#a genuine positivity and encouraging nature that was so needed and so welcome

[pallanophblargh]

Lost in thoughts, endure a little more word vomit (emotional) if you will.

I received the news that a much beloved instructor of mine from the institute that won't be named passed away recently. I had the honor of taking her intaglio and relief/monotype/woodcut printmaking classes. They were the bright spark in a fog of dread, stress, and overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. They were what I looked forward to every week.

You really don't understand how much an impact someone has had on you until they're gone, sometimes.

I may not have the tools at my disposal to do a proper intaglio piece, but I can still make a book or a linocut, in her honor.

Jody, you left a bright spot in the heart of a jaded cynic who had no real business going to school for art. You were a real one. And everyone who ever met you knew it.

[sophora2025]

Johan x Clingy Reader headcanons

The Intrigue of Touch

• Johan isn’t someone used to frequent physical contact, especially when it’s genuine or affectionate. So, when you reach out to hold his hand, lean on his shoulder, or wrap him in a hug, it leaves him subtly intrigued. For Johan, this fascination with your need for touch is like reading an unfamiliar book—he observes your actions with a quiet, thoughtful curiosity.

• While he doesn’t reciprocate intensely, Johan learns to allow your affection. He’ll place a hand on yours when he notices you get nervous, or lightly brush your hair away when you lean into him. These small gestures reveal his acceptance of your touch, even if he’s still trying to understand it himself.

Quiet Companionship

• Johan rarely initiates closeness but allows you to linger around him whenever you need. Reading on the couch? He lets you snuggle up beside him, resting your head on his shoulder as he silently flips through pages. You might even catch him shifting his position slightly to make you more comfortable—a small but significant action for someone as reserved as he is.

• Although he seems unaffected on the surface, he grows accustomed to your presence by his side, and when you’re not around, there’s a noticeable emptiness. For Johan, your closeness has become part of his daily rhythm, something that quietly grounds him.

Studying Your Emotions

• Johan is an expert at understanding people, and with you, he watches every little expression and reaction, taking in each look of affection or excitement you give him. He’s captivated by how expressive you are, how naturally you convey love through your touch and words.

• Sometimes, Johan will say things that provoke a reaction from you just to observe how you respond. If he makes an enigmatic comment about your clinginess, he finds the way you blush, laugh nervously, or cling to him even more endearing.

The Gentle Boundary

• Even though Johan doesn’t overtly encourage your clinginess, he never pushes you away either. On particularly difficult days when you’re feeling extra needy or anxious, Johan lets you hold onto him for as long as you need, wordlessly understanding that your affection has become a way to feel safe and grounded.

• If he senses you’re holding back or feels you’re anxious about being too much for him, Johan will subtly encourage you. He may gently guide your hand back to his or brush his fingers through your hair as if to silently reassure you that your presence is something he’s grown used to—and perhaps even welcomes.

A Subtle, Protective Instinct

• Johan isn’t protective in a traditional sense; he won’t openly express worry or rush to shield you. But in his own way, he’ll make sure you’re safe. If you’re clingy and rely on him for comfort, he’s vigilant about your environment, observing and silently removing anyone or anything he perceives as a threat.

• In tense or uncomfortable situations, he’ll position himself close to you, maybe even take your hand, subtly pulling you toward him to keep you protected. Even if he doesn’t speak about it, there’s an unspoken promise that he won’t let anything disturb the quiet connection you’ve formed.

The Rare Moments of Softness

• There are rare moments when Johan’s mask slips, and he’ll let himself be genuinely vulnerable around you, if only briefly. On days when the weight of his past feels heavier, he might accept your touch a little more openly—allowing you to hold him, resting his head against yours, or even letting out a soft sigh in your presence.

• You never bring these moments up after they happen, knowing he’d likely brush them off, but these glimpses of Johan’s hidden softness only deepen your attachment. You become his safe place, a quiet and unwavering source of warmth, something he’s come to rely on even if he’ll never openly say it.

His Way of Saying “Stay”

• Johan doesn’t ask you to stay outright, but his actions speak volumes. If you try to leave, he’ll give a simple, almost casual look, and you know he wants you near. In public, he might rest his hand lightly on the small of your back or guide you subtly with a touch to keep you close, always creating an unspoken boundary around the two of you.

• At times, when he senses you pulling back or when you try to give him space, Johan will do something quietly reassuring, like placing a hand on yours during a meal or standing closer than necessary. It’s his way of inviting you to stay close—a rare privilege he extends only to you.

A Wordless Understanding

• With time, Johan becomes more attuned to your presence, almost anticipating your clinginess with a faint smile. When you come home exhausted and immediately wrap your arms around him, he’ll pause whatever he’s doing and let you rest against him, occasionally running a hand through your hair or brushing his thumb against your shoulder.

• There’s a strange peace in the silence that follows. Johan doesn’t need words to understand that you’re seeking comfort, and though he may not fully grasp why it means so much to you, he’s learned that your touch is something he’s come to accept—even perhaps something he craves in his own quiet way.

When He Needs You

• While Johan rarely admits to needing anything or anyone, there are rare instances when he silently seeks your warmth. After a particularly intense night of his own inner turmoil, you might wake to find him sitting beside you, a look of quiet contemplation on his face.

• Without a word, he’ll take your hand or let you wrap your arms around him, his body relaxing subtly as he allows himself this small moment of closeness. It’s his way of acknowledging that you’ve become his refuge, even if he’ll never say it out loud. In these moments, you realize that despite his complex nature, he does, in his own way, need you.

• Johan may not be someone who openly returns affection, but over time, he learns to appreciate your presence, even if it takes an understated form. His gestures might be subtle, but they reveal that beneath his carefully controlled demeanor, he’s found something rare and precious in your clingy devotion—a warmth he allows himself to be surrounded by, as if, for once, it’s safe to be a little less alone.

[altairtalisman]

Sal's Bio

"I'm supposed to go before them... so why is it the other way around...?"

More details on Sal is under the cut

Name: Salvatore "Sal" Rosso

Age: 642

Height: 168 cm

Birthday: 9 Durna 1380 (Wahaqr)

Orientation: Cisgender Omnisexual Male

Pronouns: He/Him

Species: Chronoven (formerly human)

Title: The Fifth Hour

Country of Birth: Hirdielle

Likes: Alcohol, junk food, cheese, smoking, anything minty

Dislikes: Funerals, sunflowers, anything sweet

Hobbies: Watching sunsets, chess, woodworking, playing card games

Personality: Formerly a cheerful and attentive man, he's currently morose and prefers to be lost in his own thoughts ever since he lost his entire family. He's also the type that believes in actions over words, hence why he doesn't say much be it as a human or as a chronoven

Style: Comfy clothes that doesn't irritate him when he stays in one position for hours on end, otherwise he doesn't pay much attention to clothes. Only clothing item that he pays attention to is the ribbon that he uses to tie his hair, which belonged to his late wife

Abilities: Able to freely cross between Ratein and the Astral Realm without the need of dimension gates. Is able to use cosmic magic, stop time, view events happening in the past, present and future, as well as cause anything that his weapon comes in contact with to 'dissociate' from existence (apart from chronovens, The Caretaker and The Artiste)

Like the rest of the Hourly Twelve, Salvatore is also able to open portals that allow him to travel anywhere. Also able to reverse time, but only once and at the cost of his life. Being a chronoven, he's only able to die either by his lifespan naturally running out, or by time reversal

Due to his occupation as a locksmith, he possesses the exclusive ability to lock all abilities one possesses as well as to undo said locking. It doesn't affect the Caretaker and the Artiste though, plus he also can't use this ability on himself

Background: Salvatore led an unremarkable life as a locksmith, until he met an elf who would eventually become his wife. At 26 years old, they welcomed their son into the world. Due to mixed blood, the son was a half-elf which meant that he would most certainly outlive his human peers but not his mother

Wanting his son to live a fulfilling life, he encouraged him to travel Ratein and make as many friends as possible. Salvatore then resolved to spend as much time as possible with his wife so that she could at least have memories with him to look back on when he eventually passes. He also encouraged her to find someone that made her happy when his death came to pass, not wanting his wife to feel obligated to stay a widow out of respect to him at the cost of her happiness

His son constantly sent them letters, each mentioning about the places he had visited and the beings he met. Sometime in 1429, his son sent them a letter detailing about how he met Alena in a Lyuharrnese bookstore and decided that he would stay there for an extended period of time. Both parents thought that it was sweet that their son wanted to stay in Lyuharrno for someone he saw a future with, and supported his decision

Three years later, his son married Alena and invited his parents to the wedding where they saw Alena for the first time. His wife immediately approved of her, only wanting her son to marry someone who was true to him. Salvatore, on the other hand, pulled Alena to one side and asked if she was prepared to spend her life with a half-elf. This surprised her as she didn't truly consider this question while dating his son, but didn't care as they loved each other

Satisfied that Alena was genuinely true to his son albeit naïve, he gave his blessings and exchanged letters with his son after learning that his son would live in Lyuharrno with Alena to start a family there. A year later, Salvatore and his wife learnt about their granddaughter from their son's letters which delighted them, though Salvatore wondered if his granddaughter being a quarter-elf meant that his wife would outlive her too

His life took a turn for the worse in Primna 1436, he had learnt from Alena's letter that both his son and granddaughter had died in an avalanche. He knew from the letter that the Lyuharrnese was struggling to keep herself together and had difficulty even writing the letter informing them about the unfortunate incident. His wife started to keep to herself, barely eating or sleeping while Salvatore could only helplessly watch on as he tried to be strong for his wife

Salvatore's life came to a screeching halt two months after the fateful letter came. He was informed that his wife was involved in a drowning accident in the sea and most likely walked into the deep end after drinking heavily the night before. However, this explanation didn't explain the electrocution burns on her corpse. He knew that it was more likely to be suicide, and given his wife's distaste for alcohol, she had cast a powerful lightning spell on herself while submerged in water to commit suicide, but said nothing to everyone

Now alone, for Alena was unreachable and he assumed that she had also killed herself, Salvatore smoked and drank heavily, no longer caring about his health nor was his wife around to express distate towards alcohol. In 1440, he crossed paths with a travelling merchant who tried to sell her wares by saying that they can make his wishes come true. He proceeded to ask if they could bring his family back from the dead, which made the merchant feel guilty. She then gave him a meteorite necklace, sharing with Salvatore that according to rumours that she heard, anyone who owned the meteorite necklace went missing, and that the result might be what he sought for

Unconvinced, he returned to his house and drank bottle after bottle in order to numb himself from the pain of losing his family. While drinking, he stared at the necklace and cried, angrily demanding it to return him to before he told his son to go explore the world. The necklace glowed, seemingly acceding to his demand

He then suddenly felt his body growing warmer and the left side of his chest was being gored out painlessly. His right eye then felt as though he had accidentally poked it, and didn't notice himself breaking up and reforming in a galaxy. After an eternity, he was approached by a muscular humanoid that reminded Salvatore of the stars and unknown cosmos in the Hirdiellese skies. He then introduced himself as Ma Li of the Third Hour, who then proceeded to ask if Salvatore had any fruit liqueur on his person

After responding that he didn't have any, Ma Li sighed with disappointment before muttering that Salvatore wasn't presentable enough to attend the party. When asked what party Ma Li was referring to, the latter joyfully explained that Salvatore was now basically time personified and while he couldn’t do anything fun such as going back in time to save his loved ones, he could relieve his past memories due to his abilities as a chronoven

Convinced that he had died, Salvatore asked where was his family and started to wander off to search for them. Ma Li then stabbed him in the leg, asking Salvatore if he felt anything from it. The latter responded yes, and that even at his lowest, he could tell that Ma Li was definitely not in the right sense of mind. Ma Li merely laughed it off, explaining that he wouldn't have stabbed him if he knew that Salvatore could die from being wounded

The Third Hour then explained that Salvatore was what the world would call chronovens, and that he had complete mastery over time and space save for the fact that he couldn't travel in time without serious consequences. He also explained that as a chronoven, Salvatore had an exclusive chronoven ability related to him which the latter didn’t care much about

Salvatore asked if this meant that he was immortal, with Ma Li explaining that they would eventually die after a few eons or so, unless if he reversed time to stop his son from leaving Hirdielle and even then, it wasn't guaranteed that he would prevent his son and wife from dying prematurely. Ma Li then added that it was likely time for Salvatore to figure out himself, for he spent almost his entire life ensuring that his loved ones were happy

Wary towards Ma Li but also recognising that his last words made sense, he went back to his house and laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling above as he allowed melancholy to acquaint itself with introspection…

True Form:

[lunarcovehq]

Wendy Savika Phumsiridol is a human that currently resides in Echo Acres and has been a Lunar Cove resident for 4 years.

ITS THE END OF THE WORLD

GENDER/PRONOUNS: Nonbinary, They/She

DATE OF BIRTH: August 2, 1998

OCCUPATION: Owner of New Leaf Bookstore

FACECLAIM: Mint Ranchrawee

AS WE KNOW IT, AND I FEEL FINE

SPECIES: Human

COALITION POSITION: Non-member

WELCOME TO LUNAR COVE, WENDY SAVIKA PHUMSIRIDOL

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of Grief, Loss, Death

With their nickname given to them due to one of their mother's favourite characters, Wendy Darling from Peter Pan, they seemed destined to see the world through rose-coloured glasses. Nothing, it seemed, could break them. There was so much good in the world, wasn't there? People to have hope for, dreams to cling to. She grew up as an only child, shy and hiding behind her parents' legs even at gatherings and holiday celebrations where cousins pulled her out to play. She loved to run rampant in the woods, barefoot, laughing. It was a breath of fresh air compared to her academic life, where she struggled. It wasn't that she was picked on, but rather glossed over; quiet by nature, preferring to read her books on the corner of the playground, hunched over yet another faerie tale, glasses crooked. It was in that corner of the playground that she met her best friend, who approached her, sat down, and said: What are you reading? Genuine curiosity? It piqued hers.

This led to finding family in a way Wendy hadn't anticipated. Meeting the Peter Pan to her Wendy Darling on that playground that was so lonely, it seemed truly straight out of the storybooks that she read. For the rest of her middle school years, and into high school, they were inseparable. He took her to prom; everyone joked that they'd get married when they were older, but she never viewed it like that. It was a pure kind of love, the kind where you're too grateful to do much other than enjoy it for what it is. She still remembers the last time she saw him too, walking out the front door of the arcade where they had spent almost five hours racking up high scores. She did things with him that she never thought possible: roller-skating, drive-in movies, hiking up to see the sunset on a mountaintop, just to name a few. And he turned, smiling, waving, with that familiar quirk of brows. She waved back, knowing she'd see him in another few days.

But then, just like that, he was gone. She hadn't been able to agree to go to the local watering hole that summer for one last swim before college started. He'd hit his head when he dove, despite them checking the water. It was one of those strange things that doesn't ever seem like it can happen to you, and then it does. To think, she was preparing to pursue creative writing, as she'd always wanted to, because of his encouragement, and persistence that her parents would come around to the idea. They don't know much about the accident, and they don't want to. It doesn't change anything.

Retreating into their shell, not talking to anyone, isolating themself from other friends, Wendy stopped believing, in a while, in the stories — stopped having hope. What's the point of loving so deeply if you're going to lose someone anyways? The Disney movies really blew this bubble up. She couldn't touch another book for a while either, and she scraped by in completing her bachelor's degree in Rhode Island, incredibly far from the woods of Oregon where they pretended as if they were uncovering lost cities. She didn't need to touch a book, however. One unfolded right before her very eyes when, by accident, she stumbled upon the existence of Lunar Cove.

If he was still here, he would've encouraged going on this adventure. So she took his memory with him, in a pendant she wears around her neck, and she moved into Lunar Cove after graduating college. Here is where she found the old bookstore; the first place she went upon arrival, which she considered to be a sign. If she could bring hope, stories, and this kind of adventurous spirit, through the old books and stories that she once read and clung to, then she would consider her mission complete. There is so much to read, even through eternal life. She has owned New Leaf Bookstore for approximately a year, and can always be seen with some new tea or coffee concoction she made herself by her side. She hopes that she can bring a little bit of light — although, at times, she still feels overwhelmed by all the places the dark can grow.

[sugarpieschool]

Discover Noida’s Best Play School: Sugar Pie Preschool

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, parents seek more than just academics for their young children. They want a nurturing, fun-filled, and safe environment where kids can develop holistically. Sugar Pie Preschool, one of the top preschools in Noida, offers just that. It’s where learning meets joy, and curiosity flourishes into lifelong knowledge and confidence.

Why Sugar Pie Preschool is Noida’s Top Choice

Child-Centric Curriculum At Sugar Pie, the focus is on a child-centric approach, blending Montessori and play-based methodologies. This means children learn through hands-on experiences that cater to their interests and pace, making learning engaging and natural. The curriculum covers early math, language, sensory, motor, and social skills, all in a playful context that keeps kids excited to learn.

Experienced and Caring Faculty The staff at Sugar Pie is more than just qualified—they are genuinely passionate about early childhood education. Each teacher is well-versed in creating an inclusive, nurturing environment, which helps children feel safe and confident. The staff are trained to engage young minds in a way that’s both compassionate and effective.

Safe and Stimulating Environment Safety is a priority at Sugar Pie. The preschool is equipped with secure facilities, monitored at all times to ensure every child is protected. The classrooms and play areas are designed to stimulate young minds, with bright, welcoming spaces and engaging educational materials. Every inch of the campus reflects a dedication to creating a fun and safe space for little explorers.

Focus on Holistic Development Sugar Pie understands that children are multifaceted learners. They need support not only academically but also socially and emotionally. The programs at Sugar Pie encourage children to express themselves, develop empathy, and interact with their peers in meaningful ways. By balancing academics with emotional growth, the school ensures children are well-rounded and ready for the future.

Parental Involvement and Transparency At Sugar Pie, parents are an essential part of the learning journey. Regular updates, events, and parent-teacher meetings ensure open communication, so parents can track their child’s progress. There are also workshops to help parents understand their child’s development stages and support learning at home.

Exciting Extracurricular Activities From music and dance to arts and crafts, Sugar Pie Preschool believes in the power of extracurricular activities to unlock children’s creativity. Kids can explore their interests, gain new skills, and even discover hidden talents. Special events like festivals, fun days, and educational trips are organized, making the preschool experience vibrant and memorable.

What Parents Say About Sugar Pie Preschool

Parents rave about the caring atmosphere and holistic approach at Sugar Pie. Many have noticed positive changes in their children’s confidence, social skills, and eagerness to learn. The school has built a reputation for going above and beyond to make both parents and children feel like part of a larger family.

Enroll Today at Sugar Pie Preschool in Noida!

If you’re looking for the best play school in Noida, Sugar Pie Preschool offers everything your child needs for a well-rounded, joyful start to their educational journey. Visit the school, meet the team, and see firsthand how Sugar Pie can make a difference in your child’s life.

[abigailharris99]

How to Address Life’s Challenges with Angelic Lifestyles

Life throws various challenges our way, from uncertainty about the future to feelings of isolation. If you’re finding these issues tough to manage, the "Angelic Lifestyles" community can provide the support and solutions you need.

1. Uncertainty About Your Future Without a clear vision for your life, making decisions and setting goals can feel overwhelming.

2. Experiencing Loneliness Feeling disconnected, even among others, can diminish your sense of fulfillment and happiness.

3. Coping with Stress The pressures of everyday life can lead to significant stress, affecting both your mental and physical health.

4. Lack of Positive Influence Finding consistent motivation and encouragement can be challenging without the right sources of inspiration.

5. Struggling with Self-Improvement Pursuing personal growth can be difficult without a network of support and guidance.

Solution

Here’s how "Angelic Lifestyles" can assist you in overcoming these hurdles:

Find Your Path: With "Angelic Lifestyles," you’ll gain the clarity and direction needed to navigate your goals and aspirations.

Build Genuine Connections: Our community offers a space to connect with others who understand your struggles, helping to alleviate feelings of loneliness.

Manage Stress Effectively: Access resources and advice from "Angelic Lifestyles" to help you manage and reduce stress for a healthier life.

Stay Motivated: Engage with uplifting content and supportive discussions in "Angelic Lifestyles" to maintain high levels of motivation.

Support Your Development: Benefit from the encouragement and practical tools provided by "Angelic Lifestyles" to aid your personal growth journey.

Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to join the "Angelic Lifestyles" community. Together, we can tackle life’s challenges and work towards a more enriched and balanced life.

Welcome to Angelic Lifestyles, where glamorous millennial fashion influencers journey around the world to bring you the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Whether you're seeking business attire or beachwear, advice for your first date or navigating motherhood, or tips on launching a successful online business, Angelic Lifestyles provides a glimpse into a chic and vibrant world. Our community also supports you in starting your own online business, with the potential to earn five figures. So join our group, discover hairstyling tips for every woman, stunning natural makeup tutorials, creative nail art ideas, and exciting travel clubs. Stay ahead with natural product reviews, event updates, and exclusive beauty deals. Angelic Lifestyles is your guide to effortless elegance and modern living. Visit our website for trusted recommendations before your next beauty adventure. Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561855412925&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Facebook grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/463391546428753/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

Twitterhttps://x.com/i/lists/1812880356087107677 Pinterest board https://pin.it/4MYqDTDoM Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/lifestylesangelic

LinkedIn group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14485683

Discord community.https://discord.com/invite/nrgNZkSd

Telegraph group https://t.me/+U-UMhkCRQQUzODU0

Facebook messenger group https://m.me/ch/AbbSob-9oELPMKLb/?send_source=cm%3Acopy_invite_link

WhatsApp group https://chat.whatsapp.com/HdhISsEKiL65DVO6JVuxZd

[zenruption]

6 Ways to Keep Your Patients Smiling in Your Dental Practice By Enhancing Patient Satisfaction

Patient satisfaction is at the center of any successful dentistry practice. So how can we make sure our patients leave not just with healthier smiles but happier ones too? In this blog, we outline six strategies to increase patient satisfaction and fortify your dental practice's reputation.

Photo by Erick Tang on Unsplash

Welcome Your Patients Warmly and Part with Positivity

First impressions count and, when it comes to dental offices, their welcome can set the stage for their entire experience. By greeting patients warmly, understanding their concerns, and creating an inviting, positive, and friendly environment, we can greatly enhance the patient experience. Remember, it's about treating people too, making a warm, genuine greeting an absolute necessity. And make sure your visit ends on an upbeat note by thanking patients for choosing your practice and bidding them farewell until their next appointment.

Communication Is Key

Clear and caring communication is at the top of patient satisfaction. Help your patients understand their dental health without becoming overwhelmed, present their treatment options in plain English without overwhelming them, and encourage questions while providing answers in a reassuring manner. Educated patients tend to make more informed decisions that result in positive experiences for all parties involved, plus increased return visits and referrals. Also, keep lines of communication open beyond dental offices by offering channels through which patients may reach out with any concerns or inquiries that arise.

Stay on the Cutting Edge

Staying abreast of advances in dental technology and treatments can greatly increase patient satisfaction. From pain-free lasers to orthodontic solutions, offering cutting-edge services demonstrates your commitment to quality care and patient comfort while being seen as a trendsetter in your field. Providing cutting-edge techniques can draw new patients in while keeping existing ones.

Utilizing One-Shade Omnichroma Composite

By using Omnichroma Composite's revolutionary one-shade composite material in your dental practice, it represents an exciting new step toward streamlining aesthetic restorations without compromising outcome quality. This groundbreaking material adjusts to any dentition's color, providing a perfect match with every tooth shade. One-shade Omnichroma Composite provides more than aesthetic advantages. Its adoption also means faster, more efficient procedures, reduced inventory management needs, and patient satisfaction with natural-looking results. By adopting Omnichroma Composite you demonstrate commitment to providing cutting-edge care while streamlining restorative procedures and assuring patient satisfaction through natural-looking restorations.

Comfort Factor

Making sure your dental practice is both clinically excellent, comfortable, and attractive can play an essential part in patient satisfaction. Music, comfortable chairs, and an inviting atmosphere can all play an integral part in making visits more pleasurable. Think of your practice as a spa where patients can relax.

Feedback Is Your Friend

Don't shy away from patient feedback, embrace it. Recognizing their perspectives can provide invaluable insight into ways your practice could improve, and making changes based on this input not only enhances patient satisfaction but also shows your dedication to their care.

Conclusion

When it comes to increasing patient satisfaction, small details often have the most profound effect. By creating a welcoming atmosphere, prioritizing clear communication, keeping up-to-date with dental technology advancements, assuring comfort for each visit, and welcoming feedback, you can ensure your patients leave with nothing but glowing reviews of their visit. After all, satisfied patients are your greatest asset in dentistry. Keep them smiling, and they'll keep coming back.

[doctoru-au]

VR General Practitioner – Mixed billing – Tasmania

Tasmania | Job ID #2027

OVERVIEW

Join an Established General Practice on Tasmania's Stunning North West Coast! Looking to be a part of a thriving medical practice that's surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Tasmania's north west coast? Look no further! Our well-established General Practice is eagerly seeking a highly skilled and enthusiastic doctor to join our team. At our practice, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional healthcare services to our diverse patient population. Our commitment to delivering comprehensive care of the highest standard has made us a leading choice for medical care in the region. We are so busy that we are currently having to turn away patients, which is why we need you! With a mix billing system in place, we offer a perfect balance between public and private patients, ensuring accessibility to all members of our community. This approach also enables doctors to achieve a rewarding professional and financial balance. Working at our General Practice, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with a team of experienced and supportive healthcare professionals who share the same dedication to patient-centric care. Our team fosters a positive work environment, valuing open communication, continued professional development, and work-life balance. Not only will you have the privilege of treating patients and making a difference in their lives, but you'll also have the opportunity to explore and experience the incredible natural wonders that Tasmania's north west coast has to offer. From stunning beaches and rugged coastal landscapes to charming towns and vibrant communities, it's a region that will continuously captivate and inspire you. To join our team, you'll need to have excellent interpersonal skills, a genuine passion for primary care, and be a registered medical practitioner. Experience in a similar setting or with a mixed billing system is advantageous, but we also welcome new graduates who are eager to learn and grow. Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to join our well-established General Practice and be part of a team that is making a real difference in the lives of our patients. Contact us today to find out more about this exciting position and how you can become an integral part of our dynamic team. Apply now and embark on a fulfilling career while immersing yourself in Tasmania's awe-inspiring north west coast!

ABOUT THE PRACTICE

Well-established mixed billing practice in a beautiful Tasmanian port city. DPA available. Offers allied health services. Supportive management. Full-time nursing and administration support. Encourages specialization.

ABOUT THE ROLE

60% billings w/ bonus or 65% billings w/o bonus Rotational weekend/after-hours. Treats young families, kids & geriatrics. Flex work hours. In-house training provided

WHY WORK WITH ME?

I save you time by personally searching for the right job for you.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Andrew McNamara Call | Text | Whatsapp +61 0430001747 Get in touch with me 7 days | early to late.

LOCATION

EASY APPLY

[timechamlp]

Strategies to Maintain Employee Motivation

It is increasingly common foremployees to work remotely in the modern business world. This can pose challenges for managers in terms of maintaining employee motivation. It is no secret that maintaining employee motivation can be a challenge – especially for remote teams. With so many distractions and potential roadblocks, it is essential to have a few strategies in place to keep your team on track and productive. To maintain employee motivation, spend some time considering these tips. 

1. Make your office a warm and welcoming place 

A business is only as successful as its team, so having a good set of workers is essential. If your employees are motivated, then your business will be productive. You can take a few measures to ensure your business is a pleasant place to be. 

First, make sure you have a good working environment. Your office should be clean and organized. It would help if you also had comfortable furniture and natural light.  

Second, create a positive work culture. Encourage your employees to socialize and build relationships with one another. You can do this by hosting company events or providing free food and drink perks.  

Finally, offer competitive salaries and benefits. This will help attract and retain the best talent. Encourage your team to be patient and persevere. 

2. Show Appreciation 

One way to show appreciation is through recognition. Acknowledging an employee’s hard work is a great way to show that their efforts are appreciated.Another way to keep employees motivated is by providing growth opportunities. Offering training and development opportunities show that you are invested in your employees’ success. 

Creating a positive work environment is another critical factor to maintain employee motivation. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to be productive. Finally, offering competitive compensation and benefits packages helps attract and retain top talent. By taking these measures, companies can create a positive work environment and motivate their employees to be productive team members. 

3. Be a respectful, honest, and supportive manager 

A good manager can motivate their employees and help them produce quality work. A respectful, honest, and supportive manager is someone employees can trust and feel comfortable working with. A good manager will help their employees by providing clear guidance, being available to answer questions, and offering support when needed. Being a respectful, honest, and supportive manager can create a productive environment where your employees feel motivated to do their best work. 

4. Celebrate milestones big and small 

In any business, it’s important to celebrate employees’ successes, both big and small. Recognizing productivity with special awards or bonuses is one way to keep employees motivated and engaged. However, these recognition moments should also be tied to the company’s overall metrics and measures of success. Doing so can ensure that your employee recognition program is genuinely compelling and positively impacts your business. 

[mr880fan]

Are You a True Woman of God? Here are 12 Characteristics of a Godly Woman

Let’s discuss the defining qualities of a woman who is guided by her faith and devotion to God. In a world with many different roles and expectations for women, this article sheds some light on what it means to be a godly woman and the attributes that set her apart. Whether you’re seeking to strengthen your spiritual journey or to understand the characteristics of a truly virtuous woman, this article offers valuable insights into the traits that genuine women of God tend to possess.

1. She Prioritizes Love for God

Photo Credit: Lightstock. Above all, a godly woman must wholeheartedly love God, prioritizing her relationship with Him, even over her cherished husband, children, family, and friends. While women have many essential roles and responsibilities, it may often feel overwhelming. Nevertheless, nurturing our connection with God should remain our top focus. We should follow the example of Mary, who, in Luke 10: 38-42, chose the most important thing by sitting at Jesus’ feet. Even in our busy lives as mothers, wives, and servants, it’s crucial to set aside time to be in His presence.

2. She Loves Family Deeply

Photo Credit: Lightstock. When we look at women in the Bible, it’s clear that loving our family is very important. God advises Christian women to make loving their husbands and children their primary mission. By focusing on our homes, we can strengthen our church community, as strong families help build strong churches. It’s also important to speak positively about our husbands, both in public and on social media, as they need our respect. Although we naturally love our children, today’s distractions like smartphones and screens can sometimes get in the way of our top priorities.

3. She Raises Her Children

Photo Credit: Lightstock. God values women for raising children, which is evident in passages like Proverbs 31 and Titus 2. Being a woman of God isn’t about grand gestures. Instead, it emphasizes humility. Despite society’s sometimes overlooking the importance of motherhood, it holds deep significance in God’s eyes, reflecting Jesus’ love for children. As William Ross Wallace wisely stated, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” Even if you don’t have children of your own, you can be a role model and lead kids to Christ, which is a great honor.

4. She Practices Humility and Modesty

Photo Credit: Lightstock. Modesty is an important quality for godly women, and it’s more than just dressing modestly. It’s about having a humble and respectful attitude that guides how we act, talk, and dress to benefit others. It means admitting when we make mistakes, doing things out of love and necessity, and treating others as we’d like to be treated, following the Golden Rule. As Christians, we’re accountable to one another and should support each other’s faith, as Colossians 3:12-17 teaches. This approach also aligns with 1 Timothy 2:9-10, which highlights that women should focus on modesty and good deeds rather than on external appearances.

5. She Demonstrates Hospitality

Photo Credit: Lightstock. God values hospitality, and the Bible praises women like Lydia in Acts 16 for their welcoming nature. Hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy. Even a simple invitation for coffee and a chat can be as meaningful as a fancy dinner. It’s the connection that matters most. Remember 1 Peter 4:9, which encourages us to offer hospitality without grumbling. Sometimes, we grumble because we feel our home must be perfect, like what we see on Pinterest, in order to invite guests. But the truth is, no home is flawless, and people remember the people, not the state of the house. So, don’t stress about making your home perfect when welcoming others.

6. She Serves Others

Photo Credit: Lightstock. 1 Timothy 5:10 talks about having a kind heart, helping fellow believers, supporting those in need, and doing good things, which are all important traits for a woman of God. This means being there for your Christian community and offering a hand to people facing tough times. Instead of trying to change the world all at once, focus on small acts of kindness which can make a big difference. Use your unique skills, like creativity, cooking, or good communication, to help in ways that feel right to you. When you do this, you’re part of God’s bigger plan and a key player in the incredible story of faith on Earth.

7. She Shows Respect and Submission

Photo Credit: Lightstock. Though not very popular today, the idea of submission is about recognizing authority without lowering your own value, just as Jesus submitted to the Father. Ephesians 5:22-24 explains this by suggesting that wives should respect their husbands, much like the church respects Christ’s authority. This practice of showing respect and submission while acknowledging your worth in Christ brings us closer to Jesus’ teachings. Whether you’re married or not, as women, you can demonstrate this Christlike spirit by serving those in authority over you, as beautifully described in Philippians 2:5-8.

8. She Teaches Wisdom and Goodness

Photo Credit: Lightstock. God encourages older women to share their wisdom and guide younger women, regardless of their age. Your life is a living example that teaches others, and you can do this through conversations, prayer groups, and Bible classes. Taking the initiative to mentor a younger woman and extending a hand to connect can be a blessing for both of you. Look around, find a woman a few years younger, and reach out to her for coffee or an invitation into your home. As you build a relationship in everyday life, you’ll show her what it means to be a godly woman and positively influence her life.

9. She Exercises Self-Discipline

Photo Credit: Lightstock. Self-control is often overlooked, but it’s really important, especially for women. Without it, we can harm our relationships through things like gossip and anger, especially when we’re tired or stressed. Patience can be tough, but having a plan to handle our emotions, like counting to 10 or saying a quick prayer, can make a big difference. It’s also essential to ask God for help controlling what we say. Self-control is crucial in avoiding gossip, too. A trustworthy woman who can keep secrets is highly valued, and it’s important not to spread rumors or make fun of others, as this can break trust and hurt your friendships.

10. She Cares for Her Home

Photo Credit: Lightstock. Our society may not always emphasize the importance of caring for our homes, but it matters to God. Think of your home’s walls as storytellers. Do they tell tales of a close and loving family or just a place to sleep before everyone goes their own way? We should aim to make our homes a hub of connection, protecting our family time by prioritizing meals, starting traditions like family devotionals, or having fun game nights. While tasks like cooking and cleaning are often shared in modern families, our commitment to maintaining our homes is steadfast. “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” – Proverbs 31:27

11. She Embraces Kindness

Photo Credit: Lightstock. Kindness is an important trait for godly women, though it can be challenging. Men tend to resolve disagreements more swiftly, while women sometimes hold onto grudges due to their emotional nature. It’s vital to prioritize kindness over lingering conflicts. If you’re active in your church but find it hard to forgive and show love to those who’ve wronged you, people will likely remember your unkindness more than your service. So, make an effort not to let unkindness dominate your spirit and harm your influence.

12. She Expresses Gratitude

Photo Credit: Lightstock. A godly woman should always have a thankful heart, showing gratitude and trying to see her blessings even in tough times. She lives by the words in the book of Thessalonians, which encourage rejoicing, constant prayer, and giving thanks in all circumstances as God’s will in Christ Jesus. While giving thanks is easy when life is smooth, it becomes challenging during hard times. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

How to Put on the Full Armor of God (Women only!)

Photo Credit: Lightstock. The “full armor of God” scripture in Ephesians 6 is one of the better-known passages to a lot of Christians. At the same time, the scripture is so familiar that it tends to have a lullaby effect. What’s more, since a warrior in armor is a pretty masculine image from a different time and place, it doesn’t seem very relatable to a woman in the 21st century. But it turns out there is a lot to learn about the full armor of God when you study this passage in its context and apply it to women today! How to Put on the Full Armor of God (Women only!)

5 Powerful Prayers Every Wife Should Pray Over Her Husband

Photo Credit: Lightstock. Wives, do you pray for your husbands? Regularly? What do you pray for? While you may find the time to build your husband up, you may have to admit — that you haven’t always been the best at praying for your husband or your marriage throughout the years, but that’s okay! It’s not because you don’t want to or because you don’t think it’s incredibly important — I am sure you do! — but simply because you don’t often remember to! 5 Powerful Prayers Every Wife Should Pray Over Her Husband

How to Put God First in Your Life (Including Powerful Bible Verses)

Read the full article

[honeyleesblog]

Advice for New Mothers Embarking on the Journey of Parenthood

Like some other first-time mother, you've undoubtedly been scouring the Web for first-time mother tips and any advice to another mother you can find. No one very any direct shows you how toward be a mother. It's naturally something special or other that you learn in a rush. Transforming into a first-time mother can be one of the most cheerful yet startling times of your life. You're anxious to welcome your new darling infant yet still fearful that you won't know what to do. It's OK! I've been there. However, on the off chance that you really want some encouragement, here are my best tips for new moms!

Advice for New Mothers Embarking on the Journey of Parenthood

15 Fundamental first-time mother tips There are pleasures and fights in regards to life as a parent, yet you can adjust more straightforward to these new mother tips! Focus on your sense The best direction to another mother is to focus on her sense. Taking into account you've never done this, backing yourself as another mother is basic. Regardless, I really want to ask you to focus on your mother's senses. You were made with the instruments fundamental to being a mother. So that suggests that you should accept those inside knocks that you could have that told you something isn't precisely right or that things are OK. Make an effort not to reevaluate yourself! There's a clarification that they say, "moms know best!" 2. Give yourself ease to get the hang of Supporting involves active arrangement. Not at all like sorting out some way to drive a vehicle or, regardless, starting another position, there is no manual. This is one of those new mother tips you really want to set yourself up for. You ought to embrace what is going on that you won't have everything figured out all along, no matter what the quantity of books you've examined. You will not at any point have everything figured out. Give yourself the excellence to commit mistakes and learn on the way. Your child shouldn't mess around with an optimal parent. They need an ongoing guardian giving a courageous exertion and getting better consistently. 3. Demand help Despite the fact that moms are oftentimes praised as superwoman, we aren't. We were planned to reliably be everything to everyone. It's really unbelievable! That is the explanation our suggestion to another mother is to demand help. Mentioning help is particularly critical first and foremost periods of being a parent when your body is recovering and you're getting again into the wrinkle of things. Things can get genuinely involved for you as a mother. Slant toward your accessory, your family, and others you trust during this time. It's okay, and you are by and large expected to demand help as you figure things out. 4. License others to help you Here is reality: only one out of every odd individual will do things the manner in which you would. That isn't an issue. It's one thing to demand help, yet one more to recognize the promoted help. Your home may not be cleaned the way in which you accept it ought to be cleaned. Notwithstanding, it will be perfect. Grant others to assist you with eliminating a load from your hands in their specific way. Accepting for the time being that you're proficient, consider enlisting someone to help you. This can integrate supper movement, cleaning organizations, and attire organizations, and that is just a glimpse of something larger. So one of our top first-time mother tips is to allow others to help you. 5. Make an effort not to rush your recovery Despite the fact that you could accept that your body can get back to conventional activities, it can't. Whether or not you feel like you can vanquish the world, focus on your essential consideration doctor and rest. You've as of late gone through maybe the best wonder that exists. Permit yourself to recover. Your body needs time to recover. Do whatever it takes not to rush your recovery collaboration or, more unfortunate, experience issues since you overextend yourself. Each mother's post-pregnancy recovery is one of a kind. Be that as it may, coming up next are two or three things you can expect during recovery. 6. Manage yourself It could sound strange, yet one of our best new mother tips is to manage yourself. As crazy as it would sound to require speculation for yourself with another youngster, it's fundamental. You can't survive without, first, filling yourself. Managing yourself as another mother can be fundamental, as essential as guaranteeing you eat, cleaning, or regardless, removing for some alone time. Your physical, mental, and significant well — being is much the same way as critical as your youngster's, so center around it. 7. Chart your sustaining way Our proposal to another mother is to find a supporting way that ends up being brutal for you as well as your child. Everyone will have an evaluation on how you should parent your adolescent. You ought to get back to work. It might be ideal on the off chance that you were a homemaker. Your people, guardians in-regulation, perhaps, and complete pariahs will all have their perspectives. How you parent relies upon you and your accessory. Strangely, your youth is strong, upheld, loved, and educated to be an important and kind occupant of the world. So select whatever sustaining procedure turns best for you. 8. Be good with turning and things not being extraordinary You could transform into a parent when work and transport. Things don't go as organized without fail. You should be okay with your turn. Do whatever it takes not to be so devoted to how something completes that you neglect to recollect the all-inclusive strategy. One of the most basic new mother tips is to adjust to all difficulties. Everything won't be perfect, and that is totally fine. 9. Go at your speed Recall that supporting and life as a parent is a significant distance race and not a race. Don't rush anything about it. Take your desired opportunity to retouch, change, and get into the swing of your new normal. Assuming that you have the pleasure of maternity leave, contemplate taking the whole of your time, and the sky's the breaking point from that point if indispensable. You shouldn't genuinely lament managing yourself and your baby. 10. Make an effort not to balance yourself with various moms Likely the most phenomenal catch of life as a parent is standing out yourself from various moms. From examining work and transport stories to how quickly you "return" to your pre-kid weight. It's all unnecessary and can really cause issues with certainty. This can all quickly fast a mother's funk. Our proposal to another mother is to make certain about what your character is and don't balance yourself with some other person. Taking everything into account, recall that you are on your trip, and no two will seem indistinguishable. You should keep this demeanor even past your new parent stage. 11. Do whatever it takes not to balance your child with various kids Assessment for youths starts after entering the world. Their weight and advancement are immediately diagrammed against various children in their age range. This opens the entrance for differentiating various pieces of your youth's development. These assessments are a large part of the time engendered by laid back people inquisitive with regards to whether your child has shown up at explicit accomplishments that various young people have arrived at their age. Understand that your child will make at their speed. They will bloom at some point or another. Make an effort not to rush them or need to balance them with another youngster. 12. Do whatever it takes not to encounter calmly (My top direction to another mother) It's fundamental to allude to post pregnancy uneasiness as a certified article. After a young person's presentation, your body experiences a drastic action of hormonal changes. This, joined with the strain of being another parent, can leave you feeling deterred. Make an effort not to enjoy harmony or feel that you are far off from every other person. As demonstrated by the CDC, something like 1 of each and every eight women encounters symptoms of post pregnancy uneasiness. That suggests that it is surprisingly typical. The incredible news is that there is help and support available, accepting you need it. Start by chatting with your PCP. You can similarly find resources on the web accepting you feel, for example, yourself doing combating with being a parent. Associating for help is one of the primary first-time mother tips you should apply. (On the off chance that you are a hesitant mother, the following are a couple of fundamental tips) 13. Start preparing for your young person's future Our most critical direction to another mother we can give is to design financially. You could accept it's too early to start mulling over your child's future, yet it isn't! This is the best an open door to expect things like their tutoring cost and money related future. Consider opening up a preparation speculation account (ESA) or 529 records. These cost advantage accounts grant you to deal with cash for your child's tutoring. You should think about their money related future assuming something some way or another figured out how to happen to you. You and your accessory should guarantee that you have genuine fiasco security techniques and an invigorated space plan. Moreover, sorting out some way to save money and make the right spending plan is likewise basic! For single guardians: sort out some way to plan your spending plan considering your single parent pay and impact fundamental tips to help you with directing fiscally as a solitary parent. 14. Connect with a family There is regard in the neighborhood, as another mother. Our best tip for new moms is to find a tribe of moms you can connect with, even before you have your child. Generally, you can find mother support packs on the web or in your area or neighborhood. Right now is moreover an inconceivable chance to remain related with friends and family who have proactively gone through new being a parent. Use this association to look for explanation on major problems, find resources, and be a sounding board. 15. Find expected opportunities to rest So this might be maybe the fundamental tip for another mother, yet it will in general be testing as well. You could have heard that as another parent, rest is nonexistent. Despite the fact that you will be a piece restless, really you

[xinvue]

affection — genshin impact

ft. xiao, kaedahara kazuha, shikanoin heizou, thoma

ᝰ summary : the small affection acts they make subconsciously

xiao ♡

cuddling you in your sleep. xiao has been very confident of himself when it came to winning you over, but once he has the privilege of being your boyfriend, things get a little more difficult. he is still learning the basics of a formal relationship, and thus, physical affection is something that makes him quite nervous and shy due to your reaction. the riskiest thing he does when you’re paying attention to him is to hold your hand and play with your fingers, but he is too scared to think that he is exceeding his limits by wanting to hug or kiss you out of nowhere.

that is why his body acts on its own when you’re asleep or you are not exactly paying attention to him. his arm always rests on your shoulder or around your waist, keeping you as close as he really wants. there have not been many opportunities in which you have noticed this, but when you are actually awake and can feel it, you grab his hand or stroke his arm as naturally as it has to be. you do like physical contact, and with those little positive responses xiao starts to get a little braver.

he makes you know in the most indirectly obvious way his wishes, saying random things like: "i like how it feels to hold you”, “it’s much warmer to sleep close to you” or "it feels weird when i’m not holding your hand, y/n". just encourage him to be as demonstrative as he wants, and he will voluntarily be the cutest and sweetest boyfriend.

kazuha ♡

little kisses, which never reach the lips. kazuha needs to be close to you all the time, his body naturally craves for physical closeness with you and consequently his mouth is always pressed in some sector. his eyes and hands may be totally focused on something he’s doing, but if your head is resting on his shoulder his lips are pressed into your hair. if his chin is resting on your shoulder while you’re doing some kind of homework in front of him, his lips are pressed to your neck.

“kazuha, i can’t focus!” “can’t you read and feel ticklish at the same time?” “no!?!” if you are helping him because he asked you to give him a hand with some notes from a poem, you’ll be sitting next to him doing your assigned work while his lips are pressing repeatedly on your cheek. “is this okay?” you ask wanting to make sure you are doing it right. meanwhile, kazuha, without even looking at what you do: “mhm, perfect”.

if for any reason in the world you express verbally or wordlessly that it makes you uncomfortable, he will drop it as naturally as he does it. but, since you feel just as warm as him with it, 99% of the time you let him be as clingy as he wants. of course, when a long time passes without seeing each other, don’t expect anything other than a welcome full of very conscious kisses from his part.

heizou ♡

heizou always shares his clothes with you. it might seem like the smoothest move just to see you in his hoodie or one of his shirts, but he does it genuinely because the two of you share styles. heizou sees you as that friend with whom he can always share/match outfits, and he never fails when it comes to giving you the right garment that you need for that idea that you have in mind but cannot nail down with your own closet.

he possibly falls to reality when someone else comments on it, making him all flustered as he realizes that he can somehow presume that you are his lover. the moment you say something like: “i love this perfume you wear” while sniffing his jacket, or, “this shirt reminds me of the date we had in the park!"

this poor boy won’t be able to lend you something again if it’s not with the biggest and brightest smile on his face. it just makes him so happy that from such a simple and involuntary action can arise reactions that make his heart flutter. the more you mention about it, the more he will take your opinion on account when buying new clothes that you will later wear as well.

thoma ♡

thoma has created a habit of feeding you. as childish as it may seem, it is the way his brain keeps him paying attention to you. it starts from something as small as giving you the snacks he doesn’t like himself, to sharing the largest portion of his favorite dish. although one of his purposes is to share with you and keep you well fed, most of the time he does it to maintain an interaction with you.

when you both are watching a movie, you'd lay on his chest, and he empties a whole bag of gummies after giving them in your mouth. only when he wants to take one to his own mouth does he realize that he has already given them all to you. when you eat out or with a group of friends it’s always him who makes the others look at you tenderly. your friend, feigning jealousy with their boyfriend by their side: “why can’t you be as cute with me as thoma is with y/n?” you, with the fifth piece of meat in your mouth that he has given you: “don’t. i’ve gained too much weight since we started dating”.

of course you joke about it, if at any point you reject something he gives you he will simply eat it and continue with what he is doing or talking about. please accept all the snacks he gives to you because even if you actually gain weight, you are still the person thoma wants to give absolutely everything to.

ᝰ author's note : my last 4nemo post got 2000 + likes wow thank you for all the hearts and reblogs guys also, i have been missing xiao and kazuha my bbs and im sorry for being inactive for weeks or maybe it's been a month now? but anyway im kinda back so reblogs are highly appreciated <3

© — @wonfied . do not plagiarize my content !

[marvel-trash-bin]

Taking Risks.

(Not my Gif.)

Summary: Zemo gives you what he thinks you deserve. *Some TFATWS Ep. 3 Spoilers.*

Pairing: Zemo x Reader (Female)

Warnings: Smut for days baby. Dirty Talking, Possession, marking, Soft!Dom Zemo. 18+ Only.

Word Count: 4.2K

Tags: @greeneyedblondie44

A/N: Look we all know we're walking dangerous territory, simping for a war criminal. But Sugar Daddy Zemo got me feeling some type of way and also, Daniel Brüle is hot asf. Also, I don't actually know german so pls if it's off just blame google translate, I just have an insatiable language kink and I needed the pet names more than air itself. I thought about making this a chaptered fic, but I barely had the time to write this, never mind chapters of it before he likely fucks over Sam and Bucky next episode. Anyways, enjoy!

Here’s the thing.

You knew he was dangerous. You knew his past, the EKO Scorpion kill squad and everything with the Avengers, manipulating them and breaking them up from the inside. He was smart, unpredictable. You knew there was a very real potential that you could be hurt - or worse - if you went down the road.

And maybe, in a past life that would’ve been enough to stop you. But you weren’t who you used to be. You liked playing with fire now, inviting danger and chaos rather than straying from it. You had lived in - hid in, was more accurate - Madripoor for a handful of years now. You laid low, kept yourself under the radar of the Power Broker and those who worked for him. This way, no one bothered you and you could live fragments of a normal life, Trading and bartering to make a living. But living this way, like forgotten trash on a sidewalk, got old.

Maybe that’s why when you caught his attention, you didn’t shy away from it.

It had happened so fast. You were dancing, just intoxicated enough that the rubbing of strangers' bodies against yours was not just welcomed, but encouraged. So encouraged that when a new body, tall and firm behind you, took the place of another, you didn’t hesitate to back up into the warmth. His hands gripped your hips tightly, not stopping or guiding you, just resting. Turning your head slightly to see what your new dance partner looked like, you startled a little seeing the Baron.

Helmut chuckled, a low sound you felt rather than heard, and ducked his head down to speak into your ear, “You know who I am.”

You let your body relax back into his, feeling reckless enough to bless the menacing man with your flirtations, your head falling back onto his, “I’ve heard a thing or two.”

“And yet you trust me to hold you like this,” his hands flex on your hips, just hard enough to show the strength they hold, “Like a lover.”

You grab one of his hands, leading it down to your upper thigh where your knife holster sits, never once letting his hand leave your body.

“If I didn’t want you touching me, you’d know it, Baron.”

The gust of breath you felt against the side of your neck and the large hand gripping your thigh had shivers rolling pleasantly down your spine.

“You are far too beautiful to reside in these undergrounds,” he spun you around in his grasp, allowing you to get a good look at his face, “A woman like yourself should be treated with the most expensive riches, the finest wines. She should drain a man of his earnings.”

You laughed, not expecting the words that came from his mouth nor how handsome he was, even this close, “Point me to the man who’s willing.”

He smirked at you, but there was a smugness to it. A glimmer in his eye that suggested he had the riches and the desire to give you anything you wanted. You felt like you were drowning in his gaze, lost as you were under the heat of it. He looked somewhere behind you, pulling his eyes from you to nod once at whatever, or whoever, had stolen his attention from you. When they returned to you, the heat and desire were replaced with determination.

“It is with great regret that I must leave you, for now,” He captured your hand, bringing it up to his lips, the softness of them brushing lightly against your knuckles, “I can get you out of Madripoor, give you a life you deserve. If you meet me tomorrow morning, the airstrip.”

The world felt like it froze around you. The rational part of your brain was screaming at you. You couldn’t trust him. You Shouldn’t trust him. But as you stared into his eyes you saw nothing but honesty.

“And if I don’t?” You ask, just to buy yourself some time.

His hand travels up your arm, taking your chin between his thumb and pointer finger securely, “I will not pressure you. I’d leave you be, but the ghost of you would haunt me, schatzi.”

And with that, he was gone. Leaving you with nothing more than your thoughts, mentally preparing how quickly you could pack your things and leaving Madripoor behind. After all, you’ve always loved taking risks.

~

The next few weeks were a blur. Zemo was laying low, but his form of laying low was still luxury to you. It was private jets and upscale accommodations, not to mention that he was a man of his word. He spoiled you. Within three days of being in his presence, you had acquired a whole new wardrobe. Your suitcases - also new - were filled to the brim with the fanciest and latest fashion. You had rare jewels on nearly every piece of jewelry you owned. Maybe spoiled was an understatement. You’ve only dreamed of owning riches like these.

He had picked something particular for you to wear tonight, both of you making an appearance at some sort of party with some higher-ups. It was all laid out on the king-sized bed, a little black dress of sorts. It was short and sheer in its long sleeves, the sparkles in the fabric ensured that you would shimmer under any lighting. With a simple clutch, matching jewelry and a cropped, white fur jacket to keep you warm until you got to your destination. You looked good. You felt good.

He looked just as good. Sporting an outfit similar to the one you had met him in, instead choosing a dark red turtleneck to create a stunning relation between both your outfits. Nothing had happened between the two of you yet. Aside from lingering glances and innocent touches, he had been a gentleman. The chemistry was there, for sure. You were able to joke and talk with the man, matching his wit and charm every step of the way. And he loved it.

“Best behaviour tonight, schatzi.” He had said, low in your ear as you walked towards the venue.

You had smiled back at him, the perfect picture of innocence, “Always, Baron.”

And at the time, you had fully meant it. But you found yourself craving him. He looked too good, it honestly wasn’t fair. The way that ridiculous fur jacket draped over his shoulders, fostering a powerful ambience. And you knew he was faring no better himself if by the way his eyes were glued to your curves was anything to go by.

So, you decided, maybe you shouldn’t be on your best behaviour tonight. It’s not like you were making a scene or anything that would call too much attention. You were simply letting the alcohol take over your body. Whether that meant a hand on his thigh as you listened to the conversations around you, your fingers playing with the short hairs at the back of his neck or dancing a little too scandalously when you knew he was watching. You felt confident. And when you felt confident, you felt dangerous.

By the end of the night, you were teasing yourself just as much as you were him. You were pushing your luck, hands trailing a little too close to the bulge in his slacks, enjoying the way his facial features changed briefly in shock before settling back into that infuriating unmovable stoic impression. The last straw was you bending in front of him, having ‘dropped’ something from your purse. You only had to bend so much before the dress, as short as it was, had ridden up just enough for him to catch a glimpse of your panties.

In an instant, he had you standing upright, thanking whoever he had been talking to for a wonderful night, tugging your dress back down to a respectable length and steering you towards the door by the back of your neck.

“That was not best behaviour,” he growled into your ear.

You giggled, despite the tight grip on your neck, “I was just having fun.”

He had done nothing but stare at you, eyes hard with a warning that had you rethinking your actions. You had forgotten, for a moment, that this man was not just someone to give you all the pretty trinkets you wore. He was a mastermind, a criminal mastermind at that. A man most deemed dangerous enough to be locked away.

“You have been bad tonight, kleine Schlampe.” He said once he had gotten you back to his car, away from the prying eyes and ears of the party guests, “You will spend the trip back thinking of ways to make it up to me.”

The words sent heat through your core, and you did exactly as he said.

~

By the time he had gotten you up to your accommodations, you had thought of thousands of different scenarios that could earn you forgiveness for your recklessness. You were uncertain if his words earlier had implied sexual favours, or if a simple, genuine apology was all he was looking for. However, once he had turned to you, the room door closing behind him and his eyebrows raised expectantly, you fell to your knees in front of him like it was second nature.

He chuckles darkly at you as he peels his gloves off, tossing them gently onto a side table nearby before letting one hand brush away the hair that had fallen in your face.

“Seems you are meine kleine schlampe indeed,” You had no idea what it meant, but fuck it sounded good coming from him. His eyes were hard and dark as he stared down at you, “If this is the path you’ve chosen to apologize, so be it. But not here, you are meine schlampe not a common whore. Get up. Go to the bedroom.”

You did as he said, quickly pulling yourself up to a standing position and walking to the designated room. The bed, so far, had only been used by you. He hadn’t wanted to push or pressure you into sharing a space with him. He understood that just because you decided to join him, didn’t mean you wanted to be with him. But tonight, you had decided, you wanted to give him your everything. You wanted to show him how grateful you were for all the gifts he’d given you so far. And if you couldn’t give him luxuries, you would give him your desire.

“So,” he began, nodding in approval at the way you resume your position on the floor in front of him, “Let’s begin with the basics.” As he talked, he rolled up his sleeves, doing so with precision, “Tell me, what exactly are you apologizing for?”

He commands every drop of your attention. There’s an aura to him that you had only previously caught a glimpse of. His eyes dark and locked onto yours, never once wavering. Waiting. Calculating.

“For teasing you.”

“And?”

You take a breath, shame flooding your core at the answer that sits on your tongue.

“For embarrassing you.”

There’s a pause. He cocks his head, gaze softening just a tad. He's quiet for several moments, analyzing your words. Your heart starts to beat a little faster at the extended silence, thinking you’ve done something wrong and you can’t keep up the eye contact. You duck your head, averting your gaze to his feet.

“Look at me, schatzi.” His voice is soft, but still with enough edge to make you listen.

Only once your eyes meet his again does he continue.

“That’s very sweet of you, to be concerned about my image. But make no mistake,” He steps closer to you, letting one hand cup your jaw, tilting it upwards. His thumb brushes against your bottom lip, “You could never embarrass me,”

You dip your head, nipping softly at his thumb. He smiles softly at you, something glimmering in his eye, “I simply just don’t like to share what’s mine.”

Your breath leaves your body at his words and suddenly the need for him to claim you had you nearly vibrating in your skin. You watch, every muscle in your body clenched tightly, as he walks slowly over to the armchair in the corner, never once taking his eyes off you. He sits, legs parted, one arm draped off the side, the other rested so he could prop his head up.

“Proceed.”

Instantly, you make your way over to him. Once in front of him, you stand up on your knees, placing your hands on his knees and slowly sliding them up his thighs. They continue its upward motion, skimming lighting over the hardness in his pants and reaching to start on his belt. You make quick work of his belt and buttons, eagerly working his pants and briefs down. He chuckles above you.

“Mein Schatz, so eager to apologize.” He purrs, almost mockingly, hand coming down to brush the fallen hair away from your face.

Once you had him free, you took a second to admire him. Your legs clenched at the size of him. Not terribly big, but big enough to anticipate the stretch, the fullness. Your eyes flicked back up, looking up at his through your lashes, leaning in but stopping just before you could actually get your mouth on him. The hand that was previously fixing your hair was now clenched in it, messing it up again and forcing your head back suddenly to look at him properly.

“It would not be wise to tease me more than you have,” he warned.

A smirk spread across your features and you quickly realized how much you liked him like this.

Powerful.

Strict.

However, you knew you were on thin ice already. With that in mind, as soon as his grip loosened you licked a wide stripe up his length, swirling your tongue around the tip before taking him fully into your mouth. The tension his body held melted the second your tongue touched him. His mouth dropping on a soft groan. His hand stroked your hair as you sucked, encouraging the bobs of your head, not forcing but guiding. You keep your eyes trained on his face, not wanting to miss a second of experiencing him like this.

He glows in the low lamplight of the room, the shadows playing across his features delicately. You like him like this too. Reduced to a heap of gasps and moans beneath the heat of your mouth. As you suck, your hands wander, up under the fabric of his shirt, nails dragging down his sides. He hisses at the pain, but doesn’t tell you to stop.

After a few minutes of your slow torture, he decides he’s had enough. His hand tightens in your hair, his movements becoming less gentle and more demanding.

“That’s a good girl, take it all for me.”

You do as he asks, taking a breath before taking him as deep as you can. He groans at the feeling, hips shifting a few times to test you before beginning to thrust in and out of your mouth. Your jaw aches, but his eyes are on you and his thumb is tracing your bottom lip that’s stretched wide around his cock and you think for a second that you could spend eternity like this.

It’s not much longer before he pulls you off his cock, hand wrapping around his base tightly, “Apologies, schatzi. I am out of practice, and I fear I'm not quite finished with you yet.”

You laugh softly, voice rough due to your previous activity, “That’s okay, I don’t mind.” You insist, more than happy to let him finish like this. Whatever he wants.

He stops you before you can dip down again, standing up and taking you with him. For the first time, his lips are on yours. He overwhelms all your senses. His breath loud in your ears, his hands on your waist, his scent. His tongue slides against yours as he walks you forward, shedding his lower clothing as he goes. He only parts to give you an order.

“Turn around.”

As you do, he finishes undressing and it kills you that can’t see him. Just as quickly as the thought crosses your mind, it’s gone as you feel his hands at the top of your dress. He slides the zipper down, letting the fabric fall off your shoulders. You take the liberty of helping the sleeves the rest of the way down, the fabric falling down around your heels once you’ve done so. He hums behind you.

“Such beauty,” he whispers against your shoulder. His hands begin to wander, around your waist, up underneath the fabric of your bra, down to your thighs and ass. He chuckles, dragging your panties down enough that they too fall, forgotten at your feet, “I can hardly stay mad at you, liebling.”

Your head falls back onto his shoulders as he works your bra off next. You shiver, feeling bare and exposed before him. You want him more than you can express and you let your whole body fall back into his embrace, whimpering at the feeling of him, hard against the swell of your ass.

“Helmut,” you moan, one of your hands finding purchase in his hair as the other rests on one of his forearms.

“Tell me you’re mine, Schatzi. And I’ll give you anything you want.”

“I’m yours,” you say without hesitation, breathless as his hand dips between your legs, finding your clit. He hums, pleased at the arousal he finds there, “I’m yours. Only yours.”

He growls pulling his hand away from, “Lay back on the bed. I’ll be right back.”

You do as he says, positioning yourself in the middle of the bed. While you wait, you let your mind wander, listening to his rummaging somewhere in another room while your mind runs through everything you want him to do to you. At some point, your eyes must close because when you feel the bed dip, they open to see him crawling between your legs.

He’s done messing around, wasting no time before his face is buried between your thighs, hands maneuvering your legs so that they’re thrown over his shoulders, your heels crossing sweetly behind his head, no doubt scratching at his shoulders. Your breath leaves your body at the feeling of his tongue, warm and wet and fan-fucking-tastic. He alternates between dipping it in and out of your heat and flicking it against your clit. Your hand finds his hair, gripping it between your fingers and guiding his movements ever so slightly. His eyes don’t leave yours, spare for the few times he closes them to moan against you.

One of his hands move, leaving its place at your hip to sink two fingers into you. Your head falls back on a moan, back arching up when he crooks his fingers and finds your g-spot.

“Fuck,” you gasp, one hand gripping the pillow behind your head as you feel your orgasm rush towards you, “Fuck- Wait, I-”

You can’t even feel embarrassed about how easily your body has reacted to him. Before you can warn him much more, you're falling over the edge. Your thighs tensing around his head, back arching in pleasure as you ride out your high. In this moment you belong completely to him, unable to think of anything else.

“So sweet for me, liebling.” He comments, hands rubbing up and down your calves as you come down, taking a moment to unfasten your heels, letting the shoes drop to the floor before leaning back in. His lips brush against your inner thigh.

Then a bite.

“Such pretty sounds you make for me.”

And then he’s sucking harshly at the skin there, watching the shudder that rips through your sensitive body at the sensation. He doesn’t pull away until the mark is dark and flush against your skin. He continues this on the other thigh, on your ribs, your breasts and finally your neck, marking you thoroughly.

“Mine.” He growls, hot against your ear, “Mein schatz, will you let me have you?” he asks, and it’s literally all you can think about so you don’t even bother hiding the truth, the confession tumbling from your lips breathlessly.

“I’d let you do anything to me.”

He groans, capturing your lips in a deep kiss as he does so. He pulls away to grab the condom that he had put next to him on the bed and leaning back on his haunches to roll it on. You’re so impatient, nails digging into his thighs and arms, whining as you watch his hands work.

“So needy,” He comments, swallowing your moan as he finally, finally, sinks into you.

The stretch as he enters you has your head rolling back on a moan, your legs wrapping around his waist the bring him the rest of the way in. He buries his head in the crook of your neck, growling against the skin there.

“Fuck,” he groans through gritted teeth, his resolve quickly slipping at the feeling of you around his cock. And to his credit, he really tries to wait, to be good. But not seconds later he’s adjusting his grip on your hips and he’s thrusting into you with a force that makes the whole bed shake.

It’s barely been 30 seconds, but the build-up that had occurred throughout the entirety of the night had you right back on the edge, your nails clawing at his shoulders, his back, his thighs. Any purchase you could get on him, you were begging for more. You’d take anything he gave you without so much as batting an eyelash. His grip on your hips is tight and bruising, but the pain twists into a delicious pleasure that only spurs you on.

You must be speaking, babbling something back to him about how good it feels, how much you love being fucked by him because he’s laughing through a moan against your neck. He pauses for just a second, straightening up and throwing one of your legs over his shoulder before continuing to fuck you.

“That’s it Kätzchen.” He purrs, eyes moving down your body to where he enters your body, “Taking my cock so well.”

You mewl at the praise, your body arching in response to his words. Your second orgasm takes you both by surprise, having hit you like a fucking freight train when he thrusts particularly deep, hitting one of your sweet spots. You scramble for purchase on him, mouth dropped open in a near-pornographic moan that you’ll surely be embarrassed about later. But for now, all you know is pleasure.

His hips falter, stuttering as your walls tighten around him. His head falls back on a low moan, fucking you hard and slow through your release.

“Such a sweet cunt,” he gasps, “Mein Gott..”

And then he’s tangling your hands together, holding it high above your head as he pushes your thighs back, flush against your chest. He’s the one babbling now, words from God only knows what language, whispered against your skin as he chases his own release. He gives one last hard thrust and he’s done, his teeth dragging against the skin on your shoulder, moaning against you as he rides out his orgasm.

As you both come down, you stroke the back of his neck, playing with the hairs there, trying to catch your breath. After a few moments, he pulls away just enough to kiss you. There’s a lingering heat and it’s a little messy due to your shared exhaustion but it’s good.

Once you’ve both caught your breath, he removes himself from your body, taking the necessary time to deal with the condom. You watch him lazily, unable to do much other than that. You’re so tired. But there’s that ache between your legs that you love so much and you think briefly that you could go another round, if he wanted to.

He must see something in your eyes when he returns because he laughs softly, “I feel I may have my hands full with you, schatzi.” he says as he crawls back into the bed with you, covering the both of you with a blanket, the cold now biting at your skin. You know you have to get up soon enough to sort yourself out before bed, but for a moment you stay with him.

His fingers brush over your face softly, following the slope of your nose and the angle of your cheeks. There’s no real purpose to his movements, just... touching. As if convincing himself that you’re real.

“You are special, schatzi.” he says softly, “I don’t know what your plans are, but I can only hope that you choose to continue to bless me with your presence.”

This man is such an enigma to you. He carries such confidence in every aspect of his life and yet he still doubts your loyalties. There’s anxiety and pain hidden within him, you can see it in his eyes as he continues to look at you. You wonder, how much of his past weighs on his shoulders. How long before he deems himself worthy of your affection? You lean in to kiss him softly, your lips dragging slowly against him. When you pull away you keep him close, brushing your noses together.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

[reidsnose]

hair tie

overview: spencer and the reader start carpooling to work together

genre: fluff!!

a/n: i really dont know if this one is any good i just thought the idea was cute but let me know what yall think :)

masterlist

-

-

spencer was startled by the sudden knock, guests were rare in his little apartment, let alone this early in the morning. a bit paranoid he put his hand over the gun attached to his hip, just in case.

what surprised him even more than the unexpected knock was seeing you through the peep hole when he got to the door.

"y/n? are you ok?" he worried, scanning you up and down quickly to make sure you weren't hurt.

"no um i'm ok," you nervously chewed on your lip, "i was going to call you but i don't have your cell yet. oh my gosh this is going to sound so weird."

you were relatively new to the BAU and they were all very welcoming. the only person who seemed a little bit more closed off was Spencer.

it was true, he was avoiding you a little bit, but only because you were the most beautiful human being he had ever seen; which only made you that much more intimidating. he was afraid. what if he said something stupid? what if the second he opened his mouth you started thinking he was just his IQ. but you were fully a part of the team now. he would have to at least be aquatinted with you.

"its ok, you can say it." he encouraged kindly, causing you to visibly relax.

"ok. oh before i ask i want to preface this by saying you could totally say no i completely understand its a super weird thing especially because we barely know each other." you took a breath as he nodded, a slightly amused smile toyed with his lips.

"i understand the implications. proceed." he mentally slapped himself for wording his thoughts like that.

"do you maybe.. wanna drive to work together? i heard you talking about how you take the train and i also heard that you have an aversion to germs and i drive by your apartment to get to work anyway so i-" you cut yourself off, looking up and seeing him staring at you wide eyed. "i'm sorry this is too weird i over stepped my boundaries and now you dislike me even more. i'm sorry for interrupting your morning. um, you're going to be late for work if i don't leave you alone so ill just- sorry. i'm sorry."

truthfully, this was one of the kindest things anyone has ever offered to do for him. and you offered it with genuine kindness, no ulterior motives to try and get something from him. he stood stunned. how were you so beautiful AND kind. and still somehow a little intimidating.

"we're gonna be late" he called out.

"what?" you turned, having already walked a couple steps from his apartment, your heart beating a bit faster at the sound of his voice.

"you said i'm going to be late. but were carpooling. so we'll both be late," he said matter-a-factly, grabbing his coat and satchel.

"YES!" you laughed, a cracking a wide smile and punching the air triumphantly.

you leaned against the railing of the stairs as you watched him lock up. he was tall and slender and very handsome. so handsome. not handsome like morgan, handsome in a way you were sure you'd never seen before. an incredibly unique and scarce handsomeness that only Spencer Reid had. you tried to forget those thoughts as he began walking towards you.

"i don't dislike you, by the way." he blurted as the two of you walked down the stairs. he felt bad that he made you think he isn't fond of you; the problem was he was too fond of you.

"oh! thats good i've been trying to think of every interaction we've ever had because i was afraid i might have said or done something."

"truth be told," he huffed out a breath, "i was kind of intimidated by you."

you laughed a real, genuine laugh from deep in your belly as you reached your car. the sheer coincidence of the situation as well as your entirely non intimidating nature was seriously laughable.

"you cant be serious! did Garcia tell you?" you asked, completely dumbfounded.

"tell me what?" he asked back, confusion lacing his voice.

"that i was intimidated by you!" you confessed.

"what? this guy in Texas called me a pipe cleaner with eyes! how could i have possibly intimidated you?"

he looked around your car trying to subtly profile you. thats when he noticed you had put hand sanitizer in the passenger side door. and you had pushed the seat back to accommodate for his long legs. it was just two little things, two ways you put a little extra effort in to make him feel welcome, but he was 100% positive if he thought about it too much he would cry. he felt the need to do something like this for you. not to get even or anything, but simply because he wanted to make you feel the way he felt right now.

"i don't know! you're so tall and smart and you seemed quiet but i guess thats only because you were avoiding me. are you sure garcia didnt tell you?" you laughed, watching the road.

now it was his turn to laugh, "no i swear, Garcia didn't say anything about that to me!"

The two of you continued driving, either talking or sitting in a comfortable silence. and this little carpool became a tradition. the two of you arriving and leaving work together every single day, causing the two of you to become closer.

you had to admit, every morning and evening you spent with Spencer made him just seem more and more perfect. unbeknownst to you, the exact same thing was happening with him.

he noticed, one day, as you were pulling your hair up to tie in a ponytail, your hands alternated searching your wrists for a hair tie but there wasn't one there. once he noticed it once, he started noticing it constantly. on a case, in the office, in the car, at a bar. you always seemed to forget your hair ties.

so he went to the store after you drive him home one day, and got a few packs of hair ties. after paying for them, he put one on each wrist and the rest in his satchel, so next time, when you needed one, he'd have it.

he felt like such a creep, constantly watching you to see when you would try to put your hair up. of course the rest of the team took notice, though they had noticed your obvious incline towards each other, Spencer was clearly acting a little weird.

and then it happened.

the two of you were partnered to go to the crime scene on a case, and you went to tie up your hair before you entered the scene. he could hardly contain his excitement, his mind moving a mile a minute trying to decide how he wanted to give you the hair tie. he watched one of your hands search your wrist, but this time it pulled off a little black band and started looping it around your hair.

he couldn't believe it. he finally had a chance to make you feel a portion of the way he felt when he saw your effort in making his car Spencer-friendly, and new he had to think of a new way to do it.

snap.

he looked over and saw you holding what used to be your hair tie, now no longer a band, but a completely useless elastic line.

"you've gotta be-" you muttered to yourself, but your sentence was interrupted as Spencer nonchalantly jutted his wrist towards you. "what are you doing?"

"take my hair tie." he stated simply, trying so hard not to blush. this became even harder as your fingers graced the skin of his wrist while you pulled the hair tie off.

"oh! thank you! you're a life saver!" you breathed, cracking a wide smile as you used it to tie your hair up.

you couldn't help the butterflies going absolutely insane in your stomach. why did he have a hair tie? does he tie his hair up sometimes? why have you never seen it up? you tried to suppress a smile, that would be completely inappropriate for a crime scene.

but you couldn't suppress the warm feeling in your chest. because that was always there when Spencer was around.

-

ultra mega super cool taglist:

@mac99martin @imhreid @spencersmagic @hollydaisy23 @raelady1184 @a-broken-pact @padfootswife

[writingwithcolor]

Occassionally I come up with a story I really want to do where I just go "crap... I'mma need advice on this one..." and this one involves goblins. I wanted to write an episodic comic that picked on fantasy tropes a bit about an exasperated Goblin girl who just wants to do her "mundane minimum wage job of the week" but Goblins being the canon fodder level 1 mooks of the fantasy genre she keeps getting roped into "The fantasy bullshit quest of the week" usually due to some reward or prize that is too good to pass up to stay at her day job, usually just barely missing out on their reward before going on to the next episode with a new town, job, quest, and reward, while having left some positive impact in her wake that will eventually positively help her personally in the finale.

As much as it was completely unintentional, Goblins have their antisemitic roots and I have been considering changing her to something else that can translate as "Level 1 Fantasy Mook" for the story such as a rat girl or a kobold or something, the story is still a comedy about a member of a super marginalized group of non human humanoids being bribed with rewards/riches and still feels very unavoidably and problematically 'Jewish coded'.

I normally am not too worried about adding POC characters into stories I write because them being poc is not usually part of the plot and I am also prepared that I am going to mess up here and there and completely welcome people calling me out on unintentional microaggressions so I can improve in the future, but for stories like this one I think I might need some advice considering the roots in Jewish stereotyping seems to be this ideas grandpa and is intrinsic to the plot... or if this is something that just can't be done inoffensively and should just be shelved...

Non-human creature tempted by monetary reward

Can she be a little creature that isn’t ugly?

Sorry to put it so baldly, but for me a big part of why I find the goblin/dwarf etc. stuff disturbing and hurtful is that it often plays on imagery in which phenotypic features associated with us, like hooked noses, are exaggerated to the point of looking non-human. After all, what is the logical purpose of the prosthetic nose on the traditional Halloween witch costume?

So that would fix part of it -- if she’s a fairy instead of a goblin, since fairies are usually portrayed as attractive. Or if she’s something that has no connotations like a cat girl or an anthropomorphized rabbit in a dress.

I also think you might already be okay because while “being bribed with riches” is money/greed-adjacent, it sounds like she’s not actually being given access to any of those riches for most of the plot. Subsistence-level poverty and working for minimum wage would make anyone want more, no matter what their cultural background was, so I think reader sympathy will be with her and her genuine need rather than it coming across like she’s naturally motivated by money for its own sake.

But honestly I think this would be adorable with a hardworking little rabbit girl. And then you extra don’t have to worry about accidentally having coded her Jewish; rabbits are super not kosher anyway.

--Shira I love this story conceptually, but you are correct to point out possible issues. Goblins are often Jewish-coded, and even your possible replacements could easily pose their own challenges: propaganda images of us often featured rats, and there is an entire conspiracy theory about us being lizards that makes kobolds, lizard folk, dragonborns etc. a possible problem. Like Shira I feel like your character is in a financial position that will be very relatable to many readers, and won't seem like an extension of any sort of greedy stereotypes. 

For me, I feel that if your character doesn't have additional Jewish coding, and isn't falling into antisemitic tropes, it's fine to write a story about a goblin who is roped into adventures, and who makes money doing it that they can't make in their low-paying day-job. I'll be honest, I like goblins. I like kobolds, and gnolls, and orcs. I definitely want to be friends with an owlbear, and have tea with a hag, so I'm hesitant to advise people outside the community to avoid stories with goblins altogether. I encourage you to either change the character to something that is less likely to be Jewish-coded like Shira suggested, or keep your character a goblin, and put a bit of work into showing her do specifically not-Jewish things, while avoiding antisemitic tropes in her characterization and plot. 

Whatever you decide, I will be thinking about hanging out with her. 

--Dierdra

[overthinkingfandom]

Cards on the Table - Breaking down the tactics in L'manburg Independence

/rp /dsmp

Much has been said in the fandom about L'manburg's independence. It is, after all, arguably the most important moment in DSMP's history, as the rest of the story wouldn't have existed without it. 

In light of the recent anniversary of it, yes I know I’m late, I wanted to throw my hat in the ring and add something to the discussion surrounding it. However, as the morality of the situation has been discussed to death I'll be taking a slightly different approach to it. 

Due to the nature of the DSMP's medium, the story has many unique quirks. One of those quirks is how realistic the tactics used in the story's portrayal of politics are. The independence conflict is a great example of it. While on the surface things seem to be rather simplistic in nature, there's a lot more going on that’s less obvious.

Both Wilbur and Dream are brilliant politicians who get to show both their strengths and weaknesses in dealing with an equally skilled opponent in this encounter. There’s actually quite a bit to go into, despite their interactions being so short.

When most people think about the L'manburg's independence, they think about the moment the declaration has been written up and the subsequent declaration of war. While this moment is certainly iconic, it's not really all that impactful in the grand scheme of things. Both declarations are the culmination of decisions that have been made beforehand. It's the moment when those decisions were made that really influenced things.

Conveniently, Wilbur and Dream only hold a single conversation about L'manburg before the declarations are drawn up, so we don’t need to look far in order to figure out where those decisions were formed. 

Wilbur has been working on L’manburg, collecting materials and building the wall surrounding it, for almost an hour when he spots Dream lurking. “Get [Dream] into the VC, I need to talk with him. He’s the leader of the other nation, I think we need to have a congress.” (52:44)

Dream: “Hello?”

Wilbur: “Hello Dream. Welcome to our great nation of L’manburg.”

Dream: “L’manburg?”

Wilbur: “Yes. We are seceding from Dream SMP. This is our own server now. This area, just this part [between the walls of L’manburg], is our server.”

Wilbur doesn’t waste any time before getting right down to business and talking about the matter at hand. However, the way he speaks about it here and in the rest of the conversation is fairly interesting. Wilbur is talking about L’manburg as if it’s something which already exists. They are seceding. This is their land. This conversation is merely a courtesy to give Dream a formal notice of their separation.

Yet, a bit later Wilbur shows he knows they need Dream’s acknowledgement in order for L’manburg to be its own entity. Independence is not a concrete thing that can just be taken or created on one person’s whim, after all. It only exists when the people with power agree it exists. 

Wilbur: “Dream, basically all we want from you is just acknowledgement that we are an independent nation now. That’s all we need.” (56:20)

So if Wilbur knows they aren’t independent yet, why is he talking like that? 

It’s because he’s using a salesman technique called an Assumptive Close. Instead of posing it as a question and putting the choice of agreeing or disagreeing in Dream’s hands, Wilbur acts as if it’s already true and leaves the burden of challenging his claims on Dream’s shoulders. He even moves on to ask secondary questions on how Dream feels about having embassies in his land (and notably he frames it as a question, unlike how he frames the topic of L’manburg’s independence) as if L’manburg is already a political entity. 

Wilbur: “Dream, I’ve got a proposition for you. How do you feel about having Tommy’s land being an embassy? Like it’s an enclave in your own land.” (59:01)

Wilbur’s use of this technique has an interesting side effect in that it signals to Dream Wilbur is taking a non-compromising position in this negotiation. In essence saying “L’manburg is independent, take it or leave it.” 

A non-compromising position is the game theory term for when someone goes, "I'm going to do that, this is going to happen and nothing can dissuade me from this course of action." It's a strong tactic which forces everyone to react to that person's position, reducing the others' options into a binary of either accepting that position or rejecting it. 

This is a very common tactic and various manifestations of it can be seen all over history and media. From Martin Luther who refused to recant or compromise with his famous words of “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise” to groups who cultivate a "with us or against us" mentality to heroic characters who say they would die before giving in to whatever Evil the story focuses on.

This is the situation Dream is facing here. He can either accept Wilbur's assertion that L'manburg is an independent entity by either encouraging them or even doing nothing, or he can reject Wilbur's assertion by acting against it.

As we all know, he ended up choosing the second option but what were his considerations for doing so?

For that we would need to know what his goal was here, something we don't really get a sense of from his conversation with Wilbur. However, he ends up stating what it was in a later conversation with Skeppy. 

(Emphasis added by me and wasn’t part of the original dialogue.)

“Everyone can build wherever they want. [L’manburg] just decided to say that they get to determine where they can build and we can’t and we said well no, you can’t do that. And that’s what the whole war was over.” (31:44)

“[L’manburg] can’t tell us that we can’t go in their land. That’s all we wanted to say. That they’re not independent, they are a part of the Dream Team SMP. They’re just a delusional, small part." (34:26)

Dream lies a lot, so just because he says something doesn't mean it's necessarily true. However, this seems to be genuine. Dream has no problem telling Skeppy “we burned down their houses and blew up the whole land.” (32:36) later on in the conversation, so we can rule out that he's trying to paint himself in a better light, and there aren't really any other reasons for him to lie to Skeppy here about this. 

When looking at Dream's options with his goal we can see the choice is pretty much a no-brainer. 

Accepting is a total lose scenario for him. Not only will it fail to fulfill his goals, it would actively encourage the sort of behavior he doesn't want to happen, as Wilbur would set a precedent that so long as someone insisted hard enough and implied Dream is a bad person he would fold in negotiations and give them what they want.

Rejecting gets him far closer to his goal of railing against L’manburg’s exclusion. Going to war means he has to invest much more effort and resources into his reaction than if he just accepted as well as deal with the risks any war has, however the sheer difference in ability between Dream's side and Wilbur's side make the risk minimal. 

Going to a war he’s pretty sure he can win VS encouraging the sort of thing he disapproves of, isn’t really a hard choice.

This is actually the result of a mistake on Wilbur's part. CC!Wilbur called his character naive (37:49) and he's not wrong. Wilbur has a tendency to act as he wishes and not take into account that people might disagree or retaliate. We see it with him saying they could just ignore the Americans (1:51:17) or during the elections when he told Quackity his scheme and got blindsided by Quackity deciding to run against him. 

Historically, non-compromising positions worked best when the person who used it made sure rejection would be more costly than acceptance in one way or the other. In essence, narrowing down the options for others even more and leaving them only with acceptance. 

Wilbur may have managed to wipe off the table all other options and put pressure on Dream to accept with his use of Assumptive Close, but he didn't do anything to prevent Dream from rejecting. In fact, it seems like Wilbur didn't even consider it as a valid possibility as he outright dismissed it when Dream brought it up as an option.

Dream: “What happens if the rest of the server decides to take over your land?”

Wilbur: “They can’t. It’s literally not how servers- Dream you’re supposed to be smart man, that’s not how servers work. You can’t just take over another person’s server.” (54:33)

But, you may be asking, if it was better for Dream to go to war against L'manburg rather than grant them independence, why did he end up giving into their desire for independence in the war? Wouldn't it have been better if he just saved everyone the trouble and gave it to them when they asked for it the first time? Or maybe Dream’s obsession with Tommy and his discs is just that strong?

We can find the answer to all those questions at Punz’ video where he shows the behind the scenes of the independence war, including some of the planning which went into it from the Dream Team’s side of the war. Specifically, this quote:

Dream: “[The L’manburgians] are never gonna give up. So then in the end the resolution will probably just be, we won but they can think whatever they want, we’re just going to ignore them because they’re essentially like- You want to think you’re independent? You’re not, you’re still part of the SMP, but if you want to think you’re independent, you can.” (9:04)

“They’re never gonna give up.”

Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter, as this is what Dream thinks and so this is what dictates his actions. Perhaps he’s overestimating his opponents here, or maybe he’s talking about how even if L’manburg is defeated this time they would try again for independence in the future. In either case, it’s clear Dream thinks the best case scenario for him - completely preventing people from fighting for L'manburg's independence - is impossible. 

So, he tries for the second best case. If he can’t prevent L’manburg, he’s going to allow it but only under Dream’s terms. That’s what his “they can think whatever they want” line is all about. He intends on giving them token independence here, something which would satisfy them but wouldn't pose a real threat. Which is exactly what he ends up offering them during the bow duel.

Dream: “Let me just clarify: if you win, we grant L’Manburg independence.”

Tommy: “Alright.”

Dream: “But we recognize it still as a part of the Dream Team SMP.”

Wilbur: “That’s fine, that’s a fine condition.” (40:54)

The token independence thing didn’t work out so well for him. L'manburg quickly grew to be seen as an entity separate from Greater Dream SMP by everyone, and so Dream was forced to concede and treat it as one as well. 

However, despite this part of his plan failing, overall the independence war was a glowing success for Dream. 

By giving L'manburg independence after winning the war, Dream sent a very clear message. L'manburg only gets to be independent so long as they stay on Dream's good side. If they don't adhere to the terms Dream sets out for them? He can and will kick their asses, as the war so aptly demonstrated.

This message is received loud and clear. During his entire presidency Wilbur went out of his way to treat Dream with respect and try not to piss him off. Something he clearly demonstrates a number of times, like when he asked if he should call Dream “king Dream” (59:08) or during the railway skirmish (24:16).

In fact, it can be argued that this message lasted all the way up to Tubbo's presidency. Unlike Quackity, who was perfectly fine with starting a fight with Dream, Tubbo knew first hand what a war against Dream looks like. He knew that they could not win a war against him, especially in their weakened state at the time, and that influenced his decision. 

As Dream once said: "L'manburg can be independent but it can't be free."