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amandajoyce118 · 2 years

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Julie And The Phantoms - “Edge Of Great” rewatch

Okay, so, since the Fantoms around the world are doing a rewatch of the series today, I’ve got the episodes playing while I’m doing some of my freelance work, so I thought I’d jot down random thoughts while watching the episodes and contribute, even if I’m not liveblogging the whole thing. (Episode 1 is here. And Episode 2. And Episode 3. Episode 4. And Episode 5. Episode 6.)

Carlos finally has the chance to get proof of ghosts and he leaves the camera in selfie mode? Honest mistake. Victoria is the only member of this family who would actually survive a haunted house because she wouldn’t stick around to find out if it was new.

I really appreciate that this episode is named after “Edge Of Great” instead of “Perfect Harmony.” Could have gone either way, but the former is more important to the band as a whole.

I want more scenes of Reggie helping Ray find his keys, making little changes to his recipes, etc, and Ray just... figuring out that there’s a ghost around. Ray completely believing Carlos and Julie about the band in the future because he’s already realized he has a ghost in his kitchen would be hilarious to me.

The locker scene. Oh, the locker scene. How often does Luke just show up at Julie’s school? Probably not very often based on her reaction, but he clearly surprises her enough that she gets to say the, “you shouldn’t do that,” speech. How cute are they here while talking not ditching school though? He would have been such a bad influence on her if they were alive at the same time. The only reason Julie isn’t ditching is because someone else is relying on her.

Luke teasing Julie about Nick having a crush on her will never not make me laugh. It’s ridiculous and such a teenage boy thing to do, and of course, it’s already in Julie’s head when she and Nick have to dance together, leading us to...

“Perfect Harmony” is so very 80s. I get that it’s an homage to Dirty Dancing, but it still makes me laugh that this is Julie’s daydream. How many 80s love stories did she watch with her mom that this is where her mind goes? Or is the fan theory that this is as much in Luke’s head as hers true? Because I do greatly enjoy the idea that this is somehow a shared daydream, that they would have eventually shared the song with each other, or their parts of it.

However, if the daydream is all in Julie’s head, that makes “Perfect Harmony” the first time she’s written a song on her own - that we know of. And it’s a love song. About her bandmate, who just happens to be a ghost. That would be a big deal for her. Did she share the song with Flynn later? I think she would have, especially since after discussing Luke with Flynn and making a plan to try to move on that doesn’t work. Flynn is her sounding board and the person who gives her the most logical advice.

We all know the scene of Luke singing to Reggie is iconic. I don’t have to say it. But I just did, so there you go.

Carrie being suspicious of the holograms makes me wonder if she would have been one of the first people to figure out they were ghosts. I mean, her dad obviously knows something’s up by the end of the season, but Carrie is always so focused on Julie that I think she would have figured it out on her own.

Julie in all of her butterflies for the “Edge Of Great” performance is so cute. I will never get over what a good job the costuming team did on this show with not sexing Julie up for the performances and letting her really showcase her personality.

I am also very glad that this particular performance changed during filming. Julie spending almost the entire song ignoring Luke plays better than her going straight over to him at the head nod. Luke playing her melody back to her to get her to pay attention to him? Also perfection. I think we all thank Charlie Gillespie for adding that any time we see the scene, right? But how does Ray not question her about this guitarist that he sees in her face and flashing puppy dog eyes at her who clearly wants her? It’s obvious to anyone with a pulse - or without one for that matter. I know he brings up the subject of the guys as a group a couple of times, but it’s surprising that as a dad, he doesn’t wonder about Luke specifically. No matter how much he trusts his daughter, or how often she says the guys are in another country, he’s got to wonder about this boy who is seemingly staring at his daughter’s lips while he sings with her.

Also, I think we pay a lot of attention to Luke and Julie in this performance because they draw us in, but it’s also interesting to watch Alex. He’s not as into this performance as others. Now, it’s possible that this is one of the times during filming that Owen Joyner was sick, to be fair, and he just wasn’t giving Alex as big of a performance, but I don’t think so. This is right after Willie telling him he wishes they hadn’t met. So, Alex puts on his favorite sweatshirt, wears a cap, and basically hides from the audience, allowing Luke and Julie all of the spotlight. Definitely more noticeable on a rewatch.

That makes Willie seeking them out at the end of the episode even more gratifying. Willie is just as upset as Alex about the whole thing.

#julie and the phantoms #jatp #no unfinished business

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angeltriestoblog · 4 years

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I watched a couple of movies! (Part 1)

Back when I regularly had the luxury of long breaks, I spent my days binge-watching films, as you can see from my extensive knowledge of 80s chick flicks and all the cheesy tropes and disgustingly adorable, predominantly white leading men that come with them. Sadly, a side effect of growing older in the digital age seemed to be the diminishment of my attention span: the only things I could focus on were academic requirements, simply because I had to. But, thanks to several factors—the suspension of online classes, the sudden annoyance I developed towards Barney Stinson that prompted me to discontinue How I Met Your Mother, etc.—I decided it was high time to rekindle this lost love. So, here is an unsolicited review of the 17 films I managed to finish in a little over a week! Rest assured, I tried my best to venture out of familiar territory and brush up on some of the more cultured picks, according to Letterboxd, at least.

Bar Boys (2017, dir. Kip Oebanda) ★★★

The film that kickstarted everything, which I never would have seen if the director had not uploaded the full version on YouTube. This well-meaning tale of four best friends (Carlo Aquino, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, and Kean Cipriano) and the challenges they face in law school—terror professors, fraternities, and financial difficulties included—does have a lot of heart, and is sensitive enough to show how the effect of this experience differs depending on a student's background. But, what it lacked for me was a certain degree of specificity: I think the same premise would have been applicable in med school, or any other post-graduate degree for that matter. So, why did the characters choose law? I also would have appreciated some commentary on the shortcomings of the country’s justice system, and further fleshing out of the characters so the audience could have seen why we could count on them to fill in the gaps.

Legally Blonde (2001, dir. Robert Luketic) ★★★½

The rating might be surprising, considering that the courtroom scene was responsible for the short law school phase I had in Grade 5. As if I could ever make use of the rules of haircare in an actual cross-examination. Of course, I am compelled to admire Elle (Reese Witherspoon) and how her motivations for going to Harvard shift from winning back a boy to discovering what she never knew she had and using these gifts to help those around her (especially the manicurist, who I feel was given way more exposure than what was due to her). Ultimately, though it was inspirational at some points, it felt too good to be true and impossible to relate to. (But then again, shouldn’t there be a willing suspension of disbelief when consuming forms of media such as this?)

Lady Bird (2017, dir. Greta Gerwig) ★��★★★

I’ll probably end up making a separate post dedicated to this movie and how it singlehandedly called me out, as a sensitive, occasionally self-important product of an all-girls Catholic high school. For now, I am forced to condense my overflowing feelings into a couple of sentences. Lady Bird takes place over the course of the titular character's senior year, a pivotal moment in the lives of all teenagers. But, instead of focusing solely on the formulaic firsts like the normal coming-of-age film would, it shines a light on her dwindling relationship with her equally strong-willed mother. Saoirse Ronan’s colorful performance as the human embodiment of my pre-teen self's conscience, and Greta Gerwig’s tremendous ability to make even oddly specific scenes speak to any viewer shine through and speak to me the most, and easily make this gem something I will be recommending this to anyone who bothers to ask for as long as I live.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018, dir. Bryan Singer) ★★★

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding Bo Rhap, particularly its failure to portray Freddie Mercury in a manner that does him justice. While I understand that it is a valid concern for fans of the band, I admit I don’t know enough about who he was as a person to criticize the film in this aspect. Regardless of its factuality, this still was just average for me, the typical rise-and-fall type of biopic that is indicative of a rockstar’s legacy, but with laughably faulty editing. The redeeming factors were Rami Malek’s brilliant portrayal of the legend himself—his Live Aid performance gave me chills that lasted the entire 20 minutes, how alarming—and, obviously, the soundtrack that I kept on loop for several days.

About Time (2013, dir. Richard Curtis) ★

Apparently, this movie focuses on Tim (Domhnall Gleeson), who discovers at age 21 that the men in his family have the power to time-travel and thus revise and repair certain parts of their lives. He uses this to address the fact that he’s never had a girlfriend, and effectively so as he ends up bagging Mary (Rachel McAdams), a charming American who is the settler in this relationship by default. But, of course, this gift is not without its dire consequences—or at least, that’s what it says on Wikipedia. It’s hard to trash on this and admit that I bailed halfway because so many of my friends swear by this. But, I just couldn’t stomach the lack of chemistry between the two leads; the surprisingly boring dialogue for a screenplay crafted by Richard Curtis of Notting Hill fame; and the story that, although bore enough of a resemblance to “The Time Traveler’s Wife” to be interesting, was still not powerful enough to sustain my attention.

Your Name (2016, dir. Makoto Shinkai) ★★★★★

I’m a huge fan of plots that are sure to make my eyes swell and heart hurt—I can’t explain the psychology behind this either. So when this was recommended to me and I had made it through an hour without shedding a single tear, I was prepared to be disappointed. But, the events leading up to the conclusion proceeded to rip me into shreds, as if to taunt me and say, “You asked for it.” Mitsuha (Mone Kamishiraishi) and Taki (Ryunosuke Kamiki), teenagers living on opposite sides of the country, suddenly start switching bodies following the appearance of a comet. This unexplainable phenomenon causes them to forge an unbreakable bond that transcends the very limits of time and space. I know the description is not much, but it’s best to experience this unique plot for yourself. Besides its storyline, its charm lies in its excruciating attention to detail in depicting life in urban and rural Japan, both in the realistic animation of one picturesque scene after another, and the use of cultural elements to arrive at a twist viewers will not see coming.

Booksmart (2019, dir. Olivia Wilde) ★★★★½

I can't summarize what I imagine Booksmart to be for teenagers in the future, so here's an entire scenario: It's the year 2070. Two young girls of around 16 are sprawled on their bedroom floor, watching this on whatever device they use for streaming. (Maybe it's from an LCD projector embedded in their foreheads, who knows.) The credits roll, and they instantly think to themselves, "Man, we were born in the wrong generation!" (They simultaneously think of doing a high-five, and without raising their hands themselves, it happens because that's technology.) Anyway, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) are best friends who played by the rules all throughout high school and realized too late that they could’ve afforded to have a little more fun. On the eve of their graduation, they decide to cram four years’ worth of adventure in a single unpredictable and outrageous night, getting to grips with everything that comes their way in an exceedingly comedic yet refreshing fashion. Also, the protagonists have such a genuine and wholesome relationship: the way they hyped up their most ridiculous looking outfits, or overshared borderline uncomfortable stories is honestly my personal definition of an ideal friendship.

When Harry Met Sally (1989, dir. Rob Reiner) ★★★★½

Despite this film’s constant presence in every “chick flicks you must watch” list I’ve bothered searching up, I spent a huge chunk of my teen years in constant protest against the decision to cast Billy Crystal as the male lead instead of, I don’t know, literally any other actor on the planet. But, once I finished it, I realized that he’s a much better fit than I thought. The laidback Harry to Meg Ryan’s finicky Sally, both of them spare no effort exploring and debunking truths and misconceptions about modern relationships: examples of which are the idea of being high maintenance, and the quintessential question of whether a guy and girl can ever be just friends. Although their dynamic is the definition of slow burn, audiences can’t help but earnestly root for the pair—the frustration brought by the several almosts pay off in the end, as they lead to one of, if not, the most romantic love confession scene.

Hintayan ng Langit (2018, dir. Dan Villegas) ★★★★½

This tale adapted from a play by no less than Juan Miguel Severo is set in purgatory—a grandiose art museum-four star hotel hybrid of sorts—where souls can stop and rest while their papers for entry to heaven are being processed. It is here we meet Manolo (Eddie Garcia) and Lisang (Gina Pareno), ex-lovers with unfinished business. Things admittedly start off a bit slow, but it's understandable since there needs to be ample provision of context regarding the standard operating procedures of this unique waiting area. Once that’s done, the focus stays on the main actors, who drive audiences to tears with their powerful performances, and thought-provoking questions on matters of betrayal, forgiveness, and the afterlife. The ending had me rocking back and forth like a baby, my shirt soaked with tears, so do take heed and stock up on tissues!

The Social Network (2010, dir. David Fincher) ★★★★★

Within its packed first 15 minutes alone, you can easily see what makes The Social Network an example of cinema at its finest: an intoxicated Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) hacks into the websites of all Harvard dorms to create Facebook’s oldest ancestor from scratch, in an attempt to get back at his ex-girlfriend. The atmosphere is tense, the dialogue is loaded with witty one-liners and powerful insight, and the actors are so in touch with their characters they practically fuse into a single person. This remains consistent for the next two hours or so, making for an enjoyable and fast-paced, yet still informative glimpse into the human side of what is arguable the most powerful company of this era. I also heard that it’s much more fun if seen with the cast commentary on, so I’m gonna have to find a copy of that for myself!

Pretty in Pink (1986, dir. Howard Deutch) ★★★★★

I’m cheating here, I know: this has been a long-time favorite, but I guess I can still give a review if I was still 15 when I last saw this. Andie (Molly Ringwald) and Blane (Andrew McCarthy)’s classic “poor girl + rich boy = happily ever after” story is masterfully tackled by John Hughes, who manages to inject equal amounts of swoon-worthy romance and biting criticism of the inherent class divide in society. Others would argue that Duckie (Jon Cryer), Andie’s devoted best friend, is the true star of the show, and while I do agree that he has his shining moments (if you listen closely, you can hear Try A Little Tenderness playing softly in the background), I sadly inherited my mother’s adoration for Andrew, which I will pass on to my child and so on—truly the defining characteristic of our lineage.

St. Elmo’s Fire (1985, dir. Joel Schumacher) ½

I understand that being an adult in the Real World is bound to come with some grave mistakes and lapses in judgment. But, not a single character in this friend group redeems themselves by the end. While Ally Sheedy’s Leslie and Mare Winningham’s Wendy were just borderline forgettable (why did the latter even end up here with the Brat Pack?), Judd Nelson’s Alec cheats on his girlfriend and believes that marriage is what will make him change his ways; Rob Lowe’s Billy neglects the family he didn’t plan on having by fooling around with other women and making a home out of his favorite bar; Demi Moore’s Jules relies on cocaine and extramarital affairs to hide trauma she refuses to process, and Andrew McCarthy’s pretentiously cynical Kevin suddenly claims he knows what love is when Leslie pays attention to him for 10 minutes. But, none of them compare to Emilio Estevez’ Kirby, the sociopath obsessed with a girl he barely knows. It honestly resembles some sick contest of how many problems this gang can cause before they end up behind bars, with the last scene being a lazy and rushed attempt to wrap everything up, in the name of this surface-level “friendship”.

Before Sunrise, Sunset, and Midnight (1995, 2004, 2013; dir. Richard Linklater) ★★★★★

Guess it’s better to admit it now, but I made this post as an excuse to rave about how beautiful this trilogy is, the most authentic depiction of love in its purest form. Sunrise has been recommended to me by both friends and the Netflix algorithm, but I put off watching it again and again and again. I mean, what could I possibly get out of looking at two strangers roam around Vienna? Well, to answer that question: quite a lot. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy)’s relationship spans an entire trilogy, and throughout that period, they manage to define then destroy the idea of having a soulmate to call your own in approximately six hours. But certain constancies are present in each movie: the emotion intense even in the smallest of gestures (you don't understand the anguish I feel when the scene at the listening booth randomly pops in my head), the dialogue truly thought-provoking and natural, the settings so picturesque, and the chemistry of the actors so electric I have trouble believing that the director didn’t actually invade the personal space of a real couple and eventually get issued a restraining order.

High Fidelity (2000, dir. Stephen Frears) ★★

I’d like to think of this as an essay: I'm confident that the introduction is the protagonist Rob's soliloquy on his five biggest breakups to understand why he’s so flawed that everyone always leaves him, and the conclusion his attempt to win his ex Laura (Iben Hjejle) back. But as for the body, I’m not entirely sure. Interspersed between these moments are thoughtful top five lists of anything that can be enumerated, and occasional banter with the employees at his record store that may be charming, but do not enhance the film in any way, shape, or form for me. Also, I normally enjoy seeing John Cusack onscreen, but more often than not, he was nagging in front of the camera instead of talking to the people around him; no wonder his relationships failed!

Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010, dir. Edgar Wright) ★★★

I wanted to enjoy this so bad, I swear! Sadly, the one thing I gained after seeing this is knowledge of where the “I’m So Sad, So Very Very Sad” meme came from. I get that it’s supposed to resemble a comic book or video game, and maybe the reason why I failed to appreciate this as much is because I was never a fan of either. I found the prolonged action scenes surprisingly boring, the storyline too fantastic, and the whole quest of having to defeat seven monstrous exes for the hand of a manic pixie dream girl not worth it in the end. Although I can’t give it less than three stars given its impressive visual effects, and appeal to the entire Tumblr community (gamers on one end, millennial film connoisseurs on the other), it’s definitely not something I would watch a second time.

There will surely be more where that came from! (I mean it. Since completing this post, I’ve finished another five films.) If you wanna keep tabs on what I’m watching without having to wait on another post, you can give my Letterboxd a follow. Wishing you love and light always, and don’t forget to wash your hands and pray for our frontliners!

#recs #angeltriestoblog #life dump #movies #movies to watch during quarantine #or at least movies I'VE watched over quarantine #so far #17 films are u CRAZY!!!!#i have carpal tunnel #quarantingz

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moose-bloods · 7 years

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Pretty In Pink (Cecilos Week 2017)

SMUT WARNING Word Count: 3848 This got paragraphed weird for some reason and I’m too lazy to fix it lmao

Cecil was a sucker for fashion. He was never very good at it, but he still enjoyed it. He'd found himself wasting money on loads of unnecessary clothing items multiple times, but he just couldn't stop himself. Online shopping was like a guilty pleasure to him.

Well, he wouldn't say guilty. He didn't typically feel bad after purchasing the clothes. He wore them with pride, mixing and matching the different items from different brands, enjoying the strange yet confident vibes they seemed to make him radiate. In fact, his online shopping addiction was probably the exact opposite of a guilty pleasure, if he's being honest.

Cecil's favourite clothes to buy, though, were the ones he'd never shown to anyone. The ones he bought just so he could stand in his bathroom and admire himself through the front camera of his phone - avoiding all mirrors, of course. He had countless pairs of random lingerie sets that he'd never really bought for anyone but himself. Being a radio host, especially for a town like Night Vale, it was hard to keep things to yourself and have your own private life; and Cecil just liked having his own little secret that nobody else knew about, not including the Sheriff's Secret Police.

But soon that changed. Soon, a beautiful man made his way into Night Vale, into Cecil's heart, and Cecil realized he wasn't buying the lingerie for himself anymore. He'd never shown this beautiful man the lingerie, Gods, no, but he still had that voice in the back of his head that was whispering to him that he wasn't just doing it for himself anymore.

He started thinking about the kind of lingerie Carlos would like to see him in, and every time he purchased lingerie after that, he couldn't help but consider if Carlos would like it or not. If his mind decided, "yes, Carlos would like this," he would buy it, but if his mind thought Carlos wouldn't then he wouldn't even think about buying it.

Then, the unbelievable happened: they started dating. They weren't very intimate at first but Cecil was just so pleased to know Carlos even liked him a little bit. It was probably ridiculous but every time Cecil even so much as thought about the way Carlos would hesitantly grab his hands, or awkwardly kiss him goodbye, his stomach would do flips and his mind would turn to jelly.

They were together almost a year before Cecil even considered being physical with Carlos. The farthest they'd ever gone was a little bit of grinding and the thought of Carlos rejecting Cecil terrified him.

So, there they were now, laying on Cecil's couch, the TV playing some random movie that Cecil wasn't paying attention to. They'd been cuddling like this for hours, watching movies and just talking about their day. They always seemed to end up like this when they both had a not-so-good day and it was a great stress-reliever. Or, at least, to Cecil it was.

It seemed to be for Carlos too. Carlos was often very frustrated with his work and every time something slightly wrong would happen Carlos would basically shut down. His body would reject food, his mind would forget how to produce words, he'd lose all track of time, and this used to be a problem for Cecil. But, over the past year, Cecil had somewhat trained Carlos to call him instead. No matter the time or what Cecil was doing, he promised Carlos that if he ever felt like he was going to have one of his 'episodes', he could just call Cecil and he would drop whatever he's doing to come help.

And that's what was happening now. Carlos never really tells Cecil what went wrong at the lab, and Cecil's okay with that, but whatever happened that day must've been bad because Carlos's mind just seemed to be somewhere else the entire time.

"Are you alright?" Cecil asked, looking up at Carlos from his spot in the scientist's lap. Carlos's eyes shot down to look at Cecil, almost like he forgot the other man was there.

"O-oh, um, yeah. Just tired, is all." He muttered, a small, fake smile playing on his lips.

Cecil sighed, sitting up and adjusting himself so he was sitting next to Carlos rather than laying on him.

"Would you like me to drive you home?" Cecil asked, and Carlos was silent, just staring down at his lap.

"Carlos?" Cecil asked, his hand reaching out and resting on the scientists shoulder comfortingly.

"Carlo-?"

"Can I stay here tonight?" Carlos had cut Cecil off, his words falling out of his mouth in a quick jumble. His eyes never moved from his lap but once he stated his question, they shut tightly, his entire body clenching in what seemed to be fear. Cecil's brows furrowed.

"What?" He asked, his tone confused.

Carlos sighed, standing from his position on the couch, "you know what, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I can just...I can just walk home so it's not to much of a bother to you. I have to stop by the lab anyway and work on this experiment. I shouldn't have abandoned it in the first pla-"

It was Cecil's turn to cut Carlos off now and he did so by standing and walking towards the nervous wreck in front of him and giving him a very quick and smooth peck to his lips. Carlos didn't kiss back, probably out of shock mixed with the anxiety he'd been experiencing only seconds before, but when Cecil pulled away, Carlos looked considerably much calmer.

Cecil smiled, grabbing Carlos's hand and lacing his fingers with his own.

"You can stay here tonight." Cecil stated quietly, and he could hear Carlos let go of a breath he'd been holding in. "If you still want to, I mean."

Carlos nodded quickly, his eyes focused on the ground and avoiding Cecil's. Cecil smiled.

"Alright, well, I assume you probably want to shower before bed?" Cecil asked and Carlos nodded again.

"Then I'll show you to the bathroom."

And that's what Cecil did. He showed Carlos where the bathroom was, telling him the ritual he needed to do to turn on the faucet - Carlos audibly groaned at that - and then he showed Carlos where to find clothes afterward.

"My bedroom closet has all of my sleeping clothes in the very back, so you can just go through those after your shower and pick whatever you want to sleep in." Cecil stated and Carlos smiled, nodding.

Cecil looked at his watch, biting his lip.

"I think, while you're showering, I'm gonna go out and rent a couple more movies, okay?"

"Alright."

And that was that. Cecil waited until he heard the shower water running to leave, and then he was in his car and on his way down to the rental place. It wasn't very far, about a seven or eight minute ride, but it took Cecil forever to find some movies he thought Carlos would like. He did, though, eventually, and after paying the man at the counter, he made his way back to his car and started driving home.

He turned on the radio at one point, wanting to listen to music so he could break the silence that lingered in the car, but all that was on was a rerun of his show from earlier that day and Cecil had a thing about listening to his own voice so instead he just shut off the radio and hummed to himself the entire ride home.

After getting out of his car, making his way to his apartment door and doing the ritual to get inside, he noticed that it was oddly quiet throughout the apartment. The shower was off, which meant Carlos wasn't showering anymore, but there wasn't any sound at all. Usually, Cecil would be able to hear the TV or Carlos talking to himself, but it was just silent.

Very slowly and very cautiously, Cecil walked to the couch and sat the movies down, along with his wallet. He looked toward the bathroom, noticing the light was off and he frowned. That meant Carlos was in his room. Cecil made his way towards the bedroom, trying to make as little sound as possible - just in case - and he very slowly opened the bedroom door.

As soon as he did, his heart stopped, his breath stalling in his throat, and his body freezing in place as his eyes glued to the scene before him. What he saw was definitely not what he was expecting to see. Standing there, in the middle of his bedroom, was Carlos wearing one of Cecil's light pink lingerie gowns.

Carlos didn't seem to notice Cecil as he stood there, running his hands over the silky fabric and admiring the way it curved and shaped his own body. Cecil's eyes were wide at this scene unfolding before him. Carlos looked so beautiful and soft in the gown. Cecil wanted nothing more than to tear it off of him.

Cecil also noticed that it was one of the sets that he had bought with Carlos in mind and he felt a ping of satisfaction knowing he'd guessed Carlos's type well.

Cecil opened the door the rest of the way, cursing at himself when the loud creak made Carlos jump and turn to face Cecil. Carlos's eyes were wide as he stared at Cecil, fear very evident on his face.

"C-Cecil! U-um, I-I just...L-listen, it's, um," Carlos was a stuttering mess as he tried to confront Cecil, his body shaking and his hands instinctively going to cover his body. "I was just...t-trying it on. I-I'm sorry."

Carlos closed his eyes, his head falling forward to face the ground and Cecil swears his heart broke a little just at the thought that Carlos assumed Cecil would hate him for this. Cecil stepped into the bedroom, shutting the door behind himself, and he slowly made his way towards Carlos. The closer he got, the more he could hear Carlos's shaky breaths, and Cecil wanted nothing more than to make the fragile scientist feel loved.

He got as close to Carlos as he could standing and he reached up to caress the side of his face, lightly pulling his head up so Carlos was looking up at him. Cecil leaned in pressing his forehead against Carlos's and he could hear his breath halt.

"I think you look lovely," Cecil muttered quietly, staring directly into Carlos's eyes and he could see the deep blush flow onto Carlos's dark skin. Cecil smiled and, without even thinking, leaned in, kissing Carlos deeply.

Carlos's hands flew up and wrapped around Cecil's neck, playing with the hairs on the nape of his neck as his kissed back enthusiastically. They stood there like that for a while, just kissing and enjoying the taste of each other before Carlos pulled away shyly and hid his face in Cecil's neck.

Cecil was confused at first, but he held onto Carlos's waste, enjoying the soft, silky fabric that bunched up beneath his fingertips, as Carlos just hugged him tightly.

"I want you to make love to me," Carlos whispered, the words almost inaudible, and Cecil froze. He could feel his heartbeat pick up in his chest and he gripped Carlos's hips a little tighter.

"Okay." He whispered back, and he could feel Carlos smile into his neck. Cecil pulled away a bit, smiling back at Carlos's awkward grin, and he gestured to the bed. Carlos happily made his way to it, sitting down on the edge of it and watching as Cecil started to dispose of his clothes.

Cecil started with his shirt, then his shoes, then his pants, but Carlos stopped him when he was about to take of his underwear.

"I want to do it?" Cecil thinks that was supposed to be a statement, but it came out as more of a question so he just nodded and made his way to stand in front of Carlos.

Carlos was eye level with his groin, and Cecil bit his lip as the scientists shaky hands found their way to the top of his boxers. Carlos let his fingers linger there for a moment, just staring at Cecil's skin, tracing the tattoos with his eyes. Then, he cautiously hooked his fingers beneath the rim of his boxers and pulled them down slowly.

Cecil groaned a little as the fabric rubbed against his half hard member, and he could see Carlos bite his lip when his cock was free of it's confinements. After Carlos had gotten his boxers down to his ankles, Cecil just stepped out of them and kicked them to the side, not really caring where they went.

Carlos looked up at Cecil, and Cecil swears he could've just come from that one look, but what Carlos did was so much better. Hesitantly, Carlos reached up and wrapped his hand around the base of Cecil's cock, causing Cecil to moan softly at the sensation. Carlos could feel his lovers member harden more in his hand and he smiled a bit to himself before stroking it once fully.

Cecil wasn't large, but he wasn't small. His cock seemed to be the perfect size for Carlos and if that isn't a message from the Gods, Cecil doesn't know what is. Carlos continued to stroke Cecil's cock slowly, rubbing his thumb over the slit and gathering precum so he could spread it as a lubricant to make everything go smoother.

Cecil was enjoying this so very much, his eyes were rolling into the back of his head, his hands were clenching and gripping at thin air, and he could feel his tattoos start to move around his body, but if Carlos kept this up he was going to come without even getting to the best part.

Cecil reached down and softly grabbed Carlos's wrist, pulling his hand away and Carlos's eyes shot up to look at Cecil.

"Did I do something wrong?" Carlos asked and Cecil chuckled.

"No, no. Just don't wanna get ahead of ourselves too early, yeah?" Carlos exhaled and nodded.

Cecil gently pushed Carlos back so he was laying flat against the bed and he admired the way his imperfect Carlos seemed so perfect. After staring for a while, just going over every detail of Carlos's body that it had to offer, he slowly made his own way onto the bed, straddling Carlos's hips.

He leaned down, kissing Carlos deeply, humming when he kissed back, and let his hands make their way down Carlos's torso. He let his hands touch and feel every part of Carlos's upper body he could while his tongue made it's way inside of the scientists mouth, exploring the inside of Carlos just as much as the outside.

He pulled away slightly, breathless and panting as he reached over to the bedside table and grabbed the bottle of lube he had there.

"Wanna be inside of you," Cecil muttered, leaning down and kissing Carlos again.

"Want you inside of me." Carlos said back, his tone slightly sarcastic and Cecil smiled. There's the Carlos he knows, he thought.

Cecil kissed Carlos's cheek, then his jaw, then his neck, and everywhere else as he made his way down the scientists body. He reached the hem of the lingerie gown and he smiled up at Carlos before kissing the inside of Carlos's exposed thighs. Carlos let out a shaky breath, his hands tightening in the sheets just at the thought of Cecil being inside of him.

Cecil lifted up the bottom of the gown slowly, resting it on Carlos's stomach so the outline of his leaking cock could be seen through the thin fabric of the matching panties.

Cecil leaned in slowly, laying soft, open-mouthed kisses on Carlos's clothed member. Carlos let out a whine at the touch, and Cecil smiled to himself, kissing up Carlos's cock and taking the clothed head of it into his mouth. He sucked gently, tasting the precum through the fabric, and Carlos's hands reached to tangle in Cecil's hair.

Cecil pulled off of Carlos's cock and smiled up at him again, taking in the image of the breathless man above him. He looked back down at Carlos's member, noticing a now very visible wet patch where Cecil's mouth was seconds before. He looped his fingers beneath the top of the panties and pulled them down slowly, biting his lip when Carlos's cock peaked out.

He pulled them all the way off, tossing them onto the floor before turning his attention back to a now mostly naked Carlos. He opened the bottle of lube he'd been holding in his hand and poured some onto his fingers, spreading it over three before setting the bottle on the bed. He sat up onto his knees and pulled Carlos closer, positioning one of his fingers at the scientists hole.

"You ready?" He asked, his voice laced with concern, and Carlos nodded, his head falling back onto the pillows.

"Yes, Cecil, yes! God, please, just do it."

Cecil smiled and pushed the tip of his finger in, his body shuttering when Carlos let out a deep moan.

"More." Carlos muttered quietly, his hips pushing back against Cecil's finger.

Cecil obeyed and pushed his finger all the way in, pulling it back out when he reached his knuckle. After a few thrusts, Cecil added another finger and Carlos moaned even louder than before. Then, he added the last one and, instead of moaning, Carlos made a noise that was a mix between a whimper and a hiss.

Cecil waited to move his fingers, his body still until he could see the pain on Carlos's face disappear. When it did, he made sure to go very slowly, scissoring his fingers lightly and rubbing the bottom of Carlos's stomach comfortingly.

Carlos was a moaning mess by the time Cecil had finished prepping him. His breaths were short and rough, his hands were gripping at the bed sheets so tightly his knuckles were white, and his cock was so hard it was starting to look swollen against his stomach.

Cecil pulled his fingers out of Carlos slowly - Carlos whimpered at the feeling of being empty, chasing Cecil's fingers with his hips - and grabbed the bottle of lube again. He poured more onto his hand and rubbed it onto his member, all while watching Carlos writhe needily on the bed. Once he was lubed up, he closed the cap and threw the lube somewhere onto the bed, not really caring where it ended up.

He leaned over Carlos, his hands on either side of the scientists head and he positions his cock at the mans entrance. Carlos's arms wrapped around Cecil's neck, and his legs around Cecil's waste, as he unconsciously bucked up towards Cecil's cock, causing it to slide against his hole teasingly.

Cecil leaned down and kissed Carlos softly, open-mouthed and wet, but with no tongue. Carlos pulled away and smiled up at Cecil, who was so riled up that his tattoos were dancing messily along his skin and his eyes were becoming that bright, glowing purple they became when he was angry.

Cecil reached down and positioned his cock directly at Carlos's hole before looking the scientist - his scientist - in the eye and smiling.

"You ready?"

Carlos nodded.

"You're positive you want to do this?"

Carlos nodded again.

"We don't have to if you don't want t - holy shit." Cecil was cut off by Carlos pushing himself down onto Cecil's cock, his body taking it fully until he was flush against the radio host.

Carlos moaned loudly, his nails digging into Cecil's shoulder blades and his eyes squeezing shut at the perfect mixture of pain and pleasure. Cecil's breath was caught in his throat as he leaned down and buried his face in Carlos's shoulder.

"H-holy shit, Carlos, warn me next time." Cecil joked breathlessly, panting against the scientists skin.

Carlos bucked his hips again, causing Cecil to slide out and back in again, before muttering, "move. Please, move." in a needy voice.

Cecil pushed himself back up onto his hands, looking down at the man beneath him lovingly before slowly pulling out almost all the way and thrusting back in just as slowly. Carlos groaned, his grip on Cecil's shoulders tightening, causing Cecil to hiss a bit in pain.

Cecil repeated this a few times, thrusting slowly, trying to enjoy the tightness around him, but Carlos kept ruining the rhythm by bucking against Cecil unintentionally.

"Faster, Cecil." Carlos pleaded, his tone whiny and each word shaky. Cecil sighed, smiling to himself before adjusting his thrusts to go a little bit faster. Carlos still didn't seem to be completely pleased though, because in a matter of seconds he was groaning and flipping them over so he was on top, straddling Cecil.

Cecil's eyes were wide, confused, as Carlos placed his hands on Cecil's chest and started to slowly ride Cecil's cock. The scientist moaned at the new angle, whimpered at how deep he got Cecil's cock to go this way, and he quickened his pace, practically bouncing on the radio hosts cock.

Cecil was breathless, watching Carlos move like this. His eyes were shut in ecstasy, his hair was still damp from the shower and sticking to his forehead, the gown he was wearing was bunched up at the ends while the strap slipped down his shoulder. He looked gorgeous and Cecil could feel that unfamiliar yet so obvious heat in his stomach start to grow.

Cecil reached up and placed his hands on Carlos's hips, his fingers pulling at the fabric as his hips started thrusting upwards to meet Carlos's hips. Carlos was moaning uncontrollably now, his fingernails digging roughly into Cecil's skin and leaving red marks behind them.

"S-so close, Cecil." Carlos moaned, his thrusts becoming sloppier.

Cecil nodded, his head falling back against the pillows and his body starting to stutter. He could feel Carlos stall on his cock and he forced himself to look up wanting to see his scientist when he came.

Carlos's eyes were shut, his hands had moved from Cecil's chest to grab the gown and pull it up above his cock and his head was thrown back as he came, spilling across his own cock and Cecil's stomach with a loud moan.

Just the sight was enough to push Cecil over the edge and he came as well, filling up Carlos and groaning as he did so. They stayed like that for a while, Carlos just sitting there on Cecil, trying to catch his breath before he pulled himself off of Cecil and shakily got off of the bed.

"I think...I think we need to get cleaned up." Carlos stated, gesturing toward the mess.

Cecil nodded, not bothering to move.

"I'm going to get in the shower again." Carlos's tone was suggestive, but Cecil still didn't move.

"Would you like to shower with me?"

Cecil had never gotten out of bed so fast in his life.

#Cecilos Week 2017 #PWP #Fluff and Smut #Cecilos #Cecilos Smut #cecil x carlos

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thesethingsiveseen · 6 years

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An Insightful Overview On Identifying Important Elements In Stevia Sweetened Iso Xp

An Examination Of Crucial Factors In New Zealand Whey Protein Isolate Canada

Why the y? Anything sold as "chocolate" can contain only one type of added fat — cocoa butter. PowerBars use fractionated palm kernel oil instead, which is about as healthy as Elmer's Glue-All. This ingredient is everywhere, even in so-called health foods. In 2006, Americans consumed 58 pounds of this sweetener per capita, up nearly 50 pounds in 30 years. The bar's chewy texture is due in part to this sugar alcohol, which moonlights as a food moisturizer. Another sugar alcohol and probable sweetener, but one that the body absorbs super slowly. Besides gas and bloating, maltitol can produce a laxative effect so powerful that Australia and New Zealand require a warning label on foods that contain it. Oat fiber helps lower cholesterol by fermenting into the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which can limit the release of lipids from the small intestine. This supposed performance enhancer (which is essentially powdered bone) is also used to polish teeth and build hard-tissue prosthetics. In theory, a copper deficiency can lead to anemia and neurological disorders (though such problems are usually found only in people who have been kept alive via intravenous feeding or in babies fed nothing but cow's milk). So copper gluconate sounds healthy.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://www.wired.com/2008/01/st-powerbar/

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Struggling To Maintain Proper Workout Routines? Try These Ideas!

Fitness means having a well-conditioned and healthy body. When people reach a good level of fitness, their body and mind function better. If you are someone who is struggling to get back into shape, read the following article to learn about ways to improve your level of fitness. You can substantially boost your fitness level by walking. Walk using the heel to toe method by walking on your heel first all the way to your toes. This helps your calves to work out harder. Incorporate the arms also by ending them at the elbow and moving them at the side with every step. Join an exercise and fitness club to help stay motivated. Hopefully by paying all at once in the beginning it gives you the motivation to go to the gym, otherwise you would be losing out on a lot of money. You should only do this as a last ditch effort. You need to set goals if you want to accomplish them. You will stop focusing on how hard it is and push yourself harder to achieve the goal. Goal setting keeps you on track with your fitness program. Varying your exercises can boost the benefits your body gets from your workouts. Those who are fit enough to run miles on a treadmill should be equally able to jog through their neighborhood streets. Different exercises produce different results. If you have a lot of variety in your exercise routines, you'll keep your body from getting too used to your routine and you'll be able to continue losing weight. Don't put all of your efforts into doing only crunches when working out abdominal muscles. You should not waste your time with crunches if you are trying to lose weight, it takes a quarter million of them to lose a pound! If crunches are all you are doing, Whey Protein you aren't working your abs as hard as you need to. This is why you are going to want to do a wide variety of abdominal workouts. You may be watching television, but that doesn't mean you have to lose momentum toward your weight loss goal. Get up and walk in place during a commercial break, or work on a simple exercise like a sit-up. In addition, when you are sitting on your couch, try performing light weight training. If you are creative, you will always be able to find opportunities to exercise. When riding a bike, focus on keeping your pace around 80 to 110 RPM. Doing so will enable you to go further and faster without as much knee strain or overall fatigue. To determine your pace, count how often your right leg rises during a ten second interval, and multiply that number by six. Once you have found out your rpm, adjust your pace according so that your rpm falls within the recommended bracket mentioned previously. When you are weight lifting, squeeze your buttocks each time you lift the weights up. This is an excellent workout for your butt, but most importantly, it helps you minimize your chance of injury because your body is being forced to position itself more effectively. More specifically, the positioning effect helps increase the stability offered by your spine. Most people need to feel or see the results of weight loss to stay motivated to continue. As a way to check progress, don't let the scales tell the story. Instead have some slightly snug fitting outfits handy. Slip into these clothes weekly while dieting, and you will have tangible proof of your weight loss success. As this article shows, you can realize a level of fitness that will make you proud of yourself. You do not have to be ashamed of how badly you are out of shape any longer. Follow these pieces of advice and you will be on your way to achieving your fitness goals.

A Simple Overview Of Selecting Significant Details Of Canada

And, as always, we were all indebted to the editors on the International Desk. Below are thoughts about covering the tragedy from members of the team. Workers cleaning up where victims fell during the van attack in Toronto. Credit Carlo Allegri/Reuters Dan Bilefsky: I recently returned home to Montreal after 28 years abroad, where I had covered more than a half-dozen terrorist attacks in London, Manchester, Paris, Brussels and elsewhere. When I came back I had imagined that the most perilous subject I would face would be the bone-chilling weather. Instead, this week I found myself at the sentencing hearing of the Quebec mosque shooter, Alexandre Bissonnette , interrupted by an urgent call to get to Toronto to report on another heinous crime. While the Canadian authorities have all but ruled out terrorism, I noticed a striking parallel between the aftermath of the Toronto attack and others I have covered: people getting on with their lives, unbowed by fear. Within hours of the attack, Torontonians were huddled in bars, cheering at hockey matches, jogging near the scene, commuting to work. This week was a potent reminder that even in a humanistic liberal country that tends to shy away from global conflicts, we are not immune to violence. In some ways, Toronto, long seen as a cleaner and far gentler version of New York, lost part of its innocence this week. But the response to the tragedy — epitomized by the courageous police officer, Constable Ken Lam , refusing to shoot the attacker, even after he claimed to be armed — also reinforced the city’s oft-repeated motto: “Toronto, The Good.” Catherine Porter: I went to high school four subway stops from the scene of the attack. While I moved away from Toronto for a time, I settled back there.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/27/world/canada/times-journalists-toronto-attack.html

It Is Our Job To Teach You About Vitamins

A healthy diet is crucial these days, and learning about the minerals and vitamins you need is equally important. If you want to know more about this, you need to read the advice below. Keep reading to increase your education. Schedule your supplement doses for mealtimes when any supplements have fats that need to be taken along with food. Vitamins E, K, and A are some that won't absorb correctly if you take them on an empty stomach. Foods that contain fat will help this. Iron is essential for making red blood cells. These red blood cells deliver oxygen through your system. The amount of iron in a vitamin supplement is important because women need more iron than men. If you suffer from fatigue, you may need to have an iron deficiency. Taking minerals and vitamins is an affordable way to make your life healthier. Getting the right amount of nutrients will help you feel good and look good, while keeping you healthy. It is expensive to eat healthy. By taking vitamins and mineral,s you are allowing your body to work as it should to burn all the nasty fats we consume and do all that it can to digest foods that are loaded with ridiculous chemicals and preservatives leading to a healthier you. Vitamin A is important since it's an antioxidant that boost immune function and slows down skin aging. It's a toxic supplement if you take way to much of it, but 2300 IU should do for you because that's what's recommended. Carrots, squash, and dark leafy greens contain ample supplies of vitamin A. It's never been more important to receive the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and nutrients. Processed foods at the store often won't give you nutrients you need. Taking a natural multivitamin is one way to make sure you're getting essential nutrients. If you are past the menopause stage in life, avoid taking prenatal vitamins. Non-pregnant women often take these types of vitamins for their nails and hair. While women before menopause can do this safely there is too much iron for a woman past menopause. There are many fruits and vegetables which are full of vitamin C. There are supplements for people who are not getting their daily requirements of vitamin C, as well. This vitamin is potent and can help with treating skin infections, acne, stomach ulcers, gum disease, and colds. There have been studies that show increased amounts can benefit those with ADHD, Alzheimer's, and dementia. If you're tempted to take your kid's gummy vitamins, make sure you take several. Adults require higher dosages of vitamins than kids, so a single gummy will likely not be enough. Don't err on the side of excess as this can be detrimental. After reading the above tips on vitamins and minerals, you should have a good idea about the importance of it all. You are going to feel much healthier when you use the tips provided. Share these ideas with your friends and family so they can also enjoy a more healthy lifestyle.

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