#i was SO CLOSE to having a small credit card bill this month

[meanderfall]

I'm going to need half-alive to stop going on tour so often bc it is doing terrible things to my bank account

[eddiediaaz]

hi guys, i am kind of ashamed and embarrassed to have to do this, but i figured it can't hurt to ask. basically i am really struggling right now (i know a lot of us are). i need financial help, so i set up a ko-fi page ☕

any kind of help would be so appreciated and i am so grateful for anyone taking the time to read this little post.

long story short: because of situations completely out of my control, i lost my job in vfx after almost 8 years and i am now forced to switch careers. i'm going back to school and can't find a part time job even tho i have been working non stop for 15 years. financial aid will only cover my rent, so i absolutely need to work 20 to 30 hours a week to cover the rest of my living expenses, but it's really hard to find a job. i am also currently over 10k cad in debt from my film school loans and credit cards.

signal boost would be appreciated, if you can 💕

my situation in more details under the cut for those who are curious

i was working in the vfx industry as a 2D compositor since 2016 (i have worked on over 40 films and tv shows), but in december of 2023 i lost my job due to the hollywood strikes (as expected, and as it should—i fully support the strikes). this was supposed to be temporary for a couple months where i could get unemployment benefits (only 45% of my usual salary though). unfortunately, on may 31st 2024, my government announced that they are significantly cutting the funding & tax credits for the vfx industry where i live. what does this mean? mass lay offs. thousands of canadians and other people in the world working in the industry are losing their career, including me. there will only be about 20% vfx jobs left where i live by 2025. vfx shops and production houses have already started to close doors here. i'm still mourning this career i have been working in for 8 years and loved, even tho it's been difficult and demanding at times (lots of overtime), but there are just no jobs right now (unless you are a senior vfx artist with decades of experience) and the future will only get more bleak. i could move abroad and follow the industry that is already moving somewhere else, but i don't want to do that on my own (i am already super lonely as it is!!) and i can't afford it.

my unemployment benefits will run out by the last week of september. in 4 weeks. i've been sending resumes everywhere, both online and in person, but i am just not getting anything in return. even tho i have over 15 years of experience working in various jobs and i have never been fired from anywhere. even tho my resume and cover letters are solid because they have been approved my professional counselors (a free service for people under 35 where i live). so much for they're hiring everywhere...

since my vfx compositing skills are very niche and not really applicable to much else, i decided to go back to school, taking college classes in the admin and excecutive assistant fields, since it's something that i think would be good for me and there are lots of jobs for that here. i will be getting some financial aid, but it's nowhere near enough to survive. it will only cover my rent, and that's because my rent is super cheap for my city. my college classes start on september 30 and i am excited for it, but also very stressed because i still don't have a part time job.

i've been living on my own with a small salary for over 10 years now, but it truly is the first time that i'm struggling this hard. i honestly don't have anything worth selling except some taylor swift perfumes, which i sold this week. i also have over 6k of credit debt and another 4.5k of school loans left to pay. at the bare minimum i will need about $1.000 CAD/month to cover my other bills and expenses after rent, hence why the need for a job ASAP. i am desperate and my mental health has been a huge mess. this is why i decided to open my ko-fi accounts. not that i'm expecting much, but anything can help, i think.

i don't have much to offer in exchange, except gifs? i'm wondering if (cheap, low price) gif commissions are a thing? i have no idea know, but i set up a poll on my ko-fi page to see if anyone would be interested.

thank you for reading if you've made it here, it's appreciated 💖

[remyfire]

I cannot express how much I hate needing to do this. But my finances are down to the absolute wire and I need help one more time to pay not just for Peach's care, but for some of my personal expenses as well.

Peach is my wonderful, beautiful, perfect, sassy, cuddly, loving cat. She's 12 years old, and a few months ago we found out that she is diabetic. I love her so, so much and I will do anything I can to keep her healthy and give her a wonderful life as she enters her senior years, but unfortunately the costs of caring for a diabetic cat are more than I can afford right now.

The good news? I've landed a job! I'm so excited to start this week! But until my first paycheck comes through, the transcription work I do on a contract basis has been increasingly hard to come by and what little I have received can't cover all of my present expenses. Peach needs a vet visit, syringes to inject her insulin, and her vet-prescribed food, and I need help to pay for my commute to work, and I am completely out of options.

So here's what we're looking at. Peach's syringes and food are the above $168. I have also had to purchase a third glucometer for her—yes, you heard that right—for a total of $40. Because my credit card is so close to being maxed out, I can't even schedule a vet visit to apply it until I have the funds, and that's going to be somewhere between $50 and $100 to apply the sensor and do some additional bloodwork.

Then we come to me. I am going to be commuting to my new job via train and the most affordable way for me to do so will be to purchase an unlimited ride pass for the month of October, costing $75. And on top of this, I have my upcoming October health insurance bill that totals around $150.

This all adds up to be between $483 and $533, depending on what bloodwork they will need to do during Peach's vet visit. Factoring in the fee that Ko-fi and PayPal take from donations, I am in need of around $575 at the most.

This is an overwhelming amount of money to ask for. I know that and I feel like shit for doing so. But I am so close to reaching financial stability. I just need a little more help and then I'll be back on my feet for good.

Any reblogs are appreciated! I'm so grateful for any donation, no matter how small. And as always, please don't feel pressured in any way to donate—take care of you and yours first.

[cardierreh15]

Queenie’s Beehive

Happy Black History Month my Loves!!! Who do yall think this story is based off of?

***I do not give anyone permission to repost, translate or copy my work!!!

Warnings 18+: Seducting Behavior/Dancing.

Pairings: Napoleon Solo x Queenie Covington(Black!OC)

Description: When Solo & Illya’s Leads point them in the direction of a club, Solo turns on his charm to get a word with the infamous Queenie Covington

Word Count: 4.1K

Song: Virgo’s Groove by Beyoncé , It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World by James Brown

Side Note(s): I changed the time to accommodate the story. I do not own or take credit for any of Beyoncé’s or James’ song ✨ Credit will always be theirs and theirs only 😊

The Beehive

Sacramento, California

February 5th, 1978

19:42 🐝

Napoleon looked down at the small brown business card. On the front in plain honey colored words were the address of the establishment. On the back was a beehive. That was it. Very minimalistic and straight to the point.

‘Interesting marketing strategy.’ Napoleon said as he passed the card over to his partner, Illya.

Illya took a moment to take in the small yet fine work of art. ‘Hmm.’ Before he handed it back.

Once their cab slowly came to a stop by the curb, the two gentlemen thanked their driver and stepped out of the car.

They were immediately met with a beautiful yellow LED lamp screwed into the building; showing across their skeptical glances. The lights were shaped into that of a beehive with tiny twinkling yellow lights, resembling bumble bees.

Beyond those doors, beneath that heavenly designed neon lamp lay the disco highlife of the century.

Awaited by the door were two Gods amongst men. So tall they could touch the roof if they wanted, and muscles that could break bones. To the left and right of them were two separate lines, damn near wrapped around the building that were guarded by red rope.

Illya began to worry.

‘We’ll never get inside.’ He said plainly.

‘Do you not have faith my friend?’ At the flick of his wrist and a twitch of his fingers, the tiny invitation appeared in Napoleon’s fingertips.

‘More magic?’

‘Someone’s gotta like it.’ He smirked and leaned in, ‘Here’s the plan. We go inside, we split up, we listen. Try not to look suspicious please.’

‘Suspicious?’ Illya scoffed, ‘The only person here suspicious here, is you cowboy.’ Pointing at his partner.

Napoleon made a face and looked down at his fit. He was in a plain gray suit with a matching waistcoat, and a white crispy dress shirt and black dress shoes; his usual attire.

‘What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?’

Illya on the other hand, sort of fit the bill. With a brown leather jacket with a turtleneck beneath, dark colored slacks and brown dress shoes to match. Oh, and his signature gray beret sat atop his blonde head.

‘You look like you’ve come to work and not to have fun.’ He rolled his eyes at his unwarranted pun.

‘In all technicality—‘

‘Yes, I know now can we go inside please?’

‘Perhaps. Do you remember your alias?’

Illya rolled his eyes as he head fell back, ‘Yes. I am a migrant here for work. You are a Wall Street journalist looking to have a conversation with the legendary Queen of Disco.’

He had a little bitterness in his voice. Napoleon caught on to that fairly quickly.

‘If you’d like, we can always trade places?’

Illya made a face, ‘Trade places? I am afraid that wouldn’t work.’

‘And why not?’

‘Because…’ Illya stuck his hands in his pockets and turned away. ‘you’re too small.’

A scowl curled up on Napoleon’s face at the insult, wanted so dearly to call him a bunch of curse words but he just cleared his throat and followed his partner towards the bouncers.

Once the men stood in front of the bouncer, Napoleon handed him the card.

The bouncer eyed the card closely, turning it back to front then pulled out a skinny pen like contraption. He clicked it on and a purple light shined down on the brown sheet. Revealing a bumble bee and a +1.

His big brown eyes flickered up from the card to Napoleon then over at Illya which he sized skeptically.

‘Who’s this.’

‘Oh? This is a friend of mine. He’s never been to an American club.’

‘Is that right?’ The bouncer said as he clicked off his pen and tucked it in his breast pocket. ‘Well, this is the perfect place to pop that cherry. Enjoy fellas.’

Napoleon carefully took the card and placed it inside of his breast pocket, ‘Thank you.’ And both of the men walked into the club.

As the men walked in, they were blinded by the bright twinkling lights of the many disco balls that hang on the ceiling along with over a dozen strobe lights dancing across the club.

The place was bustling and busy like nothing they’ve ever seen!

Like a Beehive!

Napoleon gently bobbed his head to the music as his crazed blue eyes danced amongst the floor, watching as gorgeous women of all colors and sizes grind and move their hips upon the dance floor.

It appeared that this mission was the least of his worries but, who he was going to be sneaking out of here with. That was until Illya landed a smack against his chest, knocking him out of whatever silly daze he was entrapped in.

‘Ow!’

‘Stay focus, cowboy. We’ve come to do a job.’

‘Yeah but who said we couldn’t have fun?’

‘Not you. You get carried away. Try not to blow our cover.’ Illya added before walking away in his stern manner.

Napoleon rolled his eyes and reached in his pocket to activate his voice recorder. Then he made his way across the bar which wasn’t far from the entrance.

As he walked over to the bar, he gazed at the dancing patrons, greeting everyone who’d passed to see if he could spot this special lady.

When he stopped at the bar, he took notice of the bartender. A woman, standing at great height. Must’ve been those thigh high platform boots. She had her back turned, cleaning out some glasses. This way he could admire her as she did so.

She had a big, beautiful Afro and wore this leather black and yellow striped short dress that hugged and defined her curves. Maybe this was her?

He cleared his throat loudly, ‘Excuse me bartender!’

The woman looked over her shoulder halfway in a startle, before quickly placing the glass and rag down. She spun around to greet him, her Afro bouncing with each movement. She wore big golden hoop earrings that twinkled and shined everytime the lights danced in her direction.

She flashed him this darling smile, with eyes brown as chocolate yet so bright with happiness and warmth. She was to die for!

‘What can I get for ya’ suga?’

Napoleon’s lips parted to speak but he all of a sudden felt shy. Truly unlike him. A burning heat rose to his cheeks, ‘Hi uh—‘ he looked at her chest which revealed her cleavage but her name tag rescued him from staring. ‘Flo… can I have scotch on the rocks please?’

‘You got it baby. Any particular kind?’

He stared up at the gorgeous brown skinned woman, almost disregarding the question— he cleared his throat and blinked hard once he realized he was staring again.

‘No— no,’ he chuckled, ‘Nothing in particular. How about you surprise me.’ He raised a brow, his own warming smile curling on his lips.

The two stared into one another’s eyes before a giggle left her lips, her dimples puncturing into her cheeks much deeper than before. ‘Alright na. You asked for it.’ She pushed off of the counter and started on his drink.

Napoleon smiled softly before he spun around halfway in his stool and began to gaze across the crowd. After a short moment, he spotted his partner standing off by the stage. Illya gave him a gentle nod of his head before Napoleon returned it in acknowledgment.

‘Here’s your drink, sugar.’

He quickly turned around and met the woman with another smile, ‘Thank you. How much do I owe ya?’

‘Nothin. It’s on the house.’

He raised a brow, ‘Is that so?’ That caught him by surprise really. He had been drugged in all different forms before, so taking a free drink always made him skeptical. ‘Am I like your 100th customer?’

‘No. I ain’t ever seen you here before, I wanted to welcome you here. People who wait outside those doors seldom get inside; just having a little shred of hope to even spend a second inside of this place.’

‘Hmm. Must be quite the place.’

‘You don’t think so?’ Flo asked, placing her hands on her hips.

‘Oh! Of course I think so. The women here are stunning.’ He gave her a quick size before straightening up, ‘Look. I refuse to drink this by myself. Lemme at least buy you one too?’

‘And drink on the job?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

A smirk was plastered on Flo’s face as she internally battled with herself.

‘Tik tok, love. I could practically hear the ice cracking.’ He teased, tapping the face of his watch with his index.

Flo inhaled deeply and rolled her eyes, ‘Alright, fine.’ Her southern draw had slightly peaked through, ‘Only cause you’re cute though.’

Napoleon smirked as she turned around where his smirk quickly faltered and he looked over his shoulder once again.

Once she was finished making her drink, she turned to face him and placed her glass down. ‘Alright—‘

‘Oh! One more thing sweetheart, could you pass me a straw?’

‘A straw?’ She raised a brow. ‘You don’t look like the kind of man that drinks his whiskey through a straw.’

‘Well there’s a lot you must learn about me baby.’

‘Alright then. Ask and you shall receive.’

While she was fulfilling her end of this bargain, Napoleon swiftly swapped their glasses before she could turn back around.

‘Here’s your straw. What should we toast to?’ She asked as she lifted up her glass.

‘Actually, I don’t need the straw… I just like to watch you work.’ He smirked as he wrapped her large hand around the glass that just seemed so miniscule in his palm.

Flo giggled rolling her eyes, ‘You flirt with all your bartenders like this?’

‘Oh dear no! I’m a one bartender kind of man. Actually, let’s toast to that. You being the most spectacular and gorgeous bartender that’s ever graced my presence.’

‘I can get down with that sugar.’ The woman winked as the both of them carefully clicked their glasses together.

Napoleon brought his drink to his lips slowly, watching Flo take a big swig out of hers before placing it down on the counter. No side effects hit her immediately… but perhaps they shall later.

As Napoleon embraced the welcoming warmth of his drink, he placed his glass down on the paper towel that she’d handled him. The space between them grew quiet for a second before he looked up at her. ‘What can you tell me about the person who owns this club?’

‘Who? Queenie? Why you wanna know?’

‘I’m a Wall Street Journalist. I’m looking to write an article about her success!’

Flo looked down at her watch and turned around to grab a rag and clean off her countertop. ‘Well, ion know if you can tell but… Queenie got her work cut out for her that’s for sho.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, her husband—‘

There it was. Exactly what he needed to further investigate.

‘Bought this place for her to solidify their marriage. I’ve been her friend for quite some time and never have I ever thought she would marry that grade A dickhead.’ Flo rolled her eyes.

‘Oh dear. What’s he like? How does he treat her?’

‘He worships the ground she walks on. But it often appears she couldn’t give less than a rats ass about him.’

‘Do you know how they met?’

‘She was singing in some lounge in Texas. That’s where we’re from.’

Napoleon was taking in all these minor details about this woman. He knew she would tell him everything he wanted to know… all she needed was a little motivation.

‘Right. And do you know what her husband does for work?’ He lacked the knowledge of that field, which was why he and Illya were here in the first place.

‘He owns a couple businesses as far as I know… i thought we were talking ‘bout Queenie though?’

Napoleon paused, ‘We are!’ He cleared his throat before taking a sip. He took notice of how she kept looking down at her watch, ‘Y’know the more you look at that thing—‘

‘“The slower time goes.” I know. But since you’re new here… it’s Friday Night.’ Her eyes glanced up at him.

‘Something special about Friday nights?’

Flo looked down at her watch one more time before a huge grin graced her face once more, ‘In fact… they are very special.’

Napoleon’s thick brows tugged into one as his face was written in incomprehensible confusion. Then, every light in the vicinity of the club shut off without warning. A few short squeals floated across the room in dismay.

Startled, Napoleon stood to his feet as he went into panic mode, afraid that he and Illya had been bested. His bright blue eyes fought desperately to adjust in the darkness. But in seconds, a sweet and groovy melody filled the air.

‘Baby, come overrrr.

Baby, come overrrr.

Baby, come over. Come be alone with me tonight.

Beehiiiive!!!’

A woman sang lewdly over the sound of the speakers.

‘Don’t be scared babies. Queen Bee won’t hurt you.’

Napoleon’s eyes had finally adjusted somewhat but he had yet to find Illya.

A big yellow spotlight shined on the stage revealing a band to the left and 3 back up singers who harmonized angelically. Three women with big poofy Afros donned with fresh flowers. They wore something similar to what Flo wore just instead of short dresses, they were flared pants; covered in black and yellow rhinestones.

They shined like stars on that stage.

Napoleon finally spotted Illya who hadn’t even left the spot.

‘All these emotions. It’s washing over me tonight.’

Once the room gained its groove back, Napoleon looked back to see that Flo had disappeared from her post.

He raised his brow in suspicion before he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. Illya.

‘I saw you flirting with the bartender.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I was gathering intel.’

‘And?’

‘She knows just as much as we do.’ Napoleon sighed as they both turned to look at the charade.

That was until this huge disco ball began to slowly descend from the ceiling.

The two men's lips parted in disbelief.

Eventually, she was revealed standing on top of this gigantic ball. She had this beautiful smile plastered on her face as she greeted the crowd with alluring harmonizing.

She almost sounded like a siren; gracing the masses with her deathly hymns.

But when he saw her face, there was no way she could be something so sinister and evil. She was… ethereal. An angel in disguise of a woman who could snatch the soul from any man who dared looked in her direction.

Napoleon was stunned.

‘How are we doing tonight my worker bees?’ She grinned as the crowd beneath her cheered with blissful enthusiasm. ‘Yeeeeah!’ She laughed happily as she continued to scan the crowd.

‘That must be—‘

‘Queenie Covington.’ Napoleon felt like he couldn’t breathe. This was fan behavior! She was not what he’d imagined her to be.

Both of the men watched the woman carefully descend from the ball with the help of her security guards. Her platinum blonde hair cascaded down her back like sacred waterfalls. She wore a bedazzled tank top, matching bedazzled light denim shorts and high metallic silver fringed boots.

She shined brighter than any star they’d ever seen.

Baby come over, come be alone with me tonight.

All these emotions,

It’s rushing over me tonight— AH!

Ride it!

‘What is the plan now, cowboy?’ Illya asked.

‘What plan?’ Napoleon retorted.

‘You don’t have a plan.’

‘You think I knew she was doing an open mic tonight?!’ Napoleon huffed as his pink nose flared with aggravation, ‘We’ll figure it out.’

As Queenie began to croon over that melody once again, the flashing lights glowed into this magnificent yellow hue causing her glow light gold. Her eyes were closed as she allowed the music to embrace and be one with her soul. And when her hazel eyes fluttered back open, her eyes cut across the room towards the two men at the bar who seemed to be bickering at one another. Though, that didn’t take her out of her sensual groove.

‘Look after her performance, she may come to the bar to have a drink.’

‘And if she doesn’t?’

Napoleon inhaled deeply, holding it there as he tried to think of something. ‘Then we’ll do what we always do.’

Illya knew that specific plan and a lot of the time it involved them both getting damn near getting caught.

‘Oh no. Not this again.’

‘Not this again? What choice do we have? She’s the only lead that we have on him. We must exhaust all options.’

‘Sure. Whatever.’

Baby you can hit this, don’t be scared.

(Baby you can hit this, don’t be scared.)

It’s only gonna get you high!

Baby come over.

The boys watched in amazement as the woman swayed and rocked her hips as her own hands made love to her own thighs, belly and breasts.

Queenie cut her eyes back at the two gentlemen back at the bar once again; particularly the one in the suit. He surely stuck out like a sore thumb. And most of her folks here were regulars.

That star struck glare in his eyes was also very telling. She always did enjoy seeing men gawk over her. So with a smile and a wink, she began to moan her lyrics.

Don’t you leave. (me)

Don’t you leave.

So use me. (Use me)

Pursue me. (Pursue me)

Kiss me where you bruise me. (Bruise me)

Oooh weee—

Taste me, the fleshy part.

I scream so loud, I curse the stars!!!

Napoleon gulped hard, reaching in the collar of his dress shirt and tugged at it as he felt his temperature rising.

Illya glanced over at Napoleon and smirked as he took in this canon moment. ‘Has Casanova finally met his match?’

Without taking his eyes off of her, Napoleon groaned, ‘Shut up.’

As she adlibed and add those heavenly high and lows, the song had come to a beautiful close.

‘Thank you.’ She grinned happily as the audience blessed her with a healthy applause .

‘Thank you so much everyone for coming. Being able to perform in front of an energetic crowd is always a true blessing. Please, enjoy the rest of your night sugars and stay groovy.’

They gave her one more applause as she brought her hands together in prayer and bowed in their wake. She then swiftly turned around to speak to her back up singers.

Napoleon narrowed his eyes, taking note of the smiling group of women. It was nice to know that she and those that worked with and/or for her got along fairly well. Then, she excused herself and went backstage.

‘Did you enjoy the performance?’

The two gentlemen jumped at the sudden voice, one that was familiar to Napoleon alone. They turned around to see Flo standing there with a knowing smirk on her full lips.

‘Where did you go?’ Napoleon’s head fell to the side.

‘Oh. I help engineer those pretty lights and what have you. Just some techy junk.’ She smirked and glanced over at Illya. ‘Who’s your friend here?’

Well, the story seems to check out. Though, he didn’t know why she needed to be so suspenseful.

‘This is uh—‘

‘Alex—‘ Illya looked over at Napoleon before looking back ahead at the bartender. ‘My name is Alexsander.’

Napoleon looked back at Flo who gave them both a strange glare. ‘Alright, Alex…sander. Could I get you a drink, sweet baby?’

‘No ma’am. I’m actually here for work.’

‘Well I think we may have something open for security… you sure do fit the bill though.’ A smirk curled on her lips as her head fell to the side. She was checking Illya out.

Napoleon raised a brow with a smirk as the two began to converse with one another. It was about time Illya blew off some kind of steam.

‘Flo, hey.’

Napoleon watched her walk up to the bar and pull herself onto the empty seat beside him. Thee Queenie Covington. Their whole mission, sitting not even a whole foot away from him.

“You are not to sleep with Mrs. Covington under any circumstances, Solo.”

Well it was a good thing he didn’t make promises.

‘Give me the usual.’ She added.

When Flo’s and Illya’s conversation came to a close, he and Napoleon leaned into one another.

‘Just start casual conversation. Perhaps she’ll give us everything we need.’

‘Not to worry.’ He pulled away and turned halfway in his seat, ‘Excuse me, Miss. Queenie I am sorry for the intrusion but—‘

‘No autographs right now sugar.’ She said in a hurry as Flo placed her wine glass in front of her.

This is a man’s world! This is a man’s world!

‘I’m sorry Miss. Queenie I’m not here for an autograph. My name is Napoleon and I’m with the Wall Street Journal. I’d like to honor you in our newspaper.’

She had brought her wine up to her full lips and took a long sip. ‘Mmm! Napoleon? Like the little French dude? You don’t strike me as a “Napoleon”.’

‘What do I strike you as then?’

But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing — without a woman or a girl.

‘Hmm…’ her head fell to the side as her pretty eyes roamed all over his handsome features.

She breathed him in and my what a breath of fresh air he was. The colors and the lights that danced across his face only seem to enhance the shadows and curvature of his jaw, making his face appear more masculine. Then, every once in a while a yellow light would flash over his eyes, causing them to glow like high beams.

‘I don’t know… maybe a “Henry” or a “David”. Definitely not a short little man with a God complex.’ She giggled, her full lips pulled back to reveal that dazzling smile once more.

He chuckled as his head fell in slight embarrassment. He should’ve changed his damn name.

‘You know I’ve heard that before.’

‘I bet you have.’ Queenie smirked as she took another sip from her glass, ‘So, what is it that I need from me, Napoleon?’

‘I just want to ask you a few questions if you have time?’

‘Yeah, I sup—‘

‘Mrs. Covington?!’ A tall lean male came rushing over to the bar, carefully pushing folks out of the way.

Goddammit.

Queenie rolled her eyes and turned around to meet the gentleman’s gaze, ‘Oh dear, what is it now? I’m in the middle of something!’

‘Yes but it’s your husband ma’am.’

‘Oh? Is the fool finally dying? I’m having a meeting.’

Napoleon took notice of how her mood quickly shifted from something light and fun to something else when her husband was brought up.

Her attitude was so fierce and sharp, you could see how it cut and tore through the gentleman’s ego. Napoleon found himself smirking a little.

‘It’s… it’s important ma’am. He demands your presence.’

She stared up at him for a long moment before letting out a deep breath through her nose and shook her head. ‘Fine. Please just— give me a second to finish my drink.’

The male in all black bowed his head and took a step back to give the woman privacy.

‘Mrs. Covington…’

‘Dear heavens, Mr. Napoleon I am so very sorry. You’ve come all this way to meet me and I have to leave.’ She sighed once again before knocking back the rest of her wine. She was gonna need it dealing with that god forsaken man.

As frustrated as Napoleon was, he couldn’t step out of character so he just gave her a gentle smile.

‘No need to apologize, Mrs. Covington. Perhaps another day? Are you free tomorrow afternoon?’

‘I should be. Maybe we can have brunch. Since this is my screw up, on me.’

‘Nooo, no ma’am. I won’t have it, it’s just a minor inconvenience—‘

‘Are you telling me no?’

The woman stared at him with eyes that searched his soul. Digging in every nook and cranny to figure out who he was.

And to her surprise, he didn’t buckle or break. He wasn’t like most men it appeared. His gaze remained on hers.

‘I’m telling you not to treat me. I don’t think it’s fair.’

‘Hmm.’ She hummed softly as she smirked and stood from her seat. ‘Alright. Meet me here tomorrow at 11:45am. Don’t be late.’

‘You lack faith in me Mrs. Covington.’

Queenie raised her brow and began to walk away, her slightly swaying hips making a statement. Then she paused and turned halfway to meet his gaze once again.

‘Oh and Sugar?’ She called out over the swelling of the music.

But it wouldn’t be nothing— nothing!! Without a woman or a girl.

He blinked and lifted his chin in response to her voice.

‘Call me Queenie.’

Random Tags: @ellethespaceunicorn @milknhonies @headcannonxgalore @xblackreader @xsapphirescrollsx @peternoonewantsthat @deandoesthingstome @peachyvulpixie

[sierracolorstheworldofwords]

The lonely king: Chapter five

You yawned for a third time in a row, much to his chagrin. Leaning against the doorframe of an old guest room, he watched you scrub the floor. You always did the floor last, just like you always opened the windows to air the room first. 

“I would like to ask you something,” he said. 

You looked up, “Yes, your majesty?” 

“Will you stay with me? You are a wonderful maid! I will pay you well, and you’ll have your own room within the castle.” 

Your eyes widened as you stopped scrubbing. He looked at your hands and frowned. You always got messy, but surely, this is what you wanted, isn’t it? 

“Well?” he asked, “What’s your answer?” 

“I– well.. There’s a catch, isn’t there? There always is, in stories.” 

He rolled his eyes when you dipped your brush into the bucket again, returning to your work. 

“That’s not an answer!” he stomped his foot, and then stomped to the window and flopped down onto the sill, “Why are you cleaning this room, anyway? It’s old and dusty!” 

You rolled your eyes, “You’re going to have guests, remember?” 

“I will?” 

“Yes!” 

You sent him that majestic glare again, before reaching into your pocket and pulling out a small book. You flipped through it, and revealed a decorated calendar for the month. His lips quivered as he took in the winter themed stickers. Was it strange that he adored your writing? You pointed to a section circled in red. 

“Two kinds are coming to talk to you about trade agreements tomorrow! Honestly! I’m not always going to be here to keep track of this for you, your majesty! I have so much to do, and then after this, I have a closing shift! I never get a day off!” 

You threw the notebook on the floor and glared at it. Then, you picked it up and stuffed it back into your pocket. He rested his chin in his hands as he watched you. 

“I have so much to do before I leave! I have to clean this floor and clean the chicken coup and the throne room, then the kitchen and the bathrooms and–” He tilted his head, watching you. 

Your heart raced. There was so much to do. Messes at home, piled in the corners and dishes that lingered in the sink. Dried up food and plants that needed watering, credit card bills that needed paying. 

At your other job? 

God, your other job. 

The one where no one stocked anything and customers always complained. No one cleaned their messes and everyone talked shit about each other. It was like roller skating on ice with shaking knees as you asked yourself, did I just hear a crack?

The worst part? 

You didn’t have anyone to complain to. Which sounded silly and even ungrateful, but you couldn’t help it. If you hadn’t been born they way you were, or if you just sucked up the abuse, then you could go home and vent to your parents. Even if they’d tell you that you were lucky. Even if you didn’t feel lucky. 

The Goblin King squatted down next to you, “Are you alright?” 

Did he ask that, or were you going crazy? You didn’t hear him right– he never asked questions like those, and for some reason, it was getting really hard to breathe. For some reason, your stomach clenched. This was it. This was your life– two dead end jobs that led to nowhere and an existence where nothing mattered. No one was going to help you, not your parents, not your coworkers, and certainly not the Goblin King! 

With that, you blinked away the tears. 

“Human?” he asked. 

“Yes, your highness?” 

 “Stop scrubbing!”

You shook your head and went back to scrubbing the floor, wishing you had something stronger than soap. 

“I demand you to stop foolishly scrubbing that floor! Whatever that is won't come off, you know. It looks like someone spilled wine there and let it dry.” 

You cut him a look and sniffed. You then moved onto another section of the floor. You didn't have time for tricks. 

He growled, “Must I repeat myself?”

You wiped your eyes and continued your work. 

“You're being very rude!” 

You turned to him, “I'm multitasking, your majesty.”

“You should accept my offer! I know you heard me!” 

“To stay here and work for you forever?” 

“You say that as if it’s a bad thing!” 

You rolled your eyes. 

“Human.”

“Yes, sire?”

“Is it so bad to stay here?”

His voice sounded so small. So fragile. You sighed. Would it be so bad? There was enough to keep you busy, day by day, but that was the problem. There was nothing to look forward to except the expanse of eternity. You saw it, in your mind’s eye, stretching on and on, morphing from a black road into a starless sky. 

“I wouldn’t say that, your majesty, but I doubt you’d truly want me to stay. I’m a lot to handle. I also already have goals that I want to achieve, and being in your permanent hire would only interfere with them.”

“I'm sure I could give you what you seek!” 

The house you dreamed of crumbled away, and fell into a dark, churning sea. 

“Not all the things I seek can be given, your majesty.”

He made a noise. 

“And while I appreciated the offer, I cannot accept it, not because you're not being generous, but–” 

“Quiet!”

“Yes, your highness,” you whispered. 

“To think! I offer you a life better than the squalor you live in! To think, I use my precious time in order to speak to you! And you, a mere human, have the gall to spit in my face with excuses?” 

You hunched your shoulders and bit your lip, holding your hands within your lap. 

“What are you? A mere pathetic, horrid little thing? How dare you reject my kindness? How dare you–” he stopped, glaring down at you, before he noticed you rubbing your eyes. “I–” now, he froze too, shoulders shaking, “Oh, you horrid little creature! Don't cry!”

You looked up at him, and your lip warbled as you stumbled on what to say, but before you could murmur a word, he stomped out of the room, and slammed the door behind him.

The day passed in an anxious haze. You left notes on his majesty’s desk, so he wouldn’t screw up, and you had the kitchen staff prepare ingredients for the next day’s guests, along with double cleaning whatever you could. 

Then, finally, you came to the last hour. Usually, the last room you cleaned was the throneroom. Should you clean the throne room? 

You couldn’t leave a job undone. 

With that, you grabbed your supplies and made your way there. 

Only to find the Goblin King sitting on his throne. You gulped. 

His stark eyes met yours and froze you to the spot. His hand tapped against his thigh and his leg bounced as he stared at you.

 It'd taken everything for you to not cry earlier. It’d taken everything for you to not cry throughout the day. You knew his type well– too prideful to apologize. 

 You turned away, put down the cleaning supplies and started to sweep. Why was he watching you? Were you finally in danger? His majesty could be as cruel as he could be kind, just as all the Folk could, but then again, you lived in a world where if you walked down the street holding hands with someone of the same gender, you could be killed for it. 

So it couldn’t hurt to risk it, could it? Your life? 

“....I should not have yelled at you,” he said.

You stopped.

He clenched his jaw and averted his gaze as he ran a hand through his hair. 

“Don't feel too bad about it, your highness. You're not the first to have yelled at me.” 

He frowned and crossed his arms, “That does not make it right. I– I made you cry.”

“Plenty of people have done that.” you gripped the broom tighter, shrugging it off, “Especially my parents.” 

The words just slipped out, like an eel dashing across your tongue, and you frowned. You laughed bitterly.

“So I'm not as sensitive as a goblin, so I handle it, you know. It was a nice offer, and–” 

“I made you cry,” he said again, his voice soft, yet commanding, “And you want to make excuses for it?” 

You couldn't help but stare at him. His majesty was a confusing creature– both a coddled little boy and a grown man. His subjects loved him dearly, yet he always seemed to be preoccupied with finding something else, with wanting more. Did he know what you’d give for a speck of the love he was so ungrateful for? Did he know what you’d do for the guaranteed safety he took for granted? Yet, you weren’t a king, you were human. You’d have to carve your life yourself, even if you ended up scarred and calloused hands. 

“It's alright, your highness. I wasn't cordial enough regarding your offer, because it's a very generous one, but you don't need to worry about me.” 

You stopped, biting your lip. The folk were tricky, and that book of fairytales didn't exactly help you, but you knew how to be careful. How to say the right words.

“I appreciate your offer, but I'll have to decline. I fear that if I were to accept it, the goblins would be upset.”

He scowled, “I'd command them not to be!”

“And, furthermore, I fear that you'd grow bored of me. I'm not very entertaining.”

“And the goblins are?”

“Plus, I would be a financial strain– humans need constant food, water and shelter. That's disregarding medical emergencies. I doubt a goblin could be a doctor.”

He sucked his teeth and sighed, before lighting up.

“Don't you want gifts? Whatever you desire?”

“What I desire cannot be given, your highness, and I hate to be rude, but I have to clean the throne room before I go.”

He groaned, “You should stay with me!”

“I'm not a goblin, sire. I'm human, and I won’t last. I doubt you'd want to deal with a funeral, would you?”

“Well, no, but–”

“Exactly. Humans are a lot of work, sir.”

Jareth didn't have anything to say to that. Though, he couldn't help but glower at you as you smiled and began to sweep once more. 

He wasn't giving up that easily. 

You lay on the floor very dramatically. Your hair splayed out behind you and your arms rested on your stomach as you closed your eyes. He peered down at you, waiting. 

Whatever was the matter? 

Surely, it was because you rejected his offer yesterday. Well, he'd ask again. Especially because you looked as if you were dying. 

“Will you stay with me?”

You gave no reply. Instead, you opened your eyes and looked at him with a gaze that made his heart squeeze. Then, finally, like a miracle, you groaned. 

“Oh! You're alive!” 

You groaned again.

“You are!” He cried jubilee, circling you, “Now! You can get back to work, or better yet, say yes!” 

Once more, that glare froze him in place. Held him captive. What was he to do, with that gaze? 

“Don't glare at me!”

In response, you stuck out your tongue and crossed your arms. He gasped.

“You horrid little creature!” he cried, “sticking your tongue out at me! How could you?” 

You scowled– oh, he adored that! 

“You can be..” you started, lips forming into a tight line, “You can be such a meanie!” 

He laughed loudly, “Meanie?!”

“You're so mean!”

“Mean?”

“Mean!”

He threw back his head, cackling even more. See? You always surprised him, clever thing! Even if he was still miffed, he couldn’t help it as he wiped away an imaginary tear. 

“Are you done insulting me?” he asked softly, looking down at you with a sort of strange smile, “Or, are you going to accept my offer? There is a solution to your mortality, love.”

You stayed silent. He clucked his tongue before kneeling down to pinch your cheek. Your gaze turned towards him, and his heart pinched as he noticed the bags beneath your eyes. 

“You know,” you said, “I think you should ask me what the matter is first.” 

He raised a brow at that, tilting his head, before deciding to indulge you, “Whatever is the matter?” 

You shrugged, “I know I shouldn't tell you this, but I'm exhausted.”

“I could tell.”

You cut him a look. 

He smiled and remained silent, even if his heart pounded within his chest. 

“I doubt you'd understand,” you murmured.

“I could try,” he replied, sitting on his knees next to you. 

For some silly reason, his cheeks flushed even more. Perhaps, because you looked as if you couldn't believe he'd want to listen. Under other circumstances he wouldn't have afforded a mere human such a luxury, but how could he not return the kindness you always gave so freely? 

Always listening, always offering advice, conversation.. 

Why wouldn’t you just stay? Just stay here, with him, forever! Be here, and wear pretty things within a gilded cage and always listen! Wasn’t that better than that godforsaken place you called home?

“Work has been stressful, nobody really helps me. And.. my rent went up again, along with everything else.”

“Stay with me, then!”

“Your majesty–”

“You'd have a job! That's what you want, isn't it?”

You looked at him and frowned. How could a creature like him, who didn't have to cower within the shadows understand what you wanted? How could a creature covered head to toe in magic ever understand your want for mundanity? It would be nice to have a partner, and to just wake up to the sound of breakfast. The both of you would have nice jobs, and live in a nice house! 

You’d grow old together, and one day, die together. 

His majesty would never understand that. To him, it was all a game. There were winners, losers and people weren’t people, but pawns. You'd seen how he could be whenever there was a runner within his labyrinth, yet he never seemed to turn those cruelties to you. 

So, what did that mean? Why were you complaining to him now? 

Probably because of the other day, when he gave you that kind, compassionate look that made your insides melt like butter. In all your life, no one had ever looked at you like that. No one. 

“Well?” he persisted, “Isn’t it.” 

“No.”

“No?”

“I want a life!” you whispered, “A house where i don't have to worry about my rent going up every month or my landlord deciding to randomly kick me out! A life where I can afford a car and not have to take the damn bus everyday! Where I can buy nice groceries instead of cheap junk!”

“Why on earth would you want all of that?”

“I knew you wouldn't understand.”

“I can get you whatever you want! Your own house, and you wouldn't need one of those metal carriages! I could take you anywhere you want to go! I am a very powerful creature, mortal. You mustn't forget that.” 

You knew a threat when it was presented to you. You also weren’t a fool. You'd read enough stories to know that the folk were not to be messed with. You had to be gentle in this rejection.

“Your majesty, why do you want me to stay?”

He glanced down at you, and his gaze reminded you of a judgemental cat on a high perch. 

“Well, why wouldn't I want you to stay?”

You fiddled with your hands and looked down at your bitten, skin-picked nails. It was hard not to pick. It felt soothing, in a way. You fingered your hair and noticed the frizz.

“I'm not the prettiest, your majesty, and I know you'd get tired of looking at me pretty quickly. That's why it'd be better to keep me as a temporary employee.” 

“That's silly! You're under my permanent hire! Furthermore, I'm a wonderful boss. Watch. I demand you go home and take the day's payment!” 

“What? Your Majesty, I can't do–”

“Yes. You can. Consider.. why, consider it a gift, from yours truly!”

He shoved a bagful of jewels into your arms. You gave him an exasperated look, before plopping the pile back into his arms.

“It's rude to deny a gift–”

“But this isn't a gift. You said I could consider it one, but I don't, because this is supposed to be my payment for thirteen hours of work. So thus, I cannot take it.” 

“So I ought to pay you more for your work! What an astute observation!” he leaned over and pinched your cheek, before finally stuffing your arms with more treasure.

“Your Majesty–!”

With the snap of his fingers, he summoned a familiar clock and spun a finger in the air. The hand on the clock began to spin, before a gong rang. It landed upon the thirteenth hour, and when it did, he smiled.

“There. Now it's been a full day. You are free to leave, and here–” more things appeared from the air, and he added it to your pile with a smirk, “For your hard work.” 

You crossed your arms, eyeing the pile warily, “What's the catch?”

“Catch?”

“Gifts come with conditions, don't they?”

“So do rewards, but those aren't obvious, are they?”

You bit your lip. Your stomach grumbled. You hadn't been able to buy groceries. Saving for a house and all the responsibilities that came with it was nearly impossible, but it had to be worth it.

It had to.

You’d move to a place that was more accepting. You’d live in a nice neighborhood in an old house with a circle window in the attic and French windows in the front. You’d have an English garden in the yard, and grow your own lavender and vegetables. If you closed your eyes, you could see it– the bright sun shining on the leaves of the trees, rippling on the pond filled with ducks and koi fish. Lily pads floated on its surface, and ducktails gathered around the edges. Within your home, there’d be no yelling. Within your home, there’d be no horror. A goldfish would swim in a tank, and there’d be a library, filled with your favorite books, and on Sundays, you’d go to the park and chat with friends. 

You could feel it, that life, brimming against your fingertips. 

You made your choices. You avoided the cliches–  never eating or drinking  anything offered, never saying thank you. Never accepting gifts. 

Was this a gift? 

You stared at the Goblin King, at his lithe and long features, at the fingers that were too long to be human, and the ears that peeked from his long, blond mane. Today, he wore a shirt made from strands of silver, with black boots encrusted with diamonds to match. From head to toe, he glittered like a star, even his gloves were bedazzled. 

He’d never known of work till his hands went numb. None of the folk did. 

“Come now,” he cooed, “what have you got to lose, taking this?”

“Can you guarantee that there will be no negative consequences to accepting this?”

“You did it the other day, didn’t you?” 

“That was a fair exchange.” His eyes flickered with an obscene glow as he leaned over you, “Was it?” 

“Yes, because while you only hired me to clean around the castle, I managed the goblins and got them to ensure that your trade negotiation went well. Along with leaving a list of talking points. It wasn’t the first time I’d done that, either. So, I think I ought to consider this a long overdue raise, and that you should guarantee that there will be no negative consequences in accepting it, especially if you want me to keep working here. Which, I think you do, don’t you?” 

You flashed him a smile, and oddly enough, his cheeks turned into a shade of bright pink. It was cute. In another life, he would’ve been your type. 

“Fine! I guarantee that there will be no negative consequences to accepting this gift!”

“I will accept this raise, your majesty, and I’m more than grateful for it.” 

With that, you bowed and ran off before you could change your mind.

The Goblin King couldn't help but watch you. 

Really, what else was he supposed to do? He was being patient! Even if it was hard! 

How many times had he asked you, anyway? Two! Well,  he'd ask again. 

You couldn't reject him a third time– especially when you were covered in dirt from rooting around in the garden. You turned towards him, and a wind came through, blowing your hair. The sun shone, and caught it, casting a halo around you. You were the most beautiful thing in that garden, even if your cheeks were smudged with dirt and your clothes covered in it. 

He scowled as you gave him a little wave. His scowl worsened when you turned to a goblin, talking to the little creature as if it were nothing. 

You even gave it a little pat on the head before returning to your work. He, of course, continued to stare. Until you turned back to stare at him.

He'd give you one more chance to accept his offer. 

Then, of course, he’d resort to other means. 

[slowee00]

SNEAK PEEK ARC 2 - SYSTEM X

This is a sneak peek of arc 2. It is almost complete and it’s gonna be a short arc but the others are gonna be longer. I swear. Anyway enjoy and feel free to like and repost. It just me motivation.

MASTERLIST

Takes place after the protagonist’s recovery. 

You smiled at the grumpy nurse who gave you a not-less-smile. You've been in the hospital for over 3 month now. Your recovery- to most- was a miracle. Doctors were over joyed at your recovery, and nurses were more then happy to help you move with therapy. You wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the amazing doctors and nurses by your side.

Amazing what they can do.

"Leaving finally?" She asked, grabbing papers. Her voice filled with annoyance but you found it was a mask to hide her excitement.

"Yup! discharged finally," you said before handing her a gift bag. "For you, for helping me."

She smiled. A genuine one. "When you enter this field, helping someone is a must not a choice. I helped you because it's my job..." she took the gift bag and hid it behind the serving desk.

"Thank you. Whatever it is, I love it." She chuckled before handing you papers.

The bill probably.

"A young man already paid for it." Your nurse said before walking away from you to her new patient.

"A young man...?" You muttered. Paid? Someone paid for it? Sure as hell wasn't you. So who? Quickly you opened the bill, scanning the page for a name. Anonymous it read. How the hell did someone pay over ₩40,000,000 for let alone someone like you?

Your memory was fuzzy. Apon months of physical and mental therapy, your memory flashed every now and then. You can hardly remember the two figures in your room after your surgery. And as to how you were hospitalized remains a mystery. Who would do something so brutal? Maybe someone knows who you are and is now targeting you or it's just karma coming to say hello.

The nurses informed you that friends came over to visit but you were quick to say you had no one to call friend in Korea. Which led you to believe that they were involved with your hospitalizations.

So why the flowers? Why the blank card? The flowers you got because it’s a sign of support in recovery. But you have no one close enough to give you anything, let alone flowers. But what leaves you confused was the card. The blank card.

And to make matters worse, you got fired. The owner said to keep a reputation for the store, they had to fire you. Which was stupid, your hospitalizations didn't make headlines as accidents like yours are rare in Korea. Either it was masked by someone and told reporters to report something else or no one knew at all. So who or what made your boss fire you? It was hard enough to find a job and now your left with nothing. If all means, you were kinda happy the anonymous person paid for the bill or you would have to pull a line of credit to pay it off.

But you still had to pay for the coach bus ride back home. Your accident was so bad that they had to bring you to a whole different city for surgery. 2 hours away. Going under over 10 hours of surgery all together. The magic doctors have.

It was only a couple weeks later- after being discharged, was when you found a new job. A flexible one. One that you can enjoy. One many wished to have.

Dog sitting.

"She's happy to see me again, isn't she?" You laughed, asking the owner of the Chihuahua, holding the small dog in your arms who was wagging her tail aggressively and attempting to lick your face. Black and white breed with large eyes and her tongue that hanged from her mouth. "Yeah whateves, you can have her if you want, she's a pain in the ass anyway..."

She said, standing in her house taking a puff of her cigarette while you stood outside of it.

Your smile dropped.

"I'm sorry what?"

"Tomorrow at 8pm!" She yelled before slamming the door on your face. "Ok!" You yelled through the door, looking down to the small dog, you scratched her head- which she seemed to enjoy. "I can have you huh?" You really wanted to. By looks, she wasn't clearly groomed properly or often.

"If I had money... I'll do it if it means you're happy..." you mumbled, kissing her head.

Marshmallow, a Chihuahua- you think- you don't know the type of breed. Who cares. It's a dog. They can love you as much as you love him or she. You dog sit for a lot of other dogs, but Marshmallow is your favourite. She doesn't listens, eats a lot, sleeps, and looks and acts goofy. Just like yourself.

You found yourself in front of your car. Your car that sat in the parking garage since your incident. They cleaned everything. Not even letting the evidence team through and clean the crime scene immediately after you out of there. So to begin with, your case was nothing but ignored or erased. You definitely knew that you fought the culprit through, and definitely going to confront them about your car bill having to remove your insurance days prior.

Finally reaching your apartment door, your hands full with dog food and Marshmallow's bed as the owner wanted the dog gone for at least 24 hours. Kinda makes you question as to why Marshmallow's owner even own her.

She barks at your feet before you successfully opening the door, her tiny feet tapping the cold tiles before going silent due to the apartment's carpet. Immediately running to the couch to lay down.

Across from her was the flowers the two 'friends' dropped a couples days after your surgery. Nearly dead actually. The blank card tho, you figured it out. It's blank to the naked eye but visible under blue UV light. Smart cookies. On the card was a phone number. That's it. You've never called it or reported to the police. They didn’t help in the first place, so you were left on your own.

You just finished taking off your shoes, throwing them into the closet. "Marshmallow get off of the couch!" She didn't listen at first, but you smiled when she jumped off of the cushions to join you passing the couch. She jumped up, upper paws gripping your leg as she barks frantically.

"What...?" You mumbled placing down the supplies on the table beside you. Looking at the table you noticed the new large hot sauce bottle you recently purchased. "Hungry?" Your thumb caressing the bottle, remembering it was your adopted father’s favourite, shocked to see they sold it here in Korea.

"Let me get you some food..." you muttered. "Miss L/n-"  your eyes went wide and Marshmallow barked before you turned around quickly, chucking the bottle at the presence behind you.

Not to your surprised, they caught the bottle smoothly. Without a care in the world with their arm covering their face. The hot sauce bottle in a tight grip as their steel rings colliding with the hard plastic. They wore full black. A large black dress shirt with a silver chain and fancy baggy black cargo pants. With their hair full pitch black with parted slick bangs. They slightly dropped their arm.

They smiled. Or... he smiled.

"Hi~" he greeted in a happy-silly tone.

Your memory is still a blur for the past months but when you saw his face, you remembered it immediately. No, you didn't need drugs or surgery to remember his face.

Mr. Park motherfucking Seonghwa.

Dropping arc 2 on 20th

I swear. I’m done my exams.

Taglist (don’t be shy and I’ll add)

@yayaistime @mermaid17venus

[floosies]

Radio

early 2000s au

eddie munson x oc!fem

warnings: mentions of drugs, cursing, eventual smut, mentions of abuse, friends to lovers 18+

(a/n: this chapter will focus on the troubled teen industry, which I did research on during one of my law classes back in college. its a sensitive topic so you can totally skip this chapter its sort of filler of what happened during their time apart from each other '10- early 2011.)

"I'd rather go to hell than be in purgatory. Cut my hair, gag and bore me. Pull this pin, let this world explode"

Purgatory ( the months of failures and success 2010-2011)

It all happened so quickly, which she had prepared for mentally. She didn't fight whatever was happening, she was just told that they were taking her to where she would get help. Placing her in a van with blacked out windows, she stared at her parents wondering why they ever even chose to become parents. The van drove for a whole day, no one spoke to her after the first couple of miles, they only spoke to explain what would happen when she got to the 'boot camp'.

Her belongings were taken from her and she was told that her parents placed her in the program because of her behavior. Instantly, she knew this was going to be like a prison. Every day was some sort of manual labor and any sort of attitude or supposed disobedience was met with all sorts of punishments from cleaning to being made to sleep out in the woods for as many nights as they deemed necessary. Sometimes they wouldn't get dinner, and the food wasn't even a meal just small things.

She never bothered to write to her parents or use her calls on them. Just to her best friend to ask how people were, still even that was heavily monitored. It was though, how she found out about Eddie leaving Hawkins and about the band blowing up. In her heart she was happy for him, but a part of her broke knowing she wasn't with him. Still her friend always reassured her that Eddie had loved her and even told Julie about what he did at her parent's house. It was the only small bit of hope she clung to when it came to him.

During those months in her incarceration she had made friends with a girl who was similar in age to her. Her name was Charlotte which she hated because of the book and how growing up people always asked if she was named after it. They both bonded over their style and music taste, which got them into more trouble at times. One night it even led to both of them having to sleep in the woods, which was something they tried to avoid from happening again.

Due to their closeness in age, they were both brought into some sort office in the facility, where they were told they would be getting released out of the program soon. In the state they were currently in, they could not be held after eighteen which technically meant they were free to leave. When they did get released Julie had made a decision to do like Eddie and leave Hawkins behind. There wasn't any real reason to go back to that place. Graduation and prom had already happened by the time she was out.

Charlotte had mentioned how she had planned to go to New York, in her possessions was a credit card her grandma had given her. She had mentioned to Julie that her family was wealthy and only really did this to her to get rid of her for some time. It was fucked, and Charlotte agreed but didn't really care because she was just going to start over. Julie asked if she could join her, promising that she would work for her end of whatever payments or bills that had to be paid. Her new friend shrugged saying it wasn't that big of a deal.

-

Inheritance had been a hell of a savior, as soon as they bought their plane tickets and landed in New York, they had a place to stay. Julie hadn't gone into the facility with much. She had brought her phone but it hadn't been paid, so no service, and her wallet only had twenty bucks and her ID's. Apart from that was a small duffel of clothes her parents had packed for her. So once they arrived and cleaned up, Charlotte let her use the card she had to buy new clothes and what not.

Within the month they had started to make do with their situation. Where Charlotte didn't really care for finding a job, Julie did and when she found one she started saving to have enough to replace her belongings and pay for rent. Eventually though Charlotte did get a job working for a friend of her family, who was close to her grandmother.

In-between all the working and saving though, they started going out to the clubs around the Manhattan area. Documenting everything through pictures and being asked back by promoters who had found both girls 'pretty' enough to help bring people in. It was how Julie ended up befriending Alexa Chung one night. She had no clue who this girl was, but everyone around them at the club did, and at the same time, Julie and Charlotte were just as popular in that spot. It led to them talking about it the whole night and soon enough Alexa's agency wanted to talk to both of the girls.

By the late summer the girls had signed onto a modeling agency and gotten approved for work visas to enter the UK. Julie wasn't as picky as her friend had been about everything, she started doing ads for shops and magazines, being a guest interviewer for music channels and online radio shows. People loved her sweet demeanor and cheeky manner. Lottie never held it against her, she knew Julie didn't grow up in the limelight like she had so she let her friend make her way on her own.

With this new freedom, it didn't take long for her to make drastic changes. She didn't want to be found and she didn't want her past to exist anymore, so with her agent and publicist she got on a flight to Indianapolis and signed all the paperwork that would change her name, she'd chosen something slightly foreign and bubbly sounding, Francesca Thompson, the name added with a nickname, Frenchie, was a hit, her team agreed the decision to make the change helped her career immensely.

-

Frenchie had been reborn and her popularity in the indie scene had begun to bloom. Everyone spoke about her as Alexa Chung's sister from another mister. However, where Alexa was dating someone in her scene, Frenchie had a thing for guys who reminded her of the guy who had stole her heart. Though she never wanted to forget Eddie, she knew by looking at his social media and magazine articles that he had moved on. She was happy for him though, she always look out for him and the band, but now as a fan. By the end of 2010, she had found herself with this new guy who was coming up with his band.

He was something of a mix between Julian Casablanca and Oli Sykes but he wasn't either and his band was well into the metal scene. Nothing about him was similar to Eddie though, they didn't click as quickly but his piercings and tattoos made her feel like she could make believe. Both of them were on the come up and their fans ate up their relationship.

They entered the new year with his band and her modeling gigs blowing up. Their names synonymous with each other's careers. It was beginning to get easy to forget what once had been. She was a whole new person in love with someone who was close enough to home without the pain it once carried.

-

Eddie was touring, the band growing in success and notoriety through the approval of all the older groups who insisted that Corroded Coffin carried the spirit of metal into the present day. Ever the front man he didn't mind being on the front page if meant people were tuning into what the band was playing. Of course it wasn't what he wanted the focus to be on, but he'd grown up on Fred Durst doing outlandish shit all the time so what did it really matter?

He'd tried to look for her every once in a while, but there was nothing to be found. Julie's best friend had only mentioned once that Julie was safe, but what did that mean and why wouldn't she speak to him? He never got answers, but in his heart she was always going to be his first true love. Where ever she was he only hoped she thought of him the way he thought of her, but he moved onto someone new.

-

In September of 2011, there was a business party for her boyfriend's record label, of course he took her as his plus one. The night was going well til she saw them walk in, there he was with the boys. They looked so different now, well put together and groomed, something she'd never seen Eddie as before. They didn't speak, she stood beside her boyfriend the whole night.

Only for a brief moment did they pass each other as she went to grab some more drinks from the open bar. He just barely glanced at her apologizing for reaching over her to get some beers from the ice bucket beside her. Though their eyes met, its as if they were complete strangers. Her hair was platinum blonde now, his was cut short and there was a stud in his ear where there hadn't been a couple years back.

That night when she got back to her place, she lied about a migraine from the drinks to get her boyfriend to let her be for the night with the promise of brunch in the afternoon. In reality she spent the remainder of the night crying in her bed to an old picture she had of her and Eddie from their last hang out at the band's gig.

Meanwhile Eddie got drunk that night, his mind thinking back to how familiar that blonde at the bar looked. His mind couldn't piece it together, how something about her eyes reminded him of someone or something. However with the liquor in his system and a flight in the morning he started to forget about her as quickly as he thought about her in the first place.

taglist: @writinginthetwilight

[geometricalien]

Can you imagine how hilarious it would be if a few months in their relationship, neither Seijūrō nor Kōki know each other's birthday because the subject never came up whenever they talk?

Like, considering Seijūrō's upbringing, it wouldn't be a surprise if he thinks of birthdays as something trivial. Just as another regular day. Whereas for Kōki, birthdays are a milestone.

So it's November 8th, Kōki's birthday. But he's completely busy dealing with real life stuff that he entirely forgets about it... Until his co-workers surprised him with popping confettis, presents, songs & of course, a cake.

Skip to Seijūrō who just finished work, he opens his social media account just to pass time. He checks Tetsuya's post, where the light blue-haired guy celebrated & congratulated Kōki's (insert ordinal number here) birthday, surrounded with Taiga & people he don't know.

Seijūrō blinks. Today is Kōki's birthday???

He looks at the clock. It's 09:00 P.M.

Fuck. Seijūrō only has 3 hours left to find the perfect gift for Kōki.

But he's not an Akashi if he gives up. Either he tries even if it means he'll have to wait the comfort of a hot shower & his bed or he'll miss out on his BF's birthday.

Okay okay, so, besides my private hc that Kouki would rack up bills from designer brands with his husband's black credit card- I think he is someone who won't accept extravagant gifts, like, the price of it hangs over his head and he knows he won't ever be able to match it so he can't accept them.

With that option out of the window, Akashi's only remaining choice is to arrange an experience. Some phone calls later Akashi books it across the city and makes it to Kouki's apartment in a record time of 27 minutes. When Kouki opens the knock on his door he is met with the sight of a slightly frazzled Akashi holding a small bakery box. (No he absolutely did not pay the individual who was closing shop for the night 30,000 yen to let him buy a cake afterhours)

"Happy birthday, Kouki."

Confusion gives to surprise and then to joy. Kouki's chest burns with light. Uncaring to his neighbors who may be nearby or the pedestrians on the street who may look up, he leans forward and kisses Akashi. He pulls back from Akashi who is also surprised since Kouki rarely displayed affection in public- Akashi leans towards Kouki, chasing his lips a bit. He blinks open his eyes to see Kouki's bitten back smile and his feet are barely able to catch himself when Kouki pulls him into the apartment by the arm.

They spend the last couple hours of his birthday in each other’s presence simply enjoying being together because those last few hours are the loneliest as an adult on your birthday. When you can feel the echo of your voice on the walls and the touch of your loved ones from eariler is gone. You just want to be with those you love.

In the morning Kouki wakes up to the smell of something burning. He can't help but laugh as he watches Akashi attempt to scrap something black off of a pan into the sink. Frustrated he drops the pan with a dull clang. It's easy to sneak up on Akashi when he is so focused on something else, and that's just what Kouki does. He wraps his arms around his waist and buries in nose in his nape. The smell of Kouki's conditioner fills his nose. Instantly Akashi relaxes.

Almost petulantly Akashi mutters, "I was going to make you your favorite meal. It's harder than I originally thought."

Kouki's arms tighten a bit and he presses his smile into Akashi's shoulder. "Thank you for trying, but you really shouldn't be allowed in a kitchen."

Akashi hums a half agreement. He turns around and returns Kouki’s embrace.

"I might have ruined your pan."

Kouki's laugh paints the kitchen gold.

On Kouki's next day off Akashi takes him out for his "birthday date" which involves taking him on a tour of the premier train manufacturing company and entering the next top of the line model that will officially release in two months.

"I don't know how I'll be able to match that for your birthday... and when is your birthday by the way?"

"December 20th. You do not have to worry about that. I would just like to spend it with you."

"That can be arranged."

[mayalaen]

I'm way too grouchy today.

I lost $900 today because my family STILL won't double check things.

When I first got covid, I was REALLY sick, and they knew it. My brain wasn't functioning right (still isn't but it's better than it was) and I wasn't double checking out-of-state orders for the shop personally for a couple weeks.

It had been a few months since they sent something out that was obviously paid for with a stolen credit card so I was like okay I'm gonna just step back and take care of myself and let them do their thing. It's a slow time of year anyway in the tattoo industry.

This morning Charlie (my uncle) dropped a letter from the bank off at my door. All four of us handle different things and Charlie does some of the banking stuff (among other things).

The letter was sent out weeks ago but he wasn't getting the mail even though he's supposed to get it no less than once a week.

The bank was notifying me that there was a chargeback on an order.

An $850 machine with expedited shipping, so $900 total.

I checked the order and the shipping address was 1500 miles away from the billing address. The phone number was 2500 miles away from the billing address and in a completely different state from the shipping address.

And the time period for being able to dispute the chargeback ended Friday at 5pm eastern standard time. He gave me the letter (today) Saturday morning. So TFB for me.

I pointed out the address discrepancies and both Charlie and Marissa (his wife) were like yeah but the system didn't flag it as fraudulent!

I said for the millionth time yeah I know. Not every fraudulent order is flagged as fraudulent, otherwise we'd never get scammed and the world would be a wonderful place!

I said, yet again, that I usually check EVERY order that comes in, especially when it's for more than $100.

Just a quick check to see if the billing and shipping addresses are SOMEWHAT close.

They responded with "EVERY ORDER?!!"

What kind of response is this?! Why the fuck would you double check some orders and not others?

And if you ARE going to check some and not others, wouldn't the $900 order with expedited shipping be one of them?!

I wasn't mean about it but I mentioned that I deal with scammers CONSTANTLY. I swear between the IRS requirements for small businesses and scammers, more than half my time working for the shop is spent dealing with bullshit instead of working on my actual shop!

I spent 3 days this past week dealing with a guy who ended up being a scammer. He kept trying to run his card through the online store and it was getting kicked back for nonmatching info.

I was emailing back and forth with him because he sounded like a genuine customer with a bank issue -- it happens sometimes because tattoo supplies are sometimes flagged by banks as unusual.

After three days of no less than an hour a day dealing with him, my bank finally kicked back some useful info -- that the card was issued to a man in the Netherlands while this dude was purchasing from the US.

So yeah. Scammer.

And if I wouldn't have been diligent with it or I had pushed the order through anyway, I would've lost almost $3000 in supplies.

I told Charlie and Marissa this and they reacted like spending this much time on a scam was a completely new idea to them. Like I haven't told them a million times how much time scammers take up.

But you can be sure that at the beginning of next month Charlie's going to be there with his hand out waiting for his pay and will throw a stink if I deduct $900 from his allowance even though the shop pays for my house/living expenses (and my parents) and Charlie's house/living expenses.

It feels like Charlie and Marissa are glorified cashiers (who get paid WAY more than cashiers and only work 30 hours a week) while I'm working no less than 60 hours a week and paying for their fuckups out of my own pocket.

At least you can fire shitty employees 🤬

Of course he immediately turned it around on me and acted like the hurt party in all this to the point where my mom was like "let him know you still love him he had a hard day."

Oh I'm sorry. Did he have a hard day when he found out that the car part he ordered was destroyed during shipping and they're sending a replacement? That's so terrible let me cry for him.

[medical-professional-home-loans]

Why Your Doctor Mortgage Credit Score Matters (And How to Improve It!)

As a medical professional, your credit score is more than just a number—it can make or break your chances of getting the mortgage you want, the loan terms you deserve, and the best interest rates. Whether you’re buying your first home or refinancing, understanding how your credit score works in the world of physician mortgages is crucial to securing the dream home you've worked so hard for. Here’s what you need to know to make it happen. 🏡

What Is a Doctor Mortgage Credit Score & Why Should You Care? 🤔

Your credit score is a number that shows how well you manage debt. For doctors and high-earning professionals, having a strong credit score doesn’t just improve your chances of getting approved for a mortgage—it gives you access to better loan terms and lower rates. Think of it as a financial health check that impacts your future. Your goal? Don’t just meet the minimum requirements—get the best possible loan!

How Does a Hard Credit Inquiry Affect My Score? 💳

When applying for a mortgage, lenders perform a "hard credit inquiry" to assess your risk as a borrower. For docs like you, with a lot of moving parts in your finances, this can cause a temporary dip in your credit score. 😬 But don’t panic—there’s good news! You can "rate shop" without it hurting your credit. If you shop for a mortgage within a 14-45 day window, multiple inquiries count as one—so you can compare rates without significant damage to your score.

Mortgage Credit Pull vs. Regular Credit Score Check 📊

Ever checked your credit score on apps like Credit Karma? Here’s the deal: the score you see there may not be the same as the one lenders pull. Mortgage lenders often use different scoring models (like FICO Score 2, 4, or 5), which focus on how you manage large, long-term debt like a mortgage. Don’t stress if your mortgage score is lower than what you’re used to seeing—it’s normal, and it just means the lender is focusing on your ability to manage big loans. The key here? Keep up your good credit habits to stay on top. 📈

How to Improve Your Doctor Mortgage Credit Score 💪

Want to get your credit score in shape for a doctor mortgage? It’s easier than you think. Here’s what you can do:

Pay Your Bills on Time: Timely payments are one of the best ways to boost your score. Whether it’s student loans, credit cards, or other debts, paying on time shows you’re a responsible borrower.

Lower Your Credit Utilization: If you have a lot of available credit, try to keep your utilization under 30%. High utilization can hurt your score, so aim to keep balances low.

Don’t Close Old Credit Cards: The length of your credit history matters. Keep old accounts open (even if you don’t use them much)—it’ll help your score.

Limit New Credit Inquiries: Opening new credit accounts can temporarily lower your score. Save new inquiries for when you really need them, like when buying a home.

Fix Any Credit Report Errors: If you spot errors on your credit report, dispute them. Incorrect info can hurt your score, so make sure everything’s accurate.

What Is a Rapid Rescore and Can It Help Me? ⚡

Need your score to improve fast? A rapid rescore is a process that helps get your credit updated quickly after paying down debts or fixing errors. It’s great if you’re on a deadline, but remember: it’s a short-term fix. Building a solid credit history is what really pays off in the long run. 🏅

How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Credit Score? ⏳

Improving your credit score takes time—but the effort is totally worth it. Small changes like paying bills on time or lowering credit utilization can show results in just a few months. Bigger improvements, like recovering from a bankruptcy, take longer. But stay consistent—your credit score will improve over time, especially if you’re building wealth for the future.

What Credit Score Do I Need for a Doctor Mortgage? 🏠

Different mortgage loans have different credit score requirements. Here's what you need to know:

Conventional Loans: Min. score of 620, but for the best rates, aim for 740+.

FHA Loans: Flexible, but a score of 580+ is ideal.

VA Loans: No set minimum, but a score of 620+ is preferred.

USDA Loans: Most lenders prefer a score of 640+.

For a physician mortgage, you don’t just want to meet the minimum—you want to aim for the best terms. Take steps to improve your credit score so you can access the most favorable rates and loan options.

Get Help Improving Your Credit Score 💼

Want a hand with improving your credit score? Start by getting a credit report and working with a mortgage advisor who specializes in doctor mortgages. They’ll help you come up with a game plan to boost your score and get you ready to buy your home.

Remember, it’s never too early to start planning. Check your credit regularly, and if there are any surprises, get in touch with your mortgage team ASAP. The sooner you start the process, the smoother it will be when it’s time to purchase your dream home. 🙌

#DoctorMortgage #CreditScoreTips #PhysicianLoans #FinancialTips #MortgageAdvice #HighEarningProfessionals #CreditScoreMatters #RealEstateTips #MedicalProfessionals

[mint-moon25]

SuperM 슈퍼엠 ‘Jopping’ MV

24 HOUR - FITNESS - BOGUS - WARNING

THOUGHT - MY - $37.44 - DUE - EA - 30TH

DUE - 16TH

MALE - WHO - WAS - FRIENDLY - HE’s

HISPANIC - ALSO - BOTH - FEMALE AND

HIM - BOTH - HISPANIC - ATTACKED ME

SHE - SAID - MY - MASTERCARD - FAKE

HE - SAID - JUST - PUT - MONEY - ASIDE

SO - AUTO - PAY - WILL - GO - THROUGH

I - SAID - ‘I’M - AGE 59′ - ‘I - GOT - THIS’

HE - BASICALLY - SAID

‘MA’M - YOU’RE - AGE 50 AND OLDER

NOT - TUESDAY - ROSS - 10% - OFF

AS - AGE 55 AND OLDER

ROSS - 2ND - STORE - IN - THAT OPEN

MALL - IMPLIED -

‘YOU’RE - AGE 50 AND OLDER - SENILE

WHAT - WE’RE - HERE - 4 - WHEN - YOU

FORGET - BILL - DUE’

SO - ASKED

‘HOW - MUCH - 2 - END - THE - 1 YEAR

PLAN?’

HE - SAID - BRING - $50 - TO - HIM

BOX VAULT - TRIED - 2 - BOX - ME

AMERICAN - MALE - SAMOAN - AND

HISPANIC - TRIED - 2 - GRAB - MY BAG

HE - WANTED - JUST - 4 - HIM

$100

SAME - CARD - HE’LL - FORGOT - HE

OPENED - STORAGE - DOOR - 9:30P

WHEN - IT’s - ME - WITH - 24 HR YES

ACCESS

SO - $37.44 - I PAY - THE - APP

THEN - BRING - HIM MY CARD

AND - GIVE - HIM - $50

I - TOLD - HIM - I - WAS - VIOLENTLY

ROBBED - HE - SHOWED - ME THAT

ACCESS - WITH - 2ND - FINGER

PUT - MOBILE - TEL NO

LOUSY - TECH

FINGER - LONG - TIME - 2 - REGISTER

THEY - BOTH - HUMILIATED - ME WITH

PUBLIC - HUMILIATION

EVERYONE - 50 AND - OLDER - BAG

WOMAN - SENILE - DOESN’T - KNOW

BILL - DUE

ILLEGAL - PUBLIC - HUMILIATION

WILL - FILE - WITH - HARVARD LAW

NO - RACKETBALL

BASKETBALL - ALWAYS - MEN

THEN - LATELY

EVERY - WEEKDAY

BRITISH - SWIM - CLASS - FOR

BABIES

SURVIVAL - OF - THE - FITTEST

THEIR - MOMS - LEAVE

BLK - DARK - HAIR - ON - THE

SHOWER - AND - SIDES - FLOOR

VERY - DIRTY - HUMANS

THOUGHT - GYM - WAS - FOR 16

AND - OLDER

NO - LISTING - OF - TIMES - FOR

BRITISH - SWIM - CLASS - BABIES

APPARENTLY - THEY’RE - ALLOWED

MEMBERS

3 LANES - EMPTY - THAT - SIGN

NOT - REMOVED?

BEGINNING - OR - END OF CLASS

FILING - WITH - HARVARD - LAW

THE - REASON - REVERSED - WAS

NICE - BECAUSE - WE’RE - ALREADY

ROBBED - OF - ANNUAL - FEE

OVER - $50 - NON-REFUNDABLE

I’M - GETTING

$250 BILLION - PER - EMPLOYEE

ALL - 50 STATES

REVERSING - THEIR - CREDIT 

LIMIT - TO - $2.50 - INSTEAD 

THEN - ALL - CALLS - FROM 

‘YOUR - CARD - IS - INVALID’

‘DO - YOU - HAVE - ANOTHER - CARD?’

SO - DUE - DATE - WAS - 16TH - NOT

30TH - I - SAID - DISABILITY 

TREATMENT

‘ALL - ARE - CREATED - EQUAL’

THE - ALTERNATIVE

UFC - FIT - DORAL

$59 - MONTHLY

PROBLEM - NOT - LISTING

AT - WEBSITE - RIGHT - AWAY

60 DAYS - THE - ANNUAL - FEE - $49

LIKE - ALL - STORAGE

ADMINISTRATIVE - FEE - $39

INSURANCE - $19

SO - MY - FIRST - MONTH

FROM - 50% - OFF

WAS - OVER - $77

NEXT - $62

NOW - MONTHLY - $71.53

SO - BUYING - SHOWER - HEAD - WITH

PUMP - PUT - IN - SOFT - BUCKET - OF

WATER - $37.99 - AMAZON’s - CHOICE

FOR - MY - HAIR - COLORING

DARK - IN - MIAMI - MAIN - LIBRARY

SIDE - THE - REST

BACK - 2 - MIAMI - BEACH

REALLY - COLD - AS - I - POUR - MY

ORANGE - BODY - SHOWER - GEL

IT’S - LIKE - WATER

THEN - I - SWIM - IN - THE - WATER

LAST - WAS - ONLY - 39 MIN

BUS 100 - HANGOVER

SO - I’M - GOING - 2 - FIRST - BLEACH

MY - HAIR - AND - WEAR - MAKE - UP

THEY - THOUGHT - I’M - AN - OLD

WRINKLED - PRUNE BAG - HOMELESS

ONLY - NEEDS - SHOWER

SO - FIRST - COLORING - MY - HAIR

MAKE UP - REQUIRED - AT - 24 HOUR

FITNESS - CLOSED - CHRISTMAS DAY

THEN - NO - LONGER - CARRYING

HEAVY - LUGGAGE - BECAUSE - I WAS

ROBBED - OF - MY - SMALL - CONTAINERS

4 - SHAMPOO - CONDITIONER - SO HEAVY

WITH - MY - WATER - BAG

GIVING - MY - CARD - 2 - GET - $50

PENALTY - OF - PRUNE - BAGS - AGE 50

THEY - LAUGHED - THEY - ABUSE - AND

HARM - YOU - AS - UNDER - AGE 50

BECAUSE - THEY - GOT - NON-REFUNDABLE

OVER - $50 - ANNUAL - FEE

TREATMENT - CHANGES

CAPITAL - ONE - BANK - REPLY

YOU’RE - 18 AND OLDER - AGE - OF CONSENT

ABUSE - HARM - AND - RIDICULING - OF AGE 50

AND - OLDER - IS - ALLOWED

FOREIGNERS - HERE - 4 - BODY - PARTS

TAKING - KIDNEY - AND - BLADDER - $9,000 EACH

WHY - WE’RE - IN - USA

AGE - OF - CONSENT - FLORIDA - SAYS

18 AND OLDER - NO - REFUND - POLICY

BIBLE - ‘OPPRESSION - AND - ROBBERY

WILL - HOW - 24 HOUR - FITNESS - WILL

MAKE - THEIR - RICHES’

MONEY - HAS - WINGS - IT - WILL - FLY 2

RIGHTFUL - OWNER

CAMBRIDGE - TRANSLATION

KING JAMES - BIBLE

WILL - BUY - THE - TOP FLOOR - OR - BUY

NEARBY - SO - SO - BUSINESSES - AND

CREATE - NEW DEMOCRAT - FITNESS

24/7 - ALL - AGES - ALL - HOLIDAYS ARE

OPEN

ALTERNATIVE - UFC FIT - AT - DORAL

ALSO - LAS VEGAS - 1 PROBLEM

THEIR - MARTIAL - ARTS

BRAZIL - JUJITSU

REAL - BODY - CONTACT

VIOLENT - AND - WELL - THEY’RE DOING

BODY - ORGASM - TOUCHING - OF EACH

BODY - UNDER - VULGAR - MARTIAL ARTS

CHINA - CREATED

LIGHTNING - FAST - 2 - DEFEAT - OPPONENT

THEY’RE - FAINTED - IN - LESS - THAN - ONE

SECOND - LIGHTNING - FAST - FAINTED

AS - IN - DEAD - ALREADY

ONE - KICK

WHEN - NOT - DEAD - CONTROL - GIVEN

MARTIAL - ARTS - CHINA

LESS - TOUCH - BETTER

ONE - KICK - OPPONENT - DEAD - WITH

NO - BRUISE - IS - THE - GOAL

LIKE - DIED - OF - HEART - ATTACK

MARTIAL - ARTS - CREATOR - CHINA

SUPER - FAST - ONE - KICK - OPPONENT

DEAD - ONE - HAND - HE’s - DEAD - ALSO

JUJITSU - IS - CONFUSED

BRAZILIAN - WHERE - THEY - RIO JANEIRO

TOPLESS - PARADES - CATHOLICS - WHO

ARE - FREE - WITH - NUDITY

SO - THEY’RE - LOOSE - INCLUDES - THEIR

MARTIAL - ARTS - VERY - INTIMATE - TRUE

SO - WON’T - GO NEAR - THAT - GYM

ANYWHERE - JESUS - IS - LORD - KR

[fourdiagnosesinatrenchcoat]

Y'all if there are any local small businesses you love, and you have the ability to buy something from them this month, do your future self a favor and spend some money. Things are ROUGH out here in retail (I'm not sure about the legal addictive substance business) and I'm so tired of scrambling to make payroll and rent and payroll taxes and watching my credit card bills get higher and higher and not paying myself in full for several months.

I am guilty of lamenting when a place closes and realizing I hadn't actually shopped/eaten there in a year. There is so much going on in the world and in each of our communities and so much hardship. But our communities need bookstores and boutiques and pet supply stores and all kinds of brick & mortar businesses that really serve the people who live there.

[thyhalloweddesign]

Weekend greetings from Xiǎo-Guǐ and me!

Past year has definitely been An Experience. Got fired, did a very shoddy education course, the entire plan that required that education fell apart, and then insurance issues meant I've been without my asthma meds for months. Lastly, my originally very minor debt tripled due to a number of things and not having a job for a while (seriously the list of shit that made my debt is insane at this point).

So not a great year. But! I got my fur baby, who has absolutely kept me going thru all this shite. I would have had such a terrible reaction to this year without her, an absolute lifeline of a pet. 😻 And I have a new job so I should be able to start paying off my loans and what's left on my emergency fund credit card. It has been a majorly stressful learning experience.

One thing is that I definitely don't think I can rely on other people for plans that involve me. My trust in people and my ability to rely on others has already been a major issue due to past issues and trauma, and unfortunately, this year really added this other issue to the list hahaha... I think I've been coasting on my own general understanding of psychology/therapy and my own issues/traumas to get by, but I really want to be able to make some more close friends and actually feel like I can trust/rely on them, and I'm just hitting a wall by myself. So therapy is a major goal now, instead of just a vague "yeah could be useful but I don't think I Need it right now". This emotional disconnect with people is definitely wearing me down lately.

Two, doing the medical billing certification helped me learn what I actually want to do with my life - career wise specifically. I absolutely didn't find this experience enjoyable or even worth it at all. The plan I was doing it all for fell thru spectacularly, and it was a major waste of $3000. The only reason I did it was because I was guaranteed jobs afterwards, and Everyone then stated they couldn't afford a biller once I finished. On top of that, anyone else I tried getting that job with also didn't want to hire billers at all (most small practices are doing it all themselves simply bc they don't want to pay someone else to do it and say it's easy enough - despite how often they have rejected claims and audits bc they don't know what they're doing, medical billing is fucking Hard, ok!) or only wanted billers who had extensive experience as nurses. Which is ridiculous. So I'm just chucking it all out the window and taking the loss for another painful learning experience.

Three, all that crap aside, it really made me want to rekindle my love of languages and my dream of being a translator. I had dropped the thought entirely after I left high school because my hearing was significantly fucked by then - and for some reason if I couldn't be an interpreter, I couldn't be a translator at all either??? No idea what I was thinking but it does mean I've missed out on a decade of potential learning! So I've been looking into universities that have translating and linguistics degrees - which is very few. I've checked out a few of them and I believe I've settled on one. It has both degrees and the languages I want to continue learning. I'm thinking that I'll do a Linguistics Bachelor's with Mandarin, alongside an Asian Studies certificate with Japanese; then after I'd do the Translation & Interpretation Studies Major with French - they only do French, Spanish, German, and Russian for this, and I've already spent over 5 years learning French and Japanese together. It would be a long road for me but I know I would enjoy it no matter what.

Four, I always wanted to get out of my current city and was looking at a much smaller one about an hour south that I liked but. My mother returned from Utah this year and is just 25 minutes away from that city. Her entire family is actually in a kind of circle around that city and I do Not want to be in the same state as any of them. Moving closer to my stalker is not possible. So since I believe I've found the university I want to go to, I'm thinking I'll move to Wisconsin and get away from them entirely instead. I'm not sure how soon this'll happen as I really need to clear up my new debt before doing a huge move. But I'm so excited for what such a major change will do for the hopes and goals I have now. I move apartments frequently but this city is one I've lived in for... fuck, at least 19 years oh my stars. I so need to leave, hahaha.

Five, I'm doing a workshop thru a Trans Foundation to help me finally get my name changed on Friday! I've been putting it off for so long and I put a deadline on myself that I had to get it done by the time I'm 33 - I just turned 33 last month. It's time.

But all these plans will hopefully culminate in me moving overseas to Belgium - probably the south bc they speak French there instead of Dutch - it's such a dream of mine to be a translator living on a narrow boat with my fur babies and Not live in the US. Now to start working on making it happen.

[pyrolitheus]

Some financial literacy tips since nobody taught us millennials anything about that (at least, not here in the USA) and since I don't have kids I don't know if Gen Z is getting the same holes in their basic life knowledge...anyway, this is incomplete, plz feel free to add to it: CREDIT SCORE/CREDIT RATING This is a made up bullshit meter that someone decided to formalize in the late 1980s. Your credit score is one of the biggest factors that determines your eligibility for loans and other things. Even if you are approved to buy that house or car or sign that lease or whatever, a bad credit score means you pay a higher interest rate, and a good credit score means you pay a lower interest rate. Why do I call it bullshit? If you have never used credit, then you have no credit, and it is considered the same way a bad credit score is considered. You have to build credit to get those sweet low interest rates.

The other reason it's bullshit is credit checks. If you want to open a credit card or get a loan or whatever, lenders/etc. will do a credit check as part of the process. Some ridiculous person somewhere decided that credit checks should lower credit scores. It's temporary, but until it wears off it's super annoying. Luckily several credit checks in a short period of time is considered evidence that you are "shopping around" and do not collectively stack against your credit score, but if they aren't close together they do stack. (Note that there are different kinds of credit checks, some of which do not hurt your credit score.) But the bottom line is you need to build credit and protect your credit score if you want to be approved for loans and pay lower interest rates on them when you buy things like cars and homes and so on. If you think you're so poor you'll never be able to afford such things I certainly won't argue with you, I'll just point out that I was able to rent a place that my income wouldn't have qualified me for because of my stellar credit score. CREDIT CARDS

When used responsibly, a credit card is a great way to build credit. I opened mine when I was 18 or 19, and used it responsibly, slowly building credit until now I'm at the point where sometimes my fantastic credit score is enough for a landlord to rent to me without me providing income information.

The "minimum payment" is not actually the minimum you should pay, it's just the minimum the credit company requires for you to keep your card open. If you only pay the minimum instead of the full balance due, it will hurt your credit rating, and you will be charged interest. You need to pay the full amount down to $0 every bill.

Treat your credit card like a middle manager between you and your bank account. Do not spend more on your card than you can immediately pay in full.

Try to spend less than 3% of your credit limit at any given time. It's okay to go over that for big purchases as long as you then go online in a couple days when the charge clears ("clears" = "goes through the system and displays on your account") and immediately pay the balance down to $0. The higher the % of the credit limit you use, the worse your credit score will be even if you're paying your balance back down to $0 on time every month. Is this ridiculous? Yes. It is also how things work (for now; credit scores didn't even exist until relatively recently in American history).

NEVER sign up for a credit card that has an annual fee. Some of them will advertise that there is no fee and in very small text say something like "for the first X months." There are a ton of free credit cards out there, there is no need to pay someone to spend your own money. Credit card companies make their profit off of the people who don't pay their full balance down to $0 each bill and just pay the "minimum balance" and interest on the rest instead.

One of the factors that affects credit is the average length of open credit lines (longer = better). So once you open a card, never close it. Sometimes they close cards for inactivity so if you decide you don't like a card, just keep it in the bottom of your sock drawer or something and use it a couple of times of year so they don't close it on you.

Note that applying for a credit card requires a credit check, which will affect your credit score even if you aren't approved for the card. It's worth checking the fine print to be sure you're only applying for cards you actually qualify for. BUDGETING: ONE TIME MONEY VERSUS ONGOING One-time money is something like getting money for your birthday, or buying one item once. Ongoing income is something like a regular paycheck, and a regular cost is something like paying rent or a phone bill. Always use ongoing income to pay for ongoing costs whenever possible. Putting one-time money against an ongoing cost is something you can do as an emergency measure, but it isn't a sustainable long term budgeting plan. RETIREMENT The younger you are when you start saving for retirement, the more likely you are to be able to retire. It doesn't even have to be a lot. Over the course of 2 years of a part time job, I put $10/month ($240 total) into investments inside a retirement account and ended up with over $1000 because of how investment interest works. This money will grow exponentially on its own, but it would be $0 if I didn't take the initiative to set up an account. Learn about the retirement options available to you through your work and your credit union. If you are having trouble figuring out retirement options, talk to the financial advisor at your bank or credit union. For credit unions, this is almost always free. Like any consultant, they can make mistakes, so be sure to think carefully about what they tell you and then make your own choices. BANKS VERSUS CREDIT UNIONS Banks are for profit, while credit unions are not. They offer all the same services, but credit unions will be cheaper over all because they have fewer fees and the fees they do have are lower. I cannot think of a single good reason for an American to use a bank instead of a credit union with the possible exception of international banks sometimes being better for people who travel a lot. Check into the credit unions in your area and read reviews before picking one. Ask around if you know anyone who uses the credit union you are interested in - sometimes there are referral programs and you can both get some free $$ if your friend refers you to their credit union.