#Efficient Goal Execution

[raulmolinaposts]

From Dreams to Reality: A Showcase of Masterful Goal Setting in Action

From Dreams to Reality: A Showcase of Masterful Goal Setting in Action explores the transformative power of effective goal setting.

Individuals can lay a solid foundation for success by employing the S.M.A.R.T. framework. Visualizing success enables individuals to tap into the potential of their dreams and aspirations.

Through creating an action plan, dreams can be translated into tangible steps, while strategies for overcoming obstacles ensure progress is maintained.

Tracking progress and staying motivated is essential in achieving success. This article presents real-life examples of individuals who have successfully turned their dreams into reality through masterful goal-setting.

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals: The Foundation for Success

Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals is the fundamental step towards achieving success in various domains. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This goal-setting framework provides a clear and structured approach to defining and pursuing objectives.

Specific goals are well-defined and focused, leaving no room for ambiguity. For example, instead of setting a general goal like 'improve fitness,' a particular goal would be 'run a 5K race within six months.'

Measurable goals allow for tracking progress and provide a sense of accomplishment. Individuals can monitor their performance and adjust their strategies by setting quantifiable goals.

Achievable goals are realistic and attainable within a given timeframe. Setting goals that challenge individuals and are within their capabilities is important. For instance, setting a goal to lose 10 pounds monthly may be unrealistic and potentially harmful.

A relevant goal aligns with an individual's interests, values, and long-term objectives. Individuals are more likely to stay motivated and committed by setting personally meaningful goals.

Lastly, time-bound goals have a specific deadline for completion. This provides a sense of urgency and helps individuals prioritize their efforts. For example, setting a goal to save $5,000 for a vacation in one year establishes a clear timeframe for achieving the objective.

The benefits of setting S.M.A.R.T. goals are numerous. It provides a roadmap for success, enhances focus and productivity, and improves self-confidence and satisfaction. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals, individuals are more likely to accomplish their goals.

Ambition at work has three categories: performance, growth, and achievement. But what's key is to find a balance between all of them. Well-rounded career ambitions help you be more creative, aid your work-life balance, and leave you more satisfied. External Link: https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-ambitious-should-you-be

Visualizing Success: Harnessing the Power of Dreams

Envisioning desired outcomes becomes a powerful tool for individuals to plan and achieve their objectives effectively. By visualizing success, individuals understand what they want to achieve and how to get there. This process allows them to set meaningful goals that align with their values and aspirations.

Individuals can utilize various techniques and tools to harness the power of dreams. Here are some practical strategies to help in visualizing success:

Create a vision board: Using images, words, and symbols, a vision board visually represents one's goals and aspirations. It is a constant reminder and motivator, helping individuals stay focused and inspired.

Utilize goal-setting websites: Online platforms provide a structured approach to goal setting. These websites offer features such as goal tracking, progress monitoring, and accountability, making the goal-setting process more organized and manageable.

Engage in guided visualizations: Guided visualizations involve mentally imagining oneself achieving desired outcomes. This technique helps individuals connect with their goals deeper, enhancing motivation and clarity.

Practice positive affirmations: Affirmations are positive statements that reinforce desired outcomes. By repeating affirmations regularly, individuals can reprogram their mindset and cultivate a positive attitude towards achieving their goals.

Creating an Action Plan: Turning Dreams Into Tangible Steps

Developing a systematic approach is crucial in transforming aspirations into concrete actions. Creating an action plan is the next logical step in turning dreams into tangible steps. This process involves breaking down the ultimate goal into smaller, more manageable tasks, setting deadlines, and allocating resources effectively. By taking a structured approach, individuals can maintain focus and ensure progress towards their desired outcome.

To begin with, it is important to clearly define the goal and establish specific objectives that contribute to its achievement. This allows for a clear understanding of the required steps and helps prioritize tasks. Next, individuals must identify and gather the necessary resources, such as time, skills, and support, to facilitate the implementation of their action plan. By allocating resources effectively, individuals can increase their chances of success and minimize potential obstacles.

Moreover, setting deadlines and creating milestones within the action plan creates urgency and accountability. Breaking down the goal into smaller, achievable tasks helps individuals track their progress and stay motivated. Regularly reviewing and adjusting the action plan is also essential to ensure it remains aligned with evolving circumstances and personal growth.

Wilson suggested that measuring the Resilience Quotient (RQ) of participants before assigning goals to them is a great idea for optimizing success and promoting happiness (Kerns, 2005). On administering resilience scales to the respondents, the goal-setting and task assignment be came more accessible and guaranteed better outcomes. External Link: https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/the-positive-psychology-approach-to-goal-management/

Overcoming Obstacles: Strategies for Staying on Track

Implementing effective strategies for overcoming obstacles is crucial in maintaining progress and staying on track toward achieving desired outcomes. When faced with challenges, it is important to have a plan to help you navigate the difficulties.

Here are some practical strategies that can assist in overcoming obstacles:

Develop a growth mindset: Adopting a perspective that sees challenges as opportunities for growth can help in reframing obstacles as stepping stones towards success. Embrace the belief that any obstacle can be overcome with effort and perseverance.

Break it down: When faced with a daunting obstacle, break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. This allows for a clearer focus and makes the overall goal seem less overwhelming.

Seek support: Don't be afraid to ask for help when needed. Surround yourself with a supportive network of individuals who can guide, encourage, and assist in navigating through obstacles.

Stay flexible: Be open to adjusting strategies and approaches as needed. Sometimes, unexpected obstacles may require a shift in plans. Flexibility allows for adaptability and ensures progress continues, even in the face of challenges.

Tracking Progress: Celebrating Milestones and Adjusting Course

Tracking progress is an essential aspect of achieving desired outcomes. It allows individuals to evaluate their milestones and adjust their course of action. By monitoring progress, individuals can gain insight into the effectiveness of their strategies and determine whether they are on track to achieve their goals. Tracking progress not only provides a sense of accomplishment but also serves as a motivator to continue working towards desired outcomes.

Celebrating milestones is an important part of tracking progress. Recognizing and acknowledging achievements can boost morale and motivate individuals to stay committed to their goals. It is crucial to take the time to celebrate even the smallest milestones, as they serve as reminders of the progress made and the effort invested.

However, tracking progress is not only about celebrating achievements but also about making necessary adjustments. By evaluating progress, individuals can identify improvement areas and modify their strategies accordingly. Adjusting the course of action allows individuals to stay focused on their goals and increase their chances of success.

To effectively track progress, individuals can utilize various tools and techniques. Keeping a journal or using a goal-tracking app can help document milestones and evaluate progress. Additionally, setting specific targets and deadlines can provide individuals with a clear roadmap to follow and measure their progress against.

Staying Motivated: Techniques for Maintaining Focus and Drive

Maintaining motivation and focus is crucial for individuals to sustain their progress and continue working towards their desired outcomes. To stay motivated and maintain focus, individuals can employ various techniques:

Visualization: Creating a clear mental picture of the desired outcome can help individuals stay motivated and focused on their goals. Visualizing success can generate a sense of excitement and determination.

Setting short-term goals: Breaking down long-term goals into smaller, manageable chunks can give individuals a sense of accomplishment and progress. Individuals can stay motivated and focused on their objectives by setting achievable short-term goals.

Creating a supportive environment: Surrounding oneself with individuals who share similar goals and aspirations can provide encouragement and accountability. Building a supportive network can help individuals stay motivated and focused on their journey toward success.

Rewarding progress: Celebrating milestones and rewarding oneself for progress can enhance motivation and maintain focus. Recognizing and acknowledging achievements can fuel enthusiasm and drive to continue working towards the desired outcomes.

By implementing these techniques, individuals can maintain their motivation and focus, ensuring steady progress toward their goals.

In the following section, we will explore real-life examples of individuals who have successfully achieved their goals through effective goal-setting techniques.

Achieving Success: Real-Life Examples of Goal Setting in Action

Examining real-life instances of individuals achieving their desired outcomes through effective goal-attainment techniques provides valuable insights into the practical application of goal-setting strategies. These success stories serve as a source of inspiration for those seeking to achieve their own goals and provide evidence of the power of effective goal-setting.

One such example is the story of Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur who achieved remarkable success in various industries. Musk set ambitious goals for himself, such as revolutionizing the electric car industry with Tesla and making space travel more accessible through SpaceX. Through unwavering determination, strategic planning, and relentless pursuit, Musk turned these goals into reality.

Another inspiring example is Oprah Winfrey, who rose from a troubled childhood to become one of the most influential media personalities in the world. Winfrey set goals to create her television network and use her platform to inspire and empower others. Through her perseverance, hard work, and strategic decision-making, she achieved these goals and became a symbol of success and resilience.

These real-life examples demonstrate that effective goal-setting requires clarity, determination, and a strategic approach. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, individuals can create a roadmap for success. Moreover, these examples highlight the importance of perseverance and adaptability in facing challenges and setbacks.

In conclusion, the journey from dreams to reality is not merely a matter of wishful thinking but a deliberate and strategic process. Individuals can transform their aspirations into tangible achievements by setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, visualizing success, creating action plans, overcoming obstacles, tracking progress, and staying motivated.

As the saying goes, 'Where there's a will, there's a way.' With determination and perseverance, anyone can turn their dreams into reality. So, let us embark on this transformative journey, armed with the power of goal setting, and make our dreams come true.

[apmicorg]

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[theluckygirlblog]

How to Push Through Challenges and Achieve Your Goals

Life is full of challenges, and the journey to achieving your goals is never a straight path. Whether you’re pursuing financial independence, building a business, or developing new skills, obstacles will arise. The key to success lies in how you navigate these challenges and stay committed to your vision. Here’s a step-by-step guide to pushing through difficulties and achieving your dreams. 1.…

[dragonsondragons]

Part 1 - That Look In Your Eye | You Should Probably Leave series

You make big, bad, Jack Abbot nervous in a way he really isn’t used to. He fumbles his first attempt to invite you to the party, so Dr. Ellis gives him a crash course in how to get the girl.

Word Count: 3.9k

Content: yearning!jack, medical social worker!reader, reader is Jack’s work crush, slow burn, Jack on his #healingjourney, awkward abbot, unspecified age gap, named reader because I dont like using y/n (named her Nel, short for Eleanor. And yes Nel will be friends with Mel)

Read the Prologue! / Masterlist / Taglist

Author's Note: Sorry this took me sooo long to get together! I have the next few parts mapped out well and and mostly written tbh but was struggling so hard with how to introduce their interaction and dynamic in this part. Also, I would highly highly recommend reading the prologue before this part. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

In the Pitt, Jack was seen as a very confident man. He knows exactly what he’s capable of and precisely how to execute it most efficiently. It's one thing unshaken in all his years practicing medicine. No matter how low he’s felt– in war zones, in the pitt– he always stays steady under fire. Words and procedures are tools. He uses them to achieve a goal: keep the patient alive. Be calm, cool, concise. 

It's something he learned in combat, that medics aren't just healers and fighters. They are a source of confidence for the whole platoon. They set the tone. A force multiplier. He was supposed to keep a level head and know what to do, no hesitating. If he stayed cool everyone else would follow suit. 

He had to to seem confident on the outside, but never let himself feel it too much on the inside. If you feel too confident, you start to forget that there is just one critical moment, one mistake, standing between your patient and death.

Jack couldn't help but feel that way now, like he was one mistake from ruining his chances with you. Deep breath. No ones going to die, he repeats in his head. It's one of the constant reminders he’s had to give himself when anxiety spikes. Another deep breath.

He was supposed to be a confident guy. Asking out the girl you liked shouldn’t be so hard. 

But there was a disconnect for him, between what was shown to the world– a self assured master of his craft– and what he felt on the inside. Analyzing every little mistake so that he can be better for next time. Never letting himself feel too secure, always striving for better. Battling between his desires and that loud voice inside, telling him to isolate. 

Because of that voice his social confidence was a lot more shakey than his work persona. For the most part he can fake it till he makes it or keep enough distance from people that it doesn't matter. But then there was you, slowly drawing him out of his shell. Bit by bit so that he barely saw it coming until it hit him like a truck. He should have seen it a long time ago. But he likes you and there's no denying it now. He's decided he's gonna try and do something about it, and that requires some guts and smooth talking he’s not sure if he's capable of.

He pulls into his parking space in the hospital garage, yearning for you hard. He worked himself up all the way here and now that it's at the forefront of his brain he can’t resist the urge to be near you. 

You’ve got the guts, he tells himself, willing it to be true. Just invite her to the party. Just be yourself? Is that who he wanted to show her? This fucked up guy who can barely work up the courage to ask her one simple phrase. There it goes again; his mind working against him.

He walked in through the ambulance bay, backpack slung over one shoulder. Immediately, he saw you. You were sitting at the hub checking the patient census that had just come into your inbox from the day shift and radiating something bright. Maybe it was just him who saw you as the sun.

Now or never. He walked towards the large central desk and slung his backpack under an inner counter. He leaned down on his elbows behind the computer you worked at, thrumming his fingers against the counter top. “Hey, You.” 

His familiar greeting made your stomach flip and you couldn't help but smile. It had been a few days since your shifts had aligned. “Good evening, Dr Abbot,” you hum to him, eyes tearing away from your screen to look up into his hazel eyes. 

Suddenly his pep talk to himself in the car flew out the window. With you sitting right before him, everything inside his mind was gone. You sure didn't mind gazing into Jack’s eyes, in fact you enjoyed it, but the silence was dragging on so you broke it. 

“Missed you at lunch yesterday. I had to eat with Shen and he would not shut up about a big high pressure weather system moving in or something.” There was a pressure system building in Jack's chest. He wanted to respond but was caught up inside his mind. Missed you at lunch, echoed in his mind. She missed me? More pressure flared. 

“Everything okay, Jack?” you asked, head tilting as you looked at him so caringly. 

“Huh?”

“Seems like you’re somewhere else right now. And that look in your eyes, there’s something you’re not telling me.” She could always read him like a book. 

He cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. Sorry. Got a lot on my mind right now.” He was going to continue to deflect, as usual. But she was already onto him. This was his chance. Might as well just come out with it. “Actually I uh was wondering of yo–” Your pager screamed out through the ED and you looked down at it on your waistband. He deflated. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, dayshift always has them on the highest volume.” You read the message coming in and started gathering stuff from the desk around you. “I have to get going to see this patient before discharge. What was it you were wondering though?”  

“Uh… I, um. I was just gonna ask if you, um. Brought your lunch today?”  Fuck. He lost all his steam when that pager went off.

“You know I always do.” You were standing up from the swivel chair now. “Same time as usual? Just page me if you're not gonna be able to make it?” He gives you one of his awkward thumbs up with both hands and says “See you up there,” as you turn to go see the patient. You smile back over your shoulder at him.

He leaned down and put his head between his hands on the counter top while chastising himself for his failed attempt at asking you out. 

He hadn’t registered Dr. Ellis off to the other side of the hub during this whole interaction, having been so focused on whatever it is between him and you that draws him in. A laugh burst out that snapped him out of his pity party. “What the hell was that, Abbot?” said Ellis, thoroughly amused at seeing a guy like Dr. Abbot who is so typically composure and competence fumble. “You can do a REBOA in your sleep but can’t flirt with a woman?”

He lifted his head slightly and glared. “Who said I was flirting?”

“Well, you certainly weren’t successfully flirting. But it would take a fool not to see that you like her.” He laid his head back down and groaned at that. Despite his current embarrassment, Jack liked working with Dr. Ellis more than most other people. He appreciated her no nonsense approach and deft skills. And the fact that she's not afraid of him. She will tell it to him like it is. He knew that interaction was bad, but if Ellis was confirming… then it was really terrible. 

“I don't know, I just… panicked.” How can he stay so calm when someone’s bleeding to death but couldn't do this one thing when faced with you. 

“Did you bring your lunch?!” she echoed him. “That was really what you came up with? What were you really trying to ask her?” He hesitated. But Ellis seemed to already know so much about this whole situation. Guess he wasn’t as close to the chest with his crush as he thought. Maybe he should let her give him some advice. 

“I’m having a party at my place soon, and I was trying to ask her to come,” he admitted.

Ellis raised one eyebrow. “You're having a party?” She never thought she would hear that come out of his mouth. 

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever, I'm having a party for everyone from work, you’re invited. That's not the point. Point is I had my chance and I chickened out.”

“Yeah, you did. You have absolutely no game, old timer.” 

“I have game, just… not in that particular instance. I'm out of practice,” he tries to defend himself.  

“Clearly. But I can help you with that.”

“She totally can,” Dr. Santos interjected. Santos had been trying out a rotation on the night shift and had just finished up with a patient in curtain 3 nearby. Always the eavesdropper, she tuned in to the conversation between Abbot and Ellis as she had approached the hub. “Dr. Ellis has got mad game, trust me.” Ellis rolls her eyes at the overzealous intern. “Wait–we’re talking about you getting nervous around Nel right?” 

“Wha-No. I don't get nervous around Nel.” Both women scoff at him. Jack’s eyes widen and turns to Ellis for a sidebar. “How do you both know about this? I don't want to make this a thing. If she's not into me I don't want her to be uncomfortable at work.” He can't be careless about this, needs to do it right. 

“Abbot, be so serious,” she deadpans. “She’s totally into you.”

“You don't know that,” Jack huffs. How do they know if you're into him? He barely let himself know he was into you until therapy earlier today. Santos and Ellis share a look. Santos butts in again, “Dude, it's so obvious. Her eyes literally twinkle when you're in the same room.”

“Don't dude me right now, Santos,” Jack snaps. Do they? Twinkle for him? He hopes so. But he doesn't want to get his hopes up. God, this whole thing is putting him so on edge. 

Ellis sees how uncomfortable Jack’s getting and jumps in. “The grownups are talking here, Dr. Santos. Guy over in North 12 needs his bowel dismipacted, go.” As she reluctantly leaves to go handle the literal shit that's been assigned to her, Ellis tunes back into the conversation with Jack.  

“She's right though, it's obvious you're both smitten. You’ve just gotta shoot your shot, man.” He takes a deep breath to steady himself at the thought. “What are you planning to say?” 

He hesitates. Drums his thumbs against the counter top again. “How about I'm having a party. You can come, if you want.”

“God, this is why I date women. You're useless.” 

“You said you would help!”

“Look–that's way too passive. Sounds like you don't care if she comes or not. Women like when you're sincere and confident. Usually that's your forte, but I guess not when you’re nervous about your crush. Try to tune in to that Abbot, ya know, direct and to the point.”

If I say what I actually mean, Jack thinks, it will be ‘I think you're smart and caring and beautiful, and I like spending time with you at work. And more than anything, I’d like to see you outside of this hell hole…preferably…all the time.’ He’s staring off into the abyss now.

“Oh my god, you're so in your head. Just be normal, be yourself! Say Hey, I'm having a party. I would really like it if you came.”  

“Got it, yeah. Be normal.” 

She huffs at his nervousness. “If you don't grow a spine and ask her out, I will,” Ellis jests, giving him a little incentive. 

“C'mon, give me a chance here.”

“She's hot, kind. Seems like a really great person. So you better snatch her up before someone else does.”

—

It was just before 1am when your stomach started to grumble, queuing you that it was almost your normal “lunch” time. You finished up your case note you were working on, grabbed your food from the breakroom fridge, and headed up to the roof. 

Lunch with Jack was always a highlight of your shift. No matter how shitty a patient had treated you or how many problems you had encountered that day, sitting with him for just a few minutes always made it feel like you were free of the hospital. Returning to your shift after those moments with him, the fluorescent lights turned softer and long hospital hallways less suffocating. 

It happened by accident really, the two of you becoming lunch buddies. You brought your lunch box up to the roof to get some air while you took a break. He was already up there, leaning up against the railing staring out at the city beyond the hospital. He wasn't expecting a visitor, didn’t encounter many others up there, but suddenly there was you. An angel of the night.  

When you pushed open the door of the stairwell to see him staring out at the skyline, you remember thinking that this man looked like a beacon high up above the rest of the city, standing steady and sending out a signal. Looking out over the whole city and asking who’s there? Free in the dark of night to admit that he was seeking connection. 

From the very first moment, you read him eerily well. And you approached. Because you were seeking the same thing. 

You struck up a conversation with him and offered him half of your sandwich. Kept doing so until he started bringing his own food too, usually whatever had the quickest doordash delivery time. He made you laugh with his dry and dark humor. Shared silence with you when you were both too tired to speak, or listened to you ramble about the book you were reading or some movie you had watched. Sometimes he had questions.  ____

“Have you ever heard of the Four Agreements?” he asked one night. You picked through some of the Chinese food he had ordered from the 24 hour place down the street, while he took a bite out of the apple you had packed. You chuckle a little at his question. 

“Why are you laughing at me?” he asks.

“Sorry– it's just. As someone who works in a mental health bubble, the Four Agreements is like… the bible of self help. And it's a little cliche.”

“You’re calling Linda cliche?”

“Who’s Linda?"

“My therapist. She recommended it."

“Look at you, doing therapy.”

He gave you a little shrug. “Thanks. So I shouldn’t read it? If it's cliche."

“No, no, It could still be useful. Give it a try.”  ____

He also surprised you with these bursts of intense vulnerability, sparsed out between his usually more gruff or sarcastic responses. 

Whenever he was about to reveal something to you, you could almost see it coming. He would always position himself next to you, leaning over on the railing and facing out over Pittsburg like he was that first night you found him up here. He wouldn’t look in your eyes like he usually did. Would just stand next to you there and focus on some point, far out on the horizon. He’d be quiet for a while, and you would just wait, just being there with him. 

____

“That guy we both saw today, the boarder in North 7?” 

“Yeah?” you encouraged him to continue. 

“I know him. Well not him, really, but his brother. We served together. He lost his brother the same day I lost my leg.” He pulled up the hem of his scrub pants a bit to reveal a glimpse of his prosthetic.

“Oh…Jack. I’m so sorry. That must bring up a lot of old memories.”

“It was a long time ago. Can’t change it now.” He wants to pull away from the exposure he felt at saying this to you. But you draw out something in him. Sharing with you is easier sometimes, and he doesn't know why. It's because he’s falling in love with you and hasn't let himself admit it yet.

“Doesn’t mean it can’t still hurt.” You’re always trying to encourage him to feel.

“Yeah... still hurts like hell. Hurts more because I hadn’t thought about Eddie in months, maybe years. I forgot about him.” 

You turn your head to face him, frowning. He maintains his gaze on some faraway spot. “You can’t blame yourself for that. If you remembered them all every second of every day you would drive yourself crazy.” 

He took a shaky breath in and just nodded. That was as much opening up he could take for the moment. “I gotta go back down there, check on the patients,” he says, letting the voice telling him to run win, for now.

You pause for a beat, trying to replicate his own incessant gaze that would always get you break and look up at him. The trick doesn’t work on its own master. He continues to put that distance between you and stares out at the city beyond the roof, then down at his feet. 

“Okay. But just be careful with yourself, Jack. And if you ever want to talk more, I’m here.” You jutted your hip out to bump his, trying to coax him out of his unease, show him that it was okay to open up to you. He stood fully up from the railing, giving you a double thumbs up. That was becoming his signature move with you when he didn't quite know what to say. He kept doing it because it always made you smile.  ____

Sometimes his appearances on the roof were just as scattered as his ability to show vulnerability. After times where he opened up you might not see him for days. He would go brood and throw himself into the work to get his mind off the memories, or off of you, when the way you were making him feel scared him a little too much. He would chastise himself for letting his feelings slip out like that. Would convince himself that you didn't want to hear anything about it, no matter how supportive and kind you were whenever he did share. 

Deep down he longed for connection, even though he actively pushed everyone away. 

Once you found him on that roof, finally someone was pushing back. You would come and find him if he didn't show up on the roof, or send him a message as you were heading up, pestering him to come join you if you could. 

And the way you responded to him showing how he felt, admitting what ate at him inside, it started to show him that it was okay to reveal himself. It didn’t make it any less uncomfortable, but still he kept coming back to have lunch with you. 

Tonight would be just like any of those other nights, he told himself as he hiked up the stairs to the roof entry. Just be normal. 

You were already up there waiting for him when he came through the stairwell door. The light midsummer night breeze blew your hair around your face and he sensed something heavy on your mind. Brooding on the roof was usually his forte.

As he approaches you barely register his presence. He places a hand on your shoulder, which makes you jump and turn to him. “You good?” he asks gently.

“Yeah–fine.” You shake your head and give him a little smile but he sees it's not the kind that you usually flash, the kind that's earnest. He doesn’t push.

“Well, if you weren’t good I would offer some crab rangoons as a pick me up.” He lifts his takeout bag up. “But if you’re fine then you don’t need em.” 

“Gimme that,” you snatch the bag from him and dig out the rangoons. 

“That’s what I thought.” the corner of his mouth twitches into an almost-there smirk. 

You two dig into the combo of takeout and packed food spread out before you. All of his nervousness from earlier in the day had dissipated. Up here, in the dark, just the two of you, he was calm. As calm as Jack Abbot could be these days. He lets himself think about being with you like this in the daytime. Somewhere else, like having a picnic in a park where you would admire the spring flowers and he would admire you with the same reverence. 

He had to ask his question, because failing would mean missing that chance. 

“You’re looking at me like that again.” you said.

“Like what?” he keeps his gaze locked on yours like if he blinked you would disappear. 

“I don’t know. I just recognize that look in your eye.” It's the look I get when I admire you, he thinks.

“I’ll tell you what I’m thinking if you go first.” You let out a huff of a breath. “Fine. I just… I guess I’m tired– getting really tired of all the roadblocks in my work. People always need more than I’m able to give them. Shelters are always full or the patient doesn’t meet some eligibility requirement and there’s nothing I can do to change that.”

“You’re doing everything you can with what you have, that’s more than most people. You rock it in there everyday,” Jack responds. 

“I know that, in theory. It’s just been harder and harder to believe it lately.”

“Well, I’ll keep reminding you.” 

“Okay, your turn.”

He scratched the back of his neck, then forced himself to look at you head on. “Uh, I’m going to have everyone from work over at my place for a barbeque. But I wanted to, uh, make sure that you would be there, with me. And…maybe it will help you decompress from work and everything.” It was as un-awkward as he could possibly make it. 

You found his subtle bashfulness cute. It was endearing to bring the steady Jack Abbot to jumbling his words. “I would love to come.” The biggest smile you've ever seen on him spreads across Jack’s face. 

“When’s the next Saturday you’re off?” he asks.

“Two weeks from now.”

“Then that's our party then.” 

You giggle. “Our party, huh?”

“Well you’re the guest of honor, I decided.” 

“Oh, how gracious of you.”

The banter slows, both of you feeling the tension of crossing a new line that you can't go back over. It's quiet for another beat, then Jack speaks again, quietly.

“Ellis is gonna be proud of me for this one.”

“What do you mean?”

“She told me I had no game, earlier at the beginning of shift. I meant to ask you then but got too nervous. So she gave me some pointers.”

That made you blush. You had liked Jack Abbot for a while, but did not want to risk your friendship on making the first move. You didn’t want him to think that your support of him was conditional on him reciprocating feelings. You could see him deeply struggling and cared about him, just wanting to be there for him. So even though you had butterflies tingling in your stomach more and more after each encounter, you tried to keep the relationship as professional as possible. After this– him asking you to come to his party like that, admitting it made him nervous to do so. It finally showed you that you could want more with Jack. That he wanted it too. 

It emboldened you, and you reached out to lace your fingers with his. “I like you the way you are Jack. It's okay to be nervous, but please just keep being you.” 

He squeezed your hand and nodded his head. “I think I can do that sweetheart.”

[lenny-link]

Fusions! :D ✨

< part one >

Description of the fusions:

Citrine is the perfect blend of calculated genius and unhinged ambition. With the cold precision of engineer and the fervor of medic, and his many mechanical arms that move with precise accuracy, he is as captivating as he is terrifying

charming yet unsettling, he likes pushing the boundaries of science and logic. Citrine speaks with a smooth, calculated confidence, always one step ahead, never not prepared

Weapon: The Shock Therapy (one of Medic’s melee weapons from TF2 classic) he can shoot little capsules to heal his teammates (just like Crusaders Crossbow/ Rescue Ranger) and give shocks to who ever he punches. whether he id building, healing, or “improving” those around him, one thing is certain: with Citrine in the lab, science is never boring

Sugilite, yes he is entirely inspired by the artist Prince, it started accidentally, whenever i work on his design it will always lean into Prince’s purple rain outfit, so i simply took it xD

he is the embodiment of chaos wrapped in velvet and mixed with stardust. He moves with the grace of a performer, every step a dance, every word is dripping with charm

He speaks in a voice as rich as a glass of wine, but his mind is full of mischief and unpredictable power. he’ll sweep you off your feet with a silver tongued compliment, only to forget about you the next second. He treats war more like an extravagant party where he is both the host and grand finale

Weapons: disco-ball bombs/ smoke bombs. he uses his bombs and when he wants to make a dramatic exit, he’ll toss one of his disco bombs at the ground and a burst of sparkling smoke fills the battlefield, letting him vanish in a cloud of colors and dust

Kunzite is silence, just like a ghost in the night, a presence felt but never seen. moving with grace, he is as precise as he is elusive, striking his blade only when the moment is right. his piercing purple eyes sees every weakness, every flaw, every opportunity, his long cape drifts behind him like smoke, his steps lighter than a whisper

Kunzite does not talk. he can, but prefers not to. A single look from him speaks more than an entire conversation, and his presence alone is enough to make even the most hardened gems uneasy. he is neither cruel nor kind, neither merciful nor sadistic, he is simply exists in the quiet. by the time you realize he’s there, it’s already too late

Weapon: darts + hidden blades. The darts he carries, are launched with the precise accuracy of a huntsman. And when the distance closes, the hidden blades beneath his wrists strike with the speed of an assassin, no hesitation, no excess force, just cold, calculated efficiency

Rainbow Quartz (kind of takes the place of Stevonnie) they are a ball of both energy and strategy, they lay between calculated precision and impulsive enthusiasm. They are loyal, affectionate and very clumsy. They often feel insecure and constantly have the need to prove themselves. but beneath their playful personality lies a sharp mind, constantly adjusting, and planning their next move, even if their feet sometimes move faster than their brain

They follows orders with lots of enthusiasm, sometimes a little too much, leading to moments of clumsiness. they’ll execute a plan flawlessly then right up trip over their own momentum, sending themselves (and sometimes their enemies) tumbling in a chaotic mess. but give them a goal, and they’ll chase it with relentless determination, never backing down until the job is done.

Weapon: the Flying Guillotine, its fast, unpredictable, and devastating in the right hands. just like them, it can be unpredictable, but when it hits, it hits hard

[robertreich]

Project 2025: The MAGA Plan to Take Your Freedom 

A second Trump term would be more dangerous than the first — in part because of something called Project 2025, a plan to extend Trump’s grip into every part of your life.

Trump’s gross incompetence in his first term wasn’t all bad. It kept some of his most extreme goals out of reach. That’s why his inner circle, including more than 20 officials from his first term, have written a step-by-step playbook to make a second term brutally efficient.

At nearly a thousand pages, it’s longer than most Stephen King novels, and a lot scarier. The Associated Press wasn’t kidding when they called it “a plan to dismantle the US government and replace it with Trump’s vision,”

Project 2025 is a road map to ban abortion, give greedy corporate oligarchs everything they want, and strip Americans of our most basic freedoms — all without needing any support from Congress.

There’s more to it than I can get into, but here are three things I want you to know.

#1 How would Project 2025 work?

Every nonpartisan government agency would be turned into an arm of the MAGA agenda.

Some of the worst things Trump reportedly tried to do as president — like having the military  shoot protesters or seize voting machines to overturn the election  — were only stopped because sensible leaders in the military or the professional civil service refused to go along with it.

In a second term, there would be no sensible leaders in the military or professional civil service because Trump would fire anyone more loyal to the Constitution than to him.

Trump started the process in October 2020 with an executive order that would have let him fire tens of thousands of civil servants and replace them with MAGA henchmen. I’m talking about traditionally non-political positions, like scientists at scientific agencies and accountants at the IRS.

Trump could not act on the executive order then because he lost the election. If he wins now, he’s pledged to pick up where he left off and go further…

TRUMP: …making every executive branch employee fireable by the President of the United States.

#2 Project 2025 is about controlling Americans’ lives & bodies

Restricting abortion is such a big part of Project 2025 that the word “abortion” appears 198 times in the plan.

Trump largely made good on his campaign promise to ban abortion.

Thanks to Trump’s Supreme Court justices, 1 in 3 American women of childbearing age live in states with abortion bans. Project 2025 would make that even worse, without needing new laws from Congress.

Page 458 of the playbook calls for a MAGA-controlled FDA to reject medical science and reverse approval of the medications used in 63% of all abortions, effectively banning them.

Page 455 plans “abortion surveillance” and the creation of a registry that could put people who cross state lines to get an abortion at risk of prosecution.

Another way around Congress is to enforce arcane laws that are still technically on the books. Page 562 plans for a MAGA-controlled Justice Department to enforce the Comstock Act of 1873, which bans the mailing of “anything designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion.” This could be used to block the shipment of any medications or medical instruments needed for abortions.

But Project 2025’s control of American families goes even further. It plans for government agencies to define life as beginning at conception — a position at odds with the process used for in vitro fertilization.

Page 451 declares that “Families comprised of a married mother, father, and their children are the foundation of a well-ordered nation and healthy society,” thereby stigmatizing single parents, same-sex couples, unmarried coparents, and childless couples.

Project 2025 even takes a stand against adoption, declaring on p. 489 that “all children have a right to be raised by the men and women who conceived them.”

#3 Project 2025 would turn America into a police state.

Maybe you live in a blue city or state, where you think plans like arresting teachers and librarians over banned books (which is on p. 5) could never happen. Well, guess again.

Trump has said one of the big things he’d do differently in a second term is override mayors and governors to take over local law enforcement.

Page 553 lays out how to do this, and even plans for Trump’s Justice Department to prosecute district attorneys he disagrees with.

Immigration enforcement is to be conducted like a war, with the military deployed within the U.S., and millions of undocumented immigrants rounded up and placed into newly constructed holding camps. This is outlined starting on p. 139.

Members of the Project 2025 team also reportedly told the Washington Post about plans to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military against anti-Trump protests.

There is much more to Project 2025. There are more than a hundred pages of anti-environmental policies that would help Trump make good on what he reportedly promised to do for oil executives if they contribute a billion dollars to his reelection. It would make drilling and mining a top national priority while killing clean energy projects, barring the EPA from regulating carbon emissions, and replacing all government climate scientists with climate deniers.

There are even cartoonishly cruel plans like slaughtering wild horses. Yes, that’s really in there on p. 528.

I thought I understood the stakes of this election, but reading this plan… Well, it gave me chills. If Trump gets the chance to put this plan into place, he will. The country it would turn America into would be hard for any of us to recognize.

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #28

July 19-26 2024

The EPA announced the award of $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. The grants support community-driven solutions to fight climate change, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The grants will go to 25 projects across 30 states, and one tribal community. When combined the projects will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of CO2, roughly the output of 5 million American homes over 25 years. Major projects include $396 million for Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection as it tries to curb greenhouse gas emissions from industrial production, and $500 million for transportation and freight decarbonization at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a plan to phase out the federal government's use of single use plastics. The plan calls for the federal government to stop using single use plastics in food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. The US government is the single largest employer in the country and the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services. Its move away from plastics will redefine the global market.

The White House hosted a summit on super pollutants with the goals of better measuring them and dramatically reducing them. Roughly half of today's climate change is caused by so called super pollutants, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Public-private partnerships between NOAA and United Airlines, The State Department and NASA, and the non-profit Carbon Mapper Coalition will all help collect important data on these pollutants. While private firms announced with the White House plans that by early next year will reduce overall U.S. industrial emissions of nitrous oxide by over 50% from 2020 numbers. The summit also highlighted the EPA's new rule to reduce methane from oil and gas by 80%.

The EPA announced $325 million in grants for climate justice. The Community Change Grants Program, powered by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act will ultimately bring $2 billion dollars to disadvantaged communities and help them combat climate change. Some of the projects funded in this first round of grant were: $20 million for Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association, which will help weatherize and energy efficiency upgrade homes for 35 tribes in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, $14 million to install onsite wastewater treatment systems throughout 17 Black Belt counties in Alabama, and $14 million to urban forestry, expanding tree canopy in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The Department of Interior approved 3 new solar projects on public land. The 3 projects, two in Nevada and one in Arizona, once finished could generate enough to power 2 million homes. This comes on top of DoI already having beaten its goal of 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects by the end of 2025, in April 2024. This is all part of President Biden’s goal of creating a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. 

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pledged $667 million to global Pandemic Fund. The fund set up in 2022 seeks to support Pandemic prevention, and readiness in low income nations who can't do it on their own. At the G20 meeting Yellen pushed other nations of the 20 largest economies to double their pledges to the $2 billion dollar fund. Yellen highlighted the importance of the fund by saying "President Biden and I believe that a fully-resourced Pandemic Fund will enable us to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics – protecting Americans and people around the world from the devastating human and economic costs of infectious disease threats,"

The Departments of the Interior and Commerce today announced a $240 million investment in tribal fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. This is in line with an Executive Order President Biden signed in 2023 during the White House Tribal Nations Summit to mpower Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. An initial $54 million for hatchery maintenance and modernization will be made available for 27 tribes in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The rest will be invested in longer term fishery projects in the coming years.

The IRS announced that thanks to funding from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, it'll be able to digitize much of its operations. This means tax payers will be able to retrieve all their tax related information from one source, including Wage & Income, Account, Record of Account, and Return transcripts, using on-line Individual Online Account.

The IRS also announced that New Jersey will be joining the direct file program in 2025. The direct file program ran as a pilot in 12 states in 2024, allowing tax-payers in those states to file simple tax returns using a free online filing tool directly with the IRS. In 2024 140,000 Americans were able to file this way, they collectively saved $5.6 million in tax preparation fees, claiming $90 million in returns. The average American spends $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes. More than a million people in New Jersey alone will qualify for direct file next year. Oregon opted to join last month. Republicans in Congress lead by Congressmen Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Chuck Edwards of North Carolina have put forward legislation to do away with direct file.

Bonus: American law enforcement arrested co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. El Mayo co-founded the cartel in the 1980s along side Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Since El Chapo's incarceration in the United States in 2019, El Mayo has been sole head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Authorities also arrested El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez. The Sinaloa Cartel has been a major player in the cross border drug trade, and has often used extreme violence to further their aims.

[transmorolians]

speedrunners and min-maxers are both two subspecies of gamer, bred for one purpose in mind: completing goals with maximum efficiency.

however, the speedrunner is often bred to achieve a single goal with the utmost efficiency possible, whilst the min-maxer is bred to achieve multiple goals with the utmost efficiency possible.

speedrunners often lack the patience or desire to achieve multiple goals at once despite otherwise being well-equipped to do so at a higher speed and efficiency than min-maxers. on the other hand, min-maxers have the patience to learn speedrunning techniques and strategies, but are not as fast or as efficient as speedrunners, and may lack the desire to practise or execute these strategies.

there are hybrid breeds of speedrunners and min-maxers; these hybrid breeds are known as 100% speedrunners. these gamers have the patience to learn speedrunning techniques and achieve multiple goals at once, at a speed and efficiency rivalling that of their parent breeds.

[ghostlyferrettarot]

🛸🖤Midheaven in the signs🖤🛸

❗️All the observations in this post are based on personal experience and research, it's completely fine if it doesn't resonate with everyone❗️

✨️Paid Services ✨️ (Natal charts and tarot readings) Open!

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🛸If you like my work you can support me through Ko-fi. Thank you!🛸

🖤Masterlist🖤

🛸Midheaven in Aries: Self-confidence and extroversion are their main tools; self-sufficient, they seek to prove themselves at all levels. Professional careers that involve movement, individual action and proving their leadership abilities are favorable to them.

🛸Midheaven in Taurus: Their perseverance and determination help them achieve their goals. They take into account their gifts, resources and abilities and how to exploit them. Professional careers that allow them to manifest beauty and practicality are favorable to them, such as agriculture, sculpture, architecture, agronomy, painting and finance.

🛸Midheaven in Gemini: Great communication skills. Flexible, analytical, receptive, agile, versatile, adaptable, with great observational capacity, they can carry out several tasks at once without problems. Professional careers linked to the processes of communication and contact with society are favorable to them, such as journalism, commerce, diplomacy and education.

🛸Midheaven in Cancer: Planners and protectors; Individualistic, sensitive, firm and intuitive. Another point to keep in mind is to practice fluidity in your daily life. Professional careers that help channel assistance to others are favorable for you, such as psychology, gynecology, cooking and psychotherapy.

🛸Midheaven in Leo: You pursue success relentlessly, and sometimes you do not allow yourself to enjoy it. You have clear objectives and the perseverance and tenacity necessary to achieve them. Noble, generous, motivating, trustworthy, with leadership skills; you must learn to control arrogance. Professional careers with great autonomy are favorable for you, such as political positions, business management and dramaturgy.

🛸Midheaven in Virgo: You maintain a constant and methodical effort to achieve your objectives; critical, detail-oriented, positive, organized, innovative and with a great willingness to learn. You must avoid neuroses and the accumulation of objects. Professional careers oriented towards collaboration and with an appreciation of details, such as mechanics, languages, nutrition and crafts, are favorable for you.

🛸Midheaven in Libra: They plan and execute their strategy calmly, taking care of the details and feasibility. They are sociable, adaptable and diplomatic, and they like harmony. Professional careers that offer variety and where they can comfortably develop their sense of justice and balance are favorable to them. A classic example is the study of law, diplomacy, public relations and the arts.

🛸Midheaven in Scorpio: They have a tendency to manipulate others to achieve their interests. Ambitious, determined, direct, brave, skillful and capable of facing difficult transformation processes. Professional careers that privilege research and strategy are favorable to them, such as psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, private investigator, chemist and anthropologist.

🛸Midheaven in Sagittarius: They are constantly moving. Intuitive, open, creative, with strong convictions and ideals. They are favourable to professional careers that work directly by appealing to the philosophy of life of individuals, such as religion, philosophy, or spiritual guidance. They also excel in astronomy, ecology and sports.

🛸Midheaven in Capricorn: Ambitious, practical, predictable and modest. Protective, efficient, serious, concentrated, focused, they can fall into nonconformity and obstinacy, in relation to the results they obtain. They are favourable to professional careers that require their knowledge of administration and organization, such as architecture, politics, administration of companies or public institutions, and geology.

🛸Midheaven in Aquarius: They wish to build a better world for everyone, but they feel the need to constantly test the scope of their knowledge. This position indicates a constant search for wisdom. Cooperators, avant-garde, they must cultivate the freedom of spirit to achieve the awakening of consciousness they long for. They are favourable to professional careers that promote the use of technologies and the mass dissemination of ideas, such as journalist, writer, community manager, publicist and others.

🛸Midheaven in Pisces: Patient, sensitive, simple and compassionate, they seek to understand the meaning of life, so they have philosophical and religious concerns, as well as a deep desire to live with simplicity. They must learn that spirituality is not a concept at odds with success. Professional careers related to the management and expression of feelings, such as the arts, psychology, research and public relations, are favorable to them.

[astrologydray]

Pallas through the degrees

Each degree gives Pallas a specific tone—some degrees make you a warrior strategist, others a silent psychic, a healer, or a visionary. These tell us how your brain sees the world’s patterns… and how you’re built to solve what others can’t.

0° – Bold and raw strategist; you jump into problems instinctively.

You trust your first hit of intuition and usually nail it before others finish processing.

1° – Strong-willed and fiercely independent in thought.

You’re devoted to your own logic and don’t wait for validation.

2° – Steady, grounded thinker; your intelligence moves slow but deep.

You don’t miss anything—especially when money, loyalty, or long-term value is involved.

3° – Mentally flexible and witty; you process everything through language and vibes.

You’re sharp in conversations and catch subtle patterns quickly.

4° – Deeply intuitive; your intelligence is emotionally rooted.

You read people’s moods and hidden needs without them ever saying a word.

5° – Creative problem solver with childlike spark.

Your strategy often involves humor, art, or playful genius.

6° – Precision thinker; you can spot the flaw in a system instantly.

You’re wired for service, health, and smart solutions that actually work.

7° – Balanced, aesthetic thinker; you see symmetry and fairness in everything.

You solve relational issues with clarity and grace.

8° – Intense psychological strategist.

You’re gifted at seeing what’s not being said—and using that to shift the whole dynamic.

9° – Expansive thinker; your wisdom is philosophical or global.

You’re great at connecting patterns across time, cultures, and beliefs.

10° – Structured, executive strategist.

You organize thoughts into blueprints for success—you’re made for leadership.

11° – Abstract thinker with a gift for innovation.

You’re a mental rebel, always scanning for a smarter, freer way forward.

12° – Quiet mystic; you receive patterns through feeling, not logic.

You download wisdom from the subtle or spiritual realm.

13° – Laser-focused and unshakable.

You’re not afraid of chaos—you can find the center and take control.

14° – Clever, adaptable, and always three steps ahead.

You’re a mental shapeshifter who solves problems with a joke or a twist.

15° – Charismatic and radiant thinker.

You shine when you’re expressing your vision creatively or publicly.

16° – Skillful, steady, and rooted in logic.

You’re great at mastering the basics and building smart, sustainable results.

17° – Diplomatic mind; you can charm and out-think at the same time.

You keep things fair but always strategic.

18° – Powerful, intuitive, and emotionally complex.

You work behind the scenes and can dismantle a problem from the inside out.

19° – Bold belief-based thinker.

You fight with facts and fire—and your opinions usually stick.

20° – Wise beyond your years with a CEO brain.

You apply ancient logic to modern goals, and people trust your judgment.

21° – Inventive thinker with a rebellious edge.

You challenge every norm and usually win.

22° – Quiet and fated intelligence.

Your wisdom feels karmic—almost like you’ve been solving the same soul puzzle for lifetimes.

23° – Imaginative strategist with a dreamy edge.

You solve problems through visuals, feelings, or fantasy worlds that make more sense than reality.

24° – Functional brilliance; you create efficiency like it’s art.

Your logic is beautiful, earthy, and helpful.

25° – Dramatic, compelling thinker.

You perform your intelligence and captivate people in the process.

26° – Deep strategist with a love of hidden systems.

You see patterns in power, pain, and transformation—and know how to work with all three.

27° – Visionary problem solver; you teach others how to think bigger.

Your wisdom is bold, clear, and influential.

28° – Structured and legacy-driven wisdom.

You’re here to make real moves with your mind and leave a mark through strategy.

29° – Karmic closure; you’ve been carrying this sacred intelligence across lifetimes.

Your pattern recognition is profound, and your solutions often feel final, fated, or deeply healing.

[loveemagicpeace]

🎸Mars Energy🎸

⚡️Mars is a powerful figure in mythology. Mars on me represents the principle factor, the energy we need to make us encourages to action. It gets us out of bed every morning and helps us achieve our goals throughout the day. It is also our representation of masculinity, as Venus is our representation of femininity. Both men and women need a well-functioning Mars to feel that we are powerful and that we have life in our hands. Mars needs challenges, and not just in battle or dispute, but also in physical activities, such as competitive games and sports or any field, at with which we can flex our muscles and compete with others to win. Like Venus, Mars is also associated with the sexual attraction and sexual relations, and both planets they reveal us approach to sexuality and courtship. In this, Mars especially delights in pursuit and conquest.

⚡️Unlike Venus, it is not relationship-oriented and can lose interest as soon as it conquers an object/person. Unless he runs into competitors then he starts fighting. The energy of Mars indicates how we behave and react. How we compete, how we win someone over and what our charm is. Mars shows how we keep our vibrancy and energy alive. The position of Mars in the chart shows our way of pursuing (the object & person we want). Mars is an indicator of what kind of men, and Venus, what kind of women we get involved with. Although many times relationships are influenced by both.

Mars is known for its lust for dominance, but it can be overbearing and tempting to impose one's will on others. Mars represents our primal passions, inclusive with anger. But Mars can also get you in trouble sometimes. It is important to release our anger. This is very important for our health, because we can get seriously ill if we suppress these energies. Suppressing anger is a matter of course associated with health problems such as stress and depression. The ability to exercise our will and achieve what we want is a talent in itself that we have to learn. After a period of learning from mistakes we start in our thirties and forties after we tend to use Mars more skillfully to our advantage.

🎡Aries Mars is particularly monotonous, spontaneous and quick to act according to his will. It can also catch fire spontaneously,and explosive moments are followed by calm ones, because anger usually does not last long. You have a fiery and strong approach to your desires. Usually when you want something you want to get it by any means. When it comes to competition, you are very competitive and forget about others. You put more emphasis on physical pleasure.

🦋Scorpio Mars has a strong will, but he has more control over the planning and execution of his actions, so he is more precise and efficient. Mars in Scorpio is usually expressed with the words and emotions, and less with fighting. Sexual expression is important for both signs, but Mars in Scorpio loves more emotionally. When it comes to love, he becomes very self-sacrificing. He will do anything for the person he loves. But when he is deceived, he can become your worst enemy. He is intense, passionate, combative and persistent, but his energy only shows when he really feels someone.

🧁Mars in mutable watery Pisces will be rather gentle and passive and will find it difficult to express itself decisively. He may hold back his anger so as not to upset others, and he may act less directly, he may even act like a victim to make others feel guilty and let us get our way. But many times you can make emotional sacrifices for other people or give them too much and then you are disappointed. Mars in Pisces is at its best when alone. You can isolate yourself a lot from other people.

🥨Mars in an earth sign, such as fixed Taurus, can be very calm and slow to respond, but with slow and patient steps he advances towards what he wants. Like a bull, it can be charged with enormous energy and charge at an attacker when angered or threatened. Mars in Taurus can also be very passionate and lustful, which makes him an emperor an exquisite and extremely patient lover.

✨Capricorn mars tends to be very competitive when it comes to business, success, money, reputation. You will want to achieve the biggest and be the best. When it comes to love, they can be quite cold sometimes. Many times they can put the business before the person. Their anger is usually not expressed, many times they keep it inside. Their nature is not so much focused on several things but on only one. It's the same in love - you like to invest in someone who seems stable and worth your time. They are not people who like to go on dates.

☁️Cancer Mars they have a very emotional response to things around them. You can hurt them quickly. They like to invest their time in their family, people close to them. They don't like average relationships. Many times their energy is emotional. Their anger is responsive in many ways but can also change quickly. They are a sign that can quickly forgive (even if it doesn't seem like it at first). They love stalking people. And when they want something, they will go anywhere to get it. They can do some pretty crazy stuff.

🥤Virgo Mars show practicality, decision-making and thinking. They know how to work hard for what they want if their desire is very strong. They put a lot of emphasis on hygiene, health, routine and lifestyle. They tend to dislike people who smoke or have strange habits. Many times they notice little things in people. They devote a lot of energy to staying in good health, but that's precisely why they can get sick. Because they can deal with it too much.

🥊Sagittarius Mars their energy is manifested through the will to live. They are the people who will always make you smile and make you feel that there is only one life and you can make the most of it. Spontaneous people and many times make an impulsive decision, which many times turns out to be good. They laugh a lot and are optimistic. They give a lot of energy to travel, spirituality, playfulness, learning, new things. Their approach is often optimistic, although they can have a lot of anger behind it. However, since this is a fiery sign, they can be impulsive, react violently, directly, rudely. They are tough opponents and when they set a goal they will achieve it. They can be very competitive when it comes to something they are passionate about. Or when it comes to a person who means a lot to them. They are not afraid to confront people and will always want quick actions and reactions. They almost never get sick, but that's because they are optimists.

🪂Leo Mars their energy is manifested through a passion for playfulness, childhood, fun. They put a lot of effort into having fun and enjoying the things they love. They have many hobbies. They can be possessive and jealous, but they won't show it right away. A lot depends on the energy they want to feel with the person. When they notice that the person they want has fans, they will become even more competitive. They will be most competitive in sports or love. Many times they will want to conquer you with their dominance. They are not afraid of challenges and will step into them without fear if they are mature enough. They are fighting and persistent in themselves. Actions count for them.

🎢Gemini Mars their energy is very mutable. They are all over the place most of their time. And they need a lot of change but they are most good with words than actions. They will talk much more than actually do. They can be very unstable and change their mind many times. They will often compete when it comes to verbal duels. Even at school, they know how to compete. Their health fluctuates because they can become quite anxious at times or think too much about things they cannot change. They can seduce you with mind games.

🫧Libra Mars their energy usually shows through the relationships but can be different kind of relationship it doesn't meant to be like romantic relationship. It can be friendships. If they are not in a relationship, they can give a lot of their energy to their friends. Their anger is usually passive aggressive. They often avoid conflicts because they like peace. Their passive aggressive behavior can lead to them getting sick (because they keep too much anger inside). It is good for them to express their feelings and anger as much as possible.

⛸️Aquarius Mars their energy is focused on humanitarian matters (they like to help others), dreams, goals, social networks. They like to do the things they like. They also like to be alone. They have rebellious kind of anger so they will fight for the rights or people they love or things that are connected to them. But they are not people who fight about I don't know some random stuff. They have the unique way how to seduce people and it's always different. They can also seduce you with their uniqueness or something about that is so different and this is why people are attracted to them somehow. They can work a lot on staying in shape and following themselves. Because they can get sick unexpectedly. Many times the diseases are very strange.

🎸For personal readings u can sign up here: https://snipfeed.co/bekylibra 🎸

-Rebekah🍸🎸🧁

[glowupwithamy]

Finish what you started and transform your productivity

Recently i picked up a book i hadn't read in a long time for the past week i hadn't been able to work properly my tasks were going unfinished so i opened my cupboard and saw that book right in front of me. Then i read the whole book in just a one night and it sparked inspiration in me ..So i thought why not share everything i learned with all of you?

So I'm giving you guys a structured summary of Finish The Art of Following Through - Taking Action, Executing & Self Discipline by Peter Hollins -

1. The Importance of Execution

The ability to follow through allows you to create the life you desire rather than settling for the one you currently have. The process consists of focus, self-discipline, action, and persistence

2. Barriers to Follow Through

- Inhibiting Tactics: These include setting bad goals, procrastination, succumbing to distractions, and poor time management.

- Psychological Roadblocks: These encompass laziness, fear of judgment or failure, perfectionism driven by insecurity, and lack of self-awareness.

3. Staying Motivated

To remain motivated holds both external and internal motivators -

- External Motivators: These involve utilizing other people or resources to encourage action, such as accountability partners upfront investments and self bribery

- Internal Motivators: These focus on understanding personal benefits and improvements. Ask yourself questions such as How will this benefit me? and How will my life improve?

4. Developing a Manifesto

A manifesto is a set of daily rules that guide your actions so her are the some key rules -

- Rule 1: Identify if you’re acting out of laziness and avoid it.

- Rule 2: Limit yourself to three major tasks per day.

- Rule 3: Establish daily limitations and requirements

- Rule 4: Reaffirm your intentions through statements like I want I , will and I won't

- Rule 5: Reflect on the future consequences of not following through

- Rule 6: Utilize the concept of "just 10 minutes" to push through discomfort.

5. Follow Through Mindsets

- Mindset 1: Recognize the worthiness of your efforts.

⭐ Mindset 2: Become comfortable with discomfort.

- Mindset 3: Understand that learning comes from completing tasks.

- Mindset 4: Manage stress and anxiety effectively

6. Overcoming Procrastination

Procrastination can be managed through strategies such as:

- Temptation Bundling: Combine unpleasant tasks with enjoyable activities.

- Creating Momentum: Make starting tasks as easy as possible to gain momentum.

- Leveraging Fear: Use productive paranoia to spur action but cautiously

7. Minimizing Distractions

Create a work environment free from distractions and focus on

⭐ Single Tasking: Avoid multitasking to eliminate attention residue ( I will also create a separate blog on this topic i used to face this problem earlier and i have used many methods to reduce my habit of multitasking so i will write a blog about it. Don't worry )

- Batching Tasks: Group similar tasks to improve efficiency.

- Creating a Don't-Do List : Identify tasks to ignore and avoid ( This method is literally too much helpful )

8. The 40–70 Rule

This rule suggests acting when you have 70% of the necessary information as waiting for 100% is unrealistic

9. The Importance of Rest

Recognize the value of rest and relaxation as essential for mental recovery

10. Common Pitfalls

- False Hope Syndrome: Avoid unrealistic expectations and set achievable goals.

- Overthinking: Avoid excessive rumination and focus on taking action.

- Worrying: Concentrate on the present and control what you can.

11. Developing Daily Systems

Establish daily behaviors that promote consistency and long term success

⭐ Keep a Scoreboard: Track progress for motivation ( Ive been using this method for the past four days it literally shows me where I am making mistakes and what I need to do to complete my unfinished tasks )

By following these structured advice you can improve your ability to finish what you start and achieve your goals

If you have any questions or tips to share feel free to drop them in the comments in here to chat , Stay connected for more tips and insights thanks :)

[saywhat-politics]

Donald Trump ran his presidential campaign promising to abolish entire federal agencies and departments, but it’s not quite so easy for a president to simply end an organization that was created and funded each year by Congress, which is supposed to be the president’s equal.

So the president and his allies, led by Elon Musk, have found a different way to achieve many of the same goals: Put agencies long targeted by Republicans into a coma by sidelining their workforce, halting their operations and launching a review of their activity. Then, maybe, ask Congress to kill them outright.

The list of government agencies on life support or targeted for direct attack after two weeks of Trump 2.0 looks something like this:

► The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

CFPB was set up by Congress after the Great Recession to protect consumers from financial abuses, and the agency has long drawn the ire of Republicans. All of its work has been halted and the director, Rohit Chopra, was fired this past weekend, before the end of his five-year term.

The acting head of the agency, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, ordered a review of agency policy to guarantee “consistency” with the new administration.

► US Agency for International Development

Set up by John F. Kennedy and Congress to help the developing world and defend US interests in 1961, USAID employees in 2025 have been locked out of headquarters and the website has been shut down. Agency staff around the world will be placed on administrative leave Friday and ordered to return to the US, according to a directive issued Tuesday night.

A freeze on most foreign aid while Trump’s administration reviews the agency has caused a worldwide ripple effect among non-profits and aid organizations and sparked fear the US is completely retreating from its leadership position in international development. Musk called the agency “evil” and Trump said it’s run by the “radical left.”

The acting head of USAID, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, told lawmakers in a letter that he would “begin the process of engaging in a review and potential reorganization of USAID’s activities to maximize efficiency and align operations with the national interest.”

Musk used more colorful language in a post on social media that he spent the weekend “feeding USAID into the woodchipper,” an apparent reference to the freezing of foreign aid.

► The Department of Education

In existence since the 1800s, but elevated by Congress as its own agency in 1979, the Department of Education is Trump’s next target. CNN reported that an executive order is being drafted ordering the incoming secretary, Linda McMahon, who has yet to get a Senate confirmation vote, to begin to “diminish” the department through executive action.

“I told Linda, ‘Linda, I hope you do a great job in putting yourself out of a job.’ I want her to put herself out of a job – Education Department,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

A narrowly divided Congress likely won’t consent to abolishing the department. But McMahon, who led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term and made her wealth as founder of WWE, may well succeed in severely “diminishing” its functions — and her own job.

[msriri030]

Simon "Ghost" Riley x female reader

Disclaimer: I Cooked jk, Monsterau!

Masterlist

Simon leaned back against the wall of the training grounds, arms crossed, his crimson eyes following your every move. You had slipped outside again, lunch tray in hand, heading toward the quiet corner of the yard where the shade of the large oak tree offered refuge from prying eyes. It had become your routine, one Simon had watched unfold since you arrived as the newest sniper recruit form the Monster and Human Relationship Program.

You were a model soldier in many ways—your skill was unmatched, your discipline unwavering. The monsters and humans on the team respected you for that. But Simon knew there was more to a person than their competence. And that’s where the mystery lay. Because while the others gravitated toward camaraderie, drawn together by the shared goal of the program, you stayed apart, a lone figure avoiding both humans and monsters alike.

It wasn’t just your choice of solitude during meals that intrigued him. It was everything about you.  

Each morning, you were up before anyone else, slipping into the training yard before the first rays of sunlight painted the horizon. Your movements were efficient but quiet, as though you didn’t want to disturb the sleeping base. Simon would often catch a glimpse of you through the barracks window during his own pre-dawn routine. Then, as the day unfolded, you executed your tasks with the same precise detachment, speaking only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary physical touch, and blending into the background despite your undeniable skill.  

And at night, when most recruits gathered in the lounge or made use of the limited amenities offered on base, you disappeared again, retreating to your quarters—the farthest room at the edge of the base. It was the kind of place someone chose when they didn’t want to be found, didn’t want to be noticed. Like a shadow deliberately cast to avoid the light.

Simon tilted his head slightly, his curiosity deepening. Was it fear that drove you to isolation? Distrust? Or was it something else entirely? He wasn’t one to pry into people’s lives, but something about you gnawed at his instincts, the predator within him sensing there was more beneath your composed surface.

He turned away from the window, muttering to himself, “Just what are you hiding, sniper?” 

Tomorrow, perhaps, he’d find a reason to strike up a conversation. Or maybe he’d follow you on one of those early mornings, see what secrets you carried when you thought no one was watching. Simon smiled faintly to himself, a mixture of amusement and intrigue flashing in his crimson eyes.  

One way or another, he intended to find out.

Next day, he lost in thought on the way to interact with you, causing the Scottish man, Johnny a.k. Soap, to look at him questioning. Soap asked, “ Ghost? Come in, Ghost? Do you copy? Does anybody copy?” 

When Ghost didn’t respond, Price, their captain, said, elbowing lightly, “Lieutenant? Is something wrong?” 

Even though he didn’t show it, Ghost was slightly embarrassed from being caught. Ghost decided to see if he can gain any information from you. Ghost reposend, “Nothing Captain, however I was wondering about the new sniper-.” 

Ghost’s dark eyes flicked over the group, his posture remaining stoic despite the mild heat crawling up his neck. He wasn’t one to let emotions slip, but the collective smirks from Soap, Gaz, and Price were enough to stoke his irritation. He shifted his weight, crossing his arms over his chest in that signature closed-off stance.  

“It’s nothing like that,” he muttered again, his voice gruff.  

Soap, sitting across the room cleaning his rifle, snorted. “Aye, nothing like that, but here ye are, askin’ about her during downtime. Curious timing, eh?” He grinned, his tone laced with mischief. “You’ve been watchin’ her, haven’t ye? Come on, admit it, Ghost. You’re interested.”  

Ghost shot him with a withering glare but didn’t bother responding to the jab.  

Gaz, lounging nearby, couldn’t resist joining in. “He’s right, mate. You don’t just bring someone up randomly unless they’ve caught your attention. What’s so special about her? She beat your record at the range or something?”  

Ghost sighed, the familiar weight of their teasing settling on his shoulders. He knew they wouldn’t let it go until he gave them an answer. Might as well give them just enough to get them off his back.  

“She’s a good soldier,” Ghost began, his tone measured, “disciplined, skilled, quiet—everything you’d want in a sniper. But...” He paused, searching for the right words. “There’s something... off about her.”  

The room grew still, the teasing air replaced by a quiet tension. Even Soap, usually the first to throw in another quip, remained silent as Price spoke.  

“Ghost, I understand your curiosity about the new sniper,” Price began, his voice low and steady. “Her quiet demeanor stands out, sure. But there’s more to it.”  

Ghost leaned forward slightly, his gaze locked on Price as he continued.  

“She’s a monster,” Price said bluntly, though his tone carried no malice. “I don’t know what kind, exactly. The higher-ups, of the program, didn’t give me much to work with. All they told me is that she’s one of a kind—a species we’ve never worked with before.”  

Price paused, running a hand down his face as if choosing his words carefully. “There are rules about her, Ghost. Strict ones. She’s to avoid unnecessary contact—physical or otherwise—and wear that specialized uniform at all times. Covers her whole body, even her eyes. It’s not just for her safety; it’s for everyone else’s too.”  

He sighed, his tone softening as he met Ghost’s gaze. “Whatever her reasons for keeping to herself, they’re not just personal. There’s more to this than you know. So... go easy on her, yeah?”  

The weight of Price’s words hung heavy in the air. Ghost remained silent, his mind racing. He hadn’t expected that. A monster? Sure, they worked alongside plenty of non-humans, but this... this was different. It explained her isolation, her avoidance of interaction.  

For the first time, Ghost felt a twinge of guilt for his curiosity. He wasn’t one to pry into others’ lives—especially not in a way that might make them feel vulnerable. But now, his interest felt less like simple observation and more like he’d been intruding on something deeply personal.  

Soap broke the silence, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. “Damn... no wonder she acts like a stray cat.”  

Gaz nodded slowly, his earlier grin replaced by a thoughtful frown. “Guess she’s not just keeping her distance because she wants to.”  

Ghost sat back, arms crossed, processing what he’d just learned. A monster... one of a kind... He didn’t know what that meant for her, but he could only imagine the weight she carried.  

“Understood,” Ghost finally said, his voice low but resolute. “I’ll leave her be.”  

Price nodded, satisfied with the response. “Good. Just let her do her job, Ghost. That’s all we need from her.”  

But as the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, Ghost couldn’t shake the lingering questions in his mind. What kind of monster was she? And what kind of life had she led to end up here—isolated, hidden away in a base full of humans and monsters alike, yet tethered to rules that set her apart from everyone else?

Ghost stepped outside the base for a smoke, the crisp night air wrapping around him like a cold blanket. As he flicked the lighter in his gloved hand, his eyes naturally drifted to the familiar figure sitting under the old oak tree in the distance.

It wasn’t the first time he’d seen you there. Almost every night, you sat in the same spot, staring up at the endless expanse of the night sky. Ghost had made a habit of watching you from afar while lighting his last cigarette of the day.

But tonight, something was different.

A soft sound broke the stillness—a sneeze.

Ghost paused, his lighter hovering just above the tip of his cigarette. His promise to Price echoed in the back of his mind, urging him to leave you be. But the sight of you sitting there, blowing on your hands in an effort to keep warm, stirred something in him.

Before he could think better of it, he shrugged off his heavy jacket and made his way toward you, his boots crunching softly against the frosted grass.

You didn’t notice his approach until the jacket landed gently over your head, startling you. Pulling it off, you looked up, wide-eyed, and for the briefest moment, Ghost found himself captivated.

Your eyes, illuminated by the soft glow of the moon, held a beauty that rivaled the night sky you so often gazed at.

The moment broke as you quickly turned your head away, fumbling to put on your glassware, a barrier between you and the world.

Ghost lit his cigarette, taking a slow drag as he stood a few feet away, the smoke curling upward like restless shadows. “Shouldn’t you have brought a jacket if you were planning to sit out here?”

Your voice was quiet, almost shy. “I did…” You glanced down at your hands before adding, “Well, someone seems to have taken it by accident.”

Ghost raised a brow, the corner of his lips twitching under his mask. “Is that so?”

You gave a small nod, pulling his jacket tighter around you. “It’s okay, though. I guess...”

“You guess?” Ghost exhaled a cloud of smoke, his tone laced with curiosity. “What kind of monster are you, walking out here in the cold like this?”

You paused, the corners of your lips curving upward into a soft, unexpected smile. Then, with a quiet giggle, you replied, “The succubus kind.”

The humor in your voice caught him off guard, and for a split second, Ghost found himself chuckling—soft and low, barely audible, but genuine.

“Is that right?” he said, leaning back slightly, watching you from the corner of his eye.

You didn’t reply, your gaze drifting back to the stars. The silence between you wasn’t uncomfortable; it was calm, like the night itself. Ghost didn’t push for more, letting the soft rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the base fill the air.

For now, the questions that had been lingering in his mind could wait. In this moment, the quiet, unexpected connection felt like the beginning.

Slowly but surely, Ghost and you began to grow closer. The oak tree became your silent meeting place, a refuge under the endless expanse of the starry night sky. Conversations flowed naturally, though always from a careful distance. You never touched, and neither of you lingered on the other's gaze for too long. Still, the bond between you felt stronger than anything Ghost had experienced with most people on the base.

It wasn’t something he’d planned—or even wanted at first. Yet, he couldn’t deny the pull toward you. You were different. Quiet but sharp. Reserved yet sincere. And as the nights passed, he found himself looking forward to the moments spent with you under the oak tree.

Of course, Ghost wasn’t the only one who noticed. Soap and Gaz, ever the mischief-makers, seized every opportunity to tease him about his "new habit." Their remarks were relentless, poking fun at the idea of Ghost, the stoic, cold-blooded Lieutenant, sneaking off for nightly chats with the sniper who avoided everyone else.

"Oi, Simon," Soap smirked one evening in the mess hall. "When’s the wedding? Should we start plannin’ now or wait ‘til you finally confess under that tree?”

Ghost shot him a glare that could freeze hell, but it only made Gaz chuckle. "It’s the quiet ones you’ve got to watch out for, mate,” he said. “Next thing we know, she’ll have you writing poetry."

The teasing was relentless until Price intervened one day. With a sharp tone and a look that could silence a storm, he simply said, “That’s enough.”

Soap and Gaz immediately backed off, though Ghost could still feel their amused glances whenever your name came up.

But even with the jokes and teasing behind him, Ghost couldn’t shake the growing turmoil in his chest.

There was a problem.

You were a succubus—a being created to arouse and seduce humans. It was your nature, your very essence, to draw people in, to stir desires they couldn’t control. And while you never used your abilities on him—not once—Ghost couldn’t ignore the thoughts creeping into his mind.

What was this feeling? This pull toward you? Was it real? Or was he just another victim of what you were?

The worst part was that you never gave him a reason to doubt your intentions. You were respectful of his boundaries, cautious in your words, and never tried to manipulate him like the stories claimed succubi were prone to do.

And yet, the questions haunted him.

Was this bond between you genuine? Or was it just the natural effect of who—what—you were? 

Ghost wasn’t sure if he wanted to find out. 

As another night fell, Ghost found himself drawn to the oak tree once more. The familiar path felt heavier tonight, weighed down by the decision he’d made. When you came into view, sitting under the tree with that quiet, happy smile, the weight of his unanswered questions pressed harder on his chest. He wanted—no, needed—to know the truth about you. But the fear of what it might cost gripped him. What if it shattered everything? What if he lost you entirely?  

The thought made his steps falter, but he kept walking. He cherished these nights with you, the way you spoke about your past life and your dreams for the future. It gave him a glimpse of something softer, something kinder than the world he’d known. And more than that, you’d given him understanding.  

You had listened when he’d been at his most vulnerable, when the mask he wore—both literal and figurative—had slipped enough for him to confess his deepest fear: that he might one day become a monster, just like his father.  

But instead of pity or judgment, you had reassured him, your words calm and sincere. That moment stayed with him, replaying in his mind during the quiet hours when the weight of the world felt heaviest. For that, he was more thankful than he could ever express.  

Yet now, after making the decision to confess what had been building inside him, he wanted nothing more than to turn back, to forget it entirely. But he didn’t.  

He stopped next to you, his shadow falling over you as you looked up.  

"Ghost, what’s the matter?" you asked, your voice soft, concern lacing your words. Through your eyewear, your worry was clear.  

Ghost sighed, exhaling a puff of smoke before pulling the cigarette from his mouth. His voice was low, steady, but there was an uncharacteristic tension in it.  

“I... I want to ask—just hear me out. It’s about our relationship.”  

Your eyes narrowed slightly, watching him with careful curiosity. “What are you talking about?” you asked, but as you studied his demeanor, the realization hit you.  

“You caught feelings, didn’t you?” you said, the words almost a whisper. But before he could respond, you shook your head, standing abruptly. “They’re not real. They can’t be real.”  

“Don’t tell me what they are,” Simon interjected, his voice firm, his eyes locking onto yours. “That’s my decision to make.”  

You hesitated, shaking your head again, backing a step away. “But I’m a succubus,” you said, your voice breaking slightly. “It can’t be real.” Turning, you made to walk away, convinced that leaving was the best choice—for both of you.  

However before you could take another step, Simon reached out and grabbed your arm, his grip was firm but not forceful, grounding you in place.  

“Just listen to me,” he said, his voice quieter now, steady but edged with an almost desperate calm.

You froze, standing still as his words hung in the air. Tears welled up in your eyes, betraying the conflict within you. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him, your gaze fixed on the ground as the first tear slipped down your cheek. Deep down, despite your protests and doubts, you hoped his feelings were real. You had wanted this—feared it—but wanted it all the same.

So you stayed, standing there in silence, listening as Ghost began to speak.

“I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a bloody fool,” he admitted, running a gloved hand over the back of his neck. “But the truth is… I was suspended by you. I couldn’t grasp how you isolate yourself from everyone. I watched, believing you were hiding something… but it wasn’t that.” His cheeks flushed beneath the mask, and for a moment, he looked almost embarrassed. “It’s not just that you caught my interest. It’s that you made me envious. Envious of how you carry others’ burdens without a word, how you take on the weight of the world and just keep moving. And… how you can slip into a room without making a sound, blending into the shadows, but in the quietest moments, you make everything else feel… less. You make the stars themselves dull in comparison to you.”

He paused, his breath catching slightly as he fought to keep his composure. His hands clenched at his sides, the usual stoic exterior wavering for the first time. His voice softened but grew firmer, as if he was speaking from some deep, vulnerable place that he’d never let anyone see before.

“Now I understand—living in this, being who you are, wasn’t easy for you. And I know I’ve never felt anything like this before. Not for anyone. But I know my feelings are real.” He took a slow step forward, gently pulling you closer, his fingers grazing your cheek before his thumb gently swept across your skin. Your breath hitched, and you met his gaze—those dark, intense eyes that never showed this side of him. 

With a quiet sigh, he took off your eyewear, his fingers trembling just slightly as they brushed against your face. “You may not want to believe it because you’re a succubus,” he continued softly, his voice thick with emotion. “But my heart tells me otherwise. It’s true, I can’t ignore what you are. But I won’t pretend my feelings aren’t real. I love you—with every fiber of my being.” His grip tightened just a fraction, but his gaze softened, searching yours for any sign of how you might feel. 

He swallowed hard before continuing, his words a mixture of certainty and quiet fear. “And if you still reject me, I will accept it. But I had to say it. I had to tell you… because I can’t live with this silence between us anymore.”

The air between you both thickened with the weight of his words, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. Everything around you faded into the background, leaving only the sound of your quiet breaths and the racing of both your hearts. His confession hung between you like an unspoken promise—vulnerable, raw, and heavy. You could feel the sincerity in his tone, the raw vulnerability that slipped through the cracks of his usual stoic exterior. He wasn’t the same Ghost you knew—the one always guarded, always hidden behind his mask. Right now, he was just Simon. And in this moment, he was laying himself bare before you.

You were left standing there, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. His words, his touch, the emotions swirling inside you. You looked down, taking a deep breath as your mind tried to process everything. Simon watched you carefully, his dark eyes never leaving your face as he waited for your response. He could feel the weight of the silence between you, and even though his heart pounded in his chest, he stayed still—patient.

You slowly removed your gloves, your fingers trembling slightly as you reached for his hand. The first time you two had touched each other. Your hand hovered for a moment before gently cupping his, your skin warming against his. Simon’s breath caught in his throat as his eyes widened slightly. He could feel it—the connection, the electric charge that hummed between you both. His body burned with desire, the pull of your succubus powers undeniable, but he kept himself in check, waiting for you to speak.

Your voice was soft, sweet as honey, yet laced with a quiet fear that mirrored his own. "I love you too," you murmured, your gaze flickering to his eyes. "But I’m scared… that one day, you’ll see me as a monster."

Simon’s chest tightened at your words. He could feel the vulnerability in them, the raw honesty, and the fear you carried deep within your soul. But there was something else too—a love, a yearning that resonated in your touch, in your confession. It made his heart ache in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

He took a slow breath, his thumb brushing across the back of your hand, grounding you both in the moment. His voice was steady, but there was an undeniable softness in it now. "You’re not a monster to me. You’re everything but."

The sincerity in his tone was unwavering. He had already made up his mind. There was no turning back, no letting go of this connection he had found with you. He wasn’t afraid of you, not of your past or what you were. He only feared losing you. He leaned in, his eyes closing. Your lips were only inches apart, the tension palpable in the air, but he didn’t move—he was waiting for you.

You smiled, a quiet sense of peace settling over you, and before you knew it, you closed the distance, kissing Simon passionately. His body tensed at first, the warmth of your touch intoxicating, but then he melted into the kiss, his hand gently cradling the side of your face as the world around you ceased to exist.

But the moment didn’t last forever.

"Woooooo~!! Lieutenant, when’s the wedding?" Soap’s voice rang out from a distance, his tone teasing and loud, breaking the spell.

Before Simon could react, Price, his captain, slapped Soap on the back of the head with a grin. “Leave the lovebirds alone, Soap.”

You pulled back, chuckling softly at the interruption, while Gaz gave Simon a thumb up. Simon let out a sigh, shaking his head. The weight of his confession, the vulnerability of the moment, was quickly replaced by the warmth of shared laughter and affection. And despite the teasing, something told you both that this—this moment—was just the beginning of something much greater.

[flonbowe]

Yes I will still continue talking about Zokket despite a certain someone becoming common knowledge now thank you very much teehee Not attaching this onto my big analysis post tho, this is kinda unrelated But Zokket has an oddly interesting relationship with Bowser, and I wanna talk about that

So to get the obvious out of the way, Zokket remembers Bowser's name, he doesn't need to be reminded at all about him unlike the bros and even the Corps. Bowser is one of the only names Zokket bothers to remember, with the others being for involuntary and obvious reasons respectively, where as Bowser is of his own volition. Zokket only remembers those important to him, and or oney uses names when they have significance (EX: Him referring to the Corps by their proper names as he threatens them with Glohm, him putting the effort in to remember the Bros names as they finally become important before his boss fight) Now We don't see what Bowser is doing for most of Brothership, and when we finally meet him he's clearly been up to things, conquering Offandon, setting up shop on Wayaway, hunting for lost troops, there's clearly a side story we aren't seeing. Now, this part is baseless but it just makes sense. Zokket is an efficient person. He has precise numbers and plans in mind, and executes them with little to no error, even with us interfering. Hell, when we fight him he states the following

So With this in mind What was the Glohmatic Quad Ray for? Its never used again outside of one instance. Actually What are these for too?

These pincer cannons are only used in a cut scene and nothing more, never again seen. Well if the topic isn't obvious, its for Bowser. Bowser is the priority. For Zokket, Bowser through out 90% of brothership is the bigger priority between The Bros and him. Whatever Bowser has been doing off screen is so disruptive that Zokket has to focus a good chunk of resources onto stopping him. The Glohmatic Quad Ray in particular is a good glimpse at this, as for every Optional Boss we get a little scene between Zok Troops, and as they go on it becomes clear they were made to power up someone who was already strong, to become even stronger. These tests, Glohm Gobblick, Sharpcask and Pipegunk, were the precursors to Zokket's final goal of not just getting rid of Bowser. Now looping this all the way to why I described this as "baseless', why doesn't Zokket just, kill Bowser? He said himself he should have just destroyed the bros, was It just bluffing? Well I personally believe he did try, and failed, thus having to change his goals from "get rid of the thorn in my side" to "how can I direct this brute's wrath towards someone else as well as get rid of him?" Even without this slight leap from canon, Zokket clearly keeps Bowser in his mind And so does Bowser Bowser in the M&L series is a pretty simple guy (no disrespect, I fucking love Bowser in this series), he hates the bros, wants to rule the world yatayatayata. He will gladly put down whatever he's doing to try and beat the bros, this is consistent. What's also consistent in this series, is him carrying this same attitude towards other people who piss him off. So when Bowser, THE nemesis of the Mario Brothers, somewhat brushes them aside to get revenge on Zokket, you know shit's real. The only other time I can really remember Bowser having a similarly intense hate boner for someone was all the way back in Bowser's Inside Story

Which is honestly understandable from Bowser's perspective, this random bone masked guy is taking his minions, his son, HIM, and all while acting high and mighty and for some big dramatic goal? Bowser was ready to beat Midbus to a pulp on their first meeting just for talking funny, Zokket's dry manner of speaking for sure gets under Bowser's skin. Honestly there's a comparison to be made further with Fawful and Zokket in relation to Bowser, both are smarter more technological (and magically in some instances) gifted vs Bowser's raw brawn and bulky physique, both have shaky relationships with their goons vs Bowser's ride or die loyalty, both use Bowser's body for their schemes, and possible other connections. Apparently (I personally don't see It but I should mention it) Zokket and the Corps have a resemblance to Antasma, who also has an interesting deal with Bowser, so bonus points for that.

Not to mention Bowser still clinging onto Zokket when he's long gone, it paints such a fun dynamic that I wish was explored more than the crumbs that I have collected here. TL;DR: Bowser and Zokket fucking hate each other and yet also cannot stop thinking about each other and I demand the toxic yaoi now/hj

[brodygold]

Versus the Vanguard

Written by @polo-drone-070, pics done by me

The golden glow of the stadium bathed the field in brilliance as fans roared their support for the Gold Team. Flags waved, chants echoed, and mascots Milo @polo-drone-151 and Chevy @chevy-gold led the charge, joined by golden knight Grayden @polo-drone-084 who rallied the crowd with grand gestures. Behind the scenes, Milo, in his PDU-151 mode, ensured every preparation was perfect, alongside PDU-049 @polo-drone-049 and PDU-069 @polo-drone-069, whose precise coordination kept the players pumped and ready.

On the other side, Vanguard stood, their players poised and formidable. Known for their precision and elite mentality, they exuded confidence but carried the weight of their fragmented team dynamics.

The whistle blew, and the match began at a blistering pace. Vanguard’s discipline was on full display as Steele (#8) commanded the midfield, threading passes that tested Gold’s defense. But Zayed (#87) @zayed-gold87, unyielding as sweeper, quickly set the tone, intercepting Steele’s early attempts and rallying his team with calm efficiency.

In the 15th minute, Zayed anticipated a pass from Steele and launched a counterattack. Eddy (#73) @eddygold relayed the ball to Daniel (#16) @danielgold-16, whose quick decision-making split the defense with a through ball to Herc (#9) @goldenherc9. Herc surged forward and fired the opening goal past Reyes (#1), Vanguard’s keeper. 1-0, Gold.

Vanguard retaliated with a moment of individual brilliance. Vance (#10), their star forward, dazzled the crowd by weaving through Gold’s defense. His technical dribbles left two defenders in his wake before unleashing a low shot that left Brody (#11) with no chance. 1-1.

The second half began with relentless pressure from Vanguard. Steele and Drayton (#11) attempted to break Gold’s defensive rhythm, but Zayed and Henry (#70) @polo-drone-070 formed an impenetrable backline. In midfield, Eddy and Ambrose (#49) continued to control the game’s tempo, outmaneuvering Vanguard’s calculated plays.

In the 50th minute, Zayed cleared a dangerous cross from Drayton, sparking a counterattack. Herc received the ball and breezed past Lang (#4), Vanguard’s central defender, before slotting it neatly past Reyes. 2-1, Gold.

Vanguard refused to relent. Vance orchestrated another dangerous attack, slipping through two defenders. This time, however, Henry read the play perfectly, executing a clean, game-saving tackle that drew cheers from the crowd.

Minutes later, Vanguard equalized with a lightning-fast play. Steele launched a pinpoint pass to Drayton, who dribbled past Xavier (#39) @polo-drone-039 and made a perfect cross met by Crane (#19), the substitute. His header soared past Brody. 2-2.

Closing Moments: The Final Push

The match hung in the balance until the 75th minute when Ambrose intercepted a pass from Lang and delivered it to Ross (#79). Ross surged down the left flank, outpacing the defense and curling a shot into the top corner. The stadium erupted as the scoreboard flashed. 3-2, Gold.

Ezan (#1) nearly added another with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Reyes, however, made an extraordinary save, leaping to tip the ball just over the bar, earning admiration even from Gold’s fans.

Gold sealed their victory in the 85th minute. Eddy intercepted a sloppy clearance from Crane and passed to Zayed, who charged forward with unexpected speed. His low cross met Daniel on the edge of the box, and Daniel’s thunderous strike rattled the net. 4-2, Gold.

Post-Match: Celebration of Unity

As the final whistle blew, the Gold Team erupted in celebration. Zayed and Eddy were hoisted onto their teammates’ shoulders, hailed as the match’s architects. Herc and Ross exchanged victorious grins, their contributions decisive in securing the win.

The Vanguard players, despite their individual brilliance, walked off solemnly. Their fragmented focus had been no match for Gold’s cohesion and teamwork. The scoreboard told the story: Gold Team 4, Vanguard 2.

In the stands, Milo and Chevy led the victory parade, with Grayden raising a golden shield to the cheers of the crowd. The night was a triumph not just of skill, but of unity—proving once again that the Gold Team’s strength lay in their bond, a force greater than the sum of their parts.