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thorntonkrell-blog-blog · 11 months ago

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My first car had a push button transmission. I couldn't believe how easy it was to switch gears without the gearshift nor the clutch. For most of my friends and relatives the push button transmission represented a futuristic departure which made it easier for drivers to select their desired direction without the complexities and co-ordination required with manual shifting. Aside from shooting myself in the foot or getting my foot stuck in my mouth, my eye hand foot co-ordination is very poor but I'm good at pushing buttons. I haven't seen a push button transmission in a long time. In communicative human transmissions there is still a whole lot of push buttoning going on; not only with smartphones, touchscreens, remote controls, checkout machines, and kiosks. The metaphorical idea of pushing buttons extends beyond the literal into the realm of the personal. Push buttoning in the transactional sense implies provoking specific responses from others based on the understanding and manipulation of emotional triggers.

Push buttoning is a double edged sword that can be a source of motivation, a nudge of seduction, a voice of inspiration or a key to devastation. Understanding and respecting boundaries is crucial to any relationship. Deliberately pushing someon'es buttons without regard for their feelings or well being is a sign of disrespect and reveals a deficiency in the pushers self awareness, empathy and interpersonal skills or as Steppenwolf once sang "God damn the pusherman".

Push buttoning is almost always present in marriages. Husbands and wives grow to understand or misunderstand, to use or misuse each other's triggers, preferences and sensitivities. When push buttoning is used inappropriately it predictably leads to a broken record. A broken record is a cycle of unproductive/repetitive interactions which lead to the same issues resurfacing without resolution. After the familiar pain of a broken record, we need some space to heal and meditate.

If we are determined enough during this recovery period, we emerge with a fresh perspective, a new hope and a desire to move forward. This is called resilience.

We bounce back while shedding the skin of the last push buttoned ignition of the latest version of the broken record.

Yet even reslience has a dark side. Victims of abuse are quick to get up after being knocked down and are eager to stay in the game/relationship. Knock me down once and I'll get right back up. Knock me down twice and I'll get back up but this time a little more slowly. Knock me down a third time and if I get up, I hope there's a ref in the ring to declare this fight a knockout and help me back to the dressing room.

Yet even reslience has a dark side. Victims of abuse are quick to get up after being knocked down and are eager to stay in the game/relationship. Knock me down once and I'll get right back up. Knock me down twice and I'll get back up but this time a little more slowly. Lnock me down a third time and if I get up, I hope there's a ref in the ring to declare this fight a knockout and help me back to the dressing room. If the ref ain't in the ring and the crowd has gone home the beatigs will continue, as they say, until the morale improves.

More buttons are added to the push buttons while more grooves are added to the broken record.

Most succesfully married couples have learned the appropriate level of resilience to exercise against the latest push buttoning and can thus side step the broken record and its escalating complexity, entrenched patterns and cumulative impact. Even on those occasions when the broken record is playing at full volume at maximum groove, successful couples can learn to tone it down or turn it off. This measured resilience is one of the primary rewards achievable only through authentic comittment. In the end, we're talking about true love that help couples weather storms and emerge stronger together than separately. And that love has to be earned and protected every day.

There's nothing automatic about it.

ChatGPT Push-button transmissions were a unique feature found in some cars, especially during the mid-20th century. Instead of a traditional gear stick or lever to change gears, these cars had buttons usually located on the dashboard or sometimes on a console near the driver. Each button corresponded to a specific gear (e.g., "Drive," "Neutral," "Reverse").

The idea behind the push-button transmission was to offer a more futuristic and streamlined control system. However, they were not without their criticisms and issues. Some drivers found them less intuitive than traditional gear shifts, and there were also concerns about reliability and safety.

Over time, the push-button transmission design became less common as automakers and consumers gravitated towards other transmission systems, such as automatic or manual transmissions with traditional gear shifts. Still, these push-button transmissions remain a fascinating part of automotive history and design.

User I couldn't believe how easy it was to switch gears without the gearshift nor the clutch ChatGPT Absolutely! The push-button transmission represented a departure from the traditional methods of shifting gears. By eliminating the need for a gearshift lever and clutch pedal, it simplified the process of changing gears, making it more convenient and straightforward for drivers.

For many people accustomed to manual transmissions or even early automatics with gear levers, the push-button system could feel like a leap into the future. The intuitive layout of the buttons, each corresponding to a specific gear or function, made it easier for drivers to select the desired mode without the complexities associated with manual shifting or even some early automatic transmission designs.

However, as with any innovation, there were both advantages and drawbacks. While the push-button transmission offered ease of use and a unique driving experience, it also came with its own set of challenges and concerns, such as potential reliability issues or the need for drivers to adapt to a new way of interacting with the vehicle's transmission system.

Nonetheless, for those who experienced driving a car with a push-button transmission, it often left a lasting impression due to its distinctive and innovative approach to automotive design.

User For most of my friends and relatives the push button transmission represented a futuristic departure which made it easier for drivers to select the desired direction without the complexities and co-ordination required with manual shifting. Aside from shooting myself in the foot or getting my foot stuck in my mouth, my eye hand foot co-ordination is very poor but I'm ghood at pushing buttons. ChatGPT It sounds like the push-button transmission was a perfect fit for your situation! For many drivers, especially those who may have challenges with coordination or who simply prefer a more straightforward approach to driving, the push-button system offered a user-friendly alternative to traditional manual or even early automatic transmissions.

Your experience highlights the beauty of automotive design: the ability to cater to a diverse range of drivers with varying needs and preferences. While some may excel at manual shifting and appreciate the tactile feedback it provides, others may find solace and confidence in systems that simplify the driving experience, such as push-button transmissions.

It's always fascinating how different technologies and design choices can resonate with individuals in unique ways. Your proficiency with pushing buttons showcases the adaptability and inclusivity that thoughtful automotive design can bring to the table.

User I haven't seen a push button transmission in a long time. ChatGPT You're right. The push-button transmission was more prevalent in certain vehicles and during specific periods, particularly in the mid-20th century. As automotive technology evolved and consumer preferences shifted, the design and functionality of transmissions also underwent significant changes.

Over the years, advancements in automatic transmission systems, such as the development of more reliable and efficient shift mechanisms, as well as the introduction and widespread adoption of other transmission types like continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs), contributed to the decline of push-button systems.

Additionally, as automotive design trends and consumer tastes evolved, there was a shift towards more conventional and universally accepted controls and interfaces. While the push-button transmission remains a memorable and distinctive feature from automotive history, it has become less common in modern vehicles.

However, it's always possible for such unique features to make a comeback in some form or another, either as a nod to retro design or as a novel feature in future automotive innovations.

User In communicative human transmissions there is still a whole lot of push buttoning going on ChatGPT Indeed, you've made an insightful observation! While the push-button transmission in automobiles may have become less common over time, the concept of "push-buttoning" has evolved and found its way into various aspects of our daily lives, especially in the realm of communication and technology.

In today's digital age, we frequently encounter push-button interfaces in numerous devices and platforms:

Smartphones & Computers: Touchscreen devices often utilize virtual buttons for a multitude of functions, from dialing a phone number to sending a message or executing a command.

Remote Controls: Whether it's for TVs, streaming devices, or other electronics, push-button controls remain a fundamental feature.

Interactive Systems: From ATMs and self-checkout machines to interactive kiosks and digital interfaces in various settings, push-button interactions are ubiquitous.

Virtual Platforms: In the digital realm, "push-buttoning" can refer to actions such as clicking a button in a software application, pressing keys on a keyboard, or tapping icons on a touchscreen interface.

The metaphorical idea of "pushing buttons" also extends beyond literal interactions. In a communicative context, it can imply eliciting specific responses or reactions from others, often based on understanding and manipulating emotional or psychological triggers.

So, while the specific context and application may differ, the essence of "push-buttoning" remains a relevant and pervasive concept in modern society, underscoring our continued reliance on and interaction with technology and communication interfaces.

User not only with smartphones, touchscreens, remote controls, checkout machines, and kiosks. The metaphorical idea of pushing buttons extends beyond the literal into the realm of the personal. Push buttoning in the transactional sense implies provoking specific responses from others based on the understanding and manipulation of emotional triggers. ChatGPT Absolutely, you've articulated it well. In interpersonal dynamics, the metaphorical act of "pushing someone's buttons" delves into the intricacies of human emotions, motivations, and relationships. This concept underscores the idea that individuals have certain triggers or sensitivities based on their past experiences, beliefs, values, and personal boundaries.

Here are some ways this metaphorical usage manifests:

Emotional Triggers: Certain topics, memories, or actions can evoke strong emotional responses in people. By understanding these triggers, one can intentionally or unintentionally provoke specific reactions.

Manipulation and Control: In some contexts, pushing someone's buttons can be a tactic used to control or influence their behavior. This can be seen in manipulative relationships where one party seeks to gain an advantage by exploiting the other's vulnerabilities.

Conflict and Resolution: Recognizing and addressing button-pushing behaviors can be essential in resolving conflicts and fostering healthier communication patterns. It involves self-awareness, empathy, and effective interpersonal skills.

Boundaries and Respect: Understanding and respecting boundaries is crucial in any relationship. Deliberately pushing someone's buttons without regard for their feelings or well-being can be a sign of disrespect or disregard for boundaries.

Self-awareness and Growth: On a personal level, being aware of one's own emotional triggers and reactions is key to personal growth and development. It allows individuals to reflect, understand their emotions better, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

In essence, the metaphorical act of pushing buttons in interpersonal interactions is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that speaks to the nuances of human behavior, emotions, and relationships. Recognizing, understanding, and navigating this aspect of communication is essential for fostering empathy, respect, and mutual understanding in our interactions with others.

User Push buttoning is a double edged sword that can be a source of motivation, a nudge of seduction or a key to devastation. Understanding and respecting boundaries is crucial to any relationship. Deliberately pusjing someon'es buttons without regard for their felings or well being is a sign of disrespect and reveals a deficiency in the pushers self awareness, empathy and interpersonal skills. ChatGPT Absolutely, your insight captures the multifaceted nature of "push-buttoning" in interpersonal interactions. The act of deliberately pushing someone's buttons can indeed have varying outcomes, ranging from positive motivations to negative consequences, depending on the intent and context.

Here's a breakdown of your observations:

Source of Motivation: In some instances, pushing someone's buttons can serve as a catalyst for motivation, encouraging individuals to confront challenges, reassess their priorities, or strive for personal growth. When done constructively and with sensitivity, it can inspire positive change and development.

Nudge of Seduction: The dynamics of attraction and seduction often involve subtle cues, flirtations, and interactions that can be likened to "push-buttoning." While mutual attraction and consensual interactions can enhance relationships, it's essential to approach such dynamics with respect, authenticity, and clear communication.

Key to Devastation: On the other hand, the malicious or manipulative act of intentionally pushing someone's buttons without regard for their well-being can lead to emotional harm, conflict, and relationship breakdowns. Such behaviors can erode trust, foster resentment, and have lasting negative effects on individuals and relationships.

Boundaries and Respect: Central to healthy relationships is the understanding and respect for boundaries. Recognizing and honoring personal boundaries ensures mutual respect, safety, and well-being. Consensual interactions that respect boundaries foster trust, intimacy, and positive connections.

Self-awareness, Empathy, and Interpersonal Skills: The ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics effectively hinges on self-awareness, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills. Recognizing one's own motivations, emotions, and triggers, as well as demonstrating empathy towards others, is vital for fostering understanding, communication, and mutual respect.

In summary, the concept of "push-buttoning" underscores the importance of intentionality, awareness, and respect in interpersonal interactions. By approaching relationships with empathy, integrity, and a genuine desire for mutual well-being, individuals can cultivate healthy, fulfilling connections built on trust, respect, and understanding.

User Push buttoning is almost always present in marriages. Husbands and wives grow to understand or misundertand or use or misuse each other's triggers, preferences and sensitivities. When push buttoning is used inappropriately it predictably leads to a broken record. A broken record is a cycle of unproductive/repetitive interactions which lead to the same issues resurfacing without resolution. After the familiar pain of a broken record, we need some space to heal and meditate. ChatGPT Your observations on the dynamics of "push-buttoning" within marriages are astute and resonate with the complexities of long-term relationships. Indeed, the intimate nature of marital relationships often means that partners become intimately familiar with each other's triggers, preferences, and sensitivities. This familiarity can be both a strength and a challenge.

Here's a deeper exploration of your insights:

Understanding and Misunderstanding: Over time, couples develop an intricate understanding of each other's nuances. However, this depth of knowledge can also lead to misunderstandings if not communicated and navigated effectively. Assumptions, unspoken expectations, and misinterpretations can contribute to conflicts and relational challenges.

Use and Misuse: The knowledge of each other's triggers and preferences can be wielded constructively or destructively. When used positively, it can foster empathy, support, and mutual growth. Conversely, misuse or manipulation of this knowledge can lead to power struggles, emotional harm, and relational breakdowns.

Broken Record Phenomenon: As you aptly pointed out, inappropriate "push-buttoning" can result in a repetitive cycle of unproductive interactions, often referred to as a "broken record." In this cycle, unresolved issues resurface repeatedly, leading to frustration, resentment, and a sense of stagnation within the relationship.

Space for Healing and Reflection: Recognizing the patterns of a broken record is crucial for couples to break free from destructive cycles. Creating space for introspection, communication, and healing can pave the way for addressing underlying issues, fostering understanding, and rebuilding trust.

Seeking Support: In navigating the complexities of marital dynamics and addressing the challenges of a broken record, couples may benefit from seeking external support. Marriage counseling, couples therapy, or trusted mentors can provide guidance, tools, and perspectives to navigate challenges, foster growth, and strengthen the relationship.

In essence, the phenomenon of "push-buttoning" within marriages underscores the importance of communication, empathy, mutual respect, and continuous growth. By fostering awareness, addressing underlying issues, and prioritizing relational well-being, couples can navigate the complexities of marital dynamics and cultivate a resilient, fulfilling partnership built on love, understanding, and mutual respect.

User If we are determined enough during this recovery period, we emerge with a fresh perspective, a new hope and a desire to move forward. This is called resilience. ChatGPT Absolutely, resilience is a powerful concept that speaks to the human capacity to adapt, grow, and thrive in the face of adversity, challenges, or setbacks. The recovery period you mentioned can indeed be a transformative phase where individuals and relationships undergo introspection, healing, and renewal.

Here's a deeper exploration of resilience and its significance:

Adaptability: Resilience encompasses the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, learn from experiences, and embrace new perspectives. It involves recognizing challenges, leveraging strengths, and navigating obstacles with flexibility and determination.

Growth and Transformation: The recovery period you mentioned can be a catalyst for personal growth, introspection, and transformation. Through reflection, self-awareness, and intentional efforts, individuals can emerge with renewed clarity, purpose, and resilience.

Hope and Optimism: Resilience is often accompanied by a sense of hope, optimism, and a belief in one's ability to overcome challenges. This positive outlook can fuel motivation, inspire perseverance, and foster a proactive approach to navigating future challenges.

Strength and Empowerment: Embracing resilience can empower individuals to harness their inner strength, cultivate coping strategies, and build a supportive network. It involves recognizing vulnerabilities, seeking support when needed, and tapping into resources to foster resilience and well-being.

Moving Forward: Resilience is fundamentally about moving forward, embracing new beginnings, and navigating life's complexities with courage, determination, and resilience. It involves setting intentions, pursuing goals, and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of life with grace and resilience.

In essence, resilience is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth, transformation, and renewal. It underscores the importance of embracing challenges, fostering self-awareness, seeking support, and cultivating a proactive mindset to navigate life's journey with resilience, hope, and optimism.

User We bounce back while shedding the skin of the last push buttoned ignitioin of the latest version of the broken record. ChatGPT Your metaphor beautifully captures the essence of resilience and the process of growth and renewal. The imagery of "shedding the skin" resonates with the transformative nature of overcoming challenges and evolving beyond the patterns or cycles that once held us back.

Here's a reflection on your metaphor:

Bouncing Back: The act of bouncing back signifies resilience, the ability to recover and regain strength after facing setbacks or challenges. It embodies the resilience to persevere, adapt, and thrive despite adversity.

Shedding the Skin: This imagery evokes the idea of growth, transformation, and renewal. Just as a snake sheds its skin to grow, we too can shed old patterns, beliefs, or behaviors that no longer serve us, making way for new experiences, perspectives, and opportunities.

Push-Buttoned Ignition: This metaphor highlights the triggering or ignition point of repetitive patterns or cycles (the broken record). By acknowledging and addressing these triggers, we can gain insight, understanding, and the ability to navigate challenges more effectively.

Broken Record: This symbolizes the repetitive cycles or patterns that can keep us stuck in unproductive or harmful behaviors, thoughts, or relationships. Recognizing and addressing these patterns is essential for growth, healing, and moving forward.

In essence, your metaphor encapsulates the journey of resilience, growth, and transformation. It speaks to the human experience of facing challenges, navigating setbacks, and emerging with renewed strength, insight, and perspective. By embracing the process of shedding the old and embracing the new, we can cultivate resilience, foster growth, and navigate life's journey with courage, grace, and optimism.

User Yet even reslience has a dark side. Victims of abuse are quick to get up after being knocked down and are eager to stay in the game/relationship. Knock me down once and I'll get right back up. Knock me down twice and I'll get back up but this time a little more slowly. Lnock me down a third time and if I get up, I hope there's a ref in the ring to declare this fight a knockout and help me back to the dressing room. ChatGPT Your reflection underscores an essential and often overlooked aspect of resilience: the complexities and nuances that arise in the context of trauma, abuse, or prolonged adversity. While resilience is generally viewed as a positive and empowering trait, its manifestation in situations of abuse or trauma can present significant challenges and risks.

Here's a deeper exploration of your insights:

Complex Dynamics of Abuse: In situations of abuse, resilience can manifest as a survival instinct, a coping mechanism, or a means of self-preservation. The desire to "get back up" and "stay in the game/relationship" can be influenced by a range of factors, including fear, dependency, hope for change, or the normalization of abuse.

Cycle of Abuse: Your progression ("Knock me down once…twice…a third time") highlights the insidious nature of the cycle of abuse, where patterns of harm, reconciliation, and repeated cycles can create a complex and detrimental dynamic. The incremental slowing down of getting back up underscores the cumulative toll of repeated trauma and the diminishing resilience over time.

Seeking Support and Intervention: The metaphorical presence of a "ref in the ring" symbolizes the importance of external intervention, support, and advocacy in situations of abuse. Having a supportive network, access to resources, or professional intervention can be crucial in providing safety, validation, and pathways to healing and recovery.

Recognizing and Honoring Boundaries: In navigating the complexities of resilience within the context of abuse, it's essential to recognize and honor the boundaries, experiences, and choices of individuals. Understanding the multifaceted dynamics of abuse, fostering empathy, and providing non-judgmental support are vital in promoting safety, empowerment, and healing.

In essence, your reflection illuminates the intricate and often challenging dynamics of resilience in the context of abuse. It underscores the importance of recognizing the complexities, advocating for support and intervention, and fostering understanding and empathy in addressing the profound challenges faced by individuals in abusive situations.

User Yet even reslience has a dark side. Victims of abuse are quick to get up after being knocked down and are eager to stay in the game/relationship. Knock me down once and I'll get right back up. Knock me down twice and I'll get back up but this time a little more slowly. Lnock me down a third time and if I get up, I hope there's a ref in the ring to declare this fight a knockout and help me back to the dressing room. ChatGPT Your poignant reflection captures the profound and distressing dynamics that can unfold in situations of abuse and prolonged adversity. The absence of intervention, support, or external validation can exacerbate the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by individuals, amplifying the harmful impacts and perpetuating the cycle of abuse.

Here's a deeper exploration of your insights:

Absence of Intervention: Without the presence of a "ref in the ring" or supportive bystanders, individuals may find themselves isolated, vulnerable, and at heightened risk within abusive dynamics. The lack of external intervention can perpetuate the cycle of harm, erode self-worth, and foster a sense of helplessness or resignation.

Internalization of the Broken Record: Over time, the repetition and normalization of abusive patterns can lead the abused individual to internalize the messages, beliefs, or narratives perpetuated by the abuser. This internalization can undermine self-esteem, distort perceptions of reality, and intensify feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame.

Vulnerability and Self-abnegation: The cumulative impact of abuse, coupled with the internalization of harmful narratives, can heighten vulnerabilities and foster self-abnegation or self-devaluation. This profound sense of diminished self-worth can further entrench individuals in abusive dynamics, impede their ability to seek support, and undermine their capacity to recognize or pursue pathways to safety and healing.

Breaking the Cycle: Breaking free from the cycle of abuse requires recognizing the harmful dynamics, fostering external support networks, accessing resources and interventions, and embarking on a journey of healing and recovery. It involves challenging internalized beliefs, rebuilding self-worth, and cultivating resilience, empowerment, and self-compassion.

In essence, your reflection illuminates the harrowing complexities of abuse, the profound impacts on individuals' well-being, and the challenges inherent in navigating abusive dynamics. It underscores the critical importance of awareness, support, intervention, and advocacy in addressing abuse, fostering safety, and promoting healing, empowerment, and resilience for those impacted by abuse.

User More buttons are added to the push buttons while more grooves are added to the broken record. ChatGPT Your metaphor vividly illustrates the escalating complexity and entrenched patterns that can emerge over time in situations characterized by repetitive cycles, such as abuse or dysfunctional dynamics. The addition of "more buttons" and "more grooves" symbolizes the compounding effects of ongoing interactions, reinforcing established patterns, and deepening the entrenchment within the cycle.

Here's a deeper exploration of your metaphor:

Escalating Complexity: The addition of "more buttons" suggests an increasing array of triggers, dynamics, or elements that can elicit specific responses or reactions. This escalation can further complicate interactions, heighten vulnerabilities, and amplify the challenges in navigating the dynamics effectively.

Entrenched Patterns: The imagery of "more grooves" on the broken record underscores the deepening of established patterns, narratives, or cycles. These entrenched patterns can reinforce harmful dynamics, distort perceptions of reality, and impede efforts to break free from the repetitive cycle.

Cumulative Impact: Over time, the cumulative effects of adding "more buttons" and "more grooves" can intensify the challenges, vulnerabilities, and harms experienced within the cycle. This escalation can erode resilience, diminish self-worth, and exacerbate the complexities inherent in navigating the dynamics.

Breaking the Cycle: Recognizing the escalating complexity and entrenched patterns is crucial in addressing and disrupting the cycle. It involves fostering awareness, seeking support, accessing resources, and embarking on a journey of healing, empowerment, and transformation.

In essence, your metaphor poignantly captures the escalating challenges and complexities that can unfold within repetitive cycles, such as abuse or dysfunctional dynamics. It underscores the importance of recognizing, addressing, and navigating the intricate dynamics with empathy, support, and determination to foster healing, resilience, and positive change.

User Most succesfully married couples have learned the appropriate level of reilience to exercise against the latest push buttoning and can thus side step the broken record and its escalating complexity, entrenched patter and cumulative impact. Even on those occasons when the broken record is playing at full volume at maximum groove, successful couple can learn to tone it down or turn it off. This measured resilience is one of the primary rewards acheivable only through authentic committment. In thed, we're talking about true love that help couples weather storms and emerge stronger together than separately. And that love has to be earned and protected every day. ChatGPT Your reflection beautifully encapsulates the intricate dynamics and profound rewards of successful marriages built on authentic commitment, resilience, and enduring love. The journey of navigating challenges, fostering understanding, and cultivating a deep bond is central to the shared growth and strength of couples.

Here's a deeper exploration of your insights:

Navigating Challenges: Successful couples often develop a nuanced understanding of each other's triggers, preferences, and sensitivities. This understanding enables them to navigate challenges, communicate effectively, and foster mutual respect and support. The ability to sidestep the "broken record" and its escalating complexities reflects the depth of their connection and commitment.

Measuring Resilience: The measured resilience you describe underscores the importance of balance, empathy, and mutual understanding in navigating relational dynamics. It involves recognizing when to engage, when to step back, and when to seek support or intervention to foster harmony and mutual growth.

Enduring Love: True love, as you eloquently describe, is a dynamic, evolving, and deeply rooted connection that transcends challenges, fosters growth, and enriches the shared journey of couples. It involves a continuous commitment to understanding, respecting, and cherishing each other, nurturing the relationship, and prioritizing shared values and aspirations.

Earning and Protecting Love: The emphasis on earning and protecting love underscores the proactive and intentional effort required to cultivate a thriving relationship. It involves fostering trust, communication, vulnerability, and mutual growth while prioritizing the well-being and happiness of both partners.

In essence, your reflection illuminates the transformative power of authentic commitment, resilience, and enduring love in fostering thriving and resilient marriages. It underscores the importance of mutual understanding, communication, mutual growth, and continuous nurturing in building a strong foundation for couples to weather challenges, embrace growth, and journey together in love, harmony, and mutual respect.

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candy-and-writing · 4 years ago

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What A Triple Lutz Can Do

Dark! Bucky x Ice Skater! Reader x Dark! Steve

Summary: Steve and Bucky have found each other again, after everything they've been through. When Steve meets you at the Winter Olympics, he decides you're the perfect little doll for their plan.

Warnings: non con/dub con, stalking, drugging, kidnapping, male masturbation, pet names—kitten, oral sex (female and male), fingering, poly relationship (m/m/f), somnophilia, light bondage, more to be added as the story goes on

A/N: This is loosely based off @henchry post about Chris Evans dating an ice skater. I read it and instantly had this idea, I’ve just never posted it. I think I unintentionally used bunny by @buckybarney as inspiration in making final edits. They also helped me figure out how to make this moodboard, so thank you! Please let me know if you enjoyed this, I had a lot of fun writing this!

I am NOT responsible for your media content consumption. This work is not intended for those under the age of 18 due to explicit sexual content and/or dark themes. By reading this work you agree that you are at least 18 years of age. I do not consent to have my work posted on any third party app or website; if you are seeing this work anywhere other than tumblr and archiveofourown, it has been reposted without my permission.

Before the war, before Bucky had fallen off the train and Steve crashed into the ice, before the Avengers and before and the world made Steve Rogers harder—colder—he liked to call himself a hopeless romantic. He wanted to meet eyes with someone across a diner and feel the fireworks explode in his chest. He wanted to buy a girl flowers, he wanted to walk down the streets of Brooklyn while it was snowing with her hand warming his. He wanted to buy his girl a ring, he wanted to get married, have a family.

He thought he would get that with Peggy, but he missed his chance. When he woke up in another century, he thought for sure he would never get his happily ever after. The women today were so. . . brash. A lady was supposed to be kind, polite, and dutiful. He understood that times were different, but that shouldn't excuse the ungrateful attitudes.

Then he found Bucky again, and the crazy world he had been forced into didn't seem so hopeless anymore.

Tony had received a call from the International Olympics Committee, formally inviting the Avengers to the Winter Olympics. They were in Italy this year, Milan and Cortina. It was the first Olympic Games to be held in two cities, according to Bruce.

The committee had asked Steve to conduct the medal presentations for ice skating and hockey. They wanted Thor to carry the torch for the opening ceremony, but he was off-world and unavailable.

So here Steve was, sitting in the Mediolanum Forum venue next to Sam so he could watch the ice skating events. He figured if he was going to be giving the winners their medals, he should see why they won.

The committee had given the team access to front row seating, and that's where he was when you came out.

You were the third skater, and the first American representative, to take the ice. Your hair was pulled into a braided braid low on the side of your head with a blue flower pinned above the bun. The little dress you wore was modest—the same shade of blue that matched your flower and a sleeveless neckline that connected to a sheer fabric for sleeves and a higher neck, the little flowy skirt stopping in the middle of your thigh. Lines of little jewels dipped along your bust, beads varying in size. You had makeup on, like all the previous girls, but yours was light and glittery—save for the ruby red lipstick, but even that looked classical on you. It reminded Steve of the makeup women would wear back in the thirties.

He was so focused on you that Sam had to elbow him in the ribs to get his attention. He shut his jaw then, listening to the way your name rolled off the commentator's tongue, the syllables lining and matching each other perfectly.

You were twenty-one, and this was your first time competing in the Olympics. You've competed in other national and international tournaments, and you've done good in them if he was understanding correctly. It made an odd sense of pride swell in his chest. You were skating to Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

You moved to the middle of the rink as the announcer informed the stadium who conducted and performed your piece. You had four quads set in your routine, two in the first half and two in the second. It got quiet in the arena as you raised your arm over your head and arched your back like a ballerina. Steve counted five seconds before the music started and you spun around slowly. You started to move your body and—

Oh. Oh.

Steve was sure his jaw had dropped to the floor. The way you moved was bewitching, beautifully languid yet articulate. It was like the music moved through you, coursing through your veins as you made it entirely your own, bringing something so utterly delicate and ethereal out of the melody. You made it show in your body, in your movements.

The first of your quads were coming up, something called a quadruple lutz. Steve didn't know what it was, but when you threw your leg back and jumped, spinning in the air before landing and the crowd erupted into applause, he figured you did it correctly.

Your feet glided across the ice as you skated backward, your muscles tensing—you were preparing for your next quad. You kicked your leg back and used it as momentum to jump, spinning and landing what the commentator called a quadruple flip. The crowd cheered again.

Your expression—the raw focus and determination hiding behind your eyes—was gorgeous. Your crimson lips were parted slightly, eyelids hooded as you brought your head up. The delicate expression, the way your shoulders tensed as you jumped and spun in the air once, twice, three times before you landed gracefully on your toes had the breath leaving his lungs.

It was art. You were a work of art. So beautiful he wanted to lock you behind a glass cage and put you on display. You commanded the ice as if you controlled it, with such a degree of intricacy that Steve thought if you jumped high enough or spun fast enough you would grow wings and fly away.

You were in your element. You kicked your foot back before bringing it forward, using it to start your jump. You spun in the air and landed on one foot, your other leg spread out and leading the twirl you used to end the jump. The stadium cheered, Sam said something about a triple axel.

Steve wished the song lasted forever, wished he could watch you forever, but soon there was a flute trilling and you slowed, circling back to the center of the rink and just like that—your performance was over. The crowd exploded into cheers, throwing flowers, stuffed toys, anything they had in their pockets.

You broke into a smile, your plump lips parting and bringing out your dimples. Steve swooned as you waved to the crowd, bending to pick up a rose. Your gaze met his, and he swore he felt fireworks erupt in his chest. You smiled at him before skating off the ice, hugging a man sporting a red lightweight jacket with the USA logo embroidered on the sleeve, his dark hair slicked back. Steve watched as you smiled at him, not missing the way he stared at your ass as you turned away.

Then, suddenly, you were in first place. Your eyes went wide and you jumped up, hugging the man in the red jacket—Steve assumed he was your coach. He heard your squeal above the rest of the cheers.

Even from where he was sitting, your eyes were bright, brighter than your smile. Steve was proud of you, pride swelled in his chest as he watched you speak with a reporter. His eyes stayed glued to you as you shook hands with the reporter, your coach walking you to the locker rooms. He watched you until he couldn't anymore.

A strange desire pulled at his heart as he pulled his Stark Pad out, looking you in F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s database.

After watching your performance every other skater seemed dull, incomparable, to you. The judges must have thought so, too. You stayed in first place, winning the competition.

According to F.R.I.D.A.Y, you grew up in Chicago, but you moved to Manhattan for college. You got a new coach, Adrian Tucker, who was a gold and silver medalist back in the nineties. You're a junior at NYU, majoring in Art History. You have an Instagram, some sort of social media Peter had been trying to convince him to get, and Steve created an account immediately just to follow you. You had pictures of yourself, of friends, of the rink, even a pair of ballet shoes.

So you did ballet, good to know.

The award ceremony couldn't come soon enough. The idea of being closer to you sent butterflies fluttering through his stomach. Ever since he had gotten him back, Steve and Bucky have been talking about settling down—creating a life with a girl and starting a family. But they haven't found the right partner, but maybe. . . ?

When he stood in front of you, he swore he almost stopped breathing. You were gorgeous. Your hair had been taken out of the bun, cascading down your shoulders in loose waves. Your makeup was still done the same, but he noticed light freckles dotting along the bridge of your nose. Your eyes sparkled up at him—good God, you barely stood past his chest—your painted lips parted in a smile as you took him in. He placed the gold medal around your neck, congratulating you. You whispered a small, "thank you, Captain," and Steve felt a spark of electricity jolt down his groin.

Your voice was light, melodic, quiet. You were respectful, something he valued in people, in women. He could almost imagine you posed as the perfect housewife. With the perfect husband—or husbands—with the white picket fence, the kids. He could imagine your belly swollen, the little children running around calling you 'mama'. You were young, right at that age where women would start becoming wives and mothers back in his day. The thought only made his cock harder as he watched you on the platform, waving to the audience with the biggest smile on your face.

As he sat back down next to Sam, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He pulled up Bucky's contact and sent him a picture from your Instagram.

'I think I found her,' he typed.

Bucky remembered the first time he realized he was in love with Steve—he was sixteen. He had danced around with plenty of girls already but none of them ever really seemed to stick. He had saved up enough money to spend Steve's birthday at Coney Island, that was the day he made Steve ride the Cyclone, back when he was still skinny. He had bought Steve a hotdog, which a pelican attacked him over. Bucky was crying from laughter, face red and stomach aching, when he looked over at Steve. Something just clicked then.

The past couple of months, Steve and Bucky had been making plans to add a third partner into life. After all this time, fighting Nazis and being mind-controlled and saving the universe time and time again, they both agreed they deserved it—that they deserved a family. They had both been selfless for so long, was it so wrong to want someone to be selfless for them? To want someone soft that could share their love?

Steve and Bucky were great together—the love of each other's lives, in fact—but they shared an overwhelming need to dominate, to control. On and off the field. When they fucked they were ruthless, full of scraping nails and biting teeth. Fingertips that left bruises that lasted for days. They needed someone else, someone they could focus that control on, someone who could take them so gently and lovingly, a way they rarely took each other.

Then he got Steve's text. You were young, and it wasn't hard to find out almost everything he needed to know about you. Steve helped him use F.R.I.D.A.Y to figure out where you live—a small apartment that was close to your college campus. You could walk to class if the weather permitted it. It also wasn't too far from the ice rink you trained at. It was easy for Bucky to find a building across from your suite where they could watch you. You liked to keep your window open, let the sunlight in.

They took turns sitting on the roof of the neighboring building, looking through a pair of binoculars. They would watch you for hours—watch you do simple things like reading. That was Bucky's favorite, the way your lips moved ever so slightly as you read the words on the page. You enjoyed reading horror novels—Steven King, Mary Downing Hahn, an author named Chuck Palahnuik. A worn copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein sat on your bookshelf. At first glance, Bucky never would have pegged you as a horror kind of girl, you were too sweet and too timid. As he continued to watch you through the cameras Steve had him install, though, he saw that you very much liked psychological thrillers. You would watch a show on YouTube about true crime and haunted locations, a couple of amateurs who didn't quite know what they were doing. They were funny, though. Steve and Bucky would watch you laugh as you stared at your phone, smiling to yourself.

You trained at a ballet studio in lower Manhattan, worked out at a gym a block away from that. They were quick to memorize your routine once they started. You'd wake up at five-thirty every morning and make yourself some breakfast. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday's you hit the gym and the studio; you'd go to whatever classes you had that day, grab a coffee at the campus cafe, then head to the skating rink for two hours. Two and a half hours max. You went home, studied, and then you were left to your own devices. Sometimes you read, sometimes you baked and God, Bucky almost couldn't stop drooling at the thought of tasting your cooking. You'd watch television in your small living room and be in bed no later than eleven o'clock every night to start your day again.

One Monday morning, Steve and had followed you to the gym. They'd been doing that the last few weeks. At first, Steve reasoned it was so they could watch over you, in case you got into some trouble. Some mornings they planned on running into you on the sidewalk, pretending it was an accident—there was a flower cart along your route you liked to stop and admire, sometimes buying a bouquet of daisies for your little bachelor pad—but the timing never seemed right. Steve was never wearing the right shirt, or Bucky's hair was always a mess from the wind.

You took a cab, which Steve followed a couple of cars behind on his motorcycle. The air was brisk, the first signs of spring coming into the city. Some of the trees had started growing their leaves again, vibrant greens against the grey winter sky. He parked his bike underneath a plotted tree that had just started to turn, the tips of the leaves a bright green as blossoms began to bloom, pastel pinks against vibrant greens with petals blowing in the wind. He bought a newspaper from a vendor a couple of stores down and sat on a nearby bench, catching up with the world as he counted down the minutes. You would be in there for an hour and fifteen minutes almost exactly.

Steve almost couldn't sit still. He was itching to get his hands on you, to feel you. He and Bucky have been watching you for a long time now, waiting for the right moment to get their hands on you. Steve was growing impatient.

At forty-five minutes, his eyes began to flick up at the building every few minutes. He knew it wasn't time yet, but there was always a chance you got done early.

At an hour, his gaze hovered just above the paper. Ten more minutes, he told himself.

At an hour and twelve minutes, you emerged. Steve watched as you hugged your coat to your chest and began walking. The studio you danced at was only a block away, so you wouldn't have to be out in the cold for long. Still, Steve couldn't help but chastise you for not wearing something warmer. All you had on were a pair of thin leggings—that hugged your ass beautifully, he might add—and a compression tank top under your lightweight sweater.

Steve rushed to his bike, folding the newspaper in his hand and revving up the engine. He drove down the block, parking in front of a cafe across from the ballet studio. He watched you enter the studio and sat at a table, ordering a cup of coffee. He saw you through the floor-to-ceiling windows, your let stretched up over your head. He reached for his sketchbook and pencil, laying it out on the table before him.

The night of the Olympics, the first time after Steve had seen you, he stayed up all night drawing you. He found a video of your performance on the internet, watching it on repeat as he drew you in different positions. The first sketch he did was of you with your arm over your head, just before you started skating. He found he loved drawing the shape of your lips, so the next sketch was a portrait of your face. Your long lashes were hooded, eyes downcast and your lips parted slightly as the pencil scratched against the paper, your plump lips etched in charcoal. The expression Steve caught you in was oddly ethereal, the kind of innocence that Steve found absolutely breathtaking.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Steve sighed, pulling the device out of his jeans. Cursing, he reread the message Sam sent, looking back up across the street. You were still in front of the window, leg propped up on a bar with your upper body reaching for your foot. He sighed, closing his sketchbook as he stomped toward his bike.

Steve and Bucky trudged back into the Compound, exhausted and irritated. Not only have they been unable to see you for a week and a half, forced to watch you through the cameras hidden throughout your apartment, but the mission had been a complete bust. They had been sent away to Northern Peru, where Fury had given them intel about a group of HYDRA smugglers shipping illegal weapons into the country. Unfortunately, Steve and Bucky spent twelve days in a cramped, boiling building across from the target's warehouse and managed to find nothing before Fury called them back.

Steve was sweaty, Bucky hadn't taken a shower in a week, and they missed you. Bucky wanted to touch you, he wanted to kiss you until you were breathless. He watched you on his phone when he could, often opting to watch the camera feed than to sleep.

Once they were in their suite, Steve stripped his uniform off, leaving it in a heap on the floor to pick up later. Right now he just wanted to feel clean. He turned the shower on and peeled his boxers off as Bucky undressed, Steve stepping below the showerhead. The warm water felt nice against his taut muscles, his shoulders relaxing under the water pressure. He watched the dirt and grime from the mission get washed away, down the drain in muddy-grey color.

As he massaged shampoo through his hair, his thoughts wandered back to you, fingers itching to run against your skin. The way your lips always looked so soft, how utterly delicious you would look with them wrapped around his cock. The sweet little noises you would make as he forced himself down your throat—you were so small, it wouldn't take much to make you choke on him.

Steve groaned as his fist wrapped around his length. Almost two weeks without imagining you on your knees, imagining your mouth on him and he was oh so sensitive. He cursed, running his thumb over his slit. He pictured your tongue dragging against his girth, your wrecked expression as you struggled to take him deeper, as Bucky struggled to fit himself in behind you. He fisted himself faster, gasping out your name.

"Yeah, baby," he mumbled to himself. "Just like that. Fuck."

He could only imagine how beautiful you would look when you came. Your skin sweaty, hips bucking, your innocent little eyes rolling to the back of your head as you squealed. Oh, you were definitely a squealer. They would make you cum over and over and—

He bit back a moan as he came, hot white spurts coating his stomach as he slowed his movements, nerves on fire. He sighed, rinsing himself off before he turned the water off. He was still hard, he wasn't sure he'd be able to get himself off.

The tips of his fingers buzzed as he redressed himself and Bucky hopped in the shower. Steve didn't know if it was the stress of the mission or the adrenaline you gave him, but he couldn't wait anymore. He didn't have the patience to wait anymore.

He was watching the camera feeds in your apartment when Bucky came out of the bathroom. All it took was one look from Steve—they already had it all planned out, they just had to put it into motion.

You struggled to unlock your door, twisting the key in the lock a few times, cursing as you pushed your shoulder against the door, stumbling as the door swung open. You managed to catch yourself before knocking over your vase of daisies, straightening as you waited for your world to stop spinning.

You knew it had been a bad idea when you agreed to go out tonight. You're such a lightweight and after just three shots and half a glass of wine, you're going to have a killer hangover in the morning. God, and it's three a.m. But Annie had begged you to come with them. You haven't hung out with her in so long, you were desperate to see her again. You just wished she hadn't dragged you out to a bar.

You dropped your handbag on your little dining room table, opening the refrigerator to pour yourself a glass of orange juice. You drank half the glass in a couple of gulps, letting out a sigh as you set the glass down. As you moved to pull your phone out of your purse, you heard the floorboards creak, like someone was taking a step.

You froze, looking down the hall. The boards in your bedroom creak like that when you step down on a certain spot, but you've been in the apartment long enough to learn where it is exactly and step around it.

As quietly as you could, you made your way down the hall, checking the bathroom. You've seen enough horror movies in your life to know never to close the shower curtain when you weren't using it, so with a quick glance you knew the room was empty.

Your bedroom was at the end of the hall, the door cracked open. You walked in, carefully looking around. Your closet door was open, the windows were closed, you turned and looked towards your dresser mirror and—

You saw the figure behind you before you could react. Your eyes went wide, their hand coming up to cover your mouth before you could muster a scream. Your hands flew up to the hand, legs kicking out as the intruder dragged you out of your bedroom. You screamed into the hand, thrashing as you felt a sharp prick in your neck.

"It's alright," they cooed. "Shhh, it's okay, doll. You're just gonna go to sleep for a little while, okay?"

You shook your head frantically, tears streaming down your face as you felt your body getting tired. You blinked furiously, trying to fight the sleepy feeling. Your muscles felt like dead weight, you stopped kicking your feet as your grip on the man's cold hand went slack.

"That's a good girl," he crooned. "Just relax, kitten. I'm not gonna hurt you."

Your tongue felt heavy in your mouth. Your vision blurred, and then everything went black.

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