#co-production agreement

[newwavenewsandentertainment]

Netflix's Reported Exit from Nigeria: Understanding the Impact and Lessons for the Nollywood Industry

[freshthoughts2020]

[thoughtportal]

Opinion Here’s how to get free Paxlovid as many times as you need it

When the public health emergency around covid-19 ended, vaccines and treatments became commercial products, meaning companies could charge for them as they do other pharmaceuticals. Paxlovid, the highly effective antiviral pill that can prevent covid from becoming severe, now has a list price of nearly $1,400 for a five-day treatment course.

Thanks to an innovative agreement between the Biden administration and the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, Americans can still access the medication free or at very low cost through a program called Paxcess. The problem is that too few people — including pharmacists — are aware of it.

I learned of Paxcess only after readers wrote that pharmacies were charging them hundreds of dollars — or even the full list price — to fill their Paxlovid prescription. This shouldn’t be happening. A representative from Pfizer, which runs the program, explained to me that patients on Medicare and Medicaid or who are uninsured should get free Paxlovid. They need to sign up by going to paxlovid.iassist.com or by calling 877-219-7225. “We wanted to make enrollment as easy and as quick as possible,” the representative said.

Indeed, the process is straightforward. I clicked through the web form myself, and there are only three sets of information required. Patients first enter their name, date of birth and address. They then input their prescriber’s name and address and select their insurance type.

All this should take less than five minutes and can be done at home or at the pharmacy. A physician or pharmacist can fill it out on behalf of the patient, too. Importantly, this form does not ask for medical history, proof of a positive coronavirus test, income verification, citizenship status or other potentially sensitive and time-consuming information.

But there is one key requirement people need to be aware of: Patients must have a prescription for Paxlovid to start the enrollment process. It is not possible to pre-enroll. (Though, in a sense, people on Medicare or Medicaid are already pre-enrolled.)

Once the questionnaire is complete, the website generates a voucher within seconds. People can print it or email it themselves, and then they can exchange it for a free course of Paxlovid at most pharmacies.

Pfizer’s representative tells me that more than 57,000 pharmacies are contracted to participate in this program, including major chain drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens and large retail chains such as Walmart, Kroger and Costco. For those unable to go in person, a mail-order option is available, too.

The program works a little differently for patients with commercial insurance. Some insurance plans already cover Paxlovid without a co-pay. Anyone who is told there will be a charge should sign up for Paxcess, which would further bring down their co-pay and might even cover the entire cost.

Several readers have attested that Paxcess’s process was fast and seamless. I was also glad to learn that there is basically no limit to the number of times someone could use it. A person who contracts the coronavirus three times in a year could access Paxlovid free or at low cost each time.

Unfortunately, readers informed me of one major glitch: Though the Paxcess voucher is honored when presented, some pharmacies are not offering the program proactively. As a result, many patients are still being charged high co-pays even if they could have gotten the medication at no cost.

This is incredibly frustrating. However, after interviewing multiple people involved in the process, including representatives of major pharmacy chains and Biden administration officials, I believe everyone is sincere in trying to make things right. As we saw in the early days of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, it’s hard to get a new program off the ground. Policies that look good on paper run into multiple barriers during implementation.

Those involved are actively identifying and addressing these problems. For instance, a Walgreens representative explained to me that in addition to educating pharmacists and pharmacy techs about the program, the company learned it also had to make system changes to account for a different workflow. Normally, when pharmacists process a prescription, they inform patients of the co-pay and dispense the medication. But with Paxlovid, the system needs to stop them if there is a co-pay, so they can prompt patients to sign up for Paxcess.

Here is where patients and consumers must take a proactive role. That might not feel fair; after all, if someone is ill, people expect that the system will work to help them. But that’s not our reality. While pharmacies work to fix their system glitches, patients need to be their own best advocates. That means signing up for Paxcess as soon as they receive a Paxlovid prescription and helping spread the word so that others can get the antiviral at little or no cost, too.

{source}

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #39

October 18-25 2024.

President Biden issued the first presidential apology on behalf of the federal government to America's Native American population for the Indian boarding school policy. For 150 years the federal government operated a system of schools which aimed to destroy Native culture through the forced assimilation of native children. At these schools students faced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and close to 1,000 died. The Biden-Harris Administration has been historic for Native and Tribal rights. From the appointment of the first ever Native American cabinet member, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, to the investment of $46 billion dollars on tribal land, to 200 new co-stewardship agreements. The last 4 years have seen a historic investment in and expansion of tribal rights.

The Biden-Harris Administration proposed a new rule which would make contraceptive medication (the pill) free over the counter with most Insurance. The new rule would ban cost sharing for contraception products, including the pill, condoms, and emergency contraception. On top of over the counter medications, the new rule will also strength protections for prescribed contraception without cost sharing as well.

The EPA announced its finalized rule strengthening standards for lead paint dust in pre-1978 housing and child care facilities. There is no safe level of exposure to lead particularly for children who can suffer long term developmental consequences from lead exposure. The new standards set the lowest level of lead particle that can be identified by a lab as the standard for lead abatement. It's estimated 31 million homes built before the ban on lead paint in 1978 have lead paint and 3.8 million of those have one or more children under the age of 6. The new rule will mean 1.2 million fewer people, including over 300,000 children will not be exposed to lead particles every year. This comes after the Biden-Harris Administration announced its goal to remove and replace all lead pipes in America by the end of the decade.

The Department of Transportation announced a $50 million dollar fine against American Airlines for its treatment of disabled passengers and their wheelchairs. The fine stems from a number of incidences of humiliating and unfair treatment of passages between 2019 and 2023, as well as video documented evidence of mishandling wheelchairs and damaging them. Half the fine will go to replacing such damaged wheelchairs. The Biden administration has leveled a historic number of fines against the airlines ($225 million) for their failures. It also published a Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, passed a new rule accessible lavatories on aircraft, and is working on a rule to require airlines to replace lost or damaged wheelchairs with equal equipment at once.

The Department of Energy announced $430 million dollars to help boost domestic clean energy manufacturing in former coal communities. This invests in projects in 15 different communities, in places like Texas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Michigan. The plan will bring about 1,900 new jobs in communities struggling with the loss of coal. Projects include making insulation out of recycled cardboard, low carbon cement production, and industrial fiber hemp processing.

The Department of Transportation announced $4.2 billion in new infrastructure investment. The money will go to 44 projects across the country. For example the MBTA will get $400 million to replace the 92 year old Draw 1 bridge and renovate North Station.

The Department of Transportation announced nearly $200 million to replace aging natural gas pipes. Leaking gas lines represent a serious public health risk and also cost costumers. Planned replacements in Georgia and North Carolina for example will save the average costumer there over $900 on their gas bill a year. Replacing leaking lines will also remove 1,000 metric tons of methane pollution, annually.

The Department of the Interior announced $244 million to address legacy pollution in Pennsylvania coal country. This comes on top of $400 million invested earlier this year. This investment will help close dangerous mine shafts, reclaim unstable slopes, improve water quality by treating acid mine drainage, and restore water supplies damaged by mining.

Data shows that President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (passed with Vice-President Harris' tie breaking vote) has saved seniors $1 billion dollars on out-of-pocket drug costs. Seniors with certain high priced drugs saw their yearly out of pocket costs capped at $3,500 for 2024. In 2024 all seniors using Medicare Part D will see their out of pocket costs capped at $2,000 for the year. It's estimated if the $2,000 cap had been in effect this year 4.6 million seniors would have hit it by June and not have had to pay any more for medication for the rest of the year.

The Department of Education announced a new proposed rule to bring student debt relief for 8 million struggling borrowers. The Biden-Harris Administration has managed despite road blocks from Republicans in Congress, the courts and law suits from Republican states to bring student loan forgiveness to 5 million Americans so far through different programs. This latest rule would take into account many financial hardships faced by people to determine if they qualify to have their student loans forgiven. The final rule cannot be finalized before 2025 meaning its fate will be decided at the election.

The Department of Agriculture announced $1.5 billion in 92 partner-driven conservation projects. These projects aim at making farming more susceptible and environmental friendly, 16 projects are about water conservation in the West, 6 support use of innovative technologies to reduce enteric methane emissions in livestock. $100 million has been earmarked for Tribal-led projects.

[everythingisromant1c]

p1: chemistry read w/ co-star!james

co-star!james potter x actress!reader

summary: before filming can start, your director has to ofc find the perfect person to play your love interest, + what better way to do that than to have a chemistry read?

a/n: i will not pretend to know anything abt film/tv production so this is more than probably innaccurate 🙏 also this first one is not my best work but dw more drama will ensue. <33

full series - masterlist

You'd wanted this job more than anything. You'd worked harder than anyone you knew to kickstart your acting career and knew this opportunity was just the way to do it. When your agent called you about an audition for the lead role in a new show titled 'South Bay'—a drama named after the L.A. region itself—and gave you a sample of the pilot script, saying you fell in love with it wouldn't be a stretch. And after those few months later when you'd received the call that you'd gotten the part, it was safe to say you were walking on clouds for weeks afterward.

Your amazing director Minerva had cast you first and foremost, knowing your role was key to the show's success, and you'd already built a strong relationship with her after just a few weeks of knowing her.

After casting you, she'd informed you that the show's next order of business was finding someone to play your character's—Cassidy's—love interest, Aaron. When she'd told you that initially, you didn't think anything of it. But when she told you they already had gone through the first round of auditions for the role and that it was time for the infamous chemistry reads, you had to try your hardest to stay completely calm.

Aside from the fact that you'd soon be meeting the person you'd have to spend hours working with every day for God knows how many months, you also knew that the casting directors were going to be looking extra careful at the romantic chemistry you were supposed to have with the actors they brought in. You willed yourself not to get worked up when the morning came for the chemistry reads with the men auditioning for Aaron, and reminded yourself that your role in the show was already secured. Yet, for some reason, you were still on edge.

Luckily, the casting directors had narrowed down their options from the hundreds of actors who had come to audition for the role of Aaron originally to just a handful, making your job much easier. By the time noon came around, you'd already read from the script with three different candidates.

Just as you'd expected, they each had done a close-to-perfect job in their auditions. Your personal favorite was the second actor you'd read lines with, a sandy-haired guy named Remus who you thought was a really nice person as well as actor. It was important to you that the person you were going to have to pretend to be romantically interested in was a person you at least liked, and it was all too easy to imagine working with someone like Remus.

You'd expressed your thoughts to Minerva when she'd asked for them, and she nodded in agreement—a good sign—before the two casting directors beside her were calling for her attention.

"This next one, Minerva," cooed the curly-haired woman you knew as Poppy from next to her, "we think you're going to like."

"Am I?" she asked, lips curling up.

"Oh yes. When we saw him we knew right away we had to bring him in for the chemistry reading." Poppy nodded to you. "He looks promising. And he certainly has the background; his parents are Euphemia and Fleamonet Potter."

The other casting director hummed in agreement, not hiding their impressed and widened eyes. "Not to mention, he has that accent."

You had to fight your expression from turning sour. A Potter? If there was one thing you didn't appreciate in the world of acting, it was nepotism. After working so hard and starting from the ground up to get your acting career where it currently was, the last thing you wanted was to have to see your director swoon over some guy just because of who his parents were.

Nonetheless, you had faith in Minerva to pick the person who truly deserved the job. You watched her nod at the two women beside her, intrigued nonetheless. She waved a hand over to the security guard by the door in the corner of the room.

"Bring Potter in?"

The burly man nodded and exited the room briefly, and not a minute had gone by before he returned with the man you assumed was the young Potter in tow.

You subconsciously stood up straighter when you saw him, trying to push away any premeditated opinions of the man approaching. Brown curls and a genetically gifted bone structure you could see from feet away, he walked into the room confidently with reason. He immediately offered the security guard who had brought him into the room a handshake, and you watched as the tall brick wall of a man lit up with a bright smile from the gesture. Potter then rolled out more charming words of greeting to the director and casting directors, and you took the opportunity to scan him over in more detail.

With an interest you couldn't explain, you saw that he was strikingly handsome in the kind of way you'd expect the son of two celebrities to be; he was wearing a black t-shirt that clung to him flatteringly, with that sort of movie-star quality you knew audiences always swooned over. It didn't help that the moment he walked in you saw each of the directors turn to each other with raised brows and suggestive smiles that only widened when he introduced himself, charmingly posh British accent and all. You had to fight back from rolling your eyes at their reactions.

"James," greeted Poppy, standing up from her seat to give the man a handshake.

"Poppy," the man regarded, and you felt your eyebrows raise at the fact that he was already on a first-name basis with the head casting director.

She sat back down after a moment, keeping her attention on the man—James—as she spoke. "James, this is Minerva McGonagall, the Director of South Bay."

"I'm such an admirer of your work, Mrs. McGonagall. My parents took me to see your adaptation of Henry Shay's novel about three times when it first came out."

Your parents, you thought internally with some distaste; the famous actor and actress power couple. You had to stop yourself from shaking your head.

"Please, just Minerva," the director responded warmly, and you noted that she hadn't told any of the other actors to call her by her first name. "And thank you."

Poppy nodded happily before she held out an alarming hand towards you. "And let me introduce you to the wonderful actress who is going to be playing South Bay's leading lady Cassidy Ward."

You plastered on a smile and introduced yourself as plainly and confidently as you could, definitely not feeling suddenly conscious of your appearance as his warm-colored eyes raked over you.

James took that second to scan you over before realizing with a simmering feeling in the planes of his chest that there was something special about you he couldn't make out, something that had him wanting to greet you with more than a handshake. He refrained, thankfully, not saying anything after you finished introducing yourself for a second you felt was a beat too long, before scrambling to hold out a hand to you.

"I'm James. James Potter," he said as if you hadn't been already made aware of his last name. "It's an honor to get to meet you."

You didn't know why but his clear flattery only made you more uneasy of him, knowing it was something he'd probably gotten used to pulling out to impress whatever important or famous people he was busy meeting through all the connections he probably had.

You stopped yourself in your tracks; you were being unfair. You'd only known the guy, if you call it knowing him, for under a minute. Shaking off the odd feeling that was creeping its way into your stomach, you shook his held out hand with a polite nod, though that didn't the prying feeling inside you go away.

"Alright." Minerva clapped her hands together, looking between the two of you. "We're just going to do a read-through of scene number thirty-four, Episode three." She motioned towards the camera crew set up behind her, them shooting her a thumbs up.

She turned back around, looking between you and James pointedly. "Remember, your characters Cassidy and Aaron are the only two characters in the show who have known each other for longer than just a few months. They're close. That connection has to be visible, however you want to show that to us."

You didn't know why, but you felt uneasy. You nodded at Minerva regardless, seeing the supportive but anticipatory look behind her eyes as she glanced between you and the man now standing in front of you like you held the answers to all her problems.

James looked surprisingly calm and collected, like there was nothing in the world that could make the James Potter nervous. The more you looked at him and the confident set of his shoulders, the more you thought that was true.

Your director smiled. "Whenever you're both ready."

You nodded, taking a breath in before turning to James. "Where were you last night?"

You watched as James reacted to you in character, his strong brows pulling inwards. "What do you mean?"

You momentarily were taken aback by the almost effortless switch in his accent, but pushed the thought aside. "Last night. When everyone else was at Ryan's party. Where were you?"

He shrugged slightly. "I was in my dorm."

"Really? Because I knocked on your door and no one answered."

"I must've been sleeping. Why do want to know so badly?"

"I don't know, maybe because half the football team got caught last night breaking into the Dean's office."

"You don't think I did that, do you?"

You stared at him and then down at the floor. James—or Aaron, really—shook his head at you, his tone dropping. "I can't believe this."

Then he turned away from you and, as the script had told you to, you grabbed his wrist softly.

"Aaron, wait," you called, and the connection of your fingers to his arm had them tingling with a certain kind of teeming energy, though you didn't let it show on your face. "Of course I don't think you did it. I just don't know what to think. We're supposed to be best friends, yet you won't even tell me where you were."

James let a second pass before he said his next line, and it was like you could see his character's inner turmoil flickering through his mind restlessly when he said, "You want to know where I was, Cassidy?" You nodded. "I was talking with your Professor."

"Professor Brown?" you frowned. "Why?"

"I was trying to get him to let you submit your final thesis late."

"What? You know he told me I couldn't because-"

"Because of me." He paused dramatically, stern jaw working. "The only reason you missed the deadline was because you were helping me when I got too drunk to even make it up the stairs to my dorm."

"That's ... that's really nice of you, Aaron, but you know how Brown is-"

"He's letting you turn it in late for full credit."

"What?" You widened your eyes. "How did you ..."

"I told him how it was my fault you missed the deadline. And I told him about how good of a student you are, how you've never turned in anything late once, not even when we were in high school. But most importantly," he took a step closer to you to hold your hand, something you noted wasn't in the script but made your fingers flood with feeling. "I told him what a good person you were. How kind you are. Even to idiots like me who get black-out drunk during finals week."

You blinked at him, letting a smile overtake your face for a moment. "You really didn't have to."

"I did."

He squeezed your hand and, even if it was only acting, the way he was looking at you so meaningfully made something in your chest tighten excitedly. You didn't have to act when you shifted your gaze to the ground nervously. Why the hell were you nervous? "I don't know how the hell you got him to say yes."

"Well, I also have to wash his car for free for the next six months, but that's just a small detail."

You let your jaw drop. "I can't believe you'd do that for me."

"Of course I would." James took another step closer, still holding tight onto your hand and not breaking the immobilizing eye contact he'd established with you the whole while. "I'd do anything for you, Cassidy."

He nodded slowly, truly looking invested. Then, in a beat as short as a breath but one that must've felt like minutes to you as you stood there unmovingly, he leaned forward. All you could do was blink as his handsome—ugh, handsome—face neared yours before tilting itself to the right, where he left a soft but lingering kiss on your downstage cheek.

Then he pulled away again, the distance between you maybe a few inches smaller than before, before finally whispering, "Anything."

That definitely was not in the script. Your eyes blinked in an alarm that surely was no longer in character, but James looked unbothered, something you were finding was his natural state of being.

You felt your mouth go slightly dry at the intensity behind his eyes as he looked at you, but the last thing you could do was look away now, so you stayed rooted in your place in front of James as you waited for your signal to break character. Waited and waited; you felt dizzy.

"Cut!"

Minerva immediately clapped, the casting directors doing the same, and you felt like you could finally breathe as you dropped James's hand that was still holding yours and turned away from him, not sparing the man a second glance for nervous reasons you couldn't place. Maybe it was because of the fact that the feeling of his stupid lips was still lingering on your cheek.

Your director's tone was neutral when she said, "Great job, you two," though you watched as she turned passionately toward the two casting directors and they began speaking in hushed tones.

You shook your leg subtly as you waited, an antsy habit that you couldn't identify the current cause of, and you felt James lean down next to you, something that sent a nauseating feeling of déjà vu through you.

"Don't worry," he whispered lowly, taking your mannerisms as a sign of distress. He noted that even when frowning you looked extremely pretty, though at his words you left his lips your frown only deepened. "You did great."

You turned to him in confusion and some offense, trying to keep your voice hushed as you asked, "Excuse me?"

He shrugged a shoulder, eyes flicking over your figure for a split second that you definitely noticed. "You just looked tense, is all."

You stared at him blankly, not knowing what he could possibly be implying. Was he saying your acting looked tense? That you didn't look sure of yourself? Like you weren't already the lead and that he was the one auditioning? 

You fought the urge to say that maybe you looked tense because he'd just kissed you on the cheek out of nowhere, and stayed defiantly silent. When you didn't say anything back he let his lips turn up into a lopsided smile that you were sure must work on all the ladies, almost a smirk, and he nudged you in the shoulder a bit like you were old friends. Who was this guy?

Whatever you thought he meant by the statement, you didn't get to say anything back, because Minerva had pulled away from her conversation and was staring expectantly at the two of you. You did your best to soften your expression away from offended and back to neutral.

"Well," she said, turning to the man beside you. "Thank you, James, for coming in."

"Thank you," he responded, tipping his head politely. Then he took a step forward and shook each of the casting director's hands, and you watched with a foul taste in your mouth as their lips visibly fought against fond smiles.

When he turned back around, he held his hand out to you as well, and you regarded it for a moment before shaking it like you did at the start of his audition, though this time it was definitely against your will. His hand was warm and smooth, like he hadn't worked a day in his life, and you hated the fact that you even noted how it felt at all.

Like he knew you didn't enjoy his presence, he smiled at you with something knowing shining in his eyes that you hated before he took his leave, the door to the room shutting behind him.

"That was ..." began Poppy, shaking her head slowly, "Perfect. Just perfect."

You couldn't help the way your lips parted almost exhasperatedly. "Really?" You hoped you hadn't revealed your surprise in your tone.

"Yes," Minerva responded instead, also seeming to be in awe. "Wow." She gestured with her hands exuberantly. "It was like I could see the show coming to life right in front of me."

"Not to mention the chemistry between you two." Poppy tipped her head at you, smirking as she fanned herself. "I mean, wow."

You bit down on the inside of your cheek to keep from saying anything you'd regret. Your throat felt dry. If you heard one more 'wow' from any of their mouths in reference to James Potter again you thought you were going to lose it. You tried to keep the premonition out of your voice as you bravely asked, "So, do you think you're going to cast him?"

Minerva paused for a moment in thought before answering you. "I mean, he was the last actor we're considering for the role, and I think he was the best we've seen today." She looked between the two other casting directors who nodded agreeingly at her words. "But I'd like to know your thoughts."

You blinked at her. "My thoughts?"

"Well, yes," she answered plainly. "He's going to be playing your love interest. And I like to hear my actor's opinions."

You pursed your lips at her words, feeling flattered but also not knowing how you were feeling at the prospect of having to work with James all the time. Although, deep within you, something was nagging at you—something you absolutely did not like—and telling you your answer.

The truth was, the scene you acted out with James felt realer, had come to life more than it had with any of the other actors that day. Maybe it was because he'd taken such liberties with the role, sure, but regardless, he did a great job. The thought made you hate yourself when you finally took a breath in to speak.

"He ..." you began unsurely, and then sighed. "He was great. Really great."

"Perfect!" Minerva clapped her hands together again, and something in your stomach churned. "We'll make contact with him as soon as possible." Her eyes twinkled as she regarded you. "I can't wait to have you two leading South Bay. I have nothing but hope."

"And," Poppy added, "it'll be great for publicity having a Potter in our cast."

The two other directors at the table nodded and murmured in agreement, and you fought from sighing. You thought of the days you'd spend on set with James Potter, of all people, not only having to get along with him but connect with him, with someone who clearly thought they were above you, enough to reassure you when you had already gotten the lead role. And then you thought of what it would be like to release South Bay to the public, your first leading role, only for Potter's undeniably charming face to be the audience's main focus. It left a sour feeling in your mouth.

But it wasn't just that horrible premonition that annoyed you; you didn't know exactly what bugged you about him in particular but you knew it hadn't gone away with his formal handshake or well-practiced manners. In fact, that'd probably only worsened the feeling.

But there was nothing you could really do about it now. At least, not if you planned on keeping your job. You were a professional, you knew that. But that didn't mean it was going to be easy to maintain that title. You really did sigh then, and something rooted in your gut told you it was going to be a long year of shooting.

[usnatarchives]

Happy National Ice Cream Month! President Reagan declared July National Ice Cream Month and July 15 (the third Sunday in July) National Ice Cream Day in 1984. Here are some sweet documents from our holdings. 🍦🍨

Patent file for ice cream confection known as “Eskimo Pie.” (NARA ID 1404539)

This is the January 1922 patent of the now-iconic Eskimo Pie, an ice cream bar covered in chocolate. It was invented by Christian K. Nelson and the patent was co-assigned to Russell Stover.

Good Humor Truck. (NARA ID 5916725)

Harry B. Burt created the Good Humor Bar, a chocolate-covered ice cream bar on a stick. To grow his business, he operated this Good Humor Truck that circulated until the 1970s.

“Good Humor” Ice Cream Suckers Ad (NARA ID 5916723)

This Good Humor ad served as evidence in Good Humor Corporation of America v. The Popsicle Corporation of the United States and Joe Lowe Corporation. It was generally understood that Good Humor and Popsicle were distinct products. In 1925, the companies reached a licensing agreement that stated Popsicle could make products under 4.5 percent butter fat as a form of sherbet, although that term had no official definition. When Popsicle made a “Milk Popsicle” in 1931 containing 4.48 percent butter fat, Good Humor sued. Who won the heated competition? Find out in Prologue.

[dreadfuldevotee]

I'd like to discuss the elephant in the room. Why did we get zero Loumand sex scenes? We got hints and implications, but season 1 was pretty explicit. Do we think that that's a creative choice or something else is happening?

I'm glad I ended up ruminating on this for about a week because episode 7 & 8 really solidified my opinion on it.

I do wanna start by saying that it's very clear to me that there was supposed to be more explicit scenes between them. There has been some thoughts tossed around that censorship happened with the 9 pm timeslot (as opposed to the 10 pm timeslot of S1). I believed this hearing Assad and Jacob talk about the BDSM dynamic between Louis and Armand, but what really sold me on this was Production Designer Mara LePere-Schloop talking about the bedroom set and more specifically about their beautifully carved custom headboard. (If you're a production nerd like me or just want to know more about the design philosophy of IWTV I recommend giving the entire thing a listen!).

I think there are several reasons I think as to why they decided to leave any more explicit scenes on the cutting room floor but above them all is: you cannot separate Armand's sexuality from his abuse. I am really against pulling a "well if you read the books" card but reading just the first couple chapters of "The Vampire Armand" makes me understand so much about not only Armand as a character, but the care being taken to his adaptation. It's clear to me that alongside Rolin & Co.'s commitment to not watering him down to a one-dimensional villain they are also trying to not fall into Anne Rice's tendency to romanticize his trauma.

Sex and sexuality is not the same pillar of Louis and Armand's relationship it was in Louis and Lestat's and so I don't believe their story suffers from the lack of on-screen sex. But I also firmly believe that maybe we don't need to be slutting out the character who we literally just watched talk about how he doesn't remember his life before being sex trafficked. And even when he was "freed" he was still being repeatedly assaulted at the hands of, and under the eye Marius de Romanus. Like it is extremely important to remember that Armand's craving for dominion in his relationships is a manifestation of trauma that deserves the same level of care and depth given to every other trauma portrayed in this show.

I think people have gotten too comfortable calling IWTV a romance when it has always been Gothic Horror. Romance and sex are pivotal to the story but I have found the demands for sex scenes this season a bit absurd and also? unfounded? Loustat share more kisses on screen but there are two sex scenes and both are very plot relevant. I truly figured we were all in agreement that the eroticism of this show is found in the various displays of power, and the dynamics it creates and not the actual clapping of ass-cheeks...which also wasn't happening in S1 either. S2 does not suffer because of the lack of sex-scenes, but the likelihood if it suffering trying to make one work is

[squirrelsqwirow]

HC: househusband!reiner x fem!reader

a/n: I have so many ideas and just cannot seem to write them all down properly cw: just fluff, no smut, modern au

househusband!reiner who had been in the infantry since he turned eighteen, and now seven years later, after almost a decade of what seemed like endless bloodshed and horror, he's happily married and retired from the military

househusband!reiner who didn't know what he wanted next, everything was moving too fast and he felt left behind - civilian life was hard to adjust to, and he was grateful that you let him relax and take it easy for the first few weeks

househusband!reiner who quickly fell into a productive pattern while you were away at work - early morning rise, self-made schedule for house-hold duties, flipping through cooking books and preparing meals - he never liked wasting time

househusband!reiner who one day concludes after searching for jobs online that he doesn't want to go back into the workforce - he is completely happy staying home and doing all the household chores, in fact he recently found that he enjoys cleaning and putting things back in order

househusband!reiner who cautiously approaches you with the idea, unsure of how you'll react as it isn't too common for a man to be a fulltime househusband

househusband!reiner who is so relived to hear your agreement and support, as you just want him to be happy and you already make enough money to support you both - it would be nice coming home to a clean house and homecooked meal, too

househusband!reiner who awakens early every morning just to plant a sloppy, loud kiss to your cheek before he gets up to make you breakfast - and he had gotten incredibly good at cooking - eggs benedict, cilbir, pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, english breakfast

'mwah!' a smooch against your forehead. 'mwah!' a peck to your cheek. 'mwah!' a long wet kiss to your lips. reiner grinned above you, feeling fuzzy as your face scrunched with small laughs with every kiss he gave you. the white sheets were twisted around you both, creasing as reiner flopped down and dug his face into your neck, a final 'mwah!' to your jawline before he got up for the day.

househusband!reiner who packs your lunch with a content smile, scribbling a quick note of love that he stuck to the container of food - some of your co-workers tease you for it, others fawn over his adoration and wish their partners would do the same

househusband!reiner who will closely trail you as you walk towards the door, arms around your waist as he lathers one side of your face with quick kisses - he'll whine and look pained if you push him away, so don't do it - pull him in for a deep kiss to make up for it, one that will make him sigh through his nose and have him keep his eyes closed for a few more seconds

househusband!reiner who'll look gloomy as you walk out the door, but his hardened soldier expression returns when he sees the large pile of dishes on the bench and a carpet needing to be vacuumed - big man will roll up his sleeves and crack his knuckles as if it's a life-or-death mission

househusband!reiner who's army habits never left him and now treats everything as an operation

in the garden, between bushes of pink roses and lavender, reiner was kneeled and yanked the weed from the soil. it's dirt-laced roots hung like vines. he tossed it into the wheelbarrow behind his back, and shuffled to the next weed. beads of sweat were caught between the furrowed lines on his forehead, and his scowl was deep as he glared at the weed. he pulled once, and it didn't move, so he pulled again, yet it was stubborn and strong. reiner snatched the gardening knife to his side and spun it in his hand, before he dug it into the soil and hooked it under the weed. he pushed down the knife and pulled the stork, and the weed came free. there would be no weeds in his garden.

househusband!reiner who does that 'harshly flipping the dish towel onto their shoulder when doing the dishes' thing

househusband!reiner who has a 'kiss the cook' apron

househusband!reiner who'll spray you with water when he watering the garden, laughing at the way you squeal and run back inside behind the safety of the floor-to-celling glass windows

househusband!reiner who has you on his arm as you both walk down the shopping street in the city, drinks in both your hands as you laugh at each others terrible jokes and gossip about the drama in your neighbourhood

househusband!reiner who hears all the latest gossip from the older ladies down the street, and immediately goes straight home to tell you

househusband!reiner who takes brisk morning walks with these older ladies - they often compare their husbands to him, giving a whole 'if I was young again' speech, and all they talk about is drama, so he is always up to date on everything that's happening

househusband!reiner who will give you a 'did you hear that?!' look when over for brunch at a neighbours house and someone says something outrageous

househusband!reiner who occasionally shows up to your work to take you to lunch - some of your co-workers blush while he's there, but all reiner is focused on is you and the weird painting in the lobby

reiner stood with his arms crossed, completely focused on the mismatch of colours and shapes and human features on the large canvas. it was vivid against the white walls of your office tower, but oddly comforting. "what is it?" "I dunno," you said honestly and you both tilted your heads to the side. "gary bought it in." "of course it was gary." "it's always gary," you said. "but we like gary." "we do like gary." "I like gary too," said your co-worker susan. she stood a little too close to reiner's side and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. she looked up at reiner as she spoke, red dusting her cheeks. "he's a good boss." you poked out from beside reiner's chest and said: "nobody likes a suck-up, susan!"

househusband!reiner who isn't completely oblivious when it comes to people staring at him - his career needed him to read people's body and facial expression, so he knows when someone is taking too much of a liking to him - so that is why he always shows at your work wearing a matching outfit and greats you with a kiss

househusband!reiner who keeps himself entertained by completing diy projects - he's grown found of gardening, wood carving, construction, painting and clay

househusband!reiner who renovated a small extension from the house into a work station for himself, and it's where he completes his clay and painting projects - garden pots, vases, little sculptures, cups

househusband!reiner who uses pinterest as inspiration for many of his projects - he has multiple boards for paintings, clay, garden accessories, diy project ideas -

househusband!reiner who always melts when you join him and make clay pots together, and especially loves to paint them with you once they're dry - he always uses them in the garden, and takes good care to maintain them

you were seated in reiners lap as you both painted dried clay cups. he was delicately painting a small penguin with a scarf and wool hat, his tongue poking from the side of his mouth as his eyes were almost crossed in concentration. you smiled at him and placed a long, chaste smooch to his cheek. he blushed and tilted his head to rest against yours, a subtle grin on his face.

househusband!reiner who's gotten really good at painting with watercolour, and many of his paintings hang in the house

"you don't have to put it in here..." he trailed off as you held his latest painting - a soft-coloured village over-looking the sea - against the wall. "it's not my best work." "i want it above our bed," you said and stumbled over the pillows as you tried to find the flat point. "can you go get the- the, y'know- that flat-bubble-in-the-middle-thingy, please?"

househusband!reiner who crafts handmade gifts for you - a paper-flower bouquet, a jewellery display, a bedside table you've been wanting for a while, unique real-flower bouquets from the garden which he wraps - anything you want because he loves crafting and he loves you

househusband!reiner who teaches gabi and her friends how to make clay cups and paint them - gabi loves to pain little faces onto her cups and will proudly show them to everyone - she once showed it in class and the teacher was so impressed that he asked if reiner could make small plant pots for her class so they could paint them - he said yes, but refused to take the money offered

househusband!reiner who lays on the patio couch with you asleep on his chest almost every evening, admiring the orange-yellow-blue sky as the sun sets behind the treeline

his head was rested on a propped up pillow against the patio couch armrest, and his arms were firmly wrapped around your waist. he stroked your back as you lay asleep on his chest, the gentle rise of your back as you breathed lulling him to sleep. reiner felt his eyes droop and his head nod, but he refused to submit to sleep. you looked too peaceful against him, too beautiful and perfect with your hair skewed over your face - he'd be damned if he missed such a sight for something trivial such as sleep.

househusband!reiner who despises the mosquitos that come out a night with all the hatred in his heart - he'll swipe at them and spray them whenever he gets the chance

househusband!reiner who - with your help - transformed an unused room into a home gym because he likes working out and feeling fit, but he doesn't like other people all too much

househusband!reiner who has cleared out a room over a few weeks and had been dropping hints about something he'd been wanting for a while now

househusband!reiner who had been crafting a unique crib while you were at work, painting it soft colours and making it as safe as possible, hoping one day soon that he goes from househusband!reiner to stay-at-home-dad!reiner

[starsenha]

[4] FIRST IMPRESSIONS - no more glaring

synopsis: riki was a big fan of your group Devilish, but when he met you for the first time, he made a very bad first impression and now you hated him. rumors started to spark saying how you hated each other and to calm the rumors, the company decided to make you two hosts a variety show together for two months. wc: 1,3k

You, Youngji and your manager, Jiyeon, entered the HYBE meeting room. You were so nervous, but tried to stay professional. You had opted for a casual outfit, but still putting in some efforts.

On the other side of the room, Riki, Jungwon and their manager were already seated. When they saw you enter the room, they all got up and bowed. Riki's eyes involuntarily flickered to you. Tou looked so different, so casual and accessible. And somehow, even more beautiful. He quickly adverted his gaze though, praying no one caught him staring.

"Thank you all for coming," the PR manager of Hybe started. "I think you all know why we're here today."

Youngji shot you a quick ‘don’t-say-anything-stupid’ glance before Jiyeon responded. "Of course, we’re here to clarify any misunderstandings between the two groups."

You forced a smile, clasping your hands together to stop yourself from fidgeting. "I’d just like to say—I don’t hate Enhypen sunbaenims, or Niki sunbaenim, or anything like that."

Riki perked up slightly at her words, but Jungwon, ever the professional, jumped in. "We appreciate you saying that. Honestly, we never thought there was an issue. Right, Riki?"

Riki coughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Y-Yeah, no hard feelings here."

The PR Manager smiled, sensing the tension. "That’s good to hear, but as you know, the internet doesn’t quite see it that way. The ‘glaring incident,’ as fans are calling it, has gone viral, and while it’s mostly lighthearted, we want to ensure there’s no long-term narrative of bad blood between your groups."

Youngji leaned forward slightly, her tone calm but firm. "So, what’s the plan?"

The PR Manager exchanged glances with the Devilish and Enhypen managers before speaking. "We’ve decided the best way to address this is through positive interaction. Yn and Riki will co-host a new seven-episode variety show. Each episode will feature fun activities, idol interviews, and chances for you both to show camaraderie."

You blinked. Your professional mask slipped for a moment. "Wait, co-host? With… him?"

Riki’s eyebrows shot up. "You mean… with her?"

The PR Manager nodded, unfazed. "Yes. The two of you are in the spotlight right now, and the fans already enjoy the dynamic—whether they think it’s rivalry or something else. This is a perfect opportunity to shift that narrative into something more positive. And I've seen plenty of fans shipping you together, so that could bring good publicity."

Youngji quickly stepped in, shooting you a calming look. "What exactly will this entail? We’d like details before agreeing to anything."

Jungwon nodded in agreement. "Same here. We want to make sure the schedule and activities are manageable."

The PR Manager opened a file. "The show will be shot once a week for seven weeks. Each episode will involve various segments, including games, challenges, and interviews with other idols. Think of it as a blend of fun and candid conversations. It’s lighthearted but engaging."

You stayed quiet, trying to process the situation. You sneaked a glance at Riki, who seemed to be doing the same. Your managers and leaders were already in negotiation mode.

"I assume this will require some prep time before each shoot? Who handles the scripts and activities?" Jiyeon asked.

"The production team will handle scripts, but we’ll consult with you to ensure it aligns with both idols’ comfort zones. And yes, there will be prep time, though most activities are straightforward."

Riki leaned slightly toward Jungwon, whispering, "This sounds like a lot."

Jungwon gave him a look. "You’ll survive. Stay professional."

Youngji tapped her pen on the table, addressing the room. "I’ll make sure Yn is prepared for the shoots. As long as the schedule doesn’t conflict with Devilish’s existing commitments, we’re open to this."

Jungwon nodded. "Same for us. We’ll cooperate to make this work."

You finally spoke up, your voice steady but a little exasperated. "So, just to clarify… this is seven weeks of me and Riki being buddy-buddy on camera to convince the internet we don’t hate each other?"

The PR Manager chuckled. "More or less. Though ‘buddy-buddy’ is optional. Just show mutual respect and have fun."

You nodded and you saw from the corner of your eye Riki nodding too.

As the meeting concluded, the groups stood to leave. You adjusted the strap of your bag, your mind swirling with thoughts about the upcoming variety show. Youngji was chatting casually with Jungwon about logistics, but you remained silent, trailing slightly behind. Riki, spotting an opportunity, decided to approach you.

He hesitated for a second, then fell into step beside you. Clearing his throat, he started, “So… I guess we’ll be working together a lot now.”

You glanced at him, your expression polite but icy. “It seems so,” you replied curtly, her tone professional.

Riki tried to maintain his grin despite the obvious frost in her voice. “I just want to say, I really respect your dancing. Your stage at MAMA was insane.”

You slowed your pace slightly, looking at him out of the corner of your eye. “Thank you, sunbaenim. I appreciate that.” The words were formal, almost robotic, like you were reading from a script.

Riki blinked, caught off guard by the sudden formality. “You can just call me Riki, you know.”

You gave a small, professional smile, the kind you reserved for interviews. “Of course, Riki sunbaenim.”

Riki opened his mouth to respond, but Youngji, catching the interaction, stepped in. She slid between the two with a practiced ease, flashing her trademark grin. “Riki sunbaenim, it’s great to know you appreciate Yn’s work. We’re all looking forward to the show, aren’t we, Yn?”

You nodded, your expression neutral. “Yes, unnie. It’ll be… a good opportunity.”

The way you said “good opportunity” sounded more like “seven weeks of suffering,” and Youngji gave her a subtle nudge with her elbow.

Riki laughed nervously, glancing at Jungwon for backup. “Uh, yeah, it’ll be fun. Right, hyung?”

Jungwon, who had been listening quietly, nodded. “Definitely. I’m sure you’ll both do great.” He turned to you, his tone warm and respectful. “If there’s anything you need to make the shoots smoother, let us know. We’ll make sure the team takes care of it.”

Your expression softened, and you nodded. “Thank you, sunbaenim. That’s very thoughtful. I’ll be sure to let you know if anything comes up," and you smiled.

Your demeanor toward Jungwon was completely different—friendly, collaborative. Riki couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast. “Wow, no cold shoulder for Jungwon?” he joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Your smile didn’t falter, but your voice took on a sharp edge as you turned to him. “Jungwon sunbaenim is very easy to work with.” The implication hung in the air: You, on the other hand…

Riki raised his hands in mock surrender. “Got it. I’ll try to earn your approval too.”

Jungwon, sensing the tension, decided to steer the group toward the elevators. “Let’s head out. We’ve all got a lot to prepare for.”

As you reached the elevator, Riki tried one last time, turning to you. “If there’s anything I can do to make this easier, just let me know. Seriously.”

You finally met his eyes, your tone still polite but colder than before. “I’ll keep that in mind, Riki sunbaenim.”

The elevator doors opened, and Youngji gently guided you inside. As the Devilish duo stepped in, Youngji glanced over her shoulder at Jungwon, her expression shifting back to friendliness. “Let’s coordinate schedules soon. Thanks again, Jungwon-ssi.”

Jungwon nodded. “Definitely. Take care.”

Riki, left standing in the hallway with his leader, scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “That… didn’t go great, huh?”

Jungwon smirked, patting him on the shoulder as they walked toward their own elevator. “Not your smoothest moment. But hey, at least she didn’t glare at you this time.”

Riki sighed, leaning against the wall. “Yeah. Progress, I guess.”

Jungwon chuckled. “Baby steps, Riki. Baby steps.”

previous / m.list / next

TAGLIST: @pkjay @d-dilemma @heartheejake @lunaritex @dreeki @inishij @rikirritated @whoiss4m @sleepyxxhead @aanniikkaa @right-person-wrong-time @aespaqq @starry-eyed-bimbo @nerdywitchcrown @yuniesluv @lovestruck-sky @ariluvssssss100 @rei4sunoo @wildtigerlili @jakef3ver @seungminsapuppy @kittsnewera @regalfoxbunny @rairaiblog @pairinnn

[amalgamasreal]

A24 and the WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike

So I'm seeing some people with very obvious bias and potential financial reasons lying outright or by omission about why the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are continuing to work with A24 during the 2023 Strike and I've got the answer for you:

It's cause A24 agreed to all the terms that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA put forward and have been granted "waivers" to allow their members to work as long as they stick to the agreement pending the final agreements being finalized.

These actors are not SCABing, A24 isn't being given a pass because they're not one of the bigger studios, they're being given a pass BECAUSE THEY DID THE RIGHT FUCKING THING.

So let that be a lesson to the other studios, cause if A24 can do it then they sure as hell can.

[poraphia]

“PDA: Public Displays of Affection”

pairing • secret relationship!wilbur x reader 1448 words • 9.1.23 containing • secret relationship, sorry boys production, immense affection my masterlist ~! ღ mrs. mania ღ on Tumblr

“We’re about to film a new Sorry video. Want to give me a good luck kiss first?”

♡♡♡

There’s one thing about Tom Simons that everybody knows the moment you click on one of his videos.

Some viewers may find him annoying at first,

And frankly, it’s not like he’s wrong.

After Wilbur and I started dating we came to an agreement to keep our relationship a secret. There were a multitude of reasons for this. For one, we wanted to enjoy the relationship for ourselves and because of Wilbur’s music and streaming career, it would have been impossible to relish in such when there are hundreds of thousands of eyes on you. This leads to our next reason. Most of Wilbur’s friends are streamers, vloggers, gamers, you name it. That being said, most of the time we find cameras on us already. So, in order to keep up with our special secret, we tell our friends that we’re not dating so that it’s a much easier job keeping it on the down low.

So what happens when a younger boy who considers himself Wilbur’s brother constantly sees a woman constantly with Wilbur? Well, you’ll see for yourself.

I’m known to be Wilbur’s co-filmer and editor in his fanbase, meaning that even if we weren’t dating, I had to be constantly around him to help out with video planning and creating a digital diary as he was on tour. This week his friends were all coming to Brighton to shoot Chapter 2 for their Sorry! improv group.

It was the morning of, and I was met by the familiar, warming embrace of his arms slithering around my body. I scoot back a little bit, feeling his heartbeat steadily beat against my back. “Hey, are you awake?” He groggled out in a raspy morning face. I hummed in response, taking one of his hands to kiss the center of his palm. He pulled me closer to his chest as the fabric beneath us crinkled.

“I’m so sleepy…” I mumbled. With his hand, Wilbur smoothed my cheek, caressing my skin. I melted in his touch.

“I know, but we have to get up soon, darling,” He whispered. Gently, with his arm still wrapped around me, he sat us up in the bed. The morning sun peaked through the slightly open blinds, decorating our skin with streaks of light. He buried his face into the crook of my neck as the drowsiness slowly drained from me. His arms kept firmly around my torso, holding me as close as he could. Once we felt ready to get out of bed, we walked into the kitchen as I prepared a quick breakfast for the both of us.

“Do you want strawberry parfait for breakfast, my love?” I asked, looking inside the fridge.

“Yes, please.” He smiled. I nodded before grabbing the container of syrupy strawberries and Greek yogurt. Wilbur went inside the pantry to find the box of graham crackers. After he finished crushing them, he noticed me standing on my tippy toes to reach for the two glasses on the highest shelf. With a cheeky smirk, he walked behind me and lifted me up by the waist, earning a slight eep of surprise. Nonetheless, I was able to reach the glasses before he placed me back down with my feet touching the cold tile floor. I turned around, awarding him with a quick peck on the chin, before continuing on making our breakfast.

Sometimes, it was painful keeping this a secret, but I think it’s what makes moments like these more special.

Once we finished our breakfast and got dressed, we met up with the rest of the guys at a park in Brighton. Today’s film idea was to run a hotdog van of some kind, but instead, call them burgers. Honestly, don’t ask me, it was the guys’ idea. Most of the guys carpooled to the location, whereas Wilbur and I decided to take our own car. After some time walking to the park, we were both ambushed by Tommy and Charlie, who were already flopping around in hotdog costumes.

“WILBUR! (Y/N)! MY FRIENDS!” Tommy exclaimed, hugging the two of us. Wilbur pulled Tommy to the side, almost putting him in a headlock as they shared their own brotherly love. I hugged Charlie before stepping back to examine his outfit.

“You look… Meaty. You been working out?” I joked. He grinned before flexing one of his arms.

“Ah, so you’ve noticed my meaty and tender gains I see! I’ve been working on these babies just for this exact moment.” He said pridefully. Charlie flexed one of his muscles before kissing his bicep. I rolled my eyes before we both trailed back to the rest of the group. I greeted the rest of the team and even hugged Kristen to catch up with her since we last saw each other. Tommy and Wilbur then ran up to the group promptly as Russ explained exactly how the food truck was going to work. After some careful instructions, the film crew, which involved me, were told who was to record what. Per usual, I was directed to film Wilbur’s shenanigans.

“Alright, is everyone ready?” Russ asked, looking up from his clipboard. Everyone exclaimed their noises of agreement. I looked over to Will, who I noticed was patting down his pockets for something.

“Will, you okay?” Phil asked as he adjusted the scarf around his neck.

“Yeah, I just— I think I left my wallet. Uhh (y/n) can you come with me? It’s probably in the car.” He said, looking over to me.

“Oh— Yeah, sure.” I handed my camera to Russ in the meantime before walking with Wilbur to the car. I kept my hands in my pockets in the meantime to resist the urge to walk with fingers intertwined. It was far too dangerous now.

Once we made it to the car, I reached into my pocket to unlock it, but in return Wilbur just stood there, smiling at me. I tilted my head, a bit confused.

“Weren’t you going to go look for your wallet?” I asked. Instead, Will leaned on the car, smiling down at me with his chef’s hat a bit lopsided and his arms crossed.

“I actually did have my wallet. I just wanted to have a good luck kiss before we started filming.” He smiled. I rolled my eyes before grabbing him by the shirt collar so that he was now at my height.

“You know you can be annoying sometimes.” I scoffed, but a wide smile was plastered all over my face.

“I know. I just miss you.”

I placed a quick peck on his lips, but before I could pull away, Wilbur held me gently by the neck to keep me in place. Slowly, I felt my body melting by the touch of his soft lips as butterflies danced on my skin. I wrapped my arms around his neck, moving me closer to him. Tiny droplets soon started to drizzle down on us, but we weren’t leaving each other's lips anytime soon. That was until someone caught us.

“Wilbur? (y/n)? Guys it’s starting to rain and— OH MY GOD!”

We both immediately pushed each other away, only to meet with the shocked face of Tommy standing paralyzed in his hot dog outfit.

“OH MY GOD YOU GUYS ARE DATING! I KNEW IT. I FUCKING KNEW IT—”

“I— Uh— Tommy—!” I was rendered speechless as the poor boy rapidly glanced at the both of us. Wilbur ended up breaking the standstill as he walked up to Tommy, placing two hands firmly at his shoulders.

“Yes, me and (y/n) are dating.” He said firmly. “You’re not going to tell anyone, my boiled hotdog boy, alright?” All Tommy could do was nod in response, his mouth still open ajar. Wilbur patted him on the back before heading in the direction of the food truck. I jogged over to Tommy, shaking his shoulder a bit to snap him out of his thoughts. He turned to look at me, a hand running through his hair. I shrugged, a half-apologetic smile on my face before we both walked back to the park.

“To be fair, the reason I was so shocked was because last month I tried to set you two up on a date.” Tommy mentioned nonchalantly, playing with his fingers as he walked.

I chuckled a little bit. “That’s kind of funny—” until the realization hit. “WAIT HUH?”

♡♡♡

a / n ~ thought this was cute so I jotted it down like a couple mins before waking up lolol. Reblogs and likes are super appreciated mwahh

[dapg-otmebytheballs]

All or Nothing and lowave records

Strap in because this is gonna be a long one. This post will try to shed some light on how the whole lowave records thing works, how you can use this music, how it is being distributed, and what all a contract with lowave would include. All this and more below the cut!

Let us start with the basics: What is lowave records?

Quite succinctly summed up on their website as follows:

They make and distribute royalty-free music for content creators - specifically video-format content creators like Youtubers and streamers - they share some streaming revenue (30%, we'll get into that) with the creators who are labelled 'co-artists' and get promotion of their music through the content creators.

So, that brings us to the next big question: What is royalty-free music?

This is music that is free to use. Yes, by anyone, by Dan and Phil, by other creators, by you and me, any of us. This is by no means a new thing of course, anyone who has created content online would have come across other such services. just as an example, bensound.com hosts a large library of royalty-free music which you can use in any video by simply crediting the site in your description. Lowave works in a similar fashion. The music is not copyrighted. However, the rights to the music are held by lowave records and there are limitations on its use, which we will get into ahead.

How is the money working (preliminary edition)?

I will add details to this later when I discuss the contract, but let's see the info we get straight away from the FAQs: You do not have to pay them anything to make music for you

The money is coming in from the streaming platforms, depends completely on amount of streams, and is shared between lowave and the creators

Also from the FAQs: how can this music be used?

Anyone can freely use any of the music from lowave records, which means that yes, you can use any music from All or Nothing for your purposes with credit, it will not be taken down

Is this the only music we will hear on dapg now? Will there be more albums?

Not necessarily! This isn't an exclusive deal, DnP can use any music they want on the channel. As for new albums, seems like it depends on how this one does (and it seems to be doing quite well!) which will unlock future avenues for more collabs with lowave

Okay BASICS DONE if you're still reading you're probably here for the real meat so let us get into it

How is the money working (director's cut)?

Let us start with the terms on the partner agreement:

Content Creators get 30% of the 'remaining income'. This basically means any costs that streaming platforms are deducting, any processing fees, taxes etc will be deducted before the 30% share is calculated. The second point there basically means that the deductions here do not include business expenses of the label itself, ie when the label calculates its own profit production costs and various other expenses are deducted from the income, but these costs will not affect the revenue received by the content creators (You are probably already thinking 'how is this company earning enough to keep going?' and I will touch on that later as well)

Payment installments are simple enough but here we see a third party enter the chat: DistroKid. Who is DistroKid and why are payments going through them, Hazel? I hear you ask. Well I'll tell you dear readers:

It is basically a service that takes a yearly fee for putting your music on streaming platforms efficiently and then pockets 0% of the royalties. The royalties go from the streaming services (eg Spotify) to DistroKid who then send it to the rights-holders (in this case, lowave records). lowave records is using this service for a yearly fee to upload all their music through.

But wait! If DistroKid is working with lowave, and lowave owns all the rights, why is DistroKid making direct payments to the content creators?

Well, over the years they have offered a bunch of services:

I am guessing lowave is making use of the teams feature to send royalties owed to content creators ("collaborators") directly from Diskworld, which makes sense, the less people money goes through the less chances of mishandling.

People have of course been talking about what percentage Spotify even pays for many many years. The short answer: we don't know for sure because it is confidential, Spotify won't tell and artists aren't allowed to. The longer answer: people have estimated from a bunch of publically available data that the share seems to be 70-30 (rights-holders- spotify).

However spotify is not paying per stream anymore so that makes these figures harder to pin down. they are using a 'streamshare' system which is much more convoluted:

That was all about the money, now let's talk Licensing

Creators can use this music in any capacity, and do not have to share any of the revenue from their own content with lowave. They have put a stipulation that it may not be used in a way that is "illegal, immoral, discriminatory or derogatory to [lowave]" but what constitutes 'immoral' and 'discriminatory' is not really defined.

The other limitation applies to the contracted Content Creators only as far as I can tell: they are not allowed to remix, sample, or edit these songs without prior permission. This probably only applies to altering the songs and playing under the same name, so fan remixes should not run into issues here, as long as they are not monetised. (thanks kate @goldenpinof for making me think about this part a bit more, I think it should be safe, but even royalty free music cannot be transformed without permission at least in a commercial capacity)

They will also make more music free of cost if the streaming targets they set are being met by the albums produced. The process:

Other services they provide will be handling the creator's account which they set up (DanAndPhilBeats in this case) on streaming platforms and making changes as required, so the Cheeky Banter -> Project X thing was probably done from their end, possibly an older change that they forgot to update?

Also below are promotional obligations:

The promotion wasn't a one-time thing, it is expected to be ongoing, so we will probably be hearing about this in future videos as well. However, later in the partner agreement it is added that this has to be done as often as possible in a way that is "natural and appealing to their audience" which again, is pretty vague wording

Also the licensing goes both ways, so lowave can also use segments of the content DnP make that has the music in the background to promote their music:

Additional stuff from the contract:

lowave takes the guarantee of creating original works that it has the rights to and which do not infringe on copyrights, and the creators likewise take the guarantee not use the songs in content which infringes copyright. If there are any disputes regarding such infringement in the future the record and the creators have to back each other up (including sharing legal fees)

I mentioned before some parts of the agreement being written in vague language. There is also a clause that says if any provision ends up being illegal/not possible to enforce by a court (eg if a court were to it's impossible to say whether content featuring the songs was 'immoral') then only that provision will be removed, the rest of the contract stands.

The waiver part basically means that if any of the parties decide to not sue or forgo a complaint about breach of contract, that does not mean that those provisions are now unavailable, they can still sue later on or for some other breach if they wish.

That's the contracts done. Some of the framing there makes it seem to me like it's a pretty small company. The revenue they hope to generate does not seem to be very sustainable, especially since the revenue is being shared with content creators but the cost is not and they are additionally paying for other services like DistroKid.

So I looked more into this record label: they started business in 2022. If you go to their socials though, twitter and instagram they have followers in double digits and post very sparsely. Their tiktok seems to have nothing on it at all (thanks @lesbiandanhowell for the screenshot) and you may have noticed, Dan did not tag the lowave account at all when he announced the album on twitter

The agreement never mentions creators promoting lowave's social channels or tagging them either (and it is quite odd, I have worked with a bunch of organisations in their infancy and this is, now more than ever, a common requirement from collaborators). lowave records does not seem to be actively working towards promoting themselves on social media or building an online presence, even though they have been operational two years producing music throughout.

There are three people involved with the company on public record:

Benjamin Johnson listed as 'Head of Production' is probably the 'Ben' Dan has been talking about who made the songs. Seems like their scale of operations is not very big and possibly not a lot of producers in the records at all (despite the spotify page saying they have 'producers' plural, but that doesn't have to mean a lot many lol). Anyway, that would solve the mystery of 'how are they playing their employees?' if there aren't many employees to begin with (not even an intern to manage their social media it seems).

Look at the last person in the screenshots though: Robin. I looked at what other companies Robin is associated with and several of them - yeah several different operations that he's involved in - have the same correspondence address of '60 Thorpe Road...', so probably operating out of a ghost office (just to have a registered address and receive mail at etc). And one of these businesses that Robin is associated with is RWD, the business that made lowave records' website for them:

The no-cost production of royalty-free music, little attention to social media presence, vaguely written contract, seemingly small scale of operations with technical assistance like website design coming from an affiliated organisation makes me think that lowave records might be a side project. A labour of love, possibly, hoping to sustain itself enough to keep putting out royalty-free music in a time of extreme crackdown on copyrighted music use.

It makes sense to use content creators for promotion, gets you way more streaming than making your own music and putting it out. And the incentive of unique but guaranteed royalty free music at no cost is great for content creators of all sizes. It is far from sustainable on its own though, especially with streaming revenue being basically peanuts, and I do not think there's much interest in gaining a following or putting in that effort either, so it's probably a very small business by a few people. How long it manages to sustain itself as a project I am not sure, but it certainly isn't looking like something particularly geared towards profit and growth in its current state.

We are at an end! If you read this far, leave me like an A+ or a star for my essay so I can have academic validation from this please. Of course I probably have not covered everything possible in connection to this so if anyone has more info feel free to add on! And if this was all very long and there's something particular you wanted to know you can drop an ask into the inbox about it!

Thank you for coming with me on this journey! Back to the important things, which was your favourite song from the album? I think mine is Arcade Admission

[inkmonster21]

Short n’ Sweet💋

Hugh Jackman x Fem!Sister!Reynolds!Reader

Warnings: SMUT, shitty situations, sadness (IM SORRY)

Part 18

Series Masterlist

You’ve Lost All Your Common Sense

💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋

You briskly zip up your suitcase, the excitement for the upcoming trip bubbling within you. St. Barts was a breathtaking destination, and you knew firsthand that there was always something to do.

You take a quick look around your room, making sure you haven’t forgotten anything. The prospect of the sun, the sand, and the luxurious surroundings await you, and you can’t help but smile in anticipation.

Your phone vibrated with a notification from Hugh, alerting you that he was waiting in the parking garage. Excitement mingled with anticipation as you read his text.

You grab your bags with a smile, eager to kick off your luxurious vacation. Making your way down to the parking garage, you couldn't help but feel a sense of extravagance and privilege washing over you.

You met Hugh with a warm embrace, wrapping your arms around him and pulling him into a soft kiss. There was a sense of comfort and familiarity in his presence, and the brief moment of intimacy made your heart flutter.

Drawing back, you looked up at him with a smile, the excitement of the trip clear in your eyes. "Ready to go?" "Ready as I'll ever be," Hugh replied with a grin. "I've got us a private jet, but we should probably head out now. We don't want to keep the others waiting."

He took your bags from you, effortlessly carrying both of them, and led the way towards the car.

You glanced out the car window, admiring the scenery that passed by. A nagging thought crept into your mind, and you turned to Hugh with a question.

"You don't think this is some sort of revenge attack, do you? Debora doesn't plan to poison me at dinner or steal all my left shoes?" You chuckled as you voiced your concerns, trying to lighten the mood.

Hugh chuckled back, not taking your concern too seriously. "I highly doubt it," he reassured you with a smile. "Debbie can be a handful, but she's not one for revenge. Besides, I'll be there to protect you if anything goes awry."

Hugh's reassuring words worked their magic, and you felt your worries start to dissolve. He was experienced, after all - divorced and co-parenting with his ex-wife. He was used to this dynamic and comfortable around Debora.

You reminded yourself that you had nothing to worry about. Hugh knew Debora well, and he would ensure everything went smoothly.

You entered your room and noticed a basket near the bedside table filled with complimentary products like toiletries and a bottle of wine from Debora. A small smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you appreciated the thoughtful gesture.

"Well, that's nice," you said, appreciating the little touches that made trips like this even more special.

Hugh leaned in from behind you, looking over your shoulder and nodding his head in agreement. "See? She's not going to sabotage you," he reiterated with a smile, confirming your fears were unfounded. You couldn't help but chuckle as you glanced back at him, appreciating his ability to put your mind at ease.

As you considered the possibility that Hugh might be right, a thought struck you - you were probably just searching for something to worry about.

You couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, acknowledging that Hugh's calm reassurance was probably exactly what you needed to ease your nerves.

"They've planned dinner at 8," Hugh confirmed, his hands gently rubbing your shoulders in an attempt to ease any remaining tension. "All together?" he repeated, seeking your agreement on the timing.

You thought for a moment, making sure 8pm was convenient for you. "Yeah, that works for me," you replied, feeling more relaxed than before.

The sun was setting, throwing a warm, golden glow across the ocean. The sparkling blue water stretched out before you, creating a breathtaking view.

You leaned against the glass, taking a moment to appreciate the moment - the beautiful scenery and the promise of a delightful evening ahead.

Hugh leaned against the window on the other side, his gaze following your own as he observed the scenic view outside. "We could walk the beach later tonight," he suggested, breaking the peaceful silence.

Your thoughts shifted from the breathtaking view to the idea of a moonlit beach stroll. "Sounds nice," you replied, a smile forming on your lips at the suggestion.

You smirked and leaned back from the window, turning to face Hugh with a quizzical look as you asked, "And then?"

Hugh chuckled, catching on to your playful tone. He raised an eyebrow, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "And then...?" he replied, feigning innocence.

"I think you know very well what I had in mind,” you smirk at him. He closed the distance between you, his hands gently resting on your waist as he looked down at you with a smirk.

"Let's just say, there's plenty to explore on the beach once it gets dark," he teased, his voice low and suggestive. His hold on your waist tightened ever so slightly as his eyes darted from your lips to meet yours.

After leisurely lounging, attending to some business calls, and finishing up with unpacking, the evening was drawing to a close. Time to head to dinner. The air was filled with a mix of anticipation and excitement for what the evening might bring.

You checked the time, realizing it was nearing dinner time. The others were probably getting ready, and you couldn't help but feel a slight flutter of nerves in your stomach.

You held up two dresses in front of you, each adorned in sophisticated black and navy hues. A small frown formed on your lips as you considered which dress to wear for dinner.

"Black or navy?" you repeated in a contemplative tone, turning to Hugh for advice. Hugh walked over, assessing both dresses with a keen eye. He reached out, gently running his fingers along the fabric of each one. He paused for a moment, eyes locked with yours, before his lips curled up into a sly smile. "Black," he declared decisively.

Hugh's gaze darkened as he watched you change in front of him, a sly smirk playing on your lips. He couldn't help but appreciate the sight, his eyes roving over your figure, admiring the way the fabric hugged your curves.

He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms in an attempt to appear nonchalant, but his eyes never left you.

Hugh's voice cut through the air, his statement laced with amusement. He watched you intently, a knowing smile on his lips.

"You do this on purpose," he said again, his gaze never leaving yours. “Me?” Hugh's smile grew wider as you feigned innocence, playing along with the act. He chuckled, shaking his head slightly in amusement.

"Oh, come on," he said with a hint of playful accusation. "You know exactly what you're doing. Don't even try to act all innocent now."

You slipped your heels on, perfectly adorning your feet, and picked up your bag. With a sly smile, you turned back to Hugh and feigned innocence once more.

"Really?" he teased, unable to hide the humor in his tone. "You don't know what I'm talking about? I find that a little hard to believe."

Your fingers traced the fabric of his shirt, caressing it gently. A coy smile tugged at the corners of your lips, hinting at the playful suggestion that lay underneath. “I guess you’ll just have to explain it to me later tonight.”

Hugh's breath hitched at your touch, his gaze darkening slightly as he leaned closer, a subtle shiver coursing through his body. "Oh, I will," he said, his voice dripping with promise. "I'll make it a very long explanations."

Unable to resist any longer, you reached out and pulled Hugh's hand gently, signaling it was time to leave.

"Come on," you said, your voice holding a hint of eagerness. "We don't want to be late, do we?"

Hugh nodded, a smirk playing on his lips, and allowed you to lead him out of the room, your hands interlocked firmly.

As the two of you walked into the restaurant, your eyes quickly found Ava, Oscar, and Debora. They sat at a large table, already engaged in conversation, laughing together.

Hugh led you over to the table, greeting the group with a smile, "Good evening, everyone."

Debora greeted you both with a warm smile, "Ah, there you are! We were wondering when you'd finally arrive." She gave you a teasing wink, while Ava and Oscar exchanged amused glances.

“Well you know this one and his shirts.” Debora chuckled at your comment, her eyes darting to Hugh's dress shirt, clearly making the connection.

"Oh, indeed," Debora teased, a playful glint in her eyes. She turned her attention back to Hugh, her gaze turning a shade mischievous. "You really do love them, don't you?" Hugh's smirk broadened into a grin at Debora's comment, and he played along, putting on a show.

"What can I say? I do know how to look good in a shirt," he retorted, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He gave you a glance, a subtle wink betraying the truth behind his words.

The conversation between the group flowed effortlessly as everyone settled into their respective seats. Light-hearted banter and laughter filled the air as everyone caught up with each other and discussed the upcoming vacation plans.

Ava and Oscar couldn't help but exchange amused glances every now and then as they watched the banter between Hugh and Debora. It was clear they were enjoying the playful energy that always seemed to accompany the two of them in conversation.

As the playful banter continued, your thoughts couldn't help but drift to the past, the memories of Hugh and Debora's happy times together. It was nice to see them get along, but it was also a little frustrating, watching their smiles and subtle touches as they reminisced on shared memories.

You were pulled out of your thoughts as Debora addressed you, her voice cutting through the chatter around the table. She asked about the upcoming tour for your new album.

A small smile tugged at your lips as memories of the upcoming concerts came to mind. "Yeah, we're planning a tour," you replied, excitement lacing your words. "It's going to be a lot of fun."

Ava chimed in, a giddy look of excitement on her face. "I can't wait for us to go shopping," she said, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Shopping?" Oscar asked, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "For what?"

Ava shrugged, her eyes darting between all of them. "Isn't it obvious?" she replied coyly. "For clothes!" Debora nodded in agreement, a grin on her face at the suggestion. "Absolutely! Tomorrow would be perfect for us to shop."

She turned to Hugh, a playful glint in her eyes. "Right, boys? Leave the fashion to us girls, and you can go do whatever it is you boys do while we go try on clothes?"

Hugh chuckled at Debora's remark, his tone laced with playful annoyance. "Oh, of course," he replied jokingly. "Nothing like old times. You girls go do your fashion thing, and we'll amuse ourselves somehow."

You forced a smile and a laugh, even though the sight of Debora flirting with her ex-husband was like a punch in the gut. Your grip on the wine glass tightened, the smooth liquid swirling inside as you forced down the bitter feelings that welled up inside you every time they shared a look, or a touch.

You had to remain composed, a mask of calm and nonchalance firmly in place. But in your heart, it was torture.

The conversation around the table continued, but you found it difficult to pay full attention, your mind preoccupied with the sight of Debora and Hugh's interactions. Every gesture, every word that seemed just a little too familiar, made your heart pang with a painful, almost familiar feeling.

You took another sip of your wine, pretending to pay attention, hiding the storm brewing within.

You picked at your food, barely even taking a bite, your thoughts still occupied with the dynamic between Debora and Hugh. You found yourself drinking more wine than usual, the liquid providing a temporary distraction from the painful situation.

As the night went on, you found it harder and harder to feign interest in the conversation, your mind constantly wandering back to the sight of those two together.

As the evening progressed, your jealousy intensified. You felt like an outsider, a mere spectator to their intimate reunion. Hugh's laughter, usually so warm and inviting, now felt like a dagger piercing your heart. You caught yourself clenching your napkin, your knuckles turning white from the force of your grip.

"Honey, are you alright?" Hugh's voice snapped you out of your jealous haze. His deep, concerned eyes met yours, and for a moment, you felt a pang of guilt for doubting his loyalty.

"Yes, I'm fine," you managed to reply, forcing a smile. "Just a bit tired."

Debora, leaned forward, her expression softening. "It's been a long day for all of us. Why don't we call it an early night? I'm sure we all could use some time to relax."

You nodded in agreement, grateful for the opportunity to retreat to the privacy of your shared suite. As the group stood up from the table, you felt Hugh's hand on your lower back, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. It was a subtle reassurance, a silent promise that he was all yours.

Back in the suite, the kids quickly retreated to their rooms, eager to unwind after a day of exploring. You found yourself alone with Hugh in the spacious living area, the soft glow of the moon casting shadows across the room. The silence between you was thick with unspoken words, the tension palpable.

"You seemed a little on edge during dinner," Hugh said, his voice low and soothing. "Is everything okay?"

You took a deep breath, your eyes searching his face. "I'm sorry, it's just... seeing you and Debora together like that... it brought up some… insecurities."

Hugh's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with concern. "Insecurities? My love, you know there's nothing between Debora and me. We're just being civil for the kids' sake."

"I know, I know," you said, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over you. "It's just... I can't help but feel jealous. She's so beautiful and successful, and you two have such a history. I can't shake the feeling that… I'm not enough."

Hugh took a step towards you, his strong arms wrapping around your waist. "Oh, my darling, don't ever doubt yourself. You are the only woman I desire. The past is behind us, and I'm grateful for the time we shared, but it's you I want, now and forever."

His words sent a rush of relief through your body, but you needed more than just words to ease your jealous heart. You reached up, your fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer. "Show me," you whispered, your breath hot against his neck.

Hugh's hands slid down your back, cupping your buttocks, pulling you tightly against him. You could feel his erection pressing against your stomach, a tangible proof of his desire. He kissed you passionately, his tongue exploring your mouth with urgency. You moaned, your hands roaming over his broad shoulders, relishing the feel of his muscular body.

Breaking the kiss, Hugh lifted you effortlessly, carrying you towards the bedroom. His eyes never left yours, burning with a fierce intensity. He laid you down on the bed, his hands gently pushing your thighs apart, exposing your wetness to his hungry gaze.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice hoarse with desire. "I want to taste you, remind myself that you're mine."

With that, he lowered his head, his lips finding your sensitive clit. He teased it with gentle flicks of his tongue, making you squirm with pleasure. You arched your back, your hands gripping the sheets as he delved deeper, his tongue probing your wet folds. His fingers joined in, sliding inside your pussy, curling and stroking your G-spot.

"Oh, Hugh!" you cried out, your hips thrusting upwards, seeking more of his touch. He chuckled against your sensitive flesh, his breath sending shivers through your body. He sucked your clit into his mouth, his tongue dancing over it, driving you wild with pleasure.

Just as you were about to climax, Hugh pulled away, leaving you teetering on the edge. You whimpered, reaching for him, your body craving release. He smiled, his eyes dark with desire, and climbed onto the bed, positioning himself between your thighs.

"Please, Hugh," you begged, your voice thick with need. "I need you inside me."

He teased you, sliding the tip of his thick cock along your slick folds, but not entering you. "Not yet, my love. I want to make this last."

You whined in frustration, your body on fire. Hugh leaned down, capturing your mouth in a searing kiss, his tongue mimicking the rhythm of his cock against your pussy. You responded eagerly, your hands gripping his shoulders, urging him to take you.

Finally, with a growl of desire, Hugh positioned himself at your entrance and thrust forward, filling you in one smooth motion. You cried out, your body welcoming the invasion, your walls clenching around his thick shaft. He set a slow, torturous pace, withdrawing almost entirely before slamming back into you, hitting all the right spots.

"You feel so fucking good," he grunted, his breath hot against your neck. "So tight, so wet. You're mine, all mine."

His words sent a thrill through your body, silencing any remaining doubts. You matched his rhythm, your hips rising to meet his powerful thrusts. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room, a primal soundtrack to your passionate encounter.

As Hugh pounded into you, his hands found your breasts, squeezing and kneading them. He pinched your nipples, sending jolts of pleasure through your body, pushing you closer to the edge. You could feel your orgasm building, a tidal wave of sensation ready to crash over you.

"I'm close, Hugh," you panted, your nails digging into his shoulders. "Please, don't stop."

He grunted in response, his pace becoming frenzied. He slammed into you with abandon, his cock seeking the deepest parts of your pussy. You screamed his name as your orgasm hit, your body convulsing around him, milking his shaft. Hugh groaned as his own release began building, and with a final powerful thrust, he emptied his hot cum deep inside you.

~

The morning arrived sooner than you'd like, sunlight streaming in through the hotel curtains and slowly waking you from your peaceful slumber. You found yourself comfortable in the large bed, your body nestled snugly next to Hugh's.

As the light played across your features, you found yourself unable to resist the temptation to simply stay where you were.

Hugh stirred beside you, feeling the movement of your body against his own. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking a few times as he came back into consciousness.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he saw you next to him. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice soft and groggy. You returned his smile, a soft sigh escaping your lips as you shifted a little closer to him. The room was quiet, the only sounds being the occasional distant noise from outside and the sound of the two of you breathing.

"Morning," you replied, your voice just as low and sleep-filled as his. “I should go get ready for my shopping extravaganza with Ava and Deb.”

You spoke, the thought of the impending shopping trip with Ava and Deb filling your mind. The word "shopping extravaganza" had been met with a sigh, indicating your reluctance to get up and get ready.

Hugh shifted in the bed, his arm still stretched out over you. "You don't sound enthusiastic about that," he observed, his voice still raspy with sleep.

You couldn't deny his observation. Getting out of bed and getting dolled up for a day of shopping sounded like a chore right now. But you knew you had to make an effort, especially with the company you'd be in.

"I know, I know," you sighed, your voice betraying your reluctance. "I'm just not a big fan of leaving you all alone in this nice bed, that's all."

Hugh chuckled at your response, knowing full well there was more to your reluctance than just missing his company in bed. He pulled you closer, his hand tracing small circles on your hip.

"You're a clingy one, aren't you?" he teased, his voice still a little rough with sleep.

“I thought you liked it?”

Hugh smirked, his eyes filled with a familiar spark of amusement. "Of course I do," he replied, his hand moving up to brush a strand of hair from your face. "I always like when you're all clingy and attached to me," he added, his voice dropping to a low murmur.

You chuckled softly, the smack on your butt making you giggle despite your sleep-filled state. "You really know how to motivate a girl, don't you?" you teased, rolling out from under his arm and onto the edge of the bed.

Hugh smirked, his eyes watching as you swung your legs over the side. "The devil can wait a little longer," he retorted, his hands going back to the pillow in a pretend act of covering his eyes.

You got out of bed and started getting ready, the morning routine seeming even more tedious than usual due to your reluctance to leave the warmth and comfort of the bed.

Throughout the process, Hugh watched you from the bed, his eyes following your movements with a mixture of interest and amusement.

You emerged from the hotel room to find Debora and Ava waiting, their outfits already looking pristine and perfect. They both smiled at you as you approached, their faces radiating excitement.

Ava excitedly rambled off a list of the various stores she wanted to visit during the shopping trip. Designer names and luxury brands spilled out of her mouth. Debora, on the other hand, remained quiet, her eyes occasionally flicking in your direction.

The excitement in Ava's voice was contagious, and despite your initial reluctance, you found yourself a little pumped for the day out. But every now and then, your eyes would catch a glance from Debora, her gaze a mix of curious and calculating.

You walked along the streets, your steps matching Ava and Debora's as you three made your way from store to store.

As you spoke, your voice filled with gratitude, “Thank you for inviting me.” Debora smiled at you, her expression almost sweet. "Of course," she replied, her voice pleasant though her eyes held a hint of something else.

“I just really want to make this work,” You spoke, your words laced with hopefulness as you tried to convince both yourself and Debora that things would work out.

A flicker of annoyance crossed your face as Debora's smile suddenly turned less sincere. She cut straight to the point, her words blunt and direct.

“You’re already fucking him, honey. You don’t need to try so hard,” she said, her eyes fixated on you.

“I’m not,” You denied her words, a hint of defensiveness in your voice. Your eyes widened as you looked at Debora, trying to make her understand that what she said wasn't true.

Ava looked back and forth between you and Debora, the silence between you two hanging in the air like a thick fog.

“Hey, this would be so cute on you!” You were grateful for the distraction, allowing Ava to pull you away from the tense conversation. You glanced back at Debora, her eyes still fixed on you, before following Ava to the rack of clothes she was eyeing.

“Sorry about her.” You looked at Ava, a sheepish expression on your face. "It's fine," you assured her quietly, trying to brush off the previous tense moment.

Ava looked at you intently, a hint of concern in her eyes as she continued to look at the clothes.

You spoke in a hushed tone, your voice laced with a mixture of worry and uncertainty. "Does she hate me?" you asked, a touch of vulnerability in your words.

Ava looked back at you, her expression sympathetic. "No, she doesn't," she replied, her voice just as low. "But... she's not exactly your biggest fan."

You nodded, a touch of resignation in your gesture. It was obvious from the tension that Debora wasn't exactly happy about the arrangement between you and Hugh. Ava watched you closely, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and pity.

You moved from shop to shop, your arms filled with bags of new clothes, shoes, and accessories. The hours flew by, the three of you moving from one fashionable location to the next. Debora stayed mostly quiet, sometimes chiming in with a snarky comment or a pointed question.

As you paid for a new handbag, Debora's voice suddenly piped up, her tone laced with disapproval. "Is that Hugh's card?" she asked, her eyes flickering to the credit card you were using.

“He told me to use it,” Your statement was simple, but it caught the attention of Debora. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of disbelief in her expression.

"He told you to use it?" she repeated, her tone still disapproving.

“Yes. He did,” Your answer was firm, clearly conveying your certainty in what Hugh had said to you.

Debora's eyes studied you for a moment, her expression still skeptical. "And he's fine with just giving you his card like that?"

You shrugged nonchalantly, putting the credit card back into your wallet as you spoke. Debora's skepticism was clear in her eyes, her jaw clenching slightly. Ava, meanwhile, watched the interaction with a mixture of interest and concern.

As you were about to leave Crumble Cookie, you heard your name called out from behind.

You turned around, a little startled, and saw a friend of yours. The excitement on her face was obvious, her eyes sparkling with a mix of eagerness and joy.

You smiled at your friend, pleased to see her. The others paused, a brief moment of confusion on their faces at the unexpected interruption.

"Hey!" your friend exclaimed, approaching you with a wide smile.

Your friend wrapped her arms around you in a tight hug, the warmth and comfort of her embrace immediately flooding through you.

Ava and Debora watched the scene, their gazes flickering between the two of you.

Ava and Debora both smiled, introductions made. "This is Ava," your friend began, gesturing at Ava as she spoke. "And that's her mom, Debora."

Debora's gaze was appraising, a hint of skepticism in her eyes, but she returned the introduction with a polite nod.

“Hey text me and let’s get dinner!” You agreed, your friend's offer catching your interest.

"Yeah, sure! That sounds great," you replied, your voice filled with a hint of eagerness. "We're quite busy today but I'll be sure to text you later. Dinner would be nice."

As your friend said their goodbyes and left, you and Debora were left standing together as she spoke. "Friend of yours?" she repeated, her voice nonchalant, but her eyes focused on you.

Your response was casual, your tone betraying a hint of nostalgia. "Yeah, we go way back to the Disney days," you confirmed, a nostalgic smile tugged at the corners of your lips.

Your eyes lit up when you saw Hugh and Oscar in the distance. You immediately waved them over, a smile spreading across your face. They both stopped and started walking over. Debora, who was standing next to you, shot a cursory glance their way.

Hugh's embrace around you was warm and tight, his hands wrapping around your waist as he planted a gentle kiss on your cheek. His smile widened as he looked at you, clearly happy to see you. Debora's eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face at the sight of the embrace.

As you all discussed plans for dinner, a question from Debora halted your conversation. Her eyes met yours, her voice holding a hint of knowing.

"Well, I assume you have plans of some sort, right?" she asked, her tone just the slightest bit smug. “No, I’m not going to miss out on a dinner.”

Debora waved her hand dismissively as she spoke, a slight patronising tone in her voice. "Don't be silly," she said, her words dripping with a hint of sarcasm. "You said yourself you haven't seen her in a while. Go eat with your friend."

Hugh's deep voice broke the silence, his question directed at you, his gaze fixed on you. He had overheard your previous conversation and wanted to know more.

"Who'd you see?" he repeated, his eyes studying you intently. You met his gaze, your chest a little tight as his tone held an edge of possessiveness. It was clear that he was curious about your plans for the evening.

"Just an old friend. She said she wanted have dinner," you replied after a moment, your voice steady, “but I’m not going to skip out on our fun.”

“Well, darling, if you want to go have fun with your friend, you can. We’re here long enough.” You couldn't help but smile at Hugh's words, his tone both possessive and understanding. He knew that you would want to spend time with your friend, and he was willing to let you go.

"Are you sure?" you asked, your voice holding a hint of vulnerability. "I don't want to ditch you."

Hugh shook his head, a small smile on his face as he spoke. "I'll just be waiting for you, love," he assured you, his voice soft and loving.

You could see the trust and respect in his eyes, knowing that he was willing to give you the space to spend time with your friend.

You shrugged, a small smile on your lips as you accepted his offer. The thought of him waiting for your return filled you with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

"Okay," you agreed, your voice holding a hint of curiosity, "I'll text her."

With that, you pulled out your phone and sent your friend a quick message, letting her know you would be free for dinner.

You returned to the room, your arms carrying a few bags of shopping, and set them down on the bed.

Hugh, who had been relaxing, looked over to see you approaching. Curiosity gleamed in his eyes as you began to unpack your purchases.

"What did you get?"

You showed him the items you had bought, a mix of clothing, shoes, and accessories that you held up for him to see. There was a hint of excitement in your eyes as you did.

Hugh looked at the items, his eyes scanning over them slowly. "Looks like you had fun."

You shrugged, a hint of frustration in your voice. "It wasn't horrible after I managed to block out Debora's comments," you admitted, your tone holding a hint of annoyance.

Hugh frowned at your words, a concerned look in his eyes. "She said something hurtful? To you?"

You waved your hand, dismissing Debora's snide comments as unimportant. "Just a few snide remarks," you said, your voice casual. Hugh looked at you intently, clearly not satisfied with your response. "What did she say?"

You replied with a huff, a hint of frustration in your voice. "It's a long list."

Hugh's frown deepened at your response. He could tell that Debora's comments had bothered you more than you were admitting.

Hugh's expression hardened at your words, his voice firm. "I'll talk to her." He was clearly serious and determined to address the issue. He knew Debora's comments had been hurtful to you and he wanted to set things right.

"You don't have to put up with it," he insisted, his voice holding a hint of protectiveness. You leaned in and kissed him, your lips meeting his affectionately. "I know," you mumbled against his mouth, "she's just jealous."

You dialed your friend's number, a smile on your lips as you waited for her to answer.

After a few rings, she picked up, "Hey!” “Hey! Where are we meeting?” Your friend's cheerful voice came through the phone, her tone filled with excitement. "We're at that Italian place downtown I told you about."

You smiled, picturing the restaurant in your mind's eye. "That place sounds great," you replied, your tone eager. "I’ll meet you there in twenty." "Perfect! See you there," your friend said, her voice filled with anticipation. "Can't wait to catch up with you."

Hugh looked up as you walked over to him, his gaze roaming over your form as you stood in your heels, dressed for dinner. “You could always tell me not to go.”

He met your eyes, a hint of concern in his expression. "You really want me to do that?" he asked, his voice softer than usual. “No, I’m just saying you could.” Hugh chuckled at your response, his lips forming a soft smile at the way you giggled.

"I could, but I won't," he replied, his tone light-hearted, although his concern was still evident.

“I won’t be long,” You leaned in and kissed Hugh, a final reassurance before leaving.

"I hope not," he murmured against your lips, concern still etched on his face. "Don't be too late." You blew one last kiss as you left, leaving Hugh behind. Hugh stood in the room for a moment, his mind going back to Debora's snide remarks. He knew that he would have a talk with her.

You entered the restaurant and your face lit up as you spotted your friend at a table. The sight of her filled you with excitement and you couldn't help but smile widely.

"Hey!" you exclaimed, walking towards the table. Your friend turned to look at you, a wide grin spreading across her face as she saw you approaching the table. "Hey!" she replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "You made it! I've been waiting forever," she teased, a playful smile on her lips.

“Then I’m surprised you saved my seat and didn’t get some handsome waiter to sit down.”

Your friend chuckled at your remark, a small knowing smile on her lips. "Sorry to disappoint, but I thought it would be better to leave the handsome waiters to their jobs," she joked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

You and your friend chatted and caught up on everything, from the latest album and her new movies, to your relationship with Hugh.

"So," you began, as the conversation turned to your relationship, "Hugh is such a great guy. You really hit the jackpot." “Comes with the extra baggage though. His ex wife literally hates me.”

Your friend listened intently as you spoke about Hugh's ex-wife and the animosity she held towards you.

"Oh wow," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Why does she hate you?"

You shrugged, “probably too many reasons. I think she is jealous.” Your friend nodded, her expression understanding. "Jealousy can make people do crazy things," she said, her voice sympathetic. "But what matters is how Hugh feels about you."

Hugh's mind was buzzing while you were having a good time with your friend. He called Debora, summoning her to talk to him in private.

Hugh opened the door for his ex-wife, a firm expression on his face. "We need to talk," he said, his voice flat and serious. Debora followed Hugh inside, her eyes narrowing in response to his firm tone. "About what?" she asked, her voice a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

"Don't play dumb with me," Hugh said, closing the door behind them. "I know you have something to say about my relationship."

Debora's face twisted in disdain, her eyes rolling in frustration.

"She's always running to you," she retorted, her voice laced with annoyance. "It's pathetic." Hugh's jaw clenched as he listened to Debora's words. "Don't talk about her like that," he warned, his voice steady but firm.

Debora sank into the couch, her tone confident as she spoke to Hugh, "Come on, Hugh. You can't possibly tell me you're in this for the long run. You're tired of her. I can see it."

Hugh's eyes narrowed, the comment hitting a nerve. "Watch your words," he said through gritted teeth.

Debora kept pushing, her words carrying a hint of bitterness. "I remember our marriage," she said, her voice laced with pain. "But this, this is just a bid for help. You don't have to go far and hire some bimbo to make me jealous."

Hugh's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "Don't act like you know what I'm thinking," he shot back.

Debora's voice lowered, a wistful tone seeping into her words. "Think about our dinner, how nice it was. The family, back together again. You barely noticed she was there.”

Hugh's eyes widened slightly at the words, a pang of guilt in his chest. Memories of their happy moments together flooded his mind.

Debora saw the flicker of emotion in Hugh's eyes, and her expression softened. "You remember, don't you?" she said, her voice filled with a hint of pleading. "We could have that again."

Debora rose from the couch, a hopeful smile on her lips. "I still love you, Hugh," she said, her voice a mix of hopefulness and vulnerability.

Hugh's heart ached at her confession, the weight of her words sinking in. Debora's voice carried a hint of pain as she confessed, "Seeing you with her drives me insane. It makes me realize what we had."

Hugh's mind was torn, conflicting emotions warring within him. Debora moved closer to Hugh, her hand reaching out to grasp his.

He stood there, frozen, his heart torn in two.

Hugh's mind was a chaotic mess of thoughts and emotions. He wanted to pull away, to uphold his commitment to you, but the sight of Debora's hand on his, the memories of their past together, were making it difficult.

Despite the turmoil inside him, Hugh realized that he didn't want Debora. He wanted you.

His hand reached out, gently covering Debora's, but he didn't pull it away.

"Deb," Hugh began, intending to reject her. He was going to list all the reasons that had led to their divorce. But before he could speak, Debora leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips, halting his words.

Hugh froze, his resolve weakening.

In all the whirlwind of Debora's unexpected kiss, Hugh didn't hear the door open quietly, and you walked in on the scene. You froze momentarily, your eyes widening at the unexpected sight.

Hugh's eyes widened in surprise, his heart dropping at the sight of you standing at the door. Debora's head snapped around, her hand still holding onto Hugh's.

"Baby," Hugh breathed, his voice laced with panic.

The moment was broken as you entered the bedroom and closed the door.

Hugh's heart sank, the weight of the situation crashing down upon him. He stood there, frozen, as he heard the sound of the door closing, knowing full well that you had witnessed everything.

Hugh moved swiftly, desperation in his steps, as he rushed to the bedroom door. The click of the lock seemed to echo in his ears, a silent barrier between him and you.

"Baby," he called out, his voice filled with urgency. "Please, let me explain." You heard Hugh's desperate plea, the sound of his voice through the door. Your mind was reeling with the emotional whirlwind.

"Explain what, Hugh?" you asked, your voice laced with anger and hurt, from the other side of the door.

Hugh's heart ached with the hurt and anger in your voice. He pounded his fist against the door, desperation and pleading in his words.

"I can explain everything," he said urgently, his voice filled with urgency. "Just let me in. Let me talk to you."

Your heart ached with the certainty in your mind. You knew there was something suspicious about the situation, and you instinctively sensed that Hugh had not been innocent either.

You remained silent on the other side of the door, your anger and hurt still etched on your face. "No," you replied simply, your voice firm.

Your mind raced with emotions, as you reached for your belongings, a small carryon case in hand. Tears streamed down your cheeks, a mixture of anger, hurt, and despair washing over you.

The reality of the situation was sinking in, and you felt a sense of betrayal and uncertainty settle deep within you.

You emerged from the room with fresh tears on your cheeks, your eyes meeting Hugh's with a glare. Behind Hugh's shoulder, Debora sat on the couch, an expression of satisfaction on her face as she witnessed your pain and Hugh's guilt.

The sight was like salt to your emotional wounds.

Hugh's heart clenched at the sight of you, the pain in your eyes nearly breaking him. He took a step towards you, desperate to explain.

"Baby," he whispered, desperation in his voice. "Please, let me talk."

“You can return all the shit I bought today, you can give the key my apartment to Ryan, and you can lose my fucking number.”

Hugh's heart shattered as he heard your words, the finality in your voice cutting through him like a knife.

"No," he pleaded, a desperate expression on his face. "Wait, let me explain. Please, just listen to me." Hugh's plea was met with a sharp look from you, your anger and hurt evident in your expression. He took a step closer, desperation etched on his face.

"I love you," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "Please, don't give up on us. Just let me talk to you."

You shook your head, “if you loved me, you would’ve never even let her get that close.” Hugh's heart ached at your words. The truth in them struck him to the core. He knew he had messed up, and he desperately wanted to explain.

"I know," he admitted, his voice quivering with emotion. "I know I messed up. But I swear, I didn't mean for this to happen. Please, just give me a chance to explain."

“Happy now?” Your glare pierced through Debora, a sharp and cold look in your eyes.

Debora sat on the couch, her satisfaction evident on her face. "Oh, very," she replied, a smug grin on her lips.

“Enjoy repairing your marriage.” Your scoff echoed in the room, the sarcasm evident in your voice.

Debora leaned back on the couch, a mocking laugh escaping from her lips. "Oh, I will," she sneered.

Hugh's hand reached out to grab you, his expression filled with desperation. But you wrenched your arm away from his grip, your eyes flashing with anger.

"Don't touch me," you snapped, the words filled with hurt and indignation.

Your anger and hurt boiled within you as you stepped into the uber, determined to keep your tears at bay. The ride felt like an eternity, the silence in the car only fueling the whirlwind of emotions inside you.

As you buckled your seatbelt and sat in the backseat, you couldn't help but think about the scene you had just left behind inside Hugh's home. Debora sneering on the couch, Hugh trying to explain, and the look of betrayal in your eyes.

💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋💛💋

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[acknowledge-reigns]

Needy | Jey Uso x Reader (featuring Roman x OC)

Description: Reader has been feeling down with Jey being on the road so much + Roman and Jey bring their girls food while they're getting their hair done.

Warnings: Discussion of depression and anxiety, doubts, suggestive behavior and language, mild angst, fluff.

requested by: @wrestlingbaby

My masterlist can be found here.

You and your best friend Nettie walk into the cozy salon, the scent of hair products filling the air. The salon is empty, save for sisters Elysia and Desia, your other two friends who are chatting with each other at the front desk. They co-own the Salon D+E Beauty.

"Hey, y'all!" Elysia greets you with a warm smile as you enter. "Long time no see!"

Desia nods in agreement, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"We were wondering when you two were gonna show up!" she says, grinning. "We've got the whole place to ourselves today, so we can take our time with your hair. Which is good cause y'all 15 minutes late."

Elysia and Desia usher you and Nettie over to the chairs, pulling out hair products, combs and brushes. They start getting to work, sectioning off your hair expertly.

"How's life been treating you girls?" Desia asks, her fingers moving deftly through your hair.

Nettie laughs, settling into her chair. "Busy as always," she says. "Work, the kids, family drama... you know how it is."

Nettie was a mom of five, married to Roman Reigns. With her husband being so busy doing everything required of him as quite literally the biggest star in wrestling to day, being a stay at home mom with her own online shop kept her on constant go.

Elysia nods sympathetically, her hands never slowing down as she works on Nettie's hair. "Tell me about it," she says. "I've been swamped with clients lately. I barely have time to breathe."

Desia grins, rolling her eyes. "That's an understatement," she says. "She's practically living at the salon these days."

Elysia sticks her tongue out at Desia, pretending to be offended. "Hey, it's not my fault I'm in demand," she says. "People can't resist my magic touch."

Desia chuckles to herself as she begins to seperate the pieces of vibrant ombre blue and black braiding hair for your head while Elysia did fhe same from Nettie, though her hair was a red and black ombre instead.

Elysia catches Desia's chuckle and shoots her a playful glare. "What are you laughing at?" she asks, pretending to be annoyed.

Desia just grins wider, clearly enjoying teasing her friend.

"Oh, nothing," she says innocently. "Just thinking about how humble you are."

"Anywayyy, Y/N, you're quiet. What's going on with you?" Elysia asks looking over at you in Desia's chair

You smile softly, your eyes flickering up to meet Elysia's gaze in the mirror.

"It's.. complicated." You let out a sigh.

"Complicated how?" Desia asked.

"Complicated like.. I've just been down lately, with Jey on the road so much..." You shared with your girls.

Nettie frowns, concern etched on her face. "I know that's tough," she says, "Back when Roman was on the road more I had the same issue. I'm so thankful for his reduced schedule these days."

It was nice to have a friend that actually understood what it meant to be a wrestling wife. Not just a wrestling wife but a bloodline wife. All four women were close, they'd all known each other since college but only you and Nettie share that specific connection.

"Have you guys talked about it?" Desia asked.

"Well.. No." You sighed.

"You know he'd want to know how you're feeling, right?" Elysia says. "He loves you, and he wouldn't want you to suffer in silence."

"Elysia's right," Nettie says. "Jey's not a mind reader. He needs to know when something's bothering you."

"I don't want to seem.. Needy. Or high maintenance." You stated.

Elysia rolls her eyes, clearly disagreeing with your thoughts.

"You're not needy or high maintenance," she says firmly. "You're a person who has needs and feelings, just like anyone else. And Jey loves you for exactly who you are, including the times when you need him."

Nettie gives you another reassuring glance

"Seriously, girl," she says. "Don't let your insecurities get in the way of communication with Jey. It's not doing you any favors, and it's not fair to him either."

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴

A couple of hours later, the girls' hair is about half done. Nettie had texted Roman that the two of you needed him and Jey to bring you some food since it was going to be another hour or two and you both were starving.

The door to the salon swings open, and Roman and Jey walk in, carrying takeout bags.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Nettie teases, glancing over at the two men.

Jey grins, his eyes lighting up as he sees you standing there scrolling on your phone. He sets the bags down on the front desk and strides over to you, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind.

"Hey, baby," he says, nuzzling his face into your neck.

You lean back into his embrace, feeling a wave of comfort wash over you. The familiar scent of his cologne fills your nostrils, and you close your eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of his strong arms around you.

"Missed you," he murmurs, his lips brushing against your skin. "You look beautiful, by the way."

He glances up at the half-done braids, his eyes filled with admiration. "You got that blue for me?"

You smile softly, a mix of warmth and affection filling your chest.

"Of course I did," you say, tilting your head back to look at him. "I knew you'd like me matching your gear."

Jey grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I love it," he says, his voice low and seductive. He presses a gentle kiss to your temple, his fingers tracing patterns on your waist.

Roman rolls his eyes playfully, shaking his head at his cousin's obvious PDA. "Can you two get a room already?" he jokes.

Jey just chuckles, tightening his grip on you possessively.

"Don't mind if we do," he retorts, giving your waist a playful squeeze.

"He must really miss you too, Y/N. And you thought you would seem needy." Desia accidentally lets slip.

Jey's expression immediately softens, and he glances down at you, concern etched on his face.

"What's she talking about, baby?" he asks, his voice gentle.

The girls exchange guilty looks, realizing they may have inadvertently let something slip. Roman just sighs, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Uh oh, Jey's in trouble," he mutters in a teasing tone to his cousin.

"Oh, shush!" Nettie scolded Roman with a light smack to his muscular chest.

Jey raises an eyebrow, his grip on you tightening ever so slightly.

"Hey, don't ignore me," he says, his tone firm but still gentle. "What did Desia mean by that?"

"We'll talk when I get home, okay?" You offered.

Jey looks like he wants to press further, but he knows better than to push you when you're not ready to talk. He nods reluctantly, his expression a mix of concern and frustration.

"Alright, we'll talk later," he agrees, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.

The tension in the room is palpable as the others exchange glances, knowing that there's clearly something unspoken between you and Jey. Roman and Nettie both look uncomfortable, while Desia bites her lip, silently scolding herself for her slip-up.

The air seems to thicken as Jey reluctantly releases you from his embrace. He gives your hand a final squeeze, his eyes searching yours for any sign of what's bothering you.

"I love you" He says.

You return the sentiment, your voice soft and sincere.

"I love you too," you say, mustering a small smile.

The others remain silent, the atmosphere in the salon now a mixture of tension and awkwardness as the guys take their leave.

Once the door shuts behind them, Desia lets out a sigh.

"I'm sorry," she says, guilt evident in her voice. "I didn't mean to let that slip out like that."

"It's fine. I needed that nudge to talk to him anyway" You said.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴

The rest of the braiding session goes by quickly, and soon enough, you're all finished. The girls bid you farewell, promising to meet up again soon.

You gather your things and head out to your car, the weight of the conversation with Jey looming over you.

The drive home is silent, your mind racing with thoughts of what to say to Jey. When you finally arrive home, you take a deep breath and step inside, steeling yourself for the inevitable conversation.

You find Jey in the living room, sprawled out on the couch and scrolling through his phone. He looks up as you enter, his eyes immediately locking onto yours.

"Hey," he says, his voice cautious. "You're home."

He sets his phone down and pats the space next to him on the couch, silently inviting you to sit down. His expression is a mixture of curiosity and concern, clearly wanting to know what's been going on with you.

You take a seat beside him, the silence between you thick with tension. Jey turns to face you, his gaze unwavering.

"So," he says, breaking the silence. "Care to explain what Desia meant earlier?"

Jey waits patiently, his eyes never leaving yours. He knows you well enough to give you the space to gather your thoughts and find the right words.

After a moment of silence, you take a deep breath and finally speak up.

"I've been feeling... neglected," you admit, the words feeling heavy on your tongue.

Jey's expression darkens, his jaw clenching slightly.

"Neglected how?" he asks, his voice tight.

You can see the concern and guilt in his eyes, but there's also a hint of anger, as if he's upset with himself for not noticing sooner.

"You've been working a lot lately, Being champion has you on the road even more." you say softly. "And when you're home, you're either on the phone or working out or watching TV. It feels like I hardly ever get to spend time with you anymore."

Jey's shoulders slump slightly, the weight of your words hitting him hard. He looks away, guilt written all over his face.

"Damn it," he mutters under his breath. "I had no idea I was making you feel that way."

"I just miss you is all. And I struggle a lot when you're on the road, with my anxiety and depression and i didn't know how to tell you without sounding needy.." you explain.

Jey's heart clenches at your words, and he reaches out to take your hand in his.

"You're not needy, baby," he says firmly, looking into your eyes.

He pulls you closer, wrapping his arms around you and holding you tight against his chest.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers, burying his face in your hair. "I never meant to neglect you like that. I've just been so focused on work and trying to prove myself that I lost sight of what really matters."

He holds you even tighter, as if he's afraid to let go.

"I promise I'll do better," he says, his voice full of determination. "I'll make more time for you, no matter what. When I'm home, I'm all yours, babygirl."

Jey pulls back slightly, his hands cupping your face as he looks into your eyes.

"I love you so damn much," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you never feel neglected again. You mean everything to me, and I'm sorry if I ever made you doubt that."

He leans in, his lips brushing against yours in a tender kiss.

"You're my priority, not work, not the title, not anything else," he murmurs against your lips. "You come first, always."

He deepens the kiss, pouring all of his love and regret into it. His hands slide down your body, pulling you closer until you're practically in his lap.

"I love you, y/n," he whispers, breaking the kiss to nuzzle your neck.

"I love you too, Jey.." You said.

Jey's lips find your neck, and he presses a series of gentle kisses against your skin.

"I don't deserve you," he murmurs, his hands roaming over your body possessively.

He pulls back slightly, his eyes dark with desire as he looks at you.

"Let me make it up to you," he says, his voice low and rough. "Let me show you just how much I love and need you."

Without waiting for a response, he scoops you up into his arms and stands up from the couch. He carries you effortlessly to the bedroom, his grip on you tight and possessive.

"I'ma show you, baby.. I'ma take care of you."

[mindblowingscience]

According to the president of COP28, the latest round of UN climate negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, there is "no science" indicating that phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to restrict global heating to 1.5°C. President Sultan Al Jaber is wrong. There is a wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that a fossil fuel phase-out will be essential for reining in the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change. I know because I have published some of it. Back in 2021, just before the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, my colleagues and I published a paper in Nature entitled Unextractable fossil fuels in a 1.5°C world. It argued that 90% of the world's coal and around 60% of its oil and gas needed to remain underground if humanity is to have any chance of meeting the Paris agreement's temperature goals. Crucially, our research also highlighted that the production of oil and gas needed to start declining immediately (from 2020), at around 3% each year until 2050. This assessment was based on a clear understanding that the production and use of fossil fuels, as the primary cause of CO₂ emissions (90%), needs to be reduced in order to stop further heating. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that net zero CO₂ emissions will only be reached globally in the early 2050s, and warming stabilized at 1.5°C, if a shift away from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy sources begins immediately.

Continue Reading.

[reddest-flower]

Socialism, as we know, presupposes public ownership of the means of production. Under socialism, the exploitation of man by man is abolished. Of course, the Nazis have nothing of the kind. The coming of the Nazis to power and their domination for 8 years in Germany showed the whole world that these “socialists,” like no one before them, ensured the growth of profits for Krupp and Borsig. Suffice it to point out that during the years of fascist domination in Germany, the largest joint-stock companies grew unusually quickly. So, for example, in 1937 in Germany there were 6 supergiant concerns with a capital of over 100 million marks, in 1939 there were already 9 such concerns. Some joint-stock companies (Harpener Bergbau, Siemens-Halske, etc.) doubled and tripled their capital during the years of the domination of the fascists. Only in 1939, the profits of the joint-stock mining company Hibernia AG increased by a fabulous figure – 100 million marks. The German Chemical Trust (IG Farbenindustrie) made a net profit in 1939 of about 60 million marks. This is what Hitler’s “socialism” is! This is the “socialism” of the monopoly tycoons, the largest capitalists in the world.

The fascist leaders themselves stole huge sums of money. It is widely known that the Hermann Goering company has a capital of 800 million marks. This is quite eloquent evidence of the monstrous, predatory fever of enrichment that the “socialists” Hitler, Goering, Goebbels and Co. are gripping. This is what Hitler’s “socialism” looks like in industry. The same kind of “socialism” is carried out by the fascists in agriculture. After the fascists came to power, the old landowners’ farms began to gain strength and new landowners’ estates began to emerge. A former associate of Hitler, Hermann Rauschning, who fled from Hitler, says that he once asked Hitler: “But what about those points of the program that relate to agrarian reform, the destruction of wage labor and the nationalization of banks?” Hitler replied: “Do I really have to explain to you the meaning of this program? Are you so primitive that you take it literally and do not see that this is only a decoration for our performance? In this program, established for the masses, I will never change anything ... To nourish the hopes of the masses, it is necessary to establish some visible stages.” Thus, Hitler once again declared that the program and all sorts of talk about socialism are all the decoration of a spectacle played out by the imperialists in order to deceive the masses. Hitler’s Minister of Agriculture Darre in the first days after the Nazis came to power said: “I will not touch a single estate, no matter how large it may be (and I know that I say this in full agreement with the Reich Chancellor’s opinion) ... I also will not allow the violation of the property rights of the pledged large land holdings.” Indeed, the Nazis kept their promise. Not only did they not touch a single estate, but the number of landowners was increased: the leaders of fascism themselves became large landowners.

Who are the National Socialists? Pavel Yudin, 1942