches the back of his neck. You wonder why you’re here, why you’re allowing yourself to feel this misery. You should be at home, underneath the covers of your own bed. Not out here in the cold feeling humiliated. You’ve wasted enough time on Jimin and he’s gotten what he wanted from you. The two of you are no less than strangers. “O-Of course, only if you want to, no pressure whatsoever, but there was this theater show coming up tomorrow, I was wondering, well I wanted to ask, um, if you wanted to j-join, I got tickets—” You don’t hear him. Too busy in your own thoughts. You grab your bag. “I’m not feeling very well, Jimin. I think I’m going to head home first.” His eyes are owlish, big and rounded, blinking at you. The boy looks at your unfinished food and then back at you in alarm. “Are you okay? Do you need me to bring you to the hospital? What’s wrong?” “No, I’m fine. I’m just—” You sigh, unable to come up with a coherent explanation. “—tired.” Tired from the day. Tired of your life. Tired of him. Jimin stands when you do. “We can go back together.” “No, it’s fine,” you insist as lies roll off your tongue, “I might actually stop by a friend’s house tonight.” “Do you want me to walk you to the subway then? I can go right now—” “No, it’s okay. Promise.” You can’t bring yourself to smile at him, to spend one more second in his presence. You’re scared you might permanently hate Jimin. “See you.” “Bye…” His hand lifts to wave, watching you walk away. Once you’ve disappeared from sight, Jimin dejectedly plops back down into the seat of his booth. He peeks into his pocket and sighs as he looks at the two tickets to the show. He shouldn’t have been so nervous. He wonders what he should do with them now. But next time. Next time for sure, he’ll ask you on a date.

You’re strung around a lot. You realized this after your many encounters with Jimin, but everyone in your entire life has strung you around like a pet for their own amusement. Even now, the director brings you places to do his dirty work for him while making you believe that he’ll give you a reference someday, that he’ll give you a chance. But if you’re honest with yourself, you know he’ll never do it. He’ll never pick up his goddamn phone and call an agent for you. He’ll never give you the praise you deserve for being his ghost singer. And these facts alone are enough for you to want to grab the nearest brick available and smash it on his dumb head. But you can’t do that as irritated and as pissed off as you are these days. You can’t go to prison and you can’t quit this shitty job. You need money from somewhere, and you won’t be succeeding in any auditions any time soon — you know that too. You’re stuck. Trapped in your own inability to succeed. Stranded in your own routine. Even when the entire world keeps moving. You feel like you’re in a glass case, a phone booth in the middle of the metropolis, watching the universe continue, watching how others move past you. “Intern. Intern!” “Huh?” “Did you not hear me?” The director sighs and rubs his temples. “Don’t make me regret bringing you here, alright?” Except he didn’t bring you here willingly. Taeyeon couldn’t come to the networking event — the stupid party for ‘charity’ that was actually meant for the sponsor to brag about his wealth. The invitation became open and he saw you staring at him intently, so he reluctantly told you to come with. But now the director was acting like he has bestowed onto you a huge honour. “Go get one of the waiters to bring those finger food platters to us. They keep running out by the time they get to this side of the room.” “Yes, sir.” You remind yourself this job is a privilege. A privilege. You cut through the room and crowds that make you sweaty. It feels as though everyone’s eyes are on your backside despite knowing that logically no one cares. You’re a ghost in the sea of fancy dresses and glamour. “—And so, one day I just told him that of course we had to eat during the layover, we were in Italy for god’s sake. It’s eat-aly for a reason.” Seokjin seems to be enjoying himself. He’s drawn in a crowd with his handsomeness and godly appearance. Even his ridiculous jokes rouse laughter. You’d probably giggle along if he ever wanted to entertain you, but at this point, you might end up bursting into tears after laughing. “You’re so funny, Jin.” “Am I? Hmm. Always thought I should do stand-up comedy.” You continue making your way, catching a waiter walking past and in an attempt to grab his attention, you dive straight through a hoard of people. Apologies roll off your tongue while they grunt. But by the time you get to the other side, the waiter is gone. Instead you see someone else — the person that you wanted to see the least in the whole entire world. “Actually, I started in community theater.” “Oh, really?! What did you do?” “Well, I did a lot, but I think my favourite role was when I did Peter Pan. That was pretty fun and a really good experience.” “I can see that.” The suited man hums. “Can’t you?” “Yes.” The woman on the man’s arm is swooning over the younger boy. “I think that role is rather fitting.” The brunette is dressed in a well-pressed suit that looks brand new, as if he had just got it off the rack yesterday in haste. But he looks comfortable surrounded in his new group, probably members of his production. You watch for a second from afar, stuck at another standstill, feet rooted in the ground. Jimin gets along with people easily. He’s only shy on the surface. It’s smart to talk to so many people and to expand his horizons, to actively socialize. He’ll probably get more connections here at the event. It’s only up from here. You’re envious that Jimin is being presented as a new Broadway actor while you’re just an intern. Though you sigh with a smile despite your inner turmoil. For a second, one small second, you’re almost happy for him— But the timing is poor. As you turn away to fully disappear, he catches you out of the corner of his eye. And Jimin takes a step forward, calling your name out loud, clear and crisp in the air. You shut your eyes, hoping your ears are mistaken, but they aren’t. He dismisses himself from his new colleagues and comes over to you with the biggest smile. “I didn’t know you would be here, Y/N!.” “Y-Yeah, um, I’m here as an intern.” “Oh, I didn’t even see the director. I should go say hi.” Jimin glances up and down at you. You wonder if he’s judging your meager attire when everyone else is glamorous. But you don’t let your thoughts stray too far into self-deprecation. You inhale a huge breath, trying your best to get along with him. “You look like you’re having a fun time.” “Hardly,” Jimin admits. “I just came since everyone else did and I didn’t want to be that new guy who didn’t come to social events, y’know?” “Yeah, I get it.” You wonder when it became so hard to talk to him. “The food here is actually pretty good, have you had a chance to try it yet?” “No, not yet.” “I recommend the tiramisu and truffle fries. It’s delicious. Here we should go to the buffet table.” “Actually, Jimin, I have to go—” “There’s something I want to tell you,” he interjects with a softened smile. Jimin waits patiently for your response, so you nod, following him for the sake of not being awkward. The two of you come to a quieter spot by the corner of the room where the tables are. “What is it?” “Earlier I was just walking around trying to make conversation with different people and I spoke to this guy and we had a pretty regular conversation, but it turns out he’s the casting director of an upcoming, original production!” Jimin’s excitedly rambling, sharing the good news with you as if you’re close friends. “It’s called When Summer Meets Winter, and there’s nothing official yet, but he said he really likes me. Do you think I’ll get a part?” You don’t know why he’s telling you this. “I...I don’t know, Jimin.” “Can you believe it though? If I had another role lined up right after this one?!” “Congratulations,” you deadpan. “Well nothing’s decided yet.” Jimin sheepishly smiles, unaware of how he was literally pouring kilograms of salt into your wounds, gallons of gas into the fire. “Is this what you wanted to tell me? I should really get going, Jimin. I’m on the job right now. And I can’t afford to get fired.” “Wait.” He grabs your wrist before you can turn away from him, desperate eyes asking you to stay for a moment longer. “I...a-actually wanted to ask you something…..and I’ve been meaning to do it for a while now but I never really got the chance, well that’s not true, I had a lot of chances but I chickened out because I was a coward—” “What?” you sigh in exasperation, annoyed beyond belief. “What is it, Jimin?” He looks you dead in the eyes. “Will you come with me to an improv class?” “Pardon?” “There’s an upcoming improv class. I heard about it, and it’s free. It’s just that we had gone to so many shows before but we never got a real chance to participate, so I thought it would be really fun.” You don’t want to. Thinking about it makes you scared. And you still haven’t healed from your most recent failure. “I don’t think so, Jimin...I…” “Please?” he insists, “I think it would be so much fun.” “I’ve been pretty busy—” “I haven’t even told you when it was yet! How would you know if you’re busy?” Jimin laughs, the sound bubbling out of his throat. “And plus, they have a lot of days available.” There’s an extended silence. It’s too much work to reject him, to find an excuse, to make this more awkward than it needs to be. You just want to leave, want him to let you go. So you agree. “Fine.” He grins. “Okay. It’s this Friday at seven. I’ll see you then?” “Sure. But—” You’re interrupted by a yell. “Y/N! Where did you go? My god, I sent you to do one task and you got distracted like this?” The director is appalled as he comes over, shaking his head, outright humiliating you. And Jimin smiles. “Director Kang! How are you?” “Jimin!” The older man smiles and hugs him. “What’s my favourite intern doing here?” “I came with my new production team.” “Up on the high ranks now, aren’t you?” Director Kang slings his arm over Jimin’s shoulder as if the pair of them are sharing a secret. “Make sure to remember who got you there. It’s good to show gratitude.” Jimin steals a glance at you. “I remember.” But by then, you’ve already turned away, grabbing the nearest waiter and asking him to bring over a platter of finger foods for the director. People might see you as a timid mat to walk all over. But you just really itch to set the whole place on fucking fire. // Friday comes too quickly, and once you step outside to face the consequences of your decisions, Jimin is there to greet you with a smile as if to show how perfect his life is going. On the way there, he summarizes his week and somehow gives extensive details — from the rehearsals to the new things he learnt, to how amazing the cast is and what it’s like to work with people who are passionate about musicals. You tune him out, and fortunately you arrive soon enough. It’s a dingy entrance way and a hall that leads to a lit studio. But as skeptical as you were, there’s quite a few people there. There are around thirteen folks who are both friendly as they are invasive. Though Jimin is comfortable with them while you linger behind him. It quiets down when the teacher steps into the room. “Hello everyone.” The blonde with bright eyes flashes a boxy smile. He’s dressed in a loose dress shirt, tight trousers, a sophisticated but casual outfit. And he’s charming, outspoken, drawing the attention of the crowd. “Looks like we have some new faces today, so I’ll introduce myself. My name is Kim Taehyung. I am an aspiring screenplay writer and producer, currently assisted to Director Lee if you know who he is. And today, I am your improv teacher, director, leader, whatever you want to call it.” Kim Taehyung…. Everyone goes around the room to introduce themselves, and your fixation on Taehyung shatters when Jimin, next to you, announces himself. “Hello! My name is Park Jimin, and I’m currently working towards my Broadway debut.” “Oh, impressive,” Taehyung genuinely expresses, eyes twinkling with curiosity. “What production are you in?” “Les Mis.” “Wow.” He nods with a smile and looks off at you. You feel the entire focus of the room shift onto you and you begin sweating, uncomfortable, panicking. “I’m Y/N…” You cringe at how awkward you are, at how quiet your volume is. Others have to murmur to each other to confirm what your name is. But Taehyung smiles kindly. “And are you interested in improv, Y/N?” “A little.” He laughs, a glorious sound that’s chirpy and melodic. “Well, let’s hope it changes to a lot by the time this is over.” Taehyung turns to the class afterwards, reassuring that it’s all for fun while explaining what the theme is for today. He also explains the rules, what to do, and how to set up a scene. “Oh no, a man’s been shot!” someone screams, startling you to death. “I’m the paramedic.” Someone else steps in right away. “He can only be saved by true love’s kiss.” “Oh my god, George!” Another comes colliding onto the set up scene, next to the man laying on the ground. Someone asks if she’s his girlfriend and she responds with, “I’m his sister.” It arouses some stiff laughter. “Well that’s awkward. We need someone to kiss him!” “Gross, I’m not kissing him,” the supposed sister drops him back onto the ground. “He has herpes.” “She’s right.” Jimin seizes the opportunity and comes in. “I’m his doctor and he’s contracted herpes through kissing raccoons.” “Are you sure that it’s herpes and not rabies?” “I’m sure.” “They’re very different things.” “I’m aware,” Jimin says smoothly, thinking on his toes, “But we need someone to kiss him stat.” “Well, you’re the doctor! Can’t you go through the medical procedures and kiss him?!” “Sorry. Can’t risk contracting diseases. It’s protocol.” Someone on the scene asks who they’ll contact now. But it’s so bizarre. You don’t know what’s going on — you can’t keep up — it’s happening too quickly and each time you gather the courage to jump into it, the development is too fast for you to conjure more ideas of what to do or say. But you’re the next person to step in and everyone turns to you. You’re apprehensive, nervous. You know you’re bad, that you’ll mess up— “You can do it,” Taehyung murmurs, having watched the scene unfold. His arms are crossed, but his grin is welcoming and warm. He encourages you with a gentle gesture. You clear your throat and try strutting into the scene. “I-I’m nurse Joy. I was told there was a bachelor party at this venue?” Taehyung laughs. “Creative.” The scene unravels in absolute absurdity. You exchange a look with Jimin before your eyes stray off to Taehyung and stay there. It’s surprisingly fun. It’s not so nerve wracking when everyone’s on their toes, when there’s no real audience or anyone to scrutinize you. Everyone’s a part of the performance. “There’s no right or wrong,” Taehyung tells, approaching your side as another scene is unfolding. “Try to relax more into it.” “Okay.” You take his advice and he smiles, endeared. An hour eventually passes and class is dismissed. Everyone bids farewell and you’re gathering your belongings when Taehyung comes up to you while wearing his coat, balancing his own briefcase. “You’re really good. It was your first time, right?” “Y-Yeah.” You try not to show how flustered you are over his praise. “Thanks, I don’t think I’m any good.” “Don’t say that. It all comes with practice and hard work.” “And luck,” you add. Not everything can be achieved through perseverance — you realized that a long time ago. “That too. But did I end up changing your mind?” “About what?” “Are you a little more interested in improv?” You consider it for a moment before becoming honest with your emotions. “A little…?” “Only a little?” Kim Taehyung gives an exaggerated huff, obviously teasing you. “Aw, jeez, I failed, didn’t I? I was hoping you’d love it by the time it was over.” “Maybe next time I’ll love it more,” you banter back to him and he laughs. “So I’ll see you again?” “Maybe.” You shrug. Taehyung smiles, the corner of his mouth tilted gingerly. He glances down at his shoes before peeking up at you past his bangs and thick lashes. “What do you do, Y/N?” he asks in a husky timbre that has your chest stuttering. But you don’t know what to say. You’re embarrassed to tell him you’re an intern. You’ve never been proud of that title and somehow, you find yourself not wanting to tell him. So you opt to evade it playfully. “Why do you want to know?” He hums a low note. “Because I’d love to know your availability—” “Y/N?” He’s interrupted by a soft voice and when the both of you turn, you find Jimin has been standing at the doorway, having watched the entire interaction. His cheeks are pink and he tensely hitches a thumb over his shoulder. “We...should get going. Wouldn’t want to miss the train…” You look back at Taehyung. “Um, I really had a fun time today. Thanks for teaching…” “It’s my pleasure, Y/N.” You like the way he calls your name. The way the syllables roll off his tongue. It sounds nice. Pleasant. When you walk out the door and glance back, you see his boxy grin and cheerful wave. You wave back to him with a kind of smile that hasn’t reached your features in a long time. “Did...you have fun?” Jimin peeks at you as you’re on your way back. “Yeah, surprisingly.” You smile up at the night sky before turning to Jimin. “Taehyung’s super nice, huh?” “Yeah. He is. He’s pretty good looking too.” “I know, right?” You giggle. “I thought I was the only one who noticed.” The two of you keep walking, but you don’t realize when Jimin’s steps slow. You don’t come to see the dismayed expression on his face. It’s the first time in a while that you feel this good.

#bts fanfic #bts scenario #jimin fanfic #jimin fluff #jimin scenario #park jimin

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overthinkingkdrama · 4 years

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Jona’s Top 10 Dramas of 2019

A couple words about how I do these lists. Firstly, I only count as “2019 dramas” shows that finished airing in 2019, therefore dramas that started airing in 2018 but finished in the early months of 2019 have been included in my process, but dramas that are currently airing and will finish in 2020 have not been included. Secondly, this list is more based on my subjective experience with each of these dramas than my objective assessment on things like acting, writing and production values, though naturally I take the latter into account when forming my opinions.

Also: Yay! This year I managed to write a full review on every drama that wound up in my top ten, so feel free to click the link on each title and check those out if you want to read my detailed thoughts.

10. Hotel Del Luna

I have a somewhat Stockholm Syndrome-y relationship with Hong Sisters dramas. Though a lot of them are not excellent, or stumble a bit in the execution, I can’t seem to stop watching them. And yes, I’ve seen them all. Something about their particular blend of fantasy, romance and camp just works for me. I do think Hotel Del Luna plays to their strengths. Somewhat like if they got to take a second run at Master’s Sun but with their dream budget, and it’s just fun. This drama is gorgeous to look at. However, it is Lee Ji Eun, aka IU, who carries the entire drama on her lovely shoulders with her mesmerizing presence as Jang Man Wol.

Bottom Line: It shouldn’t be this way, but it’s so rare to get a mainstream drama where the female lead is allowed to be truly dark and flawed, or for a drama to fully focus on its heroine’s journey through the whole run.

9. Encounter

I was somewhat disappointed by the ending of this drama, and I think that might have made me unduly harsh when I looked back at it earlier in the year. However, I got the chance to rewatch episodes with a friend and was reminded of the soft, romantic escapism of this drama. Ultimately that’s the reason this ended up in the list. I like that it plays the rich woman/poor man, noona-romance tropes entirely straight and I liked the quixotic fairy tale it was unapologetically trying to sell me. Park Bo Gum and Song Hye Gyo are a noona-romance dream team up that I’m glad I got to see at least once in my lifetime.

Bottom Line: If you don’t like your dramas slow-paced and highly sentimental then this might not be the show for you, but I can appreciate a drama that knows exactly what kind of show it is and tries to do one thing well.

8. The Light in Your Eyes

If there’s any common theme to these favorites lists in previous years, it’s that they usually include dramas that took me by surprise and did something I haven’t seen before. The Light In Your Eyes fits that description so well, not just because of oddly dark tone or the quirky premise it presents in the first episodes, but because it’s a drama dedicated to showcasing the talents of the veteran actress, Kim Hye Ja, with whom the lead character shares a name. Of the dramas on the list this one made me cry the hardest.

Bottom Line: The Light In Your Eyes is a drama that has a greater emotional coherence than it does logical sense. In fact, if you think about the plot too hard it falls apart entirely. But it feels true, and that’s why it hit me so hard.

7. Search WWW

In my review I called Search a “female power fantasy” and I still think that’s a good description. It’s also sexy romantic fantasy, twice a noona romance, and a corporate drama focused on the very contemporary issues of powerful search engine companies and how they affect the information we see and the way we view the world. I think any of those is an interesting enough angle to make a drama about, maybe several dramas. If this show has one major flaw, it might be trying to wear too many hats at once. But I salute the creators for trying to make us something different than the typical pretty boy chaebol story, and giving us not one but three female characters filling those typically male roles.

Bottom Line: I do believe this drama deserves more love and respect than it got from a fandom that at least in theory cares about women’s stories. But I also understand why a lot of people didn’t connect with the lead character or the business stuff. But for me there was something about the lead couple that rang true and resonated with me.

6. WATCHER

Every time I watch a thriller, I’m hoping for something like WATCHER. Something with deep, complex, gray characters and a story full of twists and turns that keeps me engaged and guessing from episode one until the finale. Add on top of that a powerful cast who can really do justice to these substantial characters, you’ve got a winning recipe. OCN produces a lot of dramas in this genre, and they seem to be more prone to produce sequels than most other networks. Unfortunately, that also means a lot of the dramas they make feel paint-by-numbers and empty on the inside. WATCHER is one of those shows that reminds me why I keep coming back to this network and this kind of story time and again.

Bottom Line: This is one of those dramas that has you second guessing yourself even when they come right out and give you the answer, keeping you in a perpetual state of distrust along with the characters. But it’s built on the strong backbone of complicated and dynamic character relationships, which is why it is one of this year’s best.

5. Be Melodramatic

The higher I get up this list the harder time I have boiling down my thoughts on these dramas to one pithy paragraph. Often even I don’t know what kind of dramas are going to steal my heart. I have a particular weakness for dramas that can make me both laugh and cry, and then laugh through the tears. Dramas like Go Back Couple and Matrimonial Chaos that have deep heartache folded into the shenanigans. I love a funny drama. I like to laugh, but that doesn’t count for much unless I really care about the characters and their lives at the end of the day. That’s what makes me go from liking a drama to loving it, and that’s ultimately what I’m going to remember about a drama when it’s over. Be Melodramatic is special for the way it deals with heavy subjects in a gentle and lighthearted way, and somehow without losing the emotional impact.

Bottom Line: Be Melodramatic is a drama with tongue firmly planted in cheek, lots of laughs, lots of clever dialogue as well as a meta look at the drama industry from the inside, but the reason it works so well is the vein of heart, love and loss that runs all through the story.

4. One Spring Night

It’s so gratifying when a drama delivers exactly the experience you hoped it would. One Spring Night was a drama that ended up on my radar on the strength of the previews and posters, which promised me understated, romantic slice-of-life. I’d really enjoyed Han Ji Min in The Light in Your Eyes and have been fond of Jung Hae In since While You Were Sleeping. The pairing immediately seemed to have potential, but because the drama was picked up by Netflix, in the US I had to wait until it finished airing before I could give it a shot. A lot of the time when that happens, I see enough of the drama through gifs and screencaps that my interest fades. In this case I was only more intrigued. I’ve still never watched Something In The Rain but watching this drama has made me consider that might have been an oversight on my part. And yet I worry that if I watched it now I wouldn’t be able to help unfavorably comparing it to One Spring Night. This drama is truly something special.

Bottom Line: Because of the restrained, faithful realism of this drama and the two leads who seamlessly embody their characters, this drama has the almost voyeuristic quality of peeking into something intimate and private. It’s a palpable and thoroughly involving love story.

3. Nokdu Flower

I can hardly recommend this underrated gem of a show enough. I know nearly every historical gets compared either favorably or otherwise to Six Flying Dragons, which is kind of the recent high-water mark of sageuks, and I’m going to do that again here because Nokdu Flower is really the first historical drama I’ve watched since SFD that is at the same level of quality. One thing that sticks out about my experience watching both dramas is getting actual shivers watching these charismatic leaders rally their followers around them, and understanding at least in some small part why someone would leave behind everything they knew, pick up arms, and risk their lives for an ideal. Nokdu Flower captures the fearful power of revolutionary ideas in the hands of common people, but doesn’t descend into mere jingoism or sand off the rough edges or try to white wash the dark parts of human nature while it’s at it.

Bottom Line: At its most basic level Nokdu Flower is a story of revolution, and one of flawed characters either finding their humanity or having it burned out of them in the crucible of war. As that description would suggest it’s not an easy watch, but it’s a good and worthwhile one and definitely one any sageuk fan should check out.

2. My Country: The New Age

Compared to the far more traditional and grounded Nokdu Flower, My Country is almost fantastical in tone and at times eschews logic and realism for set pieces, sword fights and close range shotgun blasts of pathos. That’s probably why I love it. The larger-than-life sensationalism of this drama is what pushes it higher on this list than the carefully crafted Nokdu Flower, because this drama appealed to me on a more primal way. It’s so unrestrained and epic in everything from the set design, the soundtrack, the cinematography to the characters themselves and the performances of the actors playing them. Lurid, melodramatic, passionate, intense, suspenseful, romantic, raw, angsty, dark...I’ve basically run out of new adjectives to use while describing this drama elsewhere on this site. Basically, My Country is my id on a plate. Bon appetit.

Bottom Line: While there are definitely misguided and flawed elements to the writing and execution in this drama, somehow all of that is swept away in the sheer pleasure of watching it. If it had been specifically designed to appeal to every narrative kink I have, they couldn’t have made a more perfect drama for my tastes.

1. Children of Nobody

I finished my favorite drama of 2019 back in January, and then got to wait around 11 and a half months to see if anything else I watched last year would knock Children of Nobody from the top spot. It’s a mixed blessing to peak that early in the year. On the one hand, there was nowhere to go but down from here. On the other, I’ve had a lot of time to digest this very heavy show, which is something I definitely needed. I mentioned in my original review of this drama that each of the characters is an iceberg, so much more going on beneath the surface than what we can see. And what I’ve realized over the course of the past year is that the whole drama is like that, in a way. It’s an iceberg of a story, and I was able to pour a lot of myself into it, to try to understand it, and that’s part of the reason it was such an emotional watch for me. I don’t know when or if I’m going to be able to rewatch Children of Nobody, but I hope I can do it some day because I feel certain I would appreciate it even more upon a second viewing. The fact that this is a murder mystery and a thriller is almost incidental to the emotional core of the story, which is deeper and more lingering than that. The secrets, once revealed, do not diminish the story but only turn it slightly so that you can see it from a different angle.

Bottom Line: This drama is certainly not going to be for everyone. I don’t know if I would say it was underrated so much as it’s niche. The difficult subject matter is naturally going to narrow its appeal. But I do think that dramas that require the most from me, mentally and emotionally, are often the ones that stick with me the longest and make me bend and grow as a person.

I sure hope you’ve enjoyed my top 10 list this year and I wish you joy, success and profound wellbeing in 2020. Thank you again--and thank you always--for following me. I’ve got great things planned for us this year.

Jona

#kdramas 2019 #end of year reviews #top 10 #children of nobody #my country #my country: the new age #nokdu flower #one spring night #be melodramatic #melo is my nature #WATCHER #search: www #the light in your eyes #encounter #boyfriend #hotel del luna

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galvanizedfriend · 4 years

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I know you said that you hate season 3 from the originals and that there are some things you don't like from season 2, I don't even know if you finished the show but do you have a favorite season? if so, why? Cause I haven't watched the show and honestly I don't think I will, but I'd like to read you opinion

I think season 1 is my favorite. It’s definitely the most well-rounded of all seasons and you can see how they actually gave it a thought on how to conduct the whole thing because the plot progresses in a good rhythm and the way it ends is pretty good, with that scorched-earth feeling. They won, but at what cost? Many people hate it because of the baby plot and how they were very much pushing for a love triangle on the early days, but if you disregard that, it’s definitely the best written, well thought-out season, although, again, they could’ve done better (like Klaus going from KILL THE BABY WHY DO I CARE to YEAH, OK, I COULD HAVE AN HEIR in five minutes while he was literally trying to kill his previous heir). I liked that that season was very much about the Mikaelsons and their past, no extraordinary villain-of-the-week popping in.

The first half of season 2 is good as well. I like the whole family thing and I was glad they chose to bring the Mikaelsons back, even if, again, resurrection just felt like something very easy. lol Though I guess they had a good excuse in the Other Side collapsing over in TVD, which was a good use of plot connection, something I feel they should’ve used a lot more. But I lost interest once Dahlia was introduced as the final villain.

A big problem with TO, I feel, is that they were clearly making things up as they went. I get that with a show like that, with 22 episodes and a budget that was probably not small, they were forced to adjust as the network required due to a number of reasons (budget, ratings, etc), but after the mid point in season 2 and until the end of season 5, you can clearly SEE how they were basically writing these episodes every week, instead of following an arc they had thought about before. It feels choppy, the continuation is bad and a lot of things did not make sense or were just made totally irrelevant/idiotic within a couple of episodes (like Davina literally having to break Klaus’ sire line in order to bring Kol back from the dead because she needed that much power to get the spell done, and then a few episodes later, all they needed to bring her back was a gum, a stick and a paper clip).

Season 1 was clearly thought-out from start to finish and even though they probably had to adjust things, it still had a good rhythm. So I guess that’s why it was my favorite.

#yokan answers #anon

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trans-advice · 5 years

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Hi! Y’all are amazing. Do you have any passing tips for amab girls?

a trend to follow: if a cis woman does it for basic hygiene, then you should be fine when you do it.

do price comparisions for all of these supplies because trying to get all of these will need to become part of your budget.

moisturizers are needed in order to remove makeup & heal skin after shaving. the moisturizer you use needs to be fragrance free because we sometimes develop skin allergies to the fragrances. ponds, nivea, vaseline, coconut oil, are good ones i hear. in a quick pinch, chapstick can work out, but it can be too precise for the job when you need broad strokes.

for shaving, if you have a thick beard, then should probably only use one disposable razor per shaving session shave once per day. if you miss a day it can take several days to get back undercontrol. stypic pencils, hydrogen peroxide, band-aids & neosporin/triple-antibiotic ointment, anti-acne pads are all helpful friends. you won’t need some of those supplies depending on how fast your blood clots/scabs. buy your razors at the dollar tree. buy them in bulk online if you need to. avoid buying razors at walgreens.

avoid shaving your legs because there’s a lot ligaments that you have to stay flat on. you will knick yourself & have to apply bandages to awkward places. this means if you have to shave by while you’re alone, then you shouldn’t do it. i would suggest using an electric razor for these purposes. i have also found that for arms & fingers you can get a lot done without shaving cream & that it is actually better to not use it to avoid nicking yourself by going off the plane. basically with shaving you need to stay on smooth/flat services with the razor. you’ll probably get better with time with recognizing these, but basically look at:

the muscles in your arms,

the bones in your hands,

the way your fingers line up,

how your veins & nerves stick out of your hands.

shave your armpits a little bit. you merely need to brush your razor on it once you get it mostly off. an electric razor would be a good idea. there’s some feminism accepted with keeping the armpits unshaven, but bushes get deem male as heck so hence you need to keep them trimmed. like you need to be able to see the skin. if the hair starts obstructing the view to the armpit skin, then people start seeing it as weird.

you don’t have to shave your pubic region or near it actually. this is because people actually support people who don’t because it filed under sexuality & people tend to be less kinkshamey when they think about sex conceptually & you don’t want to talk about sex to begin with. personally, i only shave because i’ve actually gotten urinary tract infections because of too many fecal germs or whatever in that region. so i just try to trim that for purposes of harm reduction, not style. basically do what makes you comfortable with regards to your pubic hair because everyone tends to respect the live & let live principle with that.

for purposes of cutting down on acne, make your room as cold as possible when you sleep & wash your pillowcases & bedding frequently. (i only get to do laundry once a week because i have to use a laundromat. however, if you have a washer/dryer of your own, then i’d do it like everyday or so.) also avoid touching your face as much as you can (that is why wearing foundation actually helped my acne). go to a dermatologist if needed.

most drug store foundations are “anti-comedogenic” which means you won’t get clogged pores from it. so that means avoid the makeup that aims to clog pores because “smoothness”. i am paying attention to the clogging of pores here because acne will make shaving & makeup worse. perhaps going to a makeup consultation can help with finding the right foundation.

the foundation i use, which i will disclose so you can gauge my complexion when i talk about colors: rimmel stay matte foundation 081 fair ivory. it’s like $6 or $7 at walgreen’s, but $3.29 at target, 2 for $5 online at target.

when you apply foundation, you’re going to want to:

take a pea size dot onto your fingers

rub it upward

in circles

going from nose to the edges of the face (like towards the sizeburns, but always going upward).

remember to cover the part by the hair line.

it might take several minutes to do, but eventually you’ll get the hang of it to where it’s like brushing your teeth.

use moisturizer to remove makeup from your eyes. wash your face off with like dove soap or some sensitive soap. (do the moisturizer first to avoid getting soap into your eyes)

you need to avoid smelling bad. using a roll-on deodorant that smells more feminine will help out (i like “lady speed-stick” which is strong. i also like suave because tradition, but secret is cool. also fragrances lotions can help in small quantities as a form of like perfume. cis women use fragrances to help cover up menstrual blood. therefore applying little amounts after a showerlike at the elbow crevices, the shoulders, the armpits, the breasts, some parts of the torso, legs, is a good idea. avoid the crotch & butt of course because cross-contamination with feces.)

painting your nails, lipstick/lipgloss, eye-makeup & earrings are definitely stronger ways to pass.

like red nail polish tends to bleed remnants onto your nails afterwards so i would avoid red nail polish. go to the dollar store & build a spectrum of your favorite colors. (types of pink, types of blue, types of green, types of purple, types of orange, some glitter kinds, etc).

also get a cuticle cleaner/pusher that has a rounded tip for scooping. smelling bad will be bad. it will be super important in order to remove dirt or crud or nasty stuff out of there.

you do foundation before lipstick if you’re having trouble staying in the lines, you can basically put lipstick towards the lip/mouth-gums border & then use your finger to like spread it out. i also suggest curling your lips in & looking for lipstick that goes over the edges. when i put on lipstick it’s often over the lines at the edges of my mouth. if i put on too much lipstick it can be offensive (because of how blackface lips are illustrated), so try to avoid going over as much as possible. if you are still struggling or prefer different feels then using chapstick or lipgloss or flavored chapstick are awesome.

with eyeshadow you put darker eyeshadows next to the eyelashes & lighter eyeshadow towards the top by the eyebrows. if you do the reverse, then you will look more masculine, & like goth/emo dramatic. overall, not a good idea. like doing colorful eyeshadow is already artsy, you don’t want to push it too hard. if you do like darker versions of flesh colors like purple or brown in the spectrum order i just said of light colors by the brows, dark by the lashes, then it might seem “mature”. personally, i prefer artsy, but i’m also an eccentric person.

i have heard that doing foundation or concealer first, before eye-makeup, is the pro-tip for easy application, but for me eyeshadow sometimes looks too pale when i do that. eyeliner is definitely easier to put on if you have concealer or foundation on. i also like using lipstick instead of eyeshadow sometimes because it’s bolder colors. however, you must be aware of cross-contamination possibilities.

i’ve also heard about brow trimming, but i do not know anything about it & if you do it wrong it is super noticable. so basically just brush those so they look like uniform/lined-up instead of bushy. but yeah, when you get a haircut, maybe chat them up about it.

for eyelashes, you can simply just take your finger and push your eyelashes away from your eyes to curl them. at dollar tree & family dollar etc, their mascara is never usable, and therefore that product is always a scam.

if you get earrings, then go to an actual piercing shop. do not go to a earrings at like claire’s with air guns… no. air guns break/shatter ear bones. you’ll have to keep those clean as hell.

hair varies with everybody. hairstyle is very intimate to one’s style identity/aesthetic. (i bring this up because that’s is the point of solarian, lunarian, stellarian, as labels) so i can’t give much on that. i have heard wigs can be good for when you want to do wild hair. if you die your hair, it can damage it severly. so i’d suggest hair chalks which are like eyeshadow, and those cans of color that goes away in 1 wash. color the tips not the roots, because while it may be messier, you can just cut the tips it gets botched instead of losing your entire head of hair.

so for buying bras, you go by your chest size. the letters a, b, c, d, dd, etc add 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc inches to hold (what would be) your breasts. if you’re in europe (or some other fashion lines) then replace dd with e & carry on. so a 44D is 44+4, a 38C is 38+3.

getting a bra that hooks in front is such a relief. however, if you have to get one with hooks on the back, then you can put it on backwards, hook it while they’re in front of you, from bottom to top, and then turn it around so it’s on correctly.

if you push against the bra & it deflates, you’ll need padding because boobs would fill that in basically if you’re holding like books in front of you or someone pushes into you, that can look like a cone pushed inward. while getting silicone breast cups or breast forms used in sewing would be the most economical, using overnight bladder or period pads for each side of the bra is able to be done when you don’t have a shop for breast forms around. family dollar sells bras for like 2 for $9, but if you can’t fit into those (their biggest size was 44D last time i checked. i’m a big woman, like 5′10″, 230lbs, mid 40′s on the chest.) if you go beyond these bras, it’s easy to find prices of like $25/bra. you’ll probably need 7 to get thru a week, 1 per day.

you will want to put baby powder into your bra to minimize rash development, bra sweat, and help with reusing the bra in case you’re not able to wash it before you use it next.

bras must be handwashed in cold water with soap, one at a time. i use the bathroom sink. if you don’t have a drain plug, then in order to do so, you take a washcloth & roll it up until you can stuff it up/into the drain. to dry the bras, you’ll want to use hangers on clothes line or shower rod or a like a dining room chair.

also in order to have more range, look into like spandex stomach slimmers that also go over the chest. they function like corsets, but look like a-shirts. they can hurt the back like binders do, so i would suggest bras instead of these, but they can be a more low-key way of having some ability to have control over your body & breasts. cis women also use these so basically that’s a trend to follow: if a cis woman does it for basic hygiene then you should be fine when you do it. i’ve thrown my spandex stomach slimmers into a washing machine, and it came out fine. i don’t remember if i thrown them into the dryer, but if you’re worried only keep it in for a few minutes.

if you want to wear like feminine underwear, but want it to be basic, then buy some “granny panties”. they usually come in basic colors, that can be fun. again, family dollar sells some. (at least in my area).

goodwill thrift stores don’t harass trans & gender-non-conforming shoppers. i am not sure of what shops you have around you, but again, save money when possible. also check out target & kohl’s if possible, but they’re more expensive. kohl’s gives coupons to their credit card holders. wearing blouses & dresses will be a big step towards passing.

to cancel erections: flex a large muscle for about 30 seconds or more, like both thighs. If you’re sitting, rest your feet on your toes and push off the ground as if you’re just about to stand up. for me this usually involves like squeezing my thighs near my knees. if you do the wrong muscles (the ones who hold in urine or poop), then you’ll accidentally do kegels which actually prolong erections. therefore, i would suggest practicing this skill in private.

not so much for passing, but for general health: purses, make sure you can fit your entire head in those. never get thin straps (neither width or thickness). if possible get the kind where the connection between the strap & the purse is a hole, because if the strap breaks, then you can possibly replace it with some sort of string, chord, rope, chain.

good luck, peace & love,

eve

#resource #mtf #passing

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laminat9226 · 4 years

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A Guide to Laminating

Precisely what is 'laminating'? Dictionary definitions suggest that lamination is a process of placing something between layers of plastic and gluing them with heat and/or pressure, usually with an adhesive. Sounds straightforward enough but there are principally a few types of lamination in the office environment, these being: Pouch Lamination Heated Roll Lamination Cold Roll Lamination Their own primary function is to embellish or protect printed works. Which type is best depends on what you need to laminate, for precisely what purpose and your budget. Pouch Laminators Pouch laminators are relatively inexpensive and are probably the most popular type with regard to general office and home use and are ideal for business report covers, photographs, i. d. cards and so on Pouch laminators use a lamination pocket or pouch which has a central seam which when folded over brings about a pocket to insert the material to be laminated prior to running the pouch through the laminating product. As the pouch goes through the laminator, the glue on the inside surfaces of the pouch is heated, causing this lamination film to adhere to the object being laminated. The pouch passes between rollers which squeezes out any sort of air bubbles and creates a strong bond and tight seal. Some excess glue may be squeezed available the sides of the pouch and some laminating machines use a pouch carrier to catch this excess glue to ensure it doesn't gum up the laminator and to provide rigidity to the pouch to prevent any jams in the laminating machine. Laminating Pouches can come in a number of different sizes, these being Paper A1 Paper A2 Paper A3 Paper A4 Paper A5 Paper A6 Paper A7 Credit Card (54x86mm) IBM (59x83mm) ID (60x90mm) Vital Card (64x99mm) Luggage (64x108mm) Military (65x95mm) Badge (67x95mm) Pouch thickness is measured in microns (1 micron being 1/1000th of an inch). The thicker the pouch, the more rigid the finished lamination. There are actually usually 5 thicknesses to choose from: 150 200 250 350 500 Be aware that the thinner pouches can't really tolerate the higher range of temperatures that the thicker ones can. Laminating Pouches come in a gloss finish and also matt finish. A gloss finish is great for clarity and impact and are ideal for photos, presentation packs, reviews and a matt finish is great for material which is to go outside or in brightly lit areas where lightweight reflection may be an issue. In addition , look to see whether the laminating pouch has rounded or pointed corners, your thinking being that the rounded corners are 'safer' to handle. Heated Roll Laminators The process used is similar to body laminators but Heated Roll Laminators are for more industrial or high volume office work together with for large format prints. They are quicker to laminate in volume as they use one or two large throws of lamination film. The film used in the roll laminator has a heat-activated glue on one side in the lamination that sticks to the print when it is run through the laminator. One roll is situated on top of the machine, even though a second roll of film is simultaneously fed from the underside. The top roll laminates the top of the create, while the bottom roll laminates the bottom and once laminated, a blade is used to cut the laminated objective from the machine. Cold Roll Laminators Cold Roll Laminators do not use heat to laminate. Instead people use a plastic film coated with an adhesive which is activated by pressure as it passes through rollers. This procedure is particularly useful when you need to laminate things which might be damaged by heat such as wax based ink or even fabrics, vinyl or low temperature melt plastics. In addition , many large format inkjet printers use printer which is susceptible to damage by heat caused by Heated Roll Lamination. Finally For the majority of offices, pouch lamination will be more than adequate with the Roll laminators only being necessary for specialist, industrial or high volume employ. But like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Make sure you understand what you need, some laminators have merely one temperature setting, others can vary the temperature according to the pouch thickness, other pouch laminators have 2 rollers, some others 6, the more rollers, the better the result.

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deepsoulfury · 4 years

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Honest insights into Invisalign Near Me

Table of ContentsWhat are the costs for Invisalign Near MeWhy our Invisalign Braces are 5 star rated3 methods for Invisalign Near MeWhere to find InvisilineWhere to find Invisalign CostsFinding out about Invisalign Before And After

Invisalign is a preferred option for adults and teenagers due to the fact that they are virtually unnoticeable due to being clear. Nevertheless, similar to all things, there are both advantages and disadvantages to utilizing Invisalign. It is essential to know all the details before you decide to get fitted with the aligners at your dentist's or orthodontist's office.

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Simply put, they are more appealing to the eye, and many people won't even know you are using them. does invisalign work. That implies you can do not hesitate to smile and do not have to feel extremely self-conscious.: Invisalign has actually become a standard for correcting the teeth, which suggests that you don't always need to handle metal braces.

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: Invisalign aligners can be removed for eating, brushing your teeth and flossing. That is something that can not be finished with braces. It enables you to consume foods you desire and practice better oral health, which helps to reduce your risk of establishing gum illness while you go through the procedure of straightening your teeth - in invisalign worth it.

: Invisalign aligners require very little upkeep. They can get drab with time when you wear them, but you can freshen them by using a tooth brush dipped in a small quantity of bleach and water. Scrubbing them for a minute will eliminate any discolorations. You just require to do this every other day.

Invisalign Before And After Near Me

Here are the cons of the clear plastic aligners:: Among the biggest cons of Invisalign is that they are pricey. They are not covered by dental insurance, which indicates you can expect to pay anywhere from $3,500 to $8,000 for them. In other words, if you are on a tight budget, are strapped for money, or do not desire to make a withdrawal from your child's college savings plan, you may wish to reconsider getting Invisalign.

What are the costs for What Invisiline Is

The attachments are normally enamel ridges that stick to your teeth in such a way that is comparable to brackets that are consisted of with basic braces. The attachments are used to click into the aligners so that they fit much better and can better move your teeth into correct position. Attachments also make Invisalign much more obvious, which can indicate you look more like you're wearing real braces.

Generally, you are just supposed to remove them for consuming and practicing daily oral health. That suggests that if you are navigating a date or going to a celebration, you will need to wear them.: Getting new Invisalign aligner trays can be uneasy and even uncomfortable when you get fitted for a brand-new set.

You might wish to use a pain reliever to aid with this discomfort while your teeth change to your Invisalign.: Invisalign aligners are really troublesome. You constantly have to eliminate them for eating, which implies you might deal with some humiliation when you go out to consume. You are likewise required to brush your teeth after each meal prior to putting them back in your mouth, which implies you'll be brushing your teeth numerous times per day, which can be troublesome. Bhandal Smile Studio

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Factors: Natalie Asmussen Searching for an alternative to the alternative to braces? There are numerous on the market nowadays. And for great reason. Numerous adults who wish to align their teeth are searching for choices that are less obvious than traditional metal braces. What's more, the desire to have the ideal smile includes being a part of modern-day society.

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They use the exact same discreet treatment as Invisalign, but with some important distinctions: Candid works solely with orthodontistsThey are much more budget friendly than InvisalignTreatment can be completed from homeAI tracking ensures accurate and effective outcomes If you want to discover if you're qualified for Honest, take their complimentary Smile Assessment.

Tabulation The list below Invisalign Alternatives all share 2 things in typical that different them from Invisalign: There are no regular in-office check outs with your dentist or orthodontist, and they are, usually, cheaper. Invisalign competitors tout the remote element as a pro for those who have an interest in Invisalign however would choose a less expensive alternative, as it permits lower costs and is stated to be more convenient.

As you will see, though, not all teledentistry brands are the exact same in this regard. Some have definitely no in-person contact, whereas others have an orthodontist monitoring your treatment remotely and examining in every 7 to 10 days. As you check out these descriptions of the at-home aligner choices, remember that the function of each is reasonably the same: Correct cases of malocclusion that aren't so extreme they require mindful dentist guidance or surgery.

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That's because, in a method, Candid deals the very best of all worlds. For one, with Honest you have the choice of completing your treatment 100% remotely. However, for those who feel more comfy with hands-on assistance, they likewise have physical places called Candid Studios. You can go to a Candid Studio for a totally free assessment, and a care professional will take 3D scans of your teeth if you choose you desire to start treatment.

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stormsbourne · 5 years

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grammarmancer replied to your post: every so often I get really in the mood for one...

Why do you think Utena is garbage? All I hear is people talking it up.

a few reasons:

1) it’s too committed to the weirdness and meta over the characters or story which sure seems to be a common problem lately. there’s a lot of deep dives on really random shit in utena out there, like, there’s a character with a stopwatch, right, who is shown clicking it at random times in various episodes. there are full on deep dives about whether the numbers on it when he stops it mean anything. there’s a scene in the last episode where the villain chills with a younger/uncorrupted version of himself and drinks a fruity cocktail. there’s deep dives about that. but all of it is just for the weirdness. ikuhara is fucking weird. weirdness is a constant in his stuff. people looking for deep symbolic meaning in the episode where one character gets turned into a cow are probably looking a little too hard. (There is meaning in the episode but it’s all pretty obvious metaphor. the deeper stuff like the color of the cowbell doesn’t mean anything)

2) it was made on a budget of about ten bucks and two sticks of gum and this shows. I actually think the art style looks nice, it’s the egregious amounts of reused footage and the repetitive structure that bugs me. some of this, I think, is just a difference in tastes because I think some of it is very deliberate. utena is set in a stasis world where nothing ever grows or changes and I think the repetitive structure is meant to draw attention to that. but after a while it starts to get almost monotonous. ok this is the part where utena and anthy go to bed. this is the part where akio drives his car and loses his shirt. this is the part where, etc., etc., etc. the animation also suffers from the budget, it’s pretty choppy, but that’s honestly a very secondary concern to me

3) if I’m being honest some of my dislike is spite. utena gets a lot of attention that I don’t really feel is fully deserved because it’s intensely flawed. you see a lot of the same kind of attention from people who love madoka. utena, like madoka, is sort of a flawed disaster and the creator’s fixations are all over it in broad swathes and when you know to look for them, capital y Yikes scoob!!!! I can respect that for many people it was super groundbreaking and taught them a lot about what stories can say or do but for me a lot of that falls flat. I think it’s because I didn’t watch it until I was older so I didn’t make the same connection. all the stuff I was absorbing in my teenage years was like, sailor moon, clamp, and a whole fucking lot of shounen.

4) the black rose arc is objectively the best but everybody hates it

5) nanami, the best character in the entire show, is treated like a jokey buttmonkey and that’s not FAIR, (the egg episode is still really good though)

6) back to the meta thing, because of its fixation of the meta some of the structure of the rest of the story starts to fall apart. there’s a backstory for the two major non-utena characters that, chronologically, makes little to no sense -- when did it happen? why is there a fax machine in this old fashioned barn where there’s people with pitchforks standing outside? etc. some of it is tied to the structure of the actual setting. again, I think part of this is meant to be deliberate: as the story begins to unravel and the secrets come into the light, the world itself becomes nonsensical and the contrivances of it stop being coherent. but I think if you’re going to do that you’ve got to commit to it. really go all the way on it. have the entire world come completely undone. but at the end of utena, the school setting still exists. it’s left behind by one of the main characters as a symbol of choosing to heal and move on with her life, but if you’re going to have the stylistic choice of the world dissolving into nonsense once the story approaches its end, have the decency to see it through, goddammit!!! it’s just not handled well. it’s done halfassedly.

I honestly think utena is largely like ... fine. it’s fine. I just don’t think it’s super amazing and groundbreaking and special, and it’s full of SO much fucking filler. it’s extremely 90s anime. it could be a third of its length and be better for it.

#grammarmancer

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kichimiangra · 5 years

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For poor artists...

Okay so weeks ago I came across a post (That I can’t seem to find now...) that roughly went like this: “All you tumblrites with depression need some hobbies to help with depression because hobbies help.”

“Not everyone has the privilege of being able to afford hobbies! Hobbies cost money!”

“You don’t need expensive stuff to draw!!! Draw on scrap paper! Napkins! Go to the dollar store!”

Now for weeks since seeing that post it keeps coming back to me... almost hauntingly. It’s not that I can’t comprehend that people can’t afford expensive art supplies, on the contrary I very much remember being like that! But today you poor artists have access to something wonderful that I didn’t growing up:

Under the cut let me tell you a tale about a wonderful place that could have granted my wish for art supplies growing up!

And that place is called Wish.com!

(Disclaimer #1: Almost everything I’m talking about here are supplies that I myself have personally purchased and tried using AND STILL DO!)

(Disclaimer #2: I don’t believe that good supplies make a good artist, but good supplies can help make a good artist better/ make their life easier!)

Now growing up I did not come from a wealthy family. I had 3 siblings, all of us close in age so we were kids/ teens together. My father worked in a warehouse and my mother was a stay at home mom because it was impossible to find an affordable babysitter considering that My older sister had trouble in school with bullies and a reading disorder, I was an un-diagnosed autistic devil-child, my younger sister had severe asthma and was always sick, and my younger brother was deaf. We all kinda needed special attention. As you can imagine we didn’t have a lot of money, and as I got older and more Artish meant I had to make due with what I could get. That didn’t mean I went without, just often had to save and wait for what I could use, which followed me to adulthood. Had Wish.com been around in my teens it would have been a godsend and I’m patient enough to wait a few weeks to get my order!

God I love these things! These ball point pens with 10 colors are what I use for story boarding comics and note taking! I used something like these when I was in college because notes were much easier to organize and read when color coded!

“But KC! I like to sketch with blue/red pencil first!” Lookie here! Colored pencil lead refills in all sorts of colors! Cyan works great and so does the red!

Now I didn’t know they came this small until recently but I LOVE this 0.3mm Mechanical pencil!!! The lines are so thin and small!!! I have literally never seen anything smaller than a 0.5mm in a store!

Now I like mechanical pencils for their consistent lead size as you draw! They’re just a click away from being back to sharpness! But you may want a 0.5mm and a 0.7mm and this 3pc set is soo sleek looking! It’s good to have a 0.9mm too! I used to have a spongebob .16mm pencil I stole from my brother but it went missing! I have never found another one that HUGE again! T_T

Speaking of pencils this nice little set comes with a mechanical pencil+lead+a white plastic eraser. They work great though the eraser is not my personal fav...

THESE are my favorite erasers to use!!! Not only are they cute colors but they’re a good consistency! They’re softer than a plastic eraser but a bit harder than a gum eraser so they feel really good to erase with and do a good job!!!

If you really like working with Pencil you can prolly just get a cheap #2 pencil at a dollar store or a box of them at Walmart, but I Really like the feel of a 2B pencil! This lead holder comes with some replacement lead too so you don’t have to worry about sharpening it to nothing!!

This set of Graphite sticks are a little messy but it comes with all kinds of lead hardness and you can use an x-acto blade to sharpen them to different size points!!!

This is a pretty basic but nice sketch set and has a lot of size options to pick and buy from!! I’ve used the small 32 set and it has everything you need if you love pencil art!

FINE LINERS!!! I have a story about Fine liners! Internet shopping hadn’t quite taken off yet for my family and the only store I knew that sold Microns/Fabercastelle fine liners was a local store. They didn’t sell them in singles so the cheapest set you could buy was a $15 Faber Castelle set with 5 pens (Sm/Med/Lrg/Brush/Chisel). Now $15 doesn’t sound too bad until you remember my family was poor. How poor? Poor enough where my sister and I would each get one of these sets for Christmas and store one away while sharing the other set in hopes of getting them both to last until June where I could get another for my birthday that will hopefully last BOTH of us until next Christmas. I noticed when you buy Microns off of Wish.com you have a 50/50 chance of getting a knock off brand but these ones here worked pretty good for their price!

“But KC! Not only am I a poor artist... I’m a poor HIPSTER artist! I wanna kick it OLD SCHOOL!” WELL This is a nice cheap little set of dip pen nib holders and nibs! The pink one is cute but I have the black one. I personally love my Cork nib holder more but for plastic this one is decently comfortable to hold and a good price! I find Nibs are a bit of “You get what you pay for” but if I was displaced into an apartment somewhere without any of my stuff and I wanted some dip pens this set would do just fine! Dip pens take some skill to get used to so even if you want to just cheaply try some this is a good set to start with! And if you want better nibs later on they fit right in these holders!

I also have a very decorative (but functional) glass dip pen! Unlike the metal nib dip pens above the glass one doesn’t really allow for a lot of variation in line weight, but if you want the line work to stay a consistent size then this one is pretty good for that, though depending on your paper it can bleed a bit... once again takes some practice to get used to it.

Now you’re gonna need some ink for those dip pens! I haven’t really gotten to try any black ink from Wish.com because I have a few bottles of black ink that I keep getting for birthdays and Christmas and such, so I haven’t run out and gotten to try a new brand. COLOR ink on the other hand... These little 5oz bottles have gold sparkles in it!! And they look nice to boot! They can get a little expensive because on THIS particular order you can only order them one at a time (And pay shipping for each bottle) but you really don’t need all 24 bottles as a lot of the colors look similar to each other.

Here’s a sketch of Keira Hagai from Jak and Daxter along with the supplies used to draw it (Notice the ink, glass and black nib pens and the 0.3mm pencil. The only thing used not from Wish.com is the feather sweeper I made from sculpey and chicken feathers.)

The ink doesn’t work great as paint though but you know what does?

PAINTS! I didn’t buy this one but it’s a nice little affordable starter set with pallet and brushes!

Now I’m a bit snooty, I prefer to buy watercolor paints in tubes and an empty paint pallet. The paint pallet I have isn’t THIS one specifically but this one is a bit nicer than the one I DO have and a bit cheaper as well! (Mine doesn’t have a lid the folds out into a paint mixing area)(Now I wish I had this one!)(Maybe when my current pallet runs out of paint...)

If you use watercolor paints you’re gonna need some brushes! This is a pretty good deal! You get 12 brushes and get to pick either flat or round tip brushes! They’re also not too shabby!

I use a set like this though! They has a water reservoir in the handle so you squeeze the water out and onto the paint! The reason I prefer these is I have a lot of pets and they like to get into mischief, so having a pallet that can be closed if I get up for a bathroom break or water that can’t be knocked over is a must for me!!

“But KC I like more... dry mediums...” Lucky for you colored pencils are all over the place on Wish.com! You can get all kinds of different sets and sizes and some even have nice carrying cases too! I haven’t bought any because I own a LOT of colored pencil sets already and don’t use them frequently... I’ve also tried some chalk pastels from Wish that worked well enough on their own but the way I use them is grinding them into a fine powder and brushing them onto paper and that didn’t grind well...

And What’s art without PAPER!?!? Wish.com is tripping paper! Whatever is in your price range look around! I can promise you you’ll find a sketch book or two within your budget! Some even name brand sketch pads!

And now some miscellaneous stuff:

I LOVE binder clips! Great way to keep all my paper together and in some places hang stuff up so I can stare at it a bit before continuing working on it!

I like art markers and not many truly can fill in the shoes left by Copic brand markers. I have tried a handful of copic alternatives (And watched even MORE comparison videos by other people who own said markers.) I feel like there is no such thing as a GOOD CHEAP QUALITY art marker. There are lots of sets on Wish.com that (For their prices) are what I consider “Cheap enough to tinker with” When I was in highschool back in 2007-9 I really really really wanted Copics and was resentful that I was poor and couldn’t get any. I would get so angry when I saw 14 year olds on deviantart who drew like ‘14 year olds on devintart’ but had no less that two 72 sets of copics. I know, it was rather petty of me to be resentful of younger more fortunate artists... The trade off with my parents was that I would settle for Prismacolor markers, bought 1 per week with a 40% off coupon provided I did all my chores and kept my grades above failing. That was the closest I ever had to an allowance. Throughout the years I’ve settled with ‘Tinker Markers’ (Cheapish alternative markers) and Ohuhu, Prismacolor, and Touch New seem to be the better alternatives. Just don’t go looking for a brush nib >.<!

MASKING TAPE! Always good for taping things to other things!! Unfortunately I feel like Walmart gives you bigger rolls for better deals so if it’s going cheap I’d say you don’t need tape from Wish...

Aaaah! A light board! And another long trip down memory lane! Last October going into Inktober I noticed there were people throwing little fits about Inktober itself and if it’s okay to do it with a digital medium. One persons comment stuck out (And echo’d in my brain) where they said (And I’m paraphrasing): “How am I supposed to focus on my ‘self improvement’ with traditional art if I just can’t draw from the anxiety of knowing that every pen stroke is permanent and I could completely ruin my drawing at any second without the CTRL+Z and layers!?!?!?!” To which my first knee-jerk reaction was: “Wow kid... I think you have waaaay more problems than inktober if your anxiety levels are THAT high that you can’t just accept an oopsie doodle and try again...” But then I do remember a time when I was like that. In college I scheduled a really bad semester with too many classes, mostly art classes. One was a classic Pen and Ink class which I did fear screwing up, not because of anxiety of failure but because I would have to start over on my homework, and that would take time from all my other homework. Time I didn’t have. I found a large sum of money on the ground ($100.00) one day, waited a month (Nobody claimed it), donated half to my local animal shelter (As is a karma thing in my family with ‘found money’) and used the other half to buy a light board (With a 40% off coupon.) It was the size of a shoe box, thick and clunky, and didn’t get very bright, but it did what I needed it to. If I screwed up on ink homework I’d throw a new paper over it and start again. You can be cheap and use a window on a sunny day, but light boxes (or light boards now) are so affordable and sleek and thin and wish has a lot of them! I have a cheapish but large A-Line tracing board that sits on my drawing table and fits well and honestly saves 40% of what anxiety I would have putting pen to paper (If I hadn’t been drawing freehand so long that I just don’t get that kind of anxiety over it)

If Wish.com was around when I was a teenager art supplies would have never been THAT big of a deal and I wouldn’t have had to ‘Carpool’ 3 fine liner sets per year with my sister!

Really, I know there will still be people out there who still can’t afford some of the things listed above, but if you have an inclination to try art whether it’s with pencils, paints, markers, pastels, ink, dip pens, fine liners, whatever you lean towards, Wish.com has a cheap affordable version that may not be the best quality out there on the market, but thinking back 15 years ago little KC would have loved to save up some money, order some new supplies, and wait a month for them to arrive so she could use them.

Once again most of the supplies listed above have been bought and used by myself. There are some great materials at mostly affordable prices on Wish.com so if you are poor like Little KC was you probably know the patience of putting aside a dollar here and there and having to wait, or if you are well off but don’t want to spend too much on a hobby you haven’t tried yet and don’t know if you’d like Wish.com has you covered!

And if you’d like to, Reblog this for other poor artists so they know they don��t have to share their fine liners!

#For artists #Especially poor artists #Art resource

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