A League of Their Own (2022) - Season 1 Trailer - Carson and Greta

Universal Studios Unveils Potential Name for New Nighttime Spectacular!

Universal Studios has recently filed a trademark application that may have revealed the name for its upcoming nighttime show at Universal Studios Florida. The new filing, titled "CINESATIONAL: A Symphonic Spectacular," hints at an immersive and cinematic experience that promises to dazzle guests with a symphony of sights and sounds. This comes close to the recent teaser announcement made for the upcoming Epic Universe!

The Trademark Filing

On March 20, 2024, Universal City Studios LLC filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the mark "CINESATIONAL: A Symphonic Spectacular." The application covers various goods and services related to entertainment, including: - Entertainment services in the nature of a dramatic television series. - Entertainment services in the nature of an animated television series; providing online non-downloadable video clips and other multimedia digital content containing audio, video, artwork, and text. - Organizing and conducting entertainment events in the nature of cultural and arts events, food festivals, food tastings, food tastings at catering and food truck events, and social entertainment events. - Entertainment services in the nature of conducting exhibitions and conventions concerning television and television shows. - Providing interactive, experiential, and immersive audience participation events and recreational activities for social entertainment purposes, such as drive-in and walk-through interactive special events in the field of motion pictures and television shows. - Restaurant services, including providing pizza, food, and beverages for consumption on or off the premises, as well as take-out and mobile food truck services The broad range of goods and services covered in the trademark application suggests that Universal Studios may be planning a comprehensive and immersive experience that extends beyond just a nighttime show. First released by, "Alicia Stella" on X, the patent also includes a work mark for, "Universal Mega Movie Parade" along with a graphic! https://twitter.com/AliciaStella/status/1772041054750908641?ref_src=twsrctfwtwcamptweetembedtwterm1772041054750908641twgrb5965d5fd0a252cfea862bb7ff63c4aacf4de3cctwcons1_&ref_url=httpswdwnt.com202403new-trademark-application-for-universal-studios-florida-nighttime-show-reveals-possible-name

Dissecting the Name

The name "CINESATIONAL: A Symphonic Spectacular" itself provides some clues about what guests can expect from the new attraction. The term "cinesational" is likely a portmanteau of "cinematic" and "sensational," hinting at a visually stunning and captivating experience inspired by the world of cinema. The phrase "A Symphonic Spectacular" further reinforces the idea of a multisensory experience, with the word "symphonic" suggesting a harmonious blend of various elements, such as music, lights, projections, and special effects. The term "spectacular" implies a grand and awe-inspiring production that promises to leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Potential Features and Experiences

Based on the trademark filing and Universal Studios' history of innovative and immersive attractions, we can speculate on some potential features and experiences that the new nighttime show may offer: Projection Mapping and Water Screens Universal Studios has previously utilized projection mapping and water screens in its nighttime shows, such as the now-retired "Universal Orlando's Cinematic Celebration." The new show may incorporate these technologies on an even grander scale, projecting scenes and characters from popular movies onto the surrounding buildings and water screens in the lagoon area.

Drone Light Shows In recent years, drone light shows have become increasingly popular in theme park entertainment. Universal Studios may leverage this technology to create mesmerizing aerial displays and formations, complementing the projections and other visual elements. Interactive Elements The trademark filing mentions "interactive, experiential, and immersive audience participation events and recreational activities." This could indicate that the new show may incorporate interactive elements, allowing guests to become part of the experience through various means, such as mobile apps, augmented reality, or even physical interactions within designated areas. Culinary Experiences The inclusion of restaurant services and food-related events in the trademark filing suggests that the new nighttime spectacular may extend beyond just a show. Guests may have the opportunity to enjoy themed dining experiences, food festivals, or even mobile food trucks serving up delectable treats inspired by the show's themes or featured movies.

Potential Tie-ins and Collaborations Universal Studios is known for its partnerships with major entertainment companies and franchises, such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new nighttime show could potentially feature tie-ins or collaborations with popular movies, TV shows, or other intellectual properties. One possibility is the inclusion of characters, scenes, or music from the DreamWorks Animation universe, as Universal Studios is currently constructing a new DreamWorks-themed land at the park. Guests may witness their favorite DreamWorks characters come to life in a spectacular display of animation and storytelling. Additionally, the show could incorporate elements from Universal's own successful franchises, such as the Jurassic World series, the Fast and Furious movies, or even classic films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Conclusion: A Cinematic Extravaganza Awaits

While the details of Universal Studios' new nighttime spectacular remain shrouded in mystery, the recently filed trademark application provides tantalizing clues about what guests can expect. With the name "CINESATIONAL: A Symphonic Spectacular," Universal Studios promises an immersive and multisensory experience that celebrates the magic of cinema. From projection mapping and drone light shows to interactive elements and themed dining experiences, the new attraction aims to transport guests into the world of their favorite movies and stories. Whether it's witnessing iconic characters come to life or being swept away by a symphony of sights and sounds, "CINESATIONAL: A Symphonic Spectacular" has the potential to redefine the nighttime entertainment experience at Universal Studios Florida. As the anticipation builds, theme park enthusiasts and movie lovers alike eagerly await the unveiling of this cinematic extravaganza, ready to be dazzled by the spectacle that Universal Studios has in store. Read the full article

Unveiling Illizone: Exploring the Enigma Behind the Buzzword

In the realm of technological innovation and digital evolution, buzzwords often emerge, capturing attention and fascination. "Illizone" is one such term that has recently gained prominence within various industries. However, its meaning and implications remain somewhat enigmatic to many. Let's delve into the depths of Illizone to unravel its significance and potential impact.

The Origin of Illizone:

Illizone, a portmanteau of "illusion" and "zone," signifies a virtual or augmented reality environment where perception is manipulated to create immersive experiences. This concept isn't entirely novel, as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies have been advancing rapidly in recent years. However, Illizone introduces a nuanced perspective by emphasizing the manipulation of perception within these immersive environments.

Understanding Illizone's Dynamics:

Illizone operates at the intersection of psychology, technology, and human-computer interaction. It harnesses cutting-edge advancements in sensory perception, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence to craft experiences that blur the line between reality and illusion. Through sophisticated algorithms and sensory feedback mechanisms, Illizone can simulate environments that challenge users' senses and cognition, eliciting profound emotional responses.

Applications Across Industries:

The potential applications of Illizone span various industries, from entertainment and gaming to education, healthcare, and beyond. In the realm of entertainment, Illizone promises to revolutionize storytelling by enabling audiences to immerse themselves fully in narrative worlds, blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality. Gaming experiences within Illizone environments can become even more captivating, with players feeling deeply connected to the virtual worlds they inhabit.

In education, Illizone opens new frontiers for experiential learning, allowing students to explore historical events, scientific phenomena, or cultural heritage sites firsthand. Healthcare professionals can leverage Illizone for therapeutic interventions, using immersive experiences to alleviate pain, manage stress, or treat phobias through exposure therapy within controlled virtual environments.

Ethical and Societal Implications:

As with any emerging technology, Illizone raises ethical considerations and societal implications that warrant careful examination. The manipulation of perception within immersive environments could potentially lead to unintended consequences, such as psychological distress or dissociative experiences. Furthermore, the line between reality and illusion may become increasingly blurred, raising questions about informed consent and the safeguarding of users' mental well-being.

Additionally, Illizone's proliferation could exacerbate existing societal issues related to addiction, privacy, and surveillance. The seamless integration of virtual and augmented realities into everyday life may blur the distinction between online and offline experiences, challenging traditional notions of identity and autonomy.

The Future of Illizone:

Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding Illizone, its potential for transformative impact cannot be overstated. As technology continues to evolve and our understanding of human perception deepens, Illizone holds the promise of reshaping how we interact with digital environments and each other. With responsible stewardship and ethical oversight, Illizone could pave the way for a new era of immersive experiences that enrich our lives while respecting our fundamental human rights and dignity.

Conclusion:

Illizone represents more than just a buzzword; it embodies a paradigm shift in how we perceive and interact with virtual and augmented realities. By harnessing the power of illusion and technology, Illizone offers tantalizing possibilities for entertainment, education, healthcare, and beyond. However, navigating the ethical, societal, and psychological implications of Illizone's proliferation will be essential to realizing its full potential while safeguarding the well-being of users. As we venture further into the realm of Illizone, let us tread carefully, mindful of both its promises and pitfalls.

The rising demand for DevOps professionals in India: Opportunities for freshers

In the fast-paced world of technology, the demand for skilled professionals in the field of DevOps is experiencing an unprecedented surge. DevOps, a portmanteau of Development and Operations, represents a cultural and technical shift that aims to improve collaboration between software developers and IT operations. In India, this trend is not just limited to seasoned professionals but is also opening up a plethora of opportunities for freshers looking to make their mark in the dynamic IT landscape.

Unlock the true potential of your software development lifecycle through DevOps training in Coimbatore – where speed meets quality.

Here's Your Game Plan:

1. Build a Strong Foundation

Start by mastering the basics of DevOps. Understand the core principles and key concepts to lay a solid foundation for your journey.

2. Learn the Essentials

Acquire skills in version control systems like Git and familiarize yourself with automation tools such as Jenkins. These are the building blocks of DevOps.

3. Dive into Cloud Technologies

Get hands-on experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure. Cloud is integral to DevOps, and having cloud skills will boost your employability.

4. Understand Containerization

Learn about Docker and Kubernetes. Containerization is a hot topic in the DevOps world, and knowing these tools will set you apart.

5. Scripting is Key

Develop scripting skills in languages like Python or Shell. Automation is at the heart of DevOps, and scripting is your ticket to streamlined processes.

6. Certifications Can Help

Consider getting certified. Certifications like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer or Docker Certified Associate can validate your skills and catch the eye of employers. Break free from limitations. Our DevOps online course empowers you to upscale your skills, all from the comfort of your home

7. Build a Strong Online Presence

Showcase your projects on platforms like GitHub. Having a strong online portfolio demonstrates your practical skills and commitment to the field.

8. Networking Matters

Attend meetups, webinars, and conferences. Networking can open doors to opportunities and provide insights into the industry.

9. Apply for Internships

Internships are a great way to gain practical experience. Look for opportunities that allow you to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting.

10. Craft an Impressive Resume

Highlight your skills, projects, and certifications on your resume. Tailor it to showcase how your skills align with the requirements of a DevOps role.

The rising demand for DevOps professionals in India is not merely a trend; it's a paradigm shift that reflects the evolving nature of the IT industry. For freshers, this presents an exciting opportunity to enter a field that not only promises job security but also encourages continuous learning and innovation. As organizations continue to embrace DevOps, the future for freshers in India looks promising, provided they are willing to embark on this transformative journey and contribute to the technological revolution shaping the digital landscape.

NATURAL HARMONY FOODS INC. CHANGING NAME AND LOGO TO BETTER REFLECT ITS NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTION

NEW YORK, NY, February 05, 2024 - Publicly held Natural Harmony Foods, Inc. (OTC: NHYF) ("the Company") is pleased to announce today that, subject to FINRA’s approval, it will change its name to SYNBIO INTERNATIONAL INC. This new name signals the Company’s new strategic direction and better reflects its business operations.

The new name is a portmanteau of “Syn” (meaning “together”) and “Bio” (having to do with life), reflecting the Company’s dual strategy outlined below. In addition, for the brand mark, the Company has developed an interpretation of the rod of Asclepius, using a vine in place of the serpent.

Central to the Company's operations is its commitment to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare.  AI’s potential to transform the medical field is undeniable, offering promise of more efficient and effective healthcare for all.  However, the Company’s vision extends beyond AI, encompassing innovative nutraceutical solutions.  The Company’s nutraceutical formulas are scientifically designed to nutritionally support the body’s inherent abilities to positively respond to health conditions and will address the needs of the great many people who are searching for natural remedies for their health and wellness.    

The Company’s name change represents the intrinsic link between cutting edge AI medical technology and its focus on developing natural remedies for better health and wellness outcomes.

For media and Investor Relations inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Twitter (X): @NHYF_Official

The official website is www.nhyf.net.

About Natural Harmony Foods Inc.

Natural Harmony Foods Inc. (NHYF) aims to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by developing cutting-edge AI-powered methods to aid in the diagnosis of medical conditions. These methods enable early, accurate screening, contributing to quicker and more effective treatment. NHYF focuses on developing AI-based screening techniques for medical conditions, capitalizing on the growing role of AI in clinical practice. Additionally, NHYF acknowledges the thriving nutraceutical market's potential and plans to enter it for early revenue, benefiting from the growing emphasis on natural approaches and the demand for dietary supplements that offer potential health benefits beyond basic nutrition. The demand for nutraceuticals continues to expand, creating a dynamic landscape for NHYF’s nutraceutical businesses to flourish.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press include, among others, statements about our renegotiated settlement agreement. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: our limited operating history; our dependence on third parties for many aspects of our business; general market and economic conditions; technical factors; the availability of outside capital; our receipt of revenues; legislative developments; changes in our expenditures and other uses of cash; our ability to find, recruit and retain personnel in sufficient numbers to support our growth; our ability to manage growth; and general market, economic and business conditions. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE: Natural Harmony Foods, Inc.

Unveiling the Fintech Venture Capital Landscape in London Nurturing Innovation in the Financial Sector

London, a global financial hub renowned for its historic financial institutions, is now at the forefront of a technological revolution in the financial industry. Fintech, a portmanteau of "financial technology," has become a driving force of innovation, transforming traditional financial services and paving the way for a new era of digital finance. Behind the success of many Fintech startups in London lies the crucial role played by venture capital firms, injecting the necessary capital to fuel growth and innovation.

Fintech Ecosystem in London:-

London's Fintech ecosystem has evolved rapidly, fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and technological advancement. The city's unique blend of established financial institutions, a talented workforce, and a supportive regulatory environment has attracted a plethora of Fintech startups aiming to disrupt the traditional financial landscape.

Venture Capital's Role:-

Venture capital (VC) plays a pivotal role in the Fintech ecosystem by providing the financial backing that startups need to develop and scale their operations. In London, Fintech venture capital firms act as catalysts for innovation, identifying promising startups and providing them with the necessary capital, mentorship, and network support.

Key Players in London's Fintech Venture Capital Scene:-

Balderton Capital:- A leading venture capital firm in London, Balderton Capital has been a key player in the Fintech space. With a focus on early-stage investments, Balderton has supported several successful Fintech startups, helping them navigate the challenges of the industry.

Accel Partners:- Accel Partners has a global presence but has been actively involved in the London Fintech scene. Known for its strategic investments and expertise, Accel has played a crucial role in the growth of numerous Fintech ventures.

Index Ventures:- Another prominent venture capital firm, Index Ventures, has been a major player in supporting Fintech innovation in London. With a portfolio spanning various technology sectors, Index Ventures has backed several high-profile Fintech companies.

Sequoia Capital:- While Sequoia Capital is a global player, its involvement in London's Fintech space has been notable. With a reputation for backing successful unicorns, Sequoia has provided substantial support to Fintech startups with high growth potential.

Success Stories:-

Several Fintech startups in London owe their success to the backing of venture capital firms. Companies like Revolut, TransferWise (now Wise), and Monzo have become household names, illustrating how strategic investments and support from venture capital have propelled them to prominence.

Challenges and Opportunities:-

While the Fintech venture capital scene in London is thriving, challenges persist. Regulatory hurdles, competition for talent, and the ever-evolving nature of technology present ongoing challenges. However, these challenges also bring opportunities for innovation and differentiation, driving Fintech startups to find unique solutions to complex problems.

London's Fintech venture capital landscape is a dynamic and integral part of the city's broader financial ecosystem. As venture capital firms continue to identify and invest in promising Fintech startups, London solidifies its position as a global leader in financial innovation. The symbiotic relationship between venture capital and Fintech startups ensures that the city remains at the forefront of the digital finance revolution, shaping the future of the financial industry on a global scale.

FOR MORE INFOMATION:-

Fintech Venture Capital London

The Potential of Telemedicine in the Modern World

telemed

In today's fast-paced world, telemedicine has emerged as a revolutionary solution to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare professionals. This innovative approach to healthcare delivery is not only convenient but also holds the promise of improving medical access and patient outcomes. Let's delve into the world of telemedicine and explore its many facets.

Telemedicine: A Game-Changer in Healthcare

Telemedicine, a portmanteau of "telecommunications" and "medicine," is a cutting-edge practice that allows patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely. It leverages technology, such as video conferencing and secure messaging platforms, to enable real-time communication between patients and doctors. This digital revolution is transforming the way we approach healthcare.

The Benefits of Telemedicine

1. Enhanced Accessibility

Telemedicine erases geographical barriers, ensuring that medical advice is accessible to individuals in remote areas. Patients can receive expert guidance without the need to travel long distances, saving both time and money.

2. Convenience for Patients

Imagine having a medical consultation from the comfort of your own home. Telemedicine offers unparalleled convenience, making it easy for patients to schedule appointments that fit their busy lives. This accessibility increases patient compliance and engagement.

3. Cost-Efficiency

Telemedicine is a cost-effective solution for both patients and healthcare providers. It reduces the overhead costs associated with traditional in-person appointments, translating into potential savings for all parties involved.

Telemedicine's Role in Healthcare Evolution

In an ever-evolving healthcare landscape, telemedicine is a crucial component of the modern healthcare system. It contributes to the advancement of healthcare delivery in various ways:

1. Remote Monitoring

Telemedicine enables healthcare professionals to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions, ensuring timely interventions and reducing hospital admissions.

2. Expanded Specialist Access

Patients can consult with specialists from across the globe, obtaining expert opinions without the constraints of geographical location.

3. Reduced Waiting Times

With telemedicine, waiting times for appointments are significantly reduced. Patients can connect with their doctors more swiftly, addressing their health concerns promptly.

Transitioning into a Telemed World

As we transition into a world where telemedicine is becoming the norm, it's crucial for healthcare providers and patients alike to adapt to this transformative approach. The future of healthcare is here, and embracing telemedicine can lead to improved health outcomes for all.

Conclusion

In conclusion, telemedicine is a dynamic force that is reshaping the way we receive healthcare services. Its benefits in terms of accessibility, convenience, and cost-efficiency are undeniable. As we move forward, embracing telemedicine is not only a smart choice but also a significant leap toward a healthier and more accessible future.

So, if you haven't explored the possibilities of telemedicine yet, it's time to consider how this innovative approach can change the way you access and experience healthcare.

hermes mini kelly 25

Grace Kelly But more attention-grabbing features of her ensembles are her purses. The actress has a gorgeous collection of arm candies that each lady will merely need. Though small, the Mini II is made to stand out in a range of vibrant hues, together with electric blue, rich saffron, perky peach, and a recent crimson. Just like the bigger versions, getting your hands on one of the iconic baggage won’t come low cost. Despite the eye-bulging worth point, the bag has main cool-girl potential. Plus it is on development with the newest string of mini baggage we’ve seen gracing the hips of street-style stars similar to Chiara Ferragni. Not to belabor the point, but, on the upper finish, it’s approaching $1000 per square inch. The manufacturers listed on our web site are neither answerable for nor sure by any of our authenticity findings and may not honour any certificates of authenticity provided by Luxury Promise. This bag, defined as “simple and completely made”, exist with many mixture of leather . Created in eight differents measurement from 15 to 50cm, the “Kelly” bag of Hermes need around 20 hours to be made, by one uniq and only craftman. A Mini Kelly II. I’ve been after considered one of these for a bit. My first Birkin, a 30 cm, was considered “small”; an attractive 28 cm sellier Kelly in Rouge Garrance sat on the shelf in my boutique for months unpurchased . Since then I’ve been lucky to amass a number of 25 cm Birkins and Kellys, however for evening they both still felt a bit unwieldy, and have been fairly inappropriate for formal occasions. I hope that you just and your loved ones are happy and wholesome and have been getting via this time as properly as can be hoped. I actually have been fortunate to have remained linked with many friends via the PurseForum over time, so in that regard, my friendships haven’t missed a beat. Designed in the 1980s for British ingénue Jane Birkin, it has been remodeled and reimagined many times since. In the grand tradition of Goldilocks, Hermès has created the proper Kelly. Just slightly bigger than the covetable child Kelly Micro and smaller than the fantastically classic Kelly, it has been made to suit all our fashionable contraptions—smart telephones included—while sustaining its petite insouciance. It could not be able to be utilized the identical way it got its name , but we like it simply the same. Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. Today, purse lovers are savvier and have a wider vary of shopping options. An integral part of style, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we started to carry round private items. The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport using boots and a harness. As the world made the change from horse to automobile, the bag tailored, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel as a substitute of a designated saddlebag. The charming portmanteau is a reference to the geometric patterns on the baggage which are pieced collectively seamlessly to create letters. wikipedia handbags Newly introduced from the Resort 2018 collection, these luggage are guaranteed to become extremely collectible. French for “clouds”, the Nuages Kelly takes a colourful geometrical pattern in unique skins and combines it with the glossy Kelly form. The bag is affixed with a novel butterfly clasp closure, rather than the traditional plaques and touret closure. This bag was only created in a restricted batch within the early 1990s. Similar to the Birkin model of the same beautifully crafted bundle. The intent of the gathering was primarily targeted to the burgeoning Asian market, however the world over these baggage are sought out for his or her unique look and collectability. Hermès is a French model established in Paris, synonymous with a luxurious life-style. Many individuals who purchase even one merchandise from the Hermès assortment have a price range that permits the acquisition of equipment that can price upwards of $100,000. Other items like scarves are beneath 6-figures and should price between $10,000 – $30,000. In truth, the Kelly bag was around even earlier than Grace Kelly, then Princess Grace, brought the bag into the highlight. She used the bag to hide her pregnant stomach from the prying eyes of the paparazzi, leading to the quilt of Life Magazine featuring an image of each her and the bag in 1956. If you would possibly be in search of a bag that is spacious and good wanting on the similar time then you have chosen the best model.... When she bought the classic she said it was her first-ever Chanel so I would not put it past her to purchase fakes once more. A rose backyard in Monaco's Fontvieille district is devoted to the reminiscence of Kelly. A hybrid tea rose, named Rosa 'Princesse de Monaco', was named after her. She is commemorated in a statue by Kees Verkade in the backyard, which features 4,000 roses. Prince Rainier additionally established the Princess Grace Irish Library in her reminiscence, containing her private assortment of over 9,000 books and sheet music. Avenue Princesse Grace, "the most costly avenue in the world", is named for her, as is Boulevard Princesse Grâce de Monaco in Nice, France. See the latest prices (Dec.2020) for the Hermes Kelly Sellier and Retourne bags in the desk under. When it comes to hardware, majority of Kelly bags come with both palladium-plated or gold-plated metal hardware. Palladium-plated hardware has a silvery end to it, while the gold-plated hardware contains a brilliant and glamorous shine. https://skel.io/replicas-hermes-bags/mini-kelly-bag.html Usually, for the Gold-Plated hardware, Hermes uses the 18k gold. Part of the allure of this bag is what quantity of variations there could be, which opens the creativeness and prospects for the future. If you would have your perfect Kelly bag, what would you make it? In 2014, and with out much fanfare, a highly elusive set of Kelly baggage hit stores the world over.

ooh this is not at all terrifying let's go

hello! my name is Henrie, but I usually go by Hen. my pronouns are they/them.

I'm a monogamous oriented aroace, but I don't really have a firm description of what "oriented" means in my case? pretty sure I'm just looking for someone who isn't a man (as far as a qpp goes--if you want to be friends I have no preference)

I'm 17, and I'm looking for a friend who could potentially turn into a qpp, plus friends in general, preferably 16-19. I tend to be really serious when it comes to relationships, so please keep that in mind 💚 I also tend to be incredibly affectionate, both verbally and physically, and my primary love language is touch.

I really like ttrpgs, but I haven't had many opportunities to play them, so I just listen to far too many ttrpg podcasts instead. I live to make puns that range from incredibly clever to barely a portmanteau, and they usually only make me laugh, which I don't exactly count as a loss. I'm in the US pacific northwest.

I feel like this is weirdly formal, and I want to specify: I am not. I tend to talk like I'm in a historical fiction novel that takes place somewhere in britain, but I promise you I am actually a chaotic bitch in the stereotypical hawaiian-printed-shirt-twink way.

you can message me on tumblr @crowleystolemyshoes or on discord at splash#0817

Day 6: Midnight Snack

A/N: This was inspired by a conversation with @wolfiethewriter about potentially how much Baron really knew about human habits, and how easily he’d be to fool. (Also late again... but 

x

The first impression most folk had upon meeting Baron was usually cat.

The second impression, after realising this tiny, well-dressed feline was capable of speech and wielded his words with significant eloquence was normally gentlemen.

Most people didn’t progress past this point, which worked well in Baron’s favour because the third impression commonly veered off into chaos territory.

Haru was on her ninth impression.

This stage consisted of speed running past past words such as infallible, charming, and emotionally constipated, and boomeranging back into the early stages in a messy amalgamation of chaotic gentleman cat Creation.

The overall outcome was the realisation that while Baron was indeed a gentleman and an immortal Creation, he was also substantially under-experienced when it came to the human experience, and also was not immune to laser pointers. 

And while the latter was a tendency that Haru would occasionally indulge for her own amusement (so far the list of banned Bureau items involved not only laser pointers, but also wind-up mice, chalk, and suspiciously-empty boxes), Muta was far more drawn to the former trait.

As such, sometimes there were weird moments in the Bureau.

(Not weird as in abnormal - in a Bureau dedicated to dealing with magic, the supernatural was practically natural - but just gently odd.)

For instance, being woken at 11:45pm by a soft tapping at the door.

Haru rolled over and surveyed the room that was definitely not her room for several long, belaboured moments, before groggily recalling the events of the day before.

Right.

The case.

The nightmare case.

The case involving personified nightmares and physical dreams and had been the reason she had slept in the spare bedroom the Sanctuary had spontaneously produced for her use.

That case.

She stared up at the speckled ceiling and tried to align her unexpected sleepover with the knocking at her door.

It wasn’t the frenzied oh-dear-god-the-monsters-have-found-us hammering, nor the apologetic excuse-me-but-you-left-the-dishes-in-the-sink rapping, but it was unfailingly polite. It was, in nature, the same tone that flight hostesses give when they wake you up for your paid airborne meal at 5am.

She almost would have preferred monsters.

She rolled out of the bed, grabbing the dressing gown that the Sanctuary had thoughtfully provided, and lumbered to the door.

“Wassup?”

Baron, infuriatingly bright-eyed at ridiculous hours of the night and apparently confused as to why Haru didn’t share that trait, offered what was probably a winning smile at any other time of day. “Miss Haru, food is ready.”

Haru blinked.

Then she blinked again for good measure.

When it became quite apparent that she wasn’t dreaming and Baron was indeed there and informing her about food, she mustered up all the eloquence she could manage in her sleep-addled brain, and said, “What?”

The winning smile only slightly faltered. “Muta warned me that after the chaos of the previous case, you may not feel up to macks, but he’s previously made it quite clear how important of a meal it is for mortals, so it’ll do you good to eat.”

Haru squinted through the haze of midnightitis and decided these kinds of hijinks were the reason she didn’t sleep over at the Bureau. Her mind eventually settled on the words that she had understood, even if the direction of the whole sentence had escaped her. “You’re asking...” she fumbled, “for me to come with you at...” she checked, “11:53pm, for food?”

“That seems to be the gist of it, yes.”

She stared at him, swaying slightly in the doorway. ”Sure. Why not?” She yawned and pulled the dressing gown tighter. “Lead the way, mah... messtro... maestro.”

The first signs of reconsideration flittered across Baron’s face. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”

“I’m awake now. Kinda too late for second guessing.” She tucked her arm into his, partly for the intimacy, but mostly because she didn’t trust herself to find her own way to the kitchen. 

A few more of her mental facilities had come back online by the time they reached the main heart of the Sanctuary, enough for Haru to fully appreciate the extensive spread of food laid out before her. 

“Wow, this is... this is a lot,” Haru stammered. Geez, I’d forgotten how the Bureau never does anything by halves. “I mean, a cold meat spread and everything? Grilled cheese? Sticky rice? Why...? How...?” 

“We thought you might need a proper macks after the day you’ve had.”

“...What?”

“Well, during the nightmare case, you barely had a chance to rest, let alone eat--”

“No, no, I got that. Well,” Haru amended, “I see your logic. Macks?” She wondered whether the Sanctuary translation magic was having another off day. “Is that... Is that a Creation thing?” Except Creations didn’t need to eat, so that didn’t really make any sense... 

“Oh, maybe I’m not saying it right,” Baron hemmed. “Macks: the last meal of the day, originating from the tradition of eating the leftover food before the new day. A portmanteau of ‘midnight’ and ‘snacks’.” He looked at her expectantly as if that explained everything. 

If anything, Haru was left even more flummoxed. The way he spoke was that of a dictionary definition, but it was no word she had ever heard. Maybe the Sanctuary really had tapped out for the night. “Okay, but I’ve never heard of...”

Across the room, Muta suddenly furiously gestured for her to derail that sentence. 

Oh. 

Well. Now it all made sense. 

“...never heard of grilled cheese for macks,” Haru weakly finished. “Excuse me, I always take a turn around the garden before macks; Muta, please join me.” And without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Muta’s arm and hauled him out into the Sanctuary courtyard. 

She waited until the door had swung solidly behind her before starting what was looking to be a very enlightening conversation. 

“Muta,” she said, her arm tightly curled around his arm despite her deceptively light tone, “is it my sleep-deprived brain talking, or have you managed to con Baron and Toto into believing that midnight snacks are a legit meal?”

“Yeah, in hindsight this kinda got out of paw.”

“Kinda?”

“Look, Baron caught me snacking one night, so I lied and made up macks to get him off my back--”

“And he believed you?”

“Keep it down, Chicky; do ya want them to hear? And... eh, at first I think he just let it go. But then he started putting away the leftover food to remove temptation, so I showed him it was a real word.”

“It’s not a real word.”

Muta smirked. “It is if you edit Baron’s dictionary.”

“How...?”

“You’d be amazed what yer can do with a printer, glue, and far too much time.”

“You don’t have a printer,” Haru pointed out. 

“The library does.”

Haru digested this as they circled the far end of the courtyard. “Muta, have you been sneaking into the library at night?”

“Maybe?”

“Oh my god, you’re why everyone thinks it’s haunted.” 

“It is.”

Haru’s mouth clattered shut for several seconds. “Oh no, I did not need to know that.”

“Yer stuff a load of dead trees into one building, yer bound to get spirits following after, like bogeymen and ghouls--” 

“Stop talking. Just... stop.”

Aware that they were returning back in the direction of the Bureau, and that too many circuits would rouse suspicion in their companions, Haru attempted to wrangle the conversation back on to relevant territory.

“You know he’s going to figure it out eventually.”   

“Yeah, but it doesn’t have to be today, does it, Chicky? I’ve got a good thing going here.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She made a show of tilting her head in the impression of deep thought. “I don’t know how I feel about being an accessory to your lies.”

“How about one secret for another, then?” Muta offered. “I won't tell him your secret if you don’t tell him mine.”

“You don’t know any of my secrets.”  

“I know you’re the one who ate the last of his birthday cake.”

Haru froze. “You have no proof.”

“I found the crumbs on your scarf.” 

“Okay, but it was really good sponge cake and I was hungry and suffering from cramps!”

“So we’ve got a deal?”

Haru narrowed her eyes. “Is this what it feels like to be blackmailed?”

“This ain’t blackmail, this is mutually beneficial shutting-up.” 

“You’re skating on thin ice, buddy.” 

“Just play along for this one night and I promise Baron’ll never know it was you who stole the cake.”

“Only the last slice,” Haru muttered, but she steered them both back into the Bureau, where ‘macks’ was still spread across the table. She had to admit, it did look delicious, and her stomach gave an agreeing rumble. “Well, I feel better for that midnight constitution,” she said jollily, grabbing a seat and pulling herself in. “Don’t you, Muta?”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

“Mmmm, smacks, my favourite meal of the night.” 

Baron gave her a strange look, and Haru wondered if she was laying the enthusiasm on a bit thick. Then, “You mean macks, don’t you?”

“...Yes?”

Another searching look. She could see the gears whirring through his mind as he put two and two together and realised he had been duped. Then he pointedly retrieved his dictionary and flipped it open to what Haru presumed was the ‘M’ section. 

“Mackem... mackerel... mackintosh... macks...” His finger caught something on the page, and Haru saw the edge of paper curl, dried glue giving up its secrets as he peeled the addition away. “And look, here’s ‘mackle,’ mysteriously hidden beneath the definition for ‘macks’. How peculiar.” He looked up. “Don’t you think, Muta?” 

“I... Uh... Haru ate the last of your birthday cake!”

“MUTA!” Haru gasped. “You said you wouldn’t tell!”

“Hey, Chicky, my secret’s out, so so’s yours.”

“You...” Haru felt herself redden and she threw a hand in his direction. “Muta was the one who broke the teapot!”

“She forgot to water your plants last summer and replaced all of them so you wouldn't notice!”

“He brought home the cursed chopping board that nearly ate the Bureau!”

“She’s the one who hid the laser pointer!”

“He got himself employed by a Cat Kingdom smuggling ring!”

“Yeah, well, she...” Muta floundered. “She’s in love with you!”

“WE’RE ALREADY DATING!” Haru roared back.

There was a long, long pause. 

“Wait,” Toto interrupted, who had been happily watching the proceedings until then. “What? Since when?” 

“Uh...” 

“You’ve been dating in secret and didn’t tell us?”

Haru glanced to Baron. “Um, a little help here?”

“A moment, please.” Baron was flicking through the dictionary, apparently entirely oblivious to the turn the conversation had taken. He frowned. “I suppose you’re going to tell me that second breakfast isn’t a thing either?”

“Not unless you’re a hobbit,” Haru replied. She glanced to Muta with a ‘exactly how far did you take this?’ look before returning her attention to Baron. “Um, just how many meals of the day do you think there are?”

“Is the number in the double digits?”

“...No.”

Baron’s face took on a funny sort of expression, his whiskers twitching and his nose wrinkling. “MUTA!”  

would it be okay if i asked you to talk some more about qpps? i think i might have one but im nervous becuase i don't really understand how to tell. do you mind if i ask if your both poly? and how it affects your other relationships? doyour partners mind? is it hard to balance? (sorry if this is to personal, please ignor if it is)

Of course! I love to talk to about this subject haha. I’m sorry I took a while to get back to this, I had to check in with a few people before posting anything (and Crow and I had a full on existential crisis when we saw this question oop XD) Answers under the cut!! 

I guess the first thing is... QPP relationships are designed to offer a lot of space to self define your relationship. It’s specifically meant to give you an escape from other terms! The way Crow and I knew is... well, the way she put it is “You're the permanent relationship that I'd focus on keeping.” We don’t want to share each other, but we don’t want to stop each other from having other relationships... it’s just that we know this is the one that matters most. I want to know the people she dates and be friends with them, I just... also want to be loved in this specific special way and no one else.

We figured out what we were because... I don’t know! We met, we fell in love instantly as we fought over custody of internet children, we stayed up all night together because of insomnia. We made each other a priority. There was a time where she ghosted me for two months because of personal life things, and it happens to be one of my triggers (not that we knew that at the time). I freaked out, and when she came back online the first thing she did was make sure I was (we were) okay. That’s really important to me. We’ve gotten to a point where we trust each other to come back, and that’s huge for me, and that’s how I know she’s important. 

It’s hard to give you a checklist, but if this person is important to you and you like the term QPP, the best thing to do is use it! Or to try using it, I suppose. Talk to the person you like. Tell them, and ask what they feel, and how they want to define the relationship. It’s hard and scary, I know, I almost choked my heart as it jumped out of my chest when I told angel that I’d thought about dating her. It turned out really well for me (obviously, as you can tell :P ) and it might not for you, but you’ll at least have a chance to find closure and heal, and hopefully it will go well!

Personally, QPP sounds a little stiff for us. The word we settled on was starmates, which is this cute little portmanteau of our favorite metaphor (my love language :3 ) and soulmates, and that works for us. 

As for being poly... honestly, I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’ve been thinking about it since I realized I was ace and realized I would be okay with my partner having another partner to have sex with because that sure as heck wasn’t gonna be me. 

For me... I ended up telling him from the very beginning that Crow was more important and was going to be more important, and he... was jealous for a while. It was something we had to work through because I was also jealous of his other partner, and we had to talk about it and figure out what our expectations were of each other. It’s really strange, honestly. I know that I have a lot more freedom to be with Crow the way I want to because people expect women to have best friends, and be really affectionate with them, and I also just don’t pursue relationships with people who are uncomfortable with me loving a lot of people, because I do and I don’t plan to deprioritize the people in my life who are important just because someone new came along. 

He knew well before we started anything that Crow was my person, and I think that helped. He also got to meet her and spend time with her and see how happy she made me, and he’s kind of a wonderful person and wants me to be happy, so that helped. There’s been a lot of talking and therapy and Crow’s been kept in the loop about everything, and so has he, and that works. Not everyone is going to be okay with it, and I’m secure enough to know I would choose Crow every time, and that’s good enough for me. I’m willing to wait. Not everyone is. All I can say is that I hope you’re able to find someone who works with what you need, and I hope you communicate, and that’s all you can do. Whatever you choose, it’s okay. 

He adds, “Everyone experiences jealousy, and ur not a bad person for feeling it. It's a thing that can be worked past if you believe it's important to do so, and the most important thing is to be able to admit to it and talk about it.” 

There’s also something to be said about people who just don’t get it, and some of them are going to want to understand and do their best to respect your boundaries, and some are not. There’s no way to know, and you just have to ask and try things and work it out. In my opinion, someone who’s not willing to let you have time with someone who makes you happy is probably not a person you want to keep, but I might be wrong! I don’t know specifics, after all. That said, negotiating how you spend time with your partners is important and valid, and not controlling as long as it’s an open discussion where both people’s input and needs are valued. 

...maybe I am poly. I don’t know!! Crow and I are... super unclear, like, are we inherently in a poly relationship now if we date someone? She says, “I haven't been in a relationship since we figured the qpp stuff out but I know you'd be more important.” (Way to make me melt on main I guess, wow babe :P, I say, making the active choice to include this comment.) I guess it’s up to us to identify as poly. I don’t think you need to just because you have a QPP or something, but you can! That option is available if you want it, and optional if you don’t. 

It can be hard to balance, but honestly? There’s always something in a relationship. If they care about you and you care about them, you’ll make it work, and if not, you’ll find out and get to a healthier place I hope. You just have to be willing and able to try, and communicate, and find ways to explain to people in ways that work for you. 

For what it’s worth, not every queer platonic relationship is like ours. She’s my most important person, but ultimately they’re just a friendship that matters a lot, and that can look like whatever you want. Someone you text one a month but love each other the whole day you spend together. Someone all you do is text memes to but you never want to stop. Someone you talk to every day and fall asleep on the phone to. QPPs are meant to give you space to define a relationship in your life in whatever way works for you, and what really defines the relationship is you, and communication with your potential QPP and any other partners you have. 

I’m really happy to answer more questions, or explain in more detail anything you’re wondering, or happy to have a conversation with you and help work things out. (If you want to come off anon and message me privately, that’s very very welcome, I promise, but no pressure!!) This is something I care a lot about and I’m really willing to be available as much as I can for someone who’s as confused about it as I was. 

The emoji wears capitalism but with a different skin — to use the term for the way companies render each Unicode with their own personalized, and copyrighted, design. If, per Ngai, the smiley is the apotheosis of late capitalism's conformity, abstraction, and commodity production, the emoji highlights the particularly neoliberal celebration of customized choice and variety in the contemporary moment. Emoji come with most platforms, and there have been several spin-off products, like kaomoji and topic-specific emoji keyboards and apps. But even the popular Apple platform continues to proliferate new emoji, from about 90 to 2,600 in the last decade, due to the petition-based introduction of new ones via software update. Apple has tried to limit our ensuing anxiety about an endless profusion of emoji with its "frequently used" emoji feature and a newer "predictive emoji" feature, which highlights words in your message and suggests emoji with which to replace them. This assumes, of course, that every word potentially has an emoji substitute, though the phone can't (yet) read your mind for what you wish to express. Hence what a friend of mine and I have dubbed the premoji. A portmanteau of premonition + emoji, a premoji is the feeling you get when you're hunting on your phone for an emoji that doesn't yet exist. You want to use it; it should be there; you feel almost sure you've seen it before; but you can't find it. It's the digital version — in both senses of the word — of something being on the tip of your tongue. If nineteenth-century free market capitalism is embodied in that phantom limb, Adam Smith's invisible hand of the market, then perhaps our contemporary version of capitalism — with its pretense to total access, individuation, and customization — is embodied in the premoji, the promise of everything at the tip of your finger.

C. Namwali Serpell, “😂; or, The Word of the Year,” Post45 (x)

2020-05-01: “Legal” Litter Liberation

July 24 (Friday morning)

On Thursday evening, our team of heroes goes to bed in their respective houses. But the next morning sees each party member wake up in an unfamiliar location. Everyone is in a separate guest room filled with fancy furnishings. Though there are silk curtains on the walls, there are no windows.

Each room is furnished identically, with a comfortable canopy bed, a wardrobe filled with fine unisex robes in a variety of sizes, a dresser containing toiletries, a desk with chair, and an exquisitely crafted chamber pot underneath the bed. No one has any possessions except for what they slept in or kept under their pillow.

Lucky wakes up wearing one of Hilaria's shirts, with no spell focus or material components to speak of. Q, going by Fuego this morning, wears a sheer tunic atop some less-sheer underclothes, suspecting an excess of drink as the reason for waking up in a strange bed for the umpteenth time. Spleenifer's been sleeping in a burlap robe, and managed to show up with her holy symbol and holy book of tithes that she keeps under her pillow for reasons that are known only to her and Lathander. No one discusses what Norm was or wasn't wearing; it's probably for the best. Everyone loots their respective chambers to find something to wear, while Spleenifer goes one chamber looting further and inspects the chamber pot for potential tithes. Sadly, the chamber pots are all spotless.

The scent of breakfast cooking wafts through the air as the party emerges from their quarters. Everyone ambles down the tower steps until they find a woman waiting for them at the tower's base. The human woman introduces herself as Storm Elers, seneschal for the master's manor. Master Yula is quite eccentric, she explains, and indicates that he will soon join them at breakfast to discuss some business matters of great personal urgency. They walk through the house to the dining room, passing a library that contains still-beating hearts adorning the walls, a teleportation circle etched into the floor of another room, and a room whose floor is covered in a dozen fist-sized stone balls (one of which is moving erratically of its own volition).

Everyone takes a seat at the long table and attempts to make sense of the bewildering array of silverware in front of them. A breakfast feast (no, "breakfeast" is the one portmanteau we don't use in this house) of all types of cuisine is soon delivered to the table. Master Yula appears at the end of the table with wild, unblinking eyes. His disconcerting gaze watches everyone with great interest as they try to figure out which of the 30 forks to use for their meals. Much to Yula's chagrin, only Spleenifer grabs the wrong utensil. But Spleenifer is a woman of utility who nevertheless makes things work (even if it is with the squid de-veining spoon).

As everyone begins eating, Yula explains the situation. He has need of adventurers with a particular skill set that overlaps with sanitation. He asks them if they would assist him in building a litter box. The party is understandably wary of this offer, as litterbox construction does not usually require teleportation and a mission briefing. As a show of "good will" he offers the party an advance payment of 100 gold pieces to each character. The coins are contained in four velvet pouches that feel warm to the touch. Something stinks to Spleenifer, but it's not the coins.

Inside the bag are 100GP as promised, but also a large brass coin that Yula describes as a Coin of Obligation. Yula's hard-sell has just resulted in the characters accidentally accepting an infernal contract. But now that the contract has been sealed, Yula gleefully explains what must be done. The party is now bound by an agreement where they are independent contractors to Yula, and the only way to fulfill the contract is to construct a more impressive and expensive litterbox that Yula currently has. Of course, Yula is full of suggestions on how to accomplish this contract.

The most legal and time-consuming way to accomplish the task is to toil in the mines with the slaves in hopes of finding enough sand, gold, and gems to construct the litterbox. But in the name of good fun, Yula suggests a more "straightforward" method: rob the vault where Yula keeps many of his rare magic items and prevent the bank staff from reacquiring the items. The terms of Yula's banking agreement stipulate that he must be reimbursed in gold for the value of the items he lost. Yula gets to keep his magic items and more than enough gold for a new litterbox. It's a winning proposition all around (for everyone except the party members). Another option is just to walk out the front door of the mansion and suffocate in the void that surrounds Yula's mansion in this demiplane.

Spleenifer is tired of this fiendish presentation and brandishes her holy symbol in an attempt to make him flee. Yula dismissives Spleenifer's attempt and proceeds to monologue about infernal superiority, how squishy mortal bodies are, and related demeaning phrases. You know, standard fiendish monologue stuff. Spleenifer doesn't admit defeat, but she does sit back down at the table to plot about how to get out of this unfortunate contract.

During Yula's lengthy speech, Lucky and Norm start stealing silverware from the table. There's like, at least 50GP worth of cutlery at each place; no one's gonna miss a few dozen forks and knives, right? Norm mostly goes for the stabby utensils, but Lucky opts for a quantity-driven approach. She elevates the petty theft to an art form, turning Hilaria's shirt into a giant cutlery purse. Fuego gets in on the action, too, and starts stuffing their cutlery into the bedazzled robe they had chosen to wear to breakfast. Who knew sequins could be so loud?

Yula finishes his speech and escorts the party to view the corpse of his former litterbox. The litterbox itself is a 30-foot square with sides that are encrusted with gold and gems. It's like an ostentatious Japanese rock garden you can poop in. Unfortunately, part of the litterbox got chipped by a trowel during a routine cleaning. You can't even see the chip, but any imperfection means the litterbox is ruined and needs to be replaced. The current litterbox is probably valued at 8,000GP, but a suitable replacement would need to cost at least 30,000GP. Yula excuses himself and allows the party to explore his house until everyone makes a decision as which course of action they will take regarding their contracts.

After Yula leaves, the party is left with more questions than answers. How are they supposed to get materials? Can Yula be killed? Is he just a really big cat? If Anaxilas autographs the box, how much will the autograph artificially increase the value of the litterbox? Can they feasibly teleport back home and coerce Anaxilas to do the autograph? Time to explore the house and get some answers!

Talking to Storm is probably a good first step, but Lucky wants to gather some spell components just in case someone needs a good dose of magicking. She makes a detour through the kitchen to grab some honey. Gum arabic comes from a makeup kit in the dresser of her guest chamber in the tower, and an eyelash is provided by Fuego. With the material components secured, the party finds storm in her office drinking some stolen wine straight from the bottle.

"How was your visit with Yula today? We hope it was as magnificent as you had expected," she says unenthusiastically. Fuego realizes that Storm is just reflexively reciting a script to avoid a shock from her Coin of Obligation. Storm's been here for the past few years and has spent so much time drinking that she doesn't really remember what her original agreement was, but she knows that if she ever acts against her agreement she risks a potentially deadly shock. Storm's memory of the vault is less hazy, though. She mentions that the vault has to have two keys to open, one that belongs to Yula, and another that belongs to the bank president. There's a room that requires following a certain line on the floor to avoid setting off an alarm. The vault they will probably need to rob is Vault 4, and the whole bank is patrolled by guards. Some of the guards are living, but others are nimble clockwork contraptions.

With the information gathered from Storm, Lucky gets an idea. She discusses with the party the mundane equipment that they will need if they are to pull off this heist. Lucky writes this down in a list, and borrows Fuego's coin pouch, splits the seam and stashes her Coin of Obligation in the lining before dashing off to find Yula. She tries to corner Yula into unintentionally making another agreement, this time to nullify their existing agreement. Yula condescendingly concedes that Lucky's approach has merit and nullifies her Coin of Obligation.

Yula makes a big show about it, by summoning the entire household staff and making an announcement that Lucky's contract is hereby nullified. But the rest of the party is still bound by the original agreement. To add insult to injury, Yula amends the agreement by announcing that he is formally prohibiting the future instances of nullification with Lucky's method. That girl's got moxie, which is why she alone could wiggle out of the contract. But even though she's technically free, Yula is under no obligation to provide her with the means to go home, and thus it looks like everyone's best shot at freedom is still the bank heist.

Fuego performs some additional reconnaissance in Yula's litterbox room. What does Yula's poop look like? Presumably it looks like regular humanoid poop, but Fuego leaves a retaliatory present of their own in the litterbox. Fuego makes sure to cover it up, though, because they are a civilized rage-pooper.

Spleenifer comes in a few moments later to collect a tithe of opportunity, but she is not alone in the room this time. As Yula's infernal leavings sizzle in the pages of the holy book, a gnome named Bostvick Humplebumple is taking measurements of the quality of the sand. He's been "hired" in the same way the rest of the party is, though his task is finding sources of gypsum and volcanic sand to fill the litterbox. He also mentions that Yula seems to be having problems with his knees when using the litterbox, and if the party ever comes across a suitably ostentatious chair to help Yula conduct his box business, he might be more inclined to be more generous with his rewards. Bostvick knows where a good source of volcanic sand is, but you have to teleport to get there. He'd be happy to assist in getting there, especially if it helps him get released. Before he leaves, Bostvick warns Spleenifer that it's a risky proposition to come straight back to the mansion after the heist, because it could end badly for everyone involved if the bank people come looking here.

After the meeting with Bostvick, the party does some more reconnaissance with the staff to find out as much as they can about the structure of the bank building. They also come up with a secret backup plan, but we'll have to wait until later to find out what the plan is. Lucky informs Yula that they will attempt to ship themselves to the vault in a big box, and that they are nearly ready to go.

Once the box is prepared, the party seals themselves inside and awaits delivery to the vault. During the journey, Lucky does some fancy magic and casts Seeming to disguise Fuego as Yula, Spleenifer as Storm the seneschal, while Lucky and Norm will take on the disguise of two random servants. It's a bumpy journey down, but the party comes to a stop sometime later nestled in the vast vaults in the belly of the Goldleaf Wealth Services bank. There's a pile of 4,000 platinum coins on one side of the vault, and a trunk containing a meticulously cataloged collection of powerful items.

The adventure concludes for the evening as the party gazes upon the wealth of new tools they'll have at their disposal for the heist that's about to unfold. Stay tuned next time for more!

Solidarity - On - Line

How does the time of isolation affect on the work of different initiatives and communities when the public space access is defined with social distancing and lines. We discussed how three cases of the Future Architecture are continuing in solidarity, beyond lines. The three projects are reinventing the existence of space for commons and connecting individuals to overcome solitude and isolation on the fringes of the society. 

Epirus region in northwestern Greece is an area of many mythical topologies and multi-cultural identities, ranging from the Venetian influence in the coast to Ottoman villages in the interior. | Photo © Christina Serifi, TiriLab

TiriLab, an initiative and an open platform, explores multi-cultural heritage related to local technologies, gastronomy and culture specifics from rural communities in northwestern Greece. It is a joint venture of collectives and individuals, practitioners and researchers with focus on architecture and territory, local ecologies and digital technologies, circular economy and sharing models, initiated by Christina Serifi and Juan Chacón | Zuloark. 

TiriLab focus on building techniques, food research and production as well as territorial research and design through workshops, encounters, research and built prototypes. | Photo © Juan Chacón |TiriLab

At the Epirus region in northwestern Greece they have identified a variety of self-organised initiatives mostly by women. All these cooperatives, associations, informal or formal organisations achieved to survive during greek economic depression and kept these villages alive by producing local products, bartering and organising social events. Christina Serifi explains that “we recognize these initiatives as rural commons sharing multiple resources, such as food and gathering a community around them, by re-using abandoned public infrastructure and creating open kitchens. We are inspired by and wish to learn from real life practices and critical human interventions, leading the way in building alternatives locally and globally.” 

TiriLab aim to merge formal, non-formal and informal learning models through rural commons to create encounters with artists, local institutions and inhabitants from and for the region. | Photo © Juan Chacón, Bea Abbott

Mapping the margins would be a series of maps and documentations, identifying, for the first time, all the women associations, local agriculture cooperatives as well as abandoned buildings starting from Thesprotia province in Epirus, in order to create an active platform where many cooperatives can find a space to grow. 

Alkistis Thomidou and Gian Maria Socci are observing the way “world went into an unprecedented lockdown, exposing the fragility of a lifestyle resulting from decades of neoliberal policies and individualism” and bring an attempt in 35 Meridians of Radical Rituals to imagine how architecture can reinvent itself to support this venture, learning from non professional practices that are already making a change in our cities. “Shortcomings of public services, migration mismanagement and the failure of addressing climate change demonstrate the need to revolutionize the way we manage and envision our communal space.”

Map of the current research 35 Meridians Of Radical Rituals that looks at Europe as a place of diversity and cultural crossings beyond the usual centres of cultural production. | Photo © Forty-five degrees

An itinerant survey along the 45ºN parallel, a path crossing climates, geographies and borders marked by socio-economic and geo-political struggles, where movements of people, knowledge and goods formed the hybrid place we call Europe. This arbitrary line separating the south we come from and the north where we live and work, is a symbolic space that shifts notions of centre and periphery and invites speculation on a different understanding of borders as spaces of threshold and diversity.

In the proposal for the Greek Pavilion at the Venice Biennale forty-five degrees explored the idea of beekeeping as practice of transnationalism and solidarity. | Photo © Forty-five degrees

Bees become ambassadors of a metaphorical cross-border pollination of the Biennale’s Giardini. If we were producing honey at the Giardini, would this be a Greek honey, an Italian one, or something else altogether? | Photo © Forty-five degrees

Forty-five degrees are convinced that “everyday people's responses to the extraordinary crisis of our times show the power of community in inventing new modes of thinking and making. Although we often overlook or miss them, they show great potential to meet the ecological, economic and societal challenges of today. We are collecting exemplary practices and regard them as rituals, because of their power to create ties of kinship, foster inclusion and spatial identity while strengthening the capacity of collective action.” These take the form of community self-organization, informal gatherings and spontaneous actions that mainly survive through maintenance and care. They point towards an unexpected ressurenge of the commons, encouraging new forms of citizenship and new types of care for life forms. They show how radical innovations, new traditions, memories and technologies can generate alternative futures of living together across physical and digital space.

Forty-five degrees is focusing on mapping and recording informal acts of care that are already making a change in our cities. Here the example of containers. | Photo © Forty-five degrees

Lemonot is a design and research platform, founded by Sabrina Morreale and Lorenzo Perri, interested in iconographic gestures enabling the mutual immanence among objects, bodies and rituals. In particular, their work attempts to define peculiar architectural settings for updated gastronomic ceremonies: food preparation and consumption construct a privileged ground to enact symbolic behaviors. Their research focuses on contemporary folklore – as a trigger for unconventional spatial languages, between geometrical abstraction and material figurativism.

A totem of miniatures to re-enact the Mesa de la Challa, AAVS 2018 | Photo © Lemonot

They researched Mamani’s buildings, nicknamed “cholets,” a portmanteau made of the high-class “chalets” (as in, Swiss cottages with eaves) and the derogatory “cholo” (as in, racist slang for an indigenous person). They are build manifestation of folkloric andean rituals. The spacial languages characterizing them are rooted into a procession, traditional mass, mythological characters. 

Cultural Assembling, the AA Visiting School El Alto 2018 led by Lemonot.| Photo © Lemonot

Cholets are more than just outlandish buildings with zany colors; they come with the promise of financial returns. In a typical cholet, the ground floor contains stalls that can be rented out to businesses; the second and third floors house a party venue; and on the upper floors are residential apartments. “For me, of course it represents the colors of our culture, but mainly it’s the result of hard work,” says Joaquin Quispe Condori, a restaurateur who co-owns a cholet with a salon called El Crucero del Sur, with his siblings, “I believe that we are really hard workers, and all the effort, it’s [shown] here.” Every owner of the cholet becomes a tycoon, who works and organizes community parties and feasts. Everyone turns to him with condescension and admires him. The colors are in fact inspired by Andean traditions but as well on the owner’s choices. 

Drawing a collective tapestry to represent the characters of the Diablada, AAVS 2018. | Photo © Lemonot

Controversies 1 (social) Owning a cholet is a powerful status symbol that announces the attainment of wealth. The cholets constitute new markers of wealth inequality in a city whose emerging cholo bourgeoisie increasingly contrasts with, for example, the poor street vendors who set up shop right outside their front doors.

Controversies 2 (commodification of traditional rituals) Three days a week in the city of El Alto, cholitas dressed in their traditional outfits battle it out in the ring in an event that’s a hit with locals and a top tourist attraction. These women are theatrically performing for tourists, betraying the values of their traditions. 

Controversies 2 (commodification of traditional rituals) It is not the only exaggerated event or ritual to entice tourists to come. The preste, which is a folloric moment for the aymara, becomes today an electronic party with international djs and sponsors that takes place inside the cholets, once a year. Traditional dancers, masks and cholitas are dancing covered in led lights. A form of celebration or gentrification?  

Controversies 3 (political) The rise of Freddy Mamani’s architecture and the government of Evo Morales is strictly linked together. Evo won with 53.7% of the votes, an absolute majority, unusual in Bolivian elections.

Controversies by Daniel Runnels (2019) Cholo aesthetics and mestizaje: architecture in El Alto, Bolivia, Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies, 14:2, 138-150, DOI:

***

What is the purpose of your community?

Forty-five degrees is an architecture and urban design practice dedicated to the critical making of collective space. Our particular interest lies in Europe, this hybrid place in constant mutation, where we are investigating emerging transcultural traditions, memories and technologies and their potential to shape radical practices of commoning grounded on spatial justice and environmental awareness.

TiriLab is a joint venture of collectives and individuals, practitioners and researchers with focus on architecture and territory, local ecologies and digital technologies, circular economy and sharing models. We work closely with women cooperatives, associations and rural initiatives in Thesprotia province in Greece, aiming to create an active knowledge network, in order to empower them, give them visibility and foster their multilayered identity. Our main objective is to visualize the territory as a whole, as a shared cultural space and add a plural voice to the urban-rural dichotomy discourse, raising awareness of their interdependence by reorganizing relations and practices, through a culture of solidarity.

Cholet El Crucero del Sur, site visit with Freddy Mamani Silvestre. | Photo © Lemonot

Lemonot: The AAVs El Alto was held for the first time in January 2018 as an educational programme in La Paz, Bolivia on behalf of the Architectural Association in London. It takes the form of an intensive workshop - everyday full-time for two or three weeks in a row - involving students of architecture, art, fashion, film-making and anthropology. The programme explores through different media the relationship between architecture, cultural identity and rituals in the Bolivian Altiplano, with particular emphasis on the understanding of the cholets constructed by Freddy Mamani Silvestre. International students from all over the world have the chance to work collectively with local ones, experimenting together with heterogeneous sets of references and teaching methodologies.

How do you create a community network (digital, personal, combination)?

Forty-five degrees: Since we started collaborating, we often happened to be physically in different cities, countries, continents, time zones etc. To sustain our community we make use of digital tools but also meet physically when possible. Through research and design, on-site workshops, collaborative and educational formats in multiple scales, we try to understand the locality of each project and seek for moments of entanglement and empowerment of the local community, aiming at creating collective and inclusive spaces.

In Rhodes we proposed to turn a concrete plaza into a community garden organized according to the natural ecology of an oasis, recuperating winter rainwater for summer refreshment. | Photo © Forty-five degrees

TiriLab: TiriLab was born with the aim of creating, participating and being part of communities, trying to gap binary concepts of roles and contexts: urban and rural, face-to-face and digital, expert and community. Since we are in a very early stage of community engagement we are working on different levels of approaching. On one hand, we are mapping the territory, through the project “Mapping the margins”, for possible partners, associations, local administrations and civic society groups to create a local network for developing activities. This is an ongoing project and has brought together very interesting groups and initiatives. We have started creating encounters and workshops will local women associations through cooking, prototyping and discussing. All these local informal or formal organizations achieved to survive during greek economic depression and kept their communities alive by producing local products, bartering and organizing social events. We value and identify these initiatives as rural commons sharing multiple resources.

Masks from ordinary moments, AAVS 2019. | Photo © Lemonot

Lemonot: Students are recruited mainly online, through an open call on the AA website. However, especially for the ones coming from La Paz and El Alto, the word of mouth is quite important: we always try to advertise the workshop firsthand in different Bolivian universities, getting to know students in person as much as we can. Indeed, before launching the Visiting School, in 2017 we lived in La Paz and it was not only an amazing experience, but also an essential opportunity to familiarize with the daily realm of such a peculiar context. This coming May we are organizing Tales from the Altiplano: a series of Instagram lives with artists, photographers, architects and anthropologists. We are collecting materials to take stock of our experiences about New Andean Architecture in La Paz and this will set the basis for a series of publications concerning daily practices and rituals, highlighting how they often come with a spontaneously rich iconographic apparatus that should consciously inform the production of spatial languages.

How and which people do you involve?

Forty-five degrees: Our projects and research are based on collaborative work. We are very interested in the acts of spontaneous appropriation as a means of co-authorship and agency. Therefore, in all our projects we include final users by providing open frameworks for them to reinvent their own urban experience. Most of all, we are interested in discovering impactful urban practices that often fly under the radar of professional recognition. Therefore we try to uncover the hidden actors who run and maintain the city as active participants in our decision-making processes. These might comprise retirees, street-sweepers, gardeners, and in general citizens who are not normally included in the conversation, a temporary community of "city heroes".

TiriLab: On a second scale, we also invite every year (Summer of Nothing), mostly international professionals who have developed projects with different communities around the globe in rural or urban areas. Together we enjoy, discover and research the region and its secrets in a profound  way in order to bring another perspective in the local context. Our aim is to initiate the creation of a digital platform, relating it to a shared transitional territory which is inhabited in a non-binary way. What if we consider just one environment with digital and physical capabilities?Digital connection and internet are very recent arrivals in several communities in Thesprotia. In TiriLab we are starting to plan how some of the groups operating in the area could be more engaged with the digital world, to gain visibility and also to have the opportunity to exchange knowledge with the groups operating further away from them, if they are willing to.

Crafting ceramic pieces is the studio of Mario Sarabia, AAVS 2018. | Photo © Lemonot

Lemonot: In addition to the students that change every year, we created a network of academics, architects, artists, film-directors, photographers, theatre actors and various artisans. In La Paz and El Alto we found a community of creative people really open to collaborate and this led to fascinating and unexpected interactions: last year we were fabricating props for a spatial performance with a brilliant crafter that usually repairs pieces for airplanes!

Portable Cholets, the AA Visiting School El Alto 2019 | Photo © Lemonot

Punny title about lesbians in love on an airplane (Branjie) - Mermelada

Hola! Did somebody ask for a Branjie lesbian flight attendant AU? Of course they didn’t, but it’s here anyway! Trigger warning for racism (third flight: Cancun section, skip if necessary as it’s not vital to the story). I hope you enjoy!

They first met on a flight to Tampa. They were both working in economy class, and were taking advantage of the turbulence to chitchat on their jumpseats at the back of the plane and get to know each other. Brooke Lynn learned that Vanessa had grown up in Tampa, had somehow acquired the nickname Vanjie at school, and was planning on spending that evening with her family. Vanessa learned that Brooke Lynn was Canadian, but had been living in the US for long enough to have almost completely lost her accent – except after a few tequilas, apparently – and used to be a pretty serious ballerina. Their personalities were polar opposites, and yet they hit it off immediately. They kept laughing with each other well after the plane’s wheels were on the ground and the passengers were nowhere to be seen. Although she didn’t want to admit it, Vanessa was somewhat disappointed when she saw her mother and aunt standing in the arrivals hall, and was thus forced to say goodbye to Brooke Lynn, who begrudgingly followed the rest of the crew out of the terminal to find their transport to the hotel. On the flight home the next day, both ladies picked up where they’d left off, their natural chemistry making their job feel easy and the flight seem quick. Far too quick. Before disembarking once they were safely parked back at base, Vanessa added Brooke Lynn on Facebook, delighted that their 56 mutual friends had made it easy. Their airline, however, was big, and they knew their chances of flying together again anytime soon was limited. Nonetheless, they exchanged goodbyes and thanked each other for such a nice flight.

-*-

They didn’t have to wait long for their next meeting, when Vanessa was called from reserve to go to Seattle the next week. All of her stress from speed-walking to the gate disappeared as soon as she stepped on board and saw the voluptuous blonde giant, who handed her a freshly brewed coffee. Airplane drinks had never tasted so good. Brooke Lynn was working in business class, so they didn’t get the chance to speak until the bus ride to their hotel in the city centre.

“I’ve never been to Seattle before, do you want to come sightseeing with me?”

Vanessa agreed perhaps too enthusiastically, her smile wide enough to park a bus, before she realised that in her frantic dash to the airport that morning, she hadn’t packed anything appropriate for the damp and chilly Seattle spring. A few awkward explanations and suggestive comments later, Vanessa found herself walking around Pike Place Market in her pyjama leggings, white jelly sandals, and Brooke’s red hoodie which drowned her tiny frame. It smelled like maple syrup – not in a stereotypical sort of way, but it was sweet, unique, and warmed Vanessa’s heart. They spent the day walking beside each other, neither woman flinching when their arms or hands bumped together. They chatted comfortably, and felt completely at ease in each other’s company. They’d spent as much time as possible exploring the city and eating more than either had thought possible, but the time change and early start was making staying awake increasingly difficult, and both made the decision to retire to their respective rooms before dinner time, promising to meet for breakfast when they inevitably woke up at the crack of dawn.

-*-

Their third flight together was the hardest. Brooke Lynn’s face had lit up the moment she saw Vanessa’s name beside a two-night trip to Cancun on her roster. They’d exchanged excited Whatsapp messages, having swapped phone numbers after breakfast in Seattle the previous two months prior, and planned a visit to a turtle sanctuary to find out “if those cute little fuckers really do try and swim to the moon”, a question Vanessa had been pondering since watching an Animal Planet documentary as a child. The reality, however, wasn’t quite as fun. An oil leak on their original plane meant a four hour wait in the terminal beside increasingly-agitated passengers while a new plane was found. Once they were finally on their way, a lady in the back row –  who had most likely spent the delay downing gin and tonics at the airport bar –  decided she didn’t like Vanessa’s bilingual English and Spanish announcements, unironically declaring loudly from her seat that “we want to keep America for Americans, we don’t want to be force-fed your taco-eating shit.”  

In shock, Brooke left her colleague in the aisle and went to the nearest phone to call the Captain, thinking ahead of the next steps from the ‘dealing with disruptive passengers’ chapter in her training notes.  Vanessa, surprisingly, kept her cool.

“Ma’am, I’m Puerto Rican. We eat sorullitos.”

The angry woman stared at Vanessa like she’d just killed a puppy. Her face turned red with rage, and she spat obscenities at Vanessa like they were on special offer. Not wanting to listen anymore, Vanessa just walked away to join Brooke Lynn in the back galley, leaving the passengers around the lady to deal with her themselves. Unfortunately, the captain had decided that the woman was a potential risk to the safety of the aircraft, which is how they found themselves diverting into Charleston and exceeding their maximum time limit for a day’s work. As the rest of the crew debriefed over miniature bottles of wine on the bus to their unplanned hotel for the night, Brooke and Vanessa sat close together in the back row. The taller woman had her arm wrapped around the shorter one’s shoulder, gently rubbing circles into her upper arm. Out of nowhere, the impact of what had happened hit Vanessa. She buried her face into Brooke’s chest, unable to stop the tears which were now falling incessantly from her eyes. Vanessa looked even smaller than normal, as fragile as a glass Christmas bauble. All Brooke could do was hold her closer, stroke her hair, and hope that Vanessa knew that she cared.

Back at the hotel, Vanessa wouldn’t let go of Brooke Lynn as they collected their keys from the bored-looking teenager at the front desk. Brooke had never experienced racism at work before – drunk football fans shouting ‘aboot’ across the aisle didn’t count – but she knew that the most important thing at that moment was to support her friend.

“Do you want to sleep in my room tonight? We can get pizza and watch The Notebook.”

In the short time they had known each other, Brooke Lynn had learned a lot about Vanessa’s favourite things, including her surprising love of all things romantic, despite a less-than-perfect love life about which she often dropped elusive snippets into conversation. Despite never having been one for soppy movies, Brooke wanted nothing more than to spend the evening doing whatever she could to make Vanessa happy.

The short Latina looked up through wet, brown eyes.

“Only if I can borrow your hoodie again, that shit was ugly but comfy as fuck.”

-*-

A month after their failed trip to Cancun, Brooke Lynn and Vanessa had been in contact every day, trying to figure out how to get another trip together. Finally, they were lucky, when Vanessa convinced her friend Silky to swap her night-stop in San Francisco with Brooke for two days in Pittsburgh.

“Think of the ketchup, girl, you’ll love Pittsburgh!”

“Bitch, you are pussy whipped, I better be your maid of honour.”

The words replayed on a loop in Vanessa’s head during her entire journey to the airport that morning. “Pussy whipped.” It sounded disgusting, but she couldn’t deny, there was something so attractive about Brooke Lynn that she couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t just that she was tall, athletic, curvaceous, and had the twinkliest eyes in the universe; she was intelligent, thoughtful, caring, and wickedly funny at the same time. She was never bored when they were together, and she felt entire swarms of butterflies flutter in her stomach every time her phone dinged with a new message from the Canadian. She also gave amazing cuddles. They’d gotten a lot closer over the last month, especially since Brooke had opened up about never having had a serious relationship at their Charleston sleepover. Brooke had also admitted that night to having had no idea that Vanessa was also a lesbian, which elicited even more flirtatious teasing.

“Is it because I don’t wear plaid? Brooky-poo, you can’t just pigeon-hole your sisters like that.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Jesus Christ, I told you, my gaydar has been broken since the 90s! This is why I’m single!”

They spent the long flight to San Fran working together in economy again, their smiles never fading as their bantered with the passengers during the bar round. They were able to remove the frowns from even the grumpiest of businessmen’s faces, which left the colleagues feeling like they were on cloud 9. As they gathered their belongings at the end of the flight, the cabin manager Nina walked down the aisle to see them.

“Those were some of the happiest customers I have ever seen, what on earth did you give them?!” she beamed, her enthusiasm somehow even higher than usual.

“Oh, you know”, began Brooke, “A bit of the ol’ Branjie charm does wonders!”

Vanessa’s snort in response caused the three to burst into hysterical laughter, their good moods only getting better and better.

It wasn’t until they were sat together at a bar on Pier 39 that it was brought up again.

“So, Branjie, huh?” smirked Vanessa, stirring her cocktail with her straw and fluttering her eyelashes at Brooke.

“Yeah, it’s like a… what’s the word for it? A portmanteau. Brooke and Vanjie – Branjie!”

Vanessa couldn’t help but laugh at how comfortable Brooke was explaining it, “you’ve thought about this before, haven’t you?!”

Brooke’s cheeks turned the same colour as her strawberry daiquiri, and she couldn’t drink it quick enough to hide from the fact that she’d been caught. “Well, yeah… I was just brainstorming, y’know. Branjie is better than Broonessa or Vanooke.”

Vanessa successfully maintained serious eye contact with Brooke for four seconds before exploding into uncontrollable laughter, the Canadian joining in immediately. At some point during the raucousness, Vanessa’s hand found its way onto Brooke’s thigh, and Brooke’s foot wrapped itself around Vanessa’s shin. They inched closer until there was virtually no space between them, conversing as before, only this time with far more intimacy. A natural lull in the conversation led to a comfortable silence, where they stared into each other’s eyes, neither sure of how to proceed. Just as Brooke Lynn caught Vanessa’s eyes dart down to her lips, she jumped up from her seat and extended her hand, which Vanessa took graciously.

“Let’s go for a walk, you like sea lions?”

The pier was swarming with tourists, all trying to take photographs of every single square centimetre. Vanessa and Brooke Lynn aimlessly sauntered along, their hands connected and swinging at a gentle pace beside them. Despite not looking at each other, they knew that they were wearing matching smiles. They stopped at the end of the pier and took in the deafening racket from the giant creatures below, huddling together closely to counter the effects of the cool sea breeze.

“Sorry, I thought this was going to be romantic”, sighed Brooke, lightly removing her hand from Vanessa’s and looking down to inspect her nails, a nervous tick she’d developed as a teenager in dance class. “I wasn’t expecting it to smell quite so fishy.”

Vanessa couldn’t help but grin at her counterpart’s sudden shyness, taking it upon herself to make the first move by wrapping her arms around Brooke Lynn’s waist.

“I didn’t even notice.” With that, Vanessa stood as high on her tip-toes as possible and stretched her neck as far as she could, meeting Brooke’s lips halfway in a flurry of quick, chaste kisses. They held each other as they stared out to the sea, the cacophony of the sea lion choir filling the air. It was perfect.

-*-

They saw each other a lot more after San Francisco, meeting for coffee and drinks at home whenever their schedules aligned, or spending hours on Facetime when they didn’t. They were seeing each other, Brooke supposed. It wasn’t official or exclusive, nor had they spoken about what their exact status was, but whatever it was, it was good. It felt right. It had been 52 days since their first kiss, and the Canadian was ready to take their relationship to the next level. Unbeknownst to Brooke Lynn, Vanessa was had also been planning the perfect way to do so as soon as she’d laid eyes upon the 3-night trip to Maui appear on their rosters for next month. Sunshine, sea, and coconut bras… what could possibly be sexier?

The flight passed without a hitch, and all nine crew members chatted drowsily in the hotel lobby as they waited for their room keys to be ready. Vanessa and Brooke were sharing an armchair that was far too small to fit both of them, but they relished the closeness. Drawing gentle patterns onto Brooke Lynn’s lower back, Vanessa put the first part of her plan into action.

“So, I was wondering,” she began hesitantly, clearing her throat as a pair of sleepy green eyes met her brown ones, “since we’ve basically spent all of our last two trips together, do you want to maybe share a room?”

Vanessa knew it was a big step: despite having shared a bed for one night in Charleston, and enjoying an evening kissing during Food Network ad breaks in Brooke’s room in San Fran, they were yet to officially spend a night together together. And a room all to themselves would mean they could do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, without having to run halfway across the hotel to brush their teeth or change clothes. Vanessa was also desperate to explore every inch of Brooke’s body and do whatever she could to make her feel good, but Brooke’s slight hesitation in that moment made her doubt herself.

“We don’t have to, don’t worry, I was just thinking it might be nice to spend some time alone together since it’s been so long since we’ve been together just the two of us, but I understand if you want your personal space, I know you probably don’t want all my bikinis and shit cluttering up your room and…”

Before Vanessa could finish ranting, Brooke stopped her by pressing their lips together, so soft in contrast to Vanessa’s erratic rambling.

“Yes”, was all she needed to say, before Vanessa grinned like the Cheshire Cat and pulled her in for a longer kiss, not even caring that the rest of their crewmates had already left.  

The atmosphere was unusually quiet in the girls’ room. Brooke had opened the door to the balcony, looking out onto the beach, meanwhile Vanessa rifled through her suitcase to find her phone charger. She really should start organising her luggage better one day, maybe Brooke could teach her. Neither had uttered a word to each other since walking through the door to their humble double room, and both seemed reluctant to be the first to break the tension. Eventually, having successfully plugged her phone in to charge, Vanessa decided to take a shower to wash the smell of Boeing off of her skin. Singing off-key to herself as she lathered up her fruity shampoo, she didn’t hear the bathroom door open and close again.

“Need some help?”

Vanessa jumped as she realised that standing in front of her was the most perfect, beautiful woman she has ever seen, completely naked, and looking at Vanessa with matching awe.

“If you want to”, was all Vanessa could muster before pushing herself onto the blonde goddess in front of her, pinning her against the wall of the shower cubicle and kissing her with a passion she’d never known she had. Brooke kissed back with a far greater intensity than any of their previous kisses, moving to nibble at Vanessa’s neck and clavicle.

Not content with not being in control, Brooke Lynn reached her hands down to grab Vanessa’s ass, and in one swift motion lifted her up and spun them around so that the shorter girl’s back was now against the tiled wall, with her legs wrapped as tightly as she could around Brooke’s hips. They continued kissing passionately, grabbing each other’s hair and softly moaning into each other’s mouth, when Brooke, who still had a hold on Vanessa as she inadvertently grinded against the Canadian’s pubic bone, lost her grip and could only watch as the brunette slid in slow-motion all the way down Brooke’s body like a firefighter’s pole, unable to land on her legs in time. She looked down at the shocked brown eyes staring up from the corner of the cubicle floor, not sure how it had happened, when the room was filled with the most glorious sound of Vanessa’s laughter. Once she’d started laughing, she couldn’t stop, which then infected Brooke to the point where neither could breathe. The situation only worsened with Brooke’s failed attempts to pull Vanessa back up again, the women’s hands slipping constantly in the stream of water.  

“This wasn’t what I had in mind when I wanted to get you wet tonight”, Brooke barely managed to wheeze out as her stomach muscles ached from their sudden exertion. Just about succeeding to regain composure as Vanessa still howled below her, she turned off the shower and extended her hand, finally managing to pull the brunette up to stand beside her. They shared several soft kisses, hands wandering across their torsos, holding on to each other as if they might suddenly be split apart. As their kisses once more began getting more heated, Vanessa snickered and looked up at Brooke.

“My ass really hurts, I think you should kiss it better.”

All Brooke could do was roll her eyes and continue kissing Vanessa’s face, her smile never faltering.

“You are absolutely unbelievable, I can’t believe I have four more days of this.”

“You love it, really.”

Neither woman could possibly disagree, as they practically sprinted across the 1970’s-patterned carpet and jumped on the bed, which they had no intention of leaving in a hurry.

The whole duration of the flight home was spent with knowing smirks being passed between the other flight attendants as Brooke Lynn and Vanessa tried to remain professional and not hold hands or smash lips at every opportunity.

“Sooooo”, drawled Yvie over a dinner of over-cooked macaroni cheese behind the galley curtain, “did you two enjoy the beach?”

Vanessa began blushing as she stabbed her fork into her foil tray, looking to Brooke to save their dignity, however she appeared to be trying to shrink as far down as possible into her uniform blouse. They weren’t getting out of this one.

“I spent a lot of time there. There were a couple in the room next door to me who kept hammering shit to the walls and screaming about God all day and all night. I hope they had a good time, because I’m fucking tired.”

And with that, Yvie put her meal tray away and walked back out into the cabin, leaving Vanessa and Brooke to stare at each other in silence, willing the bottom of the plane to open up and suck them out.

-*-

They had been an item for six months. It was Brooke’s longest relationship, and the happiest six months of Vanessa’s life. It hadn’t been without its challenges: despite trying to synchronise rosters to spend more time together, they often found themselves on opposite sides of the continent for half of each week. They were eternally grateful for FaceTime, but nothing compared to the feeling of leaping into bed for a nap together after their respective flights home. They had both looked endlessly for flights they could work on together, sending out begging requests to swap at every opportunity, but none had been successful.

That was until Brooke cornered Yvie in the crew room, bought her a coffee, and pouted until the tall, brown-eyed girl had no choice to but cave.

“You still owe me about 20 hours of sleep from Hawaii, I’ll add this to your tab.”

Brooke’s initial plan had been to keep it a secret until the day of the flight to surprise Vanessa, but in her excited state, she couldn’t hold it in for one night.

“I’M COMING TO TAMPA!”

Flight six had been the best flight of all, with a fully-functioning plane, happy passengers, and the woman of her dreams across from her, somehow even making pouring coffee look sexy. Brooke Lynn thought back to their very first meeting, not quite remembering at which point it had all fallen into place, but she wouldn’t have changed a thing. She was in love.

Vanessa, feeling exactly the same way, couldn’t help but ride the overwhelming wave of joy whenever she thought about the tall blonde in front of her, handing out pretzels whilst looking like such a snack herself. Without wanting to scare Brooke Lynn away, Vanessa knew she was in this for the long run.

Just a couple of hours later, they walked through arrivals, each with one hand on their suitcases and the others linked together.

“I hope you don’t mind, baby, but I’ve already sorted out our transport home.” Vanessa smiled and squeeze Brooke’s hand, leading her through the throngs of lost-looking people in the terminal, until they were both embraced by two pairs of warm, welcoming arms.

“Mamá, Tía Alexis, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Brooke Lynn.”

Writing’s On the Wall

A little something inspired by THIS pic that @jeldenil shared on the Drarry Discord Server - hilarious lines contributed by her and @hogwartsfemme 🙌

Betaed by the lovely @malenkayacherepakha and cheered by the sweet @drarryruinedme7 ❤️

Drarry | 2586 words | Harry POV, Auror cadets Harry & Draco, graffiti, gratuitous use of the ‘just out the shower’ image

Summary: In which the Auror department is surprisingly artistic, Draco is still an overdramatic shit, Harry still makes the most of any trouble that finds him, and getting horizontal is the solution to everyone's problems.

Also available on AO3

The first time Harry ever noticed graffiti that referenced him had been in the Quidditch locker rooms at Hogwarts. He had been pretty sure it was Draco or one of his cronies that had slipped into the Gryffindor area and spelled miniature Dementors to appear whenever someone walked past the blank game-play board. Oliver Wood had cursed and spluttered when he realised they had erased his intricate diagrams and game-plans, fiercely complaining to McGonagall.

Some of the highlights while he was at Hogwarts had been during the Triwizard Tournament - there had suddenly been loads of graffiti about him. None of it complimentary until he’d completed the first challenge, admittedly. “POTTER STINKS” had flashed across every toilet door in the castle in a lurid, flashing green for three weeks before Filch managed to convince Professor Flitwick to help him remove the charms.

Then a tiny doodle of him and a dragon appeared in an alcove on the way to the History of Magic classroom. Complete with glowing dragon flames it showed Harry and the Horntail flying a wild and cartoonish circuit around a sketchy Hogwarts, their endless chase looping every minute or so. It was probably Dean’s handiwork, the lines confident and skillful even though it was charmed onto rough stone walls - and his practice with art charms had come a long way since his first Quidditch banner. Within a week it had been scratched through though, a proud ‘CEDRIC’S THE BEST’ scrawled over it.

After the war, he saw it more regularly. The mark of the Deathly Hallows spelled onto walls, scratched into bar tables. Sometimes a cheeky ‘If HP sees this and wants a good time, Floo me!’ with addresses charmed underneath. It made trips to pub bathrooms, usually home of the more lurid examples of graffiti, an embarrassing trial sometimes - his friends always welcomed ammunition for their endless teasing.

Thankfully, he wasn't the only one targeted by renegade artists and overzealous fans. Ron had flushed beetroot red (clashing horribly with his hair) for a full half hour after seeing a particularly explicit suggestion about himself scrawled in muggle pen across the wall in the Leaky Cauldron. Harry had cackled all the way back to their tabled and regaled Hermione, Neville, Seamus, and Dean with the details while Ron hid behind his pint.

He was pleased when he joined the Auror Cadets and nobody seemed to be star-struck. Their tutors were strict but fair. Even Draco Malfoy wasn’t up to his old schoolboy tricks. It appeared that his attitude had matured just as well as the rest of him.

On too many occasions to count Harry caught himself appreciating just how well Draco filled out his cadet uniform, especially the clinging material of their work-out gear which left less to the imagination than he thought he should be subjected to at work...while still desperately wanting to see more.

The only issue Harry had with his cohort of fellow cadets, and even some of the wider Auror staff, was the giggling. He knew it wasn't to do with his ‘man who lived twice’ reputation because they’d made a point of pairing him with an Auror in his sixties for sparring classes during his first month of training. He’d had his arse absolutely handed to him during class after class for four solid weeks, and that had quelled any potential hero worship before it could start.

No. This was the kind of giggling that made you think people were talking about you. He walked into the break room and was immediately on edge as three fellow cadets started sniggering into their tea cups, going silent as soon as he turned around and made eye contact. And it happened when Draco joined sessions too. Not to mention the sly looks and excited mutterings that broke out whenever he and Draco were paired together in classes or for fieldwork.

It was driving Harry mad. That morning in duelling practice he had been partnered with Draco to fight against another pair of cadets, learning how to effectively work offensive and defensive spells while working in a pair - just like they would once they were full Aurors. He had been surprised earlier in the year at how well he and Draco worked together when fighting, but on reflection realised they knew each other’s duelling style so well from attacking each other that it sort of made sense.

Thankfully it was Friday, and the day was done. He and Draco had been on clear-up duty, packing away the cushioned mats and returning the sparring room back to its blank slate, ready for the first class on Monday. So it was just the two of them in the changing rooms, showering before heading home.

Ordinarily Harry would have just skipped out and headed home for a shower in the comfort of his own place, but he’d promised to meet his friends at the Leaky and only had half an hour before he was due to get the first round in.

With just him and Draco in the shower rooms it was actually peaceful, no sounds but the rush of water, no laughing cadets making Harry feel like he must have something on his face. Other than the obvious of course.

Just as he was drying off, thoughts of beer and a big basket of chips filling his mind, Harry’s peace was rudely interrupted.

“POTTER!” Draco barked. “ Explain yourself!”

Harry hurried to wrap his towel around his waist, and padded out to the main changing area to see what he was being accused of. Even the sight of Draco, his own towel riding low on slim hips, his hair still dripping water onto his surprisingly broad chest, didn't distract Harry from the sheer horror induced by the entire wall of graffiti he found.

There was the usual house pride slogans, the Hufflepuffs perhaps not so surprisingly prolific taggers given their famous loyalty. There was even a Deathly Hallows icon - a remnant from those first months post-war when Harry saw them everywhere. Some clever bugger had even charmed a big marker quill to stick to the wall - so anyone wanting to add their own touch to the wall wouldn't find themselves without a writing implement.

But the pièce de résistance was the two feet tall portrait someone had drawn of him and Draco together. As in. Carnally. It didn’t have quite the artistic flair of Dean’s magical moving paintings, but mini-Harry and mini-Draco didn’t seem to let that hold them back - both of them looking over their shoulders with surprised expressions while they continued rocking and thrusting together. With gusto.

Harry felt a hot flush creeping up his neck, and it was only half from embarrassment. His fellow cadets’ laughter and meaningful glances between him and Draco suddenly made sense. Clearly the whole bloody lot of them were in on it - given the number of different handwriting styles decorating the wall.

Draco was similarly pink, points of colour high on his cheekbones giving away his emotional state - just like when he got angry at school. If Harry wasn't sure Draco was about to launch into a full blown rant he might even have taken a moment to admire the way his rage made his eyes so bright. But an angry Draco was a long-winded Draco, and the pub was calling Harry.

“Clearly I didn’t bloody do this, Malfoy.” He gestured at the layers of writing and doodles. “This is the whole fucking team at it. Look! I’m not a Hufflepuff am I?!”

A scoff was his only response. Then Draco pointed out the ‘I need HP like a grindylow needs water’ tag, and raised one pointed eyebrow meaningfully at Harry.

“I think this smacks of your usual ego actually, even if you did seem to have gotten over that recently. And look - isn’t that your abysmal handwriting?!”

Harry peered at the word Draco was pointing at.

“What the fuck is ‘drarry’ though? I definitely didn’t write that. I don’t even know that spell.”

Draco rolled his eyes so hard Harry was surprised they didn’t fall out of his head. So overdramatic.

“It’s clearly a fucking portmanteau, Potter, you absolute idiot. Anyway. Aren’t we ignoring the elephant in the room here? They’ve drawn us fucking for Merlin’s sake - in our place of work! ”

Draco was working himself up to high dudgeon now, and Harry couldn’t exactly blame him. It was inappropriate. But it was also pretty funny. And frankly, from his perspective, he couldn’t blame the rest of their class for getting a bit carried away. He knew he must have contributed to whatever idea they had of the two of them together, with the way his eyes lingered on Draco’s arse so regularly. Even so, they should probably talk to the head of the Cadet teaching team, get this all sorted out before it spilled into a more public forum.

But winding Draco up had been one of Harry’s specialty subjects up to this point in his life, and far more fun than resisting Imperio or defeating Dark Lords, so he decided to indulge himself. Even if he ended up late for pub night. Or with a black eye.

“You’re right, you know. This is wrong.” He paused for a moment, taking in Draco’s approving nod before gleefully marching on to turn it into a thunderous glare. “Who said you get to top?”

A strangled noise escaped Draco’s open mouth, his brows twisted with frustration. Harry tried to keep his soaring satisfaction hidden, loving the play of emotions over Draco’s usually calm face. There was just something about seeing him get all flustered that made Harry feel the same way he did when he reached out to grab the snitch. Elated.

“ That’s what you take issue with?”

He was even gesturing with his hands now. Elegant fingers pointed angrily at their twins on the wall - still merrily copulating - while the other hand gripped the knot holding his towel up. Harry couldn’t help but drop his gaze for a moment, imagining what he might see if he annoyed Draco enough for him to let go of that towel for a moment.

Ever the hopeful Gryffindor, Harry leant forward and grabbed the marker quill. He grinned at Draco before drawing a big arrow pointing at their doodled likenesses, then wrote in bold letters ‘OK BUT HARRY TOPS’. He drew back and watched as Draco read his addition to the wall, waiting for the inevitable bomb to go off. This was better than sparring.

“There. I fixed it.”

But instead of an explosion of the poshest invective he’d ever had the pleasure of hearing - Draco’s command of archaic swear words was genuinely one of the highlights of their working together - Harry watched as Draco fell silent. His eyes were wide as he stared at what Harry had written, the spots of pink high on his cheekbones blooming into a flush that travelled down his neck and even onto his chest.

And now Harry was looking at his nipples. Fuck.

When he managed to drag his treacherous eyes away from those pert, pink, perfectly lickable buds he found Draco’s sharp gaze trained fully on his face. This didn’t bode well.

“You...fixed it? ‘Okay but Harry tops’ is you fixing it? That was the only part of this whole thing-” he gestured wildly at the wall. “That’s the only bit you have an issue with? Not the whole. Drarry thing. Seriously?”

He actually sounded almost plaintive. Harry suddenly regretted taking the piss, even if he hadn’t exactly lied at any point in this little melodrama.

“Um. Well. Obviously we should talk to Auror Lessing about it, it’s not fair that they’re doing this just to us. But. Well. I’m not offended people might think of us together I guess?” He shrugged his shoulders and nodded at their graffiti counterparts. “They look like they’re enjoying it anyway!”

Draco’s eyes narrowed as he watched Harry huff a nervous laugh. He advanced one step toward Harry, and Harry couldn’t help but notice the way his body still glittered with droplets of water from his shower. Couldn’t help thinking about what a pleasant way to spend some time it would be to lick each one of them. He hauled his thoughts back from that treacherous direction; his towel didn’t hide much and it definitely wouldn’t hide a very work-inappropriate stiffy.

“They do look like they’re having fun, don’t they.” Draco murmured.

Harry swallowed hard at the deep timbre of his voice.

“ That Harry doesn’t seem to be too disappointed to be on the receiving end. Shame it’s not an accurate reflection of reality.”

All thoughts of propriety flew out of Harry’s mind at that. Draco sodding Malfoy was flirting with him. Undeniably. Could a bit of embarrassing graffiti really be the thing that pushed them beyond the weird tension they’d had since eighth year?

“Well. Um.” He cleared his throat. “It’s just the assumption really. Probably because I’m shorter than you. But I’m pretty, um, versatile. And, ah, height difference doesn’t matter much in bed, I find.”

For the span of a heartbeat Harry feared he’d misread the situation, overstepped the mark. But then a wicked grin grew on Draco’s face and he knew he’d hit just the right spot. He stepped closer still, making Harry tilt his head up slightly to maintain their eye contact.

The small space between them filled with heat, and Harry felt like if he breathed in deeply enough their chests might even touch. He wondered if Draco was still holding his towel so tightly, but didn’t dare look down, didn’t want to break this moment stretching between them.

“I agree Potter. Very unfair of them to pigeon-hole you. They should know better by now.” He raised an eyebrow, challenge in every line of his face. “I was thinking of skipping pub night this evening in favour of a hot bath and a curry. But, as you’re feeling so versatile I’m happy to be flexible too. How about I join you and the rest of the motley crew for the obligatory Friday night pint, and then you join me for food?”

Harry felt his mouth drop open, shocked Draco had been the one of them to finally come out and say it so boldly. Draco just leaned closer still, his breath hot against Harry’s ear as he whispered, sending a corresponding shiver of excitement down his spine.

“I reckon we can test out your height difference theory, I’m sure my sofa would do the trick too - if you want to demonstrate for me?”

The image that conjured in Harry’s mind was enough to make him snap his mouth shut and stifle a groan of desire. He reached out to finally touch Draco, and closed the tiny distance between them to kiss him fully on the mouth. A broad palm at his waist, gripping tightly, pulled a gasp out of him. He dragged himself away from Draco’s mouth with difficulty, already panting slightly.

“Fuck pub night, get dressed. Last one to the apparition point is paying for the curry.”

With that Harry dashed across the room to pull his trousers on, grinning as he watched Draco wrangle his own on over still damp legs. He couldn’t wait to see what this mutual competitive spirit would create outside of the quidditch pitch or duelling ring, but he was sure it would be absolutely worth the tongue-lashing he’d get from Ron for ditching the sacred Friday night drinks for Draco.

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