#If you are in the NYC area and can afford it

[magpiemagica]

I am so normal about Cats: The Jellicle Ball 😀 (lying)

[mariacallous]

so every time I post about building of more housing through HUD or whatever, people will always pop into the tags or the notes and say something like "we don't need to build any more housing!" "there's more than enough houses for people!" etc from the left

and I have an idea what the issue is, ie there's enough housing collectively across all of America, but not enough where people actually live/want to live, what good does an empty house in Montana do someone paying too much in rent in NYC?

but you're a lot smarter than me, what are they talking about? are they right? is my guess correct?

Finding an affordable place to live in the U.S. can feel pretty impossible whether you're a renter or a buyer.

To begin with, there's a massive shortage of homes — somewhere between 4 and 7 million. And those who are able to find homes are spending a much bigger chunk of their paycheck than in recent years.

...

All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly spoke with Alex Horowitz, the director of Pew's Housing Policy Initiative, to help understand why affordable housing feels like a pipe dream, and what can be done about it.

She began by asking about the shortage of 4 to 7 million homes in the U.S., and whether that was a shortage of all homes or affordable ones.

...

Alex Horowitz: We're short on all homes. Full stop. There just aren't enough of them. And that means that existing homes are getting bid up because we see high income households competing with low income households for the same residences since just not enough are getting built.

Mary Louise Kelly: And what's driving this? Why?

Horowitz: So restrictive zoning is the primary culprit. It's made it hard to build homes in the areas where there are jobs. And so that has created an immense housing shortage. And each home is getting bid up, whether it's a rental or whether it's a home to buy.

Kelly: I want to ask if there are any cities getting this right. Can you give me an example of one that has looked at it's zoning laws and said we could actually make this more affordable if we change things?

Horowitz: There are definitely cities that are getting this right. And we've seen a lot of changes in recent years to allow more homes, especially the kinds of homes that are in short supply, namely apartments, townhouses, duplexes and homes that don't cost as much as a detached single family house. Minneapolis is a great example. Minneapolis updated their zoning to make it much easier to build apartments near commerce and near transit, in part by eliminating parking minimums and also by making permitting easy. And it worked. They're producing housing at triple the rate of the U.S. and the rest of Minnesota, and that has meant that they've kept their rents flat for about seven years.

...

Kelly: Okay, so let's drill down first on the renters side of this. We heard from Natalie French, the renter who had to move out of her apartment when her rent went way up. How typical is that? Is that happening to people all over the country?

Horowitz: That is happening. And rents have been rising rapidly, up about 30% in the U.S. since 2017, with median rents now hitting about 1400 dollars a month. And we've never been at a time before where half of renters were spending 30% or more of income on rent. But that's happening for the first time.

Kelly: And then on the homebuying side, we hear a lot about mortgage rates. They keep climbing. They don't look like they're coming down anytime soon. Are there other factors that make this a tough time to buy?

Horowitz: A lack of starter homes is really keeping it difficult for first time homebuyers to crack the market. And that is because traditionally starter homes are small homes. That means a home on a small lot, maybe a townhouse. And we're seeing far fewer of those come onto the market. Many jurisdictions require large minimum lot sizes, and that means that land costs end up being a big part of the equation. Houston is the place that has had the most success in bringing starter homes into the market. And it was by reducing their minimum lot size. And then 80,000 townhouses followed.

Kelly: So does it boil down to the double whammy of: there aren't enough homes full stop, and even if there were a home, it's really hard to afford a mortgage in an era where mortgage rates are sky high.

Horowitz: Mortgage rates are a piece of the puzzle, but at a fundamental level, even when mortgage rates were low, it was hard to buy a home for the first time because there simply aren't enough of them. And a lot of the ones that we have are bigger than what people need. U.S. household size is at an all time low of 2.50 people per household. And so we see homes that are bigger than what a lot of residents are looking for.

Kelly: What about financing and lending? Setting aside what mortgage rates are, is it more difficult than in generations past just to get a loan to buy a house?

Horowitz: Oh, it's gotten much more difficult to get a mortgage. The availability of mortgage credit tightened dramatically during the Great Recession, and it never bounced back. So for someone who gets a mortgage today, they're likely to have a higher credit score than someone who's gotten a mortgage in the past. And that means simply fewer people are eligible for homes. And the cost to originate a mortgage has roughly tripled since 2009. And that has meant that lenders don't offer many small mortgages because they tend not to make money on them unless the mortgage is for over about $150,000.

[copperbadge]

Hi Mr Starbuck! Some friends and I are moving in a few months and we're eyeing various places all over the US. Chicago came up as a relatively affordable big city (compared to LA and NYC) and I have to ask the resident Tumblr Chicagoan his opinion. As a resident who lives and works in the windy city, what's your big pros and cons of residing there (especially things you might not encounter as a tourist)? (also, how accurate is your "guide to chicago" still, since its been a few years!)

Well, I definitely have opinions!

The guide to Chicago is no longer accurate -- too many places have closed or moved, and the pandemic altered a lot (for example the Money Museum still exists but I'm not sure if it has regular hours even now). I should do a new one but like, I really don't get out much anymore so I can't talk about restaurants outside of a VERY local area, and I never could talk much about hotels, which just leaves points of interest mostly already covered by Atlas Obscura. :D At this point it'd just be kind of moot, others are doing it better than I am.

Chicago is inexpensive compared to New York or Los Angeles, but like, that's everywhere in America. Chicago is still a quite pricey city to live in, mainly because the taxes are so high -- 10.25% sales tax, for example, and my property taxes are also pretty steep. People joke about Taxachusetts, but I'm pretty sure Chicago at least has it beat (and 2/3 of the state's population lives in Chicago or the outlying suburbs). Housing is not at a premium in the way it is in NY and LA but depending on where you want to live and how far you want to commute it can still be very expensive. My housing was never less than half of my monthly income until I bought this place, and then ONLY because the job I'm in now came with a $10K/yr raise from my last one.

Chicago does have great culture, great museums, great food, and it's a liberal island in a pretty conservative region. It is however quite segregated, so if you are any race other than white, living here can get a little more complicated than I've portrayed it as a white dude. There is significant crime and particularly gun crime, but it's generally confined to specific regions of the city. That said, even if you discount crime, the Chicago PD are corrupt as fuck and uninterested in being helpful, so if you are from a demographic the cops enjoy harassing, it will not be different here.

I do love the city, warts and all. I like the water, I like the people, I like the midwestern vibe. I'd find it very hard to leave, especially because I have a network of friends here, but also because I just plain like it and I know it really well. There is a very short list of cities I'd consider leaving Chicago for, and most of those would have to have a well-paying job waiting for me. But it did take me time to fall in love with it -- it took a few years before it felt like home.

It's a little difficult to get more specific without knowing more about your situation -- what you do for work, what your budget is like, what your goals are in leaving where you are. Do you prefer to drive most places? (Parking and traffic can both get dicey.) Can you tolerate taking public transit if driving is inconvenient? Is the industry in which you work something that has a lot of openings here? Do you want to live in an urban environment, and if so are you prepared to live in a likely somewhat shitty apartment to do so? If you prefer to live in a house, are you prepared for a long commute? What do you like to do for fun and is there a thriving culture for that here? What is it important to have access to -- museums, concerts, theater, sport? Where do you need to travel to regularly (ie, I go to Austin several times a year) and how do you prefer to travel there?

Anyway, yeah -- like, I love it but I have few illusions about it. If you want to chat further feel free to hit me up by email, happy to answer more specific questions!

[sam-is-my-safe-word]

(K)not for Sale

Dean Winchester (Supernatural) x Soldier Boy (The Boys) Rating: Explicit Tags: Alternate Universe, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Omega Verse,  Rape/Non-con Elements, Dubious Consent, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Smut, Shameless Smut, Alpha Dean Winchester, Omega Soldier Boy (The Boys), Top Dean Winchester, Bottom Soldier Boy (The Boys), Canon-Typical Violence, Blood and Injury, Anal Sex, Knotting, Orgasm, Multiple Orgasm, Aftercare

Word Count: 4,245

Summary: Every six months, Soldier Boy goes into heat. Vought can't afford to let him go without a knot and end up sick - again - so they bring in a compatible alpha to see him through. Whether Soldier Boy or the alpha want it or not.

Notes: PSA time - heed the tags. Non-con/dub-con for a/b/o dynamics. Y'all know the score I'm participating in @jacklesversebingo and this part will fill my "bend over, I'm not kidding" square.

~~~

Every six months, Dean gets the call. He can pin-point the exact day it will come, even though most omega’s cycles aren’t that accurate. After a decade of calls, his own body starts to respond in the days before it arrives. 

He hates it. 

But you don’t argue with Vought, and when they’d tracked him down, a newly matured alpha at just twenty-two, offers to see Sammy through Stanford and into an excellent law firm had been enough to convince him to sell his knot twice a year. 

And when Sam had graduated and was safely in employment with said excellent law firm, Vought's assurances that Sam could disappear with just a word had kept him compliant. 

Sam knew. He figured it out when the college offers came in with no mentions of scholarships. He’d been furious, but turning down the place wouldn’t have got Dean out of the contract he’d signed. 

And now, ten years down the line, it’s just another fact of life. Death, taxes, and calls from Vought. 

He hates that his body is tied to someone else's like this, a sick parody of a mated couple going into heat and rut together. Hates the exhausting drive, hates NYC, hates Vought Tower and everything that goes on in there. 

But the time spent in a secured room with Soldier Boy… he loves that. 

~~~

The same Vought lackey walks him down the same corridor every time. The jumpsuit they gave him itches, some kind of fancy-pants body armour that looks and feels like normal clothes but will protect him from Soldier Boy ripping his limbs off or something. He didn’t really pay attention when they first brought out the duds. 

The lackey pauses outside the usual door. The way Dean’s body is responding, you’d think the corridor is drenched in the scent of omega-in-heat. But it smells of nothing. This is pure pavlovian. 

The guy is reading from a clipboard. He was just a kid when he started leading Dean down this corridor. They’ve grown up together. Dean wonders if he hates this as much as Dean does. 

“Right, so remember to keep the suit on at all times. Don’t let him have access to any area you want to protect.” 

Dean clears his throat and when the man looks up, he gives his crotch a long, pointed look. 

“Any area I’d want to protect? Like my cock, you mean?” 

That gets him a half-smile. 

“Oh, no, he wants that part of you. Just anything else you want to keep. Arms, legs, guts on the inside, y’know.” 

Dean wills his stare to incinerate the other man, but he didn’t get the Supe gene and the man just shrugs, the ‘your choice’ as plain as day. 

“Okay, see you in twelve hours. Have fun.” 

Dean rolls his eyes. 

The door opens, not revealing the sparse room Dean knows is beyond, but an ante-chamber of sorts. It’s decorated in the same bland, beige colours as the corridor. Dean thinks it should be all white and medical sterile. It serves a similar purpose as a decontamination chamber, except it’s one way. Keep what’s on the inside, inside. 

No scent gets out, no sounds, certainly not a semi-feral Soldier Boy. 

The door behind him shuts and Dean feels the vibration as deadbolts the size of his forearm lock into place. The inner door won’t open until he presses the large green button on the wall. But once he does, it’s twelve hours with no escape.

He takes a deep breath. It’s not difficult after so long, but there is still a headspace he needs to get into before he enters the room. 

Dean needs his omegas willing as a bare minimum. If he has a choice past that, he likes them to be small, frisky blonde women that give as good as they get and leave him walking funny the next day. Or guys bigger than him that bend over beautifully and call him daddy. And he doesn’t treat his partners meanly. Doesn’t call them names and say cruel things. 

But this, here. This isn’t sex. He isn’t wanted here. He doesn’t want to be here. This is a battle. He has to be faster, smarter, and trickier than his opponent. Otherwise he’ll end up dead. And what happens to Sammy if Dean isn’t here to sell his soul knot? 

In the early days, Dean tried to be understanding. He tried to treat Soldier Boy with the same kindness he’d treat any other omega in his bed. It earned him two broken arms and a shattered orbital socket. 

He didn’t attempt kindness again. 

Feeling like an overgrown baby in a onesie, he pops open the split in the crotch of his jumpsuit. The panels of fabric that now hang loose get attached to the legs by more button popper things. 

He’s gone from overgrown baby to assless chaps - almost. But it gets the important bits accessible without compromising any of the squishy bits he wants to keep in his stomach, thanks. The fact that his cock is a sometimes squishy part that he really wants to keep seems to go over Vought’s head. 

He’s already hard, pre-cum running down the length to soak the skin and trimmed hair at the base. He jacks himself a few times then rubs his hands together to get the scent on them. Soldier Boy will respond a little better if Dean smells excessively alpha. 

Another deep breath. Just twelve hours and he can go back to his hotel, take a blisteringly hot shower and drive home. Go back to his life for five months and three-point-five weeks. 

He presses the button on the wall. 

~~~

The room where Soldier Boy is waiting is a cold white colour. Dean has wondered more than once if Vought just repaints it instead of trying to clean the blood off the walls as needed. 

There’s no furniture, just a mattress against one wall. Dean knows that it gets tossed out after one use. 

It’s not a very large room. Probably for safety. If Soldier Boy got up some momentum, he could probably bust through a wall or something. Best to give him less space. 

The space is absolutely saturated with the scent of heat pheromones and slick. It overpowers the scent of Soldier Boy’s fury. Dean can’t even smell himself over it. He hopes Soldier Boy can, otherwise this is going to be a nasty fight before the omega submits. 

As always, Soldier Boy is facing away from the door, completely naked and staring at a blank wall. Dean can see the camera in the corner, knows Soldier Boy is completely in frame, but he’s never worked out if Soldier Boy is watching the lens or just staring at the wall. The muscles in his broad back twitch randomly, and every so often a shiver makes its way down his spine and the smell of slick gets even stronger for a few seconds. 

“You gonna play nice this time, Omega?” 

“Fuck you.” 

This call and response has been happening since Dean got a new metal bone in his face and hardened his heart to everything that goes on in this room. 

“We both know that isn’t how this is gonna go down.” 

Soldier Boy’s shoulders are shaking now, a sign of his anger. 

“Fuck. You.” 

Dean cracks his neck. He always hopes Soldier Boy will just submit and make it easier on both of them. But he always prepares for the fight. 

“C’mon, the quicker you show me that ass, the quicker this will all be over and you can get back to burning down orphanages or whatever the hell you Supes do.” 

That gets Soldier Boy to turn, to try and stare Dean down, even though they’re the same height. 

Dean takes the opportunity to look Soldier Boy over, starting at his feet and moving upwards. Tense legs, trembling thighs - slick coating the inner skin. The usual. Diamond-hard cock, flushed deep red, drooling pre-cum that Dean longs to lap up. Also usual. He’s flushed red from his chest to his temples, a mixture of the heat and his anger. His bangs are plastered to his forehead with sweat. Three for three, full steam ahead, captain. 

Dean has seen Soldier Boy in action on the TV, in the green suit and gold shield. In front of a camera, he always looks perfectly put together, hair shiny and styled into soft waves, bangs that hang artfully over his forehead. It’s a far cry from the panting, sweating omega that stands before him now. 

Soldier Boy takes a step forwards. Dean crouches just a little, gets ready. 

“Leave. You’re not fuckin’ needed here.” 

“Aww, c’mon, Omega. You'll hurt my feelings. We both know you’re desperate to bend over for an alpha.” 

Another step, but Soldier Boy doesn’t stop at one. He keeps walking until he’s nose to nose with Dean. 

“Never.” 

His lip curls in disgust, but Dean can smell the fresh wave of slick. 

“Always. Always, little Omega. You can shout all you want, but you always end up begging in the end.” 

Dean leans in, pressing their foreheads together. 

“Bend over, I’m not kidding.”

Soldier Boy crashes into him like a linebacker. It’s more luck than any kind of planning or judgement that they land on the mattress and not the floor. Even heat-weak and from a standing start, he still feels like a Mack truck smashing into Dean. 

Soldier Boy winds up straddling Dean, both trying to grip the other's wrists. The constant shifting rubs their cocks together perfectly and Dean stills with a hiss. Soldier Boy freezes, face screwed up to hold back his moan. 

He recovers a fraction quicker than Dean and manages to get Dean’s wrists in one hand. He raises his other arm, fist clenched. Dean might be about to get another metal bone in his face. For just a second, he wonders if Vought will pay to replace his whole skull or just leave him to die and find a new alpha. 

He thrusts his hips up sharply, causing Soldier Boy to freeze again. Pulling up his knees, he thrusts again, throwing Soldier Boy off balance, pitching him off Dean’s hips. 

Dean scrambles to get off his back, get his knees under him, get the higher ground. 

Soldier Boy tries to turn onto his back, get his legs up to kick Dean away. But Dean’s alpha pheromones are draining the fight from him now. His omega is taking over, making him pliant. 

Dean shoves him face down with both hands on a shoulder. Even completely flat on his stomach, Soldier Boy’s ass looks incredible. Dean can’t wait to see him present properly. 

For now, though, he lays himself over Soldier Boy, chest to back. His cock slots perfectly in between Soldier Boy’s ass cheeks and is coated in slick within seconds. He can’t help rocking his hips, just to feel the glide. The body under him shudders violently. 

“That’s it. You’ve had your little bitch fit, but this is where you want to be, isn’t it.” 

Soldier Boy tries to rise on his elbows, but with Dean skin to skin, he’s unable to fight his omega anymore. Dean’s own alpha is snarling to fuck and claim. Dean rubs his neck against the sweaty skin of Soldier Boy’s shoulder, smearing his pheromones as close to Soldier Boy’s nose as he can get them. Soldier Boy’s arms shake and he faceplants on the mattress again. Dean catches a whisper that could be ‘Alpha’. 

“Yeah, say my name.” 

Dean doesn’t think Soldier Boy even knows his first name, but Alpha is close enough. 

“I don’t know why you fight every time. You could just bend this ass over and we’d have a good time.” 

Dean drives his point home with another thrust, drawing a bitten-off moan from the Supe under him. 

“Fuck you.” 

It’s mumbled into the mattress, but Dean can still hear the lack of bite in the words. 

“You know you don’t really want that, Omega. This sweet ass is just begging for my cock, begging to be knotted.” 

The base of Dean’s cock is starting to ache in the best way. He’s past ready to fuck and knot the omega in front of him. 

“You gonna present for me like a good omega or are you gonna get fucked on your belly like a bitch?” 

Dean doesn’t even see Soldier Boy move, but the back of his skull smashes into Dean’s face, breaking his nose and spraying blood everywhere. 

“Not. A. Fucking. Bitch.”

The words are spat from behind gritted teeth, but they just don’t have the rage anymore. It’s a token effort, one last act of defiance. Dean is still going to need to see a doctor to get his nose reset… again. He’s still blinking away tears. He can still feel the bruising that’s going to come up around his eyes. He’s still dripping blood into his mouth and into Soldier Boy’s hair. He’s still furious. 

“Fuck! Fucking asshole.” 

It takes some effort and shuffling to get up on his knees, but he manages to pull both of Soldier Boy’s arms behind his back and cross his wrists so Dean can hold them in one hand. It helps that Soldier Boy has gone mostly limp and compliant now. 

“Get on your fucking knees.” 

He uses his free hand to push on Soldier Boy’s ass. 

“Up! On your knees. Fucking present, Omega.” 

Soldier Boy shifts, pulling his knees up under him. 

“Look at you, all bent over like a good bitch.” 

Dean hisses the last word, lets his fury colour it. Soldier Boy twists in the grip Dean has on his hands, but it’s weak. Dean can hold him.

“Ah ah ah, you’re gonna stay where I put you, Omega.” 

Dean reaches down to stroke his cock, getting ready to line himself up. He can’t smell himself over Soldier Boy’s pheromones and the scent of slick, but the omega must be able to smell him, or at least the scent of fresh pre-cum, and shivers, trying to suppress a whine. 

“You be as loud as you want, I wanna hear you beg for my knot.” 

Dean lines up and pushes in. It’s tight and wet and hot and perfect. He doesn’t stop until he’s as deep as he can go, thighs pressed tight to Soldier Boy’s ass. Soldier Boy who is now shaking from head to toe and still trying to hold back his moans. 

But Dean doesn’t have to hold back anything. He can groan and curse as much as he wants. 

“Fuck. So tight, Omega, so good.” 

He forces himself to hold still, to not pull out and slam back inside, to make Soldier Boy squirm and beg. And squirm Soldier Boy does, hips undulating back and forth in an effort to make Dean move. It’s tempting, so very tempting. But Dean’s pissed about his nose and he’s going to hear the omega beg. 

Soldier Boy holds out for more than a minute, a whine building in his throat. Dean wants to put his hands there, just to feel the vibration. But just like Dean knew he would, Soldier Boy breaks. 

“Please.” 

His jaw is clenched so tight, the word is almost garbled beyond recognition, but Dean knows what it means. 

“That’s it. Beg for it.” 

Dean rewards Soldier Boy by pulling out and thrusting deep again. 

“Alpha!”

“Yeah. This what you need? An alpha to put you in your place? Big powerful Supe, huh. Out there. This is what you need, though, isn’t it. Need to be bent over like a fucking bitch.” 

“Fuck you, you worthless kn- don’t stop.” 

“Not gonna stop. Not 'til you’re hanging off my knot. If they could see you now. So fucking full of yourself in public, begging on your knees in here.” 

“Alpha. Please. Gonna, gon-” 

Soldier Boy freezes and then goes lax, the scent of omega cum filling Dean’s nose, even over the blood.

“Fuck. Get so damn tight cumming on my cock. You like this, huh? All that strength, those special Supe powers. But you’re on your knees for me, a random alpha you don’t even know. Better hope there isn’t some new intern manning the camera room today, recording the feed so he can jerk off to it every night.” 

Soldier Boy goes tense. 

“Ohhh, that scares you, doesn't it? I bet whoever's watching is tugging themselves raw at the sight of you. Face down, ass up. Begging for my knot while you cum all over yourself again and again.” 

“You wish- Oh, god. Bet I’m the only one that’ll - fuck - have your knot and that’s by force, motherfu-uck-” 

Another orgasm grips the omega and by extension Dean. 

“You keep cumming on it, though, can’t hate it that much. You better hope this doesn’t get out, don’t want the world to see you begging to be bred.” 

The mention of breeding makes Dean’s knot start to swell and makes Soldier Boy groan. 

“Please. Alpha… please.” 

Dean’s an inch from cumming, so close he can taste it. 

“Can you even breed? Ten years I’ve been filling up your cunt, I’ve never got a ‘congratulations, daddy’ call.”

The omega whimpers. 

“Do they keep you dosed? Or did they have you spayed?” 

A twitch tells him it’s the latter. Something about the knowledge that one of the most powerful men in the world can be rendered societally worthless while Dean is whole sends fire up his spine.

“Makes sense. Can’t have you ruining the Supe genes any further, can they.” 

Right there, right fucking there. His lip curls with malice. 

“But damn, a disgrace to Supes by being an omega and a disgrace to omegas by being barren. Wouldn’t want your life. But hey, at least you get my knot to look forward to.” 

Soldier Boy tenses up on another orgasm, a sob breaking out at the same time, and Dean follows him over the edge. His knot swells fully and ties them, cock pumping gush after gush of cum deep inside the omega. 

As the initial high of his orgasm wears off, Dean guides them down to the mattress - away from the wet patches of slick and cum - and arranges the limp omega on his side, with Dean pressed against his back. 

They’ll be tied for a little while yet, so Dean closes his eyes, tries to fight off the nausea welling up at what he just said. Soldier Boy brings out cruelty he didn’t know he had. 

Deep, even breaths from the man almost - but not quite - in his arms. Soldier Boy will sleep until his heat flares again. At least Dean doesn’t have to look him in the eye. 

He busies himself running his hand over as much bare skin as he can. From the way Soldier Boy melts at Dean’s touch, Dean doesn’t have to be a genius to work out that he’s touch-starved beyond belief. It's part of why Vought brings him in at all. Dean can’t imagine anyone but him getting close enough to touch Soldier Boy, much less try to comfort him. So he tries to give everything he can in these quiet times between knottings and then leaving. Hopefully his touch lingers for a little while and brings some peace to the man. 

Dean wasn't joking when he said he hates everything about this place and everything that goes on in here, but he doesn’t hate the time locked in this room. Not just for the sex, but so he can have these quiet moments and delude himself that he makes a difference in Soldier Boy’s life, a tiny little difference. That he does some good instead of just bringing the man low with cruel words and a knot he never asked for. 

He knots Soldier Boy a few more times, but it’s little more than fucking a fleshlight. The first time is explosive and violent. After that, omegas just need the sensation of a knot and fresh alpha cum to soothe the heat. 

Or so Dean assumes. Soldier Boy is the only omega he’s ever seen through a heat and it’s been this way from the start. The only thing he knows for sure about omega heats is that without an alpha to knot them, they get sick. If they go long enough, they get really sick. The first time Dean was brought to Soldier Boy was proof of that; already unconscious when Dean was shoved into the room, it was the closest this thing had ever felt to true rape. But Dean had no choice, the scent of the half-dead omega had made his alpha feral. He was as much in control of his body as Soldier Boy at that point.

Past that, he’s flying blind. 

He knows Sam is working with some research group to get funding and approval to try and formulate synthetic alpha cum so omegas won’t need to rely on alphas anymore. Maybe one day, the calls will stop and Dean and his cruel words will be forgotten entirely. 

Eventually Soldier Boy cools to a normal temperature and his breathing shifts to real sleep instead of semi-consciousness. Dean’s knot shrinks for the last time and he can pull out. He could leave now, pace around like a caged animal until the door unlocks. 

But he doesn’t. He stays pressed to Soldier Boy’s back, running his hand along now-clammy skin, trying to leave a memory of his touch there. He tries to ignore that he’s smearing the drops of his own blood along the way.  

As much as this whole situation - Soldier Boy himself, even - brings out the worst in Dean, when it’s over, it brings out the protective side of him. Maybe it's part of being an alpha seeing an omega through heat, or maybe it’s just a part of Dean himself. The man never asked to be born an omega, never asked to be born a Supe, and never had a choice about his life. Dean can relate. 

The hiss of the ante-chamber door makes Dean startle. Time to go. 

He pulls away from Soldier Boy, who curls into himself a little as the air replaces Dean’s body heat. Keeping his hand on the man’s arms as long as possible, Dean gets to his knees. 

“Stay safe out there, Ben. See you next time.” 

He doesn’t look back, just lets the ante-chamber door close behind him while he redoes the poppers on the stupid crotch flap of the jump suit. Whoever watches the cameras has seen enough of his dick and he’s not going to walk back to the ‘dressing room’ where his clothes are with everything hanging out. 

Being suddenly cut off from Soldier Boy’s scent leaves him reeling. He can still smell the slick on the fabric over his thighs, but mostly he can just smell his cum, his sweat, and the blood now dried on his face. He wrinkles his nose at the way he stinks and his whole face throbs with pain. Vought better get him a doctor before he leaves. They owe him. 

The same lackey is waiting in the corridor. They don’t speak on the way back. 

~~~ 

“-even breed? Ten years I’ve been filling up your cunt-” 

Ben is still locked in the fuck-room, as he’s nicknamed it. 

Vought won’t let him out until he’s been out of heat for a full one hundred and twenty hours. The fact that his heat breaks and finishes before they even let the alpha leave never seems to get through to them. Idiots. 

They give him food, water, and access to the camera feed. That’s it. Like he’s a fucking prisoner. 

So he watches the camera feed, again and again. 

It disgusts him. 

Seeing himself on the screen, bent over and begging, makes him want to hurl. He fights so hard - against his biology, his desires, his own omega. And this fucking nobody alpha gets picked off the street by Vought and cuts through it all. Strips him of everything that’s Soldier Boy, even everything that’s Ben, and leaves him a panting, needy mess, nothing but instinct and omega. 

The alpha meets Ben’s fury with his own cruelty, though, and it’s exactly what Ben needs. He fights and he’s overpowered. He can just about accept that; he can give in to his omega knowing the alpha earned him. 

He stops the tape as the alpha moves to lay him down after the first knotting. He can’t watch this part. He’d have to hunt the alpha down and murder him, and then Vought would have to find a new alpha and they wouldn’t be anywhere near as good. 

He pulls up his email. The message won’t be sent until his laptop is allowed back online but that’s okay. It’ll get there. 

‘Winchester, 

Regarding your attendance at our bi-annual meeting. Your performance was somewhat lacking, as always. I expect to see improvement by our next meeting. 

Much obliged for your continued collaboration.’ 

~~~

A few days later, when Dean is back on his side of the country and elbow deep in Baby’s engine, getting her spic and span after two cross country treks, his phone beeps. 

He wipes his hands on a rag and pulls out his phone. A smirk lifts the corner of his mouth. 

A thank you from Soldier Boy is almost double-speak, but Dean can decode. 

It’s nice to be appreciated.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Got a crazy one for you today. I still can't get over it. I live near this, but thanks to Curieously for bringing it to my attention. I had no idea. This is Horizon House in Fort Lee, New Jersey, built in the 1960s- there are several buildings. It was always THE most prestigious place. How I always wanted to live here. My mom, who was a decorator, had several clients there. Okay, but here's where it gets weird- this is a glam penthouse for sale. 2bds, 3.5ba, yet it's only $190K. I won't reveal why until the end. You will be shocked. Curieously and I are still talking about it.

The sunken living room is very large. Walk down marble stairs.

The view is New York City across the way. That's the Hudson River dividing NJ/NY and there's also a view of the George Washington Bridge (circled) leading into NYC. (Traffic is a bitch, though, if you're commuting to the city.)

It's very open and spacious. You can even fit a baby grand piano in here and look at the cool canopy over the dining area.

Big kitchen- love that exhaust hood.

The kitchen is so large, it's an eat-in kitchen. Look at the big table that fits.

Check out this guest powder room.

This is the family room- it's a bit dated, but it was built in the 60s, so it's mid-century modern. Got a great view, though, a fireplace, and a door to the terrace.

Huge primary suite. You can see the walk-in closet, too, plus a built-in.

Check out the marble bath. (Remember - all this for only $199K)

Isn't the 2nd bedroom cute? It's got nooks.

Bath #2.

And, marble bath #3.

I wish my building had a lobby like this.

Resident's pool and patio.

Tennis courts.

Gym.

And children's playground.

Okay, so what's the deal? Well, apparently, it's only $199K to buy it, BUT, the HOA fee is a whopping $7,004.13mo! Oh, and Co-op board approval is required -income ratio 4:1. (B/c who the hell can afford that?) So let me get this straight. You pay a fee of $7Kmo. to live here and when you sell it you only get a measly $190K? How is this even possible? That's not all, though- it's an additional $98mo for parking/$106mo if you want valet parking. It's called a Stock Cooperative, which I really don't understand: A co-op is a way to own a primary residence, but where homeowners don't own their units outright; instead, each resident is a shareholder in the co-op itself.

[thedragonchilde]

"Chibodee has lit a fire in Domon's soul": a ship manifesto years in the making

For my followers who have been wondering what the hell I've been on about, here you are.

Before I start, a quick rundown for the newbies, of the show and the characters of the hour, as is customary for ship manifestos:

Earth has been ravaged by war, so all the nations created space colonies, and everyone who could afford it fled to them. In order to try and 'fix' the problem of war, they have decided to settle their differences by way of the Gundam Fight. The Fight happens every four years, and calls for every country to send a Gundam and a fighter to control it, and they spend a year battling it out, and the last one standing gives his nation the right to rule all the others for the next four years.

Earth is the ring.

The other thing to know is the presence of a secret quasi-mystical society called the Shuffle Alliance, which has existed throughout time for the purpose of overseeing wars and making sure humanity survives. There are five at any given time, mapped to card ranks, and they are magically 'chosen' rather than deciding to join. They are linked together by crests on their hands and an ill-explained empathic bond.

Domon Kasshu is our intrepid main character, and holds rank King of Hearts. He is 20 at the start of the Fight, and has been training as a fighter since he was 10. His father was sentenced to stasis by the government for alleged treason, and he wants to win so he can make a bid to reverse that. He broods quite a bit, but his anger is too red-hot to let that stay for long. He's LOUD and PASSIONATE and FEELS A LOT OF THINGS and SHOUTS A LOT. He's also a giant child sometimes, and that's not always a bad thing, particularly when he interacts with children. Also, he has a sexy suit-up sequence to rival Sailor Moon.

Chibodee Crockett is also 20, and holds rank Queen of Spades. He actually grew up an orphan on Earth (specifically NYC), but was discovered by talent scouts after a street fight and taken to the colony to be trained. He makes a name for himself as a professional boxer, and is undefeated by the start of the Fight. He is literally the rags-to-riches American Dream, and he seizes that, aiming to win the Fight as a symbol to give hope to those still living on Earth. He is loud and impulsive and naturally flirtatious, and has a heart of gold. And, you know, an 80s metal hairdo.

-

So why do I find this dynamic compelling? Let's start with what canon gives us.

In Chibodee's debut episode, they don't get off to the best start (a suckerpunch is not a meet-cute), and miscommunication induced by the Neo-American government makes it worse. But things get immediately friendlier once the two are able to have their match and communicate in the best way they know how. Domon wins the bout, and Chibodee doesn't handle the loss well, insisting that he's let down his fans. Now, we already know from the series opener that Domon has no qualms with leaving a situation that he feels isn't his business - so it stands out to me that Domon refuses to knock Chibodee out of the tournament, and in fact encourages him to keep fighting, even calling him “one of the good guys”.

This mercy must have stood out to Chibodee as well, because in “Prepare to Fight! Desperate Fugitive” he is downright obsessed with finding Domon again for a rematch, getting his team to scout the area and even going along with Neo-Mexico’s plan to use him just for the publicity. Even for the purposes of revenge as he claims, that's a lot of time and effort spent pursuing one guy. Their interaction is only in the last leg of the episode - Chibodee attempts to muscle in on Domon's match, then says he's “lost all respect” for Domon when he thinks Neo-Mexico’s Chico has been killed, implying that he respected Domon in the first place despite everything. When he figures out what the plan actually is, he thinks it's incredibly clever.

Then we get to the Guyana Highlands training arc. Our five-man band has just become the newest Shuffle Alliance, though they're still figuring out what that means and how they're tied to each other.

Right out of the gate, the narrator refers to Chibodee as Domon's “destined rival”. And the characters seem to agree! If self-proclaimed mentor Schwarz wants Domon to train against someone, he has plenty of choices, including two who fought him to a draw, but for whatever reason he decides Chibodee is the best option - and he secretly encourages Chibodee's team to come to the same conclusion.

When Chibodee arrives and finds Domon, instead of announcing himself, he just watches Domon train (shirtless, mind you) for long enough that the weather turns from sunny and beautiful to a thunderstorm.

Eventually, he does announce his presence, and they face off in the rain - and it's not just the lightning that's electric, as they excitedly comment on each other's technique and reenergize their fighting spirit, just as Schwarz planned. (In fact, Domon is so into the fight that he needs to be told there's an SOS signal from their support teams!)

It's some time later before we see Chibodee again, and he's either stayed in the highlands the whole time or left and came back, and either option is damning. The fledgling Shuffle Alliance has gathered, drawn to Domon, who’s gone off on his own without a word. Aside from George's half-baked excuse about wanting to protect Rain from wild beasts, the others are fairly upfront about wanting to see Domon, if only to fight him. But Chibodee gets oddly defensive and claims he just has nothing better to do.

When Domon returns from his training, his former teacher Master Asia strikes with the self-regenerating Devil Gundam, and the group has to find their way out. While they're strategizing, Chibodee makes a suggestion, then blushes and hurriedly assures Domon that he's “not doing this for you!” as if anyone would take it that way.

Eventually, they separate and reunite in Neo-Hong Kong for the tournament finals. Their next big interaction is in “Domon Targeted! The Assassin’s Staff”, where Domon is caught in the crosshairs of Neo-Nepal’s Kyral, who tries to assassinate him ahead of his next match. There is a very scary run-in with Kyral in broad daylight, which ends with Domon's shoulder slashed open. Chibodee comes to the rescue, laying Domon across his lap as he drives to help - at least until he flips the car in the chaos.

They do eventually get help, but Domon still has to face Kyral in the ring. For his part, Chibodee has decided to hang around Domon's lodgings for the entire two days between the attack and the match. Guilty? Worried? Feeling a little protective?

I won't say much about “Dazzling Power of the Clown! Get Mad, Gundam Maxter” here, except to ask: when Chibodee goes out that night and has his first meltdown, why is it Domon that the girls call to check on him?

As is the nature of tournaments, Domon has to face off against the other members of the Shuffle Alliance. He appeals to their bond as the Shuffle Alliance, but they each put their reasons for entering the tournament first, and will only come back around to the group once they've decisively faced Domon. Chibodee actually sounds pretty anguished about this, and, presumably in the interest of good sportsmanship, shows Domon his newest technique so he knows what he's up against.

Here are just a few real honest to God quotes from their match:

“Get ready for this, baby!”

“--and most of all, it's for you!”

“Your hunger ignited a fire within me”

“You sure know how to make me happy, Chibodee Crockett!”

“Chibodee has lit a fire in Domon's soul”

“I can feel your dream”

Domon wins with a technique that hasn't been seen before or since, and in fact manages to knock Chibodee out for a few seconds! When Domon reaches out to help him up, it is in shoujo soft focus. Again, Chibodee is discouraged, and again Domon tells him that he hasn't let his fans down, and then reassures him that the fight was great and they can rematch any time he wants. It's a lovely side of Domon we don't always get to see, being literally and figuratively supportive.

Eventually, we get to the battle royale, a winner-take-all match on an enclosed island, where of course the Devil Gundam has been resurrected and infected many of the participants. The Shuffle Alliance takes on foes to clear the way for Domon to go to the center. I mention this because in the span of less than a year, Chibodee has gone from ostensibly hating Domon to being willing to die for him.

Domon wins the tournament, but that's not the end of his troubles, as Rain, after having left Domon, is taken by the military to power the Devil Gundam. The emergency signal has the Shuffle Alliance going to Domon about it (and at least in the dub Chibodee shouts his name in this beautiful breathless, anguished way). Domon at first refuses to go after Rain, wanting to respect her wish not to see him again. But the others have seen the burgeoning romantic tension between Domon and Rain, and so Chibodee tries to motivate him by basically saying “don't be an idiot, either you go or I will”. Eventually Domon is convinced, and the rest of the group is not far behind.

Let me preface this part by saying it's not uncommon for other fighters to join in Domon's words in the midst of battle, demonstrating the connection between them brought about by 'communicating with your fists'. But only once does this happen when it's not part of an attack. The five of them have a terrible battle ahead of them, and at one of their lowest points, it is Chibodee who brings out Domon's words as a motivator.

There is a lull in between bouts, in which Domon asks the others why they followed him. They respond more or less with “it's fun to fight alongside you”, and Chibodee in particular phrases it in a ridiculous way that makes everyone laugh for an awkward amount of time because it's a scary moment and nobody wants to say “we care about you”.

Domon has to fight the last leg alone, not that the others didn't try to follow him, and rather than attack Rain, he disentangles her from the Devil Gundam with the power of love, in the most literal way. Now, of course, during his big confession, we get reaction shots of the others, and I have to say Chibodee looks rather more upset than expected for such a scene.

Now wait, you may say! Domon has a canon romance, one that literally saves the day, so what are we doing here?

Well, this is not the place for my thoughts on Domon/Rain. This is, however, a place for embracing transformative fandom. All I'm definitely saying here is that I find the Domon/Chibodee dynamic compelling, and there's maybe a canon precedent for Chibodee having caught feelings. But this is fanfic, so anything goes; maybe this is an alternate timeline, or maybe you prefer to write Rain with someone else anyway, or maybe the three of them come to an arrangement.

What I know is that they have a bond that the narrative itself acknowledges, one in which they consistently build each other up. They have a lot in common temperamentally, being evenly matched in hot-bloodedness, but their attitudes are sort of the inverse of each other - Domon is serious and melancholy, but deep down is trusting and wants to believe the best of people, where Chibodee keeps things light and devil-may-care, but he's a little more world-weary, a little more easily discouraged - and this makes them interesting foils. I just think there is a lot of unexplored potential in their relationship - especially in adding a romantic/sexual dimension to both the Shuffle Alliance empathy and ‘communicating with your fists’ - and I want to think I'm not the only one who sees it.

-

This is normally the part where I recommend other fanwork, but at the time of writing this, there are four works under this ship tag, one of them is mine, and two are Domon/multiple. There is a little bit of art on pixiv under the チボドモ tag. I know this is a thirty-year-old anime, but I also know that hero/friendly rival is usually slasher catnip, as is dudes in latex saying things like “you sure know how to make me happy” to each other.

[pixthefuckup]

crack that could be taken seriously fanfic idea:

the only reason lex, hannah, and ethan never get to california as a single unit is because...

it's all the way across the country, they are fucking broke, and they'll always get stuck in the midwest no matter how far they plan or how much cash they have because gas is expensive and they cannot hitchhike to save their lives because either lex or ethan piss the driver off or hannah keeps saying strange overly accurate riddles relating to the driver's life that scares them and makes them dump the trio back onto the side of the road. technically it fits canon considering that one scrapped nmt episode i heard about where they just cannot budget to save their lives.

so one day, lex switches the plan around, deciding to go to new york city - although you can choose whatever other famous northern city that somehow has an equal reputation of people becoming celebrities in (listen i am a new yorker i can and will talk shit about other states) - to make it easier. their luck changes to the point where it's almost unbelievable. they find an affordable apartment like a goddamn miracle. hannah isn't tormented by odd visions and settles with her powers, lex keeps getting job after job, and ethan is winning with the nyc and (if we have to include them) nj mechanics, becoming a son to the italians.

if we wanna get extra cracky, Webby blessed new york bc of the innate connection to spiders and insects and that's why Alice lives because she's tied to it for college. even more cracky is the idea that technically any other small town bordering Michigan is safe but the lords in black just has a stronger pull to stay in Hatchetfield or fly to places farther and quick to make you broke (their Internet is flooded with shitty ads about gambling in Nevada, hiking in Colorado, partying in California, instead of any northern state nearby. you go there, you run out of money, you suffer, so you have to go back for "safety") than Webby does with encouraging others to flee to safer areas. she almost succeeded with Emma Perkins and her runaway trip and was going to get her to live in some other weird place for weed farming but the Lords in Black just had to kill off Jane.

[vitospaghetta]

How do you imagine Leon's place to look like and where do you think he lives? Some flat?

Also alaooo what do you think he does in his free time?

You have no idea how much thought I've put into this over the years.

Let me preface this with the fact that I'm specifically talking about original continuity Leon post-RE6 here, where he's a seasoned adult and has been in his career field for a while.

Leon more-than-likely lives in D.C. (he could also live in VA or MD but he strikes me as the kinda guy who would rather eat glass than commute, especially with D.C. traffic being absolute bullshit) in an apartment somewhere in the city.

As a federal agent, he makes a salary, which is something that is determined by things like the amount responsibility you have within the agency, your credentials/experience, your skillset, etc. Given his role and responsibilities within the D.S.O., he's easily a top earner. The top earners within the FBI make $153,000 annually, but it looks like top earners within the CIA can make more — like with all things, every agency is different. The D.S.O. obviously isn't a real agency, but as one that is held above all others (as far as authority within the criminal justice system is concerned), Leon probably receives a pretty cushy salary. Around $200,000 annually, easy. Income tax would fuck him over, but he'd still walk away with a reasonable amount per month to afford a $4,000+ per month apartment or to buy one and pay off a mortgage.

He can easily afford a one or two bedroom apartment in the city is what I'm saying. And I mean a nice apartment. We're talking granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, washer and dryer in-unit, floor-to-ceiling windows, in a modern building in a nice area of the city. An area that consists entirely of nice apartment buildings like the one he lives in. There's actually an area just outside of NYC that reminds me of the kinda area I can see him living in. I was there to take the ferry over into the city for a memorial/organ donation event I was attending last year.

The pics don't exactly encapsulate the full vibe, and these apartments probably go for millions due to the proximity to the city and being right off the Hudson, but it's quiet, safe, and filled with sporty people. Lots of folks walking dogs, jogging after work hours, and a sense of community amongst people that seemingly have their shit together.

He strikes me as the type to have a two bedroom apartment just for an office that he's hardly ever in. He'd want to live in a building that has a gym as an amenity because it's easier than hoofing it to a gym elsewhere, and a garage for him to put his car and the crotch rocket he's currently mourning courtesy of Maria.

As for the apartment's interior, I feel like it would completely lack personality or cluttered charm. There's a level of almost sterility to it, in that it's devoid of knick-knacks, personal photos, and encompasses a strong aesthetic of maturity. Everything in it is nice. There's tasteful artwork on the walls, and it's furnished with well-made and sometimes expensive furniture and appliances, because, as a childless adult, if Leon's going to spend money on only himself, he's going to spend it well. You get what you pay for, after all. There are obviously some traces of Leon's personality strewn about — skin care products in the bathroom, boots and leather jackets by the door, some books, laundry crumpled at the foot of his bed and piled by the washer/dryer, maybe a single sarcastic coffee mug somewhere in the cabinet — but there's no novelty.

Due to his constant bouncing around, he isn't home enough to put too much effort into it, and he hasn't had the luxury of certainty or normalcy in so long that all he wants out of his home is for it to look nice and be a comfortable place to sleep. He appreciates coming home to a place that is his, but it doesn't need to be a display of everything he's ever enjoyed. Even when he is home, he strikes me as the type to start going stir crazy when he sits for too long. The most amount of time he probably ever spent at home was when he was self-isolating and hitting the bottle really hard. There's also the generational element of Gen-X'ers being extremely lowkey about shit.

As far as what Leon does in his free time, I feel like he enjoys doing things that are out of the house due to the aforementioned inability to stay alone with his thoughts for too long. The man is constantly trying to distract himself to place distance between himself and his trauma, so where he might have been able to sit and watch a movie alone before, he struggles to now.

Leon's very extroverted, likable, and adaptable, so he probably enjoys being around other people, even if he's not actively talking to them. Though he appreciates silence as well, when he's kicking things around in his head and is trying to find some semblance of peace and a means to calm the noise. He might get a coffee at a shop right by his apartment where he's a regular and everyone knows him by name, or go for a run, or go shopping. Maybe he tries to make plans with those he cares about to go out for dinner, like he did with Claire in Infinite Darkness. Maybe he tries to catch a good sunset over the Potomac River. He goes to the gym, he rides his motorcycle around the city or takes a scenic route on the outskirts just for the hell of it, he meets up with a fellow agent and they do shots at his favorite bar.

I don't think he has hobbies, as in crafting or gaming or being too involved in any specific interests, but everything he does is fueled by his love of people, his appreciation for what good he has in his life, and his need for escape.

[thebubblecafe]

Hey guys, so I'm directing an original short play, titled Spoon-Fed. It's a story of a noble house where gambling servants pull their master's heartstrings. (It also features a bisexual love triangle).

If you're in the NYC area, from the 18th-20th, I would love to have you all attend. We will also have a 1 night only digital premiere the 21st.

If you can't attend either in person or can't afford a virtual ticket I would highly highly appreciate you all sharing this.

You can purchase your tickets (only $10) HERE.

[obsidianpen]

Totally random question, if you can live anywhere in the world, what city/country would you prefer to live in?

I’ve thought about this a lot actually! It’s hard to answer because logistically it would be really nice to be near immediate family, and most of mine are in Illinois. But also logistically the weathers there sucks most the time and now that I’ve lived in so many other places I can say that the landscape really does leave a lot to be desired. If we’re talking family aside but all other factors still intact…. It’s still hard to answer! Life experience has taught me that you can’t really judge how much you’ll enjoy living in a place for at LEAST a year, preferably two, because there are so many growing pains and adjustments each time you relocate. For where I’m at right now in life, I (and it almost feels crazy to write this) kind of like exactly where I am? Who says that! Ha, me I guess - I like my current house (bummer that I’m renting though, but who can afford to buy a house these days), I feel very privileged to have the space I have with a huge yard in an area where the weather is really nice most the time and things are green and lush and full of life. It’s a good place to be with a young bebe! But if you would have asked me this like 5-10 years ago, I would have said some big city, probably either back in NYC (I loved the fast-paced crazy life and community) or Rome (only spent a few days there but it felt very NYC ish and the ART omg, such a crazy combo of historic classical/ancient and contemporary work that are so at odds with and often commenting on one another, it’s horrible, it’s awesome, I want to just bask in the discourse). Or maybe Palermo in Sicily because even though I’ve never been there I have family roots there that I’d love to dig up more on - and also I imagine the art scene is poppin. Yeah, that last one feels the most ‘right’. Lolllll I’m sorry this got out of hand!! Final answer: Palermo. But also right where I am. 😬

[tmnt-obsessed-ace]

on a scale of 1-10 how paranoid is SSDF Leo

Extremely

It was really bad in the early days, and can you blame him? He suddenly gets yoinked into a completely new dimension, suddenly the sole guardian of four INFANTS, completely alone with zero help and no way back home, and on TOP of that he's only 17.

(plus he's running on maybe an hour or less of sleep every single WEEK, so sleep deprivation certainly doesnt help)

And it only gets worse after the first month when he finds out that DRAXUM IS STILL ALIVE AND ACTIVELY HUNTING HIM AND THE TOTS DOWN. Now he has a legit reason to be so afraid.

He doesnt feel safe anywhere, after a certain incident in chapter 2 he wont trust his own ninja skills, he's constantly jumping at every little sound (he's constantly plagued by nightmares every night of The Shredder, and or of Draxum)

In fact the paranoia and anxiety get so bad that if he even so much as HEARD someone else in the sewer tunnels (regardless of how close they were to him) he would BOOK IT. Just take the tots and book it straight to the surface.

And he would hide on the surface for at least a few days (if someone actually SAW him/tried to APPROACH it would be closer to two weeks) then once he deems the sewers safe enough he would go back in, completely avoiding whatever tunnel/area he was in last time and never going back there.

That area/tunnel was no longer safe.

The number of "safe" tunnels and areas is extremely limited by the end of the first year. Even those spots still make him so afraid.

Its not a good idea, it doesnt make sense logically to limit yourself to so few tunnels out of the entirety of NYC sewers. But Leo is constantly severely stressed, exhausted, anxious and afraid. He isn't thinking logically.

(That's gonna bite him in the ass at year three, when all the "safe" tunnels are flooding and Rafa gets swept away into the darkness. And all of a sudden, Leo is constantly getting lost looking for his son because he doesn't KNOW where all these tunnels lead. And what little time he can afford to spend searching is dwindled more and more. He will never stop blaming himself for that.)

He does sorta mellow out as the years go by (and by mellow out I mean the paranoia has instead turned into mostly pure DREAD)

Which is probably why Leo's resting heartbeat is so FAST. (Man is one skinned knee away from either a legit heart attack or a fucking stroke, whichever comes first)

[mistresskayla-blog1]

STRANGE & WONDERFUL SCRIPT

Thanks for the patience. I gave you 3 scenes this time that have a good romance hook. I have been requested to put this into novel format. Until i get the conversion software that will take awhile. But I will reblog it or put it on the master list when becomes available.

Characters: Richard Armitage x OC (Kayla Crowe)

Fandom: Richard Armitage

Warnings: fluff, angst, preliminary smut (lol), psychics, tremors, losing consciousness, embarrassment, anxiety, rescue, celebrity lifestyle

Summary:

Richard and Kayla are out for breakfast and circumstances shift Richard's interest in Kayla further.

Scene: Breakfast and the Runner

French Bakery Restaurant:

___________________ NYC

10 am EST

Exterior: NYC street front by the restaurant

Interior: French bakery – mid size, bustling.

Simple elegant table ware and chairs

Ground floor seating was full. Richard led Kayla to the stairwell leading up one wall to the right.

They all ascend the stairs, Richard leading ahead of Kayla. Julian and Phillip trailing behind.

Richard: Second floor is quieter this time in the morning.

Kayla: You come here often for breakfast?

Richard: When I have guests of importance. Yes.

Kayla: (Shegrinned) Right, funny.

Julian, Phillip, Kayla and Richard found seating. Richard and Kayla sat opposite each other. Phillip and Julian found a booth with proper display of the full seating area and sat down.

Kayla: So, I am of importance, am I?

Richard: Well.. admired.. lady (smiles) You are becoming so, yes.

Kayla: Oh (looks down as she places a napkin in her lap from the table)

A waiter appears a few moments later and hands them menus. Kayla ordered a café au lait, and Richard a coffee Americano. Smiles exchanged between them. The waiter left with their drink orders. Richard pretended to be interested in the menu, as he observed her. Kayla caught his gaze.

Kayla: You’ve got to stop doing that, its creeping me out.

Richard: What? Looking at you? (smirks)

Kayla: Yeah, I’m not used to.. well, You doing that.

Kayla sounded incredulous.

Richard: Do you know what you want?

Kayla: I mean, of course, but I’m not going to.. Oh! (laughs – covering her mouth) You meant for breakfast.

Richard’s eyebrow quirks up in playful response.

Richard: Alright, now you’ve peaked my interest.

Richard says setting his menu down on the table and taking her resting hand in his own.

Kayla: Oh god. I didn’t mean that. I just… (trails off) Kayla met Richard’s gaze and held it steady, her breath quivering.

Richard: Kayl-er. What is it? What aren’t you telling me?

Richard prodded with his stare, but was gentle on her hand.

Kayla: (Kayla withdrew her hand from the table and placed it back in her lap)

Let’s just have a nice breakfast shall we?

(Nervously looks at Julian and Phillip and fiddles with a pendant around her neck)

Richard:

(Broke the stare and looked at his menu again)

The waiter reappeared Richard asked for toast and butter. Kayla ordered some eggs and fruit.

The waiter offered her toast as well,

Kayla: No, no. I’m fine. He can have my bread, (put her hand over her mouth in embarrassment) Gosh, I’m sorry. I used to a certain..

The waiter left, retrieving their menus. Kayla looked over towards the large windows of the front of the restaurant.

Richard: Your not used to eating with someone who can afford food, are you?

Kayla: (Kayla was drinking some table water and nearly choked on it) Well when you say it That way, it sounds horrible. But that’s not why I said what I said.

Coffee is placed between them.

Richard: Its just bread. I don’t eat much in the mornings. My constitution and all.

Richard sips his coffee

Kayla: That makes sense. A lot of early mornings, work before eating, I suppose.

Richard: Exactly.

Kayla: I love breakfast.. lots of choices. (grins)

Richard: Did you have anything you wanted to share about purpose?

Kayla: Meaning?

Richard: Why the universe conspired to bring us together, now.. (gestures to the room).

Kayla: Oh, for Love I think, and to build worlds.. (smirks, looking off towards the ceiling)

Richard: Build.. worlds.. (Richard grins as he looks at Kayla’s eyes searching the room for focus) Hmm,. I like the sound of that.

Kayla: It is the ultimate life goal, is it not? To build the world in our own way.. You certainly work in an industry that can build worlds.

(Food arrives in front of them. Kayla looks at it and sighs. Richard spreads butter on his toast)

Richard: That is a very true. We do create things that may not exist, or are a shadow of reality.

Kayla: Oh, my yes. A shadow. I like that. (smiles). Do you ever feel like you are living a parallel life?

Richard: (Chokes on his bread) In what way?

Kayla: Oh sorry. No frame of reference. I guess I meant a reflective version of life?

Richard: That makes it sound like I’m shamming it.. is that what you mean? (curious tone)

Kayla: Oh, god no. Not at all. I meant do you ever feel like you might be somewhere else, while you are here?

Richard: Do you have these sorts of conversations with other people? (inquisitive look)

Kayla: (Kayla looks over to Julian and then back to Richard) Yes, I do.(chuckles) But not this openly I guess. (smiles)

Richard: Well then, (raises his cup) Cheers to having open discussions about the existential crisis of man, ya? (Then scoffs and drinks, grinning at her.)

Kayla: (Kayla matches Richard’s gaze and bumps his cup with her own) Yeah. You think I’m a nutter don’t you?

Richard: (Immediately gets serious) I don’t think anything of the sort. Do I strike you as someone who would entertain someone I found disturbing?

Kayla: Disturbed, no. Intriguing yes. (Kayla looks down again, concentrating on her food)

Richard: (Richard stares at her) You are intriguing and very un-disturbing fair lady (smiles).

Kayla: (looks up at him and catches his gaze)

Well, (sighs) thank you for saying that.

Richard: I mean it, though. I’m very, (pause) careful with my words and my praise of others. (eats some toast, chewing)

Kayla: I see. (takes a breath) Well thank you again. (Kayla’s phone buzzes on the table, she looks down at it, almost as if she forgot it was there) Excuse me (Kayla looks at her messages, responds to a few and sets it back down)

Richard: Of course. (Richard continues to eat, checking the time on his watch and looking back at Julian)

Response: Everything alright?

Kayla: (Responds nervously) Yeah, yeah. Its fine.

Richard: Kayla, is everything ok?

(Kayla starts to ring her hands in her lap, Richard cannot see, but she has stopped making eye contact with him, even though he has spoken to her)

Kayla: Uhuh.. (Kayla’s eyes start to close a moment, then seem to flutter back open. Kayla pulls at her right ear as if to stifle something, her breath shuddering)

Richard: (Richard puts down his coffee and moves to get up)

Kayla? (a questioning tone)

(Kayla’s eyes flutter again, and Kayla’s body relaxes against the chair, eyes closed. Richard moves around the table to her side. Julian and Phillip are up out of their seats immediately) Richard grips her shoulders and lightly rouses her,

Kayla? Can you hear me? (nervous tone)

(Seconds pass like hours – Richard’s hands start to get warmer as he maintains contact with Kayla until he has to let them off as they feel like they are burning up. When Richard lets go of Kayla, she springs awake. Kayla’s eyes focus in front of her, then she looks at him, dousing his hands in the ice water at the table)

Kayla looks mortified.

Kayla: Oh my god.. I’m so sorry. Did I?

Richard: Its fine. I’m alright. What happened? You were.. gone.

(Dries his hands off, looking at them again, the skin was red, but unharmed. Kayla moved to touch him, Richard moves away a bit for a moment. Kayla looks down, sullen, Kayla places her napkin back on the table and stands, collecting her things)

Kayla: I’m sorry for the trouble I have caused. I should be going.

Richard: Wait. Please. Don’t go. I…

Kayla: (Kayla looks back at him, putting her coat back on) I’m alright. And you’ll be fine too. Its just your first time (smiles).

(Richard moves towards her swiftly as she descends the stairs)

Richard: You can’t leave without an explanation.

(Richard crosses in front of her on the stairs).

Look. Please. I need to know your..

Kayla: (Locks eyes with him)

I am fine. I just have to be somewhere else right now. (Kayla reaches for Richard’s cheek, as he stands below her on the step)

Thank you for your care.

(Kayla’s hand drifts down to his chest, at his heart, Richard’s eyes follow her hand, he returns to her face)

And your energy.

(Kayla audibly sighs, and closes her eyes a moment, swaying a bit. Richard keeps his eyes locked on her. Waiting for her to fall forward. Kayla smiles and opens her eyes, removing her hand again, and Richard’s breath catches as if something has left him a moment. Just like the other night. Kayla moves past him, and down the stairs, out the front door and down the street..

Richard looks after her, his hand at his face, it drifts down to his heart, Richard looks visibly shaken, then a Cheshire grin crosses his lips, )

he chuckles under his breath “she’s fun” he mouths.

Julian: Sir, are you alright?

Richard: I’m fine. I’m fine. (waves a hand off).

(Richard makes his way down the stairs, pays and leaves the restaurant. Richard steps out on to the street and looks back and forth. Richard looks to the driver who is standing at the car.)

Richard (to driver): Did you see which way she went?

Driver: Nods. Yeah. Up that way, (indicating the street to Richard’s left)

Richard: Thanks.

Julian: Sir, perhaps we should take the car.

Richard: Phillip can keep up with me.

(Phillip nods and walks with Richard down the street towards Kayla)

_______<<<<

Scene: Finding Kayla >>>>>>

Exterior: New York City street – SoHo

Sidewalk in front of the café’

DIRECTION:

Show Kayla’s path first, then Richard trailing after her.

Kayla exits the restaurant, and looks both ways swiftly. She looks back towards the restaurant and sees him still on the stairs. The driver acknowledges her and she waves him off. Kayla walks briskly up the street, finding the end of a block quickly and turning. Kayla makes it past a few shops before darting into an alleyway. Kayla throws her back against a brick wall, steadying herself and starts to cry out. Kayla crouches to her knees, her breathing forced but controlled.

Kayla (to herself): Ok.. ok. This is not what we trained for. Oh.. my god. He is powerful too. Shit, shit.

Kayla turns towards the brick wall, leaning against it, her hands on the cool masonry. Kaylas swearing has woken someone in the alley. She doesn’t notice him until he speaks.

Bum: Hey.. pretty. What’s going on, I was trying to catch some beauty sleep.. and then.. I wake up.. and you’re here. Ha! Maybe it worked (slurred).

Kayla froze. She could smell him before he reached her. Kayla slowly turned around to face him, dropping her knee a bit to brace for impact. The bum moved to touch Kayla and an arm shot out between the bum and Kayla. Richard’s arm moved swiftly between the bum and Kayla.

Richard: That’s, my bird.

Richard placed himself between Kayla and the bum.

Bum: Hey.. hey.. its alright.. (bum backs off).

I just wanted a whiff.. she smells so good.

Can’t you smell that? Like coconut and strawberries. (Bum stumbles)

Kayla is flat against the brick now, panting a bit, Kayla takes Richard in, like gulps of air. Richard is inches from her again and she can feel his energy, his heat and smell his scent.

Richard smiles at the bum.

Richard: Yeah. I know (to the bum)

Phillip is in the alleyway now, coming up short on the scene. Phillip looks to Richard, who looks at the bum uninterested.

Richard: (to Kayla) You know you really shouldn’t be out here by yourself. (Kayla is still at his back)

Kayla: (Kayla is composed as Richard turns towards her) Yeah, well, you shouldn’t go chasing after girls you hardly know, either. (smirks)

Richard: You’re not just any girl.

(Denies the impulse to kiss her, just looks into her eyes for a moment before questioning her)

Seriously what was your plan? Evade me? Walk back to your hotel?

Kayla: That’s not exactly fair. I was trying to give you an out.

Richard: An out? From what? You lit me up, then did a runner.

Kayla: I can explain that. Really. (looks at him) Can we go talk somewhere, (looks away) else?

Richard: Nods deliberate and slow

Yeah, yeah. Of course. (Richard puts his arm out escort style and turns towards the sidewalk, Kayla takes his arm and leans into him) Shall we?

(Kayla sighs into calm, looking towards the bum who was counting out some money Phillip had given him. Richard and Kayla stroll back to the car, Phillip behind them. They all climb into the car and drive off)

________><<<<<<

Scene: Investigating >>>>>>

Richard’s flat – upper West Side

New York City, NY

10:00 am EST

The car ride was quiet, Richard watched as Kayla watches the world pass through the window. Her hands resting in her lap. Kayla never speaks to him or makes eye contact with him, Richard tries his best not to squirm in his seat on the drive, clearing his throat and exhaling. Kayla smiles a little when he exhales. The car pulls up and they exit, entering the lobby of the apartment building. Phillip walks through the flat, as Richard and Kayla wait at the front door.

Phillip gives the “all clear”.

Richard, and Kayla enter the flat. The guards remain in the adjacent hallway. Richard led Kayla to the kitchen and Kayla sits at the breakfast bar. Richard moves to the cabinet to get some cups.

Richard: Tea?

Kayla: Sure. Or water, whatever you like.

Richard turns back towards her and leans against the counter, crossing his legs, his hands resting on the countertop.

Richard: So, do you want to tell me what happened in the restaurant?

Kayla: (sighed) Yeah. Well. Let’s see where do I start?

Richard: At the point where you went into a (pause) trance? I mean if that is what it looks like.

Kayla: That’s pretty accurate.

Richard moved to the fridge and grabbed a water out. Sliding it across the counter to Kayla. Then returned to his position against the counter.

Kayla: Thank you.

Richard: (Nods, Looking inquisitive)

(she opens the top, takes a sip)

Kayla: Alright, well I’m a medium, they say clairvoyant, but I can do a lot of things. Basically I can manipulate energy. And I get.. well… (looks at her hands, then up at him) surges.

Richard: (He looks at his own hands) Ahh.. I see.

Kayla: Yeah, so, (sips some water)

Richard: So wait? Is that why my hands got, hot?

Kayla: Actually that was a first for me. You have a Very high potential energy quotient.

Richard: What do you mean?

Kayla: It means that you are highly conscious and well, have a great deal of energy within yourself.

Richard: What like a super power? (chuckles and looks at his hands again)

Kayla: (giggles, looking down) Kind of. I’m not sure what it means for you. But maybe that is part of the purpose we spoke of the other night.

Richard: Hmm. (thoughtful). (Richard moves towards the counter in front of him and leans across towards Kayla) Want to feel it again? (quirks a grin)

Kayla reaches her hand towards Richard’s. Keeping her eyes locked on his. Richard maintains eye contact. There hands almost touch and a low hum (SE) reverberates between them. There hands aren’t touching, but energy builds between them.

Kayla: You have to focus your intent. And then its really easy to control it.

Richard: Uhmm.

(Kayla moves her hand away and moves around the island to where he is standing. Richard breathes out audibly, Kayla approaches him, puts her hand on his face, caressing it)

Kayla: And when you want something, you can have it.

Richard: Yeah.. (his mouth opening a bit)

Kayla rose on her toes to kiss him. Richard grabbed her up in a kiss back. Kayla’s hands meet his face, and he crushes her against him, Richard’s arms in a bear hug around Kayla. Kayla moans in the kiss, Richard responds.

Richard: Oh god.. you Do taste like strawberries.. (kissing her neck)

Kayla: (giggles)

Kayla feet meet back at the floor, and she steps away from Richard.

Kayla: I’m sorry. I .. (moves to turn away) Richard: (Hand on her arm) Please. I want to know more. We can sit and talk. I’ll be good, I swear. (puts up his hands)

Kayla: (Smiles) You make it seem like you went after me. I’m just as wanton as you are.

Richard: Wanton, (leans against the counter again casually) Yes.. tis true.

Kayla: (hops up on the island, her feet dangling playfully) So, “eyes” back in my head thing, ya?

Richard: Yes, explain that please.

Kayla: It is a trance, or whatever you choose to call it. Its my visions. I get premonitions. Sometimes they are directly related to my path and sometimes they are about others.

Richard: Did you see something about me, then?

Kayla: Oh. (looks over), no. Not like that. I mean, I have.

Richard: So, what then?

Kayla: Sometimes source just taps me (taps her temple) and I don’t have control over it. I didn’t mean to scare you. That’s why I have to eat to stay grounded, sometimes my states of consciousness disintegrate me.

Richard: O k.. that was a lot, am I supposed to follow this?

Kayla: I suppose not? Look, its really simple. I get a message, sometimes its just like a ringing in my ears, but sometimes it looks like, well that (meaning the restaurant),

(she looks down sheepishly) sometimes it looks like I’m having a seizure (nearly whispers it)

Richard: Jesus, really? And you don’t have someone to help you?

Kayla: Sadly, no (breath). I have been trying to control it, but they are getting stronger and more frequent. (squints and rubs her temple) Its harder to drive and do some things, like work with my clients.

Richard recalls as he asks: Is that why the Russian said – I want my lightning? (shegrin)

Kayla: (Rolls her eyes) Yeah, sort of. He’s a nutter, but its like his disability makes him more in tune, so he can feel my power too. Much like you, of course, he only knows how to draw at this frequency.

(pauses)

So I end up drained and ready to fire him up at the same time. (looking away from him)

Richard: I’m sorry. That must be difficult.

Kayla: Its why I have been avoiding him. When I lose control, or get drained bad things can happen to me, or other people. I just don’t want to.. (hangs her head)..

(Richard steps towards her, moving her chin up to meet his gaze)

Richard: I got you. It will be alright.

(Kayla looks at him, tears in her eyes)

Kayla: I don’t want to hurt you. (whispers)

Richard: Hurt me?

Kayla: What if I have an attack and you can’t stop it? I mean, (wipes her eyes), You are So strong, but you don’t have the control. Yet.

Richard: Is that why you were trying to find me? To inform me?

Kayla: What? (looks confused) No.. I.. just.. (jumps off the counter and pushes past him)

(sighs)

Kayla moves towards a large window and hugs her shoulders. Richard comes up behind her, standing so close, his hands hovering at her sides, wanting to comfort her.

Richard: (whispers into her hair) I’m sure whatever we discover will be wonderful, (kisses the back of her neck),

Kayla (closes her eyes as his breath hits her neck):

Yeah.. (sighs/moans) I hope so too.

Richard: and new (kisses her shoulder, his arms meeting her hands), worthy of our time.

Kayla leaned against him, her head tipping back against his chest.

Kayla moaned, as he kissed spots on her skin. Kayla: Oh god… you feel so good (pants)

Kayla moves to turn, but Richard pushes her closer to the wall by the window and kisses her neck more… pressing his torso against her ass. Richard groans in her ear. Kayla kicks her rear end back against him. And sneaks out of his grasp.

Kayla: We promised not to do this, didn’t we? Richard leans his hands on the window, then turns towards her.

Richard: Yeah, but we didn’t say when the moratorium was up (quirks an eyebrow)

I’d like a clarification on that, (pause) Now.

Kayla: Maybe we can just, take a breath and remember we both have lives outside of this room.

Richard: Well, now I need more context.

Kayla: (sighs) alright. I’m leaving tomorrow, to go back to Chicago, where my..

(rubs her ring finger, which is void of a band) My kids are.

Richard: Kids? (clears his throat)

Right (nervous scoff) because you are a grown women and it couldn’t possibly be That easy right? (looks up at the ceiling)

(scratches the back of his neck)

(Richard moves back towards the kitchen counter. Kayla sits back down at the counter opposite him)

Kayla: Look, we all have choices we made in the past, and yes, I have kids. But the point is, I don’t live here. We both know how busy life can be.

Richard: (Richard leans against the counter, crosse his arms against his chest, looking thoughtful) Right. That’s a fair estimate. So what do you propose we do then?

Kayla: Actually I wasn’t really sure. I just wanted to be fair.

Richard: I don’t think what we have started, although adolescent, can be contrived to be anything close to, rational or fair.

Kayla: (looks at her hands again)

Yeah, your right. Its too dynamic to be anything but memorable.

Richard: Exactly. So, (looks at his watch) as they say, I have work on, but can I see you tonight?

Kayla: (stands up abruptly)

Yes, of course. I should go and leave you to it.

Richard: (Richard moves around the counter, coming towards Kayla)

Kayla. Can I kiss you?

(Kayla visibly shakes as he approaches her)

(His hand moves towards her chin, Kayla nods and Richard draws it up to meet his gaze)

(They kiss)

*they kiss slowly and deeply*

(inaudibles)

(They part.. both feeling the inherent gap that grows as their bodies part. Kayla grabs her things and moves past him out of the kitchen and towards the front door of the flat. Phillip opens the door as she approaches. Richard walking behind her, seeing her out. Kayla turns back towards Richard in the open doorway)

Kayla: Thank you for breakfast. It was, an experience. (smiles)

Richard: It was (smiles) Will you consider, joining me for dinner?

Kayla: (looks at her own watch) I will consider it, yes. Ask me again. (looks up at him)

Richard: (puts his hands in his pockets)

Kayla, will you come to dinner with me, tonight?

Kayla: (Giggles). Yes, Richard I will.

Richard: I’ll ring you then.

Kayla: Yeah.

(Kayla turns and walks down the hallway. Julian waiting at the other end for her. Phillip closes the door in front of Richard as he stands. Richard puts his hand over his face, and lets out a long sigh. Phillip looks at him inquisitively.

Phillip: Is everything alright, sir?

Richard: (looks at him, and at the door)

Yeah, yeah. Fine. Thanks.

(pats him on the shoulder and then Richard walks towards the large window and looks down to the street. Richard watches Kayla get into the sedan, she looks up at the sky, as she steps in. Richard acknowledges her with a slight smile, though she cannot see him from that height)

END SCENE

Thoughts?

If you want to be tagged please message me here.

Thanks to all the lovely RA writer army that have supported me since I joined.

Special thanks to;

@fizzyxcustard @lathalea @legolasbadass

[no-one-picked-maris]

i hate cars. i an anti car.

robust investment in public transportation. if rich people in nyc can ride the subway then so can you.

remove a significant amount of street parking from downtown areas

penalize employers who don't pay their employees enough to live within a reasonable distance of their office.

dui = permanent revocation of your driving privileges

cdl for suvs

hitting a pedestrian = permanent revocation of your driving privileges

texting while driving, you guessed it = permanent revocation of your driving privileges

you are not stuck in traffic, you are traffic

you can't afford a car, you can afford a monthly payment. if you're not buying it outright, you can't afford it

[ledinmotion]

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[latigrat]

Decided to go back and start FFVII remake from beginning in an attempt to remind myself of what is happening :

- ShinRa is adjacent to a desert/tundra like area, which is what I get from the really beautiful opening animation with that flying crow

- it's very industrialized, to my US American eyes, it reminds me of the NYC skyline (which I lived nearby a while ago); it's not exactly the same and I doubt that's what it's based off, but that's what I remember the most

- as an aside, NYC is most beautiful at night, from across the Hudson River in a boogie ass park in Hoboken (I could never afford to live anywhere near that area of course lol, but I did clean those rich ass people apartments a few times)

- right in the opening animation there are workers moving mako tanks and considering what I know what's coming, it looks very sinister

- I'm not a fashion person at all but the NPCs strike me as western 1920s fashion? Idk

- Aerith is very very beautiful, and I'm reminded of a painting from the Jane Austen type area (idk the years forgive me I know nothing British history, don't even know if Jane Austen is what I mean lol)

- the beginning of the game is actually Avalanche blowing up the Sector 1 reactor and they're actually the first characters we see

- Barret is introduced as very aggressive and gruff, especially to Cloud (did not remember that, in my mind Barret is a big bear)

- hilarious that Jesse wastes to time hitting on Cloud and outright says it's purely based on his looks

- Notable that Cloud himself is not in the slightest bit surprised or flustered by this, like he doesn't even seem to notice

- originally I would have thought this was part of his tough guy act but considering I played a bit of Rebirth. . . No, he's constantly being called some variation of attractive

- I interpret this as Cloud being fully aware of his looks and by his hyper traumatized at the beginning of FFVII, people commenting on his looks is just white noise to him

- the first time he genuinely reacts negatively to something is Barret taunting him about possibly being an obedient dog to ShinRa, which happens pretty early on

- I don't think he's reacting to Barret's aggressive tone, just the implication that he belongs to ShinRa or is loyal to ShinRa

- Heidegger (who is hilarious btw) makes a comment about previous attempts on the President's life (I don't remember if this was from Sephiroth, Rufus, or if the first game didn't clarify)

- Barret makes a speech about the life of the Planet that borders on religious, but this game has no organized religion that I can discern (certainly a lot of allusions, with Aerith's old church being the most obvious)

- this is actually pretty interesting to me (do the people of this world even remember an organized religion, was it monotheistic or polytheistic, did the creators want to signal that the entire world is steeped in technology and doesn't dwell on spirituality, idk)

- Jessie hilariously asking Cloud if Tifa is his girlfriend (hope this girl got her hook up with Cloud lol)

- Barret is pretty clear that he only hired Cloud based on Tifa recommending him (imagining a LinkedIn for eco-terrorists lol); this in and of itself is pretty interesting to me because I remember Tifa being pretty freaked out about Cloud's obvious episodes

- and they are very obvious; Barret asks Cloud how old he is and Cloud answers with "his" SOLDIER rank, and is freaked out, presumably when he realizes that he doesn't know how old he is

- Barret assumes Cloud is being standoffish but to me it seems like he genuinely doesn't remember his own age, so Cloud acts "cool" (refuses to answer basic questions) because he genuinely does not remember very basic info about himself

- it's actually really sad considering stuff like "how old are you" is usually very low-stakes small talk that can help people make friends and it's cut off for Cloud

- what is he supposed to do when a casual acquaintance asks his age "sorry I don't know because the horrific mako experiments inflicted on me against my will for years left me with severe memory dysfunction"

- despite this memory issue, Cloud is a good SOLDIER and can direct Barret relatively well during the tutorial boss fight

- which means he probably was a competent trooper, just rejected from SOLDIER based on age or too much/too little sensitivity to mako, some other thing he couldn't control

- i do like the theory that he was just too short to qualify lol, he very much looks like a twink next to Barret

- when Jesse is in danger he immediately saves her and during their short time together trying to escape from the explosion, he tells her to calm down

- he genuinely does seem calm while the mako is about to blow; though whether this is because he does better with physical danger or because he thinks he's too enhanced to be in actual physical danger? Idk

- either way he's right, better to stay calm when in a dangerous situation

- Barret, on the other hand, seems both excited and nervous; his character design evokes danger and violence with him being so large and having a literal gun for an arm, but even from very early on it's clear that he's actually not been in many violent situations

- Heidegger and ShinRa take an opportunity to blow up the reactor even harder. . . Meaning that what I remember as an Avalanche act of eco terrorism was actually a ShinRa act of corporate terrorism

- not much to say on Biggs and Wedge

[hometoursandotherstuff]

The 1909 Canal Greenwich Condominium building is the former Tetley Tea Company Warehouse. (I wonder if it still smells of tea.) It's now divided into 8 condos in the Greenwich Village area of New York City and one unit is for sale. It has 2bds, 3ba, & is $4.4M + an absurd $2,556mo. HOA fee.

This is a 1st fl. unit, so these are the the big frosted windows we saw out front. I wonder if those security doors are functional.

Not only is this place gigantic, but it has 3 levels. What I like about it is that it's very old industrial chic. Look at the ceilings.

Look at the original factory floor. Gee, that's a lot of floor to clean.

Just look at the size of this place. It gets so cold in NYC in the winter (I live 20 min. away, so I know) how in the world can you even heat this place, let alone afford to?

I would suppose that if you didn't have all those bulbs on the ceiling, it would be very dark. I don't see many lamps, but lights must have to be on all day.

Look at how far back the dining room is. I would need a speaker system to call people to meals.

The kitchen is very cool. Love the exposed brick. The stainless steel appliances are very hi-end. I wonder if the island is even included, b/c it's on wheels.

There's a powder room and an original door. Look at the tiny sink- wash one hand at a time.

The primary bedroom & bath are in a loft and I'm disappointed that there are no walls, just curtains. A curtain separates the bedroom from a sitting area.

There's a nice exposed brick wall up here.

The bathroom has some high tub. Even the step is high.

The 2nd bedroom is in the basement. Not so sure I like that.

The en-suite bathroom. I wonder if there's a light in that shower, it looks a little dark.

It has an electric sauna. As much as I love industrial lofts, I would pass on this one. (Not that I could buy it, anyway.)