#i have my economics midterm today

[chaoticacademicrubberduck]

It is 5:45 A.M and you will already not believe the morning I've been having

[study-diaries]

10.07.2024

So... I didn't get selected for the competition but nevertheless, I'm glad I atleast tried my level best... Though, my computer teacher has now called me for another competition (not public speaking) i don't really wanna join but her glares are enough to make ice melt so... T-T

Anyway, today i:

Did some accounts sums and concepts (1 hr 30 mins)

Completed 70% of my computer assignment

Revised part 2 and 3 in lesson 3 of economics

That's it. My mid terms start from 18th so I need to pick my speed up because I have a huge portion to cover... especially in Business studies and Arabic, i haven't touched them in ages and both have 8 lessons for midterms :")

[mystic-writings]

remember the nights | chapter six — stargazing

WORD COUNT — 1,772

WARNINGS — none

NOTES — ah yes, the iconic skeletal formula fic, which i taught myself how to write a skeletal formula and promptly deleted the info from my brain a week later

previous chapter | masterlist | next chapter

School was quickly becoming the bane of your existence. Between the economics test you and the others had all studied for last week — which you were extremely thankful for, as it helped your grade immensely — and the teachers grilling everyone about midterms, you were under more pressure than you’d ever felt, and were assigned more homework than you knew what to do with. 

Along with that came the fact that college admissions had finally opened up, and you were entirely unsure as to where you wanted to go. There were good schools in New York City, and for a very long time you had planned to go to one of them with all of your friends so that you wouldn’t have to pay as much for a dorm or an apartment. Now, though, you’d have to do that wherever you went, and you hadn’t been talking to your city friends as much, and you just weren’t sure what to do anymore. No matter how far you went, you’d have to get a dorm or an apartment, and if you chose to go out of state, that meant even more of a cost. 

Today, though, you were focusing on something that, overall, seemed small, but to you, was anything but. You invited Newt over to the house to help you attempt to understand the one subject that seemed to be out to kill your GPA — chemistry. He should be arriving at any minute, wielding his seemingly miraculous understanding of the science in order to help you with the ten homework questions that you’d been putting off since Thursday. 

Dinner had long been eaten and cleaned up, Thomas and Chuck had retreated to Chuck’s room to play video games for the rest of Chuck’s night, and your dad and Maggie were watching a movie in the living room. You were with them, sitting in the armchair and barely processing the movie as you waited patiently for Newt to show up. 

When the doorbell rang, you practically sprung from your chair, ignoring the chuckle your father let out as you did so. Newt greeted Maggie and your dad as you invited him inside, his school bag slung over one shoulder. He received a quick, warm welcome back from the couple as they kept their eyes on the movie.

Newt followed you upstairs as you led him into your room, keeping the door open — a rule firmly set by your dad when you told him about Newt’s coming over this afternoon, though you knew nothing that your dad was implying was going to happen between you and Newt. 

“I still don’t get how you don’t understand chemistry,” Newt said, dropping his bag by your bed and taking a seat on it. 

You scoffed, grabbing your textbook and homework supplies, sitting cross legged near the head of your bed. “Says the guy who was literally named after Isaac Newton.” 

“One, remind me to punch Gally when I see him tomorrow for telling you that,” Newt rolled his eyes, “and two, Isaac Newton was a mathematician, not a chemist. You’re thinking of Marie Curie.”

“Oh, like that makes such a big difference,” you dismissed him, grabbing your pencils. “You’re still named after a freaking genius.” 

Newt laughed, shaking his head before mirroring your position on the bed and diving into the material. 

Half an hour passed by as Newt explained the homework and everything that related to it, but it seemed as though your brain simply refused to process it. You’d only gotten three questions done, and you were twice as frustrated as you were when you first started. 

“How do skeletal formulas even work? I don’t get it.” You groaned, pressing the heels of your palms into your eyes. “Just write out the damn formula, give me a periodic table, and let me figure it out from there.” 

Newt couldn’t stifle his laughter. “It doesn’t quite work like that, Y/n,” he said, writing something out on his piece of paper and showing it to you. “Writing out a skeletal formula is just taking an outstretched version of a molecule and breaking it down into its functional groups and carbon.” 

He turned the paper back to him, writing something out, and underlining ‘2-butanol’ before getting back to work, explaining and showing it to you as he went along. “So, you see how I wrote out all the atoms connected to one another with these lines? C is carbon, H is hydrogen, and O is oxygen. The lines that connect the carbon together is the carbon skeleton, and OH — the oxygen and hydrogen — are the functional group, so they can stay, and so can the carbon.” 

Newt erased some things on the paper before the lead hit the paper, drawing out something new. “Take out all of the letters except for the OH, connect all the lines, and viola,” he showed you the paper with a smile. “A skeletal formula.” 

“Oh,” you nodded, “I still don’t get it.” 

Newt sighed, dropping his pencil onto his paper. “Honestly, I’m starting to think you’re a lost bloody cause.”

“Maybe I am.” You shrugged, glancing around your room before an idea came to your mind. “How about we take a break, do something else, and come back to this with fresh minds.” 

“Like what?”

You smiled, almost mischievously, nodding your head to the window across the room. “Wanna go look at the stars?”

Within minutes, you and Newt had pulled a blanket onto the roof of the garage, laying it out across the shingles in order to be comfortable. Newt had grabbed his jacket from where he put it on the back of your chair, and you brought out your comfiest sweater from your closet. 

Newt was already laying down comfortably by the time you’d gotten onto the roof again, his hands tucked under his head. You laid down in the spot to his right, eyes trailing up to the sky, mesmerized by the view. The quiet of a town already gone to sleep settled over the two of you, washing away the stress of high school chemistry and replacing it with the tranquility of a quiet town and a beautiful sky. 

“It’s so beautiful,” 

“Yeah, it is,” Newt’s voice nearly caught you off guard, as though you’d forgotten he was even there. 

When you turned to look at him, his eyes were already on you. 

Newt sucked in a breath, turning his gaze back to the stars. “I used to do stuff like this all the time when I was younger.” 

“I don’t think I’ve seen stars like this… well, ever.” You admitted. “Living in a big city, all that light pollution… The sky didn’t even get that dark at night. It just got sort of… reddish. It wasn’t even like it was really dark outside sometimes.” 

“Really?” Newt frowned. “I can’t even imagine something like that. When I was young, I had this obsession with the stars and constellations and stuff. Every chance I got, I’d ask my mum to buy me books about them. I even learned how to point out the bloody constellations from my bedroom window.” 

And, for the next little while, that’s what Newt did. For the better part of an hour, though it didn’t feel anything close to that long, Newt pointed up at the stars, rattling off star names, the names of the constellations that connected them, and some of the stories that people connected to them long ago. You watched him happily, soaking up everything he told you. You glanced at him more than you did the sky, though, as the look on his face was what had you truly enamored. The passion and joy gleaming in his eyes was worth the cold chilling you to the bone. 

The chill of the autumn air mixed well with the cadence in Newt’s voice, soothing you until, before you knew it, you were teetering in and out of sleep, balancing very carefully on that dangerous tightrope. 

When you finally found the strength to open your eyes, Newt had fallen silent, eyes locking with yours as a playful smile stretched onto his lips. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You fell asleep,” he laughed. 

“I did?”

“Yeah, about twenty minutes ago, I think,” he shrugged, sitting up. “We might wanna go inside now, though. I’ve gotta go soon, and we still have work to do.”

You groaned, dreading going back to the discarded chemistry textbooks on your bed, watching Newt push himself to his feet and extending two hands to help you stand. You accepted the help and quickly got to your feet, ignoring how warm his hands were in your ice-like ones. 

Still, you folded up the blanket and trudged inside after Newt, returning to your homework and doing your best to complete it within the half hour window you were left with until Newt had to go back home. Most of that time, however, had been spent joking around, mostly about how you were most definitely going to fail the class, until you decided to copy Newt’s homework, which is mainly what you’d been doing for most of the semester, anyway. 

You walked Newt to the door at ten minutes to ten o’clock. Most of the lights in the house were off, and your main guiding light was the TV as your father lay on the couch, passed out with some history docuseries playing absently in front of him. 

You opened the door for Newt, leaning against the frame with one hand on the doorknob after he passed through it and stepped onto the front porch. Just as he began to leave, you said, “Thanks, by the way,”

Newt turned, a playful smile on his face. “For what? Letting you copy my homework for the hundredth time?”

“No,” you scoffed a laugh, “for teaching me something, at least. I might not understand the shrouding mystery behind a skeletal formula, but I do know about the Greek mythology of Orion’s belt, and that’s gotta count for something.” 

Newt shrugged, his smile growing softer with each second. “No biggie. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.” You nodded, watching him descend your few stairs and head to his car, pulling away from the curb and heading home. 

Long after his headlights were gone from your sight, you headed inside with a sigh, resting your forehead against the wood of the door as you closed it. And even though the day ahead of you was just going to be another boring, monotonous day, you couldn’t help but be excited for it to begin.

series masterlist: @heliads @ghostofscarley @badbatch-simp24 @virginia-peters @third-broparcelicito @lamolaine (open!)

[firewalkwithmme]

☾𖤓 — 21 October 2024

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ — Today’s accomplishments:

planned my film class midterm paper and wrote two paragraphs

Studied two units of economics

studied for my music history test

completed the prep work for tomorrow’s psychology lab

attended my art history lecture and film lecture

practiced polish

Today was my first day back at university after my fall break and it was a very productive day for me, thankfully. My motto of something is better than nothing has been helping increase my productivity, encouraging me to do work a little bit at a time! I started the day by reorganizing my desk space with my new candles, worked on my studies, then after my lectures, studied in the almost-empty bio building (they have trees inside!). Then I had a really nice walk home, my campus is beautiful in the fall. I’m going to try to be locked in for the rest of this week as well since I have a midterm exam, a test, and a paper due, and today was a good start so I’m feeling more motivated. I also ate 3 meals today which is always good, and I even got out of bed at a reasonable time (shocking, I am a chronic late sleeper). Tomorrow my goal is to be as productive as today.

[anahiestudia]

06/05/24

Got one hell of a weekend to mantain my focus on studying, and now i´m kind of overwhelmed since i don´t know what part to start reviewing for midterm´s exam. But at least i´m going well, overwhelmed but good.

I was planning on going for a run today but started raining this morning.

• Finished reading the last thing for the economical-political history of Argentina.

• Did a little bit of strenght exercises (in exchange of the run that i was gonna do)

• Review for midterm exam, then lost focus.

Day 10: Are you happy with your productivity on this 30dop so far?

Not so quite, since i´ve been busy and i have to remind myself that i have a studyblr to update. But i´m still going to finish it.

🎼 Rock the Casbah- The Clash

[renee-writer]

Love Comes First Chapter 1

AO3

“How did we end up with all these children?” They hear Faith and Tabitha arguing in their room, James playing his music, way to loud in his, and the babies, Peter and Leah playing, nicely for now, in theirs.

 

She lifts her eyes. “Well Pastor Fraser, when a man and woman really love each other…”

 

He laughs, drawing her into his arms. “We may just get one for each spoon.”

 

“The heck you say!” She turns towards where the female shrieks are coming from, “Faith, Tabby, enough,” towards James’s room, “turn the music down son.”

 

A moment later, silence reigns. It won’t last.

 

They  meet in university. He was studying theology, she home economics. He wants to be a minister, she a homemaker. It was love at first sight.

 

They marry in her second and his third year. Two years of seminary follow.

 

James is born the year his daddy graduates. Faith follows two years later. Tabitha arrives three years after, Peter two, and Leah four years later. They are done, despite his joke about the twelve apostles spoons.

 

“Mama, Tabby has my new jumper and won’t give it back!”

 

“It isn’t fair. It matches my eyes better and I have to look good today.”

 

“Why do you have to look so good today?” Jamie asks. His twelve year old sighs dramatically.

 

“Da, it is the first day I can go to the youth group. I must make a good first impression.”

 

“Please no. Don’t tell me she is going to youth group?”

 

“Faith, she is twelve now. That is when you started.” Her da reminds her.

 

“Aye, and I thought my life was over,” James comes out and joins the conversation, “I adjusted. You will too.”

 

“It isn’t the same. I’m not a brat.”

 

“Da! Mama!”

 

“Enough!” Claire silences them all, including Peter and Leah still playing in their room, “Faith we do not call names in this family, do we?”

 

“No mama.”

 

“Tabitha, we also do not borrow clothes without the owners permission.”

 

“Right, sorry Faith.” She hands her back her jumper.

 

“Me too. Your not a brat.”

 

“Now Tabby, the green jumper of yours will be beautiful with your black skirt.”

 

She smiles and hugs her mama. They walk back into their room, now laughing and discussing outfit choices.

 

“Now that is solved, can I borrow the car?”

 

“Where would you be driving too?”

 

“Da, I am seventeen,” Jamie raises his eyes, “alright. I am going to the library to study,” now his mama raises hers. Their eldest isn’t known for his attention to his studies, “really. I have a midterm in biology coming up. The library is quieter.”

 

“Alright. You may. Drop your sisters off at church and pick them up after youth group. That will give you two hours to study. If you need more you can return after dropping them at home.”

 

“Thanks da. You’re not going tonight?”

 

“No, Mr. Fitzgibbons is in hospital and I will be visiting with him.”

 

“Man, is it serious?”

 

“He had a knee replacement. Nothing to bad.”

 

“Good. I like that old man.”

 

“I will pass on your good wishes.” He kisses his wife, steps in to the littles room, saying goodbye to them, before heading out.

 

“Jamie, how good of you to come.” He has known Murtagh Fitzgibbons since before he took his post at church, twenty years previous. He has been a neighbor of his.

 

“When my favorite parishioner gets his knee replaced  I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Fergus can handle youth group.”

 

“Aye but can he handle Faith ‘s reaction to Tabby joining?”

 

The two men laugh together.

 

“Claire had a talk with them. It may just go okay.”

 

“Eh, she has a way with the bairns. You are a blessed man.”

 

“Aye, I know it. How are you? How is your pain?”

 

“Tolerable. I am brawl. The medicine is working not that I wish to be on it longer than I have too.”

 

“Just don’t force it. You do as the doctor says.”

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Faith jumps as her sister comes up beside her.

 

“Tabitha Ann, what are you doing sneaking up on me?”

 

Tabby rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t sneaking. I called your name twice.”

 

Faith flushes. “Sorry. I must have been daydreaming.”

 

“Aye about Fergus.”

Her eyes narrow as she turns to her sister. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”

 

“I saw you mooning over him. Da won’t…”

 

She jerks her sister into a more private part of the large youth room. “You won’t be telling him.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because we are sisters and have a bond. It isn’t like I know I can have him. A youth minister twelve years older than me. He is just…”

 

“Gorgeous.” Tabby says.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Faith, Tabitha, will you be joining the group.” The man himself asks.

 

Both are blushing as they do.

 

 

“I am hear to study.” He firmly tells himself. Even so, his eyes keep lifting from his biology book and notes to the lass sitting at the table beside his.

 

Beautiful dark black air, falls in ringlets around her face. Her eyes are framed by the largest lashes he has ever seen.

 

He forces his eyes back down.

 

“Have you been watching me?”  He looks up at her with a blush.

 

“Pardon me lass. I never meant to…”

 

“Sophie.” She offers her hand. He takes it.

 

“James Fraser.”

 

“I love your hair.” They say together before bursting out laughing.

 

“Would you like to help me with dinner?” She sticks her head into their room.

 

Peter lays on the top bunk, reading a comic. Leah sits her little table, having a tea party with her dolls and stuffies.

 

“Aye mama. Coming Peter?”

 

“Aye,” He jumps down, “mama I have been thinking, what this family needs is a dog.”

[mariacallous]

Reading the tea leaves from one election in order to predict the next is difficult but not impossible. There are two ways to do it. One way is to look at what the current election tells us about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the likely players in the next election. For that analysis, turn to my colleague Bill Galston’s piece. In it he looks at the likely effects of this election on Biden and on Trump, and he discusses the importance of the Democratic governors races. The second way to look at it is what I will call the “plate tectonics” of American politics. This term was coined by Bill a few years ago in a piece I co-authored with him. It refers to the factors, geographic and demographic, that are constantly moving—slowly—and which occasionally lead to earthquakes.

As Al Gore and Hillary Clinton know only too well, presidential elections don’t turn on the national popular vote but on the electoral vote in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Thus, changes in the partisan makeup of certain states can have enormous effects on the (mostly) winner-take-all systems of awarding electors. Over time, states change their partisan make-up. Although this is a complicated process, most of it is due to people moving into a state and bringing their partisan leanings with them. One of the most stunning examples is Vermont—a state that for most of the 20th century was referred to by politicians in the know as “rock-ribbed” Republican. In fact, Vermont was one of only two states that voted against Franklin Roosevelt in his landslide 1936 election. But over the past decades New Yorkers moved to the idyllic state to escape the city and carried with them their far-left wing politics. So today, Vermont is the only state in the union to have a U.S. Senator who is an independent who identifies as a Democratic socialist, and last night elected Peter Welch to the Senate, making him only the second Democrat to represent the state in that chamber.

Analyzing the plate tectonics of politics leads us to take a careful look at what has been happening in three “purple” states—Arizona, Georgia and Nevada. Arizona used to be a reliably Republican state and yet, to Trump’s surprise and to the surprise of nearly every pundit in America, he lost that state in 2020. Today, it is the fourth or fifth most popular state in the union to move to—based on census data and on very interesting data from the U-Haul company—which tracks moves.

A large number of the people moving to Arizona are from California. For many of them, Arizona offers a lower cost of living, lower taxes, lower housing costs, less traffic, and good schools plus natural beauty.

Not surprisingly there are a lot of Democrats among these California transplants who are part of the reason Arizona has become a very competitive state. The state was solidly Republican for much of the 20th century and in the first six presidential elections of the 21st century. The razor thin margins in 2020 and in 2022 are testament to the changing nature of the state.

Georgia is right up there with Arizona in terms of the number of people moving there. Atlanta has been an economic powerhouse for some time now. As one professor put it—Atlanta is part of the “growth” South not the “stagnant” South. And Atlanta and its suburbs are the center of that growth. People from around the country and the world have been moving there making it the center of Democratic politics in the state. In fact, as Professor Charles Bullock, a political scientist at the University of Georgia says: “We know that the strongest Republican voters are people who’ve been in Georgia more than 20 years… Individuals who have been in Georgia less time are more likely to be Democratic.”

Finally, Nevada, like Arizona and Georgia, has seen in-migration that is making it a more competitive state. Like Arizona, most of the new residents are coming from California. In Washoe County, home of Reno, Nevada, the new Tesla plant and other high-tech businesses are attracting people from the San Francisco Bay area who are bringing with them their famously deep blue politics. Meanwhile, Las Vegas, the state’s largest city, is a powerhouse of job creation, ranking behind only three other metro areas in the United States with the fastest growth in job postings. At the presidential level, Nevada has been Democratic since 2008, and its consistently high job growth seems likely to cement that tendency with voters from California.

Because the plate tectonics move so slowly, we can expect very close presidential and Senate elections in these states in the next few years. However, if the trends keep going, these states may end up as reliable wins in the Democratic column in future election cycles.

[kjenvs000semesterf24]

Unit 5 Blog Post

Seeing that this week’s blog post is open-ended was both a delight and a challenge because, as a passionate ecology student, I can talk about nature-related concepts in my sleep. In fact, midterm studying has even caused me to start sleep-talking about the classifications of vertebrates, but that’s beside the point. A big part of my life that has shaped who I am today is the traveling I’ve been fortunate enough to do, as my family has always prioritized these types of experiences. In this post, I want to reflect on the relationship between tourism and conservation, and evaluate how I can more sustainably explore the world going forward. 

I believe that tourism and the appreciation of nature are closely linked, with one often enhancing the other. When done mindfully, tourism can foster a deep connection to the natural world, but it's crucial to balance exploration with conservation to ensure future generations can enjoy the same landscapes and wildlife. Beyond personal growth, such as building confidence and problem-solving skills, nature-based tourism provides valuable educational opportunities, offering firsthand insight into ecosystems, biodiversity, and the importance of preservation, often times teaching more than a textbook ever could. 

However, as tourism grows, so do the pressures on natural environments. Over-tourism, or the excessive number of visitors to a particular location, can lead to negative effects like soil erosion, habitat destruction, pollution, and disturbances to wildlife. Popular destinations such as coral reefs and national parks often suffer from overcrowding, putting immense pressure on their ecosystems. This can result in the degradation of the natural beauty that draws tourists in the first place. 

Since gaining more say in the trips we take as a family or with friends, I’ve become increasingly interested in eco-tourism. Eco-tourism is a more sustainable and responsible form of tourism, which seeks to counteract these issues by promoting minimal environmental impact and maximum conservation efforts. It emphasizes respecting local cultures, supporting conservation projects, and ensuring that tourism benefits local communities. This approach not only preserves the natural beauty of an area but also enhances the cultural and economic well-being of the people living there. 

When I started writing this post, I explained that the trips I took as a child to visit family in Florida and England were not sustainability-focused. However, upon reflection, I realize I learned a lot about nature and culture during those trips. Our family unintentionally became interpreters, using the experiences to teach me what they knew about the environment and the history tied to the land. For instance, I distinctly remember learning about sharks while searching for shark teeth on the beaches of Florida. While these trips were never labeled as ecotourism, I believe they upheld many of its values. 

(My grandma and I in Florida)

The three major trips that come to mind, where I consciously planned with sustainability and conservation in mind, are my safari in Kenya, sailing in the British Virgin Islands, and my exchange semester in Sweden. In Kenya, my grandmother and I stayed in different camps, and the Maasai guides—who have traditionally lived off the land—shared their knowledge of the animals and ecosystem. Conservation was central to the safari, with a focus on protecting wildlife and providing local people with opportunities to share their expertise. This trip was particularly special, as I learned so much about both the wildlife and the Maasai way of life. 

(a walking safari with a Maasai guide in Kenya)

The second trip was to the British Virgin Islands, where my family rented a sailboat to explore the islands. It was like a DIY cruise, but far more environmentally conscious, as cruises are notorious for harming the environment. Sailing allowed us to connect more closely with nature. Each morning, we would check the weather and wind to determine our route and explore the unique environment of the islands. One day, during a crossing, a pod of wild dolphins came beside our boat to play—a magical experience. 

(The boat we traveled on in the BVIs)

The biggest challenge I face is the environmental impact of transportation to these destinations. To combat this, I try to stay longer in each area and travel more slowly. This was the case when I did my exchange semester in Sweden last winter. Spending more time in a place helps me immerse myself in the local culture and fosters a more mindful and thoughtful approach to travel. This brings me to the last trip I want to mention: my grandmother’s visit to Sweden, where her one request was to see the northern lights. Although it wasn’t guaranteed, I wanted to make it happen for her. The only available tour was a snowmobile tour, so there I was, in northern Sweden, with my 80-year-old grandmother with a bad back on the back of my snowmobile. It turned out to be amazing. As we emerged from the woods, we were greeted by the most beautiful aurora borealis. The guides not only explained the scientific phenomena behind the lights but also shared what people from the past thought when they saw them thousands of years ago. We had this conversation while enjoying reindeer stew—an interesting experience for me as a usually-vegetarian. 

(Northern lights in Sweden)

Over the years, I’ve been working to make travel—a significant part of my life—more sustainable and less harmful. I’ve found that prioritizing low-impact activities like sailing, choosing local guides for tours, and traveling more slowly when possible helps me travel more responsibly. 

[arpov-blog-blog]

“Biden’s 2024 Chances Are Much Stronger Than People Realize.” The essay is a new articulation of our basic take on 2024:

Joe Biden is a good President. The country is better off. The Democratic Party is strong and winning elections across the US. And they have Trump.

First, President Joe Biden has kept his central promise in the 2020 election: that he would lead the nation to the other side of Covid, successfully. The pandemic has receded. Our economic recovery has been better than any other G7 nation. GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.9% last quarter, and more than 3% for the Biden presidency. We have the best job market since the 1960s and the lowest uninsured rate in U.S. history. The Dow Jones broke 37,000 this month for the first time. Wage growth, new business formation and prime-age labor participation rates are all at historically elevated levels. Prices fell — yes, fell — last month. Rents are softening, and gas prices and crime rates are falling. Domestic oil and renewable production are at record levels. The annual deficit, which exploded under Trump, is trillions less today. 

Consumer sentiment has risen sharply in recent weeks, and measures of life, job and income satisfaction are remarkably high. There is no doubt that recent years have been hard — Covid, an insurrection at the Capitol, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, repeated OPEC price hikes, global and domestic inflation — but it is increasingly clear that America is getting to the other side of this challenging period, and are in a far better place than when President Biden took office. 

Second, the strength of the president’s record is only matched by the strength of his party. I don’t think it is widely understood how strong the Democratic Party is right now. The party has won more votes in seven of the past eight presidential elections, something no party has done in modern American history. Over the last four presidential elections, Democrats have averaged 51% of the popular vote, their best showing over four national elections since the 1930s.

In both 2022 and 2023, Democrats prevented the historical down ballot struggle of the party in power and had two remarkably successful elections. In the 2022 midterms, Democrats’ statewide margins were greater than the 2020 presidential margins in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania — all recent battleground states. That showing led the party to pick up a Senate seat, four state legislative chambers and two governorships, and helped keep the House of Representatives close, making it far more likely Republicans lose it in 2024."

[inkofamethyst]

November 2, 2023

Mmmm in the mood for some of those shortbread cookies I used to bake all the time in college. Maybe with some strawberry or blackcurrant jam. More economical (and probably healthier) than buying lofthouse cookies or oreos biweekly lol.

Bernadette Banner released another sewing video and the cape is so lovely, as is the little bag collab she has. I'm slowly getting into purses and the price is definitely steep, but I could totally save for it over time (this strategy also ensures I'm actually interested in the item rather than reacting to an influencer (even though I probably could just buy it outright, the waiting period serves an important purpose)). The other purses at that shop are just darling too. Anyway she released the video and the bag was out of stock in less than a day lol.

The dynamic contrast of Kronos Revealed (M Giacchino) brings me to tears sometimes. And I know part of it has to do with instrumentation and maybe even mixing but it's just so masterful. The Incredibles soundtrack really is something beyond. The BTAS orchestration is so amazing and has a similar nostalgic quality to it that modern superhero movies just aren't hitting (not that they need to, as style trends change across all industries, plus the settings are quite different). Music can give content so much more than an emotional route for the viewer to follow. For me, music plays such a huge role in giving a movie/show/game/video a sense of setting. When created with intention and care, it can help turn the setting into a character beyond a sandbox for the actors, I think, for me.

Today I'm thankful that we're over halfway through the semester. And, in the effort to celebrate little wins, I'm also thankful that I'm slowly but surely learning this semester, specifically from regen. While I may not be as quick with my thoughts/critiques/questions as the undergrads in that class (and I've kind of just settled into that discomfort, though I probably should put in extra effort to reach their level, I'm just putting my energy elsewhere (I wonder how long I can keep saying that "I'm adjusting")), I am taking in the information about experimental techniques! One of the postdocs in the lab gave a presentation this week, and I was able to understand a lot more about the methodology than I would have at the beginning of the semester!!! Maybe I didn't get everything, but this is progress.

Also, some rapid-fire's: Thankful that my evodevo prof extended the take home exam time via email sent exactly a minute after I woke up this morning to write three essays (that I'd previously outlined) in four hours (and while it probably would've worked [edit: lol] (I timed my sleep so well) I'm glad I didn't have to put it to the test) because I most certainly had overbooked myself this week (okay maybe these aren't going to be as rapid fire as I'd thought). Thankful for free hot apple cider and an apple donut this morning at some random event in front of my department's building on the coldest morning of the semester so far (first time having an apple donut and it was so good those people may have a repeat customer)!!!! Thankful that I don't have to care about my grades as much these days because otherwise I'd probably be spiraling after today's regen exam/quiz thing haha. ha. [edit 2, the following tuesday: I did better than I did the first exam...? feeling like this class is kinda graded on "did you try?" vibes and I don't hate it but it is certainly odd (maybe I just can't accept that I understand more than I think I do and it's just a lot of imposter syndroming)] Thankful that the postdoc I've been working with/learning from this week is a lot more chill as a person than her demeanor when evaluating other people's work initially led me to believe. Thankful that the undergrads in the lab are really cool (they know so much more than me lol)!!! And lastly, thankful that I actually got a 95, not an 89, on my anatomy midterm (even though, of course, I don't care :P) [edit: must clarify that I did not submit for a regrade bc I actually don't care enough to make the effort for that, they just did a whole-class one].

[princetonuniversitypress]

Bill Clinton and Joe Biden have a lot in common. Both are ambitious, lifelong politicians, white men of the same generation, who came to preside over Democratic presidential administrations confronted with an economic crisis that had deep-seated and intractable roots. Neither commanded a large Democratic majority in Congress and both had to trim their legislative sails when they faced resistance and division, sometimes within their own party.

And yet their fates are entirely different three years into the respective administration of each president. By 1995 Bill Clinton was fighting to remain “relevant” to the politics of his day. His first budget was an austere economic compromise that skimped on stimulus funding, while his ambitious effort to reform and expand health care insurance and provision had tumbled into history’s dustbin. Passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993 created bitter rifts among Democrats, setting the stage for a massive Republican takeover in Congress. Many would soon label Clinton a “Democratic Eisenhower,” leading a party whose electoral success was predicated upon a wholesale accommodation to the ideologies of its opponents.

Joe Biden’s world seems entirely different. His administration has pushed through Congress trillions of dollars in new spending designed to rebuild infrastructure and reindustrialize key economic sectors. The Republicans underperformed during the midterm elections, and although Biden has not been a hugely popular President, he presides for the most part over a remarkably unified party.

The contrast between the fates of these two presidents is striking. However, understanding the reasons and mechanisms behind their distinct paths is even more instructive. I have labeled my reconsideration of Bill Clinton’s Presidency “A Fabulous Failure” because I don’t think one can comfortably label that president and many of his close collaborators neoliberal ideologues on the day they marched into the White House 30 years ago.

Their ambitions were more progressive. In 1992 Bill Clinton campaigned for the presidency on a program holding that the management and reform of American capitalism could hardly be left to the market alone. It was a task that required a plan and a purpose. One could glimpse that expansive promise when on December 14 and 15, 1992, the Clinton transition team assembled more than 300 of the nation’s leading economists, executives, politicians, and policy entrepreneurs in Little Rock for an “economic summit.” Almost all agreed with campaign strategist James Carville’s now-famous catchphrase, “The Economy, Stupid.” It was time for the government to offer a forceful set of initiatives designed to increase the productivity of capital and labor, transform key industry sectors, and enhance the quality of American life.

“We clearly face structural problems that today threaten our ability to harness the energies of all of our people,” said the President-elect. On display was an adventuresome range of ideas, reflecting a renewed set of Democratic ambitions after nearly two decades of progressive frustration, defeat, and economic dislocation spanning the tenures of every president since Richard Nixon. There were plenty of corporate chieftains in attendance, not so much to balance the academics and think-tank liberals with a more conservative outlook, but to demonstrate that the underperformance of the American economy was so debilitating that they too had a stake in efforts to rehabilitate industries and enterprises, especially those threatened by new competitors abroad and burdened by growing health care expenses at home. The end of the Cold War had hardly generated a sense of triumphalism. Massachusetts Democratic Paul Tsongas captured much of this angst during his brief campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination that year. “The Cold War is Over,” he asserted, “Japan and Germany Won.”

Clinton had been governor of a poor, Southern, rural state, spending the bulk of his time seeking to attract industry, raise wages, and increase worker skills and education. Clinton visited Germany, Japan, Italy, and South Korea looking for models and investments. He was therefore amenable to an “industrial policy” that deployed governmental power to advance economic development. Clinton’s appointment of several of the most high-profile advocates of such a program—Robert Reich at the Department of Labor, Laura Tyson as chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Jeffery Garten in the US Trade Office, and Ira Magaziner in charge of health reform—was an indication of the degree to which this view enjoyed purchase within his new administration.

Today this aspect of the Clinton presidency has been largely discounted. Bill Clinton was the first Democratic President since FDR to win two consecutive terms, but that accomplishment seems merely a product of his accommodation to an ideology that privileged trade liberalization, financial deregulation, privatization of government services, and the growth of class inequalities. Clinton’s 1996 declaration, “The era of big government is over,” seemingly ratified Reaganite conservatism.

During the years after 1994, the drift toward such neoliberalism was much encouraged by the widespread view that the United States was indeed entering a “new economy” propelled by technologically-driven productivity gains, global trade, and financial innovation that simultaneously reduced unemployment and interest rates, elevated the stock market, and made international trade a win-win proposition. This “new economy” idea captivated everyone from Newt Gingrich and Alan Greenspan on the libertarian right to Robert Reich and Lester Thurow on the industrial policy left.

The idea would expire even before the Great Recession. But in the meantime, it constituted a powerful illusion. In December 1992, when Clinton kick-started the Little Rock economic summit, a sense of crisis pervaded the discussion about reshaping the American version of world capitalism. Fast forward to April 2000, Clinton convened a “White House Conference on the New Economy.” There, a techno-triumphalism animated the conclave, with Clinton announcing “We meet in the midst of the longest economic expansion of our history and an economic transformation as profound as that that led us into the industrial revolution.” At Little Rock, the leadoff speaker had been Robert Solow, the Keynesian theorist of economic growth; at the 2000 White House conference it was Abby Joseph Cohen, the famed, hyper-bullish stock market analyst from Goldman Sachs. Bill Clinton told that White House conference, “I believe the computer and the internet give us a chance to move more people out of poverty more quickly than at any time in all of human history.”

That was an illusion, but an even greater failure may well have arisen from the Clinton Administration’s actual achievements: creating a federal budget surplus, downsizing the government workforce, enacting an ambitious crime control law, passing the North American Free Trade Agreement, constructing a pathway for China to join the World Trade Organization, and deregulating both Wall Street finance and America’s vast telecommunications infrastructure. Wall Street boomed and unemployment dropped, but in the end, none of these reforms moved the nation toward the economic stability, social equality, or global democratic resurgence. Trade with China, the Clintonites had prophesied, would undoubtedly create the conditions for a free press, entrepreneurial freedom, and the autonomy, individual and organizational, necessary to sustain a robust civil society in that ancient nation. They were convinced that democratic effervesce was sure to accompany all those new cell phones, stock markets, and supermarkets.

Moreover, virtually every legislative victory scored by the Clinton Administration, especially in the years after 1994, faced significant opposition from within his own party. On many Clinton initiatives, especially those involving trade and financial deregulation, the White House relied on Republican votes, while a large fraction of the Democrats, sometimes even a majority, stood in opposition to their own president. Clinton was a dreadful party leader.

Clinton’s economic vision no longer commands the hegemonic assent it seemed to enjoy a quarter century ago. Few think that capital mobility, new technology, or greater international trade are creating the frictionless, fabulous world so many projected in the immediate post-Cold War years. Meanwhile, the industrial policy initiatives explored in the early Clinton era no longer seem quite so freckless. The trillion-dollar appropriations of the last three years, sometimes enacted with bipartisan support, constitute what Biden has labeled “an American industrial strategy,” designed to keep pandemic-threatened enterprises afloat, sustain working-class incomes, rebuild key industries, strengthen infrastructure, fund health insurance, and fight climate change. This agenda mirrors that of Magaziner, Reich, and Tyson 30 years before. While a new consensus is yet to form, the failures of the Clinton presidency can now be examined in a new light, one in which a neoliberal world no longer seems the wave of the future.

Nelson Lichtenstein is Research Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author, with Judith Stein, of A Fabulous Failure: The Clinton Presidency and the Transformation of American Capitalism.

[kwockxpressions]

Aleeza Ahmad

1. Name, Year, Major & Hometown

My name is Aleeza Ahmad, and I am a 3rd year Managerial Economics Major with a minor in Technology Management. I am from Union City, California.

2. What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of myself for getting to where I am today!

3. If you could choose a Sanrio character as a pet, which one would it be and why?

I would choose Kuropi because I love frogs and the color green.

4. What is the biggest green flag in someone?

The biggest green flag is when their wallet is fat 🤑. On a more serious note, an important green flag to me is when people yell "COWS" when you are driving by cows.

5. What’s your biggest ick?

The biggest ick to me is when people have no social awareness or can't read social cues, especially in college. Inexcusable at their big age.

6. If you were Kirby, who/what would you swallow and become?

If I was Kirby, I would swallow Zendaya because she can truly do it all (act, model, and sing).

7. What’s the most embarrassing moment in your life?

When I first started my job on campus, the door to the bathroom sometimes wouldn't lock properly. Before my first month was up, a guy had walked into the bathroom while I was in there... He barely saw anything, but it is a painful memory :')

8. When’s the last time you cried?

The last time I cried was last night because it is week 4 so that means all of my classes have midterms LOL. I also saw a sad pet tiktok :(

9. What’s your most used emoji?

🦅🫡

10. What do you value in friendship and tell me about your best friend?

I value genuine connections and trust in friendships. It is important to me to feel comfortable with friends and not anxious about the way I am acting. It is hard to be genuine and comfortable with people sometimes, so I appreciate when others are able to be themselves around me. It becomes an unspoken thing that we have each other's backs and I love how naturally that bond forms. My best friend is one of the strongest, selfless, and amazing people I know. She is beautiful inside and out, and handles every situation with grace. In situations where most people would crumble, she makes it look easy. She never brags though, but everyone around her knows she is something really special. I am so lucky to have found her early in my childhood. I know we will always be in each other's lives and a part of every major milestone in our futures. Even when we are busy and haven't talked in a while, we always are able to pick up right where we left it. We are always there for each other when it matters, no questions asked. We probably have hundreds of inside jokes and thousands of fun memories. She understands what really matters in life and makes my heart feel full & warm. She is honestly one of my biggest role models and pushes me to be a better version of myself everyday. Only some people are able to find a true best friend like this, and I am so glad that I am one of them.

[communicationmyway]

Selected Topics In Political Science - The Coming Anarchy Final Paper

In this class, I had to do a lot of research papers, so that meant a lot of time with my thoughts and time by myself. It was tough, but I managed to do it, and I think I did a pretty good job on my papers. It was hard when you second guess everything you hear, then second guess everything you think, then second guess everything you write and so on. Since I completed the course though, I am proud and think it contributes to the lessened anxiety that I have now!

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

The Coming Anarchy and How it Shapes Us Today

How do we, as civilians living on planet Earth, stop the world from degrading into a mass of rioting and nothingness if we do not listen to what is being told, listen to what is being advised to do or what not to do. Even in the 1920’s after World War 1, William Butler Yeats wrote of “The Second Coming”, an apocalyptic view on the world and what was to come to those who live in it. “The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity” (Yeats, lines 6-8). These lines still ring true today, with innocence being destroyed daily, those who can make a change don’t while those who seemingly have less power make the choices with the passion they have. Then we have Robert D. Kaplan who wrote in 1994 of how the world will be in turmoil, especially within the next 50 years. Kaplan wrote of how in order to understand the events that will take place in the next 50 years, then one would need to understand, “environmental scarcity, cultural and racial clash, geographic destiny, and the transformation of war” (Kaplan, page 54). These are but a few things that have continued to go undiscussed in many parts of the world, along with a few other concerns of his, such as, “the withering away of central governments, the rise of tribal and regional domains, the unchecked spread of disease, and the growing pervasiveness of war” (Kaplan, page 48). These are all very real, very terrifying things that we as people have not found an even ground on how to solve, even in 2022. In this essay, quite a few things will be discussed, ranging from economic power shifts, population growth, scarce resources, climate change, terrorism, an understanding of Samuel P. Huntington’s “Clash of Civilizations” and how it relates to a post-pandemic world, and some of the issues a post-Pax Americana face, such as growing powers, growing global ecological crisis, and growing American domestic instability. 

In the Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World, it discusses how some countries will continue to grow bigger, such as China, India, and Russia (Global Trends 2025, vi/vii), while other countries will struggle to grow and fall behind economically, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and some of Latin America (Global Trends 2025, vii). Some countries, such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, will account for the most population growth in the world while, “less than 3 percent of the growth will occur in the West” (Global Trends 2025, vii). Global Trends 2040: A More Contested World goes deeper in depth of this situation and others that will arise in paragraph 3: 

Some developed and emerging economies, including in Europe and East Asia, will grow older faster and face contracting populations, weighing on economic growth. In contrast, some developing countries in Latin America, South Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa benefit from larger working-age populations, offering opportunities for a demographic dividend if coupled with improvements in infrastructure and skills.

This goes to explain the economic power shift and population growth which are some of the problems that the world will face.

Two other problems the world will face are scarce resources and climate change. A few of the resources that are in danger are energy, food, and water. In my Midterm essay, I wrote about how

The demand for food will continue to grow up to 50 percent by 2030 because “of growing world population, rising affluence, and the shift to Western preferences by a larger middle class” (Global Trends 2025, viii). The world will continue to struggle to find access to clean, sustainable water due to the world population and rapid urbanization worldwide (Global Trends 2025, viii). These are important problems that the world needs to find solutions for quickly, as humans and animals need energy, food, and water to survive. Another detrimental factor to diminishing resources is climate change.

Climate change will continue to happen at fast rates if the world does not act quickly. It is presumed that “more extreme storms, droughts, and floods; melting glaciers and ice caps; and rising sea levels will accompany rising temperatures” (Global Trends 2040, paragraph 4) all around the world. 

Another thing that will be seen worldwide is a grow in terrorism. As people gain more access to each other through sources like the internet, so does terrorists. This also stands true for access to nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction and the easy access to it. The terrorists could be groups from outside of the country or from citizens within, such as white supremacists in America. The reason this is so terrible is because the terrorists have passion to destroy, to cause conflict, to cause change, and will generally stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Huntington believes that what will tear the world apart with conflict is cultural aspects. “Nation states will remain the most powerful actors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations” (Huntington, page 22). This is true even today, as different cultures fight all over the world about what they think is right and wrong. This could relate to the views that many have on how people in countries like Iran are treated, or even in countries like America, with fighting between one another. A situation that has arisen due to circumstance like the latter are people being for masks and against masks, for vaccines and against vaccines. It caused such a divide between people in America when there should have been one law for the whole country and every state should have been forced to follow it. This pertains to what Huntington is saying because if citizens cannot agree despite cultural differences, then the world will fall apart because then there is no control. 

In the world, there is growing powers, and some of them might not have the best interest for others at heart. Take Russia for example, a country that has grown to such great strengths and starting a war on Ukraine. If Putin can just decide one day to open a war with one country, what’s to stop him from attacking the world if possible? The world cannot face a war right now, not with everyone getting over the crisis of the pandemic and facing the aftermaths.

As for the growing global ecological crisis, the world really needs to step up on its game of agreeing on how to save the world. President Obama tried to take a step towards change in the right direction with his Clean Power Plan which would, “include limits on methane gas emissions. He was pursuing a major plan to move away from fossil fuels like coal and promote renewables like wind and solar" (PBS-Delay, 30:24-30:35). But President Trump, “attempted to roll back the Obama climate agenda. His administration delayed or repealed more than two dozen environmental rules and regulations, including those on methane emissions" (PBS-Delay, 39:18-39:28). So even if people take a step in the right direction, there’s always the chance the next person could come around and get rid of it completely. There needs to be a basic understanding of how people are destroying the world and the steps they can take on how to solve it and put it in motion without any stops. 

Lastly, there is a severe crisis going on in America with domestic instability. People are fighting one another in terms of view and how they think others should live, and it’s causing the wrong people to stand up for what they believe in and cause chaos for others. Two examples of this are white supremacists and the way people are so divided. White supremacists generally believe the only way to fix the world and its problems is to cause chaos, to destroy the corrupt society and burn it down to pieces. They do this in terms of violence and "deliberate political engagement that supports destructive and divisive societal elements" (ADL, paragraph 7). It doesn’t help that white supremacists are beginning to think it’s okay to be the way they are, and that they way they think is the ideal way. As for the divided country, people need to be more understanding of others and their views and come to agreements so that the world does not see how divided they are. This is dangerous because the less likely neighbors are to help each other out means it is more likely for countries that want to take over to attack since they know they will never agree with one another. Americans need to have courage and trust in one another so that they can be safe from harm. 

In conclusion, people need to stop fighting one another on things that are obvious. Global warming exists, our resources are getting scarce, neighboring countries are growing stronger while others continue to grow weaker when everyone could potentially be helping each other out. As a society, we need to either stop this anarchy from happening, or cause it to go in the right direction: tearing down the government and restarting all over again with views that benefit all human beings. There is no more time to just pretend things are better, the time for action is now and everyone plays a part in it. 

Works Cited

ADL. “White Supremacists Embrace ‘Accelerationism.’” ADL, ADL, 16 Apr. 2019, https://www.adl.org/blog/white-supremacists-embrace-accelerationism. 

Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World. National Intelligence Council Washington Dc, 2008.

“Global Trends 2040 : A More Contested World.” Office of the Director of National Intelligence - Global Trends, Mar. 2021, https://www.dni.gov/index.php/gt2040-home/summary.

Huntington, Samuel P. “Samuel P. Huntington (1993), 'The Clash of Civilizations?', Foreign Affairs, 72, Pp.22-49.” Foreign Policy, vol. 72, no. 3, 1993, pp. 22–49. 

Kaplan, Robert D. “‘The Coming Anarchy.’” The Atlantic Monthly, Feb. 1994, pp. 44–77.

PBSfrontline. “The Power of Big Oil, Part Three: Delay (Full Documentary) | Frontline.” YouTube, YouTube, 3 May 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8UOJqs5F9Q&ab_channel=FRONTLINEPBS%7COfficial.  

Wilson, Brittney. “Midterm Essay.” 10 Oct. 2002. POLS 3555: “The Coming Anarchy” Revisited, Columbus State University, student paper. 

Yeats, William Butler. “The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43290/the-second-coming. 

[goddess-help-us]

US Democracy: Close to Death

Pardon my language.

But we are f*cked. Yesterday (June 30, 2022), SCOTUS agreed to hear “Moore v. Harper” on its fall 2022 docket. This case deals with the authority of states to run elections (see more detail later on)*. The conservative-majority court will likely rule in favor of Moore, which would let Republican-held state legislatures appoint their own electors in the electoral college, ignoring the popular vote. In essence, Republicans wouldn’t have to repeat Jan. 6 in the future. They could simply use Republican-held statehouses to reject election results they don’t like, ending free and fair elections in the US.

Presently, there are not enough votes for Congress or the President to do anything to stop this. Congress could potentially impeach Justice Thomas for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection but the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority Senate vote to convict a sitting Supreme Court justice. Sufficient support for this does not exist in the Senate, and is not likely to exist at any time soon. 

There is only one real, legal recourse to this threat: obtaining a true Democratic majority in the US Senate, which we do not have. Senators Manchin and Sinema are unreliable at best and potentially plants at worst. They support neither the reform of or conditional exemption to the filibuster, nor “packing the court.” We need two additional Democratic senators to make their spoiler-effect opposition irrelevant. A 52-member Democratic Senate would allow the filibuster to be bypassed and open the way for the Judiciary Act to pass, which would allow President Biden to add four additional Supreme Court justice seats to reign in this current slow-motion right-wing coup. Don’t think abolishing the filibuster is right? See additional text later.**

How do we get two additional Democratic votes in the Senate? There are currently two highly-competitive Senate races for seats held by Republicans in the midterms this November: Pennsylvania (Dr. Oz (R) vs. John Fetterman (D)) and Wisconsin (party nominees undecided, primary scheduled Aug. 9, 2022). The Dems also need to hold onto every seat they currently occupy. This includes other highly-competitive seats in: Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. I’ve never campaigned for anyone in my life before but today I signed up to volunteer with John Fetterman’s campaign because I feel like this is important. 

I can’t tell anybody what to do this information, I can only provide it. But I hope that people who value laws, regulations, and policies that support the social, economic, environmental, and democratic wellbeing of a society can recognize when those things are at stake (and they are). The Republicans and their right-wing evangelical supporters know that the 2022 midterm and 2024 general elections are the last chance they have to impose their religious agenda on the country. They know the majority of Americans do not support an elimination of abortion, the banning of LGBT people from public life, or the continuous denial of the climate crisis. That is why they are using the Supreme Court to take action right before these critical elections. They should not get away with this. 

“I’m too anxious or burnt to do anything.” That’s true. It’s been an exhausting past two years. But, for myself, I hate to think of the regret I might have in 2024 when a Republican-held Court, White House, and Congress enact a nationwide federal ban on abortion or LGBT people. Do I want to ask myself at that time, “was there anything else I could have done?” “Electoralism doesn’t work.” I sympathize.*** Often times it feels we elect people who don’t ultimately do anything. But I guarantee that voting will become even more of a token gesture in the future under the likely Moore v. Harper ruling if it’s allowed to proceed unchecked. “The Nation is already f*cked, there’s no point in saving it. We should just let the inevitable balkanization of America happen.” While I think current inflation and supply chains are bad, I can’t imagine how much worse they will be when the nationwide networks of food, medicine, water, household goods, consumer electronics, et al. are subject to tariffs and various petty interregional conflicts that the federal government currently mediates. Yes, the US will cease to exist one day, but let that be a day when we decide that we no longer need the federal government to aid us in living healthful, rich lives, not because of a right-wing coup. 

Thank you for your time if you've read this far.

*Moore v. Harper is a Supreme Court writ of certiorari between Thomas Moore, the Republican Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, and Rebecca Harper, a North Carolina citizen who is collectively filing with other North Carolinians against the Speaker. The case has to do with a Feb. 2022 North Carolina Supreme Court decision that threw out the State Legislature’s election map as gerrymandered. The NC Supreme Court ruled that the maps adopted by the NC Legislature violated the NC Constitution. The NC Supreme Court adopted remedial election maps in their place. Speaker Moore, in turn, filed a writ of certiorari with SCOTUS that it accepted June 30. The NC Republicans believe the US Constitution does not allow state supreme courts jurisprudence over elections and that state legislatures should be able to run and organize elections exclusively. SCOTUS has continuously ruled, however, since 1916 (Davis v. Hildebrant) and as recently as 2015 (Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission) that the Constitution does not give unilateral election-running authority to a state legislature but rather to the public or a state’s constitution. The likely SCOTUS ruling in the fall on Moore v. Harper would overturn over a century’s worth of precedent and allow sitting state legislatures to blatantly gerrymander election maps and even the ability to ignore the popular vote.

**Don’t think abolishing the filibuster is right? The US Constitution does not support the use of the filibuster and does not require a two-thirds vote for laws. It only specifies that a two-thirds majority be used for: censure, expulsion, conviction, and treaty approval. The Senate has reformed the filibuster throughout US history. Senators used to be able to simply filibuster a motion out of the Senate without any accountability. In 1917, the Senate changed its rules to allow a two-thirds majority vote to end debate, the first such check on the filibuster. In 1975, the Senate changes its rules again and dropped this threshold from 67 to 60 senators. Clearly, the Senate has a history of changing its own rules as allowed by Article I, Section 5 of the US Constitution. It is perfectly reasonable and constitutional to either reform or end the use of the filibuster.

***Yes, electoralism is not the end-be-all of civic engagement. It is the bare minimum. If you want more than casting a vote then (good news): there’s a wealth of civil society and community-based organizations out there waiting for your talent, energy, and expertise. Getting involved can connect you to additional resources. And, yes, support mutual aid requests as you are able but mutual aid is not a replacement for actual, scalable human services, like medicine, professional care, electronic infrastructure and services, formal education, et al. that our federal state provides. This is not an “one or the other” decision. All of the tools are here. Use all of them as you are able. Campaign, vote, organize, donate, spread awareness. All of it. And anybody calling for a violent revolution is clueless. The right-wing white supremacists have been preparing for this moment four four decades, with ready-to-mobilize militias. There are no comparable and scalable left-wing militia organizations to counter this. Sure, join your local Socialist Rifle Association but SRA, as it stands now, is simply not comparable to the organization that right-wing extremists currently have. And once you have outed yourself as an active leftist gun user (in the same way that white militias use theirs), you can forget about your constitutional rights. The longer-term solution is to create locally-based power that can resist overreaches by state and federal governments.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The high cost of "self-funded" Democrats

It costs a lot to win a US election — even if it’s just a race for (formerly) low-stakes offices that have emerged as culture-war battlegrounds (like school and election boards). In the 12 years since Citizens United, the dark money firehose has turned many races into plute-on-plute economic warfare, where cash from the 1% matters far more than votes from the 99%.

Republicans have a structural advantage when it comes to moneyball elections, because they are the party of rich people (or, more specifically, the party of rich farmers who convince poor turkeys to vote for Christmas by appealing to racism, xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny and other forms of bigotry).

It’s easy to make good on a campaign consisting of: “i) I will punish the people you hate and fear; ii) I will cut taxes for me and my rich pals; and iii) If governments were ever capable of doing good, that wisdom is lost to the ages, a forgotten art of a fallen civilization, like the secrets of pyramid-building. Today, the evil of governments is matched only by their incompetence.”

It’s really easy to govern incompetently, especially if you’re committed to defunding all the agencies that protect regular people so that you can save enough on your taxes to send your failsons to The Citadel at $35k/year.

For Democrats, this poses a problem. Decades of declining union membership (abetted, it must be noted, by Democratic leadership) has all but eliminated unions as a source of campaign funding and volunteers. But for the Democratic faction that wants the party to stand for the interest of the professional/managerial class, there is a solution: “decent” rich people who can self-fund their own campaigns.

This is a terrible idea, even by the standards of the Democrats’ neoliberal technocrat wing. The self-funded candidates who enter primary races are, at best, idiot dilletantes whose inherited wealth is derived from their having won a lottery by emerging from an extremely lucky orifice.

As Alexander Sammon writes for The American Prospect, party bosses love these fools because they are seen as bargains, candidates who won’t tax the party’s fundraising apparatus.

https://prospect.org/politics/democrats-self-funder-problem/

But there is a critical flaw in this logic: rich dilettantes make terrible candidates who lose elections to Republicans. Worse: because hereditary princelings can stay in primary races where they have no popular support, they can exhaust the fundraising resources of good candidates who can take must-win seats in the midterms.

Take Trudy Busch Valentine, the $215m scion of the Busch family, whose bid for the Dems’ Missouri senate nomination has been almost entirely funded out of her own pocket (85% of the $3m she’s spent came from her own bank account). She’s a really, really bad candidate. She can’t answer basic questions about a don’t-say-gay law:

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article263832082.html

She can’t answer questions about a ban on health-care for trans kids:

https://www.advocate.com/politics/2022/7/27/dem-missouri-senate-candidate-flubs-trans-rights-position

And she literally didn’t know what Citizens United was (you can’t make this shit up):

https://twitter.com/BoldProgressive/status/1553838749062135809

If she becomes the nominee, she will lose.

But worse, if she becomes the nominee, it will be because she’s her primary opponent, an anti-monopoly crusader Lucas Kunce, who actually could win, because he will campaign on issues that make a material difference to the lives of Missouri voters. Hell, even if Kunce beats her in the primary, he’ll go into the senate race with a supporter base whose modest funds have been depleted fighting off this disastrous “self-funder.”

The thing is, this Missouri Senate race is Democrats’ to lose. The GOP candidates are a clown car: there’s the Trump-endorsed (accused) wife-beater Eric Greitens, and the stunting Eric Schmitt (who wasted public money suing China over covid while serving as the state’s AG). A good Democratic candidate could deliver a badly needed Senate seat.

In Wisconsin, meanwhile, there’s another chaotic Democratic primary, spoiled by failson Alex Lasry (who inherited his wealth from his billionaire hedge-fund looter daddy) and Sarah Godlewski, another plute who has poured millions of her own money into her campaign, staying in the race despite the fact that nearly all of her support came from her.

Both Lasry and Godlewski dropped out of the primary after spending a combined $18.5m of their own money to attack and drain the coffers of Mandela Barnes, who never debated a real candidate and effectively ran unopposed by any serious contenders. As Sammon writes, “their effectively infinite cash kept them in the race much longer than they otherwise would have been, without ever building a meaningful constituency.”

In New York City, millionaire Carolyn Maloney is bidding for the 12th District House seat, presumably on the popular appeal of her heavy stake in an “eviction happy rental apartment complex” — surely a big vote-getter for the Democratic base:

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/nyc-pol-income-firm-evicts-struggling-tenants-article-1.3909463

In Michigan’s 5th District, Shri Thanedar has disgorged $5m from his own vast fortune despite his manifest weakness as a candidate; that money flushed out more Super PACs, including right-wing PACs (like United Democracy Project, a front for AIPAC) who’ve chummed the waters by dumping $5m more into the race.

We know how this turns out. The presidential bids of Michael Bloomberg, Howard Schultz and Tom Steyer demonstrate what should be obvious: dead-eyed billionaire wreckers and their fumbling, bumbling offspring are not popular with Democratic voters and will not win elections for Democrats. Bloomberg spent one billion dollars on his campaign and the only place he won was American Samoa, whose residents are denied votes in presidential elections.

And yet, self-funding continues to grow inside the Democratic party. Follow the Money’s report shows that between 2016 and 2018, the spending by self-funders in Democratic races rose from 4% of Democratic spending to 12% — $547.5m! It’s a sure thing that figure’s only gone up since:

https://www.followthemoney.org/research/institute-reports/self-funders-continue-to-falter

This will get worse. SCOTUS’s decision in FEC v Ted Cruz removed all limits from candidates ability to pocket their donors’ money to pay themselves back for the loans they make to their campaign, which allows billionaires to put millions into a campaign, then get other billionaires to bail them out with tax-free campaign donations.

This means that each member of America’s ruling class can serve as a one-person Citizens United, a dark money pool of their own making. It is another step on the road to government entirely run by centimillionaires and their orifice-lotto-winning larvae.

It’s not just that these are terrible candidates who will lose elections. It’s also that they will crowd out small-dollar-supported progressives like AOC, who campaign (and win) on popular issues that matter to and materially improve working peoples’ lives.

But of course, that’s the point.

[sailorhyunjinz]

~  𝐹𝑜𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝑀𝒾𝓃𝑒 ~

𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 ; yandere!seungmin x fem!reader (she/her pronouns)

𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 ; slight mutual pining, skz side characters, university!au, nonidol!au, home party, consumption of alcohol, both reader and seungmin live at home (lmao good content warning), mentions of eating, mentions of seungmin being queer, spring!au, mentions of smoking, changing pov, possessiveness, kinda love triangle. 

𝘕𝘴𝘧𝘸 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 ; sex under influence, drugging, piv, unprotected sex (AH USE PROTECTION!!) mention of prey/predator, restraints, orgasm(m/f), choking, impact play, fingering, slight edging, cum, hickeys, degradation, i guess like semi-public sex-

𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 ; 9,9 k 

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦 ; This is purely a work of fiction and does not represent Kim Seungmin from Stray Kids. This should be regarded as pure fantasy. Please read the warnings and refrain from reading this if trigged by the topics above. 

dont know how “yandere” this is,,, WELL I KNOW ITS NOT LIKE spot on because that would be a whole nother fic but im just kinda testing waters here so hopefully you guys enjoy!!

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 18.

Sweet like honeysuckle in the late hours of dusk, that is my y/n. I call her mine because that’s what she’s gonna be one day. In my arms, committed to me and only me... she just doesn’t know that yet but one day, when the time is right and when the universe gives me a sign she will be right beside me. Love of my life, y/n. 

He slams the notebook closed, throwing it down on the desk and watching it roll slowly. He carded through his hair in a frustrated state, sighing loudly as the desk lamp shone it’s pale bright light, an enormous amount of paper and books cluttering the surface, waiting to be looked at since he procrastinated with his work. He was frustrated because he didn’t know what to do, how to grab your attention, how to make you his. You knew Seungmin to an extent, he was in the same law course as you and you guys had mutual friends but it wasn’t like the two of you were friends, you simply helped each other with law assignments since both of you didn’t have other friends in the course. Seungmin spun around on his office chair, staring up at the white ceiling. Tomorrow was Monday, the best of the week since it meant lessons with you. 

“oooh look at him~ why are you so stylish today?” Jeongin laughed, greeting Seungmin by the campus entrance. He shrugged his shoulders. 

“don’t know, felt like it” he said, balancing his backpack on one shoulder. “What’s your first lecture?” he asked the younger boy, looking over at Jeongin who was wearing his thin wired round glasses and a grey hoodie, the epitome of college student during midterms. 

“fucking business economy” he said, wretching after his sentence and showing the utmost disgust for the course. 

“why did you even choose to major in economics?” Seungmin asked for the umpteenth time, Jeongin sighed. 

“gotta be the chairman for my dad's company you know” Jeongin said, earning a scoff from his friend.

“you are the furthest person I know to ever become chairman” he said to which the younger laughed, secretly agreeing. Seungmin patted Jeongin on the back as a silent act of comfort before he saw a very familiar figure walk past him. It was you, the charms that hung from your backpack being the most distinct feature.

“see you later bro” Seungmin said quickly before running, eventually catching up with you.

“hey y/n!” he panted, grabbing you by the shoulder gently to which you flinched at first, not knowing it was him.

“oh hi minnie!” you said, smiling. Minnie, you had never called him that before but it didn’t sound wrong, he reminded you of a puppy and every puppy needed a nickname. His hair bounced as he abruptly stopped running.

“on your way to class?” he asked to which you nodded, the two of you slowly walking beside each other, the cherry blossoms blowing in the wind and pink petals spinning around you. “How did the work go? Did I help you anything?” he said, reminding you of when he stayed up all night, texting you and helping you with the homework that was due today. You smiled happily and thanked him for his help, saying that you understood because of his help. He just waved his hand, saying that it’s the last thing he could do as a friend.

Friend.

So you guys were friends?

“yeah, friends! I finally have a friend that knows law” you said with a grin, walking towards the A building where your professor was already waiting for the students to roll in, filling the auditorium with chatter. You didn’t know what you felt for Seungmin but you knew it was something more than friends. He was perfect in every way. He was kind to everyone, whether it was his other friends or the barista down the street he would always approach people in the most amiable manner. It was a boy like him that made your heart beat faster, made your ears warm with timidity, butterflies of all colors fluttering in the pit of your stomach. 

And you thought he liked you back.

He did, he really did.

You tried pushing the door open to the lecture hall but you were stopped by Seungmin who rushed in front of you, holding the door open for you and smiling, his pearly white teeth shining. You thanked him with a slight bow of the head, his eyes turning into half-moons as you walked past and he followed just behind you. 

When the two of you were in the lecture hall you started packing up your belongings like your computer and your water bottle, the boy doing the same but he dropped his pencil case just between the two chairs, you quickly bending down to grab it but instead feeling his warm hand touch yours.

“oh sorry” you said, handing him the pencil case that was adorable for such a grown uni student, he still used the same pencil case he used in middle school. He told you that one lesson when neither of you could concentrate. It had small corgis drawn all over, the light blue background making their faces seem even happier. “It suits you, you know?” you added, pulling up something on your computer screen. The dark eyed bow frowned, tilting his head in confusion.

“what?” he said quickly to which you giggled.

“your pencil case, you really do remind me of a puppy”

He smiled mellowly at your remark, looking at the pencil case in adoration. Something reminded you of him and it made his heart beat even faster. Just when he was about to open his mouth again, saying something the professor shouted out. 

“students, welcome! how did the assignment go?”

Seungmin turned to the front, drumming quietly on his paper with the pen between his pointer and middle finger, not even answering the professor's question. You tried to concentrate when the lecture started but couldn’t help to occasionally cast glances at the cute boy beside you. His hair was a bit curly and dark brown, the locks looking soft as silk if you could touch it that is. His lips were tinted a light pink, coated in a sheen of saliva that glistened in the harsh light from the ceiling lights. The little pout that formed whenever he concentrated, writing diligently on his paper was the same pout you wanted to kiss. Just feel how soft they were and how they would feel against your lips. Only when Seungmin turned to you did you notice that you hadn’t listened to anything, simply resting your hands on the keyboard and freaking out internally when your two eyes met in a momentary eye contact. You quickly fasten your gaze on your computer, the empty document staring right back at you, only the vertical dash making its presence known by flickering. Seungmin couldn’t help it when a grin slowly appeared on his face, shyly looking down at his paper with black scribbles. 

So maybe she likes me. 

I wonder what would happen if me and y/n were alone. In a room, just the two of us. Would she make the first move? Because I think she likes me. Today she even told me that I reminded her of a puppy. That means she likes me because she likes puppies... i think. But what now? How does one get closer? I can’t just confess, that would be too... creepy. Why can’t I confess but I can think about every other sick twisted thing that I want to do with her? How I want to tie her to my bed, see how she squirms and begs for help, tugging on her restraints and screaming before I cover her mouth. I think it’s the fear in her eyes that calls out to me, the fear of the unknown. I don’t want anyone else to have her, she’s already mine and I will go to any lengths to keep it that way, even if it means putting my own life in danger. Y/n is the only one that’s worth other people's lives or even my own. 

The boy looked over at the digital clock on his desk, the red numbers shining 1:13 am brightly, the night dark and windy outside his window. He felt alone in the world despite still living with his parents that were soundly asleep downstairs. He still hadn’t touched his course work, only doing it to help you whenever you texted him, having your number saved under “y/n <3″. Just as he was about to text you, asking if you needed help with your law homework his phone dinged with another message.

[Felix] Seungmo, me and the boys were thinking of having a party but none of us can hold it at our place, can you?

He stared at the lit screen, the blue light emitting onto his bare and freshly washed face. Seungmin furrowed his eyebrows, he wasn’t really the type to hold parties or even attend any but he couldn’t help that pretty much all his friends were either frat boys like Chan or liked getting in trouble like Minho and Changbin. He sighed, rolling his thumbs above the keyboard before he started typing. 

[Seungmin] Sure, what day? Friday?

Just as the message got sent, the infamous sound of a message being sent hitting his ear did he regret his answer. He had a plan in mind but he wasn’t sure about it.

[Seungmin] Is y/n gonna come?

[Felix] idk but ask her

[Seungmin] alright, friday at 10, buy alcohol

[Felix] will do mr seungmo

He quickly exited the message conversation, finding your name in the flood of other meaningless messages and texting you, doubting you were awake this late. 

[Seungmin] hey, sorry if i disturb you but i just wanted to say that there's a party at mine on friday, wanna tag along?

His heart thumped when he saw the three dots, shocked at you being up.

[Y/n] omg im still up doing the last of my sociology hw, i heard the boys talk about a party but i wasn't really sure if i wanted to come but since you’re going i guess i’ll go too! :))

[Seungmin] great! i mean we’ll see each other on wednesday for law but see you at mine then. Oh and also, sleep well! 

[Y/n] Thank you minnie~ you too!

He read the message in your voice, it was almost as if he heard it like a sweet serenade in his ears, entrancing him to a slow dance where only you and him existed. He couldn’t believe it, you in his house, swaying your hips with a red cup in your hand, slightly tipsy and looking at him with sweet innocent eyes. What a time to just ruin you. Nobody else could see you like this, you needed to be protected he thought and he was going to make sure that you were safe. In his captive. 

The young boy threw his phone at his bed, exhaling in relief and taking out a loose piece of paper and a black ink pen, not to finally start on the assignments that collected dust but instead to draft out his plan. There could be no master without a plan. With a wicked smile he felt free, planning out and visualising the endless possibilities. How your body would shiver underneath him and how he could manipulate you into loving him even if you already did. But that wasn’t love in Seungmin’s twisted mind. 

Love is when someone is ready to kill and die for you. 

And he doubted that you could do that just yet. 

The next day went in a blur, it was pure boredom when he didn’t see you, instead trying to focus on the conversation Jeongin was having practically by himself as the two of them sat in the university cafeteria. 

“-and then he said “Jeongin, you have to redo this part” and I just looked at him all offended like “excuse me? Do you know how hard I worked on this assignment?” but does he give a shit? no, not a single flying fuck- seungmin? Kim seungmin? Are you even listening?” Jeongin rambled, shaking his friend's shoulder at the end of his sentence. 

Seungmin flinched back to reality, his late night planning taking him far more time than he anticipated and mainly because he dozed off by his desk, fantasizing about your body and your pretty face, wanting to do unspeakable things to it. 

“Uh,,, yeah! Just tired, coursework took forever” he responded, Jeongin humming back before continuing his sentence. 

“why is he being so rude like damn? I did everything that was required and yet he has the nerve to say that to me,,, i swear he hates me” he said, taking a sip of his iced coffee, the ice cubes melting at a slow pace, the youngest cold hands now resting on the table. 

“yeah,, probably, jeongin,,, h-has y/n ever talked about me?” he asked timidly, fiddling with his fingers under the table.

“talked about you? not more than like,,, maybe mention that you help her with homework occasionally” the youngest answered “why? do you like y/n?~” he added with a teasing voice, heightening his eyebrows and grinning. 

“n-no! just,,, wondering, she’s coming to the party by the way” Seungmin said in a low voice, casting a glance at his fingertips before meeting Jeongin’s eyes that were smiling in a half-moon shape. 

“sounds great, wait if I tell you something, could you keep it a secret?” Jeongin said, taking another sip from the black straw that was filled with bitter coffee. Seungmin nodded diligently, he trusts his best friend. Of course he could keep a secret. 

“I think I like y/n” Jeongin said with a bright smile, giggling after his sentence and at Seungmin’s at first surprised expression that turned into a bitter smile. How could he have that grin painted on his face at this time? How dared Jeongin do this to Seungmin? No aggression now Seungmin thought to himself, simply smiling and clenching his jaw. 

“how do you know that?” he asked to which the youngest hummed.

“I don’t know,,, just feelings that blossomed over time” he said, clearing his throat before speaking again, “but promise you won’t tell y/n”

Seungmin snarked after his sentence, the other male tilting his head in confusion.

“Of course Jeongin! you can trust me, hm? my mouth is shut” Seungmin said, smiling but inside his blood was boiling. How could his previously best friend be a threat to you? He needed to protect you, you were under danger of belonging to someone else and Seungmin doesn’t play games with others. Jeongin thanked him, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder before standing up and grabbing his coffee.

“I got a workshop thingy soon so,,, need to go,,, thank you Seungmin, I mean it.” he said, carrying his backpack on one shoulder, holding onto the shoulder strap with one hand, the cold beverage in the other. Seungmin waved his hand in a small gesture.

“don’t mention it innie, we’re friends,,, that’s what friends do”

That’s what friends do.

Betray you. 

I hate you, Yang Jeongin. Why do you have to take everything away from me? Just because you’re wealthier, cause you have everything served on a silver platter? You can get whichever girl you want and yet you chose the one that belongs to me. Do you have a deathwish because between you and death stands one decision; whether y/n will date you or not. 

It didn’t feel right to Seungmin to write those things about his best friend but he had no other choice. He started down at what he’d just written in the small composition notebook, the blue ink standing out against the black lines of the paper. You were the only thing that mattered in his life right now, nothing or no one was as important as you. Only you.

A soft knock was heard on the door before the door knob turned.

“how’s studying sweetheart?” Seungmin’s mom said, standing in the doorway speaking softly. Seungmin slammed the notebook closed, smiling at his mom. 

“Just fine, nothing to worry about” he said before he added “oh and also,,, is it fine if me and my friends have a party here on friday night?” He waited patiently for an answer as his mom thought about it for a while, looking up whilst thinking. 

“I don’t see why not, me and dad can drive to grandma’s” she said, proudly laying her eyes on her one and only son. “But the place needs to be clean when we come back, alright?”

Seungmin nodded, triumphing over that his plan is gonna go according to plan when friday finally rolls around. 

“Thank you mom, I’m gonna continue studying for a bit but I’ll be down for dinner soon” he says, his mother smiling a smile strikingly similar to his.

“Alright, I love you Seungmin” she said before closing the door, quiet footsteps getting further and further away. Just as he was about to grab his textbook for another class his phone lit up, your name being on the screen,

[y/n] minnie, have you done the work for tomorrow?

Oh shit. The homework.

[Seungmin] damn i haven't even started, wanna do it together? 

[y/n] sure!!

You had a secret as well. Many times when you messaged Seungmin it wasn’t because you were struggling with coursework, that was just an excuse to talk to him. You were cuddled down in bed, the rain pouring from the sky and pattering against the concrete and your window, your computer in your lap along with your cat that was rolled up by the end of the bed, purring quietly. On the computer was an essay you had to write for another class but as soon as Seungmin answered your text you pulled up your law homework even though you had already finished it. You wondered many things about this boy. How it would feel to be underneath him, how he’d kiss you as if you were the last person he would ever share a heated romance with. You wanted all these things but Seungmin didn’t seem like the type that would provide that, sure you didn’t mind the very cute and obvious gestures either like a small peck or holding hands but it all seemed predictable, you were greedy for more, especially with him. 

[y/n] I don’t really understand question 5?

Seungmin quickly scrolled to the problem, reading it and scratching the back of his head in wonder, this was a rare case where he didn’t know the answer, not really knowing what to answer back. 

[Seungmin] you know what? I was about to ask you about that one,,, guess we’ll have to ask the professor tomorrow

[y/n] yeah guess so,,, what do your parents say about having a party at theirs?

[Seungmin] they chill, i want to ask you something y/n

[y/n] sure, what is it?

[Seungmin] has jeongin talked to you?

[y/n] jeongin? no not really besides telling me about the party,,, why do you ask?

[Seungmin] nothing really, just wondered if he’d told you about the party but yeah,,, 

Something was off, why would he mention Jeongin now? You and him weren’t even that close, you knew him through your other friends like Felix and Chan. A loud yawn came from between your lips, your eyelids getting heavier for each minute, the bright light of your phone making you even sleepier. Before you decided to call it a night you wrote back to the boy.

[y/n] i’m getting tired,,, sleep well minnie!! cya tmr

You put your phone on your nightstand, closing the computer and putting it on the floor carefully, making sure to not squirm around in order to not wake up the sleeping kitty. The bed was warm, the rain creating an unbeatable ambiance as you pulled the covers over your ear, closing your eyes and basking in the rather lewd thoughts that came into your mind, making up vivid imaginations behind the darkness of your closed lids. It was almost like you could feel Seungmin’s soft hands on your body, exploring every inch of your supple skin and pushing the thin fabric of your clothes out of the way to grope you, the slight temperature difference between his hands and your body making you shiver. His hands wrapped around your torso, squeezing your boobs as he breathed gently against your neck, tickling against the shell of your ear. His body was pressed up to yours, his bulge poking your ass and making your cheeks flame up in a heat, not sure if it’s embarrassment or arousal making your heart beat faster. This was what you dreamed of.

Every single night.

A familiar melody hit your ears, the said melody being your alarm. You jolt awake, pushing the covers aside and seeing the empty spot where your cat once lied during the night. You smack your hand across the screen of your phone, furrowing your eyebrows as the bright light hits you but your frown turns into an expression of content once you realize that it’s wednesday. Time for law, a course you didn’t hate, especially not with Seungmin being your only friend in that class. You got up, your legs wobbling as you walked to the bathroom to do your business and get washed up, changing into an outfit you felt confident in before you entered the kitchen. There wasn’t much in the fridge, your parents' house causing you to grab a banana and eat it whilst standing up, scrolling mindlessly on your phone and liking random pictures, leaning against the counter. You felt something graze your leg, your fluffy friend making its presence known by meowing softly by your feet, rubbing it’s head against you. You threw away the banana peel in the trash before bending down and scratching the critter behind the ear, its soft fur feeling fuzzy against your warm hand. 

“Be a good one, alright?” you said in a high-pitched voice, the kitty rubbing it’s head on your hand as you smiled mellowly. You were never gonna leave me right?

You practically flew out through the door when you realized that you had cuddled the cat for too long, running late for class as you plugged in your headphones, thinking about the shortest distance to the bus and making it just in time. There was no time to catch you breath until you were tapped on the shoulder, a well-known scent making it’s way to your olfactory nerves. 

“shit you scared Seungmin” you said with a smile, fanning yourself with your hand whilst holding the pole close to the door as the bus swerved it’s way through the way. 

“you seem stressed” he said with that good boy smile, you called it that since he looked like a pure son-in-law dream for every mom. His clothes prep and prim, every strand of hair in its place and his face like a labrador retriever. You shake your head, your eyes glued to his soft, light pink lips that seemed plump enough to kiss.

“just running a bit late but since you’re here i guess i'm just in time” you said, wondering what Seungmin was doing on this specific bus since he didn’t live around this area. 

“how was yesterday? w-with the homework i mean” he asked, the sound of the bus engine and other peoples chatter creating background noise to the conversation. You felt your ears get hotter when reminded of the night prior, memories of the feeling of his hands dancing on your skin and how his breath felt so close to you, not only the thoughts but the way your body reacted, your wet folds sticking to the fabric of your panties just from the imaginations. You cleared your throat before speaking in a breathy manner.

“it was alright, I think I managed to solve that question, I can show you before the lecture starts” you said, getting awfully close to him as the bus stopped abruptly at a red light. His eyes were dripping with honey, so sweet they were, those dark brown orbs that looked back at you. You thought you saw his delicate cheeks turn into a light pink as you got close, you smelling his musky yet dulcet scent, almost pulling you into a trance. With uneven steps you stepped back, the bus starting to roll again.  

“sure, sounds great,,, I still couldn’t figure it out” he said, holding onto the same pole as you, hand mere inches away from yours, the heat from his body radiating onto yours. 

“hm? has our minnie become dumb? I feel like you are thinking about something else a lot, I can sense it” you giggled, earning a little snark from the boy. He sure had been thinking about something else, more like someone else. 

“dumb? it was a difficult question!” he said, poking you on the side of your rib cage causing you to flinch and giggle, looking back in order to make sure that you hadn’t just backed into another passenger. 

“I’ll give you that” you said, humming before stating a question you were dying to ask, “why did you ask me about innie yesterday?” 

Seungmin chuckled, the corners of his lips turned into a grin but his eyes filled with panic, hand getting clammy against the cold metal. “Nothing really” he answered shortly. You started laughing. 

“you like Jeongin, don’t you!! Awh that’s so cute” you said with a pout, wanting so badly to poke his cheek although you were clearly trying to hide your disappointment. Sure, they could date but you liked Seungmin too much to let him go. The young boy furrowed his eyebrows in doubt, not understanding what you meant by that. 

“w-what? no!! why would I like Jeongin, we’re like brothers. Just because i’ve liked guys in the past doesn’t mean I’ll date Jeongin?!” he said, you giggling at how flustered he was. 

“alright alright, I’ll believe you but what has been taking up so much space in that head of yours?” you said in a flirty manner, smirking mischievously as you tried to balance yourself from not falling over in the bus. Seungmin gulped. Should he risk it all, inside this rather grimy and early morning bus. No, never. Not now. 

“uhh,,, just school,,, stressful you know” he said, chuckling as you pressed the stop button, waiting for the bus to roll up to the bus stop. You hummed, stepping off the bus with Seungmin following you closely.

“understandable but,,,” seungmin looked at you as you stopped in your sentence suddenly, “it doesn’t seem like the type of school-related issue” you said, cocking your eyebrows at him. 

“well what does it seem like then?” he asked back in a snarky manner, rolling his eyes at you jokingly.

“i still think you like innie~" you responded teasingly, a cold puff of wind blowing in your hair, your warm cheeks turning colder in the spring weather. 

“heeeey!! I really don’t like him!! stop trying to make us a couple” he said, pushing you playfully to which you laughed, mocking the way he pushed you. 

“i’m gonna tell him~" you said, “i’m gonna get you two to fuck this friday” you laughed, walking beside him to the lecture hall. 

But I want to fuck you.

That was the thought the both of you shared, secretly, inside your own heads as he didn’t answer, the rest of the walk to the lecture being filled with silence, the only other sounds being the birds chirping in the morning and the sound of car engines as they drove past the sidewalk. 

The lecture felt like hell. It was both long and boring but sitting next to Seungmin made it better, you occasionally stealing glances at his plush lips and the way his adams apple bobbed up and down as he harshly swallowed his saliva. He did the same since every gesture of yours caught his attention. The way you pushed the hair out of your face and tucked it behind your ear, a waft of your scent lingering around the air near him. The tension was unbearable many times, him having to press his thighs together in order to hide the raging boner he was sporting under the desk, trying to focus while his pants were getting tighter around his aching cock. This was what you did to him and that’s why you were his. Cause nobody else did this to him. It must mean that you were meant to him and no one else.

Mine. 

Just as you thought the days couldn’t get slower friday was finally here. Most other students were just happy to get the weekend off but you were ready to party or more like getting close to the boy you crushed on but never doing anything. You sighed as you stood in front of the fridge, the light shining on you as you stared mindlessly into it, trying to find something decent to eat and settling for salsa and chips that you reached from the cabinet above the fridge. Your stomach was growling for more but you needed to remember that drinking later tonight would cause some issues so you refrained, sitting down at the dinner table, opening your phone after seeing a text from Felix. You stretched your legs out on the chairs under the table since you were tired from a day of walking around campus, finishing your last lecture late on fridays. 

[Felix] chan is driving me and minho, we can pick you up

[y/n] awesome, come at like 9:45

You put your phone away with a sigh, wondering what you were gonna wear as you dipped the bleak yellow chip into the red hot salsa before crunching on it. Everything just seemed so unfair, you couldn’t fully trust that Seungmin didn’t like Jeongin, it seemed like it because everything pointed towards it. The way they were too friendly with their not-so-subtle shoulder pats and eye contact, you were convinced that their message conversations were filled with all kinds of love declarations. A long sigh made its way between your lips, your shoulders slumping in defeat as a bit of red salsa stained the corner of your mouth, jaw moving side to side as you chewed. 

It’s not that you needed him. You wanted him. But as your parents always told you growing up; you can’t always get what you want. It wasn’t pleasant but it was reality and you had to be happy because you were. You were happy that Seungmin found someone he loved, no matter who it was. 

Until the boys arrived in Chan’s pretty much broken down car you stared at your homework, sighing loudly with each new question that you needed to answer. Seungmin was right, school was stressful and maybe you were paranoid, looking way too closely at Seungmin’s actions. But the only reason as to why you did that was in order to keep him to yourself but of course you couldn’t since you didn’t own him. It hurt, more than you expected it. You didn’t know that you cared for him this much. 

The next couple of hours were filled question after question, flipping through textbooks and stressfully drinking tea in order to calm down from the havoc that was university. You were just about to pull up the latest notes you had taken from another course when you heard your phone ring, you flinched and shot your eyes towards the tiny digits that were displayed in the corner of your computer screen.

[9:38]

Fuck. You had forgotten to check the time.

You threw yourself over the vibrating phone, seeing Felix’s name in white letters on the screen. In a quick motion you press the green button.

“uh hi lix!! ya’ll already here?” you said, your voice shaking as you opened your dresser and stripped yourself of your bottoms.

“soon like,,, 5 min away” he said, voice belonging to Minho mumbling in the background along with the car radio. 

“sure, great!! be out then!” you said before hanging up, not giving the boy on the other side of the line answer. Hands grabbed fistfuls of clothes, throwing them around and searching desperately for something that looked decent. Thankfully you had your makeup on still from when you were in school, only a couple of touch-ups needed in order to look flawless. Your fluffy cat meow at you, thinking it’s owner had completely lost it before lying down in the piles of clothes that formed on the bedroom floor. Swiftly you shimmied into the snazzy party clothes that were still casual but had rather fancy details like chains and pastel colors. Before you excited the door of the house you fixed your mascara, making a rather questionable facial expression as you put the clumpy material on your fluttering eyelashes, yelling a goodbye to your parents were lounging in the living room, putting your phone in the pocket as you closed the door and were hit with the frigid wind, seeing Chan’s car parked just by the sidewalk. You waved at him and he waved back with smile, running to the other side and getting in the backseat together with Minho.

“took you forever” he said, his expression displeased in contrast to Felix that turned around and striked a bright smile, Chan only glancing at you from the rearview mirror once before driving. 

“sorry,,, homework” you said as you put on your seatbelt, fixing the skirt that was slightly wrinkled but good enough to wear, “i want to get good grades, not like someone else” you said glaring at Minho that scoffed at your remark.

“as if that counts to anything in life, what really matters is the game. it’s knowing where to talk and knowing what to say” he said firmly, Chan furrowing his eyebrows as he concentrated on the road ahead of him. 

“alright then,,, didn’t know that talking was such an artform” he answered, Minho rolling his eyes at the eldest whilst you and Felix chuckled, knowing that he was clearly the one that talked to most shit in your friend group. 

“i have a kinda weird question” you started, Minho cocking his eyebrow at you, “do you think Seungmin likes Jeongin?”

There was a moment of silence when the words first left your lips until Felix burst into laughter, followed by the guy sitting next to you. They were almost crying with laughter, Chan squeezing his lips together but he still couldn’t hide the cheeky dimples that formed.

“s-seungmin and jeongin?” Chan laughed, “I really don’t think so,,,” he said, drawing in air between his teeth quickly.

“they are like polar opposites,,, are you blind” Minho said, you hitting him playfully on the shoulder.

“opposites can attract!” you argued back, only earning more laughter from the three boys. You sighed, your back hitting the seat, seatbelt slightly cutting into your shoulder. Maybe it wasn’t impossible to have Seungmin all by yourself but since it was a small party it wouldn’t go, there was nothing you could do.

The car came to a halt after a while, not expecting what you saw. The front lawn was already covered in beer cans, people chatting and smoking on the stone steps that lead to the newly renovated house. Music was blaring as you opened the car door, scrunching your forehead. This was not what you expected. You walked right after Chan, the boy pushing through the crowd of people that were all for some reason accumulated in the hallway, greeting their friends. Seungmin was already sprawled out on the couch, drinking some unknown substance from a red solo cup. The addictive techno beat was almost making your head pound and just as you wanted to turn around you noticed that both Felix and Minho were already talking to some other friends, grabbing a bottle of beer each. Seungmin’s eyes lit up when he saw you, he looked too innocent to be in such a setting, countless horny college students currently in his house.

Let alone did you know that he was one of them.

Chan greeted Seungmin and you hugged him as he had bolted up when he saw you. You lazily wrapped your hands around him, your tits pressing up against his chest causing the boy to swallow his spit harshly, trying to clear the lump in his throat from nervousness. He wasn’t sure if he was nervous from the fact that his plan might work or that it maybe fails entirely. 

“I’m gonna grab drinks! you stay here y/n” he said, scurrying off into the kitchen to where you couldn’t see him. Chan just shrugged until he was hit on the shoulder by one of the frat members, the boy leaving you alone in a crowd of dancing people, the lights turned down low. Seungmin came back minutes later, holding two cups, one to him and one to you.

“here” he said with an unreadable smirk, barely hearing him over the music.You thanked him, taking a sip and smiling back at him, the liquor tasting funny but you not thinking anything about it, simply focused on the breathless boy in front of you, getting closer at people pushed each other on the small floor. Seungmin looked over your shoulder and immediately his facial expression changed, his lip pouting and eyebrows heightening. You turned around, your hair nearly hitting his face and you saw Jeongin looking rather lost, his eyes darting all over the house despite him being here countless times. Waving enthusiastically at the youngest, you gestured for him to join you, something that didn’t seem well-received by Seungmin.

“Innie!! you came!” you said, hugging the boy. Jeongin looked puzzled at Seungmin’s angered expression as he momentarily wrapped his arms around your figure. 

“yeah!” he said, pulling away, “where’s drinks?” he asked to which you pointed towards the kitchen with your chin that was barely visible with the amount of people in the room. 

“there” you said before taking another sip from the alcohol, not expecting to feel so queasy already. Maybe the room didn’t have enough oxygen you thought as you started breathing deeply, Seungmin simply observing your behaviour. Your eyelids started getting heavier and you stumbled as you leaned against the wall, Jeongin coming back with a bottle of beer and scrunching his nose as the bitter flavour hit his taste buds, swallowing and poking his tongue out causing Seungmin to chuckle.

“yo y/n you good?” Jeongin asks, tilting his head in both confusion and concern whilst Seungmin remains calm. 

Perfect. Everything was going accordingly.

You nodded slowly, asking Seungmin where the bathroom was to which he answered “upstairs, second door to the left”. Nodding once again you pushed through the crowd, barely stable on your legs and staggering up the stairs, put your cup somewhere on a shelf and holding onto the rail. It was about when you got to the top of the stairs when your vision started blurring, rubbing your eyes and accidentally messing up your makeup as you looked around the hallway, seeing a lamp lit up and being drawn in like a mosquito, maybe the light could lead you. 

A lazy smile was painted on your face when you realized that you had entered Seungmin’s bedroom, a small teddy bear resting on the neatly made bed, all belongings being in their place. Not only did Seungmin look clean but the cleanliness of his room spoke volumes, wondering why he left his desk lamp on. Almost stumbling as you leaned over the desk to turn the lamp off, you noticed a small notebook, a title that was as aptly as the room. 

[Seungmin Thoughts] 

A small hum ringed through your throat. What kind of thoughts? Thoughts about Jeongin? Curiosity killed the cat and if you didn’t open the notebook it would kill you too. Unknowingly your hands shaked as you flicked through the composition book, your back against the door that was standing ajar, the music blaring all the way up here. Nothing seemed of interest, a couple of lecture notes and doodles but when you got to the middle of the book did you find something that made your mouth stand agape, furrowing your eyebrows in scepticism. Was this what you thought it was?

Sweet like honeysuckle in the late hours of dusk, that is my y/n. I call her mine because that’s what she’s gonna be one day. In my arms, committed to me and only me... she just doesn’t know that yet but one day, when the time is right and when the universe gives me a sign she will be right beside me. Love of my life, y/n.

You smiled a listless smile, not sure how long until your body completely gave up which scared you, pushing your hair behind your ears as you swallowed your saliva, goosebumps erupting on your soft skin that was cold to the touch. Your eyelashes fluttered over your eyes as your face could barely react to the next passage that you read on the page, the corners of the paper curled up and scribbled on. 

I hate you, Yang Jeongin. Why do you have to take everything away from me? Just because you’re wealthier, cause you have everything served on a silver platter? You can get whichever girl you want and yet you chose the one that belongs to me. Do you have a deathwish because between you and death stands one decision; whether y/n will date you or not.

Your heart dropped into the pit of your stomach. Seungmin did like you, a lot. 

Suddenly you felt two hands grab you from behind, pushing you against their chest. One of the hands covered your mouth as the other one wrapped around your throat, choking you just enough to make you even more lightheaded then you already were. The figure went back into the door, closing with a loud sound that wouldn’t be heard by anyone. Neither would your screams since the music was too loud, everyone stuck in their own worlds, dancing and drinking downstairs. You flailed your arms, trying to grab onto their wrists and wriggle yourself out of their grip but your struggle was fruitless, the figure wrapping the hand that was previously around your throat around your body, holding your arms firmly to your body. 

“looks like I found myself a little busybody” a familiar voice spoke behind you. You turned your head and felt shivers running down your spine as you saw Seungmin’s face but not the happy, puppy-like boy that wandered around campus. This was a different Seungmin, “if you stop screaming i’ll let you go, alright?” His voice was deeper than usual, a tinge of lifelessness laced through it. You nodded slowly and he let go of you, hurrying to the bedroom door and locking it with a click, you standing awkwardly in the middle of the room before asking him the dreaded question.

“Seungmin, do you like me?” 

Your voice ringed in his ears as he turned back to you, his dark eyes now even murkier with lust. He hummed as he stepped closer to you, you stepping backwards until your legs hit the edge of his bed, falling back on the plush material and pressing your back against the cold painted wall. He got closer and closer until he towered above you, standing in front of your cowered figure. 

“I love you y/n,,, problem is that there are others that love you too.” he spoke, your scared and shaking pupils meeting his, head tilted up. 

“o-others? that diary entry,,, d-does Jeongin like me?” you stammered, your gaze fixed on his. The boy scoffed. 

“he does but so do I”

You couldn’t believe the words that were falling out of his mouth. He liked you too? So all this paranoia for nothing? Your eyes softened, you felt as if you could trust Seungmin, run into his arms and feel safe.

But he didn’t seem to change.

Quite the contrary, his features were stoic, his dark orbs piercing through your eyes. Before you knew it his hands wandered to the buckle of his belt, undoing it and not reacting to the metal parts clicking against each other, echoing through the rather small room. You gulped, freezing in your awkward position against the wall, your legs tucked under you, knees bent as you looked up at the mysterious boy. The black leather belt was in his soft hands, almost glistening in the dimmed room, his eyes wandering from left to right on the belt before landing on you. Your impatience grew, if he was going to kiss you he should do it before you passed out, your vision blurring and creating a bokeh effect, certain light specks being the focal point of your sight, his face distorting. 

“are you sure you love me y/n?” he asked in a low voice, the music outside surprisingly not disturbing the conversation. 

“i love y-you minnie” you said, blinking slowly as if you were going to fall asleep at any moment. He shook his head in disagreement. 

“if you really love me, will you trust me then? will you let me protect you at every cost, until there’s no one to disturb our relationship?” he whispered to you faintly, moving onto the bed to which you felt the weight of the bed shift, him sitting on the bed with his knees bent just like you, belt still in hand. You nodded, barely understanding half of what he has said and he smiled at your low understanding, thinking that it was now or never despite you being ready to sacrifice everything for him. 

He didn’t believe you.

Not before you had submitted to him. 

Seungmin pushed a stray strand of hair behind your ear, gently cupping your cheek with one hand as he held the belt with the other one, attaching his plump pink lips on yours. You didn’t waste any time kissing him back, your eyes widening in shock before closing in the warmth that came from the surface of his tongue meeting yours in a wet kiss. He momentarily broke the kiss as you were gently pushed back on his bed, breathing heavily as your heart pounded, nervous as to what was going to happen and feeling your wet folds sticking to the fabric of your panties underneath your skirt that was riding up. Quick after that your back hit the bed did he tongue kiss you again, holding himself up by his hands on either side of you on the soft material beneath the two of you, moving one hand to touch your inner thigh, pushing your skirt up and feeling at the wet patch that had formed on your thin panties. You put your hands around his neck, carding through his hair occasionally as you turned your head, noses bumping against each other in the midst of the kiss, wet sounds bouncing off the walls. He hummed as his fingers danced on your clothed clit, it was as if he could feel you throbbing for him and you certainly were, bucking your hips upwards and craving more of his touch. 

“do you really trust me?” he said to which you nodded again.

“y-yes seungmin! i do! p-please just,,, fuck me” you said with desperation laced in your voice, the young boy scoffing as he lifted your arms, putting the belt aside as he pulled your shirt over your head, your hair ruffling in the process. The fabric landed on the floor somewhere, you being exposed in your bra and panties, skirt bunching up around your waist. You felt like a pray, Seungmin your predator and you couldn’t deny that this was exactly what you wanted. 

To feel weak and helpless underneath him.

With your hands up he grabbed both your wrists with one hand before grabbing the belt and putting it around them, tying them up to the headboard tightly, wanting to see how you try and get out of them whenever he’s being too rough. You gently tug on them, a sensation of pain surging through you but not minding it since your head was drifting in and out of a state of nausea. Something inside him switched, the meter of possession going on overdrive as you were beneath him, completely at his grace and unable to do anything else but to whimper. He needed you and he needed you now.

The boy quickly stripped himself free from his pants, throwing them aside along with his shirt and his boxers, leaving naked in front of your very own eyes. You gasped as you saw his member, rock hard in his hand, a sweet bead of precum decorating the tip.

“s-seungmin a-are you sure we sh-“ you started but were quickly interrupted by him.

“shut up or do I have to do that to you?” he said in a tone unlike his usual one, the chirpy almost sing-song voice completely thrown out the window. You shook your head fast, the two pairs of eyes meeting in an erotic exchange. He was sat on his knees beside your body, his dick being close to the clothes wetness beneath your panties, his fist wrapped around it as he stroked himself whilst his eyes were wandering all over your body, gazing and taking in this very moment. Unknowingly you rubbed your thighs together, earning a grin from the boy that once again put his hand around your throat, choking you harder than before as he continued laughing in a cold way.

“desperate?” he asked with one word but it held so much power, you couldn’t help but nod, not being able to answer with words. His other hand descended downwards as he read your expression at all times, you flinching slightly when his fingers danced up your clothed cunt, coming in contact with the throbbing clit. The same fingers hooked on the elastic band of your panties, pulling them down below your kneecaps, making it easier for you to shimmy out of them with your legs, the fabric hanging from your right foot. A harsh slap echoed through the room along with a burning sensation on your thigh, you mewling out in pain but the sound signaling titillation. 

“spread them” he said to which you complied, the boy being moving down between your legs as yours were slightly bent and lifted, one touching the same wall you were just moments prior having your back against. Your chest heaved up and down as you breathed with strained breaths, Seungmin’s fingers grazing your wet folds and ridiculing for being so turned on, putting his slick-covered fingers in your mouth, you latching on directly and swirling your tongue around his fingertips while looking at him with glossy, innocent eyes. That was what drove him crazy; that you managed to have a pure flicker in your orbs whilst doing such sinful things. 

Saliva dribbled from the corner of your mouth as the hand around your throat was now fondling your breasts that were still in the bra until he popped your tits over the edge of the fabric, the erect buds looking so inviting, enticing him to suck and nibble on them which he did, his plump soft lips being wrapped around one nipple, his mouth alternating between sucking and licking a stripe up with his tongue, flicking it with the tip of his wet hot tongue. He pulled out his fingers from your mouth, being desperate to get fucked as he squeezed your cheeks causing your lips to form into a pout, almost closing your legs as his other hand plunged into your wet hole and making him pull off from your boobs and gazing at you with dominance, leaving you with no other choice but to open your legs once again, thighs quivering as his two fingers moved rhythmically up inside you, starting of slow but the pace increasing at the same time as they stretched you out, gliding in and out of you with a speed that made your toes curl, the moans getting stuck in your esophagus as you choked up, pulling at the restraints once again but seeing no point, you were stuck. 

You felt the familiar knot in your stomach starting to form as he grazed your g-spot, squirming on the bed and messing up the previously neat covers, the music changing ever so often downstairs. Your hands gripped the headboard, trying to keep yourself awake to feel the pleasure that surged through your body, this was a moment you didn’t want to miss. He slapped your thigh once more, you seperating your legs even further as your moans turned to mumbled sentences, random words falling from between your lips, begging him to fuck you already and to not stop, you were so close to your climax it was almost reachable with your hands that couldn’t move. As the first scream of his name mixed with the high bass music did he know that he needed to pull out his fingers which he did, leaving you completely destroyed, heartbroken as the pleasurable feeling withered away like an old rose. 

“you thought you were going to cum that quick?” he said in a mocking tone, you shaking your head since you knew the power he held above you right now. He smiled sweetly as he grabbed the back of your thighs, pushing your legs against you whilst still parted and moving one hand up and down his shaft, the delicate veins that ran up it twitching slightly, he had waited for his moment since he met you and now it was finally here, making his inner sexual instincts impossible to control. He rubbed the tip of his cock against your wet folds before aligning it with your entrance, pushing it in gently causing you to gasp, the initial stretch stinging before he bottomed out inside you, holding your legs up as you moaned, needing more and wriggling against his cock but to no avail. 

“s-seungmin p-please!!” you begged, looking at the boy through half-open eyelids, his ears and neck tinged with a pretty crimson. It was clear that he himself could barely keep himself from fucking you into the mattress, his jaw clenching in frustration. He simply shook his head, leaning forward and groping your tits with both hands as he started thrusting into you faster and faster, the sound of skin slapping against each other together with the squelching sound from your sopping cunt only driving Seungmin crazy, thrusting into you harder, making your tits bounce and your entire body moving upwards on the soft fabric beneath you. The feeling was indescribable, it was a feeling of being cared for and neglected at the same time as he whispered all kinds of naughty things in your ear, his hot breath grazing the shell of your ear.

“you like this don’t you? anyone could be watching or listening outside, hearing how much of a whore you are for me, hm?” he whispered, a shiver dancing up your spine as you glanced at the white bedroom door but being met with Seungmin’s big hand grabbing you by the chin, diverting you focus back to him as his eyes were black with pure vengeance. Not to you but to everyone who had ever liked you or touched you. His lips attached to your neck, face nuzzling in the crock of your neck as the space was limited from your hands being right above your head, fiddling with the belt. You tilted your head to the other side to the best of your abilities, granting the male better access as he sucked small purple marks on your neck and along your jaw, in the most noticeable areas that would be impossible to cover when morning rolls around. But that’s what Seungmin wanted. That everyone knew that you belonged to him and only him, especially Jeongin. 

The hard thrusts made your skin crawl, your cheeks hot to the touch as the boy left a wet trail of kisses and colorful marks, claiming you bit by bit as he sucked, his hips pistoning against yours, the same feeling bubbling up deep inside your core. In broken syllables you begged, desperate for him.

“p-please,,, don’t stop,, w-want to cum~" you whined to the boy that casted a glance at you before putting one hand over your mouth, your mumbles still being heard through his efforts. 

“cum then you little slut, cum around my cock.” His words ringed in your ears, your eyes rolling back into your skull as the feeling took over, scrunching your nose as you saw tiny specks of light flash under your eyelids, a high pitched sound forcing it’s way out of you as your entire body shook, cunt clenching around his hard cock that was ready to paint you with white pretty ribbons at any moment. You hair was a mess by the time Seungmin had fucked the soul out of you, panting as he removed his hand from your mouth and instead grabbing you by the hips, pounding into you as the overstimulation almost hurt, your swollen clit abused. With a couple of final hard thrusts he pulled out, moving his hand up and down his shaft with the right pressure, hot cum shooting out on your stomach, catching you off guard. Seungmin groaned, heavy breathing accompanied with his head rolling backwards, strained sounds erupting from the boy. There was a moment of silence as the music downstairs stopped, the song changing. The two of you just gazed at each other, your eyelids getting heavier by the moment, his corners of his mouth turning upwards into his usual puppy-like smile, reaching over to untie your hands from the headboard and furrowing his eyebrows when he sees the marks that are left.

“it’s fine Seungmin,,, i’m fine” you say but he proceeds to bring your wrists up to his lips, kissing the delicate and tender skin. Your heart was about to calm down it’s rapid beats but the romantic gesture made it thump even harder, the cum on your stomach drying like acrylic on a canvas. He let go of your hands gently, pulling up the covers and covering your body, crawling inside them himself as he faced you, your gaze glued to the white ceiling above. 

“will you only belong to me y/n?” he asked, his eyes twinkling in the light that reflected from the desk lamp.

“y-yes but,,, you can’t be mean towards Jeongin,,, what if he finds out about this a-and get-” you started worrying but Seungmin hushed you. 

“he will find out but that’s the best part,,, that you belong to me and only me y/n” he said, clearing his throat before continuing “i love you and if you really love me back you will do as i say”

You nodded, there was truth in his words you thought. Turning around you faced the young boy that smiled at you, his hair poofy from the vigorous activities that took place in the very same bed you lied upon. You smiled back, snuggling closer to his frame and feeling the warmth radiate from his skin, his breath stable, his heart beating. He gave you a final peck on the forehead, reminding you that he loved you.

No.

He adored you.

And no one else could ever come close.