#lakritzwolf

sorry i just found this buried in my inbox! you really can just google "fairtrade unethical" and begin reading with a cautious but open eye. many of the critiques focus on the quality but what concerns me more is the cost of the certification and how the higher premiums (fairtrade = minimum $1.80 per pound, fairtrade organic = $2.20) often don't reach the workers who deserve it the most. some people have critiqued it as a marketing strategy. others have said the reliance on certification makes the farms and farmers vulnerable to exploitation, or that it hinders their autonomy.

my opinion is that we should be deeply looking into every single roaster / importer we buy coffee from individually because this is a luxury good and not a human right. i am suspicious of any roaster that is not bare minimum stating the countries they are sourcing from and some indication of pricing, especially given the recent human trafficking case from brazilian forced laborers.

Finally, today starts Aug Week 2021.

The first propmt is "Augmentation/Surgery", and I went with both at the same time.

I did a little design for Adam's clothes also.

Did this for @lakritzwolf Aug Week event: Day 1 - Augmentation/Surgery. Wake up Evie! You’ve got Kratos to kill!

And song! Must be with a song!

In chains but still forever free I know where all my demons fall I won't bow to my enemy This is my birthright after all

HAHAH THE TEMPTATION IS REALLL!!! 

lakritzwolf I promise you that Karim would approve. XD

OoOoOOohh Even more incentive @lakritzwolf; ) ;)!! hahah! Gotta rekindle that relationship!! 

dawnturnstodusk: maybe you can get my Spartacus muses going again...

Prompt is: “Just once.” Other prompts are here: https://suaine.tumblr.com/post/612009243946762240/send-me-a-pairing-and-a-number-and-ill-write-you

Wangxian, random modern college AU, very very silly snippet

Lan Wangji imagines that it would be easier, somehow, to have Wei Ying's regard for a moment - just that one time, and then be forever parted - than this agony of him darting just out of reach all the time. He thinks of kissing those lips, finally, and stunning that beautiful boy into silence. How would it be received? Would Wei Ying be disgusted and push him away, forever looking at him as the one who stole his first kiss? Would he be kind and let him down gently, promising they would always be friends, but flinching ever time Lan Wangji comes too close?

He thinks about it all the time, about being brave and doing things with the reckless abandon that Wei Ying always seems to have. And therein lies the problem, doesn't it? If Wei Ying had any kind of feelings for him, would he not throw himself at Lan Wangji, no matter the consequences? Is that not part of what he loves about Wei Ying? But there's another truth and he knows that one better than most, because Wei Ying isn't always just sunshine and bravery. For all his beautiful smiles hide a soft heart, bruised by a life of loss and neglect. He never complains about it, always makes sure that people know how grateful he is for the kindness the Jiangs have shown him.

Wei Ying throws a soggy fry at his head. "Hey, Lan Zhan, where are you? I've been talking to you for ten minutes and all you've said is 'hm' like five times."

Lan Wangji meets Wei Ying's eyes. He's smiling, but there's something small and vulnerable hiding underneath. Like he's afraid of something. Lan Wangji has no idea what it could be. "I'm sorry," Lan Wangji murmurs, looking away from the sun. "I've been distracted."

Wei Ying laughs, as clear and bright as a wind chime in spring. "Ah, Lan Zhan! What's on your mind? Won't you share with your very best friend?"

Lan Wangji has no idea what to say. Wei Ying is throwing an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close, boisterous and so very tempting. All Lan Wangji has to do is just... turn his head. It would be so easy.

"Is it a girl? You can tell me, Lan Zhan."

Lan Wangji sometimes can't believe that Wei Ying doesn't know. He has to know. But then there are moments like this when it's so very obvious that Wei Ying has no idea. They're supposed to be best friends, have been since that fight in their first year of college, in which Lan Wangji ended up spilling a very expensive bottle of Whiskey. The look on Wei Ying's face had made Lan Wangji fall in love instantly. He's been trying to find the right words to say it ever since.

"No," he manages, trying to press out the words even though they jumble up on his tongue. "It's you." His heart stops. He's actually... just. Said it. He's said the thing. It can't be taken back. It's out there now, no more excuses.

Wei Ying blinks at him. A frown starts to form between his brows and Lan Wangji wants to do nothing more than smooth it out with his thumb, kiss the lines away. Wei Ying narrows his eyes, suspicious. "What? What did I do? I promise whatever it was, I didn't mean it! I'm always joking around, aren't I? Please, whatever it was, I didn't-"

Lan Wangji does something unforgivable. He puts both of his hands on Wei Ying's face and keeps him steady as he surges forward and kisses him. Just this once. This is the only time he's going to do this, but he needs Wei Ying to understand. It will ruin what they have, but perhaps what comes next will at least be honest. All cards on the table. No more lies of omission. It's terrifying and a relief.

The kiss is... sweet, soft, surprisingly gentle as Wei Ying's lips move to follow his lead. Wei Ying is making this small, soft noise that Lan Wangji has never heard before. He can't bear to pull away, but he has to see Wei Ying's eyes. He has to face what he's done.

Wei Ying follows him, grasps at Lan Wangji and refuses to let him go. "What... uh, where do you think you're going?" Wei Ying is speaking between tiny pecks pressed to Lan Wangji's lips, the corner of his mouth, his cheek. He's whispering in his ear. "That was, uh. That was real, right? I'm not imagining this?"

Lan Wangji is perfectly aware that they're in the cafeteria of their university, lazy curiosity aimed at them from all sides. They're not a spectacle, but people everywhere are taking note. He thinks he can hear a few whistles, a small cheer before people turn back to their own meals. He doesn't care. He nods, holding Wei Ying tighter. Somehow Wei Ying has moved to sit in his lap, their chests pressed together. If they're not careful, this will become a spectacle.

"It's real," Lan Wangji says. He wants to say I love you, but that's still a little too much, a little too hard.

Wei Ying pulls back enough to look at him and there's something so vulnerable about him. "Tell me it's not just some weird on time thing, okay? I don't think my heart could take it."

Lan Wangji swallows his fear. "Not just once." He catches Wei Ying's lips again, murmurs his love into the kiss. "I want to be yours forever."

Wei Ying yelps and the blush on his face extends down his neck to his delicate collar bones. Lan Wangji wants to bite them. Wei Ying buries his head in the crook of Lan Wangji's neck, so close that Lan Wangji can feel every breath like a brand. "God, you're going to kill me, talking like that."

Don't forget to summary :(

the summary is also an exercise in pain but luckily it does not send me to the pit of despair in the same way the title does 

@lakritzwolf replied to your post “number one barrier to posting fic on ao3 is THE TITLE ”

titles were, are, and will always be, the bane of my existence

Ehehehehe, “tries”, because of course.  I just love Magnus trying to help these two utterly helpless idiots.  Though Alec can at least manage breakfast, so he’s not completely helpless.  

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Magnus blinked at the not-small fire currently taking place on his stove and turned to Isabelle.  

She held up her hands.  “I was just doing what you told me.  I swear.”  

Magnus looked back at the fire that had currently taken over two burners and was working on a third.  They weren’t even on.  “Isabelle, how did you light anything on fire?” 

Isabelle waved towards the stove.  “I don’t know!  Can you, you know, put it out?” 

Magnus stared at the flames in morbid curiosity.  “I could, but I am sincerely tempted to find out if they are magical since I still don’t know how you managed to create them.”  

Izzy pouted at him and slapped him on the shoulder.  “Rude.”  

“Only truth, my dear,” Magnus said, waving his fingers quickly, extinguishing the flames that had been starting to climb too high.  He looked over his shoulder where he could see Alec trying not to smile as he worked on his tablet.  “Don’t think I can’t hear you laughing back there, Alexander.”  

“You’re the one trying to teach Izzy to cook, Magnus.”  

Magnus raised his nose in the air.  “I refuse to believe that anyone can be that bad at cooking.”  

Izzy raised a hand.  “I can.”  

Magnus shook his head and put his hands on his hips.  “You can create magical fires out of nothing, but you are not that bad at cooking.  The Institute would have burned down long ago if you were.”  

“That has more to do with the speciality fire alarms we have in the kitchen,” Isabelle said, wincing.  “And the rule that I can’t cook without someone else in there.”  

Magnus turned incredulous eyes to Alec.  “Seriously?”  

Alec lifted both of his hands.  “I have long since accepted that this is Izzy’s one weakness and is the only reason she is so badass in so many other areas.”  

Isabelle gave her brother a grateful grin.  “Love you, hermano.”  

Alec winked at her.  

Magnus looked between them both.  “Okay, we’re going to try again, and this time I’m not going to leave the room, so there won’t be anymore accidental fires.”  

Izzy sighed. 

Alec lifted his eyes to Magnus and smiled.  “I love you for trying.”  

“I refuse to only try, Alexander,” Magnus said, focusing on Isabelle.  “Now, let’s try again, from the top.  You have the instructions?” 

Izzy held up the recipe card.  “Yessir!”  

~!~ 

This time it was ten minutes before there was an impromptu fire taking place on the stove and Alec barely managed to stifle his laugh.  

“I think you’re part warlock, my dear,” Magnus said, staring at the flames once again starting to consume his stove.  

Izzy sighed and slumped.  “I’m a lost cause.”  

“I would never call anyone a lost cause,” Magnus said with a huff.  “However, I think, darling, you might need to accept that this is never going to be an area where you have success.”  

“Yeah,” Alec said, sneaking up behind her to give her a hug.  “You’re going to have to accept being a brilliant Shadowhunter, badass Weapons Master, best Forensic Scientist in New York and best sister.  Sorry to break it to you Iz.”  

Izzy smiled and leaned into Alec’s shoulder.  “I guess I don’t need to add Master Chef to that list, do I?” 

Magnus looked at his stove and the blackened pot that he disappeared with a flourish.  “I think fate simply won’t allow it, Isabelle.”  

Izzy stifled her laugh into Alec’s shoulder, grinning.  “Well, thank you for trying anyway, Magnus.”  

Magnus winked at her.  “Now, how about I summon us lunch from my favorite bistro in Paris?” 

“Sounds great,” Izzy said, her mouth watering at the idea.  

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