#but it is important if I want to earn a bit more than a minimum wage ig

[salenrooz]

Oh the indescribable feeling of dread after you get exactly what you're asked for

[drdemonprince]

Would it make more sense to contribute money to my employers 401k to max out the match contribution or to instead just contribute a small amount and use the rest to pay off high interest debt or building an emergency savings (I have like 1.5 months worth of expenses saved and… $30k of credit card debt….). I was unemployed for a long time but now have a stable salaried job where I make enough to cover my expenses (credit card minimums, loans, groceries, rent, etc) and have a little left over that I divvy up between small treats (a movie ticket, a nice pastry, thrifted clothes), donation posts, and like an extra $50 credit card payment and I’m not fully sure the optimal way to use that small amount of money. I do need a small treat from time to time to not lose it (and socializing often costs money even if it’s a cheap activity) but maybe it’s better saving on getting a $10 movie ticket each month to potentially pay off my debt like a month faster a couple years from now? how do I create financial security without feeling like I’m putting my life on a depressing pause for a debt free future that won’t happen for a couple years (assuming I make the same money and don’t incur additional expenses)?

Yeah, you've hit on a really important piece here, which is motivation and long-term resolve. The Mr Money Mustaches of the world talk up the importance of stoicism and shit and preach reducing living expenses, but it's equally important to keep in mind what actively gives you enough hope, pleasure, and reinforcement to keep you going.

Cutting back on expensive nights out is one thing; removing all joy and socialization from your life and therefore nerfing your long-term ability to remain employed and earning is another matter entirely. Enjoy those movie nights out. Supplement with having friends over to stream something on your laptop and eat snacks, free museum days, you know, do lots of cheap shit in addition to the little treats, but dont deny yourself the treats. those arent extravagances, that's being ALIVE! and the only reason we aspire toward financial independence is so that we can live life as we wish to, rather than being owned by an employer.

Employer matches are pretty much a guaranteed double on your money, which is better than even paying off a loan in terms of earning potential. so I'd recommend socking away that 5% from your paycheck automatically, so that you never even have to think about it, and then budgeting any remaining expendable income on knocking out that credit card debt.

30k is enough to really hurt, especially with interest over time, but not so great that knocking it out is impossible. you can do this! make sure in particular to focus any unexpected income on paying down that debt. birthday money, tax returns, perhaps filling out some class action forms online, any little bit helps -- you may want to check out the Snowball Debt Repayment method, in particular, as a lot of people find it more motivating to have a few shorter-term goals. (Basically, if you have multiple credit card debts, focus on paying off the smallest one first, so you'll get the rush of having vanquished at least one beast).

Good luck!!

[thezombieprostitute]

Alphas & Algorithms

A/N: Written for the @the-slumberparty​ Bingo card, combining "Tinder Date" and "Dystopian AU" (the former is a bit weak, but it still holds). Reader is referred to as she/her and tall but no other descriptors.

Warnings: It is a Dystopian AU. Food scarcity, hunger, mentions of families being separated. Please let me know if I missed any!

A/N2: I've officially gotten my bingo card to where there are NO bingos and the next thing I write will result in a minimum of 2 bingos in one!

--Part 2--

--Series Masterlist--

The AI had started slowly. Subtly integrating itself into every facet of society. Once it was ready, its takeover was fast and bloody. Packs were still bearing the scars of it even now. There had been attempts to overthrow the AI but it learned from each try. As potent as its algorithms were it recognized that there would always be a small percentage of humanity that it would never be able to fully predict. That’s when it recruited the Omegas.

Because Omegas were naturally attuned to the emotional and psychological well-being of those around them, the AI began to use them when investigating civilians. The AI’s algorithm could easily pick out which citizens had the highest probabilities of rebelling against the system or even committing minor infractions, but the Omegas had proven themselves in being able to confirm or deny the reality of those probabilities. 

They didn’t want to help the AI but it understood the importance of Packs and would not hesitate to use their Packmates against them. It would focus on the Alphas as their bigger, stronger forms were deemed “not needed” in the world the AI had created. To save their Packmates, the Omegas ended up working for the AI. They were rewarded for accurate prediction and harshly punished for incorrect ones. 

Over the generations Omegas were gradually separated from Packs all together. Their training earned them the derogatory nickname “Pets”. When there was a noticeable drop in the Omega population the AI’s data indicated an Alpha/Omega mating was much more likely to result in Omegas than any other combination. 

And that’s what led to Y/N being here, at what her Alpha mother had derisively called “the Tinder App”. Y/N didn’t know what that meant but guessed it was based on some older technology. The AI consistently kept data on known Alphas and had collected 10 of the most biologically compatible with her, the Alphas most likely to give the AI more Omegas. The 10 boxes in front of her contained a sample of their scents. If she liked the scent, it was to be put to the right of the table. If she didn’t, it went to the left.

“What if I don’t like any of them,” she whispered to Jake. He was her best friend and Emotional Support Beta. He’d been assigned to her the minute she presented as an Omega. His role was both emotional support (in place of pack-bonding) as well as leverage for the AI to use against her.

“Don’t worry,” Jake whispered back. “I’ve personally evaluated at least half of them and I know you’ll find a few that you like.”

“How did you manage that?”

“I logiced with the AI that I could help reduce the number of disliked scents, optimizing the chances of you finding a good mate. Now go on and give the sniff test.” He pushed Y/N forward a bit. 

The first few scents were nice enough. Nothing particularly noticeable or unpleasant. She decided to keep those in the middle until she’d checked out a few others. The fifth scent made her go into a coughing fit.

“Woah, there,” Jake grabbed and hugged her while she kept coughing. “What the hell is in that box?!”

“I dunno but it smells like when you fry up dried spicy peppers and the smoke gets everywhere,” Y/N explained between coughs. “When that Alpha’s having a good day it’d be like adding a bit of spice and seasoning to bland foods. But when he’s having a bad day, it’d be like smelling bear spray.” Jake winces in sympathy and Y/N promptly moves the box to the left. Neither notices the AI crossing off the name “Hansen, L.” from its list of potential Alphas.

When Y/N recovered she went back to one of the mildly pleasant scents to clean her palette. She ended up moving a couple more to the left because, after the shock to her system with the smoky pepper scent, these ones just felt especially bland.

The sixth and seventh scents were at least interesting so she moved those to the right. The next scent almost made her knees shake with how good it was. It smelled like the warmth of a fire on a cold night, a light in the darkness that promised safety and companionship. On a good day there was warmth, food and safety. On a bad day it was just a lot of smoke that seemed to follow you no matter where you sat around it. It was definitely a keeper and she moved it to the right.

The ninth scent made her freeze in a way Jake recognized as fear so he immediately comforted her and put away the offending scent. She described the scent as “a glacier in the ocean. You might think you’re far enough away but you’re not. On a good day, you can see it clearly and try to avoid it. On a bad day, there’s fog everywhere, the ship sinks and you have to choose between drowning and hypothermia.” As she recovers from another shock, the AI crosses off “Drysdale, R.” from its list. 

The final scent was almost as good as the campfire one. She smelled it a few times and enjoyed the sensation of a cold front breaking the heatwave, making outside life bearable again. On the bad days, it would bring a blizzard and cover everything, but on the good days, relief. She almost wished she could have both Alphas as she moved the final scent to the right. But then she reminded herself of her promise to not be like her Omega father and that she wanted to be a good mate to whatever Alpha she ended up with. Probably would be easier if she only had one Alpha to dote on.

Every time Curtis woke up he expected that he’d finally be numb to the pain his body plagued him with. Every time he was disappointed. His Alpha designation meant he was deemed to be only suitable for heavy labor and drudgery work. Betas do the smart stuff, Omegas do the snitching, and Alphas do what labor the AI hasn’t replaced with robots, he thought to himself. He took a deep breath and got up. 

The rest of the pack was starting to stir as well. Only the pups were allowed to sleep a little later as they not only needed the rest but it gave the adults a few minutes of quiet in the mornings. Timmy, Yona and Andy weren’t rowdy kids, but some mornings were tougher than others. Curtis was especially protective of them since his own brother had been taken to be a whipping boy for some Omega several years ago. The only comfort his pack got was that, at the start of the month, they received credits equivalent to whatever wages he would’ve earned had he still been with them. Curtis hoped it was also a sign that he was still alive. 

Tanya and Andrew were just divvying up the ration packs for everyone for the day. They had to be careful since the AI kept touting that everyone was getting the exact amount of vitamins and minerals they needed each day. That knowledge didn’t help with the hunger and Curtis wondered if it was a side-effect of an Alpha physique to need more. He’d never ask for more, of course, but he still wondered.

Tanya smiled as best she could and handed Curtis his rations when there was a loud bang on the door that woke up everyone. The entire pack on edge, Curtis called out, “who is it?”

“AI Security Drone. Please open the door or we will break it down.” The pups started silently crying in fear as the other pack members tried to calm them down. Curtis stepped up and opened the door but did not let the drone inside. Alphas might not have practical skills for this day and age but dammit he was going to follow his instincts to protect his pack as best he could.

He blinked as the drone scanned his face and told him, “Curtis Everett. You have been selected for courting by an Omega. You are to come with me to prepare. Your pack will be compensated with the credits you would have earned today at work.”

Curtis froze in place, mentally cursing the AI and its ever invasive data collection. He heard one of the pups behind him crying for him to not go but he knew they’d be hurt worse if he didn’t comply. 

He sighed heavily and asked, “can I say goodbye to my pack, first?”

“You have been granted 3 minutes to say goodbye for the day.”

Curtis turned back and did his best Alpha purr to comfort the pups. He also snuck his day’s rations into Yona’s pocket. He wasn’t sure he was going to need it and figured they definitely could. He said his goodbyes, not knowing if he’d ever see his pack again, and headed out with the drone.

Part 2

[astarab1aze]

➥ Shipping Guide: Section 1 - Faith, Furie, Hydre, Kaede, and Loux

Note: All of my muses are complicated and not necessarily rigid adherents to what I'm outlining in this post. Much of the time, they'll be relatively easy to do things with given that a lot of them can manage their work/life balance and/or emotions well enough for them not to impede on any romantic interests (mostly). That being said, however, they are not without their caveats as several of them have the potential to be incredibly toxic by nature, or depending on the plot, and - inevitably - your muses will get swept up in their bullshit if they stick around. It's long, but in alphabetical order and informative, so it should be helpful as a guide when deciding on who to ship with (if that's what you're looking for).

Faith M, 28, chaotic good, cat-shifter, male, homosexual, soft power bottom

high libido, won't be with someone who won't have sex with him often enough

still needs someone to remind them he is worth more than that sometimes

will tend to your every need and ignore his own, from eating to laundry to sex

sunk cost fallacy's himself into staying in toxic/bad situations

focuses exclusively on the person he's with when he's with them

faith is not a difficult person to like, let alone love, usually. he's genuine and sweet and won't hesitate to tease or dote on his partners, smother them in softest affections and maybe a few more climaxes than they know what to do with. he's so so attentive, tender and loving in everything he does for them, often without question. moreover, he quite easily falls in love - easily impressed, easily wooed - but make no mistake, if his trust is broken at any time, it's literally impossible to earn back. knowing this about himself, he chooses never to trust in the first place, which is naturally much easier said than done; even the barest of minimums, something he's not and never has been used to, are enough to tip the scale. his perception of love and romance is almost entirely informed by the life he's lived, and trashy erotic romance novels, so it's distorted, commodified, and still in need of a little work.

i don't want to understate the need for understanding, patience, and affirmation with him. this is incredibly important to him; he wants to be loved and respected, but his perceptions of all of that are behind, so he doesn't really know, quite, what this means. it's important to be careful with him at times, though he isn't so breakable as he used to be.

he tends toward big personalities, mean, mischievous, friendly, powerful, all kinds - just, big ones. eccentricity, if you will, but also the darkness and light he sees in that. he likes complicated people, people that take him, at the same time, no time at all and all the time in the world to figure out, a challenge. he has a variety of physical and sexual preferences that are a bit more vast and nebulous, so appearances do not usually matter to him - it's 95% of the time personality and natural chemistry. he isn't so shallow as to hinge is affections on someone's looks, generally always finding his partners attractive. redheads, brunettes, blonds, salt & pepper, silver fox, hairy, short, big, small, older, Monster, human, etcetc doesn't matter. it's just how he is.

sexually speaking, he is sometimes inordinantly pushy, though this is rooted in insecurity, negative self-esteem, and hints of both jealousy and the territorial behaviors common in shifters. but aside from this, he aims only to please and be pleased, to tangle himself in another person for hours and love, love, love. he's flexible in terms of what exactly happens, rough, gentle, or otherwise, and typically won't complain should a more dominant partner up the ante; but he is, for the most part, very vocal and insistent on what he wants, how he wants to be touched, where it's okay to touch him - very noisy, about this and when his partner's doing a good job. in this vein, he's very loving and attentive as well, and very, very prone to teasing his partners for eternity then giving oral sex. just be aware.

Furie N, 26, neutral good, werewyrm, male, bisexual, soft switch

absolutely not receptive to romantic advances...for a time

proximity, quality time, and a little boundary pushing are key

he will probably never make the first move, otherwise sorta traditional

low & slow sex drive, self-conscious of his anthromorphic parts

anxious, self-sacrificing, opportunistic, stoic, devoted, protective, bashful

furie doesn't have too many preferences aside from being more interested in women than men. ultimately, it's not very important what the gender of his partner is, though there are certain aspects he's attracted to, it just depends on the person: soft, angular, muscular, slender, dark hair, light hair, moral ambiguity, etc. he's not necessarily drawn to anything specific, sort of repressed, suppressing his hopes and desires for the sake of his beliefs - which he has felt less and less connected to over time, despite being an important member of the clergy. he's complicated and somewhat contradictory, less forgiving than he expects others to be, distrustful, opportunistic, and unreasonably cold; protective measures, keeping people at distance so as not to drag anymore people into his mess and end up getting them hurt or worse. it's next to impossible to sway him, so what he needs above all is prolonged proximity and persisitence.

he can be incredibly cold at the start, distant and unfriendly, even rude, and may even do anything he can to avoid a prospective partner, but with time, he slowly but surely becomes very protective in his own ways, and will develop a bit of separation anxiety when the other isn't around. wouldn't go so far as to say he's clingy, but their absence will be felt. constancy is the surest way to provoke a response like this from him, to slowly tangle into and influence his life, change his mind on some things, open him up. and in return, he is fiercely protective, the sort to endlessly pine and establish daily shared habits; unfortunately, there are other obstacles that may impede any progress with him, as he is terrified that by finding new love he will be replacing his ex-fiance, who was tragically killed. this plays a much larger part than you'd think, but we're not here for that.

in terms of sex, he is somewhat traditional and requires the good old fashioned foreplay most of the time in order to really enjoy it. that being said, he tends to tease his partners for hours and will go so far as to edge them, deny them release, and generally build a lot of tension before persuing climax. whatever makes it more intense and fulfilling for both parties. on the other hand, he can be...surprisingly receptive, and honest. open to what his partners want, and what they want to do to him of have him do to them. facing each other is a must for him, handholding too. and a respect for his space & autonomy - no means no, and he can and will revoke his consent if he feels too overwhelmed. however, there are occasions he will only encourage -ahem- bad behavior, if you catch his drift. it's okay to take advantage of him sometimes, depending on who his partner is.

Hydre B, ??, true neutral, divine hydra, male, bisexual, (service) dom

cannot and will not mate with anyone that can permanently die

needs partner to be just as cannibalistic & masochistic as he is

extraordinarily subtle with romance despite his gestures

partners will become visible parts of his constellation

opportunistic, gluttinous, loving in incomprehensible ways, lazy, violent, greedy

hydre's a bit of a can of worms unto himself and is very particular about the sorts of partners he's willing to romance and be romanced by. he will not waste any time trying to woo any humans or mortals, period. there are no exceptions - prospective partners must be divine or some flavor incapable of true death, because much of his affection and love is inherently starved, consumptive. he will literally eat his partners, it's sort of non-negotiable. the reason for this is that he wants to be as close to them as is physically, magically, and emotionally possible, sharing in blood, flesh, and other carnal activities in order to make this explicitly clear. he wants to eat and be eaten, to feel his beloved running through his veins, for them to feel him, and to sort of stew in the mess they create together. simmer in blood, guts, and gore, and heal, snap back into shape as if nothing had ever happened to begin with, and then doing it all over again. or, on occasion, he's just happy to hold his partner in his mouth, a bit like a dog would an egg.

he doesn't really have a 'type' beyond this - as long as his prospective partner is physically capable of handling him, then he's ultimately satisfied. truly, it comes down to whether he can be handled. he doesn't need to be worshipped, praised, prayed to, or anything of the sort - he just needs to be withstood, weathered. earning his affections is a slow process and he won't easily give them up, but when he does, his partners still may not readily know what it is he really feels for them. for this reason, he tends toward intellectual types, those who can parse his gestures and unspoken thoughts for what they are. traveling to places only he has the power to take them, conjuring their heart's desires, showing them grand sights and his home, before it was destroyed, gathering them into his arms and adding them into his constellation- he's sweet, in his own, dramatic nightfolky way, despite his proclivities toward cannibalizing his partners.

Kaede S, 26, chaotic good, sorcerer, male, bisexual, bratty/soft sub

mentally & emotionally hard to manage due to responses to trauma

willing to put up with abuses of all kinds just to feel loved for a moment

mostly resistent to romantic advances, occasionally very receptive

mid-high sex drive, won't be with anyone that won't have sex with him often

affectionate, monogamous, overprotective, reactive, tsundere

kaede is somewhat difficult to romance despite how... open he sometimes is to prospective partners' advances. he isn't above one-night stands or paying for sex, generally tending toward non-committal relationships to prevent distraction from his work - even though genuine long-lasting love is something he desperately wants. his life is dangerous and he doesn't want to unnecessarily drag anyone into his mess, especially given the non-zero chance he could be killed at any time and therefore end up getting his partner hurt as well. he isolates himself to protect others, however naive and self-harming this actually is. so it's difficult to get him to relent long enough for anything to really happen. that being said, it's not always this way and there are times he's very easy to convince. there's no special reason, it would only depend on his mood at the time. but in such cases, he's bashful and cutely enthusiastic, interested and present, hoping for more but not expecting it or even necessarily trying for it (but not saying no to anything either).

he does have particular tastes and is unashamedly shallow about them - if privately so - preferring those with blonde, silver, or white hair and light eyes, toned and maintained physiques, and strength of character with a dash of amorality for flavor. he gravitates toward people who are strong and bright in personality, those who can understand why he is the way he is, trauma and all, who are patient and persevering. he wants to be loved by someone who can meet him at his level and love him despite all the trouble he finds himself in or the frequency with which he disappears. consider him a sort of house cat who went outside once and hasn't been able to return home since. he needs to be properly courted, perhaps even in a traditional sense, and trust is of utmost importance to him. exceptions to this exist however and it's not entirely unlikely for him to have relationships with toxic people, as has been the case before and is something that should be treated with care. he still has some extreme responses to things due to prior traumas, though they are few and far between of late and not super likely to manifest until children aer involved (much anxiety here, he becomes something of a panicky, overprotective helicopter mom).

he's flexible in terms of sexual intimacy, given that he can be rather kinky and accepting of boundary-pushing experiences, masochism, among other things. he's somewhat prone to riding and performing oral, taking charge and throwing some attitude a lot of the time, though he's really mostly a complete pillow prince outside of that. what he wants most is to be shown love that mirrors his own, intense, sweet, and genuine. he wants to be loved, to spend his days with his partners rolling around in bed, ignoring the twist and turn of the world around them. he craves intimacy, comfort, acceptance, someone willing to put in the work to love him. he's receptive to charm and wit, silly jokes and thoughtfulness, and is the type to bring flowers with him to every date as a gift. he will share all his drinks and snacks, and generally seek to touch his partners in some way. he is also earnest and fairly stubborn if he's fallen for someone, sometimes a bit obsessive but most times just- wanting to be with his partners because they're not going to hurt him like everything and everyone else (hopefully).

Loux G, 28, chaotic neutral, fox-shifter, male, bisexual, service switch

needs someone with high libido, no exceptions

the best boyfriend you'll ever have, also the worst person you'll ever know

will probably lie about himself to his partners, forever

changes himself to suit his partners' tastes, depending on the relationship

aims for the 'boring' life, won't change current trajectory for anything less

loux is naturally incredibly flirtatious with just about everyone he meets, so it's not difficult to get something started with him since he's so flexible. he doesn't really have a type per se, but he gravitates toward people with strong personalities and a litany of similar baggage to his own, barring some occasional romances with the mousy 'good girl/boy' types, bears, and dwarves. he likes people who are true to themselves, no matter what kind of people they are, and will seek them out. the only thing he doesn't really like is when prospective partners do certain things or ask certain questions about him that aren't easy for him to answer; prying into his past is sometimes a surefire way to lose him, especially early on, as it isn't something he's comfortable with talking about in any capacity. this doesn't mean he won't ever share - it means he needs time. likewise, he doesn't expect his partners to share every detail about themselves with him and generally won't ask either. not because he doesn't care, but because he sorta kinda feels he already knows the answer, so he chooses instead to comfort them in all the ways he knows how rather than risk bringing them any further distress. this doesn't always work, but it's his preferred approach.

as a boyfriend, loux is honestly one of the best anyone could have. he's attentive, playful, and willing to do anything to prove he loves his partners. he's not afraid of making himself look a complete fool just to get a laugh out of his partners, or to break the law by making use of his magical abilities to show them new sights and take them away to someplace unique and wonderful, or to shower his partners with grand and special expensive gifts, or to pretend to be ignorant or stupid about certain subjects so his partners can be handy or school him. but he's terrible with voicing his feelings, utterly incapable of bringing himself to be selfish in this way. for all his confidence, he's emotionally fragile in strange and complicated ways, sometimes impossible to understand or be careful enough with; partners won't always know right off when they've upset or hurt him, they're sort of the only people who can avoid his more extreme emotions. he just won't express them around them, or will avoid doing so at all costs on a subconscious level. his love is incredibly stubborn however; by no means is it flimsy or easy to break. he is persistent and patient, and does put in real concerted effort to better himself for his partners.

he is also, as we all know, hypersexual on top of an already high libido. trauma related or not ultimately doesn't matter, as the fact remains: he greatly enjoys sex and cannot directly or properly communicate his true feelings, finding it to be good enough middle ground for reciprocal expressions of love. that's what it means to him, to have sex with his partners. i love you, in the intensity of his touch. it's hard to think so, at first, given that such a proclivity toward physical intimacy could come across as shallow and smarmy, but this is how he knows best to show his partners he loves them deeply without having to say it out loud. he attends to every need and will alter the shape and state of his body to suit any fantasy his partners could have, always giving, servicing them. tenderly, roughly, needily, slowly, whatever, doesn't matter. whatever his partners want, he's happy to give. all the time, quite literally. it's not just sex, but physical touch in general he uses to communicate. constantly just touching his partners is both for comfort and a means of reinforcing what he admits through sex; holding hands, running his fingers through their hair, keeping a hand on their hip, ass, thigh, or back, cuddling, hugging, kissing, so on and so forth are musts. he wants to touch his partners all the time, forever, and won't compromise on this.

[majulians-groupie]

HEEYYY yall this is my first ever headcannon post,I know I am super late to the fandom,I haven't been here since middle school but I replayed the game again and I MISSED MY DUMBASS CHAOTIC THEATER KID DOCTOR🥺✨️✨️

•Sooοο..I am having a lupus flare and I lowkey need this so yeah this is for all my wonderful people that deal with chronic fatigue/pain/illnesses in general,we got this babes😭✌️✌️

 

♡Julian,and Asra with an MC that deals with Lupus♡

•

✨️🐦‍⬛✨️🐦‍⬛Julian✨️🐦‍⬛✨️🐦‍⬛:

Well,one could definetely say fighting the devil,saving the world, AND learning that you died but been brought back to life is more than enough to make a healthy person stressed and tired.Well...let's just say than in your case you needed a minimum of a few days of a well earned break to deal with your after-chaotic-route-events flair.

That's when you first made a real discussion about that autoimmune disease you were telling him about,(he was trying SOOO hard to learn more,always asking you details as discreetly as he could ,but you wanted to have a proper discussion with him about it,and the events of the route kinda got in the way)

•Good thing about him being a doctor:He generally knows what Lupus is and understands how it can affect you in your everyday life,so you don't have to explain much to him.Additionally, you wont have to worry about scaring/shocking him when it comes to your symptoms( 95% he has heard of them before,not that it still doesn't kill him  everytime he sees you going through them tho)

•Bad thing about being an anxious doctor is: HE ADORES YOU TO BITS,so he freaks a little bit out at first,exactly because he understands the seriousness of the situation

He tries to appear calm so as not to not freak YOU out (he knows that would only be worse for your health,since anxiety and autoimmune diseases are a really bad pair),but you could swear you could hear the gears up in his brain overworking themselves

•Darling...I had no idea (mesmerized that you were kicking the devil's AND lupus' ass at the same time)

•Let's be real here though..we are talking about the person that successfully amputated another person's arm as a teenager and saw the importance of blood in diseases WAY beyond his time.This man is canonically a genius,so yayy you have the best healthcare professional at your service (shall I remind you of the little detail that he also ADORES YOU TO BITS and would work his ass off, just at the hope of discovering something that would provide some improvement/relief on your symptoms)

•He went as far as to consider changing his medical field,but that's where you had to overstep and gently remind him the boundaries between him being your partner and him being your doctor.

You explained to him that there is no reason for him to abandon his life's work (blood researching) and that you would hate to see him leave from a field  he is really passionate about, just to make his life's goal and obsession around you

•He begrudgingly sees the reason behind your words and wont insist,but won't stop studying medical books,staying up to date with latest medical researches,and generally knowing almost as much about the disease as a rheumatologist does.

•However,It takes him a while to find the balance between caring for you as a partner,and caring for you as a doctor.He is constantly doting on you and being overprotective,because he has knowledge of every single thing that could go wrong.If you are on immunosuppressants,flu season makes him PARANOID.He can get a little bit overbearing at times,but you can't get mad at him because you know that only happens because he cares so deeply about you.If he gets too much for you to handle,you have a calm conversation where you explain to him that he needs to trust you more and that you know how to take care of your own body and it's needs.

*-Honey you don't need remind me to take my pills every 30 minutes,and me sneezing once does not mean I have the flu!*

•He finds the silver lining by prescribing to you *-all encompassing- warm,soft hugs and a thousand kisses*.Even though he is usually the little spoon,if you are in pain,he cradles you in his embrace,humming pirate tunes to you,his chin resting on your hair to make you calm and get the rest you need (ironically,he is very strict about your sleep schedule,which you make sure he follows as well,overall a win-win situation)

•If and when you need an arthrocentesis,he will insist on doing it himself just to be sure (even though doing a procedure like this on a loved one would stress him the fuck out).It's not that he doesn't trust your doctor,it is just that he hates not being in control of important situations,let alone one that has to do with your health.If the rheumatologist does not give in ,he will politely ask to be in the room with you,both to provide emotional support and calm his nerves by making sure everything's going well.

*Unwillingly creeps the rheumatologist out by watching at him like a hawk,his grip on your arm changing from soft to trembling to almost painful, *he feels so bad about it afterwards*

•He makes sure your house is always stocked up with every medicine you may need (ofc you have triple of every box),a cooling area if you are prescribed shots,top quality mobility aids(joint braces,bandages etc) and everything else you use to assist your symptoms

•Pepares you warm baths for joint pain relief with nevivon's best salts (and constant excursions on nevivon's springs if you wish)

•Generally amazed at how you well manage and handle everything about your disease.He has seen enough on his adventures to know how to judge a real badass,and you are definetely one in his book

🦊🔮🦊🔮Asra🦊🔮🦊🔮🦊

•Since you were so close,you had told him about your disease way before the events of the game and he admired you so much for your strength,his heart breaking every time you have a flair.He is always able to see through your mask,when you keep trying to hide the fact that you are in pain.

•However unfortunately,seeing your friend/friend with tension/lover (depends on how  you imagine your MC's past with Asra) going through something and taking care of him while he is non-verbal and not remembering anything about the world is 2 total different things.

•Things were hard at first.When you first came back,you were constantly stressed,overwhelmed and generally terrified.This induced a lot of flairs,which was also something you couldn't understand but had to process.He would know you would experience a flair/symptoms by either seeing you sleeping unsually much,or at worst finding you having an anxiety attack or tearing up because you would have some sort of new pain that you couldn't understand how  came to be.He would hold you in his arms,whispering sweet nothings until you calmed down,and then he would patiently try to understand where it hurts and how he could help you.

•Had to basically research everything about the disease from the start.He did the mistake of trying to not involve any doctors because he didn't know how to explain the situation of you being at that state.However, seeing he could not help you with only remedies and magic, he found a rheumatologist he trusted and told them that you suffered amnesia from a spell that had gone wrong,never dwelling into the subject.

•If you are going through a mild flair that allows you to go through your day,he will randomly come and hug you from behind,kiss your cheek and ask you if you are ACTUALLY aware of how strong you are.

•Never one to mansplain you about your disease,but he can get really annoyed if he sees you unnecessary overworking yourself

•It actually was the reason of the first  real arguement you had as a couple.

*-Sweetie,I love you so much,and I am so grateful for your love and concern,but you can't just tell me that you know better than me about how much I can take

-*sighs*

I am just telling you that you don't know how much toll something can have in your system.

-I happen to know my own body,thank you very much

-I just don't want to see you in pain!!! *Snaps,visibly upset,since he knew how bad a flair can be from back when was taking care of you*

-Why don't you take one of your little trips to save yourself from the burden?

*Generally hurt and guilty because of the times a flair happened midwhile he was gone*

-I...*sighs and leaves the room with you realizing you took it too far*

Since you both have valid points,you end up calmly talking things out,you agreeing to not push yourself to the limits ,and him making less and more discreet interventions.

•If he knows something,is how to make an environment relaxing.Your home is full of soft pillows,blankets and candles,ready to create the perfect atmosphere for you to relax when necessary.He also taught you how to medicate to regulate strong negative emotions to limit them from triggering your symptoms.

•Firm believer of the fact that magic and science can be used together when it comes to healing.Teaching you some very useful pain relieving spells,cooling spells for when your joints are inflamed, and recipes for many herbs and homemade remedies for any vitamin deficiency caused by your medication

•His cooking is the only food that is still tastes good after cutting salt because of prednisone.He knows how to use  spices,you could barely tell the difference.

•Generally seeing the process you made,going full independent like you used to,never letting your pain take your spirit down and fighting lupus off like champ (FUCKING SAVIN THE WORLD)makes him the proudest person alive,secretly tearing up when he thinks about it.

So...

That was it guys,It was a little longer than I expected but this concept hits close to home so kinda had a lot to say.I wanted to have a Nadia in this post as well,but her headcannons lowkey turned into a one-shot,so I will post it separately.I hope you liked it🩷🤍.

✨️Feel free to ask me for headcannon ideas you would like to see✨️

Eva♡

[loverainline]

How the Weasleys lost a son for the first time (Part 2)

The voices of cheerful conversations reached his ears. He quitly closed the door behind him and heard his mother greet him from the kitchen. „Percy! Youre home early!“ she exclaimed excitedly and hugged him once he had entered the kitchen himself. „Hello Mother!“ he answered, noticing that his father was allready home too.

He sat at the kitchen table with most of his siblings and was playing cards with Fred and George. „Hello, my son.“ he said smiling. „Hey Pearce! Anything new at work? Did they finally bought the new parchement paper, that you wanted?“ Fred asked, for witch he earned laughter from Ron and a kick from George. „Shut up!“ George said, „Or do you want to listen to an hour long speech about the importance of parchement and different types of ink?!“ he added in an exaggerated display of horror. Ginny laughed and Fred smiled.

„Actually...“ began Percy, with a smile of his own. „...I bear good, no fantastic news!“ Fred and George continued with their card game, as if they had not heard him, but his father, bless him,bput his cards on the table and looked at him curiously. „What good news, Percy?“ he asked. Ron was looking at him expectangly and his mother had a kind smile on her face. „ I got promoted!“ Percy exclaimed. „Oh Percy, that is wonderfull! Arthur, did you hear?“ his mother asked, her hands touching her chest in pure bliss. „Of course, dear. What kind of promotion, my boy?“ asked his father carefully.

Percy began happily to explain to his family what happened just a few hours ago at his office in great detail. When he was finished, nobody said anything.

He noticed, how his fathers face turned into a frown and how his mother turned worridly towards him. „But, dear...“ she began carefully, but was interrupted by Arthur, who said slowly: „Percy, that can't be. You are to young. The ministry of magic would not choose someone so... inexperienced for such a position.“ Percy felt something cold climb into his bones.

What was going on? Was his family not proud, not happy for him? „What do you mean?“ he asked in a small voice. He noticed, that Fred and George had turned towards their conversation as well and how Ginny and Ron glanced meaningfull at each other.

„Well...“ sighed Arthur, as if he had the difficult task before him to explain Arithmancy to a troll. „...if the ministry picks someone so young, like you for this position, they must have a very good reason to do so.“ Hope welled in Percys chest, this he could understand. „Yes father, I know! Isn't it great, that they want to reward my hard work by entrusting me with such a position?“ His father looked striken, before he carefully, answered: „Percy, please think for a moment. Do you really think the ministry would offer you this position without an ulterior motive?“

„Why wouldn't they?!“ answered Percy more heated than he had wanted to. Did his father also thought so little of his talents? „Percy...“ his father began, as if talking to a little kid. „...it is very clear to me, that the ministry offered you this position, because they want... well something like a spy. Soneone close to Harry.“ Percy was speechles.

That could not be! The ministry did not want to use him, they trusted him, that was all! He could hear Fred and George giggle, while his parents starred pitily at him. And in this moment, the couldness in him was replaced with a burning rage, so intently that he was a little bit scared of it himself.

„What do you know!“ He yelled at his father, who looked shocked at his outburst. „All you ever did was the bare minimum! That is why the ministry never entrusted you with a good position. That is why we were always so poor!“ He could her Ron make a choking sound but carried on. „Maybe you are just jealous, that your son got a better position than you? Well, maybe that is because unlike you, unlike ALL of you, I actually worked hard for my carreer!“ „What career?!“ yelled Arthur angrily. „You just started your work at the ministry! You know nothing, can't you see that they are just using you as a pawn in theire fight against Dumbledore?!“ „I don't care about Dumbledore! I will find my own way!“ replied Percy heatetly. „You are acting like a child.“ replied his father quietly.

Maybe it was the disapointment in his fathers voice, that made the all blindind rage inside him disapear. But all what Percy felt now, was a cold more intencly than ever. He hold his fathers gase for a while, not knowing what to say. He felt everybodys eyes on him. A mixture of judgement and disapointment. He heard his mother crying, his siblings whispering, the clicking of the clock on the wall near him, the clatter of dishes in the sink, the animals outside.

This was not another day, it was exactly like any other, but worse, because he had said thinks, that he would usually only have dared to think. Things he could not take back, maybe did not wanted to.

The anxiety inside him became stromger, the longer he held his fathers gase and Percy knew he could not handle it any longer. „Fine.“ he replied. „Fine... if I am acting indeed as childish as you say, maybe I should finally become an adult, yes? Not living under my parents roof, but beeing my own men!“ and with these words and one last worried glance at his mother he turned around and left the house, that had been his home all his life.

„Nooo! Percy! Come back, please!“ his mother yelled. He did not turned arround. He hurridly walked down the path he had come from. And disapparated into thin air. The last thing he saw, where the blurry figures off his family, who looked after him outside the house.

When his feed touched solid ground again, he was in London. Many people walked past him, not taking any notice. His father was wrong about him, he had to be! Percy thought. He would show him, show them all what he was capable of! He wanted to proof to them, that all theire insults and critisism where wrong! But mostly he wanted to proof that to himself.

[pykanico]

Day 12 - Costumes

Fic if you want to read every posted day : https://archiveofourown.org/works/51386731/chapters/129854215

“No”

“Come on Emmy, it’s just two small things, and you will be even more stunning in your costume, Just let me put it”

“Nope”

“Emmet, I am desperate to win this, and you would match Ingo!!”

“I refuse”

Ingo was on the couch, sipping on his tea carefully trying to not let some of the hot drink fall on the costume Elesa put so much effort into create, ignoring Emmet who was walking around pretty fast with his own incomplete costume, and Elesa, who was trying to catch on him, with in her hand the two accessory she needed to add on his brother, her own costume already put.

“You told me that you were okay with this costume yesterday”

“I do not remember that”

As they continued to run around, Ingo finally decided to intervene, As much as he thought that the situation was entertaining, he couldn't let this continue for much longer to not get too much out of schedule.

He simply put his cup of tea on the table, got up, and, at the moment Emmet was close enough, caught him by the arm before he could run even more.

“This have to stop Emmet, I know that you are nervous about being in this costume, but you promised her that you were going to help”

Emmet let out a grumble of displeasure, but seemed to resign himself to his fate. “Fine, I am Emmet and I am not happy with that, but you are right, I promised, that would be verrry bad to break my promise”

Elesa slowly walked closer to put the last detail of Emmet’s costume in place, before backing away with a winning smile at the result of her hard work “That is perfect, everyone will be stun by how bright we look!!”

She realized that his twin was clearly shaking with nervous energy, turning her attention to him with concern, Ingo would be lying if he was not a minimum concern too “Hey, it’s okay to be nervous Emmet, I don’t look like it but you would be surprised to know that I am too, it’s just a contest, yes, but for me it is very important, this is why i told myself that everything will be fine, you know why?”

Emmet simply shook his head “no”

“I know it, because we are all together in this, and I have to say, we look fucking great with our costume”

That seems to earn a laugh from Emmet, nodding a bit at Elesa sentence “We look fucking great in them” Ingo, on the other hand, rolls his eyes but is more than happy that his brother calmed down slightly.

“Language Emmet”

“Huh!? Why only me?" Complain his twin, looking betrayal by being the only one to have been target, Ingo could only shrug, amusement creeping in him.

“Emmet, I do not see what you are talking about, you are the only one I heard swear” His brother gasped loudly as Elesa laughed to her heart content at his twin complain.

“I am Ingo’s favorite sibling Emmet”

“You are not!!”

As the two seemed to be bickering about who was the favorite, Ingo could only accept the fact that they were going to be a bit late. Well, it’s fine, as long as his brother and best friend are happy...

[bonesandthebees]

I think it’s very fitting that your scrap bin is called ‘feast on the scraps’ cuz I am very much feasting. I love the vibes of the 80s spy au. I was not ready for it to be West Berlin, but somehow that setting is very compelling. I’m assuming the people they don’t want to get the list would then be East Berlin, the Stasi and the sovjets and so on. Would explain why it’s important that they work together. The car scene is a very nice way to force Tommy and Techno into working together. It’s also a way for Tommy to earn Techno’s respect dispite being so young.

And then Wilbur comes in already having the respect for both of them. Also, sandduo crumbs. And Niki and Wilbur being siblings is something I’ve never thought about, but it’s such a vibe. It seems like they put on thus nice polite front but there’s probably danger under the surface. Either that or they got in too deep and are now rolling with it. Chaos ensured.

Then there’s the second scarp, because we are grtting spoiled. I am once again in aw of your ability to provide exposition without dumping it all on a page. Every bit of information feels organic. It feels like we just step into Tommy’s pov and are along for the ride rather than the character explaining everything for us. There’s hints towards Wilbur being blind but it doesn’t really get mentioned because it’s something Tommy already knows and is used to.

We learn about the Caves through dialogue and conversation. We don’t know what they are or what they look like, but we know their purpose (to find artefacts), their pitfalls (dangerous creatures) and their value (to make a lot of money). When and explanation is needed, we get the bare minimum. This keeps us hungry for more, yet doesn’t leave us confused. It’s just good okay.

-🌲

aaa thank you!! yeah the 80s spy au was heavily inspired by a spy film I rewatch a lot called Atomic Blonde which takes place in West Berlin in the 80s, hence the setting. they were definitely trying to keep the soviets in East Berlin from getting their hands on the list hence why the Americans and the Brits decided to work together in the au. car scene works as a GREAT way to establish tommy and techno's teamwork super early on it was so fun to write

there's a plot reason wilbur and niki were siblings in this au because that's not usually a dynamic i would go for, but I had an idea and it was just too good to pass up. I don't want to spoil it in case I ever change my mind and finish writing it, but knowing me that's not gonna happen rip. but yeah wilbur and niki are SO fun in this au. they're just two twenty-somethings running a sneaky little information network, definitely do some smuggling between east and west berlin, and get a little in over their heads sometimes

aww that's so sweet I'm so glad all the worldbuilding and exposition felt natural!! i'm very proud of how I started introducing the world in the second scrap, primarily because I remember when i was first writing it i had zero plans i was literally just writing whatever came to my head. I was just coming up with the world as I went lol. and yeah I definitely wanted wilbur's blindness to just be referred to in an obvious way without it being stated outright because that's how tommy's gonna think of it. just hints here and there until tommy makes his stupid joke clarifying to the reader what's going on

I loveeeee providing exposition in dialogue. it's so much more interesting instead of just providing it in a big paragraph with zero action. I have a lot of fun with worldbuilding like that. just throwing pieces here and there and letting the readers form the picture gradually instead of just infodumping it all onto them.

tysm spruce so glad you enjoyed!!

[tactician]

1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 16

major arcana questions

THANK YOU CODY!!!!!!!! YIPPEE!!!

01. the magician: how does your muse feel about fate? do they believe they can change their own destiny? reides puts a lot of trust in fate, tbh!!! maybe surprisingly so? like, he's very free-spirited, so the stereotypical approach to it (i.e. the thought of being stuck on a set path, regardless of what one does - a total lack of free will) would obviously disturb him. and ofc he grew up with that mindset all around him, since he's royal blood and all. but his personal approach to it is pretty... fluid. he doesn't see himself as its pawn, but as an active participant in collaborating with it. it's pretty similar to his approach to religion. he does his own thing but he has faith that he's being guided in some way to the stuff that's right for him. it really helps him with staying optimistic, even if it means relinquishing a lil bit of his self-confidence. he mostly just thinks that some stuff is too important to attribute to luck - for example, he wasn't trying to be mushy or poetic when he told aske that they were destined to meet lmfao.

02. the high priestess: how does your muse make decisions? do they trust their instinct or would they rather trust their heart / their logic? i think trusting your instincts is pretty much the same as going with your heart, and reides is 100% the type to go with that first rather than his logic. i definitely don't want to undermine his analytical side because it totally does exist - he is A Smartypants, the resident 22int wizard of the gang - but he has to have this moment after he leaps up wherein he catches himself and reminds himself that he should probably think stuff through.

03. the empress: does your muse have parental / nurturing figures in their life? how do they impact them? OH BOY!!!!!!!! LFDGKDL;HKDFK well... he is very close to his mother, of course. arlyn taught him a whole lot about the world and protected him from stuff that even he has no idea about. i think her personality informed reides' a lot, too, since they have very similar senses of humor. and ofc they're both total troublemakers, though reides is a bit less cunning about it LMFAOOO. reides still struggles a bit with being overly trusting of others so he has to channel his mother's way of thinking (as he understands it) whenever he does things that require... slyness. for example, during the interrogations at the ball during our current campaign arc, he is totally thinking 'WHAT WOULD MY MOM DO!!!!!!!' at pretty much every moment LSDFKGJDFG. he missed her terribly when they weren't in contact with each other and looks back on their time apart with a whole lot of sadness. he's beyond grateful that they've since reunited and tbh i think he's going to take her lessons a whole lot more seriously now, since he's gonna be dealing with various courts a lot more from here on out.

as for his dad... his relationship with khavas is extremely complicated. it's gone from very cold to Horrifically Rocky to very... strained. but regardless of that, khavas has a huge impact on reides, even if reides would be loath to admit it. he thought he could never earn his father's approval no matter what, so he tried to convince himself to not care about getting it as a means of avoiding that sting of rejection over and over again. it's only recently that reides is more open to the truth of the matter, i.e. that he failed to convince himself about not caring and he wants his father's approval, even if it's the absolute bare minimum of just... gaining his respect. in that sense, i think khavas does motivate reides to do his best, but atm it's more like a steady, uncomfortable pressure versus something healthy.

related to that, reides' conversation with arlyn about khavas kind of implied that reides simply Doesn't Know how to pick up on khavas' support, so who tf knows what'll happen. they definitely have a ways to go - but despite all the pain that khavas has caused him, reides would never say that he hates his father. 04. the emperor: how much respect does your muse have for authority? why is this? as someone who was born into authority, reides has always been able to see what a ruse it is ;LFDKGLDF;KG OK NO JOKING ASIDE: he doesn't really respect authority figures simply for Being Authority Figures all that much. he has to see what people do with the power they've been given versus just accepting that he needs to listen to them simply because they have a particular job or title. admittedly, it's a stance that comes pretty easily to someone who is literally a prince. he really admires good leaders, though, so it's not like he's gonna be haughty to any of them by default.

09. the hermit: how introspective is your muse? how often do they self-reflect? reides journals a lot (not necessarily in the "DEAR DIARY, TODAY I SAW A SQUIRREL" way, but also through drawing, writing random quotes; very stream-of-conciousness stuff which might make no sense to anyone who happened to stumble upon his work lol), so with that comes a lot of self-reflecting. he tends to keep that sort of thing limited to his books, though, since expressing the darker side(s) of what he's going through can be a little difficult for him and he doesn't necessarily want to burden anyone with all o' that. 10. the wheel of fortune: how well / badly does your muse take setbacks on their goals? very badly lmao. reides is really stubborn so he's likely to try to push through the setback no matter what. i think he's probably seen some success with pushing through in certain instances, but, you know. he's definitely not one to just be like "oh damn that sucks :(" and throw in the towel. if he has to take an L he will be upset about it for a while before getting himself together and moving on.

16. the tower:  what event drastically changed your muse’s life? do they resent that event or are they glad of it? well you know... there's been a lot of lifechanging events in reides' world in the past year or so, but - first and foremost - the one literally involving a tower comes to mind. L;DKFFKG when khavas locked him away for his initial request to go to the surface, it definitely marked a huge turning point in reides' life. he had to start questioning everything; he fully thought that he lost everything. and he had to build everything up out of the wreckage. he will never be glad to have gone through it because it fucked him up quite a bit, but he's happy that he's managed to like, recover from it (for the most part) and gain strength despite having gone through it.

[maquyo0studios]

Luigi: You earned so much today

♌Leopaldo: Yeah, my night job is paying me well

Luigi: Oh? Night shifts? what's your job?

♌Leopaldo: Eh it's not that important to know what it is but the fact that your favorite son here is having fun and happy where he is. It's all to say that the information is not necessary.

Luigi: Weeell, I AM your father so I do have to know since you responded broadly.

⛎Luciano: *about to pass by reading a book*

Luigi: Hey Lucy. I wanna ask a question.

⛎Luciano: *Looks a bit concerned, then proceeds to look at Leopaldo, finally giving an uninterested look* *Sigh*... Yeah Papa. What is it?

Luigi: Do you know what job your little brother is working at?

⛎Luciano: *rolls his eyes, pinching above his nose whispering* uh um... *he then looks at Leopaldo disgusted*

♌Leopaldo: *gives his eldest brother a serious stare, reading "lie"*

⛎Luciano: *slightly cringes*uh... um... papa... ...do you... really want to know... that much?

Luigi: Of course I do, He always shows a bag of cash every week. I'm starting to think that he works in a business office at night finishing his documents

⛎Luciano: *his discomfort slightly grows on his face*

Luigi: ... or he's getting millions on selling his paintings on the streets at night...

⛎Luciano: *discomfort increases*

♌Leopaldo: *his discomfort showed in the minimum as he scratches the back of his ear*

Luigi: maybe... well to be more credible, He found a richer girl to suck her dry.

⛎Luciano: *the amount of rizz discomfort showed so visual that the audience will see his double chin exposed*

Luigi: *touching his chin while lost in thought* I mean it would terrible enough to say the least-

⛎Luciano: *Handling it no more interrupts his father* Papa he's a male bi-prostitute in a stripper bar club.

Luigi: *froze in awe*... ... ... huh?

♌Leopaldo: Yeah... I also have sex for money. I'm kind of the reason why the place became a five-star.

Luigi: ...uh

♌Leopaldo: *his face showed content again* Actually I have multiple jobs I do for a living.

Luigi: *surprised* um... really?

⛎Luciano: *stares at him showing no surprise* Actually Leo, why don't you tell him instead.

♌Leopaldo: *whips his hair* Well I WAS about to

⛎Luciano: *rolls his eyes while arms crossed*

Luigi: *sigh* well go on...

♌Leopaldo: *puts out a finger to each occupation* Aside the club job, I'm also a bi-host, porn star, rent-a-boyfriend, and I sell pictures.

Luigi: *bazard* ....huh... WHAT!?

⛎Luciano: *coldly stares at the situation silently hoping that his second brother would get yelled at*

Luigi: *pulsing in utter confusion* but, but why do you have to take these jobs... Aren't you afraid of getting infected?

♌Leopaldo: Papa I'm a demigod. I can't get a infection from humans. Plus I'm too perfectly polished for such a thing to let that happen. *head held high*

♊Lewis: *sashays up to Leo* Heyyy if it isn't my awesome sluty handsome miraculously strong brother.

♌Leopaldo: *his face dies out to slight annoyance* What do you want since I see you femboy dressed?

♊Lewis: *dramatically shocked offended by his response* Well I have you know that skirt and top sweater is perfect for today's weather. But sense the king whore asked...

♌Leopaldo: *crosses his arms with a side hip resting*

♊Lewis: *puppy eyes* Couwd yew give your cuwte bwothew mon-

♌Leopaldo: *cuts him off* no.

♊Lewis: *sasses out* Damn this bitch didn't even gave a chance. Ugh Talk about luck.

♊Lucas: *walks up* What's wrong?

♊Lewis: *dramatically hugs his twin's arm and whines* UUGH HE DOESN'T WANT TO LEND MONEYY!!

♊Lucas: Is he being stingy as fuck like always? *Cratching the side back of his nose* I mean... Logically I don't blame him. Leo-bitch is quite excellent on his finances than the bluehead work-a-holic art rat that burns his money away on dead dreams.

Leopaldo, yet annoyed by the name-calling, smirks at the side compliment as Liborio, about to bring his existence after six days working outdoors and indoors, finishing a portrait to show; clenches his art piece with insecurity and walks back into his room in silent oceanic waterfall tears trailing the floor with him.

♓Liborio: *whisper* So much for the good news on my project.

♊Lewis: *Looking slightly behind with a snickered smile* ...oops looks like he heard us.

Luigi yelled their names while the twins flinched in fear at Lupin's demanding voice as his left eye color turned green.

Lupin & Luigi: What did I tell you two about shit-talking your siblings like this?

♊Twins: *looks down, avoiding eye contact with a frown, then grunts* sooorrryyyy..

Lupin & Luigi: Not to me! Go to your brother!

♊Twins: *growled silently as they looked back at the trail of salt water with small flapping fishes, looking back at each other with a slight whimper* ..fine...

♌Leopaldo: *proceeds to pick four fishes and shallow in whole* Good luck cuz these fishes got some spice hmhm.

♊Twins: *Growls at Leopaldo*

♌Leopaldo: *growls back greater with of a lion and fox mixed together*

The twins stepped back intimidated. As they mumble secretly within each other they walked to his room. But in originality, they went throw a portal to their room. Futhermore, their moods changed after it closed.

♊Twins: *giggles in relief turned into hard laughter* That's a relief.

♊Lewis: Left like dad was gonna give the italian discipline in a second.

♊Lucas: Right?

♊Lewis: Anywaaays..... *devil's grin* did ya get it bae?

♊Lucas: Sure did.

Lucas digs in his hoody to pull out a leather wallet with rose stitch in with sparkly red string.

♊Lewis: *smile big with sparkles in his eyes* aaaaoooh yees. You're the best sweetie. *Jumps in for a hug*

♊Lucas: *blush slightly* It's not so big thing really. While he was distracted by the fishes I slid a hand in the dumbass then bam. No complications needed.

♊Lewis: *snatches the wallet slightly from above* Now the question will be answered, How much is in the little gorgeous wallet? *weighs it a bit* Now it's actually quite light.

♊Lucas: *he grins evilishly bigger and approaches closer* .... So that means...

Lewis then opens the wallet revealing five golden bank cards and one credit card. They are all from the high class that the rich could offered.

♊Twins: Bingoo...

[secret-bug-pain-blog]

hey um. i realize the moth guy in the voice loss episode is probably just an one off antagonist and really not crush material but breadcrumbs about him please? he sounds hot in a pathetic evil red flag way.

No need to apologize - it's always fun to talk about our writing! Arc is technically a shared OC, originating from a RP with @den-of-collars - he's primarily a rival idol to Mothiva. Tends to be our stock bastard, when we want to antagonize her and/or introduce extra idols to a scene (usually both).

His brand is Edgy Punk Bitch, in the palatable way that Edgy is often worn down to for mainstream consumption and he very much profits off of the "good girl/bad boy" type dynamic that working with Mothiva affords him. Earlier drafts of him were a lot more frat-boy-ish and he's still got a few traces of it remaining, but his public-facing personality's drifted a lot more towards "stereotypical punk".

For the most part, he's a common-or-garden asshole who thinks it's fun to antagonize Mothiva - the threat is from his position as an idol she has to play nice with or face massive consequences, and the fact that he sees little wrong with pushing that antagonism further and doesn't really care about the impact besides his own benefit and what reaction he can get out of Mothiva.

He's a few years younger than her, and currently in the "making a name for himself" stage of the whole fame cycle, whereas Mothiva is near the peak of her appeal and trying to struggle though the plateau in her earnings where she's more or less reached Everyone Who's Interested and now has to keep the line going up before her bosses lose interest - what's important to Arc is putting himself out there and getting an audience, and a "ship" with Mothiva is a very efficient way of getting that attention.

The dynamic itself means he's a lot more "stand-out" - he tends to take centre stage because he gets a lot more leeway for talking over other bugs and being Rude, where Mothiva has to abide with common-courtesy rules at absolute minimum, and he's good enough at turning the tables during banter that she has to censor herself in order to avoid saying anything... inadvisable.

It would be a bit more mutually beneficial, but as previously mentioned, he likes to antagonize Mothiva to the point that she'd rather gargle bees, and any integration beyond dropping hints during interviews and making the occasional hint-heavy love song would be very likely to have their brands clash too much to be properly marketable.

He's got enough in common with Mothiva at that stage that she sees something of herself in him, and she hates his guts partially because of it and partially because of the general antagonism.

Also, to be fair, it is literally his job to be hot. Part of being an idol is Aesthetic Appeal - being hot enough to sell yourself to the widest possible audience. You've fallen for the marketing tactic. Congratulations!

[tonguetyd]

I mean I’m US based so feel free to take everything I saw with a grain of salt, and PLEASE double check things on google bc I am just speaking from my own experience, but in best order of how you should (“should” used HELLA loosely) get started up:

Get a bank account. This one is step one because you need it to pay for all the other stuff, and fortunately is pretty straightforward, most banks make it super easy for you to open an account online. See what the minimum balance requirements are before you open - try to get a bank without one! And more important than that even, make sure it’s an insured bank. Idk how they do it in AUS but here every bank will have a little thing that says “FDIC Insured” on their home website page, which basically means if the bank goes under and has to close all the accounts, your money isn’t gone with it. “Insured” is the key word you want to find. I recommend if you can getting both a checking and a savings account, but keeping your checking account at $0 until you need to pay something and then transferring that money over from your savings. Because (again, might be a states thing, definitely check Google bc it’s your friend!) generally speaking, savings accounts earn interest and checking accounts don’t. So if you only move over what you need when you need it, you’re constantly earning small bits of money. Again, if your bank has a minimum balance requirement, don’t do that! Avoiding fees is WAY more important than earning a couple extra cents.

Get a credit card. Same general idea, except what you want to do is get something with no annual fee. None. Even if the interest rate is annoyingly high, because the secret to credit cards is (if you can), pay off the full balance every month. Or as close to it. I know that isn’t always possible, but that’s your goal when buying stuff - “can I pay off this whole thing when the month is over”. If you can do that, interest rates don’t matter because you won’t owe it. (If you know you can’t do that, then obviously don’t get something with a 50% interest fee bc you’ll drown immediately. But if you know your paycheck is usually [whatever] and you keep an eye on your balance and make sure it’s less than [whatever]? You’re set.) And then you’re only stuck with the annual fees, which just generally suck, I’ve never found a card that was worth it, no matter how much cash back or miles or whatever they offer you. Rewards are all secondary. That fee is what you want to check. You don’t want that sneak charge popping up and messing you up after a year.

Insurance. …you’re gonna have to google that one I’m afraid bc obviously I can’t give anyone advice on insurance as an American.

Housing. I hate to say it but. You’re probably not gonna be able to buy a house for a while, because like. Everything is still cluster fucky. So rentals! I love renting because if something breaks it’s a call to your landlord/maintenance person and then it isn’t your problem lol. Which is why the number one thing you want to check for is what their maintenance policy is, if people have left reviews saying they respond quickly, if whoever is doing the fixing lives nearby. Because you WILL (likely through no fault of your own) randomly lose heat in the middle of winter and that is NOT something you want taking 4-7 business days to fix. Be aware that you are probably gonna have to make concessions. You might need roommates, you might need to go to a laundromat, you might be far from public transit. Pick what is the most important things to you and go from there. And then go see places! The is the worst part! Because you have to see where you are going to be living, you CANT just go based on a random page online. You have to see if it’s clean, if its small, if it’s [insert whatever is important to you]. The people who are trying to sell you the place WANT you to sign for it. They want your money! Ask your questions to them. You will spend SO much time in your apartment/house, you HAVE to feel safe/comfortable. If you don’t feel good on your walk thru (even if it’s just a “eh, nothing wrong with it!”, that works!) and you are hesitant at ALL. Don’t move in.

If you got a place to live and a way to pay for it, that’s 90% of the battle to adulting. And it’s harder than it sounds - shit is expensive. Everything is REALLY fucking expensive! But at the core you just want to make sure your paycheck can cover rent, food, electric/utilities, and transport. And a bit extra for fun things, bc those are important. (And in our case in the states, student/medical debt 🙄. But that’s a different conversation.)

Ask Google, ask people that work at banks/rental companies, MOST people will want to help you. Promise

Hopefully this helps a little, it might not because again, not exactly the target audience to give advice, but. You’ll get there. Good luck!

This is probably a dumb question but does anyone have resources (maybe videos) on how to just… get started as an adult? Explaining things like how to buy a house, managing insurance, using banks and such. Preferably based in Australia?

I’m trying to get away from family

[thatmcgwords]

First, let’s differentiate financial independence from financial freedom. Financial independence, or FI, is when your assets pay for your lifestyle. This means you no longer have to slog away at work forever. Financial freedom, on the other hand, is more about having choices and control over your cash flow – say, being able to splurge on a vacation without freaking out about your bank balance. As you claw your way toward financial independence, you’ll start tasting bits of this financial freedom.

FI has many benefits beyond ditching your nine-to-five early. It allows you to grab life by the reins, feel secure, and have the freedom to go after whatever floats your boat – be it chasing your passion, traveling, or just chilling. On your path to FI, you’ll also develop personally and learn skills that enhance your life.

Stage 1 is the Explorer. Here, you’re struggling just to keep your head above water, sinking deeper into debt each month. At this stage, you need to get your income and expenses under control. 

Stage 2 is the Cadet. You’ve got your expenses sorted but are still drowning in consumer debt. Focus on smashing that debt faster than the minimum payment schedule. 

Stage 3 is the Aviator. Now debt-free (except maybe a mortgage), you can start building emergency savings and an “FU” fund for those I-wanna-quit-my-job moments. This is also the stage where you shift gears to investing and growing your assets. 

Stage 4 is the Commander. You have enough money from your assets to take time off, work part-time, or do something you love for less pay. You’re still investing, but also enjoying your hard-earned freedom. 

Finally, Stage 5 is the Captain. Congratulations – you’ve hit your FI number! Full financial independence. Your job now is maintaining your wealth and living your ideal lifestyle without financial constraints.

stages? The key is to focus on six things: mindset, habits, income, expenses, liabilities, and assets. These form your FI formula. First, add mindset and habits, and then multiply them by the difference between your income and mandatory expenses. This creates the so-called gap, which you’ll then divide into three: liability reduction (that is, debt payoff), asset building (that is, savings and investments), and discretionary spending (that is, your fun money). The larger your gap, the quicker you’ll progress through the stages. 

First, take a hard look at how you view money. Do you find yourself thinking, “I’m no good with numbers,” or “I can’t save without a six-figure income”? These limiting beliefs are the first roadblocks you need to bulldoze. Equally important is examining your daily habits. Track them for a week, and you’ll start to see patterns, both obvious and subtle, that are quietly eating away at your financial health.

After this introspective phase, it’s time to focus on improvement. This could mean learning through books and podcasts, seeking advice from professionals, cultivating a growth mindset, or introducing positive habits into your routine. These actions are essential to reshaping your financial management approach.

The next key component is goal-setting. These generally fall into two categories: life goals and financial goals. 

Life goals are all about the kind of things you want to have and the experiences you crave. They can also mean the kind of life you want to lead. It’s essential to determine your preferred lifestyle from the get-go because, by doing so, you can tailor your financial plan to sustain that lifestyle both now and post-FI.

To know your desired lifestyle level, you can use the Guacamole Lifestyle Levels. This five-tier system compares standards of living based on the ability to indulge in small luxuries. Level 1 focuses on basic survival, with rare small luxuries. Level 2 permits occasional splurges outside of a tight budget. Level 3 integrates frequent, guilt-free minor luxuries into the budget. Level 4 allows flexible, unrestricted indulgence, often at premium costs. Level 5 epitomizes extravagance with limitless luxury access. Remember, there’s no universally right level – just pick what feels right for you. 

On the flip side, financial goals are more about specific monetary objectives: how much you want to earn, spend, save, and invest, and how to manage debt. Here, the focus is on increasing income and cutting spending – achieving these lead goals paves the way for gap goals like saving, investing, and paying off debt.

After setting your goals, organize and prioritize them. Break them down into short-, mid-, and long-term goals, and sort them by importance. As you move forward in your journey to financial independence, it’s important to balance these responsible financial targets with fun lifestyle goals. 

You can’t start creating your FI plan without getting familiar with your numbers first. Understanding your current financial standing is undeniably a crucial step. 

So, where do you start? By taking a close look at your existing financial landscape – your current income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.

Your income isn’t just your nine-to-five paycheck. Consider everything, from side gigs to property income to investment dividends. If your income fluctuates, average it out over the last three months.

Now, on to expenses. There are two ways to go about tracking your spending: look back at your past three months of expenses, or observe the next month’s expenses. Categorize them into must-haves and nice-to-haves, and fixed versus variable costs. Don’t forget to note how often these expenses pop up.

Assets are next. When it comes to assets, it’s about accounting for everything of value that you own. This includes retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, taxable investment accounts, cash balances, real estate properties, and other forms of investments.

For liabilities, list out every debt you’ve got – credit cards, student loans, car loans, you name it. Keep track of the details, including minimum payments and interest rates. 

Got all that down? Great. Now let’s talk about where you want to be – your financial end goal. This part requires some forecasting: how your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities will look in the future, plus what your target FI number is. 

Tools like the 25x Rule and the 4% Rule provide guidelines for this. The 25x Rule suggests multiplying your desired annual retirement spending by 25 to estimate the necessary size of your investment portfolio. The 4% Rule states that you can safely withdraw four percent of your investment portfolio yearly over a 30-year retirement without depleting it. When planning, consider other potential income streams such as pensions or rental incomes. Also, think about how your spending could change in retirement – maybe less on the mortgage but more on health and travel.

All right – time for the real action: budgeting. This isn’t just tracking your cash flow; it’s about directing your money with purpose. There are different budgeting styles, like zero-based and percentage-based, but the bottom line is you need to divide your income into specific lots, whether it’s for bills, saving, or even fun spending. 

A good budget incorporates key elements like “blow money” for guilt-free treats and “sinking funds” for irregular expenses. Your budget also needs to account for things that regularly pop up, like annual insurance bills. To make them easier on your wallet, spread them across several months. However you plan on budgeting, what’s important is that you keep tabs on what you plan to spend, what you actually spend, and what’s left. And remember– a budget is flexible. It’s a tool to help you make smart choices, not a straitjacket to prevent you from enjoying your money. 

So how quickly can you reach FI? It depends on several factors: your income, expenses, liabilities, assets, mindset, and habits. The goal is to use your income wisely – covering essentials, reducing debts, building assets, and still enjoying life. You can go as extreme as you like, living a frugal Guac-level-1-or-2 lifestyle to hit your FI number earlier. Or you can live your desired Guac-level-3-or-higher lifestyle now and make peace with not reaching your FI number until later in life. Your financial plan will match your life and financial goals, and how much you’re willing to sacrifice at the moment. 

With your FI plan in hand, your next and final step is to execute it. But – surprise, surprise – it’s not just about stashing away your cash. You’ve got to play a smart game here, focusing on four key areas: spend less, earn more, slash your debts, and pump up those assets. 

First off, let’s talk spending. You need to start scrutinizing every dollar that leaves your wallet. Question everything: Does this expense give you joy? Can you get it cheaper? Is it steering you towards your goals? Yes, you might have to cut back on some luxuries, but it’s not forever. Find the sweet spot where you’re saving money without feeling like you’re living in a financial straitjacket. Remember, some spending is an investment in your happiness, like that gym membership. It’s all about priorities. And when you do need to cut back, look at your big mandatory expenses, too. You can seek savings in significant areas like housing, groceries, and bills by downsizing, using coupons, and negotiating discounts. 

Now, let’s shift gears to income. If you think your paycheck is the only way to earn, think again. There’s a whole world of possibilities to bump up your income. Start with the obvious: negotiate a raise, take on overtime or extra work, or snag a higher-paying job at a new company. But don’t stop there. Think side hustles, freelancing, or turning your hobby into a cash cow. Remember, more money means more freedom to chase your FI dreams.

So, on to your debt. There are two main ways to break free from it: the snowball method, which means wiping out the small debts first for quick wins; and the avalanche method, which involves targeting the high-interest debts first. Pick what keeps you fired up and what you find the most applicable to your situation. But more than just paying off your liabilities, you need to understand why you got into debt in the first place. Was it impulse buying, or a YOLO attitude? Figure it out to avoid a debt relapse. And yes, not all debt is evil – think mortgages and student loans. You can use debt to your advantage, too.

Now, let’s talk about building your assets. This is where the magic happens. To fast-track your journey to financial independence, focus on building assets through saving and investing. Start by creating an emergency fund, beginning with as little as $1000, and build it up to cover three to six months of expenses. Then, save for life’s significant events like home purchases, family expansion, or travel. At the same time, delve into investing. Index funds are your go-to. They’re straightforward and low-cost, offering a slice of the market without the hassle of picking stocks. Also, leverage retirement accounts like 401ks for their tax benefits. The deal here is consistency. Even tiny contributions add up, thanks to compounding. Time’s your ally in this game. The sooner you start, the better. Doesn’t matter how much – just get the ball rolling.

Where you are in your FI journey dictates how you split your income among expenses, debts, and investments. 

If you’re just starting in the Explorer stage, focus on survival – cover your basics, and if there’s a little left, maybe keep that 401(k) ticking over. 

As a Cadet, get aggressive with your debt, but don’t forget to save and invest a bit. Put 20 percent into savings, 20 percent into investments, and ten percent into discretionary spending. Invest at least up to your 401(k) company match. 

In the Aviator stage, with no more consumer debt, ramp up your savings and investments – and sure, treat yourself a little. Allocate 30 percent into savings, 50 percent into investing, and 20 percent into discretionary spending.

Commanders, you might want to balance investing with enjoying your earnings. Split your gap 50/50 between investing and discretionary spending.

And Captains, you’ve made it – splurge 100 percent of your disposable income if you want. You’ve earned it.

[ranaiki]

This may be a controversial opinion, but...

if you don’t like to tip, you shouldn’t utilize services that expect, require, or even suggest tipping.

Yes, tipping expectations have gone way up recently, and sometimes get out of hand. Yes, the responsibility of giving the employees enough money to live off of shouldn’t be placed on the customer. But the unfortunate reality is that minimum wage, even those way above it, don’t cut it for the costs of living, and there is more importance placed on the wealth of a select few than on the well-being of the many. 

I personally do not love to tip all the time, and I will admit that. I don’t have a ton of money to spare, so the idea of giving a little extra off the top “just because” hurts my soul a little bit. But I still always tip.

Do you know how I get around it? By not utilizing the services that require me to tip. I want some food, but it’ll cost me a lot extra to get it delivered? I’ll pick it up myself, or I’ll just make it at home.

The services that require us to tip, are not services we are required to use.

I think thats where a lot of the confusion comes into play. There’s a sense of entitlement that comes with using these services that leads people to not want to tip.

“I already paid for my food, why should I have to pay extra?”

Because you’re using an extra service. You’re using someone’s time, energy, brain power, kindness - you name it. And that deserves proper payment.

In an ideal world, servers, delivery drivers, and caterers (those who most definitely should be tipped every single time) would be paid enough money to where a tip is negligible, and just a little bonus off the top, like it was intended. But that’s not the world we live in.

In the case of servers at restaurants, they are paid hourly, but that hourly rate is often reduced because of the expectation that they will also be earning tips (same with bartenders). Meaning, quite literally, that most of their wages are made up of tips, and they rely on the goodness of people’s hearts to bring home the same amount of money as someone paid the standard minimum wage.

In the case of delivery drivers, oftentimes they’re not even paid at an hourly rate, only by the deliveries they take and, brace for it, tips! For localized delivery drivers (like for specific chains - think a domino’s delivery driver) this is not the case as far as I know, though I don’t know the idiosyncrasies of how their job works. But for delivery through the major apps (GrubHub, DoorDash, etc), this is how many of them work. You can get an hourly rate, but only if you block out a specific time you want to work well in advance. The blocks open up at a certain time of week, and all drivers block out the times they want at that moment. There are limited slots, and the longer you’ve been driving for them, the more preferential treatment you get (early access, etc). It doesn’t truly matter if you get it, you can still work whenever you want, it’s more insurance than anything. In the case that you don’t get any deliveries while on the clock, blocking out your time helps you get paid for the time you were waiting around. Not blocking it out means that even if you spent an hour waiting, you don’t get paid. But there’s a catch - the hourly is only meant to make up for missed wages, it’s not a base pay. I can’t remember the exact amount it makes up for, but I believe it is based on the minimum wage in that area. So say you deliver for 1 hour, and the min. wage in your area is $15/hr. Say you get one delivery, and earn $7. The company helps get you up to $15, but nothing more, as in, you don’t get $22 for working the hour and making that $7 delivery. If you didn��t get to block out a slot? Tough luck, $7 it is (and for the record, that is a lot for one delivery. Typical deliveries earn you around $5 or less).

Now I hope it’s a little more clear why tips are especially crucial for delivery drivers. They hop all over the city picking up and dropping off food for barely any money, and rely on tips to make up for their time, gas, and effort. They aren’t even truly paid for the job they do.

Before anyone hops to my comments or messages saying some bs about getting different jobs...

Take a moment to consider that maybe this is the other job. Maybe they have an inflexible schedule (student, parent, or have another job that can’t make ends meet) and do deliveries when they have time. Maybe they’re young, or have no prior job experience that could land them a “better paying” job. Maybe they’re an ex-con trying to get their life back together, someone trying to get out of a tough situation, or just generally trying to make ends meet by doing literally whatever job they can (and there are a lot of people like that out there).

And take another moment to consider what it would be like if everyone up and dropped these jobs you consider beneath you, that are apparently so worthless you can’t even tip a couple of bucks. Would you be able to sit back and get food delivered to your doorstep? Would you be able to enjoy a nice evening at a restaurant, waited on hand and foot?

I think you know the answer.

So, to bring it all back around full circle - just tip when you go out. Or, if you really don’t want to, or can’t afford it, simply don’t go out. Pretty easy. Until the system is fixed, and decent, hardworking people don’t rely on other decent hardworking people to allow them to live, tipping is going to be expected.

If you don’t like it?

Get out there and fix it.

[myristicisms]

A gentle hum, curious for a moment before his eyes rapidly blink; Cloud had a point, after all... Though to Zack, the point was a bit void specifically because everyone loved who he used to be, what he was and what his potential had allowed him to do and be. As it stood now, the man the blonde was scolding was nothing more than a husk, a violent shell of a once proud and optimistic teenager grown into a man who seldom sought a reason to continue onwards despite everything in his life forcing him to push forward. “ I got to be First because of my capabilities and connections, without Angeal seeing what I could do if I were a bit more polished then I'd have been stuck in Second Class limbo and there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that, but... There was never a respect for me from the others in ShinRa, Cloud. ” Only disdain and brown nosers, he'd heard many of his lower ranked companions complain about his own promotion, dealt with far too many ‘ comrades ’ talking about him as though he were nothing more than a bumbling fool and not a man who worked his ass off to earn his rank.

There were exceptions, of course, like a few of the more notable Turks and some of the troopers he'd spent his time with such as Cloud but... ( They never had to see what I put up with on the SOLDIER floor. ) Zack had tried so hard to hide it, to keep his own self loathing to a minimum but here it pooled from his mouth as though he'd drown if he didn't spill, “ I know people wanted me, but they didn't really want me, they wanted SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair, not some goofy guy with a lot on his plate. That's what I mean when I say I don't get why I'm so important, because regular citizen Zack Fair is a nobody, a miserable man who can't even fake a smile to comfort people like the big strong SOLDIER he was advertised to be. ”

@strifesoldier | Cloud Strife sent;;

' You and me. Your body near mine, close. I'm not right when you're not with me. I get the shakes ' oop zack made him codependent...

Vulnerability, no matter how small or largely given, was always a difficult thing to express; Years of forcing himself into the mold of what Zack thought was the ideal hero only further forcing him to push the overwhelming desire to rely upon someone else to the back of his mind. Being relied upon was the closest he'd ever come to sharing a vulnerable moment with anyone and it was something he cherished far more than even his own life. That much so had never been in the question though, only further proven with each moment where he took a beating to protect those he cared for most, often coming as victorious in each battle he'd carelessly chosen for himself.

Perhaps it was the hubris of a man who has lost damn near everything already or maybe it was just the delusion of someone who had grown lonely over the years, someone who felt as though nobody bothered to know who he was outside of his uniform and rank; At least not until after he'd managed to establish a connection with another person for the first time since... ( Nevermind. ) Zack has come to rely upon being needed, feeling helpful and he's long since found that purpose at the side of his blonde companion. While he'd known that Cloud was capable of taking care of himself well enough, he also couldn't scratch the desperate itch to feel helpful, to do more than just stand beside the other man silently like some brooding shadow.

Though that's what he's become, hasn't he? Bitter and violent should he feel it necessary to be so, a trained killer unafraid of ripping and rending through flesh that managed to be snagged within the maws of an enraged beast, many saw the once proud warrior as nothing more than a monster as of late; A creature that thrived on combat and the destruction of the very people that made him into who he was today, but not Cloud, never Cloud apparently. Lips curl into a gentle grin at the idea, he was helpful to someone at the very least, even if he'd grown all too protective throughout their time beside one another and perhaps he cared far more than the average friend should have, but then again; Average friends don't go through the same horrors as the duo had to endure together. That's how Zack justified it, anyways.

A rabid guard dog trapped in an endless loop of biting despite never wanting to bring harm to those unfortunate to cross into Zack's poor graces, a feature of which was far easier done than said given how low his tolerance for anyone daring to cause problems for either Cloud or himself truly had become. That dependency, as it seems to be, is reciprocated. Though that hardly came as much of a surprise, being without the blonde felt off, something so viscerally incorrect that his very being often trembled with wrath when the two were separated for too long and the verbal confirmation he wasn't the only one to experience that... ( Validating, freeing even. )

“ And here I was, stewing about whether I'm being overbearing towards you. ” He huffs out, amusement glimmering within mako stained eyes; An odd calmness kept Zack completely and uncharacteristically still. At times such as this, he'd often be pacing or doing squats, clears his mind and allows the former SOLDIER to focus on his surroundings but instead he simply sat, jaw twitching while his tongue feels at the sharp canines meant for rending through his foes and that familiar emptiness he'd been so prone to slowly seeps in. “ I'm always here though, always nearby until you tell me to go away and mean it, I promise. ”

[bitchesgetriches]

Hey bitches, I have a question that requires a bit of context. So I'm 21 and for personal/mental health reasons I dropped out of college. I am currently working part time at a minimum wage job. The thing is, I really enjoy it? It's a fun job and I'm making enough money to get by, budgeting and slowly building up my savings. But I worry about not having enough financial security, what I would do in an emergency etc. I guess my question is, is it irresponsible/immature of me to want to keep doing what I'm doing instead of trying to go back to school or find a real adult job?

In the U.S. we have developed this weird stigma about minimum wage work, part-time work, and work that doesn't require a college degree. And that is steamy, creamy bullshit.

All labor is valid, my dear. Just because it's not a societally approved "real adult job" doesn't mean it's any less worthy than the job someone gets after spending years and years studying a topic in school. It's work, it needs to be done, and you're doing it.

More importantly, you find it fulfilling! Do you know how rare that is??? Don't waste one second of guilt on your decision to leave school and work this job. It sounds like your mental health is SO MUCH BETTER now! That shit's important!

You've identified the one downside: your work isn't compensated well enough to secure a financially stable future. Take some time to weigh this against your current fulfillment and mental health, your potential future earnings, your eventual goals (both financial and lifestyle), and then make a decision. Life is long--you don't have to do one thing forever, and you certainly don't have to hurry through it.

Good luck, cutie pie. We believe in you.

Ask the Bitches: Is It Too Late to Get My Financial Shit Together?