#nothing really triggered this; I was just thinking about I would get paid 10 dollars an hour and if I had lots of bills to pay I wouldn’t-

[citricacidprince]

The fact that prices for everything keep going up and up but minimum wage refuses to rise with it makes me so fucking mad I literally seethe with rage if I think about it for too long

[strawberrysoup]

Pocketful of Posies || Chapter 1

You’d been hiding for years and years now; from your family, from society, from alphas and packs. Suppressants were dangerous but effective and necessary for an omega who refused to be owned—but no suppressants were strong enough to fool the nose of a super soldier, who together with his pack would stop at nothing to bind you to them forever. 

pairings: dark!Avengers x reader word length: 3.3k chapters: 1/? warnings: A/B/O dynamics, power imbalances, noncon and dubcon sexual situations, loss of autonomy, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat — this is a dark!fic, read at your own risk. Open the read more and CTRL + F, search “content warnings” to skip to detailed trigger warnings at the bottom of the chapter.

Cleaning rich people’s vacation homes hadn’t been your dream job growing up. You had such high hopes when you were a kid, well into your teens, of becoming a zoologist. It had started off like most kid’s dreams—in kindergarten you wanted to be a veterinarian. That grew into wanting to become a herpetologist, but then you wondered, why limit yourself? As a zoologist you could be around tons and tons of animals, studying their behaviors and ecological impacts. It was about half way past your fourteenth birthday that you realized none of your dreams mattered.

You woke in the middle of the night to a crippling pain in your stomach, an unbearable heat boiling under your flesh. You must’ve been screaming, because your parents burst in frantically—only to stop dead upon stepping past the threshold. At the time you had no idea why, but it had been shock. Omegas were rare nowadays, more and more betas were being born while the number of omegas dropped. It was a point on contention; betas could breed with alphas, rendering the omega almost obsolete but alphas, especially ones with packs, wanted omegas.

Personally, you figured that evolution had decided to take things into its’ own hands. Everything about omegas spat in the face of adaption; they were small and delicate, hardwired to obey alpha commands even to their own detriment, experienced a full weeks’ worth of being completely and utterly incapable of survival on their own—

Well, unless one acquired (through whatever means necessary) methods to prevent it that one. Heats, a homegrown threat guaranteed to commit acts of violence at least twice a year. By the time your first had worn off, your parents had already jumped into action. They had three different packs bidding on you. Your mother had been bubbling with glee, talking about how wonderful it was that she had produced an omega when she herself was a beta. Your very existence was about to rocket them into both fame and fortune. So, you ran away. That same night.

It had been shockingly easy to locate illegal suppressants. They taught all about them in school, how they were horrible and taxing on an omega’s physiology. Suppressants masked an omega’s scent, prevented their heats, and (in your opinion) were the best invention of the twenty first century. You couldn’t have given a flying fuck about what negative impacts they might’ve had on your body—death would be a reprieve. Unfortunately you’d yet to have any of the widely touted negative effects (effects that you were pretty sure were made up to keep omegas afraid and compliant) and so you found yourself cleaning rich people’s vacation homes just over the Canadian border.

You’d been living out of your car since you first bought it at sixteen, for five hundred dollars. You gave a creepy beta a blowjob to get your license forged. It was the best investment you’d ever made (not that you had the opportunity to make many) and the clunker was still getting you from point A to point B and that’s all you needed. You had to move constantly, staying in one place too long meant people started to notice you, especially in the small towns you frequented in Ontario. But there was so much forest surrounding you that every once in a while you could just drop off the face of the earth, camping so deep in the woods no one would stumble across you. It made staying anonymous so much easier.

That was actually the current plan, after you finished cleaning this last massive cabin; to abscond into the woods for a while, until you’ve faded from everyone’s memory. You won’t return to this town for at least a year. You’ll spark recognition when you return, but not enough for anyone to consider you more than an outsider in their close-knit community. The kind woman who lets you work for her cleaning company so sporadically will remember you when you ring her, the only person particularly thrilled to hear you’re back for a few months.

You do an excellent job and you do it fast— you can thoroughly and perfectly clean a 6 bedroom mansion by yourself in less than 10 hours and you were paid under the table so you didn’t require overtime, which Mrs. Hunt loved (there was no tax to be taken from an unreported cash payment though, so it was a fair trade in your opinion). You would work yourself to the bone, 10 hours a day everyday there was work available for at least three months and then dip without any expectations until the next time you returned, when she was gushing over the amazing reviews your work had gotten the last time you were around.

It was symbiotic existence—you were paid well for your efforts, more than enough to sustain living out of your car for months at a time, and your performance drove her online reviews into the 4.9 stars range and made it feasible for her to raise her prices. Mrs. Hunt didn’t ask any questions either, even when you requested to only work alone and couldn’t provide any identification beyond a driver’s license.

You were finishing up the kitchen in what was definitely one of the nicest places you’d ever cleaned when your phone went off in your back pocket. It made your skin prickle. Very few people had your number and you couldn’t think of a single reason they’d ring you instead of texting unless something was wrong.  You propped the mop against your shoulder and dug out the phone, frowning at Mrs. Hunt’s name on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Oh sweetie, I’m so glad I got a hold of you! How are you doing?”

“I’m well, Mrs. Hunt,” you answered, your voice coming out semi-robotically as you strained not to sound panicked while continuing the conversation like a normal fucking person, “I’m just about done here, I was finishing the dry mop in the kitchen when you called and then all I need to do is pack up.”

“Oh perfect! I was calling because the owner just rang me, apparently some of his packmates will be arriving a bit earlier than anticipated—potentially within the next hour. Something about someone getting caught up at work, I’ll spare you the details. But if you’re almost done then you’ll probably be gone by the time they arrive.”

“Certainly Mrs. Hunt,” you’d immediately started frantically dry mopping the moment the words ‘within the next hour’ escaped the woman’s mouth, phone clamped between your ear and shoulder. “I’ll be gone in the next few minutes.”

“Now even if you aren’t its okay,” the concern in her voice meant that your own had betrayed you, waivered when you responded without your knowledge. “I always warn the owners that if they arrive before the scheduled time that there’s a possibility the house won’t be done and/or there might be people actively working in the house. You won’t get in any trouble, okay?”

“R-Right, thank you ma’am,” you swallowed heavily, finishing the last swipe across the tile in the kitchen and hustling back into the foyer. “I really won’t be but a minute though. I always keep all of my equipment put away and together if I’m not using it, so I really just need to pack up the mop.”

Which you’d already shoved into the rolling cart you picked up each morning that held all of your cleaning supplies provided by the company.

“Don’t forget your bucket too!” Mrs. Hunt sounded smiley again, “I’ll leave the key under the mat so you can stow your cart tonight. Have a good one swee—.”

“You too!” You might’ve hung up a touch too soon to be considered polite, shoving the phone back into your pocket and running into the kitchen. There was no time to dwell on manners. 

The mop bucket was sitting on the counter, already washed and dried and waiting to be put away. You’d started keeping your things completely put away at all times the same day you’d been accosted by a homeowner who arrived home earlier than expected while you were still trying to pack up. You’d tried to put your notice in that night, a couple of years ago now, but Mrs. Hunt begged you not to—promised it would never happen again. This must’ve been her best attempt at preventing it. At least you had already planned to leave town tonight anyway.

You nearly sprinted back to the cart, haphazardly tossing the stupid bucket on top and wheeling it towards the huge front doors. You’d just stopped to reach around and grab the handle when the knob turned and the left door was pushed open, nearly hitting your cart.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” he was a beta, curly haired and dark eyed with pale skin, wearing a pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Did I knock anything over?”

“N-No, sir,” you pulled the cart back a few steps, nearly trembling with the effort it took not to blast right past him, especially when you noticed him carefully scenting the air. "The house is all clean, I was j-just leaving.”

“Thank you, for getting everything clean for us. We don’t get to come out here as often as we like, I’m sure the place collected a lot of dust in our absence,” he smiled, looking both parts shy and calculating to your well trained eye— and you had no time for such consideration.

“Not too much, h-have a nice night!” You could feel your pulse racing and that was bad. Even the good suppressants, the ones that most of your money went to, had difficulty completely masking the scent of panicking omega.

“Did you use bleach?” The question caught you off guard and you almost jumped when he put a hand on your cart, glancing through the array of chemicals.

“Y-Yes, in the bathrooms. I wasn’t informed of any sensitivities—”

“Nothing a little fresh air won’t take care of,” you wanted him to stop looking at you like that, like there was some pale flash of recognition behind his eyes. “Would you go open the windows in the bathrooms upstairs? I’m afraid my nose is pretty sensitive, several of my packmates are similar.”

You did not like that his nose was especially sensitive and you hated that his packmates were similarly afflicted. It felt like getting punched in the face with a fight or flight instinct, your brain immediately demanded that you leave the cart and run past him—fuck the cart, fuck the job, you could find something else.

“Oh, and do you have the key to the front doors? I might as well get them from you now instead of us having to go down to the office tomorrow.” Your hand immediately dove into your pocket, yanking out the single key and dropping it in his palm. “Thanks— and the windows? Sorry, I just can’t go up there until it’s aired out.”

He wasn’t a huge man but the way he filled the doorway made you second guess trying to run past him, even if he was greying at the temples and looking a little rumpled. It was strange, you wouldn’t usually have such an intense reaction to a beta, but something about him was vaguely unsettling. So instead of trying to make a run for it, you turned on your heel and forced yourself to calmly walk up the stairs. There were four massive bedrooms in the cabin, each with its own bathroom and you’d need to go through and open the windows for the three bathrooms that had them. It meant darting into huge bedrooms, dodging expensive furniture and knickknacks and trying not to dirty the freshly mopped and swept hardwood floors in the process.

It took about five minutes but you felt like you’d run a marathon, your heart was pounding and there was sweat at the nape of your neck. All you wanted was out of the stupid fucking house, immediately. You dashed down the stairs and turned the corner, seeing your cart right where you left it. The door was still open too, but the beta was no where to be seen. You immediately darted forward, grabbing the cart tightly and beginning to push it past the threshold—

You were stopped in your tracks at the sight of two unnecessarily broad alphas. Both were tall, the white man standing just an inch or so taller, with a full beard and blond hair. The black alpha had facial hair too, a cleanly edged goatee to match a faded cut. Both were incredibly attractive and putting off waves of pheromones, to the point that your head floated for a moment.  Your lips clamped shut on a whine, instinct trying to push through and alert the two powerful alphas of your presence. Instead you ducked your head and continued out the door.

“Hi there, sweetheart.” Your gaze snapped up, immediately locking with a pair of dark brown eyes. “You the housekeeper?”

“Yes sir,” you answered quietly, stopping short in front of them when neither moved out of your way. “Sorry to have been here so late. Have a good evening.”

Both were still smiling, still pointedly not moving.

“My name’s Steve, that’s Sam,” the blond’s nose twitched, just slightly, and you realized he was very discretely scenting the air. “Nice to meet you. Do you live in town?”

“N-No, please excuse me,” you nudged the cart forward just an inch but they still didn’t budge and panic began coursing through your blood with renewed vigor, “excuse m—”

“Your scent is… confusing,” Steve’s head tilted to the side, “I don’t mean to be crass, of course, but I couldn’t help but notice.”

“It’s always been this way,” the response was automatic and your brain began shutting down all unnecessary functions; you were about to have to run and hope your omega physiology would make you faster than them.

“You smell almost like an omega,” he continued, both hands coming to rest on his hips, emphasizing the width of his shoulders. “But not quite?”

“I’m a beta.”

“Are you sweetheart?” Sam’s voice was a rumble, his head tilted to the side while his dark eyes burned holes into your skin.

The tone an alpha used with naughty omegas was deliberate and tightly controlled, the same as a command or a purr or a growl. It was on purpose, an attempt to nicely draw out the correct response. He wanted you to admit you were an omega, to tell them the truth of your own volition. The fact that your hindbrain desperately wanted to comply was a completely different issue—one you didn’t have time to address right now.

“Positive,” you breathed, clenching your fists tightly around the handles of the cart for just a second before deciding to leave it behind; you’d never be coming back here, there was no reason to worry about preserving your job.

Your eyes were quick and indefinitely perceptive. Being an omega was one step up from being a prey species, it came with inherent instincts that made you especially good at predicting behaviors. After all, an omega was only as good as their ability to please and soothe packmates. One of the single upsides to being an omega was that you were fast though—fast enough to outrun most alphas. And you only needed to go about a hundred and fifty feet, once you were in your car you could certainly get away. So the second you realized the pair was about to shift, moving to face each other more than you, you darted around the cart and dodged to the left.

It wasn’t your fault, honestly. There was no way you could’ve known you weren’t dealing with normal alphas. The blond was so fast that he almost moved between blinks—one moment he was still, the next he’d wrapped his arms around you and tugged you back into his chest. His arms were like steel, one wrapped around your torso to keep your arms pinned to your sides while the other carefully held your chin. Your hindbrain was screaming now, submit, submit, make alpha happy and you bit down on your tongue to hold in the whimpers, the omega sounds your throat was trying to produce.

“Shhh, shh, calm down,” it was half a tone away from being a purr and you continued to squirm while you still could—an alpha command was coming, you could feel it in your bones.

“Let Steve smell you,” Sam was rumbling instead of talking again, a similar half purr to how Steve had started speaking. "Everything’s okay, omega.”

You felt a nose nudge down your neck, towards your scent gland and you bared your teeth at the man in front of you. “I’m not an omega!”

“You smell like omega,” Steve’s breath ghosted over your skin and you fought a shiver. "Sort of. It’s buried, under… beta… sour beta?”

“What sort of suppressants are you on, sweetie?” You startled as the beta from earlier emerged from the house, wiping his hands on a dish towel absently. "Are you cutting them with anything? Heroin, or coke? It’s okay, you just need to tell me.”

“Tell Bruce sweetheart,” Sam coaxed, automatically moving to roll up the sleeves of your shirt, evidently looking for track marks. "Where do you get them?”

“I’m not on suppressants!” Your voice was almost a shriek at this point, desperately imitating the behavior of an angry beta rather than a terrified omega. “I’m a beta! Get off of me!”

“Okay, okay, here then,” Steve’s arm around your torso tightened, the one on your chin beginning to work its way down towards your jeans. "There’s only way one to tell for sure.”

Shock and fear and humiliation; an array of emotions swarmed through your body as his hand popped the button but those were the three you could identify and you immediately started thrashing your legs—he was going to check if you had an omega ridge and then everything would be over. It was a defining physical characteristic that couldn’t be passed off as anything other than what it was: a boney protrusion meant to catch on an alpha’s knot so they could be locked in place. In females it was found in the vagina, prominently featured directly before the g-spot so a knot would cause persisting pleasure. For males it was similarly positioned next to the prostate.

“Calm down, calm down!” Sam crooned, hands coming up to cup your face as while Steve’s slithered down the front of your jeans and into your panties. "It’s okay sweetheart, no matter what. Whatever Steve finds, you’re okay. You’re safe. We’ll keep you safe.”

The thrashing was doing nothing but tiring you out, you’d already been intensively cleaning for the past 9 hours without a break and it certainly wasn’t dissuading the hand slithering between your folds. You bit down on your tongue harder, until you drew blood to prevent the whimpers—you couldn’t make that stupid sound, you’d never make that stupid, pathetic, whiney noise, you couldn’t. Not even when a long, thick finger penetrated and sunk knuckle deep. Not even when the pad of said finger brushed your g-spot before hooking onto the ridge, tugging gently in a way that would’ve caused blinding pleasure had you not grounded yourself with the pain of biting your tongue.

“There it is,” Steve’s voice was soft, finger carefully running the length of the ridge. "A nice deep one too.”

“How long have you been taking suppressants?” Bruce prodded quietly, coming to stand next to Sam. “I need to know what sort of damage we’re looking at.”

When you didn’t respond Sam sighed, fingers brushing gently over your chin as he directed you to face him. "Please don’t make us use an alpha command, sweetheart. We just wanna take care of you. Tell Bruce how long you’ve been on suppressants, please.”

You regarded the handsome alpha for several short moments before spitting a mouthful of blood directly into his face.

 content warnings: assault, noncon vaginal fingering

edited 7/9/21 - still on hiatus

[chey-fey-ma]

Some of the events I’m about to address will be extremely triggering for some people. Please proceed with caution. This has to deal with the protests and police brutality.

I was arrested.

I was arrested violently. I was pushed to the ground and arrested with my hands behind my back and guns pointed at my face. My boyfriend and good friend, both of whom are men of color were also pushed to the ground with guns in their faces and not a single right was read to us.

To emphasize my point, the three of us weren’t anywhere NEAR a protest. We had heard screaming and calls for help and sirens down the street and knowing that people we all loved and cared about could be in danger, we decided to suit up and brace ourselves to offer medical supplies and a place to stay for anyone that was hurt by the awful acts of brutality by police that we had been witnessing for the past couple nights. For the past year Brady Street had been my home. It was where I went to get a latte at Rochambo and tell jokes and draw pictures with friends and family alike. But last night, it was the most unfamiliar place I had ever been to.

As we were making our way back down the street to go into our house that was less than 15 feet away, we were ambushed by an all black cop car taking us from our left flank. We knew we were caught but we didn’t expect to be in trouble for being right outside our own home, the same home my boyfriend had for the past 5 years without a single problem. Four cops come out with guns in their hands and ready to shoot. It was in that instant I felt that my life was over. Everything I had dreamed or ever wanted was out of my reach. I would never perform on Broadway. I would never move back to NYC. I would never get married or raise a family with the man I love, even if I was to not get shot, he still could have and that dream would still be out the window in a blink of an eye. Without a second thought, a person— another HUMAN could decide that my dreams were unattainable and take my boyfriend away from me for the rest of my life; however long that could be since I have no clue how I could recover since he is my lifeline and has my soul.

In an instant our lives could be deemed worthless only because of a curfew that was haphazardly placed on a day to day basis; and for a moment, we were deemed as worthless. In total there were well over 50 police officers all in squad cars and even the SWAT team pulled up to the scene. All for three peaceful people trying to get home from making sure no one was hurt. As they saw me lay helpless on the ground, crying with fluid draining from my nose, they pulled out their cellphones and took pictures and recorded. “Oh this ones going to Ashley” I heard one say and talk about how they were going to send it to a family member or friend.

While I was thinking these moments could be the last time I ever saw my boyfriend alive, these cops patted themselves on the back for a job well done and circle jerked to a young woman crying thinking that she would never get to say goodbye to the man she loved or to her mother and brother.

After being arrested and our possessions taken forcefully from us, we were separated. My friend and boyfriend in one car and I in another. There I was paraded around the city as I cried not for myself but for the fear of losing my loved ones. Finally I was taken to a dark area under one of the freeway bridges were about 60 other police officers were standing around waiting for something to happen. After about an hour of doing nothing, I was finally put in the back of a high security bus all by myself and three armed cops driving the bus.

I opened my eyes and I was suddenly in a new place with people I have never seen before. All the people being detained looked at me and suddenly I felt a sense of comradery I had never experienced before. I was finally able to stop crying as I realized almost all the people held here looked like they were just trying to get home. One by one I listened to their stories and I realized this was the most disgusting act of power I had ever seen. I felt violated and like I was suddenly non human by the way we were being treated.

What I witnessed was illegal and breaches human decency on every level imaginable. There were two healthcare workers in scrubs being detained with me who were literally on their way home from their clinic that was 45 minutes away. They were arrested at about 9:45. Just from coming home from potentially saving lives. There was a new mother who just had a cesarean section only less than 2 weeks previously. There was an expecting mother with her arms tied behind her back who looked like she could pass out at any moment. The new mother actually did at one point pass out after throwing up and an ambulance was called about two hours later. TWO. HOURS. LATER.

Outside of the Milwaukee section 2 prison facility I was stored in there were military personal with loaded machine guns who kept staring at us like we were nothing more than vermin on our way to be exterminated. As if we were bred for the slaughter of their injustice.

I was taken in at about 10:45 with a lot of my colleagues taken in at around 9. One by one slowly they took us in the back to book us. I can not stress enough how unprofessional and how awful most of the cops were, with many of them admitting they had no idea what was going on or what they were doing. One cop taunted us asking if we learned our lesson. “Yeah” I said. “I’ve learned to never trust cops again and that all you guys are pigs” I muttered, a stance I hadn’t taken before this night. It really was all or nothing, and if I was going to be treated with no regard, why should I care for a second about a cop’s life. They clearly didn’t care about ours. Mine. My friends. My boyfriends. People I love and care about.

Slowly I watched my new friends disappear and finally taken to a holding cell for the information on them to be processed. I was going to be one of the last ones and the officers admitted they were taking a long time on purpose. I mean, they’re getting paid TAX DOLLARS to sit on their asses all day, so I suppose they were trying to milk out that few extra dollars by tormenting and traumatizing us.

For 14 hours I was never read my rights, never given anything to eat, never got to make a phone call, never told I had access to a lawyer, and only reluctantly given water because some of the people I was with threatened to sue. They told us because it was a temporary facility that it didn’t count as being normally arrested and so none of our rights were actually ours. Once again, everyone that was detained with me were ALL heading home. No exceptions. Some people were driving home when they had their tires blown out by police. One woman told me her boyfriend (who is black) was tased for stepping out of his car once his tires were blown up. It was only when she begged them not to shoot that they put down their weapons.

At about 7 hours in, I was exhausted and sweating profoundly and I started to cry from anger and once again wondering if my friends were safe. I kept saying that over and over again. That I just want to know if they are okay. One girl stood up and yelled at a cop asking if they cared that I was sobbing begging to make sure my boyfriend was alive. We were all met with shrugs and a woman officer (she was medium built and blonde with her colleague being another woman officer with dark brown hair with the last name of Sanchez) telling us that she didn’t care. The two woman officers just gossiped and looked at us with disgusting faces. Perhaps they were just doing their job. But that just speaks even more about what kind of job being a police officer really is. Apparently to do your job right you have to have no regard for human life and for the actual safe keeping of the city. As long as you get the arrest numbers, you’re golden to keep terrorizing marginalized communities and people.

There was one point in the night that I had a trans man and another non-binary individual (like me) being detained with the group. After he told them that he was trans, he was brought to the back to be berated and made sure that he REALLY was trans and not just trying to get attention. I don't know what happened to him behind those closed doors since I never saw him again, but I can't imagine it was anything short of horrific.

The rest of the night was a blur and I was labeled as a rioter and my possessions labeled as riot gear. This was my only offense. I had on a helmet and some padded protection on my body since if there WERE shots fired, I wanted to try to lessen the impact. The woman took out my piercings and my hair ties and Bobby pins. I was left only wearing my oversized Star Wars t-shirt and some athletic leggings. In a cruel act of irony, one of the officers pointed to my shirt and said “looks like we got another fan”. I just stared at him and he said “smile it's a good thing”. This was already 10 hours in. I grunted and spat back, “one would think, right”. I’ve never talked back to a police officer in my life, but I was tired, angry, upset, and in pain. I was fighting for the resistance. They were on the side of the Sith.

We were then placed in individual cells for holding. It was unsanitary and period blood filled the toilet I was given as well as urine from whoever was there before me. At this point I needed to pee and I told everyone to look away. They did as I, as safely as possible, hovered over the toilet seat to finish my business. I wasn’t given toilet paper or anything of the sort; instead I used my sock that had been on my foot this whole time. It was actually one of my boyfriend's nice fuzzy black socks. Male cops were able to walk in and out as they pleased and could see females trying to relieve themselves. It was the most dehumanizing experience I have ever had.

Finally I could hear freedom ringing in my ears as I was approached and told that I was free to go. I tried to thank the officer but I couldn’t find the words after being treated so horribly. I was given my stuff back in a large bag and then thrusted out into the sunlight after being held for again, 14 hours (need I remind you this was all for just a ticket too). My eyes began to tear up as I realized I had no idea where I was or how I was going to get home. I looked around, and since we were thrown out the back, I didn’t see a single person. I cried as I picked up my ALMOST dead phone and saw my boyfriend tried to call me several times. For the first time the entire night, I was extremely relieved to see that he was alive and well. I saw his messages saying he and our friend were alright and got out and the only way they were alright was all thanks to the neighbor who saw the WHOLE thing and recorded it too. He saved our lives. Full stop, HE is a hero. He was recording and on our side and trying to get us home safely. Our neighbor picked up my boyfriend and friend from section 4 where the men were held. For those who don’t know, it's right in a super dangerous neighborhood and we live on the East side.

Once I called my boyfriend he told me he was out front and I shakily told him that I thought I was on the side of the building but I would head that way. Finally I saw him and he saw me and it was as if we were the only two people on the planet. Yes, it is just like in the movies when you have someone really love and care about you. He first waved to me and I hung up the phone to make my way towards him. He started running and then finally we were in each other’s arms hugging on for dear life. He placed his hands on my head and looked me up and down while saying that he was sorry over and over and over again. But I wasn’t even a tiny bit angry with him, I was the most relieved and content I had ever been in my entire 21 years of living. After our tearfilled reunion, I got the names of some of the other people that were with me and I gave them my contact information as well.

I have a lot to say… A lot more to say about what I felt and what I still feel. The 700 dollar fine is almost nothing compared to the emotional trauma that I felt and went through. All for just being a decent human being and making sure people were alright from protests that were happening. We were arrested for caring and arrested for essentially the color of our skin. Well, not so much me, but it was the fact that I was with two males of color— the most gentle and kind males anyone could ever hope to encounter. I know it was this because I saw other white people walking around and they didn’t get arrested, just told to go home. My stance is now clear to me. There ARE no good cops. There never were. They hold up an institution of racism and fear. That same racism and fear that was so very real to me and not just a concept like you are likely to be reading about just now. Please know I am very angry and heartbroken, but we are safe and right now I’m just thanking my lucky stars that we weren’t slaughtered like George Floyd. It is a predicament that no one should have to experience and no one with a human heart should perpetuate.

[foggedgrief]

okay, hello, this is going to be a part one to a series of introductions ! i have already hit my five character cap because i’m a menace but that means you get more content and honestly that feels like a fair trade off. without my rambling, i give you nicky ( click here to find some quick facts about my boy ) and emi ( click here to find some quick facts about my girl ) ! wanted connections can be found here.

be warned ! before you click that handy dandy little read more, the following triggers will be discussed : death ( multiple deaths due to the fog, not explicit : both nicky and emi ), grief ( parent losing a child : emi ), religion ( turning away from : emi ) !

losing  friends  and  family  to  the  fog  and  blaming  yourself  for  not  being  more  vigilant,  taking  guardianship  of  your  little  sister  and  getting  a  second  job  to  make  sure  ends  meet,  trying  your  hardest  and  kicking  yourself  for  not  doing  better,  bloodied  knuckles  aggravated  by  vodka  to  clean  them  and  wrapped  so  tightly  you  fear  your  fingers  might  turn  blue,  anger  replaced  by  grief  replaced  by  the  understanding  she  needs  you  and  you  will  tear  down  the  rest  of  the  world  to  keep  her  safe.

nicholas adam locklear was born in inverness, scotland, and still has a scottish accent even though he’s been in the country for twenty years. 

nicky and his family moved to maine a few months before his seventh birthday. they moved to maine because his mother, a once american ex pat, had a father who wanted his kids to be closer because they all seemed to have scattered to the wind. he walked into the fog a week after the locklears had unpacked their home. 

the fog has always been a thing of morbid fascination from nicky and after grandpa took his walk into the woods, nicky was kept particularly far away from the forest line, fog warnings or not. on all saint’s day, the day after he turned eight, nicky found himself in the fog. and then he found himself in his bed with no explanation for either event. 

he started drawing that day, intricate sigils that gave themselves meaning but no voice, so he spoke them into existence: protection from sorcery, protection from evil, wards off negative energies, heal the body and the spirit. four symbols that he couldn’t stop drawing on everything he owned. homework, notebooks, on the walls of his home in crayon ( if you look in those spots today, in the locklear family home, they’re painted now. a whole interior room covered in the sigils intended to look like an artsy photo collage wall. ).

some in town say that the locklears are cursed, that their family bears bad blood, that they owed some kind of karmic debt too large for one life. whatever the rumor, they all boil down to one thing: too many locklears have gone missing in the fog. nicky’s paid little mind to them, though there’s a voice too strange to be his but too familiar to dismiss that encourages him to go in ( to go back ). 

nicky’s life revolves around his little sister, belle, who was born when he was twenty. a few months later, their mother went into the fog and their father went about an hour later to try and look for her. neither came home. though the courts tried to pass belle off to the next living relative, nicky petitioned for rights to guardianship because he lived in the home and could find a way to make ends meet for him to be belle’s caretaker. enter the diner and blue valley.

nicky’s always been a hard worker, never one to take a short cut and never one to take the easy way out. his focus has always been to take care of belle above board, so no one could have a reason to take away the last of his family. that little babe was his world and is nicky’s driving force in most things. he started working at the bar first and took on a job at the diner when he realized that tips got slow after a certain hour and what better way than to make more money by helping to sober up the people you just got drunk ?

when customers offer to buy nicky drinks, he usually puts together a couple of complimentary mixers ( cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and orange juice ) and pours in water from an old tito’s bottle to make it look like he’s adding tequila. he’ll pocket the cost of a drink as an extra tip. he never drinks on the job. 

his jobs aren’t glamorous but they keep the roof over his head and belle’s. he works 14 hour days ( 9 pm to 11 am ; 9 pm - 3 am at blue valley and 3:10 to 11 am at the diner ), 6 days a week ( sundays off ), 84 hours a week and he’s damn good at what he does, and seldom calls out for anything. nicky’s the kind of guy to pound three monsters and call it a day just to keep himself going. he’s used to running on little sleep because of his paternal role with belle and wanting to keep as engaged with her as possible. he usually leaves her with the finnegans so he doesn’t have to pay any babysitting money.

the one time nicky tried, dottie looked at the bills in his hand and just hugged him tightly and said, “no child of mine is going to pay me to watch theirs.” nicky cried that day and spent ten minutes crying into her shoulder and then slept on her couch for a few hours while belle played with the finnegan twins. 

nicky is a good person and he’s a really good dad. at 22 he became licensed in the state of maine to be able to foster and has fostered ten kids in the last five years. right now it’s just him and belle in the house that his parents bought that he keeps up as best as he can. the guest bathroom needed a remodel three years ago and the kitchen appliances only work when you knock on them the right way and if the wind’s blowing in the right direction, but some things are just the way that it is. 

other important things that i couldn’t work in above but you should know: 

nicky gives like ,,, just really comforting hugs that suggest a level of emotional intimacy that is likely to catch you pleasantly off guard. 

will help you buy your groceries because he has a better chance of making fifty dollars tonight than you do. 

usually sleeps on disney princess sheets because belle insisted they would look best in his room ( she was right ). his other sheets are bubblegum pink and he bought them for himself because that’s the vibe he was feeling and sometimes you just have to do what will put a smile on your face. 

his little sister is seven but nicky is the only parent she’s ever known and she usually calls him dad over nicky even though she knows the difference. 

nicky calls her his kid a lot. everyone in town pretty much knows the story. 

steady  hands  and  steady  heart  are  starting  to  shake,  pleading  with  officers  don’t  let  me  bury  an  empty  casket,  the  table  set  for  three  but  you  can’t  bring  yourself  to  put  the  plate  away,  pale  yellow  front  door  once  made  your  laugh  now  just  makes  you  sad  because  your  daughter’s  sunshine  still  lingers,  and  there’s  no  place  to  put  your  faith,  nothing  so  powerful  would  take  away  a  little  girl.

emi is considerably less fleshed out than nicky but we’re still going to do our best to give her a fair shake at an intro, so here goes ! 

noemi was born noemi sofia ibarra in pine haven, maine. though she’s always considered pine haven her home, she’s always desired that her upbringing was somewhere warmer. 

she’s a third generation doctor at the clinic, following in the footsteps of her grandfather and mother and knew from a young age that she wanted to help people. she bounced from pine haven for a while ( from ages 18 to 28 ) and followed her dreams to go somewhere warmer and graduated from emory university’s medical school in atlanta. 

she pushed through medical school immediately after graduating with her undergrad and returned to pine haven as a permanent resident when she was 29. having been home, officially, for ten years, she has found herself in the center of the community. more often than not, residents of town know they can call emi and come sit on her kitchen table if they need urgent care. 

life outside of pine haven’t wasn’t all medical school, though, because she also met her the father of her daughters. at 23 emi gave birth to her elder daughter, evangeline. that sweet little girl meant the world to her and emi spent double the amount of time awake those first semesters trying to get used to having a baby and school to balance. she was the center of emi’s universe, this baby and her father. 

emi’s second daughter, catalina, was born about eight years ago and is as much emi’s pride and joy as her older sister. the pair never fail to blow emi away in their creativity, kindness, and love, and she has made that known to them from the time they could open their eyes. though these times were sweet it’s time to fast forward to the current day because this is where emi shifts for the worse for as much as she doesn’t want to. 

two weeks ago, during the fog warning, evangeline wasn’t home with the family. emi was at work, locked down with a few patients, and when she didn’t get a phone call from her daughter, like she asks of all her family, she started to worry. panic didn’t settle in until after the fog warning and no one had heard from evangeline. frantic, begging, trying to stave off the final moments before the inevitable declaration, emi found herself begging the officers at the station: find me something to bury before absolutely crumbling against the weight of her own fears.

prior to her daughter’s disappearance, emi had put at least some stock into god but spite consumes her whenever she thinks about him. something all loving doesn’t steal child from the arms of their mother’s and something all powerful doesn’t let whatever lives in the forest to exist after taking the first soul. this town suffers because of that fog and venom pools in her mouth waiting to spit at the first person who proclaims that god will watch over her daughter. some people turn to faith for stability. emi has turned away. 

[onepiecesmosthated]

Biggest Coal Getters At Christmas In One Piece

As you know from this blog, I rag on the most hated characters in One Piece. At at this merry Christmas time, I want to show you all the biggest coal getters in this series.

12.  Stelly

With being such an arrogant, self-important, entitled, and asshole brat, Sabo’s adoptive brother, Stelly, makes the first on the list on our naughty list. One has to feel sorry for the Gao kingdom for being ruled over such a spoiled king, who even thinks he can order Garp around because he’s originally from there.

11.  Wapol

 Another king on this list, but one who also is the president of his own toy company is Wapol. Like Stelly he was quite a horrible ruler when he was ruling Drum Kingdom, especially when he left the island to fend for itself when Blackbeard invaded and horded all the doctors so he could force people to pay high prices for them. Though he is currently living high now with his new kingdom gifted by the World Nobles, Santa still is going to leave a nice lump that fits his dark heart.

10. Judge

Just like with the earlier two entries, we have another asshole ruler and this one is the father of Strawhat member, Sanji. The ruler of the Germa 66, a seafaring kingdom that is notorious for conquering islands and being paid assassins, he is a social darwanist, who caused great abuse to Sanji throughout his childhood because he turned out normal. The only reason why he wanted Sanji back into his life was to cement an alliance with Big Mom by offering him as a groom for her daughter, Pudding, which turned out to be a trap because the Yonko planned to kill him and the other Vinsmokes off to get their technology. And at the wedding when the Big Mom Pirates’ true colors are showed, all that previous super macho bravado is melted away to reveal a sniveling coward who cries when someone puts him into the situation that he put others under. And for that the Germa clones will shoveling a lot of coal for a while.

9. Spandam

This guy is the poster child on why we should have anti-neoptism laws. A snively cowardly shit Spandam when he was head of the CP9 tortured Robin all the while she was under his captivity, while arrogantly believing his CP agents were untouchable. He also has little regard for human life when he accidentally triggered the buster call and didn’t care that his subordinates could die. He even called them needed sacrifices. He was also the reason why Tom, Iceburg and Franky’s mentor, was killed due to a frame up job he did in order to obtain the Pluton from him. It’s a bit karmic seeing him be forced to take orders from his former subordinate, Lucci, but even then the clumsy klutz should trip on his black pile of gifts he will get.

8. Hody Jones

Think Arlong, but with none of his few redeeming qualities. Although Hody can be said to be a product of his environment, he’s still a nasty racist shit, who should rot in the jail cell he was put in at the end of his starring arc. With his New Fishman Pirates, they planned on taking over the kingdom and go to Reverie where they planned to massarce everyone there. However, the worst thing he’s done is assassinate Queen Otohime, because she dared to try to aim to bring peace between humans and seafolk. If you think there can be a reason for his racism, then he would answer it himself: “nothing”. Nothing happened to him to make him hate humans personally he just grew up with the toxic belief that hating humans was justified. And for that Hody spends Christmas in a jail cell, while sharing it with the number of coals that can keep him and the other withered New Fishman Pirates company.

7. Mother Carmel

To the world (and to this day, Big Mom), Mother Carmel was a saintly figure who fostered peace between humans and giants plus opened up an orphanage for children of all races. However, underneath that facade lied a wicked slaver, who pretended to be a grandmotherly figure in order to sell children to the highest dollar. Her famed action of stopping the Elbaf crew from being executed was a staged event in order to gain the trust of the giants. Her most notable so-called prized asset was Charlotte Linlin (who would later become Big Mom), who to this day doesn’t know her foster mother never truly loved her and saw her as merchandise to be sold. Even though she’s a deceased character, she certainly deserves to have her stockings filled to the brim with stone, cold coal.

6. Blackbeard

Although he’s more of a love to hate example, we all know that Blackbeard deserves to be on this list. For one thing, if you want to know why the post-timeskip is chaotic as it is it’s thanks to this guy. He for years pretended to be a loyal member of Whitebeard’s crew and acted like one of the family knit setting. However, it’s all an at to get at the Yami Yami No Mi/Dark Dark Fruit. He killed one of his own brothers/crewmates, then went off to form his own crew where he fought Ace and got him handed over to the Marines, so that he could become a Warlord and get into Impel Down. There during the breakout he recruited level six members to his crew, then used them to kill his former captain and father figure Blackbeard. And postimeskip he has been shown to now be hunting down devil fruit users for his fellow crew. There is a reason why people say he’s the anti-Luffy and what a real non-romanticized pirate is like. So, I have a feeling Santa will be stopping by on Hive Island with some hefty packages that could fit his namesake.

5. Ceasar Clown

Although he’s shown as a butt monkey after his first appearance, the record of his misdeeds cannot be forgotten. On his island he kept children captive after a mole in the marines lied to their parents about them dying at sea, which he then proceeded to experiment on them with drugged candy which made them grow giant sized and shorten their live spans. All the while pretending he was actually curing them when he couldn’t give a shit. He also is notorious for making chemical weapons of mass destruction which is used by amoral individuals like the Beast Pirates. In other words, Santa strap this asshole to a big lump of coal and drown him.

4. Doflamingo

One of the most popular villians in the series is Donquixote Doflamingo, former Warlord, top broker, and King Of Dressrosa. Man, you could have a long list of all the shit he’s pulled throughout his career and life. On the outside he might look like a gaudy Elton John rip off, but on the inside bleeds one of the scariest and ruthless characters in the series. No wonder because he was born of the World Nobles, who are a sociopathic and psychotic bunch. From his take over to Dressrosa to funding Ceasar Clown’s research, he certainly can make you scared of the color pink. And that is why we have to heep this birds feathers with a black sheen.

3. Orochi

While Doffy is pretty to look at and is flamboyantly fun, Orochi just embodies “hate sink” stereotypes. He’s just made to be obvious that this guy is not going to be a good person. Spoilers ahead: I know he was influenced into becoming an asshole but he is still an asshole who sold out his country for his own benefit. Not to mention currently it was shown he was heavily implied to be the one who killed Suriyaki and lied to everyone about being named a successor with the help of that strange woman. His 20 years of terror have caused nothing but hurt to everyone under his rule as he causes a famine due to the occupying forces of the Beast Pirates. All of his because he believed he was entitled like his grandfather to be Shogun. He also wastes food, as his country is starving and feeds a whole village of hungry people failed “Smiles” so that they can quit crying about their dead loved ones. I know Santa would know of a way to get into this closed off country, so that he can deliver this shistain a coal that is as big as a mountain.

2. Kaido

Here is the man of thousand beasts and leader of the Beast pirates. Even though Blackbeard himself is no saint, he doesn’t seem to want to destroy the world like Kaido does. An unstoppable juggernaut, he sees suicide as a way to kill boredom and is often on his ass drunk. He’s ruled over Wano through Orochi for 2 decades, as he has decimated it into a famine wide place except the capitol where the rich and his toadie lives. He uses the land to function his own war effort and has caused many of the Wano people to go through great periods of grief. Like with Blackbeard, he’s an unromanticed version of what a pirate is really like. So, Kaido be prepared for Onigashima to reign coal like it’s no tomorrow.

1. World Nobles (Celestial Dragons)

By default, you know these shitty bastards would top the list. The biggest reason because of the fact that they are above the law and are allowed to do anything they like because they are so-called “gods”. They treat the general population like crap, while blatantly owning slaves when it was supposed to have been illegalized 2 centuries ago. They are also supported by a thing called heavenly tribute which country of the world government has to give continuously, lest they get kicked out and have no way of defending themselves from pirates or slave traffickers. So I can say the biggest coal getters go to these fat pigs in their towers. Better yet they should coal statues made in (dis)honor of them.

[baeklooming-day]

Fleeting | Baekhyun

Summary: You lead a double life. For everyone else, you are the pretty girl with a great sense of fashion who works at Sephora. But it isn't your only job. For the other one you require only two things: the collection of weapons you keep in your closet - and zero emotions.

ft. Luhan

Genre: assassin!au, mafia!au, street racer!au, fluff, angst

Word count: 4.5k

playlist

"Really, Y/N? You know I love you, but lately I feel like the only reason you call me is for you to ask for favors."

"That's not true! Pretty please Sujin! I will be just a few minutes late."

"Hahaha! Good one."

"Sujin. I really need to take care of something right now. Will you help me out one more time?"

"..."

"Sujin!"

"Okay, okay. I'll cover for you. But, whatever it is, hurry up and come here right after, understood?"

"Of course. See you in a bit!"

You hung up.

Sujin was your coworker and friend. She totally adored you, and maybe that's the only reason why in the end she always let slide you being late for work. Well, you weren't always late. Sometimes it just happened for the problem to have to be solved during your usual work hours at Sephora.

Like today.

Your grip on your rifle tightened.

Easy. Focus.

After all, you've done it many times.

In this long time you've worked for Zhang Yixing you've never seen him as nervous as that evening.

"Listen Y/N, you do know the CEO of Kang Corporation, is that right?"

"Yeah, I mean, not personally but I know who he is. Kang-something...?"

"Yes, him. Listen. You also happen to know who Jackson Wang is, right? The CEO of Wang Enterprises?

"Yes-"

"Alright, here is your task."

He quickly slid a piece of paper in your direction.

You picked it and started to read.

You snorted.

"Why could I see something like this coming? It was so obvious. I assume our big CEO Mr. Wang wants all the power and glory to himself. Is he actually aware what might happen if suddenly the second big CEO disappears from the scene? Everyone knows those two don't particularly love each other."

"This is none of our concern, Y/N. Make sure you take care of this."

You paused for a brief moment.

"How much?"

Yixing hesitated. Woah there, you thought. So it is the highest price I've ever got.

"10 Million American dollars." He said, not breaking eye contact with you.

"Woah."

It always amused you, how desperate some people could be only to take down somebody who wasn't doing in their favor.

"'Woah' is a good word to describe it. Anyway, Y/N, I trust you to solve it without any complications as always."

"Will do, boss!"

With that being said, you directed yourself to the exit where you paused, only to quickly turn around and send Yixing a childish 'bang!' with a finger gun.

So now, you found yourself sitting on the roof of the Plaza Hotel - it would be quite romantic to say the least, if it wasn't for the purpose you were there.

You were a paid murderer. You killed people in an exchange for money.

Your current target was a certain Kang Seojun - the CEO of one of the biggest corporations in the city.

It wasn't your first time that you had to eliminate some important persona. You already had a minister, a few influential politicians and even a famous actress on your account.

It was always the same process. Find the target, observe them for a while, get some more information and finally, attack.

You adjusted your rifle.

To be quite honest, you've never been a fan of making a 'task' look like an accident. This regards arranging a car accident or literally setting the target's house on fire.

No, it was too much work than it already was.

So you just sticked to the classic solution.

Right now you were waiting for Kang Seojun to arrive at the Corporation's building right next to Plaza where their company meeting took place.

"Where on earth is this man", you mumbled to yourself. "If I don't kill you today, Sujin will kill me for being late again."

While you still waited, you looked at your own reflection in the small pocket mirror you always carried with you.

Your dark red lipstick and eyebrows were perfect as always. At least you looked good doing bad stuff.

Then you heard a vehicle pulling to stop and muffled voices in the distance that was separating you from the street beneath you.

You immediately straightened.

You could see the car's door open and a blonde head peeking out.

There he is.

He surely took his sweet time. Ironically, he didn't have much of it left.

3.

Don't move a muscle. Concentrate.

He was now slowly heading to the entrance of the building. You had to act quickly and effectively.

2.

Breath in. Breath out. It's a piece of cake.

Your fingers carefully clasped around the trigger.

1.

"Bang."

You shoot.

It didn't take long for the hell to break loose. But by now, you were accustomed to it. After all, that part of your job was always the same as well - after having eliminated the target, you had to escape as fast as you could. Without being seen by anyone.

You had to have your eyes wide open. And you had to be careful.

Very, very careful.

You knew exactly what happened to people like you who were being careless about the whole thing. So already in your early training days you decided to never put your guard down.

The moment you entered Sephora you were met with Sujin putting a new delivery of Nars foundation onto the perfectly cleaned shelf.

To be honest, you actually really enjoyed working there. In your free time - time, when with a gun hidden in your boot you didn't run down the stairs of hotels, skyscrapers, apartment buildings, you name it - you liked playing with makeup and going shopping.

You could say it was a little benefit for you. You had to seem innocent, powerless. You had to be like a normal girl.

Well, at least pretend to be one.

"Hey, Sujin!"

"Finally! I would say 'right on time', but..."

"I'm sorry?"

She looked at you with an unreadable expression on her pretty face.

"Come on, help me sort it all." She pointed to the big box that rested beside her leg.

"Oh my." Your eyes scanned the new arrivals. "These are all so nice."

"Y/N, I know what you are thinking right now, come on. You basically have half of this store at home, you do not need another bottle of foundation."

You chuckled. "I didn't say anything!"

There was silence for a moment before Sujin spoke again.

"Actually, Y/N, are you seeing anyone at the moment?"

There it was. The question. You knew that one day she will completely see through you and get it that you were lying all along the way.

You always told her poor excuses for how come you never go out on any dates and aren't particularly interested in boys in general.

Because what else could you tell her?

You couldn't get too attached. Being who you were, didn't include love. You couldn't show anything that could be easily used against you.

"No, why? And on top of that, I already told you I'm too busy for a boyfriend." She looked unconvinced.

"What about Baekhyun?"

"What about him?"

You could expect her to ask about Baekhyun. Except for Sujin, he was your only friend. As if it wasn't obvious by now that you didn't have many friends. The less, the better, you always told yourself. In the end you were risking their safety as well. If you ever got discovered…

No. It won't happen.

Not again.

"Oh, don't be like that Y/N. Even a blind person could tell he likes you. He's liked you since you moved here! Why don't you just give it a chance? You two would be so cute together-"

"Sujin." You paused her. "Please, just leave it already, will you? Me and Baekhyun are good friends, but nothing more. Besides, Baekhyun is-"

"I'm what?"

You froze. Speaking of the devil. How did he even manage to sneak up on you like that everytime you least expected it?

"Baekhyun!" Sujin stood up to give him a quick hug. "Good to see you, how are things going?"

"I'm not complaining." He chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I see you two have some work to do."

"Just the usual. What brings you here?"

"Actually, I'm here for Y/N. Can I borrow her for a sec?"

You looked up at him from the foundation box you were sitting by.

His black hair was all messy, yet still managed to looked presentable. He was dressed in his standard outfit - plain white tee, black leather jacket and black ripped jeans, which, to be honest, were a little more than worn out.

Any other guy would look ridiculous, so why did he look so good?

Damn you, Baekhyun.

You stood up to properly face him.

"Sure, let's go."

He flashed you a wide smile before turning around and heading for the exit with you following behind him.

"So, what is it you wanted to talk about Baek?", you asked once you were in the main venue of the mall.

"To tell the truth, I just wanted to see you."

Is this guy being serious right now?

Every other girl like Sujin, would probably think it was the cutest thing for a boy to do. But you weren't like the other girls.

"Aww, could it possibly be that you missed me?"

"Maybe."

"You literally just saw me yesterday, Baekhyun."

Well, that was very true, you two used to quickly meet at the crossing in the morning before work quite often.

"Oh c'mon, you know what I'm trying to say." He lightly poked your arm. "We aren't spending so much time together anymore. And you always tell me you're busy. If I was somebody else I would even think you are avoiding me or something."

He didn't say it in an accusing tone but you knew he was partly right. Baekhyun just happened to be around almost always. It would be a lie if you said you didn't enjoy his company, because you did. But in your opinion, that alone was already one step too far. You preferred to turn him down and have him upset with you for a couple of hours than to risk being seen by someone who could use that information for certain purposes, or turn him down just because you had to take care of something at that time. Of course you told him you were busy, which also was true. But it seemed like it looked like a one big lie to him.

"Look, I know, but it's really not like that. If I say I'm busy, I really am. You know I wouldn't lie to you like that.

"So..." Baekhyun looked at you with puppy eyes. "Are you free this afternoon?" Another feature about him that honestly annoyed you, because you just couldn't help it but melt, was when he used that puppy look on you.

"Yeah, sure." Those words left your mouth before you could even think about it.

Dammit. You really needed to do some practising in resisting that boy's requests.

You found yourself sitting on the rooftop of an apartment building sipping on a big cup of Starbucks coffee. The spot was lovely - actually, it was your favourite spot in the city back then when you first moved in into your apartment. It was also the spot where Baekhyun brought you when you hung out for the first time. Of course it wasn't a date - none of the times you two hung out was. At least you wouldn't call it in that manner. Maybe Sujin would, but in her eyes everything had a different meaning.

Baekhyun was sitting right beside you and sipping on his own cotton candy frappuccino while gazing onto some unindentified point in the space.

Funny, you thought. He usually was the one to talk, he rarely got so quiet when you two were together.

You turned to him and sipped as loud as you could to get his attention.

"Hmm?"

"Something happened?" You brought your attention back to your cup. "It's strange to see you shut up like that."

"Nah, it's nothing." He hesitated for a brief moment but then spoke again. "Actually, Y/N. There is something I've been meaning to ask you, but..."

Oh no. Sujin couldn't be possibly right, could she? Shit.

"I mean, for the past two years that we've been best friends I don't really know much about you when I think of it, and it just kind of bothers me."

Oh my god. You let the breath you didn't realise you were holding. So he wasn't about to ask you out. Good.

But what were you going to tell him now anyway?

"Uhm, what do you exactly mean?"

Baekhyun shrugged.

"Besides that you are eyebrows-obsessed, speak more languages than any other person I know and can't get through the day without coffee or chocolate I don't know nothing about the times before I met you and where you came from, who your parents are..." He glanced at you.

You gulped. Why did he suddenly want to know all of this?

"I don't know who your parents are either. And before moving here my life was just a little, hm, complicated to say the least." You carelessly run your hand through your locks hoping that he won't dig any deeper.

"Fine, let's leave the parents thing out." Now he was directly looking you in the eyes. "But what do you exactly mean by complica-"

Buzzzzzzz.

Buzzzzzzz, buzzzzzzz.

He didn't get to finish the sentence when both your phones started vibrating in your pockets.

Baekhyun took his phone and looked and the bright screen.

"Aish, sorry I have to take this." He gave you an apologetic look.

"No worries, I have to take mine as well. Might be something important at work."

 You smiled before quickly staying up and taking a little distance to finally slide your finger across the screen to accept the call.

"What the actual hell Yixing? I told you not to call me during the day!" You were careful to not be too loud, just in case.

But still, you completed your task just as he wanted, so what could it possibly be now?

"What-" His voice on the other line sounded a little bit irritated. "Would you quit shouting like that? Geez, my poor ear…"

"Look, I'm with a friend right now, so hurry up and tell me why you're calling before he hears everything."

"I'm calling you because I need you to show up at my office, like, right now." He paused before quickly adding "very urgent."

Sometimes you really just wanted to throw a shoe in his face.

"Yeah, fine. Already on my way."

You hung up.

When you were about to go back to where you and Baekhyun were sitting just a few moments ago, you saw him approaching you first.

"Y/N, I'm so sorry, but I have to go." He started to nervously scratch his neck.

"I have to go too. Something came up and they need me at... uhm, work." You wanted to sound confident but your voice sounded like anything else but that to you.

"The universe just wants to keep us apart for some reason, huh?" Baekhyun smiled ironically before quickly hugging you and making himself on his way.

Keep us apart, you thought to yourself. Maybe this is just the way things should be.

You arrived at Yixing's office not more than 15 minutes after you said goodbye to Baekhyun. You entered without knocking and immediately sat on the chair in front of his desk.

"So, what is this all about? Everything went smoothly in the morning, the guy is still very dead."

Yixing looked up from his laptop.

"I know, but this is not about that."

You raised your eyebrows.

"I just got a phone call. I don't know how to explain this, this is the first time a client requests something like that, though." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"What exactly is this request?"

"The client asked to meet you before you complete what they want you to do. Tomorrow, Cloud 9 at 11 o'clock."

What?

"Cloud 9? That fancy café on the 22nd floor? Pardon me, but what for?"

Yixing raised his palms. "I seriously don't know Y/N. They only said they wanted to reveal to you some particular information on the target. Other than that, they didn't name any price, so I suppose that's what they want to discuss with you personally."

"Well. Well, alright. How will I recognise them? Is it a man or a woman?"

"It was a woman's voice on the phone, and she didn't say anything about her appearance except for short blonde hair. She said she will recognise you."

"Fine, so be it." You nodded. "Can I go now?"

Yixing waved his hand in the yeah-go-away manner. "Yes, dismissed."

A client wanting to meet up with you? Well that was new.

The next day, you were preparing yourself for the "meeting". That woman said she would recognise you, right? But wait. How was she going to recognise you? And how did she even know how you look like?

Hold on, calm down.

After all you were pretty popular among the more significant people from dark businesses. There's no need to invent things.

You didn't really have a plan what to wear, so you decided you will keep it simple but with style. You went for black ripped jeans, white off-shoulder top and your casual white sneakers.

Perfect. None would even think of who you actually were, which was always your kind of a motto.

When you arrived at Cloud 9 it was 10:45. The client should appear soon as well. You walked in and took a seat at a table possibly far from unsuspecting ears.

The Cloud 9 café was a really nice place. It was on the 22nd floor, so it had a wonderful view at the entire city. The floor was a white marble while the walls where in warm shade of deep chocolate brown. The café alone was in shape of a circle, so it basically had glass all around, through which you could admire the beautiful view.

You took a look on your phone. 11:10. The client is not here yet. But they said 11 o'clock, right? Do they really think they can just keep you waiting like this? Instead, your screen lit up once again with an incoming call from Baekhyun.

That boy.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Y/N! Where are you right now?"

"I'm supposed to meet up with someone but they're already 10 minutes late." You stopped. You shouldn't be just spilling everything so carelessly to Baekhyun.

"What? With who?"

"Uhm, none in particular. Work, you know. She's a... she's the boss of Sephora on the other side of the town, you know. We wanted to discuss which new brands our both stores could take to... to widen the whole thing. Or something." You weren't convincing even yourself, but scratch that right now.

"Oh." If he didn't believe you he didn't show it. "Uhm, so, did you say they were late? Where are you?" His voice sounded as if he had been running.

"I'm at Cloud 9. Why?"

"I, well, I just happen to be nearby so I can keep you a little company while you wait?"

"Yeah, alright. I'm hanging up now."

You looked at your screen once again. 11:20. Was ist some kind of a joke? Why is this woman, or whoever that client is, already 20 minutes late?

You decided to wait another 15 minutes, and if they won't show up, you will go straight up to Yixing and tell him to stop playing some stupid tricks on you, or whichever ridiculousness that was, which was just taking place.

You couldn't get more annoyed because just then you noticed Baekhyun's black fringe peeking inside. You waved him over.

When he approached your table, you also noticed that he was breathing heavily, just as if he really had been running.

"Woah, there. Are you running away from someone?"

His eyes immediately widened. "What? No, no."

"You look like you just ran in a marathon."

"Well, thanks Y/N." He glanced at you with a pout. He always looked like a little boy when he did that. "Anyway, how long are you planning to wait? When were they supposed to be here?"

You frowned. "They were supposed to be here at 11, but looks like I have been forgotten." You looked over to your phone for the 10th time. 11:28. Really?

You glanced at Baekhyun. His cheeks were red and he was licking his lips nervously. Something clearly was going on, and you wanted to know what.

You put your arms on the table.

"Baekhyun, come on, tell me what-"

You didn't get the chance to finish your sentence when there was a loud BANG! just a few meters away from you.

You both snapped your heads in the direction where the noise came from.

There was a man wearing a long black coat along with the rest of his clothes as well as his hair which also were all black.

He was holding a gun in his right Hand.

But then he turned around and you saw his face.

You knew that face.

And apparently, he recognised you. But also, his gaze seemed to waver on Baekhyun as well with a spark of recognition too.

You quickly glanced at Baekhyun.

His eyes were wide and his expression blank.

Then the man spoke.

"Well, well, well. What do we got here?" He looked around himself and at the frightened people who were probably praying for their life. "To tell the truth, this doesn't concern any of you here, so will you gather your asses and fuck off before I change my mind and kill y'all?"

The people started rushing out of the café making as little noise as possible, probably terrified of the thought that that crazy man in all black could start shooting anytime.

"And don't even think of going to the police! If you still want your brains in your heads, just saying!" The man called behind them, waving with his gun.

Shit. This was all so confusing that all you could do was to look back and forth at the man and at Baekhyun, who, still motionless, sat beside you.

The man took a few steps forward before speaking again.

"No, this is just too good to be true. Honestly, I would never, ever think that our two delinquents know each other." He was now grinning maniacally, which to be completely honest, creeped you out like nothing before.

But wait, did he just say "our two delinquents"?

"What do you want Tao?" You and Baekhyun spoke at the exact same time.

What?

You both looked at each other. "You know him?!" Baekhyun pointed at the man called Tao.

"Yes, but how do you know him?!" Now you also raised your finger to point at Tao.

Then you heard a very loud laugh.

"Seriously, stop!" Tao was rubbing his wet eyes. "Ah, this is so good. You have no idea who he is - and you, you have no fucking idea who she is!"

Okay, now it was getting really sick.

"Care to explain what's going on?" You glared at Tao.

"But of course. I'm here because of two reasons. First" He looked at Baekhyun. "I really was hoping to find you here, to be honest. Like we made it clear the last time we saw each other - you won't get away with what you pulled on that race. And also, we want that car back."

"Are fucking kidding me?" Now it was Baekhyun who snapped. "Where are your eyes? Everyone saw and can confirm that it was all fair! I won. And that car was never yours, so quit talking nonsense."

You felt your head spinning. Race? Car? Was Baekhyun also hiding Secrets?

"Wait." You turned to Baekhyun. "You are racing?"

"Y/N, I..." He run a hand through his hair.

Tao began to laugh again. "Right, let me make this clear to you. This idiot over here, is doing illegal street races for about, let me think, 2 years now? He somehow managed to drive off with our car from the last race in Shanghai, so that's why I'm here for his sorry ass."

"I told you that car is NOT yours!"

"Yeah, whatever. I will deal with you later." Tao turned to look at you. "And you darling, tell me, isn't it too much for you to live with the awareness of all the lives you have taken?"

You swallowed. Shit. That bastard just exposed you in front of Baekhyun, and nothing can take it back.

"Don't talk to me as if you're better, Tao."

"Oh, besides I heard the news. Kang Seojun is dead? Good job, Y/N. Were you playing hunter on the roof again? But fuck, you really must be a millionaire by now, with all these little paid crimes."

"What..." Baekhyun opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, imitating a goldfish. "Wait, no. You... you kill for money...?" He looked as confused as a human being can look. "Hold on a sec, you mean... like seriously doing that stuff assassins in the movies do?"

You felt like you were about to cry. You never wanted him to find out. Now he probably will hate you. Probably will be disgusted and disappointed in you.

"This is so funny" Tao chuckled. "And guess what I'm about to do with you, little princess? Remember Kris, right? Well, long story short he wants you dead."

Tao pointed his gun at you.

You saw your life fleeting before your eyes.

Shit. Shit, that wasn't how it was supposed to end.

"It was nice knowing you, Y/N. For the good old tim-" Shatter. He didn't finish the sentence, when a glass bottle shattered on his head.

Tao fell on the floor, unconscious.

You stared in complete shock at the person who just knocked him down. A scream of surprise left your lips.

You were met with a petite figure of brown-haired boy with sweet eyes which looked at you.

No, this can't be. After these years, you thought he might have ended up dead. But he was standing right in front of you, very alive.

The first most important person in your life. You grew up together and went through good and bad times together, arm in arm.

He was the reason why you promised yourself that you won't get attached to people, ever again.

You saw everything in a blur. What has just happened?

You placed your palm on your cheek, still looking at the petite boy in front of you, who still was holding the half-broken glass bottle.

You slowly stood up.

"L-Luhan...?"

The boy threw the glass on the side and smiled.

"Long time no see, honey."

A/N: End of the first chapter! This is my first ever fanfiction, so I’m really excited (and hella scared, lol) to finally post it! If this piece gets positive feedback, I will be more than happy and motivated to continue and make it a mini-series! I put lots of my time and heart into this first ever fanfic and I would love to properly start writing and improve my skills. So please please please leave me your thoughts, I would very appreciate it! Also don’t forget to leave a heart if you liked it, and feel free to reblog if you want to! <3

[batfamily-trash]

Missing You

Summary; you are/were Damian’s girlfriend and you have powers. You can fly and you also have the canary cry. You are not affiliated with Superman, Wonder Woman, or Black Canary.

Warning: Death, angst???,  language

y/n l/n. The A+ student of Gotham Academy. s/h/n. The girl that could fly. Juggling your superhero life and your normal life was a tad bit complicated. Why? Well, you were Damian Wayne’s girlfriend and the press LOVED to be all up in your face. Asking questions about your private life and what not. Damian hated it, but you were okay with it as long as they didn’t ask anything that would set him off. Which was almost impossible. But you know, you can fly away from your problems.

But, today it was Damian who set you off. He had invited you to a gala his father was hosting and it was marvelous. Chandeliers were glistening, the room was adorned with flowers from the garden, everything was just amazing. You and Damian were dancing to the music and enjoying the moment. When the song ended, Damian was pulled away by his brothers, and you were pulled away for a moment by Diana Prince and Dinah Lance. They knew about your powers and they wanted to help you train more. Basically, they wanted you to be their sidekick. But you were content being in Gotham with the Bat and his Batlings.

You declined their offer and began to look for your beloved boyfriend. Five minutes later you found him all right. You found him with your ‘friends’ all up in his face with their hands wandering around his body, and he didn’t do anything about it. He seemed to… enjoy it. Then out of nowhere your so called best friend kissed him. You took a step towards them but decided against it. You ran out of the building as tears began to build up in your eyes. Things that you have never thought before began to cross your mind now. Has he been cheating on you all this time? Was he with you just because you were useful in the battlefield? Was he just using you?

You heard Damian shouting your name as you ran further away from the gala. A moment later he caught up with you. He grabbed your elbow and pulled you towards him. “y/n, stop.”

“Why Damian? Why should I stop?” you asked while struggling to get out of his grasp.

��Beloved…”

“Don’t you beloved me!” you shouted. “Why would you cheat on me?!?”

“Y/n I… I wasn’t cheating…”

“Oh so if I go kiss Jon while dating you it wouldn’t be considered cheating?!?! You kissed my best friend!”

“Fine, you want to know why. It wasn’t working out with us,” he said abruptly letting you go. “The only reason why I was dating you was because you were of good use to me, nothing more!”

You took a step back, and let his words sink in. You wiped away the tears raining down from your face and fixed your dress. “Fine, we are over. Tell Bruce I’m out.” With that, you flew away from him and the gala.

10 years passed since you last talked to Damian with feeling. Now, every time you would talk to him, your voice would be empty of emotion. If you could you would avoid the living the hell out of him, but you were an important business woman in Gotham. Your company would help Wayne Tech come up with new ideas for technology.

It still hurt seeing Damian, but what hurt, even more, was that he had tried to apologize more than once, but you just couldn’t accept it. The feelings you still had for Damian were still alive and killing you, slowly. You missed him, and you were going to set things right.

You had a… friend who loved messing around with the timeline just to piss off people and when you told them that you wanted to go back and warn your younger self about your relationship with Damian, they agreed. They only agreed because you were annoying them. And because they hated seeing you suffer, but mostly because you were annoying to them.

They took you took you back two weeks before the gala. So exactly 10 years and two weeks. Your dear time traveling friend forgot to tell you WHERE in between those two weeks they were ditching you. They dropped you off in your old bedroom, at midnight, exactly the time you would either be arriving from patrol or leaving for patrol. So when you realized you were in your old room, you were fighting your younger self.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?!?” Mini you shouted at you.

“Maybe if you stop throwing cheap batarangs and books at me I’ll tell you!”

Mini you stopped throwing things but stayed in a fighting stance, waiting for the reason why you were in ‘her’ room. You fixed your clothes and picked up a picture that had ‘fallen’ and studied it before tossing it to mini you. “I… Batman sent me.”

“Batman sent you?”

“Uh yeah, Robin had something to do and he wouldn’t be able to join you during patrol.”

Mini you glared at you and turned on her heel and stomped towards the window. “I don’t trust you, but since I do need help I won’t complain.

”Oh thank god,” you mumbled to yourself.“

What was that?”

“Nothing lets go.” You followed yourself out of the room and flew behind her to a warehouse. You remembered that mission. Bruce had sent you to investigate an arms deal that was happening. You almost died there.

You and uh, you, landed by a window and peered into the warehouse. There were about twenty armed men and about 40 billion dollars worth of guns and ammo all over the place.

“I was thinking we sneak in, Mariah Carey they’re asses and call the cops,” younger you said with confidence.

“What do mean by Mariah Carey?”

“Canary Cry.”

“Okay… but wouldn’t it be more like Brendon Urie?”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Mini you said rolling her eyes. The both of you took a step back and prepared to bust in. Since you didn’t tell mini you that you were her from the future you covered your ears to not blow your cover. A minute later glass exploded everywhere and the both of you flew into the warehouse dodging bullets.

The both of you managed to take down the majority of the henchmen. You turned around looking for mini you when you noticed that Rusty, the arms dealer for the Penguin, was aiming at her. Just as he pulled the trigger you flew towards her and pushed her out of the way.

Back home, your ‘friend’ had told Damian of your little adventure. He didn’t take it well. Oh no, he actually threatened and paid your friend to take him to the same time period you were in right now. But by the time he arrived, it was too late.

You felt the bullet pierce your stomach just as you got y/n to move. You let out a last canary cry at Rusty making him drop his weapon and crouch in pain as he flew towards the wall. y/n shouted at you as you fell to the ground. She moved you onto your back and covered the bullet wound as she yelled at your stupidness.

“Why?!?!”

“Because… I had to… If you died… there wouldn’t be a future… for me… just go… live your life… I… i’ll be fine…”

y/n stood up and looked down at you with tears in her eyes. You gave her a small smile as you covered the bullet wound with your own hand. You saw as she left to finish the mission, you also saw a bright flash coming from in front of you.

“Dami…” You whispered as your eyes closed and you fell into a deep sleep.

–

Damian stepped out of the portal into the warehouse. He looked around for you, hoping to stop you from whatever you were going to do. The minute he found you, he broke down crying. “No, no no no no, beloved I’m sorry, I’m sorry I let them all over me. I’m sorry for not really telling you how I felt…. I’m sorry….”

Two weeks later…

A tall dark figure stands in the corner of a room admiring a picture. A young Damian Wayne enters the room with Titus and Ace in tow. Damian glances up from his phone and immediately gets in a fighting pose. “Who are you?” he hissed.

The figure puts the picture down and stands in front of the boy. “You tell me.”

Damian let his fighting stance down as his loyal dogs walked up to the stranger and playfully pawed at him.

“Why are you here?”

“To advise you to not let y/n’s so-called friends near you.”

“Why?”

“Because it just might be the biggest regret you’ll ever make.” And with that, a portal opened as the figure walked into the shadows. Damian stood in his room dumbfounded by this encounter as the portal closed.

Back to the future….

Damian woke up in his room in Wayne Manor with a slight headache. He got off the bed and began to look for you. When he couldn’t find you, disappointment began to fill his head. Did he fail? Did he still let you go?

His thought were interrupted when he heard the front door open. He ran down the stairs as he heard your sweet voice. “I’m so sorry Dami, I was getting groceries right after I dropped off the kids from school and my phone died—“

You were cut off by a very passionate kiss, and a crying Damian. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”

I was gone only for an hour… You brushed it off and dropped the bags and hugged him back. “It’s okay, I’m not going anywhere…”

[itshealthylifetipsuniverse]

The Very Best Concealed Regarding Life Insurance Policy

Do you enjoy somebody sufficient to spend your tough gained dollars on a life insurance policy premium-- month after month?

Since the real advantage of a life insurance policy isn't for you. It's for those you enjoy ... yet after you've gone.

Life insurance is cash paid to those who rely upon you now to offer a safe standard of living. They can shed this in a heartbeat.

Life insurance is cash when needed one of the most ... without any income tax obligation or publicity.

Purchasing a life insurance plan is challenging due to the fact that it isn't a very easy subject matter to begin with.

Most people obtain perplexed concerning exactly how it functions and also whom they can rely on enough to make the purchase.

As well as there's a large number of business as well as sales representatives all demanding your attention.

This article will certainly help to make clear a significant mistaken belief regarding term life insurance policy. Also, I'll present you to what numerous knowledgable specialists think about to be the most effective kept secret in a life insurance plan.

Buy term as well as invest the difference is a phrase proclaimed by those ... including lots of life insurance policy agents ... who have definitely no concept just how much damage it's implementation can trigger.

The principle theory is you no more require life insurance policy when you get to a particular age such as 55, 60 or 65.

Allegedly your children have actually finished college and also are doing simply great gaining their own earnings. As well as you as well as your spouse are living comfortably on retirement cost savings as well as social security.

Externally and also to the ignorant, this might appear practical.

Now, it's very easy to censure this hypothesis, yet let's emphasis instead on the real trouble with this scenario.

We are living longer than in the past. We might not be enjoying it significantly due to inadequate wellness yet, nonetheless, we're holding on.

Life insurance business understand this much better than anyone. In fact, most of them currently use age 115 has a factor when determining life insurance policy premiums.

You read about retirees who are forced to locate operate at McDonald's or Wal-Mart. Have you ever signed up with a senior citizens chatroom on the web and also experienced the issues a lot of them have about running out of money prior to they die?

A number of these senior citizens are scared to death. And what concerning the millions of babyboomers right behind them.

A wisely acquired life insurance plan can be the saving grace for those you love one of the most.

Currently, let me set the document directly. I have absolutely nothing against term life insurance. For over 24 years I have actually directly offered countless dollars worth.

What bothers me ... and also what I think to be criminal ... is when term life insurance policy is marketed under incorrect pretenses.

Let's make use of an easy example.

A 35 years of age nonsmoking man in outstanding wellness can acquire a $500,000 term life insurance plan for about $700 per year.

The costs is guaranteed to be $700 for three decades. Some companies will certainly be a little less expensive and also some a little bit extra expensive.

The buy term as well as spend the difference advocate would certainly contrast this to a $500,000 whole life insurance policy at $3,650 annually. Once more, some companies will be greater as well as some reduced.

In theory, you have $2,950 to spend each year for 30 years. I state theoretically because in the real world you would certainly never regularly spend $2,950 yearly.

Get Auto Insurance 

Not the same way you would certainly dedicate to a life insurance policy costs.

Just how do I recognize this? Call it humanity based on lots of experience.

Yet, allow's offer you the advantage of the question and state you really do invest according to this hypothetical plan. What price of return are you going to make over three decades? 5% ... 8% ... 10 percent?

Incidentally, this question opens an additional can of worms. The psychology of investing. Yet, we'll save that conflict for another time.

For debates purpose allow's think you obtain an 8% intensified price of return every year for three decades. This pertains to $360,920.41.

Okay ... so currently you're 65 years old and you have $360,920.41. Yet presume what?

When you reach 66 your $500,000 term life insurance policy will gap without value since the annual premium ends up being $21,180.

Yep, you check out that right! It jumps from $700 to over 21 thousand dollars.

At age 70, it's $31,430. At age 75, it's $52,970.

There's no chance on earth you'll pay this premium. Trouble is ... you aren't dead yet!

You have actually paid $21,000 over a thirty years timeframe to have a $500,000 life insurance policy during an amount of time when the probabilities are you would never ever pass away anyway.

Under normal situations you will die somewhere around age 80-- give or take. Your liked one's investment account still won't be worth $500,000.

What's more, she will certainly need to pay income tax on the financial investment gains. Bear in mind, life insurance profits are revenue tax free.

Allow me to repeat myself. I am not against term life insurance policy ... as long it's acquired with an eye towards the fact of future expectations.

If your term life insurance policy is issued by a very ranked firm with a broad choice of products, you will certainly have ample chance to transform the term into something more permanent throughout the thirty years in our example.

Remember your age determines the size of time the term policy will certainly have an ensured degree costs.

You might not be able to obtain greater than a ten years assurance if you are over 50 years old.

So, exactly what is the very best kept secret in a life insurance policy?

It is a global life insurance policy that <b>ensures</b> the survivor benefit no matter investment efficiency.

Universal life is one of the most adaptable kind of policy on the marketplace. The costs is higher than term, however lower than whole life. There are numerous on the market, so you must be careful.

If you choose to purchase term due to budget restraints, after that be certain to buy from a firm that also uses universal life.

This provides you the chance to gradually convert the term right into universal with the same business over the size of the term guarantee.

As your budget permits convert term right into global.

One word of care. Long-term rate of interest are vital to the performance of global life insurance policy.

Because they've been depressed for a number of years and also will likely continue so, you must get the global life with a genuine survivor benefit guarantee.

Below's an example utilizing our three decades old man. The $500,000 global life insurance policy premium is $2,871 per year. This compares to the currently discussed $700 term as well as $3,650 whole life costs.

Let's state you truly do choose life insurance isn't vital when you get to 65. By that time, you would have paid $86,130 in overall premiums.

Down a rat hole like the term plan? Nope!

The money abandonment worth would certainly go to least $85,501. It may well be over $100,000 based upon the actual competitive rate of interest credited to the policy over the thirty years.

When you acquire the right kind of global life you guarantee the survivor benefit for as long as needed ... plus you have the capability to recover your cost if you desire to pay it in.

You can take advantage of the very best of both globes when you utilize the very best kept secret in a life insurance plan.

[missdreawrites]

Hello, friend! There's a steam sale going on and I was wondering if you had any games you would recommend?

Hello there, friend! I do! I’ll even break it down by game type, in case you’re looking for a specific genre. I play a lot of games, so it can get overwhelming when you suddenly get 50 emails from Steam like “YOU HAVE 1q8347348957 GAMES ON YOUR WISHLIST ON SALE”. Yes, thank you Steam, I know.

Oh boy this got long, okay putting the list under a cut. Yikes.

RPGS:Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is 33% off. I paid full price and I’m quite enjoying it, so I don’t regret it it at all, but Getting a 60$ game for 40$ is great.

Fallout 4, GOTY: Okay yes, I know, a lot of people didn’t like Fallout, and it has a lot of mixed reviews, and it’s fairshare of problems but I loved the game play and characters. It’s also 60% off, making it less than 25$.NieR:Automata: This game broke my heart. I dumped 90 hours into it and I still didn’t manage to complete it one hundred percent. It’s also 50% off, making it only 30$, and no, you don’t need to have played NieR:Gestalt first.Witcher 3 The Wild Hunt: This is 60% off, making it 20$ and considering that I had to beat it twice and sank over 250 hours into the game to complete it, it’s well worth it. The characters are amazing, the graphics are perfect, and the music is bonkers. The whole thing is so good.

Fallout New Vegas, Ultimate Edition: This one is also 50% off, dropping it down to under 10$, and honestly this is the Fallout game that made me fall in love with the franchise. Rise of the Tomb Raider: This is the second game in the series, and it’s 80% off, making this normally 60$ game only 12$. While it too suffered from some storytelling problems, I bought it for full price and played the hell out of it. Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice: This game. Oh man, this game. I’m really glad it’s on the list, because this game is so good. The music is so good, the graphics are amazing, and the story is heartwrenching. It blends Nordic mythos and paganism with deep lore storytelling, the fighting is realistic and it’s just... so good. [However, the main character is schizophrenic, and if that is at all triggering for you, I’d be remiss in not warning you. It is done accurately, however, as I have it on good authority from someone who played my copy and is schizophrenic. They highly recommend this game to everyone as well.) It’s 50% off, so it’s only 15$.

Final Fantasy XV: This game is deceptive, in that you think it’s one thing and then it breaks you. I’ll admit that I didn’t play this all the way through - I wanted to but I was really, really bad at the controller. I did however watch someone else play and for 50% off, it’s pretty worth it to try now that it’s on PC.DOOM: (This is the remake). Doom is 25% off, making it only 15$ and this game is SO MUCH FUN. The music is bad ass, the graphics are killer, and you get to shoot the hell out of demons and run around flying through the air. There is literally nothing not to like about this.Far Cry 4: This one is 75% off, making it only 7.49$, and oh my god, anon. This game. This game changed my life. I love this game, SO much. The characters are amazing, Naveen Andrews voices one of them and Pagan Min is pretty much my biggest fandom crush of all time. I will never not recommend this game.BioShock, the Collection: These are older games, I know but BioShock 1 is still the game I go to when I want shock and horror. The collection is 75% off, so it’s 15$ for all three games (1, 2, and Infinite). Definitely play them in order.

Pillars of Eternity, Definitive Edition: This one is a little more on the expensive side, but it is 25% off, making it 30$. This game is very much like Dragon Age: Origins in play style - you can tactically pause and give your squad orders and such. The game definitely wants you to follow the story though so if you wander off into the wilderness (as I did) you might probably definitely die from high leveled enemies.

Far Cry 3: Like Far Cry 4, this game changed my life. My other fandom crush is one of the villains of this one, and ho boy. Hoooo boy. It’s 66% off, so it’s less than 7$ and it’s just. I love this game so much. Far Cry 3 and 4 really nail it on the RPG level.

Puzzle Games:

Portal 1 & 2: These are both 80% off, so they’re 2$, and Portal 2 is like RPG meets puzzle meets feels. I absolutely recommend this game to everyone, because it’s so much fun, and it’s so quotable.

Firewatch: This one is 75% off, making it 5$, and it’s the story of a guy who needs to run away from his life for a while. He goes to a national park to live in a Firetower in order to watch out for fires (obviously, duh) and his only human contact is a single woman at HQ to talk to him on the walkie talkie. There’s a lot of running around and searching/puzzling out how to get places and putting clues together to solve a mystery. And your responses are chosen, so how you navigate this single-human relationship is up to you.

Bastion, Transistor, Pyre: These are three separate games all done by Supergiant, and I’m putting them together because I feel like you should play all three. Bastion is 75% off, and only 3.75$, and the music is amazing, while the play is fun and the story is wrenching. Transitior is also 75% off, and the music is even MORE amazing, and the story is heart breaking. Pyre is 60% off, the music has only improved, and the story is so moving and you really feel attached to these characters. Each game is very different though, however, the backgrounds of all three are all handpainted and Supergiant Games deserves about a million kudos for how much detail they put in.

Life is Strange: This game is as heartbreaking as some of the others I’ve put on here. You can get the complete season 1 (episodes 1-5) for 80% off, so all five episodes are 4$. This game brings up a lot of hard hitting themes and the whole fan base is pretty divided on the ending (and if you play, do let me know what you choose ;)) but I highly recommend it, just from a puzzle game point of view.

The Eyes of Ara: This game is point and click, and it’s 60% off, making it 6 bucks. This game makes me feel so stupid sometimes. There was a lot of me wandering about clicking randomly and hoping I found something. But like it’s spiritual predecessor (the Myst games), there’s a lot of storytelling through journals and notes and I love the aesthetic.

Myst: So of course I had to put this on here - all the Myst games are currently 40% off, and they’ve all been optimized to run on a Windows 10 system now. So no more needing a seriously ancient and defunct QuickTime version (1.3, wince wince wince) to run the animations. I grew up on these games, in fact, Myst Masterpiece Edition is the very first video game I ever played, when I was - here I go, dating myself - seven years old. Survival Games:

The Long Dark: Technically, this game still has episodes coming out. I think we’re at 3, now, and there’s like... 2 more still to come. However, you can play the episodes, and also play in the Sandbox version of the game. I started playing it like, three years ago and I managed to sink over 60 hours JUST playing the sandbox during Early Access. It’s 75% off, so it’s less than 8$.

Outlast: Yes, this is survival horror and it’s currently 80% off. It definitely can be a bit. Rough. But for 4 dollars, I’d give it a chance. (I’m not actually a huge fan of survival horror on it’s own because I don’t like the concept that the only thing you can do is turn and run and hide. Honestly, if I were put in a situation where something was going to attack me, I’d hit it back.) But Outlast was a lot of fun.

Hope this helps, anon! Enjoy your gaming!

[stay--satan]

Sometimes I Imagine Death So Close It Feels More Like a Memory (Jason Todd x Reader)

Alright so this is my first attempt to this kind of story in another language (please forgive me for any misspell, english is my second language) and I’m accepting some good writing advices.

Jason saves the reader by only finding out she didn’t wanna be saved.

A guess there’s angst?

Jason first came cross her when she was 15 at a robbery at the dinner she was on. Though the only contact they had was a deep gaze, it was the first time that her heart skipped a bit as she spent nights thinking about him and creating meetings that could only happen in her head. She went away so she could finish her education in another country while Jason had died and comeback with a lot anger on.

She came back working as an accountant on her uncle's fancy restaurant living a rountined life HOME-WORK-HOME style for a few months when a guy in a black suit armored with a gun that it was longer than her legs came in the restaurant starting a huge argument. She runned back to her office, calling the GCPD but with no response. Pulling her arms behind her head as she left her office saying that they could take her instead of one of the owners "It's more appealing to kill a woman than two men. Plus they are stronger than me so there will be no fighting." she said when she saw her uncles being held by gunpoint. She was taken by one of then whispering in her ear a few curses because she was trying to hide away from them as they were pulling her hair so tight it was starting to give a little headache. Y/N closed her eyes when felt a cold metal in her temple as one of the men yelled so everyone could hear that she was going to die if they didn't had 10 thousand dollars on their bag. She heard her uncle scream her name begging for her life and the sound of Y/N's voice came out as a shock to her "It's okay. I'm not scared"

"Oh, so you're a little brave bitch?" the guy behind her whispered as he held her tighly "So how's your little mamma is gonna feel when she sees your little precious brain on the floor of this fancy place?" she hears a noise as he prepares his gun and she gives away her final thoughts before leaving.

Sure she loved her uncles. They were the only ones who actually supported and cared about her as they never had the chance to adopt on their own. They paid for her entire education and when she gotted the schollarship for the Scotland University, they were over the moon and she promised to pay them back when she finally succeded. Her mother lived in another country with a current boyfriend only calling her once a year and her father died before she was born. She only had about three friends her entire life, but they eventually went away after finding their soulmates. Love never smiled to her as she did for it. Never had an actual date in her whole life, only a few guys that she goes out at partys but nothing to be returned.

She always felt sad about feeling like this. About not feeling loved enough, having fun enough, not being smart enough or pretty as the people she knew. But at that moment, she felt good. It was going to over before she knew and she could restart her life as someone else if being reincarnated and forgeting everything and not being an actual dissapointment to her uncles. But before she could relieve her last sigh, there were noises everywhere and the guy that was holding her fell by her side as she felt arms around her holding her so tight. Y/N opened her eyes and was being held by her sobbing uncles telling that it was okay now, she was safe. She nodded lightly her head letting go of them as she sees a red hooded figure talking with the black suited men that was laying on the floor presumed dead

The Red Hood turned to her as she couldn't stop eyeing the body on the floor "Are you okay? He's not gonna hurt you anymore" the kinda robotic voice under the helmet told her. "Y-Yeah. Whatever." she mumurs as she turns around "Is this dissapoiment on your voice I sense?" he sounded mockery "Sorry to save you right in time?" She turned back to him with half shutted eyes in anger "Thank you for saving my uncles restaurant. Free food for your entire life if you wish, just leave a reservation." and walked back to her office as the GCPD started to appear at the local.

Jason came back late that night, showing up by her window seeing the light was on and Y/N was holding her head on her hands with her eyes shut. He knocked and she jumped a bit and eye rolling as she opened the window "No crazy dudes trying to rob here for the last five hours, thank you for your visit" and she was about to shut the window back as he helded and came in removing his helmet and appearing with the black mask only.

"Did you wanted to die?"

The question hits her in shock. "Excuse me?"

"Back at the robbery. I was watching you. You didn't flich when the gun was in your head, you didn't fight back, even after it was over, you weren't shaking at all as I always see and your eyes were completely different. So did you surrender yourself because you wanted it?" She looks at her own hands with a angry face on. Sure that thought only hitted her when she realised that could happen when the guy activated his gun but it was something always triggering to her.

Y/N never had an actual episode of crisis. Sure she once looked from the rooftop and thought about throwing herself but the other thought thiking about the trauma she would left to her uncles was unspeakble selfish. Then she thought again back in Scotland looking at one of the bridges and the river that cross by. She had the option of never having her body found and it would make it better not traumatizing her family, but she was never able to do it. She just believed her time would come really soon. Even when she was with her friend at the dinner that old day and the guy who was assaulting saying he was going to kill everyone didn't make her feel threatened or anything, but fortunally Robin stopped by and saved everyone's asses who didn't wanna die that day.

She believed she was gonna die soon than other people she ever met cause what other reason a person could be this lonely in her life? Maybe the guy that controls everyone's fate choose an amount of people to be unhappy in their life so they could ended sooner.

"I wasn't scared. That's all." She says more sharply that she wanted "I don't fear death."

Jason was capt by surprise and let a chuckle "Have you seen death? It makes everyone terrifed"

"It does. I would be desperate if I was dying and could not being able to tell everyone I love how I feel. But I don't have, so death is not that much"

Jason was so angry and curious by this woman. How could she tell that? Have she died before? Because he had and didn't wanna pass through that again.

The first thing Dick asked when he came back and they recounted was how death felt like. Did he met God? Or was just a plane dimension with a bunch of strange people? He didn't remembered much, but remembered the agony it was when all he could see was darkness for awhile. He took a deep breath as he continued

"Look, I don't know you, or how your life is going but I can assure you it's not the easist way out." She finally looked up and met his gaze under the mask. He looked so compassioned about her that her heart skipped a bit for the second time. Letting go a breath she relaxed her shoulders a bit 

"It's not like I'm suicidal or anything. I appreaciate your concern, really" Y/N maked sure she looked deep into his eyes "But I'm not worried. If I had to put my life in front of my uncles, I'm not gonna be terrifed or regreteful. I have nothing to loose, Red" Jason felt his chest clinch a bit as he hears her words. 

The saddest part was he couldn't even tell her tone was since it was so appatic and thruthful. He walked a little bit closer to her helding his helmet by side his body and leaned over her desk.

"Look..." He inhales and brushes his hair with his fingers "I'm not the greatest person to talk about, but I felt that way too."

"You don't even know my name, Red"

"It's literaly written on your desk, Y/N" he points to the little card on her desk Y/N L/N. "And you feel like nobody. Actually you feel more like that, you feel numb. Like you could literaly dissapear and no one would miss you through the crowd. You carry the weight on your shoulders but it's like you're the only person in the world who does that because everyone else is distracted from other things. You feel mislocated in a room where everyone's feel complete and have someone to cheer them up but with you, if you don't crawl out of the hole by yourself you'll just stay there."

Every single word coming from him it was like a sharpen blade through Y/N's chest. She looked down a bit and let her eyes fill with tears

"Sometimes I think about death so much it feels more like a memory. It's lonely, agonizing and selfish."

"For a guy who says he's not a hero you sure look a lot like a one" He lets a chuckle and knees in front of her whiping away a few tears from her

"And I'm not. You're just part of a group of a select misfortune people." he grins as she melts a little smile

"I feel ridiculous talking to a guy in a costume"

"If it makes you feel better I feel ridiculous talking to a pretty girl about feelings. They usually buy me a coffee first"

"I could do that but surely with our luck you'll probably get bored in the middle of conversation and shoot me"

"Oh God do you really wanna go in there? Okay so the most exciting part of my day is cleaning my guns after patrol. Can you beat the boriness?"

"I imagine situations with people I cross paths just for the feeling of having any friends"

"You mean you're a grown up woman with a degree with imaginary friends?"

"They're real... I just never spoken to them in person" She says a bit embarrassed as he lets a smile cross his face

"I dig that. I'm Jason and I've got a place where the food is free. Wanna come?"

[littlemissmeggie]

Hey Meggie I just wanted to say that I hope everything’s ok and if it’s not I hope things get better soon sending lots of love

hi friend! i haven’t been getting tumblr notifications for some reason so i didn’t see this. i just assumed i wasn’t getting any, which would make sense since i’ve been posting about four times a month. i don’t really know how i’m doing right now. i think my depression and anxiety have just got me to the point where i’m not feeling too much, to be honest. i’ve run out of unemployment but i think i’m getting the $300 a week though i’m not sure? it’s not very clear, or maybe i’m just an idiot. probably the latter. my virtual classes haven’t picked up at all and i really just feel like giving up. my boyfriend and mom and sister keep saying, “give it time! it’ll work!” but they’re not the ones spending so much time and effort creating menus, testing recipes, writing recipes and packets, making instagram and facebook posts, etc. and then having absolutely nobody even show interest in the classes. my cousin paid me to bake and ship christmas cookies to a few of her coworkers for christmas gifts and i thought, “maybe i’ll start an etsy shop doing cookies and candies!” you know, to make a few extra bucks. but like, lol. who am i kidding. that will flop too. i feel so alone and scared. i don’t think most people have thought about how covid could affect people with epilepsy; a high fever would 100% trigger a severe seizure for me and i would definitely end up in the emergency room. i’m terrified of that. my neurologist suspects the lesion we found in march and have been monitoring is damage most likely caused by a cluster of seizures i had a few years ago that put me in status epilepticus, a state when the brain is unable to stop the seizures and requires medical intervention to stop it; i was given two doses of ativan intravenously before they stopped. (one in five people who go into status dies.) i’m so scared that if i get covid, that could happen again and i don’t want more damage. we already know this lesion has caused increased migraines, chronic headaches, and new seizure activity.

over the past week, i’ve been trying to think of the positive things that have happened this year. i got three new doctors who have been working to provide me with the medical care i need. they listen to me and take the proper action to deal with new symptoms and concerns. they run appropriate tests (even if they’re costing me thousands of dollars). they don’t dismiss my concerns or tell me that they “sound like psych problems.” i started a new medication that has helped prevent migraines, eliminated the 10-month-long chronic headache i suffered with, and controls one of my focal seizures. we’ve promptly increased one of my old meds (twice) to control two new types of focal seizures. because i spent most of the year out of work, i was able to spend a bit more time with my baby niece than i would have if i’d been working my 60+ hour a week job. my sister and brother-in-law got married in a tiny little ceremony in my dad’s backyard and it was not what they’d pictured when they set their date last year but it was lovely despite the massive changes. i’ve been trying to think positively. it’s not easy. i’m trying to set some simple goals for 2021. nothing like my usual goals because who the fuck knows what we’ll even be able to do this coming year but there are some i can definitely do no matter what 2021 allows us in the outside world, like “listen to new music” and “write” and “read.”

anyway, this is so much more than you expected. i should have just said, “thank you for your kind words! they mean so much!” which is how i’ll end this because it’s true. so thank you for this message. i appreciated opening the app today and seeing it in my notifications.

xo

[kayliemusing]

Survey 7

1. First thing you wash in the shower?  - Hair 2. Are you more of a coffee or alcohol drinker? - Neither. Blah! 3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? - I’ve never been kissed. 4. Do you plan outfits? - No 5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?  - I’m feeling a little tired, but overall really good because I finally wrote a piece I’m proud of. It didn’t feel like pulling teeth for once.  6. Whats the closest thing to you thats red? - My blanket! 7. What would you do if you opened your door and saw a dead body?  - Scream 8. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?  - Last night I had this weird dream that I was watering brown grass and the water was making it go green. That was it. That was the dream. 9. Three of your current feelings right now? - Tired, content, proud/relieved 10. What are you craving right now? - Nothing really. I feel okay. Earlier I was craving some kind of candy. 11. Turn ons?  - Hands, jawlines, toned backs (I know it’s weird but have you seen a nice back? great eye candy), confidence, kindness, humor. 12. Turn offs? - Offensive jokes, Rude to food workers/retail workers or rude in general, arrogance 13. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? - Cabbage 14. When was the last time you cried? Why?  - This morning listening to worship music. I know it sounds tacky to other people, but I was just feeling really grateful to God at the time. 15. If you could be a superhero, who would you want to be? - I guess Wonderwoman because I like her outfit. lmao. I don’t really watch/know a lot about superheros. I watched Wonderwoman and enjoyed the movie and she’s insanely beautiful, so that’s my choice. 16. Did the one person who hurt you most in your life apologize? - No 17. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? - Lick it, how do you bite it?! It’s so cold!! 18. Favorite movie ever? - I don’t think I have favourite movies. I’m not a big movie watcher. So I have a few I like but I don’t know if I’ve ever had a favourite movie. I think closest to my favourite movie would be The Greatest Showman though or A Christmas Carol (2009) because that one makes me feel happy and content. 19. Do you like yourself? - Self love is something I struggle with the most in life. As of right now, no. I have a lot of self loathing and I don’t know why. There are things I love about myself like that I’m kind hearted and that I pay attention to small details and that I’m self aware. But I could list a million things I hate about myself, and like three things I like. 20. Have you ever met a celebrity? - No 21. Could you handle being in the military? - No way! 22. What are you listening to right now?  - I can’t listen to music while I do anything else, because I can’t multitask. So I’ve been sitting in the quiet. But I was listening to music earlier and I think I was listening to Ahay by Of Monsters and Men. 23. How many countries have you visited? - I’ve never been outside of Canada. 24. Are your parents strict?  - No, but they had boundaries and rules. 25. Would you go sky diving? - See, I like the idea but I would never go through with it so no. 26. Would you go out to eat with a stranger? - No, that’s so awkward and I’m bad at conversations that goes past “Hi, how are you?” with people I don’t know. 27. Whats on your mind right now? - Nothing for once. I guess writing, like always but mostly that I’m proud of myself for spitting something out that I really enjoyed writing. I missed that, because I’ve been struggling with my writing. 28. Is there anything you want to say to someone? - Not really.  29. Have you ever been in a castle? - No 30. Do you rent movies often?  - No 31. Whats your zodiac sign?  - P i s c e s 

32. When was the last time you had sex? - Haven’t had that yet. 33. Name five facts about yourself. - I’m a Writer, surprise surprise since I never stop talking about it on my surveys - I love Taylor Swift (another great surprise since I ranted about her yesterday) - My favourite band is Of Monsters and Men - My favourite writer is Richard Siken - I was born in March 34. Ever had a near death experience? If so, what happened? - No 35. Do you believe in karma or predestiny?  - I do believe in karma.  36. Brown or white eggs? - I think they taste the same, so both. 37. Do you own something from Hot Topic? - No 38. Ever been on a train? - Yes 39. Ever been in love? - No   40. If you were paid 1 million dollars to spend the night in a supposed haunted house, would you do it?  - Yes, because I don’t believe in ghosts 41. If you could trade places with any person living or dead, who would you trade places with? - I’d love to be Taylor Swift for a day so I could check out her house and see her kitchen, and write a kick ass song.  42. If you could shorten your life expectancy by 10 years to becopme more attractive, would you do it?  - No 43. Whom do you admire and why? - Taylor Swift. I admire her as a writer, of course, but I also admire her as a person and business woman. She’s so clever and quickwitted, and she’s so kind and generous. But also, I’ve seen how people have tried to tear her down her entire career literally for just existing and being a successful female artist and she’s always gotten back up and come back with a bang. I just love that devotion to her craft - that it’s basically stayed the same since she started: writing music. 44. What was your favorite bedtime story as a child? - I loved anything Robert Munsch 45. You’re walking down the street, you come across a burning building. A woman says her baby is trapped inside, what would you do? - I would panic first of all, but I would call 911. If it was safe enough or I thought I could make it, I would save the baby but I’m not going to deny that I would probably be panicking and too afraid to go inside. 46. If you could choose the future profession of your son or daughter, would you? - I don’t really care what they do as long as it’s not mlm. 47. What was your best experience on drugs or alcohol? - Haven’t done either. (I’ve had wine before obvs, but have never been able to stomach more than half a glass.) 48. What was your worst experience on drugs or alcohol? - Same answer as the last. 50. As your walking down the street you find a suitcase full of money sitting next to a parked car, would you take it?  - Probably not because I’m assuming it’s blood money or stolen or John Quinones is hanging out in the distance with a camera crew ready to shame me.    51. If you found that a close friend has AIDS, would you still hang out with them?  - Yes, because it’s not leprosy and it can’t jump off of them   52. In front of you are 10 pistols, 5 of which are loaded. If you survive you’d receive 100 million dollars. Would you be willing to place 1 to your head and pull the trigger? - That’s a solid nope 53. How old were you when you lost your virginity? - I haven’t yet 54. Do you believe in ghosts, werewolves or vampires?  - No, but I’ve always found werewolves fascinating. 55. If you could live forever, would you want to? - I hate the idea of dying, but I’m going to say no because I feel like living forever would be lonely and painful, and I’d like to go to heaven and live a better life there. 56. Which fictional movie character most resembles who you are? - Probably Cher from Clueless when that guy slung his arm around her shoulders. “Ugh! AS IF!”  57. If you could go back in time, which time period would you visit? - I’d like to either visit the 80′s bc I feel like they were iconic, or the 1830′s-ish because I love the detail they put into architecture and furniture. Probably would hate the Polio thing, but beggars can’t be choosers. 58. If they were to televise a live execution, would you watch it?  - No, I mostly disagree with capital punishment. Even if the person was horrendous, I don’t believe in celebrating death. 59. If you could be the president of the USA, would you be willing to do it? - No because the internet would hurt my feelings and I would cry during debates 60. If you could choose the sex of your unborn child, would you want to? - I think that would be cool, yeah. Then you could know what you’re getting.  61. Would you rather live longer or be wealthy?  - Wealthy thanks.

[sinsiriuslyemo]

Good morning guys!!! Here is a new episode of Cuba v DR!! In this episode, Nevada finally gains an upper hand, Amber considers her options, and Rafael comes home to a surprise visitor...

EPISODE 10

Nevada's phone rang, and he answered without checking the caller ID.

“Now that wasn't very nice,” a low voice said into the phone. “My men look like fried chicken.” He gave a chuckle.

“Oh that’s just a preview, carbón. We’re coming to get you next, pero you won’t be going as quickly. I’m gonna take my sweet time with you,” Nevada replied with a smirk.

Chibby and Sawyer worked furiously to track the call while Nevada spoke to Ray.

“You're tracking me now, right? No need. I'll give you my location. And a compliment. Your daughter looks so much like your wife. My goodness, she's gonna be quite the beauty queen someday. And I like her red overalls.”

His description matched, Lily loved to wear her red overalls.

“Why don’t you ask your boy Hector what happened to him when he tried to fuck with my wife. You think you got the upper hand, pendejo? But you don’t know my ace in the hole,” Nevada replied, smirking at Josiah, who winked at him. “So why don’t you grow some balls and come out, come out, wherever you are?”

“I'm not hiding,” he chuckled. “Oh hang on one second,” there was the sound of shuffling and then your voice.

“Can I help you?”

“Ma'am we're getting a warning of an inmate headed in this direction. We're knocking on doors to check. May I come in?”

“No, you can’t,” he heard you reply as Nevada looked over at Josiah, nodding his head once.

The older man nodded, and picked up his phone, making one phone call while Nevada listened closely.

There was some more shuffling before he heard a door slam, and Josiah’s man in the distance.

“Game over, pendejo,” Nevada heard Josiah’s guy say.

There was silence for a moment, and Nevada couldn’t help the satisfied grin that came over him.

“That was pretty stupid, bro. Going to my family, you didn’t think I’d be ready for that?” Nevada taunted.

“Bring his ass here,” Josiah said to his own man before he hung up.

“And I’m just getting started, cabrón,” Nevada whispered to Ray.

You called Nevada, you didn't care about getting caught now.

“What the fuck was that?” You hissed.

“That was us finally grabbing the guy behind all this, give me a few hours. I’ll call you when it’s time to come home,” Nevada replied. “Just hold on a little longer, baby. It’s almost over.”

You hung up on him. You hated this. Nevada frowned, pulling the phone away as Josiah’s men brought Ray into the restaurant.

“So we finally meet face to face,” Nevada said as he and Jasper came to stand in front of Ray.

“Nice to meet you,” Ray grinned. “I like your place.”

Nevada chuckled softly.

“Nobody’s been stupid enough to try and take the Heights for a while,” Nevada mused. “So, you can understand why I’m gonna want to make an example outta you, and your...lackeys...what’s left of them anyway,” he added, smirking.

The man nodded, “understandable,” he chuckled. “Alright, so what's the plan? Beheading? Brain damage? Oh I can help with that one.” He slammed his head hard into the restaurant table, once, twice, three times.

Nevada arched a brow as Josiah’s men pulled him away from the table, tying his wrists to a rope that hung from one of the beams on the ceiling.

“You think you can freak us out by acting looney?” Nevada asked, smirking. “Nah...we’ve seen loonier,” he replied. “No, first...the ace in the hole that I promised you. You’re gonna watch while we burn everything of yours to the ground...from here, down to Miami.” Nevada smirked a little when Ray’s brows furrowed skeptically. “Didn’t think we could, huh? I guess my tech guys are better than yours after all.”

Ray laughed, “You think I'm stupid? I'm not the one with a family in a job like this pendejo. If I don't kill them, someone else will. That's how that shit works. You and Blackwood are the real villains, bringing kids into this mess.”

“To each his own...see what you’re forgetting is that real live people can fight back...but your precious tech...that does what we tell it to. In about two minutes, you’re gonna watch your halfass kingdom burn down. Then we’re gonna take turns with you. You’re gonna wish you were dead by the end of it.”

“How old is your princess? Hmm? Six? She would be worth a pretty penny on the market. All that long hair and pink lips. She'd get passed around like two dollar whore in the underground.”

“You love to talk, don’t you, mate?” Jasper inquired, arching a brow.

“Yeah, almost like he’s trying to get us to do something,” Nevada added, looking over at his partner.

“You mean, like activate the deadman’s trigger he’s wired to all of our homes?” Jasper asked, playing along.

“Yeah, but he doesn’t know that our tech guys already deactivated those,” Nevada replied.

“Right, using our loved ones against us to try and regain the upper hand. If he goes, we go.”

“Exactamente, pero coño...didn‘t we find some bitch in Miami?”

“The one maintaining all of his assets, yes...I do believe we’ve paid her a visit.”

Ray looked between Nevada and Jasper, his face falling with every word between the two men. It was almost as though he watching a tennis match that he’d bet big on, and he was losing.

“I guess he figured we’d never find out about her because she’s some rich white girl, and they don’t live together,” Nevada offered.

“Plus there’s no record that they have ever even met, but he wasn’t betting that we would gain access to the security feed in her sister’s loft.”

“Or that the feed records…”

“Right, so he never thought we would see a tape of his proposal--”

“Yeah, bro, right after sex? Coño, buy her dinner first, pendejo,” Nevada mused, turning his gaze back to Ray.

Ray gritted his teeth, but said nothing. “You think this is over if you kill me? Not a chance.”

“Oh we’re not gonna kill you...yet,” Nevada replied. “Not before we have some fun.”

“Well then let's do this thing, fucker.”

Nevada nodded slowly, whistling loudly before Parker and Maddison brought out Ray’s fiance, who was crying as she looked at Ray.

“You know, I heard this puta gives really good head,” Nevada said, looking over the crying blonde girl.

“Don't you fucking touch her!” Ray growled and tried to lunge at the men.

“Ray!” She sobbed and tried to move to him.

“Shhh, it's okay baby,” he whispered, “I promise.”

“Do you always make promises you can’t keep, Ray?” Jasper asked.

Nevada nodded to Maddison, stepping away from the blonde prisoner to give the widow space.

“Please, let us go,” the blonde sobbed. “I’ll get you whatever you want, please!”

“Your fiance put a hit out on our daughters, both are under the age of ten,” Jasper replied. “He also murdered my dear friend’s husband.”

“You have no idea how long I've been waiting to get my revenge,” Maddison cooed as she slammed the blonde against the wall.

“She's got nothing to do with this!” Ray shouted.

“She has everything to do with this!” Maddison screamed. “You killed the man I love and now I'm gonna kill your pretty little bride!”

“Slowly…” Nevada suggested with a smirk, pinching the blonde’s chin lightly. “Too bad, mami. Back in the day, I’d have torn that pussy apart,” he said before leaving Maddison to do as she pleased.

Amber clicked through sites for adoption agencies. She wasn't sure yet, but...she'd rather this baby have a good home than be raised by a single mother.

She couldn't help herself from clicking on the site and dialing the number.

One of the workers was kind enough to offer to schedule a meet with some prospective parents for that afternoon.

She was just testing the waters.

When they arrived at the apartment, they were all smiles, blonde hair, blue eyes, a nice little white family from the suburbs.

“Hi you must be Amber, my name is Chandler and this is my wife Rebecca.”

“Hi there!” She gave a cheery wave.

Amber wanted to throw up. These two would make her baby into someone who laughs at office jokes and says “okie-dokie.”

“And who is this?” Chandler cooed, bending a little to talk to Amber’s belly. “Is this a pretty baby girl?”

She internally cringed, “my husband should be back from work in a bit if you'd like to meet him too...but yes...it's a baby girl. Or it could be a panda for all I know, I can't exactly see inside.”

Neither of them laughed, brows furrowed like it was an insane statement rather than an attempt at a lighthearted joke.

“Well that's biologically impossible,” Rebecca said with a smile.

“Right...I must have forgotten.”

“So...why are you deciding on adoption, if you don’t mind me asking?” Rebecca asked, smiling brightly.

“I'm not sure yet but...I want what's best for my daughter. If I can't give it to her, then I want someone who can.”

“That's as good a reason as any! Oh and there must be the Mister!” Chandler walked over and grinned pulling the man into a hug. “Chandler Romero, and this is my angel of a wife Rebecca.”

“Friends call me Becky!” She chirped and Amber considered throwing Becky out of a window. “Gosh he is so tall! And excuse my language but you two are just cute as heck!”

“Becky, we're in front of people. I'm so sorry, she normally doesn't curse like that!”

“No sir, actually I'm just a friend,” he chuckled. “Troy Maddison, pleasure to meet you.” He moved to Amber and gave her a tight hug.

“I thought you'd be deployed forever,” she sighed against him.

“And miss you popping out a rugrat? Nah.”

“Oh, are you in the Army?” Becky asked, slightly uncomfortable. “We’re against violence...maybe it is best to--”

“Becky, please,” her husband whispered to her. “I’m sorry, we just believe that children shouldn’t be exposed to violent behavior, even in a military setting. But we’re not judging you,” Chandler insisted in a manner that made it sound as though that was exactly what they were doing.

“No sir, I completely understand. I'm here to pick up my drugs and then I'll leave.”

Amber had to bite her lip to keep from smiling as Becky and Chandler shared a nervous glance.

“I’m just pulling your leg, folks,” Troy offered softly.

“Well it was nice meeting you guys, but I'm a little tired and this baby needs rest,” Amber gave them a warm smile. “Lovely meeting you both.”

“Oh…” Becky frowned.

“Of course, we’ll let you two get some rest,” Chandler replied, smiling warmly. “Maybe we can stop by and see you and Petunia again,” he suggested.

“Oh I love that name!” Becky mused with a cheery smile.

Amber gave them both hugs and sent them on their way. “No. No adoption.”

Troy burst out laughing. “Awww why not? You don't want to give little Petunia to Chandler and Becky.” He made a face. “They were awful.”

“Right? The worst!” She laughed and smiled hugging Troy again. “Now shut up and feel my baby kick.”

She put his hand on her belly and watched him grin when he felt the kick. That was the reaction she'd hoped for.

“That's amazing, Amber, you have a little person in you!” He kept his hands on her belly and smiled. “Hey there Petunia.”

“No.”

“No?”

“Never, no.”

“What's her name then?”

“Fallon,” Amber said gently.

“Well that’s a nice name,” Troy replied, smiling and glancing around. “Where’s Omar?” he asked.

She shrugged, “honestly…? Not a clue. We had a fight and then I told him to leave...he did.” She hugged her belly tight.“I'm scared I pushed him too far.”

“He loves you, Amber. You know that. You told me that he was adjusting right? Let him adjust.”

“It's been two months.”

“Well he had the same life for sixty years,” he pointed out with a playful smirk.

Amber giggled. “I'm not married to a grandpa.”

“However long, he grew up in a certain lifestyle. It’s gonna take him longer than two months to get used to a new setting, a new expectation,” Troy offered. “You’re having a baby, that’s a big, big deal for a lot of people. It’s someone who won’t be able to take care of themselves, she’ll need you to feed her, to change her, teach her how to talk, how to walk, how to use the toilet...that’s a huge responsibility.”

She nodded and hugged her belly tight. “I love her so much, I just don't know if I can raise her alone...I'm scared.”

She moved closer to him and pressed her face against his chest. She just felt like she was doing this alone and she was terrified.

Troy wrapped an arm around her, stroking her hair. “C’mon Woods, you've carried soldiers through crossfire, disarmed bombs, even though I told you not to. Do you really think you can't handle being a mom?”

“Maybe I just don't want to handle it alone...maybe I'm tired of alone.”

“Well, he has to come back, I mean his stuff is still here, right?” he asked, gaining a nod from her. “Okay, so he has to come back sometime. Who would know where he is?”

She shook her head, “he doesn't have a particular place he would go, I just… I want to help.”

“I know you do, but sometimes it's not that easy.”

“Nothing has ever been easy.”

“And it never will be, so get used to it. If life was easy, anyone would do it.”

“Well, this baby’s coming, so...I have to figure out how I’m gonna do this,” Amber replied. “I guess with or...without Omar in the picture.”

“Look, just give him some time. He may not have a place, but he has friends, right? He’s got two brothers, what about them? Would they know where he is?” Troy asked.

“Maybe but they're dealing with...other stuff today. You're staying here right?” she asked hopefully.

“Yeah, don't worry about it.” He smiled and gave her a hug.

Rafael came home after Cory had been caught trying to sneak onto his father’s airplane, relieved that at least one of the men who wanted him dead was back in prison where he belonged. Heeley on the other hand was suspected to have left the country, which wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

“Roxie, I’m home,” he called out, walking into their condo.

“Kitchen,” she called out, giggling. “Aaron brought us dinner to say thank you for letting him use the phone.”

Aaron smiled at Rafael. “Hey man, I hope you like ginger caramelized chicken.”

“It's delicious,” she said as she took another bite.

“I’ll bet, Rafael replied. “I’m just gonna wash up,” he added, moving into their bedroom. “He makes ginger caramelized chicken and it’s delicious, I make an omelette and it’s obnoxious,” he mumbled to himself, going into the ensuite to wash his hands.

“Rafi, oh my god,” Roxie said with a smile when he came back. “Aaron and I went to the same culinary school.”

“Only for a semester, Manchester was a little wild for me,” he chuckled.

“What a small world,” Rafael mumbled with a polite smile. “So how long have been a baker, Aaron?” he asked as the other man served him food.

“Roxie's a baker, I'm a chef, but I've been cooking my whole life,” he smiled. “I run a bakery for now, I'd much prefer a restaurant,” he said honestly. “How long have you been an ADA? My sister in law is a lawyer, maybe you know her. Rita? Calhoun?”

“Rita Calhoun is your sister in law?” Rafael asked with an arched brow. “That’s interesting,” he mumbled. “Rita and I actually went to Harvard together. She’s a good woman, though she never mentioned a brother in law.”

“Well, I don't know many people who talk about their brother in laws,” he chuckled and sipped the wine he and Roxie had poured. “She's good people, way too good for my brother. You went to Harvard? Wow, that's really impressive,” he smiled.

“She’s never even mentioned a husband,” Rafael mumbled softly.

“Disappointed?”

“Yeah Rafi, disappointed?” Roxie quirked an eyebrow expectantly.

“Disappointed about what?” Rafael inquired with a confused expression.

“That she's taken,” Roxie said casually, though her lips were pursed.

“I’m engaged, why would I be disappointed?” Rafael replied.

“Someone who's in the same profession, went to school together…” she mused.

Rafael furrowed his brows, tilting his as he looked at Roxie.

“Are you serious?” he inquired.

“Is she pretty?”

“I don’t know,” Rafael replied in a snort. “I’ve never noticed.”

She relaxed at this.

“Raise your bar a little higher, we're in the same profession and we went to the same school. And ew. Not a chance in hell of that happening,” Aaron cringed at the thought.

“Rude,” Roxie made a face.

Rafael was looking at the two of them with a confused expression.

“I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone,” Rafael murmured. “So, Aaron, what’s your girlfriend or...boyfriend’s name?” he asked, trying to get to know the guy that apparently Roxie knew relatively well.

“Single,” he said with a smile. “Well, there's a few women but I'm not really interested in settling down.” He shrugged.

“How lovely,” Rafael quipped. “Hanging out with engaged couples must be so boring for you.”

“Not at all, I admire couples like you two. So happy with pasta for life.”

“Pasta?”

“Yeah, I mean, let's say Roxie is pasta, if you marry her, you will have pasta every night for the rest of your life. That's dedication to pasta. Not me, I like steak, seafood, lamb chops...I could never be happy eating pasta till I die.”

“Well, with all due to respect to your brilliant analogy, Roxie is far more to me than just...pasta,” Rafael replied. “Every man should be so lucky as to find a woman like her,” he added, putting a hand possessively on her lower back as he winked at her.

She smiled.

“I don't mean any disrespect man, Roxie is great. I'm just not the type of guy to settle down. It's got nothing to do with how great your fiancé is. I'm sure she's wonderful.” He offered a smile.

“More than,” Rafael replied with a smirk, pulling Roxie closer to him. “I gotta say, I find it a bit strange that a single guy, who has no interest in settling down would enjoy spending his time with couples, but to each his own, I guess.”

“Rafi…” Roxie said softly. “You're being rather rude…”

“It's fine, I can leave if you want. I'm not trying to overstay my welcome, I just wanted to say thank you.”

“How am I being rude? I was making an observation,” Rafael replied, looking at Roxie.

“It's just not something people say…” she frowned but turned her attention back to her food.

“But comparing a human being to pasta is completely acceptable,” Rafael mused, arching a brow. “That’s interesting,” he mumbled.

“I'm gonna head out, I'll just catch you later Roxie,” Aaron stood and smiled, giving her a peck on the lips before waving to Rafael. “See ya around Rafael.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and headed out.

Rafael arched a brow in surprise, mouth hanging open.

“Did he just…” He pointed to Roxie’s lips. “And that’s okay? Didn’t you just meet this guy?”

“You've never kissed someone hello or goodbye?” She actually looked puzzled. “Do you not do that here?”

“Never on the lips,” he replied. “Don’t tell me that’s a London thing, because I know it isn’t,” he added.

“It's not a London thing...it's just something you do. It's not like it was sexual. He's Eastern European so it's more common where he lived, but we did it where I lived as well.” She went back to her food, “Rafi I don't understand why you're so hostile with him. He has zero interest in me. And I have zero interest in him.”

“I am not hostile towards him, I just found it odd that a single man, whom you’ve just met, would want to spend time with an engaged woman,” he replied. “I know you have no interest in him, and I’m certainly not jealous.”

“We both have similar work, we get along very well. That's all.”

“I thought he was your competition,” Rafael mused, picking up his untouched plate and throwing it away.

“What is your problem? He worked really hard on that, Rafi…”

“I don’t have a problem, I just didn’t want to be rude by throwing it away in front of him. I’m not fond of ginger chicken...besides I didn’t think you would want me to eat the food of your competition.”

That actually made her smile a bit as she rolled her eyes.

“I think it’s weird that you’re getting so defensive over a guy you barely know,” he mused, taking out some eggs and seasoning. “Is it okay if I make an omelette?” he asked.

“Yes, of course,” she said with a shrug. “I'm not getting defensive, you were being very rude. He's our neighbor and it was embarrassing. Also when he buys his restaurant, I want to buy out his bakery.”

“You are getting defensive, and how do you know he’s not just saying he wants to buy a restaurant to get you to think you can relax around him? Honey, I gotta tell you, someone who wants to buy a restaurant doesn’t buy a bakery first. You run the risk of people coming to know you as a baker. It’s a risk that no chef with half a brain would make. The same with buying a restaurant when you really want to buy a bakery.”

“Because...no, that's ridiculous!” She shook her head. “Why do you always see the worst in him?”

“I’ve met him twice,” he replied, furrowing his brows. “I just think he’s suspicious and I would just be careful, that’s all,” he added, shrugging his shoulders.

She shook her head and sighed. “Mowgli, come here love.” She crouched down and picked him up. “Let's go take a bath.”

“We caught Cory Johnson, by the way,” Rafael mumbled to himself. “Oh my goodness, Rafael, that’s wonderful. I’m so proud of you,” he added in his Roxie voice. “Thanks, mi amor.”

His phone rang after a moment, and he picked it up without looking at the caller ID.

“Hello, Mr. Barba,” Rosamund’s voice caught him a bit off guard.

“Ms. Anderson, I didn’t think I’d hear from you until tomorrow,” he mused.

“Well, I just thought I would congratulate you on apprehending Cory Johnson.”

“Well, it wasn’t just me, Ms. Anderson, SVU had a lot to do with it as well,” he replied.

“Humble, great. Crowds love that. I'm going to need you to make a statement tomorrow about how it was a team effort. Flash a smile. Look cute. Speaking of cute, I'm gonna need to send a camera crew to the bakery to get some attention on your fiancé. Have her feed the homeless or something.”

“Actually, Roxie is going to be taking a couple of days off until Charles Heeley is apprehended. Or until there’s further evidence of him leaving the country. Though, she is looking forward to meeting you tomorrow,” Rafael replied.

“Wonderful, then I guess I'll see you both at noon! Wear something nice.”

“Okay, we will...goodbye,” he replied, hanging up the phone, and moving into the bathroom where Roxie was just drying off Mowgli. “That was Rosamund Anderson, the campaign manager. She’ll be here tomorrow at noon, and she told me for us to wear something nice. You’re a woman, what does that mean? A suit should be fine, right?” he asked.

“Yes, a suit.” she said stiffly, she wasn't mad, but she was a little annoyed. Although mostly she liked the way he made things up to her.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, taken aback a little by her tone.

“I don't know,” she mused. “Maybe I'm cranky with you…”

“Why? Because I shared my suspicions about your competition? Or because I got upset that some guy kissed the woman I’m supposed to be marrying on the lips?” he asked. Shaking his head a little, he rolled his eyes and moving to look in the walk in closet.

She moved back to drying off the piglet, nuzzling her nose against his and smiling. “I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much.”

Mowgli snorted softly, bumping her nose with his snout and then wriggling out of her arms to find Rafael in the walk in closet.

“What is it, mijo?” Rafael mumbled when he felt the piglet nibbling on his pants.

The pig tugged at the pants, nudging Rafael and leading him to the bathroom again where Roxie sat.

“I don’t think he likes it when you’re angry with me,” Rafael mused, pulling Roxie up from the floor.

Roxie smiled and wrapped her arms around him. “Children hate when their parents fight,” she whispered against his lips. “I hate it too.”

“I wasn’t fighting,” he said softly, kissing her and leaning his forehead against her temple. “You wanna help me pick out something to wear for tomorrow? Anderson wants me to do a press conference,” he said softly, rolling his eyes. “The one thing about politics that I can’t stand, fucking press.”

“That's what you hate about politics?” She giggled and walked over to the closet, sorting through things before pulling out a dark navy suit.

“Among other things,” he replied, looking at the suit and nodding. “What about a splash of color with the tie...and a pocket square. Are you thinking vest or suspenders?”

“Suspenders, with a red tie and a blue pocket square, blue shows loyalty, it makes you approachable and professional,” she said as she straightened the suit jacket and set it on a chair. “I took a color theory class to work with the interior designer for the bakery.”

He smirked at her, kissing her cheek and looking to her side of the closet.

“Okay, what about you? What’re you gonna wear tomorrow?”

“A red dress, with blue accents,” she said as she smiled.

“You’ll look beautiful,” he mumbled. “And we’ll match.”

She kissed him, “I know,” she winked. “I'm a good First Lady.”

[gordonlearllc-blog]

Top 6 Reasons Not to Trust a Top 10 Ranking List

I have been online longer than Google, Yahoo and Bing so to say I have seen it all and then some when is accurate.  In college I would sit in front of the lab terminal and access my email account using a command line program called Pine and search for information on another one called Gopher.  At the time, the “internet” was basically for scholars and user friendly wasn’t even part of the dialect.  Stuff like page ranking and SEO didn't even exist. But for a small-town New Hampshire kid having the world at his fingertips was mind-blowing.  I was instantly hooked and have spent the last two decades looking for the next next.  Keeping up with the newest trends (good and bad) is just part of who I am and lately I have seen some that really make me wonder where the internet is going…. If you search anything these days the top results will always have some form of Top 10 list.  It might be 5 or 15, maybe even say the “Best” or “Greatest” but the idea is always the same.  These ranking pages have exploded over the last few years due to search engines affinity to deem such a page useful to the user mostly because when they first started showing up they appeared to be genuine and provided the consumer value.  But like anything good on the internet it has become overridden with folks exploiting the system trying to make a buck. It is sad to say that pretty much any ranking page you find out there these days are junk. These sites have two goals;  First, get a high ranking in search engine results on a certain keywords and phrases; Second, get you to visit their page and click a link that will generate revenue.  Informing you about the product or service is nowhere in their agenda.  As a matter of fact many of these pages just a copy and paste right from the site they are promoting.  There is no commentary or analysis or a breakdown of the good and bad.  There is just the basic marketing polish found on the original site. Here is what to watch out for when looking at ranking si

1.) Affiliate Marketing

So you find a top 10 site that has a clear list of products and services and the top one lists all the great reasons why it is number one.  Then right next to it in a big pretty button with “get more info” or “Click for Price” in bold letters.  These buttons are called CALL-TO-ACTIONS  or CTAs. More often than not it is an Affiliate Marketer (AM).  Which is a “professional” marketing someone else’s goods and services for a commission.  An AM’s only loyalty is around the commission they get if you click the link they provide and it converts into a sale. SO what do you think this does to the quality of their ranking list?  Well just ask yourself this; If an AM gets $5 per sale for one product and $8 for another which one do you think they will rank higher? The catch with these commissions is the sale doesn’t have to be that day and many times it doesn’t even have to be that product.  As an example, you click an Amazon.com affiliate link and then leave that page only to find yourself on Amazon the next day to by something completely unrelated the AM gets a commission on that sale. So all the motivation behind their rankings is most likely monetary and you can forget about  finding rich thoughtful feedback or some deep product research that requires hard work and insight.  So, you basically find a horrible site that provides you no value.  It persuades to leave their site through an affiliate link and you reward them with a sale the following day having no idea it kicked them back a commission.  No wonder AM is a billion-dollar industry and more importantly why the internet is flooded with these Top pages. The good news here is reputable companies require affiliates to identify themselves as such.  So check out the page, most likely on the very bottom in small font you will find a disclaimer. If you do understand you are not reading unbiased content and be cautious its only purpose is to persuade you into clicking an AM link.

2.) Clickbait

Sites make money by displaying advertising on their sites. They can be AM links or just straight up Click Ads. When you come to a page full of Ads its hard not to argue the author’s only motivation all around the revenue they get paid per click or what is called PPC. Their pages are not designed for the user to easily and quickly read the article maximizing the value to the reader but to maximize the ad space, the click thru’s and value to their bank account. The classic overdone PPC sites are those that are almost impossible to read because so much stuff is loading and everything on the page keeps moving and stuff flies at you from all directions.  This of course is by design, they want you to accidently click an Ad as you navigate the page.  This not only tricks the user but it is also screwing over the advertiser because they are paying for bad clicks and traffic from users that never wanted to be there. These sites are nothing less than annoying.  You can’t trust anything they write seeing half the time they are trying to bore you to death so you leave their page through one of their ads.  The entire page is just one piece of click bait and should not be encouraged.  So unless you stop clicking they are not going away anytime soon.

3.) Slide Shows and Galleries

This is arguably the most arduous page of the web.  Its right there with Fake News so it is not uncommon to see both together.  These sites are the worst of the worst and often take the Top list to the extreme. The top 50 places to will be no less than 50 pages loaded full of advertising to get through.  They will even have “Next” buttons as Affiliate or Click-Throughs. Which drive me nuts.  You think you are going to the next slide but then you find yourself in the middle of pop-up-palooza!  They will throw flyout ads at you, imbed ads in between slides and the info on what that slide is even on the list is non-existent.  They are nothing but a time-thief and provide little to no value for the reader.  If you find yourself on one of these sites and you don’t know the source just leave because all you are doing is setting a cookie that tells advertisers you’re a sucker for click bait.  Just stay away from slideshows.

4.) Pseudo Sites

Some ranking sites are written by the company selling one of the items on the list. But they do it on a site that appears to be someone other than themselves.  It is common practice for a product manager to deploy many sites with content about their product and work like hell to get them all ranked high and basically push the competition to the second page of search results.  As the user you think you have found a bunch of different sources and after reading them you are impressed with the overall consensus across all these top sites and feel well informed to make a buying decision.  However, you have been duped! The product assessments on these pages are aligned because they were all created by the same marketing department! Its sad, you think you are reading separate perspectives from unconnected sources however you just spent the majority of your morning in one big sales funnel.  If you don’t know who owns the site you really should question the validity of the information they present.  Always always know you source.

5.) Lead Generation Sites

Have you ever looked online for car insurance and found a “Top X List” that was covered in “get free quote” buttons, you read their rankings and are impressed about the offer promising to save you money so you decide to click one?  Well I hope you read the fine print because there is a good chance your information was sent to EVERYONE on the list resulting in robo calls and junk mail.  On top of that your information gets sold over and over as someone “interested in car insurance” resulting in more calls and spam.  A site that seemed useful has now made the sound of your phone cringe-worthy and your inbox full of distractions and refuse.

6.) Fake Buying Guides

These are just another form of “Top 10” sites that are just as bad for all the same reasons.  They just use another important part of the search engines weighting calculation…  Age.  By putting the Year in the title it tells Google, Yahoo and Bing this list is relevant to NOW (or last year) so you should show it first.  Sites use this to exploit the system and give their pages an instant boost.  Most of the time these pages are recycled from the previous year.  I strongly suggest you stick to buying guides by reputable places like Consumer Reports and ConsumerSearch.com To sum things up, AM and other types of passive income are all the rage so the internet is getting saturated with these pages. I get those that want to create an online stream of cash with the flexibility to work from anywhere whenever they want.  Unfortunately, there are many just looking for a quick buck and will stop at nothing to keep the clicks coming.  So be an informed surfer.  Understand the motivation behind the info you are reading and be skeptical of all those pretty buttons and links that trigger that impulse to click. Only user behavior will change how these sites go about things. So if you’re sick of seeing these pages littering the front pages of your search pages don’t feed the frenzy by rewarding them with a visit. Read the full article

[hipandcriticalblog]

Morality: Is There A Right And Wrong?

May, 10, 2017 9:27 PM                                                                                          Xavier J. Jones 

   You have been working all day. All week. All year. Working the hardest you've ever worked in your life. Tax season shines it’s pretty little head around and you're smacked with the biggest refund this side of the timbuktu. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when the direct deposit drops? Treat yourself of course! You visit the closest shopping center and buy enough groceries and household items to last three months of strict martial law. You take out three hundred dollars of the ATM and go to the mall.

    I haven’t been working, due to the fact that at any moment, my wife could be having baby. I have to take care of her and the home. Each one of the first three pregnancies came with extreme complications. Our babies were healthy and strong, but my wife and life hasn't been the same. I’m behind on my mortgage and the bank is trying to foreclose my home and sell it to the highest bidder. Medical bills are catching up, the kids are hungry and my wife needs money for the prescriptions that are making her sicker. Every bridge that I could

have walked across for relief has been burned in the process of my downward spiral to the gutter. What do I do? 

    On your way out of the mall I spot you at your car, you drop thirteen twenty dollar bills as you fidget your keys out your pocket. I take you by surprise and knock you the fuck out. I run off with the money, your car and everything in it. Not to mention those fly ass Nike

shoes and Polo draws you just bought.

    Was I right to assault you? In the eyes of the law I’m a criminal, but the children who live in my house that get to eat dinner tonight believe so. My wife who gets to sleep a little bit better, is also in my corner. I’m pretty sure you hate me, but I could honestly care less. My moral compass clearly in the direction that secures my family's livelihood.

    Philosopher, Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative concept, implies that my family is my utmost, absolute, moral responsibility. A constructing force, that says I must do any and all to provide and protect. Even if that means knocking you off for everything you worked for. Your health or safety is not my responsibility.

    According to Kant’s theory. You hold your own moral obligation to protect and defend yourself from people like me.

    Shootings and abuse of a black men, women and children are justified every day. The abuse is shelled out by the police of our country. Most of these situations are cut and dry, straight to the point. A (poorly) trained, paid officer, loses his cool; or thinks with his finger resulting in an innocent person dead.

    What is Mr. Officer searching his thoughts for on his way to the office? Justification. Why was he in the right to use his power and position of authority to assassinate a civilian. In a perfect world, the officer would be taken to jail and laid out to rot until the easy truth is reviled. He would be taken from work, and his family will be left to fend without him.

    If Kant’s topic is applied, and everyone sticks to the same story Mr. Officer has the moral duty to defend his own life and career. Even if it means desecrating the family and legacy of another human being.

    Put on a different lens, let's look at it through a filter of virtue ethics. The term has more layers than a poor kid walking to school in the cold, but I'm going to focus on how it relates to keeping the relations and relationships of humankind sacred. A philosophy more for the common, greater good.

    Does a dead civilian, a lying officer, an untruthful police force and twisted media system sound like your idea of virtue?

I don't sense the shining light either.

    If you're looking for more ways to morally chastise corrupt cops, research utilitarian ethics. But let's carry on, this isn't about them, it's about us.

    You call your best friend and notify them of your situation and location. What are you thinking to yourself on the quiet ride back home. Are you happy you escaped the ordeal with your life? Are you asking yourself why you? Do you plan to seek revenge? Where do your morals currently rest?

    Time has passed. Your life has been dandy since our little incident. The bus has became your main source of transportation, but you adjust until you have enough money to buy the car you really want. The bus let's you off at your stop. A journey awaits but it has to be done. Along the way you spot a car that looks just like yours. Three kids get out and run into a shitty house.

    Everything inside you is hot lava. Your mind says home but your feet travel towards the direction of the suspicious vehicle. The .45 caliber pistol you keep concealed just in case is in your hand. Because you may have high moral standards, but you're not a fool. 

  The closer you get the scene the more certain you are that you're about to be face to face with your attacker.You snatch open the front door and lay eyes on me. I'm frozen in an unbelievable stupor. I’m lost for words.

What are you going to do? 

What are you morally obligated to do?

Do you even give a fuck about that right now?

    If you pulled your trigger, and rolled my dead ass body into the street and took your car back I personally wouldn't be upset. Why would I? Maybe things don't have to get so messy. You whack me upside my shit and reclaim your car.

    Would your actions differ if you spotted my wife and newborn baby in the back seat. How itchy would that trigger finger be if you knew it was taking a fresh baby away from the father they so desperately need.

    The good, moral thing to do, would be retrieving your belongings and letting my family go unscathed. But when has the right way ever been the fun way. I beat you, embarrassed, left you for dead and stole what you worked hard to achieve.

    No moral law or theory is going to get your dignity back. Nothing any philosopher has to say is going to unhurt your feelings, or make the lump on your head go down. The next move is up to you. Use what you've learned, and the things you continue to learn everyday to guide you to the right decision.

[newenglandpups]

This kind of crap pisses me off so much.

“Are veterinary behaviourists qualified to work with dogs?” Well, they went through four years of undergrad work, four years of vet school, and then an additional three years (at least, sometimes more) of study specifically in behaviour. They are licensed veterinarians who have written case studies, published peer-reviewed research projects, and passed examination.

Are they qualified?

HELL. YES.

If a veterinary behaviourist recommends medication, it’s because the dog would benefit from it. If they advise you not to use a prong collar, its because it’s not necessary. A program designed by a veterinary behaviourist will NOT include just medication; it will include management techniques, behavioural modification practices, and yeah maybe medication. Because guess what? If a dog is so thrown over threshold that they are a stressed out mess while in the presence of even a very very mild form of their trigger, they can no longer think rationally. They are reacting reflexively and their brain needs help to calm down so that the behavioural modification practices can have an effect. The goal in many cases is to eventually wean the dog off of medication, but yeah in some extreme cases it’s better for the overall welfare of the dog to be on medication long term if it keeps them from being in a constant state of high stress.

I’m so disappointed by everything in this post. The page that shared it and added this dumb comment actually seems to have some great stuff on their page, so to see this is absolutely infuriating. Not to mention the actual article itself contains exactly zero useful information. It tells the story of owners who got a dog they were absolutely ill prepared for, so they sought the help of a veterinary behaviourist who- according to the blog post at least, which has nothing cited or sourced so the whole thing could be made up for all I know- recommended the dog be put on medication as well as some behavioural modification techniques that are common practice for reactive dogs, such as counter conditioning (which the blog post referred to as bogus so like ok cool). According to the blog, the owners didn’t have success because the dog was a high-drive working line shepherd and according to this author (and many others in the bite sport world, no shade at people who participate in those sports btw but training a dog for sport and trying to correct a behavioural issue like reactivity are two very very very different things) these dogs can only be fixed with heavy handed corrections using a prong collar. Because clearly this person has more knowledge than someone who spent 10+ years studying animal behaviour and who is LICENSED TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE. The author of the blog slapped a prong on the dog and was able to drill the dog through various obedience cues and apparently that meant the dog was fixed or no longer reactive. Um, no???? Ability to complete obedience cues in a controlled setting has exactly zero correlation to a dog’s ability to handle the presence of various stressors in other environments.

Trying to combat a behavioural problem like reactivity takes time, patience, and lots of practice. We as people are always looking for the fastest way to “solve” the problem and when it comes to reactivity, many owners look at the barking, lunging, growling, etc as the problem to be fixed but guess what? It’s not. All of that is a side effect of the actual problem- the dog not knowing how to cope with whatever stressor is setting them off. Fixing that isn’t going to happen quickly in most cases. Hell in some dogs it’s never going to get fixed and you just have to learn how to manage it. But anyway, in my experience a lot of owners end up pushing their dog too quickly or giving up entirely when the “problem” isn’t fixed immediately. I’d be willing to bet that’s what happened in the case of the owners mentioned in this blog post because I see that All. The. Fucking. Time.

I completely lost my train of thought for this post but I am so so so frustrated by and sick and tired of seeing people who have no grounds to be questioning the legitimacy of qualified professionals taking part in this kind of witch hunt agains veterinarians, trainers who choose not to use physical corrections or tools like prongs or shock collars or even head collars, veterinary behaviourists, and basically anybody who doesn’t vehemently agree with their preconceived notions about dogs. A veterinarian and/or veterinary behaviourist isn’t making more money if your dog is sicker or has more problems. They get paid a salary and they make that salary regardless of your dog’s behavioural issues or how sick or injured they are. So really the more issues your dog has, the more time that vet is spending on your dog and still getting paid the same amount of money. People don’t go through with the hell that is vet school and spending thousands and thousands of dollars on schooling and the emotional fatigue that happens in these practices because they’re swindlers out to make a buck off you and your dog. They go through with it because they care about animals and they want to help.