#crude oil free tips

[ickadori]

Can we get dick headcanons for the jjk men? 👀

[cws] fem reader in naoya’s part, gn for gojo and hakari. little degradation in naoya’s part.

[a/n] only did a few, also i suck at headcannons so i did blurbs instead xd

𝐆𝐎𝐉𝐎

“Y’sure you can take it all?”

It’s known worldwide that Gojo is an annoying prick, but it’s not known that what he was toting around in his pants made up for it.

“You’re big, Gojo-”

“Satoru.” He corrects, teeth sinking into his bottom lip as you wrap your fingers around the base of his cock, fingertips just barely meeting. He twitches in your hand, pale pink tip squeezing out a dollop of pre-cum, and you hum as your tongue lolls out to clean it up. “Fuhhh,” he hisses, blindfold crinkling from where’s he’s likely frowned his face up.

“-but you’re not that big.” You solidify the statement by taking in his full length, lashes fluttering and lips stretched wide as he breaches his throat. Lean thighs tense as he curses again, and you look up at him as you swallow.

“Fuck!”

It’s not easy taking Gojo - Satoru - but you’ve had a lot of practice, and he’s longer than he is thicker and your gag reflex listens to you well enough.

Spit dribbles out the sides of your mouth as you move your tongue on the underside of his cock, manicured nails lightly scratching against the back of his thighs as you move your head back, just to take him right back in to the hilt.

His pre-cum is tangy on your tongue, and you wrap your hand around his base as you move to suck on his tip, a sound akin to a mewl leaving his mouth as you do. Your free hand moves to grope at smooth, heavy balls, and you squeeze, earning a breathy curse and long fingers curling into your hair.

“..come. Shit, gonna come.” He rasps, and you squeeze again in response, your eyebrow quirking as if to say ‘already?’. His nose twitches, but you don’t give him time to get a quip out, tongue pushing down into his slit before your lips close around his sensitive head and you suck hard. He moans loudly, the sound long and drawn out, and then he’s coming, hot spurts of cum quickly swallowed down as you coax more out with gentle twists of your hands and caresses of his balls.

𝐍𝐀𝐎𝐘𝐀

“Spread yourself.”

Your cheeks fill with heat -from anger or arousal you’re not too sure, maybe both- as you do as he demands, hands reaching down to spread apart puffy, sticky lips. You can feel the webs of slick disconnecting, can hear the tacky noise you make, and you flinch at the involuntary flutter of your painfully empty pussy.

Naoya hums, voice low and rugged, and your stomach clenches at the sound. “So you can listen,” he starts, hand moving to stroke at his cock, and you harshly swallow as you let the sight hypnotize you. “I guess I’ve just gotta wave my dick around to make you. Fucking whore.”

The blood rushing in your ears prevents you from hearing the insult, along with the sight of his heavy cock in his hand. It’s tanner than the rest of him, the uncut tip being the darkest part, and it sags due to its sheer weight. Thick and heavy and hot—oh, it’s hot.

It slaps against you, shaft plapping against your folds and exposed clit and forcing a shrill moan from you. “Naoya!” He slowly rocks his hips forward, backward, getting his shaft oiled up with your slick until it glistens in the overhead light. Pretty. You clench again, a wave of slick pooling out of your cunt and trailing down between your cheeks. You’re certain there’s a puddle on the sheets underneath you, but your mind is too foggy to care.

You want him in you, on you — you want to feel his chest, broad and strong, pressing down against yours as his cock makes room inside you. You want to feel him bottom out, feel his tip mush against that special spot inside you that never fails to make you cling to him and sing praises that you’ll renege on the next day. You want—

“Hey,” he crudely smacks his cock down against you once again, the slap ringing out load, and your thighs twitch to snap shut but you keep them open. “I said put me in.” He roughly nudges your clit, the bud swollen and throbbing, and you lick trembling lips as a hand moves down to grab at his cock. Oh. It’s thick in your hand, warm and wet too, and you sigh out in bliss as you guide it in, fat tip beginning to stretch you open.

He groans, hands moving to grip at the fat of your thighs, and he helps you with a jerk of his hips, cock sinking in deeper. A low squelch sounds, your slick bubbling up around his cock as he goes in even more. Your back is arching now, chest rapidly rising and falling with your rushed breaths, and your hand moves from his shaft to his stomach, the tensed muscles flexing underneath your touch.

“Too much,” you gasp, tears beading at the corners of your eyes as you clench around him. It’s like this every time he gets between your legs - wonderfully overwhelming. It always feels as if he’s going to split you in five, his cock feeling as if it’s stretching you past your limit. An exaggeration, you know, but it always just feels…too much.

“Don’t piss me off.” He snatches your wrist and pins it down against your stomach, thick eyebrows pulling together as he shuffles on the bed until he’s squatted with his feet flat on the bed, your hips now raised due to the change in position. “I know this pussy better than you do - it’s mine.” He drops his hips, cock slipping in, in one swift motion. Your breath leaves your lungs in a woosh. “Mine to tease, to fuck, to breed. So don’t tell me when it’s too much.”

𝐇𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐑𝐈

You hate Hakari and his jinx, truly you do.

“A handjob while I spin guarantees a jackpot, baby, it’s science.”

Science your ass! You may not have been a top graduate, or even a graduate for that matter, but you weren’t dense. Hakari gambling his, and sometimes yours, funds away wasn’t science, it was idiocy, doubly so because you were actively participating in it.

“This is the last time.” You swear despite you saying this the last four times, and Hakari grins as you try to subtly fish him out of his pants. It’s a bit of struggle, the reason why made clear when you’re finally able to free his dick and springs up, glossy head slapping against his stomach and leaving a small wet spot on his shirt. It twitches once, twice, and then a rush of pre-cum is dribbling out of the cut tip and trailing down a protruding vein.

You can’t help the way you squirm in your seat, eyes darting around the semi empty room as you check that the coast is clear. It isn’t, there’s an attendant steadily walking back and forth down the aisles, but Hakari has already reached for the lever on the machine and you really don’t want him to pin you as the reason for his unavoidable cash drain.

A hand slides into his lap, and your brain starts going to mush when you begin to trace his vein. The skin of him is soft, silky, slick with his own essence, and you swirl your thumb around his tip, spreading around his pre and letting out a shaky breath as it shines.

He pulls the lever down, and your eyes dart up to see the colorful pictures flying by. Cherry, seven, cherry.

“Fuck.” He swears, another bill being pushed into the machine, and you twist your hand up and down his length, tightening and loosening your grip - tight when you near his head, and when you get to the thickest part of him. It vaguely reminds you of milking a cow, a life on the farm that you had left behind years ago to chase after Hakari, and your vision blurs at the sudden thought of milking him.

Twisting and turning and tugging until he’s spurting cum and making a mess of your hands, balls empty and thighs tensed and teeth gritted. “Oh.” You lowly gasp, second hand joining in as you lean into his side. There’s a low schlick schlick schlick sound as you work, saliva pooling in your mouth and threatening to overflow, and you find yourself slowly leaning down, breath coming out in hot, short pants as you breathe in his musk.

Someone from the aisle over curses - another bust, most likely, and Hakari slams the lever down with a grunt just as your lips make contact with his hot skin. His taste is salty, and you eagerly swallow him down, cheeks hallowing and ankles crossing as the loud chime of the machine sounds.

It spins, spins, spins and you suck, suck, suck— jackpot.

[polutrope]

You like Daeron/Maglor and Maedhros/Maglor, right? Have you ever thought about Maedhros/Maglor/Daeron? The three of them together, in a threesome or polyamorous relationship? Have you ever thought about writing this or your opinion about this ship and idea?

"You like the emissary of Doriath," says Maedhros.

The lamp Maglor attempts to light spits hot oil on his hand. He hisses, flicks his wrist, then strikes the flint again. 

The flame leaps awake and washes the room in saffron light. Maglor sets his sights on his brother, who drapes his heavy robe over the back of a chair.

Over the course of a day of councils and speeches and feasts and, at the last, dancing, strands of Maedhros' hair have come loose from his braid, and they curl, soft orange tendrils, about the edges of his profile. Drawing near, Maglor takes one and twists it around his finger; he arranges it over the jut of Maedhros' collarbone and drags the heel of his palm down his chest.

Maedhros seizes his hand before it can travel lower. "Answer my question."

"I did not think it was a question," says Maglor. He smiles coyly, then nips at Maedhros' knuckles. "But, well. If you say so." Twisting his free hand through Maedhros' sash, he tugs him closer. "Though I know not which emissary you mean."

Maedhros pulls a sharp breath as Maglor attempts to knee him towards the cot at their tent's further wall. But Maedhros is immovable. In answer, he thrusts the blunt end of his wrist between Maglor's thighs. Maglor moans, bucks involuntarily.

"Mm, as I thought. How long have you been thus? Since the morning's council, when you could not let a single remark from Elwe's minstrel go by without inserting some pithy witticism of your own? Or was it during the evening's entertainment, when you could not keep from scraping your teeth across your lips, watching his fingers fly over his pipes?"

"Nelyo..." Maglor whimpers into the curve of Maedhros' shoulder, weak now from the firm pressure of Maedhros' forearm rubbing him full. "I want... you... please..."

At last Maedhros lets go of the hand clutched between their bodies and tips Maglor's face up by the chin. "Do you?" He kisses him, and Maglor's eyes pinch shut with pleasure, but upon the backs of his lids is Daeron -- dark, deft, enchanting Daeron, quirking a smile, inviting, even as Maglor disentangled himself from the swirl of dancing bodies to follow his lord-brother to bed.

Maglor pushes hard against such thoughts. "Do you think me so wayward?" he teases, as he loops his arms around Maedhros' waist to work free the ties of his sash.

On a sudden, Maedhros pushes him off. "Go to him," he says.

"What?" Maglor staggers.

"Go to Daeron. I am certain he will not deny you."

There is no bitterness or deception in Maedhros' manner, and at that Maglor wonders. There has been no other between them since their exile; it was, until mere hours ago, unthinkable to Maglor that he could ever again desire another.

"But..." Maglor says. "You would sleep alone?"

Maedhros hates to sleep alone; does not sleep at all, Maglor knows, on the many many nights they must spend apart, now they are lords of their own lands. Surely, Maedhros has not brought him so far merely to talk of defenses and alliances and send him to bed with Doriath's messenger. With Doriath's messenger, of all people! At that Maglor almost laughs, for his brother's present instruction is altogether contrary to habit, crude compared to the intricate steps Maedhros dances around those with power.

"I am content," he assures Maglor, and guesses at his second thought, too, saying, "and I trust you not to dash all hope of alliance in a single night. Do prove my trust well-placed, won't you?"

Maglor nods, and Maedhros kisses the crown of his head. As Maglor makes to leave, Maedhros takes him by the hand. "One thing." Maglor turns. "Tomorrow, you are mine."

[posttexasstressdisorder]

The arc of justice finally bends against Big Oil

Sabrina Haake

April 14, 2024 6:15AM ET

An oil refinery blow off stack is seen, Sept. 16, 2008, in Texas City, Texas. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

In an historic ruling that could change the trajectory of a rapidly heating planet, a court of law with binding jurisdiction over most of Europe has ruled that governments can be held liable for inadequate responses to climate change.

The European Court of Human Rights determined that rising temperatures in Switzerland caused direct and tangible health consequences among Swiss citizens, and that governments failing to take adequate steps to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions could owe damages to people hurt by their inaction.

So what, in practical terms, does this mean for a planet that is literally burning in an increasing number of locations?

Europe could take climate cases in a new direction

The ECHR ruling is unprecedented in several respects, beginning with its reliance on principles of human rights.

The Court ruled that governments failing to do enough to address climate change were violating the European Convention on Human Rights, which holds as its first tenet that, “Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law.” By failing to meet its own climate goals, the court held, the Swiss government impaired citizens’ fundamental rights to life.

The plaintiffs themselves were also unique. In climate cases pending around the world, including in the United States, the vast majority of plaintiffs are young people worried about how they will survive on a sweltering planet with rapidly disappearing habitats and resources.

ALSO READ: 15 worthless things Trump will give you for your money

The ECHR case, in contrast, was brought by elderly plaintiffs, most of whom were women in their 70s who proved that their age and gender make them particularly vulnerable to health risks linked to climate change. Heatwaves, in particular, can be deadly for the elderly as excessive heat triggers a strained cardiovascular response. Cognizant of their own time limitations, these women sued to benefit the next generation. One plaintiff told the BBC, “We know statistically that in 10 years we will be gone. So whatever we do now, we are not doing for ourselves, but for the sake of our children and our children's children.”

Because there is no avenue for appeal, the ECHR ruling will directly influence energy policy throughout the industrialized economies of Europe. Although it falls to Switzerland to comply with the ruling, its precedent is legally binding on all 46 member states, including Germany, the U.K., France and Italy — all fuel-burning heavy hitters.

Climate challenges in the U.S.

The European Court ruled that Switzerland’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions had been “woefully inadequate.” Although the ruling isn’t binding on U.S. courts, the domestic fossil fuel industry will be directly affected by it, since the U.S. has recently become the biggest supplier of crude oil to the European Union.

ALSO READ: Revealed: What government officials privately shared about Trump not disclosing finances

Climate litigants in the U.S. follow a different strategy. State and local governments are now suing fossil fuel companies and the American Petroleum Institute for damages caused by climate change — astronomical damages that inevitably fall to states, cities and towns that can’t afford to pay for them.

These climate cases name private fossil fuel companies as defendants, seeking to hold responsible various for-profit companies, including BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell, for increasing carbon dioxide and methane emissions caused by their products.

Big Oil’s campaign of deception

Legal claims and allegations pending in the U.S. focus largely on Big Oil’s deceptive practices. Like the tobacco disinformation cases from the 1990s, these cases allege fraud, nuisance, conspiracy and negligence arising from the industry’s long-standing public disinformation campaigns.

Congress has conducted numerous investigations into Big Oil’s pattern of deception. Despite conclusive evidence that oil executives have long known the causal connection between fossil fuels and climate change, industry executives have consistently lied about it to protect their profits.

Nearly 10 years ago, Democratic members of Congress addressed a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists concluding that “there was a coordinated campaign of deception” on climate science by ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, Shell, Peabody Energy and other members of the fossil fuel industry.

Tanker drivers working for Shell in Grangemouth, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Big Oil’s targeted acts of deception over a decades-long campaign included “forged letters to Congress,” secret funding of allegedly independent but industry-controlled scientists, creating “fake grassroots organizations” to influence policy, and multiple, ongoing, and in-depth “efforts to deliberately manufacture uncertainty about climate science.”

Evidence of the industry’s deceptive practices could be pivotal in cases brought by state and local governments paying a staggering tab for intensifying storms, flooding, crop-destroying droughts, extreme heat events and, for states and towns on major bodies of water, coastal erosion.

In the meantime, the fossil fuel industry continues to profit outrageously from extracting, distributing and marketing dangerous products known to increase Earth’s already feverish temperature: March was the 10th month in a row to set a new monthly global heat record, both on land and in the oceans, as global reliance on coal — the dirtiest fossil fuel of all — continues to climb.

Landmark climate cases in Montana, Hawaii

The ECHR decision was the first to rule that governments are obligated under human rights laws to address climate change, but it won’t be the last. Cases pending in Montana and Hawaii also allege damages from unmet climate obligations by their respective state governments.

Last August, 16 young plaintiffs scored an unprecedented victory in Montana. They argued that the state violated a state constitutional provision that guarantees Montana citizens a healthy environment, and Judge Kathy Seeley agreed. She ruled that permitting coal, oil and gas production worsened the climate crisis, in violation of the “healthy environment” guarantees found in the Montana constitution.

In result, state regulators issuing permits for fossil fuel developments must now consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions as part of their overall analysis of whether to grant or deny the permit. After the state appealed the maverick ruling, Montana’s Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision, denied the governor’s request to block the ruling pending appeal.

In Hawaii, another pending climate case involves 14 youths. Plaintiffs in Hawaii allege that the state’s transportation department, by funding highway projects that increase fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, violated a constitutional duty to protect the environment.

A protestor holds a 'Polluters Pay Up' sign outside the Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery Wilmington Plant on Nov. 28, 2022, in Wilmington, Calif. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

After the state challenged plaintiffs’ standing, claiming they could not show particularized harm because climate damages are already “baked in,” the judge ruled that climate damages to plaintiffs “are not hypothetical,” and allowed the case to proceed.

When the state asked Hawaii’s legislators for more than $2 million to hire outside counsel to fight the case, one state legislator told Hawaii Public Radio that instead of “spending the millions of dollars we’re spending on some hotshot law firm,” Hawaii should apply that money toward emissions reductions instead.

The case was scheduled for trial this summer, but in February, the fossil fuel defendants petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming that federal law precludes damages claims against them.

Take heart, then take action

Climate activists should be uplifted and encouraged by the ECHR decision, particularly as its effects begin to ripple through the fossil fuel industry, industrialized economies and reluctant courts.

It won’t change the prognosis or the immediate future — today’s youth throughout the world will still live through the worst effects of climate destruction, even though they had nothing to do with the policies that caused it.

It’s the same lament heard from emerging economies in Asia and Africa. Struggling countries and coastal populations who had nothing to do with industrialization over the past 150 years are now paying the steepest price through their own rapidly disappearing habitats.

Thousands of school students join protesters in a Climate strike rally on September 20, 2019, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

But one major, outcome-determinative difference between these two rightfully aggrieved populations remains: the right to vote.

As enraging as it is for young Americans to hear oil-financed politicians deny climate change (“Drill baby, drill!”), we could fund the transition to clean energy — including an upgraded, nationwide grid of sufficient capacity — if every young adult simply voted.

Sabrina Haake is a columnist and 25 year litigator specializing in 1st and 14th Amendment defense. Follow her on Substack.

[queentheweeb]

Correctional Officer Izuku X Male Prisoner Reader

A/N: This is set in modern times and you are not a murderer, rapist, or drug dealer. You are in there because you stole a car for a joy ride. You have to serve a month.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you knew that stealing that damn old racist bastard's car was going to earn you thirty days you wouldn't have done it. You even put gas in it! Checked his oil and everything! Honestly, it could have been a year but, with a good lawyer, a clean record, and not damaging the car plus bringing it back, it got you thirty days. You foolishly thought it wasn't going to be a long thirty days but woooooooooweeeeeee one week in and you wanted to fucking die. You somehow managed to get the resident rapist's attention and he tried to make you his bitch but you stood your ground. You were not going to have a dick up your ass when you didn't want one. Consent is key and you'll be damned if your back door got violated because of some horny bastard high off of steroids. Of course, it earned you a trip to the infirmary but you didn't care. Your backdoor wasn't violated and you were escorted by the finest correctional officer in the whole damn building. He had an undercut and unruly green hair, green eyes, and freckles to die for. You can tell he was soft and squishy as a kid but he needed to toughen up his body wise and he passed. This man had to be '6"3 or '6"4 and normally you're a switch but you would be a bottom for this hunk of meat any day. So, naturally like the awkward freak of nature you are you tried to strike up a conversation. Keyword. Tried.

"The nurse will be with you in a minute." He looked you up and down and you smiled at him. He gave you a grimace shaking his head before walking out and going back to his job. You felt dejected but, put it into perspective. If you were in his shoes and then all of a sudden a newbie inmate came in trying to strike up a conversation all bloody and bruised you wouldn't be too keen on talking to him either. You decided to try a new method and tell him that you weren't bad. You were in here for taking a cranky old racist car for two hours and bringing it back filled with gas and all of its parts checked. That was a couple of days ago and you somehow became friends with a guy named Spinner and the resident pyromaniac Dabi who were in there for a few years. Dabi tried to set his abusive father on fire who was currently doing time in another prison, Spinner was in there for robbing a bank. They both got in at the same time and were set to be free in a year. 

"So you're telling me that they fucking put you in here with murderers, rapists, arsonists, and robbers all because you borrowed a car and brought it back in tip-top shape?" You nodded your head vigorously agreeing with the ludicrous situation.

"Exactly. He's a racist fuck and I needed to get somewhere quick so I borrowed it and brought it back! He overreacted! I filled it with gas, oil, antifreeze the works!" Unbeknownst to you, you were being watched and listened to by the greenette that caught your attention. He thought you were a typical rapist or wannabee robber but when he heard what you were in here for he had to check your files. He discreetly left and went to the files room to look for the newest inmates. When he found you he was surprised. You were telling the truth and had never been in trouble before and now you had a record and were ruined for life. Yeah, he got that you shouldn't have done it but, jail time wasn't necessary. With a heavy sigh, he decided to stop ignoring his curiosity and interest in the inmate and decided to make a move. You were there for only 2 more weeks and he doubted very seriously he was going to see you ever again so this was his only chance. He left the room to return back to the lunchroom only to notice that you were gone and Dabi and Spinner were giving him knowing looks. 

"Your bottom went back to his cell," Dabi smirked nastily making a crude gesture with his fingers and it took Izuku's training to keep from blushing. He simply smirked showing his fang he purposely got enjoying the momentary surprise before turning on his heel and going to find his little curiosity. Izuku was no longer that shy boy that everyone stepped over. He was a '6"4 250 pound muscle bound man who took shit from no one especially his now best friend Katsuki. He shook his head not wanting to focus on himself but, on the task at hand. He looked in the cells ignoring the cat calls, rude comments, and wolf whistles. He was used to it by now, both he and Ejirou got the brunt of it but, they both took the weirdly placed compliments in stride. Once he found his target he was glad no one was in the neighboring cells. He banged on the bars to get his attention

"Hey Y/N." He smirked at the way the man jumped before grinning and flexing just a little bit. He took pride in his body and liked the way Y/N was looking at him 

"A-ah. Officer Izuku. How can I help you?" He didn't want to admit it but that damn smirk and fang were doing things to him that they shouldn't be doing but, here he was.

"I read your files and you really are a good man. You got another 14 days before you're out. Never been in trouble besides stealing a car for two hours and bringing it back in good shape. You just got the short end of the stick." You weren't sure how to react to this information. You were wary that he knew so much but, then this was potential for you two to talk possibly if he was single. You hoped he was single. And gay. This man better be gay. God, please.

"Yeah. I'm never going to be here again. I can't wait to get out." You started rubbing your neck sheepishly not noticing Izuku digging into his pocket to grab something.

"Come here." Maybe it was the tone but you found yourself pressing up against the bars. "Here." He grabbed you through the bars and stuck something in your back pocket patting your butt twice. "When you come out call me. I'll take you out to eat. My treat." He smirked showing that fang again before pulling away and walking away but, not before throwing you a look over your shoulder. Once you were alone you let out a girly squeal spending the next 3 hours committing his number to memory and wishing these next two weeks would fly by already.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thoughts?

[jamneuromain]

Mr. & Mrs. Levinson

Ari Levinson x Original Female Character (Anna)

Warning: Angst and Smut, Eventual Smut, Graphic Depiction of Violence, Domestic Violence (sort of), Cursing, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex.

A fusion of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Word count: 11k.

Summary: Being enemies saved their marriage.

3 p.m.

"How long have you been married?"

"Six years." "Seven years." They said at the same time, not forgetting to glance at each other when they heard the other's answer.

"Six or seven years." Ari chose what he thought was a compromising answer and cleared his throat, "Actually, we've been married for so long that this is just a routine checkup, you know? Similar to changing the oil, parts, or whatever for an airplane."

The marriage therapist kept his unchanging smile, gazing at the man as strong as a bear - and as hairy as a bear - and the petite woman beside him, "Sure, so let's pop the hood." He flipped open the notepad for his records and wrote something on it, "Let's start with the basics. How would you rate your marriage on a scale of one to ten?"

"Eight." "Uh, is ten is the highest score or...?"

Ari frowned and looked at his wife, who had been with him for six or seven years, sitting by his side: "He said one to ten, honey."

Anna leaned unhurriedly on the couch pillows, the very direction away from Ari: "I was just making sure. Don’t want to give the wrong answer, sweetheart."

The therapist cap the pen and snapped both of them back to attention, "That's okay, let's try again. Ten is the highest score. Are you ready? Three, two, one..."

"Eight." They both answered in unison.

"How is your sex life?" The therapist asked the next question.

Anna rubbed her fingers at the tip of her curly hair and paused for a moment upon hearing the question, "I'm sorry, is this a one to ten question or...?"

The therapist explained, "Just this week, how is your sex life? Oh, and feel free to rate it or just say how you feel about it."

Ari and Anna were uncharacteristically silent.

"Including weekends?" Ari asked, his furrowed brow not loosening.

"Including weekends."

Anna nodded thoughtfully.

They didn’t have sex this week. Neither did they last week. Nor did the week before.

How is one supposed to rate something non-existent?

She tried to remember the last time they'd had sex, which was about a month ago, and they'd both been drinking a little. She remembered they stopped midway. Why did they stop midway?

She remembered that she had gone to the training room to practice boxing before that and accidentally bruised her rear end. She asked him to turn off the lights in between kisses, and he thought it was no big deal, it wasn't like they hadn't seen each other naked. In the end, a simple question of turning off the lights made them break up the kiss and lose the passion to continue.

Ari always ripped orgasms after orgasms from her. It was all about passion and crude rough sex and it was fun.

It was.

Until the passion faded. And he lost his interest over a little question whether to turn off the lights.

Anna returned home, took off her silver wedding ring and put it away on the nightstand. She was fucking tired of everything. She promised Ari to try to see a therapist to salvage their marriage, but she also wanted to throw the fruit bowl in his face and tell him that marriage maintenance is not something she could do alone. She was tired of playing the good housewife at home while he came home some nights smelling of booze and women perfume and God knew where he had been fooling around. The only thing this jerk did well was that he never came home to her with signs of cheating on her: no hair, no lipstick marks, no nothing, as if the escort grinded on him and nothing more. She was tired of him always being the one making decisions, telling her what to do, even including this ridiculous therapy, which she thought was absolutely useless.

She wrinkled her apron, tossed clean frying pans and dishes into the sink to get them wet, then sat up on the bed and called for takeout.

She basically hadn't cooked in seven years of marriage, and she wasn't going to today.

At 7 p.m., Ari came home on time.

"Good evening honey." He greeted her without looking up as he returned the steady stream of texts with one hand. On the other end of the phone was his DHS supervisor, sending him some key information for his next mission.

Anna had the frilly apron on her and spatula in hand, wanted to open her mouth to greet him, but was furious at the way he greeted her without even lifting his head. She turned temporarily back to the kitchen and sprinkled more sugar and salt on one of the steaks frying in the pan to make sure it was cooked until it was overcooked.

Ari hung up his coat and wondered if the kitchen noise was too loud to muffle his greeting. He stowed his phone properly in his pocket and leaned against the kitchen doorway, raising his voice slightly: "Good evening, honey."

Anna flashed him an impeccable smile, "Good evening. Go wash your hands, dinner will be on the table in a minute." Only when he was completely out of sight did the smile on Anna's face collapse, the meat cleaver in her hand stabbing an inch into the wooden chopping board. A greeting without even looking up? Did his mother ever teach him manners?

At the dinner table, Ari and Anna engaged in some routine small talk, such as Anna asking him how his day went and if he encountered any tough problems; Ari asked Anna back if she had a good day in Wall Street.

Anna was a financial analyst on Wall Street, at least, that was her cover. True, her workplace was located in a tall building on Wall Street, but that floor was used for surveillance, analysis and operational planning by the NSA, of which she is a member. After years of hard work, Anna had successfully risen to the position of chief of operations for the NSA's New York State Division. Most of the time she sat in her office facing the computer as she would if she were a financial analyst, but there were times when she needed to be on the ground to solve some variables during missions.

Across the table, Ari sliced off a piece of beef with some brute force and popped it into his mouth. The sweet and salty flavor instantly overwhelmed all his taste buds and he choked and coughed. He spat out the unchewable beef and wiped his mouth with a napkin: "Honey, the beef is too salty."

Anna tugged her lips into a light smile, a smile she felt a bit sorry for Ari: "Really?" She immediately added, "I'll put less salt next time."

Ari was tempted to say you should stop cooking, you haven't cooked well in the past six years. But for the sake of marital harmony, he chose to swallow the words along with the sweet and salty taste in his mouth. He made do with a barely palatable selection of vegetables and mashed potatoes and ate his dinner swiftly. Barely palatable. That was his euphemistic comment.

Ari's long, thick fingers lingered on the keyboard for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. Honestly, he wondered how much longer their marriage would last. Two months? Three weeks? Four days? Their passion was no longer there, replaced by endless tedium. He believed they still loved each other, yet every day of marriage life was a wear and tear on that love. What they need was not novelty, which no longer had any place after the first six months of marriage. What they need was something that will sustain their relationship for a long time, the glue that will hold their broken lives together. He had to admit that the lack of togetherness was also a reason why their marriage was coming to an end, but there was no way he could make his schedule change. After all, the mission wouldn't pick his “supposedly” working hours to show up. He had to find one excuses after another: a temporary plane breakdown at the airport, a nice weekend with his fellow mechanics, a farewell to a fellow who was leaving.

This fake identity of an aircraft repair mechanic was not solid enough, but it's the best he can do. Ari sighed and tapped down two or three lines of a mission report.

"Hi, sweetheart. I got your coffee."

Anna appeared silently in front of his computer with a steaming cup of coffee: "What are you working on?"

"Jesus." he was startled by her sudden appearance and hit Alt and Tab simultaneously, "Nothing, honey, just the schematics."

"Oh, okay," she walked around the mahogany table and put her coffee in his hand, her eyes glancing at the computer screen. "Yeah SURE." Her big brown eyes lost that glint of smile, "I'll leave you alone."

Ari stiffly turned his head to look at the pornhub interface he had fumbled to place on the main screen, which contained the video of a topless woman bouncing up and down on a rubber dildo. Ari had no fucking idea why it was here, nor had he any interest of watching a woman fucking herself with a toy - apart from Anna.

This is definitely one of his most embarrassing moments. He lied to her about work, only to let her “find out” he was watching porn.

Great.

Just fucking great.

He rubbed his face with his palm: "Wait, Anna-"

Anna left the study without looking back: "You’ll sleep in the second bedroom tonight."

Less than half an hour later, Anna answered a phone call.

"Sorry, some shareholders in Wall Street is holding an emergency meeting, I need to go check." She calmly packed her handbag, put on her coat and left in a hurry.

Only after she left did Ari remember the party at Gray's house next door in an hour. They had promised to go last week.

The text he sent instead seemed cold and indifferent: "Don't forget Gray's party at nine."

"Okay."

Her reply was even briefer.

"Your man?" Jennifer, dressed in plain clothes, joked about it before Anna pressed the lock button on her phone.

Anna tied her hair up, avoided the question:" Do you know any divorce lawyer?"

Jennifer thought for a moment, "I remember Natalie from the other department almost got divorced," she took out her work tablet and cross-referenced everyone's schedules, "I'll set up a meeting for you with her tomorrow at 10:30, I think she's free at that time. "

"Jenni-"

Anna hadn't actually thought about finding a lawyer. Marital property, prenuptial property, real estate ...... Gosh, they didn't have a prenuptial agreement. Now that she thought about it, it was an unforgivable mistake for them to get married.

At least not signing a prenup accounted for eighty-nine percent of the mistake.

She made that number up, but she quickly made up the remaining eleven percent.

Ten percent was his frequent disappearances.

One percent was their size difference.

"It's already booked." Jennifer arranged it without a word, "Besides, what could go wrong with just talking?" They spoke as they made the final adjustments before the mission began.

"The target is Friedrik Karls Vogelbaum, male, sixty-five years old. Our mission is to transfer a flash drive from the target containing information of a new biological virus, sufficient to destroy a half of the Earth's population. Note that Mr. Vogelbaum has just lost a deal with an international arms dealer Morian, so he will do everything in his power to protect the case containing the flash drive, and there may be multiple parties coming to seize it. I expect everyone to cooperate properly in recovering the high-risk item, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Everyone in the tiny camouflaged van responded in unison.

"Very well." Anna sat in the middle of the chair as electronic screens lit up around the perimeter showing various street-level surveillance, Anna adjusted her headset, "Agent Weiss, do you copy?"

"Very clear, Agent."

Anna switched the headset channel and methodically gave one order after another, "I want the traffic lights at 15th Street and Northwest Avenue locked so the target can't cross the street; standard follow up, one up front and one behind the target, don't draw any unnecessary attention. Do we have eyes across the street? Good. "

Inside the tiny van, the four mission support members of the operation team held their breath.

The plan was to set an agent to attract Vogelbaum's attention, followed by a second agent to switch the case.

Unfortunately, Vogelbaum held the case so tightly the entire time, that the team had to improvise a surprise by having someone on a bicycle run Vogelbaum over and then take advantage of their distraction to swap the case.

The mission went very well overall.

Except for Anna, who pretended to be a passerby to help the bike-riding agent out of trouble, which wasn't exactly pleasant. She had to pretend to be surprised by asking Vogelbaum if he was international movie star Mads Mikkelsen, asking him to pose for a photo and sign a napkin. Otherwise, judging by the way Vogelbaum grabbed the cycling agent and looked him in the eyes, it would not end well.

She took off the beanie she'd pulled off randomly on the street and Jennifer's big black-rimmed glasses and returned to the van. Jennifer handed her a tissue to help her wipe away the fake freckles and moles, temporarily dotted with a marker on her only mere seconds ago.

"Thanks." Anna smoothly put the marker in her pocket and borrowed some water to clean her face.

Agent Weiss and two others circled back to the NSA's New York headquarters and opened the case as the entire ops team watched.

The case was empty.

Max Grey is one of those typical neighbors you want next-door. If Max lives in some lucky neighborhood, then everyone not only enjoys a barbecue party every month or two, but also receives the occasional cake, cookie or pie from his wife.

Max and his wife, Loreen Gray, don't have any noisy children yet. Admittedly, they are preparing to have one, but not yet. That's something that makes them better neighbors.

The Levinsons showed up at Gray's door with smiles on their faces, even though they were late. The Grays were kind enough to let them join the house party, and Max shoved a cold beer in Ari's hand and invited him to sit on the “men's side”. Sometimes, Ari wished he wasn't so big. He looked like he's the boss of some notorious biker gang in his form-fitting leather jacket. And some obvious male psychology suggested that all the men in the room were trying for the Alpha position in the crowd. This meant most of the men would be hostile to him from the moment he entered the room. But his years as a secret agent have allowed Ari to blend in like a fish in water, picking up a few jokes, clinking glasses (or bottles, in this case) with the men around him, and showing a funny but not overly standing-out profile to the others.

He raises his beer bottle to his lips and looks across the living room to the "ladies' side," where Anna was with Loreen, sat among all the ladies with bubbly water. She looked a bit overwhelmed, he thought as he swallowed his cold beer.

Anna was indeed very overwhelmed.

For the love of the computer gods, moms and soon-to-be moms all around are fucking talking about having kids and raising kids and nursing kids. Anna was an only child and had very little contact with her bloodsucking relatives, and she was surrounded by partying and clubbing women - in short, no one had children, not her friends, not her family, certainly not herself. She also did not know how to raise children, this kind of topic she naturally did not have the slightest clue.

Mrs. Brown, who lived across the street from the Levinsons, needed to go to the bathroom. She handed Anna Teddy Brown, her one-year old son and rushed off. Loreen, however, gave Anna a chance to be a mom, which included ideas on how to hold the little one and how to make him laugh. The more she listened, the more Anna suspects that Loreen was partly encouraging her to become a mother. Anna's hand was free to poke Teddy's fleshy cheek, but Teddy flattened his mouth, lost interest in the toy and the stranger, and turned around to cry for his mom.

Fortunately, Mrs. Brown came back in time to take the hot potato away from Anna.

So much for having a kid and enjoying the domestic life.

"Why are you home late today?" Ari asked as they washed up before bedtime, spitting out a mouthful of toothpaste foam.

Anna put on a hydrating mask, smeared essence on her neck and said carelessly, "The shareholders were arguing about the final investment decision."

"So they finally agreed?"

"Can't tell you that, sweetheart," Anna braided her medium-length hair and her tone grew vaguely impatient, "I've told you. The BRC prevents people working in finance-related industries from disclosing relative information."

Anna's impatience stemmed not only from something Ari could never remember, but also from the fact that she had been scolded by her boss at the end of today's mission. Of course, she excused her team and took the blame for the problem. They had repeatedly gone over the surveillance footage of the mission, and found that every step of the mission was accurate, so it could only be that their intelligence had been faulty. Looks like another organization had targeted the highly dangerous biological information Vogelbaum was carrying and taken the flash drive before they did.

Her boss, Mr. Samson, also knew this. Yet the loss of the flash drive was concluded as the major failure in their mission, whether it was in the damn case in the first place or not. From that moment on, everyone had to work overtime to review frame by frame how and when the flash drive was lost.

If she hadn't said she had to go back to a neighborhood party and insisted it would help her keep her fake identity, Samson might have let her stay on this floor all night watching surveillance with everyone else.

"Go back to that party of yours, and next time don't let the your life get in the way of work." Samson waved his hand and dismissed her.

She muttered under her breath, "Soon it won’t be."

2:30 a.m. Ari tossed and turned in the second bedroom alone, unable to sleep. Not only was the bed here harder than the master bedroom, but there was no Anna nestled in his arms. He cursed in annoyance and got out of bed to try the master bedroom. Anna used to let him sleep in the second bedroom when she was angry with him. Although she would lock the door every time, Ari would quietly use the backup key to open the door in the middle of the night and go back to Anna's side in the master bedroom before he could sleep peacefully.

He unlocked the door with a click, but the next second the smile on his face faded when the door wouldn't budge at all. He got down and peeked at the bottom of the bedroom door and found a small door stopper taped to the inside of the door. Six years ago, when they were first married, Anna and he had a falling out. Using the key to open the door, he had unfortunately knocked over her bottle of expensive foundation in the dark. The next thing he knew, she yelled at him to fuck off.

 Shit. He thought to himself that there was no way he could get back to Anna without her noticing.

He tried the bedroom window for the next hour, but also hit a wall. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he hit the lock, as the window was locked up. Even if he chose to break the window, he didn't think he'd be able to get back to Anna tonight. Shit.

Ari rubbed his overgrown hair and paced back to the study. His supervisor had just sent him a video of the street surveillance, asking him to carefully screen it for suspicious people. The overall blue-gray-toned video was watermarked six hours ago, about the same time when Anna went out for a meeting. He was also out, to carry out his mission.

His mission was to use the opportunity created for him by the other agents to steal a flash drive from the case of an old biology professor. The professor was sitting in the hotel lobby an hour ago after his deal with arms dealer Morian fell through, and DHS engineered a clumsy waiter to break six glasses on top of the hotel tiles while he entered the deciphered code to open the case, took out the flash drive, closed it and retreated. The whole mission took less than ten minutes, but he didn't tell Anna he went out. Sneaking out when she had something to do was not something honorable, yes, he would admit that. But Ari did not want to lie either, at least not to her hopeful eyes.

Ari casually pulled on his pajama pants and went to the study to open his laptop. He didn't bother to turn on the light, otherwise, it would have woken her up. Now, he didn't know the reason behind not turning on the light was whether he was afraid he would wake her up and they would fight, or he was afraid she wouldn't react at all to his outlandish behavior. He squinted against the harsh light of the computer screen, pinched the bridge of his nose, and sifted through suspicious characters.

He paused the video at the spot where Vogelbaum had been hit and stumbled on the sidewalk. Here Vogelbaum's suitcase was knocked off into the blind spot of the surveillance, not even a shadow could be seen. And the cyclist wore windproof glasses and a scarf covering his mouth and nose, so tightly covered that he simply could not get the technician to zoom in and extract the facial data. Vogelbaum grabbed the bicyclist and demanded an explanation, from the look of the video, and someone handed the furious old man the case from the blind spot. But the hand only appeared for a moment, while all other angles of the surveillance were high and fuzzy.

Another dead end. He sighed.

Pedestrians bustled past Vogelbaum, nothing out of the ordinary ...... His argument with the bicyclist lasted a few seconds, when a girl came from the other side of the street, grabbed Vogelbaum by the arm, pulled out her black cell phone, and took out a napkin and marker. The bicyclist took this moment to slip away.

Ari paused the video again by intuition. This beastly instinct had saved his life many times before in a hail of bullets. The girl wore large black-framed glasses and a beanie, and had a conspicuous black mole on her face. She showed at most half her face to the surveillance, but it was enough for picture refinement. There was a strange familiarity about this girl. It seems that the coat she wore was very similar to the one Anna owned. Ari's eyes fell on the corner of the surveillance video, where there was a small flash of light.

Ari reassured himself that he was overthinking it, and that Anna's phone was milky white. But he got up and went downstairs anyway. Tonight, Anna came back from a meeting and they went straight to Gray's house, where, as usual, her coat should be hanging by the door. As if to reassure herself, and to prove herself wrong, Ari quietly went to the door where the clothes were hanging.

He first saw the shiny pin on the collar. Nothing about this pin was fancy and delicate like everything else in this house was. He remembered that pin, he hand-made it as a gift for wedding anniversary. And then the bulge caught his eyes. It was unethical to look into his partners’ pockets, he knew that. But he reached his hands inside, and discovered a marker and a napkin.

Anna couldn’t sleep tonight. This wasn't her first failed mission, however, it was kind of her most frustrating one. It didn't feel good at all to have the drive taken away from her one step ahead of time. She got up and checked the new messages on her work phone in the faint moonlight.

"Jenni?"

Looking at the messages and ten missed calls from an hour ago, not the least of which was from her boss, Samson. She hesitantly called Jenni back.

"Anna, we checked the security footage from the hotel where Vogelbaum stayed a few hours ago." Jennifer's words had a shudder that was not easily detected, "We suspect he was hired by Morian when Vogelbaum's deal fell through. Ari Levinson is a false identity, Anna--" her phone was taken from her by Samson, his cold voice echoed her brain, "You have twelve hours to bring back Mr. Levinson to our New York headquarters. If you can't bring him back alive, interrogate him about the whereabouts of the flash drive. If you do not respond to our message in twelve hours, and not bringing back Levinson or the flash drive, then the NSA will use extreme measures against you. Do you copy, Agent?"

"Yes." She replied mechanically.

"Very well, I'll be waiting to hear from you." Samson hung up the phone forcefully and ordered the two agents beside him, "Put Agent in our holding cell." His indifferent face seemed to be a formulaic execution of the Agent Defection Manual, "Please understand, Agent., hand over your badge and sidearm."

Jennifer spread her badge and sidearm on the table, and before she was taken away by the two agents she said to Samson stubbornly, "I trust Anna. She's loyal to the NSA."

"That would be wonderful." Samson said grimly, "Then killing Mr. Levinson wouldn't be a problem for her if she had to, would it?"

Jennifer bit her lip. That was something she couldn't guarantee. She glared at the agent who shoved her and spat out, "I can walk by myself."

Anna rolled out of bed and removed her sidearm from the secret safe in her closet. Inside the safe laid her NSA identification badge, but she let it stay there. If Ari really was an enemy agent or a mercenary, it would be more dangerous for her to give him leverage.

There were also pistols strapped under the kitchen sink downstairs and at the bottom of the couch in the living room, both of which she'd better take for protection before confronting Ari. At this point, her mind was muddled: Ari? She had seen him fixing locomotives and trucks and planes. Was that a fake identity? Just his cover? She only had 12 hours, how could she subdue Ari, and get him to reveal the location of the flash drive? Or did he have the flash drive on him?

She opened the bedroom door as quietly as she could, not even noticing the second bedroom door was opened. Anna held her gun ready to fire. She never thought she would feel unsafe in her own house. She smiled bitterly, perhaps it would save the trouble of divorce. She stepped cautiously down the stairs one step at a time, the bright moonlight shining through the living room window on the Persian rug. The light brown, hard-to-wash, easy-to-stain Persian rug had been bought the year before when they had done a minor remodeling of the house. Their relationship wasn’t so bad then.

She took a deep breath and cleared her head. There's plenty of time for grief after this bullshit.

Geographically, with the kitchen pistol closer to her, she stepped down the last step of the stairs and turned toward the vast darkness of the kitchen.

"Good evening, honey."

Ari sat wide open in her usual spot, his right index finger firmly on the trigger of a pistol, the muzzle pointed right at her. He had put on his coat, but his unbuttoned coat could not cover his hairy chest.

At the sound of his voice, Anna's hair stood at the back of her neck, her whole body screaming for her to get away from the danger as soon as possible.

"Good evening, sweetheart." She tried to be as calm as she could, "Why are you awake?"

He seemed to find her question very amusing and cocked his head, "I was going to ask the same question."

Anna approached him step by step, but stood at a distance of nine feet from him. She hadn't even changed her clothes. DAMN IT. She was still wearing her nightgown, yet the bottom half of his body was likewise in pajama pants. Maybe that meant he'd just found out his own identity had been revealed not long ago, too, so he'd only had time to pull on his outerwear.

Ari's eyes flirtatiously glided over the lace-trimmed cleavage at the top of her nightgown that barely covered it. He would never admit that he had just been attracted to the view there for a second, it would be too unprofessional. His wife was going to kill him, he had to be professional.

"Did you take Vogelbaum's flash drive?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny that." He threw the subject back at her as it was, his index finger tightening on the trigger. Anna saw the black muzzle and the dark silhouette of the gun and was beyond sure the bastard had removed the safety from the gun before she came downstairs.

He got up with a tight grip on the pistol, and Anna's aim followed his movements, aiming at his forehead or the bridge of his nose, a shot that would basically make his brains burst out. He spoke slowly: "Look, honey, I didn't mean for things to get this bad. Tell me who your employer is, and maybe I'll consider sparing your life."

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing. Whom do you serve?"

Ari was almost exasperated; his cute little wife was such a tough talker as always. Focus Ari, she had a gun. The flared hair made him basically a brown lion, retaining the ferocity of that predator hunting. He grinned. A jackal-like grin hung on his face as if he planned to tear someone to pieces the next second, "What, you want me to say, Jesus Christ?"

Anna knew exactly what was going to happen next, or the next few scenarios that could happen. In scenario number one, she succeeds in subduing Ari and escorting him to the NSA, five percent chance. In the second scenario, she dies in the process of subduing Ari, the probability is 20 percent - she knew very well that her fighting skills were only above the standard passing line, and she could say that she has no chance against Ari. In the third scenario, she is injured and captured in the process of subduing Ari, 60 percent chance- God knows how blood and violence will happen after this episode. In the fourth scenario, she is slightly injured in the process of subduing Ari and manages to escape, returning to the NSA and having them send agents after Ari, a fifteen percent chance, and her best option at this point.

Considering all four possibilities and her probability of survival, she chose the fourth one.

The place she was standing was close to the front and back doors, and if she could run into the garage, she could hot-wire a car and escape. It seemed like a good choice. But right now, she couldn't compete with Ari on who could fire their gun faster.

"Don't make me do this in the hard way." Ari furrowed his brows. He really didn't want their marriage to end this way, much less with a few rounds of ammunition and an interrogation room. If Anna had cooperated, he might have said a few kind words about her to his supervisor, even though he knew they would carry little weight, and even his supervisor would have called him “out of his fucking goddamn mind”.

It seemed that both Ari and she had chosen not to take the preemptive strike. She was curious if Ari would set up his own escape plan - focus, Anna, you no longer have a husband who argues with you because the meat displeases his taste. What else did she need? For hot wiring a car she'd still need a knife, to the kitchen then. She could break out the window with a knife in her mouth if she had to.

The kitchen was behind Ari, which was a bit of a problem. She gradually distanced herself from Ari.

Ari half-heartedly persuaded her to submit to him before more damage was caused. When he said "our marriage", the tears that had been building up in Anna's eyes finally fell. A beam of moonlight from above the stairs poured hazily over her face, and her tears seemed to glisten with light.

"Let's not fight, okay?" Ari meant it when he said this, reaching out a hand to Anna to hand in her firearm.

She lifted her head, her furrowed brows stretched, and a cold light flashed in her eyes: "FUCK YOU." She fired instantly, then rolled and ducked behind the couch. Ari's reaction was also very fast, as he switched his left hand to hold the gun and hit the couch with a couple of shots, but the dull sound of bullets penetrating the cotton of the couch and embedding themselves in the carpet meant that none of the shots hit her, and Anna has taken the opportunity to change her hiding place.

"You disabled yet, sweetheart?" Anna asked.

There seemed to be a flash of something in the dark shadows, and Ari emptied a clip, but only the sound of glass shattered. "To your dismay, honey, I fire better with my left hand." He cursed in secret as Anna's shot grazed an entire patch of skin on the outside of his right forearm. A five-inch wound that looked bloody and messy. Such a large abrasion, if not treated in time, could have ended with an amputation. He yanked off the covering cloth on the couch and wrapped it around his arm, tying a knot to prevent extensive bleeding and infection. But she was right, this wound was very effective in preventing him from shooting with his right hand.

Ari treated the wound and quickly switched magazines, loading all fifteen rounds into the pistol. It was so silent that only his own breathing could be heard, and the dark shadows enveloped the kitchen and half of the living room, so that nothing unusual could be seen. How come he hadn't noticed before that his little wife was so good at the game of hide and seek? He was careful not to let the moonlight shine on him and walked slowly against the wall.

Ari thought he had a vague idea of Anna's method of attack. If she was right, she was inclined to attack by sound, consuming all his bullets and energy before showing herself.

"Give up, Anna, surrender." He shouted.

"In your dreams." An unfamiliar voice ghosted behind him, and he twisted around to pull his gun, two rounds having been fired before he realized it was Siri reading a text message. But he already shattered the phone by then.

The sudden whistling wind made him take a few steps back to avoid whatever it was that was sharp enough to strike. He couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air as the shiny knife embedded itself in the door frame behind him. Anna let out a laugh as he dodged the knife, but the backward movement sent him into the moonlight. The ensuing flying knives cut his left arm in varying degrees and one small blade pierced his thigh.

Ari's face turned white with pain, and he ducked into the shadows, gritting his teeth and tying another piece of cloth around his thigh. She had avoided major blood vessels, but it was enough to make him less mobile - if that wasn't the explanation, then he'd gotten lucky. Given his greatly weakened combat ability, he needed to make this quick. Wasn't she hiding in the kitchen? He fired three tentative shots in anticipation of her hiding place. The china under the counter shattered inside the cupboard. There was no expected sound of hitting human flesh, and she did not make a sound.

Anna, who was hiding on the side of the counter, was very glad she had her chopping board covering her head and upper body, and the first of Ari's three shots hit her chopping board. Her heart was beating frantically, and rarely did training make her heart beat this fast. Calm down, Anna, she told herself. Cautiously, she picked up a piece of broken glass that had crumbled to her feet and used it as a mirror to look behind her.

There was nothing to see.

Of course, it was as dark as if the room spilled with ink.

The back door to the kitchen was close. So very close. In just three seconds, she could open it and escape.

Come on, Anna, fight for your life. She summoned up the courage to rush to the back door and turned the knob as fast as she could in her life-- and she did.

Except for the fact that the knob wouldn't turn.

It was fucking locked up.

The sound of the lock twisting caught his attention, and bullets came crashing in behind her, and Anna only had time to drop to the ground with her head in her hands and the knife in her hand. The bullet penetrated the upper part of the door glass, and shards of glass fell on her arms, thighs, and cheeks, cutting trails of blood.

"Can't let you get away, honey, I locked the front and back doors before you came downstairs." He closed in on her, the shards of glass shattering beneath his feet with a bursting sound.

She tried to get up and run, but it was too late. The warm muzzle of the gun pressed against her forehead as Ari pulled the restraints from his coat pocket. His eyes lowered as if a lion was sizing up his prey, "Get your hands in there, honey, and don't make this any harder than it has to be."

She let out a breath and sat upright on the floor, “Okay. Can I stand up first?"

"No funny tricks, honey." He gestured for her to first tie the restraints around her wrists. It was much less likely to break free than the handcuffs.

Anna rested her hands on the edge of the kitchen counter and propped her knees up, "I've got my hands where you can see them, didn’t I?”

Ari was distracted from looking at her hands when Anna jerked the counter drawer open and let the wooden drawer hit his cheekbone. Ari let go and the gun fell to the floor, Anna saw the opportunity to kick the pistol away, but she wasn't fast enough to remove the taped gun under the sink before he pulled her by the ankle. The popped-out drawer was hanging outside and struck heavily under her ribs.

Damn, that's going to leave a bruise.

Both of her fists were stopped in mid-air by Ari. His large palm wrapped around her fist to reign in her force with ease, and he used the opportunity to force her arms behind her back. The corners of his mouth were cut and his cheekbone was red and swollen, but he didn't seem to care, flipping his hair out of his sight instead, "Come on, let's talk."

"Fuck your talk."

Anna squeezed the words out from between her teeth as she stomped between his legs, and Ari fell backwards, covering his crotch. She thought that would be enough for her to escape Ari's clutches, but Ari's pain tolerance proved to be much better than she had anticipated. Ari pulled her ankle again, but this time Anna was prepared, she wouldn't be caught up with the same move twice. She elbowed his spine and neck, until Ari was so concussed that he was dizzy and let go of her. Not even slightly relieved, she clenched her fist and punched him in the jaw. Even if it didn't dislocate him, it was enough to relish her anger.

She escaped his grasp and didn't feel safe until her back was against the kitchen corner. She didn't forget to pull off the gun stuck to the bottom of the sink and pointed it at his head.

Ari swallowed the rusty taste of blood and his lips were stained red. He grabbed the knife she had just dropped on the ground, and the hilt turned in his hand, forming a backhanded position with the knife. His jaw joint was vaguely painful, needless to say, came from her last punch. He was half crouched on the ground, his blood-soaked hand smoothing his long hair to the back of his head. A few strands of brown hair dripping with blood slipped down the side of his face, but he had no time to care whether he was decent now.

Ari could slit her throat if he lunged, or he could be pierced by a bullet a few times before he touched her. His dark blue eyes looked at the crimson glass shards that cut through her skin lying on the ground. They looked a bit like the blood diamonds he'd tracked down when he'd first joined DHS. Those blood diamonds were actually see-through and had been swallowed into the bowels of some poor man, staining themselves with the bright red blood of their victims. Since then he had some physical discomfort at the sight of diamonds again, which was why when Anna suggested the diamond ring and he persuaded her to buy the more expensive white gold ring. He deliberately came home at 7 p.m. sharp in order to maintain his cover, so she had to cook dinner for both of them, just because she came home a little earlier. Even the Persian carpet she complained about, which was hard to clean during the annual cleaning, was bought by him to cover up a piece of the floor he had pried up to hide the evidence.

He hesitated and distanced the marriage first. Her detachment was just a natural reaction to several unsuccessful attempts to win him back.

He didn't regret marrying her, but it seemed she had always been the one to back off in the marriage.

"I give up."

He said softly.

If she hadn't seen his lips twitching in his beard, Anna would have thought she imagined him saying that.

Ari tossed the knife into the sink and spread his hands, "I can't ......" His voice lowered, "Anna, I can't do this to you."

He looked straight into her eyes, and only her eyes were illuminated by a sliver of moonlight. Forgotten memories came to mind like a tidal wave: her smiling eyes when they first met, her happy tears when she got married, the temperature in her eyes lowered to the freezing point as she gave in again and again.

He was dying before he understood the failure of their marriage - no, he screwed up big time in the marriage.

It was too late when he understood. A faint red ring mark on her finger already spoke volumes about his failure.

He closed his eyes and waited for his end, whether it was a bullet in the head or endless interrogation and torture. He should not have given up as an agent until the last moment. But he chose to give up for the sake of his conscience and her future, and he only hoped that she would somehow spare him for the sake of his submission. For the first time in his marriage, he truly put the choice in her hands and waited for her decision.

Anna went through a million endings possible in her mind, but none of them involved him surrendering voluntarily and putting the choice in her hands. What would happen next? Would she interrogate him about the location of the flash drive and turn him over to the NSA, or would she ask for it and let him go? Or would she just hand him over to the NSA? Or let him go without further questions?

"Where's the flash drive?"

"It's in a safe place right now, but I don't know exactly where it is," Ari answered honestly. He was only responsible for stealing the flash drive, and he handed it over to his superior as soon as he got it. If his boss had heard what he said, Ari would probably have been benched for thirty years.

"You IDIOT!" Anna was so angry that she wanted to punch this idiot, "That thing can kill people if it got into the wrong hands!"

Ari looked at her confusedly, "Of course, that's why I stole it."

Anna was silent.

She was storming through her mind to calculate the possibility that she had married a dumbass.

"Wait, wait, wait," Ari held up his hands in surrender, "can I ask a question?"

"Yes," Anna said with no intention of answering him.

"Don’t you work for Morian?"

"I thought you work for Morian?"

Ari and Anna stared at each other for a while. At this point in time, there was no need for either side to lie. They both knew that the other was telling the truth, and they were sincere in their questions.

Ari couldn't piece things together for a moment: "Whom do you work for?"

"NSA, I'm the chief of Ops in New York. What!" She snapped.

"Why didn't you say so earlier!"

"You didn't ask! No, whom do you work for?" Anna asked rhetorically, her right eyelid fluttering, always with a bad feeling.

"...DHS, I belong to the Terrorist Activity Monitoring Squad of the Secret Service."

The National Security Agency bumped into the Department of Homeland Security. What are the fucking chances?

"Then why did you say Jesus Christ??" Anna went into a major meltdown, "We wouldn’t have to fight, genius!" She tried to clear her mind, putting the pistol behind her with the safety on, "You just said 'a safe place', you gave it to your boss, right?"

"Yes."

Anna looked even angrier than when they fought earlier, "Why don’t you just say so!"

"I thought you worked for Morian." He explained, a lame excuse, but one that was true, "Optimistically, we -"

"Then why didn't you ask!!!" She was so angry that she yelled at him, her cheeks flushed red - visible even in the hazy moonlight.

"I-"

"ARI LEVINSON you are the most fucking stubborn, stupid, egoistic maniac I have ever met!" She picked up the pistol behind her and threw it right in the center of his chest, followed by a melon and a pear straight at his body.

"Don't hit the wound, honey-"

"Don’t HONEY me!" Anna was shaking with anger, his pitch soaring two octaves higher: "You arrogant, self-absorbent little shit!!! We are getting a fucking divor--" Tears welled up from her eyes.

The familiar warmth gathered around her body, allowing her tears to soak through his coat.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, sounding a little pitiful.

Anna sniffled, her fists striking haphazardly against his back and shoulder. A number of them landed his wounds. On the one hand, she wanted to shoot Ari, but the pistol hit him just now and fell on the floor; on the other hand, she wanted to sink into the warmth of the embrace and never get up again.

She said reluctantly, "Your badge."

"What?" Didn't she say she was divorcing him for one second? Or he thought he would say at least something as cruel as "I hate you". He knew he deserve it though.

His word alone was surely not enough. She needed to see his ID badge, and she needed to call Samson to confirm the situation, as did Ari. "We need to record each other's ID badges and report to our respective supervisors." She kicked his calf, the tear not quite wiped from her face, but she was already thinking about what she was going to do for the next twenty-four hours.

Ari believed for a moment that they were going fuck. But she was right. Indeed, they had more pressing matters at hand that needed to be concluded.

4:30 a.m. In the car on the way to NSA's New York State headquarters, Anna looks at Ari, who has just finished a phone call to his boss, and smiled sweetly: "Have fun, Mr. Husband, you'll have to go over this whole story with my supervisor, Mr. Samson, later." Without even hearing the specifics of the call, she could imagine the shocked look on the face of Ari's supervisor when he heard Ari say that he had been subdued by his wife and the even more astonishing fact that she was an NSA agent.

But she could just as easily imagine that both the NSA and DHS would taunt each other with the other's failure to uncover the false identities of their own agents - or simply keep their mouths shut and put skeletons in the closet, which was probably best for both organizations.

Ari chuckled, choosing to let Anna have her moment of complacency.

"I feel like I should tell you, do you remember that old car we had?" Anna thought for a long time, tapping her fingers on the leather-covered steering wheel, her eyes glancing at Ari, whose long hair covered half of his face.

"Yes, why?"

"I didn't have a car accident. Drove it to the scene during a mission and ended up getting totally banged up by a dumb agent trying to put on a show of Fast and Furious. NSA even helped with a full news blackout at the time."

Ari's expression went from disbelief at first to gradual acceptance, "I told you that injury wasn't serious at all! You could have waltzed out of the hospital and still acted like you need a gurney at any second!"

"But NSA did pay for it, that's why we bought this car." Anna shrugged and took pride in her honesty (and in asking NSA for an extra amount for the damage to the vehicle).

"Fine. A bunch of terrorists once tracked down my, uh, our home address a few years back and started a mass shootout while you were at work - that's why I insisted on renovating the house, or you'd have seen the bullet holes sooner or later."

"You son of a bitch!" She exclaimed, but her tone wasn't quite angry, "You were the one who said that termites had infested the house that time. I was so scared I almost had to put pesticide under my pillow for a month."

"The lawn mower was a little crooked. I grabbed it when I was beating up those guys. I’m surprised you didn’t notice." He sighed.

"To be honest, you've been in charge of mowing the lawn, so I haven't paid much attention to it." She said bluntly, her pale fingers curling up and scratching the steering wheel slightly nervously, "I haven't done much cooking."

"You don't-"

"They’re mostly takeout."

"Fuck." It was Ari's turn to have a slight breakdown, "I never doubted it, just thought your cooking really sucks."

Anna looked into the rearview mirror, "You actually ate something I cooked once. I baked the cookies after the charity sale about four or five years ago."

"...You told me they were from the neighbor next door."

"Yes, after you thought it was too sweet. So I never made them for you again."

Ari caught the gist of the words and straightened his upper body from the car seat: “For me? You still make it yourself?"

"Occasionally, I make myself baked goods when I'm in the mood. But you don't have a sugar tooth, so you won’t touch it even if it's in the fridge." She glanced at him before adding, "My mom's a baker, and I've been helping her in the kitchen ever since I was a kid."

"You told me your mom died when you were a kid."

"Sorry, she's still healthy and very much alive. I think she’s sunbathing on whatever beach she's on. The guy holding me down the aisle at the wedding was an actor I hired - my parents divorced early on and I pretended my dad was dead."

"I told you I thought that guy looked familiar on Law & Order. I actually invited my own parents to the wedding." Ari felt deeply offended by the deception, "I was married once."

He immediately received a few slaps on the shoulder from Anna.

"What's her name and social security number???" She barked at him.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Ari had to raise his arms in defense, "She and I got drunk in Vegas back in the day. We signed divorce papers immediately when we were sober!"

"That's not a good reason either." She mumbled darkly, "I'm starting to regret being honest with you."

"It's too late, honey, you've opened Pandora's box." There was an unconscious note of mockery in his tone. He immediately regretted saying this, "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant, Anna."

"It's Diana. mom thought it sounded good when she gave me the name, but then needed to pick a less noticeable name for missions, so my fake identity became Anna. What about you?"

"Levinson is my mother’s maiden name. I used my father's name until I was eighteen, then I joined DHS and needed to completely cut myself off from my old life. One last question, do... did you love me?" He asked calmly, feeling an unmistakable chill burrow into his heart.

"Did."

Ari turned his head to look out the car window, a watery glow already piling up in the corners of his eyes.

The AC blew a whirring cold wind that settled to the floor and gathered at the ankle. Anna looked at the way his goosebumps cover his arm, reached out and turned off the central air conditioning, and opened the windows to balance the temperature inside and outside the car, "still is. Probably will continue to love the idiot who always forgets to turn off the air conditioning in the future."

The chill dissipated.

She slowly pulled the SUV up to a building on Wall Street, the car door unlocked but no one got out.

"Say, you don't have an evil twin brother or anything, do you?"

The slightly sad atmosphere was broken once again by her skeptical question.

"No!" He answered in surprise, raising his eyebrow, "Where did you get that from? I'm an only child."

She pulled out her car keys but didn't forget to close the window, "The plot of 365 Dni. It's always good to be careful." Anna picked up her phone and checked for messages, luckily NSA hadn’t rushed her yet, "That book has been sitting in the middle of the study in the very center of the shelves, haven't you noticed? I bought it last year."

"You speak Polish?"

"No. I purchased an English translation of the book."

"My God, the stuff you read..." He couldn't help but sigh, "It's a novel?"

"I just love dramatic cliche romance novels." She didn't forget to add fuel to the fire before she got off, "Aren't you an agent? You don't even know what novels your wife reads at home?"

At 6 a.m., Ari Levinson and his wife Anna were finally released by the NSA and DHS after an exhausting hour of cross-interrogation and simple wound treatment by the accompanying doctor. With assurances from both superiors, they managed to keep their badges and sidearms. The flash drive problem was handled entirely by the NSA and DHS, which was beyond their pay grade. Jennifer, who was unfortunately caught in the mess, was also released, and Samson gave her a two-day vacation. But Anna had reason to suspect that he didn’t like Jenni's behavior of standing up for her.

Natalie heard that Anna almost killed her husband and secretly slipped her lawyer's business card into Anna’s hand and gave Anna two thumbs up. Anna didn't really want to know what she heard, but according to Jenni, the word around the department now was that Anna beat her husband to ED, and several colleagues claimed that the version they heard was that Anna beat Ari to his knees begging for mercy.

On his knees, well ... pretty much; begging, true. Ari thought silently, draping a thin quilt over Anna's sleeping, curled-up body. She had done too much mental and physical activity overnight, and was so sleepy after leaving NSA that she fell asleep in the passenger seat. He drove home and carried her to the main bedroom. She was disturbed several times, but did not wake up.

Fortunately, the damage they did was not extensive to reach the upstairs bedroom and study. The kitchen was half ruined, as were the living room and entryway. The storage room under the stairs wasn't in great shape either, so he was going to talk to her after she woke up about whether to call in the renovation team. Or maybe she'd wake up and he'd have to deal with their divorce papers and the divorce lawyer with the gold-rimmed glasses.

Ari walked down the creaking stairs and sat down on the couch to pour himself a glass of whiskey. He preferred it on the rocks; however, the fridge was shot through last night. The spicy liquor warmed up his throat and stomach, but the darkness had passed and the temperature would only continue to rise as the sun rose. He leaned back against the couch, the lack of support from the soft fabric always made him feel like he was not lying on his own sofa.

Miraculously, through the thin layer of the floorboard, both of them coincidentally thought about their first meeting. As for Anna, she dreamt about it.

Six or seven years ago, in a rainy and misty southern Argentina, such uncommon precipitation weather naturally gave the intelligence agencies opportunities to take advantage of. Anna was an intelligence analyst at that time and was ordered to come to Argentina to assist a criminal informant to get out of trouble, but more importantly, to get information from the informant about the operation of an international crime syndicate. Something neither she nor her superiors anticipated were that the desperate informant first gave her false information and then defected to the crime syndicate, offering Anna as his proof of loyalty.

Anna had no choice but to shoot the renegade informant. The sound of gunfire brought her trouble, as the police in Cordoba, on the payroll of the crime syndicate, started to investigate who killed the man. They were focused on foreign tourists who were traveling alone.

A few policemen tried to shake down some female tourists, and Anna was one of them. When they questioned Anna loudly in Spanish if she had company, she was relieved by Ari, who called her honey and helped her out. Ari said he was a pilot on a flight from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires, even though he actually poisoned an Argentinean military official in collusion with terrorists before the police riot. He felt sorry for Anna's entanglement and bought her a drink. One drink soon turned into two and three, and then the pair soon fell in love and spent a few more days in Cordoba, kissing, dancing, and laughing.

They both returned to the United States. After a few more dates and three weeks of knowing each other, they announced to everyone around them that they were getting married.

Anna finished her nap and stretched in bed, but almost twisted her back out with the "good morning" from the doorway. Ari leaned against the door frame and grinned at the look on her face. He walked over to the bed and leaned down to kiss her forehead, "Good morning, honey." His warm kisses landed on her brow and the bridge of her nose, his lips eventually lingering for a moment above hers, his crystal blue eyes searching her face for any sign of resistance.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close for a deeper kiss. The kiss quickly ignited an unfinished flame between them that began with their anger but was not entirely made up of pure bottled-up emotion. The mutual revelation of their identities did not quench their thirst but only temporarily stopped the further spread of the flame that now swept through their souls and bodies, burning down almost everything.

He took off her pajama and took hold of her slim waist, brushing the patch of bruising skin with his thumb unintentionally, earning a soft whine from Anna. Ari regained a moment of sanity from the kiss and his eyes followed the strange touch beneath his fingers. The underside of her ribs was slightly swollen, no doubt from their chaotic encounter downstairs a few hours earlier. He had no strange fetishes, he had to admit, but Anna's bruised and battered body only made him pity her more and his desire to fuck her higher than ever.

"I'm sorry." He whispered his apologies, kissing every tiny cut and bruise beneath, a profound way to remind himself of the mental and physical damage he had inflicted on her. Ari's long hair fell down the sides of his face, sweeping over her body along with his beard. Anna's hands convulsed with his hair, slightly removing some of the itches, yet his soft beard left her squirming under him. There was nothing she could do. He lifted her legs and held her scratched legs over his shoulder, burying his head and kissing the soft flesh on her inner thigh. His ringed left hand rested on the outside of her flesh, the silvery-white ring touching her skin and bringing a cool sensation.

His overly exuberant hair brushed her pussy through her panties, which were soaked with her own juices, and the sensation of being tickled caused her to express her displeasure in a somewhat frustrated, thin moan. Hickeys crept up her inner thighs to the groin where they met her belly. She tried to keep her legs together, but his head was in between and she was afraid of crashing his skull. If he didn't do something to her soon, she really would do something to his skull.

"May I?" His blue eyes darkened. The heat in her body collided with the hot breath across her skin, burning the knots in her lower abdomen.

She lost her strength after just one look at him. Not to mention taking off her panties, these beautiful eyes could have made her tie herself up and edge her ten times over and she’d gladly obey: "Please."

Her panties were flung to God knows where, and that was probably the least thing on her mind right now. He started with a long lick at her slit, then the tip of his tongue went in to seek out the swollen, almost painful clit. "Fuck." His tongue slid around the edge of her entrance, muffled by the abundance of her juices. The vibrating sensation beneath her made Anna clench his hair, running her fingers on his scalp, stirring a few strands into one.

Six years of marriage had given him a good knowledge of the sensitive spots on her body. Ari rubbed his jaw over her mound, making her squirt and come all at once as she whimpered. "Cream on my face, honey." His brush-like whiskers gave her a tingling, intertwined sensation, the delicious beard burn generating soreness she could feel even days later. His whiskers glistened with her crystalline juices, and with a slight gasp, he moved up to kiss her lips, giving her a taste of her own.

Her fingers left the ends of his messy hair and peeled off his tank top and shorts, exposing his thick shaft. It took little time for Ari to get his cock at her entrance and penetrate her effortlessly, his arms gripping her thighs so that her pussy met his shaft without breaking the stitched wound on her body. Her warm, wet channel fluttered upon his intrusion. Her pussy was a constant supply of juices for lubrication, dripping out of her body, yet he felt strong resistance every time he thrust in. She was so tight that made him suck a breath.

"You are so fucking tight, honey, might come just this second." His teeth took her soft earlobe in and whispered filth in her ear, along with his muffled grunts burnt Anna's face. She pulled him down and bit his lips to shut him up, but Ari's hand somehow rested on her tits, pinching her nipple and making her scream. The tingling from her nipple, the warmth coming from her earlobes, her pussy split open by his demanding cock, the squelching noises, the lips grinding and chasing, the rising heat in the room, and the salty taste of sweat on his chin... she was lost in the multiple sensations and soon came.

They made love three times until they both lay exhausted on the bed, panting heavily, unwilling to lift another finger. It wasn’t fuck. The process was gentle and caring. And Ari, for the first time in his life, didn’t thrust into her like a horny teenager, but rocked slowly, allowing her to float in the blissful post-orgasmic fuzzy feeling, rather than passing out the second she had her orgasm. He came three times inside her, stuffing her pussy with so much cum dripping out of her entrance and smeared with her juices. She didn’t particularly enjoy orgasms ripped out of her body, but that didn’t mean she didn’t like to be stuffed full either.

Anna rested on his arm, keeping her back close to his warm chest. His firm arms wrapped around her upper body like chains from behind, while he pressed kisses (and tickled her with his beard) to her shoulder.

After a long time, when the sunlight peeked into the gap between curtains and landed on the dark floor and both of their ankles, Ari finally asked the question that was bothering him for hours, "What are we going to do next?"

A week later, at 3 p.m., the marriage therapist was very pleased to see the couple from last week back here. Many people didn’t make it through a session, but that was a topic for another day.

"Have you made any progress in the last week?"

"Sure." The Levinsons smiled from the bottom of their hearts. Ari caught one of her hands and rubbed her ring finger. Anna gave him an annoyed look but didn't pull back. It was a good sign that they had communicated well in the previous week, as they did not resist physical contact. The therapist took notes in his notebook.

Ari's eyes unconsciously glued to her face: "We ... ahem, we communicated, and we both recognized our shortcomings in the marriage."

"And we are fixing the problems in the marriage," Anna added, leaning slightly in Ari's direction, but only a little. Anna straightened her face, but could not stop smiling, "Oh, and we redid the house."

The therapist listened very carefully to their answers and nodded approvingly, "That's going very well. Marriage is all about communication, constant improvement, and constant bonding. It's a long-term process."

Ari agreed: "I'm not going to lie, I still sometimes want to …" his eyes are glued to Anna again, swallowing the few words that could get them back into trouble, "but uh - couldn’t take the shot. "

"Me too."

They looked at each other and then grinned. Both were a bit smug.

The therapist cleared his throat to regain their attention, "Remember it's the two of you versus the problem, not you versus the other person. So how will you rate your current relationship?"

"Ask us that sex question again," Ari interjected, causing Anna to slap him on the back of the hand with a disapproving look. Ari just shrugged and intertwined their fingers. Anna shook her head as if dealing with a 5-year-old, considering Ari’s smug smile and his clinginess, it wasn’t a bad metaphor.

"Well, -"

He held her hand and raised his smile triumphantly, posing "1" and "0" with his fingers and mouthed: "Ten."

Notes: I wrote this in June to celebrate Chris Evans' birthday. And it took me five days to write this stuff, in English, no less, which is not my first language. No beta'd, so there's gonna be typos and grammar errors. But anyway. Always appreciate comments and feedbacks / reblogs!

[revelisms]

Both Sides of the Moon

Silco and Sevika's relationship, told through a series of business ventures.

Rating: M | WC: 9k | Oneshot | Sevika POV Features plenty of psuedo-marital messiness, terrible humor, a brutal and bloody Silco, Silco being a Dad, and big kinds of Tension between these two. CWs: Graphic violence, sadistic/masochistic tones and themes around past trauma and abuse. Full list of tags and warnings can be found in the overview and A/N. Full story on AO3

Preview:

Topside's air reeks of petunias.

Even washed out by a storm heavy as this—petrichor oozing off the stones, the skies thundering with ozone, puddles stirred and peltering beneath their feet—the nectar of these Piltie gardens is damned near impossible to avoid. It leaves her nose wrinkling.

Were she a softer woman, less corrupted by the death she wore like a second skin, she may have found simpler pleasures watching those kaleidoscopic prisms blooming to life around them: throngs of sun-bright lilies and dusted roses, daffodils and daisies and hyacinths, all dancing beneath the rains in sweeps of petaled skirts and leafed tresses.

By the Kindreds' grace, she is not—and so she takes no pleasure in it, at all.

She clears her lungs of the vile sweet on the air, and breathes in something blessedly more familiar: woody ash, a spike of citrus, soured with the chemical fumes that stick to their clothes like a stubborn stain. 

It's a scrap of solace, in this hell of a city—all of it too bright, too floral, too clean. 

A reminder of where she belongs. Of to whose coin her services are owed.

(Coin stained in gun oil and blood-rust, tucked beneath the breast pocket of a suit cloaked in seal-slick leather, where he skims his claws against the seams: feels their jagged minting bite back at him.)

The movement tips her eyes over her shoulder. She's used to the image she's met with. Thin-boned in a body forced into years of back-breaking trade; a lazing prowl to his stance that leaves him a half-head shorter, even in those pompous boots. 

She may have scoffed at it, once—that she would lay down her life at the feet of a man she could just as easily snap over her knee. 

Years of tailing his blood-soaked shadow have taught her to think differently.

His presence commands a breadth that his fractured appearance can only scrape the edges of. He speaks with a voice that does not fit his face; carries himself with an aura that can fill a room, without a single word spoken. A fly always lurking in the walls of one's mind, who's wrangled free from the cobwebs and devoured the host, taken reign over what remains.

"In time," he muses, trained on the foliage across the way, "you may yet come to appreciate it."

He's made a habit of plucking her vexations from her fanged mouth and speaking them, himself. Unnerving as it is cumbersome.

Sevika rolls the thought over, and sneers at it.

As if.

She's never had a mind for strategy. Never had the patience, the care, the will to don veils of performance at every minute of every damned hour; to twist these rogue pawns together, in some preordained act of design.

Let her handle the bloodspills and snakebitten threats, silence a room with the weight of her stare alone; let her sit in the shadows, and twist her knives, and observe.

That, she's good at.

"You appreciate it?" she turns back on him.

One dark brow raises, marginally. Silco loosens his shoulders; says, "I appreciate possibility," with a shrewd dryness. "The promise in potential." He's studying something across the way—seeing and unseeing. A shadow dips at the scarred edge of his mouth. "That hunger will turn a mutt to the hand that feeds it." 

Loyalty.

A gamble, rather. But one he's willing to take.

Strategy is lived and breathed by this man—a necessity of his own survival, as much as he finds some crude satisfaction in twisting the threads to his favor. Contradictions that weigh in every step he takes, from a lifetime plotted on axes of dichotomy.

He should have never crawled free from the mines. Should have stayed dead in the Pilt. By all accounts, he should have never made it to the seat he now occupies, ruling over a Council of his own forging.

And yet—in that, he is Zaun's own embodiment. A spiteful manifestation of perseverance, in the face of generations-long disempowerment. An element of chaos, in an otherwise preordained world.

[winterandwords]

🌊 November Breaks (story summary)

No conscience, no problem. Noah kills for money. Brett hides a life of crime behind a successful career. Officially, they both protect people from people like themselves. Unofficially, everything is falling apart. Until they meet. And it all gets worse.

💻 To read online for free, please visit winterandwords.com

✅ GENRE Transgressive, literary

📖 AUDIENCE Adult

📝 LENGTH Approx 52k words

👀 VIBE Crime, weather symbolism and questionable life choices. Hurt me, I need to feel alive. Violence is a drug. Also, drugs are drugs. This is a love story like crude oil is a tea. #ThatShouldNotBeHot. Nothing’s real anyway.

⭐ MAIN CHARACTERS

Brett Archer is chaos, wildfire, and the sweetest deception. His freezer is full of vodka and his head is full of everything all the time. He has an impressive collection of scars and the kind of smile that makes things happen. He is a predatory masochist, manipulative, vicious, and eloquent. He frequently dreams about the end of the world and wakes up curious. His moral standing is lying down and buried in a shallow grave.

Noah Thurston is death, the tidal wave, and the unbreakable rock. He habitually gives up giving up smoking, and he takes coffee very seriously. He kills for money, but also because he needs to and because he can. He attaches no moral value to ending lives, but he leaves generous tips for the people behind the bar. He is always in control, even when he isn’t, and he’s done with everyone’s shit, including his own. His coat cost more than your car.

📸 IMAGE CREDIT My own

[marutifinechemicals]

Exploring the Uses and Safety Measures of Oleum 23%

Oleum 23% is a powerful chemical used in many industries. It is a form of sulfuric acid that contains added sulfur trioxide. This makes it very reactive and useful in different chemical processes. In this blog, we will explore the main uses of Oleum 23% and important safety measures to follow when handling it.

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Avoid Mixing with Water: Never add water directly to Oleum 23%, as it can cause a violent reaction. If dilution is necessary, always add Oleumto water slowly and carefully, not the other way around.

Emergency Measures: In case of accidental exposure, rinse the affected area with plenty of water immediately and seek medical help if needed.

Conclusion

Oleum 23% is a versatile chemical with many uses in industries like manufacturing, petroleum, and pharmaceuticals. However, it is crucial to handle this strong acid with care. By following the proper safety measures, you can safely use Oleum in various applications. At Maruti Fine Chemicals, we provide high-quality Oleum 23% for your industrial needs. Whether you are in the chemical, pharmaceutical, or petroleum industry, our Oleum can help you achieve the best results in your processes. Visit here for more information: https://marutifinechem.com/oleum-fuming-sulphuric-acid/

[the-yuanjian-blog]

High-Quality Pumps and Valves by Aleader Company

In both industrial and civil engineering, pumps and valves play a critical role. As a leading company in this field, Aleader Company has earned widespread recognition and trust for its superior product quality and innovative technology. This article will provide an in-depth look at Aleader Company's pump and valve products and their applications across various industries.

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Diverse Range Comprehensive product range, including centrifugal pumps, gear pumps, diaphragm pumps, ball valves, butterfly valves, globe valves, and more, meeting various application scenarios.

Typical Application Cases

Petrochemical Industry In the petrochemical field, Aleader's pump and valve products are widely used for crude oil transportation and media control in refining processes. Their high corrosion resistance materials and intelligent control systems ensure safe and efficient production processes.

Water Treatment Industry In municipal and industrial water treatment systems, Aleader's pump and valve products are used for sewage treatment and potable water purification. Their high efficiency and durability ensure the long-term stable operation of water treatment systems.

Food Processing Industry In food processing, Aleader's sanitary-grade pump and valve products meet strict hygiene requirements and are widely used in dairy, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, ensuring product safety and quality.

Installation and Maintenance

Installation Steps

1. Preparation:

Confirm the installation location and the size and specifications of the pipe interfaces.

Check the pump and valve products for any damage and ensure all accessories are complete.

2. Installation:

Follow the product manual for installation, ensuring all connections are tight and leak-free.

Connect and debug the intelligent control system to ensure normal operation.

3. Test Run:

After installation, perform system testing to check all parameters and ensure the pump and valve operate normally.

Maintenance Tips

Regular Inspections: Periodically inspect all connection points and seals to ensure there are no leaks or loose parts.

Cleaning and Lubrication: Regularly clean and lubricate the interior of long-running pumps and valves to maintain optimal working conditions.

Replace Worn Parts: Replace any worn or damaged parts promptly to avoid affecting system operation.

Conclusion

With its superior product quality and technological innovation, Aleader Company has become a leader in the pump and valve industry. Whether you need efficient and durable industrial pumps and valves or intelligent control systems, Aleader can provide professional solutions. For more information or to place an order, visit Aleader Company's official website or contact their customer service team. Enhance your installations with the trusted quality and reliability of Aleader Company's pumps and valves.

[crudeinourtrading]

When Investing Tips Into Gambling - The Havoc This Can Cause

Trading the hottest sectors, stocks, ETFs, etc., can be an addictive game. My advice to you, learned the hard way, of course – know where the line between trading ends and gambling begins.

A brief synopsis of what I cover includes:

Big picture recap of where the markets are and how asset revesting is stacking up against the 60/40 portfolio.

The importance of knowing about maximum drawdowns.

A granular view of our consistent growth strategy and the markets.

What happens when subscribers and I reach a profit target?

Short-term momentum charts.

What does it mean that the stock market is making all-new highs, but NVDA is not?

Gambling vs Trading/Investing….A closer look at NVDA.

The bond market – when will it be a good investment again?

Is the VIX ready to pop?

US dollar – is the chart pointing to a base or a bear flag?

Precious metals – will gold continue its push to the upside?

Industrials – are primed and ready for another surge.

Crude oil’s weekly chart shows a similar pattern to 2088.

Stock market cycles.

Watch Today’s Free Video Here

[industrywalaco]

Understanding Butterfly Valves: Essential for Industrial Fluid Control

Butterfly valves are integral components in various industrial fluid control systems. These versatile and efficient valves offer numerous advantages, making them a preferred choice for many applications. This blog will delve into the importance, applications, and maintenance tips for butterfly valves, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.

What is a Butterfly Valve?

A butterfly valve is a quarter-turn rotational motion valve that regulates the flow of a fluid. Its simple yet effective design includes a disc mounted on a rotating shaft. When the valve is closed, the disc blocks the passage of fluid, and when opened, the disc rotates to allow fluid flow. This straightforward mechanism makes butterfly valves highly efficient and easy to operate.

Applications of Butterfly Valves

Butterfly valves are widely used in various industries due to their versatility and efficiency. Some common applications include:

Water Treatment Plants: Butterfly valves control water flow and pressure in filtration and distribution systems.

Oil and Gas Industry: These valves manage the flow of crude oil, natural gas, and refined products.

Chemical Processing: Butterfly valves regulate the movement of chemicals, ensuring safe and efficient operations.

HVAC Systems: They control the flow of air and water in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

Food and Beverage Industry: Butterfly valves are used to manage the flow of liquids and gases in production processes.

Advantages of Butterfly Valves

Butterfly valves offer several advantages over other types of valves, including:

Compact Design: Their small size and lightweight nature make them easy to install and handle.

Cost-Effective: Butterfly valves are generally less expensive than other valve types, offering a cost-efficient solution for fluid control.

Quick Operation: The quarter-turn operation allows for rapid opening and closing, enhancing system efficiency.

Low Maintenance: The simple design results in fewer components that can wear out or require maintenance.

Choosing the Right Butterfly Valve

Selecting the appropriate butterfly valve for your specific needs is crucial for optimal performance. Consider the following factors:

Material: Choose a valve made from materials compatible with the fluid being controlled to prevent corrosion and ensure longevity.

Size and Pressure Rating: Ensure the valve size and pressure rating match the system requirements for effective operation.

End Connections: Select the appropriate end connections (wafer, lug, or flanged) based on the piping system design.

Maintenance Tips for Butterfly Valves

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity and efficiency of butterfly valves. Here are some tips:

Regular Inspection: Periodically inspect the valve for signs of wear, corrosion, or damage. Address any issues promptly to prevent further deterioration.

Cleaning: Keep the valve clean and free from debris that could hinder its operation.

Lubrication: Apply appropriate lubrication to the moving parts to ensure smooth operation and reduce wear.

Testing: Regularly test the valve to ensure it operates correctly and does not leak.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

While butterfly valves are generally reliable, they can encounter some common issues:

Leakage: This can result from a damaged seal, improper installation, or wear. Inspect and replace the seal if necessary.

Sticking or Jamming: This can occur due to debris buildup or lack of lubrication. Clean the valve and apply lubrication to resolve the issue.

Corrosion: Ensure the valve is made from compatible materials to prevent corrosion. Regular inspection and maintenance can also help identify and address corrosion early.

Conclusion

Butterfly valves are essential components in industrial fluid control systems, offering efficiency, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. By understanding their applications, advantages, and maintenance requirements, you can ensure optimal performance and longevity for your butterfly valves. Regular inspection and proper maintenance are key to preventing common issues and ensuring smooth operation.

[warningsine]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Heavy thunderstorms lashed the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, dumping the heaviest rain ever recorded in the country in the span of hours as it flooded out portions of major highways and Dubai’s international airport.

The state-run WAM news agency called the rain “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.” That’s before the discovery of crude oil in this energy-rich nation then part of a British protectorate known as the Trucial States.

The rains began late Monday, soaking the sands and roadways of Dubai with some 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) of rain, according to meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport. The storms intensified around 9 a.m. local Tuesday and continued throughout the day, dumping more rain and hail onto the overwhelmed city.

By the end of Tuesday, more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall had soaked Dubai over 24 hours. An average year sees 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) of rain at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel and a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates.

At the airport, standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed. The airport ended up halting arrivals Tuesday night and passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.

One couple, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to speak freely in a country with strict laws that criminalize critical speech, called the situation at the airport “absolute carnage.”

“You cannot get a taxi. There’s people sleeping in the Metro station. There’s people sleeping in the airport,” the man said Wednesday.

They ended up getting a taxi to near their home some 30 kilometers (18 miles) away, but floodwater on the road stopped them. A bystander helped them over a highway barrier with their carry-on luggage, the bottles of gin they picked up from duty free clinking away.

Dubai International Airport acknowledged Wednesday morning that the flooding had left “limited transportation options” and affected flights as aircraft crews couldn’t reach the airfield.

“Recovery will take some time,” the airport said on the social platform X. “We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges.”

Police and emergency personnel drove slowly through the flooded streets of Dubai. Lightning flashed Tuesday across the sky, occasionally touching the tip of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The city’s driverless Metro saw disruptions and flooded stations as well.

Schools across the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, largely shut ahead of the storm and government employees were largely working remotely if able. Many workers stayed home as well, though some ventured out, with the unfortunate stalling out their vehicles in deeper-than-expected water covering some roads.

Authorities sent tanker trucks out into the streets and highways to pump away the water. Water poured into some homes, forcing people to bail out their houses.

The country’s hereditary rulers offered no overall damage information or injury information for the nation, as some slept into their flooded vehicles Tuesday night. In Ras al-Khaimah, the country’s northernmost emirate, police said one 70-year-old man died when his vehicle was swept away by floodwater.

Fujairah, an emirate on the UAE’s eastern coast, saw the heaviest rainfall Tuesday with 145 millimeters (5.7 inches) falling there.

Authorities cancelled school and the government instituted remote work again for Wednesday.

Rain is unusual in the UAE, an arid, Arabian Peninsula nation, but occurs periodically during the cooler winter months. Many roads and other areas lack drainage given the lack of regular rainfall, causing flooding.

Rain also fell in Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

In neighboring Oman, a sultanate that rests on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, at least 18 people had been killed in heavy rains in recent days, according to a statement Tuesday from the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management. That includes some 10 schoolchildren swept away in a vehicle with an adult, which saw condolences come into the country from rulers across the region.

[mediamonarchy]

https://mediamonarchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240415_MorningMonarchy.mp3 Download MP3 Theft extensions, Zionist tensions and spying exemptions + this day in history w/Supergirl mind control and our song of the day by Blitzkrieg on your #MorningMonarchy for April 15, 2024. Notes/Links: Alex Jones To Sue CIA After Undercover Report Claims Agency “Went After Him Hardcore” https://www.zerohedge.com/political/alex-jones-sue-cia-after-undercover-report-claims-agency-went-after-him-hardcore OJ’s final insult: Secretive web of companies and cash-only rule to keep fortune from victims’ families https://nypost.com/2024/04/12/us-news/ojs-final-insult-secretive-companies-to-keep-cash-quiet/ Government Employee Violated Law on Jan. 6 but Wasn’t Prosecuted: Document; Treasury Department worker lied to investigators, inspector general says. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/government-employee-violated-law-on-jan-6-but-wasnt-prosecuted-document-5627646 Negative Views of Government Soar Under Biden Compared to Trump; A 10-point drop compared to August 2019 was observed. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/negative-views-of-government-soar-under-biden-compared-to-trump-5628549 1 dead, 13 injured after felon crashes stolen 18-wheeler into Texas Department of Public Safety office https://nypost.com/2024/04/12/us-news/commercial-vehicle-crashes-into-texas-department-of-public-safety-office-multiple-people-injured/ 1 Dead, Several Injured After 18-Wheeler Crashes Into Texas Government Building; Police said one suspect, identified as 42-year-old Clenard Parker, is in custody. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/multiple-injuries-1-suspect-in-custody-after-18-wheeler-crashes-into-texas-department-of-public-safety-offices-5628038 IRS: You have ‘options’ if you can’t pay your taxes by the April 15 deadline https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/12/heres-what-to-do-if-you-cant-pay-your-taxes-by-the-deadline.html Image: @Hybrid’s Cover Art – TiT’s ‘Cut In Half’ https://mediamonarchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240415_MorningMonarchy.jpg Video: Tax Day is April 15: Tips on how to make last-minute payments (Audio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r9jGhjROdU U.S. crude oil gains as Israel reportedly prepares for attack by Iran this weekend https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/12/crude-oil-prices-today.html Iran Launches Airborne Attack Against Israel; Waves of Drones on the Way; President Biden is assembling his national security team to discuss the situation. https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/iran-launched-airborne-attack-against-israel-waves-of-drones-on-the-way-5628722 Israel is quiet on next steps against Iran — and on which partners helped shoot down missiles https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attacks-f27cda966ac274982d968cbcc033eff0 Iran Officials Threaten US Not to Retaliate to Its Attack on Israel; The officials warned the United States not to intervene in the escalating conflict after Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles. https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/iran-officials-issue-warning-to-us-after-israel-attack-5628995 US Will Not Participate in Any Retaliation Against Iran: White House; Iran on Saturday launched 300 drones and missiles at Israel, nearly all of which were thwarted by Israel, U.S. and allied forces. https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/iran-launches-retaliatory-attack-on-israel-5628750 ‘Christians for a Free Palestine’ shuts down Senate cafeteria: ‘Congress won’t eat until Gaza eats’ https://decensored.news/christian-activists-shut-down-senate-cafeteria/ It’s ok, they’re democrats so it’s not an insurrection: Anti-Israel agitators shut down Senate cafeteria; around 50 arrested https://www.foxnews.com/politics/anti-israel-agitators-shut-down-senate-cafeteria-arrested Musk: “𝕏 algorithm update coming soon with more bangers and less clickbait!” https://vxtwitter.com/decensorednews/status/1778207856505782441 Sen Marsha Blackburn calling for POTUS to “move quickly and launch aggressive retaliatory strikes on Iran”. Top donor: AIPAC. https://vxtwitt...

[shyamadvisory5]

Crude Oil Options Tipscrude Oil Options Tips | Shyamadvisory.com

In search of the best crude oil options tips? Shyam Advisory is your one-stop solution for maximum profits. We offer the most reliable tips and advice for options trading in crude oil.

Crude oil options tips

[ecoclicky]

A Zero Waste Lifestyle: A Complete Guide to Reduce Your Plastic Footprint

Introduction

We’re living in an increasingly plastic-saturated world, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to live a plastic-free life. Most convenience and take-out foods come in plastic wraps and containers, single-use plastic is the norm for beverages and snacks, and plastic is in practically everything—from medical equipment to our cars.

Despite its ubiquity, plastic pollution is an ever-growing environmental threat that is clogging our oceans and landfills, creating huge piles of pollution, and threatening many species. With the understanding that it’s unlikely that our reliance on plastic goods will diminish anytime soon, it becomes even more important to take proactive steps to reduce our plastic footprint. Below is a guide to living with less plastic, providing tips and tricks on how to reduce or eliminate your plastic consumption.

Why Single-Use Plastics Are Worse in the Long Run

Single-use plastics seem like a convenient short-term solution for packaging and other uses. But in the long run, the problems associated with single-use plastics are simply too dangerous to ignore. Chemicals from plastic production, such as bisphenols, leach out from plastic material into food and beverages and are linked to human health issues.

They also don’t biodegrade and pose a serious threat to animal life in our oceans and rivers, as well as on land. In addition, it takes a lot of energy to make and transport single-use plastics, meaning that more greenhouse gases are created, contributing to climate change. 

It’s estimated that almost 80% of all marine litter is made of plastic, making it the most prevalent type of waste in the ocean. Each year, an estimated 12 million tonnes of plastic make it into our oceans, where it breaks down into microscopic pieces and can be consumed by fish and other animals. This results in chemical accumulation in the creatures and causes health issues such as cancer and infertility.

We also have to consider the resources used to make single-use plastics. Natural gas and crude oil are two ingredients often used to produce plastic, and these resources are finite and will eventually be depleted if not used wisely. As a result, single-use plastics offer more of a false convenience, as the true cost of their production and use may eventually be much higher than expected.

The Basics of Reducing Plastic

Start with the Three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Reducing your use of plastic is the best way to reduce your plastic footprint. Try to avoid buying new plastic items and whenever possible, look for reusable or recyclable alternatives. This can be as simple as bringing your reusable bags to the grocery store, purchasing a reusable or biodegradable water bottle and coffee cup, or opting for steel straws and unbleached napkins instead of their plastic counterparts. Whenever possible, buy items in bulk and invest in reusable containers.

Reuse Items You Already Have

Reusing your existing items is another effective way to reduce your plastic footprint. Instead of tossing out plastic containers and bottles, try to find a way to repurpose them. Use them to store leftovers, store bulk items like grains and seeds, or as a way to organize small items in your home or office.

Recycle Your Plastic

Recycling is a crucial step in the chain of reducing plastic pollution. Whenever possible, look for items that are easy to recycle, such as plastics numbered 1 through 7. If you are unable to find a recycling centre nearby, be sure to contact your local area for information on what can be recycled and how.

At-Home Habits for Reducing Plastic Footprint Adopt a No-Plastic Kitchen

Start by taking an inventory of all of the plastic items in your kitchen. Then, make a list of items you can replace with reusable counterparts. Invest in durable glass containers for storing food, and use cloth towels for drying dishes, instead of single-use plastic. Avoid buying packaging-heavy items, like snack mixes and microwave meals, and opt for bulk-purchased items, either in reusable containers or in second-hand packaging. Tiwning Plastic materials in your grocery shopping can also make a difference, including bulk produce, deli cheese, and bulk grains.

Ditch Disposables

Plastic bags, straws, cups, and utensils are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to plastic pollution. Replace disposable plastic items with reusable alternatives, like stainless steel or bio-based/ biodegradable utensils, cloth produce bags, and reusable straws. You can also opt for unbleached paper plates and cups, or find sustainable alternatives made out of cornstarch or wood.

Reducing Your Plastic Overall

When it comes to reducing your plastic footprint, the key is to start small and commit to making sustainable, reusable choices whenever possible. Even if you don’t have the money or resources to invest in reusable alternatives, you can still start by committing to reducing your plastic consumption in small, achievable ways.

For instance, purchase reusable items for yourself and your family. Invest in reusable water bottles and coffee cups for your personal use, and make a point to bring these items to work and when travelling.

You can also reduce the amount of plastic you use in your daily routine by opting to use bar soap and shampoo instead of their plastic counterparts. Additionally, you can purchase bulk items and invest in reusable bags and containers, so that you don’t have to buy new items all the time.

Using eco-friendly products

Another way to reduce the plastic footprint at home is to use eco-friendly options. We can start by reducing our plastic footprint – using reusable bags, biodegradable tableware, and bottles instead of disposable ones. We can also support companies that are making an effort to reduce their plastic footprint and lobby our governments to enact legislation that will reduce plastic pollution.

Conclusion

Living with less plastic is an achievable goal and one that will make a positive dent in our plastic pollution crisis. By adopting the three Rs—reducing, reusing, and recycling—we can significantly reduce our plastic pollution footprint. Additionally, we can reduce our overall plastic consumption at home by investing in reusable items, opting for unpackaged goods, and making small changes in our daily routines. By taking an active role in reducing plastic, we can ensure a more sustainable future for our planet.