#diplomat chauffeur

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[astrojulia]

Tarot Cards as Professions

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Major Arcanas:

The Fool: Work with abroad, connections with imports, language teacher, multinationals, entrepreneur, intern, college student, art major.

The Magician: Entrepreneur, job that needs skill with the hands (acupuncture, hairdresser, artisan), actor, salesperson, influencer.

The High Priestess: Education, especially children, nutrition, psychology, cook, housewife, food engineering, toy factory, fortuneteller, spiritual advisor, librarian.

The Empress: Management, business administration, foreign trade, secretariat, translation, decoration, stay-at-home mom, model, cook, farmer.

The Emperor: Business administration, work related to areas of technological innovation, the military or sportsmen, CEO, tycoon.

The Hierophant: Philanthropic areas, ONGs, religious work, social work, diplomacy, and a degree, journalism, writer, editor, priest, spiritual guru, politician.

The Lovers: Sales area in any sector, tourism, theater, advertising, the arts in general, porn star, stripper, masseuse.

The Chariot: Activities related to transport, cars, the latest technology, chauffeur, mechanic, athlete.

Strength: Aesthetics, physical education and various body therapies, medicine, zoologist.

The Hermit: Teacher, writer, doctor, antique dealer, restorer, librarian, gardener.

Wheel of Fortune: Financial market, exchange offices, casinos, lottery houses, stock exchanges, and areas related to public relations, hospitality, game show host.

Justice: Public jobs, won through competitions, politics, police, with government positions, in the diplomatic area, law, insurance company worker.

The Hanged Man: Nurse, auditor, inspector, porter, secretariat, general assistants, yoga instructor, prison guard, philanthropist.

Death: Doctor, farmer, geologist, business administrator, gardener, accountant, assassin, death row executioner, surgeon.

Temperance: Working with liquids in general or with what is transported in liquid form such as alcoholic beverages, medicines, juices. chemist, chef, food critic, regional or even international traffic.

The Devil: Does not limit the individual to a professional wing, so he can also go to extremes for the desire he has, such as landlord, drug lord, sex trafficker.

The Tower: Social assistance, humanitarian aid, medicine, firefighter, police officer, construction worker.

The Star: Music, painting, sculpture, poetry, cinema, makeup artist, dressmaker, beautician, agent, promoter, sound artist, astronomer, harpist, dealer, meteorologist.

The Moon: Oceanographers, sailors, fishermen, owners of bars and restaurants or nightclubs, artists in general, medium, hypnotist, psychiatrist.

The Sun: Motivational speaker, entertainer, comedian, social relationships, work with the public, artist in general, member of society.

Judgment: Work done at home, connection with the law, lawyer, judge, work with disabled or people excluded from society, social assistance, board member, executive producer, director.

The World: Pharmacist, massage therapist, scientist, teacher, community leader, religious leader or priest, fashion designer, makeup artist, interior decorator.

Wands:

Creative industries such as advertising, marketing, and graphic design.

Entrepreneurship and starting your own business.

Athletics, sports coaching, or physical training.

Outdoor jobs like park ranger or tour guide.

Event planning or organizing.

Firefighters or rescue workers.

Ace of Wands: Entrepreneur, startup founder, motivational speaker, fitness coach, personal trainer.

Two of Wands: Business strategist, project manager, travel agent, international consultant, import/export specialist.

Three of Wands: Sales representative, marketing manager, e-commerce entrepreneur, market researcher, international trade coordinator.

Four of Wands: Event planner, wedding coordinator, party organizer, festival manager, hospitality industry professional.

Five of Wands: Conflict resolution specialist, mediator, lawyer, debate coach, competitive sports coach.

Six of Wands: Public relations manager, spokesperson, social media influencer, motivational speaker, winning athlete.

Seven of Wands: Defense attorney, human rights activist, political campaigner, advocate, civil liberties lawyer.

Eight of Wands: Courier, delivery driver, airline pilot, travel blogger, expedition guide.

Nine of Wands: Security guard, bodyguard, soldier, endurance athlete, self-defense instructor.

Ten of Wands: Overworked entrepreneur, project manager, event organizer, professional organizer, heavy equipment operator.

Page of Wands: Assistant in a creative field, aspiring artist, intern in a startup, social media coordinator, apprentice.

Knight of Wands: Travel journalist, adventure tour guide, professional athlete, race car driver, stunt performer.

Queen of Wands: CEO, business owner, charismatic leader, life coach, influential speaker.

King of Wands: Executive manager, entrepreneur, leadership coach, consultant, director of a creative agency.

Cups:

Counseling, therapy, or social work.

Hospitality industry, including restaurant management and bartending.

Wedding planner or event coordinator.

Artistic fields like poetry, writing, or acting.

Healing professions such as nursing or holistic therapy.

Psychologist or counselor specializing in emotions and relationships.

Ace of Cups: Therapist, counselor, social worker, holistic healer, emotional support specialist.

Two of Cups: Marriage counselor, matchmaker, relationship coach, wedding planner, love psychic.

Three of Cups: Event organizer, party planner, celebratory event coordinator, community organizer.

Four of Cups: Meditation teacher, mindfulness coach, spiritual counselor, psychologist, therapist.

Five of Cups: Grief counselor, trauma therapist, hospice worker, emotional healing practitioner, bereavement support.

Six of Cups: Child psychologist, teacher, daycare worker, children's book author, pediatric nurse.

Seven of Cups: Creative writer, fantasy novelist, imaginative artist, dream analyst, visionary.

Eight of Cups: Travel blogger, adventure seeker, spiritual pilgrim, explorer, wanderlust photographer.

Nine of Cups: Life coach, happiness consultant, gratitude coach, self-help author, wellness retreat organizer.

Ten of Cups: Family therapist, marriage and family counselor, foster care advocate, wedding planner, family mediator.

Page of Cups: Creative writer, artist in training, intuitive healer, aspiring therapist, dream interpreter.

Knight of Cups: Actor, romantic poet, musician, art therapist, love and relationship coach.

Queen of Cups: Psychic reader, intuitive healer, counselor, compassionate caregiver, therapist.

King of Cups: Therapist, counselor, intuitive mentor, emotional intelligence trainer, psychologist.

Swords:

Legal professions like lawyers, judges, or law enforcement officers.

Journalists, reporters, or investigators.

IT specialists, computer programmers, or hackers.

Teachers or professors specializing in critical thinking or philosophy.

Military or defense-related careers.

Strategic planners or analysts.

Ace of Swords: Lawyer, judge, legal consultant, investigative journalist, strategic planner.

Two of Swords: Mediator, conflict resolution specialist, negotiator, diplomat, relationship counselor.

Three of Swords: Divorce lawyer, grief counselor, trauma therapist, emotional healer, heart surgeon.

Four of Swords: Rest and relaxation specialist, meditation teacher, spiritual retreat organizer, yoga instructor.

Five of Swords: Military strategist, competitive sports coach, lawyer specializing in litigation, debate coach.

Six of Swords: Travel agent, relocation consultant, therapist specializing in transitions, boat captain.

Seven of Swords: Private investigator, spy, intelligence analyst, cybersecurity expert, undercover agent.

Eight of Swords: Social justice lawyer, human rights advocate, disability rights activist, therapist specializing in limiting beliefs.

Nine of Swords: Insomnia specialist, anxiety therapist, nightmare counselor, sleep coach, mental health counselor.

Ten of Swords: Surgeon, coroner, forensic scientist, mortician, grief counselor.

Page of Swords: Researcher, journalist, fact-checker, apprentice in a legal field, investigative reporter.

Knight of Swords: Military officer, police officer, attorney, competitive fencer, conflict resolution specialist.

Queen of Swords: Judge, lawyer, critic, journalist, literary agent.

King of Swords: Judge, attorney, CEO, strategist, military general.

Pentacles:

Financial advisors or investment bankers.

Real estate agents or property developers.

Agriculture, farming, or gardening.

Architects, builders, or construction workers.

Conservationists or environmentalists.

Accountants or bookkeepers.

Ace of Pentacles: Financial advisor, investment banker, wealth manager, entrepreneur, luxury goods retailer.

Two of Pentacles: Financial analyst, accountant, bookkeeper, event planner, stock trader.

Three of Pentacles: Architect, contractor, project manager, teamwork facilitator, craftsman.

Four of Pentacles: Wealth manager, investor, financial planner, asset protection specialist, treasurer.

Five of Pentacles: Social worker, philanthropist, charity organizer, financial counselor, volunteer.

Six of Pentacles: Philanthropist, humanitarian worker, non-profit manager, social worker, charitable fundraiser.

Seven of Pentacles: Gardener, farmer, agricultural consultant, sustainability expert, botanist.

Eight of Pentacles: Craftsperson, artisan, apprentice, skilled tradesperson, technical trainer.

Nine of Pentacles: Luxury brand manager, independent business owner, successful entrepreneur, vineyard owner, art collector.

Ten of Pentacles: Real estate developer, property investor, family business owner, generational wealth manager, financial advisor.

Page of Pentacles: Intern, student, apprentice in a practical field, aspiring entrepreneur, entry-level employee.

Knight of Pentacles: Accountant, financial planner, farmer, skilled tradesperson, meticulous worker.

Queen of Pentacles: CEO, business owner, property developer, hospitality industry entrepreneur, financial advisor.

King of Pentacles: CEO, business mogul, successful investor, high-level executive, financial consultant.

(CC) AstroJulia Some Rights Reserved

[a-d-nox]

web of wyrd: the career number

the number we are focusing on today is based on the SACRAL PHYSICS NUMBER AND THE FLOW NUMBER (ex: my career number is 7: 8 + 17 = 25 -> 2 + 5 = 7 (recall that numbers must be summed a second time if they total 23 (i.e. 2 + 3 = 5) and above)). for some reason this is a calculation error in my astro-calc chart - my monetary number and relationship numbers are swapped (don't be afraid to question your numbers and check the math of websites).

but what does this number mean?

this number represents your career and monetary situation in this lifetime. that being said, this number can give you insight into what you can do for a career long-term, what you are like at work (your strengths and weaknesses in the workplace), and your monetary mindset.

so let's talk about some examples:

7 - the chariot

click here for the card description of the chariot found in a prior wyrd web post.

for unblocked 7s it is important to maintain focus, have clear intentions, and a plan in their line of work. they often work from the bottom up - they start in an entry level position then come into power (in some theories, the charioteer was both the page of swords and the page of wands before they came into power in the major arcana). often it is their careful planning and plotting that gains them their success.

blocked 7s often lack confidence at work and fear being talked down to / judged for their actions. they often lack focus and direction, which causes them financial stress. they are in need of careful planning and reflection to get out of their burdensome situations. they should try to be less impulsive and more intentional at work and when searching for jobs in order for them to find what works for them.

careers for the charioteer are chauffeur, delivery driving (UPS, amazon delivery, mail, etc), military services, pilot, police men, emergency services (firefighting, EMT, etc), security guard, equestrian, chemist/pharmacist, chef/cook/baker/nutritionist, political diplomat, marine biology, phlebotomist, ship captain, babysitter/nanny, hotel manager, housekeeper, fisherman, fertility specialist, farmer, land baron/baroness, pottery maker, plumber, real estate agent, and other related fields.

14 - temperance

rider-white's temperance (symbolic of sagittarius) depicts an angel facing the view with their eyes shut. their purple-y/red wings emphasizes their passion for the mystical as well as harmony. their golden curls are haloed showing that the angel is an enlightened being. they stand in a white (innocence) robe with one foot on land and the other in water - which shows they are connected to the emotional and the physical world. water seamlessly flows between the cups, meaning to show the flow of energy in life forces. a sun (alludes to the sun card) rises in the distance and illuminates a path for the angel to take. the irises to their [the angel's] right show that they have the wisdom needed to take on whatever gets in their way on this journey.

unblocked 14s seek help from those around them so that they can reach their monetary and career goals. they look for signs as to what they should act upon in their career and as to what they should do for their long-term career. they are flexible at work and are often very even-keeled. they are patient at work and when it comes to making money.

blocked 14s often try very hard at work and to make a lot of money - they can be too hard on themselves and their co-workers. they might struggle with relaxing - they have a lot of monetary stress. they have to realize that being overworked does not mean they are working efficiently/effectively. look at you schedule / your role and try to find ways to slow down so that you can realign with your values and goals.

careers for the angelic temperance person are medical careers (doctor, nurse, etc), pharmacist, scientist, librarian, life insurance agent, marketing/advertisement, air steward/stewardess, attorney, banker, religious leader, teacher, philanthropist, philosopher, publisher, podcaster, radio show host/hostess, writer, and other related fields.

18 - the moon

rider-white's the moon (symbolic of pisces) depicts one wild dog/coyote and one tame dog (the duality of human nature) barking at the moon or rather an eclipse. behind and between the two dogs is a lobster - the lobster is a bottom feeder of sorts, thus could represent the shadow self. the lobster emerges from the water to walk a moonlight/guided path through the mountains similar to how the hermit once walked the mountains - thus alluding to the lobster doing self-discovery / the quartet doing shadow work. first the lobster must walk between the rebuilt towers - likely face personal change.

unblocked 18s embrace their darker selves when in the workplace - they are okay with failing and having weaknesses. they see it as room made to grow/evolve. while they know how to be civil, they also know when to be impulsive and aggressive to get things done. they are open to others ideas - they are open to learning what they perviously didn't know before. they are ambitious and want to go outside the scope of what they are already know. they don't fall for things that sound too good to be true in their financial realm. they are willing to confront why they maybe the ones in their own way of gaining more money, getting a raise, etc.

blocked 18s often refuse to acknowledge that they are in a career that is making them unhappy or is not compatible with their monetary lifestyle. they might be the type to ignore their debts for awhile or to the point where it gets bad and they struggle to catch up / recover. they are also prone to falling for "get rich quick" schemes; they also might struggle with gambling - the might not know how to walk away when they have made money back / are gaining. they hate failing at things or having weaknesses in the workplace. they are prone to staying in a job that is comfortable for them without growing or accepting promotions. don't be afraid to break free.

careers for the moon are night club owner/manager, psychic, doggie daycare center management, dog kennel owner, dog breeder, night club performer, professional water sport athlete, alcohol vender, sommelier, marine biology, art therapist, artist, bartender, mental health professional, chemical engineer, detective, drug manufacturer, life guard, prison guard, private investigator, relief worker, writer, and other related fields.

like what you read? leave a tip and state what post it is for! please use my "suggest a post topic"! button if you want to see a specific pac/pile next! if you'd like my input on how i read a specific card or what i like to ask my deck, feel free to use the ask button for that as well.

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© a-d-nox 2023 all rights reserved

[kerwynlar]

The Sensation of Your Hands on Me

A Belly Kink fic by Kerwynlar

When the prince consort finds out that the king, his arranged marriage husband, is suffering from indigestion, he just wants to help him feel better.

Modern royalty arranged marriage romance with belly kink/sick kink.

Tags: Original male character/Original male character, Sickfic, Belly Kink, Belly Rubs, Indigestion, Burping, Embarrassment About Burping and Getting Over That, Fluff, Romance

2,550 words

Read it below or on AO3.

~*~

Prince Consort Nathaniel stayed by his husband’s side as King Lawrence worked the room following the banquet. Mostly this involved a steady stream of people approaching where Nate and Lawrence were standing next to a high top table, bowing to the king, and attempting to make conversation that they imagined would curry favor with him. Lawrence was pleasant and gracious to everyone, but as the evening wore on, Nate thought his expression seemed more and more pinched, and Nate watched him press his hand to his belly a few times. Lawrence’s three-piece suit was immaculately tailored but it seemed to Nate that it was fitting a little tightly across his middle.

They had been married for four months, but had known each other for years. As the second son of the royal family of a neighboring kingdom, Nate had been dispatched by his sister on diplomatic missions to Lawrence’s court many times. The two got along well and Nate had been hesitantly considering Lawrence a friend for a while. When his sister told him that she and King Lawrence were negotiating a new treaty and part of it would entail Nate’s marriage to Lawrence, Nate had been thrilled. Because aside from Lawrence’s position, Nate had always found him very attractive, and a true pleasure to talk to. Their wedding night had been wonderful, and within a month Nate had admitted to himself that he had a massive crush on his husband. It wasn’t clear if Lawrence felt the same way, but they continued being friendly, bordering on affectionate with each other, and very happily “doing their marital duty.” 

Four months of accompanying Lawrence to this kind of formal event had given Nate a pretty good idea of what was normal for the king and what was not. Nate was certain something was wrong but there was no opportunity to ask. 

Finally, Lawrence signaled to his security chief that he was ready to go, and caught the attention of their host to say his goodbyes. The armored limousine was waiting at the front door when they walked out, and Nate kept his hand on Lawrence’s back as the king got in, then went around the other side and got in himself. 

The privacy screen that separated them from the chauffeur and bodyguard in the front seat was raised. Nate loosened his tie and looked over at Lawrence, whose head was resting back against the seat with his eyes closed. In the light coming in the car window, he looked very pale. 

“Lawrence? Are you alright?” Nate asked gently. 

“Yes, of course,” the king replied suspiciously quickly. 

“It’s just… you’ve seemed uncomfortable since the dinner ended and you look a little bloated.” Nate nodded at the buttons of Lawrence’s waistcoat, which, now that his jacket was unbuttoned, were clearly straining against his belly. 

Lawrence opened his eyes, looking horrified. He sat up quickly and covered his belly with his hand. 

“I don’t think anyone else would have noticed!” Nate said quickly, raising his hands. “I only saw the bloating once we were in the car and I was the only one who saw you in between talking to people at the event. I’m sure nothing seemed off to anyone else.” 

Lawrence sighed and relaxed a little. “You really don’t think anyone else noticed?” 

“Yeah, you were holding it together really well. But you don’t have to do that with me. We’re married now, remember? I’m on your side no matter what and I’m supposed to be taking care of you.”

Lawrence gave him a wan smile. “I appreciate that, Nathaniel.”

“So, are you feeling sick?” 

Lawrence grimaced. “It’s just indigestion. It… is not an infrequent occurrence.” 

“What do you do when it happens? I think we have about a two hour drive back to the palace. There’s not much around but I’m sure Security can figure something out if you need to stop.” 

Lawrence sighed. “I just want to get home and go to bed.” 

Nate nodded. “Anything we can do to make the drive more comfortable? I’m happy to have you put your head in my lap if you want to lay down.” 

Lawrence shook his head and opened his mouth to respond, then quickly closed it again and swallowed thickly. 

Nate reached out to touch his arm. “Nausea?” he guessed. 

Lawrence shook his head again as he breathed out slowly. “I - my stomach just… hurts. I’m not nauseated.” 

Nate grimaced sympathetically. “How about unbuttoning your waistcoat? It looks uncomfortable.” 

Lawrence looked a little scandalized. 

“You do know I see you naked?” Nate chuckled. “And maybe by the time we get home you’ll be less bloated and can do it back up before you get out of the car.” 

Lawrence looked away from him. “Nathaniel, you - you have a very positive view of me… and I am reluctant to damage that view.” 

Nate reached over and took Lawrence’s hand, then brought it to his lips to kiss. “I promise you that I don’t think less of you because you have indigestion, Lawrence.”  

Lawrence sighed and resignedly loosed the buttons of the waistcoat. The sides of the garment parted and he gave a little “mmf” that sounded relieved, before making the odd swallowing motion again. 

Lawrence ran his hand over his exposed shirt front, which was also tighter than it should have been, but not straining the way the waistcoat had been. But with the waistcoat out of the way it quickly became apparent that the trousers were the real culprit: the waistband cutting a harsh line through his bloated middle. Lawrence’s hand strayed to the button of his trousers but took no further action, though he did swallow again. 

“Go on,” Nate encouraged him. “There’s nothing for you to be embarrassed about, love. Might as well be comfortable. It’s just me.” He hadn’t really noticed the endearment until Lawrence gave him a sideways glance, but neither of them commented and Lawrence undid his trousers. His belly pushed forward, forcing the zipper down a little, and Lawrence groaned. 

Nate grimaced. “Your poor belly. You must be feeling awful.” 

“I’m… somewhat used to it,” Lawrence said quietly. “But it’s not pleasant. I’m sorry to have made such a spectacle of myself. Thank you for being so kind about it.” 

“Lawrence. I’m your husband and we’re alone. I can’t think of anything that is less accurately described as a spectacle. Now how else can we make you more comfortable? I could rub your belly for you? Might feel nice.”

Lawrence shook his head quickly. “Baring myself is one thing, but I don’t want to disgust you.”

Nate frowned. “Because you’re bloated? Nothing disgusting about that. I’d like to help you feel better if I can.”

“No, because I might…” Lawrence gestured vaguely. “Not be able to… hold it in.” 

Nate was confused for a moment before the swallowing made sense and realization dawned. “Are you keeping yourself from burping?!” 

Lawrence looked away from him. 

“Lawrence! No wonder you’re so bloated! Let that out!” 

“It’s unseemly and unpleasant,” came the muttered reply.  

Nate sighed and reached over to touch Lawrence’s cheek, then applied a gentle pressure to get him to turn to face Nate. 

“Forget ‘unseemly’, I’m begging you. Our marriage may have been arranged, but I really care about you, Lawrence. I have the utmost respect for you and that’s not going to change one iota because you get indigestion and you burp when you do! I mean, I know you’re the king, but you’ve got a human body and human bodies burp sometimes.” 

Lawrence sighed, looking down again. “You’re very kind, Nathaniel.” 

Nate moved one of his hands to Lawrence’s swollen belly. It felt firm and hot even through the shirt. “Please, let me try to help you feel better.” 

Lawrence hesitated, then nodded. 

Nate slid closer on the limousine seat and spread his palm over Lawrence’s belly, clearly feeling the unhappy grumbling within. “Let me know if anything I’m doing doesn’t feel good, okay? And no more holding back if you need to burp.” 

Lawrence nodded again and Nate moved his hand to the top of the swell, just below Lawrence’s ribs, where the gurgling was strongest. He started moving his hand in slow circles, pressing gently. After only a minute, Nate felt the gurgling intensify. Lawrence gave him a miserable glance, then turned his face away and covered his mouth, letting out a quiet burp and muttering “excuse me”. 

“That’s a good start,” Nate said, “but I know you can do better.” 

Lawrence rolled his eyes but a minute later he turned away again and gave a much deeper and louder belch. “Excuse me.” 

“There you go.” Nate smiled. “How did that feel?” 

“Embarrassing and unpleasant.” Lawrence frowned, then relented. “But necessary. I suspect it helped a bit.” 

“Good,” Nate said firmly. “Could I unbutton your shirt so I stop getting hung up on the buttons?” 

“Certainly not my favorite context for you to undress me,” Lawrence said, “but yes.” 

Nate quickly undid the buttons of Lawrence’s shirt and spread it open, revealing the soft white undershirt beneath. He began rubbing circles over Lawrence’s stomach again, this time with both hands. 

Lawrence gave a soft groan and relaxed back into his seat. “Oh, that feels very nice, Nathaniel.” 

“I’m glad.” Nate smiled. 

“Would you rub a little lower as well, please?” Lawrence asked quietly. “Maybe my sides.” 

“Of course, love.” Nate started moving his hands in sweeping arcs down the sides of Lawrence’s belly and back up the middle. 

Lawrence closed his eyes with a satisfied sigh. “Wonderful. Thank you so much.”

Nate didn’t bother to prevent his pleased grin. “You’re welcome, I’m glad it feels good.” 

Though Lawrence covered his mouth when he belched again a minute later, he barely turned his head.  

“You said this happens a lot?” Nate asked. He was certain Lawrence wasn’t asleep, but thought he might be relaxed enough to share a little. 

“I’ve always had a sensitive stomach,” came the murmured reply. “There are some things I simply can’t eat and my staff provides that list to anyone serving me food outside the palace, but frequently some ingredient is overlooked, or something that I wasn’t previously aware of as a problem will set me off.” 

Nate couldn’t help it: he leaned forward to place a kiss on Lawrence’s belly. It was still bloated but seemed a little less tight and gurgly than it had been. When he sat up, Lawrence was watching him. 

“Kiss it better?” Nate offered with a lopsided grin. 

Lawrence gave a soft chuckle. “You’re wonderful.” 

Smiling ear to ear, Nate went back to rubbing his belly. 

Nate roused Lawrence out of his doze as they neared the palace. 

“You are the king,” Nate said as he watched Lawrence re-button his shirt. “If you didn’t want to do up your trousers no one would say a word.” 

Lawrence sighed. “Just because no one can speak against me does not mean I should give them something to resist speaking about.”

Nate smiled and gave his arm a squeeze. It was a classic Lawrence thing to say. 

 “Anyway,” Lawrence said as he started pulling the sides of his trousers together, “you’ve really helped immensely.” He got them buttoned with a grunt of effort, and while they were clearly too tight, it did appear to be better than before. 

When the car stopped, Nate leapt out and hurried around so that he could offer Lawrence his hand. The king accepted the assistance with a warm smile, and threaded his arm through Nate’s as they walked into the palace. Lawrence held onto Nate firmly and leaned against him in a way that made Nate’s own stomach flutter. 

Nate cleared his throat when they turned into the corridor that led to their rooms. “Shall I - ah - come with you? Help you get settled?” 

They had adjoining bedrooms. Usually Nate slept in his own room and Lawrence slept in his, except when they had had sex late at night in Lawrence’s room and neither of them was awake enough after for Nate to leave. 

“I’d like that very much if you don’t mind,” Lawrence said. 

“Not at all,” Nate said with a smile, steering them to Lawrence’s door. 

Inside, Nate helped Lawrence out of his suit and into soft silk pajamas. The king tied the drawstring of the bottoms under his still-bloated belly, and smoothed the shirt over the curve. He looked up at Nate. “Nathaniel…” Lawrence looked away quickly. “Would you… would you consider staying with me tonight?” 

Nate’s eyebrows shot up, but Lawrence continued. 

“Just - um - just to sleep. I… I find I’m reluctant to part with the sensation of your hands on me.” 

Smiling, Nate leaned in to kiss Lawrence’s forehead. “Good, because I’m reluctant to stop touching you. Let me just change. I’ll be back in ten minutes.” 

Eight and a half minutes later, Nate re-entered Lawrence’s room just as the king was emerging from the en suite, one hand pressed to his belly. 

Nate’s happiness was immediately tinged with concern. “How are you feeling?” 

Lawrence shrugged. “Better than I was, but still a bit sore and bloated.” 

Nate nodded and pulled back the covers on the bed for Lawrence to get in. After some maneuvering, they settled on their sides, Nate’s front pressed to Lawrence’s back. Nate slipped his hand under Lawrence’s shirt to rest on his belly. He spread his fingers wide, trying to cover as much area as possible in hopes that the warmth and pressure of his hand would continue to help. 

Lawrence gave a relaxed sigh, and Nate kissed his shoulder blade. The room was perfectly quiet until Lawrence spoke again.

“The treaty is a ruse, you know,” he said. 

Nate frowned, not following at all. “What?” 

“I initiated negotiations with your sister because I wanted to marry you.” 

Nate’s frown deepened. “That’s not right,” he said. “Amelia sent you the first letter asking if you would be open to a new treaty.” 

Lawrence nodded. “Prior to that letter, two diplomats mentioned to Queen Amelia that I seemed open to discussions on tariffs. They did so at my request. I wanted to encourage her, but make it seem like it was her idea.” 

“But… you did lower tariffs. And you gave her some airplanes.” Nate tried to process his husband’s words. 

“Yes, and I got lower - urrf, excuse me - lower grain prices and a number of other benefits for my kingdom. But the outcome that I, personally, wanted, above everything else, was your hand in marriage.” 

“I… but why?” 

“You are a very smart man, Nathaniel,” Lawrence said quietly. “You don’t need me to answer that.”

Nate felt a shudder run through his body. “Why are you telling me now?” he heard himself ask. 

Lawrence rolled over, bringing their faces inches apart. “Because in all my thinking about marrying you, I never expected… this. I never expected that you would be this kind, and this caring, and this insistent on helping me.” 

Warmth had been building in Nate’s chest and now it burst forth. He closed the inches to kiss Lawrence’s lips and they melted together.  

“Well, your majesty,” Nate said, when they finally broke apart to breathe, “I can confidently promise you a lifetime more of this.” 

[freddiemercurylegendabovelegends]

"One evening, during dinner at the grand baronial table of The Manor, there was a phone call from Freddie’s girlfriend, Mary Austin. She had left The Manor to return to London earlier that day and now confirmed that she wasn’t feeling well – an ear infection.

‘I HAVE to go now! I have to go to Mary!’ he stated emotionally to everybody gathered at the dinner table. Fred would need to be chauffeured because he never drove. They were at that time living together at his newly acquired flat in Kensington.

I offered to take Fred. The manageress of The Manor diplomatically offered the studio car: a Ford Cortina estate. With Fred sitting up front beside me, we set off. I felt a bit uncomfortable with the car’s brakes, which were spongy and slow to respond. During the journey, we chatted about music and things in general, but I sensed Fred was tense – he really did care about Mary and wanted to be there with her as soon as possible. Approaching London at a roundabout on the A40, I changed down a gear and pressed the brake. Nothing. Oh dear! I managed to swerve and steer the car most of the way around the roundabout until it veered into a pile of drainpipes. As I fought to control the car, in my mind flashed the headline that might appear in the Melody Maker: Roadie Kills Pop Star.

The car came to an abrupt halt, and Fred and I looked over at each other and confirmed we were both all right.

Fred would take control – he would go for help! Neither the AA nor RAC stood before me on the roadside, not even the elusive, stylish Queen megastar, but Fred, in his faded blue jeans, white clogs and an embroidered black silk kimono a fan had given him on tour a few months previously. He had not shaved for a day or two and his dark stubble was proud, his carefully tousled hair now blew free as he wandered off towards some lights in the distance.

After about half an hour, Fred returned and explained the situation comedy that had unfolded. He had knocked on the door of the first house he came to and was quickly recognised by the people who answered. They let him use the phone and offered him tea.

When Fred’s car and driver arrived at the scene, he reassured me he had called The Manor and somebody was coming to pick me up. The car brakes were found to be faulty, and the police took no action against me.

Later, a music press interview offered Fred a dramatic opportunity to relate how the incident had affected him. He replied that his life had flashed before his eyes – and he had wondered who would look after his cats. ‘And the roadie actually screamed!’ Fred commended me for getting so far around the roundabout and never held me responsible. I still drove him many times after that – even in an old Transit van!"

- Peter Hince, 'Queen Unseen: My Life With the Greatest Rock Band of the 20th Century' book

- Peter "Ratty" Hince met Queen in 1973 when they were opening for Mott the Hoople, began working for the band full time during their 1975 'A Night At The Opera' album, and stayed on as the head of their road crew until their final concert in 1986, 'Magic Tour'.

Peter is currently a professional photographer -

👉 Curiosity

Interviewer: How did you become know as "Ratty"?

Peter Hince: When I started in the music business and being the youngest, I had to do the ‘dirty’ work, which included crawling on top of the dirty, dusty equipment to put small items in the tight spaces under the roof of the truck. I was very skinny and had long greasy hair and was nick named ‘The Rat’ by the truck driver on a Mott The Hoople tour. When I first started working for Queen full time, Brian May changed it to ‘Ratty’.

Maybe he thought it was nicer - and possibly after the character in the classic Wind in The Willows book ??

- Peter Hince, interview 2006,

(read more on http://www.queenarchives.com/qa/peterhince.html)

📸 Pic: Approximately 1977 - Freddie Mercury with Mary Austin

[ryangosking]

Best Feature

Summary: Steve Harrington x female reader, fluff, pining. Just a lil' thing I wrote when I was feeling soft.

Warnings: None!

Set around season 3, but before Steve and Robin are friends. May be a part 2, I had to stop myself writing car sex.

"I can't look anymore." Robin says, peeking through her fingers. "It's getting embarrassing now."

"I'd say it's been embarrassing for some time actually. Poor Steve." You murmur, spooning ice cream into your mouth.

Having finished your shift at the pretzel stand, you had gone to Scoops Ahoy to keep Robin company on her break. And to get a free sample of course. Currently you were sitting at a table in the corner watching Steve Harrington crash and burn with yet another group of girls.

"I don't know what's going on." He sighs, pacing. "Those girls would have eaten out of my hand in high school."

"You lost your touch Harrington." Robin smirks.

"No, you know what it is? This stupid hat, it's blowing my best feature." Steve huffs. He removes the offending item and chucks it behind the counter, running a hand through his hair.

You love Robin, and you love hanging out with her - she's like the cool little sister you always wanted. But you also love taking in the Scoops Ahoy scenery, more specifically Steve in his sailor uniform. It was getting a little infuriating though, how he's constantly hitting on uninterested girls when you're RIGHT THERE.

"Hey, if you stick around Steve'll give you a ride home." Robin says, making your stomach dip. "Won't you, Romeo?"

"Yeah sure whatever." He sighs, squinting at his reflection in the glass counter.

-

You sit in the backseat, listening to Steve and Robin bickering. It's like being in the car with your parents 10 years ago.

"I'm sick of your children coming in for free samples." Robin was saying.

"Your friends get them too. Not to mention free transport." Steve counters, glancing at you in the rear view mirror. "No offence."

"None taken." You murmur, turning your face towards the breeze coming in through the window. The car smells of ice cream and pretzels, unsurprisingly.

"That's different, she actually works in the mall and is actually my friend." Robin says, folding her arms.

"Well Henderson's my friend." Steve shrugs.

"It's so sad you admit to that."

"Oh look, we're here." Steve announces, braking suddenly. He clumsily leans over Robin and opens her door. "Bye."

"Wow. Thanks for the ride Steve, so gracious." Robin gives him a mock salute before turning to you. "Good luck!"

"Can you get in front?" Steve asks, watching as Robin goes into her house. "I feel like your chauffeur or something."

-

"You know the way, right?" You ask, shifting in your seat and squinting at the road.

"Yes, I just double back passed the mall again." He sighs.

"Sorry."

"It's fine, Robin volunteered my services after all. I don't know how you stand her, by the way, let alone be her friend." Steve huffs.

"Robin's cool, if you get to know her." You say diplomatically. You don't want to get in the middle of their bickering.

"Yeah, right."

"You know, we only tease you because we like you." You say softly, looking over at him.

Steve glances at you and clears his throat. "Whatever." He murmurs, a flush creeping up his neck.

He's still in his Scoops Ahoy uniform, dishevelled but as cute as ever, especially now he's embarrassed. You sit on your hands to keep from reaching over and touching his hot skin.

"I'm sorry about all the free samples by the way, I just can't get enough USS Butterscotch." You chuckle, trying to break the tension.

It earns you a smile. "It's OK, you're not the worst offender, that goes to Sinclair's little sister. I don't really care, the manager's an idiot anyway."

"Aren't they all? My manager at the pretzel stand is such a jobsworth, he probably dreams about pretzels." You sigh.

"Is this it?" Steve asks, almost reluctantly, looking up at the passing houses.

"Yeah, just a bit further, on the left." You reply, shifting forward in your seat.

Steve pulls over and you turn and smile at him. "Thanks Steve."

"No problem."

Impulsively, you pause reaching for the door and swallow. "Um...can I say something?"

"Does it involve calling me a doofus?"

"No. Well, yeah. Kind of." You stutter.

Steve rolls his eyes. "Go on."

"You're wrong, about your best feature." You say softly.

He snorts, expecting a punchline. "I am?"

"Yeah, it's not your hair. Although, it is lovely." You add quickly.

"OK, so? Enlighten me."

"It's your eyes." You tell him, biting your lip. "They're beautiful."

"Oh." He croaks, surprised.

"They're full of warmth and kindness and you just....get lost in them." You can't seem to stop now. "I mean a girl could get lost in them. A girl you like. Or likes you. I just thought you should know."

"Yeah, I got it." Steve says, with a small smile. "Thanks."

"And thanks again for the ride." You murmur, your face burning.

"Hey, are you working again tomorrow? At the mall?" He asks, lightly.

"Yeah, why?"

"Want a ride? I mean I'll be picking Robin up until her bike is fixed so I may as well..." He trails off, widening those gorgeous eyes.

"That'd be great." You nod. "Thanks Steve."

He smiles. "Night."

[rockislandadultreads]

Read-Alike Friday: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.

Then, one by one, they began to be killed off. One Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, watched as her family was murdered. Her older sister was shot. Her mother was then slowly poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more Osage began to die under mysterious circumstances.

In this last remnant of the Wild West—where oilmen like J. P. Getty made their fortunes and where desperadoes such as Al Spencer, “the Phantom Terror,” roamed – virtually anyone who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll surpassed more than twenty-four Osage, the newly created F.B.I. took up the case, in what became one of the organization’s first major homicide investigations. But the bureau was then notoriously corrupt and initially bungled the case. Eventually the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including one of the only Native American agents in the bureau. They infiltrated the region, struggling to adopt the latest modern techniques of detection. Together with the Osage they began to expose one of the most sinister conspiracies in American history.

Covered with Night by Nicole Eustace

The Pulitzer Prize-winning history that transforms a single event in 1722 into an unparalleled portrait of early America.

In the winter of 1722, on the eve of a major conference between the Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois) and Anglo-American colonists, a pair of colonial fur traders brutally assaulted a Seneca hunter near Conestoga, Pennsylvania. Though virtually forgotten today, the crime ignited a contest between Native American forms of justice―rooted in community, forgiveness, and reparations―and the colonial ideology of harsh reprisal that called for the accused killers to be executed if found guilty.

In Covered with Night, historian Nicole Eustace reconstructs the attack and its aftermath, introducing a group of unforgettable individuals―from the slain man’s resilient widow to an Indigenous diplomat known as “Captain Civility” to the scheming governor of Pennsylvania―as she narrates a remarkable series of criminal investigations and cross-cultural negotiations. Taking its title from a Haudenosaunee metaphor for mourning, Covered with Night ultimately urges us to consider Indigenous approaches to grief and condolence, rupture and repair, as we seek new avenues of justice in our own era.

Return to Uluru by Mark McKenna

A killing. A hidden history. A story that goes to the heart of the nation.

When Mark McKenna set out to write a history of the centre of Australia, he had no idea what he would discover. One event in 1934 – the shooting at Uluru of Aboriginal man Yokununna by white policeman Bill McKinnon, and subsequent Commonwealth inquiry – stood out as a mirror of racial politics in the Northern Territory at the time.

But then, through speaking with the families of both killer and victim, McKenna unearthed new evidence that transformed the historical record and the meaning of the event for today. As he explains, ‘Every thread of the story connected to the present in surprising ways.’ In a sequence of powerful revelations, McKenna explores what truth-telling and reconciliation look like in practice.

Return to Uluru brings a cold case to life. It speaks directly to the Black Lives Matter movement, but is completely Australian. Recalling Chloe Hooper’s The Tall Man, it is superbly written, moving, and full of astonishing, unexpected twists. Ultimately it is a story of recognition and return, which goes to the very heart of the country. At the centre of it all is Uluru, the sacred site where paths fatefully converged.

Yellow Bird by Sierra Crane Murdoch

When Lissa Yellow Bird was released from prison in 2009, she found her home, the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, transformed by the Bakken oil boom. In her absence, the landscape had been altered beyond recognition, her tribal government swayed by corporate interests, and her community burdened by a surge in violence and addiction. Three years later, when Lissa learned that a young white oil worker, Kristopher "KC" Clarke, had disappeared from his reservation worksite, she became particularly concerned. No one knew where Clarke had gone, and few people were actively looking for him.

Yellow Bird traces Lissa's steps as she obsessively hunts for clues to Clarke's disappearance. She navigates two worlds - that of her own tribe, changed by its newfound wealth, and that of the non-Native oilmen, down on their luck, who have come to find work on the heels of the economic recession. Her pursuit of Clarke is also a pursuit of redemption, as Lissa atones for her own crimes and reckons with generations of trauma.

[notyour-valentine]

what is the public’s general opinion of Charlotte (especially in relation to her sister) in and outside of Yorkshire. It’s interesting to think about when we know her reputation plays a big part in the story

Thank you so much for asking, and for creating the gorgeous artwork that inspired all this! This was written as part of my crossover series Welcome to Downton, Mr. Shelby

Charlotte's reputation

I suppose there are layers to this question. The Crawleys are a reasonably old but well situated aristocratic family. It is known that their mother is American and brought wealth to the marriage. So that gives her a general degree of “suitability” in aristocratic and royal circles (although some super conservatives might not like her American mother, but the Marlboroughs and others had the same so…). 

It’s a good idea to seperate Yorkshire society from the rest. 

The problem with Charlotte is that unlike her other sisters, she did not come out before the war and back then that meant properly introducing them to society. Before the war no one would have paid much attention to the fourth sister unless they were either close friends, related or had children in a similar age group. 

Of course, Mary is a dazzling socialite, but Edith shared those Pamuk rumours, which while never having been confirmed would add to the intrigue of Mary since they were neither confirmed, nor denied and simply left to the pages of history. Edith is always in Mary’s shadow and while Sybil was “a success” in London, she had little time to shine before the war. Her marriage and disappearance would have probably caused rumours to swirl but since the Crawley’s modus operandi is “never explain” (a lot of complaining though), it would have left more questions than answers.  I messed with the years of the first introduction to court ceremony, but in this story, Charlotte is in the first wave of new debutants, which would have carried a wave of excitement with it. She is well mannered, comes from a good family and of course, Mary is engaged to one of the most influential people in London (Sir Richard) at the time of her coming out. He would definitely have pushed Charlotte in the society pages. 

I don’t think she really has had time to develop her own reputation beyond her family and Mary, since she is at least on a surface level less remarkable than her sisters in the eye of a wider public. She has yet to run away with a revolutionary chauffeur or have a Turkish diplomat die in her bed. But unlike Edith, she is part of that younger, more interesting generation. 

I hope that answers your question- it was certainly an interesting one to think about

[spell-fox]

Session 39 One Step Down

(Session cut short due to sickness! Mostly fluff)

In which Nat and Greyson are okay, Eli finds home in a basement and Gabi needs to learn to drive

After a discussion on what to do about the Tremere™ Percival, the current prisoner high-skilled, highly-connected Tremere and Ichabod’s ally, Gabi mentions house-hunting together. They need space for her childe Callum too. He’s moving out right. Right? Is this a Nosferatu thing? Eli leaves Gabi and goes to meet with Natanel to check in on Greyson.

Nat is exhausted and in pain. Unburdening the Beastial Soul really takes it out of a fella. He is observed on the Tube by a mystery ghoul, who loses him in the crowd. The coterie go to meet Greyson to check in on the other side of that Unburdened Beastial Soul. He’s about as okay as one can expect, memories are flooding back to him.

Greyon’s chimera cat Snowball is yowling to be let out. The other chimera cat Luna is missing. Greyson lets them in and they talk memories, trauma, crimes. So many crimes. Actually, Greyon’s newly recovering memories will be helpful for addressing Ichabod’s trail of chaos. He thanks Nat for the soul washing, and Eli for the Ichabod slaying.

Greyson: I wasn’t meant to be a Malkavian

Eli: none of us are what we’re meant to be

Natanel: join the club (playful smile)

Natanel doesn’t want to have the job title Baron of Eastbourne, nor Peace Envoy, maybe Diplomat? Maybe? Camarilla council meetings will be interesting going forward. The Ravnos, Natanel’s boss, Dr Kostin will be joining them. And Callum. So uh, how old is Gabi’s childe Callum? HMM.

Eli tells Greyson Luna threatened him in the umbra. (Natanel: I’m not really fond of your cat if I’m honest.) As they leave Greyson ?? potentially ? passions Snowball. God forbid a Malkavian do anything.

They go house hunting with Gabi. But first they need to get there. Gabi insists on driving. Can she drive? Nope! She manages to drive on the correct side of the road. Reassuring. The first place is a murder house, complete with ghosts. The stairs are too narrow.

Gabi: how would we get your stuff up the stairs?

Eli: we can’t live here

The next place neighbours Miasma’s. It’s huge. A bit dilapidated. Eli struggles. There are marble floors, columns, there is a garden. He really struggles. This is a Nice House. The kind of house Other People, People Not Like Him live in. There's even a room for Gabi's "husband-in-law" (Kuro). Eventually they go down to the basement, which is caved in, mouldy, damp and exactly what he is used to. He’s able to calm down enough for the others to reiterate that he can have nice things.

Natanel waves goodbye to Miasma’s house. He responds telepathically. The third flat is horrible. Shiny. The toilet is shiny. Why is there a shiny toilet.

Eli and Gabi go back to his underground disused train station home, which smells Antique and slightly damp and exactly like home. Natanel goes back to Hector’s, to talk everything that happened, with Greyson, their future, their wedding, they agree supernaturals are all just awful in their own ways. They squish hug on the sofa. As long as they are together, Hector says a cardboard box is fine.

Actually, he wants a cardboard box. A nice one. Natanel will put a blanket inside and a blanket on top. He’s make the best cardboard box bed for his husband.

The next day is interrogating Percival time. Eli makes the mistake of letting Gabi dress him. She shaves his beard (crime). He tries to convince her that maybe diving lessons are a good idea if she doesn’t want a chauffeur. Natanel gets ready with his usual crop-top and hoodie, and the two meet at the Mithrarium.

[eretzyisrael]

by David Israel

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board on Thursday night published a scathing attack on President Biden’s Israel police, especially the way he’s been mistreating PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

To remind you, last Tuesday, NY Times pundit Tom Friedman wrote (White House Urging Israelis to Play Nice, Tom Friedman Says US to Reassess Relationship with Israel): “US diplomats … find it hard to believe that Bibi would allow himself to be led around by the nose by people like Ben-Gvir, would be ready to risk Israel’s relations with America and with global investors, and WOULD BE READY TO RISK A CIVIL WAR IN ISRAEL (sic.) just to stay in power with a group of ciphers and ultranationalists.”

In its response to that and similar brazen attacks fueled by the administration, the WSJ editorial board (What Does Biden Have Against Israel? – The President treats the governing coalition in Jerusalem worse than he does Iran) asked: “Why does President Biden go out of his way to snub, criticize and give marching orders to the government of Israel? At least rhetorically, the President and his Administration treat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his governing coalition worse than they do the ruling mullahs in Iran.”

The WSJ is critical of Biden’s repeated declaration that he will not invite the Israeli PM to the White House, while US Ambassador to Jerusalem Tom Nides has been warning that Israel is “going off the rails,” and both men know that their statements provide shameless support to Netanyahu’s enemies.

“When Mr. Netanyahu was most vulnerable, in late March, Mr. Biden needlessly decreed that Israel ‘cannot continue down this road’ on judicial reform,” the WSJ editorial continued, noting that “the Prime Minister had already changed course and agreed to moderate the reforms—a domestic Israeli affair in which the US President has no business. Mr. Nides publicly instructed Mr. Netanyahu, as if with his chauffeur, to ‘pump the brakes.’”

“This is no way to treat a democratic ally,” argues the editorial, and suggested “the President’s Israel policy has been counterproductive. US aid to anti-Israel international bodies has resumed, and all of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is treated as ‘occupied territory.’ This is now a liberal article of faith, but how does it advance peace to indulge Palestinians in the belief that Jews are interlopers in Judea and at the Western Wall?”

The WSJ says Biden is undermining Israel’s democratically elected government while “Hamas and other Iranian proxies are gaining power in the West Bank, activating another front against Israel.”

The paper warns: “The new wave of terrorism against Jewish civilians will set back the Palestinian cause but advance Iran’s.”

The editorial also lists Biden’s other failures in the Middle East, including abandoning the Abraham Accords, one of his predecessor’s most brilliant achievements. Biden also failed to keep Saudi Arabia in the Western camp, driving it instead to deepen its relations with China. And the administration’s promises about a better nuclear deal with Iran are all gone.

Perhaps most disappointing has been the failure to extend the Trump-brokered Abraham Accords. The Saudis are the prize, but Mr. Biden’s open hostility drove them to hedge their bets by signing a Chinese-brokered deal with Iran instead. Normalization with Israel may have to wait for a U.S. President interested in rallying a coalition to contain Tehran.

“While Tehran escalates its proxy wars and whittles down US nuclear demands, Mr. Biden carries out diplomatic offensives against Saudi Arabia and Israel,” says the WSJ editorial.

[bugs-in-situations]

Please give more information on Evprim Hoaxe

ah yes the silly sad king who failed so bad at king-ing

he's the Actual Legitimate Wasp King here, so the name "hoaxe" doesn't really uh, fit him anymore? but we don't know what we'd change it to

vanessa took over his kingdom because she was doing what the cuckoo wasp do and using him for free babysitting. with the added magic stuff of mind controlling him and all his subjects. his crown is meant to shield against magic but she took it so he gets affected anyway

team peacock does find where his crown is kept and gives it back to him so he escapes to the ant kingdom at the end of chapter five. he also gives the crown back to team peacock at the start of chapter seven so that they can be shielded from vanessa's toxic slutch beam attacks (they put it on stompy like a cone of shame)

he doesn't have any magic and he's no good at fighting physically either. he is a good diplomat when needing to interact with other kingdoms, but the wasps are in the middle of Terrible Thorny Plants That Eat You Land so they don't get all that many visitors. the general public opinion of him is positive (when his subjects aren't brainwashed), even if a few of the more old-fashioned wasps dislike having a ruler who can't lead them into combat as well as the previous queen did. whenever he has to leave the central palace general jayde will chauffeur him around in one of her chariots (we've decided those are actually driven by wheel bugs instead of giant isopods. it fits better, most true bugs aren't awakened and actually live on land)

also he's trans. the word "king" is a loanword from the termites, but not the same situation going on here. btw

[handeaux]

Long Before Lyft And Uber Rolled Into Town, Cincinnati Relied On Hacks And Hackmen

In the days before ride-hailing apps, before Yellow cabs and Checker cabs, folks got around Cincinnati by hack, and in those days hackmen were the stuff of legend.

A hack was driven by a hackman, who waited for fares at a hackstand. The busiest hackstands were located on Third and Fourth streets and, later, around Fountain Square on Fifth Street. Now, a hack is short for a hackney, and a hackney originally referred to the horse and only later to the open, wheeled conveyance behind it. A hackney was a horse rented out indiscriminately. Such a horse became “commonplace through overuse” and yielded our word “hackneyed” to indicate something tired and trite. Cincinnati’s hackmen were anything but trite. By all reports they were some of the most colorful characters to populate our fair city, especially the night hackmen.

It was an unwritten rule that night hackmen and day hackmen were distinct species, with no commerce between them. A day hackman made his bread ferrying passengers from the trains to hotels, or from home to office and back, with the occasional funeral thrown in. The night hackman carried the same customers, but to very different destinations. There is an abundance of good hack tales in Frank Y. Grayson’s classic book, “Pioneers of Night Life on Vine Street.” Grayson has this to say about Cincinnati’s night hackmen:

“When a night man obtained a load the load was usually loaded. Nine times out of ten, after engaging a hack the first thing the fare would do was suggest a drink. I never saw a backward cabby when it came to that crisis. He met it like a man and a hero. Over the drink the fare would pour out all his troubles, fancied and real, into the saddlerock ears of the cabby, who was a whale of a yesser while the compensation was mounting without the assistance of a meter.”

Indeed, these were the days before intrusive devices like meters invaded the hack. Most fares were negotiated on the spot, although there were some standard routes. Most hackmen charged fifty cents to transport a man and one suitcase from the train to the nearest hotel. Or the nearest hotel offering tips to the hackman, because fares didn’t begin to cover the hackman’s salary. An enterprising hackman told the Cincinnati Post [19 December 1882]:

“We make off of what we ‘catch onto.’ You see, we watch the depots for strangers coming in who don’t know the ropes. They will ask us to drive them to a clothing store or something of the kind, and of course we take them to some merchant who has agreed to give us a commission on all the trade we bring them. We get 10, 15 or 20 per cent, and sometimes a present from the storekeeper.”

The hackman’s fares tended to be arrayed along the middle of Cincinnati’s social classes. Poor folks walked or took the public horsecars. Rich folks had their own carriages and chauffeurs. A good fare was often a gambling man or a sporting woman who had just come into a rare and munificent payday. According to Grayson’s book:

“When a fellah climbed into one of these open faced hacks that used to rattle over our well-paved thoroughfares in the old days, he just naturally harbored some plutocratic ideas. It was pretty soft to loll back on the cushions and lift your eight-by-twelve iron hat to some walking acquaintance as you dashed along up the gay white lane. You were overcome with a sense of dignity; you realized that the thrill of a lifetime had come to you and that an ambition to ride up Vine Street or down Vine Street, as the case might have been, behind a pair of spanking bays or grays, was at last fulfilled after all the years of yearning.”

And hackmen often had to earn their fares and tips as diplomats or warriors. Only a veteran hackman could be trusted to convey his intemperate passenger to the front door while his fare’s good wife endeavored to enact her frustrations with a rolling pin. The veterans knew how to handle a rider whose libations rendered him ten foot tall and bulletproof. Most importantly, the good hackman knew how to take a secret to his grave. The hackman saw everything and had nothing to say, except in some general terms, as the Post reported:

“Once I carried a tony bride to her wedding, and several years afterward met her when she came home, and drove her to the house, where her father would not admit her. At her request I then drove her to a house on Longworth-st. [the heart of the red-light district], and she has been there since. There was a big difference between those two rides; she was laughing on the first, but crying on the other.”

Hackmen made good money on drunks. Sometimes an inebriated fare, afraid to go home in that condition, hired a hack to wander a couple of hours until the toot had worn off. Sometimes after a few too many toasts, the fare needed assistance finding his home port. Far too often, there was a woman involved. As Grayson said:

“They knew how to keep a secret as gloatingly as a miser hoarded his three-cent pieces; if they had been loose-lipped the divorce court would have worked overtime and, gosh knows, it was bad enough when operating on a normal basis.”

A good score often involved a married pair out slumming among the demi-monde who required a level of discretion, according to the hackman interviewed by the Post:

“Sometimes a couple way up in society will be driven to places of questionable resort, and in that case we always sock it to the man heavy. He dasen’t kick, you know.”

Eventually, progress stilled the staccato clopping of the old hacks. By the dawn of the 1920s, horses had no place on Cincinnati’s streets. Some of the old “Jehus” (as they were called, after the biblical charioteer), adapted. One who made the transition was Louis Brizzolari, known as “Briz.” According to Grayson:

“Bris still clings to his little old Vine street. He can be found on it on any night. He now has a fleet of automobiles. Briz hasn’t gathered much more flesh than he packed a good many years ago; he has to wear glasses now when he reads; his hair is somewhat silvered, and there are little nests of crow’s feet under his eyes, but withal he is the same old genial Briz, witty, a good fellow, a dandy story teller and a square shooter who has seen the seamy side of life by gaslight ever since Hector was a purp.”

I am here to tell you, it is all but impossible to conjure that sort of personality from an ride-hailing app.

[queenofcandynsoda]

Dystopian Omegaverse AU: Gammas

Gammas

Description: Gammas are the maintenance workers of Sol Fertilis. They help to encourage the status quo due to their dislike of chaos and danger. 

Rank: Third-Lowest (Gamma Plus) [Second-Highest if Married]; Second-Lowest (Gamma Minus) 

Color-Code: Violet (Standard), Lavender (Pup), Wisteria (In training, girl, Gamma Plus), Lilac (in training, male, Gamma Plus), Thistle (In training, girl, Gamma Minus), Plum (in training, male, Gamma Minus), Floral White (Wedding), Royal Purple (Married, Gamma Plus, female), Burgundy (Married, Gamma Plus, male), Mauveine (Married, Gamma Minus, female), Puce (Married, Gamma Minus, male), Mauve (Ceremony), Mardi Gras (Elder, female), Murrey (Elder, male)

Traits: Gammas are more territorial, sexually promiscuous, and hygienic. Their teeth is sharper than Betas’, enough to break skin. Their heats are not passive, long-lasting, or heavy. Their pheromones are used to help calm down Deltas and Betas. They have a protective instinct towards Omegas and pups. They are also like cleanliness and stability. Their scent is like fresh laundry, freshly cut grass, peppermint, and citrus fruits. 

Occupations:

Gammas from Delta-Gamma are known as Gamma Plus or Gamma+.

Female Gamma Plus would get higher jobs such as nurses, educators in kindergartens and elementary schools, librarians, paramedics, seamstresses, and secretaries.

Male Gamma Plus would get to be an event planner, paramedic, medical scribe, medical assistants, library-assistant, commissionaires, horticulturists, and tailors.

Gammas from Beta-Gamma pairs are known as Gamma Minus, or Gamma-.

Female Gammas Minus take the role of domestic workers, gardeners, doulas, caretakers, personal shoppers, home cooks, nannies, maids, cooks, alewives, and textile makers.

Male Gammas Minus take the role of janitors, couriers, garbagemen, chauffeurs, valet, public transportation workers, groundskeepers, postal service workers, porters, butlers, and cup-bearers. 

Both of them could work as sex workers in state-sponsored brothels for foreign diplomats, flight attendants, car attendants, cashiers in diplomacy malls, and etiquette attendants to help tourists.

Housing:

Under an Alpha: They live in a certain section in the mansion known as the Gammas’ Quarters in an estate. 

Gamma Plus: They live in service apartments, apartment hotels, and luxury apartments. After marriage, they are allowed to live in luxury two or three-store houses and split houses. 

Gamma Minus: They live in duplexes, basement apartments, and micro apartments. When married to a Beta, they live in small apartments, cohousing, studio apartments, and lofts. 

Population: 20%

Male-to-female gender ratio: 1:3

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Does Harry secretly believe that Diana was assassinated?! by u/International_Bed719

Does Harry secretly believe that Diana was assassinated?! Before I go into this, I want to make it clear that for me Diana's death was a tragic accident and nothing more, and if you believe otherwise I suggest you look out for a Mitchell & Webb comedy sketch on the assassination theory on Youtube. If that's not enough for you, I can debunk it in detail, but it's a bit off topic for a SMM sub.Anyway, this is something that has been troubling me from some time but what with all the NYC paparazzi chase debacle and the following fallout I hadn't thought to post about it before now.Ever since Harry recounted in Spare how he asked his chauffeur to go through the Alma tunnel in Paris to recreate the last minutes of his mother's death, it's been clear to me that he doesn't trully believe the official explanation of what happened. In fact there was something about the way he dealt with this anecdote in the book that made me think that it was almost a veiled threat to the RF that he would maybe make a documentary about the accident and perhaps go through some of the alternative theories.To be clear, Harry's version of this reenactmement in Spare makes no sense to me, as having been through that tunnel many times, I simply don't believe that Harry could have gone through it at the speed Diana's car was travelling and think it was nothing. I can explain why that is, but I'll save that for another post. Nevertheless, it is at this point he seems to express doubts about the media/police explanation.We also know that he is completely paranoid at this point and interprets everything in the most sinister light. I think he clearly gets this from Diana who was also paranoid. Contrary to popular belief her mental health problems were not due to the RF, although the pressure of the role clearly didn't help. Diana went into the marriage with Charles with a lot of mental health baggage due to her difficult unbringing.Early on in the marriage, Diana cheated on Charles with her bodyguard Barry Manakee, who was then moved to diplomatic protection and died in a motorbike accident about a year later on his way home. Diana told anyone who'd listen that he was bumped off and was hit head on by a truck. For those who don't know, he wasn't and the circumstances of the accident were very straightforward and had nothing to do with a truck, but if you want more info on that, see google.Anyway, suffice it to say that thanks to his mother and his rampant cannabis use, Harry is clearly paranoid and as we know an avid surfer of the internet. Imho a man who constantly looks for comments about himself on twitter and youtube would probably have done the same thing for his mother. I find it very hard to believe that he hasn't read all the conspiracy theories about her death.And then we come to what I always considered to be his strange justification for leaving the RF and his completely irrational reaction to specifically the "British press", as if tabloid media doesn't exist elsewhere.He's always insisted that the royal press corps is somewhat in league with the RF and that he had to get away to "protect his family". Why?It's easy to make sure that you don't die at the hands of the paparazzi. You just need to check that the cars you travel in have blacked out windows, that you put your seatbelts on and that you don't drive at ridiculous speeds to try to outrun them. That's assuming they would have chased him in the first place, which in the UK just does not happen anymore. He also has an intense and lingering obsession with his security needs.To my mind, the only way these justifications and his behaviour make any sense is if in his mind, the "British Press" is actually a proxy for other more sinister forces. I trully think that he wanted to leave because he thought they were going to be disposed of for being a nuisance, just as he thinks his mother was disposed of for the same reason. post link: https://ift.tt/Q2TCSJh author: International_Bed719 submitted: June 21, 2023 at 11:22AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[perceivedfm]

⟨ ANONYMOUS ASKED ⟩ ——- occupation ideas ?

hi ! you can check the tag in the source for some occupation ideas, but some other ideas can be found below ! i tried to keep both ideas on the lists different; but if you need more specific recommendations for a character, let me know, and i can try to help you out.

ideas are: gamer, gardener, handyman, marketer, marriage counselor, receptionist, radio announcer, bookstore clerk, distiller / winemaker, chauffeur, court clerk, diplomat, bartender, cashier, archaeologist, fashion designer, babysitter / pet - sitter, doctor / surgeon, researcher, accountant, weather - person, art director, bodyguard, security guard, coach, criminal investigator, journalist, dancer, firefighter, funeral practitioner, personal shopper, and writer !

ADMIN DREAM is... online ! ——-  5-15 minute replies.

[atlaslimo1]

The Impact of DC Limo Services on the Local Community

Washington, DC not only is the nation's political capital, but it is also a breeding ground for tourism, businesses, and other events both cultural and otherwise. In such a dynamic setting, DC limo service works on the premise of availing high-class, excellent transportation to its residents, tourists, and business people alike. Limo services operating in DC offer so much more than just rides. Many of these activities, in turn, reinvest their proceeds into the community along the spectrum from economic growth to improved safety and environmental sustainability.

Local Economic Development

These DC limo services are a growing part of the local economy, enabling job creation and bolstering small businesses in the area. From chauffeurs and dispatchers to mechanics and administrative personnel, limo companies employ hundreds of area residents. Many limousine services are owned by residents; money spent for these services stays in the community, further bolstering the economic well-being of the area.

The number of limo services also increases in cities due to the upscale clientele catered to-such as government officials, tourists, and corporate executives-thus solidifying hospitality and tourist businesses. Many times visitors using limo services will also book hotels, eat in restaurants and attend other local attractions; thus, heightening enhancement to the local economy.

More Tourism, Better Visitor Experience

Probably, Washington, D.C. joins the ranks of most-visited U.S. cities due to its iconic landmarks, museums, and historic sites. DC limo services turn these usual tours into unique ones for the tourists in comfort and style inside. For example, personalized city tours by limo companies drive tourists around the major attractions in the city, such as the National Mall, the White House, and the Capitol, in great style or in a more personalized and enjoyable way.

These are complemented by high-quality transportation services that enable tourists to move around comfortably and avoid the hustle of dealing with public transport or traffic. The limo services also do a great job providing for event and conference transportation needs within the city. This greatly improves the overall experience during the stay.

Accompanying Events and Cultural Activity

These car services have become an inseparable part of the smooth running of various cultural, social, and corporate events in this city. Starting with weddings, proms, galas, and business conferences, this limousine rental company provides safe, elegant transportation to their customers that adds importance to these special occasions. Different festivals, like the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, along with international diplomatic affairs and even political inaugurations held within the city, raise the demand for limos to host key and high-profile events.

Such events are organized with the help of the limo service through safe and professional transportation that ensures the customer will arrive in style and on time. Besides this, it enhances the prestige of the city as a world-class destination whether for events, cultural or social.

Improving Safety and Congesting Traffic

Some of the common complaints in a busy city like Washington DC include congestion of the roads and accidents. It is for this reason that limo services decongest the roads and reduce the rate of accidents by providing qualified drivers and well-serviced cars. The limo chauffeurs are trained in responsible driving-managing the frequently congested roads of this city with care, contributing to road safety and further reducing the chances of accidents.

Other benefits that would be accrued from limo services include reduction of congestion on the roads during big events or main tourist attraction sites. Instead of many cars causing jamming in the roads, one limo would carry bigger groups of people, hence reducing the number of cars on the highways. This aids in quick and less congested transportation across the city.

Ecological Impact

Though limos denote luxury, many companies in today's world attempt to reduce their carbon footprint. Some DC limousine services do this by adding hybrid or electric cars to their fleet of vehicles. These green initiatives, apart from reducing the carbon emissions, also set a very good example for other transportation services within the city.

Further-greening this means that the greener practices of the city are getting a boost from this step. It's also a way for DC limo services on one hand to help create cleaner, greener futures for the locals while offering eco-friendly transportation.

More precisely, DC limo services extend their commercial interests through charitable activities and other support for local causes. Many firms engage in local events, sponsorship of local organizations, or even offering discounts to non-profit events, veterans, or school programs. This kind of philanthropic involvement institutes closer ties between the limo firms and the local people-a surefire assurance of their interest in ensuring positive contributions toward the social welfare of the area.

Conclusion

Besides transportation, the DC limo services have contributed a great deal to the local community in terms of developing the economy, tourism assurance of traffic safety, ecological compatibility, and social action. Such companies have strongly contributed to the quality of life in Washington, DC, for residents, workers, and visitors alike by giving good service and participating actively in the civic life of the local community. Everything from job opportunities to greener practices, it only helps to build a better, more vibrant city for all.