#a.r. lowe

[humanoidhistory]

Illustration by A.R. Lowe from Science Fiction Monthly, November 1975.

[mamotretos]

humanoidhistory Illustration by A.R. Lowe from Science Fiction Monthly, November 1975.

[patchworkgargoyle]

Tagged by @steves-strapcollection, @scarcrossdlvrs, and @cuoredimuschio (thanks friends <3) and the challenge is to spell my url with song titles! Let's have another go with this one xD

p - Pretty Boy - Naethan Apollo

a - Antimatter - Silent Planet

t - The Cat And The Moon - A.R. Rahman

c - CONCRETE JUNGLE - Bad Omens

h - Hold Your Head Low - Zeal & Ardor

w - Wicked - Cruex Lies

o - Origins - Mallavora

r - Rattlesnake - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

k - Keep Your Head Up - Djo

g - Guanaco - Kiltro

a - All Things End - Hozier

r - Roving On - Crown Lands

g - Game Over - Dreamkid

o - Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage

y - Your Body Is a Weapon - The Wombats

l - Let The Devil In - Green Lung

e - Everybody Knows - Concrete Blonde

Christ. Copied Ger and Bee and made a playlist of this... truly wild mix of music.

Tagging, with no pressure: @spicysix and @inairbinad!

[redwinewhiteroses]

Hello, hope you're doing well! I'd like to partecipate in your "love story game" for my future spouse/life partner since you said that for exchanges is still open and us such a lovely game that I don't want to miss ☺️. Don't worry if it will take some time. I apologize in advance this is probably going to be a pretty long ask 😅

My infos: a.r. (initials), ♍sun, she/her, and my preference is males.

YOUR EXCHANGE (description + moodboard in which I included pics I enviosoned of you and your fs based on your love story/novel-movie, below):

“What book/movie resembles the love story of Alexa and her future spouse” - The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I'm not sure if you already got that by someone else, if you did then take this as a further confirmation! 💞

Cards: Page of pentacles, king of cups, the Chariot, the Empress, Justice. And top and bottom - High Priestess and queen of cups + the Star.

Based on the cards that I pulled, I feel like the love story with your future spouse resembles to the novel/movie “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks. Your love story is filled with nurture, balance, and adventures. It may embody a young or youthful in spirit dreamer (you) falling in love with a mature and emotionally balanced man wise beyond his age (your fs) and a journey in which you help eachother pursuing your goals together or separately, but always with consideration of eachother. Communication will be something important which helps your bond getting stronger day by day and you'll grow together. It will be a very intuitive relationship in which just one look by the other and you'll immediately know what their're thinking and what they need. It feels like a spiritual bond and something you may have manifested, given that I saw The Star twice, or a story that will be filled with little miracles adding spark to your love.You may have disagreements and different preferences on certain things, there may be highs and lows but that's what makes your relationship even more beautiful and truthful. You and your future spouse will be loyal, compassionate, and nurturing towards eachother but also fun and carefree and you'll join your time together so much.Your connection will both lead you to a deep and loving union and also towards success with you both going after your desires and supporting eachother in the long run. A love story pretty similar to The Notebook, which is one of the most beautiful and romantic love stories ever made.

I'm not that good at making mbs, but hope you like it ^^

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- My best tip for a happier life ? sounds cliché but doing whatever you want to do and not caring about other people's opinions because this is your life only and not theirs. Don't risk to regret not following your dreams just because of outsiders.

- What kind of life I envision in the future ? such a nice question, though my answer is short and simple - just a peaceful life where I feel at peace within myself and around the people that I love (my family specially) and filled with passion, why not? 🤭

Thank you so much in advance, take your time 💙💙💙

Thank you so much for the exchange!🥹🩷 Stoppp!😭 Don't tell me you're not good at making moodboards, IT IS BEAUTIFUL😍🌷 I love the vibes 11/10✨️ pretty pretty

And I love the movie you selected for me. I wanna watch it sometime. I know the story already, have heard of it from loved ones and seen snippets on YouTube, so all that's left is to actually watch it😭 Wish me luck my procrastination game is like no other. Starting to watch a series or a movie is the hardest thing for me to do🥲🙈 I have a lot of films and series that I absolutely love that I wanna watch but I just don't 😪🤪 Anyways let's just get into your reading!

Circumstances in which you meet your fs

The Hanged Man, Ace of Pentacles, Two of Wands

You could be in a season of waiting for love to come into your life again and that's exactly when you'll meet your fs. I see you not having expectations but you've sureendered fully to ever-changing life. Hanging by a thread comes to mind so maybe you are already occupied with a lot of other things so your main focus isn't really love or finding love. You are creating opportunities for yourself and being open to receiving abundance whether that is financial gains, material resources or love itself. I think there's a heavy focus on moving forward in life towards the next step in life, almost like you've been stuck in one place for too long like in a limbo. So you're looking into the future, manifesting change, new opportunities and results. I would say you'll meet them after a period of stagnation. Once you come out of it and you start being more open to giving and receiving and when you start to anticipate better things happening for you, that's when your fs will arrive. Another possibility is you could meet them while travelling, like overseas travel, making financial decisions or it will happen when you least expect it. I'm thinking of wheel of fortune for some reason.

When you catch feelings for each other

Queen of Wands, Judgement/Ten of Wands, Seven of Pentacles

I'm thinking it will take some time for you to catch feelings. It will be a slow and steady process. There's no cups here, so I think your energy and even theirs might be focussed on building something long-term, wanting a strong commitment, so the energy is not really in the here and now but instead more focussed on a potential future. But I think both of you will help each other’s confidence. You will feel very comfortable and very capable. I think you'll start to form an accurate perception of yourself through their eyes. It's like seeing parts of yourself that you didn't notice before. Embracing all parts of yourself, to gaining self-confidence and to show up in a very impactful and bold way for your lover. I think you'll be very obvious about your feelings, both of you, you won't deny but you will be slow to progress your relationship. You could have a good friendship too. And I also think you'll find each other to be very attractive and hot! 🙈 You could catch feelings and kinda even start dating but something will happen between you that will keep you from developing feelings freely. Waiting on other ends come to mind. One is waiting on one end and the other on the other end waiting for this hindrance to move away. One is confident that it will all work out and the other is patient and waiting for things to fall into place while manifesting growth and change. I feel that in between your love for one another is a lot of hard work and a situation that requires/demands a lot of effort to work. So it could be something in the life of one of you, a duty you'll have to do before you come together. I can't think of a particular situation. And it will be a significant change with judgement card and ten of wands, you'll likely have to move a lot of things, make space in your life and just do some significant work to root a relationship. I see a lot of commitment on both ends to make this relationship work. That's also probably the reason why there aren't any cups here, because you are too focussed on making this work, feelings and romance are on the backseat, working for a union is the primary goal here. Could be something like one of you is pursuing education abroad, so you kinda have to persevere through to meet each other or you have to prove your love to each other over time. Some situation but I don't exactly know what it is🥲

Show you my love through hard work.

Actions speak louder than words, and commitment is louder than confession of love.

Settling into a long-term relationship with them

Page of Cups, The Moon, Eight of Cups rev/The Devil

I see a lot of joy, love and romance at this phase. So you'll overcome the tough challenge that created a distance between you through hard work and commitment to each other. Dogs can be symbolic, like you might have pet dogs together 🥰 You could be very naive and in love lol. So a lot of emotional attachment to each other, being goofy and even being extra clingy but you'll also be very soft and gentle with each other. You will admire each other. There's a lot of water here, emotions are heavily involved, even unpleasant ones like moodiness or just charged emotions really. I also see fear of abandonment here. I didn't want to end this on a negative tone but I think there will be subconscious fears revolving around commitment and emotional security. With the devil and eight of cups reversed makes me think of heavy attachment, even insecure attachment and with moon, fearing losing your loved one's love and attention. Page of cups is also hinting at a bit of emotional immaturity. So there could be a bit of passive aggressiveness, mommy issues and just irrational fears surrounding commitment. Could also be extreme clinginess and obsession with each other but the ultimate cause of it, as I think is fearing losing one another. These could manifest purely on a subconscious level since moon is here. It won't even be obvious physically so there will be no visible issue in your partnership, just some psychological behaviours that will probably be significant. I think of it as too much of love can be poison. On the surface it will be very much about being in love and basking in love, but underneath there could be emotional attachment that is almost obsessive. It can also hint at an intense emotionally charged physical relationship too. And also you can be inseparable.

Walking on thin ice

Will you still love me, when I'm no longer young and beautiful?

Channelled song

I can't seem to add audio. I tried many times😭

I'll just list them anyway.

Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Ray

Dark Paradise - Lana Del Ray

Also a song is playing in my mind along the lyrics heaven only knows. But I just don't remember the name😭🥲

On second thought, Let it go - Idina Menzel (from Disney Frozen) can be significant since it has the lyric heaven knows I tried.

I can't think of a movie honestly, I don't know if you like kdramas, but I'll say the circumstances and relationship dynamic between Yoon seri and Ri jeonghyeok from Crash Landing on you comes close.

But always consider the tarot reading over the movie😊

I hope this reading resonated with you, and as always feedback is highly appreciated. 🥰

[yuuiend]

Week 8: Is this the real life? Is this just…Filters?

The predecessor to filters

The concept of Augmented Reality (A.R for short) was first introduced to the public in 1968 by Ivan Sutherland, widely regarded as the father of modern computer graphics. He created a wearable display system that could allow viewers to look at digital graphics. This device laid the foundations for VR goggles down the line.

After its initial invention, A.R technology did not see a lot of use for a few decades, as most companies saw it as little more than a novelty, because of the impracticality and overall high cost to implement.

That all changed in the early 2010s, in the most unexpected of places.

In 2011, the toy line Skylanders was unveiled to the public, utilizing Near Field Communication (N.F.C) technology to allow players to scan physical figures and use them in video games. This was a big out hit, and soon after, many big brands joined in the toys-to-life trend, including Disney Infinity in 2013 and LEGO Dimensions in 2015.

The next step in the evolution of this trend was heavily reliance on A.R, as public interest shifted from bringing physical toys into the digital world, to bringing digital characters into the real world.

Even though the toys-to-life trend did not last too long, it completely changed the game, and helped usher in a new age for A.R technology, as more companies started to see its potential, which led to…

Filters taking over the world

The first instance of “filters” was created in 2015 by Snapchat. While they may be considered a basic feature now, they were a revolutionary piece of technology at the time. Filters alone pretty much carried Snapchat into the most used social media platforms conversation.

The internet had a field day with these filters, which were viewed as just for fun, with ones turning users into animals getting a lot of attraction particularly.

However, it didn’t take long for some people to realize that these filters could be used to alter your face in such a way that you could look more conventionally attractive.

And once again, A.R technology completely changed the game. However, it’s debatable whether that was for the better, or for worse…

As beautification filters exploded in popularity, beauty eventually became homogenized, and the things that once set us apart and made us beautiful in our own ways became unwanted features, things that could be removed and replaced with one simple button, all at the low low cost of your self-esteem.

The negative impact of constant exposure to beautification filters have been the topic of many research papers, and most of them came to the same consensus that the pipeline of using filters can lead users to detest their own features, as well as feeling pressured to conform to one specific image of perception, which often does not even align with their true self, the one that has been buried by dysmorphia and dissatisfaction with oneself (Barker 2020)

References

Barker, J 2020, ‘Making-up on mobile: The pretty filters and ugly implications of Snapchat’, Fashion, Style & Popular Culture, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 207–221.

Javornik, A 2016, ‘The Mainstreaming of Augmented Reality: A Brief History’, Harvard Business Review, viewed <https://hbr.org/2016/10/the-mainstreaming-of-augmented-reality-a-brief-history>.

I.R. Dijkslag, L. Block Santos, Irene, G & Ketelaar, P 2024, ‘To beautify or uglify! The effects of augmented reality face filters on body satisfaction moderated by self-esteem and self-identification’, Computers in human behavior, vol. 159, Elsevier BV, pp. 108343–108343.

[brutalfantasytarot]

Hii, hope you're doing well! if your free readings are still open may I ask if I'll find my life partner physically attractive (hope it doesn't sound rude) and only if possible, what are his 18+ kinks ? (don't worry I'm not a minor)

Thank you and have a lovely day 💙 ps. I love your PACs 🥰!

- a.r.

hi! yay - i'm so happy you like my pacs hehe ✨��

king of cups

not only are you going to be physically attracted to him but you're gonna be addicted to him. he's a water sign. heavy cancer energy. he seems like a very serious guy. like one look at him and he just always looks like he's in a bad mood (he's not) he's just broody. everything feels very intense to him. he doesn't know 'lightness'. everything seems like the end of the world. really high highs and really low lows. he wants sex by the ocean. he wants to hold your arms down. his body on top of yours. fingers intertwined as you two cum. kissing you in a way that you swear gives you oxygen rather than takes it away. he wants to breathe his soul into yours. it's the most intense love making ever!!! neither of you can even dirty talk because you are robbed of thoughts. all you can think of is 'oh my gods. this feels so good. he is snatching my soul' but in the best way!!! 🖤

[leonhorn]

In 2054 Better Living Through Microbe Engineering | In 20xx Scifi and Futurism by In 20xx Futurism A small group of survivors hang on in an underground habitat while the World Storm rages all over Planet Earth. Rocked by a flash flood that fills the habitat with muddy water, the group scramble to take measures to survive. A man nicknamed Mars used to work planning for the Mars Colony One mission so his expertise in keeping the group alive helps out a great deal. The group also have expert gene engineers who have novel solutions for staying alive and comfortable, involving engineering microbes to do a number of things from growing food to cleaning the air. Many of the characters in this project appear in future episodes. Using storytelling to place you in a time period, this series takes you, year by year, into the future. From 2040 to 2195. If you like emerging tech, eco-tech, futurism, perma-culture, apocalyptic survival scenarios, and disruptive science, sit back and enjoy short stories that showcase my research into how the future may play out. This is Episode 58 of the podcast "In 20xx Scifi and Futurism." The companion site is https://in20xx.com where you can find a timeline of the future, descriptions of future development, and printed fiction. These are works of fiction. Characters and groups are made-up and influenced by current events but not reporting facts about people or groups in the real world. Copyright © Leon Horn 2021. All rights reserved. 1. A.R. (Augmented Reality) glasses/systems 2. Respirators with mycelium filters 3. Med bot (medical robot) 4. Quantum computer (damaged) 5. Aquaponics system 6. Food-brew systems 7. Lutin Bots (robots, now inoperative) 8. BritLights (lights that charge using ambient radio waves) 9. 3D printer (broken) 10. Gene engineering equipment 11. Incubation cabinet 12. Neuplus (some kind of neural enhancement, no longer available) 13. Whisky distiller (broken) 14. Car batteries (salvaged for power) 15. Liquid sunlight machine (for growing plants without sunlight) 16. Plastic recycler 17. Cell editor (for bioengineering) 18. Rail catapult (for launching debris) 19. Smart particle mat 20. Hand drills 21. Microbe eaters (spray to eliminate harmful microbes) 22. Rock-eating microbes 23. Stirling engines (not yet built, but planned) 24. Echo locate technology (for mapping in low visibility) 25. Shot bolter (for anchoring cables) 26. Assist (some kind of AI assistant) 27. Carb-cable and pulley hoist system 28. Body goo (for cooling in high humidity) Episode link: https://ift.tt/JfBeuU0 (video made with https://ift.tt/dVhgl20) via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6MaBUrP4NI

[joyffree]

🆓IT’S #FREEBIEFRIDAY Aug 16th

I present to you this week's bag of mixed delights

⇒ CEO Daddy a Small Town Standalone Romance by Taryn Quinn ⇒ Past Transgressions: Action Espionage by Dave Sinclair ⇒ Grumpy Meets Virgin Collection: Romance Collection by J. H. Croix ⇒ The Price of Peace: Epic Fantasy by A.R. Knight ⇒ Ouch! My Vampire Doms Keep Biting Me: Poly Paranormal Romance by Calista Jayne ⇒ Imaginarium: A Science Fiction And Fantasy Trio: SciFi Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy ⇒ Frankie B - The Ghost Ship: A Paranormal Mystery by Andie Low, Andrene Low ⇒ Eternal Deception: 19th Century Historical Mystery by Jane Steen ⇒ Work Wife: Later in Life Second Chance Romance by Bethany Lopez ⇒ First Strike: Book One: Space Opera Sci-Fi Espionage by Odette C. Bell ⇒ Just a Little Madness: LGBTQ Historical MM Romance by Merry Farmer

[mrskellylove]

Go low...and be strong.

Please read this entire essay by A.R. Moxon, “Lying to Fascists” published by The Reframe. As a teacher, one who’s been in classrooms/districts since the mid 2000s, I’ve seen the impact of harmful policies, NCLB, ESSA, the ‘big tests’ COVID building closures, tech, and now parents and guardians who vote against their and their children’s best interest. I’m struggling, y’all. I’ve been attacked…

[whatsonmedia]

Film Friday: Dive into Cinematic Delights of April

Dive into a world of cinematic excitement this Film Friday with a lineup that promises thrills, heart, and adrenaline. Dev Patel’s gripping directorial debut, “Monkey Man,” delivers bone-breaking action against the backdrop of India’s underworld. Meanwhile, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” roars back with epic monster battles and shocking revelations. Discover the inspiring tale of coach Syed Abdul Rahim in “Maidaan,” and journey through the highs and lows of Punjabi music legend Amar Singh Chamkila in Imtiaz Ali’s biopic. Plus, explore the poignant story of widows in the Sundarbans in “Bonbibi: Widows of the Wild.” Get ready for a cinematic adventure like no other!

MONKEY MAN

Dev Patel’s directorial debut, Monkey Man, is a brutal and stylish action film with echoes of John Wick, but set in the underbelly of India. Patel himself stars as a nameless fighter who unleashes his rage on the corrupt elite responsible for his past trauma. Expect bone-breaking fight choreography, stunning visuals, and a relentless pace. While the plot might be familiar, Monkey Man’s raw energy and unique setting make it a must-watch for action fans.

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire roars back into theaters with a new monstrous foe threatening both titans and humanity. This sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong dives deep into the history of these legendary creatures, exploring their origins and an ancient battle that bound them to humankind. Expect spectacular monster brawls and shocking revelations about the hidden world beneath our feet. While some critics felt it lacked the emotional punch of 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, fans of epic monster mayhem will find plenty to satisfy them in The New Empire.

MAIDAAN

“Maidaan” chronicles the inspiring journey of legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim (Ajay Devgn). Who led the Indian football team to victory in the 1950s and 60s. Devgn delivers a powerful performance as Rahim, battling prejudice and building a unified team. The film celebrates India’s forgotten “Golden Era” of football with thrilling match sequences and heartfelt moments. While some criticize the overlong runtime, “Maidaan” is a compelling sports biopic that will ignite your patriotism and leave you cheering for the underdog.

AMAR SINGH CHAMKILA

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, “Amar Singh Chamkila” chronicles the rise and fall of the iconic Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila (played by Diljit Dosanjh) and his musical partner Amarjot Kaur. Praised for its energetic portrayal of 80s Punjab and the duo’s socially conscious music. The film has been lauded by critics for its powerful performances, particularly Dosanjh’s, and A.R. Rahman’s stirring soundtrack. Early buzz suggests this biopic is a must-watch for fans of both Bollywood and Punjabi music. Offering a glimpse into a legendary artist’s life cut tragically short.

BONOBIBI: WIDOWS OF THE WILD

Bonbibi: Widows of the Wild explores the harsh realities of widows in the Sundarbans, India. Who lose their husbands to tiger attacks. Starring Parno Mittra, the film follows Resham, a young widow navigating life in a community with strict traditions. When a British couple is brutally attacked for trying to help the village, Resham finds an unlikely connection with a musician, Himon. Their budding romance challenges the status quo, forcing Resham and the widows to fight for love and a chance at a new life against a powerful local leader.

[statguypaul]

Brief Review: Elemental (2023)

Rated the film 2.5 stars out of 5. Perhaps the underlying science defiance earns this Pixar film a relatively low rating, yet the predictability of the plot certainly doesn't help. The technical brilliance of the animation company remains fully on display with the four major elements (earth, air, water, and fire) individually crafted to a visually impressive level, the different effects to showcase water (transparency) and fire (continued flame) particularly impressive. Unfortunately, the regular romantic comedy cliches appear throughout with some of the dialogue melodramatic (granted, that could be due to the melodrama infused in the characters) and the fact that water and fire do not mix scientifically, so the film's premise has extreme difficulty pushing beyond the suspension of disbelief. The musical score is intriguing in that it seems like Thomas Newman is emulating A.R. Rahman's East Indian style, yet the fire characters are based of director Peter Sohn's Korean background. Overall, this is not top-tier Pixar, yet a reasonable outing that will still work for family entertainment.

[rjhamster]

Trump Offers Masterclass in Seizing the Narrative

March 24, 2023 END OF MONTH SALE! Get unlimited access to the Sun’s principled journalism, for just 1¢ per day! Trump Offers a Masterclass in Seizing the Narrative By Russell Payne Read more » Could an Anti-Asian Joke in Harvard Case Prove Affirmative Action’s — and a Federal Judge’s — Undoing? By A.R. Hoffman Read more » This Credit Card is Worth Its Weight In Gold With a low intro APR,…

[botanyone]

Hybrid Douglas-Fir Trees Hold the Key to Climate Change Adaptation

Hybrid Douglas-Fir Trees Hold the Key to Climate Change Adaptation https://ift.tt/3sOnB5Q As the world faces the unprecedented challenges of climate change, scientists are searching for ways to help forests adapt to the new normal. A recent study by Compton and colleagues, published in AoB PLANTS, sheds light on how hybrid Douglas-fir trees could be more resilient to climate change and better suited for reforestation efforts. Douglas-fir trees are a crucial species for timber production and ecosystem services in North America. They provide habitat for wildlife, stabilize soil, and sequester carbon. However, as the climate warms, these trees are threatened by increasing drought and heat stress. In response, researchers have been exploring the genetic variation within the species to identify the best trees for planting in the face of an increasingly challenging environment. Image: Canva The study’s authors focused on the relationship between growth, water use efficiency, and heat tolerance in different varieties of Douglas-fir trees. Their results revealed a trade-off between growth and heat tolerance. In other words, faster-growing trees from warmer climates are less able to withstand heat stress than their slower-growing counterparts from colder climates. The researchers also discovered that intervarietal hybrid families, with mixed ancestry from coastal and interior varieties, had higher water use efficiency and greater heat tolerance than pure coastal families. This suggests hybridization might be a source of pre-adapted alleles to extreme heat events and drought in an increasingly warming climate. The study further revealed significant genetic variation in water use efficiency, photosynthetic capacity, growth, and tolerance of leaves to heat stress among Douglas-fir families and varieties. In their article, Compton and colleagues write: Warmer climates bring significant challenges to the survival of Douglas fir populations. While coastal varieties are widely planted due to their fast growth, their low water use efficiency (a trait of mesic-adapted plants) and low tolerance to heat might predispose them to maladaptation to future climate conditions, as suggested by trade-offs between growth, water use efficiency and heat tolerance found in this study. Our study indicates significant genetic variation in water use efficiency (inferred from carbon isotope discrimination), photosynthetic capacity (inferred from %N), growth and tolerance of leaves to heat stress among Douglas-fir families and varieties. High elevation families had higher water-use efficiency and photosynthetic capacity than low elevation families. In addition, families with greater heat tolerance had slower growth and higher water-use efficiency. Intervarietal hybrids, with mixed ancestry from coastal and interior varieties, had higher water use efficiency and higher heat tolerance than coastal families, suggesting hybridization might be a source of pre-adapted alleles to extreme heat events and drought in increasingly warming climate conditions. Compton et al. 2023 READ THE ARTICLE Compton, S., Stackpole, C., Dixit, A., Sekhwal, M.K., Kolb, T. and De la Torre, A.R. (2023) “Differences in heat tolerance, water use efficiency and growth among Douglas-fir families and varieties evidenced by GWAS and common garden studies,” AoB PLANTS, 15(2), p. lad008. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plad008. The post Hybrid Douglas-Fir Trees Hold the Key to Climate Change Adaptation appeared first on Botany One. via Botany One https://botany.one/ May 02, 2023 at 05:42PM

[angelmavmurdock]

Our Little Secret: Part One - A.R.

Word count: 1541  Summary: y/n moves from New York to New Coal Creek and meets a girl that would change her life forever.

-

Reader POV

The drive to New Coal Creek, West Virginia was a long ride. I had no idea what house my parents had bought and had no idea what this little town was like. My family and I were coming from New York. My daddy was in real estate and he owned a lot of places in the city. But after having a really bad illness for a while, he had to stop taking on too much stress. So, they decided to move - 'they' being my parents. I had to go with them whether I liked it or not. I left my friends, my boyfriend and my school behind.

I was popular in New York; the captain of the cheerleading team with a boyfriend who was captain of the football team. Him and I had sworn we were going to get married. But he broke up with me as soon as I announced I was leaving, which I couldn't blame him for. So maybe leaving the city was good for me.

Ma reached behind from the passenger seat in the car and rubbed my knee to awaken me.

"y/n, we're nearly there." She spoke softly.

Ma was from Ohio, brought up with 3 brothers and two rich parents but she moved when she was in her twenties to New York. Daddy was also from New York and he was much the same: 2 brothers, 1 sister and two rich parents. They hadn't faced many troubles in their life and now I was just the same: an only child with two rich parents. I loved my life, but sometimes I wish you wasn't in the toxic popular group...but now, in this town, things could be different.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes as you readjusted in the leather seat of the car.

"Coal Creek, West Virginia." I read out loud on the old, rusted sign by the road.

"Are you excited?" Ma asked with a beaming smile.

She didn't live in Coal Creek when she was younger but she was happy to be back in a Southern state. Mostly because she wouldn't feel out of place by her soft Southern accent which I had inherited instead of the harsh New York dialect daddy and my peers had.

"Yeah...hopefully they have a cheerleading team I could join." I smiled weakly, looking out the window.

It was an odd place, the cars on the road weren't top end and the roads weren't either. Buildings and houses looked more like barns and cottages than huge brick fancy buildings.

"We're not livin' in one of those are we?" I asked, raising a brow as we passed through a neighbourhood which was clearly poor.

"No, we're living up state." Daddy said with a smile.

"Is the house nice?" I asked, leaning forward to rest my chin on daddy's seat.

"It's gorgeous. You'll love it." He smiled.

We continued driving through the village and we soon came to an up-winding road that was wide and smooth. You could already tell the difference between this tarmac and the pot-holed sheet on the regular streets. The car wound up the road, it felt like we were in the middle of a forest as tall trees lined the sides of the road lusciously. Soon we slowed down and we drove through two pillars which once had a gate. Then we turned a corner and the house was revealed.

It was a beautifully painted white mansion. There were four pillars at the front of the house, supporting the balcony that wrapped around the outside of the upper level. The door was painted deep blue along with the shutters covering the windows.

I gasped as the car came to a stop. We all got out and stood in front of the car, just admiring it.

"It's beautiful!" I exclaimed.

Ma smiled next to me, rubbing my back.

"Right, take your bags upstairs and start unpacking, I need to lie down after that." Daddy sighed, stretching.

I felt a pang of sadness course through me as he grabbed some bags from the trunk and began taking them inside.

Ma and I shared a look of guilt before taking our stuff inside.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The week quickly went by and we were adjusting nicely to the new town. It was very different from New York but it was quaint and the people were nice. I felt at home, strangely. I think it was because I had the same accent as everyone and Ma felt more at ease. She didn't like New York much, but she loved Ohio.

It hit Monday and it was the first day of school for me. It was the middle of March but I had to continue school until July if I wanted to graduate this year. And I really wanted to. I had the grades; I was a straight A student. But I didn't know what Ohio schooling was like or what the people were like.

I contemplated wearing a cheer outfit but I decided against it. Instead, I wore a baby pink dress that ended just above my knee. It was an A-line dress so it complimented my figure nicely. The neckline ended just at my neck and it had short sleeves. I wore patent black shoes with little heels and my hair was in a low-ponytail, wrapped in a pink silk ribbon.

I had packed my bag with pencils and pens and notebooks and I came down the stairs, excited to start school.

"Look at you! You look gorgeous, darlin'." Ma kissed my cheek and Daddy did after.

"Remember to ask about cheerleadin'!" Ma called after me as I headed for the front door.

"I will! Bye!" I waved with a smile and left the house.

The walk from our house to anywhere in town was relatively long but I liked walking, it calmed me.

I had been to town in the car so I knew where to go, but I realised very quickly as I walked through, I was different.

Everyone stared at me like some kind of movie. I just kept a smile on my face and walked to school. School was even weirder.

As I walked nervously around the school grounds, heading for the door, I noticed boys in denim staring hungrily with toothpicks in their mouths and girls looking on in judgement.

"I wonder where she came from dressed like that." One girl sniggered.

"Daddy bought her a new dress, I think." A guy commented.

I swallowed and entered the school, ignoring everyone around me.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

People got to know me quickly in school. I was the talk of the town. Everyone knew I lived up-state, everyone knew I was from New York, everyone knew how my parents were rich and everyone knew I was powerful. Well, they thought I was. I didn't feel powerful. I felt out of place. I was thrown into the popular group once again but they got me into the cheer team without any audition which was good.

By my third week of school, I was lunching in the dining hall with the popular group. It was established that I was the 'innocent' one of the lot. I was the only one with straight A's and I was the only one who knew how to play piano and speak French...everyone was taught these things in New York, especially in the private schools. But everyone in that group had lost their virginity...I was still to have that experience. The boys made fun of me which was expected but it was all fun and games, none of them tried anything.

It was Thursday and I was studying in the library during my free time. There was no one else here apart from the old librarian who slept at her desk. But the doors to the library swung open, awakening Mrs Peters and startling me.

"I am so sorry." The girl whispered, mortified at the level of noise she just made in a library.

I smiled at her, I felt bad. She smiled back. She was pretty and she looked smart, holding multiple books in her arms as she walked towards me. She sat the books down opposite me on the table.

"Can I sit here?" She asked in a whisper.

"Of course." I smiled, moving some of my books out the way.

"Thank you so much...hey,"

I looked up at her.

"You're that new girl aren't cha'?" She asked quietly, accent panging through.

"Yes I am." I smiled.

She grinned, "Shouldn't you be hanging out with your friends?"

I sighed, "I'd rather graduate than party."

Her smile grew even wider. She seemed so kind.

She presented her hand in front of me, "I'm Lenora."

I shook it, "I'm y/n."

"Nice to meet you, y/n." She smiled.

Lenora and I ended up ditching studying all together and hung out in town until we both had to go home. We were so alike and we clicked just like that. We exchanged addresses so if we ever came over we would know where to go to. She was already my best friend and I immediately felt at ease.

A/N: This is the start of a new mini series! i hope you guys enjoy it <3

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The Deluge In a Paper Cup || A.R

Pairing: Arvin Russel x Reader Words Count: 3,018 words  Prompt: Arvin Prompt Idea! The preacher took you to the meadow in his car and made a move, but you get out and have to walk all the way home... your friend arvin finds you and then you choose! 

Warnings: Depiction of a sexual assault (nothing too heavy though), psychotic views on religion/false preachings. It’s a Devil and the time, it deals with dark themes. 

You couldn’t remember how long you had been walking down that dusty road. Had it been two hours? Or maybe just fifteen minutes? It felt as though the time had stopped, stretched indefinitely. Every minute felt like an hour. Above you, the sky was tinted gray, dark heavy clouds loomed ahead as thunder rumbled low in the distance. 

A stark reflection of your current state of mind. 

You were cold and soaked through the bone, as fat heavy drops of rain fell from the sky in a torrential downpour. But above all, you were exhausted. Drained both mentally, and physically but you couldn’t bring yourself to stop walking. Not when every step drove you farther and farther away from that damned meadow. 

Besides, walking in the rain felt somehow… cathartic. It was washing you clean, washing away the disgusting touch of preacher’s Teagarden, and although his fingers had felt cold and moist on your skin, you could still feel the burning trail left in the wake of those sinful fingers as they traveled up your thigh. 

‘The sick bastard.’ You thought, teeth worrying the inside of your cheek as you tried to smother your disgust and revulsion. Tears welled up in your eyes threatening to spill over the brim in an unending torrent of anger and bitterness. The thick lump forming in your throat left a foul taste in your mouth. When you closed your eyes all you could see was the hunger flashing in Teagarden’s eyes as they roamed over your body. 

“Have you truly opened yourself to the Lord with preacher Sykes?” The reverend’s voice breaks the silence as he parks the car in the middle of a meadow. 

Distracted, you let out a noncommittal hum, attention drifting on the small expanse of grass around you. The clearing is beautiful. Little daisies dot the dense tussocks of grass like a mosaic. The tall, wet grass rustling in the wind. You can almost hear the chirp of cicadas during a warm summer night or the boisterous cacophony of birds singing on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  A small chuckle slips past your lips, hot puffs of breath fogging the window, as you picture Arvin napping with his head on your lap while you read peacefully under the large oak tree. 

The Reverend is right: you can really feel the Lord out here. It’s a shame that such bucolic scenery is ruined by the storm.

“Have you ever shown yourself… as the Lord made you” Teagarden repeats in a patient tone. You turn around to face him with a little gasp of surprise. His sudden proximity startles you. You didn’t hear him scoot closer. He leans in close… too close. His face is mere inches away from yours, you can feel his breath ghost over the column of your neck with each word he utters. His blue eyes are watching you intently, scrutinizing your every expression. 

“What do you mean?” You ask, tongue darting out to wet your dry lips. The movement doesn’t go unnoticed, the preacher’s eyes follow your tongue as if mesmerized by the sight. There’s no mistaking the flash of hunger that belies his true intentions. The atmosphere in the cramped space shifts, and suddenly there is not enough air in the car. 

“To show yourself as the Lord made His first children is to truly turn yourself to Him.” Your heart skips a beat when the preacher puts his hand on your knee, just under your skirt. His palm is moist on your skin. You squeeze your eyes shut and recoil from the touch as discreetly as you can. You push yourself against the door, slipping one hand behind your back, fingers blindly searching for the door handle, just in case. 

“And his witnessing of it… now, that’s courage itself.” Teagarden continues, the words roll off his tongue with the ease of a well-practiced lie. His voice is gentle, lulling you into a false sense of security. His hand travels higher on your leg, thumb stroking the delicate skin of your inner thigh. Bile rises in your throat. You yourself press tighter against the car door, the armrest digging painfully into the small of your back.

“I don’t…-- Reverend Teagarden, I don’t feel comfortable. ”

“Allow the Lord to guide you. I’ll pray for the Lord to give you the strength.” He interrupts, a twinge of impatience coloring his tone. He scoots closer, towering over you, lips brushing against your throat as he speaks. His free hand travels along the collar of your blouse, down to the first button.

And amidst the turmoil of emotions, the slow, insidious feeling of dread trickles down your spine. Your mind short-circuits. You freeze, petrified with fear. Blood rushes through your veins, beating a staccato against your temples. You feel more than hear the prayer Reverend Teagarden mumbles against your neck. The sick fuck. 

Just as he pops open the second button of your blouse — lips pressing a wet kiss against your forehead — something clicks inside of you, triggering you into action. Your fingers grip the door handle and pull, yanking the door open. The sudden movement sends you both tumbling to the wet grass beneath you. The icy droplets of rain on the grass seep into your clothes. The heavyweight of his body slams into you, knocking the breath out of your lungs. 

“Get the hell away from me.” You spat, venom dripping with every word. With all the force you can muster, you shove the man backward and scramble to your feet, only to be stopped by a hand grabbing your ankle. 

“You little—”. His grip tightens on your ankle, nails digging into your skin. His face contorts into a vile grimace of rage, all trace of gentleness and patience gone. It’s almost as if you’re staring at the devil himself. 

“You gonna regret deceiving the Lord like this. Who do you think you are? You worthless whore, rejecting your Lord and Sav-” You kick his hand with your other foot, shaking yourself free from his grasp and run. 

Water splashes around you as you trudge through puddles of muddy water. Your circle skirt is soaked, its heavy fabric slaps against your legs with each step, but you keep running. Not turning around as you hear the voice of the preacher screaming your name, rage thick in his voice. Your throat feels like sandpaper. You can seem to breathe enough air. 

When you hear your name again, the voice calling is close. Much closer than expected. 

“GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME.” You yelled as you whirled around, your body crashed against a familiar body.

“Wow! Wow! Easy there! I ain’t mean to scare ya.” Arvin’s voice pulled you from your memories. The reality, for once, felt like a dream.  “Been calling ya’ for a minute.” He trailed off, words dying on his tongue. Curious eyes roaming over your body as he took in your appearance. The smile of amusement dancing on his lips quickly replaced by a frown of worry. His eyebrows furrowed in a frown. 

Arvin opened his mouth and closed it, not knowing what to say. You both stood there, in the rain, frozen, watching each other silently. You couldn’t even blame Arvin; What a pathetic sight you must have been: drenched from head to toe, your eyeliner smudged, mud staining your clothes.

Arvin, however, was… a sight for these sore eyes: wet brown locks of hair falling over his eyes, framing his face, his white shirt clung to his skin in wet wrinkles, the transparent fabric revealing the outline of his abs. You knew you shouldn’t have such thoughts about your best friend, but he looked like those fancy greek statues: all rough edges yet casually debonair. 

A shiver ran down your spine and you weren’t entirely sure if it was because of the cold, not that you were ready to explore the implication of such a reaction. 

“What happ--”

“Can you just drive me home?” You asked before he could finish his sentence. He was worried, but you didn’t feel like delving into the depth of what had just happened in the meadow just yet. For a moment, he said nothing. He just looked at you, lips pressed in a thin line, one eyebrow raised as if daring you to say something, daring you to explain. As if you weren’t both standing in the rain. Arvin surrendered with a resigned sigh when another shiver coursed through your body, opening the door for you, before circling the car to climb behind the wheel. 

“Take that, would ya’? You ‘bout to catch a damn cold.” He grunted, leaning over to retrieve his denim jacket on the backseat of his car and draped it on you. 

The jacket felt like a blanket made of the finest wool, warm, and soft against your skin. Unable to help yourself, you snuggled into the jacket, inhaling a faint trace of Arvin’s scent that lingered on the fabric: a subtle mix of generic soap, cologne, and cold tobacco. At that moment, your erratic thoughts slowed down, frozen as you breathed in the familiar and soothing scent. A sense of safety enwrapped you, lulling you to sleep.

You were roused from your sleep, fifteen minutes later as Arvin shook you awake.

“Do you want me to carry you home, princess?” Arvin teased, struggling against the small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Disoriented, you noticed that you were parked in your drive away. You stared at your empty house, remembering that your parents would be gone for the night, and your heart squeezed in your chest. You didn’t want to be alone tonight. Not after what happened. Not that you felt unsafe — you doubted the reverend would ever come and... finish the job, so to speak —  but being alone with your thoughts didn’t rejoice you in the slightest.

Thank God it was still raining. At least you had an excuse to linger in Arvin’s car for a few minutes. If he realized you were stalling, he didn’t comment on it.

“Arvin.” He hummed, peering at you from the corner of his eyes as he pulled a cigarette from his half-empty pack of Marlboro Red and placed it between his lips to light it up. 

“My parents aren’t here tonight, and I wanna be alone... Do you mind stayin’ for a bit? You’re kinda good company...” You cleared your throat. Why were you so shy suddenly? “Besides, we’re soaked to the bone, we could use a warm shower.”  

A nonchalant snort was your only answer. The double entendre wasn’t lost on him. He took a slow drag of his cigarette and exhaled. Thin wisps of smoke skimmed along his cheekbones before evaporating in the air. 

He looked at you slowly, like he had time to waste, a lazy grin stretching on his lips as you rushed to explain: “Separated showers.” You needed to stop talking. Now. 

“I thought you’d never ask.” The little brat he was! He just loved seeing you flustered. “Sure. Ain’t got nothing else to do, anyway”.

Moments of peace were far in between in Coal Creek, West Virginia. So far in between that, if anyone had asked you what heaven on earth felt like, you wouldn’t have replied being sprawled on the couch, after a warm shower, your head resting on your best friend’s chest as you sipped lazily on a cup of tea.

However, as the sun disappeared over the horizon and twilight stole the last colors of the day, wrapped in Arvin’s familiar embrace, you couldn’t think of another definition of heaven

Perhaps it was because those moments of bliss were a rare occurrence in Coal Creek, that you felt compelled to confide in Arvin. You didn’t know. The words tumbled out of your mouth before you could stop them, disturbing the peaceful atmosphere.

“You were right about the preacher...” You declared, feeling Arvin’s chuckle of acquiescence before you heard it.

“What about that damn preacher?” Under different circumstances, you would have chastised Arvin for talking so rudely about a man of God. But the preacher and you didn’t pray to the same God. Ain’t no true man of God did what he did to you. 

“He’s as bad as they got on the radio.” You mumbled. Tiny needles of shame prickled the back of your neck.

Suddenly, you weren’t so sure you wanted to talk about what had happened. You felt so naïve and dumb for following a man — a stranger — to his car and let him drive to a secluded place. Maybe you deserved what had happened to you. If only as a warning — a lesson.*

“Arvin, I feel so stupid.” You choked out, swallowing around the lump forming in your throat. Your teeth gnawing on your bottom lip, trying not to cry. 

“Hey! Hey! What’s going on? What happened?”  Arvin asked, worry clear in his tone. He shifted on the couch to look at you, hooking his thumb and forefinger under your chin to tilt your face upward. An emotion you didn’t recognize burned in his brown eyes. “I’m here. You’re safe now. I got ya.” He whispered. The words felt like a balm. Soothing, but encouraging. “Just tell me what happened.” 

And so you did, voice devoid of any emotion, detached. You stared blankly ahead, words spilling out of your mouth as you talked about the way the preacher had tried to lure you. Tried to seduce you by using the name of the Lord in vain. The way his disgusting fingers had traveled on your skin. You told Arvin about your revulsion as Teagarden’s filthy lips brushed your neck, about the way you escaped, and the words he spat, tone dripping with venom, his nails digging in the flesh of your ankles to stop you. 

Arvin remained silent throughout your story, allowing you to pour out your feelings, face impassive, blank. However, a hint of that thousand-yard stare flashing in his eyes belied his anger. He looked dangerous, seething. Bitter anger running through his veins. 

“I’m gonna kill him.” He stated in a steady voice. A jarring contrast from the violence of his declaration. “That preacher is gonna pay for what he did to ya.” The vision of a bloodied crowbar and injured knuckles flashed in your mind. It sent chills running down your spine. It was as though the devil himself was whispering sweet nothings in his ears. 

“Arvin... You can’t do that!” 

“I damn well can. He’s gonna pay for what he’s done to you.” Arvin insisted in a tone that brokered no argument. You scoffed, shaking your head in disbelief. He was so stubborn. Of course, he would have acted on an impulse.

“Why are you not listening to me?” The words left your mouth in a strangled cry of frustration.

In a swift movement, Arvin slipped two knuckles under your chin to lift your head up. His face hovered dangerously close to yours, warm chocolate eyes bored into yours, forcing you to hold his gaze.

“Why are ya protectin’ him? What are ya afraid of?” Not expecting the questions, you were speechless, mouth dropping open ever so slightly.

“Do you realize what you’re sayin’? This ain’t just freaking Dinwoodie and his friends... You’re talkin’ about the preacher! Maybe we can go to the police?”

“What they gon’ do about it? They ain’t even gonna believe you. It’s your word against him. People are smitten with him. He’s dangerous. If it ain’t you, it’ll be another girl... We can’t let hi--“

“Arvin please....” you resorted to begging. Bottom lips jutting out in a small pout, you looked up at Arvin through your lashes. You weren’t playing fair, you knew Arvin wouldn’t resist but desperate measures for desperate times. You couldn’t stand seeing Arvin get hurt whenever he was trying to protect a loved one. His feelings were noble, but he deserved so much more than this endless cycle of violence. He deserved to be happy. Freed from those demons, demanding retribution for every slight.

Arvin’s inner turmoil was written on his face, jaw clenching and relaxing, as he pondered on whether or not to listen to you. The fire in his eyes softened considerably, and you squeezed his hand, offering him a tentative smile.

“Promise me you won’t do anything foolish.” You whispered, leaning up to press a kiss on his cheek to placate him. You chuckled lightly as Arvin gave you a pointed look, grumbling in a barely audible voice. You were sure you heard something along the lines of “My mother ain’t raised no liar.”

“Arvin, I know you just want to protect me, and I’m so thankful for that, but...” you sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear before taking his hand in both of yours. It looked so big compared to yours, calloused and strong, yet they promised a touch as soft as honey. “But... I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me.” You admitted.

“I should’ve been here.” He replied after a brief pause, eyebrows furrowed in a frown. That was the heart of the problem. He felt guilty for not being able to protect you. Guilty for not being able to protect his mother, his dog. Your heart squeezed in your chest.

“You couldn’t have guessed. Besides, you’re here now... That’s all that matters.” You comforted him.

“Can you hold me?” You requested just as he opened his mouth to protest.

Despite the scoff falling past the barrier of his lips, Arvin didn’t need to be told twice. He pulled you closer to him, and tucked your head under his chin, arms wrapping around your waist.

In retrospect, you knew you should reflect on how natural the intimate position felt. Reflect on your not so platonic relationship with Arvin, but as Arvin's lips brushed against your skin, pressing a soft kiss on your temple, you felt at peace.

Perhaps moments of peace were far in between in Coal Creek, West Virginia, but those were enough for you.

I wanted to clarify this little passage “Maybe you deserved what had happened to you. If only as a warning — a lesson.”: Those words only reflect the victim’s thoughts. 

I don’t condone Teagarden’s actions or sexual assault in general. I do not think the victim should be blamed, in any circumstances. The victim never asks for it. A victim is a victim. Period. Remember consent is sexy. 

I hope you enjoyed the fic. Feedback is appreciated!