#Apple product maintenance

[itsappleexpert]

Nifty’s Antiques in Sundre, Canada: A Vintage Treasure Hunt

Nestled in the small town of Sundre, Alberta, Nifty’s Antiques has become a haven for collectors and vintage enthusiasts alike. With its extensive selection of antiques and unique finds, the store draws visitors from all over Alberta and beyond. From eclectic furniture to rare memorabilia, Nifty’s offers an experience that’s both nostalgic and thrilling, inviting guests to explore, discover, and relive history through its one-of-a-kind pieces. Here’s a closer look at why Nifty’s Antiques has become a must-visit destination, its historical significance, the best times to visit, things to do, and planning tips for a memorable experience.

Historical Significance of Nifty’s Antiques

Nifty’s Antiques holds a special place in Sundre, reflecting the town's connection to Alberta’s early days of pioneering and settlement. The store celebrates the area’s rich history by offering a range of pieces that date back decades, many of which hold stories of Alberta’s past. The town itself has strong roots in farming, logging, and pioneering, and Nifty’s collection of historical artifacts allows visitors to appreciate this heritage tangibly. From 19th-century farming tools to classic home decor items, Nifty’s presents relics of Alberta’s early settlers, showcasing the resilience, craftsmanship, and lifestyle of previous generations.

The shop has also become a cherished community landmark, known for preserving and celebrating Sundre’s unique culture. By sourcing antique items from both local estates and other areas, Nifty’s provides insight into the lifestyles, aesthetics, and values of the past, making it a historical treasure chest for curious minds and avid collectors alike.

Why Nifty’s Antiques is Famous

Nifty’s Antiques has built its reputation on the incredible diversity and quality of its collection. Each item is carefully curated, with everything from vintage furniture and home decor to quirky knick-knacks, rare collectibles, and unique oddities on display. Collectors of every stripe will find something to pique their interest, from art deco pieces and retro clothing to classic Canadiana items.

One unique aspect of Nifty’s is its commitment to maintaining authenticity. Unlike large commercial antique stores, Nifty’s embraces a homey and intimate atmosphere that feels like stepping into a different era. The staff is passionate about antiques and is knowledgeable about the history and significance of each item, offering fascinating anecdotes to enhance the shopping experience. This genuine approach has endeared Nifty’s to both local residents and visitors, making it famous not just for its antiques but also for its ambiance and charm.

In addition to being a haven for antique lovers, Nifty’s Antiques attracts tourists drawn to the unique character of Sundre. Located near the scenic Red Deer River and surrounded by Alberta’s stunning foothills, the store offers an added element of rustic allure, blending seamlessly with Sundre’s landscape and community spirit.

When to Visit Nifty’s Antiques

Nifty’s Antiques is a year-round destination, though certain times of the year make the experience even more enjoyable. The best time to visit is during the warmer months, from late spring to early fall (May to September), when Sundre sees the most tourists and outdoor activities are in full swing. During this period, visitors can enjoy walking around town, exploring local parks, and taking part in nearby hiking and river activities.

For those interested in a quieter visit, winter and early spring can also be a wonderful time to explore Nifty’s. With fewer visitors, winter offers a more peaceful shopping experience, giving guests time to browse the shop’s treasures at their leisure. Additionally, Nifty’s often decorates for the holidays, adding a festive feel to the store during the winter months.

What to Do at Nifty’s Antiques

Browse the Vintage Collection: The highlight of any visit to Nifty’s is simply wandering through the aisles and browsing the extensive collection. The store’s layout encourages exploration, allowing visitors to meander and discover hidden gems.

Learn the Stories Behind the Pieces: Many of the antiques in Nifty’s collection come with fascinating backstories, which the staff is happy to share. Engaging with the knowledgeable team adds depth to the experience, turning an antique hunt into a learning adventure.

Find Unique Decor and Gifts: Whether you’re looking for a specific vintage item or just browsing, Nifty’s is full of treasures that make unique gifts and decor. From mid-century furniture to retro posters and old-fashioned kitchenware, there’s no shortage of special finds.

Capture the Moment with Photos: The store itself, with its nostalgic decor and rustic charm, makes for a fantastic photo backdrop. Many visitors love taking pictures of the quirky displays and unique items that fill the shop.

Explore Nearby Sundre: After visiting Nifty’s, consider exploring other parts of Sundre, including its scenic nature trails, the Red Deer River, and local parks. Sundre’s laid-back, nature-focused atmosphere pairs well with a trip to Nifty’s, creating a balanced day of adventure and relaxation.

Tips for Planning a Visit to Nifty’s Antiques

Check Store Hours in Advance: Hours may vary depending on the season, so it’s a good idea to call ahead or check the store’s website or social media pages for up-to-date hours.

Bring Cash or a Card for Small Purchases: While many antique stores accept various payment methods, having cash on hand can be convenient for smaller purchases. Nifty’s offers a range of items at different price points, making it easy to pick up a few small treasures.

Allow Time for Exploring: Since there’s so much to see at Nifty’s, plan to spend at least an hour or two browsing the collection. The relaxed pace and welcoming ambiance encourage lingering, so make sure to leave enough time to fully enjoy the experience.

Visit Nearby Attractions: Pair your trip to Nifty’s with a visit to nearby Sundre attractions. The town offers several outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing, allowing you to experience the natural beauty of the Alberta foothills.

Ask for Assistance or Recommendations: The staff at Nifty’s is known for their passion and knowledge, so don’t hesitate to ask for advice or recommendations. They can point out unique pieces and may even have insight into specific items that align with your interests.

Final Thoughts

Nifty’s Antiques in Sundre, Canada, is more than just an antique store; it’s a journey into the past. With its carefully curated collection, charming atmosphere, and knowledgeable staff, Nifty’s offers an experience that’s both fun and educational. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a vintage enthusiast, or simply curious, Nifty’s Antiques invites you to step back in time and rediscover a world of treasures. With careful planning, an open mind, and a sense of adventure, a visit to Nifty’s is sure to be a memorable part of any trip to Alberta.

[fyi-iyanni]

Must have’s 💕✨

[justposting1]

Asking New Yorkers What They Do for a Living

New York City has the highest population of millionaires in the United States, so I decided to ask strangers what they do for a living, how much money they make, and advice on how to get into their career! We’re standing in New York City, the most expensive city in the world, and today we’re in front of the most expensive home in the country, listed for a staggering $250 million. Our plan for…

[richdadpoor]

Apple Has Finally Found a Right to Repair Bill That It Likes

This week, Apple announced its support for a California bill to allow consumers to repair or modify their devices independently. The bill, called SB 244 or the Right to Repair Act, was passed by the state senate in May with a 38-0 vote, requiring manufacturers to provide owners and repair shops with the necessary tools and manuals to fix devices. Buy Now or Wait? How to Avoid Tech Buyer’s…

[brokentoothmarch]

My Laptop Charger

Has Stopped Working

[eggluverz]

halloween with the hsr boys

pairing: dan heng; jing yuan; blade x reader

sof's note: guess who is in a halloweeny mood :> meee! and i'm sure a lot of y'all are as well so let's bask in these autumn vibes together LOL special shoutout to the anon who suggested dan heng would watch like 15 vids before he carves a pumpkin fhsjkghdf that is so accurate <3 pls enjoy and happy fall!!

dan heng

not big on the spooky parts of halloween, but he loves getting in the halloween/autumn spirit by watching twitches and halloween town with you

you host a pumpkin carving contest on halloween eve between the two of you and dan heng 100% takes it seriously

days of prep before the big night, hours of youtube videos in his history… he even reads up on the origins of pumpkin carving—just to be fully immersed and prepared

when the time comes, dan heng has his tools lined up in the most efficient order as he readies himself to make his design

he, of course, wanted to carve a tree with maple leaves falling in the night sky

you stare at his template with wide eyes, quickly scrapping your happy face idea to think of something more creative…

noticing this, dan heng chuckles in amusement. “you don’t have to change your design to match mine”

you shake your head. “and risk losing the competition? no way”

“then may the best carver win”

when the two of you are done, you take a photo and send to your friends to vote

it was a close call, but dan heng ends up winning by two votes

“maybe i should’ve joined your pumpkin carving research…” you pout, staring between your finished product and his

“there’s always next year,” dan heng soothes, giving you a hug. “besides, you’re always the winner in my eyes.”

jing yuan

he would make all the pies for you

pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, sweet potato pie, apple crumble pie…you name it 

he doesn’t even know how to make pie he just googled a bunch of recipes and winged it

you think something tastes off but you try to encourage him anyway 

of course, jing yuan sees right through it

“it‘s not that i don’t like your baking, i really do, but i may have some suggestions for the future…”

“there is no need to sugarcoat your distaste, y/n,” he says with a laugh. “we can redo them together.”

the pies turn out even better the next time

the two of you end up picking up pie making as your fall-time hobby this year and bake pie for all your friends

he tries to make a mimi-safe pie as well

mimi hates it (pumpkin spice is not good on the lion’s tongue) 

but you think the effort is cute :> 

he ends halloween night off by sharing a yummy slice of apple crumble pie with whipped cream on top with you

“so sweet!” you state happily as he feeds you the first bite. 

jing yuan leans forward and smiles. “not as sweet as you” 

blade

goes all in for halloween

is dead instead most of the year, comes to life for the halloween spirit

he likes to decorate the house with you, even making a mini “haunted maze” in the driveway for the trick-or-treaters

accidentally makes a kid cry in it…

really, he just went in the maze to do a quick maintenance check, but he looked so menacing in his costume that a kid saw him and started crying 

blade is too confused about what happened to feel bad 

you give the kid extra candy and apologize to their parents while stifling a laugh at blade’s blank expression

“i didn’t even say ‘boo’,” he murmurs curiously.

you just pat him on the head and give him a kiss on the cheek

after the trick-or-treat shenanigans, you and blade relax and unwind on the comfort of your couch

his definition of unwinding on halloween is watching old horror movies

[or, if you cannot handle horror like me: he watches the barbie movies with you to help you take your mind off the halloween scares and go to sleep :3]

you cuddle him as you doze off while eating leftover halloween candy 

blade carries you to bed and tucks you in for the night bc you deserve a good night’s rest <3

[xomakara]

Elevator

(re-posting from my old account seulrinnie-rinrin/xomakara-secondary)

SUMMARY | You and Wooyoung are stuck in the elevator with nothing to do but talk. But when you are awfully aware of how close he is, you can’t help but act on your urges.

PAIRING | Wooyoung/Reader

GENRE | non-idol!Wooyoung, smut with no plot, unprotected sex (wrap it up everyone!), fingering, oral, vaginal sex, elevator sex

RATING | Mature

LENGTH | 2593 words

AUTHOR’S NOTE | On the shorter side but still smutty~

"Nononono. This can't be happening." You ran a hand through your hair, sliding down the walls of the elevator as it stopped moving. The lights were out and you could barely make out the figure of the man who stood next to you.

Of all days to get a power outage!

"Freaking out like that isn't going to make things better." The man muttered, his voice low and calm. "Breathe deep. Count to ten. Do something productive. Shit. I forgot what to do when things go bad."

He added, not sounding at all sincere.

You didn't need him to tell you to breathe; you'd been doing so since the lights went out in the first place. Your heart was pounding and the sweat on your palms made them slippery. The whole situation was just freaking bizarre and the adrenaline pumping through your body wasn't helping either.

You knew you had a bad feeling when you woke up this morning as you struggled to get out of bed. All your work clothes were in the laundry hamper, a lightbulb went out in your bathroom while you showered, you ran out of coffee and there was nothing left to eat for breakfast besides half an apple that had turned brown overnight.

On top of all that, the bathroom mirror showed that the faint lines around your eyes were more pronounced than usual.

And now you're stuck in the company's elevator with that very attractive employee in your department, one who is probably pissed off that he can't find anything to do while trapped here too.

"I knew I should have called in today." You muttered, burying your face in your hands. "This day couldn't possibly get any worse."

"How worse could it be?" The man asked, looking slightly annoyed but also amused by the sight of you bawling your eyes out on the elevator floor. He took a few steps forward before stopping again, taking another deep breath. "It's just a power outage after all. It happens every now and then."

"True enough." You agreed, raising your head to look up at him. "I just can't believe I'm stuck here with you."

"What's wrong with being stuck in an elevator with me?" He laughed.

"Not funny, Wooyoung." You frowned. "God, I can already hear all the other ladies in our department talking shit about me. Why do I always get myself into these situations? Like I haven't got enough problems as it is."

"I mean there's one way we can deter the shit talking." He smirked, gesturing at himself suggestively.

You groaned and shook your head. You really needed to get out of here soon or else your colleague was going to try to make a move on you and then you'll be really fucked. Not that you weren't interested in the idea, but you've heard some horror stories from friends who hooked up with co-workers and most of them ended badly.

You glanced around nervously, wondering how long the power outage would last and how long you'd be stuck in this elevator. You wondered if they'd think of any contingency plan if they realized how much time had passed since the lights went out. Maybe they'd sent maintenance to fix it? Hopefully someone will come soon.

"What are you thinking about, Y/N?" Wooyoung asked, sinking to the floor next to you. His legs crossed and his arms resting casually on his knees. "Having second thoughts about making a move on me?"

"I am not trying to make a move on you, no matter how attractive you may be." You mumbled. "Are you really sure you want to know what I'm thinking?"

"I have been told I have good hearing." He grinned, nudging you playfully with his shoulder. "Go ahead and tell me. Whatever it is, I won't judge you."

"Just being in this elevator is making my anxiety go up the wazoo." You sighed, sitting back against the wall.

"That's why I'm trying to distract you." He said with a shrug. "So, you really want to tell me what's bothering you?"

"I've just had such a bad day." You sighed. "I struggled to get out of bed this morning. All my work clothes were in the hamper, the light bulbs went out during my shower, I didn't have any breakfast except for a stupid apple that turned brown and I ran out of coffee this morning. Everything seemed to conspire against me this morning and..."

You took a deep breath and stared down at your feet, knowing that if you looked at him, you might let yourself get carried away. Wooyoung squeezed your hands gently.

"This kind of thing doesn't happen to me. I've always got my shit together, but today, everything seems to fall apart. One after the other." You muttered.

"Y/N, don't feel embarrassed about having bad days. Everyone has them." He murmured. "Sometimes life can be cruel and unjust, leaving us to struggle with burdens we never thought we could carry alone. It happens to the best of us."

"Maybe." You sighed. "But sometimes you wish that sometimes those bad days wouldn't happen at all."

"Well, we can't always get what we want, right?" He smiled gently. "But if we accept reality as it is, rather than as we wish it to be, perhaps we'll feel better and cope better with whatever life throws at us."

"Who are you and what have you done to the cocky Wooyoung I work with?" You let out an amused sigh. "Is it possible to see two sides of a person at once? Because I definitely saw a different side of you today. Thank you for being nice to me."

"Oh come on, it's nothing special." He waved his hand dismissively. "But I'd like a kiss as payment for comforting you. That's if...you want to."

You looked at him, eyes taking in his handsome face. His messy hair, slightly tousled from always running his hands through them. Those eyes that made you weak in the knees. The lips that were dangerously close to yours.

"Do you want to kiss me?" He asked quietly, tilting his head to the side.

There was a moment where neither of you moved, staring deeply into each other's eyes until finally Wooyoung leaned closer and pressed his lips against yours softly.

The soft kiss surprised you, making you pull away slightly. But Wooyoung didn't seem fazed by it and instead he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer. You returned the kiss, brushing your lips against his before pressing your mouth more firmly against his.

Your lips parted slightly as he continued to press kisses to your lips, opening wider as his tongue slid along the seam of your mouth, exploring every corner until finally parting to allow him entrance. He tasted faintly of coffee, which made you wonder if he drank a cup before he came down here, but his taste was still pleasantly sweet.

"You know I could care less about what our coworkers would say about us." He muttered against your lips. "I only have eyes for you."

His words, along with his closeness and the scent of his cologne filled your senses and slowly your breathing became deeper, almost as though your lungs were expanding and pushing the air inside even further. The electricity flowing between you caused goosebumps to rise on your skin, spreading all over your body as his hands tightened their grip around your waist.

As much as you wanted to deny it, his lips and his touch were sending sparks of pleasure shooting across your skin and a warm sensation rushed to your core.

"Wooyoung..." You moaned, closing your eyes tightly. You felt his lips graze your jawline, before moving lower to nip at your earlobe. A shiver ran down your spine and your knees began to weaken, causing you to lean back against the wall behind you.

"Y/N..." He whispered, nibbling at your neck before he began to suckle your earlobe. "Do you want me to stop?"

The question caught you completely off guard and you opened your eyes to stare into his. In the dim lighting of the elevator, your pupils were drawn into his dark eyes, which seemed to have gone darker, taking on a darker shade.

"No." You breathed, leaning in to press your lips against his.

And Wooyoung seemed equally affected by your kiss. Before you could blink, his hands reached up and grabbed the sides of your face, pulling you towards him so that your lips met once more.

With every kiss, the intensity grew and soon you were lost in the sensations coursing through your body. When he pulled away slightly to give you a chance to catch your breath, your breath hitched and you licked your lips before reaching up to run your fingers through his hair.

The man in front of you was no longer the Wooyoung you usually worked with. Instead, he looked like a man who knows exactly what he wants and won't hesitate to take it.

"Don't stop." You breathed out, Wooyoung lifted you in his arms. His face darkened with desire and his breath came out in shallow pants as he gazed down at you with hunger in his eyes. "Please..."

He dropped to his knees, lifting your skirt and tugging your panties aside, revealing your pussy. It was slick with excitement and arousal and you felt your breath quicken. The sight of your cunt getting wetter was arousing and thrilling, as he looked up at you expectantly.

Before you could stop him, he slipped two fingers inside your pussy and began to stroke you, bringing out small whimpers of pleasure. He continued to slide his fingers in and out of you, fucking you with such skill and control.

Your legs began to shake uncontrollably, feeling weak from the pleasure he brought you and you sank back against the wall, needing something to hold onto. He didn't need to be told twice and quickly placed his hand under your knee, bringing it to rest on his shoulder, his face now buried between your thighs.

You let out a gasp when his tongue began to lap at your clit, teasing it and making it throb with pleasure. You closed your eyes and tilted your hips upwards, allowing him better access to your center. Your hips bucked erratically, driving his tongue faster, while his fingers kept pumping in and out of you.

He hummed and thrust his tongue harder against your clit, causing you to moan loudly. You started panting heavily, sucking in your bottom lip as he began to finger fuck you in earnest, fastening his pace. There was no mistaking it anymore. He was totally focused on pleasuring you, intent on giving you mind blowing orgasms.

The combination of the electric shocks from his fingers in conjunction with the vibrations from his tongue was too much to bear. Soon your hips began to buck violently, moaning and whimpering, driven mad by the pleasure that overwhelmed you.

"Fuck!"

It was unlike anything you ever experienced before. As you screamed his name, letting go of all control, all you could do was keep your orgasm coming, flooding his mouth with your juices until your body relaxed against the wall and he withdrew his tongue, licking the last traces of your cum from his lips.

"Holy fuck..." You gasped, catching your breath.

"Good?" He asked, kissing your inner thigh and working his way up to kiss you. You could taste yourself on his lips, but it only added to your arousal.

"So good but now..." Your knees went weak and you rested your forehead against his. "Now I need you to fuck me."

In an instant, he lifted you so that you could wrap your legs around his waist. The position left you open and vulnerable, as he settled himself between your legs and pushed forward, burying his cock deep inside you. You gasped as you took his length fully, enjoying the fullness of him. The feel of him filling you to capacity.

Wooyoung thrust in and out of you, setting a steady pace that made you cling onto him. With each thrust, his pelvis smacked against your clit, making you cry out.

The speed increased as you leaned back against the wall, lifting your ass higher to accommodate him. Wooyoung gripped your hips, moving them back and forth with precision, hitting just the right spot. He pressed kisses to your neck, then your ears before finding your lips again.

The combination of the feel of his hands gripping your hips and the feel of his hard cock pulsating inside you, sent ripples of pleasure shooting through your body, igniting your passion.

"Oh God...Wooyoung..." You groaned, arching your back as his tongue found its way to your earlobe.

"You feel so good. I could fuck you forever." He whispered, thrusting into you harder and harder, his balls slapping against your ass with each thrust. "Can I fuck you forever?"

"Yes please...Yes. Yes.." You moaned, pressing your body tighter against his.

His moans were growing louder as he thrust into you faster and faster, matching your pace. With every thrust, his fingers dug into your hips, holding you tight against him. Every time you pressed back against him, he let out a long groan, then immediately buried himself inside you, fucking you harder and harder.

"Y/N... Y/N... Come for me..." He groaned against your ear.

It took every ounce of willpower not to let yourself cum, but his moans and the feel of his hard cock deep inside you drove you crazy and you knew you couldn't hold back any longer.

The muscles in your stomach clenched and a tremor coursed through your body as another orgasm ripped through you, leaving you trembling. Wooyoung thrust harder, gritting his teeth and growling as he came with you. The sight of him losing control and calling out your name made your heart skip a beat and make your knees buckle.

But before you could fall to the floor, he caught you in his arms and held you tightly, kissing you tenderly. You were completely spent and all you wanted was to collapse into his arms.

"I got you." He whispered, wrapping his arms around you protectively.

As soon as Wooyoung placed you on your feet, the power kicked back on and the elevator started moving again. The both of you let out a laugh as you fixed your clothes, making sure that nothing had fallen out of place.

"Wooyoung?" You turned to look at him, smiling at him. "Thank you."

He grasped your hand, linking your fingers together as you walked towards the doors. "Anytime."

As the elevator door opened, he let go of your hand, placing his hands on the doors and holding them open for you. He watched as you exited the elevator, giving you one last smile before he followed you.

When you got to your desk and Wooyoung to his, you were both silent, content in the fact that you had each other and no one else knew what had happened between the two of you. And when you turned to look at your phone, you saw a text from him asking if you wanted to get dinner later.

Your heart skipped a beat as your face lit up with a wide smile. The night was still young and there was plenty of time for you and Wooyoung to enjoy it together.

[dear-ao3]

a comprehensive list of people (and things) that i have referred to as "my boys" in the last 24 hours:

-the formula 1 mclaren drivers

-the entire cast of the 2015 newsies live production

-9 stuffed axolotls from build a bear

-the maintenance guys at my apartment building

-jay, carlos and harry from disneys descendants (specifically the second one)

-the little forks in my drawer

-the apples i was cooking

-the 2023 formula 1 drivers (including the previously mentioned mclaren ones)

-the cast of netflix's dragons race to the edge

-joe and nicholas from disney's princess diaries 2

[magigoblin]

Goblin tips to saving money:

Buy ingredients, not snacks. A bag of flour costs about the same as a bag of name brand chips and will make you so much more food! Rice, beans, block cheese, tortillas, there’s a lotta ways to make cheap n tasty lazy food. Spices seem expensive but remember they’ll last a while longer than most food purchases. You can make chili oil, pickled vegetables (garlic is Gobbo’s personal favorite!), all kinds of flavorful things without much effort to make other things tastier. Google has all the recipes you might need, as long as you disregard the AI thing they’re pushing.

Thrift stores. You don’t need that fancy new Apple brand waffle maker or whatever the fuck the rich assholes are pushing this week. Go to a thrift store and buy the waffle iron that the previous owner had for 20 years and will last at least 5 more, because the new stuff is designed to break after six months to force another purchase and will do the job just as well as the thrifted one at best.

Basic tools. You would be amazed how far a few screwdrivers, needle+thread and an adjustable wrench can extend the lifespan of goods. Tinkering is good for the goblin brain and is entirely practical as an experience. Do your research and get the brands of tools that will last and have the fewest “features.” Bells ‘n whistles only inflate the price and weaken the products.

Reuse before you recycle. Even if you can’t fix something, you can repurpose it entirely. Bucket has a hole in the bottom? Put a sturdy mesh over it with non-water-soluble glue and use it to grow a plant. The hole will let the excess water drain and keep the roots from rotting. You just saved money buying an overpriced planting pot, only having to buy some glue and mesh instead. Do not, however, begin hoarding things “just in case.” If you cannot think of a use for it, or have no desire or need to put it to said use, it is best disposed of or given to someone else who will.

Don’t spend, invest. Not in stocks or crypto or whatever. Wherever you can, buy the built-to-last versions of things and take care of those things instead of the cheap ones that are “good enough.” If you have to save up for a while, so be it, trust me it will save you so much money later. Durability is king when saving money, and maintenance is his faithful queen. Gobbo recommends cast iron cookware, if you can consistently maintain it. That stuff will last literally for generations if it is cared for.

Establish routines. A lot of money-saving practices need a little extra effort to work, so make a checklist and do everything on it once a day. Season your cast iron, water your plants, check expiration dates on food, make sure none of the lights were left on by accident, that sort of thing. The certainty of this routine does wonders for one’s clarity of mind in the long term, and usually takes half an hour at most.

Optimize your hobbies. Identify which parts of a hobby you don’t need to invest as heavily in to fully enjoy still. For example, if you love movies, it is worth appraising whether the whole movie theatre experience is worth the price tag or if you’d be just as happy buying the DvD and curling up at home with your own popcorn and no rude moviegoers detracting from the movie. If you’re a crafty sort, see if you can do anything to get more out of your raw materials. Went to school with a girl who used to waste a lot of fabric when tailoring, but started saving about 70 dollars a month by measuring and stenciling all the cuts in the fabric before actually cutting, minimizing the unusable scraps.

We live in a world where money is worth less to the market every day, so it is important to make that money worth more by how we use it!

If you’re motivated by spite, think of it like this. The rich people that run things want you to spend as much money as possible on every purchase, so spending less money and getting more out of it is a direct act of rebellion that they can’t do anything to stop you from committing. It is a small victory over capitalism, one that you can commit every moment of every day while simultaneously improving your quality of living. You are taking some power over you away from them and they hate that. It’s punk, it’s positive, it’s productive counterculture. What more could you want?

[possumcollege]

NOBODY needs to be defending these people. Major publishers, studios, streaming services, Tesla, Apple, Adobe, Amazon, social media companies- there isnt a single altruistic bone caught in their teeth. Profit from the output of exploited and captive labor IS their product now. When their contacts look like the one in question, the company is clearly stating that shareholders are the customers, not us!

Why else would it be anything but a stupid idea for Amazon to just nuke the majority of Comixology's self-published titles when they consolidated their services? If our experience was really foremost in their minds, why would they repeatedly purge, censor, demonitize, bury, and delete popular accounts with robust followings if not to allay the moral brainworms of shareholders and investors?

Forfeiting rights to our IP is not a "shitty deal," it's surrendering any potential ability to make money off of your own creative work. It's selling your property to a board of accountants to pitch into a portfolio. It's theirs to trot out as long as it's profitable and bury the instant its projected profit dips too close to the cost of maintenance. Hell, we've seen services drop popular series just because their projected profits started to flatten out! Mothballing it also has the added bonus of removing it from the market to further minimize potential competition. Like how there just weren't spider man movies for ages because the owner of the property didn't think it was worth developing but worth too much to sell.

They will make more money from suing you for trying to reclaim IP they mothballed than you did selling it to them in the first place. I guaranteee their budget for lawsuits is a lot deeper than the one they pay their "original" artists from.

By virtue of being a big, profitable, corporation, "their" IP is going to have an astronomically higher value in a court of law than any individual creator. The financial "damage" will be higher for infringing on their copyrights than any amount you can claim on your own. When it becomes theirs, their connections, their infrastructure, their reputation makes it an asset with much more value than you or I can possibly claim. So if you try to steal a bite back from them it's a bite of a *potentially* multimillion-dollar series. In their eyes, they bought the totality of your work, which you agreed was worth the price they gave you. It's value becomes more dependent on who owns it than whether it's even good.

You may not have the same potential to become flash-in-the-pan, short-term succesful without their resources, but you will still own your rights to distribute, alter, preserve, promote, and negotiate your share if you still own your work. That is worth everything as a creator who is passionate about what you've made and committed to protecting it.

The most effective power we can exercise as artists is our ability to say, "no" when someone else wants to pay us a disadvantageous fraction of our worth. You may lose potentially lucrative opportunities but "opportunities" presented by companies like Facebook or Twitter, whose real product is a platform for ads and data collection, with content as bait, are not opportunities to thrive on as independent artists. This specifically is an opportunity for the company to acquire property.

The myth that the publisher's strength is something for us to exploit, without them getting the lion's share is a trap that they feed from at will.

People like the poster up top are opportunists who see the process as a pipeline towards trading low-investment content for financial treats and maybe a share of ad revive. They're stalking horses for companies to exploit more talented but less experienced artists who are facing a daunting and overwhelming market where their work becomes harder and harder to show, let alone sell. A quick deal may feel like a win but it's selling the cow to save money on bottling the milk. Artists like this serve the publisher by making it seem like signing away your rights are just a necessary part of the game. However it's a game they are playing with exceedingly cheap stakes that weren't going to succeed on their own merit. So what if Mr. Business Perspective loses rights to his sexy Mario Bros. parody to a huge company? The point was always to unload it because it's a product, a bartering chip, a trinket. He's a Business Man, so he sees tactics that maximize profits to the business as maximizing their ability to buy whatever shiny tripe he cranks out. The business is his customer, not the reader. The business is his ally, not the creative community. Fuck him and fuck anyone who tells you the exposure is worth a damn if you don't retain rights to your work.

[amongussexgif]

Question from a guy thats stupid and doesn't know anything about computers. How do i start learning more? Like i would say i know the basics but thats it,do you have a source or something that you use ? (Again sorry if the question is stupid i just don't know)

Not a stupid question at all!

The basic resources are JayzTwoCents, Gamer's Nexus, and LinusTechTips. I've ordered them by reliability there.

When it comes to picking parts, which I suspect you might be struggling with, there's a lot to consider. Websites like PCPartPicker, PC Bottleneck Calculator, and videocardbenchmark are all fantastic resources.

Here are a few things from me to you, though:

1. NVIDIA are evil; if you want a GeForce card, buy refurbished. Also, 40 series cards are WAY overpriced for what you're getting. I'll always recommend AMD's Radeons anyways though, since they have way more VRAM.

2. Intel are selling snake oil right now and I wouldn't buy anything from them. AMD's Ryzen chips would be my choice even if Intel weren't being scammers right now.

3. ASUS have been consistantly fucking over their customers for a few months, so don't buy from them (especially their motherboards and graphics cards). JayzTwoCents literally banned them as a sponsor because of their horseshit and faulty products.

4. Research manufacturers just as much as you research the parts themselves! MSI is the king of the game right now, but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. For exams, Gigabyte uses a concerning amount of ABS plastic, ASUS are pulling an Apple, and Zotac can be pretty inconsistent.

5. If you're buying a pre-built (which I wouldn't recommend, but you do you), research the builder and read as many reviews as possible. I know Build Redux is big right now because they sponsored LTT a bunch, but their shipping materials are cheap and reviews say that computers are being delivered broken. Digital Storm overprice the FUCK out of everything, iBuyPower are filthy liars, and Alienware pre-builts are built so odd that it'll be hard to do maintenance or upgrades later on.

Oh, and take everything with a grain of salt. Things change frequently, so there's a decent chance that certain brands or products are better or worse than a few months ago.

And if you have specific questions, ask them specifically! "What graphics card should I buy?" Is a very different question than "what's a good graphics card to pair with my cpu?"

[fulloftheloveyouwant]

Kinktober day 4 | Swiss/Mountain

Warnings/Tags: Anal sex, genital piercings, frottage, edging, mentions of cannabis. Might be forgetting something, just let me know if so. Rating: Explicit, MDNI 18+ Length: 2.5k words Notes: Posted on my Ao3 originally. I'll post here more I swear :') on that note.. I've been really enjoying writing Mountain's dynamics with the others.

Swiss lifted his hand up before letting the metal watering can tilt and pour water onto the shrubs below. What did Mount say these were again..? He glanced down at the name tag for the plant, "Camellia." Hmm, it is rather fortunate Mountain labels everything in case anyone grows curious about his plants.

On the other side, Mountain's gardening shears snapped harshly as he pruned off an overgrown branch. His apple tree kept extending itself too far, despite how many talks he's had with this tree in particular it continues to ignore him. "Can you stop shooting branches this way? I told you it's better to focus on your current branches." Mountain complained to the tree with a frown as he stared at it.

"Has it talked back yet?" Swiss asked from the other aisle with a laugh, "No- Of course it won't respond back. But I know she can hear me." "She..?" "She has fruits, so it's a she." Mountain clarified, "The camellia you were watering is a male, it has pollen so that shrub is a male." Mountain says as he turned away from the apple tree.

"Right.." Swiss agreed, approaching the cannabis section. Now, he's not one to ever dislike receiving a fresh bag of cannabis however.. They're currently too short to be trimmed and used, still he was eyeing them. Mountain suddenly appeared behind Swiss, startling the multi-ghoul. "You weren't trying to sneak in any, were you?" Mountain asked, suspicious of Swiss.

"No! I was going to water this section like you asked." Swiss says back, looking at Mountain who nearly towered over him. Mountain had his hands behind his back but nodded at Swiss to go ahead, "This section is all female. I keep the males in my room so I can do voluntary breeding when it's spring." Mountain says, nearly delighted at the plants.

"I know about these plants if nothing else." Swiss says with a laugh as he ran his hands through the plants, as he did so they curled towards him. A subtle effect of being in his element with earth. He dipped the watering can to water them properly, they'd be done in a few minutes with the daily maintenance of the greenhouse garden.

Mountain already did the other gardens with Phantom and Aether, leaving Swiss to help in Mountain's strongest area. His greenhouse.

"When these ones are mature again, can you snip me some off again?" Swiss asked as he finished watering the cannabis and moved onto the next plant starting with c. Mountain organises his plants in alphabetical order. "I always do. Besides, you and Dew are the biggest enjoyers of it." Mountain responded back as he made his way down the rows of plants inspecting for weeds or bugs.

"I.. thought you also smoked your own product?" Swiss asked, glancing back at Mountain as he watered the low growing chrysanthemums. "Rarely." Mountain replied back immediately, he really only bothered with cannabis whenever Swiss invited him and Dew.

"Huh." Swiss was baffled by that fact since Mountain is so calm he surely had to be a stoner. At least in Swiss's mind it made sense. Swiss pulled away as he watered the last few flowers, "All done." Swiss says with a heavy sigh as he stretched with the watering can still in hand.

"Perfect, did you want to take a nap now?" Mountain asked as he was already walking over to his hammock, glancing at some of the potted plants that surrounded the back of the greenhouse. There was a net of English Ivy above that he frequently had to trim as it crawls over the glass too often or even ends up growing towards him while he's asleep and dreaming.

"Uh.. Nah, I was hoping you were gonna be weird with your plants again." Swiss responded as he went to put the watering can in its rightful place before approaching Mountain who was reclined in his hammock. Mountain looked over at Swiss, eyes glossed over with a layer of sleepiness.

"Again?" Mountain asked, hand coming up lazily to wipe at his eyes and clear them of drowsiness. He naps for most of the day and only really gets up long enough to eat and tend to his plants then he's back to being passed out. When he's not sleeping, eating, or tending to his plants then he's usually reading.

"Why don't we take a walk? You like being in the forest more, yeah?" "Hmm.. You tempt me. Fine- Just don't run into a tree again." "It was an accident.." Swiss hissed back, Mountain nodded as he stepped out of his hammock carefully to follow Swiss.

They walked a trail about 15 minutes out, quite far from being in the abbey's territory and filled with wildlife. Mountain did love being in the forest, the air was cleaner, the trees were taller, and it's more quiet. You can hear every little noise an animal makes..

Which led him to turn when he heard Swiss's breath catch for a moment. "What's wrong?" Mountain asked, barely above a murmur. "Nothin'- Are we far out enough now?" Swiss questioned, turning to Mountain.

"I suppose.. Although- You still know I'm not going to use vines on you, right?" Mountain asked with narrowed eyes as he scratched at his hair. "Right right, next time then." Swiss says with a grin, he unbuttoned his shirt before pulling it over his head.

Mountain was going to undress as well but Swiss stopped him, "Ah- Don't worry about that. You'll be the one on bottom." "I will?" "I don't lie about positions, c'mon Mount." Their conversation was brief but with Swiss reassuring and.. Insisting to some degree- Mountain didn't undress from his casual clothes.

Mountain sat down, legs lazily crossed over each other as he watched Swiss intently with a slouch. "If looks could devour, I'm sure you would've eaten me by now." Swiss says with a laugh as he unzipped his jeans and started to push them down by the waistband.

Mountain's emerald irises were trained on the way the fabric slid down Swiss's waist until it dipped below his thighs, he inhaled sharply once he saw Swiss's cock and the piercing directly through the head. Prince Albert.

A blush spread on his face as he straightened his sitting position, Swiss noticed and went ahead and slipped out of his jeans and briefs completely. "Remember back when I had a nose ring..? Did I ever tell you why I no longer have a nose ring?" Swiss asked as he pushed his clothes into a pile to the side.

"I remember, you didn't tell me why it was removed, no." Mountain responded back, startled by Swiss suddenly climbing on him. "Droplet ripped it out by accident." Swiss says, Mountain winced. "Ow." He responded back, the idea of his nose being torn by someone ripping a piercing out.. He would've grabbed at his nose if Swiss wasn't pinning his body down.

Swiss laughed at Mountain's reaction, "It was fun. But I only brought it up so I can tell you to not tear my nipple piercings, especially after Phantom almost tore those by accident." "Too excited?" "Way too excited." The exchange of words was brief as Swiss pushed Mountain to the forest floor.

Swiss straddled Mountain's thighs, grinning at the gentle giant as he pulled his cock free. "Only half? Must not be doing my job well enough.." Swiss joked while pushing himself closer to stroke them together, Mountain whined as his eyes struggled to stay open. A soft moan falling out of his mouth.

"Adorable.." Swiss grinned while watching Mountain struggle, his member was now noticeably fully erect. His hand glided over them both, spreading their pre together in large strokes. Mountain's legs wanted to shift and move but Swiss was inadvertently pinning them down, "Swiiiiss.." Mountain whimpered his eyes blinking open for just a second.

"Already?" Swiss asked with a breathless laugh as he pulled away from Mountain, it was irresistible to see Mountain's features go from being calm to steadily becoming aroused and struggling to focus. Mountain nodded, silently pleading for Swiss to take him in.

Swiss wasn't too hesitant even with his lack of prep, he just needed to be careful about how he does this. Mountain's hands moved to Swiss's waist as Swiss carefully lined himself up and planted his hands on Mountain's clothed chest. "Mm- Don't move." Swiss muttered as he inched down, taking Mountain inch by inch.

He'd stop to adjust accordingly, his breath would become shaky and then it'd level out again. Mountain's fingers were gripping Swiss's hips tightly, at least until Swiss fully sunk onto him. A sharp gasp came out of both of them at the sensation, Swiss caught his breath and looked at Mountain's face that was now more awake than before.

Plus, his hair was sprouting lovely pink flowers that were quite aromatic. Swiss didn't keep looking for too long though, with the help of Mountain's hands he was able to start a rolling pace that had Mountain below moaning. Swiss gasped and huffed, while he wasn't close- He was still struggling to maintain composure.

Ironically, while Mountain is the calm one in normal activities, during sex he falls apart easily and would succumb to every bit of pleasure and lust that came his way. Swiss loved every second of it, Mountain's expressions, his sounds, his-

"I'm close." Mountain huffed out, Swiss's eyes widened as he titled his head. Dreads falling to the side as he did so, "Already..?" He asked almost afraid of the answer. Mountain is sensitive, he knew that- But he didn't think he was so sensitive as to already be tapped out. Mountain nodded in response, Swiss slowed his movements until he stopped completely.

Does he let Mountain finish now or.. Maybe..? Maybe not. Mountain whined, squeezing Swiss's hips and attempting to encourage him to continue. "No no, not until you ease back down." Swiss says, almost scolding but his tone was gentle. "But-" Mountain started, Swiss leaned down to kiss Mountain on his cheek.

Mountain was silenced as he could only muster up a needy whine, greedily taking all of Swiss's kisses. Feeling the tickle of a metal piercing against his skin with each kiss.

He had a slight smile, it became wider once Swiss kissed him on his lips. Swiss's hands reached up to grab his curls that had a multitude of flowers sprouting in them, Mountain gasped in Swiss's mouth before it turned to a moan.

Their tongues clash before Mountain gives up and lets Swiss explore him as he pleases. Mountain's body rocked, brushing against Swiss's cock. Swiss pulled away, tongue rolling over his lips. "Calm again?" Swiss asked as he traced a finger up Mountain's slender body. "Calm is subjective." Mountain responded back, Swiss rolled his eyes with a chuckle.

Swiss stroked himself with one hand as the other hand kept himself firmly stable on Mountain, a pace being set once again that was faster than before. Mountain helped guide him with every movement, making it all the more pleasurable for them both.

This time it was Swiss who was close first, his head was steadily leaking strands that dripped onto his piercing before falling into his hand that stroked himself. His breath catching as his body began to still, Mountain let Swiss fall once more and Swiss bit his tongue until it bled when he felt Mountain hit his sweet spot.

The taste of iron was the only thing he could focus on as he came into his hand, warm white covered his hand as he panted and breathed harshly through his nose. Mountain dug his fingers into Swiss as he was squeezed, his own body reacting off of Swiss and feeling the telltale signs of a crashing orgasm.

He tried to say something but it was torn away by him whining as the waves seemed to hit him and turn his mind blank. Mountain's head fell back with a relaxed sigh as he let himself feel all the intense sensations, Swiss comes down on top of him a moment later also sighing.

The two laid together for several minutes in a half asleep post sex cuddle, Mountain was the first to properly move. His eyes looking around, "Oh.. Wow." Mountain whispered, his tone embarrassed. "Wha.. What? Oh!" When Swiss sat up from Mountain's body he saw the same sight that Mountain did.

Around them was a field of flowers, that spread from Mountain's happy (and pleased) thoughts. It covered the forest floor in a circular pattern around them, Swiss delicately climbed off of Mountain, hissing inwards as he felt raw still. Mountain stayed quiet, hands releasing Swiss as he went to go tidy himself up and tuck his member away and neatly into his pants.

"Question- Are these flowers gonna die once we leave?" Swiss asked as he walked to his previously discarded clothes. He started to dress himself as Mountain sat up. "Um.. I do think so. This isn't their natural environment, but the bluebells may survive if they're lucky." Mountain noted as he looked at all the colourful flowers.

"And here I was, just starting to enjoy them." Swiss says with a laugh, "You can always enjoy more plants inside of my greenhouse. I have plenty, for observing and for.." "Using." "Swiss, must you be so direct?" Mountain sighed as he rubbed his face. "Always! Less confusion that way. C'mon you'll have to help me walk back, I'm sore already." Swiss says with a grin as he walked over to Mountain and offered his hand.

Mountain took the help as stood up, his full height still towering over Swiss. "Did you want me to carry you?" Mountain asked quietly, "Like a princess?!" Swiss says back, his eyes now practically glowing with delight and hopefulness. Mountain narrowed his eyes but reluctantly nodded, "Yes! Carry me, my knight in shining armour!" Swiss tossed himself into Mountain.

Mountain huffed as all the air was shoved out of his lungs, "Stay still!" He shouted at Swiss who was moving too much. Swiss stopped upon Mountain's words, he was smiling with those sharp fangs as Mountain lifted him up and put him in a proper hold.

Swiss nuzzled into Mountain, slinging his arms around Mountain's neck to balance his weight. "So now when we get back to your garden will you tie me up?" Swiss asked, eyes closed as Mountain began walking. "Since I invited you this time- Yes." Mountain responded, one of his hands rubbing Swiss's thigh soothingly.

"Great! I read one of your books by the way and they tied main protagonist to the ceiling and.." Mountain was both delighted and slightly horrified to find out that Swiss had not only read one of his books but also wanted to act out a scene in it.

Well, they've got all day and a greenhouse to play around with.

[drawing-prompt-s]

Promphet update

Hey, I'll be gone for a little while longer but I wanted to give you guys an update because I know some of you have been concerned.

I moved out of the apartment and into a new unit today. This has a win and some losses.

The win is of course I am not at least no longer living with my roommate and basically her friends since those mfers should have paid rent for how nightly they're over. I live diagonal from her, but I will take what I can get. It also made the move easier.

Downside, she stole or destroyed basically everything of mine in the common areas that she could. What items she didn't just steal or use and never replace (and this goes for her friends/gusests as well), are thoroughly unusable. Aside from the most expensive at least - but I could have had her head on a spike for it.

But this damages ranges from now missing every cleaning product I owned (fabulosos, bleach, detergent, etc - so many etcs), to missing personal items or finding them in worse condition than they were left (my room was tiny, I only had so much room), to straight up just destroying my cookware or stealing it. She stole most of it and damaged pretty much all the rest - cookware less than a year old is now rusted beyond repair and had to be thrown out. I have one pot and 1 pan now everything else is missing. This coming from the girl who threw a whole fit in mediations about not wanting her things touched and separating our stuff out, only to help herself to using and destroying mine, of course).

On top of that she blatantly ignored mediation compromises and was just a general dick - even the maintenance men helping me move were commenting on it. After I realized she had stolen my things I didn't even want to both getting the food, but they told me to sit tight and they got what they could. She stole and kept most of my food as well, of course, because she got full dictation over what could and could not go.

The office provided me a $50 card to Walmart - which is nice because they're not technically responsible for anything of mine lost or stolen. But after the both the leasing and property managers came to talk to her the latter realized that this was going to go south quickly and decided to at least try and help cover some of my missing items. it wont be much of a dent considering Walmart prices, but it's a nicer gesture than I expected, and they got first hand experience with even a tip of her behavior that I have endured for the last 4 months.

4 months of this. I am so, so, so tired. I am certainly rambling but her and her friends did not let me get any sleep the night before. Which only made today worse - besides living off saltines and unsweetened apple sauce for more than a week (I ran out of the saltines 3 days ago - I splurged on take out with how hungry I was today though, and so I didn't pass out).

I am still made about the cookware though. Cookware is so expensive and most all of mine was gifted.

I can't sleep yet because I have to work, but god I want to. I am so tired. I have been so tired. I'm just crashing on the couch for the next few days.

2. Because I moved units today I was able to take Jolene to the vet and get her treated. She's doing good. A little mad at me for taking her and she got car sick, but she's cuddled up with me as I work and write this post. Looking sweet as can be and stealing my heart.

3. I feel like there was supposed to be a third part to this, and I started writing it, but for the last 4 months my mind has been fuzzy. Especially right now with the lack of sleep. So it just vanished from my head immediately. Sorry ya'll.

Give me a few more days and hopefully I'll be back good as new.

Your local, mostly friendly, eldritch Prompt Prophet

[pentagramstars]

WATCHER CAN'T BE OUT OF MONEY TO MAKE THEIR SHOWS

Making a streaming service is going to be way more costly than just uploading the shows on youtube. Because they will have to pay for all of the stuff that youtube was providing themselves. i.e., hosting content, server maintenance, domain space, and don't even get me started on promotion. Just because they're leaving YouTube doesn't mean that they are not living in a capitalist hell scape anymore. They still need to make money. Which means that they now need to worry about making content that will best work for their seo. In the postmonopolization of the internet, people are less likely to just randomly come across website's all on their own, if they're not backed by a fuck ton of money or the brand recognition of somebody like apple or disney. And they will need fresh faces coming in. Obviously, there's going to be subscriber loss when it comes to any switch from free to paid content. As the barrier for entry has been raised, people who aren't die hard fans with disposable income are less likely to go ahead and give away their money to see content that they had been receiving for free. Meaning that in the end, they are going to be losing money on their subscription model unless they do that while having a patron, which would be fucking insane. Because less we forget, they do have a patron that supposedly earns 100k a month. Yes, watcher has a high production cost on a lot of their shows. But you know what's even higher than the couple $1000 they're spending to make things like ghost and mystery files. Running a goddamn streaming service. This thing will fall apart faster than quibbi. And either there's gonna be a big blowout and all 3 boys will never talk to each other again.

[ramblings-from-the-ether]

Prohibition AU: The Family

The Outer Circle

These members have a limited amount of knowledge into the scale or even the degree-of-illegality of Naven's empire (Bliss Ocean).

Molly Blyndeff, trudging through hard times with an uncaring family, Ms Blyndeff has been quietly emancipated in exchange for her eyes, ears, and unassuming demeanor. A little spy in short.

Trixie Roughhouse, a close friend of Molly's with a fascination with concoctions. Upon introduction, they were assigned to be apprenticed in moonshining at one of Naven's underground distilleries, though they personally prefer experimenting for unknown product.

Phoenica Fleecity, another friend of Molly's. She isn't of much use in criminal activities (also the least informed of Naven's doings), but her generous allowance does help grease the financial side of activities she has no business knowing about.

Howie Honeyglow, an engineer and construction contact of Naven's. He provides maintenance and solves any lack of facilities for 'business activities', by building them up in record time with little excess charges.

Giovanni Potage, leader of a band of misfits who broke off from another street gang; now in Naven's employ. As mentioned in a previous post, he provides the majority of grunt work in Sweet Jazz City for Bliss Ocean. His talent lies in his rousing leadership which keeps morale steady no matter the branch, much to Naven's surprise. Hosts weekly hotpot nights for his brothers (in-arms).

Percival King, the officer who chose peace. She sees Naven as a major businessman with some connections to the criminal underworld; thus a deal was struck where Percy cooperates with Naven in removing the violence on the streets (and kills off competition) while Percy avoids further investigating Naven's influence that made the deal possible.

Indus Tarbella. Formerly Mera's self-declared servant and bodyguard, he now provides security and butler-like services in extension to Naven as a means to remain close to Mera.

The Inner Circle

Everyone here has blood on their hands. These are the men and women who initiates and executes the family's plans. Aka Bliss Ocean Proper.

Zora Salazar: former bounty hunter, gunsmith, and living action film 'protagonist'. Once carried out a hit halfway across the country within a single day by jumping off a wing of a plane midair onto a passing train to cut time. She usually works alone over larger distances outside of Sweet Jazz City.

Mera Salamin, the main (once) licensed surgeon and occasional strategist. She was out of a career after leaving glass shards in a patient and former co-worker who allegedly harassed her. But her swift manner of action caught Naven's attention, and she refuses to play on the sidelines this time.

Ramsey Murdoch is the accountant and financial advisor, mainly for Naven's legitimate ventures but also reaffirms good and competitive business sense for an empire balancing its legal and illegal standings. Whilst Naven is a great dealmaker, Ramsey makes those bigger deals possible.

The Driver is Naven's eyes on the city, as well as his personal companion. Always (seemingly) a different person to outsiders, some speculate that Naven has Sweet Jazz City's private chauffeurs under his patronage. Though in reality, Yoomtah Zing is a master of disguise and has a more hands-on role in managing Naven's criminal operations alongside Mera.

Naven Nuknuk, former arms dealer to the IRA and the man who came from selling apples to apple cider. He is just a small fish in comparison to the big bosses in New York or Chicago, no need to pay heed to him! (The FBI certainly doesn't anymore)