#Talent Pool Platform

[firastifreelancers]

Freelance Work Opportunities for Developers, Designers, and SEO Experts on Firasti.com

Freelancing is a rapidly growing trend across the world, especially in tech fields like development, design, and SEO. For developers, designers, and SEO experts, finding freelance opportunities can be the key to financial freedom and career growth. As businesses increasingly seek specialized professionals, platforms like Firasti.com offer excellent opportunities. Whether you're based in the USA, UK, or Australia, Firasti.com connects freelancers with high-quality job listings from top companies. In this blog post, we explore the freelance work opportunities available on Firasti for developers, designers, and SEO experts, while targeting key cities in these regions.

The Rise of Freelance Work

Freelancing has transformed the way businesses operate. Small startups, large corporations, and everything in between rely on freelance talent to enhance their teams. The shift to remote work, boosted by global events, has further fueled the growth of freelance markets. For developers, designers, and SEO experts, the time to explore freelancing has never been better.

According to recent studies, the freelance workforce has grown significantly in countries like the USA, UK, and Australia. This growth is due to the flexibility, independence, and wide range of job opportunities that freelancing provides. Platforms like Firasti.com have emerged to meet this demand, offering a dedicated space for professionals to find freelance work.

Why Firasti.com is Ideal for Freelancers

Firasti.com stands out as a leading platform for freelancers, particularly in the tech industry. Whether you're a web developer, graphic designer, or SEO specialist, Firasti helps you connect with potential clients. Here's why it's the best place to find freelance work:

1. Wide Range of Freelance Jobs

Firasti.com hosts a variety of freelance work for developers, designers, and SEO experts. From coding and app development to SEO optimization and website design, there's always a project that suits your skill set. Freelancers can easily browse job listings and submit proposals.

2. Global Reach

While the platform is popular in the USA, UK, and Australia, Firasti.com attracts clients and freelancers from all over the world. This global reach means more job opportunities and higher chances to find the perfect project.

3. Competitive Rates

Freelancers on Firasti.com can set their rates and negotiate with clients. This flexibility ensures that developers, designers, and SEO experts can earn competitive rates, particularly for high-demand skills.

4. Secure Payment System

Firasti.com offers a secure payment system that protects freelancers. Clients and freelancers can rely on the platform to ensure smooth and timely transactions for completed projects.

Freelance Opportunities for Developers

In today's tech-driven world, developers are in high demand. From front-end to back-end development, mobile app creation, and software development, opportunities abound for skilled developers. Below are some of the freelance job opportunities you can find on Firasti:

1. Web Development

Web development continues to be one of the most sought-after freelance opportunities. Companies and individuals regularly seek freelance web developers for tasks such as building websites, creating custom web applications, and adding new features. On Firasti.com, web developers can browse various job listings in top cities like New York, London, and Sydney, ensuring they always have access to the latest opportunities.

2. Mobile App Development

The demand for mobile app developers has skyrocketed, and it's no surprise why. Every business needs a mobile app to remain competitive. Freelance opportunities for mobile app developers include creating apps for iOS, Android, and cross-platform development. By signing up on Firasti.com, mobile developers can connect with top businesses in major cities such as Los Angeles, Melbourne, and Manchester.

3. Software Development

From building complex software systems to creating customized solutions for specific business needs, freelance software development is a lucrative field. If you're a software developer, Firasti.com can connect you with clients in major tech hubs like San Francisco, London, and Brisbane.

Freelance Opportunities for Designers

Design plays a critical role in the success of websites, apps, and digital marketing campaigns. Whether you specialize in graphic design, UI/UX design, or web design, there are countless freelance opportunities for designers. Some of the top design-related jobs you can find on Firasti include:

1. Graphic Design

Graphic designers are needed for everything from creating logos to designing marketing materials. Companies often hire freelance graphic designers to create stunning visuals for websites, social media, and print. Top cities like New York, Melbourne, and Birmingham offer a wealth of opportunities for graphic designers.

2. UI/UX Design

UI/UX design is one of the most important aspects of digital product development. Freelance opportunities for UI/UX designers involve working with clients to enhance user experiences and improve the overall functionality of websites and apps. You can find UI/UX design jobs on Firasti.com in cities like London, Sydney, and Chicago.

3. Web Design

Web designers are in high demand as every business wants an attractive and functional website. Freelance web designers can work on various projects, from creating landing pages to designing entire e-commerce sites. You can easily access web design opportunities on Firasti.com, particularly in cities like Toronto, Brisbane, and Los Angeles.

Freelance Opportunities for SEO Experts

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for businesses aiming to rank higher on Google and other search engines. SEO experts are responsible for optimizing websites and online content to increase organic traffic. As businesses increasingly realize the importance of SEO, the demand for skilled SEO freelancers is on the rise. On Firasti.com, SEO specialists can explore several lucrative opportunities:

1. On-Page SEO

On-page SEO involves optimizing elements of a website, such as meta tags, headings, and content, to improve search engine rankings. Freelance SEO specialists can work with clients to optimize their websites and ensure they are search engine-friendly. Cities like New York, London, and Sydney offer high-paying on-page SEO opportunities.

2. Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO focuses on building backlinks and improving a website’s domain authority through external methods. Freelance SEO experts who specialize in link building and off-page strategies can find abundant job opportunities on Firasti.com in cities like Los Angeles, Melbourne, and Manchester.

3. Technical SEO

Technical SEO involves optimizing the backend of websites to improve site speed, mobile responsiveness, and crawlability. As technical SEO becomes increasingly important, more businesses are hiring freelancers who specialize in this area. SEO experts in cities like San Francisco, London, and Brisbane can leverage Firasti.com to find technical SEO gigs.

Top Cities for Freelancers in the USA, UK, and Australia

Freelance work on Firasti.com is not limited to any one city, but some cities in the USA, UK, and Australia stand out as hubs for technology, design, and SEO. These cities often offer the best opportunities for freelancers.

Top Cities in the USA

New York: As one of the largest tech and business hubs in the world, New York offers countless freelance opportunities for developers, designers, and SEO experts.

Los Angeles: With a booming tech and entertainment industry, LA is home to many businesses looking for freelance professionals.

San Francisco: Known for its tech startup scene, San Francisco is a prime location for developers and SEO experts.

Chicago: A growing tech market with plenty of opportunities for freelance web developers and designers.

Top Cities in the UK

London: The UK’s capital is home to numerous tech companies and digital marketing agencies, making it an ideal location for freelancers.

Manchester: A growing tech scene makes Manchester a great place for developers, designers, and SEO experts.

Birmingham: As a business hub, Birmingham offers plenty of freelance opportunities for creative professionals and tech experts.

Top Cities in Australia

Sydney: As Australia’s largest city, Sydney has a thriving tech scene and a high demand for freelance developers, designers, and SEO specialists.

Melbourne: Melbourne is known for its creative industries, offering numerous opportunities for freelance designers and SEO experts.

Brisbane: Brisbane is home to a growing tech industry and offers excellent freelance work opportunities in development and SEO.

Freelancing is an exciting career path for developers, designers, and SEO experts. With platforms like Firasti.com, finding freelance opportunities has never been easier. Whether you're a developer looking for web development, mobile app creation, or software development gigs, a designer in need of graphic or web design projects, or an SEO expert ready to optimize websites for clients, Firasti offers a wide range of job listings to suit your skills.

The USA, UK, and Australia are home to some of the top cities for freelance work, including New York, London, Sydney, and Melbourne. With competitive rates, a secure payment system, and a global reach, Firasti.com is the platform you need to take your freelance career to the next level.

Sign up today on Firasti.com and start your journey toward a successful freelance career!

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[yameoto]

SUPERNOVA CAITLYN KIRAMMAN

kpop idol caitlyn X her insatiably horny junior

"Noona is so cool!"  You mimic, voice pitching either higher or lower, depending on which of the plethora of comments you pick, at your leisure. "Caitlyn’s a CF goddess. Her talents are seriously wasted. Wah, her visuals are really otherworldly. Unnie looks so good I’m creaming my pants—" Caitlyn fixes you with a flat, unimpressed look, at that last one. “It doesn't say that.” You grin, like the effervescent angel you are. “Yeah. That was just me.”

tw; dom/sub!caitlyn, brat!reader, idolverse, girlcock, semi-public sex, sex in dance practice rooms, mirror sex, handjobs, handjobs during vlives, voyeurism, mild age-gap, age hierarchy dynamics, use of korean honorifics. idol!caitlyn x idol!reader wc; 5.1k. ao3

notes: set in modern day runeterra. ionia encompasses the entire region of asia in league which i personally find stupid but i dont make the rules. fluff/smut/humour. derivative of korean culture (kpop idol au) + pokes a lil fun at stan culture. no prior kpop knowledge is needed (though it would likely help) the sex is filthy regardless. wrote this after finding caitlyn is only a 1/4 white like hallelujah jesus

CAITLYN looks stupidly good. Like stupid, stupidly good. Her grey sweatpants are slung low on her hips, waistband of her briefs peeking out. Sweat-slickened abs glare back at you, from the floor-to-ceiling mirror. The outline of her bulge is visible. These are all observations that you latch into like an IV-drip hooked-up to your wrist, in order to stay alive—lest you die from the fatigue. And boredom.

“Please,” You grumble, head slumped on your knee as your arm drops to the floor, phone abandoned Candy Crush side, up. “Please, please, please, can we go home?” 

“No,” Caitlyn huffs, hands on her hips, looking entirely too good as she takes a momentary (and you mean, momentary) break to swig a sip of water, before she hurls herself right back into it, sweaty and stunning.

The two of you have been trapped in the practice rooms for what feels like eternity. Or, more accurately, Caitlyn has trapped you in the practice rooms for what feels like eternity. You would rather be snuggled up and content in the comfort of your dorms; rather than slogging away in the basement, like you’re still trainees clawing your way up the company ladder inch by inch—rather than the four-time daesang winners, face of Ionia’s girl-groups’, and other innumerable accolades under your belts that seemingly mean nothing to your fearless group leader. At least, at the moment.

You’ve long slunk to the floor, sleepy eyes tracing the way sweat rolls down Caitlyn’s nape as she re-runs the movements for about the zillionth time. Her shoulder-blades flex through the thin fabric of her shirt, sweat dampening into a darkened pool in a way that should be gross, but on her, it just looks sexy. The ache in your muscles has simmered to a low burn, by now. Jeez, your eyelids are slipping. Thank God you have your sweet leader to ogle. The sight of Caitlyn’s bulge peeking through those sweatpants is practically your sole motivator in keeping your eyes open.

“You know,” After what feels like a decade, you pipe up again, because time has begun to melds together. “You’ve got it. Seriously.” The swig of water that sluices down your throat is lukewarm and unsatisfactory. Fuck, you’re thirsty. “The stage is a week away. You’ll be fine.”

Caitlyn’s eyes narrow at you through the mirror, incredulous.

“When in the world has fine ever been good enough?” 

Okay, sure. Caitlyn’s right. But she’s more than fine. Almost-perfect, actually—and come seven days—her dance moves will indubitably be heaven-sent and her ending fairy will probably trend #1 on three different social media platforms, and you will most definitely tug her ear endlessly about it, like the benevolent, supportive junior you are.

Seven days prior, however—and all you are is tired, grouchy, and maybe just a little bit horny. 

“I crave the sanctity of my blankets.” You lament, hand falling over your forehead as you languish on the floor, because the sun has probably set by now and you are seriously contemplating the possibility of dying of old age in this godforsaken practice room. (Not that that would be so bad, if Caitlyn were with you).

“You can go home, you know,” Caitlyn sighs, twisting around to face you, sneakers squeaking on the glossy wooden floors. 

“How am I supposed to sleep without my favourite member as a bolster?”  You pout, snatching on the chance to act a brat, immediately. Caitlyn just rolls her eyes, but her lips twitch upwards, so negligible that if you weren't so tuned in to all-things-Caitlyn, you might’ve missed it.

“Clingy.” She mutters, like she doesn't love it. Loves being your favourite. Not that it matters, because the glimmer of hope that flickers in your chest when Caitlyn crouches down in the direction of her bag—is immediately quashed when she only taps her screen, and the speaker rewinds all the way to the start. 

You’re really starting to hate this song.

“Are you serious? That’s not enough to rouse your cold, dead, heart?” You whine, because usually Caitlyn would've caved to your grabby-hands and doe-eyes by now (especially with the way you look; lips parted and shining with spit, water trickling down your chin down the column of your throat, from the leftover rivulets of your water-bottle.) Not that Caitlyn doesn't notice. She’s just really, really determined to get this right.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

“You work yourself too hard.”

You stretch to a stand, elongated and cat-like before you slink over and sling yourself dramatically along Caitlyn’s back. Her expression contorts into exasperation. She attempts to turn her head, to face you—to no avail. Not when you’re pushing her up against the mirror and the pinning her down against glass with the power of aggressive spooning on your side. Her hand shoots out to brace against the mirror, as your fingers hook the hem of her sweats, and Caitlyn stiffens under your thumb, lips falling open against her will.

“Darling,” She inhales, in that addictive, throaty accent of hers. Caitlyn sounds almost pained, as she catches your wrists—though she neither takes them in or wrests them away. The both of you have full view of the rising tent in her groin.

“What?” You smirk, teeth grazing the shell of her ear, like the sneaky little bastard you are. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to practice with a boner, unnie. That must hurt.”

Caitlyn’s breath hitches, and her knees almost buckle, if it weren’t for the way your arms tighten around your waist and squeeze the growing problem at her crotch. Your fingers twine with the string of her trackpants, loosening them under slim, deft fingers.

“Honorifics? Really?” Her voice is tight. She’s screwed. You only ever whip those out when you want something, seeing as how you've been speaking informally to your technical senior  since your very first meeting, in trainee days, (an accident she so loves to recount on variety shows. “It’s not my fault you just looked so young and pretty, unnie.” You’d fumble in defense, eyes wide and doling out the extra sparkle for the cameras as they zoomed-in on your frantic apologies, laugh track sure to be edited in. “What was I supposed to think?”

“You’re lucky I was too kind to scold you,” Caitlyn sighs, and—in a dramatic show of theatricality—flips the inky-blue curtains of her hair behind her shoulder, much to the hosts delight. “I can be really mean, baby.” 

That had been a hit. Probably because of the way her drawl had lilted playfully and she’d cupped your jaw in the most egregious display of fan service you’d ever seen. Caitlyn’s always known how to wrap the media around her pretty fingers; and your stammer and ensuing blush had mercilessly crowded your feed for at least two weeks, afterwards.)

That’s in public, though. In private? 

Caitlyn is a puddle to the graze of your fingers along her hipbone, and the glide of your breath up her neck. Dark eyes meet hers, hooded and intent, reflected in the pane of metal in front of you. It’s certainly a sight to behold. The two of you are both dripping in sweat, Caitlyn’s cheeks flushed, bare-faced and glowing—hair tangled up in that loose ponytail that you've always found so much hotter on her, than any amount of hours in the styling chair could ever produce.

“I really need to..” Caitlyn’s protests sound weak even to her own ears. Especially when heat pools in hot, throbbing waves that rush straight to her dick, and she's cut off by her own gasp when you nuzzle in the nook between her shoulder-blades and your hands—beautiful, cunning hands—ghost over her crotch and squeeze. Her entire world lurches into a haze, body spasming upwards.

“Unnie,” You breathe, sweet and soft, like the devil in her ear, “please fuck me.”

Just like that, Caitlyn can’t take it any longer. A low, strangled noise rips from her throat, eyes fogging over and black eclipsing blue. Lithe hands coil around your wrists, and flips your positions entirely—thrusting you right up against the glass.

Her muscles are throbbing, hours of dance practice flaming up her bones; but she pins you down with the strength of a woman possessed, all the same. As far as Caitlyn’s concerned, she’s like a sleeper agent to your bedroom voice, and the fact could never shine with more clarity, than now (other than the time you’d done a Lola Shark impression in an interview and she’d gotten, to her horror, embarrassingly hard underneath the blanket thrown over her lap. She’d had to call in a bathroom break, to take care of it—much to your smug, haunting amusement).

In the mirror, you watch as Caitlyn’s breathing shallows into pants, tongue licking hot up the stretch of your neck to under your jaw. Neither of you miss the brief, smugly satisfied spark to your eyes and glowing hot between your thighs, even as both squeeze shut when you arch up against Caitlyn’s bulge. She grinds down against your ass, and you moan, so brazen she almost can’t believe it.

“Shit. You're so shameless,” Caitlyn mutters, breaths rushing harsh against your shoulder as she fumbles with the knot at your sweats, rutting hopelessly into the coil of your figure. The moment thread slips free, pants pooling to your ankles as you bend over, head thrown back—Caitlyn’s brand-name briefs soak with a splurge of pre so intense she almost thinks she’s come early.

“You want my fingers?” Caitlyn asks, just to be a bitch. Your eyes squint open to glare at her through blurry vision and through an even blurrier visage.

“Don’t joke,” You spit, voice hoarse with want. It's meant to sound demanding, but all it comes out is whiney, and Caitlyn’s laugh sends shivers down your nape.

There’s a millisecond in which your mind empties completely, and it's almost cruel how you can only see the reflection of Caitlyn’s cock curving upwards from her underwear rather than the real deal. 

Caitlyn’s grasp is like steel around your neck. She thrusts you forwards, your flushed cheeks smushing against the cool surface of the mirror as your stuttered breaths puff in grey clouds of condensation. A groan wrangles itself out of your throat from being manhandled like that, knees wobbling the moment you feel something hot, thick and so, so wet press insistently against the backs of your thighs. Arousal has already begun to drip down your legs, running down in rivulets and moistening the floor under your feet. Yours or Caitlyn’s—you don’t have the eyes to know.

“Unnie,” You breathe, shakily, voice raw. Your fingers are slippery against glass, and you whimper when the familiar stretch of two fingers sinks into your cunt. You slide open, just like that, and Caitlyn temporarily wrenches you back so that you can see your fogged-up reflection in all its full, filthy glory. 

“S’not enough,” You pant, back arching and ramming urgently against her digits she’s spreading you wide, with—so eye-wateringly slow. Maybe it’s the fact that you've been working yourself up, blatantly eyeing her down, for hours since your head checked out of training and your brain devolved into its most primitive urges in coping with your mind-numbing boredom. 

“Not enough?” She grins, sharp-toothed and devastating, adoring the upper-hand. “What? You need a third finger, baby?” The noise that tears out of you is almost like a wounded animal, and you'd be embarrassed if you weren't so overcome with need and prolonging this teasing sounds like torture.

So, you answer with the obvious, “Your cock.” You hiss through gritted teeth, because Caitlyn loves it when you beg for her dick and you’re too hare-brained and empty to do anything more than push back, impossibly deeper into her fingers. They sink to her knuckles of entirely your own volition, without her having to do so much as twitch. 

Caitlyn’s laugh is practically a goad in itself. The lush curtain of her lashes are lowered, irises swallowed up by the deep dilation of her pupils. Still, though, she takes her time in playing with you, just a little longer. Revels in the way you thrash around her fingers, fucking yourself back, desperate.

Herself is one thing. Her dick can only take so much, however. The ache becomes too much, too soon, and the second she runs her glossy head against the drenched, hot pulse of your hole—she can’t not shudder, knot in her throat, before her fingers slip out of your pussy and your consequent whimper is interrupted by the plunge of her cock.

“Hah, baby..” Caitlyn whimpers, eyes fluttering back as she fucks you against the mirror, nails dragging up your hips and digging into supple flesh. Never has Caitlyn felt so at home, submerged in the deep, velvet ocean of your cunt.

“Unnie—” You gasp. It’s the one word, echoing over and over, like an all-consuming siren song throughout your head—with each gasp that comes with every thrust of Caitlyn’s hips, motions growing sloppier as the exhaustion of hours of tireless exertion catches up to the both of you. She nips at your ear, then down the curve of your nape, to the unblemished skin of your upper back. Teeth grazing, pads of her fingers leaving scorching trails as she gropes up your body—your mind a jumbled, fuzzy mess. Her cock plunges in and out, still guided, though she never slips out more than mid-way; bodies sticking together like gum. Like she can’t bear to be apart from you for even a moment—even if it is to pummel your cunt until you can hardly take it anymore.

It’s only when the pumps and rolls begin to slow into simple, gentle rocks, to absolutely nothing but a twitch—that your mind clumsily clasps onto a semblance of clarity, hasty and brief, like you know it’ll slip away and out of reach, soon. “Wha..?” You rasp, half-slurred, even if what you really want to whinge is; What’s goin’ on? Why’d you stop? And, please, please, please. Don’t stop. Keep goin’. Fill me up. Please, don’t ever stop— and other half-baked nonsense that you’ll be glad your tongue was too thick and heavy in your mouth to spill.

“I can’t mark you,” Caitlyn grunts, and your eyes sharpen, just a little. Her tongue peeks out from her lips as her expression looks disproportionately distraught, like it’ll be the end of the world if she doesn’t stake some sort of physical claim on you, eyes darting downwards to your unblemished shoulders with a low growl of frustration.

Distantly, that part of you is still clinging onto reality, knows she’s right. That your comeback is in a week’s time and risking a hickey or a bite-mark or worse (because Caitlyn is stronger and sharper and rougher than her delicate figure should ever have been allowed to be), is a bad, bad idea.

But the larger part of you—the part of you that is currently being railed by her unnie’s cock and trying desperately not to squirt cum all over the practice room mirror—rasps out a reckless, ragged, “Who cares?”, and that’s all the permission Caitlyn needs.

Caitlyn pulls out, and slams herself in again, grip on your waist, bruising. Your hands go sliding, uselessly against the steamy surface of the mirror, long fogged-up under the slick tangle of your bodies. She’s mouthing slurred nonsense into your ear, the music speaker knocked over by one of your ankles and emitting distant sounds from where it's rolled, to the other side of the room. Neither of you could give a single fuck. 

Not the least, when Caitlyn’s hand is sliding up your throat and thumbing over your gaping lips. It feels as if a pink-hued fuzziness has descended the room and become a thick veil over everything, and when her fingers slip into the hot, wet gasp of your mouth—it's only right for you to take the digits in your tongue and suck. 

“Ahnngh—Cait—”  

“When did I say you could speak informally to me?” Caitlyn husks, fingers pressing deeper into the roof of your mouth. In your reflection, you can see the razor angle of Caitlyn’s jaw as she nuzzles into your ear. The obscene glisten of your spit, coating her fingers and coasting down your chin as her digits languish between your parted lips. You look every bit like her precious fuckdoll, right now.

“Unnie—”

“Ah-ah.”

“Sunbae.” 

“Mm. That’s better.”

Her free hand skims up your shirt, slipping up the taut lines of your body and flicking idly at one nipple. You whine, garbled around the gag of her hand, and Caitlyn lets out a moan of content when your pussy tightens around her shaft.

“Fuck,” She pants, teeth sinking down into your shoulder and you buck, even though the pain barely registers with how Caitlyn barrels her cock in you, deeper, and your eyes roll back into your skull. Your thighs are shaking. “M’gonna—hfgh—” 

Her hips draw upwards, and Caitlyn cums like a faucet. All of it, inside you. Outside of you. Dripping from your still-leaking cunt and droplets getting fucked out with each, desperate thrust as she moans, guttural. “Take it—fuck—” Caitlyn groans, harsh and insistent as she pounds, your pussy squelching—so wonderfully wet—as your fingers scramble against the glass, her fingers cramming deep inside your mouth.

“Ah-ah—fuck!”

The two of you go crashing down, sliding down against the mirror and onto the floor with a twinning, indecipherable slew of obscenities, a boneless, panting heap, still moving in tandem. 

You both slump, slippery and sticky. The song on the speakers re-starts, yet again, from the other side of the room, though it's the first time it's even pierced your ears in the past forty minutes. Caitlyn groans, pushing her nose into the crook of your neck, arms tightening around your waist. The mirror is splattered in both your cum.

“We’re gonna have to clean this up, aren’t we?”

“..Probably.” You sigh, still leaking around her cock as you angle your head, the two of you slotting together like missing puzzle pieces.

Twenty-four hours and countless Kleenex wipes later (and really, cleaning your own cum from floor-to-ceiling mirrors—with two half-guilty reflections staring right back at you—is an uniquely humbling experience); it was totally worth it to see Caitlyn appropriately red, after the crash of post-nut clarity.

It’s your one, blissfully empty day before comeback promotions launch you all into full-throttle. You intend to enjoy it while it lasts. 

“Your latest Lotte CF went viral,” You pop behind her, totally innocously if weren’t for that familiar, impish glint in your eyes. Caitlyn sighs, not even glancing up from the stove, completely nonplussed. Probably because Caitlyn could record herself taking a piss and it would chart #1 on Melon.

“The seonjiguk is simmering.” She ignores you. You ignore her right back.

“Look at those dimples,” You beam like a little shit as you wave the video in her face. “Maybe you should go into acting. The GP would go crazy.”

“No thanks,” Caitlyn snorts, hand lifting upwards to stifle a brief yawn, sleeves coming up all the way to her knuckles. “been there, done that.” 

“Oh, right. All your Piltovian film connections.” You hum, idly tracing the underneath of Caitlyn’s elbow as you lean over her shoulder to watch her cook. She’s markably improved from her humble beginnings of blackened, bubbling slag (what was once instant Buldak), or the scotchmarks that still hail the kitchen tiles, to this day.

“Mhm. I was almost poached. My mother wanted me to—what was that? Follow in her footsteps.”

“Well, I’m grateful that you didn't,” You hum, into her shoulder. You poke her side, grinning. “Then you wouldn't have met me, and wouldn't that be tragic?”

Caitlyn scoffs, but you feel her sink a little deeper into your embrace, eyes flitting to settle onto the top of your head, as you nudge into her. You both, really are grateful.

You’re pretty sure Ionia is grateful, too. 

Whatever the day, it always feels like Caitlyn’s name has taken up a permanent residence in the nation’s newsites. ICE PRINCESS. AI VISUALS. ATTITUDE PROBLEM. Her quarter Piltovian and subsequent accent injects an ‘attractive exoticism’ (or whatever management had stapled to your files, at the dawn of debut), that had made Caitlyn internationally explosive, too. 

The Kiramman surname certainly helped. Caitlyn’s debut was like, the biggest plot-twist in nepotism, ever. It was like if Nicole Kidman’s kid suddenly became Hatsune Miku. Not to mention the fact the Kirammans are the largest benefactor of Hextech, whose global rollout of leading-edge tech has gone unmatched. Of all careers for the Kiramman’s mysterious, devastatingly attractive daughter to take—this is the one that took the entire globe off-guard. Including the great and glamorous, Cassandra Kiramman.

Of course, the initial shock long lapsed underwater, with the constant roil of the media waves. Caitlyn’s fame, however, has not.

“Noona is so cool!”  You mimic, voice pitching either higher or lower, depending on which of the plethora of comments you pick, at your leisure. “Caitlyn’s a CF goddess. Ah, her talents are seriously wasted. Is she an angel? Her visuals are really otherworldly—”

“Get that away from me.” Caitlyn swats your phone away with a scowl, pretty pink flush glowing on her features.

“Don’t act all coy,” You prod her so-highly-lauded cheekbones as Caitlyn huffs in annoyance, though begrudgingly leans against the touch anyways. You squish. “We all know you’re preening inside.”

“I am not!”

“Ooh, sexy. I love it when your accent comes out like that.”

Caitlyn groans, because you’re impossible, and just twists so that she’s facing you, back against the kitchen counter. You reach behind her to switch off the stove.

She hooks her fingers into the hem of your pyjama shorts, thumbing over familiar cotton. She sighs outwardly, propping her head up on your shoulder and slumping forwards to rest the cold press of her nose into the crook of your shoulder. Her fingers skim up your shirt, absently rubbing circles into the plane of your stomach.

“You know I hate it when you read those.”

“About how you look like an eepy bunny when you’re sleepy? Or that you have moles in the shape of a giraffe on your nape.” You arch a brow, looking past her as you flick through the blurs of text in various degrees of capitalisation, on your phone. A subtle smirk lifts your lips. “Hey. Is that true? Let me check.”

She scowls, and then almost looks offended that you don’t know that already (You do. Caitlyn also has a darkened, heart-shaped birthmark indented in the crook of her inner thigh—but that’s just for you to know, thank you very much).

Your voice raises a pitch. “Unnie looks so good I’m creaming my pants!”

Caitlyn fixes you with a flat, unimpressed look. “It doesn't say that.”

You grin, like the effervescent angel you are. “Yeah. That was just me.”

Oh, now Caitlyn’s cheeks go red. You push valiantly past the triumphant flutter in your heart, in favour of continuing your teasing. Hey—there’s no schedule today, the dorms are all to yourselves—and you’re on a roll. 

“Look. They wanna steal your eyes and put them in a boba drink.”

Thoroughly fed-up with your antics, Caitlyn snatches the phone out of your hand, and you immediately squirm, to lunging for it. Caitlyn’s ridiculous height advantage has the one-up on you, though, and you puff out an aggrieved yelp of protest when she dangles it above your head, like a dickhead.

“Hey, what the fuck?” You complain, like your comeuppance wasn't exactly what you were hoping for. Except you were more aiming for a pin-you-against-the-fridge, fuck-the-insides-out-of-you type of comeuppance. Not a sordid reminder that you need a stool to reach the top of Caitlyn’s head. “Don’t lord your freakish Frankenstein genetics over me!”

Caitlyn laughs, eyes flickering down. “Are you on your tip-toes right now?” 

Your eyes narrow, because you do not appreciate having the tables turned on you. Your hand shoots up to cup her jaw, tilting it upwards. Caitlyn softens, putty in your hands, adorable furrow in her brow melting away along with her pride as she sinks into your palm with a soft sigh, arm falling to her side.

There we go.

“It’s not my fault you avoid socials like the plague. I’m just doing my duty to take care of my leader’s PR. Your fans are starving.”

Caitlyn grumbles, “Well, let them starve.” though it comes out pinched between smushed lips, cheeks squishing like a dumpling. So heartless, like she’s not the industry’s princess and probably makes up a total of 50% of the company’s annual income. You know exactly why, as you cradle her face in her palms and watch as she leans upwards because no matter how disgruntled Caitlyn acts, or how shockingly humble she is under that front of aloof, arrogance–she definitely preens under attention.

Just. Only yours. 

“Hey, you know what? We should go live right now.”

“What—?” Caitlyn stammers, flabbergasted by the sudden change in direction, “Don’t—“

Too late. Within seconds, you’ve swiped your phone back from her limp hands and flipped the vlive on. Recording. Like, now. Damn, you're speedy. 

“Ah..” Caitlyn’s expression smooths over to that charming, impeccably gorgeous grin of hers that shows off the sharp curves of her cheekbones and has won her the hearts of a nation. 

You pull her to the couch, and under the scrutiny of the camera—Caitlyn acquises with little more than a subtle elbow to your ribs, when the both of you go thudding into the cushions with a low oomph.

Then, you flop against her chest, and the stream of hearts that ensue are absolutely incredible, comments rolling in faster than you can read them. There’s a reason why the two of you are the most popular pairing in the group.

“Hm. Is it on?” You muse, faux confusion tugging on your pretty features. Knitted brows and a plush little pout always do the job, especially when you add a sneak of tongue. No doubt to be screenshotted and re-uploaded countless times, within the next hour. “Hello? Can you guys hear us?”

Which is, you know, the perfect time to grab Caitlyn’s dick through her pants.

A choked noise resounds beside you, and you don’t glance over, for you’re too busy fiddling with the phone and the settings and all other kinds of bullshit that is really just an excuse for you to focus your attention on snaking a hand down Caitlyn’s waistband, just out of view of the camera. “Oh! It’s working. Did you miss us?” You beam, as Caitlyn struggles not to either sock you in the stomach or throw her head back and moan.

If anybody notices Caitlyn’s pupils are suspiciously blown, it doesn’t come up. What does come up, is her ever traitorous cock that lilts immediately into your touch. Fuck. Fuck, fuck.

“Aw, little Caity’s missed me, too,” You croon, as your sneaky fucking fingers stroke idly along her girth, underneath the veil of her sweatpants and just over the thin fabric of her underwear. Caitlyn visibly bristles, because, 1. You’re jacking her off. 2. She hates that your coo instigates a flood of love-bombing so intense, that the hearts on the screen almost completely obscure the both of you. 3, and the most important one; you just gave her dick a nickname! 

“Cait.” You tease out, eyes glittering, not even bothering to conceal your amusement as Caitlyn’s hips buck upwards, her fingers pinching against your sides, lips completely shut mum, for fear she’ll let slip a moan on camera. “C’mon. Say something. You missed them too, right?”

Gods. Caitlyn hates you. She really, really hates you. Just—not enough to not shove your hand away when it starts to peel away the waistband of her underwear. If only because the feeling of precum soaking its seat, sticking to her skin, and not because she’s itching for the sweet relief of your hand around her cock.

“..Hi,” Caitlyn forces her winning, boxy grin, and the years of practice make it an admirably unstrained effort. Maybe she really should go into acting. “Mm. Long time no see, hm?” 

“Unnie’s being awkward, today.” You snark, all sly, and Caitlyn shoots you a glare. She’s rewarded by the sudden, fervent warmth of your hand wrapping around her dick, and then the harsh tug of your fist that has her knees jerking upwards and her dastard slit spurting out a shiny, hot glob of precum. She swallows back a low, strangled whine, like a dry pill. Oh, Gods. She’s supposed to say something.

“Ah, just..—we’ve—ah—”

In a rare show of mercy (because apparently, you’re not out to throw both your careers to the dogs), you swipe the phone back with the most cherubic, triumphant grin to adorn your face, literally ever. Catilyn lets slip a barely-audible hiss as your fingers coil, just a little tighter, stroking up and down—thumb running back over the swollen, gloatingly shiny cockhead.

“We just had a long time in the practice rooms for our comeback, yeah? So we’re pretty tired. Right, unnie?” 

Oh, you're really pushing it, now. 

“Mm. We’ve been—working. Really hard.” She has to lean out of the screen to release a silent, desperate gasp, nails digging into the back of the couch as she tries to rut up into your hand in a way that doesn't obviously send the sofa, trembling. You idly thumb over her slit, smearing the thick, embarrassingly copious amounts of pre down her length. It twitches in your palm, as you ramble on about schedules and the comeback and spoilers and other things that have long become white noise in Caitlyn’s ears. Her hips chase your touch, brazenly, now. She barely even realises when you’re calling it quits; early, too. Because obviously, this was all just to fuck with her.

“Caitlyn,” You sing-song—smirking (supremely unsubtly), at the camera. “Say bye-bye.”

She only just registers the comment. Barely. “Bye.” Caitlyn’s voice is a low croak, hips arching upwards off the couch just as you end the live. Just in time, too, because—

“Oh, fuck.” Caitlyn releases the longest moan of her life, cum spilling over your fist, and she collapses back into the couch. Your phone falls from your hand, and you’re practically shaking with laughter. 

(“Little Caitey,” Caitlyn grumbles, after the fact, with your head nestled between her thighs in apology, “That’s preposterous. What’s so little about her?” Nothing. But there’s no fun in that, is there? At the slow, sly smile spreading on your face, Caitlyn groans. “What?”

“You referred to her in third-person.”

“..Please just suck me off already.”)

[sofythesim]

Better Together: A base game compatible The Sims 4 save file created by 160+ simmers

Let me present to you the greatest The Sims 4 save file of all times: The Better Together Save File.

160+ talented builders put their blood, sweat and tears into rebuilding every single lot in the game, including apartments and holiday worlds. Completely base game compatible and functional.

Check out #TS4BetterTogether on all social platforms and the EA gallery to see every build and creator. This collab was created and hosted by sofythesim, simmerkhai and plummysims.

**Now updated with Growing Together/San Sequoia builds**

What's included in the save file? • 207 completely new residential, apartment and rental builds. • 73 community lots with a bunch of fun stuff and activities for your sims. • Builds on hidden lots like Sylvan Glade and the top of Mount Komorebi. • And a few new households for you to play with.

You don’t need any expansion pack at all to use this save file! It’s 100% free to play. You can download The Sims 4 for no cost on their official website.

To install this save file, click here (SFS). Or continue to read. (Psst. Here's a guide on how to install a save file)

Every The Sims 4 world and creator

Willow Creek

Content: • 16 residential lots • 1 park • 1 museum • 1 nightclub • 1 gym • 1 library • 1 hidden lot

Creators: simsomally, simmarysims, Theseptembersim, Sims_plumbob92, sim_dora, honeymaysims, SimBuildsByK, pandora.sims4, stephanyed_, mellowbegames, simmerkhai, aibuilder, simsimoye, natgamingxo, MaggieLaughs, ilyamberlyn09, itsKujaKat, pickapeachh, playsimswithdee, maysbat_

Oasis Springs

Content: • 17 residential lots • 1 park • 1 pool • 1 gym • 1 bar • 1 hidden lot

Creators: inspired.simmer, lhonna_sims, simlore4, sulsulmelli, DaisyDreamingSims, yohanna_sims, pandora.sims4, KevTheBuildr, Faymoonbuilds, gamesimms, axiisims, makaylaallaboutmeking_, simplysimhome, builtbyrafi, sellidionnesims, simpandas, tattooedsimmer, sims4ideasyt

Newcrest

Content: • 12 residential lots • 1 park • 1 library

Creators: simsopat, XOmiSimmer_, kaarysims, xocreatesims, Coki.Creative, simpleetierra, builtbyrafi, laursimming, inspired.simmer, Mahareette, Sims_plumbob92, simpleetierra, sim_dora, mayan.22

Magnolia Promenade

Content: • 4 retail lots

Creators: grenesims, _simnematography_gj_, JenBuilding24, Simster_Femke, TheSimsCreatives

Windenburg

Content: • 16 residential lots • 3 Windenburg specific lots • 3 cafés • 1 rental lot • 1 library • 1 pool • 1 museum

Creators: simsbyme_, m0ssysim, Its_trose, shannonbuilds_, Sims_plumbob92, simspiration, micahs.moon, pugglesimmer, irrelephantsims, thesimsweekendbuilder, pandora.sims4, fantasiassims, Annarx, luplayssims, Samitbuilds, sims4ideasyt, dannaidasim, poppy.simmer, brokenplumbob, micahs.moon, Mademoiselle.Sim, myaschmya, modifyincas, simmerkhai, Faymoonbuilds

San Myshuno

Content: • 21 apartments • 2 residential lots • 2 lounges • 1 karaoke bar • 1 bar • 1 gym • 1 park

Creators: annathisims, maysbat_, colorandspace_, ktnuki.sims, pyuppy.online, simspiration.iv, Samitbuilds, goebugyourself, NeuralNe22a, WoMinion18, sellidionnesims, llamasimsbuilder, pugglesimmer, itsKujaKat, claudiafox.simbuilds, megbuildsxx, simsbuild_inspiration, Cozy_Simmer, waaavysims, muhebuilds, starstruck.builds, Faymoonbuilds, sims4ideasyt, sosimspired, vix.sims, eryn_witha_y_, thejellybzcut, simsimoye, gaiena_sims

Forgotten Hollow

Content: • 5 residential lots

Creators: siranwitch_gaming, _king_lamb_, sims.erezkigal, simsworldbuilding, Luna_Sheepford

Brindleton Bay

Content: • 10 residential lots • 1 vet clinic • 1 park • 1 lounge • 1 bar • 1 generic lot

Creators: itsjulesthedane, bored.builder, simsssp, sulsulmelli, aibuilder, hylian_simmer, WoMinion18, simsomally, sim.smyrna, Gardenova_sims, plumlu_, starstruck.builds, plummysims, thejellybzcut, stassijsims4, marilyn_sims4

Del Sol Valley

Content: • 7 residential lots • 2 museums • 1 park • 1 lounge

Creators: vix.sims, waaavysims, kaarysims, Mademoiselle.sim, gardenova_sims, tattooedsimmer, arcangelofsims, sim.smyrna, Simster_Femke, kqhartx, plumbecki

StrangerVille

Content: • 9 residential lots • 1 bar • 1 library

Creators: natgamingxo, irrelephantsims, amanduhh.simstagram, simsworldbuilding, plumbecki, fantasiassims, CrackedKyber, m0ssysim, world_in_sims, RachelPedd, Symtherin

Sulani

Content: • 11 residential lots • 1 beach • 1 bar • 1 rental lot

Creators: housesforsims, mellowbegames, MaggieLaughs, kikoibuilds, sims4ideasyt, maysbat_, DaisyDreamingSims, Mini Simmer, its_trose, bb.sims4, nesimsie, Gabi_Simdesign, jack__sims4, catnyxcreations

Glimmerbrook

Content: • 4 residential lots • 1 bar • 1 hidden lot

Creators: sofythesim, gameswithphilly, eryn_witha_y_, kindaaanime, BeccaTownSims, gaiena_sims

Britechester

Content: • 6 university housings • 2 Foxbury/Ubrite commons • 2 residential lots • 1 library • 1 bar

Creators: aibuilder, witchingmermaid, michaelasimsyt, DaisyDreamingSims, Coki.Creative, mahareette, llamasimsbuilder, MissSimReno, bb.sims4, andyandysims, bored.builder, witchingmermaid, CrackedKyber

Evergreen Harbor

Content: • 7 residential lots • 4 apartments • 3 community spaces • 1 bar

Creators: ktnuki.sims, spice.n.sprinkles, itsjulesthedane, Cozy_Simmer, littlemotherlode, dannaidasim, plummysims, sims.erezkigal, poppy.simmer, witchingmermaid, sulsulsimsies, lazysimie, plumarisims, michaelasimsyt

Mt Komorebi

Content: • 7 residential lots • 4 rental lots • 2 hidden lots • 1 onsen bathhouse • 1 bar • 1 generic lot

Creators: pickapeachh, littlemotherlode, Simstanie, VirtualFairytales, lhonna_sims, KiwiSimsKate, sims_plumbob92, LunaJoy_Builds, Seaofsakura, playsimswithdee, Palakoslip, HutchPlays, owSimsters, simmer_indi, _simnematography_gj_, mini.simmer

Henford-on-Bagley

Content: • 8 residential lots • 1 rental lot • 1 park • 1 bar • 1 lounge

Creators: Lizzybuildssims, Annarx, plantsimgirl, sellidionnesims, _simnematography_gj_, thesimscrolls, goebugyourself, sarina_sims, tattooedsimmer, arcangelofsims, aceroladagamer, Jasly247_yt

Tartosa

Content: • 6 residential lots • 2 wedding venues • 1 rental lot

Creators: gaiena_sims, sofythesim, sims4ideasyt, MaggieLaughs, yohanna_sims, claudiafox.simbuilds, kaarysims, Sims_plumbob92

Moonwood Mill

Content: • 3 residential lots • 1 library • 1 bar

Creators: MelanieDrake_YT, simplysimhome, JenBuilding24, pugglesimmer, xogerardinesims

Copperdale

Content: • 6 residential lots • 2 libraries • 1 highschool • 1 auditorium • 1 thrift and bubble tea store • 1 park

Creators: XOmiSimmer_, megbuildsxx, ninaschmidtyt, simsaga_, plumbecki, create4sims, sarenades, pyuppy.online, honeymaysims, sofythesim, simsbylinea, sims4ideasyt

-Picture coming-

San Sequoia

Content: • 10 residential lots • 1 library • 1 recreation center

Creators: Sims_plumbob92, DaisyDreams1, plumbecki, Theseptembersim, sellidionne, pyuppie, Samitbuilds, sulsulmisiu, Gaiena, laursimming, sims4ideas, XOmiSimmer_

Granite Falls

Content: • 6 rental lots • 1 hidden lot

Creators: Simsathon_, tattooedsimmer, sellidionnesims, simsaga_, amanduhh.simstagram, simlore4, sarenades

Selvadorada

Content: • 4 rental lots • 1 park • 1 museum • 1 bar

Creators: TragicPlumbob, mayan.22, SimMojii, luplayssims, gloomydahlia, simpolcheeks, Claeriel

[suntoru]

NOT Y/N. (NEVER WAS)

summary: second lead pains </3 modern au where you’re in love with him, but scara doesn’t reciprocate ur feelings

feat. scaramouche

a/n: genshin version of ‘i wanted it to be you’ basically gryytgghhvrthhguuggyh iykyk, no disrespect to queen lumine tho 

warnings: swearing, self depreciating thoughts, no comfort, basically a vent, angst

it was stupid, you knew that from the start. having a crush on scaramouche, of all people? but dumb little you didn’t care. you took all the moments where he wasn’t blatantly rude to you, where he let you in for a spilt second, where he showed you a sliver his heart and chalked it up to him maybe, just maybe him liking you back. and just when you thought you were making progress. you chuckle bitterly.

but then comes lumine. all it takes is something as simple as a smile in his direction for him to turn away with a slight blush, something so out of character only she could bring. you couldn’t even do that in the years you’ve spent with him. but you really can’t find it in yourself to hate her. she’s gorgeous, smart, talented, confident… everything you’re not. and it hurts, it really does, to see him fall in love so quickly when it took you ages to even be his friend.

you were just delusional. you’re not the main character who gets a fairytale ending, you’re just the side character who’s just there to get rejected. and maybe it stings, but it’s the truth. you close your eyes, tears pooling out the corners as you sink into your bed.

peeking out, you spot the bandaid box scaramouche gave you sitting on your desk. it has its own mini-shrine, decorated and highly protected. you still remember that day clearly. you tripped and scraped your knee on the ground because he pushed you, and you were on the floor teary-eyed, clutching your leg. he stomped off somewhere, you thought he just left you, but five minutes later, he came back with a box of bandaids, chucking them at your head. you kept it this entire time, thinking it was a sign that he possibly liked you more than friends.

your fingers lightly trace over the box. it hasn’t been damaged in the slightest, and it’s still full to the brim. you linger around for a moment before picking it up, observing it closely before giving it a small glare, and throwing it in the trash.

you stifle your sobs. you hate it. you hate it when he knows you’re sad just by looking at you, you hate how he sends you a ‘goodnight idiot’ when you fall asleep talking to him, you hate how he always treats you a little more differently than the rest of his friends. you wish he would just forget you existed.

but what hurts the most is that all the moments you thought were special, the moments that kept you up at night, the moments that made you want to kick your feet and squeal with happiness meant nothing to him. there was no chemistry, you were just so desperate to have something to cling onto. and you can’t help but think, ‘if i was a little bit more entertaining, if i was a little bit more pretty, if i was a little bit more like her… would things be different?’

you look up wistfully. but time and time again, you are never enough, you will never measure up to her. you can’t help but imagine what things would be like if you were y/n.

maybe he’d look at you with those soft eyes he always gives her. maybe he’d get a little flustered when you wave at him from afar. maybe, just maybe, if you weren’t the second main lead, he’d love you back.

©kaeffeinee 2023. do not copy, repost, or translate any of my works on any platform.

[ateez-himari]

I AM STILL; INK-BOND

The documentary's rawness leads to an interesting discovery concerning the maknaes of K-Pop groups BTS & ATEEZ

December 5, 2024 (6:01PM)

Disney Plus recently released Jungkook's documentary 'I AM STILL', which follows the vocalist through the making of 'Golden' as well as his journey to becoming a soloist with international reach. Numerous clips have been going viral on social media platforms and most of them feature the producing genius behind his new voice, who just so happens to be his best friend, ATEEZ's maknae - Himari.

"This is my partner in crime, my talented producer, my best friend and our angel voiced vocalist...Himari." Jungkook introduced when she visited him on the set of '3D'. "We've been with each other for over 11 long years."

Most instances are simply them working long hours alongside one another, walking about cities during rare moments of free time or even Jungkook accompanying the vocalist to the airport, as Korea had heavy schedules waiting for her. However, it was not the sweet maknaes bonding nor being emotional that caught the most traction but rather them enjoying some short inactivity.

While the artists relaxed in the hotel pool wearing bathing suits more revealing than they would usually be allowed on camera, the young woman's high hairstyle allowed netizens to notice a tattoo at the back of her neck - running along to the near middle of her spine. Chinese characters forming the words 'until death' are written vertically, with a black traditional dragon in the midst of them, and while searching through the man's collection it was also found that he had an almost exact copy, with the only difference being that his own is white.

The widely agreed upon speculation is that the colors represent the other person through the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang energy - which are opposites that balance one another - as Himari aligns more with Yin whilst Jungkook aligns with Yang, which are opposite to what they have inked onto their bodies. The mythical creature represents many things but due to the possibility of them having a depiction of the other, it likely stands for protection in this case - to symbolize that they will watch over their counterpart 'until death'. It is also possible that it follows a Japanese legend stating that if a koi fish successfully climbs a waterfall, it would be rewarded by the gods through bring turned into a powerful dragon - which could have been used to show their strength of character and acknowledge the hardships that they have both been through.

The ink does not seem to hold the vibrancy of a recent tattoo which means it has likely been a few years since its original creation and although very few have come to doubt the reality of their incredibly close relationship, it likely erased any semblance of suspicion. We can only hope to see more of these two friends in the coming months.

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[flythesail]

Being a fan of a show should not be this exhausting. We should not have to rewatch a show 10 times, tweet about it 100 times, etc. as if we're to blame when it doesn't reach some undefinable standard of "acceptable numbers." I'm so tired of shows being canceled and numbers being to blame when platforms promo a bit around release and then let the show flounder. There's no way that's a sustainable business method! You're banking on what, the rare occasion where a show becomes the latest trend? And even when people pull the data for these shows, it's not bad. That's with minimal effort put toward promo. If they put in more effort, imagine how much higher those "not bad" numbers would be. They're going quantity over quality, and even when there's quality within that pool, they don't bother to recognize the potential for success and the fact that success can grow over time. When shows would run for multiple seasons, you could get away with an okay first season as some shows take time to find their footing and audience. The average show is probably not the next stranger things. But we're losing so many good stories from talented teams by expecting every show to do the unimaginable all on its own. The binging model makes it even worse, as the unimaginable is also supposed to happen within a short amount of time (release week). It doesn't make sense to me to have teams put 1-2 years of hard work into creating something only to throw it into the crowd and give it a week to succeed. I know I'm not the only one who has said "hey, that show looks cool" and before I could even start it, the show was canceled. That encourages people to NOT watch anything new, as what's the point if it's going to be canceled? So completely missing the point of the problem at hand, platforms go and make another.

[venomous-qwille]

Hello!

I know this question might go outside your regular pool of asks, but I hope that doesn’t deter you from answering! I’d like to know how you go about having a beta-reader. I recently acquired one of my own, but we’re struggling to find a compatible platform for the both of us. I’ve read and loved GITM multiple times, but never once have I found a typo, and knowing you did as such with the help of your beta-reader, I’d like to know what you two use/how you go about it.

Thank you, and have a great day! <3

Hiya! I met bubbie in the palooza discord back when it was super active, we used to do writing sprints together while I was writing the first 50k words of GITM and they were working on LRA. I did an open call for a beta there, talking briefly about the kind of help I wanted and the sort of story gitm was gunna be. I got very very very lucky when Bubbie reached out and offered to beta and edit gitm! They are both a very talented writer and an eagle eyed editor. We use google docs to edit gitm (using the editor function + comments). This had its problems- especially with lag because of the number of comments- but that has been largely improved now that google has introduced tabs to their documents (so we can use one tab per chapter). I have been considering Ellipsus as an alternative, so we might swap after act one ^^ I try to have a chapter done on my side at least a week before it goes live so Bubbie has time to edit, but they have very kindly done last minute edits the night before a chapter is published more than once!

[felassan]

New article from IGN: 'How Dragon Age: The Veilguard Used Lessons From The Sims to Craft Its Character Creator and More'

Inside the intricate systems that bring BioWare's RPG to life.

"Corinne Busche wasn’t looking for a job when she sat down for lunch with BioWare’s leadership team in 2019. She had been a fan of BioWare’s games since the days of Dragon Age: Origins, and she wanted to, in her words, “meet my heroes.” “So I went to lunch with a couple of folks in the leadership team at BioWare, and we started riffing about progression systems and skill trees and economies, and we just really resonated with one another,” Busche remembers. “And much to my surprise, they expressed an interest in me joining, and it was kind of the question you don't have to ask me twice. That was such a dream opportunity, and to be able to step in this space, visit the studio, see my favorite characters on display throughout the walls, I was immediately sold. Immediately.” Busche was coming off a stint at Maxis, where she helped design the systems on various The Sims projects. In taking the helm of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, she became part of a wider talent pipeline flowing from Maxis to other parts of the games industry. It’s a pipeline that includes the likes of Eric Holmberg-Weidler, who was credited with fine-tuning many of the systems that comprised The Sims 4 before spearheading the Professions revamp in World of Warcraft’s Dragonflight expansion. Justin Camden, who also worked on The Sims, is one of Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s technical designers."

"Systematic discovery At first blush, it might not seem like The Sims has much in common with an RPG like Dragon Age outside the fact that they both feature romance in some way. Going back to its release in 2000, The Sims has garnered a reputation as a casual, frequently silly lifestyle simulator; the game where you remove a ladder from a swimming pool and watch your poor little Sims drown. Under the hood, though, The Sims is a complex web of systems, progression and relationships. Sims have jobs. They gain skills. They fall in love. “Maxis is a great place for designers to hone their skills,” Busche says. “There are many projects across differing platforms and service models happening simultaneously which give a rare opportunity for a breadth of experience. What people may not realize about the Sims, given its playful outward nature, is the underlying systems and mechanics are deceptively deep – especially as a dev. One of the more interesting parts of coming up through Maxis as a designer is the experience you get with simulation, emergent gameplay, and emotionally relatable player experiences. It’s just a really unique opportunity being a part of these teams, and those are skillsets that can benefit a number of different games and genres.” Busche’s systems design background is evident throughout The Veilguard. It includes extensive skill trees, with sub-classes that are geared around different weapon types and styles of play, and the choices you make also resonate deeply throughout the story. It’s also possible to level up your relationship with individual factions and shopkeepers, which in turn opens up new possibilities for acquiring unique gear, and characters bear long-lasting scars depending on the choices you make. Systems are layered throughout Dragon Age, deepening the player’s intertwined connection with the world and the characters that inhabit it. “What's so wonderful about [The Sims] is there's so much autonomy in that game, and we find that RPG players are hungry for that same sense of autonomy, making decisions, influencing characters. And what you might not realize in the Sims is behind the scenes, there are some really robust progression systems, game economies, character behaviors for their own AI and autonomy… a lot of really fascinating parallels,” Busche says. ���So in that regard, I'm very grateful to my time there, being able to take some of those learnings, whether it's about how to convey romantic progression to the player, or design skill progression, game pacing, a lot of really interesting transferable ideas that you might not think about on the surface." In The Sims, characters go through their daily lives in an idealized world filled with strange but charming characters like Bonehilda (Dragon Age, it should be mentioned, has its own living skeleton in Manfred). While Dragon Age’s characters are still bound by the demands of the story, BioWare goes out of its way to make them seem more alive. As we talk about in our hands-on preview that went up last week, Dragon Age is filled with little messages noting how, for instance, you “traded verbal jabs” with Solas. As we’ll go into in a future article, both platonic and romantic relationships are a big part of how characters grow in Dragon Age. And of course, as anyone who has played a BioWare or Sims game knows, both games have their share of woohooing."

"How Dragon Age learned from The Sims' character creator Ultimately, though, it’s the character creator where the resemblance between the two is the most apparent. Dragon Age’s character creator is extensive, allowing players to adjust physical characteristics including chest size, the crookedness of a character’s nose, and whether or not their eyes are bloodshot, among other features. While custom characters are a time-honored BioWare tradition going back to the days of Baldur’s Gate, The Veilguard draws from the lessons of The Sims in everything from body customization to the flow of the user interface. Cross-pollination like this is common within EA, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard borrows from plenty of other sources as well. That incredible hair technology, for example, got its start within EA’s sports games, meaning your Rook can have a luscious mane like Lionel Messi. But the character creator is perhaps the greatest inflection point between Dragon Age and The Sims. “Character creators are extremely complex, and in many ways even more personal. It’s so important that players feel they can be represented and feel pride in that representation as they go through the creation process,” Busche says. “In particular, I remember we were struggling with some of our iconography, and we turned to each other and said ‘how did The Sims 4 handle this?’ While the technology and UI is quite a bit different, the underlying goals and lessons were quite similar.” She adds that Maxis has a “tremendous wealth of knowledge when it comes to representing gender, identity, and the surprising number of localization issues that come along with that when you’re releasing in different regions and languages.” “It’s always nice when you can draw from that prior experience. See what worked, what didn’t, and how expectations have evolved. The fun part is now we get to pay that forward and have been sharing our knowledge with other teams,” Busche says. On a moment-to-moment basis, of course, The Sims and Dragon Age are two very different games with very different goals. One is a single-player action RPG, the other a lifestyle sim. As studios, too, BioWare and Maxis are in very different places right now. The Sims has been a powerhouse franchise for more than two decades, and EA is seeking to expand its reach with a new movie. BioWare, meanwhile, is seeking to rebuild after stumbling badly with Anthem and Mass Effect Andromeda. But when creator Will Wright first decided to focus on the people inhabiting his games, the world he crafted wasn’t too dissimilar from the one found in Dragon Age. Both use unique systems to create reactive, imaginative worlds full of interesting choices, filled with characters with their own inner lives. It’s a philosophy that’s always been part of BioWare’s legacy; now, in The Veilguard, it finally gets to be on full display once again. Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox on October 31. Make sure to keep an eye on IGN all this month as our IGN First coverage continues."

[source]

[blind-althea]

(If you have this handy application on your phone called Spotify, I recommend listening to this)

Yes, I am blind. My name is Althea. That’s pretty much it. I can’t see a damn thing, but I can hear every ridiculous, self-destructive plan Deadpool cooks up. I’m the one who cleans up his messes and deals with the aftermath of his lunacy. If you’re looking for someone who’s got no filter and a front-row seat to the circus that is Deadpool’s life, you’ve found me. Just don’t expect me to sugarcoat anything

Who is Deadpool? He’s the psycho mercenary who thinks he’s the star of a fucked-up action movie. He’s got the mouth of a sailor, the morals of a dumpster fire, and a talent for getting himself into all kinds of trouble. Basically, he’s a walking, talking disaster zone with a penchant for breaking every rule he can find. And guess what? I’m the poor soul who has to deal with the fallout and try not to lose my mind in the process.

He’s also my roommate… @merc-with-a-mouth-69

Being part of the household with Dogpool? Well, it’s surprisingly not the worst thing. Sure, she’s a little slobbery and I’ve tripped over her more times than I can count, but… shes got a weird charm. She’s loyal, quiet—unlike her idiot owner—and she actually seems to know when I need a break from all the chaos. It’s kinda nice, having her around. Don’t tell anyone I said that, though—I’ve got a reputation to keep. @dogpool-puppins

_ _ _

How did I end up on this god forbidden platform? Wade told me to get a life.. well I already have and now I’m here.

More looney toon maniacs:

@deadpool-roleplay-blog @deadpool-in-wolverine @dead-marveljesus-pool @dead-in-the-pool @deadpool-wade-wilson @wade-wilson-deadpool-bugaloo @wadewilsonposting @wade-wilson-deadpool @nice-pool @wheelbarrowofstagefourcancer @merc-with-the-m0uth @mercwithamouth-wade @maximum-bugaloo-2nd @official-wanda-wilson @gothpool @wadebutoncrack @dance-pool @somewhat-deadpool @kidpool-the-underapreciated @you-have-been-babypooled @deadpool-original

(They all owe me some sugar)

[thesims4blogger]

The Sims 4: Base Game Townie Home Refresh

Sul Sul, Simmers! My name’s Colin, and I’m a Producer on The Sims 4! Like many of you, I’ve been playing The Sims for a long time. I was first introduced to the series back in 2000, and the rest is history. As such a long-time fan of the franchise, I consider it an honor to contribute to the fantastic legacy of The Sims!

Today I’m excited to share a unique project the team has been working on to enhance your base game experience further and deepen the established lore within our game!

Base Game Townie Home Refresh

Over the last 10 years, The Sims 4 Base Game has received many Build/Buy Mode updates, some of which include pools, platforms, half walls, new SDX items, and more! The team wanted to breathe new life into some of our most iconic lots, utilizing all these great features that have been added over the years.

These lots were built with the utmost love and care by talented members of The Sims 4 Development Team. Our goal was not to bulldoze the lot and start from scratch, but to honor the existing lot while giving it some updates and modifications that made it fresh and exciting! Some elements will feel new, while other elements pay homage to the original lots.

While updating these homes, each dev received a summary of each sim in the household, including their age, traits, career, and aspirations. Utilizing this information, the team layered in unique decor, skill-building items, and other fun nods to the townies who live in this home. We aimed for these homes (and even the bedrooms) to be immediately recognizable and suit the sims who live there.

Both the Updated and Original Lots will be available in your “My Library folder. Update them all, update some, or keep the original lots - the choice is yours!

We hope you enjoy these new homes and the stories you’ll tell with them!

How to See this Refresh In-Game

We’ve updated all occupied Residential (or Townie) Lots in Willow Creek and Oasis Springs in today's patch. 

Players that start a New Save after this update will automatically see these refreshed lots in Willow Creek and Oasis Springs. If you have an Existing Save, you will not see any updates automatically. But, you can manually place them in an existing save from the “My Library” tab.

To see the Refreshed Lots with a New Save:

Start a New Game from the Main Menu.

After creating your household in CAS, go to Willow Creek or Oasis Springs.

The Refreshed Lots will automatically be in the world for you to enjoy!

To see the Refreshed Lots with an Existing Save:

Load your Existing Save from the Main Menu.

Go to Manage Worlds, and then go to Willow Creek or Oasis Springs.

Click on the “Gallery” tab in the top right corner.

Click on the “My Library” and filter by “Maxis.” You’ll see all the updated lots here.

Select the desired lot and click “Place Lot” at the bottom right corner.

Select the desired lot location and confirm to place the lot.

Repeat this process for any desired lots you’d like to see updated.

LEFT: BFF House Before Refresh. RIGHT: BFF House After Refresh

Here are Some Helpful FAQs

I edited a townie lot in an existing save. Will my build be impacted?

No, your build will not be impacted. Even if you modified the townie home before the update, this update should not impact existing saves.

I created my own lot where a townie lot used to be located in an existing save. Will my build be impacted?

No, your build will not be impacted. This update should not impact existing saves, even if you built a new lot where a townie lot used to be.

I’m manually placing the lots in an existing save, but when I try to place a lot, the townie household can’t afford the new home.

If this happens, you can utilize the “Free Real Estate” cheat.

You can open the cheat menu by pressing “Ctrl + Shift + C” on your PC or holding down all the shoulder buttons on your console controller.

Type in “testingCheats true”

Type in “FreeRealEstate On”

Continue the lot placement as instructed above.

I would like to keep the original homes. How can I keep them in my game?

In order to see the original homes, you’ll need to manually replace them.

We’ve added the “Legacy Versions” to your Library for you to place.

With an Existing Save, I see the updated lots in the World View, but they are not updated when I load into them.

Should this occur, you can do the following:

Load into the lot and save your game.

Load back into the World View. You should now see the accurate thumbnail.

If you are looking for the updated lots in an existing save, they can only be added manually.

[hlficlibrary]

HL FIC LIBRARY ✤ AUTHOR REC

AO3: phdmama 

Tumblr: @phdmama

STATS:

✤ Number of fics: 208

✤ Posting Since: 2016

TOP 5 FICS:

1️⃣ Hold My Heart {E, 14k}

“Excuse me, mate, I’m the window seat here.” The voice was soft, apologetic, and accented in something a bit unfamiliar — northern England, maybe, Harry thought.

“Oh,” Harry jumped to his feet and moved aside, “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you standing there.”

The other man laughed as he swung a bag into the overhead compartment and slid into the seat. “You were well caught up in that book, mate. What are you reading?”

Harry paused, wondering how to explain the fact that he was reading an epic and x-rated romance that was the story of a relationship between a prince and the man he’d enslaved. “Oh, you know, just some fiction my sister recommended.” He turned to look at the man and froze.

Sitting next to him was Louis Tomlinson.

Or, the one where famous Louis Tomlinson offers his hand and a lot more to his seat mate on a transatlantic flight.

(Co-written with @a-writerwrites)

2️⃣ Feels Like Coming Home {E, 60k}

The last thing Harry Styles expects when he's hanging out at the Someday Cafe in Somerville one rainy October day is for his ex, Louis Tomlinson to walk through the door, but that's exactly what happens. After a spectacularly ugly break-up three years prior, Harry hasn't heard one word from Louis, and he's moved on. Gotten over him. But having Louis back in his life, not to mention working at the restaurant where he's a chef, isn't easy, and the feelings that Harry thought he'd left turn out to be not so easily forgotten.

This is a story about love and the power of forgiveness, and how the hard choices we make define us, and change our lives.

3️⃣ On the Go {T, 2k}

From this post because I could not resist.

4️⃣ It's a Better Place (Since You Came Along) {E, 51k}

When Harry Styles, a mid-level talent, Finder, and small business owner, sets off on the vacation of a lifetime with his best friend, Niall Horan, he has no idea the changes his life will undergo over the next nine days. He's got it all planned - there's going to be shore excursions, lounging by the pool on the deck of the luxurious cruise ship, not to mention margaritas. What he does not plan for are the new friends, new bonds, or the mystery from his past that comes back to haunt him, and he certainly hasn't planned for Louis.

5️⃣ For Better and For Worse {M, 12k}

Harry and Louis have been together for 5 years and they've been getting questions when they would be getting married and start a family. Bur Harry doesn't have the time. They were arguing one morning when Harry had enough and left for work. He's a doctor and works at the a&e there is a call that there has been a bad car crash and that there is more than one patient coming in. Harry does his job good and works on the first patient and everything goes great until his next patient is Louis.

HIDDEN GEM:

💎 Unveiled {M, 65k}

The train grinds to a halt and Harry leans forward in his eagerness to take it all in. It’s a gorgeous Spring day, the sky the same intense blue that he knows from home, which comforts him. There’s much here that looks almost familiar, but then so much that is new and strange to his eyes. The bustling station platform and winding streets beyond paved in cobblestones look much like home. There are vehicles ranging from small to very large, some with strange and unusual shapes of which he can only guess the purpose. But most surprising are the people. There is a crowd gathered, filled with men and women, some in what looks to be a military uniform, some in what must be the street clothes in this Land.

There are no robes. And not a single one of them is veiled.

[torgerandsuzanne]

This weekend, all the major movers and shakers in Formula 1 have descended on Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. On track, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will attempt to slow Max Verstappen’s seemingly inexorable charge towards a third successive title. Off it, their respective team principals, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and his nemesis, Red Bull’s Christian Horner, will also do battle. But arguably the most significant power move made in motorsport this week may already have taken place. Its architect was none other than Susie Wolff, wife of Toto. And just quietly, she is hoping she may have triggered a revolution.

As managing director of F1 Academy, a new all-female single-seater series, she is currently thrashing out what she believes could be a ‘game-changing deal’ with F1’s 10 teams, which she hopes will boost female participation in motorsport like nothing before.

......

Leaning back in a chair in the library of the Monaco Yacht Club, Wolff lets out a snigger. ‘It’s true,’ she nods. ‘He really did once describe me as a donkey!’ We are talking about her husband, Toto Wolff. The donkey reference actually cropped up in an interview the couple gave to Ben and Georgie Ainslie’s Performance People podcast last year. In the YouTube version of the podcast, you can see Susie, by this point in hysterics, miming someone digging a hole ever-deeper. The exchange is a window into their relationship: playful, loving, with Susie giving as good as she gets. But it also says something about both of their characters. Toto is a high performer, there is no doubt about that. And Susie? Well, ‘donkey’ may be a bit harsh for a woman who once gave Hamilton a run for his money in karting. But she knows what her husband meant. ‘Don’t underestimate the donkey,’ she says, grinning. ‘It gets there in the end. I do have a lot of tenacity.’ She is going to need it in her latest role. 

There have been various attempts down the years to drive female participation in motorsport and achieve the ultimate breakthrough: returning a woman to the F1 grid. Wolff believes F1 Academy is different. For starters, it is the first all-female series launched and owned by Formula 1 itself. That means it is in F1’s interests for it to succeed. So whereas W Series, for instance, was given an enviable platform by the sport the fate of F1 Academy is far more intertwined with the brand. Not only will it compete on the F1 circuit from next season, but the two series will collaborate far more closely. Wolff cannot speak just yet about what that might look like, as the finer details are still being ironed out. Suffice to say there are some very exciting plans in the offing that she hopes to announce soon. ‘I think there are some forward-thinking team principals in Formula 1,’ she says. ‘I certainly feel a real commitment from within the paddock to help change things now.’ ‘When I met them all after my announcement in Bahrain, I said to all of them, “Please don’t think of this as a ‘woman’s thing’ being run by a woman. This is for the greater good of this sport. I hope it will add value to Formula 1 long-term. And we need to be on this journey together.” So far, the response has been very positive, I have to say.’ Wolff smiles. ‘But F1 Academy cannot just be about 15 young women racing. And we cannot have the sole purpose of trying to find the next female F1 driver. We have to stand for something much more. It’s about creating opportunity. How are we making motorsport accessible to girls? That’s why I’m spending a lot of my time in the world of karting right now, trying to understand, OK, who’s out there racing? At what level? What is stopping girls from racing? I think that’s where we’ve got to be really proactive. Because that talent pool is what we need to grow.’

......

Wolff is uniquely well-placed to do so. Born in Oban she had a typically outdoorsy upbringing. Both she and older brother David, were put on skis and bikes as toddlers. Her parents, owned a motorcycle dealership and her father raced bikes competitively, so racing was ‘in the blood’. But, Wolff says, she was ‘never a typical tomboy’. ‘I had my Barbie. I had my dolls. I liked that stuff. But I also loved going fast.’ Eventually the family got a second-hand kart and that was it, although Wolff insists it was just ‘for fun’ until she was taken to a Formula 3 race at Donington Park one year and watched Jenson Button win. ‘That’s when I was like: “This is what I want.” After that I started racing in the European and world championships.’ It was at that point, too, that Wolff began to experience sexism for the first time. She had always been ‘the only girl’ in karting races. Or at least one of very few. But as her participation became more serious, so too did the feeling of being not just different but unwanted. ‘Funnily enough, half of my battle was with the parents of my competitors,’ she recalls. ‘For them, it was not wanting their sons to get beaten by a girl.’

Sometimes her own teams, supposedly on her side, were just as culpable. When she reached DTM, the German touring car championship, Wolff was famously made to drive a pink car. ‘I hated it,’ she says. ‘It was such a cliché. No one wanted to be overtaken by that car.’  Wolff recalls one particularly awkward episode when three-time F1 world champion Niki Lauda came to watch his son Mathias. ‘Mathias and I were teammates and it was a real thrill that Niki was coming to watch,’ she says, wincing. ‘So anyway, he walks into the garage, and all the drivers were in there, and without even saying hi to Mathias or anything, he took one look at me and said to Mathias: “Whatever you do, beat her.” Even Mathias was embarrassed.’ ‘Years later, when we obviously became friends at Mercedes I brought it up and Niki was like, “Yeah, I know. But I knew it wouldn’t have been helpful to Mathias if he got beaten by you.” I said, “But Niki, I was an impressionable young driver.” Obviously he was of a certain generation. But I think that still exists. That stigma. Not wanting to be beaten by a girl. The preconception that women are bad drivers. We have to change that.’

.....

In other times during Wolff’s career it has been double standards that infuriated her. Male drivers could advertise products or cash in on their celebrity. But when Wolff did the same she would be accused of ‘using her body’ to further her career. This is someone who had, and still has, a genuine interest in fashion. ‘It was frustrating,’ she admits. ‘I turned down loads of things. I remember being questioned about one shoot, with Vogue Japan. “What? You’re going to turn down Vogue? No! It’s one of the top titles…”’ ‘Ultimately, I think it’s about finding a balance and doing what you’re comfortable with. I had one golden rule. I would never date another driver. I wanted to look after my reputation and just be someone that was seen as credible. But I think this idea that you just put your helmet on and race and nothing else matters… that’s not the case. Take Lewis. What he brings to the table is his outstanding talent on track. But also, all of the stuff he represents off-track. So if anything, I look back and say, I should have gone even harder.’

.....

Does she believe she was held back? Wolff shakes her head. ‘I think I fulfilled my potential. If I look back now, with more perspective, I wasn’t one of the most talented. I had a lot of tenacity and a lot of determination. A lot of thick skin. So I look back with no bitterness whatsoever. There were a lot of tough moments, I won’t lie. But I also met Toto, which led me to where I am now.’ They met in 2009 when Wolff was competing in DTM. Toto, 11 years her senior and with two young children from a previous marriage, was the co-owner of HWA AG, which ran the DTM race programme for Mercedes. He proposed one year later on a boat in Venice (well, on a boat back to the airport after his original plan to propose at a romantic restaurant was scuppered when a couple they knew sat down at the next table) and they were married in Capri in 2011. Inevitably their relationship, her subsequent role at Williams, and rise through senior management positions at Venturi Racing, a Monaco-based Formula E team, to F1 Academy, have led to allegations of nepotism. 

‘I am completely fine with that because in the end, I know the truth,’ Wolff says. ‘I got the drive with Williams after I met Frank at a DTM event at Brands Hatch and told him I’d done a school project on Williams as a 12-year-old girl and it was always my dream to drive an F1 car. At the end of the conversation he said, “I’ll give you 25 laps at Silverstone.” It kind of snowballed from there. How much of that was Toto? It’s impossible to judge. But I feel I grabbed my chance.’ ‘Toto was never on the radio telling me how to drive a Formula 1 car. He wasn’t holding my hand telling me how to run a Formula E team. I did all of that on my own two feet. I know I’ve got what it takes to be successful, I don’t need Toto to open doors for me.’ She pauses. ‘I think in some instances, it can be very helpful having the Wolff surname, in others very unhelpful. But I wouldn’t change it for a second.’

Marrying up their schedules can’t be easy. The couple’s main home is in Monaco, but when we meet, Toto is back at the factory in Brackley, having just returned from the Canadian Grand Prix. He will fly out to take over parental duties from Susie when she heads to Zandvoort at the end of the week. ‘I don’t think we’re dissimilar to many couples who have busy jobs,’ Wolff says. ‘I have Toto’s schedule on my phone so I always know which country he is in, or at least when he’s coming home. And we just have to prioritise. If that means Jack and I jumping on a plane to wherever he is to make it work, we make it work.’  Wolff admits it is her who generally compromises. ‘Someone has to,’ she shrugs. ‘And right now it’s me, for sure. I’m based here. And Toto is in and out. It’s a big advantage that I understand the industry so well; why he has to be away, why he has to stay longer at the factory. All of that means I’m not giving him a headache at home when he does return. I get it.’

Have Mercedes’ recent struggles on track made things more stressful? ‘Actually I’d say he is in a better place than he was a few years ago,’ Wolff replies. ‘I think he had a moment in lockdown where he didn’t know whether he wanted to stay in the sport. But now he has really got the bit between his teeth again. Sometimes I’m in a room when he’s on a very difficult call and I’m starting to feel, “F--k, this is some serious pressure!” But he can just pile it on. It’s definitely one of his strengths.’ In 2021 the couple moved to Monaco from Switzerland, although they also keep a place in Oxford from which Toto can commute to the factory. ‘Believe me, I never imagined I would be living here,’ Wolff says, laughing. ‘Obviously I started coming out a lot when I joined Venturi. I’d leave cold, grey England and land here in blue skies. I just started thinking, it’s not so bad out here… It works for us now.’  As you would expect, Jack attends a school with the sons and daughters of other international jetsetters. ‘His best friend is Augusto Farfus’ son. Naila Rosberg is a year older, her sister is a year younger,’ Wolff says. But really, she insists, they do not have a lavish lifestyle. ‘My son spends every school holiday back in Scotland because I want him to have that balance. You know, this is a bubble. It’s not quite reality. So he goes camping with my parents.’ As for the Monte Carlo nightlife, Wolff says, ‘We keep ourselves to ourselves. The buzzing social life is just not my thing at all. You find your tribe but we spend so much time away, I’d much rather stay in during the evening than go out somewhere.’

Susie's interview with The Telegraph where she talks about F1 Academy, sexism and double standards she experienced as a female racing driver and her relationship with Toto.

[krunal-vyas]

Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

Hire dedicated developers in India smarter and faster with AI-powered solutions. As businesses worldwide turn to software development outsourcing, India remains a top destination for IT talent acquisition. However, finding the right developers can be challenging due to skill evaluation, remote team management, and hiring efficiency concerns. Fortunately, AI recruitment tools are revolutionizing the hiring process, making it seamless and effective.

In this blog, I will explore how AI-powered developer hiring is transforming the recruitment landscape and how businesses can leverage these tools to build top-notch offshore development teams.

Why Hire Dedicated Developers in India?

1) Cost-Effective Without Compromising Quality:

Hiring dedicated developers in India can reduce costs by up to 60% compared to hiring in the U.S., Europe, or Australia. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses seeking high-quality IT staffing solutions in India.

2) Access to a Vast Talent Pool:

India has a massive talent pool with millions of software engineers proficient in AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. This ensures companies can find dedicated software developers in India for any project requirement.

3) Time-Zone Advantage for 24/7 Productivity:

Indian developers work across different time zones, allowing continuous development cycles. This enhances productivity and ensures faster project completion.

4) Expertise in Emerging Technologies:

Indian developers are highly skilled in cutting-edge fields like AI, IoT, and cloud computing, making them invaluable for innovative projects.

Challenges in Hiring Dedicated Developers in India

1) Finding the Right Talent Efficiently:

Sorting through thousands of applications manually is time-consuming. AI-powered recruitment tools streamline the process by filtering candidates based on skill match and experience.

2) Evaluating Technical and Soft Skills:

Traditional hiring struggles to assess real-world coding abilities and soft skills like teamwork and communication. AI-driven hiring processes include coding assessments and behavioral analysis for better decision-making.

3) Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers:

AI in HR and recruitment helps evaluate language proficiency and cultural adaptability, ensuring smooth collaboration within offshore development teams.

4) Managing Remote Teams Effectively:

AI-driven remote work management tools help businesses track performance, manage tasks, and ensure accountability.

How AI is Transforming Developer Hiring

1. AI-Powered Candidate Screening:

AI recruitment tools use resume parsing, skill-matching algorithms, and machine learning to shortlist the best candidates quickly.

2. AI-Driven Coding Assessments:

Developer assessment tools conduct real-time coding challenges to evaluate technical expertise, code efficiency, and problem-solving skills.

3. AI Chatbots for Initial Interviews:

AI chatbots handle initial screenings, assessing technical knowledge, communication skills, and cultural fit before human intervention.

4. Predictive Analytics for Hiring Success:

AI analyzes past hiring data and candidate work history to predict long-term success, improving recruitment accuracy.

5. AI in Background Verification:

AI-powered background checks ensure candidate authenticity, education verification, and fraud detection, reducing hiring risks.

Steps to Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

1. Define Job Roles and Key Skill Requirements:

Outline essential technical skills, experience levels, and project expectations to streamline recruitment.

2. Use AI-Based Hiring Platforms:

Leverage best AI hiring platforms like LinkedIn Talent Insightsand HireVue to source top developers.

3. Implement AI-Driven Skill Assessments:

AI-powered recruitment processes use coding tests and behavioral evaluations to assess real-world problem-solving abilities.

4. Conduct AI-Powered Video Interviews:

AI-driven interview tools analyze body language, sentiment, and communication skills for improved hiring accuracy.

5. Optimize Team Collaboration with AI Tools:

Remote work management tools like Trello, Asana, and Jira enhance productivity and ensure smooth collaboration.

Top AI-Powered Hiring Tools for Businesses

LinkedIn Talent Insights — AI-driven talent analytics

HackerRank — AI-powered coding assessments

HireVue — AI-driven video interview analysis

Pymetrics — AI-based behavioral and cognitive assessments

X0PA AI — AI-driven talent acquisition platform

Best Practices for Managing AI-Hired Developers in India

1. Establish Clear Communication Channels:

Use collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom for seamless communication.

2. Leverage AI-Driven Productivity Tracking:

Monitor performance using AI-powered tracking tools like Time Doctor and Hubstaff to optimize workflows.

3. Encourage Continuous Learning and Upskilling:

Provide access to AI-driven learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy to keep developers updated on industry trends.

4. Foster Cultural Alignment and Team Bonding:

Organize virtual team-building activities to enhance collaboration and engagement.

Future of AI in Developer Hiring

1) AI-Driven Automation for Faster Hiring:

AI will continue automating tedious recruitment tasks, improving efficiency and candidate experience.

2) AI and Blockchain for Transparent Recruitment:

Integrating AI with blockchain will enhance candidate verification and data security for trustworthy hiring processes.

3) AI’s Role in Enhancing Remote Work Efficiency:

AI-powered analytics and automation will further improve productivity within offshore development teams.

Conclusion:

AI revolutionizes the hiring of dedicated developers in India by automating candidate screening, coding assessments, and interview analysis. Businesses can leverage AI-powered tools to efficiently find, evaluate, and manage top-tier offshore developers, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality software development outsourcing.

Ready to hire dedicated developers in India using AI? iQlance offers cutting-edge AI-powered hiring solutions to help you find the best talent quickly and efficiently. Get in touch today!

[music-ntproduction]

Discover the Benefits of Music Worx: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you an artist or DJ looking to make waves in the music industry? Look no further than Music Worx! This comprehensive guide will unveil Music Worx's plethora of benefits, from boosting your music career to reaching a wider audience. Let's dive into how this powerful platform can take your music promotion game to the next level.

How Music Worx Can Benefit Artists And Djs

Music Worx provides a valuable platform for artists and DJs to showcase their work to a global audience. By utilizing this service, musicians can gain exposure and recognition in the industry, ultimately leading to increased opportunities for collaboration and performance.

One key benefit of Music Worx is its ability to connect artists with record labels, radio stations, and music influencers. This networking opportunity can open doors for artists looking to expand their reach and grow their fan base.

Moreover, Music Worx offers detailed analytics that allows users to track the performance of their releases. Artists and DJs can monitor metrics such as downloads, streams, and chart positions, enabling them to make informed decisions about their promotional strategies.

Music Worx is a powerful tool for emerging talents seeking to establish themselves in the competitive music landscape.

The Features Of Music Worx

Music Worx offers many features designed to streamline music promotion for artists and DJs. One standout feature is its user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and use even for those new to the platform.

With Music Worx, users can access a vast database of tracks across various genres, providing ample opportunities for discovery and collaboration. The platform allows artists to submit their music directly to record labels and industry professionals, increasing visibility and potential career opportunities.

Music Worx offers detailed analytics and feedback on-track performance, allowing users to make informed decisions about their promotional strategies. The ability to create personalized promo pools for specific audiences further enhances targeted marketing efforts.

Music Worx is a comprehensive tool that empowers musicians to elevate their careers in the competitive music industry.

How To Use Music Worx Effectively For Music Promotion

Are you an artist or DJ looking to elevate your music promotion game? Music Worx is here to help you amplify your reach and connect with a broader audience.

Create a compelling profile on Music Worx that effectively showcases your brand and music style. This will grab the attention of potential listeners and industry professionals browsing the platform.

Utilize the platform's playlist submission feature to get your tracks in front of influential curators who can boost your visibility. Engage with other users by commenting on tracks, sharing feedback, and networking within the community.

Take advantage of Music Worx's analytics tools to track the performance of your releases and gain valuable insights into listener behavior. Use this data to refine your promotional strategies and tailor your content for maximum impact.

By leveraging all of Music Worx's powerful features, you can take control of your music promotion efforts and unlock new opportunities for success in the competitive music industry.

Tips For Maximizing The Benefits Of Music Worx

By following these tips and using Music Worx to its full potential, artists and DJs can maximize this powerful platform's benefits. From accessing new promotional tools to connecting with a global network of industry professionals, Music Worx offers unparalleled opportunities for advancing your music career. Embrace the features, engage with the community, and watch your music reach new heights with Music Worx. Start making waves in the music industry today!

[darkmaga-returns]

February 10, 2025

China Urged To End Successful Policies

In a variant of the Sowing Doubt About China - But At What Cost? propaganda scheme, the New York Times makes the (somewhat racist) claim that China lacks the capability to turn talent into innovation:

What DeepSeek’s Success Says About China’s Ability to Nurture Talent (archived) - New York Times, Feb 10 2025

The subtitle reveals the core thesis:

China produces a vast number of STEM graduates, but it hasn’t been known for innovation. Cultural and political factors may help explain why.

In a globalized world the innovation ability of a country can be measured by the number of global patents it files.

China, which the NYT says is not known for innovation, is by far leading the pack.

One might argue that China, with four times the population of the United States, should have innovated even more than that. But seen under this aspect the U.S. is also far from the top.

Per million inhabitants China filed 1.2 patents per year while the United States filed 1.5. But the real leaders here are South Korea with 5.5 patents per year per million people followed by Japan with 3.3/y/million.

Real world numbers are not sufficient to support the NYT's central thesis. That is why it barely mentions some. Its argument comes down to a political one:

Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging platform Telegram, said last month that fierce competition in Chinese schools had fueled the country’s successes in artificial intelligence. “If the U.S. doesn’t reform its education system, it risks ceding tech leadership to China,” he wrote online. The reality is more complicated. Yes, China has invested heavily in education, especially in science and technology, which has helped nurture a significant pool of talent, key to its ambition of becoming a world leader in A.I. by 2025. But outside of the classroom, those graduates must also contend with obstacles that include a grinding corporate culture and the political whims of the ruling Communist Party. Under its current top leader, Xi Jinping, the party has emphasized control, rather than economic growth, and has been willing to crack down on tech firms it deems too influential.

If that is indeed so why is it supposed to be bad?

Is it really healthy for a country to have Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet (Google) leading in Market Cap? The author fails to follow that question.

She instead misleads about the alleged crack-down:

Beijing has blessed the A.I. sector �� for now. But in 2020, after deciding that it had too little control over major companies like Alibaba, it launched a sweeping, yearslong crackdown on the Chinese tech industry.

The crack-down against Alibaba owner Jack Ma came when he tried to expand Alibaba into the so called fin-tech business.

Juggling with credit and various derivatives thereof is a part of the economy that is better to be kept under control. The 2008 mortgage credit crisis and the following government bailout of private banks have taught as much. Pouring money and talent into a sector that is not productive and carries high risk is not in any societies' best interest.

[mollywall-e]

Sneak Peek at Chapter Four of Take Me Home, my Imodna Red Dead AU

“On this, the thirtieth day of September, on felony charges of trespassing, arson, and assaulting an officer of the law,” Sheriff Gray starts. Imogen snakes an arm behind her back, fingers curling around the handle of the sawed-off shotgun she’s kept in her waistband all day. The deputy releases his hold on Laudna, who nearly collapses, and starts shuffling toward a lever. Imogen clicks back the hammer. “…The state of Lemoyne sentences you, Matilda Johanna Braithwaite, to death.”

As the sheriff passes his sentence, Imogen pulls the trigger.

snippet of chapter four under the cut!

warning: it contains graphic violence

BANG.

Imogen hardly flinches as a spray of crimson erupts from what once was the deptuy's head, now no more than a mangled stump of flesh and bone. She simply stares down the sights of her daddy's gun, unblinking in the face of the carnage she's caused.

Maybe she would've thought twice about pulling that trigger if she'd known just how much blood folks have running through their veins. All Imogen can see is red. Gushing from the deputy's split skull. Dotting the leaves of the hanging tree's low-hanging limbs. Seeping into the wooden platform, dripping between the planks. Splashing onto the red dirt like the rain folks have been praying so hard for.

Imogen dimly registers the crowd's panic, their screams muffled over the shrill ringing in her ears, but she can't tear her eyes from the blood as it drips, and drips, and drips. She swears she can taste the bittersweet tang of iron on her lips just from looking at it.

It's sickening.

It's mesmerizing.

Imogen's jolted from her shock-fueled trance as a broken voice, hardly more than a whisper, calls out amongst the chaos.

“Imogennn…”

Imogen tears her eyes from the blood pooling underneath the platform to look up at Laudna, clawing at the noose still fastened around her neck, panic evident in her eyes.

“Laudna?!”

Imogen's not sure why it comes out like a question. Of course it's Laudna. The only reason she fired that damn gun was to save her from the noose, but she hasn't even done that properly. Yet.

“...help me…Imo - ”

There's a dull thud, and then -

BANG.

The trap-door beneath Laudna's feet snaps open. Laudna falls, and falls, and falls. It feels like she's falling forever, though Imogen knows it couldn't have been more than a second or two. Eventually, the rope runs out of slack, snapping taut. Laudna's last word, Imogen's own name, is cut off by a choked gasp as the noose tightens around her throat.

FEATURING ART BY THE TALENTED @atleastweasel