#features of GC sheets

[tatashaktee]

GC Sheets are the Best Choice for Winter Construction Projects – Here’s Why

Can GC sheets hold up to harsh weather conditions during winter on construction sites? Read to know more.

Visit at: https://tatashaktee.com/blog/gc-sheets-are-the-best-choice-for-winter-construction-projects-heres-why/

[selfishdoll]

NURSE! KENJAKU ⁺ 𓂋 𓈒 you wouldn’t want the whole hospital to hear what a slut you are, now would you?

CONTENT WARNING ── 𖦷 short ass drabble | porn no plot | ooc kenjaku | fem! kenjaku | mean dom! kenjaku | pussy slapping | this is just kenjaku toying with reader’s body. all consensual though, i don’t write that kinda stuff.

AUTHOR’S NOTE ── 𖦷 i was literally in the middle of mulling over my eren fic when nurse kenjaku fanart was posted in the gc. so thanks guys <33 the fact is i don’t even like kenjaku fr, but uh.. nurse him is hot asf i can’t deny. trust nurse kenjaku (and only nurse kenjaku) will be written for again. also jjk spoilers ig?? and as always this unedited so please excuse typos

Your fingers gripped the sheets underneath you, legs spread open whilst heavy pants escaped you. The gloved hand moved diligently in and out of you, thumb caressing your swollen little bud all while an arm was strewn across your shoulders— gripping one.

Your legs began to close as your orgasm approached, gasping the moment the fingers were removed to instead land an open-palm hit to your messy cunt. “F—fuck!” You cried out, arousal leaking and dripping underneath you.

“I gave you two instructions.” Her honeyed tone was delivered right in your ear, lips glossed with red threatening to taint the shell of it. “To stay quiet and keep your legs open.. I’m so disappointed, you couldn’t do either.”

“I—I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” You whined out, head slacking the moment the beautiful nurse slapped your pussy again— your clit swelling from the attention.

Her arm slid from around your shoulders to collect your chin, lifting your face to glance at you. Her dark eyes took in your features disgust and amusement revolving in her eyes whilst her lip quirked just a bit.

“Such a disgusting thing.. making such a mess on this clean hospital bed.” Her thumb pushed between your lips before you could even think of apologizing, pressing against your tongue to watch you whine. The nurse leaned closer whilst her wet, gloved hand caressed the inside of your thigh. “I’ll give you one last chance..” She whispered, breath fanning across your face as her hand hovered above your wet slit; delicately spreading your folds.

“You won’t disappoint me again, right? You’ll be a good slut for me and keep your legs open and your mouth shut?” Her thumb slipped from your lips in a soft pop, eyebrows lifting in search of a response.

Like some idiotic bobble head your head was shaking faster than it should have, legs widening as you bit the bottom of your lip.

The nurse grinned at you, thumb moving back to your abused clit;

“Good. Good girl.”

REBLOGS & COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED <3

[wings-of-ink]

Can I please have more info about papa and daddy!? There so lovely😭

Like a reference sheet to go for there looks cause I need to see them drawn🫠

Hey Nony! I can help with that a bit.

Most of the info about MC's parents should be located with the tag "#gc if parents." The downside is that they aren't exactly organized. The pinned post has a basic description as well for each.

I would also recommend their Pinterest boards to you!

One for Da (Kip). And one for Papa (Dov). There you can see a bit of the esthetic. About the best I can do for you until I can get some official art commissioned. Each board has a close-up photo of an eye which is an example of their skin and eye colors. If you find other pins featuring people, it's generally for something like hair color/style or just an overall "look." There are some pins for clothing and professions as well.

See if these help sate your need, and if you would like any other specifics or have more questions, drop me another Ask. ^_^

Here's a couple asks that you might like to jump to for funsies:

https://www.tumblr.com/wings-of-ink/744979884913360896/do-you-have-any-non-spoilery-facts-you-can-share?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/wings-of-ink/745398907168751616/if-we-had-to-base-the-ros-and-dads-off-of?source=share

[grzybjek]

for some reason i cant answer this ask directly BUT thank u user @honestlytastygayasstrash for the ask now get ready for the longest post ill ever write. I fucking love talking about my characters.

here they are. my scrimblos. :

Antek, token cis white man of the group: -ISFJ, he/him, age is around 18, listens to ABBA, Queen, Modern Talking, Manaam, Obywatel GC, Lady Pank and Depeche Mode.

(i think i wrote it on his ref sheet but he got his scar by simply tripping over a cupboard as a child. He doesnt tell anyone about this though and always comes up with different stories about how he got the scar. So some people think he got it by winning a bear fight or fighting a drunk old man)

-he is a fucking menace. and i mean it. most insane man on earth that always tries to grab others attention in the most dangerous and stupid ways imaginable. Also uses alcohol as his weapon to look and act more cool and always fails miserably. Hes also very noncommittal and always switches out the people that he talks to after a week, simply because he doesnt feel comfortable with anyone. But he still loves getting attention from others so he keeps getting into these relationships just to drop them later. Theres something different about Bianka and Gabriel though and thats why theyre friends. and I think his pinterest board explains his personality better than i ever will

and some fun facts! hes surprisingly good at cooking and is the only one in the group that knows how to drive a car.

if it comes to Bianka shes my favorite goth woman ever. Here is some info about her: -ENTJ, she/them, is around 17, listens to Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Myslovitz, Republika, Depeche Mode and The Cure.

-Obviously shes recognized mostly for her gothic makeup which I absolutely love drawing. And shes goth herself, and is even in a gothic punk band! The band members include her, as the bassist, Helena as the singer, Janek as the drummer and Antek used to play the keyboard before they kicked him out.

And this is how I imagine them:-) just two alt girls and just some guy. Love them

-Bianka is the most confident out of everyone in the group, even Antek who's all over the place. She knows when to stop talking unlike him though. However her being confident doesnt mean she likes being in the spotlight, in fact, she absolutely hates it. She hates that everyone is always listening to her and whenever she walks in the room all eyes are on her. So most of the times she just wants to hide and spends time in her little circle of friends, but if theres an emergency then shes the first one to intervene. She also has a very weird moral compass just like Helena so theyre best friends, obviously.

Literally her. A fun fact about her is that she has like four Siouxsie and the Banshees posters in her room and owns a golden retriver which I didnt name yet.

oh and i forgot to mention but Bianka has Chinese ancestors and has a lot of chinese facial features that I always fail to draw because I focus on her makeup too much.

The last one is Gabriel, miserable ginger guy whos also the main character of the plot and yet i know so little about him. Im still figuring out his personality honestly. Anyhow:

-ISFP, he/him, age 17, listens to Tame Impala, Gorillaz, The Strokes, MGMT, David Bowie, Dolly Parton and Depeche Mode. All three of them are Depeche Mode fans.

-As I mentioned I know very little about him. But I think hes more of watcher of the world around him than a member of it. He's mostly quiet because he cant figure out when its the best time to speak, unfortunately that also means he keeps his best jokes to himself. Hes also mostly dissociated from the world and tries to be an active member of it so bad that he always ends up doing stupid things or hurting himself in the process. I think its just safe to say hes still figuring out his place in the world, and because the world around him confuses him so much he holds onto safe memories most of the time. Thats why hes a photographer and likes catching all of the important moments of life on camera, its like a comforting feeling for him. Hes also very irrational and a people pleaser but i blame it on his undiagnosed AuDHD honestly.

questionable pinterest board explains his personality well too

-as hes the narrator of the story, its very important to mention hes a queer character. I avoided talking about the queernes of others characters on purpose, since its an important part of their story that i dont want to share yet but without any context ill just say that Gabriel is a trans man and bisexual!

as for fun facts he owns a cat named Felek, really likes green olives and lives with his grandparents. Antek also taught him how to drive a car but he never put that info in use.

AND HERE COMES MY FAVORITE PART!!!! ILL EXPLAIN THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN THEM ALL!!!

starting with Gabriel and Nastka, whom I didnt mention in this post as shes just a side character, its important to know that these two are childhood friends. Theyre not that close anymore, their relationship disappeared as time went on, but they both keep each other in their memories and think about each other a lot. They both nicknamed each other after Dead Poets Society characters too, so Nastka never calls Gabriel by his name, but Todd. Theyre also neighbours and share a balcony. Sometimes they meet there as theyre hanging up clothes to dry and just exchange smiles.

The relationship between Gabriel and Antek is more complicated. They met on a party once and never got to know each other better, but couldnt stop thinking about each other. Gabriel just knows about Antek from Bianka's stories and vice versa, and whenever they meet everyone thinks theyre best friends because of how well they can get along without even knowing a thing about themselves. They always end up dancing together on parties, going on walks at night and talking about their favorite books somewhere in the corner, having deep conversations about their views of life but they never ask each other personal questions and if you ask one of them to say whats their favorite color, they wouldnt know. I like to think the universe never gave them a chance to know each other better because if it did theyd be too powerful together. Maybe if they got to know each other better theyd be more than friends.

Bianka and Anteks relationship is pretty similar to the relationship between Gabriel and Nastka. Theyre also childhood best friends and first met each other in the counselors office in 6th grade as Bianka tried to beat someone up for being mean to Antek, a guy she didnt even know yet. She just needed an excuse to get in a fight with some boys that she didnt like and somehow made a best friend ten minutes later. Since then theyve been on and off, sometimes splitting up for months at a time and going back to each other to spill everything theyve learned while they were away. They always find support in each other even if they cant understand each other that well and are total opposites. Somehow Bianka always finds a way to cheer up Antek, even if shes the one to make him feel bad in the first place.

Antek was the first one to suggest they should make a band, and they tried several times until they ended up with Helena and Janek which I previously mentioned.

And the last one, Bianka and Gabriels dynamic..... its very cute actually. Bianka is the first person to show Gabriel the world around him and introduce him to new possibilities. She showed him goth dance moves and helped him find his taste in music. They met in high school as they sat together in math class and if not Bianka being confident and immediately accepting Gabriel as her friend, hed never speak to her. He probably still thinks shes too cool for him, but is very happy to have her as a friend anyway even if he feels belittled by her sometimes. Feeling belittled is why Gabriel usually doesnt speak to her first and waits until she does it first. They often do sleepovers where they watch all of their favorite movies for the tenth time.

Also they all have friendship bracelets. All three of them.

I dont know what else I could talk about so i think thats all!! Thats still such a long post I hope someone actually reads it. Thank you for asking about them I had so much fun writing this<3

I also purposefully avoided talking about the plot of Migawka because I want to keep it a secret. I really want to write a book or a comic one day with all three of the characters and so I wanna keep the plot to myself until I finish writing.

anyhow, heres migawkas pinterest board.

https://pin.it/7tFnFoH

[jindalindia]

Shining Shields: The Resilient World of GC Sheets

In the realm of construction materials, GC sheets, or Galvanized Corrugated sheets, emerge as stalwart protectors, combining strength with a distinctive aesthetic appeal. Let's explore the unique attributes that make GC sheets a resilient choice in the dynamic landscape of modern architecture.

Corrugation Chronicles: Understanding the Essence of GC Sheets

At the core of GC sheets lies the art of corrugation. The sheets undergo a meticulous process that involves shaping them into a series of parallel ridges and grooves. This corrugated design not only enhances the structural integrity of the sheets but also provides an efficient channel for water runoff, making GC sheets an ideal choice for roofing applications.

The Armor of Galvanization: GC Sheets' Defense Against Corrosion

GC sheets are fortified with a protective layer of zinc through the galvanization process. This armor of zinc shields the sheets from corrosion, ensuring they withstand the challenges posed by harsh weather conditions. The combination of corrugation and galvanization makes GC sheets formidable guardians of structures, especially in roofing and cladding.

Versatility Unleashed: GC Sheets in Varied Applications

One of the notable features of GC sheets is their adaptability to diverse applications. From agricultural structures and industrial warehouses to residential roofing, these sheets seamlessly integrate into different construction scenarios. The versatility of GC sheets extends beyond their functional aspects, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal of the structures they adorn.

Aesthetic Waves: GC Sheets as Architectural Elements

GC sheets not only offer protective functionality but also add a touch of architectural flair to structures. The distinctive corrugated pattern creates a visual rhythm that enhances the overall aesthetics of buildings. Architects often leverage the unique texture of GC sheets to bring character and visual interest to their designs.

Weathering the Elements: GC Sheets' Endurance in Adverse Conditions

The corrugated design, combined with galvanization, makes GC sheets resilient against the elements. Whether facing heavy rainfall, intense sunlight, or other environmental challenges, these sheets stand firm. Their ability to endure adverse conditions positions GC sheets as reliable choices for roofing, providing long-lasting protection to structures.

GC sheets are not just roofing materials; they are shining shields that blend functionality with visual appeal. As construction practices evolve, GC sheets remain an enduring choice, embodying strength, versatility, and a distinctive aesthetic that adds character to the ever-changing landscape of modern architecture.

[qqdahao]

How To Shop For Kids’ Glasses Online

Summer is half over, which means there are only a few weeks to go before the new school year begins. Of course, you need to prepare the basics-it may be easy to find the best backpacks, clothes, and pencils-but it may shock you if your child needs glasses. Fortunately, the best kids eyeglasses online are very fashionable and affordable, with a variety of frames and styles. Whether you're looking for prescription lenses, toddler glasses, or teen Blu-ray glasses, online retailers make it easy to choose frames, upload prescriptions, and choose the best design for your child. For example, Myglassesmart, the best children's glasses I picked online, offers a range of cheap glasses that you can try before you buy them.

But when you make such a specific decision about an individual-- whether in terms of fitness or functionality-- there are additional factors to consider before you finally buy it. Finding a suitable pair of children's glasses online requires some research and attention to detail.

Buying glasses for your child can be stressful. There are a lot of variables to consider, and we know that this is a time-consuming and usually multi-step process, starting with a doctor's appointment to (hopefully) the end of a glasses shopping experience, so we're here to help you make things easier.

Do you have the correct prescription on hand? Interpret the child's prescription.

When your child's RX comes, there will be a lot of possible code on it, and they all mean different things. Here is a quick cheat sheet.

SPH: This is a number that indicates what your spherical refractive error is, which determines whether you’re near- or far-sighted. Each eye will have a number. CYL: This points to the existence of an astigmatism and how it needs to be corrected. Axis: Another astigmatism figure, this is what it equates to in degrees. Prism: Ever notice your child’s eyes moving out of focus, or have they been diagnosed with an eye disease? If so, this will be there. Add: If additional magnification is needed in their glasses, your child’s prescription will have an “add” value, something that’s common for those who need bifocals, progressives, or reading glasses.

Andrade, an optician at GC Optics, explains that having the right prescription information on hand is key, especially when it comes to pupillary distance (PD) measurement. “[PD] marks exactly where the center of the eye is in the lenses,” he says. “Vision won't be perfect without this number. You can ask your ophthalmologist or optometrist when writing the prescription if they can share the PD with you. There may be a fee, but it's important to have this very exact measurement for the most precise lens design.”

Find the lens function. Lord at My Eyelab points out some features that are worth looking for, such as lens choices that suit a child's comfort and lifestyle. For example, she said: "Polycarbonate lenses are scratch-resistant and have built-in UV protection." "For children who sit in front of the screen for a long time, upgrading to anti-blue lenses is a good thing."

Consider the cost. Of course, cost is another thing to remember, but it is important to go beyond the original price tag. Pay attention to retailers' return policies, any warranties, and whether they accept insurance HSA or FSA. Although some eyewear retailers do not work directly with insurance companies, many insurance companies provide an allowance to reimburse the cost of buying glasses as off-line expenses, so it is necessary to take a closer look at your benefits (pun).

If this is not your child's first pair of glasses, also consider how they wear the first few pairs of glasses. If they lose their glasses easily, or if they are too young to take good care of them, you may want to choose the most affordable glasses or check the warranty.

[hewscns]

hey! i was jw if you could maybe do a post of different categories/channels you have in your rp servers! just for inspiration for others :)

a look at how my discord rp server is set up under the cut !

hi ! i'd be more than happy to. under the cut are screenshots of my group, aurora isle. however, i can't claim sole credit for how it's been set up as it was a group effort between my former co-admins, fleur ( who deserves a large chunk of the credit for showing me the ropes and making everything so beautiful ) and saint ( whose tumblr blog i'm not familiar with rn — i believe they might have changed their url ? ) . we also incorporated a lot of member requests and have adapted it to the group's needs !

fair warning, i'm very type a + a total virgo so it's ... a lot dfgkhjhkfdj

note: i currently run a private sandbox ( mumu + multiverse ) server for my friends and if anyone would like a guide / template to that, i'd be more than happy to share it !

we make use of the community server + forums feature a lot because i find that it's so much more organized with the tagging feature and so so convenient ! it allows the staff team to archive old apps rather than having to delete messages entirely. i highly recommend that anyone setting up a group enable this feature.

ferry landing - arrivals area

terms and conditions - rules

aurora isle ( forum ) - group plot, lore, and other plot-related information such as taken fcs

apply here ( forum ) - members submit their apps here !

applicant chatroom - a place for potential applicants to ask questions and just get to know our members !

check the itinerary - member checklist ( things to do once they get accepted )

server directory - a handy dandy guide to the server for everyone's reference

sign in sheet - ooc intros

reaction roles - self-explanatory !

bulletin board - for announcements

help desk ( forum ) - a place for members to get help on any technical or ic issues such as character / fc changes !

activity notice - a place for members to inform the group of any changes to their activities or when they'll get to replies !

hiatus - for mun hiatuses or muse hiatuses ( since we're a mumu )

cheat sheet - only accessible by the staff team. this is where we keep the formatting for acceptances and any other posts !

notice - we create private threads here to reach out to members regarding any issues that might arise, such as a rule break or an activity check.

staff chat - a private space for admins and moderators to discuss plot drops, apps, etc, within the server !

ooc chat - self-explanatory !

ic commentary - for ooc discussions regarding ic interactions.

wanted faces - sorted by mwm, mwf, mwnb.

wanted connections ( forum ) - a space for members to post wanted connections and discuss with interested muns. accessible to potential applicants as well.

starter call - self-explanatory !

plotting call - self-explanatory !

remind me - a place to request reminders from your partners in case you have missed a reply !

for plotting - a channel to discuss plots with other members for muns who prefer to keep their dms clean. i would recommend changing this to a forum feature moving forward tbh

tldr - see my in-depth guide to this feature

tupper updates - we added this channel after tupper was down for hours

aurora lore - just a funny lil channel where people can submit hcs about the setting such as npc's and whatnot

proxy set-up

tupper - tupper set-up and whatnot !

level updates - mee6 level updates can be found here !

claim a reward - claim rewards for leveling up !

bot help - for staff members to deal with bots only !

open starters

moving forward, i'd probably turn this into a forum feature ?

texts - for texts.

threads - for threads.

social calendar - upcoming event details.

event planner ( forum ) - members can submit events here.

event-specific channels - i would turn this into a forum feature moving forward but this is where members can post threads and open starters related to the event.

formatting guide - for social media posts.

resident gc - a gc for all muses.

instagram, twitter, spotify, tiktok, tinder - all self-explanatory !

diary entries - share your muses' notes app or journal entries here !

gossip - for ic confessions.

memes - see my in-depth guide here

chatzy - a funny jokey joke lil channel where we were writing like we were on chatzy when tupper was down fdkjhfdghjgfkdhj

the rest of the server is set up by mun categories !

my style of running discord groups has changed a lot since this server was set up but it's still pretty reliable and organized enough that i think you'd have everything you need ! again: i don't take full credit for this setup at all. it's been a lot of trial and error to find the exact system that works for me and my groups and i've received a lot of help along the way.

if anyone has any questions, please feel free to send them over !

[augustinewrites]

The way you wrote the Inarizki gc constantly roasting Atsumu was hilarious and I could honestly read a whole fic of their chat tbh I genuinely laughed reading those bits! But ughhhh Kita is so perfect~ PLS the kitchen scene with his suggestive comment made me blush so hard I love him so mhcb your honor!

atsumu gets roasted in the inarizaki group chat and then complains about it in the msby group chat and gets slandered there too 🤷🏻‍♀️ and am i currently writing an smau featuring inarizaki? maybe.

& kita shinsuke is the perfect boyfriend who treats you right in the streets and in the sheets 😌

[spookysmujer]

Family is Forever, O. Diaz

Summary: The past comes to haunt  you and your family with Oscar.

warnings: angst, domestic!Oscar, swearing,physical abuse, attempt sexual abuse, child endangerment

word count: 4.8K

requested by @alliemariee15

a/n: Thank you for requesting and being so patient! This sweetheart requested this a month ago and has been nothing but understanding, so thank you so much! I went harder than I intended to with this, hehe. Also big thank to everyone as I’ve hit 1K followers!!! Please don’t forget to follow this blog, heart/like/reblog my content as well as leave some comments, pretty please :) Also turn on the notifs for when I post something new!

taglist: @clemmingstylins0n @fairygardenss @firebenderwolf @spookysnena @princesstiffxoxo @mbaku-babygirl @chellybear98 @multiyfandomgirl40 @i-just-wanna-live-gc (please let me know if you wanna be added or removed!)

(gif belongs to @merakiaes 🌟)

A life long dream of yours since freshmen year in high school was to move somewhere along the East Coast and for sometime that was the goal that you were working hard towards. 

And then Oscar Diaz happened. It was sophomore year when he ‘claimed’ you. You weren’t so into him as much as he was into you but he never stopped trying to get you and by some twisted fate of luck, he got you. Not long after officially dating, you got pregnant with your son, Abel. It didn’t matter that you were only 16 or the fact that Oscar had joined a gang. You two made it work.

That was 6 years ago, your son has grown into a very intelligent little boy. He is a carbon copy of his dad at that age, his thick black locks that are curled on top of his head has to be your favorite feature of his. You hadn’t got to see Oscar with hair like so since he’d already been sporting the shaved cholo look from when you two began dating. 

A lot has happened over those 6 years. Both good and bad. 

It was only a few weeks into summer after graduating high school that Oscar was arrested for drug possession. It completely wrecked you. At that point it seemed obvious that he would be the one you’d spend the rest of your life with. All that seemed to shift on the night when the police knocked on the door. The loud, echoing pounding and a 2 year-old Abel seemingly frightened. 

When Oscar opened the door he didn’t try to resist arrest for he knew this day would come. You held your son close to your chest as he called out for his papa.

You took him to visit Oscar whenever he’d ask and let him talk on the phone with him every chance you got. Nothing could get between you and your family, not even prison. And when he was released after 4 long years, the heavens rejoiced and so did the two of you. With lots of rolling in the sheets. 

That’s why you’re now in a PartyCity store looking for the right unicorn balloons for your soon-to-be 4 year old daughter’s upcoming birthday. When you found out you were pregnant again only 2 weeks after Oscar had been released, the both of you laughed, not surprised one bit. It was no secret that you wanted more kids together so it was fate to add a little girl, whom you named Ella, to the mix.

“Ma, can we go now? We been here forever.” Abel sighs as you make another round in the same isle you were in just a few minutes ago.

The corners of your lips lift as you know he has your patience, which is zero to none. He’s been a champ for most of the morning but once you had been running back and forth between stores, he began to lose his patience quickly.

Your daughter sports a mean muggin’ face, much like her father.  “I wan mah balloons!” She is standing in the cart, staring at her brother. The look of ‘I am going to get my way’. Abel only rolls his eyes and groans as she turns to sit in the cart and look at which balloons she wants.

“Cute kids.”

A voice sounds from in front of you, you smile and turn to thank the stranger but you are met with no stranger. A very familiar face. One that put you through hell, one that definitely was not suppose to be within a 100 feet of you. 

When Oscar was in prison you were absolutely loyal to him. Not once did you lose faith in your relationship. Even when you had your hardships such as the times Oscar got doubtful that he would never get out, he’d ask you to move on. Though it was never a thought at all. You share a child together, you’re bonded for life.

But to the streets if your man is serving time then you’re fair game. That’s just how they ran things but to hell if you were gonna let that happen. That never stopped other dudes trying to get with you. And there was one particular one that never stopped trying, Tomas. He became obsessive with you. He wanted you, he wanted to be the man that Oscar couldn’t be for you at that moment. But you never gave in because for you Oscar was it.

“What are you doing here? You know the obligations of your restraining order.” The calmness in your voice shows no fear but you know the lengths he’d go when it comes to you.

Tomas only chuckles to himself as he digs his hands in his pockets, “That expired this morning at 10. But I’m just visiting some homies, ain’t know you’d be here.”

You watch him intently as pull your son closer to you. Thankfully Ella has her back to you so you could have a hold on her should he try anything, “Yeah well, I don’t want nothing to do with you so I think it’s best if you just go on about your day and your life far away from here. Oscar has been out for a while now so I wouldn’t be so stupid and try something.”

He takes a few steps forward which makes you automatically step back, one hand locked on your son’s shoulder and the other on the shopping cart. “Calmate, I’m just passing through, preciosa.” A chill runs down your spine as he caresses your face with the back of his finger making you flinch.

Abel grabs onto you and holds you tightly as Ella watches the man stand close to you, “Mama, who is this?” She asks excitedly as she pulls herself up from sitting. You look to him and her as he turns towards your little girl.

“Hi, I’m Tomas, a friend of your mom’s. And who are you?” Your heart rate is increasing, your nerves are scattered all over the place, worried something may happen. Your daughter’s curiosity has worried you since she could talk.

She smiles as he waits for her answer, “Ella, it’s my birthday soon! I’ll be this much!” Ella holds up 4 little fingers and covers her mouth with her other hand, laughing due to Tomas’ pretend shocked expression.

“I have to go. Please stay away from me and my family.” You hoist your son into the cart, despite his protests that he can walk. You step back quickly and spin the cart around.

Ella is complaining that you didn’t get all the balloons but you hush her. After checking out you ask a worker to escort you out. He kindly helps you load your car as you get your kids in.

“Answer, answer, answer.”

You’re chanting quietly to yourself as you pull out of the parking lot to head home. Your heart is thudding in your chest like wildfire, you need to hear Oscar’s voice, even if he says he is busy you just want to have his calming voice soothe you.

A few rings in, “Hola, mamas. Where are you?” 

You slump back into the seat, his voice on the sound system has an instant effect on you. You exhale a deep breath, “Papa, it’s me! I miss yew!”

Ella shouts and you smile as you hear Oscar laugh, always so happy to hear their voices, “Mija! I miss you and your mano, where are you guys?”

“We just leave the store! I meet mama’s man friend.” You quickly shush your daughter and hang up the phone call. You can’t be mad at her because it’s not like she knows better or the fact that you forgot to tell to your kids not to mention seeing Tomas to their dad.

She whines that you ended the phone call, “Babygirl, you can’t tell daddy about that man, okay?” You look in the rearview mirror to get a look at her as she has her arms crossed over her chest and gaze away from you. “Mija, look at mommy please.”

When she finally does take a look at you, she keeps her lil Spooky face on, “That was mean and papa will be mad you did that.” 

“I know, I shouldn’t have done that. Just don’t talk about that friend we saw because then daddy will be really mad at mommy. Please?”

Ella’s features soften a bit and turns happy when you tell her that you’ll stop to get ice cream on the way back home. Both kids cheer with happiness as you pull into McDonald's drive thru. 

Oscar has sent some texts asking about the abrupt end to the call and what Ella was going on about, but you made up the excuse that there was terrible reception and that she has been spilling nonsense since this morning. He brushes it off and you sigh in victory.

You finally get home, very weary of your surroundings though you don’t think Tomas would be so naive to try anything knowing you were with the Santos leader. Oscar gets home not long after you, thankfully he didn’t bring up the phone call and you went about your night.

“Com’n son, time to bathe. Vamanos.” Oscar calls out from the hallway. Abel stands but moves slowly from the living room, so focused on the big screen, “Abel!” Your son scurries off. He is always last to shower because he is so glued the TV all the time.He has learned what comes next if there is a 3rd time being called. “Coming!”

The stress of Ella’s birthday is taking a toll on you because she is a very specific little girl and the slightest detail on a decoration will have her stomping her feet and pouting her lip for days. You’re definitely raising a perfectionist. 

Oscar stands in front of the bathroom mirror as he uses a razor to clean up his facial hair as well as to keep an eye on Abel who loves to let the bath get too bubbly or he’ll doze off and considering it’s nearly 10 PM, it’s a possibility. 

“How was shopping with Mama today?” Oscar asks as he zeroes in on getting a clean cut. Abel doesn’t answer right away as he ponders telling Oscar about his whole day or skipping on the part about meeting Tomas and how you were not so happy about it.

With Abel as the older child he is more aware. Unlike Ella who couldn’t pick up on the unsettling feeling Tomas had given off, Abel knew that this man was trouble. And his dad always taught him to protect his family. Family is forever and is the most important thing. Always to protect his family if his dad couldn’t.

“It was okay. Ella was whining, papa. She didn’t like the balloons mama picked out at one store so we had to go to a whole other store! I was tired of looking at pink and purple unicorns. Then that man that came up to us was..” 

Abel stopped talking as he realizes he let it slip out. And Oscar heard him loud and clear. He waits for Abel to continue talking but nothing comes from behind the shower curtain. Abel begins to cry, scared that he’ll get you in trouble. Oscar opens the shower curtain to see his son with his knees to his chest, sobbing.

Meanwhile, you are oblivious to what is happening. Your son keeps his face hidden as Oscar reaches to turn off the flowing water and sits on the side of the tub, watching his son. What is he afraid of saying that is making him this anxious?

“Abel Cesar Diaz, what’s going on? Hm?” Oscar taps his sons knee and the big, dark orbs that resemble his father’s peer up. Oscar can be the typical Hispanic father that tends to be disciplinary but he has learned that talking helps a lot as well.

So Abel explains to his dad what happened at the store with your friend. About how you didn’t look like you wanted him around and how scared you seemed. He explained how the man looked at you and how he didn’t think he was good news.

The veins on Oscar’s neck and forehead begins to bulge the more his son explained about Tomas. Oscar is aware of who he is. When he was in Corcoran his homies always kept him up to date of the streets. And it upset him when he had to hear about this pendejo from the Santos rather than from you. But after you two had a heated conversation over the phone, your next visit you explained. And when Tomas kept persisting you, you finally had a restraining order and more protection from the Santos until Oscar got out.

Oscar comforts his son and tells him that he isn’t upset with him. “Hey, you protected your mom, so you did your part and I am proud of you.” He helps him get dried off and ready for bed. After tucking his son in, he checks on Ella who is softly snoring on her bed. He smiles that she has finally gotten use to sleeping alone. He closes their bedroom door and stands in the hall for a moment, sighing and wiping the tiredness from his eyes, making his way to you.

You’re hunched over the table looking over a tablet that carries the plans for the birthday party as well as thanksgiving since that’ll be in a month. “Want a beer?” You ask Oscar as he sits across from you but he waves you off.

“Tell me about that stunt Tomas pulled today.” 

Your eyes meet his and you freeze for a moment. Your chest is rising and falling as you try to figure out something to say, “He ran into us at the store. I told him to leave me alone and that’s all that happened. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just..”

Oscar’s jaw clenches as you stare at him, your heart skipping each beat the longer he stares and doesn’t say anything. “And you didn’t tell me again because? Had to hear from Abel. Again, Y/N? Someone is bothering you, you tell me. You let me handle that shit. That’s why our call suddenly ended? Making the kids fuckin’ lie to me too?”

His anger is beginning to bubble over. You take slow breaths to keep your temper under control. With the past couple days you’ve been having, you had no energy to start arguing back. “I never told them to lie, I asked them to not mention it. It’s not lying, technically..”

“Oh, don’t give me that shit. Don’t be technical with me, that puto should know better than to be approaching you and even my own son could feel how much he bothered you. It’s a good thing I’m raising my son right to protect his mama.” Oscar stands and paces the kitchen.

“Babe, I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you..again. I had no idea that he would be there, you think if I knew that I would have went out today?” 

Oscar leans against the counter, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, “I don’t know why I didn’t hear anything from the compas. Everyone knows, including him, he got a target on his head for what he did. This is why I tell you carry that gun in your purse. My kids were there. And I love you to the fuckin’ end, amor... but had something happened to one of them, a bullet would be in your fuckin’ head.”

He leaves you in the kitchen by yourself and you’re shocked at his words. Oscar has been a dad since he was a teenager, since the two of you met. You knew the lengths he’d go for Cesar, but for his kids? He’d take out anyone including you as he stated. You let out a shaky breath. 

You decide to give him sometime alone. He’s the most upset you’ve ever seen him and he is rightfully so but you weren’t sure how to fix it. You do what you think any man cannot resist, seducing them. At least this way you can ease into him forgiving you.

But when you enter your shared bedroom he is tucking his two kids in on your bed. You quirk your eyebrows up in confusion. Did he know you well enough that you’d use seduction to get his forgiveness? Oscar turns to see you standing in the doorway, “Why are the kids in here?”

“Heading out, I want them by you while I’m out.” He is shuffling around the room gathering things. The usual: keys, phone, wallet, gun, extra mag. You watch him as he looks to you, “Where exactly are you going, Oscar?” 

He breathes out through his nose and that’s enough for you to know. You don’t open your mouth to bicker as he is standing in front of you now, looking down at you with eyebrows creased together, “He ain’t getting near you or my kids again. Don’t leave the house or room, lock the bedroom door and don’t unlock it til I call you.”

Oscar steps away but stops to turn and pull your face towards his.He presses his lips to yours. You melt into it instantly, your hands grasping his forearms. The kiss deepening for a moment as your hands move up to cup his face. When he pulls back you are breathless. Craving more.

Then he is gone.

The house is quiet as you lay awake waiting for your boyfriend to return. Your fingers running through your son’s hair. Something you love to do and Abel loves you doing it too. Ella not so much though. She’s a verbal lover rather than a physical lover, the thought making you chuckle. How different your two kids are.

You’re pulled from your thoughts as you hear some shuffling from the living room, grabbing your phone you wait for it to ring with Oscar’s name but it never does. So you call out to him, “Babe?”

When you get no response you climb out of bed and quietly tip toe towards the bedroom door to get a better listen, maybe he is testing you to see if you’d listen to what he said about not unlocking the door until he calls. 

The buzzing of your phone pulls your attention and you see Oscar’s name pop up with the cutest picture of him and the two kids. You sigh in relief, unlocking the door and stepping out to an empty hallway.

“Oscar?” You call out and switch on the light but he isn’t there. You click the answer button and bring the phone to your ear. “Babe?”

“Hey, this puto is hiding, still nothing just checking on you. The kids still asleep?” When the words leave his lips, you close your eyes and feel a tear slide down your cheek. When you open them, Tomas is standing at the end of the hall, leaning against the wall watching you.

You hold the phone to your ear as you watch him put a single finger close to his lips signaling to be quiet about his presence. You could tell Oscar about him, then you could run to the room and lock the door. Quickly hide the kids in the bathroom for their safety and tell Abel to call his dad because so long as your kids are safe that’s all that matters. But what if he is quicker than you? What if he goes straight for the kids?

“Snoring like bears per usual. We’re okay, just be safe and Oscar?” You pause for a moment as Tomas gives you sickening, sinister look stalking towards you until he is standing right in front of you, his hands brushing against your exposed waist as you’re in a crop top. “Si?” Oscar answers you.

Tomas’ hands grab your chin and lifts it for you to look up at him, “When you find him, put a bullet right between his fucking eyes.” Tomas smiles and swipes his thumb on your lower lip, making you flinch.

Oscar chuckles, “You’re turning me on, mamas. Not much of him will be left. I’ll see you soon, te quiero.”

“Te quiero.” You say in a whisper as the line cuts. You try to step back but Tomas is quick, as you suspect he might be. He grabs ahold of the back of your head and into your hair. He pulls it back roughly with his body now pressed against you. “You have no idea how much I still want you. I think of you every single night. I remember how close you were to giving it to me. Hm.. you remember how badly you wanted me?”

You want to throw up, the feeling of him against you and his words makes you feel repulsed. His grip is iron-like and he is not letting up not until he gets what he wants and it’s obvious he wants you.

“P-please. M-my kids, let me close the door. Just let me at least close it.” Your bottom lip is trembling uncontrollably and the tears have been spilling over since the phone call with Oscar ended. He analyzes you. Are you trying to make an escape? He walks forward, pushing you back towards the bedroom door. And with his free hand reaches back to close the bedroom door, you look over shoulder at your sleeping kids as the door closes. Sending a little prayer for their safety.

He grabs your face and plant a sloppy kiss on your lips. You drown under him, not knowing how to win in this situation.

“So what do you do now?” 

Oscar voice causes his chest to vibrate which is right up against yours. He has your arms pinned under his, “Hm, I kiss you to distract you!” You tilt your head upwards to plant a chaste kiss on his lip. He smiles into the kiss and pulls his head back, “You gonna be kissing random dudes who run up on you, hm?”

You can’t help but laugh as he gives you a mischievous look. “Well if it works for me to distract them long enough, then yes!” Oscar rolls his eyes and nods his head to proceed with his defense lesson since you weren’t so keen on firearms, he’s teaching you physical defense.

“Fine, fine. So let’s say the kiss does distract the perp, if you have him in this kind of position? Jab here with all your might.” He points to his side right below his rib cage. “There’s a nerve that’ll cause them to tense up and give you a few seconds. That’s when it matters the most, those few seconds. So think before you do.”

You look at the spot Oscar had pointed to, you jab your fingers there and he tenses up like he says would happen. He curls over and you step back and laugh, making your quick escape.

That moment plays in your head. The kissing is a distraction, he has one of your arms pressed against him and it’s the perfect opportunity. Then the thought of how you asked Ella to pick up her toys that laid on the kitchen floor earlier infiltrates your memory as she never did considering she fell asleep.

You allow him to seep his tongue into your mouth and when you do, you feel him release the grip on your hair. This is the moment. With your fingers pointed, you dig your hand into his side, right below the rib cage and he retorts back. The same way Oscar had. You use your shoulder to push him into the wall which gives you enough space to move away from him.

Tomas recovers quicker than you hoped. So when you were going to leap over the pile of toys, hoping he would trip over them, you feel a grip on your hair once more and you’re sent flying back. The pain stinging your scalp, you yulp when you hit the ground. He is on you and his body suffocating you, “You stupid bitch! Pull that stunt again and I promise you’ll regret it.”

His hand hits your cheek and you cry out as you try to get him off you. The fear setting in as his hand reaches to his belt, the clinking of the metal making you terrified of what is to come next.

But it’s the sound of a gun cocking that stops Tomas trying to unbuckle his belt. He looks back towards the sound just as you do too. You’re heart breaks into a million pieces to see you 6 year old son holding a gun in his hand. His grip on it perfect, ready to fire. His stance, arms out and legs spread apart ready for the recoil.

“Son, go back in the room, please. Just go back to your sister.” Your voice trembles as Abel keeps his eyes on Tomas. In the moment, he resembles his papa more than ever. 

Abel shakes his head no, “Get off my mama. I know how to shoot a gun and I’ll shoot you, get off her now!” He sounds like his dad too, you can only sob.

“Mommy?” Ella’s voice sounds from behind Abel. Which distracts him. Tomas takes this opportunity to get the gun away from Abel, “No!” You cry out.

Despite the ache in your body, you sit up and jump on Tomas’ back just before he can reach your son, Ella is screaming scared as Abel runs to his little sister and stands in front of her. You hold onto Tomas with all your might, the strength of a mother is like no other, “Abel, go! Get your sister and run, baby! Run to Tio Cesar’s friends house, go!”

Tomas manages to get you off and slams you back into the wall. The blow stunning you, you have the wind completely knocked out of you. The back of his hand hits your face which causes you to fall over. You cry out as you see him step towards your kids. The fire of the gun sounds and Tomas cries out in pain holding his arm.

“Y/N!” You hear Cesar followed by footsteps. He is kneeling besides you as the Santos enter the house to check it out. “My babies, are they okay?” 

“Mama!” Abel calls out as he drops the gun and runs to you, you hold your arms open to embrace your son. Your brave baby boy. Fearless much like his father. Ella joins quickly and you squeeze them tightly.

They sob in your arms as you sit on the floor, the pain radiating throughout you numb from the love your kids are giving, “Y/N! Baby?!” Oscar’s voice booms through the house as he approaches you. He pulls Cesar away as he falls to his knees besides you. His arms envelopes all 3 of you.

Ella turns into her father’s chest, he can feel her thudding heartbeat. Tears stream down his face as he felt he let down his family but as the Santos grabbed the injured Tomas and dragged him out of the house, both of you sigh in relief that the worst is over.

“Mijo, you did it again. You protected your family and papa is so proud of you. You..” Oscar can’t form anymore words as he hugs his son and plants kisses on his head. You stand from the ground and use Oscar’s arm as support.

“Cesar take the kids to the bathroom, make sure they’re okay, por favor.” The younger Diaz nods and whisks away the little ones. Oscar pulls a chair out for you to sit, he kneels in front of you and examines the damage.

You look to him, eyes feeling puffy from the crying, “I’m sorry, I didn’t listen. I put our kids in danger and you’re right, I should have a bullet in my fucking head. I’m sorry, Oscar.” Your head falls as you sob hard, the hyperventilating causing hiccups.

“Baby, none of that shit matters. My kids are okay and you are now. He can’t do anything to hurt you anymore and I promise, you didn’t do nothing wrong. We’re lucky we’re raising a smart boy. I love you.” He wipes your face dry with his shirt and stands, pulling you into his warm, safe embrace.

You all take a shower and cuddle into the bed. Abel and Ella rest in between you and Oscar, embracing each other. Ella has her tiny head on her brother’s chest, forever his sister’s keeper. Oscar sighs as he intertwines your hands together, you look up at him as he gives you a soft smile.

This morning you woke a happy family and tonight you lay down a stronger one.

[dmsden]

Children of the Lockdown - Sharing characters made during quarantine

Hullo, Gentle Readers. This week’s Question from a Denizen is an intriguing one, and it comes from a longtime questioner, our friend Graham-chesir. They ask, “So what do you think would be the best way for people to share the characters they made during quarantine but never got the chance to play, characters that eventually got full backstories and intended plots & futures?”

I have a confession to make, Gentle Readers. I am not one of those people who creates slews of random characters. Every once in a while, I come up with an idea, but it’s almost always because someone has told me, “Hey, I’m going to run a game. Want to play?” Now, because this doesn’t always result in a game actually happening, I do, in fact, have plenty of characters around that I’ve never played. But I don’t really just sit down and make them for fun. Concepts? Sure. I come up with character concepts all the time, but I generally pop them into a file I use to make NPCs for my campaigns.

Now, I know there are people who enjoy just making characters, but, given how rarely I get to play, this would feel like teasing to me. That’s not to say that, when I make a character, I don’t throw myself into it whole-heartedly. I once created a gnoll PC for a one-shot session and wrote 6 pages of backstory for him. I’m a storyteller by my nature, so I like to think about characters I’m going to play and come up with some idea of who they are. In this case, our characters were going to be high-level, so I felt justified. 15th level gnoll rangers don’t just come from nowhere, after all.

Someday, I may play Marikith Wintermane again, but maybe not. I have plenty of concepts if another campaign pops up in the future.

Anyway, back to the question. So I’m guessing we have lots of cool characters getting made, but no easy way to share them. Well, there are plenty of ways to get them out there. One option would be to convert them to NPC stat blocks and put them up on D&D Beyond. DMs can always use well fleshed-out NPCs, and it’s a way for you to give your creation out while simultaneously helping beleaguered DMs who don’t have time to make a new NPC and just need something premade.

There are plenty of D&D Forums out there. You might find one you like and start a thread for exactly this purpose. Most are likely to have a similar thread already, and you can get your ideas out as well as enjoy other peoples’ ideas. There are some good Telegram groups as well. I have one related to this blog that I started, and I know we’ve shared character ideas and art with each other. Since I’m already mentioning it, if anyone wants a link, just send me a private message on Telegram - I’m Aethanbear there - and ask to join the D&D group.

If you enjoy writing, one way to share a character is to write a story with them in it. At the end of the story, you could give game information about the character, along with a stat block or character sheet, if you were so inclined. Likewise, if you draw, paint, or otherwise create art, you could share art of your character, along with the character sheet. You could even create a blog, like this, to share your stories and art, maybe linking individual articles through a Twitter account if you generally prefer that.

In the end, of course, the best way to share a character is to play them in a game. Hopefully GMs are feeling just as creative during this quarantine as players, and new campaigns will be springing up, either remotely or once in-person gaming begins again safely. I know my campaign is being held in tableau, frozen just as the PCs have turned 20th level, because my players want to play out the battle with the Tarrasque in person. As a result, I’m running a linked side campaign with brand new characters which I intend to have consequences to the main campaign as well. The characters that my characters have created are pretty interesting - a laidback and affable Human Barbarian who prefers not to fight; a half-elf rogue who’s trying to get by on sheer charisma; a gnome charlatan illusionist who possesses a gender-swapped secret identity; a kobold artificer with a penchant for explosives; a yuan-ti pureblood druid with a fascination for the stars; and a loxodon monk who longs to be small. They’re great characters, and I can’t wait to see where things go for them. But, without the pandemic, we might never have seen them, and my main campaign would likely be long over.

GC, I hope this has given you some ideas. Maybe we could have some guest articles where people share character ideas. If anyone would be interested in reading or contributing, let me know. I like to grow and change this blog over time, and that could be a fun new feature.

[forensicfield]

Scientific Equipment to analyze Questioned Documents:

Two types of microscopes are utilized to analyze documents.

1.) Stereoscopic binocular microscope, gives a three-dimensional magnification and is relied upon daily by examiners to uncover any number of features and important minutia.

2.) The comparison microscope, which is specially constructed to facilitate side-by-side study of microscopic details, is also a valuable tool for certain types of examination.

Modern versions of both have special lighting features, such as; candescent, fluorescent, and fiber optic,etc. and lens systems to facilitate a variety of analyses and to allow for microphotography.

🔎🔍Macro-scopes and different styles of hand magnifiers are also routinely used.

👉Irradiation can be used to excite the document in the ultraviolet and infrared portions of the spectrum.

👉The document can be analyzed under both infrared reflectance and luminescence conditions.

👉A number of measuring devices and templates have been devised to examine the alignment and spacing characteristics of typed and computer-generated text.

👉Electrostatic detection devices (EDD) were designed, and have been progressively upgraded, to aid in the discovery of indented writing impressions and accidental markings.

👉Indentations are troughs created by pressure from the writing instrument through several sheets of paper. They can be visualized through the use of electrostatic equipment.

👉The importance of these machines has grown increasingly in the investigation of medical charts, anonymous letters, diaries, agendas, and police notebooks.

Other Tools used together with chemical testing are:

👉Thin-layer chromatography (TLC),

👉Mass spectrometry (MS),and,

👉Gas chromatography (GC), Etc.

[qvestchen]

Nemesis // Soonwoo SVT

Summary: It was really laughable. The idea that Jeon Wonwoo had a nemesis. And yet there it was. The clear proof that all his life, like a nagging dull ache, Kwon Soonyoung had stepped all over his plans without ever really acknowledging him.

And maybe it was wrong for Wonwoo to seek him out but all he wanted was answers at first. He had never imagined they would stand opposite each other, fingers on triggers, his death in his nemesis’s hands and vice-versa.

Author: qvestchen

Status: Ongoing

Chapters: Home, Previous, Next.

Nemesis // Soonwoo SVT

Chapter 1:  It was a surrealist meme

Wonwoo looked at the schedule in his hand and scanned the corridor. His eyes found Room No. 67 and he walked to the glass doors with only a slight urgency of purpose being betrayed in his quick steps. He cursed under his breath as the door swung outside nearly crashing against his face. Whoever it was, didn't even see him, choosing instead to continue on their way without a care in the world, happily talking on the phone.

He slunk into the department room, nodding to the man sitting on the small desk that served as a reception counter. "I have come to register myself for the 3 p.m. 'Introduction to Persian Language and Culture' course." He placed a copy of his college ID and registration form on the desk.

"The course is closed," the man responded without even looking up from computer screen.

"But—" Wonwoo began.

The man threw a sheet towards him. "The last spot just got filled."

Wonwoo made a face, eyes dully scanning the sheet. His eyes stopped at the last name, widening in recognition.

Kwon Soonyoung.

His gaze flitted to the doorway. He asked, "Wait, the person who signed...t-this Kwon Soonyoung...was he the one who just left?"

The receptionist looked at him with a grimace. "Yes, and he was damn polite unlike you. Now, can I get my work do—?"

But Wonwoo was already rushing out of the small, air-conditioned room. His footsteps rang across the empty corridor. He looked right and left and followed a flight of stairs down and found himself in the ringing din of the English and Chinese language departments, a sharp contrast to the dusty, quiet floor above. People brushed past, someone knocking against his shoulder while he wildly looked for a sign, anything that he could zero in and recognize, something for him to pin the mystery of his life with.

The scattered conversations crawled at the nape of his neck as he strained to catch the words.

--I didn't mean to—Have you seen—wait up, you f—I can't believe I'm still—Shakespeare probably didn't even—she doesn't love me—are you free on—I flunked Chinese last time so—there can only be—save me from Proffess—which elective are—do you think the comeback—bro, the course is overflowing—are you coming to the party on Friday—we should start making the club flyers th—

"Wonwoo? Wonwoo?"

Wonwoo turned around realizing the weight of a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you really spacing out in the corridor?"

Wonwoo made a face at his friend. "What are you doing here, Mingyu?"

"I came to sign up for my Literature elective but what are you doing here?" the other boy asked, all smiles and mischievous eyes.

"I came to sign up for my Persian elective," Wonwoo said, gesturing Mingyu to walk beside him.

Mingyu laughed his characteristic barking laugh and Wonwoo could see a couple of students stop and stare with intrigue in their eyes. This happened a lot when he was with his friend. Kim Mingyu excited interest everywhere he went. His tall frame and impeccable fashion made him stick out but his warm smile and constant chatter made him endearing. Everyone wanted to befriend him. Many wanted to date him and would have no doubt tried to make a move but since Mingyu mostly hung out with Wonwoo and his snarky aura, Mingyu was bordering on unapproachable.

"That's on the floor above," Mingyu said, still laughing. "I can't believe you've spent a semester here and yet behave like you know nothing."

"I went there. The registrations are full so it was a bummer and then I..." He trailed off, looking around one last time.

"And you decided to come find me? Aww, I knew you had a thing for me." Mingyu joked, eyes twinkling. "But, sorry, Wonwoo, I don't have any plans for a relationship right now. You know how tough it is for college-going people—Ouch, don't hit me!"

"I wish we hadn't met last semester. I can't seem to get rid of you," Wonwoo said, pushing him with his shoulder.

Mingyu grinned. He knew his words didn't have any bite. They were best of friends and even though people always felt Mingyu was never in shortage of friends, it was him who depended on Wonwoo more. He was grateful for their little circle of friends.

Wonwoo added a bit wistfully. "I thought I saw someone."

"Oh, wait a sec, this is my department. I'll drop in and be back. Wait for me."

Wonwoo nodded, taking out his Nintendo and was about to log on to a game when his phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Seokmin.

Pizzamin: Hey, come to the cafeteria asap

If you spot Mingyu or Minghao, get them too

They never reply to the gc

A very small smile made its way across Wonwoo's features. He began to reply.

Wonwoollen: It's because you and Seungkwan spam the gc with weird stuff

Pizzamin: They're memes

Wonwoollen: It was an hour long video of just you saying "are you ready" and Seungkwan replying "I'm ready" last night

Pizzamin: It was a surrealist meme

The drama club president Hoshi loved it

Hoshi is cool, he helped make it

Hoshi. It was a new name but Wonwoo had already heard it repeatedly in glowing terms on a frequent basis at their cafeteria table ever since the new semester had started. Some 'angel' had descended on to the nearly defunct drama club last semester and over the course of the semester transformed it into one of the top clubs in the university this semester. Seokmin and Seungkwan who had just joined the club, now idolized the said 'angel'.

Pizzamin: Anyway, get everyone

I made a new friend

You all should meet him and make him feel welcome

Wonwoo couldn't resist an eye-roll. As much as he adored his friends, Seokmin had a habit of making a new friend every now and then and Wonwoo who was comfortable with sitting alone, found their friends circle increasing at an alarming rate. When he had come to the university last semester, he had totally imagined himself being a certified loner who could just sit back and watch life unfold in front him. Instead, he got adopted by Mingyu and Seokmin.

Wonwoollen: I'll bring Mingyu

Pizzamin: Hansol found Minghao so be here quick

Also, buy me a music notebook from the store since it's on the way

Mingyu emerged from the office, smiling, slightly red, and stuffing a small chit of paper in his pocket.

It was now Wonwoo's turn to tease. "Let me guess, someone gave you their number?"

Mingyu blushed harder. "It's not what you're thinking. She said just in case I find the elective tough later."

"Yeah, right."

"So," Mingyu said, changing the subject, "whom did you see? Was it someone pretty?"

"No, no. It was just...someone...I don't know, I thought it was someone I keep meeting but not really meeting. It's weird."

Mingyu looked at him shrewdly. "Wonwoo, I think you have a crush. It happens to the best of us. You needn't be shy about it. Minghao and I, we can help you with the wardrobe and Seokmin can give you some nice jokes so your dark personality doesn't come to the fore."

Wonwoo scoffed. "Thanks, but it's not a crush and I love my personality the way it is."

"Sure, whatever you say."

They bickered all the way till the cafeteria, even making a stop for Seokmin's precious notebook collection, where they were hailed by their friends.

Seungkwan shouted. "Last one to the table has to buy cupcakes for everyone."

It was totally stupid and there was no need to race across the cafeteria for those tasteless cupcakes but Wonwoo found himself laughing aloud as he pushed Mingyu sideways and ran forward. Their friends cheered for them. Moments like these he totally forgot the little puzzle in his brain, the strange feeling that there was someone out there whom he kept meeting but only side-stepping, he forgot his fears, he forgot details of this other person he didn't remember in full—the back of the head, the swing of the shoulder, a fraction of a cheek, the turn of the ears, the confident walk, the angle of the shoulders and that one time he had seen a quarter of a smile—he forgot all these little incomplete bits of the puzzle, he even forgot momentarily the name he tried to never forgot. Kwon Soonyoung. Whoever he might be, wherever he might be. Wonwoo didn't care. He didn't want to see the big picture. He just wanted to go on living this simple life where he was racing Mingyu to get out of buying some cupcakes.

He laughed at Mingyu who clutched his side, grumbling and coming in last.

Seokmin called their attention after everyone sat down on the table. "Alright, alright, now that we have shown our worst side, here is my new friend Yoon Jeonghan. He's a History major, just like you Wonwoo."

Wonwoo's heart was thundering after the run to the table but as he looked back at Yoon Jeonghan and his easy, lazy smile, he felt a cold hand clutch at his throat. His eyes never left the newcomer who introduced himself to everyone in a comfortable, suave manner.

Jeonghan had blonde hair that was brushed immaculately in place, every strand glittering with every movement of his head. His eyes were lazy and then suddenly watchful and a slight smirk never left his sharp, angular face. He looked at you as if he knew everything about you, as if he knew you better than you yourself, and Wonwoo who led a quiet, private life felt unnerved.

"Absolutely lovely to meet you, Wonwoo. I look forward to studying History with you. I hope we can be the best of friends," Jeonghan said, his tone affectionate and sinister at the same time, as if they had known each other since ages.

Wonwoo's hands were clammy in the handshake and he wordlessly nodded, trying to retract his hand.

Thankfully, Minghao intervened. "Wonwoo's a bit shy around strangers."

"Oh," Jeonghan said and withdrew from the handshake. "I'm sorry. I can be quite awkward myself."

"It's alright," Wonwoo replied, feeling a bit embarrassed at already judging the newcomer who seemed genuinely apologetic. He shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"Talking about strangers," Seokmin said. "I think someone has a crush on our Wonwoo."

"Oh, you have to hear this," Hansol said.

Seokmin said, "The two of us were just sitting here and discussing our electives and Hansol happened to mention that you decided to go for not-so-popular Intro to Persian because it's really easy and scoring and not many people turn up for it and—" He started laughing.

"And," Hansol continued, with a smile, "this guy on the table beside us literally screamed WHAT and fell out of his chair. Seokmin here goes, 'Oh our friend, Wonwoo, went to sign up for the Persian elective because it's easy' but the man just bolted. He probably wanted to be in your class real bad. People these days."

"No way," Mingyu said, laughing now too.

"Shut up," Wonwoo said, making an unimpressed face. "You're making this up."

"Who was it?" Seungkwan asked, totally interested. "This is amazing."

Seokmin looked around the cafeteria. "He hangs around our table a lot. I'm sure you've seen him—Oh, there he is. His name is...uh, Joshua, I think? Yeah, he's Joshua."

Later, it was with stubborn determination that Wonwoo would explain to everyone that he had only looked out of pure human curiosity, the kind that makes people look up when an airplane flies by and nothing more.

Joshua Hong entered the cafeteria looking frantically around as if he had lost something important.

The fact that their whole table was looking at him was enough to alert him to their gaze. Wonwoo (out of pure human curiosity) watched with an expressionless face as Joshua's eyes widened as he caught sight of something beyond Wonwoo. Wonwoo turned around to see what it was and it surprised him when he saw that it was Jeonghan and Joshua in a staring contest. The rest of the table needn't have existed.

Jeonghan didn't drop his gaze and raised an eyebrow as if in a challenge. Whatever it was, Joshua seemed to understand. He turned around and left the cafeteria.

Opposite Wonwoo, Minghao had caught the strange interaction too. Both of them looked away quickly, knowing that it was something they would discuss later.

"Well, that was weird. I'm going to go to my room and finish the last level of my game. Get me a cupcake, Mingyu," Wonwoo said with a yawn.

Jeonghan raised a hand, putting his phone to his ear. "Just a sec. This is important," he said to everyone. He spoke into the phone, "Hello, Soonyoung?"

hello! this is our first seventeen story on here :)

hope you'll enjoy it. please keep on supporting this fic, soonwoo and svt  xx 

[prorevenge]

Two malicious compliances equals one pro revenge.

TL;DR at the end.

Several years ago, Barry, my boss, did a job for BigDaddy Construction, and got screwed. It wasn’t a huge amount of money, a couple of thousand dollars, but screwed is screwed. Basically, he accepted BigDaddy’s word on something that they denied later. Barry consulted his lawyer, and was told that since the issue was not in writing, that any legal action was likely to fail, and even if he won, that the legal costs would exceed any settlement. And BigDaddy basically said, “My lawyer can beat up your lawyer.”

Barry then asked what every lawyer likes to hear, “What should I have done differently?”

Fast forward to 2017. BigDaddy is soliciting bids for a new restaurant called FancyAss. Barry submits a bid for supplying and installing door hardware, things like doorknobs, emergency exit bars, door closers that pull the doors shut…and 3 Automatic Door Operators (ADO’s). An ADO is something you have seen before, it has a metal plate with a wheelchair logo mounted on the wall, when you press it, a motor opens the door. It’s designed to allow people with limited mobility to pass through a doorway.

Barry wins the bid, and calls a meeting. He is handling this job personally. All communication with BigDaddy is to go through Barry, and ONLY Barry. If someone from BigDaddy calls and says, “Nice weather, isn’t it?” we are to reply, “I wouldn’t know anything about that, let me transfer you to Barry’s line.” Under no circumstances is anyone from BigDaddy to be given Barry’s cell number. And the after-hours on-call techs are only to return the call and say that Barry will be in touch in the morning. Violation of any of this will be grounds for immediate dismissal for cause, is this perfectly clear?

A few weeks go by, and we get a call from “GC”, who not only is running the job for BigDaddy, but is BigDaddy’s son. He’s an entitled shitball of a tyrant, with anger issues and a vocabulary that relies heavily on profanity. I’m calling him “GC” because that’s his job title, General Contractor.

For those who don’t know, a GC is responsible for ensuring that everything gets done on a construction site in the correct order. For example, if you are building a bathroom, first you put up the wall studs, then the electrical is run and the plumbing supply lines are roughed in. next the drywall goes up, then the tile, and the baseboards. The walls, ceiling, and trim get painted, then the cabinets, light fixtures and switches are installed. Lastly the plumbing fixtures go in. So you can see, a GC has to deal with several different subcontractors and co-ordinate their efforts. It’s a stressful job, and you need the co-operation of the various people….and it’s hard to get people to work with you if you’re screaming swear words at them, something GC never figured out.

This might be a good time to give you a visual of the restaurant layout. This is by no means to scale, just a sketch to give you an idea of what’s going on.

There are 3 ADO’s to be installed, 2 on the entrance and one on the handicapped washroom. The conventional washrooms are down a set of stairs on the right, and by law, there has to be a washroom available for people using wheelchairs, marked as HC on the drawing. This is on a bit of a corridor of sorts used by the servers to bring food in and dishes out. The partitions separating the corridor are about shoulder-high, separating the corridor from the seating area, which is what the circles with 4 chairs represent. These are tables, booths, etc., with a smattering of service stands for order entry, and bits and pieces like extra cutlery.

The décor was fancy, and meant to resemble a Victorian Gentlemen’s Club, with oak throughout, and thick carpets on the floors. Worthy of mention is the feature wall at the front, with alcoves for displaying sculptures, and places to hang paintings.

So GC calls us, and they are ready for the ADO’s.

We arrive, and install. By the terms of the bid, it’s BigDaddy’s responsibility to supply dedicated 120v electricity for the ADOs and to run the 12v wires from the activation plates to the top of the doorway so they can be connected to the circuit board for the ADO. This wasn’t present at the time of the install, so he ran an extension cord to power the ADO, and used a wireless transmitter and receiver to trigger it. All of this was specified in the bid, which said that we could install, and then return to hook up the wires once they get run. Barry came and supervised the tech installing the ADOs personally. When GC signed off, buried in the description was a line or two referencing the relevant sections of the bid.

When GC signed off on the handicap washroom install there was a line noting that BigDaddy assumes all responsibility for compliance with the relevant building code section.

GC didn’t bother to read what he was signing, just scribbled a signature and took his copy. Barry made certain the tech was right beside him when GC signed off.

Malicious Compliance #1

It’s about 2 weeks before opening, and they are in the finishing stages. Barry gets a frantic call from GC that none of the ADO’s are working, and they need these to be functional, or they won’t get their occupancy permit. Barry heads down the next day with the tech.

Barry: “Well, I found the problem.” GC: “So fix the fucking problem” Barry: “There’s no 120v run to the doors, and there’s no 12v wires to hook up the buttons.” GC: “You didn’t run the power? Why didn’t you run the power?” Barry: “It’s not in the scope of work in the bid. You’re supposed to do it.” GC: “Why didn’t you tell me that when you were here the first time.” Barry: “I did, and you signed off on it.” GC: “Where’s the fucking electrician? Electrician, get your ass over here.” Electrician: “What’s up?” GC: “Why isn’t there any power for these door operators?” Electrician: “It’s not part of my scope of work.” Barry: “There’s some good news…” GC: “What?” Barry: “If we use wireless for the buttons, we won’t need 12v wires. I’ll have to bill you for it as an add-on, but once you get me 120v, these ADO’s will be working.”

NOW GC realizes how fucked he is. The interior of the restaurant is 90% complete, and there is no power to a critical part of the building. Without it, no permit. BigDaddy has fucked up big time, assuming that either Barry or the Electrician would run the wires, and not putting it into the scope of either bid. The electrical panel is in the back of the kitchen, and there’s no way to bring 120v to the front entrance, except across the ceiling, which would be nearly impossible. All of the lighting and the ornate false ceiling was already in. Even if he was able to magically do that, he would either have to run a metal conduit down the surface of the feature wall, or rip out a good chunk of it, run the wires, and reinstall it. The handicap washroom ADO wasn’t as much of a problem, since it was closer and the wires could be run through the false ceiling. The section that contained the handicap washroom also had offices and storage with a t-bar ceiling, unlike the main room, that had 20 foot ceilings. The electrician charged GC big dollars for the extra work.

Malicious Compliance #2

Remember the handicap washroom? When the building inspector came to do a pre-check, they discovered that the square footage of the washroom, minus the area taken up by the in-swinging door, was less than the required minimum. They needed a quick fix, as dismantling the washroom, moving a wall, and relocating the plumbing fixtures would be too expensive, and would take too long. So GC decided to reverse the swing of the door, and have it swing into the corridor, rather than into the washroom. This had a really bad effect on the operation of FancyAss once it opened, as any time someone wanted to use the washroom, the door blocked the flow of servers in and out of the kitchen. And people are lazy…even able bodied people were prone to using this washroom as it was closest. I don’t know what the conversations between FancyAss and BigDaddy were like, but I imagine they were pretty intense….but who gives a fuck. GC signed off on that, too.

And Barry got to invoice for a whole new ADO, as the original was a “pull” style, and reversing the swing meant that a “push” style was required.

Pro Revenge

GC called a few days after discovering that the entrance doors needed 120v, to tell Barry that the 120v was available. Barry heads down with the tech to check it out.

In the vestibule was a heater known as an “air curtain”. It’s a big heater, designed to push a high volume of warmed air into the vestibule, to mitigate cold outside air entering the restaurant. It pulls a significant amount of electricity every time it kicks on, and GC had tied the 120v for the entrance door ADO’s into the same circuit.

Barry explains that the bid specified that the ADO’s require their own dedicated circuits, one for each. GC responds that he doesn’t give a shit, hook the goddamn things up, so Barry does, and has GC sign off again. Only this time buried in the sign off sheet is an acknowledgement that by not providing dedicated circuits, all warranties are void, and subsequent service would be billable. Just like usual, GC scribbles his signature and takes his copy without reading it.

These ADO’s are finicky about power. There’s a motor (obviously) controlled by a circuit board that determines how fast the door opens, how long it stays open, how fast it closes, how much force is used, that sort of thing. If it takes a spike in power it fails, and the ADO no longer functions.

A power spike blows a fuse and damages one of the components of the control board. This is replaceable, and the part is worth about 30 bucks. The control board can be fixed in about half an hour, with another half hour on a scope to make certain everything is good. Barry had sent one of the techs to the manufacturer to be certified in rebuilding the board, even though our standard was to just ship them back to the manufacturer and get a replacement.

Sure enough, a couple of days later GC calls in a panic. They have the final occupancy inspection scheduled for the next day, and one of the ADO’s at the entrance is down.

GC: “Your fucking ADO isn’t working. Get down here and fix it.” Barry: “Okay, but this isn’t covered under warranty. It’s billable.” GC: “What the fuck are you talking about? It’s not even been a week and it’s broken. It’s warranty.” Barry: “No, warranties were all voided when you didn’t provide clean power.” GC: “Fuck that. Get down here and put in a new ADO.” Barry: “It doesn’t need a new ADO. It needs a new control board. And I can get a new control board from the manufacturer in 4 to 6 weeks.”

GC loses his mind. There’s no way he can delay the opening of FancyAss for 6 weeks waiting for a part. He calls Barry every name in the book, threatens legal action, etc.

Barry responds, “Look GC, I have a control board on the shelf that was rebuilt by a factory certified technician. I can let you have it at 80% of the list price of a new one, and I can have it installed by noon tomorrow. Do you want the rebuilt, or the new part, and do you agree that this is billable as per the terms of the bid?”

GC: “Yes! Just get the fucking thing fixed by tomorrow!”

Now Barry knows that GC and BigDaddy were going to fuck him just like they did years ago. That ended up being a “I never said that” dispute. What GC didn’t know was every time he called Barry, the call was recorded. You know the “This call may recorded for quality assurance purposes” that you get when you dial in? Well Barry never used his cell phone, never initiated a call, and every time GC called in it was recorded and archived. Every. Single. Time.

Sure enough, another couple of days go by, and an ADO goes down again. Barry asks if GC is good with the rebuild, gets confirmation, removes the blown part, installs the rebuild, then takes the blown control board back to the shop and rebuilds it.

A new control board is $750.00. The rebuild he’s charging $600.00, for a part that maybe costs $75 to get back into shape. The bid specified that non-warranty service was $125/hr minimum 4 hours, so tack on another $500.00 for labour, and it takes maybe 45 minutes to install a new control board and dial it in. So every control board replacement was generating $1,100.00.

There were 27 blown control board swaps in the first 2 months. GC called in every one of them, and Barry got his verbal approval. If someone from FancyAss called in, we gave them GC’s number, and said that we could only come and fix it if GC was the one to call it in.

Then Barry gets a call from Daddy of BigDaddy wanting to know what this invoice for almost 30 grand is for. Barry explains, and a meeting is called, Barry brings his lawyer, and all copies of the sign-off sheets, as well as transcripts of every conversation he had with GC. It becomes very apparent that GC fucked up large, and that Barry had every “I” dotted and every “T” crossed.

BigDaddy is glaring daggers at GC, and basically tells Barry that if he wants to get paid, he’s going to have to sue for the money.

Barry smiles, and slides his ace across the table. It’s a Contractor’s Lien against BigDaddy, FancyAss Restaurant, and Massive Realty Company, the owners of the building.

Here’s the thing. FancyAss was owned by Internationally Famous Chef (IFC), who makes his living getting Very Important People to invest in opening a new restaurant. This is a place where they go to be Very Important, and bring their business contacts with them. After a short time, when the restaurant is the happening place in town, the investors sell the place, and cash out large. IFC sticks around, helps with the transition, and makes a percentage of the restaurant’s profits for the use of his name. He’s built an income stream with the investor’s money, and the investors make a nice return.

Only now they can’t sell, with a lien on the place. And these investors have rabid fucking pitbulls as lawyers. Hell, some of them ARE lawyers.

See you in court, BigDaddy. Only you’re not facing Barry’s lawyer, you’re facing a whole new level of legal expertise. Have fun with that.

Barry got his revenge, and then withdrew service based on the disputed invoice. He’s the only company allowed to service and install this brand of ADO as he has a protected territory from the manufacturer, and does seven figures worth of business with them a year. The only other companies anywhere nearby were warned off by the manufacturer, who even relayed the fact that BigDaddy had called them directly looking for service, and they referred BigDaddy to Barry.

Barry will definitely get paid, as it’s a standard to hold back 10% of the payment to a construction company for a year, and the holdback will definitely cover the invoice. So FancyAss will pay Barry and then take it out of BigDaddy’s holdback. Either that, or they will sue BigDaddy into dust, and force BigDaddy to cough up and settle the lien.

Who knows what company BigDaddy picked up to cover the ADO’s. Barry has friends in the industry and warned them all off, but there are asshole competitors, and Barry didn’t say a thing to them. Maybe BigDaddy is screwing over one of the competition, and what hurts his competition, helps Barry.

What makes this deliciously Pro? You think maybe, just maybe, Barry, who has decades of experience in the industry, might have had an Electrician friend that could show him the Electrical bid? And that maybe Barry knew from the beginning that there was no provision for 120v in either package? Or that the washroom was too small? Or that GC, a corner cutter, would take the easy way out and hook the ADO’s into the air curtain?

Way to go, Barry. Nicely played.

TL;DR A subcontractor complies with a bid, to the letter, and covers his ass in all correspondence, General Contractor ends up paying big dollars for their error, allowing subcontractor to recover money he was screwed out of years ago.

(source) (story by balles_de_acier)

[larosepompon]

“Matter on Canvas”, 2019  - Taemin

Introduction to “Walking the Earth” - my new Horror story collection about a group of Hellions, featuring NCT, Taemin and the rest are a surprise... 

Warnings: GORE. A brief description of sexual activity, foul language to come. 

Word count: 840 (a little drabble to get this started)

“Artistic expression” is a very broad term: It enables an individual to perhaps say, or do something that will convey their emotions. Some people prefer prose or poetry, others – painting, sculpture or even dance. Then there are the select few who often go down unorthodox routes. Much like our current protagonist:

Taemin.  

You see, when you have abilities beyond those that are human, the mind wanes and often becomes bored with the toys around you. You start to harbour ideas that occasionally slip into reality – like applying just that touch more pressure to easily break flesh like that of an over-ripened peach. It all becomes too easy to lose control over digits and limbs and teeth; appendages that have had power on the edge of spilling out for too many years. Taemin gasps as the warmth seeps onto his hand and forearm, pupils dilating, ears ringing as the sheer excitement muffles out the cry of the body on the black silk sheets beneath his form. He can feel the sheer want spreading from his abdomen: through his chest and down his limbs, parched mouth suddenly filling like a spring as he moves forward undulating into plush hips, too fast for normal comprehension. His canvas taking on hues of clay red through to indigo with his momentum and puncturing grip. He can slightly feel now, their weak push of life trying to break past the haze of pleasure - his subject far gone under the cloud of deception he conjured.  

Humans were all too easily coddled into situations beyond their means. Whether it be for money, success, love or lust – they were pliable – and being the artist that he was, Taemin had the tools to manipulate as he desired.  

With a feral grunt, he lurches forward and presses an opened-mouthed kiss, sealing the fate of the human below. The Kiss of Death draws out a pleased whine from him, satiating his need for a long-awaited meal. The energy is not nearly enough the demon decides, as his strong jaws close around supple skin, relishing in the tension that gives way under his teeth before being met with that same metallic warmth now sticky on his arms. Whole chunks of forbidden fruit slide down his gullet, spit mingling with the red that now drips down his chin. He inhales the pungent scent of warm, raw meat diffusing into the air and moans. The whole dining experience is enough to make him hard again, so he finds that with laboured breaths and a smile too wide, his sharp thrusts now make wetter sounds. In the wane light of his studio, Taemin looks ironically ethereal with his sweat-sheen glow. Combing back his ashen locks, he runs an oddly-long tongue over his top lip to catch what’s fallen there before looking down at the now-still body. The air in his lungs has stopped burning with adrenaline, his expression calm and almost stoic as he casts his gaze over unfocused eyes and a slack mouth. A short sigh echoes in his room when Taemin realises that his fingers were once again too strong – one by one he removes them from the lesions in the milky thighs he made unknowingly, sucking on scarlet fingertips, releasing each one with a smack of his lips. His subject lays limp and cooling on the bed and our demon thanks his intuition for laying on a dark bedspread – at least if he cannot get any stains out, his next visitor would be none the wiser.  

Clambering off the blood-sodden mattress, sagging under both their weight, the demon silently reminds himself to buy a new one as he slides his brass Zippo along the scratched-up ebony table into his grasp. Amber reflects onto his complexion as he lights a menthol cigarette, taking a glance at the display before him while he drags on his pseudo-digestif. It’s quite a sight; all his passion was poured into this little endeavour after all. “The arrangement’s not that bad either” he rasps to no-one as he makes to unplug his phone on charge, awkwardly snapping some photos with speckled hands. He knows that at least someone in his Kakao group would appreciate his groove, though the photos with flash didn’t look as artistic as he had hoped. The iPhone gets tossed onto a nearby beaten-up green wingback chair as he makes his way to the shower, not before stumping out his cigarette in the remnants.  

He misses the notifications, glowing in the din.

[Hellions GC]

12:07am

「 Henderick’s: Holy shit hyung, maybe not great to send when I’m trying not to get a stiffy in the club rn? 💦💦」

12:09am

「ISO_king: ^Watch your tongue, fledgeling 」

「 ISO_king: ...what did you even take this on, your phone? At least use a filter, dude. Think of it as impartial advice for next time 👌」

12:20am

「 동영: you better have concealed this mess by tomorrow or you know what will happen, Lee Taemin. No traces.」

...He’d need to clean up to sleep, anyhow.

[contrabassconversations]

646: Jeremy Baguyos on computer music

I’ve known Jeremy Baguyos for over 15 years, and I’ve always found it fascinating how he weaves together the double bass and computer music in his work.  After playing bass full-time with the Orquesta Filarmonica de GC (Spain) and Shreveport Symphony, Jeremy moved to Washington, DC to freelance.  I met him in the early 2000s while playing in the Des Moines Metro Opera, where he serves as principal bass.

After getting a Master’s Degree in Computer Music from Peabody, Jeremy’s career pivoted into academia.  He is Professor of Music & Interdisciplinary Informatics at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and I was actually a guest speaker for UNO’s music entrepreneurship program this fall.

We talk about his first public music project in Chicago back in 2004, the unexpected twists and turns of his career, what his job at UNO is like, music entrepreneurship, and much more.  Enjoy!

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Contrabass Conversations production team:

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Mitch Moehring, audio engineer

Trevor Jones, publication and promotion

Krista Kopper, archival and cataloging

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Check out this episode!

[allcarnews]

OFFICIAL: 8 Series GranCoupe 🤤 ______________________________________ [6/18/19] After being heavily leaked in two previous posts the official 8 Series GranCoupe is here and features lots of differences compared to the coupe version besides the two rear doors! The 8series GC has been lengthened by 9in and everything from the windshield back is unique to the car as it has a different roofline, added rear doors, a unique trunk with integrated ducktail and a more conventional C pillar. BMW also increased the width by 1.2in! 🔥 @Allcarnews Spec Sheet: Powering the M850i Gran Coupe will be a 4.4L TT V8 making 523HP and 553 lb-ft of torque and 0-60 around 3.7sec. There will also be a 3.0L TT Straight 6 making 335HP and 368 lb-ft of torque. The M8 is said to pack over 600HP with MX-Drive and drift mode! Then the M8 GranCoupe should get a 4.4L TT V8 tuned up to 617HP in competiton trim and 600HP in normal trim sent through a steptronic 8 speed gearbox to all four wheels through M-Xdrive and can do 0-60 in 3.1sec with an (optional) 190MPH TopSpeed! (155MPH is the normal top limited speed w/o the drivers pack)🔥 Now looking at the interior, component wise it’s identical upfront to the 8 series coupe but sports a much more luxurious appointment of leathers and materials and at the rear it gains two captains style rear seats with its own rear controls in the center! This should be a hot seller for BMW! Pricing for the 8 series GC starts at $84k for the 840i model with RWD, $87k for AWD and then $108k for the M850i xDrive model! The M8 and M8 Comp versions should be coming in the future. This beast does not compete with the AMG GT 4 door but rather the CLS and Audi A7. ________________________________________ ACN EXTRA: That color is stunning! ________________________________________ - - #BMW #V8 #M850 #8 series #GranCoupe #M8 #M3 #GranCoupe #AMG #GT63s #Rs7 ||#powerful #performance #turbocharged #supercharged #advanced #SupercarsRevamped #Supercar #HyperCar #ItsWhiteNoise #CarLifeStyle #MadWhips #CupGang #Carstagram #BlackList #AmazingCars247 An #allcarnews post https://www.instagram.com/p/By3jD4AB8ET/?igshid=jki8bfscznv3