#i'm renegotiating this contract

[sombra7567]

BACK ON THE BINGE

K I'm not the biggest fan of sci-fi, dystopian type stories, but we'll see, this could be interesting.

Episode 1: "But this story isn't about me." Me with my one braincell: "It's not?" "It's about you." "It is?"

I automatically distrust and dislike the CEO.

Oh dope, I'm an investigator...

Damn ok, fine, Crow- *checks tags* "Coworkers to lovers" right, not enemies-

I need a himbooo... I'm holding out for a himbo till the end of the niiiiiiiiiiiight

WHO IS EGGYOLK- DOES HE HAVE A BUBBAS?

Oh yeah we going clubbing- neverrrrrrr mind-

I'm grinning so hard at the music playing, I love Hall & Oates, wow...

(Btw I'm listening to this while screaming in the friend chat about Tigress and Po smh)

THANK YOU CROW I'M NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND- yet, i'm sure there's a yet smh... NOT THE POLITICALLY CORRECT COMMENT LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ok we're so in trouble smh, Crow, can you be any more obvious. Or blatant. No sir, I'm not sure he's all the way there, either.

*facepalming* Is this why his last partner died-

Please put down the lighter- oh my gosh-

Episode 2:

I'm with him, please don't arrest me-

... Actually Crow you're not saying enough, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LAST TWO PARTNERS BRO-

I'm gonna take you up on that offer actually-

No Crow, I have a very bad feeling about these missions now

... he doesn't have a license- actually not that shocking now that I think about it

Yeah, water's great! *has not drank a drop all day-*

Ok he's got a point about modern struggles though.

Omg, the soundtrack for this is going to be fire too aughhhhhhhh

*catches myself smiling at the dancing scene* *immediately hitting pause* *jabbing finger at Escaped* NO I'M NOT GONNA FALL FOR HIM, YOUR TRICKS AREN'T GONNA WORK THIS TIME DANG IT.

YES PLEASE I WILL JOIN YOU FOR LUNCH.

No I'm not falling for Crow. It's not gonna happen.

Oh flashback, nice.

We're inadvertently working with the Surge gang aren't we.

No boss I want foodddddddddd...

Boi. What do you know about Acid Rain. I KNEW IT-

If you don't see a body, they ain't dead. And even if you see a body, they're still probably not dead.

Listen, Imma need everyone to STOP TRYING TO BLOW ME UP.

*hears gun cock* Oh we're screwed.

NOT SINGLE COMBATTTTTTTTTTTTT LET'S GO- oh she kinda cute ngl- I TAKE IT BACK, WHY DO I GOTTA DIE IF HE LOSES- HANG ON NO, THIS IS NOT OKAY-

[howtosingit]

One thing that is starting to feel inevitable is that the only way Fox will probably be able to make a deal for a 6th season is for the show to undergo more principal cast changes. I think Fox wants to keep LS and I think Rob Lowe wants to stay at Fox (he's their golden boy after all), so if Fox can lock in a deal, season 6 will definitely include Rob Lowe, but who else would be asked to stay? The departure of Sierra makes it pretty clear that Fox (and 20th Century) considers everyone else expendable to an extent and would be fine to continue the show without them. Fox has even talked for years about running this show with ever-changing casts, but which cast members would Fox fight to keep for longer outside of Lowe, and which ones would even be willing to return... and what kind of contract will they be willing to accept for it?

[forcedhesitation]

I finished act 2 again, but properly this time. and I cannot even begin to put into words how satisfying and beautiful all of that was. I loved act 2 the first time I played, but figuring out how to save the last light this time, properly completing halsin's quest, storming moonrise towers with jaheira and her harpers, seeing aylin reunite with isobel...all of it. I love it even more. and the beginning of act 3 feels all the more rewarding, having fixed my past errors.

[bobcat-pie]

the Pomodoro technique works because it allows me to form a contract with myself to have a set balance of labor and play.

If one side of the contract is unmet, and I spend too long on break or working, the contract breaks down and chaos reigns again.

unfortunately the "break" side of myself has begun exploiting the "post forgetfulness regret" loophole that allows it to take command the moment I get an idea for a post before I forget it. This draws me to tumblr and, inevitably, the contract breaks down.

And that's why I'm on here posting instead of writing an essay outline right now!

[ddarker-dreams]

Give us more aventurine crumbs miss lock 😔

"Your friend's right, y'know."

How a voice so warm can freeze your blood is a true wonder. You move mechanically, turning around like a rusted cog to face the sound's origin. The intruder has made no effort to blend in. Whereas you're wearing business casual attire, he's dressed like he's anticipating a night on the town.

Initially, you stride right past him, fiddling with the settings in your office to turn the windows opaque. It's a useless precaution. A curious crowd of bystanders have already gathered in the hallway, from the rank and file IPC to your superiors. All wondering, no doubt, about why a man as important as Aventurine decided to stop by and make a personal visit.

"What—" You practically choke on your incredulity, "What lapse in judgment, complete and utter detachment from reality—"

Aventurine stops your tirade prematurely by waving a piece of paper around.

"Trying to transfer when your boss has taken such a liking to you is a shortsighted idea."

The words reverberate with a different timbre than when your friend spoke them. You think to ask how he knows about that conversation, then glance around, warily eyeing your surroundings. The hardware you could afford on your salary to sweep for listening devices pales in comparison to his resources. Who knows, he may have commissioned new technology for the sole purpose of keeping tabs on you.

"... Are you here to humiliate me?"

It's supposed to come out as a jab, but the tightness in your throat dulls the inquiry's edges.

Aventurine folds up the proof of your treachery and tucks it inside his fur-trimmed jacket. "You're misreading my intentions. I'm here to do what any half-decent superior would."

He leaves a respectable distance upon approaching you, as if that compensates for the other ways he's invaded your life.

"Let's renegotiate the terms of your contract. You're obviously unsatisfied with something, if you'd prefer to work elsewhere..." he leans down, nearing your eye level. "... PTO, maybe? How does some time off sound? Generous, right?"

He brushes an invisible spec of lint off your shoulder and keeps his hand there. For such a light touch, it feels as if your body's going to crumble at any moment.

"Lucky for you, I won an all-expenses-paid vacation to Penacony. How about being my plus-one?"

[pharawee]

Yoon Phusanu my beloved never disappoints and has indeed hired a gaggle of lawyers to go up against Y.Entertainment.

You can watch his whole press conference (with English subs) here.

It includes highlights such as:

Yoon would like to be fairly compensated because he has to provide for his family. His family are seven cats. He's brought pictures.

He's now officially gone freelance and Y.Ent are no longer allowed to use his name.

Yoon hasn't been paid in a very long time, even though he's tried to negotiate and reach an agreement. He's tired of having to run after his money.

He's "only" owed about 100.000 baht (~2.555€ / 2772$ / £2,192) but Yoon's lawyer states that this is a systematic problem and lots of actors in Series Y (Thai BL) aren't fairly compensated. Several actors have reached out to him personally. He also says that he doesn't put blame on the companies because Series Y is a very competitive field. Still, young actors should be careful about who they work with and stand up for themselves if they aren't treated fairly.

They're showing pictures of Yoon's cats again. Yoon has to provide for them, after all:

Yoon doesn't have acting work lined up right now but he's actively looking for new projects and is in talks to join a new agency.

I'm not sure if this only affects Yoon or the other actors who are owed money by Y.Ent as well but apparently the cut-off date for payment was 11 March. He was offered money after that date but didn't take it because he already knew that he wanted to terminate the contract. Apparently, he had been with Y.Ent for over 4 years and the contract was supposed to be a six year contract (I'm not too sure about this one since the subs are terrible and so is my Thai lmao). Because he's been with them for so long, the whole thing pretty much blindsided him.

Yoon's mother is supportive of him acting in Y Series.

Many other Thai BL actors have talked to Yoon about being treated unfairly and he wants to spread awareness about that.

Apparently, Y.Ent never stated a reason for not paying him. They only told him that he'd be paid at a later date.

Yoon's lawyer says that he has every right to sue but for now he only wants to negotiate. He again urges young actors to thoroughly check who they're working with.

Yoon is asked if this disagreement will cause him problems with other companies down the line but he says that he doesn't believe it will negatively affect him as he's trying to solve the issue peacefully.

Yoon's lawyer again says that actors should read their contracts very carefully. Some contracts don't give the actors any rights but only duties. They might then have to hire a laywer to be able to break contract.

Yoon then says that sometimes he wasn't sent the script before filming and when arrived on set all he'd be given was an old brief that he'd already read. He was then asked (by other crew etc) if he'd practiced his lines which of course he couldn't. This embarrassed him.

The lawyer also adds that there is often a discrepancy between the number of episodes in a series and queues for a shoot. I'm guessing that he means that the actors won't realise that they actually have to work more hours for less money (since compensation seems to be based on episodes rather than hours worked?). This is very difficult to renegotiate and almost no actor in their 20s can afford to settle this in court.

This isn't the first time Yoon has spoken up against the mistreatment of himself and other Thai BL actors in the industry and I'm so glad he has the means to stand up for himself when so many other actors obviously can't.

Fans are so quick to blame bad shows and weird behind-the-scenes stuff on the actors themselves when in reality it's so often due to mismanagement and mistreatment. Imagine not even having a script on shooting day (yes, I'm aware this is common practice in soap entertainment but these are rookie actors without the experience and support that seasoned soap actors have - also in this case it seems to have surprised even the crew on set). No wonder things were awkward in Unforgotten Night. Do you really think actors who don't have a script get to practice and negotiate their intimate scenes together?

And judging by what Tor Atagorn has spoken up about recently (and many other actors have alluded to in the past) this is only the very tip of the iceberg, with young and inexperienced actors deliberately trapped in contracts that they have no way of getting out of on their own.

Yoon's lawyer urged young actors to be more aware of who they're working for in order to better protect themselves. In a similar vein, BL watchers should ideally be more aware of whose shows they're watching and what companies have a shady track record.

If nothing else, do it for the cats! These actors have children they need to provide for, after all!

[atissi]

okay very preliminary thoughts on mitski's new album BUT i think there's something with how "laurel hell" felt like a goodbye to the music industry (can't find the source but i remember reading that it was intended to be her last album under her contract) like i'm sorry anthony fantano but if you interpret the back half of "laurel hell" as being generic breakup songs you're missing like 80% of the context. to me TO ME it feels so clearly about her negotiating her relationship with fame, how she can't love her fans the way they love her, and how she feels like she sold her soul to her job, so the only thing to do is step away. but THEN "the land is inhospitable and so are we" was created after mitski decided to renegotiate her contract, specifically because she loved making music enough to deal with the negative aspects of the work. and then all the songs are about the ghost of love she can leave behind, despite the present pain or emptiness, and like. do you see it. do you see it.

[bcacstuff]

Hi bcac ! I was wondering if you had any idea or guess as to how much Sam and Catriona have made in salary for their work in Outlander. Honest question as I have no idea. Thank you for your blog- I love coming here and learning about things although on a personal level have become disappointed in Sam. You have such interesting posts and just wanted to say thank you!

Thank you for the compliments, nice to hear you enjoy my blog and find my posts interesting. I think more started feeling kinda disappointed in him, but then again, he's just a human being with his good things and his flaws as well. He's not anybody's book bf and many fans have put him on a somewhat unrealistic pedestal perhaps.

For your question about their earnings for the work on OL. It's not an easy question to answer, there are only guesses as I'm sure nobody but the persons involved are aware of what's in their contracts.

If you google a question like 'how much earns SH per episode' you will learn that there are many figures floating around. From one reporting $1 million per episode (which seems very unrealistic to me) to another reporting a $100.000 per episode. The latter one is probably more realistic, though that was reported in 2019. I'm sure it has been renegotiated over the years, with less salary per episode at the start and probably more since the last seasons as they have been EP's as well. (and as we know Catriona directing an episode in the final season as well).

That said it's not that easy to do the math, take an average and multiply by 101 episodes, as I think other things should be taken into account as well. Like earnings for photoshoots, cons, interviews etc.

What I can tell is what the public figures are for Sam's private company Cairn Mor Creative LTD, which he incorporated in 2015 for his earnings as an actor. Financial data are stored and public for anyone to see. Though one have to take into account that this isn't solely for his work on Outlander, but for the movies and tv series he worked on as well.

Anyway those figures show a net assets of £87.625 in 2016 to a £5.5M at the latest filing of the total accounts. (March 2023)

in another diagram you see the growth from 2019 - 2023

(*the drop in 2021/2022 is mostly due to Covid)

So it's not only his earnings on OL but other work as well. His earnings for projects like his booze business are not included in this company, as they are part of GGC (for which there are no public financial records as far as I know)

I don't have any knowledge for Catriona owning a similar company dedicated to her work as actress. But it's said they always negotiated equal payment for their work on OL.

Anyway while it isn't exactly what you asked for (we can only make a more or less educated guesses to that), I hope this will give you at least some idea.

[strawberrypinky]

I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed with negativity on the internet recently and thus I've decided to take matters into my own hands and spread some ✨love and positivity✨

And what better way to do that, than to recommend wonderfully written fanfiction I've come across this year? Admittedly, I haven't read as much as I would have liked, but I still want to share the few I did read. So without further ado, here are my fic recs of 2024 (thus far! Might add to this along the line):

Baldur's Gate 3 Fic recs:

O Fortuna [by @gufu-vire] on AO3 - Raphael x Dark Urge ❦ Plot: Post the events of BG3, a redeemed Dark Urge and Raphael renegotiate terms to fulfil a contract sworn upon during the crisis of the Absolute. An adventure fraught with tension, frustration, conflict, and more as the reader partners up with the devil you love to hate…

This is possibly a very biased mention on this list, because I consider Goof a very dear friend and moot, but it is a deserved spot nonetheless! I have yet to catch up with a majority of the chapters, but I'm enjoying a lot of sneak peeks and Gufu's creative process in private in the meantime. Between the conflict this story is utterly hilarious and witty and is a perfect balance between action and idle affairs. There are also so many intriguing takes on Raphael as a character & Harleep deserves a trophy on his own. I could talk a lot about this story, but truly, I cannot recommend it enough!

❦

Sleep Deprivation - [by @nyda-the-tav & Aisln] on AO3 - Gortash x Tav ❦ Plot: As Orin continues to harass the group of misfits trying to stop the Absolute, Ophelia (Tav) looks for safety in the arms of Gortash in an effort to combat sleep deprivation.

I've only recently started reading this story & both authors best believe that once I've caught up with all 50(!) chapters, I'll leave a more detailed review for Sleep Deprivation. But what I've read thus far has been nothing short of a joy, and I'm always down for a good Tav being absolutely ruined by Gortash himself. The dynamic between the supposed enemy and the hero is gripping, hilarious and not to mention really well written! Kudos to the authors! I'm really excited to read more of what you two come up with!

❦

His Star - His Queen [by @random-introverted-blog] on AO3 - Astarion x Tav/Astarion x Dark Urge ❦ Plot: An ascended Astarion kidnaps the Dark Urge/Tav from a different timeline, after loosing her in his. Desperate to save Tav/Durge from himself, Astarion follows her to rescue his love from certain suffering at his own hands.

I was recommended this story on TikTok (of all places, lol) and I wasn't sure what to expect - but holy shit. The first chapter alone had me on the edge of my seat, as you're really thrown into the action from the start, but the entire premise had me hooked as soon as Ascendant Astarion made his appearance. I often have issues with the ascended version of Astarion's character (I just looooove fixing him & I've got issues with the 'make him worse' story arc), but the exploration of what could have been in tandem with trying to save the heroine from inevitable suffering is beautiful & I can't recommend it enough. I've yet to catch up with every chapter (can you tell I've got trouble keeping up with fics, lmfao?) but either way, "His Star - His Queen" is deservedly on this list!

Note: This fic includes non-consensual sexual content

❦

Judgement by the Hounds [by @septembersummer] on AO3 - Gortash x The Dark Urge ❦ Plot: A look into the relationship of The Dark Urge (Seren) and Gortash, from their first meeting up to their shared end. "The rise and fall of the worst situationship of all time" indeed.

This one I actually finished (very slay), though I'm not sure I actually processed it. I went through all five stages of grief reading this and I'm not even sure I can say anything without spoiling the entire premise. Dear author, you have written possibly the most captivating and enchanting portrayal of Durge and Gortash & though I knew how it would end, I was wishing for a happy end through it all. There's nothing to say about this, other than it was utter perfection.

❦

Miscellaneous One Shot recommendations:

legacy with no memory by @discordsmuse on AO3 - Gortash x The Dark Urge The Weight of A Promise by @sserpente on tumblr [Part 2 is equally good!] - Gortash x Tav/OC kiddo. by @avocado-writing on tumblr. - Gortash & OC

to have and to hold by @littlejuicebox on tumblr. - Astarion x Tav

choices. by @deadtired-highkeyenergetic on tumblr - Astarion x Tav

how to win a custody battle in one easy step. by alltears on AO3 - Astarion x Tav

Dangerous by NaeveTheWizard on AO3 - Astarion x The Dark Urge

❦

Honourable Mentions:

I'm also giving a shout-out to @avani-telvanni & @infernaldaydreams, because while neither have written fanfiction I could recommend, I am obsessed with their respective artworks for Tav x Gortash/Durge x Gortash. You guys are absolutely amazing and I'm conistently in awe of what you create. You deserve all the recognition you receive and more 💕

Hogwarts Legacy Fic rec's: a very short list, but two are dear to me nonetheless!

Victory [by @jonquil] on AO3 - Victor Rookwood x Original Female Character ❦ Plot: Victor Rookwood is enraptured by the new, ancient-magic-wielding student attending Hogwarts - and Victor Rookwood always comes out on top.

Technically I started reading "Victory" in 2023, when it first came out, alas, it was finished earlier this year and I couldn't help but include it, because it remains one of my favourite fanfiction ever. To me, it's the best fictionalisation of "Enemies to Lovers" in a long time, as I was rooting for the villain to win from start to finish. From the wonderful characterisation of Rookwood to the alternative canon timeline and ultimately the victory of the villain - there's nothing like it and I was hooked from start to finish. I am still sad it's over, but I'm excited to read the prequel (as soon as I get to it, lmfao), because I know it'll be equally spectacular!

Note: This fic contains non-consensual sexual content.

❦

Invisible String [by @legacygirlingreen] on tumblr (though it can be found on both AO3 and wattpad too!) - Sebastian Sallow x Reader ❦ Plot: In an alternative, victorian-attitude-compliant timeline, Sebastian Sallow falls for the new fifth-year. This story explores the sweet beginnings of a tender love amidst hardships and battles ahead.

Admittedly, this is possibly the most biased fic rec ever, but I stand behind it nonetheless. While this fic started in March of last year & brought me and my platonic soulmate May, aka legacygirlingreen, together, it remains my favourite Sebastian Sallow fic to this day. The amount of love, time and creativity May put into this has me in awe time and time again. The sweet and tender love the two protagonists experience is perfectly fluffy and slice-of-life, yet the alternative version of the canon events of Hogwarts Legacy add the perfect amount of drama and action. I will always come back to this fic, because yes - It is that good.

[theboytatu]

I think Baekhyun unfortunately bit more than he could chew and over estimated the blind support from fans when it comes to breaking contracts with sm.

People on korean forums were actually on his side initially before sm revealed mc mong's involvement and it got worse bcs cbx denied MC mong's involvement only to get under his main company this year, proving the point that cbx lied last year 😭 Baekhyun was the most successful soloist of sm so I'm still very confused why he didn't negotiate with SM better like I'm sure SM also wasn't delighted knowing they are losing the company's biggest soloist. The only conclusion I can think of is that he wanted to jump the sinking ship before Hybe's takeover of SM bcs hybe was really close to acquiring it.

no literally LITERALLYYYYYY like it's all so fascinating to me when you think about the timeline of things: baekhyun and cx only put forward the initial lawsuit once they had confirmation that lee sooman was leaving SM. and it was all a mess re: hybe and kakao trying to take over the majority stockholders but like. i can easily picture baekhyun saying "the big boss has left. there's blood in the water if there was ever a time to strike it's NOW!!!" when suho was like hey um. what the fuck man when they first got wind of the contract dispute. this was in february of 2023.

fast forward to april and like. exo had a group gig they were contractually obligated to meet which was the fanmeeting (first activity with all members in 5 years) and then recording for their album. and baekhyun was probably like lol it's fine. they HAVE to meet our demands we are literally about to drop an album - cue the rest of exo sans kyungsoo shooting daggers at him from across the room.

and THEN as we all know now lee sooman left the company and hybe were like literally digging in their claws getting ready for the kill and baekhyun was probably already in contact with mc mong and his family's business contacts which we now have confirmation loaned him close to 4 billion won in order to set up his own company. which i mean i can get it if my own family was like actively pushing me to do this and assure me it's no big deal since i can have pretty good terms on a business loan i'd maybe do it too?

and then it's january 2024 and cbx were RUSHING to get out of that contract like ik they were scrambling to put everything in place and probably didn't even read the fine print 😭 or they simply assumed they could shoulder the debt from breaching their contract - operating under the assumption that either SM would have to pay up their royalties and other exo gigs they had lined up OR being bought into mc mong's company could bring in some liquidity.... and then the first bills came in from SM demanding their contractual fees and interest rates which probably (definitely) ate into baekhyun/cx's margins and they were like oh shit. so they had no choice but to sue SM again to renegotiate the fees they had signed off on (which, as well all are well aware - SM probably asked for the standard 10% originally) and when baekhyun realized he had made a bad business deal with his own company and he had effectively fucked himself and cx over he had to ask for 5% 😭

anyway... this is obviously all not confirmed but I have followed this case closely from the very beginning and it looks like a classic case of eduardo saverin/kendall roy-esque bad business instincts and not being enough of a killer - all because baekhyun assumed SM would crumble without lee sooman and the hybe/kakao acquisitions put the spot on every business deal SM had going on, forcing his hand to go ahead with a bad deal that only got him probably half of what he intended. and now he's dancing in streams for money or whatever

[iris-jaxx665]

Can we see your rough draft? or is it too personal/unfinished yet?

Here is my first rough draft so far, super unfinished, not super personal yet. i'm mainly just typing it up on my laptop for now, i'll write out the physical copy (or print it out) once it's fully finished and approved by Pond.

Contract of Ownership and the Exchange of Power between Dominant and submissive

(Dominant’s Name) and (submissive’s name) agree to the following, from the date of (INSERT DATE) to the date of (INSERT DATE). At which time, the current arrangement will be renegotiated and rewritten.

This dynamic is one of 24/7 TPE: Full-Time Total Power Exchange. 

The two may also choose to alter this contract at any time. 

Any change must be agreed to in writing, and signed by both sides.

Above all else, this is a monogamous dynamic of equals. Neither shall take any other lovers, that their full attention is only on this relationship, this household.

His Titles and Roles

Dominant, Daddy, Owner, Sir, God, Priest, Master

Her Titles and Roles

Submissive, Baby, Pet, Girl, Priestess, Goddess, Slave

Our Safewords - Verbal and Nonverbal

Apples - equivalent Red - Verbal - variant use

——————————————————————————————————

The Rapid Morse-Code Tap Out - equivalent Red - Nonverbal

The Poke in an Uncomfortable Space - equivalent Yellow - Nonverbal

The Dropping of a Handheld Object - equivalent Blue - Nonverbal

The Rapid Squeezes - equivalent Purple - Nonverbal

The Cat-Like Head Rubbies - equivalent Green/Pink - Nonverbal

——————————————————————————————————

The Stoplight System - Verbal - Physical/Mental

Red - Full stop Physical distress, aftercare, discussion

Yellow - change something, we’re approaching a physical limit

Green - I’m really enjoying myself, keep going

——————————————————————————————————

Blue - Full stop Mental distress, aftercare, discussion

Purple - change something, we’re approaching a mental limit

Pink - I’m really enjoying this, keep going

Soft Limits - Lists any acts, scenarios, language, or locations that may cause discomfort and require additional conversation/frequent check-in’s. 

His

Hers

Hard Limits - Lists any acts, scenarios, language, or locations that are off-limits and should be avoided during play. Non-negotiable.

His

Cunnilingus - any involvement

Anal - any involvement

Bodily Functions (Piss, Scat, Vomit, Vaginal/Anal Bleeding) - any involvement

Hers

Bodily Functions (Piss, Scat, Vomit, Vaginal/Anal Bleeding) - any involvement

Tools and Toys in Our Toy Chest

(List any devices, toys, equipment, or accessories to be used during our play or consistently during the dynamic)

(INSERT HERE)

Submissive’s Behavioral Rules and Responsibilities. 

The submissive agrees to respect and serve the Dominant, and to abide by the following rules of conduct at all possible times while maintaining a certain decorum that befits property under the Ownership of her Dominant. In respect of the full-time dynamic as has been established, the submissive is under rules of Free Use, explained in “Rules and Demandments”. Any Rules not explicitly stated here, are under “Rules and Demandments”

Mealtimes: 

At each meal that the submissive cultivates for the Dominant and itself, the Dominant is to be served first, and is to take the first bites and sips of the meal. When with guests of any kind, she is to serve first Him, the guests, then herself last, still awaiting for His action first. 

Dress: 

Each morning, the Dominant will choose the under-clothes (panties or lingerie) of the submissive, followed by clothing or not. 

The only exceptions to be when going out for dates, when the submissive will build outfits for both, to display as a pair rather than solely displaying His property.

Appearance and Grooming:

Sexual Service for the Dominant:

The submissive must always be ready, willing, and available to please the Dominant in any way He desires of her.

Serving the Dominant’s House and Other Property:

The submissive will endeavor to keep a clean and tidy home at all times.

The submissive will be responsible for cooking healthy meals for the Dominant’s household.

Public Conduct: 

The submissive is not to touch doors, in any way. She will await the Dominant to open the door for her.

The submissive does not order its own food when out, but does order drinks for the Dominant, then for itself.

The submissive may only start conversations if the Dominant is present and part of the conversation.

The submissive will be courteous at all times, recognizing that its behavior is a reflection of the Dominant.

Self Betterment:

Other:

Dominant’s Responsibilities. 

The Dominant agrees to respect the submissive and act in a way that promotes their health, safety, and wellbeing. 

The Dominant agrees to provide a safe environment for play, for communication, and for self betterment for both Himself and His property.

The Dominant will also be responsible for guiding and training the submissive in the following areas, as well as maintaining a certain decorum befitting His station. 

Serving the Dominant:

Pleasing the Dominant Sexually:

Proper Behavior in Private and Public:

Dress:

Other:

Areas of Control

The Dominant shall have control over all aspects of the submissive’s life, and shall have the right to make any decisions He sees fit in regards to matters, provided that such decisions are always in the best interests of the submissive and Himself, and do not breach any part of this contract. As is the privilege rewarded Him by the TPE dynamic type. Falling under the Rules of both Free Use, and CNC.

AfterCare. 

List any activities needed or desired after play has concluded to help each other transition back to everyday life.

(INSERT HERE)

Rituals and Routines:

Initiating a Scene:

Ending a Scene:

Reconnecting After Time Apart:

Reminding One Another of Our Commitment:

Other Rituals:

Our Rules and Demandments, as followed by both sides of the dynamic.

A minimum of 2 meals per day to keep our bodies healthy in our service of one another.

He has final say over our social calendar.

She will over all orders to the best of her ability, fully trusting that He has her best interests in His heart.

We will learn, explore, and grow together. As people, and as Dominant and submissive.

We will communicate openly our needs or wants at all times with honesty, clarity, and understanding.

Free Use: she is to be sexually available to Him at all times, no matter His desires. 

CNC: both sides understand that she gives Him full, unyielding, blanket consent at all times, regardless of her words at any given point, with the exception of Safeword uses.

Winter Clause: due to the poor health of the submissive, which further deteriorates in the cold, some roles are changed in the winter to better keep both the Dominant and the submissive in their best mindset and physical wellbeing to best serve one another. 

Winter Rule and Demandments, as differing from the other seasons.

Goals for Our Dynamic in the Coming Year of Service.

Goals of and For the Dominant:

(INSERT HERE)

Goals of and For the submissive:

(INSERT HERE)

Goals for Us As Equals and As A Home:

(INSERT HERE)

Main Kinks at Play

His

Bimbification, 

Hers

Ownership, Branding/Marking, Manhandling, Size Difference, Voice Kink, Mask kink, Affectionate Cruelty, Possessiveness, Primal, Degrading, Praise, CNC, Worship, Somno, Weapons, 

Shared by Both

Breeding, Hucow, 

Additional Considerations, Rules, Requests by Dominant or by submissive:

List of Chores/Activities

Maintaining a Journal 

In signing, both swear to love, cherish, honor, respect, and trust with no hesitation or fear. Only adoration, lust, and unfettered passion in our hearts for our Mate.

This contract is a pinky promise of ink and cum.

A Contract of Equals.

Dominant - _______________________________________________

Submissive - ______________________________________________

Tada! that's all ive got so far, and it's about 5pm. i've been at this on n off since around 11am this morning, with breaks for a lunch and chores. i'm probably gonna stop for the day in another hour or so then go down for dinner. Pond's been having a good relax day, playing one of His new games and painting.

[that-left-turn]

I'm sorry if I need to dissect some of your convos. maybe I'm missing something because of the language barrier. You talked about NR and how he dislikes to act alongside Melissa because of their character being associated together and how she's a strong actress. You said it's the worst kept secret. So TPTB and others know about this? Or is there something else? Because he wanted to do the show in 2020 with her as equals. What changed his mind?

And "a lot is overlooked when you make the studios money, but that isn't the case here". Do you mean it isn't overlooked at all (his pettiness) or do you mean the spin off isn't making much money... so maybe TPTB reconsiders their decision of a solo spin off and give Melissa more credit or at least equal treatment?

I'm sorry if I need to dissect some of your convos.

No worries. I'm not exactly direct when the topic is a bit sensitive. That's not on you and I appreciate every sincere ask I get 🙏

You talked about NR and how he dislikes to act alongside Melissa [...] it's the worst kept secret.

(When you watch interviews and various soundbites, pay more attention to how Norman talks, his inflection and his body language rather than just the value of his words.)

Norman doesn't dislike to act alongside Melissa per se. He dislikes that she gets critical acclaim for her performances and he doesn't. And how people talk, you know? About how Melissa makes the other actors better, which I think he sees as a backhanded compliment, and what a great character trajectory Carol has had. Melissa is kind. She's humble. Funny. In Norman's mind, if he's not standing in the shadow of all of that... splendor, the general audience will see how artistic he is and praise him instead too.

"The worst kept secret" is what makes this whole situation more complicated than it has to be. Pretty much anyone with a set of eyeballs is aware of it, which includes TPTB. I'm not sure about Zabel because, in my limited personal experience, he's very unobservant, but his stubborn insistence that Caryl don't have romantic/sexual chemistry reads to me like he has a directive not to lean that way. Zabel isn't an imaginative writer and the ship is low-hanging fruit, so if he isn't using it, someone told him to steer clear.

[H]e wanted to do the show in 2020 with her as equals.

I need to point out that the 2020 deal wasn't equal. Norman was getting top billing and a lot more money than Melissa. That deal covered the first season of the original spinoff, so the NM roadtrip show probably wouldn't have featured McReedus "as equals" either. S2 might've because both of them would've reupped their contracts, but not in S1. The show title would probably have been better, though.

Do you mean it isn't overlooked at all (his pettiness) or do you mean the spin off isn't making much money…

Norman isn't the investment AMC thought he was when they gave him a solo show. There's no ROI on the spinoff and Ride wasn't a moneymaker either. Norman should be due for renegotiation and he doesn't have much leverage because the ratings are bad, the quality of TWD: Daryl Dixon is poor and he doesn't pull the size of audience AMC needs. The studio's already vastly overpaying him, so the show has to be made profitable (at the expense of Norman's wishes to be an auteur) or go away entirely. A surface change to a Western narrative (set in Spain) won't be the magic fix the stooges are looking for, but after S3, AMC won't be locked into terms that harm the show. We'll have to see how they course correct.

[M]aybe TPTB reconsiders their decision of a solo spin off and give Melissa more credit or at least equal treatment?

I hope AMC gives Melissa more input. She understands story structure and the genre, and she respects the integrity of the characters. The studio also has to do something about how misogynous the narrative is because it's a turnoff for potential viewers. The stooges seem utterly unaware of how hostile the narrative is to women, so giving Melissa equal treatment and actively listening to her professional opinions would be a solid step towards improving the show.

I guess, against better judgment, I'm stubbornly hopeful? I want the show to be good. Desperately. I don't enjoy complaining about all the things that are wrong with it. On a professional level, it feels like, OMG, what's wrong with you people?! How can you not see this?! followed by a long string of frustrated expletives. Carol and Daryl are those seminal characters, who change how you write and whom you write, because they're so different from everyone else on TV and as such, they deserve to be treated with respect. Also, importantly, the audience deserves respect and a payoff to their emotional investment in the characters.

[kleopatra45]

I'm so scared because it's my 8th house profection year (20 years), my Pluto and vertex are there...

Could you talk more about the profection year of each house and what we can expect?

Annual profections are a traditional astrological technique used to predict themes and experiences that may be prominent in a particular year of your life. The concept is simple: each year of your life corresponds to a different house in your natal chart, and the affairs of that house take center stage during that year.

The house that is activated is called the "Profection House," and the planet ruling that house, called the "Time Lord," is considered especially significant during that year. The activated house and its ruler provide clues about the areas of life that will be particularly active, challenging, or rewarding.

1st House Profection Year (Ages 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, etc.)

- Themes: Self-identity, personal growth, health, appearance, and overall vitality.

- Expectations: This year emphasizes your relationship with yourself. It's a time for self-discovery, redefining your identity, and focusing on your physical body and personal goals. You might feel more motivated to take control of your life and make decisions that reflect who you truly are.

2nd House Profection Year (Ages 1, 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85, etc.)

- Themes: Finances, personal values, material possessions, self-worth.

- Expectations: This year centers around your resources and what you value. Financial matters come to the forefront, as well as questions about what makes you feel secure. You may focus on earning, saving, or re-evaluating your material and emotional security.

3rd House Profection Year (Ages 2, 14, 26, 38, 50, 62, 74, 86, etc.)

- Themes: Communication, learning, siblings, neighbors, short trips.

- Expectations: Expect increased activity in your immediate environment. This year is often marked by a desire to learn new skills, engage in more communication, or connect with siblings and neighbors. Writing, teaching, or learning could become prominent.

4th House Profection Year (Ages 3, 15, 27, 39, 51, 63, 75, 87, etc.)

- Themes: Home, family, roots, emotional foundations.

- Expectations: Focus shifts to your home life and family matters. You might move, renovate, or explore your ancestry. Emotional security and your relationship with your family take precedence. This is also a year to establish a strong foundation for the future.

5th House Profection Year (Ages 4, 16, 28, 40, 52, 64, 76, 88, etc.)

- Themes: Creativity, romance, children, pleasure.

- Expectations: Creativity and self-expression are highlighted. This could manifest as artistic pursuits, romantic relationships, or activities that bring you joy. Children, whether your own or others, may also play a significant role this year.

6th House Profection Year (Ages 5, 17, 29, 41, 53, 65, 77, 89, etc.)

- Themes: Health, work, daily routines, service.

- Expectations: Health and daily routines come into focus. You might adopt new habits, address health issues, or find yourself focusing more on work and service. This is a year for refining your routine and improving your day-to-day life.

7th House Profection Year (Ages 6, 18, 30, 42, 54, 66, 78, 90, etc.)

- Themes: Partnerships, marriage, one-on-one relationships, contracts.

- Expectations: Relationships take center stage. This could be a year of marriage, forming new partnerships, or renegotiating existing ones. It's a time to focus on how you relate to others and the dynamics of your significant relationships.

8th House Profection Year (Ages 7, 19, 31, 43, 55, 67, 79, 91, etc.)

- Themes: Shared resources, transformation, death, taxes, intimacy.

- Expectations:Matters involving shared resources, such as joint finances or investments, are prominent. This year may also bring a focus on deep psychological transformation, confronting fears, or dealing with endings and rebirths.

9th House Profection Year (Ages 8, 20, 32, 44, 56, 68, 80, 92, etc.)

- Themes: Travel, higher education, philosophy, belief systems.

- Expectations: This year is about expanding your horizons, whether through travel, education, or exploring new philosophies. You may be drawn to new ideas, spiritual pursuits, or cultural experiences that broaden your understanding of the world.

10th House Profection Year (Ages 9, 21, 33, 45, 57, 69, 81, 93, etc.)

- Themes: Career, public image, authority, long-term goals.

- Expectations: Your career and public life come into focus. This year often brings changes or advancements in your professional life. You might gain recognition, take on more responsibility, or work towards long-term goals that define your legacy.

11th House Profection Year (Ages 10, 22, 34, 46, 58, 70, 82, 94, etc.)

- Themes: Friendships, groups, aspirations, social networks.

- Social connections and friendships are highlighted. You might become more involved in groups or organizations, or work towards goals with others. This is also a time to focus on your hopes and aspirations, often within a community context.

12th House Profection Year (Ages 11, 23, 35, 47, 59, 71, 83, 95, etc.)

- Themes: Solitude, spiritual growth, endings, hidden matters.

- Expectations: This is a year of introspection and possibly retreat. You may feel the need to withdraw and focus on your inner world. It's a time for spiritual growth, healing, and dealing with subconscious or hidden issues. Often, this year can also bring closure to certain chapters in your life.

After determining which house is activated, identify the ruling planet of that house in your natal chart. The condition and aspects of this planet will offer further insight into what the year might bring. Look at how current planetary transits are affecting the activated house and the Time Lord. This will add more depth to your understanding of the year's themes.Reviewing previous years when the same house was activated can give you a sense of recurring themes or lessons. Understanding the house profections can give you a roadmap for the year, helping you navigate challenges and make the most of opportunities aligned with the themes of your activated house.

[atopvisenyashill]

@whitegownsandflowercrowns no you’re right, like firstly, there IS a difference in like, showing daemon just hanging out at a brothel AFTER he’s been established vs oberyn and tyrion literally being introduced mid orgy, there’s a certain level of disrespect for tyrion & oberyn’s intelligence and alienation from society (as a disabled and queer man, respectively) that isn’t there with daemon (or laenor for that matter). AND there is a level of respect for the girls in hotd that isn’t there in got. hotd has, imo, a lot more respect for sylvi & mysaria as women, as smallfolk, as working girls, than got ever had for shae or ros despite shae & ros having what feels like more screen time. even knowing how mysaria's story ends, she gets to have some sort of agency, a push to be seen as something other than a tool in the hands of a powerful man (or powerful woman) whereas ros is ultimately relegated to nothing more than a piece in the war between littlefinger and varys. and that's not bad as a story inherently but when ros' inner life is not given any air time, what you get is a story where she is sexually mistreated until she's offed for shock value, rather than a tragedy of a low born woman attempting to climb up the social ladder until she is torn down violently by the people around her. and the same with shae - whereas sylvi even in limited screentime is given the room to have her own feelings about aemond and aegon, every criticism shae makes of tyrion is completely undercut by the writers refusing to Go There with him and his marriage to sansa, which is the crux of his issue with shae.

and there's also like. the use of pornographic actresses. tbc i'm not saying i'm opposed to this - i think i've said this before but tbh getting actual sex workers to play sex workers isn't a bad move at all! and especially in the case of a character like shae, who often is naked or partially naked, i think having an actress that is simply more comfortable Doing Acting with her top off is just a better idea, and i don't think it's wrong to think seriously about artistic nudity in a series so focused on sex. there's frankly a lot of pornographic actresses who can act and want to act (or model) but didn't or couldn't for whatever reason. and i think sybel absolutely proves herself as being a very excellent actress! COMMA BUT. it sure is notable that shae, ros, and that other actress who shows up a lot in the background are all from adult film/burlesque esque stuff, and were treated by and large like absolute crap, but both sonoya and michelle seem to be treated with much more respect.

but also YEAH i have long suspected that the reason tamzin was dropped was not because she was bad in the part, or even that she couldn't get ahold of the conlangs, but rather that she didn't like doing so much of the series naked and when she pushed back against that, they dropped her for an actress that had no experience on a project like this because they knew they could bully her into shutting up and getting naked and that's exactly what they did for four seasons until emilia's contract was up and she got to renegotiate so she didn't have to be naked so often. like yeah i'm SURE her acting was weird - it was because the sex scenes were constant and exploitative and she didn't feel particularly safe on set!

[daddysfangirls-dc]

The Ritual

Ch 1

Damian Wayne x OC! Female

Materlist | Next

The Past

Instead of exchanging greetings they clashed blades upon their first meeting. Their guardians stood on the sidelines, witnessing their battle of introduction. It wasn't really fair as he had a katana, and she had two daggers. Nonetheless, she fought, dodging, swinging, cutting. Doing all she could with what little she had. Even then, it wasn't enough as he brought the katana down on her shoulder. She stopped feeling the katana pressing into her right shoulder. She didn't take her eyes off him as she felt his blade move to the flesh on her neck. She doesn't even flinch as she feels his blade pierce her skin, the blood slowly dripping down her neck. Pulling the katana away, Damian looks at it in interest momentarily. He then wipes the blade clean on her shoulder before resheathing it. Syn smiles, " I like your Katana."

Present

The wait staff made a point of ignoring the pair as Tim poured Syn another glass of wine. It wasn't a lot, half a glass, but being underage, it was still a scandal in the making. Then again, this was Gotham, so maybe they'd get away with it.

"Trying to loosen me up," Syn said, sipping her third glass. " You want something."

"No, you just seem stressed. And a drink always helps me. So. less stress." he raised his glass in toast.

After finding out about the couple... barbarous past, Tim took it upon himself to monitor the couple.

Making sure Damian never went to Syn's place angry, opening himself to talk to and spar with, and opening his apartment as a place to escape. Although Damian didn't see it like that, sparring was a way to release adrenaline, and escaping to Tim's place simply meant removing himself so she wouldn't see him in an unbecoming state. That's what Damian said at least but they both knew the truth.

For Syn, Tim initiated more communication through daily texts, weekly dinners, and surprise visits. She simply thought he was trying to make her feel more like family. In truth, he was ensuring that if anything did happen with Damian, he'd be the first person she came to.

Tim never told the rest of the family of the couple's past, knowing damn well all hell would have broke loose if they knew what he had done to the poor girl. Jason would have no doubt killed him.

"Your birthday is coming up soon. Any big plans for 18?" Tim asked

"You're so not subtle. Ask the real question." he chuckled but obliged.

"Your contract said 18, but I haven't seen any recent planning. Are you two doing the courthouse? That's going to piss Alfred off." That was an understatement.

"You need to stop hacking into the League's systems. She's going to come for you eventually."

"Didn't answer the question."

Syn took a moment to slowly sip her wine before setting it down. "No, we are not doing a courthouse event. Damian renegotiated for a new deadline of my 22nd birthday. I must be wed by the age of 22. And I must produce children within 5 years after that."

"A much better deal than the first one, that's for sure."

"Damian hoped, hopes?... He gave me more time to change my mind. I didn't. I won't."

You should.

He didn't say that though. Who was he to comment on ones unhealthy behaviors or toxic relationships. He had yet to work through his own.

"Have you talked about any plans?"

"Not really, we're busy with school. Him Especially. The medical field is tough. It doesn't feel right to try and plan something when we're both so busy with barely enough time and space for each other."

Excuses, excuses.

But he wouldn't call her out on it.

"I'm sure the two of you can figure something out."

-

Syn felt pity for him. He was slumped over his desk, surrounded by books and papers, no doubt having slept through the night in that position. He's going to have a painful/uncomfortable day.

"Damian?" she gently squeezed his shoulder. " You'll ruin your back.".

He groaned as he woke up slowly, sitting up stiffly. "Fuck," he curses. Syn bit back a laugh as she peeled a loose paper from his cheek. She watched as she stretched, trying to rid himself of the pain, but it didn't work.

"How about a shower? It might help with the pain." He nods getting up and making his way to the bathroom. She tidied up the rest of his room while he showered. Although she left his desk alone, not wanting to mess up his work in the slightest.

Damian was pursuing a veterinarian degree. He originally wanted to do dual enrollment for a veterinarian and surgical degree. The family didn't want him to, as each degree was intense on its own, and they tried to convince him otherwise. However, Ace's passing changed his mind. He instead went full force into their veterinarian degree and license. He would pursue a medical license once he was done. He's been making fast work of it by doing it in person and online.

Syn was also attending college but for a business and nursing degree. (She could do dual enrollment because her degrees were less intense and required less time.). They were both working had in their education.

"My counselor says I'll finish early at the current rate. It helps that I still volunteer at the shelter." Damian said as he stepped out of the bathroom to find her looking over his notes.

Syn looked up to find Damian fresh out of the shower. Wet hair dripping droplets falling down his chest to his low hanging towel-she had to advert eyes.

"That's great. You have worked very hard." She said, " I'll leave you to dress. I'll go help Alfred with breakfast." And she quickly took her leave.

Despite how their relationship progressed, they still hadn't reached that point yet.

[thearchercore]

ferrari leaking info that they're trying to renegotiate contract with charles now out of all weeks?

now when the general public consensus is that ferrari doesn't deserve charles?

this could very much just be them playing dirty and trying to put pressure on him now that he flirted with red bull about a different option.

i feel like this week is going to be messy as hell. i'm seated