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crushzone · 4 years ago

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Nin! I’ve been seeing this around recently, but I would love to see you ship your moots if it is ok! ♥️

Hahaha hey there, sure thing! It’s so difficult to be bias free because I know my moots’ crushes, but I shall do my best! I’ll mostly likely pair you guys with someone outside of your crush, just to introduce some new potential partner to your life ;). If I had left anyone out by accident, I am SO sorry!!

✨ Shipping my Moots ✨

@scorpiosanssexy

Sugawara Koshi - Lil sis, I am so sorry it is not Kei. I think Suga is absolutely hilarious and a sweetheart, I’m sure he loves it when you roast him here and there because he’d do the same right back at you. He’s also such a sassy man, so if sassiness is something you enjoy (*cough* like Kei’s, except he’s not a meanie 😠), he’s got it! If you do not know how to cook, neither does he, but you will get to suffer together. He’s also a teacher (which I know is also your thing), so let’s pretend he had to read so many books that he has to eventually get glasses! Will 100% dance real silly with you when you’re both tipsy, but please try to calm him down when he keeps getting ID’ed whenever he tries to buy booze, he’s got that forever cute baby face.

Look, I photoshopped him in glasses for u. ☝🏼

@ceo-of-daichi

Takeru Nakashima - Tbh, it was really difficult not to go with Daichi for this one. I know Takeru may not suit your appearance preferences, but I think you guys would be a very adorable pair! He is very family oriented, had grown up with a bunch of siblings, is a team captain (i know u like captains 😉), and seems like a sweet guy in general. So he will 100% be a fun pal to joke around with, but he’s also really responsible and will take care of u on your night outs. I can see you with his little family cheer squad, they are all just in love with you and consider you a part of their family. 10/10 husband material with that A+ domestic lifestyle.

@honey-makki

Saeko Tanaka - I shall pair you, my queen, with my other queen, Saeko. 👑 Together, you are unstoppable, and just the sight of you both hanging out together would make me run away because I tend to do that whenever I am near anyone attractive. Imagine Saeko picking you up on her motorbike just to go grab some dinner downtown together. All the jokes you’d share, how loudly you would laugh with each other, regardless if whether you are in a public or private place!! She’d probably help you proof read your fics and brainstorm any spicy scenarios with you too! Bet she loveees having you lay on her chest as she strokes your hair, alternatively, she also loves being your big spoon. 🥺

@heauxzenji

Kuroo Tetsuro - My other queen, I shall offer you my nerdy king, Kuroo. 👑 Idk man, appearance-wise alone, I already think you’d both be such a beautiful pair. You two are definitely the type of couples on Tik Tok (or whichever apps people use now a days LOL 👵🏻) with a bunch of “relationship goals” in the comments. He’d be a lot of fun to joke around with, will take great care of you, loves to smack your booty (respectfully) because he knows you are absolutely beautiful, and will call you the cutest nicknames. He also secretly reads your spicy fics without telling you, and will maybe try out a new thing or two from it the next time u guys baaaaang. 💥Spiciness aside, he cherishes all your quiet moments, just sitting next to each other as you sip on some tea, your books in hand as you lean shoulder to shoulder against one another.

@tedwardos

Azumane Asahi - idk, I think you both would be incredibly adorable! He is basically kind of like Yams but with a whee bit more softness. He absolutely loves to cuddle, play video games with you (but please go easy on him, he’s a little scared of certain games), and learn new things (e.g. playing DnD for the first time). Tbh, I think he would be great at DnD because he enjoys the imagination and character design aspect, bet his characters are always the best dressed one. Will help style your hair, cook you breakfast, give you shoulder massages, and just spoiling you in general, as long as you hold him close and tell him you love him every now and then to keep him well assured. You’ll never get cold during winter, he’s basically a human furnace who always make sure your feet are covered by the blanket when you cuddle on the couch.

@nonexistent-social-life-mainacct

Akaashi Keiji - I genuinely think this would be a wonderful match. Firstly, he is a wonderful listener, so he’s there for you to come home to after a tough day at work. If it is not something he can actually help you with, he will do his best to cheer you back up after you had gotten everything off your chest. Secondly, look at this 👇🏼

Girl, he will PROTECT you from all those mysterious bruises that tend to appear on your legs haha. Lastly, I know that when he loves someone, he will do all these adorably thoughtful things for you: like massaging your feet, leaving you cute post-it notes before he leaves for work and buying you flowers randomly. I just, I just want the best for u and I KNOW Akaashi will not disappoint at all.

@mer92

Tadashi Yamaguchi - ok hear me out! Baby boy had been crushing on you from a distance for the longest time, he just absolutely admires how you are so hardworking and passionate towards your dream job. He sees how much you care for your friends and he’d always wished he could be a part of your group too. Eventually, when you are both together, he is a wonderful listener, will go out of his ways to spoil you just to see you smile again. He will give you shoulder massages when you are being too tense, and if anyone gets in the way of achieving your goals, he will step up and defend you. Will also buy extra onigiris from Onigiri Miya and bring them to u for lunch, just to make sure that you don’t accidentally skip any meals because you’re too laser focused on your studies! Speaking of studying, he loves studying with you, and is actually a wonderful work buddy. (Always sneaks a glance at your adorable concentrated face)

@danibby

Kotaro Bokuto - Bokuto ADORES you with all his heart omg. When he catches you dancing or choreographing, he will straight up sway or beg you to teach him some moves, before proceeding to absolutely crush it. If he sees you trying out or applying some makeup/skincare products, he will ask you if he could watch or play with it too. Basically, he loves you so much, he just wants to understand and be a part of what you are doing, while he’ll also do the same where he’d teach you the little things he loves to do (will probably try to get you to play volleyball with him ahah). Is fantastic at cheering you up when you are not feeling too good about yourself, and will tickle fight you until you smile for him. Speaking of tickle fights, initiate it at your risk, because he is hella strong, he’ll pin you down or pick you up really easily to his advantage. BIGGEST HYPE MAN, you can walk out, wearing a trash bag and he would still be 😻😻😻.

@shhhlikeme

Aran Ojiro - I know I’m not being too original with this pairing because you actually crush on him to begin with, but you two are just perfect for each other tbh (was going to pick Toshi at first, but thought Aran would be a better fit)! Firstly, you are both absolutely S T U N N I N G ✨, I would be SO intimidated to come anywhere near this power couple. Secondly, you’re both so diligent, kind, and smart, everyone looks up to the two of you, wishing they could be you (Keep wishing, peeps 💅🏼) . Lastly, he seems like an absolute sweetheart, loveeeeees to spoil you with random hugs, kisses, and gifts, and will joke around with you a lot. He’ll find any way he could show you off to his friends, and they’d all be so jealous. It is nice to know that you can always lean on him if you ever have to, and he knows he could do the same with you. Bet your family absolutely LOVES him too, 100% the kind of guy you would want to bring home.

@bjbex

Yu Nishinoya - Noya is IN LOVE with you, he thinks you are freaking beautiful, is a hottie, and basically his queen. He’d keep crushing on you until you finally give him a chance. When you are together, he’d do anything to please you, ultimately, he just wants to see you smile and happy all the time. He’ll crack some jokes and be a little goof just to cheer you up! Also wants you to freaking DOMINATE him hahahah, trusts you completely, please do as you would like, he’s all yours. Loves getting his lil booty smacked and pegged, but is also always down to pleasure you. Just grab him by his hair (loves getting his hair pulled) and put him in any position you want him.

Will pull some “accident” like this often, so please prepare yourself. Will travel the world with you and take a ton of photos, then proceed to set photos of you as his wallpaper/lock screen on every device.☝🏼

@dymphnasprose

Tendou Satori - Tendou ADORES YOU, for real, he freaking ADORES you (But I adore you more, so he can back down 🤚). He loves to be your little spoon (will literary purr if you give him head rubs), boasts about you to his friends all the time (especially to Toshi), likes to endearingly tease you a lot, and will cook you some nice food all the time (he probably went to culinary school, after all, to become a chocolatier). The first thing he does when he gets back home from work? Hunt you down and immediately cling on to you as he pepper kisses all over your face with that oWo face, if ya know what I mean. Also LOVES to get freaky, this man is flexible, he just loves being intimate with ya, so tell him what you want to do and he will most likely be down to at least give it a shot. ;) Also loves to randomly buy you some cute clothes or jewelry you had been eyeing, he doesn’t do it often, but he’ll spoil you with it here and there when he can. Loves to sing random songs for you, “Dymph-nuhhh, Dymph-nuhhh, my darlin, Dymph-nuhhh~~”

@pleasantanathema

Akiteru Tsukishima - Let me start off by saying that I am absolutely in love with Akiteru, and because I love him so much, I shall pair him with you! Lauren, I am in love with you from the very first moment you’ve hit me up, I feel like our vibes match and because I feel the same way with Akiteru, I believe he would really vibe with you too! He’s an absolute sweetheart who will go out of his ways just to make you happy, you’d both spend hours chit chatting about the most random things, just giggling constantly, and before you know it, it’s already really late at night. He LOVES taking photos of you, and his phone is filled with photos of the two of you. Kei doesn’t really care much about you, but Akiteru will keep bringing you up in conversations with him anyway because he’s just extremely grateful to have you in his life.

@afictionalwhore

Ittetsu Takeda - Listen, as much as I believe Keishin is the perfect man for us you, Takeda is another husband material, adorable man who would also be just as perfect.

LOOK AT HIM REALIZING THAT HE IS IN LOVE WITH U. Also Keishin looking like a snacc right next to him, but this post is not about him mmkay?

Takeda is so weak for you, he’ll spoil you rotten where he can, and his affection bank is unlimited, will constantly remind you that he loves you. He’s also really shy, so sometimes, he’ll try to be “sexy” and initiate something, only to stutter and blush terribly when he attempts to execute it, so please be kind HAHA (I think find that really endearing tbh). Fully understands how tiring it can be to work with children, he is also a teacher after all, so at the end of each day, you’ll both take warm baths together, cuddling as you laugh about all the silly things your kids had done today. Sometimes he will help substitute for you too, if you ever need to take a day off.

I’m very proud of this list, ngl, I stand by my ships 😉

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korgidorgi · 4 years ago

Text

TLOU2&Supergirl Crossover x Reader Part 5

Word count: 1814

Warnings: Swearing

Part 1 - P2 - P3 - P4

You didn’t get much sleep last night. A soft knock grabs your laser focus attention from the ceiling.

“Hey, we should probably get up and get something to eat before I take you over to the DEO.” Kara says from the other side of the door.

“Alright, be up in a minute.” You respond.

You swing your legs off the side of the bed and shove the stuff you’d been looking through last night into your bag. You swing it over your shoulder, glancing back at Abby’s tag before grabbing it and heading to the kitchen where Kara is waiting with food on display.

“I got a few things out, you can choose what you want.” She smiles at you.

You look over the number of pastries and other classic breakfast foods. “Did you get up early to cook?” You ask, looking up at her.

“Would you be upset if I said yes?” She asks a little sheepishly.

“No…” You quirk an eyebrow. “It’s just- you’re doing so much for me and you don’t even know me.”

You pick up a couple of the pastries and grab a plate of pancakes and other preferred breakfast foods. You take a seat at the table, hanging your bag on the back of the chair. Kara soon joins you with her own plates of food.

“Did you get to sleep at all last night?” She asks.

“Not really.” You simply answer.

Once the two of you finish your food, you grab the journal and a few writing utensils, shove them in your bag, and follow Kara to her car. She tries to engage in small conversation, but it doesn’t last very long before you’re in front of the DEO.

“I’ll walk you in.” She offers, parking her car and getting out with you.

You follow her into the building and past security. Alex is waiting for you at the circular table, smiling at her sister and giving her a hug.

“Thanks for doing this, Kara.” She says, pulling away.

“It’s no problem, Alex.” Kara responds. “I’ll uh, let you guys do your thing and I’ll go to work. See you tonight.” She waves goodbye to you.

Kara then turns and makes her way out of the building to her work, leaving you and Alex together. Alex works on a tablet, punching the last few things in before setting it down and turning to you.

“So, we’ve got some things I need to go over with you.” She states. “Follow me.”

Alex leads you to a lab where Lena and someone else are waiting. The two are standing around a table with many different tools, computers, and materials for their tasks. Alex nods in greeting to them, holding the door open for you. Once you’re in, she steps in and closes the door behind her.

“Y/N, this is Brainiac 5, or just Brainy. Brainy, Y/N.” Alex introduces.

Brainy holds his hand out in greeting, which you accept, shaking and stepping back.

“So, you’re from another dimension.” He says, raising an eyebrow. “And if I am not mistaken, another time.”

“I believe that’s correct, yeah.” You answer.

“Yes, she is. I need for you three to come up with a device that not only connects us to other earths, but also different timelines. We have to get this right.” Alex explains. “And, Y/N, while you’re here, you can work on writing down anything and everything you know about your world's infection.”

“Okay, I’ll have it done today.” You answer.

“Good, just, hang out in here with them.” She orders before leaving you with the two scientists.

You drop your bag on the ground next to a free chair and dig through it for your journal and a pencil before sitting down criss-cross in the seat. You open your journal up and quickly sketch the ruins of the lab you entered with Abby and Lev, trying to remember each detail.

“How was your stay with Kara?” Lena breaks the silence.

“It was… different than I'm used to.” You answer, continuing to sketch.

“Did you sleep alright?” She asks. “You look tired.”

“I got whatever sleep I got.” You state.

After about ten minutes, you get up from the seat and make your way over to the desk where the two are working. You place your journal on the desk in front of them, the sketch on full display, taking up two pages.

“What’s this?” Brainy asks.

“It's my lab.” Lena observes. “But not from our world.”

“This is what the lab looked like before all this crazy shit happened.” You explain. “I tried to remember everything. There were a bunch of weird objects and devices of different states.”

“What's this in the corner here?” Lena asks, pointing to part of your sketch.

“That's where the Light came from.” You answer. “I can only assume that's the device that brought me here.”

“I see.” Lena mumbles to herself, thinking of how she and Brainy could possibly make something.

“If we take the readings from the opening of the wormhole from her arrival here, it can maybe help us find the right portal to open for her to get back.” Brainy suggests, crossing his arms over his chest and resting his one hand against his chin in thought. “We can also run computer models based off of the design of this device in here and find out the best way to build something that works.

“Yes,” Lena turns to you, “Do you think you can sketch the device in more detail?”

“That way we can create a model and run computer tests.” Brainy finishes.

“Yeah, I can try to put as much detail as I can if it’ll help.” You answer.

“Perfect. We’ll hopefully have you back to your world in no time.” Lena smiles at you. “Here, do it on this page, it’ll be bigger. Better for us to see and for you to do as much detail as you wish.”

You take the paper Lena hands you and go back to your seat to sketch the device. Once you finish, you present it to the two geniuses again.

“It’s not perfect, but, hope this helps.” You say, handing over the drawing to Brainy.

“It’s fine. We’ll work with what we got.” He says, nodding to you.

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out. We’ll get you back.” Lena reassures you, gently placing a hand on your shoulder.

She lets you go back to your seat, letting you take your journal back. You then set to work on your informational journal about the fungus. You go into detail about the fungus itself, how it's spread, what it does to people’s behaviors and bodies, and the Infected’s weakness to fire. You create separate sections for each stage of infection, going over their individual behaviors, the state of the person, the best way to take them down, how long it takes to reach each stage, and even providing a sketch of each stage. You add an extra page for Shamblers, which only recently came into light.Since you have other stuff written and drawn in the journal, you carefully rip the pages out to give to Alex. You put them in a neat pile on the desk, ready for Alex whenever she decides to check in on you.

“Do you want me to staple those?” Lena offers, gesturing to a stapler.

“Sure, why not.” You answer, sitting back down. You reach into your backpack and pull out Abby’s tag. You bring your legs up in the chair as you look over the pendant, soon getting lost in thought.

God, I hope they’re okay.

…

After a discussion with J’onn, Supergirl, and Nia about missions, Alex makes her way to the lab that you, Lena, and brainy are working in, Supergirl following. She opens the door to the lab.

“Hey, any progress?” She asks, walking over to the main desk that Lena and Brainy are working.

“Shhh.” Lena shushes Alex’s rather noisy entrance.

“What? Why?” Alex asks puzzled.

Lena points over where you’re sitting, well, sleeping, prompting Alex to look over. “Oh.” is all she says.

“She’s not sleeping very well.” Supergirl speaks softly to her sister. “Might as well let her get something in.”

“Yeah.” Alex sighs before looking over to Lena. “What’s this?” She asks, looking at the small stack of stapled papers.

“It’s that informational thing you requested from her. She finished it not too long ago.” Lena answers.

“Okay, thanks.” Alex collects it, quickly flipping through the pages before putting it away. “You made any progress on your device?”

“Yeah, a little bit. We’re still in the process of testing computer models.” Lena answers. “She provided us with a sketch of the device she saw in her world, which helped speed up the process a bit.”

“That’s good.” Alex states. “Well, I should go back to deal with this Alien on the streets.” She references her current report and turns to leave, glancing at your sleeping form one last time. “Supergirl.” She calls back.

“Coming, Alex.” Supergirl is looking at you sleep before chasing after her sister.

…

Lena gently shakes you to wake you up. “Hey, Y/N, it's almost six, Kara’s going to be here soon.”

The sudden contact makes you flinch, always being on edge in your world. Lena apologizes and retreats back to her computer, chatting with Brainy about the device. You rub your face and stand up to get your stuff together. You hear the door open as Alex walks in with Kara.

“Hey, how’re you guys doing in here?” Kara asks.

“It's coming along.” Lena answers.

“That's good.” Kara smiles at her friend and turns her attention to you. “How were you, Y/N?”

“Fine.” You say, slinging your bag over your shoulder and rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

“Alright, let's get you home.” She leads you out of the room and to her car. “Alex said when she came in to check on you and get your ‘research’, you were asleep.”

“Yeah, musta drifted off.” You reply, getting in her car.

“Told you you’d be tired.” She smiles cheekily at you, scrunching her nose at you before getting in the car herself.

You huff at her antics before she drives back to her apartment and lets the two of you in. You set your stuff in your room and reemerge for food. She pulls out some of the food from the previous night and the two of you eat. You decide to call it a night earlier, and leave to your room just after dinner.

“Imma call it a night.” You inform Kara, heading to your room.

“Alright, sleep well.” She smiles back at you, watching you disappear into your room.

You toss and turn in bed for a while, but you eventually get to sleep a few hours later.

#tlou2 #tlou #tlouxsupergirl #supergirl #crossover #kara danvers #alex danvers #lena luthor #x reader

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psychadelickate · 6 years ago

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NCIS - Gibbs: Jealousy

Imagine: Jealousy Word Count: 1637 Fandom: NCIS Pairing: Gibbs x Reader Rating: Teen Gif: Not Mine Requested: @anycsirp Prompt: Ok so can u maybe write something with Gibbsxreader where the reader gets jealous of maybe one of gibbs ex wife's or someone else that flirts with gibbs bc no one knows about them dating

The bullpen is eerily quiet when you walk into it, fresh from your afternoon coffee run. This is surprising for two reasons; the first being, you’d hardly been gone a full ten minutes and second, because you expected the rest of your team to be at their desks, seeing as you were in the middle of an investigation. DiNozzo’s desk is littered with papers, no doubt from the notes you’d seen him taking from the crime scene. McGee’s is less so, opting to go with taking notes on his phone, and only the important stuff goes onto paper. Bishop’s looks as though she never came into work today, with the blonde agent preferring to use her techno-savvy self to take notes on whatever electronic device she’s using at that moment. You place your coffee cup on your desk and walk around to settle down in your chair, ready to do more research on your victim. Ten minutes pass and there’s still no word from either your teammates or your team leader. You have half a mind to go searching for them, but decide against it; they could be following up on leads… Another five minutes pass before you hear scrambling. You look up to find your three teammates looking at you, guilt and excitement gracing their expressions. You’re about to ask just what’s got their panties in such a twist when you hear Gibbs’ voice at the other end of the room. You look up, only to see your teammates gazes laser focused in the direction of Gibb’s voice. They’re behaving weirdly, more so than usual, so you decide to check out what has caught their attention so completely. You follow their lines of sight until you see it.

There’s one silver haired Special Agent Gibbs standing with a woman, a blonde woman, smiling at her like she’s just saved the damn world. She’s standing closer to him than necessary and smiling as though she’s found the secret to the goddamn fairy world. Your chest constricts, though you remain silent. “Who is that?” Bishop asks before you can. “That is former ARMY Lieutenant Colonel Hollis Mann.” McGee informs you and Bishop. “Also known as ‘The Gibbs Whisperer,” DiNozzo adds. “Gibbs Whisperer?” Bishop repeats, though she sounds skeptical. “Oh, you make that face now, Bishop, but she and the Functionally Mute Gibbs could have conversations and understand each other without saying a word,” DiNozzo answers. You want to ask how come you’ve never heard of Mann, but you see Gibbs and Mann walking toward the bullpen and you decide to let it go. “Update,” Gibbs says as soon as he’s within earshot, and the four of you jump to attention, ready to give him your findings… You can feel Mann’s eyes on you, but you resist the urge to turn and look at her. After the update, as usual, Gibbs barks out orders, sending everyone off to their tasks. He pairs you up with DiNozzo, but you’re not sure you won’t kill the senior agent and so you swap with Bishop, pairing up with McGee to interview another friend of the victim… And so it goes… More interview and dead-end leads come up, and Hollis Mann makes sure to pair you up with everyone but Gibbs. You’re not sure if she’s aware that you and Gibbs are dating, though she’s doing a hell of a job making sure you and Gibbs are never in the same place, together. The longer she’s at NCIS the more your dislike for her grows. She’s never far from Gibbs, sometimes forgetting she’s not actually the team leader and ordering you and the rest of the team around, while she flirts with your boss. For his part, Gibbs doesn’t encourage her, but he doesn’t discourage her either and this strikes a nerve in you. There’s finally a break in the case three days later and before Mann can order you around, you state that you and McGee are going to get the suspect. It’s late when you and McGee finally get back to the office. You’ve already relayed all the information you got from the perp to Bishop while you’d been stuck in peak-hour traffic and all you want to do is go home. Once the perp has been taken to a holding cell you return to the bullpen to get your stuff. You’re packing your stuff away when your eye catches a blue sticky note on your desk. Sure, it’s not in plain sight; it would’ve never survived DiNozzo’s snooping, but enough for you to see it. You pluck it from your desk and smile at Gibb’s scrawl, inviting you over for supper whenever you got back from the interview. It’s past half past seven when you finally make it to Gibbs’ house. You let yourself in, knowing he’d complain if you knocked. He’d already told you he had an open door policy and since you’d started dating, nothing in his house was off-limits to you. The sound of laughter travels from the basement as you walk deeper into the house. You’re almost halfway down the stairs when you see two sets of feet further in the room. You cannot say you’re surprised when one set of feet turn out to be former Lieutenant Colonel Hollis Mann. Just as earlier that morning, she’s standing too close to Gibbs, her hand on his forearm and whispering into his ear. It takes you all of two minutes to make up your mind to leave, without alerting Gibbs. That plan doesn’t work however, when your phone starts ringing. You’re partly grateful, partly annoyed at the device, but there’s nothing you can do now. “(Y/N)?” you hear Gibbs’s voice, though you don’t turn to face him and instead walk back up the stairs. You have no intension of being here, tonight. “(Y/N),” his voice is resigned. “I made dinner,” he continues when you don’t say anything. You wave your phone at him, “It’s DiNozzo, he’s invited me for Friday night drinks, and I’m going to accept,” you tell Gibbs. “Have fun,” you say as a parting shot. You know it’s mean. You know, by the look on his face, you’ve just hurt your boyfriend, but in this moment you really don’t care. Not when you’ve been blindsided. You have no intention of meeting DiNozzo or the rest of the team for drinks, but Gibbs doesn’t have to know that…

It’s ten in the morning when you decide you cant sit in your apartment any longer. You need to get out from the four walls and you need to blow off steam. You can think of only one thing that won’t get you hurt… physically. You grab your gear and head out. You’re on the third round when you hear the gate to your cage open. You don’t need to see that it’s Gibbs. You don’t turn to acknowledge his presence, but that you’ve missed the last three pitches has alerted him to your knowledge of his presence. “Relax your shoulders,” he tells you as he places his hands on each of your shoulders pulling them back a little, in an attempts to relax them. You want to tell him to leave you alone, that you’ve been doing just fine without him, but your mouth betrays your brain by remaining silent. You feel him adjust your stance for the next pitch, moving your feet and adapting your hips before sliding his hands up your ribcage, over your arms and coming to settle over your hands. You expect him to step away once he’s done so, but he doesn’t. No. He waits for the ball, his hands covering yours on the wooden bat, his body pressed flush against yours. You’re so caught up in the feel of his body against yours, you miss the ball coming at you and it’s only when you feel the bat connect with it, that you realize you haven’t been paying attention to anything but him. “I’ve missed you,” he whispers in between pitches, making sure you don’t miss a hit. “Could’ve fooled me,” you respond, but it doesn’t carry as much sting as you intended it to. “(Y/N),” he nuzzles the side of your neck and it takes all your willpower not to turn around and just kiss him then and there. “Where is your devotee anyway?” you ask him. “Don’t know, don’t care,” he replies. “But if you’re not there, who’s she going to worship?” you question, though you can’t hide the laughter in your tone. “Is that jealousy I hear?” he asks. “Of what?” the words tumble out your mouth without prompt. You’ve never done jealousy before, you’re not sure what it is. You’ve never felt that insecure or scared to allow one emotion to rule you. Also, there was no way you were going to fight for a man… Even if that man was Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Your anger has mostly dissipated and you won’t admit it, but you’ve missed Gibbs too. “Don’t know, don’t care…” he repeats, cutting his sentence short with an open mouthed kiss to your neck. “Cause she’s not the one I’m in love with,” he continues, while kissing your neck. The ball machine has long stopped, not that either of you have noticed. It takes you a few seconds to process his words… You turn around to face him, heart racing in your chest. “Gibbs,” you whisper… “I love you,” he murmurs in your ear. You don’t waste another second. You pull his face down to yours, pressing your mouth to kiss in a fervent kiss, pouring all the love you have for him into it. You’re not ready to say those three words back, just yet. But there’s no reason not to tell him with a mind blowing kiss, your brain tells you.

tag-list: Gibbs: @pinturicchio13 @diaryofafan17 @stanathanxoox @iwritetoavoidmyproblems @ladyzombiielove @mahc1562 @evy-lyn @anycsirp @kitty-kat2018 @mackenziepart2 @kittenlittle24 @manicmarsupial if you’d like to be tagged, let me know Mobile list here

#ncis #ncis fic #gibbs x reader #reader request #leroy jethro gibbs #special agent leroy jethro gibbs #ncis au

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zenosanalytic · 5 years ago

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HoXPoX #1-3: The Sun: Illuminating Menace

It’s yet another installment of me obsessing unnecessarily about the imagery in the first few books in the new House of X/Powers of X series, this time: Colors! The Sun! T H E S U N!!

The Sun

The Sun and its colors often seeming to represent safety and power, and unsurprisingly it plays into other thematic elements, notably cycles.

HoX1 follows the course of the sun; both through a year, and through a day. Before the story proper we see a montage of the XMen planting strange purple flowers in specific places; on earth, earth again, the Moon, and on Mars. These images are broken up 4 panels to a page across 2 pages. On the first page panel 1 start with lush greenery, followed by color-changing leaves in panel 2, then bare white ground and nighttish skies in panel 3, and ending with red skies over bare ground with a lush green foreground in panel 4. Summer(Green), Autumn(Gold&Brown), Winter(White), and Spring(bare earth plus greenery).

The same pattern of vegetation and earth repeats on the second page(lushness, autumnal colors, bare earth, bare earth&new growth), continuing the seasonal symbolism, but adds to it the sun’s position: if the first panel it is off-panel to the left casting long shadows in a lushly forested environment(The Savage Land); the 2nd setting or rising behind a thin cloud over the Potomac in DC, bathing the scene in reds and oranges and purples(very vaporwave. I will show you),

the 3rd unseen off-panel, it may be over the shoulder or a night scene with an artificial light, while flowers being planted right-of-center in the bare earth by two pairs of purple-gloved hands are spotlit; the 4th rising on the left again, mostly blocked by a barren cityscape, as vines grow up the side of a nondescript office-building. This 4th panel then opens, on the next page set two weeks later, into one of the plotlines of the book; a collection of ambassadors meeting Magneto to discuss Krakoa(the new island-mutant nation) at the Krakoa embassy in Jerusalem.

This plot takes place over the course of a day: it begins with the sun at the same position, rising on the left, continues through a lush marshland scene to a sun-colored orange or gold Krakoa transit-hub, and ends with it setting behind Magneto, framing his message of a new mutant dawn(and non-mutant dusk). In the middle we cut to another plotline, Jean escorting a group of Xavier’s students to Krakoa, with the sun high in the sky and middle-panel.

Its Power

The colors of the Noon-Sun -gold, yellow, orange, and yellow-white- crop-up in scenes of power and safety: the chrysalis-pods of the first two pages and their womb/birth imagery, the pupils of Krakoa’s central interface, the clothing the XMen wear, Lighting-eggs Krakoa provides, and far-flung Krakoan habitats. Jean Grey is consistently backgrounded with orange while on Krakoa, and Scott Summers by yellow when in Chicago(I THINK it’s Chicago judging by the architecture and city-layout, at least) negotiating with the Fantastic Four. In the dusk denouement of the embassy scene, when one of the Stepford Cuckoos(acting as Magneto’s diplomatic staff) reveals they have been reading the minds of the ambassadors, the background is a shining, golden yellow, as it remains when Magneto disarms a hostile, armed agent within the ambassadorial party, despite the dusky sun overlooking these scenes, revealed on the final pages.

In PoX 1, pale yellow-gold light bathes the Krakoa sanctuary as Mystique and Toad arrive back on the island from a secondary portal. The doorframe of and furniture-accents within Magneto’s home are in gold. Golden light cuts in from its windows, gilding the ground floor. Xavier, their leader and figure of authority, stands framed by a yellow-gold screen, drawn from below so that he towers within his frames. All but one of the mutants within the Year 100 section(The Cardinal) are dressed in yellows and, as the human-purists arrive on the scene of Cylobel’s capture, they are wreathed in a golden mist. The same mist backgrounds a frame of her telepathically warning Rasputin off from attempting a rescue, and a same-colored light shines reflected from Rasputin’s face as she determines to make the attempt anyway. Her explosive decimation of the lead sentinel is a wreath of fiery reds and golds, with a splash of deathly purple. The pattern repeats; with gold-yellows coloring laser-blasts, intimations of danger, and feats of enormous, violent strength. The imprisoning sphere in which Cylobel is ultimately carried away is a gold one, as the scenes of Rasputin rushing to save her, cutting down purists left-and-right, are filled with the gold-yellow mist. Finally, Nimrod the Lesser’s throne is accented in gold. In the Year 1000 line, the human-preserve sphere is yellow-gold.

In HoX 2, soft gold-yellow light bathes Moira’s sick-room at 13, when her powers first manifested. The next frame, her revitalized and healthy in youth, shows her running through a softer white light, happy, pursued by a faded adult figure dressed in a pale yellow-gold top. The final frame of the next page, the frame labeling her “ ...something new...” and a mutant, has a beige(light-brown gold?) background, and a yellow triangle-block shares the frame with toddler-Moira’s face of stoic disinterest and/or despair. In her eight life, Magneto’s throne is flanked by golden flame, and topped by a giant, golden squid. In the life where she allies with Apocalypse, they are surrounded in Red-Gold light and flame.

As should be apparent from the above, it does NOT only represent power and safety for mutants. Recall the Jean Grey subplot cutting the embassy story in half: that ends in a grove with Jean and Xavier looking on as Wolverine plays with three children in the grass. Behind Jean is the Orange of the sun as stated above(and possibly the Phoenix Force? Given that the Phoenix-Force manifests AS solar power&imagery it’s a connection impossible to avoid regardless of intent), and behind Xavier a beautiful, pale purple vista of the sun, midday and midpanel(though in the colors of dusk; foreshadowing perhaps?), filtering through the dense trees. This is a moment of happiness, love, and safety for the gathered mutants. But it cuts, in the page directly after, directly TO the sun, a jump-cut from close-up on a face to close-up or establishing shot of a ship, as a group of anti-mutant humans gathered from Marvel’s host of secret organizations approaches a space station in orbit near our star. The station is a Mother Mold: a self-directing, self-correcting, learning sentinel-factory. A knife at the throat of every mutant alive, yes, but also a final stronghold --a place of safety and power-- for these anti-mutant, human-purity fanatics and their AI allies. So the Sun comes to represent safety and power both for the heroes of this story AND for their enemies; again, the symbolism of HoX PoX is breaking down simplistic oppositional binaries.

Moving into the other books, we see Moira repeatedly associated with the color gold. In the fair ministory where PoX 1 opens and HoX 2 ends she is wearing large, gold, circular earrings(obvsl recalling the sun itself). In the final scene of this ministory, a series of exchanged closeups btw Moira and Xavier, gold/yellow is color behind Moira’s head as she speak with, and offers, the knowledge of her repeating life. Her lips in these panels are painted in a reflective bronze; not a direct reference to the sun to be sure, but a reflection of its light.

This could just be another connecting of the sun and its colors to power -what Moira is saying is an artifact of her mutant ability afterall- but, in that she’s sharing knowledge, it could also suggest that the Sun and Gold/Yellow can represent knowledge, as well. If that were the case, it would be another classical reference, with Apollo being both a Knowledge-God AND a Sun-God. And there’s some other evidence supporting that reading.

Its Light

In HoX 1, when we see Krakoa’s IT-information team, Cypher and Sage, in Krakoa’s “interface room”, they are dressed in yellow, Krakoa’s interface is a wall of yellow-god eyes, and a pale yellow-gold light source sits in the corner. When Scott confronts the F4 in the same book his comments, all referencing “knowing” in some capacity(“What would life be without little surprises?”, “you’re a smart man, Richards... I know you know...”, “It’s upsetting, I know, but new beginnings demand a wide berth”), are all backed in yellow-gold, as is Reed’s final response to him(“then I think I have a problem with that”), and Sue’s later comment after the potential conflict is resolved(“...what are all of you thinking?”).

In HoX 2, 4th-Wall Moira wears her sun-earrings and, in the first panel where we see her speaking directly to the audience about her abilities, a golden cloud halos her head. A soft, gold-yellow light infuses all the scenes of her at Oxford. The mask of Destiny, Mystique’s partner and lover, is gold, and her power is precognition.

In PoX 1 the usb Mystique gives to Xavier is accented in gold and the screen behind Xavier is that of a computer; an information-device of some kind. As Xavier places the usb in it, golden light bathes him from below, from the machine(though Xavier’s dialogue her is abt “making a better world” and what mutants “owe” to it; a stereotypical power dialogue). As Nimrod the Lesser and his court obliquely(and comically) discuss placing Cylobel in the mutant archive, their dialogue is framed in gold.

Ok so, those are my arguments. I could probably add to it but this is already YUUGE, so I figure I’ll stop here. There’s also some interesting stuff going on with other colors, notably purple, I’d like to get into later, but we’ll see as I move on with the series(which I havent had time to yet what with Wintereenmas and everything X|) If you read this, I hope you liked it ^u^

#HoXPoX #X Men #Hickman et al #The Sun #Sun Symbolism #analytic posts

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philippmichelreichold · 6 years ago

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#review #scifi Space Dreadnoughts by Dave Drake, et al

Space Dreadnoughts is a Military Science Fiction anthology by David Drake, Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh. The contents in order of appearance are: •"Introduction: A quick Look at Battle Fleets" by David Drake •"The Only Thing We Learn" by Cyril M. Kornbluth •"C-Chute" by Isaac Asimov •"Allamagoosa" by Eric Frank Russell (won the Hugo Award for best short story in 1955) •"A Question of Courage" by J. F. Bone •"Superiority" by Arthur C. Clarke •"Hindsight" by Jack Williamson •"The Last Battalion" by David Drake •"Shadow on the Stars" by Algis Budrys •"Time Lag" by Poul Anderson

The first Military Sci Fi story I remember is the Star Trek TOS episode "Balance of Terror," in which Enterprise duels with a Romulan interloper. The military conflict was setting to other conflicts between the crew, the story was full of suspense, and actual battle was a small part of the story. And so it is here.

The book's title is a misnomer. The back cover blurb is misleading-- "Massive and arrogant, they patrol the final war zone-- deep space. All great battleships before them-- . . . are mere toys in comparison." It goes on about "bristling artillery" and "battalions of soldiers." I expected fleet actions involving capital ships. Tactics. Maneuvers. Gunplay. While there are fleet actions and even battleships in some of these stories, they are mere backdrops on a stage where people play out the stories. Truly good Science Fiction involves people, and in all these stories, the people overshadow the military settings that serve only to bring out the characters and whatever lessons there are to be learned from them. All of these stories are well worth reading.

"Introduction: A quick Look at Battle Fleets" Mr Drake's introduction is a wonderful retrospective about the history of the Dreadnought battleships with a mention of two 1950's Astounding essays on the armaments of spaceships-- one by Willy Ley, the other by Malcolm Jameson. If one is going to write stories about ship-to-ship combat, the introduction is a good starting point. But only a starting point. One should definitely read Mahan, and consider the lessons of Taranto and Pearl Harbor. And the US Navy's Harpoon's and Tomahawk's are wonderful arguments in favor of missles over guns. One should also consider the time honored techniques of ramming and boarding actions.

Perhaps the question of guns vs missles is mooted today. Todays real world warships employ both-- including the Iowa class heavy battleships brought out of retirement and refurbished for President Reagan's naval buildup of the 1980's. The arms race has continued in Sci-Fi beyond what could be imagined with a knowledge of 1950's physics. The Ley and Jameson essays were written before fighters raked Formoria, before rail guns, and CTD imploders, before GRASER's, X-ray LASER's and phaser banks, before the Moties bombarded Mote Prime with asteroids, and before Captain Sheridan laid a gigaton on Z'ha'dum.

"The Only Thing We Learn" Kornbluth tells a cautionary tale of faded Imperial glory. The barbarians at the gates will one day have descendants that are as decadent and prissy as the effete and ineffectual empire they deposed and replaced. History blurs and magnifies the epic tales of glory. The details are lost. The character is lost. One day a fresh wave of barbarians sweeps aside succcessors that their ancestors would be ashamed to acknowledge. The reader may decide what relationship if any there is between this story and the quote from Friedrich Hegel. A fun story despite the dire consequences for the past and future losers. In his column, "Rereading Kornbluth", Robert Silverberg calls The Only Thing We Learn, "a subtle, oblique, elliptical, sardonic piece of work."

"C-Chute" Dr. Asimov wrote this story in 1951. It is a psychodrama set aboard a passenger ship taken as a prize by a race of chlorine breathers in Earth's first intersteller war. Each of the passengers is sketched by Asimov to reveal their several flaws of personality, physicality or character. Each has reasons why he should not exit the cabin via the C-chute, EVA, and enter and retake the control room from outside the ship. The reason for the dubious hero to take the heroic action required to retake the ship is one unlikey to appear in the work of any author but Dr. Asimov.

"Allamagoosa" This story won the 1955 Hugo for best short story. It's a farcical look at officious bureaucracy of the greatest gravity. It's sort of a shaggy dog story, wink, wink. This story in and of itself is worth buying the book for. The build up and so obvious in hindsight ending is fresh enough to be as enjoyable today as it was then.

"A Question of Courage" Sometimes flair and heedless risk taking can be mistaken for true personal courage. When the genuine article appears, there's no mistaking it. Bone craftliy deveops his characters and sets the reader up for the old maidish Captain "Cautious Charley" Chase of Lachesis to reveal his true nature. It is available from Project Gutenberg.

"Superiority" Sir Arthur requires no introduction for this story, a reductio ad absurdum about the principle of Illusory Superiority. Technology and bedazzlment with the latest, most theoretically wonderful advances are no substitutes for common sense and sound military doctrine. Perhaps this should serve as a cautionary tale at a time when Iraqi insurgents hack into our drones. According to Wikipedia, this gem was required reading at West Point. The reader easily empathizes with the narrator and his plight, revealed at the end.

"Hindsight" Jack Williamson has won both the Nebula and the Hugo Awards, and had a career that spanned about seventy years. This story involves temporal mechanics and love, oppression and liberation, and meeting engagements. Incidentally, the guns employed by the Astrach's fleet are of 20-inch caliber and fire four salvos per second. It's a tightly written story, though I think the ending is a little drippy.

"The Last Battalion" Imagine that Hitler did not die in a bunker in Berlin, but escaped via U-Boat to a secret Waffen-SS base in New Swabia. There German scientists built flying saucers from which they reached the moon to to mine aluminum and build more flying saucers. Now imagine them getting into a war with aliens. With things not looking so good, they kidnap a US Senator to let him know what is going on, intending to drag the US into the conflict. Before they can get where they're going with the Senator, the aliens lay a nuke on their Antartic base. They drop the Senator off to find his own way home. He asks them what they will do. Their colonel replies, we are SS-- we will fight.

"Shadow on the Stars" Budrys's Farlans are felinoid aliens who at first blush look like humans in cat suits. But they are, on a closer look, "raving paranoid quote." The paranoia is pathological and eventually fatal for Farla-- any military leader with sufficient ability to be effective cannot be trusted by Farla's rulers, and will be killed at the earliest sign of that fatal disease, military competence. The story is a retrospective, the central character telling how he and Farla came to be in their present straits. It is too late for him to convey the warning against trusting Earth, and to late to avoid the inevitable dissolution of Farla.

I have a problem accepting the plot device Budrys uses to set up the narrative, but otherwise the story is interesting and fun to read. The prose is a bit over decourous and affected, but that brings out the effeteness and pretentiousness of the Farlan culture. At the start, the Farlans are hard-pressed by a barabarian culture, the Vilk, and need a strong, capable leader to drive them back. OF course the strong, capable leaders keep their heads down so has not to find themselves assassinated by the Ministry of Preparedness-- and then comes L'Miranid. A previously unknown reservist, he quickly dominates the Fleet and whips them into shape. Victory follows victory until the Vilk host is driven back, their subject planets pounded to rubble, and a Farlan imposed king seated upon their throne.

The real story action is not fleet engatgements and daring raids, though. The story is related by Henlo, one of those capable leaders who has balanced command of a capital ship wtih avoiding notice by the governmental hunters down of competence. He starts the story as having a clear understanding of Farla's problems and the steps necessary to remedy them, but can't afford to be noticed. He becomes L'Mararind's aid, admirer, vice-admiral, intended assasin and successor, and finally, his unwilling co-conspirator and successor. Unwilling to be assasinated himself, he seizes control of the Farlan government. By this time, the sad (for Farla) truth is known to him, but (I love Latin quotes.) "alea jacta est." This is a fine little story with a lovely twist toward the end.

"Time Lag" Poul Anderson has won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. Time Lag is a study in contrasts-- evil, greedy invaders against noble, selfless defenders. Chertkoi is a heavily overpopulated industrial planet, drowning in pollution and resource starved. Vaynamo is pristine, with a population sustainable through resource management. Vayanmo is never the less technologically advanced, with the technology's goal as preservation rather than exploitation. Expolitation is the name of Chertkoi's game. It's people conquer other worlds to fuel the industrial fires that smother their world under a cloud of pollution.

The archetype of the Chertoi is the Admiral commanding the invasion fleet. He is matched against the story's view point character, Elva. Elva is the widow of a Vayanmoan noble and prisoner of the Admiral. He is gross, vulgar and uncouth. She is pretty, cultured and well-mannered. He is a love struck boor, hopelessly smitten by her. She subtly endures his presence to manipulate him so that she an return herself and the other captives to Vayanmo in a portrayal that is believable and sympathetic. The invasion is a leveraged takeover in three stages-- a scouting raid, a strategic strike to destroy what little industry the Vayanmo posses, and a full-scale invasion. The title relativistic time lag (fifteen years) gives the Chertkoi time to build their invasion fleet and the Vaynamo time to prepare their reception.

Image cover art under fair use for the review. Contact publisher for reuse.

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imjustthemechanic · 6 years ago

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Our Own Demons

Part 1/? - A Bolt from the Blue Part 2/? - A Different World Part 3/? - Stark At Home Part 4/? - Pot Roast Night Part 5/? - Space-Pie Continuum Part 6/? - Energy Signature Part 7/? - Miss Potts Part 8/? - Bot from Beyond Part 9/? - Even the Odds Part 10/? - Miss Potts Arrives Part 11/? - Truth Hurts Part 12/? - The Third Reality Part 13/? - Thor and Odinson Part 14/? - The Tesseract Platform

What if Tony Stark really were the villain of the Marvel universe? How would that work? Tony himself is about to find out, as he battles his inner demons (and some outer ones, too) across a multiverse of infinite possibilities.

The Thor Tony knew had an annoying habit of summoning Bifrosts willy-nilly, with no regard for things like whether the lawn had just been mowed – so he was pleased to see this Thor do it from the top level of a parking garage, where the only thing the touchdown would scorch was the asphalt. With the Odinson thus on his way, the rest of them boarded a chartered jet to Washington, where Hill said SHIELD had something that could help them. Tony just hoped that wouldn’t be when this reality’s HYDRA infestation decided to make itself known because that would just be ridiculously inconvenient.

Dr. Ross stayed in New York, apparently having some kind of prior commitment there, but Miss Potts came with them, and so did Jane Foster. She sat across from Tony and his double, chattering happily with the hammer resting on the seat beside her.

“The prevailing theory,” she said, “is that a new reality is created every time a decision is made. Not a human decision, of course, we’re not that important on a quantum level. But every time a particle has to choose a spin state, for example, one universe branches off where it goes left and one where it goes right. The vast majority are nearly identical to their neighbours, because they’re separated by only one particle.”

“I think we’re a few particles apart,” said Tony.

“He comes from a world where Stark Industries is still a thing,” his double said.

“That’s gotta take several particles at least,” Tony agreed. “There’s other differences, too. Dr. Ross’ old boyfriend is still alive, and she doesn’t do the Hulk thing.” He paused. “And Thor and Odinson are the same person. How did that happen, by the way?” Tony nodded at Mjolnir.

Foster glanced at it. “I… I don’t know. I just picked it up,” she said. “When the hammer fell in New Mexico, Odinson went into the SHIELD compound to get it, and I went with him because they’d impounded my research and I wanted it back. He tried to lift it and couldn’t, and I really don’t know what made me think it would be a good idea to try, but I did, and I just picked it up.” She lifted it in one hand. “It feels feather-light to me, but it actually weighs nineteen point one-eight kilograms. I weighed it.”

“I see.” Tony smiled. He wondered how Thor back home would have taken it. Probably very well, really – he adored Dr. Foster. “Any theories how that works?”

“None,” she sighed, setting it down again. “I mean, I understand that on some level the hammer itself is intelligent and able to judge who is worthy, but I don’t know how you qualify worthiness. Odinson says it’s because I’m completely unselfish – all I want is to gain knowledge and share it with others. But does that affect my brain waves or something? What does that psychological quality confer on me as a physical quantity that Mjolnir can read? What’s so funny?” she asked, as she noticed Tony doing his best not to giggle.

“Sorry,” he said. “I just… for all you’re totally different, you’re also exactly the same as the Jane Foster in my reality. It’s great.” Tony looked at his counterpart, but found the other man staring out the window, drumming his fingers impatiently on the arm of his seat.

“Well, maybe we are just a few particles different, then,” Foster said.

A bit later, she got up to use the washroom and left Mjolnir lying in the aisle seat. Tony reached over and grabbed the leather strap on the handle, but when he gave it an experimental tug, it wouldn’t move. It was as if it were part of the structure of the plane.

“The airplane seems to lift it okay,” Tony observed, settling back in his seat. “You think the plane’s worthy?”

His double did not answer.

“I’m leaving,” Tony reminded him. “Soon I’ll be gone and will never darken the door of your reality again.” Was the other still annoyed about what he’d said that morning, or the simple fact that Tony had slept in closer proximity to Miss Potts than he had?

“Beth texted me,” said the other. “She wanted to know if I was okay, and then she asked if you were going to be okay and how long you’d be in town for.”

“She and I had a couple of dates in my universe,” said Tony. “Didn’t work out for us, but maybe you’ll have better…”

“Just stop,” the other told him. “You’ve done enough! If you say one more word I’m gonna get up and slug you.”

When it came to social interactions, Tony could be just a bit denser than a self-proclaimed genius really ought to, but that got through. He shut up.

They landed at Dulles, and from there drove to a warehouse in Alexandria, where SHIELD kept what Hill described as ‘odds and ends’. She let them in with a keypad, and consulted a directory before escorting them into an elevator to go down.

“What are we looking for?” Tony asked.

Hill hesitated. “So Loki came to Earth in your reality, too?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Tony. “So he must have had a gateway to enter. I got that when I had JARVIS take a look at SHIELD’s computers – they’d built this platform to try opening a wormhole, but could never get it to work until Loki can through, because there was nobody at the other end.”

His counterpart brightened. “But we’ve got a platform here, and they’ll have one in his reality, so as long as we can find a third one we can transfer him home!”

“Every so often I remember why Ginny keeps you,” said Hill with a nod. “Do you know what they did with it?” she asked Tony.

“No, but SHIELD never gets rid of anything,” Tony said.

“Even when we should,” Hill sighed. “Once we got rid of Loki we cleaned it up, put it in storage, and never touched it again. It’s still here, just waiting for something useful to do with it.”

“Then I hope the one in my world is, too,” said Tony. He wondered if that were what had given his double in the unknown third universe the idea for all of this… had he been allowed to do more playing with SHIELD’s toys, and stumbled across the secret to interdimensional travel? And having done that… what had he decided to do with it?

What would Tony do if he discovered an alternate reality on his own? Besides the scientific equivalent of poking it with a stick to see if it twitched, he couldn’t imagine. He certainly couldn’t think of anything he would go looking for there – he might go investigate his alternate self, just to see what the guy was u p to, but why would he kick that other Tony out of his reality? Had that really been an accident?

The only idea he could come back to was that the third guy’s universe had somehow gone all wrong and he’d hoped to make a new start somewhere else. Even then, it didn’t seem like a Ton thing to do. When Tony found himself having to rebuild his life after Afghanistan, he’d done so on a foundation of fixing his mistakes. Surely any hypothetical other would feel he owed it to his own reality to do the same, rather than just jumping ship. Unless there were so little left that it didn’t matter… but what could possibly cause something like that?

He knew he wouldn’t like finding out.

They found the wormhole platform in a back corner of the warehouse with boxes piled on top of it. It didn’t look particularly secure to Tony, but Hill went and checked a panel in the wall, then nodded and turned to talk to the group.

“This is normally guarded by an infra-red laser grid,” she explained, and pointed at a bank of windows overhead. “It’ll fire stun wires at you and then summon a dozen or so agents from the guard houses upstairs and on both sides. Are you absolutely confident they’ll know who you are?”

“Yes,” said Tony. “And based on what was happening in my reality when I left, I don’t even know if they’ll still be at their posts.”

His double pulled one of the boxes off the pile and peeked into it – it was, for whatever reason, full of blue and white 80’s kitchenware – then set it aside on the floor and looked the platform over. “That’s it?” he asked.

He had a point. It wasn’t a terribly impressive-looking thing. The device was quite literally a platform, with steps up to it and conduits around the edge. The only high-tech bit was the set of connectors designed to draw on the tesseract. Rather than a physical Faraday cage like the mesh in the suits, the activated platform would surround itself in an electromagnetic field that behaved the same way, distributing the energy to create a contained wormhole. It didn’t help that the equipment was scorched and slightly melted from the sheer quantity of power that had been forced through it by Loki. The demigod’s shadow was literally burned into the platform, and Tony wasn’t sure he liked the idea of standing in those footsteps.

“We’ll have to apply the tesseract in two bursts with different resonant frequencies,” Foster said. “That’ll put you in Reality D, then send you on to A, without disturbing the robot-builders in C. Theoretically.”

“Theoretically.” Miss Potts folded her arms over her chest and frowned, clearly not liking the word much. “What happens practically if it doesn’t work? Does Arno end up in Reality C with his enemies? Are more of those robots going to come through?”

“I don’t know,” Tony admitted, then had to add, “I already told you, my name’s not Arno.”

“Yeah, but we already have a Tony,” she pointed out.

Foster hefted Mjolnir, and her clothes transformed back into Asgardian armor, lightning briefly crackling over her. “I’ll get the robot,” she promised, voice echoing.

“What about you?” Miss Potts asked Tony.

“I’ll improvise,” he said. “I’m good at it.”

She was still unhappy. “I don’t want you to have come all this way just to get hurt on your own doorstep,” she said. “After all, somewhere out there is another one of me who’s depending on you.” She smiled fondly, and Tony returned the expression without even thinking about it. He’d heard that note in Pepper’s voice before. That was the way she sometimes talked about him when she didn’t know he was listening.

“She’ll be glad to have me back safe and sound,” Tony assured her. “And if I’m not, I’m sure she can come to my rescue.” She’d done it before, after all – Pepper had saved him from Stane, she’d gotten Hammer locked up, she’d kicked Killian’s ass… no wonder Rescue was the name of her superhero alter-ego. It was perfect for her.

“Good to know she’s on top of things,” said Miss Potts with a nod.

Tony’s instincts told him to kiss her, but he didn’t – she wasn’t his Pepper, and her Tony was standing just a few yards away, moving boxes with a sullen expression on his face. Tony had to shake his head a little when he saw the guy. Hopefully someday he’d grow a spine and just kiss her on a rooftop as was meant to be.

They cleared the platform, and then Foster, still in her guise as Thor, stood on top of it and summoned the Bifrost. It touched down in a roar of psychedelic colours, overlaying Loki’s scorched footprints with its own intricate patterns. There was the Odinson, holding an object that looked like a smaller version of the crystal tube Thor and Loki had taken the tesseract home in. This had a small crystal in the middle, pulsing with blue light.

“Oh, good,” said Foster. “I’ll have to thank him next time I drop in.”

“I’ve already done so myself,” Odinson replied, “but you know he likes to see you.”

Tony and his counterpart took the container and carefully connected it to the wormhole platform, with a bare minimum of speaking to each other. It was obvious that the other was still jealous, and Tony found himself very troubled by that idea. He was used to people telling him they were jealous of his lifestyle, of his money, his brains, and his superhero hobby – but they didn’t know any better. They didn’t know what each of those things had cost him. The idea that another one of him would feel the same way seemed all wrong.

So as they finished up, Tony brushed off his hands on his pants and told his double, “you’re a lucky guy, you know.”

The other glared at him. “Now you’re patronizing me.”

“No, I’m not,” Tony said. “You might not have some of the stuff I do, but you also don’t have to live with some of the things I’ve done.”

“And you don’t know a damned thing about what I’ve done,” the other said.

#fanfic #tony stark #iron man

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philippmichelreichold · 6 years ago

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#review #scifi Space Dreadnoughts by Dave Drake, et al

Space Dreadnoughts is a Military Science Fiction anthology by David Drake, Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh. The contents in order of appearance are:

•"Introduction: A quick Look at Battle Fleets" by David Drake

•"The Only Thing We Learn" by Cyril M. Kornbluth

•"C-Chute" by Isaac Asimov

•"Allamagoosa" by Eric Frank Russell (won the Hugo Award for best short story in 1955)

•"A Question of Courage" by J. F. Bone

•"Superiority" by Arthur C. Clarke

•"Hindsight" by Jack Williamson

•"The Last Battalion" by David Drake

•"Shadow on the Stars" by Algis Budrys

•"Time Lag" by Poul Anderson

"Introduction: A quick Look at Battle Fleets"

Mr Drake's introduction is a wonderful retrospective about the history of the Dreadnought battleships with a mention of two 1950's Astounding essays on the armaments of spaceships-- one by Willy Ley, the other by Malcolm Jameson. If one is going to write stories about ship-to-ship combat, the introduction is a good starting point. But only a starting point. One should definitely read Mahan, and consider the lessons of Taranto and Pearl Harbor. And the US Navy's Harpoon's and Tomahawk's are wonderful arguments in favor of missles over guns. One should also consider the time honored techniques of ramming and boarding actions.

"The Only Thing We Learn"

Kornbluth tells a cautionary tale of faded Imperial glory. The barbarians at the gates will one day have descendants that are as decadent and prissy as the effete and ineffectual empire they deposed and replaced. History blurs and magnifies the epic tales of glory. The details are lost. The character is lost. One day a fresh wave of barbarians sweeps aside succcessors that their ancestors would be ashamed to acknowledge. The reader may decide what relationship if any there is between this story and the quote from Friedrich Hegel. A fun story despite the dire consequences for the past and future losers. In his column, "Rereading Kornbluth", Robert Silverberg calls The Only Thing We Learn, "a subtle, oblique, elliptical, sardonic piece of work."

"C-Chute"

Dr. Asimov wrote this story in 1951. It is a psychodrama set aboard a passenger ship taken as a prize by a race of chlorine breathers in Earth's first intersteller war. Each of the passengers is sketched by Asimov to reveal their several flaws of personality, physicality or character. Each has reasons why he should not exit the cabin via the C-chute, EVA, and enter and retake the control room from outside the ship. The reason for the dubious hero to take the heroic action required to retake the ship is one unlikey to appear in the work of any author but Dr. Asimov.

"Allamagoosa"

This story won the 1955 Hugo for best short story. It's a farcical look at officious bureaucracy of the greatest gravity. It's sort of a shaggy dog story, wink, wink. This story in and of itself is worth buying the book for. The build up and so obvious in hindsight ending is fresh enough to be as enjoyable today as it was then.

"A Question of Courage"

Sometimes flair and heedless risk taking can be mistaken for true personal courage. When the genuine article appears, there's no mistaking it. Bone craftliy deveops his characters and sets the reader up for the old maidish Captain "Cautious Charley" Chase of Lachesis to reveal his true nature. It is available from Project Gutenberg.

"Superiority"

Sir Arthur requires no introduction for this story, a reductio ad absurdum about the principle of Illusory Superiority. Technology and bedazzlment with the latest, most theoretically wonderful advances are no substitutes for common sense and sound military doctrine. Perhaps this should serve as a cautionary tale at a time when Iraqi insurgents hack into our drones. According to Wikipedia, this gem was required reading at West Point. The reader easily empathizes with the narrator and his plight, revealed at the end.

"Hindsight"

Jack Williamson has won both the Nebula and the Hugo Awards, and had a career that spanned about seventy years. This story involves temporal mechanics and love, oppression and liberation, and meeting engagements. Incidentally, the guns employed by the Astrach's fleet are of 20-inch caliber and fire four salvos per second. It's a tightly written story, though I think the ending is a little drippy.

"The Last Battalion"

Imagine that Hitler did not die in a bunker in Berlin, but escaped via U-Boat to a secret Waffen-SS base in New Swabia. There German scientists built flying saucers from which they reached the moon to to mine aluminum and build more flying saucers. Now imagine them getting into a war with aliens. With things not looking so good, they kidnap a US Senator to let him know what is going on, intending to drag the US into the conflict. Before they can get where they're going with the Senator, the aliens lay a nuke on their Antartic base. They drop the Senator off to find his own way home. He asks them what they will do. Their colonel replies, we are SS-- we will fight.

"Shadow on the Stars"

Budrys's Farlans are felinoid aliens who at first blush look like humans in cat suits. But they are, on a closer look, "raving paranoid quote." The paranoia is pathological and eventually fatal for Farla-- any military leader with sufficient ability to be effective cannot be trusted by Farla's rulers, and will be killed at the earliest sign of that fatal disease, military competence. The story is a retrospective, the central character telling how he and Farla came to be in their present straits. It is too late for him to convey the warning against trusting Earth, and to late to avoid the inevitable dissolution of Farla.

"Time Lag"

Poul Anderson has won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. Time Lag is a study in contrasts-- evil, greedy invaders against noble, selfless defenders. Chertkoi is a heavily overpopulated industrial planet, drowning in pollution and resource starved. Vaynamo is pristine, with a population sustainable through resource management. Vayanmo is never the less technologically advanced, with the technology's goal as preservation rather than exploitation. Expolitation is the name of Chertkoi's game. It's people conquer other worlds to fuel the industrial fires that smother their world under a cloud of pollution.

Image cover art under fair use for the review. Contact publisher for reuse.

My text creative commons 4.0

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randallvangundy · 4 years ago

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Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy Review

Are you looking for something to distract your cat while you do other important tasks? In these fast-paced times where we’re always on the go, we need something to keep our cats busy while we are not there to play with them. The best toys for cats who stay indoors, like the one in our Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy review, is a toy that you can just leave for your cat to play while you’re busy doing something else.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Laser Cat Toy

Buying for our pets is always a hit and miss. We buy something that we think our cats would like and sometimes just end up in the storage room only to be played with twice and then forgotten. Before we actually purchase a toy for our cats at home there are some things that we should consider to make sure those toys are to be put to proper use.

Safety

As pet owners, we should always put the safety of our cats as our top priority. We have to make sure that there is nothing about the toy that can harm them. Whether it be falling on them, something they can swallow, or anything else that would make you rush t the emergency room.

Unique Design

Today, we see a lot of things that are the same, the only differences that we see are the prices at first glance. We must take some time to check what other features a toy can give us. Sometimes it’s just straight forward like a fishing rod toy you can entertain them for hours. However, there are some electronic toys that offer more than just your normal toy. In these cases, we have to know what they can offer to keep our cats entertained.

Entertainment

Talking about keeping our cats entertained, cats are easy to please, most of the time. Laser Cat Toys give your furry friend endless amounts of entertainment and fun. Just press a button and watch your kitty try to catch the red dot that zooms around in the living room. It’s a whole lot of excitement for him and even for you as well.

Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy Overview

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The Friends Forever Interactive Laser Cat Toy is the newest and most popular cat toy in the market today. That’s why I decided to write this Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy Review. The laser cat toy is constructed like a cone with a diamond top where the laser is housed. It has a big sturdy base that will not topple over easily. Additionally, it is perfect for self-play of cats and they are entertained for hours. It is randomizing its pattern so your cat’s natural instinct will be tested and improved. It is powered via AA batteries (not included) so you can take it anywhere you want even when traveling with your furry friend. The way this toy is shaped, it gives your cat a larger playing area than other toys out there.

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Quick Glance

What’s Good

Big sturdy base

Lightweight and portable

3 modes of randomized play

It is heaps of fun

What’s Bad

Not the cheapest toy you can find

Some people find that it is not random enough for the cat

Narrow play area

Core Features

Sturdy Base

One that you might be worried about is that the cat will be toppling over the device while they’re playing. With the Friends Forever Interactive Laser Cat Toy, you need not worry because it has a base that can support heavy playing and will not be toppled over easily. This laser toy is built almost like a cone with a diamond top that houses the laser itself. Rest assured that your toy will be safe from any damage that might incur in the house.

Modes of Play

This laser cat toy has 3 different modes that are available for use at any time. You can choose from slow, fast, and random. The slow mode allows your cat to follow and chase the laser for relaxed play. The faster option gives your furry friend the thrill of the chase and speeds up for them to run around and try to get the laser pointed on the floor of your home. The random mode is when most cats go crazy because this completely randomizes where the laser is going to go. You nor your cat will be able to predict. It can go fast, then slow then fast again. This not only hones your cat’s natural instincts for hunting but also gives them good exercise throughout the day.

Check Amazon’s Price

Automatic Timer

With the three modes of play, it also has an automatic timer that completes a round of play in 15 mins. You can then choose a different mode for your cat to play or take some time to rest after chasing the light around for 15 mins. He can get some water to refresh himself and come back renewed and the fun can start again. However, this does run on batteries so better buy some while you’re out getting this amazing toy.

Health and Exercise

As said, this toy not only does it enhance and hone your cat’s natural instincts but also keeps your cat’s health in check. This is a good toy to use for exercise. They get so interested in trying to catch the laser light that they end up going around for 15 mins trying to get it and trap it. Although we know inevitably that they will not get it, they have no idea. So they can be playing for some time and little do they know that they are already exercising their body and keeping fit.

What Others Say About Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser

We have scoured the net for some reviews about the Friends Forever Interactive Laser Cat Toy and here are some of that we found:

Barbi U likes the fact that the toy makes her life easier. Her cats get to play while she takes a break from work and from playing with them.

Michelle says that it is the best cat entertainment out there. She also loves the durability of the toy with it being dropped numerous times over 5 years. And it is only until then that they got a replacement because the cats love it so much.

Martini thinks that every cat owner should have this toy. His cat loves everything about this toy. The only downside for him is that he wishes the distance of the laser was a bit further.

Alternatives To The Friends Forever Cat Laser Toy

If the Friends Forever Interactive Laser Cat Toy is something that your cat will not love or you know that they will get bored easily with, here are a few options that can keep your cat active and interested.

Running Pet Cat Toy

The Running Pet Cat Toy enriches your cat’s mind and body. A moving electronic mouse goes around in four varying speeds: low, medium, high, and variable speeds. A toy that can keep your cat interested for hours on end. Not only can this Running Pet Cat Toy keep your cat’s mind going but also can get them physically active and get some exercise in. This toy also reacts to your cat’s touch. This is also battery operated much like our Friends Forever Laser Cat Toy. But people say that this is a must-have for every cat home.

Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree

The Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree prides itself with an improved design that promotes slow feeding with cats. The Senses 2.0 now has a narrower opening at the top to prohibit your furry friend from pawing the food at the opening. It has many sides to where your cat can try to paw out their food, thus feeding them slowly while engaging his mind at the same time. You can adjust the difficulty by rotating the middle disc to adjust the size of the opening. You can stimulate your furry friend’s mind in many different ways. Feeding them this way allows them to get a reward of some sort for solving a riddle.

Catit Hagen Treat Ball

The Catit Hagen Treat Ball combines a toy ball and a treat dispenser. You can fill the ball with treats in a bigger opening and they can come out in another opening which is smaller. This toy works like a screw to where your furry friend can paw and roll the ball around to try to get the treat to fall out from the toy ball. You can only open one hole at a time. You can also twist it to turn it into a regular ball for your cat to p[lay with. This is a puzzle ball that your cat can engage in and stimulate his mind. The treat ball comes in two colors: Blue and Pink.

Our Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading my Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy Review. Overall, the Friends Forever Interactive Laser Cat Toy would be an amazing addition to your cat’s toy collection. It will keep them running around for a period of time. It can keep your furry friend healthy and stimulated. If you have a kitty that loves lights and laser and are stimulated by it, this laser cat toy is perfect to purchase for your home. Watch and enjoy your cat trying endlessly to trap the light in their paws. It is a lot of fun for them and you as well.

Click here to get current pricing on Amazon for The Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy >>

The post Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy Review appeared first on Furry Friends Gear.

Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy Review published first on https://furryfriendsgear.tumblr.com

#pets #Pet Care #dogs #cats #veterinary care

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we-future-first · 5 years ago

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Twenty Six Predictions for the Next Eleven Months, and Two Technology Predictions for the Years 2022-2025

Predictions for the Next Eleven Months (For this, I am re-posting what I wrote in another forum about a month ago without any edits.)

What follows presumes (and this is important) that a vaccine will not be procured any time soon, and that due to the real world being the way it is the virus will instead continue to grow. These are all things that the world can anticipate in the coming year (eleven months). Some of them are already observable.

There will probably be a global recession that will in the USA rival the American Great Depression.

Strife will rise within China's borders for mostly personal financial reasons.

International distrust of China will increase.

Social distancing will continue to be encouraged and in some cases enforced by law enforcement across the world. Social distancing will very much be with us for the foreseeable future.

Most megachurches will fold, as will many medium-sized ones. Video communing will become a huge part of the Evangelical environment.

Many jobs will be move to the home office, and those which require only repetitive physical tasks will be increasingly given to automated machinery.

Due to poor sanitation and limited health resources, poorer countries will be decimated.

This winter will be cruel and see many deaths as the virus ravishes the poor, the elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses without access to medical assistance.

There will be an 8-magnitude earthquake somewhere on the planet. If it effects a heavily populated area unprepared for it, that area will experience a huge spike in deaths by pneumonia.

There will be violent civil unrest up to and possibly including isolated pockets of civil battles within the USA. There are too many variables and hot-headed factions for me to confidently guess who will participate.

Trump will be reelected, one way or another. And if he is not, those isolated pockets of civil battles will become a civil war incited by the man himself.

There will be a significant turn towards home-grown vegetables, and some people will become distrustful of others' home-grown produce and rely on themselves.

Faced with spending copious amounts of time with the children they had seldom ever seen, many parents will be unable to emotionally cope with the children and this will lead (and is already leading, mind you) to tons of child abuse.

Faced with spending copious amounts of time with the spouses they had not spent quality time with in years, many couples will get divorced.

Health care facilities the world over will collapse.

Beginning in a few months, those who are altogether elderly, overweight, and poor will be hard-pressed to survive.

There will be renewed discussion of a universal income in a number of developed countries.

Many airlines will fold (as some already are).

Tourist towns will either shrink or find another source of income.

Theme parks will fold.

Many movie theaters will fold.

The air will become cleaner (as it already is).

There will be a worldwide migration away from physical universities and toward online universities, which will result in earlier marriages as high school sweethearts and finally able to stay together.

Due to a worldwide increase in poverty, there will be (and already is) an increasing distaste for wealthy celebrities.

Due to a worldwide increase in poverty, there will be an increase in religious devotion (albeit privately expressed devotion, in light of the closure of many places of worship).

Among those for whom material wealth had been their sole desire and the source of their ego, there will be an increase in suicides.

Two Technology Predictions for the Years 2022-2025 (For this, I am re-posting without any edits what I wrote elsewhere a few days ago.)

Prediction 1: Deep fakes, real-time video augmentation, unclothing technology, personalized video backgrounds, and voice isolation, reproduction, and augmentation will come together as an app to allow anyone to produce videos of almost anyone doing and saying anything. It will be available for less than a month.

Prediction 2: A higher level of reality augmentation glasses and earbuds.

For about $500 USD (value c. 2020), you will be able to bring home a box the size of a bread box. Within the box will be 1) an ostensibly normal looking glasses with an ear piece on either side and a very tiny microphone; 2) a pair of very small bracelets and anklets; 3) a device no bigger than a pencil sharpener with a clear plastic ball on top and an environment-imaging laser scanner; and 4) some charging chords.

After charging, you turn the scanner on and take it on a tour of your entire place of residence, making sure to scan every nook and cranny, including faucets, light switches, beds, desks, tables, shelves, etc., with drawers, cupboards, and doors in closed and open positions. You will also similarly scan yourself. After this, you will put on the glasses and earpieces, and over the course of a moment teach the microphone to recognize and understand your voice while sad, excited, happy, bored, yelling, whispering, etc. Following this, with a simple pre-programmed voice command, you will see through your glasses and hear through the earpieces a personal companion. He or she will be able to visually and audibly though not tactically interact with both you and do such things as sit on chairs, lie on beds, turn your lights or TV on and off (if you choose, for an extra amount of money, the personal companion will be given control over the electricity in your residence), and hold conversations with you. While wearing the glasses, bracelets, and anklets, you will also be able to, for example, waltz with the ARC (Augmented Reality Companion). By scanning the inside of your vehicle, the ARC will also be able to accompany you on rides and turn the radio to a channel of either your or its own desire. It will be the first face you might see in the morning and the last face you might see at night.

submitted by /u/atagoringo [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/gkn0a3/twenty_six_predictions_for_the_next_eleven_months/

#Future #Futuristic #Future oriented

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yeskhanzadame11 · 5 years ago

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Bet on Yourself or Get Out of the Game! 9 Non-Negotiable for New Businesses

In an surroundings in which increasingly people are leaving the "security" of a regular, company job to cling a shingle as an impartial, the distinction among those that succeed and those that fail can often be associated without delay to how much humans are inclined to invest in themselves.

Putting "pores and skin in the sport" is an expression that conveys how a ways you'll visit prove that you are invested inside the business. I've met so many independents that seem to suppose that an idea, a cellular cellphone, and an old PC entitles them to contracts however I actually have determined that the folks who do fine on their very own have made enormous investments in themselves before looking forward to others to put money base camp alternative into them (shopping for projects or infusing capital.) Over the past ten years, I even have come up with a list of "no-trainers" that I assume each representative have to keep in thoughts when finding out to go out on his very own.

Nine No-Trainer Non-Negotiable Keys to Success as an Independent Consultant

1. Give your employer name actual concept

2. Get a separate commercial enterprise cellphone line, internet deal with, web page

three. Buy accurate system and maintain it updated

4. Ongoing schooling counts - go to conferences, alternate suggests

5. Visit clients for your own dime now and then

6. Don't misrepresent yourself, and do not bargain the value of a digital business enterprise

7. Join institutions, volunteer, and community

8. Don't be reasonably-priced

nine. Don't be grasping

What's in a name?

Your corporation name and brand makes an impression before you ever get a danger to dazzle your prospect along with your knowledge. There are lots of opinions on naming conventions - however one factor that screams "small" are those who run one man or woman shops, and name their agencies by including "and agency", or "and associates" to their remaining call. The exception to this are of course, the ones profession specialists who have a actual recognizable call in the enterprise they're running in. Otherwise, naming your agency after your self ties you and everybody you could rent to your call. And your name usually is NOT a trademark of the advantages you provide your clients. Starting a actual commercial enterprise manner developing some thing above and beyond YOU. Get out of your very own way. Be smart, be authentic, and be descriptive. And, by the way, in case you provide you with an excellent story about how you obtain your name you will have something to interrupt the ice while you meet potentialities.

You are NOT your agency.

Outsourcing work to different experts is part of my commercial enterprise model and over time I even have learned that those who do not take themselves critically as contractors are inconsistent with their deliverable. I search for companions who: have a separate work space of their home (with a door!), have installed a commercial enterprise line of credit (separate commercial enterprise from non-public expenses), have a cellular cellphone (no longer one for the family that they percentage, however their personal), have a dedicated cellphone line, very own a website name for enterprise use (e.G. Do not use your [email protected] for business mail), have a exceptionally new notebook PC, a scanner, and at least a black & white laser printer. Buying valid copies of software counts, too. When you're "legit" you have get admission to to assist traces which is available in on hand whilst inevitably, you want actual help to solve a hassle. (As an instance, I've gotten caught writing complex if/then statements in Excel, but my legitimately purchased software program entitled me to tech assist.)

Keep your self up to date with the satisfactory tools you can have enough money

I always pay a touch extra to get equipment that meets state-of-the-art needs and offers me room to grow. A excessive first-class enterprise-class telephone (like the Poly com), a laser printer, a scanner/fax gadget - all of those are important for your private home office. Virtual telephone structures including Hotmail can ahead your calls to any number at the same time as supplying you with a expert look for much less than $10/month. And of route, keep in mind that today's first rate package deal is the next day's vintage device set. When you're on your personal, it slow is your most valuable asset that lamentably, you cannot buy extra of. When you make an effort to equip yourself from the get-move, you will be capable of supply professionally with the least amount of anxiety! And as you grow, you want to keep reinvesting to preserve that area.

Keep getting to know.

There is not any sorrier sight than assembly a has-been-hotshot now "representative" who thinks he/she is aware of it all. If you pass into business thinking that your clients are going to pay you to keep enhancing your skill set - you're incorrect. Schedule a category, trade show, or convention at least once a month. Sure, you may have had sixty humans running for you inside the beyond at your beck and call. Now? You are in your personal. So for goodness sake, discover ways to truly use Word or create Excel macros. Go to change shows, pick up literature as an well-known shows-most effective attendee, and now after which PAY to attend a convention and go to the periods. Taking the ones one or day seminars that dive underneath the floor of programs can help you in sudden approaches when you are trying to resolve vexing issues. Really. Take time to increase an alternate view of everything you may.

Stop in and say hi there.

Not just to the customers which are on your metropolis. Schedule a experience - go visit clients which are throughout the u . S . A ., just because - and do it at your fee. Find a convention and agenda journeys around it. The greater proactive you are, the more top of mind you'll be whilst a mission comes alongside. The key isn't to have a high strain income name. Your long time agenda might be to get extra work, but quick term -- you should consciousness on checking in with human beings and demonstrating which you care about them and their issues even whilst you are not at the clock. Setting up your schedule is easy if you do not strain people to peer you. At least two times annually, I find a proper conference to attend in a metropolis where I actually have customers and potentialities. I point out that I'll be on the town for the X conference and would really like to prevent in and capture up. While I do not go away with contracts all of the time, greater regularly than now not, I'm the primary person they call whilst some thing new and intriguing comes up. And don't limit yourself to clients. If you figure with others sincerely (different contractors, vendors) make it a point to meet them. It makes all of the distinction in the global while human beings can size you up in person.

Represent yourself as you are.

I've run a digital employer for almost ten years. I have had Fortune 50 groups meet at my eating room table. How is that possible? I represent what I do really. I give an explanation for that I have a virtual group. We are all connected through the net with organization collaboration software program (suppose base camp alternative , Web Ex Intranets) and we meet frequently for updates on our tasks. I invite customers to visit with the crew - and host absolutely everyone at my domestic, or we agree to satisfy at a trade display. On those occasions in which it counts, individuals who want to grow collectively locate approaches to get there. Showing up is ninety% of success or so it appears. Once humans recognize they can anticipate you, they do.

No consultant is an island, get accessible, community and proportion!

As a professional facts expert, I belong to as many associations as I can to keep on top of industry traits. In my enterprise, the Direct Marketing Association (DAM), American Marketing Association (AMA), Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIRSHIP), Market Research Association (MAR) are just a few of the various companies that I even have related to over time. As a female-owned enterprise, I joined the COWBOY in Syracuse, NY and the National Women's Chamber of Commerce as well. While I can't attend all the meetings, I actively participate on list serves, attend conferences, and volunteer when I can. Keeping up with contacts is straightforward the usage of LinkedIn as well as cope with e book software program, which includes Plano. I find that the greater I percentage with others, the extra they percentage with me. The extra I know, the more fee I convey to my customers.

Don't be reasonably-priced.

Just don't.

The tighter you are along with your cash, the greater humans suppose you're desperate and the less in all likelihood they may be to do repeat enterprise with you. On the alternative hand, do not be a prim Donna. You do not should pass overboard to impress others. If someone invites you to sign up for them on a purchaser name, pick out up the tab for lunch. If an companion invitations you live over (as opposed to staying at a inn), convey a small gift. When you are at a conference and you visit get a espresso, buy one for your purchaser. And on the subject of tasks and deliverable, if you could throw in something greater, do it. Nickel and deeming your pals and customers will earn you a reputation this is not possible to shake. The old pronouncing "it takes money to make cash" -- is proper. You want to dress the component, act the part, feel the component, and all of sudden, you may be the consultant you envision.

Don't be grasping.

Some of the neatest humans I realize are lousy crew players. They positioned themselves first - above and beyond rational expectancy. Over the years I had been very near operating with capacity companions who determined at the closing minute to negotiate tough - and almost completely in their own choose to the detriment of the rest of the crew. I suppose that is why some human beings are impartial; they truly don't play properly with others.

People do now not like to be taken gain of or pressured right into a corner. The more you push a person, the extra he is in all likelihood to drop out of the dialogue. I have discovered to think through the alternatives and to maintain them open as possibilities evolve. Keep in thoughts that a honestly useful settlement is one in which all of us offers up a little for the good of the group. This holds true for customer contracts as well as for collaborative possibilities. Some people assume which base camp alternative you should start tons better than you count on to get and negotiate right down to an acceptable stage. Personally, I do not like to experience as though I'm giving up that much. I'd prefer to begin reasonably, and take matters off the table instead of put on a show and try and get the alternative birthday party down to a bare bones agreement or fee. Everyone should experience as if they're getting a bargain. Greed has no place on the negotiating table.

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biofunmy · 5 years ago

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Can One LED Light Give You Perfect Skin?

The MMSphere, a ring of LED lights, casts a red glow over my face. It sits adjacent to my laptop so that as I write, research and procrastinate, I can simultaneously calm a fiery constellation of acne on my left cheek.

Red light’s anti-inflammatory and collagen-building effects on the skin are well documented. But this hands-free device, designed by Ellen Marmur, a dermatologist in New York, has settings for blue, green, amber and purple light too.

“It has just enough variety that people stay excited to use it,” Dr. Marmur said.

I, too, begin cocktailing. I bathe my face in blue light to kill acne bacteria while watching reruns, and immediately follow up with a FaceTime call to my mother, my face lit up in a bright green light to fight hyperpigmentation.

Skin care efficacy lives and dies by patient compliance. Most at-home LED skin care devices are small and hand-held, requiring time set aside to treat the entire face. People eventually stop using them.

Even with persistent acne as a motivator, I’ve always had trouble following LED protocols. The MMSphere ($495) is a big deal for me because it harnesses a powerful fix-everything-while-doing-nothing ease that makes it almost addictive. You actually want to use it.

“It makes people feel good, like they’re taking care of themselves,” Dr. Marmur said. “You can treat your skin while doing other things, so it’s easier to form the habit of doing it every day.”

Because, really, if we’re just sitting around — talking, eating, working — shouldn’t we be fixing our skin, too?

So how does LED work?

First, LED therapy is not the same as a laser treatment, which creates controlled damage to the skin to promote healing. The easiest way to understand the light-as-skin-care concept is to think of skin-friendly visible light as ultraviolet light’s benevolent counterpart.

In a process called photobiomodulation, light alters biological material; for example, UV rays from the sun change our skin in ways that can catalyze cancer and aging.

But some wavelengths of visible light alter our skin for the better, and light-emitting diodes (LED) are a source that delivers that energy.

Jared Jagdeo is an associate professor of dermatology and director of the Center for Phototherapy, SUNY Downstate Health Science University, where he studies LED therapy.

“You can alter the skin through photo-damaging with lasers, or photobiomodulation, which is a much more gentle way of changing the way the skin functions,” Dr. Jagdeo said. Red and blue light are the heavy hitters. He explained why red light in particular works so well.

“There’s a specific receptor in the mitochondria of the skin cells that red light specifically acts upon,” he said. “And that’s why red light is an ideal wavelength for changing the way the skin functions.”

Red light penetrates the skin deeper than other visible light and stimulates the mitochondria, which has an anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating effect. Collagen is built in the dermis, the skin is calmed, and wrinkles eventually fade.

Blue light doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply but zaps acne-causing bacteria on the surface. The science on green light isn’t as solid, but in theory, it targets melanocytes, discouraging excess melanin production.

Rigorous independent studies have yet to be conducted, but Dr. Marmur did a very small clinical trial on green light for the MMSphere in which subjects self-reported a 32 percent decrease in “brown spots” after a week of green light treatment.

And what about those other colors?

The MMSphere emits five different colors of light and shuts off after a 20-minute session. Its violet is a combination of red and blue light, so you get both colors in one treatment.

MMSphere’s last color, amber, doesn’t have much of a skin care benefit, but it may be a mood booster, and is sometimes used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

Is all of this light O.K. for my eyes?

Eye safety is a valid concern, particularly because earlier this year Neutrogena recalled its LED mask over fears that it could cause eye injuries.

Brian S. Biesman, an assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology, dermatology and ENT at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, said that most home devices aren’t powerful enough damage the eyes. The MMSphere comes with opaque goggles, but, Dr. Biesman said, the device is low energy, so it should be safe to use without them.

“Just normal blinking and eye movements should be sufficient to protect the eyes,” he said. “But never stare at a bright light source.”

How do I know if my LED light is working?

This is where things get more complicated. Even though LED devices are everywhere, the science to establish standards for at-home use is nascent. Buy only devices cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, but think of that clearance as a testament to their safety, not their efficacy.

“As far as the F.D.A. is concerned, if I use CO2 laser resurfacing, it better work because of the amount of risk involved,” said Suzanne Kilmer, a clinical professor of dermatology at the UC Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento and director of the Laser and Skin Surgery Medical Group.

“Compare that to a home device,” Dr. Kilmer said. If it doesn’t kill you, blind you or make things much worse, it’s probably going to get approved. So it’s actually more incumbent upon the people selling home devices to show efficacy. You have to trust the people who are selling them.”

“LED is real, but it’s probably not optimized yet,” Dr. Kilmer said.

Many factors determine the amount of light your skin needs and receives: the strength of the light, the distance from source to skin, how long the light is used, and your skin color.

“Some of these lights on the market are very weak, and they may not have enough energy output to actually have a biological effect,” Dr. Jagdeo said. “Imagine a glow stick. It produces a color. But you could shine it on your face all day, and it’s not going to change the way your skin works.”

Furthermore, the medical community has yet to establish standard doses for treating conditions like hyperpigmentation and acne at home. Dr. Marmur based her MMSphere dosing on Blu-U, an in-office blue light that is commonly used as an alternative therapy for precancerous lesions.

“Consistent Sphere treatment for seven weeks will equal the energy given in the office with the Blu-U,” she said.

Another device, the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro, $435, emits red and blue light in a mask format, and each session is only three minutes. The mask’s LEDs are in contact with the skin, which may be a more effective treatment. Dr. Jagdeo said that you lose some energy on the way from device to skin, a potential downside of the MMSphere design.

“This is a tremendously undertapped area in medicine,” he said. “But LED light therapy is going to revolutionize the way home medical treatment is delivered for skin care over the next 10 to 15 years.”

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