#and its hard to keep up with that AND have spending cash without a job

[ninjagocrohw]

i dont know if i ever posted this here but i put the playlist on spotify if anyones interested :3

i have not forgotten juniorjago, im just once again bogged down. 🙃

[britcision]

I’m pretty sure the people bitching about not giving money to tumblr are the same ones who complain when AO3 or wikipedia ask for donations, so I’m just gonna clarify something

Running a website is not free

Even if they made no changes and did only maintenance, they still need to pay for server costs, expert programmers for when something goes wrong, storage (although frankly storage is cheap as chips these days which is nice)

They need to keep up with the capabilities of new tech like improvements to web browsers, never mind their own apps keeping pace with old and new tech developments

Backwards compatibility (being able to run the updated app on old tech) is a massive problem for apps on a regular basis, because there are people out here using an iPod and refusing to update software

There’s a reason every few years apps like Animal Crossing will issue an update that breaks backwards compatibility and you can only play if your phone is running more recent software

This shit costs money even before you look into the costs of human moderation, which I’m not exactly convinced is a big part of their current budget but fucking should be if we want an actual fix for their issues with unscreened ads and reporting bigots

Ignoring that it’s apparently illegal for companies not to actively chase profits, running Tumblr is expensive

And advertisers know we fucking hate them here

They’re still running ads, which we know because they’re all over the damn place, but half the ads are for Tumblr and its store

Other ad companies know we are not a good market, so they’re not willing to put the money in

Tumblr runs at a $30 million deficit, every year, because hosting a site is expensive

They are trying to take money making ideas from other social medias because they’re not a charity; they need to make enough money to keep the site going

If you want tumblr to keep existing, never mind fixing its many issues that require human people to be paid to do jobs like moderation, they will need money

Crabs cost $3

One crab day a year can fix the deficit and hammer home for Tumblr that:

A) we do want to be here and want the site to keep going

And B) they do not need to do the normal social media money making strategies we all hate

They need a way to make money if you want the hellsite to exist, because we live in a capitalist hellscape and cannot all be AO3

If they think they can make enough to keep running without pulling all the tricks we hate, they have no reason to pull said tricks

But they need money

And a way to make money

And if we can show them we can do that, there is a significantly higher chance they will listen to us, the user base they need money from, than if we don’t

Tumblr isn’t perfect, or anywhere close. They need someone to actually screen the paid ads they put through, they need to take the transphobia, antisemitism, and bigotry seriously

These Are Jobs That Will Cost Money

People Need To Be Fucking Paid For Their Work

Tumblr Is Not Run By Volunteers For Free And Nor Should It Be

Paying People Is Good Actually

So if you wanna get all high and mighty over $3/year, by all means, go spend that hard earned cash elsewhere

Good luck finding a perfect and morally pure business to give it to though

Being a whiny negative asshole isn’t more appealing just because you’ve put yourself on a moral soapbox, it just means the asshole is a little higher up

For all the whining about “all the new updates are terrible this site is unusable”…. It’s one fuck of a lot more usable than it was in 2017, 2018, 2020

And yeah, it’s going back down and most of the newer ones have been fucking annoying and I would also like them to stop

But it got up somehow and that means it could do that again

Hope is more fun than edgy nihilism

August 1st is a good and exciting day to summon a crab army

[sashaisready]

Chapter Three - Call me Bucky

Bucky Barnes Mob AU x Femme Reader

You're hard at work in Pepper's Bakery when notorious mob boss James 'Bucky' Barnes darkens your doorway one typical afternoon, and life is never the same again.

18+ - please see Masterlist for full list of warnings

Series Masterlist

Chapter 4

A few days had passed and everything seemed to be bumbling along as normal. No more surprise visits from mobsters, no more outlandish tips. The bakery had its steady buzz of happy customers and business was good.

You'd been trying out a new carrot cake recipe during a late afternoon lull the following Monday. Wanda was out sick so it was just you, but that was okay because Mondays were always quiet and you could handle things alone. You hadn't had a customer in over an hour so were in the back mixing when you heard the bell going.

"Be right there!" You called to the front of the shop.

You wiped your hands on your apron, cursing at what a mess you'd made. Your forehead was sweaty and you had butter and flour over your clothes in spite of the apron. Oh well. Hopefully you wouldn't scare the customer off...

You wandered back to the front of the store to find a tall gentleman in a fancy suit with his back to you, engrossed in his phone. Probably a business type popping in for a late afternoon sugar hit. You got a lot of those.

"Hi sir, how can I help today?" You ask as you take your place at the counter.

The man spins to face you and you can't help but gasp in surprise when you see who it is. James Barnes. He's back. He looks as slick as he did last time, immaculate in his tailored suit. His hair is carefully coiffed with a hint of gel, not a single strand out of place. Still gorgeous, too.

He smirks at your reaction.

"Surprised to see me, Doll?" He asks playfully.

"Sorry Mr Barnes, I didn't realise it was you" you explain. You try to ignore how his nickname for you sends shivers down your back.

"Well, I just enjoyed your merchandise so much last week I had to drop by again".

You smile at him warmly, dropping his gaze because it's so intense that it almost feels wrong to look at him directly.

"Great to hear that. So what would you like today?" Your professional veneer is hanging on by a thread.

He ignores your question and his eyes drop to your messy apron.

"What are you making?" He asks.

You fumble with the apron, embarrassed by your dishevelled appearance in contrast to his well-groomed figure. You must look like such a messy slob to him.

"Oh...just some carrot cake. I'm tweaking the recipe. Had a bit of a quiet period so thought I'd get a jump start" you chuckle nervously.

Why are you nervous?

You know why you're nervous.

He nods and smiles, scrutinising your appearance briefly before he looks back to the counter.

He begins to pick out cakes and pastries again, meticulously studying each section of the display case as he points out what he wants with a gloved finger. He asks for specific choices too. 'That doughnut third from the back' or 'that cookie second from the front'. You begin to understand that James Barnes is a man who likes things just so. And you would bet good money that he's like that in his day job, too.

You pack up his selections and ring him up, it's harder to keep up this time without Wanda. You take his credit card once again and he tries to pass you another obscenely high bill from his wallet.

"Oh I can't accept that" you explain, waving your hand at it.

He laughs. "Why not?"

"You already over tipped me last week. Honestly, Mr Barnes, you don't need to do that. Thank you, but really. You already spend so much here". You smile awkwardly at him, knowing full well he's going to fight you on this.

James chuckles. "I hope you're not telling me what I can or can't do with my own money, Doll..."

"Oh, no, of course not. It's just..." but you have no words for him. No excuses. Not without telling him that you feel uncomfortable taking cash from a mob boss, anyway.

He nods. "That's what I thought" he tells your firmly. In a single fluid motion he rolls the note up and leans over the counter, placing it inside your apron pocket.

You laugh. "Ass" you mutter quietly as you smile to yourself.

The word slips out before you can stop it. You clasp your hand over your mouth in surprise as if you can put it back in, but that horse has already bolted.

James' brows furrow. "What did you say?" He asks you accusingly. His eyes narrow and you see a brief glimpse of the scary man you'd seen on the news.

"Nothing. Nothing. I'm sorry...nothing" you reply casually, busying yourself with stacking up his boxes. You feel sick suddenly.

How could you forget yourself so carelessly?

He leans forward, the beginnings of a smirk on his lips. "Did you just call me an ass?" he asks as his eyes burn into you.

You try to think of a lie but his smirk is contagious and suddenly you're giggling.

"Oh, this is funny is it?" He asks. But his voice is soft, his face amused. It's clear this has tickled him.

"God, I genuinely am sorry" you tell him as you compose yourself. "That was so unprofessional. Really - I'm sorry".

"Why did you call me that?" He asks, watching you.

"Just...." You motion with your hand and copy the gesture he did of putting the money in your pocket. "I don't know. It just came out. The money thing was so smooth" you try to explain.

James stares at you like you're insane for a moment before chuckling earnestly. It stops you in your tracks briefly because it sounds like an authentic laugh, not the hollow snigger he seems to try to and undermine you with.

"Okay. You get that one for free, but only because nobody else is here" he advises as he shoots you a wink.

You laugh but part of you is shaken by his warning. You know full well it might have been a different story if you'd done that in front of his men.

As he begins to pick up the boxes you realise he's outnumbered - metal arm or not.

"Do you want help carrying those?" You ask.

James shakes his head and curls his lip like you've offended him. But then he tries to balance them all in his arms with one under his chin and it's clear it's not a one man job. Even a notorious man.

"Let me just take some. Are you parked up out front? C'mon, let me earn my tip. It'll make me feel better about taking all your money" you smile at him.

James smirks back at you. "Fine. But only for your sake, not mine".

You nod, grabbing a few boxes and opening the door. You follow him to his car parked on the street, a slick black SUV with windows so heavily tinted you don't think they can be legal. The trunk flies open despite James' full hands and for a second you think it's got motion detectors or something equally clever before you notice the man in the front seat.

"Hi again" the bearded blond turns and waves to you.

You smile back at him. Thor? No. Steve. Steve was his name.

"Hi" you reply shyly.

James begins packing the boxes up in the trunk and you follow with yours, ensuring they're secure and that the contents aren't likely to fly out if Steve makes a particularly sharp turn.

"There you go" you tell James sweetly as he slams the trunk down.

"Five star service" James says with a wink. "Thank-you, Doll".

"You're welcome Mr. Barnes" you nod as you wave and walk back to the bakery.

"Doll..." he calls to you.

You turn to face him once more.

"Call me Bucky" he grins.

"Bucky" you repeat back to him, feeling the name on your tongue, rolling it around in your mouth, trying it on for size.

[howlsofbloodhounds]

Completely random but whenever it comes to the idea of what Killer’s room would be like in Nightmare’s castle, I’d like to think it was just bare boned at first.

A hard mattress, his jacket as a pillow, a thin blanket, a place to charge his phone, and some knife sharpeners. Some cash he keeps hidden around his room.

Holes and various stabs and knife slashes in the the walls from whenever Killer breaks down or whenever STAGE 3 gets triggered and starts behaving in its typical feral way.

But he’s barely in there most days, unless Nightmare tells him to go in there. He often forgets to sleep, and well, he isn’t used to having breaks and staying in one spot for too long unless Chara has told them to stay.

He and Chara were usually on the move, exploring every inch of the Underground. They could go literal days without breaks or rest. Chara had made sure of it.

And, well. They aren’t used to being alone. Not physically, at least. And although Chara is gone, he’s serving Nightmare now, right?

They have never served anyone besides Chara before. So he assumed that he must stay by Nightmare’s side unless given permission otherwise.

And, well. Nightmare sure gave permission. The man is introverted and antisocial as hell. Killer constantly following him around only made him paranoid, agitated, snappy and suspicious. Killer suspects that Nightmare felt suffocated by his presence.

After given the go ahead to explore on his own, though, Killer immediately takes to spending his time not on the job just exploring the castle. Marking down anything interesting he finds, every way to enter and exit this castle.

Patrolling for days on end until he’s called away for a mission or until Nightmare orders him onto something else.

Gradually, some more stuff goes into his room the more he gets comfortable with Nightmare and his illusions of freedom.

His jars of stolen souls, human blood, and monster dust go on to the shelves. Nightmare notices the damaged walls and orders Killer to do something about that, and well...

Something suggests spray paint...Killer isn’t one to usually listen to them, but it was a good idea. And Killer couldn’t think of anything else to do. So he spray paints over the damage.

Things start changing when Horror joins the little club. It’s because of Horror that Nightmare gives Killer a comfortable bed, better blankets, and actual pillows.

Killer isn’t sure what to think of it. The blankets are warm, and he’s always like warmth, but the pillows are soft. The bed’s more malleable. It’d be too easy to get comfortable. (It’s a false sense of security. It’s a trick, is what STAGE 4 says.)

He’s not used to soft things, so he ignores the upgrades at first. Until something happens one day. The lack of sleep he was hardly noticing catches up with him, and he faints.

And he wakes up in his new bed, cozy and warm.

It registers as a threat to STAGE 3 the moment he realizes where he is, and the next moment he comes to, all his pillows and blankets are stabbed and shredded at his feet.

It takes awhile for him to right himself. He just sits on the floor of the room, among the mess. Stuck between numbness and fear and “I told you so.”

He doesn’t bother to clean up the mess or tell anyone about it, but Horror inevitably finds out and has him clean it up.

The whole time Horror is telling him that he’s lucky to have fainted in the castle among allies and not out on the battlefield surrounded by enemies.

STAGE 2 and STAGE 4 are both listening attentively as 2 cleans. 4 immediately declares it manipulation—an attempt to control them—and starts demanding that 2 kills Horror.

But 2, being the less emotional one, ignores it for now. It can see the benefits in this. He can see that Horror is right.

Still, he can’t let Horror know that. So he puts on his facade and makes a flirty, suggestive comment about Horror really wanting to be in Killer’s bed, huh?

As expected, this causes Killer’s teammate to groan and immediately leave his room; taking the bags of trash with him.

Killer closes and locks the door behind him, and just sits down on...”his” bed. The mattress molds to his frame, as if like a supposed hug..and Killer immediately gets off the bed the moment that thought crosses his mind.

Hugs aren’t soft.

He takes his thin blanket, wraps it around him, and just sits on the floor. It doesn’t take long before he’s itching to get up again though, get moving, be productive, get back to work, do something.

Something appears beside him as soon as the urge comes. Killer tenses but pretends not to notice them. The kid doesn’t say anything, just sits beside him quietly and looks outside the bedroom window.

That sort of puts him at ease, seeing Chara’s visage so calm and not ordering him to get off his feet and stop being lazy.

The two of them past the night like this, sitting on the cold hard floor together quietly; Killer wrapped up and comfy in his thin blanket. Watching the world change outside their bedroom window.

By the time the sun comes up, Killer has fell asleep on the floor, and that’s where Horror finds him. He decides to take it slow, shoving a fluffy pillow under Killer’s head rather than moving him back into his bed like he did last time.

He closes the door gently when he leaves, as not to wake Killer.

[l1tw1ck]

Insatiable

Orange = Zhongli, Blue = Ajax, Bold = Reader

Bottom!FTM!Sub Ajax x Bottom!Sub Zhongli x Top!Masc!Dom Reader

{Request} | [Series] | AFAB Language Used

CW: Mutual Masturbation, Voyeurism, Overstimulation, Biting + Fingering (AJ Receiving), Creampie, Choking, Squirting

📝 1,278 Words

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Zhongli and Ajax are your extremely loving boyfriends, they spend most of their time at home while you leave for work to provide for them. Your job pays amazingly and the two already have quite a lot of money saved up so there's never an issue when it comes to cash. Zhongli works from home and Ajax sometimes takes up assassination jobs.

He and Zhongli take turns watching you when you leave the house and Ajax always ends up killing anyone who dared to make any advances on you.

Usually, you have enough free time to satiate their intense needs for you but you haven't been able to come home on time for a while, leaving them to their own devices.

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Ajax chokes out a gasp as Zhongli plays with his bottom growth, jerking the other off and moaning your name.

Ajax chokes out a gasp as Zhongli plays with his bottom growth, jerking the other off and moaning your name.

Zhongli buries his head into the ginger's shoulders and slips his fingers into his cunt with his palm rubbing against his small cock, Ajax pushes his into Zhongli's already prepped ass.

For the first time in a week, you came home early and got to hear the incredibly loud sounds coming from the bedroom. It's like the only word they know is your name.

You open the door quietly and step inside, it only takes Ajax a second to realize you're there. He stops and turns to look at you, like a cute looking puppy seeing its owner come home.

"Stay." You order.

Zhongli jumps and turns his head to you.

"Don't stop because of me, I wanna watch." You smirk, taking a chair from the desk and sitting down. You pull your pants down and spit on your hand before stroking yourself languidly.

They both whimper and keep going, their heavy breaths almost synchronized.

You can tell they're both close, the way Ajax is whining and trembling and how Zhongli is clearly trying not to sink his teeth into his boyfriend's shoulder.

They turn to you and ask you if they can come. They look so cute you're almost tempted to refuse.

"Go on, show me how cute you two look when you come together."

They mumble thank yous and come together, bodies shaking equally as hard. They stop to catch their breaths.

"I didn't say stop."

Their cheeks heat up in embarrassment and they go back to touching each other, getting overstimulated. "Please- please fuck us-" Ajax whimpers.

"The two of you were having fun without me, you didn't think you'd get away with it, did you?"

They babble apologies.

You continue watching them as they squirm around and occasionally plead for mercy. You don't budge, letting the entertainment go on for almost an hour.

The two of them come at the same time once again, Zhongli dirtying the both of them with his spend.

"You can stop now." You walk up to the two of them. "Who's idea was this?"

"Mi- mine.." Ajax pouts. You point at the end of the bed, silently ordering him to move there.

You grab Zhongli, your rough hands and effortless way of picking him up makes him whimper, and position him in a way so that his arms are on either side of the ginger. He's at the perfect position to bury his head in Ajax's shoulder, his favorite spot.

"Keep fingering him." You say, prodding your tip against Zhongli's hole. Zhongli does as he's told, pausing when your cock pushes through the tight rim of his ass. His eyes roll back and his cheeks flush a dark red.

You spank him. "I didn't tell you to stop."

Zhongli whines and keeps going, mouth latching onto Ajax's shoulder. He slobbers over it and almost cries as you start to move. Ajax bites his lips and shuts his eyes tight, moaning as Zhongli sloppily fingers his sensitive cunt.

You dig your nails into Zhongli's waist, snapping your hips against his ass and making his brain overload. He's usually sensitive and comes fast but thanks to his punishment, it's even more stimulating than normal.

"Neither of you could wait just a little longer, huh?" You chuckle. "I even sent you two a text, I didn't think you'd be so impatient."

Ajax apologizes meekly while Zhongli makes a muffled noise. Ajax throws his head back and comes again, Zhongli following shortly after. You don't know how or why, but the two of them are in almost perfect sync when it comes to orgasms.

Zhongli isn't surprised when you keep going, knowing you won't stop until you reach your peak. And he knows he can't stop fingering Ajax so the two of them continue to get even more overstimulated.

"You two are such insatiable whores, you know I haven't even masturbated at all this week? I'm the only one who didn't get to have any fun." You fake a sad tone. "I'm hurt you decided to leave me out."

Ajax only sobs, his brain turned to mush. And Zhongli merely clenches around you. Both of them are just conscious enough to tap out or say the safe word but neither of them do, they love it more than they 'hate' it.

Your thrusts get harder and Zhongli sinks his teeth into his boyfriend's shoulder, likely drawing blood. A bite from Zhongli is painful but wonderfully so, especially for a masochist.

You spank Zhongli one last time before burying yourself deep inside him and filling him with your cum. You slowly pull out and smile at his twitching hole, he's spent but his body still begs for more.

You gently move him onto the other side of the bed, letting him lay down on his back and recover. Since you haven't had sex or jacked off in a while, you're still hard and raring to go. You pull Ajax towards you and spread his legs wider, entering his sensitive cunt.

He squeezes around your thick cock, crying at how good it feels to finally have you inside him. When you bottom out he arches his back and squirts, like he always does.

"I missed the two of you." You grin, sliding your hand from his lower abdomen up to where the bulge in his stomach ends and then up to his throat. You squeeze gently and he grabs your wrist with both hands, nodding and wanting it harder.

You squeeze his neck tight as you start to fuck him roughly, instantly causing him to feel lightheaded. He grins, drool dripping down his mouth and chin. He's so wet that you can easily fuck him at a fast pace.

He looks like a beautiful mess, eyes rolled back with tears dripping down his flushed cheeks, Zhongli's cum all over his lower torso, and slick drenching the insides of his thighs. Zhongli nibbles on the ginger's arm, slowly jacking himself off.

You use your free hand to help Zhongli out, working him at a slow pace that won't make him come too fast.

Ajax squeezes your cock tightly, breathing as best as he can as he comes for the nth time. You loosen your grip just enough to allow him to recuperate.

Your thrusts stutter but remain just as rough if not rougher as you get close to your own release. Your hand that's currently gripping Zhongli's length speeds up so the two of you come together.

Zhongli comes slightly earlier than you do, dirtying Ajax's body even further. Just like with Zhongli, you bury your cock inside to the hilt as you come.

You pull out and look at the two exhausted men beneath you. Though tired and overstimulated, they're both still eager to keep going.

Now to figure out what to do next.

[k--havok]

For the space-themed asks:

⭐️ Star - Do you have a favorite character? If so, why are they your favorite?

⭐️ Star - Do you have a favorite character? If so, why are they your favorite?

Oh god this is such a hard question 'cause I love ALL my characters, but for different reasons. I'm going to cheat and choose multiple favorites 'cause that's just how I roll.

Rane & Korzan

This is going to be obvious but it's Rane. Of course it's Rane. She's my absolute baby and the first D&D character I made by myself without (too!) much outside help I had my partner help me when I decided to multiclass her into paladin hahaha

Rane is incredibly special to me and I pulled a lot of inspo from different sources to make her. She's a magical girl. She has PTSD. She's been betrayed by those she loved most. She struggles controlling her anger. She loves makeup and dresses. She's ok with being doused in blood. And she's even pansexual.

In a lot of ways, she's a character I needed when I was young, need now, and will need in the future. She's feminine, a badass, has mental health issues and complex flaws, but also tries her best and has good intentions. I love her so much and she is just so special to me.

The Tales of Ozoarth

Ttoo has an ensemble cast and is a collection of different storylines rather than one story. The cast has only grown since its inception and is considerably large with nearly 10 main characters across different storylines.

I love a lot of the characters and it is so hard to choose a favorite. But I am going to try and go with Braxous, since he is the character that spawned the world and everything around it.

Braxous is an old character. He is now over 15 years old and has gone through a lot of changes since I first made him. He is a huge comfort character for me and helped me a lot through school and beyond.

He's 100% a self-indulgent edgy OC. He started that way and he will always be that way. His past is complicated, and he has complicated relationships with those who raised him. He was abused growing up, manipulated, and in turn, he became a monster early on.

He's a murderer. A betrayer. A liar. Every adult failed him in his life. He was manipulated beyond belief. Borne into a cult and later blamed for following blindly.

He's completely fucked in the head. He enjoys killing people. He loves violence and fighting. But he also loves taking a rest. The world stopping for a moment as he catches his breath.

He loves applesauce and sweets. His mouth and teeth are messed up so he mainly has to eat soft foods. He spends most his cash on buying gifts for friends and bailing them out of trouble. He has killed children.

He's protective of those he cares about, but keeps them at an arm's distance as he does not want to hurt them. He knows his lifestyle is dangerous. He knows he's bad. He's a living weapon; a blade for others to wield, and does not see himself as a real person. He wants to protect his loved ones not just from danger, but himself. But in turn, despite his passion, his relationships are always shallow.

He's an utter contradiction. Depersonalization made form. An anti-hero that crosses the line into villainy more than once. And I absolutely love him.

Waking into Divinity

Now this is a harder one than the other 2 'cause I adore both Casrath and Rylie. But I think I'm going to lean more toward Rylie as I did take a lot of inspo from myself while creating them.

Rylie works a dead-end job and suffers from depression and anxiety. They have little passion in life. They're boring. They know they're boring. Just like most people are a little boring.

But they do have passions. Wants. But all of it is smothered by fear. Of the unknown. Of what could be. Of failure. It rules their life.

Casrath is a catalyst. And although Rylie's life is turned upside-down when they meet and form a relationship with them, Casrath does not cure Rylie's depression and anxiety. He does not chase away any fears of theirs. Casrath brings out the best in Rylie; their passion, their interests, and highlights their personality.

But ultimately, its Rylie who climbs out of their abyss alone. Casrath helps them, but through him, Rylie finds themself again. And finds who they are and what they stand for. And I think that's what makes Rylie oh-so special to me.

--

This is so freakin' long and I apologize for rambling so much!! I just really love and find a LOT of comfort in my OCs so I can talk about them for HOURS. Thank you so much for the ask!!

[nvrcmplt]

Sunflower Community Centre

Sunflower Centre: What they do --- what the social centre provides for those within its walls, is the chance to learn and how to adapt. Depending on the age they are; the workers can and will help with any and every day tasks. Below are some of the services the workers provide without any outside help.

Household - for teenagers / young adults

Cleaning with the correct bleaches and chemical solutions.

Laundry / Tumble drying machine usage.

Scheduling their days with various activities and acts they wish to do

Medication Schedules - a lot easier for those with multiple types.

Verbal Communication skills & Written Communication skills.

Technology lessons eg; Computers, Phones, Tablets - anything electronic. ( This also includes Safety on the Internet. )

Taxes and Money Keeping / Saving / Spending tips and tricks.

Mental Illness discussions. ( They can do their best to listen; but to give advice or if asked to bring in help; they are 110% on your side for calling someone in to talk to. )

Interview techniques, CV writing, Job applications, Benefits Applications.

Household - for children

Basics of Math, English and Arts & Crafts

Homework help.

Technology ( Including Safety on the internet. )

Chore help. ( With small reward systems to keep them going. )

Playtime scheduling / Chore scheduling.

Bargaining nap times and sleeping curfews.

Daily Tasks - Outside etiquette

Using bus, train, taxi and/or any other public transport with confidence.

Shopping etiquette, money handling in stores / in public eye, using card instead of cash.

Exercise overall. ( Walks, charity runs, car boot sales. )

Panic attack self-help ( A worker will always be at their side; however, they aren’t going to be forever, so in order to ween them from relying on someone 24/7. The worker will give them ten-fifteen minutes to sit in a café on their own, to shop on their own, and to brave a few minutes of their own time and self. If a panic attack occurs, they are to try and practice methods of breathing, seeking a moment of their self and explaining their condition the best they can without the Worker stepping on in. However, the worker will know instantly if their person is finding it too hard and will step in to help them out instantly. )

Social Anxiety trials ( Walking / shopping / going to eat with their worker in public areas. During, mornings, afternoons and evenings. Attending small social events and leading up to bigger and bolder events. Slowly again weening off the 24/7 worker. )

--- another service the centre provide is a free of charge aid to those who need a professional to come and talk too. the centre is more than happy to bring someone in or recommend someone to visit in a doctors or gp office. all sessions can be within a group or one-to-one, and will be confidential unless you don’t want that. some services are listed below:

With professional help - aka outsourced - for all ages.

Diet balancing - a nutritionist will visit every few months to help with those with either eating disorders, questions and the obese / anorexic.

Understanding the human body. ( Important talks about Puberty and Changes to the body. These talks can be separated by sex and taught by a Male or Female worker, or can be in one group with two teachers. It is wholeheartedly up to the children that want to know what’s going on with their bodies and they can ask questions. These sessions will always have a Doctor on hand, however. )

Street and Online safety talks with Police Officers.

Emergency talks with Fire and Ambulance staff members.

Ambulance staff will also teach them how to help fellow friends in the centre; in any case; slipping in the shower, hitting one's head, an epileptic fit, disassociating — how to move them into recovery positions, how to keep one's head still, how to check for a pulse - etc etc.

Muses that work here : Julian ( Inherited Owner of SCC ) Shane ( Employee, Qualified Home Nurse ) Noah ( Employee, Front Desk Secretary ) Hanazaki ( Employee, Fitness Group ) Fleur ( Employee, Nursery Teacher ) Toby ( Employee, Nursery Teacher )

[highstreetwraps]

The Benefits of Vinyl Wrap Estimate

In comparison to paint, flooring lasts for many more years. If you are bored with one colour scheme for your wrap, you may switch to another. Vinyl wrapping is an innovative way to keep your automobile looking great all year round.

It would help if you converted your Vinyl Wrap Estimate into a moving billboard for several excellent reasons. Wrapping a car is one of the cheapest forms of advertising. Take into account the number of vehicles travelling through the area. If your design is excellent and conveys your brand’s message, people will notice you wherever you go, even where you park. The average cost per impression is relatively low because so many cars are on the road.

Speedy Method

Wrapping your automobile is a quick and easy process. The average patient may need up to three days for the surgery. The time it takes to complete the Vehicle Wrap could be affected by the kind you choose. Inquire with car wrap installers about the estimated time to customize your vehicle.

Paint Protection

Your car’s paint can eventually fade. Protecting it against gravel, the sun, dents, and scratches is also essential. Protecting your car’s paint with a cover is a good idea. It will protect your car’s paint and overall beauty. Preventing damage to your Custom Vinyl Wrap might save you money on repairs. You can fix dings and scratches on your automobile without hiring a professional.

Invest in a Vehicle Cover to Safeguard Your Cherished Vehicle for Years

Which option do you see best for selling your car down the road? Your car’s value decreases when it gets dings, scratches, and other forms of damage. Protecting your car’s paint with a cover is an easy way to increase its resale value.

You Reduce Spending

Car covering could be an economical choice. You can save money on a pricey paint job by using this alternative. Dealing with elaborate, expensive paint jobs is unnecessary. Wrapping your car is much easier and cheaper than getting a custom paint job. You can keep your hard-earned cash safe in these durable and adaptable wraps.

Rest Assured, Your Vehicle Will be Carefully Removed Without Causing any Harm

Removing the vehicle cover is a job best left to expert fitters. If done properly, it might take as long as three hours. You can be sure that your automobile will look its best after having a professional remove the wrap.

Marketing Possibilities

One such way to advertise your business is to wrap your automobile. Put your company’s name, logo, and website on one of these covers for a personalized touch. Vinyl wraps are also a great marketing tool for startups. If you want to introduce your brand to people, this is one way to do so.

Minor Enhancement

To update the appearance of your automobile when you’re tired of its old style, consider getting a Vinyl wrap. Paint won’t be able to give your car the exact appearance you want.

[proaroundwire]

How to Find HVAC Jobs That Will Let You Thrive

The HVAC industry is indeed growing at a rapid pace. It creates stiff competition, and finding more clients is a chore for most HVAC specialists. Finding consistent HVAC gigs or full-time contracts is anything but easy, especially due to unpredictable demand. 

If you are one of the many HVAC experts struggling to find more clients, you might be asking how to find HVAC jobs quicker and without investing a ton of time or energy while you’re at it. 

Enter AroundWire - a truly powerful tool for HVAC specialists and people of skilled trades in general. It’s the fastest, most reliable, and hassle-free solution that might just be the one option to elevate your HVAC business, taking it to new heights. 

Balancing the HVAC Job Market

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the HVAC job market is growing much faster than average, with 441,200 job openings in 2023 alone. That, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that finding a job is easy. The number of HVAC experts is also growing due to the greater demand and additional opportunities in the niche. 

One of the greatest things about HVAC jobs is that it’s a versatile industry with plenty of ways to move forward. One day, you're handling a residential AC unit; the next, you’re retrofitting an entire commercial system for a huge client. This, however, implies that you’ll be juggling multiple platforms, chasing after clients who aren’t too eager to pay, or struggling to put yourself out there in a market that gets more crowded by the hour. 

But what if there was a simpler way to get jobs, connect with clients, and keep the workflow steady? 

Why AroundWire Works for HVAC Professionals

AroundWire is an online platform for skilled trades like HVAC. And before you ask, it’s not just another job board. It’s a place specifically designed to connect common service providers like you with clients ready to hire. At its core, AroundWire is a project that aims to redefine the skilled trades market as we know it. Here’s how it sets itself apart:

1. Stay Local, Work More

You can localize your job search to your neighborhood to make things easier for you and your clients. No need to worry about tiresome commutes or taking all your gear across the state to get a single job done. With AroundWire, HVAC experts can focus on things that matter most - building rock-solid relationships with clients nearby without worrying about spending too much time on the road. 

2. Keep Your Earnings, No Hidden Fees

Too many platforms and job boards want you to pay an entry fee or a hefty monthly subscription. At AroundWire, you get an entirely different experience. You pay nothing to list your services and say bye-bye to the pesky per-listing fees. No monthly subscriptions, no sign-up fees, no strings attached. This platform doesn’t want a cut from your hard-earned cash.

3. Personalize Your Profile and Show Off Your Skills

A picture says a thousand words; with AroundWire, you can tell your story. The platform leverages plenty of flexible customization options that allow users to use photos, add reviews, and write detailed bios to make their profiles stand out in all the right ways. It’s a great way to appeal to a wider audience and set yourself up for success. 

If that’s not enough, add a built-in payment processing solution for every user’s peace of mind and an intuitive booking system that makes things easier for both service providers and their clients. Simply put, it’s a one-stop shop that every skilled tradesperson could only dream about!

Ready to Get Started? Here’s How!

Getting started on AroundWire is easier than you think. Here’s how you do it:

Join the Community: Go to pro.aroundwire.com and sign up in just a few simple steps

Build Your Brand: Customize your profile, add pictures, bio, any licenses or certifications you may have, and just about everything else you could use to describe your HVAC business.

List Your Services: Whether you specialize in heating, cooling, or both, create detailed listings for each service. The more services you list, the better. Remember - service listings are completely free on AroundWire!

Find Your Clients: Check local listings or wait for clients to get in touch. Either way, you can manage your time and earnings as much as you like, with no limitations!

Unlike many other platforms, AroundWire provides full transparency for every platform user. Direct communication with the clients is part of that creed, making real-time interactions even more effective and rewarding. 

Take Control of Your HVAC Career

With AroundWire, you’re not just finding more HVAC jobs. You’re building a reliable client base and taking full charge of your schedule and your earnings. No more headaches, just a direct path to earning, thriving, and growing as an HVAC pro. Don’t wait; sign up to pro.aroundwire.com today and discover how easy it is to connect with clients and make your business soar.

[polaris-one]

Time Management Tips That Stand The Test Of Time

Time is one of the most precious commodities we have. It doesn't matter how much money you make or how many people you know: without time, nothing gets done. Yet it's hard to manage that precious commodity—and even harder to do so when we're overwhelmed with work and deadlines. In this article, we'll explore eight tips for managing your time better so that you can get more done with less stress.

Make a list of the tasks you need to complete.

Prioritize the tasks by importance and urgency.

Break down big tasks into smaller segments, so that they're less daunting.

Analyze your time-wasting habits, such as checking email or social media too often, which can be helpful in identifying ways that you can improve your focus on work (and maybe even reduce some of those distractions).

Delegate responsibilities if possible--this is especially helpful when working with team members who are more skilled than yourself at certain tasks!

If there's anything else we can do to help with this process please let us know!

Prioritize your tasks by importance and urgency.

If you're a student, you know that the importance of your assignments can vary greatly depending on the professor. If you're working on an important project or need to get something done quickly, it's important to do so as soon as possible.

While both urgency and importance are subjective terms that depend on the task at hand, they are both equally important when prioritizing tasks. For example: The "urgency" of finishing an essay depends on how much time is left before its due date; whereas its "importance" would be determined by whether or not it will help determine your grade in class--or even if it affects your ability to graduate!

Analyze your time-wasting habits.

Once you've identified your most common time-wasting habits, it's easier to find ways to avoid them. For example, if you tend to spend hours on social media and browsing the internet, try setting up an alert that tells you when it's time for a break or when your workday is over. This way, if you find yourself getting sucked into social media without realizing it, the alert will help bring things back into perspective for you and get your focus back on what really matters.

Another way of curbing these habits is by setting reminders in advance so that they don't happen at all--which brings us right into our next point:

Break down big tasks into smaller segments.

This is a time management tip that stands the test of time, because it works! In fact, breaking down a large task into smaller parts can actually make you more productive and help prevent procrastination. The reason why this strategy works so well is because it gives you something concrete to work on, which makes getting started easier and keeps you from feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of what needs to be done.

Delegate responsibilities if possible.

Delegating tasks is a great way to get more done. When you delegate a task, it frees up your time and allows you to focus on other things that need done. If possible, try delegating responsibilities in your workplace or at home so that others can help out with the workload.

You can also delegate tasks outside of work if necessary; for example, if there is something specific that needs doing around the house but no one has time for it because they're all busy with work or school commitments themselves (and therefore unable to complete this particular job), consider asking someone else who isn't working/studying at that moment if he/she would like some extra cash by helping out with this particular chore!

See what gets in the way of focusing on your work.

The first step to managing your time is to see what gets in the way of focusing on your work. If you're distracted, it's probably because you're not focusing on the task at hand. Try to figure out what it is that's distracting you and how to fix it so that it doesn't happen again. You can't fix a problem if you don't know what it is!

Keep a time log to see how long it actually takes you to get things done.

One of the best ways to improve your time management is to keep a time log. A time log allows you to see how long it actually takes you to get things done, which can help you determine where your priorities should lie. You can use a timer or stopwatch to keep track of how long each task takes and then write down the results in your planner or on paper. This way, when you have multiple tasks competing for attention at once (and trust me--you always will), this information will help guide decisions about which tasks should take priority over others.

Time management is key, but it's not always easy!

Time management is a skill that can be learned, but it's not always easy. You may have heard the saying "time management is about managing your energy, not your time." That's because it's important to understand your own strengths and weaknesses before you start trying to improve your time management skills.

If you don't know what exactly it is that you're trying to achieve with these new habits, then how do you know if they are working? Are there still areas where improvement is needed? It's important for any change in habit or routine to have clear goals set out from the beginning so that everyone involved knows what success looks like--and feels like!

Polaris One is a time management coaching business. We help entrepreneurs improve their productivity, work-life balance and efficiency. Our goal is to help you improve your life, so you can be more productive and successful at work.

Polaris One is a time management coaching service that helps you take control of your life. We provide entrepreneur coaching services to help you manage your schedule, set goals, and reach the next level in your business.

At Polaris One, we believe that everyone has the potential to achieve greatness. That's why we work with you to help you realize your goals and dreams. Our coaches will work with you one-on-one to create an action plan that will help you grow as a person and an entrepreneur.

Polaris One 310 Laguna Vista, Alameda, CA 94501, United States +15102893350 https://www.polarisone.com/

[shoyustuff]

4 Reasons You're Missing Out on Worldwide Talent, and How to Step Up Your Game

In the global economy, enterprises are continually striving to innovate their business processes to not only keep up with but also move ahead in their market sector. Corporations need to ensure technology and talent thrive together, says Claudia Saran of KPMG. Today’s technology can help CEOs find and retain great global talent.

HR and Analytics

Data analysis can be helpful for recruiting, but it also can help the human resources department make better decisions about its current workforce.  

Retention can be a major concern for corporations in competitive job markets such as information technology. The HR team can drill down into the data and find out what factors are affecting turnover rate, says Audrey Roth of HR Today. The numbers can show a clear picture of why a particular role is a problem or whether millennials really are hard to please.

By analyzing employee and position data, HR can determine who is stagnating and figure out why that is occurring. HR often seems to exist in a vacuum because the representatives hardly ever see the employees or managers except for exit interviews. Data may be the best tool available for HR to make asset allocation decisions.    

Innovative Environment

Today’s corporate workforce wants to collaborate and innovate. Companies that foster a culture that drives and rewards disruptive innovation have a better than average chance of retaining talent.  

If companies can speed up the decision-making process and implement consumer insights faster, employees will be able to see and measure results. Otherwise, they’ll be without waiting so long for a project to go live that they forget about it.

To better collaborate with global contingent workforce, firms should work to improve their video meeting solutions. The Blue Jeans Network offers many opportunities to harness the power of the internet of things through interoperability and scalability.

Happy employees know what is expected up them and have regular feedback from their supervisor. An employee who has been given goals to innovate will be motivated. Feedback can increase motivation and keep the employee on track.    

Outsourcing and Contracting

One of the biggest advantages of video conferencing is the ability to access talent offshore and remotely. Companies can save time, money and office space with remote workers.  

Contracting talent instead of hiring full-time employees with benefits can help companies on many levels. Not only is there less commitment for the employer, the contractors don’t have to spend time on extraneous training. A six-month contract gives both parties a chance to get a measure of the situation and either continue or look for something else.

Keeping payroll cost low is important for large corporations but also for startups. The tendency is for startups to scale too quickly. Just because a small business raises a lot of cash to start operations does not mean the CEO should spend it all.  

Milestone accomplishment should drive spending decisions. After a startup hits a milestone, it has leverage to acquire more funding. It’s idealistic to think the startup will make a profit in the first year.

Another great thing about video conferencing is the equipment can be inexpensive. All a startup needs is an internet connection, a computer and projector in a meeting space. The remote workers can use their laptops or cellphones to connect.    

Avoid Recruiting Mistakes

Data mining to find candidates is a great start, but connecting with those people and keeping them interested is all about marketing.  

The online application form should not be a two-hour gauntlet. There certainly should not be any redundant questions. After the candidate completes the form, he should receive something better than an automated response. Within 24 hours, he should definitely either receive a rejection or an invite for a phone interview.

Pre-employment tests for most positions are a waste of time. They do not improve hire quality, and they kind of insulting to the candidate. Asking a candidate to endure more than three interviews is ridiculous and makes the company look incompetent.

Instead of trying to find out what a candidate made at his last job and offering a slight increase, companies should know the correct market value of a position. Great candidates are not going to settle for a below-market salary just because the headquarters building has nap pods.

Perks are good for keeping up morale among current employees. Instead of trying to sound hip by using a buzzword such as “corporate culture,” introduce the candidate to a couple of people he will be working with if hired. Don’t do a team interview. Those can scare off candidates depending on their personality.

Stepping Up

As a company grows, should its employees. Regular training inside the organization that can help employees improve their performance and advance is an inexpensive way to help with retention and improve workforce quality. Companies have to commit to improving, if they want to attract and retain the best employees.  

[rhettmatthewsx]

better keep an eye on RHETT MATTHEWS whenever they are around. Shady gossip describes the THIRTY ONE year old as IMPULSIVE + UNSTABLE, close sources say they’re SWEET + CREATIVE. Can be easily found in MANHATTAN working as A STRUGGLING MUSICIAN. 

Name: Rhett Matthews

Age: 31

Birthday: June 15th

Zodiac: Gemini

Occupation: Currently unemployed, but a struggling musician

Hometown: Cambridge, England

Current Location: Manhattan, New York

Sexuality: Pansexual

Relationship status: Dating Allegra Nardi

About Rhett:

TW: Drug use, drug abuse, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, and drug overdose (TW bullet points will be italicized)

Rhett Matthews was born on June 15th, 1991. He was the the oldest of 7. He had two sisters and 4 brothers. His sisters and two of his brothers were twins.

His parents had to spend most of their time working to pay the bills, so Rhett devoted much of his time to watching over his siblings growing up.

When he wasn’t doing that, he spent all his other time learning how to play music, drawing and painting. Rhett was a very artistically gifted boy. He was far beyond his years when it came to playing music, as well as drawing.

Over his youth, Rhett learned how to play the guitar, piano, bass guitar, cello, violin, trumpet and the drums. His favorites to play were guitar and piano, however, so he mostly focused on those when he could.

His parents always encouraged Rhett to pursue whatever he wanted so he put all his effort into music. Rhett began to write his own songs when he was around twelve years old and never looked back.

When Rhett was twenty years old, he said goodbye to Cambridge and moved to New York City, knowing that his best chance to get on a label was to move to America. And what better place was there than America?

For about a year, he worked odd jobs around the city, saving up every single penny he could so he could rent a recording studio. It was hard, but he managed it and got himself a studio for 3 hours. In those three hours, Rhett put his heart and soul in a demo that he truly believed was going to take him places.

Rhett sent the single out to label, after label, after label and for two years, he hadn’t heard a single response from any of them. He was starting to get discouraged and was starting to think that his dream was dead. But Rhett continued to play at local clubs, just wanting to play music.

Slowly, but surely, responses started to trickle in about his demo and every single response he got, was a denial. None of the labels thought he was a good fit.

Rhett fell into a depression. He wasn’t able to get himself out of bed. Every day it was harder to want to want to be there. Rhett truly thought that he was meant to play music and he was meant to be a rockstar…and without that, he was nothing. Rhett couldn’t dare to think about it.

He attempted to end his life by hanging himself but fortunately for Rhett, his roommate at the time came home and caught him just in time.

For weeks, he still didn’t budge from his bed. He just wallowed. He had a few friends from his local music scene visit him and one in particular knew that Rhett was struggling and offered him a hit of cocaine to try and ease the pain. Having nothing to lose, Rhett obliged and that was his first introduction to drugs.

From there, he quickly spiraled into addiction. He started with cocaine, then moved to smoking crack and once that lost its luster, Rhett found heroin. He has been using it ever since.

After a while, Rhett was finally able to start living his life again, getting random small jobs around town just to make some cash so he could support his lifestyle.

Rhett had missed paying his roommate rent for several months and he was kicked out of his home. With nowhere to go, Rhett lived on the streets for a short time before he found himself living at a homeless shelter. He spent a few months there before he found an ad in the newspaper about an old woman needing a hands-on roommate to take care of her home. Much to his surprise, the ad hadn’t been filled and the old woman, named Rosa, agreed to let Rhett live with her without pay as long as he did all the manual labor of taking care of the home. She was just too old to do it herself anymore.

He lived with her quite a while until he overdosed in her home and she couldn’t stand him living there anymore. Luckily for Rhett, he had his close friend Rylan and she allowed him to move in with her. 

Currently, he is still there with Rylan, struggling to survive, day after day.

[jocrude]

The Pitfalls of YIMBY-ism: Notes on a Freddie DeBoer article.

https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/the-more-density-we-build-the-more Some additional comments on this insightful article by Freddie DeBoer about Yimbys and the “just build” idea. Please read that article first, or don’t I can’t really stop you. Another shortcoming of YIMBY-ism and the "just build" mentality is that by aiming to petition developers to build more, it places its hope for combatting the misery of the working class on the bourgeoisie, rather than directly through/for the working class as an organisation. Realistically, how would you get the developers to build for you? Well, through political action. Now, if you want to take political action against homelessness, high housing costs, and just the general bullshit of being someone who must cough up their hard-earned cash to live like a human and not on the street like a feral animal: a.) You could spend your time as a political organiser organising tenants to fight for themselves for things like lower rent or housing first programs, which has the benefit of utilising already-existing resources rather than relying on new development (more on this later) and, most crucially, building the discipline, experience, consciousness and fighting power of the working class as a class for itself. History (of the labour rights movement, civil rights movements, etc.) has shown us that this is a highly effective, tried-and-true method for improving the conditions of the poor and the working class. b.) Or, you could organise to ask for more buildings, more development, which, in a capitalist economy, would come from the bourgeoisie and probably increase their profits. And of course, the bourgeois exist as bourgeois if/insofar as they generate a profit and minimise loss. If, in this era of great economic decline, the notoriously tight-fisted bourgeoisie would be so charitable as to provide workers housing, it would naturally entail all manner of cost-cutting, hidden costs for tenants, and other fuckery. Do we want houses or flophouses? A working class that fights for itself or a working class that is dependent on corner-cutting bourgeois vampires? Naturally, some would say "well, why not do both?" Am I making a false dichotomy? Political organising is like a second job, that you do without receiving any pay. Lord knows people who can organise even one political action are in short supply, and even if there were people committed/superhuman/masochistic enough to do two at a time, they would be splitting their commitment and brainpower and will between the two. Whole-ass one thing, don't half-ass two things. I also mentioned new development vs existing development: In many cities, there are more already-existing empty homes than homeless. And note also that often in these cities housing is often still very expensive. In places like here in Australia the housing bubble is just about all that keeps us from having the economy of a third-world country (not as much hyperbole in that statement as you might expect!), every capitalist is rubbing their hands raw to keep it pumped full of hot air. There is much more to housing costs than Supply And Demand™️.  How do we know that more development will translate into lower rent? More development translates into nothing but more development. And where does this development happen? And how? Knocking down perfectly good houses for high-density shitholes? Building on the green belt, as if the environment isn't fucked enough already? Near airports, factories, would mentally vulnerable populations benefit from heavy metal poisoning? And do our builders really need *more* silicosis? More at 7, only on Brass Eye. Finally, some would say, "well, the bourgeoisie will fight tooth and nail against anything that empowers the working class. It would be easier to ask for new development than to take the housing from them." Then why isn't the latter happening? I’ve seen tenant unions greatly increasing in popularity, whereas before 2020 it seemed a foreign word even to many leftists. I've seen armed leftists in America preventing evictions in their community. I have not seen any leftists, armed or otherwise, succesfully soliciting new development from the bourgeoisie. Perhaps that is for the best. https://anarchistnews.org/content/why-we%E2%80%99re-against-%E2%80%9Cmutual-aid%E2%80%9D This is a semi-related read about some of the points I bring up. The title is provocative but it's very good.

[undercut-mcqueer]

i hate feeling guilty about spending money dsmfkldsfj like im literally just gonna spend £40 on a piercing like. i have £300+ in the bank??? why am i feeling bad for spending it

being poor fucking sucks lmao

[cheesus-doodles]

Can we get more info on this underground team ceo baji has for beating up people that make his secretary cry? I feel like he stays in contact with boten! Mikey and sometimes ask for his help in exchange for like money or info on someone that hunting down.

Link to relevant HCs!

Masterlist

‎

hmm been brainstorming a bit on this, let me try and answer

tw: yandere, mentions of violence and death

I would say Baji probably started off trying to keep his darker needs to himself - even if he knows the kind of crimes that Mikey and by extension Bonten, is involved in and that his friends already know him to behave in such a manner when it comes to you, Baji would be hesitant to reveal to them just how far he was willing to go to keep you happy and by his side. Deep down, this boy doesn't want to lose the trust of some of his closest friends by asking for help with his dirty work, doesn't want his friends to how they view him and act around him, especially a friend as close as Mikey. Or the worst possible scenario, have them rat him out as a man with blood on his hands to innocent, naive you - no matter what the intentions, Baji couldn't imagine going on without you beside him as his bestfriend.

So the "underground team" definitely started off as a random gang of yakuza members Baji hires off the streets of Tokyo - first job involving a fair sum of cash to dispose of a badly maimed body, the remains of someone that had thought it would be funny to grope you at the business event he had invited you to. They were supposed to be a pretty well-known gang in the area, obviously interested in earning ludicrous amounts of money for comparatively easy tasks but when they quickly realize who their new benefactor was - Baji being the big name CEO he was with his picture plastered across newspapers - as the jobs rolled in, that was when the threats of exposure and the attempted extortion started.

Baji honestly wouldn't have cared more - having the connections and deep pockets he had to be able to brush off almost everything that they could throw at him, plus it was his word against theirs with no other physical evidence - if not for that you would get dragged in and that what he had been secretly pulling off behind your back would be all revealed to you. Even if it was for your own good, or so he convinced himself, this baby boy can't bear the thought of even the potential of losing your friendship over such inconsequential nonsense - he knew that it would be hard to pull off a lie as big as this in the face of those doe eyes of his bestfriend.

And that was when Baji finally decided to turn to Mikey for help. Didn't need to say much more than just the initial apologies to disappointed questions about why Mikey wasn't approached for help sooner - the entire yakuza gang was wiped off the face of the earth the next night with no traces - a clear warning to everyone else not to mess with Baji or Bonten. Not that the police really bothered with that disappearance, just chalking it up to Bonten in the news and leaving it at that.

Now, instead of a rag tag group, its a specialized, trusted team handpicked and put together by Mikey that assists Baji with anything and everything he wants to do. On call 24/7, this team is run from the shadows by Kakucho, but has no clear affiliation linking them back to Bonten. Body disposal? Done in the next hour, not even a smeared fingerprint to be found. Murder? Dead by the next night. Kidnapping? Just name the place and time, and he'll find his target waiting for due punishment.

Now with this Bonten structure in place, its a breeze for Baji to deal with people he viewed as rivals trying to squirm their way into your life. A message was all was needed to have the pests exterminated, he didn't even need to lift a finger if he didn't want to, or if he rather spend his time cuddled up in your lap, soaking up your affection and attention.

But its kind of a two-way beneficial exchange here - Baji would never dream of receiving favours from Mikey without returning them, not to a friend that he has known as long and been through as much with. Rather than just money and information, which Bonten definitely already have plenty of given how ginormous his criminal organization is, Baji with his position in one of the biggest companies in the country would know all sorts of other company and political bigwigs. He would be the man that would be able to say pull a few political strings to get Sanzu released from prison without a single charge for the third time this week, or the one that could organize large scale deliveries of materials that would usually have the police raise an eyebrow with a good discount.

Need a new base? Its a phone call away for Baji. Caught importing firearms by the logistics firm? Not a deal, Bonten'll find their delivery waiting for them undisturbed. Anything in the legal world can be handled no sweat.

And so your world turns without a hint to the undercurrents pushing your seemingly uneventful life along.

[lostinthewiind]

Piss Off Your Parents - Part 1

Ukai Keishin - Haikyuu

Synopsis: freshly turned 18, you want to prove to your parents that you aren't a child for them to push around anymore. First, get a job at the local corner store. Second, use the store owner's 26-year-old son with piercings and a cigarette addiction to piss your parents off. Third, accidentally fall in love.

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: none

Song → 18 by Anarbor

A/N: if you couldn’t already tell, I have planned this as a series/full story. I was torn between writing it on here or on Wattpad or something, but ultimately decided on Tumblr . . . but let me know if you would prefer it on another platform as well! Also, this series will eventually include smut/NSFW content but that will be tagged appropriately when the time comes. As always, I hope you enjoy. 

Next →Part 2

Slamming the front door behind yourself on your way out that morning, you quickly stuffed your earbuds into your ears and cranked your music as loud as you could to drown out the sounds of your parents yelling after you and, consequently, at one another after you had dropped the bomb about your new job on them seconds before you had left, giving them as little time as possible to shame you for it.

After graduating high school and turning 18, you had decided it was time to take your life into your hands, which wasn’t too easy while you were still living under your parents’ roof, but you had to start somewhere and that somewhere was getting a job at the local corner store, Sakanoshita Market. 

You knew that your parents wanted you to go to university and ‘make something of yourself’, but you also knew that you could never truly be happy under their dictatorship-like ruling, so you decided to get a job, no matter how shitty, save your money, move out as soon as possible, and go from there. 

It was definitely going to be a process, and not an easy one, but all you had to do was take it one step at a time.

Rounding the corner and seeing the market in the distance, you felt your nerves begin to bubble inside of you a little. Sure, you had gotten some part-time jobs here and there during summer vacation before, but you had never gotten a full-time job before and had never needed the money from a job like you did now. Before, the cash you made was for extra spending money during the summer and school year, but now the money you would be making would be funding your future. It seemed like a lot of pressure to put on a job that entailed stocking shelves, checking out customers, and cleaning. 

The lady who had hired you had basically explained that since she was getting older and her son, who had been maintaining the place previously, had gotten a new job, the store needed someone to learn the ropes and take care of the place on a daily basis; and since you were young, a fast learner, and didn’t have anything else in your life besides work, you were a perfect fit. 

As the shop doors slid open smoothly to welcome you into the store you had been inside countless times in the past, you suddenly felt completely out of place in the familiar market. Now that you were an employee instead of a customer, the atmosphere had completely shifted. Instead of heading right for the fridges to grab a drink like you usually did, your eyes shifted immediately to the front counter where a figure with its feet up hid behind an open newspaper.

Just like every other time you had visited while the store owner’s son was working, he did everything humanly possible to avoid interaction. Usually, you would have appreciated not being bothered while trying to scan the shelves, but since this time was different, the lack of acknowledgement was slightly unnerving. 

“Ahem,” you cleared your throat, hoping it was enough to catch his attention. It was not. Instead, he flipped the page of the newspaper and you watched as a hand emerged from behind the paper barrier to flick the ashes from his cigarette into an ashtray sitting beside the register. 

Eyebrows furrowed, you really wished that the shop owner herself had been there to greet you for your first day instead of her seemingly useless son. “Hello.” You stepped up to the counter, the feeling of not belonging sinking deeper into your bones. 

Slowly, the newspaper separating you from the man behind the counter lowered and the shop owner’s son glared back at you, eyes half-lidded as if he were seconds away from falling asleep and the cigarette from before hanging from his bottom lip. This was far from the first time you had interacted with him, but you would be surprised if he remembered you as a customer even a little. Whenever he checked customers out, you could tell he was running on autopilot. 

The man’s eyes drifted down to your hands, which were resting on top of the counter now. Noticing you didn’t have anything to purchase, he cocked a brow. “Need help finding somethin’?” 

“Ugh, no,” you answered. “I’m the new employee. I’m supposed to start today.”

His eyes scanned you once more, this time more thoroughly, and you swallowed hard. Feeling as if you were being observed under a microscope, you slid your hands off of the counter and stuffed them into your pockets self-consciously. 

As he inspected you inch by inch, you took the time to take a closer look at him as well. With dyed blonde hair, two earrings in his left ear, an apparent nicotine addiction, and a noticeably flippant attitude toward his job, he was the definition of the type of man your parents would kill you for bringing home. Somehow, this only made him more intriguing. You wondered if he really was as disinterested in everything as he seemed or if it was just this job he thoroughly hated and became someone a lot more interesting when he wasn’t behind a counter.

“How old are you?” he asked out of the blue, catching you off guard a little. While he waited for you to answer, he set the newspaper to the side, dragged his feet from the counter top, and patted out some of the wrinkles from the white apron he had tied around his bright orange sweatshirt. 

“I’m 18,” you responded, not sure why it mattered but also not seeing any harm in answering honestly. 

Seconds later, the door to the back of the shop and storage room opened and the familiar face of the woman who had hired you stepped into view. “Oh, Y/N!” she greeted happily; much more enthusiastically and welcoming than her son. “Sorry about that, I was just getting some last minute things together.” She eyed her son out of the corner of her eye and noted the fresh embers in the ashtray. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

“No, I just got here,” you told her. 

“Good.” She smiled sweetly before turning to her son. “Well, you can head out now, Keishin. Thank you for watching the counter.”

“Yeah,” the man, Keishin, grunted as he untied the apron from around his waist, slipped it over his head, and hung it up on a hook behind the counter. “See ya.”

With that, Keishin left, leaving you and his mother alone. Wasting no time, Mrs. Sakanoshita, whom the store was named after, got right to work on teaching you the basics and gifting you with a white apron of your own to wear while on the job. Since it was the middle of the day and the customer flow was relatively slow, she introduced you to how the register and scanner at the counter worked before moving on to unpacking boxes.

Just like you had promised on your resume and during the interview, you were a quick learner and Mrs. Sakanoshita was more than pleased to see you picking up the job quickly and efficiently. 

By the time the after work/school rush of patrons picking up items on their way home had begun, you were feeling confident in your abilities and, with your boss by your side to answer any questions you may have, you checked out customer after customer, building up muscle memory for scanning items, collecting cash, opening the register, handing out receipts, and sending customers on their merry way. 

All in all, the job was quickly growing on you. You liked the fact that, for the most part, you were the only employee on duty, so when there weren’t any customers in the store, you could work silently on unpacking boxes without having to worry about making small talk or being friendly with any coworkers. In fact, as far as you knew, the only people who worked at the store at all were you, Mrs. Sakanoshita, and her son, Keishin. 

It seemed as though you had really landed a sweet gig. 

After showing you how to lock up, Mrs. Sakanoshita headed home for the night, leaving you to finish stocking the shelves and cleaning the shop before you would head home as well.

Now that you were truly the only person left, you walked over to the old radio you had spotted on the counter during training that day and fiddled with the dials, trying to get some music playing to accompany you during your evening chores. After some careful handiwork and enduring some horrendous static and high-pitched screeching while searching for a station, you settled on what sounded like some old instrumental music and got to work on stocking the remaining shelves.

Throughout your shift, you quickly learned that the store got quite warm during the day and you had needed to tie your hair up to keep the back of your neck from dripping with sweat. The night wasn’t much better either, especially since the lack of customers so late meant that the doors rarely opened, keeping the cold night air outside and the warm store air inside. 

After finishing the last box of supplies, you exhaled and wiped your brow. You were exhausted, that was for sure, but you still had to sweep. 

Deciding to take a quick break, you turned toward the floor-to-ceiling fridges at the back of the shop and pulled open the door, sighing happily when the cool air hit your skin. Exhaling slowly, you snickered when you saw your breath fog up in front of you face. 

“You’re letting all the cold air out.”

You shrieked when you heard a voice in your right ear and slammed the fridge door shut, jumping back in the process. Thanks to the music from the radio and the loud hum of the generator that kept the fridges cold, you hadn’t heard the front doors slide open or the footsteps of Keishin approaching you.

“Jesus!” You clamped your hand over your chest. “You scared the shit out of me!”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Sorry?”

“What are you doing here?”

Keishin glared at you. “You work here one day and suddenly act like you own the place?”

Realizing how rude your question had come across, you composed yourself and rephrased. “What I meant was, your mom didn’t say you were coming back.”

Pointing upward, Keishin sighed, disinterested. “I live in the apartment above the shop.”

“Oh.” Things started making much more sense and you suddenly felt pretty embarrassed for how you had reacted. 

“Yeah . . . oh.” He rolled his eyes, but it didn’t come across necessarily rude but more like he was exhausted and you were adding to said exhaustion. “Why were you standing with the door open anyway?”

As he spoke, he stepped toward you. At first, your feet felt cemented to the floor and you didn’t move. But when he persisted closer, you eventually stumbled back and Keishin opened the fridge door you had been standing in front of to grab a beer from inside. With drink in hand, he eyed you once again, waiting for an answer.

“It’s really hot,” you said, gesturing to his orange sweater. “I don’t know how you wear that thing in here.”

Looking down at his apparel, he just shrugged. “You’ll get used to it.” He turned and started for the counter, presumably to pay for the drink he had just taken. “In the future, stand outside if you’re warm.”

“Okay.” You nodded, mindlessly tailing him. You had to grab the broom from behind the counter anyway, but that was the furthest thing from the front of your mind at that moment. If anything, you were still trying to calm down a little from being startled and now being alone with your boss’s son. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” He popped the tab on the beer, settled into the stool behind the counter, and downed at least half of the drink in a few large gulps. 

You watched him, probably a little too closely, and as you did you found yourself reexamining the features you had taken note of earlier that day: the dyed blonde hair held out of his face with a thin black headband, the natural brown hair that peeked out from the roots, the two small silver hoop earrings in his left ear, the scent of cigarette smoke that clung to him like how the smell of rain clung to the air after a heavy storm. 

Noticing your gaze, which would have been nearly impossible to miss, Keishin quirked a brow at you and held out the can of beer toward you. “You want a sip?”

Startled from your thoughts, you shook your head. “I’m only 18.” You reminded him.

“Oh, right.” He withdrew the can and took another sip, this one much smaller than the first few. “Then why are you looking at me like that?”

Eyes wide, you thought quick to come up with an excuse. “The broom.” You pointed to the item behind him. “Can you pass me the broom?”

After handing you the broom, Keishin pulled a slip of paper and a pen out from his pocket and started writing and scribbling things down, sipping the remainder of his beer occasionally and ignoring you completely. 

Trying to avoid staring at Keishin anymore than you already had, you started sweeping at the far end of the store and left the area around and behind the counter for last. Eventually, though, you had worked your way back over to the the silent man and was forced to clean the floor behind where he was sitting, trying hard not to disturb him.

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of what he was so focused on; it looked like a crude drawing of a volleyball court. “What’s that?” you asked, the words leaving your mouth before you realized you were being rude again and snooping.

Keishin, however, didn’t seem angry or annoyed in the slightest. “Volleyball positions,” he huffed. It was clear he was growing frustrated.

“You play volleyball?”

He shook his head and looked over his shoulder at you. “I used to. Now I coach the boy’s team at Karasuno.”

“I went to Karasuno,” you said mindlessly, just trying to make conversation at that point. 

He hummed in response and turned his attention back to the sheet before him. “Did you play volleyball?”

“No. Soccer.”

“Do you still play?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Do you still play volleyball?”

“With a neighbourhood association sometimes . . . but not really.”

“Why?”

The corners of his mouth curling up into a smirk, Keishin looked back to you once more. “I asked you first.”

“It’s not a good answer.” You leaned against the broom handle and sighed. “Don’t have the time.”

“You’re young and just graduated high school. You’ve got nothing but time.”

“Not with this job.”

Keishin scoffed, folded the paper, and shoved it back into his pocket with the pen. “Speaking of which, why would you take such a boring job at a store like this?”

You just shrugged. “I need the money.”

“Don’t you live with your parents?”

“That’s the problem,” you said, noticing the confusion on his face. “I told you it wasn’t a good answer.”

“Do they know you work here?”

“Do they know? Yes,” you answered truthfully. “Do they like it? Absolutely not.”

Keishin grinned at that before finishing his beer and tossing the empty can into the recycling bin beside the front door. “So you’re one of those teens, huh?”

You frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Trust me, kid, pissing off your parents just for the sake of it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“You think I’m doing all this just because I can?”

“Aren’t you?”

“No.”

“Why then?”

“That story’s too long and convoluted for me to recite right now . . . especially to some old dude I just met today.”

Keishin chuckled under his breath, hands stuffed into his pockets as he headed for the door at the back of the shop so he could head upstairs to his apartment. “’Old dude’,” he repeated, clearly amused. “Don’t forget to lock up before you go home.”

As he turned his back to you, your curiosity got the better of you. “How old are you?”

Stopping in his tracks, Keishin pulled out a carton of cigarettes from his pants’ pocket along with a lighter. After placing the smoke between his lips, he lit it and inhaled deeply. “Too old for you, sweetheart,” he spoke while exhaling, smoke spilling from his lips as he smirked at you. 

With that, he disappeared into the back. You wanted to shout after him that you had told him how old you were without hesitation when he had asked, but you stayed silent instead. 

As much as his presence unnerved you and his superiority complex aggravated you, you still found yourself inexplicably drawn to him. Maybe it was because he seemed completely disinterested in you, or maybe it was because he was everything you were always told to stay away from. 

The one thing you did know, however, was that if everyone around you was going to keep trying to convince you they knew how you should live your life better than you did, you were going to prove to them just how they wrong they were one way or another.