#Jeff is the bigger competition

[tartarusknight]

King of the Freaks | Part 8

Ao3 Link | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Eddie woke up to Wayne yelling at him. Not the best way to wake up. But he pushed himself out of his blankets and sleepily took the phone from his uncle. He leaned on his arms on the counter, “yeah?” He yawned and watched his uncle pour him a cup of coffee like Eddie wasn’t planning on going back to bed after this.

“Hey, um, it’s Steve?” Steve’s voice sounds nervous and Eddie’s hand slips. His face smacked the counter in surprise and he jumped up to act chill.

“Steve? Hey, what’s up?” Eddie says cheerily and glares at Wayne who snorts into his cup of coffee.

Eddie grabs the cup Wayne set down next to him and took a sip. “Uh, yeah, I was- well the kids I babysit were wanting to go shopping for Snowball, you know the dance? And my car can’t fit all of them. I was wondering if you wanted to join me. Or if I could just borrow the van. You don’t have to waste your day on me. I just- It’s not safe and I-” Steve rambled and Eddie wanted to wrap him up in a hug and tell him it was all okay.

“Slow down, sweetheart. Of course, I want to spend the day with you.” Eddie cuts in and Wayne raises an eyebrow over at him. It was just a slip, nothing big and it was just the once, it wasn’t important.

Steve clears his throat over the line, “right. Yeah, great. Uh, I can meet you at the trailer. Sorry it’s so early, they literally woke me up knocking on my door. They’re little shits,” he laughs and Eddie can hear how fake it is.

“No, problem, Stevie. I’ll have enough time by the time you get here to get ready.” He assures and Wayne snorts.

“You leavin’ the house? While it’s sunny out? This boy’s a good influence on ya,” Wayne teases and Eddie flips him off.

Eddie pointedly returns his focus to the call, “Yeah, Wayne told me to get out and get some sun so, sounds like a perfect thing to do. See ya soon, darling.” He hangs up and winces as the second term of endearment comes out. “Don’t say a word,” Eddie glares at Wayne before heading to get ready.

He manages to get himself ready quickly enough but as he’s looking for his wallet, there’s a knock on the door. Eddie glances out the window to see a group of a lot of kids on his front lawn. “I’m so close to being done,” Eddie calls just as he upends a basket of dirty laundry. Swearing under his breath as he struggles to find it even now. There’s a knock on his door, making his door swing open since it was broken and never actually stayed shut.

Steve looks tired and a little bored as he glances around his room and Eddie focuses on finding his wallet. “Sorry, I’m not finding my wallet. I think it’s in a pair of jeans or maybe a hundred different places. I’m not actually sure. Like I’ve tried going back from when I last remember having it but…” Eddie groans as another pair of jeans is empty.

Steve moves forwards, catching Eddie’s attention once again and Eddie needs to remind himself that they’re going to babysit kids all day. He doesn’t have Steve in his room for anything else. Steve clears his throat, “Can you not say anything about Billy?” He blurts out and he looks shocked at his own words.

Eddie pauses his search to truly look at Steve. He’s got bags under his eyes and wearing a soft yellow sweater. Eddie gives him a soft smile, “yeah, of course. I wouldn’t make you seem uncool or-”

Steve laughs and it’s the bitchy laugh Eddie remembers from when he was friends with Tommy and Carol. Except it’s not directed at Eddie but himself, “dude. Trust me when I say they don’t think I’m cool. They watched my ass get beat by Billy already. I just- I don’t need them to know that he’s still, you know?”

Eddie desperately wants to pull him into another hug. But he forced himself to keep his distance. Steve hadn’t said anything about the last hug but it’s not like he’s tried to hug Eddie. So maybe the hug was a little too far. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me,” Eddie promises.

However, then he spots his wallet in his backpack. Of course, his backpack. He hasn’t needed it yet since the weekend started. He leans close to Steve to grab it and hears a sharp inhale from Steve as he pulls back. “My backpack,” he grins and Steve glances back and nods sharply kind of like a bobblehead. Eddie looks at him and the flush on his face before he heads toward the door. He gives Wayne a two-finger salute before ducking out.

Two of the kids are trying to snoop around his van and he puffs his chest out a little. He knows better than to keep embarrassing shit in there. Not after befriending Gareth who is like a feral chihuahua sometimes. (Definitely didn’t clean it after befriending Steve just in case.) The kids turn in sync and Eddie finds them terrifying with their big innocent smiles, whether they’re actually innocent Eddie doubts. He glances over at Steve who places his hands on his hips like a tired mother. “Dipshits, meet Eddie,” he gestures toward him.

The lanky dark brown-haired one frowns “wow. I didn’t think you’d have non-preppy friends.” Eddie glances over at Steve to see if Steve was hurt by it.

Steve snaps his fingers and points at the kid, “Wheeler you’re on thin ice.” He states and glances over at Eddie with an apologetic face. “Eds meet Max, Dustin, Lucas, Mike, and the only nice one, Will.” Pointing them out for Eddie.

Eddie looks over them and realizes a few things about Steve right then and there. The kids he loves are the younger siblings of people who Steve had the right to hate. “Okay, so let me get this straight,” Eddie starts and glances over at Steve, then the kids, then back to Steve. “You babysit Nancy’s younger brother, Jonathan’s younger brother, and Billy’s younger-”

“Stepsister,” the red interrupts and Eddie nods to her. He’s not sure if it’s wrong of him to be happy that she sounds pissed off to be related to Billy but he is. He’ll feel guilty about it later… or never. But it makes more sense why Steve wouldn’t want to talk about Billy with the kids.

The curly-haired one, Dustin, who Steve’s talked the most about jumps up. “And Steve’s our friend, not just a babysitter,” He adds and Eddie can’t help but smile. It’s obvious how much the kid loves Steve. And the kid was jealous of Eddie for being friends with Steve.

Steve moves and ruffles Dustin’s hair, “course, Henderson.” Acting like an older brother so easily and Eddie likes to see the care written across Steve’s face. Steve never shows his love easily but the kids seem to be the exception.

Eddie nods and tosses the keys up into the air and catches them. “Well, little ones I believe it’s time to embark on our adventure.” He says in his DM voice and opens the back door with a flourish. They all tumble in and Steve hesitates for a moment before locking his car and sitting in shotgun. Eddie hops in and starts up the van that hopefully won’t fail him today cause that would be embarrassing.

Black Sabbath blares for a moment before Eddie turns it down quickly. In the back mirror, he watches the kids plus Steve all jump. “Right, yep,” Eddie gives Steve a small, embarrassed smile. “Uh, where to?”

However, it’s not Steve who answers but Dustin. Dustin’s head peaks out from the back, “we’re looking for stylish dance attire.”

Eddie glances at the kid with a smile of approval. “You know Dustin Henderson; I think you and I are going to be good friends.”

The ride shouldn’t have been entertaining. Honestly, it was just a quick one and Steve pointed out the thrift store to check out first, but it was highly entertaining. Eddie could watch Steve attempt to look calm while Eddie drives for hours. The way his hands jump to the door handle or the armrest before he forces himself to relax. The way Steve looks very close to demanding Eddie pull over and let him drive. Eddie knows he isn’t the best driver, he’s easily distracted and likes the thrill of it all.

But when he stops at the first place and Steve grabs the keys from him, he isn’t surprised. Just amused that he was able to push Steve until he did something about it. They head in and Steve with his hands on his hips tells them to stick in pairs. Steve lingered next to him like he wanted to say something but then the kids were pulling Eddie over to get his opinion since he didn’t dress like a ”preppy jock”. Eddie glanced over to make sure Steve didn’t look hurt but he was just rolling his eyes and turning to Lucas and Max.

Lucas and Max were talking quietly as they looked over the clothes. They stayed close to Steve and would sometimes say something to Steve that would make him snort and shake his head. Mike followed Eddie around and where Mike was, Will followed. But Dustin switched between pulling Steve over to look at something and pulling Eddie over to look at something.

He got the impression that Dustin was checking out the competition for Steve’s best friend. And well… Eddie knew he wasn’t Steve’s best friend. He didn’t know who Steve would call his best friend. Maybe Jeff? Honestly, Dustin had a better chance at it than Eddie did. Steve always seemed relaxed around Dustin except for the small moments when Steve looked like a mama bear. But around Eddie, there were small glances and awkward smiles…

“Why aren’t you looking at the dresses?” Mike snarked at Max who was looking at the sweaters without any real enthusiasm.

She glanced over at him, “I don’t like skirts.”

“But it’s a dance? Girls are supposed to-” Mike continued and Eddie wondered if the kid ever kept a thought to himself.

Steve stepped between them, “she doesn’t have to. Just because most girls wear skirts doesn’t mean all of them do.”

However, that didn’t seem to stop Mike. It didn’t even make the dude pause. “That’s like saying most guys don’t wear skirts but some do.” He crosses his arms like he has a point but Eddie could personally debunk the theory. But he wasn’t sure he was okay talking about trips to gay bars, so he kept quiet.

Steve was kind of frozen and he looks like his brain was working hard to think of what to say. His eyes flicker down in thought. Eddie panics, he should say something. He should jump in and help. But then Steve straightens, eyes staring Mike down. “They do just not in bumfuck Indiana. Now go find a suit Karen would approve of.” Steve’s got a nervous energy as he pulls Max away from the group. Max gives him a weird look but lets herself be directed.

Eddie claps, “Alright gentlemen. Times for the games to begin. Let’s see who can find their outfit the fastest. Whoever wins gets free ice cream from yours truly.” He decides and the kids look at him critically.

“Steve always buys us ice cream,” Will murmurs like he’s saying it to explain it to him.

Eddie hums and glances over at Steve, “whoever wins gets to pick the music on the way back.” The kids look at each other for a moment before scattering. He grins and bounces a little. He’s a natural.

He was not a natural. But Mike seemed to really like him along with Dustin. Will looked a little nervous but Eddie knew the kid had been through a lot, so he figured it might take a minute to warm up. Lucas seemed to like him enough but he followed Max around like a lost puppy. And Max just looked annoyed most of the time but she seemed to like Steve well enough. Honestly, she, Lucas, and Dustin looked at Steve with a little awe in their eye.

“So, why are you friends with Steve? I thought he was only friends with preppy jocks like himself.” Mike states when Eddie notices a Metallica shirt. He makes a confused hum and looks over at Mike with a raised eyebrow. “You two have nothing in common! Why are you friends?”

Eddie pauses and thinks because it’s not like he can say the real reason he and Steve got to know each other. “Well, Steve’s a part of my little group. Honestly, he’s friends with more freaks than jocks. I don’t think I’ve seen him talk to a single jock since Billy- uh since um,” he struggles to come up with something but all the kids get a solum look on their faces.

Eddie looks over at them and then Mike snorts, “but isn’t he like too jocky for you?” He questions and Eddie’s spine straightens.

He looks at the kid, trying to see what his end goal was. Did this kid talk to Steve like this? Like just because Steve liked sports, he was a douche? Shouldn’t think kid be thankful enough that Steve even tolerates him after Nancy and he broke up quite messily? “I think that’s a shitty way to think. Everyone has their own hobbies. Just because you don’t have everything in common with someone doesn’t mean you can’t be friends.” He states and glances over to Steve to see him watching Dustin with a fond smile as the kid talked loudly.

“Plus, sports aren’t too bad. Lots of people like sports. My uncle loves to watch baseball and basketball. I don’t but that doesn’t mean I don’t love him. Honestly, kid, you’re not gonna make any more friends if you think everyone needs to do everything that you do.” Eddie states then pauses. He didn’t want to be an asshole to an actual kid. “I just mean, like, uh, you need to accept that people like different things. Don’t you like Steve? I mean you went to him for help. Unless you’re just using him?”

Mike flounders a little but Will steps in to help, “No way. Steve’s really nice to us. He’s our babysitter but he doesn’t treat us like babies. He’s always been kind to us. Mike just-”

Mike huffs, “he dated my sister. It’s weird,” he states and Eddie can’t stop the small smirk from forming. “Whatever, he’s still douchy.” And he marches off before Eddie can say anything.

 @zerokrox-bloglog @cyranyxx @adaed5 @the-redthreadd @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaringceyoustopcaring @idontgetpaidenoughforthisshitorthisshit @failedstarsandgoldencloudsds @bisexualdisastersworldd @deadlydodoss @anythingyouwanttobee @nburkhardtt @bestwifehaverr @thehumblefigtreee @megzdoodlee @swimmingbirdrunningrockk @mightbeasleepp @bxlthazarar @autumnal-dawnn @chillichatss @nonbinary-eddie-munsonon @the-daydreamer-in-the-cornerner @eddie-munson-is-my-wifewife @a-little-unsteddiedie @sharingisntkaren @a-huge-nerdy-nerd @0o-queendean-o0 @beckkthewreck @vi-an-te @vampireinthesun @newtstabber @dinosareawesome2137  @spicemallow @hellomynameismoo  @luthienstormblessed @briceslayed @angeldreamsoffanfic @dbquills @prideandsensibility @iwouldsail @ponfarrtimeatthevulcannightclub @spectrum-spectre @the-chilly-kat @yearningagain @loopsmd @starlight-archer @sleepy-time @goodolefashionedloverboi  @crazyshipper67  @sherrylyn628  @bidisastersworld  @v3lnys  @n0connections  cherixxx69  theotalksalot  tailsfromthecrypt  ledleaf  grimmfitzz  @pyrohonk

[corrodedcoughin]

Listen. Listen. I need more swimmer Steve. I'm not a sports person but I need this. I need more jock Steve. I'm not American so forgive the details but.

One day, Steve, Robin, and Eddie all leave Hawkins together. Nancy's already gone off to take the journalism world by storm. Jon and Argyle are taking it easy, traveling, having a good time. And the kids are still in school.

Robin goes to college studying linguistics, and Steve goes with her on a swimming scholarship. Eddie doesn't know what he wants to do but he wants to be with his friends, and he doesn't want to be in Hawkins anymore. It's a plus that bigger cities have bigger metal scenes. Maybe he can convince Gareth and Jeff to come with him and see if they can really make something of Corroded Coffin.

Steve finds he actually kind of likes college. The swim team. It's different when you decide to go there willingly, with other people who also want to be there. And the swim team. He fucking loves it. He didn't realise how much he missed swimming, being on a team of actually nice fucking dudes who care about the sport. And they're good. But the kicker? So is Steve.

And he didn't really realise it until now. He knew he liked swimming, he knew his coach back in Hawkins likes him, he knew he got made co-captain. But a part of him started to wonder if people complimented him because he was popular and mean. If he got made captain because his dad was rich and influential. But here at college no one knows who King Steve is. No one can see his hair under his swim cap. He's just Steve, a good fucking swimmer.

He comes back from practice to his and Robin's apartment smelling of chlorine and his fruity shampoo, duffelbag slung over his shoulder. His wardrobe is slowly filling with more swim team shirts, hoodies, a professional track suit for meets. And so Robin and Eddie slowly steal his old Hawkins Swim Team shirts, wearing the soft worn cotton as pajamas.

Eddie isn't in college, doesn't want to be, but doesn't mind being dragged to the occasional college party. He got a job at a small hole in the wall music store, and has started up Corroded Coffin in the apartment he shares with Gareth and Jeff. (He stays over with Steve and Robin as often as he can).

Robin is acing her classes, is in Band, and has befriended a small group of other queer women. And you just know on swimming meet or competition days Robin is going to support Steve with Eddie and maybe some of her queer friends - all of them chanting Harrington. And Steve blushes, he's never really had people support him that much before. Tommy and Carol weren't the type ya know?

But now he has Robin, his best friend, love of his platonic life. He spots her wearing his old Hawkins Swim Team Captain sweatshirt with his last name on the back, cheering as loud as she can in the stands.

Next to her is Eddie, still dressed as metal as ever, smiling and laughing and happy to be there. Steve locks eyes with him and smiles when Eddie gives him a little wave, trying to ignore the swooping in his gut. He's bi, he's out, he knows what a crush feels like. He knows he's falling for Eddie but it would ruin him if he confessed to Eddie and got rejected, or they stop being friends or or or. So Steve keeps silent. But maybe he makes sure to stretch and flex his muscles when he knows Eddie's watching.

And Steve's team wins. And they keep winning. He goes to classes and studies with Robin, he goes to Corroded Coffin gigs to watch Eddie (because they're finding their feet in the local metal scene), they go to gay clubs together all 3 of them and walk home at 3am singing at the top of their lungs.

Steve swims laps alone in the dim light of the evening. And Eddie shows up. And they have their first kiss at the side of the pool, reflection of the water reflecting off their faces

Steve and his team make it to the big final competition. And he's nervous as hell. And him and his coach and the whole team agree that they're taking this fucking seriously. So they go for The Big Shave. Going full swimmer and shaving their bodies.

The three of them are all crammed into their tiny bathroom with a trimmer and a pack of razors. Steve shaves his face as normal, a tape playing faintly from the player in the living room. Next is Robin, who teaches Steve how to properly shave his armpits and his legs. Makes a lot of dumb jokes and helps him with the itching. He does a run through with the trimmer, then shaves his legs. Repeats the same with his arms and they help him with the tricky areas. They all agree its fucking weird. Last is the chest hair. The jungle. The one Eddie has been moaning about missing for a solid week. Eddie, who loves to run his fingers through the hair, rest his head on Steve's pecs as they rest in bed together. He gives Steve's chest hair a proper funeral and pretends to cry when Steve is all clean shaven. Robin is so used to Steve walking around the apartment shirtless that she keeps doing double takes whenever she sees him in the corner of her eye.

Competition day arrives, and the kids head up from Hawkins for a weekend in the big city. Chaperoned by Joyce and Hopper? Nancy and Jon and Argyle? idk? And sitting with Robin and Eddie. Steve's never had a crowd that big before. Never had people love and support him like that. He can see El and Will have crafted a sign. Lucas whoops. He knows Dustin's going to be making a joke about his bare chest and how he finally "tamed that jungle" and proceeds to try his hardest to cheer the loudest. And Eddie, his boyfriend, wearing a college swim team shirt underneath his leather jacket, following Steve with his eyes.

Steve and his team win, and he wants nothing more than to run to the stands and kiss Eddie senseless. He's missed him a lot, as Steve's training got more intense. Eddie would stay the night so they could snatch moments of time together but Steve would be awake and showering by 6am to eat and head to the gym. Kissing Eddie as he leaves, smiling fondly at Eddie's sleepy grumbles and mumbles, shuffling into the warmth of where Steve lay. But now he's here and swimming is over for the competitive season and Steve can relax. Take Eddie out on a date. Actually sleep in for once. Wake up with Eddie wrapped in his arms and then stay in bed until Eddie wakes up himself, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and snuggling into Steve's now bare chest.

I have so much to say and no words to say it with. AAAHHHHHH!!!!!! Robin and her queer friends carving out a corner to support Steve from! Whenever there’s a home meet everyone knows not to go to ‘those’ seats because Robin and Eddie could just stare with sad hopeless helpless eyes until the intruder leaves

Eddie mourning the chest hair!!! EXACTLY!!!! He writes an ‘in memoriam’ to Steve’s chest hair, frames it and places it next to Steve’s bed. He has another framed picture but its a drawing of Steve’s hairy chest by Eddie with the quote ‘do it for her’ underneath it. Steve doesn’t know if it’s a motivational prompt for himself or for Eddie and her too scared to ask

Robin getting really into checking out the other teams and seeing what dirt she can dig up so that she can make the competition feel a little less daunting for Steve. She always cheers loudly and obnoxiously and Steve adores her for it

Eddie coming to check in on Steve late night, he’s in the pool but he should be resting, should be at home. Eddie arrived to Steve and robins place only for Robin to announce ‘your boyfriend who isn’t your boyfriend isn’t here. Tell him I’ve made pasta when you see him. Oh and that you are in love with him, thanks so much’ Robin ends the sentence with a wide eyed teeth clenching smile and Eddie walks out the door.

Eddie finds Steve, sitting on the side of the pool, goggles tossed by the edge. Steve looks up and has as good as permanent indentations around his eyes and across his nose. His chest is heaving, hair and body wet. He’s a mess, he’s also the most beautiful person eddie has ever seen and it takes all his strength not to blurt it out. Maybe not tonight, maybe not ever, not if it means he might lose Steve. Eddie doesn’t think anything is worth that.

Steve being bullied into the edge of the booth as his hawkins family take him out for dinner. His heart is full knowing the most important people in his life are here to watch him do something he genuinely enjoys. They aren’t ridiculing him, they want to know about him, they want him to know they care.

[commandernachos]

How I imagine the dynamics between Porky and the other party members would be in an AU where Porky is part of the team!

Paula:

-they both have a rivalry and are very competitive about the absolute smallest and silliest things. Ness constantly has to manage them both

-Porky will make fun of Paula and then immediately trip and fall on his face. The only joy Porky's presence brings Paula

-Paula sighs every time Porky is about to say something to her even if it's NOT him being annoying

-Paula tries to be the bigger person, but sometimes...

-once they were actually getting along but stopped as soon as Ness excitedly pointed it out

Jeff:

-Porky attempts to make fun of him but Jeff never reacts much to his dismay. After seeing Jeff in battle, Porky is suddenly very nice to him...

-not just out of fear (but mostly so), Porky actually finds Jeff pretty cool! He's pretty interested in his engineering

-probably is constantly asking Jeff to build stuff for him

-Jeff DOES indeed lose his temper with him sometimes

Poo:

-Porky finds him so cool and is also totally jealous

Porky: I wish I was a prince. No, a king! King Porky! Yeah, that sounds awesome!

*Kumatora, Lucas and Duster spawn in*

All: NO!!!

*Poofs away before Porky turns around*

Porky: ???

-Porky is constantly bombarding him with questions, but he just answers them. He has the highest annoyance tolerance

[rlyehtaxidermist]

arknights thoughts for new players: marksman snipers

this is not a short post.

Marksman Snipers: Jeff Bezos’s Greatest Fear

Marksman Snipers, also called Single-Target Snipers or Anti-Air Snipers, are the bread and butter not only of the Sniper class but of the game. Maps where you don’t use at least one Sniper are rare, and those Snipers are probably Marskmen. They’re the go-to solution for dealing with aerial enemies, who are a common feature on maps and often need a specific answer lest they fly straight for your goal; many Marksmen also are a primary source of consistent physical DPS even for ground-bound foes.

While there are more Guards than Snipers, Marksmen are the single largest subclass, with a whopping 16 regular operators - more than any other three Sniper subclasses combined. You’ll want to raise at least two early, and will probably have a third by the time you move into midgame.

Justice Knight: Mid Value

Justice Knight, like the other Robots, can deploy without using a deployment slot. Unfortunately, she has a low maximum ATK, so she struggles to deal with enemies with even middling levels of DEF. Her main value is being dropped down to give her short-term bonus Fragile debuff to nearby ranged units attacking aerial enemies - but unless you have a highly-concentrated collection of ranged units, this 25% DPS boost will still be less than deploying another dedicated attacker. Still, if you have slots on your team but not in deployment, she can be a quick DPS booster against a drone rush.

Rangers: Mid Value

Rangers is a 2☆ and exists in the same universe as Kroos so he’s never going to come out great, but he’s very cheap to raise. His Talent helps him stay competitive with other low-rarity Snipers against aerial enemies, and while nothing really helps him stand out, he is very cheap to raise.

Kroos: Extreme Value (no I’m not joking)

As of the last time statistics released, Kroos is the #2 most picked Sniper for Integrated Strategies. She only places behind Ch’en the Holungday, Metafucker Supreme and Hypergryph’s Great Mistake. Part of this is that 3☆ operators don’t take Hope to recruit, a consideration only needed in IS - the other part of this is that Kroos is an excellent Operator even for bloody edge endgame players.

She remains usable, if not optimal, for pretty much any endgame content, and her damage output is deceptively high: her talent averages out to a 25% damage increase (32% at max potential), her skill provides a large ATK boost and a free attack every 5 shots, and her base ATK and ASPD are good enough to keep them consistent. Her S1 is powerful enough that she can basically step in for many similar skills on higher-rarity Marksmen without too much trouble.

Most jobs a Marksman Sniper can do, Kroos can do - the others just give you a bit more wiggle room, or have special cases beyond the basic role of the archetype. Raise Kroos. Turn on Kroos Control. She won’t let you down.

Adnachiel: Low Value

Adnachiel is fine. He shoots slightly faster than most Marksmen, and has the benefit of a second target priority for enemies with ranged attacks - a trait that makes him useful for picking priority targets out of drone swarms or just foot traffic.

Unfortunately, he exists in the same universe as Kroos, which relegates him to a sideshow unless you’re dealing with some very specific corner cases like a large number of enemies with a single ranged attacker in the back. Even then, Kroos’s better DPS will probably handle it just as well.

Jessica: Mid Value

Jessica’s first skill makes her essentially 4☆ Kroos, but shifting some things around. Instead of Kroos’s chance for boosted damage, Jessica gets a small ASPD boost, and instead of Kroos’s second shot on her skill, Jessica S1 gets a bigger ATK buff. This “Kroos S1 but slightly different” is found on a lot of Marksmen - though not all of them - and I like to call it the Kroosiform skill.

The comparison here needs to dig a bit into how DEF impacts damage. For each physical attack, DEF is subtracted from the incoming damage - meaning that while Kroos’s double attack seems to have a larger damage output than Jessica’s single, stronger attack, Kroos’s damage will have DEF subtracted twice (since it’s two attacks), while Jessica’s will only subtract DEF once. Conversely, Kroos’s talent - a flat ATK increase - often seems to deal more than the stated amount, as it is applied before DEF is subtracted, Jessica’s ASPD increase becomes less effective against sturdier enemies, as more frequent attacks mean more frequent DEF calculations. In general, Jessica S1 is thought of as comparable but a little worse than Kroos due to this matchup, as well as the relative cost of raising them.

Jessica S2 is an interesting, but highly situational option. The 75% dodge buff it grants (which is independent of skill level) is a huge boost to survivability in an otherwise fragile class, allowing her to operate independently - or at least with less support - against enemies that would easily eliminate other Marksmen. New players generally don’t have to worry about this at all, and even for endgame players, it’s not something that comes up very often.

All of that said, she’s still essentially “a second Kroos”, and since you probably want more than one Marksman, she’s not a bad choice, and the game gives her out for free.

Meteor: Low Value

Meteor’s essentially an upgrade to Rangers as a more-dedicated-than-usual anti-air specialist, with the added bonus of a percentile DEF debuff that can significantly increase damage to mid- or even high-DEF foes... that she probably shouldn’t be attacking anyway with her poor base ATK.

She has the Kroosiform S1 of most Marksmen, trading Kroos’s second hit for a larger ATK bonus as well as a debuff to the target’s DEF. Her S2 is also an Offensive Recovery skill, taking longer to charge but hitting 5 enemies at once and having a slightly larger DEF debuff.

Her greatest strength is boosting the damage output of other allies in the same general physical DPS class niche - which means she’s hard to put forward as an early investment, since she’s best when there are several other Snipers to support. On her own, Kroos will outdamage her even if Meteor is at low E2.

Her debuff can provide a significant damage boost for physical damage-heavy compositions against higher-DEF enemies, but this is more of a lategame niche, and she struggles to compete with other debuffers in more general use squads.

May: Mid Value

May follows in Jessica’s footsteps of “what if Kroos were slightly different”: in this case, she brings a Slow debuff into the picture. Her first skill is the same basic Kroosiform “every five attacks, hit harder” that Kroos and Jessica have, though in her case she has a slightly lower ATK buff but inflicts a 2-second Slow.

Her second skill slows down her attack speed significantly, gives her a moderate attack bonus, a shorter Slow than S1, and a 30% Stun chance. This allows her to play support - albeit somewhat inconsistently - for a team that lacks other means of crowd control, and much like Jessica, worst comes to worst she’s a second Kroos.

Vermeil: High Value

Vermeil's first skill is a vanilla ATK boost like Adnachiel’s, and isn’t really worth mentioning in detail. Her second skill is what finally lets the rest of the subclass out of the shadow of the Kroosiform Marksmen, giving her a small ATK boost on a decent uptime, and allowing her to hit a second target.

This puts her into a very different niche than the Kroosiforms; she will struggle to compete with them against bulkier targets, but will dramatically outperform them against large groups of weaker enemies. Since “large groups of weaker enemies” describes a lot of drone rush maps - including the important Skill Summary and Sniper/Caster Chip dailies - this gives Vermeil a strong place on any early roster.

Blue Poison: High Value

Blue Poison is Vermeil’s direct successor (or predecessor, since she was introduced first) as a multi-target Marksman, and has many of the same strengths while mitigating some of the weaknesses.

Blue Poison’s S1 is a combination of Vermeil’s multi-hit and the Kroosiform short-offensive-recovery charged shot. It’s essentially identical to Kroos’s skill, but strikes an additional target instead of hitting one target twice, and has a higher ATK modifier. Her S2 is essentially a better version of Vermeil’s, with a similar small ATK bonus but hitting two extra targets instead of one.

Whether or not she’s a better investment than Vermeil is something of an open question. S1 allows her to be more functional with high-DEF enemies - though not competitive with other 5☆ Marksmen - and while S2 lets her hit more enemies, it doesn’t address Vermeil’s more fundamental issues with low ATK. She also has access to a small amount of Arts damage, but the amount is small enough that it normally doesn’t matter.

Platinum: Extreme Value

If Vermeil flirts with abandoning the Kroosiform Marksman subtype, Platinum throws it in the trash and writes a scathing letter to its manager. She has the same vanilla ATK boost on S1 as Vermeil and Adnachiel, but no one raises Platinum for her S1.

Platinum’s S2, Pegasian Sight, gives her an ASPD penalty, a large ATK bonus, and an extra row of range... permanently. Once it triggers, it stays active for the rest of the map. This not only lets her pick off enemies that other Operators struggle to touch, her base ATK and the bonus from her skill are large enough that she can deal meaningful amounts of damage even to high-DEF foes. Even the ASPD penalty is secretly a buff in disguise, as Platinum’s talent gives her an additional multiplicative ATK buff for taking more time between her shots.

Where most Marksmen hit fast, Platinum hits hard, and she’s extremely valuable for taking down bulkier air units such as Defender-4s and Raptors. Her main weakness is the long windup time on her skill, and her difficulties in handling larger groups of weaker enemies - something well covered by another Marksman. Between this and her range - often enough to outshoot even Challenge Mode-boosted enemy units - no other Marksman can do what she does.

GreyThroat: Mid Value

Of all the 5☆ Marksmen, GreyThroat hews closest to the Kroosiform style that dominates the lower rarities, with S1 being a charged shot that quickly builds up to an extra hit and extra ATK, and S2 being a smaller ATK buff that hits one target multiple times. At E2, she even gets a variant of Kroos’s damage boost talent.

Her main strength against other Kroosiforms is that her first skill is Auto Recovery rather than Offensive Recovery, and can store an extra charge. This means that she’s not reliant on targets being in place to charge up, and with enough time to build power she can drop two S1s in a row.

S2 is very powerful against individual, low-DEF enemies, but it’s a bit hamstrung by its Offensive Recovery and poor uptime. Still, for burst damage, GreyThroat S2 shouldn’t be underestimated, especially against Arts Master drones and other lower-DEF aerial units.

April: Low Value, Situationally High Value

April’s S1 is the standard Kroosiform charged shot without anything particularly more to say about it, but her S2 and Talent give her a unique niche somewhere between a Marksman and an Executor Specialist.

After deployment, April S2 prevents her from being targetted for a time while giving her a mid-sized ATK buff. This allows her to attack or even kill many enemy ranged units before they’re aware of her to counter, which can be used to make space on maps that start out with enemies on the board. April can then be retreated once the skill expires, leveraging her talent for a faster redeployment than other ranged operators.

The downside of her S2 is that it offers no benefits for longer-term deployments, as the only way to reactivate it is to retreat and redeploy April. While S1 still allows her to cover the basic Kroosiform anti-air role, she doesn’t stand out from the crowd of similar Marksmen, especially for new players who won’t see maps that really benefit from her S2 for some time.

Kroos the Keen Glint: Mid Value

You cannot escape Kroos. She is ever-evolving. However, her older self leaves a lot to be desired compared to her original incarnation, being kind of an awkward combination of herself, Jessica, and Vermeil with little to help her stand out amongst her 5☆ peers.

Keen Kroos leans fully into the multi-hit attacks niche, with few ATK bonuses to speak of. Her passive has added a short Stun chance to a successful trigger, but otherwise her damage output is more about rate of fire than heavy hits - which is a problem when DEF is subtracted from each hit individually.

Keen Kroos will absolutely demolish swarms of drones, and unlike Vermeil even benefits from the presence of a few hard targets in order to activate the conditional boost for her S2. However, she has lost the general utility that makes her original self so dominant, and (at least until Il Siracusano) deploying her locks you out of the original Kroos.

Exusiai: Extreme Value, Major First E2 Contender

Exusiai is the final evolution of the Kroosiform Sniper, or at least GreyThroat’s sub-subtype, and bookends the Marksman class. Exusiai’s kit is all about one thing: hitting so often that it doesn’t matter how hard you hit. She will eviscerate low-DEF enemies, and her skills throw out enough individual hits that even mid- or high-DEF targets can take appreciable scratch damage.

Exusiai’s first skill is the same general shape as other Kroosiforms, with a smaller ATK bonus than Kroos but a third hit. While the usual caveats about high-DEF enemies apply, the third hit is still a significant power boost over other Kroosiforms. Her second skill is a manual charge that has a smaller ATK bonus, but a fourth hit - nice, and a substantial source of DPS even at E1, but her real strength comes in as an E2 candidate.

Exusiai S3, Overloading Mode, is her main strength. It slowly charges up over time and then automatically activates, making all her attacks hit five times for 15 seconds. While S3 offers no ATK bonus without investing in masteries, it does come with a reduction in attack interval, which is compounded by her Talent’s ASPD boost. The downside of this skill is that there’s no manual control over its activation, so if you need it to activate at a specific time, you have to be careful with her deployment - but the amount of damage on tap generally means that as long as you’re in the right general ballpark, it’ll be fine.

Exusiai is stonewalled by high DEF even more than other Marksmen; Exusiai S1 will generally do less damage to bulky enemies than Kroos. But Exusiai’s ability to cut through low- or even middling-DEF enemies - a group that includes most drones - like a hot chainsaw through milk cannot be overstated. She remains a core choice well into endgame play, especially due to her powerful synergy with ATK buffer supports or debuffers to compensate for her S3′s lack of an innate ATK boost.

Ash: High Value but if you have Ash you’re probably not a new player

Ash was the first non-Exusiai 6☆ Marksman released, and in many ways exists in Exusiai’s shadow. Where Exusiai is defined by her multihits and single-target DPS, Ash takes the same general rapid-fire approach but focuses more on crowd control.

Her greatest asset is her first Talent, which triggers an AOE Stun effect after deployment. This couples well with her S2, which not only reactivates the Talent stun, but also deals considerably more damage against stunned targets on top of a massive rate of fire boost. Her S2 also introduced ammunition-based skills, which guarantees she will get up to 31 hits in with her skill - or allows it to be reset early to start charging for a later wave.

Her main weakness compared to Exusiai is that many harder targets - where Exusiai’s rate of fire is weaker than Ash’s large ATK boosts - are often also immune to Stun, reducing S2 to be a simple rate of fire boost that Exusiai will beat out without much effort. She also doesn’t get as much of a boost from E2 - while her S3 can be a powerful nuke, it’s very limited, and while her boost to initial deployment is useful, it’s not game-changing.

Archetto: Mid Value

Archetto has the same problem Exusiai does, with much of her value being locked in her excellent third skill, but unlike Exusiai’s servicable early skills, Archetto’s first and second skills are at best situational. She also lacks innate ATK buffs, but while Exusiai compensates with sheer rate of fire, Archetto has more situational multitarget skills.

E1 Archetto will struggle to damage tanky enemies, while not bringing much DPS to bear on fragile ones unless they come in crowds. While she’s definitely worth raising for her third skill - an excellent range-boosted multi-target multi-hit that lasts longer than Exusiai S3 and can even compete with it in damage as long as two targets are in range - her more lackluster E1 kit makes it hard to push her for investment over cheaper, lower-rarity operators or Exusiai for new players.

[nathjonesey-75]

Hipping and Hopping: I Was Raised By Hip-Hop

Today is a vitally important day for me in many ways. I am playing tonight as a launch party for my first track being released in collaboration with my friend, Ranj Kaler. It’s his EP and I played a part on the title track, Break The Chains. The pivotal link between another huge importance of today is that the sample I used in the track would not have come to use, were it not for the big birthday entity, Hip-Hop - which has turned fifty today.

So, what you read is not a test, I’m celebrating this feat.

I remember vividly the first time I was really exposed to the deeper side of Hip-Hop and the irony of it all. I would have been 12, with my more youthfully liberated friend Ceri owning an Ice-T cassette. Now, as a highly impressionable and sheltered kid - this was vastly different to Walk This Way and My Adidas, which would have been the only other tracks of the genre in my hearing experience. But while Ice-T and so many rappers of that generation were so scalded for their lyrics - the whole package was something I got hooked upon immediately.

And once one can was opened, I wanted to try all flavours of this new and edgy style of sound. After all, all I ever heard at home was a mixture of the Rocky IV soundtrack on repeat, ABBA, plus the fresher angle hip-hop’s sampling and verse. There was more to life than small town vanilla 2.4 family existence – there was a bigger world out there. Yet the South Bronx and the five boroughs which gave birth and rise to Hip-Hop may have been Mars in comparison with Llanelli in South Wales.

It opened my eyes to DJs and the whole relationship between them and MCs. Although in those days, the MC was always the more revered, my path to turntablism had already begun years earlier, as I had quite a record collection - my grandmother used to give me 7” singles, donated from the DJ at the local RAFA club. There was no Sugarhill Gang, nor Afrika Bambaataa - clearly South-West Wales wasn’t ready for that in the early eighties. But The Jam, Madness and Blondie were the more reputable of the small-sized vinyl stacked in my bedroom.

By 1989, I was already ordering Hip Hop Connection magazine from the newsagent next to my grandparents’ house, plus my journey into the collectors’ category began by buying 7” releases of Hip-Hop singles. Then, recording tracks from the radio onto tapes via Jeff Young’s Big Beat Show on Radio 1. Yet it was a broadcast on Channel Four that year which scratched the DJ life into me. The annual Technics DJ Competition was broadcasted one night. London’s Cutmaster Swift and his amazing styling, cutting and scratching was one routine I watched over and again in wonder.

So, by the age of fifteen, I had already been encouraged to think differently about life and music. Already having seen examples of culture - obviously not all positive - in fact learning the way of the sword about slavery and inequality wasn’t something which went over my head – it made me want the world to be very different. Hence the sample used on the track, from an outspoken civil rights activist of the 1960s (you can do the research on this one – wink-wink), which many will recognise – many may not.

“To be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a man; in this society, on this earth, on this day, which we intend to be which we intend to bring into existence…”

The words following those used in the sample and not used in Break the Chains – are the ones with which this great leader of the people became most synonymous. Public Enemy, one of my idolised bands along with KRS-One from Boogie Down Productions were the ones who made this recognition possible.

Since then – many versions of myself later; I’ve developed and merged my taste through a myriad of ages, of styles and from travelling and relationships; but the gravity of the most influential musical form from my own childhood remains. Alongside the invaluable memories – it took me until 2013 to finally see De La Soul live and until 2014 to see Public Enemy live. Both were done while living in Melbourne. The former saw my copy of Say No Go signed by the band, which is now up on my wall of frames. The latter was a sublime memory of seeing Flavor Flav play the saxophone during the set (many will still not know that he’s a multi-instrumentalist). But the politics, the samples, the effects and legal wrangles; the cutting, the scratching and the controversial law smashing – will always be a big part of my musical armoury.

Thank you Hip-Hop and a happy birthday to everyone in the community.

Peace, love, unity and having fun is what Afrika Bambaataa and James Brown sang about in 1985. We need it now as much ever.

[blowflyfag]

WRESTLING’S MAIN EVENT: March 1990

THE DOWNFALL OF THE STEINER BROTHERS: She Is Woman, Hear Here Roar!

By JIM ARONSON 

PHOTOS BY JOE ZANOLLE and DEBRA MOSER 

Wrestling fans thought it was cute when an unattractive woman, named Robin Green, started appearing at the CNN Center Stage to root her favorite wrestler, Rick Steiner, onto victory each week. Slowly, Robin got more involved in Rick’s career and more involved in his personal life, too. Fans everywhere got a clue as to what Robin was all about when the ugly duckling turned into a beautiful woman on her first nighttime date with Rick Steiner. Then, she became his second and cost The Steiner Brothers the World Tag Team Championships, when she tripped Scott Steiner at “Clash Of the Champions VIII”. Finally, she showed her true colors when she had her henchmen, Doom and Kevin Sullivan beat Scott up in the backseat of her limousine. Now known simply as ‘Woman’, all she wants is everything the world can give her and nobody better get in her way! 

Man’s greatest weakness is Woman. Throughout history, Woman has always caused man’s downfall. Helen of Troy. Jessica Hahn. And now, two more men have fallen at the feet of a woman, named appropriately enough, Woman. Woman isn’t strong, nor is she persuasive. Woman’s power lies in her abilities to appeal to man’s prime instinct: his HEART.

Both the Steiners and Woman traveled long roads to get to this war of betrayal. Rick Steiner, an all-American in wrestling at Michigan, first made a name for himself in wrestling in the UWF, teaming with Sting and Eddie Gilbert. 

“Those guys have always been good to me,” says Rick. Rick was not only among good company in the UWF, but he found success there, too. A leading contender for the Rookie of the Year awards, Rick won the UWF Heavyweight Title, the organization disbanded, sending its wrestlers flying in numerous directions and other federations. 

Rick decided to stay with the UWF’s NWA ties, and joined forces with Kevin Sullivan and the Varsity Club. Along with Mike Rotunda, Rick Steiner continued to defend this belt until Sullivan, Rotunda and Steve Williams jumped him, and he quit the Varsity Club. “They were mean to me, and called me bad names,” said Steiner. 

On his own, Steiner soon rejoined Eddie Gilbert and won his first major singles title–the NWA Television Title. Although he didn’t hold the title long, Steiner did defend the belt well, and acted the role of Champion respectfully.

Scott Steiner, like his brother Rick, was an all-American in wrestling at Michigan. Scotty got his first break in the Memphis area, teaming with the likes of Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Lawler. 

While he had much success in the area, Scotty felt as though he needed a bigger challenge, and better competition. What better place to wrestle than in the NWA, he thought. In addition to the competition, wrestling in the NWA would give him the opportunity to team with his brother. “I never got to see Rick much, being down in Memphis. It was time to be reunited with my dog-faced gremlin!” Scotty recalls. As Scott arrived, he was there in time to help Rick wrap up the feud with the Varsity Club. Meanwhile, strange things were going on in the mind of a Woman. 

[Despite distractions from Woman, the Steiners recently won the NWA World Tag Team Titles.

Scott Steiner has improved by leaps and bounds since his debut in the NWA.]

Woman originally got involved in wrestling in the early ‘80’s. This was a time when everyone had a valet. Chris Adams had Nicola Roberts (Baby Doll), Jim Garvin had Precious and Kevin Sullivan had Fallen Angel (Woman). Fallen Angel, in the most pleasant terms, was a “nasty wench.” She didn’t just interfere, she aimed to injure Sullivan’s opponents. While other valets and women “managers” were having mud-wrestling matches against each other, she was using foreign objects, like screwdrivers, and going for the heart. Sullivan was her master; she did whatever he commanded. Sullivan spoke the words of the Devil, and she listened intently. Sullivan would launch his attacks on wrestlers like Dusty Rhodes, and she would do whatever she could to aid in the destruction. Then, as strangely as she appeared on the Florida wrestling scene to aid Sullivan, she was gone. 

Woman reappeared this year as a typical wrestling fan, named Robin Green. About her background, Woman says she’s never heard of Fallen Angel. Rick Steiner noticed “his biggest fan” at ringside one night, and asked her out on a date. Things went well, until Woman tired of wearing the horn-rimmed glasses and nerdy clothes. At the time of his date with her, Woman revealed the REAL her: low cut blouse, long hair, and seductive smile. Woman was born. 

Scott never really trusted Woman. The betrayal vegan to develop. The Steiners were wrestling the Freebirds for the World Tag Championship and the brothers were dominating Jim Garvin and Michael Hayes. Then, it happened. To this day, no one really understands how it happened. But, apparently, Scotty was coming off the ropes to elbow smash a weary Garvin, and he tripped–over nothing. Scotty immediately blamed Robin Green/Woman, Robin blamed Missy Hyatt, but nothing was proven, and the matter was dropped. But still, Scotty didn’t quite trust her. 

Then, the betrayal blew up–in Scott Steiners’s face. Scotty was waiting in a neighborhood playground for Rick to pick him up. Up pulled Robin, in a long, black stretch limousine. Admiring the vehicle, Scotty climbed in to get a closer look. The last thing Scotty remembers is that three men beat him senseless. 

When he woke up, Scotty STeiner was in a lot of pain, his face was bandaged, and his chest hurt. THe ultimate damage: two broken ribs, a broken nose, a black eye, and several bruises. Rovin Green claimed that she no longer existed under that name:she was now called simply “Woman.” Woman hadn't just broke Rick Steiner’s heart, she had injured his flesh and blood. The Steiners vowed to destroy her. 

[The Steiners wrestle scientifically rough, using amateur moves and pro wrestling holds.]

Woman claimed she turned against the Steiners to teach them a valuable lesson: not to trust a Woman. She quickly brought in Kevin Sullivan and his Doom squad, to fight the Steiners at the NWA “Halloween Havoc ‘89”. Apparently, these were the same three men who pummeled Scotty. But come the big event things would not go as planned for the Steiners. Although they dominated most of the match, it was difficult wrestling men they didn’t know. Who were these guys under masks? Ultimately when the Steiners thought they had a victory in their grasp, Woman placed a small foreign object in the mask of one of the Doom. A slight headbutt to Rick, and the match was history. A win for Doom–and another win for Woman. 

After the match, Woman betrayed yet another man–Sullivan, when she fired him. Apparently, Women used Sullivan like she has used every man, to her own satisfaction and needs. Woman can’t be trusted: she will use anybody, especially males, to get whatever she needs them for. She is only out for one thing: herself. She is a feminist gone radically abnormal. A dangerous untrustworthy lady, Woman won’t stop until she has total domination over all the men in the NWA. The young girl who was a slave to Kevin Sullivan in Florida is gone: she has been replaced by a woman who is nothing more than a USER. Just as Kevin Sullivan or either of the Steiner Brothers. 

[In matches with Doom, The Steiners will have to keep one eye on Woman at all times.]

[packernet]

New Post has been published on https://www.packernet.com/blog/2024/04/09/can-the-green-bay-packers-win-the-nfc-north-in-2024/

Can the Green Bay Packers Win the NFC North in 2024?

In the competitive arena of the NFL, where every play counts and every game can tip the scales of fortune, the Detroit Lions emerged as the NFC North champions in 2023, clinching their first division title since 1993. With the 2024 season on the horizon, questions swirl around the potential for the Green Bay Packers to dethrone the Lions and reclaim the top spot.

This discussion is not just about wins and losses; it’s a deep dive into the strategic elements that define a football season—draft picks, cap space, team strategy, and leadership. Let’s explore the intricacies that could shape the NFC North’s landscape in 2024.

2023 NFC North Champions: The Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions finished the 2023 season with an impressive 12-5 record, securing their first division championship since 1993. This notable achievement set them three games ahead of their closest rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

Such a dominant performance not only highlighted the Lions’ prowess on the field but also marked a significant turnaround for a franchise historically seen as underachievers. The question now is whether they can maintain this high level of performance and repeat their success in the upcoming season.

Green Bay Packers: The Challengers

Brian Gutekunst, the Packers’ General Manager, remains unfazed by last year’s standings. He emphasizes that the team’s focus has never been solely on division championships. Gutekunst’s vision extends beyond the immediate accolades to the grander goal of winning the Super Bowl. At the Scouting Combine, he shared his belief in looking for bigger achievements than just division titles, signaling the Packers’ ambition to return to the pinnacle of NFL success.

Packers’ Draft Picks: A Path to Improvement

In an effort to close the gap with the Lions, the Packers have strategically positioned themselves with five picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft. This includes two picks each in the second and third rounds. If Gutekunst can replicate the success of the previous year, which saw the addition of notable talents like Jayden Reed, Luke Musgrave, and Tucker Kraft, the Packers could significantly enhance their roster.

This abundance of high-value picks presents a golden opportunity for Green Bay to address key areas of need and bolster their squad.

Financial Flexibility: The Free Agency Factor

The financial aspect of building a championship-caliber team cannot be overstated. As per OverTheCap.com, the Packers find themselves approximately $14.2 million under the cap, a situation that has improved from the previous year. However, this pales in comparison to the Lions’ staggering $52.5 million in cap space.

This significant difference—amounting to an extra $38 million—provides the Lions with a substantial advantage in acquiring impact players through free agency. The Packers will need to navigate their financial constraints creatively to keep pace.

For fans keen on analyzing these rivalries and predicting future outcomes, Fanatics Sportsbook Michigan offers a comprehensive platform. It allows enthusiasts to engage with the intricacies of the NFC, leveraging historical performances and rivalries to place informed bets. This approach not only enriches the football viewing experience but also adds a strategic layer to following the sport, making every game and rivalry a pivotal moment to anticipate and analyze.

The Packers’ New Defensive Coordinator

While the Packers enjoy stability in most coaching positions, they’ve made a significant change on the defensive side. Jeff Hafley has been brought in to replace Joe Barry as the defensive coordinator. This move indicates a strategic shift and a fresh approach to bolstering Green Bay’s defense, a crucial aspect of their quest to overcome the Lions.

The Lions’ Coaching Continuity

On the other side, the Lions boast continuity among their coaching staff, with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp all returning. This consistency in leadership and strategy plays a pivotal role in maintaining the momentum from their successful 2023 campaign.

Packers’ Confidence in Jordan Love

The Packers’ hopes are heavily vested in Jordan Love, whose development and performance will be critical to their ambitions. Love’s growth and ability to lead the team effectively against the stiff competition will be under intense scrutiny.

Lions’ Trust in Jared Goff

Similarly, the Lions place their confidence in Jared Goff, who they believe can lead them past the challenges posed by formidable opponents like the 49ers, who they faced in the NFC Championship Game. Goff’s experience and capability will be key factors in the Lions’ efforts to repeat their divisional success.

Closing Thoughts

The looming 2024 NFL season presents an exciting chapter in the storied rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. With strategic draft picks, financial maneuvering, coaching adjustments, and the inevitable quarterback battles, both teams are positioning themselves for success. As the Packers seek to reclaim their former glory and the Lions aim to defend their title, the NFC North is poised for another thrilling showdown.

[tarikulreview]

Gravity Ai Review - FREE Traffic, Leads & Sales Rolled Into ONE Platform! 100% DONE FOR YOU!

Gravity Ai Review - Introduction

Hello! I'm here to share my thoughts on Gravity Ai. It's a new tool in the affiliate marketing world introduced by Glynn Kosky. This tool is said to be a game-changer, and I'll talk about what makes it different and special in the world of affiliate marketing tools.

Gravity Ai Review - Overview

>> Creator: Glynn Kosky

>> Product: GRAVITY AI

>> Date Of Launch: 2024-Jan-18

>> Time Of Launch: 10:00 EST

>> Front-End Price: $17

>> Official Website: Click Here

>> Product Type: Software (Online)

>> Support: Effective Response

>> Discount : Get The Best Discount Right Now!

>> Recommended: Highly Recommended

>> Skill Level Required: All Levels

>> Refund: YES, 180 Days Money-Back Guarantee

Gravity Ai Review - Money Back Guarantee 

180 Days Money-Back Guarantee

Gravity Ai Review - What Is GRAVITY AI?

Unlock the Affiliate Marketing Revolution with GRAVITY-AI: Your Doorway to Amazon's Hidden Cash Flow...

Jeff Bezos created a big opportunity in Amazon's servers, and we've found the perfect loophole. It's a huge wave of free traffic that can boost your earnings!

But GRAVITY doesn't just open the door to this traffic; it takes control of it, guides it, and turns it into a money-making machine!

Gravity Ai Review - How GRAVITY AI Works?

You're only 3 clicks away from getting the freedom to replace your job! (Do it using your phone, your laptop... from anywhere)

Step 1:

GRAB A Copy Of GRAVITY AI By Clicking Any Buy Button On This Page

Step 2:

Activate The App’s A.I. “Amazon Prime” Profit Technology From Your Phone, Laptop Or Computer In Less Than 60 Seconds!

Step 3:

Enjoy The Power Of Automation & Done-For-You Campaigns! We’re Making Upto $597.36 Per Day, Everytime We Activate This System!

Gravity Ai Review - Who Can Use it!

GRAVITY AI is GREAT for:

For Email Marketers:

Make your emails more interesting for your subscribers, leading to better results in terms of engagement and conversions.

For Digital Marketers:

Improve your marketing efforts by using emails that stand out and attract more leads and sales.

For E-commerce Store Owners:

Increase your sales and engage customers more by adding interactive elements to your email campaigns.

For Affiliate Marketers:

Get more attention and clicks for your affiliate promotions by using interactive emails.

For Content Creators:

Enhance your content strategy by using interactive emails to connect with your audience and drive traffic to your website or blog.

For Small Business Owners:

Improve your email marketing by creating personalized and engaging experiences for your customers.

For Social Media Influencers:

Boost your social media presence by including interactive elements in your emails, encouraging followers to engage and share your content.

Gravity Ai Review - What Niche It Work?

This works in any niche from...

·         Weight Loss…

·         ​Make Money Online…

·         Dating…

·         ​Dog Training…

·         ​Sports…

·         ​Entertainment…

·         ​Fashion…

·         ​Beauty…

·         ​Health…

·         ​And so much more…

Gravity Ai Review - Why Do You Need GRAVITY AI?

If You Snooze

YOU LOSE...

(Act Now & Act Fast!)

·         Here's Why You Must Act Fast…

·         Enjoy Auto Profits Like We Do…

·         ​Finally Breakthrough & Succeed…

·         ​Attain The Laptop Lifestyle...

·         ​The Quicker You Buy The Bigger The Discount…

·         ​Early Action Takers Get The 180-Day Guarantee...

·         ​Get Ahead Of Your Competition...

·         ​Absolutely Crush 2024…

Gravity Ai Review - Features

Here's a quick look at 14 out of 30 amazing features!

(*VIP Insiders* Will See The Rest…)

·         Turn Amazon Prime Into A Viral ATM…

·         Newbie Friendly Interface…

·         Profitable Templates To Choose From…

·         Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Interface…

·         Built-In A.I Powered Content Creator…

·         Built-In A.I Generated Cash Campaigns…

·         Amazon Income Potential…

·         High Ticket Campaigns Included…

·         App Works On All Popular Devices…

·         All Major 3rd Party Integrations Supported…

·         Automated A.I Traffic Feature Built-In…

·         DFY Business Commercial Licence Included…

·         No Monthly Fees…

Built-In Offers Included…ake a look at these:

Gravity Ai Review - Benefits

·         Take advantage of automatic Amazon Prime commission campaigns that you set and forget...

·         Get unlimited free traffic with just one click...

·         The cost goes up every 60 minutes...

·         Our members receive daily payments...

·         With GRAVITY AI, you don't need anything else...

·         GRAVITY AI earns us money without any selling involved...

·         No monthly fees; register once and use it forever...

·         Act quickly for premium bonuses worth $$$s...

·         Do this easily from your phone...

·         No extra costs to worry about...

·         Risk-free 180-day money-back guarantee...

·         Exceptional customer support...

·         The price is going up, so if you wait, you'll pay more…

Gravity Ai Review - Bonus & Other Benefits

Ø  Brand New GRAVITY AI App - Value $497/Month

Ø  Step-By-Step Video Training + Profit Shortcuts - Value $397

Ø  GRAVITY AI Auto-Monetization System - Worth $997

Ø  GRAVITY AI Automated Profit Campaigns - Worth $997

Ø  FREE Bonus #1: $1,497 Daily ZERO-COST Auto Bot​- Worth $1,997

Ø  FREE Bonus #2: $300 Per Day Auto Affiliate Check - Worth $997

Ø  FREE Bonus #3: Zero To $1K In Seven Days​ - Worth $1,997

Ø  FREE Bonus #4: First Sale In 60 Minutes​ - Worth $497

Ø  FREE Bonus #5: Commercial License​ - Worth $497

Ø  SPECIAL Bonus #1: $500/Per Day High Ticket Profit System​ - Worth $3,997

Ø  SPECIAL Bonus #2: UNDERGROUND $1K/Day LIVE Training!​ - Worth $2,997

180 Day Money Back PLUS Guarantee - PRICELESS

Combined Real World Value Of Everything

YOU GET TODAY:

$17,655+

Yours Right Now For Just

$147 Per Month

Today, Only 1-Time: $17

HURRY: SECURE YOUR COPY BEFORE THE TIMER HITS ZERO: Get full Access Now>>

Gravity Ai Review -  OTO

1.       OTO 1 - Unlimited Version -  $67/$37

2.       OTO 2 - 100% DONE-FOR-YOU  - $97/47

3.       OTO 3 - Unlimited Traffic -  $97/47

4.       OTO 4 - AUTOMATION - $67/37

5.       OTO 5 - ATM - $197/$47

6.       OTO 6 - ULTIMATE - $197/$47

7.       OTO 7 - License Rights $67/37

Get full Access Now>>

Gravity Ai Review - FAQS

What devices does this work on?

GRAVITY AI is web-based so it works on every device out there. All you need is an internet connection.

Is this really beginner friendly?

Absolutely - the majority of our beta testers were brand new to making money online.

And you also won’t need any technical skills or previous experience.

Is there a money back guarantee?

Yes, you are covered by our 180-day money back guarantee. There is absolutely no risk when you act now. The only way you lose is if you don’t grab GRAVITY AI at the special discount…

Are there any monthly costs or fees?

Nope! GRAVITY AI includes everything you need. Because there are no extra costs involved, this is as close to a ‘pure profit’ model as you’ll get.

How long does it take to set up?

Even if you’re brand new you can be up and running in 5 minutes.

GRAVITY AI is a self-updating system that requires no daily maintenance.

What if I need help or support?

We love helping our customers!

Professional, patient & friendly support staff are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

How do I get started?

Easy! Just click the button below to get in at the lowest possible price before the next price increase …

Gravity Ai Review - My Opinion!

GRAVITY AI is like a tool that uses a trick with Amazon Prime to help you make money automatically. It's designed to be easy for anyone to use, has ways to get attention already included, and they promise to give your money back if you're not satisfied. Before you try it, take your time to look into it, read what others are saying, and make sure you understand what the tool can offer you.

Get full Access Now>>

[techadventuress]

The New York-based startup, which provides a scale-out, unstructured data storage solution designed to eliminate tiered storage (i.e. setups that move data between high- and low-cost storage hardware), today announced that it secured $118 million in a Series E round led by Fidelity Ventures with participation from New Enterprise Associates, BOND Capital, Drive Capital, Nvidia, Dell, Goldman Sachs, Tiger Global, Commonfund, Norwest, 83North, Greenfield and Next47.

The round values Vast at $9.1 billion post-money, and brings the startup’s total raised to $381 million.

“The explosion of interest in AI and the need for modern infrastructure that can support these workloads in the last year has been a boon for Vast’s business and positions the company for continued growth and adoption with the enterprise,” Vast co-founder and CEO Renen Hallak told TechCrunch in an email interview. “Given the future-proof nature of Vast’s offering, data-driven organizations see Vast as a valuable investment in the future of their business.”

Hallak co-founded Vast in 2016 with Jeff Denworth, Shachar Fienblit (who previously held leadership roles at Kaminario and IBM) and Alon Horev (formerly of Cisco and IBM). The way Hallak tells it, the co-founders shared a vision of creating a next-gen data management platform — one that leveraged commodity hardware to deliver faster access to bigger datasets for AI workloads.

Vast’s founding team subsequently designed a new storage architecture and software infrastructure layer, operating in stealth until 2019, when the company began selling to customers.

“Stitching together legacy enterprise infrastructure is time-consuming and complex, and its inefficiencies make it an expensive endeavor,” Hallak said. “The legacy cloud recipe for building AI infrastructure comprises disparate technologies that, due to their underlying architecture, don’t take full advantage of modern technologies that offer improved performance, simplified operations and cost-savings … [And] without the right infrastructure in place, organizations can’t efficiently enable their AI and GPU-powered investments with the data access needed for AI and deep learning.”

While Vast has competition in vendors like Databricks, Hallak asserts that it has substantial first-mover advantage. There’s some truth to that it seems, judging by Vast’s books.

Vast’s annual recurring revenue now stands at $200 million and the company, which recently inked a strategic partnership with HPE, is growing 3.3x year over year, Hallak says. Cash flow has been positive for the last 12 months, while Vast’s customer base has grown to include brands like Pixar and Zoom.

Now with more than 700 employees worldwide, Vast plans to put the new tranche toward expanding its business reach, with an emphasis on Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.

“Vast is a software company that operates on commodity hardware, so the pandemic and supply chain issues that plagued many businesses in the last few years did not have a material impact on Vast or its partners and customers,” Hallak said. “While Vast has continued to grow, scale and operate efficiently, this new investment will further advance Vast’s mission to deliver a new category of infrastructure that puts data at the center of how systems think, react and discover.”

Today, Vast unifies storage, database and compute engine services in a platform built to power AI and GPU-accelerated workloads across datacenters and clouds. Customers can use Vast to manage unstructured and structured data across their preferred private, public or hybrid clouds — data ranging from videos and images to text, data streams and edge device data.

[educationalinstitutesindia]

Flipkart and Amazon to Battle Out Over Luggage Now

Source: businesstoday.in   Flipkart and Amazon, the two biggest e-commerce retailers in India, are now all set to battle out over luggage. The past year has seen the rivalry between the two e-commerce giants intensify further. According to the present data, Amazon’s website and app are more popular than Flipkart’s offerings. But the deal between Flipkart and Walmart, another US retailer, is expected to turn the game in favour of Flipkart.   Click to grab the best Flipkart coupons   In comparison with Flipkart, Amazon is leading in the market share, still, Flipkart is betting big on luggage. Luggage is an important category for both the retailers as the demand for travel merchandise is ever increasing. The vice-president for home, fashion and furniture at Flipkart, Rishi Vasudev, is certain of outpacing its competitor, Amazon, by the end of this year, because of Flipkart’s exclusive range of amazing offerings and private labels.   Vasudev said that, currently, the gap between the market share of Flipkart and Amazon is marginal but they expect the market share to get inclined in their favour to 60-40 by the end of 2018.   In the past few months, both Flipkart and Amazon were selling an almost same number of products, but, on value terms, the US e-commerce giant, Amazon continues to lag behind Flipkart.   As per The Economic Times report, last month, Amazon made average daily shipments of around 4.5 lakh products whereas Flipkart's average daily shipments stood at 5 lakh items. However, the battle to grab the top position is still on between Flipkart and Amazon.   With a selection of more than 500 brands, Amazon India introduced the luggage category on Amazon Fashion back in 2014 and affirms to have experienced a growth of over 100%. Arun Sirdeshmukh, business head at Amazon Fashion, said that the demand for travel merchandise is increasing continuously across the country, with respect to the same, luggage is an important category for them.   Grocery is another such category, which will drive this rivalry deeper as Flipkart and Amazon are both planning to enter this arena and is likely to drive volume growth. Every year, during the festive offers, both Amazon and Flipkart get engaged in a stiff battle. Last year, during Amazon's festive offer, the firm claimed to have shipped over 15 million products, almost three times bigger than last year's sales.   Flipkart also gave tough competition to its rival and recorded its highest-ever single day sales during its Big Billion Days sales offer and sold units worth INR 1,400 crore.   With Flipkart merging with Walmart and stepping into the arena of luggage, it will definitely result in a reduction of traffic on Amazon.in. Flipkart will be introducing private labels and exclusive products under its newly inaugurated category “luggage”.   Flipkart has planned to take over the market share by the end of this year, by its introduction of luggage, grocery and many other categories. Walmart and Amazon have been global rivals, since the establishment of Amazon, and now, with the Walmart’s acquisition of 77% stake in Flipkart for $16 billion, the competition between the two e-commerce giants will be worth watching.   On the other hand, this competition between Amazon and Flipkart is beneficial for Indian e-commerce market as well as for customers and sellers. The prices will be lower, quality will be better and delivery will be faster, because of the ongoing battle between the two, to be at the top. Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, said in his annual letter to his shareholders, that he sees great potential in Indian e-commerce market and the company will not stop investing in India to make their services the best. Walmart, the 77% stakeholder of Flipkart, is also all set to invest in Indian e-commerce market and introduce a variety of new products as much lower rates.   So the battle between the two internet behemoths has definitely excluded other e-commerce retailers, like Snapdeal, Jabong, etc. out of the race. Battling over luggage will give the Indian e-commerce market a boost and customers, a great variety of luggage at cheaper rates. Read the full article

[itsyourdistraction]

I asked ChatGPT 4 to recommend books and graphic novels to someone who is a fan of Twin Peaks and Cloverfield. This is what it came up with.

Books:

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - A complex and labyrinthine novel that plays with structure, featuring multiple narrators and a house that is bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - A dark, enchanting, and mysterious tale about two young magicians who are bound together by a powerful and dangerous competition.

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer - The first book in the Southern Reach Trilogy, this science fiction novel follows a group of women as they explore a mysterious, uninhabited area called Area X.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - A gripping tale of a group of college students who become entwined in a series of dark and tragic events, with elements of psychological suspense and intrigue.

Graphic Novels:

Black Hole by Charles Burns - A dark and surreal story about a group of teenagers in the 1970s who are affected by a strange plague that causes physical mutations.

Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang - A science fiction adventure series that follows four young newspaper delivery girls as they encounter strange phenomena and unravel a larger mystery.

Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez - A thrilling horror-fantasy series about a family that moves into a mysterious house filled with magical keys that unlock supernatural powers and dark secrets.

Mind MGMT by Matt Kindt - A psychological thriller about a journalist who investigates a mysterious organization of superpowered individuals who manipulate reality and memories.

These books and graphic novels should appeal to fans of Twin Peaks and Cloverfield, as they share similar themes of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. Enjoy exploring these fascinating stories!

What do you think?

[college-girl199328]

Cyriah Richard has a small note pinned to her wall. It's a promise she made to herself many years ago. She's had it since she could first fit into skates, and it says: "I hope I will be in the Canada Games."

Today, it's a dream come true. The Tignish 17-year-old will compete against the nation's top hockey talent next month when the Canada Winter Games begin on Prince Edward Island. Better yet, she's playing on home ice.

Her mom, Tina, added: "Since she was about three she's said: 'I'm planning to play in the Canada Games.' It was her goal." Cyriah said she found out she would be one of the team's two goalies last October. Since then, she's been training hard, and got to carry the torch during the final leg of the relay through Tignish.

After years of chasing that goal of one day making it to the Canada Games, finding out she now has the chance to play in her western P.E.I. hometown makes that dream even more special. Hosting events in smaller island communities means more people will have the opportunity to be part of the games who might not otherwise, she said.

She said her hope is to inspire other young athletes from small towns to strive for their goals. Cyriah's mom, Tina Richard, is also Tignish's recreation director. She said she remembers the excitement back in 1991 — the last time the winter games were held on P.E.I. — and watching athletes from across the country come to compete. She believes the opportunity to host an event in her hometown is an even bigger thrill.

Tignish will be hosting one of the female hockey games, something Richard believes is a perfect fit for the community. Richard said hosting events will also be a boost for businesses in P.E.I.'s smaller communities during the off-season. She said accommodations in western P.E.I. have been booking up and restaurants are preparing for crowds.

Apart from P.E.I.'s two cities of Charlottetown and Summerside, Canada Games events are also being hosted in O'Leary, Tyne Valley, Abram Village, Three Rivers, Stratford and North Rustico.

Erica Wagner owns Backwoods Burger, which has locations in Tyne Valley and the rinks in O'Leary and Tignish. She said business always slows down in the winter, and having a boost like this is more than welcome.

Wagner's neighbour in Tyne Valley is Dillon's Convenience & Pizzeria, which is a popular spot for locals. Manager Betty Enman said she hopes the Canada Games will bring some new faces to the community as well.

She said she also hopes it will inspire people to come back and visit again. Tyne Valley Mayor Jeff Noye said there are still some final touches that need to be added to the rink. But overall, people in the community are excited to welcome new faces to the rink. He expects all 350 seats to be full.

Carew said that while not all communities on the Island had the facilities necessary to hold a competition, many will be hosting cultural events instead. He said many communities were part of the touch relay across P.E.I., and others, like Souris at P.E.I.'s northeastern tip, will be hosting festival events during the games.

He said a full schedule of festival events will be announced next week. The 2023 Winter Canada Games will run at venues across P.E.I. from Feb. 18 until March 5.

[me-gongoga]

wet teeth. shining eyes.

Summary: Since you had joined Corroded Coffin, things had been nothing but smooth sailing for Eddie. Well, except for the one thing. Y'know, just the A-one, numero uno, cardinal sin of the music world. The one rule by which you MUST abide if you want to make it long-term. Never, under ANY circumstances, fall in love with a bandmate. And, unfortunately, Eddie was a sinner.

Pairing: eddie munson x fem!reader

Word Count: ~6k

Tags: rockband au/fix it fic; aged up characters (early 20s). fluff/angst, friends to lovers, mutual pining, drama

Miraculous.

It was a word that he definitely got docked for misspelling in high school English class. He wasn’t exactly raised to be quoting the bible and all that. But, even so, it happened to be the best way he could describe his life at the moment.

It was miraculous that he survived the Upside Down and graduated. Miraculous that he made it out of Hawkins and had a full-time gig playing music. And, most of all, miraculous that he had met you.

When the guys suggested signing up for a Battle of the Bands in Indianapolis a few years ago, he had basically scoffed at the idea. But somehow (miraculously), Corroded Coffin landed in third place and ended up walking away with a small cash prize. But, more importantly, they left the weekend with a new member—the lead singer of the first-place band.

You had walked onto stage looking as unsuspecting as any of their competition—but then you opened your mouth, and Eddie was speechless for what felt like the first time in his life. Your voice was haunting, evocative, powerful. He’d never heard anything like it—not in his entire vinyl collection. So, when he just happened to overhear it was actually your band’s last hurrah before going separate ways for college, he couldn’t help but extend a polite offer.

Luckily for him, you were planning on sticking around Indiana. Well—as lucky as it was for any of them to be stuck in a state mostly made up of cornfields. Either way, Eddie was sure as hell that adding you to the frontline would only bolster Coffin’s success. And goddamn it if he wasn’t right.

The crowds started getting bigger, the venues nicer, and the money better. Much better. Soon enough, they could afford to kick off and live in the city. Sure, their apartments were shit, but part of him didn’t want to totally give up the grime of Hawkins anyhow.

All of that was well and good. Miraculous, right.

Except for the one thing.

You know… just the A-one, numero uno (thanks C+ in Spanish) cardinal sin of the music world. The one rule by which you MUST abide if you want your group to make it long term.

Never, under any circumstance, fall in love with a bandmate.

Pretty simple stuff. Not like it was ever much of a problem when it was just him, Jeff, and Gareth, so he didn’t expect your addition to make much of a difference. Were you pretty? Sure. Funny? Absolutely. But he was an adult. He could keep things platonic. No problem.

It was an Eddie Munson classic, really. Barreling headfirst into something with all the confidence in the world, only for it to turn him out on his ass. Or, in this case, send him head over heels.

You had Eddie wrapped around your finger and didn’t have a single clue. And despite all his efforts to keep it under the radar, he was pretty sure the guys had noticed just how hard-pressed he was to say no to you. He’d be the first to raise his hand for extra music jams or to help you level up your D&D character. But so what? Nothing wrong with friendly hangouts like that. Or with the late-night writing sessions like the one that had brought you over to his creaky studio tonight.

Over hours of working, you and Eddie had crushed a rather impressive amount of beer, a bright collection of tin cans amassing on the low table in his tiny living room. You had insisted on getting him the coffee table as a ‘house’ warming present when he first moved to Indy. And though he had thought it a bit ridiculous at the time (who needs proper furniture), it had since been the birthplace of more than a few new songs.

But now, at almost 4 AM, it seemed more like the graveyard of a night well spent than a surface that would be imparting lyrical inspiration anytime soon. And his muse was barely conscious anyhow.

“Alright, babe. I think it’s time we call it a night,” Eddie declares, extricating a notebook from your lap, your head already heavy against his shoulder. Scraps of eraser and smudged graphite distort the half-written lyrics you’ve been agonizing over for the past hour.

“I’m so close though,” you murmur, only nuzzling into him further. “I can feel it.”

“You can feel it in the morning,” he complains, giving a poke to your forehead.

“Fine,” you say, heaving a deep sigh. But even admitting defeat, you don’t move. Your warmth remains pressed up against him, snug under the dim light of the old lamp beside his couch.  

“You don’t plan on leaving, do you?” Eddie ventures.

It takes a minute before you respond. “Do you want me to go?”

“No,” he says, probably a bit too quickly. “I mean, you don’t have to. But at this rate I’m gonna make you start paying rent. Damn freeloader.”

You only hum in response, the vibration strumming his collarbone and stirring something much deeper.

He’d long accepted your affectionate nature as a necessary evil of your friendship. You weren’t exactly touchy-feely with strangers, but the better you got to know a person, the touchier you got. He’d seen you hug Jeff on an almost daily basis, and you even watched as you made Gareth give you piggyback rides, but he by far took the brunt of it. You’d cuddle up against him, play with his hair, or toy with whatever piece of his outfit struck your fancy the most. And if that was just you acting friendly—well, he had spent an unsavory number of nights imagining what ‘more’ might be like.

Eddie shakes those thoughts from his head and clumsily slips his arms beneath you. The jean jacket you robbed him of earlier falls limp onto the couch as he lifts you and begins the short trek towards his mattress.

“Eddie, just leave me on the couch,” you whine, riled from sleep and batting your dark eyelashes at him. “You don’t have to give me your bed every time I pass out here.”

He only shakes his head. “No way. My uncle raised me better than that. He’d be all—that ain’t no way to treat a lady, Edward Munson.”

 “Oh, so you do think of me as a lady.”

“Some days,” Eddie offers with a tilt of his head. “Other days, you’re more like a screeching banshee.”  

Your brow so barely furrows. “Rude.”

 Eddie does his best to ignore how adorable you are when you’re annoyed with him.

When he drops you down on his bed, you let out a satisfied hum, immediately spreading out your limbs and rolling your face into his comforter.

The corners of his mouth tug into a grin. And suddenly it’s as if you can read his mind.

“Eddie, why don’t you just sleep here too?” You ask, patting the mattress. “Your bed is huge. I used to share a twin with my sister growing up, so I’m like a pro at keeping to my side. I bet I’ll hardly touch you.”

Your words are so earnestly platonic that it’s just another twist of the knife in his chest. It gets to him more than it should.

“Yeah, well, I’m not your sister,” he tells you, voice tinted with derision that you seem oblivious to in your current state. “Anyways, I like the couch.”

As usual, you groan miserably. “It’s not like I have cooties, Eddie.”

“You’re right. It’s probably something worse. Herpes?”

You snort. “Asshole.”

Eddie smirks and pads over to his dresser, lazily tossing one of his t-shirts to you. “Here. But don’t get any ideas. I know you’re the reason most of my Metallica shirts are missing.”  

You let out an all too evil-sounding giggle. “Alright, alright.”

He heads back to the couch, respectfully keeping his eyes trained forward when he hears fabric ruffling behind him. It was some sick, sadistic ploy of his own making—offering you his clothes, his bed, his home. Anything to leaven your imprint on his life. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone came and swept you off your feet. And that would put a stop to the nights like these—the affectionate intimacy of their friendship would crumble away. The lyrical part of him liked to think his soul would crumble with it.   

“Goodnight,” he calls out before switching off the lamp.

“Night, Eds,” your voice answers back.

Eddie gets as comfortable as he can on the couch—it wasn’t a lie to say he liked the thing, it just sucked ass for actual sleeping. He’d be better off a foot shorter. Even so, minutes pass in the darkness and Eddie finds himself drifting off to sleep. Until distinct words pull him from his stupor.  

“Could you ever love someone like me?”

His eyes snap open. “What?”

He waits for several long moments in silence, the only the dull clang of old pipes filling the night. Eddie’s nearly convinced he must have dreamt it, when his bed sheets rustle and your voice comes again, quieter.

“For the lyrics,” you murmur. “What do you think?”

“Oh,” he manages, thankful you can’t hear how rapidly his heart is beating. “Sure. That works.”

“Don’t let me forget them in the morning, okay?”

“No promises,” he mutters into the void of his studio. But by the time the sun rises, and the birds start to chirp, Eddie is still lying awake, your lyrics branded into his mind.

- - -

Touring was sheer wonderful fucking chaos. The constant on-the-go was exciting, and even if they were all a bit sleep deprived, it just added grit to their shows. On any given day, it was easy enough to slam a Jolt and jump on stage with the same electricity as every night.

But today Eddie was fucking out of it—even after two Jolts and a coffee. He needed to wake the hell up—but he wasn’t really doing much about it. That’s exhaustion for you.

Jeff and Gareth had asked him to come watch the opener with them, but he couldn’t work up the motivation to rip himself off the couch in the green room.

But you hadn’t gone either—still sitting at one of the large vanity mirrors, painstakingly putting the final touches on your makeup.

Eddie liked watching the transformation of ‘normal’ you to ‘show’ you. Plus, it meant he could stare in like a polite, interested way—rather than just a hyper-obsessed, psycho-killer way. It wasn’t creepy to watch you if you’re doing something entertaining, right? He didn’t like to think so.

Though he starts to have doubts when your eyes suddenly meet his in the finger-print covered mirror.

Luckily, you just give him a wink, to which he slaps a hand over his heart and fans himself, earning a smile in return. Exhausted as he is, entertaining you is its own form of adrenaline.

You turn around on the flimsy vanity stool and say something, but your voice is swallowed up by the reverb coursing through the room from the first act.

Eddie shakes his head and points to his ears—which must be a clear enough message because you come over to the couch quick enough. You crouch on the ground in front of him, arms coming to rest casually on his thighs while your fingers dart idly across the ridges of his denim.  

“Can I put makeup on you?” You ask, smokey eyes blinking up at him with what was most certainly feigned innocence.

His mouth falls ajar, caught off guard by both your proposition and position. “Makeup? Why?”

You shrug. “I think it would suit you. Plus, it just sounds fun.”  

“Fun for who?” He groans back. “I don’t wanna go on stage looking like Paul Stanley.”

You’re unfazed by his argument.

“Come on, Eddie, please?” You beg, reaching up to untuck his chain from under his t-shirt, fingernails grazing his collarbone for too long of a second. “I won’t do too much, I swear.”

Eddie wished he could play guitar half as well as you could play him.

“Fine,” he relents.  

A grin spreads across your face in magnificent fashion, before you sprint back across the room to rifle through your makeup.

“I’ll just do your eyes,” you reassure him upon your return, unceremoniously dropping supplies onto the arm of the couch.

Eddie watches expectantly as you return to your previous positioning, but then seem to think better of it, standing and bending forward instead. Though, even then, you don’t seem pleased.

“Should I move?” He asks, voice straining over the increased bass from outside.

You shake your head.

“No, but do you mind—” you begin to say, moving to straddle him with either knee outside of his own. “If I do it like this?”

He should say something cheeky, or suggestive, or really anything playful at all. But instead, Eddie just swallows hard and lies through his teeth. “No. Not at all.”

You settle in, kneeling atop him, your hands finding their way to his jawline. You bite your lip as you survey his features, pushing stray hairs from his stubble.

If he wanted a front row seat for staring at you, this was it.

“Just relax, alright?” You say, going in with your first tool. “I’ll be gentle.”

But that’s easier said than done. The heat of you on top of him is almost unbearable. Not to mention that your chest is most certainly rubbing up against him as you tilt and turn his face for application. And his hands—where the fuck is he supposed to put his hands right now? He has to wonder how it is you always intoxicate him into these situations.

“Close your eyes for me, baby,” you coax, soliciting another groan from his throat.

“Oh, shut up,” he mutters, as you drag what feels like a fucking crayon around his eye.

When Eddie had first introduced himself to you at the Battle of the Bands, he thought he’d sweet talk you into joining Corroded Coffin. But in his haste to turn on the charm, he accidentally called you ‘a baby’ instead of ‘a babe’. And though it had worked out for him regardless, he hadn’t heard the end of it sense.

“Watch the hair,” he warns, as you push back the swath of curls that sit across his forehead.

“I know, I know,” you chide. You’re silent in concentration for a few long moments before muttering, “Baby is so sensitive about his bangs.”

Eddie opens his eyes just to scowl at you and pinch at the sensitive spot on your waist.

“Hey!” You hiss, prodding him in the chest with the end of an eyeshadow brush. “Don’t you mess me up.”

 But that only eggs him on further. This time Eddie goes for your ribs.

“S-stop,” you chide through giggles, trying to strike again with your makeup brush.

But he only grabs your wrist, trapping you in his torturous claws, and tickling all along your side. He watches in delight as you unfurl into laughter above im, struggling to fight him off.

“Call me ‘baby’ one more time,” he threatens. “I fucking dare you.”

But even with tears brimming at the edges of your eyes and suffocating from laughter, you still ante up. “Or—or what, baby?”

“Oh, you’ve done it now.”

In one fallow swoop, Eddie lifts under your arms and flings you down onto the empty side of the couch.

You yelp in surprise, your back meeting the old cushions with a resounding bounce. Before you can even think of wriggling away, Eddie is hovering over you on all fours, continuing his assault as you squeal and laugh beneath him. But you’re fighting back with more fervor now, and he’s not quick enough to notice his t-shirt riding up on his hip. You go right for his weak spot, and suddenly he’s laughing so hard he can hardly breathe.

“Okay, okay! Truce! Truce!” He chokes out.

Thankfully, you comply, satisfied grin plastered to your face as you lower your arms.

He levies a deep sigh and braces his hands just above your shoulders on the couch, struggling to catch his breath.

You swat at the curls that have cascaded dangerously close to your mouth, heaving deep breaths of your own. “You’re such a dork. What are you, 12 or something?”

“Hey, you started it,” Eddie deflects, to which you only flick him in the chest.

Sure—maybe he was riling you up like some kind of immature pre-teen, but how could he resist when the sound of your laughter was so fucking sweet?

“Well,” you mutter, reaching up to cup his face, pressing gently under his eye. “Makeup looks good at least.”

Eddie has a hard time not leaning into it.

“Yeah?” He mutters, eyes wandering hopelessly to the dark red curve of your lips.

You nod slightly, tucking a bit of hair behind his ear. “Mhm.”

His heart is beating so erratically that he hardly notices as the reverb stops, and silence falls in the room. His thoughts go with it—his mind going blank as surely as it ever has.

“Eddie?” You ask quietly.

“Mhm?”

Your hand moves back to place under his jaw. “Are you going to—”

“Alright, we’re on in ten!” Gareth announces, the green room door slamming open.

Eddie is off you like a bat out of hell, on his feet and across the room in no time flat. All those nights in the arcade helped his reaction time, at least.

“Got it,” he mutters, throwing Gareth an unsteady wave, pulse pounding in his ears.

“Shit, nice eyes, Munson!” Jeff exclaims, following Gareth in, drink in hand. “Looks wicked.”

“My handiwork,” you say from the couch, now propped up on your side and staring at Eddie—all too smug.

Gareth shoves your legs off the end of the couch and flops down beside you.

“Looks like you woke him up good,” the younger man says in your direction.

Jeff only snorts at that.

“I tried,” you say, tilting your head at Eddie. “What do you think, Eds? Feel better?”

“Yeah,” Eddie says with a nod. “Something like that.”

 If you were the player, he was the fucking fiddle.

- - -

Eddie blinks awake as a car alarm sounds somewhere on the street. His surroundings in the darkness are unfamiliar. Is it Jeff’s cousin’s best friend’s living room floor they’re sleeping on tonight? Or was that the night before? Tour fogs up his memory worse than weed.

He rubs the sleep from his eyes as the uneasiness of dreaming sinks away. He doesn’t dare look for a clock—he doesn’t want to see just how soon he’ll need to be awake. Plus, clocks just generally freaked him out now.

Instead, he just turns onto his other side with the intent to get back to sleep.

But then, there you are, awake and staring wide-eyed back at him in the dark.

“Jesus,” he hisses.

“Not exactly,” you retort.

You’re wrapped up in a blanket a foot or so away, headphones on and Walkman in hand.

Eddie’s too groggy to deal with your wit. “What are you doing up?”

“Couldn’t fall asleep,” you whisper, hugging the blanket tighter. “Fucking freezing in here.”

Crashing places for free while on tour helped them stretch the money for longer once they were back home. Eddie didn’t particularly mind—he could sleep basically anywhere. But he also had the luxury of running hot. You, on the other hand—he’d seen you shiver in 85-degree sunshine. So maybe it made sense that you were just a bit cold trying to sleep on the floor of some drafty, old, mid-western apartment. 

“I feel fine”, he murmurs. Fine, and maybe a little delusional from whatever sick dream he was having. “You can come over here if you want.”

Your squint at his offer. “You mean like… sleep with you?”

“For survival,” he amends. “You’re no good to me dead. And I hear frostbite is a shit way to go.

You consider him for a moment from your burrito. “But what about my herpes?”

Eddie sighs and offers an exaggerated salute. “I’m willing to take this one hit for the sake of the band. Just make sure the others remember my sacrifice.”

The corners of your mouth twitch upwards and soon enough you’re skuttling over to him. He lifts the blankets, allowing you to slot your back against his chest. He flinches at the sheer shock of your frigid body.

“Fucking Christ,” he mutters, snaking the length of his arm over yours, even as the chill of your skin stings his own. “How are you so cold?”

“We can’t all be walking, talking furnaces,” you complain, grasping his hand. “Can barely feel my fingertips.”

Eddie chuckles—an odd, muffled thing with your pressed up next to him. “Good thing you just play bass.”

You deliver a swift kick to his shins with your ankle. “Rude.”

Eddie just squeezes you tighter in return. “Hurry up and go to sleep before I rethink helping you out like this.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you mutter back, finally nuzzling into him with a content hum.

It’s nice. Too nice really. So much so that he can’t even savor it.

The scent of your shampoo, the comfort of you tight against him, the cooling touch of your skin. Together, it’s all too calming. Safe. And even though he’s hundreds of miles away from his shitty little studio in Indianapolis, Eddie feels right at home as he drifts back to sleep.

- - -

The crowds got bigger and rowdier at each venue, and tonight was no exception. It was becoming clear to Eddie that he could no longer strut straight off stage and up to the bar like he used to.

Well, he could—he’d just get overrun by a sea of women. Like he was tonight.

Not exactly the worst problem in the world to have. Hell, Jeff and Gareth didn’t seem to mind one bit. And, sure, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy the attention to an extent—that was just human nature.

But the handsy girls and the hotel room numbers slipped unceremoniously into his vest pockets didn’t exactly bolster his pride—no, pretty much the opposite.

The adoration, the praise, the lust—it just left him feeling…empty. Gross, even. Especially when the only person he wanted attention from was standing less than 20 feet away.  

His crowd was one thing but witnessing the flocks of hopeful metalheads descend around you was what really made his stomach churn. Sure, most of the guys weren’t even batting in the same league as you—Eddie doubted some of them even knew how to swing. But every once in a while, he’d see a god damn all-star step up to bat. And sure, maybe Eddie wasn’t exactly on the bench, but he certainly wasn’t hitting home runs like some of these guys.

And yet here he was again, looking for you in the crowd, terrified he’ll find you laughing and smiling at one of those MVPs.

But when he finds you, you’re already staring back.

Eddie offers the same weak smile and shrug that he usually exchanges with you at moments like this. But your expression—it’s odd. Tired, maybe?  

Things had been off over the past couple weeks. Maybe not enough for Jeff or Gareth to notice—but he certainly did. You were quiet. Less affectionate with him. And though you swore up and down that everything was fine, he knew better than that.

Eddie was concerned he had taken something too far, shown his hand too obviously, and now you were pulling away. Maybe he had been skating on thin ice for too long anyhow.

He tries to head towards you, to weave through the crowd and talk, but another woman is already snaking their arms around his waist and slurring what he assumes are sultry words in his ear. Things go on like that longer than he’d like.

It's not until security beats back the crowd and things die down that he has a chance to find you again. And he really has to find you because of course you’re not just waiting in the green room or at the bar. No, by all accounts Eddie knows you’ve found somewhere quiet to sneak off to—it was almost a superpower of yours. He’d gotten dragged along to more of your little hideouts than he could count, whether it was to smoke a blunt or vent about tour or just to sit in silence together.

And tonight, it’s the third-story fire escape.

Eddie finds you crouched out on the iron steps, the night air carrying in the distinct scent of your menthols from outside.

“Found ya!” He shouts, gripping the open window with an all-encompassing grin plastered on his face, hoping to earn your smile in return.

Instead, you flinch so violently that the cigarette goes flying from your hand and down to the street below. You whip to face him, greeting him only with swollen eyes and shimmering cheeks.  

“Eddie,” you huff, turning away just as quickly to rub at your face. “Shit.”

His stomach drops, and he’s out onto the rickety structure faster than he can comprehend.

“Sorry,” he says, heart already pounding in his ears as he makes his way to your quivering form. “What’s going on?”

You shake your head, dropping it into your hands. “It’s nothing.”

Eddie peels off his jacket and drops it around your shoulders before sliding himself beside you on the steps. “Doesn’t seem like nothing.”

You only shake your head once more, heaving slow, labored breaths broken up by quiet sniffles.

He hates seeing you like this. He wants nothing more than to throw his arms around your waist and shower you with kisses until the tears stop. But he can’t—or he shouldn’t. So, he just sits at your side, rubbing small circles into your newly leather-clad back until you’re ready to speak again.

“It’s stupid,” you spit after what feels like an eternity of silence, pulling your t-shirt up to wipe at tears and smeared eye makeup.

Eddie just scoffs. “You should know by now that stupid is what I do best. Didn’t fail Senior English three times for nothing.”

Something between a laugh and sob escapes your throat, and he can see just the slightest glimmer of a grin tugging at your lips.   

“It’s a different kind of stupid,” you mumble, chancing a look at him.

“Damn, not even my stupid is good enough for you?” Eddie clicks his tongue, exaggerating his own offense. “I knew you had high standards, but come on, babe, cut me a break here.”

You scoff at him.

“Just maybe use small words—for my sake, you know?” Eddie suggests, giving a gentle push into your leg with his own.

You roll your eyes but sit back up beside him. “First of all, you’re not stupid, Eddie.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever, that’s beside the point.”  

You’re quiet again for a moment, eyes downcast.

“Get on with it,” he urges again.

You just sigh, hugging his jacket close.

“Fine. There’s…something that I’ve wanted for a long time. I think about it a lot. Probably way more than I should,” you say, letting out a weak chuckle. “It feels more like a prayer at this point, honestly. And lately I’ve just realized… it’s never going to happen. And tonight, it just hit me. Like really hit me. So now I’m sitting here, mourning this thing that never existed, crying like a baby about it. And that… that’s stupid.”

Eddie nods, thinking on your admission. He considers his next words carefully.

“Okay, you’re right. That actually is stupid.”

You turn to him in a flash, brow furrowed. “Eddie!”

“Sorry, babe, but the truth hurts,” he says, standing and rocketing himself down a crashing of metal steps, before wheeling to face you at eye level. “I mean, come on! You are the most stubborn, uncompromising, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer person I’ve EVER met. And you’re sitting here, trying to tell me you’re really gonna give up on something you want so easily? Sorry, that just doesn’t sound like you. It sounds stupid.”

Your cross your arms with a pout, the leather of his jacket expanding out as if you were some kind of territorial lizard. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“Complicated?” Eddie asks, shaking his head, curls bouncing about. “No, no, no, no—you know what’s complicated? Becoming a fucking rockstar. Gotta be a one in a million shot that we get to be doing all this shit, you know? And we wouldn’t have even gotten close without you and that bossy attitude of yours.”

Eddie was speaking the truth. Before you, Corroded Coffin was a disheveled mess of haphazard rehearsals and shitty bar gigs. They had never toured—let alone produced an album. And now they were performing to packed venues across the country and had people lining up to buy their t-shirts and music. Fucking miraculous.

“So,” he continues. “Sorry, if I have a hard time believing that there’s anything, in this fucking world that you can’t make happen if you want it bad enough. Complications or whatever aside. You giving up just doesn’t make sense.”

“And what if it’s a person, Eddie?” You exclaim, throwing your hands into the air, jacket falling behind you. “What then, huh? I should just walk up and force them to be with me?”

That—well, it stops him in his tracks. He never considered that you might be talking about a person. To tell the truth, he’d been dreading this moment since the day you walked into his life. And now it was readying up to fucking roundhouse kick him in the gut.

“I mean, n-no, of course not,” he mutters, his voice faltering in such a damning way it makes him cringe.

You bite your lip and stand, charging down until you’re only a step above him.

“Tell me this, oh-great-knower-of-all, have you ever been in love with someone so much that it hurts? So in love that you can’t fucking see straight when they’re in the same room?”

Eddie mumbles your name—a useless plea to stop your rant. But he can’t bring himself to look you in the eye, not with the overwhelming depression welling in the pit of his stomach.

“Oh—or what about this Eds?” You continue, cramping yourself down onto the same metal slat as him. “Have you ever had to watch the person you’re in love with—that you won’t ever be with—get bombarded by dozens of beautiful women who want to fuck his brains out every. Single. Night?”

A pang strikes his chest and his eyes snap back down to you. “What?”

But you don’t seem to hear him—only continuing on your tirade, body shaking as tears crash down your cheeks once more. “And—and then you just have to stand there knowing that one day—one of these days, one of those women is just going to be pretty enough and funny enough and cool enough that you’ll fall in love with them and then I—I won’t even exist to you anymore, Eddie. You’ll be gone. And I’ll just be—I’ll just be—”

He said it once, he’d say it again. He was stupid. An idiot, really.

“Shut up.” Eddie says, pulling you up against him so quickly that he can feel the air escape from your lungs. “Listen to me. There’s no one in the world who could come fucking close to you.”

But the moment doesn’t last—you’re already pushing free of his grip, trying to get away.

“Don’t try and make me feel better,” you cry. “I don’t want your pity.”

He can feel the moment turning, slipping through his hands. He has to do something. Anything.

Over the years, he’d put some consideration into how he might tell you about his feelings—if ever even worked up the courage. He figured it would be quiet, intimate—maybe even kinda romantic. Definitely not something that he’d shout on the fire escape of Birmingham, Alabama’s fifth-nicest music hall while drunks argued in the street below.  

Yet, here he was, the words tumbling out of his mouth in a jumbled, all too quick statement.

“I’m in love with you.”

His voice stutters in the air like a flickering light.

“What?” You mutter, brow contorting as you stare up at him with uncertain eyes. “Eddie… if this is some joke—”

“Babe, I’m not joking,” he responds, half-laughing out of exasperation. He reaches out and grasps your arms.  “You know I’m awful at this shit, but I’m being serious. I’ve been in love with you basically since—Christ, this is embarrassing—since that day you came to visit my trailer in Hawkins.”

You think on it for a moment. “You mean when I helped you pack?”

He nods. “Not that I had much to bring to Indy. But you hung out all day with me. Even after dropping—”

“Your whole dice collection on the floor,” you finish for him, a ruddiness creeping onto your cheeks, as you cover your eyes. “Don’t remind me, I’m still fucking embarrassed about that.”

He only smiles fondly. “We stayed up all night talking. And you even passed out in my bed.”

“Yeah, cuz I was already crushing on you, idiot,” you grumble. “I haven’t exactly been subtle, Eddie.”

“Like I said before—I’m stupid,” he mutters, pulling you in closer.

You shake your head, arms looping around his neck. “Why didn’t you say anything before, Eddie?”

“I guess I just didn’t think… that you could love someone like me.” Eddie says, years of adoration spilling into one shit-eating grin.

Your eyes nearly roll into the back of your head at that. “How dare you quote my own lyrics at me.”

He shrugs, one of his ring-adorned hands slipping over the edge of your jaw. “Don’t know if I can ever let them go now that I know they were meant for me. I mean, it really makes me wonder how many of our other lyrics were inspired by my immeasurable charm and—”

“Eddie Munson,” you say, face now just inches from his own. “If you don’t shut up and kiss me right now, I’m going to kill you.”

He doesn’t need to be warned twice.

Eddie presses his lips to your own and it’s like a delicious, all-consuming fire. He twists a hand into your hair, the other finding it’s way to the small of your back, pulling you flush against him. He needs the fire to spread, to irrevocably tie you together in a saccharine blaze that he can savor forever.

You kiss him back with a starving hunger, eating away at each supple bit of flesh he offers you, eager to have what you’ve been craving for years. You open your mouth to him, and the mixed taste of mint and whiskey are enough to take him over the edge. Your hands thread greedily through his hair, pulling and catching him off guard when he least expects it.

You’re feisty—but then again, so is he.

Even when you break apart to catch your breath, Eddie keeps you tight against him, desperate to cling to this moment for as long as he can. You stare at one another with swollen lips and glassy eyes, your breath tickling his neck.

“I love you too, Eddie,” you mutter.

Hearing your voice say those words is better than the euphoria of any drug. He pulls you up into his arms and dives back in, knowing without a doubt that you are his, and he is yours.

[alovelylight]

all the tiny details about shauna’s and jackie’s lives that are peppered throughout the show give us so much information about their relationship and it makes me crazy

shauna’s dad leaving makes her resentful of jackie’s seemingly perfect nuclear family, including a doting dad whom she doesn’t realize put a lot of pressure for jackie to succeed. or she couldn’t bring herself to sympathize bc at least jackie has a dad who cares about her achievements and grades. jackie’s mom being distant makes her feel as though shauna is her only home and her main source of support; even if her family keeps shelving more expectations on her, shauna is supposed to be her one constant

shauna has definitely faced countless small moments of embarrassment from living in jackie’s shadow that accumulated to an inevitable, simmering betrayal. whenever boys she liked ask about jackie, whenever she was pushed to play soccer when she would rather be reading, whenever she was encouraged to wear makeup like jackie as they were getting into their early teens, etc. all the little things that make her think that fucking jeff is the ultimate equivalent to years of being viewed as lesser

you just know that shauna grappled with both fondness and resentment when jackie was made captain (after all, shauna had better footwork). a strong part of her felt like jackie didn’t deserve it, but a bigger part knew that jackie was of course fated to be a star, so everything turned out the way it was supposed to. shauna told herself that she would flail in the spotlight anyway, and plastered a loving grin as she hugged jackie. it wasn’t a total lie; she couldn’t help but love jackie, it was written in her blood

shauna takes on the burden of jackie’s highs and lows. even when jackie does outshine her shauna still feels so excited to be near her light, still feels special and relieved that jackie sees through the crowds and always always always chooses her. jackie cares about popularity and conventional markers of status but she really only cares about what shauna thinks, and she’s never had to deal with the stakes of that need until she finds out about the cheating and her growing bond with tai

also the jealousy over tai is more brutal than any jealousy over jeff. jackie immediately notices when shauna seems to be getting closer to tai, but never once did she suspect that shauna might be interested in jeff or any boy like him (she said “you don’t even like him” instead of “he doesn’t even like you”). shauna seethes at the fact that jackie doesn’t view shuana as a rival for boys but it’s not because jackie doesn’t think shauna is desirable, rather that (without admitting it to herself b/c she’s a hundred layers of repressed) their friendship is the closest thing jackie can conceive of as true intimacy for shauna. what more could she need? besides from maybe randy walsh, who is most certainly not competition and whose role in shauna’s life is within jackie’s control 

[supernaturalgirl20]

Taking a Chance

Part 6

Pairings: Marcus Pike x F!reader

Warnings: Smut 18+, explicit, unprotected sex, angst, dark, hospitalisation, violence, mention of miscarriage.

Summary: After an amazing night with Marcus you discover you’re pregnant. What happens when you go to tell him and another women opens his door?!

Comments and reblogs are really appreciated 💕

When you agreed to move in with Marcus you had assumed it would be to his house and it was for all of two weeks. He came home early from work one Thursday and told you to put a blindfold on, that he had a surprise for you. When he finally removed it from your eyes you were greeted with the sight of a beautiful white house, a bright red door and porch with a swing.

“Marcus what’s….is this?”

“I bought us this house, it’s ours. I just thought my place was too small and this is a fresh start for both of us. There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms plus an en-suite, a garage round back and a huge garden. It’s perfect for our growing family.”

You smiled up at him with a quirk of your eyebrow, “planning on having more children are we Mar. Pike?”

“Well in the future, if your agreeable to it, yeah. I’ve always wanted a big family.”

You reach up and pull him into a heated kiss, his arms circling around you, holding you close.

“Do you like it? I haven’t gone too fast have I?”

“It’s perfect. You’re perfect and I love you.”

“I love you too, so much. Now allow me to carry you over the threshold.”

“Marcus! I’m too heavy and you only do that with your new bride.”

“We’ll screw tradition I’m doing it with the mother of my unborn child and your not heavy.”

He lifts you up bridal style and holds you close.

“Actually I take that back…your heavy.” He’s only teasing and you slap him on the chest as you both laugh.

You offered to host Christmas for Marcus and his family seeing as you were in your new home it would be a double celebration. You were struggling to move around the way you had before, now 7 months along your bump was getting much bigger and your back was sore nearly all the time. Marcus had encouraged you to take your maternity early which you didn’t really want to do but you agreed, which meant after the Christmas break you would only be in the bureau for another three weeks. Enough time to hand over to your replacement.

You were checking in the turkey when Marcus appeared behind you.

“Please let me help! I feel useless.”

“Hmm you can mash the potatoes.”

“Ok I can do that.”

You both work like a well oiled machine when the doorbell sounds. You start rushing around the kitchen frantically until he holds you by the waist.

“Baby, you need to calm down, this isn’t good for you or the baby. You’ve already met mom and dad all that’s left is Nan, Abigail and her husband Jeff. They’re going to love you.”

“Ok lets go greet them.”

The dinner had gone better than you could have hoped for and his Nan and sister were just as friendly as his parents. They had stayed late into the evening opening presents and playing their usual family games like charades, which brought out Marcus’s competitive side. When they finally decided to leave Marcus’s Nan pulled him aside and the had a private conversation, you loved how close he was with her.

“Y/N you have to let me organise a baby shower. Ooohh we could have a gender reveal party too.”

“Mom calm down, Y/N might not want any of that.”

Marcus and his Nan appear in the hall and he wraps an arm around your waist. “If it’s ok with you mom we want to keep the gender a secret between us.”

He looks down at you and you smile up at him grateful for his intervention. “I would love if you organised the baby shower though, if you don’t mind of course.”

“Mind! Of course I don’t mind I would be delighted. Oh I can’t wait.”

“Thanks for dinner again it was amazing.”

“It was no problem at all. It was lovely to finally meet you all.”

You began cleaning up the living room before you relaxed for the night but Marcus had other plans.

He pulls you into him and you can feel him hard against you ass. “I need you baby.”

“Just let me finish cleaning up and..”

“That can wait, you looked too sexy today and I need you.”

You giggle at his eagerness and put him out of his misery, turning around in his arms and running your hand over his growing bulge. “You better take me to bed then Agent Pike.”

He doesn’t have to be told twice as he lifts you gently and carries you to your bedroom. You strip out of your clothes and lay back in the bed, watching as he crawls up towards you, his hard cock standing proudly. He spreads your legs and goes to bury his face in your curls but you stop him.

“Marcus please not tonight, I just need you inside. I promise I’m already wet enough.”

“I’ll be the judge…fuck your soaked baby. This all for me?”

“Yes! Now please fuck me.”

He moves up your body, his lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss before he grips you around the waist and flips you over so you’re straddling him. This position has become your go to now since your bump is too big. You grab a hold of his cock and pump him twice before lining him up at your entrance and slowly sinking down onto him. He moans in desire.

“Fuck….baby, god I love you.”

You start moving up and down his length, his hands on your hips helping you grind down onto him. You move your hands behind you, resting them on his thighs, the position allowing him to see his cock slide in and out of your wet heat. Pleasure shoots through him and he pushes his head back into the bed, hands pinching your thighs.

“Ngh…baby….so good.”

He reaches up to pull you down to him, his tongue running over your nipple before punching it between his teeth.

“Marcus! I’m gonna..”

“Come for me baby, come all over my cock.”

You feel boneless as your orgasm crashes over you, your cunt clenching Marcus, pulling him in like a vice grip. He thrust up into you groaning loudly as he comes. You move off of him and lay beside him, both panting and sweaty.

“Wow baby.”

“I know…that was….ugh so good.”

His hand squeezes your breast, “these have definitely gotten bigger, can’t wait until there full of milk for my baby.” You blush as you feel him harden again. His hips rutting against you.

“Marcus baby, I’m so tired.”

“Rest baby, hell calm down in a minute.”

You’d been back to work a week after the break and Marcus had to go undercover for a few days, which was hard but not being able to have any contact with him was worse. With the baby pressing down on your bladder you had to take extra toilet breaks, which is where you found yourself now. You agreed to go to lunch with Maria but needed the toilet first. Washing your hands you touch up your make up and that when you notice her.

“Theresa I didn’t see you there, you scared me.” You let out a nervous laugh, something had changed between you both after that night out.

“Sorry didn’t mean to. You’ve gotten big, Marcus must be thrilled, I know he’s always wanted a baby.”

“Yeah he is, can’t keep his hands off me, which I suppose is a good thing since I’m huge.”

“I here he’s away on assignment.”

“Yeah only for a few days so it’s not so bad. I uh…I better get going I’m going to lunch with Maria. It was nice catching up.”

She doesn’t say anything just watches you leave and an uneasy feeling sets into your bones. You push the button for the lift but it’s taking ages and you turn around and she watching you. You need to get away from her so you take the stairs, thinking the exercise will do you good. You get down one flight when you hear voice.

“He doesn’t love you, you know. It’s pity he feels for you, well that’s what he told me anyway.”

“Look Theresa I know your hurt, that you thought you could get him back but we’re together now, you need to move on.”

“I don’t think so. I was wrong to chose Jane over him but I won’t make that mistake again. There’s just one obstacle in my way.”

“What are talking about? Marcus is with me Theresa we’re having a baby together, bought a house together and he does love me.”

“God you are gullible aren’t you. No matter you won’t need to worry about it now.”

Your anxiety is growing and you know you need to get out of here so you turn and start down the stairs. Your so focused on getting away from her that you fail to hear her practically running down after you until it’s too late. With a scream you lose your footing and fall down a flight of stairs, hitting your head along the way. Theresa cries out for help as you lay at the bottom, unconscious and blood flowing from you head.

Part 7

Permanent tag list: @lunaserenade @anaaaispunk @maievdenoir @elinedjarin @seasonschange-butpeopledont @alberta-sunrise @dihra-vesa @pintsizemama @athalien @loserrlauraa @thorins-queen-of-erebor @pascal-rascal424 @ikinmahlen @pascalisthepunkest @dindjarinneedsahug @almaeunice @jediknight122 @prostitute-robot-from-the-future @colorlesswhispersunknown @stevie75 @rosie-posie08 @hauntedmama @greeneyedblondie44 @prettylilhalforc @giselatropicana @the-mandalorian-066 @spanishmossmagnolia @phoenixhalliwell @sherala007 @its--fandom--darling @donnaa @javierpinme @luxmundee @littlemisspascal @hayley-the-comet @ezras-channel-rat

Taking a chance: @m-1234 @fandomdaydreamer @pcrushinnerd

[kemetic-dreams]

HBCU FUNDING FALLS FROM $45 BILLION TO $2 BILLION IN BIDEN SPENDING PLAN DUE TO DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING

HBCUs that were looking to get their share of $45 in funding as part of President Joe Biden‘s spending plan, may see less than $5 billion due to Democratic infighting.

Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending bill was set to include $45 billion in spending for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs). However the newest version of the bill allocated just $2 billion for educational programs and HBCUs. Even worse, the funding could be changed into competitive grant funding instead of direct funding to the schools.

The aid, currently penciled in at $1.45 billion to be distributed between 2022 and 2026, is much less than HBCUs anticipated, putting Biden at odds with the group that propelled him to the White House.

HBCUs have been underfunded for decades through institutional racism and the federal government’s extreme unwillingness to help them. Last summer HBCUs schools received millions in donations from Mackenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Additionally, a bevy of companies, including in the tech, banking and retail industries  also donated money for HBCU programs and initiatives.

Several HBCUs have also sued the states they reside in.

Coppin State University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, sued the state of Maryland in a federal lawsuit alleging discrimination and underfunding of HBCUs in 2006. After pushing back for more than a decade, the state agreed to a $577 million settlement this spring.

Roderick L. Smothers, president of Philander Smith College in Arkansas told Newsweek the federal funds the school received during the coronavirus pandemic was paramount in helping the school survive the pandemic as well as implement technology upgrades and student support.

“We used the funds that we received to serve the students that we have, and now we’re asking for additional funds to make sure that when we are on the other side of this global pandemic our institutions will be bigger and better and more resilient,” Smothers said.

Smothers added the school would have used the federal funds to expand programs for its students and to launch a public health school that would train students to tackle health disparities affecting racial minorities.