#How much longer before there's a fee to have an employee do the shopping?

[trivialbob]

Recently I did an online Target order.

Instead of making a shopping list on paper, I used Target's web site to put items in the online basket. I planned to read the list on my phone as I shopped as Sam Walton intended -- in person inside a big box.

Because I simply could click "place order" I decided to try the pick up option. I chose this method over delivery because it feels weird to me having UPS or FedEx deliver paper towels and tissues. I tried the shipping a few years ago. Liquid items were wrapped and zip tied in extra plastic bags. There was tape applied over caps. It seemed like a tremendous waste of resources. And, despite the crying children, I do like to walk around and browse the store.

Shortly after placing my order an email arrived, telling me two items were not available. No problem. But guess what I ordered that was available: Pizza Flavored Goldfish Crackers.

In an earlier visit to Target I didn't find pizza flavored Goldfish on the shelf. I suspect this time, after placing the online order, someone recognized my household has some sort of frequent flyer account due to how much my wife spends.

I think she has the Target Bright Red Card. It's like AmEx's Platinum Card, but for Target. Most shoppers just have the Target Dull Red Card, to get that 5% discount.

My guess is the store has a special secure room for high value products. Target makes sure these items, like the always hard to find pizza Goldfish crackers, are available to Bright Red Card households.

The next morning the order was ready for pickup. When I arrived a friendly and quick employee checked a bar code on my phone. "Oh, this is for Sheila's house!"

He promptly brought out my merchandise. After I verified the pizza Goldfish were there I felt safe assuming everything else was accounted for. Then I put everything in my car and came back. I needed more things but didn't want to go through the store with items I already paid for, lest they tell me at the exit I didn't pay for everything.

I completed my second round of shopping. Target had been out of the four-pack of facial tissues. I simply got a six-pack instead. That is a good reason right there why I will stick to selecting my own items versus using with the Internet.

[ladylooch]

Hiii! How about recently starting a relationship with Nico before the summer break, and obviously not traveling back home with him since it is far too early to meet the family. But now he is back in the States with his entire family and they are dying to meet you but you are still a little apprehensive about it all. 😊

Nico's New Girlfriend

A/N: Ooo I hate how long this took. So sorry, anon! Thank you for your patience 😘

Word Count: 1.3k

Warnings: None!

Nico is barely awake on the phone screen in your hand. You are both watching the final episode of Ted Lasso together via FaceTime while he is back home in Switzerland- 3,900 miles away, not that you’re counting. His eyes are droopy, long lashes extending out to dust along his cheek bones. He promised if you two watched a show together, he would be able to stay awake longer. Poor thing has been training so hard. His eyes were sluggish when the opening credits began.

“Nico. You should go to sleep.” You say, startling him back awake.

“I’m not sleepy.” He mumbles back, widening his eyes and looking back at his TV. 

“You are. And you need to be up early for your Nashville flight.” Nico sighs, running a hand through his hair as he sits up, clicking the TV off.

“It’s hard knowing I’m going to be flying over you and not seeing you.” He grumbles. Nico invited you to attend the NHL awards with him this week, but it all felt too soon. You both discussed it at length. But your apprehension won. This is so new and meeting his whole family on a massive, public scale while being photographed with him felt like too much. How would you live with those pictures out there forever if things were to end? You shiver again at the uncomfortable thought of losing him.

“I know. I’m sorry.” You bite at your fingernail regretfully.

“It’s okay. I want you to be comfortable. Maybe by Christmas.”

“Definitely by Christmas.”

“Good, Nina makes the best hot chocolate with whipped cream and nutmeg on top.” Nico sighs as he remembers it. “I can’t wait to share you with them. You should know they have been asking about you. They told me I should beg you to reconsider.” You pout at him, loving the way his eye crinkle in the corners with his small smile.

After many more attempts to get Nico off the phone, he finally agrees to go to bed. You go about the rest of your day in the afternoon, doing some shopping and preparing for the week ahead at work. You fight off the Sunday scares by going to bed early.

That night, while you’re sleeping, a Hischier you haven’t met drops into your Instagram DMs. 

Hi Y/N, it’s Nina, Nico’s sister. I am sorry to introduce myself so abruptly, but… I think you need to know how sad Nico is that you are not joining us in Nashville. He won’t say anything to you because he does not want to put pressure on you. But he wants you there. He feels his success this year was because of your support. He wishes to share it with you, whether he wins or not. Please reconsider! I’ll help with whatever I can!

You smile, biting your lip at hearing from Nina. Nico loves her. And talks of her often. He is convinced you two will be best friends. To hear from her with such a heartfelt and honest confession does something to your reservations. It cancels most of them from your brain and before you even know what you’re doing, you’re booking a last minute flight to Nashville. The price and fees are outrages and the flight time is shit, but damn, Nico is worth it.

It takes assistance from one of the WAGS to get in touch with a Devils’ employee who can assist with getting you close to Nico for the surprise. The NHL Awards are sure to be locked down with security and you need to be sure you can see him. You suit up into a simple black dress that isn’t eye catching, but fancy enough that you can walk into the arena with him. Your pass is tucked safely in your clutch to avoid being stolen. Your hair falls in curled tendrils down your shoulders and a pair of strappy sandals help give you some heigh to push your way through the crowd. Once you’re at the fencing, your fingers fiddle with the picture of Nico in your hands for him to sign.

The Devils nominees all arrive together. You smile, watching as Nico awkwardly navigates around, showing his suit, doing interviews, and shifting around from foot to foot at all the attention. Fans scream his name from every direction. His family searches the crowd for you while Nico tends to his captaincy duties. Fans line the bike rack all around you. They press you further up against the rack as other players walk by, signing and posing for pictures. They can grab whatever they want from these other players. You only care about one. 

Nico gets closer, nibbling his lip and signing every thing thrusted in front of his face. He’s so gracious with fans, even when he doesn’t want to be.

“They deserve the best from me.” He told you once before when you were stopped multiple times while out at dinner. He had offered to say no to these interactions when you were together, but you loved watching Nico in this setting. The way he takes time to ask follow up questions and makes sure the picture turned out right or giving hugs when asked. 

And that’s how you know he will come to you without any effort on your part.

You don’t say anything as he gets to the kid right next to you. He barely is looking up anymore, just trying to sign as many things as he can before the NHL representative pushes him into the arena. He reaches for the picture in your hands as his family stops behind him to watch you two. Nina makes eye contact with you excitedly while pulling up her phone to film the interaction.

“Do you think I could have a picture?” You wonder, leaning a bit more forward. Nico snaps up at the sound of your voice. He grins, electricity jolting through you at being the recipient of that awestruck look.

“Babe…” He is in disbelief but smiling so wide his dimples pinch perfect slits into his cheeks. “What?”

“Surprise!”

He can only stare back at you. His hand is paused with the picture between you, marker hovering. Fans call out his name insistently, but he can’t pull his eyes off of you. You step onto the bike rack, reaching out for him to move closer. He does wrapping his arms around your waist as the security guard is getting ready to yell at you.

He buries his face into the nook of your neck. You press your nose into his hair, closing your eyes to ignore the hundreds of cameras taking pictures of you. Those pictures are posted on social media stories across a handful of platforms. It won’t take long for the fans to find you. What scared the shit out of you a week ago now gives new life as you realize why Nico wanted you here so bad. Its so obvious in the way he holds you and cradles your face when he pulls away to kiss you.

Nico Hischier is in love with you.

“I can’t… tell you what this means to me.” 

“You don’t have to… Nina did.” Nico sighs, looking over his shoulder at his sister. He leans back down to hug you again, murmuring that he still isn’t quite sure this is real.

You make eye contact with Nico’s family over his shoulder. The four of them watch their beloved boy crumble into soothing contentment with his new girlfriend. Nico knows he should let you go, but he can’t yet. You feel like home even though he just left home.

His family, the people he adores and honors every moment of his life, know exactly why Nico feels so content now. 

They could see it in the way he talked about you so far this summer. It’s why Nina reached out and Jack smirks as he walks around you two to continue to sign autographs.

You’re the one. Indisputably. And now the rest of the world knows it too.

[jmaartenw]

How Much Does a Cloud-Based Telephone System Cost? IntroductionIn the digital era, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. One of the most effective ways to achieve these goals is by adopting a cloud-based telephone system. This innovative technology offers numerous benefits, including flexibility, scalability, and advanced features that traditional phone systems can't match. However, one question that often arises when considering this transition is: how much does a cloud phone system cost?Understanding the Cost of a Cloud-Based Telephone System The cost of a cloud-based telephone system varies widely depending on several factors. These include the size of your business, the number of users, the features you require, and the provider you choose. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from £7 to £55 per user per month for a basic package. This could include the cost of the hardware if you require physical desk phones on desks. But unlike the "good ol' days" you won't have to shell out thousands of pounds for a physical telephone system which will be obsolete and in need of replacing again in 5 to 10 years time.  1. Size of Your Business Cloud telephone system are sold on a subscription basis so the size of your business obviously plays a significant role in determining the cost of a cloud phone system. Small businesses with fewer employees will typically pay less than larger corporations with hundreds or thousands of employees. However, many providers offer volume discounts for larger companies or those who commit to longer contracts. 2. Number of Users Subscriptions are sold based on the number of users which also impacts the cost significantly. Most providers charge on a per-user basis which means that the more employees you have using the system, the higher your monthly costs will be. But do make sure you ask about different licence types as often providers will have seperate prices for various types of licences. For instance a reception desk user might require a higher licence type then a classroom teacher who receives the occasional call from the office but rarely makes any herself. 3. Features Required The features you require will also affect your overall costs. Basic packages usually include standard features such as voicemail, call forwarding and call waiting. However, if you need advanced features like video conferencing, CRM integration or auto-attendant capabilities then expect to pay more. Choosing Your Provider There are many providers out there offering cloud-based telephone systems each with their own pricing structures and feature sets. It's important to do your research and compare different options before making a decision. Some popular providers include RingCentral, 8x8, and Vonage. These companies offer a range of packages to suit different business needs and budgets. For example, RingCentral's basic package starts at $19.99 per user per month while their premium package costs $49.99 per user per month.  Make sure you shop around as there are many Cloud telephony providers based in the UK. Saint IT can definitely assist you to find the right package. Additional Costs to Consider When calculating the cost of a cloud-based telephone system, it's also important to consider additional costs that may not be included in your monthly fee. 1. Setup and Installation Some providers charge a one-time setup or installation fee. This can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the complexity of your system. 2. Equipment While cloud phone systems require less equipment than traditional ones, you may still need to purchase some hardware such as IP phones or headsets. and you may also require additional network cabling if you're installing phones in locations where no network exists. VOIP phones are rarely wireless and we recommend always using network cables for your telephones 3. Training Depending on the complexity of

your new system, you might need to invest in training for your staff to ensure they can use it effectively. Conclusion: Is a Cloud Phone System Worth the Cost? While the cost of a cloud-based telephone system can seem high initially, it's important to consider the long-term savings and benefits it offers. These systems are more flexible and scalable than traditional ones, allowing you to easily add or remove users as your business needs change. As we already alluded to in the introduction you can start with very low up front costs and there's no risk of your system becoming obsolete and in need of replacement. Moreover, they offer advanced features that can improve productivity and customer service - ultimately leading to increased revenue. Plus, because they're hosted in the cloud, there's no need for costly maintenance or upgrades. In conclusion, while the cost of a cloud phone system can vary greatly depending on various factors, many businesses find that the benefits far outweigh the costs. By doing thorough research and choosing a provider that fits your specific needs and budget, you can leverage this innovative technology to drive growth and success in your business. Book an appointment with us now!

[harrywritingsbyme]

Do you think you could write a piece about Harry and y/n having sex but she’s like really short and Harry is like throwing her around and just manhandling her and fucking destroying her guts but also make kinda fluffy pls😔👉👈

Welcome Home

Anonymous Said: Hi I’ve discovered this blog recently and can I please just take a moment to say Wow... you’re writing is amazing and your ideas and concepts are brilliant. I’m not sure if your taking requests or concepts but here’s an idea. SNL pilot Harry like with the grey hair and all coming home to his wife who misses him dearly after awhile followed by you know what. And if you could include size kink (I really liked that concept)

A/N: I’m so sorry it’s so late guys! Since I’ve been writing for a year now, I figured that I’d give an ‘Au’ a try. When I got this request, I was completely floored. Like holy shit, sexy ass older pilot!Harry, and small!Y/n. All of this is perfection and I love this so much! Enjoy🙃

4.7k words

Harry loved his job. He considered himself to be pretty lucky to have the ability to travel the world and see places he’d only dreamt of growing up. Even though he wasn’t in those places for an extended amount of time, simply being there was more than enough for Harry and it made him want to go back and explore. If he was lucky, he’d have multiple flights to the same place or longer layover in these But what Harry loved most about his job was the fact that he got to do it all with the love of his life. 

When you two first met, Harry’d been a pilot for some years and you were just hired for your job as a flight attendant. You knew that it wasn’t the most glamorous profession int the world, but you wanted to dip your toes into the pool of world travel, and this was the route you were taking to start. Before your first flight you’d asked around about the pilots for your flight and you were met with the same response each time. Everyone said that Harry was one of the nicest people in the world and was pretty good looking too, but his copilot was the person you were advised to try your best to avoid. Luckily, you only had to interact with Harry. Both you and Harry hated to say it and be all cliché, but from the moment you two laid eyes on and interacted with each other you both were hooked. Even though the both of you could’ve really used the entirety of your breaks to get some sleep, you and Harry couldn’t stop talking to each other. From that point on, the two of you became inseparable. During layovers that were more than just a couple hours and Harry had some spare time outside of his duties as pilot, the two of you would spend time together. You two were so caught up in each other and being together that you’d swap flights and breaks with the other flight attendants so that you and Harry could be together. And Harry did the same. He’d always put in a word with the people who made the schedules to ensure that he was flying the flights you were on or he’d try to get you on his flights. 

After constantly being on flights together and even running into each other during your times off, you and Harry were pretty convinced that you two should give a relationship a try. Even though there was a significant risk involved with starting a relationship with someone who was pretty much your boss and/or employee, you and Harry were willing to take that risk. And you two never looked back. In fact, disclosing you guys’ relationship made things way easier for you and Harry; you two were almost always on the same flights together. Now, you two are happily married and traveling the world together about 99% of the time. You both absolutely hated when the 1% times came around. You two became so used to being on the same flights that when you weren’t, you and Harry were a bit sad and even a little homesick believe it or not. This time unfortunately was Harry’s turn to fly without you. There wasn’t a moment on his trip that Harry didn’t miss you. He was focused on his job but he was still thinking about you. He was constantly wondering about what you were doing at home. When he took his break he just laid there and the cuddles and kisses he’d get if you were there with him. He also missed listening to your passenger horror stories and pushing you to just keep going. And on top of all that, Harry missed all the times you two would try to quietly go at it in the bathroom or crew resting area depending on whether or not you two were the only ones on break. Even though he was able to talk to you during his layover, he was counting the days and eventually hours until he came back home to you. As soon as he landed on the tarmac at the airport, Harry was on a mission to get home. After following all the necessary after flight procedure and filling out all of the necessary paperwork, Harry threw his bag into his car and sped home to you.

Surprisingly, Harry was able to get home and not get a ticket. He quickly pulls into the driveway and carries himself and his bag into the house. When he walks through the front door, Harry could immediately feel your presence. He could feel your warmth radiating through the entire house. All he had to do now as find you. Before checking upstairs, he makes his way around the main level of the house to look for you. As he exits the kitchen and makes his way down the hall, Harry could hear your soft hums getting louder and louder. When he reaches the laundry room, he sees you standing at the folding in the corner. Simply seeing you bought a big smile to his face. He then wastes no time coming over to you and wrapping his arms around your smaller body. 

“Honey I’m home.” Harry happily coos in your ear before pressing a soft kiss below it. When he does this, you turn around in his arms to get a better look at him. 

“Welcome home.” You whisper back to him, lifting yourself up onto your tips of your toes to bring your lips to his. As soon as your lips connect, the both of you release sighs of content. You two were back together. It doesn’t take long for Harry’s arms to tighten around your body and hoist you up onto the table behind you. The kiss lasts a little longer before you pull away from his lips. 

“How was your long haul without me?” You hum, sliding your hands up the lapels of his jacket.

“It was hell.” Harry says pointedly. 

“It couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Was thinking about you the whole time.” Harry frowns a little at you to emphasize his point. 

“I missed you too baby.” You coo softly to him. You then reach up and pull the captains hat off of his head, sitting it down next to you before pushing your hands through his greying curls. When you two first met, he had some grey hairs here and there. But now they had taken over just about all of his head; and you were very into it. “Any annoying kids or weird old ladies?” You ask him. 

 “For the kids, I wouldn’t know. I like to stay in the front of the plane or the crew area.” Harry begins truthfully. “But as for the old ladies, they always want to break off a piece of this.” He continues smugly.

“Why would they want you? Do they wanna swap arthritis creams or something?” You joke with a laugh, watching his face fall in the process. 

“I will have you know that I’m considered a silver fox. And you know it.” Harry defends, slightly tilting his head up away from you. When he says this all you could do was pucker your lips and bite the inside of them because what he said was in fact true. You just couldn’t let him know that. “Now what’d you get into while I was gone?” Harry asks curiously with a smirk from his previous victory. 

“Did some stuff around the house and I did a little missing you retail therapy.” You reply happily. 

“So I take it that the credit card bill this month is gonna be a little higher than normal?” Harry asks suspiciously. 

“Just a little.” You whisper trying to undermine your shopping spree. 

“A little?” Harry asks you again, already knowing that you’re undermining how much you actually spent. 

“Mhm.” You mumble, nodding your head sweetly in the process. 

“You’re too cute and pretty for your own good.” Harry chuckles and shakes his head down at you. 

“You love it though.” You hum happily up at him, wrapping your arms around his neck. 

“I do.” Harry sighs contently. This is what he missed. He missed being in your arms and just loving on you. He loved seeing your smile and feeing your small arms wrap around him. “I actually bought you a couple things.” Harry whispers, tightening his grip around your back. 

“Is it more skimpy lingerie?” You question him, making sure to spread a wide smirk across your face. Instead of readily replying to you, Harry simply unwraps one of his arms from around your back and he brings it up to the front of your dress. Since the front of your dress was loosely wrapped around your body to keep it closed, Harry as able to simply pluck back the top a little to get a good look at your body beneath the fabric. 

“Well I guess this is my cue to stop buying the lingerie, since you’re not even wearing it.” Harry points out, looking down into your dress to find your bare, supple breasts resting on your chest. It took a lot of self control for Harry in that moment to not stick his hand down your dress to take your plushy flesh into his hand.

“Well I thought it was for our sexy times or when I send you pictures while you’re on a trip and on your break or stuck in a hotel room without me.” You explain to him. You even throw in a little pout; you wanted to keep your fancy and very pretty lingerie flow going. “But I am wearing one of the pairs of  panties you picked up in Italy if you wanna see how some of your purchases look on me.” You whisper lowly to him. You then use your arms that are hooked around his neck to pull his head down closer to yours. Harry was already a bit hard from finally being home with you. Now he was getting even harder from your words. 

“Is it bad that I’ve only been home for 20 minuets and I’m already thinking about completely ravishing you?” Harry mumbles against your pillow soft lips. “Just so pretty baby.” Harry grumbles frustratedly before bringing his mouth the rest of the way to yours while pulling you closer to the edge of the table. He couldn’t believe that he, a man who turned 40 a couple months prior, was getting all riled up and turned on the same way he did 20 plus years ago. That was just the age defying effect you had on him. 

“No, not at all.” You begin as you pull away from the short lived yet beyond passionate kiss, slowly bringing your left hand up the back of his neck to his hair. “In fact, every time I see you in your head to toe pilots get up, I’m always fighting the strong urge to fall to my knees and take your cock down my throat.” You bluntly continue, your voice filled with a very nonchalant and teasing tone. 

When this statement left your mouth, Harry was a little bit taken aback. But at the same time he wasn’t. After slowly building up your friendship that in no time blossomed into a more romantic relationship together, Harry was able to slowly show you the ropes so to speak and teach you just about everything you knew when it came to the bedroom and a happy and healthy relationship. When you two progressed to the more intimate stage of your budding relationship, you were pretty inexperienced. You didn’t know your way around the bedroom at all. You we’re still a virgin and you didn’t even know the ins and outs of making out with someone. All you knew was that this smart, extremely kind, absolutely gorgeous, and just overall stunning human being, older man who just so happened to be the pilot on your flight had taken a strong interest in you. And luckily for you, your lack of experience was the least of his concerns. It was like you hit the jackpot with him. Fast forward to now when you two are a married couple, you’ve taken all of the tips and tricks he’s taught over time and you’re running with it. Harry wasn’t the only who had the ability to do things to your body that would make your toes to curl, your entire body to go numb, and cause your mind to deem it all indescribable. You also had the ability to turn Harry into a pleasured, borderline incoherent, and moaning mess; something that most women in his past who were his age or slightly older weren’t even able to do. So it wasn’t a complete surprise that those words came from your mouth.

“Who knew that my pretty little wife had such a filthy mouth.” Harry gasps with a condescending tone.

“Well I’m not a prudish old man like you.” You simply reply. This was the button in Harry that you loved to push. 

“I don’t know where you’re getting that from but I’m far from prudish and I’m definitely not an old man.” Harry says matter of factly. “If I remember it correctly, I made you wear vibrating panties for the entirety of an 18 hour flight.” Harry recalls, making his point against being called prudish. 

“Everyone uses those. Especially older men.” You smugly whisper back, pushing even harder on this button of his. 

Harry knew exactly what you were doing. He knew that you were pushing his button so that he’d unleash everything he had built up over the course of his trip into you. It didn’t take much for him to realize that you wanted him to really make up for not being with you for almost a week. The both of you were itching to feel and be around each other again. After you and Harry made it past the learning and teaching phase of you guys’ sex life, the two of you acquired a constant hunger for one another. When you and Harry had some time off, the sex would be nonstop. Whether it was cockwarming or full on sex where you’re riding his cock or he was slamming himself deep into your pussy, you and Harry were always looking for ways to be around each other like this. And it was exactly the same when you two were on the job. Even though you two didn’t have the freedom to go at it whenever you wanted, you and Harry still found ways to be with each other. For some reason, seeing each other dressed in your uniforms was a bit of a turn on. It didn’t help that the both of you were borderline thrill seekers and loved the rush that came along with trying to be quiet as you both were experiencing some of the best pleasure you’d ever felt.

“Well do all older men pound and shove their cocks into their girlfriends, and now wives tight little cunts over and over again until she’s begging and crying for him to slow down and let them cum? Because if not, I’ve got countless stories about me doing that to you in the cramped bathroom on a flight, in restaurant bathrooms, dressing rooms, upstairs, on the couch, the kitchen counter, right here on this table, and many other places.” Even though you acted confident and enjoyed battling Harry for dominance, you were able to easily fall into a more submissive role. The way he’s calmly able to say the filthiest things made your body quake and your panties become even more soaked than they already were. You were never going to be able to forget about all of those times. How and why would you ever forget the times where he’s hoisted you up against a door or a wall, or pushed you down against the counter, tightly wrapped a hand around your mouth to keep you quiet, and deliciously slammed his cock up into you? If you focused in on those memories, you could remember and almost feel him inside you.

That’s what you wanted right now. You wanted him to pound into you so hard that you’d a sore, moaning mess and you wanted to make up for the time you two weren’t together. This was the first time in a good while that you weren’t scheduled for a flight with Harry and you really missed him. And his cock. So if you had to push one of his buttons to really get what you both wanted, you were going to do it. 

“Well I think you guys can do that,” You begin, pausing to run your hands down from his neck and across the expanse of his broad shoulders. “I just think that you may need a little help if you know what I mean.” You finish. When you say this, Harry knows exactly what you were implying and he wasn’t having any of it. 

“You and this pretty little body of yours is gonna get it.” Harry growls before yanking you up from the table and pulling you into his body. He quietly marches you both up the stairs and to your shared bedroom. When he reaches the foot of the bed, he releases his once tight grip on your body and drops you down onto the bed. He continues to go about everything silently, shoving his jacket off of his shoulders and working on his tie and shirt.

“You look really hot in that uniform just so you know.” You admire from the bed below him. You watch him chuckle at your statement as he shrugs his shirt and undone tie off his body. You were really turned on right now. Like the sight of his bare, toned and tattooed chest and arms was a sight you could stare at forever. Add onto that the fact that he was mad and taking control over you and you were setup to be a complete mess. And your panties could definitely attest to that. You were completely drenched and dying to feel him against and inside you. 

“You don’t have to butter me up baby.” Harry begins as he undoes his shoes. “M’still gonna take care of you and that smart mouth of yours.” Harry guarantees, shoving his shoes and socks off his feet and standing back up to work on his pants. “Gonna make sure you know what I can do to you.” Harry finishes, finally undoing his belt and shoving his pants along with his boxers down his legs. When you see his thick and very hard cock, you couldn’t stop a moan or two from escaping your mouth. “I take it someone needs my cock.” Harry chuckles at your desperation for his cock. He planned on showing you just how much you needed him. He then comes closer to the edge of the bed and in one swift motion, Harry pulls you up from your lying position and flips you onto your front. He masterfully undoes the tie on the back of your dress and he flips you back onto your back. He tugs at the fabric, opening your dress and exposing your partially naked body to him. He takes a moment to admire your body and all he could do is bite his lip. He couldn’t believe that he managed to be away from this for nearly an entire week. 

Harry quickly snaps out of his trance when he feels his cock twitch slightly and he leans down to scoop you up into his arms. When he does this, Harry keeps you low in his grip so that you’d be right against his cock. He keeps one arm securely around your body and pulls your arms from the dress. Once it’s completely off of you, he drops it into the pile of his clothes and drops you back onto the bed. Before crawling up and on top of you, Harry uses your claves to push you a little higher up onto the bed and to flip you back onto your stomach. When he does this, you really know you’re in for it. Whenever you were in this position Harry really made sure to slam into you and make you scream. When he crawls up and is on top of you from behind, he wastes no time in ripping the barely there panties off your body. For the first time in what felt like forever, Harry didn’t snap the delicate undergarment in half. Once they’re out of the way, Harry has complete access to your body.

“Gonna be a good girl and take daddy’s cock?” Harry asks, squeezing the flesh of your ass before raising it up just to crash it back down.

“Mhm.” You whimper, really feeling the sting from the sudden slap.

“Use your words.” Harry demands, raising his hand back up to deliver another slap to your backside. 

“Yes daddy.” You cry out to him, this time feeling not only the sting of his slaps but also feeling of your juices dripping onto the sheets.

“Good girl.” Harry hums at your response. He then straddles your thighs, wanting to keep you in place when he pushes into you. He lifts himself up so that he’s hovering over you, and he grips onto his cock to give himself a good squeeze, resulting in him letting out a loud grumble behind you (that went straight to your clit). He tightly grips onto the flesh of one of your cheeks and he pulls your ass apart to get a better view of you. When he sees your puckered hole, Harry gets a little idea. In the process of lining himself up with your entrance, Harry uses his cock to put a little pressure on your tighter hole. When he does this, words begin to pour out of your mouth. 

“M’too tight daddy.” You rush out to him, trying to stop his actions. Harry knew that you were too tight for him at the moment, but he just liked to work you up a little and hear you beg.

“Don’t worry baby. When were done, daddy’s gonna get you nice and ready for his cock.” He promises, lowering his cock from your second hole down to the first. When you feel his thick head nudging at your entrance, your moans got louder. You needed him to be inside you already. 

“Want your big cock daddy.” You beg. You try to move back against him but he’s practically sitting on your thighs, which is pinning you to the bed. 

“Whats the magic word?” Harry teases.

“Please daddy?” And with that, Harry is finally sinking his cock into you. When you feel his cock stretching you to fit all of him, your mind goes blank. All you could come up with was strings of loud moans and feeling good. You felt full agains which was all you really wanted. As he continues to sheath his cock with your walls, Harry’s hand leaves his shaft and goes right to your other cheek. He pulls your ass completely apart and watches as his cock disappears into you.

“That’s it, take this cock sweetheart.” Harry pants in amazement. He was still in awe at how a small woman like you was able to take every last inch of his manhood. Once he’s fully inside, Harry’s eyes trail up your body to find you resting your cheek against the sheets with your mouth wide open. Thats what he wanted to see. Keeping his hands on your ass, Harry lifts himself up so that he’s hovering over you and goes straight into slamming in and out of your tight and very wet pussy. As he does this, your entire body quakes at the amazing sensation of him fucking you. Feeling him pound into your stomach as he called you his sweet girl and his pretty little wife was beyond extraordinary. You could feel the familiar tight and warm knot beginning to form in the pit of your stomach already.

As Harry fucks into you, he’s beyond turned on. The way you’re pinned below him as he shoves his cock deep into you along with you pitifully whimpering, moaning, and crying at how good he felt was really doing things to Harry. He never wanted to be away from you ever again. He wanted to feel you every single day.

After fucking into you from behind for a good while and feeling the tight burning sensation forming in the pit of his stomach as well, Harry figures that he’s going to cum soon and he wants to watch your face twist as he does. He then proceeds to stop thrusting all together and pull out of you, which causes you to grumble, resulting in you receiving a hard “shut up” slap to your ass. He then gets lifts himself off of you and flips tugs you onto your back. He knocks your legs apart and gets in between them before slamming his cock back into you.

“Like this baby. Like it when daddy takes control of this tight little cunt of yours?” He pants, continuing to slam his his cock into you. You were too caught up in how good he was making you feel that you couldn’t even form a worded response. All you could do was thrash your head against the bed in agreement. When he sees this, a very wide smirk rises to his face. This is exactly what he missed and wanted to see. You taking all of his cock while you’re quivering and barely holding on. As he continues, Harry can feel the warmth from the pit of his stomach spreading to his entire body, signifying to him that his release was getting extremely close. Judging by the way your once tight grip on the sheets has gone loose, your pitiful whimpers, and the way you’re tightening up around him you’re feeling the exact same way. To make you cum around his cock, with him following right behind you Harry only has to do two things. First, he brings his palm to your lower stomach and presses it into you; putting pressure on the warm knot that was about to explode and allowing him to feel his cock moving inside you. He then comes down, bringing his mouth to your ear to whisper one thing into your ear. “Not too bad for an old man right?” Harry hums patronizingly into your ear. He wanted you to eat your words. And you were. His words, the pressure from his hand, and his cock causes you to burst at the seams around him. You let out a mixture of gasps and whimpers as you completely let go around Harry’s cock. When he feels your walls contracting around him, Harry lets go as well. He releases every last drop of the sexual frustration he’d been carrying around all week; and it felt so good. He loved painting your walls with his cum.

Once the both of you are done and it’s safe to pull out, Harry’s slowly pulls his sopping wet cock from your cunt and collapses onto the bed next to you. 

“Harry, I can’t feel my legs.” You whimper after a couple minuets of silence. 

“M’surprised you’re not used to it by now.” Harry hums smugly. Once he says this, a temporary lull fell over you two. You and Harry were very anxious to go at it again, but you two were holding off to see who would initiate round two. 

“Did you take something before you came in the house?” You whisper over to him, deciding that you needed to be the one to initiate round two.

“Do I need to come over there and shove my cock down that pretty throat of yours for you to get the point?” Harry chuckles at your persistence. 

“Only if you want to.” You whisper sweetly. 

“Oh I want to, and don’t you doubt that.” Harry says matter of factly. 

“Well can we cuddle first? Haven’t cuddled since the night before you left.”

“Anything you want.” Harry coos before moving closer to your limp body. 

Masterlist

[kotachii]

Amusement Park

Pairing: Ace x Reader

Type: Modern! Au

Summary: While lost in an amusement park, you meet a stranger

   The skies were clear and the day was warm, it would of been a splendid afternoon only if you weren't lost in the amusement park. You came to the amusement park with your friends but you got separated from them after getting off a roller coaster. Apparently, there were three exits and you unknowingly went out a different one than them leaving you all alone in the mist of people. After frankly searching for your friends to no avail, you decided to wander around aimlessly.

       You sigh as you popped down in one of the benches beside the scintillating water fountain located in the center of the park. A frown found it's way on your face as you were tired of searching. You really wanted to go on the "Reverse Mountain", known as the biggest attraction in the Grand Line theme park but going alone would be so embarrassing. You shuddered as you could already imagine the piteous look on affectionate couple's faces as they you alone in line, or the pat on the back the employees give you when you say the dreaded phrase of "single rider". There was no way you were going on any attractions before you find your friends.

       "Hey, why do you look so lonely?", a black haired male asked you as he takes a sit beside you.

       "Um...are you talking to me?"

       "I don't see anyone else."

       "If you are just trying to flirt with me, this is not going to work."

       "Chill, no need to be so serious."

       "I am not trying to, it's just common sense to stay away from strangers."

       "No wonder you look so sad!"

       "What do you mean?", you asked him, bewildered by his statement.

       "If you are always trying to distance yourself from strangers, then, you will never meet anyone. You will live a lonely life," he flashed you a grin as he looked at you straight in the eyes.

       "Well, thank you for your concern but I am not lonely at all", you replied with a slight frown. This man was starting to annoy you.

       "Don't lie. If you are not lonely, why would you be sitting alone in an amusement park just staring at the couple by the ice cream shop?"

       You blushed and shook your head to deny but you were cut off by him asking you sternly, with his smile gone, replaced by a serious expression, "So tell me the truth, why are you all alone?"

      You weren't sure how to respond but due to his genuine concern, you replied in a quiet and embarrassed voice, "Actually, I got separated from my friends I can't find them anywhere."

       "Woah, what an coincidence, I got lost from my friends too", he replied enthusiastically as if it was something to be happy about, "well, if you really are lost then you shouldn't be sitting here, we can go look for our friends together."

       "Together? But we've never met before!"

       "And your point is? Lost people should stick together, that's what my grandpa told me."

       "I don't think it works that way."

       "That's the main difference between me and you, this is how you meet new people," he replied with a wink.

       You couldn't help but chuckle at his silly gesture. Without hesitation, you brushed your pants and stood up, "So Captain, where should we go?"

~~~

       Despite the exuberant meeting, the conversation died down into an awkward silence. You've already walked passed the entrance to "Reverse Mountain", so many times and you are more than excited to go on that ride but of course, you still need to find your friends beforehand.

       "Um...", you stuttered as you realized you didn't know how to refer him, "say, do you want to go on some rides, I mean, we are in an amusement park, right?"

       He turns his head to look at you, "Yeah, you're right, all of this walking around and searching is getting me tired, what rides should we go on?"

       Your eyes shine brightly as your look targets once again on the entrance to "Reverse Mountain", with a grin on your face, you opened your mouth to say, "Reverse Moun-"

       "I know, let's go on the Merry-Go round!", he shouts and interrupts you.

      You yelped as he grabs your wrists and drags you to the waiting line of 5 people to go on the Merry-Go round of the Grand Line Theme Park. While you were disappointed at the low intensity of this ride, you couldn't help but find this guy adorable for choosing this childish ride out of every attractions in the theme park.

       "What a manly ride for a man your size," you said sarcastically.

       "Haha, I was worried you will be too scared to go on the larger rides", he replies grinning as usual.

The two of you chose the horses located beside each other and the Merry-Go round starts to roll to life with music, lights and spinning as it goes.

       "Hey, over here!", he shouts over the music as he holds up his phone and takes a selfie with you. You quickly strike a silly pose and he continue snapping pictures but soon, the ride slows as it looses it's momentum into a stop.

       "That was fun," he said as you two exited the ride, "So, now, where do you want to go?"

       "The Reverse Mountain!", you almost shouted too loudly and enthusiastically.

       "Nuh huh, we should leave the best to the last and plus, the waiting line is an hour right now."

       "Fine, I guess it is your pick again", you said, slightly pouting your cheeks.

       "The Haunted Mansion looks great", he said.

       "E-Eh?", you panicked a bit since you have always been scared of ghosts and supernatural being and not to forget, the Grand Line's Haunted Mansion has always been known as a "pirate's graveyard" due to it being so scary and realistic.

       "How a-about late-er?", you replied stuttering a bit.

       "Is someone scared?", he teases you with a smirk on his face.

       "No, I just think we should save the best one for the last," you lied.

       "Haha, you are cute when you try to act tough, don't worry, I will protect you from anything scary and plus, we already have Reverse Mountain placed for last."

~~~

       You bit your lips nervously as you were handed a lantern to share between you and him. The employee in the entrance told you two to walk directly down the hall, turn left and walk up the staircase and follow the arrows on the ground and of course, the cliched saying of "beware for supernatural beings". The farther down the hall you walk, the more nervous you felt. The hall was illuminated solely by the dim lantern the man, which you still haven't ask his name yet, was holding. As that thought cross your mind, you decided to finally ask your companion for a proper introduction. As of now, you were already up the staircase, and there has been nothing except for fake cobweb and old furniture.

       "Hey, Mr. Companion, you know, you've never introduced yourself", you said but was hushed by him immediately.

       "Wait, don't talk, I think I hear something," he said as he holds up the lantern to silence you.

       The two of you stop mid-track and the silences takes over once again except this time, you heard a creaking noise. You could feel your heart pounding since neither you or him was moving, yet the ground was creaking and faint footsteps could be heard. Your companion turned his lantern around a few times to illuminate the otherwise pitch-black hall but no sign of another person's presence could be seen.

       "Let's just keep moving, I don't wanna be here anymore", you said as you lean in closer to him.

       "This haunted mansion really lives up to it's title, don't you agree? Even I am getting chills," his voice trailed off towards the end.

       "I fee-"

       You weren't able to finish your sentence as a figure dressed in a glowing white gown suddenly hanged down from the ceiling right in front of you. Blood was dripping from it's fabric, long black hair cascading over it's face into messy tangles and knives hooked onto their bony fingers. A scream erupted from your throat as adrenaline flows through your body. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest and tears threatening to flow out. You were beyond scared but to your surprise, in a swift of a motion, the man who was walking with you pulled you into his chest to prevent you from seeing the prop that hanged down from the ceiling. You could feel his warm hands on the back of your head, your face engulfed by his sweet aroma. You kept your eyes shut as your face was still buried into him, after about a minute or so, you could hear a cranking and he finally spoke.

       "Hey, are you alright?", he asked.

You tried your best to nod even though your face was still pressed into his chest.

       "It's gone now, it was just a fake prop they used but I guess it did look very realistic", he assured you as he slowly let go of you from the hug.

       You felt embarrassed by your actions but much to your surprised, you missed the warmness of his comfort.

       "Let's get out of here", he said with a warm smile on his face. He grabbed your wrist once again and pulled you along with him. You two jogged out of this haunted mansion without paying attention to any other decor or actors looking to scare the trespassers. You no longer felt scared knowing that he was here to protect you but by this mere thought, you could still feel your heart pounding. You weren't sure if it was from the fear of this mansion or maybe, you felt a new feeling tugging inside your heart.

   You welcomed the sunlight of the exterior as you were more than glad to have exited the dreadful haunted mansion. This is the first time you've admitted of your fear of ghosts to others because you liked to be considered as a strong woman but you didn't felt uncomfortable about sharing this side of you to him.

       "So, what were you going to ask me while we were inside?", he asked you as soon as you left the mansion.

       "I was going to ask you about your name," you replied matter-of-factly.

       "Ah, I didn't tell you my name?", he asks you looking confuse.

       "No, you didn't."

       "Really? I thought I did, are you sure?"

       "Yes I am positive I still have no idea who you are."

       "Ace. My name is Portgas D. Ace," he replied, holding out his hand for a handshake.

       "I'm (Name) (Last Name)," you said, accepting his handshake.

       "(Name) (Last Name).....this sounds so familiar," he said as he tilts his head to the side.

       "Really? Where?"

       "I know I've heard it somewhere but I don't know where."

       "How about you, your name sounds really mysterious, what does the "D." stand for?"

       "I am not sure myself, I think it's just a family thing. Anyways," he said changing the topic, "do you want something to eat?"

       "I am not that hungry."

       "Well, I am, the last to the ice cream shop is paying!", he shouted as he charged into full speed sprinting towards the ice cream shop.

       "Hey, wait no fair!", you chased him but was not able to catch up to his speed.

~~~

              The day was ending and so was your adventures with this stranger called Ace. The two of you still haven't found your friends and the park will be close in an hour or so. The sunset stretches the shadows within the park leaving long silhouettes plastered on the ground. You and Ace were walking side by side, no longer going on rides since both of you "Yeah," you trailed off, scared that he might propose for the two of you to go your separate ways.

       "This day was fun," he said, looking at the sky as it starts to turn into an orange and pink artwork.

       "Umm... Ace, do you want to maybe....s-stay in touch?", you asked blushing deeply.

       "Looks like you're not that bad at making friends", he said chuckling, "how about I give you my phone number?"

       Then, you suddenly remembered that you had your phone this entire time. You could of called your friend a long time ago. You were a dumbass for sure but if you weren't so forgetful, you would of never met Ace. You gave him your phone and he wrote down his name and his number, and you did the same on his phone.

       "Oi! (Name)! Where did you go?", you heard your friends call you from behind. You turned around and waved back. You were about to thank Ace again for today but he was gone. However, a message appeared on your phone.

Ace <3: What d'you say to a cup of coffee tomorrow?

[angstyaches]

em here

I don't want to request anything you have in your askbox already haha so how about some really pukey and sick felix with worried elli? maybe it starts in the car and they think it's carsickness but it turns out to be worse than that?

Here you go, Em! It made me so happy to get a request for these two before I take a break, so thank you! It gets a little angsty, but everything turns out okay.

CW: emeto, sickness, fever, slight confusion, panic attack/anxiety with physical symptoms

___

“This is the last time,” Elliott insisted.

Felix jumped as Elliott raised his voice. He hadn’t realised that he’d been out of it until he forced himself to focus on what his boyfriend was saying.

“It’s the absolute, very last time I’m driving to this place until the actual night of the party,” Elliott muttered, glancing half-heartedly into the side mirror before switching lanes. “Lord, but Nancy’s been dumping these appointments on us left, right, and centre, and I’m sick of it. What if we’d had plans today?”

“Well, we didn’t, darling,” Felix said softly. “And whatever it is, I’m sure Nancy had a decent reason this time.”

“Sorry, boo. I wish I was as good as you are, at assuming the best in people.” Elliott rested a hand on Felix’s knee while the other held the steering wheel. Excitement was lighting up his face, after he’d spent the last ten minutes frowning.  “You and I – we should plan something. Something nice, for when the party-planning fiasco’s blown over. What do you think, boo? Anywhere you’ve been dying to go?”

His optimistic mood, and the mention of travel, should have lifted Felix’s spirits too, but all it did was make him a bit starry-eyed. He stared at Elliott, mesmerised by the dimples that seemed prodded into his cheeks by invisible fingers.

He realised that Elliott was waiting for him to respond, but he couldn’t think of anything to say. Could barely think at all. His head had felt like a spinning top since they’d gotten in the car, and there was a heaviness in his bones that he could no longer convince himself was just from tiredness.

If only a fraction of his discomfort and confusion was showing on his face, then it was no wonder the excited look fell from Elliott’s face.

“Are you alright, Fee?”

Felix gave a short, mirthless laugh. “Do I look as dreadful as I feel?”

“Well, don’t bite me, but – yes, I would say so,” Elliott replied, stealing a few more quick glances as he tried to focus on the road too. “Is it motion sickness?”

“Oh, gosh, maybe.” Felix rubbed a hand across his stomach. It definitely felt a little unsettled, now that he thought about it. He’d be relieved if that was all this turned out to be. “I – I shouldn’t be feeling this bad sitting in the front, but yeah.”

“What did you eat this morning?”

“Not much, just some toast. I wasn’t very hungry when I woke up.” He began to shake his head and lean forward in his seat, rubbing at the sides of his face. Thinking about food – even bland food like toast and butter – was making him feel nauseous. Come to think of it, he’d had a glass of apple juice too, the acidic taste of which was starting to wash back up into his mouth. “Gosh, Elli, I think – I think I need to get out.”

“There’s a rest stop in two minutes, boo, if you can wait that long.”

Felix gave a short grunt of agreement, keeping his head down in his hands and trying to take long, steady breaths. He tried to let up a couple of burps too, which usually helped a lot when his stomach didn’t feel right, but this didn’t feel like nausea brought on by external factors. The more he let himself feel it, the more he realised that there was a deep-set pain in his belly, like all of his organs and muscles were knotting together. The burps were forced – thick with the taste of the apple juice – and not relieving at all.

He was definitely going to have to bring up something other than gas.

“We’re here, boo,” Elliott said, jerking the car slightly as he rushed to park it. “We’re right beside the toilet area, if you need to run –”

Felix was already reaching for his seatbelt and the door handle at the same time. His body swayed a bit as he stepped out onto the time-beaten tarmac, and the faint overcast sky made his head feel even lighter. His thoughts kept floating away; he knew he was supposed to be doing something, but what was it?

“Hey, Fee?” Elliott appeared in front of him and put his hands on either side of his face.

Felix blinked and tried to focus on his boyfriend’s face, his eyes. Oh right, he remembered, feeling a tight cramp shove its way up from the pit of his stomach. He was supposed to be throwing up by now.

He held his own hands to his mouth and shook himself free of Elliott’s. The urge to vomit was steady and slow-burning at first, but he picked up the pace alongside it. The closer he got to the bathrooms, the further up his throat the nausea crawled.

Elliott rushed after his boyfriend once he’d shoved the passenger side door shut. He heard a violent retch as he pushed through the door, followed by an echoing cough. Felix had made it into a cubicle, but there was a short trail of sick on the floor where the show had clearly started the show before being in position.

“Aw, Fee,” Elliott murmured. He laid a hand on Felix’s back, mostly to let him know he was there.

Felix groaned as thick chunks of bread soaked in apple juice coursed up his throat, and he coughed harshly over the mess it made in the toilet bowl and on the seat.

“Made – made a mess,” he whined, pressing the back of his hand to his mouth as he managed to come up for air.

“Boo, I’m sure this dump has seen worse,” Elliott said with a frown. He hated that Felix fixated on unnecessary, irrelevant details while he was sick, instead of just focusing on doing whatever he needed to feel better. He scratched his back lightly. “Are you okay?”

The next sound out of Felix was a pinched sob. “No,” he choked out. “Can – can you clean the floor, darling? I’m sorry, I’d do it myself, I just –”

Elliott flinched back as Felix doubled right over, ejecting another thick wave of sick into the toilet bowl. He clenched his jaw and did as the boy requested, pulling wads of paper towels from the dispenser and mopping up the small amount of sick that had gotten on the floor. He tossed it all in the bin by the doorway. As he turned back to check on his boyfriend, he wondered at the fact that nobody had left or entered since they’d gone in, but maybe other travellers knew how dingy the toilets were, and avoided them like the plague.

“Are you okay, gorgeous?” Elliott asked again, reaching for Felix’s waist as the smaller boy flushed the toilet and turned towards him. He was trembling slightly, and Elliott wondered if he was running a fever; his own body temperature had been so messed up lately that he didn’t trust his own judgment.

“No,” Felix admitted a second time, whimpering against Elliott’s chest before lifting his head again. His eyes seemed unable to focus on Elliott’s. “I – I’m sure it’s just really bad motion sickness. I just… just need a minute to recover...”

“Seriously, boo,” Elliott sighed, putting his hand on the back of Felix’s head. “I think you’re going to need about a day to recover. I’ll bet you and Nancy are down with the same bug or something, and that’s why she didn’t want to leave the house today.”

“You – you think?” Felix rubbed his hands over his belly, as though he could somehow feel out whether that guess was correct or not. “Gosh, could that happen?”

“If it could happen to a witch like Nancy, it could definitely happen to you, Fee,” Elliott said with a sympathetic grimace. Both Felix and Nancy had stomachs as weak as kittens, but Elliott didn’t particularly feel like bullying his sick boyfriend with that analogy right then. Plus, he’d already used up his don’t bite me for the day.

Felix might not have even noticed if Elliott had chosen to tease him, because now that the panic of vomiting had passed, his head was starting to feel like it was detaching itself from his body like a rocket into space. He groaned lowly as Elliott wrapped his arms around him and led him back out to the car.

“I’ll just be a minute,” Elliott said, after settling him in the passenger seat. He rubbed his boyfriend’s back as Felix folded his arms on the dash and buried his head between them. “I’m going to run into the shop and get you something fizzy to sip on.”

Felix flinched as the door closed next to him, his stomach sloshing along with the gentle rocking of the car. He felt what he thought was a sob push its way up from his chest, but what came out of his mouth was a deep, nauseated burp that brought a very bad taste to his mouth. It wasn’t of apple juice anymore either; whatever was wrong with him, it was bringing up whatever remained of last night’s dinner, too. He couldn’t even remember what that was, and as soon as he tried to even think about food again, his stomach heaved.

“Oh no,” he mumbled thickly, lifting his head and reaching for the door handle.

He managed to swing his legs out of the seat and lean forward, his head almost between his knees, before even more thick, sloshy liquid gushed out of him. His head was practically between his knees as the sick splashed over the ground. Felix was worried about getting it on his shoes, but his vision was so full of stars that he ended up closing his eyes, gripping the edge of his seat with one hand and the handle of the door with the other, and trying not to fall out into his own sick.

As soon as he was sure his stomach had settled a bit, Felix leaned back and pulled his feet up to the seat. He rested his chin on his knees, still slumped sideways and facing towards the open door. Just in case. He probably looked ridiculous to anyone who passed by, and he was sure there was a rest stop employee somewhere who would later despise him for throwing up in a car parking spot, but Felix couldn’t bring himself to care.

It felt as though a huge chasm were opening up in his chest and he didn’t know why, or how to stop it. He just tried to hold himself in one piece until Elliott made it back.

“Aw, Fee, are you alright?” Elliott asked softly when he reappeared, laying a hand on his shoulder.

Felix blinked, barely able to open his eyes for the stabbing light of the overhead clouds. His throat felt like it was on fire as he struggled to form words. His eyes were watering, presumably from the effort of heaving up everything in his system; though that certainty started to fade as he nuzzled his cheek against Elliott’s hand and frowned.

“Elli, I… I want my mum.”

The bottle of lemon-and-lime almost slipped out of Elliott’s hand, and he leapt to catch it before it could fall into the new puddle of sick and roll under the car. He stared at his boyfriend’s face as his eyes fell shut again.

“What – Felix?” he whispered, more to himself than anything. For almost a decade, Felix had never said anything like that; he never even wanted to talk about his mother, or any members of his previous family. Elliott had come to accept that it was a part of his life that he just didn’t want to drag into this life, and that was that.

“Fee?” Elliott asked.

Felix didn’t seem to want to respond.

Elliott carefully held his slumped head against his chest as he pulled the boy’s jacket off, hoping it would stop his fever crawling up. Then Elliott tucked the loose plastic bag he’d gotten in the shop into the footwell and rounded the car to the driver’s seat. He unscrewed the bottle of fizz and helped his boyfriend, whose hands were too shaky and whose eyes were too unfocused, take a couple of sips, all the while brushing flecks of mint-green hair back from his face.

Felix leaned into Elliott’s touch again and let out a pitiful whimper.

“You’re okay, gorgeous,” Elliott whispered. “Luckily we’re only about fifteen minutes from home, so I just need you to hang in there a little longer. There’s a bag by your feet, if you’re going to be sick again.”

Felix gave a weak nod of his head against Elliott’s palm.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Fee.” Elliott frowned at the sound of his own voice tapering off into a low sob. “I’m sorry you’re… I’m sorry you’re not with her. I… I did that, I kept you from...”

The sight of Felix’s already-closed eyes scrunching up slightly made Elliott’s stomach twist. What was he thinking, rambling on like this when he should have been focusing on getting Felix back home?

Elliott tried to keep his hands from shaking long enough to get Felix’s seatbelt on. He also rolled up Felix’s jacket into a makeshift pillow for him to use against the door until they got home.

“I love you,” he said. “I’m going to make sure you’re okay.”

Felix murmured incoherently as he lay against the door, hugging his arms tightly to his sick belly. Elliott ran a hand across his faded mint hair, tucking the heaviest of his bangs behind his ear so that they didn’t stick to his forehead.

His own head was spinning as he turned towards the steering wheel. There was a weight on his chest, like a dark cloud full of rain. He unscrewed Felix’s drink and took a couple of sips himself; his body would most definitely reject it if he took in too much sugar and chemicals, but his mouth was suddenly so dry that it seemed worth the risk.

“Fuck,” he muttered to himself. He had to get Felix home.

___

In the end, Elliott barely remembered a thing from the moment he started the ignition at the pit stop, to the moment he turned it off in the townhouse garage. His hands leapt back from the steering wheel, as though he’d just watched it come to life by itself. The ends of his fingertips, along with his feet, tingled as though they weren’t getting enough blood, despite the fact that his heart was in a throbbing frenzy.

He was brought back to reality by a gentle moan from the other side of the car.

“Fuck,” Elliott whispered, turning to undo his boyfriend’s seatbelt. Whatever had just happened, he’d have to deal with it later, once he’d sorted Felix out.

“Elli? I don’t feel good,” Felix grumbled as he sat up slightly. The empty plastic bag rustled as he clutched it in his right hand; Elliott hadn’t even seen him lean over to grab it from the floor. The poor boy was holding his belly with his other hand, and now that he’d been asleep for a little while, his eyes looked like they’d sunk into his face.

“As though I need telling, boo,” Elliott sighed, stroking Felix’s cheek and watching his eyelashes flutter aimlessly at the cold touch. “Let’s get you inside, okay? Then I’ll – I’ll get Ryan and see if she knows what’s going on with you.”

___

Felix belched weakly over the empty basin that he was practically spooning in bed. His arm barely had enough strength to keep him up on his side, but he didn’t dare lie back down until his belly had stopped churning. When his cheek finally sank into the cool surface of the pillow, Felix let his eyes fall shut, though he kept a hand on the side of the basin so he’d know where it was if he needed it.

The bedroom door opened and Elliott came in, carrying water and a thermometer and a few packets of medicine.

“I’m officially a detective,” he sighed. He sat at the edge of the bed and rested a hand gently on Felix’s shoulder. “Nancy’s got the same thing, so I guess you’re both gonna have to just ride it out.”

Felix looked up from behind the basin, peering at his boyfriend’s face. Even though he felt like death – not literally, as he was aware of what actual death felt like – he could tell something wasn’t right with Elliott either. Ever since they’d gotten home, and the fog in Felix’s brain started lifting, Elliott had seemed oddly shaky, breathing a little raggedly.

“Are – are you okay, darling?” Felix’s throat felt raw from the bile that had been surging up repeatedly for the past hour.

“Me?” Elliott’s dark eyelashes fluttered in surprise. He shifted the basin to the floor so he could sit a little closer to Felix. “You’re - you’re worried about me, boo?”

Felix nodded weakly as Elliott brushed a gentle thumb against his cheek. His whole body felt like it was being pulled down into quicksand; thankfully, Elliott’s touch was enough to let him know that he was still just there, on the solid mattress. 

“You’re so sweet, and I’m glad you’re a little more with-it now,” Elliott said, “but I’m fine. I’m almost full-vamp like Ryan, so I don’t think I can catch this.”

“Mmm.” Felix sighed, closing his eyes so that all he could focus on was the motion of Elliott’s fingers. He let out a deep sigh, the grumbling in his gut finally settling down a little. Still, he wrapped his arms around his waist and curled up protectively around his sick belly.

Elliott continued tracing circles into Felix’s neck and down his back. Dark feelings swirled in his chest as he watched his nauseous boyfriend shiver slightly in his semi-conscious state, whimpering and curling a little more tightly around his stomach. Elliott’s heart was like a battering ram on his ribs until Felix’s face became temporarily peaceful. 

“I love you,” he whispered, not because he thought Felix would hear him; he said it because it made the fear a little easier to cope with. The last thing he expected was to hear Felix whisper it back, albeit with a weak hand rising up to cover his mouth.

“Love you so much, darling...” Felix burped behind his palm, his eyes still closed. “But can you get me the basin again?”

[imaginesmai]

Tom Holland - Fawn (6)

Get READY mobsty Tom is here! This is inspired by  Don’t play with fire , @peaceisadirtyword. It’s an amazing Ivar fic, take a look if you have time!

Previous parts  in the general summary. Click here to read the previous parts!

Plot: after knowing the truth about Richard’s implication in Dom’s accident, you feel like breathing some air. Tom is going to try everything in his power to make everything better, but there are problems coming your way.

Warnings: blood, death, guns and violence. Creepy behaviour, not from Richard.

“Y/N I’m so sorry”

“Tom, really, it’s –“

“No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have told you” he rushed to explain again. “I just – needed to vent, because it has been a really difficult week. And I hadn’t – I’ve missed you. I didn’t want to worry you”

You stopped walking and Tom almost collided with your back. The busy street was as full as any Monday morning, if not even fuller. There were people running up and down, the centre of London buzzing with life. You had still a few chores to do, and after leaving the clothes in the laundry with a two hours program, you had the intention of fulfilling at least half of your task.

But the boy who had been apologizing since he left the laundry with you wasn’t making it any easier, as he was following you until you turned around. When you turned around to look at him, he had the knowing smirk on his lips. He crossed his arms and, even if you knew what he wanted was to apologise, he had a hint of mischief on his eyes.

“I’ve already told you it’s okay” you mimicked his pose. “Just overwhelmed for a second”

“I guess I’ll have to accompany you to make sure you don’t faint, or anything” he shrugged, the blush you had missed so much back.

“Boring tasks won’t overwhelm me” you chuckled. “But feel free to come along, if you don’t have anything thrilling to do”

You turned back and that time Tom walked besides you. Neither were dressed very formal, just a pair of friends that were doing daily chores. You wondered briefly if Richard would see you. His apartment was in the centre of London, and you didn’t really know if he was in there all day or got out. Either way, you were having conflicted feelings about the matter, and were sure that as soon as you closed your house’s door, you would be spiralling in thoughts about how he had lied to you.

Being with Tom seemed like a good solution to you, so you pushed yourself closer to him and excused the movement with the overcrowding streets of London, even if both you and your inner voice knew it wasn’t true.

Tom didn’t notice or didn’t want to, because he just kept walking at your pace.

“Doing chores with you can be a thrilling experience” Tom shrugged. “I can take you to a few places that might match bungee jumping”

“That doesn’t sound very legal, does it?” you teased him, knowing he was probably talking about the black market.

“Sometimes cops are involved, if that’s what you mean” Tom said, and you ignored the image of Richard. “Where are we going?”

“I have to buy some groceries, pick up two blueprints and I wanted to look a new jacket” you listed the things you thought were less embarrassing, because there was no way you were telling him that your next stop would be the pharmacy to buy pads. “Thrilling adventure, uh?”

“Can’t think of a better way to spend my Monday morning”

Besides noticing that Tom looked devilishly handsome and that his eyes had no right to be that beautiful, you noticed that it was the first time you did chores accompanied. Richard always said that doing chores was the worst thing he could think of, and you could count with one hand how many times he had asked you to buy something instead of going with you.

Your first stop was the supermarket. After picking up a cart with the excuse of Tom buying some other things, you took out your list of food you had written at home and showed it to him. It was pretty long, and it took him a while to read it; time you took to shamelessly check him out.

It was easy to forget that Tom was part of a mob, even more when he was out of the club. There you had the constant reminder of the gun on the hem of his trousers, and of his brothers in the VIP zone. On the supermarket, Tom seemed a different person. His hair had grown a little since you had seen him for the first time, not that buzzed but just straight short. He was more relaxed, or at least to you. And not having the pressure of being there because of Richard made you cherish the moment more.

Leaning against the cart and looking at the list with furrowed brows, Tom Holland was more human of what you had ever seen.

“This – what is this?” he pointed with his finger to a word, and the paper crumpled a little. You looked over his shoulder to where he was pointing.

“Uh, that’s carrots”

“No, here you can’t read carrots” he pointed again. “This is just some kind of electrogram with a slight upward tendency at the end”

You snorted a laugh and went back to walking, expecting Tom to follow you. He did, bending over the cart and with the list on his hand.

“I give you that you’re cute, fawn, but your handwriting is demoniac” Tom continued. “If I read all this out loud, no one assures me that a demon isn’t going to appear behind my back”

“You can try, but I’m not saving you if it does”

“Wow, that’s really rude of you” Tom pushed the cart until he was by your side again, and handed you the list. “Please don’t ever send me a letter”

“I can’t even send a message Tom”

It wasn’t your intention to send the hint, but if Tom took it and you got his number, you wouldn’t be the one complaining. You weren’t sure when the morning was over if you would see him again in the night, because Richard had yet to say if he wanted you to go. And if you didn’t have you, you wouldn’t. That didn’t mean you didn’t want to see Tom anymore.

“Yeah, we have to fix that” Tom commented as you stopped by the cereals aisle. “Give me your phone”

“I don’t know if you’re a stalker yet” you gave him a mocking side glance as you bent down to pick a box.

“Only one way to find out”

You took the cereal box out of its place and onto the cart, and gave Tom your unlocked phone. Not wanting him to see anything he shouldn’t see, like Richard’s conversation, you gave him the dialling up directly, and he tapped away. You entertained yourself meanwhile picking up two milk cartoons and leaving them in the cart.

You realized that you were nearly done, and that you didn’t want to leave just yet. But you could extend that much the supermarket and the homey look on Tom, so you decided to pick up the vegetables and leave for the next part.

Tom gave you back your phone and you were surprised to see that it was already locked; meaning he had put himself a contact name. Before you could ask what had it been, Tom was already on his way to pick up the carrots.

-

“You know what, I think it wasn’t that bad” Tom talked through the curtain. “I would erase the part where you unfolded the blueprints in the middle of the streets and they flew away, but I had a good time”

You rolled your eyes but chuckled anyway. You were running low on time before the machine on the laundry shop ended, but you still insisted on looking for your jacket. The green one was going to finally retire, and you needed one for the incoming spring. Tom had proposed several shops in where a piece of cloth costed more than a whole year earnings.

Tom had just given you a pointed glare, because probably for him money wasn’t tight, but you had insisted on going to your favourite shop anyway. It was close to the laundry shop, you didn’t have the constant pressure of finding Richard anymore, and besides it had the same jacket but with a different colour.

The jacket had been already brought, but you had seen a cute blue dress and Tom had seen you see it. Richard had never encouraged you to buy clothes, even less advised you while doing so. But Tom had thrown the dress to your arms and pushed you inside the dresser.

It was a long dress, not fit to go out to a club. With white flowers and a small opening on your right leg, the dress was longer from the back. It was crossed on the chest and with short sleeves. You weren’t sure what to think about it at first, but once you saw it on, you had to say it was beautiful.

You made a few turns and let the dress move around, and a silly smile formed on your face.

“Is it on?” Tom talked again, and you got out of your daydream. “I want to see it”

“Give a second”

Subconsciously, you fixed your hair in the mirror and checked for anything that could be wrong. It would be more than a few seconds, you were sure. You put on your white sneakers, eternally grateful that you had decided to shave your legs on Saturday, and tied them. They matched with the dress, and you couldn’t help making a few silly faces in the mirror.

Finally, you turned around and opened the curtains.

Tom wasn’t looking at you directly, but at somewhere in the shop. He had his eyebrows burrowed and the face you had seen in Dom’s the last time was back. It wasn’t for long, because as soon as he heard the curtain open, he turned around and pretended nothing was wrong. But you had already seen it, and for a moment you feared Jacob or Richard were there. Still gripping the curtain, you took a hesitant step forward and looked to the right.

There weren’t many people there, just the employees and a few people. Two woman, a group of men and some couples. You didn’t see anyone that deserved Tom’s worry, so you went back to your previous position and gave him a hesitant smile. He was already looking at you, with a small smile and a special shine on his eyes.

“What do you think?” you asked, moving your hips a little.

“It’s just – the dress is so you” Tom’s voice sounded a little rough. “It’s perfect, and it looks great on you. You’re… gorgeous, fawn”

“Thank you” you blushed and looked down to your feet.

“Maybe…” Tom raised his arm, and took a step forward. “Can I –“

You nodded and Tom stepped up until you could feel his breath on your face. It wasn’t necessary to be that close, but you didn’t complain. His hand hovered over your face until it raised a little, enough so that he could touch your hair. It fell all over when he took the rubbed band, and you were glad because at least covered your ears.

Tom didn’t stop there, but ducked your hair behind your ear. Tom seemed to be as nervous as you, because his fingers were warm. He left his hand close to your face.

“That’s better” he coughed out.

You should have moved away, because Tom wasn’t your boyfriend and because the laundry machines were probably nearly over. But neither of you attempted to do so. Tom’s hand rested on your cheek, his thumb nearing your mouth. Maybe it was you, but your inner voice was screaming that you were closer every second. Life around the shop seemed to keep going, but for you it stopped.

You knew that Richard would have accepted you sleeping with him if it meant valid information, and you didn’t feel an inch of your body that wanted to tear apart. Tom kept closing in, until your noses touched.

You were about to close your eyes when someone coughing made you both move away.

“Tommy”

You looked to the new voice, in fear some cop would be again ruining your time with Tom. You knew most of the cops in London, because of Richard, and the man who was smiling at you from the entrance of the fitting room wasn’t one.

He was chewing on a toothpick while leaning over the wall, his arms crossed. They were full of black dark hair, that matched the curly ‘dough’ on his head. If you had to rank him in your list of ‘gangster look’, he was on the top. He even had a short beard that looked nasty, and his eyes were exactly what you expected to see when you first met Tom.

The way he had said his name made Tom tense up.

“Didn’t expect you in seeing this kind of place” the man said, and you got the impression that he had a disgusting smell.

You noticed that the shop seemed to have emptied in a second, and the group of men that were looking at some jeans before were now eyeing you slightly. Tom didn’t answer and the man laughed, making his stomach move up and down. You knew there was something you didn’t know going on, and that it would be very beneficial for you to hurry the fuck up out of there.

But you were frozen in the spot. It had been a while since you had felt that way, probably since the first times Richard left you there alone for the first time. You tried to tell yourself that you had Tom, who surely wouldn’t leave you alone, because he had showed to be a much better man than Richard.

Your heart was already beating loud in your ears, and you clenched your hand around the fabric of the dress. It was colder than before.

“Why don’t you change, mh?”

Tom looked at you when he talked, and attempted to look comforting. But you knew that look, because he had given it to you when he had left you at Lisa’s house. His smile was tight and his hand urged you back into the fitting room. Tom’s eyes tried to say that everything was alright, but your mind was already on panicking mood.

He gave you a last smile and closed the curtain. You heard steps and hushed voices, meaning that Tom had walked out of the fitting rooms.

You quickly focused on your task. The dress would likely never be bought or even looked up, but you were decent enough to take off your shoes before taking it off. The laces messed themselves in between your fingers and your vision became blurry. You tugged at them until they finally came off, and you rushed to take off the dress.

It was the most difficult thing you had done in your life, because the cloth got tangled with your arms and you almost fell out on the floor. You collided with the walls and jumped a few times, until your head was free and you could breathe again. You left the dress on the bench and turned around to put on your jeans.

Only to be met by a completely new man who was staring at you in your underwear. In your struggling fit with the dress, you had missed the curtain opening and the man stepping in your personal space.

“Hey”

You only had time to grab the closest item and bring it close to your chest before being dragged out of the room by your forearm. It wasn’t gentle or nice, it was demanding and you were sure you would have bruises that night. You were too busy not planting your face on the ground that you couldn’t even scream, just whine and let a few tears finally roll down.

“Wait – please, I-I need –“ you tried to beg at least for your trousers, because you only had your underwear and a shirt clutched to your chest.

“Shut up, I’m not gonna hurt you Y/N” the guy hissed.

The surprise about him talking with such familiarity, as if you were part of the gang, left you stunned. It gave him the opportunity to drag you farther from the room. You tried to think if Tom had said your name when you were in the shop, but you only remembered him calling you fawn. You had thought it was a stupid nickname before, but it made you feel less guilty; because a fawn wouldn’t be doing to Tom what you were.

Suddenly any possibility of going back to the room to take your clothes vanished because you exited the fitting rooms and stepped into the shop. The rest of the group that had been badly pretending they weren’t with the bearded man were gone, and not even the shop assistants were there.

Everything passed rushing because the guy who was dragging seemed to be in a hurry, and because you were really, really close to bursting into tears. The grip on your arm seemed made of iron, and you kept stumbling with your own naked feet.

In a few seconds the man stopped walking and squeezed you by his side.

“That your girl, Tommy?” the man from before asked.

He had a nasty gash on his forehead and his voice sounded weird because of the heavy flow of his bloody nose, but other than that he still had the smug smirk.

Tom was in front of you, held by three guys while seeming more intimidating than ever. He had the skin rounding his eye red and puffy, and his eyebrow was open too; even if you hadn’t hear anything, it was obvious that there had been a fight between them. Other than that Tom looked fine, but really angry. It reminded you of an angry bull, that when set free would destroy everything in its path.

His eyes couldn’t hold the calm he wanted to attempt a moment before, when he had pushed you in the fitting room. Instead, from the back of his throat came something similar to a growl and he trashed. You weren’t aware of how strong Tom was until he moved and the three guys shook with him. One of them actually received an elbow to the chin, and at the same time you received a slap.

A small scream was all that left your lips as you were barrelling to the ground, which you hit pretty painfully.

“Stay the fuck still” the man who had slapped you threatened, and Tom stopped moving.

“Claudio –“

“That your girl, Tommy?” said Claudio asked again.

You rose to your knees with the shirt still covering your front, the tears running down your cheeks. You were scared, and if Richard came and screamed at you for being a scared fawn, you would take it. Because the police had to come, right?

Tom gritted his teeth but didn’t move. You were hoisted up by your forearm again, to the other man’s side. Claudio hummed and walked until he was in front of you again, confirming your hypothesis about his smell being disgusting. Your cheeks were squeezed between his fingers, painfully, and he shook your head like a rag.

“So this pretty thing isn’t yours?” Claudio raised a brow, and you didn’t dare to let the shirt fall to push him away. “Mh, that’s a shame”

“Then why don’t you fuck off?” Tom snarled, and you received another slap. You cried out that time, but you didn’t fell to the ground.

“Your voice is irritating me, Tommy. And I don’t have –“

Everything happened so fast that you weren’t sure what went first. Claudio was enjoying so much every tear that travelled down your cheek that didn’t hear the grunts, but you did. They were soft and quick, and then two bodies fell to the ground.

That got Claudio’s attention, who seemed to think better and decided that his time there was over. Two of the men that had been holding Tom were on the ground, blood oozing from their throats, and the third one was holding a gun for nothing. It fired and finally Claudio moved, so that you could see Tom.

There was blood, so much blood that it could have been his and you wouldn’t have known. The man pointed the gun to Tom as he was getting up from the floor, but he didn’t have time to shoot again. With a technique that you had only seen in films, Tom took the gun out of his grasp and shot him between the eyes.

The man made some strange spasming, not fully dead for a second until he fell against the wall. If the big stain of blood wasn’t enough, he created a thin line from where he fell down. You were pulled out of your own horror when Claudio pushed you in front of him. Tom was pointing at you, and you weren’t so sure that he wouldn’t shoot you to get to the guy.

Tom himself was a nightmare to look at. There was blood on his face, on his hands and on his clothes, and his eyes were as empty as the day at the club. He didn’t even flatter when you became the target, neither moved the gun.

“If you’re so brave to threaten me” Tom started, and his voice was as plain as paper. There was no hate, no anger or no frustration. Just Tom Holland, the leader of the mafia. “Don’t hide behind her, coward”

There had been a fourth man, the one that had dragged you out of the fitting room, but he was long gone. Claudio seemed to realize that he was alone, with Tom Holland, who had killed three of his men without any help. His options ran low and he did the first thing he thought of; throw you over a cloth rack while he ran.

You tripped with the coats that fell from it stumbled to the ground, as you heard steps running away. The whole thing crashed down and you were covered in clothes, not being able to move. The upper part hit you on the head while your feet got stuck with the lower, and you started to hyperventilate because you couldn’t see a thing.

There was no way to say if what you were hearing were police sirens or your own heartbeat, so you just closed your eyes. For a moment, you thought you were alone. If you had been with Richard, you would surely be, because he would be running behind the man to stop him from running away.

But you didn’t hear any more guns firing, neither more steps rushing by your side. A pair of hands helped you to push the clothes away, and when you were untangled, you were met with Tom’s eyes. You let out the first sob as he said the first apology of the day.

“I’m sorry – I’m so, so sorry”

Tom pushed you against his arms, and you wrapped yourself around him like a koala, staining his sweater with tears. You didn’t care about the blood or about the mess in the store, just pressed your face in the crook of his neck and cried. Tom’s hand shook as it made its way to the back of your head, pressing you farther into him, as if you were going to dissolve.

You were too busy crying on your own to notice Tom’s chocked cry, or how his grip on you was too tight to be just meant to comfort you. You didn’t know how long you were like that; you only know, how weird it was that the guy had known your name.

Want to know more about me? Here is my Masterlist! Feedback is always appreciated!!

Tom Holland/ Peter Parker taglist:

@delicately-important-trash

@lexxxistrips

@smilexcaptainx

@aikaterrina

@zalladane​

@gypsystuf​ (since you didn’t answer me, I just put you on the general taglist. Let me know if you want to change!)

@nikkixostan

Tom Holland Fawn taglist:

@averyfosterthoughts

@killerqueenvibes

@spideylovin

@fantastic-fans

@addictofsupernatural

@americaswritings

@itsjusttor

@sunflxwer99

@dramione-winchester-mccall

@nicolettalauren

@coveredinthemessimade

@spideydobik

@runway-to-my-aid

@yeahimcrying​

@herondale-snow-carstairs​

@softstarkk​

@atomicwinneralienhairdo

@watson-emma​

@ifntelyinspirit​

@himynameis-groot​

[jmaartenw]

How Much Does a Cloud-Based Telephone System Cost? IntroductionIn the digital era, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. One of the most effective ways to achieve these goals is by adopting a cloud-based telephone system. This innovative technology offers numerous benefits, including flexibility, scalability, and advanced features that traditional phone systems can't match. However, one question that often arises when considering this transition is: how much does a cloud phone system cost?Understanding the Cost of a Cloud-Based Telephone System The cost of a cloud-based telephone system varies widely depending on several factors. These include the size of your business, the number of users, the features you require, and the provider you choose. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from £7 to £55 per user per month for a basic package. This could include the cost of the hardware if you require physical desk phones on desks. But unlike the "good ol' days" you won't have to shell out thousands of pounds for a physical telephone system which will be obsolete and in need of replacing again in 5 to 10 years time. 1. Size of Your Business Cloud telephone system are sold on a subscription basis so the size of your business obviously plays a significant role in determining the cost of a cloud phone system. Small businesses with fewer employees will typically pay less than larger corporations with hundreds or thousands of employees. However, many providers offer volume discounts for larger companies or those who commit to longer contracts. 2. Number of Users Subscriptions are sold based on the number of users which also impacts the cost significantly. Most providers charge on a per-user basis which means that the more employees you have using the system, the higher your monthly costs will be. But do make sure you ask about different licence types as often providers will have seperate prices for various types of licences. For instance a reception desk user might require a higher licence type then a classroom teacher who receives the occasional call from the office but rarely makes any herself. 3. Features Required The features you require will also affect your overall costs. Basic packages usually include standard features such as voicemail, call forwarding and call waiting. However, if you need advanced features like video conferencing, CRM integration or auto-attendant capabilities then expect to pay more. Choosing Your Provider There are many providers out there offering cloud-based telephone systems each with their own pricing structures and feature sets. It's important to do your research and compare different options before making a decision. Some popular providers include RingCentral, 8x8, and Vonage. These companies offer a range of packages to suit different business needs and budgets. For example, RingCentral's basic package starts at $19.99 per user per month while their premium package costs $49.99 per user per month. Make sure you shop around as there are many Cloud telephony providers based in the UK. Saint IT can definitely assist you to find the right package. Additional Costs to Consider When calculating the cost of a cloud-based telephone system, it's also important to consider additional costs that may not be included in your monthly fee. 1. Setup and Installation Some providers charge a one-time setup or installation fee. This can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the complexity of your system. 2. Equipment While cloud phone systems require less equipment than traditional ones, you may still need to purchase some hardware such as IP phones or headsets. and you may also require additional network cabling if you're installing phones in locations where no network exists. VOIP phones are rarely wireless and we recommend always using network cables for your telephones 3. Training Depending on the complexity of

your new system, you might need to invest in training for your staff to ensure they can use it effectively. Conclusion: Is a Cloud Phone System Worth the Cost? While the cost of a cloud-based telephone system can seem high initially, it's important to consider the long-term savings and benefits it offers. These systems are more flexible and scalable than traditional ones, allowing you to easily add or remove users as your business needs change. As we already alluded to in the introduction you can start with very low up front costs and there's no risk of your system becoming obsolete and in need of replacement. Moreover, they offer advanced features that can improve productivity and customer service - ultimately leading to increased revenue. Plus, because they're hosted in the cloud, there's no need for costly maintenance or upgrades. In conclusion, while the cost of a cloud phone system can vary greatly depending on various factors, many businesses find that the benefits far outweigh the costs. By doing thorough research and choosing a provider that fits your specific needs and budget, you can leverage this innovative technology to drive growth and success in your business. Book an appointment with us now!

[kathyprior4200]

Heavenly Boss Episode Four: D.I.A.B.L.O.

“Welcome the wackiest episode of the season! When Elves and Diablos clash over the fates of a fallen cherub trio, things sure do happen.”

Oh, hello. Docile here, welcome back to Heaven! I know things were a bit wild and confusing last time. Let me try and explain a bit.

 Apparently the first Heaven’s blessing company C.H.E.R.U.B. had been under the guidance of one of my previous bosses, Kiva. I don’t know why anyone would approve of her, other than she’s famous for her singing in both Heavens. Instead of spreading faith and love, she wanted more fame and a chance to create her own world on Earth. She briefly used the cherubs’ powers to revive certain people on Earth and kill off others deemed “unworthy” in God’s eyes. There is a good reason why no one should bring back the dead. Even C.H.E.R.U.B. and my company E.L.F. know that would only cause overpopulation, war, and an alteration of history. It broke my heart when we had to reverse the damage Kiva had done. In the process, we freed C.H.E.R.U.B. from Kiva’s influence, Tirred from her influence and sent the dead back to the other side. We also had to erase the memories of the event from the mortals for obvious reasons. Thankfully, Deerie just straight up banished Kiva and her group…I heard they got arrested on Earth, but I have a feeling they may come back.

 Tirred’s been experiencing a few struggles with getting over the event. He had given into his desire for more status and like many angels in Heaven, he tends to see demons as “lesser than.” He’s being monitored under supervision for a bit just in case, but I think he can fix up his attitude…mostly.

 Recently, I got an update on how C.H.E.R.U.B. is doing. They had failed to save the life of a greedy inventor and were banished to Earth. I have a bad feeling that they’ll get corrupted in Hell and return for revenge against their I.M.P. rivals. I’m all for keeping I.M.P. in line to try and stop their horrible mass murders, but fighting fire with fire usually doesn’t end well. Although I think that indigo sheep, Collin, has the purest heart of the three.

 So far, we’ve been doing business in Heaven as usual: record keeping on human life, plus spreading God’s words of good faith (and trying to leave out the bad messages of “ditch your loser friends who you can’t use.”) There’s a difference between leading cooperatively and leading selfishly. True leadership requires lifting others up as well as yourself. I guess our Heavenly Father doesn’t trust anyone else due to Lucifer trying to take His throne all those centuries ago. Paperwork is always tedious but it must be done. I know our business tithers between legal and illegal but we’ll deal with any consequences that may arise. My job is my passion and my employees are like my family.

 Right now, my team and I are discussing some ways to meet and collaborate with C.H.E.R.U.B. I think they need some guidance on properly interacting with humans. Plus, I think Sunna and I are tempted to give those cute cherubs some hugs. Truthfully, I hope we can get to them before they “sink further down,” if you catch my drift. Ideally, C.H.E.R.U.B. could stay on Earth and continue protecting humanity. Or we could provide them sanctuary in our Heaven. The first option seems more likely due to both Deerie’s rules and interdimensional complications. It’s very rare for an individual to travel to the parallel universes…and Earth is in the middle of all the Heavens and Hells!

 But hey, surely it’s worth a try, right?

 Sunna was peacefully sleeping on one of the chairs around the smooth table at E.L.F. headquarters. The elves were seated in their spots with Docile at the head of the table.

 “Alright guys,” he said. “This is a very important mission. With Lord Gabriel’s help, I’ve pinpointed C.H.E.R.U.B.’s location to be in a forest near a lake, not too far from that inventor’s old mansion.” He pointed to certain spots on a holographic map in front of them. “It appears they briefly stayed in a church for sanctuary last December and are now trying to stay low. Gabriel said they had been helping other humans in secret but haven’t gotten rid of their desires for acknowledgement, praise and material gains.”

 “Hold up,” said Tirred with his usual yawn. “I thought that C.H.E.R.U.B. never asks for any fees.”

 “That is true, but I’m talking about what they seek. The three cherubs were raised in a culture that values perfection, reward and the pursuit of happiness…”

 Tirred coughed, “Americans,” which earned him a glare from his boss.

 Docile continued, “Even Heaven’s citizens have flaws of their own. Selfishness exists in everyone, no matter how altruistic they try to be. C.H.E.R.U.B. knows that if they spread love, they can also feel good about themselves. But they always expect something in return for their work. Money, praise, God’s grace, whatever it is. The point is, they never help others just for the sake of doing so.”

 “That actually makes sense,” Timmid added, brushing back her short white hair. “I wonder if they were so quick to collaborate with us because they just wanted us to promote their company.”

 “Which is what we’re randomly doing instead of, you know…worrying about ourselves in our reality!" Tirred added, waving his hands for emphasis. “We shouldn’t have to care about some other cheesy company.”

 Sunna happily mumbled “cheese” in her sleep.

 “You have a good point Tirred, but this is different,” Docile elaborated. “C.H.E.R.U.B. may be from another realm, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least try to help them out. Remember that we help humans and angels alike when we can.”

 “We can’t help everybody,” Tirred said. “Especially those humans and demons who…”

 “We’re not talking about them,” Docile added, holding up a hand. “There’s no need to be a downer when I’m trying to spread light onto a dire situation here, okay?”

 Tirred crossed his arms. “I’m helping you see the reality of things. The other angelic orders won’t approve of this. Especially since traveling to the parallel realms is forbidden!”

 “And the reality is that we will continue on with this mission because it’s the right thing to do,” Docile argued, standing his ground. “It is our job to help those in need, no matter how bizarre the situation may be. So for your sake, I suggest you keep yourself in line.”

 Tirred grumbled and backed away slightly. Docile sighed and straightened up.

 “Plus, we aren’t traveling to the other Heaven. We’re going to Earth. That’s where C.H.E.R.U.B. is.” He glanced over at the large leather bound Bible that allowed them to travel to Earth. He didn’t know how much longer Azrael and Samuel would allow him to keep it, but hopefully a bit longer.

 “Won’t we need disguises again?” Timmid asked. “Or Sunna?”

 “I think we’ll be alright with going in our true forms,” said Docile. “But remember to lay low and stick together. After all, C.H.E.R.U.B. will be in their regular forms…might as well meet angel to angel.”

 “Okay,” said Timmid.

 There was a knock on the door, which startled Sunna awake. “Guys, do you hear that?”

 “That was the door,” called Timmid.

 Sunna walked over and opened it. “Hello,” she said as two men entered. One was short and fat, the other was tall and thin.

 “Are those…supervillains?” asked Timmid.

 “More like superheroes!” called the thin man. He had an elegant white mustache and white-gray skin. He wore a white top hat with a purple brim and old time glasses with purple lens. His suit was white with a large purple cross in the center, the arrow pointing up. His boots were purple and his cape was light blue.

 The squat man beside him wore a white suit with thin blue lines on it with a beige collar. He wore a white bowler hat with a blue trim and white rimmed glasses with teal lens. His mustache was black and his skin was white-gray. Both men had halos and white wings.

 “I’m Straight Nate!” greeted the thin man. “Craftsman of all things straight and narrow! This is my partner Kyle Kipton!”

 “Nice to meet you both!” Docile said, shaking their hands. “How’d you get into Heaven?”

 Nate explained. “I wasn’t always a young man. Kyle and I ran Kyle-Nate Tools, a local shop for farmers. Earlier today, we were giving food, eggs and farming equipment to the poor. We could’ve saved so many. We both got involved in our job and felt so much younger than before. It was marvelous! Turns out that Lyle Lipton’s anti-aging machine in his factory was sending out rays that turned us younger and younger by the day. Our customers soon grew suspicious when we suddenly appeared as children. Both of us were almost handed over to police. We raced toward Lyle’s place, hoping to get back to our normal ages. But before we could reach him, the mob had cornered us with torches and pitchforks. We refused to give them what they wanted and they…killed me. It was a miracle that Lyle’s machine secrets didn’t get out. Everyone believed the mobsters to be crazy. Thanks to some angel magic, no one else sought to be young again.”

 “I died shortly after Nate,” said Kyle. “Almost thought about taking my life, but Covid 19 did that for me.”

 “Sorry,” said Sunna.

 “Brother bucking Covid ruins everything!” Docile spat.

 “Wait,” Tirred asked. “If you turned into children, why do you look so…”

 “Wise?” Kyle finished with a shrug. “Who knows? Age doesn’t matter for saints up here. We stay the same age as when we died on Earth like the sinners do in Hell.”

 “Well that story was a load of rubbish,” Tirred scoffed.

 “Don’t be rude,” Sunna chided.

 “It’s alright,” Nate said. “Kyle and I are trying to figure out what do to next now that we’re in Heaven. I wonder if there are any farms around that could use our help.”

 “I’ve never heard of farms in the sky before,” Kyle said.

 “Well Heaven has a whole society like Hell does, so schools, farms, houses, pretty much anything from all time periods exist here,” said Docile.

 “Have you heard of the Canadians?” asked Sunna. “They are anti-cannibals, against eating meat in all forms. A bunch of French-speaking vegetarian cultured folk. A bit eccentric. They make the best maple syrup and host the best air hockey games. You know, literally in the air…”

 Nate rolled his eyes. “People are so quick to judge these days.”

 On a nearby television screen, a commercial showed a dark teal skinned elf wearing a black outfit and a black hat, twirling a cane. “Are you looking for work to make solemn stories and formal films? Well call me at Sully Sirius’ Serious Idea Studios, where you can create art and get rich! The one who makes the best creation will receive two free tickets for Woo-Hoo Land! But still…I have standards for heaven’s sake!” A brief clip showed Sully selling holy water bottles at the theme park.

 “Wierdo,” muttered Kyle.

 “Well, I wish you two the best of luck up here,” said Docile. “Thanks for stopping by.”

 “Anytime,” said Nate. Nate and Kyle waved goodbye before exiting out the door.

 Docile turned to a winged cherub deer.

 “You think we’ll succeed in our mission?”

 “Yeah, oh yes, yes, yes!” Doe-Doe trilled genuinely, typing notes on an IPad while wearing yellow overalls. “Go beyond the rules and you do you! Yeah!”

 0 0 0

 Docile, Tirred and Timmid stood outside in front of their headquarters building, the heavenly sky shining down above them. The white building and the golden wing designs attached to it shone brightly in the light. Tirred briefly glanced enviously beyond a wrought iron golden gate toward the direction of the silver Holy City surrounded by glowing halos. Timmid took a deep breath and flipped through the Bible until coming across a passage to create a portal to Earth. After she chanted and drew a teal blue sigil with chalk, a gap opened up. A fearful Timmid led the way through, while Docile and Tirred followed.

 The trio arrived at the vast meadow surrounded by forest trees and the shining lake. The sun shone brightly in the sky while a few white clouds dotted the horizon. Several birds chirped on nearby hanging branches, while brown squirrels and rabbits hopped along the grassy plain.

 Docile sniffed the air deeply and sighed. “Nature truly is a wonderful thing. There’s something so genuine about Earth that makes it so…vast and beautiful.”

 Tirred rolled his eyes. “Heaven will always be the superior place. It has marvelous light, gold, angels and the Almighty of course.”

 “But the living world is unique in its own way. It’s the birthplace of all the saints and sinners. They make up the majority of the afterlife. Without this place, Heaven and Hell alike wouldn’t function the way they do now. No technology, no flare, no diversity. Our current worlds today are what some mortals call a “melting pot.” Different ingredients tossed together into one societal dish.”

 “Blast, boss! Enough with your metaphorical mumbo-jumbo,” Tirred sighed, briefly tugging his pointed ears in frustration. “Do you even realize what could happen if we meet with other beings too long? Reality itself…”

 He imitated an explosion.

 Timmid laughed a bit. “Who’s spewing mumbo-jumbo now?” She playfully elbowed Tirred. “Relax, Tir. Docile knows what he’s doing. It’s risky but it’s for the greater good.”

 “Greater good, my ass,” he muttered.

 “If you wanna get your good ass kicked, then be my guest,” Timmid wiggled her eyebrows playfully as Tirred turned red in the face.

 Docile summoned his golden staff and slowly moved it in the air in front of him. The staff tip briefly glowed when he aimed it at a lower part of the hill. He spotted something small and white flying in the same direction. Docile mentioned for his coworkers to follow. They headed down the hill until they arrived at a white park bench. There were some passerby walking their dogs or chatting on their cell phones. Several women pushed strollers around, while a child tossed bread crumbs for the ducks. The paths were lined with streetlamps and red rose bushes.

 Just then, Docile spotted a flying boy and two winged sheep sitting close together on a bench. No one seemed to pay them any mind.

 “Bingo!” Docile grinned.

  The periwinkle sheep Collin sat and examined the park. The yellow sheep Keenie straightened up her yellow dress and red bow. Cletus sat in the middle in his reddish overalls, looking bored. Several white feathers fell off their wings and their halos flickered.

 “I don’t understand,” Cletus said dejectedly. “We’ve done all we can to make amends. We’ve saved people, gave them advice, and lived among the humans. Why can’t we go back?”

 Collin sniffed as tears started to trickle down his face. “Why can’t Deerie let us back? We were doing so well in Heaven. Our clients and the humans were always grateful for the work we did.”

 Keenie stamped one of her hooves. “It’s so not fair! Deerie didn’t even give us a chance. She just sent us here to suffer and rubbed it in our faces!”

 “If only that filthy imp leader didn’t blind me during the battle,” Cletus scowled. “Killing Lyle was just an accident. I was this close to eliminating them on the spot!”

 “Killing is a bad thing,” Collin mentioned, straightening up. “Our job is never to kill, but to save and spread love!”

 “Like I said before Collin, you still joined us in shooting at our rivals,” said Cletus. “Eliminating the threat is sometimes necessary.”

 “We also have Exorcists for a reason,” Keenie added. “To eliminate all those shitty sinners and keep both Earth and Heaven safe from them. Those Hell table scraps are just as bad as them, if not worse!”

 “W-w-whatever happened to ‘thou shalt not kill?’ ’Love thy neighbor?’” Collin asked, flying up and staring hard at his companions.

 The cherubs hovered in the air.

 “Those demons aren’t our neighbors,” Cletus told Collin.

 “I know that, but still, we could’ve at least taken the fight outside the opera theater! Oh and maybe saved that singer, too.”

 “When the imps were in the way, right there?” Keenie asked. “We had to watch over Lyle, too.”

 “We had to save his life at any cost,” Cletus said, leaning in.

 “B-b-but we didn’t, didn’t we?” Collin finished. “We all played a part in our fate and now in a few days, we’ll be down below facing our worst nightmares!”

 Collin broke down into hysterical sobs, as Keenie wrapped him in a hug. “Oh Collin…”

 The cherubs flew off toward the open meadow, leaving the park behind and looking around.

 Just then, E.L.F. made their entrance in front of them, floating down gracefully on white wings in their own beams of sparkly light. Docile was in the center, Tirred to his right, Timmid to his left. Spiked white halos hung over their heads. C.H.E.R.U.B. stared quizzically at them.

 Keenie glared. “Go away, demons! We’re tired of seeing you in your silly costumes!”

 “You here to m-m-mock us some more?” Collin asked in anger.

 “We come in peace…” Docile began, but didn’t finish. Cletus let out a combination of mournful cries and yells to the sky, causing the nearby humans to glare at them and scatter away.

 “You won’t get away with this, I.M.P.! You’ll pay for what you did to us and the humans you slaughtered!”

 Cletus finished his cries when a sudden force knocked everyone backwards. They straightened themselves up in the air. The ground broke apart and a column of red, orange and yellow flames shoot up from the opening.

 E.L.F. and C.H.E.R.U.B. looked in wide-eyed terror at three small shadowy figures hovering forward through the flames. Three shadows with glowing yellow eyes.

 “You seek revenge and are thirsty for blood?” came a low choir of voices.

 The flames vanished, revealing a demonic trio. A pointed tail, sharp yellow teeth, a clawed hand holding a black Satanic book...

 “We can help satiate your desires…”

 The leader appeared, looking like a twisted version of Cletus. He had teal fluffy hair and pale white skin, his teeth sharp and yellow. His eyes were large and yellow with white sclera. He was chubby like Cletus but instead of angelic wings, he had small black bat wings with long red fingers within the flaps. He wore a dark blue undershirt, a black shirt collar and teal colored overalls, plus brown boots. Two reddish orange horns curved down to meet his chin. He put away his black Satanic book.

 The corrupted Collin counterpart took the appearance of a bulky anthropomorphic yellow ram. His furry hooves were tan colored with sickly yellowish tips. He wore a wine colored red suit with a black bow tie under his thick neck. His undershirt was orange with an upside down black cross in the center. Sheathed under a black belt was a gun, a dagger and a few other weapons. His teeth, eyes and face were all a dull yellow, although a few black dots rested under his left eye. Ogre-like ears stuck out around his head of thick black wool. Protruding in curves from his head were two thick crimson-colored ram horns with little lines running down the surface. Little black wings held him in the air.

 The last diablo was a blue anthropomorphic ram and Keenie’s dark counterpart. Her hooves were purple with dark green tips. Her dress was dark blue with a green bow around it. Her dress moved from blue to various shades of green and teal, becoming lighter at the ends. The hem of her dress was torn and gave the appearance of blue flames as part of the design. Black gloves covered her hands like an executioner’s. She grinned with yellow sharp teeth against a dark blue face. Her eyes had dark orange pupils, teal irises and white sclera. Her wild hair was a lighter shade of blue, moving like flames in the wind. Like her companions, she had black bat wings and curved red-orange ram horns. All the diablos could also grow pointed tails and retract them.

 The leader sneered. “Surely you’ve heard of us. You saw our commercial, didn’t you?”

 “What commercial?” Docile asked.

 0 0 0

A large Leviathan monster opened its mouth wide, revealing sharp teeth, a long slimy tongue and a dark throat. The camera zoomed into the darkness before a red light appeared at the end of the tunnel. A bleak world with a red sky was revealed. A futuristic city in the distance was tall, black and metal: Sin City. The ground was black as was the grass. There was a pandemonium capital building not too far away along with a variety of shops set in a dystopian world: Tiamat’s Treasure Things, Kali’s Corner, Xenomorph Labs.

 No Hazbin Hotel or I.M.P headquarters to be found.

 A sign read “Diablo Den” and pointed down. The camera moved to show an underground tunnel with torches on either side. An entire subculture of demons lived down within the sewers and damp tunnels. Metal waterproof houses were situated under fluorescent lights on the ceiling. The leader popped up on the screen.

 “Salutations! I’m Erebos! Welcome to Hell! Guess you must have done something evil to get here, and evil people deserve to give enemies special cruses!”

 The jingle began, with organs playing.

 “Does it make you want to yell?” asked Devvin, the yellow ram as a man was shown getting a promotion over a man dressed in rags.

 “When an enemy ends up well?” asked Dammna the blue ram female as a rapist was pardoned from his crime.

 “Do you frown from ear to ear?” sang Erebos as a man shot at several anti-LGBTQ protestors.

 “When your rivals don’t shed a tear?” they all sang as a bully in a baseball cap laughed as a kid cowered in a corner.

 “Locked up in a rut?” sang Devvin with a pose.

 “A foe seeking your gut?” Dammna sang and posed.

 “We can make them cold and dead!” sang Erebos.

 “Even give you their head!” They all did villain poses.

 “Cause here at D.I.A.B.L.O.!” they sang as “DIABLO” appeared in bloody letters surrounded by pitchforks and the trademark icon.

 “We’re the masters of destruction from down below!” sang Devvin as Cletus shot fireballs at a barbed wire fence, allowing prisoners of war to escape. Devvin led the way as Dammna waved a flag with a pentagram and “B.U.R.E.H.C” on it.

 “Cause here at D.I.A.B.L.O.!” they sang as the logo appeared again.

  “Just name your price and we’re good to go!” sang Dammna as Erebos gave a greedy grin at a human handing him a bag of gold.

 “Spreading sickness, chaos and hate!” Devvin sang as he and Dammna gave each other a high five with their hooves.

 “History altered and fate!” sang Dammna as atomic bombs went off in reverse as clocks ran backwards and forwards.

 “We do the dirty work for you!” sang Cletus as Devvin concocted a deadly virus and dropped it on coughing humans.

 “And stirring up world wars, too!” added Devvin as Dammna whispered something in a soldier’s ear, resulting in two armies fighting on the field.

 So sit right back…” sang Erebos before they all sang in discord, “…and let us curse a soul for you!”

 “Oh, we are the D.I.A.B.L.O.!”

 “How the primal chaos shall flow!”

 0 0 0

C.H.E.R.U.B. and E.L.F. just stood there, stunned.

 Just then, Blitzo, Moxxie and Millie entered through a portal onto the grass. Moxxie was trying not to fall, while Millie safely put away Stolas’ grimoire in a small black backpack.

 “Alright gang,” called Blitzo. “Apparently someone wants us to kill that ginger-ass tour guide we saw last time. Looks like he’s at Lyle’s old house jacking off and snatching Lyle’s old possessions.”

 Millie tried not to throw up. “This world is even crazier than ours!” Then she pulled out a dark sword and brightened. “Let’s keep on killin’ then!

 “Sir, please don’t tell Lyle any of this,” Moxxie pleaded. “You know he’ll get mad if we fail this mission.”

 “Oh I already sent him a text,” Blitzo grinned, holding up his phone. The text read “Off 2 kill tour intruder. Might want 2 sell ur stuff.” Moxxie face-palmed.

 “I’m already tired and we haven’t even made it there yet,” Moxxie complained.

 “Come on Mox, get your sweet imp ass moving,” Blitzo said. “We’ll be at his house before you can say…”

 The three imps came to the clearing and froze in their tracks.

 “Holy shit,” Blitzo breathed.

 At that very moment, all twelve creatures divided in the four separate groups locked eyes with each other, some on the ground, and some in the air. The sky darkened to an abnormal shade of indigo, the ground suddenly warm to the touch. The air itself shifted from stale, to hot, to cold and back again. A strange energy crackled through the air, like any moment the earth would collapse underneath them. A stag with bloodstained antlers reared up his hind legs and raced across the forest as lightning flashed in the sky.

 From inside the mansion, the tour guide and several people gazed out the window in awe through a telescope. The smiling man had the ginger bang over his eyes and wore a green suit and cap with dollar signs on it. He spoke too casually to the group as they took pictures on their phones.

 “And now you’ll spot several groups of tacky super-powered cosplayers about to begin an apocalyptic battle! The feuds between famous people and ordinary folk is a sight to behold!”

 0 0 0

“Who. The Fuck. Are They?!” Blitzo cried out, his voice echoing.

 “Oh no!” groaned Moxxie, pointing ahead. “Those are the…”

 “Imps!” Collin cried out, all three cherubs glaring at their rivals.

 “Cherubs!” Moxxie finished.

 “Diablos?!” Tirred asked.

 “Elves!” sneered Devvin.

 The intense stare-downs could have turned the universe upside down…which for a few moments, it did.

 After several minutes of grueling silence, the first one to speak again was none other than Blitzo.

 “Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on here?!”

 Cletus crossed his arms. “I’ll tell you what’s going on! Because of you three monsters,” he pointed at the imps, “We’ve been banished to Earth and are this close to meeting our doom down in your filthy world!”

 Blitzo just grinned smugly. “Welcome to Hell, baby. We hope you enjoy your stay.”

 Cletus turned red in anger. “Shut up! We may have been banished from Heaven all thanks to you, but there is no way we’re going to end up like you!”

 Erebos grinned and moved slowly toward the cherubs. “You sure about that?”

 He spoke in a bone-chilling whisper that made even Cletus forget his wrath for a moment. “It’s clear that you’ll never be allowed to return to Heaven. Why wish for something you can’t obtain anymore? The only thing you can do now…” he mentioned in the direction of the imps, “…is take back what you’ve lost.”

 Cletus glared at him. “I don’t need filthy demons to tell me what to do!”

 “Of course you don’t,” Erebos mentioned. “Your company was just trying to do the right thing. Why should you let those monsters stand in your way again?”

 “Stop!” called Docile. He flew gracefully in Cletus’ direction. “Don’t listen to that demon.”

 “You’re one too!” Cletus seethed, flinching back.

 “No, I’m an angel just like you,” Docile said. “That devil is trying to divert you away from your true path. Your company may have been banished, but you can still redeem yourselves and prove the other angels wrong! You’re already great at spreading positivity to those in need!”

 “Ha!” Millie called. “Just like how you cherubs failed to save the life of that old man.”

 “It was an accident, you emo slutty freak!” Keenie spat.

 “The past is then,” Docile continued to Cletus. “This is now. You still have time to prove your innocence. I believe there is goodness in almost everyone.”

 Collin flew up to the elf with wide shining eyes. “Y-y-you do?”

 Docile wrapped an arm around Collin. “I know it. It’s there, even when all hope seems lost.”

 Erebos snickered to Cletus. “You really gonna believe an inverted version of yourself and his subservient goblin fuck toys?”

 The cherubs and elves gasped.

 “That is so inappropriate!” Timmid called.

 “Kiss your ass, sissy,” Dammna taunted as Timmid flinched away.

 “Might wanna watch your words, blue bitch,” Millie growled to Dammna. “Just because we’re fellow demons, doesn’t mean I’ll let you pick on others like that.”

 “What’re you gonna do about it?” Dammna asked with a sneer. “Sing a murder jingle?”

 “My coworkers and I did, actually!”

 “I thought your song was very catchy!” Devvin praised.

 “Thank you!” beamed Millie. “Now get lost, wannabes!”

 But D.I.A.B.L.O. was far from done. Erebos spoke to Cletus. “Anyway…that deer cherub who kicked you out…she knew that you would fall. God doesn’t tolerate mistakes…thus those in Heaven now see you as just that, mistakes. How does it make you feel?”

 “Shut it, demon crap!” Keenie shrilled. She flew toward Erebos but Devvin held her back. She freed herself from his grip. Dammna flew beside Collin, who whimpered as she licked her lips.

 “Face it…the other cherubs wanted you three kicked out. Because you founded an illegal company that prided itself on saving human lives. You were getting famous for…not following the rules. Jealousy arose.”

 “How do you know all this?” Cletus asked.

 “We have our ways,” said Erebos. “Angels and demons going to Earth is mostly illegal…you know, changing of history, trauma and all.”

 He flew into Cletus’ face and the Cletus flinched back in disgust. Erebos made his way around Collin and Keenie as he talked. “You could’ve been good passive little sheep and stayed in Heaven. But you didn’t.” He ran a hand through Collin’s white wooly hair. “Because you wanted something more. Paradise wasn’t enough for you.”

 He grinned sinisterly at Keenie. “You were tired of being looked down upon by the more favorable members of your kind. Always searching for a way so that your…”

 He peered underneath her yellow dress, “…divine talents could be brought to light.”

 Keenie gave him a hard kick to the face, sending him back a bit. He scoffed in pain and rubbed his eye before straightening up and heading back toward Cletus. “And for a while, they did. But look where you are now. Fallen. Forgotten. Forced away from your home.”

 “He’s using you guys!” Tirred warned Cletus. “You can still protect humanity and earn God’s grace once again!”

 “No matter what you try to do, you’ll never be able to return. Becoming demons is your destiny!” Devvin said with a dark chuckle.

 “Listen to the elf angels,” Collin pleaded to his boss. “The demons are full of sin, but you know we can choose to not stoop down to their level. We can be better cherubs, improve our relations with humans.”

 “Right after we get rid of all those stinking demons!” Keenie scoffed, hands on her hips. “If we want C.H.E.R.U.B. to survive…”

 “Then I.M.P. must pay, right?” Dammna asked, finishing her sentence. Keenie found herself nodding, mouth agape.

 “Hey, we can hear you!” Moxxie yelled, drawing out his gun. He shot it upwards but the bullet was blocked by Tirred’s golden staff. The bullet rebounded away. Moxxie stared at Tirred in disgust. “Man you’re hard to look at.” Tirred just observed him coldly.

 “Forget about I.M.P.!” Timmid called to the cherubs. “Focus on redeeming yourselves. It’s the only way you can return home.”

 “Help other people for its own sake,” Docile advised. “You don’t need praise or rewards to keep doing the right thing.”

 “He’s right, Cletus,” Collin added. “Help humans move away from sin…and we will as well.”  

 “Ha!” barked Dammna. “Sin and flaws are present in everyone, even in little angels. It’s as natural as sex, eating, drinking and breathing. No one can resist the natural temptations…”

 Blitzo grinned. “I’d like to see you try and take us out,” he told Cletus. “Afraid we’ll make you a laughing stock again?” Cletus fumed.

 “I hope the Exorcists erase you from existence!” Keenie shrilled.

 Devvin appeared beside Keenie. “Why call on them, when you can plan your revenge yourself?”

 “Not gonna happen!” she yelled. Just after she said that, her halo flickered again. A small crack appeared on Cletus’ halo. Bits of feathers drifted from Colin’s wings.

 “This is not good,” Timmid whispered.

 Erebos grinned. “Only a matter of time now, cherubs! It’s time to begin your journey toward justice!”

 Back and forth, overlapping words, advice, taunts and threats pounded against Cletus. He felt like his head was being crushed by two opposing hands. Cletus grimaced, looking back and forth and around. He squinted and closed his eyes, curling into a ball.

 “The accident wasn’t your fault, boss!”

 “Help bring back C.H.E.R.U.B. to its former glory!”

 “You’re nothing but a crying baby and a failure. No wonder Heaven doesn’t want you guys.”

 “Thy company come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven…”

 “Your demonic destiny is here!”

 “Give into sin!”

 “Spread the love for here and above!”

 “ENOUGH!”

 Cletus spread out his arms and legs. The force sent many of the individuals back, but they quickly recovered. Lightning flashed in the sky as the battle began.

  Although Blitzo, Moxxie and Millie couldn’t fly like everyone else, they made up for it by their array of weapons. Blitzo fired his tan flintlock pistol, the bullets rising in the air. One bullet hit Dammna’s hoof and she hissed in pain. Another grazed Timmid’s shoulder and she cried out.

 Docile waved his hand and three golden crossbows appeared in the cherubs’ hands.

 “It’s temporary,” he warned.

 Wasting no time, Collin, Keenie and Cletus fired sparkly golden arrows from their weapons at the two demonic groups. Cletus and Blitzo fired rounds at each other, both of them expertly dodging the other’s attacks. Erebos laughed as Docile landed punches at him, which he kept blocking.

 “Just as planned,” he grinned. “What a joy it is to see C.H.E.R.U.B. and I.M.P. duke it out.” The cherubs’ faces grew more vicious as they chased after the imps.

 “Stop fighting, C.H.E.R.U.B.!” Tirred called in concern, but her words fell on ignorant ears.

 Erebos landed a punch to Docile’s face and he quickly retaliated via a well-aimed uppercut. “You won’t get away with this,” Docile spat. “I don’t want to fight any of you guys but it appears I have no choice.”

 Timmid screamed as Devvin suddenly caught her in a headlock.

 “Ha! Surrender or she’s a goner!” called Devvin. Timmid struggled in vain against his grip. Docile glared as he aimed his staff at him, debating on what to do next.

 Zing!

 An arrow from Collin’s crossbow hit Devvin in the side, sending him screaming and flying off in the distance. He flew back in anger, but Timmid had already recovered. The cherubs’ golden crossbows vanished, the group now defenseless. Moxxie, Dammna, and Millie seized the opportunity to charge in, surrounding the cherubs. Timmid, Docile and Tirred blocked the path of the demons, holding them off with their golden staffs.

 “I can’t hold them much longer,” groaned a strained Tirred to the cherubs. “Flee while you still can!”

 “We’re not leaving you behind,” Collin said, determined.

 Cletus tried to flee, but Dammna grabbed hold of him and tossed him right back with a chuckle.

 Erebos arrived and smacked Tirred’s golden staff from his hands…he punched at the diablo’s chest in response. Docile landed several kicks to Moxxie, sending him stumbling to the ground.

 “Moxxie!” Millie cried.

 “I’m okay!”

 Millie took out a black dagger and tossed it toward Timmid. She caught it and tossed it away. Cletus continued to dodge the bullets from Moxxie and Blitzo’s weapons. Keenie charged at full speed toward Millie’s head from behind her. She was just about to land a hard blow when…

 A large hand grabbed her by the hair…Erebos, and tossed her hard toward the ground.

 Crash!

 “Y-y-you monster!” Collin cried.

 Keenie growled as she stood up on shaking legs, wiping the dirt from her dress. With a swoop, she lifted herself up in the air before Blitzo could shoot at her. She finally rejoined Collin and Cletus…but the E.L.F. members were almost drained from the battle. The cherubs and elves stood battered and back to back against the surrounding demons.

  Lightning flashed as several pairs of the angelic and demonic warriors went head to head. Millie was slashing her sword from underneath Timmid and Keenie, who were punching Dammna and pulling her long blue hair. Keenie slapped Dammna across the face while Timmid yelped as she dodged Millie’s weapon from below. Timmid summoned an angelic harpoon and clashed with Millie. They moved in a dance, metal against metal. The point of the harpoon barely missed Millie’s head. Millie leaped onto the harpoon and raced on it with her sword in her mouth. Timmid’s eyes were wide with surprise. She flipped over Timmid, grabbed her sword and swung it in an arch, knocking Timmid down. The angelic harpoon clattered softly onto the grass. Docile made it vanish with a wave of his hand.  

 Moxxie fired his gun and hit Devvin several times. He hissed as black blood ran from parts of his legs. “Get the sheep, you idiot!”

 “I fight my own battles,” Moxxie retorted, as he dodged Collin’s punches and blasted Devvin’s revolver out of his hand with a well-aimed shot.

 Collin and Tirred shared a look, then both swooped on either side of Devvin. With two hard punches to his face, Devvin plummeted to the ground. He glared at them from below as he slowly stood up and shook his head. Tirred tossed Collin out of range of Moxxie’s bullets before he got hit himself. He gasped in pain before landing on the ground to recover. He winced and glared at Devvin. Moxxie rushed at him, but Tirred shoved him back with a force from his golden staff.

 Docile, Erebos, Blitzo and Cletus were going head to head as lightning lit up the sky around them.

 “Take this, you fucker!” Cletus yelled as he grabbed a nearby rock and threw it toward Blitzo. The rock exploded from Blitzo’s bullet. Another bullet hit one of Cletus’ wing tips, making him stumble in the air. Docile straightened the cherub with one hand as he twirled his staff against Erebos in the other. Erebos flapped his bat wings menacingly. The ground shook below as more cracks appeared. I.M.P. moved to higher ground, gazing at the red lava below in the ground. It created a demonic red glow near the ground. Black blood poured from the demons’ wounds just as white blood flowed from the angels’.

 Timmid stood up and flapped her white wings, glanced around in terror. “We have to stop fighting!” she screamed over the yells and the noises of war. “We’re going to destroy the Earth!”

 Timmid suddenly screamed as Dammna smacked her on the head from behind. She plummeted to the ground, with Keenie catching the dazed angel and carrying her to a safe spot.

   With ear-shattering yells, Cletus and Erebos rammed into each other, as did Blitzo and Docile. The leaders pushed against each other with all their might, as forces from their attacks shook the area. The demons’ horns grew longer and eyes appeared on the angels’ wings. Cletus and Docile glowed blue and white while Erebos and Blitzo glowed red and black. Docile’s harpoon spear pressed against Blitzo’s flintlock pistol. They all seethed and gave each other deadly glares.

 Before long, the cracks and forces would spread to the rest of Earth. Heaven and Hell would collapse, the Earth being the final battleground and resting place…

 The explosions knocked everyone back, sending all the creatures crashing to the ground. The forest had been burned down to timbers and steam was rising from the lake. Lyle’s mansion had been blasted apart to smithereens…yet the soot covered crowd still took pictures as the tour guide spewed his ever optimistic commentary. His hat was lopsided and he kicked broken glass away.

 “One of the Lipton family heirlooms is this golden money bag statue which was gifted to Lyle in the early 1970s. And it’s still standing…”

 The tour guide glanced down to see the statue littering the ground in pieces. “…or it was. I call dibs!”

 The battle had been an intense stalemate. And all seemed lost as the ground prepared to swallow everyone in the lava and magma.

 The dark clouds swirled in a spiral vortex before slowly parting. Sunlight shone from a circular patch of blue sky. The shaking and the yelling stopped. The cracks in the earth fused together and the world slowly got brighter like it did before. The Archangel Michael arrived from the opening, along with the cherub Deerie by his side.

 Blitzo helped up his colleagues. “I think we can call this mission a successful failure.”

 Millie supported Moxxie. “What about our target?”

 “Forget about him,” Blitzo said. “And forget about those cherubs too. They’re done for.”

 The imps looked over at the barely stirring cherubs on the ground.

 “Well, looks like we won again,” Moxxie said. “Though we really need to tone down all this fighting.”

 “Yeah, I’m tired and could really use an iced coffee right now,” Blitzo said. He took out his green “mare-juanna” horse figure and kissed it. “I knew this lucky charm would come in handy. Let’s go gang!”

 The imps grinned and high-fived before disappearing through the portal to Hell.

 Michael hovered in the air in all his glory, supported by broad white feathery wings. He had pale skin, blushes on his cheeks, and short blonde hair like his fallen brother Lucifer. A sword made of flames was tucked protectively near his belt. A glowing spiked white halo hung over his head with a crystal in the center. He wore a white suit and tailcoat, while several medals and badges shown from the front of his outfit.

 He bore a stern expression on his face as the other groups slowly recovered.

 “Four interdimensional companies fighting in the one world to cause the most damage to mortal lives. I’m ashamed at all of you. You were lucky that no more humans got hurt.” Michael briefly glared at the cherubs and diablos.

 The cherubs and elves bowed their heads in apology, while the diablos looked on.

 “I ask that all of you head back to your worlds immediately. If I ever catch you fighting here again, I’ll erase every one of you from existence. Are we clear?”

 “Yes sir,” chimed the six angels.

 “Lord Michael,” said Cletus, lifting his head. “The demonic imps have already left. And those diablos are the ones who started all this!”

 “Please Lord Michael,” said Docile. “My company came here on behalf of the importance of C.H.E.R.U.B.’s protection. I humbly ask that you reconsider their previous errors and allow them a chance to…”

 A rumbling sound was heard and cracks appeared in the ground again. Two gaping holes appeared in the ground. One of them shoot fire into the air.

 “There’s our cue,” said Devvin to his companions.

 Dammna grinned and pointed toward the cherubs. More cracks were forming underneath them, soon creating another hole. Erebos and his gang flew into the cherubs’ faces. “Have fun in the inferno!” cackled Erebos and his crew before they flew into the column of flames and down below. The ground closed over the portal and the flames disappeared.

 Deerie laughed nervously at the frightened cherubs. “Yeah, no sorry guys. I’m afraid your test on Earth has come to an end and…well, yeah there’s only one place to go now.”

 “Noooo!” the cherubs cried, huddling together.

 To the horror of the cherubs and the elves, the fallen trio was starting to change in appearance. Their white wings turned stiff and black, the last of their feathers falling to the ground. Small leathery bat wings grew in their places. Their white halos cracked and fell to pieces in front of them. Keenie frantically tried to piece hers back together. Collin gasped as he held the pieces in his hooves. The halo pieces stopped glowing, fading to a stony dark gray. Keenie buried her pale face in her hooves…hooves that were now morphing into sharp claws. She screamed out loud as she clawed at her face.

 “Lord Michael, do something!” begged Docile. But the archangel stood solemnly in the air, shaking his head.

 The cherubs’ teeth soon grew sharp and white, cutting into their tongues and making them bleed. Their outfits changed from cheery pastel colors to bold fiery reds, oranges, pinks and yellows. Cletus clutched his head in pain as two small pointed horns protruded from his ginger head. The other cherubs also cried out, clutching at their newly formed horns stained with blood.

 The ground collapsed underneath them, giving way to a deep hole with a reddish light and a portal to Hell between the rock walls. Lucifer’s curious grinning face appeared in the opening.

 The cherubs felt themselves being pulled back by a powerful force toward the portal.

 “No, no, no, no!” Cletus cried. “This can’t be happening!”

 Keenie shouted out prayers to God, begging for his forgiveness. Collin wailed and bawled as he hung onto the grass for dear life.

 Docile, Tirred and Timmid raced toward the cherubs.

 “There’s no point in rescuing them,” Deerie said, flying in front of them. “Unless you troublemakers want to join them.”

 Docile promptly punched the doe in the face before making his way toward the struggling trio.

 They each placed their right hand on the cherubs’ foreheads as light shone from their teal hands. Tirred placed his hand on Collin, Timmid’s hand was on Keenie and Docile had his hand on Cletus.

 Docile chanted in the Enochian angelic language and said: “I bless each of you with a chance to find the light. No matter where you are, it is hope you’ll never lose sight. You will find one person or more, who’ll help you along the way. And after discovering your true righteousness, you’ll return home someday. By the will of the Lord, so may it be.”

 E.L.F. removed their hands and the light faded.

 “Bye!” Deerie happily waved toward the cherubs before vanishing through the heavenly portal.

 Timmid grabbed Keenie’s hands and pulled with all her might. Keenie’s face turned pale, her yellow dress now torn in the appearance of wildfire. The helm of her dress was red and spiked, her horns now black and curved like those of Charlie’s goat bodyguards. She had black bat wings and a pointed tail. Her wooly hair was red and her eyes were pink and yellow…before they gave off a strange red glow.

 Keenie sneered at Timmid, only seeing the red face of Millie laughing at her.

 “Get away, you disgusting demon!”

 Her voice sounded like her own but more distorted.

 “I’m not…” Timmid began but Keenie slapped her in the face before falling with a scream into the portal below.

 “Keenie!” cried Collin, briefly staring down at her disappearing form. “I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die!”

 Cletus had horns and black wings as well, though his face took on more of a faint reddish tone. His overalls were red with teeth designs on the pocket. His hair was red and black and darker blushes appeared on his cheeks. His pointed tail was short and red. His eyes had red irises and golden sclera.

 He looked at Docile, only seeing Blitzo’s face. He revealed his new grin of sharp white teeth and glowing red eyes. “This isn’t over, I.M.P.!”

 Timmid and Tirred pulled with all their might, but Cletus was soon sucked in as well.

 Collin glanced at the elves with bloody tears running down his face. His eyes were golden and pink, sometimes glowing red. He had curved goat horns, a pointed tail and black bat wings. His face was almost a tan-red shade and his wooly hair was black. His outfit had changed to a red-orange.

 The three elves pulled, Tirred being supported by Docile and Timmid behind him, but Collin stayed in the same spot, his hooves dangling over the chasm.

 “Sir!” called Tirred, as the elves were dragged inches closer toward the gap, even as they dug their feet in. “We’re being sucked in!”

 “L-let go,” Collin whimpered.

 “What?!” asked Tirred.

 “You can’t let yourself fall!” Docile cried, tears welling up in his eyes. “We were supposed to save you guys…to help give you another chance…” The elves were almost at the edge.

 Collin and the elves stared at each other in the eyes.

 Collin took a deep breath as he thought of his friends.

 “I-I-I’m sorry…”

 With one last wide-eyed look, Collin let go of Tirred’s hands and vanished into the darkness. The elves weren’t getting pulled in anymore, rather they were pushed back a bit. The portal to Hell closed, and the ground in front of the elves sealed back together like nothing had happened.

 “Why?” Docile asked Michael, turning around.

 “C.H.E.R.U.B. set themselves up for their fate. They gave into their anger and were more focused on defeating their rivals instead of properly interacting with the humans. They still disobeyed the rules thus were sent to Earth to test their faiths. Alas, they gave into their selfish desires of revenge and pursuit of glory. One can now only hope that they'll redeem themselves in Hell…if they even survive that long. As for you three, remember my words of warning.”

Michael rose back into Heaven and vanished.

 The three somber elf angels slowly rose up into the air and went through another heavenly portal back to their world. Back in paradise, Docile had never felt more alone. He gazed out at the colorful clouds through a window.

 Docile didn’t even look at his coworkers. “Welp, the cherubs wanted to redeem themselves and continue their company, and we couldn’t save them. We failed. Thanks to those freaking diablos, they’re down in Hell now, so it’s a shame. All they wanted was to spread love and joy to the living world. And now, they’re separated from Heaven…potentially forever.”

Tirred grumbled. “Don’t say I told you so, but…I told you so.”

 Timmid gave her boss a small hug as the three silently gazed at the clouds and sunlight.

From behind the elves, Sully Sirius did a small grin. He whispered, “Now this would make for a spectacular tragic film, don’t you think?”

 Docile glumly turned his head all the way around, while his body stayed in place. “Please leave.” Sully looked at him and screamed in fright.

[angelubasco]

How to save during Pandemic

Covid-19 crisis really shocked the whole world. It affects our lives, jobs and health. We faced lockdown for how many months and the companies and business were forced to temporarily shut down to show a support to our Government to fight this Pandemic.

As people continuing the support for the efforts of Government amidst the Pandemic we can't deny the fact that while supporting them, people need also to support their needs because as of now that is it hard to look for a job. They also need to survive so it happened that it brought many changes to peoples lives on how they budget their income and finances. To help you get through this crisis here are some tips on how you can save during the Pandemic.

Evaluate changes in your expenses

The pandemic has brought significant changes to your work and lifestyle that surely affects your finances. Now’s the time to assess your new financial situation—what exactly changed about it, what can be improved, and where opportunities to save more may come in. Here are the big ones that may affect your cash flow:

On essential expenses – before the crisis, essential expenses might have been 40% of your monthly income.

Since most people are in a WFH set-up, transportation costs are lower but electricity costs at home may certainly increase. 

People are forced to skip dine-ins and to switch to home cooking instead so yes, food expenses may also be lower.

When managed strategically, these changes in your essential expenses can help you boost your monthly savings by at least 10%.

On discretionary expenses –  before the crisis you might have spent 20% of your income on going out, entertainment, restaurant meals, etc. With the restrictions to leave your homes, you can get significant savings of at least 10% of your monthly income. Have a look at your previous bank statements and estimate how much money you are saving on a monthly basis on things that you no longer buy due to the crisis.

Cash flows can negatively be affected if you are under no work-no pay scheme or due to employee retrenchment.

Reallocate your spending

If in any case your income has been negatively affected by this pandemic—either due to pay cuts or retrenchment—it’s time to revisit and see how you can reallocate your spending to make ends meet. Cutting costs can help in getting through this difficult financial situation less stressful. But before you can do that, let’s first look at how and where you spend your money.

Start with your fixed expenses—this includes the things you need to maintain a basic standard of living like housing, utilities, food, insurance and etc. Next is your secondary expenses or your discretionary spending. This may include shopping, entertainment, personal care, recreation, and etc.

You should be able to place each spending to its respective category and decide what can be eliminated to be able to sustain and balance your monthly income and expenses.

Reallocate your spending

If in any case your income has been negatively affected by this pandemic—either due to pay cuts or retrenchment—it’s time to revisit and see how you can reallocate your spending to make ends meet. Cutting costs can help in getting through this difficult financial situation less stressful. But before you can do that, let’s first look at how and where you spend your money.

Start with your fixed expenses—this includes the things you need to maintain a basic standard of living like housing, utilities, food, insurance and etc. Next is your secondary expenses or your discretionary spending. This may include shopping, entertainment, personal care, recreation, and etc.

You should be able to place each spending to its respective category and decide what can be eliminated to be able to sustain and balance your monthly income and expenses.

Commit to budgeting and spending

There’s a lot you can’t control right now, but you can control your cash flow to free up some cash by cutting down expenses that you won’t be able to max out. Here are some items you can cut down on your expenses to help you live with your budget:

Online app subscriptions – you may not be spending a lot on physical services right now, but those digital ones can really eat up your funds over time. We’re not asking you to face home quarantine without Netflix to keep you busy but you can trim down on the ones you don’t use as often like Amazon Prime or Hulu—that gives the same entertainment as Netflix.

Gym/Club membership – since we’re forced to stay at home, it would be ideal to discontinue your memberships you won’t be able to maximize from home.

Review and downgrade your plans – have you checked your mobile phone plan recently? You might no longer need that much mobile data you’re getting since you’re at home 24/7 with a home wifi connection. Why not go for a lower deal to save some bucks? 

Fees for these subscriptions may appear small but these can have a way of eating up your monthly budget that can be spent on more important stuff.

Take stock of what you have and don’t hoard

Since the pandemic started, empty grocery shelves have become normal as more and more people resort to panic buying and hoarding.

Before you step out of your house to shop and give in to the impulse of buying everything that comes into your head, make sure you’re able to check your pantry shelves to make an assessment first of your current supplies. Many of us already have well-stocked pantries that could help us survive for many weeks but others may not already have these supplies on hand.

You’d rather use what you already have and let someone who needs those goods today. Not only will your community thank you for not hoarding, but your wallet will be glad to not spend on things you won’t need, too!

Identify alternative revenue sources

Aside from cutting back on your expenses and finding out how you can strategically save more money, it’s also important to diversify your income. Relying on a single source of income can be a threat to your financial stability, especially if the crisis is preventing you from earning your usual income rate. In addition to building your skills and consolidating your knowledge, think about how you can leverage those skills to start a side hustle, monetize your expertise, and diversify your income sources. Besides, there are plenty of online job opportunities you can try and surely, you’ll find one that best fits your skill set. 

All of these are helpful , people need to know how to save and budget their money and expenses. It is important that you are always prepared to the things that may come.

--------------------------------------------------Reference: https://www.securitybank.com/blog/5-tips-to-save-money-during-covid-19-crisis/

[mayatiarra]

Chapter 14 Fieldwork:

It was mentioned in the chapter that the state is incorporated into our daily lives. How does the state become real for you? Keep a diary of ways you encounter the power of the state-federal, state and local in any given day.

Food:

I went to McDonalds for breakfast. Due to covid, the indoor is closed so therefore I have to wait in a long drive thru line. McDonald’s takes forever as it is and now that nobody can dine in or take out the line is even longer. Fortunately they are doing this for our safety, right along with many other fast food restaurants. There are no labels on my food when I eat from McDonald’s And also one thing I noticed is that all of the employees are not wearing gloves. This is unsafe because they are dealing with food.

On my break at work at around noon I went to salad works for lunch. They put labels on the soup I got which told me when it was prepared and also when it should be eaten by. This was beneficial to me because sometimes I do not eat all of my soup.

People:

I work in the mall so I see a lot of public employees on a daily basis. An example of someone I saw is a Starbucks worker that had his uniform on. He was also on break as well standing in the salad works line.

Another person I saw was the cashier that works at a food place named stewards. He is familiar with me because I usually eat there every Sunday. His role is influential to me and I go there every Sunday when Chick-fil-A is closed.

I ran into a colleague at my job, this was his day off he came to the mall for Christmas shopping. A lot of people are still going to the malls and public places even though we are on lock down and the virus is getting worse.

Transportation:

6.The state has made an investment in installing speed cameras for the boulevard to prevent less accidents.

7. In my local park there are signs that warn you that if your dog goes to the bathroom and you don’t pick it up there will be a $300 fee. If you get caught just leave it there. That is damaging and causing more litter to our community.

8.The state has enforced rules for those with a juniors driver’s license to be home by midnight, so my mom follows the same protocol and makes sure I am home before that time. She doesn’t want me driving late.

9. On my way to work they are doing construction on old York road. This holds up traffic a lot but the state has made an investment into getting better roads

School:

10.I do not receive in state tuition at Morgan state because I am from Philadelphia, PA

11. The state gives me money from Fafsa for my education, but not much and eventually I will have to pay it back

12. My senior year, the state provided me with my education because I went to a public school. They also provided me with free textbooks and free breakfast and lunch

Environment:

13. Water purity has a lot to do with my environment because all I drink is water. I drink tap water at home but it is censored with a filtration

14. The air quality is important in my environment, especially my home, because we always make sure there is not too much carbon dioxide in the house. You can be harmed if there is to much carbon dioxide in the house

15. The air is also important because we are sure to spray Lysol or disinfectant spray if anyone sneezes or coughs to keep gems away and keep any viruses out of the air

Infrastructure:

17. The state removes my trash from my backyard every thursday

18. The state is involved in keep are treats nice and flat because they come at least twice a year to fix any real bad pot holes or any other problems/damages

Public agencies:

19. The United states department of labor comes into play when I have to deal with any issues due to work. Unemployment,etc

20. Department of justice come into play when I have to go to court to fight off a ticket or a accident

Social life:

21. The state does not allow me to drink yet because I am under the age of 21. I am allowed into most clubs but I cannot drink alcohol

22. I am allowed to get Married because I am not a minor anymore, I am of age

23. I am not allowed to drive past midnight because I have a junior’s license

Media:

24. The state plays a role in promoting social media’s such as Facebook Instagram Twitter because you find out information that they want us to know about such as Taxes, political issues, and now especially about updates about covid-19

Absence:

25. The state is absent in our Safety. In my city, people are getting killed left to right.

[productsreview1]

My Teds Woodworking Plans Review

Examples of projects completed from Ted’s Woodworking Plans Got big plans for your house? Ready to get into woodworking and really make something you can be proud of? There is a great program out there for handy people like you who just want to perfect and hone their skills in woodworking. It has thousands of great plans to follow for all skill levels. All the measurements and plans are laid out so that you can follow them easily. You do not need to hire somebody or have contractors coming in and out of your house, invading your privacy or telling you high prices on work you cannot afford. Get yourself together and get ready, because you can do your own work. This Ted’s Woodworking review shows you how.

What Is Ted’s Woodworking? Ted’s Woodworking is a comprehensive, interesting program in eBook and video form that is going to show you how to make wonderful and well-made items using your hands, some tools, and of course, wood. Anybody can use this program to their advantage. It’s good for anybody who loves woodworking, and great for people who want to get into it. The program is loaded with many different plans and schematics you can follow to make some neat stuff, from chairs to even small storage shed.

BUY From here: click here

It is a program that may just end up saving you money. Think about it, if you are a homeowner who has filled their house with furniture, it’s eventually going to wear out over time. Learning how to fix up and repair your old furniture will help keep money in your pocket by preventing you from buying more or paying somebody to come in and fix it for you. If you’ve got broken furniture at home and it’s breaking your heart, don’t fret! Perhaps you have an old chair that you just love, or maybe your mom or grandma gave you a cool old chair from their house. You can learn how to fix up these items, make them look great, and use them for years to come in your own house. Or, you can learn how to fix up old furniture and resell it. It’s basically a program that will give you some powerful knowledge! What Will You Learn From Ted’s Woodworking? You will learn a great deal from Ted’s Woodworking. First and foremost, you are going to learn the basics of woodworking. You will learn how to handle small projects, and as you get better and more advanced in your skill, you can learn about making big things in your own backyard. Also, you will learn how to make a great deal of nice items, like tables and chairs, jigsaw puzzles, and little wood animals to give as gifts or keep as centrepieces. You can even learn how to upcycle pallets into furniture-what a way to go green and make something useful.

You no longer have to guess at how to put something together, or how to make something-by following this program, you will start to gain your own skill set and get better and better at woodworking. If you are an impatient person, you will certainly learn patience and the joy that comes from a job well done. And yet, the steps are fast and easy to follow! The instructions more or less hold your hand as you put these things together, so you don’t have to get frustrated and walk away from what could be a really amazing project. It’s really like having a master woodworker with you every step of the way. Materials And Cutting You will start to learn about what materials and tools you need to get the job done. If you didn’t know much about tools before, you are going to learn very soon. You will learn how to get the materials you need from your favorite hardware store. The employees there can help cut the lumber and other items you need for you. You will quickly learn by asking for what you need why it matters, and why you need that (there aren’t usually substitutions, like we find in activities like cooking!) You will also learn why it’s important to have everything exact, and your attention to detail will improve. For your project to work, it has to be correct, with little to no deviation. You will definitely learn the importance of precision. Following Schematics Another great skill you are going to learn is how to follow schematics. The schematics here are bright, colorful and sharp in their delivery, and so there is no need to be a genius or an engineer to understand them. The projects become easy with instructions like these. Now that doesn’t mean you can jump in with no skill and put together a gazebo. But it does mean that the easy projects will be simple for you to learn from and get some practice. You will be flying in no time with these easy to follow instructions.

BUY From here: click here

All Angles Are Covered You will learn how to build these projects with ease, because the program shows you everything from all sides. There is no guesswork here-it’s like having a 3D model to look at and learn from. It’s a great program that lends itself well to experienced folks and beginners. Plus, they send you new plans each and every month, for even more added value. Other Cool Uses If you are a shop teacher or instructor, you will love having all these plans available for your students to use. There are thousands you can use in your own classroom. Your students will learn right along with you. Ted’s Woodworking Pros & Cons Now we will discuss the Pros and Cons, so that you can make an informed buying decision. Pros Plans build themselves. They are super easy to put together. New plans are sent to you every month. No recurring fees or expiry for the program You get a wide variety of cool stuff to build! Price is not bad for what you get-$47. You get a money-back guarantee for 60 days. Learn at your own pace. You get lots of help and support through the use of the help line. People usually get answers to their problem within 48 hours. Favorable reviews on other sites. Cons Videos can be low quality at times. You get multiple plans for the same project, so some are not as unique as you might think. Some people reported refund issues. eBook format only. Website is rather aggressive in its attempt to sell you the product. Some plans, not all, are rather lacking in details. One video showed the program saying, “How to Cheat at Woodworking and Get Away with It.” Hopefully this is just a joke, because who wants to do something poorly? We all want to be experts, not cheaters. Does Ted’s Woodworking Work? Yes, Ted’s Woodworking does in fact work. It works because it is easy as 1–2–3. It works because it gives you all the steps you need to succeed. All you need to do is just get the program, read through the contents, and then you can start working on it. You might need a friend to help you along who knows about woodworking, but the plans are legitimate, and you can definitely make some cool stuff out of them. You just have to follow the plans to a tee in order for it to work. The instructions are written so that all can understand them. Of course, if you are new, you have to start on a beginner project. But in time, you’ll understand the more advanced items, too. Conclusion This program is really going to be hit or miss, actually. It is all dependent upon your personal situation. If you are an experienced, advanced woodworker, you will probably want to stay away. You could learn something from this, but it might be a lot of stuff you’ve already seen before. Plus, if you don’t like it, there are reports of a hard time getting money back. However, if you know you need to get into woodworking, and you don’t want to waste time digging for plans for projects, this program is definitely for you. It has everything you need. BUY From here: click here

[always5hineee]

Hell and Back- Chapter 9: Spree (Trial 14)

Word count: 1086

Chapter warnings: Mild language

-----

       "Whose power is out?"

       "Chanyeol."

       "So who wants to go?" As they were all breezing through the trials, (even though a few were less than pleasurable cuisine experiences), they were spending less and less time on deliberation.

       "I can go," Xiumin offered. "I'm one of the people who hasn't been put up yet, and we'll all have to do it eventually."

       "Yeah, sounds good." Suho agreed, indicating for Y/N to push the button for the boy's name. Waiting for the challenge to load up, the familiar lettering appeared.

       Trial 14: Tabasco sauce

       Use at least a quarter of a bottle (or enough to adequately cover the majority of your skin) of tabasco sauce and rub it into your skin.

       Limited power: Chanyeol

       Drop-out Fee: $500

       "That's... strange." Kyungsoo commented, face twisting in confusion. "You'd think that they'd block Xiumin's power in this case, since he'd easily be able to counteract the heat."

       "You got lucky with the pick, as well." Sehun added. Shrugging, Xiumin didn't seem to have any particular emotions toward the trial.

       "Do we even have any in the house?" He asked nonchalantly.

       "Um, I'm not sure." He responded, thinking. "I thought Kyungsoo was the one into spicy stuff?"

       "Luhan and Kai both like it too-" Kyungsoo argued.

       "Guys, guys, calm down." Baekhyun raised his hands. "A lot of us like spicy food, but I'm pretty sure all we have is sriracha. We can either go to someone's house, or one of us can run to the store, or-"

       "We should all go to the story!" Sehun said excitedly. It was a bit strange to see him so excited about rubbing chilis into Xiumin's skin, but he was moreso hyped for a group shopping trip. They had done it before, but it had been a decently long while since it had happened. She had to admit it seemed nice, and it gave them a break from the monotony of completing all the trials in such a boring fashion. Plus, if they were out, they could pick a new setting for some of the next trials.

       Everyone piled into Kris' car again, prompting a round of warnings from him to treat it properly. There were still candy bar wrappers littered from the night before, but thankfully he couldn't see them from the driver's seat. There was a grocery store not even ten minutes down the road, so they were content to be packed in like sardines again. Thankfully they weren't pulled over. Pulling into the parking lot, everyone jumped out, walking into the store in a large, disruptive group. The boys argued for much longer than necessary over where the Tabasco was, leaving Y/N to shake her head and split off to grab it herself.

       As she turned into the spices aisle, she heard soft footsteps behind her. Turning, she noted that Chen was following her, purposely averting his eyes so as to avoid awkward contact.

       "Hey... did you need something?" She asked, unsure of how to mention that she'd noticed him.

       "Oh, uh... not particularly. They were just kind of loud, so... I figured I'd come with you." She didn't really have a problem with that, so she paused, allowing him to catch up and walk beside her, occasionally brushing his upper arm against hers due to the thin build of the aisle. Coming up on the sauce, they saw several different sizes. Chen's immediate reaction was to grab the biggest one, but she grabbed his forearm, stopping him.

       "Wait, just find the smallest one."

       "What? Why? We're gonna use it all anyway."

       "It said he had to use a quarter of the bottle, but it didn't give an ounce requirement. The smaller the bottle, the less he has to use."

       "Oh... Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Unfortunately, they weren't able to locate those shotglass-like bottles that barely contained anything, but they did manage to find a small-ish 12oz bottle. That meant he only had to use three of the ounces. Seeing it as a win, they took it back to the group, who were all still arguing and messing around in the front of the store.

       "Alright, we got the bottle, let's checkout." Y/N called their attention.

       "Oh, already?" Luhan asked. "That was fast."

       "No, you were just busy running your mouth." Lay snickered.

       "Cut it out!"

       "Wait, can we get that boxed sushi before we leave?" Sehun asked, eyes pleading like a five year old child.

       "No, wait! Get something sweet, like cupcakes or something!" Baekhyun changed excitedly. Another argument broke out as Y/N rolled her eyes.

       "Stop! You can all get one little thing, just make it quick." She'd never seen twelve grown-ass men cheer so loud in their life, obviously pissing off the employees. They would be glad when the group was gone. They rang it all up together, Kris constantly going on about how he'd 'better not find all that crap in the back of his car'. As everyone piled back in, Xiumin pulled out the tabasco bottle, popping the seal.

       "Can't you do that outside?" Kris complained.

       "I'm not gonna spill it." Xiumin promised, opening the cap and pouring a bit out into his hand. Rubbing it into the top of his  arm, his eye twitched just a bit.

       "You good?" Suho asked.

       "Yeah, just stings a bit. I'm gonna do a little bit more just to be sure."

       "I can heal it if you want," Lay offered.

       "It's not really an injury." Xiumin said, capping the bottle. "Make sure that goes through?" Sure enough, the completion banner flashed. As soon as he saw it, he hovered his hand over the now-red area, letting the others watch in fascination as the translucent, white crystals slowly grew over his skin. Creating a small, crystalline glass-like skin, his features relaxed, the temperature already making him feel better.

       "Alright, I'm good. Who's restricted next?"

       "Uh-" Y/N looked down. "Sehun. So should we put up

       "Well, when Sehun went we said we were gonna go in that order we mentioned... Sehun, Xiumin, me, Chanyeol, Luhan, and Y/N," Lay started, "We kind of forgot, but Xiumin volunteered anyway, so I'm happy to go next."

       "Sounds good to me." Y/N agreed, expecting the same boring little process as before. This time, though... The trial seemed.... different. Off. It wasn't quite the fun little challenge the others had been. Looking up as she swallowed in nervousness, she told Lay his challenge.

Go to Chapter 10

[loudcrystalcom]

What You Should Know Before Shopping For Marijuana

Buying hashish for the primary time doesn’t should be so intimidating

Cannabis merchandise are getting greater available throughout the United States. Hemp and hemp-derived CBD merchandise are felony on the federal level, a majority of U.S. States now allow scientific hashish use, and an increasing number of states are thinking about legalizing marijuana for grownup leisure use. With get admission to to hashish merchandise increasing and proof for its fitness blessings increasing, many humans are thinking about buying marijuana for the primary time. Buying marijuana can appear intimidating, however in case you recognise this essential data earlier than, in the course of and after your go to to a dispensary, you may effortlessly be a smart, savvy shopper.

There are loads of traces

Part of why marijuana can appear so daunting is that dispensaries frequently provide many distinct varieties of marijuana. These are regarded as “traces,” and there are lots of them at the market. Rather than being prominent with the aid of using their THC or CBD content material, traces are labeled with the aid of using their terpenes, the fragrant oils that deliver off distinct tastes and smells. Different terpenes are encouraged for distinct consequences. For example, citrus-like terpenes are concept to be energizing, whilst greater herbal-smelling traces are taken into consideration to be greater relaxing. While distinct traces can have an effect on humans in distinct ways, they in the long run have quite comparable makeups.

There are varieties of marijuana flowers

Within marijuana, there’s any other form of difference other than traces. Marijuana flowers are separated into principal subspecies: Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. These different sorts range in bodily traits in addition to chemical makeup. Sativa flowers have better THC content material and decrease cannabidiol (CBD) content material, whilst indica flowers have better CBD and decrease THC. THC is the primary psychoactive aspect in marijuana, whilst CBD is non-psychoactive. Depending for your preferred impact from the usage of marijuana, a dispensary worker would possibly propose indica, sativa or a hybrid among the .

There are hybrid marijuana flowers

Marijuana flowers have additionally been cross-bred to provide hybrids which can be half-indica, half-sativa. There also are hybrids that include distinct percentages — they may be both indica-dominant or sativa-dominant. These flowers were created to have chemical compositions that set off combos of consequences.

Today’s marijuana isn't always what you’d locate at Woodstock

If it’s been a decade or (or greater) because you closing used marijuana, you is probably amazed to research that today’s hashish traces are appreciably more potent. According to Leafly, today’s marijuana is 57-67% stronger while as compared to samples from the ‘70s. Technology, many years of cultivation revel in and home developing operations have brought about more potent marijuana turning into the norm. According to an editorial in Missouri Medicine, marijuana normally contained 2% THC withinside the 1970s, however today, famous traces variety in THC content material from 17-28%.

Not every person reacts to the drug the identical way

Finding the marijuana kind and stress for you'll contain a few trial and error. Everyone reacts in a different way to marijuana relying on plenty of factors, consisting of typical fitness, scientific conditions, tolerance, genetics and greater. Men and girls even revel in hashish in a different way. While suggestions from friends, guides and dispensary personnel are a superb region to start, you may have some misfires earlier than locating a stress that works pleasant for you and your needs.

There is greater to it than THC

Shopping for marijuana primarily based totally totally on THC is like ordering beverages at a bar primarily based totally handiest on alcohol content material. The aromas, flavors and consequences of a plant have an effect on how exciting your marijuana revel in will be. And among the plant’s consequences stem from combos of the greater than a hundred different cannabinoids determined in hashish except simply THC. While clinical studies is limited, many growers have honed in on traces that they trust stability THC, cannabinoids and terpenes to obtain particular blessings.

How you devour influences your excessive

Smoking marijuana offers cannabinoids via your bloodstream on your mind inside minutes. Edibles, on the opposite hand, take longer to kick in due to the fact they should byskip via the stomach, intestines and liver earlier than finally achieving the mind. The length of the excessive from edibles normally lasts an awful lot longer than the “head excessive” of smoking. It’s essential first of all low doses in relation to edibles due to the better chance of overconsumption. Edible merchandise are liable for the bulk of fitness care visits because of hashish intoxication, consistent with a examine posted with the aid of using RTI Press.

Medical marijuana and leisure marijuana differ

Medical marijuana is bred to maximise the fitness advantages of hashish with much less psychoactive outcomes. Thus scientific marijuana commonly has better CBD ranges and occasional THC. Recreational marijuana, on the alternative hand, prioritizes the drug’s cappotential to create a “excessive,” so it has better THC and decrease CBD. You want to have a doctor’s advice and a registration card to achieve scientific marijuana, while everybody older than the felony age of intake should purchase leisure marijuana in which it’s legally sold. Some dispensaries cater specially to scientific or leisure use, even as many do both.

Buying CBD oil does now no longer suggest you're shopping for marijuana

Cannabis oil, marijuana oil and THC oil are one-of-a-kind than CBD oil. Cannabis oil, marijuana oil and THC oil all have massive concentrations of THC for you to produce a excessive. CBD oil is derived from hemp plants, so it incorporates 0.3% or much less THC. It has focused quantities of CBD, a cannabinoid discovered withinside the hashish flower that interacts in another way with the mind than THC, for you to supply the compound’s ability fitness advantages.

It’s crucial to keep round

Look round on line to get an concept of what fees to anticipate for marijuana on your area. Prices range via way of means of metropolis or nation primarily based totally on taxes in addition to deliver and demand. Don’t be amazed to look a few prized, excellent traces fetch luxurious fees. As with maximum matters in life, however, rate isn't always a hallmark of excellent. For a ballpark concept of what to budget, though, the countrywide common rate for an oz. of excellent marijuana is $326.06 and for medium-excellent is $265.58, consistent with Oxford Treatment Center.

You won't be capable of pay with a credit score card

Call the dispensary you intend to go to or test their internet site beforehand of time to look what price techniques they accept. Because marijuana remains unlawful on the federal level, shopping it with a credit score card or financial institution card won't undergo or ought to result in the cancelation of your account. Even if you’re purchasing at a felony, valid hashish business, coins is probably your simplest choice.

Know your nation legal guidelines

Marijuana legal guidelines range appreciably from nation to nation, and occasionally a nation’s legal guidelines are complicated and contradictory. That’s why it’s crucial to do a little fundamental studies to shield yourself. There are policies on how a whole lot you may individually own at a unmarried time, how a whole lot you may supply as a gift, whether or not or now no longer you may domesticate your personal plants, if you may devour it in public and greater. While a few legal guidelines are certainly unenforced in sure towns or states, it’s crucial to be privy to the effects earlier than conducting conduct that’s technically prohibited.

Bring your ID

No depend what nation you’re in, you need to be 21 to buy weed. And possibilities are, despite the fact that you’re 80, they’ll nevertheless card you. Unlike supermarkets and liquor shops that card you on the factor of buy, many dispensaries will ask in your ID on the door if marijuana merchandise are being brazenly displayed. The simplest exception is for scientific marijuana. Patients 18 or older can acquire scientific marijuana playing cards that they could use to achieve merchandise from a dispensary.

Ask questions

Instead of flying blind even as purchasing, don’t be afraid to confess you’re a novice. Take benefit of the knowledge and enjoy of a dispensary employee, referred to as a “budtender,” and ask for his or her help. If you’re simply seeking to get your toes wet, you may ask them what their favored product is, what’s one in all their excellent-dealers or what’s an amazing choice for beginners. If you’re seeking out a selected effect, ask what traces are regarded to gain it. Once you’ve picked some thing, ensure to invite approximately the best manner to apply the product and a way to keep it.

Be equipped to reply questions

You don’t have to reveal your complete scientific records on your budtender, however the greater statistics you supply them, the greater particular a advice you’ll get. They’re now no longer being nosy — marijuana dealers in the end need clients to have the excellent enjoy possible. Be organized to reply questions on what form of excessive you need, what approach you intend to devour your marijuana or even while and in which you intend to apply it. This all impacts what product fits your needs.

Don’t simplest have a take a observe stress names while shopping

Just like while you’re purchasing on the grocery keep, it’s clean to be satisfied to shop for some thing way to smart marketing. Many marijuana traces have amusing food- or pop-culture-primarily based totally names.

However, don’t purchase Lemon Meringue simply due to the fact it’s your favored pie or select out up Death Star due to the fact you’re a “Star Wars” fan. Focus at the stress’s intellectual and bodily outcomes in addition to the way it become grown, its chemical make-up and the way it’s excellent consumed.

Trust your budtender

Think of your budtender like a sommelier or espresso expert. He or she need to be well-knowledgeable on what they’re promoting you, and that they need to be inclined to reply your questions and assist you are making the proper purchase. After all, you’re shopping for a mind-changing drug. While a few dispensaries have a informal atmosphere, your budtender is a professional. If you experience like they’re being impatient, condescending or pushy, that’s terrible customer support and also you need to experience loose to take your enterprise elsewhere.

Don’t contact the bud if a grower gives a pattern

Rookie marijuana consumers would possibly make a first-rate dispensary etiquette mistake in the event that they don’t understand any better. Your budtender would possibly pull out a pattern of product which will scent or examine. You can appearance, however don’t contact. Treat the product like you'll meals or medicine. Your budtender is making plans to place that flower lower back and promote it in case you don’t need it.

If the bud smells like mildew, don’t purchase it

You don’t want to manhandle marijuana to envision its quality. Perhaps the very best manner to inform if you can purchase a bud or now no longer is its scent. Bad weed will scent like must, mildew or mildew. Plenty of lines have bold, funky smells that won't attraction to you, however that doesn’t imply they’ve long past terrible; it simply manner it’s now no longer the kind for you. There are lines that reek of a tangy cheese aroma, at the same time as a stress named Cat Piss lives as much as its name — on purpose.

If the bud looks as if bad produce, don’t purchase it

Even in case you’re now no longer a Buy Sativa weed online expert, you may observe your instinct approximately selecting out correct produce on the grocery shop or healthful flora on the nursery to marijuana. Most flora need to be colorful, with green, blue or crimson shades and brilliant orange or purple hairs, in preference to searching dry, brown and discolored. The bud need to appearance sticky and feature masses of clean little crystals at the floor known as trichomes. Trichomes which have became amber or the presence of masses of stems and seeds are clues that the weed has long past terrible.

You can’t go back your buds

If you’re new to marijuana, it could be tempting to head on a chunk of a shopping for spree in all of your excitement. However, it’s vital to take it gradual and now no longer over-purchase, specially of 1 unique stress or type. While a few shops permit you to go back worn footwear or half-used makeup, you commonly can't go back marijuana to a dispensary if you make a decision you don’t like it. Some would possibly let you trade for a unique kind, however that isn't the norm.

What you’re smoking out of matters

Just like technique of ingestion influences your revel in, so do the add-ons you use. If you make a decision to smoke your marijuana, you actually have a preference for your manner of doing so and need to test to locate what you want best. Glass pipes are available unique sizes and styles however are possibly the maximum famous option. Rolling papers are available many brands, types, sizes or even unique flavors. Water pipes, which include bongs, clear out out the smoke thru water, making the smoke less complicated at the lungs, in keeping with Civilized, however are extra complex to set up.

There are bad facet results

While cultural reputation of marijuana is probably at the rise, hashish does nonetheless include each short-time period and long-time period dangers and facet results which you need to be organized to revel in. Smoking marijuana can cause infected airlines and shortness of breath, in keeping with the American Thoracic Society. THC influences the brain’s capacity to system short-time period reminiscence, so your reminiscence might be briefly fuzzy. Marijuana also can stimulate urge for food and impair motor competencies in addition to doubtlessly cause addiction, in keeping with an editorial withinside the The New England Journal of Medicine.

If you've got got tension, hashish should make it worse

Using marijuana can set off paranoia and tension or get worse your tension, specially if it’s your first time or in case you don’t use it regularly. Even in case you pick a stress that’s imagined to make you experience comfortable or euphoric, it is able to have the other effect. On the turn facet, marijuana does assist many humans with PTSD and different intellectual fitness situations manipulate their strain and tension. It all relies upon on how cannabinoids engage together along with your brain, so the use of hashish is a chunk of a private chemistry test that has better dangers in case you already revel in tension.

It’s now no longer like being drunk

If you’ve in no way used marijuana before, you is probably involved approximately the “high” sensation THC causes. This compound is psychoactive however it’s now no longer an intoxicant. An intoxicant, including alcohol, reduces your intellectual and bodily abilities. A psychoactive is greater like caffeine in that it alters your intellectual country via way of means of impacting how your mind functions. If you’re the use of marijuana for the primary time, you’re nevertheless going to be in an impaired country, however it won’t experience like being drunk. You additionally won’t have a hangover and don’t must fear approximately overdosing, a close to impossibility with marijuana. If you don’t stay in a country with felony leisure use, remember taking a ride to those 21 locations for hashish tourism.

[prorevenge]

Deny my wages and steal my stuff? I'll take that and more, and prevent you from owning a business again.

About 5/6 years ago I was doing my apprenticeship to become a mechanic. I managed to land my apprentice role at a classic car restoration shop. It was a one-man band operation run by an ex-Lotus technician (we'll call him Slimy Git), and I thought it'd be a great business to be a part of and help grow. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Looking back on it, SG clearly only took me on because the UK government has an arrangement with various trade industries that, if a company takes on an apprentice taking part in an official apprenticeship scheme (which I was), the government gives the company a cash grant. They're also allowed to pay apprentices well below the minimum wage as an additional incentive. During my 11 months at that workshop I earned only £300 a month. So SG got free cash, and also got to use me as dirt cheap labour, but I was willing to put up with it for a couple of years and learn the trade on awesome old cars. It didn't turn out that way.

Whilst I was working there, SG asked me to do many questionable things, including removing parts from a customer's car and using them to fix another car of the same model that we had in the shop, and disassembling a large part of another customer's car, before ceasing all work on it (I later found out that this was his tactic to put the car in an undriveable state, and then effectively hold it hostage so he could extort more money from the car's owner for repairs that, ultimately, we would never do). I really wish I had wisened up to what SG was doing at the time, and I feel really awful for my part in his fraud, but I was a young, naïve apprentice, and I just did what I was told.

Then, one Monday in late 2014, I turned up for work in the morning, and SG didn't. After an hour of waiting, I drove home again and fired up my computer, and found an email from SG, saying that he was super sorry, but he was closing the business. That was that. At the time he was overdue with my wages by two months, but promised in the email to pay them into my account before long. That was the last I ever heard from him. He never replied to any emails or picked up his phone, and of course, I never got my last two months wages, leaving me £600 out of pocket. Not only that, but SG stole my socket set, worth about £100. By the time I was able to get the landlord of the workshop to let me in to retrieve it, all the tools were cleared out.

I was totally fucking furious as you can imagine, but luckily my dad knows what to do in this kind of situation, so we started putting together a case for small claims court. We basically assembled as much evidence as we could that I was owed money, with a demand that SG pay me £700 (unpaid wages plus the socket set), and send it to the county court (I suppose similar to a district court in the US). The court accepted our case, and sent it to SG to give him the chance to respond. He responded basically saying that, because I had been employed by the company (that he was the sole proprietor of), and not directly by him, he didn't have to pay me, as the company was no longer in existence. We wrote back to the court asserting that this was basically bullshit, especially as I had an email from SG's personal account promising to pay me. The court agreed, and lacking any further replies from SG, automatically settled in our favour, slapping SG with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) ordering him to pay me the £700.

If you're not from the UK, a CCJ is a real ball and chain to have on your name. It can make it very difficult or downright impossible to do things like apply for credit cards, buy things on finance, get a loan or a mortgage, or start a new business. I'm not sure exactly how you get rid of one, but obviously paying the debt it was awarded for probably helps. What it did do though, was give us the option to have government bailiffs forcibly collect the £700 from SG. One problem though, I didn't know where SG lived, as he had moved out of his old house a month or so before, clearly part of his escape plan, and I didn't know his new address. We appealed to the same county court to furnish us with SG's address, but they wouldn't because of some ridiculous bureaucratic reason, I imagine to do with data protection or something. If I wanted to get my money back, I would have had to somehow find out SG's new address. Short of hiring a PI, I had no idea how to do this, so, reluctantly, I decided to let the issue go, and chalk it up to experience, and hoped the CCJ would give SG grief in the future.

​

Fast forward to last year, and a letter drops onto my doormat. It's from a county court, this time in Kent, which is about 300 miles away from where I live. Turns out, SG had moved there, and applied to the court to have his CCJ dismissed, as apparently, he had tried to set up a new business, and had applied for a bank loan, and had been denied both by Companies House (the governmental register where all businesses in the UK must be registered), and by the bank, because of my CCJ against his name. The court had contacted me to ask if wanted to oppose his motion to dismiss the CCJ. You bet your arse I did.

My dad and I got hold of all our original evidence from 4 years earlier, which luckily my dad still had on his computer, and trekked all the way to Kent to face this fucker in court. Since CCJs and small claims stuff is fairly low level, lawyers are apparently not usually involved in the court proceedings, so SG and I were representing ourselves. The judge asked me first what the original CCJ was about, and I summarised it for him, stating that I was after my £700. The judge then turned to SG, and asked him why, after 4 years, he hadn't paid the debt. SG then goes on a whiny little tale, giving the same argument that he gave 4 years ago, that I was employed by his company, not by him, and that the CCJ was unfair, and that I was being “vindictive”. The judge asked for my response, and I simply told him that that was SG's original defence, and that if it hadn't stood up in a different court 4 years ago, it shouldn't stand up now. There was a bit more back and forth, but ultimately, the judge agreed with me, and gave his ruling.

Not only did the judge order SG to pay us not £700, but £1000, to compensate us for interest and having to come to Kent to go to court, but also slapped the CCJ on him for ANOTHER 5 YEARS! He actually said to SG “You are a deceitful man, who clearly cannot be trusted with a business or with employees.”. As soon as we were done, SG just turned and stormed out of the courtroom, and that was the last time I saw him. I waited for a cheque for my £1000 to arrive, but of course it did not. Luckily, however, this time we had SG's current address from the court documents, so we contacted the court and arranged for bailiffs to pay him a visit. It took another two months for them to do their thing, and I had to pay a £60 fee, but I finally got my grand. So finally, after years of waiting, I get my wages, tool money, and then some, and the satisfaction of knowing SG won't be able to scam anymore customers or employees for years. Arsehole.

(source) story by (/u/Superior_Comestible)

[ellaoftarth]

j/b mash up trope prompt: florist and prison au?

Hi! Thank you so much for asking! This was a really tough one to come up with, but I ended up really liking the idea and wrote a little fic for it. It’s kinda rough and a little bit unrealistic, but I wanted to write it out. Let me know what you think! :) 

Brienne always enjoyed flowers; the way a bouquet could send a detailed message when enough thought went into it; the flowers, the colors- it all told a story. She supposed that most people who came into her shop didn’t really care that much, didn’t think about that message when they picked an arrangement. But Brienne always did. Growing up she’d imagine receiving flowers from someone. She daydreamed of figuring out what the flowers symbolized, realizing how much she’d meant to someone. But that day never came, and so she wanted to at least be a part of that for someone else.

One morning, Brienne was arranging a bouquet she’d planned to take home. Though there wasn’t anyone else at home to enjoy them, Brienne liked having flowers around; they brought life to her lonely apartment. Plus, arranging them for herself gave her a chance to explore making new arrangements without worrying about if they’d sell. This particular arrangement was full of her favorite flowers; white chrysanthemums, purple hydrangeas, red peonies, and queen anne’s lace. 

When the bell at the door chimed, Brienne looked up from the arrangement. An obscenely well-put together woman in a small pencil skirt and flowing white blouse stalked towards her, her blonde waves flowing around her face as she moved. Immediately, Brienne was acutely aware of her uniform; a dark green apron over a pair of simple black slacks and a dark grey shirt. 

Without any form of greeting, the woman got straight to the point, “I need an arrangement. I really couldn’t care less what it is. What you’re working on there it- well,” she looked at the arrangement in front of Brienne, tilting her head judgmentally, “it’ll do. You do deliveries, yes?” 

Brienne was at a loss for words. She didn’t quite want this conversation to go on longer than it needed to, so she didn’t bother telling the woman that this bouquet was not for sale. “Um, yes- yes we do. If you give us the address, one of our employees can deliver it.” Well, her only other employee would deliver it- Podrick was her only employee, but she didn’t mind. He was a good worker and always commented on how lovely her arrangements were. 

The woman barely looked Brienne in the eyes, instead she took a piece of paper out of her purse and set it on the counter. “There’s the address. You do customized messages, right? If not this has been a waste of my time.” 

“Yes, we have cards to put with the arrangements. Would you like to write it or do you want it typed?” Brienne asked. 

The woman rolled her eyes, “I’ll write it, thanks.” Brienne quickly handed her a card and envelope with a pen, and the woman hastily scribbled out a message, as if this whole endeavor was a complete inconvenience to her. She put the card in the envelope and addressed it, then handed it back to Brienne, stepping over to the cash register to suggest that she was ready to check out. 

Brienne only briefly looked at the name on the card- Jaime- before following the woman to the cash register. The woman barely looked at the total on the register, clearly wealthy enough to not have to even think about the price for a moment. After signing the bill, the woman simply said, “I need it delivered by tomorrow at the latest.” Then, she turned on her heel and stalked back out. 

Brienne was still processing the whole encounter as she picked up the paper with the address written on it. She looked away and then did a double take; apparently Jaime was in prison. 

…

While Brienne was weary about sending Pod to the prison to deliver the flowers later that afternoon, but Pod insisted that he would be able to, since they had just received an order for a wedding bouquet that Brienne needed to work on. So, Brienne sent him on his way with the bouquet that she had arranged for herself, the card stuck on a clear holder in the middle of the arrangement. 

An hour later, Pod arrived back at the shop, flowers still in hand. 

“What happened?” Brienne asked. 

Pod shrugged, “They said flowers weren’t allowed to be given to inmates. They did allow me to leave the card though, so I guess that’s something.” 

Brienne groaned; now she had to call back the woman, whom she learned was named Cersei, and notify her. Brienne looked at the number Cersei provided when she payed and sighed, dialing the number. 

“Hello?” Cersei asked, already bored of the conversation. 

“Hello, um, this is Brienne Tarth from Sapphire Isle Arrangements. I just wanted to notify you that we attempted to deliver your order, but we weren’t able to.” Brienne said hesitantly. 

Cersei’s tone darkened, “What does that mean, you were unable to?” 

“Well, apparently you can’t leave flowers for- for inmates, so we were only able to leave the card there, and our employee had to take back the arrangement.”

Cersei cut in, “But the card was delivered?” 

“Yes,” Brienne answered, then repeated, “But the arrangement couldn’t be. We are already processing your reimbursement for the arrangement, but unfortunately, the delivery fee cannot be refunded-“ 

“Whatever, that’s fine.” Cersei cut Brienne off, then hung up. 

Brienne stared at the phone, confused. While it was still in her hand, it started ringing again. Brienne answered and was met with an automated voice, “An inmate at the Westerosi Prison is attempting to call you, will you accept this call?” 

Brienne answered slowly, “Yes?” This ought to be interesting. 

There was a pause, then a voice came through the received, “Hello, is this Sapphire Isle Arrangements?” It was a man’s voice, and sounded quite pleasant and cheerful. A stark contrast to Cersei’s. 

“Yes, it is.” Brienne paused, “Who is this?” 

“Hi, this is Jaime Lannister. Who am I speaking to?” 

Should she give her name out? Brienne debated it in her head for a moment before answering “Brienne.” 

“Hi, Brienne,” Jaime greeted her again. “I was just calling to ask you a favor.” 

“A favor?” Brienne repeated. 

“Yes, if my sister, um, the unpleasant woman who probably came into your shop today, tries to send another arrangement or card or something through your shop to me, can you deny the request?”

Well that’s odd. “I’m not sure I can refuse a customer without reason. But I doubt she’d come in again since the flowers couldn’t be delivered anyways.” 

“Oh, but she got her card to me and that was enough. You see, I’ve been ignoring all of her letters and her visits so I’m guessing this was her next idea to try and contact me.” Jaime explained. 

“Oh,” was all Brienne could say. 

“Yes, well, she’s persistent. But I am, too. And I will not be contacting her any time soon. You’ve met her, so I assume you can understand at least partly why.” 

“Yes,” Brienne answered immediately, then blushed, realizing she shouldn’t have admitted that about a customer. She heard Jaime laugh. He had a nice laugh. 

“Try being related to her.” Jaime sighed, though his voice still held his laughter. “On second thought, don’t- she’s the one who put me in here.”

“What do you mean?” Brienne couldn’t help asking. Then she backtracked, “I- um, Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that. I should go.” 

“No, wait!” Jaime said hurriedly. After a pause he added, “You still there, Brienne?” 

“Yes,” Brienne answered, trying not to think about the way her name sounded from his voice. 

“Good,” Jaime’s voice was light, “I only have a certain number of calls I can make a week.” He continued, “It’s a long story, how I got here. But my family, our company, has been involved in a number of… shady business deals, and when it came to placing blame, they chose me. My sister was the one in particular that threw me under the bus. I’m not saying I’m innocent, but it wasn’t just me, wasn’t my choice, what all happened. My time would be a lot less in here if I were only paying for my crimes.” 

“How long are you in there?” Brienne couldn’t help but ask. She wondered why Jaime was willing to tell her as much as he already had. 

“A year.” Jaime answered. “I suppose that’s not that long, all things considered.” 

“I’m sorry,” Brienne felt bad for Jaime, though she wasn’t sure why. 

Jaime’s voice seemed more worn when he answered, “It is what it is.” 

“Thanks for telling me,” Brienne said, not wanting to hear the sadness in his voice. She continued, “It was a bit strange, interacting with your sister today. I suppose this gives me some clarity on it all.” 

Jaime’s voice was warmer, “Thanks for not hanging up, and for listening.” The two stayed on the line for half a minute or so longer, though neither of them said anything. Eventually, Brienne cleared her throat, and Jaime sighed. “Well, I suppose I better go.” 

“Alright,” Brienne said, slightly dazed by it all. “Bye, Jaime.” 

“Bye, Brienne.” 

Brienne wondered after that day and into the next week if Cersei would come back, trying to send another arrangement just to get another message to Jaime. But she never came back. Brienne still wondered about it all, though she tried to stop herself form thinking about it as much as she could. One night she caved, and googled Jaime and Cersei Lanniste. She found that everything he said was true; Jaime Lannister was being indicted for embezzelment. While the whole company was initially under investigation, an anonymous,employee presumably Cersei, tipped the detectives off that it was all caused by Jaime. There was speculation about the other members of the family in various articles Brienne read, but the investigation seemed to have stopped once Jaime was arrested. 

One morning, as Brienne was watering that same arrangement that Pod had brought back, which now resided on the windowsill of the shop window, Brienne got a call. “Sapphire Isle Arrangements, this is Brienne speaking.” 

“An inmate at the Westerosi Prison is attempting to call you, will you accept this call?” 

“Yes.” Brienne answered, sucking in a breath. The line clicked over and she said, “Hello?” 

“Hello,” Jaime’s voice responded, “is this Sapphire Isle Arrangements?” His tone was playful. 

Brienne bit back a smile, “Yes, it is. What can we do for you?” 

“Well, I’d like to send some flowers to someone.” 

Brienne’s heart dropped. Suddenly realizing that he wasn’t calling for her specifically. she felt ridiculous for even thinking that for a moment. “Ok,” she responded. 

“Great, well, they’re for a woman who works at your shop named Brienne, maybe you can help me figure out what kind of flowers to get her?” 

Brienne couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips, “I suppose. Did you have something in mind? You have to be careful, though, flowers can have lots of hidden meanings.”

“I’d love to hear about them,” Jaime answered, “It has to be the perfect arrangement.” And by the end of the call, for the first time in her life, Brienne had learned just what flowers someone intended to send her, and the meanings that went along with them. 

…

Well that’s that! I hope it was alright! 

Please feel free to request trope mashups for me to write, or even just random prompts :) I really enjoyed developing and writing this story.