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hiveworks · 1 year ago

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Convention Guide: Basic Tabling Gear

September 2023

Whether you’re an artist alley newbie or you’ve been doing the convention circuit for years, putting together your table essentials is a crucial part of selling your wares at events and ensuring your weekend goes smoothly. In this guide, we’re covering the basics of setting up your first ever table.

This list is a non comprehensive assessment of things a tabler might need and should be used as a simple starting point. The four main categories we will cover are:

The Display

Behind the Table

Money

Quality of Life Suggestions

—🐝—

1. The Display

a) Tablecloth

Starting from the base layer, we’ve got tablecloths– an easy way to add some color and personality to your table. Your tablecloth doesn’t even have to be an actual tablecloth! You can use a length of fabric cut from a bolt at your local craft store. Convention tables tend to be 6’ long, so when selecting your fabric, look for measurements longer than 72” (183cm).

Play with color and texture to find something that fits the theme of your work on display. Patterns can be fun, but might distract from your inventory or signage if the colors/design are too bold and busy. Tip: your cloth may get messy from food behind the scenes or dust/dirt if you do outdoor events. Get something that’s easy to wash in your machine!

b) Display supports

Most artists these days use cube organizers that break apart into flat panels and connector joints. They are easy to store when not in use, easy to transport in a suitcase or tote, and you can change the shape depending on your table set up and inventory. Tip: constructing your display to include shelves that face you behind the table helps organize your backstock during the show.

These cubes aren’t your only option. Some people use milk crates, picture frames, wooden boxes, custom built shelves, etc. Consider what works best for you, your aesthetic, and your storage/transportation needs. When in doubt, you can always lay your goods flat on the table.

c) Signage

Having clear signage on your items to denote price helps people feel more comfortable purchasing from your table. Your price markers don’t have to be fancy. Prices written neatly on pieces of paper and paperclipped to your books or taped up next to your stickers is a simple and effective strategy. Some people print out a price list or use a sign board. It’s totally up to you!

Include a sign with your name somewhere in your display, including your social media handle if it is different from your artist name. This will help fans of your work more easily recognize you. Tip: use a QR code prominently displayed on your table that links to your portfolio, linktree, etc.

d) Banner/backdrop

Look out behind you! Whether it’s a banner, a backdrop, or something else, the space behind your seat can be put to use. While it is relatively easy to print custom banners at most print shops, many tablers cite this as an unnecessary expense, especially for first time artist alley participants. If you’d like to hang a collage of your work behind you, look for photography backdrop tripods, which can collapse and fold up neatly. The behind-the-table space is shared with other artists, and it can get cramped. Be mindful of your needs when deciding how to do a backdrop. Some artists opt to exclude a backdrop and just use their cubes to arch over them.

Optional: Decorate your table! Flowers, string lights, plushies, etc. can all bring a special one of a kind experience to your set up.

2. Behind The Table

a) Inventory

Now that we’re behind the table, let’s talk about what’s going on back here. Starting with inventory. If you’re absolutely unsure how much to bring, a good starting number is about 10 of each item. If you sell out, congratulations! You’ll know what to bring more of next time, or you’ll know you should raise your prices. For storing inventory during transportation to the con and while at the show, you might consider simple boxes, an accordion folder, or a portfolio case, depending on what kind of items you’re bringing. Reminder: if you’re using display cubes, structuring them to give you shelves on your side of the table will help you keep things organized.

b) Suitcase/storage tote

Under your feet will be your suitcase/tote box, and perhaps a dolly, if you used one to wheel your boxes into the building. It is recommended that your suitcase/tote has a lock on it, as you’ll be leaving inventory overnight. Hopefully no matter what you use, it has wheels of some kind. All this gear gets heavy. If you are not using a wheeled device, make sure to check your pack’s weight as you assemble your supplies. You will have to carry it from the parking garage or bus stop through the convention center, and back out again at the end of the show.

c) Cover cloth

What else is in that box? Your cover cloth. This one is optional, but some artists like having a lightweight cloth to cover their table when the day is done. Something like a vinyl picnic tablecloth works perfectly. The cover cloth helps prevent anyone from accidentally knocking your things over or having things go missing.

d) Business cards

On your side of the table, you ought to have plenty of back up business cards. You’ll have some of these out on the table for passersby to pick up, but this item is the number one thing you’re going to hand out the most of. It’s always better to have too many rather than too few. For a single three day convention, you might need 200+ cards. Make sure your website/online shop is easy to find on your cards. Cute business cards go a long way to making your table memorable long after the con has ended.

Bonus supplies: Here’s a short list of things you might need throughout the weekend to touch up your display. Keep them in a bag and bring them with you every time you table!

Masking and clear tape

Spare paper for impromptu signage

Sharpies and pens

Zip ties

Scissors

3. Money

a) Card reader

The most commonly used card reader is Square, but there are alternatives. Research their fees and prices to determine what fits your needs. You’ll want to get a hold of a card reader and set up your account well in advance of your show. Card readers require wifi/data to work and will only work in your country of business, so take that into consideration when packing for your show. Most convention halls have wifi (sometimes at a cost), but if your show is outdoors you might be relying on data.

b) Cash/change

Cash is king! Make sure to bring enough cash/change for your show. About $25-50 in small bills is usually enough if you’re also accepting card. At the end of the day, consider tucking your big bills away in a secure location in your hotel room. If something were to happen to your bag, you’ll appreciate not having your entire weekend’s earnings in it!

c) Fanny pack

Keeping your cash attached to you at all times is smart. People often use fanny packs or cross body bags to manage their money.

4. Quality of Life

a) Backup battery

Since you may be using your phone to complete transactions, or maybe you’re drawing on your iPad with time to kill, you’ll want to bring a back up battery. Most tables don’t have access to electricity, so having a battery and charging cables is a good idea.

b) Hand sanitizer & masks

One hand sani pump out front and one behind the table. You’ll be handling money, shaking hands with strangers, and touching surfaces that thousands of people have been touching all day. As long as there have been conventions, there have been con plagues. You don’t want to get knocked out with a cold (or worse) so masking is great!

c) Table buddy

If you’re able to, bring a friend to help you table. Cons will often give tablers 2 passes (one for you and one for a friend). They can help you grab coffee or lunch, get change, package a big purchase, cover you for bathroom breaks, etc. Table buddies are truly the unsung heroes of artist alley.

d) No table buddy? No problem.

Check in with con staff and volunteers. Many comic cons will have a green room for artists to take a snack break and decompress, and con staff will help guide you there. Some conventions also enlist volunteers to help sit your table while you’re away. They’ll make sure your table stays in order, direct people to your business cards, and inform curious patrons when to expect you back.

e) Fun stuff!

There will be plenty of downtime. Con hours are long and often slow in the mornings. Bring something to keep you occupied, but not too engrossed, so you can easily pull away to greet customers and fans. Fidget toys, a puzzle book, knitting or crochet project are all great ideas.

f) Get Comfy, Eat Well, Stay Hydrated

Going from your quiet desk to the high octane energy of artist alley can be a shock to the system. Some items to help reduce the fatigue are: noise canceling headphones during downtime and breaks, sunglasses to combat the fluorescent lights and rest your eyes, slippers or comfy shoes for under the table, and layers of clothing. Convention halls can fluctuate temperatures wildly. With lots of AC during the summer, sweaty crowds, and the flow of traffic to your table, you’ll be working up a sweat fulfilling transactions one second then freezing after sitting still for a minute.

Most importantly, have a small cooler with snacks and drinks. You may not get a break, but it’s important to stay hydrated and energized.

—🐝—

The next time you're at a convention, take note of displays that inspire you. #ArtistAlley and #ConTable tags on Instagram or TikTok can connect you with creators sharing their setups. Your table design is an opportunity to be creative and express yourself, while also learning along the way what works for you. Most tables, however, are built up over several convention seasons of trial and error, so while it’s good to take note of others' displays as a source of inspiration, try to keep your first table relatively simple. The more you table, the more you’ll be able to identify your needs for you and your merchandise.

We’ll close out this blog post with one final suggestion. Big, multi-day conventions can be fun, but they can also be expensive. Your tabling supplies and inventory aside, if you’re doing a show away from home, you’ll contend with table fees (often $250-450 USD), hotel, transportation, meals, etc. And not every convention is a good fit for your wares! Small, local events and art festivals are a great, low stakes, relatively cheap (or free) way to start tabling. Check your area for zine fests, queer makers markets, and craft fairs.

Sound off if there’s anything we missed! Good luck on your tabling adventures.

#tabling #convention #comic con #artist alley #hiveworks #blog

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rs-hawk · 1 year ago

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Do you have any writing tips? Even if it’s not necessarily for smut?

I won’t be touching on tips for smut at all on this post but I can make a separate post for it if y’all want.

My Top 10 Writing Tips

Love all your characters. Yes, even your antagonists. Hell, especially your antagonists. Even if they’re evil for the sake of being evil, if you want a 3 dimensional character, you have to acknowledge that they’re more than just evil to someone. Their mother. Their friends. Their dog. You have to think of their motivations, and honestly?-acknowledge that every character you write has a part of you in them. Maybe just your anger, your fear, your trauma, but love them for that, and it’ll shape them and your works in ways you never thought of.

Don’t reread your work too often! It’s hard (so very very hard) but when you have to crank out 2k words a day every day of the month but 2 it gets easier. Lol. Fr though just keep chugging along. You can reread later. You can edit later. Just get it done.

Don’t edit too much while you’re still actively writing. I know that’s hard, I really do, but if you keep rewriting, you’ll never be able to finish. You’ll keep writing a handful of scenes over and over again until you hate it, your book and yourself for “giving up”. You can edit later.

Write for yourself. It doesn’t matter how good of a writer you are, how beautiful or eloquent your style, if you hate it with every fiber of your being, it’ll turn to dust in your hands. I consider writing work, and when people enjoy themselves at work, not only do they do better, but the consumer enjoys it more. Think about it. If you’re at a restaurant and the workers are laughing and smiling with each other and seem genuinely happy, you’re more likely to go back than if they’re miserable, on the verge of tears and seem to hate being there, right? The same is true for your writing. Readers will enjoy it more if they can feel how much you enjoyed creating it.

Don’t just write. Listen to music. Get up and go for a walk. Text/call a friend. Watch a TV show. Pet your cat. Experience something. It helps you write but it also reminds you that hey, you’ve been here like eight hours. Get something to drink. Take a screen break. Go outside.

Be comfortable while you write. I’m not going to lecture you on posture because I’m currently laying down with my legs drawn up under me, my upper body turned and my phone in the air because I’m trying to put enough pressure on my lower back to pop it. Anyway, even if you can’t stay in one position long, switch. Listen to your body. A “proper” posture can end up hurting you if you don’t ever relax or if you’re putting too much pressure on your lower spine. It’s okay to lean. It’s okay to lay down. It’s okay to sit cross-legged. Just not at the expense of your body. Be aware, and don’t forget to get up and stretch!

Take breaks. Eat. Drink. Stretch. Go to the bathroom. Some people need them scheduled, and that’s fine, but also listen to your body. If you need to use the toilet but you don’t have another break scheduled for an hour, just go. Pause your timer or delay your alarm if you want, but take care of yourself.

Don’t be too rigid with your “starting” plot. We know most of us have that one scene or one character in mind we want to write, so we create a plot around them. That’s fine and I love it, but your writing is like a living creature. You might change while writing it. Your characters and ideas might change while writing it. Let them change. Let you change! You can edit later.

Remember it’s not a race. Just because you see some people dropping 3 novels a year, or 5 Tumblr posts every day doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. No one can write what you write. No one can create what you can create. Your work deserves to exist and be judged on its own merit. Not compared to anyone else’s, even if it’s you five years ago who could crank out multiple posts daily. It’s okay.

Don’t expect anything. Start writing because you love it. It makes you happy. It itches that part of your brain that no other hobby does. That no other love does. I’ve been writing for about 15 years now. I don’t know who I am without it. I have tried giving it up, moving past it, doing other things, but I always come back. Nothing else makes me feel the way writing does. I have gone years without writing, but when I start writing again, it’s like a high. I can go for hours, and I have! I have been lucky to be able to monetize my work, but it took 10+ years and was only because I got goofy about werewolves on a PTR app. You can’t go into the arts and expect to make money right away, or ever. You can hope, and do your best, but don’t only do it because you think you’ll make a living. It’s a sad but real fact. Capitalism makes us think we should only do stuff we can make money off of, but that’s a lie. You can AND SHOULD create just to create. Humans are meant to make art, and if writing is your canvas like it is mine, write to create. Fuck capitalism. Your art existing is enough reason to create it.

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1moreff-creator · 1 year ago

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Happy Birthday David Chiem!

Usually, for these characters’ birthdays, I do a somewhat half-hearted attempt at a character analysis. But do you think I’m gonna do this for David? Hell no, he’s way too complicated for me to do something like that in this style of post! And I am not making a post that difficult right after that Mai thing.

So, instead, I’m just going to list a few fun facts, because that’s easier. Hope you like it anyways!

(By the way, I’ve always loved that frame of the MV so, so much)

-His birthday lands on “National Book Lovers’ Day”, which says National but is recognized globally. Considering the MV, I’d say that fits. It also coincides with the Annual Perseid Meteor Shower Peak Night, Co-working Day (hah, as if), and get ready, “Hold Hands Day”.

-His profile states he likes ready-make oatmeal. According to the recent Q&A, he can cook, he just prefers not to. This actually fits with quite a few scenes in the series where it’s implied he prefers not to get out of bed unless necessary (mood), such as his brief outburst in the introduction and the several times he’s shown not to eat with anyone else. Though maybe that’s actually caused by him hating people.

-He dislikes expensive things. Kinda based.

-He does TEDTalks, and that’s presumably where he gets his talent from.

-As he stated himself, he has pretty bad bed hair. And apparently, he can summon it at will, as seen in Ch 2 Ep 11.

-His pupils seem to turn into stars whenever he… smiles or puts on a positive attitude? It doesn’t seem to follow a strict logic other than “whenever it looks cool”.

-He has an older sister named Diana. Or, well, that’s what he claims. Footnote 11 of you-know-what may imply she never actually existed. It’s unclear what this means at the moment.

-He seemed to genuinely like Xander, and wanted to be friends with him, as he’d value that relationship more than Xander’s idolatry.

-The secret quote in his page is "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. I wish you could just die." How nice! This is either talking to himself, or presumably something he'll say to Teruko since their characters do be foiling.

-The quote on Mai's page attached to him is "She forgives everyone." It's the second to last line in the script, before MonoTV's. I have to physically restrain myself from theorizing.

-Some stuff from the Q&As:

*He usually wears semi-formal, 'professional' clothes.

*His blue hair is actually fully natural.

*This is the default sprite for his fuckboy persona:

... But, like, why though. Why's he so sassy.

*Bisexual with a strong female lean. Diversity win! The biggest liar you know is bisexual!

*His favorite color is gamboge (the yellow of his star pupils), stating it’s inspiring; while his least favorite is gray, stating it’s depressing. This could imply he actually likes the cheerier persona he usually puts on more than his real self, or the villainous persona he plays in the trial.

*He handles his feelings badly. We been knew.

*His hair clips were his manager’s idea, to build brand recognition. Apparently David doesn’t like this manager too much, but he puts up with them for the contract. Also, when he takes off his hair clips in the trial, he places them in his PANT POCKETS.

*I’m sure you’ve realized this, but you remember that section of the Q&A where the dev gives details about the family members we had known about from the series (Elliot Cuevas, Felicity Giles, Fuyuko and Natsuko Naegishi, Ryan Moreno/Rosales)? Diana Chiem isn’t mentioned, perhaps further hinting at her non-existence.

*He has an average amount of strength.

*His favorite ice cream flavor is pistachio, because of course it’s pistachio.

*He smells like men’s cologne, but only faintly. Hope you’re happy with that answer, you weirdos (/affectionate).

*He’s American, like everyone else except maybe Teruko.

And now, for his playlist! I kinda already posted this in a reblog to another post, but here it is officially!

+Literature Girl Insane, by Karasuyasabou (I mean, obviously)

+Undead Enemy, by Suzumu and Giga-P (probably his song from the official character playlist)

+Monochrome Mentality, by Riproducer / RIP

+Grey, by QueenPB

+The Distortionist, by Ghost & Pals (CW: Abuse)

+Copycat, by CircusP

+How to Pretend, by CircusP (FNAF pog)

+Echo, by Crusher-P

+God-ish, by PinocchioP

+The Court Jester, by thquib

+DISAPPEARANCE ADDICTION, by Kairikibear

+Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, by Set it Off

+The Things I Deserve, by Ghost & Pals (CW: suicide)

+All Eyes on Me, by OR3O

+Not Your Angel, by NightCove_theFox (apparently I’m making him into an Alice Angel kinnie)

And, finally…

+Happy birthday! Though he would absolutely despise anyone who tries to sing it to him, I imagine.

#drdt #danganronpa despair time #david chiem

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blainesebastian · 2 years ago

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a dream is a wish your heart makes

words: 1,287 ship: austin butler x reader summary: (anon request) “sequel to Disney proposal fic” notes: this is a small part 2 to ‘full of magic’, you should read that first :) warnings: none tag list: @killerqueenfan, @karamelcoveredolicity, @elizabethrosecresswell, @gigisworldsstuff, @stylespresleyhearted, @rairaielv

You'd never consider yourself that much of a worrier, there's never seemed like much of a point. In your opinion, worrying is just gonna mean that you'll suffer twice, so, why bother? Clearly in all the times you've told yourself this, you were never planning a wedding—so what do you know?

You know that wedding planners exist and that maid of honors and family members usually help with this sort of thing, getting all your ducks in a row...because at this point all you feel like you're doing is putting out small fires for something else to pop up in your peripherals but. One of the mistakes you think you make is that you kind of insist on doing everything on your own. And so much of it feels doable? You make lists all the time and get shit done and only accept help when you absolutely need it—but then a year turns into five months and now you're at three and then one and...you're worried about a day that's supposed to be one of the most perfect in your life.

And maybe that's the issue. Too much pressure for a 'perfect' day and not allowing anyone to take things off your plate (or well, checklist). You can figure out most of this on your own, right?

Right...that's why you're drowning in a sea of paperwork on your dining room table and you've lost at least two mugs underneath somewhere. Swallowed up. You frown—you're beginning to forget what this table actually looks like beneath.

The thing is, everything major is booked—this is just the little things, which are somehow worse and more stressful. These are the placecards, the flowers, the reception favors, the small cards and giftcards for the caterers and other people who are gonna work to make this wedding perfect.

"What was I thinking?" You mumble, shifting papers around. Getting proposed to at Disney was one thing...but now getting married? Whole other can of worms.

Of course, it seemed like such a good idea at the time--why wouldn't it? You were also completely swept up in the romanticism of having a Disney wedding. Austin was willing to spend any expense, even though you insisted that you didn't need to. You had joked about having your wedding at Disney once and that was kind of the end of it, those comments became checklists, and those checklists became plans. To be fair, it's not that you're not excited...even though you're incredibly stressed, it's just...it almost feels like part of a dream. Though how could it not when you're going to get married in the most magical place on earth?

Admittedly, you love Disney—you've always been a huge fan even though it's taken you a bit to get there. You're definitely able to associate perfect memories with Magic Kingdom, given that's where Austin proposed to you. Being with him within itself feels magical, so—and you know how corny that can sound on the outside, but...you're not gonna deny that's how it feels. So how can you pass up that opportunity to continue it there?

There's this gazebo before the Boardwalk near the Beach Club resort and it overlooks the bay, the Swan and Dolphin and Yacht Club resort. It's simple, beautiful but there's so many hoops to jump through, I's to dot, T's to cross. You run a hand over your face, pinching the bridge of your nose as you close your eyes.

You feel rather than see Austin come into the room, his hand slipping along the back of your shoulders and running down your back. He leans down and presses a kiss to your head, a small shiver coursing down your spine as you catch a hint of his cologne.

"I keep having nightmares I'm gonna get buried under paper."

Austin chuckles lightly, squeezing your shoulder before slipping into a chair next to you. "You're gonna give yourself a migraine—you know we got other people to help you with this, right? Including me?"

You sigh a bit dramatically and tip your head back before rolling your gaze to your fiancé. "I know," You reply quietly, a soft smile tugging the corners of your mouth, "I just keep thinking about everything that needs done and I get tunnel vision."

He hums before nodding, reaching for a few pieces of paper aside. He knows you, doesn’t need to elaborate on that—he gets exactly how you’re feeling. But he’s also right. You can’t take utter control over all of this. For starters, there’s way too much to do that you can easily delegate to some other people to help and secondly, the last thing you want to do is associate your wedding with negative feelings of stress and general ickiness.

Alright, fine. You’ll get some help, stop trying to control everything, because it’s not possible anyways.

“I guess I just wanted everything to be perfect.” You let out a soft laugh, shaking your head as you push the chair back from the table. You turn your body, facing Austin, knowing how cliché that sounds.

You should know better, at this point, than to be a perfectionist—there’s no good reason to be. And yet it’s difficult to stop when those nagging thoughts come rolling in. Austin’s pretty good at shushing them, though, sometimes with a simple touch. He shifts slightly in his chair to take a look at you, brushing your hair over your shoulder in a fond gesture. He gives you this look which you know says—you worry too much.

“It will be.”

You crinkle your nose because…you know that Austin is an optimist but, “How can you know that?”

He holds your gaze for a long moment and before he speaks, you can tell how serious he is about the words that are going to leave his mouth, an emotion you can’t quite name in the depths of his blue eyes, “Because I’ll be with you.”

And despite the fact that there’s a slight glimmer of added mischief a moment later in his gaze, you know he wasn’t kidding. You laugh softly and roll your eyes, making Austin grin.

He takes your hand and squeezes, pressing a kiss to your knuckles, “What, you didn’t like that? I was gonna make it part of my vows.”

You playfully push his cheek with your other hand but he’s quick, grabbing it and using it as leverage to tug you closer, kissing you.

Needless to say, you definitely have a necessary distraction for the afternoon.

And it is pretty perfect, as if you had any reason to doubt or think otherwise.

You think one of the most surprising aspects is just how fast everything goes—all that planning and worrying for it to be over and done in the blink of an eye, in the flash of a camera bulb, a heartbeat.

You go back to where Austin’s proposed before you both leave Florida for your honeymoon, standing in front of Cinderella’s castle, looking down at the ring on your finger. A small smile tugs at the corners of your mouth, running your thumb over the underside of the band. The sky is orange this time, candied pink, as the sun dips down behind the soft blue and silver structure.

To face the future with another, who means more than any other, is to be loved.

You can’t help but smile as you feel Austin come up behind you, wrapping his arms around your shoulders. He presses a kiss to your shoulder, your jawline and your cheek before you turn your head and your lips brush. Your thumb runs over his wedding band.

That’s definitely the magic of love.

The line in italics come from the Disney movie The Rescuers.

#austin butler #austin butler x reader #austin butler imagine #austin butler fic #mccall writes things #elvis 2022

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theroseceleste · 7 months ago

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Pilot Miguel - Part 6 - What Goes Up Must Come Down

It's time to fly and you're off to somewhere new. What will happen when you get to Paris?

Buy me a coffee! (And gain access to my discord)

Word Count - 5238

If you don't want spoilers, don't read the 'contains' bit below.

Minors DNI

Contains : A flight incident. What I write about doesn't happen often and it is considered a more extreme case of a regular occurrence on any flight. Might as well take this as an opportunity tor remind readers who fly, to keep seatbelts fastened unless you need to get up and stretch your legs or use the bathroom.

ALSO contains smut : biting / marking, breast play, hair pulling, penetrative sex.

Enjoy! xx

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

If you enjoy this fic, please consider liking, commenting or re-blogging. Many thanks xx

It isn’t long after your Acapulco visit when you’re requested to fly again. The moment the request comes in, you send the details right to Miguel to see if he has been selected as the pilot, or if he can make a request to take that flight instead. To your happy surprise, he is also booked on that flight, which means he’ll be flying you to Paris, France.

Before then, you have been discussing Miguel at great lengths with Ashley. Conversations including what you like about him, how you met and what you did together in Acapulco. You are also embarrassed to find out she did overhear your spicy conversation with him, and the others that followed…

Your toys have had a lot of use lately and you find that you’re telling yourself repeatedly that he’s bigger than what you have readily available in your bedside drawer. The very thought of him filling you brings a desperate ache to your core.

His threat of him going ‘feral’ has been nearly a permanent fixture in your mind. You have been fantasising over what he says he’ll do to you. You want it so much, you almost feel sick with anticipation.

Ashley has suggested that if you are desperate to have each other then why not visit one another before the next flight? It’s a good question, but while you would love him to come and see you or you stay with him, there’s nothing quite like the build up of nerves and excitement. The wait is torture, but the payoff, you hope will be phenomenal. There will only be one first time with him and you want it to be unforgettable. Also, you don’t want Ashley to overhear your first time with him if he’s going to be as wild as he says he’ll be.

The day before your trip, you go to your local pharmacy to pick up your pill as you’re due to run out in a couple of days, slap bang in the middle of your time away. Nothing is going to stop this long awaited moment.

Starting off like any normal work day, you get up, beautify yourself to perfection and drive to the airport. This trip is an overnight flight so you make it to Nueva York airport in the afternoon.

Pulling your luggage from the trunk of your car, a horn toots behind you, which makes you jump out of your skin as you hear no engine. Spinning around you see an expensive Tesla behind you. The driver window rolls down, revealing the man you have been obsessively thirsting after for over a week.

“Buenos días, chiquita,” he says smoothly to you, unable to resist giving you a charming smile.

“Buenos días, mi Capitán…” you reply in an extremely flirty tone as you lean your elbows against his door.

You notice a scent on him, he’s wearing cologne or something. You’ve never smelled it on him before. Something tells you he’s put it on for your benefit and it’s working. A new fantasy of you burying your face against his muscular neck overwhelms your mind. You cannot wait to get to France and be alone with him.

He raises an eyebrow, impressed at your effort to learn a little Spanish and managing to not say his name. Your proximity excites him too, noticing you’re being rather forward leaning against his car like you are.

“Eres muy bonita, mi chiquita… shame that look is going to be ruined when I can finally get my hands on you.” (You are very pretty, my little one)

His expression darkens while a wicked gleam in his gorgeous brown eyes shine like stars in the night sky. That look and his words combined makes your jaw drop and arch your back. Your body, already submitting to him which he is very happy to witness.

“Wait for me and I’ll walk with you to the airport.”

You nod in response and step away from his sleek car before it glides gracefully away and parks in a space that has a charging point.

The walk to the check-in desks is conducted professionally, despite how agonising it feels. All you want to do is hold his hand as you walk side by side.

Even though he’s with you, a woman who makes him happy, he gradually slips into his withdrawn, non-chatty demeanour. Miguel is surrounded by people, mostly women, who are excited to finally meet him. You even recognise one girl from the check-in desk last time, looking starry eyed at the Captain. Little does she know, she has absolutely no chance with him.

Flight Officer Drew arrives in the lounge before the team boards the plane. You like her, and you have a feeling Miguel will too; in a platonic, professional working relationship kind of way.

Passengers come aboard and are situated in their seats. First class passengers are content with their comfy chairs and free glass of champagne.

Miguel expertly gets the plane into the air with the help of his co-pilot and guides it out of Nueva York air space. The journey over the Atlantic begins.

After reading the weather report, the pilots understand that a few thunderstorms are to accompany them in the sky. It is summer, where rising temperatures increase the chance of stormy weather. A few hours into the flight, the Boeing-747 had flown into the oncoming night, heading east towards France.

Lights in the aircraft are dimmed and passengers sleep, or at least try to in their seats. As they’re resting, your pace of work slows down. There are fewer requests for assistance, food has been served and the trays already cleared away. It’s ‘peaceful’ if you can ignore the engines roaring away, thrusting the plane forward at around six hundred miles an hour.

As you catch a few minutes of peace in the first class galley, the bathroom door nearest the cockpit opens and an uncomfortable looking Captain emerges. You grab his attention with a smile as he closes the door behind him.

“You okay?” you ask him and he gives you a relaxed smile.

“Sí, chiquita…” he whispers, standing closer to you.

You can tell he’s champing at the bit to touch you but he’s holding back.

“Plane bathrooms are not built for the likes of men like me…”

Miguel glances at his broad shoulders. You can only imagine his tall and wide frame makes it very restrictive in those tiny rooms.

Your heart is thumping, the anticipation is becoming too much to bear. You want to touch him too, but you fear that once you start, you won’t be able to stop. He picks up on this also, and it’s clear his resolve is weakening, allowing himself to step even closer to you.

Everything changes in a split second, peace and calm in the cabin skyrockets to sudden panic and lust turns to absolute fear as the plane suddenly loses altitude in an extreme case of turbulence. Frightened gasps, shrieks and screams fill the air as it falls what feels like a few thousand feet very quickly, making all loose items rise into the air, loose items, including people.

In that split second of change, Miguel grabs you as you both rise suddenly. He holds you close to his chest, protecting you from hitting your head on the ceiling while he takes the hit for you, curling around you so his back slams into the top of the fuselage. You hear a grunt of pain deep within his torso as you both experience weightlessness as the aircraft plummets.

What goes up, must come down. His grip tightens around you as he knows what’s coming. The plane levels out again, flying out of the turbulent air, all loose items fall. You scream as you both hit the floor with a loud bang, however, Miguel has you safe in his arms. He cages you underneath him, making sure he doesn’t squash you with his weight.

You’re hyperventilating as you process the experience of a rare but extremely scary moment.

“Miguel!” you hear Jess Drew yell from the cockpit, she needs him to assist her as she enables the seatbelt sign.

Two large hands hold either side of your face firmly as he looks into your eyes. You clutch onto his shirt, desperate to continue feeling safe with him.

“Are you okay?”

You nod, but before you can say anything, he stands and pulls you to your feet.

“Strap yourself into your jump seat, now.”

You don’t need to be told twice. You do as he says while he hastily returns to the cockpit, closing the door behind him.

Flight Officer Drew is un-injured and has the controls but passes them over to Miguel as he sits down and straps in.

“There’s storms brewing up over the Atlantic now,” Jess states in a clear and straightforward manner.

Miguel’s eyes look over the altimeter, they should be at cruising altitude but they’re at thirty-six thousand feet. There’s a couple of things he needs to do before actioning an ascension. He presses a button to speak on the aeroplane’s radio frequency, to try and contact other aircraft in the surrounding area. There is no nearby air traffic control tower to talk to just yet and has to determine if he is safe flying at this altitude or if he should climb back up to forty thousand feet.

“This is Captain O’Hara of flight AA-2099 heading east over the Atlantic to France. We have experienced a rapid drop in altitude due to turbulence, now flying at thirty-six thousand feet. If anyone is receiving this, please state your position.”

Then, he presses another button to speak to the passengers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, apologies for the sudden scare. We are experiencing severe turbulence. Seatbelt sign is on, please do not leave your seats. If there are any injuries please let a member of staff know. Press the assistance button above your head and a member of the cabin crew will come as soon as possible.”

Other pilots eventually respond by giving him their positions, helping him draw a mental map of where they are. His current position and the path back up to normal cruising altitude is clear.

As the aircraft gently ascends, you sit in your jump seat until further notice, thinking about how Miguel protected you. His reaction time was impeccable. You were already in his arms and pressed against his chest before you knew what was happening. You feel giddy at the thought and wonder what Ashley will make of it…

His heroic actions make you feel there’s something deeper between you two other than attraction and sexual desire.

The rest of the flight goes without incident, there were wobbles here and there, the kind of turbulence you’re used to and not at all fussed by. After another perfectly executed landing by your favourite Captain, passengers are allowed to disembark, thankfully with no injuries.

Going through customs is awkward. Poor Miguel finds himself swarmed by cabin crew members as they compliment him on how he dealt with the plane unexpectedly plummeting. Flight Officer Drew rolls her eyes until she hears Miguel mumble that it was her who dealt with it initially, he just handled the aftermath.

You watch from a distance as the girls bat their eyelashes at him. A horrid nauseous feeling fills the pit of your stomach. You want that man so badly and you see other women trying to snag him. Every now and then his unimpressed gaze lifts and finds yours in the queue to be cleared by customs. He doesn’t smile but his furrowed brow softens showing you that seeing you brings him relief.

Now cleared from customs, and arrivals you and your purple clad team venture into the metro to get to the hotel.

It’s a frustrating journey as a few of the more persistent girls continue to surround Miguel on the underground train as it rattles and rocks through dark tunnels into France’s capital. The rest of the crew have already got the impression he isn’t interested and have given up.

You keep thinking to yourself of your conversations with him prior to the trip. He wants you, and your private time with him is drawing nearer and nearer every second. There are no plans to explore the city today. Just sex, sleep, maybe some room service and more sex.

Miguel makes sure he’s near you when you reach the hotel in the beautiful city of Paris. You can smell his scent as you’re about to receive your room key. Your shaky hand reaches out for the plastic card and takes it from the receptionist. You’re so full of excitement, it’s a miracle how you’re standing and not passed out from the nerves and heavy anticipation.

Looking at the man of your dreams, the object of your desire, he looks calm and collected. His expression, fairly neutral as he usually is. You don’t know how he does it. If he is as excited as you are, he doesn’t look it.

You subtly wait for him to get his room key too, trying not to draw attention to the both of you

Once he's received his card, he makes his way to you.

“What’s your room number?” he asks in a low, quiet voice so as to not be overheard by eavesdropping colleagues.

“142,” you reply as he looks at his.

“289. Your room it is… we’re not wasting any more time.”

You felt his words if that is even possible. They generated a large pulse deep within you.

The pair of you walk in silence as he leads, you both drag your small suitcases behind as Miguel searches for your room.

“Ah,” he says as he finds it.

“Do the honours, chiquita.”

The card slides effortlessly into the slot in the door and the lock releases. You push the door open and step inside, Miguel checking the coast is clear before he follows.

You’re in the room. Alone with him. Your heart is practically beating out of your chest. The door clicks shut behind him and he’s on you within seconds, making you yelp in surprise.

Large hands grab you and force your back against the wall. His right, caressing your cheek while his left begins to undo his jacket.

“Are you sure you’re okay from earlier, bonita?” he asks as his thumb rubs your cheek firmly.

His brown eyes search your expression for any telling signs of pain or discomfort.

“Yes, Mi-“

“Wait. Not yet.”

“But we’re alone…”

He leans in close, his scent filling your nostrils nearly makes you moan.

“Let me kiss you first and get you out of your uniform. I can’t guarantee I won’t rip it if you say it now.”

His jacket slides off of his shoulders and onto the floor before both of his hands are caressing your face.

“Eres muy bonita…” he whispers as you’re speechless with excitement and exponentially growing arousal.

His hands slowly slips to your little neck scarf and undoes it.

“Mhmm, this could be useful for hiding just one of the marks I’m going to put on you…”

You moan as you think of his mouth on your neck, his gorgeously defined jawline flexing as he bites and sucks on your sensitive skin.

“Such a pretty little noise, bonita…”

Next, after discarding your tie, he unfastens your jacket buttons and pushes it off of your shoulders.

You start to undo his tie and shirt buttons while you watch his face. Now that he’s alone with you, he’s coming out of his shell again. His stern expression has melted away, his creased brows have softened.

“Thank you for what you did earlier…” you mutter softly to him, the memory of him wrapping his arms around you comes flooding back, you crave to feel that again.

He leans in closer still, allowing you to feel his breath against your face. You tilt your head up as your lips part and your breath falters. It’s almost as if he’s the air you need to breathe, the water you need to quench your thirst and the food you need to sustain you. The moment he gets close, you react in a way to display your need for him.

“I couldn’t let mi chiquita get hurt…” he whispers back as you start to peel his shirt off of him, revealing his perfectly defined chest.

His lips brush against yours as a sort of tease, making you mewl and whimper for more.

Cold conditioned air caresses your skin sending a shiver down your spine as he takes your shirt off. The collection of clothes grows higher and higher on the floor.

Now that your shirt is off, he pulls back to take a look at your choice of bra. A beautiful white lace piece cradles your supple breasts.

“Ay, Dios…” he whispers before leaning back in again, brushing his lips against yours.

The warmth of his bare arms wrap around your waist as his hands work on unzipping your skirt.

“I’m so hard for you already, baby…”

His lips capture yours just for a second, before releasing them again with a wet pop. You’re stunned into silence as your brain short circuits momentarily.

Miguel is making your heart pound harder than any man has done before, you start to hope that he knows CPR, just in case your ticker gives out completely.

You feel your skirt finally slipping down your body, revealing your nicely shaped legs, thanks to your purple heels still on your feet.

Rough hands slide down your sides, taking in your curves and stopping at your ass, gripping your cheeks, kneading them as he groans. You feel him shift his weight slightly as he slips his shoes off of his feet.

“Say it…” he mutters against your lips.

You smile, your cheeky, teasing side returns just for a brief moment.

“It…”

His eyes snap open as though a rug is pulled from beneath him, a frustrated growl rumbles between you two.

“Chiquita…” (Little one)

“No more games, por favor, say my name…” his tone sounding dangerous once more as his lips graze against yours again.

His heat feels incredible, and his scent is simply intoxicating.

Your hands graze up and down his abs, making his muscles ripple under your touch and his breathing hitch. The new fantasy you unlocked earlier is becoming a reality as you lean forward, sniffing his cologne and kissing his neck tenderly.

“Por favor…” (Please)

He’s almost begging you, his voice almost breaking as your fingers reach his belt buckle.

“Not yet…” you reply, tilting your head to the right and deliberately fluttering your long, black eyelashes against his cheek.

“Chiquita, mi bonita, baby, por favor, bless me with your gift…” (Chiquita, my pretty)

Miguel’s voice quivers with need as he speaks while he turns his head to nuzzle into you.

“I can’t hold back much longer… te necesito… te… necesi…” (I need you)

Your lips meet his in the most gentle, most tender fashion. You feel him rise as he takes in a deep breath through his nose. His arms wrap around you, drawing your body right into his. A sweet moan vibrates into his mouth, driving him wild.

“Please… (Y/N). Por favor…” (Please)

Almost drunk with the power you have over him, his last words make you realise you have made him wait long enough.

“Yo también, te necesito, Miguel…” (I need you too, Miguel)

You’re whipped up in his grasp the instant you say his name. He lifts you as his arms wrap around, your feet dangling. His lips crash with yours as he moans loudly, giving you a bruising kiss.

He presses you against the wall again, your legs wrapping around his narrow waist. You’re nice and secure in his strong arms while his hungry mouth seeks a new spot to abuse, leaving your lips swollen and slightly red.

The first mark comes quickly. His teeth find your neck and clamps down before sucking, making your back arch, pressing your chest against his. A moan rips out from your throat as your arms wrap around his neck and your fingers play with his beautiful dark brown locks.

“Sí, chiquita, make those pretty little noises for me,” he growls against your neck before sucking on the same spot again, hastening a red mark to bloom on your skin.

Miguel stands there, pressing you against the wall still in his trousers and unfastened belt. A large bulge making the material taut across his hips. Pulling you away from the wall briefly, his hand swiftly yanks your bra off, freeing your beautiful breasts. Wrapping his arm back around you again, he hoists you even higher, pushing you against the wall again.

His eager mouth latches onto your breast, flicking his tongue against your nipple before sucking hard. Your fingers grip his hair as you cry out with pleasure.

“Miguel~!”

“Sí!” he grunts against your supple flesh, feeling his cock throb wildly.

His fingers press into your skin, creating dimples as he eats you alive. Releasing your breast, he gazes his teeth just above your nipple, leaving a dotted red line and your skin glistening with his saliva.

“Say it more, por favor chiquita,” he mumbles before biting the flesh on your other breast, leaving yet another mark.

“Mhmmm! Miguel~!”

You feel his urgency increase every time you squeal or cry out his name. His fingers grip you tighter, he breathes heavier and his bites get just a little harder.

“Sí, like that, mi bonita…”

He releases you with one arm, and his hand lowers to unzip his pants.

“I hope you’re prepared (Y/N). I’m not going to stop until you fall asleep.”

His arm brushes against your ass as he releases his aching length from his boxer briefs. You gasp as you feel the tip prod into your thigh. With pre-cum already beading at his slit, it slides across your skin with ease. He’s so needy for you, ready to take you, to fuck you, to make love to you, all - day - long.

Your slick threatens to breach your white lace panties, his words and actions have hit the fast forward button for the pace of your arousal. Your body is screaming out for him to enter you, fill you up and stretch you around him.

He throws you onto the bed, you land with a bit of a bounce, certainly a softer landing than earlier in the plane. Your squeal fills the hotel room followed by a giggle.

Fumbling hands grip onto the elastic of your underwear, yanking them off, in danger of ripping them. All that is left are your stilettos.

Long calloused fingers glide up your right leg while his other hand grips around your ankle. Starting from there, he kisses, nips and licks his way up your smooth leg, working slowly towards your knee. You notice he’s careful not to mark you in places that your work uniform will reveal, but he gently bites those visible places, making sure they’re not neglected too much. Each affectionate action of his mouth makes your leg shake and your breathing hitch.

This all changes when he gets to your inner thighs. He growls as he bites down on your sensitive flesh and begins sucking, littering your skin with a garden of love bites. Miguel moves to your left leg and does it all over again, making you moan and squeal.

“You taste so fucking good (Y/N)...” he mutters between kisses and nips on your calf muscle.

His fingers go lower down towards your pussy, teasing between your drenched, sensitive folds.

“I bet you taste even better here…” he continues as his index and middle finger slips inside, igniting your body with tingles immediately.

“Mhmm… so wet for me chiquita…” Miguel mumbles before biting your left inner thigh and sucking hard.

Your body rocks as you squeal and writhe. His fingers fill you more than you expect and then he introduces his thumb against your clit while he bites your thigh harder.

“Fuck! Miguel~!”

“Yes…” he hisses against your flesh.

“More… I want to hear more, bonita.”

“Miguel!”

“That’s it, let’s see how many times I can make you cum today…”

Miguel presses his two fingers up against your g-spot, and uses his hand to massage both sensitive areas, inside and out.

Within minutes, you’re coming undone with just the power of his hand while his mouth attacks your stomach.

“Good girl…” he mumbles between each bite and suck.

“Looking and sounding so pretty for me, chiquita.”

Slowly, his fingers leave you, slipping out with the greatest of ease. You watch him lick his fingers clean and moan, relishing your taste.

Kneeling beside the bed, he lowers his head down to between your legs and tucks in, making the sloppiest sounds imaginable between his moans of approval. His tongue languidly runs up and down your soaked folds then teases your swollen, overstimulated clit.

Your hands clutch the bed sheets to try and push yourself away, every lick feels like a jolt of electricity between your legs. He grips your hips and pulls you towards him again, pressing his mouth and tongue more firmly against you.

“You’re not going anywhere… I’m starving, baby…”

He pushes his tongue as deep as he can inside while his nose begins stimulating you. Manicured fingers grip his hair instead as he pushes you past the over sensitive barrier.

More sloppy noises mix in with his groans of arousal, until he brings you to your second climax.

“Cum on my tongue chiquita… you taste exquisite…”

Your head turns left and right vigorously as your second orgasm feels more powerful than the last. He groans again as he feels you tug on his dark brown locks.

As your release subsides, he pulls away and wipes his mouth.

“Want a taste?” he asks as he pushes you further onto the bed and climbs on top.

You’re so wrapped up in this man that you’d do anything for him at this moment in time. A little nod from you gives him the green light to kiss you passionately, delving his tongue deep into your mouth, giving you a taste of yourself.

After breaking the kiss, he nuzzles his face into yours, eyes half closed.

“Now for the thing I’ve been dreaming about since the day we met.”

His right hand moves down between the both of you as he positions himself against your entrance. His thick, ten-inch shaft feels hot and smooth on your skin.

“Say my name, (Y/N).”

You take several deep breaths to prepare yourself. He has that wild look in his eyes.

“Miguel… Ahhhh!”

“Mhmmmfuuuck!”

The moment you whisper his name, he pushes himself inside. Nothing can ever replicate the feeling of your warm, moist walls wrapping around him. His hand does the job, but it’s not the same. Sure, he’s spoiling you with his size, but you’re spoiling him too. The way you feel stretching around him takes his breath away.

You feel so full, no one has come close to this. And the way he sounds as he goes all the way, sinking slowly into you, inch by exquisite inch, is beautiful to listen to.

His powerful arms push himself up, opening a gap between both of your torsos, allowing you to see the magnificent display he has for you. His arm, chest and abdominal muscles flex as he begins to pump into you in a steady rhythm to start with.

“Mmmmiguel~!”

He grunts as he thrusts harder, his face looking as though he’s relishing everything he’s experiencing. Feeling you wrapping tightly around him, your gasps and moans of pleasure as he’s giving you the best sex of your life.

Miguel is starting to lose himself in the moment. You repeat his name over and over, after learning that he picks up the pace every time it leaves your lips. He hisses through his gritted teeth, the pleasure of watching you love what he’s giving you is intoxicating to him. Small strands of his hair hang over his face, his effort, making his usually slicked back style look messy - but a good kind of messy. He closes his eyes in a dreamlike fashion as he feels you stroke them back into place, all in vain of course, they just simply flop back over after more vigorous pumps.

Your third orgasm hits you like a speeding truck, and you watch him grin while you fall apart helplessly underneath him.

Without warning, he pulls out, making you give out a mournful moan. His hands flip you effortlessly over so you’re on your stomach, then, he pulls you up to get you on all fours.

“Time to ruin that perfect hair of yours…” he growls as he shoves his dick inside your glistening entrance in a single thrust, triggering a loud mewl to spill from your lips.

Reaching forward, his fingers clasp around your tight bun. A simple tug and it comes apart. He fists his hand in your hair, long locks between his fingers as he pumps into you from behind in a punishing rhythm.

Your cries for more are exquisite, and he just loves watching his hips slap into your ass. His other hand rests on your hip. With perfect timing, he uses his grip in your hair and on your hip to pull you back into him as he thrusts forward.

Leaning over your back, he changes his angle slightly, his length stimulating your g-spot. Once again he hears another orgasm build up just by the increasing pitch of your moans.

“You feel so fucking good, I could do this all day.”

Limbs shake wildly as they support you on the bed. Your head wrenched back as he grips your hair tightly. He’s wearing you out and your eyelids become heavy.

“Cum for me chiquita, then you can rest.”

He pumps harder still, his gorgeous muscles continuing to flex and ripple with every delicious movement. A familiar tensing sensation grows within him as his climax builds up too.

“Together, sí?”

“Sí!”

“Good girl…” he praises you as a smirk grows across his luscious lips.

A shrill squeal erupts from your parted lips as he makes you come undone for the fourth time. Your walls clenching around him pushes him over the edge. A loud shaky groan fills the room as he wraps his arms around your front and pulls your back against his chest, thrusting into you still. To finish off, he sinks his teeth between your shoulder and neck and sucks, making you arch your back and him go deeper.

You fall silent when your afterglow sets in, overwhelmed with a sex fuelled haze and fatigue after having been awake for nearly 24 hours.

Miguel feels you rest your head back against his shoulder before he nuzzles into your face, kissing you tenderly.

“Good, sweet girl…” he whispers as his hand wanders over your beautiful, marked breasts while his other holds you back against him.

Pulling the sheets back on the bed, he lays you down in it, removing your stilettos before joining you.

“Rest, chiquita,” he whispers as he watches your eyes slowly close.

He makes an excellent big spoon in bed. The biggest spoon you’ve ever had, you don’t think you’ll have anyone bigger.

Sleep takes him soon after you. Long, deep breaths and soft snores fill the air as you both drift off to dreamland…

I hope you enjoyed Part 6!

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everygame · 2 months ago

Text

Star Wars (Arcade)

Developed/Published by: Atari Released: 05/05/1983 Completed: n/a Completion: I’ve played it hundreds of times…

It’s been a tough few weeks here at exp. Towers with a lot of stress and sadness for a variety of reasons (though the book launch has been fantastic: I’m so grateful to everyone who picked up a copy!) I feel pretty bad that I wasn’t able to post an article last week (and even this one is showing up, technically, a day late.) There just hasn’t been that much time–any time–for gaming. So let’s go all the way back to the beginning.

The very first game I ever played.

I’ve talked about this before, but this is the very first game controller I ever held:

It is still one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. In fact, I’ve often considered picking up a GRS Flight Yoke so I can touch one whenever I want (or even do something absurd like try and play through X-Wing with it or something) but it’s a bit cost prohibitive.

[“Hang on. You’ve been saving your pennies to pick up a XE-1 AJ Cyberstick because it can be set up left-handed and you regret that you never got the first re-issue, and that’s basically as expensive. Consider your priorities, man!”--Ed.]

Wow, rude–though I’d probably use the Cyberstick… more? (Though looking at how well the yoke works with a variety of games on MAME, I'm conflicted.) But to get back on topic, the original Star Wars arcade release is very special to me. At some point in the 80s, but a bairn, on a visit to the Magnum, Irvine’s long gone (long gone–it’s just a field now) leisure centre, my dad sat in the “cockpit” version of the arcade cabinet popped me on his knee, put in 20p and I was transported into Star Wars.

It really had everything. You’re flying an X-Wing towards the Death Star. The music you know is booming, the actual characters from the movie are cheering you on with voice samples, you get to shoot tie fighters, do a trench run and even shoot the exhaust port. Even with your dad gently guiding the controls, it feels incredible. You are never the same again.

And in many ways, neither were video games! Released in early 1983, I think that Star Wars represents the first true “thrill ride” arcade machine in its cockpit form as a game that absorbs the player totally in an (albeit slight) narrative. There had been sit-down arcade cabinets before–Atari themselves had released Hi-Way as early as 1975, but this wasn’t just a racer.

It’s interesting to consider that this is also likely a key release that proved the value of a licence to a game (surprising, perhaps, as I’ve just written about the two previous Star Wars games and even liked one of them.) Licences had existed since Sega licensed… the Fonz(!?) for an arcade racer, though they’d have existed earlier if Atari had managed to get the Jaws licence (in an amusing example of Nolan Bushnell’s underhandedness, after not getting it, Atari released a game called “Shark Jaws” with “Shark” in tiny letters, and he made sure to release it under a unique subsidiary to not get Atari sued into oblivion.)

Despite that history, licensed games were few and far between–as likely due to high fees as both licensees and licensors not really having an idea what to do with X or Y concept as a video game. Which is a bit sad, really, when we think of all the late 70s IP we could have experienced in the form of extremely crappy video games. Kojak for the Atari 2600, or something. Though I suppose we did get several The Electric Company games for Intellivision?

There’s a strange sort of luck to Star Wars, too, as it would be released mere months after E.T. The Extra Terrestrial was released for Atari 2600, a game that did so badly despite being licensed from (at that point) literally the highest grossing movie of all time that you’d assume no one would ever try to do something like that again. However, Star Wars had been in development since 1981 and would be released right before Return of the Jedi, hitting the zeitgeist bang on.

(There’s an even stranger bit of trivia here too. Atari CEO Ray Kassar is quoted saying of E.T. “I think it's a dumb idea. We've never really made an action game out of a movie” when a Star Wars action game would have been in development for about a year by that point. Executives: they definitely know what their company is up to!)

Ultimately, Star Wars was the right game in the right place at the right time, and in many ways, the industry has been chasing that high ever since.

Can I say something though?

It’s…

It’s not really that great, is it? It is the prototypical video game thrill ride in its best and its worst aspects. The big, flashy cabinet (designed by Mike Jang, detailed by The Arcade Blogger) masked a game that is both limited and extremely repetitive.

I’m sure like many kids who experienced it for the first time in the arcades (but only briefly), I made sure it was one of the first games I got for my home computer (via the same mail order club I got The Eidolon from, actually) and when you’re faced with just the steak without any sizzle–and the Amstrad CPC port is surprisingly faithful–you are done with the game in about five minutes. Even if you’re literally five yourself.

Because Star Wars really lacks any strong “hook” to the play that you can hang onto. Composed of three segments–the open space shooting gallery, the surface tower battle, and the trench run–each simply plays out for a set length of time that you can’t affect, and each features a very limited amount of patterns. There are no quirks or tricks or surprises in the play; you get a small amount of movement beyond the cursor so can shoot or dodge enemy fire and that's it. After you’ve run through the stages a couple of times you know everything you need to do, you get it completely, and the only thing that keeps you going (or kept me going) is getting to do the trench run, the most fun, interactive and thematic part. But you keep asking: is there anything else?

Though the game does change a bit–the surface tower battle most memorably isn’t in your first loop and uses bunkers in the second loop before switching to towers–there really isn’t. I suspect that high level play of this is largely memorisation, and I suppose you might be able to get into a Pac-Man like hypnotic flow; considering high-score records in this game have ranged from seven hours to five days some people must enjoy it. Though I think the analogue rather than digital nature of the interface makes it a less predictable and therefore less satisfying game to "solve" and for me, returning to it via emulation showed me that really, there’s nothing there. It needs the sizzle to be something—in fact, it shows just how incredible the sizzle was.

That isn’t the end of the world; Star Wars is temporarily fun, iconic and unarguably influential. But if I want to actually enjoy it… I guess I gotta go buy that flight yoke after all!

Will I ever play it again? So… of course I will! I’ll always play the cockpit machine any time I see it. Just the once each time though, for old time’s sake.

Final Thought: As well as a lot of great history on the development of Star Wars, The Arcade Blogger has also dug up some extremely fun videos that reflect just how badly Atari needed Star Wars to be a success, including a bizarre segment on a New York-area Saturday Morning show where they have to plug the machine in after they wheel it out and then the designer, Mike Hally, hasn’t been informed he’s supposed to leave the shot at the end of the segment!

Every Game I’ve Finished 14>24 is OUT NOW! You can pick it up in paperback, kindle, or epub/pdf. You can also support Every Game I’ve Finished on ko-fi! You can pick up digital copies of exp., a zine featuring all-exclusive writing at my shop, or join as a supporter at just $1 a month and get articles like this a week early.

#gaming #video games #games #txt #text #review #star wars #arcade #retro gaming #essay #atari #1983

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mathsbian · 2 years ago

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Are you buying gifts for a disabled friend? Not sure what might be a good gift? Here’s some thoughts to help you figure it out:

Do they have an income/are they financially stable? If not, ask them if there is a purchase they have been putting off due to expense, and would make their life easier to have. I asked my mom for an electric razor and a water flosser for Christmas a few years ago because I struggle to keep up with shaving my legs (something I need to do for sensory reasons) and with the motivation to floss. Both of these items made my personal hygiene routines much easier to do so I could do them more often. My partner’s mother bought us a robot vacuum at a big discount on Black Friday that same year, and it’s made keeping the house clean a lot easier for me. This would also be a good way to find out about any assistive devices they’re interested in getting, but worried about wasting their money on it if it turns out not as useful as they thought!

Are they able to cook or do they have a reliable way to get food (either a meal delivery service or living with someone who cooks for them)? If not, consider gift cards for restaurants and fast food places, or gift cards for food delivery services. I rely on my partner for meals, but they also have chronic pain (they just aren’t as bad off as I am currently and are still able to work and do a lot compared to me) and sometimes they don’t have the energy to cook either. On those days, it’s really convenient to have some funds for food so we can go to a drive-thru or order a pizza or Chinese take-out or something. But with how tight our finances are, sometimes we can’t afford to do that and my partner had to figure out something else to do for dinner (it usually ends up being cereal on those nights). My parents also sometimes give me gift cards to restaurants I would otherwise not be able to afford to eat at, allowing me to treat myself and my partner to nice meal around my birthday or their birthday or the holidays that my partner doesn’t have to cook.

As an alternative to giving gift cards for food, you can also give meals you’ve made that they can reheat, as long as you check about any dietary concerns before making them a dish.

Are they able to do housework? If not, offer to come help them get their house clean, or offer to pay for a one-time cleaning service to stop by. Especially if they’ve been struggling to get their house clean for a while, they might feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs done. A helping hand or a service coming in and cleaning up the whole house on their behalf could be a huge help, both for their physical health and peace of mind.

Are they able to drive themself to places they need to go? If not, offer to be a ride to their next doctor’s appointment, or give them a gift card for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. Especially in the US, where public transit is a nightmare.

And back to their financial situation: when was the last time they bought themselves something fun? I can’t justify spending money on new games or new books or anything like that. My budget is way too tight. So it’s always nice when someone gets me a Steam giftcard or buys me a game or book or something that I’ve been wanting and just. Could not justify buying no matter how inexpensive it was. For example, I can’t play games at my computer very often anymore. I can’t sit at a desk that long. I originally bought Stardew Valley on Steam back when I had a laptop and could play it while laying in bed or chilling on the couch. But I don’t have a laptop anymore and when I have the ability to sit at my desk I’m usually wanting to play something a bit more intensive than Stardew Valley. Ever since it was released on the Switch I’ve been wanting it for my Switch. It was only $15 but I just could not justify spending that when I’m always needing money for food or groceries or bills. My roommate bought it for me as an early birthday gift back in January, so now I can play Stardew Valley wherever I want again. I’m not going to be stuck with shitty phone games anymore. It was so nice of him to do!

Other ideas:

If they don’t have much of a support system, and you’re close with them, ask if they need support self-advocating with any of their doctors and offer to attend their next appointment with them. Don’t be offended if they turn you down, obviously doctor’s appointments are stressful and can be invasive and they might not want you aware of all the various issues they’re dealing with medically. But they might really appreciate someone going with them and backing them up if they’re struggling to get their doctor(s) to listen to them.

If they spend a lot of time at home alone, offer to set up a regular visit time! It doesn’t have to be every week or anything that’s too often for you to handle, but any amount of time spent with friends is much better than spending that time feeling lonely some more. In this case, try to also make an effort to include them in plans with other friends. Even if they end up not being able to leave the house that day, it’s nice to feel like your friends want to spend time with you and miss you when you’re gone.

Ask if they need assistance applying for aid of any kind. The SSDI application takes a lot of effort to complete, and if they struggle to concentrate or have hand pain it can be a real challenge getting all of the forms filled out. Maybe they need help finding a lawyer to represent them while they apply. Maybe they need help setting up an ABLE account or getting on Food Stamps or Medicare/Medicaid. Again, they might refuse the offer as a lot of this information can be very private, but I know I definitely appreciate any help my partner can offer in getting these more tedious steps of the process done, thanks to my intense brain fog.

If anyone else has other thoughts about ways to figure out good gifts for disabled friends, feel free to add them!

(This was based on my own experience as a disabled person, who greatly enjoys giving the most perfect gifts to other people. I know love languages are an over-simplified way of looking at personal needs satisfaction, but gifts is genuinely, by far, my biggest love language.)

#disabilties #chronic illness #disabled things #disability acceptance #gift-giving #love langauges #my post #this has been sitting in my drafts since January oof #on my soapbox

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tylergreensblog · 2 months ago

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Say Goodbye to Waste Hassles: Get LTS Grab Hire to Clear Your Space Today!

When it comes to waste removal, the last thing you want is a complicated, time-consuming process. Imagine an effortless service that takes care of everything while you focus on your project. With LTS Grab Hire, you get just that! Whether you’re a homeowner looking to clear out your garden, a contractor dealing with construction debris, or a landscaper needing quick removal of waste materials, our grab hire services are the perfect solution. Covering areas like Woking, Cobham, Hounslow, Sunbury, and Uxbridge, we ensure quick and reliable waste removal, making your life easier.

Why Choose LTS Grab Hire?

Choosing LTS Grab Hire is choosing efficiency, reliability, and eco-conscious waste disposal. Here’s why our grab hire services are the go-to solution for a wide range of projects:

Convenience and Speed

One of the biggest advantages of grab hire is the convenience and speed it offers. Unlike traditional skip hire, where you need to wait for a delivery, fill it up, and wait for collection, grab hire is far quicker. Our powerful grab lorries come to your site and collect the waste in one go—no manual labor, no waiting. Whether you have garden waste, construction debris, or just a large pile of rubbish, we’ll take care of it swiftly and efficiently, saving you both time and energy.

Eco-Friendly Waste Disposal

At LTS Grab Hire, we believe in doing our part for the environment. Unlike other companies that simply dispose of waste, we take an eco-conscious approach. We ensure that as much waste as possible is recycled, so your project can be completed with minimal environmental impact. Recycling helps divert waste from landfills and conserves natural resources, which is an essential part of our waste management process.

No Need for Permits

For many areas, if you’re using a skip on a public road, you might need a permit. But with grab hire, that’s not an issue. Our grab lorries come directly to your site, so you don’t need to worry about permits or finding space for a skip. This is especially useful for tight spaces where placing a skip can be a challenge. Plus, you avoid the added cost and hassle of obtaining a permit.

Flexible for Any Project Size

Whether you're working on a small garden clean-up or a large construction project, LTS Grab Hire is flexible enough to meet your needs. For smaller loads, our mini grab lorries are perfect, while our larger lorries can handle bulkier loads. Our services are adaptable to whatever waste you need to clear, making us ideal for homeowners, builders, landscapers, and more.

Cost-Effective Solution

Many people assume that grab hire is expensive, but it can actually be more affordable than other waste removal options. When you consider the costs of permits, additional labor, and potential delays, grab hire provides excellent value for money. With LTS Grab Hire, you only pay for the waste we remove, making it a more cost-effective and straightforward solution.

How LTS Grab Hire Works

Using grab hire is simple. Here’s how we make waste removal easily:

Consultation and Quote

When you get in touch with us, we’ll discuss your project and the type of waste you need removed. Based on your needs, we’ll provide you with a clear and transparent quote so you know exactly what to expect. No hidden fees, no surprises.

Fast, Efficient Collection

Once you’ve booked our service, we’ll send a grab lorry to your site. Our lorries are designed to load and collect large amounts of waste quickly, so we can clear your site in no time. You won’t need to lift a finger, and you won’t be left waiting for days to get your waste removed.

Recycling and Disposal

After we collect your waste, we ensure that it is disposed of responsibly. We sort and recycle as much of the waste as possible, helping to reduce the environmental impact of your project. By choosing LTS Grab Hire, you’re choosing a waste removal service that puts sustainability first.

LTS Grab Hire Services in Your Area

We proudly provide grab hire services across key locations like Woking, Cobham, Hounslow, Sunbury, and Uxbridge. Each of these areas has different needs when it comes to waste removal, and we tailor our services to meet them. Whether you need quick soil removal in Woking, rubble clearance in Sunbury, or a full site clearance in Hounslow, we have the tools and expertise to get the job done efficiently and responsibly.

Woking

Grab Hire in Woking if you're working on a residential project in Woking, our mini grab hire service is the ideal solution. It’s perfect for clearing out garden waste, soil, or other light materials. Need something larger? Our standard grab lorries can handle all kinds of waste, from construction debris to bulky items.

Cobham

Grab Hire in Cobham is home to many homeowners and businesses that often need reliable waste disposal. Whether you're doing a DIY home renovation or a commercial project, we offer grab hire solutions that work for you. We specialize in collecting a wide range of materials, including soil, rubble, concrete, and more.

Hounslow

Grab Hire in Hounslow Located near major construction zones, Hounslow sees a lot of development. With our grab hire services, we make waste removal easy for contractors and homeowners alike. Whether it's clearing site debris or removing construction waste, our grab hire lorries can help you keep your project moving smoothly.

Sunbury

Whether you're clearing garden waste, construction debris, or general household rubbish, grab hire in Sunbury makes the process incredibly efficient. The powerful grab lorries can access hard-to-reach spaces, picking up large amounts of waste in no time. Skip the hassle of manual labor and let LTS Grab Hire provide the professional service you need.

Uxbridge

Grab Hire in Uxbridge the uxbridge is an area with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial waste. Our grab hire service is perfect for clearing large amounts of waste, from garden projects to large-scale construction works. Our experienced team ensures that your waste is removed quickly and sustainably.

The Benefits of Choosing LTS Grab Hire

Versatility: Whether you’re a homeowner, a business, or a contractor, grab hire is versatile enough to suit any project. From small to large-scale waste removal, we’ve got you covered.

Time-Saving: Skip the hassle of multiple trips and heavy lifting. Our grab lorries come to you and load the waste in one go, making it a fast and efficient option.

Environmentally Responsible: We take the environment seriously. Our commitment to recycling helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Professional Service: Our team is experienced, reliable, and professional. We make sure that your waste removal process is smooth and effortless.

Ready to Get Started?

Don’t wait any longer to clear your site. Contact LTS Grab Hire today for a quote and see how easy waste removal can be! Whether you’re in Woking, Cobham, Hounslow, Sunbury, or Uxbridge, our grab hire services are ready to help you get your project done faster and more efficiently.

Conclusion

LTS Grab Hire makes waste removal easy and efficient. With our expert team, eco-friendly practices, and fast, reliable service, we are the top choice for grab hire in your area. From clearing waste to aggregate delivery, we’re here to help you keep your projects on track. Get in touch today and experience the effortless waste removal service that’s trusted by homeowners, contractors, and businesses alike!

#lts grab hire #grab hire woking #grab hire cobham #grab hire hounslow #grab hire sunbury #grab hire uxbridge #grab hire service

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cathrynworrell · 1 year ago

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The only 2 things you need to make art

I loved art and design at school but it took me a while to find my way back to making drawings and paintings.

I studied a very academic subject at university and took a brief detour into teaching, but being diagnosed with a chronic illness led me to rediscover how much I enjoyed being creative.

During the early days of being ill, whenever I had a pocket of energy I would find some comfort in doing some simple sewing or crafting handmade greeting cards.

Every so often I would pick up a pencil and have a go at drawing something but it had been so long since I’d done that, that my drawings were inevitably imperfect. So I would lose patience (and energy) and give up.

Thanks to Danny Gregory’s Book The Creative License I started to draw with a pen for the first time and sank into the process of drawing which felt meditative.

During a conversation with some fellow artists where we were discussing our favourite and newly discovered art materials, I sparked a momentary silence by declaring, “In the end, all you need is a pen and some paper” which nicely sums up what I want to share today.

Sometimes it’s easier to get on with making art if you keep your tools really simple. And the simplest way to make art is with just 2 tools:

1. A pen

Nothing fancy, just choose a pen. That ballpoint pen sitting on the coffee table will work just fine. Don’t put extra pressure on yourself to use or find the ‘perfect’ pen. Doing that’s a really good way to procrastinate and avoid making a start on a drawing.

Just find the nearest pen and use that. Once you’re in the swing of making drawings regularly, consider rewarding yourself with something a bit more fancy, but don’t let the sparkle of shiny new art materials become a barrier to making art.

And yes, I know, it can feel really scary to dive straight into a drawing with a pen. There’s nowhere to hide and no possibility of erasing your lines. But if you embrace the slight wonkiness and imperfections you might start to realise they’re nothing to be afraid of. Accept that a line might not be at the perfect angle and redraw it or just go with it, it doesn’t really matter.

But observing, really looking at what you’re drawing and transferring what you see onto paper with your own marks might start to become something you can truly lose yourself in. Maybe you’ll begin to enjoy the process so much that the outcome of your drawing is secondary to the experience.

And yes, when you first start out you might still feel disappointed or frustrated with the results. But if you haven’t drawn in years, or since you were a child maybe, then your ‘drawing muscle’ is going to take a bit of time to get into shape.

In the meantime, though, be brave, dive in with a (any) pen, observe your surroundings and make some marks.

2. Some paper

Again, don’t overthink this. Have you got a printer? Take a piece of paper from there. Sticky note? That’ll do.

The most memorable drawing I ever did wasn’t fancy, wasn’t my best drawing, but it’s stayed with me. It was drawn on a piece of printer paper with a pen that was just lying around the house.

Maybe at some point, you’ll want to explore all the different kinds of papers and find a sketchbook that feels good to use. But make things as easy as possible to get moving. It’s the equivalent of going for regular walks or runs before you sign up for an expensive gym membership.

You might even have a notebook sitting around somewhere so once you’ve used a few pieces of printer paper or sticky notes, why not see if you can fill all the pages in that notebook?

Just don’t overcomplicate things. Don’t make excuses like “I’ll just go to the art supply shop at the weekend and then I’ll start drawing.”

Embrace the wonky, shaky, wobbly lines. When you look back at those drawings you’ll remember what it felt like to make those marks. Each one tells a story.

In the end, all you need is a pen and some paper. And the best pen and the best paper are those that you have right now. Making art isn’t about having the perfect tools, it starts with making beautiful, imperfect marks with simple materials. Give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen?

#drawing #art supplies #art materials #paper #pen #how to

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investoptionwin · 1 year ago

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Get More From College Using These Great Ideas

If you’re looking to graduate from college, but are a little unsure about how to go about it, look no further. You need to know some definite things about your education. The article below has the information you need to help you become a college graduate. Keep reading to find out more.

Take advantage of activities and facilities available on your college’s campus. Many campuses offer a variety of free and inexpensive events for students, from concerts to movie showings. They also have fitness centers, pools, and other recreational facilities. You can also join clubs or groups centered around your hobbies, religion, and more.

After you sign up for a checking account, make sure that you do not leave without getting the free checks that most establishments offer. Do not pay for extras. You may be surprised at how few checks you will use over the course of your four years in college. It is simple enough to get more if you need them, but you don’t want to waste money if at all possible.

Try taking a single general education class in your first semester to get it over with. If one of your general ed requirements is a drudge, take it first and get it over with. It would be a bummer to be the token senior in a gen-ed class of freshmen four years down the road.

Get all distractions and chores out of the way before you sit down to study. That way, you won’t be tempted to be distracted by things that you could or should be doing instead. Many people find that unfinished chores lure them away from studying and give them an excuse to procrastinate. So get those things out of the way first so you can give your studying undivided attention.

Every time you purchase something with cash, put your spare change into a jar and try not to touch it. Once the jar has filled up, count out the money and use it toward something you need, like books or living expenses. While it may be easier to use a coin-counting machine, try and refrain. You will wind up giving them too much of your hard-earned cash.

If you are looking to go back to college, but it has been a while since you were in school, consider attending evening classes. The instructors usually actively work in their fields during the daytime, and teach at night. This helps to bring a different element of real-life experience to the classroom.

Know upsc coaching in kolkata — don’t overwhelm yourself with too many courses. It may seem like a great idea to take as many courses that you can, but if you take too many, you may fail a few in the process. This totally defeats the time saving you were trying to accomplish!

When you are getting ready to go away to college you should sit back and picture what you want it to be like and work towards that. You will be more focused if you have a ultimate goal in mind and know what you are working towards. Ask some friends that are already in college what it is like to get a good idea of it.

You don’t have to be a great student to get scholarships. There are scholarships that are specifically designed for average to below average students. These scholarships are often available through your school. Talk to your financial aid advisor to learn more about these types of scholarships and how to apply for them.

Seek extra help if you fall behind in your classes. It is really easy to fall behind, especially if you were a great student in high school who never had to work that hard. Get the help you need before you start having serious problems, and you will do great.

If you do not like the roommate that you are stuck with on the first day of school, speak with someone to get this changed. Remember that you are going to be living with this person for a long time, so nip the problem in the bud before it becomes an issue in the future.

As you can see by now, attending and graduating from college can be easier than you thought. Now that you’ve gotten a bit of information about it, you should be able to achieve your goals as scheduled. Take what you’ve learned here to heart, and study hard to make your college goals reality.

#upsc ese 2023 #upsccse #upscexam #upscaspirants #upscnotes #upsc.gov.in #upsccoaching #upsccurrentaffairs

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missmeinyourbones · 3 years ago

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“there was only one bed” with gojo but he did it on purpose👯‍♀️

PURRRRR ANON ur so right for this

satoru gojo x reader (wc:1.4k+)

“What the fuck is this?”

You stand in the entryway of a decently appraised hotel in the middle of a city you don’t know the name of. It’s not the room itself that’s causing you distress—in fact, the room is rather nice. Big windows, clean carpeting, a sufficiently sized television mounted on a neutral colored wall. You had to admit, being sent on an away mission with Gojo of all people did have its pros (as well as its cons).

Pros being the treatment he receives for notoriously being the strongest sorcerer. He’s always waited on, hand and foot, as he saunters around ogling eyes and performative reactions. You’d gotten a hotel room last minute and free of charge thanks to his celebrity status, as he’d put it.

Cons being that you’re stuck in a foreign area. With Gojo. In a room. With one bed.

Quite frankly, all you want to do is collapse onto a plush mattress and let your aching bones rest for the night. It’s what you deserve after a long day of exorcizing curses and dealing with Gojo’s ridiculous antics. The hotel would serve its purpose. Sure, it’s not the most expensive place you’ve stayed at, but that didn’t matter right now—what matters is that there is a singular bed in a room for two idiots to share.

“What?” Gojo questions your remark as he towers behind you. You can feel his breath dangerously close to your neck as he speaks slowly.

“Never been in a hotel room before? I mean, I know your standards are low but this isn’t all that impressive,” he tries to poke fun as he ushers past you and into the room, practically throwing his designer duffel bag down on the closest armchair before removing his shoes.

“The only thing low about my standards is the fact that I’m here with you right now,” you grumble from your spot in the doorway.

“Ouch, you wound me,” he feigns hurt as his large and pale hand covers his heart. His lips pout dramatically, and you loathe that there’s a small part of your brain that tells you to kiss it off of him.

As cute as the scene before you is, you still don’t budge from where your feet are glued to the floor, where the room just barely meets the hallway, as if you're too stubborn to even cross the threshold of the entryway. He eyes you up and down skeptically as he sits down on the mattress and spreads his legs, stretching them out from a long and grueling day of being put to work. Your arms cross in defense as you put your foot down.

“Gojo.”

“Yes?”

“Why is there only one bed.”

He knows it’s a question, but it sounds more like a demand. An order to know how the hell he messed this up.

And truthfully, he knows exactly how this happened.

He’s more than aware that when he called to book a room for the two of you to stay overnight in, they had specifically asked him how many beds he’d like. It would’ve been too easy to say two, and Gojo doesn’t do easy—he likes a challenge with a bit of a rough edge to it, and he thinks that’s why he likes you so much. He found that just one, please rolled off the tongue a bit too naturally for his usually guarded and lonely self. So yes, he knows exactly how the two of you ended up in this predicament.

But what’s the fun in letting you know all of that?

“Dunno,” he attempts to be nonchalant, but the smirk slowly creeping across his face gives away his true intentions, “Could’ve sworn I asked for a room with two.”

He can tell from the look you're shooting him that you're not buying his act, so he persists, “In fact, I remember being very adamant about it, actually. Didn’t want to get your panties in a twist, or at least not in that way.”

The mattress he’s sitting on is slightly bigger than a twin but not quite wide enough to be considered a full, and you didn’t even think they made beds this size. It’s an awkwardly proportioned bed in general, let alone for two people—one of those people being a giant lanky asshole who takes up as much space as humanly possible.

With your fingers lightly squeezing the bridge of your nose out of annoyance, you accept defeat and enter the room, locking the door behind you.

A few silent minutes go by. You wash up and change out of your (now very dirty) uniform. Satoru eats a bag of candy he’d boughten on the way home when he’d forced you to stop at a kiosk downtown. He stands in front of the television, laughing mindlessly at an old sitcom re-run playing and it’s fine, you think. This isn’t the most terrible thing that could’ve happened to you. He’s not being intolerable, and it’s just one night.

That is, until night falls and he begins to make himself more than comfortable underneath the duvet of the mattress.

You're taken aback at his confidence regarding the situation: had he just assumed that the two of you would share the space without any issues? Had he not taken a moment to think about giving you the bed, taking the floor for himself like the gentleman he claims to be?

“You’re not gonna offer to sleep on the floor?” your mouth slightly hangs ajar as you bore at him in disbelief.

“The floor?” he practically gasps, “Are you out of your mind?”

Another glare sent his way confirms that you are, in fact, deadly serious, so he rationalizes.

“We can both sleep in the bed. Together. Like two grown adults. Right?”

Like muscle memory, his words force your tongue to prod into your cheek. He’s baiting you—challenging you, by bringing up the concept of maturity. He knows you can’t resist calling him out for his childish behaviors and stupidly irritating mannerisms. You have to be the mature one. You can’t let him get away with being so comfortable about something you can’t even stomach.

So, like a fool, you give in.

“Speak for yourself, you’re the immature one here,” you practically snarl as you peel back the covers and brace for impact.

Satoru laughs, “I’m not the one making a fuss over the bed situation,” he lightheartedly quips with a shrug of his shoulders.

You slowly, deliberately, crawl underneath the blankets and into the bed with him, as if one wrong move could set off a bomb and the whole hotel would be blown to pieces. Gojo can feel you practically laying atop eggshells as he notices you barely settling into the mattress, denying yourself the right to get fully comfortable.

He waits to feel you sink further into the foam, to give in to your drowsiness and let yourself relax, but it never comes. What does come—after a few moments of silence and soft breathing—is a command from you.

“Move over,” you quietly bark.

“If I move any further, I’ll be hanging off the bed-”

“That’s the point.”

Gojo sighs, and even though the room is pitch black and you can’t see his stupid face, you know he’s grinning like an idiot. You’ve heard him sigh enough times to know the difference between a tired one and a menacing one—and this particular sigh was definitely one of the latter.

“Y’know, we could use this to our advantage, maybe even-”

You’re quick to cut him off, feeling like a blushing virgin as your heart races like a school girl at the thought of what could potentially fall from his lips.

“M’not having sex with you here, Gojo.”

His chuckle vibrates the bed, maybe even the whole room.

“Here? That implies that you would have sex with me, somewhere.”

He feels you roll over from your back to your side, now facing away from him due to the childish comment. He chuckles as he imagines the look on your face; all blushing and flustered and so damn cute.

“Anyways, I wasn’t even going to suggest that,” he ensures with an accusatory tone, “Says a lot about the way your mind works, though.”

From your covered face hiding in the pillow, he hears a muffled, “What are you suggesting?”

And he’s been waiting for this exact moment ever since he called the stupid hotel in the first place.

His answer is simple and concise, “Huddle for warmth and conserve space,” he states obviously, “Like the cavemen did.”

He feels your body jolt with a mix of a scoff and laugh, and he catches himself automatically leaning in closer to your still turned away frame at the warmness it ignites in him.

“Well, you certainly resemble a caveman,” you quip as you finally turn to face him.

A silent exchange of shared looks through the dark is all it takes for the two of you to wordlessly agree and intertwine limbs.

Gojo’s warm—you’d always imagined he’d run on the colder side (not that you actively imagine what his skin feels like at all). Your head is ushered onto his chest by a comically large hand that rests on the crown of your scalp. His other hand gently runs a few fingers up and down your forearm. As you’re now practically on top of him—it tickles, but simultaneously feels like sparks dancing on your freezing skin.

Over time, the bomb diffuses.

After feeling your body finally loosen underneath his touch, devoid of all tension and stress you had been keeping in all day, he finds himself naturally doing the same. With your head on his chest and your hand on his stomach, he lets out an curious mumble to check in and make sure that you're comfortable with whatever this is.

He knows you are, he wouldn't have done this in the first place if he knew you wouldn't be. He just wants you to admit it—to say it out loud and confirm his suspicions. To feed both his ego and his heart, which is a tough feat that only you can seem to conquer these days.

“S’not terrible, I guess,” you admit in a whisper, already feeling yourself dozing off in his hold.

“No, it’s not,” he quickly agrees and you can practically hear the smile dripping from his lips.

“Just don’t drool on me in your sleep, this shirt probably costs more than your-"

A slap on the wrist is what follows. And while it’s no goodnight kiss, Gojo doesn't think he’d have it any other way, as he allows his eyes to close with a mental image of you and his thoughts to wander about the way your hand feels on his heart.

You wake up having had the best sleep you’ve had in weeks. Gojo says nothing, but his smile is a bit brighter, his laugh a bit louder.

#satoru gojo #gojo satoru #gojo x reader #satoru gojo x reader #gojo fic #satoru gojo fic #gojo fluff #satoru gojo fluff #gojo drabble #satoru gojo drabble #gojo blurb #satoru gojo blurb #jjk #jjk x reader #jjk writing #there was only one bed

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library-of-ohara · 3 years ago

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Howdy~! Hope yall are well uwu If I may, could I put in a request for a Fem!Reader who feels unappreciated by their S/O, such as Law or Mihawk? If you could write how they make it up to them, and it doesn't matter if it's SFW or NSFW. Thank you for your time and work ;u; ♡

requested by: anon written by: lemon (@eustasssimp) a/n: pronouns were hard to fit, sorry!

Mihawk x GN reader

SFW Prompt: reader feels under appreciated wc: 0.5k

As much as I love him, it’s easy to feel underappreciated by Mihawk. Not because he doesn’t appreciate you, but he often takes the assumption that you know he appreciates you. He does little things for you all the time, brings you tea, cooks you meals, but still, there are moments where you can’t help feel underappreciated

He would notice something was off, but wouldn’t necessarily ask you or address it right away. The warlord wouldn’t assume that he did something, not because he doesn’t think he’d ever be the problem, but because he knows unprompted self doubt can lead to situations blowing more out of proportion than they need to be.

So, all that being said, you’d have to come up to him and bring up that you feel underappreciated. It might be best to state that, rather than ask him if he appreciates you, because Mihawk could very easily just answer “yes of course” then not elaborate unless you prod him to. He’s not a man of many words, not a man of big grandiose actions (despite the grandiose nature of his castle), but he’s also not a ‘bare minimum’ kind of partner. He enjoys the simple, small, somewhat mundane and domestic side of a relationship.

But, if he understands that you might need more, that he was failing to consider how you felt about the relationship, he won’t take your concerns lightly. He’s not going to buy you something huge or expensive, or take you on some frivolous vacation, but he does better to recognize and appreciate the efforts you make.

Instead of just silently cooking your favorite when you have a bad day, he’ll offer to draw you a bath, bring you your favorite book and encourage you to take the evening off, that you’ve worked hard. If you were comfortable with it, he’d help wash you, strong but gentle hands working through your hair to wash and rinse it, washing and slightly massaging the expanse of your back, spending extra time on your shoulders because he can feel how tense they are.

Mihawk would leave you letters, too. He’s not one to talk much, even to his significant other (though he talks to them the most), but his brain is always alive with thoughts, and often thoughts of you distract him more than he’d care to admit. So, leaving words unspoken but not unknown, he writes them down for you, leaving them on your bedside table, your favorite book, the bag you’ve packed before your next journey. Never handing them to you directly, leaving them for you to find on your own as a small surprise every now and again.

You wouldn’t have to tell him twice that you feel underappreciated. When he recognizes a fault he’ll do what it takes to amend it, more than willing to make adjustments to help make you happier. He assumes and expects the same from you, helping your relationship to find a nice balance of give, take, and share between the two of you.

#one piece #one piece headcanons #one piece imagines #one piece scenarios #one piece x reader #dracule mihawk #hawkeye mihawk #mihawk x reader #mihawk x you #lemon writes

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its-deputy-caleb · 4 years ago

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How would the Lord’s be with a s/o who’s short like 5’0 but they’re super sweet but can be feisty

Heyy so i’ve been sick recently so this may not be as good as always and it’s a little rushed but i hope it’s not too bad! but this was still always enjoyable to write as always! enjoy

Alcina Dimitrescu

Alcina is lecturing one of the maidens for leaving one of the windows open when she feels something tapping on her leg.

Her eyebrow raises when she finds you tugging on the fabric of her dress, your hands covered in blood.

She picks you up by the back of your shirt as you give her the brightest but cheekiest smile.

“Now what have you been up to in these castle walls that has led you to put blood all over my dress.”

Your legs dangle in the air as you explain that you’ve spend the last four hours running around in the cellars and dungeons trying to find hidden trinkets. You didn’t anticipate to run into an array of grim reaper type creatures but you never turned down a challenge.

“My my, it seems you have been busy.”

Alcina throws you over her shoulder and carries you into her private quarters before she practically dumps you in the bath that swallows you.

“You, my dear are not coming to dinner looking like that.”

She’s seated on the edge of the tub, gloves removed as she rubs her expensive rose scented shampoo in your hair. For a moment it’s quite peaceful.

You’re ever the troublemaker and considering Alcina’s dress was already dirty you couldn’t help but splash water on her.

She grasps but plays into your cheeky ways and splashes you back just as playfully until you’re both soapy and covered in water.

You both dress for dinner with Alcina insisting you wear some of your more finer clothes but you still manage to pull some buttons loose here and there.

Although you’re a wild one, bouncing down the hallway and nearly knocking over one of Alcina’s fine porcelain vases, you still take her hand in yours and walk proudly into the dinner room with your lady.

You take your place at the dining table next to Alcina, your chair significantly higher to sit comfortably but she definitely pampered you with some of the finest cushions to boost you up.

Still you can’t help but feel happy and full of joy to see your family and that only lifts your mood further.

Donna Beneviento

Donna walks into the lounge room to find you chasing angie around, trying to get to her from behind the couch.

“You’ll never take me alive!!”

You’re just as crazy and rambunctious as Angie, the two of you instantly getting along. Donna smiles when she finds that Angie finally found a friend and she’s thrilled that Angie is taken with you.

“Will you two calm down before you break something!”

The two of you stop to stare at Donna who is holding a porcelain doll in her hands to stop it from being broken as you practically jump around the room.

But somehow through all your wildness you have a soft spot for Donna. Slowing your movements and walking up to her, you wrap your arms around her neck and hide your head under her chin.

“I’m sorry Dons, will you come exploring with Angie and I in the mountains??”

With you and Angie on either side of Donna, the three of you spend your afternoon exploring the caves near the waterfall.

Jumping over pools of rocks and mini cliffs, you always go first holding your hand out to Donna each time so she can hold onto while she jumps.

You’re always there to catch her too. It’s a little hard when you’re smaller than her but you’d never let her fall.

Eventually you come to an opening in one of the caves. The view is spectacular, with the waterfall cascading down and catching the fading light beautifully.

Your hand is in Donna’s gently rubbing your thumb on the back of her hand. However in a split second Angie comes up and surprises her with a loud BOO.

Donna’s surprised shriek rings in the cave she thinks she’s going to fall from the height of the cave, Angie’s creepy laughter eventually drowns it out.

You wrap your arms around her, keeping a calm but gentle hand on the back of her head to steady her.

“It’s alright, I gotcha now”

You hug Donna tightly, death glaring Angie behind her shoulder. When you pull away, you take Donna’s face and cradle it gently in your hands.

“Common, lets go home I could do with a nice warm cup of tea to go with a good book.”

Even though Donna was less adventurous as you were, she always enjoyed running around with you and Angie but you always spoiled her afterwards with a warm night in under blankets and warm tea while you read to her.

Salvatore Moreau

Salvatore was walking around the windmill trying to find you when he’s interrupted by a rather loud noise.

“HEY SAL GUESS WHO’S FINALLY TALLER THAN U??”

He audibly grasps when he sees you sitting on the wooden sail of windmill, smiling down on him.

You jump down and land in front of him, giggling at the small scream that leaves him. Stepping forward and into his space you place a kiss on his cheek.

“It’s me!!”

You take Salvatore’s hand in your own and lead him to explore all the nooks and crannies of the windmill with him.

Eventually you run off from him and hide behind one of the wooden crates stacked in the corner.

Poor Salvatore is confused by where you’ve gone trying to find you frantically as he runs around looking for you. You had the advantage however, being small had its perks sometimes.

When he’s not looking you run up and jump him from behind, your hands wrapping around his neck as you cling to him.

His laugh bounces off the valley and he spins around with you in a piggyback. One of your favourite things is making him laugh.

You spend the next few hours playing what is basically hide and seek as you run around all through the windmills, reservoir and mines doing your best to stay clear of any lycans.

You’re a wild card in Salvatore’s otherwise quiet life, but he loves you nonetheless. But you don’t miss the way his hand clings to yours in a death grip.

However, sometimes you’re a little too wild for his comfort zone and he definitely refused to do the zip line with you. But he cheered for you from his place on the ground because he never wants you to change the way you are. To him, you’re perfect.

Karl Heisenberg

Karl is always used to strange noises and loud bangs within the factory, but after living there for as long as he had; he can always tell when somethings out of place.

A rather large crash rings throughout the halls of the factory and Karl begrudgingly puts out his cigar, hoping that one of the Soldats hadn’t broken any of his equipment.

When he walks into a smelting room he finds you on the floor with metal boxes all over you and you buried under the toppled over shelf.

Karl flicks his wrist and all the metal moves to the corner of the room to reveal you huffing your hair out of your face.

You were looking for a mould to craft a new dagger with, sorting through the assortment of boxes when it all came falling down on top of you.

Karl moves his wrist once more, moving the mould you were looking for to his hand, a smug look on his face. He knew. For the last few weeks he’d seen you eyeing out that mould when you came to sit with him while he worked.

“Looking for something?”

You stand to your feet and try to snatch it out of his hand. Karl sees you coming from a mile away and holds it above your head, he doesn’t even need to use his powers for this one, his arm will do just fine.

He’s cocky and can’t help but torment the thing over your head like a child but in an instant you have him tackled to the ground. Now that one he didn’t see coming.

“Don’t think for a moment Heisenberg that just because I’m small that i couldn’t totally kick your ass if i needed to.”

Now you’re the one to be cocky as Karl stares in awe up at you, it took a lot of strength and maybe a hint of luck to bring down someone as powerful as him.

Eventually you let him up from his kindly uncomfortable position on the floor, his back strained against the metal grates. You totally don’t threaten to throw him at Alcina’s doorstep if he doesn’t make that new dagger for you.

Karl loved that about you, how feisty and wild you could be. It meant you were a great training partner and both of you either trained together often. Being small had its too. One thing Karl lacked was finesse and you were much more agile and skilled in your movements.

Other times you’d help Karl out in the factory by lifting boxes of scrap metal or even welding some of the weapons. He absolutely loved that about you, how he could easily be comfortable with you and his heart swelled when he could teach you all that he knew about metal. For the first time in a long time it felt like someone was on his side.

One day Karl saw you take a Soldat out with your new dagger and to say that it didn’t scare the shit out of him would be a fucking lie. Soldats were taller than him for christ sake.

Karl loved you though. He loved how fierce you were but you had the heart of gold and to him, you were this perfect little being that made his heart beat twice as fast when he was with you.

He loved that you could hold your own and would stand up to anyone but in the closed doors of the factory he got to see a softer more tender side of you filled with tender kisses and tight hugs.

#alcina dimitrescu #lady dimitrescu #lady dimitrescu x reader #alcina dimitrescu x reader #karl heisenberg #karl heisenberg x reader #donna beneviento #donna beneviento x reader #salvatore moreau #salvatore moreau x reader #resident evil village #resident evil headcanons #resident evil 8 #resident evil #asks #prompt

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witch-hazels-musings · 4 years ago

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zhongli, albedo, diluc and xiao with an s.o who is clingy, but also is closed off and has a hard time showing affection and just their emotions in general, and also isn’t generally well liked by their peers?

our affection is different

Warning -> SFW

Character X GN Reader | Anthology

Includes: Zhongli, Albedo, Diluc

Zhongli

For someone so reserved and universally liked, people find the contrast between his demeanor and your own clashing - while he is pleasant, greeting others with a steady bow, a kind expression, you look uncomfortable to even be there. You avoid all eye contact unless it comes from Zhongli, you turn your head, fiddle with your thumbs if they aren’t already holding onto the fabric of his jacket, and practice short, quick conversations

Most try not to talk to you for very long - which you don’t mind; small talk isn’t really your thing and it’s hard to connect with others when they are displaying the emotions that you find hard to grasp

You find comfort in the repetitious actions of your day. The few things that always come up and need attending to, there is no stress there and so you can get it done quickly. Luckily, your profession doesn’t give you many opportunities to communicate with others. You show up, do what you need to, and leave. It’s proficient, the work that you can accomplish so no one complains, other than to suggest you be a bit warmer (a comment which sets your bones on fire).

The benefit of your personality means that if anyone needs to hear the truth, you are the best person for the job. You state what needs to be said and move on, resolute like the mountain you tell people what you see. It's the way you’ve always been, and the way you always will be.

There is one person who perpetually seemed to appreciate your honesty, telling you stories and listening to your earnest reaction to them: Zhongli. His patience and interest in you was a shock to everyone, including yourself, and as he started to share his feelings for you - it took you a while to reciprocate them. Though, when you did he felt the happiest man in all of Teyvat.

It was hard for you to tell him how you felt, to ease his mind that you held feelings for him - so you found yourself getting closer to him. Standing at his side, holding onto his clothes, or resting your hand in his. Placing a hand against his arm - lingering longer than you would with anyone else and at times forgetting that you were doing it in the first place

He thought it was endearing, the way you hung around him. If he went on a walk, you were sure to be there, if he read a book, you were following close behind, if he was anywhere he knew you’d be there too - at this point, you were a fixture in his life - a fixture he would treasure for all eternity

Zhongli wandered through the streets of Liyue, a checklist in hand and yours in the other. You had found him earlier in the day and decided to tag along; even though you weren’t sure how much you could help other than carrying a few items for him. He had several things to collect for a funeral ceremony: incense, flowers, tapestries, and the like. It kept his whole afternoon busy, and, even though he was told to keep the expenses to a minimum, he was choosing rather costly options which he explained, “best suited the life which was to be celebrated.”

When he made it back to the parlor and settled all the items down in their proper place. He assists you with the ones in your hand.

“Your assistance today was invaluable.” He commented, reaching for the items and placing them on the table in front of him. When he finished, he leaned in and placed a kiss against your cheek and admired the way you reacted. Confused, unsure, and perhaps a bit embarrassed.

“It was nothing …” You mumble, for a person who already had a hard time finding the right words, he had a knack for making that skill fall to the bottom of the ocean.

It didn’t matter what others thought about you, Zhongli’s opinion was always the most important and he loved you, every day, every night, through all lifetime: he loved you

Albedo

There isn’t a day that goes by when you aren’t around, whatever is happening in the Knights of Favonius, out in the field, you’re there - ready to go

Even though most find it hard to talk with you, considering your natural facial expression is off-putting: the way your mouth turns into a frown when it’s at rest, the disinterested eyes and generally bored features as you go about your day - you still seem to offer support in whatever way you can, so they do their best to let you be

Shifting through the papers in front of you, your jaw moving as you focus gives the impression that you are upset to even be here. Still, you diligently organize the papers where they need to go, jot down notes and requests which still need to be fulfilled. You’ll probably hand those requests to Sucrose when you’re done, she seems to always be okay with your disposition and doesn’t get the wrong impression.

It’s warm, the summer sun is beating down onto the building and making the rooms get a bit toastier than normal. So, you run your hands over your neck and fan yourself to cool down which gives you a moment to look around. Though there is only one thing that catches your attention, and that’s the Chief Alchemist who is busy with his work in the corner. It’s the only spot he will gravitate back to, and if you could, you’d invade it every chance you could get.

Instead, to keep yourself together, you sigh and return to the work in front of you.

You loved Albedo, you had for so long that to be on the receiving end of his attention was stronger than the heat from the sun, more overwhelming than standing in a crowded room, and as rejuvenating as much needed sleep

It was the last thing that you imagined - him falling for you - because most people have a hard time conversing with you, so the fact that he was able to get to know you, the real you, was a miracle

Albedo never once looked at you with eyes other than compassion and kindness and he seems to know that your intense affections - when they do slip from your grasp - are stronger than the words that seem to come across as unclear

The day was coming to a close and even though most everyone had left, you stayed in the room. It was some of the only times you could have a moment alone with the alchemist, and since he was bound to continue working late into the evenings, it was the perfect opportunity.

Setting your items down onto the counter, you moved toward him. His hands moved quickly over the blackboard as he jotted down notes and drew small diagrams. Watching him as he drew was an activity you rather enjoyed, he was unbelievably talented in more ways than one.

Slowly, you slid your arms around his waist and rested your head on his back. He's short, but you don’t mind, he’s the perfect size to hold for you. You feel his hand move your own, his thumb slipping to rest against the inner side of your wrist. The only sound that fills the room is his scribbles as the chalk scrapes across the board in a steady rhythm.

He has never once pushed you away. This physical contact that you sometimes drown him in is always welcome, plus it’s gotten better and if it means he can continue to work while you get what you need, he’s onboard.

You hear him whisper to himself, mouthing out the words he’s just written and thinking out loud what the next steps will be. There is a lull in the movements of his writing, his arm hovers in front of the board and you shift to rest your head on his shoulder to watch what he is doing. When he finally figures out the answer, your head rocks as he continues his notation.

Diluc

The level of intimidation that seeped from the two of you as you walked through the streets was incredible - people already felt the disinterested and irritated eyes of the bachelor of Mondstadt was enough, but to add yours to the mix - archons …

Since both of you were naturally closed off, stunted in your ability to show affection, emotion, it was a wonder how you were able to come to terms with your feelings

Diluc started to notice how you were around more than before, how you would offer to help around the winery or the bar, and if it were possible, how you stood right at his side --- you started to notice how his touch lingered, when he thanked you with a pat on the shoulder but kept his hand there, or when he stepped behind you, resting his hand against your back to let you know that he was there and taking his time removing it when he was done

The two of you had it bad, even if you couldn’t see it - the rest of the town did

You were lost in thought, as you normally were. It had rained recently and the smell still lingered on the stones which passed under your feet. That subtle musky smell mixing with the flowers that climbed the building walls made you feel at home. Mondstadt became your home years ago, even if it took a while for others to accept you and the guards to leave you alone. Especially that Cavalry Captain, he seemed to be the most curious to your arrival but after seeing that your disposition had nothing to do with potential devious actions, he left you be.

Though, he still seemed to be around since most nights you found him at the bar of Angel’s Share. He explained how entertaining it was to have two unhappy-looking bartenders tend to his whims. His goal was to make you smile, to make you crack, and to see just what type of expression you could make. He’d have to wait a long time because the only person who could flip the corners of your mouth was the red-headed pyro user whose expression was a mirror of your own.

Citizens spread rumors about the moment under the streetlights where Diluc and Y/N smiled. They make jokes about how the action was so powerful it birthed a thousand stars in the sky. You sigh every time you hear these stories and continue as if it’s not happening.

Diluc was a private person, and so were you - so it was fortunate that the two of you shared your interest in one another by just being in the same space

Tied at the hip they would say, tethered by fate

You hated being away from him for longer than a few hours and he couldn’t stand the thought of not being at your side - so, for the most part, that’s where you two always were

It was a busy day, the patrons were more hectic than normal and it was likely due to the new drink Diluc developed a few days earlier. He didn’t expect it to be so popular, especially since it was a non-alcoholic beverage, but the sales spoke for themselves.

You made your way down the stairs and he tracked you. Placing a cup back on its wrung before turning his attention back to you. The way you dried your hands with your apron as you - with almost an irritated expression, though he knew you better than that - walked up to check on the rowdy party near the back. Luckily, their inebriated states distracted them from the movement of your hand to press the bridge of your nose. You’d been working for hours now and he was sure you were starting to get tired.

When you made your way behind the bar, you got to work on the drinks and he watched how diligently you worked. Setting the glasses on the counter, pouring the alcohol and mixers, the way the liquid made its way through the ice cubes and changed colors as they combined. You’d picked up this skill so quickly, he found it hard to believe that you had never done this before.

You dropped the drinks off at the table and returned, jotting down notes on the order sheet before closing it and slipping it inside your apron. Stopping on the other side of him, you leaned against the bar, your hand gripping onto the edge and eyes trailing up to the second floor.

Words didn’t need to be shared between the two of you. He knew ...you knew, it was the way you communicated and through your glances, your body language, your closeness, nothing was ever left unsaid. He took a few steps toward you and placed his hand over yours. The heat that spread over your skin eased the ache in your legs, relieved the weight on your eyes, and made your chest warm. You closed your eyes, sighed, and smiled slightly.

As the sounds from the patrons filled the bar, Diluc’s hand covered your own and for as long as time allowed, the two of you took a breath in each other's company.

---

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#genshin impact #genshin impact X reader #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact musings #Zhongli X reader #zhongli #genshin zhongli #albedo x reader #albedo #genshin albedo #diluc X reader #genshin diluc #diluc

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the-insomniac-emporium · 3 years ago

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RE8 Ladies + S/o with chronic pain HCs

Type/cause of chronic pain is kept ambiguous, but some of the hcs might seem geared towards migraines, since that's the main thing that I personally struggle with (and these are very definitely comfort hcs). Features Alcina, Bela, Cassandra, Daniela, Donna, Mother Miranda, and as a 'lil bonus Ava. Not particularly long, but the combined length of every character is enough to be put under a read-more (About 2,500 words in total).

Alcina:

It’s difficult for her to know that you are suffering, but be unable to deal directly with the source of the problem. Chasing off unwanted nuisances or hunting down threats to the castle was one thing, trying to solve complicated medical issues was another thing entirely. If only she could tear your condition asunder without tearing you asunder.

That being said, she’ll still support you endlessly, however she can. It doesn’t matter how expensive or hard-to-access possible treatments are. If there’s something you haven’t tried, and are interested in trying, she’ll find a way for you to get it.

The biggest, and arguably most helpful, thing that she does is set up a space for you within her office. She spends quite a lot of time there for her family’s business, but doesn’t want to leave you alone on bad days. So this was her idea of a nice compromise.

There’s a very comfortable sofa that folds out, a cabinet filled with the softest blankets, and several pillows of a few different sizes. Servants are instructed not to interrupt Alcina’s work without good reason, but she has a couple who ensure your snack cabinet is always well stocked.

If there are certain environmental factors to your condition, such as sensitivity to light and sound, she does her best to reduce their effects. Lights remain dimmed (or she’ll rely on candlelight), her music will be kept quiet enough to be soothing, and she’ll refrain from taking any calls while you are with her.

Bela:

To think that Daniela once tried to claim that Bela would “never need to know any of that (medical) stuff”! Sure, there haven’t been many people who have needed (and received) treatment from her, but that didn’t mean the skill was useless. Admittedly, she doesn’t know enough to replace one of your doctors, or try to create her own version of a cure, though no one really expected that much from her.

Still, she knows enough to help soothe your pain. Obviously there are different techniques for different kinds of pain, and she does research before trying anything specific. Bela’s also aware that you’ve been dealing with this for far longer than she has, meaning that you probably wouldn’t be pleased if she came in, acted like an expert, or assumed that you hadn’t really thought about the most popular remedies. So she’s tactful with how she approaches things, always checking if you’re familiar with a subject before she tries to explain anything.

Bela ends up surprising you with a lesser-known skill of hers: Massage. Studying anatomy has given her a decent idea of the body’s more sensitive spots, and the rest she’s figured out through her own, ahem, experiences. Regardless of where you’re in pain, your girlfriend can help reduce your suffering. Okay, well, if your pain is more internal than external, it’s a bit harder for her, but she can still help you relax.

One of her favorite things to do after giving you a massage is to just pull you in close for some cuddling. Preferably you’ll be in her lap, with her arms around your waist, her chin tucked on top of your shoulder. Then she’ll do her best to whisper you praises, reminding you how strong you are, and that she’s incredibly proud of you.

Cassandra:

She’s, uh, not great at this. At least not at first. Maybe she’ll never be more than good at it, though. But she’s definitely trying! And learning! By Jove, that’s something, right?

First things first, she’s always ready to try to distract you, primarily through kisses and gentle touches. Fingers softly trailing over your skin, lips tickling your neck, featherlight in all the right places… It’s not inherently sexual (though it can quickly go that route if you ask), just intimate. It’s harder for your brain to process pain when you’re also processing pleasure, so there is some science behind Cassandra’s methods, even if she herself isn’t entirely aware of that.

While she’s not great with words, there are certain things that she manages to articulate well enough. For one, she makes sure you know that you aren’t a burden. Taking care of you- no, helping you take care of yourself- is a labor of love, if a labor at all. More than that, she knows full well that you probably don’t like feeling pitied, or coddled. That, over time, being sick ends up being beyond frustrating. She never wants you to feel like your condition defines you, or like it puts any strain on your relationship.

That said, she’ll avoid telling her family any specifics unless you do first, and ensures that the staff know how to accommodate you (without telling them why, because it’s none of their fucking business, and she’s their boss, and for fuck’s sake it’s their job to do what she tells them. Maybe she gets a lil bit overzealous with it). At no point will she ever complain about helping you, or otherwise indicate that your needs are “troublesome”.

At the end of the day, the best comfort she brings you is her presence, simply being near you, endlessly loyal, tireless in her affections. Especially considering she gets clingier the worse your symptoms get.

Daniela:

Hope you enjoy cuddling. Seriously. There’s nothing Daniela loves more than curling up with you, and that goes double for bad pain days. Some adjustments will be made position-wise if you need, but she’ll still hold you as close as possible, for as long as you need. Although she might eventually fall asleep (because damn are you comfy), she’ll play with your hair or run her fingers along your scalp until she eventually dozes off.

If you want a little more from her than light snoring, or if she feels like going above and beyond, or honestly just if she’s thinking about how much she loves you (so all the effing time), she’ll do something she’s always loved in movies/books: Reading to you! She’ll pick special books that neither of you have read before, so you can experience them together on your sick(er) days. Which does, of course, mean that it might take months to finish even a single one. Surprisingly, Daniela won’t even briefly consider reading any without you. Even if the plot is really good.

But, uh, if you wanted her to read to you on a day where you aren’t bedridden? Hell yes, my friend, she’s absolutely down for that!

On days where she’s too busy to spend hours upon hours in bed with you, or days where her ADHD is just particularly bad, she tries her best to leave you with a “substitute”. AKA a massive fucking teddy bear, in a reddish brown color, with a green bowtie. Custom ordered (The Duke did not dare tease her for it). There’s a heart stitched onto the stuffed animal’s chest, which features your first initial alongside a D for Daniela.

Additionally, she has a blanket she only brings out for you, which she periodically sprays with her favorite perfume. That way you can hold it close when she’s not around, as if you were cuddling her. For her sake, though, don’t hold the teddy bear or blanket too tightly when she is around. Homegirl here will get jealous of inanimate objects, even ones that she gave you.

Donna:

“I think I have a tea for this…” Damn right she has a tea for this. Donna has a massive garden, with dozens if not hundreds of different plants, including a variety of herbs/spices. At least one of them has to be a little helpful for you. Whether it relieves pain, helps you nap off some of your misery, or just distracts you by tasting bloody-well delicious! Besides, few things make you feel quite as loved as holding a cup of freshly brewed tea in your hands, knowing your lover made it just for you. Like a hug in a mug, it is!

Similarly to Alcina, Donna will also try to create a comfortable space for you, but isn’t likely to put it downstairs with her workshop. Instead she’ll let you take over one of the larger guest rooms, customizing it to suit your specific needs. There will be some easy to care for plants for decoration (ones that won’t mind potentially missing out on natural sunlight), a couple relaxing paintings, and a shelf near the bed with things to help you pass the time, mainly books.

Furthermore, she’ll do her best to keep you company as often as possible. She’s naturally a fairly quiet person, so you won’t have to worry about sound if that’s something you’re sensitive to. While she prefers using a sewing machine, she’ll do things by hand while you’re in pain, just to reduce the chances of you getting irritated by the sound.

Speaking of potentially irritating sounds… by god can Angie be difficult to be around when you’re ill. Thankfully, Donna is perfectly understanding of this, and, as the only person Angie ever listens to, makes sure to give the doll a stern talking to about your health. To your immense surprise, it actually works. You’re not exactly sure what was said, but Angie certainly becomes a lot more compensating afterwards. She’ll keep her antics to herself, and usually even on another side of the house from where you rest, but only for as long as you’re tucked away in your room. As soon as you set foot outside, her restraints are metaphorically removed. All hell breaks loose (as is her universe-given right as the physical embodiment of both Chaos and Entropy).

Mother Miranda:

If the two of you weren’t lovers, there’s a decent chance you would completely misinterpret her actions. She might come off as irritated, like she has bigger concerns than your health, you fragile little human. After all, she is a goddess (well, practically). But the truth is that she’s aching inside every time you have a bad pain day, knowing that (for once) she cannot cure your ailment. Maybe if she had infinite subjects with the same condition as you…

But, at the end of the day, that’s the problem. There’s only one of you. One of her beloved, her little human darling, so dangerously fragile in comparison to the scale she works on. Even with all the time in the world, which she most certainly has, she cannot cure you without taking incredible risks. With your life at stake… It is a gamble she refuses to take. You are hers, and while she hates to see you suffer, the truth is that she’ll always be selfish enough to let you endure on your own.

That doesn’t mean she doesn’t help, though, just that she doesn't do a full-out experiment on you. Instead, she keeps notes. She’ll track your activities, bedtimes/when you get up, dietary habits, when you have pain, what you do to treat said pain, how effective the treatments are, etc, etc. All of this can be very useful in establishing patterns (a skill she’s gotten very good at, in her many decades of being a scientist), which can in turn lead to less pain days.

(For example, many people with migraines find that certain foods seem to trigger a migraine, or at least increase the chances of getting one. Though admittedly they don’t always end up cutting the food out of their diet. I mean, come on, you want me to give up chocolate? You want me to drink normal milk, like an adult? Kidding, kidding, I don’t have any food triggers. Nor do I particularly enjoy chocolate milk, nor do I dislike it.)

Moving on! While her work seemingly takes precedence over your condition, Miranda is not heartless, and she does do some things to lend you more direct comfort. Specifically, she tries to work in the same room as you when she can, normally while making electronic copies of physical documents, or while looking over the details of a finished experiment. She’s not always one for cuddling, so she won’t often get in bed with you during the daytime. But at night? Yes, fine, she will wrap her arms around you, maybe one of her wings too if you like how soft they are.

Just don’t think that she secretly loves every second. It’s not like she’ll spend half an hour whispering about how sweet and adorable you are as soon as you fall asleep, or anything like that. It’s twenty minutes at the most.

Bonus!Avaskian Caldwell:

“Oh, fuckin’ mood!” Followed by a solid thirty seconds of pure regret. Seriously, though, Ava has spent xer entire life (starting at age 10) dealing with chronic migraines. For a while xe also dealt with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), which meant lots of chest pain, but that (thankfully) faded as xe grew into an adult, as is fairly common with the condition. If anyone in Castle Dimitrescu understands unrelenting, unexplainable pain, it’s xer.

That being said… Ava never really managed xer chronic pain, at least not when xe was at xer worst. Xe had to drop out of school because of it. Hell, xe didn’t have a “real” job until xe was almost 23! Didn’t have a chance until things just calmed down for xer. So xe gets anxious whenever you talk about your health, worried that things are (or will at some point be) as bad for you as they were for xer. Other than that, though, you might initially think that xe doesn’t care, or didn’t understand the conversation.

Truth is, xe knows how absolutely fucking ANNOYING it can be to have to explain your health to every new person you meet (like the dozen different doctors you’ve met over the years, possibly every nurse who takes your pulse and thinks it’s a little bit high). So xe did a shit ton of research on your condition, in order to reduce how much you need to explain. Sure, xe will still have questions, and there are always aspects that only you can tell xer, but it’s a nice gesture.

As for helping you destress, xe’s pretty much a mix of Bela and Miranda. You’ll get plenty of massages (because Ava has learned from personal experience what sort of touches help with which sorts of pain), but also some scientific insight on any noticeable patterns. Lots of holding you close and telling you that you’re the coolest person in the world, and that Ava feels beyond lucky to have you.

#alcina dimitrescu x reader #bela dimitrescu x reader #cassandra dimitrescu x reader #daniela dimitrescu x reader #donna beneviento x reader #mother miranda x reader #oc x reader #avaskian caldwell #j has ocs #re8 village #resident evil: village #hcs

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