#Vy's stuff is always so amazing

[ratherboogie]

Amigurumi Samurai Flamingo and Kiwi Goto, based on @vysperation's incredible original designs (seen on the zipper pouch in the top pic).

Shortly before the pandemic, I started getting back into crochet, and when I saw Red Heart's crochet flamingo kit, I couldn't help myself. Masamingo uses the kit's pattern (free download here), but made double size, with some additions to better approximate Vy's design. For instance, I did two layers of wings to give the impression of bigger, fuller wings (and add the black feathers) , and I'm almost 100% sure the white face was a separate piece I sewed onto the pink base. Kiwi Goto...I just kind of figured out as I went. (He's all simple shapes and pipe cleaner, but I am still proud the hat worked.)

[artemisaed]

[wolftsune-of-the-woods]

Wolftsune HRT #9: 6 Months

First / Previous

“Hello again, Erian.”

“What?! But how- I never gave you a prescription!”

“Let's just say… you're not the only one who knows how to make this stuff.”

My tails swished around behind me, finally at their full length and very fluffy. I had to be careful to not accidentally make fox-fire. As awful as Erian is, he doesn't deserve to have his clinic burnt down.

“You monsters…” he continued, “Can't you just listen when I try to tell you something is a bad idea?! Running off and getting these shady DIYs, and you wonder why I have such strict requirements–”

“LISTEN UP, OLD MAN.

You claim to be an expert on therians, but you don't even know us! You don't know what it's like to be trapped in the wrong body, desperate to fix it in any way possible. I'd burn your whole clinic down, but I'm wise enough to know that won't teach you anything except for reaffirming your belief that we're all insane monsters. So instead, I'll use a lovely, less lethal, trick.”

Before Erian could respond, I whipped up an illusion that would make him look like a woman - and change her nameplate and door sign.

“Bye, Thalia Hannah Erian!”

“Wait!” she cried, “What have you done?! Undo it this instant!”

It would wear off in 24 hours. But hopefully, this would teach Erian a much-needed lesson. In the meantime…

I think instead of working with Erian, I'll start my own clinic. “Dr. Wilde’s Humanity Removal Therapy”. It sounds nice, although it's not as good of a pun as T. H. Erian. But having a good pun name doesn't matter, what matters is that I must always put my patients first.

And now, for my final update.

My wings are big enough for me to fly, and it feels amazing. My arms got a bit longer, the structure of my legs fully changed, and they're much stronger: I can run and walk on all fours or on two legs, and both options feel natural and perfect. And my powers are fully developed and natural to use - I shapeshifted into a human form to visit my parents, and at home when no one was around, I practiced shapeshifting by having my headmates change the body to match how they look internally. I stopped having to buy lighters because I can use my fox-fire instead.

And the most important thing is that I'm so happy. I'm finally me. It's such a miracle that this treatment is something that's possible, and I can't wait to grant this joy to even more people in the future.

(and with that, the main story of Wolftsune HRT is done! I originally wanted to extend it to 12 months, and this would've been month 12, but it just didn't work out. I might make some bonus bits, and I or my headmates may make future stories where Wolftsune!Ash can make cameos, but this is the end of the main story. Thank you to anyone who's read this far, and here's some shout-outs to other awesome creators that I didn't get opportunities to feature in the story:

@mecknavorz Hydra HRT

@ashen-vulture A Vulture In Therapy

@tigergirltail Tiger HRT

@squiretilde Elf HRT

@vy-canis-melodis Bird HRT / Changeling HRT

@transpandaart ??? HRT

@tigerwing-animal-hrt Cat HRT

I'm so glad I got to be part of this community, and I wish everyone, not just the people I've mentioned, but everyone in the AHRT community, the best of luck with continuing their stories!)

[verfound]

WIP Wednesday: 03.20.2024

The full scene from last Sunday 😇

Marinette had a soulmate.

Luka stared at the dark pink words on his arm, swallowing thickly as the words rattled around in his head.  It didn’t matter if she didn’t know them.  She had still found them, at least once, and they were out there, somewhere, waiting to find their fairy again.  She’d met them years ago.

…Luka didn’t even remember the last time he’d been in the city.  He had been what?  Three, four when they’d left?  Definitely not long enough to find his soulmate, and he’d only had his words for a few months now besides.

Still.

He had hoped…

That day had been so crazy.  It was only a few weeks into the school year, but there had been a delay and their flight had gotten in late.  The mayor’s daughter was supposed to show them around the school, but even though Chloé Bourgeois always seemed to be sniffing around for social clout apparently Jagged Stone’s kids had nothing on the model son of Gabriel Agreste, some big wig fashion somebody.  She had ditched them the moment she had spotted the model’s golden hair glinting in the sun, and Juleka and him had been left to figure out the bustling campus of Françoise Dupont themselves.

Which was fine.  They were used to being ditched.  Fending for themselves.  That’s what happened when your dad tended to be too famous to bother with you.

But just because Chloé hadn’t been interested in the Rock Giant’s kids didn’t mean others – nearly everyone else – wasn’t.  There had been so many people that day, and it had all been a little overwhelming.  They had been swarmed, because even though Penny had always done her best to keep them out of the spotlight everyone knew Jagged Stone’s kids.  Penny was good, but there was only so much even someone as good as Penny could do.

He’d lost track of how many people had spoken to him that day, vying for introductions and trying to suck up in the hopes of meeting his famous dad.  When they’d finally gotten home and he’d shrugged off his hoodie, he’d been shocked to find the words glimmering on his arm.

Thank you.

They were so…so…generic.  There was nothing special or unique about them, and they could have come from anyone.  There was nothing about them that made any one person stand out, even if one person that day had stood out.

The cute 5ème girl, the one he would later learn was friends with his sister’s soulmate, from the library.  He’d been waiting for the librarian at the desk when he’d seen her struggling to reach something on a top shelf, and he had gone to help.

“Here, let me help,” he’d said, laying a hand on her shoulder as he’d reached above them to snatch the book she’d wanted.

“Th-th-thank you,” she’d squeaked, staring up at him with impossibly blue eyes and the prettiest blush he’d ever seen dusting her cheeks.

He had hoped…he had really hoped…but he hadn’t said anything about fairies, so there was no way the thank you burned into his arm could be hers.  His first words had been an offer of assistance, not a greeting.

And now he knew she already had a soulmate.

Someone she had met long before he’d ever come into the picture.

…he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed.  Marinette was an amazing girl with a beautiful song.  He hadn’t been able to get her song – to get her – out of his head since that first day, and even if she was sometimes shy and anxious around him, they had struck up an easy friendship – one that had quickly turned into an easy crush, at least for him.

But Marinette, like Rose, was a romantic.  She firmly believed in all that soulmate stuff, and why shouldn’t she?  She’d had her words for years.

He was happy for her.  He was.

He tugged his hoodie back on, not really wanting to see those taunting pink words anymore.  Either way, their very existence let him know that his soulmate was somewhere in Paris.  At his new school.

…he just…was it so wrong, wishing that that someone was Marinette?

[misc-obeyme]

gotta say I was bouncing off the walls after reading "Worth it" akskdjc, SO GOOD. IF I HAD TIME I WOULD'VE DRAWN ME AND MAMMON BEGGING ON OUR KNEES FOR PART TWO AND BARB LOOKING AT US IN EXASPERATION LMAOO BUT THAT FEELS TOO ADVANCED

i got a comm back yesterday of the coffee shop au 😭 so happy with it. I'm still thinking about it every day, I've just been getting kicked around by life (but I might be getting a raise? that was a rumor. i gotta talk to the store manager today about stuff going on and I'm NERVOUS)

I also got encouraged by vy to write about some solomams brainrot i was hinting at in tags one day about the cup noodle post SO THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SOON

i think I decided on Lucky Brew as the coffee shop name, so it's now being dubbed lucky brew au ?? the students will ask for "a shot of luck"/"a lucky shot" and it just means getting an extra espresso shot in their drink. or possibly edible glitter being added but i think that'd only be visible in cold drinks

And if Mammon slips a pastry to anyone who looks REALLY anxious about their upcoming exam, no, you didn't see him to that. What are you talking about? They totally ordered it. Yeah the person didn't pay for it because uhhh... They had a coupon (what do you mean he doesn't give out coupons? he does now! stop accusing him of being a softie)! or they were his umm... 28th customer of the day! or he forgot to ring it in when they ordered but he's not gonna make them pay for his mistake!

i just wanted to ramble and say hi aksjd. idk why it feels like it's been forever, my sense of time got swayed when i was on vacation but I'm back now! Hope you have a good day/night!!! I hope you find a rare shiny object tomorrow on the ground!! I'm manifesting

Fear not. You and Mammon need not beg, for part two is already in the works. I REGRET NOTHING.

In fact, I'm quite surprised that Mammon x Barbatos silliness got as many notes as it did lol. And the responses in the tags and replies were so amazing that I was inspired. So part two is happening because I can't help myself now.

OH I hope the raise wasn't just a rumor and that you got one!! I'm sorry life's been crappy, but hopefully things will turn around soon!

Ahh sweetest dearest Vy, they are always so encouraging!! And YES DO IT. Write all the solomams!!

I love the name Lucky Brew, that's absolutely perfect! And of course Mammon would find edible glitter aldsfkjdf trust him to bling up some coffee drinks~

Bah I love when he's being a softie and especially when he protests about it. Like we know the truth, baby, you can't hide your golden heart from us!

I hope you had a lovely vacation and that you also have a wonderful day/night!

[heliads]

:D yay!!! I love your Newsies stuff sm (and yes you absolutely should rewatch its amazing). If you have time could you maybe write a Race x fem!reader where she's like Spot's second command and kinda like the "mum" of the Brooklyn kids - they go to her for like comfort and when they have injuries or have problems etc. And she's kinda reserved and such but became friends with Race from when he'd spend time in Brooklyn, and after the strike (during like KONY I guess) he goes to find her to ask for her help like getting everyone fixed up and the like, and at some point from there onwards it's like FEELINGS yknow? No worries if not! Only if you're inspired and have time and such :) I love your writing - you're so v talented xx

grateful for your support in my rewatching newsies agenda. anything for you anon xoxo

masterlist

There’s a newsie from Manhattan wandering your streets again. He’s not supposed to be crossing over into Brooklyn like this, none of them are, but for some reason that hasn’t stopped Race Higgins from showing up time and time again. 

It’s not like this should really matter. Shouldn’t, anyway. Brooklyn is messy and getting messier. One particularly plucky Manhattan boy shouldn’t have an impact on what you’re doing on a day to day basis. Spot’ll do some nonsense involving a good threat or two to scare the guy off. This sort of thing happens once a month, but Brooklyn always ends up on top. Always.

That hasn’t seemed to sway Race, though. Last time he tried this, one of the other Brooklyn generals was in a fighting mood and nearly left the blond with a black eye had you not stepped in and put a stop to the scuffle before it started. No one needed any more trouble when you’ve already got so much as is, or so you claimed.

Truth be told, you’re not really sure why you helped Race out. It’s not like you’ve got any particular fondness for the guy, he keeps bothering you whenever he sneaks over the turf boundaries. It’s like he has a sixth sense for figuring out where you are whenever you’re selling papes. Even when you tell him to bug off and leave you alone, he’ll just start selling half a block down from you, or right across the street. Just close enough that you can see the trademark grin on his face when you roll your eyes and do your best to ignore him.

At the end of the day, it’s not something that should be the pull of too much of your attention. It’s Race, for goodness’ sake, not a rogue Delancey brother or someone who could actually cause you grief. Race just wants to make you laugh, which is weird of him to do but not actually dangerous.

Dangerous is the rest of Brooklyn. Dangerous is what waits for Race when he’s not halfway in your shadow. Dangerous is what made you Spot Conlon’s second in command when there were so many other newsies vying for the title. You know dangerous, and you know how to handle it, how to keep your boys safe. That’s what you should be focusing on the most, not errant Manhattan newsboys who keep getting alarmingly close to making you crack a smile.

But. Well. It is easier to think of boys than trouble. Boys try to make you laugh, for the most part. They don’t come back under the cover of the dead of night, bloody and trembling, talking to you about cops and thugs busting up strikes, about workers from the Refuge who want to brazenly take kids off the street just so they can keep up their numbers. They didn’t always.

Then they did, and suddenly you weren’t quite so easy with your temper and gait anymore. Race was usually quick to a smile, a laugh, a joke. He’d offer you a cigar free of charge, then swear like a sailor at any other boy who tried to even look at his prized possession. You were different, he didn’t want to trouble you. 

So he said. Didn’t stop him from hanging outside your window until you climbed onto your fire escape just to get him to stop throwing pebbles at the dusty glass. You might have spent more than an hour outside that night, and the next one, and the next, but it was only so he’d let the others rest. You falling asleep on his shoulder at least once, then waking to find his jacket wrapped around your shoulders, was pure coincidence.

Race was always carefree. It was his job, you think, his role to play amongst the Manhattan newsies, just as yours was to keep track of your Brooklyn kids. Race used to tease you relentlessly about how the Brooklyn newspaper distribution system would completely grind to a standstill if you so much as got a cold.

It wasn’t entirely a joke, it was true. Race knew it. The two of you could hardly talk for longer than ten minutes before a boy or twelve would come up to you, asking for help on something else. He saw how long you faked your smiles just for the happy expression to start fading into an exhausted sigh whenever no one was around but him. You liked your position in the newsie ranks, truly you did, but it drained everything from you.

Sometimes it felt like it was just you and Spot fighting a losing war trying to keep all of your boys out of trouble. You teach them to be tough and loud and unapproachable, but it will never be enough? How could it be, in this city? Race tells his jokes and you laugh and you try not to pretend that everything is falling to ribbons. At least then you could marvel at the colors.

Still. Race stayed. Longer than you expected, in all honesty. You kept waiting for him to have his fun and leave you to your city that never sleeps, but he came around and it felt more natural by the day. Instead of being surprised that he showed up, you started feeling confused if a week went by without you seeing him.

And, when two newsies come to Brooklyn from Manhattan talking about a strike, and neither one of them is Race but both of them need your help anyway, you listen. More than Spot, at least. Spot gets wind of trouble and he shuts down their plea in an instant. Despite the fact that you think this is the best chance any of you will have to change something around here, Spot can’t risk his guys.

You never know when someone will back out without telling you, he tells you later, and then all of you would be stuck out there on the front lines without backup. The ace without the sleeve up which to hide. Brooklyn kids are tough, and they wouldn’t run, but who knows a damn thing about anyone else?

It made you want to scream and cry and run out there anyway, just to prove a point. You heard how the strike went later, how no one showed up except the Manhattan boys because no other borough would come without Brooklyn’s express approval. You catch whispers and threads of the story, but you don’t learn the whole thing until Race shows up.

He’s alone this time, beaten and bruised. You flinch when you see him, even though he’s not swinging. The look in his eyes, though– that’s enough to leave you bloody.

Race puts a hand on your shoulder. The knuckles are bruised, and you try not to notice the spatterings of skin already turning a mottled purple and green. “It’s not your fault. Jackie boy told me you tried to convince Spot to join us.”

You frown, look away. “You got hurt and we could have done something. That sounds an awful lot like I failed.”

Race shakes his head, puts a hand on your cheek so you have to look at him again. “I’m not here for that. This isn’t your fault, it’s his. Pulitzer’s. Him and those damn thugs. Not you.”

You nod slowly. It’ll take some time before you’re able to absolve yourself of the guilt, but you can try. “Let me get my first aid kit, I’ll come back with you, try to patch some of the kids up. Can I assume that a lot of them are worse than you?”

Race’s expression drops. “Yeah. The thugs came hitting pretty hard.”

“Well,” you say in an attempt to cheer him up, “I’d wager it’s because they knew your lot were the toughest around.”

Race cracks a smile, even though you’re sure it must be painful. “Oh, absolutely. I’d topple a building with a single punch.”

You can’t help but cast another worried look towards his hands. Damaged, bruised, and they had tipped his cap towards you just a morning or two ago. Race always liked to playact a gentleman when you were around. As if any of you have money or morals to spare. The only mansion you’ve got is the wide sky above you, the expensive habits of running too fast on green grass. Your gold is a rusty coin or two, your finery hand-me-down clothes. Your mockery of manners is the closest you’ll get to that sort of lifestyle, but it was always fun to fake it, anyway.

“No more punches,” you tell him. “I’m serious.”

“So am I,” Race retorts, “we’ve got to be out there again tomorrow for the strike. We’se not giving up so easily.”

The thought makes your stomach twist. Race, back out there, ready to get dealt another blow. Maybe this time he won’t be able to pick himself up so easily. Maybe this time he won’t be able to pick himself up at all.

No. You won’t let it happen. This is still your city, damn it, and you have not spent all these years sweating out your sunrises and sunsets to keep it informed just for the last bits of your control to be ripped out from between your desperate fingers.

“You won’t be alone tomorrow,” you decide, “I’ll get Spot to join you.”

Race frowns. “Jack and Davey tried that already, I thought. He said no. Isn’t Spot a dead end at this point? Unless there’s something else you know to change his mind.”

You sigh. “You’re not wrong. I talked to him, though, after your boys left yesterday. I tried. As much as anyone can try to talk to Spot, y’know. I’ll try again, though. The choice he made was–” There are a lot of words you could attribute to Spot’s decision to stay out of the strike. Stupid. Pointless. Backstabbing. You end up saying something a little more polite. “Not what I agreed with, to say the least.”

Race’s lips quirk up in a half smile. “Glad to hear it. I always liked it best when you were on our side.”

You snort. “I’se a Brooklyn newsie, remember? I don’t think we was ever on the same side.”

Race shrugs. “Maybe not in a turf war, but other times we got along just fine.”

You feel your cheeks heat up. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Race grins, leans a little closer to you. It feels like your whole world is tunneling– you can look at his eyes or his lips, but not both, and it’s enough to make you dizzy. “The last month or two, I swear you almost liked me. Sure, you’re a tough girl if anyone asks, but I know what I know.”

“And what do you know?” You ask carefully. It takes every fiber of focus in your being to keep breathing, chasing every word he says like a high price headline.

Race tilts his head to the side, considering this. Considering you. “I know that you’ve been hanging around me more and more. I know that you aren’t trying to run anymore. I know that no Brooklyn newsie sticks their neck out for someone from ‘Hattan unless they’ve got a pretty good reason. Most importantly, I know that I want to kiss you, but only if you want that too. Do you?”

He’s so close to you now, practically a breath away. Just enough room for you to run if you wanted to, but also for you to do something else, something you’ve been thinking about even when you swore you wouldn’t.

“I do,” you breathe, and that’s all Race needs to lean forward and kiss you at last. He tastes like blood and foolish hope and promises you know he’ll always keep. It’s a damn good mix, enough to make you kiss him again when he starts to break away.

This is how you keep him safe, then. You love him too much and you convince Spot to lend Brooklyn’s support by hook or by crook. You defend the strike and you defend your boy. There are a hundred reasons this could all go wrong, but thousands, thousands more, that all shout for you to keep going. 

Well, you’ve always liked a little bit of danger. Race is good trouble, and you are well inclined to keep him.

newsies tag list: @lovesanimals0000, @misguidedswagger, @mayfieldss, @amortensie

[m3l0diisbl00d]

Sup, it’s me again,👾

Just finished killing my enemies solving my problems, and I have a question. See, I’m basically a tomboy. Like wearing boy clothes, skating, stuff, and I alway imagine me in a suit for my wedding. So, as a humble request, how will our muse/ yandere react to a darling who’s basically a gentleman. Like vying flowers for him, opening doors for him, pulling chairs back, and all the chivalry stuff.

Thanks, and please don’t do it if you’re not comfortable with the request. Thank you

👾

Honestly anon, I’ve been thinking about it too. And considering the way that Eidon is, he would fangirl over it like a little school boy. I feel like I haven’t mentioned how downright goofy Eidon can sometimes be and what a silly person he is when he isn’t slaughtering every single person you’ve ever come in contact with. He obviously isn’t all the way there in the head, so he makes a bunch of silly mistakes sometimes, whether it’s forgetting to turn the water off, trying to multitask and failing, he forgets everything. The only time he doesn’t make mistakes is when he’s disposing a body. Gentlemanly y/n would make Eidon fall even more in love with them than he thought was physically possible. It makes him giggle and kick his feet. Literally. One of his big love languages is gift giving, so when he receives gifts from you he will squeal and smother you with a bunch of kisses. Especially if its something he really likes, he will sleep with it at night and never stop babbling about it. (He likes everything you get him) If you’re in public with Eidon, he flaunts and brags about how sweet and considerate you are for doing little things for him. He’ll do basically anything in public to show that he’s yours tbh. He’s willing to go uh.. pretty far. When you offer him a chair his whole face goes red, it’d be really cute, he’d stutter a lot trying to thank you but the words just won’t come out. ♡ idk who needs to hear this but if darling has the strength to carry him, he will go absolutely bonkers. He loves being carried and doesn’t care how childish it looks, not to mention he’s a real sucker for bridal style. “Oh tesoro, you’re too good to me.. so gentle..” Don’t forget though, his cinnamon roll attitude towards you covers for the fact that he kills on sight. Eidon will dismember someone if they even dare getting too close to his darling.

P.S. anon you’re amazing

P.S.S. i love all my followers and I wouldn’t be here without all of you, keep giving me ideas guys!!♡

[its-a-rat-trap]

(via @/boomtownratsofficial on instagram)

The Boomtown Rats

BOOMING GOOD!

"The Boomtown Rats are 1977 pop," quoted lead singer Bob Geldof, (left), in one of the band's early press releases. He was right! Now, two years later, the band have improved with age and are ready to conquer the world. At present, they're just finishing off their massive tour of America where they've been proving to folks that Ireland doesn't just produce leprechauns!

If you've seen the Rats on television, you'll understand why singer Geldof is known as the group's 'spokesman'. In fact, he's rarely seen with his mouth shut! But then, Bob's always been used to getting his own way and letting his words convince people that he knows best.

"When I was a kid back home, I used to have this treehouse in the back garden. My mates and I would spend lots of time up there, but our main occupation would be getting all the little girls to come up and play," confessed the Rat.

"In Ireland in those days, bubblegum was hard to come by, as it was a new product on the market. But my dad used to be able to get me huge supplies of the stuff on his travels as a salesman. So I'd use the bubble gum to tempt the girls into my tree!"

And where has Bob inherited all his Irish blarney from? His dad, Bob Geldof Senior.

"All our folks just love the success the Rats have had. My dad now keeps getting mail addressed to him to pass on to me. One time someone wrote asking for a signed pic of Bob Geldof. So dad played a smart one. He dug out a photo of himself in his youth, all browned with age (the photo, not dad!), signed the back with love and kisses, and posted it! But he did attach a little note to say, 'Think it's my son, Bob Junior, you were wanting a photo of.'"

In fact, all the Rats' families are keen followers of the group. And drummer Simon Crowe's granny lives next door to guitarist Gerry Cott's parents.

"Gran used to have her radio on all the time listening out for our records to be played," explained Simon. "If one would come on, she'd start rapping really hard on the adjoining wall to Gerry's parents to let them know to turn on the radio!" Keeping it in the family extends to the group itself, too. Pete Briquette and Johnnie Fingers are cousins.

It's amazing when you find out that the boys in The Rats hadn't played seriously with any other groups before joining up to form the Boomtowns.

"I used to be a freelance writer for a rock paper… their Dublin correspondent, no less!" explained Bob. "About the time the punk boom was beginning, we used to occasionally get the bands coming to Ireland to play. One time, we all went to see Eddie And The Hot Rods. Anyway, not one of us was very impressed with them. We though [sic] 'Well, if they can do it then so can we.' So we went out and got ourselves together as a band!"

Together with their manager, Fachtna O'Kelly, another old friend, they set out to conquer London's record companies with their demotapes. The Rats didn't have far to search as everybody was soon vying with each other to sign them. The Rats were also lucky that their first major tour in England was as support to American punk heroes, The Ramones. Another first major concert they played was as support to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers at London's famous Rainbow Theatre. Press reports after that gig said that the Rats 'stole the show'. The whole band next moved to a house by Whipsnade Zoo, which they all still share when they're not on tour around the world.

If anyone should ask 'Has success changed the Boomtown Rats?' then the answer would be 'Johnnie Fingers still walks around in pyjamas and Bob Geldof is even more talkative than ever!' The group have always said that they're a band out to conquer people everywhere and they've always classed their music as pop. They admit they don't mind doing anything to get some publicity, from the time they drove down the Dublin streets in an open truck, loud music playing, getting arrested in the bargain, to Bob doing photo sessions that call for him to pose with girls for covers of teenage magazines. Or even to bend backwards and hang his head upside-down so the photographer could snap him, mouth agape and tongue hanging out! Yep, there's nothing they won't do if you ask 'em nicely.

And now they've conquered America! They've been knocking 'em in the aisles Stateside with all the old favourites like Rat Trap (their 'anthem' now after its terrific success in Britain last year), Like Clockwork, Do The Rat and all the others.

It would be nice to have a new single from them here, though, wouldn't it? Apparently, one was planned for this spring, but America beckoned, and there wasn't time to produce it - and the boyos weren't too keen on the alternative, lifting another track from Tonic For The Troops.

So for all you Rat fans - keep hoping!

[i-write-shakespeare-not-disney]

ok but

how do you think rody and deku go about convincing the capitol to donate etc

i feel that both have decent charisma but rody is also full of katniss level of anger + deku might be awkward

The easier one to answer here is Izuku. I think he'd appeal with his intelligence and sensitivity. I think he has those aspects of Peeta, even if he's not exactly an eloquent speaker like him. He's not afraid to cry, to admit when he's scared, but he's brave, and he has this... genuine softness to him with a steadfast unwavering strength, and I think that it actually would have the effect that Deku has in the license exam arc. Everyone starts working harder to survive because if that kid from 8 is brave enough to work hard, then so are they. I also think Izuku would interest donors by his penchant for strategy. He'd probably answer an interview question just gushing about his fellow tributes and how amazing they all are, but what everyone is hearing is holy shit this dude spent one week in the training rooms with us and he has all our strengths and weaknesses down to a T???? He's observational, he's a quick thinker, so everyone who'd written him off as non threatening suddenly realizes he's very capable of outsmarting them.

As for Rody. My current idea is that while he presented kind of androgynous at home, becoming a tribute in the place of his sister really shoves him into the limelight of The Selfless Sister. And I think Rody original anger at the reaping would have his stylist wanting to brand him as sultry, unattainable, desirable. (Kind of putting him in a similar position as Finnick in terms of people who want to 'help' him) Rody hates the idea of course, he doesn't want the dresses and makeup and he doesn't want to be the Capitol's Seductress. And then his stylist points out that by playing the role until the interviews, he'd be able to make a statement, to turn the image they brand him as on its head.

I'm still hesitant, because I feel like Rody wouldn't wanna be a statement, much less live a life that isn't his right before being sent to slaughter, but I do love the idea of Rody showing up presenting male at the interview, so that it's so last minute that it leaves the Capitol in a state of shock because... that's not the girl they were vying for, that's not the girl who had pulled them all in, that's a boy, a boy with a completely different, cocky, playful demeanor, what the hell? But it's also too late to say it wouldn't be allowed because it'd be two male tributes.

In this case, the dynamic that develops between Rody and Izuku would be behind doors. Because I think the pretense would really get to Rody and he'd confide in Izuku because Izuku is so genuine (a la cave scene yknow?).

Alternatively, I was considering playing on the way society wants to come off as woke and progressive while still holding onto the original bias. The way that a trans man isn't seen as a man, but as a woman who became a man, or a woman dressed as a man, or a man who's actually a woman. So in this case, Rody would explain to his stylist why he doesn't want the dresses and stuff, and the stylist works with him, putting him in the clothes and style he wants. And I mean, the Capitol doesn't really have clear-cut definitions of gender presentation in the later years, but I think that Rody explaining he's always resonated more with masculinity and felt like a boy would make people question whether it should be allowed for District 8 to have two male tributes. And in order to be "woke" and accepting, like of course Rody isn't excluded for his identity, just keep him in the girl's reaping pool (completely missing the point of yknow gender) and also as my friend pointed out Diversity Win! The Capitol is cool with sending a trans kid to slaughter! Idk, i think it'd work to poke at the hypocrisy.

The thing is idk if I'd make Rody as charismatic as he is in WHM because I do think he'd be very scared about not going home, I think he'd be angry at the fact that he's being paraded around, I think he'd be trying to figure out how to pull one over on the other tributes. I think he's smart enough to know he'd need donors, but I'm not sure if he'd play the role to get them.

Another thing is I don't want to give Rody and Deku the Katniss/Peeta starcrossed lovers dynamic that is presented to the world. So I wanna figure out how to let them trust each other (specifically Rody tbh.)

OH! And Bakugo was a District 8 victor like three years prior, so he's the mentor.

[dearmahiru-archive]

for ask game: 1, 2, 4, 11 for Mahiru and 3, 5, 6, 11 for Kotoko 💕

oh my hello hello!! for mahiru, i've answered 1 + 2 + 11 here and 4 here

3. favorite non-mv official illustration?

i know i call kotoko handsome and cool and my husband every sentence but also. she's handsome and cool and my husband. gorgeous gorgeous woman!!

5. favorite voice drama line/moment?

OH I WISH WE HAD YONAH because i know there's going to be some amazing relevations there but if i must be constrained to task....

Kotoko: "Yes. I hate evil. Hurting innocent people with violence, taking away from others, killing people… I hate all this evil behaviour! The law being unable to judge some sins, there's too many of these cases in this world. Having clearly bullied and torturing the weak, but exploiting loopholes in laws, there's so many sinners who still live in such a carefree manner! Even though I want to change this world, I alone only have this much power."

i'm a huge massive sucker for characters who embody justice (hence why i immediately latched onto fuuta) so this little monologue always has me kicking my feet. she's our guard dog, she's our fangs, she'll protect those she deem weak whether they like it or not. i can see the red flags but it's so easy to get swept up in her line of thinking, and i think all of her flaws are just so beautiful.

6. favorite relationships with another character in the prison?

this is a hilarious question for kotoko because all of her relationships suck. she beat up half of the prisoners, will absolutely throw down with shidou and kazui (pun intended), and is disconnected from mu and haruka.

but to answer your question, i am forever a huge fan of the kotokoto combo 💥💥💥

they're so insanely funny to me. you'd think the social, pretty-boy with an easy going personality and the handsome goth ice queen would naturally clash but not genuinely vying for eachother's deaths.

kotoko's like "hm, sure i'll wish you happy birthday" and then a month later is perfectly happy to execute an elbow drop on him. i mourn the a universe where they actually developed a friendship but for now i'm just delighted by them. the sillies (gone wrong) (gone violent) (the police were called)

11. what are your favorite points about their story and the narrative surrounding them?

ohhh there's so much stuff but kotoko's the most elusive character right now without her second mv. but if i had to praise her storytelling then the reach kotoko's influence has never failed to astound me.

the reason fuuta claims we're the same is because, through a group effort, people were seriously and almost died. if kotoko never attacked anyone, would he say this or would he have an easier time accepting his verdict?

a huge factor for shidou's innocence was so he could save the guilty prisoners. i wonder how seriously warped his music video would've been without this purpose spurring him on. like yuno and kotoko, i don't think he would've accepted his verdict and his self-loathing would only grow.

and a big factor contributing to the friendly atmosphere of the prisoner was the social prisoners chipping in their effort. it's already confirmed that mahiru would have made friends with amane if either weren't unwell, and she would probably have tried to keep things cheerful once more.

even if we do place a metaphorically place a muzzle on kotoko in trial three, i can't help but wonder what kind of domino effect it'll have!

[jjungkookislife]

Yay! Finally got the time to read Navigating Tides 😁 It's been a while since you wrote something this long. I got really excited when you mentioned posting on Koo's b-day 🥺 (but I mean, so far, you always do something on the boys' b-days so I always look forward to it when you do 🥰) and it's exes to lovers too 😍 I love it when old couples find their way back into each other 🥲 so I'm going to randomly rant and comment as I read 😌 I apologize in adcance 😅

Idk how anyone can eat a pineapple right after cutting it. If I don't salt it first, my tongue just hurts 😣 but also, Jk ripping open a whole pineapple 😏🥴

I feel Yoongi but it's not just worrying on shit that happens on cruises, I also kinda fear open waters 😰

I love how Jimin is trying to play nice but Yoongi just death glares him. I prefer Yoongi's way lol 😂

Can I just say how cute the three of them are 🥺 YoonMin vying for my heart on how sweet they are for being so caring and attentive and just being there for MC. Mom, I want him them 😭

Idk how their breakup went but I am inclined to side with MC just cause it seems that Jk is the one at fault but it's hard when he attacks you with his cuteness AND hotness. Like, that's just not fair 😤

Okay, so it was definitely his fault. Glad that he is atleast aware and regretful. So now we can get to the good part 😏

Captain Joonie finally arrives... 👀

I'm torn at wanting to tell Yoongi "yeah, make him regret 😤" or "give him a break 🥺" or "you made Kookie cry you meanie 😡"

I love chaos 😈 but I don't want babie Koo to be hurt 😞 And then there's Jiminie, clearly seeing they both still love each other, and tries to help them.

They're both such amazing friends, just doing it their own way for MC.

omg He got mistaken as waitstaff 🤦‍♀️ I thought the beady eyes were from the fish or some sea creature 🤣 I'm so stupid 🥲 Okay, so it was seafood 😅 and also awwwww 🥺 he knows...

Jk lowkey simping on Joon. Like "yeah, I get it. I'd want to date him too 😍" lol 😂

UGH!!! Can he be any cuter?!?!? 😫 The way he interchangably saddens and lights up depending on what she says or does, just like a cute li'l puppy 🥰 They are adorable together, and clearly still inlove 🥺

YOONGI IS PLANNING ON PROPOSING 😳🤯

Uh-oh.. I'm imagining Layover!Tae... Jk's got another competition 🤭

MC putting sunblock on YoonMin after their food coma 🥺

Kookie being internally giggly from the indirect kiss 🥺

Not what I wanted but atleast they're cordial and making jokes now. There's progress 😊

YoonMin gushing on them and taking adorbs blackmail pics 🥰 but Yoongi won't be Yoongi if he didn't kick Jk's ass to wake him 😆

Tae keeps calling her love and that hand kiss 🥴

Jk being sulky, pouty and jealous 😂

The ways she keeps doing stuff with/for Koo out of habit 🥺

D*mn, she's definitely lucked out in life cause now Jin's part of the selection 😜🤣

He buys her mom flowers cause she loves them, that's really sweet. Even if he almost flooded her house with them from trying to see MC everyday 😂 Him being shy after his mom exposed him 🥺 

The fact that he still continued working and didn't immediately went after her after she said that and left, proves how his job has clearly taken over him, cause he was totally shocked when she packed up and leave. I guess he didn't really believe she would or he just tuned her out. He was definitely taking her for granted 😔

And his mom still checks up on her and updates her on how much Jk is finally trying and actually doing his best to be better. It's just kinda sad that she had to leave for him to start doing it 😞

This hot and sexy b*tch jumping to conclusions when she finally gathered up her courage to talk to him 😤

Oh Jk, you really be pissing me off with your avoidance towards your problems and just giving up without trying to fight for her like you haven't been monologuing about your love for her all week 🙄

Yoongi be stressing and this boy be pissing him off 😂 So cute 😖

And finally, Hobi appears 🤠 Jk, be cool please 😓

Awwwwwwwwww, Yoongi prepared so much 🥺

We're finally getting "the talk" 😬

Yeah, it's always sad when after a relationship ends, other relationships get broken too. So glad she still talks with his mom 🥲

Feelings are out. Fight is settled. No unnecessary drama, just communicated properly. They are finally reunited 🥰

Yoongi knows MC too much that he just knows something is different with her but I'm quite disappointed that he didn't know already. The signs were all there 😅 Jimin would notice too but he's in planning mode already that it'll be more difficult for him unless he focuses on them 😆

Yoongi not really listening to their convo and just blurting out “You’re fucking him.” Jimin's scandalized reaction was hilarious 🤣

Yoongi's guess was not quite right but Jimin being spot on was to be expected from a bff 😏 and then there's Yoongi being repulsed by it. He's remembering how disgustingly adorable they were 😂 but Awwwwwwww, he always got her back and is so protective 🥰 but I'll also help him if Jk does ever hurt her again 😤

Every girl needs a Jimin that is more prepared than them and is willing to pack them lingerie just in case lol 😂

Why do they have to be so shy again, it makes me soft and it's smut 😫 they are just so adorable and so inlove. It was so 🥵 but 🥰 too. Ugh, i love these two 🥺 and whiney and needy Koo 🙃🤤🥴

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand DONE 😍 This was such an amazing gift for Jk's special day, thank you sharing it with us. I had so much fun reading it (as proven by this long post 😅) that it took me the whole day to finish it. I really liked the story and the way that you didn't prolong the drama, just enough to hurt and then gave us the fluff we needed (well, atleast what I needed 🥰) YoonMin kinda stole the show for the most part, I mean, they're just such lovable characters. They were definitely one of the best parts of this story. And then there's the other boys having their eye on MC. But if I'm being honest, i felt bad for Joon. He was the one who actually made an effort to woo MC but got left behind cause of his prawns THAT HE CAUGHT HIMSELF 🥺 You did you best Joonie, just wasn't your night, (or the right girl) ☹ But I actually thought he was gonna have a big role in the story, like gonna be a whole third party. But this was even better cause you didn't prolong their angst. The guys' appearance was a nice touch too, it brought us a pouting jealous Jk 😆

All in all, i loved reading this. I'm looking forward on drabbles that you might write on this in the future. Like a look on their life after, the dates and stuff that he does to make up to her, YoonMin's Wedding 😍, and Koo finally bringing MC to his mom now that they're together again 😭 but no pressure, only if you want to 😊

Anyways, I hope you are doing well. Please don't overwork yourself and thank you again for this JK b-day fic 💜💜💜 (Now i can finally sleep 😂)

Hello! Ah, this fic sort of got out of hand lol it wasn’t supposed to be so long 😅 I’ve been writing something for JK’s birthday since 2019 😅 one year I wrote something for all their birthdays and it was hard to keep up with 🥲

I’ve never had salt on pineapple 👀 I’ll have to try it.

I just realized his shirt also has pineapples 😂 I just thought it was a funny moment to include in the fic 😂

Yoongi has watched too many true crime docs (as have I 👀) so I may never go on a cruise

They’re such good friends to MC 😭 they encouraged her to go on the cruise with them and she agreed and now she’s back with JK 😭

Yes, jungkook is very very regretful about how he handled things 😭

Yoongi can play both sides, he wants jk to suffer but also he still cares about him 😭 jimin is a lot more forgiving though 😭 it’s a confusing situation for all of them

Jungkook getting mistaken for waitstaff was so fun to write! I think it was a good way for him to interrupt the not date 😂 and the prawns lol I saw some recently and I just could not look away from the eyes ☠️

Tae was supposed to be a little more flirty lol but then I added the bit where MC had been the one who planned the excursion so Tae would have assumed she was in a relationship still but that didn’t stop him from kissing her hand lmao

yoongi has a love/hate for JK lol the kick was funny lol a little aomething for breaking MC's heart 😅

Yes 😭😭😭 like they used to share drinks and food. If she got a milkshake, he knew she wouldn’t finish it and he would finish it for her 😭 or if they bought snacks and she didn’t like them, he’d eat it 😭 so he’s hopeful at this point

Seokjin 🥵 he’s a gorgeous performer and he ends up chatting with MC bc he’s nosy and he’s trying to get more bookings 👀👀👀🤑🤑🤑

😭😭😭😭 he didn’t go after her and she waited for him to and when he kept working she decided it was over. She went to Jimin’s and stayed there until she got her own place and she cried calling his mom to let her know it was over. His mom invited her over for dinner and let her cry on her shoulder 🥲

Jungkook just convinced himself that MC went with Seokjin lmao like he didn’t even try to ask what happened or if she was okay. Then he avoids her like sir 🙃 this is the love of your life

I’ve never been horseback riding but it seemed romantic lol and Yoongi trying to get JK to act right 😂poor baby was stressed about proposing and then he had to worry about getting Jk to be there and also to behave. I was gonna have MC ride with hoseok instead just to add a little drama 😂

Yes I was happy when they had the talk! They could have been together sooner if Jk had just asked her about seokjin 😭 my man loves dodging confrontation (okay but same 🥲)

Yoongi was like 🕵️ somethings going on lol and Jimin was so confused when he blurted that out bc WHAT???? Lmao he’s been so busy planning and making notes he was thrown off by Yoongi lol

Jimin was set on finding her a man lmao 🤣 he was hoping anyone they met would be her new boyfriend. But he’s really glad JK showed up bc they were not expecting it at all and JK debated going but his assistant already made plans and he figured why not lol

They were so shy and in love and ughhhh they were so sweet with each other. They missed each other so much 🥰

Joon was supposed to be a third party but he’d be away a lot bc of his job and that’s what MC was trying to avoid. She loved with JK and she rarely saw him bc of his job 😭 but captain!Joon was 🥵 he’s a cutie and a total sweetheart

Yoonmin were so fun to write and they added that little relief and drama so I’m glad you liked them ☺️ I do have a few drabble ideas for them that I can hopefully write in November (at least one by then bc kinktober week is on my schedule) and then i have some family stuff in December lol but thank you so much for reading! Your kind words always make my day! I hope you were able to get lots of sleep after reading this lol 🥲

[colindeamer01]

Earn More with Colin Deamer: 5 Easy Ways to Boost Sales in 2023

In this thrilling world of business, sales are the secret sauce that makes everything exciting! Picture this: sales are like the superhero powers that make a business go from "just okay" to "wow, amazing!" Why? Because they're not just about making money; they're about making your business strong, lively, and successful.

But hold on a second! So, here's the twist: sales are vital for a business to be its best self. But there's always a "but," right? There are challenges on this superhero journey. Ever wondered how to catch the attention of customers in a world where everyone is vying for it? Or how to deal with new technologies popping up like surprise guests at a party? These are the real-life puzzles businesses face.

So, here below in this post, we will discuss the key 5 ways to bring your customers back if you are chasing sales success in this competitive world. 

Ready for the ride? Let's dive in!

How does boosting sales help a business? 

In the wild world of business, there's a secret sauce that can turn a struggling business into a roaring success: boosting sales. It's not just about making money; it's like giving your business a superpower – a power that can transform everything from your bank balance to your influence in the market.

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In the exciting world of business, scoring more sales is like hitting the jackpot. It's not just about making money – it's about making your business shine! So, how can you turn the dial-up on your sales game without breaking a sweat? Here are five super simple and totally doable ways:

Leverage Digital Marketing Trends

Embrace the power of digital marketing to expand your reach and connect with a broader audience. Utilize social media platforms, create compelling content, and invest in targeted advertising. Engage with your audience through email marketing campaigns, and consider collaborating with influencers to amplify your brand's visibility.

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A positive customer experience is a powerful driver for repeat business and positive word-of-mouth. Invest in creating a user-friendly website, provide prompt and personalized customer service, and gather feedback to improve continually. Satisfied customers are more likely to become loyal advocates and repeat buyers.

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Maximize the value of each transaction by implementing cross-selling and upselling techniques. Identify complementary products or services and strategically bundle them together. Highlight premium options or upgrades to encourage customers to explore additional offerings, ultimately increasing the average transaction value.

Optimize Your Sales Funnel

Analyze your sales funnel to identify and eliminate any potential obstacles. Streamline the customer journey from awareness to conversion, ensuring a seamless and efficient process. Address any pain points or bottlenecks that may hinder the buying process, optimizing each stage for a smoother customer experience.

Invest in Employee Training

The first line of contact with customers is your sales team. Give them the abilities and information needed to succeed in their positions. Provide regular training sessions to enhance their product knowledge, communication skills, and ability to address customer concerns. A well-trained team can build stronger relationships with customers, leading to increased trust and higher conversion rates.

Incorporating these easy-to-implement strategies into your sales approach can yield significant results. Remember, the key lies not just in adopting these methods but in consistently refining and adapting them to meet the evolving needs of your market and customers. 

Conclusion

So, as of now, we understand the challenges and opportunities, and the importance of boosting sales cannot be overstated. A strategic combination of targeted marketing, online optimization, customer relationship management, incentivization, and data-driven decision-making can empower businesses to thrive in a competitive market. Moreover, boosting sales doesn't always require complex solutions; often, it's the simple, strategic tweaks that make the most significant impact.

About The Author

Colin is an expert with extensive knowledge of the complicated areas of IT and telecommunications. Colin Dreamer, who has extensive experience with everything from lease lines to fiber internet, recently decided to transition from a leadership role in sales to a more hands-on job due to an unanticipated life event.

Colin stands out for having exceptional sales acumen. He routinely surpasses goals and targets in both direct and channel sales. His ability to use previous business and CRM data from systems such as Autotask, ZOHO, Salesforce, and CRM to forecast accurately demonstrates his analytical skills. Colin is a master of bid management who creates winning bids with ease and radiates confidence when making presentations to CxOs.

Away from work, Colin Deamer is a family-oriented man who moved into a new home in 2022. He is a devoted father of three who takes great pride in being a certified Football Association (FA) referee. He finds comfort in the game of golf. Colin is a wonderful example of how to combine a strong work ethic with a strong commitment to personal and family happiness.

[vitos-ordination-song]

Birthday of the World is really so good, so many thought provoking stories. I read it first in 2020 when I was teetering on homelessness and other stress but damn. Idk Le Guin has always helped me find clarity and sanity in the darkest times, she brings me back to the source and to my zest for life. Birthday of the World didn’t speak to where I was at the time—it helped me think of things beyond myself and my struggles. I think about so many of the stories in it weekly. Must reads:

“The Matter of Seggri.” Set on a planet where women outnumber men 16 to 1. The result is kind of the oppression of men, though it’s a bit more complicated than that. Le Guin manages to flip many of the stereotypical gender dynamics on their head in a way that feels realistic and grounded rather than silly. There’s also a lot of pathos in it. I like it most for how it brings to the forefront things not often thought about wrt gender. For instance, the men in the society are considered precious commodities (benevolent sexism most often directed towards women in the real world), and yet their society contains a parody of the extreme brutality and competitiveness of male gendered socialization on earth. The men are constantly vying to reach the top of a hierarchy through games and sexual prowess. Some reach the top and reinforce the system, while others are forced to take part against their will. The society of the women is fascinating as well—there’s lots that will be said, but the most interesting thing to me is the part where a woman says they would have destroyed the men were they not segregated away from them. It made me think—are women afraid of men? Would we dominate them if we could?

“Mountain Ways.” There are two stories set on the planet of O in this collection. I also like “Unchosen Love,” but consider “Mountain Ways” to be one of the highest quality short stories Le Guin wrote. It’s about a complicated relationship in a world of complicated relationships. O marriages are between four people and require both homosexuality and heterosexuality. In this one, two women wish to get married, but there aren’t enough men around to complete the marriage. So one woman disguises herself as a man in order to marry herself, her partner, a man, and another woman. Crazy stuff. The marriage begins with deception, and one of the partners is more dedicated to making the four-way marriage work than the other. I really felt the love between the women. So much of Le Guin’s writing centers on the importance of heterosexual monogamy, and I do like how she writes that 95% of the time, but it’s so nice to see her branch out.

“Solitude.” One of those Le Guin personal narratives about growing up at the crossroads of culture. A girl’s mother is a scifi anthropologist studying a planet’s culture. She involves her children in her study. As she learns about the culture, she senses that it is backwards—it is not accepting of the new, it is anti-social, and it endangers her children. She seeks to withdraw from it. But her daughter has grown up as part of the culture and understands it—fits in perfectly to it. Thus the mother and daughter must be at odds with each other. It’s about their struggle and about, as the title says, solitude. The planet is inhabited by people who keep to themselves. They fear social power, the mere attempt to influence another’s thinking, which they refer to as magic. Really great one.

“Paradises Lost.” A story about a generation of people who were born on a space ship in between earth and a new home. It’s one of the longest in the book and full of amazing detail. It’s influenced my own writing—for instance, a fascination with our relationship with earth and what would happen if we were cut off from it. There’s also the birth of a new religious movement in this story which is fascinating.

[izayoichan]

“Do you miss it?” “A little, maybe mostly the quiet.” “So still sure?” “Yes, I think I would miss you more.”

They had arrived at the treehouse, Hayden remembering the first time he had told him he lived in one, and how he had found that quite strange.

“Say Vy?” “Yeah?” “Where are your parents?” “Ehm… away?” “How far away?” “Very very far?”

He looked at him, deciding not to push it any more, as it was clear that he wasn’t quite ready to talk about it just yet.

“Okay, so, what do you want to take with you?”

Vy looked around the house, taking a few things in his arms, then putting some things back, and that’s how hours passed, Hayden just watching him.

“You can bring it all if you want, but then we need to rent a moving truck.” “I… I don’t know.” “Choose a couple of things, and we take them with you now, and then we can just bring a truck, and you can decide the rest then?” “Okay!”

He walked through the house one more time, taking with him the most important items he had realizing it was a little too much for him to carry.

“Here, I’ll take some.” “Are you sure?” “Pretty sure.”

A few minutes later they walked out of the tree house with their arms full of little things. Vy looking over at Hayden as they walked, wondering if he should really be carrying all that he did. The answer to that he got a little later when they were home, and all the little things had been put in Vy’s room, Hayden going back to his own, letting Vy figure things out on his own for a bit.

“Hay… Oh….”

He stood there and looked at Hayden sleeping on the floor, before he lied down next to him leaning his head over his back.

“So tired… your heart.”

He sighed, just lying there trying to help with a bit of healing, listening to Hayden’s heartbeat. It always sounded so tired to him, and it worried him every time he found himself listening to it.

“Still not sure?” “About Vy staying with us?” “Yeah?” “Nah, I have been sure about that since Hayden mentioned it.” “He is starting to feel like he is one of ours isn’t he?” “Yes, is that normal?” “I think so, at least when it is someone that seems homeless.” “He says he has parents.” “He probably does, but I doubt they are here.”

Chris smiled at his husband. He had noticed how Vy slowly warmed up to them a little, not much, but enough to make his husband see him as one of his kids. He had to admit, with him being around so much, he had often thought just about the same himself.

“And before you ask, I doubt he is there yet. Maybe he will one day, but for now I think we can just work on getting him to trust us, and take it from there?”

Hayle nodded, he knew his husband was right, and that they could at least help him out with a house, food and a place where he could slowly feel safe.

Beginning - Previous - Next

[randoimago]

Ino, Sakura, temari and tenten with a Ditzy s/o who's affectionate and despite being Ditzy their really strong.

Affectionate and Ditzy S/O

Fandom: Naruto

Characters: Ino Yamanaka, Sakura Haruno, Temari, Tenten

Type of Request: Headcanons

Notes: You got it!!

Ino

Oh Ino thrives off of the affection. Loves being the annoying PDA couple. Has interrupted a hug with you to yell at Shikamaru for complaining before hugging you again.

You being a ditz isn't a problem for her either! You're very cute and love her and that's good enough!

Likes feeling like she has her stuff in order since you're rather scatterbrained. Usually she feels like she's rushing to get things done but you make her feel levelheaded.

As for fighting, hell yeah you're a badass! Always cheering you on because you're amazing.

Sakura

Also thrives off of the affection. She does get more embarrassed if she’s in front of others as she wants to look strong and respectable and can’t do that if she’s melting because of something sweet you said.

She’s used to ditzy people unfortunately. So she does her best to keep notes for you and make sure to remember things that you’re sure to forget.

Honestly becomes like a secretary to you as well as your girlfriend. She doesn’t mind it too much.

Is happy to have you on her side when a fight breaks out. She knows you’re strong and can hold your own. Definitely calls you two a dynamic duo with your combined power.

Temari

There are many times when she’s sighing and questioning why she likes you. Your constant vying for her affection also makes her roll her eyes as she pats your head.

You’re an idiot. You end up losing track of time or things that are needed. And you forget what you’re doing.

She supposes that your forgetfulness can be rather endearing. But it still gets exhausting having to clean up your messes or make apologies on your behalf.

You being good at fighting does help her mood quite a bit. She knows you’re reliable should a battle happen.

Tenten

Oh she’s used to Lee being scatterbrained with everything except training so to date someone that’s pretty much the same is interesting. Except Lee can be focused on certain things, you’re more of an interesting case.

Doesn’t mind all the affection, but there is a time and a place.

Probably also doesn’t mind being affectionate in public as long as it’s not too over-the-top and making others uncomfortable.

Tenten loves training with you and actually going into battle with you because you really thrive then. Just try to be careful.

[e-dubbc11]

Say It Again

Photos found on Pinterest/google

Pairing: Billy Russo x F! Reader

Warnings: A lot of angst, jealousy, swearing, mostly PG-13, alludes to sex, Billy’s possessive tendencies and mention of fear of abandonment, pretty tame

Word Count: 2.7k-ish

Summary: Billy and reader attend a party that he is hosting for his company when the green eyed monster shows up as well as one in the form of a beautiful woman vying for your boyfriend’s attention. Then the game begins.

A/N: Fun fact, I looooove to get dressed up for a fancy night out. I love all things fashion, makeup and my favorite designer is Chanel (I have a Coco Chanel quote tattooed on my arm.) I saw the picture of the black dress from above and I just fell in love with it so I had the idea of going to a fancy party wearing that dress, with the smexy Mr. Russo on your arm. I realize my version of Billy is different from the Punisher series but he still has a lot of issues and I do think he could be a real sweetheart if given the chance and you can’t change my mind, I’m sorry for rambling.

As always, thank you for reading!  I appreciate it so much and comments are welcome and encouraged. 💕💕💕

Billy Russo knew how to work a room, he knew how to get people’s attention, he was damn good at running his company, and he was all yours. ANVIL was doing very well, and Billy was always hosting functions to drum up business. Naturally, you were right by his side and at this point you were used to going to them.

Billy put these events on at least a couple times every month, so you always wanted to look your best for him, and no matter how many times you told him you could wear the same dress more than once, he insisted you have something “new” each time.

Your closet was just a revolving door of cocktail dresses, formal dresses, long ones, short ones and he didn’t care about the cost. If you liked it, he had to get it for you, no questions asked. He spoiled you rotten—you weren’t sure if you’d ever get used to it, the clothes, the gifts, jewelry, and flowers for no reason. It was like a fairy tale and you were his princess.

You told him you didn’t need all of that stuff but he isn’t really good with words—he was better at showing you how much he loved you, it was the one thing he knew he could do.

He’d bring you take out after a long day at work, along with a bouquet of flowers. He made you tea before bed, took care of you when you didn’t feel well, so he did know how to do other things besides spend money on you.

The dresses he bought for you for these functions were gorgeous, designer gowns. Every time you’d try and tell him it’s too much, that you didn’t need it, he’d pretend like he didn’t hear you and buy it for you anyway.

The dress you picked out for tonight was no exception—black floor length, mermaid style, sleeveless with a deep V neckline. It had a sheer black layer over top, covered in black flowers. It was so beautiful, you felt amazing in it, and Billy told you “I cannot wait to see this on you, love.”

As you sat in front of your vanity, doing your makeup, you couldn’t help but notice he had been having a lot of these functions lately.

“This is the fourth one this month?”

Billy was standing in front of the mirror, tying his tie—“I thought you like going to these things with me?”

You love going—it’s just a lot of work to get ready for one. “Oh you know I do, baby but it’s been a lot this month, don’t you think?”

Still tying his tie, he turned around to look at you, and he gave you that smile you love so much. “Maybe—but I do love seeing you get all dressed up for me though.”

You smiled back at him. “Only for you, handsome.”

He stopped to stare at you, to take in everything about you, from your black dressing robe to the curls in your hair, and your diamond encrusted hair comb.

“Say it again.” He said softly with a growl.

You swung your legs around to the other side of your vanity bench, stood up and walked over to wrap your arms around his neck. “Only. For. You.” And you pulled him in for a kiss.

Billy could be slightly possessive. If he catches another man even looking in your general direction, he would be furious—and you thought there were any number of reasons he acted that way.

More than likely, it was his fear of abandonment which would also explain why he had to always be near you at all times, it was a comfort to him so you were more than willing to accommodate and make him feel safe with you.

“I know how important these are for you and your business, Billy, so I’m happy to go with you. I love you.”

He winked at you. “I love you too, beautiful. Is it time for me to see you in that gorgeous dress yet?”

“Almost.” You said. “Almost.”

He loved to see you in black, it was his favorite color on you. It didn’t matter if it was long, short, form-fitting or full skirt—if it was black, it was Billy’s favorite.

He always wore a black suit and tie to these functions, he was the sexiest man you had ever laid eyes on and you weren’t the only one who thought so.

Women would throw themselves at him left and right, sometimes right in front of you but most times it never bothered you because Billy really did only have eyes for you, however jealousy would rear its ugly head tonight.

While you were getting drinks from the bar, a woman you recognized as the CEO of a rival company was talking to him, she was flirting and not being subtle about it. The bartender handed you the two drinks and you headed back to the high top table where they were talking.

Billy introduced you to her and he mentioned her suggestion of taking on jobs “as a team.” You knew exactly what she meant by that, the way she touched his jacket before you handed Billy his drink.

She looked at you with such disdain like she was about to spit poison at you, then excused herself to go retrieve a drink from the bar, and said she’d be back in a minute.

“Billy—she’s flirting with you right in front of me. Oh and “teaming up” with her? I know EXACTLY what she means by that.”

He tried to reassure you by kissing your cheek and lightly brushing your nose with his finger.

“Oh come on, baby, she’s just being friendly and wants to do business together.”

Your next words came out very sarcastic—“Yeah I bet she does.”

Before you could finish the conversation, she was back, batting her eyelashes and taking a sip of her drink, the two of them talking business and you not really understanding what they were talking about.

But you could understand her body language, the way she was standing, looking up at him, and gently brushing her collarbone with her delicate fingers that you wanted to snap in half. It’s perfectly obvious she has her sights set on your boyfriend, but apparently it’s not obvious to Billy.

Usually he touches you in some way, to keep you close. He’d hold your hand, snake an arm around your waist, or lean over to kiss you on the temple but he hasn’t done any of those things since she’s been holding all his attention.

He’s been completely ignoring you so you finished your drink and went back to the bar for another, leaving him alone with her.

There was a good looking man sitting at the bar that looked familiar, you’ve probably seen him at one of these before—you thought well, two can play at this game. He smiled, and you smiled back.

“Wanna buy me a drink?”

The man looked a little surprised to hear you say that.

“But you’re Mr. Russo’s girlfriend.” He said nervously.

“Do you work for him?” You asked.

“No, ma’am.” He anxiously replied.

“Is he here right now?”

The man scanned the room but he apparently didn’t notice Billy.

“Well—no.”

You knew this probably wasn’t a good idea but you wanted to give Billy a taste of his own medicine.

“Then you can buy me a drink.”

Billy took notice of you at the bar, looking a little too friendly with the mystery man and the two of you were hard headed enough to see which of you could fly off the handle first.

He started this though so you turned to the man who just bought you a drink, winked and thanked him after you knew Billy was looking at you.

To which he then swept a stray hair away from the woman’s face while you grazed the man’s arm with your fingers, all while narrowing your eyes over at Billy.

He was carefully eyeing the man that held your gaze.

Flirting with this guy was starting to get to Billy, you could see it all over his face and if he could have burned a hole into the guy’s skull with his stare, he would have.

But when the man touched your shoulder, that was when Billy had enough—you read his lips as he said “Will you excuse me, please? Thank you.”

“Mr. Russo is glaring at me, Miss.”

He took long strides to get to the bar quickly, grabbed your waist, pointed at the man that just touched you and with a stern voice said—“You’re lucky you don’t work for me, otherwise you’d be fired for even LOOKING at her, let alone buying her a drink and touching her like that!”

Billy turned to you next, he had his long, slender finger pointed up, flush against his chest—“And you, my love, I need to speak with you privately.”

Billy had succumbed to his jealousy but you weren’t finished yet.

“Oh if you have anything to say to me, I’m sure you could say it in front of my new friend—what’s your name?”

The man stumbled with his response. “Uh—well, it uh—it’s James, Miss.”

You smiled at Billy and said “You can say it in front of James.”

Not wanting to cause a scene, he gritted his teeth and tried to smile. “No, no darling, I really can’t. Can you just come with me, please?” He took hold of your hand and led you out of the ballroom, towards one of the private bathrooms on the floor you were on.

On your way out, you called to James “Thank you for the drink!!” You smiled and waved.

Billy ushered you into the bathroom first, he was close behind you, and locked the door as soon as it was closed.

He unbuttoned his suit jacket and started pacing back and forth while wiping his lips with his thumb and forefinger, you could tell he was absolutely furious.

“Y/n.” He said your name like he had daggers in his mouth.

“What the FUCK did you think you were doing in there!?”

You had a slight smile on your face and Billy was still pacing, he raised his eyebrows as he asked you another question.

“You think this is funny, baby!? You know how I get when another man looks at you, never mind watching you flirt with them!”

It was your turn.

“Like you weren’t flirting with Miss Sexy Legs in there?!! ‘Oh Mr. Russo, maybe if I play with my hair and stare at you seductively, you’ll take me home tonight instead of your girlfriend.’”

You knew you were being childish but you were trying to get your point across to him.

He looked perplexed. “I wasn’t—.”

You cut him off. “Oh no?!! She was openly flirting with you in front of me and you didn’t even believe me when I told you that she doesn’t JUST wanna do business with you, how can you not see that?! You ignored me, Billy and don’t even get me started on you TOUCHING HER!”

He finally stopped pacing, his jaw was clenched, and he moved closer. His intense eyes were staring down at you, your noses were practically touching, and you caught the scent of bourbon on his breath.

“I was reacting to my girlfriend putting her hands on another man! And him putting his fucking hands on you!”

You gave him a hostile glare, the heat rose to your face, and your anger felt like a white hot inferno that wanted to burn you from the inside out. That’s when you let him have it.

“Billy, you think I can’t tell that woman in there wants you?!! The way she was looking at you and you looking back at her, like I wasn’t even there!”

He softened a little. “Baby, you know that’s not true.”

You weren’t finished.

“I was standing right next to you!! You usually keep me close, hold my hand, kiss me, but there was nothing. You didn’t even look at me!! You were looking at her, the way you”—you took a deep breath—“the way you usually look at me.”

You stopped to try and compose yourself and pointed a shaking finger at him.

“I can handle women throwing themselves at you, Billy Russo, because you never give them a second glance. I feel safe with you that you don’t even entertain their advances but you having eyes for someone else is something I can’t—I can’t handle. That really hurt me.”

It was wrong to fight fire with fire, especially where Billy was involved. Both of you were stubborn and crazy about each other which can make for some pretty intense fights.

Tears stung the back of your eyes as you backed up to lean against the counter with your head in your hands.

He pulled a tissue from the box that was on the counter behind you and with one hand on your chin, began to catch the fresh tears that escaped your eyes.

Billy looked at you with his deep, impenetrable brown eyes, his lips were trembling a little and guilt suddenly consumed him like a snake swallowing its prey.

Now that he had time to think about it, that woman was flirting with him and he did ignore you—Billy was usually the needy one in the relationship but both of you had your moments because of how crazy in love you were with each other.

He picked you up, placed you on top of the counter, his hands planted on either side of you and rested his forehead against yours.

“I am—so sorry, baby. I just thought it was strictly business and I didn’t notice I was paying more attention to her, than I was you. Things just got a little out of hand, huh?”

Biting your lip, you gave him a slight smile and a nod. It was never easy for Billy to express his feelings verbally, he tried but it was just difficult for him to get out.

You grazed your fingers over his beard. “I love you, Billy.”

“I love you so much, y/n and you’re the only woman I will ever have eyes for.”

He tilted your chin up towards his face and leaned forward to kiss you. Tasting the bourbon on his lips, you kissed him back, your tongue begging for access to his mouth and Billy welcoming it, he could never deny you that.

He could never deny you anything—his touches sent shivers up and down your spine, goosebumps scurried across your skin, and you always wanted him just as much as he wanted you.

His hands roamed up and down your body, eagerly feeling the fabric of your dress and the exposed skin on your back while he kissed your jawline and down your neck.

He broke the kiss to stare at you like he had done earlier while you were getting ready, then lowered his head to gently kiss your shoulder, pulled you against him in an embrace and quietly held you there, calmly stroking your hair and kissing the top of your head.

You’ve learned a lot since the start of your relationship with Billy—he still had some work to do but he was getting better at expressing his feelings with words instead of keeping them bottled up inside or exploding like he had just done. He didn’t always have to use his words to express how he felt about you though.

Like the way he covered you with a blanket if you fell asleep on the couch, the way he brings you a coffee every morning to your office, the way he surprises you at work with lunch or flowers, and the way he sets the table for dinner even if it’s take out Chinese food. His love language is physical, doing, not always verbal—but in every sense of the word, he was YOURS.

“Shouldn’t we get back to the party, baby?”

“Not yet, sweet girl—I have something else in mind.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a room key.

“We’re here for the night, all of our things are upstairs. Let me show you just how sorry I am, beautiful.”

Your tears disappeared and he kissed you again.

“Well, I’m all yours Mr. Russo.”

He closed his eyes and nuzzled your nose with his and whispered “Say it again.”

“I’m. All. Yours.”

Tagging: @mindidjarin @saintmurd0ck