#environmental sound matter

[reasonsforhope]

Given the misinformation that's been going around and will be going around, thought this might be helpful to some people

For a lot of reasons, I'm very good at this/at searching, to the point where I have worked as a professional fact-checker for two different publishers. So, here goes:

My Article Fact-Checking Protocol

Thorough Version

Read the full article. Keep an eye out for emotionally loaded words, and all-or-nothing language

Keep an eye out or anything that sounds too good to be true, and in contrast, anything that sounds so awful it must be true

Run the website/source through the amazing Media Bias/Fact Check. They'll tell you about a publication's bias and history of accuracy

Go to the website's home page and read through the headlines. Look at what topics they cover/prioritize, sensationalist headlines, and whether they're framing anything in a way that feels odd/off to you

Do a search related to the topic. This can be keywords, a question, or even just copy-paste the article title (Recommended: use DuckDuckGo so the results don't change based on what Google thinks they can sell you)

If multiple highly credible sources that say the same thing pop up, and there's no major societal biases that might affect the coverage of the topic in those sources (e.g. anything related to the Israel-Palestine conflict/Palestinian genocide, no matter which side), then I'm done!

If there are major societal biases, or I can't get a consensus of sufficiently credible sources, then I do some combination of:

(1) search the topic again + the words "controversy" and/or "fake"

(2) search the opposite of the topic, or do some sort of other filtered search

(3) look up a sufficiently credible news outlet with the opposite point of view of my source, and see what they have to say

(4) if it's a big enough topic, start by looking up 2 of the top national papers and 1 major paper for your region (I usually do the ones in the US, because that's where I am In the US: the LA Times, the Washington Post, and the NY Times)

Adjust "news" to "relevant type of source, e.g. tech, environmental" as relevant for all of the above options

If no red flags come up, and it's a topic I understand enough to smell huge bullshit,

Then I'm usually done!

If there are red flags, or I actually need a certain amount of detail/understanding, then it gets more complicated, but that would be a whole other thing to break down and such

or

tl;dr

Quick Version

Read the full article. Keep an eye out for emotionally loaded words, and all-or-nothing language

Keep an eye out or anything that sounds too good to be true, and in contrast, anything that sounds so awful it must be true.

If I don't know the website:

Run the website/source through the amazing Media Bias/Fact Check. They'll tell you about a publication's bias and history of accuracy

If I trust the source, but something else pinged my radar:

Do a quick web search to verify anything that sounds suspicious or too good/bad to be true (Recommended: use DuckDuckGo)

[mesetacadre]

Any resources you would recommend about why proletarians would be against worker's rights? It's a topic that has been interesting to me lately

I don't know any specific resources, maybe Lenin touches on this in What is to be Done but I'm not sure. I think a better way to phrase the question is to ask why workers would go against their class interests, even in the most economicist and immediate struggles. Essentially, I'd say it's a concatenation of two facts: most workers lack actually consistent politico-economic education, and the propaganda of liberalism works more like an invisible mold than anything explicit you can point to and single out as a Propaganda Piece. No matter how angry a worker is at their own bad situation (which they might not even conceive of as exploitation), if they've spent all their lives soaking in liberal ideology everywhere from school to the generally accepted trains of thought to even the most innocent piece of media, it's not that surprising they might oppose, say, a rise in the minimum wage. Maybe they've bought into smart-sounding liberal economics and have some vague notion or memorized slogan about inflation rising. Or maybe they've internalized the narrative of individual achievement, they feel like they've "earned" having a better salary than minimum wage and feel it's unfair for others to begin at a better place than them.

Typically the first and only type of class consciousness that workers develop, what Lenin defined as economic-spontaneous consciousness, or consciousness from within (and the type of consciousness most anarchists love to praise), is the one that arises from the daily happenings of class antagonism. But this is a highly subjective and imprecise class consciousness. Without further education and a scientific approach (acquiring political-revolutionary consciousness, or consciousness from without), spontaneous consciousness can be easily misguided by the aforementioned liberal state of affairs or by the worker's own biases. Someone predisposed to racism for whichever environmental reason might take that imprecise, spontaneous class consciousness and assign the cause of their felt exploitation to the presence of migrant workers in the economy, and therefore support measures that harm that specific minority while also greatly benefitting the capitalists exploiting both. The worker aristocracy is also very vulnerable to supporting the imperialist system when their spontaneous consciousness, especially in regards to trade unions, aligns with imperialist interests. And besides all of this, some workers never develop any sort or consciousness and believe themselves potential equals to their exploiters

[roosterforme]

Adult Education Part 20 | Hangman x OC

Summary: Knowing that Jessica loved him was opening up a whole new world of possibilities for Jake, and his mind was running wild. With Brian's return to campus looming in front of her, Jessica relies on Jake to be the best kind of distraction. 

Warnings: Fluff, oral, angst, language, 18+

Length: 4300 words

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Female OC

This story is part of the Beer Boy and Sugar universe but can be read on its own! Adult Education masterlist

Seriously, who let Jake on my masterlist!? Banner by @mak-32

The next week was one of the best of Jake's life. When he admitted that he didn't like sleeping without his girlfriend, Jessica told him, "Then don't." The midweek sleepovers quickly turned into Jessica having a permanent toothbrush at his place, and Jake having one at hers. When he inevitably ended up washing some of her clothing with his laundry, he didn't mind one bit. He knew there would come a day when he'd be deployed and separated from her, so he absolutely wanted to spend as much time with her as he could right now. 

"Baby, you want a bedtime snack?" he asked, and she looked up at him from her seat at his kitchen island. 

"Are you referring to yourself?" Her smirk was aimed right at him, and he couldn't help but smile.

"I was actually talking about some fresh fruit and yogurt."

She shook her head and adjusted her glasses as she closed her red notebook. It was the same one she'd had with her the day they met, and now she was pushing it aside to get to him in his kitchen on Thursday night. "I'd rather have you," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

He knew she was a little nervous about her tenure review, and all he wanted to do was help her get through this. Maybe keep her mind off of things. But he should have known who was in charge when she started to push him back toward the bedroom. "I don't get a say in the matter?" he asked jokingly as she gave him a soft shove so he was sitting on the end of the bed.

"Not at all," she replied as she leaned down and kissed him. When he tried to wrap his arms around her, she jumped out of his grasp and giggled. 

"Come back and let me show you how much I love you." His voice sounded needy, but he didn't care. He needed Jessica, and now she knew it. He'd been telling her nonstop since Saturday. 

He tracked her movements as she made her way to his nightstand and opened the drawer. The only things in there were the condoms he bought that they never used, a pair of her crotchless underwear, and a few physics journals. She dipped her hand inside and hid something behind her back before she nudged the drawer closed. 

"Will you let me show you why a blowjob from me is the best kind?" she asked softly, and Jake almost laughed out loud. He already knew she was the best in every way.

"Reedy, you've got nothing to prove. That being said... I'm already a little hard just from you mentioning it."

She came to stand between his splayed legs, and he watched her thumb casually through the pages of the journal she removed from behind her back. "You really want it?" she asked. When he nodded vigorously, she said, "I'm going to make you use your brain, Smart Boy. Now get undressed."

Jessica's words of praise washed over him along with the feeling of comfort he knew every time she touched him. Jake stripped off every bit of his clothing and waited patiently. She placed a soft kiss on his forehead before she handed him the journal which was opened up to a page about the environmental impacts of fuel combustion, but he couldn't focus on it. 

"Start reading," she commanded, her voice soft yet firm as she pulled her shirt over her head. The sheer champagne colored bra did nothing to hide her furled nipples from him. When she put her hands on her hips and raised one eyebrow, she repeated herself. "Start reading."

Jake grunted and peeled his eyes away from her body and focused on the journal. When he started reading, she pulled her leggings down and stepped out of them. He could see her matching panties hugging her hips before she sank to the floor in front of him. Jake cleared his throat and read, "The combustion of fossil fuels leads to the output of pollutants, causing variation in atmospheric composition." He paused and grunted as she took his cock between her lips and swirled her tongue around his tip in that familiar way that he loved.

Then she stopped, pulled him free and looked up at him. "If you want more, then you have to give me more. Keep reading."

It was a game. The kind of game that was designed specifically for Jake to lose. He throbbed in her hands as she stared up at him with parted lips. He had to force his eyes to focus on the page. "The content of nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air have been studied extensively after newer types of fuel have been developed for military aircrafts."

He drew in a deep breath as she started to bob up and down on his length, her glasses sliding lower on her nose. She sucked hard on him one time before popping him free. "Don't make me repeat myself."

"Oh my god," he groaned, balls tightening in her hand at her stern words. He started reading again, and she started going again. "In lower atmospheric layers, energy from the sun acts as a catalyst in chemical and physical reactions." He kept reading, very slowly, and she kept sucking his cock. Every time he hesitated over a word, she slowed her movements, leaving him twitching in her wet mouth and soft hands until he could gather his focus once more. 

Cheeks hollowed out and softly moaning, Jessica sucked on him while he read to her about air pollutants from fuel, but he was barely absorbing a single word he said. The combination of reading to her while she gave him head was something he'd never imagined could be so sexy, and all too soon, Jake's hips were thrusting gently forward as she took him to the edge of orgasm. 

When she met his eyes above the rim of her glasses, Jake repeated the same sentence he just read over again. As soon as he tapped the back of her throat, he was panting, and then he came. He tossed the journal on the floor as he begged, although he wasn't sure what for. "Please, Baby. Please."

His hands were in her hair as she drained him, and when he opened his eyes a moment later, he realized he was on his back on the bed with Jessica on top of him. "That was fun," she whispered. "I think you like it when I tell you what to do."

Jake snorted. "Really? I think I love it. Like I love you."

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

When Jessica arrived at work on Friday with a cooler bag filled with the lunch and snacks Jake packed for her, she logged into her email account with a smile on her face. She had a message from Dr. Rosenthal letting her know that he would be spending the weekend reviewing all of the information he had gathered and all of the notes he had taken while sitting in her classes for the past few weeks. He would let her know soon if she was being awarded tenure or not. 

Her smile started to fade as nerves rushed in. There was another email from Dean Walters letting her know that the extra work she put in had been much appreciated, and that she only needed to cover Brian's class one more time before he returned to campus. After next week, he would be back from his leave of absence. The peace she felt this whole time he was gone would be taken from her. And if Dr. Rosenthal didn't find her worthy of tenure, Brian would never give her another chance at a review.

She felt sick now. Last night was so much fun. Teasing Jake and getting him all wound up before bedtime still had her smiling this morning. Now she just felt too warm and prickly all over as she gathered the notes she needed to teach. And of course, just because she already felt kind of terrible now, Dr. Rosenthal quietly crept into her class right when she started, giving her a little way. He must have wanted one last chance to see her in action. She tried to smile in his direction before she got started. 

Jessica felt like she was on autopilot right now, which was never ideal for a teacher. She made it to lunchtime when she ran back to her office, desperate for some quiet solitude and her homemade lunch. Of course as soon as she poked her fork into the container, there was a knock on her door. 

She groaned softly before she called out, "Come in."

Jessica saw the flash of a tie dye lunch box and then her friend was sitting across from her. "You are not going to believe the day I'm having." She was already furiously dipping some carrots into a container of hummus. "I caught a student cheating on an exam. I am so pissed off."

"That's the worst," Jessica groaned, and then she felt a little guilty. "I'm sorry if you're going to be spending all weekend working up my tenure review with Rosenthal."

"We're not supposed to talk about that. And don't be sorry. And anyway, I'm not planning on working the whole weekend... Bradley and I have a trip to the school library planned for Sunday afternoon."

"Oh, is that some sort of romantic date for the two of you?" Jessica asked as she ate her delicious lunch, starting to feel a little better.

Her friend nibbled on her lip and giggled before she bit into a carrot stick. "Something like that." After she finished another carrot stick, she cocked her head to the side. "What's wrong? I thought you'd still be ecstatic today. Apparently Jake can't stop talking about the fact that you told him you love him back. Bradley said he couldn't shut up about it at work on Monday."

Jessica flushed with embarrassed excitement; she hadn't even mentioned it to anyone else yet, but Jake had? She felt her whole body clench with need for him. "Yeah... he said it at the Hard Deck. On his birthday," she whispered. "And of course I love him. What's not to love? I mean, other than the unfortunate time he called you Dr. Tits."

"At least he got the honorific correct," she mumbled. "Then why do you look miserable?"

There was no point in beating around the bush with this woman. "I'm nervous all over again now. Rosenthal sat in my class earlier, and it threw me. I honestly don't know if I'm good enough. And Brian is coming back after next week." She took a deep breath before she blurted out, "I was hoping and praying that somehow he wouldn't return. That something would prevent it from happening, because I don't want to see him at all."

She was met with a long stretch of silence as the other woman nodded, and it felt like her words were still echoing around the tiny office. Eventually the other woman said, "I know he's returning in a week. I also know that Dr. Rosenthal will have a decision about your tenure before then, because I explicitly asked him to finalize it before the month ends. And... I have to attend a meeting next week in regards to Brian."

"A meeting?" Jessica asked as tears burned her eyes. "About what?"

"I'm not sure yet. But I'll let you know when I can."

Jessica nodded, feeling even more uncertain, but she whispered, "Thanks for having my back."

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

Ten minutes with Jessica, and Jake knew something was wrong. He drove to her place to spend the night on Friday, and one thing he wanted to mention was his idea of her moving into his condo with him. He had no idea when her rental lease was ending, but he thought it was worth mentioning now, even if it didn't happen for a while. He thought better than to bring it up as soon as she started giving him one word answers. 

"Hey," he whispered as she stood in front of her refrigerator looking for something he could make for dinner. He carefully closed the door and spun her around to face him. "I know something's bothering you. I can tell." He stroked her cheek and tipped her face up so she was looking at him. "Why don't you get it off your chest and let me try to make you feel better?"

She nodded gently and said, "Brian is coming back in a few days. And I'll know about my tenure review decision next week."

"Right," Jake said slowly as he wrapped his hand around her waist. "We knew both of those things were going to be happening though?" He was still a little confused as to why she looked like she was going to cry.

"Yes," she replied as she squeezed her eyes closed. "But everything has been so good the past few weeks. I haven't felt like I'm slowly suffocating at work anymore. I have all the graduating chemistry majors bringing their grades up, because teaching the senior studies class is actually really fun. And... you told me you love me. And Brian is going to come in and ruin everything, especially if Rosenthal doesn't think I'm good enough."

She was sobbing as Jake collected her against his chest. "You're a really good teacher, Reedy," he whispered. "You are the reason all those students have higher grades now. And you told me yourself that Dr. Rosenthal is very smart, so just give him a chance to show you that he's also very fair. And as for Brian? That asshole can just fuck off. He's not going to mess with you anymore, and if he tries to, I'll be there in his face in an instant, and I can guarantee he'll back off."

She nodded, and her glasses dug into his chest as he kissed her head. Jake wasn't going to let Brian near her if he had anything to say about it. Part of him had been hoping he'd just resign instead of returning to work, but no such luck. 

"I love you, Jessica," he whispered as she took a few deep breaths. "And I really don't think Brian is dumb enough to give you a hard time again. But if he does, I'll break his nose every week if that's what you want me to do." That made her laugh in his arms, so he kissed the top of her head again and said, "As soon as you say it looks like it healed, I'll stop by and punch him again."

She was laughing and looking up at him as she wiped her tears away. "Maybe every time you stop by for my office hours, you can just punch him."

"I'll add a recurring notification to my phone calendar." She kissed his cheek as he said, "Why don't you get changed out of your work clothes, and I'll take you out for dinner."

The loud growl from Jake's stomach might have been the reason she agreed to his plan. "Where are we going?"

"Anywhere you want. If you come out of the bedroom wearing a dress, I'll take you somewhere nice. If you come out wearing jeans, we can go get burgers or tacos by the beach. And if you put on leggings and one of the shirts you stole from my dresser, I'll order some takeout, and we can drive to pick it up together."

Jake ended up at the burger shack, sitting at a lopsided table on the back deck while the last glimpse of orange sunlight vanished on the horizon. Jessica was so close to him, she was practically sitting on his lap, and they were sharing French fries and an enormous chocolate shake. "You feel a little better?" he asked as he kissed her ear. 

"I do. You're so sweet, you always make me feel better," she replied, dipping a fry in some ketchup. "But I like it more when you cook dinner."

Jake groaned. This woman thought he was smart, sweet and interesting, and she liked the food he made. She liked being with him. She even loved him. "I'm going to mention something. Just really quickly. And we don't actually have to discuss it right now since there's a lot going on this week. But I just thought that maybe soon or maybe in a few months or next year.... you might move into my condo with me?"

She smiled at him, rerouting the French fry to his mouth instead of her own. "Are you saying you don't want me to renew my lease when it ends in two months?"

He quickly chewed the fry before wrapping her in his arms. "Please don't renew it, Baby. I really don't want you to."

"Okay. I won't." She laughed as he smothered her face in kisses.

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

The weekend was of course perfect. Jessica woke up to the sight of Jake's handsome face and messy hair bathed in sunlight in her bed two days in a row. They slept in, they made love, they went to see a movie, and Jake made every meal with just the slightest bit of help from her.

"I need my assistant," he called as he prepared pancake batter at lunchtime on Sunday after taking her grocery shopping. 

She groaned as she poured two more mugs of coffee. "But I'm barely even any help to you at all."

"But I like it when you're with me."

"Yeah... I'm not going to argue with that," she said, tucking herself in front of Jake and helping him scoop the batter and pour it into the hot pan. She smiled at the pancake as it started to cook. "What are you making for my lunches this week?"

He kissed her shoulder. "Lasagna and garlic bread. Can't wait for two months from now when we can combine all of our grocery shopping. But I just realized one more thing we need to do before then... right when your semester ends."

"What's that?" she asked as they flipped the pancake together.

"Gotta fly to Massachusetts and meet your family, and then I'll take you to Texas so my mom and dad can meet you. That'll be a first for them," he said with a laugh. "Might shock them to death."

"Why?" she asked as butterflies erupted in her tummy. She wanted him to say it. She desperately wanted him to say it. 

"I've never had someone I wanted them to meet before."

Jake ended up eating that very burnt pancake after Jessica spun in his arms and kissed him until they were both breathless. Eventually he made the lasagna for her, and she portioned it into her lunch containers while Jake looked at different flights for the week she would have off after she submitted final grades for the semester. 

On Tuesday afternoon, she was still thinking about the sincere look on his face when he told her he'd try to get that week off too. Jake made her feel better about everything that was happening. It was almost time for her office hours, and she expected to see Luca at some point. He was doing really well in her class now, and as long as he kept coming back for more practice problems, she would keep making them up for him. 

When she heard a tap on her door, she called out, "Come in!" But instead of Luca and his skateboard, her heart started pounding double time when she saw who was there. She was on her feet immediately. "Dr. Rosenthal."

"Dr. Reed," he mumbled, juggling a binder and some folders as he closed the door behind him. 

He wasn't really meeting her eyes, and she swallowed hard as she said, "Have a seat." The words came out as barely a squeak, and she realized her hands were shaking a bit as she dropped back into her chair as well. 

He was shuffling papers around and trying to dig a pen out of his shirt pocket. "I have frankly a whole bunch of papers for you to sign here. I just need to sign a few of them myself first." Then he looked up at her and chuckled. "Did you have a chance to read the science joke of that day that I emailed to you earlier?" he asked.

Jessica nodded, wishing he'd just get on with why exactly he was here. "The one about the Roman numerals and the gladiators? Yes. It was very good."

He was still chuckling to himself when he laid out a stack of papers on her desk in front of her. "Okay, go ahead and sign all of these, and make sure you date them as well. I would have brought them in earlier, but the copier was jammed again." He set his fountain pen down after he uncapped it, and Jessica just stared at him.

"What's going on here exactly?" she asked, finally sliding the first page a little closer to her.

He looked at her in surprise. "Why, it's your formal paperwork, of course. For your tenure."

She squeezed her hands into fists, pressing her nails into her palms as she started sweating. "My tenure?" she whispered, too afraid to say anything else until he spoke again.

"Yes," Dr. Rosenthal replied. "The university is awarding you tenure based on my findings. I spoke with Dean Walters earlier today. Were you expecting a different outcome?"

"No," she gasped as tears welled up in her eyes. "No, this is exactly what I was expecting." She struggled to keep her voice under control as she breathed in and out awkwardly and picked up his pen. "Thank you for taking the time to do my review."

He flapped his hand casually in the air as if he wasn't aware that he'd just made her whole existence vastly better. "Oh no, don't thank me. It's all just part of the job. Happy to do it."

She shook with silent tears as she skimmed the paperwork and signed her name over and over again. She even saw Advanced Calculus' signature on a few lines. Each time she looked up at Dr. Rosenthal through her watery smile, he was just sitting there calmly, and Jessica wondered if anyone else ever cried when he told them they got tenure.

On the last page was the certification that had been signed by Dean Walters, and Jessica smiled when Rosenthal said, "That's the page you're going to want to frame and hang up there next to your diplomas."

She had to fight the urge to hug him when she stood to shake his hand. "Thank you again."

He just shrugged it off once again. "You have a very good friend in the math department. Well, I suppose two, if you include me. Don't forget to schedule a meeting with Dean Walters, because you'll need to return some of that paperwork to him. I just wanted you to have it in writing as soon as possible."

"Okay," she said with as steady a voice as she could muster. And then she was opening the door for him to go. 

In the silence of her office, Jessica dropped back down into her desk chair and sobbed. She took her glasses off and pressed her hands to her face as her whole body shook in relief at finally getting what she knew she deserved all along. She could finally look to the future knowing that even if Brian Conley didn't want her at this school, there were other faculty members who recognized her worth.

"Oh my god," she moaned to herself as she wiped at her tears in vain as they just kept coming. She felt inexplicably weightless, like years of pressure just suddenly ceased to exist. Her breathing started to even out, and then she laughed before she started crying all over again. 

There was a firm knock on her door, and she had to pat around her desk for her glasses as she stood. If it was Luca, she would just excuse herself to the restroom and then come back to help him. When she opened the door, Jake's green eyes were immediately alert and upset. 

"What happened?" he barked, reaching for her with the hand that wasn't holding a snack container. "Is Brian back already?"

And then she was crying again. "No," she sobbed against his uniform shirt, smearing her glasses in the process. "Oh my god, Jake," she wailed and he dropped the container on her desk to take her face in both of his big hands. He looked like he was on the verge of panicking when she reached for the certification page and held it up for him. "I got tenure." He made a loud noise, and he hoisted her in the air as she clung onto the sheet of paper and his shoulder. "Dr. Rosenthal just told me. I just signed all the paperwork."

She was crying so hard, she was shaking again, and when her feet finally met the ground, Jake's lips were on hers. "I'm so proud of you," he said between kisses. "So fucking proud of you. I love you so much."

She laughed and cried and held onto him as he murmured the sweetest things in her ear while she traced his name tag with her fingers. Then he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles as she smiled at him. 

"Let's go pick up some champagne and celebrate."

But there was a third knock on the door, and this time, Jessica could hear Luca kick and flip his skateboard into his hands. "I have to finish my office hours first."

Jake grinned and kissed her forehead. "Of course you do. You're such a good teacher."

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

Masterful, Jessica. It should have been yours all along. You got your tenure, and you got the guy.... what are you going to do next? Thanks to @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls

PART 21

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[arjudy224]

The Intern (Day one)

Working for the Gotham Department of Environmental Protection is not for the weak of heart. Follow along for a day in the life of Gotham’s newest environmental intern.

What did he say in the interview? “We typically don’t take interns.” With each slippery stride through god knows what, I think I understand why. Who’s takes the intern on a tour of the sewer on their first day?

I don’t complain though; Dr. Harrison is not kind to complainers. If you can ignore the horrendous smell and the suits ability to become a sauna within a couple steps, it is really just like any other job. My boss calls over his shoulder.

“You brought that pepper spray right?”

I pause for a moment to adjust my suit.

“Yes sir.”

Why would they create a hazardous waste suit with such narrow eye holes? Fumbling with my mask, I stumble straight into a surprisingly solid member of my group.

“I’m sorry…” I apologize backing away.

Pulling my arms out of the external sleeves, I manage to wipe out the fogged up interior goggles. Once my field of vision clears, my heart drops.

The scales draw my attention first. In the dark, they shimmer and shine against the waste water. I’ve never seen anything like it. The hulking figure peers down at me with eyes that glow yellow in the dark.

When I was a kid, I used to love Animal planet. It didn’t matter how cruel the animal kingdom was; I was enthralled learning about it. Crocodiles have the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom. They can cut through bone… easily.

Trying to ignore the vivid image of a crocodile crushing a pigs skull on network television, I smile awkwardly underneath all my layers. He has a skin condition; this is a human man.

“I didn’t see you there. Thank you for steadying me.”

The prehistoric looking man regards me with curiosity. He is human��A human with razor sharp claws that have allegedly skewered other humans for dinner…Nobody’s perfect?

Before I can contemplate what my skull would sound like getting snapped in half, Dr. Harrison interrupts the silence.

“Waylon, meet our newest intern. You two will be running into each other quite a bit this summer.”

Hesitantly, I reach out my trembling hand.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Jones. I hope to see you around.”

The reptilian eyes regard me with suspicion. In a swift motion, Killer Croc’s scaled hand envelops mine in a slightly painful shake.

“The last one said the same thing before I had to pick them out of my teeth.”

Oh god. A loud burst of nervous laughter explodes from my chest.

“I’m afraid that won’t be necessary. I carry floss on me.”

Both men flash incredulous glances my way.

This is going to be a long summer.

The Intern: Gotham x reader

The Intern: Day one

The Intern: The Laughing Fish

The Intern: Busy Work

The Intern: Outreach Gala

The Intern: Teachers Pet

The Intern: Visiting an old friend

The Intern: Chemical Valley

The Intern: Billionaire Boys Club

[cobaltperun]

Genius (2) - Restless

Cairo Sweet x female (G!P) Reader

Summary: It was such a clich��, a reunion she didn’t expect to ever happen, let alone six years after she last saw you. It was supposed to mean nothing, a bit of nostalgia, maybe a brief catching up while waiting for class, it was supposed to be a small wave of nostalgia, not a tsunami that disrupted her entire life. You were her opposite, and as hard as she tried she couldn’t resist your pull.

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Word count: 3.2k

-What time is it now where you are? We follow beats with different drums. We're looking at the same star-

Once upon a time you were precious to Cairo, her best friend, someone she played with, someone she read with, someone she read to, someone she could trust. She didn’t exactly meet you, you’ve been a part of her life way before she understood anything about the world around her. You came into her life as the daughter of her parents’ friends slash colleagues. A way for her parents to show their dominance, she supposed. Your parents weren’t as wealthy, as successful, or influential as her parents, and looking at it now, there may have been some envy and or superiority complex from one pair of parents to another.

It didn’t influence the two of you, you were just kids who happened to spend time together and have fun. She was a lonely child, as not a lot of kids wanted to even get close to Lovell Hill, but seeing as your parents kept bringing you along you didn’t have much of a choice in the matter at first.

Everything was much simpler before the two of you started going to school…

~X~

Clumsy.

That was the word she would have used to describe you back then.

“I don’t like it here, Cai,” you were smaller than her back then and you were frightened of the forest surrounding her house, even if you were close to the road. Insects freaked you out, you jumped at the smallest sounds, you were so easy to scare, but Cairo really wanted to show you something nice in the forest, to show you it wasn’t all bad.

She’s been holding your hand, pulling you along through the dark forest, unlike you she wasn’t afraid or freaked out by the forest. It was a part of her world, unapproachable, haunting, yet beautiful at the same time. Of course, back then she just took it for granted, it was around her house so of course she didn’t mind it.

“Cai, come on, let’s go back,” you tried again, but you still went along with her whims.

“C’mon, it’s close!” she was excited to take you to the bush of wild roses she came across a few days ago.

You groaned, but didn’t put up a fight and then, just as she was supposed to see the bush, she dropped your hand, and you stumbled right into her. But she didn’t get annoyed, she was too confused, too distraught by the sight of an old tree that fell over the bush.

“Sorry,” you mumbled, yet she still didn’t respond. “Cai? Cairo?” you probably followed her line of sight, as you let out a small ‘oh’ a few seconds later.

She wasn’t that smart back then, she didn’t funny understand what she was feeling, but looking back at that moment now she figured that was the first time she began understanding the nature of her home. A beautiful flower growing despite harsh environmental conditions, only to be crushed by an old decaying good for nothing tree way past its prime. The forest around her house, the whole village, functioned the same way. And though she longed to be free, to spread her wings, to bloom outside of the restraints placed upon her by her surrounding, she couldn’t. She too, much like the rose bush she failed to show you, didn’t know how to escape the earth she was stuck in.

‘I’ll do it before I start high school,’ she thought, but didn’t know where to start, and she didn’t have anyone to do it with.

‘I’ll do it during high school,’ she thought, but she never had the courage to even get on a bus to the nearby town.

‘I’ll do it after I graduate,’ was her newest mantra, but deep down she feared what was to come.

She’s been told repeatedly that she was exceptional.

It was easy to be exceptional when everyone around her seemed content with their lives here. Never striving to stand out.

But, she didn’t understand that as a six years old girl standing in the middle of the forest with you by her side. But she did feel like something was breaking her heart.

“Hey,” you took her hand ad for once you were pulling her away from the crushed rose bush, as if understanding somehow that she didn’t want to stay there, even if she didn’t move on her own. Your hand was warm, though not nearly as warm as the tears falling down her cheeks, and she often wondered what you felt at that moment? What did you see when you looked from the roses on the ground to her? Did it change you in any way? Or was it just another day or you? Something you forgot within days, or even hours.

She never really asked you, but the sight stayed burnt in her mind and she still hated how well she could visualize it if she only thought back to it.

~X~

You stopped complaining about the forest after that, you still didn’t like it, but, she didn’t have to drag you along anymore.

“Get it off me!” you cried, but still ran away from her. You were panicking about a spider that fell on your shoulder.

“So, stop running!” Cairo laughed, running after you to ‘save’ you from the evil monster that attacked you. It wasn’t even a big spider, it was tiny!

“Fine, but hurry up,” you whined, finally stopping and letting Cairo catch up to you.

Cairo looked you over, but didn’t see the spider. “It’s not here? Maybe it fell off?” she guessed. Well, with how you were running it wouldn’t be a surprise.

“Really?” you asked as she sat down on the grass.

“Yeah, come on and sit down,” she needed to catch her breath or a bit.

You just shook your head. “No. Bugs!” you pointed an accusing finger at the ground and as usual refused Cairo’s offer to sit with her.

Why did she even bother to ask you? She knew you’d say ‘no’. “Oh,” her eyes widened slightly when she saw the spider crawling back up to your shoulder. “Guess it didn’t fall off after all,” she chuckled uneasily.

“What?” you shrieked and looked to the side. “Cairo you meanie!”

Cairo just laughed as she finally got up and removed the small spider from your shoulder.

She was still six, and there, in the dark, spooky forest where a rose bush could never thrive, things were still simple.

~X~

At nine years old she was spending time at your house every now and then. And on one stormy day, when the two of you had no idea what to do, since you couldn’t go outside and the power was out, she just passed time by looking over the books your parents owned.

Finally, her eyes landed on Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty Days,” and she reached up for it. The world. How she yearned to explore it, to see something beside the village she lived in, to see the huge cities, to go to the biggest amusement parks, to visit the best bookstores, to experience things she couldn’t in this village.

So, yearning for the experience the book title promised, she brought it over to you and sat down. “Wanna read?” she offered, her big eyes pleading or you to say yes.

You looked a bit uncertain, but eventually you just nodded and lit a candle so the two of you could read.

Cairo hugged you briefly and pulled you to the floor so you could lie down and read together. She was mesmerized, amazed by the idea, eager to read more and mentally pleading for you to read faster, but, by the time she would finish two pages you’d just start reading the second page.

“Sorry, I’m not a fast reader,” you apologized when you noticed she was waiting to turn the page.

It wasn’t that you read slowly, you read about as fast as anyone could expect from an eight year old, it was Cairo that was reading faster than she was supposed to. “Would you- I don’t know, read it to me? I think that might be quicker?” you suggested.

Cairo thought it over and nodded happily. Maybe it wouldn’t be as fast as if she only had the book for herself, but she wouldn’t have to pause. So, you rolled onto your back and put your arms behind your head as she began reading from the very beginning.

And to show just how much both of you enjoyed the book you kept reading, even as the power came back on and the rain stopped. It didn’t matter, you were still stuck in your book.

“Everything, it said, was against the travelers, every obstacle imposed alike by man and by nature. A miraculous agreement of the times of departure and arrival, which was impossible, was absolutely necessary to his success,” Cairo read as your mother came in with glasses of juice and some snacks for the two of you.

“What are you two doing?” she asked, curiously looking at the open book in front of Cairo.

“We’re reading, ma’am,” Cairo said politely as your mother crouched down next to you.

“Reading? This one as well?” your mother nudged you gently and you grinned.

“Everything, it said, was against the travelers, every obstacle imposed alike by man and by nature. A miraculous agreement of the times of departure and arrival, which was impossible, was absolutely necessary to his success,” You repeated word for word the last line Cairo read, and she and your mother just looked at you. “What? I was listening,” your grin dropped and you pouted slightly.

That was the first time Cairo realized that while she could remember almost anything she saw you could memorize sounds just as well.

~X~

It was simple and nice for another two years, and then it began shifting slowly. For the first time in her life Cairo didn’t get an A, she didn’t even get a B, but rather a C, but it would be fine, right? She was still the best in her class, seeing as only her and you got Cs, and it was a difficult test, the teacher said so as well!

She came inside to find her parents looking over some papers. A new case probably. “Father, mother,” she said a bit too quietly for her own liking. “I got the results for my test. I did my best and studied as much as I could, and the teacher said it was a-“

“Get to the point, Cairo,” her father cut her off.

Cairo looked down, test in hand. Why did the furniture around her suddenly look so much bigger than her. It felt like everything was looming over her, and just for a moment she remembered the sight of that rose bush crushed under the fallen tree. “I got a C,” she told them timidly.

Her mother finally looked at her. “A C? Are you stupid? How could you get a C?” Cairo winced at that but hearing that wasn’t nearly as bad as looking at her mother and seeing just how disappointed she was.

“We’ve given you everything, Cairo, and you’re wasting it playing all day long!” her father raised his voice, angry, furious even and she just looked down. “You are grounded, go to your room and fix this disgrace!”

She nodded, not daring to meet his eyes and began climbing up the stairs.

“Wait, what did L/N’s girl get?” her father suddenly demanded.

“A-a C as well,” she said and all hell broke loose as she curled up on her bed and tried to ignore her parents yelling, she was a disappointment, a burden, wasting their time and efforts, an ungrateful brat that would rather waste time running through the woods than study.

Unknowingly to her, you were having a much different conversation with your parents.

~X~

“Y/N,” your mother began once you were done eating dinner.

“Hm?” you looked away from the paper you were doodling on and turned to her.

“Did you get your test results?” she asked, smiling when you nodded.

“Yup! I got a C!” you exclaimed proudly causing both of your parents to look at you to see if you were joking with them.

“A C?” your father repeated, and you just nodded with a large grin on your face. “And you’re happy?”

“Yeah, it was really hard, even Cai only got a C!” you ran over to your schoolbag to show them the test.

You mother chuckled softly. “Well, if even Cairo got a C,” she smiled as you handed her the test. “I’m proud of you as long as you did your best,” she kissed your cheek softly.

~X~

When tomorrow came and you sat down next to Cairo she wanted to say hi, she wanted to talk to you like she usually would, she wanted to go and read with you again, but she still remembered the anger on her father’s face, the disappointment on her mother’s face, her blurry vision as she cried in her room.

She yearned for the attention of her parents, to have them talk to her, to take her to different places, to take her along with them at least every now and then, yet being the best student in her class wasn’t enough, and the mistake she made wasn’t to be tolerated.

“Hey, wanna play hide and seek later?” you asked between classes.

“Sorry, I have to study,” she muttered.

“Oh, tomorrow then?” she wanted to, she really did, but she didn’t want to get yelled at again.

“I don’t have time,” Cairo told you, making her tone as cold as she could.

“Cai, what’s wrong?” you were too perceptive for your own good.

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, she didn’t mean to, she loved the nickname, it was the only nickname she ever had.

You paused, startled by her reaction. “Right, sorry,” you looked away.

“Just leave me alone, I’ll come to you if I feel like it,” she pushed you away, physically and stomped away, just so you couldn’t see the regret or tears in her eyes.

~X~ Present day ~X~

Cairo looked at you, her eyes wide in utter disbelief. You listened to her back then, you didn’t try to talk to her, you were waiting for her to come to you. Back then she wished she did that, she wished to do it every day. At the same time she wanted you to forget what she said, to approach her and get her to talk to you, to grab her hand and stop her from leaving. You never did that. So, a week passed, and she was still stubborn.

A month passed, and she was no longer stubborn, but she was worried you’d be angry that it took her so long.

Half a year passed, she turned twelve and spent her first birthday without you around, and that worry turned into spite. Out of spite she kept you at a distance, not even saying ‘hi’.

And then, shortly after that you moved with you parents and she wanted desperately to cry, but that would only make her parents angry at her again.

“Y/N,” she said uncertainly, despising how, even after so many years your name still fell so easily from her lips, how it still felt familiar on her tongue. You changed, grew up, grew taller than her, even if you were taller than her ever since the two of you were ten, now your height difference was noticeable even as you sat next to each other.

A cough broke her out of her thoughts. Right, the class just started. “I apologize,” she blushed a bit, thankful for the distraction. Thankful that she could listen to the author she admired, yet his words sounded so distant to her. You were right there, close enough to touch and Cairo felt hot and cold at the same time. She was happy, yet she couldn’t help but wonder how long ago you came back. Why didn’t you look for her? You said her name so softly, you didn’t make a scene, surely you weren’t angry at her, but why didn’t you try and visit?

It’s been years, surely you didn’t still intend to listen to her childish demand.

~X~

You could feel how tense she was throughout the whole class, glancing at you subtly from time to time and you wished to just reach over and place your hand on her shoulder. To ask her what was wrong. To not give up this time like you did all those years ago.

The bell rang but the two of you remained seated, neither truly willing to move, until finally, under Miller’s confused gaze, Cairo picked up her things and nodded at him to say goodbye.

“Cairo, wait,” you went after her and Winnie. “Let’s just grab a lunch, or old times sake?” you went straight to the point. This was Cairo, after all, she like subtlety, especially in books, but she also liked being direct when she wanted something. “I know a restaurant, I think you’ll like it,” you said when she looked at you.

“You had time to visit those, I see,” Cairo said, and you could have sworn she looked away almost bitterly.

“Cairo,” you tried, but she was already turning around to walk away. You felt as if something was squeezing your chest, a feeling of unease you couldn’t shake off, like letting her leave now, like this, would be a mistake you couldn’t come back from. And in that moment, you were reminded of you and her, years ago, as your friendship shattered. “I didn’t mean in the village,” you called after her, taking notice of the way Winnie froze and Cairo stiffened a bit.

“What?” she looked back, frowning as you closed the distance and offered her your hand.

“Let me take you out to a restaurant about an hour from here. Good food, peaceful, beautiful view, perfect for catching up. They even have live music,” you explained, just hoping she’d take your hand.

Winnie whistled at that. “Nice going new girl. Throw the girl a bone, Cairo,” she nudged Cairo a bit, but the girl remained silent, and you could almost imagine the gears turning in her head.

“Okay,” Cairo finally said, shaking your hand.

“Come on- wait, really?” Winnie looked genuinely surprised and just stared at your and Cairo’s connected hands.

“Thanks, Cairo,” you smiled softly.

“Is Saturday okay with you?” she asked, her expression softening as she took a small step closer to you. “Yeah,” the two of you just stood there, in the middle of the hall, in front of Miller’s classroom, as if captivated by one another to the point of forgetting the world around you.

Taglist: @deimaisgail @bee-keeping @marvelous-disaster @jmwetterlund

[hearts4hughes]

ECHOES OF LOVE | MARK ESTAPA

mark estapa x fem!reader

summary: in which reader confesses her love for her best friend— oops.

warnings: angst w/ happy ending, reader and mark both being blinded by love, nothing else!!

author note: my first writing after what feels like forever. oh my goddddd!! i have months of ideas and thoughts for more writings on the way. i haven’t done first person writing in forever, but i honestly love it!!

The University of Michigan had been my dream school since freshman orientation; Umich felt made for me. Yet, it wasn’t the only thing capturing my heart during those college years. Environmental Science class introduced me to Mark, and it wasn’t just about the subject matter. Mark, a walking ray of sunshine, entered a room like a force of nature, captivating everyone with his vibrant energy. Engaging conversations and lively class discussions made Mark the embodiment of an unforgettable college experience. It only took him two classes to claim the seat next to me, uninvited but eventually charming his way into my world.

Amidst my journey at Umich and with Mark, an opportunity to study abroad in Italy emerged. Excitement coursed through my veins, but it was tinged with a bittersweet undercurrent. Studying abroad meant a semester without seeing Mark, and my heart ached at the realization. The palpable truth lingered—I had feelings for him.

The day before leaving for Italy was spent entirely with Mark. We recounted memories, gossiped, and held each other. An emotional undercurrent hinted at something more than platonic love. In a moment of uncertainty and sadness, I confessed my love for Mark. The silence that followed my confession echoed in my ears as he stared at me with wide eyes. I had read the situation wrong, and tears brimmed in my eyes as I stormed out of his dorm.

The next morning, I vowed to leave the hurt and agony in Michigan and treat Italy as a fresh start. Italy became a sanctuary, a place where I could do as I pleased without worrying about the boy who rejected my love proposal. Now, sitting in the small, claustrophobic plane, dread overshadowed my return to the real world. Thoughts of making a scene to ground the plane lingered, as four months of studying abroad in Italy felt like pure bliss—warm weather, Italian boys, and zero drama. However, the sweet sounds of Taylor Swift couldn’t coax the cacophony of my racing thoughts. How to make a 12-hour flight even longer?

MARK: Hope Italy treated you well. We need to talk.

My hands trembled as I reread the message, the digital words carrying a weight that mirrored the turbulence within me. The plane had landed mere minutes ago, and as much as I dreaded my return to Michigan, a strange sense of comfort enveloped me the moment I stepped off the aircraft. As I navigated through the airport’s hustle, Mark’s message echoed in my mind, creating a symphony of worry and anticipation.

The journey from the airport to my dorm was a blur, the cityscape outside the window a mere backdrop to the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. The prospect of facing Mark, unresolved emotions lingering like a specter, fueled a mixture of anxiety and a glimmer of hope.

He wants to let me know how he feels. Is that good or bad? What if he found someone else? What if he doesn’t want to be my friend anymore? What if… I mentally stop myself from spiraling down that certain rabbit hole.

With a heavy heart, I approached my dorm building. The door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit room adorned with posters and decorations. The message from Mark burned brightly on my phone, demanding acknowledgment. The empty bed next to mine indicated my roommate Miley’s absence. As much as I missed her, part of me was relieved to be alone. I read the note on my desk written in her neat handwriting. She wouldn’t be home for the rest of the night. Good.

MARK: Where are you? We need to talk.

The urgency in his words heightened the tension, and I hesitated, almost responding, but I couldn't muster up the courage to press send.

MARK: Y/N, if you're trying to ghost me, at least turn your read receipts off.

Shit. I silently cursed the advanced technology of iPhones.

Y/N: What do you want, Mark?

MARK: To talk, we need to talk.

Y/N: Oh, now you want to talk. Seems convenient.

MARK: I'm serious, Y/N.

I scoffed as I read his final text message. Who's he to say when I need to talk to him? I could ignore him for the rest of my life, and it wouldn't even bother me—scratch that; I'd miss him more and more every day.

Y/N: Fine. Let's meet at Logan’s around 7:00.

Y/N: Seriously, Mark, don't make me waste my time.

~

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that settled in my stomach. Logan’s, the pizza place around the corner, wasn’t fancy, but it held a certain charm. Memories of late-night pizza runs with Mark flooded my mind.

I grab my phone, checking the time for the fifth time in ten minutes. Everything feels wrong, from the headache-inducing bright lights to the fact that Mark is ten minutes late. The air inside Logan’s is thick with anticipation, and I can’t escape the nagging thoughts that something significant is about to happen.

The door chimes as Mark finally enters, a disheveled look on his face. I try to read his expression, but his eyes remain elusive. We exchange awkward greetings, and the atmosphere tightens with every passing second.

“Hi,” Mark says, gesturing to an empty booth. The weight of his words hangs in the air as I comply. The vinyl seats are cold against my skin, and the tension in the room is palpable.

Mark fidgets with his hands, avoiding eye contact. I want to break the silence, to demand answers, but fear keeps me silent. Finally, he takes a deep breath, meeting my gaze.

“I didn’t handle your confession well,” he admits, his voice strained. “I panicked, and I’m sorry.”

His words hang in the air, and my heart races with a mix of relief and frustration. The apology doesn’t erase the hurt, but it opens a door to understanding.

“Mark, I know what I did was stupid. I ruined a perfectly fine friendship for my selfish feelings,” I sighed, shame laced my words.

“Y/N,”

“No, Mark,” I interrupted. “You don’t need to pity me, I get it.”

“Wait, let me finish.” He spoke, reaching over and grabbing my hands in his. “Y/N, I didn’t handle what you said well because I was scared. I was scared because I’ve never felt so much for a person.” He huffs, eyes filled with sincerity and care. “I love you, Y/N. I’ve loved you ever since I saw you. I can’t even put into words how you make me feel. These four months without you have been pure torture. Ask any of the boys, I’ve been a complete and utter mess.”

His admission hangs in the air, and I feel a whirlwind of emotions—shock, joy, and a lingering sense of pain. The rollercoaster of feelings leaves me momentarily speechless.

“Mark, why didn’t you say something before I left for Italy?” I finally manage to utter, my voice a mix of vulnerability and frustration.

“I was scared too, Y/N. Scared that you wouldn’t feel the same way or that it would ruin our friendship,” Mark explains, his gaze unwavering. “But the truth is, I can’t imagine my life without you. I couldn’t let this continue without being honest about my feelings.”

“Mark, I… I don’t know what to say,” I admit, still processing the whirlwind of emotions. “I thought you hated me.”

“I could never hate you, Y/N/N,” he brought his hand up to your face, caressing your cheek. “I’m stuck with you forever, whether you like it or not.”

I giggled, tears of joy spilling over and flooding my face. “I like that idea.”

[caffeineandsociety]

I think there are a lot of people on the left who WANT all the antisemitic conspiracy theories to be true for exactly the same reasons a lot of people on the right do.

There are lot of people who WANT it to be true that "billionaires" is synonymous with "Jews"; that the greedy "elite" can be identified by demographic data. Who WANT it to be true that both major US political parties are the same because in the end, they're all part of the same unified hive mind of greedy power-mad misanthropic mutant lizard people - figuratively or literally, doesn't matter. Who WANT it to be true that all of Israel's few allies are ultimately just puppet governments of theirs (even though the opposite is much closer to being true), and the REST of the world is NEXT to fall to this horrible hive of evil.

Because, many people don't realize this, but conspiracy theories are PLEASANT to believe. It's exciting to think you're onto a deep truth that most people aren't privy to, especially when it sounds like something straight out of a scifi thriller. It's empowering to think the solution to all of society's ills is simple, staring you right in the face, and as soon as you just get enough people together to smash some crucial load-bearing element it will all come crashing down and lead us to our "natural state" of utopia like in an action-adventure epic. Even the helplessness of feeling like it's insurmountable has its own satisfying bent as a gateway to an extreme "positive" nihilism - if we're all fucked regardless, if (((their))) power is just too overwhelming, then nothing we do REALLY matters - we're free, we never have to do anything we don't want to again for the benefit of the world around us, because it won't change anything~!

Sound uncomfortably familiar yet? Perhaps like some arguments about voting, environmental protections, or local initiatives beyond libraries and public transit you've seen floating around right here on tungle dot hell? About the struggle of relating to "normies" and recognizing where the Overton window sits at any given time, even? About the prospects of getting ranked choice voting nationwide?

It doesn't matter who you are, or what your beliefs are, or how "smart" you are - at the end of the day we're all just hairless apes capable of falling for the same brain chemistry tricks as any other, and bullshit can be spun in leftist flavor just as easily as it can be spun to appeal to the right. You are not immune to the feeling of "awww yeah, it's all coming together~" over what you might realize, out of the moment, is a complete nonsequitur or cherry-picked to hell and back. You are not immune to the thrill of believing you're basically Neo The Matrix. It's hard to build resistance, let alone immunity, to the siren call of alleged easy solutions to complicated problems, or to the sweet relief of helplessness. The internet is doing a great job of making recreational outrage more and more appealing to more and more people.

I only beg more people to be willing to recognize those facts and TRY to course-correct when those feelings start to take them to some dark places.

[tikvin]

Eshra's greetings and some banter

-39—-20(negative)

"Out with it"

(sigh) "What?"

(tongue click) "And here I thought the day was going well"

-19—20(neutral)

(slight smile) "Yes?"

"You wish to chat?"

"You have my attention"

21—40(medium)

"I am listening"

"You have something to say, yes?"

"How can I help, my dear?"

41—100 (high, exceptional)

"What is it, my dear?"

"Your secrets are safe with me"

"You look like you have a secret to share with me"

"What bothers you, friend?"

Flirty:

"Well-well, haven't my day just got so much better"

"My attention is all yours, dear."

"Ah, I do like the sound of your voice, you know"

Romanced:

(leaning in slightly with a soft smile) "Hmmm?"

"My, oh my, remembered of little ol' me?"

"Got tired admiring me form afar, love?"

(raising an eyebrow with sly smile, she looks expectantly)

Romanced (rejected Bhaal) Will include all of regular romanced lines and additional:

"Since I stopped hearing the song of your blood, your voice got so much clearer, my love"

"To be free, to be loved, what more could one ask for? Well, to hear your lovely voice right about now, I suppose"

"My joy, my heart, what troubles you?"

"My darling, I am at your service" (bows jokingly)

Romanced (lost to Orin)

(looks a little lost) "Ah—? Oh. Yes. What is it?"

(in solemn tone) "Speak to me"

(agitated) "What!?" (snaps out of it) "No— not like that— I'm sorry, haven't got much sleep lately. Did you want something?"

Romanced (accepted Bhaal)

"My most beloved victim"

"Oh how I crave to crawl under your very skin"

"I hear the song your blood sings for me so clear. Beautiful."

Banters:

Considering Eshra is more observing than prying type, I don't think she would initiate them much herself. Except maybe environmental ones and a bit of flirting here and there. I have just a few so far.

(Shadowheart/Eshra)

— "Do you dye your hair, Eshra?"

— "Hm? What makes you think so?"

— "I mean, isn't drow hair usually white or blond?"

— "Why, thank you for calling me special, my dear"

— "That's not— Nevermind"

(Eshra/Wyll/Gale. Underdark, after Eshra's amnesia revealed. Requires fighting at least 2 drow enemies, Minthara included)

— "Say, is drow hierarchy really as ruthless and strict as it is described in tomes about Underdark??" (G)

— "Gale, dear, I have no idea. Although the drow we encountered so far left only a bad taste in my mouth"

— "Afraid that you too did something cruel in your past?" (W)

— "Concerned I was a snobbish insufferable brat"

(Eshra/Tav Temple of Jergal or any temple ruins)

— "This feels familiar... somehow"

— "Hm? Were you a church worker?"

— "Of sorts, I think..."

(Lae'Zel/Karlach/Eshra on the elevator thingy on the way to monastery)

— "What a sight. We should stop for a nice little lunch, take it all in." (K)

— "Is the worm gnawing at your grey matter? We must find a crèche and be purified." (L)

— "Lae'Zel is right... A lunch after being freed from our wrigglers would be much sweeter, don't you think?" (E)

— "Chk. You're both are way too frivolous." (L)

(Minthara/Eshra shadow cursed land. Requires Eshra being recruited before meeting Minthara in act1)

— "So, my suspicions were correct."

— (sigh) "What are you talking about?"

— "The moment we met. I thought something isn't right about you. You look like a drow, but you're most certainly not one. So what are you, iblith?"

— "Careful, Minthara, don't make me regret not slitting your throat in that goblin camp, the moment our dear leader looked away."

— "You would've died in attempt."

That it for now! Will post more banters some time later.

[icanseethefuture333]

Random ass question, but what do you think is the best way for a 4/10 girl to become at least a 7 out of 10? I’m aware that “beauty is subjective” but I’m literally below average, 4/10 is being lenient for me lol

How to have confidence in your physical appearance 🎀

First of all sweetie,

let's not rate ourselves on a scale about how pretty we are! It's really degrading and I feel like you deserve so much better than that. Living in a generation where filters are oversaturated, people using AI to edit their photos, and incels with porn addictions and have never felt the touch of a woman, will call the most beautiful girl "mid". It's so understandable why one's self esteem can feel low at times. You need to change the way you talk about yourself (especially me). Beauty always start from within - as redundant as that sounds. You can't feel pretty if you're not focusing on the reason why you feel this way. A pretty soul (and self concept!) makes a prettier face. Moving on, let's get into the actual tips of a glow up 💖

Let's address the elephant in the room 🐘: you're not ugly, just acting pitiful

Have you ever wondered why you have seen those people who are considered "unattractive" or "unconventionallly pretty" by others be in successful relationships or popular with their peers? It's because they have confidence. Have you ever been attracted to someone that may not necessarily fit the beauty standards or be considered a jaw dropping model, but you thought they were cute anyways because of their personality or charm? That's exactly what I mean. You can be a pretty face or have a nice body, but have terrible self esteem. Living in California my whole life I come across this everyday. There is plenty of beautiful people here, but there is also a lot of people with no sense of humor and no offense, but have no personalities. In other words, you can be attractive, but superficial and boring.

To feel beautiful or more like a "10" even on your worst day is mainly having a good self concept. You need to think with the mindset of "I am the baddest bitch even on my worse days and nobody can make me feel different about that, not even me." Our concept can be changed, reshaped, rebuilt, morphed, etc, into any way we want it to be. Our self concept and dominant thoughts are created by our previous past experiences and what people have told us what we are. For example, if you were bullied in your youth and somebody picked on you for your features. Why would you give a fuck about what a bully thinks??? A person who humiliated and traumatized someone at a weak point in their life does not matter. Their opinion, their actions, their thoughts - doesn't matter. You can change yourself anytime you want, we are animals, we are literally mean to be apart of this cycle called life and our habits, attitudes, opinions, etc, can change at any moment. We are meant to grow and adapt. You get to decide who you are, what you feel, and how you wish people to perceive you. Nobody else. So when you repeatedly say things to people like "I'm not beautiful", they're gonna get tired of it honestly and be like "Yk what damn bitch I guess you are ugly!" because it gets tiring to hear someone complain about the same thing even when they just reassured them (again, I'm guilty of this too). So when you depend on someone to make you feel good about yourself, that's just codependency. You are also giving them the power to manipulate you. Don't do that. Be free and be independent, love yourself. It's your self esteem and you cannot be dependent on anybody else to fill that void you have within yourself.

As Katt Williams said, "It's the esteem of your motherfucking self!"

Why it's not your fault you don't 'feel" pretty

Like I said above, you are most likely a product of your surroundings. Most people are not raised by their parents to have good self esteem or to teach them how to be confident or emotionally secure. There are many environmental factors to insecurity and that it is okay if you are never 100% feeling confident about yourself. People in the media construct this ego to seem "cool" and act conceited as a way to avoid being seen as weak to society. You can be confident and also have insecurities. Confidence is just about being secure with the essence of who you are and setting boundaries when necessary with other people when it comes to that. A confident person doesn't tolerate disrespect.

"Conceited" or confident?: how to avoid confusing the two

I think the most irritating thing to me that is normalized these days is narcissism and conceited people. People will literally act boastful and cocky then say "I'm just confident". Behaving like a narcissist or saying that you are one is not cute and never will be because it's literally a personality disorder, a mental health condition. Everytime I hear this it makes me want to roll my eyes so far back into my head. Try to avoid being this person with a "God complex" because there's a difference between a person who is being loud and fake with "confidence". A real confident person makes moves in silence and is genuine with themselves. If you have to brag or put another person down to feel like hot shit, then you're not a confident person, period.

Tips to enhance your beauty

As I said before anon you are already a 10 in my eyes, but I understand how it feels to not feel pretty at times and we all have our days when we are looking "rough". Here are some self care tips I do that helps me feel pretty and pampered physically ✨️

Get some beauty sleep! This is not just a saying. When your body has time to rest it gives you time to reset & have more energy for the next day. Getting plenty of sleep helps prevent dark circles & puffy eyes as well. If you struggle with falling asleep spray lavender pillow spray, drink tea, or play asmr/soothing sounds.

Skincare & hygiene, this is such a crucial step that everyone should practice in their daily lives. All of us have different skin textures and when we neglect our skin it causes a dry, oily, or bumpy surfaces. Now skin texture is totally normal but if you notice the days where you are not washing your face frequently enough, your skin either looks dull, dirty, or you experience more pimples / acne breakouts. Not to mention how dirty we feel when our body is projecting a certain odor. You don't need to have an extravagant routine, but at least try to have about 4 hygienic products (soap, deodorant, lotion, & body spray/prrfume) and 4 skincare products (facial cleanser (I recommend double cleansing!), serum, SPF/Sunscreen, & face lotion).

Mirror work, saying affirmations in the mirror has proven to be helpful for people's self esteem & feeling more confident with their physical appearance.

Change your wardrobe! Start dressing for your body type & how your ideal self would. It might feel uncomfortable at first but you will feel so much more beautiful! You could try finding videos on tiktok of people with your body type to help (for example, if you are plus sized, you could search your desired aesthetic & find people with the same shape as you).

Detox from social media 📱, learn when it is time to take a break from your phone & engage with the real world. Scrolling for hours on your phone can be really harmful especially if you're reading negative comments or watching videos that are self depreciating.

Follow people who uplift you, not tear you down. If you are following people who obviously are negative or affect your self esteem somehow, then you do not need to be supporting them.

Make appointments! Whether that is a doctor appointment or lash, nail, or hair appointments. Take care of your mind, health, and body. You could ask your doctor what vitamins you should take or also seek a counselor/therapist to find the root of your insecurities in a safe place. Also sometimes just getting my hair or nails done makes me feel more confident!

Learn to treat yourself. Buy yourself flowers or a gift you always wanted but never received. This could be anything, it doesn't necessarily mean to spend money. For example, cooking your favorite food, having a lazy day, etc. Remember that you deserve to be happy!

Lastly, beauty spells, glamour magick, and manifestation are popular methods for people who wish to enhance their physical appearance. I do all of these myself and I always feel so hot afterwards!

I hope you found these tips helpful beautiful ♡!

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Alright here's the deal:

no, it doesn't really matter if cartoons misrepresent dinosaurs. Almost like most people don't really spend their time critiquing them (I certainly don't, unless someone asks me to, and then it's cause they asked)

The representation of dinosaurs and the deep past actually does matter, because it completely disproves the founding myths of society that have lead to climate change and environmental destruction. I can explain why, but I'm trying to be brief.

If you really think that paleontologists who use social media - ie, all of them, because unfortunately online science communication is now a mandatory part of being a scientist - want to spend all their time critiquing dinosaur designs, you are very, very, very wrong

Thinking that living things matter more than dead things is so illogical (everything living one day becomes dead. the past matters) that it sounds like a twelve year old whining about studying for their bar mitzvah.

Misinformation of any kind is bad and you should be against it. Acting like some is okay while others aren't is just... picking and choosing favorites. Way to be consistent.

The end.

[alwritey-aphrodite]

Scout, I would love for Jaime to try his hand at fixing the A/C (21)

-M

2024 Summer Blurbs

With the prevalence of ancient houses and the desire to look as environmentally conscious as possible, there is a severe lack of air conditioning in London. Most of the year, you’re able to function without an AC, but for the few weeks where the heat is unbearable, an AC seems more and more necessary with every passing summer. The house you and Jamie moved into was new and modern and had been built by someone with millions of dollars to throw away, so you’d been one of the lucky few to have a house with central air conditioning.

Until it broke right as the temperatures began to rise.

As soon as the air conditioning stopped working, Jamie had taken it upon himself to fix it, with only the help of a brand new toolkit and videos he’d found online. He’s been trying, spending every spare minute he has to figure out how to fix the machine, but all he’s succeeded in doing is making himself frustrated and probably breaking the system further.

“I can ask Roy for the number of that guy that did his heating, I’m sure he can work on AC too,” you offer for what feels like the hundredth time, and Jamie stops his poking around to look at you like you’ve grown a second head, as if you’re the crazy one for offering to call a professional.

“Babe, I told ya, I can figure it out,” he says as he wipes the sweat off of his forehead, the breeze coming in through the open windows doing little to keep you cool in the extreme temperatures, “it can’t be that hard.’

You do your best not to laugh, because you know he really is trying his hardest and he really does want to fix it on his own, but it’s been days and he hasn’t made even the slightest bit of progress. If you have to spend another day sweating, with no relief from the heat, you might lose your mind. When Jamie finally gives up for the night and goes to take a shower to finally attempt to cool down, you decide to take matters into your own hands.

The repair is scheduled perfectly, the van pulling into your driveway as soon as you know Jamie’s made it safely to the pitch, and it’s gone before he heads home. By the time he steps inside, the air conditioner is working perfectly, and your house is a cool oasis once again.

“How’d this happen?” Jamie asks as he sets his bag down, marveling at the fact that he’s not dripping sweat again.

“You must’ve figured it out, I was doing the laundry and it just started working again,” you reply, your perfected lie sounding natural and casual, and by the way Jamie smiles, you know he doesn’t suspect a thing.

It’s probably not the healthiest to lie to him, but you just couldn’t stand the thought of seeing him so disappointed and frustrated again. He takes every failure personally, on and off the pitch, even when the reality has little to do with him. You knew he’d internalize his inability to figure out what he views as a simple fix, and you couldn’t live with yourself when you knew he’d be beating himself up.

Despite your slight deception, it really is a win-win situation: Jamie gets to enjoy his newfound mechanical prowess, and you get to enjoy your beloved AC again.

[seat-safety-switch]

You shouldn't let your loved ones buy a boat. Especially a used boat. They always seem like good ideas – like cars, but cheaper, and they can go where cars can't – but the maintenance and ownership costs are completely ridiculous. Marina fees. Unique outboard engine parts. Transoms, whatever those are. Ultimately, that shiny new-used boat will just sit in your father-in-law's driveway, slowly rotting underneath a succession of increasingly-expensive boat covers as the perfectly good tires on the trailer holding it go flat.

Here at Seat Safety Switch's Ship Scrapping System, we're dedicated to taking those boats back off the road, where "road" is "your driveway." You might be surprised to hear that almost every boat contains a perfectly good internal combustion engine: an internal combustion engine, I hasten to add, that is likely to be two-stroke. That's right: two-strokes made during my lifetime. It's a crime not to slap those puppies into a car and let the suburbs find out what the north end of 9000 rpm sounds like.

Millions of boats are abandoned every year, too, which threatens our beloved killer whales. Using our method is more environmentally friendly than simply forgetting to tie your boat up at the end of a bad day of wrenching. We'll drop it off in a nearby forest, farmer's field, or police station parking lot, where it will quickly become someone else's problem. The whales will enjoy an unencumbered commute to their orca jobs, free of busted-ass boats floating around their properties.

Sure, it takes a lot of adapting. Coolant, the bellhousing, all the electronics, figuring out which Tim Hortons dumpster won't notice you throwing out a whole-ass propeller. Boat engines are specially built for their environment, and only a complete idiot would bother modifying them to work in a car, when junkyards are full of perfectly-good car engines already. That's why we have someone on staff whose job it is to dare you to finish the conversion, at which point it becomes a matter of personal pride, rather than something lame like fiscal responsibility. Once the spite kicks in, you'd be surprised how many exotic exhaust expansion chambers you can weld together and shove inside the cabin of the car.

So come on down and help us turn that decrepit old boat into a decrepit new car. No jetskis, though. We had a terrible accident with one of those last week: it turns out that you can in fact achieve acceleration with those on the road just as they shipped from the factory, but turning is very hard. We'll always remember Second-Oldest Tom's sacrifice.

[strangebiology]

Curious about something.

We all know there are people whose job description is "make stuff up that sounds good, say it with confidence, and charge the customer without offering any tangiable, expertise-based benefit. If they figure out it was nonsense, blame them for misunderstanding."

(Psychics, mediums, astrologers, homeopaths etc.)

But...are there other less woo-woo careers that are often the same way at the end of the day?

I'm sure one could be a good financial advisor, life coach, environmental consultant, marketer, or SEO expert, with actual data behind them.

But I have run into a handful of stories and people in real life who were clearly just making stuff up that had no basis in reality, and charging people for it. I ask "what is your reasoning behind these actions?" and they just deflect, say something false, or even say that it doesn't really matter if it works. Which, if that’s how they feel, that should be their tag line so they don’t waste the time of people who want results. “This probably won’t work, but won’t you feel good that you paid me to try?”

I really wonder how many jobs that is standard for?

[knoepfl]

request for a mylo x female reader where they're both sitting on top of the rooftop that overlooks The Undercity view and mylo keeps tickling her to make her laugh heh (or just any cute moments between them since they're dating in this) I'm craving for some fluff 😩✊️

Rooftop Laughter

Thank you so much for this request! I'm always so happy to get them and I hope I made something you like!  The moment I saw this request I immediately wrote it because honestly I have no ideas anymore XD. Anyways enjoy and thank you!

Characters:

You (Female Reader): Playful, sarcastic, and grounded, balancing Mylo’s wild energy.

Mylo: Mischievous, cocky, and protective; uses humor to cope with Undercity life.

Trigger Warnings:

1. Environmental Dystopia: Polluted, grim setting of the Undercity.

2. Physical Contact: Playful tickling may be uncomfortable for some.

3. Heights: Sitting on a rooftop with dangling legs.

4. Emotional Themes: Subtle undertones of hardship in the Undercity.

Masterlist

Words: 560

--- The faint hum of the Undercity filled the air, a chaotic symphony of clanking metal and distant voices. The two of you sat on the edge of the rooftop, feet dangling into the empty space below. From up here, the view was surreal—pipes snaking through the labyrinth of buildings, glowing green and yellow lights illuminating the perpetual twilight of the Undercity. It wasn’t exactly beautiful, but it was home.

“You know,” Mylo started, leaning back on his hands with a sly grin, “I think this might be my favorite spot in the whole damn city.”

“You say that about every rooftop we sit on,” you replied, nudging his arm.

“Yeah, but this one’s got you on it.” His grin widened, mischievous now, as if he were about to hatch some poorly planned scheme.

You rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the way your cheeks warmed. “Is that supposed to be charming? Because it’s not.”

“Charming? Nah, just honest.” He shifted closer, the glint in his eyes telling you he was up to something.

Before you could ask what he was doing, Mylo’s fingers darted toward your side, pressing against your ribs. A startled laugh burst from your lips as you jerked away.

“Mylo! Stop!” you squealed, batting at his hands.

“What’s the matter? Too serious? Gotta loosen you up, kid!” He leaned in, his hands relentless as they found their way to your sides again. The sound of your laughter echoed in the open air, blending with the Undercity’s noise below.

“Mylo, I swear—!” Your protests were broken by fits of uncontrollable giggles as he tickled your ribs and sides, his own laughter bubbling up in response to yours. His warm, slightly calloused hands didn’t miss a spot, and despite your attempts to push him away, he kept going.

“Swear what? You’re gonna fight me?” he teased, the grin never leaving his face. “Admit it, you needed this!”

“I—can’t—breathe!” you choked out between laughs, tears forming at the corners of your eyes.

Finally, he relented, flopping back onto the rooftop with a triumphant smirk. You sat up, trying to catch your breath, your body still buzzing from the assault of laughter.

“You’re the worst,” you muttered, glaring at him half-heartedly.

“And yet, you keep hanging out with me.” He folded his arms behind his head, looking smug. “Admit it. I’m your favorite.”

“Favorite pain in the ass, maybe.”

“Close enough.”

The silence that followed was comfortable, the kind of quiet that only came with familiarity. You glanced over at him, his face relaxed as he gazed up at the smoky sky. The faint glow of the city lights reflected in his dark eyes, and for a moment, you forgot about the chaos that surrounded your world. Up here, with Mylo, things felt lighter.

“You’re lucky I don’t push you off this roof,” you joked, breaking the quiet.

He chuckled, sitting up again and nudging your shoulder. “And you’re lucky I don’t tickle you again.”

“Don’t you dare.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender, though the mischievous glint in his eyes remained. “Alright, alright. I’ll save it for next time.”

As the two of you settled into the night, the sounds of the Undercity faded into the background. You leaned closer to him, feeling a strange sense of peace in his presence. For now, at least, the world could wait. ---

[srbachchan]

DAY 5809

Jalsa, Mumbai Jan 12/13, 2024 Fri/Sat 11:00 am

🌹 .. the 12th was having no Ef wishes .. hence … ❤️

..

🪔 ,

January 13 .. birthday wishes to Ef Ekram Mahmoud from Egypt 🇪🇬 .. and Ef Olivia Elizabeth from USA .. 🇺🇲 .. and all wishes for a happy day from the Ef family .. 🌹

I consider delay .. I lament it .. and confirm it .. for its manifestations are severe and ones that should not be .. but it be ..

"Delayed actions can have profound consequences across various domains. In personal life, procrastination may hinder goal achievement, leading to missed opportunities. In business, delayed decisions can impede competitiveness and innovation. Politically, procrastination on critical issues may exacerbate crises. In healthcare, delayed medical interventions can jeopardize patient outcomes. Environmental challenges often worsen with postponed conservation efforts. Socially, delayed responses to societal issues may perpetuate inequalities. Technologically, delayed updates or advancements may render systems obsolete. Overall, the issue of delayed actions underscores the importance of timely, proactive measures in navigating personal, professional, and societal landscapes for optimal outcomes and progress."

there could be a difference in the world of the Blog and its inmates .. and that is lamentable and absurd, but the reason whatever it be, cannot take anything away from the intent .. that is PRIME !

yes .. you want to leave the World with a life that was lived with hard work respect and dignity .. you want to leave the World by the provide for those that remained dear .. they should not suffer, penury, defeat insult ..

The 'head' the provider bears this responsibility with determined resolve .. so help me God .. !!

self aggrandizement shies away from the self ever .. mostly with others too .. it is not a proclamation of an edict .. it bears the cerebrum mind of positivity and negativity , where percentages are alarmingly varied .. in disfavour ..

And as I am guided by the mentions and informs from the learned, tributoried through the grace of them that give all in affection, I express gratitude .. even though it may sound obligatory ..

But NO ..

In matters of the divine or bearers of divinity , there is never the barrier of obligation ..

It is ever to GIVE .. whether the receive presents itself or not ..

And so greetings .. for the festive Lohri ..

Amitabh Bachchan

[lynxindisguise]

Obviously Project 2025 and the attack on women and members of the LGBTQ+ community is absolutely horrifying and very much real, no matter how much Trump has tried to distance himself from it.

But I want to talk about what's in the Republican Party's actual plan, because these are probably the things that will happen first, and it may also be helpful in terms of speaking to conservative relatives (especially the ones who are not fully gone far-right MAGA worshippers and are, instead, confused as to why everyone is so upset) about what exactly they voted for.

Mass deportations. This is the main platform he ran on. On a human level, this is horrifying, and it's going to cause unthinkable and unconscionable suffering. Maybe it'd be helpful to discuss how immigrants (including privileged white legal immigrants) pay taxes, can't vote, don't have access to benefits, and cannot risk committing even minor crimes for fear of deportation. Maybe it wouldn't. So. On an inhuman level, this is very expensive and a massive waste of resources. If you can't get people to give a shit about other human beings, you can at the very least ask how these deportations are not going to detract resources and attention away from the 'American needs' they keep harping on about.

Getting rid of all environmental regulations and AI regulations and amping up use of coal and oil. This is devastating for the entire world in the fight against climate change. I think this is how Trump means to reduce inflation, though his entire 'reduce taxes and reduce inflation' plan is so incredibly vague. At best, it's more trickle down theory bullshit.

Reducing American involvement in foreign conflicts. This sounds really great, actually. And yet. No foreign conflicts are specified—except for strengthening support to Israel. So. It would seem that the US is becoming even more involved in genocide, and most likely less involved in aiding Ukraine.

Improving the American education system. Hilariously, Trump's solution to a failing education system is to get rid of the Department of Education and leave everything up to the states? When you read on, it becomes clear that this is so schools can teach exclusively American history—and a very specific, propagandized version of it at that.

He mentions wanting to build a DOME MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD around the US? Why is no one talking about this? This is formally written down. What the fuck does that mean?

He also talks about REDUCING censorship and protecting freedom of speech. In the coming years, I would ask your conservative relatives to hold him to that.

They also promised affordable housing, college, and healthcare. There's no plan for how the fuck they're going to do this while decreasing taxes, but I'd tell your conservative relatives to hold him to that as well.

The whole plan is here if you feel like reading the word 'great' 800 times. If you don't want propaganized idiots telling you you've fallen for the 'leftist propaganda,' come armed with indisputable facts of what the Republican Party has said they will do.