#nats match making service

[natsnerd]

WANDANAT HEADCANONS

Wanda is a service top, if nat is edging you, being harsh and not letting you get that sweet release, wanda will whine, wanting to make you cum

Nat is the mean dom in the duo, letting wands be the “nice” dom just incase she goes too far and you need a safety escape and wands can be that for you 

Natasha is mistress

Wands is mommy, she gives mommy kink vibes,

 They are both dominant and we're tired of arguing over who goes for top which is why they brought you to the relationship, a cute little bratty sub who could satisfy their need to ruin their pretty girl 

They would spoil you, for example: cute outfits, matching colours, nat braiding your hair, amazing russian meals, if they see a toy, strap on, vibrator, paddle in your favourite colour? They buy it immediately 

Wanda's magic would flicker when your talking to other girls even if it's in a friendly interaction 

They will bend you over any surface, nat loves to have wands sitting on a surface, bending you over so you can eat mommy out whilst mistress fucks your cunt

[abellmunsonmovie]

Van Palmer Headcanons :)

has niche movie opinions but always has something to back it up, that makes it seem right

Her and Nat used to be really close, when Van moved to Wiskayok she didn’t know anyone but Nat was really nice to her and they bonded over their bad home lives - adding on to that in 6th grade Nat pierced Vans ears for her

Van and Tai became really close in middle school, and they always loved eachother and probably had crushes on eachother longer than they realized, but it really hit for Van when Tai took her to the fair and they had a sleep over and they watched Desert Hearts in 9th grade and half the time she was watching the movie, half the time she was watching Tai - who was very into the movie, and that’s when Van knew

Undiagnosed adhd

Her and tai have secret matching tattoos on their hips

She’s a foodie, more so because in the wilderness they didn’t get to eat hardly and when they did…well-

Had/has a crush on Jodie Foster and loves Hannibal

Adding onto that, she’s a big horror movie buff

Used to wanna be a movie director, and even did a short film, but she felt like it wouldn’t take off as well as she wanted so she opened the store instead (she would’ve been a great movie director)

Constant state of nostalgia

Ibuprofen queen (me too)

drinks a addictive amount of coffee, like it doesn’t even wake her up really anymore she’s so used to drinking coffee

will playfully smack your ass or squeeze your boobs (if ur okay with that ofc)

after her and tai broke up, she cut her hair super short like REALLY SHORT, think like a pixie or lauren Ambrose in can’t hardly wait

tried art school but hated all the people so only went for half a year

is a major theater kid and did a play in art school

LOVES KARAOKE, she didn’t have that mic for no reason

when drunk, is the giggliest person ever and she’s so touchy and clingy

her love language is touch, words of affirmation and acts of service, she’s chronically touch starved and always has a hand on your thigh or waist. and she loves getting help around the store or even as simple as you fixing a light bulb or doing the dishes

her favorite season is fall

NSFW UNDER HERE!!!

MUNCHHHHHH!!!!! she loves eating out her girl after a long day at the store

major switch, and I feel like when she’s a dom - she’s a soft dom. but when shes sub she is a WHIMPERING MESS

AGHHHH she’d be so needy but it’s so attractive

lovessssss giving and receiving love bites

I don’t think she’s into like slapping and stuff because I just think she’d feel immediately guilty

always makes sure she’s making you comfortable and asks before she does anything new

thank you anon for this request!

if you wanna be part of my taglist comment: 💋

[nataliasquote]

This is a snippet (edited) of Cowgirl Nat 🤠 pls tell me you love her as much as I do. That cocky cowgirl. Puts everyone in their place with a tilt of her hat and a shot from her gun 😏

-⧗-

Natasha pushed the wooden saloon doors open, the heels of her boots clicking against the tiled floor as she sauntered in. Her hat was dipped low over her face and she paused, surveying the room with a smirk before tipping it from her head, allowing her red waves to tumble around her shoulders. They were messy from hours of riding in the wind, but it suited her without fail.

Her green eyes darted across every familiar face, occasionally giving a slight smile if she felt that individual was worth her time. She held every single person in a trance, except the bartender who was all too familiar with her ways.

Natasha strolled up to the bar and leaned her forearms against the dark wood, crossing one leg over the other which accentuated the curve of her hips in her jeans. The brunette on a stool to her right choked on her beer and hid her spluttering mess behind her pitcher.

“My usual please, Barton,” Natasha husked with a wink to the bartender who pushed a bottle in her direction. As old friends, they went way back, and Clint was always delighted when she returned to pay him a visit. “Is this seat taken?”

The brunette, dressed in a plaid button down shirt, shook her head and scooted over, blinking in disbelief that she was being spoken to.

“Thanks darlin’.” If Y/n was stood up, she would have crumbled to the floor at those two words combined with Natasha’s southern drawl. She was new to the area, only stopping through to get her horse’s hooves checked over. But my goodness was she glad she picked this particular bar. She owed Clint Barton a massive favour.

Natasha slid onto the velvet-topped stool and sipped her drink, slender fingers tapping on the glass in her hand. She glanced at the woman to her right, taking her in with a simple flick up and down.

“I’ve not seen you before. You not from around here?” Natasha knew everyone who was anyone in this small town. It wasn’t hard to keep track, really, and visitors became fast spreading news.

“I’m only stopping by. Left my horse down at the stable at the end of town- gotta sort her hooves out.” Natasha nodded, knowing Bishop Stables was widely known for their services. “I’m guessing it’s obvious I’m a stranger?”

Natasha laughed around the rim of her bottle, green eyes sparkling in the dim light. “I know my people,” she replied, gesturing to the full tables behind them. “And I’d remember a face like yours, darling.” Y/n’s suddenly darted from Natasha’s face to the fringe on the waistcoat she wore. Never had she been such a mess in front of a stranger before, but this mysterious redhead was far more than just a regular stranger. She was captivating, and judging by the flirty glances she sent to several women scattered across the bar, she knew it.

“And does a gorgeous woman like you have a pretty name to match?” Natasha turned on her stool completely, resting a bare forearm on the bar in order to give Y/n her full attention.

“I’m Y/n. And you are..?”

“Natasha Romanoff, at your service.” The redhead quickly put her hat on and tipped it forwards, eliciting a laugh from the woman opposite. Clint eyed their interaction as he dried some glasses, grinning to himself at how effective Natasha’s charm truly was. She turned it on with the tip of her hat and a flash of her smile, making men and women alike stop dread in their tracks.

“Hey, Romanoff, give us a dance, will ya?” A leering voice echoed above the general hum of conversation and Y/n watched as Natasha rolled her eyes and adjusted her gun that sat in a holster on her hip.

“Give it up, Stark, you’re barking at a knot.” The man in question jeered at her and banged his beer bottle on the barrel table, several men around him doing the same.

But Natasha just stood up, squared her shoulders and fired her handgun in their direction, the bullet slamming into the wall mere inches above Stark’s head. She blew the smoke off her gun with a cocky smirk and shoved it back in the holster. The entire saloon fell silent, aside from Clint’s mutterings about yet another hole to fix thanks to his fiery friend.

Natasha waited a second longer, almost daring Stark and his guys to test her again. But they didn’t, now only watching her warily as she turned back to her new woman and held out her hand with a small flourish. Her other hand grabbed her hat from the bar and set it atop of her flaming hair.

“How about I show you around? And get you away from these coffee boilers before they start on you too.” Natasha nodded over to Stark’s table and Y/n shuddered, practically smelling their beer breaths from where she was sat.

“You’d do that? I haven’t had much of a chance to look around.” Y/n downed the rest of her drink and slid the pitcher back to Clint with a grateful smile.

Natasha helped Y/n down from her stool and rested her hand on her large belt buckle. “Well, lucky for you darlin’, you’ve got the best tour guide this town has to offer.” Y/n blushed and accepted Natasha’s arm, walking beside her as they stepped out into the blazing midday sun, leaving the darkness of the saloon behind them.

“Where do you want to start?” Y/n looked up and down the sandy street, eyeing the wooden and old stone buildings that faced her.

“You’re the guide, you tell me.” Was that just another reason to hear Natasha speak? Y/n would never admit the answer to that.

Natasha rubbed her hands together. “Perfect. My favourite place… the armoury. If you don’t walk out of there wanting a new pistol, then I really haven’t done my job right.” Natasha set off down the centre of the street, her boots crunching the gravel underfoot. Y/n just blindly followed, her hand resting casually on her gun in case anyone tried to challenge her. Small towns weren’t usually all that accommodating of foreigners, but she’d clearly done something right by befriending Natasha.

Everyone gave them a wide berth, gossiping and whispering to themselves as they passed. But Natasha was extremely well respected, so if she accepted a visitor, everyone else would too. The social hierarchy certainly placed her close to the top. And for Y/n? Well… she was just getting started.

[earthmixsclowderofcats]

I think in latest times we got perfect Max Nunew Zee (I don’t remember the event but Nhu was wearing pearly(?) white suit) https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNeTqWJJ4/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNeTqo9GF/ I’m in poly heaven

ahhhh, that was exactly the moment i was thinking about when i said zee was possessive and that probably why max keeps his distance. (aside from being kept busy with his own baby.)

i love how zee's boots match nunuew's outfit. but i see him giving max the up and down. that sideways glance at zee to make sure he was looking.

and then zee gets too close and now it's nunuew's turn to get jealous.

oh no. how ever will this problem be solved?

sidenote: i know that it's like, a bit that they're doing. and its very charming anyways that they're all so comfortable with each other. but that hint of jealousy seems real.

nunew gives me brat energy but not as much as yim. i feel like if he were to be wild with any of his coworkers to get zee's attention yim would be the first to offer his services. because i also feel like poor tutor, is 100% into his man being a flirty little minx. (as long as he remembers who he comes home to so to speak)

i am here for max and nununew teaming up against zee though. that man would not stand a chance.

nat has brat energy too, but not to the diva degree nunew has it, or the chaotic gremlin energy yim has. more like he gets cranky and fussy when he's not being paid attention to. and max always gives in so we dont see it often.

the cutie pie polycule agenda gains traction!

[dweemeister]

On Borrowed Time (1939)

As time marches on, certain names that were once synonymous with American drama lose their weight, even among film buffs. In the early twentieth century, the Barrymore siblings – Ethel, John, and Lionel – were celebrated on both Broadway and in Hollywood, each one making a successful transition from the silent era to synchronized sound. The eldest, Lionel, was born in 1878 and was a Hollywood elder statesman when he made 1939’s On Borrowed Time. Directed by Harold S. Bucquet and based on a 1938 play of the same name by Paul Osborn (itself based on a 1937 Lawrence Edward Watkin novel of the same name), On Borrowed Time is a star vehicle for the eldest Barrymore. By the late 1930s, Barrymore had broken his hip twice – never healing properly. As such, he remained wheelchair-bound for the remainder of his life. Physical disablement, even in modern Hollywood, often curtails acting careers. But Barrymore’s home studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), often had their screenwriters find ways to incorporate Barrymore’s disability.

Lionel Barrymore was also in physical pain and depended on cocaine injections to work and sleep. However, this never affected his acting, as he delivers a wonderful lead performance in On Borrowed Time. Those less knowledgeable about this period in Hollywood history will probably only recognize his surname and the acting family he came from. Nowadays, most cinephiles probably only know of Lionel Barrymore through It’s a Wonderful Life (1946; Barrymore played the villainous Mr. Potter). Lionel Barrymore's role as the somewhat foul-mouthed but caring grandfather here offers something completely different.

Mr. Brink (Cedric Hardwicke) is hitchhiking somewhere near a small town in contemporary America. But he is not interested in riding with just anyone:

MAN IN CONVERTIBLE: May I give you a lift, sir? MR. BRINK: Thank you, no. I have an appointment – a lady and gentleman. MAN IN CONVERTIBLE: Oh, I’m sorry. [coughs] I thought you signaled me. MR. BRINK: No. Not yet...

As you may have guessed, Mr. Brink is a personification of death. A few minutes later, he flags down that lady and gentleman and takes their lives in a car accident. That couple are the parents of John “Pud” Northrup (Bobs Watson; best known as Pee Wee in 1938’s Boys Town), who will now live solely under the care of Gramps and Granny (Barrymore and Beulah Bondi) and their housemaid Marcia (Una Merkel). At the memorial service for Pud’s parents, Gramps donates a substantial sum to the church. After learning of Gramps’ generosity, Pud exclaims that his grandfather doing such a good deed should allow him a wish. Gramps’ wish: as a deterrence local children stealing his apples, he wishes that anyone who climbs up his apple tree will be stuck there until he permits them down. Some time later, Mr. Brink arrives at Northrup grandparent homestead for an appointment with Gramps. Gramps tricks Mr. Brink up the apple tree, trapping him there – setting off a series of developments that put Gramps in a moral bind.

In a cast already headlined by character actors, how about some more? On Borrowed Time also features Henry Travers (the guardian angel Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life) and Nat Pendleton as neighbors, Grant Mitchell as Gramps’ lawyer, James Burke as the sheriff, Charles Waldron as the reverend, and an uncredited Hans Conried (Captain Hook and Mr. Darling in 1953’s Peter Pan) as the man in the convertible.

Elsewhere, away from the camera, one can’t find much of composer Franz Waxman’s (1935’s Bride of Frankenstein, 1951’s A Place in the Sun) string-dominated score anywhere, but this is one of Waxman’s finest scores of his early career.

The opening half-hour of On Borrowed Time are its weakest. Hardwicke’s Mr. Brink has an eerily charismatic first impression that the scenes immediately following it cannot hope to match. Instead of learning more about the nature of Mr. Brink, the film instead shows us some of Pud’s misadventures and his relationship with his grandparents. Strangely, the loss of his parents seems to have had little effect on Pud at all, although his sadness seems to emerge in his contentious relationships with the other local boys and Aunt Demetria (Eily Malyon). Aunt Demetria, shortly after the Northrup parents’ deaths, hatches a scheme to assume guardianship of Pud and attain access to his considerable inheritance. Her designs are so obvious to all that when Gramps and Pud start calling her a “pismire” (literally, a pissing ant), Granny looks the other way when she might otherwise correct their boorish behavior. All of this takes longer to develop than it should (it does not help that Bobs Watson’s performance as Pud feels disjointed, but more on that shortly), even if the opening act primarily serves to show us how close Pud is to his grandparents. Even though we sense where the dramatic stakes are headed, On Borrowed Time almost seems to splinter into another film before we see Mr. Brink again.

In addition, contemporary reviews of On Borrowed Time lambasted screenwriters Alice D.G. Miller (1929’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey) and Frank O’Neill (no other film credits) for sanitizing the language from the original stage play due to the demands of the Hays Code (the self-censorship code that applied to major Hollywood studios from 1934-1968, repealed in favor of the current MPA ratings system). For the record, the text of the stage play was not freely available as I was writing this piece, so I have no means of comparison. Paul Osborn’s On Borrowed Time has only appeared on Broadway thrice: the 1938 original production and short-lived revivals in 1953 and 1991. The play had also been adapted for radio and television.

Compared to those film reviewers during the film’s 1939 release and many modern writers, I tend to be more forgiving if the Hays Code-enforced changes to a film do not significantly alter the spirit of the text. Sure, it would be funnier to hear disparaging language stronger than “pismire” in a 1939 film, but Pud’s and Gramps’ feelings towards Aunt Demetria, the apple-stealing boys, and Mr. Brink are comprehensible in this movie.

The closing two acts of On Borrowed Time draw its strengths from the performances and the narrative’s adoption of fairy tale logic (any film beginning with death flagging down folks he has an “appointment” with is almost always operating under the terms of the fantasy genre). In tandem, Lionel Barrymore and Bobs Watson’s good-humored and loving rapport lift the film above its structural flaws. Barrymore’s Gramps – an American Civil War and Spanish-American War veteran* – is a classic small town curmudgeon, only allowing his bitter exterior to crumble when Granny and Pud are around. Looking to protect Pud from Aunt Demetria, Gramps remains defiant towards the wills of Mr. Brink and the insistent neighbors. Perhaps it is not the greatest Lionel Barrymore performance, but he is always effective.

Bobs Watson, as Pud, is inconsistent anytime he does not share the scene with Barrymore. The explanation for his performance comes from Watson himself: “My dad was the one that really directed me, and I think some of the directors resented it a little bit… I trusted my dad implicitly, so I read the dialogue the way he told me.” His father’s influence results in occasionally overcooked line readings against director Harold S. Bucquet’s vision (MGM’s Dr. Kildare series, 1943’s The Adventures of Tartu), more theatrical than what the scene calls for. But when the scene calls for crying, by golly can Watson (who had a reputation for crying on cue) deliver. And his scenes with Barrymore are beautifully acted, convincingly showing the audience the love between grandson and grandfather.

Sir Cedric Hardwicke, a noted Shakespearean actor, cuts no corners as Mr. Brink. Mr. Brink is aware that, in time, he will keep all his appointments. Hardwicke plays Brink as slightly menacing, always dignified (no one expects that perfect an English accent in rural America), and somewhat aloof to what he probably thinks are childish trivialities and life’s mundane moments. He is the antagonist, but in no way is he the villain of this movie. That belongs to Eily Malyon as Aunt Demetria, a character some compare to Margaret Hamilton’s Mrs. Gulch/Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz (1939; released a little more than a month after On Borrowed Time) due to her temperament and unbending nature. One wishes the film made more use of the always-underappreciated Beulah Bondi as Granny (Bondi very often played elderly mothers and grandmothers, almost always appearing much older than she actually was), too.

Death and loss are two themes currently popular in modern cinema (see: a vast bulk of Pixar’s filmography, 2016’s Manchester by the Sea, 2019’s The Farewell, and a large selection of pieces from any film festival worldwide), but in the early decades of talkies in Hollywood, you would be hard-pressed to find films in which those themes were truly central, not secondary, to the narrative. And when those themes do appear, they appear in the context of fantasy films, like Death Takes a Holiday (1934) and On Borrowed Time. Anecdotally, I suspect the scarcity of major Hollywood movies revolving around death and loss is partly due to the realities of the 1930s and 1940s. Audiences, concerned with a worldwide Great Depression and soon a Second World War, did not seek films ruminating about death and loss and sought escapist fare instead. There was enough despair to go around.

The film that emerges on the back of these performances is thanks to its ability not to concentrate on the fantastical situation the Gramps and Pud find themselves in, but to raise the moral questions that Mr. Brink’s presence – and eventual entrapment – poses. Mr. Brink’s time in the tree results in consequences that Gramps and Pud could not imagine. Gramps’ decision to delay his death for the love of his grandson is concurrently noble and selfish. It is noble in respect to wanting the best for Pud, so that he may live life away from his aunt’s icy attitude and pernicious designs regarding her nephew’s inheritance. But it is selfish in that, as Gramps learns, that Brink’s inability to make any appointments unless he comes down from the apple tree means that almost no living being can die (for spoiler reasons, I am not listing the exceptions here) – even the ones in physical pain. How is Gramps supposed to navigate this situation, in addition to the communal and legal pressures from his neighbors and the police?

A resolution comes abruptly, in a way that devastates Gramps (but would probably make the Brothers Grimm nod in appreciation). On Borrowed Time’s bittersweet ending is deserved, and – as long as the viewer accepts the film’s fantastical premise and rules – will play quite differently for audiences of different ages.

Lionel Barrymore had two daughters with Doris Rankin, his first wife. Barrymore and Rankin lost both daughters in their infancies; neither ever truly recovered from their losses. One wonders what Barrymore thought while making On Borrowed Time, a film that argues for one coming to terms with death, however unfair or untimely its arrival. For a 1939 release (a legendarily glorious year for American cinema), positioning such ideas as the film’s narrative keystone ensures On Borrowed Time a unique spot in the early years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

My rating: 8/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found in the “Ratings system” page on my blog. Half-points are always rounded down.

* Gramps describes himself as having fought for the Union. This might make Gramps close to ninety years old, give or take, if we are to believe the film’s self-professed setting!

For more of my reviews tagged “My Movie Odyssey”, check out the tag of the same name on my blog.

NOTE: This is the 800th full-length Movie Odyssey review I have published on tumblr.

[suhana21]

The Perfect Playlist for Your Dream Wedding: Investing in a Quality Wedding DJ

The wedding day marks a fresh chapter in one's life. It is the event when the whole family comes together to bless and celebrate. So couples plan their dream wedding and want every element flawless, right down to the music. As music plays a vital part in making such an event truly memorable, couples living in Northern Virginia hire the best audio and video service for weddings in Northern Virginia, who can curate the perfect playlist that matches the mood and tone of your wedding. They have a knack for entertaining the guests keep the party going. Considering the top DJ services in Northern Virginia for weddings is definitely a profitable investment, as they can play music that communicates the actual emotions of the couple.

Personalizing Your Playlist 

Imagine the bride walking down the aisle amidst the backdrop music of 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri or the joyful song of 'You Make My Dreams' by Hall & Oates during the post-nuptial making the ambiance more upbeat, and the guests hitting the dance floor during the cocktail hours and dancing to the light and catchy tune of 'L-O-V-E' by Nat King Cole or 'Cheek to Cheek' by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong. Professional DJs identify the musical preference of the couple and ensure their wedding day resonates with the perfect soundtrack. For this, they set up a meeting to create a list of ‘must-play’ songs that reflect the personality and love story of the couple. They curate your wedding playlist for every moment of the wedding making the event more meaningful and memorable! Balancing Genres to Please All Guests

Weddings are attended by family members and friends who belong to different generations. Professional DJ sound service providers in Northern Virginia, know the art of balancing music of different eras that keeps the guest engaged and entertained. They may play some of the handpicked Motown classic hits for the older guests while they play the latest pop anthems for the younger crowd.

Timing Your Playlist for Key Moments

Right from the entry of the bride to the aisle, the first dance, the cake-cutting ceremony, to the cocktail hour, a professional DJ ensures that the right music is played during the entire wedding event. This keeps the flow of the event going.

Collaborating with Your DJ or Band

It is necessary to communicate with the DJs to create the perfect wedding playlist. Once the couple mentions their choice of music, it becomes easier for the DJs to prepare the ideal wedding playlist that can make the wedding unforgettable. Incorporating Guest Requests Thoughtfully

Be it pop, rock, hip-hop, or country, professional DJs can balance guest requests with your planned playlist while keeping the dance floor full and lively. Selecting the Perfect Exit Song

A professional DJ will select the perfect wedding exit song that captures the essence of the couple’s love story and represents the myriad emotions and promises that a wedding conveys.

Preparing a Backup Plan

An experienced DJ knows that not all weddings go as planned. Therefore, they are well prepared with a foolproof backup plan. Be it a technical issue, a last-minute change in the playlist, or a special announcement to be made during the wedding, a professional DJ knows how to handle such situations. Summing Up

A perfect wedding playlist can make a world of difference as a married couple starts their momentous journey together. StratAV Sound & Video Services is one of the top DJ sound service providers in Northern Virginia, curating the perfect compilation of tunes that capture the spirit of your special day.

[govindhtech]

GKE Cluster networking issues and troubleshooting

Typical GKE networking issues and their solutions

The Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) provides a strong and expandable method for managing applications that are containerised. Nevertheless, networking complexity can provide difficulties and cause connectivity problems, just as in any distributed system. This blog post explores typical GKE networking issues and offers detailed troubleshooting methods to resolve them.

The following are some typical GKE connectivity problems google cloud encounter:

Problems with GKE Cluster control plane connectivity

Perhaps because of network problems, pods or nodes in a GKE cluster are unable to reach the control plane endpoint.

GKE internal communications

Within the same VPC, pods cannot reach other pods or services: In a GKE cluster, every pod is assigned a distinct IP address. The functionality of the application may be impacted by a disruption in connectivity between pods within the cluster.

Pods cannot be reached by nodes, or vice versa: A GKE cluster can contain numerous nodes to divide the workload of applications for scalability and dependability. A single node can host multiple pods. Nodes may not be able to communicate with the pods they host due to network problems.

Issues with external communication

Pods are unable to access online services: Issues with internet connectivity may make it impossible for pods to use databases, external APIs, or other resources.

Pods cannot be reached by outside services: It’s possible that services made available by GKE load balancers are unavailable from outside the cluster.

Interaction outside of Cluster VPCs

Resources in other VPCs are inaccessible to pods: When pods need to communicate with services in a different VPC (either within the same project or through VPC peering), connectivity problems could occur.

Pods are unable to access on-site resources: When GKE clusters must interact with systems in the data centre of your business, issues may arise (for example connecting over VPN or Hybrid Connectivity).

Steps for troubleshooting

Should you experience a connectivity problem in your Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) environment, there are particular actions you may take to resolve the issue. Kindly consult the troubleshooting tree provided below for a thorough rundown of the suggested troubleshooting procedure.

Step 1: Check for connectivity

A diagnostic tool called connectivity tests allows you to verify that network endpoints are connected to one another. In addition to examining your configuration, it occasionally carries out real-time dataplane analysis between the endpoints. It will assist in confirming whether the network path is accurate and whether any firewall rules or routes are preventing connectivity.

Step 2: Identify the problem

Make sure your GKE cluster and GCE VM are on the same subnet. Check if this virtual machine can connect to the external endpoint.

If you can connect from the virtual machine, your GKE settings is probably the problem. If not, concentrate on networking VPCs.

Step 3: Examine and correct your GKE setup

Examine the connection using a GKE node. Look into the following areas if it functions from the node but not from a pod:

IP Scamming: Verify that it is operational, enabled, and that the ip-masq-agent configmap matches the configuration of your network. The endpoint destination should permit traffic from the pod ip range since communication to the destinations specified in “nonMasqueradeCIDRs” in the configmap yaml is transmitted with source as pod ip address rather than node ip address. Traffic to all default non-masquerade destinations is routed via pod ip address if there is only an ip-masq-agent daemon operating and no configmap for ip-masq-agent. Egress NAT policies will be used to setup this for Autopilot clusters.

Network Guidelines: Check the rules of entry and exit for any possible obstructions. If you’re using Dataplane V2, turn on logging.

IPtables: The rules of working and non-working nodes should be compared. You might run “sudo iptables-save” on the specific output node to use it.

Mesh of services: Consider trying with istio-proxy injection disabled for a test pod in the namespace if you are using Cloud Service Mesh or Istio in your environment to see if the problem persists. If sidecar injection is off and connectivity still functions, the service mesh setup is probably the problem.

Note: Certain procedures, which are only applicable to Standard Clusters, such as verifying IP tables or testing connections from the GKE node, will not function with GKE Autopilot Clusters.

Step 4: Identify problems unique to a node

If a certain node’s connectivity is lost:

Compare the setups: Make sure the working nodes match.

Verify the use of resources: Check for problems with the CPU, RAM, or cache table.

Gather the sosreport from a faulty node. This might facilitate RCA generation.

If the problem was limited to GKE nodes, you may apply the logging filter that is described below. To find any prevalent errors, narrow the search down to a certain timestamp. Troubleshooting can be aided by the presence of logs such as connection timeout, OOM kill (oom_watcher), Kubelet is unhealthy, NetworkPluginNotReady, and so on. You can look up additional comparable queries by using GKE Node-level queries.

Step 5: Take care of correspondence with outside parties

Make sure  Cloud NAT is turned on for both pod and node CIDRs if you’re having issues with external connectivity with a private GKE cluster.

Step 6: Resolve connectivity problems with the control plane

Depending on the type of GKE cluster (Private, Public, or PSC based cluster), connectivity from nodes to the GKE cluster control plane (GKE master endpoint) varies.

When it comes to troubleshooting common connectivity issues, including executing connectivity tests to the GKE cluster private or public control plane endpoint, most of the processes for confirming control plane connectivity are identical to those described above.

Apart from the aforementioned, confirm that the source is permitted in the control plane authorised networks and that, in the event that the source is located outside of the GKE cluster’s region, global access to the control plane of the cluster is enabled.

Make that the cluster is formed with –enable-private-endpoint if routing traffic from outside GKE has to reach the control plane on its private endpoint alone. This attribute shows that the control plane API endpoint’s private IP address is used to govern the cluster. Please be aware that regardless of the public endpoint option, pods or nodes within the same cluster will always attempt to connect to the GKE master via its private endpoint only.

Pods of cluster B will always attempt to connect to the public endpoint of cluster A when accessing the control plane of a GKE cluster A with its public endpoint enabled from another private GKE cluster B (such as  Cloud Composer). Therefore, they must ensure that the private cluster B has  Cloud NAT enabled for outside access and that Cloud NAT IP ranges are whitelisted in control plane authorised networks on cluster A.

In summary

The preceding procedures cover typical connectivity problems and offer a basic framework for troubleshooting. In case the issue is intricate or sporadic, a more thorough examination is necessary. For a thorough root cause study, this entails gathering packet captures on the impacted node (applicable only to standard cluster) or pod (applicable to both autopilot and standard cluster) at the moment of the problem. Kindly contact  Cloud Support if you need any additional help with these problems.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[akrnd085]

Comprehensive Guide to Linux Firewalls: iptables, nftables, ufw, and firewalld

In the dynamic landscape of network security, firewalls play a pivotal role in fortifying systems against potential threats. Within the Linux ecosystem, where robust security measures are paramount, understanding and navigating tools like iptables vs ufw ,nftables and firewalld becomes crucial. This comprehensive guide aims to delve into the intricacies of each tool, shedding light on their core concepts, functionalities, and use cases.

iptables: Understanding the Core Concepts Overview of iptables: Iptables stands as a cornerstone tool for controlling firewalls on Linux systems. Operating directly with the Linux kernel for packet filtering, iptables provides a versatile but verbose interface.

Organizational Structure: The organizational structure of iptables involves tables, chains, rules, and targets. Three primary tables — filter, nat, and mangle — categorize rules. The filter table manages incoming and outgoing packets, nat facilitates Network Address Translation (NAT), and mangle is employed for advanced packet alteration.

Default Policies and Rule Creation: By default, iptables adds rules to the filter table, with default policies for INPUT, OUTPUT, and FORWARD chains set to ACCEPT. Security best practices recommend setting at least FORWARD and INPUT policies to DROP. Loopback interface access is usually allowed, and established or related connections are accepted.

Example Rules for Common Protocols: Allowing HTTP and HTTPS traffic: sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp — dport 80 -j ACCEPT sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp — dport 443 -j ACCEPT Allowing SSH traffic for remote access: sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp — dport 22 -j ACCEPT Common iptables Options: Iptables provides various options for rule management, including -A or –append, -I or –insert, -D or –delete, -P or –policy, -j or –jump, -s or –source, -d or –destination, -p or –protocol, -i or –in-interface, -o or –out-interface, –sport or –source-port, –dport or –destination-port, and -m or –match.

Advanced Features in iptables: Iptables offers advanced features such as NAT, interface bonding, TCP multipath, and more, making it a versatile tool for complex network configurations.

nftables: The Next Generation Firewall Overview of nftables: Nftables emerges as a user-friendly alternative to iptables, offering a more logical and streamlined structure. While positioned as a replacement for iptables, both tools coexist in modern systems.

Organizational Structure in nftables: Nftables adopts a logical structure comprising tables, chains, rules, and verdicts. It simplifies rule organization with various table types, including ip, arp, ip6, bridge, inet, and netdev.

Setting Default Policies and Example Rules: sudo nft add rule ip filter input drop sudo nft add rule ip filter forward drop sudo nft add rule ip filter input iifname “lo” accept sudo nft add rule ip filter input ct state established,related accept sudo nft add rule ip filter input tcp dport {80, 443} accept sudo nft add rule ip filter input tcp dport 22 accept Common nftables Options: Nftables options include add, insert, delete, chain, ip saddr, ip daddr, ip protocol, iifname, oifname, tcp sport, tcp dport, and ct state.

nftables vs iptables: While nftables provides a more streamlined approach, both tools coexist, allowing users to choose based on preferences and familiarity.

ufw: Simplifying Firewall Management Overview of ufw: Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw) serves as a frontend for iptables, offering a simplified interface for managing firewall configurations. It is designed to be user-friendly and automatically sets up iptables rules based on specified configurations.Ufw not only simplifies iptables but also integrates well with applications and services. Its simplicity makes it an ideal choice for those who want a quick setup without delving into intricate firewall configurations. Moreover, ufw supports application profiles, allowing users to define rules specific to applications.

Enabling ufw and Example Rules: sudo ufw enable sudo ufw allow 80/tcp sudo ufw allow 443/tcp sudo ufw allow 80,443/tcp Checking ufw Status: sudo ufw status firewalld: Dynamic Firewall Configuration Overview of firewalld: Firewalld streamlines dynamic firewall configuration, featuring zones to declare trust levels in interfaces and networks. It comes pre-installed in distributions like Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, CentOS, and can be installed on others.Firewalld excels in dynamic environments where network configurations change frequently. Its zone-based approach allows administrators to define different trust levels for various network interfaces.

Opening Ports with firewalld: sudo firewall-cmd — add-port=80/tcp — permanent sudo firewall-cmd — add-port=443/tcp — permanent sudo firewall-cmd — add-port=80/tcp — add-port=443/tcp — permanent sudo firewall-cmd — reload sudo firewall-cmd — list-ports Conclusion: Linux firewalls, comprising iptables vs ufw, nftables and firewalld, offer robust defense mechanisms for network security. While iptables and nftables cater to experienced users, ufw and firewalld provide simplified interfaces for ease of use. The choice of tools depends on user expertise and specific requirements, ensuring a secure and well-managed network environment. This extended guide provides additional insights into ufw and firewalld, enhancing your understanding of Linux firewall tools for configuring and securing systems effectively.

[nat20marketing]

Welcome to part two of this week’s Nat 20 Marketing!

In the last post, we covered what makes a BIG IDEA good. Part of a successful delivery comes from knowing the audience’s needs and where to find them. The other critical part is choosing the right tone and right message for it.

What are tones and why do they help in marketing?

To simply put, tones give messages an emotional touch and help the recipient picture the scenario better. A birthday party should be a happy occasion, so the invitation should sound joyous and exciting. A funeral is a serious and sad occasion, so it would be much better to sound sincere when asking people to visit the memorial service. If the tones are not used correctly, the message is going to sound jarring and possibly triggering. When people say “read the room”, it means using the right tone and saying the right things at the right time to match the emotions and energy of others.

I have seen promotional campaigns for charities and I have a rather personal gripe against the tones the organizations usually use to send their messages. Some organizations prefer showing the harsh reality of what is happening to those in need in addition to using severe and depressing tones. The use of people’s empathy is often highly effective in marketing. It helps raise awareness and catch people’s attention extremely quickly. Despite this, I find these advertisements to be rather guilt-tripping and manipulative. Whether this take on marketing for not-for-profit organizations is ethical or not is subjective, but as a consumer, I will be brutally honest here: I tend to skip these advertisements in a heartbeat and if I can, I will also send a report to whichever platform I am currently on that I am not interested in such promotions.

So how do we make tones obvious for text-based communication?

Over the pandemic, we have all gotten used to online chatrooms and forums to replace in-person conversations. As a moderator for a rather popular server on Discord, I have since recognized the importance of tone usage. Let’s use the example of “Guess what happened last night” here to demonstrate. Without the tone, you can’t really guess what possibly could have happened and what the appropriate response should be. Your friend could have broken up with their significant other (sad), or your friend received a thoughtful surprise gift from their loved one (happy). Neurodivergent people have already struggled to detect tones when they converse with others face-to-face for a long time. The lack of tone in text is worse for essentially everyone.

As an avid online chatter, I find the use of emojis and tone indicators to be quite useful in solving this problem. Emojis are little pictures that show emotions and reactions. We are starting to see more companies adopting emojis into their social media posts to generate excitement and become a closer part of the community they serve. However, it’s not always that marketers can use emojis in their messages. For B2B companies, it is almost impossible to do so since emojis are often perceived to be casual and unserious. It is extremely dependent on the brand image whether using emojis to emphasize tones is a feasible solution.

The next best option is the proper choice of words. Language is evolving all the time. Ten years ago, we wouldn’t be seeing phrases like “slay queen” and “poggers”. Now, the word “cook” doesn’t always mean “preparing food”. People have started to use it for “making things into reality”. I can even say what I’m doing right now is “cooking up a blog post”. I wouldn’t use the word “cook” this way if I am writing a professional email to my senior at work, but I would use it when I’m talking with my friends. Using the right tone and the right words for the right occasion is the key takeaway.

Perhaps a blog post by a video game company would use words that are more formal, but daily social media updates should sound far more casual and even humorous given the audience is often gamers and from both Millenials and Gen Z. We can take a look at Larian Studios’ posts and replies on X. The studio uses a good mix of images, gifs, emotes, and casual phrases to connect with its customers (i.e., the players) every day. When Larian Studios was celebrating its achievements after the Game Awards last year, the tones were more heartfelt and thankful for the community’s overwhelming love and support.

Okay, and what about the message content itself?

As mentioned in the previous blog, people’s attention span has declined significantly over the past two decades. Short videos that are no longer than a minute have become the most popular media for content creators to reach their audience. People multitask all the time. They can be working on a research report, watching a YouTube video, and replying to their friends on WhatsApp all at the same time. A short, catchy slogan or even a musical tune is probably one of the best tactics to have people remember the brand.

A few years ago, I watched an advertisement by PepsiCo called STACK YOUR SLEIGH. It was a very short video but it left an extremely memorable impression because of the song that was rewritten and sung in it. I still remember it to this day to use it as an example. The video was made for the holiday season, so the company chose an uplifting Christmas carol classic as the base. The advertisement was rather well-received judging from the positive comments on YouTube. Even without watching the video itself, the audience can already easily tell what occasion the commercial was targeting. On the contrary, if PepsiCo chose Silent Night as the base, it might not have worked as well due to the slow and peaceful tone. This directly links back to the key point of this blog post: CHOOSE THE RIGHT TONE FOR THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

This is it for this week’s Nat 20 Marketing. Stay tuned for next week’s post on Right Message, Right Time, Right Place!

[technology--2]

Strategic Karma Management: Fostering Ethical Excellence in Business Operations

The quest of success in the complex web of contemporary business involves more than just monetary rewards; it also involves moral decisions and accountable behavior. An emerging idea that is becoming more and more popular in business circles is karma management, which encapsulates the idea of matching moral values with commercial practices. The idea of karma management is explored in this article along with how it relates to important services like National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), statutory compliance services India, supplier audit services, finest talent acquisition firms, and statutory compliance services.

The Foundation: Best Talent Acquisition Companies

Ethical Hiring Practices: At the heart of karma management lays the strategic acquisition of talent through the best talent acquisition companies. These agencies specialize not only in identifying candidates with the requisite skills but also in aligning organizational values with those of potential hires. Ethical hiring practices contribute to the creation of a workforce committed not only to professional excellence but also to ethical and responsible business conduct.

Nurturing a Positive Corporate Culture: The best talent acquisition firms are essential to fostering a healthy work environment. By selecting applicants who share the organization's values, these businesses help to create a workplace that encourages cooperation, diversity, and moral decision-making. This makes a positive business culture an essential element of karma management.

Supplier Audit Services: Extending Ethical Responsibility

Ethical Supply Chains: Supplier audit services, which include supply chains in the company environment, are essential to karma management. These services are essential for assessing and verifying vendors' moral conduct. Organizations can demonstrate their commitment to moral business conduct and responsible sourcing by conducting thorough audits.

Building Ethical Partnerships: Conducting supplier audits encourages cooperative and moral relationships between companies and their suppliers. In this case, karma management entails actively collaborating with suppliers to raise ethical standards in addition to making sure that compliance is maintained. This cooperative strategy adheres to the karma management tenets by spreading beneficial behaviors throughout the supply chain.

Upholding Ethical Governance with Statutory Compliance Services

Legal and Regulatory Adherence: Karma management entails following the law and other rules. Statutory compliance services help businesses comprehend and abide by rules pertaining to data privacy, taxation, labor, and the environment. This dedication to following the law supports the organization's ethical governance, which is essential to karma management.

Proactive Risk Mitigation and Continuous Improvement: Statutory compliance services help maintain continuous improvement and proactively detect risks, which helps with karma management. This guarantees that companies anticipate and adjust to changing legal environments in addition to adhering to existing requirements. A dedication to ongoing development is consistent with the karma management concepts

National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS): Nurturing Ethical Growth

Investing in Skill Development: Karma management entails making investments in the community's and the organization's progress and development. This philosophy is reflected in the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), which offers chances for skill development while also promoting the ethical development of individuals and communities.

Creating Ethically Trained Talent: By taking part in NATS, you may build a talent pipeline of people who have received ethical training and industry-specific expertise. In this context, karma management entails helping to further the larger objective of promoting employability and ethical work practices in addition to reaping the benefits from this talent pool.

Strategic Implementation of Karma Management In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern business, organizations must strategically implement karma management. This involves:

Integrating Ethical Practices across Business Functions: A comprehensive integration of ethical principles into all company processes is necessary for karma management. Companies need to constantly make sure that everything they do, from hiring procedures to supply chain management and governance, complies with ethical standards.

Engaging in Continuous Learning and Improvement: A dedication to lifelong learning and development is a component of karma management. In order to promote a culture of continuous development, organizations should keep up with changing regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and ethical standards.

Communicating Ethical Commitments to Stakeholders: One essential element of karma management is transparency. It is imperative for organizations to effectively convey their ethical values and conduct to all relevant parties, such as staff members, clients, and the local community. This increases confidence and reaffirms the company's commitment to moral and ethical business practices.

Karma management is an approach to strategy that goes beyond conventional business models. Organizations can foster ethical excellence by incorporating ethical concepts into various aspects of their operations such as hiring, labor compliance, supplier audits, statutory compliance, and national apprenticeship training schemes. Achieving financial goals is just one aspect of success; another is making decisions that benefit stakeholders' well-being, the environment, and the community at large. Adopting karma management is a commitment to a sustainable, ethically-driven, and responsible future in the fast-paced business world; it's more than just a strategic choice.

[rozie-gray]

Saint or Sinner

We all have our times like this.

Be it for good or evil.

We all have choices to make,

But those choices make us who we are.

- Anonymous

*****

"I'm such an idiot," he said while pounding his fist on the wall. "Why did I let her go? God, I'm such an idiot."

He could barely hold in his tears and anger.

“I didn’t ask to be a demon,” he screamed. “It can’t be helped. But why does it have to be the reason not to be with you?!,” then he looks up at the ceiling, “You said that everyone can love but why doesn’t that include us?”

The demon regretted that he ever became one, his eyes burning with flames of white and red. In his rage, he grabbed a chair and threw it out the window, breaking it in the process. Rage took over and proceeded to destroy everything in the room with reckless abandon.

Ten minutes of destruction passed and his anger has finally subsided.

The room became a warzone. The bed is covered with scratches and burn marks, the walls are filled with cracks, and the furniture are either hacked into pieces or turned upside down.

He glanced at the photo album that dropped on the floor. He picks it up and sits down on the broken tiles as he opens it and slowly leafs through the pages.

Photo after photo, memory by memory. The images of their time spent together stared back at him. Guilt, heartache, and anger mingled together inside him to form sadness before he tossed the album aside. He bends his knees towards him and lies down on the floor in a fetal position, crying.

Did she love me, he thought. How could she like a demon like me? I'm a demon, I'm not meant to be loved.

"I'm nobody," he faintly whispered to the broken walls.

*****

Night fell and the lights of the cities on the human world are starting to light up. The rain was pouring incessantly while the cold winds blow. It was at that time that Matt was walking through the streets with his hoodie down, alone.

He wanted to go ask his friend for something and maybe grab a drink down at the Pig's Place, the bar he and Natalie frequently visits.

Hopefully, he thought, Pidge could probably help me. The girl's got gall, she's gotta help. Plus, she's a human. They know this sort of thing more than me.

As he was walking, he thought he saw her. He turned around but was met with disappointment and a little relief. It’s just some lady with her boyfriend, he must be imagining it. Nat won't stab me in the back like that, then he wondered, would she?

The idea haunted him like a ghost. He quickly walked away in frustration.

Inside the Pig’s Place, there are always a lot of customers but there were more than usual tonight as it was the “Happy Hour”. There are some smoking, others drinking their alcohol to drown their worries of the day, and others just staying for the “special services”.

Pidge was at the counter, as usual. Bartending to the patrons and sending them home when they got piss drunk. She was quite the gal for her caliber, and nobody ever messes with her without signing a death warrant.

Pidge is about six feet tall, with black and red dyed hair, cut like a mohawk, and goth make-up everywhere. She wears a black death metal T-shirt, minus the sleeves, black fishnet stockings, high red boots, and a studded choker that matches the two bracelets on her wrists.

Pidge notices Matt at the doorway but pays no attention to him. He sits down at a vacant table and motions for her to come.

She just shrugs and continues her work, serving drinks to the other patrons. He motions again, this time she comes near.

“So, she finally dumped you,” she said while pouring him a drink. “Can’t blame you if the Big Guy Upstairs said “no” and punched you in the face.”

Matt flipped her off and immediately gulped down his drink. He shivered, for the drink was more bitter than usual. He sets down the glass and hung his head.

“Hey,” she nudged him, “don’t pussy out on me on this one. I told you that they’d say no and I want the deets who the other guy is.”

Matt glared at her.

“Alright, alright,” she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. “I’ll back out.” Then she said, with a grin, “But I might know a way to get your princess back.”

[centralautorepairs]

Automotive Repairs - Choosing a Panel Beater

There are some things about repairing your car that you need to understand. If you are not sure of what the rules are, or if you haven’t had any previous experience, it may be best to get a professional to help you. These experts are usually known as ‘panel beaters’ and can deal with everything from minor smash repairs to major collision repairs. They are also familiar with the requirements of insurance companies and can deal directly with your insurer if required.

If you have a car in need of Auto Repairs , it is important that you take it to a reputable workshop, to avoid getting ripped off. There are a number of things to consider when choosing a workshop for your vehicle, including price and reputation. A reputable and well-established company is likely to have invested in the latest technology, equipment, training, and tools. They will be able to offer you the most competitive price and will have the skills and knowledge to perform the work to a high standard.

The law requires workshops to offer a warranty on their repairs. It is important to check the warranty terms before committing to a repairer. A valid warranty will be included in the repair contract and must state its terms and conditions clearly. In addition, the repairer must allow you to inspect the repaired vehicle and ask questions about any parts or services that were replaced.

A warranty is a promise by a repairer to fix or replace a part or component of your vehicle that has been damaged by an accident or normal wear and tear. It is a legal right that you have as a consumer, and it gives you peace of mind that the work will be done to a satisfactory standard. If you find that the warranty is not upheld, you can contact Fair Trading and report the shop to them.

A car’s bodywork can be seriously affected after an accident, and it is important to have the repairs carried out by a reputable panel beater in Sydney. A reputable panel beater will have the latest technology and equipment, which means they can repair your car to its original factory condition. A reputable shop will also use quality paints and finishes, which can make it look like new again.

Another thing to consider when selecting a panel beater is their accreditations and qualifications. A reputable company will have I-CAR trained staff and be fully licensed and insured. They will be able to provide you with a quote for your car repair, which will include labour and parts. They will also give you a detailed explanation of the repair process and any issues that may arise during the repair.

If you’re looking for a dependable repairer that offers a great customer service and has excellent reviews, try St George EFi & Mechanical. They are located in Bexley, Southern Sydney, and have over 43 years of experience in Automotive repairs Sydney repairs. Proprietor Nat Stillone began his passion with cars at a young age, repairing radiocontrolled vehicles and volunteering to work at a petrol station as a teenager. Today they are trusted by many luxury car dealerships, and their workmanship is guaranteed. From air conditioning re-gas to European car specialty services, their technicians are all highly experienced. They also use online colour-matching software to ensure your car’s paintwork is perfectly matched with the rest of its finish.

[gyllenhaalics]

Hiii, I was hoping I could be apart of your matchmaking service :))) ! I'm in college ( Foreign languages faculty), pursuing a philology degree in italian and english. I like singing, listening to music, watching movies and reading literature. I'd like to be paired with one of Jake's characters!

(Heyyyy, thank you so much for your messages the other day <3)

I match you with Donnie Darko (aged up!)

Donnie is an interesting guy.

He might seem like someone who gets into trouble constantly.

But he’s actually very kind, but he needs sometimes to open up to people.

He breaks the rules only when they stop making sense (which means, a lot of times)

He’s very smart and he responds very well to mental stimulation.

Which is why he loves to talk about a wide range of things that pique his interest.

He also majors in Philosophy and you two met in a lecture.

He was impressed by one of your presentations.

This leads to a lot of discussion between you and Donnie.

He’s surprisingly conventional when it comes to dating.

He loves to take you out for a movie, then you two share a quiet dinner.

One of the things he enjoys is you resting your head on his shoulders and read him your favorite books.

He may make sarcastic comments at the writing once in a while.

He looks after the people he cares deeply about (that means you).

He always asks you how your day is and expresses concerns when you’re not feeling well.

When that happens, Donnie can be very stubborn in convincing you to rest.

[frostedfaves]

Can I request milf reader x Kate bishop? Maybe reader is a baker and Kate has a thing for her sweets, and maybe her?

A/N: I felt the need to post at least one of my already existing requests before I started dark!professor!Nat so here we go. also idk if you wanted this to be soft but my brain made it dirty 🙂

warnings: 18+ ONLY, legal age gap (22 vs 30ish), slight service top!Kate, technically cheating, dry humping, implied hidden strap, unedited fic bc I'm lazy

-

The bell over the door rang, announcing Kate's entry to the bakery. She took a risk by trying to come in five minutes before closing since you usually locked the door by then, but the lingering customers at the counter had Kate believing luck was on her side today.

"There you go," you hand over the perfectly packed items to a small child and a receipt to the man accompanying her. "Is there anything else I can do for you today?"

"That's all! Thanks again for taking us so late in the day."

"Of course!" you answer in the same moment the child adds in "Can you be my mommy?"

"I'm so sorry about that," the customer apologizes and ushers the child through the door while you watch with wide eyes, your awkward smile becoming genuine as you catch sight of Kate.

"Can you be my mommy?"

"Hi, Katie," you greet her with a giggle, kissing her cheek as you pass by to lock the door. "You're later than usual. I almost thought you wouldn't show today."

"I could never pass up time with you," Kate assures you, leaning against the glass counter as you return to your spot behind it. "Did you save me a cinnamon roll?"

"Of course, although I don't know why you're so obsessed with cannibalism."

"Wow, that joke gets funnier every time you tell it," she deadpans while accepting the treat from you, taking a big bite immediately and letting out a low moan. "Perfect as usual. How do you do it?"

"Gotta be good for my favorite customer," you reply while batting your eyelashes and Kate pretends not to choke in response.

"So..." she clears her throat a final time. "I showed up at closing time so I'd have a better chance at getting you alone...to talk about catering a small party. My mom wants to hire you."

"Oh, okay. Let's go over it in my office."

You barely try hiding your disappointment while letting Kate come behind the counter and follow you into the back storage room. You keep going to another door that reveals your office, closing it behind her despite you two being the only ones left in the building today.

"So what's the date of this event?"

"The 27th," Kate mumbles, undoubtedly distracted as you bend over and her seat near your desk gives her a perfect view of the thong you'd decided to wear under your dress today.

"That should give me enough time to prepare." You grab a couple binders and head toward your desk chair. "Does she have any--"

"Sit here."

"What?"

"Sit here," Kate repeats, giving a light pat to her thighs and raising her brows expectedly.

"Okay."

You drop the binders in your chair and walk around to her side, placing a leg on either side of her before lowering yourself to her lap. A small noise escapes you when you feel the bulge you didn't notice through her loose sweatpants.

"Is that thong for me?" Kate asks with her hands on your hips, pushing her own forward against you and grinning when you moan at the contact. "Answer me so I can give you what you want."

"It was for my fiancé at one last attempt to bring back what I felt in the beginning but--"

"But he doesn't do it for you anymore, does he?" she presses and you nod. "It's because of me, isn't it?"

"Yes it is," you gasp as you begin grinding against her on your own and she matches your movements. "It's been you this whole time."

"Oh I know, baby," she teases you with a chuckle. "But I'm here now, so let me make you feel good. Let me take away the ache between those pretty legs."

Kate wraps an arm around your waist to hold you close and using her free hand to grab your chin, pulling you into an urgent kiss as the two of you pick up speed. You're moaning and huffing breaths in each other's faces in between sloppy kisses and suddenly you're digging your nails into her shoulders and whining--

"Please don't stop; I'm so close!"

So Kate reaches between the two of you and pushes your soaked thong aside to directly rub your clit, smiling through the sting of your scratches as she watches you come undone in her lap. Your eyes are locked on her as she pulls the tips of her fingers into her mouth to taste you and you release a shuddering breath.

"I think you're just going to make the ache stronger."

[nat20marketing]

Hello readers. Welcome back to Nat 20 Marketing! It’s been a while, but we’re back in the game and it’s time to catch up!

For the past two weeks, I have been pondering what makes an idea good in marketing. There are a few items that make an idea good, and here’s a summary of them.

First and foremost, what even is a BIG IDEA and why is it important?

Whatever products or services your company is trying to sell, as a marketer, we want our current and potential customers to stop and hear us out.

People have openly admitted that their attention span has been declining rapidly over the years. The fact is that many people have been multitasking for years because there is just so much to do in a day yet there is so little time. 

TikTok is the world’s most downloaded app and has pushed other social media platforms to introduce short video format equivalents in order to stay relevant and competitive, like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. As baffling as this sounds, a live streamer from China has managed to earn millions of dollars from promoting products in 3 seconds. 3 seconds is an extremely short time. You can barely even learn what the product can do in that amount of time. The best you can do to promote the item is stating its name and price. Yet, this strategy has worked extremely well for the streamer. People are buying products she has so far promoted, even with the blatant lack of product description.

Now, the Chinese government has already responded to this case and banned commercials as short as 3 seconds because it is simply unrealistic for consumers to know what they are actually buying. They essentially have no time to consider alternatives or to compare properties and prices. This, however, is proof that if marketers want to attract consumers, they need ideas that can catch and retain people’s attention. It has been revealed that an average consumer needs to view an advertisement at least seven to eight times for the advertisement to be effective. Meanwhile, the advertisement should be relevant to the consumers who are exposed to it. An easy example would be presenting an advertisement for a professional drawing tablet to artists who do digital art. If the advertisement does not match the interests of the target market at all, it has already failed.

Thanks to modern technology and the hidden algorithms that bring advertisements directly to a company’s selected target market, marketers are now left with the million-dollar question:

What should the BIG IDEA be for the campaign?

In this day and age, it can be challenging to come up with an original (and possibly revolutionary) idea. I think it is fine to borrow ideas from others and give them a twist to make them our own. A large part of creation is recreation. The execution of a good idea is just as critical at the end of the day.

In every BIG IDEA, there is always a message. A product (or a service) is the solution, the answer, the fix for the consumer’s problem. Perhaps they are hungry, food is the answer. Maybe they find plastic straws wasteful, reusable metal straws are the way.

Now comes the delivery and its execution. We need an idea that really pops and quickly captures the consumers.

Recently, I worked on a pitch video for McDonald’s. Its target group was GenZ gamers, so I’ll be using it as an example. The objective was to increase the number of downloads of the McDelivery app and increase the number of orders made via the app. The app’s main competitors are other online food delivery apps like Uber Eats and SkipTheDishes.

The first step to creating the BIG IDEA is to understand the target market. Gamers play video games. Whether it is to relax or to climb those competitive ranks, they don’t have time to sit away and eat. They want to be able to have their refreshments conveniently. Easy food like burgers and fries are great. Food services that are still available late at night are even better. McDonald’s has it all.

The next step is to connect these gamers with McDonald’s services and to bring them to the McDelivery app. McDonald’s needs to create values so the gamers would choose the app over the competitors. They need to create an exclusive experience that would bring more attention to the app.

A marketer can consider what has already been done by others and follow suit, or attempt to do something unique. While the core concepts may be seen as “unoriginal” if the former method is chosen, marketers can make changes to the campaigns to better fit the marketing and business objectives.

Marketers in the west have been found to be rather reluctant in collaborating with video games for various reasons, one of which being the perceived violence in video game content. Changes to this perception have been observed over the past few years as we see one of Riot Games' flagships League of Legends collaborating with clothing brands such as Louis Vuitton and AAPE in 2019 and 2020 respectively. McDonald’s can hop on this train and collaborate with big game titles like Valorant (Riot Games) and Overwatch (Activision Blizzard). The games can introduce exclusive virtual cosmetics while McDonald’s can create time-limited menus themed after the games it is partnering with.

The third step is to send the message to the target market. While advertisements can be placed on social media platforms and let the audience view them passively for a few times, McDonald’s can choose to collaborate with community content creators and have them bring the news to their audience through livestreams and videos on Twitch and YouTube alike. 

Lastly, marketers always need to review the numbers and responses from the market to evaluate the success of the campaign. Both quantitative and qualitative data are equally valuable to understanding the reactions from the community. Numbers alone cannot explain everything; it is a trap that marketers often find themselves in. If the market complains that there is a severe disconnection between their needs and the products that are being sold to them, marketers will need to slow down and address the problems moving forward. Otherwise, people will eventually move on from the brand because they feel that they are not heard and their opinions do not matter. This is a major red flag.

On top of surveys, marketers need to know where to look for community feedback. Online forums like Reddit can be quite insightful even though it may not be the most popular platform in comparison to TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).

As a gamer myself, I find AAA games that listen to community feedback and take action accordingly more enjoyable than not. It is not to appease the players. Rather, it shows that the developers do care about their players’ thoughts. It builds better loyalty and a sense of belonging to the community, far more beneficial in the long run.

So that sums up the first part of this week’s Nat 20 to Marketing. I’ll see you all again very soon in my next post about setting the right tone in promotional campaigns.

[lokiprompts]

Your Savior - Fem Reader

Summary: You are a prisoner on an enemy compound and Loki finds you.

Warnings: Graphic imagery. Death. Sexual Assault. Trauma. Swearing. Angst. Definitely don't read if you are triggered.

Words: ~4k

The mission was surprisingly simple. Get into the enemy base, get the data, kill any agents that got in their way, escape, then blow the whole building to bits. To the average person, this would have been a perilous task, but to the Avengers it was an average Tuesday. This enemy group might have well been the knock off version of Hydra, the mission was so easy. Any other mission, the ease of defeating the enemy would have set off some serious alarm bells, but in this case the fact was obvious.

These people were fucking stupid.

And of course, they stood little to no chance against the highly trained team of Avengers. Captain America led the team, cracking his opponents face in half with his shield without breaking a sweat. Black Widow wasn’t far behind, easily maneuvering among the enemy base and getting the data they came for on one of Stark’s high tech flash drives. Up in the sky, was the infamous Iron Man who flew the Quinjet and had an itching trigger finger ready to blow the whole place to smithereens.

And then there was Loki.

The God was the newest Avenger, a ridiculously and very obviously reluctant recruit. The term recruit, though, was being generous. It was more that he was servicing ‘Midgard’, as he would call it, to avoid being imprisoned for a thousand years. His magical skills were quickly put to good use, but it was clear that the rest of the team did not trust him due to his history. The history of trying to take over the world and make everyone kneel. Loki was never allowed on solo missions, and he always had to have a plethora of other Avenger’s with him. Often, if Thor was not needed for a mission, he would simply be left at the Tower under his older brother’s critical watch.

But during this mission, Thor was off world, and Loki was not to be left alone in the tower. So, with a bored flick of his wrist, he had cloaked himself and the rest of the team that had infiltrated the base to get the jump on them. The enemy agents were no match for the human super spy and the super soldier, but to a god? They might as well had been ant under his large boots.

The God had managed to sneak away from the rest of the team for a moment and his shoulders lifted and heaved as he sucked in the fresh air of freedom and peace. It was rare when he did not have an eye on him, so even in this crumbling, decrepit base his time alone was cherished. But, of course, that time was cut short when Steve’s voice rang loud via the com in his ear.

“Nat’s got the data. Time to clear the base.”

“Yeah, make it quick. The Love is Blind finale is on tonight and Pep and I have bets on who is getting left at the altar.”

Loki rolled his eyes and turned on his boot, ready to leave, but then he heard it. The faintest, most pathetic cough. If it wasn’t for his godly hearing, he wouldn’t have even heard it at all. Frankly, he didn’t care if an agent was left alive. They would be dead under the rubble in a few minutes anyways. But this sounded different. Something within the very depths of his soul told him to go find the source and Loki was never one to question his instincts. It had yet to fail him, and he doubted it would fail him now.

He walked down a long corridor and the first thing that hit him was the horrid smell. Covering his nose with his leather clad wrist, he suppressed a gag. The prince was no stranger to the foul smells of war and death, but even this made him cringe and question his decision to explore. Yet, as he kept walking, the pull that burned within him only got stronger. Turning one more corner, he found the source of the smell.

There, in the back of the base, was another long corridor of cells. His heavy boots echoed off the walls as he kept walking. The odor become so overwhelming he enchanted his nose to minimize his ability to smell. The cells were piled high with bodies in various states of decay. It quickly became apparent that these prisoners were kept here for weeks, maybe even months as the floors were covered in piss, feces, and bile. Some of the corpses were fresh with dried, brown blood staining around a slit throat. Another carcass had its gums pulling away from its teeth, baring a gring of death right at Loki. It was right at that moment, Loki decided to ignore the burning magnet within his chest and to get the Hel out of there.

This was a place of death and Loki had dodged death enough.

Just as he turned around to leave, he heard another weak cough. He beelined to the cell he heard it from and among the corpses was you, laying on the cold cement floor and naked as the day you were born. Your chest lifted so subtly; it was hard to see if you were even breathing, but it was there. Shallow breaths of life.

Loki tore the cell door off its hinge as if it the iron was made of cheap plastic. Quickly, he was by your side and cradling you in his arms. The movement ripped a pained groan from you, but your eyes remained closed. Loki made fast work of assessing your state. Compared to the wounds of the bodies around you, you were in decent shape. Your skin was free of burns and cuts that adorned the dead flesh of the cell. Instead, your body was covered in purple and yellow bruises. The most prominent being around your throat, your breasts, and your thighs that made it clear that your body was used for other pleasures.

The thought simultaneously enraged Loki and made him physically sick. The woman that laid cradled in his arms looked so small and fragile. Your ribs poked out from your stretched skin and your cheeks were sunken and hollow. Not only were you viciously violated, but you were starved. The pull in his heart exploded when you finally fluttered your eyes opened. After a few bleary, unfocused blinks, you laid eyes on your savior.

You had been in this cell for almost a month, but in truth you truly did not know how long you were here for. The days blurred together. You had been taken when walking home from your job one evening. The hairs on the back of your neck stood straight up as you quickened your pace down the empty, dark street. Shadows followed you everywhere. You finally whipped yourself around, fully intending on spotting your stalker and hopefully scaring them off, but there was no one there. For a moment, you thought it was all in your head. But then there was blackness.

You woke up in the cell with other men and women. Everyone, including you, was naked. The blood had dried in your hair from the blow that knocked you unconscious on the street. It didn’t take you long to find out that the cells were a violent and merciless place. Any semblance of humanity had long since vanished in that place. You were reduced to mere animals, urinating, and defecating on the floor with zero shame. Food was incredibly scarce and some of the cell mates would physically fight each other just for scrap. When you saw a man smash another’s skull into the cell bars for a slice of bread, you decided to keep to yourself and hide in the nearest corner. There were no friends here for you.

Within a few days, you found out that most of the people were being used as specimens to try and replicate a super soldier serum. It was around that same time you were first taken. Cattle prods shocked and burned the other cell mates when a man dressed in black grabbed you off the floor. You tried to fight with all your might, but your muscles were weak. In the few days you had been in the cells, you had barely eaten. The struggle did not last for long as a syringe plunged into your neck, fading everything to nothingness.

When you awoke, you were back in the cells, and the bruising around the flesh of your hips and the ache between your bloodied thighs told you enough about what happened. You sobbed dryly, too dehydrated to shed a real tear. Your days continued like this. Sometimes you were drugged and sometimes you weren’t. You quickly began to recognize which guards loved the power of your inability to fight and the ones who didn’t want to deal with the hassle. The ones who got off on seeing your fear were a new level of evil you never thought you would ever meet. They would stick their fingers down your throat, making you gag and vomit on yourself. All your holes were savagely and relentlessly abused, leaving you bruised, bloodied, and full of shame. When you throat become hoarse from your screams, you started to become thankful for the drugs. When you saw the wounds from their sick experiments on your other cell mates, the burns and the puss filled sores, you were thankful to be raped instead of tortured. The moment you realized you felt this way, you retched in the corner.

Days turned into weeks and one by one, more and more of your cell mates died in the spots they laid in their cells. Others started to become sick from the bodies and hellish conditions; either succumbing to dehydration and starvation, or infection and illness. The guards never took the bodies out and the remaining people in the cells never moved them either. This past week, the guards were seen less and less. You didn’t know, but they had begun to abandon their post once they heard intel that the Avengers had discovered their location. By the time most of the guards had left, you hadn’t even noticed that you were the last one alive in the cell. You laid down and closed your eyes, ready to let death take you.

Now, all you saw was incredibly blue eyes that reminded you of clear skies; clear skies you never thought you would see again. The long black locks of his hair looked so soft. You wanted to reach up and caress them, twirl a strand around your fingers, but you were far too weak to even move. The man above you, that held you so carefully in his arms, could only be described as beautiful. Being wrapped up in his arms brought you such comfort that it even warmed your aching muscles. Looking at his attire, you knew he wasn’t one of the guards and his clothes made him look other worldly. You had only one conclusion.

“Am I dead?” You croaked, sure that this was the angel of death to bring you to the other side. It was too peaceful, too comforting to be anything else.

Loki reached forward, cupping your hollow cheeks with his large hand, “No, Darling. You’re not. You’re very much alive and I am taking you out of here.”

Without wasting another second, Loki conjured a loose dress to cover you naked body and stood up, carrying you in his arms. You felt so light, so brittle in his arms, he decided to forgo teleporting out of the building. He feared in your weakened state that you would not survive your body dematerializing then coming back together again, atom by atom. Loki was never a selfless person, often putting his own wellbeing and fate in front of others. But now, with you in his arms, you were all that he cared about. This new, protective, and possessive feeling consumed him to his very core. Now, until his very last breath, you would be in his charge - to be kept safe, to be cared for, to be loved, and to never feel an ounce of pain ever again. If anyone tried to harm you, they would have to feel the merciless rage of the God of Mischief.

“Reindeer Games, are you out of there?! The explosives are set, and the place is ready to blow!” Tony’s shouted through the coms that were still in Loki’s ears. Norns, the explosives! Quickly, Loki responded.

“I am still inside! They had a prisoner, and I am taking her out now!”

“Good work, Loki. Get out of there quickly so we can get everyone home.” Steve’s compliment felt odd, yet also brought on a twinge of pride within the God. With all the chaos and evil in his life, Loki never thought that he would be the hero, but here he was…your hero.

Loki’s long strides made the journey within the enemy compound quick. He tried to keep you talking, suddenly terrified that if you closed your eyes and stopped speaking that would be the end. The thought burned a hole in his heart, one he knew he could never recover from. Oddly enough, not once did the trickster question his intense feelings for you during the journey. It simply…was. Without question, without doubt.

“What is your name, Darling?”

You groaned, slightly annoyed that this handsome man was keeping you awake. All you wanted to do was sleep. “Y/N. You should really be quiet. Let me sleep.”

Loki chuckled, the vibrations of his laugh soothing your soul in a way you had yet to fully understand. In these few moments together, Loki began to admire you. You were tortured, starved, raped, had the bones of a bird, and still you had that internal fire that kept you alive.

“Ah, a spit fire, I see. Well, Darling, if you sleep, I would be deprived of your wonderful company, and we can’t have that now, can we?” You hummed a bit, the corners of your mouth twitching up in a weak smile. The battle against your exhaustion was quickly becoming a losing one and you couldn’t help but let your eyes slip close. Loki immediately noticed and carefully jostled your body around to try and wake you.

“Darling! Darling, wake up.” The jerking movements did the trick and your eyes popped back open, immediately locking on Loki and his smiling face, concern carefully hidden only in his gaze and quick footsteps, “Ah, there you are, beautiful girl.”

The front of the compound was only a few moments away. The Quinjet waited for you both to take you back to the Tower to safety. But of course, easy missions were never truly easy. Loki barely registered the beeping detonation of one of the bombs that Natasha had planted along her exit. One of the enemy agents had survived and in one last bitter move, his hand hit the detonator. The man’s sick, twisted grin was the last bit of his flesh to be enveloped in flames as the explosion barreled down the hallway in all directions, triggering the other explosions in a symphony of chaos and destruction.

Loki saw the flames and took off running, forgoing any grace to spare you from further injury to ensure that you simply lived and weren’t burned alive. The door to the front of the compound was in view as Loki leapt through it, shielding your body with his as the explosion propelled you both hundreds of feet away from the blast. Loki was on his back, his exposed skin covered in second degree burns that were already quickly healing thanks to his godly status. You laid on his chest, held firmly in his arms, but you were still. Too still.

Loki quickly shook you, fear taking over him. “Darling. Y/N. Wake up!” You did not respond, and now he was panicking. A lump grew large in his throat, and he started to murmur Asgardian spells into the top of your head. Loki was never well versed in healing magic and in this moment, he cursed himself for neglecting it.

“NORNS!” He cried out in frustration, tears starting to prick at the corner of his eyes. The spell words bumbled clumsily on his tongue, frantically trying to remember the words. It wasn’t until he heard your sharp gasp that he realized he finally said it right. He held you close, placing a fierce kiss to the top of your head. You were alive!

“Loki, we need to get her to the Tower for treatment!” Loki did not even notice when Steve had come to his side. Even on the Quinjet, Loki did not let you leave the safety of his arms. The team had insisted that he lay you down for your comfort, but he argued you needed him, and his healing abilities close by. They weren’t aware of his deficit in healing magic, but having you in his arms, seeing your chest rise and fall kept Loki sane.

The ride back to the Tower felt like a few minutes and several hours at the same time. When it finally landed, the team was greeted at the helipad with a team of medical professionals. They had to pry your limp body out of Loki’s arms, telling him that they needed to get you to the medical wing as soon as possible to treat you. He only relented when they told him you could die if he did not let you go. Loki followed the stretcher that carried you down to be treated. They had convinced him to not carry you, but they could not get him out of the medical room despite their pleas. The god watched the team start to examine you with attentive, protective eyes, but all Hel broke loose when they took scissors to the loose dress Loki had given you.

A terrified scream ripped through your throat, and you started to thrash violently on the gurney. The IV that was just placed in your arm was ripped out and blood stained your dry skin. Your body was feeble, but every ounce of strength you had left was used to scream, wail, and fight against the medical team. All you saw were your captors, clawing at your flesh, violating, and ruining you with their mouths, fingers, and cocks. In all your panic, you somehow managed to lock eyes with Loki. Your savior!

“HELP ME!” You shrieked, reaching for him as you kicked off a doctor. Immediately, after your first scream, Loki tried to get to you, but someone grabbing his wrist stopped him.

“You have to let them help her.” It was Steve. His tone was compassionate, but stern, It was a warning. Loki yanked his arm out of his grasp.

“Do not touch me, Captain. She needs me.” Loki sneered and just as he turned back, he saw the whole medical team holding you down, restraining your still struggling limbs as you tried to escape. The screams had faded into hoarse whimpers. Loki saw red, fury boiling through his veins as he saw the doctors handle your already weakened body so roughly. But it wasn’t until you looked at him again, croaking out another plea for help that made Loki surge forward in a blind rage.

“YOU ANIMALS!” Loki growled, “LET HER GO!”

Steve and Tony made quick work to try and stop Loki from tearing apart the Avenger’s medical staff. Even with Tony’s suit and Steve’s super soldier strength, they struggled to stop the enraged god. Steve was tossed over Loki’s shoulder, crashing, and destroying medical equipment as he slid across the floor. Tony had tried to slap a controlling bracelet on Loki’s wrist, one that was used when he first arrived at the Tower, but Loki was too quick, too cunning. He grabbed Tony by the neck and held him high in the air.

“Now, this seems awfully familiar.” Loki mocked, before chucking Tony’s body right along side Steve’s. Slowly, they got up, and Loki shot them a look of warning. The only thing left between him, and you were a pack of terrified doctors and nurses that looked like they wanted to run away, but with Loki blocking the exit they stood paralyzed in fear and right in his path.

“Reindeer Games, I don’t know what has gotten into you, but you need to let them help her.” Despite their years of history, Tony’s spoke with careful consideration. He had felt a similar, all-consuming need to protect Pepper when the building around them exploded. Tony would have done anything to save Pepper and he saw the same look burning in Loki’s eyes. But there was something different there too. There was no stopping Loki and Tony knew it. If they did not stop him, you could die.

“Do it,” Tony said, looking past Loki. Whipping his head around, it was already too late. There, Wanda stood, her hands outstretched as she created a new reality in Loki’s mind. It was all so real, so convincing, that Loki did not even put up a fight or even question how you suddenly appeared in his arms. Your cheeks were fuller, and your smile was bright; a smile that was just for him. Relief swept through Loki as he caressed your hair and started to tell you stories from his childhood. Giggles bubbled up from you as he told you tale after tale. It was a sweet dream, and Loki wanted it so desperately he fell right into its web.

“You better get working!” Wanda yelled, maintaining her hold on Loki. Her tone left no room for question and the medical team went to work, injecting you with a sedative. Blackness consumed you and yet again, your body went limp.

The next thing you saw was blinding, white light. You blinked, your vision coming back as you slowly came to. The memories from the past month, the memories from today hit you like a freight train. Your body sprang up and you clutched at the hospital gown that now covered your form, frantically feeling around your body. Breath was barely reaching your lungs when you felt arms wrap around you. Instantly, you melted into them. You had only felt it once before, but it was already a familiar comfort that your very soul knew and understood.

“Shh, Darling. I am here.” Loki cooed, holding you close to his chest as if you were the most precious being in all the nine realms. As soon as you stabilized and the doctors were done with their initial treatment, Wanda had released Loki from her hold. Any other day, Loki would have retaliated for the manipulation, but his sight was just on you. And you were okay. Thank the Norns, you were okay!

You squeezed Loki tighter, your arms wrapping around his middle as if you wanted to melt into his very being, “Don’t leave me alone, please.” Your voice was so small, so terrified.

The connection between the both of you was new and powerful. In any other situation, the bond would be overwhelming, frightening even, but instead it was a source of comfort. The bits and pieces of your very souls intertwining and burying deep like the roots of Yggdrasil. It was unlike anything either of you had ever felt before and you both knew you could never be without the other ever again.

“Never. I will be here, Darling. Always.”

----------------

Considering making this a series, let me know if you would like this to be continued!

Unicorns🦄: @theaudacitytowrite @lokisprettygirl @lostgreekgod @fernk21 @lokis-little-love @xorpsbane @vbecker10