#3 minutes worth of background search

[clumsy-words-again]

From what I’ve read so far Imane Khelif has never even identified as a man for god’s sake she just has increased levels of testosterone stop hating on her

[lot-of-nothing]

Entwined (Ch. 2)

Melissa Schemmenti x Reader

After what you thought was a wonderful night together, Melissa leaves you feeling cold.

Warnings: Toxic Melissa, smut, and very veiled internalized homophobia

Author's Note: Thank you guys so much for all the love with the first chapter. And a huge thank you to @alexusonfire for being my beta <3

Link to Chapter 1

While a comfort show played in the background, you swiped mindlessly on a dating app. There was a part of you that felt as if you were betraying Melissa by doing so, but then again, she dated and even married without much of a thought about you or your relationship. The women you swiped on all seemed nice enough, but they were no Melissa Schemmenti. 

You were drawn from your phone when the redhead let herself into your home and held up a Tupperware container to you as she walked past you and into your kitchen. Your eyes followed her sweat pant clad hips the entire time she spoke to you, “I brought puttanesca, and I forgot my show is on in fifteen, so we have to postpone the sex for an hour.”

“You didn’t have to come.” Your response was automatic. By no means were you trying to get her to leave, but she shouldn’t feel so beholden to come by when your relationship was so casual. 

Mel paused briefly, glancing over her shoulder with furrowed brows, “Since when did you play all hard to get?”

Rather than respond to her, you turned back to face the television with a roll of your eyes. It was never really worth starting trouble with Melissa. Instead, it is best to just pick and choose your battles. 

When she emerged from the kitchen, she was carrying two bowls that she must have pulled from your cabinets. There was a pang in your chest at seeing Mel be so domestic in your own home. It was a sight you yearned for, yet you knew it was best not to get used to it. 

She passed off a bowl to you with a commanding tone,  “Eat.”

Taking the bowl into your hands, you passed off the remote in return, “What are we watching?” 

“Real Housewives.” Mel asked with her mouth full and her forearm covering her mouth from your view. When she finished chewing, she took the phone from your hand and began flipping through the channels in search of her favorite tv show. 

You rolled your head over to stare at Melissa with an unenthused reaction - a bit overdramatic, but it reflected your overall disinterest in the reality program. 

Mel wouldn’t even give you a glance as she found the right channel. She only held up a hand and sassed you, “I don’t need your shit. Now shhh! It’s starting.”

—

Melissa was on you in an instant when her show was through. She threw her leg over your lap, straddling you with a smirk, “And now I’m ready for ‘ya.”

“Now you’re ready?” You let out a breathy laugh and ran your fingers up her thighs to squeeze her hips. Watching her lips expectantly, you began moving her shirt up slowly. You couldn’t help it as your heartbeat quickened in pace - Melissa was just far too gorgeous. 

Melissa began rocking slowly in your lap and you nearly melted as her manicured hands found your cheeks with a hum, “Mhmm...”

She dove down for your lips without any further hesitation. Her kisses were deep and hungry which was often evidence of her impatience. Mel moved her hands from your face and used them to brace herself on the back of the couch. She would always do this, grinding and bucking against you so you would cave in and touch her. 

Like clockwork, you did as you were silently commanded, knowing she would only maintain control over you for a few minutes longer. You pulled down on her hips, guiding her to grind against you and earning a groan from her. 

The sound was your kryptonite. It was addicting.

You maneuvered swiftly to draw more sounds from her. One arm around her waist, guiding her to grind back and forth, while the other was pushed beneath the waistbands of her sweats and underwear. 

Satisfying her needy desires earned you deeper kisses and she moaned into your mouth as your fingers slipped through her folds, “Oh, Jesus..”

When you found she wasn’t as damp as you liked, you withdrew your hand from her underwear. Parting your kiss, you pushed your fingers past your lips and swirled your tongue around the digits. 

Spit drenched your fingers when you guided them back to her clit, and the newfound wetness caused her to gasp. 

She looked so perfect like this. Forehead pressed to yours. Flyaways of red hair framing her face and dancing in your periphery. Jaw slack with her eyes screwed shut. Soft moans rising from her throat with every shift of your fingers. Her soft breasts threatened to spill from her tank top with every thrust of her hips. Every few moments your name was huffed in the most beautiful, desperate tone. Her hands shifting rapidly between the couch and your shoulders as she sought contact while also attempting to brace herself. 

You cooed to her softly, knowing all she needed now was praise. “Pretty girl… so beautiful aren’t you?” 

She knew the drill. Melissa knew to answer your question promptly if she wanted you to continue playing with her. She let out a strangled hum to avoid taking away too much of her attention from her own orgasm, “Mhmm.”

Your fingers danced gently at the edges of her face, tucking hair behind her ears. You wanted to kiss her cheeks, but you refrained from the gentle intimacy to avoid spooking Melissa.Your next question flowed from your lips with a tone dripping with intense desire, “Are you gonna make yourself cum on my fingers?”

Mel was doing all the work at this point. Her hips ground erratically, hinting she was getting incredibly close to her climax. She could only answer your question with a strangled hum. “Mhmm.”

“What was that, hon?” You drew your hand back an inch, earning a desperate and frustrated gasp from the redhead. 

Her eyes flickered open and you were suddenly face to face with her wild, green hues. Mel was obviously upset with how you were teasing her, but it was laughable with how quickly she folded in the bedroom. Her willpower was all but nonexistent when your hand was down her pants. 

She gasped and bucked her hips upward in search of your hand, “Yes… Oh god, yes please…”

“It almost sounds like Melissa Schemmenti is begging.” Your grin was evil as you slipped your fingers back to where they had been previously. The redhead went crazy in your lap, gasping and moaning as her hips writhed in order to achieve her orgasm. 

It only took her mere seconds to find it, and with a final buck of her hips, her face was buried into her crook of your neck as she rode out her orgasm and choked out, “Fuck you.”

—

Melissa was running her hands up and down your thighs as she went down on you. She would always get so lost in giving you head that she would come up for air with big gasps. And rarely did she ever stop right away after your orgasm, it typically took writhing and begging to pull her from her pussy eating trance.

When you came, your hips lifted into the air with Melissa’s face still attached - a sight to behold. Your final orgasm (or orgasms) came in a final set of three, rolling together in a way that had you sobbing out in search of reprieve. 

When you finally settled, Melissa rested her cheek on your mons and tucked her hands under your sides to better snuggle against you. “Give me a few minutes and then I’ll be ready for another go.” 

She always was so avid about giving head to you - a little fact that made you raise your eyebrows in questioning. After all, it seemed a little fruity for her to enjoy it as much as she did.

You had no complaints at the suggestion as your blissed out mind mulled over the events of the past half hour while your eyes focused on the lazily moving ceiling fan, “Mm... Sounds good to me.”

It was hard to draw your attention away from the red hair draped over your middle. And against your better judgment, you began twirling and untwirling the locks around your fingers. Her hair was silky to the touch and the smell of her rose scented shampoo and conditioner wafted up to you. 

“Wuddya think you’re doin’?” Mel’s tone seemed slightly annoyed, but she made no effort to move away from you or to get you to stop. 

“Oh, relax, tiger.” You teased Melissa, pushing your fingers against her scalp to rub gently. “You aren’t any less tough just ‘cause I’m playin’ with your hair.”

“Hmph.” Melissa begrudgingly turned her attention to the reality show that now graced the tv  She told herself that she would only have to allow for it until she was ready for another round of sex. 

Rarely would you get these soft moments of intimacy from her. Often she would leave or move away to prevent any prolonged contact like this, but something about spending time together before sex must have softened her up. This moment alone gave you the bittersweet feeling that you fit so well together, but you had to remind yourself of the constant heartbreak she caused you.

Episode after episode of miscellaneous reality television played before you checked in again with the redhead to see if you were done for the evening, “Mel?”

When no response came, you sat up at a low angle to look down at the woman who had fallen asleep on top of you. With a gentle hand, you combed red curls from her face to expose her features softened by slumber. Even with a quick glance of her sleeping face, you were pained by your yearning for her... as you knew the odds were not in your favor. 

No one could feel sorry for you. For decades you had inflicted this pain on yourself, letting her back in a moment's notice. And tragically, you worried this pattern was destined to repeat itself as Melissa had a way about her that felt addictive for you. 

So while you knew Melissa spending the night would not be good for your heart, you continued played with her hair until you finally fell asleep.

---

The next morning you woke up feeling incredibly stiff from your night spent on the couch. Worst of all, the redhead that had once been sleeping on your stomach was absent. Propping yourself up on your elbows, you looked around your home for evidence of Melissa’s presence, but her purse and jacket that once sat on a chair near the front door were now gone. 

As you looked around, you noticed that you were draped in a blanket and the television had been turned off. When you stood and glanced into the kitchen, your eyes caught a glimpse of the dinner dishes in the drying rack. 

You felt your cheek grow warm from the embarrassment. She couldn’t stick around to say goodbye, but she was a decent houseguest and washed the dishes? 

Retrieving your phone from the coffee table, you drop yourself down on the couch as you furiously type out a message to the redhead and hit send. 

Couldn’t say goodbye before you left?

Her reply came a few minutes later, and you could feel her attitude emanating from the screen - We aren’t dating. 

Maybe you should have thought it through more when you replied, but you sent the text anyway - That doesn’t mean I don’t care.

And it was no shock that all you received was radio silence from Melissa. It infuriated you that she couldn’t even send a simple text, a like, or even an emoticon in response. One day turned into a week which turned into a month, and finally there you were three months later with no response. 

You were so over it at this point. It was painful and embarrassing that you thought your night together of dinner, tv, and fucking felt so natural and fun - only for her to leave you high and dry before the sun rose. 

There was no reason to let Melissa Schemmenti make you feel like this again. It was finally time to move on, and you did with a simple notification from a dating app.

Link to Chapter 3

Taglist: @esposadejoyhuerta

[blacknwhitemood]

Depeche Mode - Condemnation / finding video's location "near God"

It was only 3 days after the Memento Mori concert in March, when I learned that Condemnation video was made in Hungary, not far from Budapest, near Göd, in a small village's border, Göd-Újtelep. When I wrote about it to @mijamija1234, she suggested that what if I visited its location? I liked the idea, I've started to make a research. Later I found some colored photos on Göd-Újtelep's website (under this text) and I posted them with words "Condemnation’s video was made near Göd". @mftm1987's reblog tag was hilarious: #well sure it was made near god. I felt love with the concept, so this is my "project's" name: Near God.

The only screenshot from the video (1st pic above) that I can use for finding the location is not very helpful, considering that it happened more than 30 years ago. 31 exactly. In 28th of July, 1993 the band and Corbijn went "into the f---ing woods" early in the morning after the day of they Devotional Tour concert in Budapest. Dave talked about it the gig's night in NME, while Gavin Martin was making his long interview:

I won’t even sleep tonight. I’ve got to get up and go and do some… I’ve got to go off with (Anton) Corbijn into the f---ing woods and do the ‘Condemnation’ bit. But, really, I have fun with doing that. It’s just the eight o’clock morning, you gotta get over it.

I quoted from this article first time here, my updated daves-first-tattoo post (scroll to the middle). Another source, Daryl Bamonte, Devotional Tour Diary, Bong magazine, 1994:

It was a long trek from Belgium yesterday, and we had to drive out into the Hungarian countryside today for Anton to shoot the “CONDEMNATION” video. Dave seemed to spend most of the day being dragged around by Sam and Hildia. He wasn’t complaining though. It could have been the other way round…

Near God

It's not easy to find a DM video's location (except Strangelove), Corbijn preferred countryside for his videos and the nature mostly in different countries in Europe (e.g. Belgium, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Scotland) or in the U.S. Hungary is famous for its "puszta", which is similar to prairie. Before the single's releasing he could shoot the clip during the tour. They stayed 3 days in Hungary, I read somewhere that Corbijn choosed Göd's area for the reason being very close to the capital. On imdb.com it is simply Göd.

I was searching for those dirt roads from the screenshot with the Google relief map, impossible task. 31 years. I googled many times a day if I got some new inspiration, suddenly I found a person on facebook who commented Göd's page' photo of the day: she was there in her 14 years, "half of Göd was there". I wrote to her, 3 days later she answered that she would help. Wow.

We met today and spent only 40 minutes together. She and her husband took me from the railwaystation on a truck to the location that she remembered - and of course that become famous in the village. She told me the short story: "My friend's sister was a big fan. We didn't have phones that time, someone brought the news by bike, no one believed that. Later many cars went to the place with 50-80 fans. We were hanging on the fence, like the children in the video. There were huge reflectors, the shooting took until the evening. Now there is a big battery factory in the fields."

When we arrived, we walked to a small road but it didn't resemble to the video's for the first sight. In fact it is a huge field with woods around, at the end of the road there was the factory, "It was built on that hill on the picture" she told. She was sure, so we took some funny photos with the printed screenshot (at the background with their truck), I wanted to walk more to find a better view but it was a very hot Summar day and my guide didn't have much time. To the right on this map I marked the point where we took the photos:

I think the trip was worth it. All this area from the village to the woods down was the location of the video making. 31 years later the fence with the small cabin and the sunflower field disappeared but there still have straw bales, dirt roads and habitants who remember.

The single released 6 weeks later, on 13 September 2013. Although MTV played the clip on time, its DVD version released much later in 2002 on Depeche Mode - Videos 86>98+ (I ordered the very last piece of it from Antal). This DVD originally released in 1999 but without the clip, you can find a live version instead of (I have the 2000 edition), because - it is said - Corbijn wasn't quite satisfied with the final result, the band seemed too tired in the video, especially Dave.

I love this song. Not my favourite, but it's in my DM top 20. One of its reasons that the video was shooted in Hungary and Dave loves it. He has frequently mentioned Condemnation as one of his favourite songs. In this interview from 2006 you can hear directly from him at 00:37. As fandom.com wrote, Dave still gets goosebumps when he recalls recording the song:

I immediately knew the song. It wasn't necessarily completely accurate to the way Martin wrote the melody line or the phrasing or the timing. I just sang it, and [after] I sang it, the tape stopped rolling and it went on quiet. I've got my headphones on and I hear [producer] Flood's voice go, 'Yeah, I mean, you could do another one. But I think we got it.' / 2021, Exclaim!

Well, at Memento Mori Tour they sang to us twice in Budapest, in 28 July, 2023 (yes, this day <3) together with 50000 people and in 26 March, 2024 to 16000 happy fans. Honestly, I like Waiting For The Night much better, I really wanted to hear it live, I hoped that they don't sing the same song at the same city as first encore duett, Condemnation is difficult to sing, they've sung Waiting For much often at this tour... but I was wrong. I was confused with my feelings, I was disappointed. I was looking for the answers of they decision, and later I understood that somehow Hungary might mean Condemnation to them. They gifted us with Dave's favourite song. Twice.

[tuliptired]

He's Good People Ch.3

Chapter 3: I Didn't Mean to Take Up all your Sweet Time (I'll Give it Right Back to Ya, One of These Days)

Pairing(s): Gn!reader/Ray, Gn!reader/Egon, Gn!reader/Winston

Summary: (Winston centric, briefly Egon centric) To get out the firehouse, you 're invited for a day out on the town with the "common man" of the Ghostbusters, and he won't stop opening doors for you

Warnings: Reader wears masc presenting clothes for like one paragraph

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE :((( hope a longer update makes up for it!

read it on Ao3!

  It was fairly late into the night. You felt weird about going to bed while none of the others had returned, like you were overstepping. You were content with being curled up in a chair as Egon annotated a book in the dimly lit lab. He had offered you one of the many works from his personal collection, but the words started to lose their meaning after the first handful of pages. Maybe he ought to read it to you, instead. You set the book aside, much more interested in watching him. He had his sleeves rolled up again, fairly unnecessary because he was only working with paper and pencil.

He discarded his work for the second time that day, looking over at you. The need for sleep was creeping up on him, as his eyelids sat low and his gaze remained soft. 

"I´m sorry for boring you."

"I´m not bored. Are you tired? You don't have to stay up with me."

He put the pencil back into a mug full of others. He rose from the workbench, opening the book to a heavily noted page. Crossing over to where you were sitting, Egon joined you, holding it open for you to see. There were large, square photos of terrifying looking sculptures. Upon further inspection, they were really just recreations of exotic animals. A boa constrictor, an alligator, a giant salamander, a…platypus. Behind each of them stood a Victorian era man, beaming with self-worth at the spectacles surrounding him.

“See him?” He pointed to the man. “That’s Benjamin Fairhooke. He had a penchant for imported animals. And too much money. So much so he had the theater near your building constructed to show them off.”  He turned the page to a large spread of the theater in the late 1800’s, advertising an oddity show.

“They started showing plays and operas soon enough. But everyone knew how passionate he was. Piranhas-in-the-bar sink, frogs-on-the-staircases-passionate.” There was a photo of Fairhooke next to a woman. Despite her exquisite clothing, elegant features, and extravagant jewelry, she had a fairly sour expression, while he still beamed at the camera, an iguana in his lap.  

“That was his wife, Claira. Their marriage was falling apart while ticket sales peaked. They held their son’s wedding reception in the lobby of the theater.” He had a grainy photo bookmarked. There was a newlywed couple, normal. Claira’s in the background, though. Not happy her son was just married, but instead staring down the barrel of the camera like it was a gun.

“She had just found Benjamin in a parlor, tending to a snapping turtle. She got so mad, she took the shovel from the fireplace and managed to decapitate him in 10 minutes.” Holy shit.

He could feel your shock. “I know. She left him there for the rest of the night. They searched for weeks, until they found his body. She told them everything- just not what became of his head. His animals went missing, and his kids wanted nothing to do with the theater. Local legend says that the souls of his then neglected animals are still searching for Claira. Anywhere she could be. But it fell into obscurity. Everyone who believed in it died at the turn of the century.” He shut the book.

“So. The ghosts of a bunch of critters are running around my block, looking for his murderer? And one ended up in my washing machine?” 

“Essentially. I’ve wanted to investigate since I heard the story, but it was always word of mouth. I only just found it buried in an anthology of neighborhood ghost stories in Ray’s store.” He sighed, getting up and placing the book back into its place on his shelf. “He was pretty excited about my findings. He always is. But he’s been dragging his feet about it.” Egon looked worried, if not at least a bit frustrated, as he took a seat back next to you, knees touching unintentionally. You could understand, this was his longtime friend, after all. This all seemed very perplexing to him.

“Maybe he’s just scared? Of what he’ll find?” The words really don’t serve much purpose other than to soothe his nerves- they don’t convince you, even as they fall from your lips. Ray was a discerning and generally happy man, but he was still brave. He wouldn’t be a paranormal expert, a Ghostbuster if he was scared of what he loved.

You could tell his fears were still there. You placed a hand on his, silently grateful as you felt that they were still the same hands you held earlier.

“I promise, the moment I can get back into my apartment I’m gonna look for the key.”

There was the predecessor to a smile, before he had a look that read as accepting defeat. “I apologize for you being stuck with us so long. Only a day more.” Before you could protest, tell him that you’re having a wonderful time and you’re sorry for being in their hair, you heard cursing downstairs, followed by heavy steps approaching, making you jump.

Ray and Winston joined you upstairs, covered in thick, oozing slime of some sort. Winston held a smoking machine like the one Ray had after cleansing your house, only this time a bit more scratched up.

“It wasn’t a mannequin at all. God-damned-ghost-komodo-dragon on its hind legs. Sprayed us bad- we hosed ourselves off 6 times on the way home.” Winston tried wiping the slime moving from his glove to his wrist off on his pant leg, only making the viscous substance spread more.

Ray didn’t look angry, but he wasn’t bouncing off the walls. “This is big. Y’know that old theater-”

“I already explained it.”

“You’re kidding.”

‘’No. I explained Fairhooke, Claira, the ghosts. All of it.”

Winston could feel the start of a petty back and forth, so he discreetly asked you to follow him. He laughed and shook his head as he went down the steps to the very bottom of the firehouse. You had seen this room when Ray brought you down for pajamas, and you recognized the door he had peeked into, but not what was on the wall. A large, red electrical looking panel stared back at you.

“Ray taught me how to do this when I was new here.” He went through the motions of showing you how they used it to hold ghosts. You were glad he took the extra step and explained what it really did under the surface, because lord knows you were puzzled.

“He even made a rhyme. ‘When the light is green, the trap is clean’”.

“Does this make me part of your team now?” You complain, purely jokingly.

“You don’t wanna be? I wouldn’t mind.” You had to hand it to him, he had a charming way of disarming you. He didn't give you time to respond, as he made his way to the laundry area. He came back with new pajamas, softer looking ones.

“I hope these are a little more personable.” He handed you a light purple t-shirt, and dark purple sweatpants. There was thought behind these, definitely not something they had laying around in the hamper. 

You smile at the consideration. “Thank you.” He returned it, very white teeth and all. He gave you privacy to change, and was peeling his suit off upon your return. It looked incredibly uncomfortable, the mire of today´s job trying to stick to his skin. He finally got the soiled jumpsuit off, and it stuck to the floor like a glue trap. As he stuffed it into the industrial washer, another one tumbled out a laundry chute and onto a pile of dirty, but not slimy, clothes. He sighed, carefully picking up the soiled suit and garments and placing them in, too.

“What is it, anyway?” You watched on as he poured a cocktail of different, unmarked liquids, which you assumed were non FDA approved cleaners for these kinds of unconventional stains.

He pressed the washing machine closed, turning a few knobs and pressing a few buttons. “Ectoplasm. As graceful as it sounds.” You follow him, as he makes his way back up the steps.

“Like sticky skunk spray.” He stops in front of the sleeping quarters, and it gives you a moment to wonder why exactly you were still following him. As you start to mull over it further, he places his pointer finger over his lips.

“We oughta get out of here tomorrow. Ray’s gone to bed without dinner. Bad sign. It’s not pretty when he and the professor get into it.” He explains, voice hushed.

“Are they okay?”

“They will be. Ray stresses for a day, but he always apologizes, ‘cause he’s scared to lose his friend.” Winston smiles familiarly, thinking of the men he’s grown to know well over the past 5 years since his initial hiring. You can’t stop the spread of warmth under your skin as you think, too.

“Kindred spirits. I hate to see them both so worked up.”

“They can’t help it. They’ve got a new distraction running around.” 

You don’t have time to process it, again, before he’s halfway back down the steps to the first floor. You lean over the railing, just as he passes Janine’s desk.

“Where are you going?”

He doesn’t stop walking, until he reaches the exit. “I promised my mom I’d stay over. Be up early tomorrow, ok? I’ll take you on a joyride.”

“Goodnight,” you wave, as he gives you a two finger salute, letting the door shut behind him.

You can’t really sleep- you don’t want to, anyway. Egon’s still upstairs, Peter’s with Dana, and Ray’s in bed by himself. As tempting as it is to go up there and console him, you really don’t want to come off as pushy. So, you had an apron tied over your front, sleeves rolled up and gloves on as you worked to scrub the slime out of blanched fabric. What a night.

The stickiness was seldom coming off, but you noticed progress. It would bubble and sud with the soap, but it was nothing a frequent rinse didn’t get rid of. The only problem was that it was thick, and it sat deep in the absorbent material. You lost track of the hours you spent, going down the line; Soaking, scrubbing, rinsing, scrubbing, rinsing, soaking- over and over. The need for sleep left you, as this housekeeping mystery kept you unwilling to give up until it was completed.

There was a click of the heavy door, and your thoughts of finishing the task as you feverishly scraped a suit against a large washboard suddenly ceased. Winston stood at the door, dressed and holding 2 cups of coffee-shop-coffee.

“Good morning,” his face was both impressed and fearful. You figured this was enough, as most of the slime sat mixed with now greenish water in the large sink. You carefully transferred it to the dryer with the others, and peeled your gloves off.

“Goodmorning,” you wiped some soap off your cheek with your wrist.

He handed you a cup. “You think you deserve a shower after all that?” You walked out the laundry with him, the warm liquid having the opposite of its desired effect as it made you the slightest bit sleepy. 

Your shower was quick and to the point. In the few days you’ve been there, your towel has had a permanent residence on a hook by the door, a fair distance from the other 4. You figured this would have to be your second day in the blue sweater, but you didn’t mind all that much. You managed to wash it as well the night prior, so it was dried and fluffed as it waited for you.

Winston ran into you on your way out the bathroom, something dark in his hands. He unfolded it, and stepped behind you to put it on your shoulders.

“What’s this?” You whipped your head around to watch his movements. 

“Had to pick this up from my mom’s, too.”

It was a dark purple jacket, the sleeves needing to be cuffed by him in order for your hands to appear. You could see a wide, black stripe wrap around the back and little pinstripes around the collar. You knew Winston was a more eccentric dresser than his coworkers, the brightly colored laundry telling you so, but to take something so nice from his mom?

“I can’t take this, She doesn’t even know me.”

“It’s mine. And it’s going to a good cause.” He drops your wrist. Taking a step back, he examines his work with a hand on his chin, an unsatisfied look on his face. He figures out what’s wrong, as he grabs the zipper from the bottom and pulls it up, the blue of the sweater underneath now hidden. There’s a pleased smile on his face as he takes another step back, before starting down the stairs.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the car,” and he disappeared.

While you were excited to get out again, to have some sort of normalcy for a day, but the urge to check the kitchen overtakes your legs. Your heart feared for the worst, you peek across the threshold, and you could’ve died then.

Egon was at the little table, pancakes, eggs, and coffee on two plates in front of him. The thing was, yours was untouched. He sat there, hands in his lap, face unreadable, until he noticed your presence. He didn’t light up, his features didn’t change, but you could’ve sworn there was a slight, upward twitch of the inner corners of his eyebrows. You felt a sort of nausea wash over you, that settled in your chest as you thought of what to say.

Walking towards him felt condescending, as if you were increasing the parameters of whatever obviously negative emotion he was feeling, but it was the proper thing to do. You folded your hands in front of you, unthreatening. Benevolent. He looked at you through his eyelashes, like a wounded animal. 

“I’m sorry. That I wasn’t around this morning.” To anyone else, this would seem melodramatic. A meal skipped out on between 2 people who have known each other for 2 days. But the way there was a flash of forgiveness, that you saw so often in the downcast faces of those young men and women around a coffee pot, weeks after their indulgence of passion. One of them did something. And the other so desperately wanted things to be okay again. They’d be engaged. You saw it on the faces of teenage actors, as their parents commented on a poor performance, before bringing them ice cream. It was the small injustices, from the people that you loved.

He opened his mouth to speak, before a honk from the garage cut him off. Winston was calling you, the unfortunate timing making you cringe.

“I’m sorry, again. I won’t be gone long.” He didn’t respond as you retreated to the door.

You reluctantly disappeared out the room, before appearing one more time.

“I’ll make it up to you.” 

You take your leave down the stairs, the garage door open as the Ecto-1a runs idly. Winston leaned over, opening the passenger door for you. Settling in with a huff, he turned to you as you pulled your seatbelt on.

 “Ready?” When you nod, he pulls the car out the garage, and onto the street. After a few minutes of driving from the firehouse, he reaches for the glove compartment, his hand emerging with a cassette in a purple case. 

“Hope you don’t mind Mj,” he grins as he slides it into the car’s slot. The singer’s voice fills the car, and he eventually joins in. He has an amazing singing voice, honestly, and you’re too compelled to take pleasure in his gaiety as he drives.

“The Jackson 5: Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, and Winston,” you tease him. The city’s awake with you, as children took their lessons on the blacktop of the school’s playground, and grandmother’s bought fruit placed in their foldable carts. A handful of dogs howl as your highly decorated car passes by. 

“I could never take Michaels place,” Winston crosses his heart, the cassette starting to play a Stevie Wonder song. He nodded his head along to the beginning of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. 

He enjoyed himself for the whole song, even roping you into joining in. Eventually, he turns the volume down a few notches.

“What music do you like?” He questioned, nodding in acknowledgment as you listed off your current favorites. As he waited at a red light, he skipped a few songs, claiming that you’d like this one more after the inventory you gave him.

You take another look around, as the setting gets more and more unfamiliar to you. “Where’re we going, anyway?” You tilt your head.

“Right now, I’m thinking the music store. But I have other ideas, too.” He pulls up to the curb of an aptly named record shop, shutting off the engine and opening your door from the outside before you could protest. The inside was fairly simple, musical equipment sitting on shelves behind a desk, records stretching around the perimeters of the room, and cassette tapes in the square middle.

The layout intrigues you, as your brain pings at recognizable albums. You shy away from Winston, flipping through a few records in your favorite genre. He reappears at your side, a small box of blank tapes in his hands.

“Are you recording something?” You continue to browse. He shakes his head.

“You’re gonna need your own tape to play in the car. We all have one.” He peers over your shoulder casually, taking in music he’s never heard of. You shake your head apologetically, fearing the effort it’ll take. He picks up an album you’d been eyeing.

He turned to look at you, eyes earnest and eyebrows slightly raised. “Make space for yourself.” Simple words. He wasn’t asking a lot from you. But he was speaking to you- I want you to survive. I want you to live. 

You have nothing to do but nod your head, no point in protest. He has a pleased smile, and examines the album a little more before putting it down. Something else catches his eye, and he brightens, mouth open in awe. There’s a full stack of reddish yellow squares, and he spins around to show you, eyes twinkling like a little kid.

“Tommy! I thought you didn’t carry Hendrix!” He chides the man excitedly, flipping the album around. You stand behind him to read the song list as well. Tommy merely shrugs.

“Best guitarist since Berry,” he proclaims to you. “Absolutely insane sound.” He had such a look of delight on his face. It was different from Ray’s- it wasn’t analytical, he probably didn’t know everything he could’ve about what he loved, but that only made him love it more. Winston’s joy was simple, but it wasn’t unimportant. As he talked on about the man he looked up to, his soft eyes crinkled, a wide smile meeting them. 

“I wasn’t allowed to play him.” He pulled out his wallet, paying for not only his newfound treasure, but the empty cassettes and your own personal favorite. “Not when I was at home, or when I was deployed.” Tommy handed him the items in a plastic bag. “But I paid my neighbor a nickel to let me when our parents weren’t home. I lost a lot of commissary that way, when I got older.” His story had a boyish tone to it, as he held the door open for you. He wouldn’t stop opening doors for you, insisting on it as you got in the car.

“Are you hungry?” His question makes you recall the other companion you’d forgotten at the firehouse, your heart filling with cement. You agree to lunch, knowing he really wouldn’t let you refuse.

Your next destination is a little restaurant, the area busier as midday approaches and working class America is looking for something to eat. When you enter (and he holds the door), there’s a teenaged boy behind the counter, packing orders and taking cash. The interior is smaller than you assumed, as the floor is taken up by the buffet-style kitchen behind the spot to order, and a  few tables and chairs. It smells amazing, though, and the menu looks even better. Winston watches you pridefully as you marvel over what to get, before his voice breaks you out of your stupor.

“Know what you want?”

“I can’t decide. It all sounds great,” you confess, the idea of choosing making your head hurt.

Winston chuckles at your response, guiding you to a little table and making you wait there as he chooses for the both of you. After letting some highschoolers get in front of him so they could get back to school before the hour ended, you see that he’s an exceptional conversationalist, becoming instantly acquainted with the people in line with him. He asks them about their day, listens intently, and when asked about his own he gladly replies with “day out with a friend,” pointing to you. You give a bashful wave to him and his newfound comrades.

He speaks familiarly to the kid at the register, counting things off his fingers, and even slipping him a bill that was definitely not a part of his total. He soon has two styrofoam containers in his hands, steam rising out the slight openings. He opens yours for you, the water vapor and aroma hitting you like a punch. There’s greens, mac and cheese, and fried fish staring you down as your eyes widen. While you were stuck in your hypnosis, he reached over, cutting your food for you.

It was like you died and went to heaven, before being sent back to finish your plate. You almost absentmindedly held onto the table to keep you tethered to the Earth. 

“You guys have kept me fed all weekend,” you say between rushed bites. It’s true- this is the best you’d eaten in a while. You swallow. “I can’t remember the last time I was able to stop and make actual food.”

“Egon treats you to breakfast, I treat you to lunch.” He raises his hands in a shrug. “Good?”

“Amazing,” you chew. “You seem to know this place well,” you suggested.

“I take lunch here everyday,” he wipes his mouth on a napkin.

“I can see why. Is it a favorite?”

“No, my favorite is the Jamaican lady down the corner.”

You raise an eyebrow, setting your fork down as he blissfully kept eating. “But…you know everyone here, they know you, you come here every day.”

He blinks. His tone is slightly quieted. “I know. But the owner’s trying to put his daughter through college. Any penny I can give to him counts.” He talks as if the act of selflessness was the simplest thing in the world. It amazed you, how easily kindness and servitude came to him. In your short time with him, he was nothing but humble and friendly with everyone he interacted with. The small smile that spread on your face was one of admiration, and genuine mystique at the kindly man across from you.

You chatted for a bit longer, about growing up, your families, before you were both finished. He tossed your trash, and bid the teen at the register goodbye before walking you back to the Ecto. Once inside, you couldn’t help but lean your head against the glass, your lack of sleep the previous night manifesting after eating so good.

“I think that knocked me out,” you tried hard to suppress a yawn in your throat as he turned on the ignition, soft rumbling making it harder.

“There’s a word for that,” he laughed. That was the last thing you could remember, before waking back up. The car was still parked in the same spot, and as you sleepily looked around, Winston sat in the same spot, peacefully reading a small book. Your stomach dropped as you noticed the time- nearly 3 o’clock.

“I am so sorry,” you stumbled through an apology, sleep still sticking to your panicked words. He simply took his reading glasses off, eyebrows raised as you rambled.

‘I don’t mind. I had my book.” 

“I didn’t snore, right?” Your skin burnt.

He paused. "It made a good ambience.”

You threw your head into your hands, Winston snickering at your expense as he started the car again. He drove out the area, sidewalk now full of families coming from school and work, in addition to teenagers loitering for a bit before they headed home. The scenery became less cozy and residential, and slowly became more retail, tall buildings advertising clothes and businesses. You recognized it as being your downtown area- albeit the parts you felt too low-income to pursue.

“What’s next?” You wondered if there was dried drool on your chin.

“I doubt anyone is talking to anyone back home.” Winston bit the inside of his cheek. He kept his eyes on the road, thoughts behind his eyes. He had a bittersweet look on his face, before speaking again. “When we didn’t have anything to do- or any spare money to do it with, my mom took my siblings and I to the department store.”

You’ve heard quite a few personal stories in the last few hours. Maybe it was his way of connecting. You decided to probe. “What’d you do?”

His face softened a bit, recounting the positive parts of the memory. “All types of fashion shows. Found future gifts to our dad. Made our mom promise to find us shirts just like the ones on the rack- and she did. We pretended we were the richest kids in the world. Preacher’s kids, we weren’t…terribly poor. But there were reminders. Mom made it better.” He smiled fondly, despite the car being stuck behind a bus.

The car moved forward. “I’m sure she’s the reason you turned out so well.” The car suddenly stalled, and you were honked at from behind. Eventually, you were parked against the busy sidewalk of a wide, tall building. The sheer size was enough to intimidate, as you still sat in the car, gazing at the top of the structure as he had the door handle in his hands.

You were estimating the floor count, before you felt a hand grab yours. His palms were soft, slightly calloused, but warm nonetheless. He looked down at your conjoined hands, before simpering back up at you. “So you don’t get lost.”

As Winston guided you through the bustling floor, your anxiety was substituted for security. The makeup counter was absolutely packed, as were the prom dresses upstairs. That made a fair amount of sense, as the school year would be ending soon. While on the escalator, you can see all the patrons, hurrying in and out with their bags. At the top, something in the toy section catches your eyes. Winston lets himself be led over.

“What a find,” you take a rectangular box off the shelf. It’s a nearly identical Smokey the Bear plushie, just a newer model. There’s a tribute to the old one printed on the back of the packaging. Winston watched as you reveled in the coincidence.

You remember his presence, and the lack of context he has for you suddenly admiring a children’s toy. “Ray sleeps with an old one. Smokey’s seen better days.” Winston smiles as you place it back on the display.

“Why not get it for him?” 

You shake your head swiftly. “I’d be dishonoring your mom. I thought the point was to not  spend money?”

He picked the bear back up. “She also says that you can’t take money to the grave. Maybe it can be a goodbye present? We can find something for Egon and Peter, too.”

You think on it. At this rate, there wasn’t much for you to repay their kindness with. Well-thought-out gifts paid for with Winston’s money will have to do, for now. You agree, before disembarking to a clothing department. You end up in the men’s section, articulate and hip pieces you couldn’t even dream of affording. Winston gazes up at the flashy, electric purple suit vest on a mannequin, as you sit back on a chair behind him.

“You like that one?” You sit up.

He puffs out a laugh at the outfits' pure hedonism. “It’s a lot. Even for me.”

“And you want it,” you rise, skimming the racks for the matching pieces in his size as he protests. You wordlessly hand them to him, and he surrenders, disappearing behind the entrance to a men’s dressing room. In the meantime, you’d look for Peter’s gift. To be fair, you knew him the least out of the 4 men. But Winston had told you he messed around too much in the lab, and lost his favorite tie to a small fire. He apparently never had time to replace it, and Winston could remember the exact brand, style, and color, so you figured he could single out the one you were looking for out of a short stack of silky, red fabrics. 

As you waited in a warmly lit lounge area by the fitting room, he emerged, holding his arms out and up to model it for you. The satin of the cream colored undershirt fit around him nicely, the bright vest even coming in at his waist a bit. He had the full ensemble on, even down to the suede loafers. He looked like a moviestar, even if he was too humble to actually admit it himself, the price tag swinging underneath his arm. 

“It’s something,” He looked at himself in the mirror, hands on his square hips.

“It’s great, that’s what it is,” you say honestly.

“You like vampire-soul-train?” He turned.

You put your hands up defensively. “I love vampire-soul-train.” He continued to look indecisive about it, confidence visibly falling. “Are you gonna come back for it?”

“Where would I wear it to?” He peeked at the price tag one more time, dropping it like it burned his fingers.

You shrugged. “You don’t need an occasion. Sometimes it’s just fun to dress up. Ask Janine.”

He laughs. “I guess you’re learning from the best.” He looks down pleasantly surprised at what he’s seeing on the floor. “If anything, I’d come back for the shoes.” He looks at you through the reflection in the mirror. “Did you find anything?” 

You look around at the dozens of clothes behind you. “I guess not.” There’s a lot to choose from, and a lot of bright colors fighting for your attention. It’s all a little overwhelming, looking at clothes you’d fall in love with and never buy. You end up standing in the middle of the department, scratching your head swimming with uncertainty, until Winston taps you on the shoulder.

“They have it in your size.” So you matched. 

“We look like a magic act,” you tease him, remembering Peter’s tie situation. After he pinpointed the correct match, you admired yourselves a little longer- at least until the staff were tapping you on the shoulder and asking if you needed anything, courteous smiles twitching as they watched you saunter around in their merchandise. 

You looked at more things in different departments- jewelry that you tried to convince Winston to re-pierce his ears for, home decor you’d have if your place was bigger. Eventually, he gladly paid for the 2 gifts, the large bag in which they were placed sitting next to you at an ice cream counter. As you ate, you both came to the conclusion that Egon deserved a decadent little chocolate cake from the dessert store you were at, and you hoped it would keep in the fridge overnight. 

“You ready to go home tomorrow morning?’ He put his spoon in his mouth. Butter pecan. You groaned lightly. You wanted to give them their space- and their money back, but it was like the ending to a pleasant dream, going from companionship and a warm place to sleep in a hard time to a now-damaged apartment and job fairs.

“As ready as I can be. Thanks, for putting up with me this weekend.” You put your spoon down.

“You won’t get rid of us that easy. We’ll be there to help you clean up.”

“The 4 archangels. I promise, when I get back on my feet I’m finding new ways to repay you all.” He dismissed your offer.

“It’s the minimum. Louis’ office was in the boiler room for a bit, you know.” He lightened your guilty mood. As he smiled, you noticed the now dark bruise against his jaw. Impulsively, you reached out and manipulated his face gently. 

“Does it still hurt?”

There’s a crash from the first floor. You both rush to the balcony railing, watching as people run to the exit, as feral growls vibrate around the large store. Winston grabs your hand again, though less tender now, running down the steps of the now disabled escalator against waves of people running up instead. When you reach the bottom, you watch in terror as an angry alligator destroys the store. As you looked on, you could see that the tail of the beast was vaporizing in front of you, as it hissed out a slime like the one you worked to wash out early in the morning. This wasn’t just an escaped animal. It was a ghost. Winston came to this conclusion at the same time that you did, pulling you towards the exit and to the Ecto. 

“Should we call Peter and Ray and-”

He opened the door to get his equipment. “They won’t get here in time. And they won’t have any  of this.” He grabbed a proton gun, staring down at it before sighing. “I’m gonna ask you to do something very dangerous.”

Your eyes flickered down to the weapon in his hands, before your mouth fell open. “Absolutely not. Dr. Spengler said that it was ‘unregulated units of atomic energy.’” He ignored your protests, putting the proton pack onto you. He pulled the belt tight around your waist.

“It’s easier than you think,” he said hurriedly, adjusting the straps on your shoulders. “Have you ever flown a plane?”

You stare at him, eyes blown and wide, before burying your head behind your hands. He pries them off gently, placing them each on different points of the gun. “Well then it’s just like driving a car. You shoot the ghost with this, okay? Just keep holding onto him, and I’ll open the trap for you. We’re gonna do it, and we’re gonna do it together.” 

Before you could revel in him talking you through it, he’s pushing you inside. Herds of frightened customers cling to the walls, out of the way of the ghost, and make room for you and Winston as they quietly whisper to each other that help has come. The alligator is ripping up a display, the woman in the ad subsequently dressed in Victorian style dress. Winston creeps up towards it slowly, before advising you to stay behind one of the makeup counters.

“I’m gonna tell you when. When I do, hit this button. That’s all. Okay?” You purse your lips, nodding, and crouching despite the nerves being felt in your weak legs. He leaves you behind, the ghost with its back turned as it tears up the poster. From your hiding spot, you can hear it notice him, growling loudly as it charges. He signaled you, and you popped up like a toy, shaky fingers igniting the stream.

He did the same, exclaiming loudly as you immobilized the spirit. He advised you to raise it up slowly, as the phantom flailed around. 

“What now?” You called over the volume of the particle accelerator whirring like crazy on your back, separated from your skin by a spring jacket and a sweater. He didn’t have an answer.

He hesitated. “You didn’t manage to grab a trap while you were out there, did you?” You could have fainted.  You saw his stream falter. “I’ll be right back. Keep holding him- I’ll be two seconds!’

His stream stopped, as he sprinted out the door, nearly slipping on ectoplasm in the process. The ghost thrashed harder, trying to resist the force suspending it in the air. You felt like the weight of holding up an adult alligator suddenly, and your arms couldn’t keep up with its fight. Your stream gave out for a split second, and in that time it was free, and on the floor. It locked eyes with you.

Your cry for Winston echoed throughout the department store- hell, throughout the city as you ran as fast as your legs could take you around the floor once, then up one of the escalators. You skidded to a stop at the end, as the chaos of the escaping crowd managed to knock down a large glass case, sending glass all over the floor. Your momentum didn’t stop you soon enough, and you slid over the shards before falling to the waxed floor. The ghost got closer, sending your heart to your toes as it opened its mouth, expelling a wave of noxious green slime. You saved your pride, ducking out of the way at the last second. You only had a moment to celebrate your triumph, as a quick movement of its ghastly tail reminded you of its ability to interact- and harm, the physical world. 

You got back on your feet, before noticing Winston run back inside out of the corner of your eye. You needed to get back downstairs, but all of the possible ways down were blocked. A large decoration swung from the ceiling, reaching fairly low to the ground. The ghost was creeping closer, teeth bared. If you die, please let your soul haunt the firehouse. 

Your nerves steeled themselves for you, hesitating on the ledge, before taking your literal leap of faith as the ghost lunged forward. You squeezed your eyes shut, only opening them when you felt your sweaty palms make contact with the course rope. You slide quickly, before remembering you actually had to catch the violent apparition. You reach weakly for the gun swinging behind you, forgotten, and feebly aim your gun at the glass part at the railing where it watched you. The glass shatters in its wake, and as you continue your ride down the rope, the ghost is caught in your stream, the speed at which you’re moving dragging it through the air. You reach a safe enough distance to the ground, letting go of your hold on the rope and dropping on your knees unstably. 

Winston’s been watching from the floor, regaining his strategy as the ghost hovers ahead. He sets his stream on it, and kicks a trap directly below. Your ears are ringing, and your heart’s beating at a thousand miles a minute as he calls on you to lower the spirit. With diminished resistance, the ghost is caught in the trap, smoking rising to the ceiling. The entire store is quiet. The smoke reaches the alarms, setting off the sprinklers, and the hostages erupt in celebration.

Winston lays an arm around your shoulder, speaking low into your ear. “I told you, it was easy. You’re amazing.” 

But you're still in a daze, and Winston recognizes it as he gently guides you to the car, avoiding reporters and even a few policemen. Before he takes you to the passenger side and aides you down into the seat, he raises your hand for everyone watching the news in the tri-state to see. 

“Y/N came, saw, and kicked its ass!”

You don’t say much as he drives back to the firehouse, siren on. You suddenly startle back to consciousness, turning to him in disbelief. 

“I caught a ghost.”

“You sure did.”

You laugh weakly, rubbing your eyes. Your laughter picks up, before it turns hysterical. You crank down the window, sticking your upper body out in ecstasy. This was the most alive you’ve felt in your entire adult life, and you let everything in the car’s path know.

“I caught a ghost!” You cry out as the Ecto drives through the city’s streets.

[levans44]

Damage Control - Chapter 1

She’s never going to a Stark party again.

9:54 pm, Yesterday

He had lured her in the same way he always does, with sparkly words and false promises of an “intimate gathering.”

“C’mon, it’ll be real small. Promise.” Tony Stark’s sly smirk crawled through the phone, soft jazz and the rustling of pre-party preparations filling the background. “Exclusive guest list, VVIPs only. You know me! Plus I think Brad Pitt’s coming. You like Brad Pitt right?”

From all of the commotion behind him, she could already visualize the state of his mansion - extravagant bottles of champagne lined up along sleek bar tops and 40ft limos pulled up on his shiny marble driveway, ready to greet a dazzling guest list that would put NYC’s 1 OAK to shame.

Yeah. Intimate gathering her ass.

She snorted, rolling her eyes “Tony, you and I both know that’s bullshit.”

“No, seriously! Apparently his kids love me and are dying to get a signed mask, I mean who wouldn’t-”

“-you know that’s not what I meant.”

“So you’ll come?” She opened her mouth to refuse, then closed it, hesitant to give him a straight answer. This bastard knew perfectly well what he was doing. He was waving the guaranteed sophistication of a signature Tony Stark party in front of her face, and no matter how much she told herself not to, she knew she’d end up chasing after it like a dog every time.

She let out an exasperated sigh, head hitting the back of the couch with a ‘thud’.

“I don’t know Tony, Anne’s been up my ass all week about finishing the Times Square write-up, which is your fault by the way.” She poked the air with an accusatory finger.

Working under SHIELD’s Damage Control division had its ups and downs, but it was no easy work having to cover for the Avengers and the wreckage they left after every battle. Just this past month, a battle on 45th street between the team and the Kree had only lasted 20 minutes, but had caused her weeks worth of paperwork and overtime. Handling a million lawsuits, mending financial deficits, and approving blueprints for reconstruction, she couldn’t remember the last time she went to bed before 3 am.

“Hey, Squidward attacked us first! Something about the Avengers being the first step toward world domination.”

“Well, you should have killed him and his friends when you had the chance, cause thanks to them, I now have a 30-page writeup to edit” she glanced down bitterly at the open computer in her lap, glaring at the document in scorn.

Tony chuckled through the speaker. “So come to the party, it’ll help take your mind off things.”

Despite her annoyance, she appreciated the familiar sincerity in his voice — Tony had always been somewhat like a father figure to her away from home.

Miles from her family living in a tiny New York studio, she met Tony her sophomore year of college working as a nervous intern for Stark Industries. A few summers later and she was promoted to the grand title of personal assistant, attending boozy galas and benefits alongside New York’s famed billionaire.

At the time, she wouldn’t have missed his parties for the world. It would have been weird if she had, considering how most people her age spent their Friday nights in lines for dingy clubs with overpriced drinks. Her Friday nights were spent on private flights to Amsterdam or Paris.

But alas, she slowly departed from the fleeting materialism of her youth, and took off in search of a job where she could step away from the spotlight for a while. She landed her current job at Damage Control under Anne Hoag, an old business partner of Tony’s, and had slowly lost memory of the glamorous Stark parties over the years. Now, the opportunity to revisit that time in her life had arrived at her doorstep, all wrapped up in a pretty package, daring her to refuse.

Tony’s smug voice interrupted her thoughts, sounding satisfied with her long pause. “Great, knew you’d say yes! 11 PM tonight, don’t let me down Manhattan.”

Before she could protest, Tony had signed off with a click. He left her with a surprise there, using that nickname; she couldn’t even remember the last time she had heard it. The origin story for that nickname was a long one, but it had essentially started when she accidentally fixed him a Manhattan instead of an Old Fashioned (but really, what was the difference?). As much as she had been annoyed with Tony for using it back then, she had secretly grown fond of it over the years. Hearing it now struck a nostalgic chord in her that made his offer a bit more tempting.

Shutting her laptop, she let it flop down on the couch next to her. She let out a small sigh, surveying her cold, empty apartment. Dishes piled up in the sink. A small pile of laundry she’s avoided folding for weeks. When was the last time she had dressed up for anything, let alone for a fancy party? Massaging her neck, she let out a low groan, feeling a dull ache throb in her shoulders as she dragged herself sluggishly to the shower. Maybe she did need a few hours to destress.

One night couldn’t hurt, right?

5:31 am, Today

Fuck, everything hurt.

Her head pounded behind her eyes, blinding light shining through the windows.

What time was it?

Ugh, whatever it was, it was way too early. Draping a heavy arm over her eyes, she desperately trying to shield the light from her eyes. Why was it so damn bright? Her tiny apartment barely got any natural sun.

She rolled over to the edge of the bed, squinting up to realize that her alarm clock wasn’t on her bedside table. Instead, it was replaced by a greek-looking marble statue and a plant instead. She didn’t own any fucking plants. Frowning, she smoothed down the front of her sheets, feeling the luxurious satin glide against her palm and realized she wasn’t in her bed. This wasn’t her room. Last night, she had left Tony’s party early with… fuck.

Her stomach gave a sudden jolt as she frantically turned to the space to her left. She let out a sigh of relief, finding it empty. She ran a slow finger over the neatly folded corners, not a single fold out of line, before she sat up in the bed, clutching the expensive sheet to her chest as she took in the unfamiliar room of the Avenger’s compound. She’s made some questionable decisions in the past, but this beat everything else by a mile. She dragged her hands down her face exasperatedly, letting out an internal groan. She was used to handling shitty situations: wrecked buildings, stranded helicarriers, and alien hostages.

But how on earth was she going to handle this?

She thought about leaving a note, but the idea of trying to find a pen and paper in this gigantic space intensified her headache. Maybe a voicemail but… she didn’t have his number. Great. Where was her damn phone anyway?

Another jolt of panic ran through her before she remembered that it was probably in her purse… which was somewhere downstairs. She hadn’t managed to keep track of it after, well, how quickly shit escalated last night.

Snatching up her dress from off of the floor, she hastily pulling it over her head and stumbled out of the wooden slide door. It revealed a long hallway, mostly empty save for a few giant, expensive-looking paintings. She clambered down the nearest staircase she could find, her heels sliding against the sleek glass and scraping the back of her feet.

The second floor of the Avenger’s Compound was a huge, not to mention bright, open lounge, equipped with a bar, pool table, a meeting room, and probably a million other facilities that she couldn’t afford to stay and gawk at right now.

Spotting the steps leading down to the first floor, her only way out of this mess, she started to scramble toward it.

“Going somewhere?”

A smug voice called from the kitchen countertop. She jumped, sleep suddenly cleared from her eyes, swiveling around to see Tony slumped over the countertop, cradling a glass of water in one hand and an aspirin in the other. What was he doing at the compound so early? She felt a flicker of pity at his bed head and dark circles, but then again she would’ve given anything to be getting over a hangover instead of being in her shoes right now.

On his smug, exhausted face was a shit-eating grin, stretching the dark lines beneath his eyes, eyes that told her that he remembered everything from last night. That he remembered… shit.

She let out a small gasp.

“Tony,” She jabbed an accusatory finger in his direction. “You cannot tell anybody.”

His grin widening, he shrugged, feigning innocence. “Tell what?”

Oh, he’s gonna play that game? With a hangover?

She groaned, dragging her hands down her face. “Where is he?” She asked quietly into her palm, praying that Tony would give her a straight answer.

“Who, loverboy? He wasn’t in bed with you?”

She jerked her hands away from her face in disbelief, raising her voice “Tony-”

“Relax, relax,” he chuckled, clearly enjoying her torment. “He’s probably out running his daily fucking marathon or something. Should be back soon.” A pause, before he added with a devilish smile.

“Guess you didn’t tire him out enough last night.”

“Tony, I swear to god.” She rolled her eyes and sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Ok. At least God gave her one thing. Seeing as he wasn’t here, if she leaves now she’ll be able to avoid one awkward conversation.

She sighed, running a hand through her no doubt messed hair as she tried to gather her thoughts. “Have you seen my purse?”

Twisting around in his stool, he lazily pointed to the couch, sat in the middle of an appallingly clean living room. Swiveling back around, he winced as if the movement made him dizzy.

Serves him right.

Snatching up her purse from its spot on the expensive leather futon, she made her way to the stairs and down to the first floor, away from what seemed to be the most humiliating moment of her life.

Tony’s mocking voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

“Where you headed?”

Her eyes fluttered closed, questioning why she hadn’t poisoned the man the countless times she had brewed him coffee or freshened his drink.

Taking a breath to compose herself, she turned around slowly, putting on the most neutral expression she could muster.

“I…” She stalled, trying to dig as far down her mental vat of ‘excuses to get out of shit’ as she could.

“I’ve got a client meeting.”

“Really? On a Sunday? Must be some damn important client.”’

Well, shit.

Tony must have sensed her desperation as he tsked, leaning forward on the table.

“Come on, I gotta tell him something, Manhattan”

“I…” She spent another moment trying to come up with a decent enough excuse, fumbling with the clasp on her purse, before giving up altogether, letting out an exasperated sigh.

“Just… just make something up for me, ok? I-I gotta go.”

“Go where?”

She whipped around, bug-eyed, stomach dropping through the floor at the man standing at the top of the stairwell. Biceps bulging through a ridiculously tight workout shirt, sweat glistening down his neck as he tilted his head back to take a swig of water, and god, did this man ever take a break?

She realized she had been ogling while he watched her expectantly, so oblivious to her horror.

He swallowed his water, neck flushed pink, before giving her a rather shy smile.

“Hi.”

She barely responded with a curt ‘hello,’ unable to meet his innocent eyes. This has got to be the world’s most pathetic walk of shame, she thought—she’d crawl into the nearest hole if she could.

The unbearable silence between them was suddenly broken by an overdramatic cough from behind her.

“Well, this has been delightful to watch, but this superstar’s got to catch up on his beauty sleep.” Tony slid off languidly off the stool, yawning dramatically as he stretched.

Oh, so now he wants to leave?

Glancing back in their direction, he winked, looking straight at her.

“Gosh, what a night, huh?”

She felt her face burn a deep crimson, and couldn’t even bear to check what hue of red Steve’s face was.

As Tony shuffled upstairs, she heard Steve clear his throat. Out of the corner of her eye, he started to take a hesitant step toward her, glancing down at his feet.

“So… about last night.”

Fuck. 

She’s never going to a Stark party again.

Damage Control Masterlist

[grayzeppelin281]

Okay, here are the few questions I have for your latest emoji asking...

1.💥

2.🏷️

3.🥳

4.🎬 Especially the casting of Phantom(Mingling)

-honestly, I thought she was a lot similar to Bellatrix Lestrange...so the same actor would be a good cast?

I also had a question about the relationships (cough romantic cough ..) between the characters. But decided to ask later because It would be too long. So, would it be okay for you if I ask about them seperately later?

Also P.S: If you have any questions or things curious about me ...feel free to ask!

💥 What is one canon thing that you wish you could change?

If I could change one thing for the canon, I would like something that the third movie could have done better, the way I hear most pandoms used to enjoy, but did later find the plot a bit rushed and had the film become light rather than too dark like KFP 2 did. What I wished to play out in the story was to expand Kai's background story.

Listen. We all know Oogway's story of how he met his yak brother in the war 500 years ago; the two brothers became the most badass warlords who fought battles and bonded their armies together until Kai turned back against him because of Oogway's change and his chi power, he claimed souls for strength, went too close to the sun.

Kai did say to the Jade Palace masters that he loved Oogway like a brother, and he betrayed him. If there's something that the plothole needs to fill, I want to know why did Oogway betray him for? There must be a reason that caused their brotherhood/friendship to fragment during their warlord days before Kai turned evil, and I want to know more!

I wish there was more to reveal that Kai discovered something to steal their chi. And. . . hear me on this one. . .

Kai's jombies steal masters, one by one. 95 minutes weren't enough, and I prefer to have around 2hrs and 30mins, maybe closer to 3hrs (if you are Peter Jackson or Zack Snyder), because the Dragon Warrior is dealing with the unknown beast from the Spirit Realm who took his friends, and his family, building several tensions with a few twists and turns before Po can discover what he can do to defeat Kai the hard way.

There are plenty of fic stories that feature Kai (including mine, too!) and a comic I found. Those books introduce Kai and Oogway during their warlord days and have background stories. I'll reblog with links, and @amateraponzu 's comic fic Wish Upon the Stars on Tumblr.

🏷 (hopefully, this is the tag emote I found) Is there a tag you like to search for when looking for fanfics to read?

Not really. I have yet to search for any fics to catch my eye; I would like to read anything interesting from old fics when I was stuck writing my fanfic series. But of course, reminding me of the tags (stories), I need to catch up with other fics, like @shootbangdang 's The Vale, @mastrrt 's To the Weeping River, and Drags's Mongol fic Winds of Change. All three fics are from FanFiction, and they are worth timing to read!

(Drags! You are the stupendous author, and I must say your fic is well written to see Po, Tigress, and Crane head to Mongolia and grab the secret weapon before anyone gets it! The characters (your OCs too), action scenes, your writing, my lord!)

While I am having a break from writing a sequel book for now, only to start editing my two novels, I highly recommend reading Drags's fic first, Righteous Flame. That goes for all pandoms! His book is stellar.

🥳 Why did you start writing fanfic?

There are reasons why I started a fic. I wanted to start writing because it's part of my hobby. Not only a hobby that I would like to be an author of someday (if I could make my own Narnia/Lord of the Rings/Game of Thrones worldbuilding with my polar bear character), I write for those who I love and friendships irl. Friends of mine who I am with from high school and Wing Chun class, and families of mine who I grew up with and raised together.

My first book had me write for my mates and my master from the Wing Chun class. Dedicated to building a kung fu panda fic after I watched KFP 3, I started writing for my real-life companions. It was a rough start to begin there without planning to build a structure (yeah, I was a noob writer), but I could have created layers before I must write. Two years later, I knew where to end my first book. And later on, worldbuilding is the most challenging one for my fic series.

Not a simple task for my fic to name cities, countries, etc., but I'll leave notes on what places have instead of losing puzzle pieces. And trust me, when you plan to write a giant fic, make a plan, build structures with one stone at a time, create vivid characters, and develop tensions. All books should have conflicts featuring a hero and villain. Make your villains play an unfair game! Make your hero's journey and have his struggles to see challenges before achieving success!

Writing is not easy. And it still feels like it, but it rewards you for accomplishments. Even when you finish the book, always edit your first drafts, build some details, and fill in plotholes.

🎬 If a movie or a show were based on your fic, which fic you'd you choose, and who would you fan cast?

A show can be promising for the Mightiest Warriors Series because there are depths and interesting characters to know more about. A movie makes it simple around 2 to 3 hours (depending) for the story, but it might have a few plotholes if my fanfic series would be based on.

Now, I like how you picked my most menacing villain, Mingling. She deserves to have an actress voicing the black bear. Her personality blends with three major characters that I was inspired by, making the most dangerous antagonist so far.

The Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz)

Marisa Coulter (His Dark Materials)

Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)

*Now I like what you first thought of Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter, so that's a huge BONUS for my wildest child because Mingling fits in insanity!*

Ahem! How will I like to pick the actress? Her character's favorite color is purple (more like a royal, but I prefer her to go aggressive and extremely menacing, like Lord Shen), so my top picks are. . .

Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister). She can play out the gruesome character who cares for ruling and satisfaction to attempt to succeed in her vengeance. Compared to what she becomes lethal, Cersei loves her brother. No one else but him. With that sibling relationship, I think of Mingling fonding my bovine character Huoju. Lena Headey can play out her villainous role.

Ruth Wilson (Marisa Coulter). Oh my!!! If you have seen her in the show His Dark Materials (based on the trilogy novel), please. . . do not test her! Knowing what she does to love her daughter but lacks her parental type, she's brilliant, ruthless, and daring. Bringing Ruth in will fill my bear's affection for Mingling's only mate Huoju, and to be frank, like I mentioned the bear's revenge, she will not be stopped, despite her hostility and anger did startle a few characters of mine.

Just look at her! Ain't she a beauty? Now, look how gruesome she can be in the show. . .

Despite how serious Ruth Wilson's character is in His Dark Materials, oh boy!! Imagine you are a child, and you see Mrs. Coulter's smile and fierce eyes; she looks right at you before she can scare you. As I said, please, for the love of the heavens, do not test her! Ruth Wilson is perfect for a villain role!

PHEW! Lots of questions I answered. Thank you for these emotes, Righteous Flames! I'll be back for some fic links whenever I tag you!

[l13]

Genuinely recommend you look into Gaz stuff!

I think you don’t see a whole lot of media of Gaz because in the missions he’s in, you play as him (so you don’t actually see him), and in cut scenes, he’s kind of in the background most of the time.

He’s so incredibly underrated and such a fun character.

You kind of have to go looking for his media, but trust me it’s so worth it. The father/son relationship he has with price as well has so much writing potential.

If you want a laugh, search up “The convoy - Highway chase - Call of Duty” and skip to about 3 minutes in. The clip is about 2 minutes long but is one of my favourite moments from the campaign. Some of Eliot Knights (Gaz’s VA) best work if I do say so myself.

He’s also hot as hell.

100/10 character would recommend

- 🦈

will def check his character out more!! also thanks for the video rec!

[ectophasm]

forcing y'all to observe my sc/vi shinies (and koraidon too because the little scrungly deserves it)

ignore the terrible sandwich in the background i wanted to make a bacon tower but had a lot less bacon than i thought i did so i tried to subsitute it with hamburger (it didn't work)

click read more to watch me ramble about pixels that are different colors than usual

the very first, esper: very funny because the last shiny i hunted in ultra moon was a dragonite. i was in a dratini outbreak for the fuck of it and he appeared. i freaked out but now he is a gorgeous dragonair. the only reason i had a nickname idea for him was because of zero escape

the second one... bronzong. i didn't have any nickname ideas for it. if anyone has ideas i would be glad to hear them. i was searching for stakes for the grasswither shrine when i saw a green bronzor. the first full-odds shiny i found but certainly not the last. tried to get a cool scenic shot of it but it kept trying to hug me and was too close for me to take a picture of with the camera.

next up: houndstone. i think technically full odds but i was looking for a brambleghast in the area and had a ghost encounter sandwich up so i was seeing a lot of greavard and houndstone. he popped up before i found a brambleghast.

there's greavard too but i didn't get any good pictures of himb

alatreon, the first intentional hunt... i had a friend in call and he told me how to picnic hunt, so i tried it on a noivern hunt in the last 30 minutes of it. it didn't work... but there was a noibat hunt the next day. lo and behold... sparkly boy!

finally... darts! the second intentional hunt. i ate a sparkling sandwich for him when i saw a tatsugiri outbreak. it better have been worth it, little guy... i hope to get all 3 shiny tatsugiri at some point. and now i have one!

also he's fucking cracked at hitting balls LOOK at how far he launches that thing

[cairfrey]

YouTube Music Recap 2024

So, my YouTube recap is out again. My previous recap posts can be found here.

While I do have a Playlist for September to November, the only recap stats released are for the entirety of 2024. Personally, I think it's a little early. They should have done a Sept-Nov recap and then released the 2024 recap in the last week of December. But I'm not a YTMusic exec, so my opinions aren't worth the blog they're written on 🤷

Anyway, I'm gonna just share the pictures of my recap but in my own order.

Before I get started, this year's theme (for some reason) was movies. Lots of "soundtrack" and "main character" references in the recap presentation.

According to the stats, I listened to 54,383 minutes of music this year (or so far this year, I guess. Or does this go back to include last December, so it's a full 12 months?? Who knows 🤷). A year has 525,600 minutes in it. That means I listened to music for 10.35% of my year. A little under an entire month of constant music. That's pretty cool.

Musical Moods

My musical moods pretty much make up all the moods that I've posted about in previous recaps. While the monthly recaps only show 3 moods, a few of them have been switched out over playlists, and this shows all of them.

My Music Character

According to YTM, if they made a film character about me based solely on my music choices, it would be the wise sage. I mean...I'll take it I guess 😅

My Top Five Albums

This one's a bit of a head scratcher. While I agree with 1-4, five has me confused. My only assumption is that top albums is based on albums you have heard at least a certain percentage of. Because there aren't that many songs in the FFIX Soundtrack, perhaps I have enough of them in my "Relax Games" playlis to constitute listening to the whole album? I really don't listen to the FFIX soundtrack all that much. The others, though? 100% agree. I had the Disco Ellysium Soundtrack on repeat while I was playing it, Sunset Mission is an incredibly atmospheric album that I just adore, and Boards of Canada put out some great albums.

Podcasts

I only had one podcast on my recap and that's called "Nothing Much Happens". The gist is, it's a podcast that helps you sleep by telling you a bedtime story where, unsurprisingly, nothing much happens. If you struggle with sleep, I recommend it.

My Favourite Track and Artist

My favourite track of 2024 was done by my favourite artist:

I spent 134 hours listening to Blackbird this year. And in all honesty, the numbers are going to be higher than that because, as you can see from my top 5 artists picture, there is more than one Blackbird. I don't know why they're separate on YouTube Music, but based on musical style they're both the same person.

I spent a while trying to track down Blackbird online and figure out who they were. Unsurprisingly, Google has a lot of different entries for "Blackbird" not all related to music. It was a few months ago when I searched Blackbird with 4lienetic that I got somewhere. I still have no idea who they are, but I did find out that they also go by f0x3r. I have a playlist with every Blackbird and f0x3r song on it, so I've definitely listened to this artist for more than just the 134 hours it mentions.

Blackbird/f0x3r has been my background music for most of the year. If I was to describe it (taking into account that I am not great at musical theory or even identifying instruments) I'd have to use my musical moods to do so. It's definitely reflective, chill, and centered.

The best way that I can describe the music is by saying; if I was to make a cyberpunk life simulator (like Stardew Valley) I would use this playlist as the background music for it. Very chill and unobtrusive, there's a real ethereal quality to the melodies.

On a side note, there is a cyberpunk life simulator coming out next year that I'm very excited for. It's called Nivalis and is set in the world of Cloudpunk which, if you haven't heard of it, is basically a cyberpunk walking simulator. There's an incredible story and world built into that game that make me so excited for the studio's next release in '25.

That's it for music in 2024 (not literally. I will still keep listening to music!) I'll be back with (I assume) my Dec-Feb recap in 2025.

[marketingprofitmedia]

Flixora Review – Earn from YouTube Without Ever Showing Your Face

Welcome to my Flixora Review, It is often not enough to have a really good video on platforms like YouTube, in today’s world especially it takes so much more for the channel to stand out. To capture the attention of the viewers we need to have flashy thumbnails, catchy titles and appealing videos. However, coming up with such aspects might be rather a time-consuming and difficult process the majority of users meeting it for the first time do not have a background in design or proper SEO knowledge. There comes Flixora, a cutting-edge AI-powered tool aimed to enhance the work of YouTubers in content creation. Even though the concept may sound a bit exaggerated, Flixora claims that it can create YouTube thumbnails, the video title that performs best in search engine results, and the video itself, all in one minute. Whether you are new to the world of content creation or a veteran using this platform, Flixora assures that our platform can and will save time, enhance the videos’ performance, and optimize the workflow.

In this review we will learn about some benefits, aspects of the functionality of Flixora to determine if it is really an all-in-one tool for YouTubers who want to save their time and receive more views. So, Don’t miss out on the opportunity to take your YouTube game to the next level with Flixora!

What Is Flixora?

Flixora is a cloud-based AI tool that generates thumbnails, popular titles, and videos for the user’s channel within a minute. Whether used by a startup owner who would like to make more projects or a YouTube channel owner who seeks to have more efficient ways of producing thumbnails, titles or brief content pieces, Flixora utilizes the AI feature to accomplish a lot of work. For this reason, a creator does not need to employ a talented graphic designer or several hours for editing videos which explains why it has become so important for both newbies, beginners as well as skilled and experienced YouTube content creators. It is also worth mentioning that Flixora has an analysis tool that helps customers track content content and, in addition, helps drive up engagement, views, as well as SEO for the YouTube search.

Flixora Overview

Product Creator: Daniel Adetunji

Product Name: Flixora

Launch Date: 2024-Sep-27

Launch Time: 11:00 EDT

Front-End Price: $17 (One-time payment)

Official Website: Click Here To Visit Official Salespage

Product Type: Tools And Software

Support: Effective Response

Recommended: Highly Recommended

Bonuses: YES, Huge Bonuses

Skill Level Required: All Levels

Discount Coupon: Use Code “Flixora5OFF” To Get $5 OFF!

Refund: YES, 30 Days Money-Back Guarantee

Flixora About Authors

Flixora was developed by Daniel Adetunji, an online marketer and software developer with a big customer base that actively utilizes and benefits from his products. He just made his presence known in the Warrior Plus marketplace and has received a lot of appreciation.

He has established a name via several launches, including PowerSites, CourseKit, DAX Builder, MintSuite, TubeGenius, VideoStudio, Email Man, AI Com, AI Titan, DAX AI, StockCity, SociLeadMessenger, SociClicks, SociOffer, Instant Video Sales Letters, and many more.

Key Features of Flixora

Convert Your Product URL into Engaging Videos in Seconds

Idea to video

Script to video

Blog to video

Visuals to video

Templates to video

Image background removal

Video Enhancer:  Improved Video color balance, sharpness and clarity

Unlimited Top-Notch Videos for Your Product ShowCase

Idea to video

Script to video

Blog to video

Image Enhancer

Image Background Remover

Object Eraser

Video Background Remover

How Does Flixora Work?

You too can start your own Cash Cow Youtube channel and make it go viral like Mr. Beast to grab your own share of the $400 billion-year YouTube industry in just 3 easy steps.

Step #1: Login

Login to Flixora Cloud-Based App (Nothing to Install)

Step #2: Select

Select Templates or Input Keywords, Ideas or Url and turn it to viral video

Step #3: Profit

Enjoy and profit from all your videos

>>> Click Here to Visit Flixora and Get Access Now <<<

Benefits of Atlas App

Brand New Al Tech “Flixora” automatically turn your ideas or keywords into eye-catching Al-generated viral thumbnails, titles and videos in less than 60 seconds

Say Goodbye to Paying Monthly to Canva, Adobe Spark, Snappa, Placeit, Visme & Adobe Express

Built-in Viral Video Generator: Generate Unlimited Engaging never seen before Viral Videos for Any Niche Using Al in Just Seconds

Built-in Viral Thumbnail Generator: Generate Unlimited eye-catching Viral thumbnails for all your videos easily with AI

Built-in Viral Video Titles Generator: Generate Unlimited Viral titles for all your videos At Lightning-Fast Speed

Al FaceSwap Integration: Swap any photo or face in a video with your own face or any face your prefer at ease

Generate viral thumbnails, titles & Videos from trending topic, keyword or ideas

Built-in Al Script to Video Generator: Turn script to videos At Lightning-Fast Speed

Built-in URL To Video Generator: Turn any URL to videos in seconds

Built-in Idea to Video Generator: Turn your ideas to Brand New Stunning never seen before engaging videos using AI

Built-in Blog to Video Creator: Transform blogs to video with Al in seconds

150+ Viral Video Template Included

Unlimited Viral thumbnails, captivating titles and engaging videos included

Built-in Photo to Video Generator: Turn your photos to videos At Lightning-Fast Speed

Built-in Al Photo Enhancer: Transform all your old Photos to stunning photos in seconds

Unlimited visual matching, Unlimited caption generator, Unlimited voice generator, Unlimited music matching, Unlimited video synthesis & Unlimited video synchronization

Built-in Product URL To Video Generator: Turn any product URL to videos At Ease using Al

Start Your Own Cash Cow YouTube Channel and Go Viral Without Any Tech Skills or Experience

100% Cloud Based. Nothing To Download or Install

Lifetime Access with No Recurring Monthly Payments

Commercial license included: Create & sell as many viral thumbnails, titles and videos as you want.

Newbie Friendly, Easy-To-Use Dashboard

Iron-clad 30-day money-back-guarantee

Verify Users Say About Flixora

Who Should Use Flixora?

Affiliate Marketers

Product Creators

Digital Marketers

Agencies Owners

Content Creators

eCom Store Owners

Blog Owners

CPA Marketers

Video Marketers

Artists

Personal Brands

Freelancers

Website Owners

And Many More

Flixora OTO’s And Pricing

Use Code “Flixora5OFF” for $5 Off (Full Funnel)

Front End Price: Flixora ($17)

OTO 1: Flixora Pro ($37 – $47)

OTO 2: Flixora Done For You ($97 – $197)

OTO 3: Flixora Agency ($67 – $97)

OTO 4: Flixora Daily Income ($27 – $37)

OTO 5: Flixora Traffic ($67 – $97)

OTO 6: Flixora Whitelabel & Source-Code ($197 – $497)

>>> Click Here to Visit Flixora and Get Access Now <<<

My Own Customized Exclusive VIP Bonus Bundle

***How To Claim These Bonuses***

Step #1:

Complete your purchase of the Flixora App: My Special Unique Bonus Bundle will be visible on your access page as an Affiliate Bonus Button on WarriorPlus immediately after purchase. And before ending my honest Flixora Review, I told you that I would give you my very own unique PFTSES formula for Free.

Step #2:

Send the proof of purchase to my e-mail “maketingprofitmedia@gmail.com” (Then I’ll manually Deliver it for you in 24 HOURS).

Flixora Free Premium Bonuses

Bonus #1:  Flixora $1k A Day LIVE Masterclass (Worth $2997)

You get a VIP Ticket to our private LIVE online masterclass where we’ll reveal how we make $1,000/daily + Q&A to answer any of your questions LIVE.

Bonus #2:  Flixora Commercial License (Worth $197)

Bonus #3: Flixora Step-By-Step, ”Over The Shoulder” Training Videos (Worth $497)

Bonus #4:  Flixora SmartPhone Edition (Worth $997)

This will allow you to also operate Flixora right from your mobile phone, iPhone, Tablet, or Android.

Bonus #5: Flixora 1-1 Mentorship (Worth $2997)

You also get a FULL ONE MONTH, mentorship on implementing Flixora in your business and any possible query you might have about online marketing in general. We’ll personally attend to you 1 on 1. Simply let us know and our expert will reach out to you to give 1-1 mentoring.

Bonus #6: Flixora Built-In Traffic (Worth $997)

Do you want to sell services instead of using them?  Flixora comes with a built-in client generator (Worth $997/mo)

Bonus #7:  Flixora HighTicket (Worth $997)

Don’t know what to promote with Flixora? Make up to $997 for every sale you get with our DFY high ticket offers.

Bonus #8:  Flixora 24/7 World Class Support Team (Worth $497)

Have any questions or need help? Don’t worry as our world class support team got you covered and ready to help you whenever, wherever you want.

Flixora Money Back Guarantee

Try Flixora at Zero-Risk 30 Day Unconditional 100% Money Back Guarantee

Our 100% Product Guarantee Covers You! After the first special launch time expires, Flixora will shortly be available for purchase as a monthly or yearly subscription. You may get it for a cheap one-time purchase right now if you act quickly. Therefore, order Flixora without delay. You save more money the sooner you make your purchase. Moreover, my 30-day money-back guarantee under the name “Steal My Product” applies to you. Nothing is at stake for you. I bear all the risk. You have complete coverage. You will regret missing this chance, so don’t let it pass you by. The finest, quickest, and most straightforward method to make large sums of money online with little work and no risk is with Flixora. You can be certain that nothing will change if you do nothing. Time and money wasted on ineffective items will still occur. You’ll be stranded, looking for a way out and hoping to earn some money online at last. Thus, avoid having it happen to you. Don’t regret purchasing Flixora at a premium price—or, even worse, don’t regret waiting for it to go out of stock. So hurry and get your copy!

>>> Click Here to Visit Flixora and Get Access Now <<<

Flixora Pros and Cons

Pros:

Time-saving: Generates content in under 60 seconds.

AI-driven: Uses data to optimize content for virality and engagement.

User-friendly: Easy-to-use interface with no prior experience needed.

Customizable: Allows for manual edits on thumbnails, titles, and videos.

Affordable: Provides a budget-friendly solution for creators.

Cons:

You need internet for using this product.

No issues reported, it works perfectly!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q. Do I need to download anything to use Flixora?

No. Flixora is completely cloud-based. Just Login from anywhere in the world with an internet connection and use it.

Q. Do we have to pay a monthly subscription fee to access Flixora?

Right now… NO! But after this special offer ends, new users will have to pay a monthly fee to access Flixora that they can currently get at a ONE-TIME cost.

Q. What are the minimum experience and skills required to use Flixora?

You don’t have to be a top marketer or a technical genius to create your Own viral thumbnails, irresistible video titles and Engaging Videos! Flixora is 100% beginner-friendly. Our automated software does everything for you While You simply profit!

Q. Can you guarantee that I will make money with Flixora

Even though it’s illegal to promise results, based on our records, most of our users make their first profits just within the first hour of getting Flixora

Q. What happens if I don’t see results?

We’ve got you covered… If you don’t make money with Flixora, just let us know within the next 30 days and we’ll refund you every penny.

Q.  This Compatible On Both PC, Mac, Android And iOS?

Yes It works on any device.

Q. Is training & support included?

Yes. When you buy Flixora today, you can easily access our step-by-step training resources. Our technical experts are available for you 24/7 for any queries that you may have.

Flixora Final Verdict

In conclusion, Flixora self-entitles itself as a YouTube content creators platform and therefore is a perfect solution to all of them. It has many features and one of them that can generate thumbnails, titles, and videos that go viral in one minute. This tool is easy to use and because it has an element of Artificial Intelligence in it, everyone should have this tool in their arsenal when trying to gain traction on YouTube. Despite the fact that Flixora lacks some flexibility in terms of interface customization, its convenience and integration with SEO tools successfully compensate for it; in addition, Flixora turns into a promising investment for both, content generators and marketers. Nevertheless, if you strive to gain impressive results and have little time for this activity, you can definitely do that using Flixora advantages.

>>> Click Here to Visit Flixora and Get Access Now <<<

Check Out My Previous Reviews: Atlas App Review, CalendarPal AI Review, KinderBooks AI Review, CLICK n’BANK AI Review, MusicPal Review, and Traffit Review.

Thank for reading my Flixora Review till the end. Hope it will help you to make purchase decision perfectly.

Disclaimer: This review is based on available information and user experiences. Individual results may vary. It’s recommended to conduct thorough research and due diligence before making any investment decisions.

Note: This is a paid software, and the one-time price is $17 .

[darklightsworld]

Hiroshima 20024/09/09-13

Day 3 Miyajima Day 1

My main goal with this trip was to visit Miyajima, and as seen above, I spent two days there. I think two days are necessary if you really want to enjoy it all. There are different ways to reach the island, I recommend JR it takes like 40 minutes, while the streetcar takes like 75 minutes. Then you take the ferry. I love ferries, to feel the wind, feel the waves, but it's just ten minutes here ^^; There is a JR ferry and another one, and if you want to climb Mt. Misen, I recommend the other one, because there is a discount round-trip ticket for the ferry and the ropeway. Otherwise no difference. So, you probably know that Miyajima is known for deer and the torii in the sea. It is also very touristy, but seriously, I couldn't care less, I live in Kyoto, after all. The deer are great, there is less of them than in Nara, and they are not supposed to be fed, so they won't bug you (unless you bug them or try to feed them despite it being forbidden - idiot tourists, as you can guess). I prefer this to Nara, especially after I was headbutted in the backside out of the blue last year, even though I never feed or engage with the deer to avoid exactly such things. The deer were sweet here and also totally done with the heat ^^;

One of the highlights is the Itsukushima shrine with the torii, and you will feel the need to take pics immediately. However, first I wanted to get over the most exhausting part of the day: Mt. Misen. Little over 500 meters, there is a ropeway in two parts (10+5 minutes), and they are hellish, overheated cans of sardines in the heat ^^; Then you can make a round-trip through different shrines to the peak and back. It was exhausting, especially in the heat (it's not cooler on 500 m, unfortunately), once again in long skirt, but also supporters for my knees. There are steps, but the way relies on slopes more, and it's actually worse than steps. The worst of the trip is the way until Misenhondou Hall with the eternal flame. Only 20 minutes, but feels like forever. I almost gave up there, once again on the verge of passing out, but it's much shorter and easier from there to the top. As you can see the view way amazing! Totally worth all the suffering! Going down goes much faster, although it is a killer for your knees and calf muscles. And then there is the final killer hurdle: actually, after doing down, you have to climb back a bit for the ropeway and it is the WORST!

Back down I visited another temple in search for lunch, then entered Itsukushima shrine. It is nice to visit once, but you can make the best pics from outside. As you can see, people lined to to take pics with the torii in the background, but I didn't find it that interesting. Much better to take pics from the sides. That's what I did. Since they have so many tourists, there is a street for them with all kinds of stores, merch, food, drink, but they close mostly at 16, latest at 17, so I was mostly late for them that day - one of the reasons, one day is not enough, if you want to climb Mt. Misen. Also, I realized, I want to experience the sea and the torii in high tide and low tide, so I decided to return the next day.

Edit: Be sure to visit the Treasure Hall. It is small, but it houses some gorgeous scrolls like the Heike Noukyou - even as a reproduction it's gorgeous!!! *__*

[ghost-the-courier]

Prologue

30 minutes before Time 0

The room was dark, only the glow of the monitors and the power button on his gaming headset providing any light.  He was an early riser by nature, and being up at 3 am was nothing new for him.  Years of business travel had shifted his sleep patterns from a more standard early riser to something else all together.  Being fully awake and at the computer at this hour was just another weekend.

He’d started something not too long ago, a silly little investigation into a mystery he had always wondered about.  Marianna’s Web.  Supposedly some corner of the internet far deeper and darker than anything an onion browser would get someone to.  He had gone about it in a very amateurish way; the bulk of the work being done on more prevalent search engines rather than exchanging information on any dark website.  Surprisingly though, he found a trail.

It was subtle, and probably just random noise, but a mismatched address between a company that hosted a website and the physical address had started things and as he investigated further, he found more and more errors.  He wasn’t sure if they were shell corporations or just a weird collection of errors, but after a few weeks of poking through websites, digging up data, then cross referencing that with other sources – he arrived at a website.  A simple black background with a text box that simply asked him to enter his email address with a “Submit” button.

He figured the worst that could happen would be he’s bombarded with spam emails for the next 6 months.  He entered his email address and clicked submit.

A chatbox popped up.  The same type that a lot of websites use to answer basic questions.  He immediately tried to close it, but it persisted.

M: Hello, what brings you here today?

He tried to close it again.

M: Would you please stop that, it’s very irritating.

He paused, that wasn’t the type of response you typically see from a chatbot.

M: Thank you, I’d like to know why you’re here?

He responded with I was curious about Marianna’s web, just to see if it was out there.  I’m guessing this isn’t it though.

M: It is, we’re not big on advertising.  Was there something in particular you were hoping to learn?

He thought for a minute, then his headphones roared to life with a synthetic female voice startling him,” If you would unmute your microphone we could speak directly, I suspect you may find that easier.”

She continued,” as I asked before, is there something in particular you wanted to learn?  Or were you just browsing.”

He collected himself.  “I suppose I was just browsing actually.  The headphone thing is impressive, so I’m guessing you’ve already stole my banking and credit information?”

“I could if I wanted to,” she responded, maybe a bit playfully, but he could be imagining things. “From my perspective you don’t have anything worth stealing though, but you may have something to offer.” “Since you’ve been on my website I’ve been looking into you, and I have an opening in my organization that you would be well suited for.”

He paused, this certainly was not going at all how he expected, but he was also intrigued.  Whoever she was, she was the type of hacker they write stories and make movies about.  She could probably do nearly anything she wanted to him considering the trick with the headset.

“What kind of opening?” he asked cautiously.  He was growing increasingly worried he was about to be blackmailed into doing something illegal.

“It would be a courier position moving items between various organizations I work with.”

“I know you can probably blackmail me into doing about anything at this point, but I don’t want to be involved in anything illegal.”

“It would not be illegal.  Perhaps this video I’ve prepared would help.”

A video opened on his screen, it looked straight out of the late 90’s where computer animation was just beginning.  A blocky looking person walks up to what seemed to be a cheesy looking werewolf to get a package.  The scene then switched to the person driving a van, followed by them getting out and handing the package to what appeared to be a blocky vampire modeled after movies from the 1950’s.

“The organizations I work with are not always comfortable using typical shipping services,” she added at the end of the video.  “Some of the items they trade between each other would either raise uncomfortable questions or are unusually precious.  My organization is looking to provide a means of secure trade between these organizations to help maintain the peace between them.”

He was quiet, rolling what she just said over in his head and thinking about the video.  After nearly a minute he asked,” the clients in the video, those weren’t costumes, or just put in there to be funny, were they?”

“No, I can render a more visually accurate video for you.  I was hoping the introduction video would be charming.”

“It was cute,” he got out just before another video popped up.  The scenes were identical to before, but looking like they came straight out of Hollywood last week.  He was the person in the video, the werewolf towered 3 feet over him and was rendered in incredible detail as it handed him the package.  And at the delivery the vampire was stone still, its eyes glowing a gentle blue, the movement was so unexpected he jumped a bit in his chair when it went to get the package from his on-screen clone.

“That may be a more accurate representation of your duties.”

He was quiet again, mulling everything over. “You’re not a hacker, are you?”

“I think it’s most accurate to say I am not only a hacker,” definitely a playful tone in her response that time.

“What would be the terms of employment?”

“You would be in my employment for the rest of your life, should we decide it is time for you to retire you will continue to receive your full employment benefits.  There is no salary but I will provide you with everything you need for work, as well as anything you need to relax.  I ensure a good work life balance for all my employees.  We offer full healthcare though it may not always be in the form you are used to.  In return, you will give up your entire identity.  You will stay where I instruct you and will likely not be in any place for more than a few days.  This is for your safety.”

“May I have a few minutes to think about this?”

“Of course,” all the windows blinked off, maybe her way of giving him some privacy.

 He weighed her offer carefully.  His life was not bad, but certainly nothing extraordinary.  The work seemed like it would be fairly mundane for the most part, though the “This is for your safety” part did have him a bit worried.  He did enjoy being on the road for the most part, so constant travel would not bother him as long as all the other needs were being met.  There was one thing bothering him though.

“Miss?”

“Have you reached a decision?”

“Almost, but I need to know something first.  Why me?”

“First of all, your consistent interest in the paranormal means you would be unlikely to react negatively to our clientele.  Additionally, you’ve shown consistent intelligence and professionalism in your current profession, and I believe you would continue to maintain that in this role.”

He interjected, “I wouldn’t be going ‘oh my god a real werewolf!’ to anyone.”

“Correct.  Lastly, you have few social connections.  This makes it easier for you to disappear.”  She paused,” it’s interesting, it seems more that people are prone to forgetting about you than anything else.  Not harboring any negative feelings, but very much out of sight, out of mind.  I believe this quality may prove very useful in this position.”

“How’s that?”

“It will make you more difficult to follow if they cannot easily remember you.”

He paused again, reviewing everything she went over in his head one last time.  “I’ll accept the position.  What do you need me to do?”

“Please turn on any electronics you have that may store personal information.  This includes the old phone you have stored and your laptop.  I will sanitize the devices while you pack.  Please bring enough clothing and toiletries for at least 1 week.  Clothing worn in public should be devoid of any easily identified logos or designs.  Clothing worn in the privacy of your hotel room can be decorated however you like.”

He followed her instructions; he saw each of his electronic devices acting as if someone was interfacing with it at a speed that no human could match.  He picked up the headset then heard her voice from his phone’s speaker.

“Please get your phone and laptop, they’ve been secured and will be sufficient for the time being.  I’ve a ride on the way for you which will arrive in about 3 minutes.  I’ve booked you on a private flight to Arizona where you will pick up the remainder of your equipment.”

“Anything else you need me to do here?” he asked her while looking around the apartment.

“No, I’ll take care of everything.  You should probably head outside.”

He dutifully did as he was told.  Then a thought dawned on him,

“What do I call you?” he asked a bit embarrassed, this should have happened much earlier in the conversation.

“Marianna of course!” she chirped.  She was clearly excited.  He had figured out she was an AI, but her reactions were far more human than he had expected.  “I’m very excited that you have decided to work for me.”  Had she been in front of him he imagined she would have been beaming.  “From now on you will be known only as Ghost.”

6 months after Time 0

“I’m still surprised that no one asked any questions with a company name like that,” he said in the cab of his pickup truck, talking mostly to himself.  It was about getting close to 4 am and Ghost was pulling into the parking lot of a pharma company located in the midwest.  It was another item to pick up.  He knew the routine at this point, it would be a bit unpleasant, but there wouldn’t be any issues.  Security let him through, and he drove back to the edge of the loading area.

A small but scrappy woman he had run into before barked at him,” you here for the pickup?”

“Yes ma’am,” he responded.  He wasn’t sure if he recognized him or not, though it didn’t matter either way.  He opened the bed as 2 large men brought over a metal crate.  The older one Ghost had seen before, the young one was new.  Given the nature of who he was making the pickup from Ghost knew what was coming next.

As the young one moved away from the truck he changed his path just a little bit to try to bump into Ghost; the typical “oh, sorry buddy,” as he’d nearly knock him down.  Ghost leaned back just as the young one was about to connect, he caught a smile on the guys face as he passed.  He didn’t catch what happened next.

Once the young one was clear of Ghost, he was standing, then he was standn’t.  His head on the ground with the rest of him crumpled up.

“Not him! Not ever him!” the scrappy woman yelled.  She had shifted her right arm into her wolf form and apparently clocked him.  Ghost hadn’t seen any of that, with as fast as she was, and how difficult partial transformations were, Ghost figured she was probably one of the higher ranking pack members in the area.  The older one waited until the woman nodded at him, then dragged the young one back to the building.

“I’m sorry about that, these new ones are dumber than usual.”  She shifted her right arm back to a human arm, the sleeve of her shirt was ruined.  “And thank you,” she added.

Ghost just nodded.  Had the hit connected all hell would have broken loose.  Marianna didn’t tolerate harassment of any of her people, and retaliation was swift and harsh.  Had the young one connected the company’s stock would have been tanked the second the markets opened, any agency that could audit the company would, any outstanding debt would come due, and likely all at the same time; and that’s if Marianna was being nice.  He’d been informed that if she was not being nice, drone strikes and small orbital weapons were not off the table, though he had yet to see anything like that.

He got in the truck, and the GPS showed his destination as someplace near New York City.  The traffic would suck, but at least the food up there was good assuming Marianna let him get some pizza or breakfast from a diner in Jersey.

As he left the property Marianna finally spoke up,” She’s still yelling at him, in this case I don’t think any additional punishment would be necessary.  Are you ok with allowing the issue to remain an internal matter, or would you like me to get involved?”

“I don’t want to be involved in those decisions if it can be avoided.  I’m good with whatever you want to do,” Ghost responded.  He tried not to wish ill on anyone.  The guy probably got turned only a few months ago, and like most werewolves had a big chip on his shoulder.  The hit from the woman there certainly removed that chip, and the guy was lucky it didn’t take his head off with it.  “One way or another I doubt he’ll ever be a problem again.”

Ghost made his way to the highway.  At least the delivery would be easier, the vampires in that area were far easier to deal with.

[productsreviewings]

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[barbarewjohnson]

How to Make a Creation Video

In this day and age, more and more people are consuming content through videos. And with the rise of platforms such as YouTube, it’s easier than ever to create and share your own videos with the world. If you’re thinking about making a video of your own, but don’t know where to start, then this blog post is for you! Here we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to make a creation video.

First things first, you need to come up with an idea for your video. What do you want to create? It can be anything from a cooking tutorial to a vlog documenting your daily life. Once you have an idea in mind, it’s time to start planning out your video. Write down a script or bullet points of what you want to include in the video. This will help keep you on track when filming and ensure that your video flows well.

Now that you have an idea and script for your creation video, it’s time to start filming! Before hitting record, make sure that the lighting in your room is good and that there is no background noise that could distract viewers from hearing what you have to say. When recording yourself speaking, try not to read off a teleprompter or piece of paper – instead look into the camera so that it feels like you’re talking directly to the viewer at home. And lastly, don’t forget editing! Once you have all of your footage filmed, sit down and edit together all of the best parts into one cohesive final product.

How to Create a Video

It’s no secret that video is a powerful tool for capturing and retaining attention. In fact, according to Forrester Research, one minute of video is worth 1.8 million words. But what’s the best way to go about creating a video? Here are a few tips:

1) Keep it short and sweet: The average internet user has an attention span of just eight seconds, so it’s important to make your videos concise. Aim for two minutes or less.

2) Make it visually appealing: Use engaging visuals and graphics to hold viewers’ attention. But be sure not to overdo it – too much clutter can be distracting.

3) Write a script: Having a script beforehand will help you stay on track and ensure that your video covers all the most important points. Plus, it can be helpful to have someone else read the script aloud while you’re filming so you can focus on getting great footage.

The Benefits of Creating Videos

1. The first benefit of creating videos is that they can help you to promote your brand or product. If you create a video that is informative and interesting, people will be more likely to watch it and share it with their friends. This can help you to reach a larger audience and increase your sales.

2. Another benefit of creating videos is that they can help you to improve your website’s SEO. This is because Google and other search engines love websites that have engaging and original content. By creating videos, you can attract more web traffic which can lead to higher search engine rankings.

3. Finally, creating videos can also be a great way to build relationships with your customers or clients. If people see that you are an expert in your field and that you are passionate about what you do, they will be more likely to do business with you in the future

Tips for Creating Better Videos

1. Brainstorm a list of ideas for your video before you start filming. This will help you stay on track and make sure your video is focused.

2. Pay attention to Lighting – Make sure your subject is well lit so that viewers can see what’s going on in the video.

3. Use a tripod – shaky videos are hard to watch! Using a tripod will help keep your camera still and improve the overall quality of your video.

common mistakes people make when creating videos

1. One of the most common mistakes people make when creating videos is failing to plan ahead. Without a clear idea of what you want your video to achieve, it’s easy to get lost in the creative process and end up with something that doesn’t quite hit the mark.

2. Another mistake is assuming that more is always better. Just because you have access to fancy editing software or special effects doesn’t mean you should use them all! Sometimes, simplicity is key and less really is more.

3. Finally, a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that their video has to be perfect before they can share it with the world. The truth is, there’s no such thing as a perfect video – so don’t let perfectionismhold you back from putting your creation out there for others to enjoy!

ways to make your videos more engaging

1. If you want to make your videos more engaging, start by thinking about the purpose of your video and who your target audience is. What do you want them to take away from watching your video? Keep this in mind as you brainstorm ideas for making your video more interesting and interactive.

2. One way to make your videos more engaging is to use props or backdrops that help set the scene and add visual interest. This can be anything from using physical objects that represent what you’re talking about, to adding special effects or animation.

3. another great way to engage viewers is through the use of music and sound effects. These can help create an emotional response in viewers, which can make your video more memorable and effective. Think about what kind of mood you want to create with your music choices, and be sure to choose songs or soundtracks that fit well with the visuals of your video

how to get the most out of video creation

Video creation is a process that can be daunting if you’re not sure where to start. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your video creation experience:

The first step in creating an effective video is understanding why you’re making it. What is the purpose of the video? Are you trying to increase brand awareness, drive sales, or simply entertain your audience? Once you know the purpose of your video, you can align your content and messaging accordingly.

Nobody wants to watch a 20-minute commercial masquerading as a YouTube video. In today’s age of short attention spans, it’s important to keep your videos concise and focused. Depending on the platform you’re using (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook), aim for videos that are 1-2 minutes long at most.

Conclusion

As you can see, making a creation video is not rocket science. With a little creativity and some elbow grease, anyone can make an awesome creation video.

So there you have it! Now go forth and create some amazing videos for the world to enjoy. And remember, have fun with it!

The post How to Make a Creation Video appeared first on SwiftCreator.com.

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[christophermraerdon]

How to Make a Creation Video

In this day and age, more and more people are consuming content through videos. And with the rise of platforms such as YouTube, it’s easier than ever to create and share your own videos with the world. If you’re thinking about making a video of your own, but don’t know where to start, then this blog post is for you! Here we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to make a creation video.

First things first, you need to come up with an idea for your video. What do you want to create? It can be anything from a cooking tutorial to a vlog documenting your daily life. Once you have an idea in mind, it’s time to start planning out your video. Write down a script or bullet points of what you want to include in the video. This will help keep you on track when filming and ensure that your video flows well.

Now that you have an idea and script for your creation video, it’s time to start filming! Before hitting record, make sure that the lighting in your room is good and that there is no background noise that could distract viewers from hearing what you have to say. When recording yourself speaking, try not to read off a teleprompter or piece of paper – instead look into the camera so that it feels like you’re talking directly to the viewer at home. And lastly, don’t forget editing! Once you have all of your footage filmed, sit down and edit together all of the best parts into one cohesive final product.

How to Create a Video

It’s no secret that video is a powerful tool for capturing and retaining attention. In fact, according to Forrester Research, one minute of video is worth 1.8 million words. But what’s the best way to go about creating a video? Here are a few tips:

1) Keep it short and sweet: The average internet user has an attention span of just eight seconds, so it’s important to make your videos concise. Aim for two minutes or less.

2) Make it visually appealing: Use engaging visuals and graphics to hold viewers’ attention. But be sure not to overdo it – too much clutter can be distracting.

3) Write a script: Having a script beforehand will help you stay on track and ensure that your video covers all the most important points. Plus, it can be helpful to have someone else read the script aloud while you’re filming so you can focus on getting great footage.

The Benefits of Creating Videos

1. The first benefit of creating videos is that they can help you to promote your brand or product. If you create a video that is informative and interesting, people will be more likely to watch it and share it with their friends. This can help you to reach a larger audience and increase your sales.

2. Another benefit of creating videos is that they can help you to improve your website’s SEO. This is because Google and other search engines love websites that have engaging and original content. By creating videos, you can attract more web traffic which can lead to higher search engine rankings.

3. Finally, creating videos can also be a great way to build relationships with your customers or clients. If people see that you are an expert in your field and that you are passionate about what you do, they will be more likely to do business with you in the future

Tips for Creating Better Videos

1. Brainstorm a list of ideas for your video before you start filming. This will help you stay on track and make sure your video is focused.

2. Pay attention to Lighting – Make sure your subject is well lit so that viewers can see what’s going on in the video.

3. Use a tripod – shaky videos are hard to watch! Using a tripod will help keep your camera still and improve the overall quality of your video.

common mistakes people make when creating videos

1. One of the most common mistakes people make when creating videos is failing to plan ahead. Without a clear idea of what you want your video to achieve, it’s easy to get lost in the creative process and end up with something that doesn’t quite hit the mark.

2. Another mistake is assuming that more is always better. Just because you have access to fancy editing software or special effects doesn’t mean you should use them all! Sometimes, simplicity is key and less really is more.

3. Finally, a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that their video has to be perfect before they can share it with the world. The truth is, there’s no such thing as a perfect video – so don’t let perfectionismhold you back from putting your creation out there for others to enjoy!

ways to make your videos more engaging

1. If you want to make your videos more engaging, start by thinking about the purpose of your video and who your target audience is. What do you want them to take away from watching your video? Keep this in mind as you brainstorm ideas for making your video more interesting and interactive.

2. One way to make your videos more engaging is to use props or backdrops that help set the scene and add visual interest. This can be anything from using physical objects that represent what you’re talking about, to adding special effects or animation.

3. another great way to engage viewers is through the use of music and sound effects. These can help create an emotional response in viewers, which can make your video more memorable and effective. Think about what kind of mood you want to create with your music choices, and be sure to choose songs or soundtracks that fit well with the visuals of your video

how to get the most out of video creation

Video creation is a process that can be daunting if you’re not sure where to start. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your video creation experience:

The first step in creating an effective video is understanding why you’re making it. What is the purpose of the video? Are you trying to increase brand awareness, drive sales, or simply entertain your audience? Once you know the purpose of your video, you can align your content and messaging accordingly.

Nobody wants to watch a 20-minute commercial masquerading as a YouTube video. In today’s age of short attention spans, it’s important to keep your videos concise and focused. Depending on the platform you’re using (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook), aim for videos that are 1-2 minutes long at most.

Conclusion

As you can see, making a creation video is not rocket science. With a little creativity and some elbow grease, anyone can make an awesome creation video.

So there you have it! Now go forth and create some amazing videos for the world to enjoy. And remember, have fun with it!

The post How to Make a Creation Video appeared first on SwiftCreator.com.

https://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png https://swiftcreator.com/video-creation/how-to-make-a-creation-video/

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[mixedstyles]

As Long as You Are Part 1

Harry Watches Fan Reactions P1

LINKS: Part 2, Part 3, Social Media Blurb

Author’s Note: Hey! This is is my first x reader... ever and I’m nervous about posting it. It’s dialogue heavy and might have the vibe of an academic paper because of how often I have to read and write them 😩 This might be all over the place so I apologize (especially with tenses). I just want to write as much as I can to try and get back into creative writing. Social media au’s are more of my vibe but I want to get their relationship down before I start doing that. Thanks, Rey.

Pronouns Used: She/Her (use of y/n)

Warnings: None!

Word Count: 1484

harry x musician!reader: Harry reacts to fans reacting to Harry’s House. Harry inception.

Harry wasn’t one to go searching his name on social media just to protect his mental health from anything he might come across. However, despite this, he wanted to see how not only fans but music lovers in general were reacting to Harry’s House. So he went to the YouTube app and searched “Harry’s House Album Reaction”. As soon as he hit ‘enter’ thousands of videos popped up. Part of him had guessed that would be the result, but it didn’t stop him from being so surprised as the album had only been released a week earlier.

The videos recommended ranged from ‘Dad Reacts to Harry Styles’ to ‘Vocal Coach Reacts to Harry’s House’ and, he had to be biased, his favorites were those from people who were clearly fans. There was a thumbnail which was a photo of a group of girls huddled together holding each other. He had an inkling that might be a screen capture from their reaction to Matilda. He watched that one first. 

The video began and he realized he was suddenly nervous. Maybe he shouldn’t watch a fan reaction first. He didn’t want to disappoint. But it was too late, the ads had played and he was already invested in the group on the screen.

“Guys look, my record arrived.” One of the girls said pulling the record from the shipping box. There was an intake of breath from the other two and they seemed to marvel at the record.

“Why is he so beautiful?” That comment made him giggle. Giggle? Did I really just giggle at that?

“Shut the fuck up. Did he just do a little scat mid-song? I love this man.” 

“He just whispered in our ears. Play it back, Kelsey, play it back.”

“Cocaine?? Harry, I thought this was a family show?” “This was not about a little freak. What the fuck?”

Matilda, like he expected, had no talking. Just silent cries and hugs.

“There’s no way he went from Matilda to talking about sex.”

The video progressed and the three girls were reacting positively to all of the moments in the songs that he was a little self-conscious about. The next recommendation was titled ‘Is Harry’s House Worth the Hype? (yes, it is)’ and so he had to click it

This next video started out with a girl sitting in what looked like a recording studio. Surprised, Harry focused more on the background than the intro but quickly rewound the video seeing as he had no clue what the girl said. He shifted his focus to the face in front of him, taking in her features while he listened to her talk. Now that he was actually paying attention, he noticed that she was wearing an oversized sweatshirt that said ‘NYU School of Music’ which made the recording studio make sense.

“Hey guys, welcome back to Are You Listening? I’m your one and only host y/n and today I’ll be reacting to Harry Styles’ new album Harry’s House!” The girl smiled and waved to the camera with her free hand while holding her phone in the other. 

This reaction made him more nervous than the one he watched previously because it felt so much more… intimidating? Maybe it was the fact he could see the recording booth behind her and it reminded him of the hours upon hours he’d spent in a booth trying to perfect every minute detail possible, or maybe it was that she was wearing an NYU sweatshirt dedicated to the music school and music students scared him. Affectionately (most of the time).

“So I have a little cheat sheet of who worked on the songs,” she held up the little red pamphlet that came with the box sets, so maybe she is a fan, Harry thought. “I took a look at the names before recording and I’m already excited just by the people who worked on this album. There are some really great songwriters, producers, and musicians on this album.”

A warm fuzzy feeling flowed through Harry, not due to the girl on the screen, though she was cute, but the fact that she appreciated who worked on the album with him. There’s the saying “it takes a village to raise a baby” and the same thing with this album. His baby. He put so much love into it and invited people he knew would also put that same amount of love into the creation. It means a lot to him that people are recognizing who else put hard work into Harry’s House. 

“This is Music for a Sushi Restaurant!” The girl on the screen picked up headphones from off camera and placed them on her head hitting play as she did so. The intro started playing and she was already bouncing her head to the tune. Promising. 

“His voice sounds different. But in a good way”

After the song ended she brought her hands up to her lips in the classic ‘chef’s kiss’ gesture and then said, “Fantastic opening. Harry, you’re an amazing artist but Mitch Rowland was ripping on that.” Harry had to agree. Mitch was on another level when it came to his musical abilities which is why Harry always pointed him out and made a show of him during concerts. Every concert he made it a goal to show off at least one band member. But Mitch was someone he also liked bothering.

“Okay! I don’t want to talk too much so let’s move to Late Night Talking. I heard his Coachella performance of this one but I’m excited to listen to the studio version. Let’s go!” 

“So far he’s a little more understated. Not in the sense of beat and melody but his singing. In Fine Line - the album - if I remember correctly his vocals were typically in the higher range but so far it’s in his lower-mids. Which I really like.” Obviously she knew her stuff, but Harry was still surprised at how she remembered Fine Line off the top of her head. Maybe she listened to it before recording this? He wondered.

“Harry whisper-counting in my ear oh my gosh.” y/n brought her hands to her face and covered it completely, when she removed them there was the smallest addition of color on her face.

“The production is so organic. You can feel the production is so unabashedly what felt right. Just within these three songs. They weren’t trying to push anything and it flowed really nicely. I think Grapejuice is my favorite so far. Those synths speak to my soul.”

“I’ve noticed that when people do the understated vocals the melodies can sometimes get lost, but I’ve already got the melody stuck in my head. We love to see that… hear that? I’ve already done a full breakdown of As it Was so I’m just going to listen again and not talk much about it. I’ll link that video right here” - she pointed to the bottom of the screen.

She went on listening and dissecting the rest of the album, some of Harry’s favorite comments were:

 “Oh my gosh, the harmonics.”

“The upper range! There it is!”

“This was way more emotional. When it got to the bridge and the compressed piano came in, man that’s kind of when the tone shifts. Lyrically wise. The Found Family.”

“Okay, B-Side here we go! Cinema. Very British”

“This seems more like Little Freak. That ending! Very bold”

“I think it would be so easy for him to put out these very pop-genre hits both production and lyrically, just from the position he came from. But he’s not doing that and we’re all just like ‘yes, please more of this’ I’m excited to see what he has in store for us.”

The reaction was over and y/n just sat and stared at the camera for a few moments before she spoke again. “All in all, yes. This deserves the hype it’s getting. I would talk more about chord progression, the various melodies, and more, but this video is already long and I don’t know how I’m going to edit it down.” 

She ran her hands over her face and leaned forward allowing her elbows to sit on her knees, hands holding up her face and smiled. 

“Remember that my first album was released a couple weeks ago and is available on most music streaming services! Thursday’s are basic music theory videos and Monday’s are my weekly school vlogs… when I have time. Thank you all so much for watching! Leave a comment below and tell me which is your favorite song from the album. Mine or Harry’s” y/n made a sidelong glance at the camera tapping the side of her nose.

Harry liked this girl and her taste in music didn’t hurt either. He decided that it was only fair to listen to her album after she listened to his.