#It calls for 850 beads | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

teyamsatan · 1 year

Note

stepbro!netayam x reader???

this did something to me, ngl. hope you enjoy anonnie.

Neteyam and reader are aged up. minors dni! 🔞

Warnings: stepcest, strong language, mentions of smut, cursing, blood, violence

wc: 850 words

⤷ stepbro!neteyam would be so good at hiding his true feelings and intentions, as he has had to do with every other aspect of his being. he would give you fleeting looks, and lingering stares when no one is looking, and hope they couldn't see the hunger and desire in them, that no one could smell it in the way precum stained the loincloths that he now had to change every fucking day.

⤷ stepbro!neteyam would let moans of your name slip past his gritted teeth as he wraps his fingers around his thick cock, pumping himself harder, faster, thinking of your frilly loincloths and your beaded tops that left very little to the imagination, and how he would die and kill to rip off of you, how he aches to bend you over his father's desk and do to you what he was doing to his hands. with you in mind, and the thought of you, sprawled like that, your cunt fully on display for him, whining and writing as he rutted into you, it takes no time to for him to come, thick spurts of iridescent cum dripping down his fingers.

⤷ stepbro!neteyam would let out his anger and frustrations with the situation by bloodying and bruising anyone who dared get too close to his beloved baby step sister, the only time he ever lost his precious composure. he would have no shortage of excuses for why another man ended up needing stitches and ointments in the Tsa'hik's tent.

"'teyam, why did you do that?"

"Because he gave Kiri a weird look."

"Because he called Lo'ak a freak behind his back."

"Because he's just a dick."

what he wanted to say, but couldn't, was that they all looked at you, undressing you with their heathen eyes, fantasising about scenarios that they shouldn't, that would never happen, not while he had a say in it. because you were his, and fuck it, he'd gladly go through each one of them to prove it, if he had to.

⤷ stepbro!neteyam would finally take it too far when he punched a guy that you liked, while he was running his fingers up and down your thighs at one of the clan celebrations.

the air was warm and filled with sonorous laughter and electrifying music, with faint traces of alcohol and arousal. it was mating season, and you could feel it in the air, the love, and passion, the excitement and fervour overtaking the young Na'vi. you were not immune to it, and definitely not right now, as Luanu, one of the most well-respected warriors in the clan, who also happened to be gorgeous and obviously into you, was touching you, his fingers progressively further up your thigh, and you hoped he wouldn't stop, that nobody would come and interrupt, at least not until you did. he wasn't your first choice of someone you wanted to fuck you senseless, but he'd have to do, since you very well couldn't have him.

the him that was now standing in front of you, fangs bared and shaking his fist furiously in the air, Luanu's blood on his knuckles matching the one currently splattered on your face from the force of the blow.

"what the actual fuck, Neteyam? are you out of your mind?"

he didn't answer you as he pulled you forcefully away from the crowd, not until you reached a secluded part of the home tree, not until he pushed you back, your back getting scratched painfully against the rough bark.

"what the fuck do you think you're doing, huh? acting like a slut for everyone to see, for our parents to see?"

"you need to lighten up, teyam. it's a celebration. the beginning of mating season, no less. there's no harm in a having a little fun while we're at it."

his eyes were wild and feral, his lips curled in a snarl as he approached you, until his breath was fanning over your ears, his voice barely above a whisper.

"sis, if you wanted a little fun, you don't go to grunts like Luanu. you come to me."

his tongue licked a stripe from you collarbone to behind your ears, and you shuddered, slick pooling in your tewng, cunt throbbing in need. you've imagined Neteyam fucking you for so long. it was so immoral, so wrong, and you didn't know whether you were more shocked, scared or eager that your wildest dreams were now manifesting themselves in front of your eyes.

his nose scrunched up, inhaling, and he smirked at what he sensed.

"little sis, already dripping for me, huh? i have wanted to feel your tight little cunt around my cock for so long, and you're saying I could have had it all this time? that you wanted it, too?"

you said nothing as your breath laboured and your eyes closed, just letting his words pierce through you, allowing them to wash over you, allowing them to float around you, filling you with need and deep, deep craving.

"you have to use your words, pretty girl. do you want your step bro to fuck you dumb?"

"fuck, yeah."

tewng - loincloth

maybe part 2? maybe not? 👀

taglist: @fanboyluvr

1K notes · View notes

atlanticcanada · 1 year

Text

Maritimers fundraising to help earthquake relief efforts in Turkiye and Syria

Maritimers are stepping up to help fundraise and deliver aid to areas of Turkiye and Syria that were devastated by the disastrous Feb. 6 earthquake that has killed more than 39,000 people.

More than a week later, as the search and recovery efforts continue and those that have lost their homes are struggling to meet basic needs, business organizations and individuals in Nova Scotia are helping to raise funds for the cause.

Nine Locks Brewing in Dartmouth, N.S., is doing what it does best and canning a new beer to help the Canadian Red Cross deliver humanitarian relief.

"To see the level of destruction and suffering from that part of the world was shocking," said Bill Manley, the general manager of Nine Locks Brewing Company.

On Friday, they will launch the Rise from the Rubble Disaster Relief IPA, with all proceeds from its sales going directly to relief efforts.

Nine Locks has a history of giving back -- they raised more than $20,000 last year to support Ukrainian relief efforts with a beer they called Putin Huylo.

“We’re putting everything we can from that batch into as many cans as we can get, which we will release on Friday, which should give us around 4,000 cans," said Manley.

It's not just businesses doing their part, people are putting their efforts into fundraising as well.

Avery Opalka recently returned from a three-month trip to Turkiye with her partner who is from there.

“Turkish people are so kind and wonderful and welcoming," said Opalka, who is making beaded necklaces from materials she brought back from her trip.

"I had bought these beads while I was in Turkiye and I was actually making these (necklaces) as souvenirs for friends," said the 22-year-old Dalhousie engineering student.

Opalka said seeing the earthquake’s destruction on the news from her home in Halifax was heartbreaking and she knew she had to do something to help.

With the leftover beads, she went to work making beautiful necklaces and selling them online for a suggested donation of $20.

She sold out of the necklaces in one day.

“Everything I have left is already spoken for, but we raised $850 in 24 hours, it was just a really exciting time," said Opalka.

It’s hard to measure how much time she’s put into the beadwork, but she says it’s satisfying, knowing she can take a hobby and make a contribution to the humanitarian effort.

"If you put in some time and dedicate some effort into it, you might actually be able to help people and make a positive impact," said Opalka. "That was my big takeaway.”

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/eo0WHPm

#new brunswick #prince edward island #nova scotia #news #politics #canada #CTVAtlantic

0 notes

tlatollotl · 3 years

Photo

Codex-style Vessel with Tribute Scene

A.D. 650-850

Maya

Guatemala

Provenience unknown, possibly looted

This codex-style vase from the Nakbe region depicts two seated individuals, each gesturing toward a pile of objects before him. One figure wears a headdress composed of large flower blossoms. A fluttering hummingbird drinks the nectar of the central bloom, while a second hummingbird, wings outspread, partially obscures a second blossom on the side of the headdress. Tucked into the figure's headband is a paintbrush, clearly identifying him as a scribe. The second figure wears a similar headdress composed of large blossoms, but this lacks both the second hummingbird and the paintbrush. Nevertheless, it is likely that this figure, too, represents a scribe.

The piles before the scribes are tribute bundles. One of these is labeled with a hieroglyph. Often called a "doubled-cauac" in scholarly literature, this glyph was recently deciphered by David Stuart as the word "pik," meaning 8,000. When marking bundles, this numerical classifier appears to be specifically associated with cacao beans. The darkened circle atop the pik glyph serves as the numeral "1," specifying that this bundle contains a single count of 8,000 cacao beans. On top rests a spray of quetzal feathers, their shafts wrapped tightly together. Above these are a jade bead and two profile earflare assemblages (complete with the L-shaped plugs that would have held them in place). The pile of tribute on the other side of the vessel is composed of what appears to be a bundle of folded cloth rather than a sack of cacao beans. Atop this bundle, a spray of quetzal feathers sits beneath a dish containing what may be two shells.

The caption above the second bundle is partially erased, but contains the standard array of signs labeling the dish itself, its contents, and its owner, here given the rank of Chatahn Winik, an honorific title associated with high ranking subsidiary lords.

-Lucia R. Henderson, 2016 (hieroglyphic reading in consultation with David Stuart)

DAM

#archaeology #arqueologia #maya #mesoamerica #guatemala #teotihuacan #art #arte #history #historia #native american

162 notes · View notes

somediyprojects · 4 years

Photo

Sunflower Fairy stitched by Jocelyn. Pattern designed by Nora Corbett, from the September 2009 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework magazine

DMC Conversion

Valdani - DMC

M49 = 945M81 = 742M90 = 801O510 = 975O519 = 3012O521 = 3685O526 = 935v1 = 722/742 blend (the 722 was too orange on its own)v4 = 780

I didn't like her skin backstitched in brown so I used 3371 however, any peachy colour darker than 945 would do.

KRENIK:

I used Krenik 014 as called for

It asked for 018 (Navy) for backstitching but I chose Krenik 850 (left overs from Adia)

BEADS:

40332 Emerald petite = I used 03055

42011 Victorian Gold petite = used 02011 (Victorian Gold - not petite)

42030 Victorian Copper petite = used 02019

#cross stitch #inspo #x #nc #nora corbett #magazine

4 notes · View notes

handymanremodeling8151 · 3 years

Link

Reliable Tap and Float Drywall Services and Cost Albuquerque NM| Best Albuquerque Handyman & Remodeling

More information is at: http://handymanalbuquerque.org/tap-and-float-drywall-near-me/

Best Albuquerque Handyman & Remodeling offer Tap and Float Drywall Services. Drywall is one of those things you really don’t notice in a home – unless it’s done wrong! That’s why it’s important to hire a professional you can trust for all of your drywall repair and installation needs. Whether you want to replace a damaged area with matching texture or start fresh, Best Albuquerque Handyman & Remodeling is your resource for reliable drywall installation, patching and replacement. Do you have a Drywall? Contact us online today to obtain expert advice and a free price quote.

REQUEST A QUOTE NOW

TAP AND FLOAT DRYWALL SERVICES

Paint is pretty, but not when the canvas is bumpy, uneven, or in need have repair. We don’t just deal with cosmetic or superficial renovations to your home, we also have the skills and abilities to make sure your walls are sound and smooth.

Our work is performed by an experienced drywall handyman who will walk you through every step of the process for a simple and seamless experience. Our goal is your complete satisfaction. • Restoring discolored and damaged areas • Framing to install a patch or replacement • Patching holes in ceilings or walls • Repairing tape seams and nail pops • Installation of new drywall • Tape, mud and float seams • Prime before texturing to hide seams • Texture to match existing surface: flat, knock-down, popcorn and orange peel • Removing wall paper • Priming and painting drywall If you recently had drywall installed or finished and believes it is unsatisfactory workmanship call an experienced, highly qualified expert for a pre-paint inspection service in Albuquerque, NV and surrounding areas. I will inspect your walls and ceilings before the finish work begins to assure it was hung properly and again when finishing is completed to let you know it will or will not look the way it should once paint. Improperly hung or finished drywall can cause major problems in a short period of time and once paid many drywall contractors will not return to fix the problems caused by improper installation or finish work. Building A New Home And Need Someone To Figure The Total Number Of Drywall Boards Needed. Making an inaccurate estimation for your residential or commercial drywall project can be a costly mistake. Call today I charge a reasonable price for an accurate estimate of how many sheets of Sheetrock you need for large or small new homes and commercial projects in Albuquerque, NV and surrounding areas.

Once a drywall is installed, there may be a lot of cracks and nails, which cannot be covered with paint. Taping and floating the drywall will help cover those effectively. At Best Albuquerque Handyman & Remodeling, you’ll get quality taping and floating services that will give a smooth finish to your drywall. We also provide a 1 year warranty on our work. The purpose of taping is to cover all the nails, screws, cracks, and gaps between the drywall, whereas the process of floating is to give a smooth finish to the entire wall after taping it. Our patient and focused staff carefully do this job without overlooking any flaw. We can also add different textures on your wall by taping and floating the drywall. We take pride in constructing the perfect walls for you.

We always use drywall screws. Never let any contractor convince you that nails work just fine! Screws hold the drywall tighter to the stud or ceiling joist and are much less likely to back out or pop. Stress Cracks can appear anywhere, over windows, doors and even across your ceilings or walls. If not repaired properly a stress crack can return over and over again! In some cases structural or foundation work may be necessary, in other cases cutting the area out and putting 2 X 4 bracing in crucial areas and then using glue and screws to replace the cut out section may do the trick. One thing is for sure, simply putting joint tape over the crack want solve the problem as you most likely already know the crack will return usually in a very short period of time.

We are drywall metal corner bead experts. If not installed properly drywall edges are very likely to become loose and crack. Corner bead is made using very light gauge stainless steel and every precaution should be taken not to bump into them causing a dent. If installed properly corners should never crack or become loose.

Never think that all drywall contractors are alike! Nothing could be farther from the truth. Call an experienced, skilled, and highly trained expert for wall and ceiling repair, finishing or popcorn texture removal work. Over 20 years of local service and a do it right attitude. I offer reasonable prices and estimates are free on large or small jobs.

CALL US FOR:

• How to Tape and Float Drywall Corners Albuquerque • How to Tape and Float Uneven Drywall Albuquerque • Tape and Float Cost Albuquerque NM • How to Float A Wall with Mud Albuquerque? • How to Tape Drywall Corners Albuquerque? • How to Tape Drywall with Mesh Tape • Floating Drywall Ceiling Albuquerque • How to Tape Drywall Ceiling Albuquerque?

BEST TAP AND FLOAT DRYWALL SERVICES IN ALBUQUERQUE NM BEST ALBUQUERQUE HANDYMAN & REMODELING REQUEST MORE INFORMATION NOW.

Contact us: Best Albuquerque Handyman & Remodeling Best commercial residential handyman maintenance renovation professionals in Albuquerque, NM CALL (505) 859-3902 HANDYMAN 1 CALL (505) 404-7167 HANDYMAN 2 CALL (505) 225-3810 CLEANING CALL (505) 570-4605 JUNK REMOVAL CALL (505) 850-3570 MOVING Located in Albuquerque, NM WEBSITE: www.handymanalbuquerque.org http://www.handymanservicesofalbuquerque.com/ http://www.serviceabq.com/

1 note · View note

architectnews · 3 years

Text

The Dezeen guide to plastic in architecture, design and interiors

Thinking of using plastic in your project? Our latest Dezeen guide includes more than 11 types of plastic commonly used in architecture, design and interiors, with links to hundreds of projects for inspiration.

Plastics are among the most versatile materials in existence. Defined by their plasticity, they have long carbon chains called polymers at their backbone and can be moulded, extruded or cast into any desired shape from films to textile fibres.

They can be divided into thermosetting plastics, which never soften once moulded, and thermoplastics, which can be melted and reshaped, making them more suited to recycling.

Plastics "are a co-product of fossil fuels"

Although certain plastics – such as rubber, which is derived from the rubber plant – occur naturally, most modern plastics are synthetic and more than 99 per cent are derived from fossil fuels.

This helps to make plastics more affordable than most other materials and sees them used to create millions of tonnes of single-use items every year.

"Part of why plastics are so cheap is that they are a co-product of fossil fuels," explained designer Charlotte McCurdy, who has created a bioplastic made from algae.

"Petroleum or natural gas is pumped out of the ground and at the refinery, it is broken up into different lengths of molecule and catalytically cracked into useful monomers."

79 per cent of all plastic is dumped in landfills

This refining process yields not just fuels such as gasoline and kerosene but also chemical byproducts such as ethylene and propylene, which are the most important feedstocks used to create plastics.

Once discarded, 79 per cent of all plastic is dumped in landfills or in the environment, where it will remain for thousands of years. Although this contributes to pollution, it also helps to sequester the carbon contained in the materials and prevents it from entering the atmosphere.

But when incinerated, as 12 per cent of all plastic waste is, this carbon is emitted as carbon dioxide.

Taken together, plastic production and incineration were responsible for more than 850 million metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions in 2019.

However, with growing efforts to decarbonise the economy, non-fossil alternatives are being developed in a bid to meet the ever-increasing demand for plastics in a more sustainable way.

Read on to find out more about the most popular types of plastic and their possible substitutes.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

PET is a strong yet lightweight thermoplastic, originally developed in the 1940s by combining fossil fuel-derived ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.

The resulting polymer can be blow-moulded to form single-use bottles, stretched into a film for food packaging or spun into fibres to create polyester fabric, which accounts for more than half the world's synthetic fibres.

Designers often make use of PET for its translucent finish, with Marjan van Aubel turning it into solar panels that resemble stained glass windows while Beyond Space created a cavernous interior in an Amsterdam office using a kilometre's worth of semi-sheer polyester.

PET is also the most widely recycled plastic, at which point it is called rPET and can be used to create everything from backpacks (above) to Emeco's Navy chair.

See projects featuring PET ›

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is a variation of polyethylene, the most common type of plastic in use today. While its low-density equivalent LDPE is used to make plastic bags, HDPE is sturdier and more rigid, lending itself to everything from milk jugs to packaging for cleaning products and toiletries.

The material is also used to create plastic bottle caps and even when brands such as Evian claim they've created bottles from "100 per cent recycled plastic", their lid is generally made from virgin HDPE to guarantee durability.

However, the material can ultimately be recycled after use, with architecture firm Bulot+Collins using the waste plastic to form 1,400 thermochromic tiles for a floating diving platform while Space Available and techno DJ Peggy Gou turned 20 kilograms of HDPE collected from Bali's beaches into a chair.

See projects featuring HDPE ›

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Derived from chlorine and ethylene, PVC makes up about 20 per cent of all plastic produced. Due to its strength and durability, the material is commonly used to create pipes, gutters and window frames, which designers have variously recycled into flower vases and cladding (above).

With the addition of a phthalate plasticiser, PVC can be turned into flexible vinyl and used to form flooring, shower curtains and imitation leather. Swiss studio Bureau A made use of the material's pliability to create an inflatable nightclub while Formafantasma played with its translucency in a "deconstructed" stage design for fashion label Sportmax.

Due to additives like phthalate, vinyl is among the least recyclable plastics and has been linked to a number of health concerns. But latex made from the sap of the rubber tree can offer a renewable, plant-based alternative.

See projects featuring PVC ›

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene is derived from propylene gas, a byproduct of the gasoline refining process, and is commonly used to form more rigid, hardwearing items such as Tupperware, kid's toys and outdoor furniture.

Designers began experimenting with the material in the 1950s to create monobloc chairs, injection moulded and formed from a single piece of material. Among the most notable designs are Verner Panton's Panton chair, the Air-Chair by Jasper Morrison and more recently the recycled polypropylene Bell Chair by Konstantin Grcic for Magis, which is manufactured in less than a minute.

The thermoplastic can also be spun into fibres to create surgical masks, which South Korean designer Haneul Kim has recycled to create a series of stackable stools, or used as a 3D-printing filament as in the performance sports tiles on Yinka Ilori's Bank Street Park basketball court.

See projects featuring PP ›

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic with carbonate groups in its chemical structure, making the material exceptionally resistant to impacts and temperature changes.

Often used to create bulletproof windows, it can be engineered to be almost as clear as glass while being lighter and up to 250 times stronger.

Polycarbonate sheets are popular among architects and interiors designers for their ability to maximise natural light while maintaining privacy, as well as improving a building's thermal insulation.

Francesc Rifé Studio used the sheeting to divide an old textile factory into offices for the team behind Michelin-starred restaurant El Bulli while La Shed Architecture clad an entire barn (above) in the translucent material to give cows "a better quality of life".

See projects featuring polycarbonate ›

Polyurethane (PU)

Polyurethanes are a diverse class of plastic polymers derived from isocyanic acid. Most commonly, PU takes the form of a flexible foam used for mattresses and upholstery while a more rigid variety is turned into trainer soles for brands from Adidas to Allbirds.

As a coating, lacquer or varnish, it can waterproof fabrics and protect wooden furniture as well as helping leather alternatives such as Piñatex withstand wear and tear.

Design studio Layer made use of PU's adhesive qualities to create a heat-sealing tape that bonds textiles without the need for stitches. And spun into fibres, it forms the main ingredient in spandex, which is used to make sportswear as well as more boundary-pushing items such as fabric-cast concrete moulds and wearables that can be stuck to the body like plasters (above).

Polyurethanes are not easily recycled and can contain potentially carcinogenic compounds that irritate the skin and respiratory system.

See projects featuring PU ›

Fibreglass

Also known as glass-reinforced plastic or GRP, fibreglass is made by taking thin glass filaments, either loose or woven into cloth, and encasing them within a petrochemical resin.

The composite material is lighter and stronger than steel while being cheaper and more flexible than carbon fibre. As a result, fibreglass is used to create products where performance is key, including skis as well as the rotor blades of helicopters and wind turbines.

Architects have made use of the material to create tall, lightweight structures such as BIG's 2016 Serpentine Pavilion (above), which was formed from 1,900 translucent blocks, and a tubular installation designed by Neri Oxman and erected by a swarm of autonomous robots.

See projects featuring fibreglass ›

Polystyrene

In its original form, polystyrene is a hard, solid resin used to make disposable cutlery. But when solid beads of the plastic are exposed to hot steam, they puff up like popcorn to create expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, mostly known by its brand name Styrofoam.

The rigid, closed-cell foam is 98 per cent air and has a low thermal conductivity, making EPS a widely used packaging for fragile items as well as for hot foods and drinks.

Once discarded, designers have been able to repurpose this packaging into sculptural chairs and beckoning cats, as well as melting it to create moulds. In architecture, it can be used for insulation or more experimental applications as in ADX's Soil House (above), which features walls of loose soil fixed in place with a foam spray.

See projects featuring polystyrene ›

Acrylic

Acrylic is a catchall term used to describe a range of different resins derived from acrylic acid. These can be suspended in water to create paint or spun into fibres that can be used to make clothing or as precursors for carbon fibre.

When cast into sheets, the thermoplastic is known as plexiglass and used as a low-cost, shatter-resistant alternative for glass due to its exceptional optical clarity. This application was pioneered during the second world war when it was used to form fighter jet windows and submarine periscopes.

More recently, English architecture firm HAL used giant plexiglass panels to form a 35-metre-high swimming pool bridge connecting two buildings in London (above) while designer Christophe Gernigon turned the material into suspended hoods for socially distanced dining.

Furniture made from acrylic can reflect light or disappear into its surroundings, as demonstrated by the see-through counter that Yota Kakuda created for Bake Kitasenju brasserie and Say Architects' ghostly interior for the Lika Lab boutique in Hangzhou.

See projects featuring acrylic ›

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, much like polystyrene, is a hard thermoplastic derived from a clear, liquid petrochemical called styrene. In ABS, this is combined with butadiene rubber to create a stronger, more durable material that can withstand compression better than concrete and has been injection moulded to form billions of hardwearing Lego bricks since 1963.

Due to its low melting point and the fact that it can be easily painted and glued, the plastic is also one of the most common additive manufacturing filaments and was used to form the world's first 3D-printed gun.

Extruded ABS pipes are more resilient than their PVC counterparts, making them suitable for constructing sewer systems and being repurposed into a corrugated seating collection by designer Phan Thao Dang (above).

See projects featuring ABS ›

Nylon

As the first fully man-made fibre, created in a US lab in the 1930s, nylon spawned an era of innovation in synthetic fabrics.

Although initially synonymous with stockings, the term nylon has since expanded to include a whole family of plastics composed of polyamides. These can be found in toothbrush bristles, films for food packaging and moulded components in cars and electronics.

However, the material's primary application remains in fibres, with SO-IL using nylon webbing to form a colourful hammock around 130 trees and Studio Drift crafting it into a kinetic sculpture for the Dutch National Touring Opera (above).

In recent years, a number of fashion brands including Prada have moved from virgin to regenerated nylon, also known under the brand name Econyl, in a bid to mitigate the material's environmental impact. Rayon can offer an alternative that is based on plant-based cellulose fibres rather than fossil fuels.

See projects featuring nylon ›

Plastic alternatives

With growing concerns around pollution and efforts to create a circular economy not reliant on fossil fuels, architects and designers are increasingly looking to substitute virgin and petroleum-based plastics for more sustainable alternatives.

This includes recycled plastic, which presents a huge source of untapped potential as only nine per cent of the 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste produced across the world have so far been turned into new products.

The material can be sourced from recycling plants or companies such as The Ocean Cleanup and Parley for the Oceans, which are fishing marine plastic from our oceans and waterways before teaming up with brands to turn it into sunglasses, trainers and more.

Bioplastics that use natural materials rather than crude oil as feedstocks present another possible alternative. Polylactic acid (PLA), the most common type of bioplastic, is generally made from corn starch or sugar cane while others are derived from algae or chitin.

Many are designed to be compostable or biodegradable under specific conditions to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment, although some experts have raised concerns that this could ultimately lead to soil and water acidification.

The post The Dezeen guide to plastic in architecture, design and interiors appeared first on Dezeen.

#Architecture – Dezeen

0 notes

the-abqhauler505nm · 3 years

Link

Kitchen Demolition Services and Cost in Albuquerque NM | ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving More information is at: https://albuquerquejunkremovalhaulingmovers.org/kitchen-demolition-service-near-me/

Looking for kitchen demolition services in Albuquerque NM? ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving offers kitchen demolition, bathroom demolition, light demolition, shed demolition and debris removal services. Call us to schedule your kitchen demolition and debris removal! Cost of kitchen demolition services? Free estimates! Call today or book kitchen demolition services online fast!

REQUEST A QUOTE TODAY

KITCHEN DEMOLITION SERVICES

Albuquerque Kitchen Demolition ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving Light Demolition – Kitchens & Bathrooms Are you looking to remodel your kitchen? Do you want to change a few things and need items moved out? Well, you’re in luck because ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving Junk Removal Crew can do just that! We can demolish anything in your kitchen, from the sink and counter tops, to the entire kitchen itself…whatever it is you need! ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving Junk Removal can demolish your entire kitchen and remove everything as well. We do things as small as removal of counter-tops, to ripping down cabinets, or even removing tile floor. Also, when you use ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving Junk Removal for you kitchen demo needs, you can save a bundle on the junk removal of the items that are torn out. By hiring ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving, you save a ton of money, compared to hiring one company to demo it, and another to remove the debris. ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving Junk Removal has trained professionals that can handle all of your kitchen demolition needs. We take pride in your home, and have the utmost respect for it, as well. When we are doing kitchen demo’s we make sure to tarp off and cover everything close to the kitchen that could get dirty or harmed from the dust that is naturally created when demolishing a kitchen. Here are some other things we can Demo for you: • Shed Demo and Removal • Bathroom Demolition • Light Demolition • Debris Removal • Cabinet Demo and Removal • Carpet Demo and Removal 1. Turn off the electricity in the kitchen at the breaker box. Put a piece of tape over the breakers so no one turns them on by mistake while you’re working. You don’t want to get electrocuted. 2. Turn off the water. You can do this below the kitchen sink. 3. Turn off the gas. If you have gas appliances, turn them off at the valve that’s usually behind the appliance. To get to the valve, pull the appliance out carefully so you won’t yank the hose out of the valve. 4. Rent a dolly for moving the heaviest appliances. You can rent one at most home improvement center or equipment rental centers. 5. Throw a drop cloth over the floor. This will prevent scratches and other damage. If you are ripping out the floor, too, don’t worry about it. 6. Call ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving for debris removal service. Now you’re ready to begin removing the old kitchen, piece by piece. Remove the Old Kitchen 1. Garbage disposal: Use channel lock pliers to loosen the compression nut on the garbage disposal. Once you do this and remove the retaining ring, the disposal unit will fall off. Have someone there ready to catch it. 2. Sink: Use a utility knife to cut the silicone bead on the edges of the sink holding it to the counter. Use a pry bar and a hammer to lift it out. Place pieces of 2 x 4 wood under the edges of the sink as you loosen it. Then lift it out. 3. Cabinets: Empty everything out. Remove the doors and drawers. If you are going to reuse them in another part of the house or donate them to charity or thrift store, label each door and drawer so they can be reassembled. Tape the screws to the hinges. Use a pry bar to take the cabinets off the wall 4. Countertops and backsplashes: Use a pry bar to remove the countertops and tiles from a backsplash. You can also use a saw to cut the countertop off in chunks. 5. Dishwasher. Follow these steps: • Remove the front cover from the bottom of the dishwasher to expose the wiring. • Use a voltage meter to test the wires at the dishwasher to ensure the power is still off. • Remove the electrical box from the unit. Unscrew the wire nuts and pull apart the wires. Start with the green wires, white and then black. • Disconnect the drain line from the dishwasher and the water supply line from the dedicated dishwasher stop. • Open the door to the dishwasher, then remove the screws secured to the underside of the countertop. Raise the legs using a wrench. Slowly pull out the dishwasher ensuring the wires are out of the way. Also, the drain line should come out with the dishwasher from under the sink. BEST KITCHEN DEMOLITION COMPANY IN ALBUQUERQUE NM ABQ HAULING JUNK & MOVING REQUEST MORE INFORMATION. CLICK HERE CONTACT: ABQ Hauling Junk & Moving CALL (505) 225 3810 CLEANING CALL (505) 570 4605 JUNK REMOVAL CALL (505) 850 3570 MOVING Best Junk Removal Hauling Company in Albuquerque NM Open Monday to Sunday 7:00 am – 11:00 pm Located in Albuquerque NM 87120 Website: http://www.albuquerquejunkremovalhaulingmovers.org/ http://www.serviceabq.com/ SERVICE AREA: Albuquerque Metropolitan Area: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, Valencia Counties NM, Albuquerque, Belen, Moriarty, Rio Communities, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Estancia, Mountainair, Peralta, Bosque Farms, Corrales, Cuba, Encino, Jemez Springs, Los Lunas, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, San Ysidro, Tijeras, Willard, Algodones, Carnuel, Casa Colorada, Cedar Crest, Chilili, Cochiti, El Cerro-Monterey Park, Isleta Village Proper, Jarales, Jemez Pueblo, La Jara, Los Chavez, Los Trujillos-Gabaldon, Manzano, Meadow Lake, North Valley, Paradise Hills, Pena Blanca, Placitas Ponderosa, Pueblo of Sandia Village, Regina, Rio Communities North, Rio Communities, San Felipe Pueblo, Santa Ana Pueblo, Santo Domingo Pueblo, South Valley, Tajique, Tome-Adelino, Torreon (Sandoval County), Torreon (Torrance County), Valencia, Zia Pueblo New Mexico #junkremoval #hauling #moving #trashremoval #cleaning #newmexico #Albuquerque

0 notes

your-dietician · 3 years

Text

DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT June 26

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/entertainment/destin-events-and-entertainment-june-26/

DESTIN EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT June 26

Please send your events, meetings, etc., to [email protected] at least 2 weeks in advance.

Destin City Hall

All city meetings are being held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, until further notice. All meetings are subject to change or cancellation. To virtually view the meeting, https://www.cityofdestin.com/. To view/stream is www.youtube.com/CityofDestin.

Family Fun Day

The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart will host a Family Fun Day in Santa Rosa Beach from 9-11 a.m. June 26. The location will be the new Ascension Sacred Heart building at 179 Mack Bayou Loop. The event is free of charge and celebrates the expansion of pediatric services to the Emerald Coast. Outdoors, masks are encouraged, but not required. Inside the building, masks are required.

Rock the Docks

Rock along the docks at HarborWalk Village and under the stars for a free live concert from 7-9 p.m. June 26 with Frank Fletcher.

• July 3: 18 Miles Band

• July 10: Flash Flood

• July17: way Ja Vu

• July 24: The Hoodoos

• July 31: Scenic Heights

• Aug. 7: FIinga Faya

• Aug. 14: TBA

Sunday Cinema

Grab a lawn chair or blanket for the free movie “Moana,” a featured film on the big screen at 8 p.m. June 27 on the Events Plaza Lawn at Baytowne Wharf.

• July 11: Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

• July 18: Pete’s Dragon

• July 25: Sing

Rosemary Beach Summer Concerts

Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy the night on St. Augustine Green in Rosemary Beach with music of Totally Awesome 80’s from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 28.

• July 5: Ocean’s Nine (boat Pop)

• July 12: Kool Kats (50’s & 60’s)

• July 19: British Invasion (Beatles and Stones)

• July 26: Flying High (Bryds to the Eagles)

• Aug. 2: Fais Do-Do (Cajun & Zydeco)

• Aug. 9: Totally Awesome 80’s!

ACT Workshops

Workshops to assist students in Okaloosa, Escambia and Santa Rosa County high schools who will be taking the July 17 ACT tests will be held in Gulf Breeze. The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon July 12, 13, 14 and 15. Registrations must be postmarked by June 28. All materials, snacks and drinks are furnished. Students will need to bring calculators. If you have any questions, email [email protected] or call 615-585-2401.

Wednesday Night Concert Series

Enjoy free live entertainment with Dion Jones & The Neon Tears from 7-9 p.m. June 30 on the Events Plaza stage at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

July 7: Boukou Groove

July 14: Forrest Williams Band

July 21: Six Piece Suits

July 28: Rust & Gold

Summer Storytime on the Lawn

Cuddlers and Toddlers Storytime is continuing through the summer at 10 a.m. every Thursday and run approximately 20 minutes. Come enjoy Tails & Tales themed stories while waiting for the weekly Summer Reading events to begin at 10:30 a.m. Get more information at cityofdestin.com/655/Summer-Reading. If you have any questions, call 837-8572 or email [email protected].

Summer at HarborWalk Village

• Monday: Dance to your own beat with a silent disco experience in front of the main stage from 7-10 p.m. Sanitized headphones provided.

• Tuesday: Carnival comes to HarborWalk Village with live music on the main stage at 6:30 p.m. and the Fat Tuesday Parade at 8:30 p.m. Catch beads as the floats roll through the Village. Want to celebrate on a float with you and your krewe or promote your business? Email [email protected] or call 850-424-0600.

• Thursday: All American Thursday is from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Celebrate the USA with a one-of-a-kind vintage airshow, hero salute, live entertainment, fireworks and a fire spinning show with Hero Salute and Vintage Air Show 6:30 p m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.

Rosemary Beach Moonlight & Movies

Bring blankets and lawn chairs for a movie night under the stars in Rosemary Beach July 1 with “The Secret Life of Pets 2” on the Western Green. Balloon art starts at 6 p.m. and movie at 8:15 p.m. Enjoy popcorn and hot dogs on the beach from DogManDu.

• July 8: Toy Story 4

• July 15 Moana

• July 22: Sonic the Hedgehog

• Aug. 5: Tom and Jerry

• Aug. 12: Trolls World Tour

Let Freedom Ring

HarborWalk Village’s 4th of July celebration, Let Freedom Ring, begins at 7 p.m. July 2 with The Two Hoo Doos. The Miles Band performs July 3 at 7 p.m. and The Manly Hero July 4 at 7 p.m. Fireworks and fire spinning by Autumn Lyfe begin at 9 p.m. Sunday. On-site parking $10.

Movies & S’mores Series

The free Movies & S’mores series will be at 5 p.m. July 3 in Camp Helen State Park Recreation Hall with food and fun. Seating will be provided. Programs begin at 6:30 p.m. with an interpretive table of activities, a merchandise table, prepackaged smores around the bonfire and a souvenir cup. Movie, “The Lion King (2019),” begins. at sunset. Donations are accepted and will go directly to the Friends of Camp Helen State Park to be used to benefit the parks resource management, projects and interpretative programs.

• July 22: Onward with a special treasure hunt/guided tour throughout the park

Smoke on the Coast

Destin Commons will host 15 local non-profit organizations at the 10th annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ & Fireworks Festival from 5-10 p. m. July 3. Each non-profit organization teams up with a restaurant or BBQ aficionado. Cast your vote for $1 for your favorite BBQ team, support their mission, and enjoy a day of family fun.

Seaside 4th of July

Seaside is hosting a day of patriotic activities from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. in Central Square, with storefronts decorated in red, white, and blue. While there will not be a parade along 30A, Seaside will feature second-line-style patriotic music performances around town throughout the day, with a special performance by the Rep Theatre. All of this will culminate into what will be the largest fireworks show not only in Seaside but along the entire Gulf Coast.

Red, White & Baytowne

The Red, White, and Baytowne celebration takes place from 7-9:15 p.m. July 4 with music from Donovan Keith on the Events Plaza Stage at Baytowne Wharf. A fireworks display will light up the night sky at 9:15 p.m. The Village will also host kids activities including kids crafts, face painting, and balloon sculpting.

Foster Gallery

The public is invited to a reception celebrating both the Summer Rotation and upcoming Juried Special Exhibition artists at Foster Gallery from 5-7 p.m. July 14. Enjoy tasty sips and snacks while perusing all the works on display and available for purchase.

Summer Pop

The Emerald Coast Theatre Company presents Jordan and Michelle’s “Back to Broadway” show, a fun-filled, high-energy tribute to the Broadway music of today and yesterday. July 17 at ECTC’s performance space, 560 Grand Boulevard, upstairs, in the Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach. Tickets are $30/person at www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

• July 24 – Frank & Friends with Peter Lake. Enjoy tunes from Frank Sinatra, Giacomo Puccini, Andrew Lloyd Webber and many more favorites.

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

Jesus Christ Superstar is the 2021 Summer Musical at 7:30 p.m. July 21-24 and 2 p.m. July 25 on Mainstage. at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Amphitheater in Niceville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call the Box Office for tickets at 729-6000 or visit https://mattiekellyartscenter.org/.

Billy Gray Testimony

Billy Gray, who ministers to people around the world and is former pastor at The Gathering, will give his testimony at First Baptist Church, 201 Beach Dr. in Destin, on July 27 at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.

Hydroflight Monday

Enjoy shows from fly-board extraordinaire Ben Merrell over the lagoon at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 2.

Boomin’ Tuesday

Turn your eyes on the sky at Baytowne Wharf and watch as the sky lights up with a fireworks show over the Lagoon at 9:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 3. Also, a DJ Dance Party with DJ Mike Whitty begins at 7 p.m. in the Events Plaza.

Magical Thursday

Magic, music, and mayhem with Baytowne Wharf’s featured pirate Captain Davy takes you on an adventure with two magic shows at 7 and 8 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 5.

Destin Woman’s Club

The Annual Fashion Show held by the Destin Woman’s Club has been cancelled this year due to the Covid virus. The Fashion Show for 2021 has been scheduled for Nov. 5. As their major fundraiser, net proceeds go toward the Club’s Family Assistance Fund designed to help local families and a local charity.

RECURRING EVENTS

Destin Community Center

All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email [email protected] information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.

Pickleball: Sessions are Mondays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Fee is $3/session. Racquets and balls are available, just bring your gym shoes.

Table Tennis: Play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Paddles and balls provided. Fee is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.

Senior Programs

All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email [email protected] for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.

— Destin Senior Membership: Join the Destin Seniors to enjoy multiple festivities including the senior lunch bunch, potluck, casino trips, cruises, bingo, chair exercise, knitting, scrabble, and Mexican dominoes. Members must be a Destin resident.

— Senior Book Club: The Destin Senior Members meet at 10 a.m. the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Destin Library, 150 Sibert Ave.

— Senior Drop-In Hours: The Destin Senior Center at Buck Destin Park, 724 Legion Drive, offers senior drop-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Thursday for Seniors (50 years and older) to meet and enjoy each other’s company, participate in games such as Mexican Train Dominoes, Scrabble, cards, etc.

— Senior Walking Club: The Destin Senior Members walk around the Destin Community Center’s gymnasium from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. All of the miles that you walk will be added to the “team map” as we travel from one region to the next. The team’s miles are reported on the 4th Friday of each month at the Destin Senior Membership’s Potluck.

— Destin Senior Chair Exercise 50+ years: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45 a.m. at Buck Destin Park consists of performing light exercises to help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and circulation. Free/residents.

Book Club

The Destin Library’s Novel Idea Book Club is open to adults and meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Club members can submit book recommendations – primarily fiction with the occasional non-fiction title – and the club will vote on which ones to read. Membership is open to everyone; however, you will need an Okaloosa County Public Library card to check-out materials. Members will need an email address and internet access to join the discussion.

City of Destin Annual Passes

Full-time residents (within the incorporated city limits) are encouraged to submit their request for a 2021 Annual Pass at https://www.cityofdestin.com/342/Annual-Passes. For those who do not have internet access, beach parking passes are only available at City Hall. Henderson Beach State Park and Joe’s Bayou Boat Ramp passes are available at both City Hall and the Destin Community Center. For questions, call 837-4242.

Adopt-A-Street

The City of Destin’s Adopt-A-Street Program allows local families, businesses and community groups to perform a valuable community service by adopting sections of a street to keep clear of litter and debris. Groups who participate in this program will have their name listed on the City’s website and signage installed on their adopted street. For more information, call 837-6869 or email [email protected].

Grand Boulevard Farmers Market

Grand Boulevard Farmers Market takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grand Park in the heart of Grand Boulevard in South Walton. Bring your shopping bag and load up on local produce, eggs, jams and pies. Homemade soap, good olive oil, and pickled things are all there for the taking.

Rosemary Beach Farmers Market

Come browse the 30A Farmers Market in Rosemary Beach on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The local farmers market takes place on Sundays year round, and Thursdays throughout the summer months, in North Barrett Square along Scenic 30A.

Source link

0 notes

radiowrites · 6 years

Photo

Farewell to Kings

Iris called her brother first.

[A Final Fantasy XV Fanfiction one shot, 850 words. By RaisedonRadio.]

Read it on: AO3 / FF.net / Below the Cut!

At first Iris thought some new horror was emerging when the sky started to change. The ever steady black gave way to bloody reds and bruised purples. Clouds started to tint gold and gray with a bright blue visible behind them.

Her breath caught in her throat. No. It was simply the first sunrise in ten years.

The daemon she had been fighting started to contort and screech. Iris stepped back and shaded her eyes. The creature slowly faded away as the sky continued to brighten. The same happened to the other daemons around her.

All was silent for a moment as the survivors assessed their situation. Maybe they were all certain it was a sick prank and the daemons would soon return in full force.

But that nightmare did not occur, and soon human voices surrounded Iris. Choked back sobs full of thankfulness were the main sound, with a few cheers that didn’t quite travel the way the owner had intended as it passed over the deaf ears of the fallen dead. Interlaced throughout were soft murmurs of surprise and support, whether to the person next to them, or into cell phones that somehow were still working.

Iris pulled out her phone. The screen was cracked and she wasn’t sure when it had happened. She dialed her brother’s phone. One ring, two rings - her heart started to jump into her throat -

“Iris?” Gladiolus’ voice came through clear.

“Yes Gladdy, it’s me,” Iris said. The words sounded thinner than she had hoped.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” he said.

“Me too.” A wail had started up behind her, someone had found a dead loved one. The sound crept up her back, and the muscles wanted to bunch and arch away. She swallowed and fought down the survival mechanism. “You guys did it.” She wanted to say he saved us all, he saved the world, but she knew that wasn’t all true. Each person had been important to the victory, right?

“Yeah.” Gladiolus’ reply didn’t sound right. She knew her brother. Something had still managed to go wrong. Someone had been taken from them, even after all they had been through, someone had still been lost. Please, please let that not be so, she thought. None of them deserved to die. Not Prompto, nor Ignis, nor…nor…

No.

Gladiolus said, “It was honorable, I want you to know that first off. Noctis wasn’t taken down by an enemy. He knew it was a sacrifice that had to be made to use the ring’s power. He was prepared.”

The last sentence echoed in her head. He had known. He had lied. He had told her if nothing went wrong, he would come and see her. Or maybe she had told him to say what she wanted to hear, not really listening to what he had actually implied.

There was hard pavement under her free hand, loose gravel digging through the glove. She could feel, somewhere in the distance, the ache in her knees from when she had fallen onto them.

“Iris. Please say something.”

She heaved a breath, the air shuddering through her lungs. “I’m so sorry Gladdy,” she said. “For you, for the others.” She had no right to this pain alone, she told herself. He had just been the friend and charge of her older brother, just her - no, her country’s - prince.

She watched the little drips of liquid hit her glove as they beaded off and slid down. It took her a moment to realize they were tears. Her tears. She wished there was a way to protect her heart with such a simple cover of leather too. Maybe then it wouldn’t feel so scraped and bruised.

“He had been glad to know you were doing well,” Gladiolus said. “That you had grown strong.” She could hear the catch in his voice. She didn’t want to hear it, it only confirmed that this was really happening. She immediately felt a pang of guilt for being so selfish. Noctis had never led her on, and she had never allowed herself to believe he would have ever been hers.

She blankly gave Gladiolus her location, and he promised to be in that area soon. How soon? Before night fell again? When would that be? Her concept of time - of a day’s worth of sunlight - was turned around and suddenly, she didn’t want to look up into the clear sky. It was a gift but at the moment, she didn’t feel like the price had been worth it.

She rocked back and brought her knees up to her chest, holding the phone in front of her. Before her nerve gave out, she scrolled to the last number before Gladiolus. She didn’t even know if it had been his phone. She called it anyway.

It rang.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

“The number you are trying to reach seems to be out of service range…”

Iris dropped the phone was a sharp clatter, resting her head on her knees.

He would have never been hers, after all.

#final fantasy XV #FFXV #Fanfiction #Iris Amicitia #raisedonradio #my writing #radiowrites

2 notes · View notes

kanrakixystix · 7 years

Note

LuNyx, please oh please..."Don't treat me like glass, Nyx--I'm not going to break."

I’m sorry this took so long!

Please enjoy Nyx Ulric fawning over and getting his ass kicked by a princess.

Tagging: @yamadaharu, @swabin10, @thechocobros, @galactaablazingg, and @joanulric (if you want to be tagged in future Lunyx content let me know! XD)

Word count: 850

“Don’ttreat me like glass, Nyx. I’m not going to break.” Lunafreya stared himsquare in the eyes and Nyx felt the jolt of electricity surge through his veinsfrom the fierceness in her tone. Trident in hand, she took a battle stance, andNyx forced himself to do the same, twirling his kukris in his palms.

He tookthe moment to admire his sparring partner for the day. Long, blonde hair wasbraided tightly – by yours truly, no less – and pinned to her head. A blacktank top fell just above her belly button, and short blue shorts did little forthe imagination, and it was all Nyx could do not to openly gawk. But damn,Lunafreya had REALLY nice legs, the kind of legs he wanted to put his hands onand…

“Eyesforward, Sir Ulric,” she called across the open field and his eyes snapped backto hers as he fought back the urge to blush at his rather indecent thoughts.Shaking his head and rolling his shoulders, he smirked

“You sureyou don’t want to move this somewhere else? I’d hate to see your precioussyllablossoms ruined,” he stalled, but Lunafreya was having none of it. With anicy look that sent a shiver down his spine, she tightened her hold on the trident.Left with no other choice, Nyx sighed and put his best efforts into focusing.

As amember of the Kingsglaive, the Lucian special forces, Nyx was among the best.There were those that didn’t stand a chance against him, others that struggledto keep up, but few that could match him blow for blow. Keeping that chain inmind, Nyx had expected Lunafreya to be somewhere towards the bottom. Though shehad proven herself strong in other aspects, he assumed a princess, much lessthe oracle, wasn’t quite up to snuff in battle. In fact, when Lunafreya had initiallysuggested this sparring match to fill up their otherwise bland afternoon, Nyxalmost laughed.

It happenedso quickly that Nyx wasn’t sure he had actually moved from his stance at all.He thought he had warped behind her to easily tap her back with the blunt endof his blade. What he remembered, however, were two flashes – one blue, onewhite – a soft popping noise as he had the wind knocked out of him, and hisknees hitting the ground before there were three sharp ends of a trident pressinginto his neck.

“If that’sall you’ve got, perhaps I should trade you in for a better suited bodyguard.”Lunafreya propped her foot up on his knee and leaned over him, her smirkteasing and eyes filled with amusement.

“I uh…justwasn’t prepared. Apologies,” he muttered, and he tried to pretend that thelight dusting of pink on his cheeks was from the view, and definitely not fromembarrassment. He adverted his gaze as she let him up and they took theirstances again. Nyx took a long, deep breath. He was better than this. Justbecause she was the princess didn’t mean he couldn’t go big, even if his foewas cute when she was proud of herself and was pretty easy on the eyes.

“Are youready now?” she asked, and Nyx nodded, regaining his focus. This time, hissmirk was more confident.

“Let’sdo this.”

Nyx hadto admit that there were points where she gave him a run for his money. She wassmall, fast, and knew the angles of her trident in a way that allowed her touse it at its maximum potential. Admittedly, he could have taken her outseveral times, but he was enjoying himself. It wasn’t every day that thePrincess of Tenebrae asked to have her ass kicked by Insomnia’s hero.

He pinnedher to the ground with a harsh thud, kukris criss-crossed at her throat andlegs straddled over her hips. Somewhere to his left the trident landed endsdown into the field. Normally, he would have had the sense to let her up, offerher a hand, something. Instead, he stared at her, watched the way the sweatrolled down her neck and beaded above the top hem of her top. Even as shepushed his kukris aside and sat up, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Avoice in the back of his head screamed at him to stop, told him he was being afiend for eve considering anything sexual with a princess when he was of such alowly standing, but he couldn’t help himself.

Beforehe knew it, her hands were cupping his cheeks and their lips were crashingtogether in a frenzy of hot kisses. Nyx did, at least, have the decency to stopher briefly.

“Are yousure about this?” She paused, and for a moment Nyx was sure that she wouldchange her mind until suddenly she smiled and plucked a syllablossom that hadbloomed beside them, tucking it behind his ear. A tender moment hung betweenthem as Lunafreya gazed at him with a dreamy haze about her blue eyes.

“Absolutely.”

Send me a pairing and the first sentence and I’ll write you a drabble.

Current turnaround time: 2 weeks.

Request slots available (as of this post): 6

First Sentence Drabble Master List

#lunyx #lunafreya nox fleuret #nyx ulric #nyx x luna #kingsglaive #final fantasy xv #ffxv #ask #first sentence drabble #whatisthisidefk

58 notes · View notes

tlatollotl · 7 years

Link

Chaco Canyon is a land of extremes. Summer heat scorches the desert canyon, which is sandwiched between sandstone cliffs nearly two kilometers above sea level in New Mexico’s northwestern corner. Bitter cold sweeps in for winter. Temperatures can swing as many as 28 degrees Celsius during the course of a day. Through it all, Chaco Canyon maintains a desolate beauty and a craggy pride as home to one of ancient America’s most enigmatic civilizations.

Scientists have struggled to understand Chaco society since its first excavations in the late 1800s. Who first settled Chaco Canyon around 1,200 years ago is still a mystery. Many researchers suspect that it took a few hundred years for a fledgling city-state run by an elite social class to emerge. Political and cultural ties between the ancient society and Chaco-style communities outside the canyon also perplex. Then there’s the puzzle of how people survived from about 800 to around 1300 on the rough, parched terrain.

A new generation of Chaco studies and discoveries is under way, partly thanks to a young researcher’s skeleton reassembly project. This jigsaw job required a lot of travel, but not to Chaco Canyon.

That’s because bones of people excavated at Chaco in the 1890s and 1920s were packed away in boxes and drawers at museums in New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Kerriann Marden visited all of these places to retrieve far-flung body parts from one site in particular — Pueblo Bonito, the oldest and largest of a dozen huge stone great houses in Chaco Canyon. The structure was built, along with a range of smaller structures, between about 800 and 1130.

Finds in a burial at the first and largest great house in Chaco Canyon, Pueblo Bonito, include turquoise jewelry and shell items placed alongside a presumably influential man interred between 800 and 850.

Pueblo Bonito was massive, rising at least five stories with around 650 rooms. It has yielded more human bones and artifacts than any other Chaco site. Research has focused on this great house presumably reserved for Chaco’s elite families; the lives of workaday folk have been largely unexplored, even in the latest studies.

During Chaco society’s heyday, other civilizations peaked elsewhere in the Americas, including the Maya in Central America. Just as present-day Maya groups trace their ancestry back to that ancient civilization, today’s Pueblo tribes, such as the Hopi and Zuni, consider Chaco people to have been their forebears. Navajo Nation also claims an ancestral tie to Chaco society.

Reassembly required

Archaeological excavations a century or more ago — at Pueblo Bonito and elsewhere — didn’t follow today’s rigorous standards for excavating and preserving remains. The work consisted of little more than mining for bones and artifacts, then carting the discoveries off to museums. As an anthropology graduate student at Tulane University in New Orleans, Marden journeyed back and forth between New York’s American Museum of Natural History, Chicago’s Field Museum and Washington’s Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History from 2005 to 2011. She painstakingly reunited long-dead Chaco individuals’ skulls with arms, legs with feet and so on. Marden is now a forensic anthropologist at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.

As skeletons assumed their former shapes, a couple of peculiar things stood out. First, many individuals bore signs of disease, including tuberculosis and syphilis. That seemed peculiar for people who were buried in a great house typically thought to have been reserved primarily for society’s upper crust, not for the ill. Second, bodies had been manipulated in unusual ways and for unknown reasons. Comparisons of restored skeletons with field notes and photographs from original excavations indicated, for instance, that one woman was originally found with a fetus’s fragile remains in her pelvic cavity and her own bones below the knees missing. Her body lay across a room from several intact bodies.

“Nothing is simple at Pueblo Bonito,” Marden says. Her campaign to put Pueblo Bonito skeletons back together has enabled a couple of provocative new investigations. One concludes that members of a single maternal line wielded power in Chaco society from the start through an unexpected stretch of at least 330 years and perhaps 10 generations. Another study proposes that Chaco society’s founders were not outsiders with experience constructing huge buildings, as many researchers have assumed. People living in and near Chaco Canyon may have established a cliff-bordered society all on their own.

Other new findings suggest that Chaco residents contacted and traded with people living as far as 2,500 kilometers to the south in Central America and as close as 75 kilometers to the west and south. It’s debatable, though, whether Chaco Canyon’s 2,000 to 3,000 residents could raise enough crops to feed themselves or whether they had to trade for staples such as maize.

Less contentious — but far weirder — is evidence from graves and artwork that Chaco people revered community members with six toes and often created images of human feet and footprints with and without extra digits.

DNA dynasty

Fittingly, Chaco society’s archaeological footprint covers what was once an extensive regional system of buildings and roads. The largest great houses were clustered in a 2-kilometer-diameter downtown zone at the center of Chaco Canyon. Smaller great houses, ritual structures called kivas, groups of small family houses and other urban features, connected by a network of straight dirt roads, fanned out from the canyon across an area the size of Ireland.

After Chaco society dissolved around 1300, Pueblo groups may have rejected its centralized political system and social classes, says archaeologist Stephen Lekson of the University of Colorado Boulder. Pueblo people today live in small communities oriented around clans based on maternal lines of descent.

Therein lies a connection between past and present, says archaeologist Stephen Plog of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Many individuals buried in one of Pueblo Bonito’s oldest rooms, known to researchers as Room 33, shared maternal ancestry (SN Online: 2/21/17). Plog and colleagues — led by Penn State archaeologist Douglas Kennett — extracted mitochondrial DNA, which is typically passed from mother to child, from skeletons of nine of 14 individuals interred in Room 33. Marden’s reassembly project was crucial to identifying individuals whose DNA was analyzed.

Members of this Pueblo Bonito group, the researchers reported February 21 in Nature Communications, inherited mitochondrial DNA that was similar enough to signal shared kinship with a female line. Nuclear DNA recovered from six Room 33 skeletons identified two as mother and daughter and two others as a grandmother and grandson. Children inherit nuclear DNA from both parents.

A years-long skeletal reassembly project has spurred new research into who was buried at a massive great house called Pueblo Bonito (remnant walls and foundation shown).

Room 33 is a crypt with a complex history. Two men were buried beneath the chamber’s wooden floor, one below the other. The lowermost body had a gash in the head. Plog suspects the man was bashed on the noggin during a fight. Marden thinks it’s more likely that someone with a shovel, perhaps a looter, broke the skull after the man had been buried.

Thousands of offerings, including turquoise and shell beads and pendants, were heaped around the two bodies under Room 33’s floor, with the lion’s share surrounding the bottommost man. Chaco people laid a wooden plank floor over the two men’s graves before additional bodies were buried in the chamber.

Radiocarbon dating conducted by Plog’s group gives a rough timeline for Room 33’s burials. The first two men were placed there as early as 800. Construction of the wooden floor occurred by about 900. Additional burials took place intermittently up to 1130, the new dating indicates. Activity in Room 33 occurred as civilizations flourished throughout the Americas, from what’s now the U.S. Midwest to Central and South America.

Plog regards the extravagantly buried man at the base of Room 33 as an early leader from a prominent Chaco family dynasty. Based on the exceptional treatment given to all deceased individuals placed in the special room in Chaco’s first and largest great house, Plog suspects these folks belonged to a maternal line in which leadership was handed down from the ninth to the 12th century. At that point, researchers suspect, many Chaco residents and possibly members of nearby communities moved to a settlement 50 kilometers north of Chaco Canyon. A Chaco-style great house there was occupied from 1140 to the 1290s, consistent with an influx of people familiar with Chaco architecture.

“Our findings reinforce the possibility that a complex society existed in Chaco by the ninth century, about 200 years earlier than has often been assumed,” Plog says. If so, Chaco society consisted of a few powerful families and lots of commoners from the start.

Local founders

That’s not the only surprise encased in Pueblo Bonito’s skeletal trove. Chemical analyses of teeth from 61 individuals interred in two sections of the great house indicate that most of these people grew up eating food and drinking water from Chaco Canyon or nearby areas to the south. These results challenge an influential idea established over the last decade that people from ancient settlements that included large structures, located more than 160 kilometers north of Chaco Canyon, migrated south and brought with them knowledge of how to design great houses.

Archaeologist T. Douglas Price of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Plog and colleagues made a case for local origins of Chaco society in the February issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

The researchers focused on the two sections of Pueblo Bonito where human skeletons were found in previous excavations. Room 33 and three adjacent chambers on the great house’s northern side contained burials of about 25 individuals. Four rooms on the structure’s western side produced remains of more than 80 bodies.

Radiocarbon analyses of 12 skeletons from the western chambers, led by Marden during her graduate work, dates the bodies to between the years 687 and 949. Further radiocarbon dating is needed to narrow that wide age range for western interments, Marden says.

Ratios of certain forms of chemical elements — strontium, oxygen and lead — suggest that 58 of 61 people buried in Pueblo Bonito had grown up eating plants and animals and drinking water that came from the Chaco Canyon area.

Plog suspects that the few Chaco Canyon outsiders that have been identified at Pueblo Bonito came from somewhere nearby. It’s unclear what roles those outsiders assumed in Chaco society. But finding a majority of locals buried in the great house challenges a previous proposal that Chaco Canyon was first settled by people from the north, Plog says. Design similarities between some northern stone buildings and Chaco great houses fueled that suspicion.

The new DNA and chemical results aren’t entirely consistent. Although the two men placed beneath the floor of Room 33 belonged to a maternal line interred at Pueblo Bonito, the chemical makeup of their bones suggests they might have grown up outside Chaco Canyon. For now, where the men were raised and how they ended up in Pueblo Bonito remains a mystery. “It will take a while to make sense of both datasets,” Plog says.

Reign fall

Marden says it’s too early to say much of anything about how Chaco society was organized based on initial genetic evidence from Pueblo Bonito skeletons. “Huge pronouncements about Chaco social structure are being made based on partial, flawed data,” she says. “It’s like excavating only human foot bones and concluding that people at that time had no hands.”

DNA from a mere nine folks can’t support a sweeping conclusion that Pueblo Bonito housed the dead of a Chaco maternal dynasty, Marden argues. Additional genetic samples are needed to determine, for instance, whether people buried elsewhere in Pueblo Bonito, in other great houses in and near Chaco Canyon and in smaller Chaco buildings belonged to the same maternal line as those from Room 33, she holds.

DNA studies of more Chaco skeletons are unlikely in the near future. Some Pueblo groups have complained that scientists didn’t consult with them before removing genetic material from the bones of people regarded as ancestors. In a related case, scientists have collaborated with Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest, who provided DNA for comparisons to Kennewick Man’s DNA (SN: 7/25/15, p. 6).

In a written statement, the American Museum of Natural History says it approved the new DNA analysis of Chaco bones from its collection based on discussions with 20 Native American tribes in the U.S. Southwest during the 1990s. No claims of cultural ties to Chaco people were lodged then or since, making the new investigation legal, the museum statement concludes.

A formal inquiry to the museum about its decision will be filed soon, says Leigh Kuwanwisiwma, director of the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office in Kykotsmovi, Ariz.

So for now, DNA from nine Chaco individuals raises only provocative possibilities. The two men interred beneath Room 33’s floor appear to have been important, Marden acknowledges, but that doesn’t make them founding fathers of a Chaco dynasty that traced descent through a female line. Room 33 may simply have housed deceased members of a prominent family.

Grave intent

This Pueblo Bonito layout (full image in inset) shows rooms that form burial clusters (black) on the great house’s northern and western sides. Rooms built earliest are highlighted with red borders. New insights into Chaco society have come from skeletons excavated in the northern cluster’s Room 33.

Relatives probably visited the men’s graves in Room 33 on occasion, leaving offerings that piled up over time. Those items, including turquoise frog ornaments and seashells, often refer to water, a precious commodity in Chaco society. However, researchers can easily see signs of symbolic rituals where they don’t exist, Marden warns. For instance, for more than a century, many researchers have assumed that a hole cut into Room 33’s floor represented an entrance to a supernatural underworld for the dead. The floor opening was more likely used as a handle to remove surrounding planks to reach the graves below, she suspects

“There’s undoubtedly symbolism at Pueblo Bonito, but as a forensic anthropologist, I’m looking for practical explanations,” Marden says.

Southern influences

What appears clear at Pueblo Bonito is that connections existed between Chaco society and populations extending as far south as Central America.

Recovered pottery tells a similar story to Price’s teeth analysis suggesting local as well as southern origins for Pueblo Bonito’s dead. Vessels recovered at that great house and other Chaco sites resemble pottery from comparably ancient sites about 50 kilometers to the southwest. Anthropological archaeologist Barbara Mills of the University of Arizona in Tucson reported the finding March 30 in Vancouver at the annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Zuni Mountains, about 75 kilometers to the south, and the Chuska Mountains, about the same distance to the west of Chaco Canyon, provided close to 70 percent of the more than 240,000 trees that were used for roof beams, doorframes and other features of Chaco great houses. A team led by dendrochronologist Christopher Guiterman at the University of Arizona reported those findings, based on matching tree ring configurations at Chaco and in the two mountain ranges, last year in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Chaco people also apparently traded turquoise objects for goods from societies in southern Mexico and Central America. Residue on Pueblo Bonito jars and pitchers comes from a chocolate beverage made from cacao that grows in those tropical areas (SN Online: 3/17/11). Exotic birds — scarlet macaws — from the same region turned up at Pueblo Bonito starting in the late 800s.

Colorado’s Lekson thinks southern influences on Chaco society run deep. Chaco’s social and political structure drew on a type of small city-state in what’s now southern Mexico and Central America called an altepetl, Lekson proposes. An altepetl consisted of seven or eight related noble families, each ruling over commoners who cultivated crops and paid tribute in food and labor. Leading noble families took turns ruling an altepetl and elected a figurehead king.

Chaco’s seven great houses served as elite families’ residences, as in an altepetl, Lekson proposes. Other Chaco structures housed minor nobles, priests and commoners, from this perspective.

That’s a minority view, though. Mills, Plog and several other Chaco researchers suspect that Chaco society was organized around houses of varying social status. A structure’s status would have been based on its age and ritual connections to ancestors. Differences in architecture among great houses suggest that they were ranked as well, Mills says. If that’s how the system worked, heads of various Chaco houses probably led their respective extended families.

“Chaco was a hierarchically organized society from the start,” Plog says.

It helped that Chaco Canyon’s soil, although salty, was able to support widespread maize cultivation with the help of irrigation ditches, Plog and his colleagues, led by University of Cincinnati geoarchaeologist Kenneth Tankersley, reported in the October 2016 Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

University of Colorado hydrologist and geochemist Larry Benson says that’s unlikely. Chaco Canyon soil was too salty and annual rainfall too low to feed more than a few hundred people, Benson reported online last December in the same journal. He suspects that the Chaco crowd imported maize grown near the Chuska Mountains.

Special feet

Chaco society’s puzzles go beyond who was in charge and where meals came from. One of the ancient population’s most vexing oddities concerns feet.

Ancient Chaco residents appear to have regarded six-toed people as special. Rock art in Chaco Canyon includes these depictions of feet with extra toes.

Six-toed individuals appear to have held special status at Pueblo Bonito, says archaeologist Patricia Crown of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. “Having six toes brought social honor in Chaco society,” Crown holds. “We don’t know why Chaco people were so interested in feet or what feet symbolized to them.”

A review of Pueblo Bonito skeletons and artifacts conducted by Crown and her colleagues, published in the July 2016 American Antiquity, identified three six-toed individuals among the burials. Only one case had previously been noticed — the less-decorated man placed beneath Room 33’s floor.

It’s not known how common it was to be born with more than five toes or fingers in the ancient U.S. Southwest. This condition affects about 2.4 of every 1,000 Native Americans today.

Footprints and handprints sporting six digits also appear on several plastered walls at Pueblo Bonito. Rock art in Chaco Canyon depicts almost 800 human feet, with anywhere from three to eight toes.

Of 13 ancient sandals recovered at Pueblo Bonito, seven include woven extensions on the outer border for a sixth toe.

Ancient cultures of Southern Mexico and Central America sometimes depicted their gods with six toes. Chaco folk probably regarded extra-toed peers as special but not divine, Crown says. Of the three six-toed individuals given the presumed honor of a Pueblo Bonito burial, only one lay in an elaborate grave. Such treatment would have applied to all three if an extra toe signified godlike status, she says.

That’s a preliminary conclusion, though. Chaco residents constantly reworked and rebuilt Pueblo Bonito for more than 300 years, so deciphering precisely what happened in the great house’s many rooms and at particular times is daunting.

Pinning down Chaco’s origins is equally challenging, Plog says. Pueblo Bonito and many other Chaco structures were built on soil that accumulated when Chaco Canyon streams occasionally flooded. No one has looked for possible forerunners of the ancient society buried underneath all that earth.

Researchers trying to crack Chaco’s secrets while burdened with so many crucial unknowns can be excused for feeling like the pregnant woman buried inside Pueblo Bonito — cut off at the knees.

#archaeology #chaco canyon #native american #new mexico #history

68 notes · View notes

howdidigethereffs · 7 years

Text

My Captain (Volleyball!AU)

Pairing: NamjoonXSeokjin

Genre: Fluff

Word count: 3k+

A/N: Inspired from a fanart of Namjoon as a volleyball player, I decided to write this fanfic. It’s a first so please don’t fucking hate me if it sucks. Feel free to provide constructive criticism though.

How did I end up here? Oh right, I fucking screamed at Mr. Jung.

I was dozing off in Literature class, which was just the third period but I was already tired as fuck, when my teacher, Jung fucking Hoseok, had to catch me at my worst.

“Jin-ssi, would you care to tell the class the answer for question 3?”

“No cunt, I just want to fucking sleep.”

As soon as I said those words, I regretted them immediately. The entire class widened their eyes and started staring at me, appalled that someone had the guts to say something like that to a teacher. I mean, come on, you can’t blame for being a diva when I’m sleepy, can you?

Well, Hoseok didn’t think the same and immediately assigned me to a punishment. But no, it wasn’t detention, it was much worse.

The fucker, who was usually a lenient guy but probably hated me, had assigned me to sweep the floors of the gym after the volleyball team finished practising! EW! I mean I wouldn’t have minded it if any of the team members were hot, but none of them were even slightly attractive. They sweat so much after practising and stink like shit. To think that I would have to sweep the floors where their sweat dripped onto and their feet kept stamping, I couldn’t fucking bear it. But nonetheless, I had to.

And so, after dropping my coffee on Mr. Min’s fucking cock (who I think has a thing going on with Mr. Jung) during music class, stepping on my shoelaces and tripping infront of everyone in the corridor, being told off multiple times for not doing my homework and being rejected by my crush, Jackson Wang, I was finally here, at the gym where the team had practice everyday after school. So much for after school clubs (sorry I had to).

I might as well have had to come here after an hour or so, so I just thought I should come here and watch them. I have nothing else to do anyways so I can just entertain myself watching boys smash the ball. Although I wouldn’t allow any of ‘em to smash my balls.

I came here 15 minutes ago after bidding my friends farewell. “Bidding my friends farewell” makes it sound like I’m gonna die but hey I probably will after sweeping the mucky floors of the place.

A girl entered through the doors startling me with her presence. Um, girls? I didn’t sign up for girls, I’m too gay for that. Did I get the place wrong?

“Excuse me, this is the gym for the boys volleyball team practice right?”

“You’re at the right venue. And who are you?”

“Oh, I’m Kim Seokjin of Class 11 B. And you must be?”

“Garima. Class 10 C. I’m the coach’s assistant of sorts. I help out the team. Seokjin, what are you here for?”

“I’m here to help with cleaning up the place after practice, as a punishment.”

“I wouldn’t call it that, a punishment. It’s actually quite impressive watching the boys play, especially since they’re now under the leadership of the new captain.”

“New captain?” I did a silent prayer to god that at least this guy who I haven’t seen before is decent looking.

“You’ll see.”

As if that was their call a gang of 11 boys in red and white jerseys with the school’s name at the front and a designated number at the back entered the room. One of them called for a run and all the boys started jogging around the room.

“If I’m not wrong there are 12 members in a volleyball team?” I asked Garima.

“I’m impressed you’re aware of that much.” She laughed, making me slightly offended. “Sorry I just didn’t think you would know even that much about volleyball by the looks of it. Yes, there are 12. The captain and the coach usually come in after.”

“Cocky much?”

“Not really. The coach makes the captain do extra rounds at the field.”

“The field?” I stared at her in disbelief. “The field is huge! I get tired just walking one round of it.”

“Exactly.” is all she replied.

This bitch must have been some sort of wizard because as soon as those words escaped her mouth, the door opened once again, two people at the entrance.

And there I saw, the most beautiful and ethereal man I have ever seen during the course of my entire existence.

His eyes were this shade of brown that reminded me of the perfect cup of coffee, warm and comforting, but they had a sense of maturity unexplainable. His lips had such a fullness and I could only imagine how soft they must have been. His cheeks were so kissable, I wanted to cup them and never let go. There were few beads of sweat across his forehead but somehow made him look even more angelic. His eyebrows were arched at such a position that exuded a wise aura from him. Tall and built, with a slightly dark skin tone that suited him just perfectly. His arms were toned and when I looked at his hands, I was filled with curiosity with how it would feel if I held them. His chest in perfect proportion with the rest of his body, his shoulders of just the right broadness I loved. His legs were long and looked extremely strong.

Wow. A greek god was in my presence. Bless Hoseok. Fuck Jackson.

As soon as he entered with the number 12 on his jersey and saw the rest of his team training, he smiled to himself, probably at the thought of his team doing well. His smile, how do I say this, melted my heart. Even though it was a small smile you could see a bit of his dimples. The thought of them gaining prominence when he smiles heartily lightened up my insides.

“There he is. The captain, Kim Namjoon of Class 12 A.”

“He’s in A? Isn’t that the class where they shove all the smart kids?”

“The boy’s at the top of his grade and is in the top 1.3% nationally with his grades. Got a TOEIC score of 850 and rumour has it he has an IQ of 150. Somehow, he’s intellectual and good at volleyball. He got accepted in the National Team, but for some reason he declined the offer.”

"How’s this boy good at academics and sport? What a dream. Why would he decline an offer in the National Team?”

“I don’t know. In fact, none of us do except of Coach Ukai.”

Why would this boy decline such an offer? Maybe he isn’t’ that good. But then why would’ve he even received it even in the first place?

Wait. Hold up. I recalled everything I thought and felt about this man. DID I JUST THINK ALL OF THAT? I’m Kim Seokjin. No one, I mean no one, reaches my expectations. To think that one day I would swoon over someone except of myself was unimaginable of. I’m probably just tired and really sexually frustrated. But still, I couldn’t help but feel a tug of attraction towards him. Would he ever be with me-

“Don’t even think about it.” Garima spoke up.

“Think about what?”

“Being with him. He’s probably not gay with all the prettiest of girls flocking around him. Trust me, there are are countless others like you who want him to be theirs but no one has been able to achieve that feat. There is truth in the fact that you are a very attractive male but I don’t think that could break Namjoon.”

I felt happy knowing that the hot volleyball player was single (and that someone had just called me attractive but I was a bit too used to that) but I couldn’t help feel a pang of jealousy and sadness. What if he wasn’t gay? He probably wasn’t. There’s barely any boys in our school who are. And girls probably fall all over him.

Yet I still replied to her with a “You don’t know that” just to give myself some sort of comfort.

“Forget about him. The sooner you move on from him, the better it will be better for you. Which you probably will after you exit the room.” Even I knew I was lying to myself.

The only thing that calmed me down was the thought that he probably had a really shit personality. With all the attention, he was probably disrespectful to everyone around as if he ran the place and was a stuck up douche.

The team finally started practice and Namjoon came towards the two of us.

“Garima, coach needs you to take some notes, prep for next match. I see you brought a friend with you. Who might you be?”

I was so entranced by his honey-like voice and pleasing aura that I didn’t even realize he was talking to me until Garima gave me a little nudge and excused herself to go to the coach.

I came back to reality and realized he had just asked me a question.

“Sorry? You said something?”

“What’s your name?”

“Kim Seokjin. 11 B.”

“What a lovely name! I must say I’ve heard a few things about you before. Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Kim Namjoon from class 12 A.”

“Heard about me? You know me?!”

“Who hasn’t heard about the nightingale with the most celestial voice?”

“Nightingale? Celestial?” I repeated his words, those words which made a reddish shade rise to my cheeks.

Fuck. This guy had a great personality as well? He spoke like a grandfather and I loved it. Why must god be so unfair to me?

“Of course. I would love to hear you at the Cultural Fair next week. Are you participating by any chance?”

“Not really, I missed the deadline for signing up.” I replied while twiddling my fingers but still maintaining a somewhat confident face. There actually exists a man who can make me nervous?

“Oh don’t worry about that. I’m actually in-charge of running the fair. I could get you in.” He gave me a little wink and a hearty smile. THERE! I SAW HIS DIMPLES! WHAT AN ADORABLE PUPPY! OMFHGKSPAKWWPA

“You would do that for me? That’s so sweet of you! I would love to.”

Just when I was almost going to completely fall for this man, the coach’s voice rang out through the room, “Namjoon! Get over here right now!”

“I’m afraid I have to leave. I would love to continue this lovely conversation some other time.” He said with that sweet smile again.

He ran off to the rest of the team. P. S. How come a man is able to run with such elegance? I will never know.

After warm up (holy fuck he looked so daddy), Coach Ukai called out for the start of a match and I took my place in the stands which were very surprisingly clean.

“Namjoon, you’re with Jungkook, V, Jimin, Kageyama and Hinata on the right. Oikawa, you lead Iwaizumi and the rest on the left.”

An orange haired boy with a built but smol body who I later noticed had the tiniest hands in the world exclaimed, “We have the KageHina duo!”

The captain of the other team, Oikawa, retorted with the most lovestruck eyes, “I don’t care, I’m with Iwa-chan.” and proceeded to rub his face against the arms of whom I’m supposing was Iwa-chan.

“Fuck off Oikawa”

With that the match started. And can I tell you how hot Namjoon looked? He played Wing Spiker (it took me a long time to understand what that means too, don’t worry) and smashed the ball with such force. Now this was the only man I would allow to smash my balls.

I spent the rest of my time just staring at Namjoon, until I was disturbed in a not so nice way. Hinata, who I was told had just recently joined the team, wasn’t really one with the ball and smashed the ball.

I took a double take. Is this coming towards me?

Before I could clear my own confusion, the ball landed right on my fucking left cheek. My beautiful face had now been bruised. Considering my luck, I wasn’t really surprised.

One of the boys walked up to me and asked me if I was okay but before I could look up to see who it was, I screamt, “DO I LOOK LIKE I’M FUCKING OKAY? MY PERFECT FACE HAS BEEN TAINTED!”

It was Namjoon. Fuck my life.

“I am so sorry. I sincerely apologize on Hinata’s behalf. You see, he’s new to the team so it’s a bit overwhelming for him.”

Why has everything shitty been happening to me all day? Except meeting Namjoon. Should I give him a cute nickname? Namjoonie? Joonie? Joon Joon? SNAP OUT OF IT JIN!

“It’s okay. As long as the cunt apologises for ruining my good luck charm.” I replied with the most innocent smile.

“Your good luck charm?”

“My face.”

This made Namjoon laugh his ass off. Okay, now there was the second only good thing that has happened to me today, looking at Namjoon’s hearty laugh.

“Well I suppose I could be your good luck charm from now on.”

Did Kim Fucking Namjoon fucking flirt with fucking me? I was not prepared and honestly felt attacked. I just sat their with my mouth open and gaping at him. He smirked, grabbed the ball and went back to the game.

Did he just, did I just, in the name of Jesus riding a tricycle, what the fuck? I tried to let the current occurrence settle in. That can’t be it. He can’t be gay. I’m probably just imagining shit.

The game went on and Namjoon kept being amazing. So amazing that when he hit a service ace, I lost my shit and screamt, “GO NAMJOON!” A shy smile made it to Namjoon’s face.

“Looks like someone called their boyfriend to practice.” Jungkook taunted Namjoon making him even more embarrassed.

After multiple smashes, passes, receives, screams, points and dumps (not the ones that you think) the game finally came to an end. Unsurprisingly, Namjoon’s team won.

The coach called it a day and the teammates started getting out the brooms and cloths to clean up.

I completely forgot about my punishment but now that practice had ended, I had to get to work. I hated that practice had finished even more because this was probably the last time I was going to see Namjoon play volleyball looking like perfect boyfriend material.

I even created a scene in my head. After a heated game, Namjoon would come over to me and I would hand him a bottle of water. He would take off his jersey and make me wear it with the excuse “I just wanted to see what you would look like in it. You’re rocking it handsome.” And then I would say, “Stop it Joonie.” and cover my face in a cute way. Then he would take my hands off my face and the lean in for a ki-

“Hey. I just wanted to check up on you. You sure you’re okay?”

“Never felt better.” I awkwardly smiled. What are the odds that the guy you’re dreaming the perfect scenario about comes and interrupts it?

“Good to know. Lemme guess, one of the teachers asked you to sweep the gym as a retribution for catching some z’s in class?”

“How did you know?”

“Well you couldn’t have been a student volunteer because I wasn’t informed of any and you looked quite tired when you came in so I just joined the dots.”

“Well you’re right. Fucking Jung Hoseok.”

“I actually appreciated him for his deep understanding of Korean Literature but since he punished you I’m not so fond of him anymore.” He chuckled slightly. What an actual ball of fluff.

“I bet every teacher likes you Mr. I Top Fucking Everything Because I’m A Smartass.”

“It’s just a bit of pressure from my parents. They keep telling me to study and so I do. I don’t want to disappoint them. Although, they have made me hold back a bit from the things I love.”

“Held you back? Like?”

He said with a sad smile, “There are two things that I love: music and volleyball. I love to compose music and rap but my mom didn’t like it so she broke my mic. When my parents found out that the National Team had invited me to join, they immediately refused and told me to quit volleyball. I still secretly play even though. If they find out, they’ll probably kick me out of the house. Still, I want to follow my passions and I try my best to.”

I nodded in realization. The reason he didn’t join the National Team was because his parents were holding him back all along.

“Namjoon, no matter what, I will support you as long as I live. Even though I probably will never see you again, I will support you.”

“Thank you that means a lot to me. And about the last part, could you please come here during practice again sometimes? It really motivates me knowing that there’s someone in the stands who believes in me.”

“I would love to.”

“Will you be coming tomorrow?”

“If you want me to.”

“Please do.”

We just stared into each other’s eyes for a while . The rest of the world didn’t matter to us. The only thing we cared about was each other.

Soon, Namjoon snapped out of it and said, “Well I should take off. Don’t want to make my parents suspicious. Bye Seokjin, or should I call you Jin?”

“Jin is perfectly alright. See you tomorrow.” I smiled, knowing that if I can’t be with this man, at least I can be friends with him.

Just as Namjoon turned his back to me and started walking away, a magazine dropped from his bag.

“Wait, is that Park Seo Joon’s edition of Vogue?”

“Yup. He’s my favourite actor. The most handsome person to bless the earth.”

“What? You like guys?”

“I should probably explain, I’m gay.” He said as a -matter-of-factly and just left.

I couldn’t believe my ears. Did Namjoon just say he’s gay? Do I actually have a chance with this man? Holy shit. The fact that he just admitted to me he was gay made me grin from ear to ear.

And since then, I never skipped a single day to attend practice.

3 notes · View notes