#i cannot purchase a fake prop

[britishraptor]

Me: How to make a fake crystal ball. How to make a plastic ball. How to make a clear sphere. How to

Tutorial, every time: To make this, first I purchase a clear plastic ball -

[azsazz]

Glitz, Glam & Grand Prix

Formula One!Azriel x Reader

Summary: Set at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, you, as Ferrari's team Media Trainer, struggle with keeping both drivers in line.

Warnings: N/A

Word Count: 1,887

Notes: Back again with another F1 AU 💙 so obsessed with this trope tbh

Belongs to the Off Grid collection.

_________________________________________

“I am not wearing this,” Azriel says flatly, staring at the garment in his hand in horror. He’s holding the hanger hook between a pinched thumb and forefinger, like the newly designed sequined bomber jacket might jump off the holder and strangle him.

He might prefer that.

“Yes, you are,” you answer, distractedly. Your phone buzzes in your hand, another email coming through. Something about a calendar change with the scheduled interviews for the two drivers you’re in charge of for media training. “You’re going to put that jacket on, just like all of the other drivers are doing, and you’re going to march your ass over to the social media team and do what they ask without complaint.”

You cut your—secret—boyfriend a harsh look that matches your no-nonsense tone. He holds your look for all of four seconds before giving in, returning to his glower to the garment in his hand instead. It’s smart of him, choosing not to start with you while you’re in Media Training mode, not secret girlfriend mode where you shoot him teasing grins and cheeky glances behind everyone’s backs.

“Give it here, old man,” Dorian Havilliard says, swiping the coat from him. You cringe, offering Azriel an apologetic smile that looks more like a grimace when his hazel gaze swings wildly to meet yours. As if you can do something about the driver tasing him. Azriel looks like he’s about two seconds from trying to lay Dorian—Ferrari’s newest recruit—out flat.

“I’m not even that old,” Azriel mutters, giving up before the arguing can even begin. The drivers haven’t started off on a good foot, Azriel upset about the realization that he’s getting older in this sport, and the looming fear that the rookie is going to replace him for his Driver 1 spot. For Dorian, he’s too naive yet to understand that he can learn a thing or two from the veteran driver. “Can I fake a stomach bug to get out of this one, ba—(Y/N)?” Azriel stutters, quickly catching his mistake.

Your eyes widen, but thankfully, Dorian doesn’t seem to notice, too enraptured with the design on the back of the bomber. Three dice line the back in white sequins, and instead of regular pips, the black of the dice spells out the acronym F1LVGP: Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

It is pretty ugly, but you cannot wait to see your boyfriend in it.

Both drivers are set to shoot media in the very jackets that fans received with their purchase of tickets months ago. It’s going to be as gimmicky and cheesy as Azriel thinks it’s going to be, which is why you refrained from mentioning this specific part of the media tour to him this weekend.

“The fans are going to want to see you both in that jacket,” you explain, biting your lip at Dorian, who has zipped it up to his collarbones. It does look horrid, and there’s a part of you that wishes you could warn the social team about Azriel’s reluctant attitude. Hopefully, they don’t give him any props that might make him look even sillier. “It’s good for the team and the race. Plus, interaction gets us all paid, boys.”

Your phone pings with another important message, a call-in meeting with the Ferrari Public Relations team managers to develop key messages that align with the brand values, sponsor commitments, and team ethos.

With the two stubborn-minded drivers on your team, that part might prove to be difficult.

After that it’s crisis meetings with said drivers, training both Dorian and Azriel on how to efficiently deflect the potential damaging and sensitive questions about what happened in Brazil two weeks ago. Azriel is used to it, and as much as he hates the interview portion of his job, is trained well in answering these types of questions with tact and confidence.

Dorian, on the other hand, is still young and new to the team. The interviewers will no doubt single him out, sniffing out his fresh blood because he’s more likely to make a mistake. You already know that he’s a touch hot-headed when it comes to the obvious rift between the two Ferrari drivers, and if the interviewers pose a question that gives him room to get a word in about Azriel, you have no doubt that he’ll take it, even without realizing exactly how it could impact the team image.

You’re going to make sure that that doesn’t happen.

The rest of the weekend is planned out down to the minute. You’re not even sure you have a single free second to spend with Azriel.

Las Vegas is always exhausting.

“Hey, boss? When do we have some down time this weekend?” Dorian asks, as if he’s somehow reading your mind. You’re dreading this, having to tell a freshly turned twenty-one-year-old in Las Vegas for the first time that he’s not going to be able to go buck-wild. He’ll have to save that for a bye-week or a break. You’re here for business and racing this weekend, not strip-shows and high-hollers tables.

And while he may have an appearance at Omnia night club post-race on Sunday, you’ve tasked yourself with keeping an eye on the rookie, this weekend more so than during the rest of the races this season.

“Unlikely, Havilliard,” you answer, finally looking up from the calendar on your phone. He should really know by now how this all works—it’s race 22 for Mother’s sake—that everything is all work and no play until after the race, but as it’s Dorian’s first year in the big leagues, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

It’s been years since you worked with a rookie. You’ve been on Ferrari’s team for a while now, working with Azriel and veteran driver Rowan Whitethorn who accepted an offer from McLaren at the end of last season. It had been bliss, the both of them the most unproblematic drivers on the grid, letting their racing do the talking for them.

But it had been more difficult to get them to talk than you thought. The pair hadn’t been as personable to the world because of their stoic behavior, but when you were hired on, you whipped them into tip-top shape, both drivers the perfect media trained racers within all of Formula 1.

“We’re here for work. You’ll have some time after practice and the race, but Saturday night you’re not to be spotted in any clubs or casinos too late,” you explain, shoving your phone into your back pocket to give him your full attention when you say this. You watch your words settle within Dorian, his shoulders falling more and more as you continue. “You’re not to go overboard. That means no drinking, no gambling, no—”

“Fun?”

You sigh at his disheartened look. Maybe it would be alright if he spent some time with some of the veteran drivers, maneuvering Las Vegas along with them. He’ll find that he can still find fun in moderation. Too bad you know Azriel will cut that idea off at the neck.

“I know it sounds boring, Dorian,” you try easily, giving the young driver a sympathetic look. “It’s your first time in Las Vegas and that’s very exciting, but you really need to think hard about what you’re doing here because there are temptations, but there are so many cameras and eyes on you. If you can handle how things might be construed, you don’t have my blessing, but I can’t force you to sit in your hotel all weekend.”

Something sparks in those deep blue eyes at your hidden message. You’ve warned him and you’re not flat-out telling him that you’ll look the other way, that you’ll clean up a mess for him if he makes it, but he should get to live a little, at least.

You know that he’s unlikely to listen to you anyway, friends with a lot of the other young drivers who are just as excited to be in Las Vegas as Dorian is; Ruhn Danaan, Ithan Holstrom, and Tharion Ketos to name a few, with veteran driver Cassian Bailey taking them all under their wing.

That tiny detail means that you’re going to have your work cut out for you this season.

“You got it, boss,” Dorian salutes, shooting you the most innocent look he can muster.

Behind him, Azriel rolls his eyes, and you’re pretty sure you hear him mutter, “Kiss ass,” under his breath, which both you and Dorian effectively ignore.

You’re proud, he’s already learning.

“Alright, Dorian. You’re up first for bomber jacket media, I have something to talk about with Azriel, but we’ll be down soon. You know where you’re going?” You ask, even though his security detail is awaiting him in the hall outside of the suite.

“Of course,” Dorian nods, passing you with his phone already out in his hand. You give him all of three seconds before he begins posting Instagram stories about the hotel. “Thank you for everything, (Y/N).”

“My pleasure,” you answer, waiting until the door shuts behind him before spinning towards your boyfriend and pinning him with a stern look. “You need to stop being so negative, Az. Dorian is on your team and he’s here to stay, at least for the next two seasons until your contract ends. If you want Ferrari to keep you, the both of you will have to start getting along sooner rather than later, and Dorian is a sweetheart.”

“Not you too,” Azriel groans. “Come on, babe, no one can be that charming.”

You hum, stepping into your boyfriend’s warm body. If this is all the time you’re allowed this weekend, you’re going to take advantage of it. Azriel’s hands find your hips easily, a firm, comforting weight against your skin. “I seem to remember someone else that was quite charming when we met,” you tease, wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him into a kiss that makes your heart race faster than the speed of his car.

“I was pretty charming, wasn’t I?” Azriel grins, waggling his eyebrows, and you love looking at him like this, happy, when his eyes crinkle in the corners with his smile, the slight dimple in his cheek deepening. He’s so handsome. “Want to go down to the Little White Chapel later and make this official?” Azriel teases and your heart fucking soars, even if he is only poking fun.

Someday the man in your arms won’t be a secret anymore. You’ll be able to flaunt him all over the world, build a life with him, love him not just in the shadows.

“Without a ring?” You joke right back, pinching his side. “I don’t think so, Az.”

“Baby, I’ll get you the biggest ring I can find,” Azriel’s words are husky, his breath hot against the shell of your ear as he dips his chin. “I’ll give you the whole damn world, (Y/N). I love you.”

“I love you too,” you respond breathlessly, and begin rethinking your refusal to marry him on the strip in Las Vegas without a ring. You’ll take him now, hell, you’ll even marry him in the sequined bomber jacket, you don’t care.

You just want to be his, not in secret anymore.

_________________________________________

Tagging people from the last F1 fic. If you don't want to be tagged just lmk 🥰

@iambored24601 @secretlyhers @kylaisra @daily-dose-of-sass @moosemahboi @devilsfoodcake22 @blackthorngirl @brieflyclassymortal @starsdoulikedem @cami26cami @justasillylittlegoofyguy @milswrites @navyblue-eternity @kennedy-brooke @mimsie95 @shadowsingersmate24 @piceous21 @skyjasper @soulessjourney @despoinasstuff @weasleyreidstyles @marrass @favfantasyreads @fairywriter-oracle @georgiastars13 @blueblondi @namelesssav @tothestarsandwhateverend @brekkershadowsinger

[replica-weapons]

What Is So Special About Replica Ww1 Guns

Over time, the market for replica WW1 guns has expanded gradually. As the name implies, a replica gun is not as "real" as a weapon from today. However, when utilizing it, one must use caution and pay attention to a few things. These days, you may purchase a replica handgun from online and physical retailers without dealing with many rules or legal hoops. 

The fact that replica firearms allow you to enjoy shooting without having to shell out a ton of cash or worry about running afoul of the law because you possess a gun is one of the main reasons they are so popular. 

You may use a replica pistol in your living room, garage, backyard, or even basement as long as you take precautions. 

Although many people find replica guns fascinating, you should know a few things before using one.

What Is A Replica Gun?

Although it looks like a real gun, replica WW1 guns are not quite like one; there are several varieties and kinds of replica firearms. PFC, inert, and firing reproductions are some of the more well-liked varieties of replica firearms. Try to learn as much as you can about replica guns before you buy any kind of them.

An inert replica gun has a metallic body and is made to resemble a genuine gun. Even though inert imitation weapons are very functional, they cannot be used for actual firing. These are either hung on walls as ornamental elements or used as movie props. Numerous Spanish-based businesses are focused on producing replica firearms.

Japanese businesses produce most PFC or Plug Fire Cap imitation weapons. The easiest way to characterize these would be as working reproductions with unique caps designed to mimic the action of actual weapons. PFC guns are one of the most common kinds of WW1 imitation firearms. It is crucial to remember that a PFC pistol does not discharge bullets.

You must be sure of your intentions before purchasing a replica firearm. Consider if you really need a replica gun to display on a wall or if you only need a replica gun for target practice. You should choose a replica gun with a spring, compressed air, electric or gas power, and power if you want to fire targets. 

How To Buy One?

Check to see if the fake gun accessories you have selected are compatible. They must appropriately and flawlessly fit your arsenal. Before completing the purchase, confirm that all mounting systems are operational. Verify that the connectors' sizes and locations also correspond with your firearm. You can contact the manufacturer to find out more details. He will help you understand the product's features and help you choose the right one. 

Are These Guns Legal To Use?

The World War I replica guns restrictions are less stringent than those about actual firearms. Nevertheless, as these are ultimately guns, one must be aware of and abide by the regulations that apply to them. If you intend to purchase replica Russian guns from World War 1, you must be well knowledgeable about the rules controlling the use of replica firearms.

The majority of nations on earth have rules about the sale and purchase of replica firearms. In many countries, the rules are straightforward, while in others, they may be pretty complex. Sometimes, purchasers become confused by the complicated legalese and unintentionally break the law.

If you are living in the United States, you should be aware that you might face years in prison if you acquire a replica gun from someone who has obtained it lawfully. You must purchase a replica firearm from a licensed vendor.

Replica WW1 guns sales, purchases, and use are forbidden in certain nations. Authorities in various countries take various actions to guarantee that a replica gun can be clearly distinguished from an actual gun. For instance, imitation weapons must have a bright orange tip in several nations.

Conclusion The regulations about using steel BB and pellet replica firearms differ from those about 6mm airsoft replicas. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local rules regarding replica firearms before purchasing World War I weapons or any other kind of imitation gun. Ensure you don't breach any laws or regulations when buying or using a replica gun. You can ask for help or direction from businesses selling imitation firearms in your town or city.

[le0watch]

(tws: implied mental illness and self harm)

today is the day.

the day langa has been dreading.

he looks out his front window, his chin propped on the palm of his hand. he's waiting, sitting on one of the chairs in his living room, leg bouncing impatiently.

he doesn't really want this addition to his household, but he'd rather get the thing and move on with his life. but no, they have to be running late.

he sighs heavily, and goes to picking at the skin around his fingernails. the familiar sting and drops of blood calms him a little, and he draws in a deep breath. it'll be fine. mom wants this, since she can't live with him right now. he needs this to stay stable, apparently.

he jumps when theres a knock on the front door. at some point, an automated taxi had pulled up in front of his house without him noticing. he takes a moment to wonder how he hadn't noticed it, before pushing to his feet to open the door.

a flash of red hair and amber eyes greets him, with skin a darker tan than langa's pale skin. the thing is grinning widely, hands tucked behind its back. it perks up when it sees him, and langa wants to rip his hair out. he'd known they'd purchased one a month ago, personalizing it to fit langa's needs and physical preferences, but to actually see it on his doorstep was like getting slapped in the face.

"hello!" the android exclaims, its led mood light circling a calm blue. "my name is reki- i'm the android sent by cyberlife!"

langa has to bite back a groan of annoyance. "hi," he replies. he has to play nice. this thing is motoring him and his moods. it's probably taking notes of his physical appearance and outfit option. which, his outfit for today isnt as bad as it usually is. it's a baggy white shirt and a pair of jeans. simple and comfortable.

"it is so nice to finally meet you!" the android continues, clasping its hands in front of itself with glee. "i was designed to fit your personal needs and preferences-" he already knew that- "but if you do not like how i look or act, you can always send me back for maintenance. the first change is free!"

"yay," langa replies coldly. but he steps back and gestures of the thing to step inside. it does, looking around his small home. "this is the living room, over there is the kitchen, and to the left down the hall is my bed and bathroom. id rather you not go in there."

"i'll have to, it's part of my programming," the thing says, with the audacity to sound apologetic. as if. androids can't feel anything. "my program dictates that you cannot be allowed alone for too long, because of your past actions."

langa lets out another heavy sigh, dragging his hand down his face. his mom probably added that to it. shes been so worried about him since he'd tried to commit not too long ago.

"right," langa responds. "so... what do you do?"

"im glad you ask!" the android says with too much cheer. it's starting to give langa a headache. "i was custom designed to act as your caregiver and to be the eyes of your loved ones. My functions are as follows: medication, time, self care, and eating reminders. i have basic medical knowledge, so if you injure yourself i can help heal it. i am also programmed to become a friend of yours if you so desire."

"uh huh," langa says, quickly losing interest in the situation. as if he'd ever be friends with an android, anyways.

"so, may i ask when you are supposed to take your prescribed medicines?" the android asks next, not missing a beat. "as well how long you are typically in the bathroom, so that i may check on you if you are in there longer than the given time."

"you don't need to know that," langa snaps, instinctively shifting on his feet. the fresh cuts on his thighs sting, but it's a good feeling. "but i can give you my meds so you know."

"okay! i'll time you next time you are in the bathroom, so i can get a feel of your usual time," the android says brightly. langa glares at it. it doesn't seem to notice. "i should inform you as well: i have a smelling receptor implemented, so if i smell blood on you, or find that you have seriously injured yourself, i will instantly contact medical help to come pick you up. afterwards, i will check you into a mental hospital to make sure you get the help you need if i am not enough."

langa's nose scrunches up with distaste. "asshole," he mutters. he thinks he says it quiet enough so that the thing can't hear him, yet he still catches the led on its temple cycling from blue to red, indicating distress. weird.

"y- i am sorry," it stutters. androids could stutter? huh, they must make them able to do almost anything. "for now, i will give you space. i will check up on you semi-frequently. please let me know if you need anything, and when you are going to bring me your perscribed medication." it pauses, staring off into the distance for a moment. its eyes have a strange look in them, the led cycling red for a few seconds longer before returning to blue. it smiles at him, but he gets the feeling its forced. "i am glad to be here with you. i will be entering rest mode, now."

with that, it shuts down, led cycling yellow, fake eyelids lowered over its fake eyes. it almost looks like an actual person had fallen asleep standing up.

too bad it's fake.

he sighs heavily for the third time the past hour and runs a hand down his face. his hands tingle with the need to grab his favorite knife, but he doesn't want it to smell his blood. he'll have to find times and places to do it, then.

he just isn't prepared for the events that are soon to follow after receiving this thing. if he had, he would have sent straight back to cyberlife.

[sugarfreecapsicle]

old magic

A/N: well it is spooky time, my dudes. although this isn’t all that scary, it’s a little rattling. written for and with lots of support from @moonstruckbucky and her Halloween writing challenge!  As always, huge props to @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan​ for beta-reading and for this gorgeous moodboard!

prince!bucky x reader

warnings: implied sex, manipulation, poor witchery, kinda angsty?

DISCLAIMER: this is in no way a reflection of anyone who identifies, practices or otherwise affiliates with witchcraft. I bastardized some basics and ran with it. Please don’t come for me and correct my poor development of a fake magic system.

Owls, crickets, toads all sing their lullabies, croon their desire in the unseasonal warmth. Even the fish are unsettled, splashing about in the pond on the horizon of your window. Protective warding candles flicker with the larger flame in your hearth - a warning.

Trouble will come knocking on your door.

With a sigh, you open your eyes and absently gaze over your small cup of tea. Steam curls through your vision and blurs the orange light through your small hut. Trouble indeed.

The fire at your hearth crackles hungrily, so you feed it a handful of brittle twigs. If guests should come, preparations should be made.

In the midst of your hot bath, a team of five knights barge through your front door - those wards would need recharging, you note - and clear your long dining table to unload a limp body. All men except one gape at your nonchalance. Steam akin to that of your tea floats upward from the large tub, hot water decorated with herbs and petals of varying shape and color warping your naked form beneath the surface.

“Witch.” The title seethes through his pink lips, but your smirk and nod. 

“Well met, Captain.”

“Fix him.”

“He’s the only one of you with any decency,” your words are laced with mischief. “Shield your eyes, men! Save your precious innocence before your eyes burst aflame at the sight of a bare witch!”

Your cackles fill the room, chiming echoes sparking off the walls as you dare to stand at attention from the pool of water. All but the captain turn away - his blue eyes glare murderous at you. A wink over your shoulder before pulling a long, black robe from its nearby perch brings a sneer over the leader’s face.

“By order of the king-”

“Yes, yes,” you interrupt loudly with an exasperated roll of your eyes, your voice lowered to mock that of the looming man. “Perform your rightful duties as a registered hag and fulfill as the royal guard wishes.” 

Your bare feet tap across the floor, wet prints left behind intentionally - each dissipates quickly into the air. “Tell me, Steven - how many other witches have you brought to their knees with such a command?”

His right shoulder twitches, but his hand never raises. Your eyebrow quirks up and you nod - how unbecoming of the Captain of the Royal Guard to be accused of lewd behavior in the name of the King. He’d passed your teasing - the icy tingle of a ward at work had not pulled at the back of your neck. The captain willed himself not to strike you. Commendable.

“Fix him,” the Captain grits out, pointing at the pallid body on your table. An inhale on approach allows his spirit to feel welcomed in your home - any chaos or anger in the room would only hinder your work - and you smell chamomile. 

Of all the foolish things you’d imagined could happen, resurrecting a martyred prince hadn’t crossed your mind. Your eyes roam over him, assessing. Deep laceration framed by a dark brown bloodstain at his abdomen. Left arm at the shoulder dangling by red, thin threads. Muck and debris spattered over what shreds remained of his tunic and trousers. Even his face, sculpted in beauty, bore minor wounds in comparison to your initial findings. 

“Captain, I’m no miracle worker,” you purr. “I’m a witch.”

“I know damn well what you are,” the Captain rushes you and all but pins you against your worktable, looming as a cloud in the sky. “And I know what you’re capable of.”

He can’t disguise the fear, the love, in his eyes. None of it belonging or intended for you - for you, there’s rage and desperation pouring from the sea blue. 

“Is this a price you wish to pay?” Your gentle words do nothing to deter his tears that brim and tumble onto his dirty cheeks. “There is a price for all magicks - not all can be purchased with gold and crystals.”

His jaw sets, his body retreats enough to give your feet purchase on the ground. 

“Do what you must.”

Sweat beads on your brow, your skin flushes with salty dew as you murmur and call and command, breath swelling in your chest, tingling sparks ignite beneath your skin - 

And there’s a clatter of iron by your fire. Shaking hands slam onto your table.

“I need space to continue my work.” Your eyes dart from each knight to their captain who leers.

“Shall we move him-”

“Absolutely not!” The slender knight recoils into the corner at your bark. Your tired eyes wander to the captain. “I need your men outside. I cannot be interrupted.”

“You cannot be trusted,” he spits, arms crossed over his plate armor.

“Trusted enough to bring your prince back from the dead, no?” 

Unhappily convinced, he ushers his men outside and gives them orders to stand guard until your work is complete or he commands otherwise. The wooden door creaks and whines as he slams it shut against the stonework threshold. Steven perches his hips against one of your many storage cabinets, his arms folded neatly once again, and you return to your work.

This magic drains. Your focus is split between replenishing your own reservoir of power and awakening the silent body of the prince. Divided attention rarely served any witch, least of all one interrupted while in ritual to prepare herself for the impending trouble. Knees bent against the rotting wood, your body shielding his as your hands spread your spell like paint. 

Hours later, you need rest. The Captain demands an explanation before he allows you to sit in your favorite chair. With exhaustion in your voice, you give him the simplest explanation available - the prince is stable, but your powers are not. Without your full attention, he could still die, or worse, lose his soul somewhere between the ethereal plane and the tangible one.

You fall into your seat with a melting sigh of relief. From your position you survey the progress: his skin still lacks color, though your poultices and wards appear to hold fast to your will. The missing left arm troubles you, though your faith in a solution after more work warm your soul.

“His left arm cannot be revived, but the rest of his body...perhaps. I need rest to replenish what I’ve lost. An hour at most.”

“And in that hour-”

“Yes, your prince is safe. When I am ready, I will continue.” 

Beginning the ritual from your seat, your eyes close gratefully. For a quarter of an hour you will meditate and ask for guidance. Then, you will submerge yourself naked into the pond to recharge your spirit until full once again.

The hour drags for the captain. Understanding a witch proves impossible - these otherworldly machinations serve nothing in battle. No witch would even consider aiding the armies of the King - though he strictly commanded none of them should die for their obstruction. 

After all, he’d said, they’ll just come back to life and kill me for ordering their death.

He shivers, a hand calming his chest. Steven had promised his life for James’ - and he failed. He failed his prince, his king, his country. And the failure stares at a rippling pond where a witch likely drowns herself as he broods.

A bubble floats on the surface then quickly bursts. Then another. And a cluster. 

And the moment Steven moves to stand, your head down to your eyes emerges from the water. Your movements are slow, deliberate, intentional. The pond water glistens in the moonlight, translucent pearls over smooth curves. He gulps down a knot of lust in his throat on your approach.

Cold and soaked, you grin devilishly up at him through dripping lashes. “Bring me his armor. I may fashion an arm for him yet.”

The work isn’t easier, but with your renewed strength comes potency. No blacksmith could match the functional metal arm fashioned in hellfire, a marbling of dark gunmetal and gold that pairs in shape with his left. The weight of it couldn’t be helped even by magic.

Finally, almost at sunrise, you can complete your ritual. The captain watches intently, breath hitching with every change in the air, puff of smoke, flicker of candlelight. These spells are extremely delicate, and with good reason - witches who meddle in life and death often end up mangled beyond repair.

His first inhale, chest lifting with a dragged gasp, rattles like a child’s toy with an exhale as rough. His captain eyes you, worried and questioning.

You nod shortly and repeat your charm - another inhale and exhale but smooth. The third repetition eases the tension in the room when he breathes as if in a deep sleep.

“Give him a day,” you sigh, wiping sweat from your brow. “It’s difficult readjusting to this material plane after death.”

The men make camp outside your front door, but never bother you for food or wares. Not that you’d have heard anything - you’d managed to sleep the better part of the day away. A mid-afternoon tea appeals to your weary mind, and as you’re brewing, the body on the table rustles.

You turn, smirking, and wait for his eyes to flutter awake at last.

Blue as the sea on a cloudless day, lashes dark and thick as pitch. No wonder maidens far and near begged you for love potions with him as their target.  

How unfortunate that they didn’t have your skill.

A small enchantment in his arm sealed his fate in more ways than one.

“Well met, brave prince.”

Of course his men swarm him with excited congratulations and greetings, eager to have their beloved prince back from the dead. Steven takes his time to communicate the new arm and new life as clearly as possible - even including your contribution to the whole endeavor. 

Pupils dilate when the prince kisses your hand in a low bow.

“May I deliver my payment to you in person?” His voice is deliciously low, hungry, raw.

“Whatever pleases His Majesty,” you answer, meeting his eyes in a promise. The troupe clambers out after a short protection spell you’d offered freely. 

In a week - that’s all it’ll take for the prince to appear before you again, in the dead of night, pupils blown out. 

“Madam, I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but you’re all I think about. I can’t bed my wife, I can’t hold court, I can’t travel without passing by and the urge to stay-“

You’re laughing behind a delicate hand. “Your Royal enchantress should be ashamed, your majesty. What witch cannot detect a love spell?”

The prince’s face twists in confusion. “You...you’ve bewitched me?”

Again, grinning, you recite the simple incantation: 

Though a beauty your bride may be

Your heart and soul now belong to me

The prince swallows, can’t stop himself from drinking in your body from toes to head. So full of desire, so wanting, needy, desperate for touch. “You’ve ruined me.”

“I feel I’ve made quite a vast improvement, in fact,” you giggle. “Aren’t I a better vision than your betrothed?”

You let your robe slip from your shoulders and pool at your feet just as the door to your home slams shut behind a wanton man.

[sunshinejs]

Right Here, Right Now

A/N: ngl this one hurt me a lot because I was having a HSM 3 karaoke session yesterday and I absolutely love this song with all my heart. And before that, Tori and I had a talk about Connor comforting you with a song after a fight and she decided this is THAT SONG. I don’t make the rules here.

This one is dedicated to my sweet bean, Tori @shawnpetermuffins and I hope you love this one!! 

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Word count: 2.2k -ish

“Baby, don’t forget about tonight!” You call out to Connor as you picked up your handbag from the table “The event starts at 6:00pm okay!”

“Yes, babe, I know” Connor chuckled, looking up from his laptop to your direction “You’ve told me that like a million times already and I’ve already told my boss I was going to head out earlier today”

You walked up to him, where he sat on the couch and sat on the arm of the couch “I’m sorry, bubs. I’m just really excited for the opening!”

“And you should be” He smiled at you as he took your hand in his and pressed a soft kiss to the back of your hand “I’m proud of you, love. I really am”

“Aw, babe!” You blushed “I can’t wait for you to finally see the café! I’m going to record your reaction”

“I cannot believe you won’t even tell me the name of it” Connor shakes his head “I’m your husband, baby! You’re not supposed to keep any secrets from me, you know!”

“Well some surprises are just worth the wait, baby” You winked, preparing to get up from your seat “Alright, I have to head out already. I’ve got a lot of prepping to do for tonight”

“Hey, whoa, hold on a sec” He called, getting a hold of your wrist and pulled you back “Where do you think you’re going, hm? I didn’t even get my kisses”

You rolled your eyes playfully and leaned in to peak his lips. After pulling away, you shake your head “Sometimes I forget you’re like a giant baby”

“It’s because I’m your baby” He grinned “Good luck with the set-up, honey! I’ll see you later!”

“Thank you, bubs!” You called over your shoulder as you headed for the front door “Have a good day at work!”

xxx

Connor was officially fucked.

Just as he was about to leave the office, his boss calls everyone in the department for an emergency meeting. Apparently, their clients moved up the datelines and they wanted the submission to be handed in by Wednesday morning, which was in 2 days, and they were nowhere near done.

Just as he thought he was in luck today; the universe decides to make everything wrong. He felt so bad for having to do this to you because he knows how important this grand opening is to you (it’s the only thing you have been talking about, not that he minds it; Connor thinks it’s adorable how excited you always look whenever someone brings up the café to you) and he wants to be there with you for your big night. But this project was also important to him and there was no way he could back out of it.

He returns back to his desk and immediately calls you up; already dreading to hear the disappointment in your voice.

“Hey, honey!” Your happy tone on the other line snapped him back to reality “Are you on your way over? Your family just arrived and your mom’s asking where you are!”

“Baby,” Connor sighs heavily “I’m really, really sorry”

On the other end, your smile immediately drops “Why are you saying sorry, babe?” You asked anxiously.

“Some thing’s came up at work” He said hesitantly “And I don’t know if I’m going to make it for tonight”

That sentence alone made your heart drop to your stomach.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. You repeated to yourself as you took a deep breath. Your vision starts to get cloudy and you could not make a scene right now (even though you felt like you were going to explode); not when so many people are already present for the event.

“Oh,” You said softly. It felt like someone had burst your little bubble and the air flowing out of it was all your excitement and happiness.

You wanted to be mad at Connor. You had every right to. But you knew that his work is also important to him and it’s not entirely his fault his boss was a monster who wanted his employees to work until late night.

“That’s okay, Connor” You reassured him, in a tone that was fake enough for Connor to know you weren’t okay with his decisions.

And he knows you’re nowhere near okay. You called him Connor. Not baby or bubs or honey or even Con. Just plain old Connor. You only did that when you’re angry at him or just disappointed.

“Baby, I’m so, so sorry” Connor frowned, muttering softly “I promise I’ll make it up to you, okay? I feel so bad about this”

“Don’t be, Connor” You said flatly “Work is important to you and I get that. Good luck with all your paperwork. I’ll see you at home”

“Honey-,”

And Connor groaned to himself when you hung up on him before he could go any further with his sentence.

No goodbye, no I love you. You were extremely mad at him. And being silently mad at him instead of bursting at him was so much worse.

A few hours later, Connor was still furiously typing away the proposal on his laptop. His body might be present in the office but his mind was elsewhere; thinking of you and how he has let you down tonight.

He was angry at his work, the only thing that was stopping him from being by your side at your grand opening, like he promised you multiple times.

Lucas was passing by Connor’s desk to head to the printing room and was surprised to still see his friend in the office at this hour, especially since he knew that you were having a grand opening for your café tonight.

“Connor?” Lucas calls out to his friend.

Connor stops typing on his laptop and turns his chair around “Oh, hey Lucas” He greeted in a non-enthusiastic tone.

“Why are you still here?” Lucas asks confusingly “I thought you would be gone by now. Isn’t y/n’s grand opening tonight?”

“It is” Connor replied, letting out a frustrated sigh “But since our clients moved up the submissions date, I’ve got to stay back and work this shit out because I’m not even half way through”

“Aw, man I’m really sorry about that” Lucas frowns “And y/n is okay with you here?”

“Obviously not. She’s pissed at me”

“Then just ditch the work, man” He insisted “Look, your wife is more important, Connor. Just come in work earlier tomorrow and get everything sorted out. I’ll even help you draft everything out so you can finish it faster, okay?”

“You really would do that?” Connor asked hopefully.

“Yeah man, now go” He rolled his eyes playfully “Go see your wife and tell her how sorry you are”

“Lucas, you are a life saver” Connor sighs in relief as he saves the work he typed out in a document and shuts down his laptop “I owe you a drink, buddy!”

“Correction, you owe me a drink and a fancy dinner, Brashier!” Lucas calls out to him, laughing as he watches his friend grabbed the bouquet of roses Connor had already purchased earlier and ran towards the lift “Good luck, man!”

xxx

Connor pulls up his car right in front of the café not too long later. There weren’t many cars around so he had a feeling the event has been over for quite some time now.

He got out of the car, holding the bouquet of roses in one hand, and his breath hitched in his throat when he finally notices the giant sign above the entrance of the café, displaying the name that you kept as a secret from him.

The Expresso CDB.

CDB named after him.

The coffee shop had clear windows and from inside, everything was dark except for one light, which meant you were probably still in there (he knows that’s a fact because he saw your car parked across the street).

There was a sign board propped up by the entrance of the door and as he walked closer to it, he finally read the opening message written in cursive.

Welcome to the grand opening of The Expresso CDB!

Thank you for being a part of this special night and for being one of the reasons why I have decided to pursue my dreams of opening this café.

The name ‘The Expresso CDB’ is inspired by my husband himself, Connor David Brashier. We first met in a coffee shop about 5 years ago and it was the best accident that has ever happened to me.

This one is for you, bubs. All my love is yours always.

y/n

And he immediately felt worse than before.

Connor opens the front door and immediately hears the bell ring. He nervously steps into the café and was taken aback by the interior design of it. Everything was set-up so perfectly and it was obviously suited to your likings.

You walked out of the kitchen as you carried out a basket filled with clean glasses and cups “Sorry! We’re not open….” Your words trailed off when you looked up and noticed who was at the door “Yet”

You rolled your eyes and set it down on the counter as you walked at a fast pace to your office “Go home, Connor!”

“Baby, wait!” Connor called after you as he sets the flower down on one of the tables and ran after you. He was too late though because you were already in the office and slammed the door shut, locking it in the process “Baby, please, I’m so sorry!”

“One night, Connor!” You slide down against the door as you yelled out “I asked you to be free for one damn night! And you couldn’t even do that!”

“And I feel so terrible about it, honey!” Connor reasoned with you in a softer tone as he continues to knock on the door “Please, please, forgive me, honey. I really feel bad”

“Everyone was asking about you tonight, do you know that?” You sniffled softly as the tears you were holding in were finally falling form your eyes “They were asking why you weren’t here it and I felt like the biggest idiot standing in front of everyone without you there with me!”

“I know how important your work is to you, Connor, I really do” You said shakily as a soft sob escape from your lips “But just this one time, I wanted you to prioritize me over your work”

“Baby, I always prioritize you” Connor choked out and he felt his breathing getting heavier. His visions were cloudy from the tears in his eyes “You are always number 1 to me. Not my stupid work or my boss. It’s always you”

“No” You shake your head “Tonight you showed me that wasn’t true”

Connor gave up on banging on the door, there was no way you were going to budge. The tears couldn’t stop flowing from his eyes as he slides down the door, being in a similar position to you on the other side.

He could hear your soft sobs coming from inside the room and he wanted to hurt himself for being the cause of it. He absolutely hated to even see a single tear from your eyes and now to hear you sobbing; the guilt was eating him alive.

Connor lets his head fall back against the door as he lets out a shaky breath. He had to try the one thing that would always work whenever you two got into an argument. He didn’t know if it would make you give in this time, but it was your safe song.

“Right here, right now” Connor sang out softly. His voice came out shaky as his lips trembled. On the other side, your hands were over your mouth, trying to cover up the sound of the sobs escaping from your lips. And when you heard those words, your mind just froze.

Your safe song. The one he always sang to you whenever he was trying to comfort you after a fight.

“I'm looking at you and my heart loves the view” He continued “Cause you mean everything”

“Right here, I'll promise you somehow….” Connor continued to the next part, sniffling in between “That tomorrow can wait for some other day to be”

And he paused. Waiting to hear you end those lyrics because that’s how it always goes. You finishing the chorus as a way to tell him that “Yeah, I’m mad at you right now but I’ll forgive you soon if you give me sometime”

It was silent for a while and Connor’s heart was broken. He’s never going to hear you say them because this time, it was really bad. He messed up really bad. And in times like these, he had to give you some space.

Connor wiped the tears from his eyes and slowly got up from the floor. He was going to give you some space but he wasn’t going to leave this café, that’s for sure.

He was about 5 steps away from the door and when he hears the soft click of the door, his heart starts beating faster. Connor turns around slowly and finds the door half opened and you standing by it with crossed arms, tears in your eyes and make-up all ruined as you ended the chorus, giving him the reassurance that he needed.

“But right now, there’s you and me”

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Reblog, like or leave a comment; always appreciated!  ❤️

x rina

TAG LIST:

@hurts-like-hell-xx @connordavidscamera @r3ader @tinycertain @green-lxght @queenmxndes @turtoix​ @zigzagsandzebras​

*lmk if you want to be removed/tagged!

[thatoneumbrella]

Good Omens (TV) Aziraphale Cosplay 101: A Beginner’s Guide by a Beginner

I decided to pull together some notes regarding my preparation for my Aziraphale cosplay for SDCC next month. I don’t have photos of the full look to share just yet as I’m still waiting for pieces to be delivered to me.

Here’s what I’ve found, based on previous cosplay examples and reviewing many photos/gifs, to be essential pieces for an Aziraphale cosplay:

Coat (beige with lapels). I believe the coat is technically a frock coat, but you should be fine with a trench coat in a pinch. I’d prioritize length over color, but that’s a preference (so a coat rather than a jacket or blazer). Screen accuracy note: go lighter than darker (dark cream rather than tan). For example, not much darker than a paper bag or a cardboard box.

Button-down sleeved shirt with cuffs. If you’re attending a con (like me, heading to San Diego Comic-Con for the first time ever!!) that will likely be very warm, try to find an item made of a light/airy fabric (like cotton). No one is going to tell that it’s not a super formal shirt because you’ll be underneath so many fucking layers anyway. For screen accuracy, find something light powder blue. Aziraphale, in many instances, seldom wears pure white; his wardrobe palette carries beiges, tans, and creams.

Waistcoat or vest (beige/tan/taupe). You can also just do a pullover sweater vest and call it a day. A waistcoat is more technically accurate. Go for a beige/taupe color. For something crazy screen accurate, the waistcoat should have buttons that look weathered around where they’ve been stitched.

Bow tie. Unless you’re doing a cosplay of Aziraphale from a specific time period highlighted in Episode 3, this is pretty non-negotiable. Tartan is what you’ll go for. The bulk of your initial search results will be red tartan, like lumberjack Christmas. Find something tan, taupe, with hints of blue. However, I feel you can be very creative with bow tie colors and patterns here because it’s a way of highlighting your own personality. Don’t be afraid to break the palette if you want!

Pants/Trousers. Straight cut. It should be slightly darker than your coat. Actually, it can get pretty dark. Even if your fabric colors are not 100% accurate (and they won’t, unless you have a buddy who worked on the show/stole props—not that you’d ever resort to that), try to have some contrasts in your outfit so that you don’t get washed out by all the b e i g e .

Shoes. Formal Oxfords. Ladies, Sperry offers some more casual Oxford shoes. But you can always just wear men’s shoes, and you’ll be surprised how much more comfortable they are than women’s shoes.

For the pair I bought for this cosplay, I’m a 9 in men’s, but YMMV depending on the brand. The shoes I purchased have a subtle two-tone effect, which will do. These shoes are Nunn Bush (link). Go with something brown. For screen accuracy, Aziraphale’s shoes are kinda two-tone and have this gorgeous copper sheen at the ends. I have no idea if this shoe exists IRL.

Bigger priority is saving your feet! You’ll be walking a fuckton at the con. Make sure they’re comfortable shoes. Otherwise, invest in padding for the soles and bring some flats along.

Okay! So those are the main components of Aziraphale’s ensemble. You should be recognizable if you keep to a general color palette and go more formal than casual.

For accessories, consider:

A pocket watch. Gold plated. Amazon has cheap ones. I believe the TV version has a design with intricate angel wings.

A book made to look like the The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. You can find a high-res mock cover floating around on reddit. Consider hitting up Goodwill or thrift shops for an old, beat-up hardcover. For something more subtle: Oscar Wilde. I think the most screen accurate thing you can acquire is a swag journal mocked to look like the book itself, which was given away at SXSW, NYCC, and maybe other events. eBay has the full swag bags but they’re not cheap ($50-200).

Angel wings. Because... why not? But I imagine these might be cumbersome to wear on top of everything else.

Flaming sword, but I don’t recommend this because most cons have policies against fake weapons. I think for SDCC if it’s a functional sword it needs to be strapped to your person so that it cannot be drawn. Defeats the point.

Tartan socks, though feel free to have fun with this! I might get something with a fun angel/heaven theme or a demon/hell theme.

Signet ring. Aziraphale wears a gold ring on his pinky finger. I believe they’re overlapping angel wings. No one will notice this but consider this another fine detail to pay attention to if you wish.

That’s all I got for now. Feel free to chime in with suggestions!

[niallsstainedcoffeecup]

The Nanny

Harry is sick, and forgets to tell Y/N, his daughter’s nanny, not to come in.  This fic was requested by the lovely @titanicbuff1912  I hope you like it.  Feedback is welcome.  Enjoy!  Lots of Love

          Harry swore if that red puppet sang about his world one more time, he would lose it.  The tiny toddler sucked down the orange liquid, green eyes trained on Elmo’s lessons. Harry sniffled, dragging a crumbled napkin across his swollen, red nose.  A cough rattled his throbbing lungs.  Why did he garden last weekend?  The weeds infected his poor immune system.  Luckily, his daughter did not catch his cold.  To think about caring for a poorly four-year-old and his illness haunted Harry’s mind.  He glanced at the curly-haired demon, lulling herself to sleep while Count von Count counted five bats.  Her curly tendrils slipped from the makeshift bun he tied this morning.  He gripped the remote, switching channels. His heavy lids begged his mind to drift into a sea of dreams.  He sighed, cuddling further into the leather couch.  For once, his mind did not settle on his album. Instead, thoughts of warm blankets and homemade soup entered his dreams.   *  *  *  *

          A doorbell and a small, chubby hand slapping his pale cheeks startled Harry awake.  His giggling daughter exposed her tiny, crooked teeth. “Daddy, I scared you,” She squealed. He smiled, “You did scare me, Selene.” He pressed a kiss to her warm forehead. His heart sank, hoping his daughter did not catch his cold.  The doorbell rang again, distracting his hazy mind.   “Someone is here,” Selene cheered, jumping up and down on the cushions. He stood up, tossing the blanket down. He opened his arms, catching a leaping Selene in his weak arms.  She clung to his neck, gabbing about Elmo’s stories.  He padded down the hallway, opening the front door.  He gasped, finding his daughter’s nanny on his doorstep.  He palmed his face, recalling he forgot to message Y/N.  Y/N took care of Selene while Harry recorded new songs at the studio. “Harry, I’m sorry.  I forgot the house key, and my friend wasted the gas in my car. How are you, angel?” She asked, cupping the little girl’s red cheeks. Selene giggled, leaning into her touch, “Good.  We are watching Elmo.” “Yeah, we are watching Elmo.  I forgot to message you.  I felt ill and decided to stay home today.  You are free from this toddler’s wrath today,” He cooed, tickling his daughter’s chubby tummy. Selene squealed, reaching for her.  She chuckled, grabbing the toddler from his noodle-like arms.   She bounced Selene on her hip, shrugging her shoulders, “I can stay.  You aren’t in the right place to take care of a toddler.  We planned a tea party for today, and we cannot push it back. We finally had Mr. Bear accept the invitation.” Selene nodded feverishly, “Mr. Bear returned from New York.” He chuckled, enjoying how comfortable Selene felt with her nanny. “Well, I cannot get in the way of your plans. Thank you,” He blushed. She stepped inside, dropping her purse near the front door.  She toed off her ratty sneakers, remembering his no shoe policy.  “You need a nap.  I can watch Selene while you sleep,” She ordered, unbundling the gray scarf from her neck. He grinned, “Thank you.” She nodded, watching him slink upstairs toward his bedroom.  The cool sheets sizzled against his heated skin.  Harry hoped his illness would wear off soon. *  *  *  *

          Y/N noticed Selene’s messy bun.  She smiled, imagining a poorly Harry fixing his daughter’s curly hair while hiding his illness from the eager girl.   “Selene, would you like me to braid your hair?” She wondered, plopping down beside the toddler. She nodded, “Can I look like Tangled?” She chuckled, nodding while she released Selene’s curls.  The curls fell in messy tendrils.  She combed through the hair, pressing kisses where Selene complained about painful tangles.  She braided the little girl’s beautiful hair, slipping in fake flowers that she surprised Selene with last year for her birthday.   “I look like a princess,” Selene squealed, eyeing the floral braid. She smiled at Selene’s reflection, “You always look like a princess.  Should I grab your crown?” “Yes.  I want the gold crown today.  You can have the pink one,” Selene mumbled. She nodded, helping the little girl slide off the bathroom counter.  Selene padded down the hall to her large bedroom.  Harry adored his daughter with his entire being, and everyone knew it once they stepped inside her bedroom.  Princess posters covered the pastel pink walls.   He even purchased a wardrobe filled with the best costumes a child could want.  He spoiled his princess.  Selene wrapped a feathery, pink boa around Y/N’s shoulders and placed a crown on the nanny’s head. “Do I look like a princess?” She wondered, posing with her hands on her hips. Selene giggled, shaking her head, “You are a queen.  Daddy can be the king.” Her smile faltered, “No, daddy is sick. He can play with us later.  Shall we sit everyone done?” Selene frowned but followed her instructions.  The toddler placed each stuffed animal in the correct chair while Y/N poured tea into the porcelain cups.  She left the room, grabbing the plate of brownies that she helped Selene bake yesterday.  She set the plate down, watching Selene’s eyes light up. “You can have a few brownies, but we will not spoil lunch,” She warned. Selene nodded, stealing a brownie from the plate.  The tea party began once Mr. Bear found his spot. *  *  *  *

          Harry’s aching throat woke him up after coughing for the fifth time. His red eyes peeled open, begging for eyedrops.  His weak arms propped his shivering body up.  He glanced around the dark room.  His eyes landed on a portrait of his wife and himself on their wedding day. His heart drummed a lonely beat the day she abandoned their life.  Y/N’s soft melodic voice drifted under his door and into his cold room. He smiled, slipping from the sheets. He shuffled downstairs, entering the bright kitchen.  His head throbbed from the sudden increase of light.  “Daddy, you are awake.  Y/N said I should draw you some get well cards,” Selene rambled on, jumping from the kitchen counters. The nanny spun around, “Selene, we do not jump from counters.  You could’ve hurt yourself.” The toddler pouted, “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay.  We do not want to see you get hurt.  We still love you,” She promised. “Y/N is right,” He croaked out. “You sound worse.  How about you show your daddy the cards while I pour him medicine,” She offered Selene. Selene’s nose crinkled with disgust, “I hate medicine.” He chuckled, grabbing the paper from Selene’s hands, “Wow, I love these cards.  I’ll hang them on the fridge.” “Here is the medicine.  I’m making a homemade chicken noodle soup.  My grandma always cooked this for me when I was sick,” She mumbled. He grinned, “Thank you.  You are a lifesaver.  I can watch Selene while you cook.” She shook her head, “You need rest.  Selene promised to help me with the soup.” Selene nodded proudly, “I am a chef.” He laughed, pinching his daughter’s dimples, “You are sweet.  I’m going to sleep.  Will you behave for Y/N?” Selene nodded, placing a tiny hand on her hip, “Daddy, I always behave.” He chuckled, leaving the kitchen.  Y/N lifted Selene back onto the cool counter. Selene wondered why her daddy had not married Y/N.   *  *  *  *

          A freezing hand brushed against Harry’s heated skin.  He tossed and turned, resisting the idea of waking up. “Harry, you need to wake up.  I finished the soup,” Y/N softly whispered. He groaned, “I don’t want to.” She chuckled, “I’ll bring Selene in here to wake you up.” His eyes opened, “I’m awake.  We do not need to bring in Selene.  She enjoys waking me up with a foot to my gut.” She giggled, helping him out of his bed, “I doubt that such a sweet angel would hurt her father.” He snorted, “Yeah, she’s nice to you.” They walked into the dining room. Selene grinned widely at her father, waiting patiently for soup.   “I’ll go get the soup,” Y/N mumbled. He chose to sit in the middle of Selene and Y/N.  She popped in with three bowls of soup balancing on her arms. “Let me help you,” He mumbled, standing abruptly to grab a bowl. “Thank you,” She blushed, feeling his warm skin brush against her skin. “Selene, I made your soup without chicken because I remembered that you do not like eating chickens,” She stated. Selene nodded, “Thank you.  Nana Anne has three chickens at her house.” He smirked, “Nana Anne also has cows, but you still eat burgers.” Y/N chuckled, “Well, who could deny a burger.” He rolled his eyes playfully at her. Selene sipped her soup, spitting the liquid out due to the heat radiating from the spoon. “It’s warm,” Y/N mumbled, forgetting she needed to remind the toddler. “Let me blow on it,” He stated, blowing on the little girl’s spoon. She tutted, “She’ll catch your illness. Let me blow on it.” He watched her move closer to Selene so she could blow on the child’s soup.  His heart fluttered at the image.  She acted as if Selene were her child.  He worried about finding a woman that loved Selene the same way he did, but maybe he was searching in the wrong places. *  *  *  *

          After lunch, Harry read a princess storybook until Selene fell asleep in her pink bed.  Y/N washed the dishes, humming softly to herself.  He rounded the corner, admiring the beautiful woman. “She fell asleep.  She loved the soup.  I haven’t seen her eat like that in a while,” He mumbled, plopping down on a nearby stool. She spun around, grinning widely, “She eats with me.  I remind her that a princess must always eat their food.  I also snuck chicken into her soup, and she loved it.” He smirked, “You are amazing.  How did you get so good at this?” She shrugged, “It’s easy when you raised such an amazing daughter.  I have never met a toddler with manners like Selene’s.” He blushed, “Well, I try to be a good parent.” She shook her head, stepping in between his legs, “Harry, you are an amazing parent.  You should never doubt that.  Selene loves you.” He smiled, cupping her cheeks, “I wouldn’t be able to do it without you.” She smiled, relaxing into his touch, “I think we should watch a movie.” He dropped his hand, watching her walk toward the living room.  He sat beside her, tugging her body into his arms.  She cuddled into his embrace, enjoying the warmth radiating off of him.   “I’m sorry, I love to cuddle,” He stated. She giggled, “It’s okay.  I heard that cuddling makes the sick feel better.” He nodded, watching the introduction scene to his favorite movie.  He sat up straighter, glancing down at Y/N. “This is my favorite movie.  How did you know?” She shrugged, smirking to herself, “Selene might have told me.” He smirked, “Well, let’s watch my favorite movie.” His heart raced each time she scooted closer to his body.  He hadn’t felt this complete since his wife. *  *  *  *

          Y/N stretched her aching limbs, opening her rested eyes.  Harry slept beside her, his eyelashes fluttered against his warm cheeks.  The movie credits rolled on the television screen.  She couldn’t believe she fell asleep in his arms.  She stood up, deciding she needed to check on the sleeping toddler.  Once she returned, she found the curly-haired man pouting and searching for her. “Where did you go?” He whined, throwing his head against the back of the couch. She giggled, plopping down beside him, “I needed to check on Selene.  I can’t sleep on the job.” He shrugged, “I heard that your boss is lenient.” She snorted, elbowing his arm, “You are a dork.” A shrill cry stopped him from making his next comeback.  Instead, the couple hurried toward Selene’s room.  Her eyes were screwed shut, and with every cry her face turned a darker shade of red.  He wrapped his arms around his daughter, rocking her back and forth while Y/N stood and watched. “You are okay.  It was a nightmare.  Daddy won’t let anything happen to you,” He promised. “I had a nightmare that you left me.  You left like mommy left us,” Selene cried out. He shook his head, cupping her cheeks, “I would never leave you.  I love you too much.” Y/N stood in shock.  Harry never mentioned his ex-wife, so she never asked about the absent woman.  She recalled her only memory about the woman was when Selene mentioned her mother named her after a Greek goddess.  Now, she understood why Selene and Harry guarded their broken hearts.  She could hear the toddler’s sobs quiet down into sniffles as she calmed down in her father’s arms. “Would you like me to grab Steph?” Y/N asked, searching for Selene’s favorite stuffed dragon. Selene nodded, waiting for her to place the purple dragon in her hands.   “Are you okay?” He asked, checking his daughter’s expression. Selene nodded, “Can I watch a movie with you?” He nodded, “Yeah, we can watch Tangled.” Selene wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, allowing him to carry her into the living room.  Y/N followed, gathering Selene’s favorite toy and blanket. “I love this movie,” He gushed, bringing a smile to his daughter’s face. Selene giggled, “Daddy, you don’t love this movie, this is my favorite movie.” He gasped, gripping his chest, “Why can’t we both love it?” Selene shook her head, doubling over with laughter.  Y/N giggled, watching him pout until Selene declared that he could love this movie too. During the movie, he sang every song out of key until the toddler begged her father to stop.  Once Rapunzel and Flynn Rider finished their duet, the little girl climbed onto Y/N’s lap and drifted off into a deep sleep.  Y/N couldn’t ignore the flutter in her heart, so she pulled Selene closer to her body.   *  *  *  *

          After dinner, Harry bathed Selene while Y/N tidied around the house.  Selene darted into the room in her Tangled pajamas.  She squealed, glancing back at Harry chasing her with the comb. “You need to comb your hair,” He choked out in between his heavy breathing. Y/N giggled, stopping him from his exasperated running, “I got this.” “Selene, would you like me to braid your hair like Rapunzel again?” She asked. Selene halted, nodding her head fervently.  After she fixed Selene’s hair, she handed the toddler to her father so he could sing her to sleep.  She listened to his soothing voice sing Selene’s favorite song.  The couple left the room once the little girl dozed off. “Thank you, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it all without you,” He whispered. Y/N waved him off, “I adore Selene.  It was no problem.” He nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets, “Can I ask you a question?” She nodded, watching his eyes glance nervously into her own.  Her stomach churned with anxiety.  “Will you go on a date with me?  For the longest time, I searched for a woman like you.  I looked for someone who loved Selene and who Selene loved, and I found that woman in you,” He stuttered out. She smirked, cupping his blushing cheeks, “I’d love to go out with you.” He grinned, relaxing in her touch, “I’m glad.  Can I kiss you?” “How could it be happily ever after if we didn’t kiss?” She joked. He rolled his eyes playfully.  He leaned down, wrapping his arms around her waist.  She rocked onto the tips of her toes, draping her arms across his shoulders. Silence surrounded the happy couple. Harry’s lips brushed against her plump lips.  She deepened the kiss, tasting his pizza-flavored mouth.  She couldn’t imagine kissing anyone but him for the rest of her life.  He reluctantly pulled away from her luscious lips.  His forehead still pressed against hers.  The couple smiled at each other in complete bliss.  Harry finally found his queen.

[vvlin91]

Stage Patalliro -Stardust Project- Super Long Ass Review Pt.3 (end)

I’m finally getting to the actual play!

Here, with as little spoiler as possible, I'd briefly cover the show in general, the use of props, how they dealt with multiple injuries and what to keep in mind when you watch the online stream/DVD.

Pt.1 What makes Patalliro so special compared to other 2.5D productions?

Pt.2 It’s because of love - oh jealousy♪ - the BanMara perspective

The live audience, if inside the theater early enough, will be able to hear Patalliro, Bancoran and Maraich read out the preshow announcements, telling you to switch off your phones and stuff. They all use their distinct IC voices so it was really fun, and Sanaich would end his part with a soft moan. Just a sexy, sweet "Ahh~❤".

This play is titled "Stardust Porject" but it covers more than just that. It's actually based on the Stardust Project arc, "Fly me to the moon", that chapter where Maraich fake betrayed MI6 but was actually helping Bancoran and a few more tiny things from other chapters. It's actually quite ingenious to put the Stardust arc and Robby's story together because they are both space-themed. And they intertwined the 2 arcs together very elegantly it really doesn't feel in any way uncanon.

One pressing question many people had before the 2nd play was how it'd deal with the Maraich/Bjorn paradox. As we know from the 1st play, Maraich's encounter with Bancoran was completely different from the manga. Instead of having Maraich meet Bancoran in a masquerade, the writer put together stories from several pre-Maraich chapters, basically merging other pretty boy characters into one Maraich (I covered the reasoning behind this change in Pt.2). And that included giving Bjorn's story to Maraich by letting Maraich be the person to make love with Bancoran in the rose garden instead.

So where does Bjorn fall in the 2nd play? The writer simply compressed Bjorn's romance with Bancoran to a brief flashback with as little detail as possible. So Bjorn only showed up on stage when Bancoran was explaining their past to Maraich. There was little specifics to it and therefore does not contradict with what happened in the 1st play. Interestingly, they also paid tribute to Maraich's actual first appearance in the manga by letting Andresen show up to strangle Bancoran in a masquerade. The context is totally different of course but it's just a nice touch for manga fans who knew what they did with the story.

One thing Stage Patalliro is well-known for is its songs. I've seen many 2.5D musicals (at least I think I do lol) but to be absolutely honest, a lot of the songs are just mediocre. Even in a production as spectacular as Kuromyu, there are still songs I sometimes skip on the playlist. But Stage Patalliro's music is so insanely catchy it could easily beat 95% of the 2.5D musicals I have seen and it doesn't even call itself a musical! Also, all the original songs (not the cock robin song or other folk songs) are written by Director Kobayashi Kensaku himself! He has such an incredible grasp of the 70s-80s pop music style that I can well remember my dad asking me why Maraich's solo "That Man" from the 1st play sounded so familiar despite having never heard of it. The songs in the 2nd play are just as catchy if not more so. There are a couple songs that are taken directly from the 1st play, such as the Hana to Yume tribute song and the ending theme. The music is the same but they changed the lyrics to suit the new play. Overall, the music is just superbly awesome, I honestly cannot think of another play that's as karaoke-friendly as Stage Patalliro.

Besides reusing some of the music, they also made the 3 main characters enter the stage in pretty much the exact same fashion as the 1st play. Patalliro entered as he shattered his fake, beautified public image, Bancoran hopped on stage chasing away rascals with his killer eyebeam, and Maraich bursts onto stage with a hurried "Excuse me~!". Same formula, same taste but oh boy how sweet.

(In case anyone is confused this is from 2018)

Another beloved feature of Stage Patalliro is its use of intentionally "cheap" props, such as the famous "Cockroach Run" boards and Bancoran's actual laser pointer representing his eyebeams that were both used since 2016. One of the most outstanding examples in Stardust Project would be the tiny helicopter Andresen held on a long rope (as if he was flying down from it).

Also these plushies, used in a song that recaps what happened in the last play.

The use of such simple, almost idiotic props is both hilarious and such a nice tribute to the manga's retro style.

This year, Stage Patalliro suffered 2 injuries along the way. The first one was from dancer Sato Ginpei before the play even started touring. He surprisingly didn't leave the show, but instead just played "a guy in a wheelchair" throughout. Although they ended up missing one person in a lot of the dance numbers, they also added a few new jokes that were specific to the fact that he was in a wheelchair.

And then there's Yoshimoto Kouki, whose injury was probably too serious for him to even travel from Tokyo to Osaka. He ended up missing the entire Osaka tour. In 100% Patalliro style, they wrote on the official website saying there will be a "replacement" for his role without actually doing so. Kouki's character Tamanegi No.17 was not himself an indispensable character. There aren't any lines that MUST come out of his mouth. So his lines can easily be said by the other 4 Tamanegi boys. But even so, they refused to wipe away the existence of No.17. Even if Kouki cannot be here in person, they will make sure that the audience KNOW that he is supposed to be here with the rest of them.

At the start of every performance in Osaka, Director Kobayashi would come on stage in person to explain Kouki's situation and apologize. He said they made changes to the show that could give the impression that "No.17 is still here". And so what they did was that during the Tamanegi pheromone corner, where all of them have to perform their very own skits, the other 4 boys would just talk to air as if No.17 was present. "Hey, No.17, it's your turn." "No.17, good job!" even adding splashing sound effects to indicate No.17 entering the Jacuzzi. When they leave the stage all sitting inside the Jacuzzi, they will hold up a helmet to caress it while lovingly calling, "Oh, No.17..."

In the ending song, when all the Tamanegi boys would dance in a row arm in arm, Aoki Jin would extend an arm to his left to indicate that's where Kouki would be standing had he been there. During curtain call, they also encouraged the audience to buy Kouki's bromide set "so you know what he looks like". So even though the Osaka audience did not see Kouki there in person, it was impossible to not remember him.

(No.17′s invisible presence in their finale photo)

Lucky for us, they did the recording before Kouki got injured, which means fans can still enjoy his performance in this play by purchasing the DVD and/or online stream!

In a way Stage Patalliro has always felt like a strange family to me. A group of adventurers got together to attempt the implausible, and their crazy experiment ended up a huge success. That’s why they kept even the same ensemble team. Basically everyone who’s already here STAYS, only new people in, but nobody goes away. If you are in a wheelchair, we will let you play a guy in a wheelchair. If you can't even be here on stage, we will STILL make sure that you ARE ON STAGE. It's the kind of creativity and freedom that is uniquely enjoyed by a play like Patalliro.

Lastly, things you will not see in the online stream/DVD version. I write this list to remind you that plays evolve, accidents happen and what you can't see on the screen doesn't mean it never happened:

BanMara kiss: they did not kiss until they started their Osaka tour, the recording was done in Tokyo. Also missing would be Patalliro’s long disgusted scream after he saw them kiss with his own eyes lol

Bancoran's "Maraich" pink happi: he only started wearing it on March 23rd, the recording was done on March 21st.

Maraich's middle finger: at the start of their lovers' quarrel song, Sanaich would always give Tsunecoran the middle finger, but on recording day, he gave a thumbs-down instead.

Maraich's final reminder that he is pregnant: there are 2 definite places during the play where Maraich would exhibit morning sickness, and he would sometimes do it a 3rd time during the ending song. But he didn't do so on recording day.

Bancoran holding Maraich in both arms: in the couple's final showdown with Andresen, Bancoran would use his body to shield Maraich from Andresen's knife. Maraich would always hold on tightly to Bancoran with both arms, and Bancoran would have one arm on Maraich and another on the handrail. On both Tokyo and Osaka finale, Bancoran let go of the handrail and held Maraich against his chest with both arms. Recording day was neither of those days so he still had one hand on the handrail.

There are a couple other instances that might be better explained with gifs so I might as well save them for later posts. But then I also drew this for your reference: 

That's pretty much all I have to say about the play for now. Please remember to pre-order the DVD! I will update on online streams if they become available (hopefully on DMM). If you have other questions, feel free to message me here or on https://curiouscat.me/vvlin91

[stone-man-warrior]

You're gonna die if you don't go to the hospital. Your leg's still festering and will go into sepsis. You need to get medical attention. Refuse medical attention, and you die.

=============================================

April 22, 2021: 6:59 pm:

Hater’s gonna hate.

Can‘t stop the haters from hatin’.

=========================

There are no doctors.

One more time...

There are no doctors.

I can get a tow truck to come if my car breaks down, but the tow truck has a driver that you can see, and an assassin that you do not see, those two have communications with all of the passing motorists on the freeway where my car may break down, so, all of the motorists all become assistants, they are all part of the Canadian terror army, they help the assassin do the kill of the motorists who’s car broke down and called for a tow-truck.

I can get a tow truck to come get my car, and there will be an attempt to kill me on the roadside, as loud vehicles go buy making noise cover and other drivers come close to the soft shoulder, to make sure the victim stays out of view as much as possible.

I cannot see a doctor without experiencing similar condition as if I called a tow truck. There are no doctors at the hospitals, there are no doctors at the clinics or Urgent Care, there are only terror soldiers who specialize in the kind of murder that can happen at a medical facility,

no one will send help, and the haters, keep on hatin’,

Please send help to Josephine county Oregon.

=================================

8:19 pm:

I took a walk to the mailbox.

The terror audible signaling was in the form of the Sunflower terror cell peacock bird calls. The audible signaling is done to alert the other terror cell member assassins that I have gone outside, and I will be in range momentarily for an attempt to kill me.

The audible signaling occurred late in the walk, there were no sounds until I was passed my driveway gate, I suspect the signal was activated by a motion sensor or camera/motion sensor combination that is located near the pond at Monroe terror cell, as there is electricity available there and many places to conceal a camera or sensor. The actual bird call was a recorded sound played through a very powerful amplifier at Chartrand's terror cell.

As I reached the mailboxes, and having used my Bic Lighter as I was walking, approximately every ten seconds or so, there was a shout from the Monroe yard ... "C'est Chaud! Tank lit!".

A moment later, someone driving a small black car that meets the description of one of the cars at Bad Guy Automotive terror cell at the corner of Russell Road & Three Pines Road left the Monroe terror cell towards Russell Road, the car I am thinking of is a Honda Accord, about 1989 model, black.

So, all signs point to a terror soldier that launched towards Russell Road, and then someone left Monroe's to do the evac of the launched terror soldier ("evac" is the term used by the terror army), however, I did not see the launch this time, only heard the tell tale "C'est Chaud! Tank lit!". Once the nitrous tank is ignited, there is very little time before the terror soldiers either "burst" when the tank ruptures, or, they "launch" like a rocket. nitrous oxide is rocket fuel, look it up, it's used as a propellant in areas where oxygen is scarce or thin, and works even better when oxygen is plentiful, as is the case in the front yard at Monroe's, and all over the low earth atmosphere.

There is voter ballot in the mail. I think it's to vote if we want to have a municipal fire department in Josephine county, as it stands now, there are two private fire service companies and one of them only uses the trucks for parades, never for a response to a fire, they are movie prop fire trucks, are for show, not fire service.

The vote is fake, the outcome is already known, has been known since before the ballot book was printed, and I suspect that it will pass, and the cost will be enormous increase in my property tax.

Since I am the only US Citizen left alive, and not held as a slave in captivity, I still pay for my own mortgage and all of the bills I get, I pay myself, while the terror army has all of their needs provided for them for free, Screen Actor Guild leadership arranges all of the housing, transportation, food, clothing, everything the terror family cells need, is all paid for by others, with digital money magic done through JP Morgan Chase Bank, and with falsified inventory, and falsified digital money transactions at the checkout registers, debit machines, at the retail stores. They pretend to make purchases, but it's all an act, the activity of standing in line at the checkout at a store to make a purchase is all for show, it's done as part of the attack plans, so everything looks normal if investigative persons were to be watching, there is not much to see, and the terror army is able to fool the investigative persons right there, while the investigation is taking place.

So, that means that I am the only person who is affected by increase in prices, increase in taxes, and affected due to COVID Corona Hardship situations, the terror army is not affected financially in any way, shape, or form by any kind of hardship caused by the COVID, or any other reason where it costs more to live than the income can cover. They have everything paid for.

So, that municipal fire station measure is there only to hurt me, the last remaining US Citizen, and the only person who still has to pay for what I consume.

I think someone launched at Monroe's terror cell when I went to check the mail.

I have massive leg cramp, leg swelling, pain, foot swelling, more pain, after the 1600 foot round trip walk to check my mail.

The walking produces leg swelling, that in turn is increased blood pressure, that pressure drives the poisons out of the open wounds, and also, the increase in pressure causes the poisons to come out of my eyes like tears, it happens with increase in activity when I move around a lot, or walk, that is when ice cold tears begin to drip from my eyes. After taking a walk is a good time to rinse with peroxide as that is a time when there is abundance of poisons near the surface of the open wounds, rinsing at those times results in the material that comes out is very frothy like foam, more than if I rinse without a walk. So, even the swelling can be useful, if you think about how to use it.

no help has come.

There are no signs of helpful people anywhere.

Please send help.

============

9:44 pm:

Reminder:

Here in Oregon, all of the people were killed and replaced with terror army soldiers.

The way it used to be, we had citizens, there was some law enforcement and some public safety persons, there was fire stations and ambulance services, to name a few things that many US citizens take for granted, don't really think about very much.

now, the citizens are all Rank & File terror soldiers.

With the terror army in charge of the state, the needs for municipal services are no longer present. The reason is that the inhabitants of the municipality, as a Rank & File army, indeed compose their own law enforcement, public safety, ambulance service, and fire service.

In that way, every citizen, is effectively a police officer, a fire prevention specialist, an ambulance driver, and with all of them connected to one another with individual blue-tooth communications, each inhabitant is a public safety officer.

Unfortunately, it's a backwards system, one that protects the terror army.

Each terror soldier has responsibilities the same as US Military service persons do when on a base. Each one is there to protect the base, and each other. So, we have in Josephine county, essentially a terror military base. In the neighboring counties, those are other terror army bases, also, each inhabitant is a municipal public servant who duties are equivalent to police officers and firemen, they do those duties in parallel to their other duties of capturing and killing all of the US Citizens for USA takeover, and ultimately global domination.

Those conditions may be helpful to know about, in order to understand how the police and sheriff are all just for show, and also serve as roving death squads, because they really are an elite terror cell with very special privileged, equipment, situational conditions, and duties.

=======

11:21 pm:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slush_fund

That nbc tweet is not about climate change.

===============================

(tumblr text boxes come in two different styles, these ones with the colorful icon control buttons that happen when I respond to someone sending a note, like this entry is, (I don't often see these colorful icons, they are usually grey) and there is the text boxes that happen when I simply start a entry without answering a question, as I almost always have done. The two kinds of text boxes behave much differently. These text boxes with colorful icons allow that the URL's actually post as a link that shows up, while the usual text box with grey icons has very little functionality, and the links do not show up as a web page like that one above, with exception of YouTube links, they seem to post while others do not, if I take extra steps to make them post.)

[sugarfreecapsicle]

old magic (2/3)

A/N: well it is spooky time, my dudes. although this isn’t all that scary, it’s a little rattling. written for and with lots of support from @moonstruckbucky​ and her Halloween writing challenge!  As always, huge props to @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan​​ for beta-reading, helping me when I’m stuck, for adding the read more cut while I’m limited to mobile and for this gorgeous moodboard!

prince!bucky x reader

warnings: 18+ smut, angst, sub!bucky

DISCLAIMER: this is in no way a reflection of anyone who identifies, practices or otherwise affiliates with witchcraft. I bastardized some basics and ran with it. Please don’t come for me and correct my poor development of a fake magic system.

James stares in bewilderment at his trembling hand. Brow knits together in confusion, eyes dart quickly between the hand and your knowing smirk.

“A simple protection charm,” you answer. “No physical contact without my permission.”

He whines in the back of his throat, knees wobble as if a child in a tantrum. James had for the past week been a man in a desert in search of an oasis found only with you. Your skin, your body, so close and yet too far. Tears prick at the corners of his eyes, desperate and wanting.

“Please.”

———————-

You’d bottle it if you could - the pretty keening of a desperate crowned prince, heir to the throne of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the realm. His right hand glides a short distance from your arm over your stomach to your shoulder to finally rest close enough to your cheek you can feel the warmth radiate from his palm.

“Please, love, let me touch you.”

The pet name unravels in your chest, tender, softer than you’d expected. You waver, a part of you moldable to his whims and pretty words, but the stronger part wills against such foolishness.

“And why should I allow it?”

The exasperation overflows into his posture - sagging shoulders, knees finally weighing him down to the floor, trembling hand weakly hovering over your hip and thigh.

“I ache for you in a way I have never longed for another,” he croons. “I fear if I cannot be with you, I may burst into flame. Without your love I will starve, waste away. Please, please don’t deny me.”

James leans in as if to place his forehead against your stomach and chokes on a whimper when he knocks against firm air guarding your bare belly. The tears dot his long eyelashes now, dangerously close to spilling out onto ruddy cheeks.

You crook a finger below his chin and direct his attention to your face once again - giving yourself ample time to appreciate each glimmer of desperation in his blue eyes.

“What kind of woman would I be to deny such lovely poetry?”

James’ entire body sags in relief, pushing out breath held deep in his lungs, chin pressing into your pinched finger.

You tsk quietly, and he startles.

“Conditions, my prince. Let me help you.”

James is astonished when he realizes belatedly you’ve touched him. The prince has never known a hunger like this - compelling, painful, obsessive. Since his resurrection, an event his father demanded be kept quiet, James only thought of the witch. Your beauty, your scent, your voice. An all consuming force. Compelled to go to you, must go to you, even if only to see you once more. No, even that would not be enough. He longs to touch you, to feel your skin against his. He wonders if it’s soft, supple, if it would bruise under his rough touch.

Would you keen, make noises in the back of your throat as he feasted upon you? Thoughts such as that surprised him. He is far from a blushing virgin, but he hardly ever fantasizes about tasting a woman. He wants to worship your body, bow down and pray at your altar, confess his transgressions, beg forgiveness. On his knees before you, James realizes the control he craves belongs to you, and pleasure washes over him as a wave in the sea.

How he stays upright on his feet without your constant aid, he’s unsure. An afterthought has both hands, flesh and metal reaching for you but without purchase.

“I can touch - you cannot,” you explain with a gentle shove against his thick chest.

The mattress on your bed is lumpy, scratchy - a far cry from his plush featherbed in the castle, but this foreign land of magic and lust erases any discomfort. His body simmers where your hands haven’t touched, blazes where they do. Careful, spindly fingers dance across his shoulders, chest, shivering stomach. Deft teasing, nails combing through wiry hair - he’s breathless.

His own hands betray him, reach for any part of you within inches of him but the damned charm holds true, keeping his fingertips close enough to feel heat but no friction. Unbearable torture for a man starved, deprived.

“What would you do, my prince, if you could touch me?” Even your words are made of sin. “Tell me. I do so love to hear your voice.”

James can barely breathe let alone form a sentence when your thighs flex against his hips. Dry lips babble out nonsense, his gaze focuses on your smug expression. Pouting mouth, mischief all over.

“I would- I’d, gods above, I’d bruise you, make you mine, anything to touch, please,” he whines, back arching for more of you.

“Should I not be afforded the same opportunity, James?”

He reels, explosions of desire barreling through him at the idea of your teeth biting into him, nails tracking pink lines on his chest and back. Willingly he would trade his family’s crest on his heart for your own mark.

A long drag of a single fingernail commands his body’s curved answer, stinging a trail from clavicle to hip. Sweat lightly covers him, his restraint on a fraying tether.

“Have I made you suffer? Am I too cruel a mistress?” Desperate eyes watch as you lift and align yourself with his pulsing need, red, angry, begging. “I can soothe your pains, my prince.”

Stars collide when he’s sheathed inside you, your clenches in time with the throbbing ache of him. Somewhere in the distance he hears blankets rip and tear by his own hands - the price of inability to touch you directly - and howls, all gravel and raw that eviscerate his throat.

With your palms splayed over his chest, at last comes a minute relief. Your touch ignites every nerve in his body, once dead alive again. Every shift and roll of your hips pulls cries of bliss from deep within him, and he catches a few soft moans from you.

The beauty of you writhing in sensual dance above him is obscene enough to make a harlot blush from head to toe. James understands now what it means to bed a woman, what he has been missing, why men flood brothels. Nothing compared.

“Oh, my prince,” you breathe against his lips, ghosting a kiss. “Come undone for me.”

Delayed only by a moment of your white hot climax and gnashing teeth against his lower lip, he releases, loses his vision behind a plethora of colors and whimsical patterns. His entire body stutters then falls loose to the bed, sated at last.

The required fire in the hearth crackles on long after the throes of passion dissipated. Delicate fingers wind and furl over tracked skin, broad chest heaving in breath. Cool metal plays at the small of your back affectionately.

“Tell me about your castle,” you offer, something to bring back the dazed prince. He inhales deeply, settles into the lumpy mattress.

“Old, wet, miserable.” The grin is all mirth in nostalgia, as if he could never return to a distant memory. “Why trouble yourself with such a thing as that? That place is nothing more than a prison of unhappiness.”

“It made you happy once.” Regret pricks at your heart briefly, but James seems undeterred.

“Once,” he allows. “Not anymore.”

You watch orange flame dance against the calm blue of his eyes, your prince’s mind taking him back to the castle, back to his proper life with a sardonic grin that you aren’t sure tells the truth.

“Did she make you happy?”

James shifts under your gaze, meeting it with all the wrong understanding.

“She could have, if Sophia had been you.”

The name halts your entire being, heart stopped, breath held. “Sophia?”

“The daughter of a land baron who owed great debt to my father. The marriage came to be since she was the only woman of title who could -“ James ends his retelling upon seeing your troubled expression. “Love?”

“James, I — there’s something I must consult with the Mother, don’t trouble yourself with awaiting my return,” you rush, saccharine and final. “Rest well, my prince, and I will be here when you wake.”

The ritual takes the remainder of your night, and exhaustion sweeps over you as the tears shed down your cheeks. Breathing hurts, air pulling tightly in your lungs in wheezes. James deserved this much. As did you.

Magic comes at a price.

[theduoseries]

Why is the NFT market important? Briefly describe the value of NFT in neuro-scientific crypto art and games

The NFT marketplace has begun to take shape, and investors have to have an in-depth knowledge of specific NFT market segments and take part in games, digital art collections, domain names and other markets. Recommended reading: "Determined Good Articles from Chain News flash | Understanding Encrypted Games and Art Paradise NFT" Original title: "NFT Market: Exactly why is it important? �n Author: Blue Fox Notes The NFT market continues to be small, and there is not enough attention. However, as the worth of NFT will be steadily discovered by people, it could show explosive growth in the next few years. The NFT marketplace has begun to attract people's attention in the encryption field, mainly starting from the CryptoKitties. The most expensive crypto kitty dragon in history, Source: Cryptokitties The cat in the picture above may be the most expensive cat in NFT history. It had been named DRAGON (Dragon). It had been born on August 19, 2018. The transaction cost has been 600 ETH. Based on the market price in those days, it had been about 170,000 US dollars, which exceeded 1 million RMB. The purchase price is 110,000 USD). The record-breaking former most expensive crypto kitty FounderCAT, Source: Cryptokitties So, how to understand NFT and what is its value? Why is it important? First of all, what is NFT? NFT is the abbreviation of Non-Fungible Tokens, which means non-fungible tokens, which is relative to fungible tokens. Non-fungible tokens may also be called non-fungible tokens. Exactly what is a fungible token? For example, BTC, ETH, these tokens are homogeneous tokens, so that they are interchangeable. That is to say, among your ETH and one of mine are essentially the same and have the same qualities ,price. Non-fungible tokens, or non-fungible tokens, are unique, just like artwork, each differs. They can not be replaced with one another, so that they are known as non-fungible tokens or nonhomogeneous tokens. Generally speaking, NFT has unique, scarce and indivisible attributes. It can't be split into 0.01BTC like BTC, it exists all together. However, NFT itself can also be tokenized. Of course, this is another subject, so I won't increase it here.

Secondly, in which encryption fields does NFT primarily exist? NFT apps are found in games, artworks, names of domain, collectibles, virtual resources, real possessions, and identities. Included in this, games, artworks, and names of domain are developing most rapidly. The following briefly introduces NFTs in the field of games and art. The field of NFT encrypted games in encrypted games has a natural relationship with NFT. One of the biggest problems in the current game industry is that gear and props cannot be transferred and can't be really privately owned by users. NFT is a private home based on blockchain, which is totally controlled by customers and can be transferred and traded freely. At present, with regards to encrypted video games, Axie Infinity, Decentraland, Gods Unchained, Cryptovoxel and several other games are continuing to expand the market. NFT trading marketplace begins to get shape *Currently, you can find a lot more than 20,000 Opensea users about the NFT trading market. Opensea has more than 20,000 customers, Source: DUNEANALYTICS Opensea can be an NFT marketplace swap. It has a lot more than 20,000 users. Weighed against popular DeFi tasks, it is second and then Uniswap, kyber and Compound, and higher than maker, 0x, etc. This user scale is not any longer small. *The transaction volume on Opensea is also considerable. On Opensea, there are 706 NFT projects, 285 tasks with a transaction level of 1 ETH or more, 59 projects with a deal level of 100 ETH or more, and 24 tasks with a transaction level of 1000 ETH or even more. The top CryptoKitties and Decentraland have got transactions of up to tens of thousands of ETH. NFT overall transaction volume ranking on Opensea, Supply: OPENSEA In addition to the data on Opensea, we can furthermore see from nonfungible that the full total transaction volume of NFT exceeds 100 million U.S. dollars, the number of transactions exceeds 4.7 million, and there are a lot more than 16 tasks with cumulative dealings exceeding 1 million U.S. bucks. The full total transaction level of NFT exceeds 100 million US dollars, Source: NONFUNGIBLE The worthiness of NFT in crypto games Why is the fastest developing NFT in games? The NFT in the overall game has a organic uniqueness and usability. For instance, Axie in Axie Infinity each has different attributes. Axie is a fantasy creature. Players can use it to battle or gather and cultivate. Various attributes determine the various functions of Axie in the fight. Axie has 6 areas of the body: eyes, ears, horns, mouth area, back, and tail. The horns, mouth, back and tail determine which cards Axie can use in fight. It gets the status of wellness, morale, skills, and acceleration. Each Axie also offers another type. Each type is more powerful or weaker compared to the others. Axie has different characteristics and areas of the body, Source: Axie Infinity In addition to combating, as a fantasy creature, Axie may also be cultivated and can provide birth to offspring. Raising offspring can also be used to fight, or continue steadily to possess offspring (the utmost number is 7). In order to provide birth to offspring, Axie needs to spend some ETH or SLP tokens. SLP tokens are usually interchangeable homogenous tokens. In addition to purchasing on the open up market, it can also be obtained by participating in the overall game in the game environment. This gave rise to a fresh model of blockchain games: making money by doing offers, because the earned SLP can be marketed through the open market. This model also escalates the need for NFT (Axie). SLP approved 4chan's meme a couple of days ago, which caused it to rise rapidly and attracted people's attention. If Axie Infintiy could be favored by users on a more substantial scale, then the scarce Axie will be more valuable. In the future, when there is an Axie that sells more than US$100,000, it should not be surprising. Of course, this will also commute the requirement for SLP. Lately sold Axie, source: Axie Inifinity Along with Axie Infinity, there are more encrypted video games on the path to be discovered. NFT in neuro-scientific digital art Only in the Superrare digital artwork market, performers have earned a lot more than $1 million and released a total greater than 7,000 NFT artworks in 178 countries all over the world. Musicians on Superrare earn more than $1 million, source: Superrare How come NFT valuable in the field of digital art? NFT inside the game field, due to its use value and scarcity, it is relatively easy for everyone to have the value of its NFT. Nevertheless, NFTs in the digital art market are relatively challenging to understand. Even so, several million US bucks of digital art have been in love with the Superrare system alone. So, how to understand NFT in neuro-scientific digital artwork? Why it may be very useful in the future, and even desire to be hand and hand with NFTs in the overall game field? From a macro perspective, the NFT marketplace for digital art may catch up with or even exceed the traditional physical art marketplace later on. The most important decisive factor here's, what is the main element to determining the worthiness of art? Authentic. In the art market, authenticity may be the core of worth. If it is not Van Gogh's legitimate product, even if the imitation is really as high as 99.999999%, the counterfeit product is of little value. Of course, there is a more core issue here. Regarding the valuation of the value of the artwork itself, this is a even more ambitious theme and will not be expanded for now. We've seen plenty of pictures in Superrare. Some electronic art photos are costed as higher as hundreds, hundreds, or even tens of thousands of bucks. What's the value of the digital art? People buy physical artworks, such as for example paintings, which can be useful for appreciation and display. And digital art is just an image file. What's the worthiness? The question isn't whether it could be appreciated or shown, because fakes possess the same effect, and ordinary people might not be able to distinguish the difference between fakes and genuine ones. But the genuine product has value, and the counterfeit product does not have any value. Individuals can imitate Van Gogh's "Sunflower" and create works which are barely distinguishable by the naked eye. The phony "Sunflower" can be used for appreciation and screen, but this "Sunflower" does not have any great value. Artists in the original physical world indication the authenticity. To be able to identify the true and false, the participation of experts is required, which requires large costs. On digital artwork carriers like NFT, there is absolutely no such problem. Because NFT can't be forged. The artwork in the actual world may be forged, however in the field of NFT, it can't be tampered with. In this way, as long as the digital function of any performer exists in the form of NFT, it is unique, and even the creator himself cannot tamper with or duplicate it. It provides unique scarcity. Of course, in the end, NFT is a carrier, and the core is the discovery of the artistic worth behind it, which is the ultimate factor that determines the NFT of digital art. But don't be worried about this, because every era has its own artistic creation carrier. Over time, because the digital indigenous generation gets nearer to digital artwork, as performers create more electronic art (NFT), The brand new generation will generate "Sunflowers" owned by this era, and future art collections may shift its concentrate to NFT. Selling digital art on Superrare, Source: SUPERRARE NFT investment The expense of NFT itself is more like the investment of collectibles. Thus, when it comes to NFT investment, it's important to have an in-depth knowledge of particular NFT market segments to make a good investment, specifically for hobbyists. One is to enter earlier, and the other is to take part in the marketplace of games, digital art collections, domain names, etc., and penetrate into market requirement. Concerning the value evaluation of NFTs, there are many factors involved. Blue Fox Take note also has a related post "How exactly to Valuation of Virtual Resources" before. As well as the NFT itself, the task that bears the NFT is also an important section of the NFT investment. The task that carries the NFT includes a better potential for capturing the value of the complete ecological development than the NFT itself. Needless to say, this furthermore depends upon the economic mechanism style of its project token. Glowing blue Fox Take note will continue to pay attention to this kind of project.

[dealingwithaces]

LARP Tricks #013

Ambiance! Atmosphere! Antici…pation! (Part 4)

There are lots of different forms of LARP and each has different needs in regards to set dressing. And, of course, every game has different financial allowances. Regardless, your props, garb, and installations can make a huge difference in immersion!

This will be a multi part series on how to up your set-design game primarily aimed at game runners.

Practical Effects and Lighting!

At some point, you're gonna want to go flashy. Sometimes literally. How do we bring real impact to a scene? The first thing that I recommend is blood. Blood has a strong impact on people's focus, they tend to notice it immediately. A wounded NPC sells better if there's blood. Dangerous monsters telegraph their threat stronger with splashes or dripping blood on their face. An area looks more immediately dangerous if there's blood on the ground or the walls. A bloody and smeared hand print screams of recently past violence. Bloody footprints literally offer a clue and figuratively clue the players in on a mystery-solving plot. 

Luckily, while fake blood can be expensive, there are homemade solutions and powders and other cheap means. Mixing up as much as a few gallons is no problem (though if your players see you setting up an oil drum of blood outside of Logistics, they might get some nervous giggles. 

Send a letter painted in blood, write someone's name in the snow with it. Have an NPC "doctor" wander into the bar with hands drenched in blood, looking for an "assistant." Blood is a "literally" visceral way to convey a lot of things to your players and create an atmosphere of fear, violence, danger, or intrigue.

Another great and simple tool is the humble candle. Whether electric for safety or real flame for style points, candles bring an intimate feel to an area. They quickly create a warm place in a dimly lit room or a claustrophobic island of light in the darkness of the woods. Obviously, if you expect combat or wandering players- actual fire is a risk that you should probably avoid. Similarly, certain venues may have venue-specific or legal restrictions on flame candles either prohibiting them or controlling the number allowed. In these cases, electric can be the best option and sometimes sheer volume of the candles you want can recommend electric tea lights over anything else.  There's a value to the ease of set up and take down for that sort of scene setting. And they burn a lot longer and can be left unattended. I recently ran a scene in a shed on a campsite with a mix of electric and real candles. The real candles cast the light for the scene but when it was time to add fear and darkness, I blew out the live candles, leaving us with only five small electric tea lights. That also meant that we could leave them "burning" and go about the scene elsewhere on camp without safety issues. I actually would not return to the candles until just after game ended, and they were still happily flickering.

Apparently someone else stumbled on that scene and quickly noped out of the obvious creepy ritual space very quickly, as it had been slightly disturbed but ultimately nothing taken. Sorry, friend, but not really ;)

For some real pop, pyro can always be fantastic. Now, obviously this isn't a solid option indoors, and certain jurisdictions have Very Strict Rules about explosive fireworks. But all things being equal, if you have a licensed professional, limited pyro can add to a combat scene, or large Events. I won't go into Pyro much here, but be very careful about talking to individuals skilled and trained in this area if you intend to use it.

A subset of pyro, often more readily acceptable in jurisdictions that disallow explosive fireworks, smoke grenades can quickly add to a fear or confusion in an area. Consider what you'll be buying and purchase smoke that burns "cold" and has dense smoke. You want to create a good coverage and not light anything on fire. Also, be aware of wind directions. Plant your grenade upwind of the scene. Having multiple smoke sources can create a better screen/fog. In a similar vein, fog machines are useful as well, though their screen tends to disperse more quickly, and not create quite the same volume cloud of haze. Plus, you need a power source. In the woods that might mean a lot of extension cables or just not having the option.

Other forms of SFX you can consider are strobes, ambient lighting, and projectors. Strobe lights disorient a scene quickly. They can also be used in banks to create a flickering effect, often good to imply a building is burning or an industrial setting. Nightclubs, battle fields, any situation you need to make feel chaotic and disorienting can benefit from strobes, but you should let people know they'll be entering an area with strobes ahead of time in case of medical concerns and be willing to consider turning them off to make the scene more accessible to your entire group.

Good ambient lighting cannot be underestimated, either. Flooding an area with dim red light can imply violence. Blue light cools a space, giving it detached emotion. Green light often registers as a vibrant energy useful for "radiation" and other vibes. You can make a lot happen just with good color theory flooding a space or casting shadows over others.

Projectors cheap enough and requiring low enough power to be hooked up in the field, needing little more than an extension cable and a laptop, are a relatively new addition to the LARP tool belt. You can project psychedelic images into an enclosed space, put "view screens" onto a wall, or generate seething infected masses on the sides of buildings. The options this tool offers us are fairly powerful and significant if we're willing to really stretch our imagination.

Beyond this, there's make-up; but that will be it's own separate post outside this series.

The variety of options that lighting and practical effects offers to setting a scene are always worth examining. A lot of theater theory craft can be applied here, but adjusted to work around rather than in front of an audience.

[ellanainthetardis]

Prompt : hayffie going to the beach. first time haymitch sees effie in a bikini and other woman staring at haymitch cuz hes hot ?

This was FUN! Thanks! [X]

A Day At The Beach

Coming to Four hadn’t been his idea butHaymitch couldn’t deny he was enjoying the trip. Seeing Annie, Jo and baby Finnwas good, better than the occasional phone call and letter. Plus, he hadn’t hada lot of opportunities to look around during the kids’ Victory Tour and he hadenjoyed that District during his own. Being able to visit at his own leisure,without a camera recording his every move behind his shoulder, was a pleasantnovelty.

He had walked around for the last few days,sometimes joined by Effie and sometimes on his own, leaving the beach to thekids. He wasn’t exactly eager to expose himself to other people’s gaze.

Until the fourth day of their stay when Effiedeclared he was coming with them that morning and wouldn’t hear any objection.Johanna had a field day mocking him all the way to the beach about how whippedhe was.

They all had their habits by now and heawkwardly hung back as they tossed bags and towels on the sand. Little Finnimmediately ran to the water, forcing Annie to run after him. Jo rolled hereyes, shed her clothes and went ahead without waiting for anyone, her jawsclenched as if the ocean had personally offended her – and given that she wasforcing herself to go beyond her water phobia every day, it probably had.Katniss and Peeta were slower but no less eager to go swimming.

In a matter of minutes, only he and Effie wereleft on the sand. She clucked her tongue and arranged everyone’s beach towelproperly before slipping her loose sunny yellow dress over her head.

He was suddenly aware of how crowded the beach was. There was a groupof kids in their twenties, not too far, who immediately started elbowing eachother and nodding at her. Haymitch made a face.

“Couldn’t find a smaller swimming-suit?” hegrumbled.

The two small triangles of red fabric barelycovered more than her nipples. He could perfectly guess at the shape of herbreasts. Never mind the bottom part. It wasn’t quite a thong but it wasn’tquite panties either.

She tossed him a knowing look, an amused smilefloating on her lips. “Everyone is wearing the same thing, Haymitch.” That wasa lie if he ever heard one. Granted, Johanna wasn’t wearing much more fabricsbut both Katniss and Annie were wearing one piece swimming-suits that were by far more modest. She averted her eyesand absentmindedly rubbed at the scar on her shoulder. “Besides, it is not likeI am anything appealing anymore.”

“Don’t.” he chided her, reaching out to cup hercheek. “They’re all staring at you.”

“Because I am a freak covered in scars.” shesnorted.

“Because you’re gorgeous.” he corrected with ashrug, leaning in to steal a kiss. They were never particularly demonstrativein front of people, he could count on his hands the number of times he hadactually kissed her in public, but he may have had a point to prove. The kisswas a bit too deep given the audience but he shot the group of kids a warningglance as soon as he broke it out.

They had moved on to other things though andwere now eying another girl. Good.

“So possessive, darling…” she mocked, not quitefooled by his behavior.

“Yeah, well…” he snorted. “I like the idea thatI’m the only one who knows what you look like without clothes on. Sue me.”

She laughed, her eyes twinkling. “You do realize I was no virgin when I metyou, don’t you?”

“I try to forget.” he joked right back, just tohear her laugh some more.

She shook her head at him, still chuckling, andtugged on his shirt. “Come on… You cannot be dressed on the beach.”

He sighed but complied, slipping the shirt overhis head and kicking off his pants, feeling absolutely too exposed in theswimming shorts she had purchased for him.

“You are handsome.” she hummed, running a handdown his chest. “Stop worrying.”

He wasn’t worried about that and, so, he rolled his eyes at her always being so vain.Granted, his stomach wasn’t as flat as it used to be and there was a pouch offat that he had valiantly been trying to make disappear by regularly choppingwood – just because she always pouted when her eyes fell on it and he didn’tlike the thought that she wasn’t attracted to him anymore – but what was reallytroubling him was the huge scar on his stomach.

They were famous.

There was no denying that and there was noanonymity to be found in a District so large either. People would recognizehim, they would see the scar and they would talk about his Games – some wouldprobably even want to talk about it with himbecause most of them lived under this false assumption that because someone wasfamous it automatically meant they were your friend. He was good at ignoringwhat was bothering him but doing so while being half-naked was more difficult.

“I’m gonna go for a swim.” he mumbled, leavingher to her sunbathing.

He wasn’t a great swimmer but the sun wascoming down hard and he enjoyed the somehow cold water. He didn’t indulge aslong as the kids or Annie and Finn – who was just as much in love with theocean as his father had been and refused to get out. As for Johanna, she hadcompletely disappeared.

He stepped out of the water, trying not tostumble on the wet treacherous sand, pushing his damp hair out of his eyes, andmade his way to their beach towels. Effie had pink sunglasses on her nose, shewas propped on her elbows, watching him with a pout that he knew by heart.

“What?” he grumbled. What had he done wrongnow? She could be such a pain.

“Nothing.” she replied, reaching in her bag forthe bottle of sunscreen and handing it to him. “Would you? I don’t want to getsunburned.”

She flopped on her stomach before he could tellher that he wasn’t her slave and that she could do it herself. Of course, oncepresented with the alluring shape of her ass, he was less eager to deny her.

He greatly enjoyed himself, copping feels leftand right under the pretense of doing a thorough job. It was only once he wasdone with her legs and moved on to the small of her back that he realized shewas staring at a group of women a few feet away – and one in particular, aredhead with freckles all over her cleavage.

“Hope I’m not bothering you, sweetheart.” hesnapped, dripping sarcasm. “Why don’t you go over there and ask if she’sinterested while you’re at it?”

She glanced at him over her shoulder, eyebrowslifted. “I am not ogling her, I am making sure she sees you touching me.”

Not what he had expected.

“You’re so bored with me you’re aiming forthreesomes?” he sneered.

“Do not be ridiculous.” she huffed, waving athim to get on with the sunscreen business as if he really was her personal slave. “They had been watching your for a whilenow – which I can relate to, I do love you soaking wet – but that one had been particularly vocalabout wanting to approach you and not particularly discreet about it either.”

There was venom in her voice and his irritationturned to amusement.

“You know… Jealousy’s a hot look on you.” hesnorted.

“Everythingis a hot look on me.” she replied without an ounce of modesty, still soundingparticularly annoyed. “She is stillwatching you. If she comes over, I swear…”

He bent over and pressed a kiss between hershoulder blades. She squealed, surprised by his wet stubble and the dropsfalling from his wet hair on her sun kissed skin.

“Could fuckyou right here…” he taunted, smearing more sunscreen on her back, insisting onthe white lines of her scars. “That would make it clear…”

“Well, it hasbeen some time since we hit the headlines.” she answered in an even voice.“Unfortunately, exhibitionism is not one of my kinks.”

“Shame.” he lamented, faking disappointmentonly to get his thigh whacked. He chuckled, rubbing her shoulders with thesunscreen, working at the knot at the base of her nape. “Why do you care? Notlike I would dump you for her.”

“I certainly hope not.” she huffed. “She is notattractive.”

He glanced at the group of women to find acouple of them giggling behind their hands and not so subtly pointing at him.The redhead looked disappointed.

“Harsh.” he commented. “She’s not so bad.”

“You are a leg man.” she scoffed. “Her legs areawful.”

“Her breasts make up for it.” he shrugged.

She actually slipped her sunglasses off andpropped herself on her elbow to better glare at him over her shoulder. “You donot like big breasts.”

That had been a subject he had always done hisbest to avoid every time it had come up. Effie had never had a lot of cleavagebut after her stay in the cells and her subsequent weight loss, her breasts were on the small side. But they wereround and real and they fitted in his palms and he loved them just like that.

Saying he didnot like big breasts however…

“Haymitch…” she hissed when he took too long toanswer.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen breasts thataren’t yours I can’t even remember.” he deflected.

“Do not look at her breasts.” she warned in agrowl. “Do not look at any other woman’s breasts.”

“Like you’redoing, you mean?” he smirked, bypassing any ‘or what?’ he would have tossed once upon a time. He knew her wellenough to know the what could rangefrom a simple endless rant to her actually staking her claim on him.    

She had the good sense to look chastised butnot for long.

“It is different.” she argued. “I am assessing.”

“Nothing to assess.” he mocked, lying down onhis towel and closing his eyes, letting the sun dry him.

He felt her rolling on her side and he alsofelt her staring but he didn’t open his eyes again. Maybe he would nap for abit, he decided, he had heard the kids plotting a sea outing on a boat and,with Finn running around, he doubted he would get any rest that afternoon.

“Does that mean you think I am the hottestwoman on the beach?” she purred, drumming her fingers on the crook of hiselbow. “If you had to choose someone who isn’t me… Out of anyone here, whowould you pick?”

“I ain’t playing that game.” he muttered.

“Why?” she pouted.

“’Cause it’s a trap.” he accused.

“No, it’s not.” she refuted. “I am merelycurious.”

“Merely.”he taunted.

When it was clear he wouldn’t comply, she liedback down on her stomach with a huff. “You would not pick her anyway. You donot like redheads.”

“Don’t like blondes either.” he pointed out.

And it wasn’t a lie. There had been a time inhis life when any woman would have done the trick but, when it came topreferences, he did like dark hairbetter. This being said, he was in love with her hair. She had hidden it fortoo long under horrible wigs. When she had finally let him see… He lovedrunning his hands through it, he loved tugging on the curls and watching thembounce back into place, he loved burying his face in it…

He expected some chiding or an exclamation thathe was awful but she seemed pleased instead.

“Only me.” she declared and he didn’t have toglance at her to know she was grinning.

He snorted but couldn’t help his own smirk. Shewas so childish sometimes… After everything that had happened, it was good toknow she could still be so immature on some points. There had been a lot of baddays right after the end of the war but, lately, she had been better. They werestarting to see the light at the end of a long tunnel.

“Only you.” he humored her.

She seemed satisfied with that answer.

However, when the redhead made a show ofjogging toward the water, making sure to slow down when she passed by them tothrow him a pointed look – which was flattering,though – Effie’s hand suddenly landed on his chest.

She didn’t bother turning her head to glare atthe woman.

And he didn’t bother checking the redhead out.

He could have but he didn’t want to.

So he simply covered her hand with his.

The only woman he wanted was right next to him.

[thelmasirby32]

Testimonial link building: Using real experiences for success

30-second summary:

Link building is one of the most crucial yet most difficult aspects of SEO but testimonial link building can solve that problem for you.

Testimonial link building is seen as a great way to harness this raw strength of positive experiences by customers. 

Giving a testimonial to a company you have availed service from or purchased from can be a great way to get a link back to your site.  

It’s such a simple and straightforward method, which may be one of the reasons  why your business should implement testimonials and reviews into your link building strategy. 

In this analytical age, brands are competing on the minutest details. Targeting the right keywords, creating campaigns targeting the right demographic, coming up with effective CTAs, and all those technicalities. However, amidst all that, there is still an element that cannot be measured using an existing tool. That’s where testimonial link building comes into the picture.

Word of mouth from customers can end up making or breaking all the efforts brands put in their campaigns. You as a brand can do everything right but a negative experience by a customer can create negative brand equity that’ll be hard to shed. In the same way, positive word of mouth can boost up your sales manifolds. This why testimonial link building is seen as a great way to harness this raw strength of positive experiences by customers. 

Continue reading below to learn what exactly is testimonial link building, how to get started, and what rules you need to abide by during the entire process. 

What is testimonial link building?

In laymen terms, testimonial link building is using a positive comment from customers that have used your service or product and featuring them on your website. At its core, testimonial link building is meant to provide genuine positive word of mouth for website owners in exchange for a link. In the end, everyone’s happy and it helps brands grow and gain brand recognition. 

There are some finer details involved too such as relevance. Think about it, if you’re a software company, do you want a testimonial from a café from a completely different country? Relevance is key. Just like textual content, you can’t overdo the use of testimonial link building as it’ll end up hurting both parties instead of helping them. There’s no perfect recipe for success in testimonial link building apart from ensuring clarity and relevance. 

Jayson Demers, CEO of Email Analytics says testimonials really fruitful strategy to build links,

“With every testimonial, you will receive Search Engine Crawlers will recognize that your site has an authority” 

Perfection on those true fronts will yield great results for both parties. So, how does it work, and more importantly, how do you get started? Continue reading below to learn more. 

How to build testimonial links 

Without beating around the bush, the whole process boils down to 5 crucial steps that anyone can follow. These are as follows: 

1. Create a target list of products/services

This is where you’ll need to do the most homework. I’d advise you to keep your range of targets as wide as possible but avoid venturing into irrelevant fields. 

Some other things to keep in mind include targeting solution-based products and services. The potential customers looking at this are already at a high engagement point and they’re more likely to convert. I’d also advise making sure you target products and services that you’ve actually used. It would be futile to skip this part as it is a legal requirement. You can still choose to move ahead with this but it’s unlikely any product or service will entertain your testimonial requests if you’re not an existing customer.

Jay Eckert, Founder of Parachute Design also recommends using testimonials for your services,

“When you write honest reviews for products or services you are using, it is ultimately benefiting your website’s exposure and visibility in the form of backlinks or through Brand mentions”  

2. Find their contact information 

Once you’ve identified the best possible leads, it’s time to start contacting them. Again, this step requires a lot of elbow grease, so bear that in mind. However, some extensions and tools can help you in this regard and make your job a little easier. 

For instance, ’FindThatLead’ is a tool that  allows you to find your target’s contact details almost at a click of a single button. Just enter the domain you’re targeting and it’ll provide you the details of the right person to contact for your request. Some other similar apps include Hunter.io and Voila Norbert. 

3. Pitch your testimonial via email

This is a crucial part that a lot of people mess up. This is the point where you pitch your testimonial, do not send your testimonial. There is a clear difference between the two and it could save you a lot of time. 

You’re supposed to pitch the idea of giving them a testimonial on the site. While nothing is stopping you from writing up a testimonial and sending it to them, if they reject it, you’ve wasted all that hard work for nothing. 

Write a short and to-the-point email to pitch your testimonial and how it can add value to their overall site. 

4. Write a relevant testimonial

Once you’ve received a green-light to go ahead with a testimonial, you can start working on it. The intent of each testimonial matters a lot, so you must understand what the site owner’s intent is. For instance, if they’re a no-profit organization, they don’t want to sell anything but rather raise awareness. Similarly, a start-up would want to encourage a maximum of new customers. 

Tailor your testimonial based on what the intent of that testimonial on the site is supposed to be. 

5. Create a video backing up that testimonial 

Okay, fair disclaimer, this last step is more of a bonus step. You can skip it if you want but I’d advise against it. There’s a pearl of old internet wisdom to be skeptical of everything you see on the Internet. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential customer. If you’re someone that’s looking at these testimonials, how do you know they’re real. Yes, they all sound convincing and they have the verification mark guaranteeing they’re real customers. However, there will still be an iota of doubt in their minds. This doubt can be the obstacle between a potential customer converting into an actual customer. You can use video or visual testimonial as well. 

Laws and regulations to consider

Even though testimonials present a tremendous opportunity to sell your product and service using your previous sales’ as proof, there are some strict guidelines on how you need to present them. 

The Federal Trade Commission has an entire set of laws on how businesses can use endorsements and testimonials in their advertising. I wouldn’t go as far as to call these to be stifling but they do require some strict criterion to be followed. The entire document can be found and studied here. 

But in case you’re looking for a short rundown of what this means, there are three things you need to be careful about when using testimonials. 

The context needs to be clear. You can’t throw in a testimonial that was given to you for a different version of the service or the app for instance. If you still want to use that testimonial then you’ll have to specify the details. This is primarily why on the App Store when reading reviews for apps, you’ll find reviews marked “review for a different version” 

In case the testimonials were for quid pro quo, you can still use them but you’ll have to provide all customers full disclosure. This means any behind the scenes deals to prop each other up by brands is a big no-no. 

This should go without saying, but all testimonials you choose to use must be genuine. If found guilty of cultivating fake testimonials, your brand can face heavy fines depending on which state you’re in. Steer clear of quantities when it comes to testimonials and focus on delivering quality and earning genuine, organic testimonials that you can use.

The post Testimonial link building: Using real experiences for success appeared first on Search Engine Watch.

from Digital Marketing News https://www.searchenginewatch.com/2020/07/15/testimonial-link-building-using-real-experiences-for-success/

[thewebofslime]

Glenn Greenwald, a journalist, constitutional lawyer, commentator, and author of three New York Times best-selling books on politics and law, has been working with NBC News in publishing a series of articles on how covert government agents infiltrate the Internet to “manipulate, deceive, and destroy reputations.” The information is based on documents leaked by National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden. Greenwald’s article, How Covert Agents Infiltrate the Internet to Manipulate, Deceive, and Destroy Reputations, is based on four classified documents produced by the British spy agency GCHQ, and presented to the NSA and three other English speaking agencies reportedly part of “The Five Eyes Alliance.” In this shocking piece, Greenwald publishes a copy of a spy training manual used entitled: “The Art of Deception: Training for Online Covert Operations.” Greenwald writes that agencies like the NSA are “attempting to control, infiltrate, manipulate, and warp online discourse, and in doing so, are compromising the integrity of the internet itself.” Greenwald writes: Among the core self-identified purposes of JTRIG are two tactics: (1) to inject all sorts of false material onto the internet in order to destroy the reputation of its targets; and (2) to use social sciences and other techniques to manipulate online discourse and activism to generate outcomes it considers desirable. To see how extremist these programs are, just consider the tactics they boast of using to achieve those ends: “false flag operations” (posting material to the internet and falsely attributing it to someone else), fake victim blog posts (pretending to be a victim of the individual whose reputation they want to destroy), and posting “negative information” on various forums. While this kind of counter-intelligence activity may not sound surprising given the objectives of spy agencies going after terrorists, what disturbs Greenwald (and many others) is that the discussion regarding these techniques have been greatly expanded to include the general public: Critically, the “targets” for this deceit and reputation-destruction extend far beyond the customary roster of normal spycraft: hostile nations and their leaders, military agencies, and intelligence services. In fact, the discussion of many of these techniques occurs in the context of using them in lieu of “traditional law enforcement” against people suspected (but not charged or convicted) of ordinary crimes or, more broadly still, “hacktivism”, meaning those who use online protest activity for political ends. The title page of one of these documents reflects the agency’s own awareness that it is “pushing the boundaries” by using “cyber offensive” techniques against people who have nothing to do with terrorism or national security threats, and indeed, centrally involves law enforcement agents who investigate ordinary crimes. No matter your views on Anonymous, “hacktivists” or garden-variety criminals, it is not difficult to see how dangerous it is to have secret government agencies being able to target any individuals they want – who have never been charged with, let alone convicted of, any crimes – with these sorts of online, deception-based tactics of reputation destruction and disruption. And while these leaked documents concern the British spy agency, Greenwald is quick to point out that the Obama administration has actually been open and forward about using such techniques in the U.S.: Government plans to monitor and influence internet communications, and covertly infiltrate online communities in order to sow dissension and disseminate false information, have long been the source of speculation. Harvard Law Professor Cass Sunstein, a close Obama adviser and the White House’s former head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, wrote a controversial paper in 2008 proposing that the US government employ teams of covert agents and pseudo-”independent” advocates to “cognitively infiltrate” online groups and websites, as well as other activist groups. Sunstein also proposed sending covert agents into “chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups” which spread what he views as false and damaging “conspiracy theories” about the government. Ironically, the very same Sunstein was recently named by Obama to serve as a member of the NSA review panel created by the White House, one that – while disputing key NSA claims – proceeded to propose many cosmetic reforms to the agency’s powers (most of which were ignored by the President who appointed them). (Full article here.) Trolls Used by Big Pharma to Attack Vaccine Objectors Have you ever been on an Internet forum, blog, or Facebook Page where all of a sudden, out of nowhere, several people appear to contradict the main topic being discussed, especially if it is regarding a controversial topic like vaccines? Well it is entirely possible, and even likely, that it is not coincidence, and that it is a well-coordinated attack by “trolls”. As Greenwald reveals in his recently published article, there are definitely programs in place in government spy agencies to do just that. This tactic of trained trolls can be used by those outside of government also, and Big Pharma seems to be one business sector that employs this tactic as well, especially targeting publishers who report on the dangers of vaccines. Of course it should also be pointed out that the distinction between the government and the pharmaceutical industry is a very hazy one. As we have pointed out several times in the past, the vaccine industry cannot survive in a free market, but needs the government to prop them up. In the 1980s there were so many lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for vaccine damages, that the vaccine industry blackmailed Congress by threatening to get out of the vaccine business unless they passed legislation protecting them from lawsuits. Congress obliged, and legislation was passed preventing the public from suing pharmaceutical companies for damages due to vaccines, and this law was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011. The pharmaceutical industry now has a free pass to put as many vaccines into the market place as they want to, regardless of efficacy or dangerous side effects, since there is no accountability left in the judicial system. Today, the pharmaceutical industry is practically a branch of the government. The government awards grants from your tax dollars to research new vaccines, the FDA approves them, and then government organizations like the CDC and UNICEF purchase the vaccines with your tax dollars. The CDC even holds patents and earns royalties on vaccines, and many of the top scientists work for both the government and the pharmaceutical companies. Julie Gerberding, for example, was the head of the CDC from 2002 to 2009, and then took over as head of the pharmaceutical company Merck’s vaccine division overseeing billions of dollars in sales. The government definitely has a vested interest in protecting the vaccine market. So it should surprise no one that there are coordinated efforts to infiltrate and discredit those who publish the truth about vaccines, which may lead to fewer people wanting to purchase or receive them. Consider the following comments appearing on a blog post from a pro-Pharma site discussing how to target sites and Facebook Pages who publish the alternative view of vaccines. Advice is given on how to infiltrate and flood discussions about vaccines by pretending to be victims of diseases because they failed to get vaccinated. I am not going to mention the name of the website and give them publicity, but it has already been established that this site is financed by those with clear ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Here are some comments that appeared in a blog post that was trying to convince readers that outbreaks of diseases were due to “anti-vaccinationists”: ‘Use emotional warfare on anti-vax blogs. Tell emotional stories full of tears and sobbing and unbearable grief and terror, about people in your own family or people you read about, who were sick with or died of terrible diseases. Don’t hold back details about bodily fluids and suchlike: the more gross the better. This stuff has a way of infiltrating the minds of readers and subtly influencing their decisions, in a manner similar to advertising.’ ‘Go in there and “agree with them” and then say things that appear thoroughly delusional, overtly nuts, blatantly and obviously wrong even to nincompoops, etc. Occasional spelling and grammar errors are also useful but don’t over-do. The point of this exercise is to create an impression that drives away undecideds who may come in to check out these sites. It helps to do this as a group effort and begin gradually, so the sites appear to be “going downhill slowly.”‘ ‘But it is useful to have an email address that can’t be traced back, for certain legitimate and ethical uses, just as it is useful to have a mail box at say the UPS store.’ As you can see from this advice, trying to reason or debate on the merits or lack of merits regarding vaccines does not work, so they have to resort to manipulative and deceptive tactics, much the same as what Greenwald was reporting about above in regards to government spy agencies. Here is a comment showing how they also try to out number those who are not trolls: 12 is right on target: post that kind of schizophrenic word-salad on the anti-vax sites in large quantities, under various pseudonyms, and clog up the sites with it until it appears that a large fraction of the members are downright wacko. This will seriously turn off undecideds who check out those sites. P2’s comment is an excellent template for this tactic, but you can easily make up your own by inserting random words into sentences and then going on digressive riffs about the random words. Be sure to Capitalize occasional Nouns and Verbs as well. Really: listen up folks, the way to fight this crap is NOT by “patiently explaining” to people who are already way past being persuaded that the Earth isn’t flat. You may as well be talking to rocks (healing crystals?:-). The way to fight it is by sabotaging the anti-vaxers with crazy stuff that drives away undecideds. The way to fight it is with emotional narratives that undermine the ones that the anti-vaxers are pushing. These trolls are also adept in creating fake personalities with fake email addresses so that they can continue to infiltrate those who publish the other side of the vaccine debate: 76: The way to do it is to set up a fictitious email address. Speaking from experience working on research on extremist groups: Start by setting one up on your existing broadband provider: AT&T, Comcast, and the rest of ‘em give you five or more email addresses of your choice. Create a totally fictitious name and then an address that reflects that name e.g. John Doe and JDoe1234@. Next, get an address on a free service provider such as Yahoo or Hotmail or whatever. Since most of these ask for your “other” email address as proof of identity, give them the one on your broadband provider. They will send a confirmation email to that address giving you your starting password. Third, after about a week of using your new fictitious address in various places that let you sign up for comments, you can be sure it’s working, so then go in and delete the address you created on your broadband service. Typically they deactivate the address immediately and then take a month to free up that slot for re-use. This step ensures that your Yahoo or Hotmail address becomes un-traceable back to your broadband provider. Fourth, wait a month for the original fictitious name to completely purge from your broadband provider. Fifth: Now you’re home free to get onto the anti-vax boards and any other objectionable boards you want to go after, and make all manner of noise to make them look ridiculous and drive away the undecideds. Yeee-hawww, round ‘em up! Speaking of rounding ‘em up, you now have an untraceable email address … That said, the option of simply going forth and making noise on anti-vax boards makes it all worthwhile. Every undecided you scare away from those boards, is one more family that will probably get their kids vaccinated. The “CENSORSHIP” Accusation: Don’t fall for it Trolls and Internet dissenters love to level the accusation of “CENSORSHIP!” as soon as they are restricted from carrying out their often highly orchestrated opposition to information they would love to suppress from being propagated on the Internet. Don’t fall for this ploy. First, there is a huge difference between “moderating” and “censorship.” A blog or Facebook Page that allows for interaction of opposing viewpoints, for example, may still moderate the discussion and prevent trolling. As we have shown above, manipulative deception is common on the Internet, and allowing this kind of activity in one’s own private space is actually allowing the opposing view to get away with their own form of “censorship” by means of deception. Secondly, “censorship” is a neutral term, not a negative one. 100% uncensored speech is both dangerous and illegal. You can be prosecuted in a court of law for many forms of speech, such as slander, child pornography, threats of intent to harm, and many others. I am always amused when moderating Internet discussions on content owned by myself or others we are publishing, and having to delete comments that are either derogatory, offensive, or anything else opposing the purpose of our communication, that we are accused of “censorship” as if we are the ones doing something wrong for suppressing such speech. There seems to be a misguided assumption that anything published on the Internet is owned by the public. Businesses, especially, fall for this common misconception all the time, by allowing unmoderated discussions to occur on their own Internet content. But back when there was only print media, everything that was sent into a media source was censored and filtered, with only the opinions judged by the editors to be worthy of publishing to their readers being accepted and printed. And if businesses published information about their products, they certainly did not allow competitors and adversaries to come into their place of business to attack them and voice their opinions! And if they purchased advertising space in any media, either print, radio, or TV, the voices of those who did not like it were certainly not heard in the advertising space of media it was appearing in. They had to purchase their own space, or try to get a “letter to the editor” published. Yet, when you publish something on the Internet, you own that content! If it is a blog, you can either turn off comments altogether, or you can allow certain comments to be published, according to any standards you see fit! As far as social media, the social media company might provide the platform, but you still own the content. You are under no obligation to allow trolls and others to voice their contrary opinions on your content just because it is published on the Internet. People are free to publish their own content in their own space – they have no right to do it in yours. Of course the owner of the social media platform might engage in their own form of censorship or restrictions, but that is a topic of another article to follow. For now, if you are a publisher of content on the Internet today (as almost everyone is), just be aware that as you grow in popularity, you may very well start attracting trolls trying to discredit you or your message. Be aware of their tactics, and take action accordingly to protect your freedom of speech.