#because there is no WAY the tuition is this low but they offered me this amount of funding. no way.

[waitineedaname]

I keep looking at this tuition calculator, certain something must be wrong. canadians, are you aware of how good you have it

[astriiformes]

I'm glad to see posts circulating listing some of the significant legislation Tim Walz has supported as governor of Minnesota, but there's one I haven't seen mentioned yet that I think is really important for young voters to know about--the North Star Promise program, aka the reason I can afford to finish my Bachelor's degree.

Some of you may remember me posting about my financial aid offer being a lot more generous this year. That because Minnesota just implemented a scholarship program that makes undergraduate college tuition free for students with family incomes of less than $80,000 attending state or tribal colleges. As in, if after other grants and scholarships have been applied, you still owe money for tuition, the state of Minnesota will pay the rest.

Obviously tuition isn't the only expense associated with being a college student--I still am taking out student loans to help cover things like rent and other cost of living expenses--but it is the biggest one. As a low-income, non-traditional student paying my own way through college (and with a disabled partner who cannot work), I was genuinely unsure if I was going to be able to finish my degree before the North Star Promise program was implemented, and it has freed me from so much stress and worry.

A lot of factors had to combine to make a program like this possible --activists had to push for it, Minnesota had to vote in a Democratic majority in the state legislature to pass it, and we had to have a governor willing to sign the program into law--but it is still significant it was something Walz was willing to put his name on. And I cannot fathom how many lives it would change if he was willing to push for something similar to this at the federal level. So, keeping in mind that we have to vote up and down the ballot as well as keep the pressure on our elected officials to support programs like this once folks are in office, let's make it happen.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Summer Breeze 12

Warnings: age gap (reader is 22, Andrew is mid 40s), dad’s friend, Andy being Andrew, other dark elements. As usual, be mindful of your content consumption.

I also beg of you to leave me some tuppence in the form of a comment and/or reblog. You are cherished!

Enjoy, my loverlies.

You wake up shivering. The AC blasts over your bare legs and speckles across your skin. You roll over as your skull rattles. Your left eye twitches as you sit up and hug the pillow against your middle for warmth. 

For a second, you’re at your dad’s house; the next you’re in the cabin; and at last, you come back to the present. 

Andy’s voice rolls in a low timbre but you can’t make out his words. His tone is dire and has you stumbling to your feet. Something’s wrong. Your dad! 

You follow it to the kitchen and find him with his hand to his ear. He’s on the phone with someone. Your phone. You blink as you stare at your pearl case. He nods in recognition and wraps up the call. He comes around the square island and offers you the cell. 

“It kept going off.” He explains. 

“Was it the hospital? Is dad okay?” You nearly snatch it away. 

“No, no. I called earlier. He’s going through some tests and exercises.” He crosses his arms and leans on the counter. “That was the insurance company.” 

“Insurance?” You cringe and lower your hand to your side. You squeeze the phone tight. 

“I know, shouldn’t have touched it but you were out and I was concerned. You got enough on your plate.” 

“What-- what did they say? Why did they call?” You demand. 

Did they change their mind? What there something else you can do? Andy purses his lips and rubs along the angle of his jaw, his other hand still folded over his chest. 

“Claim denied. You’ll have to deal directly with the hospital for payment.” He exhales and frowns. “Those kinda bills are never easy. I know it well. A lot to deal with on top of everything else.” 

“Yeah, I... I spoke with them before but... I haven’t had time to figure out—I could get a credit card? Or a loan? Maybe. I don’t have anything on my credit so...” You shrug and shake your head. “It’s not your problem.” 

“But I can help.” 

You flinch at his offer. You scoff and wave the phone at him. “No, no. You’ve done so much. More than enough. I couldn’t... couldn’t ask that. No. No.” You’re arguing with yourself as much as him. “I can do this. I’m an adult and it’s my responsibility. I’ll... I’ll drop out. Dad has my tuition in savings. I’ll have to look over his accounts and--” 

“What about the nurse? The physio? The counseling?” Andy asks. 

You freeze and stare at him. You shiver again but not because you’re cold. You grimace and move your lips wordlessly. 

“This isn’t just a hospital stay, sweetheart. This is going to be a long recovery. It could even be the rest of his life.” 

His grim tone sinks into your stomach and you feel sick. You press a hand to your cheek and nod. You roll your eyes up in an effort to bid back the tears. 

“I know. I’ll... I’ll figure it out. I will. I can... I have to.” You turn way to hide your mounting distress.

You don’t think you can do all of this. You didn’t think about tomorrow or the next day or next month or next year. What do you do when the savings run out? You don’t even know how much your dad has? 

“You don’t have to do it alone. I could--” 

“Why would you help?” You spin to face him. “I’m young and scared but I’m not naive. No one just helps someone like that. Someone they barely know. Even my mom--” You choke back a sob and steady yourself. 

“Your dad’s my friend.” 

“Yeah, for what? A couple of years?” You put the heel of your hand and the butt of your phone to your temples. 

“You’re a nice girl. I wanna help.” 

“Why?” You ask. 

“Because you shouldn’t have to do this alone.” 

“No, why did you answer the phone?” Tendrils creep up your back and wrap around your neck. You drop your arms. “Why... why did you rent this house? Why are you doing all of this?” 

“You need it--” 

“Answer my question. I can’t-- I can’t handle anything else.” You snap. “I’ve been so distracted, so swept up in it all that I didn’t stop to think why a fifty-year old man is doing all of this?” 

He’s quiet as your heart thumps and you look him in the face. He stares back and a line forms in his forehead as his cheek dimples. The silver at his temples is more obvious and the speckle in his beard as well. This man is your father’s age. He might be a neighbour and a friend but your dad isn’t exactly the nicest guy. 

“I do want to help.” He speaks at last. The lilt in his voice says it all. All your suspicions coil tightly in your chest. “I could help. I could take care of you and your dad. I would--” 

“Jesus. Are you serious?” You warble through the swell in your throat. “It’s... no, no, not that. How—you could be my father?! Your son--” 

“I’m not your father.” He insists tersely. “And I’m not too old.” 

“Oh god!” You hit your head in frustration. “I’m so stupid. I’m so goddamn stupid. How could I—but why would I ever--” You rant wildly as you pace around frantically. You spin and face the walls and examine every inch. “I-- I’m already fucked. I’m--” 

Your legs shake and you wobble around. You stagger into the door frame and cling to it. You heave, a sharp whistle rising from your throat with each crushing breath. Your tears roll down your cheeks and you slide down to your knees. You claw at your neck as the air snags in your throat. 

“Sweetheart,” Andy nears and kneels. He touches your back and you flinch. “You gotta breathe. You’re having a panic attack.” 

“Y-yeah. I—ammmmm.” You squeak as your vision swims and you grip the door frame tightly. 

“It’s okay.” He coaxes and rubs between your shoulders. 

“No-” 

“I’m not asking for much--” 

Your head pulses and you sit back on your heels. Your look at him in a flume of rage and horror. You slap his shoulder. Once, twice, again. Then you shove him away from you. You sob and fall forward onto your hands and shake in a storm of grief. 

This can’t be real. You just need your dad. You need him to hug you and tell you it’s going to be okay. 

[nerdygaymormon]

Thoughts from Gather Conference

The first speaker at the Gather Conference was Dr. Greg Peterson, president of Salt Lake Community College. He described the model of a community college, which has a 100% acceptance rate, low tuition costs, and recognizes that not all students will get a degree but may be there just for a few classes or taking one class at a time as that's all their life can handle. A university, especially an elite one, has a low acceptance rate and a prescribed ways for how students should progress through school and earn a degree. It is designed for elite students who are likely to succeed in this model.

Gathering Zion should be more like a community college. It feels like Jesus runs a community college while our church runs an elite university as it caters to those who are likely to complete the covenant path without much to offer those whose life doesn't fit its model. As a queer person, I absolutely know what it feels like to not feel like I'm wanted or welcome at church because I'm don't fit the model and not likely (according to the leaders) to reach the highest heaven.

Jenn Blosil, who was a contestant on American Idol, is quite humorous and she performed a beautiful arrangement of the song "All Are Alike unto God." I hope her version gets released, otherwise I'm gonna have to rip an mp3 when the video is released.

In her presentation, Liv Mendoza Haynes commented "You can't parent a child who is gone" as part of talking about how parents need to be loving and affirming of their LGBTQ children because the consequences of rejecting this part of them has serious consequences. She also said when Jesus was suffering in the Garden, He didn't suffer for people simply because they're LGBT because that's not something to repent of, it isn't wrong.

I believe it was David Butler who said that being an LGBTQ Latter-day Saint is making communion out of contradiction. Many people think the two are incompatible yet we exist.

When we feel safe with others, we let down our guard and enter healing.

These next few quotes are something an individual (I can't remember her name) said to me.

"What do we know of God? One who creates and mentors. When we engage in acts of creativity and creation, when we engage in encouraging and including and loving others, that's when we're likely to feel the Divine."

"When we hide in the closet, when we hide who we are, we are hiding our light. Once there's a crack and we let someone know our secret that we're queer, the bright light comes flooding out of that crack. In a way, it is a birth. As we learn not to hid ourselves, we learn to see and be ourselves, to introduce ourselves to the world."

Someone asked, "Who is the protagonist of the Restoration? Is it Joseph Smith? Moroni? Neither, WE are!"

Dr. Lisa Diamond from the University of Utah shared some information from her research. Being a minority can feel like being threatened, we spend our time being on guard and feeling stressed. This causes our bodies to produce inflammation because that's useful if we might be wounded. But if there's not a physical wound, inflammation causes damage. As a result, minorities often suffer chronic health problems at high rates, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and many other problems.

A panelist said that there's not a faith stronger than people who come despite knowing they aren't wanted. If there is a parable to exemplify this type of faith exhibited by queer people, it is the woman touching the fringe of Jesus' clothes.

[saras-devotionals]

Quiet Time 8/22

What am I feeling today?

Still numb but also frustrated but also grateful. It’s a multitude really. I’m numb most likely due to a current depressive episode, I’ve just been so out of it lately and also a little discourage but equally relieved but also anxious. I thought there was a responsibility I’d have to take it though that’s no longer the case which is a relief but I know there’s still work I must do which is giving me some anxiety. I’m frustrated because the fall semester starts on Monday and none of my professors have posted the courses yet and I just found out for my longest clinical rotation we’re not allowed to use the lockers so I can’t bring anything with me including a lunch and I just don’t have the money to purchase that every week (also I don’t like the cafeteria at that hospital). Finally, grateful, because through it all God is good. He knows what I can handle and what I need and He will not abandon me. I was looking at my aid and I got a new scholarship which covers what I’ve already paid, my hope is that I’ll be refunded what I had to pay in tuition because that would greatly benefit me. However, if not, amen, I completely understand and accept it for what it is.🙏🏼

JOB 22 NIV

‭‭Job‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless?”

Basically, there’s nothing in our knowledge that can be given or offered to God when He has already given us everything. Also with the second part, I think it means God doesn’t personally gain anything from our righteousness but it is celebrated and from our lives we can lead other people down the same path to Him.

Job 22:5 NIV

“Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?”

Just a very true statement. By the grace of God our sins were washed away by the blood of Jesus during baptism but that’s not to say that we don’t sin or are not in need of forgiveness still. It’s imperative that we confess to one another and strive to continually do His will and not ours.

Job 22:21-30 NIV

““Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast. He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.””

I really love this. It’s very clear on how we must submit to God, to trust Him, to accept His instruction (from the Bible) and store it in our hearts. That He must be much more valuable than gold to us! That we must find our delight in Him! We’ll pray and He will hear us🥹 He is just so good to us and we really truly don’t deserve it at all but He is our father who loves us so dearly and it’s the least we can do to love Him back just as much.

[quietblueriver]

Prompts!

Will you hold my hand?

They can't look at you like that!

Will you hold my hand?

Quick thing #2. Avatrice + Diego fluff. Thanks for the prompt!

-

She’s been waiting on this for a long time. There wasn’t time or capacity or, really, much to offer in the face of a possible apocalypse, but now that things have settled, that she’s able to live her life, Ava’s also able to help a few other people live theirs.

Nobody gets to enjoy the perks of martyrdom, which Ava guesses is kind of the point, but now that she’s back? Well, she’s cashing in on some of that goodwill and the Church doesn’t seem super eager to fight her. Cam finds Diego easily because he is, somehow, exactly where she’d left him. As soon as they have confirmation and a list of names, Mother Superion makes a call.

Two days later, there’s an address and an assurance of “state-of-the-art facilities” and “hospital affiliation” and “coverage of tuition and all related costs.” It’s what every kid should get, of course, and she thinks she’ll spend a lot of time trying to make that happen, but she feels happy to start here.

Diego is the oldest of the ten kids left at a smaller but still running St. Michael’s. Two nuns are there with them, ancient but, clearing the world’s lowest caretaking bar, not sadistic, and they don’t ask questions or fight when Mother Superion shows up with Camila and Dora and some strange but impressive paperwork, herding the kids into a van.

They call after dropping them off at the new facility, confirming that it is, as promised, excellent in all of the ways that St. Michael’s wasn’t. When Ava hangs up, she curls into Beatrice in their bed and cries for a little while, a steady heartbeat in her ear and a steady hand running through her hair.

“Do you think it would be okay for me to see him?”

Ava feels her response as she says it, voice low and close, “I think he would love to see you, and I think it would be wonderful for you both, if it’s something that you want.”

“I want it so bad, Bea. I just…I don’t want to mess him up. Or, mess him up more, I guess. Y’know, he has a fresh start now. He deserves that.”

The hand in her hair stills as Beatrice shifts slightly so that she can look Ava in the eye. She’s gentle, always so gentle with Ava, as she strokes a calloused finger across her cheek.

“Ava. Darling. He loves you. And you love him. You were there for each other in that awful place.”

“He saw me kill a nun, Bea.”

Her eyes harden. “He saw you protect yourself, and him, from an abuser. He thought you were an angel for a reason.”

She softens again, adds, “It might be a little difficult for him to understand your…change in circumstances.” Ava snorts and Beatrice tilts her head and shrugs the shoulder Ava’s not laying on in acknowledgement of that fucking understatement. “He might have a hard time understanding what happened and why, but more than anything, he’ll be happy that you’re back in his life.”

Ava settles back into her chest and Bea scratches at her back in the way that she loves, pulling up the hem of her shirt just slightly so that she can reach skin. She hums happily and wiggles in appreciation.

“And,” she continues, nails running gradually higher, “he’s old enough to have seen some of what happened over the last year, no matter how hard the sisters might have tried to shelter him. Not that they seemed to be trying particularly hard. In any case, I’m sure Diego understands now more than ever that strange things are possible.”

Bea’s right, of course. She decides, then, that she’ll talk to Mother Superion tomorrow to see what the best way to organize a meeting might be. In the meantime, she has a few other things she’d like to accomplish.

She rolls away just slightly so that she can push herself up and over, straddling Bea’s thighs and leaning forward to undo her bun, balancing with one arm on her shoulder. Beatrice makes a somewhat strangled noise, hands moving to Ava’s hips, and Ava smirks, because yeah she wants Bea’s hair down but it’s not exactly an accident that she’s chosen to do it this way. She presses her chest forward just slightly, feels Beatrice’s breath hot on her clavicle, the almost-whine that escapes her as Ava finishes with her hair tie.

“Has anyone ever told you,” she combs her hands through the loose hair and settles back, “that you’re very, very smart?” Beatrice is not looking at her face. Ava grins, thrills at the blush on Bea’s face when Ava slips a finger under her chin to tilt her head back and redirect her eyes. She doesn’t give her a real chance to answer, kissing her briefly and then dragging her lips down her throat. “And also.” she slips her hands under Bea’s shirt and tugs it up, Beatrice lifting her arms to assist so eagerly that Ava can’t help but breathe out a laugh against her newly available and perfect collarbones. “Very, very hot.”

“Oh?” Beatrice offers, eyes darkening.

“Yeah.” She trails her lips lower, moving her body down the bed until her palms are pressed to the mattress just beside Bea’s hips. She meets Bea’s eyes again, grins. “But show is always better than tell.”

-

Ava’s waiting anxiously, bouncing on her toes, and when the van pulls in, the doors are hardly open before a tiny blur is coming at her, hurling himself into her arms. She can lift him now, easy, and she spins him around and laughs, ruffles his slightly longer hair. “Diego, my guy. I’m so happy to see you.”

Beatrice is standing off to the side, there at Ava’s insistence, and Ava turns to her now, arm still around Diego’s shoulders, and says, “D, this is Beatrice, my girlfriend.” Beatrice, perfect Beatrice, offers a hand and turns her full attention to him. “Hello, Diego. It’s so nice to meet you. Ava has told me so many wonderful things about you.” She says it with the kind of Beatrice sincerity that makes Ava want to cry a little, and her voice is softer than it would be with a grown-up, but only just slightly, something comforting instead of something patronizing.

Diego’s blushing a little, which Ava understands completely and also finds to be really fucking cute, as he shakes her hand and says, “Hello. It’s very nice to meet you, too.”

Ava jumps a little as she says, “Okay. So. What do you think about a beach day?”

Diego lights up, and Ava keeps it together, barely.

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

He laughs and hugs her again and says, a little loudly but Ava couldn’t care less, “Yeah!”

-

They take Diego to pick a swimsuit, purple with green octopi winning in a close race against blue with orange turtles. He chooses a green rash guard to match, Beatrice extolling the virtues of UV-protection, and then they select an excessive number of sandcastle construction tools, packing them all into a beach bag that Beatrice carries easily while she and Diego debate the perfect spot for their towels.

Ava takes a minute to grab her water from the bag as Beatrice and Diego begin discussing the logistics of castle-building, and it’s really almost too much for her, watching these people that she has loved so powerfully in such different parts of her life sit together and seriously map out a floor plan in the sand. Bea, taking her own advice, has on a black rash guard and green board shorts, hair in a ponytail threaded through a black cap. Her eyes are focused, moving between their layout and Diego, who is busy looking up at Bea in something close to awe. Again, she gets it, and she takes the chance to watch for a little while, until Diego looks over at her and says, very seriously, “Ava, how do you feel about a double moat?”

It’s easy, so easy, to spend the day with them. The castle is more impressive than anything Ava would have been able to build with Diego on her own, Beatrice critically examining sand-to-water ratios and consulting Diego on every decision. A few other kids, Diego’s age and a little younger, look on, clapping at the successful installation of a new turret, until their adults call them away.

Beatrice unpacks the fruit and chips Diego had picked and, after a short time splashing in the shallow water, they get ice cream, sitting under an umbrella stand and watching the water.

When they get back to the towels, it’s obvious that Diego is a little tired, and Beatrice says, almost shyly, “Diego, I brought something I thought you might like.” She pulls a copy of Percy Jackson from their bag. “It was one of my favorites, when I was your age.”

Ava knows this is mostly true. Beatrice had loved it, although by the time she was Diego’s age, she was reading books many people didn’t read until college. She’d asked Ava before buying it, “He won’t think it’s silly?” And Ava had assured her that he would love it and then kissed her, like, a lot.

Diego’s holding the book a little reverently, still not used to anyone giving him anything, much less anything new with this kind of thought and care. “Cool,” he breathes out, the highest compliment he can give, really, and he looks at them both as he says, “Can I read it now?”

Ava lays a hand on Beatrice’s knee. “Yeah, D. Absolutely. We brought books too.”

Beatrice pulls their books out, and they settle happily on the towels. By the time the sun is setting, he’s made it through a surprising amount, and Beatrice offers, easily, as she packs their bag, “I’ll send you the next one, if you like it.”

“Thanks, Bea.” He says it like it’s something he’s said a thousand times, closing the book and looking at her earnestly, and Ava knows it means something, for Beatrice to have someone else, a child, be this comfortable with her.

“You’re welcome.”

Diego is staying the night with them, so they’re not in a particular hurry, and when Ava watches him staring at the Ferris wheel as they walk the boardwalk, she nudges Bea a little and nods in its direction. Beatrice nods and squeezes her fingers.

“Hey, Diego.” He looks back at her. “Wanna go on the Ferris wheel?”

By the time they reach the wheel, Diego’s a little more hesitant. It’s understandable—the thing is huge, and the carriages are all glass, and Ava knows he has never done anything like this before. He doesn’t stop, though, leading them into the line for tickets and then into the line to wait. The carriages are big, but there aren’t enough people that they fill, each group getting one to themselves. When it’s their turn, the attendant opens the door and Diego hesitates a little before stepping up, Ava and Beatrice following closely.

Before Ava can say anything, Beatrice has let her hand go to stand close to him. She says, gentle in all the same ways she is with Ava, “Diego, I’m a little scared of heights. Would you mind holding my hand?”

He knows, she thinks, what Beatrice is doing, but the smile he gives her is grateful and he grabs her hand without hesitation. “That’s okay, Bea. Me too. We can do it together.”

Ava stands beside them, leaning into Beatrice, and they watch the sun set over the ocean.

[theonceandfuturequeenoftarts]

ooooooo what’s poor kids supper club????

Thank you for the ask, lovely anon!

I don't really remember plotting out "poor kids supper club," so odds are I did it in October, during the fever dream that was writing the Promptening. I think I meant for it to be one of the Promptening chapters, but it grew legs and horns and I just set it to the side.

Here's what that doc file contains (still mostly point-form notes):

Muggle AU; basing this on the Canadian university system, as that’s the one I have experience with  Harry sees that Ron is struggling to afford tuition, rent and meals, even with a part-time job and needs-based bursaries, wants to help him out but knows Ron will turn down any direct attempt at assistance (he has before).  Potter parents died in a house fire (James from part of the house falling on him, Lily of smoke inhalation from getting Harry and getting outside) and, due to mismanagement, the Dursleys took the insurance payout for the house - Still mistreated Harry (because they're trash like that) But Harry has some money that his parents set aside for his education, a portion of the insurance payout from his parents’ deaths available to him, and the rest – as well as his modest inheritance – will become available to him once he turns twenty-five, as well as a full-ride scholarship (probably for ⚽), so he’s comfortable. Not absurdly wealthy, but he can afford to be generous. He’s frugal due to his years of starving with the Dursleys – he doesn’t ever want to be at someone else’s financial mercy again. He also knows what it’s like to be the poor, hungry one and not have anyone else to rely on, and he doesn’t want anyone else to feel that way. His godfather also left him a big, totally-not-haunted fixer-upper house when he passed away, so Harry has a place to host these get-togethers – a giant kitchen and huge dining room.  So Harry posts a few signs around campus, especially near the financial aid office, offering dinner to anyone, no questions asked. They just have to give him a couple hours notice, and if they let him know at least a day ahead of time, they can make food requests.  So he drags Ron and Hermione over as often as possible to feed them, and sometimes they’re joined by another person or three, and it becomes something of a supper club. Draco shows up at some point because it’s popular/because Potter/to mock the poor people, and Harry says “really?” and Malfoy answers “You said no questions!” To which Harry shrugs and says “as long as you behave yourself, you can stay.” Tom becomes a fixture, because while he has scholarship money coming out his ears and a part-time job (because he’s not super challenged by the material and has enough time for it), he’s also trying to run with the rich kids, so any extra money he has goes towards better clothes and accoutrements.  - Plus, if some idiot’s going to be altruistic enough to feed him for free, he’s going to take advantage of that It becomes popular enough that Harry institutes a pay-what-you-can-if-you-can policy (looking at you, Malfoy) Turns into a whole thing, where people help each other out academically and they all do homework together, a support group during midterms and finals and when someone’s having a rough day, they have games nights and go on outings together, and there are groups within the group. If people need a place to stay, they can apply to have one of the rooms in Harry’s fuck-off house for free (as long as they help keep it clean) Harry basically becomes low-key financial aid for his peers, and they think he’s the coolest, and he has no idea.

Yet another meandering, slice-of-life Flaky fic in the making (•ᴗ•,, )

(I just want them all to be warm and happy and eat together and probably cuddle-puddle together. My needs are simple.)

If anyone wants me to actually flesh this out and write it, feel free to include suggestions of what you'd like to see in it, too!

[celestie0]

what do you think about grad school and maybe getting a masters or phd? like for you😭 i’m curious what more do you feel about academia

hiii bb!! ouu yeah i think with the way things are in job market rn, at least for a science degree, having a masters is a MUST and phd too if you want to teach or go into research...just an undergraduate degree for any STEM job i have noticed doesn't suffice unless you're like a comp sci major or have hella connections or something lmfaooo (or if you're a trust fund baby)

i'm actually going to med school so my four years of undergrad were spent working towards that goal, and not really with thoughts of phd or masters, but i did think about doing a masters during my gap year (which would've been this past year) since my school offered a few one years masters programs that i was interested in. it was gonna be a sort of back up plan for me in case i didn't get in anywhere, but ultimately i just had faith in my application n didn't want to spend money on a year of masters tuition haha

but it's hard for me to say for other fields, such as humanities, on what i think of the necessities of masters/phd programs...i'd imagine it's the same though, you'd probably need to pursue a lot of higher education to be qualified to teach or publish etc. in premed, you've got options of going to nursing school, PA school, med school, so i guess there are ways to pivot that don't involve masters programs if you still wanted to be a healthcare provider

i did watch an interesting video recently about the whole trap of the phd/masters pipeline, where students get a degree and think they'll be able to land a decent job post grad from wishful thinking, spend lots of time unsuccessful in the job market, then scramble to apply to grad school, and then even if they feel as though the phd program they're in isn't really giving them what they want from it, they don't want to quit because at that point it'll feel like sunken cost, and it damages their mental health and motivation and is basically this recurring loop where the system forces students to continuously stay in school and do excessive amount of research/work for criminally low compensation, just to become overqualified candidates for barely minimally paying jobs. ofc all in the name to benefit the insanely rich and wealthy. honestly most grad students i meet are stressed and so incredibly jaded, i can't imagine that it's easy on them at all. a lot of universities hardly pay them any sort of livable wage for the work that they do

as for academia in general, i think it's worth it to become educated, as it can open doors. obviously there are different paths for all people, some people choose not to go to school, some people go to trade school, others go to school much later in life. i remember i worked w this one doctor who was a mechanic for thirty years and he went back to school to get his undergrad degree and then went to med school, all while he was in his 50s, and now he's a practicing physician! i thought that was really incredible and inspiring. school is something that's there for you whenever you want it, need it, or feel ready for it. i think it's worthy to invest in your education, but you have to go into it knowing that you're going to make the most of it. in that, pursue higher education if you have a plan of why you're there and what you're going to do when you're there, and not just for the sake of earning a degree or putting off working because you'd rather just stay a student. the reason why someone from harvard might work at the same job as someone who went to community college is ultimately because the person who went to CC might've made more of their experience n harnessed connections/skills n probably had a much more clear idea of what they wanted to do with the education they were earning compared to someone who might've been coasting through a reputable school because once they got in, that was all they cared about (lol i sound bitter saying this, no hate to big name schools, but it's such a common misconception that just because you get a degree from like an ivy league, you'll be set for life. and same applies vice versa. some of the smartest ppl i know are people who did CC for two years and then transferred to a four year university. they saved hella money and got the same degree in the end, with the same exact if not better job opportunities. similarly, i've worked at clinics/hospitals where some of the doctors went to UCLA and others went to caribbean med school, but they all ended up at the same place in the end)

GOD THIS BECAME SO LONG i swear whenever i answer asks on my computer it becomes an essay loool but yea these are just my general opinions about college, higher education, and academia in general? i hope this answers and that i didn't misinterpret the question hahah but thank u for the ask bb!!

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Brandy Shufutinsky

Published: Jan 23, 2024

Until about 160 years ago Black American labor was used to benefit the few, especially a small group of privileged white landowners. Today, we are still being used. Progressive academics, activists, and political leaders are constantly exploiting Black Americans as living, breathing excuses for policies that benefit progressives and their constituents but fail Black people. 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has set his sights on eliminating high-achieving magnet schools in the name of equity. Currently, academically gifted students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are able to compete for entrance into high-achieving schools. One need not guess why some Black parents welcome this opportunity for their children. After all, only 17% of Black students are proficient in reading and even fewer (7%) demonstrate proficiency in math. Moreover, in 2022, fewer than 10% of Black third-grade students and just under 11% of low-income third-grade students could read at grade level. These dismal figures entail that a great many talented Black students in Chicago must suffer through classes geared not to them but to their illiterate and innumerate peers. Magnet schools offer these talented students a way out. One would think that policy makers committed to providing access to quality education for all students, not just the ones whose parents were able to send them to private schools, would increase the number of high-achieving schools, rather than eliminate them. 

So, why would Mayor Johnson want to eliminate one of the few opportunities for gifted but economically disadvantaged students to access quality education? Well, according to Chicago Public Schools Board CEO, Pedro Martinez, allowing gifted students access to quality education causes “stratification and inequity in Chicago Public Schools.” One has to wonder whether this excuse (as incoherent as it is) is sincere or whether it reflects instead a cynical push to discard selective schools that have proven to be top-tier nationally because these schools compete directly with the union-led public school system. 

In Portland, Oregon education leaders are planning to roll out a system of equitable grading that calls for teachers to consider “non-academic factors” when grading student work. Portland Public School Chief Academic Officer Kimberlee Armstrong, a supporter of the policy, argues that in order to address “biases” educators must, wait for it, engage in bias themselves, by “considering the diverse backgrounds and needs of students.” Just how does considering background rather than correct answers and knowledge acquisition reduce bias? 

Oregon’s student literacy rates are slightly better than Chicago’s but still fewer than half of students read at grade level, with Black student literacy hovering around 26%. Yet rather than provide students with the necessary resources to achieve basic literacy, Oregon policymakers are simply eliminating any method of measuring student achievement. 

We must ask ourselves, who gets lost in educational politicking? Students who desire a quality education are being sacrificed at the altar of progressive policies that do them more harm than good. When I was in the third grade my teacher suggested I be tested for the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. I was attending an under-resourced, high-poverty school where the majority of students qualified for the free-lunch program, including me. My GATE score allowed me access to all of the resources that I would otherwise have missed because my socioeconomic circumstance did not allow for tutors or extracurricular activities, let alone private school tuition. Fast-forward a few decades and instead of providing support for students who find themselves in a situation similar to mine, policy makers are relegating them to mediocrity. 

Who benefits from policies that disenfranchise the most vulnerable students? Many organizations that claim to work to improve student achievement by using equity-based practices have sprouted up over recent years. They offer services to school districts, providing teacher training and curricular materials with a stated goal not of teaching students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed but of “building social justice starting in the classroom.” These organizations are very successful in using our public schools to build their client base and sell their obviously political goals of equity and social justice. When it comes to improving student achievement, however, their results are dismal. Policies that eliminate access to quality education, lower standards and reframe what knowledge is will not help Black students, it will harm them. Politicizing education by lowering expectations is a racist endeavor that denies Black Americans the credit they rightly deserve for overcoming obstacles and reaching the highest levels of success. It’s the bigotry of low expectations.

Brandy Shufutinsky is a social worker, writer, researcher, and advocate. She holds her Doctorate in International and Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco, her MSW from the University of Southern California, and her MA in International Relations from the University of San Diego. Dr. Shufutinsky has worked towards advancing the rights of victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through practice, education, and research, and is now focusing her advocacy on developing intercultural and academic opportunities to enhance liberal democratic ideals as the director of education and community engagement with the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values. Follow her on Twitter.

==

This is what "equity" does. In order to force everybody to have equal outcomes, it has to eliminate the ability for people to overachieve or exceed others. Because that would make people jealous and would be "unfair." It can't make everybody an Elon Musk, but it can make everybody a Joe Schlub. And so "equity" always results in the lowest of the lowest common denominators. When you inevitably use force to ensure that happens, that's how you get Russia and China.

The people activists who are putting in these policies are the exact same people who put in the policies that caused this illiteracy and innumeracy in the first place.

[thetrashqueeeen]

The thing that’s pissing me off about this Faith Becoming a Doctor storyline is nothing to do with Faith and everything to do with how IT IS NOT THAT EASY! I have looked into training as a doctor and had to give up on it because it is logistically impossible for most working class people and casualty could have made a point here!

Right so first things first, there is no conversion degree for healthcare professionals- they just have to do the same graduate entry medical course as every other degree educated person. This degree is 4 years and only offered by a handful of medical schools in the country so let’s pretend Holby Medical School is one of these universities and just suspend our disbelief- moving on

Before she can even apply she would have to take this test called the GAMSAT which is absolutely ridiculous and now don’t get me wrong I think you should prove that you are academically capable of completing a degree before you start it but the GAMSAT is not doing that. For starters, it’s not a pass or fail, you’re ranked by percentile compared to other people who took it, so you don’t just have to prove you CAN do it, you also have to be better than everyone else who tries. Furthermore, the questions aren’t marked like the exams we took in school; or even uni. The entire paper is marked, and then the amount of marks a question is worth is decided based on how many people got it right. For example, a question 90% of people got right would be worth 1 point, but if that same question was only gotten right by 1% of people, it would be worth 10 points, so there is very little way to intelligently work for a better score. It’s also been proven by research that the correlation between GAMSAT percentile and completion of medical degree, academic attainment and retention by the NHS is not statistically significant. There are 2 sitting a year and you have to do them at the specified time and place, making it very hard for someone working shifts (like Faith) to get that test done. To add insult to injury, it is £250 PER ATTEMPT and you have pay for practice exams. Let’s not even get into how Faith is supposed to study for a test that is 5 hours long and 1 section reading comprehension, 1 section essay questions and then a third section which is UNDERGRADUATE level biology and chemistry and A2 level physics with no practice material all while working full time and being a single mother.

Secondly- the course is not entirely funded by student finance. Each year is 9.5k and only about 60% of this is covered by student finance. The other 40% ish is covered by an NHS bursary- except for the first year. This means you need to come up with about 3.8k (from memory) in tuition fees to sit the first year. Your NHS bursary doesn’t kick in until you pass first year and go into year 2. Faith will be paid more than a ‘regular’ nurse, but 4 grand is not a small sum of money and would be hard for her to pull together.

Finally- this is not a course that is offered part time (if they keep her in this show and pretend that she’s doing it part time or, even worse, as evening classes, I am going to LOSE MY MIND) and it’s very, very hard to have a part time job because of the heavy work load and eventual placement shifts. My fist degree was a BA and I had a job the whole time, but I also had low contact hours and no placements to do. There are no bursaries for living costs that I could find and there is no way you could live off a student finance maint loan, if they even offer you one, especially when you’re supporting 2 kids. Faith would not only need to live somewhere with a university that offered GEM, pay for and do well in the GAMSAT and have 4k to pay tuition her first year, she would also have to be able to stop working for 4 whole years.

This is not something she would do over the course of a few weeks, she would be worrying about funding, about living, about the kids and having a menty b about the GAMSAT. casualty could make a really good point here about how someone who would succeed as a doctor, and has committed her entire working life thus far to the NHS, financially could not afford to retrain. Instead I’m sure they are going to take the ‘night classes’ route and I am, in fact, going to LOSE MY MIND

[absolootcatastrophe]

This graphic is interesting, but some of the choices made for the visualization are... deceptive.

I want to say, first off, that I am an advocate for justice reform. I believe in restorative justice, and the way our prison system is set up right now encourages recidivism, not rehabilitation.

The issue I have is that the visualization is, on its face, flimsy. Its message might read to prison abolitionists as a stark picture that orange states prioritize prison more than education. It also paints an incomplete picture about the state of criminal justice in purple states. So, in my opinion, the visualization isn't making a clear statement, nor do I think the data is presented cleanly enough to make an actual argument.

Part of the reason that I bring this up is because there's a caveat to the graph that bothers me deeply. The graphic only counts institutions that offer bachelors degrees and there is no clear definition of what counts as a prison for the purpose of the visualization. In my state, there are are certain counties whose community colleges partner with local universities to offer bachelor's degrees on campus. Faculty from that university teach upper division courses, and students neither have to move nor worry about paying exorbitant private tuition elsewhere. That kind of accessibility in education isn't obvious here, despite the importance of those programs to low-income, first-generation students in their community. Furthermore, many of the states in purple have a large number of out of state and international students that travel for college, meaning that the college student population and subsequently, number of colleges, are going to be higher regardless of what the state does about prisons.

Of course, some of this is naturally incomplete because it's only going by one metric only, and that metric is only a count of institutions--not of student populations, not of prison populations, and certainly not of other important metrics like reentry statistics and recidivism.

I had to pull myself off of this soap box because I wanted to dig up data to help support other points I wanted to make. The long and short of it is that not all states publish all data about prisons and the justice system.

Also note: that purple and orange color scheme might be hard to read for those with colorblindness and other forms of visual impairment. This seems to have been made in Tableau, so if you ever use it for something like this, please make sure to switch to the inbuilt colorblind template they have instead.

That's your dataviz diatribe for the week? I guess? Maybe I should just start doing Tableau visualizations in makeover Monday...

Prisons/Jails vs Colleges - More prisons or more colleges?

[venusdian]

VIII. Unforgettable - Part II

Cassius looked over the railing to see gang members huddled up, discussing something. Cassius couldn’t make out the words, but the looks on their face showed they were serious. Cassius turns around and sees Taurus still setting up his station. Cassius walks over to him, confused.

“Aye, question?” Taurus looks up and over at Cassius, humming.

“I never thought of you as somebody that—” Taurus looks at Cassius and then lets out a loud “AHHH”. He quickly picked up what Cassius meant. He chuckles and shakes his head.

“Oh, nah. I just grew up with them. I lived in Alabaster County for most of my life. That’s why I was able to get into Redlands so damn easily. Redlands have a program for low-income areas—” Cassius interrupts humming and nods.

“Yeah, Junis and Vee got that scholarship.” Taurus furrows his eyebrows.

“Vemini has that scholarship too?” Cassius lightly chuckles.

“Well, had. Vemini lost it because she missed classes and failed most of her courses…” Taurus hums, intrigued.

“Well, who’s paying for her tuition? The dance team does not offer scholarships. Well, she could maybe get a sports scholarship…” Taurus trails off. Cassius shrugs.

“I’m not too sure, but I’m sure it involves Woot—Matter of fact, Why do fuck with them? I thought yo ass was plotting on his girl?” Cassius asks, furrowing his eyebrows. Taurus shrugs.

“Cause, I was practically raised with them. I moved to Alabaster after my bio moms lost me to CPS. My Foster mom was also a gang leader of GD. So, Wootie and ‘em used to come over, all the time when they needed to make a play.” Cassius leans back against the railing, shocked by this information.

In the two years of knowing Taurus, Taurus never really talked about his background. He just always knew that Taurus was from Alabaster County and always knew how to make a quick buck. That was the main reason that he chose Taurus as a roommate. Between Cassius’ leftover FAFSA funds and his sponsorships with local and some big companies. With Taurus’ hustle, they’ve never missed a day of rent or went hungry.

They were a great team, but after learning more about Taurus’ background. It made sense.

“So, that’s why you hustle so much.” Taurus chuckles.

“Hell yeah, My foster mom did not play. She would get a monthly stipend for me and my siblings and made us still work to get the necessities. But that old hag taught me a lot. I’m not mad at her. The stipend she got from us was in a trust fund that accrued interest over the years. I have access to it, but she always taught me: Don’t touch it until I need it. Kind of like an emergency fund, of some sort.” Cassius furrows his eyebrows. Taurus has siblings, and he has a trust fund. Taurus never talked about either. Honestly, the way that he talks, you would’ve thought he was the only child.

“You’re not an only child?” Taurus looks at Cassius, bewildered. Then, busting out laughing. Cassius confusingly looks over to Taurus.

“Nigga, what’s funny?”

“YOU! I’m pretty sure I told you about Aquarius, Aries, and Eros. My mom was obsessed with Zodiac Signs and Greek Mythology…”

“I—I See. Ok, I’m confused, You’re a Pisces, right?” Taurus hums, nodding.

“Why are you named Taurus?” Taurus chuckles.

“Well, during one of my mom’s drug binges, she told me why she named us the way she named us. The oldest is Aquarius. She named him Aquarius because she felt he was unique, a free spirit, and caring. Aries is my second older brother. She knew he was charismatic and bold because he winked at the female nurse when he was born. Me: she knew I was lazy, but hardworking when it came to getting money. Also, I was very stubborn because I was the only one out of all five of us who refused to latch onto her breast milk. Then you have my baby sister, Eros. Eros is cupid in Greek mythology. She just knew that Eros was brimming with love and care. Eros was the most attached to our mom. My mom wasn’t wrong about any of us. Aquarius is currently backpacking across the world at this moment. Aries has six baby momma. Currently, he lives with baby momma #3, who is currently paying for his lifestyle and taking care of all eight of his kids.—” Cassius loudly gasps, interrupting Taurus.

“He got eight of them thangs?” Taurus chuckles, nodding.

“Baby momma #3 had his first set of twins, and Baby momma #5 had his other set of twins.” Cassius blinks rapidly, appalled. Taurus was too focused on his vinyls to even notice Cassius’ reaction.

“I’m lazy, but all about my money and Eros: she ran off at sixteen and got married to some 40-year-old man…” Cassius scrunches his face in disgust.

“Y’all ain’t call the cops or tried to stop her?” Taurus confusingly looks at Cassius.

“I thought you were from Aurora City?”

“I am, but that’s crazy. How you let your sister run off and get married to some old ass man?” Taurus shrugs.

“By the time we could stop her—she was already gone,” Taurus explained, his tone riddled with hurt and guilt. Cassius places his hand on Taurus’ back, consoling him.

“Look, I’m sorry, man.” Taurus looks at Cassius, shaking his head.

“It’s all good,” He pauses then sighs.

“I just wished that my mom was wrong about that…” Taurus softly sighs. Cassius clears his throat, changing the subject.

“I just learned so many new things about you…” Cassius admits.

“Oh, I could’ve sworn I told you all of this. But, it is like me not to expose my whole childhood. I just don’t care to talk about it, as it was in the past.” Taurus explains. Cassius hums, nodding.

“I get it. But it does give me a better perception of you as a person.” Taurus scrunches his face up in disgust.

“Don’t start acting gay now.” Cassius punches Taurus’ arm, causing Taurus to lose his balance, gripping onto the black metal railing.

“Listen here, Randy Savage—” Taurus points at Cassius, waving his finger as he gets up.

“Aye, T!” Taurus turns around and sees Day Day.

“Sup?”

“We bout to start the party in a few. Go ahead and start playing the music.” Taurus nods. Day Day shoots a glare at Cassius. Cassius confusingly looks at Day Day. Day Day walks away. Once Day Day is out of earshot, Cassius confusingly looks at Taurus. Taurus shrugs.

“I don’t know. Day Day has always been a weirdo to me.” Taurus confesses. He pressed play. The speakers boom with “Wanna Be” by GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion. Taurus grabs his headphones and looks over at Cassius.

“GO GET ME SOME BITCHES!” Taurus yells at Cassius. Cassius squints his eyes.

“HUH?!” Taurus yells even louder, repeating his sediments. Cassius nods.

“BET!” Taurus nods, putting his headphones on.

The light dimmed low. The pretty neon strobe lights lit the spacious warehouse. Cassius makes his way down the stairs to the main floor. People started entering the party, and the once-empty dance floor was slowly becoming crowded. He looks around and can hear girls loudly screaming at the bar. He looks over and sees a bunch of girls taking a shot. He shook his head.

He’ll just wait.

“Here.” Was the text message Junis read? Xydia was outside her building. Junis wore a black, oversized Aaliyah hoodie with maroon, red yoga shorts. Underneath her hoodie was her Black Nike Plus size Sports Bra, which had her breasts nice and snug. She had on mismatched socks and black Nike slides. She takes a couple of deep breaths.

“You have self-control.” She kept telling herself. She was not going to give in to Xydia quickly. This was her first time being alone with him outside a school setting. She knows once she’s alone with Xydia, she sometimes lets her feelings control rational thoughts. That was her biggest fault. That was why she kept going back to Cassius for so long.

He would satisfy a craving that she was battling with. A temporary fill of the hole she felt in her heart. Step one in her self-recovery journey was acknowledging the issue at hand.

She had issues with the fact her father and brother were both gone and struggled to heal from that trauma. In turn, she looked to Cassius to fix the pain she battled with instead of finding healthy coping skills. Now that she understood that, what’s next?

She had to practice self-control and remind herself that the temporary euphoria does not resolve her issues. She will still be battling with the pain of losing the two most influential men in her life and needs to find other ways to cope.

She takes another deep breath and her phone rings. She swipes her phone off the nightstand and answers the call.

“Hello?”

“Hey, don’t tell me you’re flaking out on me now.” Xydia teases. Junis awkwardly chuckles.

“No, I’m on my way down.” Xydia hums, nodding.

“Alright, I’m in the White Jeep Wrangler.” Junis hums.

“Ok.” Xydia hangs up the phone. Junis takes one last deep breath and then reassures herself that she got this. She grabs her keys and leaves her dorm. She goes to the elevator and presses the down button on the elevator. She steps back, and the Elevators instantly open, which was rare. Well, it was Friday night, and not too many students were in the building, she reminded herself. She enters the elevator that reeks of Victoria’s Secret perfume and alcohol from the tenants pre-gaming for whatever party or get-together they were attending. The elevator quickly went down, Junis thought to herself as it opened to the main lobby.

Junis walked out of the elevator and took a deep breath as she was close to the Jeep Wrangler. Timberly was at the front desk, flipping through her magazine. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Junis walking past the front desk.

“Ju?” She calls out. Junis turns around.

“Yes?” Timberly cautiously puts her magazine down and stands up. Junis walks over like a guilty child who just got caught stealing sweets.

“You going to fuck that boy?” Timberly presses. Junis immediately shakes her head.

“OH, NO! I’m going to hang out with a new friend.” Timberly hums.

“Will there be drinking?” Junis shakes her head.

“Any fucking?” Junis’ eyes widen.

“OH no! W—we—we’re just hanging out!” Junis nervously stammers out. Timberly points to the jar of Condoms. Junis groans.

“Do I have to?”

“You already know how I get down, Ju.” Junis sighs and goes into the glass jar, grabbing a couple of condoms and shoving them in her hoodie pockets.

“Now, if you do end up doing the devil’s tango—” Junis interrupts, finishing her statement.

“I have to sign up to get an STD test.” Junis finishes, rolling her eyes.

“I literally just had an STD test last month when I was fucking Cassius.” Timberly shrugs.

“I don’t care! Shit can change at any moment.” Junis hums, nodding.

“Look, kid. We wanna make sure y’all good.” Junis smiles and nods.

“I know, T. I’ll call the RA Phone when I’m back.” Timberly hums, nodding.

“Alright, be safe!” Junis nods and goes through the glass double door, leading her one step closer to Xydia. Her nerves begin to overwhelm her. She opened the second glass double doors that led outside, where his car was. Xydia gets out of his car and walks around to the passenger side. Junis was stunned by Xydia’s gesture.

“I could’ve opened my door.” Xydia hums and shrugs.

“I know, but my momma ain’t raise me like that.” He argues, opening the passenger door for her. She gets on the step stool at the bottom of the door, and Xydia supported her butt to make sure she didn’t fall. She grabbed the support railing and got in the car. Xydia closes her door and walks around, getting into his driver’s seat.

“I did not account for you being so short… I should’ve driven my other car.” Junis looks over at Xydia, confused.

“You have two cars?” Junis asks, stunned. Xydia nods.

“Yeah. My parents are pretty generous people.” Xydia explains. Xydia starts his car.

“My mom is a pretty generous woman, but she only got me one car, and it’s ten years old.” Xydia chuckles.

“Does it still work?” Junis nods.

“Yeah, I’ve had her since graduation. That was my graduation gift.” Xydia hums, nodding.

“I assume you’re the same year as Vee, right?” Junis nods.

“Yup, my sophomore year.” Xydia nods. Junis looks out the window and sees they are no longer in front of the building. They were on the road. It happened so fast, how did she not notice the car was moving?

The aroma of the car was calming. She could smell the Lavender and Frankincense oil throughout the car. Jill Scott’s He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) played as white noise. She looks at the dashboard and sees a couple of Crystals resting on the dashboard. He had a Pyrite Crystal on the driver’s side. A Peridot Crystal on the passenger side. An Amethyst pendant hanging from a brown rope on the rear-view Mirror.

“Junis?” Xydia calls. Junis jumps, startled.

“I’m sorry, you said something?” Junis worriedly asks.

“I was saying that: I’m a Junior, was that, ok?” Xydia asks her. Junis nods.

“Yea!” Xydia nods. He looks over at Junis, trying to figure out her energy. He could tell she was nervous, but why?

“Junis, are you ok?” Junis looks over at Xydia. He looked so good to her. His dark brown dreads were down and a bit messy. She noticed he had on what looked to be a green tank top. It was loose, but he had biceps and veins on his forearms, down to his hands. She noticed a big black circle on his upper arm because it was so dark outside she couldn’t make out what it was.

Her eyes trailed down to his bottoms. He had on dark brown Khaki shorts and Brown flip-flops. Xydia took note of her outfit as well. He loved how thick and juicy her thighs were. The way her shorts hugged them had his manhood feeling some type of way, but he had to control himself.

He didn’t want to fuck her but to be a support in her life.

“I’m fine, just a bit nervous, that’s all.” Junis answers, breaking the silent tension between the pair. Xydia takes his right hand off the wheel and takes her hand. They both blush in unison. That touch was electric, he thought to himself. Although he was spiritual, he never believed in sparks, which his mother used to talk about in her drunken stupor.

His bio mother would talk about how she felt sparks when she first met his bio father. The same man that left her when she found out she was pregnant with him. He thought actions would always overshadow feelings. His adoptive parents always went above and beyond to show love.

They listened to him when he had nightmares about seeing his mother’s dead body. They signed him up in extracurriculars that he expressed a desired interest in. They always took him to his mother’s gravesite on every birthday and every death anniversary so he didn’t feel like they were trying to erase his mother, and even bought her a headstone when her parents refused to.

He even showed his adoptive parents’ actions to show his affection. He would get them crystals every time he thought of them. He made them special teas with expensive herbs when they complained of stress or pain. He thought feelings were necessary, but actions were essential. But he also never felt what he felt at that moment.

While Junis took note of her feelings but brushed them off. She thought her being emotionally damaged was giving her a false sense of reality. That wasn’t a spark. She would mentally dismissively state. She was just trying to replace Cassius with a false sense of emotions.

Xydia stopped at the red light and looked over at Junis, smiling.

“No need to be nervous, Junis. I’m here with good intentions.” Junis felt a sense of warmth and security by those words. Junis smiles and nods.

“Thanks.”

Zy’onna stood outside with Vemini, annoyed. Zy’onna was no longer in design. She had on a pink tube dress from Shein that had a high left thigh slit. Her hair was no longer in a cute ponytail with a bow. Vemini untied her long, light brown hair and tousled it into a cute, messy-down hairstyle. Vemini let her borrow large gold-plated hoops. The only thing that was designer was her heels. She and Vemini had different shoe sizes, Zy’onna had to wear her shoes, white Jimmy Choo heels with blush pink bottoms. She felt her outfit was so cheap, but Vemini didn’t care. She was going to have fun tonight.

Vemini wore a black crop top and Jean shorts that nicely accentuated her butt. She had on what they call in Aurora City: “the cookies and creams”, white and black Jordan Spizikes. The black specks make it look like the famous cookies and Cream ice cream. Her dreads were in a high ponytail, wrapped in a bun. Zy’onna wasn’t a fan of Vemini’s outfit either. Her outfit looked cheap too. Zy’onna thought to herself.

But, Vemini had to quickly remind her that they were not going to some Lavish party. They were going to a party in the hood and an abandoned warehouse. Which doesn’t sound like fun to Zy’onna, but yet again, it’s better than being in her dorm and crying herself to sleep.

“Where is Wootie!” Zy’onna lets out a flustered groan. Vemini shoots a glare at Zy’onna.

“He’s coming, just wait!” Zy’onna rolls her eyes.

“See, you said that—” She pauses and looks at her watch.

“20 minutes ago.” Vemini rolls her eyes.

“He probably stopped by the convenience store, getting us some drinks cause Day Day only supplies that hard shit, and Alabaster County is like thirty minutes away.” Zy’onna gasps.

“SO, I’MA BE STUCK IN THE CAR WITH YOU AND WOOTIE FOR THIRTY MINUTES?!” Zy’onna exclaims. Vemini takes a deep breath. She pinches the bridge of her nose, trying to hold the explicit things she wanted to say to Zy’onna, but NBA Youngboy’s No Smoke saves the day. Vemini looks up and sees a red 2022 Mercedes Benz S-class with gold rims, and her eyes light up.

Wootie parks the car in front of them. Zy’onna was impressed by Wootie’s car. She thought the gold rims were tacky, but it’s still a luxury car. Vemini got in the front, and Zy’onna got in the back. Zy’onna coughs as the smell of weed and cheap cologne tickles her nose. Wootie had stopped by at the Convenience store in the back were two cases of Seagram’s canned wine coolers. Zy’onna looked at the brand and scrunched her face up.

“Do they not sell white claw?” She asks Wootie. Wootie turns down the music and looks back at Zy’onna.

“Watchu say?”

“I saw that you got Seagram… Do they not sell white claw? I prefer those…” Zy’onna asks. Vemini glares at Zy’onna, but Wootie stops Vemini from popping off on her. He places her hand on her thigh.

“It’s cool, Vee. I can get a couple of cases of White Claw. You cool if I stop at 7-11.” Zy’onna smiles and nods.

“Yes, of course!” Wootie nods, turning around. Vemini gave her a deadly glare, and Zy’onna shrugged. Wootie speeds out of the Parking lot, scaring Zy’onna. She grabs onto Vemini’s seat.

“Vee, I got some weed in the Glove compartment. Go ahead and roll that shit up for me.” Vemini looks over at Wootie, lovingly. She cutely nods which makes Zy’onna audibly gag. But Vemini ignores her.

Wootie turned up his Radio, letting NBA Youngboy sing, while speeding down the road to the nearest 7-11. Zy’onna grips Vemini’s seat as her body sways left to right to the aggressive turns that Wootie is doing. Zy’onna’s stomach became a bit queasy as everything was spinning. The car abruptly stops. Zy’onna falls back and closes her eyes. She swallows the bit of vomit that was trying to come out.

She takes a couple of deep breaths, calming herself down. The loud and aggressive sound and movement of the car as Wootie closes the door causes Zy’onna to open her eyes. Vemini turns down the music and looks back at Zy’onna. Her look of anger turned into amusement, chuckling at Zy’onna, who was distressed.

“You good?” Zy’onna glares at Vemini.

“You could’ve warned me that Wootie drives like a madman.” Vemini shrugs.

“I didn’t think that was important. Anyways—”

“You didn’t think telling me that I might die tonight was valid information?!” Zy’onna exclaims, slightly annoyed. Vemini rolled her eyes at Zy’onna’s dramatics.

“Anyways, I need you to dead the princess act tonight.” Vemini sternly states. Zy’onna looks Vemini, confused.

“Huh?”

“You had to ask for fucking white claw?” Zy’onna shrugs.

“Wootie didn’t see it as a problem.” Vemini takes a deep breath, letting out a flustered groan.

“That’s because he’s being nice. But any other time, he would be appalled by this. Look, I know you’re used to getting what you want, but that’s why you have no friends and were kicked off the dance team. I know it sounds crazy, but all I’m asking for you to do for one night is to act humble.” Zy’onna scoffs.

“I can act humble.”

“If you could, you wouldn’t have asked for White Claw. Zy, This is my first and last warning to you. Act like you have some damn sense. You and I both know you cannot fight, ‘cause if you could, those bitches wouldn’t have tossed yo goofy ass in the mud and drove your car.” Zy’onna sank into her seat like a troubled child while Vemini gave her the signature “Black Momma” look.

Vemini meant business. She wanted to have fun and not get in any fights today, and she knew how Zy’onna’s mouth got down. Zy’onna sheepishly nods, understanding every word Vemini said.

Wootie came back to the car with a case of White claw. He opens the back seat and puts the case on top of the two cases of Seagrams.

“Thank you, Wootie. I can cashapp you money back.” Zy’onna suggests. A smile forms on Vemini’s face, proud of Zy’onna’s kind gesture. Wootie shakes his head.

“You good, Zy.” Wootie insists, closing the back door. Wootie returned in the driver’s seat, and Vemini handed him his blunt. Wootie smiles, leaning forward and pecking her lips.

“Thanks, beautiful.” Vemini hums, nodding. Wootie starts the car.

“Y’all ready?” Zy’onna and Vemini agree in unison. Wootie smiles, pulling out his parking spot. Wootie puts the blunt in between his lips, pressing it down tight. Vemini grabs the lighter and lights his blunt. Zy’onna leans back and sighs.

Tonight was going to be a long night…

[kivaember]

Reading your young Walter and Carla short got me thinking, what is transitioning like in APV-verse if you don't mind me asking? The technology and results are probably much better than anything we have in the real world but I can see access to care being very situational due to class and location.

AW YEAH thank you for this question, I was waiting for someone to ask...!

So, you're right that access to care is very situational. If you're working class (that is, at the very bottom of the social heirarchy), then there are two barriers to transitioning: lack of funds, and lack of time. Workers are paid absolute peanuts, and they have to work very long hours to generate enough credits to pay for food on the table as well as other basic amenities. There's also the fact that the medical centres that specialise in transition care are usually in the middle class areas at the very least, which!! Working class people can attend, it just requires the correct permits (which, again, is more money).

Truthfully, working class trans people tend to transition socially, which is widely accepted. There is a bit of black market for HRT, and some even risk going to a black market surgeon, but overall many decide to not risk it (because if they become physically impaired they can't work, and if they can't work, they can't get paid, and if they don't get paid...)

Walter actually lucked out, because Carla was able to make some serious cash with her illegal activities alongside her scrapping business. She basically built herself a criminal empire in Ganymede's industrial sectors that specialised in smuggling and experimental weapons trade, and she used that to get Walter reliable access to HRT lmao the only thing she couldn't do was like, get him access to a surgeon (that wasn't a black market surgeon whose success rate was kinda ehhhh (wobbles hand side to side)).

The top surgery, however, Walter negotiated through his scholarship with Furlong. He performed really well on that entrance exam, and Furlong were actually pretty anxious to secure him (as Furlong isn't the only corporation to scout amongst the working class for exemplary individuals - they want him going to them, rather than, say, Balam or Arquebus), so Walter managed to wrangle Furlong paying for his top surgery as a condition for him attending the pilot academy... which he'd obviously pay back alongside his tuition debt. To Furlong, it was just another chain they could use to keep Walter leashed to them, so they agreed without fuss.

That's another avenue people take as well, though that's mostly the middle class (specifically bronze citizenship who earn enough to live comfortably, but not enough to pay to transition without overstretching their budget). Corporations are very open in offering transition treatments, or cosmetic surgeries or anything like that, as part of their employment... you just have to pay them back (with interest!) so they take a cut of your paycheck in return. They're smart enough to have the payback be very painless though (which means they get more interest overall bc it takes so long to pay them back, which means you have to stay employed with them for longer... again, that chain to keep people shackled to them).

So, tl;dr, transitioning socially is very easy, and what most working class people do, whereas low-middle class negotiate deals with their corporate masters to get top/bottom surgery or HRT, while the upper parts of human society just straight up pay for it no problems. Hilariously, you're judged more for getting human augmentation surgery, since the way the law's written you're no longer considered "human" post-surgery, but a "corporate asset" as you don't actually 'own' the augmentations inside your body.

Oh, and I should add: location definitely does matter, as if you're on a frontier colony, which is usually only occupied by working class, there wouldn't be any transition care going on there, just a basic hospital to manage industrial accidents and the like. They'd have to somehow rustle up the cash to go to a major colony (like, the solar system) and pay to transition there, which... won't happen bc they lack the funds.

[odatelier]

ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ THREE TIMES THE CHARM ░ SUGAR MOMMY!JEN

𝖯𝖱𝖤𝖢𝖨𝖲 ꕀ upon being asked about what you wanted during a shopping spree, you express what you're really interested in to your older sugar mommy. ──── or alternatively, in which you make jennie cum three times because it's her birthday.

𝖥𝖤𝖠𝖳𝖴𝖱𝖨𝖭𝖦 jennie kim x fem reader ⋅ 𝖶𝖮𝖱𝖣 𝖢𝖮𝖴𝖭𝖳 4,600 words ⋅ 𝖢𝖮𝖭𝖳𝖤𝖭𝖳𝖲 sub!idol, sugar baby au, praise, explicit smut ⋅ LINK

𝖶𝖠𝖱𝖭𝖨𝖭𝖦𝖲 ꕀ sub sugar mommy!jennie, soft dom sugar baby!reader, age gap, praise, heavy nipple play, fingering, jennie receiving oral sex, body worship, pet names, squirting, cum swallowing, mentions of jennie having an ex husband.

“come on, baby. pick out something you want.” jennie hums, fingers intertwined with yours as she pulls you down an isle. your eyes lazily scanned through the expensive racks of designer brands and their outrageous price tags. it had been over an hour since she had been scouring through the isles of coats and articles upon articles of clothing.

while her gaze had been on the various brands that lined the store, your narrowed gaze was fixed on the way her outfit hugged her curves.

it had been two months since you met jennie at the high end bar that you would previously host at. the two hours of keeping her company had ultimately lead to her offering to fund you for said company, and although you were slightly wary of the prospect of any type of companionship being brought, the sight of her dazzling smile and the considerable amount of zeroes on the check had you swayed.

her payment was enough to pay off your college tuition and let you quit your job, — her presence being an added plus. she never forced you to do anything you were uncomfortable with; you usually being the one to drop hints which she rarely had an issue with complying.

“do you want this one, or that one?” jennie had a soft thoughtful pout as she held up two articles of clothing, the silk shirts identical besides the subtle difference in their shades.

“who’s birthday is it again, princess?” you raise a brow, not minding how a shopping spree for her turned into a clothing haul for you.

jennie shot you a playful eye roll as she chose the latter blouse, throwing it in the pile.

“it’s not fun shopping by myself.” she huffs, tugging you along once more towards the dressing rooms as an attendant carries the pile of clothes to try on. “at least choose something you want or think looks nice.”

“but the only thing I want right now is you.” you chuckle softly with a cheeky glint in your eye, deflecting and pulling her into a spare changing room. you pinned her to the wall as your lips brush against her ear, your voice a soft growl. “what kind of a birthday would it be if i don’t eat cake off your tits?”

jennie’s breath hitches as she melts against the wall, you pinning her in place. looking down, she watched you with those dark grey eyes, her eyebrow arching.

“who’s birthday is it again?” jennie teases, her fingertips brushing along your cheek. then her other hand glides along your hip, trailing along your body. her breathing is slow and steady, but upon a closer look you noticed a slight quiver from her body.

your head dipped down into the side of her neck and kissed the skin roughly, nipping before pulling away. “birthday or not, i always get what i want, princess. wasn’t that a clause in our little contract?”

heat flushes her cheeks as jennie leans her head a little further back, exposing her neck. goosebumps litter along her skin. she feels the tip of your tongue grazing against her skin, and an odd shiver runs along her spine. she raises your head up, her hand caressing your neck.

“you might just get it,” jennie’s voice is raspy, a low, seductive growl. “keep this up and you’ll have me all to yourself in this dressing room.”

“i think it’ll be wiser if we take this to the car.” you wrap your arm around her waist and pull her small form to your chest. sucking on her neck softly, you recalled how loud she could get with a smirk.

jennie squeaks at the sudden action, but the surprise is short lived as her breath hitches and she melts into your chest. her fingernails dig into your back, her breathing growing shallow as she lets out a gasp.

“f-fine,” jennie groans, leaning into you. she allows you to guide her to her black lamborghini.

you let her get into the backseat first, smacking her ass before getting in after and pulling her onto your lap. your large palms squeezing her ass while your dark gaze fell on the curve of her chest. your voice dropped an octave lower. “come on, give me what I want. . .”

jennie lets out a surprised squeal when you grope her, but it’s soon replaced with a soft, breathy exhale when you take control. she bites her lip and shifts, sliding a little closer to you. she looks at you with those gorgeous brown eyes, her gaze a little shy.

“please. . . be gentle. I’m not good at this.”

your gaze softens a twinge, kissing her lips softly and then trailing kisses down her neck as your fingers squeezed her plump ass softly. “such a pretty little princess. i’ll guide you.”

her breath hitches as your lips trail down to her neck, a sigh of pleasure escaping her lips. your lips feel like heaven, each touch sparking some sort of reaction. goosebumps litter along her skin and she grips your arms tightly, her heart beating out of her chest.

“please.” she whispers. the word sounds so sexy and submissive when spoken breathlessly.

you smirk softly, trailing your fingers down her thigh before slipping them up her skirt and panties, squeezing the soft flesh of her ass.

“unbutton that pretty blouse of yours and take off your bra too, will you, gorgeous?”

her lips part slightly, her breath faltering. jennie hesitates. you were asking for too much from her, she felt, even if you were the sweetest woman she has ever met. however, your charming, seductive gaze and sensual touch made her cave in. hesitantly, she unbuttoned her blouse, pushing away the collar slowly. then, a little more hesitantly, she unhooks the bra.

your eyes light up and your mouth waters at the sight, as you bury your face in her chest and kiss the skin softly. “you’re the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. tell me to stop if you’re uncomfortable, okay princess?”

you sense the slight hesitance she always has when engaging in anything sexual. the twinge of insecurity she had regarding her age was obvious despite her body being something that turned you on immensely. her full breasts had a soft sag to them despite her nipples perking in arousal, and there were faint stretch marks on her lower hips. not to mention the little curve of her stomach that formed the most adorable little pouch that you loved grabbing and caressing while you ate her out.

though these traits were something she found unsightly — especially with every passing birthday, — you wanted nothing more than to show her how desirable and sexy she was to you despite her age.

jennie’s cheeks flush, her mouth twitching slightly when your mouth grazes the soft skin of her chest. heat courses through her body, her body quivering as warm shivers run down her spine. jennie lets out a soft moan before she closes her eyes and breathes out through her nose.

“you can keep going.” she whispers softly, her breathy exhale tickling your ears. she bites her lower lip, her hands gripping your shoulders tightly.

your face is buried in her tits, a hand leaving her ass to fondle her soft mounds. your lips meet her skin again and again, worshipping the pale skin with your marks. “so full and pretty. . .” you groan huskily against the skin, breath hot.

jennie whimpers, her breath growing shallow as she lets you have your way with her. her eyes are closed, and her lids are fluttering. her nails dig into your shoulders, but she can’t help herself as she arches her back, her mounds pressing into your face.

“p-please. . . keep going,” jennie pleads, giving in to you.

“hold them up for me, will you, princess?” you nuzzled your face and teased her nipples with your tongue, swirling around the hardened buds before sucking softly. both your hands caressed her thighs as you slowly pushed her skirt up.

jennie’s breath hitches as you command her to do something for you. her back arches once again, her head tilting back. jennie looks down and takes in this new view, her small hands wrapping around the bottom of her breasts and holding them up.

“good girl.” you suck harder, taking the bud between your teeth while your eyes watch her every reaction. you switched between both nipples, giving them equal attention with your mouth, — tongue swirling quickly. meanwhile, your hands slip under her panties and tease her clit softly, circling the swollen pearl with the rough pad of your thumb. “does that feel good, baby? because that’s all i want. i want my special girl to feel good on her birthday.”

jennie bites her lip, trying to suppress a moan as heat floods to her face and the pit of her stomach. her head tilted back further, her hair coming undone from the half-bun she put up. her eyes fluttered open, yet they close all the same. the sudden warmth of your words, combined with the way you parted her pussy lips and stimulated her clit catches her off guard and makes her body quiver.

“oh god, y-yes. . . please don’t stop. . .” jennie’s voice was a soft whine.

“good.” you smirked. your fingers and mouth moved quicker and you smacked her ass with your free hand, groping the soft fat and nearly moaning as you felt her ass jiggle in your palm. “keep holding these perky little tits up for me.” you growl softly and suck on her hardened nipples, nearly drunk on the sweet taste of her skin “i’m never going to get tired of this. . . you’re so ripe and sensitive for me. . .”

it’s hard for jennie to keep herself up. her spine is curved, head facing the roof of the car as she pushes her sensitive nipples into your face. saliva was smeared across your lips and chin as you messily lapped at her tits. jennie’s body quivers more as she whimpers quietly, her breaths shallow and erratic. her hands strain to keep her tits up, and she lets out a little moan.

“this feeling. . . i—i’ve never felt it before,” jennie grunts softly. her chest is heaving, her breath is shaky and heavy. her legs start to quiver and tremble when your thumb speeds up, as if her body is about to give in any time now.

“never? did that deadbeat ex-husband of yours never treat a delicate little thing like you properly in bed?” you growl softly, your free hand squeezing her plump ass. “did he never worship this ripe body of yours the way he should have?”

her cheeks flush red, jennie’s body quivering with every lick and kiss you give her. “h—he was too busy with work to spend time with me. a—and when he did finally come home, he was usually stressed or tired.” jennie bites her lip. “y—your touch. . . your words. . . they’re making me feel things that i’ve never felt before.”

jennie nearly cries out as her nipples become extremely sensitive from the constant drag of your tongue, her breaths growing shallow.

“was he ever intimate with you?” your voice is soft as you pull away from her nipples, teasing the soft skin of her chest with your lips. your thumb dipped down and slid into her weeping slit while your dark eyes watched her every reaction.

jennie doesn’t mean to flinch and squirm when your fingers brush against her soft walls, but your touch is too much for her to handle. a small whimper escapes her mouth, her legs trying to instinctively close together.

jennie hesitates, not wanting to answer your question. she bites her lip softly as her cheeks burn red.

“yes, but. . . he was never gentle enough.” she whispers softly.

“no foreplay?” you snarled softly, resuming nipping her breasts softly as your thumb slowly pumped in and out of her, smearing her arousal all over the folds of her pussy. your free hand trailed down her spine, spanking her plump ass, before your long fingers gripped the curve of her hip and squeezed the soft flesh. “that prick would mount this gorgeous body of yours and not cherish it?”

her body starts to quiver with every smack across her ass. her breaths grow shallow as she feels you grab a tighter hold of her hip; your words hitting home. she sighs sadly, her forehead resting against your shoulder.

“no foreplay. he’d just get on me and. . . and get it over so he could go to sleep.” her voice is strained, and her cheeks are red. her body quivers more as every muscle in her body is extremely sensitive.

“was he big?” you smirked, reaching up to capture her lips in a deep kiss, fingers circling her clit once more. “keep those legs open.”

jennie’s breaths grow shallow, and her breath hitches. she grips the back of your hair as she lets out a small, breathy moan. then, you ask her the question. her heart almost skips a beat. she shakes her head as she opens her mouth to tell you how small he actually was — which is why he didn’t satisfy her as he should have. however, her words are interrupted by your quick kiss.

“i’m going to worship you, princess.” your voice dipped an octave lower, faces inches apart as your warm breath brushed against her lips. “i’m going to make you cum three times today. once with my fingers. twice with my mouth. now that you’re mine, you will never be allowed to do, — only receive. because you deserve nothing less.”

the sound of your low tone, combined with your words makes jennie quiver uncontrollably. her breath grows shallower, and she feels her body quivering more and more. her nipples are extremely sensitive as your fingers move even faster.

“what about you?” jennie whispers, her body shaking again. her breaths are shallow, and she feels her knees tremble. you were constantly edging her by bringing her to the peak of her orgasm before slowing your movements down; taking the time to memorize every inch of her sensitive spots.

“only once you’ve been thoroughly pleased will i think about my own pleasure. not like what I’m doing to you is pleasing me any less.” you smirked, moving your mouth and fingers faster with the intent of making her cum. “all you have to do with me is keep those pretty legs open.”

jennie’s breath quickens when you finally slip two long fingers into her weeping entrance, and she lets out one of the loudest moans she’s ever done in her life. her knees tremble and shake, her back continuing to arch as you finger her. jennie’s mouth falls open, and her body shudders as she shivers uncontrollably.

her breaths grow even more shallow, and her body quivers more and more. jennie’s lips part slightly and her breath hitches as her legs twitch with the effort to keep her thighs spread.

you keep pumping your fingers as fast as possible, showing no signs of stopping. you mentally curse the small area of the car you were in while wishing you had more space to play with her.

you didn’t stop, though, movements increasing in intensity until she screamed.

jennie’s breath grows shallower as you kept going. she can barely even keep her hands on you before she lets go and grips the sides of the seat. she couldn’t hold her own body up anymore.

you keep going without any hesitation even after she screamed. She couldn’t even breathe properly, and she could feel the knot at the pit of her stomach tighten. her breath just grew even shallower, voice a high pitched whine as her hips desperately twitched against your fingers. “y-yes, oh please, f-fuck!”

you groaned, lips meeting her mouth as you kissed her messily, swallowing her moans. the car was filled with the sound of your fingers squelching into her moist and weeping cunt, your full focus on making her have the most mind-blowing orgasm. your fingers and hand was drenched with her juices,

jennie whimpers, her mouth twitching against yours as she squeals and hiccups. her nails dig into the seat, and she lets out a high-pitched cry, the curve of your long fingers triggering her.

jennie’s body is twitching all over, her breath short and the walls of her cunt spasming. her vision blurs with tears, each and every nerve ending of hers feeling like it numbed with the onslaught of raw pleasure that wracked her trembling body. white dots clouded her vision and with another soft cry for god, jennie’s wound up body starts to loosen, her breath hitching as she pants softly in an attempt to catch her breath.

“good girl. . . such a good girl. . .” you cooed, fingers slowing down as you help her ride out her orgasm. you kissed up her breasts softly, holding her to your chest.

the moment jennie heard you call her a good girl, a satisfied moan escapes her, which she then covers with her hand to prevent too much noise. she’s too out of breath to talk, and her body shudders even more, her limbs still twitching slightly. she’s still shaking from that intense climax and her body goes lax in your arms, with her head resting in the crook of your neck.

“pretty princess, how did that feel?” you remove her small palm from her mouth with a smirk, capturing her lips in a slow kiss. “never cover your mouth or hold back those pretty noises.”

a satisfied whimper escapes jennie’s mouth, her eyes fluttering open. it feels as if she’s back on earth, the climax having a powerful effect on her as her vision clears. it still hadn’t sunken in just exactly how much jennie enjoyed that moment.

she bites her lip softly and looks at you. “it was. . . incredible. i’ve honestly never experienced something like that.”

“there’s much more where that came from.” you chuckled, kissing her again as your hold tightens on her smaller body. “i’m going to drive us to my apartment for the rest of the night.”

the moment jennie heard you mention spending the rest of the night with her, more chills run down her spine. she gasps, her breaths growing even more shallow. as your lips meet hers once again, she lets out a quiet moan and then she nods.

☆

you can barely keep your hands off jennie as you both walk into your apartment. your palms gripped the flesh of her waist as you cling to her and mouth at her neck while guiding her to your bedroom decorated with flower petals. “such a pretty body. I’m obsessed. . .”

your touch sends shivers down her back once again. jennie whimpers softly as you nibble and kiss her neck. the way you compliment her makes her heart flutter, and she bites her lip at the feeling of your large palms gripping the flesh of her waist. the sight of the bedroom decorated so well makes her breath hitch, eyes sparkling in the dim light of the bedroom.

when you lay her down and climb on top of her, jennie’s breaths turn shallow, and the sight of you on top of her makes her feel faint.

“i-is all of this for me?” jennie’s voice is a mere whisper, eyes sparkling with awe and gratitude. her cheeks were pink. you chuckle softly while you begin to strip her slowly, your gaze holding a hint of warmth. “happy birthday, princess.”

you take off her heels first while tracing soft kisses down jennie’s calf, making her whimper at the contact. then you pull off her skirt and panties while squeezing and massaging her upper thighs, feeling her tremble beneath you. you slowly undid her blouse finally, placing gentle kisses on her collarbones; unclipping her black bra so she was naked and quivering beneath you. “such a gorgeous sight. i’ll never get tired of this.”

jennie can’t help but squirm and shake when she was finally bare beneath you, and she bites her lip again to prevent her soft gasps from escaping her lips. her body is starting to tremble, and her breath is shaky and labored. goosebumps litter her pale skin, nipples hardening from the cold air.

“legs open, princess.” you smirked, dark eyes watching her every movement as you trail kisses up her plump thigh.

jennie lets out a soft moan at the contact, her legs twitching as she holds them up. her fingers gripped the inside of her knees, holding her legs in the air and giving you a complete view of the puffy folds of her pussy lips, swollen clit and quivering cunt drenched in her juices. strings of arousal dripped down to her rim, and jennie felt her face heat up the longer you stared at her bare sex.

your gaze drops to her tight pink entrance, mouth watering at the pulsing hole. “i want to hear every single sound, princess. no holding back. i want to know how good i’m making you feel.”

you don’t waste any time after that, diving down and slurping her pulsing cunt with your tongue as you hold her legs open. your fingers dig into the back of her thighs, dark eyes watching her every movements as your muscles flex and squeeze her flesh.

jennie gasps, her back arching once again, her legs trembling a little bit more when your tongue swirls around her swollen nub. she whimpers softly as your head moves from side to side, tongue flicking quickly, making her breaths grow shallow. jennie couldn’t contain her moans anymore, the stimulation causing her body to quiver and twitch slightly. “a-ah!”

the sound of her sweet moans spurs you on, leading you to increase the intensity of your movements, fingers squeezing her ass as your tongue moves faster, dipping down to push into her pink hole.

jennie begins to gasp a little louder at the increasing intensity, her hips pushing into yours as she chases her high. your fingers gripping her ass while eating her out made her squirm and grip the sheets underneath, her face screwed in pleasure.

“o-oh! oh my god. . . ah, f-fuck. . . right there!” jennie’s breaths grow even more shallow, as she hiccups and babbles incoherently from the pleasure. her mind fogged, eyes glazing over with tears from the way you slurped and lapped at her pussy.

jennie bucked into your face, her hands flying down to thread through your hair as she cried out your name with every rough stroke of your tongue. you sucked on her clit, releasing it with a pop and making her sob.

you could feel jennie’s legs come to rest on your shoulders, her plump thighs enclosing around your head as she tried to push your head down to where she really wanted you.

“is my princess being impatient?” you chuckled, nipping her clit playfully and making jennie cry out. your muscles flexed as your palms gripped her thighs and pushed them apart slowly. your dark gaze was fixated on the way her drenched lips peeled open. “i won’t tease since it’s your birthday.” you chuckled.

your head dips down and your movements are now relentless, — your only aim now was to make jennie cum.

your fingers gripped the plush globes of her ass, holding you still as your mouth attached to her pussy. as soon as you sucked on her lips, jennie let out a small gasp, pressing her hips harder into your face.

you could feel her body start to shake uncontrollably when you lapped and slurped, gathering all her juices on your tongue. she’s squirming and sobbing softly, attempting to stop her cries by biting her lip. your tongue lashed harshly against her clit, thrusting your tongue in again as you pump in and out.

“f-fuck!” jennie sobs. her hips quivered and spasmed, breathing shallow. you tongue-fucked her tight cunt, using your fingers to fondle her clit in rough circles. her cries caused you to groan softly, feeling your own panties drench with arousal, as she bucked her hips into your face once more.

jennie starts trembling more than before and she closes her eyes tightly, as if she was going to start crying any second with all the buildup you’re giving her. your tongue was nearly making her see stars, the knot at the pit of her stomach tightening beyond measure.

you’re relentless as you bury your face further in the juncture between her legs. “f-fuck, princess. . . cum on my face, please. . .” your voice was a desperate growl against her pussy, your chin and cheeks drenched in her juices as you slurp her pussy as if it was your last meal.

jennie let out a desperate cry, back arching and white dots clouding her vision as she came all over your face, a few tears dripping down her cheeks. her hips humped your face in a needy manner, your nails digging into the flesh of her ass as you hold her in place. you groaned as you slurped up every last drop of her cum, lapping at her weeping cunt like a starved dog. the way her quivering thighs clenched around your head made you feral, nose rubbing against her clit with how your mouth sucked and tongued her for every last drop of her juices.

jennie can’t hold her noises back, screaming out louder as your mouth doesn’t stop. “w-wait. . . i’m s-sensitive. . !” she whimpers, her heart hammering in her chest from the overstimulation on her tender clit.

instead of slowing down or stopping, your mind had fogged with the animalistic urge to taste her just once more. “please princess. one more. just one more. i know you can do it.”

jennie sobs your name when you push a long finger into her, finding her g-spot almost immediately. you scissored her tight cunt quickly, mouth lapping at her abused clit, sucking until she screamed.

the vibrations from your low voice caused her back to arch, broken cries leaving her lips as her hips bucked into your face.

“i-i think. . . i think i’m. . .” jennie’s body spasmed, eyes rolling back as she let out a silent cry, squirting all over your face.

her walls tightened and spasmed around your digits as you pulled them out and flattened your tongue against her hole, swallowing every last drop of her juices. your wet fingers toyed with her clit once more, dragging out her intense orgasm as you drank her up. her body shook and spasmed with every spurt until she finally collapsed on the bed, panting heavily.

you licked your lips and got up slowly, the throbbing of your clit hard to ignore but you pushed your own desires aside and hovered your body over hers, finding her limp and unresponsive, eyes shut as she breathed heavily.

“oops.” you mumbled with a chuckle, panting softly as you realized you made her cum so hard she passed out. you got up and stretched, walking to your en-suite bathroom and bringing out a wet towel to clean her up.

“sleep well, princess.” you switched off the dim light, covering her sweaty and exposed body as you kissed her matted hair softly, planning on eating the birthday cake you made off her tits the next day.

⊂⊃ ( vel.notes ) ﹐ ⇅ happy new year loves and a happy birthday to jenbear! this is one of my older drafts and ended up being a bigger monster than i expected lolol but i've been obsessed with her tits for weeks and so i did what i do best, wrote :) this fic is all about jen receiving because it's her special day!

[hercuntiness]

The Queen Cunt 👑 is at her absolute cuntiest today!

I was not invited to teach this semester, which begins tomorrow.

I'm down 1/3 of my income

I'm left with this part of my brain and soul untended and untethered

My eldest was delivered back to their campus yesterday.

The scholarship only covers tuition and the grant doesn't cover everything else

They need this, they are ready for this, but we are both so scared

My spouse and live-in parent are not getting along, but it's all unsaid things

The new electric stove is because the parent can't smell (pre-covid issue) and once left the gas on for 5+ hours- but everyone hates the new stove

Parent is too rough on former-chef spouse's kitchen things, but spouse isn't home to cook, so parent does it. We have to replace expensive things way too frequently

Parent will warm up their car in the morning but never offers to start mine; I do theirs without asking

Parent keeps threatening to get a job; no one needs that

Random irritations:

Student promised to get paper in to me this weekend so they wouldn't fail last semester's class - didn't (they were SO close to passing)

The accountant at the dayjob has left me stacks of homework

My braincare scripts are out and I forgot to refill before I was out-out (tomorrow should be fun)

I have a pretty big expense tomorrow and I just asked for $400 towards the kid's uni bill from the spouse

My period is due any day now

Spouse wants me to help/join them with their low carb diet because their health is on the line

I want to cut my hair

But I did get this awesome pallas cat for Christmas

[stateofnevadajobsneats]

The Top 10 Companies Hiring in Nevada Right Now

The Top 10 Companies Hiring in Nevada Right Now: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you on the lookout for a new job opportunity in Nevada? Look no further! In this article, we'll be discussing the top 10 companies hiring in Nevada right now. Whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced professional, this list has got you covered. So, without further ado, let's dive right in!

Introduction: Job Opportunities in Nevada

Nevada is home to a booming job market, with a strong focus on technology, hospitality, and healthcare. The state is home to some of the most dynamic and fastest-growing industries in the country, making it a prime location for job seekers.

From Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada offers a variety of job opportunities across various industries, including healthcare, finance, education, and more. The state's low unemployment rate and high job growth rate make it a great place to live and work.

The Top 10 Companies Hiring in Nevada Right Now

Here are the top 10 companies currently hiring in Nevada:

Amazon

Tesla

MGM Resorts International

Caesars Entertainment

Southwest Gas Corporation

Wynn Resorts

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Station Casinos

Las Vegas Sands Corporation

Allegiant Air

These companies are hiring for a variety of positions, ranging from entry-level to senior management roles. Whether you're looking for a job in customer service, finance, or engineering, these companies have got you covered.

Why These Companies Made the List

These companies made the list because they are not only some of the largest employers in Nevada but also offer a variety of benefits and opportunities for growth. From healthcare to tuition reimbursement, these companies prioritize the well-being and success of their employees.

In addition, these companies are known for their positive work culture, employee satisfaction, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, these companies are paving the way for the future of work in Nevada.

The Hiring Process

The hiring process for these companies varies depending on the position you are applying for. Typically, the process begins with submitting an online application and resume. From there, you may be asked to complete an assessment, participate in a phone interview, and attend an in-person interview.

It's important to research the company and the position thoroughly before applying. Make sure your resume and cover letter highlight your skills and qualifications, and tailor them to the specific job you are applying for.

FAQs About Job Opportunities in Nevada

What is the average salary in Nevada? The average salary in Nevada is around $55,000 per year, although this varies depending on the industry and position.

What industries are growing the fastest in Nevada? The fastest-growing industries in Nevada include healthcare, technology, and hospitality.

What are the best cities to find a job in Nevada? Las Vegas, Reno, and Henderson are some of the best cities to find a job in Nevada.

Do these companies offer remote work options? Many of these companies offer remote work options, although this varies depending on the position.

How can I stand out during the hiring process? To stand out during the hiring process, make sure your resume and cover letter are tailored to the position you are applying for. Research the company and the job thoroughly, and highlight your relevant skills and experience.

What are some common interview questions I should be prepared for? Common interview questions include "Tell me about yourself," "What are your strengths and weaknesses," and "Why do you want to work for this company?"

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nevada is home to a variety of job opportunities across various industries, with a strong focus on technology, hospitality  , and healthcare. The top 10 companies hiring in Nevada right now offer some of the best job opportunities in the state, with a focus on employee well-being, growth, and satisfaction.

Whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced professional, these companies offer something for everyone. From entry-level positions to senior management roles, there's no shortage of opportunities for career advancement.

In addition, these companies are known for their commitment to diversity and inclusion, creating a welcoming and supportive work environment for all employees. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, these companies are not only great places to work but also leaders in their respective industries.

So if you're looking for a new job opportunity in Nevada, consider applying to one of the top 10 companies hiring right now. With their focus on employee well-being, growth, and satisfaction, you're sure to find a job that's both fulfilling and rewarding.

Thank you for reading and best of luck in your job search!