#Turn key homes builder

[korunia]

Living Room Miami

Ideas for remodeling a small, contemporary, formal living room without a television and with beige walls

[return-to-ravenbrooks]

Return to Ravenbrooks:

Biography

Entry 6

Name: Aaron Peterson

Date of Birth: 1996

Gender: M

Current Address: 910 Friendly Court

Height: 6'5

Hair color: Light Brown

Eye color: Brown

Key features: clean-shaven, fluffy hair

Role: Informant

Abilities: Lock picking, engineering, sneaking, careful

Occupation: ???

Status: Undetermined

Biography:

One two three, one two three, one two thr-.

Creeaaak

The ninth plank creaks slightly under my step. I lifted the notebook again, marking the spot on the room grid with an X.

Relatively I can't say it wasn't well-built, I only have five other Xs for this room, all rather quiet. I should be happy for that part, but it only makes keeping things right harder. If it was quiet under my step how would it sound under someone smaller? Quieter? Someone trying to sneak up on me?

A soft sigh escapes my lips. I can’t let this stuff get so intense already. If I'm right no one in town even knows I'm here. I worked so hard to fake it. A fake name, a fake architect with a fake background to feed the papers. A fake rich older man wanted a house built in Ravenbrooks and seeing the price of this property decided to invest. I had to be careful. It had to be perfect. I'd likely only have a week, two at most, before they realized I was here.

To think I spent months building up an alibi to grant me so little time.

The silver doorknob glints as I grab it, first overhand, then under. Turned left then right. It clicks softly in both directions. The noise is soothing, comfortingly audible. Next the lock, back then forth then back then forth. Three times. Always three times. It clicks as well, louder with a metallic tang. I stop and listen as the noise echoes back to my ears after every turn. Every door is equipped with a slightly different lock, custom-made.

It's not safe. It will never be safe, but it's better. It'll suit my needs until they find ou-

Tick

Tick

Tick

...

Click

No- no no no already?! Why are they here already? How?! I can feel the sweat building up on my palms. Need to act quickly. Get rid of it.

They're like scout ants, if I can get them to believe whatever loon will live here just hasn't packed or anything maybe they'll report back nothing. It'll probably cut down my time to days at most but it will be something. Please just leave me some time.

I grab a hammer off the desk, shifting my grip. A builder left it. I create the excuse in my head. I thought you were them, coming to retrieve it. Or, I thought you were a burglar. If it gets violent.

My breath stops. Footsteps. Soft for the most part, with a few heavier sets. Multiple people. Of course. I close my eyes, counting them carefully.

Seven.

God dammit.

This wasn't going to end peacefully. I knew it. I'm doomed. They'll either kill me or make some excuse to have me removed from town. Could I claim invader for seven people? Could I take seven people?

"Watch your step" a woman whispered. They're in the next room. It's now or never Aaron. Are you going to let it all be for nothing?

"Be quiet." A male voice hushed with annoyance.

Click

Click

Click

Click

He's picking the lock. I shift the hammer in my grasp again, purposeful this time. Ready.

When the door finally opens I'm ready to crack the metal against his skull.

But I can't.

The six behind him notice me before he does. Someone yells, and another grabs and yanks him back. I can’t even see his eyes through the thick lenses of his goggles. No. My goggles.

The hammer has fallen to the floor now, I hadn't even realized I'd let go of it. Just the loud thud of it hitting the floor.

It frees my brain from it's distraction. Seven. I grab my gloves, and yank. The fear in their eyes makes this all easier. "What are you doing inside my home?" I say it calmly, but the malice is omnipresent. Good. I want them scared, to run screaming.

The woman who grabbed his arm spoke up first, stammering nonsense before managing, "Well- well they uh-" she turned and looked at taller women beside her. I took a step closer.

"Th-this isn't what it looks like!" A ginger behind her squeaked. Another step.

The others exchanged glances and angry whispers. I didn't care. I could barely hear them at this point over my own growing anger.

"AH! Well- about that..." the taller woman whimpered. "U-uh- Nick?"

I pause midstep. The goggled man finally pulls them off his eyes. They're not the green I'd remembered so well. Instead that dead looking brown. He looks embarrassed more than scared. "Uh- well-" he begins. I stop listening again.

"Nicky?"

He stops too and his awkward smile slowly fades. I stare wide-eyed. How can someone look so alike and yet so different to the child they were years ago?

"Aaron." He responds. Something about his voice is...wrong. I can’t place it. But it doesn't matter. Before I even realize it I'm smiling like an idiot. He looks down at the floor. I take another step.

That's the last thing I remember before hitting the ground, before everything went black.

[abigails-gf]

hi!! it’s me again ahaha :) i absolutely loved what you did w my request omg!!! your so so talented <33 i have another ideaaa okay so it’s summer n abby and you n her friends (like mel,owen,manny yk) wanna go to the beach or somewhere but reader is super self conscious abt their scars (bc the others don’t know) but abby already knows so she’s like reassuring them n stuff!! and then they go to the beach n have the best time!! <333 also do u do emoji anons? if so could i be 🪐 anon? it’s okay if not i js think if will be easer than me going it’s me again or the one who requested this ahaha!! but if not that’s okay no pressure!! also sorry if this one is a but confusing 🩷🩷

abby anderson x fem reader.

abby reassures her girlfriend before going to the beach.

warnings: reader has self-h*rm scars although it isn't explicitly mentioned.

a/n: hi 💐!! i'm sorry it took me some time to fill this request. but now it's done! i'm not sure how i feel about it, honestly. but i think i like it? i'm honestly not the biggest fan of the beach, but anyways! owen and mel are in this, by the way! . i hope you like it! <33

you were on the balcony, enjoying the sun on your face when the door of your apartment opened. you heard keys being put down and footsteps coming your way.

you felt her lips against the side of your neck and her arms wrapping around you. “good morning, sweet girl.” you smiled and turned around to look into her eyes. “good morning to you too, my love.” you kissed her lips.

abby woke up before you that day. she had promised mel to help her build her kid’s new bed. “how’s mel?” you asked.

“she’s good, her belly is the size of a watermelon now... also, owen is really bad at building furniture.” she chuckled.

“oh, by the way”, abby said, taking your hands into hers. “they asked if we wanted to go to the beach with them this afternoon? it’s really warm and sunny... what do you think?” you tried to force a smile. “i don’t really feel like going but – you can go without me.”

abby noticed something was bothering you, and she knew what it was. she squeezed your hands. “hey, i promise it’ll go well. they won’t even notice.” she said softly. you shook your head. “i know. but what if they do? what if they judge me for it? plus, i don’t think i’ll feel comfortable in a swimsuit, abs. i’m sorry.” you looked down at your arms.

she kissed your forehead and held you tightly before bringing you back inside. she led you to your bedroom and started looking through your shared closet. “what are you doing?” you asked, sitting on the bed. “trying to find you something that could help you feel comfortable.”

she searched for a few minutes before putting down her finds on the bed. “i found some of my old swim shorts, you could wear them. i also found you a veil. you could wear it to hide your arms, if you feel uncomfortable.”

you smiled. “thank you, abby.” she leaned down to kiss you. “they won’t judge you. i promise. all they want is for all of us to have a good time. and if you feel really uncomfortable, i could pack one of your sweatshirts in our bag. okay?” you nodded and left a peck on her lips. “i love you.” you whispered, making her smile.

mel and owen were already there. owen was putting sunscreen on mel’s back. “hey, guys!” abby said as you arrived at their level. “bob the builder’s in the house!” mel joked. you smiled and hugged mel and owen.

you sat on your towel, in your swimsuit and abby’s shorts, her sitting behind you in her bikini top and shorts. you held the veil on your shoulders, abby leaving small kisses against the fabric. “you guys are adorable...” you looked at mel and thanked her. “you’re really lucky to have abby at home... owen can’t build shit.” mel tried to say quietly. owen turned around, offended. “hey! i built a baby inside you, ma’am.” you all laughed.

a few minutes later, you were all in the water. abby kept looking at you to make sure you were feeling alright – you left the veil on your towel. “don’t worry, baby. i’m okay.” you whispered into her ear. she nodded and kissed you. “good.”

owen threw water to abby which then ended into a water fight between the two of them.

abby came to you and picked you up as you yelled for her to put you down. she walked out of the water and put you down on your towel. you looked at her. her braid was barely hanging on, water dripping down her neck and shoulders, falling on your body. some drops found their way on her chest. “what’re you looking at, beautiful?” you blushed and looked up, your eyes falling on her lips. she smiled and kissed you softly. “do my lips taste salty?” she asked you, smiling. you nodded and kissed her back, biting her bottom lip.

“get a room, you two!” owen joked behind, making you pull away from your girlfriend. “shut up.” abby said standing up.

the afternoon was coming to an end. you had spent the last hour under the sun next to mel. abby was busy reading a book and owen probably fell asleep.

abby promised mel to come by the next week to build a changing table. mel also said that you could come as well for lunch. the couple thanked you for this nice afternoon and you all parted ways.

on the drive back home, abby had her hand on your thigh. “how’re you feeling? did you have a good afternoon?” you put your hand above hers and smirked. “mhm. i did. t’was nice. also – you look really good when you’re wet.” she quickly looked at you and smiled. “oh, really? thank you, pretty girl.” she squeezed your thigh. “and you look good under me.” she said, a smirk on her face.

abby was right: it went well. neither mel and owen asked any questions about your scars.

“thank you for making sure i was alright, abby.” you said quietly. “of course, m’love.” she stopped at a red light and brought your hand to her lips, kissing it. “i love you.”

[bookwormscififan]

The Phoenix

Read on AO3!

A/N: A fire burned down Mad and Mare's apartment, taking Mad with it. Just when Mare thought Mad was gone forever, the dark purple gem he'd given him began to glow. Basically I had this idea to align Mad with a phoenix.

Mare stared, mouth open, at the burning building before him.

He’d been out to a business meeting, whistling down the street after ensuring Mad would be safe alone. The meeting had gone terribly, and he walked home comforted by the idea of returning to Mad, who would make his day much better.

Then he’d seen the smoke. Rising into the sky above the apartment buildings in the street, the grey cloud swirled into the blue beyond. Mare was curious until he realised the smoke was coming from a few blocks away, in the direction of the apartment building where he lived with Mad.

He had run home with lightning speed, narrowly avoiding a few cars and pedestrians, to see the orange tongues licking at the walls of his apartment building, the largest flames appearing to come from the window of Mare and Mad’s apartment.

The horror of realising Mad could be in there, helpless, stuck Mare’s feet into the ground, and he raised a hand over his mouth as tears burned at the corners of his eyes. His eyes searched the crowds, scanning the faces in search of Mad, and a sob forced its way out of his throat when he couldn’t see him.

Mare whimpered as firefighters tried in vain to put out the fire, watching paramedics carry charred bodies from the wreckage. His heart ached as the floors were cleared, sounds of reporters muffled as his heartbeat drummed in his ears.

Finally, they brought the last person out, charred remains lying on a stretcher. Mare reached out blindly, looking past the burned skin for defining features, hands finding the purple gem clasped in the burned hand and letting the calm façade shatter as he reached the conclusion: this was Mad’s body, Mad was dead.

People told him the fire had started a floor above his apartment; someone had left the gas on and lit a match. The fire had quickly travelled through the building, engulfing everything in flames within an hour. By the time emergency services had reached their apartment, Mad had been in the fire too long to save.

They’d compensated Mare for everything that was lost to the fire, returning the ash-covered items that could be salvaged. While repairs were being worked on the building, Mare had been provided a place to stay, but he still returned to the building daily to grieve over Mad.

The purple gem began to glow a week after the fire. Mare felt the warmth seep into his skin before he saw the light, sitting up in bed with a gasp before running out of the room, tugging on his shoes before dashing out of the apartment.

He stood outside the apartment complex, breathing heavy as he slipped through a gap in the construction fence to get into the site. Digging his key from his pocket, he unlocked the door and swiftly climbed the many flights of stairs to his apartment.

The lock on the door had warped in the fire, but the builders had left it unlocked so they could repair the inside. Mare silently thanked the builders as he pushed the door open, stepping into the remaining soot and ash of the apartment.

“Mad?” He asked, voice quivering as he searched the area, heart aching at the sight of the destroyed furniture and decorations. He let out a whimper when he spotted the charred books in the bookshelf on the wall, once pale ash wood now blackened cinders.

The gem in his hand seemed to glow warmer as he turned toward their room, and his feet numbly traced a path through the remains of the apartment.

Mare hissed, dropping the gem when he entered their room, a purple burn marking his palm. Blowing on the blistered skin, Mare looked around the room, ignoring the wreckage of the place he found the most joy.

The burned hand moved to his jumping heart at seeing the shape under the black covers, stumbling through broken flooring to fall onto the bed, grasping desperately at the sheets to throw them off the mattress and uncover the pale expanse of skin curled in the centre.

“Mad,” he breathed, reaching forward to brush away dark hair from his forehead, letting out a breathless chuckle when Mad shifted, brows flickering before deep brown eyes opened, squinting in the dim light at Mare.

“Mare?” His voice was husky, like he’d breathed a lot of smoke, and laced with drowsiness. He lifted his hand, covered in ashes, and cupped Mare’s cheek, wiping his tears with his thumb and smearing ash over the skin.

Mare didn’t speak, lip trembling as he pressed his hands to either side of Mad’s head and pulled him up into a deep kiss, hands trailing down to Mad’s shoulders to pull him closer and deepen the kiss, feeling the flakiness of ashes all over his form.

“How did you…?” He gasped, breaking the kiss to look into Mad’s eyes. Mad smiled, a corner of his mouth pulling up slightly as he leaned back. His eyes searched the room, landing on the gem on the ground, and he pointed at it.

“That gem,” he began. “It allowed me to come back. I woke up here, where I’d died.” He looked at his hands, squished into the small space between them, watching as the ashes on his skin ignited, thin tongues of flame licking at the air around them.

“Fire…” Mare breathed, entranced by the sight, reaching forward to touch the flames, chuckling when he didn’t get burned.

“I won’t stay dead for long,” Mad stated, turning his hands before snapping his fingers and extinguishing the flames. “I keep coming back. I tested it the first time I came back: I died and came back. Mare, I think the gem made me immortal.”

Mare stared at the gem on the ground, frowning as he tried to understand what Mad was saying. He had given Mad the gem as a gift six months after they’d started dating, and it had always had some sort of emotional connection between them.

Mare, having some powers of his own, had always feared Mad dying. The gem, he assumed, must have interpreted his fears, and now Mad was alive again, potentially never to die.

“Like a phoenix…” he finished his thought in a whisper, gaze returning to Mad as a smile spread across his face. Before Mad could ask any questions, Mare grabbed his face again and brought him back into a kiss, holding him close before pulling away, laughing at his blush.

“My phoenix.” When Mad blushed again, Mare just kissed him more, pushing him down onto the bed and continuing to kiss him senseless.  

------

@brokentimewatch @iamvegorott

[murfeelee]

Get to know you - Sims Style

Thanks @descendantdragfi here and @obscurus-noctem here for tagging me! ❤️

What’s your favorite Sims death? Every death is hilarious--fire and drowning are iconic, ofc. My fave sims GHOST, however, is the Haunted one from SN, and the Hologram one from ITF.

Alpha CC or Maxis Match? Alpha CC. I don't mind Maxis Match in TS3, but EFF NO in TS4--get that clayfied crap out of my face, alpha all the waaaaaay~!

Do you cheat your sims weight? YES, I use a weight gain mod.

Do you move objects? MOOOOOOOO! 🐄🐮

Favorite Mod? I juuuuust made a whole post drooling over my faves.

First Expansion/Game Pack/Stuff Pack? TS1 Makin Magic. Iconic.

Do you pronounce live mode like aLIVE or LIVing? aLIVE.

Who’s your favorite sim that you’ve made? My avatar sim, Sakura Rain, the time-traveling Japanese cherry-tree faery of the Unseelie Court. (She's inspired by all my fave pink-haired anime characters.)

Have you made a simself? Yes, but only when I play The Sims with my family members, and we take turns making each other and our home. It's so much fun.

Which is your favorite EA hair color? White. Especially after TS4 came out with no CASt or color wheel and I couldn't even recreate my main sims like wtf. I have a type, EA!

Favorite EA hair? PFFT! 🙄 I can't stand most of the hairs EA makes in general, especially not the ones for male sims, as most of mine have very long hair.

Favorite life stage? Young adult, by default. But as more mods have been made for kids (No Stretch, Child Magic, Toddler Interactions) I have been enjoying child sims FAR more than I used to.

Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay? I'm a builder--that's how I got into TS1 way back in the day. I like decorating interiors--my exteriors are usually sad, I suck at using CFE--and just cluttering up my lots. As a fandom-inspired storyteller, I rely on in-game interactions to give my sims the poses/scenes I need, so having deep and immersive gameplay that allows me to recreate whatever fandoms I want is key.

Are you a CC creator? Unfortunately.

Do you have any Simblr friends or a Sim Squad? A "sim squad"???

Do you have any sims merch? No, but I want one of those plumbbob headbands so I can dress up as a sim on Halloween. XD

Do you have a  Youtube for sims? Technically no. I got into making TS3 machinimas inspired by my favorite music a few years ago, and would upload them to Youtube cuz that's what everyone did, but omfg all the recent changes in copyright and music policies has made it SUCH a headache uploading ANYWHERE--including Tumblr!

Like, my most recent IWTV insp. machinima on Tumblr has that stupid Copyright Guidelines thumbnail on it, even though Tumblr ACCEPTED the video and let it go through--it plays! It's not removed, so wtf??? No matter how many times I tried reuploading it I got the same problem--this BS is more trouble than it's worth, tbh.

How has your “Sims style” changed throughout your years of playing? My gameplay will always look a bit pudding, but I think/hope I'm getting better at recreating different fandoms, and getting the level of detail down just right.

Who’s your favorite CC creator? It takes a village. There is no ONE creator--especially since all my OG faves retired a long time ago: Luna, @qingshuangtongzi, Hekate999, etc. And new simmers pop up everyday that blow my mind, so yeah, it's just the community at large, really. 💚💚💚

How long have you had Simblr? 2013--this July will make it a full decade. Tumblr's trash but it's also the absolute best, LOL.

How do you edit your pictures? I suck at editing--in GIMP I just tweak the "Curves" brightness & saturation when the in-game lighting is hot garbage, then call it a win.

What expansion/ gamepack is your favorite? (TS1) Makin Magic, (TS2) Apartment Life & Night Life are tied for witches & vampires, (TS3) Supernatural, (TS4) Vampires. Like, Supernatural changed my life, I seriously doubt I'd've kept playing TS3 as long as I have without SN. I also love World Adventures and Into the Future of course, but Supernatural gave us Witches, Faeries, Werewolves, (I'm not even gonna talk about TS3's busted Vampires like how the EFF were they "updated" or "fixed" when we STILL didn't get a functional coffin, like what frikkin vampire would sleep on a frikkin altar exposed to the sunlight like a effing BUFFOON, EA?!) and all kinds of fanciful content that I just can't live without. Hands down. 🧙🪄🧙‍♀️✨

________________________________________

Y'all know me--if y'all want to do this, too, just say I tagged you! <3

[unproduciblesmackdown]

more from the 2011 "the bus" kickstarter's updates via james lantz:

2. We're designing and building our set. We're so lucky to have Michael Schweikardt designing our set. Our director, John Simpkins, and Michael have been working together for years, so it's great to have this team behind The Bus. To give you some idea of some of the talent behind our show, The Wall Street Journal recently said of Michael's set for the acclaimed Goodspeed Musical's production of Showboat, "Michael Schweikardt's compact yet rich-looking sets deserve a prize for sheer ingenuity." Michael is definitely bringing some of that ingenuity to our show at 59E59 -- check out the photo essay below of our work-in-progress set for The Bus. Pictured are our Vermont artisans, John Maurier of Champlain Metals who is building the platform structure, and Mark Dabelstein, our set builder (who worked outside in the rain today ripping out an old gas pump!) 

I have to be quiet right now because I'm preparing this update in the middle of rehearsal so that's why I'm typing lightly (tap, tap, tap...) but I couldn't wait because I really wanted to share an idea with you.... [...] ps. This is my view of rehearsal right now (plus 2 other pics from rehearsal)

Last night I was walking from the rehearsal studio to grab a bite to eat and I passed by our soon-to-be home, 59E59 Theaters -- and there, in front of the theater, was a postcard kiosk with the brand new postcards for The Bus loaded and ready for people to pick up.  Suddenly feels like we're official! (In a couple of days, I can't wait for our two actors, Will and Bryan to see their faces on a HUGE 10' poster in the theater windows!)  [...] You're becoming a topic of conversation, too! New Yorkers are interested in how we crowd-funded our entire play. One industry guy told me, "Look, I'm used to dealing with a handful of wealthy investors to put on my plays -- but 450 people, some who've donated less than $10 -- never heard of that before!" We also got a call from a publicist who inquired about the possibility of a reporter following us to Topeka to write about a crowd-funded play on the road. We'll be sure and keep you posted. Oh, and Thank You to our backers who wrote personal notes to some key press and industry folks -- we were able to get about 55 hand-written notes to some of the most influential theater folk in the city. Thank you!

Okay, so we're minutes away from our first NYC performance and we're sold out! I don't have much time so I'm sending you a photo essay of our first couple of days here at 59E59 that should tell you what we've been up to and, in a small way, let you know that we wish you were here. This is, after all, your show too!

Our last show at 59E59 Theaters was this afternoon -- lots of tears, hugs and a standing ovation. A nice way to end our run at one of the best Off Broadway venues in New York City (Thank you for having us 59E59! We loved being at your theater!). So we loaded up the truck, said our goodbyes to our cast and crew (until December) and soon, we'll be Vermont-bound with our set, costumes and an old Texaco gas pump. Now it's time to turn our sights toward Kansas where we'll be taking our show in December (in our next post, we'll give you more details about our forthcoming performance). In the meantime, we're pretty exhausted here. We'll leave you with some pictures of our load-out and one last shot of us standing in front of 59E59 Theaters.  Oh, one more thought -- there wasn't a single show that YOU weren't present -- you were in the program, on our website, and on our mind every time The Bus took to the stage in NYC. We're not done yet -- we still have our backer rewards to get to you (I'm so sorry for the delay; producing our show has been a much bigger and time-consuming task than I had expected!) and we've got our show in Kansas to produce, too -- but we just cleared a big hurdle and now seems like a good time to say, 'We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you!' 

During the shows I stood in the back of the theater and watched as The Bus unfolded for some of the most attentive audiences we've ever played for. The cast felt it, too -- one of our actors, Bryan Fitzgerald, said that, 'Like no other time, he felt every eye focused on the show like a laser.' It was fascinating to listen to our audiences, too -- what they laughed at, when they were quiet, and when a few of them audibly gasped. Some jokes in the script that never got a response in New York, got hearty and sustained laughter from our generous folks in Kansas. At the end of every show our cast received standing ovations -- lots of tears, smiles and people saying how much they appreciated us bringing the show to their state. We were so moved. 

Nate Phelps, Steph Mott (KEC) and the cast doing a talk back following a performance at The Blue Planet Cafe.

Bryan Fitzgerald, Will Roland and Travis Mitchell during a talkback.

l. to r. Bryan Fitzgerald, Steph Mott (Kansas Equality), Nate Phelps, Jim Lantz, Shepherd Michael, Travis Mitchell, Will Roland, Julia Lawler, Bob Nuner, Kerry McGann and Josh Wright. (not pictured: our incredible director John Simpkins)

Loading the set into MCC Church, Topeka. / Prepping set and sound at MCC Church.

[illumtori]

Maximizing Credit Card Use for Financial Goals

Welcome back to our series on credit cards and personal finance! In the previous article, we explored the fundamentals of responsible credit card use and how to choose the right card for your needs. Now, we’re diving deeper into credit cards to help you leverage them for your financial goals. Whether you’re looking to build credit, earn rewards, or manage your expenses more effectively, this article is your guide to getting the most out of your plastic companion.

Have you ever wondered how to turn your credit card into a powerful tool for achieving financial success? The answer lies in strategic and responsible credit card usage. Let’s explore how you can leverage your card for various financial goals.

Building and Improving Credit with Credit Cards

Building and improving your credit score is like laying a strong foundation for your financial future. Your credit score influences the interest rates you’ll receive on loans and credit cards, affecting your ability to buy a home, finance a car, or even secure a job. Your credit card can be a key player in building and improving your credit score. By using it responsibly through making on-time payments and keeping balances low, you establish a positive credit history. If you’re new to credit or rebuilding your score, consider secured credit cards or credit builder loans to get started.

Here’s how to use your credit card to boost your creditworthiness:

Responsible Credit Card Use

The foundation of a good credit score is responsible credit card usage. Pay your credit card bills on time, every time. Timely payments contribute significantly to your payment history, one of the most crucial factors in your credit score. Set up automatic payments to ensure you never miss a due date.

Keep Balances Low

High credit card balances relative to your credit limit can negatively impact your credit score. Aim to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%. For example, if your credit limit is $10,000, try to maintain a balance of $3,000 or less. This shows lenders that you’re responsible with credit.

Diversify Your Credit Mix

A mix of credit types can also work in your favor. In addition to credit cards, consider having installment loans (e.g., a car loan) in your credit history. A diverse mix demonstrates your ability to manage various types of credit.

Avoid Opening Too Many Accounts at Once

Each time you apply for credit, it results in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score. Be selective when opening new credit card accounts and avoid a flurry of applications in a short period.

By mastering these credit-building strategies, you’ll not only elevate your credit score but also enhance your financial standing. A strong credit profile opens doors to better financial opportunities and lower borrowing costs.

Earning Rewards and Cashback with Credit Cards

One of the most enticing aspects of credit card ownership is the potential to earn rewards or cashback on your spending. Who doesn’t love the idea of being rewarded for their spending? To make the most of this, select a credit card that aligns with your spending habits. If you’re a frequent traveler, a travel rewards card might be the best option. For everyday expenses, cashback cards can put money back in your pocket. Additionally, keep an eye out for sign-up bonuses — these can provide a significant boost to your rewards balance. By leveraging your credit card for these purposes, you’re not only working towards your financial goals but also getting the most out of your credit card’s potential.

Credit cards offer an array of rewards, from cashback on everyday purchases to travel points that can whisk you away on exciting adventures. Let’s explore how to make the most of these perks:

Match Rewards to Your Lifestyle

The key to maximizing rewards is to match the right card to your lifestyle. If you’re a frequent traveler, consider a travel rewards card that offers bonus miles or hotel stays. For those who prefer simplicity, cashback cards provide straightforward rewards on everyday spending.

Sign-Up Bonuses

Don’t underestimate the power of sign-up bonuses. Many credit cards offer substantial bonuses when you meet a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. These bonuses can kickstart your rewards earnings.

Strategic Spending

Take a close look at your spending habits and leverage cards that offer the most rewards in your primary spending categories. For instance, if you spend heavily on groceries, choose a card with a high cashback rate in that category.

Supplementary Benefits

Beyond rewards, credit cards often come with supplementary benefits like purchase protection, extended warranties, rental car insurance, and airport lounge access. Familiarize yourself with these perks and use them to your advantage.

Remember, the key to successful rewards earning is to pay your credit card balance in full each month. Carrying a balance and incurring interest can quickly negate the value of your rewards.

Taking Advantage of Interest-Free Periods

Credit cards often come an interest-free period on purchases which is an enticing feature. During this period, you can make purchases without incurring any interest charges, provided you pay the balance in full by the due date. Here’s how to make the most of this perk:

Planned Purchases

If you have significant expenses on the horizon, such as home improvements or medical bills, consider using a credit card with a 0% APR introductory offer on purchases. This allows you to spread the cost over several months without accruing interest, making larger expenses more manageable.

Balance Transfers

Some credit cards also offer 0% APR introductory periods on balance transfers. If you have existing credit card debt with high-interest rates, transferring it to a card with a 0% APR can save you money on interest and help you pay down the debt faster.

Responsible Payment

While the interest-free period provides breathing room, remember that it’s crucial to pay off the balance before the promotional period ends. Missing this deadline can result in retroactive interest charges, which can be financially burdensome.

Automating Payments and Savings

Automation is a powerful ally in managing your credit card accounts and financial goals:

Auto-Pay Minimum

To avoid late fees and penalties, set up automatic payments to cover at least the minimum payment due each month. This ensures that you never miss a payment deadline.

Auto-Pay Full Balance

For optimal financial practice, consider setting up auto-pay to cover the full credit card balance each month. By doing so, you avoid interest charges altogether, and your credit score benefits from consistent, on-time payments.

Auto-Transfer to Savings

If your credit card rewards come in the form of cashback, consider automating transfers of your earnings into a savings account or towards specific financial goals. This effortless saving can gradually help you achieve your financial goals.

Maintaining a Low Credit Utilization Ratio

Your credit utilization ratio, which is the percentage of your available credit you’re using, plays a significant role in your credit score. Keeping this ratio low can positively impact your creditworthiness:

Pay Balances in Full

Aim to pay your credit card balances in full each month. By doing so, you not only avoid interest charges but also maintain a low credit utilization ratio.

Request Credit Limit Increases

If you’ve been a responsible credit card user, consider requesting a credit limit increase from your card issuer. A higher credit limit can automatically reduce your utilization ratio if you don’t increase your spending.

Monitor Credit Utilization

Regularly monitor your credit utilization ratio and make adjustments as needed. If you notice your ratio creeping up, consider reducing your credit card spending or making an extra payment mid-cycle to keep it in check.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only maximize the benefits of your credit cards but also strengthen your financial foundation. These practices promote responsible credit card use and financial discipline, essential elements of long-term financial success.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored credit card strategies that can help you achieve your financial goals. From building and improving credit to earning rewards and leveraging interest-free periods, each strategy is a valuable tool in your financial toolkit. Remember that responsible credit card use is key to reaping the benefits while avoiding common pitfalls. In the next article, we will look into even more advanced credit card techniques and explore how to take your financial journey to the next level. Stay tuned for our continued exploration of credit card mastery and financial success!

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[7xdeadlyxsims]

Paved Paths Legacy Challenge

I created my own legacy challenge which is more story driven. There is room to create your own spin and levels to the story, but I wanted something sorta realistic.

There are no gender or sexuality requirements in this. Style and create the characters preferences as you wish!

Feel free to share any ideas on how I can make it better. Hope you enjoy!

Generation 1: Bootstraps

Story: Finally in the position to put roots down and get established They are able to pick themselves up from their bootstraps. From hard work in crafting and gardening they’re able to slowly build their home, fall in love and potentially begin having a family. 

Career: Craft table and gardening

Trait(s): Family Oriented, Loner

Goals

Begins with 0 simoleons and homeless

Cottage Living – Lot must have Simple Living Trait

Complete ¾ Successful Lineage Aspiration

Max Gardening Skill

Max Handiness Skill

Build Furniture to decorate house

Never moves from original lot

Sunday Family Dinners

At least 2 Children

Generation 2: Anything is Possible

Story: After watching their parent(s) build something out of nothing, they have a whimsical open mindedness to the world of possibility. Some may believe they’re naive and head in the clouds, but this sim thinks there are no limits to what may happen. True love? Yes please! Happy family? Sounds great! The world is not always that simple and the hard truth is to come.

Career: Actress/Musician

Trait(s): Goofball, Lazy

Goals

Inherits % of family wealth when moves out (100/amount of children)

Complete Soulmate Aspiration

Max Acting/Instrument Skill

Max Comedy Skill

Have Spouse cheat on Heir

“Friend Group” must go out every Friday

At least 3 kids (1 must be from different partner)

Generation 3: Right Path

Story: Watching your parent(s) be in some way – irresponsible – has turned them into a “realist” or in other words a pessimist. This sim is obsessed with doing things the “right way” and having what others have and MORE. One might say they’re obsessed with checking the boxes of life.

Career: Business/Politician

Trait(s): Jealous, Ambitious, Materialistic

Goals

Inherits % of family wealth when moves out (100/amount of children)

Complete Fabulously Wealthy Aspiration

University – Get Business Degree

Max Charisma Skill

Max Logic Skill

Dinner Party once a week

Marry while a Young Adult

First and only child as an Adult

Generation 4: Sense of Duty

Story: Work hard and you will succeed is what they were raised on, and is what they will continue. However, it is all a facade to them. They have kids and a family out of a feeling of obligation and keep them in line the only way they know how. RULES, RULES, and more RULES. 

Career: Military/Secret Agent

Trait(s): Hates Children, Active

Goals

Inherits 100% of family wealth

Complete Body Builder Aspiration

Max Active Skill

Max Logic Skill

Go on at least 3 “Family Camping Trips”

Outdoor Adventures – actual camping vacation

Base Game – Spend the weekend at a public park

Heir is main Disciplinary in household 

Growing Together – Heir has strict dynamics with kids

Have 4 kids

Generation 5: Great Power

Story: Want to talk about generational trauma? To be in this family, the standards are high. They will achieve it though. A revolutionary of the mind cannot be ignored and praise from the world fuels their fire. Sometimes the family gets put on the back burner. What does that matter when there is eternal glory in academia and accomplishments?

Career: Astronaut/Scientist

Trait(s): Genius, Snob

Goals

Inherits % of family wealth when moves out (100/amount of children)

Complete Villainous Valentine Aspiration

University – Get Degree

Max Rocket Science Skill

Max Relations with Partner

Heir gets divorced

Growing Together – Complicated family dynamic with kids

Heir is distant parent

Have at least 1 child

 

Generation 6: Anarchy

Story: Fed up with never being good enough for the family, they break away from them as a whole. Name change and disaffiliation is key to being angry at the world. After years of stealing and taking karma into their own hands, their first born changes everything. The miracle of life awakes this warmth in them and all they want is to share their love with their kids.

Career: Criminal Career

Trait(s): Kleptomaniac

Goals

Inherits 0 simoleons and homeless

Complete Master of Mischief Aspiration

Max Charisma Skill

Use ‘Ask for Loan’ once a day

Quit Criminal Career when first born becomes Child

Can start any career from level 1

Single parent, never marries

Has 2-4 kids

Generation 7: Hear Me Out

Story: As a child they never knew much about their lineage, but knew their parent did whatever it took to keep a roof over their head and to show them love. Grateful for the sacrifices made for them, they decide to tell their parent’s story. A life of experience and story telling is more than fulfilling for this sim. 

Career: Writer/Teacher

Trait(s): Romantic, Perfectionist

Goals

Inherits % of family wealth when moves out (100/amount of children)

Complete Friend of the World Aspiration

Max Writing Skill

Reach level 6 in 4 other skills

Must have strong relationship with immediate family members

Write Biography (book about their family)

Vacation once a week

Base Game – Stay at rentals

Jungle Adventure/Outdoor Living/etc. – Take 2 day vacations

Has no Kids

[sparksconstruction]

10 Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing a Home Builder in Lake City

When it comes to building your dream home in Lake City, selecting the right home builder is crucial. Here are 10 essential factors to consider when choosing a home builder in Lake City, and why Sparks Construction  is the ideal choice:

Experience: Look for a builder with a proven track record of successful projects and satisfied clients. Sparks Construction brings years of experience in building quality custom homes in Lake City.

Reputation: Research the builder's reputation by checking online reviews and testimonials. Sparks Construction has a solid reputation for its professionalism, craftsmanship, and customer satisfaction.

Customization: Ensure the builder offers customization options to tailor your home to your preferences. Sparks Construction specializes in custom home building, working closely with clients to bring their vision to life.

Quality Craftsmanship: The builder should prioritize high-quality materials and impeccable craftsmanship. Sparks Construction maintains a commitment to superior craftsmanship, ensuring your home is built to last.

Communication: Effective communication is key throughout the building process. Sparks Construction fosters open and transparent communication, keeping clients informed every step of the way.

Licensing and Insurance: Verify that the builder is licensed, bonded, and insured. Sparks Construction holds all necessary licenses and insurance, providing peace of mind during construction.

Energy Efficiency: Consider builders who prioritize energy-efficient features to save on long-term costs. Sparks Construction incorporates eco-friendly options for energy-efficient homes in Lake City.

Budget Management: A reputable builder will have a transparent budgeting and cost control process. Sparks Construction helps clients set realistic budgets and manages costs effectively.

Timely Completion: Discuss the builder's timeline and track record for completing projects on time. Sparks Construction emphasizes timely completion while maintaining quality standards.

Client Satisfaction: Finally, choose a builder with a history of happy clients. Sparks Construction is dedicated to exceeding client expectations, resulting in satisfied homeowners.

By considering these essential factors, it's clear that Sparks Construction stands out as a reliable and trusted choice for your home-building needs in Lake City. Contact us at 386-755-9314 to turn your dream home into a reality.

To know more, visit www.sparksconstruction.com

[elvenmother]

Context and Perspective: Sidesteps And Sidekicks

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x F Reader Rating: Teen. Warnings: Swearing, mentions of injuries, mentions of blood Chapter: 12/15 Word count: 3042

Summary: The newest member of the Heroics has gone missing and as one of the better-known Villains on the scene, you are blamed. Then your sidekick goes missing. You must go after the Heroic’s leader to try to get them back and clear your name.

Note: This has not been beta read, so apologies for any mistakes. This is my first time writing for We Can Be Heroes and Marcus Moreno.

Part Eleven | Part One

The cleanup from the building collapse had already begun, and as you and Marcus made your way around the area close to Donna’s salon, there was evidence of the Heroics all around. A set of two temporary metal cabins had been placed next to the intersection where the bulk of the destruction had been and all around was evidence of heavy booted foot traffic. It looked like the Heroics had organised for a clean-up crew and builders to help the community get back to normal, which you had to admit was a nice thing for them to do. You heavily suspected Marcus’ hand in that. Massive metal sheet fencing had been placed all around the main collapse, each with the large yellow H of the Heroics on it. You had to hand it to them. They had branding down to a fine art.

Building by building, street by street, the two of you began to search. Looking for clues that could lead to either Chloe or Freefall. A marking, a note, a scrap of clothing, anything. Marcus combed the ground while you took to the air and checked rooftops. But there was nothing.

After three hours of checking the same places and looping back on yourselves, you flew down to where Marcus was leaning against a rundown-looking tech store.

“Anything?” You landed gently next to him. He just shook his head. You could feel his frustration and anxiety. This had been your only lead on Freefall. But more than that, you knew Marcus was worried about Missy.

He’d had to leave her in the house rather than talk to her about what she’s overheard. If you’d been able to find a clue or something, it might have seemed worth it. But you were willing to bet that right now, Marcus wished he had stayed home with his distressed daughter.

“We’ll have to start a spiral out from here.” He said finally. His voice sounded hoarse, almost as though he was forcing himself to speak. “It’ll take time, but it’ll all we’ve got.”

“Right. Tomorrow though. It’s late, and you must want to get home to Missy.” You sighed, stepping closer to him, wishing you could give him some hope. “I’ll-” A noise from your pocket cut you off. “That’s my phone. It might be… my assistant. I mean, she’s not really… she’s my friend. She’s Chloe’s aunt. Hang on.”

Marcus just nodded wearily as you fished your phone out and looked at the new message. It wasn’t from Jada.

Crushing Low has been sent to an address where it is believed FF and C are. Think you should take your new friend there. Coords to follow - B

“It’s my contact in Heroics HQ.” You looked up at Marcus, who immediately stood up straight. “Crushing Low has been sent to find Freefall at a location not too far from here. We should go too in case Chloe is with him.”

“Let’s go.” Marcus began jogging back to his car before leaping in and starting the engine. As soon as you closed the passenger door, he set off. Keying the coordinates B had sent you into your sat nav app, the monotone voice soon began giving directions.

“I don’t understand.” You looked over at Marcus. “I thought you were in charge of this investigation.”

“That makes two of us.” He frowned. “If Noah has been spotted or HQ had a lead, they should have contacted me first.”

“You are the leader, right?” You turned in your seat to face him better, and he shot you a look. “Hey, I don’t mean it like that. I don't understand how the Heroics work. If you’re the leader, even if this wasn’t your case, can Heroics be sent places without you knowing?”

“Technically, yes.” He admitted reluctantly, making a sharp turn onto an unlit street. “We have a director. Ms Granada. She decides who gets assigned to what.”

“What’s the difference between you and her, then?”

“When I retired from active duty, my role became more administrative for a while, but after Ms Granada was promoted to director, I began focusing on training and coordination more.” Marcus explained. “So now I help train the younger Heroics as well as work with Granada on team assignments. Although technically, she’s my boss, I’m still the team leader. All new Heroics have to be approved by me, all assignments have to be approved by both of us.”

“I still don’t fully understand but ok. So, this Ms Granada is the one who sent Crushing Low out tonight?” You were still confused. It didn’t sound like Marcus actually did much leading, and the title was probably just a token one.

“Yes. But it still should have been run by me, and I’ve got no messages.” Marcus chewed on his bottom lip for a moment. “Granada is a real stickler for the rules. This can’t have come from her. Can your contact find out who ordered this?”

“I’ll ask.” You picked your phone up off the dashboard and quickly typed out a message to B.

MM is concerned. This should have gone through him. Can you find out who sent out CL? - Z

The reply was almost immediate.

Already working on that. Tell him it wasn’t G. - B

“They’re working on it.” You said as Marcus began to pull up outside a dilapidated-looking factory. “But they said it wasn’t G. I assume they mean Granada.”

Marcus nodded as he switched the engine off. As you both got out of the car, you got your first real look at where you were. A sprawling industrial site, long since abandoned, stretched out before you. Nearly all the streetlights were dark, probably broken or without bulbs, and only a few flickering beams of orange lit the area and the maze of roads that made up this huge factory district. If it hadn’t been for the coordinates that B had sent you, there was no way you would have found the right building.

“Moreno!” A voice came out of the darkness, surprising you both. A voice you recognised immediately. A voice that made you instantly on edge and on guard. You recalled a memory of flipping him off and deciding the Heroics were assholes. Damn it.

Sure enough, stepping out from behind a battered-looking shipping container was Crushing Low. His curly dark hair was shorter than the last time you had seen him, and he was now sporting a neatly trimmed beard streaked with grey.

“Liam.” Marcus greeted his teammate, who glared for a brief moment at the use of his real name. “Liam, this is-”

“I know who that is, Marcus.” Crushing Low stopped next to Marcus, looking over at his leader with a mixture of confusion and irritation. “The question is, why are you here with her of all people?”

“She’s been trying to help me find Freefall.”

“My friend is missing too.” You decided to be as honest as possible straight away. If Crushing Low started a fight, then it was not one you could win. His juggernaut powers were one thing, but he also had super speed and super strength. If this got violent, your only chance would be to take off and hope you could lose him in the air. You watched as he raised a single eyebrow. “I know what the media has said and what Heroics HQ is saying, but I had nothing to do with Freefall’s disappearance.”

“Uh huh.” Crushing Low eyed you carefully.

“Liam, listen to me.” Marcus put his hand on Crushing Low’s shoulder. “She has been nothing but helpful. That build collapse yesterday? She helped me rescue people. Liam, please.” Marcus leaned up close to the other man. “Who sent you here? I know it wasn’t Granada. This is my case. Don’t you find this strange?”

“This whole case is strange, Marcus.” Crushing Low chuckled and gestured with his head towards you. “There is definitely more going on here than meets the eye.”

Marcus kept his eyes on Crushing Low. “So why were you sent here?”

“I received orders telling me there had been a sighting of Freefall.” Crushing Low took a deep breath, looking around and finally pointing to a building a little to the left of where the three of you stood. “It said a supervillain was holding him.”

“Who?” You frowned. You already knew what he was going to say.

Crushing Low considered his words for a moment before answering. “You, actually.”

“God damn it!” You threw your hands in the air, exasperated. You were expecting this, but it was still so frustrating.

“The report said you had Freefall, and he was being guarded by your sidekick. Frost Root, was it?” Crushing Low cocked his head, carefully watching you.

“So Chloe and Noah are together.” You looked over at Marcus, who nodded.

“Wait. You know his real name?” Crushing Low shot a look at Marcus.

“Yeah, I went to school with his mom.” You put your hands up as you took a step towards the two men. “I meant to tell you earlier, Marcus. My friend got back to me. She talked to Ashley, and she confirmed that Noah and Chloe met last year at a party.”

Jada’s text from that afternoon had totally slipped your mind. You had been so distracted by Dale and then Missy. You had meant to text Marcus immediately after Jada’s message, but then the phone had rung, and then Dale had bothered you. After that, all you’d been able to think about was how much Dale knew and how long he’d been watching you.

“So he’s not your prisoner?” Crushing Low narrowed his eyes and looked from you to Marcus and back again.

“For fucks sake-”

“Liam.” Marcus cut you off. “No, we’ve been over this. She’s not the bad guy here. She never was. She never has been.”

Crushing Low looked sternly at Marcus. “What are you talking about, Marcus?”

“There’s more going on here that we realise.” Marcus pointed towards the building Crushing Low had been sent to. “But right now, we need to get to Noah and Chloe before someone else does.”

“You think they’re in danger?” You frowned as Marcus nodded.

“I think someone would pin this on you or Chloe, and either of you could get hurt.” He started walking towards a ruined-looking factory. “I’m not going to let that happen.”

The three of you set off towards the factory, with Marcus taking the lead. You could feel Crushing Low’s eyes still watching you intently as he brought up the rear. It irritated you, but at the same time, you understood his point of view. One conversation wasn’t going to undo years of people and the media telling him you were a threat. It had taken a building collapse and speaking to two other Heroics for Marcus to fully believe you. All you could do was be yourself and he’d see you were no villain. Or at least that was what you hoped.

What first caught your attention as you all but crawled through the small gap between the heavily rusted doors was that the building smelt terrible. It was that horrible mixture of damp, dust and piss that hit you in the face like a slap. Behind you, Crushing Low retched as he squeezed himself through the narrow opening.

“Nice place.” You muttered, looking around the dark empty room of what once must have been the factory’s reception area. All furnishing had long since been cleared out, but the outlines on the floor for a reception desk remained along with half the letters for the company’s name.

“Look.” Marcus pointed to the floor, clicking on a flashlight and shining it over near a doorway leading further in. “Someone has been here recently.”

Stepping forward, you squinted in the dark to see what he was looking at. It took you a moment, but then you spotted them on the floor. Footprints in the dust. Crushing Low walked carefully over to them and squatted down, examining them meticulously.

“Two sets.” He said after about a minute. “I’d say one male and one female. So, probably Noah and… Chloe, was it?”

You nodded. That was good. If theirs was the only set of prints, then that meant no one had come after them. Yet. Someone knew they were here, you reminded yourself quickly. Someone had sent Crushing Low, someone who hadn’t wanted Marcus here.

“Let’s take this slow.” Marcus whispered to the two of you. “We don’t want to spook them. Let's just find them and get them back to my house to talk.”

“Agreed.” Crushing Low stood back up. “You take point. We’ll follow.”

Marcus shook his head. “No, I think she should go in first.” He motioned to you. “They are much less likely to run from you.”

“I agree.” You nodded. “You two follow me but not too far. I want them to see me first, then you, but for them to understand we’re all together.”

“All right.” Marcus fell back a step next to Crushing Low. “Ready whenever you are.”

You took a deep breath and headed through the open doorway that led further into the factory. The factory floor smelt even worse than the reception area, if that was possible, with the heavy iron smell of rust joining the mix from the handful of broken machines that still filled the space. You heard Marcus mutter something under his breath as you led the way through the dark assembly floor.

A small light in the distance caught your eye. A dim yellow glow peeked out from under a closed door to the former manager's office. Turning slightly to Marcus and Crushing Low, you motioned to it and started heading in that direction. Reaching the door, you stopped for a moment and listened. Behind the flimsy door, you could hear muffled conversation. Two people in hushed voices, too quiet for you to hear what they were properly saying but just loud enough for you to recognise a voice. It was Chloe. After taking another deep breath, which, thanks to the stench, you instantly regretted, you knocked. The voices stopped immediately.

“Chloe.” You called softly through the door. “Chloe, it’s me. Please, honey. Can I come in?”

There was a little shuffling and the sound of latches being undone before the door opened slowly. Your heart leapt as you saw the worried face of a young woman greeting you on the other side. Chloe.

“Hey.” She sheepishly said your name, her eyes not quite meeting yours. “How’d you find me?”

“I had a little help.” You pointed your thumb over your shoulder, and you watched Chloe’s eyes widen as she recognised who you were with.

“Is… is that?” She stammered. “Are those Heroics?”

“Shit.” A male voice came from behind the door.

“Noah, I take it.” You tried to keep your voice light. The last thing you needed was for them to panic and make a run for it.

A mass of messy brown hair poked out from behind the door, and you got your first proper look at Noah McMahon, aka Freefall. He was around the same age as Chloe, peering over her head almost as if he was hiding behind her. He looked at you but quickly, his eyes landed on someone behind you, and you knew exactly who he was looking at.

“Hey.” Noah started weakly. “I mean, erm, hello, Sir.”

“Noah.” Marcus stepped forward until he was shoulder-to-shoulder with you. “And Chloe. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’d glad to see you’re both safe.”

“Yeah.” Noah’s eyes fell to the floor while Chloe continued to stare at you in disbelief. “Sorry about all the trouble, Sir.”

Marcus held a hand up and shook his head. “There will be time to talk later, but right now, we have to get you out of here.”

“I’m not going back to the Heroics, Sir.” Noah’s eyes shot up, and he seemed to stand a little straighter. “I can’t. I-”

“No, I agree.” Marcus cut him off. “It’s not safe right now. I can’t explain here, but please believe me we need to leave here right now.”

“There’s something weird going on, kid.” Crushing Low offered over your shoulder.

“Yeah, no kidding.” Chloe looked at Marcus and then back at you. “You came here with them?”

“Let's get somewhere safe, then we’ll explain everything.” You held out your hand for Chloe to take. “Please. Someone sent Crushing Low here, and it wasn’t Ms Granada.”

“What?” “Who’s Ms Granada?” Noah and Chloe asked simultaneously. Chloe spun to look at Noah, who shook his head.

“She’s the director for the Heroics. Nothing gets done without going through her or Mr Moreno. If someone went around them, then we’re in more trouble than I thought.” He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “We should go with them, babe.”

You raised your eyebrow at Chloe at the babe nickname, and she shot you a look back that reminded you exactly of her aunt Jada. After a couple of seconds, Chloe rolled her eyes and nodded reluctantly.

“Ok, let's go.”

“Great.” Marcus stepped away from the door and turned to Crushing Low. “I’m going to take them to my house. Report back. Claim it was a false alarm, and you found nothing. Then meet us back at mine.”

“Got it.” Crushing Low started to walk away.

“Wait!” You called out. He stopped and turned. “Please, make sure you’re not followed and don’t trust anyone other than Ms Vox or Blinding Fast at HQ. We still don’t know who sent you here.”

Crushing Low frowned and nodded. “You’re right. I’ll be careful. You all should be too. See you all later.”

Crushing Low disappeared into the dark as Chloe and Noah gathered their things from their small hideout. Once they were ready, you and Marcus guided them back to his car. Setting off back to the Moreno house, you could feel the tension coming off Chloe and Noah in the back seat. While you had a lot to catch them up on, they also needed to explain why they left. It was going to be one hell of a conversation when you all got back.

~~~~

Tag list: @Anaaaispunk, @littlemisspascal, @galaxyofmando, @pintsizemama, @athalien, @wondercloud, @amoriavelton, @alm0501, @kinda-nobody, @zanzann, @furiousmushroom, @lemonboynsp, @ghostofaboy,

[mngwa5]

LiS EDH/Commander Headcanons: Vortex Club Edition

AN: The sequel nobody asked for, including myself! This was never really gonna be a thing, but recently the image of the Vortex Club putting on ragers and really posturing about being the cool kids only to immediately turn around and play in some insular and incredibly toxic commander pod fucking sent me rolling.

I guess the same canon-stretchy shit as the last post like this applies though tbh I would believe it if Victoria actually could afford a fully foiled out cEDH list.

Victoria Chase:

Even if she's horrifically domineering as fuck outside of the game, Vic loves politics, and I mean she LOVES politics. It's her greatest strength and her greatest weakness at the table.

As a result, she tends to honor most of the deals (keyword most of) she makes, though she plays commanders that will inevitably skew those deals in her favor like Shadrix Silverquill, Queen Marchesa, or Tivit, Seller of Secrets.

It's really easy to stop her from fucking with you so long as you suck it up and play by her rules.

Because of that, it's also quite easy to capitalize on her mistakes and spring a win over her because she'll be so focused on trying to get everyone else to bend the knee.

Doesn't particularly care for a specific archetype or color identity but has a Teysa Karlov aristocrats list because she thinks Teysa is hot the character is cool.

Dana Ward

Got into the game because of Trevor and once she got past her qualms about how nerdy everything seemed, really took to EDH.

Once she realized the rest of the Vortex Club had a commander group, she seized the opportunity to drag Juliet along with her on game nights so they can both subtly fuck with them all.

In service of that goal, she builds the most toxically optimized lists she can, but keeps them low key in terms of the actual cards/win-cons until it's too late. Things like go-wide tokens or life gain, that are juuuust annoying enough to chip away at Victoria and Nathan's ego without overtly causing any real out of game enmity.

Her real holy grail idea is to somehow swing a win over Nathan and Vic with Yargle.

To that end, poor Trevor, Justin, and potentially Max have had to put up with an endless slew of Yargle voltron lists in their home games as she inches ever closer to perfecting her list.

Has a pet deck that's a modified version of the Zhulodok, Void Gorger precon (Jesus Christ, IM starting to get pissed about how nerdy this shit is...) that Tervor got her for her birthday.

Grumbles loudly... This Shithead Nathan Prescott

Loves Golgari, but like in a weird way. Like, the kind of way that goes past a fondness for mechanics.

I know this post is focused on how characters would behave as EDH players, but I genuinely think that Nathan's choices as a deck-builder are influenced by his love of the actual lore/philosophy of Green/Black and it's associated factions like the Golgari or Ikoria's take on WBG.

Plays graveyard oriented lists like Grist, the Hunger Tide or Muldrotha most nights.

When he wants to be REALLY competitive, he's got a fucking hum-dinger of a Korvold aristocrats list he keeps in his back pocket.

Splurges on expensive variants of cards as a juvenile way of asserting some sort of weird dominance over others and will flaunt them at more casual players like Hayden and Logan.

Other than that, he actually tends to keep to himself and plays pretty low interaction, recursion loop based strategies that let him just bask in the joy of having a graveyard that's almost as tall as his library by turn 4.

So... that's that I guess. Might do one of these for the True Colors cast as well.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

American Bible Society - Today's Bible Reading

Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Matthew 21:23-46: (Good News Translation)

God’s Saving Word: Hope

Introduction

Matthew 21:23-46: The religious leaders question Jesus’s authority, and Jesus tells two stories (parables) that teach who will enter the Kingdom of God. Scripture Reading

The Question about Jesus' Authority

23 Jesus came back to the Temple; and as he taught, the chief priests and the elders came to him and asked, “What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you such right?”

24 Jesus answered them, “I will ask you just one question, and if you give me an answer, I will tell you what right I have to do these things. 25 Where did John's right to baptize come from: was it from God or from human beings?”

They started to argue among themselves, “What shall we say? If we answer, ‘From God,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe John?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From human beings,’ we are afraid of what the people might do, because they are all convinced that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don't know.”

And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you, then, by what right I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “Now, what do you think? There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 ‘I don't want to,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. ‘Yes, sir,’ he answered, but he did not go. 31 Which one of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The older one,” they answered.

So Jesus said to them, “I tell you: the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John the Baptist came to you showing you the right path to take, and you would not believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Even when you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard

33 “Listen to another parable,” Jesus said. “There was once a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip. 34 When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent his slaves to the tenants to receive his share of the harvest. 35 The tenants grabbed his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again the man sent other slaves, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all he sent his son to them. ‘Surely they will respect my son,’ he said. 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the owner's son. Come on, let's kill him, and we will get his property!’ 39 So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40 “Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” Jesus asked.

41 “He will certainly kill those evil men,” they answered, “and rent the vineyard out to other tenants, who will give him his share of the harvest at the right time.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Haven't you ever read what the Scriptures say?

‘The stone which the builders rejected as worthless    turned out to be the most important of all. This was done by the Lord;    what a wonderful sight it is!’

43-44 “And so I tell you,” added Jesus, “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the proper fruits.” 

45 The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables and knew that he was talking about them, 46 so they tried to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

Today's Key Verse: Matthew 21:42b

[Jesus said:] ‘The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.’

Reflect

Jesus says that the Kingdom of God will be “given to a people who will produce the proper fruits” (verse 43). How do you interpret this passage? Who is the “owner’s son” referred to in the second story (verse 38)? Why do you think Jesus told these two stories to the religious leaders?

Pray

Lord Jesus, teach me to follow your ways and to produce the proper fruits that will usher in your Kingdom. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.

[tjscourtchronicles]

Get ready for an action-packed night of NBA playoff matchups! Tonight's games will have you on the edge of your seat with the Boston Celtics taking on the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers facing off against the New York Knicks, and the Denver Nuggets looking to sweep the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Celtics are currently leading the series 2-0 and are favored by 5.5 points on the home team with a high-scoring game set at 229 points. However, the Hawks have shown some real fight in the previous matchups, and I like them at +5.5 with the home crowd behind them. With coach Quin Synder's knack for making key adjustments, this could be a thrilling game that goes down to the wire.

Meanwhile, the Cavs are bringing some serious momentum into Madison Square Garden after tying the series 1-1. The Knicks are slightly favored at -1.5, but I'm most confident in the under for this game. Keep an eye out for Mitchell's first playoff game at MSG and lock him in at over 29.5 points for a nice parlay builder. RJ Barrett should also have a strong game after a rough start on the road. I'm predicting the Knicks in 6 for this series, so a money line play on them in this pivotal game 3 is a must.

Finally, the Nuggets are looking to move closer to a sweep of the T'Wolves and prove to the national media that they are legitimate title contenders. Although Denver is the safe bet at -2.0, I'm feeling confident enough to move the line to -7.5. After withstanding an early flurry fueled by pride from the T'Wolves, I could see this game turning into a blowout in favor of the Nuggets.

Get your popcorn ready, folks - these games are going to be a wild ride!

[artorojo]

Announcing the LEGO Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set!

– 1,369 Pieces

– $164.99 / €164.99 / £149.99

– Available now

What do you think? Let us know in the comments! Full set description below.

–––––

Prepare to soar above Arakkis in the new LEGO Icons Atreides Royal Ornithopter

The LEGO Group has today announced its first ever build experience from the Dune universe, from Legendary Entertainment based on Denis Villeneuve's film adaptation of Frank Herbert's masterpiece, with the LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter, bringing one of the most iconic aircraft from the Spice-filled sci-fi epic to life in LEGO brick form.

As part of the new 1,369-piece build experience, fans of Dune will be able to recreate the dynamic dragonfly-inspired design of an Ornithopter like never before, with functional blades on the aircraft that can flap and retract with a 180-degree rotation.

Measuring 9 inches (23 cm) high, 22 inches (57 cm) long and 31 inches (79 cm) wide, the LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter features a foldable landing gear – and the set also comes with eight all-new LEGO Minifigures of key characters from Dune, including Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho and Baron Harkonnen in his long robe.

The LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter creates an amazing toy or display piece for fans of Frank Herbert’s original Dune novels or Denis Villeneuve’s recent hit film franchise, with Dune: Part Two set to arrive in cinemas from March 15th 2024.

“Like fans across the world, we were fully enraptured by the epic Dune when it released – so our return to Arakkis in Dune: Part Two was the perfect opportunity to bring this iconic craft to life in LEGO brick form,” said Michael Psiaki, Design Master at the LEGO Group. “Builders can now recreate this impressive ship with amazing detail, whether to proudly display or recreate their favourite scenes from the epic Dune saga at home.”

“Turning a beloved Dune icon into a LEGO masterpiece has always been our dream. The unique and creative design of this product perfectly aligns with both the Dune and LEGO spirit, and we're excited for fans of all ages to enjoy the experience," said Amber Sheppo, Vice President, Consumer Products and Partnerships, Legendary Entertainment.

The LEGO Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter is available to pre-order from 24th October, and on-sale from the 1st February 2024, with the set available to buy in-stores and online for 164.99 USD / EUR and 149.99 GBP.

[bonfire-at-the-crossroads]

Possibly the most IRISH thing that has ever happened….

The mystery of the bicycle - solved.

Sitting drinking coffee in the sunroom, Bri looks up to the studio and says “There’s a guy standing in the backyard.”

He’s not just standing, he’s peeing in the corner of the stone wall that runs around the back. He turns and walks back to the studio.

Bri says “O. It’s “——“ (I will leave out the name because the gentleman wishes to remain obscure and incognito. )

We both look at each other.

Apparently the bicycle guy has spent the night in my bed in the studio.

Yup.

When he came down the hill to the house about an hour later - I stuck my head out the back door and asked “Coffee or tea?”

“Coffee please.”

“—-“ is one of our local builders. We know him. He worked on our house, and two years ago - he was one of the team who built my studio .

“The bread is still baking. Sit down, there will be fresh bread in an hour. More coffee?”

He was riding home last night from Kiltyclogher. He lives MILES AWAY - and was nearly run off the road by a passing van. It was 1:00 AM.

He knew where there was a safe, warm bed - and the key is always in the lock.

“A wee black kitten slept in the bed with me all night…” This would have to have been Tesla, as he loves to cuddle on top of that nice warm blanket on a chilly afternoon.

“—-“ stayed for a couple hours and we had a lovely chat. Fresh bread and raspberry jam, two pots of coffee later - we loaded the bike in the car and I drove him home.

The most IRISH THING EVER….

[hakesbros]

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