#I also need to try and find some cheap noise canceling headphones

[the-sappho-of-lesbos]

.

[r3d-f3rn]

my study habits

i haven’t been focused or motivated recently, but once my schedule picks up again i’ll probably be doing better.

Pomodoro 50/10 - ok i didn’t know there was a name for this until yesterday, but this is the timing method i find best. 50 minute study, 10 minute break. bonus is on that break, i make sure to get up and move a bit. occasionally, and if my walking buddy is out of class, i’ll take a full hour and force them to go on a walk with me.

Body doubling - i only recently discovered this one, and i don’t exactly hate it. for those who don’t know, some smart person somewhere was like “hey, people especially with neurodivergence (such as i) typically do better focusing if someone is also focusing on a similar thing” or something like that. i tried this both with another person (i love my walking buddy) and following along a youtube video without music (reason why is following). i think, personally, it’s best i do it with other people in-person because even if they don’t listen (they usually do bc i have awesome friends), i’ll recount the information, which often leads to some connection i wouldn’t have made otherwise.

Music - what a shocker. for me, my music depends on the day: i recently got over a break-up so i’ve been playing a lot of shit-talking music (waterfalls coming out your mouth by glass animals <3) but i constantly make new playlists to keep in fresh. also, i just recently bought a pair of noise-cancelling headphones because they were 40% off, but if you can’t afford them you honestly can just play white noise very quietly behind your music (or ambiance idk i know ppl use rain noises). it works better for headphones, but earbuds work too. but yeah that’s how noise-cancelling things cancel said noise, life hack ig.

Environment - on really bad days where i need more than just a coffee and literally spend 2+ hours trying to focus to no avail, i’ll go to a local café (SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS !!), order a redbull spritzer and a cheap plate of food (to make up for the ~$8 well spent). then, i force myself to sit down for at least 2 hours. i think it’s me romanticizing being mysterious, but if it works then i’ll do it. if i need a break, ill give myself 5 minutes to discretely people-watch. once, i saw my middle-school math teacher while i was doing this and i just- i think seeing teachers in public is fascinating, but i think everyone’s a lil interesting so idk.

RITUAL - i think this one is most important, especially if your schedule is too chaotic to set out a decent study schedule. mine starts off with filling a bottle with cold, infused water (trying to reduce my sugar so i’m not always tired) and lighting a candle that i associate with studying. mine used to be this lemon scrub from bath&body, but i ran out so now i’m using some rose water one.

part of my lack-of-studying recently is that my study space fucking sucked ass (tiny desk, don’t ever get wall-mounted desks) but i have a new desk coming in on Tuesday so i just have to cope til then. plus, i just got a 60+ year old lamp from my honorary grandma and i’m just too excited that i get to rearrange my room. :D

[heymrsamerica]

I was asked yesterday about how to make classrooms friendlier for neurodivergent students and there’s sooo much but I will try to squeeze some thoughts on here:

Fostering an environment for learning and fostering an environment for compliance are two different things. 

1. Do not ever expect students to make eye contact with you. I hated being forced to make eye contact and that teachers assumed I wasn’t listening if I wasn’t looking at them. I learn best when I DONT look at you so I can actually focus and process your words. And this is very common for Neurodivergent people. Autistic listening is still listening!

2. Do not expect the class to give verbal responses if you need students to respond to something! If you need a response from the class (like to know if they are listening or ready for the next steps), you can ask them to do a gesture like a thumbs up, touching their nose etc.. 

3. If possible make a designated space in your classroom as a mini sensory area. If it’s in your budget and affordable to you as an educator, please try to Have a variety of fidget tools that cater to different sensory needs (squishy, soft, rough, buttons to press, spinny etc.) and noise canceling headphones, and light sensitivity glasses available in that spot.

If those aren’t in your budget, maybe try cheap coloring books from the dollar store or have some books there (maybe you can get some from a library) that they can read.

Allow them to go to that spot at any time, but set boundaries of fidget tools though! (Such as use these just for yourself, don’t fling them at other people to be silly or they will have to choose another fidget tool.) I call them fidget tools instead of fidget toys if I’m intentionally using them around kids who are learning that it helps disabled people and it’s not just a cool toy. It also helps when kids may be getting a bit silly with it to the point where it is distracting and you can politely redirect them by asking is the fidget TOOL helping or distracting? If it’s distracting, don’t punish them! We don’t want them to associate shame with those. Just say that it’s great that you like them but let’s wait until break to play with it since we are working right now. (When working with children, but especially neurodivergent children, it’s much better to focus on what they CAN do instead of what they shouldn’t do. It creates a positive environment while still setting healthy boundaries. It’s better than an adult barking “no don’t do that.” And autistic kids hear that so much. 😞

4. Be really flexible with assignments. No, not just with deadlines. Be flexible with how the layout of your assignment is! For example, if a student is having a really hard time writing an essay about the assigned topic due to their disability, ask them if they would like to instead record a voice audio/video with them explaining the assigned topic and you would grade their response based on the CONTENT that they said.

If that sounds “easy” I really need you to pause and think about why that bothers you. If the goal is for students to LEARN rather than comply with traditional education standards, wouldn’t the goal of the assignment be to make sure they understand the content and material that’s being taught? I think students can explain content and material in voice recordings OR in writing. And don’t grade their voice Audio based on their speech. Only focus on WHAT they are talking about and if it’s correct and what you were looking for in the goal of assigning this in the first place.

5. Make peer group projects OPTIONAL. If they can’t do the peer group project option, have another option for them to choose.

6. Allow students to stim. And if you do allow them to stim, do so without making them feel embarrassed or bad about it. If the students stimming is genuinely disruptive, find out if the stimming is caused by some sensory distress in the classroom and try to alter it (example: dimming lights) or tell them in private you are glad they feel comfortable stimming AND lets explore alternative stims that can make you comfortable while you’re in a room with other people who have sensory needs too. It could be a chance to direct them to the sensory area in the class too.

7. Let them slouch. Or even lay down while listening and working. Or even walk around a bit while you teach. You don’t need to sit up or sit still to be able to learn.

8. If you know in advance that you were going to have an autistic student, find out from their support team what their interests are and what ways they learn best. Find out if transitions are hard for them and what makes it easier for them. Take time to learn about their special interest so you can try to bond with them to establish trust that you are a safe person to present as their authentic self.

9. For the love of G-d, please let them use the restroom (ALL kids, not just neurodivergent) when needed. Autistic kids actually statistically struggle more with GI issues and also statistically struggle more with urgency urgency or incontinence. We cannot control this. Forcing us to suffer by refusing our request to go to the restroom so you can finish your lecture is really,harmful. Physically and emotionally. I promise you we are not hearing a word of your lecture if we need to go but you say no. 

Autistic listening is STILL listening.

Autistic learning is STILL learning.

I’ll scream it from the mountains.

Via The Activist Autistic on Facebook

[buildarocketboys]

Got some noise-cancelling headphones today lads!

They were an accommodation that I didn't really thing I needed (and also was reluctant to get since the cartilage of my ear is really sensitive to touch/pressure) but after pretty much shutting down coming back from Derby on Saturday from the noise on the train/in restaurants (as well as other factors), I figured I could try some out and see if I liked them.

They weren't super expensive (for noise-cancelling headphones anyway, although they were £50ish, which is more than I've paid for headphones before but considering I usually get cheap earphones bc that's what I find most comfy, that's not surprising). But omg the noise cancelling is a revelation, and even without it switched on they still block out a lot! And the cups basically go around my ears so they don't press against them too much (although I do find the band a bit annoying on my head, so will probably still use the earphones interchangeably, but still). Can't wait to go on public transport/in busy loud places and be able to block all of it out when I need to! And also to be able to block out background noise so I can actually hear people/whatever I actually want to hear!

[addierose444]

What’s in My Backpack

In this post, I’ll “unpack” everything that I carry on a typical school day. For starters, I don’t actually use a backpack and instead use a tote bag. The specific bag is the Patagonia Headway Tote which unfortunately has been discontinued. I started using this bag for school during my senior year of high school after trying both a messenger bag and a traditional backpack. When I first started college, I assumed that I’d need to revert back to using an actual backpack and did so for a little bit. What I love about using a tote bag is that it gives me really easy access to my things and has a more practical shape with less wasted space. The main downside is carrying all of the weight on one shoulder. The small size (20 liters) has its advantages and disadvantages. This post overlaps a bit with my posts about the technology I use in college and on my college essentials. Note that the links included in this post are to the latest version of the products I own. 

Starting from the back of the main compartment, I carry my laptop and tablet in dedicated slightly padded sleeves. My current laptop is the 14-inch Dell Latitude 5421 which I purchased through the Smith College Computer Store a week ago. My tablet is the 6th generation iPad (2018) along with the first-generation Apple Pencil. For more about how I use these devices for my classes this semester, click here. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I also carry a half-inch binder with the most recent papers for signals and systems (EGR 320). To check out all of my current classes, click here. 

Next, are my headphones (Bose QC 35IIs), polarized sunglasses (SunCloud Loveseat), insulated metal water bottle (Studio Oh! Boho Llama Duo), and pencil pouch. While my Bose headphones aren’t cheap, they are well worth the price as they have Bluetooth, top-notch active noise canceling, and superior comfort. I use them daily to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and videos. Both my headphones and sunglasses are protected in dedicated hard cases. My pencil pouch is from Garnet Hill and I’ve had it since at least middle school! Inside I carry pens, pencils, Wite-Out, scissors, a pencil sharpener, and a mini stapler. I also carry a set of mechanical colored pencils as they come in handy in both of my engineering classes. 

In the front organizational pockets of the main compartment, I keep my graphing calculator (TI-84 Plus CE), an extra black pen, an extra mechanical pencil, my multi-tool (Gerber Dime), hand cream (Weleda Skin Food), tissues, and menstrual products. The final item that may be loose on top of my other things in the main compartment is an extra layer such as my lightweight Smith sweatshirt. To find your own Smith merch, click here. 

On the outside of the bag is a large front pocket that holds my phone (Google Pixel 3a), mouse (Logitech M320), wallet (Mywalit Magic), and hand sanitizer. In my wallet, I have my student ID (Smith OneCard), driver’s license, insurance card, some cash, debit cards, and credit cards. To read more about banking in college, click here. I also carry a punch card to GoBerry which is the frozen yogurt place downtown. To read more about the food scene in Northampton, click here. Finally, I keep my various keys in the coin pocket of my wallet. 

[florvinhara]

my detectives (part 1)

kjahfjhsj i can have a little infodumping... as a treat... anyway this was originally gonna be 1 post but then i got carried away so part 1 in the series of me ranting abt my detectives!

Kira Isabella Song

Romances N, F, or M

Age: 25 at the start of book 1, currently 26

Birthday: February 7

Star sign: Aquarius sun, Taurus moon, Scorpio rising

Height: 5’7”

Hair: Short, ash blonde, a little longer than chin length

Eyes: dark brown

Race/ethnicity: Korean-American

Other appearance details: Several beauty marks on face and body. a few subtle scars on face/legs from falling out of trees, etc. fingers are callused from band practice and left hand fingers are a little crooked from being broken.

Languages: English, Spanish, a few basic phrases in some other languages

Stats:

Charming/Intimidating

Impulsive/Cautious

Sarcastic/Genuine

Friendly/Stoic

Easygoing/Stubborn

Heart/Mind (equal)

Optimist/Pessimist

Team player/Independent

Primary skills: Science & combat

Strengths: Trustworthy, strong, courageous, calm under pressure, compassionate, thorough, clever, good intuition, self-sufficient, sure of herself

Weaknesses: Petty, caustic, distrustful, secretive, lackadaisical, insubordinate, emotionally unintelligent, can be disdainful, uncommunicative, contrary

Personal:

overall body language is casual and unbothered, lowkey her posture is kind of yikes RIP but she has a very fluid way of moving

her voice is smooth and somewhat low in pitch, very even in tone

Loud and/or jumbled sounds sometimes overwhelm her; she usually has noise cancelling headphones with her just in case

Rebellious as a teenager; she started skipping school and getting into fights, did some graffiti and one time she stole a street sign that she may or may not still have

When she wasn’t breaking rules, etc. she was taking boxing lessons, chilling in the library, going on runs, or playing bass guitar in her band

Wanted to get out of Wayhaven as soon as possible after college but was arrested after she came back because she was selling fake IDs and stole a car; absolutely did not want to be law enforcement but Rebecca and the captain essentially made her

The deal was that she would work at the station for 5 years and if she did well/stayed out of trouble she could then quit- she's 3 years into it

deep down if she wasnt a detective she would want to be a paramedic

She shares a lot of mannerisms with Rebecca and they’re way more similar than she’d like to admit

Birds FREAK her out seriously; she’ll deny that she’s afraid of them but she’ll cross the street to get away from them, also hates crowded places and deep water

Scary resting face and has a habit of just... eerily staring at people who are bothering her until they get spooked, but she's not actually that angry or grouchy, she's really just Vibing u know? she's not gonna correct anyone's impression though or they might start like... Talking to her :/

Loves any book/movie/show with a secret society or spy element and stories about a Hero and their Journey, also loves angsty philosophy books; her favorite movies are cheesy but feel-good (The Mummy, Pacific Rim, anything with big CGI monsters)

Doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth but would kill someone for strong coffee; if she’s really tired you can catch her drinking it cold straight from the pot with a straw

Emo/pop punk teen and she definitely cried when MCR broke up, she also listens to a lot of Dixie Chicks, Johnny Cash, Dottie West, Patsy Cline, etc

She’s been drawing since she was a kid- mainly works with charcoal and sometimes pastels. her sketchbooks are like her diaries and she’s never shown them to Anyone Ever

In her spare time, she still plays some guitar, draws, or reads; her library is extensive because she keeps every book she’s ever read or intends to read (it’s one of the few things she’ll drop real money on)

Very tactile person and fussy about textures, she prefers ultra soft blankets/pillows and her bed is basically a nest

Practical, efficient, frugal- she doesn’t necessarily find joy in cooking or anything but she can do it well enough, quick showers, uses cheap soap/shampoo, cuts her own hair

Her hands get super dry/chapped in the winter and it hurts very much :(

Never yells; when she gets angry she’s very cold & will Not hold back; every word is designed to hurt bc she’s purposefully poking at things she knows are sore spots

At the start of the books, she’s kind of... sleepwalking through life? like, she was in a not-great place mentally for most of her teens and didn’t really have a plan for the future but law enforcement was definitely not it? She isn’t feeling super passionate about what she’s doing and it kind of sucks to not have joy in purpose :( luckily that’s changing and is gonna be a significant part of her journey through the series!

Her apartment is cluttered but clean and she knows where everything is, if someone moved one of her things she would not be able to find it and it would bother her until she located it

She’s not stubborn exactly? Like she’ll concede an argument if it’s not super important to her and has no problem with losing or backing down in many cases; she’s pretty open minded in that respect, but if something is central to her values then she will Die before she backs down

On that note she’s overall a very logical person but when it comes down to it she'll follow her heart/first instinct

Does not care about rules or procedures At All, she'll follow them if it suits her end goal but otherwise... nope

Lowkey she… did not care about the reveal? it was a surprise but not her first priority in the moment- she kind of already thought UB was sketchy and didn’t trust them, so mainly she was pissed off that Rebecca had sent them to babysit her instead of actually help solve the murders

Speaking of Rebecca their relationship is kind of yikes. Kira isn’t exactly mad that Rebecca was gone so often, but she does think that she kind of forfeited her parenting rights and was annoyed that Rebecca was interfering with her life; first by getting her on the force and then by dropping UB on her. So now it’s Very Awkward between them because Kira doesn’t want to be like… mean but honestly what is there to say?? They’re trying but neither of them like to share personal information so it’s rough

On the subject of sharing, she just… genuinely doesn’t like to open up. Like, it doesn’t come naturally and in her mind it’s just… nobody else’s business what she’s feeling/what’s going on in her life

Genuinely does not realize that people care about her unless they openly tell her lmao... sad hours but at this point in the story she honestly doesnt think that any of UB cares abt her beyond their job besides the one she's dating :(

"Everyone should be allowed to feel things and rely on the support of the people around them, their emotions are Valid. not me though, this is my personal problem and as such its dumb so i have to get over it alone"

Her primary love language is acts of service, she wants the people she loves to have everything they might need; she’s Soft and really just wants snuggles but also she does not want to address it out loud

Her way of asking for affection is to just... stand/sit there and occasionally glance at the person... hovers like a sad ghost until she gets a hug... literally like 🥺👉👈 sjdhdkn Clown girl

She’s sarcastic and makes a lot of snarky comments, but generally she’s pretty honest unless she doesn’t want to talk about something (in which case she’ll brush it off and deflect or change subjects) which is why it annoys her so much when people are willfully dishonest or conniving

Pretty adaptable and capable of rolling with the punches but she generally dislikes surprises and being the center of attention

genuinely she's pretty chill! and a Huge enabler of chaos as well, like unless it's specifically bothering her she's gonna let it happen and mostly she thinks it's pretty funny to watch from the sidelines

in short she's basically like a feral cat who stares suspiciously at everyone from a distance until they successfully pspspsps their way into her heart and then she would die for them <3 but if she's mad she will make direct eye contact while shoving glasses off the counter

ahdgsksg ok last one i swear she Cannot Sit Properly, always has to be some flavor of lounging or leaning or sitting twisted into a pretzel

[midnightprelude]

Take My Hand

Dorian and Rilienus for @14daysdalovers by @oftachancer​ and I (drawing by meeee)! Read here or on AO3.

The fireworks started before the sun had gone down, bursting over the city in rampant showers of color and booming far and wide across the country. They clattered ram shod over the bells that sang from the High Chantry at sunset. 

Listen to the fireworks, Rilienus had said. Listen. He’d never thought to. In fact, he’d gone so far as to invest in exceptional noise cancelling headphones specifically to not listen to them at various points during the year. One watched fireworks. Admired the flashing lights and patterns. Tutted over the smoke that billowed across the sky as a result of the crackling and fizzling chemical reactions. 

Not for the first time in their acquaintance, Dorian caught himself gazing at Rilienus’ profile, realizing he’d forgotten to breathe at some point. What a marvel he was. What a spectacular, intricate mind hiding inside such a wonderfully sensual form. His whole body was built to be kissed and touched, responsive to the smallest stimuli of breezes or touches, but his sensitivity didn’t end there. Light and sound and the texture of food and the scent of varying trees and even the different kinds of cement that were used in different parts of the city. Dorian had never noticed those details; he’d wandered blithely ignorant through a world that was utterly beset with the fantastical elements that fed Rilienus’ psyche day in and out. 

“You’re staring again.”

“Sorry about that,” Dorian laughed, because what else could he do? How could he explain that Rilienus’ existence sometimes brought him to tears? It was such a strange feeling, being so grateful that this one person existed in the world. Never mind that he existed in close proximity, that he liked Dorian and shared all those wonderful parts of himself with him. Just that he was. 

“You can stare at me whenever you like,” Rilienus chuckled, giving him a sly smirk, crossing his ankles below the park bench and uncrossing them again. “How often do they bathe Val Royeaux in booming sound and sparkling color, the sun catching on the waves in the harbor and turning everything caramel?”

“Like this? Let’s see- there’s Empire day. There’s Satinalia. And the night before First Day.” He quirked a brow. “You’ve been to Empire day in Val Royeaux before, haven’t you?”

“Yes, but they’re always a little different,” Rilienus nudged him with his shoulder. “Last year everything was more silver and the year before that wasn’t nearly percussive enough.” He stretched his arms over his head, sighing. “This one is nice. The colors over the water match the sounds and the weather. A more thorough harmony.”

Gods, what must it be like to look out on the world with those eyes and hear it with his gentle, edible ears? “Yes. This one is nice.” Dorian leaned back, peering up at the sky. “The caramel is nice.”

“It matches you, too,” Rilienus added, almost too quietly for him to hear. “Gilded light at dawn and before dusk.”

Like breathing champagne. Like licking the bowl clean after Rilienus had made his spiced pudding. Dorian flexed his hands together, his heart pounding in time to the bursting displays above them. Percussive. He took a breath. “Should we open the wine? Do you think anything can really compare to those jewels we had at the cookout?”

“Kaffas, I hope so,” Rilienus laughed, reaching into his bag to pull out the bottle and a corkscrew. “It’s not at the right temperature, but at least we have proper glasses.” He passed Dorian a glass and peeled off the top of the label from the bottle. “It’s though they were trying to mock us. Do they think the faculty wouldn’t notice?”

“Well,” Dorian considered. “There are those who come prepared. Hennessy in World Religions always comes to these things with a snifter in a velvet bag. But he also wears housecoats in the daylight, so…” He shrugged. “I understand it. It’s less work for the organizers. And they only just finally agreed to get recyclable cups.” He chuckled. “It does make you feel rather like a drunk, though, drinking cheap facsimiles of wine out of cups meant for playing beer pong-” He jolted as a particularly massive explosion of yellow boomed over their heads. “Is this one percussive enough?”

“Absolutely,” Rilienus grinned sharply, dragging the cork from the bottle with a soft pop. “A nice range. Set your teeth on edge. A visceral experience.” He poured a sip of wine in Dorian’s glass. “Is the vintage to your liking, my dear sir?”

Dorian tilted the glass, lifting it to watch the fireworks sizzle through the liquid. He sniffed. He sipped. He couldn’t have said, if pressed, what the scent was, nor the particular notes, nor whether it was objectively a particularly eventful wine. He could have described in detail the way Rilienus’ eyes crinkled in amusement and the way his lips curved just so - from smile to smirk to sideways sweetness like the setting sun. “Delectable,” he murmured, meaning it, and held his glass out for more. “Perfectly uncarbonated. Thank you. I hope you’ll find it pleasing as well.”

“What a relief,” Rilienus hummed, splashing more wine into Dorian’s glass before filling his own, sipping and sighing. “Ah, yes. All is once again as it should be.”

“It is.” Dorian tapped his glass to Rilienus’ lightly. “Good wine and good company.” He took a deep breath, letting his second sip linger on his tongue. “‘Drink to me only with thine eyes, and I will pledge with mine; or leave a kiss but in the cup, and I’ll not look for wine.’”

Rilienus exhaled softly beside him, low and shaky. “I haven’t heard that one before. It’s-“ His eyes glittered with the reflection of exploding, sparkling stars. “Apt. I like it. It’s-“ He hummed a little tune, joyful, but with a hint of longing. “It’s right, too.”

“Is it?” Dorian ducked his head, grinning foolishly. “I was afraid it might be too on the nose.”

“Sometimes on the nose suits quite well,” Rilienus chuckled, sipping from his glass. His fingers tapped out a rhythm on the seat of the bench between them. “I can say it now: I’m officially glad I joined you this afternoon. I’m not certain how you managed to make such an event palatable, let alone somewhat enjoyable.”

“Ah.” Dorian could feel his joy in his toes. “Hypnotism and drugs, mostly.”

“Is that it?” Rilienus lifted a brow. “You’ve drugged me? Hypnotized me to feel delight at the sound of your voice?”

At the sound of his voice- The warmth rushed up from his toes to vibrate through his chest at the next collection of fireworks. “Reciprocal hypnotism. Very tricky.”

“Reciprocal?” Rilienus tutted. “No, no. I worked very hard to make you delight in me. Have you already forgotten this morning?” He turned, smirking. “Will you need a reminder when we return to walls and ceilings?”

“This morning,” he hummed, hiding his grin behind his glass. “This morning. Nnn…. no. Not ringing any bells. All I remember is a kaleidoscope of light and sound and percussion… Perhaps the fireworks began early.”

“That they did,” Rilienus snorted. There were people about, but it was too dark to make out their features, save for the quick flashes of light that illuminated them all briefly before fading again. A little hilltop in the park full of benches, families and couples, but they were easy to forget with Rilienus beside him. “Alright, then, it seems we need a repeat in order to leave a more lasting impression.”

“It seems we do.” Dorian shut his eyes, listening to the sounds of the booms in the distance, the cracks and fizzles, the oohs and aahs from others, all eyes on a sky full of wonders. He dropped his fingers towards the tapping on the bench, letting his hand rest in the path of the percussion as he listened to the Orlesian anthem bellow from a barge on the sea. “I’ve never really listened to them before,” he sighed. “Without the lights, they almost sound sad.”

Rilienus’ fingers stopped moving as soon as they contacted Dorian’s. There was a moment of hesitation that dragged on for an eternity, before finally Rilienus exhaled and set his hand on top of Dorian’s, stroking the side of Dorian’s hand with his thumb. “It does sound a bit melancholy, doesn’t it?” His voice was nearly drowned out by the crashing explosions. “The way the echoes fade away… There are some old symphonies that have cannons written into their scores. This is one such, actually, though the fireworks aren’t keeping a very good tempo.”

Dorian blinked rapidly, staring down to where Rilienus touched his fingers. Tempo? Tempo? His heart was racing like a track full of horses. A glancing touch, he’d thought. Something to stem the tide, to fill the space between them. His eyes burned with unshed tears. He looked up, finding eyes that were the color of wondrous poppies in a field of verdant growth. “Ril,” he whispered, helpless. “I love you.”

Rilienus closed his eyes, pressing his lips together, silent among the applause and clatter as the finale began. Exhaled slow, deep, painstaking breaths, but he kept holding Dorian’s hand, feather light touches keeping time to the crash of symbols over the loudspeaker. 

He didn’t open them again until the fireworks stilled, smoke filling the night air, crowds of people shifting, beginning to mill about the gardens of the park, on their way back to their merry little lives. 

Rilienus still held his hand, only the pulse over his fingers, the twitch of his thumb, and the gentle rise and fall of his chest signaling that he was more than a statue carved to sit upon the bench ad infinitum. 

And when the echoes of voices drifted into the evening, dissipated like the lights and smoke, did Rilienus meet his gaze and with the barest of breaths whisper, “I love you, too.”

Dorian smiled, catching a fallen tear from his lips with his tongue, his baited breath returning in a rush that left him light-headed. “They were good this year, I think,” he murmured, hearing his pulse in his voice. “Better than I’ve seen. Definitely better than I’ve heard.”

“The best I’ve had the privilege to enjoy,” Rilienus whispered, squeezing his fingers. “Dorian?”

“Hm?”

Rilienus smiled slightly, his eyes fractal emeralds. “You’ve something on your cheek.”

Dorian barked a laugh. “You’re a menace; do you know that?”

“I do,” Rilienus glanced down at their hands. “And yet you’re still here. Wonder of wonders.”

“We were having a nice confounding, miraculous moment, you realize.”

“Can’t possibly have one of those with your lines marred,” Rilienus hummed. He reached up to brush away the drops that caught in Dorian’s skin, smiling as he poured them each another glass of wine and taking his hand again, the only sounds those of lapping water, distant traffic, and evening songbirds. “I do so appreciate your symmetry. Almost as much as I enjoy being the one to set it askew.”

Dorian sniffed back a renewed set of happy tears, memorizing every angle of his face and the way his eyes caught the smoked starlight. “Am I suitably symmetrical to your tastes?” he asked, sipping from his glass to clear the clog from his throat. 

“I’m not sure there is a single part of you that isn’t to my taste, Dorian,” Rilienus admitted quietly, cradling his wine. “It’s rather mortifying, that realization.”

“Mortifying?” he repeated softly. “I find the experience rather vivifying.”

“Mortifying thing, living,” Rilienus raised his brows. “Being seen. It takes a bit of adjustment.”

Adjustment. Dorian studied him curiously, thinking of the panic attacks that had plagued him well after he’d made his way to Val Royeaux and the stuttering nerves blended with revelation he felt each time he touched Rilienus in even the most innocuous ways in the daylight. And now it was dark and there was the scent of burned revelry in the air and the lap of the sea against the harbor… and Rilienus was holding his hand. Not in sunlight, but moon and starlight, without walls and ceiling to protect them. High diving. Free falling. Dorian carefully turned his hand, tangling their fingers together; palm to palm. “It is,” he agreed quietly. “I’m very glad to be seen by you.”

He felt a subtle shiver go up Rilienus’ arm as he squeezed his hand lightly. “Likewise,” Rilienus breathed, closing his eyes again. “If I’m to be seen by anyone, I’m glad it’s you.”

“Thank you,” Dorian murmured, watching his exhales puff against his scruff. “For allowing me to. For today. For taking my hand.”

“Thank you,” Rilienus stared out over the harbor, the smallest hint of a smile curling his lips, “for helping me realize I could.”

[kiruuuuu]

Bandit/Ace PWP in which Ace wants to try out sensory deprivation and Bandit gladly obliges. (Rating E, smut + fluff, ~5.6k words) - written for myself, because I could 🖤 This is the song mentioned in the beginning :) Please enjoy!

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Where do I begin?, Shirley Bassey sings in his ear and Ace’s entire body breaks out in gooseflesh.

Haptic is his entire world, and haptic only. Helpless, he squirms under touches out of his control, touches too soft or too rough, touches as unexpected as they are intense. They outline his silhouette in fragments, tickle his inner elbow one second and brush over his thighs the next, always wandering, always new.

A gentle beat supporting the beautiful piece of music has his heartbeat wish it could sync up with it, and Ace closes his eyes under the blindfold. Not that it makes much of a difference, it goes from black to black, yet the simple gesture alleviates some of his vulnerability – now it’s his own choice to be deprived of sight instead of someone else’s.

Instead of Bandit’s.

He’s painfully hard already despite the lack of anything… untoward so far: all the sexual undertones stem from his mind, and yet context makes it clear they’re both equally into this, interpret it the same way. Still, ever since gentle hands slid his underwear off his legs and he was left stretched out on the comfortable mattress, all that’s happened were various sensations on his skin. He can’t place them all, knows there was a feather in there somewhere with its torturous, ticklish touch, remembers something hot and something cold – no ice cubes, though just as frosty. Except for the receptors in his skin, Ace has no reliable source of information left, not with the thick headphones cancelling out all but his own breaths. And the blood roaring in his ears. And the quiet noises he tries hard to suppress.

The anticipation is what keeps him on edge and it doesn’t disappoint. He’s suffered through unexpected sensations for a time span impossible to determine, and he’s about to reap the rewards for it. His body sinks back into the pillows the moment warm fingers trail down his abs and begin teasing his erection. There’s relief but also a subtle wish for it to continue: in concentrating on nothing but what’s being done to him, he forgot the rest of his reality.

Now this, the gentle slide of a fist over his cock, it’s familiar and predictable and allows his mind to stray again. He’s suddenly hyperaware of his own gasping, deafening over the entrancing music, and snaps his mouth shut. This side he’s not so keen on – this side actively makes him uncomfortable. He doesn’t know how he looks, can’t gauge any of Bandit’s reactions, can’t hear a sound other than his own laboured breaths and fabric rustling under his head, can’t even touch him because of the cloth keeping his wrists together, keeping his hands tied above his head.

Being utterly out of control isn’t something he usually enjoys. Part of him hates this powerlessness, this uncertainty of his own fate – if Bandit were to leave him lying here, there’d be nothing to distract Ace from his own thoughts. The prospect terrifies him. He takes careful measures to ensure he’s never bored, always has enough – too much – on his schedule, and even admitting this to himself brings out a quiet horror. Like this, trapped inside his own mind, only provided with background music which evokes emotions yet leaves his thoughts empty, unable to fidget, far away from the comforts of his online life, he feels petrified.

And yet it makes the sensations all the purer. Desperate for any sort of distraction, he believes he can feel all the callouses on his partner’s fingers. He certainly can tell where Bandit is at any given time, feels his breath caress his naked torso, the dip of the mattress, his essence moving around him. Ace’s heartbeat pulses through his entire body and every upstroke lifts his hips with it, enticing it to follow the flow.

His mouth is open again, letting the quietest of moans escape, so he closes it and forces himself to relax. He doesn’t want to seem desperate (even though he is), especially when he has no idea whether Bandit likes it or not; and this is what he despises most about all this – he can’t assess what to do when he can’t adapt to Bandit’s preferences. It’s something he does automatically, he subconsciously copies accents and body language, expresses interest in the same things, repeats whatever earns him smiles.

He thrives on feedback. He requires it to live or else he’d be irretrievably lost in the whole mess that is human communication, and once this pillar is taken away from him, he has absolutely nothing to go on. He can guess, but what if he’s wrong? He’s been with Bandit before, but they’re trying this out for the first time today and are on uncharted ground, so what to do? Is it best to be as unobtrusive as possible? To go all out and let loose? He’s not even sure whether that’s an option.

Suddenly, there’s something surrounding his dick, warm and wet and heavenly, and dear God does it yank him out of his obsessive spiral. His toes curl and a fake-sounding moan echoes in his head – but it’s sincere, he just can’t help himself and this is why he’s always hated these kinds of headphones. His own voice seems like a cheap imitation of something and though he’s overcome his dislike of hearing it by posting endless videos of himself, this is still different. His thighs spread by themselves to accommodate Bandit between them and his legs try to curl around him to get a better sense of what he’s doing, but hands push them back insistently. The only place where they’re connected now is Bandit’s mouth around his cock and Ace wants so bad to run his fingers through the coarse beard, to grip winding tattoos or pull the other man up for a kiss, wants so bad to do something that isn’t nothing.

That isn’t squirming in agonising pleasure.

By now, the music has turned into something almost primal, mostly low beats and simple variations unable to hold any of Ace’s attention at all, yet contributing to the sharp lust taking over from the underlying need, a need which kept his dick hard the entire time but didn’t feel as urgent as this. Before, Ace enjoyed the journey, now his focus shifts to the destination. He chews on his quivering lip and digs his heels into the sheets, rolling his hips up against Bandit’s hot mouth, and writhes under the expert ministrations. A slick tongue is massaging more noises out of him and his eyelids flutter when Bandit starts sucking in earnest.

He’s already too good at this, so the heightened sensation quickly reduces Ace to a mindless mess: no more intrusive thoughts, all he does is stumble further and further towards the edge. Bandit tempts him closer, pushes and pulls, bobs his head as far as it will go and envelops Ace’s entire cock in velvety smoothness. Hard palms on his hips stop him from thrusting up, which is fine with him – he’s being provided constant stimulation and is getting there fast. It’s an appropriate ending to all this, he finds, the build-up intense and a good balance of pleasurable and uncomfortable, therefore he doesn’t mind finishing relatively quickly.

He’s gripping his restraints so hard his tendons must be standing out (but he can’t know, can he); the pressure on his wrists is ever-increasing but he’s so close, he’s close and can basically taste his climax on the tip of his tongue. Bandit is allowing him deep into his throat, lips tightly wrapped around the base of Ace’s dick, and he’d give everything to be able to watch him do it. Are Bandit’s eyes open, is he looking at him? Is he drooling? What kind of wet noises is he making? All he has is the tantalising slide up and down his shaft, accompanied by the harsh pull of Bandit hollowing out his cheeks and a skilled tongue.

It’s enough, it’d be enough – just the steady stream of pleasure washing through him, tensing up every single one of his muscles in anticipation, waiting for the release. Bandit knows what he needs and provides it readily, changes nothing, gives him more, and Ace is right there, just on the edge. He teeters, gazes down into the abyss, willing to tumble and fall, ready to lose his balance and…

And stays. Sways in place. Head swimming, he’s taut like a bowstring but remains frozen, and then the feeling recedes. Bandit isn’t moving at all, merely waiting for Ace to step back. There’s no need to see the smirk on his face to know it’s there.

Ace knows what’s up. Knows it’s one of Bandit’s favourite games of endless teasing, has fallen victim to it once or twice before and isn’t proud of the begging to which he resorted. It’s all in good fun and the resulting orgasm blew Ace away every time, but right now, Bandit is clearly taking advantage of his powerless state.

In return, he shall receive nothing.

The concept of time loses meaning. All which tells Ace of its passing are the brief pauses between songs, the evolving melodies and differing vocalists of which he takes note at the edge of his mind only. His focus is on the self-imposed challenge instead, on being quiet and not letting Bandit see how worked up he really is – but the intensity of every touch is making either of the two impossible. With the promise of relief lurking in the distance, his cock is overly sensitive now and responds to any and all stimulation, whether it’s Bandit blowing on it or running his fingertips along the shaft. Ace can feel it twitching at every new sensation and sweat begins to cover his body, both from his increased arousal and the strain of not moving a muscle.

Bandit relishes his position of power. Time and time again, he coaxes Ace back to the edge with sweet caresses and an obscene tongue, and then leaves him stranded, gasping, jolting. Like an invisible, inaudible, intangible being, he swoops in out of nowhere and sucks or jerks Ace just shy of the point of no return, only to disappear once more. His hands and his mouth are all that exist of him but it’s enough to leave Ace trembling.

He suspects it’s punishment for how unresponsive he is, which only strengthens his resolve to win. He clenches his teeth and hopes Bandit can’t see it, buries his fingernails in his palms and consciously listens to the elusive lyrics, relaxes his abdominal muscles and tenses everything else to try and last longer. Regardless, his desire roars and thunders in his blood whenever Bandit wants it to, and his breaths become shallow as he’s once again deprived of the peak he so desperately needs.

The only saving grace is the fact that he can’t hear Bandit’s cheeky comments. He’d be tempted to return some of his own and his voice would waver and he’d forget his sentence halfway through and then he’d let out an embarrassing noise instead, but he’d still try.

It turns out, however, Bandit hasn’t forgotten about his weakness.

The moment their lips touch, Ace groans into Bandit’s mouth. A tongue entwines with his own and he would’ve come right that second if there’d been a hand on his cock – which explains why there isn’t. Instinctively, his arms jerk to try and hold Bandit in place, nearly dislocating his shoulder, but he needn’t have worried since Bandit shows no intention to withdraw any time soon. Quite the opposite.

Kissing without ever hearing his partner is a special kind of weird yet he finds that he doesn’t mind too much when Bandit patiently licks into his mouth. Experimental fingers are brushing over Ace’s unbearably hard erection and he moans, loudly, against Bandit’s lips. Making out, especially as sloppily as this, turns Ace’s bones into melted butter and leaves him docile as a kitten, stretching into Bandit’s every touch. The other man tastes of cigarettes and coffee and kisses like he means it.

This time, when his hand wraps around Ace’s shaft, he expects it to be the last time. He’s suffered enough and can barely stand the pressure in his crotch, a pressure only intensifying with every slide of wet lips over his own. Ace allows himself to give in and generously rewards the firm strokes with strangled noises, not once interrupting their kisses. His sharpened sense notices the almost distracted quality of Bandit’s motions, how he pours most of his attention into running his tongue over Ace’s teeth, that the thumb of the other hand, the one Bandit is leaning on, absent-mindedly strokes over Ace’s ribs. He’s keenly aware of all this and more, the way Bandit’s fist tightens now and then, his body shifting closer, his laboured breaths mixing with Ace’s.

Bandit is affected as well. The thought is more reassuring than Ace would like, but he’s a people pleaser and needs to know his partner is enjoying himself too or else his own pleasure fades. It helps that Bandit told him he’s hot on their very first meeting and backed up his statement by repeatedly inviting Ace over until he eventually gave in out of curiosity. He didn’t regret it.

His pleasure climbs and climbs, and he with it, once again approaching the very top from where he hopes to topple, and then Bandit’s lips stretch into a grin.

Denied. Denied once more.

The hand disappears and instead of his desire, Ace’s frustration peaks. He struggles against the fabric restricting his movement, tries to knee Bandit in the ribs and huffs in annoyance, aiming to at least throw Bandit off the bed. The faceless, soundless entity refuses his relief and he hates it, hates that he’s incapable of doing anything about it, hates that Bandit won’t do what he wants, won’t let him come. He won’t beg, couldn’t stand hearing these words in the melodic void of the headphones he’s forced to wear, but he can’t suppress a noise of disbelief and betrayal.

There’s a noticeable pause. Once Ace has stopped thrashing and fighting, he jumps at something touching his throat. It comes out of nowhere but he knows very well what it means, so he takes a deep inhale to calm himself and nods. They agreed on this beforehand and he appreciates Bandit’s insistence on having a way to communicate despite his inability to hear him. Yes, he’s fine. He’d be a lot better if Bandit finally jerked him to completion, but he’s fine.

It’s odd to send signals without receiving any in return. His consciousness is shifting, reducing itself to simple patterns to cope with its unfamiliar narrowness: a stimulus is met with a response, there’s nothing more required of him. He doesn’t need to take the initiative for once and this knowledge uncoils something deep inside him. He exists and Bandit is taking care of him. He can sit back.

A hand settles on his thigh. Wanders further down, to the back of it, then lifts it gently. Ace complies, bends his leg and pulls it against his torso, not sure where this is going, until the palm glides down to his cheek and squeezes. It’s a question.

He nearly chokes on his own spit because holy shit if this actually happens, he’ll explode. “Yes”, he mutters and even at the low volume, it’s too loud in his ears. “Fuck. Yes.”

If only he could see Bandit’s reaction. Ace doesn’t curse – he doesn’t make crude jokes nor does he play mean pranks, he prefers clean fun since it’s easier to maintain this personality on screen if he practises it off screen, plus being family friendly is all the rage these days, so dropping an f bomb feels oddly out of character. Though he imagines it to be extremely satisfying from Bandit’s point of view.

He raises his other leg and winces internally at how eager he must seem. Only just having found peace with his limited senses, he’s now looking forward to even more sensations to enjoy. The music is lulling him into a different state of mind and, now that he’s conscious of it again, briefly lets him forget what’s going on. Like this, with Bandit doing who knows what without touching him, the whole encounter takes on a dreamlike quality which could be easy to deny later, if he wanted. He probably won’t.

And then something blunt and slippery touches his hole.

Oh.

He’s going right in, is he? Ace has mentioned before that he prefers it this way and it seems Bandit listened – this fact alone is a new rush of desire. Another touch to his throat, answered with an emphatic nod. He doesn’t trust himself not to curse again if he replied verbally.

Opening up to the smooth head is instinctual and satisfying, even more so when Ace clenches down on the hot shaft now and then only for it to stop and wait until he’s relaxed again. His toes are working while he’s being entered slowly, filled up completely, his fingers twitch and his legs wrap around Bandit’s body all by themselves. Sinking deeper into the moment, it’s deceptively easy to give himself up and melt into the incredible sensation, the headphones playing his own personal surreal soundtrack.

Shallow thrusts allow Bandit to push in balls deep and immediately roll his hips against Ace’s to milk him for what it’s worth. His cock is dripping, he feels the small droplets add up to a puddle on his belly, or at least he imagines he can feel them. He wants to come so badly that the urge to slam himself against Bandit, fuck himself on the thick erection he so generously provided becomes unbearable, though he knows he wouldn’t achieve his goal like that anyway. The soft friction of gentle movements isn’t enough yet it’s all he gets for the moment, despite his legs drawing Bandit in and attempting to convince him to go faster.

Yet another request for permission. Ace will deal with him later, for now he just wants Bandit to hurry the hell up, so he chokes out a pitiful please which sounds awfully cringy to him but at least seems to be enough for Bandit. He finally pulls out almost all the way and slams back home, causing Ace’s hands to shake both with the wish to hold on to him and the need to touch himself.

There’s a short break during which Ace debates whether he could murder Bandit by squeezing him really hard, and then he’s suddenly able to move his arms again. Bandit must’ve untied them from the bed and though they’re still bound together, Ace can lower them and fan out his fingers on Bandit’s chest at least.

His breaths are hard and he can feel some vibrations during the next deep thrusts, so it seems his lover is reciprocating his helpless moans. Sex like this sounds oddly hollow but detracts nothing from the experience itself; it’s just as satisfying to feel his whole body rock with every thrust, if not more. He’s much more aware of what’s going on between his legs, can feel every centimetre of Bandit inside of him and focuses on clamping down on him, using his muscles to enhance his partner’s experience as well as his own.

Looking for support in this onslaught of sensation, his hands seek to latch on to something, following the motions of Bandit’s lower body and getting in the way everywhere, until Bandit catches them and holds them against his chest. And even though every cell in Ace’s body is screaming at him to instead reach between his legs and bring himself off to calm this storm raging inside him, the second he feels Bandit’s heart trying to beat its way out of his body, he melts. He’s smitten. Bandit’s skin is hot to the touch and damp, he just as sweaty as Ace, his movements leaving Ace breathless, his corporeality proven with every time he invades his body.

And then Bandit presses a kiss into his palm.

Somehow, Ace gets a hold of his beard and drags him down mid-thrust, fumbling a bit until their mouths crash together once more, and he mewls into Bandit’s. For being as scruffy as he is, he can be extremely thoughtful and considerate, not to mention cute, and it just so happens that Ace loves that shit. To bits. Can’t get enough of it, to a point where it turns him on immensely if done during sex. He’s accepted the new status quo by now, used to the lack of foreign noises and getting used to hearing his own desperate noises, but still not entirely okay with how freaking good it feels to get railed by Bandit while making out with him.

Now at least, Ace can wrap his fingers around his neck to keep him where he is while straining against his hips to try and allow him even deeper. He can feel Bandit’s own moans and his pulse below his fingertips while they move together, but the position is short-lived. Strong arms wrap around him and tilt his entire world which is especially disorienting since he can’t see anything. His eyes open to blackness and there’s a brief moment of alarm before he’s found his bearings again and braced himself on Bandit’s chest. He’s on top now, straddling his lover, and understands why Bandit insisted on cordless headphones.

Like this, he’s got more control and makes use of it immediately by adjusting angle and position until he feels Bandit’s cock rub over his prostate. His ecstatic moan is echoed with a rumble under his palms. Now Ace has a chance to show off by setting a fast tempo, adding a few slower and more intense thrusts whenever he really wants to tickle his own sweet spot. He has no clue what he looks like but can’t find it in him to care, so all his attention is lavished on making Bandit climax as fast as possible.

While Ace rides him mercilessly, his hands wander further up, brushing over Bandit’s swollen lips. He feels like he’s dancing in a club now, lost in his own world, ignorant and uncaring of what the people around him think, moving to a beat without conscious thought, simply doing what feels good. His thumb forces Bandit’s mouth open and its way inside, pressing down on his tongue and wiggling when he obediently sucks on it. Ace remembers all too well what it was like to have this mouth on his cock and the mental image sends a shock of pleasure through him supported by a harsh thrust downwards. He needs to come, and soon.

They become one when he leans back down to trade spit once more, sloppily licking into Bandit’s mouth while they move together, Bandit’s hips lifting him whenever they meet his own. Their rhythm is messed up, their kisses wet and their touches uncoordinated, and Ace has never in his entire life been this fucking horny. His dick is throbbing with need, every brush against his special spot causing it to jump. He wants this. He needs this.

It’s so familiar to have Bandit jerk him off again, but this time he couldn’t deal with another denial. Don’t do it, he thinks or maybe says out loud, he can’t tell anymore. His breathing is all he hears, the music completely gone from his conscious mind, and he imagines Bandit’s breaths based on the way his chest rises and falls, tricks himself into hearing his groaning, too. Despair looms over him and forces his motions to become haphazard. He’s ready to burst.

“Don’t”, he gasps and this one is definitely real, left his mouth as an actual sound: he can tell by the way Bandit’s lips curl against his own. “Just don’t.” Bandit reaches so deep it nearly renders him boneless and his thighs are about to cramp up from the exertion, but above all, he can feel his orgasm approaching fast. If this one is wrenched away from him, he’s taking matters into his own hands, he’s coming this time whether with Bandit’s help or not.

A hard thrust forces a moan out of his throat and in his mind, he sees Bandit’s gleaming eyes looking up at him full of pride, wonder, affection. It’s easy to trick himself into it when the other man is holding on to him, returning his kisses, adjusting to his messy motions. He feels loved and appreciated even though the way Bandit is fucking him is driving him completely insane, but at least the self-doubts have no place in his head now that it’s filled with nothing but yes please and I need to come so fucking bad.

He breaks the kiss because he can’t stand the pressure anymore, focuses solely on the glorious friction between his legs, both in his hole and around his cock, and thinks: if he stops now, I’ll stab him. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t stop.

Ace curls up with a strangled moan and comes so hard his mind empties completely for the duration.

The waves of pleasure crashing over him are so intense he sees stars as he shudders violently, shaken anew by every contraction of his abs. Bandit strokes him through it, massaging out his come while Ace pants, open-mouthed, against his shoulder, shivering and helpless against the ecstasy of finally having reached his climax. Warm come splashes his own chest and he lets out more noises at every throb of Bandit’s dick buried inside him. The overwhelming relief increasing with every ripple brings with it a profound contentment which gradually takes over from the mind-numbing pleasure until all that’s left is a comfortable warmth deep inside his chest.

Completely exhausted, he sinks onto Bandit, barely registering the way he keeps holding on to Ace to thrust inside him a few more times before pulling him flush and shooting deep inside as well. Ace can tell he’s making a lot of noise so it must’ve been good, but he has no doubt his own orgasm surpasses Bandit’s by a huge margin. He’s still feeling the aftershocks and twitches whenever a strong one hits him.

They catch their breath for a minute before Bandit does what Ace himself would’ve done a minute later: remove the headphones. The sudden shift in background noise to near silence is eerie, especially since Ace is made sharply aware of being in a room instead of his own head, but it’s comforting to hear skin drag over fabric as opposed to just feeling it. The next thing to go are the restraints, but when Ace reaches up for the blindfold, Bandit interrupts his movement.

“Wait. Let me dim the lights first”, he murmurs and Ace never would’ve thought it’d be this weird to hear someone’s voice. True to his word, Bandit pushes him off to get up and fiddle with something before lying back down next to him.

Even the mood lighting hurts Ace’s eyes, so he closes them for a while, then squints, then opens them fully. With him covered in sweat, the room seems cool despite Bandit having run the heating prior to Ace’s arrival. Being able to look around again feels like surfacing after having dived for an extended period of time – Ace wasn’t ready for it to make such a difference, but then again Bandit took his sweet time with everything.

“Alright?”, he asks a half-question, and Ace inspects him a little closer. His hair’s dishevelled, his beard messy, lips glossy and a darker red than usual, upper body still flushed and covered in come. He looks delectable and just as Ace had hoped. He’d love to take a photo but knows Bandit would flip his shit if he did. He doesn’t react well to Ace taking out his phone in his presence in the first place – and somewhere along the way, Ace stopped feeling the need to. The world outside can wait. He’s got experiments to do in bed.

“Yeah”, he says non-committally only to be a dick. He teases out Bandit’s softer side whenever he can.

“… how was it?”

There it is. Ace suppresses a smirk as he tries to sincerely evaluate all that’s happened to him, all that was done to him. Next to him, Bandit fidgets during his prolonged silence, noticeably worried, and it’s frankly adorable. “Really good. Intense.” He’s not lying – if anything, he’s downplaying it. Being detached from reality felt a little like being high in retrospect, a floaty feeling. “But I don’t like it.”

Bandit nods. “Okay.”

Elaborating is impossible since Ace can’t properly convey why it doesn’t appeal to him, why it leaves him so insecure. Being at someone else’s mercy is part of it, but so is being at his own mercy – he was generous with himself today, yet he can see it going awry on bad days. Some evenings, he can’t stand seeing himself in the mirror, and the thought of someone else being able to watch him to their heart’s content when he’s feeling like that turns his stomach. His biggest issue is the lack of response, however. That he won’t know what Bandit is thinking at any given point.

“I want to do it again.”

The words tumble out his mouth like they’re accidental, but they’re very much calculated. His thirst for positive reactions can and has been detrimental in the past and he hopes repeating their performance today contributes to building up his confidence to a healthier level. And once again, he pushes the thoughts away as soon as they pop up: better not worry about them.

Bandit’s smile is blinding. “Sure. We can play around with it some more next time.”

And Ace notes not for the first time how both of them keep assuming there will a next time.

They kiss, slow and sensual, because they’re not savages and if whatever they’re doing is a substitute for actual love, they should damn well get as much out of it as they can. For the same reason, they spend a few more minutes cuddling. Ace has always been physically affectionate and can never get enough bodily contact, so he’s fortunate Bandit adapted and stopped complaining a while ago about suffocating hugs and unprompted nuzzling and kisses out of the blue.

They shower together, Ace taking some extra time to wash Bandit’s hair and beard purely because he loves the orgasmic faces the other man makes for his benefit, but he can already feel the pull while they mess around and waste water. He’s looking forward to the comments on the photo he posted earlier, and he’s waiting on a few responses from various people – he needs to check out the videos on his timeline and see whether they’re bandwagons he wants to jump on as well. There’s this drop dead gorgeous brunette who’s been chatting with him on and off for a week who usually comes online in the evenings since time zones suck.

Impatience sets in and Bandit must notice for he keeps the banter short and allows Ace to live inside his head for the moment, but when they’re hovering in front of the door, he demands his attention by asking about their next meeting. Which, fair enough.

“Saturday then. Got it.” Ace somehow manages to resist the urge to check all the notifications littering the top of his screen and puts his phone away after having entered the date and time. “By the way, I liked the music. Not at all what I would’ve expected from you.”

“Not what I normally listen to”, Bandit confirms. “Any favourites?”

“Where do I begin?”, asks Ace and the two of them grin at each other. It’s true, he really enjoyed that particular song, yet most of what managed to penetrate his lusty haze appealed to him. “Wouldn’t have pegged you as a romantic.”

“I’m really not. You just bring out the worst in me.”

Another smile. Ace doesn’t remember how Bandit caught his eye and can’t fathom what made his gaze linger, but he’s glad it happened.

“You sure you don’t wanna stay?”

“I’ve got stuff to do”, his mouth produces on autopilot and while he’s not wrong, he’s technically not right either: it’s stuff he could do from anywhere, as long as he’s got his phone. Belatedly, the question resonates with something inside him. “Nick. What is it that you want from me?”

As if he expected him to ask, Bandit shrugs his shoulders, never losing his cool. “This”, he replies easily. “Just… this.”

They’ve never agreed on anything, never defined what this is. He doesn’t want Bandit to get the wrong idea. “I’m miles out of your league.”

“Yeah”, says Bandit without any irony in his voice. “You are.”

He doesn’t say: don’t be so fucking full of yourself, I just tied you up and made you forget your own name. He doesn’t say: you’re a phoney who shouldn’t be in Rainbow. He doesn’t say: your body is your only good feature.

Instead, he just agrees.

“One word about my phone and I’m out”, Ace tells him and slips his shoes off again.

.

Later, after having adjusted the lighting and his hair, practised his sleepy expression a little and found the perfect filter, he posts a selfie with the caption Feeling loved ❤ Go hug someone important to you.

Only after he’s uploaded it, he notices the bit of Bandit’s arm visible at the very edge and shrugs it off. His followers might pay attention to the tattoos, but the few co-workers checking out his social media presence are unlikely to do so.

Right?

[coffeerevision]

Hey! Hope you're staying safe, healthy, and sane. Any tips for finding time/space to write while stuck at home with a large family?

Hello! Thank you so much, I hope you are as well! This can be such a scary time and I really hope you are staying safe too

The tips that come to the top of my mind are: 

1. Noise Cancelling Headphones If you have them, they are amazing when you are not in a quite space. You can put on some instrumental music, listen to rain/ambient noise or nothing all all, but they should help you focus if you are stuck around a lot of people! 

2. EarplugsIf you don’t have noise cancelling headphones, or you are just more of a silent worker, order some cheap earplugs online! I use earplugs sometimes if I am working on loud floors in the library, but I can imagine they would be really helpful around a noisy family!

3. Make your Own SpaceIf you are able to, even if it is just a corner of your room or a chair in the living room, have a designated space where you write. This can help you get into the “writing mood,” and you can also tell your family that when you are in the space, you are trying to get some work done, so hopefully they wont distract you.

4. Be HonestWhen I go home, sometime I can’t focus simply because there are other people around, and I feel like I am missing out on something/should be hanging out with them. If this is a problem for you, I find just telling your family that you need to get some work done and you are going to go MIA for a few hours can really help with that guilty feeling. Sometimes it can make you more productive as well, because other people are expecting you to be working so you wont procrastinate!

5. All the UsualAnd I think all the usual tips about being productive from home apply here too. Don’t stay in bed, change out of your pajamas, stick to a schedule, ect. These are things that can help give you a bit more time in the day! 

6. Be Kind to YourselfThis is a weird time. It can hard if you are not used to working from home, to suddenly try to achieve everything from your couch. Don’t feel bad if you are not as productive as usual. For many of us, our house is the place we relax at the end of the day, and we don’t have that “productive mindset” in that space. It can take a while to get used to working at home. And there is also so much happening on a daily basis,it can be hard to focus when it feels like the world is in disarray! So be kind to yourself, do what you can remember that you are doing your best, and don’t be hard on yourself for taking life a little slower. 

Those are my tips! I don’t work around my family often, and I am drawing off of my experience when I go home for reading breaks/Christmas. So if anyone has any other tips please add them!! 

Hope I was at least slightly helpful :)

[asking-jude]

Hey Jude, I think as a result of my anxiety and ADHD I naturally have a sensitivity to certain sounds. Some noises trigger intense anger and inability to refocus and I can’t get anyone to understand the severity. Every time I try to ask someone (like my family) nicely to not make a sound I’m pretty much a b*itch and they roll their eyes at me, then continue to do it. I’ve been like this since I was a kid. I’ve even tried to give them info about it and they still aren’t considerate about it.

Hi There!

Thank you for contacting Asking Jude. I’m so sorry that you’re going through this. They shouldn’t invalidate a symptom of your ADHD and anxiety. I’m very proud of you for trying to help your family to understand your sound sensitivity. Your sensitivity to sound is valid. You're not a b**** for asking your family to keep it down. I can’t give you any tips on how to make them more considerate of your sound sensitivity because it sounds like no matter what you do, they continue to disregard what you say to them. I’m sorry that they cannot be more considerate.

I think the best way to deal with this situation is to find ways to cope when you have hypersensitivity to sound or sensory overload. The first thing I would do is to talk to your doctor about your sensitivity to noise. I’m not entirely sure what they can do, but I’m positive they can help treat it. If you have a therapist, I think that you should also bring up your sensitivity to sound. They can help you figure out a plan to help you cope with loud noises. Here are some coping skills you can utilize to reduce your sensitivity to noise:

1.     If you’re in a room or environment that is too loud, try to find a way to escape that room.

2.     Invest in earplugs or noise cancellation headphones.

3.     Listen to white noise or music that you like/that can also calm you.

4.     Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol.

5.     Get enough sleep and drink a lot of water. This can help your brain perform at its optimal level and reduce sensory overload.

6.     Figure out your triggers. I know loud noises trigger you, but when does this occur. What kind of environments does this occur? If you know what triggers your sound sensitivity, you have a better chance of preparing yourself.

7.     Try meditation or breathing techniques.  You don't have to have a full-on meditation session but a short session where you focus on what's bothering you for a second then replace it with something calming and positive. Breathing is an excellent meditation too. You can just take a few secs or minutes to close your eyes and take deep breaths or try 4 square breathing. https://www.healthline.com/health/box-breathing#benefits

8.     Here are links for more info on sensory info and how to cope: https://www.bphope.com/when-noise-annoys-coping-with-hypersensitive-hearing/ and https://chavisory.tumblr.com/post/89659995217/sensory-overload-and-how-to-cope-click-on

9.     Here is a link to find affordable therapy if you don’t have a therapist:https://themighty.com/2017/08/affordable-online-therapy-cheap/. You can also utilize CrisisTextLine, which is free, confidential, and available 24/7. You can reach them by texting “HOME” to 741741.

10.  You can also visit Asking Jude’s YouTube for more help. Check it out here: www.youtube.com/c/AskingJude.

I hope that you have found this helpful. If you ever need any more help, don’t be afraid to come back to Asking Jude.

Love,

Meggan

Asking Jude needs YOUR help! Donate pocket change here and save our safe space.

[nsouthwell0044-blog]

Large earmuffs headphones recommended: warm, noise reduction and sound quality

Whether to pressurize

For example, Bose headphones are divided into on ear/around the ear (of course not all brands are so divided, but this concept everyone needs to know).

Each brand of earmuff headphones is designed to belong to the local population. For example, the size of the earmuffs of the American Department and the Japanese Department are not the same. The US department as a whole is bigger than the Japanese. Everyone should pay attention when choosing.

Is the material comfortable?

Some earphone earmuffs in the early days were all artificial leather materials (many cheap headphones are still this material), which are not breathable and do not drain oil, and they are not comfortable to wear.

Artificial protein skin

Many earmuff headphones today are artificial protein skins, similar to "human skin", and are much more comfortable to wear. However, it has the problem of losing debris after a long period of wearing.

Velvet

The velvet earmuffs have no problem with debris, and the wearing comfort is much higher. But it has another problem: sweat stains remain. The solution is not to disassemble the wash (see water to deform), but to replace it as a whole (price is high).

1 More H1707 HiFi Headphones

Many people may think that 1MORE's new route is similar to BEATS and MONSTER's star effect. In fact, with the integration of trend elements and the constant exploration of their own strength, 1MORE's three-unit headphones are sold in 1299. Not too much.

The 1MORE, which has always been committed to unit innovation, brings more than just well-designed high-value craftsmanship, or a multi-unit headset with a strong sense of hearing and positioning. Perhaps the vast majority of players do not have too much hope for domestic big ears.

But I have to say that 1MORE's three-unit head is very worthy of players who like rock, R&B and other popular styles to try. Of course, the addition of Jay Chou will lead a 1MORE Jay Chou era, which is quite exciting.

Fiil Diva Wireless Headset

DIVA is generally a more sincere product. It doesn't have the obvious trend of BEATS. The design is simple and low-key, but it is not completely without its own thoughts, such as LOGO lights, when lighting Can evoke the "little wind" in its heart. In addition, it is considered to be more sincere in terms of materials and workmanship, and the texture is good.

Functional aspects, it can be said that it is very intimate, some functions such as touch, MFB key is very easy to use, but like the function of noise reduction and noise reduction, the actual use still feels lack of energy, compared to Sony 1000X is still an obvious gap.

In terms of sound, DIVA is obviously a popular down player, with a good voice, small sound field and some verbs, but if there is a good front end, it will find its potential under wired connection.

If you look at the hard quality, DIVA price is still somewhat low, but if you combine wireless and noise reduction, the price of 999 is still worth a try. If you choose wireless noise-canceling headphones at this price, DIVA will be a very good one. select.

Beats studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

This headset is absolutely excellent in terms of noise reduction. Even if you don’t play music, you can clearly feel the obvious weakening of the surrounding sound. This feeling is like suddenly entering the anechoic room, or heading Sinking into the water, it feels more comfortable when you bring it on. It won't be too tough like BOSE's noise reduction, giving people a feeling of discomfort.

In terms of sound quality, the low-frequency dive is powerful. Simply speaking, listening to hip hop, pop music, etc. will be very cool. It’s like a singer is just next to it. Audition is outstanding in terms of vocals. After all, this type of headphone has certain advantages in listening to vocal music. In addition, the choice of sound quality of songs is also very important, and high-quality songs can bring this earphone.

Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

Sennheiser introduced the wireless headset PCX 550, designed for "travel business people" who are often on trains, cars or flights. According to Sen Haisaier, this wireless headset model has a long battery life, and it can play 30 hours of music continuously when fully charged. The CapTune smart app also allows users to easily adjust the listening experience through smart devices. In addition, the user can also turn on the NoiseGard adaptive noise reduction function. The Sennheiser wireless headset PXC 550 has superior battery life in addition to noise reduction.

The PXC 550 also provides a very clear answer to call quality, and the array of 3 microphones provides clear call quality.

[imalwaysfalling]

My first post—a reaction to a college article based on my experience!

Hello everyone! I’ve had some ideas floating around recently and decided this would be a good place for them to live. I’d love to make a college video someday but this will do for now :) I hope to make a few more posts reacting to articles in the weeks before I go back!

Article 1 can be found here: https://www.phonesoap.com/blogs/news/college-bound-dorm-room-essentials

My thoughts:

Apple computers can definitely be good for personal use! However, if you are majoring in something related to computers, some commands and software may be different. Also, if you need to use Microsoft Office products frequently, they are not a good choice! The iOS versions lack many features.

I agree that your laptop should not be too heavy—my 15.6” tends to be wayyyy too much to carry around all day. Go for the 13 ish inch instead! And don’t get an iPad for classes, opening documents posted by your professors and typing will likely be very difficult!

Noise-cancelling headphones are something almost no one wears! You will get used to sharing space with a lot of strangers and learn to tune them out. Plus, there is always the option of quiet study areas where someone will most likely fight whoever tries to make noise. It’s probably a good idea to purchase a standard pair of earbuds for $10 or so, just in case you need to listen to something on a public computer or your laptop. I left my Apple ones in the library and unfortunately they quickly grew legs!

These backpacks look kind of cheap to me, plus I doubt the USB charging feature would hold up considering the price. You need to get a backpack that is comfortable to carry around campus loaded with stuff (including your laptop and books) all day! Brands that I see frequently are L.L. Bean, High Sierra, The North Face, Columbia, and occasionally Jansport. It’s probably a good idea to spend around $50 on something you know will hold up! As for charging, I always have a portable charger in my backpack just in case. If you get a long enough cord for the charger, you can throw the device in your backpack and use your phone while walking and charging! Voila!

I actually don’t have any complaints about this second power strip. Mine is longer and has 6 outlets (probably easier to find too), but it really makes no difference. Try to find a power strip with a long cord though! Extension cords usually are not allowed in dorms, so having the option of extending the outlets a little away from the ones in the wall could be a nice option.

I don’t think a Fitbit is essential for college, but it’s definitely a nice touch! I got one for Christmas and was able to use it for the second semester. I liked the option of silent alarms and seeing just how many steps I got walking around campus. However, I would still set an alarm clock or phone as a backup! I slept through my Fitbit alarm once before and thankfully woke up just in time.

I don’t see how a kindle is useful for books. If you don’t want the physical book, buy the ebook/access from the publisher or Amazon (often cheaper than the bookstore). You will appreciate the bigger screen of your laptop after hours of staring!

I do recommend cleaning your phone, but there is no need for a special device. I personally use alcohol wipes, sold by the 100 for $1 at Walmart. They can be used to clean my Fitbit too!

I don’t think buying a huge over the bed rack like this is worth it. Then you need to build it and have something else sticking out into your already limited space! Something like this could be a little more useful if you’re in a suite with a bathroom and need a shelf for toiletries.

If there are things you aren’t currently wearing that are being stored in your dorm, borrow a vacuum from an RA and seal them in some space bags! They shrink down to much smaller than this storage container would ever allow.

Again, I think this cart would be useful in a suite bathroom, but not if you’re sharing one with more people.

I thought the collapsible hamper took up more space than needed since I also have a laundry basket. Either get a laundry bag with a handle or some kind of string to carry it by or use a laundry basket. This hamper can be carried to the laundry room, but it’s kind of tall and awkward for that. It’s much easier to put the dirty clothes directly into whatever you’ll carry to the laundry room!

I rely more and more on Google Calendar with its email reminders and computer and phone push notifications! I also have a small paper calendar, but it’s mostly for decoration. A calendar in your dorm won’t be handy when you need to schedule something with someone out in public!

I don’t think anyone has ever showed up to college without shower shoes. These ones with the holes are a little extra but you do you. I just bought some $1 ones to throw out since I definitely didn’t want to bring those home. Get cheap slippers too! You step in too much to keep shoes like that. Speaking of stepping, I wouldn’t recommend a bath mat. It’ll soak up everyone else’s shower puddles. Gross!

A shower caddy is a must! I completely agree with this one.

I would recommend getting whatever the cheapest, smallest first aid kit you can find is. Again, this one is probably a little extra. You’ll probably be flying through band aids more than anything (lots of blisters from walking) and can easily replace those.

I...don’t know what you’re fixing with a toolkit, unless you bought those shelves you built yourself. Any dorm furniture can be fixed by the maintainence people in your building! Just fill out a work order form.

You absolutely need some kind of reusable water bottles, especially if your campus has tons of refilling stations like mine! A $30 one probably isn’t a good idea though, since you will most likely forget it somewhere and end up crying. Spending $10+ on one and not relying on free ones from activities is a good idea, though.

The tips at the end are pretty cool, so read them!

I hope you all enjoyed this! See you again soon :)

-A

[10-beasts]

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Welcome to the Cell Phones & Accessories Store, where you’ll find great prices on a wide range of different cell phones & accessories the webcam comes with a tripod, convenient for you to place the computer camera

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One of the most important and indispensable computer accessories is the mouse, a device that will help you to use your computer & laptop smoothly and without interruption. Especially these gamers. But there is another thing that is equally important and cannot be overlooked. gaming mouse pad A device that will help support the performance of the mouse to use it as smoothly as possible. So if you are a gamer or just someone who wants to play computer games. It’s probably a good idea to pay attention to choosing the best gaming mouse pad for you.

Let’s add more fun to the game with a gaming mouse pad.

If your main purpose is to use your computer for gaming. gaming mouse pad It is considered the most suitable for use in gaming. Because the mouse pad really affects the game play. If you bring a general purpose mouse pad. used to play games You will immediately feel that the gameplay is not smooth. I don’t feel comfortable using the mouse. Because the mouse pad for general tasks Designed to be used for general tasks, not a specific focus. But if you play the game You will need a gaming mouse pad. In addition to helping to increase the convenience of playing the game, not to lose the taste gaming mouse pad It also helps to protect the mouse from scratching as well.

playing computer games If you’ve played it, you’ll know it’s really fun. Sometimes you need to press the mouse a lot and press hard, sometimes you need to move the mouse quickly. If you don’t have a good gaming mouse pad Use one and your mouse may break prematurely. The gaming mouse pad will help control the accuracy of the mouse in target shooting games. In addition, some games have to move or deflect the shot quickly. Gaming mouse pads are designed to be speed mouse pads. This allows you to control the speed of the mouse as well. The speed mouse pad gives you the feeling that every move of your mouse is smooth.

The best of IT products computer equipment good quality cheap We have to say that only at Lazada here you will find a great gaming mouse pad. Various sizes and different colors Come here, we assure you that you will get a good gaming mouse pad at a cheap price. It’s yours. Most importantly, we are ready to ship to you for free as well. All gamers, you really shouldn’t miss this cheap good stuff. which you won’t be able to find anywhere else

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This is a very good book, way better than the movie could ever hope to be, but the mass market paperback version is complete garbage. The spelling and grammar mistakes in the book are unimaginable – periods in the middle of sentences, all kinds of extra commas that didn’t appear in the original version, dozens of instances of “th” being replaced by “m” (for instance, “mat” instead of “that” and “mere” instead of “there”). The book is incredibly well written but the printer royally f***ed up their job. Buy it at Barnes & Noble and get a copy where you don’t constantly have to stop and figure out WTF is supposed to be written there.57 people found this helpful

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An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Creatures once extinct now roam Jurassic Park, soon-to-be opened as a theme park. Until something goes wrong…and science proves a dangerous toy…. “Wonderful…Powerful.” THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD



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came into existence following a discussion between Edward Eugen and some friends. They wanted to know which Screen Glass was best for gaming. Edward realized there must be a lot of people trying to figure out what “the best thing for X” is.

If you are trying to figure out which product is best for you, we believe you will find 10Beasts useful.

Many people just go with whatever product their friends recommend, without doing any research at all. This is understandable. Not everyone has the time to do their own research and read hundreds of reviews.

That discussion Edward had with his friends about the best gaming Screen Glass ended in an electronic store. They looked at thirty-six Screen Glass. Some were good and some were great. Some were junk, some were very expensive. After spending a few hours in the store, Edward left with nothing except a great idea for a website.

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[daniloqp]

Cheap Home Audio Tips and Equipment (2021): How to Get Fantastic Sound

Cheap Home Audio Tips and Equipment (2021): How to Get Fantastic Sound

https://theministerofcapitalism.com/blog/cheap-home-audio-tips-and-equipment-2021-how-to-get-fantastic-sound/

The sounds are like smells: you may get used to the bad ones, but you never regret the upgrade. You may have recently found an open gap in your music or podcast listening settings – you don’t have one headphones with noise cancellation to tune in young children or try to make the speakers sound better in your living room. Whatever your problem, we guarantee you. Here are our tips for updating home audio.

This is not the only list of audio-related material we have. Don’t forget to consult our guides Best gifts for audiophiles, The best headphones, i The best Bluetooth speakers allowed. Do you need other home equipment work? We have one Latest gear guide for working from home.

Updated July 2021: We’ve added some new options, updated tips, and a tight language.

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Free home audio tips

Photography: Getty Images

Most major audio enhancements only require a few dive and feng shui menus.

Check real-time playback settings

I can’t tell you how many friends and family I’ve had to check their streaming settings, only to realize they didn’t have them set to the highest possible audio quality.

Access the music streaming application’s setup menu and make sure you’re setting up high-quality audio. Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music make music quality settings easy to find. You can download your favorite playlists and albums if your home Wi-Fi can’t handle the higher bit rate transmission.

Speaker location is everything

Photography: Adorama

Bass likes to hide in the corners, so try to place the speakers away from them, ideally in the middle of a wall. If you are wondering where to place them in relation to your usual listening position, keep in mind: the ideal stereo image (large, wide audio with live sound) appears when the head forms an equilateral triangle with the two speakers. Also, do your best to make sure the tweeters (the smallest round controllers that post high notes on most speakers) are as close to your ear level as possible, so that the range sounds high are the most affected by management.

Move your furniture to divert sound

Your room is one of the most important aspects of the sound of a speaker. Like a terrible singer who uses a fantastic microphone, if you put a couple of amazing speakers in a terrible room, you will have a terrible sound.

Most rooms have similar problems: they are a little too reflective and a little too heavy. Flat walls and corners are usually the culprit. Sound is a wave, and if that wave comes out of the wall again, it can interfere with and cancel out other waves that reach it, causing strange dead frequency zones in your room.

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[janessawatson729]

The Best Headphones For Any Budget in 2021

When it comes to buying the headphone, it’s hard to narrow things down and find the best of the best. Especially when there are 1000 options available, it is impossible to sit and review every single one of them on the planet. But we will try it out for you. We will focus on certain things like wireless headphones and true wireless the Apple Air Pods, which have been insanely popular over the past several years. The list also includes on-ear headphones, over-ear headphones, headphones with noise cancellation, and even some low-budget but fabulous headphones which can give good quality sound for those who don’t want to drop a lot of cash and want optimal comfort.

So, these are some of the best headphones that you can get for 2021 for any budget.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

We all know the name, and you can pretty much guess the sound quality of the. It took Bose a long time to get them into their stores, but they are finally here for $279. In many different ways and fields, they prove their worth. Particularly when it comes to their sound and noise-canceling, the best here in the list or off all the earbuds out there. The Bose is the best right up there. If you want to compare them with Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless, they can go toe to toe with them. If you are an EDM lover, you will love these. They have a brilliant base that can provide your songs with an extra kick.

Price: $279 at Amazon, $279 at Crutchfield, and $279 at Best Buy

Apple AirPods Pro

You won’t get that extra bass from them, but a $249 Apple AirPods still manages to be a great pair of truly wireless earphones with noise cancellation available to them. It is just because of their slick design and fit improved performance and noise cancellation, which works well. These AirPods have been updated with spatial audio, a new sound mode that makes it even more amazing to watch movies and TV shows. All of you are thinking of pairing it with your android devices (Apple Says: We don’t do that here).

Price: $197 at Amazon, $249 at Crutchfield, $200 at Best Buy

Sony WH-1000XM4

The earlier model of Sony WH-1000XM3 was also good. But there were some weak points, like voice calling was an issue in a nosier environment. This is where WH-1000XM4 has improved. It has multipoint Bluetooth now so that you can connect more than one device at once. You can connect your laptop and phone at once, and suppose you are using the headphones with a laptop and a call comes in, it will automatically switch to phone, and you can answer your call. The comfortable over earphones provide you with a great sound.

Price: $278 at Amazon, $348 at Crutchfield, and $350 at Best Buy

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

The first thing we will tell you that they aren’t cheap. But when the first beat enters your ears with these true wireless earphones, it is pure joy; they are better than the originals. They have a slightly smaller and more comfortable design and noise-canceling, par with the AirPods Pro. They improved battery life (up to 7 hours with regular use) and a sound noise reduction during phone calls. Most importantly, though, the Momentum True Wireless 2 has the same stellar sound — for truly wireless earbuds, anyway — offering superior sound quality to the AirPods Pro. They earned a CNET Editors’ Choice Award in 2020.

Price: $248 at Amazon, $250 at Best buy, $248 at Walmart

Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is what you don’t want with below-par comfort level, sound, and impaired quality for $80. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 has to do better with the money. It doesn’t have what it takes to compete with the top models, but then it is also 1/3rd of the price of the other premium headphones. It is well balanced overall with a good enough base, and they have an app that lets you tweak sound according to your need. The areas where Q30 falls short are voice calls, and it doesn’t do much in restricting the background noise.

Price: $80 at Amazon

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphone’s 700

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphone’s 700 is the long-awaited successor to the Bose’s QuietComfort 35 model, it may not be the leap we were expecting, but it is pretty good. They have better sound and noise cancellation along with the top-notch headset performance for voice calls. They are a robust all-around performer with a battery life of up to 20 hours, and the design is a more durable design than its predecessor, although the comfort level might be a little less than its predecessor.

Price: $379 at Amazon, $379 at Crutchfield, and $379 at Best Buy

Conclusion

So, if you cannot make that harsh decision of which Headphones should I buy, we hope we solved that problem for you. We compared the qualities, the good and the bad, and also the price. Hope you find this helpful information. Thank you for the read.

Source: The Best Headphones For Any Budget in 2021

[carolinemh99]

Music to Our Ears

Embarrassingly, I am very late to the wireless earbud trend and this is because I am highly concerned about losing them. I also question how much better they could be compared to my wired earbuds that cost significantly less. While I am an avid music listener I could never justify spending so much money for something that doesn’t offer me much more, in terms of tech features, and isn’t much better than what I already have. Amazon, however, sparked my interest.  

Amazon announced that they will be releasing their second-generation Echo Buds in May. This comes at the perfect time as Apple held their first 2021 event and merely hinted that we will hear more about the next AirPods in the next virtual event over the summer. Apple’s AirPods are a clear favorite but even some music enthusiasts don’t want to fork out $249 for high quality earphones when other options are available. While wireless headphones are definitely still in the growth phase, it can be relatively difficult to differentiate the product. This is where I believe Amazon has stepped up to gain a competitive advantage as competition is only getting more fierce.  

Overall, the wireless earphone and headphone market is booming. After taking a hit in early 2020 because of a disruption in supply management, we saw the demand rise significantly. If I had to guess why it was probably because everyone was at home working and zooming and the multitude of background noise and distractions sent everyone straight to ordering something to fix the problem. It is predicted that the global wireless headphone market is expected to grow over 20% over the next five year. The major players in the market include Bose, Apple, Samsung, Sony, and Skullcandy. The competition is very high between firms and that is mainly because each one is trying to get ahead with additional features. People are also very loyal to certain brands so trying to convince someone to switch over from Apple to Bose could be difficult, but they’ll do it if the brand has successfully fixed or added something that the other brand is lacking in. There is also a major threat of substitute products. While the brands listed above are the well-known and more pricey ones there are so many cheap and affordable options on Amazon. Depending on how often you listen to music or how devoted you are to quality will impact Apple, Bose, Amazon, and the other major brands just based off of price. New entrants in the market are a concern but not a huge one simply because of loyalty and trust. For example, I came across the newer brand Ultimate Ears that offers a pretty stylish and technologically advanced wireless earphone for $249, but my immediate logic is if I’m paying that much then I might as well get the well-known AirPods. The newer brands could offer very comparable products but Apple, Bose, Sony have so much recognition and market power that consumers won’t want to try new brands.  

As someone that likes to stay up to date with new products and technology, I had no idea that Amazon had wireless earbuds. Apple has dominated the market with their product and has successfully become the younger generations favorite wireless earphone provider. There is no doubt that Apple is incredibly creative and appealing through their promotional videos, but they really knocked it out of the park with promoting AirPods because they created a “cultural thumbs-up.” If you have AirPods then you’re cool in the Millennial and Gen Z crowd. They are a very noticeable product, and they are irresistibly trendy because of their simple design. They are, however, lacking in some areas that I believe Amazon may have surpassed them. The first major competitive advantage is the price. The most expensive version of the new Echo Buds is $119, while the AirPod Pros are $249. While Echo Buds are still on the pricey side more people can afford them. One of the best features that I believe sets them apart from competitors is the “Alexa, find my buds” feature. As I mentioned earlier I am hesitant to purchase expensive wireless earphones because of all the horror stories that my peers have shared about unintentionally throwing their AirPods in the washer since they were hidden in their sheets. Echo Buds also have longer battery life with the noise cancellation on and the battery case has even more charge compared to the first-generation Echo Buds. Now Amazon really just needs to promote this product.        

How can Amazon establish themselves in the wearable technology market? How can they compete with Apple’s beloved AirPods when they are preferred by younger generations? While it may be hard, Amazon really just needs to bring awareness through increased promotion. People will want this cheaper option that offers more features. They especially need to target commuters because Echo Buds will be offering public transit directions in major US cities. They also need to target existing Amazon and Alexa users because of Amazon music is free to Prime members and the pairing features with other Alexa devices. Amazon is in a good position in the technology industry, they just need to establish themselves as strong contenders in the competitive wearable technology market. Echo Buds will be a threat to AirPods if Amazon truthfully and successfully delivers those features, it’s just a matter of getting consumers to put them in their cart. Personally, they’re already in mine.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/amazons-echo-buds-2-price-release-date-anc.html

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-true-wireless-headphones-market-report-2021-outlook-and-forecast-to-2026-after-the-paradigm-shift-after-the-launch-of-apples-airpods-301271553.html

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/apple-airpods-success