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lovelyirony · 4 years ago

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sweeter than honey (redux)

Pepper Potts did not exactly mean to become a criminal. Really, she still doesn’t think she is.

But here are the facts:

1.) She has broken several laws in pursuit of funds that do not belong to her.

2.) The FBI would like to talk to her about several things and potentially put her under arrest.

3.) She can no longer go to her regular coffee shop because the barista snitched and told them her name, as well as her occupation.

Pepper broke several laws because the company she was working for (Stane International) was technically breaking laws, but laws that do not apply to corporations because corporations do this thing called “funding campaigns” and also sometimes “doing favors.”

She decided to do the same and suddenly she is a criminal. Not her fault she redistributed money back into the community, and now they can’t get any of it back.

It’s just how that worked out.

She’s been staying at a hotel that serves many questionable individuals each month, and it has an indoor pool and a three-star rating on the latest travel website.

It’s nondescript, not her style, and she’s currently in the bathroom having a crisis because she most likely needs to dye her hair.

She’s vain. Pepper knows she is, has known it since high school when she trimmed her hair and cried. Her hair, by all accounts, is gorgeous. It’s a shiny strawberry-blonde that makes her look like an ice queen in winter and a mysterious fairy queen in summer.

She does not want to dye it. But here she is with an eight dollar box of dye and thoughts in her head.

And then her hotel door opens.

Not supposed to do that, but that’s what happens when you’re in a three-star hotel.

She is also in old athletic shorts that have most definitely seen better days and a tank top that was a last-minute buy from the nearest store, and it does not suit her at all.

Facing her is a man with an odd beard, tinted sunglasses, and a graphic t-shirt over a blazer.

“So. You pissed off Stane Industries,” he drawls. “I’m impressed. Usually they just sweep their little problems under the rug.”

“I’ll sweep you under one if you’d like,” Pepper offers, wondering how quickly a blowdryer can knock someone out. She’s not sure how well-made the hotel one is. Probably not very.

“I’m not here to kill you,” the man says. He takes off his sunglasses. His eyes are a nice shade of brown, not that you’re supposed to notice that about a potential enemy. Pepper is just that skilled.

“Then what are you here to do? Make me move to Florida?”

“No, the opposite. We’re staying here. I’m offering you a job position of helping me take down Obadiah Stane and the company itself.”

“Who would I be working with?”

“Anthony Stark.”

Pepper stills.

She read the news when she was in college, same time as Tony Stark. Went missing in the car crash, no one found his body. Temperatures were freezing, he was wearing a tuxedo. The chances were that he froze to death somewhere that they didn’t find yet.

Chances were. What an odd little phrase.

“So, you made it out.”

“Not as hard as people say it seems to be, Virginia.”

“Call me Pepper, my first name disgusts me.”

“Gotcha, Pepper. Call me Tony. You in?”

“Obviously. What do I need to do?”

“Meet the team.”

There is Rhodey, who was Tony’s best friend and sobbed on national television for two weeks until they forgot all about him.

“He’ll cry at anything,” Tony says with a laugh as Rhodey sends him a dirty look. “Just made him think about neon shoes and he bawled like a baby.”

“I did not,” Rhodey hisses. “I was a good crier.”

“You looked like a seal,” Pepper intervenes. “But you played the part quite well. Nice to meet you.”

“Right back at you, Pepper.”

She meets Happy, a man who is all serious and grumpy and “did not want to break the law before forty” but he also gets to watch Downton Abbey whenever he wants, so he’s not doing too bad.

He runs security and also tells Rhodey and Tony when they’re banned from ordering pizza all the time, and Pepper is inducted into the Healthy Eating Committee.

There’s Bruce Banner, who enjoys taking over corporations for fun, and this is his second one. His first was some sort of health insurance scam, and apparently that was just to finish up his thesis for his third doctorate.

“He has seven degrees, he’s weird,” Tony says.

“Oh like you’re any better,” Bruce says with a snort. “You learned twelve languages for fun. Including French, which is useless.”

“French is not useless,” Tony says. “It got us free food in Canada.”

“We would’ve gotten it anyway if we’d done it my way.”

“Stealing?” Rhodey asks.

“Yes!”

Pepper laughs.

Their job is a bit easier than anticipated. They found out from Pepper that getting into the building is stupid easy because no one likes their job and will do anything when bribed.

Tony struts in with a badly-made-employee-ID and talks about a copying machine and coffee and seeing someone next month for dinner. Pepper just keeps her head down and pretends like she’s meeting someone for something. Like usual.

Obadiah Stane is out of the country on a meeting, and his secretary is scared to death of him, so they’re allowed to poke around the office and find some interesting information.

The problem comes when someone recognizes Bruce outside (government watchlists: the most pesky things on earth) and suddenly there’s this huge fuss.

Tony pushes Pepper into an office closet and then promptly asks her if anyone opens the door, if she’s alright with him kissing her.

“Why would you do that?”

“People don’t like watching kissing, too intimate. Also, you have a lovely face and you’re quite funny, and I think it’d be fun and delightful to kiss you.”

“How long have you thought about that?”

“Not going to talk about that, just want an answer. If you say no--and feel free to, there’s no obligation in physical contact right now--it does complicate plans A to D. I suppose we could play the divorced couple route, but I’m not a gigantic fan about that.”

“I mean, I guess? It wouldn’t be bad, and I’m not exactly opposed to it, Would it mean anything later?”

“Do you want it to?”

“Let’s figure that out after we do it.”

“If we need to do it.”

Door swings open.

Oh, there’s a need.

Tony is a particularly nice kisser, Pepper thinks. The thought runs through her head that she’s only kissed two people before Tony, and one was in high school so that doesn’t count, but the other was a secretary at an old company she used to work for.

But Tony is nice. Soft and warm and he grabs her waist and that’s nice.

“Oh my god, sorry,” the employee mutters. “I just, I thought--”

“Occupied!” Tony says, not even stopping as he kicks out his leg and practically stomps the poor other guy in the stomach.

They get out, run, and Pepper laughs as she sees a bit of pink lipstick on the side of Tony’s mouth.

“So, how’d I do?”

“Send me a survey,” Pepper remarks. “Or a ranking.”

“On a scale of one to ten?”

“Seven.”

“I was that bad?”

“How do you rank things? Do you put one as the best?”

“Obviously.”

“No, you’re an idiot. One is always the worst. You’re a nine. It would’ve been higher but we were in a corporate office and in a supply closet.”

“So what you’re saying is, I’ll have to try again?”

“Preferably over a couple glasses of wine and pizza. The good kind, though. Not the garbage Rhodey orders.”

They approach the car that Happy has, with Rhodey and Bruce already leading others on a goose chase.

“You two have too much fun,” Happy mutters. “Boss, you got lipstick on your side. Did you get the drives?”

“Transferred and set to release to every major news outlet tomorrow morning at six a.m.,” Tony says. “Interns are going to curse my name as they’re forced to rewrite articles.”

Pepper smiles.

That night, they have a couple of glasses of wine and Tony orders the good pizza, the kind that costs a little bit too much for what it is, but it’s all worth it in the end.

When Tony takes over the company after about six months of legal battles that would probably have drawn on for well over a decade if not for the fact that Tony is one of the most in-your-face-let’s-talk men she’s ever met, Pepper was kind of expecting things to slow down.

Of course not. That’s not her style nor is it Tony’s, although arguably a vacation or a nice spa day would have been nice beforehand.

“We have shit to do,” Tony says. “Rhodey, you need to help me revamp R&D. Pepper, I need to talk to you in the office.”

They’ve already hired a company to completely redesign the entire building and refocus the company’s outlook, starting with getting rid of the disgusting 1970s carpet and chairs. God, it’s ugly. Pepper cried when she saw the office chairs.

But she’s in Tony’s office, and she’s wondering if this is going to be directly related to workplace relationships or not. She’s already prepared an argument as to why she still wants a relationship and just how much professionalism she can exhibit in the face of hardship.

(That hardship being the fact that Tony looks quite good in suits but also has arms that are made for tank tops.)

“I have a problem with you,” Tony says. “And it’s that I want to make you CEO, but I don’t want people to think that you got it just because we’re dating. So we have an issue to cross.”

Pepper was not expecting this. She was expecting maybe head accountant, or head of the PR team. But CEO? That was something that was...wow. Pepper had had a fifteen year plan for working up from wherever it was that she would be at.

She also didn’t know they were dating.

“We’re dating?”

“Did I read the kiss wrong? Oh shit, was the seven secretly the bad seven?”

“No!” Pepper says. “You just never told me that we were dating, we didn’t have a communicative conversation about it.”

“Oh. Well, would you like to go on dates and things?”

“What’s ‘and things’?”

“You know. Sexy times. But I wanted to be a professional about it. But I am not that professional.”

“No, no you’re not. Which is why you offered me the CEO position and why I am accepting it. But I will also date you...and things.”

“Excellent. Have a dinner tonight while we discuss how to do Microsoft Excel?”

“I already know how to use it.”

“Pepper, you are the only woman for me in this lifetime and the next.”

“And the one after that?”

“I’m assuming you’ll get bored of me and marry someone who’s seven feet tall.”

“Seven feet tall? What, am I going to attend every NBA game for the next husband?”

“Maybe, I don’t know what you’ll do. I’ll probably be halfway into a grave over despair.”

Pepper chuckles, dropping a short kiss onto his temple.

“Well, I hope I don’t have to witness that. You want me to make some salad for tonight then?”

“Yes please! We also need to review the decor and see what chairs to order.”

Pepper nods.

“We need to ask Rhodey, he has opinions about design of those.”

“Of course he does, he hates standing too long. We’ll send him some of our options.”

She waves as she leaves the office.

What Tony misses:

Pepper pumps her fist as she leaves the office, nearly stumbles, and is quite glad that no security cameras were installed that day.

What Pepper misses:

Tony spins so hard in his office chair as a celebration that it topples over.

Yeah, they’re made for each other.

#pepperony #tony stark #pepper potts #love this one #i love writing pepper and i don't do enough of it #i really like it when it's clear that they both love each other #bc with a lot of fics it's like pepper being like 'well i guess :/' or she's cool about it #BUT I WANT PEPPER TO BE A NERD!#rhodey #lovelyirony writes

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derrickdent · 6 years ago

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BBHMM, OR HOW TO DEAL WITH THE DEADBEAT CLIENT

You’re a fucking freelancin’ badass, with a semi-steady flow of work, and you’re living the dream of doing **insert best/fave thing here** , and getting the money from your biggest fans. Can’t be better, right? Well, one of things you were probably not informed about is what happens when the dream sometimes becomes a financial nightmare. 30 day waits for payment. Invoices and reminders. Anxiety waiting for that check. Clients that don’t seem to care that you’re eating peanut butter for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while your payday is delayed in a death spiral of perpetuity. Getting stiffed sucks, and you gotta keep the lights on. How can you keep this bullshit at a minimum? I’m not a financial expert, but I’ve eaten a fair amount of shit trying to get money from clients that have a sense of urgency about everything except paying me. There’s a ton of info about this online, but hopefully my lewd voice in the choir is helpful. (Samuel L. Jackson voice) LET’S GET YOU YOUR MONEY, MUTHAFUCKA. FROM THE BEGINNING

Make sure that you get everything down in writing. Have a statement of work or a contract that states your scope of work, your fee, deadlines, usage restrictions, deliverables, and any notes about late fees, payment timetables, and billable expenses. (Example of a statement of work).

Make sure that a client knows that you can’t begin work without acknowledging these terms. They should return a signed copy of this document, or acknowledge its terms via email. Sometimes there’s a rush situation and you may be pressured to dive in. It’s still a clients responsibility to make sure everything is taken care of on paper, to protect you and to ensure that they are also in the best position to get the best from you.

If they “politely” ignore the contract, then reiterate the terms in a follow up email, with a polite call to action (ex: “Hi! I’m just making sure that we’re on the same page about what the scope of this project is all about. I going to be [**rates, usage, time, deliverables, expected expenses, payment expectations here**]. Is that correct?). It’s important to get this down on the front end. Depending on your state, this counts as a legally binding statement.

NOTE: Try to get an upfront deposit if you can. 30-50% is normal, and this is also a test of whether the client will be good for it after all is said and done. This is also an incentive to put your best foot forward. Some clients will balk at this, but if the early “what is your rate?” convo suggests this is a possibility, go for it. This also depends on the industry. This is almost impossible with editorial, and though I’ve heard mixed stories in publishing, it’s hard to get an advance or deposit unless you’re doing a full book. Large corporations often have a convoluted accounts payable system that pretty much guarantees money will be slower than human evolution. The best results I’ve had are with small, dynamic businesses and individual clients. Once they confirm the terms, then you can begin scheduling and first steps in a project. FAST FORWARD TO PROJECT COMPLETION

INVOICE IMMEDIATELY. Seriously. Do NOT delay this. Most clients are not going to remind you to send one after you’ve finished a project, and you are ultimately responsible for this. (example invoice). Include the basics: your business name your contact info and address the client’s info and address an invoice number total due

Don’t forget an invoice number- accounts payable folks have a hard time placing your invoice in their system without one, and you don’t want to delay things because of a technicality. You can use a simple numbering convention: I use my initials and a double digit combo (ex: DD01). Also, if you haven’t gotten an EIN, get one from the IRS. WHEN YOU APPLY, ONLY GO TO THE .GOV IRS LINK. SCAMS ARE A-PLENTY AND I WANT YOU TO AVOID TEARS THO. An EIN is great, because it can be very compromising to keep putting your SSN out there, and in some cases an EIN can get you paid faster. You should itemize your work in the invoice, similarly to how you would find items on a receipt (ex: 1- Illustration for “client and application”, **brief description** = $THIS AMOUNT.00) Write amounts in dollars and cents. Instead of “$3000”, write “$3000.00”. Again, this helps your client or client’s accountants process your payment a touch faster, and saved time counts. Include a line with a total of your billable expenses. These are items that you HAD TO purchase to finish your work. Make sure you keep your receipts, and make a PDF slideshow with scans of those items for transparency’s sake. Send that PDF with your invoice. Finally, include a line that is the grand total of EVERYTHING. Put that total in BOLD PRINT just to make sure that it’s clear what the client owes. If necessary, you can include direct deposit info. This includes your routing and account number. This way, you give the client another way to pay you, and you can fight off the delay of waiting for a paper check. Even though it’s assumed in many places, make it clear that payment is due NOW. From the moment you send the final invoice out, the onus is on the client to pay up. They should confirm receipt of this, but if they’re slow after a day or two, give them a quick email reminder. NOTE: If you have a client’s phone number, keep it handy. This will come in handy later. FAST FORWARD TO A FEW WEEKS LATER AND YOU HAVEN’T BEEN PAID YET

Either way, you’re waiting (and hopefully pursuing other work!) for money that you need. The timeframe for a reminder varies. Some people will drop a friendly note after 15 days. I tend to be a bit generous, and will wait until 10 days before the invoice is late. The email is friendly, and assumes good faith. Something like: “Hi! I just wanted to touch base about the payment for this invoice. Is there any progress on this? Is there anything I can do to assist with this? Please note that you will be 30 days late on (date here). If so, then a (late fee percentage) will be added to the final amount due.” The key is to emphasize some kind of fiscal penalty. People don’t like to spend more money, so you’ll, at the very least, get a response to let you know that things are being processed. You may also get redirected to an accounting department. If you get a number or an email to them, HOLD ON TO THIS INFO. Hopefully, at this point, the client gets the push to make good on payment. FAST FORWARD TO 30 DAYS AND NO PAYMENT

At this point, you are apprehensive because no one wants to wait to be able to pay bills, eat pizza, and enjoy their own Netflix account. The dynamic changes now, because this is the day that the client has to pay you before it’s late. Tomorrow is late. In some states, you have legal recourse to pursue payment (In NYC, the default timetable for freelance payment is 30 days). You should email your client reminding them that payment is due today. If you have their number, call them as well to reinforce this message, but emails are important now. Each email you send is a recorded effort to receive payment, and they are timestamped for posterity. Note that a client may have already sent a payment out, but the check is transit. Also, calling/emailing an accounts payable department will reveal that a payment has been made and it will be in your bank account in a few business days. Get confirmation of this before you continue. AFTER THE INVOICE IS 30 DAYS LATE

Clients need the benefit of the doubt, but it’s their responsibility to pay you now. After 30 days, you have “permission” to increase the frequency of your correspondence. During the first 10 days of being late, I will email and call every other business day (Monday, Wednesday, Friday was my model, but it may differ for you). Afterwards, I will check in once a day. This may seem excessive, but persistence goes a long way. You may get an exasperated response, but don’t stop until you get a confirmation of payment or a layout and timeline of the payment. If you have a contact within a company, use them as your ally within an organization. It’s easier to get things moving with someone on the inside, and pressure on them will translate to pressure elsewhere to get you to stop asking for your money. Be professional, but direct. They owe you, and any further delay will result in additional fees, and possible collection action (including legal action to collect). If you have a number for accounts payable, hammer them hard. They will be probably be your last line of communication, and you’ll need to get an email to reach them again, an employee name to refer to, and a timeline for payment.

SIDEBAR>>> NYC CREATIVE PROS AND THE FIFA ACT

If you live in NYC, you have an additional resource: the city government. The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), and The Office of Labor Policy and Standards (OLPS) have a complaint form that you should fill out as soon as the client is over 30 days late. The Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA, passed in 2017) is very clear that what your client is doing is ILLEGAL, and the city will assist you in gathering materials to make a case for nonpayment. Fill the complaint form out, be very specific about your client and any related contacts. Note, they are not legal representation as much as they’re navigators who will help you find legal counsel and resources needed to file a claim in court. Remember when I said to get everything in writing? That’s important. It may be a bit of work, but find every email thread related to your freelance gig. If you’re doing this on your mobile, open the thread. Go to the first message. Find where the “print” option is. You’ll be taken to a preview window. Look for the “download” button. This is really easy with Gmail. You can basically save the entire thread as an organized PDF, with messages in chronological order

Do this with every gig-related email attached to the overdue payment. Save these PDFs to a folder. Create sub folders that can put this correspondence in context, like chapters (ex: one folder is “Beginning of Job”, another “Job in Progress”, another “Invoice/Payment Requests”). This will make it easier to navigate everything. Include the PDF folder (zipped) with your complaint folder. OLPS will take a sec to get back to you, since you’re not the only person in NYC that gets stiffed. After about 5 biz days, give them a call. This can help you get ahead of the pack. You will receive a call from an OLPS office case manager who will confirm your info. They will ask if you’ve been paid. If yes, then you can thank them and call everything off. If not, they will send a certified letter (WITH AN OFFICIAL ASS LETTERHEAD) to your client, reminding them that they’re late. They have 20 days to respond to this- if they don’t, then they will basically be on the hook to go to court for a nonpayment case. You’ll have to either get a lawyer to rep you, or you can rep yourself, but the client is on the hook to prove they don’t owe you. Since you already have a record of your interactions, this will be very difficult for them. It should be noted that clients tend to get reallll antsy when the government says that they owe money. They’ll probably contact you directly. Keep up with these responses. Each email builds out the timeline of your case, and is fodder for the cannon. At this point, they usually pay up. DISCLOSURE: I’ve never had to go to court, so you may need to look elsewhere for advice. This may be a good place to start. SPEAKING OF DOCUMENTATION- I forgot to add that you should record your calls when speaking to clients that are late. ACR is a free app that allows you to record your calls. Make sure recording is legal in your state, and always let clients know that the call is being recorded. You can borrow the “for quality control purposes” line if you’d like. Sometimes people will try to circumvent documentation by using the phone. Don’t let them weasel out of that. LASTLY, this is specifically related to NY. The parts about documenting your correspondence are universal, though. Wherever you are, a vital part of making a civil case is piling on the material against a deadbeat. Be vigilant and persistent. I would suggest looking into whether there is a state govt. entity that you can go to about civil cases, and also look up if there are any local volunteer/low cost lawyers in your area.

The FIFA Act has been a gamechanger in giving freelancers more power to get what is owed to them, and my hope is that other cities follow suit, or organize to get similar legislation for this purpose. SIDEBAR AGAIN>>> LAWYERS

Another way to get a client to pay up faster is to lawyer up earlier. After 30 days, you should see what your options are. If you can afford it, you can consult with a lawyer and get a pro opinion about your case. They may be able to send a stern letter to your deadbeat client (WITH AN OFFICIAL ASS LETTERHEAD) prompting them to pay or else. Like with a government agency, people don’t like surprises from legal. They will probably pay up quick, but if they stick it out, then you can file a claim and take them to civil court. This will be costly for you and your client, so nonpayment usually gets resolved before this happens. If not, know that if a court rules in your favor, the client will have to pay you and cover your legal fees. My experience with lawyers is limited, and I would suggest looking elsewhere for particulars. Also, keep in mind how much you’re owed. A $300 case may not be worth as much squeeze as a $3000 or $30000 one. If it’s a low ball sum you’re owed. You may have an easier time calling it a loss and moving on.

EDIT: I’ve been told that contingency fee lawyers are out there that don’t collect fees until after an event (like you winning or losing a judgment for example), but they’re kinda like unicorns for freelancers and tend to take on bigger cases. It doesn’t hurt to see if any are out there anyway!

NEW!>>> COLLECTION AGENCIES

So, you may want to seek help through a collection agency. They have the time and resources to call, mail, and chase money when you’re trying to focus on good clients that pay on time and are depending on your A game.

The good news is that most are contingency fee based. That is, they won’t collect anything from you until they get the money from your client.

The down side? They can take anywhere between 18-40% of what your client’s debt is. Note that I didn’t say WHAT THEY COLLECT. If your client owes $100, and the contingency based fee is $30, an agency will take $30 even if they only get $60.

Also, based on a lawyer friend’s input, if your collection agency is legally shady, you may be indirectly on the line if your deadbeat client decides to sue said agency. Also your payment, connected to the collection agency and your client’s legal battle, will be held in indefinite limbo.

So do your homework and weigh your options before taking this route.

FAST FORWARD TO 60 DAYS Fortunately, I haven’t had to do this, but you can start pursuing legal action to get your money. Check on state laws to make sure this is the case, as well as the particulars about filing a claim. By this time, you should hopefully have a lawyer or some legal counsel at your disposal. If you don’t, then look up the laws of your state and local area to see where you stand if you have to rep yourself. Remember that as long as you have written acknowledgment of your terms of work and written acknowledgment of your invoice, things should lean in your favor. THE END

HOPEFULLY this has been helpful. The best parts of freelance (independence, flexibility, control, and self-prescribed wages) are often at odds with the pitfalls (feast-or-famine dynamics, wearing of all of the hats, taking all of the risks). It can feel like robbery when you put your blood, sweat, and tears into a project only to have an empty bank account as thanks. Some of this info is boilerplate, and some is from direct experience. If any of this relates to you, and you were able to get closer to your hard earned scrill because of this, I can die happy(er).

GOD SPEED AND GET PAID, GODDAMMIT!

ADDENDUM: One of the things that I didn’t emphasize enough is that doing this will be emotionally draining. Unless you are a robot or a stone cold Type A business beast, it will strain you. Make sure that you’re taking care of yourself mentally.

If you have a partner or family, make sure to take the help and support they provide and don’t turn your money issues into a personal issue with them.

Also, doing this requires energy. It will feel like a part time job, and even if there are late fees that factor into what you get paid, this will largely be unpaid labor.

Persistence is key, but I’m not going to pretend that it’s not hard or that you won’t have other obligations that make keeping up the effort difficult. I’m lucky in that my girlfriend and I have a relatively low-expense lifestyle, and no dependents, and we’re both fairly flexible because we both freelance full time, and that we had a bit of financial padding saved to weather the storm. Mileage will certainly vary.

Edit: Tumblr is weird about making links visible, so I put them in bold body font for you to find them easier.

#Illustration #invoices #payment #business #deadbeats

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askdawnandvern · 5 years ago

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WT: I guess it really depends on the circumstances right? I mean, you'd basically have each mammal becoming the other, at least from the start of the film. Here you have a Judy that somehow, one way or another, the events in her life lead her up to being a con-mammal, and the same for Nick becoming a cops. On top of that, foxes come pre-established with like, several societal biases against them, where as Judy only really had her size and demeanor making her unfit for police. But...I guess let's try from the start.

Okay, so taking Nick from the point where the 'Ranger Scout' incident left him, let's say instead of feeling as though his dreams were crushed, and choosing to give up being something other than a 'just a fox', the experience makes him determined to prove them wrong. Essentially we're trading Judy's natural propensity to 'never give up' over to a young Nick. As this Nick grows, he doesn't let anything stop him. He keeps trying and eventually finds a Ranger Scout troop that accepts him despite being a fox, and from their buckles down and studies hard to make something of himself, eventually coming to the conclusion that becoming a cop would be the best use for his analytical mind and applying to the academy repeatedly until the 'mammal inclusion' initiative forces them to accept his application.

Judy on the other paw, now lacking that drive, crumbles under Gideon's continued and merciless teasing. Not to mention her parent's consistent lack of support for anything outside of farming. So now we have a young, aimless Judy who grows to resent her town, her family, and everything about bunnyburrow who eventually runs away to Zootopia at sixteen or so to escape it all. Of course, Zootopia is rough, especially for a young doe bunny who's got nothing to her name. But as fate would have it she runs into Finnick while the fox is pulling a scam, and helps him out when the fox's ploy starts to unravel by using her 'bunny charms' to diffuse the situation. After saving the fox's neck, Finnick and her start working together, with Finn being the sort of 'organizer and getaway driver' that would come to accompany Judy's being the face of their scams, as well as the eventual brains when she got skilled at it.

Now, on to the event of Zoot. Here you've got a rookie Nick looking to prove himself, much like Judy was, and of course, being placed on parking duty as Bogo doesn't trust him to handle a case. However, in order for him to meet Judy we'll have to skip a step at the very minimum in order to give the fox an excuse to tail her, as bunnies aren't naturally 'suspicious' like foxes. So let's say Nick is patrolling Sahara Square when he spots the pair, with Judy melting the 'Pawpsicle' while a Fennec dressed like a kit but acting like an adult is filling trays with the liquid.

Nick calls Judy on the deception after she sells the Pawpsicles, And Judy essentially gives him the whole 'tough luck, it's technically legal' dismissal. Of course, Nick doesn't want to let it go, as the last thing the fox enjoys is having any mammal one-up him, let alone a bunny.

As for getting the case, I imagine it's Lionheart who is more of a helping paw rather than Bellwether, as Dawn would probably be somewhat wary of helping a predator. Of course, this puts Lionheart in a catch 22 situation. In this scenario, he's proud of the 'mammal inclusion initiative', and wants to see Nick succeed which is why he vouches for him to take the case, but is also sort of gunning for Nick to be unable to solve it and expose him for hiding the infected mammals. That said, guiding Nick's paw also allows Lionheart to try and better hide his tracks, but sadly, Nick is too smart for that as the case will come to prove.

Nick uses the tax evasion gimmick to get Judy's help, the fox smugly satisfied to be sort of 'punishing' the rabbit for her crimes, and they go through most of the events in the film as they played out. Bellwether even reluctantly helps them with the traffic cameras as it's in her best interest to do so. Only this time, Nick had come to the office looking to speak to Lionheart to check the cameras, but the lion was too busy (Trying to cover his ass).

Catching Lionheart is more compelling this time around, as it sort of comes off as a betrayal. Lionheart is like 'this is the thanks I get for getting you to where you are?' when it comes to Nick. But it doesn't quite affect Nick as much as Judy was affected by Dawn as the two mammals never got as close. Nick is more so concerned that justice was served, and the fox is finally being paid his dues. However, after all that time together, the old, determined Judy begins to surface, and the rabbit begins to nag Nick about things not adding up. However, the fox is to busy basking in accolades to care for Judy's advice, and eventually snaps at her, referring to her as little more than some con artist rabbit from the boonies who to big for her britches, essentially pulling right on the old Gideon wounds.

The two separate, the city falls into chaos and Nick is now not only stressing over the growing number of holes forming in the Night Howler case, as well as the fear of contracting it himself. He's also racked with guilt for chewing Judy out, and eventually goes to seek her out to apologize.

They make up, and events play out the way they did up until Bellwether's reveal, however, it's less strong, as Nick and Bellwether weren't close. And after they bag the sheep and her cronies, Nick insists that he'd want no other partner to work with than Judy, which of course, brings us to both of them being cops.

Dumb Bunny, Sly Fox...

#Zootopia #ask blog #askdawnandvern #Nick Wilde #Judy Hopps #Assistant Mayor Bellwether #wastedtimeee

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dorkyungsoowrites · 6 years ago

Text

Fatal Ties Ch. 6

Pairings: Baekhyun x You

Genre: Angst/Smut/Fluff | Mafia AU

Warnings: Mild Violence

Word Count: 4.1k

Description: Baekhyun gets his reward for behaving, and you get a surprise.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | The Ending |

The day started off well. Kyungsoo took personal leave so you didn't have to worry about your fiance trying to strangle him. Baekhyun felt assured upon hearing you'd heal within the week and followed you around silently. After ogling at the interior of your club. He'd expected it to be some grungy warehouse where idiots grind mindlessly on each other to a deafening bass like rodents in heat. Instead he was met with four floors of the excessively wealthy gambling and boozing and smoking. All within the greatest of taste, of course. A bar and casino on the first floor with lush carpets and big chairs meant for the deep pockets of the city. Without all the flash and glitter of Las Vegas where they used it to cover the dirt. The second floor was a show room. It had a stage large enough for big bands to play and a small kitchen to serve food to all the tables around. There was a singer twice a week or else it stayed serving as a normal restaurant. It was all the class and elegance of the old clubs with modern convenience. The third floor was sectioned off for smoking and leisure with its own dedicated bar. There were a few billiard tables and seating areas to match. Then to the side opposite the bar were two large rooms meant for hookah. You had banned cigars and cigarettes for their awful smell and installed vents with fans. People still managed to keep the atmosphere inside cloudy, but most of the customers who use them prefer it that way. Less visibility for their shady deals. Your runners knew those rooms very well. It was the best spot to transfer your products.

When you reached the top floor Baekhyun was surprised to find a whole home. A small kitchen and a living room. Two bedrooms and an office that mimicked the one in your manor minus the bookshelves. All modern and minimalistic. He came into the office with you. Once he thought you were alone he began his questioning, and you turned on the computer. Waiting for it to boot up.

"So every time you mentioned your club you meant, like, a membership club?"

"What an astute observation."

"Then where do you make the drugs?"

"I don't make them. Even if I did you think I'd make them here? Do you think I'm an idiot? It's outsourced."

"To who?"

"If I told you that that would defeat the purpose of it being secret."

"And what's that?"

"Impunity."

"The people you have this deal with know," he argued.

"The people who know have a great reason not to disclose any information that could trace back to me."

"To live, is that right?" You smiled and put your hands in your pockets.

"He's learning," you praised.

"But I thought you were one of the city's' top mafia leaders. If you only distribute the drugs, aren't you just a middle man?"

"It's all very clever isn't it?" A new voice cut in. A man in sweatpants, hoodie and bed-head strolled in. The bleach in his hair was fading. Making it appear more sandy than blonde. He came around you and plopped in the desk chair. Smirking like he was about to say something smart. Head tilted as he spoke to Baekhyun. "The people in their warehouses cook up the drugs, we provide means of distribution while not technically having anything to do with it, scam the rich assholes, and we get all the credit. By word of mouth anyway. Legally we have no ties. After all, what could an upstanding business owner have to do with the cartel? It's like we don't even exist." He smiled. "You must be the future hubby. Name's Greased Lightning. I live here." You rolled your eyes.

"No one calls you that. What Jongdae is trying to say," you continued. "Is you don't end up owning a private club and living in a mansion with around the clock security by peddling cocaine to junkies. There's no real profit in selling drugs on the street. If there were, more people would do it. No, that was in the old days when my father started this. Blue collar crime is where the real money lies. Tax evasion, real estate. The drugs are to satisfy the fat, bored, rich cunts that visit. It's influence and credibility. My real talent is in screwing with the books of my business."

"And hiring the best hacker in the world to hide what you do," Jongdae boasted. You smirked and glanced his way. His attention snapped to you. Sitting up to be closer.

"You are very clever. I'd call you a genius, but I'm in the room." He chuckled. Gaze sliding down to your backside. Your voice called him back to the present. Having fun with your usual harmless banter. "I've already warned you once; touch me and you lose whichever hand did it."

"What if it's not my hand?" the man teased.

"Then I'll feed you your own cock."

"A dream come true, really."

"The mafia isn't all about busting heads, Baekhyun. Despite how I make it seem sometimes."

"So how do you manage all of this? It's like five businesses in one building," your intended spoke up. Jongdae turned to the computer and started working on something.

"How does your father manage all of his hotels?"

"With a system of managers like every other hotel."

"Same principal," you shrugged. "I wouldn't get any sleep otherwise." Baekhyun nodded. Brow slightly furrowed as he finished processing everything. Jongdae tapped your leg and pointed at the monitor. Security footage of a twitchy patron rubbing just under his nose. Your smile dropped with your good mood. "Isn't it early to be doing this bullshit?" you muttered with a sigh.

"What's wrong?" Baekhyun asked. Curiosity piqued.

"Someone broke the rules~" Jongdae sing-songed ominously. Laughing afterward.

"What rules?"

"Normal club etiquette," you answered. "But the one I take the most serious is using my products on these grounds. It's too risky with all the people that come here and all the ways forensics can trace shit."

"So what'll it be this time?" the hacker asked gleefully. "Disgrace? Fines? Revoking?" You glanced at the footage again. Contemplating your options.

"I was in a good mood until now...but...family?" Jongdae pulled up his member profile and scanned through.

"An estranged sister."

"Close enough. I haven't demonstrated how grievous rule breaking is in quite some time. What do you say to opening him up balls to brains and seeing what he's made of?" Jongdae snorted. Already typing up the termination of his membership.

"Probably just sewer water and a peanut for brains."

"Think you can arrange something tonight?"

"Sure thing." Your eyes caught another name on the list of members. Some son who was the only survivor in a car crash. He wasn't too well liked, but he comes every few days to gamble on the first floor. You see him a lot. He was very respectful and kind. You pointed him out over Jongdae's shoulder.

"Him too."

"What?"

"Make sure the members know they died. They'll get the message."

"But he hasn't done anything wrong."

"Oh my sweet, sweet Jongdae," you crooned. Patting his head and tussling his already messy hair. "Haven't you learned by now? A person with no motive is a person no one suspects. If your enemies don't know who you're loyal to, or what you want, they can't predict what you'll do next."

"The police will come to question you," Baekhyun realized aloud. You held back a smile. Walking toward him. "Their first instinct will tell them they're connected murders. When they hear you had no motive for the second man they won't suspect you of the rule breakers murder either." Raising a hand, you brushed a lock of hair away from his bandage and pressed the tape down flat again that had begun peeling off. Lingering on his cheek as you lowered your hand. His skin was so soft and smooth. You briefly wondered if he was just as soft everywhere else. You suspected he was. The night before when he was practically bare you didn't notice any obvious scars, and he was always so well groomed you imagined he had more products than you.

"You learn quick for a puppy." Baekhyun's warm brown eyes crinkled at the corners. "Have a seat and keep learning, pup." So he did. He sat in a chair beside you and watched you work the rest of the morning. Filling out paperwork and making phone calls to order inventory and problem solving in-house disputes with managers. Jongdae floated in and out as he worked. Quietly concentrating. Baekhyun mostly behaved. Doing his best to stay out of your way and not talk, but it wasn't long before he grew bored. You were able to placate him by playing music. He would tap his toes on tempo and stand to stretch and pace a little. Get the restless nerves out before sitting down to watch over your shoulder again. When lunch time came you were going to order food, but he begged he go down to the kitchen himself and pick it up so he didn't feel so trapped. You allowed him and ate in your office.

Once all that was done and over you called for Chanyeol and you left the club to go to the tailor. You did promise his mother you'd have matching ties for the wedding. The owner of the shop knew you well and left you to do office work while you picked out what you liked. First was choosing a type. Past the tables of vests and cumberbuns and pants, and the walls that looked as if they were made of different suit parts of all different colors, was a podium. A small circular one with three angled mirrors much taller than any human for trying on items. In the far back of the shop were private fitting rooms, but this podium would do. You directed Baekhyun on it and went to the right. There was a large display case there from your shins to a little over your head. Just next to the check-out desk. It was a 4x15 grid of ties. All different fabrics and patterns to showcase the options available for the tailor to customize.

"Bow tie or regular?" you asked over your shoulder.

"Oh, you're letting me choose?"

"It's your wedding too."

"Well I just figured since you want me out of the way that you'd...do everything...for me..." As his reply had come out of his mouth he realized how dumb it sounded. When you glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow he averted his gaze shamefully. Holding his hands behind himself so you wouldn't see how he nervously fidgeted as much.

"I'm not your mother, and you're not a child." You picked up a plain black tie in both styles and came back to him. Standing beside him so you could hold up each in the mirror for him to see. "Do you know why I showed you how my business works?"

"It's my reward for being good at the meeting last night right? I'm spending more time with you," Baekhyun answered. Watching you in the mirror instead of the tie you held to his collar.

"Partly. If something happens to me someone needs to know how to run this place. There are a few key people who have their hands in with me that know just from experience, but they'd never want to be the boss. They know, and they know when to bail. I suspect you don't. And that's a compliment. You proved you're resilient and clever, and passionate. I need someone who won't give up on this business. I've sacrificed too much for it to get torn down the second I'm gone; with Jongdae and a few others squabbling over who gets the biggest share of money then disappearing and leaving this city to rot. Since I can't make my own heirs I'll need to teach one. I don't know if you'll be a worthy successor, but there are a lot of lessons so we have to start early. Whether I trust you or not. Think of it as a test. And who knows, maybe I'll decide you're too weak and toss you out in the garbage. We'll have to see."

"Regular," Baekhyun told you resolutely. It was almost too easy to control him. Give him one tiny taste of a treat and he heels like a show dog. It would be a piece of cake keeping him in line. He might even grow into a fighting dog one day. You smiled and put away the ties. Searching for a nice cool color on a regular tie. Something solid. Patterns would be too loud; especially against your white tuxedo. The man behind you spoke up again, but quieter this time. Almost afraid. "Does this mean you'll have me...kill people?"

"If it comes to that," you answered. Nonchalant about the whole affair.

"You've...done it...a lot?" You plucked a navy swatch and a teal tie and turned around. Standing beside him.

"I've done what's necessary to protect my business and my people. Does that frighten you, pup?" You looked at his reflection while he looked at you. Thinking. Measuring. You held the options to his chest and shook your head. Too dark and too green. You put them back. Searching the display case again. You still felt his stare on you however. Maybe you were wrong about him, you sighed internally. Maybe he was too delicate after all. If he couldn't make the hard decisions then you were all fucked. He needed to understand that this job would drag him into hell and back. You picked a lighter blue tie and explained as you walked onto the podium with him. "We're all villains in this line of work. You have to be a certain breed of morally deprived to do this job." You wrapped the cloth around his neck. Tucking it under his collar then beginning to tie it. Speaking low and slow. "If I have any soul left it's black as the deepest sin. There's no redemption for all the horrors I've done. You should keep that in mind when you find you're deluding yourself into thinking you like me. I'm not a good person." Before you pulled the tie through the final loop your eyes flickered up to meet his. His expression wasn't wary or afraid like you thought though. Instead his dark brown eyes were hot on yours and you had to keep the surprise from showing on your face. The deep understanding in his gaze--the desire--strangled your heart in your chest.

"There are plenty worse than you." His voice was soft but firm. Telling you the comfort to the words was genuine. That's when you remembered his family. Since his mother married his step-dad he's had to live with monsters and demons. Submit to them. Do their bidding. From his perspective being given away to you like he was another piece of their merchandise must have been a small saving grace. This man has witnessed some of the lowest wrungs humans are capable of reaching. All while staying so soft. Of course he wasn't afraid of you. He was stronger than you might ever know. It was a matter of bringing that forward and honing it for your legacy's benefit. You licked your lips and pulled the fabric. Finishing the knot that makes a tie and tightening it to fit properly.

"I'm just using you for this contract," you shook off. Downplaying all you'd showed and told him about that day. Hand smoothing the tie. You still couldn't be sure he wasn't working for his family like he admitted to the night before. He said he couldn't be their informant. He backed that up with actions, but a man who betrays his family so easily can't be trusted. He needed to believe what you did today was unimportant. There was no need to tell his family what happened if it was unimportant. "You're nothing but a business asset that I can play with however I please in my free time."

"Then use me." Your movements slowed at hearing this. Palm halting on the center of his chest. "Use me like a toy." Suddenly you were acutely aware of how close you were to Baekhyun. Feeling your face warm at the unsaid implications. If he just put his head forward a bit he could kiss you. In another life maybe you would let him. Maybe if you weren't the boss and he wasn't their puppet you would stumble into one of the private changing rooms. Maybe you'd get lost in each other as he fucked you on the floor until you had carpet burn all down your back and stars behind your eyes. Maybe even a tiny part of you wished for that. But he didn't kiss you, and you didn't kiss him. You straightened his collar over the tie, grabbed the knot at the base of his throat, pulled him slowly close enough to see the variations in his irises, and warned him.

"It's easy to break pretty things." You saw the corner of his mouth twitch up in amusement.

"You think I'm pretty?"

"You think I'm blind?" Releasing him to create space, Baekhyun grinned warmly. You put your hands in your pockets. Admiring his final look. Your assumption was correct for color choice. Blue looked striking on him. It made his dark hair stand out more and created an almost glow to his skin. He looked like a prince charming type. Ready to drink beside you and whisper sweet nothings in your ear at your wedding reception. Ready to sell the lie that you were in love.

"I'll do it."

"Do what?"

"Anything you want. Be your heir, your pet puppy, your sham trophy husband, your spy. Hell, I'll be your damn mailman if you want me to. I just want one thing in return."

"Seems overly generous. Must be something big." He reached out and took your chin gently. Making sure you wouldn't look away.

"I'm not your enemy. I don't have hidden agendas to overthrow or kill you. This isn't a game where you find out what I want to 'defeat' me. When we're married I'll be yours...and you'll be mine."

"You'll be mine..." you pondered aloud. His fingers shifted. Ghosting up your cheek. The touch was so tender you had to hold your breath to prevent it from faltering. To stop him from seeing you were affected. That you wanted his hand to stay. "I like that." He nodded.

"And you'll be mine." You hummed and smiled. He mimicked you. A small twinkle of hope in his eyes.

"We'll see about that." Surprisingly he didn't back down, and it wasn't in a way you could've predicted. He let you go. Leaving you colder than before, but his words were promising. Threatening almost. Teasing at something darker in his character. Something that made your knees weaker.

"You will."

"So," you spoke slowly. Brain coming out from a strange fog you hadn't realized was there. Thoughts coming straighter again. "How do you like this tie?" He loosened it so you thought he was going to disagree with your choice. Instead he took it and draped it over your head. Then he turned you around to face the mirrors. Reaching around you to tighten the knot. You weren't wearing the proper shirt for a tie so he did his best. Straightening the end then resting his hands on your shoulders. Sliding down a bit to your biceps and squeezing gently. His breath on your ear.

"It'll be amazing and beautiful. Like you, boss. We'll look divine side by side. The whole world will stop for us." You were tensed. Feeling the edges of a shiver at the nape of your neck and sides. Baekhyun admired you in the mirror. The tape on his bandage peeling off his head again. You had the inexplicable urge to tilt your own and reach back to touch his face. Guide his mouth to your neck. To feel his lips on your skin. He would, if you told him to. He'd completely ravage you until you could barely speak. Unquestionably. Baekhyun would do anything you ordered him to. That was what stayed your hand and kept your neck stiff. Walking off the podium and un-doing the knot while you called for the owner. Baekhyun was too broken in, and at the moment you were still too broken. Hateful at how you were forbidden from sexual activities until you recovered from Kyungsoo's...lapse in clarity.

Once the owner came out and the matching ties were paid for you were back in the car with Chanyeol driving you home. Whatever music he had picked out humming quietly on the stereo. Baekhyun beside you in the back seat. You could tell he was thinking over something carefully. So you waited for him to come forward with it while watching the city skyscrapers disappear. Replaced with winding roads and suburban housing. Grocery stores and gas stations that had fast food places attached. Taking your regular route through construction areas that never seemed to get done and a less than nice neighborhood.

"Will you train me to fight?" There it was. You took your attention off the road where you were watching the potholes you drive by almost every day get bigger and deeper. Looking over at Baekhyun.

"What?"

"I want to prove I'm loyal to you now. So I should learn how to shoot a gun, right? And fist fighting? Like self defense?"

"You should, but I don't have the time. I'll have one of my guards train you."

"But I want to learn from you. Maybe just, like, joining you for your morning workout?"

"You mean beating you up instead of that sandbag? Your father would never sign if he saw you covered in bruises."

"I can take it," he assured. "Just don't hit anywhere visible like my face. I learn fast anyway. I doubt you'll get that many hits on me."

"You didn't look that tough last night in your underwear," you scoffed.

"I am," Baekhyun argued. "I'm the toughest of my brothers. I can prove it. Teach me."

"The toughest of your brothers but you haven't ever shot a--" You were interrupted by a concussive noise and a dull crack. Baekhyun jumped in his seat. You knew the sound of a gun and immediately became alert. Whipping your head to the side to see your window.

There was a decent crater of white on the top left side where the bulletproof window caught the impact of a bullet. Outer rings of cracks circling the main area where it hit and spread into smaller ones that stretched the whole window. Making it hard to see out of properly. Layers of glass and plastic protecting you. It was lucky. The body of the car wasn't bulletproof. You looked behind you and saw an older car pulling out onto the road from one of the driveways. Most likely stolen from the owners of the home. This wasn't any misfired street scuffle. The gunshot was their queue to engage.

"It's an ambush!" you called out to Chanyeol. Unbuckling so you could twist around, raise a knee onto the seat and pull your gun from its holster in one swift movement. Now fully facing the back.

"Shit!" Chanyeol cursed in frustration and slight panic. The car jerked as he stomped on the gas pedal. Putting distance between you and the other car as best as he could. "Hold on! I'll lose 'em!" An arm reached out from the car tailing you. Another gunshot rang in the air and you heard the metals hollow screech as it connected with the bumper. Chanyeol turned roughly to a side street, and you had to catch yourself from toppling into Baekhyun. You only had a few seconds to think of what to do before they rounded the corner with you. So you looked at Baekhyun. Delicate, soft Baekhyun whose eyes were wider than you'd ever seen staring right back at you. Lips slightly parted, chest heaving with shallow breaths. Frozen in shock.

"Put your legs on the seat and get down," you commanded. Out of the corner of your eye you saw the car turn the corner. The people in this car needed protecting. That's all you could think. Chanyeol and Baekhyun needed to stay safe. Adrenaline rising with your impatience at not being listened to. It was take action or die in these situations. There was no freezing up like a scared animal. So you shoved Baekhyun's shoulder with your free hand. Bunching the fabric with no finesse and pulling hard. Glaring at him with all the fire you could muster. "Get down or I'll put you down!"

#exo fanfiction #baekhyun x reader #baekhyun x you #exo scenarios #exo scenario #baekhyun #byun baekhyun #angst #fluff #mafia au #mafia!au #jongdae #chanyeol

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girlsguidetogettinghigh-blog · 6 years ago

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The Guide

The definitive run-down on staying safe while filling the chop bowl, written for my sisters everywhere who just want to get cooked.

The following is a composite of general wisdom, links to information that you will find helpful as well as guides to installing and using encrypted communication applications so we can all safely get crooked. This is just a general guide however, common sense and trusting your gut will always trump my anecdotal advice. The technical aspect is apt, I have a student loan that proves I’m somewhat competent.

First and foremost, with the advent of it being publicly known that most if not all of the Vegetable Australia groups have been compromised, a lot of the availability is gone. Scammers have successfully exploited this gap and now I have heard stories from multiple women who have been ripped off blind. This really gets my panties in a fucking knot so I stole most of this guide and rewrote it with a woman’s touch.

The critical advice I give to all of you girls, is know your state laws regarding drug use and possession.

This is a very simple and easy to understand page outlining the laws in New South Wales. Searching google will result in similar pages for the other states. Knowing your rights is exceptionally important, regardless of if you’re up to mischief or not.

If you’re an inexperienced user, the Psychonaut Wiki has a brilliant page on just about everything you need to know. Ranging from usage, effects as well as medication interactions.

Another page that offers plenty of information, secondary to the first I have linked is the Erowid General Page. The first page I linked is essential knowledge, the second is additional homework. Learn your stuff ladies.

Further Reading

When you’re buying a name brand, use this resource to verify it’s what they say it is. You can quite literally shut down someone by sending them a picture verses picture comparison. Don’t get ripped off because someone called it something fancy.

One of the best things you can do is learn about a concept called operation security, or OpSec for short. Keeping yourself and your data safe is crucial to keeping yourself out of a courtroom. This pages outlines a very in-depth analysis of operational security.

On top of this, most people aren’t aware of how much personal information they give away publicly and the implications of such. More often than not, people use the same password for everything too; this is horrible from a security standpoint. Learn about passwords here.

Want more of an in-depth look at what encryption is and how it works? This page should tell you everything you want to know about the actual tech behind these applications as well as it’s limitations and legality.

What’s a VPN and do I need one is something I get asked a lot, familiarise yourself with this page and decide based off that. Make sure you read reviews and are aware of privacy laws in your state.

Read this page about being a decent buyer or buy the book and read the whole thing then give it to your friends. I don’t make anything from this and I’m not affiliated at all, I just abide by these myself as best I can. Your parents probably knew or followed most of these themselves and the whole thing is free and worth reading while you’re couch-bound.

An Introduction

Now, before we jump in, I’d like to mention that the trade has changed dramatically in the last twenty years. Users today have little if any respect and widespread availability has lead to very little loyalty. I have seen people threaten dealers despite the fact it’s an admission of being complicit to a drug deal. I have watched Facebook groups be infiltrated by boys playing the big man and within the week it’s completely trash.

Follow these general pieces of advice and you should be well on your way to picking up something delicious with relative ease and heightened security.

The Golden Rules

The number one rule when buying from anyone you meet online is to only pay with cold hard cash. Real sellers only take cash and don’t want to leave an electronic paper-trail. Anyone who tells you it can be traced is probably trying to scam you.

Most scammers are easy to spot if you use logic. Generally all of them run advertisements showing that they sell essentially anything you could ask for. Stick with the sellers who only sell weed, it’s just generally safer. Scammers will ask you to prepay with a cash transfer or a gift card of some sort, usually bought from a convenience stores. This is an obvious tell.

Do not buy any of the gift cards or Steam cards and under no circumstances should you give them any serial numbers or receipt numbers. Countless people have been ripped off using these various methods and they are getting exceptional intricate and talented at lifting coin.

Try to avoid Craigslist, as it is full of scammers operating from other countries. Sometimes you might have some luck but I am sceptical at best.

Making Contact Safely

Most sellers with half a brain can be contacted through a free app known as Wickr Me, which is available from Google Play or iTunes. We generally don’t use anything else, if you’re seeing Kik, or WhatsApp I would be wary.

If configured correctly any and all of your messages sent through Wickr will self destruct after being read and are encrypted between devices. The application will also block screenshots if you’ve asked it to, and it will warn you if an app is recording or using an overlay on your device.

If the seller tells you that they want anything other than cash or anything similar, don’t bother with them at all. There is a one-hundred percent chance you end up with your cash gone and a packet of batteries.

Meeting Places and General Safety

Make sure to meet in a place you feel safe, preemptively plan locations and trial-run them to see how you fair. It is important to maintain an element of control but to be flexible in case your friend has requirements of their own. Someone asking for very specific places that you can’t establish as safe probably is going to knock you over.

Most people are genuine, but there are a few out there ready to steal your money. Don’t inherently trust someone because they’re a stoner. If you knew how many consoles I’ve been offered.

Make sure you can physically see and confirm what you’re buying before you hand over any cash at all. The seller won’t hand you product worth money until he’s been paid as per his requirement in this deal, so make sure to ask the seller to bring it in a clear bag or container, so you can see what you’re getting. This is common sense and any dealer will generally comply.

Ask to meet in a public place when you first meet someone, you’re both humans and there is nothing illegal about getting a coffee before going for a drive together.

Don’t meet them in an alley or a dark, deserted area. You’re asking for trouble. In some of these situations it’s unavoidable, if you have to; make sure you bring someone or better, multiple people.

If you don’t like the look of the person you are meeting, don’t let them get into your car and do not get into their car. If you don’t like someone’s house or you feel you’re being boxed into a kill-zone. Leave immediately. It’s not worth it.

Don’t make a large purchase the first time you meet if you’re a little bit scared. Try to buy a small amount like a fifty or a quarter, and then if you feel comfortable with the seller, increase your purchase size. Remember that it would be better to get busted for a stick than an ounce.

So, Are they Legitimate?

Asking for photos of product before you purchase is basically necessary. You’re going to determine based off this part of the interaction if they’re indeed genuine and legit.

Anyone who offers detailed close-ups, as well as pictures on a scale with the weight clearly visible or even with a timestamp is showing a certain level of tact and professionalism from the get-go.

Someone who speaks proper English and uses correct grammar is inherently going to seem more professional than someone who doesn’t finish sentences with a period. Be aware of this when you deal with someone, their vernacular will reveal a lot about their socio-economic situation and how they interact with others.

A phone call, that you record is a good way to avoid officers of the law as well as establish some repour between yourself and the dealer.

Don’t bother pissing around with Bitcoin, it’s not worth the effort, time or loss of finances you’ll experience. Unless you know what you’re doing, stay off Tor.

Dealers have lives too, don’t expect an answer right away or at all. You’re not entitled to one, however most sellers want your money too so generally it’s not a problem. Remember that they’re doing you a favour, treat them and the exchange as such.

Here’s an example of some legitimate looking photos:

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Figure 1. Here, the dealer is showing a weight as well as a current timestamp with their Wickr address. I have very little reason to doubt someone at face value when it’s this tier of service.

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Figure 2. This is the average level I expect someone to be up to, if there’s a weight and a clear photo; I have a relative element of trust in the dealer. This should be what you look for at a minimum.

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Figure 3. Closeups also help you verify the strain and that it’s not a scam. Asking for these while you see pictures of a scale is a good way to weed out scammers who claim_ it’s already bagged and sealed_.

Purchase Quality and General Pricing

Prices everywhere will vary from seller to seller and often are based around socio-economic demographics too. The richer the area, the higher the markup. Nicer suburbs usually dictate nicer quality but it is not absolute. Expect that some groups of people are simply going to get ripped off, purely because they’re completely oblivious.

The better the quality, the more you will pay. I shouldn’t need to explain this. However, make sure you’re certain when you pay more.

Weed is illegal, so is not regulated or tested for pesticides or mould like you get with something from Coles. Be careful of what you are smoking. If it doesn’t look right, throw it out. Dying to get high is a literal term.

Prices usually go up when there is a drought on, which tends to happen from around the end of the year up until the Australian outdoor harvest in March. Christmas prices are hell, I suggest highly that you stock up to save yourself from exorbitant prices. On the flipside, this is entirely reasonable; dealers have lives too and the Christmas period is a total jerk to everyone. Be mindful.

Below is a fairly comprehensive pricing guide for strains ranging from home-grown bush to hydroponic fruit:

Gram – $15-$25

Eighth (3.5g) – $45-$70

Quarter (7g) – $80-$120

Half (14g) – $140-$220

Ounce (28g) – $240-$400

These prices are usually for pick up, which you will need to factor in your own transport for obviously. If you want delivery, it’s reasonable that you should expect to pay an extra amount. Check Uber for an estimate regarding fuel if they’re asking for an odd amount. It may be cheaper and safer for you to use public transport discretely, but an Uber is always paramount to safety assuming you’re not carrying irresponsibly.

Installing, Configuring and General Wickr Advice

This is a quick throw-together I wrote showing how you can install Wickr on your laptop. Having someone message you on Wickr at an inopurtune time can really tie you in a knot and ultimately it’s safer not having evidence just laying around on your phone. However, it is a necessary evil the majority of the time. Because of this, it is critically important that you configure your Wickr correctly.

Installing Wickr on Windows

Following these screenshots should be self-evident. You should have absolutely no issues with It on a laptop. Simply download the current executable and follow the installer. At the end, it will launch. You can now create an account.

Step 1. Download the latest executable and run it.

Step 2. You’ll be prompted with this screen. Click Next.

Step 3. Choose wherever you want to install the program.

Step 4. Go ahead and install the application.

Step 5. It will take a few moments to minutes depending on your computer.

Step 6. You’re all set. Click to Finish to launch and you’re done.

Step 7. Now the application will open. Either login to your existing mobile account, which will not sync conversations so I suggest you install both the portable and desktop application at the same time. You can now configure Wickr properly.

Installing Wickr on an Android/iPhone

Notice: You should be competent at installing applications on your mobile device by this point. Simply follow the process on your chosen platform’s app store and you will be prompted with a similar screen and a similar configuration process.

Configuring Wickr on Any Platform

The first of the two steps we need to take to ensure our conversations remain private is to set a Burn-on-Read timer, which once our contact has opened and read the message, our message is set to delete itself off both devices within a set time frame. In this case, thirty minutes is our timer until it will delete itself. To configure this on any platform, simply click the fire icon.

Figure 1. The Burn-on-Read timer function.

Secondly, we need to set an expiry date so that if our messages don’t get opened, they will still delete themselves off both devices in the conversation. To do this, follow the same process as before and click the clock icon.

Figure 2. The expiration time function.

This process should be fairly self-evident no matter what you’re using. Google it if you run into problems. Never send messages before you’ve configured yourself.

With all this in mind, stay safe girls. None of us want to see a sister get hurt or scammed. Share this site around with your friends. The more of us who are in the know, the fewer of us end up getting burnt.

If I missed anything, or you have something to add please let me know. Lots of love, you can catch me fluttering around on my Wickr: candyfairy.

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aion-rsa · 4 years ago

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Upcoming Must-See Movies in 2021

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It’s 2021. Finally. If you’re reading this, it means you’ve hopefully gotten through the wreckage of last year unscathed and are ready for a brighter future. And if you’re also a movie lover, this certainly includes a trip (or 20) back to the cinemas.

Sure, theaters were technically open in some places last fall, but the moviegoing season has largely remained dormant since March 2020. Yet given good news about vaccines starting to become available, and an absolutely stacked 2021 movie release calendar, we have reasons to be cautiously optimistic.

Indeed, 2021 promises many of the most anticipated films from last year, plus new surprises. From the superhero variety like Black Widow to the art house with Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, 2021 could be a much needed respite. So below is just a sampling of what to expect from the year to come…

The Little Things

January 29

One of the year’s earliest high profile releases is also the first of WB’s film slate on HBO Max. The Little Things is a serial killer thriller in the old school mold. It also boasts a brutally talented cast that includes Denzel Washington and Rami Malek as the detectives, and Jared Leto as the killer. As the latest movie from John Lee Hancock (The Founder, The Alamo), this looks like the type of star-led seediness that used to dominate the multiplex.

Maclolm and Marie

February 5

Assassination Nation writer-director Sam Levinson returns for a decidedly stripped down and intimate character study about two people on the threshold of their lives changing–and perhaps splitting apart. With Zendaya and John David Washington in roles unlike anything we’ve seen the pair in before, they play a couple returning home after the premiere of Malcolm’s (Washington) first movie. He’s on the cusp of life-changing success as a director, but when confronted by Marie about past secrets and hard truths… the night takes a turn.

Judas and the Black Messiah

February 12

It’s kind of hard to wrap one’s head around the annual “Oscar race” in a year when little trophies don’t seem so damn important, but Warner Bros. feels strongly enough about this movie that it’s getting it into theaters and on HBO Max right in the thick of the pandemic-delayed awards season. And judging by the marketing, it’s bringing heat with it.

Shaka King directs and co-writes the story of Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), who became the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s and was murdered in cold blood by police in 1969. LaKeith Stanfield plays William O’Neal, a petty criminal who agreed to help the FBI take Hampton down. This promises to be incendiary, relevant material — and it’s almost here.

Minari

February 12

Lee Isaac Chung directs Steven Yeun–now fully shaking off his years as Glenn on The Walking Dead–in this semi-autobiographical film about a South Korean family struggling to settle down in rural America in the 1980s. Premiering nearly a year ago at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award, Minari had a quick one-week virtual release in December, with a number of critics placing it on their Top 10 lists for 2020.

Its story of immigration and assimilation currently has a perfect 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics lauding its heart, grace, and sensitivity. A few of ours also considered it among 2020’s best.

Nomadland

February 19

Utilizing both actors and real people, director Chloé Zhao (The Rider, Marvel’s upcoming Eternals) chronicles the lives of America’s “forgotten people” as they travel the West searching for work, companionship and community. A brilliant Frances McDormand stars as Fern, a woman in her mid-60s who lost her husband, her house, and her entire previous existence when her town literally vanished following the closure of its sole factory.

Zhao’s film quietly flows from despair to optimism and back to despair again, the hardscrabble lives of its itinerant cast (many of them actual nomads) foregrounded against often stunning–if lonely–vistas of the vast, empty American countryside.

I Care a Lot

February 19

A solid cast, led by Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Chris Messina, and Dianne Wiest, star in this satirical crime drama from director J. Blakeson (The Disappearance of Alice Creed). Pike plays Marla, a con artist whose scam is getting herself named legal guardian of her elderly marks and then draining their assets while sticking them in nursing homes. She’s ruthless and efficient at it, until she meets a woman (Wiest) whose ties to a crime boss (Dinklage) may prove too much of a challenge for the wily Marla. It was one of our favorites out of Toronto last year.

The Father

February 26

Anthony Hopkins gives a mesmerizing, and deeply tragic, performance as Anthony, an elderly British man whose descent into dementia is reflected by the film itself, which plays with time, setting, and continuity until both Anthony and the viewer can no longer tell what is real and what is not. Olivia Colman is equally moving as his daughter, who wants to get on with her own life even as she watches her father’s disintegrate in front of her.

We saw The Father last year at the AFI Fest and it ended up being a favorite of 2020; Hopkins is unforgettable in this bracing, heartbreaking work, which is stunningly adapted by first-time director Florian Zeller from his own award-winning play.

Chaos Walking

March 5

This constantly postponed sci-fi project has become one of those “we’ll believe it when we see it” films until it actually comes out. Shot nearly three and a half years ago by director Doug Liman, Chaos Walking has undergone extensive reshoots and was at one point reportedly deemed unreleasable.

Based on the book The Knife of Letting Go, it places Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Far From Home) and Daisy Ridley (The Rise of Skywalker) on a distant planet where Ridley, the only woman, can hear the thoughts of all the men due to a mysterious force called the Noise.

Raya and the Last Dragon

March 5

Longtime Walt Disney Animation Studios head of story, Paul Briggs (Frozen), will make his directorial debut on this original Disney animated fantasy, which draws upon Eastern traditions to tell the tale of a young warrior who goes searching for the world’s last dragon in the mysterious land of Kumandra. Cassie Steele will voice Raya while Awkwafina (The Farewell) will portray Sisu the dragon.

Disney Animation has been nearly invincible in recent years with other hits like Moana and Zootopia, so watch for this one to be another major hit for the Mouse.

Coming 2 America

March 5

The notion of whether nostalgia-based properties are still viable has cropped up repeatedly in the last few years. However, streaming, which is where Coming 2 America finds itself headed post-COVID, makes golden oldies much safer. This sequel—based on a 32-year-old comedy that was one of Eddie Murphy’s most financially successful hits—sees Murphy back as Prince Akeem, of course, along with Arsenio Hall returning as his loyal friend Semmi.

The plot revolves around Akeem’s discovery, just as he is about to be crowned king, that he has a long-lost son living in the States (we’re not sure how that happened, but let’s just go with it). That, of course, necessitates another visit to our shores—that is, if Akeem and Semmi presumably don’t get stopped at the border. The film reunites Murphy with Dolemite is My Name director Craig Brewer, so perhaps they can make some cutting-edge social comedy out of this?

The King’s Man

March 12

This might be a weird thing to say: but has World War I ever seemed so stylish? It is with Matthew Vaughn at the helm.

An origin story of sorts for the organization that gave us Colin Firth and the umbrella, The King’s Man is a father and son yarn where Ralph Fiennes’ Duke of Oxford is reluctant about his son Conrad (Harris Dickinson) joining the war effort. But they’ll both be up to it as the Duke launches an intelligence gathering agency independent from any government. It also includes Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as charter members.

Oh, and did we mention they fight Rasputin?

Godzilla vs. Kong

March 26

Here we are, at last at the big punch up between Godzilla and King Kong. They both wear a crown, but in the film that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have been building toward since 2014, only one can walk away with the title of the king of all the monsters.

Admittedly, not everyone loved the last American Godzilla movie, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but we sure did. Still, Godzilla vs. Kong should be a different animal with Adam Wingard (You’re Next, The Guest) taking over directorial duties. It also has a stacked cast with some familiar faces (Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, and Ziyi Zhang) and plenty of new ones (Alexander Skarsgård, Eiza González, Danai Gurira, Lance Reddick, and more).

It’ll probably be better than the original, right? And hey with its HBO Max rollout, questions of a poor box office run sure are conveniently mooted!

No Time to Die

April 2

Nothing lasts forever, and the Daniel Craig era of James Bond is coming to an end… hopefully in 2021. In fact, delays notwithstanding, it’s a bit of a surprise Craig is getting an official swan song with this movie after the star said he’d rather “slash his wrists” before doing another one. Well, we’re glad he didn’t, just as we’re hopeful for his final installment in the tuxedo.

Director Cary Joji Fukunaga is a newcomer to the franchise, but that might be a good thing after how tired Spectre felt, and Fukunaga has done sterling work in the past on True Detective and Maniac. He also looks to bring the curtain down on the whole Craig oeuvre by picking up on the last movie’s lingering threads, such as 007 driving off into the sunset with Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann, while introducing new ones that include Rami Malek as Bond villain Safin and Ana de Armas as new Bond girl Paloma. Yay for the Knives Out reunion!

Mortal Kombat

April 16

Not to be deterred by the relative failure of Sony’s Monster Hunter in theaters at the tail end of 2020, Warner Bros. is giving this venerable video game franchise another shot at live-action cinematic glory after two previous tries in the 1990s. Director Simon McQuoid makes his feature debut while the script comes from Dave Callaham (Wonder Woman 1984, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and the cast includes a number of actors you’ve seen in other films but can’t quite place.

The plot? Who knows! But we’re guessing it will feature gods, demons, and warriors battling for control of the 18 realms in various fighting tournaments. What else do you want?

A Quiet Place Part II

April 23

The sequel to one of 2018’s biggest surprises, A Quiet Place Part II comes with major expectations. And few may hold it to a higher standard than writer-director John Krasinski. Despite (spoiler) the death of his character in the first film, Krasinski returns behind the camera for the sequel after saying he wouldn’t. The story he came up with apparently was too good to pass up.

The film again stars Emily Blunt as the often silenced mother of a vulnerable family, which includes son Marcus (Noah Jupe) and deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds). However, now that they know how to kill the eagle-eared alien monsters who’ve taken over their planet, the cast has grown to include Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. While the film has been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak, trust us that it’ll be worth the wait. Is it finally time for… resistance?

Last Night in Soho

April 23

Fresh off the success of 2017’s Baby Driver (his biggest commercial hit to date), iconoclastic British director Edgar Wright returns with what is described as a psychological and possibly time-bending horror thriller set in London. Whether this features Wright’s trademark self-aware humor remains to be seen, but since the film is said to be inspired by dread-inducing genre classics like Repulsion and Don’t Look Now, he might be going for a different effect this time.

The cast, of course, is outstanding: upstarts Anya Taylor-Joy (Queen’s Gambit) and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) will face off with Matt Smith (Doctor Who), and British legends Diana Rigg and Terence Stamp. And the truth is we’re never going to miss one of Wright’s movies. Taylor-Joy talked to us here about finding her 1960s lounge singer voice for the film.

Black Widow

May 7

Some would charitably say it arrives a decade late, but Black Widow is finally getting her own movie. This is fairly remarkable considering she became street pizza in Avengers: Endgame, but this movie fits snugly between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. It also promises to be the most pared down Marvel Studios movie since 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and that’s a good thing.

In the film, Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff is on the run after burning her bridges with the U.S. government and UN. This brings her back to the spy games she thought she’d escaped from her youth, and back in the orbit of her “sister” Yelena (Florence Pugh). Old wounds are ripped open, old Soviet foes, including David Harbour as the Red Guardian and Rachel Weisz as Nat and Yelena’s girlhood instructor, are revealed, and many a fight sequence with minimal CGI will be executed.

How’s that for a real start to Phase 4? Of course that’s still assuming this comes out before The Eternals after it was delayed, again, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Spiral

May 21

Chris Rock has co-written the story for a new take on the Saw franchise. Never thought we’d write those words! The fact that it also stars Rock, as well as Samuel L. Jackson, is likewise head-turning. It looks like they’re going for legitimate horror with Darren Lynn Bousman attached to direct after helming three of the Saw sequels, and its grisly pre-COVID trailer from last year.

Hopefully this will be better than most of the franchise that came before, and given the heavily David Fincher-influenced tone of the first trailer, we’re willing to cross our fingers and play this game.

Free Guy

May 21

What would you do if you discovered that you were just a background character in an open world video game—and that the game was soon about to go offline? That’s the premise of this existential sci-fi comedy from director Shawn Levy, best known for the Night at the Museum series and as an executive producer and director on Stranger Things. Ryan Reynolds stars as Guy, a bank teller who discovers that his life is not what he thought it was, and in fact isn’t even real—or is it? We’ve seen a preview of footage, so we’d suggest you think Truman Show, if Truman was trapped in Grand Theft Auto.

May 28

Just when you thought this never-say-die franchise had shown us everything it could possibly dream up, it ups the stakes one more time: the ninth entry in the Fast and Furious saga (excluding 2019’s Hobbs and Shaw) will reportedly take Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his cohorts into space as they battle Dom’s long-lost brother Jakob (John Cena, making a long-overdue debut in this series). Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Helen Mirren, and Charlize Theron all also return, as does director Justin Lin, who took a two-film break from his signature series. Expect to see the required physics-defying stunts, logic-defying action and even more talk about “family” than usual.

Cruella

May 28

Since Disney has already made an animated 101 Dalmatians in 1961 and a live-action remake in 1996, it is apparently time to tell the story again Maleficent-style. Hence we now focus on the viewpoint of iconic villainess Cruella de Vil, played this time by Emma Stone. She’s joined in the movie by Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser, and Mark Strong, with direction handled by Craig Gillespie (sort of a step down from 2017’s I, Tonya, if you ask us).

The story has been updated to the 1970s, but Cruella–now a fashion designer–still covets the fur of dogs for her creations. This is a Mouse House joint, so don’t expect it to get too dark, and don’t be completely surprised if it ends up as a premium on Disney+ in lieu of its already delayed theatrical release.

Infinite

May 28

This sci-fi yarn from director Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer) stars Mark Wahlberg as a man experiencing what he thinks are hallucinations, but which turn out to be memories from past lives. He soon learns that there is a secret society of people just like him, except that they have total recall of their past identities and have acted to change the course of history throughout the centuries.

Based on the novel The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz, this was originally a post-Marvel vehicle for Chris Evans. He dropped out, and the combination of Fuqua and Wahlberg hints at something more action-oriented than the rather cerebral premise suggests. The film also stars Sophie Cookson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Dylan O’Brien.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

June 4

James Wan is already directing a new horror film this year so he’s stepping away from the directorial duties on the third film based on the paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). That task has fallen to Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona), so expect plenty of the same Wan Universe touches: heavy atmosphere, superb use of sound, and shocking, eerie visuals.

Details are scarce, but the plot—like the other two Conjuring films—is taken from the true-life case of a man who went on trial for murder and said as his defense that he was possessed by a demon when he committed his crimes. That’s all we know for now, except that, intriguingly, Mitchell Hoog and Megan Ashley Brown have been cast as younger versions of the Warrens.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

June 11

With the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot criticized (fairly) for its lack of imagination and castigated (unfairly as hell) for its all-female ghost-hunting crew, director Jason Reitman–finally cashing in on the family name by returning to the brand his dad Ivan directed to glory in 1984–has crafted a direct sequel to the original films.

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife – Who is Ivo Shandor?

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Set 30 years later, Afterlife follows a family who move to a small town only to discover that they have a long-secret connection to the OG Ghostbusters. Carrie Coon (The Leftovers), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) and Paul Rudd (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) star alongside charter cast members Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and, yes, Bill Murray.

In the Heights

June 18

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Broadway hit musical gets the big screen treatment (by way of HBO Max) from director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians). Set in Washington Heights over the course of a three-day heat wave, the plot and ensemble cast carry echoes of both Rent and Do the Right Thing. While a success on the stage—if not quite the cultural phenomenon that Miranda’s next show, Hamilton—it remains to be seen whether In the Heights can strike a chord with streaming audiences.

Luca

June 18

Continuing its current run of all-new, non-sequel original films started in 2020 with Onward and Soul, Pixar will unveil Luca this summer. Directed by Enrico Casarosa–making his feature debut after 18 years with the animation powerhouse–the film tells the story of a friendship between a human being and a sea monster (disguised as another human child) on the Italian Riviera. That’s about all we have on it for now, except that the cast includes Drake Bell and John Ratzenberger.

Pixar’s recent track record has included masterpieces like Inside Out, solid sequels like Toy Story 4, and shakier propositions like The Incredibles 2, but we don’t have any indication yet of what to expect from Luca.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

June 25

Can anyone honestly say that 2018’s Venom was a “good” movie? A batshit insane movie, yes, and perhaps even an entertaining one in its own nutty way, but good or not, it made nearly a billion bucks at the box office so here we are.

Tom Hardy will return to peel more scenery down with his teeth as both Eddie Brock and his fanged, towering alien symbiote while Woody Harrelson will fulfill his destiny and play Cletus Kasady, aka Carnage, the perfected hybrid of psychopathic serial killer and red pile of vicious alien goo. Let the carnage begin!

Top Gun: Maverick

July 2

It’s been 34 years since Tom Cruise first soared through the skies as hotshot pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, and he’ll take to the air once more in a sequel that also features Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, and more. The flying and action sequences from director Joseph Kosinski (who worked with Cruise on Oblivion) will undoubtedly be first-rate, but the studio (Paramount) has to be nervous after seeing one nostalgia-based franchise after another (Blade Runner, Charlie’s Angels, Terminator, The Shining) crash and burn recently.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

July 10

With Shang-Chi, Marvel Studios hopes to do for Asian culture what the company did with the groundbreaking Black Panther nearly three years ago: create another superhero epic with a non-white lead and a mythology steeped in a non-Western culture. Simu Liu stars in the title role as the “master of kung fu,” who must do battle with the nefarious Ten Rings organization and its leader, the Mandarin (the “real” one, not the imposter from Iron Man 3, played here by the legendary Tony Leung). Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy) will open up a whole new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with this story and character, whose origins stretch back to 1973.

The Forever Purge

July 9

One day nearly eight years ago, you went to see a low-budget dystopian sci-fi/horror flick called The Purge, and the next thing you know, it’s 2021 and you’re getting ready to see the fifth and allegedly final entry in the series (which has also spawned a TV show). Written by creator James DeMonaco and directed by Everardo Gout, the film will once again focus on the title event, an annual 12-hour national bacchanal in which all crime, even murder, is legal. How this ends the story, and where and when it falls into the context of the rest of the films, remains a secret for now. Filming was completed back in February 2020, with the film’s release delayed from last summer by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Space Jam: A New Legacy

July 16

There are two types of folks when it comes to the original Space Jam of 1996: those who were between the ages of three and 11 when it came out, and everyone else. In one camp it is an unsightly relic of ‘90s cross-promotional cheese; in the other, it’s a sports movie classic. Luckily for kids today, NBA star LeBron James was 11 for most of ’96, and he’s bringing back the hoops and the Looney Tunes in Space Jam: A New Legacy.

The film will be among the many Warner Bros. pics premieres on HBO Max and in theaters this year, and it will see King James share above-the-title credits with Bugs Bunny. All is as it should be.

Uncharted

July 16

An Uncharted movie has been a long time coming. How long you might ask? Well, when the idea of an Uncharted movie first started getting bandied around Hollywood, the earliest game in the series just launched to rave reviews in the PlayStation 3’s first year. We’re now on PlayStation 5(!), and Mark Wahlberg has gone from angling to play young hero Nathan Drake to starring his wisecracking sidekick, Victor “Sully” Sullivan.

Still, we’re here with an Uncharted movie finally in the can. Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, Venom), the video game movie stars everyone’s favorite web-head, Tom Holland, as Drake, a pseudo-modern day Indiana Jones. Whether it lives up to that older franchise’s storied legacy remains to be seen (especially given its gaming roots), but one thing’s for sure, Holland will get to show off more gymnast skill thanks to Uncharted’s famous parkour iconography.

The Tomorrow War

July 23

An original IP attempting to be a summer blockbuster? As we live and breathe. The Tomorrow War marks director Chris McKay’s first foray into live-action after helming The Lego Batman Movie. The film stars Chris Pratt as a soldier from the past who’s been “drafted by scientists” to the present in order to fight off an alien invasion overwhelming our future’s military. One might ask why said scientists didn’t use their fancy-schmancy time traveling shenanigans to warn about the impending aliens, but here we are.

Jungle Cruise

July 30

Disney dips into its theme park rides again as a source for a movie, hoping that the Pirates of the Caribbean lightning will strike once more. This time it’s the famous Adventureland riverboat ride, which is free enough of a real narrative that one has to wonder why some five screenwriters (at least) worked on the movie’s script.

Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows) directs stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt down this particular river, as they battle wild animals and a competing expedition in their search for a tree with miraculous healing powers. The comic chemistry between Johnson and Blunt is key here, especially if they really can mimic Bogie and Hepburn in the similarly plotted The African Queen. If they can sell that, Disney might just have a new water-based franchise to replace their sinking Pirates ship.

The Green Knight

July 30

David Lowery, the singular director behind A Ghost Story and The Old Man & the Gun, helmed a fantasy adaptation of the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. And his take on the material was apparently strong enough to entice A24 to produce it. Not much else is yet known about the film other than its cast, which includes Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Ralph Ineson, and Kate Dickie–and that it’s another casualty of COVID, with its 2020 release date being delayed last year. So this is one we’re definitely going to keep an eye on.

The Suicide Squad

August 6

Arguably the most high-profile of the WB films being transitioned to HBO Max, The Suicide Squad is James Gunn’s soft-reboot of the previous one-film franchise. It’s kind of funny WB went in that direction when the first movie generated more than $740 million, but when the reviews and word of mouth were that toxic… well, you get the guy who did Guardians of the Galaxy to fix things.

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The Suicide Squad Trailer Promises James Gunn’s “1970s War Movie”

By David Crow

Elements from the original movie are still here, most notably Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, but the film promises to be weirder, meaner, and also sillier. The first points are proven by its expected R-rating, and the latter is underscored by its giant talking Great White Shark. Okay, we’ll bite.

Deep Water

August 13

Seedy erotic thrillers and neo noirs bathed in shadows and sex are largely considered a thing of the past—specifically 1980s and ‘90s Hollywood cinema. Maybe that’s why Deep Water hooked Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal) to direct. The throwback is based on a 1957 novel by the legendary Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley), and it pits a disenchanted married couple against each other, with the bored pair playing mind games that leave friends and acquaintances dead. That the couple in question is played by Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, who’ve since become a real life item, will probably get plenty of attention close to release.

Respect

August 13

Respect is the long-awaited biopic of the legendary Aretha Franklin, with the Queen of Soul herself involved in its development for years until her death in August 2018. Authorized biopics always make one wonder how accurate the film will be, but then again, Aretha had nothing to be ashamed of. Hers was a life well-lived, her voice almost beyond human comprehension, and the only thing now is to see whether star Jennifer Hudson (Franklin’s personal choice) and director Liesl Tommy (making her feature debut) can do the Queen justice.

Candyman

August 27

In some ways it’s surprising that it’s taken this long—28 years, notwithstanding a couple of sequels—to seriously revisit the original Candyman. Director Bernard Rose’s original adaptation of the Clive Baker story, “The Forbidden,” is still relevant and effective today. Back then, the film touched on urban legends, poverty, and segregation: themes that are still ripe for exploration through a genre touchstone today.

After her breathtaking feature directorial debut, Little Woods, Nia DaCosta helmed this bloody reboot while working from a screenplay co-written by Jordan Peele (Get Out). That’s a powerful combination, even before news came down DaCosta was helming Captain Marvel 2. And with an actor on-the-cusp of mega-stardom, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, picking up Tony Todd’s gnarly hook, this is one to watch out for.

The Beatles: Get Back

August 27

Peter Jackson seems to enjoy making films about what inspired him in his youth: The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, his grandfather’s World War I service informing They Shall Not Grow Old. So perhaps it was inevitable he’d make a film about the greatest youth icon of his generation, the Beatles. In truth, The Beatles: Get Back is a challenge to a previous documentary named Let It Be, and the general pop culture image it painted.

That 1970 doc by Michael Lindsay-Hogg zeroed in on the band’s final released album, Let It Be (although it was recorded before Abbey Road). Now, using previously unseen footage, Jackson seeks to challenge the narrative that the album was created entirely from a place of animosity among the bandmates, or that the Beatles had long lost their camaraderie by the end of road. Embracing the original title of the album, “Get Back,” Jackson wants to get back to where he thinks the band’s image once belonged.

Death on the Nile

September 17

Murder on the Orient Express (2017) became a surprise hit for director and star Kenneth Branagh. Who knew that audiences would still be interested in an 83-year-old mystery novel about an eccentric Belgian detective with one hell of a mustache? Luckily, Agatha Christie featured Poirot in some 32 other novels, of which Death on the Nile is one of the most famous, so here we are.

Branagh once again directs and stars as Poirot, this time investigating a murder aboard a steamer sailing down Egypt’s famous river. The cast includes Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright, Tom Bateman, Ali Fazal, Annette Bening, Rose Leslie, and Russell Brand. Expect more lavish locales, scandalous revelations, the firing of a pistol or two, and, yes, more shots of that stunning Poirot facial hair.

The Many Saints of Newark

September 24

The idea of a prequel to anything always fills us with trepidation, and re-opening a nearly perfect property like The Sopranos makes the prospect even less appetizing. But Sopranos creator David Chase has apparently wanted to explore the back history of his iconic crime family for some time, and there certainly seems to be a rich tapestry of characters and events that have only been hinted at in the series.

Directed by series veteran Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World), The Many Saints of Newark stars Alessandro Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti (Christopher’s father), along with Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Corey Stoll, Ray Liotta, and others. But the most fascinating casting is that of Michael Gandolfini—James’ son—as the younger version of the character with which his late dad made pop culture history. For that alone, we’ll be there on opening night… even if that just means HBO Max!

Dune

October 1

Could third time be the charm for Frank Herbert’s complex novel of the far future, long acknowledged as one of the greatest—if most difficult to read—milestones in all of science fiction? David Lynch’s 1984 version was, to be charitable, an honorable mess, while the 2000 Sci-Fi Channel miniseries was decent and faithful, but limited in scope. Now director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) is pulling out all the stops—even breaking the story into two movies to give the proper space.

Movies

Dune Trailer Breakdown and Analysis

By Mike Cecchini

Movies

What Alejandro Jodorowsky Thinks of the New Dune Trailer

By Mike Cecchini and 1 other

On the surface, the plot is simple: as galactic powers vie for control of the only planet that produces a substance capable of allowing interstellar flight, a young messiah emerges to lead that planet’s people to freedom. But this tale is dense with multiple layers of politics, metaphysics, mysticism, and hard science.

Villeneuve has assembled a jaw-dropping cast, including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem, and if he pulls this off, just hand him every sci-fi novel ever written. Particularly, if relations between the director and WB remain strained…

Morbius

October 8

Following the monstrous (pun intended) success of Venom, Sony Pictures is making its second attempt to mine Spider-Man’s universe of villains with the dark tale of Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto), whose efforts to cure himself of a fatal blood disease turn him instead into a blood-drinking anti-hero. Morbius has been lurking around the Marvel Comics canon since 1971, often either sparring or teaming with Spidey, and it remains uncertain whether he’s got the cache to carry a movie on his own. In addition, can Leto wash away the bad taste left behind by his tattooed and grilled Joker in Suicide Squad?

Halloween Kills

October 15

2018’s outstanding reboot of the long-running horror franchise—which saw David Gordon Green (Stronger) direct Jamie Lee Curtis in a reprise of her most famous role—was a tremendous hit. So in classic Halloween fashion, two more sequels were put into production (the second, Halloween Ends, will be out in 2022… hopefully).

Movies

Halloween: A Legacy Unmasked

By David Crow

Movies

How Jason Blum Changed Horror Movies

By Rosie Fletcher

Curtis is back as Laurie Strode, along with Judy Greer as her daughter, Andi Matichak as her granddaughter, and Nick Castle sharing Michael Myers duties with James Jude Courtney. Kyle Richards and Charles Cyphers, meanwhile, will reprise their roles as Lindsey Wallace and former sheriff Leigh Brackett from the original 1978 Halloween (Anthony Michael Hall will play the adult version of Tommy Doyle). The plot remains a mystery, but we’re pretty sure it will involve yet another confrontation between Laurie and a rampaging Myers.

The Last Duel

October 15

What was once among the most anticipated films of 2020, The Last Duel is the historical epic prestige project marked by reunions: Ridley Scott returns to his passion for period drama and violence; Matt Damon and Ben Affleck work together for the first time in ages as both actors and writers; and the film also unites each with themes that were just as potent in the medieval world as today: One knight (Damon) in King Charles VI’s court accuses another who’s his best friend (Adam Driver) of raping his wife (Jodie Comer). Oh, and Affleck plays the King of France.

With obviously harrowing—and uncomfortable—themes that resonate today, The Last Duel is based on an actual trial by combat from the 14th century, and is a film Affleck and Damon co-wrote with Nicole Holofcener (Can You Ever Forgive Me?). It’s strong material, and could prove to be one of the year’s most riveting or misjudged films. Until then, it has our full attention.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins

October 22

While the idea of a Hasbro Movie Universe seems to be kind of idling at the moment, corners of that hypothetical cinematic empire remain active. One such brand is G.I. Joe, which will launch its first spin-off in this origin story of one of the team’s most popular characters. Much of his early background remains mysterious, so there’s room to create a fairly original story while incorporating lore and characters already established in the G.I. Joe mythos.

Neither of the previous G.I. Joe features (The Rise of Cobra and Retaliation) have been much good, so we can probably expect the same level of quality from this one. Director Robert Schwentke (the last two Divergent movies) doesn’t inspire much excitement either. On the other hand, Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) will star in the title role, and having Iko Uwais (The Raid) and Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) on board isn’t too bad either.

Eternals

November 5

Based on a Marvel Comics series by the legendary Jack Kirby, the now long-forthcoming Eternals centers around an ancient race of powerful beings who must protect the Earth against their destructive counterparts (and genetic cousins), the Deviants. Director Chloe Zhao (fresh off the awards season buzzy Nomadland) takes her first swing at epic studio filmmaking, working with a cast that includes Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Brian Tyree Henry, and more.

Movies

Upcoming Marvel Movies Release Dates: MCU Phase 4 Schedule, Cast, and Story Details

By Mike Cecchini and 1 other

Movies

The Incredible Hulk’s Diminished Legacy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

By Gavin Jasper

In many ways, Eternals represents another huge creative risk for Marvel Studios: It’s a big, cosmic ensemble film introducing an ensemble that the vast majority of the public has never heard of. But then, it’s sort of in the same position as Guardians of the Galaxy from way back in 2014, and we all know what happened there.

Elvis

November 5

Obviously we’ve all seen musical biopics before—too many after Walk Hard broke the formula down—but Elvis promises to be something different. A new passion project from Baz Luhrmann, the filmmaker behind Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, and The Great Gatsby, Elvis is expected to be a radically stylized account of Elvis Presley’s rise to all shook up fame. With an impressive cast that includes Tom Hanks as manager “Colonel” Tom Parker and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as B.B. King, and with up-and-comer Austin Butler as the King of Rock and Roll himself, it should be a hell of a show.

King Richard

November 19

Will Smith’s King Richard promises to be a different kind of biographical film coming down the pipe. Rather than being told from the vantage of professional tennis playing stars Venus and Serena Williams, King Richard centers on their father and coach, Richard Williams. It’s an interesting choice to focus on the male father instead of the game-changing Black daughters, but we’ll see if there’s a strong creative reason for the approach soon enough. The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men, Joe Bell).

Mission: Impossible 7

November 19

Once upon a time, the appeal of the Mission: Impossible movies was to see different directors offer their own take on Tom Cruise running through death-defying stunts. But then Christopher McQuarrie had to come along and make the best one in franchise history (twice). First there was Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and then Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Now McQuarrie and company have set up their own separate quartet of films with recurring original characters like new franchise MVP Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) across four films.

Movies

Audio Surfaces of Tom Cruise Raging on the Set of Mission: Impossible 7

By Kirsten Howard

Movies

Mission: Impossible 7 – What’s Next for the Franchise?

By David Crow

Thus enters M:I7, the third McQuarrie joint in the series and first half of a pair of incoming sequels filmed together. The first-half of this two-parter sees the whole crew back together, including Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, Ilsa, Benji (Simon Pegg), Luther (Ving Rhames), and CIA Director Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett). They’re also being joined by Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff, but really we’re all just eager to see what kind of insane stunts they can do to top the HALO jump in the last one.

West Side Story

December 10

Steven Spielberg has just two remakes on his directorial resume: Always (1989) and War of the Worlds (2005). While the former is mostly forgotten and the latter was an adaptation of a story that has been filmed many times, his upcoming reimagining of West Side Story will undoubtedly be directly compared to Robert Wise’s iconic 1961 screen version of this classic musical.

A few numbers in previous films aside, Spielberg has never directed a full-blown musical before, let alone one associated with such powerhouse songs and dance numbers. His version, with a script by Tony Kushner, is said to stay closer to the original Broadway show than the 1961 film—but with its themes of love struggling to cross divides created by hate and bigotry, don’t be surprised if it’s just as hard-hitting in 2021. Certainly would’ve devastated last year….

Spider-Man 3

December 17

Sony has finally gotten to a “Spider-Man 3” again in their oft-rebooted franchise crown jewel (technically though this film is still untitled). That proved to be a stumbling block the first time it occurred with Tobey Maguire in the red and blues, but the company seems undaunted since Tom Holland’s third outing is expected to bring Maguire back—him and just about everyone else too.

Movies

Spider-Man 3: Charlie Cox Daredevil Return Would Redeem the Marvel Netflix Universe

By Joseph Baxter

Movies

Spider-Man 3 Adds Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange

By Joseph Baxter

With a multiverse plot ripped straight from the arguably best Spidey movie ever, 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, Holland’s third outing is bringing back Maguire, Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man, Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, Jamie Foxx as Electro (eh), and probably more. It’s a Spidey crossover extravaganza that’s only missing a Spider-Ham. But just you wait…

The Matrix 4

December 22

Rebooting or continuing The Matrix series has always been a tough proposition. While the original Matrix film is one of the landmark achievements in science fiction and early digital effects filmmaking in the 1990s, its sequels were… less celebrated. In fact, directors Lily and Lana Wachowski were publicly wary about the idea of ever going back to the series. And yet, here we are with Lana (alone) helming a project that’s been a longtime priority for Warner Bros.

Movies

The Matrix 4: Laurence Fishburne “Wasn’t Invited” to Reprise Morpheus Role

By John Saavedra

Movies

The Matrix 4 Already Happened: Revisiting The Matrix Online

By John Saavedra

The Matrix 4 also brings back Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith. This is curious since Reeves and Moss’ characters died at the end of the Matrix trilogy—and also because Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus did not, yet he wasn’t asked back. We cannot say we’re thrilled about the prospect of more adventures in Zion after the disappointment of the first two sequels, but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit we’re still curious to see the story that brought Lana back to this future.

The French Dispatch

TBA

Wes Anderson has a new film coming out. Better still, it is another live-action film. While Anderson’s use of animation is singular, it’s been seven years since The Grand Budapest Hotel, which we maintain is one of the best movies of the last decade. Anderson is working with Timothée Chalamet and Cristoph Waltz for the first time with this film, as well as several familiar faces including Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and, of course, Bill Murray.

The French Dispatch is set deep in the 20th century during the peak of modern journalism, it brings to life a series of fictional stories in a fictional magazine, published in a fictional French city. We suspect though, if Anderson’s last two live-action movies are any indication, it’ll have more than fiction on its mind–especially since it’s inspired by actual New Yorker stories, and the journalists who wrote them! We missed it in 2020, so here’s hoping it really does go to print in 2021!

Other interesting movies that may come out in 2021 but do not yet have release dates: Next Goal Wins, Don’t Worry Darling, Nightmare Alley, Antlers, Blonde, The Northman, Resident Evil, Red Notice, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Army of the Dead.

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The post Upcoming Must-See Movies in 2021 appeared first on Den of Geek.

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ihuggedyourmominhelsinki · 4 years ago

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Freelance Pakistan Jobs You Could Work From Home

Once most people today consider freelancers, they think of creative tasks: writing, editing, maybe marketing gigs. While those areas are full of opportunities for entrepreneurial types that want to just work at home, possibly about a full-time or parttime foundation, they're far away from the only real jobs that contribute themselves into the freelancer existence.

Following Is a roundup of several freelance Pakistan jobs

Writing

Let us focus on the obvious: freelancer writing in Pakistan could be your timeless work-from-home project at freelancer website in Pakistan. In the event you are not already toiling away in virtual ink, but you could not realize how many diverse sorts of freelance writing jobs that there arestill. From journalism to copy writing, blog ging into social networking, you will find writing projects for just about each character and kind of experience.

Editing and Proofreading

If you are a veteran grammarian or merely someone having a stable eye on detail, the online teems using composing and proofreading gigs for the level of skill and experience.

Marketing and PR

For those who own a phone and an internet link reliable ample to maintain a Skype assembly, then you are able to perform freelance Pakistan jobs from the comfort of one's home. Simply be prepared to choose the sporadic onsite assembly. In many cases, your client may want to look at their own marketing or PR pro from the eye once in a while -- and maybe not over a webcam. Social networking planner and director occupations additionally fall under this umbrella, and so easy to complete at your home as from an workplace.

Transcription

Transcription jobs generally arrive in three flavors: legal, medical, and market analysis. The latter takes the smallest amount of analyze, in terms of familiarizing yourself with the technical technical language of this area. In most instances, transcription tasks have been sought out with an company, which will require you to take a scanning exam and then set you up with jobs asneeded.

Data-entry

If you are able to type 60 words a moment or more, and then detect insistent work much more sporty compared to dull, dataentry jobs may possibly work for you. Just beware: ads to get data entry jobs that assure big bucks or request bank account or other exclusive info before letting you get started are red flags for cons.

Digital Assistant Function

If you have practical experience as a personal assistant, administrative assistant, or office manager, then you certainly can certainly do the same occupation for a type of customers, by the coziness of of one's home. Digital assistants give administrative support over the internet and phone, often working through an agency that connects them together with clients.

Call Center

Virtual call center tasks are exactly the exact very same gig while the in-person job, minus the visit for the telephone centre. 1 caveat: make sure that you understand whether the corporation will give you compensated instruction, or if you're supposed to conjure up to the own start-up costs. The latter circumstance might cost you a penny, or turnout to be a fraud.

Online Tutoring

Coach elementary, middle school, high school, or college students on an assortment of subjects, via the net. The majority of companies will desire teaching experience in the subject you're tutoring, and a college diploma.

Your Fulltime Operate, Being a Freelance Career

Don't assume your current occupation is oblivious with freelancing in Pakistan living. Lots of occupations that seem firmly suspended from the brick-and-mortar world of physical offices and facilities will be actually best for freelancing. For instance, Registered Nurses can come across various freelance gigs that want their licensure, skills, and expertise, including event management for insurance providers, phone triage, and medical call center work.

Beware of Scams

Hidden one of many legitimate work-from-home job listings are scams of different degrees of cleverness and malicious purpose. To avoid becoming caught by means of a work-at-home job scam, always research organizations before you perpetrate. Do not send money, account or social security amounts, or any advice that would make it simpler to steal your own identity. Beware of associations that require you to get a package before it's possible to get started, or even promise to assist you to get loaded in a rush. The point is, remember the adage: when it sounds too excellent to be real, it usually is.

#Freelance Pakistan Jobs

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bennetsandbowties · 4 years ago

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Freelancer Jobs In Pakistan You Can Work From Home

Once most men and women consider salespeople, they presume about creative tasks: writing, editing, perhaps advertising and marketing gigs. While those areas are full of chances for entrepreneurial classes who want to work in your home, both on a full-time or parttime basis, they truly are far from the only jobs that contribute themselves to the freelancer living.

Here's a round up of several freelancer jobs in Pakistan

Writing

Let us focus on the most obvious: freelancer writing in Pakistan is your timeless work-from-home project at freelancer website in Pakistan. If you're already toiling away in virtual ink, but you do not see how several diverse types of freelance writing jobs that there are. From journalism to copywriting, blog ging to social networking, you will find writing jobs for each character and kind of expertise.

Editing and Proofreading

Whether you are a seasoned grammarian or merely some one using a solid eye on detail, then the internet teems with editing and proof reading gigs on your degree of experience and skill.

Marketing and PR

If you have a phone and an internet relationship reliable adequate to sustain a Skype assembly, you certainly are able to certainly do freelancer jobs in Pakistan in the contentment of of your own home. Simply be prepared to take the sporadic on-site meeting. In lots of cases, your customer might want to have a look at their own marketing or PR expert in a person's eye once in a while -- and maybe not merely over a webcam. Social media planner and director occupations additionally fall under this umbrella, and as an easy task to complete from your home just as in the office.

Transcription

Transcription occupations generally arrive in three different flavors: legal, medical, and promote exploration. The latter necessitates the smallest quantity of research, regarding familiarize yourself with all the technical terminology of this field. Generally in the majority of cases, transcription tasks are meted out by a agency, that will ask that you have a scanning test and after that set you up with jobs as needed.

Data Entry

In the event that you are able to type 60 words per moment or more, and also detect insistent work far much more Zen than boring, dataentry tasks may possibly do the job foryou . Simply beware: ads to get data entry jobs that guarantee big-bucks or ask for bank accounts or other exclusive info prior to letting you get started are crimson flags for scams.

Digital Assistant Operate

If you have practical experience as a personal assistant, administrative assistant, or office supervisor, you can certainly perform the same job for a wide variety of clients, by the contentment of of your home. Digital assistants provide administrative aid over the phone and internet, often employed through an agency that connects them with clients.

Telephone Center

Digital call center jobs are the exact same gig while the in-house project, with no the visit to the telephone center. 1 caveat: make sure that you know whether the company will give you compensated training, or whether you are assumed to pony up for the start-up expenses. The latter scenario might cost you a penny, or grow for always a scam.

Online Tutoring

Coach basic, middle college, high school, or college students on an assortment of areas, through the web. Most businesses will want teaching experience in the field you are tutoring, plus a college diploma.

Your Own Full-Time Operate, like a Freelance Job

Don't assume your current job is oblivious with freelancing in Pakistan lifestyle. Many occupations that look firmly suspended from the brick-and-mortar world of physical offices and facilities are in reality ideal for freelancing. For instance, Registered Nurses may find quite a few freelance gigs that require their licensure, skills, and experience, including case management for insurance businesses, phone triage, and clinical call centre job.

Watch out for Scams

Hidden one of many valid work-from-home job listings are frauds of various degrees of cleverness and malicious intent. To avoid getting caught with means of a work-at-home job fraud, constantly research companies until you dedicate. Do not send income, accounts or social security amounts, or any advice that would make it a lot simpler to steal your own individuality. Watch out for associations that ask you to obtain a package until you can begin or promise to help you receive loaded in a hurry. The point is, remember the adage: if it sounds too excellent to be true, it usually is.

#Freelancer Jobs

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georgewagner · 5 years ago

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Data backup: A guide for small and medium-sized businesses

What would you do if some, or all, of your business data disappeared, just like that? If you were to lose your work phone, spill a cup of tea on your laptop, or your computer’s hard drive failed, it only takes a second for important information – like inventory records, invoices and project plans – to be lost forever. So, to mark World Backup Day (31st March) we’ve put together a simple guide to help you keep your files safe. All of the tips are easy enough to put into action during any downtime you may have!

What are the risks?

Common causes of data loss include human error, technical failures, natural disasters and cyber-attacks.

According to cyber security awareness platform CybSafe, 90% of all data breaches in 2019 were caused by mistakes made by users. The top three mistakes reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) were:

Falling for phishing scams (deceptive emails used to obtain sensitive information – they are designed to look like genuine emails)

Unauthorised users gaining access

Installing malware (computer viruses)

It’s important to remember that data loss isn’t just a risk for larger companies – 40% of small companies and 60% of medium companies reported a data breach in 2019.

What are the backup options?

A good rule of thumb is that any important data should exist in two or more locations at once.

Using an external hard drive is a tried and tested method, where you simply connect a hard drive (e.g. a USB stick) to your computer and copy the data over. Whilst local backups in this way are easy to do and only require a one-time upfront cost, it can be easy to forget to do it regularly.

An increasingly popular choice is to use the cloud. With apps such as Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox and OneDrive, you upload your documents and they’ll be stored in secure online data centres. The cloud can be accessed from anywhere, making it easy to share and collaborate on documents with colleagues. However, some apps require a monthly fee, and as your data will be stored on an offsite third-party site, there is a small risk of error or data loss on their end.

For total peace of mind, you could have backups in a local location, for example a hard drive, as well as in an offsite location using one of the cloud options listed above.

What should I back up?

Any device that has files on it that you can’t replace or re-download from another device. This is likely to be anything you’ve created, such as business documents and photos, that you’re storing on your computer, phone or tablet. Data from drones and wearable technology (like a smartwatch) that you use are also good to back up.

If you’ve got a lot of files and are wondering which ones should be backed up, these are a few key ones to consider:

Legal documents

Financial documents

Business plans

Project-specific information: contracts and blueprints

Company document templates

Find out more about World Backup Day here.

The post Data backup: A guide for small and medium-sized businesses appeared first on Rated People Blog.

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ntrending · 5 years ago

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Robocalls aren't dead yet, but the FCC is finally taking aim

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/robocalls-arent-dead-yet-but-the-fcc-is-finally-taking-aim/

Robocalls aren't dead yet, but the FCC is finally taking aim

Robocalls are the worst, and they have been on the rise for the past half-decade. These pre-recorded scam calls can take a wide variety of forms, including everything from fake contests to phony IRS claims designed to tempt huge populations in hopes that a few will take the bait. Some estimates claim that there’s been as much as a 50 percent jump in these calls, from 30.5 billion in 2018 up to 47.8 billion in 2018. It’s an enormous problem.

Today, the FCC voted unanimously in favor of an effort it claims will help stem the tide of robocalls, which sounds like an effort we can all support. But, there are still some huge holes in the safeguards meant to protect your mobile device from the scourge of the auto-generated spam call. Here are some of the issues that remain.

What does today’s vote actually do?

The unanimous vote gives wireless carriers the ability to automatically block calls without notifying the subscriber that it happened. Right now, carriers can block calls to customers, but those users need to opt-in.

Previous FCC rules banned carriers from using analytics and consumer white lists of numbers that are known to belong to legitimate businesses. So, in the past a company may have noticed that calls matched the typical spam identifiers like high-frequency or short duration, but they couldn’t do anything about it unless the customer actively opted into it. Now, the company can info like that to block those calls automatically.

When will my cellular carrier start doing this?

This vote opens the door, but it’s mostly a small step on the path towards a peaceful phone existence. Companies like Verizon and AT&T now can use these tactics, but there’s no law saying they have to, which means the timeline for rollout will vary depending on factors like development times and technology adoption. That also means that companies could charge for the service of blocking robocalls.

What’s the downside?

Autodialers are responsible for a lot of annoying spam, but they also handle some important functions that are totally legal under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which tries to do what its name implies. Doctors offices, for instance, often use automated processes in order to remind patients of their appointments. The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management is one of several groups actively petitioning the FCC to revise the plan to make sure auto-generated medical calls can still get through. Other groups include those that represent debt collectors and credit card companies, both of which often rely on automatic calls.

Even FCC commissioner Michael O’Reilly spoke up about the potential hazard of missed legitimate calls, especially considering that nothing mandates companies to give customers access to the lists of blocked calls or notify them in any way.

How is it going to work?

The technical question marks that loom over this effort are probably the largest. A lack of consistent caller ID protocols around the world could make enforcing any actions difficult against calls coming from overseas. FCC chairman Ajit Pai has requested a period of public comment on a set of caller ID standards known (with apologies to James Bond) as SHAKEN/STIR or Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs (SHAKEN) and the Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) standards. Pai sent letters to providers (you can find them at the link above) calling for carriers to implement these standards within a year from when they were sent last November. Verizon started using it in March. T-Mobile was the first to implement it back in January.

The standards would require phone calls to carry a “signature” that can identify crucial information about them as they bounce around the tangled tubes that deliver calls to your device. That prevents bad actors from “spoofing” their calls to make them look like they’re from a trustworthy source. So, those spam calls that appear to come from your home zip code would be easier to spot and block, or at least ignore.

What else is going on to prevent robocalls?

In addition to the FCC initiatives, there’s also a bipartisan bill in the Senate from January of 2019. It’s called the TRACED act. It’s a multi-part act that, among other things, “requires voice service providers to adopt call authentication technologies,” and gives the FCC more authority to fine offenders who ignore the rules.

What should you do about robocalls in the meantime?

The FCC says that robocalls are far and away the most common complaint it hears from consumers, so it’s trying to move fast to fix it. In the meantime, however, the FCC asks that you report spam calls at this link. However, that just adds even more effort to something profoundly annoying in the first place.

Right now, the selection of services that block robocalls is sporadic. Verizon customers can use the Call Filter Service, which is free, but offers a $2.99 per month premium version that lets you make a list of numbers to block. Some Verizon customers can also get a free subscription to a third party service called Nomorobo, which automatically blocks spam calls.

Sprint has a $3 per month service called Premium Caller ID that will tell you when it believes a spammer is calling you, but won’t actually block it. AT&T’s solution is slightly more complete and will identify suspected spam calls so you can ignore them.

Google recently started rolling out its call screening feature, which allows users to send calls to a screening process that automatically detects spam calls and dispatches them. Apple just previewed its “Silence unknown callers” feature at WWDC last week. The feature would only make your phone ring if it’s coming from a number in your contacts, Messages app, or mail history. Everyone else would go straight to voicemail, which should save you a little frustration. And it could get better from there.

Written By Stan Horaczek

#Technology

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toldnews-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/lifestyle/airline-booking-hacks-what-works-and-what-might-get-you-in-trouble/

Airline booking hacks: What works, and what might get you in trouble

Finding the lowest airfare has become a favorite frugal pastime, and there are websites to help you nail down cheap fares. Some strategies, however, are dicey. (Alex Citrin/The New York Times)

Elaine Glusac

(Frugal Traveler)

Between bargain-shopping travelers and airlines flashing ephemeral prices, searching for the lowest airfares can feel like a game of cat and mouse. Sometimes, the game carries real-world risks, including the recent news that Lufthansa is suing a passenger whom the airline contends intentionally skipped a flight leg using a largely prohibited budget-booking practice known as hidden city.

Bargain hunting has led to a rise in cheap travel websites and rules of thumb for booking, such as flying at off-peak times and on slower days.

“People would like a simple rule, but in practice, there isn’t a single day or time to buy,” said Patrick Surry, chief data scientist for Hopper, an airfare prediction app. Factors most impacting airfares, he said, are “the day you travel, how long you stay and the airport you’re flying.” How far in advance you book can also determine the price you pay.

Airfares reflect the adage that time is money; for bargain-hunters, the less money you spend, the more time you’re likely to spend in the airport. Hopper found that fliers can save 5 per cent on airfares by changing from direct to one-stop fares, and 2 per cent above that for moving from a one- to a two-stop ticket. Of course, those non-direct fares will mean spending more time stuck in airports. Long layovers will also save you money: A layover of more than 12 hours means an average of a 6-per cent savings on your airfare.

Having flexibility in travel is one sure way to get the best fare. Many search engines, including Kayak and Hopper, allow users to register for price-alert tracking that recommends whether to buy now or wait for future price drops. The app HitList allows users to track a route with unspecified dates or lengths of travel.

Other booking ploys, surveyed below, may or may not get you into trouble with the airlines.

— Hidden city fares

Hidden city fares are one-way tickets through a connecting city where passengers intentionally stay in the layover city. For example, a flier from New York City to San Francisco may find it cheaper to book a one-stop flight to Seattle connecting through San Francisco, disembark there and not take the last leg to Seattle. The practice is known as skiplagging.

Finding these fares required a lot of scattershot searching and knowledge of airline competition until the website Skiplagged.com automated it in 2013. Its founder, Aktarer Zaman, was sued for deception by United Airlines and the online travel agency Orbitz in 2015, but that lawsuit was dismissed based on jurisdiction, and the website is still going strong.

Clearly, airlines don’t like skiplagging, which prevents them from selling the empty seat. Delta, United and American now explicitly ban exploiting fare rules in their contracts of carriage. For example, American Airlines states that “reservations made to exploit or circumvent fare and ticket rules are strictly prohibited.” This includes purchasing a ticket “without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares (hidden city).”

Some also argue the practice is unethical. “For every dollar someone scams, and I do think it’s a scam, that dollar is going to be placed back into the airfare structure of the airlines that everyone else pays,” said George Hobica, the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, a site that monitors airfare deals.

Zaman looks at the practice differently. “When you go to the store and buy a bag of chips, is it unethical to finish only half of it?” Zaman said. He notes that Skiplagged.com is for the average American flyer — who flies two times a year, according to the trade association Airlines for America — not for someone who intends to book hidden city routes often.

“Our mission is to make it easier to experience the world,” Zaman added. “We make flying more accessible, so we’re fighting against price discrimination and the way airlines try to take advantage of everybody.”

Some airlines would beg to disagree. In the recent Lufthansa litigation, the airline sued a passenger, claiming a contract violation when he skipped the last leg of his flight on a one-stop ticket from Seattle to Oslo via Frankfurt. The airline’s conditions of carriage stipulate that a fare is only valid if flown in the booked order (the order of flights listed in the itinerary), according to a spokeswoman for Lufthansa.

— Hacker fares

Many flight hacks are termed hacker fares, but Kayak popularised the term used in its search results on round-trip queries to show two one-way tickets, often on competing airlines, at rock-bottom prices.

For example, a recent search for fares from Chicago to Los Angeles turned up nonstop round trips on United from $321, versus $275 with an outbound on Delta and a return on American. Round-trip prices for the same itinerary turned up fares of $372 on Delta and $312 on American, both more expensive than that $275 combination of two one-way fares.

“Hacker fares are what Kayak does to discover cheapness, but also more diversity in results in terms of flight schedules,” Giorgos Zacharia, the chief technology officer at Kayak, said. “Domestically, if you fly out with one airline and return with a different one, you can create a lot of savings.”

Other search engines will also show one-way ticketing results for savings. Skyscanner, for example, calls them mash-ups. In most cases, fliers must click out of the search engines and into booking ones — either an online travel agency or the airline itself — and make the two bookings in quick succession to ensure the deal doesn’t disappear.

— Resident fares

Sometimes a ticket purchased from within a foreign country costs less than the same airfare in the United States. That’s because airlines price their flights based on competitive factors in local markets, including the wealth of consumers and their willingness to fly.

Airline search engines can tell where you reside based on your computer’s internet Protocol or IP address. Users can mask that address by subscribing to a VPN or Virtual Private Network, which allows you to search anonymously (plans at NordVPN, one provider, start at $2.99 a month). Some travel strategists believe this works.

From my own experiment comparing search results for international flights using a VPN and an internet address in Chicago, I got mixed results. Using the VPN, Air China asked me to identify my country and language, and then gave me the same $739 search result for a flight between San Francisco and Beijing that I found when using my office computer. However, when I searched for internal flights in a foreign country — flights between Buenos Aires, for example, and Bariloche in Argentina — I found the same itinerary for $302 on my office computer in Chicago versus $249 (after converting from pesos) using the VPN (in this instance, one would want to buy any foreign ticket using a credit card without exchange fees).

VPNs are legal in the United States. Though often associated with dark uses of the web, they can also protect you when using free public Wi-Fi.

An easier approach may be to use a foreign travel agent. Tierra Hotels, which operates lodges in Chile’s Atacama Desert, Patagonia and Lakes regions, often refers North American guests to the Santiago-based travel agency Cocha for flights from the capital to its properties. Cocha recently found round-trip tickets between Santiago and Punta Arenas in Patagonia for $262 versus results I received searching Latam Airlines from my office in Chicago at $324.

— Open-jaw tickets

Open-jaw tickets, often called multi-stop bookings on airline sites, are for round-trip flights that arrive at one destination and leave from another. For example, you may wish to fly from New York to London, then take the Eurostar train to continental Europe and later fly back home from Paris.

Open jaws can save you money, especially on international itineraries as one-way flights outside the United States are often costly. Most airlines and search engines offer multi-stop search options, making the practice easy.

Better yet, use open-jaw fares to expand your airport searches to get more results. While both are London airports, flying into Heathrow and back from Gatwick, for example, is technically an open-jaw booking. To ensure you get results from all possible combinations, search using a generic destination like London or an option for any airport in the area rather than a specific airport, bearing in mind that budget airlines often use secondary airports.

A recent search for flights between London and Paris, cities with multiple airports, turned up a round-trip fare of $182 on British Airways, flying from London City Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and returning to Heathrow, versus $197 on an Air France flight between Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle. One of the cheapest fares was on the low-cost carrier easyJet: $170 round trip, from Charles de Gaulle to Heathrow, and back to Paris from London Southend Airport.

The Takeaway

HIDDEN CITY FARES Most airlines prohibit exploiting these pricing loopholes, though few have prosecuted.

HACKER FARES Another term for two one-way tickets and perfectly legal.

RESIDENT FARES Masking your computer’s address to get fares reserved for local residents may not be illegal but it is technically complex. Try using a foreign travel agent.

OPEN-JAW TICKETS A good approach for surveying itinerary and pricing options.

#cheap flight fare #cheap flight money #flight cost #flight fare #indian express #indian express news

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addictionfreedom · 6 years ago

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kikistiel · 8 years ago

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The Post™

Here it is everyone. It is The Post™, the one that describes, to put it simply, What The Fuck Happened.

Earlier last year, I disappeared for a long while. I stopped updating Idolon, I went radio silent on tumblr, and pretty much stopped all communication on my social media (which to this day, I still haven’t rectified). Then suddenly I came back and I freaked people out a bit. I’ve gotten literally hundreds of messages ranging from “did you die” to “where’s idolon/TMWLTT” to “WHY KPOP THO??”.

I meant to post this post on the new year, but I still wasn’t comfortable talking about it. But! I am now. I’m here, I’m ready to do this. Feel free to read it, ignore it, skim it, etc. But if you wanted to know What The Fuck Happened, here is The Post™.

Here we go! (There’s some juicy drama involving stalking, but if that makes you uncomfortable, here’s your warning.)

We as a collective tend to joke about 2016 being absolute shit, and with good reason. Well, personally... it was still shit.

The DEPRESSION.

I started 2016 off in the New Year as mega-depressed. I was quiet about it, didn’t talk about it much, but I was seriously down. I’d had thoughts about hurting myself before, but this was so different. It was so immense. It became a fact of life. I was starting to scare myself because I wasn’t even thinking about IF I wanted to end my life, I was having really macabre thoughts like “When would be a convenient time for me to do it? Maybe next Tuesday, I don’t have anything going on then.” It sounds funny to me now, but when your thoughts get like that, you know you’re in it bad.

Eventually I was able to pull myself out of it and honestly? A lot of that is due to you guys! Tumblr culture has helped me through a lot. Idolon feedback helped me too.

The RESTRAINING ORDER.

I haven’t mentioned this on here before, and I was pretty quiet about it on personal social media like facebook too, but I’m a little tired of being quiet about it, honestly. He doesn’t deserve the decency of me “not talking about it”. I’m so ready to talk about it, y’all. I want to scream about it from the tops of mountains.

In the middle of 2016 I had to get a restraining order. It was against a guy that I used to live with. He had developed an infatuation with me. He was engaged and I was in a relationship, plus I wasn’t interested in him like that anyways, so I told him it wasn’t going to happen.

After he moved out, some strange things started happening. Literally every social media account I owned, including email, tumblr, twitter, youtube, etc, ALL OF IT, was hacked in to. Pictures of me, including some sexual in nature, that were either taken from my personal computer or taken by friends (who did not share it outside of our social circles) were uploaded to my Google+ account. At first I thought it was some foreign scam system, but after those pictures were posted, I knew it was someone I was familiar with. Soon, sexually explicit “fanfiction” of me, my roommate, and a friend together was being posted on the accounts. Things like “whore” “slut” “lesbian” were posted under pictures of me. I would get taunting messages from my own accounts and email, saying they were going to give me my things back. They never did.

A friend of mine who is an admin of a site I frequent compared the IP address logging in to my hacked account on his site and was able to tell me that the IP was shared by the apartment the guy I rejected lived in. Now, his fiance did not like me as a person, so we suspected it might have been her -- but we didn’t know for sure, and we let it drop. I had no idea the guy would be capable of doing something like that. I thought he was harmless.

Anyways, we let it go. I got my things back and nothing happened for a while.

Until that is, I got a call from my boyfriend while I was back home visiting my family. The fiance had gone in to his computer and found EVERYTHING. Gross sexual fantasies/stories of me, the pictures he stole, passwords for my accounts, everything. Apparently he knew about it too -- I got a skype message from him right before news broke to me saying “I have to talk to you. If you hear it from someone else first, I’m sorry.”

So, there it was! It was him. I was livid. I wanted to commit murder, you guys, and if I wasn’t in Atlanta at the time that it happened I might have done it. He only lived like three blocks away from me at the time, which terrified me.

I shouldn’t have let it go, but I didn’t know what else to do. I was happy to finally know who did it, but I had heard horror stories of people being brushed off by law enforcement for trying to pursue cyberstalking cases. His fiance dumped him and he moved away, and I didn’t hear from him for a long time. I blocked him on every thing. I was done with the situation.

Until...

My roomie and I were up late talking and she said she had gotten a friend request on facebook from a girl she didn’t recognize. She said that her and I were mutuals to this person, so I went on facebook to try to decipher who it was. The profile had only one picture of a generic looking girl. I’m usually pretty careful with accepting friend requests, but this girl had 6 different friends in common with me, so I must have accepted it long ago (I had accepted her request back in like... 2012) because I thought she was an old aqquantince I didn’t recognize anymore. But then I looked at the friends she had with me...and it didn’t line up. She was friends with people from middle/high school AND friends from college (who would have had no way of knowing each other) AND even some online friends. We were immediately suspicious and messaged the friends about it, who all eventually replied saying they had no idea who this girl was.

I knew immediately what was going on. I also felt like the name seemed familiar -- I had just started selling the first printed copy of Idolon online, and remembered seeing that name as one of the people who ordered a book. I looked up the address she had ordered under, and it was this guy’s address for where he worked. That proved this whole persona was him.

I. Was. Disgusted. I had spent years trying to get away from this guy and hiding all my personal info from him, only to find out that he’d been getting updates on my life ALL ALONG. My new address and phone number had been posted on that facebook profile of mine at least ten times. I had personal pictures on my facebook, personal info, info about my relationships and friends and what was happening in my life and all along he’d been able to see all of it.

The next day I went to the court house. I’d had enough, and I was fed up. I filed a petition for an order of protection (restraining order). My case was technically filed under DOMESTIC VIOLENCE because the guy involved had once lived with me. THIS IS IMPORTANT, IF ANY OF YOU EVER HAVE THIS PROBLEM! Stalking and DV are seen differently, so if your abuser once lived with you, MAKE THAT KNOWN. I was lucky to have my case taken on by a legal aid team free of charge (ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE!! Many DV legal clinics exist and are very willing to take on your case if you can’t afford a legal team!! DO RESEARCH ABOUT THEM IF YOU ARE EVER IN THIS SITUATION!!).

This was so, so helpful because I was afraid to face this creep. Normally for these kinds of petitions, you represent yourself, which is honestly? so mind boggling for me. I saw people come through that office that were in neck braces and covered in bruises from their abusers and they were still expected to represent themselves in court and face their abusers just like that. Full offense, but what the fuck?

So, I had a legal team helping me, and my god the woman who represented me was one intimidating bitch. Full stop no-nonsense. She was amazing. I have never felt so much adoration for a person, ever. This woman could have taken up a job as a lawyer at a firm making bank, but instead she represented DV victims free of charge. After my case was over I literally cried in her arms, guys.

Anyways we built a case for months and months. I had to dig up old conversations, ask for affidavits from many friends, and prepare testimony with witnesses. (Side note -- that fiance who kind of hated me? Well she must have hated me more than she hated with him. She refused to help by making a measly written statement about what she found and witnessed, because she “didn’t like” me. I aspire to be that level of petty one day. Amazing.) It was stressful, but I was nervous the day of the trial because how was I going to go on with life if we’d lost and this guy was ALLOWED to keep contacting me?

My lawyer kept telling me that the judge we had was a known hard-ass, and wasn’t well liked. He was known for being... unsympathetic. I was nervous because my case involved cyberstalking and this guy was a grumpy old white guy who looked like iPhones confused him. At the pre-trial he even got in to an argument with my lawyer about if an emergency order of protection was needed until the trial date.

The day of the trail, I had me, my boyfriend, my two roommates and a friend there as both witnesses and moral support. He showed up alone. He sat across from the courtroom from me and even being in the same room as him caused me to panic. Like... cold sweats and heart racing.

After all my witnesses had given their testimony, he took up his right to question me, which was nerve wracking. He asked me about every little thing I did, brought up my rejection of him (which I let him down easy?? Like holy shit ladies, if you ever reject a guy and you try to let him down kindly because you’re afraid of getting murdered by him later, just know that he’s going to use that against you later claiming that you didn’t mean it or some shit, jesus christ). It was gross and I don’t want to go in to detail about it. Just trust me it was horrible.

Then my lawyer questioned him and my god she ripped him apart. And then I was pleasantly surprised that when the crusty old judge questioned him, HE RIPPED HIM APART TOO. He just kept asking things like “what earthly reason would you have to do this or that?” and he’d flail around trying to come up with an excuse and the judge would just keep repeating “Why? WHY?” over and over again.

ANYWAYS. Good news! He took all of three minutes to deliberate before he awarded me a restraining order. It lasts for two years with the option to renew it afterwards. I was so happy I think I felt my soul ascending right then and there.

I contemplated making new accounts, like twitter, tumblr, etc, ones that he wouldn’t know about, but eventually decided against it. I wasn’t going to keep running away because of him, you know? He probably still reads this tumblr, too. In which case, Adam, if you’re there -- sucks to be you doesn’t it? Go die maybe?

So that happened. I moved on.

The CAT(s)

When my boyfriend and I first got together seven years ago, and I went to go visit him in Vancouver, we adopted a cat together. We had her for so long, it was never just “me and him”, it was always “me, him, and Ink”.

One day she stopped being able to use her legs. They became incredibly swollen. We took her to the vet immediately. They told us she’d suffered some sort of embolism (?) and that there was nothing they could do for her. They put her down that day.

I was devastated. We had no warning -- we took her to the vet not knowing that we wouldn’t be coming home with her again. We’d had her so long that she was an integral part of me. She was an amazing cat, and I loved her with every fiber of my being. I cried for weeks about it. I felt like I had lost a child. Even typing about her now makes me a little misty eyed.

Eventually sometime later, my boyfriend and I decided that we would try to repair the loss we felt by giving another cat a home. We went to the shelter and actually ended falling for two cats, which we both took home.

I fell so in love with them. One of them was even named Jiji (Get it? From Kiki’s Delivery Service? My name is Kiki? I thought it was cute...). They were perfect cats, very sweet and affectionate. I didn’t think I’d be losing them so quickly, but then...

The BREAKUP

I’d posted about my boyfriend for a long time on here. I was with him for seven years, since I was 17 years old. He was my first serious, long term relationship, and I was head over heels in love with him. Sure we had problems, but what couple didn’t?

Sometime in the summer, after years of hard work, he’d gotten his dream job as a motion designer as Rooster Teeth. We were so happy, but it also meant moving to Austin. I might have mentioned this on here once or twice. Well, anyone wondering why I don’t live in Austin?

We had made a plan that he would move down there first and get an apartment and I would follow a couple months later, to finish out my con season. He would take the cats, it was just easier that way.

I was in the hospital recovering from surgery, completely hyped up on painkillers and other drugs, totally out of my mind, when he left. He came to see me, but I barely remember the exchange. That was the last time I saw him.

Months went by and he and I picked out an apartment together. He moved in all his stuff. I started getting my affairs in order. It was the day after ChiCon, a couple weeks before I was supposed to fly down there (tickets were already ordered) and I told him I wanted to tell him all about my weekend. So, we talked over the phone. I told him about my ChiCon adventures. Then he said he wanted to talk...

He said he wanted to break up. He said he wasn’t happy anymore. I was devastated. I was in shock, and denial. I cried, I screamed, I begged, but he was done.

Listen. There is absolutely no good reason, none at all, to break up with your partner of seven god damn fucking years over the phone. If you do this, you’re an asshole of the highest caliber. I don’t care what you have to say, don’t do this. Don’t do it.

I didn’t know what to do. I was at a complete loss. I didn’t even remember what it was like being single or not in love. I went home to see family. I checked in to a psychiatric hospital. I stopped doing anything I enjoyed. I’d lost a huge part of my identity, and the worst part was that I was still in love with him.

He kept the cats, OUR cats. I’d lost my close animal companions again for the second time that year. That hurt almost worse. (Also, he came back to our apartment for Christmas... and I was just supposed to have him stay here in the same apartment with me acting like nothing was wrong and pretend I was fine. And I wasn’t fine. [insert Katy Perry ‘you say you’re fine’ audio here])

This was around the time I stopped updating Idolon. I hated doing that you guys, and a lot of people were mad about it, but I just wasn’t ready to open up about why. Do you guys understand a little bit now? I really hated taking a break, BELIEVE ME. Idolon kept me going when other things didn’t, but I was so devastated and depressed that I just couldn’t make myself care anymore.

I also gave up using social media, including tumblr. This is why I disappeared for a while. I still haven’t gone back to facebook or twitter.

..........The KPOP

I pretty much only came back to tumblr, and that was because I discovered something that made me feel something close to happy again: Kpop! I know the appearance of Kpop was really jarring for a lot of you, and I lost a lot of followers for it (over 4k in fact, haha...). But it was something that brought me joy again for the first time in a long time. Listening to it and being invested in the groups just makes me happy.

I know, I know, there’s a running joke that people turn in to Kpop blogs out of no where, and it IS funny, but there’s a deeper reason behind it than just my interests shifting. It literally just made me want to start making/drawing/editing again. I started getting creative again. I didn’t just sit around in my apartment all day in the same sweatpants for six days straight doing nothing with my life feeling sorry for myself. BTS has a new album coming out called “You Never Walk Alone” and honestly? For someone like me, who went through hell and back in such a short amount of time, that alone makes me feel a lot of hope. I know it’s silly to feel like that over a band or album but... music has always had that way of making you feel things right?

Am I over the breakup? My cats? The stalking? No. Hell no. I’m more down than ever, but I don’t feel like ending it all anymore. I feel like I have things to look forward to again and that things will brighten up for me eventually.

I came back here because you guys have always supported me unconditionally, and you all continue to do so. I’m very lucky to have you guys. Most of you have supported my shifting interests and still support Idolon (WHICH YES, IS NOT DEAD AND IS COMING BACK!).

Anyways. This was really long, wow. I didn’t mean for it to be. But I felt like I owed you all and explanation and I got rambly with the details. By the way, I have adopted a new cat. Her name is Chihiro (yes, from Spirited Away), and I love her. And she is mine, and mine alone, and no one can take her away from me. I got a semicolon tattoo on my hand. It reminds me every day that just because I’m hurting, doesn’t necessarily mean I did anything wrong.

If you read all the way through, thank you. I’m in a better place now, even if it’s only slightly. I feel like there are reasons to go on now, and things may still be hard but... I think I’ll be okay.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m going to be okay.

#personal #boy none of this was funny at the time but looking back on it 2016 was a fucking ride #and thank you for getting through this mess if you decide to read it all #enjoy

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