#makes the reading experience less seamless

[777bae]

THE ICE BENEATH OUR FEET WILLIAM EKLUND

Summary :: William finally manages to convince you to let him teach you how to skate

Warnings :: fear?

Word count :: 5.3k

William had a way of making everything seem easy—on and off the ice. Watching him skate during games felt almost hypnotic, like witnessing pure poetry in motion. The way he moved was so fluid and effortless, as if the ice itself bent to his will. Every sharp turn, each seamless pivot, and the explosive speed he brought to every play left you in awe. It wasn’t just his talent that captivated you, though—it was the joy that radiated from him. The gleam in his eyes, the easy smile that tugged at his lips, and the way he’d throw his hands in the air to celebrate, even during practices, showed how much he loved what he did. It wasn’t just a job or a passion—it was a part of him. And every time you watched him, you couldn’t help but feel a twinge of longing, wishing you had even a fraction of that confidence or that grace on the ice.

But your relationship with skating was far less romantic. You’d told him countless times how clumsy you felt just thinking about stepping onto the ice. In fact, you still remembered the last time you’d tried, years ago at a childhood birthday party. Back then, the rink had felt more like a slick, unforgiving trap than a playground. You’d spent most of that experience gripping the boards so tightly that your knuckles turned white, silently praying that you wouldn’t fall and humiliate yourself in front of everyone. Even years later, the memory of your awkward, stumbling attempts to stay upright made you cringe.

Every time you brought up that story, William’s reaction was the same. He’d throw his head back with a warm laugh, the kind that made your heart flutter despite yourself, and then he’d reassure you: “One day, älskling (darling), I’ll show you how it’s done. You’ll love it.” There was always such certainty in his voice when he said it, like he truly believed there wasn’t a doubt in the world that you’d be gliding across the ice in no time with him by your side.

You never really thought he’d follow through—he was William Eklund, after all. Between his busy practice schedule, constant games, and travel commitments, there wasn’t much room in his life for teaching someone like you the basics of skating. But you should’ve known better by now.

The night before it happened, your phone buzzed with a text just as you were settling onto the couch. Picking it up, you saw William’s name flash across the screen.

“Be ready at 10 tomorrow. I’m teaching you to skate. No excuses.”

Your stomach flipped at his words, excitement and nerves tangling together in equal measure. You read the message a second time, your heart thumping faster with each word.

Teaching you to skate.

It wasn’t that you didn’t want to learn—you trusted William more than anyone. But the thought of stepping onto the ice, of possibly falling flat on your face in front of him, made your chest tighten. You stared at the screen for a few moments, trying to think of a reason to say no. Maybe you could claim you were too busy, or that you weren’t feeling well. But deep down, you knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Another buzz pulled you from your thoughts:

“Don’t overthink it, baby. It’ll be fun. Promise.”

You smiled despite yourself, letting out a breathy laugh. He knew you too well—knew you’d be nervous, knew you’d try to talk yourself out of it. But his confidence was as steady as always, and that reassurance wrapped around you like a warm blanket.

“Fine,” you muttered to yourself, typing out a quick reply: “Alright, I’ll see you at 10. But no laughing if I fall!”

The response came almost immediately:

“Never. I’ll catch you before you hit the ice.”

And just like that, your nerves began to settle. If anyone could make you feel safe out on the ice, it was William.

The next morning, you could feel the nervous fluttering in your stomach the moment you stepped out of your car and saw the ice rink looming ahead. The sheer thought of skating—something that had never come naturally to you—made your palms slightly clammy. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust William; you trusted him more than anyone. But there was still that little voice in your head whispering all the ways this could go wrong. What if you fell flat on your face? Or worse, what if you froze up completely and he realized how much of a disaster you were on the ice?

You pulled your coat a little tighter around yourself as you walked toward the entrance, your breath coming out in soft white puffs in the chilly air. But then, as you rounded the corner, you spotted him, and suddenly the nervous fluttering shifted to something softer.

William was leaning casually against the side of the building, his hockey bag at his feet and his hands tucked into the pockets of a gray hoodie. He looked effortlessly handsome, as he always did, with a black beanie snug over his messy blond hair, just enough of it sticking out to give him that endearing, slightly unpolished look. His face was rosy from the cold, but when his eyes met yours, a wide smile spread across his face, and the tension you’d been holding in your shoulders seemed to dissolve instantly.

“Hey, älskling,” he called out, his voice carrying that warm, familiar lilt of his Swedish accent. Somehow, it made the words feel softer, more intimate.

You gave him a small wave, trying to smile despite the nerves bubbling in your chest. But as you got closer, your hesitant expression must have given you away, because his grin turned a little more playful.

“Nervous?” he asked, tilting his head slightly as he studied you. His tone was teasing, but there was a kindness in his eyes that told you he already knew the answer.

“More like terrified,” you admitted, laughing nervously as you came to a stop in front of him.

William chuckled, the sound low and warm, and took a step closer. “Terrified? Really?” he asked, his voice dropping just a little, as though to reassure you. “Baby, it’s just ice. It’s not going to hurt you.”

You gave him a look, your lips twitching into a half-smile. “It’s not the ice I’m worried about. It’s what happens when I hit it.”

“Hit it?” He laughed again, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “You’re not going to hit anything. Not on my watch.”

Before you could protest, William reached for your hand, his gloved fingers curling gently around yours. His grip was firm but comforting, like he was grounding you in that moment, pulling you out of your own head. “Hey,” he said softly, his voice steady and soothing. “Don’t worry, okay? I’m going to take care of you. I promise.”

You glanced down at your intertwined hands, his thumb brushing over your knuckles in a way that made your heart skip. Somehow, the simple touch calmed the swirling nerves in your chest. When you looked back up at him, his expression had softened, the playful teasing giving way to something more tender.

“I’ve got you,” he added, giving your hand a little squeeze. “You trust me, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” you said, your voice quieter now.

“Good,” he said, his smile returning. “Then just focus on me. Forget the ice, forget everything else. Just focus on us.”

The way he said it—so effortlessly confident yet so full of care—made it impossible not to believe him. You nodded, exhaling slowly as the corners of your lips turned up into a more genuine smile.

“That’s my girl,” he murmured, his grin widening as he reached down to grab his bag with his free hand. “Come on. Let’s get you skating.”

And just like that, the fear that had felt so overwhelming minutes earlier started to fade. With William by your side, it felt like maybe—just maybe—this wouldn’t be so terrifying after all.

Inside the rink, the cool, crisp air greeted you like a gentle shock, prickling your skin and causing you to tuck your coat tighter around yourself. The faint hum of the rink filled your ears—the distant sound of skates gliding over ice, soft echoes of laughter from a few skaters on the far end of the arena, and the occasional hollow clatter of a hockey puck ricocheting off the boards. It was quieter than you’d expected, the stillness making the vast space feel both intimidating and peaceful. The expanse of smooth ice stretched out before you like a blank canvas, waiting to test you.

William walked a step ahead of you, his stride easy and confident. He led you to one of the benches lining the boards, his hockey bag slung casually over his shoulder. He set it down with a heavy thud, the sound cutting through the quiet of the rink. When he turned back to you, his blue eyes gleamed with that unmistakable mix of enthusiasm and warmth he always seemed to carry.

“Alright, sit,” he said, gesturing to the bench with a nod of his head.

You hesitated for a moment, glancing at the pair of skates sticking out from his bag, but his expression left no room for argument. Reluctantly, you sat down, still feeling the faint tug of nerves in your chest.

As you reached down to pick up the skates yourself, William moved faster, kneeling in front of you with a playful shake of his head. “No, let me,” he said, his voice firm but teasing, a soft smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“You don’t have to do that,” you protested, though your heart skipped a little at the sight of him kneeling so casually in front of you.

“Yes, I do,” he said, glancing up briefly to meet your eyes. “What kind of teacher would I be if I didn’t? Plus…” He grinned, his tone dropping into a playful murmur. “I don’t trust you to lace them properly.”

You laughed despite yourself, the sound easing some of the tension you’d been holding. “Okay, fine,” you said, leaning back on the bench. “I’ll let you do it. But I’m expecting professional-level results.”

“Oh, you’ll get the best, älskling,” he replied confidently, already pulling the skates from his bag.

He gently lifted your foot, guiding it into the first skate with practiced ease. His touch was careful yet firm, and his fingers moved deftly as he began tightening the laces. He worked methodically, checking the fit every few moments to ensure it wasn’t too tight.

“Not too tight,” he murmured, glancing up at you briefly, his voice calm and focused. “But snug enough to keep you steady. We don’t want your foot slipping around in there.”

You nodded, watching him intently as he continued. His brows furrowed slightly in concentration, a look you’d seen countless times during his games when he was completely in the zone. But there was something different about it now—softer, more intimate. He wasn’t just lacing up skates; he was taking care of you, making sure you felt supported and secure before you even stepped onto the ice.

As he finished with the first skate, he glanced up again, his blue eyes sparkling. “How does that feel?”

“Good,” you said softly, testing the fit by wiggling your toes. “Perfect, actually.”

He smiled, satisfied, and moved on to the second skate, repeating the process with the same gentle precision. You couldn’t help but watch him closely, your heart swelling with a warmth you couldn’t quite describe. It wasn’t just the care he was putting into something as simple as lacing your skates—it was the quiet affection in the way he touched your foot so carefully, the way he glanced up at you every few moments to make sure you were okay, the way he smiled so softly when he thought you weren’t looking.

When he finally finished, he sat back on his heels, studying his work like an artist admiring their latest creation. “Perfect,” he declared, his grin widening as he looked up at you.

“Think I’m ready to conquer the ice?” you asked, your voice teasing but still tinged with nerves.

He leaned forward slightly, his hands resting lightly on your knees. “You don’t just look ready,” he said, his voice dropping into something softer, more reassuring. “You are ready. I promise, you’re going to be amazing out there.”

Something about the way he said it, so sure and steady, made you believe him—even if you didn’t quite believe in yourself just yet. You smiled at him, your heart feeling lighter than it had since you’d stepped into the rink.

“Let’s do this,” you said, your voice quiet but resolute.

“There we go,” he murmured with a soft grin, standing and offering his hand to help you up. “Come on. Let’s take it one step at a time.”

As you took his hand and let him guide you toward the ice, you couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, this would be the moment skating wouldn’t feel so terrifying. Not with him by your side.

As soon as your skates touched the ice, though, a jolt of panic shot through you. The surface was so much slicker than you’d expected, your feet sliding unsteadily beneath you despite your best efforts to stay balanced. Instinctively, you grabbed onto the rink’s boards, gripping the cold, rough edge with both hands as if your life depended on it. Your legs wobbled uncontrollably, and you felt a surge of self-doubt bubbling in your chest.

William, who had been gliding a few feet ahead of you with the kind of effortless grace you’d only ever seen in professionals, immediately noticed. With a laugh that was warm and reassuring rather than mocking, he skated back over to you in a few swift strides.

“Whoa, slow down,” he teased lightly, stopping just in front of you. His voice carried a playful lilt, but when he saw the apprehension on your face, his expression softened. He closed the distance between you, his hands reaching out to rest gently on your waist. His touch was firm but careful, steadying you as you clung to the boards.

“It’s okay, baby,” he said softly, leaning in just enough that his voice cut through the noise of your anxious thoughts. His blue eyes held yours, calm and full of reassurance. “You’ve got this.”

You shook your head slightly, your voice trembling as you muttered, “I really don’t.”

William chuckled again, though his tone remained gentle, understanding. “Yes, you do,” he insisted. His voice dropped, soothing and steady, as if he were trying to anchor you to the moment. “Just take a deep breath for me. Look at me—not the ice. I’m right here.”

You hesitated for a moment, still gripping the boards like they were the only thing keeping you upright. But there was something about the way he spoke, his quiet confidence and the way his hands stayed firmly on your waist, that made it hard not to believe him. Slowly, you dragged your gaze away from the intimidating expanse of ice beneath your feet and looked at him instead.

His face was lit with that easy, lopsided smile you loved so much, his blond hair peeking out from under his beanie and his cheeks flushed pink from the cold. There was no judgment in his expression—just patience and encouragement. Somehow, just focusing on him made it easier to breathe, the tightness in your chest loosening slightly.

“Okay,” he said after a moment, his voice soft but encouraging. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to move in front of you, and you’re going to take my hands. Don’t worry about anything else—I’ll do the rest. I won’t let you fall.”

He took a small step back, his hands sliding down from your waist to rest briefly on your arms before holding them out in front of you. His stance was relaxed, the movement so natural to him that it almost made you forget how unsteady you felt.

You hesitated, your fingers still clutching the boards like they were a lifeline. But the way he looked at you—calm, steady, and full of quiet confidence—made it hard to refuse. Slowly, you loosened your grip on the boards and reached out, your fingers curling hesitantly around his gloved hands.

The moment his hands closed around yours, a wave of relief washed over you. His grip was firm, warm despite the chill of the rink, and so reassuring that some of the fear in your chest began to dissipate.

“There you go,” he said softly, a proud smile spreading across his face. “Good. You’re already doing better than you think, älskling.”

You couldn’t help but let out a small, nervous laugh, the tension easing just slightly. “I’m still standing, so I guess that’s a win.”

“It’s more than a win,” he replied, his grin widening. “Now, let’s take it slow. Push with one foot and glide with the other, like this.”

He skated backward a few feet, his movements fluid and effortless as he guided you forward. The grip of his hands never wavered, steadying you as you took your first hesitant step.

“See?” he said encouragingly, his voice soft but full of pride. “It’s all about balance. Don’t overthink it—just trust yourself. And if you don’t trust yourself, trust me.”

You nodded, focusing on his words and the way his hands grounded you. Step by step, you let him guide you forward, your legs still wobbly but steadier than before. The sound of your skates scratching against the ice was unfamiliar, but the warmth of William’s smile made it a little less intimidating.

“You’re doing great,” he said after a few moments, his tone gentle and sincere. “I knew you could do this.”

Hearing the pride in his voice made your chest swell, and for the first time, you felt the faintest flicker of confidence. Maybe—just maybe—you could do this after all.

Slowly but surely, the fear that had gripped you when you first stepped onto the ice began to fade. It wasn’t instant—your movements were still hesitant, and your legs wobbled with nearly every push—but you started to find a rhythm. William stayed close, never more than a breath away, his hands steady and reassuring whenever you faltered. He didn’t rush you, didn’t push you to go faster or further than you were ready for. Instead, he let you take things one small step at a time, his calm encouragement making it feel less overwhelming.

“Good, älskling!” William exclaimed after you managed to glide a few feet on your own without reaching for him. His voice rang out across the rink, full of pride and excitement. He clapped his hands together, his face lighting up with a smile so wide it made you laugh despite yourself. “See? You’re doing it!”

Your skates scratched to a stop as you turned back to face him, your chest heaving slightly from the effort. You couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm—it was contagious, and the way he looked at you, like you’d just scored the game-winning goal, made the small victory feel monumental.

“I wouldn’t call it skating just yet,” you said with a breathless laugh, though there was a flicker of pride in your voice now. Your confidence was still fragile, but it was growing with each step.

“To me, it’s perfect,” William replied softly, his teasing grin softening into something more tender. His gaze was warm and steady, his blue eyes glinting with affection as he looked at you like you were the only thing in the world that mattered.

The sincerity in his voice made your cheeks flush, and you quickly looked away, trying to focus on staying upright rather than the way he was making your heart race.

As you continued practicing, William began to skate backward in front of you, holding your hands to guide you further out onto the ice. His movements were fluid and graceful, as if skating backward was as natural to him as walking. His strong, confident grip kept you steady as you followed his lead, step by step.

“Don’t look at the ice,” he reminded you gently, his voice low and soothing. “Look at me. Just focus on me, älskling.”

It was easier said than done, but you trusted him. You forced yourself to lift your eyes, meeting his gaze. The warmth in his expression melted away the lingering nerves, making it easier to keep going. With every small glide, your trust in him—and in yourself—deepened.

“You’re doing so well,” he said after a few more steps, his smile never faltering. “You’re starting to look like a pro.”

You let out a laugh at that. “A very wobbly pro,” you joked, though you couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride at his words.

“Wobbly or not, you’re still incredible,” he said earnestly, his voice softening as he gave your hands a reassuring squeeze. “I knew you could do this.”

The way he said it—with so much belief and affection��made your chest swell. For the first time, you began to feel like you really could do this. With William holding your hands and encouraging you every step of the way, it was as though the fear that had held you back for so long didn’t stand a chance.

As you began to feel more comfortable on the ice, something shifted in the atmosphere around you. The tension that had gripped you earlier started to melt away, and with it, a playful spark seemed to ignite in William. His eyes glinted with mischief as he skated effortlessly around you, his movements graceful and smooth, like he was showing off just a little. The way he spun with ease, taking tight turns and then gliding away, was almost mesmerizing.

You rolled your eyes, your lips twitching into a smile despite yourself. “Show-off,” you teased, shaking your head as you watched him glide effortlessly, his figure a blur as he made another tight circle around you.

William let out a hearty laugh, not slowing down for a second. “Hey, I’m just trying to inspire you,” he said, his voice light and full of warmth. He shot you a playful glance as he circled back toward you, his grin widening. “Besides, I think you’re ready for your first race.”

“A race?” you asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

He nodded, his confidence as contagious as ever. “Of course,” he said with a smirk, skating back a little to give you space. “But don’t worry—I’ll go easy on you, baby.”

You laughed, incredulous, but at the same time, a spark of excitement flickered inside you. “You’re on,” you said, shaking your head but feeling your own competitive spirit rising. Despite your nerves, you couldn’t resist the challenge.

William dropped into a relaxed stance at one end of the rink, the playful gleam in his eyes still there, as if he were ready to spring into action at any second. “Alright,” he called, his voice carrying across the rink. “We line up here, and when I say go, we’re off. Ready?”

You nodded, your heart already beating faster, a mix of excitement and nerves flooding your chest. You knew you wouldn’t win—not by a long shot—but there was something about being with him, his presence so confident and reassuring, that made you feel like maybe you could surprise yourself.

William gave you a grin, his body coiled like a spring, ready to go. “On your mark…”

You crouched down, balancing yourself as best as you could, already anticipating the race.

“Get set…”

Your pulse quickened, your legs still a bit shaky but steadier than they had been when you started. You took a deep breath, focusing on the sound of his voice, letting the world around you blur out of focus for just a moment.

“Go!” William shouted, and without thinking, you pushed off with all the determination you could muster, your skates biting into the ice.

You moved quickly, your legs burning as you tried to keep your momentum, but no matter how hard you pushed, you could feel him skating beside you, just a little faster, effortlessly gliding in a way that only came from years of practice. William wasn’t trying to pass you—he was just skating leisurely beside you, laughing at how hard you were trying to keep up.

“You’re not even trying!” you gasped, trying to catch your breath, the cold air stinging your face as you leaned into each stride.

He chuckled, not even out of breath, still skating slowly with ease. “I don’t need to,” he teased, his grin never leaving his face. “You’re already winning, älskling.”

You couldn’t help but laugh, breathless and grinning despite the fact that you were definitely losing. “Winning? I’m pretty sure I’m about to be lapped,” you said, shaking your head in amusement.

William, still gliding effortlessly beside you, let out a mock gasp. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said dramatically, raising one hand to his chest in mock shock. “I didn’t realize I was supposed to race you. I thought we were just having fun.”

“Well, I’m having fun,” you said between breaths, determined to keep going, even if you couldn’t keep up with his speed. You pushed yourself harder, trying to show that, even if you weren’t winning, you were in this for the long haul.

“You’re doing great, älskling,” he called out, his voice full of encouragement. “Just keep going. Don’t think about anything else—just enjoy it.”

By the time you reached the end of the rink, you were laughing, a little winded, but proud of yourself. William came to a graceful stop beside you, his eyes sparkling with affection and amusement as he caught his breath.

“Well,” you said, trying to steady your breathing. “I may not have won, but I definitely feel like I’ve just run a marathon.”

“You did amazing,” William said, his voice filled with warmth as his grin stretched wider, his eyes shining with pride. His gaze never wavered, holding you in that moment as if you’d just accomplished something monumental. There was something in the way he looked at you—something so genuine, so unwavering—that made your heart race. Every little victory felt huge in his eyes, and you couldn’t help but bask in the sincerity of his praise. “You’re a natural at this.”

You smiled back, still catching your breath from the race and feeling a rush of gratitude and happiness, mixed with disbelief. “Only because you didn’t let me fall,” you teased, your voice slightly breathless but full of affection.

William chuckled, the sound rich and full of warmth, as he skated a little closer, a playful twinkle in his eyes. “Of course not,” he said, his voice dropping into something more tender. “I’d never let you fall.”

His words settled over you like a blanket, and your chest swelled with an emotion you weren’t sure how to name. There was something about the way he spoke, so calm and certain, that made it clear he wasn’t just talking about skating. He was talking about something deeper—about always being there for you, no matter what.

You found yourself looking up at him, your heart thumping as you asked, quietly, “You really mean that, don’t you?”

William’s gaze softened even more, and for a split second, everything around you seemed to fade. The cold air, the rink, the sound of skates scraping against ice—everything was gone, leaving only the warmth of his gaze and the connection that sparked between you. “Of course I do,” he replied, his voice low and filled with sincerity. He reached for your hand, his fingers slipping smoothly around yours, his grip solid and sure.

There was something about the way he held your hand—no rush, no uncertainty. His touch was a quiet promise, a feeling of safety and trust that wrapped around you like a cocoon. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d felt so grounded, so secure in someone else’s presence.

And then, as if sensing that moment, sensing the unspoken words between you, William moved a little closer. You felt the space between you narrow, the warmth of his body radiating toward you. You didn’t pull away. Instead, you found yourself leaning into him, drawn by something deeper than the physical closeness.

His hand lifted to your face, fingers brushing softly against your cheek. The touch was tender, almost reverent, like he was memorizing the curve of your skin. Your breath caught in your throat as his thumb traced the edge of your jaw, the sensation sending a shiver down your spine.

“William,” you breathed, his name soft on your lips, a question in your voice, though you weren’t sure what you were asking for.

But he didn’t need words. He leaned in slowly, his gaze never leaving yours, the intensity in his eyes sending a wave of warmth through you. His lips brushed gently against yours, tentative at first. You met him halfway, your heart racing, and then his kiss deepened, the world around you melting away entirely.

The kiss was soft and slow, as if time had momentarily stopped. His lips were warm, firm but gentle, a quiet promise wrapped in the simplest of gestures. His hand stayed cradling your cheek, his thumb moving over your skin in a tender rhythm, as if savoring the feeling of you, close and real in this moment.

Everything—the ice, the cold, the noise—was gone. There was only the softness of his lips on yours, the warmth that spread from where you touched, and the way his touch felt like home. Every little moment that led to this felt like it had been building up to this point, a quiet certainty that this was where you were supposed to be.

When he finally pulled away, just enough to rest his forehead gently against yours, the air between you seemed charged with something deeper. His breath mingled with yours, slow and steady, as if neither of you wanted to break the connection. His eyes were closed for a moment, as though he needed to be grounded, to make sure this moment was real.

Your hand instinctively reached for his arm, and you felt the warmth of his skin beneath the fabric of his jacket. You held on like he was the only thing keeping you anchored, and in some way, he was.

“You’re everything to me,” William whispered, his voice thick with emotion, the words almost too raw, too real, but still slipping past his lips with a tenderness that made your heart clench. “Always, älskling. Always.”

You opened your eyes, finding his gaze waiting for you, steady and filled with an affection that made everything feel right. There were no pretenses between you, no walls, just the two of you in this quiet space, connected by the kiss, by the moment, by the trust you had in one another.

“Thank you,” you whispered, your voice barely audible, the emotion of the moment still swirling around you. “For everything.”

William’s smile softened, his fingers brushing your cheek once more, the warmth of his touch lingering even after he moved his hand. “Always,” he said again, his voice steady but full of promise. “I’m always here.”

And in that moment, with his arms around you, his lips still lingering on yours, you knew that no matter what came next, you would always have this. You would always have him—by your side, supporting you, loving you—and that made everything else feel like it would be just fine.

[writingwithfolklore]

How to Translate Feedback

              Beta readers are awesome because they see the work strictly from a reader’s perspective. However, this also means that their notes sometimes require a little interpreting to understand how it impacts the craft—translating, one could say.

Every interpretation of a piece is valuable, and often what your readers assume about things, what questions they have, and what they guess comes next is very telling for the messages your piece is delivering and how effective your lines are working together. Let’s get into some common comments you might receive:

“I was confused about this line…”

              Even if the line is explained in the next paragraph, or even the next sentence, don’t disregard this feedback. A confusing line is going to stop up readers, interrupting their mental image of the scene and sometimes concentration on the story. Confusion around a line tends to mean there isn’t enough context to make it feel seamless, or like it fits where it is. You shouldn’t have to be playing catch up with your descriptions.

              Take for example a story I wrote when I was in fourth grade (yes, literally):

Tracy took off her coat as she entered her cabin. She crept across the floor very silently. If she was too loud, she’d wake the howler monkeys and never be able to get to sleep!

              Notice how there’s no context provided for why she’s trying to be quiet, so you kind of get caught up on that line. I would fix it like this:

              Tracy took off her coat as she entered her cabin, eyeing the sleeping monkeys out of her window cautiously. She crept across the floor… etc.

              Now we have context, it reads a lot more seamlessly.

(If they guess something is coming that isn’t)

              This one hurts because I hate feeling like I’m letting down my readers, and an excited “ooh is this foreshadowing??” for something that definitely isn’t coming back up again feels like exactly that. Usually, when a reader guesses at a plot point or character detail that isn’t true or isn’t going to come back up again, it means you drew too much attention to it, making it seem more important than it is.

              I tend to take out the description of the thing, or adjust it so it points less heavily towards one thing and points more towards another. While yes, readers can make incorrect guesses all the time, it’s important to pay attention to where their expectations are being raised—both in the correct places and incorrect ones. Too many disappointments, and your story may leave a sour aftertaste.

“This feels out of character/I don’t understand the motivation”

              When writers get this note, they tend to want to add a paragraph explaining from the character’s POV why they’re doing what they’re doing. Unfortunately, all the explanation in the world isn’t going to fix something that feels out of character or out of the norm. This might mean that you’re trying to force a scene or plot point that doesn’t fit, or that the circumstances aren’t extreme enough to justify your character acting out of sorts.

              Try ramping up the stakes or intensity if a character has to make a tough decision that might seem unlike them—usually a time limit or ticking clock helps here. If you’re only using internal motivation, try adding an external force pushing them towards action (or vice versa).

              If all else fails, consider how you can progress the plot in a different way that’s more in-character.

Shoot me some more common notes you get and maybe we'll do a part 2 :-)

[alan-in-the-outernet]

I'm following up the merging drabble bc the idea didn't leave my brain

Noogai, after doing it's computer brain speed-read of Alan's memories, is slowly comprehending that Alan had been right. He wasn't a missing piece. He'd been a regular human.

Absorbing Alan had also given Noogai insight on how he worked. Including the dormant power Alan didn't even realize he had.

Noogai delves into its own mindscape, searching. It had known from the start that Alan wasn't fully absorbed. A small kernel remained, remaining separate from the rest. Noogai had assumed this was the culmination of Alan's life. It was the sum of all of his experiences, his living, the very core of his self. Noogai had assumed that, in time, the weird little boundaries between this remaining spark and the rest of its own Self would fade, and they would be unified properly.

As it investigates the spark, Noogai is dismayed to realize. It had been wrong.

The dormant spark of Alan Becker slumbers in its hold, drifting gently as Noogai handles him with utmost care. It had Severely miscalculated. It had stolen and *consumed* a human, taken him from his life and family and forced him into merging.

Noogai felt... regret.

(It hadn't absorbed his soul and personality, but it had immersed itself in his memories, to understand the human and stick worlds from a mortals point if view. Alan's memories and experiences were beginning to influence Noogai, making it less... unwavering, in its convictions. Making it question what it once saw as immutable fact)

Luckily for them both, Noogai had been so careful. When it merged with Alan, it had taken him apart so meticulously. Bit by bit, studying every piece, every cell, lear ing how it all fit together. Learning how humans worked.

In the moment, it had been trying to understand how its "missing piece" had become human, and it had wanted to make the merging as seamless and painless as possible.

Now, with such detailed knowledge on how the human body, how Alan specifically, was designed, it was able to begin its new goal. Put Alan back together.

Right what it had wronged.

Noogai takes that newly acquired data, and its vast, versatile power, and it sets about rebuilding Alan's body. It weaves memories back into the physical form, and it carefully retrieves the slumbering spark, his Soul, and sets it into the recreated vessel.

It still has copies of his memories. And despite all its careful crafting, the body is not the same.

Things will never be the same.

But that doesn't mean all is lost.

Laying on the floor, drawing his first breaths in his new body, Alan wakes up.

*HAPPY ARM GESTURES*

Hngh THIS IS SO COOL.. the slow realization.. the dread.. the realizing it is WRONG.. slow meticulously having taken him apart.. now putting him back together..

Changed forever.. but alive..

Hngh I LOVE THIS..

[sasaranurude]

I'm a loser who both spends too much time playing gacha games and loves to hear myself talk, so here's another game review style post, this time covering my first day playing Break My Case. This time I'm not even being a little hater! I'm a lover! I'm cringe! I'm free! I love you Coly! I love you ikemen gacha games!!!!!!!

Break My Case is a new puzzle-music-adventure mobile game from Coly, the developers behind Mahoutsukai no Yakusoku and On Air. More relevant to BMC/BreMai is their game Stand My Heroes, with which it shares a writer, some gameplay elements, and of course a naming convention. Coly has developed a bit of a cult following for their unique status in the Japanese mobile gaming world: they're a company that was founded by women and hires women to make games for women. They put a lot of soul into their games. From the start, BMC is no different!

"Could you have pulled a clean version of this image from the internet so it didn't have all the game junk" no. it's my tumblr and you get my screenshots.

I (with help from friends) overviewed the initial Break My Case announcement back when it dropped. You can read that here! I said in that post that I thought a "dark rhythm game" would be a really cool direction for the game… and that's more or less what we got! GO ME!!!!!

First: the game's presentation is fantastic. Super slick graphical design and just amazing atmosphere. The sound design of this game is incredible. Genuinely. Really, really, good. All the music is amazing—I'm not knowledgeable enough to say anything other than "IT SLAPS!", but it totally does slap. The illustrations for the cards are all wonderfully atmospheric in and of themselves, and are just a delight to look at on the homescreen with its chill background music. Even just navigating menus is a sleek, seamless experience. The live2d is well-done, although it clashes a tad with the art style for a bit of an uncanny look at times. 

The atmosphere! The atmospheeeeeeere!!!

Of course, the draw to this game is the characters and story, so let's jump into that. I'll admit right now that I read the story through a machine translation—I have aaaalmost enough Japanese knowledge to fill in the gaps, especially since the story is fully voiced, but I'm definitely not getting the full nuance of the story that someone fluent in Japanese is going to get. THAT SAID, after completing the prologue, I was definitely intrigued enough that I want to continue slogging through the MTL just to read more! There's a great setup, centered around the bar Aporia and its three modes—a daytime cafe, a nighttime members-only bar, and, secretly, a "fixer" service who'll help anyone with any problem. Our main character, a woman who was just forced to quit her job at a corrupt company, gets hired to replace Aporia's eccentric owner while he goes on a who-knows-how-long vacation. The owner also has the role of "tail"—as in, the tail a lizard sheds to avoid being eaten. If anything in the fixer service goes wrong, it's the owner who takes the fall and the blame. This hasn't come to mean much in practice yet in the (quite short) prologue, but it's a fascinating setup. The story promises to touch on themes of the threads that weave our lives together, how small meetings can lead to massive life changes, and whether any human being is truly replaceable, even in our modern corporate world where people are treated like cogs in a machine. According to a staff interview, there are a handful of references to Stand My Heroes in BreMai, but the games' settings aren't otherwise closely linked.

Rough translation in alt text. The Aporia manager Ai may be the most mysterious, intimidating character, but he also beefs with a parrot the first time you meet him, so...

All the characters are staff at Aporia with various unique roles and background. The prologue just gives you a little bit of each of them, but everyone does show up, and they all have interesting dynamics with each other already. Ai, the stern manager, has some history with the MC that he refuses to divulge, and goes so far as to force psychologist Riku to agree to not look into it. The range of relationships among the staff run the gamut from the calm and mature friendship between fortune teller Kiho and art teacher Kyoya, to the unfaltering dedication of Yu to his ex-mafioso savior Tomose, to the ridiculous Takeru and Soyogu who spend their first appearance waking up after having gotten black-out drunk together the night before. My favorite dynamic of all so far is that of Kou and Mao—Kou is a playboy who insists he's not a playboy, and is introduced evading a woman by… asking the icy Mao to pretend to be his boyfriend so that she thinks he's taken and gay and leaves him alone. Which Mao exasperatedly agrees to, telling Kou that he's used up his allotment for this month which ohmygod how often does Kou do this. Kou if you're asking this guy to pretend to be your gay lover so often he gives you a monthly limit I think you might just have to admit you want him to actually be your gay lover, Kou, oh my god— 

Rough TL in alt text. Kou is letting the implication do all the heavy lifting here. He technically never said he was dating Mao. Technically. 

On to the gameplay. There's gameplay! Unique gameplay! Good unique gameplay! Oh my god, uncharted joseimuke territory! The main gameplay mode is a match-3 puzzle game with rhythm elements. As in other rhythm games, each song in the game is its own level, more or less. (Each character has two unique songs, and three songs shared with the other members of their unit.) You set up a team with cards you've collected from the gacha, which determine your power level and special skills. The "leader" of the team has to be the character whose level you've selected. The puzzle gameplay is a tile-swapping match 3—think bejeweled or candy crush—but the tiles you've matched are only cleared once a bar sliding across the screen hits them, clearing them in tune with the song. Everything cleared in a single swipe of the bar ups the combo counter. There's also a life system, where if the bar slides across the screen without clearing a single match, you lose a life… But the bar moves pretty slow. You're not likely to game over or even lose a single life any time soon. There are more difficult versions of the levels I've yet to unlock, so I'm sure the life meter becomes relevant then. There's also "auto" and "loop" features if you want to grind a level over and over for exp and items, but, of course, the computer can't score as high as you playing it yourself.

And, really, it's fun to play, so why would you want to!? The sound of matches clearing with the music is so satisfying and really makes you want to combo as high as possible. Once you've matched some tiles, you can't move them again, nor use them in a second match (eg, in a cross shape), so if you want to maximize your combo and make as many matches as possible with what's on the board, you have to think ahead about which matches you're going to make. The bar slowly crossing the screen adds a visual timed element that gives some urgency to putting all the matches together. It definitely feels like a game you can pick up an instinct for over time, which is super fun. 

All in all, a really solid, enjoyable little puzzle game. It would be fun to play even without the promise of anime boys. Stand My Heroes is also a match-3, for the record, which is what really cements the two games as being part of the same series.

Admittedly, the anime boy staring at you while you play musical candy crush is a little disconcerting.

The second gameplay mode is "Snap'n Spin", a… gameplay-lite mode that just puts chibi characters in random strange situations and lets you take pictures of them. The mode is explained to be a video game within the world of BreMai, so it's not even trying to be realistic or relevant to anything else in the game. Once you take your pokemon snaps of the boys, they get a fun little caption. You can save up to 40 pictures in your album. Other than being cute, the main way this mode interfaces with the rest of the game is that it's the primary way to unlock card stories for the cards you pulled in gacha. 

This gameplay mode is... cute? I guess? It being so disconnected from the style and aesthetics of the entire rest of the game felt weird. The chibis are adorable, so it has that going for it. And I do like some of the captions you get on the photos afterwards. My favorite were the scenes you catch of a character drinking, and then the caption reveals their current favorite drink. That's a delightful detail for a game set in a bar. Mostly, though, this mode left me wondering "why?" ...And I imagine the answer is something like "because merchandisable chibi characters are a requirement for joseimuke games." This mode could've been anything so long as these cute, starry little dudes were in it.

Urara here hated the drink and the caption revealed that, lately, his favorite thing is sparkling water. He's the youngest character in the cast, so I guess he hasn't grown into booze yet...

One last feature I want to mention is the jukebox. Like many games, BreMai has a music player that lets you listen to tracks from the game… But its music player is, genuinely, a fully-featured music player app with shuffle, repeat, lyric displays, and even background play that works when you're in another app or your phone is off. What! Wild! When I first learned a few days ago that BreMai had a built-in player for its BGM tracks, my first thought was "Well, what's stopping someone from downloading the game just to use the music player and never spending a cent on it? Wouldn't you rather have the songs on spotify so you at least get a pittance of ad revenue, in that case? It's more than nothing."

But having played the game now, I see what they did to prevent that, lol. You don't unlock the songs in the jukebox until you get an SS score on the song's level. Which, I mean, that's normal rhythm game stuff, of course. Can't fault that decision. But, as in other gacha rhythm games, your score in a level depends on the power of your team of cards, and the cards you get from the initial handful of pulls aren't gonna get you anywhere near an SS score without significant investment. So you're either buying in-game currency to buy upgrade items, more gacha pulls, or both. Of course, you can also put a bunch of time into grinding for upgrade items—they drop from levels. Gacha currency is harder to come by. So you're not getting songs in the player without actually playing the game lmfao. The character solo songs in particular (the ones with vocals rather than just instrumentals) also require you to build up rapport with that character—the game calls it "Nice". You build up Nice with them by playing their other songs and using their cards in levels. It takes 1000 Nice on a character to unlock their song. In my first day of playing, I was able to get one character to about 250 Nice, another to 200, and a handful more with a few points, so it builds at an okay pace. There's ways to pay to speed up the grinding for Nice and for upgrade items with things like level skip tickets. So, basically: you're not getting that music player to a useful state without investing either money or time, lmao. Is paying-or-grinding to get cool music you can listen to while not playing the game more "worth it" than the usual freemium game goals of better units, new in-game outfits, or prettier card illustrations? ...Honestly, maybe it is? It's novel, at least.

All gacha rhythm games have the same card select screen, don't they. These were my cards' levels after my first day of play, and you can see they didn't quite reach a suggested score of "A", much less the maximum "SS".

But I do want to stress, the monetization is, for the most part, pretty easy to ignore. Nothing in-your-face. The button to go to the shop screen is a different color, but it's not flashing with an eternal indicator, it's not popping up at every second, it's just sitting there alongside all the other menu buttons. The game isn't shoving timers in your face at all times—there's a stamina meter, which is mildly annoying, but you get ten plays when it's full, and if you're just playing casually you're probably not going to want to play the puzzle game over and over enough to fully deplete that. I know the bar is on the damn floor here but Tokyo Debunker seriously made me realize how bad it can be with mobile game monetization. BreMai is freemium, yeah, but as far as dark patterns go, it's not egregiously bad.

So, the verdict: if you're a joseimuke game fan and aren't afraid to play a game that probably won't get an English port and doesn't even have a fan translation yet (which I realize is already counting out 99.99% of people), definitely give this one a try. See if you like the gameplay—it really is worth trying—and do check out the story if you've got the ability. Or just look at the pretty anime boys. 

[ty-bayonet-betteridge]

Gimme directors commentary for Two Liars Lying To Eachother please!

its been a while since ive thought about this fic in any capacity lksajdaskdfld lets see if it still holds up! directors commentary for chapter 1, i'll be doing the others separately later :D

Each of his hands was cuffed to one of the table's legs, somewhat restraining his motion. He hated it; he preferred being able to fidget.

autism edgar but this also isnt the sort of autism i tend to see him as having? idk the idea of edgar stimming is very weird to me

That was a somewhat good sign. He took another glance at the large, mirrored wall of the room, which he had no illusions was reflective on the other side. The only question was whether anyone was in the viewing room to catch his knowing glances.

theres an XKCD about how fun it is to occasionally announce "i know you're listening" to an empty room, because if you're wrong nobody will ever know and if you're right it will freak the HELL out of them. thats basically what Mustardseed is doing here.

According to Michael, he had traded himself in to the compound in exchange for catching Mustardseed - for catching me, Edgar thought, smiling faintly.

seamless exposition, me. i had to establish that this Edgar was Mustardseed, but the narration is roughly tied to his view of things, and Mustardseed doesn't think of himself as Mustardseed, just as Edgar, so the narration couldn't call him Mustardseed.

The door swung open and in came Ty Betteridge. He was a few years older than the last time Edgar had seen him, back when he'd killed him inside of Tier Two on the night Base was formed,

...wasn't that Hunter? or did it become Edgar that killed young!Ty in the post-72 timeline? i am confuse

Well, I appreciate making me feel like a criminal after you plucked me out of the middle of my normal day.

hes so bitchy and for what?

If you're worried about unpredictability, why does the cowboy get to roam free? He's been rather hard to keep under control, in my experience.

i wanted to make it clear just how bitter Edgar is towards all members of Base, so of course five seconds into this conversation he tries to fuck Michael over

Ty's grin was somewhat predatory.

this fic is 90% me looking for different ways to describe smiles. Ty and Mustardseed are both very smiley.

They called you OVEdgaR,

i think im the only person who capitalizes ovedgar that way

"With my husband, yeah." Edgar smiled and raised his left hand to show off the simple wedding band. "Mm. Congrats. Mike told me he wasn't married to you, how odd."

I FORGOT HOW DISMISSIVE TY SOUNDED HERE. he cares of course but

Base Mike and Edgar aren't married.

i try to be very precise about the names characters use for each other, because i think its a very quick way to characterize relationships. Mustardseed always refers to them as "Base Mike" and "Base Edgar", while Ty refers to them as just Mike and Edgar, or possibly Mikey and Edgar, depending on context.

"Hm. You're much less trouble than the Mikes; each one of them ties so much into their name. It's a little exhausting keeping track of them, to be honest." "Well, I never really had trouble with it, but I suppose it is easier if you care about him." Edgar smiled like he hadn't just thrown out the barb. Ty laughed. "I care about Mike Walters more than you can imagine, Panther." Ty grinned, waiting to see if Edgar would respond to the pet name. Edgar kept his face neutral and pleasant.

Edgar definitely won that exchange :P its important to me that Edgar feels like he's in control of the conversation even though he very clearly isnt in control of the situation, because that's the vibe he gave off in ep 84.

Moving on… you established a campaign of terror against Mike's base in an attempt to free yourself and your… husband… from their control. Is that right?

Ty is reading these questions off his clipboard and the prompt on it didnt say "husband," it said "OVER Mike." HOWEVER the pause before saying it was something Ty probably did deliberately to keep up his veneer of indifference.

"I'd rather not put Michael through any more undue stress. He's had a hard couple of days, especially with all the strain you've been putting on him."

this is so funny to me, because it IS another barb, but its also sort of Ty trying to guilt-trip Edgar like thats gonna work??? :P

I have a lot of sympathy for Michael too, but as far as I know, he's never had anyone threaten him at gunpoint to stay in Base.

i'll be honest, he probably has. Michael's seen some shit

"I am sorry for your situation, Edgar, I really am. But you do keep pulling me away from the questions, and the sooner we get these done, the sooner we can get you out of those cuffs and moved to your quarters."

this is a very Ty Betteridge thing to say. like yeah, im sorry that YOU keep delaying me from getting you comfortable. hes so...

So he was listening when Michael and I were talking.

reading it back, i feel like i didnt give the audience enough credit. they probably could have picked up on these little jabs and maneuvering tactics without me having to point them out. anyway yes, ty is doing this interview only half for actual information gathering reasons, the other half is just to waste edgars time as a form of basic psychological warfare

Your Base may be rudimentary, but I believe that you are a smart man, Edgar.

i keep pointing out the little jabs and not having much to say about them, but theyre still so good to me. "i know all your friends are stupid but i didnt think you were too"

"Sometimes smart people do dumb things in the heat of passion." "And is that the only reason you made those thirty-two duplicates?" "It's the only reason I'm going to be telling you."

i'll be honest, i have no idea what i was hinting at here. i think canon at one point suggested there might have been an ulterior motive to the Mustardseed escapees, but i didn't make any sort of plan for what that might be. if i had to retroactively justify it, i'd say Mustardseed's future scouting told him that the escapees would be consolidated into MW, and that MW's existence was important to his plans somehow.

"I've got all day, Ty." Edgar smiled across the table, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

i just ctrl+f'ed and the word "smile" appears 7 times in this 1k word chapter.

[hunne-writes]

None of This Is True

Dates Read: 04/26/24 - 05/07/24

“The energy they give off is effervescent, a swirling, intoxicating aurora borealis of grating, glorious entitlement.” • Every once in a while I get a hankering for a gripping psychological thriller. This book is the perfect example of what I look for—a story so creepy and unsettling it makes my skin crawl. I don’t want to give too much away here because it’s my opinion that the less you know going in, the better.

I firmly believe you should listen to the audiobook for the best reading experience. I’m not a big true crime junkie, but the way the podcast fits in to the greater plot was seamless. The ending still has me questioning everything all the way back to the prologue. Needless to say, I’ll be contemplating this one for a while. • E's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

[hostpyters]

OpenPhone is a modern business phone system designed for startups, small businesses, and growing teams. It offers a range of features to streamline communication and improve professional interactions. Here is a detailed review of its features and functionalities:

Key Features

Phone Numbers:

Local and Toll-Free Numbers: OpenPhone provides users with the option to choose local or toll-free numbers, enhancing accessibility and professional presence.

Port Existing Numbers: Businesses can port their existing phone numbers to OpenPhone, ensuring continuity and avoiding disruption.

Call Management:

Call Forwarding: Users can forward calls to different numbers, ensuring important calls are never missed.

Call Routing: Advanced call routing options allow businesses to direct calls based on time, availability, or team member roles.

Voicemail Transcription: Voicemails are transcribed and sent as text messages, making it easier to read and respond quickly. Messaging:

SMS and MMS: OpenPhone supports sending and receiving SMS and MMS, allowing businesses to communicate with customers via text.

Shared Inboxes: Teams can share inboxes, making it easy to manage and respond to messages collaboratively.

Automated Texts: Users can set up automated text responses for missed calls or other triggers, ensuring prompt communication. Integrations:

CRM and Productivity Tools: OpenPhone integrates with popular tools like HubSpot, Slack, Zapier, and Google Contacts, enhancing workflow and productivity.

API Access: For more advanced needs, OpenPhone offers API access, allowing businesses to create custom integrations and automate workflows.

Collaboration:

Team Management: Teams can be organized within OpenPhone, with the ability to assign numbers and manage communication collaboratively.

Internal Notes: Team members can leave internal notes on conversations, facilitating better context and collaboration.

Caller ID and Call Recording:

Custom Caller ID: Businesses can customize their caller ID to display their company name, ensuring brand consistency.

Call Recording: Calls can be recorded for quality assurance, training, and compliance purposes, with easy access to recordings.

Mobile and Desktop Apps:

Cross-Platform Access: OpenPhone is available on both mobile and desktop, allowing users to make and receive calls from any device.

Unified Experience: The user interface is consistent across platforms, ensuring a seamless experience. Pros

Ease of Use: OpenPhone’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for teams to set up and use, without requiring extensive training.

Cost-Effective: The pricing is competitive, making it an attractive option for startups and small businesses.

Flexibility: Features like shared inboxes, call routing, and integrations provide flexibility to accommodate various business needs.

Modern Features: Advanced features such as voicemail transcription, automated texts, and API access offer functionality beyond traditional phone systems.

Cons Limited International Features: While OpenPhone supports international calls, its primary focus is on the US and Canada, which may limit its utility for businesses with a global presence.

Feature Depth: Some advanced telephony features available in more established business phone systems might be missing or less robust in OpenPhone.

Scalability: While suitable for small to medium-sized teams, very large organizations might find limitations in scalability or require more complex solutions.

OpenPhone is a modern and flexible business phone system that caters well to startups, small businesses, and growing teams. Its ease of use, competitive pricing, and range of features make it a strong contender in the business communication space. Although it may not offer all the advanced features of more established systems, its integrations, collaboration tools, and modern functionalities provide significant value for teams looking to streamline their communication processes.

[versamart]

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So why wait? Unlock your wishlist and start shopping with [Your Store Name] today. Whether you’re in the mood for a captivating new read or a pampering skincare treat, we’ve got you covered. With our personalized shopping service and unbeatable prices, the possibilities are endless. Join the Versamart family and discover a world of endless possibilities — because you deserve nothing less

[outdoor-makeover]

Porch Builders Atlanta: What Are The Benefits Of Working With Professionals

A beautiful, well-constructed porch can completely transform the look and functionality of your Atlanta home. But taking on a porch building or remodeling project requires expertise that most homeowners simply don't have. That's why partnering with professional porch builders Atlanta is highly recommended. 

Their Skilled craftsmen have the knowledge to design and build a custom porch that perfectly suits your needs. They use structural engineering principles and quality materials to create a solid foundation and attractive finished product. Hiring pros ensures your new porch is stunning, durable, and adds value to your home. 

Continue reading this to learn the benefits of having your dream porch installed by the experts.

Why should you hire professional Porch Builders in Atlanta?

Expertise and Experience

When it comes to designing and constructing a porch that seamlessly integrates with your home and reflects your unique style, experience matters. Professional custom porch builders in Atlanta bring years of expertise to the table, ensuring that every aspect of your project is executed with precision and skill. 

From understanding local building codes to navigating architectural challenges, their knowledge and experience are invaluable in delivering a porch that exceeds your expectations.

Customized Designs Tailored to Your Vision

One of the primary benefits of working with professional porch builders is the ability to bring your vision to life through custom design. Whether you're dreaming of a traditional Southern porch with charming columns and a swing, or a modern porch with sleek lines and innovative features, experienced builders can turn your ideas into reality. 

They'll work closely with you to understand your preferences, lifestyle, and aesthetic preferences, ensuring that every detail is tailored to your vision.

Seamless Installation Process

Installing a porch requires meticulous planning, coordination, and execution to ensure a seamless integration with your home and landscape. Professional porch builders in Atlanta are well-versed in the intricacies of Porch Design and Installation, from site preparation to construction techniques. 

They'll handle every aspect of the process with care and precision, minimizing disruptions to your daily life and ensuring that your project stays on schedule and within budget.

Quality Materials and Craftsmanship

The quality of materials and craftsmanship used in constructing your porch can make a significant difference in its longevity, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Professional porch builders in Atlanta have access to high-quality materials and employ skilled craftsmen who take pride in their work. From premium-grade lumber to top-of-the-line hardware and finishes, they'll ensure that every component of your porch is built to last and withstand the test of time.

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A well-designed and meticulously crafted porch can enhance the curb appeal of your home and increase its overall property value. Professional porch builders in Atlanta understand the importance of creating a cohesive and visually appealing outdoor space that complements the architectural style of your home. 

By investing in professional design and construction, you'll not only enjoy a beautiful and functional porch but also reap the rewards of increased curb appeal and resale value.

Wrapping It Up

Partnering with professional porch builders in Atlanta offers a host of benefits that extend far beyond mere aesthetics. From their expertise and experience to their ability to customize designs and ensure seamless installations, these professionals are essential in bringing your dream porch to life. 

So, when it comes to transforming your outdoor living experience, why settle for anything less than the best? Choose Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces - one of the best Porch Builders in Atlanta and unlock the full potential of your home's exterior.

[artistconnect]

5min read

Wysleep – A New Music Producer Blending Japanese fusion & Smooth Ethiopian Jazz Influences with Hip-Hop Vibes Inspired by Missy Elliott, Larry June, Curren$y, and Cardo Got Wings, Infused with the Hushed Essence of Beaches"

In the heart of Los Angeles, a musical designer is brewing up a unique blend of Ethiopian jazz, Japanese jazz to sounds of Western Europe and contemporary beats. Meet Wysleep, a talented artist and music producer, born and raised in Atlanta & Dallas, Texas. Wysleep journey from the heart of the Lone Star State to the bustling streets of Los Angeles has shaped their distinct style and sound, blending influences from their upbringing with their passion for hip-hop and street music fashion.

Growing up in Dallas, Wysleep was surrounded by a rich tapestry of musical influences, from the soulful sounds of 90s smooth jazz to the infectious beats of southern hip-hop. It was here that they first discovered their love for music and began to experiment with production, drawing inspiration from the likes of Missy Elliott, Curren$y, and Cardo Got Wings. As they honed their craft, Wysleep’s sound evolved, incorporating elements of jazz, hip-hop, and electronic music into a seamless fusion that defies genre boundaries.

But it wasn’t just the music scene in Dallas that shaped Wysleep’s artistic journey

As Wysleep’s passion for music grew, so too did their interest in fashion. Drawing inspiration from the eclectic street style of Dallas and the avant-garde aesthetics of hip-hop culture, they began to experiment with clothing design, creating garments that were as bold and innovative as their music. It was during this time that Wysleep realized the interconnectedness of music and fashion, seeing both as powerful forms of self-expression and creativity.

With their sights set on new horizons, Wysleep made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles, taking a serious step toward pursuing their talents and realizing their creative vision. It was here that he found the perfect environment to nurture their artistry, surrounded by a diverse community of artists and musicians who shared their passion for pushing the boundaries of music and fashion.

Today, Wysleep’s music reflects the culmination of their journey – a seamless fusion of smooth jazz influences, hip-hop vibes inspired by artists like Larry June, Curren$y, and Cardo Got Wings, and the vibe and essence of beaches. From the laid-back grooves of their beats to the intricate sample chops that pay homage to the greats of hip-hop production, each track is a testament to Wysleep’s dedication to their craft and their unwavering commitment to authenticity.

As Wysleep continues to make waves in the music scene and captivate audiences with their innovative designs, one thing is clear: their journey is far from over. With each new track and every new collection, he pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, redefining the intersections of music and fashion and inspiring others to follow their creative passions.

And to those wondering about the meaning behind the name “Wysleep,” it stands for “Why’d You Sleep Longer Expecting Excellence Pretentiously?” – a reminder to always strive for greatness and never settle for anything less.

Follow The Artists for more

Music producer & Designer https://www.instagram.com/imissyouwysleep?igsh=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Photographer & Designer https://www.instagram.com/cha.melle?igsh=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg==

Single out Now!!

[sakunataa]

February 2nd (Status Report) + February 2nd (202X Tutorial Update) Review

I wanted to apologize to everyone who is reading this, particularly Dev, for the current absence of reviews. I haven't had the time to truly be online, much less write anything longer than two sentences, because I've been so busy changing jobs and homes. Now that I've found a home and a job that suits me, I can carry on reviewing YanDev's WordPress!

Yes, I'm going back to Feb2, which is when my next review was supposed to be done. Dev is understandably taking a break from working on the game, thus this is as good a time as any to resume reviewing. I'm hoping that he sees these encouraging words and has something to look forward to during the next months.

I'll review everything having seen (almost) all the updates I know now (obviously), and I'll comment about how much better it gets with time, based on how well I think it was done back then. For the sake of lengthening this post and, well, for Dev's sake as well, I'll be examining the two Feb2 posts at the same time. 🩷

I begin.

I'm really happy that Dev finished the tutorial cutscenes! I'm really ecstatic knowing how wonderfully done it is. It's stunning and fluid on top of that. Compliments to the chef! Dev wants to make adjustments to the animations even after they are finished, ensuring their quality and completion. Knowing how much he was going to do at the moment made me so eager for the massive build that was about to be released.

For the intro animation's adjustments? Hauntingly gorgeous. It's a lovely touch to use the glass fragments as a symbol for how truly damaged Ayano feels. The smallest visual enhancements can make an already excellent animation even better, provided the art isn't compromised. There's a perfect balance of everything here! It's good to see him improve on what's already there; I really appreciate the direction he's taking everything in.

The game's update and how long it will be before the next one is released are covered in the following section. In all honesty, I find it hard to see why anyone would think that tutorials are generally a waste of time. I agree that tutorials are important and shouldn't be avoided, but seasoned veterans of all sorts of games wouldn't understand that! But Yandere Simulator is so complex and detailed that I feel a tutorial is very necessary.

Anyway, it is understandable why he might want to put the update off for a little while longer. Imagine creating a game this size and being prepared to add this large update to it. The game is strongly supported and shaped ever so slightly by the tutorial level, which also gives the impression that the game is getting near to feeling and being more complete! Making a YouTube video is a cool idea, but I can also see why he would be torn on such a significant choice as that. So I can definitely support the last listed con.

Making it the "newest" video on the channel would inevitably draw in the wrong crowd. While I consider the game's tutorial to be a significant achievement, the regular trolls and detractors might not agree. It's the fundamentals—something that introduces you to the game and helps you understand its mechanics. YanSim's growth has been a challenging process from the start. Making this tutorial now is entirely justified. Cut him some slack!

This makes a seamless segue into the next post, in which he announces his decision to refrain from posting a video about it to his main channel. Well played, Dev! Moving it to your secondary channel, where all of your other content is posted, is much smarter. It fits in well. (Thanks Cameron for providing the tutorial's audio! You were outstanding in all you did. I'm proud of you. Your work is fantastic.)

As someone who has completed the 202X tutorial, I can tell you right away that I adore it. It's well-designed and a lot of fun to do. Despite the fact that I already knew how to play the game, I found it to be a truly enjoyable experience, especially after a brief break! It was also wonderful to see Kokona in the spotlight once more! She's always been one of my favorite characters, so seeing her again made me quite pleased.

I have always wanted to make a game, with a tutorial to boot. And after being in numerous classes and doing all the research I possibly could to see where I could start out, seeing the tutorial of this game inspires me! Dev couldn't have released this at such a better time. A solid tutorial all around. Easy to understand, control, and finishing it didn't feel frustrating or overly-complicated.

Making a game, with a tutorial to boot, has long been a goal of mine. And after being in numerous classes and doing all the research I possibly could to see where I could start out, none of them truly inspired me the way this game does. This release by Dev couldn't have come at a better time! A strong tutorial overall. It was easy to understand, control, and complete; it didn't feel difficult or needlessly complicated.

(The idea of a custom level maker similar to that of the Final Test sounds like such a great idea. I'd play the hell out of it if that was ever a thing. The possibilities and videos on that would be endless.)

I have gushed about 1980s mode for so long. Still do. The prior rival introduction cutscenes were enjoyable to watch, but I always pondered how it would have seemed with actual cutscenes. I used to constantly experiment in my head with numerous angles and possibilities. And it appears that my wish has finally come true! These brand-new, diverse scenes are all exquisite, with amazing attention to detail! I frequently replayed the mode to see if I had missed anything in these sequences, and I'm always amazed every time I do. The quality and the passion are both present. It's genuinely excellent!

(I'm also impressed with the volunteer's work with the "Senpai meets Amai" cutscene. Feels really good, refreshing, and brilliant. Props to them as well!)

To me, the concept of a small town prototype has always been, well, huge to me. I've always found it fascinating to imagine exploring a town as Ayano and seeing other people interact. Sadly, I am unable to locate any concept pictured that I recall drawing at the time. But? I do recall Dev's post on Feb25 where he had a what-if idea of what it may be like to wander around a small town, and I just melted! I couldn't have asked for a finer picture of what it could be like.

New animations, enhancements, and bug fixes follow from here. For all of which, Dev deserves all the praise! Thanks to his diligence and perseverance, everything feels tidy and well-done. Dev has often demonstrated to us that effort and dedication are crucial, especially with significant updates like this. Congratulations to everyone, including Dev! He gathers everyone and does his share to ensure that everything is well-organized and, in the end, stylish and beautiful.

This update is enormous, magnificent, and wonderfully imaginative! I'm happy I waited since I absolutely adore this game and how it's being developed. I'm excited to go through all the other posts and give it the attention it still deserves. Endless acclaim and appreciation, even for small achievements.

Until next time! It's good to be back.

[hyaffiliate]

Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula - A Fountain of Youth for Aging Skin - A Review

As a woman in her 30's, I've been on a mission to find the perfect anti-aging product to combat and avoid more of those pesky fine lines and wrinkles. After extensive research and reading many positive reviews, I finally decided to give the Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula a try. Now, after few months of using it diligently, I am thrilled to share my personal experience and the incredible results it has brought to my aging skin.

Packaging and Presentation: The Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula comes in a sophisticated pump bottle, exuding a sense of luxury while ensuring the product remains potent and effective. Its practical design also makes it easy to use, which is always a plus in my book.

Effectiveness: I can honestly say that the Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula lives up to its bold claims. Within just a few weeks of consistent use, I noticed a significant reduction in the appearance of fine lines around my eyes and mouth. My skin felt plumper and more elastic, giving me a renewed sense of youthfulness.

As I continued using the formula, it continued to impress me with its effectiveness in targeting deeper wrinkles and creases. The furrows on my forehead and crow's feet visibly diminished, making me feel more confident and less self-conscious about the aging signs on my skin.

Ingredients: What truly stands out about the Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula is its powerful formulation. Enriched with advanced peptides, potent antioxidants, and nourishing vitamins, it tackles multiple signs of aging while supporting the skin's natural regeneration process. The fact that it is free from harmful chemicals like parabens and sulfates is also a great relief for someone like me with sensitive skin.

Texture and Scent: The formula's texture is simply luxurious, effortlessly gliding onto my skin during application. It absorbs quickly, leaving no greasy or sticky residue behind. Additionally, the subtle and pleasant scent adds to the overall enjoyable experience of using the product.

User Experience: Using the Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula has been an absolute pleasure. I seamlessly integrated it into my daily skincare routine, applying it after cleansing and toning my face and neck. It pairs well with my other skincare products, and I love how it creates a smooth base for my makeup.

Value for Money: While the Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula might be considered an investment, its remarkable effectiveness justifies every penny spent. A little goes a long way, and the transformative results it delivers are well worth the cost.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula has become my personal fountain of youth for aging skin. Its powerful blend of ingredients has visibly reduced my wrinkles, improved my skin's texture, and bestowed an overall youthful appearance. The elegant packaging, seamless application, and impressive results make this formula an exceptional choice for anyone seeking an effective solution to combat the signs of aging. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend the Derma Progenix Anti-Wrinkle Formula to anyone in search of a potent elixir for youthful and radiant skin.

THEY ARE ON A HUGE SALE RIGHT NOW!

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE SO HURRY!

[godsnameisjoy]

SEAMLESS

Date: 8 February 2023

Duration: 31 minutes at 10:43 PM

Depth:

Right now, I can’t remember a thing about this session other than the discomfort in my left leg towards the end of the session. I remember thinking that if only my leg was alright, I would go on much longer than what I have. It had to do with the way I seated on my cushion.

The involuntary bodily shakes and vibrations were minimal. It’s the most amazing change in the way my body has accepted the rise of Kundalini energy. 2 years and 10 months back, I would experience spinal vibrations in the lower back.

In the time that has lapsed since, the point of dissipation of freed energies has shifted gradually. The point has gone up the spine over many meditations and then it has gone back to the tail after having reached shoulder level. There has been a whole new round of vibrations emanating from the tail to the neck. In subsequent rounds, the vibrations have been strong enough to make me stop meditating.

Ever since blessed life forces cut a trickle into the head, strong involuntary shakes have become less in frequency. I am assuming that my present stage of practice is about my head brimming with Peaceful life forces. Now, even the intensity of shakes are at most medium and not frequently strong.

I don’t think it is possible to place one’s attention at one point uninterruptedly unless freed energies stop dissipating via distracting involuntary movements. The energy that runs my human body becomes free of the body with optimal calmness of body and mind.

Freed life energy finds residence in the spine, by default. Spinal life force is attracted to the meditating head. Every meditation after the initial Kundalini stirrings, is about life forces carving a proper path along and up the spine. Life forces want to be in the head, after they find themselves in the spine.

In the head, life forces are perceived as Peace. Life forces don’t lose their fluidity even after they take residence in the head. The greater the amount of life running energies in the head, the stronger is one’s sense of Peace. When the head begins brimming with life energies, one simply knows that these blessed forces don’t want to dissipate away in every direction.

From all the risings along the spine, I know that them energies want the right way up. They want my body to contain them better, my head included. They don not wish to dissipate. They will carve a pathway so wide along the spine that your entire back will be straightened involuntarily.

I just find it amazing that the Hindu saint Patanjali is attributed to have lived any time between Jan 101 AD and December 400 AD. For Sage Patanjali to have written possibly the first yoga syllabus in an 8 step form, is incredible. For Him to have placed the steps of Pranayama, Pratyahara and Dharana in that order, is amazing. Those are the names of steps 4, 5 and 6.

Pranayama is about breathing in a way to calm the body and mind. There are several non-violent breathing techniques available in the world today. Pratyahara, I read somewhere, is the fasting of the senses. It simply means to learn to not go all the way to the seams of your being while meditating. The limit of the seams keeps getting closer until it isn’t about thought but the energy that supports thoughts.

Pratyahara in its advanced stages is about energy running along the spine and filling the head. Patanjali knew that once the head brims with motionless and silencing energies, the practice is about gathering all one’s Peace and entering one-pointedness of Dharana.

[smartasshat]

AI vs. Shitty Billionaire

Let’s try answering Elon’s ridiculous “one-pager” in the form of rhyming quatrains...

A month at Twitter, January I've spent, With efforts and hard work, I never relent, A lot I have accomplished, let me mention, Here's a summary in this rhyming intention.

In January, I've helped with user growth, By launching new features, I showed my worth, Engagement increased, tweets were aloft, Our platform became the talk of the North.

With data insights, I optimized the feed, Making it easier for users to read, More personalization, with less to weed, A better experience, I did indeed.

February's here, and my goals are grand, I plan to tackle issues at hand, A seamless experience, I'll demand, For users, I'll do all that I can.

Improvements to privacy, I'll keep in mind, With features that are secure and kind, A place where users can express their bind, Twitter will be a platform that's refined.

I have ideas that could make Twitter soar, With new tools and features, it will implore, A better way to connect, that's what I'm hoping for, A platform that's inclusive, and so much more.

In conclusion, my work at Twitter's grand, In January and February, I've got a plan, To make the platform better, I'll take a stand, Improving Twitter, with this rhyming demand.

[patronsaintofhangingout]

If you were lauded for reading, put on a pedestal in front of your peership, it might be stress-inducing to return to work the muscles you know have atrophied. Are you still good or worthy of help if you cannot read voraciously, like you did as a child? If you were labeled a problem, difficult in class, slow… I bless and keep you. Worse, if you were made to feel less than because of your reading ability (unintelligent. burdensome. a waste of space. bound for prison) then you likely have a literal stress-response when someone mentions or suggests reading to you. Reading is a site of trauma your body holds onto for most of us. Anyone that suggests reading must not understand what you went through. Every objection imaginable will materialize when someone suggests that you try to read.

This is why I think the data here is irrelevant to spurring anyone to real action. You can’t just brute force your way through a trauma response.

Many of us were given reading as homework exclusively— never as a fun or revolutionary tool, a tool of imagination— so it often feels like drudgery, even still. None of us have a neutral experience with the discipline of reading and that is by design. We live in a world ran and ruled by the written word. Similar to money, right? The tool itself is not necessarily bad. However, in this iteration of world-making, proper literacy in reading and writing (as well as financial literacy) are often the difference between agency, freedom-seeking, and autonomy for self-determination and working in someone else’s world-making in abysmal conditions perpetually. Which means:

Just look at Cuba, beating our US adult literacy rates despite decades of overt economic warfare. Your relationship with reading is fucked up because burning books is a bad look. The empire utilizes overt, violent oppression like that as a last resort, because it makes it near impossible to seamlessly convince people they are not oppressed. And to hide an empire like this? Of this size? People need to not know.

Editor’s note: where else is the empire seamless in their oppression? Look for those threads everywhere. The far easier route: traumatize the kids. Make them hate reading. Tie plenty of guilt, shame, and fear in the process of returning to reading in adulthood. Make them feel like it’s an innate talent— you have it or you don’t— rather than a skill you need to learn, hone, and practice. You never have to burn the books if no one ever wants to read them in the first place. And this means you can allow texts that chronicle blueprints for our collective liberation to hang out in plain sight. The internet age is the most collective access to information we have ever had as humans in every iteration of our timeline— and most of us cannot read it well enough to allow it to change our lives.

"You never have to burn the books if no one ever wants to read them in the first place."

I-

"Absolutely no one comes to save us but us."

Ismatu Gwendolyn, "you've been traumatized into hating reading (and it makes you easier to oppress)", from Threadings, on Substack [ID'd]

[tillyspamanagamentsoftware]

The Power of First Impressions to your First-time Salon Clients

There is a myriad of ingredients that go into creating a successful salon. The most important of them all is the ‘first impression’ you give to your salon clients. As they say, ‘first impression is the last impression’.You have a new client in your salon because they’ve heard about you from their friends or stumbled upon an advertisement online. Now that you’ve been successful in bringing them through the door, you ought to do your very best to offer them a one-of-a-kind experience and make them your retainer.

First impressions are not restricted to only face-to-face meetings. From the time a client schedules an appointment on your beauty parlour software, you must be fully geared to pamper them and enhance their customer journey.

A client journey is a planned combination of activities, preferences, and paths they take within your business. Everything a client sees hears and touches from the minute they are in contact with your business should be carefully examined.

To make this task easier for you, we have highlighted some critical points that will help you provide your clients with an exceptional experience and create a positive first impression.

7 Key Points To Provide a Better Experience to your Salon Clients:

1. Establish a good communication system:

If reaching your salon is going to be difficult, your salon clients rather visit your competitors. Having a seamless communication system has a dramatic impact on getting customers to your salon. Make sure your salon uses beauty parlour software to help clients make online appointment bookings, change/cancel their appointments, be informed about the latest news and events, and to get timely reminders about their upcoming appointments.

Calling each and every client in your salon is not possible. With software, the job of a salon receptionist becomes much easier. Offering a good communication system and bringing automation is often the first step towards creating a positive first impression. This also makes things convenient for both you as well as your clients.

2. The welcome:

This is your first direct contact with a new client. A client uses this opportunity to make a preliminary assessment of your salon even before they get into the chair. They judge everything that can be heard or seen. A stylist should use this as an opportunity to introduce themselves in a polite and friendly manner.

It is often the job of a receptionist to show a client around especially if they are visiting for the first time. Don’t rush them. Give them time to carefully see every treatment room. If a client has arrived early, ask them to wait. If a client had arrived on time but a stylist is busy, apologize and explain the setback.

3. Offer complimentary drinks:

Setting up a pantry is a good idea in your salon. Offering your salon clients water and beverages such as tea and coffee speaks of you as a courteous salon. Don’t wait for your clients to ask. As they enter, greet them and ask them what you can get them. If your salon has a bar license, you could even offer them drinks but tell them that it would be charged for. You wouldn’t want them to think it’s on the house.

4. Spruce up your waiting area:

Not all clients would be taken for their appointment from the time they arrive. On average, a client would have to wait at least 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, a client usually makes critical observations of your salon. Therefore, it is very important to choose a décor that is consistent throughout your salon. Have a comfy couch they can sit on, play some soothing tracks and keep some magazines stacked which they can read while they wait for their treatment.

On the other hand, an untidy salon can make a negative first impression. Having papers scattered all around the front desk can make the salon look unpleasant. The best way to tackle this is by going paperless and disk-less and getting beauty parlour software. With everything being automated, you won’t have to worry about anything. You can only set up a tiny workstation to handle payments and customer queries.

5. Consultation:

Before you commence any service with a new client, perform a short consultation. A stylish can use this as a time to understand the client’s needs better and assure them that their satisfaction is important to you. You can also use this as an opportunity to learn about their allergies. Make a note of them in your customer record to prevent treatment from going wrong.

If anything goes wrong, be prepared to face a lawsuit. During this time, a stylist can show off their expertise. Remember, listening skills, body language, and facial expressions matter. Train your employees in such a way that they excel in the art of communication. They are the ones that play the most crucial role in client retention.

6. Show clients you are excited about them:

Once you greet your salon clients don’t leave them in the hands of the stylist. Show them that you are excited about the fact that they chose you over your competitors. Every gesture matters. The best way to execute this is by taking before and after pictures of your clients and posting them on your Instagram handle. This is a great way to attract other people to your salon too. Use trending hashtags, tag the stylist and the client, and you’ll see a difference in your followers. Make sure you share only high-quality images that will catch people’s eyes online. Encourage your clients to give your salon a shout out too.

7. Finalizing the visit:

Last but not least – wrapping up a client’s visit. When inviting a customer to make the payment, offer to book their next visit. Inform the client about the online booking system on the beauty parlour software which will enable them to easily book a repeat visit. You can also consider sending out a follow-up questionnaire to get feedback on their experience. Don’t overtly ask them to leave reviews, probably send them a text message or email once they leave. This is a great personal touch to show your clients that you actually care about their opinions. If a client makes certain negative remarks, use them to make improvements in key areas.

Going the extra mile in enhancing the salon experience can make all the difference between a client returning in the future or going elsewhere. In your salon management program, incorporate MioSalon, beauty parlour software, to create a better salon experience for your salon clients and encourage them to revisit your business in the future.

 Schedule a free demo of the Software now!