#especially when the guy is giving you signals on whether to move

[honeyoats]

getting a car wash and successfully aligned my tire with the. what is it. conveyer belt. you know 😁

[everythingspokenfor]

𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓴 𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼~

Pairing: Bakugou x reader

Summary: You end up running into your boss, Pro-Hero Dynamight, whilst working your other job...

Pro-Hero Dynamight in his late 30s, so focused on saving the world, he barely gives himself time, has a set routine of wake-up, go to work, patrol, reports and eventually back to bed at 9pm.

Doesn't let anything or anyone mess up his routine, if he went out with the squad, he would work extra hours, all the vacation hours saved up, over the years he worked. Barely ever takes leave even tho he owns the agency.

You have seen him around, perks of working at his agency, it pays decently, enough to pay the bills, but if you want the luxury of early retirement and being the cool aunt, then you'll need more than one job, cons of being born without a quirk. What more would you really expect working data manager, tasks including hours of sitting in front of the computer typing away details of the villains.

The world isn't as harsh to your kind, as it use to be, that doesn't make it easy for you tho, working twice as hard still not being able to land a job, that doesn't matter, not anymore, you are fine have been fine for few years.

The entire time you have been working at the agency, you have interacted with Bakugou enough times to know he is a good guy, someone who has a mental checklist of things to do, of places to be and this is definitely not a place for him to be, as far as you believe.

Dingy strip club, shoved in the back alley, it's more decent that it seems if you were being honest, the bouncers and bartenders always ready to step in if something goes wrong, and it pays well, good enough to allow you to eat out few times a month, good enough to always have that expensive bottle of wine stored in your kitchen.

It's not a posh place moreover, celebrities, heroes, the high-end people seldom come here, place catering more towards the locals, the drinks mostly sugary concoctions with cheap liquor,

Maybe that's why his presence surprised you. He looks out of place, especially hunched over the bar counter, the same one, on which the dancers were shimmying out of their see through lingeries, tossing them around, collecting money from the desperate men.

He wasn't one though, eyes focusing on his glass of scotch, even when one of the dancers kneeled on the table beside him, mumbling something in his ear, but from her sudden retreat you could tell whatever she was offering was rejected.

You contemplate, whether you should approach him or not, afterall you were working here, donned in a lacy red and black two piece lingerie, you still had sheer cover-up on, that barely did anything to cover, tonight you were stationed at the counter, work focusing on getting men to buy more expensive liquor.

You signal your co-worker over your shoulder, gesturing towards your other boss, "he is a friend." Grabbing a bottle of scotch and two glasses to strutted towards him.

"What are you doing in a place like this?" You slide onto the seat next to him, eyes focused ahead as you pour the liquor into the glasses. Locking eyes with the bartender behind the counter, pleading silently, fortunately he moved away to the next customer without questioning you.

He looks surprised, either to see you here or to be caught here, you don't know, neither do you wish to find out.

"The fuck are you doin' here?" He grunts, looking over his shoulder analysing the place again, before turning to look at you incredulously, eyes wide as he put the two and two together, your outfit making sense.

"Working."

He stares at you, eyes twitching as he tried to make sense of the situation,"Why are ya' working in this sketchy strip club?" He huffed out, grabbing the glass from your hand and

"Pays well." You sip on your drink, avoiding looking at him.

"What do ya' mean? Don't we pay you enough?"

"Enough to live by, Bakugou", you wince, not used to calling your boss by his surname,"not enough to afford me an early retirement." You look over to him, finally meeting his eyes, before glancing lower, he wore dark pants, with a loose baby blue shirt.

You snort,"Where you planning on getting lucky tonight?" You tease him, still showing genuine curiosity, maybe the little sips of scotch is getting to you, why else would you ask him that.

"Non' of yer' business, nerd." His ears turned bright red, peachy blush spreading over his cheeks the longer you stared at him, his intentions obvious, despite wanting to, you don't tease further.

"Well, I have to get back to work." you get up from your stool, eye glancing over to where you co-worker was handling your spot, you turn to leave him, before you could move two steps away, his hand darts out, clasping around your wrist.

"Wait! When do you get off?", he sounds a little desperate, for a fleeting moment you wonder why before looking at the clock, it's barely mid night, still few hours before your shift ends.

"Few hours." you sighed out, his palm still wrapped around your wrist, he stands up, moving a bit closer, he towers over you.

"Can ya' not leave early?" He queried, you tilt your head up, the proximity making you dizzy, you tilt your head, eyes finding his,"Where are you gonna take me?" You shouldn't have entertained that idea, should have pulled your wrist away and gotten back to the work, maybe you shouldn't have approached him to begin with.

Alas, you are here, in the middle of the club, contemplating putting your coat on and leaving with him. Your boss wouldn't really mind now that you think about.

"There's a hole-in-the-wall diner a block away." He tilts his head towards the club entrance, somehow already aware of your decision to leave, his shoulders are still tense, waiting for confirmation, his thumbing rubbing circles on the inside of your wrist.

"Lemme grab my stuff." It's impulsive but right now you don't really care, he seems to visibly relax, hand finally letting go of your, you turn around, walking straight towards the side doors, avoiding meeting eyes with your co-worker who is still covering your shift, hopefully she'll forgive you for the impromptu duties.

You don't bother changing our of your 'work' clothes, opting to just put on a pair of pants and a sweatshirt, shoving your cover up in your handbag. You turn around to leave the dressing room, strutted over to wear he was standing by the entrance.

"You could have waited outside, ya' know," you chimed, hands stalling as Bakugou leaned in to take your bag from your hand, glittery bag looking comical hanging on his shoulder.

"Had a word or two with yer' boss," he side-eyes you, opening a door wider, slowly nudging you out with a palm against your back.

"Hopefully you won't get me fired." You snickered, cheeks taking on a rosy hue as you both stepped out of the club, the cold air nipping at your skin, as you followed him to his car.

This was supposed to be part of something I wanna write in future...

[lyrefromthesea]

Could I ask for the hashira reaction waking up from anesthesia after needing surgery from a mission? I had seen a video of a guy still dizzy and goofy from the anesthesia after surgery... Like, the guy did not recognize his wife and said, when she touch him, that his wife would get mad seeing a pretty girl touching his chest, he was shocked and flirty after she said SHE was his wife.

Male Hashira x reader - anasthesia

pairing: Tengen x reader, Obanai x reader, Rengoku x reader, Sanemi x reader, Giyuu x reader, Gyomei x reader

content warning: none

Tengen:

when the nurse told you to bring your husband home as soon as possible, you were skeptical. what if he was hurt? did they hope he would be at home when he collapsed so the hospital could say it wasn't their fault?

you scoffed, not leaving until the nurse told you what was going on. you didn't expect to hear that your husband had been tormenting everyone entering his assigned room.

"some sunny day!~" his voice was ringing through the hallway, forcing you to quickly enter and close the door. it would be embarrassing to disturb the other patients, especially when the reason was a singing husband.

"Tengen, tone it down please!" you scolded him, but the man only looked at you with lazy eyes. hoping that he still followed your words, you looked at him with a glimmer of relaxation in your eyes.

only to hear him start again.

"we'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when."

you couldn't decide whether the feeling of embarrassment or the charm he possessed in this weird situation took over your mind, but it certainly got your face heating up.

Obanai:

"what.. are you sure..?" the way his heterochromic eyes stared at you in confusion and adoration made you chuckle. he was completely out of it after waking up.

"yes, i'm sure. you're my boyfriend, remember?" he could only stare in utter disbelief, his eyes wandering over your body and then back to your face.

after a minute of silence, he let his head plop against the pillow, closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh.

"and you're sure this is not a dream..?" he assured himself, opening his eyes to give you a testing glance. when you chuckled and nodded in response, he looked at the ceiling.

"this is the best day of my life.." he mumbled, his eyes falling shut. you laughed into the silence, hearing the man quietly snore.

he was awake a moment later, looking even more confused than before.

"[name].. are you laughing at me..?"

you spend the next five minutes explaining the situation to him. and he fell asleep right after.

Rengoku:

now how did this happen?

you couldn't move closer to your husband without worrying that he drops dead. he looked tired, not in the state to realize what was happening around him, nor could he answer.

yet he still managed to realize your exact location and showed a nonverbal response to it. everytime you came closer his heartbeat would pick up.

it basically skyrocketed when you touched his arm, the machine next to his bed sending out high sounds to signal raising heartbeat.

when you went to find a doctor, telling him exactly what happened, you were met with a laughing face.

"don't worry about it, your husband must be quite excited to see you."

you were dumbfounded by the doctors words. of course the thought of Rengoku growing flustered was cute, but not like this! you couldn't step closer without risking his heartbeat increase tenfold.

the whole story made him feel embarrassed whenever he heard it again.

Sanemi:

"have you ever thought of getting.. babies?" you spit out your drink, looking at him with shock, confusion and embarrassment.

did he really just say that?

"Sanemi, you can't be serious. I'm not able to-" you were quickly interrupted by a hand on yours. he had slid his scarred fingers over, gently placing them on your hands.

"i know, i know.."

thinking he had let go of the topic, you slowly avert your gaze. sitting next to his be had been proven quite difficult. who thought a gentle Sanemi was almost more exhausting than a normal Sanemi? just almost.

"what about adopting little rascals?" he checked, as if not birthing the children yourself made it any better. there were obvious reasons why you wouldn't get a child.

"what is it with you today?"

"..'m sorry, but ya would look so good carrying a small one around." the thought made your face warm up, closing your book and placing it on the nightstand.

"you should try getting some sleep now." you told him, watching the man groan, but close his eyes. it didn't take him long to fall asleep, softly snoring beside you.

that was just the medicine speaking out of him, he will have forgotten everything once he's awake again. right?

Giyuu:

"so pretty.." Giyuu said, hand still attached to your arm. when you entered the room earlier, he had immediately grabbed it and not let go since.

"love.." he mumbled, a curious hum left your lips. he was behaving different than before, but you wanted to make sure he wouldn't do anything dangerous.

besides, you found his more open side to be quite cute. he was a good lover, but often found himself having problems with wording his feelings. and after he woke up, all of it slipped out, leaving his lips like a river.

"you're so pretty, so smart.." he uttered, taking in a deep breath, "so breathtaking."

your cheeks were starting to heat up, not used to the many compliments you were receiving. "you think so?"

"absolutely, you consume my every thought.."

who knew Giyuu could be such a charmer? you would certainly tease him about it once he was back to normal.

Gyomei:

"Gyomei, I'm coming in.."

your voice was soft, slowly opening the door to his room and stepping inside. he didn't react, not even when you closed the door again, making your way to his bed.

you have never seen the gentle giant quite like this. sure, he was always a kind soul, but there was something more peaceful about him. the turn of his head was slow, acknowledging your presence with a small nod.

"are you feeling okay, i heard they needed to use more than usual.." you worried, he was bigger and taller than most, of course the treatment would be different for him. placing your hand on his cheeky you gently rubbed your thumb against his skin, watching the man close his eyes and lean into your touch.

he looked tired, exhaustion written over his features. with a small hum, you pulled back. "you should rest some more, the doctors said that you need a lot of sleep."

his hand moved to cradle your fingers into his palm, letting himself relax into his bed again. you understood, he wanted you to stay by his side, even while sleeping.

letting your hands stay in his hold, you made yourself comfortable on the chair next to him. this would be a long night, but it would all be worth it.

[taintedcigs]

— morning routine (modern!s.h. x reader)

pairing: modern!steve harrington x fem!reader

summary: basically, that scene in greys anatomy where meredith snores and keeps waking up derek but instead of them it's reader who just moved in with steve. (and robin duh) idk how to explain it but i tried to give it a spin idk if i succeeded. this is just FLUFFY AND cheesy. and tbh its only modern!steve cuz i added one (1) stupid twilight joke. SUE ME OK!!!!

warnings: just pure fluff. domestic!steve. tooth-rottingly sweet. cheesy af. some kissing. does snoring count idk. steve is an adorable idiot. also makes a dirty joke bc he is immature (and so am i.) kissing. idk. allude to smut but nothing described at all. not proof-read ignore all mistakes cuz i wrote this mess in like 20 mins and cant read it back cuz i cant do it without criticizng everything so im just gonna post okkkkiii bye hope u guys enjoy it (wc: 1.3k+)

⠀ ͟ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ㅤ⠀ ͟ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ㅤ⠀ ͟ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ

It hadn't been that long since you’d settled into Steve and Robin’s place. You’d initially been nervous about it, about whether everything would work out or not.

But soon enough, things were already starting to fall into place—especially in the mornings.

A perfect routine.

The illuminating rays of sunshine would seep through the cracks in the blinds, glowing the cozy room you and Steve now called yours. And the overwhelming aroma of the coffee Robin always brewed too early, signaling to you that it was time to wake up.

You stirred slightly, mind slowly drifting out of the haze of sleep until you noticed something—rather someone in your periphery.

Eyes fluttering open, you squinted against the soft light, and you were instantly met with Steve’s warm gaze at you, his head propped on one hand as he lay beside you.

“Steve! What the hell?” you exclaimed, groggily shoving his shoulder with a laugh. “Are you watching me sleep, you creep?”

Steve’s lips curled into a lazy, boyish grin, one that you couldn’t resist smiling back at. “Mmhmm,” he murmured, not even bothering to deny it.

“What are you? Edward Cullen?” you teased.

That earns a good chuckle out of him, eyes crinkling at the corners before he mumbles out a “Mornin', honey.”

He leans down to press a soft kiss to your velvety lips before pulling back to gawk at you again, cheeks dimpling adorably.

A giggle bubbles up from your chest as you swat at him, though your heart squeezes.

The most dreamy.

“How did you wake up before the alarm?” you ask, voice still thick with sleep.

Steve shrugs, grin never faltering. “I’m a light sleeper.”

“Something woke you up?”

When he doesn't answer, “What?” you press, brows furrowing.

He chuckles, shaking his head. “’S no big deal,” he assures, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “It’s just that...” He pauses, biting his lip to hold back a grin.

“You just... snore.... a little bit.” He squints, pinching his thumb and forefinger together.

You shot upright in bed. “What? I do not!” you protest.

“Yes, you do,” Steve says, grin widening as he clearly enjoys your reaction.

“Nuh-uh!”

“Uh-huh!” he counters back.

“Honestly, it’s adorable that such a tiny person can make such a big sound.”

You gasp, “Jerk!” Swatting at him when he leans in for a kiss. He laughs, dodging your swipe, smile as infuriating as it was endearing.

“You know what’s not adorable?” you shot back. “Those little twitches you do every night!”

Steve blinks, protesting quickly. “I don't do that!”

“Yes you do!” you exclaimed, poking a finger into his chest playfully. “You’re like a human earthquake. It’s scary, Harrington!”

He lets out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. And before you can say another word, Steve pounces, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into his hold. Fingers tickling your sides mercilessly, sending you into fits of laughter as you squirm to escape.

“Stop it! Steve!” you manage to get out between giggles, your attempts to push him away weak from how hard you were laughing.

⠀ ͟ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ㅤ⠀ ͟ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ㅤ⠀ ͟ ͟ㅤㅤ♥︎ㅤ

Determined to make it up to him, you wore one of those nasal strips every night, for the following week. Convinced it was solving the problem.

Until you wake up, suddenly, and way before your alarm.

And even way before Robin's coffee. To find Steve's spot empty next to you.

Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you slip out of bed, padding down the hall, curiosity tugging at you.

And of course, there he is, sprawled across the couch. Legs awkwardly dangling over the edge, one arm thrown over his eyes.

Idiot. You could feel a gentle warmth spreading all over your body.

This absolutely selfless, adorable idiot.

“You have got to be kidding me,” your exclaiming voice startles him awake, making him groan groggily.

“You slept on the couch?” You ask, guilt bubbling in your chest. 

Steve hums sleepily, clearly not awake enough to form a coherent response.

“All night?” That poor boy. 

He murmurs something incomprehensible, eyes squeezing shut like he could will himself back to sleep.

“Are those stupid strips not working?” You asked frustratedly, and Steve was quick to shook his head, the motion muffled by his pillow. 

You let out a sigh, narrowing your gaze at him, “If my snoring was always this bad, what the hell were you doing all those other nights?”

Before Steve can answer, Robin emerges from her room, hair a tangled mess and expression groggy. “He usually sleeps on the couch,” she hums, slowly slipping past you to the bathroom. “Sets an alarm and sneaks back into bed before you wake up.”

You blink, processing her words as your head slowly turns toward Steve. He’s sitting up now, looking thoroughly sheepish.

“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings,” he says softly, tone so endearing that it tugs violently at your heartstrings.

And that’s the thing about Steve, isn’t it? 

Always putting you first. Always thinking of you. 

You stare at him for a moment, dramatic theatrics melt into something warmer. A smile tugs at your lips, growing wider until you can’t contain it anymore. Walking over to the couch, you kneel beside him as he looks up at you innocently.

Without a word, you throw your arms around him as you begin to smother his face with kisses, one after another, until he was laughing too.

“You’re ridiculous,” you mutter between kisses, voice filled with affection. “Sweet, but so goddamn ridiculous.”

Steve grins, hands sliding down to hold your waist comfortably. “You know I’d do anythin' for my girl,” he replies, tone thick with sleep and laced with that infamous Harrington charm that makes your heart flutter.

“But, I swear, Harrington,” you warn, pulling back just enough to meet his warm gaze, “if you ever sleep on this couch again, I’m tying you to the bed.”

His brows shot up, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh! I’ve always wanted to try that one!” he teases.

You scoff playfully before adding, “And I’m getting you earplugs!”

Before you can say anything else, Steve suddenly tugs you closer, pulling you onto the couch with him. “C’mere,” he murmurs, voice low and tender. Plush lips pressing kisses all over your face—forehead, cheeks, lips, the tip of your nose—as he rambles sweet nothings in between, each one making your heart swell a little more.

“I love you,” he whispers, words melting into your skin like a promise. 

You can’t help but giggle softly, threading your fingers through his messy hair, “Love you more, you idiot.” 

Steve grins, fingers brushing off a stray strand of hair away from your face. “So…” He trails off, tone turning sly, brows arching in anticipation, “...about that tying up thing?”

You smirk, rolling off of him as you rise to your feet. He doesn’t let his gaze leave yours, chest rising with a sharp breath as he watches your figure. 

Without a word, you saunter out of the living room, hips swaying just enough to leave him frozen in place, staring after you like a statue.

At the doorway, you glance over your shoulder to meet his dumbfounded expression. “Well,” you hum with a sly grin, “are you coming or not?”

His jaw practically drops. “C’mon, pretty boy,” you tease, tone dropping into a sultry hum that makes his eyes darken. “You’ve been really, really bad, and the punishment isn’t gonna be pretty.”

His breath catches, utterly frozen. Then, as if the exhaustion he’d been feeling moments ago has been completely erased, he springs from the couch with a groan. “God, you’re fucking perfect, you know that, right?” he mutters, all with awe and hunger as he reaches you.

Before you can react, he sweeps you up into his arms with an eagerness that makes you squeal. “Steve!” you gasp, laughing as he rushes you toward the bedroom like a man on mission.

Finally, the perfect morning routine. 

[maluustrawberry]

Undesirable encounter

(Claude Frollo X Female reader)

Synopsis: You were the new seamstress in Paris and Frollo suspects that you were harboring Romani in your shop. It looks like your first start was more tense than you expected...

A/n: I confess that I am in love with the Hunchback of Notre-Dame and I especially love the book. I hope you readers like it, and if you want to give me tips I accept (you can correct me too) If you want other Disney characters, you can ask me💕.

Part.2 (Final)

(Guys, I don't know if you know, but the word "gypsy" is a slur and should not be used, the correct one is "Roma" Or "Romani people" I put "Gypsy" only in Frollo's lines since you know the type of person he is.)

It was just another ordinary day in Paris, you had arrived in the city a few months ago and worked as a dressmaker. You immediately became known for the beautiful dresses you produced for the girls and the beautiful clothes for the boys too. You had an excellent aesthetic sense.

But what you had in the way of talent, you also had in the way of kindness. When you heard about the persecution of the Romani people, you felt touched by the situation and decided to help them. It was very risky, but you weren't going to stand by and let it happen like the other citizens of Paris were doing, letting themselves be manipulated by Frollo and his hate speeches. There was a basement in your house that you used to store fabric and sewing materials. You took advantage of that room to help some Romani hide in case of emergency if they were being chased by the guards and if there was no time to run to the court of miracles.

And so it went on, you were extremely careful not to leave any traces, until one day or another these "rumors" ended up reaching the judge.

You were sewing up the sleeves of a client's dress, which had been placed in the moulage to make it easier for you to work, and your attention now turned to the bell that rang as soon as the door was opened. Immediately, the atmosphere of the place changed when you saw who had entered. You knew those clothes, the face worn by age and you couldn't forget that look of superiority and pride, because himself thought he was important and better than everyone because of his opposition and faith. Looking behind those glass windows, you could also see some of his men at the front of the store:

“Bonjour, madame.” Frollo said sternly, snapping you out of your thoughts. That thick, authoritative voice gave you the creeps. “I'd like to know who owns this establishment. Your husband is here?”

“A-Ah! Good morning...” You forced a smile and stuck the needle into the moulage so you wouldn't lose it. “Your Honor, I'm the owner, and no, I don't have a husband.”

As you said this, the judge looked you up and down with contempt. Of course, in the 16th century, a young woman like you not being married was a disgrace to society, and on top of that, being able to read and owning your own business was even worse. You weren't tense or nervous with him in your store, on the contrary, you were so calm... After all, you cleaned out the basement and removed any evidence as soon as a family of Romani's moved out recently:

“I've received information that you've been harboring gypsies in your house and I'm here to find out the facts, have you been harboring gypsies?” He got straight to the point.

“No, sir.” You pretended to be as honest as possible, fortunately you were good at lying.

“You know that if you lie, the sentence for insubordination is death...” He moved closer in an attempt to intimidate her.

“My conscience is clear. You have permission to investigate my store, since my words don't apply to you.”

“If I wasn't allowed to, seamstress, I'd still make a point of searching this place from top to bottom, whether you agree or not.”

The older man signaled for some of his men to enter the store before you could protest or complain. Since you were the only one who seemed to have enough courage to go against the judge's ideas when you were right. They went in and started rummaging around for clues, looking everywhere, even under the skirts of the dresses on the mannequins.

Frollo looked you up and down in an nothing unobtrusive way, you didn't notice the glances, but as soon as you did, it gave you the creeps and you avoided looking back at him. He had never noticed you in the city before and he noticed your accent, deducing that you might be a foreigner. The judge couldn't take his eyes off you, you were a very beautiful woman and seemed so delicate, and it seems that some feeling awakened in him when he saw that you were without gloves and your dress showed your shoulders. He came out of his thoughts when a guard approached:

"Sir, we've looked everywhere and found nothing..." Being a clever woman, an idea came to your mind: perhaps it would be better if they looked at everything to leave you alone.

"Have you looked in my basement, gentlemen?" you asked, kicking the rug that hid the small door in the wooden floor of your store.

Frollo was suspicious, but sent his men in to search every corner of the small cellar. Fortunately, they didn't find anything either, just sewing materials and expensive fabrics. After looking around in vain, the men left the store, leaving you and the judge alone:

“I apologize for this inconvenience.” He said as you went to the moulage to finish the dress.

“You shouldn't believe every rumor out there, Your Honor, not all of them can be true.” You said politely. “but apologies accepted, I know it was for the good of Paris and you care a lot about the city.”

Returning to work, you thought he would leave after all that had happened and notice you "busy" sewing, but no, he stayed in the store while walking slowly around analyzing his surroundings:

“This basement...” He pointed to the carpet above the small door. “Why was it hidden?”

“I don't see the need to show everyone that I have a basement here.” You replied nonchalantly. “and besides, I think that old door would spoil the pretty look of my store.”

Frollo didn't seem to believe in that very much, but you shrugged and continued sewing. There were a few seconds of silence, you could only hear his footsteps coming towards you and could feel that man's gaze on you all the time, causing you a certain nervousness or fear. What did he want anyway?

“Do you want anything else?” you asked in an attempt to break the silence and take your mind off the discomfort of feeling his gaze on you, stopping your sewing and looking at him now.

“I just want you to know.” He said, standing close and looking at her with disgust. “I'll keep an eye on you, I won't trust a literate, single woman so easily... I know women of your kind.”

“I don't think who I am or what I do has anything to do with helping... Ouch!” You interrupted yourself with pain when you felt the needle pierce your finger. It was normal for this to happen when were working with sewing, but it had never been this deep, Maybe it happened because of the anger you was feeling at that moment.

Immediately you dropped the needle out of sheer instinct, and in a quick and daring moment Frollo grabbed your hand with a certain amount of force, bringing it in front of his face, which had a small smile of satisfaction on it. The judge was a sadomasochist, he enjoyed seeing someone in pain, especially when it was someone he thought deserved such a punishment. You were shocked by his attitude, you weren't expecting it and didn't know how to react. What was he doing? Frollo continued to hold your hand, watching the small drop of blood ooze from your pricked finger, but his attention wasn't just there, it was on your fingers, your soft skin and the sensation it brought when you touched it with the contact of the warm hand and his, which was a little cold:

“What are you doing?” You asked, with a bit of hatred for such a vulgar and daring attitude, and he laughed a little.

“What would the church think of a woman exposing her bare hands in front of a high-ranking man like me?” You had no reaction for fear. Gradually his fingers entwined in yours and you saw that his eyes went to your small cleavage and your bare shoulders. “And it's not just your hands that are exposed...”

You quickly pulled your hand free and he looked at you incredulously:

“My hands are only exposed because I can't wear gloves when I sew, and you still don't have the right to do that. It's in the Bible; If your eye or your hand causes you to sin, throw it away!” A small smile came to Frollo's face when he heard that.

“So bold... It's typical of women like you to turn away from guilt in order to confuse men's minds with pagan thoughts, but that doesn't matter any more...”

He walked away, heading for the door to leave, but first his attention turned to you:

“It was a nice chat, seamstress... I want you to make me a cloak and sew me a pair of gloves, I'll be expecting you to deliver them tomorrow night.”

After saying that, he left, leaving you with no reaction to what had just happened. You were angry, but at the same time relieved that he hadn't found out. As soon as he left, you stared at your hand, which he touched and intertwined with his large, thin fingers. You'd have to be more careful now, he'd be stalking you and the reason wouldn't just be because he suspected you of helping the Romani people, it would be because of something else and you know exactly what it was and what his intentions were...

End...

[acourtofthought]

I agree with your post that Azriel was an asshole in that scene 100%. But I think making it seem like Elain didn’t have a choice whatsoever in that moment is also why people keep saying the fandom infantilizes her. She was wrong too for thinking it was okay to do that especially when Lucien was there. Again I agree that Azriel acted like an ass there, but Elain wasn’t forced to do anything with him. Let’s start treating her like the adult she is in this fandom. If you want Azriel to apologize to Elain, then Elain should apologize to Azriel too because she was aware she’s a mated female and still chose to accept that kiss.

I actually don't agree with this take and it sounds like you're confusing infantilizing a character with what is you wrongly thinking a female somehow owes a guy something. A guy who, even if she's confused and secretly wants him, has not at this time been giving him any mixed signals therefore her actions were not in any way "cheating" or disloyal.

How was Elain in the wrong for exploring something outside of one likely super serious commitment after she just got out of a super serious commitment when she has currently made no commitment to anyone?

I LOVE Lucien, my heart breaks for Lucien but I also realize how much Elain has gone through.

Lucien lost Jesminda but spent the next how many centuries having casual liaisons with others. Yet for some reason people think Elain has to go from an engagement with Graysen immediately into a super serious mating bond which is a forever sort of thing. Somehow she has to accept her bond with Lucien RIGHT NOW because .....? Why? Why is she not allowed to have a hot girl summer before maybe deciding to explore the thing someone else decided for her. Make no mistake, I am all here for Elucien's story and the reluctant soul mates / arranged marriage trope but that doesn't mean she's not entitled to take time to herself without worrying about Lucien's feelings. Did you forget everything she's been through in the last two years on their timeline? Lost her entire life in the human lands, rejected by her fiance, forced to become a species she grew up fearing, had to stab someone, lost her father and on top of that everyone seems to expect that she focus on Lucien. Everyone but Lucien of course because he's a complete green flag which is why he is her endgame. But she's allowed to be a 24 year old girl processing trauma even if that means having a meaningless fling just to see if she's ready to get back on the dating horse.

Rarely does the fandom fault Nesta for all but confessing her love to Cassian, being willing to die by Cassian's side then turning around and (without any sort of discretion) sleeping with MANY other males, something he was fully aware of. I also do not remember Sarah having Nesta apologize to him for sleeping with others.

Elain did not set out to hook up with Az that night, she thought everyone was asleep. And yes, Lucien was in the house but as far as we know he was also asleep and not aware which means she was a lot more discreet than Nesta had been.

Elain does not need to apologize to Az for anything because Az was fully aware she has a mating bond. They both chose not to discuss her mating bond, Az never asked her whether she planned on rejecting it which means he was fine moving forward without those answers. And just because she has a bond doesn't mean she owes Lucien loyalty. Again, Nesta suspected Cassian was something to her yet she still went on to hook up with multiple others.

Infantilizing Elain is when others act like she's the only person who never had a choice therefore she HAS to end up with Az, that somehow ending up with Lucien isn't a choice because "we need to respect what she wants" as if she's not a fictional character whose wants can change from one book to the next.

Acknowledging that Az hurt Elain in that moment and not the other way around is what happened and I think if you somehow think Elain needs to apologize to HIM than that is you infantilizing a 500 something year old guy with communication issues.

Edit thanks to @zenkindoflove :- Here's your apology from Elain, anon: She opened her eyes, hurt and confusion warring there before she whispered, "I'm sorry." "You don't - Don't apologize he managed to say. "Never apolgize. It's I who should...." He shook his head, unable to stand the bleakness he'd brought to her expression. "Goodnight."

The 24 year old apologized to HIM when he called things a mistake after he was the one who left his hands on her neck then titled her head. And instead of saying, "It's I who should apologize, I'm so sorry" he just decided he couldn't handle telling her he was sorry.

[deesseshesca]

PAC: How can you deepen the bond with your partner ?

There must be something cynical about being on your period and wanting a baby ... orrrrr.... nahhhh.... I am a maneater until the day i di-

Good afternoon pretty soul ! I am so excited ... IS OFFICIALLY KINKTOBER ! DAY : 10-11

FOR EXCLUSVE CONTENT THIS WEEK IS ON B.A.B.Y. soul tribe making it all half a price...

Your future lover (LAST DAY 15/10)| SEX Douala =SALE READING

PILE 1

Even though you may feel disconnected from the relationship right now and have contemplated walking away, your partner’s decision to change signals a pivotal moment. Their renewed focus on the relationship is genuine, and this could be the fresh start you both need. However, rebuilding trust and connection won’t happen overnight, especially with the emotional distance that has crept in.

You might feel uncertain, like your instincts are a bit off or you’re struggling to trust their efforts, but try to approach this phase with an open mind. Take things slow, and give yourself permission to feel both doubt and hope at the same time. It's okay to be cautious, but recognize their effort for what it is—a true attempt to make things right.

Communication will be key. Even though there might have been a breakdown in how you both express your emotions, make space for honest conversations. Talk about your fears, disappointments, and what you need moving forward. They seem committed to focusing on the relationship, but they will need guidance to understand how to nurture it in a way that feels meaningful to you. Don't be afraid to express what hasn't worked in the past and what you want to see differently.

Your partner’s willingness to change is a sign of their dedication, but for the relationship to truly move forward, both of you will need to find a balance between emotional vulnerability and action. This is a chance to rebuild from a stronger, more honest foundation, but it will require patience and effort from both sides. Trust the process, even if it feels rocky right now, and allow the transformation to unfold naturally.

*** BONUS ***

This relationship is newly official but you guys have been messing with each other for a hot minute. They finally let go of their ego. Y’all thought they did not want to be with you because of your looks. I feel like it’s a cut in 2. One side is different race, maybe the person is white and you are black living in a more white neighborhood. Others are the size, you are medium size and bigger and that person is conventionally good looking. Others are culture, I’m hearing : Mexican and Arabic. So since both cultures have similarities but when holding differences it is polar opposite. But actually they did not cuff you because of their ego, I don’t really know the root of the problem but it has nothing to do with you (also like mention on other PAC or collective reading, if we do not give me permission, I don’t dig). They took a hit in their life and realized that you were the only real one. I don ‘t think their hit was public since everything look good from the outside but everyone close to them, even their ‘’friends’’ know that they fuck up. Don’t worry they saw the way you transform. The way you are embarrassing everything that people use against you, whether it be your weight, your curly hair and darker skin tone, your tradition… you are loving it all and glowing. But even though they change and hold to all their promises, there’s still a need to address the big elephant in the motherfucking room … Why did it take you so long to grow some balls ? That feeling of uneasiness you feel, chérie d’amour… I feel it 2 ! Like on the card everything is perfect but my intuition is ticking not because they are doing something sneaky behind your back instead is about  their fucking intention. Almost like I'm being played… but I have yet to capture the king (final evidence) to scream CHECKMATE ! So I am waiting and sharing the bonus message that spirit allows me to have. Because babe, if they did not give me the signal to shuffle for more, I would have send you you merry way because they had me fucking convince. Lastly you are personally so close to complete fulfillment don’t let anyone or anything hinder that for you. 

💌 : What's making me tik, is they went from avoiding you to completely being immerse in your energy. Almost like they know you crave touch and is feeding you the only thing that can't make you think deeper into what's really going on. Chile chérie d'amour, if you want to know how to deepen your sexual chemistry, is half the price this time. You can unlock all the extended content.

PILE 2

To deepen your bond with your partner, it's important to be patient and understanding of the emotional battles they are facing. They may feel vulnerable and unsure about sharing their struggles fully, so it's crucial that you create a safe space where they feel comfortable opening up without fear of judgment. Encourage them to talk about their feelings and let them know that you're here to support them, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Your partner is someone who has been through immense pain and may still be carrying that weight, but they are determined to hold on because of their deep care for you. They might resist letting go of past hurt, but your consistent love and gentle reassurance can help them find the strength to move forward. Instead of pushing them to "get better," focus on being a steady source of support, reminding them that their worth goes beyond their struggles.

You both can build a solid foundation together by acknowledging the difficult moments while staying committed to a brighter future. Find small ways to celebrate victories, even if they seem minor, and remind them of the life you are creating together, filled with love, stability, and shared dreams.

Lastly, make sure to take care of yourself too. It's easy to pour all your energy into helping someone you love, but maintaining your own emotional well-being will ensure you both can grow stronger together. Stay hopeful, and keep the vision of a fulfilling future in mind. Your bond can weather this storm as long as you continue to meet them with understanding, compassion, and the strength they need right now.

Extra: I need to write this white on black ... YOU WILL NOT ATTEND THEIR FUNERAL (they use to deal with suicidal thoughts. Mes chéries d'amour when you they say that they ARE better and working hard mentally (because I feel like they already work very hard at school and work ) for y'all future, they are doing it !

💌 : If you want to know how to deepen your sexual chemistry, is half the price this time. You can unlock all the extended content.

PILE 3

To deepen your emotional bond with your partner, it’s essential to continue honoring the healthy boundaries you’ve established while also allowing space for more vulnerability and connection. You’ve done the inner work, understanding that in order to love fully, you need to prioritize your own well-being. Now, it's about balancing this self-care with a deeper level of emotional intimacy.

Your partner may sense that you're more independent and focused on your personal growth, and while this is incredibly healthy, it’s important to make sure they don’t feel shut out. Sharing your thoughts, dreams, and fears—without compromising the time you need for yourself—will help strengthen your bond. Being open about where you are emotionally will encourage them to do the same, building mutual trust.

At times, you might feel the urge to retreat or protect yourself out of habit, but don’t shy away from those moments when connection calls for more openness. You don’t have to carry everything alone anymore; your partner is someone who can walk with you on this journey.

Bringing passion into the relationship through spontaneity and excitement will also create deeper ties. Whether it’s going on a new adventure together or rekindling the playful, passionate side of your connection, these moments will help balance the self-reflection with joy and lightness. Your ability to nurture both the connection you have with yourself and the relationship will strengthen your emotional bond with your partner.

Ultimately, deepening your bond comes from maintaining those boundaries you’ve set, but also learning when to let them soften, allowing your partner to share in your emotional world. This mutual exchange of support and love will bring you both closer, as long as you continue pouring into both cups—yours and theirs.

💌 : If you want to know how to deepen your sexual chemistry, is half the price this time. You can unlock all the extended content.

PILE 4

You’ve finally found the love you deserve after going through so much healing and learning to truly love yourself. Even though this relationship brings you happiness, you might still feel the remnants of your past—old fears or doubts that occasionally surface. Those walls you built to protect yourself are still standing, but now they no longer serve you. It's okay to acknowledge that you've been hurt before, but it's also important to recognize that you're no longer that person who was unsure or hesitant.

Your partner, the one you were once shy about, has helped you step out of your comfort zone and realize that taking that chance was worth it. The joy you feel now is a result of your growth, and while it’s easy to fall back into old patterns of guarding yourself, there’s no need for that in this relationship. You are with someone who appreciates you for who you are, and the bond between you two is strong and fulfilling.

Sometimes, the intensity of this love might scare you, or you might worry about losing it. But instead of letting fear dictate your actions, lean into the trust and happiness you’ve built. Take time to rest, reflect, and remind yourself that you’ve done the work to be here. You’ve moved past those heavy emotional barriers, and now it’s about enjoying the connection without overthinking it.

Allow yourself to continue embracing the love you’ve found, without letting old anxieties take away from the beauty of the present moment. You’ve earned this happiness through your self-love and healing journey, and there’s no reason to hold back now. Trust yourself, trust your partner, and savor the love you’ve created together.

💌 : Babe they are going to put a ring on it !!!!! I feel like is all new. Y'all just started dating but is only the beginning of a lovely love journey !!!! If you want to know how to deepen your sexual chemistry, is half the price this time. You can unlock all the extended content.

[drdemonprince]

thanks for saying what you have about covert incest. I have this memory of my dad that I won't even type out cuz it's just horrible and I haven't been able to determine if it actually happened or if it's a memory of a dream I had but part of me thinks the former cuz I don't think I could've imagined something so horrible. and he died recently and I was determined to find some kind of physical evidence that it really happened but when my mom was moving she got rid of most of his stuff before I got there and I've been so pissed about it but not able to tell her or anyone why and it just reinforces my upset toward her cuz if it really happened then she didn't protect me and goes out of her way to protect him instead but in reading your posts I'm starting to think that whether it actually happened or not doesn't matter, the feelings are there and they're real and I ought to just treat it as though it really happened. anyway sorry to be vague, this has just been a huge weight on me and I feel like finding your blog on here has been such a blessing, especially cuz this has been weighing on me even more lately cuz I've been identifying as a butch lesbian for awhile but have been wondering if I'm actually a bi trans man and have been wanting to explore sexual experiences with queer men to find out if I'd enjoy it but have been really cautious about it and haven't really tried anything yet cuz I'm scared of what it might bring up in me and I'm autistic too so the whole dating and hookup thing is scary to me even without this memory shit and idk if queer men would be interested in me anyway. but yeah I'm gonna explore those resources you shared when I'm ready and I just wanted you to know you're making a difference even through sharing your experiences on your tumblr blog. and also just wanted to confess all this to somebody so thank you for that too

<3 thanks Anon.

Your feelings and traumatized reactions are real, and your vague sense of a memory almost certainly signals that Something was not Right in the dynamic with your father, and you can stand by that and care for yourself as someone whose boundaries have been trammeled upon even if you never get to know the exact facts of what happened. So much of childhood disappears down the memory hole, and there is no easy accounting for it, but as a therapist once wisely said to me, if a person has a fracture that's consistent with a violent attack, you can often see the effects and care for them even if you can't know exactly what happened there.

I'm glad you're feeling open to the idea of exploring your own sexuality and gender identity, too. There are absolutely queer men, both trans and cis, who will be interested in you, and you can move at the pace that works for you. Remember there are no rules to queer sexuality, that's the whole point -- so you never have to try anything you don't want to do. You can have a rich, fulfilling sex life with men that never involves PIV, if you aren't interested in that, or that is completely dependent upon a kink dynamic that isn't directly sexual. or you can just put yourself on the grindr grid and find some guy who wants to give you a massage or eat you out all day. There's so many kinds of very eager people out there, and so you can be as selective and as firm in your boundaries and vetting as you need to be! There's every kind of person out there. I have some guy in my Fetlife DMs right now who only wants to shave my body; another who only wants to jerk off while watching me smell leather. The world is abundant with funny little opportunities.

[kissorkill16]

Give Him The Help He Needs: A Hello Neighbor Fanfic

By JJ

Summary: How Mr. Murtaugh became Nicky's therapist.

Give your son the help he needs.

Luanne Roth read the note once again.

It was from Mr. Murtaugh, Nicky's science teacher.

When they went to pick Nicky up from school last week, Mr. Murtaugh pulled Jay and Luanne aside for a moment and offered to be Nicky's personal counselor.

They were hesitant, but the science teacher talked them into it.

"I know you want to help your son, and I know how difficult it is for you to do that. All I'm asking is for you to consider it. If you two can't help him the way he needs, then maybe there's someone else who can."

Jay and Luanne were actually kind of grateful that he was offering to help Nicky, even after all the trouble he caused him with his old friend, Aaron.

Nicky walked into the kitchen, and he was about to sit down when he noticed his parents looking at him.

"What?"

"Narf, we need to talk.", said Jay.

Nicky was confused, and a little worried. But he listened to what his parents had to say.

"Narf, your mother and I have been discussing it for a while, and...well..."

Jay didn't even finish before Luanne finished for him.

"We're signing you up for therapy."

"WHAT?!"

Neither Jay or Luanne knew whether it was good news or bad news that they were signing Nicky up for therapy, they didn't even know how he'd react to the news. But the way Nicky just snapped at them said all they needed to know.

"Narf, just think about it. You could get the help you need. We just think -"

But Nicky wasn't listening, he was too angry to even listen to what his dad was saying.

"How the hell do you two think you have a right to be worried about me?!", he said. "You're the ones who left me alone for so long for your jobs, and you're shocked that I get in trouble?! You're shocked that I was fucking kidnapped?! You're shocked that I basically lash out like a lunatic?! Like right now!"

Luanne pressed her temple with her finger, and sternly looked at her son. "Nicky, your science teacher has been pushing the idea for weeks, and your father and I think it's the right move to help you get better.", she said.

"We know it's not exactly a cure, but at least you'll be getting help.", said Jay.

But Nicky still wasn't convinced.

"I don't want to go to therapy. Some weirdo that you're paying to listen to me talk about my problems isn't going to help me in the slightest.", he said. "Mr. Peterson could've killed me down there, you guys wouldn't understand, because -"

"Nicky, please listen to us.", said Luanne. "Therapy is going to help you."

"And it's not just some weirdo, it's your science teacher, Mr. Murtaugh. The one who you and your friends used to play pranks on.", said Jay.

Like that made it any better.

Nicky didn't want to go to therapy, especially not with his own science teacher.

Mr. Murtaugh wasn't half as bad as Peterson. He didn't lock kids in his basement, he didn't kill anyone, he was just a creep, but he still didn't trust him just as much as he didn't trust Peterson. So having him as a therapist would just be stupid.

Not to mention awkward.

Why was he even offering to counsel him anyway?

"Mr. Murtaugh is crazy. The only thing worse than going to therapy is having him be my counselor!", said Nicky. "He's just as bad as Peterson, except he's not a psychopath! You're just as crazy as me if you think I'm gonna spend who knows how long with him talking about my problems!"

Jay put his hands up, trying to calm Nicky down. "Nicky, don't call yourself crazy.", he said.

"Why? Am I not crazy? Isn't that what you guys think of me?"

"How did this -", Luanne tried to say, but was interrupted by her son.

"I'm not crazy!"

"No one is saying that, Nicky."

Luanne put a hand on her husband's shoulder, giving her a sympathetic look that signaled him to stop talking. Then she looked back at her son, "What we're saying is that you need to calm down and just consider it. Mr. Murtaugh could really help you. You could explain why you even thought Peterson was a murderer -"

"You already know!", said Nicky. "I said he was a murderer, because he buried his daughter and kept his son hostage in his own home. Then he kidnapped me, and I thought Aaron wanted to escape with me, but he was just as insane as his dad. He kept ruining my plans and trying to convince me not to leave, and sometimes those freaks even hurt me! Even after I escaped, he ran away, still not in his right mind! He didn't even bother to fucking visit me while I was trying to collect myself!"

He slammed his hands on the table and let out a dry laugh as tears began to fall from his eyes.

"Y'know, I was warned to stay away from him. I was warned. By Bubba, Principal Abanate, even my club members! But I didn't listen, because Aaron was the first friend I've made since I came to this fucked up town, and now he's gone, and is probably never coming back!", he said. "And y'know what? I don't even know if I even want him to come back! After all he and his psycho dad did to me, I don't even think there's a point in thinking about him anymore!"

At that moment, Nicky slammed his head on the table, completely breaking down. "But at the same time, it's fucking stupid! I worked so hard to save him, only to get traumatized! Everything I've gone through has been for nothing!", he said.

Jay went over to his son and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Nicky, we really want to help you. We're sorry we didn't listen to you before, and we're glad you told us all of this now.", he said. "But think of this therapy as a form of extra help. With our support, and Murtaugh's, you'll be somewhat back to your old self in no time."

Luanne gently took Nicky's hand and squeezed it.

"Let the people who want to support you give you the help you need.", said Jay. "We love you, and we want you to get better. You know that, right?"

A minute later, Nicky gently squeezed his mom's hand back, and Luanne smiled at her son.

"So is that a yes?", she asked.

Nicky nodded, and his parents gave him a hug.

So ever since that night, Nicky has been going to see Mr. Murtaugh every week.

Their meetings have lasted up to Nicky's sophomore year of high school. Over time, he's been adjusting to therapy, but he didn't feel any less traumatized.

He picked up some bad habits such as smoking and putting them out on his own body, but Mr. Murtaugh has been working on getting him to quit. Even though it wasn't working a whole lot.

But Nicky was determined to get better, for his sake, and for the people who supported him through his tough times.

Because they gave him the help he needed.

[randogirlo-fando-main]

As You Wish Part 2-Eddie Munson x Stoner!Reader

Part One

Word count-3.2k+

Warnings-Swearing, marijuana use(obviously)

It’s been just over a week since you first met the club, having already sat it on your first two sessions. Everyone except Gareth has already taken a liking to you, especially the freshmen. Dustin comes to you with any and every question he can muster because even if you don’t have the answer, you go wherever you need to as soon as you can to get one and answer with nothing but enthusiasm. Mike has asked you for advice on gifts for his girlfriend Jane, trying to keep the mail chain they both have going. And poor Lucas rants to you about Max, never knowing what the best course of action to help her is. Eddie had told you he keeps an eye on her from time to time seeing as she lives in the trailer park as well, making you feel a little better about the situation.

Eddie. You guys have been inseparable. The only time you’ve spent apart besides classes was when he had band rehearsals with Corroded Coffin. Whether it’s driving you home when Steve works, taking you on midnight milkshake runs, or just smoking in his van while talking about anything and everything he’s there.

“Heyo, earth to (n/n) you in there?” Robin lightly knocks on your head, bringing you from your thoughts.

“Sorry, I’ve started zoning out whenever customers don’t come in.” And with that sentence the bell on the door rings, signaling a customer.

“Welcome to family video, if you need any help feel free to ask!” When you look up that head of curls you know so well moves to the register, resting his arms on the table.

“Well hello m’lady, good morrow on this fine day.” He announces, smiling at you.

“Hello m’lord, what can I assist you with?” You lean slightly closer, resting your cheek on your hand.

“Well I have a return but I need to get another one too, the sheep are coming to have a movie night. I’m pretty sure Lucas invited Max but who knows if she will come.” You walk with him through the genres, looking for something for them.

“What about nightmare on elm street? Halloween’s not too far away after all. Just two weeks.” He grabs the box decidedly as you walk him back to check out.

“Hey so, it’ll just me and the kids. Would you wanna keep company? They may even like you more than me.” As you look at him he see a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, making you smile.

“Sure! What time? Im off at four.”

“Does five give you enough time?” After getting him checked out you walk back around the counter.

“Oh definitely, I’ll get Steve to drive me.”

“Well, I’ll see you then. M’lady.” He bows, smiling as you start to curtsy.

“M’lord.” As he leaves the store Robin pops her head out from the break room.

“Dude what the hell was that!?” A big smile on her face she yanks you into the break room.

“Steve man the front, we need a minute.”

“Jeez, you’d think with three of us I wouldn’t be stuck up there all shift but no.” He grumbles as he walks up to the floor, changing the movie you had put on the tv.

“Okay spill, what’s going on with you and Eddie?” You stare at her quizzically.

“What do you mean?” She scoots her chair closer to you receiving a loud scratch of the chair legs.

“I meannnn Steve told me he’s been spending an awful lot of time at your place. Or picking you up wee hours of the night. Not to mention he just invited you to a movie night knowing you two would be the only somewhat adults there.” You laugh at her spiral she’s made, stopping her words with a hand on her arm.

“Robin. We’re friends. He gives me rides from school when Steve’s working and yeah I invite him to hang out and smoke when he does. He gets milkshake cravings so sometimes we go on diner runs. And literally all the freshmen are going to be there tonight. You think I even get to talk to Eddie around them? Dustin probably already has a list of questions I’m ready to answer! You know he asked me about anatomy yesterday? We were just talking at lunch, and he comes out with ‘so what actually happens during a period?’ I had to go to the library during my free period and then chase him down after school to give him the scientific response.” You smile at the thought though. Usually as a young teen, he goes to Steve but he always tends to make things awkward for Dustin, usually the topic of discussion ending when Dustin yells at Steve to stop talking.

“You really know how to answer his questions how he needs the answers. He asked Steve that a week ago and Steve got so flustered he couldn’t remember what a uterus was.” You giggle at the thought, Steve's never been the best with words.

“But that has nothing to do with Eddie. He definitely likes you.” Robin shakes your shoulders slightly, causing you to push her arms down.

"Robin, chill out. I haven't even been here a full two weeks yet and your already trying to set me up!" She huffs as you decide to head back up front.

"But (Y/n), I'm not setting you up when it's so obvious he likes you!" She follows you out, Steve standing from his slumped position on his chair.

"Who are you guys talking about?" His brows furrow at your huff before his eyes train to Robin.

"Doesn't Eddie like her? There's no way he doesn't." She reaches for Steve for back up, praying oblivion doesn't run in the family.

"No I don't think so." He shakes his head at the girl, you taking your little victory dance.

"I had thought so too but I asked Dustin and he said Eddie just likes her energy." He shrugs and you smile smugly at Robin. She dramatically rubs her face with both hands before a loud sigh leaves her lips.

"I'll drop it for now, but that proves absolutely nothing." She walks away to start putting away the returns before you all disperse to work.

After the next shift workers get there, you all three get into Steve's car. As he pulls out of the parking lot you remember the question you needed to ask him.

"Oh Steve, can you take me to Eddie's around five? It's movie night with the freshmen." He looks at you through the rearview mirror confused before nodding slightly.

"Yeah but if you don't call for a ride home by like 9 I'll be in bed." Making a mental note, you nod back. "Thank you mom!" Robin laughs with you as Steve gripes. You pull into Steve's parking lot and the Buckley girl is all too ready to get out of the vehicle. Getting through the door, she throws herself to the couch before jumping up quickly.

"Can I pleeasseeeee dress you for movie night?" You look at her confused before putting your bag down.

"It's movie night, I was just going to wear pjs." She pouts before following you to your room.

"Oh come on, you have this whole hippy wardrobe to play with! If I make it comfy can I?" You grab a joint and a lighter before turning towards her.

"Fine, I get veto rights though." You put the joint between your lips before flicking the lighter at the end. Taking a drag, you hold the smoke in a bit before exhaling.

After half an hour and a full joint, you both agreed on clothes. A simple creme cropped tank and your low-rise wrap pants. Changing quickly, you check your clock and realize you need to leave soon. Running out your bedroom, you grab your bag and knock on Steve's bedroom.

"Steve can you take me now?" You hear his bed creak before his door swings open. He goes to grab his keys as you and Robin stand in the yard, pulling clovers to find a lucky one. Once he emerges from the apartment, he unlocks the car and you all get in. He drives toward the trailer park, Robin rambling about how a girl in band with her.

"She laughed at my joke! My weird joke! And then I couldn't even form a sentence!" She flails back into her seat, a pout on her face.

"Maybe the little exchanges will help you gain the confidence, keep making the little jokes here and there and go from there." She stares at you like you changed her life.

"Oh my god where have you been all my life!" She reaches behind you to grab your head, kissing your cheek with a loud 'muah'.

"Okay you two, we're here." You look out the window to see the trailer.

"Thank you again Steve!" You pat his shoulder before grabbing your bag and opening the door. You wave by to both of them as you close the door and head over to the door. You jump up the stairs and lift your fist to knock before the door swings open.

"M'lady." He bows to you.

"M'lord." You curtsy and he both laugh as you enter the trailer. You take in the surroundings, looking at the collection of mugs and VHS tapes around the TV.

"Wait, where are the freshmen?" You look at him and he smiles sheepily.

"Yeah, they'll be here at six... Thought we could smoke some before they get here." You smile at him and put your bag down.

"Lead the way!" He grabs some lemonade for you both before leading you down the hallway to what looks to be his room.

"You can sit anywhere, I've gotta roll." He plays some music before sitting at his desk. You sit on his bed cross legged and look around to find his guitar.

"She's a beaute." He comes and sits across from you on the bed, blocking your view.

"Isn't she? That's my girl right there." You giggle as he starts the joint, taking a few puffs before passing it to you.

"You're something else, you know that?" His eyes bore into you as you exhale the hit.

"I'm definitely an acquired taste if that's what you mean." You reply, taking another hit and holding it in before passing it to him, a scrunch to his face at what you said.

"Dude whoever told you that is fucked. You're crazy cool." As the joint starts to die, you lie back on the bed, stretching your back.

"What time is it?" He glances at the clock before looking back at you with a smile.

"5:32, why?" You look up at him and giggle, picking yourself back up to look at him directly.

"Need wind down time, gotta mentally prepare for the onslaught of attention." He laughs and taps your knee for you to move over. After you scoot closer to the wall, he sits beside you and leans back against the wall.

“I’ve got some chips and snacks, but should we order pizza?” He looks at you and there’s something there you can’t quite distinguish.

“I don’t know, I mean the kids would have time to eat first but would they? Worst case scenario me and you eat the pizza.” He nods and goes to get up, stretching his back out.

“Feel free to get comfy, I’ll go make the call m’lady.” He bows before going into the living room. You slowly scoot lower on the bed to fully lay down, staring at the patterns you find in the popcorn ceiling. You hear some shuffling from the other rooms as you zone out, humming.

“Okay so the pizza will be here when everyone starts showing up.” He looks at you and smiles, your hair all sprawled out to frame your face and your practically curled into a ball.

“Do you need anything?” You look over to him and lightly shake your head.

“I’m great, is this a different strain?” He comes and takes his place next to you, laying down as well.

“Yeah, Rick got some new stuff. Do you like it?” You smile at him lazily.

“Yeah, definitely calms me down. I feel heavy.” You giggle before a yawn escapes you.

“Makes you dopey too.” He chuckles, tapping his fingers to the music. Suddenly, he hears a slight snore next to him. Turning towards you, he realizes you’ve fallen asleep. A smile on his face, he just lays back and enjoys the comfort.

You feel a poke to your cheek, trying to wipe away the intrusion.

“Bug, the kids are starting to get here.” You rub your eyes, stretching every limb out before sitting up slowly.

“Sorry I fell asleep.” He smiles and helps you stand up.

“It’s okay, come on. so far we've got Dustin and Mike." You smile at him and follow him out of the room.

"Hey boys, how's your Saturday?" The boys sitting on the couch whip their heads towards you.

"How long have you been here?" Mike's brows furrow while you sit on the couch with them. Eddie heads to the kitchen, setting out all the food and drinks on the table.

"Jesus good to see you too, this is why Dustin is the favorite." You flick his nose gently before rubbing your eyes.

"(Y/n), settle this debate because you have all the answers to the universe. can Gandalf win against a Mindflayer." Mike punches Dustin in the shoulder making the boy emit a small yelp.

"You know, I haven't read The Lord of The Rings or The Hobbit in like a decade I may need to do my research for that one. I want to say not without help but I'd have to fact check." You notice the pizza boxes on the table and get up, grabbing a slice with a paper towel and standing with Eddie.

"Damn, I was hoping for a definitive answer." You swallow a bite of food before looking at him teasingly.

"Language." He scoffs, rolling his eyes and slumping on the couch.

"I thought you were the cool Harrington?" Suddenly, there's a knock on the trailer door. You being closer, go to open it and see Lucas with a redhead girl that could only be Max.

"Oh sweet ya'll got here just in time!" You move over to let them in and Lucas leads the way.

"You must be the (Y/n) right? Badass hippie."

"Dustin I'm sorry honey but you may get replaced as the favorite if that's how Lucas describes me." You pat the basketball player on the back before he sits down on couch with the boys.

"Yeah I don't see where badass came from." She huffs, squeezing onto the couch.

"I like her." You whisper to Eddie, smile wide on your face.

"Have fun winning that one over, it took falling on my face to get her to break a smile in my direction." You giggle, clapping your hands.

"Okay who's ready to kick off the Halloween season with a scary movie?" As everyone says their peace, Eddie goes to put the VHS in before plopping himself on the floor in front of the couch. He had pulled the coffee table to the edge of the room with the help of Mike to make more room. You sit next to him, watching the intro to the tape.

By the time the movie was over, it was a little past 8:30. The kids were all shuffling up, yawns cascading through them.

"I better call Steve before he passes out." You pout before going to stand.

"If you wanna stay a little longer I can drive you home later." You smile down at him, nodding silently before slipping onto the now unoccupied couch. The kids, were surrounding the food table, picking at it quietly.

"That movie wasn't too much for ya'll right? You're awfully quiet." You ask, having Dustin turn to you almost to excited.

"We've been through scarier." Your brows furrow, confused on his phrasing. Been through? Like been through a scarier movie and not real life right?

"No one better be fucking with ya'll, say the word and I'll take care of it."

"I'm not sure what she means by take care of it but I second that." Eddie agrees, gesturing towards you.

"Okay mom and dad." Mike rolls his eyes, finishing his pizza slice.

"Hahaha no. Ya'll belong to Stevie, I'm just that cool aunt that randomly shows up with gifts and wisdom." You lay back on the couch, eyeing the ceiling.

"Randomly shows up yeah right. You showed up once and never left!" Dustin comes over, picking up your ankles before sitting where they were spread out. He pushes your legs down before you put them right on top of his lap.

"As if you want to get rid of me. I'm amazing." He sighs and you sit up slightly.

"Oh yeah, I'm just too great. I mean I play the ukulele, I would literally fight for anyone here and yes that includes you Max, I'm funny as hell, I keep all of ya'll entertained." You list off, dramatically gesturing with your hands.

"Wait, you play the ukulele?" Eddie, leans next your body on the couch from his spot on the floor.

"You didn't know that? I know that and I'm not the one with her every single day." Dustin quips, his eyes extremely focused on your ankle. The other three kids eventually finished eating, too exhausted to join the bickering.

"I think we're gonna head out." Lucas speaks up, grabbing his walkie.

"Yeah me too, mom is making us wake up early for family breakfast." Mike waves at everyone.

"Bye kids, I'll see ya'll Monday!" You call out, watching Eddie get up to usher the three out of the trailer.

"(Y/n) is this a tattoo?" Dustin looks at you, poking at the ink on your ankle. Eddie's ears perk at the question, closing the front door a little to quickly to come crouch in front of Dustin, eyeing where the young boy is talking about.

"One of them yes, I've got four." You shrug as the boys look at your ankle.

"Is that Toad from Mario?"

"Yepp" You sit up, leaning your back against the arm of the couch which pulls your feet out of Dustin's lap. Eddie lifts your ankles just like Dustin while slipping under them, keeping them on his lap.

"Where are the rest?" Dustin asks, sitting up to see your face better.

"One on my wrist, one on my upper ribcage, one on my hip." You show them the one on your wrist, a faded peace sign. It wasn't good quality, definitely a first try stick and poke. Then you lift your tank top just enough to reach the other, keeping it tight in place to prevent any slips. In dainty, cursive letters it read "Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?" across your side.

"The other one isn't easily accessible." You giggle, leaning back into your comfortable spot again.

After about an hour of just absolute nonsense conversations, Dustin starts yawning.

"Dustin how about I give you a ride home? We can tie your bike to the back of the van." The little man nods, standing up to stretch. Eddie gently taps your calf before gently getting up as well.

"Time to go, m'lady." You groan and slowly get up, grabbing your back and following them to the door.

[starseedfxofficial]

The Secret Sauce of ATR on the Daily Timeframe: How to Get the Edge Without the Heartburn Ever had that feeling when you stumble on a Forex trading strategy that just clicks? Like when you realize that the secret to those perfect pancakes is just a dash of buttermilk? Well, today, we're diving into something that could be your secret sauce in Forex: using the Average True Range (ATR) on the daily timeframe. And if you've never heard of ATR, trust me, you're about to discover why it could be that little-known ingredient to turn your trading from "meh" to Michelin-starred. But before we get all fancy, let's admit it—we've all been there. The Forex market can feel like a game of musical chairs, except instead of chairs, you're playing with your money, and the music is played by a DJ with commitment issues. You're jumping in and out of trades, unsure if you'll find a place to sit. It’s chaotic. But here's where the ATR comes into play. Imagine having a tool that could tell you, "Hey, today might not be the day to jump in," or "The market is grooving, grab that chair." Ready to turn that chaos into a more rhythm-filled dance? Buckle in. Why Most Traders Ignore the ATR (And Why That's a Good Thing for You) Most traders see ATR and think it’s just another boring metric in the endless sea of technical indicators. Heck, it's like seeing a kale salad at a buffet full of bacon-loaded nachos—easy to ignore. But what if I told you that this overlooked indicator is secretly the black belt in your trading dojo? The ATR measures volatility, not direction. Which, let's face it, is a fancy way of saying it can tell you how wild the market is. If you know how wild it is, you can decide whether you should be getting into that trade or sitting back like a seasoned cat by the fireplace. It's like driving a car: would you want to hit the gas pedal when it's raining (high volatility) or when it's smooth sailing (low volatility)? ATR tells you how slippery the road is. On the daily timeframe, this information is golden, as it helps you see the bigger picture—not just the potholes on a side street but the entire highway. The Forgotten Strategy: ATR's Role in Risk Management Alright, so you know that the ATR is good for showing volatility, but what about using it as a ninja-level risk management tool? Many traders, especially the enthusiastic ones (yes, I'm talking about you, the one who just Googled "quick ways to get rich Forex" last week), tend to forget that risk management is the real key to profitability. You might love high volatility, but what if it’s not mutual? High ATR readings on the daily timeframe tell you to play it safe. Here’s a juicy secret: Use ATR to set your stop-loss levels. Instead of randomly setting stops at round numbers (seriously, why is everyone obsessed with whole numbers?), you can use the ATR reading to give yourself breathing room. If ATR is at 100 pips, setting a 20-pip stop is like going hiking in sandals—not going to end well. Instead, give yourself a 1x to 1.5x ATR buffer so that your stop-loss isn't too tight. Think of it as trading insurance—just enough coverage to keep you safe without bleeding your account dry. How to Predict Market Moves with Precision (Hint: It’s All About Daily ATR) Let’s get even more strategic. If you're someone who stares at your screen waiting for "the right moment" to enter a trade, the daily ATR can be a lifesaver. Here’s the deal: when the ATR is low, it signals that the market is quiet. Kind of like the ocean before a big wave hits. When the ATR on the daily timeframe spikes, it’s often followed by a price movement. By tracking periods of low ATR, you can anticipate that a storm might be coming and position yourself accordingly. Does it always work? No. But neither does getting marriage advice from the guy at the gym. The point is that using ATR gives you a statistically-backed way to predict future price action without having to throw darts at a board or consulting your pet goldfish. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than winging it. How Not to Get Burned by Volatility: ATR in Position Sizing Now, let’s add another scoop of secret sauce to your trading: position sizing with ATR. Remember when you were a kid, and you tried to eat that extra-spicy pepper because you thought you could handle it? Yeah, you ended up crying and reaching for a gallon of milk. Trading can be like that if your position size is too large during a high ATR period. Here’s where a "smart" trading tool can help you with automated lot size calculations. Let’s say you’re trading a pair where the daily ATR reads at 120 pips. If you go in with a standard lot, and the market moves against you, it's going to sting—a lot. Instead, adjust your lot size based on the current ATR. High ATR? Reduce the position to minimize risk. Low ATR? Okay, you can add some spice, but don’t go crazy. If you want a little help, check out our Smart Trading Tool at StarseedFX Smart Trading Tool to make this whole process simpler. The Real Magic: Combining ATR with Other Indicators Here’s where we level up even further. ATR on its own is like peanut butter—it’s good, but combine it with jelly (or chocolate if you’re adventurous), and you’re in for a treat. Combine ATR with support and resistance levels, and suddenly, you’re not just guessing at volatility; you’re identifying real opportunities. For example, when the ATR is high, and you see price approaching a known resistance level, you can anticipate a reversal or at least some hesitation. The key is to use ATR as a filter to validate your strategy. If you're already looking for a short, high ATR tells you the market is in a hyper state, which means more explosive moves. This can either work for you or against you, so you need to handle that position size accordingly—remember the spicy pepper? Case Study: A Tale of Two Traders Let’s look at how two traders approached ATR. Trader A, whom we'll call Joe (because why not?), didn’t use ATR at all. He saw a big candle and thought, "this is it!" Joe ended up losing 30% of his account that week because he traded during a high ATR period without considering the increased volatility. It was like showing up to a skatepark without a helmet. Trader B, let’s call her Jane, understood ATR. She knew that during times of high volatility, she needed smaller positions and wider stops. Jane ended the week up 10%. She used the ATR to manage her risk like a pro, and her account thanked her. According to a study by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), most retail traders fail not because they pick the wrong direction but because they underestimate volatility. It’s not just about getting the right entry—it's about managing the chaos that comes afterward. The Underground Trend: Using ATR to Spot Fakeouts Here’s an underground secret that many traders overlook. Ever been caught in a fakeout? Yeah, it’s like thinking you’re waving at a friend, only to realize they’re waving at someone behind you. Embarrassing. ATR on the daily timeframe can help you spot fakeouts. When ATR is low, it often means the market is consolidating, and fakeouts are common during this time. Avoid falling for the trap by checking ATR levels before entering breakout trades. Instead, wait for ATR to show some life—some actual movement—and let the big players tip their hand. If you see a breakout and ATR is spiking, that’s a better confirmation that you’re not just entering a false move. It’s a little like waiting to see if the party's getting started before you jump on the dance floor. Don’t be that first guy in an empty room. Wrap-Up: Mastering the ATR Game on the Daily Timeframe Alright, so we’ve covered a lot of ground—ATR isn’t just some random salad topping; it’s the dressing that ties everything together. By using it on the daily timeframe, you can: - Set realistic stop-losses to manage risk effectively. - Predict when market movements are about to get interesting. - Adjust your position sizing to avoid that "spicy pepper" feeling. - Avoid fakeouts by understanding when the market is consolidating. If you’re ready to take your trading game to the next level, start incorporating ATR into your routine. It’s a small addition that can make a massive difference, just like adding that buttermilk to your pancakes. And if you want a bit more guidance on how to bring this all together, don’t forget to check out our free Forex courses or join our community at StarseedFX. We’re all about taking the guesswork out of trading, one strategy at a time. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[arcticdementor]

Nonsense. This all just proves how deeply you're still trapped in the populist delusion, "one of the most thoroughgoing of all delusions."

Obviously, both of these matter.

No, they obviously don't both matter. "Cash, respectability, a communication advantage" definitely matter, but "millions of Trump votes" is NOTHING! Votes do not matter:

Power is top-down. Democracy is an illusion. At best, one can say that this or that group of elites gets their friends elected. Power is never bottom-up, never comes as the result of a government-sanctioned street protest, a ratio, the fact you got 20,000 likes on Twitter, or because you ‘redpilled the normies’. When I wrote The Populist Delusion a couple of years ago, it was to teach these fundamentals of power. Many thousands of people read this book, but alas its lessons were not, in the end, internalised.

Reread this until it sinks in.

Winning the election moves Trump to a position of higher leverage within the system.

No, it doesn't. It moves him to a higher fictional position in the fake clown show for the smooth-brained rubes. It's like thinking Captain Kangaroo being promoted to Admiral Kangaroo would give him "higher leverage."

You'd think the Biden "presidency" would have demonstrated this. A rock could do the job of POTUS. It's all fake.

Let us call this theory of power, ‘The Twitter Anon Cope Theory of Power’. Under this theory, people in power – let us say Elon Musk, JD Vance and even Donald Trump himself – genuinely respond to concerns, hopes and dreams of nameless people and deviate from what they really want to do because said people counter-signalled them on the internet. But, also under this theory, such corrective counter-signalling is unnecessary most of the time because, you see, you should have faith that you have backed the right guys, ‘our guys’, when you voted for them. When ‘our guys’ win, so we win. That’s how it works. And we should all like winning. Martin majors in this second part of the equation, viewing himself not so much as a political analyst but as a kind of morale officer rallying and cajoling the faceless horde. What is important, for Martin, are not tangible results in this or that policy area, real results in the real world, but rather how people feel and how they express those feelings on social media. Martin, you see, is a kind of wizard, a transmuter to be specific, whose one magic spell is to take any situation no matter how dire, and how obvious a loss, and to try to spin it into a win. In Martin’s world, what happened this past week was not that the world’s richest man told most of the MAGA base to ‘go and F themselves’ because they disagreed with his preference for using H-1B Visas for foreign tech workers or that he started banning and deboosting his critics or that Donald Trump promptly came out and supported him. No, this story (read: what actually happened) is only believed by ‘losers’ and ‘blackpillers’. In Martin’s world, the story was that Elon Musk in the face of mass resistance from brave Twitter anons backed down, that the widely reported story about Trump backing him is fake news, and that those people who are now saying ‘look, we told you this six months ago, we told you this was coming’ are, in fact, enemies because they lack faith and resolve in the face of adversity. So to recap in plain English and without the cope: the MAGA base is going to get the exact opposite of what it wanted, but if you point this out, you’re the enemy, because reasons. This sort of magical thinking has become endemic on the online and especially American right over the past year.

…

As I’ve pointed out countless times, there is no trade off. How it works is as follows: a big donor, whether Zionist, Tech Bro, or any other stripe, gives resources and in exchange they get what they want. You, dear voter, like the kids in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, GET NOTHING, YOU LOSE, GOOD DAY SIR. The costs to Trump of not going along with H-1B Visas or uncritical and blind Israel support is billions of dollars and institutional support. The cost to Trump of betraying the voters? None. ‘This time it will be different, get in the crystal’, they will cry. To which I can only say, ‘do not be silly, no it won’t be.’

…

Even now I see people who should know better, people who basically never learn, busily double-thinking themselves into enthusiasm about a confirmed charlatan, and snake oil salesman, Nigel Farage. His recent social media run-ins with Kemi Badenoch are tired, fake, boring, and should have all the fanfare of one of those Netflix series that are pulled mid-season. Yet there they are seal-clapping in delight like seven-year olds watching pro-wrestling. It is hard to tell if the excitement is genuine or feigned, but this past year I’ve moved rapidly to the conclusion that, yes, people are that stupid, and, no, they will never learn. I have seen enough news cycles come and go to know that ultimately people cannot ‘come good’. The same people who fell for it last time and this time, will fall for it next time too.

Elon Musk can tell Trump voters to go F* themselves because he matters and they don't. There are no real populist moments, no real peasant revolts. The masses do not move elites, they are only ever moved by them.

What will it take to get you to understand that votes don't matter, and democracy is fake?

Great Men Surf the Tides of History

Does the fate of humanity rest in the hands of great men? Or are there only the inevitable tides of history?

thesis: great man antithesis: tides of history synthesis: great man surfing the tides of history

– our own TracingWoodgrains, 𝕏, 2023

From far away in the sky, a pyramid is a gigantic formation, yet from up close on the ground, a pyramid is made of many slabs.

[ @arcticdementor ]

Musk matters. The millions of "MAGA" voters? Don't matter at all, and never will.

The foundation of what is large is what is small. What is an elite? In a political system, an elite is someone who is in a high position of leverage. Leverage is produced using a formation. Formations are not unified wholes; they are composed of smaller parts, and generate force through synchronized actions.

The work of management is to reduce the context of a production problem until it can be divided into jobs that can be done by labor. The work of labor is to reduce the context of a production problem until it can be done by capital.

The nature of the world is that it is thick and high-dimensionality, while the nature of models is that they are thin and low-dimensionality. Everywhere in the world, there is the friction of time, space, and information. A production problem is divided due to limits based on time, space, and information.

When a production problem is handled by one person, it is subject to one agency. It is in tight synchronization. When a production problem is divided among multiple people, it is subject to multiple agencies. It is in loose synchronization.

Due to the loose coupling of a formation composed of multiple people, as well as limits on obtaining and processing information, leverage is not fully consolidated in a single executive. Rather, there exist nodes of intermediate leverage, positions within system with greater power than an outsider, but less power than the person at the top.

Obviously, power isn't best thought of as binary. It also isn't best thought of as a simple scalar, although that's better than thinking it as a simple binary. In terms of simple models, power is best thought of as an edge in a weighted directed graph, an arrow from one person to another with a number attached. I may control the HOA and have the ability to set the color your house is allowed to be. You may own the neighboring fitness gym and control what hours I can access the pool. We each have a power relationship with each other. Which one of us is "more powerful"? That depends on conditions.

"There exist only elites and nothings" is an overcompression of the power graph. There are gradations of power. There are directions of power. Officers. Intellectuals. Journalists. People at different positions within the system, with different levels of talent, which allow them to exercise influence in different ways.

In a market, consumers having demand for a product does not cause that product to automatically come into existence. Instead, it creates an incentive for an entrepreneur to come by, assemble a company or team (a formation), and create that product. If no entrepreneur comes by to create the product, then the product is not created, and if no product is created, then consumers cannot obtain it.

Consumers exercise a low amount of agency in this process, though not zero. Demand is generally diffuse. Many people take a small action (evaluating and buying the product). Production is concentrated. A small number of people take much longer or more intense actions.

War is a form of cooperative competition which destroys factories and tramples fields. It shatters weaker structures by killing the men who compose them.

Capitalism is a form of cooperative competition that builds factories and plants fields. Men work hard and fight together to produce loaves of bread, companies are destroyed, and to a first approximation, no one dies.

Under democracy, men put together formations and compete. What are voters in this system if not the territory over which they fight?

Which matters, Elon Musk, or millions of Trump voters?

Elon Musk provides cash, respectability (to some elites, intermediate officers, or factions), and a communication advantage in the cyberspace layer.

Millions of Trump voters provide millions of Trump votes.

Obviously, both of these matter. Winning the election moves Trump to a position of higher leverage within the system. This provides more power to his political coalition.

What will he do with it? I think he wants to surf the tides of history. On January 20th, he will be back on the beach, and once again dive into the water. He may wipe out and tumble in the waves.

[a-bucket-of-trash]

Wash the dog- Kelvin x Neutral Reader – One Shot

Prompt: Dirty Kelvin need a shower and a gently pat in the head to become a good brave dog.

Tags: Fluffy, nothing too spicy

Almost a month had passed since the helicopter where you were going, together with the rest of your rescue team, had fallen in the middle of the forest of that island infested with cannibals, and each time it became easier for you to accept that you two, the only survivors, may never be rescued. Although you had the slight hope that some new team would arrive. Lost millionaire entrepreneurs, a lost elite team. If someone high up on the base knew how dangerous this place was, they would prepare another rescue mission, but that could take indefinite time. Weeks, months, years or maybe never.

At the moment, you were too busy surviving, gathering resources, exterminating hostiles, keeping Kelvin out of harm's way, so you shook your head, finishing collecting river water in your canteen, looking at your companion, standing next to you, checking the surroundings with his eyes, studying the shadows between ferns and branches.

"Legolas, you look like a meerkat..." You said, to yourself, knowing that he couldn't hear anything, not yet.

There was something that bothered you, and that is that you both stank, you smelled like hell, a mixture of dried blood, own and foreigner, dirt, sweat, mud, mutant entrails and a few other things. The understandable thing being that you had not even taken off your clothes once since you had arrived, and the little water you had touched was by chance, whether it was rain, crossing a river or going into the sea to gather sea turtles.

"Damn" You thought "I should spend some time today to either of us to take a bath... It's starting to get gross, at this point the cannibals must find us by smell... And I don't think it's healthy... If they hurt us, it's going to infect… I'm worried that Kelvin won't let me know if he's feeling bad, I have to focus on him…” You sighed.

You straightened up, moving closer to him, watching his brown eyes now fix on you, as if waiting for something. You guys were already starting to make an internal code of basic signals, but nothing advanced enough to tell him that, so you wrote on the notepad and handed it over to him. He read quickly. “Optimal temperature. Bathe. You stink"

Kelvin looked at you quickly, a slight blush on his cheeks, pointing at himself.

"Yes, you" You nodded, pointing at him, and then made your "I watch" sign.

You saw him nod and look at the river, before he began to take off his gloves and vest, with a certain parsimony full of doubts.

Eventually he was sitting in the river, naked, waist deep in the water, slowly washing himself, his eyes still scanning the surroundings. He was too used to his watchdog role to let down his guard, especially in this situation.

You had not stayed still. Taking advantage of the fact that a few days ago you had found some metal buckets in good condition, you filled a couple with water and left them to heat on the fire and, once they were hot enough, you took them to where he was. You took a relatively clean rag, soaked it in hot water and placed it over his head, making Kelvin jump for a moment, mostly at the thought that he was naked and you were behind him.

You noticed that tension, but he seemed to relax a bit when, with another warm cloth, you helped him wash his neck and back. It wasn't that you thought he couldn't bathe himself, you just wanted to make sure he wasn't hurt, and give him a hand with that.

Although that also made you realize that the soldier had the expected physical condition of someone who, for 30 days, spent half the day chopping wood with an ax and the other half lifting logs that easily weighed twice as much as himself. He had musculature hidden beneath the layers of military clothing, especially noticeable now, in his broad arms, well-rounded back, and firm pecs. You swallowed involuntarily as you acknowledged the fact that Kelvin was physically attractive, not just his face.

You denied to yourself. It was an island infested with horrors and he was not in total control of his faculties, it was not the place or the moment to contemplate that man or to think about his physical attractions.

Although seeing his muscles made you think about the fact that they probably hurt. You were in a lot of pain at the end of the day, so you figured that he, who physically seemed to push himself even harder, would have his muscles cramped and sore all day long, despite the fact that he almost never used the “pain” sign. From time to time you had seen him rub his arms or his neck, silently and secretly.

You re-dunked the cloths with hot water, resting them on his shoulders, hoping the heat would help with muscle fatigue and instinctively massaged his neck. That's when he took a long sigh of relief and you felt him drop his guard, dangle his arms, really relax, maybe for the first time in a month.

And for a while you just stood there firmly massaging his back, shoulders, neck and arms, half attentive to him, half attentive to any danger, leaving warm cloths on his skin, trying a little to ignore his growling and moaning in quite audible ways every time you squeezed his muscles. He couldn't hear himself, but you could, and that had made your emotions worse.

Eventually you finished your help, pouring the still warm water slowly over his head, listening to him give a gratifying sigh. You gently patted his head, watching him turn slightly to you, smiling and with grateful eyes. You gave him a thumbs up, before taking all his dirty laundry and hauling it back to the base. Later you would wash all of that.

There were too many things on your mind to realize that you hadn't brought him clean clothes or anything to dry off. You only realized it when, a while later, he was standing next to you, naked and still dripping with water, which made you jump out of your seat.

"My God, Kelvin" you exclaimed to yourself, to bring him a large dry cloth, while trying to avoid looking at him. The airhead of him was wiping his face first, not even turning a bit, so your eyes instinctively registered everything possibly recordable. He didn't even move from his place, he stayed by your side, as God had brought him into the world, watching you find clean clothes for him.

Evidently the shower, the warm cloths and the massages had helped him more than he could express, but it was obvious to the eye. Kelvin looked like he had gained extra strength and speed, and even he seemed to sleep like a baby through the night.

The next day, you went to check another part of the island, with him following close behind, in his clean military clothes. Cannibals everywhere, the usual. At the end there were a couple still alive, on the ground. You were finishing killing one, when you saw Kelvin take his own ax and cut off the other's head, as if the neck were a twig, killing him.

You stood still, looking at him, somewhat shocked. It was the first time he had actively participated in killing a cannibal. And you even remembered that, during the fight, he hadn't cowered, or fled like he used to, but rather he had moved like bait, pushing some aside so you could fight with fewer enemies, under better conditions.

The deaf soldier looked at you and made a heart with his hands, smiling. The one that days ago seemed like a scared puppy, now looked like a fighting dog. Something had emboldened him, and you didn't know what. You didn't know that for Kelvin, getting off the island was no longer his priority. You didn't know that his priority now, was you.

[stinkysam]

Peter Parker - There’s no happy ending possible

Warning : none

Genre : Angst

Synopsis : the typical in love with my best friend trope

Reader : male (he/him)

Each time he enters the Daily Bugle he looks around hoping you’re here, smiling and waving at you when you notice him. He's absolutely beaming when you walk to him to chat a little. Sparing you one last glance as he leaves, debating whether to ask you to hang out later or not.

Though he knows very well he's still going to shoot you a text before he can even reach home. He is smitten with you and is painfully aware of it, yet he refuses to act on them.

Some days he wonders how you haven’t found out about his feelings already, but then he thinks about the contradicting signals he gives you all the time. He can easily guess you’re wondering if it’s his personality or if he’s into guys. His flirting sounds meaningless. Sometimes. And then not. But then yes. And not anymore. Just overall confused about what he’s trying to achieve.

If you knew, you could make it easier. Or worse. Whether you reciprocate his feelings or not, he knows a part of him would hate it. He wants you to love him back but it means he’d have to lie to you about why he’s late or bruised or straight up absent and he refuses to have you constantly waiting for him, if you ever know he’s Spiderman, you could become a target and it would put your life in danger. He wants you to reject him so he can actively try to move on, but he’s not sure if he would be able to.

So instead he greedily takes anything you give him ; when you send him a text to know if he’s free later, when you excitedly push him around to make him walk faster, when your legs touch as you sit on the bench next to him, when you grab his wrist to make sure he evenly share the food.

He doesn't want you to hurt you in any way shape or form and he really cringes at the knowledge he's doing with you what he did to Gwen. Unable to make up his mind, hesitating between being with you or letting you go. He wants to stop, to free himself from that spiral but he always ends up going back to you, craving your attention and touch, making his head spin and his heart flutter so addictively.

Even though you hang out quite often, he makes sure to let you live your life so he can try to detach himself from you. Trying selfishness in check, especially after realizing he wasn't "just being a good friend" but getting dangerously too close and interfering with your love life. He wants you to be happy, just not with him.

It’s quite a struggle to not act on his feelings, to just stand there and do nothing about it, watching as you grow closer to other people, letting you walk away from him. Having to look happy as you present him your partner, forcing himself to smile and look as normal as possible to not ruin everything. To not blurt out his feelings for you each time you meet.

At times he feels like his loneliness is eating him up and he goes to his aunt May ; her hugs are always so soft and gentle despite her tight embrace. But no matter the amount of affection he gets from other people, it doesn’t ease things, it just makes them go away for a little bit before flooding him again.

He just wishes he could do better. As Spiderman and as Peter Parker. Maybe he would’ve been able to save everyone and to have you for boyfriend if he had been better.

[doctorgerth]

In the Mood

Part One | Part Two

a/n: I had two ppl request more characters for this and I couldn’t resist 🤧 also added some personal favs; why is Denjiro’s so soft plz help me I love that man

featuring: Mihawk, Shanks, Benn, Doflamingo, Rosinante, Crocodile, Smoker, Denjiro, Luffy, Usopp + gn!reader

summary: signs that the guys are in the mood to schedule you a dick appointment 🍆

warnings: NSFW; more horny men

MIHAWK ➠ His voice softens; speech suddenly slow and sensual. His ravenous gaze paired with his sultry tone easily reveals his desire for you. The cherry on top? Bits of Spanish slips off his tongue, especially endearing names that he only calls you on special occasions. He might even pull you close and whisper in your ear exactly what he wants to do to you. In Spanish of course, because he can’t help but to laugh and be even more turned on by your dumbfounded expression and how urgently you’re pulling him to the bedroom, begging for your next Spanish lesson. No matter how fluent you may be.

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SHANKS ➠ He’s usually easy to read when he’s in the mood because he’s pretty much always dtf. Shanks utilizes all the normal signs like being (extra) handsy or looking at you a certain way, but the biggest giveaway is when he gets super flirty and starts dishing out suggestive jokes/pickup lines. The key is to get you thinking about sex with him, and when his hands are all over you, eyes lingering on your lips, his own curved mischievously like that, it’s hard not to think about boning that man. Also definitely does the eyebrow wiggle, because he’s a big dork. A big horny dork. 

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BENN ➠ Opposite of his captain, Benn takes a more subtle approach when letting you know he’s in the mood. Aside from whispering his desires into your ear, he likes to spontaneously give you a massage. It’s sweet; a domestic exchange that hardly ever raises suspicion from those around you. But what they don’t notice is when those sinful hands ghost over sensitive areas, letting you know there’s some other places he has in mind to give special attention to. Benn is secretly a tease, and you squirming under his affections only makes him want you more. 

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DOFLAMINGO ➠ Puts that long, sinful tongue to work. Whether he’s licking your neck, the shell of your ear, or even his own lips, you can tell he’s horny by the tongue wag. He’s shameless in the way he states his lustful thoughts, no matter if you two are alone or are around others. Also does not shy away from simply showing you. Man spreads like a slut to put his hard-on on display for you, brows cocked with a devilish grin on his face that challenges you to do something about it. Will pull you into his lap or pin you against the wall and grind himself against you, just so you can feel what you do to him. 

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ROSINANTE ➠ Unlike his demon brother, sweet Rosi gets a little embarrassed when he’s particularly needy for you. Will suddenly pull you close and bury his face in your neck in what seems to be an adorable attempt to hide his embarrassment. At first it’s really cute and innocent, but when he starts kissing all your sweet spots, teeth and tongue grazing your soft skin, and muttering weak whimpers of your name, then you know his true intentions. Will use his powers to his advantage if he verbalizes his desires, just to be sure no one overhears his rather explicit declarations of how badly he wants you. 

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CROCODILE ➠ He is noticeably, and purposefully, not smoking around you. Thus, his hands and lips get a bit restless. Smoking is good stress relief, and when he’s without, well, he has to put his lips on something to keep him occupied. Because when he’s in the mood, he’d much rather have you between his teeth. He also gets really teasey as he will push your buttons until you’re at your limit and he challenges you with a suggestive, “Make me” or “Well, what are you gonna do about it?” The man is manipulative, but sometimes in the best ways. 

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SMOKER ➠ His gaze lingers. When in the mood, he’s at war with his mind as he tries to think of anything else other than taking you right then against the nearest surface. It’s far too evident in the way he stares at you intensely, hardly listening to your words as he’s fixated on the way your lips move, mind clouded with images of you putting those lips to work in intimate ways. Smoker’s eye contact is usually pretty intense, but the way it lingers on your exposed skin, pointed gaze like a compass needle aiming right at the areas of you he wants to give his full attention to, has you ready to bend over his desk for him.

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DENJIRO ➠ Denjiro is known for staying composed, easily suppressing his true thoughts on any matter and putting on a poker face. When it comes to you, however, he doesn’t hold back. Whether he chooses not to or just physically can’t is still undeclared, but when he wants you, boy does he show it. Literally cannot keep his hands off of you as they roam your figure, tugging at your clothes, playing with your hair, fingers toying with your lips - he stares at you dreamily and gets a little pouty as he begs for your touch, lips desperately chasing yours like kissing you for the first time all over again.

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LUFFY ➠ For this captain, it’s all in the way he kisses you. Luffy’s kisses are typically soft - loving pecks to your cheek or forehead here and there and playful kisses with wide smiles between them. Even when alone, he keeps his lips on yours in heavenly motions, taking his time in moving with you, exploring you. But when that slick muscle slips past your teeth, and there’s a sudden urgency in the way his lips move against yours, he doesn’t have to verbalize how much he wants you. You can practically taste it.

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USOPP ➠ Gets super flustered. A blushing, stuttering mess who can’t even look at you because he might pop a boner right in front of everyone. You two have had to develop secret signals for when he needs a little assistance, because he’s sure as hell not going to come up and tell or show you that he is horny when you two are around others. But if you’re already alone, he is a little braver as his strong hands embrace your figure and he whispers something sweet such as an “I need you” then pulls you close to him for a searing kiss.

If you enjoyed this, please be sure to leave a like, comment, and/or reblog. 🌸

[sun-undone]

OBX details that make me feral (6/?)

How JJ's true character slowly starts to reveal itself in the first few episodes

In 1x01, JJ is immediately established as the goofy, impulsive but well-meaning comic relief character both by John B's narration about him and through his actions in the first half of the pilot.

Based off of his excitement over the gun and trigger-happy attitude at the kegger, I think it's fair to say that he's likely not gonna be people's favorite character right off the bat. He's definitely the kind of person to act first, think later, and that could turn a lot of viewers off of his character at first because he's just too unpredictable for seemingly no reason.

However, we do get our first hint of something more when he has his “we got nothing to lose” speech, which shows some real desperation as he alludes to how he and John B, unlike Kie and Pope, truly have no one else in their lives who give a shit about them. The two of them are the least likely to ever actually make it out of the Cut, and alongside his frustration, there’s a vulnerability behind JJ’s words during that conversation that signals towards something deeper in his character. He feels like a real, multifaceted person for the first time in this moment, not just the crazy comic relief archetype.

(I think Rudy had said in an interview that this was the scene that he auditioned with, and that JD had helped him find the emotion behind this moment, so everyone say thank you JD for helping to create this nuanced brilliance)

Moving onward from this point, there are some other, small hints towards JJ's home situation in the rest of 1x01 and 1x02, like when he mentions how his dad made cargo hides for smugglers, did some of his own smuggling back in the day, and that the creepy guys who chased the Pogues through the marsh remind him of some of his dad's friends.

But in 1x03, we get our first real "oh shit" moment about JJ, and the way that it's done is just so fucking good.

JJ tells the security guard at the salvage yard that Luke had forced him to break in to get his cutting torch back after getting fired, threatening to hit JJ again if he didn’t do it. And based on how JJ has been characterized thus far as highly charismatic, resourceful, and quick on his feet, it is fair to assume that he’s completely making this up and is just a really good liar. But what’s so great about this moment is that while it is actually rooted in a very vulnerable and truthful reality, there is still too much that we don’t know about JJ’s home life to really know for sure what’s true.

We’re meant to kind of flip-flop between thinking that JJ is just putting on a show (because he’s been firmly characterized as "the funny one"), to questioning if maybe there’s actually some truth to his story (based on the fact that he tears up), and then back to thinking that it was all an act (since he smiles and wipes his tears once his back is turned to the guard).

So through this moment, we peel back another layer of JJ’s character, but it still leaves a lot of mystery left to uncover because it’s incredibly unclear what’s true and what’s just JJ being quick on his feet. This is the first time that the idea of abuse is explicitly tied to JJ’s character, and whether the audience thinks he is lying or not, that seed is still planted. After watching this moment, it's only natural to start looking deeper into everything that JJ says, especially when it seems like he's joking, because you feel like you can't really trust his surface-level characterization anymore. And the entire theme of JJ being a good liar that persists throughout the entire series gives me chills for this very reason. Fucking poetic cinema it’s so good.

Some smaller hints towards JJ’s home life are also dispersed throughout this episode, with the audience’s first look of Luke at Barry’s (before we even know that it’s Luke), JJ saying that Luke had gotten fired from the salvage yard for showing up shitfaced, and even JJ scrambling to make a sandwich with moldy bread, which on a rewatch is much less funny and much more depressing (like many things involving JJ). There's other elements to how JJ's story is revealed that I'm gonna talk about in later posts, but god I love this scene so much so it needed its own post.

I just adore how JJ is clearly introduced to us as one thing and then the rug is totally pulled out from under us, revealing that there is definitely more going on with him than we were first told about. It gives his character such an interesting dynamic with the audience right off the bat, and although all of the Pogues are complex and multifaceted, there isn't a slow unfolding of their characters like there is with JJ. I might just be projecting here, but I think that a lot of people connect to his character partially because of how the writing allows your perspective about him to shift as you put more and more pieces together with each passing episode.

The "more than meets the eye/tragic backstory" archetype is just so superior in every way, and this is a great example of how it can work so well to build a compelling character.

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