#Adhering to speed limits

[techdriveplay]

A Comprehensive Guide to Defensive Driving Techniques

Defensive driving is more than just a set of skills; it’s a mindset and a commitment to safety on the road. This guide aims to provide drivers with an in-depth understanding of defensive driving techniques, empowering them to anticipate and respond to potential hazards and reduce the risk of accidents. The Defensive Driving Mindset Situational Awareness Develop a heightened sense of…

[ganondoodle]

sorry about that last rambling post, i didnt mean to sound like its worse than it may be, but i got no ... lense to view it through but my own, and the main reason i wrote it out anyway was bc i needed to get it out (even if posting it might be not the greatest idea) .. and bc it kinda showcases, i think, how my stories kinda write themselves, involuntarily in a way? its not like im not putting in any effort- but its like .. i cant STOP it always keeps going and even the dumbest idea stays in some form, its very hard to get everything in place bc theres so much going on all the while i am very slow at making anything, writing or drawing anything, especially anythign coherent is very hard bc not only do i get constantly distracted, i get distracted by my own thoughts suddendly skipping to a certain scene and me having to go throguh imagining in detail NO MATTER how many times i have done it before for the same scene that i already decided on how it goes, when theres a new idea it can take over my entire day bc i cant let go of it-

not trying to sound either like im the only that has that sort of problem, but i think its a big part as of why i start tso many projects without being able to finish them, or even start them bc i constantly have to fight my own thoughts from derailing into another daydream session, thinking of too much too fast than i can ever draw or even write about and not knowing what is worthwhile and what isnt (im telling you i have no idea what is good and what isnt, idk why but for all i know all things i do could be trash, or they all could be bad, maybe the one i thinnk is decent is actually worse than the things i deem not good enough and once i start to think no this isnt good enough i stop having fun making or thinking it bc im trying to do better

honestly its kind of impressive that i can get anything out at all, not to pat myself on the back there but even if i hate how long it takes me, considering how much im having to work just to start working on something at all, the fact that i could post stuff coherent enough for some people to understand AND LIKE is something i should be a little more proud of

[moth-mart]

Stylus & Dae are the only ones of the main 4 who can drive but Stylus is banned from it on account of road rage

[stoertebeker]

Got my first speeding ticket <3 German rite of passage

[hiddenreamers]

F1 Drivers x foreign!reader

SUMMARY: When they know social norms and the local language, sometimes it might be hard to spot a foreigner. Even then, there are details to their daily life that might give away their heritage. Whether they're strange, funny or heartwarming, it doesn't really matter. Your boyfriend wouldn't have it any other way.

Featuring: Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo (it's my delulu I set the rules), Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri

Note: I'm a Polish gal, so the examples I've used are quite specific and probably not universal

Lando Norris

You're unsure if his terrible pronunciation is genuine or just a ploy to make you laugh. As time goes on, you're leaning towards the latter. The comedic timing of throwing out mispronounced random phrases and words is almost too perfect to be accidental. Considering the cultural differences, you have your quirks and superstitions that are largely funny and meaningless to him. Despite his lack of understanding, he adheres to them like the letter of the law (except speed limits, of course). While it might seem pointless to him that you have to knock on "something unpainted" after talking about misfortune, Lando will never make fun of you for it. He might laugh, yes, but he just finds those little rituals endearing. Secretly learns to say "I love you" in your first language but this time, he wants his pronunciation to be impeccable. He really means it, after all.

Lewis Hamilton

He's been showing genuine curiosity from the very beginning. While he wants to get to know you better as a person, he also wants to know more about your home. Consequently, Lewis jumps at any opportunity to travel with you to your native country. When you're pointing out different buildings as well as memories associated with them, he feels like he's getting a better understanding of who you are and why. Like Lando, he's mindful of the cultural quirks and sticks to them but doesn't find them as funny. While he's well aware you don't expect him to follow them, Lewis still refuses to kiss you over the threshold once you tell him it's said to bring bad luck. He's not going to risk it, is he?

Daniel Ricciardo

The ever-charming man is interested only in learning swear words and pick-up lines in your native language. Not very surprising. Even less surprising is the fact that you might have (on at least one occasion) taught him nonsense or a silly phrase while claiming it's something sexy or romantic. He is yet to be corrected that a certain phrase is not a heartfelt confession but a simple question of "Where is my sauerkraut?". There's something impossibly attractive about you speaking your mother tongue, according to Daniel. You could read aloud a random Wikipedia entry and he's down bad by the second verse.

Max Verstappen

Practical as always, Max has learnt to read your first language just to occasionally help. You're busy and someone is texting you? Maybe you forgot the next ingredient or step for the recipe but your hands are dirty? Max is there to help. Despite not much practice, his pronunciation is really good. He does, however, have a secret. All the random things he's been reading for you? They got him familiar with the language, at least the basics. Still, Max pretends that he doesn't understand 99% of what he's reading for you because he doesn't want to miss out on all the ego-stroking "Max is wonderful!!" messages you receive from friends and family. The king of keeping a straight face. He's so used to hearing you refer to him by pet names in another language that when he hears it in a movie you're watching, he instinctively looks towards you.

Carlos Sainz Jr

Similarly to Max, Carlos has picked up some of your mother tongue. Pretends he doesn't because he's living for the gossip you exchange with your friends. Most of all, he HAS to know what you're talking about after hearing you say his name. Are you happy with him? Does he fulfil your needs? Although each time you're gushing over him, he can't help his curiosity. Carlos might or might not have overheard you talking to your friends about a sexual fantasy and later on used that knowledge to his advantage. But if anyone asks, he doesn't know more than a "hello" in your first language.

Charles Leclerc

Like many multilingual people, you have a habit of directly translating sayings and idioms or just getting confused about which ones work in what language. Funnily enough, Charles unknowingly picked up some of the phrases you use. He realises only when someone gives him a strange look for saying "happy as a whistle". On another occasion he says somebody "stuck to him like thistle to a dog's tail", which sparked a landslide of memes. Charles insists on you calling him pet names in your first language exclusively. He claims they sound more loving when you say them in your mother tongue but maybe he's suffering from the same ailment as Daniel Ricciardo...

George Russell

As adorable as they are, George's random questions can get slightly annoying. He might be working you up on purpose, not that he'd ever admit. This man has a curious tendency to suddenly point to a random object and ask you what's it called in your native language. When you tell him, he exposes you to possibly the worst attempt at repeating the word. George is trying his best, okay? He might not be able to pronounce or write it but when you say it, he quickly learns to recognize the word. This has lead to seemingly strange situations when you can't remember the English expression and say it in your mother tongue, while George without a problem gives you the answer or passes you the item. Some of the other drivers are now convinced he knows your first language and George somehow can't find the right occasion to correct them. After secretly practising, he says "I love you" in your mother tongue and despite the rather awful pronunciation, it's the best thing you've ever heard. It's not flawless but it's perfect.

Oscar Piastri

Similarly to Lewis, he's genuinly curious about your homecountry. The difference is, Oscar is more leaning towards the literature and pop-culture side of things. He has a list of books, poems, movies and plays that are considered important to your homeland. If there are English translations, he'll at least try to read them (on a few occasions he's settled for the cheat sheets and summaries). Multiple times Oscar has talked you into reading the original to him and afterwards claimed that despite understanding nothing, that's his favourite version. Movies, however, he wants to watch with you. It's a cozy date, yes. But! It is also an opportunity to learn more as you have a tendency to pause the film and explain jokes, give broader context or share a fun fact about something on the screen. Through all of that, he learns certain unspoken social rules and superstitions. You tell him he really doesn't have to follow them for your sake when you notice he refuses to put your bag on the floor or switches seats with you if you sit at the corner of the table.

[rottenpumpkin13]

SOLDIER lads get motorbike training from Roche. How does this go and why is Cloud the best at it

• It's Genesis' excuse to wear that expensive red leather motor jacket he owns. He's far more aggressive than one would believs, matches Roche's pace and attitude.

• He and Sephiroth end up racing each other with some added swordplay and trash talk that Angeal does not condone.

• Sephiroth—though he needs to braid his hair unless the wind makes it strangle him—finds it freeing. There's something about the open road and the ability to guide his bike anywhere he wants that's oddly peaceful. If only Angeal weren't right behind him, yelling about using the correct turn signals.

• Angeal adheres strictly to road safety rules and avoids any temptation to race or exceed the speed limit. But then Roche steals the Buster Sword from his back and races off. Angeal then unleashes a burst of speed that defies all laws of physics.

• Cloud rides effortlessly, looks cool, and glides through the spiral tunnel without a problem. Racing is no challenge for him, and everyone watching can't help but agree that he looks good. Especially Zack, who takes one look at him in motorcycle gear and decides that he actually needs to ride on the back of Cloud's bike.

Zack, on the back of Cloud's bike with his arms wrapped around his waist: :)

Sephiroth: Why are you riding with Cloud? You have your own bike.

Zack: Yeah, but I don't know how to ride it.

Sephiroth: Really? But I saw you yesterday—

Zack: Don't ruin this for me.

Sephiroth:

[victoriadallonfan]

Actually, do you have any advice on writing action scenes?

So You Want to Write An Action Scene!

Alright, so first things first: Action scenes work just like any other scene.

There's been some unfortunate ideas tossed around that action scenes can be ignored or overlooked, and that they don't contribute to the story regardless of medium.

I think a lot of the time, this is because there has been an association between "action scene" and "schlock" or "slop" in terms of trying to fill in time or "dumbing down" stuff for an audience.

In reality, action scenes are just scenes that can be used in many different ways to help a creator mold the story and sell their vision to the audience.

In this instance, lets focus on the written form of action scenes.

NOTE: This advice is NOT rules. They are simply meant to assist, not to control. Disregard, modify, and use to your liking for whatever works best!

Consider the simplest action scene: A man walks down the street.

Transitional Action Scene: This type of action scene is used simply to transition from one moment to another. Simple shorthand for wanting to move along!

The man walked down the street, heading home.

I walked down the street, heading home.

Spectacle Action Scene: This type of action scene is great if you want to engross a reader into understanding the physical limits/pace/details of the character/setting!

The man walked down the street, feeling the soles of his grav boots adhere to the metal tiles as the material curved up and to the side in an arc, allowing the speeding holo-carriage to fly past without incident. The air of the supersonic passing buffeted his helmet, minor alerts to his oxygen storage popping up alongside his suit pressure regulators.

I walked down the street, feeling the soles of my grav boots adhere to the metal tiles as the material curved up and to the side in an arc, allowing the speeding holo-carriage to fly past me without incident. The air of the supersonic passing buffeted my helmet, minor alerts to my oxygen storage popping up alongside the suit pressure regulators.

Emphatic Action Scene: This type of action scene is more personal, digging into the thoughts behind each moment and movement of the character and their environment! Great way to tie in plot threads, symbology, or messages!

The man walked down the street, every foot fall radiating like thunder in his mind, the looming doom he was marching towards as his home awaited him at the end. An executioner patiently expecting its next death row meal.

I walked down the street, every foot fall radiating like thunder in my mind, the looming doom I was marching towards as my home awaited me at the end. An executioner patiently expecting its next death row meal.

How you blend, dismiss, fuse any of these means is up to you! But I hope this helps with a simplified example of what you can do with an action scene!

[twistthescript]

☯️ for Ricky?

Okay, I have another (very delayed) list comin y'all's way.

Ricky's likes and dislikes, here we go:

Likes:

As a child, he did actually like dogs. There was an old pitbull who lived down the street and was known to wander and it always showed a lot of love to the cats at his house.

He enjoys testing his own limits. This could mean his physical, mental, or emotional limits. He knows what he should be doing, and what he can do, but someone will probably find him stuck in a corner somewhere because his wheelchair got caught.

Careening off of the previous point- he likes listening to people and helping them with their issues. He enjoys being helpful, because in the back of his head (in some very messed up way), it means that he's being included. Plus, he's just a very selfless character and very realistic. If he can help, he will. If he can't help as much, he'll listen.

During his more achy days when he uses his wheelchair, he enjoys speeding down the halls after school because there's no one to stop him.

He adores Cats: The Musical- he even has a 21 year old, scraggly gray cat named Grizabella who's older than he is- and he treats her like the queen of her own castle (she is. duh)

He sometimes makes his own stickers to put on his crutches. You know, the notebook paper drawings that you press between two layers of packing tape? Yeah- he's drawn all of his cats and adhered them to most of his things. He puts them along the inner side of his crutches so when he sits down, they're facing him.

Dislikes:

Contrary to popular belief, and however well-founded it would be- Ricky doesn't hate Ocean. He hates her way of thinking and her attitude towards him and other people.

He hates onions. He doesn't cook with them, nor does he keep them in the house (his parents went along with that). His reasoning? They're toxic to cats.

Dogs. The pitbull from earlier was fine. When that dog died, the next puppy in its place attacked one of his cats and bit the rubber grip off of Lady Marzipan.

Math. Mostly because all of his teachers believed him to be incompetent- and Ocean was always in his class. He's actually very good at it, but mucks up the test answers just enough to barely pass. They can believe what they want about him, but their perception of him is not his problem... and he'll play along for shits and giggles.

That's all I have for now! Cheers!

[that-house]

hey there! so i've seen you posting stuff about revel, especially you describing it as "dnd but good". what does that mean to you? what are you adding to the heartbreaker formula to make it fresh and interesting that pathfinder doesn't do, for example?

It’s a lot of stuff inspired by the way I run my existing 5e game, because I’m one of those DMs who isn’t really playing 5e anymore. When I finish off this 4-year D&D campaign with a 100,000 HP final boss, I’m moving to greener pastures… After truly pushing that dogshit game to its limits I’m going to need a fresh framework to riff upon, and right now that’s looking like it’ll be Revel.

I’m less concerned with treading completely new ground with Revel, and more focused on making a game that doesn’t meet my desired playstyle in the middle. I’m a sucker for long stretches of downtime broken up by tactical combat, intricate superbosses, and really, REALLY big numbers

For character creation stuff:

At the moment there’s 6 Roles (one for each ability score):

Vanguard (front line fighter)

Vagabond (bursty skirmisher)

Tower (dedicated tank)

Tome (maximal spell-slinging)

Adherent (midrangey support caster)

Artist (dedicated support caster)

Roles generally define your combat niche, but can be built to fill those niches in a variety of ways.

Each Role has 3 associated Classes, which each only go up to half the level cap (so multiclassing is eventually mandatory).

Each Class has a pool of 10 Upgrades (new passives or actions or what have you) which each can be further enhanced in unique ways with Mastery Points. In addition to being acquired through leveling, Upgrades and Mastery Perks are good targets for PCs to work towards during downtime

The first three Roles are martials, the other three are casters. Martial levels contribute to your stamina pool, caster levels contribute to spell progression. The goal is for those two progression systems to mesh well enough that playing split martial/casters is just as good as going full martial or full caster.

Most of the spells in the game are modal, and do at least slightly different things when cast as a Quick Action vs when cast as a Full Action. Stamina abilities tend to just snap the action economy over their knee, and Stamina regenerates between encounters, so martials are encouraged to maximize the value they can get out of their stamina each fight, while casters weigh their spell choices to ensure they can go nova on the boss

General gamefeel:

Positioning doesn’t matter that much in D&D when a fireball can hit basically anywhere on a reasonably-sized map. Reducing both ranges and movement speeds is meant to help to make proper use of movement a more important skill, as well as encourage generally smaller maps

Open enemy statblocks, with incredibly dangerous abilities that can be countered with proper play. This game isn’t really meant to be a *product*, so I’m not sure if I’ll be making much in the way of example statblocks. Telegraphed one-hit KO mechanics as a way to shape player decisionmaking are my bread and butter

In general, characters should care about the circumstances of the game around them more. In D&D, the fighter walks towards the enemy and hits them a bunch. In Revel, hopefully players will have the tools to engineer a situation that maximizes the amount of shenanigans they can fit into a turn, and the amount of possible shenanigans that can arise in an optimal scenario will be frankly silly.

In summary, the beating heart of Revel’s design philosophy is that a high level Wizard’s turn should play out like an Armored Core pulling off an MTG combo.

[rapturously]

✠⠀༷ ゜𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒.

PLEASE READ BEFORE REQUESTING. regarding blog guidelines and requesting etiquette.

𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

minors are not permitted to be on this blog, request content, or interact with my blog in any way/shape/form. you will be blocked accordingly.

reblogging, commenting, and interacting with my work keeps me motivated and inspired! it’s the bread and butter of what keeps me writing. it’s meaningful and helps me figure out what people like.

please be kind. if you do not enjoy something, do not read it. any hateful anonymous messages, comments, etc. will result in a block. constructive criticism and feedback are more meaningful than hate.

please do not spam my request/ask box asking when I plan on finishing a request. I am pretty busy outside of this blog and sometimes, that slows down my writing process. just be patient and know that I see it and will work on it when I have an opportunity to do so.

𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞

➺ there is no limit on requesting. you are free to request as many times as you want, as long as you are adhering to my rules & guidelines.

➺ please check out my portrayals and muses post before requesting. I update it regularly with characters that I have inspiration for. If you do not see a specific character on there, it means that I do not write for them.

➺ I do not accept SFW requests. This blog is strictly NSFW, and that includes all writings that I post. I am happy to do fluff and smut, but I will never just do fluff/slice-of-life, etc. I typically only write smut-related requests, plot or no plot.

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➺ do not spam ask when a request will be finished. quality is really important to me, so I try and take my time to make it as well-written as possible. i’m also busy outside of this blog, so that impacts posting speed.

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[deepdreamnights]

Vidu and the Quest to Make More Toons

So, a ways back I talked about Minmax, but I've been trying out basically all the video generators looking for the tools I need, and low and behold this week I find out I've been accepted into the Vidu Artists program now, wherein I get credits and access to access their cooler features in in exchange for... talking about the tech and how I use it.

Well twist my arm. I shall endeavor to be objective and informative despite free stuff (a challenge my spirit needs practice withstanding if anyone else wishes to test me)

So let's talk Vidu.

(outside of being converted to gif, no animations in this post have been cut or edited)

Also, everyone say hi to Maureen the Lizard Queen, every hero needs an evil queen that really wants in his pteruges, and she's that for TyrannoMax.

Vidu's got a bit more oomph under the hood than MinMax (no shade to MinMax, they're brand new and very promising) and it's way too early to be picking winners when it comes to video.

Anyhow, basic features that are nice include the options to upload start and end frames, options for a 4 or 8 second duration (more about that later), and a cleanup/upscale. Credits line up more or less with seconds. 4 credits for a 4 second clip, 8 for an 8 second, and again at upscale. It's straightforward in a way a lot of services aren't.

Apetomic Pyle, done on the fast settings. (not to shabby still, and it gave him monkey legs which a lot of systems balk at)

If you're on the $30/mo tier, you can choose to do a double-cost "quality" over "speed" option. Thankfully, the artist program gets me access. Since there's not yet a seed option it's hard to do a direct comparison, but the quality is going to be a must if you're doing anything that looks like cel. Much cleaner, much smoother.

(4 and 8 second quality gens)

One of the nicest features is the character reference feature. Basically it's like Midjourney's --cref, but with a very strict adherence to character details.

The above images used reference shots of Maureen and Dr. Underfang, and it got the stripes on Underfang's tie right in basically every gen. That's a ridiculous level of character model adherence and, for my purposes, all but essential.

It did misinterpret Maureen's undertail coloration for a sort of fin or drape, but the shot I used was oddly cropped, and sometimes stuff like that happens with gen AI. Given my measuring stick for errors is the era of animation I'm emulating, whatever does slip through is only going to make it more authentic.

There is a limitation in that character-reference and text-only prompts default to 16:9 presently with no options to adjust, but some room to pan is always handy and most people are going to be outputting for phone and not outdated CRT televisions, so, it's understandable it'd be a lower priority feature for the devs.

Walk cycles! By Saint Eniac it's a miracle!

On the left we have one prompted with TyrannoMax's control art, and on the right we have one using that art as the starting frame (4 and 8 seconds, respectively).

Way More details under the fold.

Vidu likes a hefty prompt.

A lot of detail and evocative language helps, and older prompting tricks like mojo-jojoing important concepts are back. For the Max walk cycles above I used:

1986 vintage cel-shaded cartoon character walk cycle. The orange dinosaur-anthro wearing blue gladiator armor walks toward screen right, the camera tracks him, holding him in center-frame. He completes a full, brisk walk cycles from the side view. He walks boldly, back straight, head high, heroic. His tail sways behind him as he moves. The whole clip has the look and feel of vintage 1986 action adventure cel-animated cartoons. The animation quality is high, with flawless motion and anatomy. animated by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, studio Ghibli, don bluth. BluRay remaster. flat chroma-key green screen background

The potential for use with my Filmation-inspired technique is readily apparent. Both versions are on-model as much as any two shots in a 1980s action-figure shilling cartoon would be, some minor blurring to clean up in post but nothing serious. It should be pretty easy to extract the needed frames for looping and compositing.

Some Extra Points

There are the usual issues with hands, though more often than not it corrects my four-fingered anthros to having a human five-fingered hand. Buzby Spurlock animation was known for those kinds of inconsistencies, though. So an opening credits video is much less far off than it was at the last post.

It's also generally impressive how well it does with my dinosaur characters. Non-humanoid dinosaurs are difficult for most image generators, much less anthrosaurs in a vintage aesthetic. Vidu has yet to override the character art to give Underfang or Max the Jurassic Park style t-rex jaw, which is something both MJ and Dall-E 3 have trouble with.

Human characters like Kitty Concolor here, much more stable.

As always, clips are curated. I didn't choose my absolute best ones (gotta have something for the videos), and I'm working on a fun series of jank reels across all the generators.

[liaromancewriter]

Falling in Love

Premise: Cassie knows protecting her heart from Ethan is a lost cause. Set after the opera scene in book 1, chapter 12.

Book: Open Heart Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine) Rating/Category: Teen. Angst Trope: Pining Words: 910

A/N: Submission to @choicesfebruary2024 Eros. I'm also using @choicesflashfics week 70, prompt 2 and @creativepromptsforwriting prompt 1065. Tagging for reblog to @creativepromptfills.

Cassie Valentine was falling in love with the tall, dark, handsome man beside her. Ethan Ramsey had enthralled her from the first moment she laid eyes on him.

What about him made her heart yearn for love so powerful it conquered all? The kind poets waxed melodically about. One that lasted for a lifetime and beyond.

Light from a street lamp cut a swath through the windshield, momentarily brightening the close quarters of the front seats of Ethan’s luxury sedan. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ethan’s fingers grip and flex around the steering wheel as he took a right turn at the intersection.

The low sound of a classical concerto drifted from the speakers. The melody was hauntingly beautiful and sad, reminiscent of the doomed romance in the opera they’d just attended. It reminded her that not everything was written in the stars.

Alessandra and Damarion weren’t the only ones condemned to a life of loneliness, never to realize their love because pride and circumstances kept them apart. Some relationships just weren’t meant to be, no matter how much one could wish otherwise.

And yet, every time she bounced back, he pulled her back down.

Before that night in Miami, she made a promise to herself to move on with her life. But the longing in his blue eyes and the ache in his gruff voice whenever he let his guard down was her undoing. And, in a single moment, with the sound of waves crashing in the background and the feel of his arms tightening around her, she fell all over again.

Tonight was no different. Cassie remembered how he held her hand during the performance, quietly comforting her when she needed it. The way he gently wiped a tear from her cheek, his breath catching at the sparks rising where skin touched skin.

No matter how much Ethan said otherwise, she knew they weren’t wrong for each other. She might have initiated the kiss in Miami and tonight, but he wasn’t immune to the attraction between them despite his denials.

“You know how complicated this is,” he said from behind her as she stared holes into the patterned wall of the private box.

Cassie turned around because hiding her emotions made her feel like a coward. His eyes pleaded with her to understand, but she couldn’t pretend anymore.

“It’s not complicated, Ethan. Not for me.”

When he raised a hand to brush a lingering tear from the corner of her eye, she leaned into it, savoring the feel of his touch. That was all it took to break through his barriers. With a curse, he pulled her into his arms. His stubble was rough against her skin, but the kiss was soft and tender.

She heard the groan deep in his throat as he closed the distance between them. His hands ran through her hair, and her arms circled around his waist. Their bodies fit together like they always were intended to become one.

And then the house lights came on, chasing away the shadows where their hunger for each other thrived, replaced by the stark light of reality.

The distance from the opera house to her apartment building was short, prolonged only by his measured adherence to the speed limit and traffic lights conspiring to keep them together for a while longer.

Cassie’s heart sank as the ride came to an end. He pulled up outside her building, the engine running as he switched the gear to park. She felt his eyes on her, the poignant silence stretching in the darkness, and wondered if he regretted the kiss tonight, just like he had all those months ago in Miami.

And she knew it would break her heart if he said the words that confirmed her worst fears. So, she wouldn’t let him, she told herself resolutely, and opened the car door.

“We are so much more than you let us be,” Cassie whispered morosely, unable to let it go as she exited the car.

A wave of longing crashed over him at hearing his innermost thoughts coming from her lips. He swallowed against the lump in his throat, frozen as denial and apprehension resurfaced. The slamming of the passenger door shook him out of his daze.

“Cassie, wait!” Ethan called out urgently, reaching to open the driver’s side door. But he was too late.

Stricken at the moment lost forever, he watched dejectedly as she jogged up the steps, stopping only to unlock the street door, and disappeared inside.

He stared into the darkness, wishing for her to return, but he knew it was pointless. He checked the rearview and side mirrors and pulled out into the light traffic on the quiet residential street.

Ethan told himself it was better this way. He was an attending. She was an intern. Unsavory gossip aside, he couldn’t be the reason she failed to become the amazing doctor he knew she had the potential to be.

When he stopped at the next red light, he inhaled deeply, and the lingering scent of her floral perfume hit his senses. For a lone second, Ethan asked himself who he was kidding. He was sinking deep, and there was no rescue in sight.

Then the light turned green, the driver behind him honked impatiently, and that solitary reflection of surrendering to what could be vanished into the darkness as if it had never been.

-----------

All Fics & Edits: @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @lucy-268 @jerzwriter @lady-calypso @mainstreetreader @peonierose @potionsprefect @queencarb @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Ethan & Cassie only: @cariantha @custaroonie @youlookappropriate @zealouscanonindeer

[visit-new-york]

Overlooking DUMBO

Are there any restrictions for cyclists on the Brooklyn Bridge?

The Brooklyn Bridge stands as an iconic symbol of New York City, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn while offering breathtaking views of the skyline. For many cyclists, the bridge is a popular route, providing a unique and scenic path between the two boroughs. However, as with any infrastructure that accommodates various modes of transportation, there are guidelines and restrictions in place to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow. In this article, we'll explore the restrictions imposed on cyclists when traversing the Brooklyn Bridge.

Cyclist-Friendly Infrastructure:

The Brooklyn Bridge is equipped with a dedicated bike path, allowing cyclists to pedal their way across the East River without mingling with pedestrian traffic. The bike path is separated from the pedestrian walkway, providing a designated space for cyclists to navigate freely. This setup is intended to enhance safety and efficiency for both pedestrians and cyclists, as the bridge attracts a considerable number of visitors daily.

Speed Limit:

While cyclists have their own designated path, it's essential to note that there is an unspoken speed limit in place. The narrowness of the bike path and the high volume of traffic, both pedestrian and cyclist, necessitate a cautious and considerate approach. Cyclists should adhere to a moderate speed to prevent accidents and ensure a harmonious coexistence with pedestrians.

Pedestrian Priority:

Despite the dedicated bike path, cyclists must be mindful of pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians have the right of way, and cyclists should yield to them at all times. This is particularly crucial in areas where the bike path intersects with pedestrian walkways or when entering and exiting the bridge.

Cyclist Responsibilities:

Cyclists are expected to follow traffic rules and regulations while on the Brooklyn Bridge. This includes obeying traffic signals, yielding to pedestrians, and using hand signals to indicate turns. Adherence to these rules helps maintain order and ensures a safe environment for everyone using the bridge.

Time Restrictions:

While there are no specific time restrictions for cyclists on the Brooklyn Bridge, it's important to be aware of peak hours and increased pedestrian traffic. During these times, such as rush hours and weekends, the number of people walking across the bridge tends to be higher. Cyclists should exercise extra caution and be prepared to navigate through crowds at a slower pace.

Conclusion:

Cyclists on the Brooklyn Bridge can enjoy a dedicated bike path that allows them to traverse this iconic structure while taking in spectacular views of the city. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, cyclists should be aware of the guidelines and restrictions in place. By adhering to speed limits, yielding to pedestrians, and respecting the shared space, cyclists can contribute to a positive and harmonious atmosphere on the Brooklyn Bridge. So, grab your bike, follow the rules, and pedal your way across the East River for an unforgettable journey between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

[srbachchan]

DAY 5581

Jalsa, Mumbai                    May 28/29,  2023                 Sun/Mon 9:55 AM

🪔 .. May 29 .. birthday happiness to Ef Prakash Chovhan from Fiji .. love ever from your Ef Family .. 😘

And to Ef Anjana Sridhar .. their Wedding Anniversary on May 29th .. our greetings .. 💕💍

The day passes away and the hope of being in time for the Blog passes away too .. much anticipation took place among the TV for the IPL and finally, I think today will be the play for the Final .. 

No sides .. may the better win .. 

So last day yesterday at the shoot location there is ever the doubt on whether the work done was within the acceptance limits of the Director .. and when in doubt a request to do it again .. that granted, when you go  back to the original you find that the earlier seemed better or perhaps in better condition of an audience acceptance .. 

Originals are originals .. and through and time and test have been accomplished enough to state that the one done originally was the better .. 

Many a times Directors have dictated to their crew silently to record rehearsals as well, as the Artists rehearse a scene before the cameras go on .. and I would tend to agree that the first take or the first attempt at the scene is perhaps always the best .. we are never able to give a copy a better copy ..

the copy a better copy .. ha !

and the original lives in our lives, undeterred and without any disturbance to obviously be quite the best ..

so do not ask which one was my original because I shall not have knowledge of it .. nor any remembrance .. 

strange is it not ... I notice and see a great many that have achievements on their broad shoulders, remember each detail of their ‘journey’ -  ahh .. a word I cannot adhere to , simply because it has become an expression used by all so reverentially that it seems they were out on an expedition - yes, each life is a journey, but can we call it something else .. journey is NOT an original .. just as the oft used expression these days ..’my bad’ when they do some mistake or error .. !!!

Expressions and languages change over time .. and we accept them or learn to accept them .. but the original remains the original still ..

its the brevity of express that has overtaken all our communication .. the faster the sooner the quicker you express and move on is the norm .. 

so the kid talks so fast you can hardly make out what has been expressed .. the broadcasters speed of delivery is to inform all in limited time frame and move to the next .. 

guy does brilliant on the pitch and is called for a personal reaction and it is an exercise of a prerecorded humanoid .. !!! they deliver in speed and have relevance of thought and word .. uffff .. how do they do it .. I try but fail .. after a few seconds the cerebrum wants to stop and does .. 

aaaahhh ...  the vagaries of age and time ..

.. and it ends in the love of the well wishers .. and the apprehension whether they shall be there or not is ever present .. 

the gate opens and the love pours out and the heart and mind are set at rest .. yes they are there and they do show their love ..

and back to the grind of life .. 

.. to rush now for work .. on something that is not a new project but a new thought .. soon to be out ..

My love 

Amitabh Bachchan

[bonecarve]

¹⁾ PINTEREST. ²⁾ PLAYLIST. ³⁾ DEVELOPMENT TAG.

DOSSIER.

NAME. mahito (meaning: true human) SPECIES. cursed spirit MANIFESTATION OF human fear and hatred for other humans. AGE. simultaneously ageless and ~1 year old; curses are immortal, but mahito was manifested into being only recently. assumes a physical form that appears to be in its 20s. GENDER. agender ( he / they / she / it ); tends toward masculine non-binary expression. HEIGHT. 5’11 HAIR COLOUR. blue-gray EYE COLOUR. heterochromia ( gray left eye, blue right eye ) SCARS. patchwork scars across the face and body, giving him the appearance of one who has been stitched together.

PERSONALITY.

ALIGNMENT. chaotic evil. NOTE. mahito is amoral, not immoral. they do not believe in the concept of morality as it pertains to good or bad; consequently, he does not consider himself evil. he simply lives and acts in accordance with his true nature — which cannot be immoral, insofar as morality has nothing to do with truth (and vice versa). DEFINING TRAITS. playful, sadistic, curious, intelligent, manipulative, philosophical, callous, immature.

ABILITIES OVERVIEW.

TRANSFIGURATION. can alter his form at will, limited only by the scope of his own imagination. this includes the basics of appearance, such as height and gender, and more drastic transformations into both organic or inorganic forms. can transfigure their entire body or just selected parts of it. he is also capable of creating multiple, perfect clones of himself. 

SOUL MANIPULATION. including both his own (allowing him to heal and alter his physical form) and others. the ability to transfigure humans into monstrous abominations, as well as combine multiple human souls together into a single, subservient creature. the ability to touch one’s soul and kill them in an instant.

ENHANCED SPEED, STRENGTH, AND DURABILITY. mahito’s physical feats far surpass human capabilities. it is not possible to beat him in raw physical combat without the aid of (jujutsu) magic or supernatural powers.

VERSES.

CANON (JJK). adheres to canon events. mahito strives for the eradication of humanity and the domination of cursed spirits. believing that the reincarnation of sukuna is the best way to achieve this goal, they ally themselves with a group of special grade cursed spirits intent on restoring the king of curses to power.

GENERAL. this verse deals away with the limitations of jjk lore. cursed spirits are manifestations of human fear, hatred, sadness, and other negative emotions. they are visible to the naked human eye and prey upon humanity in varying ways (killing, consumption, etc). mahito is a cursed spirit with a distinctly humanoid appearance and mannerisms, making them a far more insidious presence than some of their overtly monstrous counterparts. his ability to live among and navigate the mortal world allows him to interact with humans — generally in sadistic and malevolent ways. they manipulate, encourage, and prey on negative emotion as a way to sow further fear and discontent. they kill indiscriminately, seeing humans as an imperfect species that will, inevitably, die out to make way for the curses that they themselves brought into existence. mahito uses humans as pawns and as tools, experimenting on them in order to gain more knowledge on the concept of the soul.

THE WITCHER. a particularly malevolent spirit, far exceeding the abilities of a common wraith. unlike other cursed apparitions of his ilk, mahito was not created from the negative emotions of his own, mortal form prior to death — rather, he came into being from the collective fears and hatred that humanity experiences toward itself. they were never human; rather, they are a manifestation born of mortal malevolence. unbound by geographical restraints, mahito wanders the continent and its islands at will, seeking to learn from — and ultimately discard — humanity. they are drawn to places ripe with negative emotions, where they prey on mankind’s hatred for its fellow man. although mahito has been known to kill and experiment on non-humans (such as elves, gnomes, and dryads), he tends his focus toward victimizing the same imperfect, hateful race that brought him into being.

as always, verses listed here aren't exhaustive. i love to come up with verses on a case-by-case basis / plot new ones out with writing partners. i've consumed so much media fr i'll figure out verses for just about anything.

[pokemenlovingmen]

Oh neato new blog!! I enjoy reading peoples different interpretations of characters through x reader imagines, and it’s nice to see another one pop up. If you’re comfortable with it, would it alright if I request a scenario using any Pokémen of your choice developing a crush on a male reader who’s a big, intimidating buff guy..but in personality is actually a softie and an attentive single father to his young child. (Who is tinyyyy. Just a lil thing to contrast dad) I like romance and found family..what can I say.

oooooh that sounds so fun and cute!! Since it seems like you meant one guy, I’ll do one dude, but a longer post! Usually that’s my form, one person gets a longer post whereas multiple get shorter segments… however long it takes me to adhere to that. Because I have no self control. Anyway, my man of choice for this ended up being Grusha, because some nice and warm fluff should melt that frosty exterior.

And on the romance and found family thing, you are speaking my language fluently, you’re talking to a guy who worships those things in fan content. You can’t!! Go wrong with it!!

Soft as Snow

Grusha x Intimidating Male Reader (who has a kid!)

So. In your relationship Grusha might be a bit uh.

❄️ — Grusha is not a kids guy. Not at all. He’s the literal opposite of sunshine and rainbows. But hosting arguably the most intense and therefore exciting out of Paldea’s gym matches and spending so much time in a snow-covered mountain that is, realistically, so much fun for a kid to go to, he sees a lot of kids. Usually glued to their parents, which he’s grateful for, because rounding up some kid who runs off is about the last thing you can expect him to do successfully. So all in all, he limits his interactions with kids as much as humanly possible, but understands his job puts him around them a lot.

❄️ — A frequent culprit of drawing in rugrats he’d really rather not interact with would be the Cetoddles he looks after. He supposes he can’t blame the kids, they’re pretty cute and definitely not something you see anywhere but the mountain. And that’s exactly what gets him awkwardly interacting with some unknown little girl when he’d rather be doing anything else.

❄️ — A little girl had come to look at one Cetoddle, and with no parents in sight, he had to stay near. So, sighing, he stuffs his hands in his pockets and walks over, making the Cetoddle chirp excitedly when it sees him. He clears his throat and makes some horribly awkward attempts at small talk at this random child, no older than seven, who is just staring at him so intently now.

❄️ — “You, uh… like Cetoddle? Yeah… um. I think he likes you,” he tries, but he’s no… well, any other gym leader, even Larry, would be better at entertaining some random child while phoning the league staff on site that some unsupervised kid is running around.

❄️ — But he never actually has to make that call, because you run up shortly after he hesitantly approaches, frantically calling your daughter’s name. Like good lord, she is so fast. You blink once and she’s gone. You’re pretty fit, but even now you’re sweating profusely from all the times she’s bolted off on you.

❄️ — Grusha just stares at you as you approach, bug-eyed and wondering how the earth didn’t literally rumble as you ran up. Because holy shit, you’re massive. Legitimately built like an Ursaring and for a second he fears for his life and regrets ever approaching this kid thinking she was lost, because he could swear at the speed a guy who looks like you is approaching, you’re about to bite his head off for getting near her. Once again, interacting with kids proves more trouble than it’s worth, considering he’s so sure this is going to genuinely cost him his life. People get rash when it comes to their kids, understandably.

❄️ — But instead, you look at him, then at your daughter and immediately fall into bowing your head muttering thanks and apologies. “Oh, hey, I’m so sorry, she can be so fast when she wants to, I hope she wasn’t pestering you and your Pokemon for too long!”

❄️ — While you’re gently chiding your daughter for running off and imposing on a stranger, he looks from her to you. Then to her. Then to you. She’s not even, like, a quarter of your size. Being a former athlete, he’s seen some built dudes, but you’re giant and he’s still taken aback by how different your attitude was compared to your appearance and how doting you clearly are over your daughter. (A big heart AND nice body? Grusha isn’t even aware of how many of his boxes you tick because he’s just never thought about those things since his accident.)

❄️ — He clears his throat, scratching at the back of his neck awkwardly. “Uh. No problem. She wasn’t causing any trouble.”

❄️ — Both of you awkwardly mumble out some small talk (Grusha really isn’t one for talking and you’re kind of struggling to hold up the conversation), but when he mentions he’s got to get back to the Gym, you’re shocked. Oh! He’s the gym leader?! THE retired snowboarding prodigy?

❄️ — Turns out you and your daughter had just moved to Paldea, and to warm up to your new home, you’re taking her to see a few of the Ten Sights of Paldea. She ran off when she saw the Cetoddle on their hike, though, and you’re pretty surprised you just kind of bumbled into a pretty famous trainer who you’ve seen in a lot of informative pamphlets and ads for the region. It also makes you increasingly apologetic for your daughter imposing on him because he definitely has a job to do, and shouldn’t be pulled away from it.

❄️ — The conversation doesn’t last much longer, and you part ways shortly after. Grusha doesn’t even realize how attractive you are to him, you’ve got his heart thumping but he doesn’t even consider feelings for someone being a reason why. He’s just sort of resigned himself to be alone. But deep down, seeing a man so attractive (like phew. you are FIT.) be so caring and soft is actually really resonating with him. Basically, you’re a type he doesn’t even know he has.

❄️ — He’s a bit surprised when he sees you and your daughter again after a week or two, back on Glaseado. You wave and give him just the sweetest, happiest greeting when you meet again and sheepishly explain that your daughter became fascinated with the local Ice-type Pokemon and had been begging to go out and see them again. (He’s not sure if he can imagine that child emoting. His interactions with her, including now, all she’s done is hug your side and stare blankly at him.)

❄️ — But you’ve done something rare, and like most of his feelings, Grusha doesn’t realize it—you’ve struck a chord with him somehow and he’s too much of a die hard, stubborn loner to understand why. So when you meet for the second time he awkwardly offers to let you and your daughter meet the local Cetoddle pod that he watches over a lot.

❄️ — It’s cute. Seeing someone of your towering stature playing with the Cetoddles, who somehow don’t fear you at all despite how intimidating you are. They’re crazy about you, probably because they see how your daughter interacts with you and just flock to your parental nature. That and your daughter herself just having a good time while you laugh with her, sometimes throwing halfhearted snowballs because you know if you actually tried to could hurt someone with one, and she mostly just wants to pelt you with them than get hit herself. (Kids)

❄️ — The whole time, Grusha’s watching, not even aware of how smitten he is. But someone else is, because after a bit he’s startled by something shaking violently on his poke ball belt, and then with a crack! and no other warning out comes his Altaria, which grabs his scarf in its talons and drags him the hell over to you. When it shoves the flustered Grusha your way, it lands and begins preening itself, instantly capturing your daughter’s attention. (Because what kid wouldn’t want to pet the fluffy cloud bird? Altaria’s cute, and it knows it.)

❄️ — While Grusha’s giving his dirty traitor of a Pokemon the stink eye, you just give this warm and hearty laugh that has his heart doing flips all over again, and pat Altaria on the head. “Aw, this is a friendly one! Isn’t it pretty?” (To which your daughter vigorously nods.)

❄️ — “Uh, yeah, sorry…” he glares at it, and out of the corner of its eye Altaria glares back. “She’s usually not like this. I don’t know what her issue is.”

❄️ — “Haha, it’s no problem!”

❄️ — Then silence. And silence. …And silence. Grusha’s out of things to say, which didn’t take long at all. You cough. He clears his throat. The both of you watch your daughter and his Pokemon play in the snow. He’s only just now realizing how strangely desperately he wants to find something to say to you. And then, while playing with your daughter, Altaria gives him another Look.

❄️ — Oh. Oh, Altaria knew, too. Altaria was trying to bide him time. Well, he couldn’t let his Pokemon companion’s efforts go to waste, as embarrassing as it was…

❄️ — “So, uh…” he clears his throat. “Wanna… come back to the gym with me? Got a coffee machine there. Get something to warm you up.”

❄️ — Your eyes light up and it feels like his heart just got body-slammed. “Hey, that sounds great!”

❄️ — You call your daughter, and he calls his Pokemon, both running at the promise of some hot chocolate from the coffee machine. As you and him are both turning to head back in the direction of the gym, you completely miss a certain interaction nearby.

❄️ — Your daughter tugs on Grusha’s scarf, and when he looks down at her, she gives an unsettlingly blank stare as she studies his face. Finally, as if it’s a complex equation she just solved, she happily announces: “You’re nice.”

❄️ — Oh, uh… thanks? Those are the words Grusha wants to say, at least, but your daughter keeps going with a genuine verbal gut-punch.

❄️ — “I think you and my daddy should get married.”

❄️ — Kids say the darndest things, huh? (You exchange numbers by the end of the day, and who knows… maybe one of you will follow your daughter’s advice some day. But definitely not today. Grusha has to go crawl into the void and die of embarrassment first.)