#low ratings inauguration

[rejectingrepublicans]

The low rating from his televised inauguration will drive him batty, don’t watch.

[republicansaretheproblem]

[tomorrowusa]

Donald Trump has the lowest approval rating of any president at the time of inauguration dating back to the early 1950s. He even starts off under water. That makes him unique.

So much for the claim that Trump has an overwhelming mandate to act like a dictator.

Trump's Inaugural Approval Rating Is Historically Low Again

[medusapelagia]

17 The Halloween Campaign

written for @steddieangstyaugust (prompt: Halloween ), @augustwritingchallenge (Prompt: flower shop ) and @aug-kissed (prompt: Trail of Kisses) Rating: Teen and up Relationship: Steve/Eddie TW: none Words: 1463

(let's pretend this is a late entry and not that I messed up like 5 prompts, ok? XD)

Outside the flower shop, there are two big bowls. One is full of candies, and one is full of orange and black roses. On both the bowls there’s a little sign that invites everyone to pick up one of those. 

It’s a silly tradition Steve started when he opened the shop four years ago.

He ordered way too many flowers for the shop inauguration and ended up with many he wouldn’t have been able to sell before they got ruined, so he left outside a bowl with the flowers, finding the next day a twenty-dollar bill hidden under the bowl and a phone number.

The phone number was Eddie’s, the tattoo artist who had a shop just in front of his flower shop, who told him he took the flowers to decorate the stage where they were playing the night before.

That’s how Eddie became Steve’s best friend first, and lover later on.

“You ready, sweetheart?” Eddie asks, staring at the two bowls, he’s wearing a white shirt with a pair of black slacks and a long cape, in his pocket there are the faux vampire fangs he keeps complaining about.

“Yeah. Are you sure the boys won’t mind if I join you?”

“You joining our Halloween campaign is the best present ever. And if the boys don’t like it they can find themselves a new DM!” Eddie declares with a wink, taking Steve’s hand and running toward the car under the heavy rain with no umbrella.

When they finally sit in the car, Steve chuckles happily. He wasn’t surprised when he found out that Eddie was a Halloween baby, his love for monsters and terrible creatures was literally written on his skin: a wyvern on his arm, a huge spider on his chest, and some other creatures Steve didn’t really recognize.

The drive to the Wheelers’ house is way too fast for Steve’s liking. He knows that the kids don’t like him. They are jealous that he stole their Dungeon Master and they don’t really like that Steve is a preppy boy who has nothing in common with Eddie. However, somehow, they match perfectly. They finish each other's sentences and they feel like they have known each other for centuries.

Things start to go wrong as soon as they enter the house. Steve is celiac and even if the kids knew it they didn’t buy anything Steve could eat. It wouldn’t be a big deal if Steve hadn’t already missed lunch to finish his costume, but he tries to ignore it, asking Dustin if there’s any fruit or something he could eat.

“Fruit? What for? We have candies! And chocolate! And pizza!”

Yeah… but none of those are certified gluten-free. Steve doesn’t point that out, nodding and sitting next to Eddie, a slice of pizza untouched at his side while his stomach gurgles are covered by the kids yelling.

Then he keeps making mistakes during the game, asking for things he’s not allowed to ask and getting low numbers every time he throws the dice. Almost an hour later Steve has somehow managed to decimate the company and the kids are glowering at him with their mouths full of candies and too much sugar in their blood.

If stares could kill, Steve would be dead by now.

Another miss is what makes everything crumble. Mike starts to yell that Steve’s useless and boring and that they are tired of having to endure his presence just because he’s Eddie’s stupid boyfriend. Lucas tries to be more diplomatic saying that Steve is nice but he can’t play D&D to save his life and Dustin adds that he’s so bad at math that every time he has to do something he takes more to do the sums than everything else.

“I… I’m sorry.” Steve says, leaving the table and running toward the car. He grabs the keys with trembling hands, but they fall under the car and he has to knee in the mud to retrieve them.

“Steve!” Eddie calls him from the door.

“Ask Gareth to drive you home. I have to go.”

“Please, don’t. The kids were horrible but we talked and…”

“No, it’s ok. I don’t have to be part of everything you do. I’m not good at this thing. They are right. Just… let me go. Please.”

Eddie stares at him sadly from the door, on foot on the step one still on the porch, “Steve, please, don’t go. Let’s talk.”

“I need space, Eddie. Sorry.”

Eddie nods quietly, and when Steve turns the car in reverse he can still see him in his vampire costume, staring at his car.

***

Steve’s bed is cold and empty, Eddie’s staying at his place like he asked him to, but he misses terribly. He’s almost sure they won’t break up because of a stupid game. Well. Half sure. After all the problem wasn’t the game but the people playing it, and those are the most important people in Eddie’s life and Steve would never want to come between them and his chosen family.

The drive toward the flower shop calms him a little bit. He doesn’t have to go to the shop, they’re close, but he can get a head started and fix a few things so tomorrow the shop will be ready to open and he will be able to sleep a little more, if he will manage to.

The two bowls are empty, as he expected, with no little notes or money hidden anywhere but he’s not disappointed, he likes to think that his flowers are now giving joy to someone else and filling the air with their sweet scent.

He has never done an inventory of all the ribbons and papers he has at the shop, so he takes the occasion to throw away the old ones and write down a list of what he should buy soon, and before he knows it it’s already lunchtime, so he gets out from the back of the shop, finding something surprising: a long trail of kisses, the Milk Chocolate with Almond ones, his favorites.

Feeling a little bit like Hansel and Gretel he follows the tray of chocolate candies that guides him to the park nearby. Sitting at a table settled with a pair of paper plates, a bottle of soda, and a Sheppard pie from Steve’s favorite gluten-free restaurant there''s Eddie.

“What’s this for?” Steve asks, holding way too many candies in his pockets.

“It’s an apology. I was a moron. I dragged you to Wheeler house and I begged you to play with us but I didn’t make you feel welcome and I didn’t even check that the kid bought something gluten-free for you. I know it’s stupid but I took for granted that they would have and I forgot that they are egoist gremlins who already had too much sugar.”

Steve smiles, sitting in front of Eddie, “It’s ok. I wasn’t good at that game.”

“I could have helped you more.”

“You were the Dragon Monster.”

“Dungeon Master.”

“I know, I’m just messing with you.”

Eddie scoops closer to Steve, “I was a moron, Steve, and I have no words to tell you how sorry I am. But I promise you that next time-”

“Eddie. Eds. Listen to me. I love you, ok? I really do. But That’s your time, not ours. It’s the time you like to spend with the kids and it’s ok. We don’t have to spend every moment together, you know that right?”

“But we play almost every holiday. I don’t want to stay away from you, I want you by my side.” Eddie whines, resting his head on Steve’s shoulder.

“Well, this means we’ll have to come up with a timetable so you could spend some holidays with the kids and some with me.”

“What if I want to spend them all with you?”

“The kids will kill me in my sleep.” Steve chuckles, “Now, can we eat? I’m starving and that pie smells so good!”

“I don’t fucking deserve you, Steve Harrington.” Eddie murmurs, before kissing him sweetly on the lips.

“Oh, and you’re going to watch the game with me and Tommy on Thanksgiving.”

“I take back what I said. You’re cruel! Making me watch the game is torture!”

“We can invite Wayne too,” Steve adds, taking a forkful of pie and winking at Eddie.

Maybe Steve won’t ever bond with the kids, but he did bond with Wayne.

“I guess I can endure it if you promise me beer, like a lot of beer.”

“Deal! Now eat before it turns cold!”

They eat the pie in the desert park, and when they finish they drive back to Steve's house to rest because none of them slept a wink without the other in his bed.

[mariacallous]

As with many a lame-duck president in the past, it feels as if Joe Biden has already left the national stage even though he has a month left in his term.

In his case, that disappearing act is vastly exaggerated by the man who was his predecessor and will be his successor. Donald Trump sucks up every bit of oxygen in the room with his daily outrages – horrifying cabinet choices, transactional friendships with oligarchs, appalling social media posts.

With all the lack of grace we’ve come to expect, he is threatening and bragging his way to inauguration day.

Biden, by contrast, is mostly low-key and taciturn.

One of Barack Obama’s former aides, Jon Lovett, took a sarcastic jab on the Pod Save America podcast: “Joe Biden believes in tradition and institutions, and we should only have one president at a time, and I think it’s a surprising choice to allow it to be Donald Trump.”

Some major news organizations are giving Biden an extra shove into the wings with coverage that emphasizes what we already know: that Biden, at 82, is old and less than vibrant.

A Weary Biden Heads for the Exit, read a headline in the New York Times, with observations, in the newspaper’s own voice, that Biden “looks a little older and a little slower with each passing day”, and that “it is hard to imagine that he seriously thought he could do the world’s most stressful job for another four years.”

The Wall Street Journal reprised its once disparaged and now praised coverage from last spring about the president’s increasing frailty with a story about how staff shored him up and distracted the public and the press: “Aides kept meetings short and controlled access, top advisers acted as go-betweens and public interactions became more scripted.”

But even in this diminished state, and even amid low approval ratings and endless criticism, Biden remains himself to a large extent: decent, optimistic, patriotic and empathetic.

In an extensive video interview published recently by the progressive, independent media organization MeidasTouch Network, Biden sounded cogent and thoughtful as he answered questions from founder Ben Meiselas.

Granted, the interview was non-combative; rather, it was notably tactful and respectful. But it was also substantive, and Biden sounded the familiar notes as he pledged to attend next month’s inauguration and explained why he invited Trump to the White House, despite having often depicted him as a threat to democracy.

“Because it’s who we are as a nation, it’s how we’re supposed to be … ” he said about the peaceful transfer of power. He emphasized his belief in the American people and joked about being what he called “congenitally optimistic”.

I’m not sure I share those rosy views, given the outcome of the election and the way things are unfolding day after day. But that’s vintage Biden.

And as I watched and listened to him answering Meiselas’s questions, I somehow felt nostalgic – yes, nostalgic for a presidency that hasn’t even ended, though it is fading fast.

I couldn’t help but think that – despite all Biden’s well-documented faults and misjudgments (including failing to step away much earlier from the presidential campaign) – this president has done a lot right.

His accomplishments are real, and his decency as a human being is, too.

Some of us, at least, are going to miss him when he’s gone. Even if it seems like that has already happened.

[samwinchestersgirl83]

This is not a Wincest related post but I’m gonna throw the tags out there to reach my people who vibe with me.

I’m scared since Trump’s inauguration on Monday. He has already issued so many executive orders that so many people are embracing. Elon is not masking himself as a n*zi on national TV with his salute. Censorship is extremely high here. I’m scared to be a woman. My wife is scared regarding her job due to eradicating equality when it comes to a career. Our marriage equality was just challenged today. I’m scared for my marriage to my wife. ICE raids are happening rapidly. They are arresting CITIZENS as well as NON-CITIZENS. One of our US veterans was arrested and detained because he was not white. A. Fucking. US. WAR. VETERAN. They are being sent to “detention centers”. I saw people hiding under houses in real time. Our rights are being eliminated at a rapid rate and I’m fucking terrified to go outside anymore. Canada has threatened to cut off power supply as well as a few other things, as of February 1st, if Trump does not back down. We are already struggling as it is and EVERYTHING is fixing to sky rocket. Trump is tiptoeing us towards a fucking war with other countries (an actual world war 3 if you will) if he doesn’t stop. WE ARE UNDER A RED FLAG WARNING FOR POTENTIAL MASS GENOCIDE. I’m scared shitless.

I’m praying for an 11th hour miracle but I know chances of that are low unless something drastic happens.

Send good vibes, prayers, love, light, something. This is the last platform I have to convey how absolutely devastating this is without censorship.

As always, long live Wincest and J2.

Where the fuck is the actual Sam and Dean when you need them to save this country from hell.

[stobinesque]

For your requests! Buckingham anxious

(NSFW please 💕)

hello anon! I hope you see this even though it is weeks later! I promise I am still filling all of these backlog requests life has just been a doozy lately!

This is also my inaugural buckingham fic, and boy was it a fun one to start with. I really enjoyed writing this premise and I may end up expanding on this little drabble in the future. 🫡

prompt: 'anxious' | wc: 250 | rating: E | cw/tags: First Time, Virgin Chrissy, Sex Ed 101, Vaginal Sex, Mirror Sex (...kinda) | Buckingham

“… this…” Chrissy watches Robin’s fingers brush over blush-pink folds “…is the labia minora.”

Chrissy’s heart flutters in an anxious rhythm. “They look all…wrinkly and weird.”

“I think they’re gorgeous,” Robin husks. In the pocket-sized mirror, Robin’s fingers spread, revealing soft pink flesh that glistens with wetness. The very tip of one finger dips into it—Chrissy squeaks, jumping in surprise. “That is your vagina.”

“I-I thought the whole thing…?”

“No, babe, just this pretty little hole.” And then Robin is inside her.

Chrissy moans—and immediately slaps an embarrassed hand over her mouth.

A kiss brushes over her neck. “Hey.” Robin’s voice is low, soothing. “I want to hear you.”

Chrissy nods, speechless, and Robin’s finger pulls out, tracing upwards. “This is your urethra…and this—” her finger hovers over the hard pink nub at the top of Chrissy’s vulva “—is the clitoris.”

Robin presses the mirror into Chrissy’s palm, and she watches as Robin keeps her labia spread with one hand and brings the first two fingers of the other down to press against her clitoris.

Chrissy throws her head against Robin’s shoulder with a moan, as Robin rubs.

Robin tsks in her ear, whispering, “C’mon baby, want you to watch what I do to you.”

Heat pools in Chrissy’s gut. Muscles clench. Her body is taut as a bow as Robin’s hand quickens.

The tension snaps, pleasure spilling all over. Chrissy doesn’t know what to call it.

But it’s the best she’s ever felt in her body.

I'm celebrating 250 followers with 250 word microfics! Requests are closed, but previous fills can be found here.

[reasonsforhope]

When William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s fifth president in September 2022, he used his inauguration speech to demand an end to humanity’s “addiction to fossil fuels” and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to reach 100% clean energy by 2030. Kenya is not far off this target today.

In 2021, 81% of Kenya’s electricity generation came from the low carbon sources of geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar power. Over half of this low carbon electricity came from geothermal energy, which Kenya has in abundance. So much in fact, that excess geothermal energy is released during the night when electricity demand is low. Installed geothermal capacity in Kenya could be increased by at least eightfold, which could open opportunities for scaling up green manufacturing capacity or exporting excess electricity to neighbouring countries. 

Renewable rollouts have substantially improved energy access. In 2013, around 28% of Kenyans had access to electricity. By 2020, this had risen to over 71%. This was achieved as the population grew by over seven million over the same period, while the rate of urbanisation continued to gather pace. According to the World Bank, barely one million Kenyans had electricity in 1990 [which, back then, was approximately just 5% of the population]. 

Ruto’s words, and Kenya’s actions, are timely due to the backdrop they are made against. Amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the vacuum created in global energy markets, European leaders and multinational fossil fuel firms have launched a ‘dash for gas’ across Africa, where a raft of new oil and gas projects, as well as old ones, are being given the green light. At COP27, Ruto kicked back against the dash for gas, stating that “we [Kenya] have taken a position that as a country we are going green and we are well on course.”

-via Rapid Transition Alliance, November 17, 2022

[theredandwhitequeen]

The hell that starts tomorrow in the US is going to be rough, probably a lot worse than the first time since we get Musk and Bezos and whatshisface from Meta now too, I want everyone to take breaks from doom scrolling and do something nice for themselves as often as it is possible. It doesn’t have to be every week or every month but try to get away from the news.

Tomorrow don’t watch the news or the inauguration or any of that shit. Make it all low rated and only watched by his sycophants. I’m going to get a massage during the inauguration. I made the appointment in October and forgot the 20th was the inauguration which made me happy now. Go past me.

Do take time to fight back for what you think needs to be fought for, don’t let them get away with shit. Call it out when you see it. Pay attention to what is reall happening and don’t let them distract you with shiny things like TikTok. Don’t say his name, I have for the longest time said traitorous bastard or the moron, never his title. It’s going to be a shit show and it’s going to be bad so let’s look to nice things in the world that will provide joy or happiness.

[myreia]

anxiety - for the random word generator prompt!

thanks, Sea! This took so long to finish ahhh - and it's in three parts because I'm a fool.

Castaway

CHAPTER ONE: MEDITATION

Chapter Rating: Teen Characters: Aureia Malathar (WoL), Thancred Waters, Minfilia Warde, Yda Hext, Scions of the Seventh Dawn Pairings: Aureia/Thancred (pre-relationship) Chapter Words: 1,516 Notes: A Realm Reborn, set during A Wild Rose by Any Other Name. Summary: Aureia’s inauguration into the Scions of the Seventh Dawn should be cause for celebration, yet she cannot shake her feelings of unease. These newfound friends of hers may have the best of intentions, but is she anything more than a means to an end in their hands? Chapters: part one • part two • part three Read on AO3

The low hum of chatter murmurs in her ears.

Aureia exhales a breath, her eyes closed, and folds her arms as she leans against the wall. The conversation is near enough for her to make out, but too far away for it to be intelligible. Overlapping voices, ebbing and flowing like the changing tide. She’s always found something irksome about the sound of distant voices. It gnaws at her mind, thinning her patience, provoking her to snap with each passing moment. The irritation is irrational, and yet she cannot put it aside. 

Thancred’s laugh rings across the room.

Her eyes fly open. She shakes herself, rearranging her expression into one of careful neutrality. She closed her eyes for only a moment; chances are no one noticed the difference. No one seems to notice much about her now the introductions are over and her task has been assigned. She may as well melt into the wall for all the difference her presence makes.

Thancred stands in the centre of the little group, a grin spread from ear to ear. He speaks animatedly, bright and cheerful in a way she hasn’t seen before. If she thought Ul’dah was his natural element, he has proved her wrong. He’s open and relaxed, slipping into the kind of casual comfort only found among friends. His language has shifted, using terms she has never heard before with easy confidence, contributing to topic that make her head spin. She always thought his academic side was an exaggeration, a little white lie he spun to make himself sound impressive when flirting.

Yet another thing she was wrong about.

The white-haired Miqo’te—Y’shtola, she reminds herself—chuckles and presses a hand to her lips, her eyes shining with mirth. The young woman in the visor—Yda, was it?—bounces on the balls of her feet and pipes up with excitement, earning her a withering headshake from the Lalafellin mage. Papalymo, if she remembers correctly. Even the towering Elezen, his face obscured by his hood and goggles, is warm and welcoming despite his reserved nature. Urianger, did they say his name was?

She hasn’t said a word to him. She hasn’t said a word to any of them.

These people here, these friends of Thancred’s, these Scions… The camaraderie between them is clear. From their identical tattoos to their amiability in each other’s presence, she has no doubt they have been friends for a long time. Comrades bound together, if not by shared experience, then by something just as strong. Purpose. Ambition. Duty.

It hurts more than she would like to admit.

“I am forever grateful, you know.”

Aureia looks up.

Minfilia stands a few feet away, eyes bright, smile soft, blonde hair glowing in the solar’s warm light. For the leader of a covert organization, she is not what Aureia expected. She thought she would be meeting a hardened veteran, grounded and devoid of the usual idealistic nonsense, with a keen understanding of the difference between lofty aspirations and harsh reality. The kind of person prepared to do whatever it took to see their goals realized. A spymaster or a soldier or a general.

Not a woman younger than herself who wears her heart on her sleeve.

Aureia bites her tongue. “What for?” she asks, trying to keep her tone neutral. 

Minfilia looks away, a faint blush on her cheeks. “Forgive me,” she says. “I am getting ahead of myself. A little context is necessary, perhaps. When your name was first made known to me, I thought you the same as many an Eorzean adventurer. Reckless, inspired, some seeking adventure for fame and fortune, others for the thrill of danger, others still simply for the honest work. But your deeds speak for themselves.”

She pauses and regards her quietly. Though her blue eyes are kind, there is something unsettling about their intensity. “It was never about the rewards, was it? You care about those you aid. In you there is the ability and the skill to make a difference, and so you do—for how could you not?”

Aureia blinks. “I…”

“Thancred told me much of your adventures in Ul’dah.”

“He… did?” Somehow he never thought to mention you.

Minfilia’s smile brightens. “Every time without fail he returned to the Waking Sands, he had one tale or another to tell of his adventurer friend in the city. Yda, Papalymo, and Y’shtola certainly did not have quite as much to say about their own connections. I admit, I was perhaps a little uncertain at first—we both know his tendency to be a relentless flirt—but having met you… I daresay I see now why he can wax poetic about you when given the chance—” She cuts off abruptly, suddenly serious, and places a hand on her arm. “Please do not tell him I said as much, I will never hear the end of it.”

Aureia blinks again, uncertain what to make of any of this. Minfilia speaks to her less like a venerated leader and her new employer and more like they are close friends. Stalling for time, she risks a quick glance across the solar to the little group. Thancred is laughing again. Countering something Urianger said, he takes up his customary lean against the wall and crosses his arms. As he sweeps his hair out of his eyes, he looks away and his eyes connect with hers.

She frowns.

He raises an eyebrow.

Her frown deepens. “Don’t worry,” she says absently. “I’ll keep it to myself.”

Minfilia lets out a relieved breath and removes her hand. “Thank you. I suppose… I apologize for my awkwardness, but when I said that I am forever grateful, I did indeed mean it. I know I expressed as much earlier in an official capacity, but I would like to thank you again on more personal terms, as a newfound friend and ally. It should come as no surprise to you that our work presents many dangers and comes at a high cost. Trust is imperative. We must have faith and trust one another to do what must be done. It is the best chance we have to forge a brighter tomorrow.”

Aureia nods, still distracted. A glint catches her eye—the shattered remains of a mage’s staff, mounted and displayed on the wall behind the antecedent’s desk. She noticed it when she first entered the solar, but she didn’t truly take stock of it until now. Though it is broken, she can sense the remnants of powerful aether emanating from it, murmuring in deep slumber.

“I see in you a kind soul,” Minfilia continues. “A good soul. Someone of your skill and talent could have gone anywhere, but you chose to come to us. We will do well with someone like you among us, I am certain of that.”

She blinks again, forcing her sluggish mind to focus on Minfilia’s words. Despite the kindness extended to her, she can’t shake the anxiety growing in the pit of her stomach. As far as first impressions go, this perception of her could not be more wrong.

“…thank you,” she murmurs, stumbling on her own words. Her throat is uncomfortably dry.

“I am so very glad you are here. Perhaps we are kindred spirits of a kind.”

“I…”—don’t know about that—“…maybe. Perhaps.” The affirmation slips out unintended, and she curses internally.

“The Echo is a heavy gift,” Minfilia continues. “A blessing, to be sure, but not one borne easily.”

Aureia freezes, a chill running down her spine.

“As advantageous as it is, it comes with its own burdens. I cannot say we fully comprehend it, even for those of us who have carried it through most of our lives.” Minfilia’s eyes meet hers. “I beg your pardon if this is improper, but I must ask—when did you first hear Her call?”

Her heart clenches. The power has always been with her, whispering at the edges of her mind, sometimes quiet, other times compelling her to action. In the same breath it has shown her things she wished she had never seen, it has also saved her life.

She can’t remember a time without it.

She wishes it was gone.

“I…” She has never discussed it with another. Such a gift was too dangerous to bring attention to in Garlemald, though her mother often suspected there was more to her capabilities than what was natural. Even in the relative safety of Eorzea, she would rather pretend she wasn’t gifted with it. “I should go. Thank you for your hospitality, Minfilia. I will look into the Amajina robbery as soon as I am able.”

The words come out fast and abrupt, any semblance of familiarity reverted to distanced professionalism. Uncertain whether to bow (a sign she’s been around too much Ul’dahn nobility recently) or to nod (the easy way out) or to shake her hand (awkward), Aureia simply turns around and walks stiffly to the door.

She can feel Thancred’s eyes on her as she slips through the threshold and into the cold hallway beyond.

[coleskingdom]

Little Dear

Rating Explicit

Pairing Matt Jackson x Female Reader

Warnings: f receiving oral, fingering f receiving,p in v , smut and fluff at the end .

I had seen someone post wanting a Matt Jackson masquerade fic. Here’s my attempt.

There was a knock at the door, I looked through your camera to see a very elegant bouquet of dark red roses tipped in black, with an envelope attached had been left. Opening the front door with the first cool air of fall blowing in you brought both the bouquet and envelope and set them on your counter.

The note read:

Your presence has been requested at the inaugural masquerade ball. Your travel arrangements have been arranged for an overnight stay and a car will be sent to pick you up.

- TK

I only knew of one TK and the idea of being invited to one of his legendary party’s was exciting. However, you had a complicated history with one of his employees though it’d been years since you had seen Matt Jackson. Two years had gone by since you and Matt had broken up, it wasn’t dramatic you both were stubborn and in the end you just couldn’t make it work.

Toying with the black ribbon around the bouquet you decided that you would take TK’s invitation and attend the ball. However choosing an outfit wasn’t going to be easy, you wanted to hide and slip into being someone else for one evening.

The night of the ball I decided on a long black ball gown with a corseted top, a pair of elbow length gloves, and a golden fawn mask. You sleeked your hair back and put in a pair of green contacts to hide your blue eyes. When the doorbell rang and butterflies were in your stomach as the driver was waiting to take your bag and open the door.

The driver pulled up to this house that looked like an old New Orleans style mansion, inside it was the most extravagant party I’ve ever been to. There were sword swallowers, fire breathers , tarot readers, and a dance floor surrounded by candelabra. The music was contemporary hits that were performed by a string quartet .

As I stared around the room taking in the magnificence of it all you were approached by a man in a golden wolf mask and a very well tailored suit. The man offered his hand, Hello little deer, do you care for a dance? The formalness made you laugh and say Why Mr. Wolf, I would love to dance with you. As he took your gloved hand and led you to the floor.as the beginning of A Sign of the Times started, the Wolf pulled you in closer, he moved so smoothly on the floor confident and strong. The song ended and he bowed to me, and again the formalness made me laugh. He led you to the bar where you both ordered a drink. Standing in the man’s presence, it felt familiar and warm. The way the Wolf appraised you in your ball gown, he took in every inch of you looking at you as he both knew you and wanted to devour you at the same time. After you both finished your drinks, you wanted to ask his name. Mr. Wolf, do I know you, I asked quietly, the wolf silently grabbed your hand again led you back to the dance floor, this time it was Wildest Dreams, I sighed this song always reminded you of Matt, I softly whispered into the ear of the Wolf

“He's so tall and handsome as hell

He's so bad, but he does it so well

I can see the end as it begins

My one condition is

Say you'll remember me

Standing in a nice dress

Staring at the sunset, babe

Red lips and rosy cheeks

Say you'll see me again

Even if it's just in your wildest dreams”

The Wolf growled a low hungry sound that vibrated deep in his chest. Little Deer he asked is that what you want, to be remembered in my wildest dreams, or is it me that you want to remember in yours. You swallowed thickly taking in the words that had just been spoken, both you said just barely loud enough for the Wolf to hear. With that the Wolf led you off the dance floor and up the stairs to a suite, and as you entered the room the Wolf pinned you against the door and kissed you awkwardly as your masked faces didn’t fit together. The wolf readjusted his mask as he began to kiss your neck, down behind your ear and back up again, you felt your body begin to relax and give into this man who was setting your body on fire, with each touch.

The wolf began to kiss your collarbone and the top of your breast. Who are you Mr. Wolf? I asked breathlessly. He scowled annoyed that a question had been asked taking him away from his face being buried in your breasts Little Deer, that does not matter, for tonight I’m the big bad Wolf and you are my little deer. By the end of tonight if you don’t know who I am I will tell you. Before you had time to fully process his words he had brought a chair over, Sit said the Wolf it’s time that I feast on my sweet little deer. With that phrase you felt your panties dampen, the assertion in the Wolf’s voice had you sitting down, and your legs pressed together trying to quell the ache that was forming from this man who you did not know.

The wolf lifted the fabric of the ball gown and settled himself between your legs his mask now laying on the floor beside him. Lean back little deer he said , as he puts my feet on his shoulders. I leaned back, in the chair as the wolf runs his hands up and down my trembling legs. Slowly, methodically, he kisses all the way up and down my legs, his beard a sharp contrast to the smooth kisses he is placing there. My back arching as he moves closer to where I need him most offering myself to him. I feel his hands on the band of the underwear I had chosen for the night and hear them rip. There she is he coos, my dinner for the night, you smell so good, I bet you taste even better. His fingers trail up my inner thighs and I moan, so wet for me and I haven’t even touched you yet he chuckled amused at the response of your body to him. I'm gonna enjoy eating my dinner so fucking much . I bite down on my lip as he inches closer, his warm breath dancing over my sensitive flesh. When he finally kisses me there, his mouth pressed against my wet folds, I moan so loudly and wantonly that it makes him groan. His lips dance along my center, making heat sear deep in my core, and then his tongue darts out, warm and wet and soft, licking a path from my entrance up to my clit. Oh God I gasp. So. Fucking. Good. His tongue swirls over and around my clit, lapping up my juices, animalistic grunts and growls rumbling from his throat.

Warmth spreads through me as he coaxes wave after wave of pleasure from between my thighs, feasting on me with the skill of one man. There had only ever been one man who had ever made me feel this desperate but there was no way that it could be him under my dress right now. Before I could finish the thought . A familiar pulling sensation in my abdomen and tingling in my thighs builds as he goes on sucking my clit, rimming it with his tongue but concentrating the pressure on one spot. My back arches off the chair and I grind myself against his face.

Oh, fu-oh Matt I whimper. My climax builds to a crescendo. I reach the peak, and he maintains his steady yet relentless pace my hips grinding desperately, I call out Matt’s name not even aware that it’s falling from my lips.Even after my hips still and I'm panting from the strength of my orgasm, he continues to suck and lick, wringing every last drop of pleasure from me.

Blinking, I stare up at the ceiling, my body limp my mind quiet. Who’s Matt? the wolf asked still under my dress lightly kissing my thighs. Who ? I ask not sure that I heard right. Matt the name you moaned as you came on my tongue the Wolf said. Shit, his name didn’t fall from my lips did it, I mean he was who was in my dreams, and who I thought of the most. He’s ummm…..someone that I dated and it ended. It’s been two years, I’m sorry. Two years the wolf said into my thigh and you still scream his name is he who you think of, is it him that you fantasize of little deer. Don’t lie, I can see how your body is responding to the mention of his name. The wolf slides his hand between my thighs palming my pussy, toying with my clit again teasing changing pressure. Yes , it’s Matt, he’s the only one who’s ever made me feel this way until tonight. I’m still the only one who’s ever made you feel this way and I’ll be the only one who ever does the wolf growled. Before I had time to process what he had said two of the Wolfs long thick fingers have delved into me, pumping in and out slowly building me back up, when I feel the tip of his middle finger zero in on my g spot, my orgasm comes fast, quick and more intense than the first. I’m breathless and panting as the wolf removes him self from under my dress.

There in front of me stands Matt Jackson, I’m breathless looking at him. He’s always been perfection his dark hair, and his brown eyes that shined now with a combination of love and lust. Little Deer, he cooed did you think that I didn’t know it was you, this whole time. A little deer yearning for her Buck. He reached and untied my mask lifting it off of my head. He took my hand and brought me to my feet leaning down to kiss my lips, exploring and memorizing my mouth.

Matt, I whispered when the kiss broke I had missed him, my pride having gotten the better of me for the past two years. Matt pulled me into his chest, I’m sorry he whispered, his hands running up and down my back toying with the fastening of the corset. My body was drunk on him, tonight I just needed all he had to give, I didn’t care if it was the beginning or the end. Looking him in his eyes, Matt I need you I said breathless.

He undresses me slowly taking his time as if burning this into his mind I step out of the ball gown. My attention turning to him as I unbutton his shirt, taking it off of his shoulders, I’m almost afraid to touch him that if I do it’ll all have been a dream. Y/N get on the bed, I’ll finish this, I climbed into the plush bed. Watching as he stripped down, freeing his cock he stroked it trying to give himself some relief. The sight of him after so long was better than I had remembered, his strong biceps, his long torso, his hands, and that mouth. Like what you see, he chided, my sweet little deer. He climbed into the bed hovering over me kissing me his lips left mine as he proceeded down my body. Matt, I whined, the man was in no rush, he was taking his time, he came back up my body. I felt like I was going to explode. His hand reaching my folds taking the wetness and sighing rubbing it along his shaft. He’s positioned himself at my entrance he looks me in the eyes as he sinks him self into me slowly giving me time to adjust. Matt, I sigh, my body feeling complete with him inside me. He begins to move slowly at first, and my walls begin to quiver around him. Mine he growls and I clench myself around him echoing his words. I rock my hips to meet him as he pistons his at the change in speed thrusting himself deeper and deeper inside me and making light flicker behind my eyelids. Pleasure coils in my gut, snaking through my thighs and up into my ribcage before bursting out of every single part of my body. I mean, hanging onto him and grinding out my release. I'm unable to catch my breath while he holds me tight, pushing into me until he comes with a harsh grunt of my name. Matt eases out of me and I sigh missing him immediately.

Matt settles us under the covers of the bed, as he pulls me onto his chest. The realization of what has happened and the unknown begins to register. Matt, I whisper emotion dripping from that one word. Sweetheart I know, it’s okay, when I said you were mine I meant it he said stroking my arm. Sleep now, I’ll be here in the morning.

[rejectingrepublicans]

Don’t watch Trump’s inauguration, guarantee him low ratings.

[azspot]

Activism during Trump’s first term was able to create a sense of an administration that was embattled and mired in controversy, rather than one carrying out a popular mandate. While most presidents can expect to enjoy a bump in popularity following their inaugurations, Trump instead faced record-low approval ratings. And while conservatives passed a major tax law that favored the rich, they were unable to realize other top goals such as the repeal of Obamacare. With the 2018 midterms, movements played a significant role in creating one of the most dramatic swings in recent electoral history, propelling a wave that both swept Democrats into power in many states and deprived Republicans of control of the U.S. Congress, closing their window of maximum legislative power.

A new wave of movements against Trumpism is coming

[beardedmrbean]

Already dealing with sustained post-election ratings woes, MSNBC witnessed yet another embarrassment over the weekend when it finished behind the plucky TV startup NewsNation in the key advertising demographic of adults aged 25-54.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the liberal cable news network averaged just 17,000 viewers in the key demo on Saturday between the hours of noon and 7 p.m. ET. In comparison, NewsNation’s programming attracted an audience of 23,000 in the 25-54 demographic in that same time period.

NewsNation - the old WGN that rebranded as NewsNation in 2021 - also saw some of its time slots beat MSNBC by triple digits in the demo on Saturday. For instance, the noon broadcast of NewsNation Live Weekend pulled in 34,000 viewers in the 25-54 metric, besting The Katie Phang Show’s 13,000 in the demo – a 162 percent advantage over MSNBC.

Overall, NewsNation beat MSNBC in the key demo by 35 percent in the afternoon and early evening hours of Saturday.

Even though NewsNation, the upstart “centrist” news channel that bills itself as “News For All Americans,” notched an unprecedented demo ratings victory over its much more established rival, MSNBC still easily surpassed the Nexstar-owned network in total viewership.

During the 12-7 p.m. Saturday block, MSNBC averaged 262,000 viewers overall to NewsNation’s 58,000 – a difference of 78 percent.

Following Donald Trump’s electoral victory last month, disenchanted viewers have turned off CNN and MSNBC, while Fox News has seen its ratings surge. From the day after the election through last week, MSNBC averaged only 603,000 total viewers in primetime, less than half of its year-to-date average. CNN was also down 46 percent in primetime while Fox News was up 12 percent, nabbing 2.7 million viewers.

MSNBC’s flagship shows Morning Joe and The Rachel Maddow Show have also suffered record-low ratings during this post-election recession. Late last month, Maddow saw her demo viewership sink to its lowest point since 2015. Meanwhile, this past Monday, Morning Joe had its third lowest-rated telecast since its 2007 launch and the smallest demo audience in over 17 years.

At the same time, MSNBC executives feel that the network’s loyal viewers will return after the sting of Kamala Harris’ loss fades away and Democratic anger over Trump’s policies grows. This happened in 2016 when MSNBC’s audience fell by 41 percent immediately after Hillary Clinton’s loss, only for the channel to experience a sustained “resistance” surge in 2017 after Trump took office.

“A post-election dip in viewership was always projected and internal thinking is that it will pick up in the New Year, post-inauguration,” a network source told The Independent.

The same has also held true for Fox News. Following Joe Biden’s victory in 2020, the conservative cable giant’s primetime viewership fell by six percent. After Barack Obama won re-election in 2012, the network’s weeknight audience dropped by 13 percent.

Despite the startling ratings slump since Harris’ loss, MSNBC still showed year-over-year growth compared to 2023. The network averaged 807,000 overall viewers in total day and 1.3 million in primetime, finishing the year as the No. 2 network in all of cable (behind only Fox News) and up two and four percent, respectively, from the previous year.

As for NewsNation, the network still pulls in just a fraction of total viewers compared to the Big Three in cable news. At the same time, it has enjoyed double-digit growth in two consecutive quarters and saw its primetime viewership jump by over 20 percent compared to 2023.

[satoshi-mochida]

Tokyo Clanpool launches for Switch in Asia, PC worldwide on December 19 - Gematsu

Compile Heart-developed dungeon RPG Tokyo Clanpool will launch for Switch in Asia and PC via GOG worldwide on December 19 for $39.99 / €39.99, publisher eastasiasoft announced. It will be localized in English and Traditional Chinese. A worldwide release for the Switch version will follow.

While the PC version was previously planned to be available via Steam, eastasiasoft confirmed to Gematsu that is no longer the case.

Physical editions for the Switch version are available to pre-order in standard and Limited editions via Play-Asia. Only 3,000 Limited Editions will be produced, which will include the game, manual, soundtrack CD, art book, sticker sheet, poster, and a numbered certificate in a collector’s box.

Tokyo Clanpool first launched for PS Vita on September 25, 2017 in Japan.

Here is an overview of the game, via eastasiasoft:

About

In near future Tokyo, the government has collapsed following the appearance of a mighty tower extending from the mysterious Reverse City in the sky and connecting with the National Diet Building. Monsters threaten the people of Japan, and it’s up to newly inaugurated Prime Minister Natsume Kannuki to lead her Diet Dolls into battle against them! Tokyo Clanpool is a dungeon RPG where you’ll take your party of heroines deeper and deeper into the tower to counter the monster threat and learn the truth of its origin. Equip Digiskins to customize characters’ skills and abilities while navigating mazelike corridors in first-person perspective. Turn-based combat is fast and strategic, and with your team’s ether-based powers, you can even float or dig tunnels to alter the structure of dungeons. But you’ll also have to keep an eye on your citizens’ approval ratings. If your actions are favorable, you can earn valuable bonuses, but if it falls too low, your entire cabinet could resign! Is your administration up to the task?

Key Features

Experience a dynamic dungeon RPG set in near-future Tokyo!

Act as the young Prime Minister of Japan and her moe cabinet members.

Earn the approval of the citizenry for valuable bonuses or lose support for your mission!

Navigate mazelike dungeons in first-person perspective and engage in turn-based combat.

Use special attacks like Sacred Union to gain the upper hand against powerful monsters!

Alter the structure of dungeons by breaking walls, floating or digging tunnels.

Customize class abilities and skills with the use of different Digiskins!

Watch a new trailer below.

Official Trailer

[sam-not-sammie]

This is a long post but I’m fucking pissed.

It actually sucks to see that most of the notes under posts from Americans begging to know if other countries are seeing the US’s active steady approach to fascism is just “Wow America get your shit together before this happens in MY country”

Because actually what the fuck. We have made it so fucking clear that we are TRYING. The American people have actively been pushing and fighting for change LONG before Trump even finished his FIRST term. We have been begging for people to see and understand how corrupt this system is. Our states are controlled by gerrymandering, our elected officials do not do the bare minimum of their job responsibilities and do not listen to us (many of them don’t even manage or fully staff their phone lines!!!), and despite begging for better gun control for fucking years, the NRA is shoving misinformation down people’s throats and subsequently hiding any real facts!

(Statistically, most Americans want better gun control, it has been proven in biannual studies done by the John Hopkins Institute for Public Health!!! But instead of working with the facts, listening to the people, and doing their damn jobs, our elected officials took down an app because they didn’t like that they and their reputations were being exposed for their corruption! All this under the guise of “save the children” but when the children are begging to be saved suddenly a piece of paper written 200+ years ago means more than the elementary school down the street. )

This idea that Americans are in control or at fault for what happens in our country needs to stop. That is LITERALLY how fascism works! The people do not have the ability to stop this. The entire world watched as millions of Americans mobilized to try to educate and protest and fight for a different tomorrow, but because the world’s richest people decided a fascist’s pocket was better than a black woman’s, the ENTIRE country is suffering.

Suicide prevention call centers had calls go up in frequency within the same day he was inaugurated. This is more than just a “haha america get your shit together.” We are in CRISIS. Institutions for genocide prevention have marked the united states with red flags!!!

I’m so glad the creeping rush of fascism hasn’t gotten to you guys yet, but stop acting like this is just a fire we started and are alone in being able to control. Trump himself said that Elon helped him get votes. This system was set up to benefit the wealthy to begin with, and on top of that America has one of the leading records for lack of education. This man plans on removing the department of education while literacy rates are at an all time low and you guys are out here really thinking that the common man can just “turn this around”???? Are you fucking serious???