#how to become a property photographer

[dcxdpdabbles]

If you had to pick one of your stories to redo, either a portion or change the whole direction, which one would it be?

Ohhhhh, this is a good thought-inducing question. Ironically, some of my work results from thinking, "You know what? This would be hilarious if I didn't stick to plan and went off the deep end," and creating a new AU. (How Danny's grill came to be. It was based on The Bakery is a front with the same idea of Tim being undercover at Danny's food-based business, but instead of looking for proof of lawbreaking, he's looking for evidence that Danny is not human, and the bats freaking out about it)

But I would pick Freelance Inventor just to make it all through the Justice League's POV of Batman and his mysterious lover. They talk in the break room around the water cooler about how the Robins all at one point mentioned "B's Not-Boyfriend" and wonder what that means.

The League would see the Gotham heroes casually threaten Batman by telling on him to "Not-Boyfriend" and watch the Batman actually become the "Let's not be too hasty." meme.

They watch as the crazy, controlling Batman shake his head and sigh when he notices that his calendar was changed by "Not-Boyfried" to force him to stop going up to the Watchtower for meetings and instead go to "Photograph Award show, "Zoo day with youngest" "Cook for the father that raised you, you lazy city dweller who lacks respect."

Flash screenshot of the last one because the previous day, it was marked as "Speedster training and combat counters". Flash needed proof for those who would miss the massacre about to happen. He thought that he would witness Batman drag the poor unfortunate soul to dare mess with his Calander app down to hell, and instead saw him googling British recipes because he needs to have a meal plan out now.

It wouldn't just be the Justice League- though it starts with them from founding day to well over a decade- but all hero communities would begin to hear about Not-Boyfriend.

At different times, the Robins would grumble about doing class work on the extended space trips because Not-Boyfriend would be disappointed in them. They don't care if they piss off Batman, but Not-Boyfriend's sad, letdown eyes would haunt the Robins.

These are the same people who would swing themselves at monsters who were sometimes actually gods of myth with nothing but spandex and spite.

The Teen Titans witness Robin leave with his Not-Boyfriend during the Big Fight, which eventually leads to him becoming Nightwing. They start treating Robin like a Divorce Kid. Batman is the bum dad in that situation.

The Outsiders witness Robin go from anger to a protective, gleeful Redhood when Not-Boyfriend calls to check up on him. They are all welcome to stay in Not-Boyfriend's houses—he owns many properties worldwide for his travels—and he becomes the remarkable, safe adult house. They just never speak to him face to face.

Young Justice's Robin has some serious self-esteem issues. They all sort of do as the ones the older heroes forget about. This is why when Robin shows up one day asking if they would do a random fashion blog to trick Not-Boyfriend, they jump at the chance to make a more solid identity besides the clone, the time traveler, and the daughter of Zues. Then Not-Boyfriend, whom they never met and shouldn't care about, starts sending gifts, and I'm so proud of you kids through Robin up until he becomes Red Robin, they realize he's the cooler dad.

SuperSons Robin will respect no one- not even Batman or Nightwing- as he does Not-Boyfriend. They can get him to listen and calm down after noticing his siblings using the "I'm telling Not-Boyfriend on you" trick that worked on his father.

The heroes know so much about Not-Boyfriend but know nothing. He's like Big-Foot. Everyone knows who Big-Foot legend is, but no one can prove Big-Foot.

Of course, over the seventeen years of Justice Leauge's founding, heroes would assume Not-Boyfriend was helping Batman raise his children and, for some reason, couldn't be married (The rise in heroes demanding equal marriage helped legalize same-sex marriage after a bitter sixteen-year fight).

They accept he's Batman's husband, who may be a civilian, a hero, or even a villain.

They accept that Batman and Not-Boyfriend may be divorced and share custody of the children.

They accept that Batman may not be over his partner and is still, to this day, trying to win him back.

They accept that Not-Boyfriend forgave Batman years ago and are back together.

They accept that there was never a split, and the two just argued that Young-Robins blew out of proportion.

The hero community literally accepts any theory if presented well and backed enough with suitable examples. At one point, it was a tradition of trying to decipher what was going on with Batman and Not-Boyfriend.

It's even wilder when Batman reveals himself as Bruce Wayne because he is known for not having any dates despite the number of people who have tried to fling themselves at him. He's notorious for putting a lid on his playboy tendencies- showing growth, and his new persona changed to Ditzy Dad of Gotham- back when he took in Dick Grayson, but now they know it's because he had Not-Boyfriend?

Then finding out Not-Boyfriend is Danny Fenton, the Willy Wonka-esque of the inventing world???????

This man who disappears from the public eye only shows up somewhere in a jungle with an invention that low-key solves the issue of contaminated water? This man, who freelances to anyone and everyone, things that come straight out of sci-fi without a blink?

The same man who people years ago accused Bruce Wayne of sleeping with, only to be told point black by Bruce, "I wish I was sleeping with him. Have you seen him?," and people thought he was joking on live TV?

They lose their minds.

[erika-xero]

Beware, the long post incoming. Pro tips for artists who work on commissions!

DISCLAIMER: I do not have, like, a HUGE online following and can’t be called a popular or viral artist, but I do have some experience and I’ve been working as a freelance artist for more that five years, so I could share a few tips on how to work with clients with my fellow artists. Scroll down for the short summary!

First of all, you always need to have your Terms of Service written down in a document that is accessible for your potential clients. And by terms of service I don’t mean a set of rules like “I don’t draw mecha, anthro and N/S/F/W”. There is much more into it, than you may think when you first start drawing commissions.

You’ll need to understand how copyright law/author’s rights in your country works (for example, US copyright or Russian author’s rights, be sure to check your local resources). There are a bunch of sites where you can actually read some legal documents (. I know it might be boring, but TRUST me, you WILL need this knowledge if you choose this career path.

Russia, for example, is plagued with shops selling anime merchandise. The merchandise is usually printed somewhere in the basement of the shop and the shop owners literally rip off other people’s intellectual property. If the artist ask them to remove their IP from the shop the owners usually try to fool them with lies about how the IP works. They will tell you, that you have to register copyright on every single drawing and if you don’t do it anyone can reproduce and sell your artwork. In reality, copyright law in most countries simply doesn’t work this way. Once you create an original work and fix it, take a photograph, write a song or blog entry, paint an artwork, you already are the author and the owner. Yes, there are certain procedures of copyright registration, which is only a step to enhance the protection, but you become an author the very moment you create a piece of art, and no one have a right to take your creation from you. Knowing your rights is essential.

Some of your commissioners may try to scam you too, but most of them might simply not be aware of how copyright law works. I literally had people asking me questions whether or not the character I am commissioned to draw becomes MY intellectual property. I literally had to convince the person (who was legit scared, since the commissioned piece was going to be a first image of his character ever created) otherwise. If you have an idea of the character written down or fixed in any other form such as a collage, a sketch, or a concept art -- the character is yours. Artist may have rights to the image they create, but not the character itself. Your potential commissioner must acknowledge that their characters, settings and etc. is still theirs, while your artwork is yours, if your contract doesn’t state otherwise. You can sell the property rights on your artwork to your commissioner if you want, but it is unnecessary for non-commercial commissions. And I strongly advice you to distinguish the non-commercial commissions from commercial ones and set the different pricing for them. Even if you sell ownership of your artwork to your commissioner, you can not sell the authorship. You will always remain an author of your artwork, thus you still have all the author’s rights stated in the legal documents.

Another thing that is absolutely necessary to be stated in your terms of service is information whether (and when) it is possible to get a refund from you. You absolutely have to write it down: no. refunds. for finished. artworks.

You have already invested time and effort to finish an artwork. The job is done and the money is yours. I’ve heard stories of commissioners demanding refund a few months later after the commission was finished and approved by the commissioners, because, quote “I do not want it anymore”. Commissioning an artist doesn’t work this way, artwork is not an item purchased on shein or aliexpress that can be sent back to the seller. It is not a mass production. It is a unique piece of art. Example: My friend once drew a non-commercial commission for a client who tried to use it commercially later on. She contacted him and reminded of the Terms of Service he agreed with, offering him to pay a fee for commercializing the piece instead of taking him to the court or starting a drama. He declined and suddenly demanded a full refund for that commission via Paypal services. My friend contacted the supports and showed them the entire correspondence with that client. She also stated that the invoice he paid included a link to the Terms and Service he had to agree with if he pays that invoid. The money were returned to her.

However, partial refund can be possible at the certain stage of work. For example, the sketch is done, but something goes horribly wrong. Either the client appeared to be a toxic person, or an artist does not have a required skill to finish the job. I suggest you keep the money for the sketch, but refund the rest of the sum. It might be 50/50 like I suggested to my clients before (when I still could work with Paypal), but it really depends on your choise. I suggest not doing a full refund though for many reasons: not only you make yourself vulnerable, but you also might normalize a practice harmful to other artists this way.

The main reason why full refund when the sketch/line-art are done must not be an option is that some clients may commission other artists with lower prices to finish the job. This brings us to the next important point: you absolutely need to forbid your clients from altering, coloring or overpainting your creation or commission other artists to do so. This also protects your artwork from being cropped, changed with Instagram filters or even being edited into a N/S/F/W image. Speaking of which. If you create adult content, you absolutely need to state that to request such a commission, your commissioner must at least be 18/21 years old (depending on your country). And as for the SFW commissions you also have to state that if someone underage commissions an artwork from you it is automatically supposed that they have a parental concern.

There is also a popular way to scam artist via some payment systems, called I-did-not-receive-a-package. Most of the payment systems automatically suppose that you sell goods which have to be physically delivered via postal services. This is why it is important to state (both in the Terms of Service and the payment invoice itself) that what commissioner is about to receive is a digital good.

And the last, but not the least: don’t forget about alterations and changes the commissioner might want to make on the way. Some people do not understand how difficult it may be to make a major change in the artwork when it is almost finished. Always let your commissioners know that all the major changes are only acceptable at early stages: sketch, line-art, basic coloring. Later on, it is only possible to make the minor ones. I prefer to give my commissioner’s this info in private emails along with the WIPs I send, but you can totally state it in your Terms of Service. I do not limit the changes to five or three per commission, but I really do appreciate it when I get all the necessary feedback in time.

To sum this post up, the info essential for your Terms of Service doc is:

- The information on whether or not your commissions are commercial or non-commercial. If they are non-commercial, is there a way to commercialize them? At what cost?

- The information on author’s and commissioner’s rights;

- The information on whether (and when) refunds are possible;

- The prohibition of coloring, cropping, overpainting and other alterations;

- The information on whether or not you provide the commissioner with some physical goods or with digital goods only;

- Don’t forget about your commissioner’s age! If you work with client who is a minor, a parental consern is required. And no n/s/f/w for underage people!

- You may also want to include that you can refuse to work on the commission without explanation in case you encounter a toxic client or feel like it might be some sort of scam.

- I also strongly suggest you work with prepay, either full or 50% of total sum, it usually scares off the scammers. I take my prepay after me and my client agree on a rough doodle of an overall composition.

- I also include the black list of the themes: everyting offensive imaginable (sexism, homophobia, transfobia, racism, for N/S/F/W artists it also might be some certain fetishes and etc). Keep your reputation clean!

- Ban N/F/T and blacklist the commissioners who turn your artworks into them anywayss, don’t be shy <3

These are the things that are absolutely necessary but are so rarely seen in artists’ Terms of Service that it makes me sad. Some of these tips really helped me to avoid scams and misunderstandings. I really hope it helps you all!

[dilvuc]

𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗: male

𝖙𝖎𝖙𝖑𝖊: hickeys

𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌: jing yuan, caelus, luocha, sampo, gepard, dan heng, blade x m!reader

𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌: mention of hickeys

『note』 sorry for the late update, i was waiting for the game update and i'm still on writer's block

—

jing yuan

Jing Yuan could still feel the pain in his back after that night and his ass hurt like shit that he can't even sit down properly. Yanqing knows the general is old, but there's something wrong. His eyes landed on Jing Yuan's neck, seeing some bruises.

"General, did you get bitten by some mosquitoes?" Yanqing asked.

"Mosquitoes? What makes you say that?"

Yanqing pointed out to the male's neck, "Those bruises on your neck."

"Oh?" The general rubbed his neck before giving the boy a soft chuckle, "You'll understand when you're older."

"Eh?! I'm not a kid! I'm old enough!" The boy remarked. Jing Yuan just patted the boy on the head, "You're mature, but not too mature."

"H-hey…"

caelus

March felt awkward around the trailblazer and she was too afraid to point it out on why. She's not the only one who noticed it, the Express noticed, too. It's oblivious that Caelus isn't hiding it so well since they're exposed. They just left your home planet, giving you a good-bye after they seal the stellaron, Caelus was the last to enter the express with hickeys on his neck and collarbone.

"...What have you and Mr. [Y] been up to?" The pink haired photographer asked the male.

"Stuff…" Caelus blushed.

"Stuff, huh…?" March deadpanned. "You mean leaving some marks. You're still exposed."

Feeling embarrassed by this, the trailblazer hides his marks from the others. God, it was embarrassing.

luocha

"Goodness me…" Luocha mumbled while rubbing the spot where you left some marks. "I should be glad that my body isn't too exposed. My clothes covered my body completely."

"Oi. That's not fair. I want everyone to see it." You grumbled, wrapping your arms around the male's neck from behind. "To let them know that you're mine."

"I can understand that, but I have some business to attend to…" the blonde sighed. You sulked then sucked on the male's cheek, causing him to let out a shriek, "W-what are you doing? Are you trying to eat my face? L-luv!"

—

"Wow, did you get bitten by some?" Sushang pointed at the bite mark on Luocha's cheek.

"A dog bit my face…" Luocha answered with a blank expression on his face.

"O-ok…"

sampo

This is an unexpected surprise. Sampo is wearing a tank top underneath to hide his exposed body. It was weird and suspicious, why is he hiding them now? He blames you.

"That's new. Were you cold?" Seele asks the con-man.

"No. Felt exposed." Sampo answered.

"Huh? You didn't even care that you were exposed, why are you covering them up, now?" The butterfly pointed. She paused when she spotted you passing by and then she realized, "Don't tell me…"

Sampo turned flustered red with embarrassment. The great Sampo, embarrassed. You know how to tease and manipulate the poor male.

"My body hurts…" Sampo whined.

"Cannot believe I'm saying this, but…I feel bad for you."

"You should be!"

gepard

You're not too rough on him, but you did leave some marks on neck that the Silvermane Guards noticed that it was hard to avoid.

"Uh…Captain…"

"What is it?" Gepard turned to the soldier.

"Sorry if this is…out of nowhere, but are you feeling well?"

"What do you mean…?"

"Well…you have those marks on your neck. It becomes unavoidable to us."

Gepard was going to question the soldier first, but soon realized that you had marked him as yours last night. No wonder Serval was holding back laughter. The poor captain covered his neck.

"[Y]..."

dan heng

Dan Heng stroked the bite marks that were given by you. He was pissed off at how rough and aggressive you were with him. You're not sorry for what you did. A hickey is a hickey, so he's all yours.

"You have no need to go this far." Dan Heng sighed, hiding his hickeys.

"To prove that you're my property~ You're cute when you scream my name~"

And you were banned from his room.

blade

He doesn't mind the hickeys being exposed since he doesn't care, but you do. You've been trying to get him to hide it, but…

"Why? Don't you want others to know that I belong to you?" Blade asked.

"Yes, I do, but not that way." You sweatdropped at your beloved boyfriend, trying to cover the hickeys that you left on him, but he uncovered it. "Dear aeons, if Kafka or Silver Wolf asks where you get it, don't put me involved."

"They know. You can't hide it from them."

"...What am I going to do with you…?"

masterlist

rules

[rdr2gifs]

Each time Arthur has helped someone without expecting payment (that I can remember) because I’ve seen some weird takes circling around about how Arthur only cares about money/doesn’t help people (yet again)

He helped a city photographer take pictures and acted as his protector because he liked him

He helped a doctor retrieve a stolen wagon full of medicine, he wasn’t even asked to do so, he did it out of his own good will

He wanted to make an old cranky man happy and proposed finding his lost trinkets for him

He helped Deborah MacGuiness find dinosaur bones out of curiosity. He didn’t receive any financial reward for it. Just a few trinkets and he was satisfied

He risked his life for Marko Dragic’s experiments (his main motivation in this mission was again, curiosity)

He rescued a boy being held hostage by the gunsmith in Rhodes

He rescued people from being trafficked and gave them a large sum of money (he could’ve kept it for himself) for a better life

He helped Mr. White and Mr. Black gain freedom and even helped them again after they got themselves into trouble

He rescued Charles Chatenay on at least 3 different occasions

He instantly hurried to retrieve Sister Calderon’s cross even though he has never met her before

In his first encounter with Marjorie and Bertram, he helps to calm Bertram down and is understanding even though Bertram gave him trouble. He even puts the bartender in his place after he speaks about Bertram in a degrading manner

He agreed to help a man get rid of nigh folk occupying his property and after he payed him with only a rat pelt, Arthur didn’t get angry and still asked him if he’d be really fine on his own after knowing he wouldn’t be able to pay

He let a homeless man hug him and listened to what he has to say

He helped to save Jamie from becoming a cult member and stopped him from taking his life

He helped a boy look for his lost dog

He saved an injured man’s life after driving him to a doctor

He helped a woman get rid of a body after she claimed she had to kill the man in self-defence

He donated to the poor and even to build a shelter for war-veterans

He taught Charlotte how to survive on her own

He tried to save a crazed village out of his own good will

He helped a war veteran retrieve his prosthetic leg and helped him hunt

He helped a man look for his lost friend in the snowy mountains

He helped Rain’s Fall retrieve sacred items important to his people

He helped to retrieve stolen medical supplies for the Wapiti tripe

He saved Captain Monroe’s life after hearing he was in danger

He helped Beau and Penelope escape from their terrible families

He has saved many hunters from getting mauled, given many ladies a ride home, saved people from dying of poisoning, helped gather herbs, helped a lost New Yorker find his way to the town, helped save many people’s lives (lady being held hostage in her own house in Lemoyne, folk getting tortured by The Murfees or Lemoyne Raiders etc.)

Let’s not forget the fact that Arthur is a provider for over 20 people. He cannot be running around and risking his life for free for everyone he meets. He needs money. Even so, he has helped all the people above for no reward and out of his own free will. When I see someone say that Arthur is only motivated by money and never helps people otherwise, I just instantly assume they stormed through the story and didn’t pay any attention. The encounters listed above make up the majority of chance encounters/side quests and in almost all of them he is helping people. 80% of these are also pre-diagnosis.

He has a hard time accepting any compliments or gratitude for his good deeds and always downplays himself. Even in the main story he is never thinking about himself and he always puts others first.

“You did not ask for anything, you only gave”

The encounters where he does require payment pale in comparison to those in which he doesn’t, and even so they are very justified as they are often dangerous, time consuming or straight up ridiculous. It’s weird to assume Arthur only helps people for money when he doesn’t want to deliver love letters, interview dangerous people and sneak into heavily guarded properties for free.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Fighting junk fees is "woke"

“Populism” isn’t intrinsically left or right. The distinction between the two is often obscured by jargon, but there’s a simple litmus test (courtesy of Steven Brust): “ask what’s more important: human rights, or property rights. If they say ‘property rights are human rights,’ they’re on the right.”

Which is to say, both the left and the right can be populist, but the populist left seeks to improve peoples’ lives, no matter what that takes, while the populist right is only willing to make the world better when that doesn’t interfere with the interests of property owners.

This is how you get the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire equating publicly produced, free insulin with forcing enslaved Black people to pick cotton in the fields:

https://newrepublic.com/post/174485/libertarian-party-suggests-former-black-lawmaker-pick-crops-free

For right populists, the property rights of pharma giants are human rights, so anything that interferes with those rights is equivalent to any other human rights violation.

This is not only wrong, but it’s also a huge vulnerability in the right populist mindset. It’s a button that, when pushed, produces a reliable and reflexive outrage.

This is essential for the creation, maintenance and expansion of plutocracy. In a plutocracy, a small minority owns most of the property (we live in a plutocracy). By definition, plutocracy isn’t popular, since it’s a system that benefits a small minority at everyone else’s expense. In its natural state, plutocracy is only popular with its winners, and not the vast majority of losers it creates.

So plutocrats need to find ways to get turkeys to vote for Christmas. One important trick is to convince us all that the system is fair, guided by an invisible hand that performs mystic passes over our heads at birth and locates the very best of us and elevates us to the apex of the social pyramid.

But there’s a problem with this: plutocracy is self-sustaining. The story that we’re all just “temporarily embarrassed millionaires” who can rise to the top with hard work and smarts falls flat in the face of the reality that nearly everyone at the top was born there. If the system selects rulers based on merit, and if everyone the system selects was born rich, then the rich must have some genetic trait that makes them destined to rule.

This is why plutocracy always turns into aristocracy: the idea that some people are suited to rule because they have “good blood.” Eugenics is, above all, a way to excuse inequality. Fitness to rule is determined primarily by whose orifice you emerge from, and only secondarily by any obvious competence or skill.

So right wing footsoldiers are mired in a terrible and shameful swamp of self-loathing. By definition, their lack of wealth and power is their own fault, and not merely their fault, but the fault of their genes. Being on the bottom is proof that you deserve to be there. Your failure to rise proves that you don’t deserve to rise.

No wonder the right is so irony-poisoned. Remember 2020, when gun-nuts got “revenge” on gun safety scolds by photographing themselves pointing loaded guns at their own penises? The participants insisted that they were just trolling, and they were…by pointing loaded guns at their dicks:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/05/28/holographic-nano-layer-catalyser/#musketfuckers

Plutocrats understand that there are limits to irony, and that at a certain point, irony poisoning becomes so acute that your rank-and-file literally start blowing their balls off. To relieve the pressure, plutes scapegoat other people based on their gender, sexual orientation, race, or nationality.

This provides an important resolution to the cognitive dissonance of meritocracy. The reason you’re doing so badly isn’t that you lack merit, it’s that affirmative action has elevated unworthy people to the positions that you deserve. You are a temporarily embarrassed millionaire — but the riches you deserve have been snaffled up by welfare queens and DEI consultants.

Cruelty isn’t the point of culture war bullshit: the point is power. Cruelty is merely the tactic:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/03/09/turkeys-voting-for-christmas/#culture-wars

Culture war bullshit is a very reliable way to get turkeys to vote for Christmas. Take the campaign against junk fees, which have ticketmastered every part of your life with “fees” for things like “paying your rent by check” and “not paying your rent by check”:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/30/military-industrial-park-service/#booz-allen

There is no broad constituency for junk fees. Scam artists (including scam artists in the C-suites of Fortune 100 companies) love them, sure, but junk fees make everyone else furious.

What’s a plutocrat to do? Well, it turns out that culture war bullshit can make right wingers point (metaphorical) guns at their own junk — all plutocrats need to do is put the word out that getting rid of junk fees is “woke” and low-information right-wing thumbsuckers will demand the right to be charged junk fees.

Here’s an example: one especially pernicious form of junk fee is the “swipe fees” that credit-card companies charge merchants. In an increasingly cashless age, these companies — dominated by the Visa/Mastercard duopoly — have figured out how to scrape 3–5% out of every single retail transaction in the entire fucking economy.

Every merchant you patronize has to charge more — or reduce quality, or both — in order to pay this Danegeld to two of the largest, most profitable companies in the world. Visa/Mastercard have hiked their fees by 40 percent since the pandemic’s start. Forty. Fucking. Percent. Tell me again how greedflation isn’t real?

A bipartisan legislative coalition, led by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) have proposed the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), which will force competition into credit-card routing, putting pressure on the Visa/Mastercard duopoly:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1838/text?s=1&r=3

This should be a no-brainer, but plute spin-doctors have plenty of no-brains to fill up with culture war bullshit. Writing in The American Prospect, Luke Goldstein unpacks an astroturf campaign to save the endangered swipe fee from woke competition advocates:

https://prospect.org/power/2023-08-04-wall-street-culture-war-swipe-fee-reform/

Now, this campaign isn’t particularly sophisticated. It goes like this: Target is a big business that runs a lot of transactions through Visa/Mastercard, so it stands to benefit from competition in payment routing. And Target did a mean woke by selling Pride merch, which makes them groomers. So by fighting swipe fees, Congress is giving woke groomers a government bailout!

It’s literally that stupid. It’s being pushed by a dark money group based in Kansas, which is targeting Senator Marshall’s constituents with mailers that warns voters they’ll “lose their credit card points” because he’s thrown his lot in with “liberal politicians”:

https://punchbowl.news/caf-marshall-mailer-kansas/

The fliers also warn that competition could result in “your financial data could be processed by partners of the Chinese Communist Party” (the bill bans foreign companies from routing transactions, and bans China UnionPay by name).

The fliers are anonymous. The only ghoul shameless enough to put his name on the campaign is Grover Norquist, whose Americans for Tax Reform tells its Christmas-voting-turkeys to “side with consumers, not woke retailers.”

The dark money org pushing this line have placed op-eds in newspapers across red states, comparing transaction routing competition to your kids’ data being snaffled up by Tiktok:

https://www.theflstandard.com/senators-rubio-and-scott-must-protect-the-personal-financial-data-of-floridians/

This nonsense was peddled by League of Southeastern Credit Unions president Samantha Beeler, whose org has spent $20,000 fighting the CCCA, claiming that a “cheaper” system would be “less secure”:

https://disclosurespreview.house.gov/ld/ldxmlrelease/2023/Q2/301493985.xml

But that’s small potatoes. Millions are being spent, right now, lobbying against CCCA — $5m from the American Bankers’ Association, $2m from the Credit Union National Association, another $400k from Mastercard.

For these rentiers, corrupting our government with millions is a stellar bargain if it lets them continue to collect rent every time we spend money. And millions of people who’ll end up paying that will demand the right to do so, provided they’re told that they’re fighting “woke capitalism” and China.

I'm kickstarting the audiobook for "The Internet Con: How To Seize the Means of Computation," a Big Tech disassembly manual to disenshittify the web and bring back the old, good internet. It's a DRM-free book, which means Audible won't carry it, so this crowdfunder is essential. Back now to get the audio, Verso hardcover and ebook:

http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/04/owning-the-libs/#swiper-no-swiping

[Image ID: A mechanical credit card imprinter (AKA 'zipzap') emblazoned with a US flag Punisher logo. It is imprinting a blank credit-card slip with a red Visa card bearing the GOP logo. It sits on a weathered wooden plank table, stained a dark brown.]

[thisgirlnamedblusy]

Blizzard

Pairing: Donna Beneviento x Fem! Reader

Warnings: Dark Donna

Word count: 4,808

Summary: You shouldn't have walked in the middle of a blizzard

N/A: Sorry about the language mistakes!!! Requests are open, I'm waiting for yours!!! I love you all!!!

“Uh, oh...” You whispered as a cold current ran through your body. You knew it wasn't the best day for hiking, but you couldn't miss the opportunity that this snowy landscape offered you. You had already been to many places, but none like that strange village. The mystery that seemed to surround those villagers... As sullen and mysterious as the snowy landscape that surrounded them.

It was a perfect place to walk through the snow, if it weren't for the fact that a blizzard seemed to be coming.

“I should have listened to that old woman...” You sighed when the snow began to hurt your eyes. “Well, it would be better to turn around and go back to the… Oh, shit…”

You turned around, being completely sure that you had followed that path, the one that led directly to a beautiful waterfall that was dying to be captured by your camera.

You didn't want to admit it. No matter how hard you looked at the trees, you couldn't tell if you had passed by them or not.

The blizzard raged mercilessly, the wind buffeting your body as you made your way through the snow. And yes, it could be worse. It seemed there was no better time for your little adventure than a few hours before nightfall. Your determination to photograph a beautiful sunset in the mountains was going to be your downfall.

“Okay… Okay… (Y/N), you screwed it up,” you said while trying in vain to make a call on your cell phone. Useless. You had been without signal since you arrived in the village. You didn't know why you thought it would be different in the middle of that frozen wasteland.

The light was becoming less intense and your steps were increasingly erratic. You could be walking in circles and not even realize it.

The snow cut your face like blades. You didn't want to despair, it wasn't the first time you got lost, but certainly, you started to give up.

“Come on, come on...” You said to yourself, continuing to walk awkwardly. Noises similar to the howls of a wolf made you not want to stop. “No… I don’t… Want…To be… Your food…”

You walked a few more steps until the ground gave way under your feet. It was your end.

You slid down some rocks, hitting yourself several times in the process until the fluffy snow cushioned your fall.

“Oh...” You gasped, checking that you hadn't broken anything. “Shit, shit, shit…”

The darkness limited your field of vision, but you could hear the water from that waterfall. You clumsily stood up, brushing the snow off your clothes, preventing your body from freezing early.

“Well, that was close,” you murmured when you realized you were near to a cliff. When you looked up, you could make out something in the middle of that landscape.

It looked like a house, or rather, a mansion, you couldn't tell, the night was darkening. The snow continued to cut your face mercilessly and, although you couldn't see where you were, you thought that that building was your best option.

“Wow... Who lives here? It's impressive,” you sighed when you were close enough for the snow to stop being a hindrance to your vision. “Hello?” You asked out loud, opening the metal fence that delimited the property.

Nothing, the sound of the wind was the only thing that predominated in that place. It would be better to get a little closer.

“Brrr” You shook your body when the small roof protected you from the cold. It looked like an old, abandoned house, but you had no choice but to knock on the door. “Hello?! Anyone there?! Hello!?”

You called out quite loudly and yelled loud enough so that the wind didn't drown out your voice.

“Maybe there's no one here...” You said trembling, with your body freezing little by little.

Behind a window you could see a halo of light, similar to what fire makes when it reflects on glass. You were not alone. Someone lived in that house.

“Hey! Hey! Hello!? Please!” You shouted, hitting the door even harder. “I'm lost and I think, I think I'm going to freeze to death! Hello?!”

Nothing

You were about to give up, looking around for alternative shelter when an ominous creak reached your ears.

One of the old doors opened little by little, letting out the dim light from a candle. The person holding it made you gulp.

It looked like a woman, dressed entirely in black. The light of the candle danced on her face, or rather, on the black veil that covered it. But there was no time to study that woman. You were about to turn into an icicle.

“He, hello...” You stammered, noticing that woman's gaze on you. “Sorry to bothering but… I, I got lost in the mountains. I fell down a small ravine and… Well, the blizzard caught me and…”

For some reason, that almost ghostly presence gave you a certain feeling of discomfort.

“Ahem,” you cleared your throat. The mysterious woman said nothing. You started to get a bit nervous. “I… I, I was wondering if…”

“Who are you? Stupid stranger!” A shrill voice made you take a step back. It had not come from the woman with the veil, but rather came from a strange and disturbing doll that she woman was holding with her other hand.

“What?” You asked confused. Maybe you were already freezing and starting to get delirious. “Please, please, let me take shelter from the storm, I... I think, I think I'm going to freeze.”

Doll and woman looked at each other in a disturbing scene. It was very strange, but you weren't ready to choose another option. The night was already closed and that was your only ticket to not freeze to death.

Luckily, after a few seconds of strange tension, the lady in black moved away from the door, giving a slight nod for you to enter.

“Oh, thank you, thank you very much,” you said, clasping your hands and quickly fleeing the cold.

The house was gloomy, dark, barely illuminated by a couple of candles on a table. It was a majestic house, which surely belonged to a majestic woman. When you finished studying your surroundings, you looked at the lady, who closed the door with a bang that disturbed the strange tranquility of that place.

“Oh, is that a ventriloquist doll?” You asked curiously, looking at that strange puppet. The lady didn't seem to want to move, you could only see that she was breathing like any mortal. That was a good sign, you supposed.

“My name is Angie, you stupid meddler,” the doll protested, making a fuss over her owner. You laughed, thinking this was some kind of joke from that strange woman.

“Hey, you're very good...” You said amused, cautiously approaching the doll. “Hello, Angie, I'm (Y/N)” you said in a childish voice, shaking the puppet's hand, a hand that it immediately moved away.

“But what are you doing, stupid?” The doll protested, making its owner to look at it.

Well, at least you weren't freezing to death, and that you weren't going to get bored.

“I... I appreciate you letting me in, um... Can you tell me your name?” You asked after a few more moments of tense silence.

There was no response, the lady simply walked past you while that puppet turned its head to keep looking at you.

“Donna,” a hoarse voice murmured, this time, coming from the mourning lady. You sighed in relief knowing that you weren't going to have to communicate with that doll.

“Donna, oh, okay, what, it’s a pretty name,” you said nervously, following closely the lady, who opened the door into the house, towards a living room that had a lit fireplace.

“Oh, fire...” You said, eager for any source of heat, approaching that fireplace and extending your arms towards it, letting the heat soothe your almost blue hands. “Wow, I thought my hands were going to freeze.”

“I don't like her, Donna...” You heard the doll whisper, or, well, you thought it was the doll. You couldn't help but frown.

“Leave her be, Angie. She seems harmless,” the lady murmured, leaving the doll on an armchair.

What kind of woman was that? Did she talk to herself? Would it have been better to freeze?

“Excuse me, did you say something?” You asked confused.

 That woman, Donna turned to you and shook her head, leaving the candle along with others on a table.

“Okay... I, I'll leave right away, as soon as the storm stops,” you said, starting to feel too trapped in those rickety walls. Donna nodded.

“I don't think it’s going to stop soon,” she whispered, approaching the fireplace and removing a pot of boiling water from it.

“I won't be a bother, I promise,” you said, stopping shivering from the cold and enjoying the pleasant warmth of the fire.

“Of course you won’t be!” A shrill voice, coming from the armchair where the doll rested shouted. It couldn't have been Angie, no way.

“Angie...” The lady sighed, approaching the chair. “Behave”.

You swallowed again, not knowing if the heat of the fire was enough to make you want to stay.

“Excuse her, she doesn't like strangers,” the woman told you in a soft but hoarse tone, as if she wasn't used to talking to anyone. Living in a place like this, it didn't seem strange to you. “Sit down.”

You obeyed without saying anything, going towards the chair she had indicated and exploring that house with your eyes.

“Oh, thank you,” you said, taking off your backpack.

“Tea?” She offered you, with a voice that betrayed a certain nervousness. Although she seemed kind, something gave you a bad feeling.

“Oh, of course, if it's hot...” You said, hiding the fear you started to feel.

“Of course it's hot,” she responded sharply, making you shift in your chair. “Tea has to be hot.”

“Yes, yes, of course...” You murmured, bowing your head in an apologetic gesture, gratefully taking the cup she offered you.

The lady in black sat in front of you, watching you. You didn't know what she was looking for in your gaze exactly, but the feeling of not being able to see her face was starting to make you uncomfortable.

“I... Well...” You said nervous because of the silence, because of the sound of the wind being the protagonist in that dark room. “Your house is impressive, Donna.”

“Thank you,” she responded, nodding pleased at the compliment.

“It must be quite calm. To live here, I mean,” you commented curiously, bringing up the most absurd topic of conversation you could think of.

“I like the tranquility,” Donna stated, drinking from her cup, slightly moving the veil away from her face. You had to make a superhuman effort not to look.

“I see... It's, it's all quite dark.”

“There is no electric power. The storm broke it” the woman explained, to which you nodded. Thank goodness, you thought you had entered the tunnel of horror.

“Oh, wow,” you said, feigning empathy. You couldn't help but feel very curious about this woman, but also a bit afraid of her.

“I'm sure you're hungry. I can't offer you anything to eat. The elevator that goes to the kitchen doesn't work,” she said passively, as if your presence was not pleasant for her, but nevertheless, trying to sound… Kind.

“Do you have an elevator in your house? Wow, what a luxury,” you said amused, in a pathetic attempt at joking.

“My parents built it like that,” Donna explained, getting nervous for some reason you didn't know.

“Oh, sure... Where are they?” You asked with good intentions.

“They're dead,” Donna said, slamming the cup on the table hard, making you panic.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... Oh, well,” you said embarrassed. You couldn't have a worse day. “I better keep quiet.”

“Yeah, shut up!” Angie screamed.

When you looked at the couch, the doll was still as limp as it seemed.

“Angie...” Donna whispered, with a severe, reprimanding tone. Time to change the subject. You didn't want to think that the doll had spoken for itself.

“I have energetic bars in my backpack. They're not a big deal, but at least it's something... Do you want one?” You asked, using your well-known people skills, that ability of yours to talk to anyone, no matter how strange.

“Energetic what?” She asked, curious.

You took two out of your backpack and offered her one, which she examined carefully.

“Yes, well... It's like eating newspaper but on the label it says that they are apple flavour...”  You said amused, devouring yours.

She hesitated, but she tried out of curiosity.

“The one who made this has not tasted an apple in his life,” the lady said disgusted, but with a funny tone. “But thank you… (Y/N)?”

“Oh yeah, (Y/N), that’s my name,” you said, covering your filled mouth with your hand. “And don't thank me, thank you for let me in.”

“Normally I would let you freeze to death, but I was in a good mood today,” she said passively. You laughed, thinking it was a joke, although it definitely didn't sound like one. You didn't want to ask if it was a joke either, you were a bit scared.

“Well...” You murmured, after a few minutes of horrible silence. “How's that storm going?” You asked, looking towards one of the windows. You wanted to think that you could get out of there, that the blizzard had subsided, but it wasn't true.

“You can stay the night if you want,” Donna offered, getting up from her chair.

“No, it's not necessary,” you said, perhaps too hastily. “I don't want to abuse your kindness.”

“Well, if you prefer to freeze to death...” She said with a low, almost threatening tone.

You looked at the window again. The blizzard seemed unbeatable, tireless. That house, that woman. It was all disturbing, but it was better than freezing to death.

“I... I... It's okay,” you said, sighing defeated. “The truth is that I’m tired.”

“Follow me,” she said dryly, picking up the candle from the table again.

You obeyed, putting the backpack on your shoulder.

Walking slowly, you reached the hall again and began to climb the stairs, trying not to lose the light of the candle that Donna was carrying.

As you went up, a portrait of a woman caught your attention. She was beautiful, so beautiful. So much for an irreverent and shameless girl like you.

“Wow, she is... Don't tell me that you’re that beautiful woman,”  you said jokingly, but at the same time, seriously.

Donna paused, slowly turning her head to look at you. She didn't respond, she continued walking.

You better shut up, (Y/N)

“Here. You can stay here,” she said dryly, as if she were annoyed by something. Had that comment offended her? She must have been flattered by your compliment.

“Thank you, Donna,” you sighed, leaving the backpack on the bed in that small room.

“Good night,” she said, lighting a candle with hers and disappearing like a ghost.

“Good...” You said, before the door closed with a loud bang. “…Night…”

You sighed and shrugged, digging through your backpack, locating your diary. Just a few things that worth writing in that small notebook happened in your adventures but this was one of them.

“Who are you?” You asked the quick sketch you made of the lady and her doll. “The truth is that I am curious…”

Even though your journey through the mountains had left you completely exhausted, you couldn't sleep a wink. The sound of the storm shook the window panes and the surrounding trees cast dark shadows on the wall.

“There were no houses in the village... I had to find the one with the cursed doll,” you huffed, covering yourself with the sheets and squeezing your eyes tightly.

You immediately regretted eating that stupid energetic bar. Your mouth was crying out for some water. You couldn't sleep with that infernal thirst. You had two options: let your throat go dry, or get up.

“Okay... Tunnel of horror, here I come,” you whispered, making the most rational decision.

You took the small candle that Donna lit and opened the door as discreetly as possible. It was in vain, as an ominous creak gave you away.

“Water... Water...” You murmured, illuminating the dark hallway.

Luckily, there was a bathroom right in front of the room.

“That's better,” you said satisfied, having quenched your thirst.

The most logical and normal thing would have been to return to your room, but of course, you were not a normal person, much a less logical one.

Curious, you looked over the railing, hoping, you didn't know what, to see something. The small glow of the fireplace could be distinguished in the distance. Slowly, you approached the stairs.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Slowly, extinguishing the candle, you went down a couple of steps, stopping at that portrait.

“Surely if I had you in front of me right now I would already be trying to flirt with you...” You whispered seductively. “And if that doll wasn't there...” You said later, making a disgusted face at the puppet.

Without taking your eyes off the portrait, you continued down until you reached the hall again. There, you walked slowly to the door, peeking out.

Curiosity killed the... Yes, shut up now, brain

Nothing, there were no signs of life in the room. That doll wasn't even there. Well, you had free rein to explore, or so you thought.

As soon as you entered the room, you froze in place.

The fire illuminated a figure curled up on a sofa. Donna, without a doubt.

She seemed asleep and next to her, that inert puppet.

Stay away. That's what the rational side of your mind told you. Did it have to be repeated that you were not rational?

You took one step, then another, until you were close enough.

“Oh, my God,” you sighed, putting your hand over your mouth to avoid being discovered. The black veil had disappeared. That woman's face was beautiful, but a huge scar covered part of it. She was the lady in the portrait and that's why she covered herself.

That didn't make her seem any less beautiful to you. What now? Are you going to flirt with her?

The woman was sleeping peacefully with a book in her hand. You had no intention of bothering her, nor of continuing to explore. Running back to the bed to draw her beauty was your priority.

“Donna, Donna! The stranger, the stranger!” The doll screeched, causing you to fall to the ground in fright. There was no longer any doubt. The doll had a life of its own.

Of course, the lady woke up scared, looking for the source of the scandal.

“What are you doing?” Donna asked when she noticed your presence. Her single eye hardened, glowing with rage.

“No, nothing...” You said, retreating, crawling on the floor.

“She's mean, Donna! She was spying on you!” Angie accused you, which made you shake even more.

“What? I don't... why is it alive?” You stammered, overwhelmed by all those sudden emotions.

“I shouldn't have let you in,” the woman hissed, walking towards you, with the most dangerous look you've ever seen, with that beauty overshadowed by rage.

“Wait, wait...” You said, crawling on the floor.  “I didn't mean to bother you, What is this doll?”

“Shut up,” the woman said, clenching her fists on either side of her hips.

“Sorry, sorry... Don't kill me,” you begged pathetically, covering your face with your hands. “It wasn't my intention. Besides, I don't know why you even cover yourself. You are beautiful.”

You were telling the truth, but it clearly sounded like a shabby attempt to get that woman to take pity on you.

“Don't think you're going to get away by lying to me, (Y/N)...” Donna threatened, getting closer and closer to you.

“Wa, wait, wait. I'm not lying, really. You are, you are beautiful. I mean... If you didn't want to kill me I would be trying to flirt with you,” you said nervously, trying to stand up.

She stopped, looking at you with a frown.

“Are you serious?” She asked confused, blinking several times.

“Yes, yes... You're really hot, Donna,” you said, squeezing your eyes, waiting for your end.

“You're very vulgar,” she sighed, extending a hand toward you.

Had it worked? Had telling the truth done any good?

“Oh...” You sighed, taking her hand and standing up. “I… I, I'm sorry.”

“Don't you know that it is rude to spy on others?” She told you with a calmer tone.

“I guess I'm curious, that's all,” you said, relaxing your breathing. Her gaze explored your body up and down.

She nodded, looking at you in a different way, with the shadow of a smile decorating her face.

“Hey, about the doll...” You said whispering, looking out of the corner of your eye at the puppet, which, to your surprise, stood up on its own.

“Do you really think I'm beautiful?” Donna asked, with a childish smile on her face, as if you had said something strange.

“Yes,” you said, nodding, turning red with embarrassment. You couldn't deny that you were attracted to her, even if she seemed dangerous.

“You are also very beautiful, (Y/N)” she whispered, approaching, nervously playing with her hands.

“Give each other a kiss and shut up now” the doll mocked, making you look away at it.

“Oh, the doll did it again... Why is it moving?” You asked nervously, disturbed by what you were seeing. You couldn't be dreaming. Your heart was beating very fast.

“Would you like to kiss me?” Donna asked, making you almost break your neck as you looked at her, eyes wide.

“I... Um, what?” You asked confused, with a knot in your stomach, with your subconscious screaming at you to do it.

“I would like to kiss you…”

What was wrong with that woman? She wanted to kill you just a minute ago.

You were an adventurous girl and you boasted about the girls you met during your travels. Donna was the strangest of them all, but also the most beautiful.

“Well, why not?” You said, shrugging, letting yourself be carried away by her figure, by her beauty in the light of the fireplace.

You approached slowly, until you placed your lips on hers. She sighed contentedly, unable to hide a smile as she kissed you slowly, bringing her hands to your waist.

It wasn't a long kiss, but it was an intense one, one that made you forget for a moment where you were and the strange things you had experienced.

“Surely you have met many girls on your travels...” She murmured, kissing you slowly again, exploring your lips with curiosity. You were confused, but you couldn't deny that you were enjoying it.

 It wasn't how you intended to end the night.

“Yes, but...None like you...” you whispered, laughing at that situation. You weren't planning on having an affair with a woman who lived with a living doll. You began to be grateful for being lost in the blizzard.

“You can be sure of that, (Y/N)” she said amused, but with a dark tone, without stopping kissing you, caressing your body, raising the temperature of that house. “My bedroom is downstairs... But the elevator doesn't work,” Donna said, biting her lip. “Do you think that small bed of yours...?”

You, eager to get to know this woman more deeply, nodded. Your unbridled lust had made you forget everything that had happened. Someday it will take its toll on you. Maybe before you ç thought.

“The small bed will do,” you murmured, biting her earlobe. Her lavender scent was intoxicating, as were the sounds she made when you kissed her neck.

Donna pulled away from you, taking your hand eagerly, with desire, dragging you towards the stairs.

It was a night... Too good. That woman was eager, almost insatiable. You couldn't tell how long you were in that bed, naked, giving up to your passion. You moaned, she moaned. What seemed like a terrifying night turned into a series of moans, kisses, caresses… It became something unexpected and electrifying, something you didn't want to forget.

You opened your eyes as the morning light came through your window. Your whole body hurt. Because of the blizzard, and because of the night you had spent with that woman. Woman who, by the way, was not sleeping next to you, was no longer hugging you like the night before.

“Mmm, the doll lady...” You moaned, letting yourself fall on the mattress, confirming that you didn't dream of making love to her. The whole bed smelled like lavender. “Well, it seems that there is no longer a storm.”

You dressed quickly, shivering from the cold, but with your body still warm from passion.

“Good morning,” you said humming, peeking out the door that led to the living room. There she was, in her black dress, with her face uncovered, preparing a breakfast worthy of any buffet.

“Hello, tesoro, how did you sleep?” She asked kindly, walking over and kissing you quickly. You smiled.

“Not enough time...” you purred in her ear, causing her to giggle shyly.

“You scandalous...” the Angie doll said with a singing voice.

“Fuck! I had forgotten,” you said scared, running a hand over the back of your neck. “Em, Donna… What's wrong with that doll? Why is it alive?”

“Come on, come on, tesoro, calm down,” she said, taking you by the hand to the table and pushing you to sit down. She did the same in front of you.

“Seriously, why is it moving?” You asked, grabbing a croissant from a tray.

“I'll tell you another time...” the lady said, ignoring your curiosity for the umpteenth time.

“Mmm, you better hurry up, tomorrow I'm traveling to Poland” you commented, taking a sip of that delicious coffee that she had prepared for you.

“Poland?”

“Uh-huh,” you nodded, smiling but observing the confused gesture of the lady in black. “It's the end of my route. Afterwards, I will return home.”

“I thought you'd stay a bit longer...” she said, her eyes shining, as if she were pleading.

You feigned indifference and sighed.

“Well, well... Maybe I'll stay a few more days... If that's okay with you, of course...” You said amused, winking at her.

“I would love to,” Donna whispered, ending the conversation.

After filling yourself with that breakfast, you decided it was time to leave. You would have stayed longer, but at least you had to return to the hotel to extend your stay. The truth is that you wanted to know more about her, spend more time with her.

“Then I go down the elevator, follow the bridge... And I arrive at the village...” You said, repeating her instructions at the door of the house.

“That's it, tesoro... Promise me you'll see me again,” she said, hanging on your neck and kissing you quickly.

“Sure, we could have a lunch together if you want.”

You said goodbye with another kiss and started on your way back. The path was sinister, but at least there was no loss and the day seemed clear.

You got into that strange elevator and pressed the button. You frowned when you realized something was wrong. You had neither gone down nor gone up. You had felt movement, but you were in the same place.

“What the…?” You asked to yourself, studying the landscape with your eyes. No, you hadn't moved, the house was still at the end of the road. You started to shake. You pressed the button again and again. You went up the elevator again and again. Nothing, the same landscape.

You left the cabin when you had apparently managed to move around. Some red doors remained open.

“I definitely need that nap,” you said, scratching the back of your neck and pushing one of the doors.

You opened your eyes scared.

In front of you there was no forest, no snowy landscape. In front of you was the hall of that house, you were inside that house again.

“What?” You asked, trying to get out the door. It was impossible. Every time you left, you came back in. “What?”

“I'm sorry, (Y/N)” a hoarse voice startled you. The lady in black appeared out of nowhere. The black veil covered her face again.

“Donna? What's going on?” You asked scared, grabbing her black dress, mad. She didn't move. A childish laugh was filling the house. The doll laughed amused, and you suspected laughing at you.

“I like you, (Y/N). I can't let you leave.”

[iguessthisisanewobsession]

Danny is missing Project

Final senior semester Mr. Lancer has his class make a story that is told through any other medium but writing.

Danny, Tucker, Sam and Dash create an unreality/arg YouTube account under Dash’s name.

They start off with Dash recording blog like post of his life as a senior in a small town called amity park (minus all the ghost fights) for a final project.

Then the real project starts with a video titled “going through my freshmen yearbook”

Where he shares fond memories he has with everyone in his class. Until he stops and pauses at the photo of Danny before chuckling awkwardly and mentioning that he doesn’t actually remember this guy and stating that he’ll see if there’s a story he’s not remembering before moving on.

The video’s start taking a turn as he starts updating his confusion on Danny Fenton as he’s been asking around and everyone has adamantly responded that there has never been a kid in that town by that name.

The thing is that Dash has physical proof that Danny grew up with him and the others.

Dash keeps delving deeper and deeper bringing out old keepsakes like old recitals and photographs and places that showed proof of this mysterious Danny.

Eventually he makes a playlist simply titled ‘Danny is missing’.

The longer he post the more he realizes that Danny wasn’t just a person in town but seemingly very important in Dash’s life.

He starts sneakily recording conversations he has with other people when he brings up Danny.

Dash gets more paranoid and starts shutting himself in and focusing all of his energy into finding out who is Danny.

Starts theorizing when Danny went missing.

And of course in the background or darkness of the videos Danny’s doing his thing and fucking with the recording or just being creepy in general.

Eventually the story plays out as so:

Dash and Danny were childhood friends who used to play in forest that connected to the back of their properties.

Eventually they had a falling out due to Danny becoming friends with Tucker, who unlike Dash had both of his parent’s approval to hang out with the local ghost hunter’s kid.

Dash became Danny’s bully through their younger years before they reconciled and became friends again and eventually they fell in love.

Dash’s dad, who Dash thought was just a deadbeat, is a bigot, who eventually found out about the boys and proceeded to brutally beat both of them Bloody.

Danny succumbed to his injuries and Dash’s father was arrested.

It is revealed that Dash has retrograde amnesia due to the incident, all his memories that he has were post incident and everyone in town decided it was best for Dash not to know the real reason he was in the hospital and focus on recovering.

Afterwards, no one knew how to break the news to him so they just kept up the charade, there was never a Danny Fenton, so there was no need for Dash to go through any misplaced guilt or grief for someone he couldn’t even remember.

Everyone got so caught up in the lie that no one really took the time to actually grieve themselves. Going as far as Burring Danny in an unmarked grave under one of the trees in the forest.

The series ends on the implications that closure is important and that sometimes the things you do to protect someone can do more harm than good.

Dash’s character ends the series with his last update where he talks about going to a city near by and checking himself into medical facility for his own well being.

To say that Mr. Lancer was impressed is an understatement.

[soapyghostie]

I felt kinda weird sending a request cause we talk outside of here but oh well

Do you think you could write Nubbins and Danny with a reader who does photography, horror is one of the reasons I got into photography so idk, sorry if I worded this weird

I had the motivation to do one more for now since I haven’t been very productive in my classes so far today. Hope you enjoy!

The Ghost Face/Danny Johnson

OMG! Can he help?! Danny is drawn to your passion for photography because he loves photography too! He admires your ability to capture the beauty of the world around you, and he often finds him lost in the amazingly well shot photos you took. Almost as good as his photography skills. 

Danny, being a journalist under his alter ego Jed Olsen, understands your creative drive behind pursuing your passion for photography. When you express your desire to open a photography studio, he’s not only super supportive but also is excited about the prospect. He sees this as an opportunity for you to showcase your amazing talent and creativity to the world. He, also, wants to help you start and run your photography business too! 

As someone who appreciates the power of storytelling through images and his articles, Danny will bring up the idea of collaborating with you on various photography projects. He’ll even ask you to photograph events that he’s having to write about so he can publish your beautiful photographs for the whole town to see in his well written top tier articles. 

Danny understands the challenges of starting a new venture, especially in a competitive field like photography (He might be the top journalist at the Roseville Gazette, but that doesn’t mean he became that great overnight. He’s had a lot of practice). He offers his support not only emotionally but also practically, helping you with business planning, networking, and promotion. 

As a journalist, Danny's schedule is pretty busy during the day and also he spends a lot of time with his ‘hobby’ (if you know what I mean), yet, he still finds time to make an effort to prioritize quality time with you (I don’t know how he does it so don’t ask me). He understands the importance of nurturing y’all’s relationship amidst y’all’s respective careers and often suggests going on photoshoot outings together as a way to bond and unwind. Danny enjoys brainstorming creative concepts and themes for your photoshoots.

When you finally open your photography studio, Danny couldn’t be more prouder. He attends the grand opening with a camera in hand, capturing the excitement and anticipation of the moment. He smiles and y’all’s shared passion for storytelling will continue to strengthen y’all’s bond and drive each other to success.

Nubbins Sawyer

When Nubbins finds out that you photograph for fun just like him, he’s excited. Obviously, your photography technique is very different from his and he doesn’t fully understand the artist form of your photography at first; however, he quickly becomes fascinated by the way you capture the world through your lens. He wants to know why your photographs aren’t dark and blurry like his. 

Nubbins often finds himself admiring your work in awe, marveling at the way you can turn the most mundane scenes into something beautiful and captivating. You’ll look over your shoulder and find him just staring at one of the many photos you’ve taken in his hand, unmoving. Who knows how long he’s been standing there admiring your work. Actually, the better assumption is how long has he gone staring at that photo without blinking.

Nubbins spends the majority of his time hitchhiking and looking for ‘food’ heading towards the Sawyer property. He’d enjoy it if you tagged along with him and brought your camera to document your adventures together. Your hobby is a great way to immortalize y’all’s experiences and memories, creating a photo album of y’all’s life.  

Nubbins encourages and supports you. He would point out interesting objects and compositions for you to take pictures of during y’all’s unorganized photoshoots. He’ll also scout for locations or offer input too. 

Nubbins is protective of your camera equipment, ensuring it’s always safely stowed away when not using it. He understands how much your gear means to you and goes to great lengths to make sure it goes undamaged, knowing how much their photography means to you. 

Nubbins often proudly displays your work around the Sawyer house for his brothers to see. He takes pride in showcasing your talent to them and often boasts about your skills to his brothers. When he shares your photographs with his brothers, Nubbins finds himself cherishing the photographs, reminding him of all the moments y’all shared together. Each image holds a special place in his heart, serving as a visual representation of y’all’s love and adventures.

[drnikolatesla]

X-Ray Image Taken By Nikola Tesla (1896)

Though not widely known, Nikola Tesla spent a great deal of time intensively researching X-rays, publishing his results during the period between March 11, 1896 to August 11, 1897. He also gave a lecture on April 6, 1897 presenting designs of several different devices that could generate these powerful rays. During this lecture, he shared similar data and conclusions from his earlier experiments with Crookes tubes in 1894. Crookes tubes were invented by British scientist William Crookes in order to study electrical discharges in vacuum tubes. During Tesla’s experiments in 1894, he observed that some of the tubes that produced only feeble visible light had more effect on photographic plates than tubes which were brighter. Since it was obvious that there must be some kind of energy coming from the tubes with feeble light, and their properties were still unknown, Tesla used the term “radiant matter" to describe these radiations. With these tubes, Tesla produced some of the first X-ray imaging, which he called “shadowgraphs,” due to their dark nature, but still did not realize the importance of these radiations. To him, the photographs taken seemed to be spoiled due to unaccountable marks and defects. In March of 1895, a fire broke out in his laboratory, destroying practically all of his equipment and experimental data to date. It took several months before he could resume his work, and in the meantime, a German scientist named Wilhelm Röntgen made his X-ray discovery in the same year (December, 1895). Roentgen first detected the radiation by accident in his experiments where he was testing whether cathode rays emitted from Crookes tubes could pass through glass, and or other solid objects, but was astonished to find that the rays emitted would pass through thinner objects and leave shadows of the more solid objects behind (such as with skin and bones). When Tesla heard this news, it was immediately obvious to him what had been problematic in his laboratory work. Realizing and regretting that he had missed out on making a major scientific discovery, Tesla would say, “I realized that my guiding spirit had again prompted me and that I had failed to comprehend his mysterious signs.” He repeated Röntgen's experiments, and came to much better results than Röntgen and others since he had his newly developed Tesla Coil. With this apparatus, he immediately realized the importance of high voltages for producing powerful rays and suggested using his newly developed single-terminal tubes and connecting them to the secondary coil of the transformer. In 1896, Röntgen acknowledged Tesla’s discoveries and in a lecture before the Physical Medical Society in Wurzburg, Germany, discussed the advantage of using Tesla’s high-frequency transformer in generating X-rays. Tesla would also become one of the first scientists to point out the harms of these rays and developed safer ways to utilize them for medical use. Methods we still use today. On the other side of town, others like Thomas Edison thought these newly discovered rays could cure the blind. Many patients who were experimented upon starting showing terrible illnesses, one being his assistant who later had to have both arms amputated. Edison was quoted in an interview saying, “Don’t talk to me about X-rays…I am afraid of them.”

Nikola Tesla would later give all credit to Röntgen for the discovery, and throughout the next few years, produced some of the best X-ray imaging that even Röntgen praised. In a letter to Tesla, Röntgen wrote, “Dear Sir! You have surprised me tremendously with the beautiful photographs of wonderful discharges, and I tell you thank you very much for that. If only I knew how you make such things!”

[ivys-garden]

My head cannon endings for all the Hilda cast post finale (Spoilers for season 3)

Astrid

She remains in her home, never moving away. However she makes sure to visit Hilda often, which has become easier now that she's learned to fly again. She also doesn't get to lonely as she invites the Pooka to like with her and helps him practice shape shifting. When she dies she is buried where the fairy mound once was to be closer to her family.

Raven

He travels the world but always returns to Trollburg, on cold winter nights he joins Hilda and her family for tea and games, maybe the yule lads join in too. On his travels he spreads the story on Hilda far and wide even long after she's gone.

Tryla & Baba

They remain at the mountain most days but do ecompany Hilda on adventures during her weekly visit. They still live there long after everyone else is gone, telling tales of Hilda to the next hundreds of generations of trolls.

Anders

He continues living in Trollburg, working on wall and city maintenance with the bellkeeper. He never gets back together with Johana but he does try and be a better dad to Hilda, including taking her on that camping trip.

Johana

Begins selling her paintings to people, she also starts painting things from her and Hilda's adventures, including the Fae Ilse, which she still thinks about often. When she dies Hilda burries her at the fairy mound with Auntie Astrid, but she keeps a lock of her hair in a locket. One day, in the far future when Hilda has finally moved on she hangs that locket at the remains of the cabin.

Tontu

Just keeps doing what he does mostly. Going on adventures with Hilda occasionally but mostly keeping to himself. He remains in the house for a long time, even after Hilda had died.

Alfur

Keeps writing reports for the northern counties but he also begins working with Gerda and the safety patrol, his days are busy but that's how he likes them. When he dies, if elfs even do, he would be given a funeral pyre by the lost clan and Hilda returns to the northern counties to scatter his ashes.

Louise

Would go on many more adventures with the trio and would start to develop a crush on David, one that David would reciprocate. She would eventually become a wildlife photographer.

David

Started researching entomology and now runs an insect focused wildlife centre near the sparrow scout building, enjoying a more peaceful and quiet life than most of his friends. He also assists the linworm in a construction of a new garden on sparrow scout property, sometimes the two of them and Louise have tea together. He was the first to die out of the four and was buried in Trollburgs graveyard, later Louise would be buried with him when she died.

Frida

Finished her training and became a fully fledged witch. She would take over running the Trollburg library from Kaisa after Kaisa was appointed to the witch council. When they were teenagers she and Hilda started dating but they never decided to get married.

Hilda

She still goes on adventures in her teenage years, it wouldn't be Hilda if she didn't. She and Johanna also practised flying with their fae magic. She always makes sure to keep in touch with Astrid and Victoria. She continues to paint and make music and becomes a freelance artist like her mum. Twig also grows big enough to ride when he gets older. She lived in her apartment in Trollburg until her death. She and Frida were buried together at the overgrown remains of the cabin

Woodman

He's still there, deep in the woods. even after everyone else has long since died, perhaps he tells the tales of a mysterious blue haired friend to spirits to the passersby.

Or perhaps he would tell you that if you walk deep enough into the woods, you could find an old forest glen where a cabin once was, and you can speak to her spirit yourself

[forestwitchontheroad]

Billford Analysis!

Chapter three: Ford and the consequences of betrayal, or a saw-style romcom.

chapter one

chapter two

so, now let's move on to the consequences of betrayal. at first glance, Bill's rage and Ford's suffering carried nothing more than a tsunami of unrestrained emotions, but even here you can find little things indicating changes in Bill's manipulative tactics and their impact on Ford.

James and Bobby's song "I'm your puppet" shows how Ford began to subconsciously see his relationship with Bill as just a blind devotion in which he was a puppet on strings and did everything Cipher said. perhaps in the very last moments before the betrayal, Ford was already questioning his dependence on Bill when the launch of the portal was so close, and this event definitely worried him.

after the betrayal, Ford feels humiliation and horror, but the first one seems to be more. logically, he should be worried about the end of the world, but mentally he is worried that he was so taken advantage of - personal emotions burn much more than spatial worries about the fate of the world.

this resentment hitting the solar plexus is expressed in small things. Ford starts calling Bill by his last name, with a bitterness that feels like a fresh wound after justified doubts.

but despite everything, he calls the drawings of the portal a “gift to humanity,” as if not wanting to deny Bill's contribution and the fact that everything had an exclusively selfish motive. as if not wanting to believe that everything was just a long-term deception.

therefore, even the physical pain of bloody knuckles does not compare with the desire to take revenge and hurt Bill in return.

therefore, during the battle with zombies, Ford hesitates after Bill's speech, not only for the noisy effect of shooting at him, but also because Bill may not be a very talented master of manipulation, but even this works for Ford in the form of pressure on the same fresh and untreated wound of loneliness for many years, and also, it seems, pride, starving to any praise, which stands in place of non-existent low self-esteem.

the skirmish in the form of sticky notes only shows that Ford internally, in moments of weakness, reproaches Bill, as if their quarrel is something familiar and frivolous, which shows his purely emotional hope to return what did not happen - a close, inspiring and sublime friendship-falling in love.

after the snake appears, Ford decides to play Bill's tactics and psychologically torment him in the same way, which is why he runs into one of the examples of Cipher's cruel gestures - he finds himself on the roof of his house, blue from hyperthermia and shivering from the cold.

this gesture, as it was said in his Journal, for Ford shows that he is only Bill's toy and that he remains in his power. despite everything, their relationship changed only in Ford's head to a friendly one on the same level - in reality, Ford remained Bill's follower, his physical and intellectual property.

and the way Bill used Ford's body, recorded a tape for him, scattered polaroid photographs on the floor, created a complete physical environment from their meeting place in dreamscape - tea, chess, music, carried such significance for Ford - nothing will change, but now their mental games have become a reality.

For Ford, all these actions are the real essence of Bill, which has been hidden all this time. every psychological torture, every mockery of his body is his true essence. there is a contradiction in Pines' head that drives him more and more crazy, and recent memories from the past are more painful.

and also, a minor detail - Ford had previously refused to beat the tattoo, that is, to admit that he was Bill's property, so Bill himself marked Ford's body with the tattoo from a crazy night if out of spite getting his toy back. there is obviously a noticeable discrepancy in how the personal perception of their previously progressing relationship proceeded differently.

the last straw was the call to Stanley when Bill's idea failed and was met with hatred, human bright rage, and tearful bitterness on Ford's part.

and this was the last straw for Bill's patience, who tried to threaten Ford with average psychological and physical tortures on the level of a demon. still, so inopportunely, Ford caused too many unnecessary, unfamiliar emotions for Bill, and he snapped.

the physical torture of turning out bones, deleting memories in Ford's head, endless bullying, attempts to put Ford in his place - all this, of course, led Ford into endless horror and pain, which can't be fully discussed.

and here, we need to understand that it is obvious to us as a viewer that Bill broke down and released his raging emotions since he was originally mortal and left this part of himself. however, Ford began at that moment to perceive Bill, as he had the first time, as a divine but tormenting being, like the devil, who torments only because it is how it is created.

in conclusion, we can say that this whole epic after the betrayal crushed any memories and emotions in Ford regarding the fact that Bill was his friend on equal terms, rather than a divine being of knowledge.

bitterness and resentment, however, emotions are not eternal, they have disappeared almost without a trace in thirty years, but at the same time they mutually destroyed something very fragile, delicate and small in an insecure, socially awkward Stanford - the ability to feel romantic or platonic love (choose whatever you like more) to Bill.

[thoughtsonhurtandcomfort]

Shun the Light - Ch. 9 - Moments

Slow Burn | Refuge | Decision | Mend | Hunger | Thin Mints | The Garden | Philip |

Author's Notes: Not thrilled with how this one turned out but I needed to get some ideas out of my system that aren't quite developed enough to be their own chapter. It fills in some gaps and gives them a break before the next, much whumpier chapter.

Content Warnings: brief use of mind control, that's about it. This one is pretty light.

----

One more night becomes a week, and then another.

Dante never asks Matteo to leave, and Matteo never asks to if he wants him to. Neither wants to know the answer.

-

After learning what he did about the vampire, Matteo feels it's only fair to share a little about himself. One quiet evening, Matteo joins Dante in the living room and just starts talking. He expects Dante to be indifferent or even annoyed, but instead is met with rapt attention.

"I was pretty boring until a few years ago," he begins. "Had a job, a little place, I was dating." He clears his throat and starts fussing with the hem of his shirt - which is in fact one of Dante's or possibly Philip's shirts, he isn't quite sure.

"I met this guy I really liked and we started dating, sort of. It always felt like I was more into him than he was into me."

"So people are okay with that now? You being with another man?"

"Some of them," Matteo replies. "More than there used to be but still not enough. Depends where you go."

"I see. Sorry, continue."

"Well, there's not much else. He got me into some trouble. A lot of trouble, really - "

He catches the trepidation on Dante's face and quickly adds,

"I'm not wanted by the cops or anything. Like I said...no one is looking for me. But I...changed. And I knew if I stayed there I would hurt people. So I left."

Every time Matteo gets close to telling the whole truth, he diverts at the last moment. That would change everything and he isn't ready for this to change yet. But he makes a firm promise to himself to hide during the full moon, lest he put Dante in danger.

"Where did you go?" Dante asks.

"Nowhere, really. I move around a lot. I'm not sure there's a place for me anywhere anymore."

Dante sits back in his armchair and silently reflects on Matteo's story. He doesn't press for details, which is a relief but makes Matteo feel twice as guilty for being so vague.

"When you got here," Dante says after a while, "you were in bad shape. Can I ask...what happened? Were you attacked?"

"Sort of. Some guy caught me on his property and chased me into the woods with a gun. I got cut up on branches and stuff."

That much is, technically, true.

"And after all that you still gave me your blood?" Dante muses aloud.

Matteo shrugs, trying not to feel too proud of himself considering he was only there in search of shelter. Dante was never part of the plan.

"You were in worse shape."

Dante doesn't disagree. "I never did thank you for saving me."

"Well...I never did thank you for the place to sleep."

"Mm. Glad to know my life is at least worth a bed."

It takes Matteo a moment to pick up on the dry humor. Dante isn't smiling, but there's a glint in his eyes.

Matteo wonders what that somber face would look like smiling or laughing. He wouldn't be like the man in that old photograph, not anymore. Sorrow has weighed on him too heavily for too long. But maybe it would be beautiful in its own way.

Maybe he'll even get to see it.

-

Despite his often morose demeanor, Dante is a gentle soul who feeds stray cats and leaves seeds out for the birds even though he'll never get to see them enjoy it in the morning.

Living alone almost fifty years has left him with no shortage of eccentricities. He talks to himself, never has the same routine two days in a row, takes long walks alone at night, and stores blood in mason jars in the refrigerator.

His knowledge and hobbies have been shaped by what is available to him in the house - the books in the office library, the grand piano in the living room, Mrs. Townsend's knitting and needlepoint, an assortment of games and puzzles.

And, as it turns out, basic cable.

"How in the hell did you manage that?" Matteo asks, staring at the old but functioning television.

Come to think of it, the house has electricity and running water. He never even questioned it, and suddenly he has so many questions.

"A very large savings account," Dante explains calmly. Then he looks sheepish. "I may have...borrowed Philip's identity."

Matteo stares at him.

"...I'm not proud of it."

"No, no, I don't care about that, but what happens if something breaks? Or if someone from the company comes by?"

"There's this - this thing I can do. It's probably easier if I just show you."

Dante's eyes gleam unnaturally bright in a way Matteo has only seen a couple of times before.

"Pick up that book. Balance it on your head."

All other thoughts disappear; Matteo obeys without question.

As soon as the spell is broken he snaps back to reality and the book drops to the floor.

"How...wait, did you do that?"

"No. You did."

"But you made me do it."

"Yeah. I can make someone think they were never here. It isn't harmful...I think. And I swear I didn't use it on the Girl Scouts."

Dante seems uncomfortable admitting to using this skill, but Matteo is unperturbed. Even a little jealous - his condition doesn't come with any cool powers.

"What about shopping? I guess you don't have the internet...but maybe the home shopping network?"

"No...no mail. It's not worth the risk of someone stopping by every day."

Matteo chews his lip, thinking.

"I have an idea. What if I went shopping for you? I can go out in the daytime. And I could get some real food...not that I don't appreciate the cookies! What do you think?"

Dante looks stunned.

"You'd do that for me?"

-

The next day, while Dante sleeps, Matteo follows the path of the winding, overgrown driveway to a main road and follows that until he finds a small shopping plaza. It's a long walk but he feels stronger and healthier than he has in a long time.

That evening Matteo sits back with a bowl of soup and watches as Dante eagerly goes through the bags. He had only requested a few new books, the most recent newspaper, and some new pens and pencils, but Matteo threw in some extras just because.

I owe him for letting me stay. That's what he tells himself.

It's all going too well. He should know better than to get comfortable anywhere...or with anyone. As the waxing moon grows larger each night, Matteo knows he should leave.

But he doesn't.

[yesimtrashforit]

Film quotes I love/that changed my life

Dead Poets Society (1989)

• John Keating: "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

• Neil Perry: "I was good. I was really good."

• John Keating: "There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution and a wise man understands which is called for."

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

• CEO Waymond: "When I choose to see the good side of things, I'm not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It's how I've learned to survive through everything."

• Alpha Waymond: "Every rejection, every disappointment has led you to this moment. Don't let anything distract you from it."

• Waymond: "The only thing I do know... is that we have to be kind. Please, be kind. Especially when we don't know what's going on."

• Jobu Tupaki: "I wasn't looking for you so I could kill you. I was just looking for someone who could see what I see, feel what I feel."

Little Women (2019)

• Jo March: "Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they've got ambition, and they've got talent, as well as just beauty. I'm so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for. I'm so sick of it.

But I'm so lonely..."

• Amy March: "Well, I believe we have some power over who we love, it isn't something that just happens to a person."

Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence: "I think the poets might disagree."

Amy March: "Well, I'm not a poet, I'm just a woman. And as a woman I have no way to make money, not enough to earn a living and support my family. Even if I had my own money, which I don't, it would belong to my husband the minute we were married. If we had children they would belong to him, not me. They would be his property. So don't sit there and tell me that marriage isn't an economic proposition, because it is. It may not be for you but it most certainly is for me."

• Jo March: "If I were a girl in a book, this would all be so easy."

• Meg March: "Just because my dreams are different than yours doesn't mean they're unimportant."

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

• Charlie: "I don't know if I will have the time to write any more letters because I might be too busy trying to participate. So if this does end up being the last letter, I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school, and you helped me. Even if you didn't know what I was talking about or know someone who's gone through it, you made me not feel alone. Because I know there are people who say all these things don't happen. And there are people who forget what it's like to be 16 when they turn 17. I know these will all be stories someday. And our pictures will become old photographs. We'll all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now these moments are not stories. This is happening. I am here and I am looking at her. And she is so beautiful. I can see it. This one moment when you know you're not a sad story. You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you're listening to that song and that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment I swear, we are infinite."

• Patrick: "You see things and you understand. You're a wallflower."

Donnie Darko (2001)

• Dr. Lilian Thurman: "Do you feel alone right now?"

Donnie: "Oh, I don't know. I mean, I'd like to believe I'm not, but I just... I've just never seen any proof, so I... I just don't debate it anymore, you know? It's like I could spend my whole life debating it over and over again, weighing the pros and cons. And in the end, I still wouldn't have any proof. So I just... I just don't debate it anymore. It's absurd."

Dr. Lilian Thurman: "The search for God is absurd?"

Donnie: "It is if everyone dies alone."

Dr. Lilian Thurman: "Does that scare you?"

Donnie: "I don't want to be alone."

• Donnie: "How's it feel to have a wacko for a son?"

Rose Darko: "It feels wonderful."

• Donnie to Cherita Chen: "One day everything will be better for you."

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

• Kat: "You don't always have to be who they want you to be, you know?"

• Kat: "Why should I live up to other people's expectations instead of my own?"

The Holdovers (2023)

• Paul Hunham: "There's nothing new in human experience, Mr. Tully. Each generation thinks it invented debauchery or suffering or rebellion, but man's every impulse and appetite from the disgusting to the sublime is on display right here all around you. So, before you dismiss something as boring or irrelevant, remember, if you truly want to understand the present or yourself, you must begin in the past. You see, history is not simply the study of the past. It is an explanation of the present."

• Angus Tully: "He used to be fine. He was better than fine. He was great. He was my dad. Then about four years ago, he... started acting strange. Erratic, forgetful, saying all this weird shit. My mom took him to a bunch of doctors, and they put him on medication. But that just made it worse. He got more confused. Then he got angry. And then he got... physical. That was it. That was the last straw. They put him away. And she divorced him... without him even realizing it. That's why she wants a whole new life. And it's easy to just stash me away in boarding school. Like half of us are just stashed away there. And I get it. She never has to look at me. Because maybe when she looks at me, she... she sees him. Maybe she's right. I can't keep it together. I lie. I steal. I piss people off. I don't have any friends, real friends. I'll probably get kicked out of Barton too. And when I do, it'll be my own fault. Get sent to Fork Union and maybe to youknowwhere. And nobody will care. The funny thing is... I wanted to see him so bad this whole time. But I also didn't, you know? Because I'm afraid that's what's going to happen to me one day."

Paul Hunham: "You're not your father."

Angus Tully: "How do you know?"

Paul Hunham: "Because no one is his own father. I'm not my dad. No matter how hard he tried to beat that idea into me. I find the world a bitter and complicated place, and it seems to feel the same way about me. I think you and I have this in common. But don't get me wrong, you have your challenges. You're erratic and belligerant and gigantic pain in the balls, but you're not your father. You're your own man. Man, no. You're just a kid. You're just beginning. And you're smart. You've got time to turn things around. Yes, I know that Greeks had the idea that the steps you take to avoid your fate are the very steps that lead you to it, but that's just a literary conceit. In real life, your history does not have to dictate your destiny."

• Paul Hunham: "You know, Mr. Kountze, for most people, life is like a henhouse ladder: shitty and short. You were born lucky. Maybe someday, you entitled little degenerates will appreciate that. If you don't, I feel sorry for you and we will have failed to do our jobs."

Barbie (2023)

• Ruth: "Humans have only one ending. Ideas live for ever."

• Gloria: "It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault. I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing a woman, then I don't even know."

• Ruth: "We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back and see how far they've come."

• Barbie: "I want to be a part of the people that make meaning. Not the thing that's made. I want to do the imagining. I don't wanna be the idea."

• Ken: "We were only fighting because we didn't know who we were."

• Sasha: "You have to try. Even if... Even if you can't make it perfect, you can make it better."

Her (2013)

• Theodore: "Sometimes I think I have felt everything I'm ever gonna feel. And from here on out, I'm not gonna feel anything new. Just lesser versions of what I've already felt."

• Samantha: "The past is just a story we tell ourselves."

• Amy: "We are only here briefly, and in this moment I want to allow myself joy. So fuck it."

I Saw The TV Glow (2024)

• Maddy: "Time wasn't right. It was moving too fast. And then I was 19. And then I was 20. I felt like one of those dolls asleep in the supermarket. Stuffed. And then I was 21. Like chapters skipped over on a DVD. I told myself, This isn't normal. This isn't normal. This isn't how life is supposed to feel. If you don't think about it, it can't hurt you. I found our hearts and they were still beating. There is still time."

[dresshistorynerd]

Dress History Corner Navigation

Welcome to the corner of the interned where I nerd about (mostly) Western dress history! This is the post I will update with all my more structured and researched articles. I have the same navigation on my blog, but it's only for the browser so I figured it would be useful to have navigation that work for the app too.

Some basics

An Introductory Timeline Of Western Women's Fashion

How I do my research into dress history

Dress History

Lacing in Western Fashion History

Dress Etiquette Thorough Western History

When Did It Become Acceptable For Western Women To Wear Pants?

When Did Skirts Stop Being Acceptable For Western Men To Wear?

Is Lingerie Going Backwards - A Rebuttal

The history of showing your boobs for fashion

Victorian Era

A summary of different kinds of corsets

Historical Finnish Clothing of Modern Period

Victorian Dress For Every Occasion - 1890s Edition

1890s Day Dresses

American Civil War era (1861-65) ball gown

Regency

Debunking the common narrative about Beau Brummel - The whole modern men's fashion is not the fault of One Guy

Gender non-conforming Regency styles

18th century

The Colonial History of How Cotton Became the Most Important Fabric

Mantua And It's Variants

Northern Italian countryside fashion in late 18th century.

Working Class Clothing In Late 18th Century France

Early Modern Era

Deep Dive into 15th and 16th Century Working Class Fashion in Western Europe

Medieval Era

Late 14th to Early 15th Century Bohemian and German Men's Fashion

Construction of Men's Hose

Codpiece

Construction of the French hood

Iron Age

Viking and Crusader Age Finnish men's dress

Historical Sewing

Sewing Medieval Bathhouse Dress

For Dolls

Sewing mid-16th century Venetian dress in doll scale

Sewing 1890s day dress in doll scale

Historical Costuming

History of the Fantasy Corset

Met Gala 2022 Costume Commentary

Pride and Prejudice 2005 Costume Analysis

Ranking Men's Costumes in Renaissance Period Dramas - Part I: The Bad

Ranking Men's Costumes in Renaissance Period Dramas - Part II: The Good

Textiles

Hemp's properties

Sustainability

How to see through the greenwashing propaganda of the fashion industry - Case study 1: Shein

The Real Cost of the Fashion Industry

Architectural History

History of Sauna and Steam Baths

History

Palestinian History Between Great Powers

European History Is Not White

Queer History

Julie d'Aubigny

Roughly 10 Cool Historical Queer Figures More People Should Know About: From Ancient Era to Early Modern Era

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Primary sources

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Victorian Fashion

Ko-fi

[writersblog20]

Festival of love

Chris Evans x reader

Summary: When some unfortunate things happen at the festival, the most fortunate things would it become. Maybe home was truly a magical place if only you would look closer.

Warnings: feeling of loneliness, depression if you look very close, insecurities, alcohol and anxiety

Words: 6,2K

A/N: I’m really not too happy with this but also didn’t want to throw it away. Besides, this is kind of my way of telling my experience with the festival.

Festival of love

Finally it was time for the festival that you worked so hard for. It was your second year and you were beyond excited but also stressed. You were a photographer, designer and content creator for security and more. Anyways, you were walking over the place, photographing all the volunteers who were building the festival. After shooting some couple of pictures you walked back to your working place.

You opened the door and your boss looked at you. “Hey, got some good pictures?” he asked you. “Yeah I think so.” You told him, making him nod. “Hey, take a look at this. What do you think?” he asked you as you took a seat next to him. It was the timetable. You took a good look at it. “I think it looks nice but you made a mistake with the time.” You pointed out and he frowned, looking closely. “Oh shit, you’re right. Thanks!” he told you and you smiled, knowing that he was on the verge of sending the timetable to the presser.

You opened your laptop and checked your phone. You stared at your background with a soft smile. It was a picture of you and Chris together. You were good friends but always had a soft spot for the man that developed into a crush. Besides, you were almost positive that Chris didn’t liked you that way.

“You miss him?” You heard your boss say all of a sudden. “What?” you looked up and he hinted towards your phone. “Oh… eh yeah, I do.” He gave you a soft smile and nodded. Chris was in America while you were in your home country so with the different time zones it was hard to get contact. Besides you were on a lot of pressure.

Chris did sent you a message saying that he missed you. Like I said, you were great friends and saw each other at least once a week but now you haven’t seen each other in 5 weeks or so and right now you were living on the festival terrain. You didn’t live far from here but you would wake up early, go back to the property and would leave around midnight and that for over a week now and it would only get rougher since the festival was only 1 day away.

Your phone went off and saw that Chris was the sexiest man alive 2022. You smiled bright, unable to hide it and texted him. “How did you not tell me about being the sexiest man alive!” you sent him the text when the door flung open from the shack (yes you all had to improvise in some sort of office.) “Y/N, the screens are here. Maybe if you have time, we can take a look at how your slides are.” The boss of security asked you. “Yeah sure!” you told him and stood up. “Good luck, see you later!” Deck, your boss told you. He knew you were nervous about the slides because everything already went wrong that could go wrong and was now 517 slides further.

You walked over terrain while chatting with Dean, from security. You got your notepad just in case. They lit up the screen and you immediately smiled when you saw your design that thousands of thousands of people will see in a couple of days. “Looks great!” you told them relieved, seeing that everything was working right. They nodded and you chatted a bit. “I should go back to work now.” you told them, ready to go back. “No, wait!” you turned back to them with a frown. They chuckled awkwardly. “Ehhh, can you check something for us out? Just to see how it looks. We can use some advice.” They stuttered and that was the moment that you were suspecting that something was going on.

“Why?” you asked them, trying to figure out what was going on. “Because you are a designer.” You looked back to your working place and sighed. “Okay, yeah sure.” They smiled and walked back with you to their trailer.

You looked at what they wanted you to see and gave them advice. “So can I go back to work now?” you asked them and they nodded. You still gave them a look of suspicion. “Let us take you back in the gator.” You nodded with a smile. It was always a fun time, racing through the festival terrain with the gator. You hoped in the back and they raced you back to your shack. It started to get dark which meant that, soon everyone had to stop. Well at least with building. You still had to do some work.

You went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. You haven’t looked this tired in a long time. You felt yourself grow exhausted but you couldn’t stop. You ignored it and kept going, walking back to your office. You didn’t see Deck anywhere and the lights were out. You were confused because there was so much more to do, he couldn’t just leave now,  and if he did, you were certain that he would let you know at least.

You decided to let it go, placed your headphones on and started working on the things that needed to be done for tomorrow.

You were so lost in time that you had no clue how late it was until somebody knocked on your window. You looked up and saw Mo with a smile and a beer in his hands. “How long you’re going to stay in there?” he asked, making you chuckle. “Almost done.” You told him and he nodded. “Brought you a coke.” He told you and you signaled that he could come in. He opened the door and took a seat next to you, his feet up on the other chair as he placed the coke next to you. “Thank you.” you told him with a smile.

“You’re welcome. What are making anyway?”  he asked you. “Just some name passes but I’m almost done.” He nodded. “I’ll let you get back to it.” he told you and ruffled your hair before walking out.

You were working for at least an hour and was finally done when your phone beeped. You saw that it was a text from Chris. “Hey sweetheart, I’m sorry I didn’t told you but you could’ve guessed right? ; )” you chuckled “How are you holding up?” he asked you. “exciting but very stressing .Just finished up the last things for tomorrow” You texted back “But it’s 10 in the evening there right?”  “Yeah… but it needed to be done. I’m really tired right now.” you send him a picture from your office. “Hang in there princess, I’m so so incredibly proud of you sweetheart.” Your heart filled with love.

You got up and packed your stuff and placed them away safely, putting the key in your pocket and got out to get a beer and unwind. When you got a beer you saw that a lot of people were looking at you and whispering something. You frowned and felt the anxiety shoot up.

You quickly walked outside and saw Mo and a couple of other friends and sat down but even there, there were people who were looking at you. “What’s going on? Why are people looking at me?” you questioned worried. “Nobody is looking at you, what are you talking about?” Mo asked. You looked around again but this time they didn’t look. “Nothing, never mind.” You told him and tried to blend in with the background. You were staring until you felt a hand on your shoulder which scared you.

“I’m sorry. Can you walk with me for a second?” Deck asked you. Now you became really, really worried. When you stood up you saw people looking at you. If there was something to happen, which was. Then you knew that they knew. The gossip went like a wild fire over here. You looked at Mo and he just had a grin. You shook your head and looked confused while you walked with Deck.

“Deck…. I’m getting worried. Is everything okay?” You asked him and he saw the panic and anxiety in your eyes. “Yeah, yeah don’t worry! Just want you to meet somebody.” He told you and you were still confused but at least the panic disappeared a little. Deck walked you outside but you didn’t see anyone.

You turned around to Deck with a puzzling look on your face. “Deck.. I don’t understand and I’m starting to freak out. Just please tell me what’s going on. People were looking at me inside and.” You couldn’t finish your sentence, clearly in a bit of a panic until you heard a familiar voice behind you and Deck just smiled at you. “Don’t panic sweetheart, it’s just me princess.” You quickly turned around to look in the comforting blue eyes from the man that you missed so much.

“Chris?” you whispered out, almost as if you didn’t believe it. You wrapped your arms around his neck in a hug. Chris chuckled and softly rubbed your back and held the back of your head softly and placing multiple kisses on it. You got out of the hug to see if it was real or that you were so exhausted that you were imagining things. You cupped his cheek and looked at him with big eyes. “I can’t believe that you’re here.” You told him and got back in the hug while Chris chuckled.

“I’m here now sweetheart. I’m so sorry that we got you worried.” He told you and got out of the hug, softly rubbing your cheek. You turned around to look at Deck. “Was that why you were gone? Do they know? How, Why, When?” you asked, your brain clearly fogged. They both chuckled. “Let’s go back okay? Then I’ll let you guys catch up.” Deck told you. You both nodded and walked back inside. You held Chris’s hand and couldn’t wait to show him around. You were over the moon that he was here.

The people who looked at you earlier had a smile on their faces so you knew that they knew. You got another beer for yourself, Chris and Deck and sat down at a table. “I knew you missed him and well Chris contacted me so we decided to surprise you.” Deck explained. You nodded slightly and looked at Chris who had a loving smile on his face while he looked at you. “I have 2 weeks off so don’t worry princess.” He told you and you smiled. He knew you wanted to ask about his filming schedule.

“I missed you and I want to see your work and see the festival. Couldn’t miss my favorite girl her dream, now could I?” he told you with a smirk which made you smile flustered. Deck looked between you and Chris. “I’m going to leave you guys now. See you tomorrow!” he told you and stood up leaving. “Thank you.” You told Deck who smiled and winked at you before walking off.

Chris was still holding your hand and looked up at you. “You look tired sweetheart.” He gave you a soft smile. You shrugged a bit. “It’s worth it.” You told him with a smile and your other friends came to join you with more beer. You already decided that Chris would stay with you ( of course). You had a fun evening and so did Chris with so much laughter and stories.

When you started to get really tired, Chris took notices. “Let’s go home and to bed sweetheart.” You nodded. You said your goodbyes to everyone and walked away with Chris. You were halfway home when Chris noticed your discomfort from your feet and walking so much. “Come here sweetheart.” He told you and placed you some sort of wall that you could stand up on. “Get on my back princess.” You did as you were told and jumped on his back. his arms were holding your legs as he walked home. You let your head rest on his shoulder and played a bit with his hair.

“Your hair is soft” you told him softly in a daydream while going through his hair with your fingers. You weren’t paying attention but Chris smiled lovingly at the ground, thinking about what you had said. “I like it when you play with my hair.” He decided to open up. You smiled, heart fluttering at his words and continued playing with his hair.

When you reached your house, you stayed on Chris’s back. He turned a bit so you could put the key in your door. You opened the door and Chris sat you down on your couch. He put the lights on and made some hot water for tea. “I’m so sorry, let me get the tea, you’re my guest.” Chris chuckled “Sweetheart, just sit down okay? I can see how tired you are and stressed.” he gave you a side eye with a soft smirk, knowing that you’ve been stressed out to the max. “ Besides, it’s nothing new right? You do this at my place as well, it’s no big deal.” He reassured you.

You smiled softly at him. “I’m so glad you’re here.” You told him softly and Chris hear a curtained kind of sadness in your voice. “What’s going on princess, why are you sad?” he asked you as he sat next to you. He knew you like an open book. Instantly knowing when there was in the least slightest bit of unease. You looked up at him, his eyes ever so kind and soft.

“It’s just… this is my dream you know. But nobody really checks up on me, call me or wish me luck except for you, but you were so far away and I’ve felt so extremely lonely. I went through all of this, all on my own. No one around me, support me or whatever. So many things had happened, good and bad and never in my life did I want to share this experience with someone. Like I crave it to the depths of my soul and not being able to makes me feel like my heart is slowly tearing apart and I hate it.” you confessed. You’ve felt so lonely that everything just came out.

You sniffled when you remembered the feeling and wiped your tears away. “All my friends over here left me… I tried to text them you know, but they keep it short or ignore me. I just wanted someone to stand besides me. This is the biggest opportunity I got and I went through it alone even though they know how big and how much this means to me. So eh yeah that.” You told him realizing that you just threw everything on the table. You quickly wiped away your tears and chuckled a bit uncomfortably.

“I’m sorry, I guess I’m just very tired.” You tried to shrug it off but Chris wasn’t having it. “Y/N, It’s not nothing princess. I’m sorry that that happened but I’m here now and I’ll stand proudly besides you. And those ‘friends’ ain’t shit. They really aren’t. I’m so proud of you and I’ll support you with every bit I got. That’s why I’m here right now. I want to see you shine in what you do, see you happy, excited and over the moon. Wouldn’t miss that for the world pumpkin.” He told you and pulled you in a hug.

“You never have to be alone again and if I knew you felt like this, I would’ve come sooner. I’ll be by your side with every step you take. You’re the strongest person I know but you can show yourself completely to me with all the downfalls and insecurities and I promise you, I’ll never look at you differently. You don’t always have to look strong, I know you are but you don’t always have to be.” He told you and pulled you tighter in the hug. You decided to trust him on his words and let your tears just flow.

He pulled away from the hug and cupped your cheeks with a sad smile while looking at you. His thumbs softly wiping away the tears. He pulled you towards him and planted a kiss on your forehead and pulled you back into a hug again. “I’m so tired.” You told him sobbing. “I know, it’s okay now. You can let it go, I’m here and you’re safe. You’re doing so good princess. Great even and I couldn’t be more proud of you.” That was it. That was all you wanted to hear from someone in the time spree you were working on the festival and it broke you down once you heard them and Chris knew it, knew you needed to hear that so badly.

“I know baby girl, I know and I’ll repeat it every single day, multiple times a day, whatever you need because I need you to know that. You do things that are beyond my comprehension. You do so, so much in such a little amount of time, it’s impressive. YOU impress me every single day.” You chuckled a bit, thinking back at how much you’ve already done indeed. “Thank you Chris.” You told him when you calmed down a bit. He smiled “You are more than welcome.” He placed a last kiss on your forehead and made some tea.

You asked him about how he was doing and stuff but he told you that that would come later. He wanted to know everything that you’ve experienced and listened closely to your stories, enjoying every one of them.

After the tea, you both went upstairs. “I’m sorry, if I knew that you would come, I would have something ready.” You told him and he kissed your head again. “Don’t worry about it princess.” You nodded. “If you don’t mind, you can sleep next to me.” you told him and he already smiled at you. It wouldn’t be the first time that you’ve both slept in one bed but still. “I don’t mind.” He told you and you nodded with a slight smile.

You freshened up and both crawled into bed. “Come here sweetheart.” He told you and opened his arms so you could cuddle him. You smiled and threw your arms around him. His arm was underneath you and pulled you closer to his chest. The heat was radiating off of him, sending you into a new relaxation and you let out a sigh. It felt for the first time in weeks that you could breath again and relax. For over two weeks you were on the go, without a moment of acclimatization. Chris smiled, knowing that you finally had a bit of peace and he could give that to you. You were out like a light, exhausted while Chris softly played with your hair.

You woke up from your alarm and you groaned, turning around without opening your eyes. You felt Chris shift next to you and you snuggled against his side, not wanting to wake up yet. You heard him chuckle at your disagreement with the alarm. “Sweetheart, we have to get up. It’s the big day.” You groaned again and opened your eyes, already anxious about it. You stared at the ceiling while Chris looked at every feature on your face and noticed the frown between your eyebrows. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. You got this.” you looked to your side to Chris and nodded with a sigh.

You got up and looked for your work clothes. Luckily today, you would get a fresh and new shirt. Chris just looked at you and sat up as well. Deck gave him a pass and everything so he could come with you before the festival began.

You checked your phone and already saw that some things weren’t really working right and everyone was panicking. “Alright, seems like I have to be there fast.” You told him. “Wait a minute. You need breakfast.” He told you, already disagreeing about you leaving without it. You chuckled “I have breakfast over there. And lunch and dinner. They already take care of it. So the only real thing I do here is sleep.” Chris nodded slightly but decided to go along with you.

You both got freshened up and you got everything you needed. Chris looked at you while you were in your working clothes and focused on the day ahead. “Hey, come here for a sec.” Chris told you before you both got out of the house. He got your chin slightly so your attention would be on him. “I’m so proud of you and you are going to be amazing. You got this, show it.” you smiled at his encouraging words and hugged him. Your phone rang and interrupted the peaceful interaction. You chuckled “Let’s go, seems like they need me.” you told him and held your phone up.

You took the call while you both walked back to the festival. You explained some things to Deck, who was in complete panic because he accidentally deleted your file from his laptop and deleted about 100 passes. You chuckled a bit at the stupidity. “Deck, it’s okay. I’ve saved the file around 5 times so I still got it. It’s going to be okay. I’ll fix it when I arrive okay?” you could hear him sigh in relief. “Okay, see you soon and I’m so so sorry.” He told you. “It’s okay, see you soon.” You chuckled. Chris looked at you when you hang up. You chuckled and looked at him. “He deleted something that he shouldn’t have.” Chris nodded and chuckled.

You arrived at the festival. You showed your passes and signed up as every day. You got your new shirt and Chris got a jacket which showed that he was a guest (safety reasons). You walked with Chris through the area and got breakfast and something to drink. You saw Deck and walked over to the table he was eating at and sat down, Chris next to you.

“Rough morning huh?” you asked him and he chuckled. You knew he was stressed out. It would surprise you if he wasn’t but he was the boss after all. After some chatting and breakfast you got back to your small office place and gave Deck the file again before showing Chris around.

He loved every minute of you showing him around and how excited you got about it as well. You introduced Chris to your friends that you made there before heading back and doing some work. You got your computer and sat outside in the sun with Chris. It didn’t took long before the festival would began.

There was a tradition and that was when the festival would start, everyone who worked on this for the last week and a half would come together, they would play a song on the mainstage and everyone would hug each other. Your mom was there as well and stood next to Chris in VIP.

Chris gave you a big hug before you would leave and you promised him that you would look him up. Chris just smiled in response. “Don’t worry about me princess. Enjoy yourself and I’ll see you later okay? You got this remember? And if you ever feel shitty or something happened, good or bad and you want to talk. You know where to find me sweetheart.” Deck stood next to you with a smile, waiting for you to come to the main stage.

You nodded and left the tribune to go to main. You saw your friends and colleagues already standing there. The music started playing and you saw from every side people running to main to congratulate each other for making the festival. You looked back to VIP and saw Chris and your mom smiling at you. You hugged everyone. Some started crying from all the pent up stress. Everyone got a beer and this moment you felt the tears slip. Your friends/colleagues noticed and pulled you into a hug. Chris saw it but knew you were in good hands now.

After the song ended you felt strong and powerful, walking over the festival with your head held high. You started photographing and walked with colleagues over the terrain.

You were so busy and in the evening you stood front row by main with your camera ready. You looked at the VIP section and saw Chris already smiling at you and taking pictures. You heard your phone go off and looked, seeing a text from Chris. “You look like you own the place in every good way possible. Couldn’t be more proud of you sweetheart.” You looked back and smiled at Chris. You sent a heart back. Chris was right though. You were confident when you were working. You had to be otherwise they wouldn’t let you in in certain areas. There was no time for people pleasing in this job at this moment. You had a job to do.

~time skip~

The festival was over and you felt sad. It was the most amazing experience you’ve ever had and the most amazing part was that you could share it with the person you love, Chris. These days you fell more in love with him than ever before and it made you slightly anxious. They were breaking down the festival and you came around to help when you saw Deck.

“Hey” you told him, making him turn around. “Hey, how are you?” he asked you with a smile. You picked stuff off from the floor and put the things in the back of the truck. “Yeah alright. Just a little sad it’s already over.” You told him as he continued the work. “and what about you?” he smiled. “I’m hanging on. I’ll collapse when it’s over.” He told you, making you chuckle and agree. You both hadn’t had a relaxing moment since the day you started this.

“How’s Chris?” he asked you with a smirk which made you frown in suspicion. “yeah, he’s fine.” You told him and he nodded. “So you guys together already or how long is it going to take the both of you?” you looked up in shock while he just had a grin. “What are you talking about?” you still tried to deny it because if you didn’t and spoke it out loud, then it would be real and there would be a chance that you could lose him.

“Oh come on now Y/N. Everyone can see it except the both of you. Besides, the way he looked at you with the afterparty… and how close you two are. Friends don’t look at friends that way.” He told you while walking past you with a couple of boxes as you stood there frozen. “You want another t-shirt and jacket??” he asked you as he looked in the boxes and threw you a couple which snapped you out of your thoughts. Deck saw that you were surprised to say the least and sat down on the edge of the truck. He tapped the spot besides him and you walked over to him, jumping up as well.

“I know it’s scary but it’s scarier not to pursue it when both of you love each other so clearly. You’ll regret it if you don’t. maybe it doesn’t work out but at least then you could say that you’ve tried it with everything you have. You don’t have to say it right away or do anything but maybe you can focus on it. You know when you’re interacting with each other, just ask yourself the question: Is this what friends would do or does he more? And when you see it, I can promise you, you’ll realize that he’s more than just a friend.” He told you and got up again to pick up some boxes. You were wrapped up in your own mind, going back to all the interactions you had with Chris and already saw that he was treating you more than just a friend indeed. “So are you going to help me or what?” Deck smiled as he saw you realize it and passed you some boxes and gave you a wink.

You continued packing everything up but you were in need of more people and everyone started to stress around you because you’ve been cleaning up here for over 4 days now and tonight would be the deadline that everything had to be gone. You texted Chris about the current situation and you saw that he saw it but didn’t respond.

You were continuing with the boxes with Deck until you heard a familiar voice “Hey.” You both turned around and saw Chris standing there. You and Deck looked at each other “I heard that you guys needed some help.” He told you and got one of the heavy boxes out of your arms. “Where does this one go?” he asked Deck and he pointed to the spot where it should go and looked back at you when Chris walked away. You were both surprised and at that moment Deck got a smirk and winked at you. You rolled your eyes and continued the work.

You all worked extremely hard and fast. You, Deck and Chris drove around from the terrain to the headquarters to put all the boxes away and everything. Finally around 6 in the evening you were done and exhausted. You had dinner outside and all went to the pub together to have a last drink with each other and celebrate that you all made it on time and just about the whole festival.

Chris and Deck stood next to you. You were all exhausted. “How do you guys made it if you had to do this everyday and with all the other things you were both doing. I’m seriously exhausted and you both had to do this all day for the last 2 weeks. I’m impressed.” He told you both. You and Deck laughed “you get used to it eventually. Or not and you just ignore it, going over in the automatic stand.” You told him and Deck heavily agreed with you.

You all drank some more and chatted. You and Chris started to lean more towards each other. His arm leaning pressed against yours and you felt the butterflies go lose and the only thing you could think about was what Deck told you. “Would friends do this or is there more?” Deck saw you deep in thought and gave you a knowing smile. You knew he was right do, just didn’t want to give in yet.

“Y/N?” you heard someone ask and you turned around. It was a guy that you’ve known from school. “Hey!” you told him excited, Chris keeping a close eye on you. You gave him a hug. You started chatting and he was always very flirtatious around you which Chris made his jaw clench. Deck noticed and walked off. “So you have a boyfriend?” he asked you with a smirk. You wanted to respond but Chris already responded to you. “Yes.” You could hear the irritation in his voice. His eyes a bit dark and mean while he looked at the guy.

Chris was leaning on his arm when he stepped away from the high table and walked towards you, standing next to you. The guy started to stutter and you were too much in shock to even respond. “I..I… eh.. s-s-sorry. I’ll see you around bye.” He walked away and Chris kept looking at the guy. You were both silent, thinking about what just happened.

You turned around to Chris and he looked at you with a ‘oh I fucked up face’. “what was that?” you asked him. Chris didn’t know what to say and started to panic as his anxiety went up. “I ehm… eh am sorry.” You squeezed your eyebrows together.

“Let’s go over there.” it sounded more like a question. You looked around and everyone was minding their own business until your eyes connected with Deck’s. he nodded at you and you nodded to Chris, walking over to somewhere more private. “Y/N, I really like you. Hell, I’m in love with you and I did from the moment I met you but it had gotten worse since the festival and I don’t know why and maybe I don’t want to know but I do know that I love you….” he was speaking very fast, clearly nervous and you tried to take every bit of information from his confession to you but struggled with processing everything.

“I really like you too Chris.” You spewed out almost as if it went automatically. Chris stopped speaking and looked at you. surprise yet relief was visible on his face while he took a deep breath. “You like me too?” he questioned and you nodded, looking down at the pavement.

You felt his fingers underneath your chin as he softly pushed your chin up so you would look at him. Chris smiled lovingly and adoringly at you. He cupped your cheek and came slightly closer but gave you enough time to get away but instead you leaned in and brushed your lips over yours. You both let out a shaky breath. You locked lips and waited, trying to process what was happening until Chris deepened the kiss. He pulled you closer and your fingers found his shirt, holding it tightly and your other hand went through his hair.

When you pulled away from the kiss you looked at each other. “Are we a couple?” you asked him and he smiled again. “I would love to be a couple if you do.” He was so soft with you it almost melted your heart. “I would like that.” You almost whispered and smiled. You both chuckled a bit before he kissed you again. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.” he whispered through the kiss, making you smile. You both pulled away again and you saw that his hair was ravished.

“Come here.” You told him softly and giggled before going with your hands through his hair, trying to fix it. You stepped a bit back to look at his hair. You smiled and nodded. “Yeah I look good?” he asked you, making you laugh. “Yeah, you are sexiest man alive.” He chuckled as well and held your hands and looked at them before making eye contact with you again. He cupped your cheek and placed a kiss on your forehead, letting it linger a bit. “Let’s get back princess.” You nodded and held his hand walking back.

Deck looked behind him and saw you guys holding hands. He smiled and nodded which you returned with a shy smile. “So Chris, what do you think about next year? Want to join the team?” Deck asked as he turned towards the both of you with a smile. Chris looked at you and smiled. “I’ll think about it.” he told Deck but kept looking lovingly at you with a smile.

Deck nodded with a smile “You look good together. It fits very well.” You saw Chris softly blush as you got shy yourself. “Thanks.” You both murmured out. “But you better take care of her. She’s family you know.” Deck warned him and Chris nodded. “I will. I’ll promise you that.” Deck nodded with a smile. “I know. just making sure.” Chris nodded.

~time stamp~

“It’s our time again.” Everyone said when you walked in and gave everyone a hug. “So glad I’m back” you told them in relief as if you could breath again. “We’re all are.” One of your friends say. “So how’s your first year of being the boss with Deck ?” you chuckled “Stressful but I’m so glad that he’s helping me learn all these things.” Your friend nodded. Chris walked up besides you. “So how are you holding up with her and being the new boss and all of that?” Chris chuckled “She’s been a sunshine.” You chuckled, knowing damn well that you weren’t. “No, we’re doing really good actually. You guys were right, we do fit very well together.” Chris told them as he looked at you.

“Well, welcome in the family brother.” One of the guys told him and Chris smiled. Deck walked up towards you “Hey” he said happily and gave you and Chris a hug. “I’m sorry to interrupt but I’m going to have to steal your girlfriend for now.” Chris chuckled and gave you a kiss. “Good luck sweetheart” he told you “You too handsome.”  He smiled as you parted ways. He helping the guys building the festival up and you got some sort of promotion and would became the new boss when you’ve learned everything.

Things couldn’t have been better.

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[blueshistorysims]

July 1922, Henford-on-Bagley, England

It seemed that fate wanted to punish him for his supposed good fortune. He was alone. His wife was in another continent, all his friends lived too far to visit, and no one cared enough to see how he was doing. 

Summer was meant to be full of parties and swimming and vacation, but instead, Byron wallowed in self-pity, shut up in the castle he hated. 

Drink had become his friend. As did books. They allowed an escape from his miserable life, alleviating some of his stress and burdens. Of course, reality always bled back in.

There were debts. Many debts he was not aware of while Thomas Walsh lived. There were from the seventh Duke’s lifetime, Thomas’ father, who had taken a great debt while purchasing land in some of the colonies. He surmised that Thomas had kept the fact that they owned land in parts of Africa and Asia because he’d know that Byron would throw a fit. And he would have. 

Disgusted, now he was forced to get rid of the land. He’d want to return it to the original people, but he needed the money, so he bit his tongue and swallowed his morals, selling the land away to some other rich person.

He planned to sell Henford Castle. He had told no one yet, but it had been one of his original plans. A man had already written in interest of buying the property. He had yet to go to it, but there was another property in Henford. It was far smaller, but still a proper country house aristocrats would approve of. 

More now than ever, he thought of his brother. Alexander would have loved being a duke. He was the perfect fit. He was charming, educated, and unlike his little brother, he knew when to keep his mouth shut. God, he bloody missed him. 

“Christ, what are you doing?” He asked himself. “You live in a fucking castle and have a bloody title. Your sister lives in a shabby apartment in East London, why haven’t you help-” He faltered when he realized he hadn’t written or phoned his sister since April, other than a single letter where he complained about his life the entire time, not a thought or question about her life. What kind of brother was he? He missed her fucking birthday without a second thought. He glanced at the photograph of his brother. “You’ve given me an idea, Alexander,” he muttered, turning toward his bathroom. He needed to shave.