#Proactive measures

[allservicesinone]

Tired of Dust Taking Over Your Home? Let's Fight Back Together!

[advancedrecoveryrehab]

Therapy services in Miami, Florida emphasize this critical aspect of care. At Advanced Recovery Rehab, we understand the significant impact falls can have on seniors’ well-being. That’s why we’re committed to providing comprehensive rehabilitative care that includes proactive measures to prevent falls and maintain seniors’ independence.

[techminsolutions]

Navigating Income Tax Compliance: Unraveling Section 276CC and Safeguarding Your Financial Future

Taxpayers, brace yourselves! The landscape of income tax compliance is undergoing a seismic shift, and it’s time to shed the “letting things be” approach. The Income Tax Authorities have unleashed their arsenal, specifically through Section 276CC, to crack down on non-filers and suspected tax evaders. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Section 276CC, explore recent…

[signode-blog]

Signs of Recession

In the complex world of economics, recessions are inevitable yet challenging events that can have far-reaching consequences on individuals, businesses, and entire nations. Recognizing the signs of an impending recession is crucial for making informed decisions and mitigating potential risks. In this blog post, we will delve into the key indicators and signals that economists and policymakers…

[constructionsafetynetwork]

Navigating Legal Challenges in Construction Safety Compliance

Navigating legal challenges in construction safety compliance involves a multifaceted approach. Understanding the legal landscape is just the beginning. It’s essential for construction firms to actively engage with current regulations, which often vary by location and the specific nature of a project. A proactive stance is crucial, not only to comply with the myriad of safety laws but also to…

[techmomma]

There is a degree to which we are responsible for our emotions. And certainly, we are responsible for our reactions and behavior.

In situations that we have control, situations where a friend is hurting us, like yes, maybe they shouldn't be hurting you. But there are also actions you have to take on your part.

Think of it like an ocean wave. If you go to the beach and a wave surprises you and gets you wet, and you're upset by this, that is perfectly reasonable.

If you keep standing there, letting yourself get wet and get more upset, when you can move away, then that's on you. I mean, it's your choice to do so. If you don't like getting wet and you just stand there getting wet when you can take a few steps back, you can do so. But it's also unnecessary stress, and you give up your own agency. Saying "I can't control this" when there are very much parts you can control denies your own responsibility in this situation. You can't control the waves from crashing, but you can step away from them.

If you know that a friend is going to keep disappointing you, there are two different actions we can take here: a proactive, and a reactive action.

A reactive action looks like knowing they're going to disappoint you or upset you, they do so, and you react to this. Nothing changes, and it keeps happening, and you continue to be upset. Your anxieties remain unaddressed and continue to hurt you.

A proactive action looks like knowing they're going to disappoint you or upset you and taking the steps to mitigate stress in anticipation of this. And THAT can look like setting down a boundary, removing yourself from the situation (no longer participating in the thing that your friend disappoints you about or no longer asking them to do X when they won't), or accepting that they will disappoint you--meaning you are at peace with the idea of them disappointing you, not "I am going to continue letting them disappoint me but it's going to upset me every time."

It means addressing the source of your stress and what upsets you before it actually does. And like. That's hard! It fucking sucks!

Especially for those of us who've grown up in situations where we didn't have any choice but to be reactive, because oh I don't know, we were children and didn't have any other options. And now we've grown up into adults who feel like there's no other option but to sit there and take it. Like there's no other choice but to be stressed and upset.

Part of healing from this kind of abuse, managing our stress in proactive, responsible ways means we no longer settle anymore, for being hurt. "Just taking it" when people hurt us and won't change. And as adults, that is kind of our responsibility and no one else can really do that for you. That's kind of part of being emotionally mature, is understanding yourself, and being responsible with your own emotions.

We sometimes can't change what other people will do. But we can change what we do, in response. And we can take care of our stressors before they stress us out.

[primepaginequotidiani]

PRIMA PAGINA The Jerusalem Post di Oggi martedì, 10 settembre 2024

[goodoldbandit]

The Legacy of Colonel T.E. Lawrence: Why Helmet Use Became Essential

Discover the story behind the authorization of helmet use after Colonel T.E. Lawrence’s tragic motorcycle accident. Explore the tradeoffs, challenges, and impact of this pivotal decision in road safety history. #HelmetSafety #RoadSafety #ColonelLawrenceLegacy In 1935, tragedy struck the world with the untimely death of Colonel T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. His demise wasn’t…

[techminsolutions]

Consequences of Credit Card Default: Navigating the Pitfalls of Missed Payments

Introduction In the fast-paced world of evolving payment gateways in India, the credit card has maintained its popularity despite the emergence of various alternatives. This article explores the repercussions of frequently missing credit card payments, shedding light on the nuances of credit card default. Understanding Credit Card Default What constitutes a credit card default? When delving into…

[actually-factually-anonymous]

I've spoken before about how Marinette has no actual reason to be Ladybug, at least compared to Peter Parker or other heroes have intrinsic motivations to be superheroes: or even pre-canon versions of Marinette who had personal connections to their versions of the main conflict.

She doesn't enjoy being a superhero, and until Miracle Queen she doesn't have a personal drive to be Ladybug beyond a vague sense of responsibility. After that you could assume her drive comes from s personal tragedy ala Peter and Uncle Ben thanks to her disastrous slip-up that cost Fu his memories...

But even then: that just means that she has an ostensible responsibility to be The Guardian of the Box that Fu was responsible for. Her being the Ladybug holder is never a requirement, and in S5 she even gives up the earrings over...

(Checks notes)

Being unlucky in romance.

Seriously, at least when Adrien gave up the ring/came close to it: he was either distraught due to having murdered someone, or it was on the tail of multiple episodes proving him to be superfluous.

(And yes, she gave up the earrings of her own volition. Unlike Adrien: Marinette is her Kwami's boss, and remained so for the entire season. At any point she could have told Tikki to cut it out or summarily fired Alya to reclaim the Ladybug position if she actually felt some inherent duty to wear them.)

If Marinette has some great drive to be a hero that eclipses Adrien's, I would very much like to see it. Because as far as I can see, her only motivation to be Ladybug is that vague sense of "for the greater good"- and Kwamis' Choice demonstrates that it's far from unlimited.

And to be fair: if she was anyone besides the protagonist this would be fine. If Marinette were a side character, her being an overwhelmed teenager who just wants to go back to her ordinary life and ordinary problems, and whose lack of interest in being a superhero lead her to give up her powers and responsibilities... well:

She'd be a simple and effective deconstruction of the "teen superhero".

She already does the bare minimum as Guardian and Team Leader to actually defeat The Butterfly Villain: all of her practical efforts go to managing Gabemoth's threat instead of trying to find him. She treats the whole thing as something akin to a daily chore to handle an irresolvable problem- but she had an entire box of magical tools that she could have trying to use to try and solve Shadmoth's identity that she just never used. She was the only human (after Fu passes) to know that the Grimoire, Butterfly and Peacock were lost together, but after Mayura appears she never even reconsiders reopening the case against Gabriel Agreste.

She had plenty of tools and resources to try and end Gabemoth's reign as Nooroo's slaver and Paris' tormentor. But she sticks purely to threat management so she can go back to being Marinette as often as possible. And with Lilamoth seemingly set up for a decade-long career (if Timetagger is any indication): I don't think that's going to change any time soon.

This is someone who is so lacking in drive to be a hero that by any objective measurement: she shouldn't be one.

Despite whatever Wunderkind she may be with the Miraculous: being Ladybug stresses her and seems to aggravate some apparent pre-existing anxiety to the point of leading her to multiple near-breakdowns. Marinette herself has no personal interest in being a hero, seemingly only does so out of a sense of obligation, and is so lacking in proactivity, so purely reactive that it's entirely plausible that the conflict with Gabemoth would have only ended when the man died of old age.

Going back to that side character analogy: a character like Marinette would work best if she were a predecessor to the main character- if she was some previous Ladybug who gave up. If she was the main feature of an episode or two to show how "power in the wrong hands" can be harmful to everyone involved even if the person isn't villainous and has "good intentions". If she was used as a contrast to some current Ladybug with more drive to highlight this Ladybug's heroic character virtues and why they should have the earrings as opposed to someone else.

Because Marinette, fundamentally, isn't a bad person. She's not even a bad hero- at least in terms of winrate.

But she's not a good one. Marinette, to be succinct, is what happens when a young, talented person gets nothing but praise, easy access to power without accountability, and is never pushed to grow and improve on her flaws in any substantial way.

And that makes sense: because to all evidence she doesn't want to be a hero. She wants to be "an ordinary girl with an ordinary life" (give or take a glamorous fashion career, an ultra-wealthy model boyfriend, a home in one of the most expensive neighborhoods of Europe, etc, etc).

And say what you wish about Adrien, Alya, or even most of the rest of the Miraculous team: for the most part they actually seem to want to be heroes.

I've seen people said Adrien doesn't have motivation to be a hero but Marinette does, which is weird because I feel like it's Marinette who doesn't have a motivation to be hero beyond "people listen to Ladybug". Her lack of motivation is what confused me because as a protagonist, she's inevitably become a role model for the young audience and I find nothing about her is likeable, even more so after she become a guardian. It's as if being a guardian inflate her ego and she forgot that everyone else is a human with feelings, not just a pawn or a doll for her to play and ordered around.

Recently I found out a website that contain the concept plot and it confused me more because I feel like concept Marinette is a more grounded character than she is in the show.

Marinette's goal isn't just to be Adrien/Felix's girlfriend but she also need to collect the kwamis that she accidentally releases and she become a guardian not because of luck or favoritism like how it is in the show, it's because her grandfather is the guardian. Adrien/Felix doesn't even become Chat Noir because he's chosen by the guardian, it's Plagg who chose him. It's actually much better than the whole "I choose you but also I'm not going to do anything with you" that Fu pulls in the show.

i don't understand why the higher up/the sponsor reject this plot because I think this much better than whatever we have now. If they have a problem with Chat Noir being an anti-hero, then why do they accept Marinette being written like one while also hailing her as a hero?

---

“Adrien isn't motivated to be a hero” he actually likes being a hero, unlike our role model protagonist, who’d rather do anything than be Ladybug even when she's being lauded for her heroic deeds. Is this based on Adrien trying to quit when Fu or Marinette is making his job needlessly more difficult to do? Because, like, that's the only thing that he seems to dislike about being a hero, which, like, makes Marinette an even worse hero. She’s so bad at her job, she makes otherwise eager heroes lose their motivation.

I’m gonna be very honest here; Marinette becoming Ladybug because she accidentally released a bunch of magical creatures and Adrien/Félix being more of an anti-hero rival than a full-on ally would have been copied straight from Cardcaptor Sakura’s starting setup. Like, I’m not surprised that even the rejected ideas for Miraculous are copied from other properties, but it just proves that regardless of any other variables, Astruc’s creation was always going to be highly derivative. Regardless, I do feel that Fu being her grandfather instead of a stranger would have gone a long way in justifying Marinette’s special treatment both in-universe and to the audience, but that’s probably why it was rejected.

Like, we can mock the fact that Marinette isn’t actually within spitting distance of being a “normal girl with a normal life” all we like, but that doesn’t change the fact that, from a purely on-paper angle, she is pretty average. She’s a middle-schooler with pretty average hobbies who deals with normal teen problems like bullies and a crush on a boy she doesn’t know how to deal with. There’s a reason it’s the opening line for the show’s opening. It's marketable. A special chosen one from the start wouldn’t have been as marketable in the same way. Especially when we take into account how hypersensitive Astruc is to Marinette being less liked than he’d want. He’d do whatever he can think of to make sure Marinette isn’t immediately judged a “Mary Sue”.

The thing with executives is that they don't watch the shows they fund. They read the pitch, synopses, and maybe the scripts if they can find the time. And even then, they might not want to put in the money to get a script revised even if they paid enough attention to tell it was dogshit. They wouldn't be interested as long as the different Miraculous bedsheets and shampoos keep selling and as long as the show isn’t too gay to sell to other countries. Like, the show bible that Gloob leaked? The one full of inaccuracies because it was outdated? That was what the executives were most likely given when the retool went into development. In addition, corporate oversight on the show has actually decreased the longer it’s gone on, because the show’s proven itself to be a success. I’m pretty sure the higher-ups were not asked: “hey, is it okay if we make Marinette an entitled jerk who gets validated at every turn while she starts treating people worse and worse?” I’m pretty sure no one okayed Marinette’s “villain arc”, it was just allowed to pass because it didn’t make the show less marketable.

That’s the thing with any property that becomes “too big to fail”. Less oversight means less quality control. It’s like one anonymous Gamefreak employee said about making Pokémon games: “It’ll sell anyway, so it doesn’t matter if it’s bad.”

[moonstruckme]

hi, loveyy. if you'd like, would you write for reader x dr!remus where she's really sick and tries to hide it from him so he doesn't worry?

Thanks for requesting!

doctor!Remus x fem!reader ♡ 1k words

Remus keeps your apartment torturously cold. Normally you don’t mind it, but today you’re achy enough without the chill. The first thing you do when you get home is crank up the thermostat, then take a steamy shower and start warming the kettle. Proactive measures. 

You’re taking better care of yourself than you possibly ever have, all to the end of eluding your boyfriend. 

When Remus comes home, you’re sitting on the couch in your cozies waiting for your thoroughly honeyed tea to cool. You’re quick to remove the warm cloth from your sinuses before he can see. You make sure your throat is clear before you speak. 

“Hi, how was work?” 

“Swamped.” Remus bends over the back of the couch to kiss your hair. “Everyone has the flu, strep, or both. Every year, no one gets their flu jabs, and every year they’re shocked when they catch it.” He comes to sit by you, smiling tiredly. “I’d want to throttle all of them if they weren’t already so miserable.” 

It’s an effort to keep your shame from showing as you return his smile. Remus starts to lean toward you, but you back away, keeping your mouth a safe distance from his. 

At his questioning look, you say feebly, “You smell like your office.” 

He lets out a breath of laughter but moves away. “Alright. I’ll change.” 

You send him a guilty look as he goes that he doesn’t know the half of, but Remus only smiles indulgently back at you. 

From down the hall, you hear, “Dovey, did you change the thermostat?” 

Shit, you forgot to switch it back. 

“Yeah, sorry. I was chilly when I got home.” 

“It’s fine. Do you…want me to leave it like this? It’s set fairly high.” 

“Um…” Honestly, yes. “That’s okay. I’m good now, you can set it back.” 

“Alright.” 

You hear the ticks of the thermostat being turned down, and you grab a throw from across the back of the couch, wrapping it tightly around your shoulders. 

“Do you want some tea?” you ask him after a minute. “I’ve just made myself a cup.” 

“That’s okay, sweetheart, stay where you are.” Remus emerges from the bedroom in his own house clothes, looking painfully snuggly. He heads for the kitchen. “You left the honey out. Do you still need it?” 

You wince. “No, I’m alright.” 

When Remus rejoins you in the sitting room, you pretend to be busy with your book. He sits back in his spot, and you cozy up to him before he can try to kiss you again, your head on his shoulder. 

“Are you still cold?” he asks, adjusting the throw over you. 

You hum a lie. 

Remus seems satisfied with that. He tucks you under an arm and picks up his own book. 

You’re a few pages in when your nose starts to tickle. You try to breathe through it, hoping it will go away, but it’s no use. You’re hardly able to pinch your nose shut before a sneeze pitches out of you, violent and head-throbbing. 

“Bless you.” Remus rubs your back. “You okay?” 

You sniffle. “Yeah. Sorry.” 

“No reason to be sorry, lovely girl,” he chides gently. You feel his lips touch down on your head. 

You soak up the comfort like warmth on a wintry day. Miraculously, Remus doesn’t question you any further, and eventually you lay your head back on his shoulder. You flip pages without truly reading them, your mind fuzzy and your body exhausted, until your eyes grow heavy and you forget to flip them at all. At some point, Remus’ head tilts so it’s resting atop yours. When he starts massaging the back of your neck, it feels so nice you don’t even really register it. 

“Dove,” he murmurs. 

You hum in pleased, half-asleep acknowledgement. 

“You need to stay home from work tomorrow, sweet girl.” 

You blink your eyes open slowly. Pick your head up off Remus’ shoulder, and look at him in confusion. “What?”

He looks back at you patiently. “Your fever’s gotten worse, and you’re contagious. It’s not good for you or anyone if you go in.” 

“But…” Your brow furrows. You feel like you’ve missed a chapter. “How did you know?” 

Remus gives you an amused look. “I see sick people all day long. You thought I wouldn’t notice?” You frown. He chuckles and cups your face in his hand, thumbing over your cheek consolingly. “You were clearing your throat all evening yesterday. But it didn’t seem bad yet, and you didn’t seem to want to tell me, so…” He shrugs. “But now it’s time to let me take care of you, okay?” 

You rub your lips together. You think you’re waiting for him to be angry with you, but your boyfriend seems only sympathetic. And a bit smug. 

“I’m sorry,” you mumble. “I didn’t wanna be another thing for you to deal with.” 

“Oh, hush.” Remus tsks, shifting so he can wrap his arms around you. “I like dealing with you, have I not been clear about that?” 

“You don’t want to throttle me because I’m another idiot who didn’t get the flu jab?” 

You feel the reverberations of his quiet chuckle in his chest. “First of all, I said I would want to throttle them. I’m a doctor, I can’t just be contemplating throttling my patients. And no, sweetheart.” He slips his hand from your shoulder down the length of your back, rubbing through your blanket. “I don’t think that about you. I wish you’d gotten it, but there’s nothing to be done now. You’re sick, and I only want to look after you.” 

The onslaught of tenderness melts you. You let your face slip down to his shoulder, nose pushing into his neck. “My head hurts,” you mumble. 

“Awe, dovey.” Remus brings his other hand to your nape, massaging the achy muscles there again. “Have you had paracetamol since you’ve been home?” 

You shake your head mutely. 

“I’ll get you some in a minute, then. And we can have soup for dinner, yeah?” 

“Yeah, thanks.” You feel frighteningly teary. “Will you stay here for a while with me first, though? Please?”

Remus’ lips press softly to your forehead. “Sure, of course.” 

[constructionsafetynetwork]

Exemplary Safety Standards in Construction

In today’s fast-paced construction world, the emphasis on exemplary safety standards in construction is more crucial than ever. This article will explore why maintaining these standards is vital for the industry, delving into the benefits and methods of implementing such measures effectively. Understanding the Importance Why Focus on Exemplary Safety Standards in Construction? In the realm of…

[reasonsforhope]

LGBTQ+ organizations and allies are celebrating Michigan for becoming the first state in three years to pass comprehensive anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. The legislation, which now heads to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) to be signed into law, finally passed after decades of court battles and hold-ups from Republican legislators.

The bill passed in a 64-45 vote in the Democrat-led House on Wednesday. It amends the state’s 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to include LGBTQ+ people among its protected groups. The law forbids discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation within businesses, government buildings, and educational facilities on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, marital status — and now, LGBTQ+ identity.

Democrats had tried introducing various LGBTQ+ non-discrimination measures over the last 40 years, according to the bill’s gay sponsor Sen. Jeremy Moss (D). However, the attempts were repeatedly voted down by Republican-led legislatures. Last January, Democrats took control of the full legislature for the first time in nearly 40 years, finally giving them the chance to pass the protections.

In July 2022, Michigan’s Supreme Court issued a landmark 5–2 ruling that ELCRA already forbade discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as forms of discrimination based on sex and gender. This followed a 2020 Michigan Court of Claims ruling that said ELCRA didn’t ban anti-gay discrimination as well as a 2018 vote by Michigan’s Civil Rights Commission interpreting ELCRA as protecting LGBTQ+ people from religious-based discrimination...

When the House voted to pass the historic bill on Wednesday, a crowd in the House gallery broke into applause, Bridge Michigan reported. Republican House members had tried adding amendments that would’ve carved out exceptions for religious people to continue discriminating against LGBTQ+ people. None of these amendments passed into the final bill.

Gov. [Whitmer] has signaled that she will soon sign the bill into law. In a Wednesday tweet, she noted the observation of International Women’s Day and wrote, “I’m celebrating trans women who have continuously led the way, despite constant threats to their lives and liberty. I’m proud that we’re finally in a position to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect LGBTQ+ Michiganders. Let’s get it done!”

-via LGBTQ Nation, 3/9/23

Note: If it's not clear from the language, this is basically a done deal--the bill signing IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO HAPPEN.

As scary as things are right now, there are so many of us fighting to protect ourselves, our communities, and the queer and trans people around us.

This comes only a day after Minnesota's governor signed a landmark executive order that guarantees the right to gender-affirming care and prevents the state from complying with any other states' attempts to interfere. via them.us, 3/9/23

There is hope, and there are so many people fighting for us.

[bigcollections]

HEADGASKETİNFO - PLATİN

Head Gasket: Understanding, Diagnosing, and Repair Costs When it comes to your vehicle's engine, the head gasket plays a critical role in maintaining its health and performance. HeadGasketInfo.com is your go-to source for comprehensive information about head gaskets, addressing issues like a blown head gasket, and understanding the associated repair costs. Exploring the Head Gasket: At HeadGasketInfo.com, we delve into the intricacies of the head gasket. From its function within the engine to signs of wear and tear, our site provides an in-depth exploration. Whether you're a car enthusiast or a novice, our content is designed to be informative and accessible. Blown Head Gasket: Causes and Symptoms: A blown head gasket can be a daunting issue for any vehicle owner. Our website breaks down the causes and symptoms of a blown head gasket, helping you identify potential problems early on. By understanding the signs, you can take proactive measures to address issues before they escalate. Head Gasket Repair Cost Guide: Curious about the potential costs associated with head gasket repair cost? HeadGasketInfo.com provides a comprehensive guide to head gasket repair costs. We cover factors that influence pricing, average repair costs, and tips for minimizing expenses. This information empowers you to make informed decisions about your vehicle's maintenance. Why Choose HeadGasketInfo.com? Expert Insights: Our content is crafted by automotive experts, ensuring reliable and accurate information. User-Friendly Interface: Easily navigate through our user-friendly website to find the information you need. Comprehensive Coverage: From basic concepts to advanced topics, we cover a wide range of head gasket-related subjects. Regular Updates: Stay informed with the latest trends, repair techniques, and industry insights through our regularly updated content. Visit Headgasketinfo.com for a wealth of knowledge on head gaskets, blown head gasket issues, and repair costs. Whether you're dealing with a specific problem or just want to enhance your automotive knowledge, we've got you covered!

[madelynraemunson]

NEED…MORE…EX-HUSBAND!EDDIE…I AM FERAL AND FOAMING AT THE MOUTH PLEASE BLESS US MORE I’M BEGGING

IT’S ANGST O’CLOCK!!!

𝐢 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 (𝐬𝐨 𝐢 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠)

ex husband! eddie x fem!reader

“all that still matters is ‘love ever after’ — after the life we’ve been through” — life after you // daughtry

WC: ~950 words

3AM. The witching hour.

The air smells of twilight musk and marinating dew. It's pitch black all around you, the nearest gas station being an agonizing 1.3 miles away. You're also 10 miles from Hawkins, pulled over in nothing but platform heels, a black mini dress, and expired pepper spray in your purse. To make matters worse, the only friends up who seem to be up at this hour are hungry bears and obnoxious, chirping crickets. And skinwalkers if you're where you think you are.

A horrible ending to a girls night out. Just what you needed.

Alone and afraid, you decide to call the number one person on speed dial, whose gradual distaste towards you renders itself very evident from the moment he answers the phone.

"What?! I'm trying to sleep."

"Eds." you whimper into the phone. "I need you."

There's a long pause in response to your petrified sobs, followed by the clicking noise of a phone keyboard before you hear cursing and the frantic ruffling of sheets.

"I’ll be there."

"Well?"

You watch as Eddie crinkles his forehead in concentration, examining your car while his soot-tainted hands explore every crevice of your hood. Routine maintenance has never been as issue because you've always had a personal mechanic at your feet. But since the divorce, you've gotten pretty bad about it. Otherwise, the you and Eddie wouldn't be stuck in this situation. Obviously.

"Weeelp." Eddie sighs, stretching out every bit of the syllable. He slams the hood shut. "She's just about blown out. You're lucky that thing didn't overheat too much with you in it."

You've prided yourself in not needing a man to change your tires, wiper fluid, OR oil nowadays. But in the midst of your journey towards self love and independence, you somehow forgot that your car could also overheat.

"Oh..”

You try not to watch intently as Eddie cleans his hands off with his hanky, the one he keeps neatly tucked into the back pocket of his flattering dark, denim jeans. Your eyes then trail towards his leather jacket, which housed his broad shoulders and delicious waist so nicely, you would've thought it had been tailored just for him. And you could just about fall right into him when he angles his torso towards you, his sculpted jawline glistening in the moonlight — but nearly not as glistening as those gorgeous chocolate eyes, the ones he used to his advantage during your marriage to get you to forgive him for whatever mistake he seemed to make that week. Before you could fawn any further, Eddie snaps you back to reality.

"When was the last time you put some coolant in this thing?"

"Some what?"

"You keep Prestone at the house?" Eddie pesters. "Antifreeze? Peak?"

Cheeks reddening, you shake your head. "No.”

"You get this thing examined often?"

“Not unless you do it," is what you shamefully admit. “For the most part…”

Eddie's face scrunches out of frustration. He knew this would happen.

"God, I hate when you do shit like this," he snaps. "For all I know your engine light could've been on for weeks."

"But it wasn't." you mutter softly. You're already scared. This is the last thing you need.

"You know your car in particular needs to be serviced every half year?" Eddie mutters. "Oil changes, tire rotations. Your break pads have also seen better days. Which is concerning."

"Ok.”

"And how many times do I have to say you gotta pay attention to this fucking radiator?!" Eddie hisses, slapping at the hood again with his open palm. You shudder at the loud *THUNK* noise that echoes across the woods. "We wouldn't be out here in 3AM if you had just taken proactive measures.”

"Stop YELLING at me!" you whine, a piece of your inner child spewing outwards to combat Eddie's belligerent word vomit.

"I'm not yelling." Eddie firmly insists.

He turns his back to you and starts towards your car again.

"Yes, you are, you always do." you croak miserably, balling your fists up in frustration. “You always do Eddie, and I'm sick of it! You always want to be right, and you always kick me when I'm already down to-"

“Okay, okay, okay." Eddie hushes you. He runs a frantic hand through his hair. "Agh, fuck, okay — I’m sorry.”

He looks at you with guilty, glimmering eyes as you shift your body away from him. Guarded, tense. Closing up all access of you towards him because he lost those rights a long time ago. Muttering to himself now, Eddie scrapes at the pebbles beneath his feet, fiddling with the chain of his wallet before he dares to speak to you again.

"I just worry about you a lot."

You peer back over at him. "Deadass?"

He snorts. "Well yeah."

With your permission Eddie stalks closer to you.

"I don't want to wake up to a phone call talking about my wife's car bursting into flames — with her inside." He rolls his eyes. “All because she hasn't been maintaining her shit.”

"I have been," you fib just a bit, though most of it rings true. just forgot to iron out some little details."

Eddie relaxes his shoulders.

"I know," he surrenders. “I guess there's a part of me that secretly hopes you'll still need me somehow. Some way, or another."

"I'll always need your presence," you reassure him.

Your ex husband softens up. He always thought that during your separation you had found another Superman to save the day. Some other handsome devil to fix your car and maintain all the leaky faucets inside your once shared home. But as you've always insisted, nobody has your back like Eddie. Your very own George Reeves. At your disposal for you and you only.

He suddenly wraps his arms around you, and as you predicted you ease right into him, the comfort and familiarity of Eddie melting away any ounce of hostility you guys have ever harbored against each other. You both have your days, but the love you two have for each other has always remained the same. Just changed form, is all.

"I'm glad you're okay," is all he says.

'I'm glad you're here," you sniff. "Always playing hero, per usual..."

"Well for you, always."

He plants a gentle kiss on top of your forehead as you two sway around in unison. You hum to showcase your endearment.

And he'd do it again.

———

🏷️ tagging peeps who seemed interested in this lil universe 🫶🏼✨ thank you guys for reading :)

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