#Audi charging

[beurich]

Laden am Audi charging hub in Frankfurt: einfach, schnell und ohne Barrieren

Der Schwenkarm reduziert das Gewicht des Ladekabels. Menschen, die auf den Rollstuhl angewiesen sind, können so mit einer Hand den CCS-Stecker halten. Der Schwenkarm reduziert das Gewicht des Ladekabels um rund 60 Prozent. Menschen, die auf den Rollstuhl angewiesen sind, können so mit einer Hand den CCS-Stecker halten und mit der anderen Hand den Rollstuhl bewegen. Ein CCS-Steckerhalter…

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Donkervoort F22, 2023. The Dutch car-maker has revealed a new limited edition model that is the first all-new model in more than a decade. Donkervoort continues to use Audi-sourced engines with a turbocharged 2.5-litre 5-cylinder motor producing 492hp. Production will be limited to 75 cars, 50 have already been sold

[vmantras]

Mercedes EQS SUV 580 4Matic: Performance & Luxury Redefined

₹1.41 Cr Performance The EQS SUV 580 4Matic is powered by a dual-motor AWD system delivering 536.41 bhp and 858 Nm of torque. This translates into remarkable performance: Acceleration: Achieves 0-100 kmph in just 4.7 seconds, rivaling many performance-oriented vehicles. Top Speed: Electronically limited to 210 km/h for efficiency and safety. Drive Type: All-Wheel Drive (AWD), offering…

[prophecyofgray]

working as a barista is so much fun but also i am terrified of other people's coffee orders. like maybe i just have a low caffeine tolerance but what do u mean u want two extra shots of espresso in ur latte that already has 2 shots of espresso in it. are u crazy.

[techdriveplay]

What Are the Best Electric Cars with the Longest Range?

Electric vehicles (EVs) have rapidly evolved, offering impressive range capabilities that rival traditional petrol-powered cars. For many potential buyers, the question, “What are the best electric cars with the longest range?” has become a central concern. A vehicle’s range can make the difference between a smooth, stress-free journey and frequent stops at charging stations. This article delves…

[amproad-evinsights]

Is a Portable EV Charger Suitable for Renters?

The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has introduced new challenges and opportunities for renters who lack dedicated charging options. Portable EV chargers emerge as a potential solution, but their suitability hinges on several factors.

A portable EV charger provides convenience by enabling charging at any standard household outlet, circumventing the need for public stations. This flexibility is particularly beneficial in urban areas with sparse charging infrastructure or high competition for stations. Renters can charge their EVs overnight or whenever the car is parked at home, eliminating the dependence on public charging infrastructure.

Cost-effectiveness is another advantage. Unlike installing a permanent wall-mounted home EV charger, which can involve significant expenses and require landlord approval, portable chargers offer a one-time purchase without the hassle of installation. For renters who may move frequently, investing in a portable charger is more practical than installing a stationary unit in a temporary residence.

For renters, peace of mind comes from knowing they can charge their EVs at home, reducing reliance on public infrastructure and alleviating range anxiety. Owning a portable EV charger ensures that renters have a reliable method to recharge their vehicles without hunting for available public chargers. However, there are notable drawbacks to consider.

One of the main disadvantages is the slower charging speeds typical of Level 1 chargers, which may not fully recharge vehicles overnight, especially for those with long commutes. A Level 2 EV charger, which operates on a 240-volt outlet, can charge an EV much faster but is typically more expensive and might not be feasible for renters without permission to modify their electrical systems.

Landlord permission is crucial when considering a portable EV charger. Many leases restrict the use of high-powered appliances, requiring renters to obtain approval. Even with permission, older buildings may lack suitable outlets, necessitating costly upgrades to handle the additional electrical load safely. Renters must ensure that their property’s electrical system can support the use of a portable EV charger.

Public EV charging stations serve as an alternative, though they are not always convenient due to location and availability issues. In urban settings, public charging stations can be scarce or heavily used, leading to long wait times. However, they can be a useful option for those who can plan their charging around errands or other activities. Using charging networks or apps to locate and plan charging needs can help mitigate some of the inconvenience associated with public charging.

Negotiating with landlords for a wall-mounted charger such as AMPROAD 48-amp EV home charger, is another option. Highlighting the benefits, such as increased property value and attracting environmentally conscious tenants, might make landlords more open to the idea. While it might require a significant initial investment, a Level 2 EV charger could be a more practical long-term solution, offering much faster charging speeds and greater convenience.

Ultimately, while a portable EV charger offers flexibility and affordability for renters, its efficacy depends on individual circumstances, lease agreements, and available alternative charging options. Renters need to carefully evaluate their daily driving habits, access to suitable outlets, and willingness to invest in a portable EVCS. By considering these factors, renters can make informed decisions aligned with their EV charging needs and ensure they have a reliable method to keep their electric vehicles charged and ready to go.

EV charger manufacturers are continuously innovating to address the diverse needs of EV owners, including renters. As the market evolves, more advanced and efficient charging solutions are likely to become available, further enhancing the feasibility of portable chargers for renters. In the meantime, understanding the pros and cons of portable EV chargers helps renters navigate their options and choose the best solution for their lifestyle.

[noohyah]

Audi E Tron Vs Audi Q4 E-Tron: Key Differences & Similarities!

If you are looking for a premium electric SUV, you might be interested in the Audi E Tron Vs Audi Q4 E-Tron comparison. These two models are part of Audi’s growing range of electric vehicles, and they offer different features and benefits for different needs and preferences.  In this article, we will explore the key differences and similarities between the Audi E-Tron and the Audi Q4 E-Tron, such…

[gaadikey]

Audi opens India’s first 450kW ultra-fast charging e-tron hub

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, today inaugurated India’s first ultra-fast charging station in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. Conceptualized and developed in collaboration with ChargeZone, this ultra-fast charger boasts an impressive, total capacity of 450kW, to deliver 360kW of power to an electric vehicle and is enabled by a 500 amps liquid-cooled gun to ensure high performance…

[seat-safety-switch]

Every car has at least one job that's a miserable grind. It's just the nature of the beast. They're impossibly complex machines made up of several subsystems that have to get jammed into pretty close to the same physical space. Eventually, some engineer is going to compromise on "can you actually reach this" in order to actually get the thing out the door.

Similarly, every mechanic can name a job in which they lost all hope for the future. German cars, especially, are quite bad for this. They have even more complexity than a normal car, which means they had to find even more silly places to stuff that complexity. Timing chains behind the engine? That's just the tip of the iceberg, and that's part of why your local Audi mechanic charges enough to buy a new car and drinks constantly at work. They had to put that shit somewhere, and it turns out that "in your wallet" worked as good as any other answer.

That's why the junkyard is so freeing. At the junkyard, you can just go get the part you want, even if it means breaking a lot of other parts in the process. The car's already going to get crushed, so who cares if it enters oblivion with all of its major organs cleanly removed?

On your actual car, you really don't want to, say, smash the power steering bottle into a million pieces with a hammer just to get at the pump tensioner, since you'll need it later. At the yard, the only thing keeping you from doing this is your innate decency: will the next person need this part? If so, maybe just Sawzall right through the power steering hose and throw the rest of it in the trunk. They should give you the key to the city, hero.

In fact, with a morbid enough mentality, you can see all the mistakes of the past. One quick entry ticket buys you a morgue's full of auto bodies to dismantle and see just how hard a prospective shitbox is to work on. If it seems easy, you can go get a running example to serve as your next car. It's hard to understand why everyone doesn't do this. Why visit the used car dealership, take test drives, when you could simply gaze into what the car looks like after you've rammed it into a bus while flaming out on meth?

[garciaasfluffypen]

take care of me (like i take care of you) pt. 2

pairing: jemily x adhd!reader word count: 2.3k warnings: reader’s kinda bratty in this one! reader is confused as to why being bratty is making them feel tingly but they like it so they keep doing it, softdom!jj begins to make an appearance, color system usage, the origin of jj refusing to be called mommy (she has a moment™️)

a/n: hi besties!! i wrote this on my phone because i can’t find my laptop charger so please excuse any sort of typos you find! thats also why the beginning of this post currently isn’t formatted like the other ones but soon as i can charge my laptop i’ll be fixing it. there will be a part three to this! i had to find a good place to end or else this would have been a beast to read lol.

ps. when i wrote this i was 100% imagining white tank top!jj and emily in the burgundy lululemon looking sweatshirt from the episode where they’re building the crib for kristy and matt ;)

you couldn’t contain your excitement as you basically tripped over your feet to run up to jj’s audi, jumping up and down in your seat as you waited for your girlfriends to join you. it was five minutes past nine and everyone was ready so naturally you ran to the car. you had been ready for two hours, but that was only because you had gotten up so early. you had everything you could possibly need in your little cross shoulder body bag and had to stop yourself from biting your fingernails to the quip in pure excitement as you waited. emily came out first, slipping you your preferred chewy necklace that was easy to hide under your shirt. as soon as the chewy end of it entered your mouth, emily’s hands reached around you and wrapped the black string around your neck. without realizing it you naturally leaned into her touch, pulling her hand toward your cheek as you fidgeted with the hem of your shirt while you stared at the door leading inside the kitchen. jj came out a few minutes later, her to-go cup of coffee tucked neatly away in the crook of her arm as she started to pull up the directions to the zoo.

jj slid into the drivers seat with ease, smiling at you as she saw the way you were sitting. she grabbed your hand and gave it a squeeze before placing your phone in it, chuckling lightly at the layer of blush that ended up on your cheeks as you sheepishly took it from her. your block blast game was still up on the screen as you left it on the bathroom counter when you started doing your makeup. jj started the car and reversed out the driveway, leaving you to become reimmersed in your game. before you knew it you could just start see the sign for the zoo on the water tower peeking over the houses in the distance, meaning you were just about ten minutes away.

“lovey, besides seeing the giraffes, is there anything you want to do today?”

“um… i haven’t seen the elephants in a long time.” you paused, thinking. “and also the lions, i want to see the lions too.”

“do you think we could fit in a visit to the lemurs?” jj shot a glance to you. “i quite like lemurs.”

you nodded. “we can definitely see the lemurs.”

you made a mental note to yourself that jj liked lemurs, adding it to the little box that you had in your brain with facts about your girlfriends. it was mainly filled with silly little facts that most people wouldn’t normally pay attention to, like the fact emily writes in print script or that jj only eats salt and vinegar chips when she’s high. sure, there were the obvious facts that almost everyone on the team knew, but there were ones that were just your facts. and you wanted to keep them that way.

despite being a fully grown adult, you knew deep down that things like this were needed to help heal your inner child. you didn’t have the best childhood, but you were doing your best to fix it now. you bounced anxiously on the balls of your feet as you waited for the train to take you to the back of the zoo, the wind blowing your hair all around your face as you waited. jj silently pulled you toward her and helped you pull your hair back, putting it in a single braid for you.

by the time you got to the giraffe exhibit you could barely contain your excitement, your hands balling into fits and promptly unballing themselves as you tried to combat the need to stim. your arms stiffened as you tried to hold back your energy, shaking a bit as you focused on staying still as you could. that didn’t last long, seeing as there wasn’t many people around you at the moment and your girlfriends were positioned behind you. you let your hands start flapping, doing your best to keep them close to your sides as possible. a small squeak of noise came out of your mouth as you watched the zoo keepers slowly bring out the stars of the event. the crowd around you started to grow as the people made their way up from the front of the zoo, most of them not paying you any attention and instead looking for the little baby that the zoo was celebrating.

slowly but surely the calf made it's way out of the enclosure, still a little unsteady on it's feet. you watched in awe as it made it's way around the exhibit, noting how small it was compared to it's parents. jj wrapped her arms around you from behind, intertwining her fingers with your hands and placing a kiss on your shoulder. you could tell she was standing on her tip toes to reach your shoulder and made sure to flatten your feet, considering you tended to stay on your tip toes when you got too excited about things.

“how tall do you think he is?”

“i’d guesstimate around 6 feet.” you rocked up and back down to flat feet as you spoke. “giraffes give birth standing up so they fall roughly six feet to the ground but get up on their feet within the hour.”

“you know more about giraffes than i thought.”

“i had a hyperfixation on wild animals and the care of them before i ended up in the academy. i was wanting to double major in zoology and communications before i started to look into paths to go down with a communications degree.” you turned to face jj and emily. “i was going to be an advocate for animal rights but then i started reading about the fbi and decided that would probably be a better path to go down.”

before you could continue your thoughts, the chime that sounded before the giraffe feedings sounded, signaling for everyone who had a ticket to line up. you were closer to the end, whch was fine because it meant you could watch the giraffes for longer. emily and jj made sure to take pictures of you the whole time, smiling and laughing along with you as the giraffe’s tongue tickled your hand while it ate the leaves you held out. by the time you got out of the exhibit, your stomach started to rumble and you pouted towards your girlfriends as you walked past one of the many cafés scattered around the zoo. without a word, emily pulled the three of you inside, telling you to order whatever you wanted. you ended up going for the chicken tenders and fries, knowing that the meal was something you most likely would have gotten when you came as a child. it was hard to remember if you ever came, but you presumed it was what you got because it felt right.

by the time the three of you made it to the halfway point, you started to realize your whole body was beginning to hurt. you weren’t sure if it was from physically stopping yourself from stimming in the bigger crowds, or if it was from all the walking you had done. either way, you found yourself starting to slow down a bit and start to feel like you needed a ten hour nap. it was only when you got toward the lemur exhibit when your body really started to hurt, and you unintentionally started to let it slip into your mind that you were hurting and needed to go home.

jj was the first to notice that you were starting to feel off, clocking the heaviness of your walking and the fact you had started to get a little whiney. there had been approximately three times in the five years she had known you that she had ever seen you this way. and all of those times happened when you were over exerting yourself. most of the times it was because you were stubborn, but this time it didn’t seem that way. within ten minutes you were complaining about how much your feet hurt and how you felt like you were going to die if you didn’t get to sit down within the next five minutes. emily and jj fell a few steps behind you, whispering to each other about how to go about the situation.

“do you think she’s subconsciously wanting us to.. i dunno, take control? lacey mentioned something about that at the support group on saturday.”

jj chewed at the end of her necklace. “it's possible. i’m willing to try it if you are, but the second they push back or show any signs of not going along with it i’m stopping.”

“are you going to take the lead on this?”

“if you don’t mind. we know how easily they’ll react to you, i’m curious what would happen if you didn’t say anything but i did.”

“then do it. i trust you.”

jj squeezed emily’s hand before making her way back over to where you sat on the bench, watching the zebra walk by and graze on the grass in front of you. you definitely looked worse for wear, considering the braid your hair had been in all day was beginning to come undone and you most definitely got sunburned on your shoulders at some point. jj knew you weren’t feeling well, and that you were hiding it in order to appease her and emily. it was something she had noticed multiple times throughout their time with you so far. even if you didn’t feel like doing something, you typically would put on a happy face and go through with it anyway. it hadn’t happened much, but she had started to catch it more and more.

“y/n, it’s time to go.”

“what? no!” you gasped. “we haven’t even been to the polar bears yet!”

“i know, and i know you want to finish it but i’m calling it.” jj stepped closer to you, her voice dropping. “you’re tired and need to go home and rest. i’m giving you til the count of five, and if you don’t get up and come with us to the car we won’t go to dolphin beach this weekend.”

“you wouldn’t!”

“five.”

“jayje- this isn’t fair! em-my, do something!” you whined, staring at the brunette.

“two.” jj raised an eyebrow as you refused to budge. “fine, we stay, but no beach then.”

“i’d listen to her if i were you.” emily replied. “while we haven’t truly gotten into that dynamic with you just yet, i will say that i’d be careful how much you go against her, lovey.” emily gave you a pointed look before clasping her hands together. “that being said, we use the color system. red means hard stop, yellow means i’m uncomfortable and green means go.” emily paused. “color?”

“green.”

“good. if anything changes, tell jj. i’m going to go to the ladies room, i’ll meet you up by the gates.”

emily placed a kiss on jj’s cheek and simply patted you on the shoulder before walking towards the front of the zoo, leaving you alone with the blonde. the logical part of your brain knew she was right. you were tired, your body was aching and you couldn’t walk for more than five minutes without having to sit down. but on the other hand, you were having fun poking the bear. reluctantly you got up, huffing and making a big deal of going home. you didn’t understand much about the way it was making you feel, but you knew it sent a tingle through your body seeing jj getting all worked up. it was amusing to you how red she got from you simply being a brat. and frankly, you liked it.

“you’re being unfair!”

“this attitude stops now, y/n. we’re going home.”

you bit your tongue cheekily, a glint forming in your eyes as you waited to see jj’s reaction. “mommy, you’re being mean to me.”

jj whipped her head to you, balling her hand into a fist at the side of her body. “what did you just call me?”

“… mommy?”

jj stopped walking suddenly, causing you to bump into her. “red.” she swallowed. “i’d like to talk about that later, when we’re home. not right now.”

“i’m sorry.” you looked at the ground, mortified. “it won’t happen again.”

a wave of guilt overtook your body as you two quietly walked to the front of the zoo, emily sensed some tension the second she saw you two, but knew that if she said anything you would probably start to spiral. by the time you got back to the car, all you could do was slip into the backseat and hope that jj wasn’t do mad at you that she was going to end everything. emily, albeit confused, took the front seat, trying to get an accurate read on jj. something happened while she was in the bathroom, but she couldn’t place a finger on what exactly that something was. by the time jj pulled into the driveway, the tension in the car had gotten so thick you couldn’t hold your tears back, letting them fall slowly down your cheeks as you forced yourself not to sob.

“go to our room. i’m going to compose my thoughts, give us a minute to calm down, then i’ll come talk to you.”

“o-okay.”

jj waited until you got out of the car to look at emily. “i called red.”

“what happened?”

“she called me mommy. i didn’t like it. i felt… gross. it was almost… too feminine?” jj looked at emily. “i probably sound crazy but-“

“you’re allowed to not like the way it makes you feel, jay.”

“i just don’t understand why it made my skin crawl.”

“may i.. is that why you don’t like being called beautiful or pretty?”

jj’s head snapped up. “huh?”

“the feminine terms. you don’t like them.”

“not necessarily, no.”

emily nodded. “we don’t have to unravel this now, but we need to put a pin in this. the three of us need to talk about that together so we’re all on the same page.”

“you’re right. can you go check on them? i just need… i need to think about how i’m going to articulate everything.”

“of course.” emily squeezed jj’s hand. “come up when you’re ready.”

“i will. promise.”

taglist: @jayden-prentiss @idkwhatever580 @multifandomlesbianic @softestqueeen

[cobragardens]

5 Good Omens Timefucks that Haunt Me

1.

Why is this here? Why is this line included? Is it just to add texture, to imply that larger world of corporate fascism of which Crowley and Aziraphale are subjects and victims and little worker bees? If so, why "They've started early" specifically? Why not "I wouldn't have expected that shrub to be the first to go" or "Aw, I liked that rock formation"?

Crawly doesn't make this comment in an offhand way: he sounds a bit taken aback and not thrilled that things have kicked off sooner than he anticipated. But it doesn't ultimately seem to make any difference to this scene, so why do we, the audience, need to know Hell started early?

2.

This one I'm not as confident will turn out to be significant, because iirc it appears in the book, which was a complete story when written, and because it serves a narrative purpose: it puts Agnes Nutter in charge of the situation, not her murderers. By backfooting Witchfinder Major Pulsifer, Agnes startles him enough she's able to walk past him without Pulsifer seizing her and discovering the extra 80 lbs of gunpowder and roofing nails in her skirts.

But. Agnes Nutter's sense of time is Nice and Accurate, and she notices the witchburning party are late and remarks on it to herself before she says anything to Pulsifer. So assuming a few minutes to position Agnes, tie her to the stake, and read the charges and conviction against her, Pulsifer and Agnes' neighbors are 12-15 minutes later than they should be. Why?

If the book answers this question, I don't recall; the show does not. And again, it seems to make no ultimate difference to this scene.

I'm not saying this was even purposely included in S1 as a timefuck. I am suggesting that as Gaiman seems to be fucking with time or timelines in this story, even if he and Pratchett didn't plan it like this when discussing the sequel, a retcon is hardly out of the question.

3.

As others have pointed out, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 is 45-55 minutes long. If you're listening to it on 78s instead of LPs because you are a CRAZY PERSON, it's going to take you more like 1 hour 5 minutes, because one side of a 78 holds, at most, 5 minutes of music, so every 5 minutes you have to get up and flip or switch the record.

Shostakovich wrote his 5th symphony in response to criticism in the state newspaper (possibly penned by Stalin himself) that his previous work didn't suck the Communist Party's dick hard enough--the kind of criticism that put him in danger of being sent to prison or killed. At the time it was first performed in 1937, Symphony No. 5 was considered a massive triumph, walking the line perfectly between Shostakovich's artistic standards and the Communist Party's demands of him.

The choice is symbolically significant, but it's a symphony, so whoever's censoring it isn't censoring lyrics or information. Again, why? Why is a 45-55-minute symphony only 21 minutes long? What did the time thief do with the 24-34 minutes?

4.

Here's the rug that covers the portal to Heaven in Episode 1:

Here's the rug in Ep. 2:

Aziraphale does not change this rug for the party. We know this bc we see it in Episode 5 when Mrs Sandwich enters the bookshop and the party is in full swing:

Now here's Aziraphale moving the circular rug to expose the portal to Heaven:

But here's Crowley, putting the rug back:

Why are there two different rugs?

5.

Every end credits track has the first line of "Everyday" embedded in it But after the line from "Everyday," at the end of Episode 4, the theme skips twice like a vinyl record, and then is stopped by whoever controls the turntable and restarted, with several seconds of music having been skipped over.

This is not the first time it has mattered to a character in Good Omens what we in the audience see and hear. I argue here that God asks Aziraphale what he did with the flaming sword She gave him in order to show us the audience who Aziraphale is. God also addresses us the audience directly in S1, not only narrating about characters omnisciently but speaking to us about Herself in first person.

Now we evidently have a second character who has gone meta and is changing what we the audience experience of this story, and--indications are good--the story itself.

[swappingbryn]

I saw Aiden posting all over Instagram, showing off his costume for the party, and he had every right to show off, he was young, hot, hung.

There was nothing I could do until after the party, but I decided I wanted what he had, and I was going to take it from him. I told him I liked the costume and asked where he rented it, and he said “Loki Amusements.” I instantly thought ‘what a fitting name, as I’m going to cause some mischief myself.’

I called the shop and asked about their stock and was told they had “one premium costume that’s currently rented, but it should be returned on Tuesday.” So Tuesday I waited for him to return the costume, and he arrived 15 minutes before close, but then he sat in his Audi out front until after it closed making calls, so I couldn’t go in and rent it myself. I returned first thing the next morning and purchased their Spider Man costume.

I took it home and dropped it in the simmering concoction. I’m not sure if I should call it a potion or an advanced batch of chemicals, but it didn’t matter. After I dropped it in, I waited, it was o my supposed to take a few minutes, but I wanted to make sure it worked, so I waited an hour.

I pulled it out, let it cool, and put it on. Within minutes, I felt the fabric start to tingle, I felt my body reshaping. I was becoming Aiden. I walked to the mirror to look at myself.

I was expecting to see this godly visage looking back, but I was horrified to see an old, fat guy, the costume store clerk.

I texted Aiden, and asked about his costume and he told me he had spilled something on it and was having it cleaned. He wasn’t happy about having to pay a cleaner AND an extra days rental fee. He said he had even gone to the shop to explain and beg the clerk not to charge him an extra days rental and was so relieved when he’d agreed.

Now I’m trapped in this body. I’m old, out of shape, and I can’t even resume my old life since no one would recognize me.

@beachedkiwi

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Audi RS e-tron GT, 2024. Audi have revealed revisions to their electric flagship sports saloon including improved charging and a power boost ti 845hp for the RS model. There's also a new Performance version with 912hp

[prophecyofgray]

love my laptop to death but ive gone thru THREE CHARGERS. ok one of them was my fault (lost it) but the other two just. Stopped working. after like. a year? if that? idk how long theyre Supposed to work for but that seems too short. i take good care of them! they just suck!

[techdriveplay]

2024 Audi Q8 60 TFSI e - TDP Review

The 2024 Audi Q8 60 TFSI e represents a bold step forward in the luxury SUV segment, combining the power and performance of a turbocharged petrol engine with the efficiency and versatility of a plug-in hybrid system. This model is designed for those who crave speed and luxury without compromising on sustainability. Having spent a week behind the wheel, the Q8 60 TFSI e proved to be impressively…

[comfortmarvelimagines]

Headcanons request for Tony Stark’s daughter and tony being overprotective when someone says something mean in public when you stim. Thank you

(Except I liked this so much it became a full fic. Can be read standalone or as WYCFTQ)

You truly never understood the value neurotypicals placed on spontaneity. Its opposite, routine was everything that kept you grounded; safe, predictable, generally within your scope of capacity. Your worst days were the ones that were shoved off kilter by a change in plans, a cancellation, a meltdown that threw your timetable for a loop. You went to school, went to the tower, went home. That was your world. Small, but anything bigger felt unmanageable. Even that was barely manageable. So when Tony announced a surprise for you and Peter on an afternoon where school let off early, you felt unbalanced.

“Mr Stark, pleaaaaaseeeee tell us I literally can’t wait. I might die,” Peter, ever-impatient and fuelled by ADHD after his meds had worn off for the day, was literally vibrating with suspense. As opposed to your drained stillness, feeling like the floor had collapsed under you.

“You’ll like it, that’s all I’m giving you. Patience is a virtue, young one,” Tony raised an eyebrow at Peter, feigning a lecture. “And you’ll be fine,” he turned to you. “We’ve practiced using your strategies. We’ll bring stim toys, your headphones, and I’ve asked where we’re going to turn the lights down and music off to make it accessible. And they listened, because I’m me. We can leave as soon as you need, and you’ve got your communication device to tell us if you’re non-verbal. You’ve got this. It’ll be good for you, and for this hyped one over here,“ he ruffled Peter’s hair. “Capische? Good. Let’s go.”

Tony drove, but kept the music fairly low key. Peter was bouncing in the front seat, animatedly keeping a running list of all the possibilities that got increasingly far-fetched as Tony refused even the slightest hint. You had to admit, even through the snowdrift of anxiety that felt like it was building by the second, it was pretty funny. Amusing, even. Eventually, the Audi pulled into the parking lot of a mall and as he swung it in to park in the electric vehicle charging station, Tony pulled a baseball cap on low over his eyes.

“Alright, you ready?”

Peter was already halfway out of the car before the engine had been cut off. Tony turned to you. “Well, clearly someone is”, he gestured to Peter. “You doin’ okay?” At your nod, he continued in a near-whisper. “We’re going to a toy store. There’s Lego and sensory stuff for days, and I promise you’ll like it. But if it’s too much, I’m right here, and you’ve got your device to communicate. You say the word and we leave, no hesitation, okay?” At the mention of where you were going, you started happy flapping and bounced in your seat. Sensory stuff AND lego? Fuck yeah!!!! Some of the anxiety snowdrift melted back down and you got out to join Peter, who still had no idea where you were going and looked like the fact was making him positively implode. It was funny just how different you were, yet how you were both going to love this place.

At some point between the car and the store, you grabbed Tony’s hand. It was grounding, which you needed when the sensory overload of the general mall walkthrough got disorienting. You stopped, fluorescent lights searing into your brain and the beginning of the meltdown urge to run crept up your spine. Peter, miles ahead and oblivious to just about everything except the mystery destination, kept going, but Tony pulled your noise canceling headphones out of his jacket pocket. “You left these in the car,” he said by way of explanation, “And we’re nearly there. You’ve got this.” Resolve strengthened, you pulled the headphones over your ears, pressing the button on the side, hoodie pulled up, determined. If nothing else, you were going to get there for Peter’s sake- he might explode from excitement if it wasn’t soon.

In line with Tony’s promise, the toy store was bliss. The lights were dimmed and corporate music absent (thank Thor, and whatever other gods are out there), and the Lego. Oh my god, the LEGO. Rows of Star Wars and flowers and little city buildings and a huge tub of loose pieces, next to a free play table in the centre of the display. Sticking your hands deep into the cool plastic pieces felt positively heavenly, and in forgetting anyone else was around you were stimming freely in unfiltered joy. Vocal stimming, too.

“Surely you’re too old to be making those sorts of noises. I mean, I’d expect them from my 2 year old grandchild, not at your big age.”

The admonishment came from a woman, somewhere between middle- and old-age, making her way over to you from the baby doll section. You froze. She meant you? You were so happy you hadn’t been masking, not forcing the happy stimmy noises down the way you typically did when in the presence of others.

“Yes, you, don’t look at me all stunned. What are you doing in here anyway? You look too old to be playing, with Lego or with anything else.”

Fear felt like it was shutting down your access to comprehensible thought. Like moving through jelly, you pulled the lanyard around your neck forward to show the woman the pin. It was a green sunflower lanyard, the hidden disabilities awareness kind, and the button read “Please do not touch me. I’m Autistic.” You felt a distressed sound come from the back of you throat, whining, that you just couldn’t push down. Tony Tony whERE IS TONY?

“Hey y/n, have you seen-“

“Oh, so you’re special. That’s nice of your�� people… to bring you out like this. You know, into the community.”

“What the fuck did you just say to my kid.”

The baseball cap was off. Tony had come from the back of the store, from the sensory section with Peter, and stepped straight into the middle of the degrading, one-sided conversation you were now trying to practice your breathing exercises through. You’d practiced them a million times, with Tony, Peter, Nat, Bucky, everyone said to practice because when the time came you needed them to work but right now you weren’t sure they were enough because you felt like you were drowning. Special. You weren’t fucking special, not in the way she meant it, you were just Autistic and Autistic is fine, Autistic isn’t bad, you had as much right to be here as anyone else but that word was making your ears ring, and you felt like your head was underwater and you couldn’t breathe and your hands were flapping but not in the good way in the too much bad energy need to get it out way. You needed weight, pressure, grounding, to be crushed, and, no longer paying attention to the conversation between Tony and the stranger, you pulled your AAC forward from its crossbody strap.

“Squeeze. Tony.”

“Okay, kid, yes, squeeze. I hear you.” You basically body slammed him as he crouched down to your level, and you hummed in relief as the hug was all the input your nervous system was craving. He turned to speak over the top of you.

“I need you to leave. Now. You had no right to say what you did. This is a public place, and my kid deserves access in the way that works for them. That includes stimming, and playing, in the way that brings them joy. I hope you learn from this.”

You assumed she left, because he didn’t say anything else. You stayed, tightly held, until you pulled back from the hug cautiously.

“Do you want to leave?” You shook your head. No. As awful as that whole interaction had been, getting here was a task and you didn’t feel you had made it worth it yet. “Want to see the sensory toys?” Yes yes yes a million times yes. Nodding wasn’t enough; with trepidation, a little of the flappy happy hands broke through. Not fully, though. The word ‘special’ still echoed in the back of your mind, unwanted and uncomfortably present.

The sensory toy section was pure magic. There were bubble tubes, tactile fidgets, bouncy seats, spinners, lights, glitter bottles, projectors, a reversible sequin dinosaur, acupressure rings, a cocoon swing hanging from a frame… It was like a goldmine of sensory wonder. As you joined Peter in discovery, little by little the mask you put up melted away and you were spinning, joyfully bouncing on the balls of your feet, happy vocal stims free and unjudged. And if Tony was putting aside one of everything you showed interest in to purchase and bring home with you, well, of course he was. If he couldn’t make the ableist public go away, the least he could do was provide you with the safest, most inclusive and loving home possible.

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