#Dog Boarding sydney

[puppyschoolsydney]

Socializing Your Puppy: Why Puppy School is More Than Just Training

Puppy school offers far more than basic obedience training; it provides crucial socialization experiences that shape a well-rounded, confident dog. During the early months of life, puppies are particularly receptive to new experiences, making this the ideal time to introduce them to the world around them. Here’s why puppy school plays a vital role in socialization and why it's an essential part of your pup's development.

1. The Importance of Early Socialization

 Socialization is the process of introducing a puppy to new people, animals, environments, and situations in a controlled, positive way. It’s essential for building a dog’s confidence and teaching them how to respond calmly in various circumstances. A well-socialized puppy is less likely to develop anxiety or aggression later in life, making early socialization experiences critical to their emotional well-being.

 2. Why Puppy School Is the Perfect Setting for Socialization

 Puppy school offers a safe, structured environment where your puppy can interact with other puppies, people, and new experiences under the guidance of a professional. This controlled exposure allows puppies to develop social skills without overwhelming them. Through guided interactions, your puppy learns essential behaviors and builds confidence, which can be difficult to achieve through at-home training alone.

 3. Building Positive Associations with New Experiences

Exposure to new experiences is one of the main goals of puppy school, and it goes beyond simple obedience. Puppies encounter a variety of stimuli, from different sounds and surfaces to diverse people and other animals. This variety helps them adapt to new situations and reduces the likelihood of fear-based reactions. The more positive interactions they have, the more resilient and adaptable they’ll be in the future.

 4. Learning How to Play and Communicate with Other Dogs

Understanding social cues from other dogs is essential for healthy interactions, and puppy school provides ample opportunity for this learning. During supervised play sessions, puppies learn to read each other's body language, interpret boundaries, and respond appropriately. This skill set helps prevent issues with other dogs as they mature, leading to safer, more enjoyable experiences in public spaces like parks and walking paths.

5. Boosting Confidence and Reducing Anxiety

 A structured setting helps puppies confront new situations with support, allowing them to build confidence. Puppy school exercises, like meeting new people or experiencing unusual sounds, help puppies develop coping skills in a safe environment. Regular exposure to new things helps reduce anxiety and stress later on, especially in unpredictable environments or around strangers.

 6. Developing Good Manners and Impulse Control

In puppy school, dogs learn essential commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it,” which are helpful in daily life and provide structure for better behavior. Learning these commands with other puppies around also helps build impulse control, as they must focus and respond to cues despite the distractions of their classmates. This training instills patience and reinforces polite manners that make your dog more manageable and enjoyable to be around.

 7. Strengthening the Bond Between You and Your Puppy

 Attending puppy school together enhances your relationship by building trust and communication. You’ll learn how to guide and support your puppy effectively, while they learn to look to you for cues and reassurance. This strengthens the bond you share, creating a foundation of mutual respect and understanding that will last throughout your dog’s life.

 8. Preparing for Real-Life Situations

Puppy school introduces situations that mimic real-life experiences, like interacting with strangers or encountering various sounds and sights. These exercises help puppies develop the confidence to handle everyday events, from meeting new people on walks to dealing with unexpected noises at home. As a result, they’re better prepared for the experiences they’ll encounter in the world, making them adaptable and resilient.

Tips for Making the Most of Puppy School Socialization

1. Attend Regularly – Consistency is key. Regular attendance helps reinforce lessons and gives your puppy ample opportunity to interact with others.

2. Practice at Home – Reinforce what your puppy learns at school by practicing commands and socialization exercises at home. This repetition helps solidify their learning.

3. Be Patient and Positive – Training and socialization take time, so be patient and celebrate small wins. Puppies pick up on your energy, so staying calm and positive helps them feel secure.

4. Expose to Different Environments  – Once your puppy is comfortable at school, gradually expose them to new places like parks, sidewalks, or pet-friendly stores to further build their confidence.

Conclusion: More than Just Training – A Foundation for Life

Puppy school provides more than basic training; it’s a gateway to a well-adjusted, confident dog. Through structured socialization and exposure to new situations, your puppy learns essential skills for interacting with the world calmly and confidently. By attending puppy school, you’re setting the stage for a lifetime of positive interactions, making your dog a happy, well-mannered companion for years to come.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

The one

Pic by @trendfilmsetter

Syd said it, not me.

Sydcarmy is now canon, chefs! We can celebrate!

Cheers! 🥂

Check here and see how the sound of her voice in off was synchronized exactly to this very frame and weep 🤌💋

[concordveterinaryhospital]

Best Cat Boarding  In Sydney -Concord Veterinary Hospital

If you are looking for the best cat boarding in Sydney, the Concord Veterinary Hospital is an excellent choice. Located in the inner west of Sydney, this well-established clinic offers a wide range of services for cats, including long-term cat boarding. The Concord Veterinary Hospital has been providing quality care for cats since it opened in 2013. The clinic is known for its friendly and knowledgeable staff, which is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that your cat is well taken care of. We also offer a variety of services for cats, including routine checkups, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, dental care, and much more.

We are looking for the highest quality boarding experience for our cats, the Concord Veterinary Hospital offers luxury cat boarding. We are service provides cats with a comfortable and safe environment while they are away from their owners. The luxury boarding at the Concord Veterinary Hospital includes spacious cages, comfortable beds, and plenty of toys and activities to keep cats entertained. We are also provided with healthy meals, plenty of fresh water, and regular grooming and exercise. The Concord Veterinary Hospital also offers long-term cat boarding.

This service is ideal for cats whose owners are away for an extended period of time. The hospital staff is highly experienced in providing long-term cat boarding, and they strive to make sure that cats are as comfortable as possible while they are away from home. During their stay, cats are provided with plenty of attention, exercise, and playtime.

We provide a wide range of services for cats, making it an ideal choice for cat owners looking for the best cat boarding in Sydney. With its friendly and knowledgeable staff, luxury boarding, and long-term cat boarding, the Concord Veterinary Hospital is the perfect place for cats to stay while their owners are away. In conclusion, the Concord Veterinary Hospital is the perfect choice for cat owners looking for the best cat boarding in Sydney. With its friendly and knowledgeable staff, luxury boarding, and long-term cat boarding, the Concord Veterinary Hospital is the perfect place for cats to stay while their owners are away.

[copperbadge]

Radio Free Monday

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Radio Free Monday!

Ways to Give:

penndragon is raising funds to help fix his LGBT+ family's car; they've recently been dealing with job loss and other unexpected expenses, and while they have found new employment opportunities, they require a running car. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

Anon linked to arlingtonchamberofgay, who lost their job in April and has been unemployed since; they are working towards attaining legal disability status but the process moves slowly, and they've been homeless and couch surfing for several months. They're raising funds for bills, gas money, and a storage unit; you can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

kitweewoos is raising funds to get her car back from repossession before it's auctioned in about three weeks; her partner has been on medical leave which has reduced their household income to hers alone, and her paycheck has been going towards keeping them housed and fed. They're raising money to pay the past due amount and repossession fees to the bank. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

stabbedinthenameofscience linked to a fundraiser for IronAngel Forge in Michigan, the longest continually operating forge in the state (founded in 1884). A neighbor's shed caught on fire and it leapt to the forge building, resulting in a near-complete loss of the building, although the anvil, several of the tools, and even some of the art escaped destruction. The current owner John and his partner Julie are raising money to rebuild the shop in order to continue the tradition and history of the site; you can read more and support the fundraiser here.

wordstreamer's cat Diva needs urgent medical care at a time when they are already in a bad financial situation; they're raising funds for vet bills and future treatment. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information and kitty pictures here.

Recurring Needs:

like-the-midnight-sun linked to a fundraiser for a close friend, Sydney, who is queer, trans, disabled, and currently homeless after leaving an abusive situation; they have a job but are living in their car and need help to keep their dog, Felix, safe during the day while they're at work. They're raising funds to board Felix during the day so that they can keep their job and get back on their feet; you can read more and support the fundraiser here.

chingaderita's partner recently lost their job due to a house fire that also destroyed the house, and his most recent job has not yet paid him; they're raising funds to keep food on the table for a family of nine, to try and get a supply of water to keep clean which is increasingly difficult during a drought, and for medications and bills until they can find new work. You can read more, reblog, and support the fundraiser here.

And this has been Radio Free Monday! Thank you for your time. You can post items for my attention at the Radio Free Monday submissions form. If you're new to fundraising, you may want to check out my guide to fundraising here.

[aria-ashryver]

Meet my OC - Viktor Ivanov

Name: Viktor Ivanov Book: Immortal Desires Orientation: Bisexual Pronouns: He/him Birthday: 12th October 1997 Sign: Libra Born: Dunedin, New Zealand Raised: Sydney, Australia, and Inverness, Scotland (with some short stints in both NZ and Croatia) Heritage: Croat

More under the cut! 🖤✨

Family

Henrik Ivanov (younger brother) Mother (name tbd) Father (name tbd)

Viktor’s closest family member is his younger brother Henrik (Henri, as a diminutive), who is eight. Henri attends boarding school, so they do not see each other much, but Henri idolises his big brother and Viktor would do anything to keep Henri from being hurt. He believes his parents treat Henri as the “do-over” child, and that they think Viktor “lacks ambition” and “refuses to take anything seriously”. There is a lot of pressure on Henri to perform well academically and to follow in his father’s footsteps, career-wise.

Viktor’s father’s career remains something of a mystery to him — he knows it is a somewhat high-ranking governmental position that requires him to travel a lot, so his father is only home for short stints every few months. When he was around 12 or 13, Viktor decided he would ask his dad outright what his job actually was the next time he showed an interest in one of Viktor’s hobbies or interests.

To this day, Viktor has no idea what his father does for a living.

His mother is a stay-at-home housewife. She is the family member Viktor sees the most often, and also the one he has the worst relationship with.

Skills / Hobbies

Sketching, painting, singing — frontman and founder of grunge/rock band Your Bisexual Awakening. Also plays bass

YBA cycles through names often, all of which have a story attached. They choose a new name via the following system: if a band member says something stupid or memorable in conversation, and two or more members simultaneously say "band name", they must change it to whatever was just said. I.e.

Cal: seriously, guys? again? Ava: my bad. Angel's refractory period is more like a Refractory Comma Angel, Viktor, and Luca, simultaneously: band name Ava: aw, fuck.

Random Trivia

Moved a lot as a child — growing up jumping between Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and Croatia has left Viktor with the weirdest accent. Its mostly Scottish... ish? Kinda?

Enjoys anime — once described watching Tokyo Ghoul as the purest spiritual experience of his life (and then sulked inconsolably for a week when he found out the final season was copaganda)

Scared of dogs (was bitten when he was younger)

Loves having his photo taken, but also can’t look at photos of himself sometimes, because they often bring on depersonalisation episodes

Huge collection of slogan t-shirts he crops and alters himself.

Can do overtone / polyphonic singing (but not well)

When he shared a dorm room with Luca at Avalon, for a while his alarm was this Marc Rebillet song (until Luca threatened to beat him to death with a pair of socks unless he changed it)

Has a crush on Kylo Ren

Is deeply ashamed of his crush on Kylo Ren

Favourite movie is Sucker Punch (will rant AT LENGTH about how people completely miss the feminist read)

His fashion sense is varied and questionable. One day he’ll be in gritty, black techwear, the next he’s full flower-boy poet. Then he’ll be Grandma-chic, and the next day he might be wearing a three-piece suit patterned exclusively with cobs of corn.

He does really love garments that drape and flow, though, and is a bit of a sucker for glitter and fun textures. No matter how loud, he somehow manages to always wear the outfits, and not have them wear him.

Viktor’s goals are informed by an odd mix of wanting a sense of agency and independence, while also just wanting to be taken care of and not have to think

Pathetic Babygirl of All Time

Personal Life

cw!! for talk around mental illness, suicide, and substance abuse

Viktor’s childhood was extremely difficult in that his mother simply does not believe that mental illnesses and neurologic disorders are legitimate conditions, and denies that Viktor’s many conditions are real. She believes he is making everything up for attention. Viktor has had this rhetoric drilled into him since childhood — there is nothing wrong with him, he’s just weak, lazy, a failure, a troubled child.

As such, he has never been diagnosed with anything on record.

He is quite mistrustful of authority figures as a result of his upbringing.

The first real, healthy parental influence in his life was Terri O’Rinn. She was the one to refer Viktor to a specialist doctor — she called in a favour from a friend/colleague, who was able to confirm Viktor’s diagnosis of mild to moderate Tourette Syndrome. This diagnosis remains strictly off-record. He primarily has motor tics, but he does have some verbal ones too — many of his tics are indistinguishable from the way he carries himself and his usual, somewhat eccentric mannerisms of speaking and moving.

Viktor also suffers from depression and generalised anxiety disorder. Luca has “diagnosed” him with “ADHD by peer review.” Viktor also deals with frequent bouts of passive suicidal ideation. Luca has had to talk him down on two separate occasions when he has threatened attempts. He has attempted once, on his own, and has never told anyone about it. Viktor loves Luca like a brother, as they do him, and their bond is fundamentally unshakeable.

Viktor fell into performing initially as a means to cope with his Tourettes — music helps to help him feel in control of his symptoms, so he can often be found singing, humming, or whistling to himself as he goes about his business. Alcohol and weed incidentally dial back his premonitory urges as well, allowing him to more easily suppress his tics, so there have been patterns of substance abuse throughout Viktor’s life when he’s been in a bad place mentally.

In classes at school, he was something of the class clown — Viktor quickly realised he liked dictating the kind of attention that was on him (and that he actually really loves attention when its the kind he has sought out himself). So rather than people staring at him because of his tics, he’d rather enrapture them on purpose with beautiful and hypnotic performances. Leaning into his role as the band’s vocalist and frontman did wonders for his self-confidence and overall quality of life.

Also — he’s just really, really, good at singing 🖤🖤🖤

You can find out more about Viktor via my masterlist, or read about him in my longfic, snow in crimson, starlight in gold on AO3! 🖤(direct link, fic is rated Explicit)

tagging: @choicesficwriterscreations

[sc0tters]

AU List

Thoughts for AUs are: OPEN

All of the au’s below are my current active ones, in these au’s you will find the blurb section which is where you guys are able to have your say in what happens during the overall storyline!

for aus that don't have a masterlist yet, they are tagged below!

AU CALENDAR

the universes!

the wips!

Cole and Parker - Big Reputations

Nick and Scottie - The Lost Baby

Luca and Aspen - Pretty Boy

Ethan and Astrid - Perfect Fit

Rutger and Emmy - His Girl

Mark and Abigail - Lessons

Nick and Francesca - Bed Buds

Luke and Isabel - Captain's Sister

Jesper and Emilia - A Bakers Dozen

Ryan and Ava - Sparks

Will and Bailey - Baby on Board

Cutter and Lillian - Meant to Be

Jacob and Ivy - Triple Split

Gabe and Jamie - Teammates In Action

Drew and Erin - It Girl

Seamus and Liana - Unexpected Connections

John and Maya - Baby Hughes

William and Matilda - Star

Matt and Sydney - Golden Girl

Luke and Allie - Hookups and Screwups

The Flyers Throuple - Teammates in Sheets

Cole and Darcy - Match Made

Adam and Sabrina - Write a Song

Sidney and Camille - Homes and Hearts

Steve and Lucie - Long Games

The Umich Throuple - Three's a Match

Jeremy and Adelia - Made Match

Juraj and Alana - A Dream in Time

Quinn and Rouge - Rookie Compliance

Jack and Kennedy - One of a Kind

Gracie and Elias - Little Teammate

Matthew and Lilah - Give a Dog

retired aus

Mitch and Amelia - His Rookie

Nico and Harper - Don't Tell

Elias and Payton - Coaches Daughter

Sidney and Rory - On Ice

Matthew and Billie - Opposing Teammates

Trevor and Daisy - Babies and Buddies

Luke and Blake - Girl Next Door

Quinn and Charlotte - Teammates Sister

Jack and Riley - New Roommate

The Zegras-Hughes Children - Next Gen

Adam and Sophie - Romantic Roomates (because we now have adam and sabrina)

Gavin and Bridget - Besotted Differences

[somerandomjewelleryonthefloor]

Gonna start just busting these out lmao.

Some little convos during the monopoly session: ↓

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Solrin: MICH PLEASE- I'll be out here in the streets if you make me pay up rent!

Michael: sorry, rules are rules though.

Solrin: what if I just, sit on your lap for the entire game?

Michael: ... [YES-] no.

Solrin: FUCK.

Morgan: if you were my gf, I wouldn't have done that to you-

*cue Michael looking at Morgan with a death stare, while Morgan just cracks up*

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Caleb: you know I'm feeling pretty good!

Myra: but you shouldn't! You stole MY dog piece!

Sydney: no, it was going to be my piece!

Myra: I own the board.

Sydney: and I'm a house guest.

Caleb: well I already have it, early bird gets the worm I guess!

*cue Sydney & Myra ganging up on him during the entire game*

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Maria: I'm surprised you're still in jail Morgan.

Morgan: I don't really have a choice, I only have 10$ and nobody is landing on any of my property.

Maria: you don't even wanna try double rolling?

Morgan: hell nah.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Emma: I'm worried I'm gonna go bankrupt! I only have 240$ left!

Solrin: don't worry, since you're my bestie you get 1/2 off of my rent!

Caleb: excuse me?

Solrin: what?

Maria: Solrin, you own an entire lane and each of your properties now have hotels on them...

Solrin: what's the deal?

Myra: you aren't giving us any of this treatment!

Solrin: because YOU GUYS don't deSERVE it!

*cue gasps*

Michael: not even me?!

Solrin: especially you BITC-

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Michael: "you were found stealing money, give the person next to you 4$."

Aiden: *sitting next to Michael, his hand out*

Michael: ... *currently has 5$ after landing on Solrin's property*

*cue the flipping of the table*

[solstitios]

yoooo! i'm rocket (she/her) and this is my manic pixie boy... man... pyro? idiot? callum, who is absolutely named after calum hood from 5sos i have a few pages up for him at the moment but this post may be better served regarding initial interesting in plotting! i do prefer d*scord for plotting just an fyi; feel free to like this post and i'll send you a dm to connect! ♡

tw: mentions of domestic/physical/familial abuse, accidental death

yes he DID forget how to speak korean when he got to ansong. yes he spent a week literally not being able to understand/read anything around him (this would be a fun plot for anyone who has a muse who speaks eng!) and i don't know how he did it. but one day he woke up and he could just suddenly understand everything again so he's ok now

is from sydney but doesn't remember that now. there's a picture of the sydney opera house on one of his mementos

came from a household with a very strict father and mother with little backbone; as the older son he was always being pressured to be amazing by his dad and would get hit when he didn't meet his father's standards (and then really started acting out as a result, but we'll get to that)

SUPER IMPORTANT TO KNOW: callum has a sister who is 2 years younger named callie and they were super close and i would love if someone brought her to the rp hello 2nd muse idea for y'all !!!

so once his dad really started laying on the trauma lol, callum began his rebellious era — literally just saying fuck all to his grades at school, hanging out with shitty people, getting involved with things he really shouldn't have

got arrested at 17 the spring before his high school graduation, father knew people in the city to get them to let him off with a smack on the wrist but nearly got his ass beat

father banished him to go live with his uncle in korea for the next decade. had a really hard time adjusting at first because his korean sucked. did some odd jobs, tutored english, wanted to be a cop but he couldn't because he wasn't technically a citizen so he actually started training to willingly enlist in the korean military

this happening while he was visiting aus for his bday: he just turned 27 this august so right before his frontal cortex stopped growing he thought it would be a great idea to set off illegal fireworks while was rly drunk with his friends... yeah ok buddy. ends up, i shit you not, "dumb ways to die" accidentally k*lls himself AND HIS SISTER with the fireworks striking them both. i swear this was more tragic when i was first conceptualizing him but writing this out now it's so stupid fjkdhfjkgf

except now on the bright side, he's dead but gets to be a firefighter! oh the irony

persona

personality wise he's like a pretty cool dude. fun to chill with. really likes fires. is calm and cool and that friend that always knows the right thing to say except he's got a lot of demons in him that keep him in his head a lot but is so frustrated because he can't even figure out what the demons are. loves his job. super into fitness and staying in shape. makes lists for everything. slightly neurotic. really wants to get a dog. left-handed. may come across as hard to read at times. nolan fanboy. good taste in memes but bad tiktok taste. only dresses in black/gray/neutrals outside of his work uniform. surprisingly makes banger charcuterie boards

tl;dr

childhood traumatized man accidentally k*lls himself and his sister

potential plots

someone who goes to the same boxing gym as him and maybe they have beef about something pretty juvenile? LMAO

one of your kitchen appliances catches on fire and you're too scared/embarrassed to call 119 so instead you run down to the third floor and make callum handle it instead

someone to go with him to one of the events posted on the community bulletin!!!

for females: callum meets you for the first time and when he does he gets deja vu. he feels like he's met you before (it's all his subconscious trying to push out his memory of his sister callie)

for males: someone younger he treats like an older brother (again, his subconscious longing for his sister)

[thomasshelbydrabbles]

Everything’s a Negotiation (8/?)

Pairing: Modern!Tommy Shelby x OC, Modern!Alfie Solomons x OC

Warnings: series typical violence, language, sexual situations, possessive behavior, consensual public sexual situations

Summary: Mac decides to take the train up north, per Sydney’s suggestion. What she hadn’t expected was company during the ride.

Word Count: 4039

A/N: Let me know if you would like added to the tag list.

Mac considered ordering a taxi to get her to the train station, but still thought her best chance of getting out of town unnoticed by the gangsters of London would be public transport. It wasn’t that she thought they couldn’t find her, but more her belief that they would be less likely to cause a scene on the tube. Leaving town mid-week meant slightly less foot traffic. No matter how many times they’d ridden the tube, Mac still found herself surprised that Zeus truly enjoyed it. There were always a lot of people for him to make friends with, even more smells for him to enjoy, but she had wondered if all of it would be a bit too much. He sat leaning against her legs as they rode the Northern line towards Euston station. A young girl with pigtails glanced up at her.

“Can I pet your doggie?” 

Mac smiled, glanced up at the adult standing with the young girl. “He’s friendly, but it’s your choice.” 

She watched the girl look pleadingly up at the woman. Mac smiled to herself because that’s exactly how Zeus looked at her when he wanted something, and since he always wanted something, it was the main expression on his furry little face. When the woman nodded her okay Mac smiled down at the girl and knelt down next to Zeus. 

“This is Zeus,” she said as she scruffed his muzzle. “He loves to make friends. And if you pet here behind his ears, he’ll be your friend and might even try to lick your face.” 

At Euston station, Mac waved goodbye to the young girl as she and Zeus made their way to the platform. She’d gotten good at navigating with the dog and her small roller bag, but she still had to deal with people knocking into her, grumbling until they saw Zeus. She found an uncrowded section of the station and pulled Zeus over to sit while she pulled up the ticket on her mobile. Walking towards the first-class cars, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Of course, she figured Tommy had some of his people watching her, but now she wondered if Alfie did, too. Were they to just watch and report, or would one of them try to stop her from boarding the train? Pulling Zeus in a bit closer, she hoped they’d leave her be. No need to start a scene at the train station, but she would. 

“Ticket?”

She smiled as she showed the host her mobile. 

“Pleasure to have you aboard today, Miss Theil. Can I help with your luggage?” 

Mac nodded as she passed off her roller bag. She got Zeus settled into the car before setting up her laptop at a table near the window. 

“Can I get you something to drink before we depart?”

“G&T, please.” 

Just as the server left, Mac felt a wet tongue against her hand. Thinking it was Zeus demanding treats for his good behavior on public transport, she smiled before reaching down to scratch behind his ears. However, the fur beneath her hand did not belong to her dog. 

“Well hello, sir,” she greeted the giant mut standing next to her, tail wagging. “Aren’t you just adorable?” 

“Cyril, you fuckin’ menace come ‘ere.” 

At the sound of Alfie’s voice, both Mac and Cyril looked to see him striding into the car. Adeline frowned as she shook her head. She’d been right that one of them would come find her. Since Alfie was the one on the train, she imagined it wouldn’t be long before whatever minions Tommy had tailing her would report back to him about this most recent development. Would he just show up when she got settled in Lancaster? Or maybe, he’d stew on it. Be waiting for her when she came back to London. Neither option pleased her. 

“Seems the dog isn’t the only one who’s a menace,” Mac said as she stood from her seat. 

Alfie grinned at her. She didn’t want to like the way he looked at her. She did. In fact, she found herself preening a bit under his gaze. The small smile on his face gave a youthful, almost playful air to him. She could almost feel the way his neatly trimmed beard would feel against her skin, the way his plump lips would linger on hers, teasing. Startling her from her daydream, one which, given the knowing look on Alfie’s face she’d been caught in, Zeus came trotting over, tongue hanging out as he moved to sniff at Cyril in greeting. The dogs seemed pleased enough with each other’s company and wandered off to the far side of the car to become the best of dog friends. Mac fought down the urge to call Zeus back to her side. The empty first-class car suddenly felt increasingly small. What was it about these men? Mac found it quite rude that they took up all the oxygen, all the space, as though forcing her to devote her entire focus to them.     

Not that calling Zeus would have helped because Alfie swept her into his arms and captured her lips in a kiss before she’d really even come to terms with him being with her on the train. He was so warm. Like a heated blanket on a cold winter day. His hands spanned most of her back, his large fingers pressed into her, holding her tightly against his chest. She brought her hands up, intending to push him away, but instead, they wrapped around his neck, brushed along the nape of his neck, feeling the smooth, silky texture of his hair beneath her fingers. Since he’d taken all the oxygen with his presence, returning some to her was the least he could do. She sighed as she gave herself over to the feel of him, the way he ignited butterflies in her stomach. He, of course, took advantage of this and dipped his tongue into her mouth, chasing the taste of her. 

The door to the car opened.

Her drink. 

She broke the kiss, his arms stayed wrapped around her, keeping her close to his body. His hands settled on her hips, thumbs stroking along her hip teasingly. A blush bloomed on her cheeks as the host set her drink on the table. She tucked her face against Alfie’s neck, ignoring the way his body shook with silent laughter. Reaching down, she pinched his ass, which caused his whole body to sway forward against hers. The feel of his hard cock had her breath caught in her throat. Through the material of his slacks, through the fabric of her jeans, he still felt…impressive. Long and thick. She groaned as he rolled his hips forward again, teasing her. Testing her. 

Alfie’s hands slid up her body, fingers grazing the side of her neck causing her to shiver. His hands cradled her face, thumbs caressed her jaw as he tilted her face up. 

“What are you doing here, Alfie?”

“Innit obvious, pet? Thought me holding you in me arms and kissin’, yeah, kissin’ your gorgeous face would be a bit obvious, right?” 

Given how her own arms were wrapped around his shoulders, and her lips still tingled from where his beard rubbed against her face when he’d kissed her, then yes, what he came here to do did seem fairly obvious. She still felt as though she’d wake up, find the train gliding along the tracks. Perhaps fan herself a bit, and then go back to her real life. 

“Tell me you didn’t get on a train just to give me a kiss.”

Instead of answering, he lowered his face, connecting their lips again in a kiss that was slow, sensuous - as though he literally had all the time in the world to stand here on a train and kiss her senseless. Again, she fell into it, her body molding to his as her hands moved from his shoulders up to his hair. Her fingers sunk into it. The thick strands wrapped around her fingers as she tugged him closer to her. Her whole body fit in the shadow of his, his broad shoulders made her feel small, delicate. 

This time it was Alfie who pulled back first. His fingers combed through her hair before tucking it behind her ear. 

“My family, we’re bakers. Going back generations, baking bread. Brown bread, white bread…loaves and loaves of it. Now, that’s not all that interesting since many people, yeah, many people can bake bread, but what it does mean, pet, is that I’m good with me hands, right, very good with ‘em.”

As he spoke, Alfie moved around her body. His hands began kneading her shoulders, down her arms, around to the small of her back. A low moan passed her lips as he dug his fingers into her muscles, loosening them even as other parts of her tightened in response. She felt as much as heard his laugh along her spine, his breath warm on her neck. 

“Know you’ve been feeling a bit of stress, a bit of stress these past few weeks, pet. Some of it caused by me and that’s bad, right, bad of me. So I’m here, right, I’m here to apologize for my behavior in your office,” Alfie whispered, his lips teasing along her neck.  

“You always apologize like this?”

He chuckled, low, masculine - the sound had her vibrating. “No, pet. I don’t make it a habit of apologizin’. See, men in my line of work, right, my particular business, can’t be seen apologizin’ for things because it allows people to get ideas, see, stupid fuckin’ ideas about me, about my nature.”

Mac groaned as she arched like a cat under his hands. “And what exactly am I meant to understand about your nature, Alfie?” 

“You, pet? I did not like the way we left things in your office, not a bit. I know it’s mostly my fault because I’m a man accustomed to things going the way I want them, see, and when they don’t, well…” 

Alfie’s hands had moved back up to her shoulders. She could imagine him baking bread, could almost see him stood in the kitchen, apron around his waist, kneading the dough with his big hands. Her shoulders began to relax as he continued to weave a magic spell over her body. 

“If the whole gangs of London thing don’t work out for you, I’d be your first customer at your massage place.”

“You forgive me, pet?”

Mac’s head rolled forward as Alfie’s thumbs dug into her trapezius. It wasn’t fair. She’d agree to anything right now, and…

With a great degree of reluctance, she slowly drew away from his hands, and turned to face him. 

“Why are you here, Alfie?” 

“Work for me.” 

“No.” 

Mac looked around the empty car, brow furrowed. “How is the car this empty? Not that I mind because that would have been quite a show for anyone who might have been in here, and I’m not about giving folks a free show. But it is odd.” 

“Bought the whole car when I found out that you’d purchased a first-class ticket for yourself because I did not want us to be disturbed. We have business to discuss, pet, and I thought it best we be alone for it, yeah?”

“And all the bread-making you did when you walked in?”

Alfie smiled. Damn. She wanted to hate it. But. Just like Tommy that smile was her undoing. Made him seem like a friendly teddy bear. Of course, she knew both he and Tommy would bite, but she’d never been good at learning lessons the easy way. Given how flustered they both made her, she did find it a bit of a miracle that they both continued to be so keen on having her work for them. Certainly, the could go to another firm and find a woman who could refrain from becoming a needy ball of sexual tension. 

“I told you, pet, that was an apology from me to you for my poor manners in your office. My words, right, they upset you that day, and I found myself not liking, right, not liking that my words had upset you.” 

“Now that you’re done apologizing to me, you want me to work for you.” 

“Yes.” 

Mac reached for her G&T and took a long swallow. She grimaced because a lot of the ice had melted, and she hated how watery it had become. Still, she gulped it down like it might be the last drop of gin this side of the Atlantic. 

“Are you and Tommy always like this?” Mac paused, brought a finger to her chin. “Although, I can’t imagine you make out with everyone you want to do business with. Both because I’d feel much less special and because that just seems like a lot of work for you. I’ve explained why it would be a foolish decision to work for either of you. Yet, both of you seem to think you can change my mind by seducing me, and while I’m flattered, and more than a bit overwhelmed, I value my business. As a businessman yourself, I’m sure you can understand my position.” 

“I do understand.” 

“Then what the fuck, Alfie?”

Her tone drew Zeus’ attention, and soon both dogs had trotted over to where they stood nose to nose. She felt Zeus lick her fingers and she reached down to scratch behind his ears. She wanted another drink. Actually, she wanted to sit down in that chair near the window, put in her earbuds and listen to her true crime, guilty pleasure, podcast. 

“Write the contracts in your benefit, pet. You’re clever, and ruthless - I know what you took from Ollie that day,” Alfie said with a wink. “Write them up in such a way that it’s deleterious to either myself or Mister Shelby to betray each other.”

Mac knew her jaw had to be on the ground. He couldn’t possibly have just said that to her.

“What, like bloody primary school? I send you off to the corner when you decided you can’t share the crayons anymore?”

“A bit like that,” Alfie said slowly, his hand stroked his beard. “It is a bit like that, yeah. Because men like me and Thomas Shelby, right, we just can’t help ourselves, pet. And we need, we need someone to provide the boundaries. And in return we make you a wealthy woman, keep you safe.”

She laughed. A great involuntary sound. It had a manic note to it she thought appropriate for the situation, if a bit dramatic. “I swear it’s like you two read the same script. I don’t need money, Alfie. And if it weren’t for you both, I’d not need protecting.” 

“Pet - ”

Mac held a hand up to stop whatever nonsense would come out of his mouth next and took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s pretend for a moment that I’ve gone mad, and I’m entertaining this ridiculous idea of yours. Let’s say I have my team of highly paid, very, very nasty barristers draw up a contract that gives you little worms no room to wriggle, one that makes me the queen of fucking everything you bastards own if you so much as glance at the other’s crayons with ill intent. I do that. I have it drawn up. Everyone signs in blood. Everyone’s happy. Until. Until one of you decides that happy is boring. Men like you, Alfie, men like Tommy - you just get bored, don’t you. Just exactly like bloody toddlers, and when you get bored, you break things. But, now, you’ve got this fancy contract that makes me the last man standing. So instead of breaking toys, you break me instead.” 

She paused. Met his eyes. He had a good poker face. It wasn’t cold and aloof like Tommy. It was just vacant. Like he’d gone somewhere else in his mind. 

“I know how that scenario ends, Alfie.”

“If,” Alfie began slowly. “If there came a time that Thomas and I decided our little agreement, right, our promise to each other, to you, no longer worked for us, right, by the time that happened, Thomas Shelby would be so in love with you that he’d not have you killed, pet. Couldn’t do it.” 

Mac ignored the way her heart beat a bit faster at the thought of Tommy being in love with her. Given how he’d responded when Rodney had shown up to her flat, and the way he’d had Michael escort her immediately to him when all Hank had done was cause her a bit of emotional upset, she could see it. What startled her the most was realizing she could imagine herself loving him back. Veering sharply away from that line of thought, she instead focused on what Alfie didn’t say.

“And you, Mister Solomons? Would you be ‘so in love with me’ that you’d not have me killed?”

The silence hung between them. She couldn’t even be angry about it because she knew. He’d told her that day in her office. Forever wasn’t a promise Alfie Solomons could offer to her. Instead, she got massages and promises of Fabergé Eggs. Perhaps giving the order to see her killed would be difficult for him. Maybe he’d even consider a course of action that didn’t end with her lifeless body in a nice pine box. Yet she knew Alfie. At least, she knew the type. Business would come first. And in the end, when it all went tits up, that’s all she would be…a loose end that needed to be tied up. All in service of business. 

She nodded. “I believe we have reached an impasse, Mister Solomons.” 

“Perhaps not,” Alfie said.

Mac didn’t like the serious tone he used. So many thoughts flashed through her mind. 

“Ollie, small thing that he is, found somethin’ useful. Not that he meant to, no. Hurt his feelings you did that day. He went lookin’ for somethin’ to use against you, but you’re good at your job, Miss Theil, very good at your job, yeah, so he couldn't find anything. Moped around like a child. For days. Like a fuckin’ child. Then, one day, he comes into me office excited as I’ve ever seen him, and he learned something about you, pet, about your family.” 

Mac stiffened. Beside her, Zeus stood, moved to a guard position in front of her. 

“None of that, pet. I’m not here to harm you, no. But your family, an uncle of yours I believe, goes by Hank, and what a fucking stupid name that is, but very Gentile, yes, very fucking Gentile that name, Hank. Well, it appears that he has recently made some business purchases that you might find interesting. Thames Security and Clover have been purchased, and see these names, pet, they seemed familiar. I’d seen them before on that nice list your office sent me the first time you told me no. Both companies were on the top of that list.”

Mac stumbled a bit. Alfie reached out and steadied her, hands warm on her skin. She wanted to push him away, but she didn’t want to fall on her ass, so she leaned into him. Felt his fingers card through her hair. Damn him. Damn them all. Why did it have to feel so good? 

“He doesn’t have the capital for that kind of move,” Mac said as she pulled back. “He’s old money, but he relies on the reputation of that name, of the fucking gentry politics more than any sort of funding. He’s not broke, but those are large companies, strong companies. How the fuck did he get that kind of money?” 

“Before you jump to conclusions because I know my actions might have you thinking foolishness, I didn’t give your uncle, right, I did not give that man any money. Not a bloody pence of my money went to him. Ollie dug up the court documents, right, the documents containing information about his atrocious behavior and the things that he said to you, the fucking words he spoke in a court of law about you. Ollie found those and gave them to me. I read them. Yes, I read them, and you are a good person, pet, a fucking good person for not having him killed for what he said, and for what he did to you, to your family.” 

She couldn’t breathe. Zeus whimpered, nudged her with his nose. When had the walls gotten so close to her? Hadn’t there been windows in this car? Hank’s smug, bloated face hovered in front of her, little grin tugging his thin, mustached lips. Mac squeezed her eyes closed, but Hank only grew larger. There wasn’t enough air in the room. She couldn't feel the tips of her fingers. Couldn’t breathe. 

Warm fingers on her face gently stroking her cheek. A broad hand on her chest. Her own hand pressed against a warm body. She could feel a steady thump, thump, thump beneath her fingers. 

“Breathe with me, pet.” 

She knew the voice. Knew it would keep her safe. She tried to do as he said. Kept her hand against his chest, took a breath in through her nose, released it through her mouth. 

Blinking slowly, she forced her eyes open. Alfie knelt on the ground in front of her, eyes tracking her movements, concern etched into her face. She hated how weak her family made her. The panic attacks started when her uncle first brought the suit against her. They increased as litigation continued. Thankfully, she’d never had one in front of him. It was bad enough that both Tommy and now Alfie had seen her have one. She knew men like them shouldn't have this kind of power over her. As Alfie said, Tommy might grow to love her enough for it not to matter, but Alfie would always be a wild card. 

“Give me a reason for him to keep breathing, pet. This uncle of yours deserves a shallow grave, pet, not worth wasting the work of a proper burial.” 

“He’s not worth it.” 

“Bollocks.” 

Mac laughed. The noise startled her. Now, though she had a problem. Alfie had leverage. And now Hank was making moves that made little sense to her. This all might lead to her needing the protection Tommy and Alfie could offer to her firm. She doubted any respectable lender would front Hank the money, gentry or not. Even more so, she knew the owners of both companies. They had no reason to sell. She sighed. 

“Birmingham New Street.”

She’d not noticed the chime for any of the other stops. In her defense, she’d been highly distracted by a man she figured practiced distracting folks daily. 

“That’s me, pet. You’ve the rest of the ride to yourself. Bought the car out as far as Lancaster, so you’ll not be disturbed. I’ll ‘ave them bring you another drink, right, another one when I get me and Cyril off.” 

She nodded mechanically. 

“Think about my offer. Do your research, right, figure out what that worm of an uncle of yours is doing, yeah, and make a plan. Be clever.” 

“I can’t exactly say thank you and mean it, but I’m glad I know now.” 

Alfie nodded. “Fair enough, pet.” 

He pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek. It didn’t so much feel like a goodbye, which is what she’d expected. Instead, it felt like a placeholder. As though he’d simply pressed pause on their…bread making. 

When the door closed behind him, she fell heavily into the chair. Zeus sat near her feet, his head resting in her lap, eyes staring up at her. She scratched behind his ears.

“I have no idea what we’re going to do, buddy.” 

The door opened again, and she just about expected to see Alfie again, maybe even Tommy. Thankfully, it was just the host carrying a tray with another G&T and a charcuterie board. Just as it was set down on the table near her, her stomach let out a loud growl. She chuckled to herself. Damn the gangsters in her life. Damn them all.

Master List

Tag List: @allie131313​  @highgardenrosexx​   @stevie75​   @polishcrazyone​

[gokartkid]

Max’s feet were resting in Daniel’s lap. His hand was skating over the arches of his feet, up and pressing into the bones of his ankles. The house was warm, and he was sinking into the couch.

He still wasn’t used to it; it was December and the sun set at 9pm and the highest temperature of the day was 28 degrees, and he had red peeling skin across his back because he’d forgotten to put on sunscreen.

Isabella yawned performatively in front of them where she was sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth on the cushion, and everyone laughed, kindly. There wasn’t much longer to go, the TV screen cutting to a drone circling around the Sydney Harbour bridge. 

“Everyone’s got a drink, yeah?”

Michelle looked around the room checking in. Max nodded, smiling and raising his glass tumblr, still half full of a gin and tonic, crushed mint and a slice of cucumber sitting at the bottom. 

Isaac held up his apple juice self-importantly, sticking his nose in the air.

“I have an apple juice, which is better than orange.”

Isabella screwed up her face, opening her little pink mouth when Daniel cuts them off, laughing.

“Come on guys, don’t bring in the new year fighting or you’ll get stuck that way.”

Isaac looks comically horrified at the idea, fighting his sister for the whole year. Max pokes his toe into the muscle of Daniel’s thigh, right where his tattoo creeps up and under his shorts.

“It’s true,” he adds, and Isabella looks at him with her big eyes, “my sister and I were stuck the whole year fighting once, because you know, of course, you have to be nice when the year goes over or it's very unlucky.”

Michelle looks gratefully over at them. She’d been struggling with them for the past week between Christmas and New Years, frazzled with all the housework she was doing to help Daniel’s mum, and the two kids getting increasingly under her feet. They reminded Max of baby birds sometimes, chattering up with endless energy and need for attention.

There’s only a few minutes until the countdown starts. They’d decided not to get fireworks of their own this year, Daniel said, while they were walking around the field.

“It scared the dogs too much, y’know,” he was scratching at the back of his head, squinting up into the sky, “and we can watch basically the same thing on the TV so why not.”

Max slipped his hand into Daniel's where it was hanging by his side.

“I think it’s a lovely idea.”

It was nice to be sitting around on the couch, chatter filling the empty pockets of air, and not to mention the bliss of indoor air conditioning. Standing outside when the weather was hot and muggy; that was probably one of the worse experiences Max could think of. 

That, and the mosquitoes that seemed to love him, leaving their red-and-white bites up his legs. One had gotten right in the joint between his fingers, and he’d been so annoyed all day, the tingling irritation hanging onto the back of his brain.

Daniel’s hand rests in the curve of his knee, and he taps his index, a silent invitation.

Max pushes his fingers in to intertwine them, brushes the callus of his thumb up and over his knuckles. He can just see the curve of Daniel’s smile from his angle, how it bunches up the muscles in his cheeks, makes smile lines wrinkle out from his eyes.

There’s a half demolished cheese-board on the table still, most of the snacky bits gone but for random squares of cheese, and stray cut up bits of salami.

Max feels older than he ever has, struggling to keep his eyes open with every blink, the slow creeping exhaustion of not having stayed up this late in months crawling up on his skin. He feels like his brain is moving sluggishly as he sips from the sweating glass in his hand, liquid blissfully cold.

“There it is!” 

Isabella points at the TV, gets all of their attention. 

Daniel squeezes his hand.

“5!”

Everyone is smiling at each other as they count down.

“4!” 

Max sits up, pressed his thigh into Daniel’s.

“3!”

Michelle slips to the ground to sit on the rug between her two kids.

“2!”

Daniel turns to look at him, skates his hand up to sit at the curve of Max’s waist, fingers pressing into the softness of his body.

“1!”

He closes his eyes into the kiss as the fireworks go off, cheers erupting around the room. Daniel’s lips move against his, dry and chapped, his stubble just growing out from when he shaved that morning. He cups his hand around Max’s neck, pecks him again once, twice.

Max opens his eyes to see Michelle cuddling her kids into her chest, peppering their little blonde heads with kisses. Daniel’s parents are hugging, and swaying behind the couch.

Daniel is looking at him, and his smile is soft, and his hand is still on his neck, thumb rubbing small circles into warm skin.

“Happy new year Max.”

[puppyschoolsydney]

The Importance of Socialization for Dogs

Introduction

Dogs are not just pets; they are members of our families, and their well-being is of paramount importance. One crucial aspect of a dog's life that often goes underestimated is socialization. Socialization plays a vital role in a dog's overall health and happiness. In this article, we'll explore the significance of socialization for dogs, why it matters, and how it can positively impact your furry friend's life.

What Is Dog Socialization?

Before delving into its importance, let's clarify what we mean by "dog socialization." Socialization refers to the process of exposing dogs to a variety of people, animals, environments, and experiences during their developmental stages. This helps them become well-adjusted, confident, and comfortable in different situations.

Developmental Stages of Socialization

Puppyhood: The critical window for socialization typically occurs between 3 and 14 weeks of age. During this time, puppies are more open to new experiences, making it an ideal period to introduce them to various stimuli.

Adolescence: While socialization continues throughout a dog's life, adolescence (around 6 to 18 months) is another essential stage. Here, dogs may become more wary of new experiences, making positive interactions crucial.

Why Socialization Matters

Socialization is not just a luxury; it's a necessity for your dog's well-being. Here's why:

1. Builds Confidence

Exposure to different people, animals, and situations helps dogs build confidence. Dogs that are well-socialized are less likely to be fearful or anxious in unfamiliar environments or around strangers.

Reduces Aggression and Fear

Proper socialization reduces the likelihood of fear-based aggression in dogs. When they are exposed to different people and animals from an early age, they learn to react calmly to new situations rather than defensively.

Promotes Positive Behavior

Well-socialized dogs tend to exhibit better behavior. They are more likely to respond positively to training and are easier to manage in various situations.

Prevents Behavioral Problems

Unsocialized dogs are at a higher risk of developing behavioral problems like separation anxiety, phobias, and aggression. Socialization helps prevent these issues from arising in the first place.

Enhances Safety

A well-socialized dog is safer to be around. They are less likely to pose a threat to people or other animals, reducing the risk of accidents or incidents.

How to Socialize Your Dog

Now that we understand why socialization is vital, let's look at how you can socialize your dog effectively:

Start Early

As mentioned earlier, the critical period for socialization is during puppyhood. Begin exposing your puppy to different people, animals, and environments as soon as they are old enough to venture out.

Gradual Exposure

Take a gradual approach to socialization. Introduce your dog to new experiences in a calm and controlled manner. Start with familiar and non-threatening situations and gradually increase the complexity of the exposures.

Positive Reinforcement

Use positive reinforcement techniques like treats, praise, and play to reward your dog for calm and confident behavior during socialization experiences. This will help them associate new experiences with positive outcomes.

Variety is Key

Expose your dog to a wide range of people, including children, adults, and seniors. Introduce them to other dogs of different sizes and temperaments. Take them to different environments, such as parks, beaches, and urban areas.

Enroll in Puppy Classes

Puppy socialization classes can be highly beneficial. These classes are designed to provide controlled environments for puppies to interact with other puppies and learn valuable social skills.

Consult a Professional

If you're unsure about how to socialize your dog or if you're dealing with a dog that has missed crucial socialization periods, consider seeking guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist.

Common Socialization Challenges

While socialization is crucial, there are some challenges to be aware of:

1. Fear Periods

Dogs may go through fear periods during their developmental stages. During these periods, they may become more fearful or anxious. It's important to be patient and avoid forcing them into situations that make them uncomfortable.

Negative Experiences

One negative experience during socialization can have a lasting impact. Be cautious and avoid situations that could traumatize your dog. Always prioritize their well-being.

Health Considerations

Ensure your dog's vaccinations are up to date before exposing them to other dogs or public places to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Conclusion

In conclusion, socialization is a fundamental aspect of a dog's life at Puppy Playground that should not be overlooked. It plays a crucial role in building confidence, reducing fear and aggression, promoting positive behavior, preventing behavioral problems, and enhancing safety. By starting early, using positive reinforcement, and exposing your dog to a variety of experiences, you can help them become well-adjusted, happy, and confident companions. Remember that every dog is unique, and socialization should be tailored to their individual needs and comfort levels. With the right approach, you can ensure that your furry friend enjoys a fulfilling and enriching life.

[femboyhunting]

TELL US MORE ABT MIKIE!!!

Ok here are some mikie things

*He likes to get his hair dyed pink but his natural hair is hazelnut brown

*He works out entirely out of spite. Sometimes when he works out he imagines himself breaking Whitney's smug bastard face and that makes it all worth it. Anyway, he's pretty strong and has a nice physique.

*He really does have a dart board up on his wall with a drawing of Bailey taped to it. He drew it but he doesn't really draw much.

*He comes off as really confident and self assured but inside he's mostly made up of self loathing.

*He runs entirely on coffee and spite, caffeine runs through his veins. He's so busy that he'd rather get stuff done than sleep. A lot of times he can't sleep at all because of insomnia. Sometimes he just passes out/falls asleep out of nowhere. Though if he can help it, he only falls asleep somewhere he feels safe.

*Deep down, he feels immense guilty for taking Sydney's purity. He feels like he's put Syd in a more dangerous position out of selfishness and wonders if Syd's life would have been so much better if he'd never met Mikie.

*He's doing surprisingly well in school despite being a bit of a delinquent and he seems to get on fairly well with most of his teachers. Aside from Leighton, who Mikie daydreams of throwing into a volcano. For whatever reason, he tries really hard in school and seems to want his teachers to like him. He's won the science competition in the past though he really doesn't seem the type. He also volunteers at the soup kitchen with River and brings Winter antiques. Both of these crotchety uptight bastards didn't like or trust him At All at first but they've really warmed up to him. As much as they can warm up anyway. He likes them, especially River. River feels safe to Mikie. He thinks Winter is kinda a freak but he likes listening to him talk about the past and he likes that Winter gives him better grades because he brings him stuff he finds.

*When he was just starting out scrambling to get enough money to pay rent, he danced and "took clients" at the brothel pretty much all night. He doesn't have good memories of that. He'd like to forget but that reputation still sticks to him, especially considering it wasn't really very long ago. He was even more exhausted then and disassociating pretty much the whole time. He'd have this empty dead fish expression, that's how you can tell he's only there physically. And that's really how he copes still.

When he got enough money for a fake id he graduated to the strip club where he bartends. He likes it better. And he's really surprisingly protective of Darryl. Like jumping over the bar table with a bottle in his fist when a patron gets handsy with him. Darryl might be both older than Mikie and a pretty successful business owner but Mikies the one acting like a protective attack dog whenever he's around.

[copperbadge]

Radio Free Monday

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Radio Free Monday!

Ways to Give:

Anon linked to a fundraiser for ridne, who needs to raise $2K for emergency dental treatment; ridne has EDS and needs crowns to protect brittle teeth. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

like-the-midnight-sun linked to a fundraiser for a close friend, Sydney, who is queer, trans, disabled, and currently homeless after leaving an abusive situation; they have a job but are living in their car and need help to keep Felix safe during the day while they're at work. They're raising funds to board Felix during the day so that they can keep their job and get back on their feet; you can read more and support the fundraiser here.

Anon linked to a fundraiser by the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, a nonprofit supporting homeschooled children with a focus on laws protecting their rights, which is pulling together support for a young trans man who recently escaped a (very common) abusive home/homeschooling situation and needs resources to get a start in life. You can read more and support the fundraiser here.

gwydion is raising funds to replace a broken fridge; they've solved a semi-recent plumbing issue but still need to replace the fridge and that's never cheap. You can give via paypal here.

Anon linked to a fundraiser for a nephew, Martin, who is raising funds to get a service dog to help him as he lives with a disability; you can read more and support the fundraiser here.

greaseonmymouth linked to small Scottish independent queer horror publisher Haunt Publishing, which is raising funds for a new frontlist title and to reprint two of their anthologies; the kickstarter has ebook, audio, and print options for rewards, including their entire backlist. This is the kind of indy publisher which launches careers in the UK publishing world, so helping them also helps queer authors. You can read more and support the fundraiser here.

Recurring Needs:

rilee16 is raising funds to get out of an abusive home situation, where their roommate has been harassing them and vandalizing their belongings. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

chingaderita's partner recently lost their job due to a house fire that also destroyed the house; they're raising funds to keep food on the table for a family of nine, to try and get a supply of water to keep clean which is increasingly difficult during a drought, and for medications and bills until they can find new work; they also had an emergency this past weekend which ate into their funds. You can read more, reblog, and support the fundraiser here.

And this has been Radio Free Monday! Thank you for your time. You can post items for my attention at the Radio Free Monday submissions form. If you're new to fundraising, you may want to check out my guide to fundraising here.

[emj-lane]

A little About me🤷‍♀️

My name is Emma-Jean Victoria Lane

Most people call me EmJ but some call me Em or Emma...all those things I respond to. I have a hyphenated first name so it's a mouthful lol!

I'm 18 years old and have an identical twin sister, Mazee. Our birthday is Halloween 🎃

Mazee and I were adopted from China when we were 2 months old

We live and were raised in California.

Besides Mazee, I have a sister, Natasha, who is 19. A sister, Morgan, who is 14. my sister, Sydney, is 11. And the youngest is my brother, Hunter, and he's 7. These siblings are my parents biological children.

We have 2 dogs that are golden doodles, Luna and Courage, and we have a cat. Her name is Boo.

I find it weird how friends or dates/boyfriend are sketched out, leary and scared off by the fact that my mom is a psychiatrist. That's her career/ her job but she is a regular person, wife, mother individual outside of her psychiatrist title/career. I promise she's not analyzing or diagnosing you if you aren't her patient in her office or in the hospital

My dad is a teacher at a boarding school for high schoolers gifted in the arts like music, theater, dance, writing, painting etc

Surfing is one of my favorite things/passions/talents. My whole family surfs.

Equal to surfing is my passion for writing.

I started playing soccer in second grade and the rest is history. From then on year after year I played on the soccer team for my elementary school, middle school and high school.

Should have been a mermaid. Love the water and swimming and diving. I was a competitive swimmer and diver from 7th grade and on through the rest of my middle school and high school career

I train and practice karate and kick boxing. In a fist fight I will kick your ass & I love it

My life motto and really driving phrase for my life and personality is "Underestimate me. That'll be fun..."

I'd say I'm very outgoing, friendly and social.

It can get very heated and tension does get very high at home with my older sister, Natasha. She has a diagnosis of ARFID which is avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. She has a lot of Orthorexia traits and tendencies as well. This has been a battle and an issue for almost 12 years now. Natasha doesn't really want full recovery...she doesn't want to weight restore or be healthy. She wants to maintain where she is...still sick, still disordered, still underweight but not getting worse- just completely maintaining & existing forever as she is. It is really really frustrating and sad. Sometimes I would like to kick her in the mouth, grab her and shake her and scream at her but it would not get through to her. It would not help.

I get self conscious sometimes being out with my family. Because I am Chinese and my parents and siblings, except Mazee, are caucasian American many people don't see us as family. They assume my parents are hosting foreign exchange students or if I am out with my 7 year old brother people assume I am his babysitter or his nanny- these things get said to me and my family and those things make a home in my head . They hide out a lot but still are there, lingering.

I enjoy music and playing music. I play piano, guitar, violin and saxophone. They are more hobbies and escapes although I am told I am talented and gifted in playing instruments I like having it as just something enjoyable, not necessarily something to pursue and train for career/performance/competitive purposes. The same goes for drawing.

My favorite artists and musicians right now are John mayer, Dave matthews band, Green Day, Nirvana, The Smiths, Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish, Yellow card, Lindsay Stirling and switchfoot.

Traveling & hiking is also something I love and something my whole family likes to do. Just being outside. We've been to the grand canyon, Niagara falls, Rocky mountains, smokey mountains, parts of the Appalachian trail/mountains, we've been to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, Australia, Alaska and Canada. And of course California has some hiking/national parks and nature too so we do a lot here too.

Favorite tv shows: Law and order svu, Criminal minds, Psych, and The Good Doctor

Favorite Movies: The Lord of the rings movies, Harry Potter movies, any of the Jaws movies, The Shallows, Hunger games movies, any X-men movies, Star wars movies, Man on Fire, National Treasure 1 and 2, A Beautiful Mind, I Am Sam, Dead Poet's Society, and Freedom Writers.

That's all. This is already longer than I intended.

[strawb3rry-shark]

fennel headcanons?? 👀

FENNEL!!!! MY BELOVED!!

THEY GARDEN!!!!! THEY HAVE SUCH A NICE GARDEN LIKE!!!

you know how a common fandom thing is sydney has mushrooms in his hair? fennel has that but dandelions

they have made a bunch of those closed ecosystems!!! they have an entire collection!!

they run with marie ann :]

makes a KILLER charcuterie board like it looks NICE

also. southern as well

doesn’t have a super strong accent but it definitely comes through when they upset/angry/excited

plays wind instruments!!!

also theater kid. but tech kid specifically

they have a small old dog who is their cranky old man

they make jewelry:] specifically glasses chains!!

I LOVE FENNEL!!!!

[australianwomensnews]

A Sydney woman who escaped brutal domestic violence is facing homelessness with her six-week-old baby after spending more than two years in a temporary private rental while on the priority list for social housing.

Sarah, who is using a pseudonym for safety reasons, is living in a two-bedroom flat in unsanitary and unsafe conditions but was recently asked to leave after she fought a 60 per cent rent increase and asked for repairs.

Sarah, who is in her 30s, has been on the social housing list since August 2021 and on the priority list since December that year, needing a home suitable for herself, two dogs, and now a baby. The pregnancy was a surprise and the baby’s father is not her perpetrator but is not involved much.

The most recent figures for NSW social housing had 51,013 people on the general waitlist and 6519 on the priority list.

Sarah received a one-off state government grant of $4350 for victims of family violence to help her with her bond and initial rent. She was paying $400 a fortnight, which was a reduced price based on putting up with some maintenance issues, such as boarded-up windows in the living room, thinking she would only need to stay for three to six months.

More recently, the ceiling in the kitchen collapsed, and broken plaster is directly overhanging the stove. The lack of proper windows also mean higher power bills now she needs to keep the flat warm enough for her baby.

Despite the problems, the landlord recently tried to increase the rent to $640 a fortnight, which would be 97 per cent of her income from Centrelink.

Rose Jackson, NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness, said the government had “inherited a housing system that is broken after a decade of neglect”.

“This story is not only heartbreaking, but the harsh reality of our housing crisis in NSW,” Jackson said.

“We need to strengthen our housing system across the board to ensure people don’t fall through the cracks and find themselves unable to access shelter.”

The Greens have been lobbying to cap rent increases to be in line with inflation and end no-grounds eviction.