#Drive Ahead cheats codes

[steddie-island]

Risky Business

Written for @steddie-week day 2 | Prompt: Hands Rating: M | WC: 2,027 | Tags: Pre-Steddie, season 2, shotgunning, dry humping, coming in pants, cheating (if you squint) Find full list of tags on ao3 | Divider credit

“Watch it, Harrington!”

Steve didn't even turn around to see who was yelling at him. He needed to get the fuck out of there.

Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit.

The words reverberated in his head, echoed in the empty hollow of his chest where his heart used to be.

"Like we're in love?"

It was too fucking much. There were monsters, and Barb was dead, and Nancy wasn't in love with him, and—

“Harrington!”

“What!” Steve spun around and came face to face with one Eddie Munson. He definitely didn't need this shit right now, either, whatever Eddie was trying to do.

“Jesus, who pissed in your cheerios?” Eddie held his hand out, where Steve's keyring dangled from one finger. “I was giving these back, but if that's how it's gonna be.”

Steve swiped for them, but Eddie already had them folded back into the palm of his hand and was walking towards the house again.

“Just— hand them over.” Steve tried to make another grab for them, but Eddie was too fast, the shithead. “Munson, I'm in a really bad goddamn mood, okay?”

Eddie lifted his free hand to his head, rubbed at the back of his neck. “How much have you had to drink?”

Steve blinked at him. “I'm fine to drive.”

“That's not an answer, big boy, and I'm afraid it would be against the Munson code to let you do something stupid like that.” Steve swiped for his keys again, but then Eddie was turning, rearing his arm back— and Steve watched as his keys went flying.

“What the fuck !” Steve wanted to shove him, wanted to wipe the stupid smile right off of his stupid fucking face.

“I'll help you find them later,” Eddie said. “C'mon, man. You're clearly not in any shape to drive. Let me take you home.”

Steve wanted to say no. He wanted to kick and scream and argue but how the fuck else was he supposed to get home now? Just the thought of sticking around long enough to see Jonathan pour Nancy into his car made his stomach twist.

He could walk, but he was so tired . It washed over him all at once, and Steve's entire body sort of slumped. “Fine. You're paying if we don't find them, though.”

Eddie looked surprised, like he hadn't expected Steve to give in so fast. Still he bowed, gestured ahead of them. “Right this way, sir.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

Steve shook his head, bringing his cheek to rest against the window. “Not really.”

”Okay.” Eddie reached over and turned the radio on. The music was heavier than what Steve usually listened to, but that actually helped get him out of his head. There was going to be a breakdown, and a big one, but he needed it to not happen here, in Eddie Munson's van.

Eddie fidgeted. Steve could tell he wanted to talk, to say somthing, anything , to get rid of the silence between them.

“Does... Wheeler have a way to get home?”

Steve wished Eddie would've kept his big mouth shut.

“She's fine,” he said flatly. Emotionless. He couldn't think about Nancy, about bullshit, bullshit, bullshit .

“Shit— hey, I'm sorry, man.” Eddie was really fidgeting now, and— fuck.

Steve wiped away traitorous tears and cleared the lump out of his throat. “I'm fine,” he said, snappier than he meant to. It wasn't Eddie's fault he was losing his cool.

“Clearly. Totally fine,” Eddie said, nodding. He seemed to think about it, fingers drumming against his steering wheel again— did he ever sit still? Then they were turning away from Steve's house, towards the edge of town.

“C'mon, man, I'm fine, just—”

“Trust me,” Eddie said. His eyes flicked over to Steve again. “This is better than going home.“

Steve had been to Lover's Lake before, but never in the back of Eddie Munson's van. They'd parked, and Eddie had lit up a preroll. Whatever was in it, Steve wasn't feeling any pain anymore.

They were floating together, weightless in the back of the van on the pile of blankets Eddie had spread out for them. Steve's hair hung away from his face as he watched the way the night sky reflected in the water.

There were no dead girls here, no alternate universes with monsters ready to rip them to shreds.

There wasn't a bat driven through with nails that looked rusty with old monster blood rotting away in his trunk.

There were just stars, and the music pouring softly through the speakers now. And Eddie, warm and sturdy by his side, with their pinkies barely touching.

"Fuckin' love this song," Eddie said. Steve didn't recognize it, though the thrum of the guitar made his already fuzzy brain vibrate pleasantly.

"Think you've said that about every song we've listened to," Steve murmured. His tongue was heavy and thick in his mouth. He reached for the joint, giggled when his fingers didn't want to work and he nearly dropped it.

"Lemme help you." Eddie rolled over, pressed the butt of if it to Steve's lips. His fingers were dry and warm. Steve's eyes nearly crossed as he tried to watch those fingertips. He was so distracted he almost forgot to actually inhale.

"Never woulda taken King Steve for a lightweight," Eddie teased. His voice was giggly, too, as he leaned back, brought the joint to his own mouth and took a long pull.

Steve couldn't stop watching his fingers, the glint of the light on his rings as he lifted a hand to tuck his hair behind his ear.

"You still with me?" Eddie asked. He lightly bumped his foot against Steve's and gave him a teasing smile.

"Yeah, 'm with you," Steve said. He reached up to touch one of Eddie's rings without really thinking about it. "You have nice hands." His fingers were long, slender. Musician's hands, complete with callouses that Steve had the odd desire to get his lips on.

Maybe the bitten nails weren't a musician thing, just an Eddie thing, but that didn't change the fact that Steve kind of wanted to kiss those fingertips.

"Yeah? You like, big boy?" Normally Eddie wouldn't have risked flirting with the straight jock high off his ass in the back of the van but Harrington didn't feel like a threat. He waved his hand lazily and watched Steve's gaze follow along like there was a slight delay between what Eddie was doing and Steve brain processing it.

"Yeah." Steve reached up to catch Eddie's wrist, to stop him from moving his hand around. "I do." He trailed his fingertips over Eddie's palm then outlined one finger at a time.

If anyone had told Eddie that morning that he would end the day holding hands with a stoned Steve Harrington at Lover's Lake he would've laughed in their face and asked if they needed a ride to the hospital. Here he was, though, with the ex king threading their fingers together, pressing palm flush against palm.

A shaky breath slipped out of Steve's chest. He pulled their hands closer so he could run his fingers over Eddie's rings, then up along his knuckles.

Eddie watched Steve with heavy lidded eyes. They were just holding hands— at least, he thought this weird thing Steve was doing where he followed the lines where their hands touched counted as holding hands— but there was something about it that felt intimate.

Maybe it was the way Steve's lips were parted, and the peek of pink as his tongue wet his lower lip. Maybe it was the way Steve was eyeing their clasped hands like he wanted to fucking bite them.

Or like he was holding Eddie's hand to keep from doing just that.

"Harrington." Eddie nudged Steve with his foot again. "Sure you're with me?"

Those warm eyes met Eddie's again. Steve didn't answer, he just watched Eddie's face in a way that made the other boy feel cut open and exposed. It was a feeling Eddie didn't get often, a feeling he really didn't know how to be comfortable with.

So Eddie did the first thing that came to mind that wasn't just staring right back. He took a hit off of the joint, never taking his eyes off of Steve's. He didn't let the smoke out and instead leaned in to almost press their lips together, and once Steve opened his mouth, he let the smoke pass between them.

Steve made an injured sound. Before Eddie could pull back to check on him a hand was in his hair, and then they were kissing. It was desperate, tongues and teeth meeting and clashing.

"Eddie," Steve panted before tipping his head back so Eddie's mouth could be on his throat instead.

Eddie wanted to mark him. He wanted to bite and suck and leave traces of himself all over this ridiculous jock. He had just enough mind left to not let himself do that, and instead he dragged his tongue over Steve's pulsepoint before giving his earlobe a gentle tug.

"Oh fuck —" Steve pulled him in, licked into Eddie's mouth again and ground against the thigh now settled between his own legs.

There was an urgency in the way Steve's hips moved, in the way he kissed at Eddie's neck before biting down, unafraid to mark the way Eddie had been.

Eddie cursed and rocked down, meeting those hungry little movements. They were going to come together, ruin their clothes together. He should stop it, should remind Steve that he was drunk and there was maybe a girlfriend waiting for him when the sun came up.

Then Steve tugged down the collar of his shirt and those perfect fucking teeth were digging into his collar bone. Eddie cried out at the flash of pain and pleasure as he spilled into his boxers.

Steve anchored a hand into Eddie's hair and pulled him in to kiss him again. His movements picked up, became something more firm against Eddie's thigh.

Eddie was going to remember the sound Steve made as he was coming for the rest of his life.

They settled together on their nest of blankets, with the come drying into the fabric of their clothes and in their pubic hair. Eddie barely dared to breathe, in case Steve decided to kick his ass once he'd come back to himself more. Steve didn't do that, though. Instead he took Eddie's wrist and brought his hand to his mouth, to kiss the underside of each of his three chunky rings before resting Eddie's hand on his chest.

"I should get home."

They cleaned up as much as they could with the napkins fished out of the glovebox. The blankets were left in a pile in the back to be dealt with later.

Steve seemed more calm on the drive back to the Harrington house. Some of the edge Eddie had noticed when they'd first ran into each other seemed to have been smoothed out, whether by the weed or the orgasm or a mix of the two he wasn't sure.

Only once they were parked did Steve remember— "Fuck." He looked up at his house, with all the dark windows staring down at him. "I don't have my keys."

"Actually…" Eddie reached into the pocket of his leather jacket and came up holding Steve's keys.

"You sneaky bastard." Steve took the keys and turned them over as if inspecting that they really were his.

"I really didn't feel like sneaking around Tina's house and having her call the cops on me. Just had to make you think I'd thrown them."

Steve watched Eddie's face in the dashboard light. Tomorrow he would have to talk to Nancy, he knew. It was going to hurt— already his chest ached with what they had to do, what he'd been refusing to accept had been coming for a while now.

But maybe it didn't have to hurt forever. Maybe he didn't have to hurt forever.

"Good night, sneaky bastard." Steve reached over and squeezed Eddie's knee before slipping out of the van.

"Night, Steve," Eddie said. He sat there watching until Steve was safely inside.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Code of Conduct 5

Warnings: this fic will include elements, some dark, such as cheating, noncon/dubcon, and other untagged triggers. Please take this into account before proceeding. It is up to curate your online consumption safely.

Summary: your boss has a difficult time keeping his personal life from bleeding into his work. 

Characters: Steve Rogers, this reader is known as Rosie.

Author’s Note: Please feel free to leave some feedback, reblog, and jump into my asks. I’m always happy to discuss with you and riff on idea. As always, you are cherished and adored! Stay safe, be kind, and treat yourself💜

💼Part of the Bad Bosses AU💼

Mr. Rogers leaves without saying a word. His face is pale as his hand opens and closes in a fist at his side and he strides past your desk. You watch after him, thinking for a moment that you should follow. No, he has to sort this out on his own. You’ve already done too much. 

You go through his calendar and cancel his only other meeting. You don’t think that’s going to happen.  

It’s strange sitting there alone. Mr. Rogers comes and goes often but not know when he’ll be back puts you on edge. An hour passes then another. You spend your lunch outside in the sunshine then come back in to the stale office air. 

Your phone rings and you answer. You’re surprised when Rogers’ voice comes from the speaker. You expected it to be Dizzie for some reason. She’s been awfully quiet today. 

“She changed the locks,” he croaks. 

There’s static on the line and thrum that’s so loud it nearly drowns him out. 

“Sir?” You sit up straight. 

“Peggy. She locked me out. I don’t... I don’t know what to do. I’ve just been sitting here in my car...” his voice is a dull murmur. 

“I’m sorry, Mr. Rogers. Is that—can she do that? Can you call your lawyer? The police?” 

“Police told me to call the lawyer. Lawyer says it’s gonna take a while so... yeah.” 

“I’m so so sorry,” you touch your cheek. “I can’t even imagine... that’s horrible.” 

“Yeah, I mean, who would leave you, Rosie? No, that’d be crazy.” He sniffles, “guess I deserve this. I worked so much, all so I could give her the life she wanted but it turns out I worked just enough to drive her away.” 

“Sir,” you utter. 

“Guess I could go to a hotel. I mean, might as well spend the money before I have alimony to pay,” he laughs crisply. “Bucky’s not picking up. I thought maybe I could stay there but... just because my life is falling apart doesn’t mean he needs to pick up the pieces.” 

He sounds so broken it makes your heart rend. Something about his cadence also worries you. He doesn’t sound healthy. 

“Sir, where are you?”  

You realise then what that noise is. Water. 

“By the bridge. The water looks cold.” 

You swallow and stand up. “I’ll come to you, alright?” 

“Rosie? Why...” 

“Just, it’s okay, sir, I’ll be there. Is that Collingswood Bridge? I love the flowers there.” 

“Yeah, that’s the one,” he answers. 

“Alright, I’m on my way okay, so let’s stay on the phone.” 

“Rosie, why do you sound so upset?” 

“I’m not upset. I just think you need a friend so I’m coming. Did you want me to message Mr. Barnes as well.” 

“I told you, he’s too busy for me,” he mopes. 

“But just in case--” 

“Oh, woah!” He exclaims. 

“Sir, what--” 

“Nothing, nothing, I just... this bridge is so high up.” 

You tamp down your worry and take a breath, “sir, I canceled your meetings. Oh, did I tell you, they’re opening a new donut place downstairs too! I know your favourite is the one with the sprinkles.” 

“You remember,” he says softly.  

“Of course, sir,” you assure him. 

You keep chattering about nothing in particular as you swipe up your bag and race out of the office. You try not let him hear you panting as you rush down to catch a cab. You mute the phone to tell the driver to head to the bridge then get back on the line. 

The conversation rolls on as you don’t let Rogers stop talking. You get out with a hasty thanks and tip to the driver. You rush down the bridge without looking ahead and only after you’re halfway down do you see your boss sitting on the railing. Holy moly. 

You slow and walk up to him slowly, letting out quiet mhm’s and uh huhs and you grab onto his forearm. He flinches and you tug on him. You won’t be able to stop him from going over if he slips but you didn’t want to just call out to him and give him a warning. 

“Rose!” He looks at you and lowers his phone. “How’d you get here?” 

“Mr. Rogers, please, will you get off the railing?” You ask softly. 

He stares at you then looks out at the water. He laughs and turns to hang his legs over the inside of the bridge. “Sure, Rosie. Were you worried?” 

“I just wanna make sure you’re okay, sir,” you cling to him until he’s on his feet. He glances down at you grip and you finally let go. 

“I’m good. I’m great, now that you’re here. Did you find me a room yet?” He asks. 

You wince. You’ve been on the phone this whole time. When does he think you did that? 

“Are you okay?” You ask. 

“Of course, of course,” his eyes are red from tears, his cheeks pallid and streaked. 

“Um, I’m sorry, everything’s booked up,” you say, “how about you come to my place? You can stay on my couch. Just for tonight.” 

“Really?” His brow wrinkles, “you’d do that for me?” 

“Uh, yeah,” you answer. You don’t think leaving him alone right now would be smart. Nor could you forgive yourself if anything happened. “It’s fine. My place is just a bit small.” 

“Mm, I don’t mind,” he smiles and pushes his shoulders up in a shiver as a breeze blows across the water. “It’s cold out here.” 

“It is, sir,” you agree. “Where did you park?” 

[pupyuj]

either way yujin makes me feel so many things like she looks so gay filipina with a big ass cock coded with that hair like??? couldn't stop thinking about how good she'd be in bed specially when she's mad??? or jealous??? the normally sweet little puppy, now so fucking angry, she could ruin your cunt just by fucking it with her thick cock. ☹️

and can i just say... “hm, basang basa ah? putang puta ka para sa tite ko.” while laughing and slapping your tits. ☹️

🫀

okay terribly sorry for my non-filo followers cuz i'm gonna be mumbling some tagalog nonsense here yujin drives me crazysdbskddhk—

LISTEN... yujin is very filipina-coded to me IM SORRY LIKE she's your perverted, tambay-sa-kanto gf idk how else to explain it!! hand always on your ass, has no shame groping your tits in public IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, and never hesitates to pull you into her lap and press your ass against her bulge??? to everyone else, the two of look sickeningly sweet as they watched yujin whisper to you with a big grin,, but they don't know that she's berating you 😭😭

"letting me do this in front of our friends.. hindi ka na ba nahiya?" mmdjfdhks her hand nearly between your thighs and everything,, everyday you wonder how people never see all the things she does to you in public,,, at one point, she has literally fingered your cunt from behind through your shorts while huddled up with your friends watching a teleserye and standing outside a sari-sari store sdkhcskji,,

LITERALLY FUCKS YOU WHILE SHE'S TALKING TO HER MOTHERRR???? like you're in her room ofc but she's got you sat on her lap facing the door, fingers deep inside your cunt,, grins so widely while she watched you covered your mouth,, bcs her mother saw you as her daughter's sweet, innocent girlfriend (everybody did),,, what would she say if she heard you?? ☹️ "opo, ma!! we're coming down soon," yujin yells loud enough for her mother to hear outside the door,, and then she leans into your ear, laughing like the annoying piece of shit that she isnbdskdfhc,, "you're gonna come, right? right? huh? bilisan ko ba, ha?" yujin keeps asking,, you really didn't wanna do anything that would make you lose control but fuck her fingers feel way too good that you have to nod and let yujin push you over the edge,,

and omggg the mad + jealousy thing... you're one hell of a catch so yujin can be a bit paranoid sometimes,, esp when she sees people talk to you with obvious interest and it definitely doesn't help that you're very friendly and a bit touchy with your friends sometimes,, usually, yujin takes it like a champ because she knows you would never cheat on her but other times she lets her jealousy take over her and oh yeah it gets intense in the bedroom..

"sobrang landi mo pala... i didn't know you were such a fucking whore, (y/n).. why don't you just go ahead and let yourself get fucked by all of them??" she's saying while pounding into your cunt so hard that her bed rocks against the wall??? thank goodness nobody was home.. you were to scream as loud as you wanted,,, "tangina.. d'you actually like this? fucking slut..."

hehahjshdj living in a barangay and being that loud??? yeah the two of you are definitely a hot topic within the chismosa groups 😭😭

ya'll this kinda sucked i got distracted ICBBBB I'M LOSING MY MAGIC .. YOU GUYS...

[lewkwoodnco]

june gloom - anthony lockwood x reader

“Look,” he bites out, “if you don’t want me here, say the word and I’ll leave.”

“No.” She looks positively alarmed and places a hand on his elbow. “Please. Don’t go. I like having you here.” Her lips twitch like she’s holding back a smile, but the dead look in her eyes only makes Lockwood even more uneasy. “I like seeing you like this. Thinner. Paler. I like watching you watch me.” She tips her head, considering him. “I like watching you look at me like you can never get your fill of me.”

june gloom, tule fog, I might as well say meet me in Montauk

a/n - help I can’t rmb how I used to format these I hope this is (mostly) correct 😭😭 uni is rlly steamrolling me frfr like I have so many WIPs which I planned to finish up first but inspiration struck for this one instead, for some reason?? And I imagine this to pick up where we left off from chapter 3 (the ntwdt fic) so this would be Ch 3.5 but could also be read as a stand alone I think? anyways enjoy a very autumn coded gloomy kind of angsty fic hehe (also do NOT smoke i am not promoting smoking ❌❌)

tropes/warnings - angst, estranged friends, veryyy very mild allusions to cheating (arguably. personally i didn’t write it that way but i guess I could see some ppl interpreting it that way)

word count - 1.6k!

MASTERLIST | TAGLIST

Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 3.5 | Ch 3.75 | Ch 4 | Ch 5

Finding an apartment to rent in central London was a bleak affair any time of the year, but something about late October seemed to make it even worse. While she looked for a place of her own, her parents had very kindly agreed to put her up for a couple of days. It was at their kitchen table that she had been pouring over apartment listings one barren, gloomy morning, when she peered out to see a familiar car pulled up outside.

Lockwood didn’t know what he was doing. He had just pulled up to her house five minutes ago, of which he spent four of them sitting in silence with the engine turned off. He dragged his palms across his jeans. He isn’t sure how he ended up here, or why. Lockwood & Co. had been handed the privilege of one miraculously empty weekend without any cases. Its employees had decided to indulge themselves, be it through a long bubble bath or a little tinkering on some model train set. A certain special someone’s birthday was coming up. If Lockwood had half the sense he ought to, he’d be spending the weekend with her. Instead, he got in his car and started driving aimlessly, meandering through slick roads that took him to the outskirts of the city.

Maybe it had been some subconscious desire to see her again that led him here. He hadn’t stopped thinking about their brief crossing of paths from a week ago. He had spent months convincing himself that he thought of her less and less as the days went by, enough to delude himself into thinking there was nothing to regret. After all, how could a guy hung up on an old friend find love like he did? But all it took was one glimpse of her again, and it was like they had spent no time apart at all. It was like he was still the sulky, stubborn boy from that last night months ago, smarting from the words unsaid and the pain in his shin. Sleepless and sick with the want to hear her slip back in, for them to make up by the morning, for them to act like it never happened.

He could pretend to have moved on all he wanted, but the sorrow buried deep into his chest and never quite left. He could feel it now, sitting motionless in his car under a dull, overcast sky.

He should’ve asked her to stay.

He jumps when he hears a tapping on the passenger window. The kind, weathered face of Mrs. L/N peers through, clad in gardening gloves and a wide-brim hat. Lockwood instantly becomes aware of how intrusive his visit must be. He hurriedly unbuckles his seat belt and steps out.

“I’m really sorry Mrs. L/N, I meant to call ahead -“

But she was already waving away his effusively apologetic words. She turns towards the house. “Oh, Y/N, it’s been ages since you’ve seen each other. Wouldn’t it be nice for you to catch up?”

He looks over her shoulder and follows her gaze to the house. There, he sees the hazy image of Y/N standing a few steps down from the front door. The slight fog obscures her expression, but there’s something rigid in the way she has her arms wrapped around herself.

“What Mum said. We’d lo-ove to have you.”

She stretches the word out in an exaggerated London drawl. It almost feels like she’s mocking him. But she’s too far for him to get a close enough look at her face, and by the time he makes his way up the winding driveway, she’s disappeared inside.

It helps that Mrs. L/N joins them. Once she’s set out some tea and scones, she prattles on comfortingly like she doesn’t notice the tension weighing in the air. Save for the occasional nod or one-word answer, they stay mostly silent, occasionally sneaking glances at each other. A part of him likes that they’re in the same house again, with her sitting across from him, fiddling with her mug, laughing a little too loud in a not entirely unpleasant way. But he doesn’t recognise her sweater, and her hair’s different, and her pinched face matches her raw, bitten nails.

Occasionally, she makes some seemingly innocuous remark which sounds a little too much like a jab at Lockwood. He hesitates, like he isn’t sure what to say, but then her lips painfully stretch into what is a sardonic smile at best, and the conversation changes. Still, every few seconds his eyes flick back to her face, of which she takes no notice.

But there’s still only so much Mrs. L/N can fill the silence with, and she eventually excuses herself to return to her gardening. The two of them make it for a grand total of 30 seconds of painful silence before she stands up and murmurs something about stepping out for fresh air.

After a minute, Lockwood leaves the kitchen table himself and goes looking for her. He finds her smoking in the backyard, standing at the fence, staring blankly at the treeline a short distance away.

“It’s a filthy habit.” She pauses, dropping the cigarette from her lips, but refuses to turn around. He walks down to the fence. “I thought you got rid of it.”

“How’d you find me?” How’d you know where I’d be?

Lockwood shook his head slowly, eyes unfocused, staring vacantly at the sparse trees reaching for the blank sky. “I didn’t…I wasn’t looking for you.”

She gives him a curious look. If she finds him unconvincing, she doesn’t comment on it. She takes a long drag from her cigarette. The silence starts to become a little more bearable.

“How’s Luce?”

He gives a stiff sort of half-nod. “Alright. Still more violent than she ought to be.”

“George?”

“He’s good.”

“Head still in the books?”

He frowns. “It’s only been three months. He’s not a different person.”

She shrugs. He can’t stop staring at the grimy cigarette in her hand. Her fingers tremble ever so slightly, finally giving the impression that she wasn’t nearly half as calm as she was trying to seem. “He could’ve…taken up water polo, or something. I wouldn’t know.”

The resentment in her voice was apparent - this was definitely a dig at him. For the first time since she’s left, it crosses his mind that she’s left behind a family. Still, it wasn’t like he had kicked her out.

“You chose to leave.”

“You didn’t give me much reason to stay, either.”

“Because - “

“No.” Her subdued, nonchalant attitude dissolved now that he had gotten a rise out of her. “You don’t get to stand there and judge me for leaving when I was miserable and you did fuck all about it. You’ve been this…this fog in my head since June.“ Her clipped voice burns through the cool air harshly. “You have no right to come running back now that it’s finally starting to clear up.”

Lockwood wonders whether the cigarette might be easier to reason with. His gaze wanders over to his car rusting in their driveway. Coming here was a mistake.

“Look,” he bites out, “if you don’t want me here, say the word and I’ll leave.”

“No.” She looks positively alarmed and places a hand on his elbow. “Please. Don’t go. I like having you here.” Her lips twitch like she’s holding back a smile, but the dead look in her eyes only makes Lockwood even more uneasy. “I like seeing you like this. Thinner. Paler. I like watching you watch me.” She tips her head, considering him. “I like watching you look at me like you can never get your fill of me.”

Lockwood flinches, pulling himself out of her grasp as he reels back, suddenly overcome with a surge of revulsion. There’s something malicious, corrupted, unrecognisable about her. He scoffs as he turns back to the house.

“If she’s so amazing, why are you on this side of town?”

He pauses with his hand on the doorknob. Her voice cuts through the air, jagged and bitter. He turns and sees her grinding the cigarette with the heel of her shoe. She straightens and pushes her hair back with a steady, measured hand, a far cry from the klutz whose stumbling around and whispered shrieks guaranteed to drag a smile on Lockwood’s face. Even now, she doesn’t acknowledge how he hasn’t taken his eyes off of her for more than half a minute all day.

“Happy couples,” he starts, a little half-heartedly, “don’t need to be joined at the hip.”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t give me that.” She walks up to the house too, and when she pauses by him, he punches down the urge to step back.  

“What are you trying to find out?”

She looks at him dismissively, like she already knows the answer and finds it unimpressive. Then she’s disappeared back into the house, the cold is stinging his face, and his heart’s thumping hard enough to break free of his chest.

He exhales shakily and feels his heart shutter itself away from the rest of the world. He still doesn’t know what he came looking for, but maybe it was to remember what he has clearly forgotten.

Always a problem. They’d always be a problem.

TAGLIST: @neewtmas @midnight--raine @ahead-fullofdreams @how-to-stuff-and-things @cielooci @mohinithoughts @snoopyluver20 @ell0ra-br3kk3r @elenianag080 @avdiobliss @houseoftwistedspirits @mischivana @dangelnleif @mitskiswift99

[jujumin-translates]

Event | 7th Anniversary: All Actors Aboard! | Chapter 4: VELUDO STATION MEMORY ✕ Itaru Chigasaki

Itaru: …Oh, I’m so done for.

Chikage: In what sense?

Itaru: Probably in all senses.

Chikage: Good work. Company presentation or something?

Itaru: Bingo. It’s been a while since I’ve brought something like this home with me, but I didn’t think it’d be this much of a pain in the ass…

Itaru: And tomorrow’s meeting is first thing in the morning. Agh and it’s already this late… I wonder how many hours of sleep I’ll be able to get.

Chikage: Haven’t you spent countless sleepless nights up gaming?

Itaru: Apples and oranges.

Chikage: If you’re too sleepy, maybe you should take the train instead of driving.

Itaru: Can’t you just drive me, Senpai?

Chikage: Unfortunately, I have to go straight to a client.

Itaru: You’ve got to be kidding me… ughh…

Itaru: Guess there’s no avoiding it, I’ll take the train. I’ll actually end up in an accident in this condition.

Chikage: Then you’d better get going early. It was pretty rough this morning because there was another delay today.

Itaru: Huh. You took the train this morning, Senpai? Why bother with something like that?

Chikage: I knew the train was going to be delayed, so I called a cab before things got too crowded.

Itaru: What a cheat code…

Chikage: It’s not a cheat code, you’d know that if you gathered some real-time information.

Itaru: Well, yeah, that works too, I guess.

Itaru: (That reminds me, Senpai’s helped me out like this before…)

*Flashback*

Itaru: (Today’s the one day that the parking lot at the client’s office isn’t available.)

Itaru: (Well, it’s not that far from Veludo Town, so I guess taking the train isn’t so bad sometimes.)

Itaru: (Umm, transfers… damn, that’s complicated. Who knew there’d be so many different ways to get there.)

Itaru: (I’ve been part of MANKAI Company for a while now, and the only thing I’m still not used to is transferring trains.)

Itaru: (It’d be best to take the most straightforward route rather than the one with a bunch of odd transfers.)

Itaru: …Huh.

Itaru: (The train wouldn’t arrive on time. Are they running late?)

*Footsteps*

Itaru: ?

Chikage: Hey, what a coincidence to run into you here.

Itaru: ! Senpai?

Itaru: (Why is he here… maybe he lives around here or something.)

Itaru: Good morning.

Chikage: Good morning. How odd. I thought you said you always drive to work.

Itaru: I have a client to visit. Taking the train was much more convenient.

Chikage: Oh, I see.

Chikage: By the way, you’re part of a theater company around you, aren’t you, Chigasaki?

Itaru: Um, well, sort of. The company’s dormitory is around here, so I came from there.

Chikage: I see…

Itaru: And you, Senpai?

Chikage: I just happened to be getting off for a transfer. I had some business to take care of in this area too.

Itaru: (So both of us have got it rough, huh.)

Announcement: “The train is arriving.”

Itaru: Ah, finally. Well then…

Chikage: Chigasaki.

Itaru: Yes?

Chikage: It’s a bit out of the way, but you should get off at the station two stops ahead and then transfer.

Chikage: If you transfer at the station before that, you’ll be flooded with delays and transfers.

Itaru: Huh?

Announcement: “The doors are closing.”

Chikage: …

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Itaru: (Senpai’s smiling and waving.)

Itaru: (There’s no way that delay information was available yet in the transfer search.)

Announcement: “The train service is currently experiencing a delay of approximately ten minutes. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Announcement: “We will inform you of any transfers ahead.”

Itaru: (Damn. …Guess I’ll have to contact Senpai and thank him for the help.)

*Flashback end*

Itaru: (At the time, I was really grateful for the help, but at the same time, I wanted to know how he knew so much about the state of the trains in and around Veludo Station.)

Itaru: (But now that I think about it, it must’ve been because Senpai was trying to get information about MANKAI Company out of me--.)

Chikage: …What is it?

Itaru: No, it’s nothing.

Itaru: (Figures, I could never ask him that.)

Itaru: Ughh… I’m getting depressed just thinking about work tomorrow.

Chikage: Everything going okay with the other thing?

Itaru: What other thing?

Chikage: The article for the web edition of “VELUDO”.

Itaru: Oh, that. Didn’t even get a chance to start thinking about it. My head’s been full of nothing but company documents lately.

Itaru: (But maybe the memory I was just thinking about could be a good source of content, even if I’ve gotta leave out some parts.)

Itaru: It’s okay. I’ve decided on something.

Chikage: That was fast. At least for you, Chigasaki.

Itaru: Nah, it was nothing. Even I can do this sorta thing right, can’t I?

Chikage: Right, right, I suppose.

Itaru: But I only just came up with the idea. So I’m gonna need a little more time to work out the details.

Chikage: Oh?

Itaru: By the way, make sure to read it when the article is published in “VELUDO”.

Chikage: If I feel like it.

Itaru: (Well, figures he’d say that.)

Itaru: Mnngh… haah… Let’s see if I can do my best tomorrow~...

Chikage: …What time are you done tomorrow?

Itaru: I plan to come home on time. I’m going to bed. …Actually, lemme event grind a bit and collect some login bonuses.

Chikage: Good luck with that.

Chikage: And I can pick you up on my way home.

Itaru: Huh!? But I thought you were going to a client’s office, Senpai--.

Chikage: It’s nothing, I never said I was taking the train, did I?

Itaru: Senpai… my lord and savior?

Chikage: You owe me one, though.

Itaru: Grrhg… a price to pay, as always…

Itaru: (But Senpai’s lending me a hand again. And this time it wasn’t for the sake of trying to get info, it’s just Chikage-san’s kindness.)

Itaru: (And this time, I’m going to take advantage of the never-upfront-about-his-feelings Senpai’s kindness.)

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[call-me-starshine]

AceLu (Taylor's Verson)

Day Two

IT'S RED! I DIDN'T EVEN CHEAT! IT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT CAME UP WHEN I SHUFFLED THE PLAYLIST YES!

Omg, Red is SUCH an AceLu coded album. It tells their entire story from when they met to after Ace's death and through Luffy's grief. Red (the song) is just so *chef's kiss* when you think about it. Stick with me, we're breaking down the ENTIRE song.

Red is Luffy.

Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly Loving him is like trying to change your mind Once you're already flying through the free fall Like the colors in autumn, so bright, just before they lose it all

Red talks about a passionate whirlwind romance. It's fast, chaotic, violent even. It's something this couple are swept into even if they try to resist (lines 3 & 4). Ace and Luffy's love is something they naturally fell into, even if they didn't want to originally. Ace tried his damndest to push Luffy away but eventually caved to his advances.

This first verse mirrors Luffy falling in love with Ace and the feelings he has as he does.

Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted Was right there in front of you Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words To your old favorite song Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword And realizing there's no right answer Regretting him was like wishing you never found out That love could be that strong

Luffys' love for Ace is an all-consuming blaze. The boy is literally the embodiment of love, and he loves Ace the most of all. He's broken down Ace's walls and learned the most intimate parts of the boy.

Their fights never go anywhere, be it verbal or physical. They're both stubborn as fuck and constantly determined to one-up each other. (They're each other's motivation, please 😭) Even though Ace is bigger and stronger, most of their fights end in something closer to a draw.

Luffy never regretted Ace. However, I believe he expirences feelings akin to regret through his grief. "...wishing you never found out / That love could be that strong," definitely expresses Luffy's sadness at losing such a bright, burning light in his life. Ace was his lighthouse, his northern star, constantly one step ahead, and Luffy following close behind. The realization that his love for Ace was such an intense and strong thing would shake Luffy to the core, leaving him wishing he "never found out that love could be that strong."

Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes Tell myself it's time now gotta let go But moving on from him is impossible When I still see it all in my head In burning red Burning, it was red

Hey, did you hear the rumor where Eiichiro Oda confirmed that Luffy has goddamn nightmares about when Ace fucking died in his arms but he doesn't tell anyone because he doesn't want to worry his crew? Oh, yeah, Ace's death was sOoO iMpOrTaNt for Luffy's character development. Jesusfuckingchrist.

Luffy still grieves Ace. Constantly. I believe it is a dull, throbbing ache somewhere deep in his chest. Sometimes, his scar hurts over his heart, and he rubs it, losing himself in memories. Grief is similar to the ocean tides and comes and goes randomly. There will be days when Luffy doesn't even think about Ace, but then there are days when he just doesn't want to get out of bed. If he's on the Sunny, he can find a place to curl up and watch the water roll by and distract himself with his crew's antics. If he's on a mission, his fights are enough to distract him from waves of grief.

And that's why he's spinning 'round in my head Comes back to me, burning red Yeah, yeah His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street

This falls in the same vein as the bridge. I just want to point out the difference between the first line of the song and the last:

"Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street,"

"His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street,"

I love this comparison so much. It acknowledges that his love was just as fierce and burning bright, but it's over now. Luffy knows. He realizes Ace loved him the same way he loved him... loves. But it's gone, a flame snuffed out.

Losing him was blue, like I'd never known Missing him was dark gray, all alone Forgetting him was like trying to know Somebody you never met But loving him was red Oh, red Burning red

And finally, our dearest chorus.

I feel these lines perfectly encapsulate Luffy's grief after Ace dies. We see the process he goes through, and it's brutal.

His realization and denial are blue like he's never known. Sabo hurt, but he had Ace that time.

His deep grief/PTSD, a fresh wound, is dark gray, all alone. We literally see him lose the will to live for a second before Jinbei talks some sense into him. He literally thinks he's all alone. Ace promised to never die and leave him, and that's exactly what happened. Also, the fact that he's physically alone and separated from his crew just makes it hurt that much worse.

I love the line "knowing someone you never met" because, like, think of parasocial relationships. You can think you know someone you've never met because you think you know everything about them, but you never truly do. Luffy will never truly forget Ace and will never truly move on from losing him. A part of him is still in that courtyard in Marineford.

Their love, though? Their love was red.

Might I remind you that red is the color that both Ace and Luffy have had as an official color in their lifetime. In their childhood, Ace was red, and Luffy was yellow. When they're older, Ace transitions to orange, and Luffy switches to mostly red with some yellow in the mix. (I talk more about this here)

In conclusion, AceLu was written by Taylor Swift. Thank you very much for coming to my TedTalk. Please check back tomorrow for day three!

Happy Melting! ����

[very-super-silly]

the outsiders headcanons!! :)

**(spoilers ahead)** + tw about alcohol and smoking

um this is just a big yap about these sillies <3 (kind of on crack, beware)

Darry

corduroy <3

really really really hot showers 

def had a thing going on with paul at one point 

source (musical): “remember that purple madras shirt i gave you? it looked pretty good on you”

“yeah, i do. i use it to clean my toilet twice a week” 

*gets decked and the rumble starts* 

they’re such exes coded bro 😮‍💨

love language is words of affirmation and acts of service (very based off the musical)

bro really needs a hug 😭

he hugs pony and soda all the time tho 

super tight hugs

emerald green is his favorite color

hasn’t drank alcohol since his parents died 

he only ever drank at those soc parties paul invited him to anyways

Ponyboy

basically addicted to pepsi (canon?) 

after johnny and dally died he’d only wear their jackets 

be nice to me - the front bottoms

“We are running, we are running, but you’re a killer. And i’m your best friend. I think it’s unfair, your situation. You say im changing, sorry i didn’t know i had to stay the same” 

lowkey kinda fucked his liver a bit by regularly taking FOUR acetaminophen’s instead of his scrawny ass’s one 

he also highkey has a smoking addiction 😭 (canon??)

he needs to sleep next to someone, whether that be soda, johnny or even darry

otherwise it’s hard for him to sleep, and “the dream” happens more frequently 

he and johnny would hug and stuff all the time

like they’ll just be standing talking to the gang and pony’ll be standing behind johnny hanging with his arms wrapped around his neck, and with his head resting on his shoulder 

johnny and pony sitting in the same booth at the diner and johnny just leans his shoulder on pony’s

im projecting my love language of physical touch smh 😔

platonically or not which ever way you swing pookie

after johnny died he got a tattoo on the inside of his wrist saying stay gold

stick n poke, thanks two-bit

darry doesn’t know

Sodapop

would blow bubbles in all his drinks with straws 

pretty good cook even though darry is usually the one cooking

better at baking

chocolate cake 😍

love language is physical touch 100%

queer (unspecified)

he actually loved sandy, so after he found out she cheated and fucking left him, he kind of stopped being super flirtatious. Just for a bit. And now, he’s not really searching for serious love 

has a small tattoo of a soda bottle on his left arm

thank you two-bit for your weird ass connections (and odd skills)

bro pulled up with the “hey man I know a guy”

the guy was him

Johnny

 Used to have a dog (a terrier of some type) but it either died or his parents gave it away 

likes strawberries 

if a certain chain of events didn’t occur, johnny would wear cherrys hair clips and bows. 

coquette king 

love language is also physical touch

i mean have you seen the movie

loves hershey chocolate

doesn't read the same books pony does, but like sitting with him while he reads (not reading over his shoulder, just like next to him or like in the same room. he prolly sleeps)

has spent so much time at the curtis’ in general it’s more like his home that his actual home

he sleeps over at others peoples houses a lot, or wherever one of the gang is crashing that night tbh

Dallas

he probably has like several thick rings that he wears in place of brass knuckles so the cops can’t arrest him for having them 😭

im looking at you kwp

love language is probably quality time 

i mean he wanted to go to the drive in with johnny and pony

he hates touching people/people touching him

he wouldnt like, die (😨), if someone touched him, I just mean he goes like “brotha eugh” yk

he’d hug johnny tho, like full on, proper tight hug

two-bit: dally you’d do that for me too right 🥺

dally: NO BITCH 😨

lowkey “lights out” by mindless self indulgence coded, but that’s more steves song

Two-bit 

average purple grape enjoyer

the one friend who would find a big stick on the side of the road and keep it

ENGARDE BITCH

love language is gift giving

100% the type of person to buy you flowers

bisexual

canonically the best fighter out of the greasers, however his first instinct isn’t to fight.

confirmed by daryl tofa <3

he's highkey an alcoholic lol

in the book he drinks a lot and renni and daryl tofa also confirmed that lmao

Steve 

 He has like. sharp movements if that makes any sense. kind of aggressive like he’s about to jump you at any moment tbh

love language is quality time and physical touch

source: steve playing cards and stuff with soda

yk what steve and soda had something going on in the movie im ngl 👀

tho in the musical two-bit and soda def had somth 👀👀

only soda can properly hug this man

if anyone he has beef with touches him they leave with a black eye

like first of all, they got beef, and second of all, they have the audacity to touch him and contaminate him with their crusty cooties? nuh uh

Cherry 

Really soft hair 

it’s normally down with a headband, but sometimes she braids it and does stuff with it 

she does bows and clips and stuff

really likes banana ice cream but if anyone asks her she says vanilla is her favorite 

lowk lesbian representation in modern media 🤩

bisexual tho 

ch ch ch ch ch cherry bomb 🍒‼️‼️ (anthem drop??)

definitely has a ginger cat (they’re pookies) <3

gives straight As but she has a couple Bs, B-s

she reads murder mysteries 

Marcia

Macha girlie 

it’s because her theme is green in the musical

im so funny

likes sloths 

romanticizes a lot

really looking for someone who understands her wacky thoughts

loves gossip, but not harmful or hateful gossip

just the tea yk, like “omg, did you see cherrys hair clips the other day?? they were so cute 😊 i love the style she’s going for”

LESBIAN 🔥🔥🗣️💪🗣️💪💪🔥🔥🗣️🗣️

her and two-bit r 🌈 ICONS (bc they’re besties)

rip marcia you would’ve loved chapell roan

Bev

A GIRLS GIRL 🗣️🗣️

trust even tho she was against cherry at the end it’s because all the socs were against cherry 😔

hypes you UP

def matches your freak

has a thing for great white sharks

interested in meteorology 

if you disrespect her, you’re cooked 

i mean did you HEAR daryl tofa in justice for tulsa 😭😭 bro didn’t even do anything

or anyone close to her, you disrespect her friends you better watch out 😨

will crush you with her high heels

“killer queen”-mad tsai, “breakfast”-dove cameron

Melvin

GRANDMA YOU FUCKING MORON I DON’T NEED MONEY I NEED DIMES, DIMES DIMES DIMES MOTHERFUCKING DIMES (canon) 

type of person to unironically say “where my hug at”

he’s a super senior 😭

“did it hurt when you fell from heaven” again, unironically 💀

bro solos all in the rumble change my mind

you can’t

good at digging holes

iykyk

jk I’m not finna gatekeep it’s from melody roses tiktoks about melvin

can pull up with some MEAN eyeliner

prolly hits pose 28 while standing around

drives a red 1961 chevrolet corvette 

should not be allowed to drive (he will probably run you over)

always gets a chocolate milkshake from the local diner 

with whipped cream and a cherry on top

not a headcanon but if melvin has no fans im dead

ok bye, tysm if you read all that 😭

[saegusakin]

TADC Episode 2 Thoughts

Jax continues to be my babygirl. He sucks so much and makes absolutely 0 effort to be a better person every day. Yes, boy, give us NOTHING!!

Okay, this isn't necessarily true. This does, however, feel like it lines up into my headcanoned backstory for Jax being some kind of spoiled upstart who is used to getting his way and disconnecting himself from other people - I really liked the idea of him being the son of the boss, so that's where my ideas remain. There's definitely something connecting him to keys. That's why I think he has a debug key, or a keylogger in his system that no one else does. Too bad it's just cheat codes to nonsense adventures that don't mean anything. His hyperviolent streak is new, but it checks out.

Pomni got a bit snarkier this episode, which I really liked. I truly do think that her and Jax would have SUCH a good dynamic...if they weren't pushed to opposite sides of the plot. I truly do feel like she's the one person who could possibly yank him by the ears and say "Hey, stop that." and he might even consider listening. Funnybunny was neither proven nor disproven in this episode.

That is more than I can say for Showtime, though! Yeouch! Getting ahead of myself.

Pomni and Ragatha...do not seem to be close and I can't blame Pomni for that. Ragatha does kind of feel like she's condescending to her at times with her people-pleaser ways, and I can see how that'd be upsetting to say the least. I don't see any chemistry for them, though, if I'm being honest. It seems like since the first episode the gap has only widened to slot into this awkward space...they seem like they can be friends, but shipping-wise this one sure took a turn.

Oh Gangle. Sweet Gangle. Submissive and agreeable Gangle. You probably deserved better in this episode, but at least you got to drive. Kinger didn't even get that. Zooble didn't even go.

And...Gummigoo. Man. Yeah. There went Caine, with all that. The 'friendly Caine' ideas are going down pretty fast. I liked Gummi as a character - he brought something unique to the table that I thought could've been capitalized on as an NPC who discovered the true nature of his world...but Caine said enough was enough and killed the poor sucker. Well. It is what it is.

The theory is going around now also about the main cast maybe having an npc amogus, but...I dunno how to feel about that. The obvious choice WOULD be Jax, but I kind of don't want it to be. I can see appeal on multiple sides for that, though.

Also, yeah, the visual gags were better than the verbal ones this ep. Overall, pretty solid. 7/10.

[bidforautos]

How much does it cost to tow a car?

Picture this: It’s pitch-black, you’re stuck on the side of a highway, and your phone’s at 5%. You call for a tow truck, but here’s the million-dollar question—how much is this going to cost you? According to AAA, over 30 million drivers need roadside assistance each year, and towing is often the priciest part. Crazy, right?

Towing costs aren’t just numbers on a bill—they’re a lifeline when you’re stranded. Knowing what to expect can save you from a budget-busting surprise or getting ripped off by a shady tow company. It’s like having a cheat code for one of life’s little emergencies. Plus, with car troubles being unpredictable, understanding towing costs helps you plan ahead and avoid that sinking feeling when the bill arrives.

In this guide, we’ll break down the nitty-gritty of towing costs. We’ll look at what drives the price, average rates for different situations, sneaky hidden fees, money-saving hacks, and tips for picking a towing service that won’t leave you high and dry. By the end, you’ll be ready to tackle any breakdown like a pro.

[samarthdas]

How AI is Revolutionizing Online Certifications – The Future of Learning

Introduction

Online learning has exploded in popularity, and AI is taking it to the next level. From personalized course recommendations to AI-driven assessments, technology is reshaping how we acquire certifications.

How AI is Changing Online Certifications

AI-Powered Adaptive Learning – Platforms like Coursera and Udacity use AI to tailor content based on a learner’s progress and weaknesses.

Automated Proctoring – AI ensures integrity in online exams by detecting cheating behaviors through facial recognition and eye-tracking.

AI-Based Skill Assessment – Instead of traditional exams, AI-powered simulations and coding challenges evaluate real-world skills dynamically.

Chatbots as Personal Mentors – AI-driven chatbots like ChatGPT now act as 24/7 study guides, answering queries and explaining concepts in real time.

AI Certifications to Consider

To stay ahead in the AI revolution, here are some top AI certifications that leverage AI-driven assessments and training:

Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer – Best for those looking to build AI models in production.

IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate – Covers deep learning, ML, and AI applications.

Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate – Ideal for cloud-based AI solutions.

AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty – Great for professionals working with AI on AWS.

AICerts AI & ML Certification – AICerts is gaining recognition for its industry-focused AI certifications, offering a structured path for AI engineers and analysts.

Conclusion

AI is making certifications more interactive, personalized, and secure. Platforms like AICerts and other tech giants are driving this transformation, making AI education more accessible and skill-oriented.

[speed-seo]

Staying ahead with your SEO requires cutting-edge strategies and factual insights. You've landed in your go-to SEO Cheat Guide for 2025, packed with actionable tips and expert advice to boost your website's visibility and organic traffic.  Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this cheat sheet will equip you with everything you need to dominate the search engine rankings and stay ahead of the competition. Top SEO Cheat Sheets of 2024 Before diving into the specifics of 2025, let's take a look at some of the top SEO cheat sheets from 2024. These cheat sheets provide a foundation for understanding the core principles of SEO and highlight key areas of focus: - Victorious SEO Cheat Sheet: This cheat sheet emphasizes the importance of on-page optimization, including title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and content length. It also provides a helpful table of HTTP status codes and their meanings. - Torro SEO Cheat Sheet for Web Developers: This cheat sheet focuses on technical aspects of SEO, such as site speed, mobile-friendliness, and structured data. It also provides guidance on internal and external linking strategies. - The CMO SEO Cheat Sheet: This cheat sheet highlights the importance of user experience and content quality in SEO. It also discusses the evolution of SEO from keyword stuffing to user-centric optimization. - Zero Creative SEO Cheat Sheet: This cheat sheet provides a glossary of essential SEO and digital marketing terminology, making it a valuable resource for beginners. - Link-Assistant Keyword Research Cheat Sheet: This cheat sheet provides a step-by-step guide to conducting keyword research, including keyword segmentation and building a keyword map. These cheat sheets provide a valuable overview of SEO best practices and highlight the key areas that will continue to be important in 2025. Keyword Research in 2025: A Modern Approach Keywords remain the foundation of SEO, but in 2025, the process requires a more nuanced approach that goes beyond simply identifying popular search terms. It involves understanding the intent behind user searches and optimizing for user experience. Here's a step-by-step guide to conducting keyword research in 2025: - Create a list of seed keywords: Start with a list of broad keywords that are relevant to your business or website. - Find more keyword ideas: Use advanced keyword research tools like Google Ads Keyword Planner, Google Search Console, Google Trends, and Rank Tracker to expand your list of keywords. Consider using LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords, which are related terms that help search engines understand the context of your content and improve its relevance. - Filter your data: Define filtering parameters such as the number of searches, keyword difficulty, keyword length, and irrelevant words to refine your keyword list. - Segment your keywords: Segment your keywords by search intent (informational, commercial, transactional), volume, keyword difficulty, and competition. - Understand user intent: With the rise of AI and conversational queries, it's crucial to understand the intent behind user searches. Focus on long-tail keywords and questions users are likely to ask. - Optimize for AI: Ensure your content is optimized for AI-generated responses and featured snippets. Use structured data and clear messaging to define your brand’s unique value. - Monitor search features: Track visibility in search features like product carousels and knowledge panels. Adapt your strategies to focus on what drives results. - Focus on brand recognition: Build brand authority through informational resources, structured data, and community building. - Optimize product detail pages: Include detailed structured data, user-generated content, and high-quality images and videos. - Leverage digital PR and outreach: Write AI-friendly press releases and guest posts, and collaborate with thought leaders. - Build a keyword map: Check URLs ranking in Google and pay attention to keyword difficulty to create a keyword map that guides your content strategy. In 2025, keyword research is more about understanding user intent and optimizing for AI-driven search features.  CategoryDescriptionExample KeywordBrandedKeywords specific to your brand, products, or services"Microsoft Surface Pro", "Xbox"InformationalUsers seeking information on a topic"best SEO practices"CommercialUsers researching products or services"SEO tools comparison"TransactionalUsers ready to make a purchase"buy SEO software"LocalKeywords with geographic intent, often combined with location"restaurants near me", "plumber in Kolossi"Long-TailMore specific, longer keyword phrases with lower search volume but higher intent"affordable pet-friendly hotels in Cyprus" On-Page Optimization On-page optimization refers to optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. Key elements of on-page optimization include: - Title Tag: - Tip: Keep title tags concise (30-60 characters) and include your primary keyword close to the beginning. - Example: "Buy Affordable Laptops | Best Deals Online" - Insight: Craft emotional titles that evoke curiosity or excitement to attract clicks, like using words such as "Best", "Affordable", or "Exclusive". - Meta Description: - Tip: Write compelling meta descriptions (120-156 characters) that include your primary keyword and encourage users to click. - Example: "Discover the best laptops for every budget. Exclusive deals and offers available now!" - Insight: Use emotional language and highlight the value proposition of your content, such as unique benefits or offers. - Heading Tags: - Tip: Use only one H1 tag per page and include your keyword close to the beginning. Use several H2 tags and include your keyword in 2-3 of them. - Example: - H1: "Best Laptops for Students in 2025" - H2: "Affordable Options for Budget-Conscious Students" - Insight: Structuring content with clear, keyword-rich headings improves readability and SEO performance. - Content Length: - Tip: Aim for a minimum of 1,000 words, ensuring your word count is equal to or greater than the top-ranking search results. - Insight: Comprehensive content tends to perform better in search rankings as it provides more value and in-depth information to readers. - Readability: - Tip: Make your content easy to read and scan by using short and simple words, employing short sentences, dividing content into sections, including quotes, incorporating visuals, and maintaining a consistent writing style. - Insight: Enhance user experience by using bullet points, numbered lists, and subheadings to break down complex information. - Internal Linking: - Tip: Link to 3-4 other pages on your site, including at least one link to a product or service page. - Insight: Internal links help search engines understand the structure of your site and distribute page authority across important pages. - External Linking: - Tip: Link to 1-2 other websites that are not your competitors. - Insight: External links to authoritative sources can enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of your content. - Images: - Tip: Include 3-4 images per page and compress them before loading to improve page speed. Optimize images with descriptive file names, alt text, and captions. - Insight: High-quality visuals not only make your content more engaging but also improve SEO through image search optimization. - Alt Text: - Tip: Include keywords in all image alt text, but ensure the description accurately reflects the image and avoid keyword stuffing. - Insight: Properly optimized alt text aids in accessibility and provides additional context to search engines about your content. - Content Cannibalization: - Tip: Avoid using the exact same keyword from another page on your site. If you're already using the keyword and it's not performing well, update that page and make it the canonical URL. - Insight: Prevent keyword cannibalization by targeting unique keywords for each page to avoid competing with your own content. - URL: - Tip: Include your focus keyword in the URL and make sure keywords are separated by dashes. Use short URLs and avoid dynamically generated slugs. - Example: "best-affordable-laptops-2025" - Insight: Clean, keyword-rich URLs are easier for both users and search engines to understand. Off-Page Optimization Off-page optimization refers to all the activities that you do away from your website to improve your search engine rankings. This includes: - Link Building: - Tip: Building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites is crucial for SEO success. Focus on acquiring links from relevant and trustworthy sources. - Example: Reach out to industry blogs and offer to write a guest post in exchange for a backlink. - Insight: Use tools like Moz, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to identify high-authority sites in your niche. Create valuable, shareable content that naturally attracts backlinks. - Social Media Marketing: - Tip: Promote your content on social media platforms to increase visibility and drive traffic to your website. - Example: Share your blog posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and engage with followers in the comments. - Insight: Use analytics tools to track which types of content perform best on each platform. Tailor your strategy accordingly to maximize engagement and shares. - Guest Blogging: - Tip: Contribute guest posts to other websites in your niche to build relationships and acquire backlinks. - Example: Write a post about "Top 10 SEO Tips" for a popular digital marketing blog. - Insight: Always include a link back to your site in the author bio or within the content. Network with blog owners and offer unique insights or case studies to increase acceptance rates. - Forum Participation: - Tip: Participate in relevant online forums and communities to engage with your target audience and build brand awareness. - Example: Answer questions on SEO forums and include a link to a related article on your site as further reading. - Insight: Be genuine and avoid spamming. Focus on providing value and building trust within the community. Over time, this will lead to more organic backlinks. - Blogger Outreach and Personal Branding: - Tip: Build relationships with bloggers and influencers in your niche to promote your content and acquire backlinks. - Example: Collaborate with an influencer for a joint webinar or a co-authored article. - Insight: Personalize your outreach emails and highlight mutual benefits. Maintain ongoing relationships, as these can lead to multiple backlink opportunities over time. - User-Generated Content (UGC) and Forums: - Tip: Engage with users on platforms like Reddit, Quora, and niche forums to build trust and acquire authentic backlinks. - Example: Write detailed answers to relevant questions on Quora, and subtly include links to your site where appropriate. - Insight: UGC can enhance your content’s credibility. Encourage reviews, testimonials, and comments on your own site, which can lead to more backlinks as users share their contributions. Local SEO For businesses with a physical location, local SEO is essential for attracting customers in their area. Key strategies for local SEO in 2025 include: - Local Listings: - Tip: Ensure your business is listed on relevant online directories and platforms, such as Google My Business (GMB), Yelp, and Bing Places. - Example: Verify and complete your GMB profile with accurate details, high-quality images, and regular updates. - Insight: Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) across all listings is crucial. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your GMB listing. - Dedicated Location Pages: - Tip: Create dedicated pages for each of your business locations, providing detailed information about each location, including address, phone number, and hours of operation. - Example: "Our Limassol Branch: Visit us at from 9 AM to 6 PM. Call us at ." - Insight: Include embedded Google Maps on location pages to help users find you easily. Adding localized keywords and customer testimonials can further enhance these pages. - Localized Content: - Tip: Create content that is relevant to your local audience, using local keywords and addressing local interests. - Example: Write blog posts about local events, news, or how your products/services benefit the community. - Insight: Engage with local influencers and collaborate on content that resonates with the local community. Share these on social media to increase visibility. - Schema Markup: - Tip: Use schema markup to provide search engines with more information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and hours of operation. - Example: Implement schema markup for "LocalBusiness" to enhance your local search presence. - Insight: Use Google's Structured Data Markup Helper to generate and test your schema markup. It helps search engines better understand your business details. - Hyper-local Targeting: - Tip: Utilize hyper-local targeting strategies to reach customers in specific neighborhoods or areas. - Example: Run geo-targeted ads on social media platforms to promote special offers to users within a specific radius of your business. - Insight: Create micro-campaigns for different neighborhoods, highlighting unique aspects that appeal to the local demographic. - Schema for Multimedia Discoverability: - Tip: Implement schema markup for multimedia content, such as images and videos, to improve their visibility in local search results. - Example: Use "VideoObject" schema for videos showcasing your products or services in action. - Insight: Ensure multimedia content is optimized for quick load times and mobile devices. This enhances user experience and search rankings. - Customer Satisfaction: - Tip: Focus on providing excellent customer service and creating a positive customer experience to improve your online reputation and local SEO. - Example: Offer prompt responses to online reviews and address customer complaints courteously. - Insight: Factors like proximity, expertise, friendly staffing, and inventory quality contribute to customer satisfaction and local SEO success. Encourage loyal customers to share their positive experiences online. Emerging Technologies and AI Emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming the SEO landscape. AI-powered tools are reshaping how users find information, making brand visibility in AI responses essential. Key considerations for AI and SEO include: - AI-Generated Content: - Tip: While AI can assist in content creation, human oversight is crucial to ensure quality and relevance. - Example: Use AI tools like GPT-3 or Jasper to draft articles, but have a human editor review and refine the content. - Insight: AI-generated content can save time, but it requires human touch to ensure it aligns with brand voice and provides accurate, engaging information. - AI-Powered SEO Tools: - Tip: Utilize AI tools for tasks like keyword research, content optimization, and SERP analysis to improve efficiency and productivity. - Example: Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Clearscope use AI to provide keyword suggestions, content gaps, and competitor analysis. - Insight: Leverage these tools to gain deeper insights into your SEO strategy and make data-driven decisions that enhance your online visibility. - Optimizing for AI Crawling: - Tip: Ensure your website is technically sound and easy for AI to access. - Example: Conduct regular audits to check for broken links, optimize site speed, and ensure mobile-friendliness. - Insight: A well-maintained site improves crawlability, leading to better indexing and higher search rankings. - Multimodal Search: - Tip: Optimize for multimodal search (text, voice, image) as it becomes increasingly dominant. - Example: Implement structured data, ensure high-quality images with alt text, and optimize for voice search queries. - Insight: With the rise of smart speakers and visual search, providing content that is easily discoverable across different search modes is crucial. - Optimizing for Multiple Search Engines: - Tip: With the emergence of new AI platforms like SearchGPT, the dominance of Google could wane. Optimize for multiple search engines to ensure brand visibility across diverse platforms. - Example: Submit your site to Bing Webmaster Tools, Yandex, and Baidu. - Insight: Diversify your SEO efforts to reach a broader audience and reduce dependency on a single search engine for traffic. Brand SERP Optimization Brand SERP optimization focuses on managing how your brand appears in search results. This includes optimizing for brand-related searches and knowledge panels. Key strategies for brand SERP optimization include: - Optimize Your Website: - Tip: Ensure your website is well-optimized for relevant brand-related keywords. - Example: Include your brand name and related keywords in title tags, meta descriptions, and H1 headers. - Insight: Create a dedicated "About Us" page that clearly outlines your brand's mission, history, and values. Use long-tail keywords that include your brand name for additional SEO benefit. - Build a Strong Online Presence: - Tip: Create and maintain active profiles on relevant social media platforms and online directories. - Example: Regularly post updates, promotions, and engaging content on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. - Insight: Consistent branding across all profiles strengthens your brand identity. Use the same logo, color schemes, and tone of voice. - Manage Your Online Reputation: - Tip: Monitor and respond to online reviews and feedback to maintain a positive brand image. - Example: Use tools like Google Alerts, Mention, or Hootsuite to track mentions of your brand online. - Insight: Respond promptly and professionally to both positive and negative reviews. Show appreciation for positive feedback and address concerns raised in negative reviews constructively. - Use Schema Markup: - Tip: Implement schema markup to provide search engines with more information about your brand, such as your logo, social media profiles, and contact information. - Example: Use "Organization" schema markup to include your brand details like address, logo, and contact information. - Insight: Schema markup can enhance your knowledge panel and improve how your brand information appears in search results. This helps search engines better understand and display your brand accurately. - Engage in Content Marketing: - Tip: Publish high-quality, relevant content that showcases your expertise and aligns with your brand values. - Example: Write blog posts, create infographics, and produce videos that address common questions and interests of your target audience. - Insight: Content marketing not only enhances your brand’s authority but also provides additional opportunities for your brand to appear in search results. - Optimize for Local SEO: - Tip: If you have a local business, ensure that your brand is optimized for local searches. - Example: Include your city or region in your brand-related keywords and maintain accurate, consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) across all local listings. - Insight: Local SEO helps attract nearby customers and improves your brand’s visibility in local search results. Customer-Centric SEO Customer-centric SEO focuses on using customer data and insights to improve SEO strategies. This involves understanding your target audience, their needs, and their online behavior. Key strategies for customer-centric SEO include: - Analyze Customer Data: - Tip: Collect and analyze customer data, such as website analytics, search queries, and customer feedback, to understand your audience and their needs. Read the full article

[ren3gade]

Original article: x

UPDATE (November 1, 2023): Microsoft has sent us some further clarification on how the new enforcement policies may impact accessibility devices.  Users that are connecting devices via 3.5mm ports, or via the USB sockets on the Xbox Adaptive Controller will not be impacted by these restrictions. This is to ensure that third-party devices designed for accessibility will remain viable.  "There is no impact to players using the Xbox Adaptive Controller and any peripherals plugged into the Xbox Adaptive Controller’s USB and 3.5MM ports. This includes both licensed Designed for Xbox devices listed on the Accessories Hub Page, as well as those that currently connect with the Xbox Adaptive Controller. If you do not receive an error code, then your accessory will not be impacted. For questions, please reach out to the Disability Answer Desk." Microsoft has reaffirmed that devices that connect directly to the Xbox via USB that are unlicensed and do not have authorization from Xbox will stop functioning after two weeks. The grace period is to allow users to return and replace those devices.

The base Xbox Adaptive Controller is $100, and it is unclear how many devices "currently connect" with XAC. Can you plug in any device, or only certain ones? XAC should be priced the same as a standard controller to begin with.

They may, in part, be trying to get ahead of cheating devices and 'lock out' low quality 3rd party controllers while driving consumers to official products.

[juceynightmare]

pink carnations part 1 - cody rhodes x reader

my masterlist

pink carnations masterlist

pairing(s): cody rhodes x reader, cody rhodes x brandi rhodes, slight (?) austin theory x reader

warnings: vomiting, swearing

genre(s): angst, fluff if you squint

<< || next part >>

hanahaki - a curable disease which grows flowers inside the victim’s lungs and usually born of unrequited love. in order to cure a person with hanahaki, the love must be returned by the outside party or the victim must undergo surgery which leaves the victim with no feelings towards the outside party. if hanahaki is not cured, the victim will perish.

he looked different now, and that’s not just the blonde hair that she’s talking about. cody rhodes had grown to be a beautiful man. his shirt had filled up nicely with the muscles that he had worked hard to grow and maintain. his face still looked as soft as it was back when they were in ohio valley wrestling together, but his eyes held a depth in them that let her know that he had grown wise in his art. his hands, once soft, had become calloused over the years of being used to punch, slap, and grab his coworkers, ring ropes, and other various objects that were used as weapons. those same hands were waving in front of her face now, as she phased out of her own thoughts.

“hey. earth to y/n. are you going to finish that or can i?” he asked her. without a second thought, she lightly pushed her tupperware of salad over to the overgrown manchild that sat across the table from her. she stayed silent, watching him as he finished the rest of her food and text his wife as he did so. his voice hasn’t changed from what she could tell. it may have some more rasp in it then it used to, but the lisp is still there and it is so undeniably cody’s voice that she didn’t think it changed.

“slow down, codes. how will you text my wife if you choke on the food? actually, go ahead so i can finally snatch her from you.” y/n joked, reaching over the table with her fork in hand to grab one more bite of her salad before cody could finish it all.

brandi. y/n remembered when she first heard about cody and brandi and how much her heart hurt, and how much it still clenches in her chest whenever she sees the two together. she remembered how hard she had tried to hate her when all she knew about them was through a screen. she remembered when cody had returned to the wwe and how brandi was there. she remembered when she ran into them backstage and thought to herself “wow” when she saw them. she remembered how nice brandi had been to her when cody introduced her as an “old friend” to his wife, and how she let cody go and catch up with his “old friend”. she remembered when brandi would always say hi to her before greeting her husband whenever she was backstage. she remembers all the laughs and good times she has had with brandi whenever they hang out for a “girl’s night” or even over a text conversation.

and yet brandi will never know about cody and y/n. the late nights after training that were filled of cody and y/n going to a random taco truck, sitting down and cheating on their diets “for tonight only”. those random wednesdays when cody would teach y/n how to drive as y/n was a late bloomer to a lot of those “normal” things people would do. that day that y/n had hit a parked car while trying to park and cody was laughing at the girl’s panic before calming her down and holding her. the way cody would guide y/n through the backstage area with a hand resting on the small of her back. the way y/n would turn down the brightness of her laptop screen whenever cody had fallen asleep beside her and she stayed up to game or watch videos. those stolen kisses backstage before either one of them would go out for their match for the night. the late night movies in bed turning into the two of them getting tangled into the sheets. brandi will never find out about all those times that happened all those years ago, and cody had made sure of that.

so, to everyone else in the locker room, their bosses, and brandi: cody and y/n have always been good friends and that’s all they ever will be.

“you keep yapping about stealing my wife, but if my memory serves me right: i do believe you are going through a horrible dry spell right now.” cody teased his friend, shoveling the last bite of the salad into his mouth after he spoke. he was smiling as he chewed, reaching over to pick up the lid of the tupperware and y/n’s fork. y/n wished he didn’t put her fork into the tupperware and close up the box before handing it back to her: it’d make it easier to find someone who would treat her half as good as he does.

“and you’re acting like i actually want to end my dry spell.”  she lied, knowing that the man she’d want to end her dry spell with was sitting across the table from her and happily married. “look codes, hypothetically, and i mean hypothetically, if i wanted to end my dry spell it would have been over long a long time ago.”

cody shook his head with an amused chuckle in an endearing manner. he got up from his chair, pulling it over so it was beside y/n’s own and sitting back down beside her. she tried to ignore how good his cologne smelled when he slung his arm over her shoulders. she tried to stop her heart from breaking out of her chest from how hard it was beating.

”hey, there’s something i’ve been meaning to show you. but try not to make a scene, okay? i don’t want anyone else to find out yet.” he leaned in to whisper in her ear, only pulling back to take out his phone. he kept his arm around the woman, who was now simply staring at him with a bewildered look.

try not to make a scene? she couldn’t believe what she heard him say. it was as if the man had forgotten how dramatic she really was. but nothing could have prepared for the heartbreak she was about to experience.

she looked down at her lap, where the man had rested his hand face up to show her his phone screen. she felt his arm tighten around her shoulder to pull her closer to his chest at the same time she could hear her heart slow down.

brandi’s pregnant.

it was just an image of brandi holding up a positive pregnancy test, and yet it hurt oh so much.

y/n turned in cody’s arms so she could face him, flashing him a large smile before wrapping her arms around him and resting her chin on top of his shoulder. “holy shit codes, no way! and you expect me to not make a scene you motherfucker. holy fuck! you’re going to be a dad! i’m going to be an auntie!” she whisper-yelled to her friend as he laughed and hugged her back.

he couldn’t see how fast her face fell as soon as she hugged him. he couldn’t see the sadness that had now pooled in her eyes or the way she was trying not to let the tears fall. and he couldn’t tell how hard it had suddenly became for y/n to breathe.

“we found out last month. it also might be a little early but, we’d love for you to be a godmother to the baby. which also implies there being a godfather so you better find yourself a man soon, little one.” he had laughed in her ear, squeezing the woman in his arms. he let go after hearing her yelp from the sudden squeeze.

“you won’t be calling me ‘little one’ when my godchild comes along, codes. and if you want there to be a godfather than by all means, go find one. i am completely fine on my own” she lied through her teeth, pulling back from the embrace and staring into his eyes with a wide smile on her face.

his smile reflected her own, before he stood up and brought the chair back around the other side of the table where he got it from. he walked back over to y/n, leaning down slightly to kiss the woman on her forehead. “alright, i’m off to get ready for tonight. i have to cut a promo with roman as soon as the show starts. i’ll text you later, and let me know if anyone causes you any trouble!” he said his goodbyes to her before walking off to the guys’ locker room.

and although it should be easier to breathe with one less person in the large catering area, y/n could only feel her heart and lungs tighten in her chest as she watched him leave. the kiss he had laid atop her head stung as if he had set her on fire. y/n was not aware she wasn’t breathing until she tried to gasp for air. she shot up from her seat, forgetting her tupperware and bag on the table as she walked to the bathroom.

and for once, the dramatic y/n did not want to cause a scene. her sudden motions had caused her to grow nauseous, and at some point she had taken in a large intake of air. she stumbled into the nearest bathroom - not knowing if it was the women’s or men’s room - and nearly fell into an open stall. she didn’t get a chance to close the door, nor did she care about the loud shrill of “y/n? are you okay?”

all she should hear was the sounds of her own dry heaving and hacking. all she could smell was something like flowers. her vision was full of stars. it came all at once and ripped through her chest and throat like someone cutting her open with a dull knife. and suddenly a single pink carnation flower fell into the toilet bowl.

she couldn’t believe her eyes as she stared down at the petal. a pink carnation. the same flower he had bought when he asked her to officially be his girl. the same flower that cody had given her before he had flown off to join the wwe main roster. the same flower that she would forever associate with him.

the pain flooded away, although y/n was still left breathless. she continued gasping for air as the stars cleared from her version. she could feel a hand rubbing circles on her back, and she hadn’t even noticed that her hair had been pulled back and away from her face in a makeshift ponytail.

“thank you” she whispered out after finally calming her breathing, sitting up from being bent over the toilet bowl. she felt her hair fall back down against her shoulders and watched as the person flushed the toilet for her.

“you’ll be okay, y/n. i got you” she heard him say behind her.

austin theory. an asshole to the wwe universe, but arguably one of the nicest guys backstage. the young man helped her sit with her back against the stall wall, and he crouched down in front of her.

she stared into his eyes, feeling tears pour in her eyes before she let herself fall forward and cry into his chest. she could tell austin didn’t know what to do. after all, the two were more acquaintances than friends and have only changed a few greetings here and there whenever they’d cross paths.

“don’t tell him, please. it’s pathetic.” she whispered, which austin acknowledged by wrapping his arms around the woman, knowing that all y/n needed right now was someone to be there for her.

hanahaki was not a common disease, but it was common enough that people knew about it. what was once believed to be a fictional disease turned out to be very much real. any doubt that y/n had about flowers being able to grow in one’s lungs simply because the person they loved didn’t love them back had disappeared in her mind. after all, she was living proof of the disease now.

“but why? why now? i’m over him. i’ve been over him. he’s married. he has a kid on the way. and i’ve been by his side for months now as just his friend. so why now?” she cried into his chest, feeling herself cough as she did so.

and if other people walked into the bathroom and heard her crying or saw the multitude of flowers that began to fall to the ground, no one said a word.

and if cody, who happened to ask around where y/n was after finding her things left out on the table in catering, had passed by the bathroom on the way to find her only to hear her crying from inside following by what he thinks to have been austin theory comforting his girl, he didn’t say a word.

and if he waited off to the side of the bathroom, waiting for you to walk out preferably without austin behind you so he himself could find out why you were crying and comfort you, he didn’t say a word.

but cody did wonder if you felt him staring into your back as he watched austin carry you out of the bathroom.

he knew austin definitely did. austin had acknowledged him with a nod the second that he had stepped out of the bathroom. and cody could tell from the way austin carried you away from cody and eventually out of cody’s line of sight, that austin did not want him anywhere near you.

|| next part >>

[maeve-studies]

Back to School Resource Masterpost

Hi everyone! It's that time of year again, back-to-school and all the excitement of learning new things, along with the stress and anxiety that inevitably occurs. I've been on Tumblr for longer than I'd like to admit, and have compiled a long list of resources below!

Please note that I did my absolute best to find the original links to all of these posts, but many of them are 4+ years old and the users have changed blog names/deleted. If any of the links don’t work, or there is a link to an original post which I am missing, please let me know! Many of the master posts have dead links so if you find any updated resources please feel free to add on :)

Starting College/New School Year

College Study Tips that Actually Help by @samsstudygram

How to Study in College by @niccistudies

Guide for Starting a New Semester by @studybeshy

No to Low Stress College Studying Strategy by @plannerdy

A Really F*cking Vulgar Guide to Not Losing your Sh*t in College (TW swearing) by @alice-rolfe

How to Be Successful in College by @goddesszillaa-blog

Studying for An Exam in A Really Short Amount of Time by @studiyng

Study Tips for the New Semester by @universi-tea

Back to School Masterpost by @studylau

Resources for the School Year by @ginsengstudy

Back to School Tips Masterpost by @starry-eyes-and-blissful-nights

Notetaking

Unconventional Note Taking Tips by @studyspiration-coffee

@emmastudies note taking system

Effective Notetaking by @afternaomi

Note Taking for Different Lecture Styles by @caffeinatedcraziness

Note Taking Tips by @eintsein

How to Take Notes from a Textbook by @staticsandstationery

Note Taking Tips by @parisgellerstudy

Essay Writing

Transition Words for Essays by @soniastudyblr

How to Write a University Level Essay by @healthyeyes

How to Write a Kick-ass Essay with Half the Stress by @wittacism-blog

Recovering an Unsaved Draft on Microsoft Word by @touched-dreams-blog

Helpful Websites for Writing Essays by @intellectys

Tips for Being Overwhelmed

How to Handle Having Too Much to Do by @howtomusicmajor

4 Tips for Getting Ahead after Falling Behind by @passwithclassandaniceass

Motivation Tips and Avoiding Procrastination

7 Strategies to Manage Distractions by @myhoneststudyblr

7 Strategies to Improve Concentration by @myhoneststudyblr

Tips to Stay Motivated by @maeve-studies AKA myself

6 Ways to Avoid Procrastination by @ivystudying

Tips for Motivation by @sobistudies

Getting your Shit Together by @coffeesforstudiers

School Prep and Motivation by @tea-study-sleep

Productivity

Guide to Crafting your Daily Schedule by @werelivingarts

Four Rules for a Disciplined Life by @a-disciplined-life (OG credit to reddit user ryans01)

How to Stay Productive by @busystudyin-g-blog

A Productivity Masterpost by @effortanderudition-blog

Planners, Apps, and Printables

Learn to Code by @boomeyer

Popular Apps Perfect for Students by @emmastudies

Printables Masterpost by @studywithnerdyglasses-blog

Listing of printables by @emmastudies

Study Apps and Extensions by @mujistudies

Apps for Students by @moleskinestudies-blog

Emails and Templates

Email Template for Anyone Who Struggles with Writing Emails by @ischemgeek

Post Interview Thank You Note Template by @a-windsor

Language Resources

Language Studying Tips by @ssehuns

Google Drive with a Link to Language Grammar Resources by @ingenjor-blog

Studying and Time Management Tips

@aimstudies on effectively reading textbooks

Tips on Managing Research Projects by @munirastudies

Memory Tips by @brain-exercise

Study Less, Study Smart by @marias-studyblr

Tiny Tips for Things You Never Thought About by @leahrning

18 Unexpected Tips for Higher Exam Scores by @studyblob

Study Tips from an MIT Student by @academicheaux

Self-Care and Burnout

@hellenhighwater on loving what you do, and doing what you love

Small Ways to Improve Your Life by @cwote

How I Ditched my Phone Addiction by @universi-tea

How to Avoid Overthinking by @onlinecounsellingcollege

Tips for Staying off Your Phone by @intellectys

Simplifying your Life by @universi-tea

For All the Bad Days by @studykouffee

How to Deal with Burnout by @kawaiistudy

Calming Masterpost by @shelbys-advice-blog

Ideas for Self Care by @educxtional

Masterposts

Masterpost of Everything pt 1 by @areistotle

School Cheat Sheet by @jwstudying

School Cheat Sheet part 2 by @jwstudying

Misc Studying Posts by @epicstudyings

Bullet Journal Ideas Masterpost by @optomstudies

Study Sounds by @universi-tea

Studyblr Masterpost by @getstudyblr

Study Methods by @etudiance

Study Skills by @schoollifeandstuff

[ao3time]

The Batfam play a video game that gives the option to fight on the side of good or evil!

My partner (countdyscalculia on ao3) came up with this thing of beauty! They wrote it and gave me the okay to post it here :D

Dick: always plays the good guy to a T Duke: plays good every time, but if the plot ever puts him in a position he doesn’t agree with he just fucks off and does whatever he wants for a while (really channeling the same Jumps Off A Bridge To Run From The Cops energy) Babs: plays good, but looks up maps of dungeons and stuff beforehand so she’s perpetually one step ahead of the game Jason: always picks the bad guy but halfway through gets “bored” starts to feel kinda bad about his choices earlier in the game and pretty much plays as good for the remainder of the game Tim: plays the villain in every way possible. Then, right before the end confrontation/event/battle, he uses a cheat code to reverse which side he's on and then uses his intimate knowledge of the evil forces to take them down methodically and efficiently one by one Steph: plays as long as she can without having to pick a side. Flips a coin or something to decide. Damian: picks good Of Course, and then proceeds to play in the most evil efficient way he can get away with Alfred: secretly, he once won an award for a UK Tetris competition when he was younger. He declines playing any video games currently, but often right when he's about to fall asleep, he still finds himself organizing the falling boxes into place in his head Bruce: always picks good, but has more trouble remembering which button is Jump and which one is Use Tool or something and never remembers to move the camera around and basically drives all the kids up the fucking wall (and also, like, he does so much tech stuff all the time?? How is he this bad at this????) Cass: uses the game as a fishing simulator (not remotely its intended purpose)

[rubykgrant]

At some point, after everybody settles down about them finally dating, Grif tries to brag about he’s totally “got Simmons boyfriend-hacked” now-

“No, seriously guys! I’ve basically got a cheat-code for getting what I want with him! So, what are my three favorite things to do when I just want to chill? Watch TV, eat some good food, and then nap, right? Right! Now, normally Simmons will throw a fit and get all naggy about how there’s no time to watch TV, there’s all this stuff that needs to get done around the house, blah-blah-blah... but I don’t even give him the chance to bring it up, I make sure the trash isn’t full and the sink is clear of dishes! He also only wants to cook if we have enough ingredients in the fridge, and even though we could just get take-out from somewhere, I kinda like when we make stuff together, so I go shopping ahead of time and re-stock on whatever is running low. BOOM, after that I’m in cuddle-town, all cozy on the couch, taking a nap with my boyfriend!”

And the others are just kinda like... dude, that isn’t as manipulative as you think it is. Grif is just proud of himself, why didn’t he think of this years ago!

(meanwhile, Simmons thinks he’s oh-so clever for always making sure he gets a variety of Grif’s favorite snacks, so his boyfriend will have plenty to choose from... he also keeps tabs on new movies that come out, and makes lists of which ones he thinks Grif would like... and makes Grif dorky little “mix CDs” of songs he thinks Grif will enjoy, like a playlist, but he also knows Grif gets a kick out of old-school stuff... and he always makes sure to fuel up the car so Grif can go anywhere he wants, even if it is just driving around... he just thinks he’s found the easy way to make Grif happy, BUT ALSO; Grif has choices about what he eats, what he does for fun, and where he wants to go)