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machine-saint · 3 months ago

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licensing all my posts under the GPL from now on

GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE

Version 3, 29 June 2007

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.

Preamble

The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works.

The licenses for most software and other practical works are designed to take away your freedom to share and change the works. By contrast, the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change all versions of a program--to make sure it remains free software for all its users. We, the Free Software Foundation, use the GNU General Public License for most of our software; it applies also to any other work released this way by its authors. You can apply it to your programs, too.

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be-ready-when-i-say-go · 2 months ago

Text

Roll for Initiative--Part 8 (Final)

Joe’s managed to keep the lock down about his limited knowledge on Dungeons & Dragons. He won’t say he learned about it because of you.

It only takes one text message though for the truth to start to unravel. If slaying dragons and BBEGs isn’t the place to confess feelings, where is?

CW: Game base violence, death (only in the campaign)

Joe Burrow x Black Reader.

Series Masterlist

Complete Masterlist

The house is alive. Even from the back of the house, on your way to the backyard, to pass off the tray of meats that wait for their fire end, a charr and a smoked flavor to meet between buns, you can hear the voices carrying on from the living room. This isn’t even half of the people who agreed to come--just your family and Joe’s currently as they help with the set up efforts. But even just them makes the house feel so much smaller, so much more lived in.

Joe stands, on the other side of the glass doors, with the dark navy apron tied around him, next to your dad as get started on the grill. You’re glad you got the dishes with the plastic lids to keep them protected in the late August heat and from whatever delays the two of them are experiencing. “You would have to go and get the expensive shit,” your dad teases.

“It came highly rated,” Joe defends with a laugh. “And there were several that were more expensive but I was out voted.”

Something finally clicks, a ticking before the sound of something whooshing. Both your dad and Joe exhale, clearly being the noise that they needed to hear. “There we go,” your dad murmurs, taking the dish from you.

When Joe proposed a house warming for your official move in and a watch party after getting the heads up that the final edits were complete alongside the release dates, you’d hesitated. Though it’s taken you and him over several lengthy conversations to settle on how things would work once you moved in, and were met with a relatively smooth move in process thanks to some help from your parents, Joe, and Ja’Marr, you weren't sure that the two of you could pull off such a party to that scale just three weeks after you officially moved in. It didn’t feel like enough time between your job, his training camps, and trying to get the house actually in order. Yet, Joe remained convinced you could. ‘We just need a plan,’ he returned, ever so cool as always.

And planned you two did, between lunch shifts, on the weekends, as the two of you moved and rearranged furniture you were able to build a rather solid plan on how to hosts such a large event. Even if planning did resort in a silent but heated exchange about which grill to acquire last week--a battle of wills and stares that sent one couple away from the aisle as you and Joe stood there. Even though the grills were all expensive and though it was Joe’s card on the line, you still fought for a more sensible option--the one that had 0.1 start rating and was about 90 dollars cheaper. Joe only conceded if you agreed to the extended warranty on the item. You didn’t think it was worth getting the extra insurance, but relented in the end.

“Oh, that’s new,” Robin quips behind you. She carries with her the second tray of patties, hotdogs, and sausages. When you look over your shoulder, you spot her motioning towards the marble side table from your apartment tucked up near the back sliding doors, holding a newly acquired plant.

“Table’s from my old place.”

You’re careful not to say it’s yours because it’s not about what’s yours and what’s Joe’s anymore. It’s about the meddling, the finding an our between the two of you. The big pieces that stayed with you during the move were the purple couch, the DIY’d coffee table and bookshelf, the big pieces of artwork, and some decorative vases. The smaller pieces of art have landed in a small pile in your personal cave/reading space that will be hung eventually. Moving from your apartment to moving in with Joe was a slow process and you know the settling will be even slower.

“It looks like a solid piece. Cute plant too. I tried to convince Joe to put some more green in when he first bought it, but he objected like it was going to kill him.”

“Mom, I would’ve killed any and every plant I bought,” Joe answers, taking the dish from her.

“But now you won’t?” she questions.

“Because I won’t let him kill it,” you laugh. “Dad, this is Robin, Joe’s mom. I think Jimmy is somewhere, but I lost him on the way outside.”

“Oh, nice to meet you,” Robin smiles, taking your father’s hand.

“Micah,” your dad returns. “Nice to meet you too.” The smile is a little unsure, tight on his face. But Robin doesn’t ask where he’s been, why he hasn’t been around before. Instead she talks about being excited to watch the campaign, to see what you and Joe have been so secretive about. Your dad eases into the conversation, taking it in stride as he agrees he’s excited too.

“Can I get the time, baby?” Joe questions. “My phone is in my office I’m pretty sure.”

“11:22. Thirty-eight minutes until both episodes drop.”

“Episodes?” your dad questions.

“They split it into two parts from what I last heard. We’ll have an intermission at the end of part one for chatting, bathroom breaks, whatever else people need for maybe twenty minutes?” You bring the last part to Joe, unsure of how much time is too little or too much.

“I’d say closer to thirty minutes. It’ll be a big group,” Joe returns.

It sounds fair enough so you nod at the suggestion. “I’m glad the AC serviced when it was,” you mutter to yourself and turn to go back inside of the house.

The summer is hot, even in Ohio, and with such a large party, not the full 25 of them but from Joe’s last count at least 19 of them, it will only be hotter in the house too.You’d nearly taken the later appointment for the AC unit when you called but decided to do it sooner rather than later, and the very next day after you agreed to the earlier one, Joe brought up the party. Part of your agreement with Joe is that you’d handle scheduling the house maintenance things. He’d put you down as the contact for the gardeners and lawn services. You have the numbers for all the plumbers, roofing specialists. Tasks that Joe didn’t love doing, but handled because he had to. Though it’s always Joe’s card they run, you still feel like you have some vote, some say to ensure that someone’s always home when the work needs to be done, putting the appointments on the calendar.

“It was a good call,” Joe comments, sliding up to you. “You okay?”

“Thinking,” you return. There’s still work inside to do before you’re ready for all of the boys to come and watch the campaign. But part of you is not fully ready, still anxious about if you’re forgetting anything, if somehow you’ve left something unchecked off the list.

So you linger, staring into the doors but not quite seeing.

His arms slide around your waist. The hold is warm and grounding as he presses a kiss to your cheek. “The boys should be over in like twenty minutes. Just as a recap before you go on a spiral: The boys are bringing some drinks--alcoholic and non alike. But Tee specifically said that he was putting himself in charge of plates, cups, utensils and napkins because he wanted a specific brand. You are not forgetting anything, okay?”

“Thank you for that,” you laugh, knowing you’ve bugged Joe at least four times about it yesterday. “And Tee said he’d be here at 11:40, right?”

“He did. Enjoy the charcuterie board making and the fruit and veggie platters, but if you come ask me about plates, or cups, or drinks, I will bench you.”

“It’s my own party! You can’t bench me.”

“I can and I will.”

“Have I been annoying about it?”

“I wouldn’t say annoying,” Joe laughs, patting at your stomach and then pulling away. “But you have been insistent about it. Just as much as you’re nervous to host, so am I, and I don’t think my brain can handle another one of your worry spirals. We can crash and spiral after a problem comes up. But not before.”

“Will be saving all crashes for later.” You bring his right hand to your lips, a feather light kiss over the scar along his tendon. “Enjoy the grill.”

You return inside to see your mom and Jimmy and Joe’s brothers ensuring there’s plenty of seating for the viewing. Jimmy waves when he spots you, “You didn’t tell me your dad was back.”

It hasn’t been an easy transition. Your mother finds him at times, waiting at the corner of their shared bed waiting and though she’s told him plenty of times he doesn’t have any inspections to pass, the habit is deeply ingrained. “Sorry about that,” you return. “A little distracted with life. But he’s in the backyard.”

“Heard he’s taking the charge of teaching Joe on the grill. I wish him well,” Jimmy laughs in the midst of the hug. Between you and Joe, you take on most of the cooking during the offseason and for the cheat days, while Joe’s chef handles his dietary needs during the season. It’s no secret that Joe’s a bit clumsy in the kitchen.

Jimmy gives your hands another squeeze after he releases you from the hug. “Excited to see what you cooked up for this story here. Joe’s said it was pretty amazing.”

“I paid him to say that. But thank you. It means a lot.”

“Oh, don’t let him hear you say that. Y’all okay in here? I do need to witness Joe at the grill for how well or terrible it turns out.”

“Get a picture too please,” you call to Jimmy’s retreating figure.

“Absolutely,” he laughs and then slips around the corner.

As you work on the platters, you realize as you open up cabinets and fiddle in drawers, there’s plenty of space for you, you realize. When you sneak your favorite snacks into the cabinet, nothing feels like sides that can’t be encroached upon. Except for where you tuck away your favorite double stuffed oreos, that you’re sure isn’t all that hidden. There’s pieces of you that feel right, like the coasters, and saucers, and thrifted mugs that perfectly accent the white of Joe’s dining ware sets. It’s your magnet collection on the fridge surrounding the notes and reminders.

A house lived in by two people of different taste learning to make it work. Like you didn’t fight Joe about the black comforter set, but did ask for more pillows. Orange got immediately vetoed but the deep emerald green ones did make the cut. Your respective stuffed animals resting against a pillow each on your sides of the bed--Joe’s white teddy bear on the left side and your bengals bear on the right.

“Looks good,” your mother comments right as you finish up on the arrangements, leaving enough space for the drinks, and plates for when Tee arrives.

“It’s not too much is it?”

“No,” your mother laughs. “I don’t think it’s too much.”

You still worry though, that there’s almost too much food, too many options. Then, when all the guys arrive and you watch the boys load up their plates as the premiere countdown blasts through the house, the tune changes. You realize there’s no such thing as too much food when dealing with half a football team. There’s only too little food to be concerned about. Tee arrived promptly at 11:40 and by that time the first rounds of non burnt burgers were coming off the grill, perfect timing. The heat was turnt a little too high, but thankfully only two burgers were sacrificed to the flames.

And now as less than a minute ticks by, you realize that your dad and Joe’s team efforts to have at least one container of patties and hotdogs ready was not an overestimation, but nearly an underestimation.

“I am so glad I did not ever have to feed an athlete,” your mom teases settled in on the couch with her plate.

Ja’Marr laughs from behind her, settling into one of the folding chairs. “We not that bad. Promise.”

“Thirty seconds,” you shout to the people outside. The line thins, more and more shuffling inside with their plates. Tee did go a good job on selecting the thicker red plates and even came with a box of trashbags at the ready too.

“Go, go, I got this,” Joe urges. Your father dances, clearly torn between helping but not wanting to miss a second of the video.

You slide in and take the tongs from your father. “Go, Dad. I’ll help.”

“The burgers don’t need too long, okay?”

“Cheese on yours?” you ask.

“If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t, Dad. Go.”

He crosses into the threshold just as the music ends, bells and twinkling fading out only to be replaced by a tune of strings and air instruments that sound like they’re floating. It runs for a minute, maybe two, with credits you assume before Tee’s voice over the speakers. You're thankful for how well the sound system works, as you and Joe remain outside to finish the last few pieces.

“Welcome weary travelers. We start our journey here on the outskirts of Waterdeep, in the thicket of the jungle. Unsuspecting heroes and thieves, sorcerers and wizards, the undead and the almost dead alike, thrown into the ring. Praised for prowess, brought down to their knees once a year for the blood of the sport. Would you care to see what happens next?” There’s a cheer from those assembled inside that erupts during the pause after his introduction.

Your voice follows after. “The six of you start your journey miles before we pick up. But every year, there is a call. A search wide and far for the best of the best, the lowest of the lowest, the most conniving, the most cutthroat to see if they’re really made of the steel and wits needed or if they are dry rotted cloth.

“Cam, we start with you, nestled into the corner of this tavern. The doors are constantly opening and shutting. A wave of people in and out, in and out. There’s an odd assortment of people who don’t seem to leave. Your scroll told you to be here, at high noon, to settle into the southwest corner and to watch. So you do of course. There’s a halfing at the bar, the far end, who keeps peeking around at every thud and creak of the bar. Behind them, tucked into the shadows is someone, the black of their hood shadows out their face, but you catch the tip, tap, tip, tap, of their foot. Like they too might be waiting.

“A few seats down from the halfing and the shadowed creature, you notice a man, sans a shirt, scars that almost look like stripes around his ribs. He sits, hunched forward. The sound of his cup spinning around on the table plays in the background of your ears. In front of you, ahead by a table or two a half orc and an elf sit, across from each other. They look rather relaxed, like they’re not worried. But you can see, as you watch longer, the shifty gaze of this elf. Watching and waiting, watching and waiting. And all around the barkeep shuffles, hands full of ales--people are in and in and out. Yet those other five creatures never leave.”

“Are those who I think they are?” Cam asks.

Your recorded laughter mixes in with the laughter of the group inside watching. You can easily recall how excited Cam was to realize that maybe his other teammates were being described in the scene; Andrei’s vampiric fighter, B.J.’s halfing ranger, Mike Holton’s elf sorcerer, Chase’s half-orc barbarian, Ja’Marr’s half-orc druid, and Cam as a human paladin.

“What would you like to do?” Your voice sounds way too soft even over the speakers in the video. The nerves rocked you the night before. You woke every hour on the hour and you can hear back now in your voice.

“Oh, shoot, I didn’t realize I was kickin’ us off. Um, what did the scroll say again?”

It took a few minutes for the group as you got started to warm up, to feel out how much they could actually do and how much of your job was just to let the vibes roll, to guide them gently as you could to the right beats, but that the story would unfold based on their actions. But as the video plays, their comfort becomes clear. The edit itself makes the dead air invisible as they read their sheets, and keeps the lively discussion and animated cheers in. Their footing stabilized faster than you thought and it became, eventually, less about you prompting them and much more about you having to reign them back in, keep them focused on the objective at hand.

“I, for one,” Andrei’s voice interjects, “do not have the time to be on a team of bumbling idiots like you.” His character immediately rejected the idea of being paired up with this group based on his backstory, a fighter turned and now plagued to crave human blood, to live centuries for all the harm he caused. So his push back on joining the team makes sense now in retrospect but in the moment his rejection felt like a poignant sting.

“Ay, yo, you want the treasure or not?” Ja’Marr questions, in character if you remember correctly. “Because I don’t want no negativity on my team when we have these games to win. I’m trying to be rich, you feel me? I been out here beggin’ on my mama and sh--. I need bank to take back to my village, okay?”

“We all have our reasons to be here,” Mike agrees. “So we prolly should find a way to make this work. We need six of us to enter the games. If we don’t work together, ain’t none of us going nowhere. So, buckle up, buttercup,” he directs to Andrei. “You good?”

“Wait, quick huddle, is that 6 rule true?” Andrei questions.

“Bro, you even wrote 6 down on your notes,” B.J. laughs. “Yes, on the scroll. Only teams of six are allowed to enter the games and there’s only 5 teams in at a time each year.”

Andrei laughs. “I wrote that down and then forgot what it was for. Got too wrapped up. Forgive me, forgive me. Alright, back in it now. My character gives a sigh,” which then echoes as Andrei releases a deep and long sigh. “If I must.”

Tee’s voice cuts back in, a bit of soft music in the background. “And so, our party of six is born. Forged with their own objectives in mind, their own goals to meet. Who must now work as one to take on the challenge, outwit their opponents and take home the treasure.”

The final pieces of the food are taken off the grill, you and Joe packaging up what’s cooked in fresh pans and he cuts the gas. You try to be swift as you hand your dad his plate. His grin is bright, a quick and quiet, “Thanks” leaving him.

“I’ll fix you a plate. Go find us a spot, yeah?” Joe whispers into your ear, a soft tap to your ass punctuates the command.

“Joe,” you hiss at him but he’s gone by the time you turn around, into the kitchen. There’s two open seats behind the sectional so you slip down into one, relieved to be off your feet for the first time in hours.

Overhead the story continues on, the party forging their way into the city of Waterdeep, suspicions begin to arise amongst the group about Andrei’s character. On the morning of their second day Cam notices a speck of blood left on Andrei’s shoes. But he chooses specifically to not let others know for now but plans to mention it if he notices anything else strange.

Joe returns two plates in his hands and a couple bottles secured into his pit. “In case you needed a refill,” he comments as you take the bottles from underneath his arm. “Did I miss anything good?”

“Nothing important. Just some fun graphics.”

The two rounds of qualifiers for the games are easily bested by the group, showing off their skills and abilities with ease, the ease of strength from the orc’s, the needled eyed precision of the ranger, the time and focused energy of the sorcerer, the paladin and fight showing off their swords skills, the connection and wonder of the druid, who in the throws of a crucial moment for the second qualifier, wild shapes into a bengal tiger.

And in the flurry of Ja’Marr’s victorious roll as the tiger, the whole house shakes, a thunderous roar from the crowd that nearly drowns out the added effects layer in a roar from the animal in the video. “So that’s why the scars were mentioned. I see you,” your mother calls out, pointing Ja’Marr out in appreciation.

“The scars weren’t my idea actually.” He offers your name instead, causing the room to shift to you. “But when they suggested it and when I heard it, I knew I needed to add it to my character,” Ja’Marr corrects. “I knew I wanted a little flair, add in a little something, something with the tiger for the team, but they came up with the scars for my character’s human form.”

“The sign of a good DM,” Trey tacks on from the corner, lifting his cup. Your nod is soft, but you appreciate the gratitude and recognition.

The party fights their way tooth and nail through games, team after team falls away. Interjections from the audience and the high nobles watch come in the form quick one liners from Zach, Samaje, Drew, Isaiah, Logan, OBJ, Cal, Jordan, Jake, Jalen, Cody, and Marco, the thrill of watching the best of the best go neck to neck, toe to toe. Some of them interject dressed in character and it makes the room laugh, the kind of pure enthusiasm about their parts is palpable as they deliver their lines, giggles and smiles lighting up their faces.

All of them took their roles seriously, rehearsing lines with you on the second shoot day for the smaller picture in picture moments, trying to get inflections down right, suggesting edits for the way they would say it. You laughed behind the camera and even during the filming more than you thought possible, watching every single one of them lock in on the rolls, double checking and triple checking their packets to make sure their teammates were getting every roll possible that they deserved. Calling out items and lore that might’ve forgotten.

The video continues on, the party now focused on the last team who remains in the way of them and the treasure. The team that holds Joe’s wizard--who’s locked in a battle of spells and wills with Mike’s sorcerer. “Having been here before,” Joe starts in the video. The fake beard and costume purple wizard hat do make the character as Joe continues to deliver his lines in a fake shaky tone, “there is something I must tell you.”

The statement pauses Mike. “I drop my hands and stop preparing the fire strike. Been here before?”

“I used to be you. A man hungry for power. I’m gray now,” Joe strokes the beard at the phrase, “and still just a man but with no power. Do you want to end up like me?” Joe recites.

The moment hangs. The room moves in a little closer, the camera zooms in as Mike thinks of his choices. “There’s more, after this,” Joe continues, “even after you defeat me, even after I’m just dust, there’s something much more sinister in the belly below.”

Your voice fades in, “And just after the old wizard speaks, part of the walls crumbles. The ground shakes. Mike, I need an athletics check. Old wizard, give me an athletics check, but you’re at a disadvantage because it’s crumbling behind you.”

“17,” Mike shouts after he rolls, pushing up from his chair, one hand covering his heart over his chest. “Oh, sweet, Lord, that’s a 17.”

Joe’s laughter erupts from the speakers, his accent dropped. “I rolled a natural one. How does that even happen? I can’t go out like this.”

“Alright, Mike, with a 17 you see the walls starting to come down and go to grab the old wizard’s hand, tug him out of the way, but the ground in between you two splits. You’re able to dodge out of the way but the old wizard doesn’t move. Just simply stands there, waiting, and waiting. You hear the echo of his last question, Mike, in your ears as you watch the walls crumble. Where you might hear a scream, there’s nothing. Just the deep guttural sound of the earth opening up. You know when the dust settles that he’s gone, under the rumble.”

Tee comes back in around the exhale of the group. “And with that, our party climbs their way to victory. The best of the best, the most ruthless, the most skilled, on top. A victorious day in Waterdeep. Until they fall too deep.”

Your voice comes in, the camera now panned in on Andrei, Cam, Mike, Ja’Marr, Chase, and B.J. “The high nobles come to greet you, congratulate you on the victory. They lead you through the back of the arena, down a set of stone stairs. There’s calligraphy and iconography all over the walls. It’s thick and dank the further you go down.”

“Do I recognize any of the symbols?” B.J. asks. He has some background in masonry but not a ton.

“Wisdom check. Let’s see if you do.”

“13,” he returns, voice hopeful that something jumps out at him.

“You can’t make out a lot of them. The light’s creating a lot of shadows. But you do see one scene in particular, where one person is on top of treasure and five other bodies at the bottom of the pile. And just as quickly as you make it out, it’s lost in the darkness as you’re escorted further down into the underbelly of the arena.”

“Wait, no, no, no!” Robin shouts from the couch. “This can’t be happening. Turn back around!” Her outburst interrupts B.J.’s attempts to alert Cam about the symbol he saw.

“Dawg, I don’t know about you, but this place is giving me the creeps,” B.J. states. “Did you see the pile of bodies at the bottom of the treasure in that picture?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cam returns. “What are you on about?”

“On the walls, the picture. Like I know we’re basically holding back on Count Dracula over there, but I saw we let him go ham and get out while we still can,” B.J. answers.

“It does feel freaky, but I mean, we should at least get our cut and then split, right?” Cam offers. “Like we ain’t do all this hard work for nothing.”

“What are y’all two yapping back there?” Ja’Marr cuts in.

“I’m going to interrupt here, for the plot,” you start in the video. “But if anyone has something they think they’d say before this, let’s put it out there, yeah?”

“We’re good, at least I am,” Andrei offers. “I’m so focused on this plot, I forget I’m a part of the plot.”

“Umm, I do think my character might, like, be listening to the exchange,” Chase offers. “I do think when Cam suggests that we at least try to get our money and split, he would agree. Like we literally didn’t almost die in acidic goo for no reason, you feel me?”

“Okay, so your character agrees to try and wait it for the last second before splitting. Anyone else?” you ask.

The rest of the party shakes their head no to any new additions. “Okay, the marching order was Ja’Marr, Mike, Cam, B.J. Andrei, and then Chase. So Chase, you hear the whispers right about we should at least try to get our cut and then banana peel and split. Just as you agree to this plan, there’s one of the hooded figures that’s been escorting you that leans in a little close to you.”

A nearly blacked out camera shot that starts out shaky pops up on screen to reveal a man, hidden by the hood of the cloak—a blood red color. As he eases the cloak down from his face, the room cheers to the revels of Sam Hubbard’s face. “If you want to get out, wait for my signal,” Sam offers softly before he puts the hood back up. The shot peels away before a cross fade takes the screen back over and reveals the party at the table again.

“The figure backs away,” your voice from the speakers cuts in now, a flawless cut between Sam’s delivery of the line and your narration. “And from the front the room echoes with the click of someone’s steps approaching. It’s not totally dark so those with darkvision you can see clearer and those without are catching the shadows mostly. But the clicks grow closer and closer and closer, and closer until like a switch--with snap of some fingers, the torches on the walls are lit. In front of you, you hear,”

The video of you drops and there’s a slow roll of the crisps Jay’s, up and up the camera pans, goes over the burgundy cape, and the rings dawned on fingers, the silver bracelets dripping down the two wrists until Tee’s face is revealed with a playful, but still slightly sinister smile. “Welcome weary travelers,” he starts into the camera “You start your story here in the belly of Waterdeep. Congratulations on a spectacular win up above. But now, the real challenge begins down below.”

Your voice begins to narrate again. “The man disappears, the lights go out before the flick back on a few seconds later. The game master, that you recognize now from the posters all over Waterdeep, stands now up on a platform thirty five feet up off the ground. It’s all glass on the sides and in it you can see the treasure. The room opens up around you, more and more torches lighting up. The room looks nearly endless. The five figures that were surrounding you all drop their hoods.”

In rapid succession, Tanner, Trey, Gesicki, Evan, and Sam are revealed to the entire party. Each of them pulls back their hoods in their 1 on 1 shot, the sound effect of a spotlight turn on clicks each drop. Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun.

“Six people enter the belly, but only one will make it out alive,” Tee commands. “Let the games begin.”

The video fades to black, a to be continued screen flashing before the video rolls to the end. The recommended videos of Joe’s YouTube account fill the video player. The first part and the entirety of its 45 minutes concluded and it’s met with just silence at first. A long two to three beats of pure silence and shock.

The room shouts. Your mom and dad push to their feet. “That was incredible! But that cliff hanger is nasty work,” your dad laughs. Joe’s parents and his brothers laugh in their shock. The rest of the boys cheer. You and Joe’s house has never been more alive until right now, until right this moment.

“We’re going to take an intermission,” Joe announces, after wrangling the room down to a reasonable decibel. He looks down at the corner of the screen that his laptop is projected onto. “Part 2 starts playing at 1:30 whether you’re in your spot or not.”

“Let me go pee! Because I am not getting left behind. No, not me,” your mother cackles, but not with a kiss to your cheek as she goes.

“Tee getting his Batman moment now,” Ja’Marr laughs, shoving at Tee’s shoulder. “Getting good, you sinister fuck!”

“When I tell y’all, the reveal killed in the room, I mean it,” B.J. pipes in.

“Does anyone have a video of that?” Chase asks. “Want to post it because I swear we all almost took ourselves to an early grave.”

“I’ll send it,” Joe offers. “I think I do.”

“Sweet, thanks.”

The party is swift during their intermission. A line forms outside of the two bathrooms downstairs. Trash is tossed into the waiting bags. Cups are refilled, more chips and snacks are grabbed. Some conversation floats between your parents and Joe’s family about the story. The guys huddle together in pockets, conversation flowing about the training and practices, life updates.

You double check on the drinks and start shuffling the empty containers out of the way in the kitchen, to help keep clean up from being a tedious and monstrous task at the end. The voices still float around you, taking in pieces of the conversation from the living room.

“Joe, where’d you get that shelf? With the jungle print in the back?” Andrei asks.

“Oh, that’s a DIY, not bought that way,” Joe answers. His voice is louder than you anticipate. You look up to spy Joe bringing in the empty trays the burgers and hot dogs were in. They rest empty now in his hands. “Right, baby? That’s peel and stick wallpaper?”

“Yes, peel and stick wallpaper. I bought it off Etsy.” Your sentence is swallowed just a little by the whip of the trash bag for the trash in Joe’s hands.

“So you painted it too then?” Andrei questions.

“Yes, but I made so many mistakes. Learned plenty of lessons.”

“Looks sick.” Andrei refills his cup and then slides back into the living room.

“See, I told you it was a good spot out there,” Joe boasts. He had suggested putting it out in the hallway, in foyer to hold the dish for his keys and the more avant garde decor. You were positive it would clash, considering how light everything else was at the time. But the balance of the color against the otherwise light interior does work as a conversation piece.

“You just want me to say you were right again, don’t you?”

“Any sane man would.” He laughs, pressing a kiss to your cheek. The two of you work together to get the last of the trash tossed and the empty bottles that can be recycled and are empty into the receptive bins.

By the time you two finish, you arrive back to the living room with two minutes to spare on Joe’s imposed start time. “Two minute warning,” Joe calls out. The rush back to their seats is immediate. “I’m going to grab you some oreos. I assume by now the desire for something sweet has kicked in. Keep our spot warm, yeah?”

It’s less of a question given that Joe turns back to the cabinets and reaches into the back corner of the second highest shelf but you settle into the folding chairs. Joe resurfaces, slipping one cookie into his mouth, before he presses click on the second video. He fulls screens it and then hits play. He’d gone ahead and got the premium subscription just for this to avoid ads.

“Let me get one,” Tee calls out, hands ready to catch the snack.

“That was the boyfriend tax,” Joe answers, hands now transferring the paper towel over to you. “Up to them on that.”

“Think fast,” you answer, and toss one cookie up underhand, a little worried the throw is too short.

He catches it with ease. “‘Preciate it, cuz.”

The second part of the campaign starts up with a recap, fast cuts, all that lead to the reveal of Tee again. The next scene the party is in uproar. In the video, Tee settles into the seat next to you, where all the guests for their lines have settled behind the DM privacy screen. Chase and Cam have taken to doing laps around the table on screen. There’s a thunderous clapping in the room now too that only adds to the celebration.

The video shock ends rather abruptly, a shockwave at the plot twist brought to a firm end. In reality, it took you a lot longer to get them settled again to focus again. You’ll be able to cherish that moment, the laughter, the teases pointing you out. Your voice floats in. “You watch, as a maze drops down from overhead. One pillar at a time, it unfolds. The thuds echo. The ground shakes. All six of you watch. Chase you remember the whispered warning, ‘Wait for my signal’.” Now on screen you watch as Sam, face not hidden anymore by his hood, nods. Spliced in on the bottom half of the screen is Chase’s returned nod.

“Sh--, holy f--, okay,” Chase starts, scooting his chair closer to the table. “Okay, lock in boys. Quick huddle, is there enough time to warn at least B.J., or Andrei, whoever’s closer.”

“I think you can get one warning off, so who is it?”

“Andrei. I, like, tap him on the arm and just tell him, “Get f---- ready.”

“Okay, you give the quick and hurried warning. Because you’re ready for this, Chase, I need you to hold one action. Which would be?”

“I’m going to hold my Rage, fixing to throw hands in this b---.”

“That’s a bonus action, so we can Rage when you go, but what are you doing to roll that Rage?”

“Oh, my great mace,” Chase corrects. “Felt like I was about to get into a street fight and blacked out for a second.”

“Got it, no worries. Everyone, roll for initiative.”

The added sound effects trickle in, the plink of the dice that you know wasn’t captured during the one-shot, the digitized order that hovers over in the left hand corner but thankfully doesn’t distract from the overall narrative. The order falls into place and the battle ensues. Sam reacts first, swiping at the ankles of Tanner, a fellow henchman. Chase releases his held action on Trey. Both Trey and Tanner get one round each to respond before the entire party and group fall into the ordered combat.

Fireballs are blasted. Ja’Marr wild shapes. Swords are unsheathed. Arrows are littered into rock and bodies. The battle is bloody. But with Sam’s addition to the squad, it helps turn the tides. With all henchmen zeroed out on their health, and the party boosted health wise just a little due to a collection of healing potions they found in the upper arena right before getting brought down to the treasure, everyone turns now Tee.

Tee slow claps on screen, grinning all the same. “Very well, very well. It hurts to see one of my own turned against me. But not a shock. Tired yet?”

“We should’ve split earlier, but we’re here now,” Andrei chimes in.

“Tried to warn y’all,” B.J. scoffs, “but ain’t no quitting now.”

“I just want to say,” Cam starts, “even if we don’t all make it out, it’s been an honor to fight alongside y’all. Didn’t think we’d make it this far. But we did.”

It’s a sentimental moment, causing the room to coo in unison at the sincere appreciation Cam expresses.

“We all fight until none of us can fight,” Mike agrees.

“We ready?” you question in the video.

“Born ready,” Chase returns.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Sam nods.

The fight against Tee is brutal. You wince now, watching it back, at every blow that hits the party and pray with every roll they take that they do substantial damage. There’s two major critical hits from the party. One from Cam who delivers a damming chunk of damage to Tee and two turns later is followed up by another critical hit from Ja’Marr. Chase manages to keep the tide going with a staggering 6 points of damage on his follow up. But Tee fires back, brings B.J. down total to the point of death saving throws as Cam and Mike used their healing slots to help keep Ja’Marr on his feet earlier in the henchman battle.

“No, I cannot die,” B.J. bellows. “Not like this, man. I was going to do something so cool.”

Sam does what he can to defend B.J.’s unconscious body but every dice throw now means twice as much. In the end, B.J.’s not quite lucky enough to bring himself out of the throws of unconsciousness. He hangs his head, a shot on him for a moment before he looks up. “Is there anything I can do from the dead now? I’m not leaving them hanging.”

In his backstory, he mentions a family’s long lost relative, which you know is the great grandmother to Chase’s character. It’s lore that the both of you discussed in depth, over a few texts and calls too prior to filming.

“Is there anything you’d like to do?” you counter.

“I’m just going to whisper a name,” B.J. grins, catching onto your steps now.

“What name is it?”

“Addizya.”

And like a record scratch, there’s a pause. There’s a close up on Chase, as he perks up in his seat, recognizing the name of his great grandmother’s name. The lore unveils itself the connection between the two characters and the realization that a family member, not just a haphazardly collection of misfits banding together, is dead rocks Chase’s character. Turns him into a fitful and tear jerking rage.

Andrei--previously weakened due to major blows in the arena above, and after sneaking a few sips from the spread out bodies from the fight--takes his turn and manages to bring Tee down, not fully, but within the critical zone. Enough that when Chase goes again, the emotion from B.J.’s death and the inspiration of his great grandmother brings Tee’s gamemaster down to the bitter and snarky core, a pile of bones left pummeled into the stone below--his jewels and ice among the dusty rubble.

The loot is collected, split amongst the initial six. B.J.’s share has a small portion gifted to Sam for his efforts and the remainder is sealed up, and placed into the hold of B.J.’s halfing’s character, who Chase carries out from the arena, a whispered promise to bring his body back home along with his portion of the winnings.

“So what made you turn?” Mike questions during the journey out of the city.

“Was looking to retire and my contract originally said upon death, but not who’s,” Sam laughs, the joke inspired by his own personal retirement.

“And there, among the rubble of Waterdeep, in the depths below, there is an eerie silence. Our party’s deep now, in the thicket of the jungle on their ways back home.” This section is narrated by you. You can feel the tension in the room, see the shifting gazes from the boys. Their story ended with the somber walk home, the return of B.J.’s body back to his village, the somber of Chase’s lasting cry, which all happened just a few seconds ago on the screen. Which is the end for them. But you know that there’s more. Your voice continues on around the house, “But in the rubble where the red cloaks, the burgundy cloth, the rings and jewels lay empty, there’s a click, clack, click, clack.”

The scene cuts away from you by yourself at the table and focuses instead on a figure coming out of the shadows, the camera panning up, and up, and up, until Coach Taylor is revealed. He picks up a ring and slips it on his pinkie. “They say if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself,” he comments, disappointed, and his gaze spiking the camera.

The screen goes black, a hearty bell ringing out before the credits roll.

Everyone in the room, the players included, remain still. As if no one can believe that they’ve just witnessed.

“Tee wasn’t the man behind it all?” Ja’Marr screeches, breaking the silence. “My mans was out here killing it as the gamemaster! What is that?”

You shrug. “A trilogy.”

“No fucking way! No shot!” Trey howls. The entire room erupts, roars with a collective shout of shock.

Joe, who sits next to you, holds onto your upper biceps, holding you out like he needs to take in your entire face, like he can’t believe what he’s witness. His face is a mixture of shock and pride, blue eyes sparkling as they dance over your face. “That’s fucking real? They’re bringing you back for more?”

“I pitched the idea of three parts halfway through drafting this part. This one, the sequel, and then a prequel. They agreed to let me leave this one that cliffhanger, see how it goes, and then plan for the end of this upcoming season to draft and film the sequel and the prequel. Now that we sort of know what we’re doing.”

“That’s what was taking you so much time. You were out here writing a damn novel!” Joe’s hug is swift, pressing you hard into his chest as he laughs. You inhale the scent of the detergent and his cologne as you’re pressed into his neck. The rumble of his voice vibrates against your lips as you’re tucked into him. “I’m so fucking proud of you. Holy shit, baby. That’s incredible.”

“A cheers,” Tee starts, standing, “to a great DM, who wrote one of the craziest things I’ve been a part of in a long time. To someone I like to think is a friend, and who’s an all around solid human.”

More cups are lifted in your direction and the wave hits. You did that. They did that too, created a space for all of them you included to have fun. You take your cup and raise it back to the room. “To all of you,” you call out, “for being amazing players, characters, creatives, and humans. Without you, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

*******************

Joe settles into the bed, remembering just before he reclines back to move the teddy bear towards the center. Though his hair is a little damp still, he’s grateful for the way the bed holds him. While he’s thrilled to have been able to have his family over, to hang out with your family and the guys, he’s exhausted. His social battery tanked somewhere in the intermission and he severely underestimated how much social battery he would need with thirty odd people in the house.

But now the house is quiet. The trash is taken out. The remaining snacks are packed away. The chairs are tucked back up into the garage for Joe to take to the storage unit tomorrow in your SUV. Now there’s nothing to do but settle into the quiet, listening to the rummage of you as you get ready for bed, having showered before Joe, but still somehow getting delayed.

“After you’re done resting your eyes, can you check the draft I have on Insta and let me know what you think?”

Joe keeps his eyes closed as your presence presses in close, a kiss pressed to the top of his nose. “Are you asking for approval because you think I am a social media god?”

You laugh softly at the jest, knowing Joe barely posts as it is. “There’s some pictures and videos I want to run by you first.”

You and Joe have not made waves on social media at all. He knows he’s followed you from back in college, but he’s careful more now than ever about if he starts interacting with you too much, how that might look, what that could do to you. It’s not even something you’ve ever brought up either. About wanting or needing it to be out in the public.

“Are you asking what I think you’re asking?” Joe questions, eyes finally drifting open. He finds you as you shut the dresser drawer closed. One of his old LSU t-shirts hangs from your frame.

“I don’t want to put out a statement,” you answer, slipping onto the mattress next to him, but still with inches between. “But I don’t know, the campaign feels like a pretty big moment and I want to document it, accurately, mind you.”

Joe snorts as the bobble of your head, the attitude that drips from the accurately, but is still soft and unsure all the same. He reaches for your hand and you give it with no hesitation. “If you do post, it will open up the gates. People will start to ask for more.”

“Sounds like you’re not comfortable with it?”

Joe’s not a fan. He can’t pretend that he is. It feels much too intrusive, like it forgets that he’s just a guy at the end of the day. But he doesn’t want to keep you from expressing yourself, from documenting the journey you’ve had thus far. He is just worried that it’s going to open yourself up to a can of worms that can’t be contained once opened. Joe likes having you tucked away, safe away from prying eyes. But he promised he wouldn’t get in the way. “Can I see what you have drafted so far?”

“Certainly.”

Joe takes your phone when you hand it over. He starts first with the carousel of photos and videos. The first one is a blurry picture from the video you took a few weeks prior. Joe’s face is missing from the crop, but he knows it’s him, your head gently pressed between his forearm and bicep during his rather weak attempts at getting some attention from you and to ensure that Ja’Marr and Tee would have substantial roles. He swipes on to find a video. Taken from inside your old apartment. Joe is hard to make out in the video, the sun coming in through slants and the light washing him out just a little.

“Baby, I’m not saying that. That doesn’t even sound like me,” he says inside of the video.

“It’s not you, hon. It’s a character. Those are the lines. If you don’t like them, I’ll just have to give the part of the old wizard to someone else.”

“No, you can’t do that. I’m the old wizard, because I suggested him.”

“Then, Joe, those are the lines.”

“As much as I love the sound of my name from your lips, I am ‘hon’ now and forever.”

“Then agree, those are your lines. Final.”

“Fine, I’ll say the damn lines. Just call me hon again. Please.” There’s silence and Joe remembers how you watched him, like it might’ve been a challenge. Like you might’ve been waiting for him to pull the rug out from under you. “You want me to beg? I’ll beg.”

The camera shakes, the wind whipping at how quickly you move across the gap. You sat on the kitchen island. He sat on the purple couch. His face fills the camera, but only for a second and then it’s just of his t-shirt, but your voice is clear. “Are you going to make my day, or not?”

The video ends there. Joe looks over to you, almost asks you to remove that video, because it feels like way too much. But it’s only because he has the context, knows how he pulled you into his lap, how his stomach churned with desire. How it does now when he catches how warm your gaze is on his skin. “I can take it out,” you suggest.

That sight, Joe knows. Even if he doesn’t have words, you see. “I’m not done yet. We’ll put a pin in that one.”

“Okay.”

He swipes again as the video starts to loop through a third time. A shot of your notebooks, papers, manuals stares back at him. From the corner he can see his legs, only his knees visible mostly, the scars on his left knee are shadowed, hard to pick out unless you know what you’re looking for. And Joe does, but he focuses less on that and more on the notes, the filter you’ve used over it so it’s a softer tan haze over it, makes it look cozy.

“That’s cute,” he comments, turning so you can see the picture he’s referencing.

“Neither one of our faces in that photo, hon,” you snort.

“I mean, like, it’s such a cozy looking picture with all your notes. Reminds me of college and our group project. I’m being nostalgic here. Work with me.”

“I can see that,” you agree, a tuft of laughter pressing out through your chest.

Joe swipe again to a text thread between you and Ja’Marr. The contact name at the top reads ‘Uno’. The text thread starts with one from Ja’Marr, so joe gets all the details, but i can’t get jack shit.’

Your response follows below in blue, You’re literally a player in the party? You’re going to find out what’s going to happen as it’s happening to your character next week?

Uno: yeah but i want to know. i want to play so bad, joe says it’s good and i’m impatient.

That’s a problem with God and you, I fear. I’d start praying.

Uno: you’re faster though. tell joe to stop being such a fucking tease pls. :(

Send screenshots and I’ll handle the rest.

“He ratted me out and I’ll never forgive him,” Joe laughs, reaching the end of the thread. “But I wasn’t wrong about it being a killer story.”

“No, you weren’t.”

Another thread of texts pops up when Joe moves on. But this time, he recognizes himself as the recipient, his text being the one that starts it all, ‘Whatever Ja’marr told you is a lie.’

So, you didn’t send him these? The screenshots follow up your reply.

Joe remembers sitting next to Ja’Marr, fingers swiftly working over the keys at the fact that he’d been caught, Do you want a back rub tonight? You said your back was hurting last night. Probably from the absolute killer campaign you’re building to carry all of us in.

Just as suspected.

These photos don’t carry on the full context either, how Joe begged for forgiveness, told you how proud he was of your work. To which you confirmed a shoulder massage was much appreciated and that Joe’s favorite cheat meal would still be something you’d do for him. Joe can taste the mac'n'cheese now, the grease of the fried chicken too. But he’s much too full off the grilled hamburgers to suggest even the inkling of something more.

The next piece in the collection is a picture of you that Joe snuck during the prep day. You stand at the podium, the background holding your powerpoint that reads, Welcome Weary Travelers: Lessons in the Basics of Dungeons and Dragons. Behind that follows a video of the lunch break they took on one of the filming days, the voices loud and almost monotonous enough to tune out, but Joe catches Tanner’s comment, “This shit is literally insane. So fucking cool.” There are other comments too, snippets of conversation near you that talk about other pieces of the story, how much fun they’re having.

There’s a video of the first plot twist, when Tee gets revealed that’s from Joe’s recording as the guys run around the room, laughter circling around. “No fucking shot. No fucking way. How did we not see this coming, dawg? How did we not see this coming?” Ja’Marr shouts into the camera.

And the carousel concludes with the two dozen red roses Joe got you after filming was completed. The card’s not picture, but he knows what he wrote on the inside: Congratulations, baby! You did it and I couldn’t be more proud of you. Thank you for all your patience with us as you put together an amazing story. We’ll cherish these memories of such an incredible and fun one-shot for decades to come.”

And Joe doesn’t want to get in the way. He promised that. “Do you think you could edit the second video to take out the ending? Just keep the part of you running but the last part feels a little too much. Would that be okay?”

“Of course that’s okay. That’s the easy part.”

The hard part is following through but you take your phone back. There’s a few minutes of silence until you hand it back and play the clip. It goes through until the end if just the shuffle of you from the counter. The cut makes the clip funnier now. The comedic timing captures the huff you exhale before it loops again. And though it’s still suggestive, there’s an edge of levity to the video now that eases the worry in Joe’s chest.

“Perfect,” Joe laughs.

“So less horny, more memes, I’m gathering, should I ever be interested in a photo dump like this again.”

“Yeah,” he agrees. “That’s the right balance.” He tugs at your knee and you slip down into the pillows. Joe crawls up, kissing over your stomach, and chest. “Horny is for me and me only.”

“Consider that noted.”

Your fingers are soft, tangled in his hair as you tug Joe up for a kiss--slow and deep. He savors the way you taste, how he fits so well into your arms. But he has nothing left, not tonight. Just wants the warmth of you pressed into his body. Joe drops his head, ending the kiss gently with pecks along your jaw. “If I fall asleep, wake me up when you get done with the caption, please.”

“Can do.”

There’s just silence and your breathing that Joe focuses on, listening to the slow and steady rhythm of your inhales and exhales. It soothes Joe to the brink of sleep, as he listens and sinks, sinks and listens, and listens and sinks.

When you do rouse him, not quite from sleep, but almost at it, he groans. “I did ask for that. Okay, let me see,” he huffs, pushing up off your chest. He reads through the text and then hovers over the caption for six. “I’m suggesting an edit to 6. But let me finish the rest.”

He works over the keyboard and then hands the phone back after he finishes reading the remainder of the list. “Number 1 is fucking hilarious and if not for the fact that we are literally dating, I would be concerned.”

“Good, that was the point.”

“Tag me in it though. On like one of the least conspicuous ones though.”

“Of course, hon. I’ll tag you in the video from the lunch break.”

Joe’s phone chimes from the nightstand a couple minutes later. Rather than looking at notification from you, he settles back down to your chest, already aware of what’s out there: the carousel and the collaborated caption.

what i had to go through in order to plan the adventure vs what the boys got to experience on their adventure. in order as presented:

1) some might say that this is a photo of love, but if i were to ever release the full video, it is definitely a torture tactic. i have been advised by my lawyers and a certain old wizard from the campaign not to release the footage in exchange for my freedom.

2) a certain old wizard trying to make his case about changing a line, but forgetting i’m the boss. put a number 8 on my chest because i stay one step ahead.

3) work date nights

4+5) twin, i won’t let him hurt you. the BBEG can’t hurt you anymore.

6) POV: you’re a certain old wizard in the campaign and are still subjected to the lectures but the professor is hot so you’re more than okay showing up. signed, a certain old wizard

7) the lunch intermission debrief

8) POV: you’re the camera when the plot twist happens.

9) the flowers i sobbed into upon receiving for a solid twenty minutes. (not pictured: the sobbing).

Thank you, to the Bengals franchise for taking this chance, thank you to the players for their enthusiasm, wonder, and amazing dedication. Thank you, to my rock, for being there from day 1, who encouraged and nurtured this brain child and me. I will forever be grateful.

#joe burrow #joe burrow fanfic #joe burrow fic #joe burrow series #joe burrow fluff #joe burrow x reader #joe burrow x black reader #h writes

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gumy-shark · 4 months ago

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"i love thinking about my mp100 tma concept au" wait come back. keep talking 👀👀👀

ok so first off i want to note that im calling it a concept au bc i dont really plan to do anything with it myself, its just fun concepts to think about, and at this stage its pretty much just entity assignments (with help from skye candyskiez in dms) and a fun venue for characterization. like seriously i don’t even know if it’s better for mob to still have psychic powers or not in this au tbh

so anyways the assignments

buried mob/desolation ???%. in world domination arc, he literally says out Loud how afraid he is of losing everything he cares about (and it being by his own hand/not being strong enough to protect them. both very desolation core). but at the same time the level of repression he’s putting himself through to feel like that won’t happen are suffocating him throughout the entire series. therefore the two sides of shigeo get their own entities and represent the other side’s greatest fear. never becomes full avatar of either but gets close to desolation in confession arc

stranger ritsu. this one was skye’s (i originally liked web ritsu for his control issues) and is bc of his Identity Issues (i mean hell big cleanup arc started because ritsu realized he didn’t know who he was underneath what everyone else thought of him!!). my favorite thing to rotate with this one is like. The Incident (or a version of it if i want to go full au) happening and ritsu justifying it how he does in canon, with “that wasn’t my brother. it looked like him but it wasn’t.” and then ritsu gets back from the hospital and mob is Different now and he just goes “that’s Still not my brother”.

reigen is. see it’s hard here bc his entire bit is that he Doesn’t Have Powers. so he’d have to be unaligned/a normal guy. but ALSO i think the lonely and the web are constantly trying to contact him about his cars extended warranty. so there’s that

dimple. he’s dimple! (leaning towards web for the brainwashing or end bc. well bc hes a ghost. but ALSO because hes afraid of being satisfied and reaching that final end! like thats why he does the whole divine tree arc!)

teru is, in my heart, like if adelard dekker was an annoying teenager. actively working to keep himself unaligned with any Fears and to stop rituals/keep avatars from gaining too much power. vulnerable to the lonely and the hunt but mostly manages to stay human

desolation shou. which yeah mobs also desolation but like. he did very much burn that guys house down. so it can be in a different way. in this au he’d be an agnes/gerry type guy, being raised into the desolation and then going “oh this fucking sucks. im going to stop this.” he and teru are vaguely aware of each other but don’t communicate

#ask!!#gallus!!#mp100 tma concept au #i just think they’re neat #also i know that in tma canon we don’t really see human stranger avatars due to the uncanny valley thing #that’s ok though bc tma canon didn’t really get into the identity side of it either and also it’s fun

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mobilephonerepairsingapore · 8 months ago

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What to anticipate and ways to save costs when it comes to Singapore's microphone repair costs

Microphones are a crucial component of a wide range of electronic devices, including karaoke machines, computers, and cellphones. But mics break with time, just like any other equipment. And having them fixed might be costly when they do.

The type of microphone and the degree of damage determine how much microphone repair costs in Singapore. For instance, repairing a dynamic microphone might simply run you a few bucks, but fixing a condenser microphone might run you hundreds of dollars due to its complexity.

Factors Affecting the Price of Repair Services for Microphones

The kind of microphone: Repairing a certain kind of microphone can cost more than a different kind. For instance, fixing a condenser microphone typically costs more than fixing a dynamic microphone.

The degree of the damage: The cost of repair will increase with the severity of the damage. A microphone that has been dropped or immersed in water, for instance, might need more involved repairs than one that has just ceased operating.

The component cost: The price of repairs may also be impacted by the cost of parts. For instance, the cost of repair will increase if a microphone needs a specific part that is hard to find. Ways to cut costs on microphone maintenance There are several ways to reduce the cost of microphone repair:

Obtain a warranty – If you purchase a microphone with a warranty, you can save paying for repairs. In addition to covering repairs, warranties can lower long-term expenses.

Take care of your microphone – Prevent unintentional damage with a protective case, clean, and safe storage. This will help you save money on repairs.

Obtain several quotes – Find the most economical solution and reduce repair expenses by obtaining various quotes and comparing rates.

Get in touch with StarShield right now if your microphone needs to be fixed. They provide speedy turnaround times along with cheap costs.

#Microphone Repair In Sg #Mobile Phone Repair Singapore #Protective Extended Warranty #Buy Extended Warranty #Best Buy Extended Warranty

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mpwarranties198 · 25 days ago

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What’s Covered? Understanding the Fine Print of Extended Car Warranties

An extended car warranty offers an extra layer of protection for your vehicle, safeguarding it from unexpected mechanical and electrical repair costs. However, how effective your car warranty is will depend on the minute details in the warranty contract that you generally tend to ignore. Many car owners sign up for extended warranties without fully understanding what is covered and get annoyed when their warranty claims are rejected. In this blog, we discuss the fine print of a warranty contract so that you can confidently navigate the terms and coverage offered by your car warranty.

Analyzing the Fine Print of a Warranty Contract

1. Core Coverage offered by a Car Warranty

Extended warranties offer coverage for the major mechanical and electrical systems of your car that can be costly to repair. These include:

Your car engine, with warranty coverage including the repair of internal components such as pistons, valves, and camshaft.

The transmission, with coverage being provided for gear assembly, seals, and bearings.

The electrical systems, with warranty coverage including the repair of critical systems like alternators, starters, and power windows.

For luxury vehicles, warranty coverage can extend to infotainment systems, driver-assistance features, and climate control units.

Endure you check the warranty agreement for a detailed list of covered items to avoid surprises when you want to file a claim.

2. Exclusions from a Car Warranty

Every warranty contract will have exclusions that are outlined in its fine print. Common exclusions include:

Wear-and-tear items like the tires, brake pads, and batteries

Routine maintenance items like oil changes, fluid top-ups, and filter replacements

Pre-existing issues that existed before purchasing the warranty

Damage caused by collisions or misuse of the vehicle is excluded and usually falls under insurance coverage.

Understanding these exclusions is essential for avoiding misunderstandings when you place a claim.

3. Deductibles and Claim Limits

The fine print of your warranty contract may also specify deductibles, an amount you need to pay out of pocket each time you make a claim on your car warranty. Charging of deductibles will depend on your warranty provider. Generally, lower deductibles tend to increase the upfront cost of the warranty, while higher deductibles reduce it. Additionally, some warranty providers may set limits on the number of claims or the total coverage amount of a warranty. Enquire with your warranty provider about these details and ensure these terms align with your financial needs.

4. Approved Repair Locations

Extended warranty providers often require repairs to be done at approved service centers or dealerships. Using unauthorized mechanics to repair your vehicle may void your car warranty. Obtain the list of approved locations from your warranty provider as specified in the warranty agreement and review the same to see whether these are conveniently located and avoid complications in the future.

5. Transferability

If you plan to sell your vehicle or upgrade it in the future, consider the transferability aspect of your car warranty. Some extended warranty providers permit transfer of the remaining extended warranty coverage to the new owner. This enhances the resale value of your car as it gives a prospective car buyer added reassurance. Check the fine print of your warranty contract to confirm the transferability terms.

6. Claim Process

The fine print in your warranty contract may also outline the steps for filing a claim, including documentation requirements and processing timelines. Understanding the claim process will ensure you have a smoother claims resolution when the time comes to raise a claim on your warranty.

The fine print of an extended car warranty holds critical information that can help you maximize the benefits of your car warranty and avoid unwelcome surprises. By carefully reviewing the coverage terms, exclusions, deductibles, and claim procedures, you can make an informed decision that suits your vehicle and financial needs.

MP Warranties: Clear, Complete, and Comprehensive Car Warranty Coverage in the UAE

At MP Warranties, we ensure our customers receive complete information regarding our car warranties in the UAE. Our extended warranty plans offer transparent coverage and comprehensive protection, so you’ll never have to worry about navigating the fine print alone. If you have any doubts, you can always contact our warranty advisor for clarifications regarding the coverage on your warranty plan. Trust MP Warranties to safeguard your vehicle and your peace of mind. To know more about our extended car warranty plans, connect with us at +971 501 604 953.

#extended car warranty #car warranty UAE #car warranty coverage #car warranty exclusions #car warranty fine print #vehicle protection plan #car repair warranty #claim process warranty #car warranty tips #car warranty benefits #transfer car warranty #MP Warranties UAE #car warranty advice #warranty contract guide #auto warranty claim guide

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gowarranty · 2 months ago

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The Essential Small Appliance Damage Protection Plan

Small appliances play an essential role in simplifying daily tasks. From making a quick breakfast to keeping your home clean, these devices have become a necessity. However, frequent use and unforeseen accidents can lead to damage, resulting in expensive repairs. That’s where a Damage Protection Plan for Small Appliances comes in handy. It offers complete coverage, ensuring your gadgets stay functional without burning a hole in your pocket.

What is a Damage Protection Plan for Small Appliances?

A Damage Protection Plan is a service agreement designed to cover accidental damages, electrical failures, and repair costs beyond the manufacturer’s warranty. This plan acts as a protection against unexpected expenses, making sure your investment in small appliances remains protected.

Why is a Damage Protection Plan Important?

With the increasing reliance on small appliances, a Damage Protection Plan for Small Appliances is more relevant than ever. Here’s why:

Accident Coverage: It protects against accidental spills, drops, and electrical surges that can damage your appliance.

Cost-Effective Repairs: Reduces the financial burden of repairs and part replacements.

Longevity Assurance: Make sure that your appliance runs efficiently for a longer period.

Convenience: Many protection plans offer doorstep servicing, saving you time and effort.

Peace of Mind: Knowing your appliances are covered allows you to use them worry-free.

Small Appliances: The Backbone of Modern Living

Small appliances are essential in today’s homes, offering convenience and efficiency. Some of the most commonly used small appliances include:

Microwave Oven - Essential for quick heating and cooking.

Coffee Maker - Brews fresh coffee in minutes.

Blender - Helps in making smoothies and sauces effortlessly.

Toaster - Perfect for a quick breakfast fix.

Food Processor - Makes chopping, grinding, and mixing easier.

Vacuum Cleaner - Keeps your home dust-free.

Electric Kettle - Boils water in seconds.

Air Purifier - Improves indoor air quality.

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Steam Iron - Keeps clothes wrinkle-free.

These appliances simplify daily chores, making a Damage Protection Plan for Small Appliances essential to prevent disruptions due to unexpected damage.

Quick DIY Maintenance Tips for Small Appliances

Proper maintenance can extend the lifespan of your appliances. Here are some DIY tips to keep them in top shape:

Regular Cleaning: Wipe down appliances after each use to prevent dirt buildup.

Avoid Overloading: Do not exceed capacity limits to avoid damage.

Use Surge Protectors: Prevents electrical surges from harming your devices.

Check for Loose Wires: Regularly inspect cords and plugs for wear and tear.

Descale Water-Based Appliances: Use vinegar or a descaling solution to remove mineral deposits.

Keep Appliances Dry: Moisture can cause short circuits and rusting.

Lubricate Moving Parts: For appliances like blenders and food processors, ensure blades and motors are well-maintained.

Store Properly: Keep appliances in a dry, dust-free environment when not in use.

Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Always use the appliances as per guidelines.

Schedule Professional Servicing: Some appliances need periodic professional maintenance.

2024 Small Appliances Market Trends

The demand for small appliances continues to grow in 2024, driven by busy lifestyles and technological advancements. According to market research:

Global small appliance sales reached $200 billion by 2024, with kitchen appliances leading the segment.

Smart appliances with IoT integration are seeing increased adoption.

Sustainability and energy efficiency are major factors influencing purchases.

More consumers are opting for protection plans, recognizing their value in preventing costly repairs.

Choosing the Right Damage Protection Plan

When selecting a Damage Protection Plan for Small Appliances, consider the following factors:

Coverage Details: Ensure the plan covers accidental damage, repairs, and part replacements.

Plan Duration: Opt for a plan that extends beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty.

Cost vs. Benefits: Compare the plan cost with potential repair expenses.

Service Availability: Look for providers with a vast service network.

Customer Reviews: Check user experiences for reliability.

Why GoWarranty is the Best Choice for Damage Protection

GoWarranty offers reliable and affordable Damage Protection Plans for Small Appliances, ensuring hassle-free service and complete peace of mind. Here’s why GoWarranty stands out:

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Conclusion

Small appliances are essential for modern living, and their maintenance should never be overlooked. A Damage Protection Plan for Small Appliances not only safeguards your investments but also ensures smooth functionality. With increasing appliance purchases in 2024, opting for a reliable protection plan from GoWarranty is a smart move. Don’t wait until damage occurs—secure your appliances today and enjoy uninterrupted convenience!

Read More - https://blogsgod.com/why-is-an-extended-warranty-a-microwaves-best-friend/

https://trendtracker.us/why-is-an-extended-laptop-warranty-worth-every-penny/

#extended warranty #damage protection #small appliances #damage protection plan for small appliances

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toskarin-gpl · 1 year ago

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GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.

Preamble

The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works.

The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and modification follow.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

0. Definitions.

“This License” refers to version 3 of the GNU General Public License.

“Copyright” also means copyright-like laws that apply to other kinds of works, such as semiconductor masks.

“The Program” refers to any copyrightable work licensed under this License. Each licensee is addressed as “you”. “Licensees” and “recipients” may be individuals or organizations.

To “modify” a work means to copy from or adapt all or part of the work in a fashion requiring copyright permission, other than the making of an exact copy. The resulting work is called a “modified version” of the earlier work or a work “based on” the earlier work.

A “covered work” means either the unmodified Program or a work based on the Program.

To “propagate” a work means to do anything with it that, without permission, would make you directly or secondarily liable for infringement under applicable copyright law, except executing it on a computer or modifying a private copy. Propagation includes copying, distribution (with or without modification), making available to the public, and in some countries other activities as well.

To “convey” a work means any kind of propagation that enables other parties to make or receive copies. Mere interaction with a user through a computer network, with no transfer of a copy, is not conveying.

An interactive user interface displays “Appropriate Legal Notices” to the extent that it includes a convenient and prominently visible feature that (1) displays an appropriate copyright notice, and (2) tells the user that there is no warranty for the work (except to the extent that warranties are provided), that licensees may convey the work under this License, and how to view a copy of this License. If the interface presents a list of user commands or options, such as a menu, a prominent item in the list meets this criterion.

1. Source Code.

The “source code” for a work means the preferred form of the work for making modifications to it. “Object code” means any non-source form of a work.

A “Standard Interface” means an interface that either is an official standard defined by a recognized standards body, or, in the case of interfaces specified for a particular programming language, one that is widely used among developers working in that language.

The “System Libraries” of an executable work include anything, other than the work as a whole, that (a) is included in the normal form of packaging a Major Component, but which is not part of that Major Component, and (b) serves only to enable use of the work with that Major Component, or to implement a Standard Interface for which an implementation is available to the public in source code form. A “Major Component”, in this context, means a major essential component (kernel, window system, and so on) of the specific operating system (if any) on which the executable work runs, or a compiler used to produce the work, or an object code interpreter used to run it.

The “Corresponding Source” for a work in object code form means all the source code needed to generate, install, and (for an executable work) run the object code and to modify the work, including scripts to control those activities. However, it does not include the work's System Libraries, or general-purpose tools or generally available free programs which are used unmodified in performing those activities but which are not part of the work. For example, Corresponding Source includes interface definition files associated with source files for the work, and the source code for shared libraries and dynamically linked subprograms that the work is specifically designed to require, such as by intimate data communication or control flow between those subprograms and other parts of the work.

The Corresponding Source need not include anything that users can regenerate automatically from other parts of the Corresponding Source.

The Corresponding Source for a work in source code form is that same work.

2. Basic Permissions.

Conveying under any other circumstances is permitted solely under the conditions stated below. Sublicensing is not allowed; section 10 makes it unnecessary.

3. Protecting Users' Legal Rights From Anti-Circumvention Law.

4. Conveying Verbatim Copies.

You may charge any price or no price for each copy that you convey, and you may offer support or warranty protection for a fee.

5. Conveying Modified Source Versions.

a) The work must carry prominent notices stating that you modified it, and giving a relevant date.

A compilation of a covered work with other separate and independent works, which are not by their nature extensions of the covered work, and which are not combined with it such as to form a larger program, in or on a volume of a storage or distribution medium, is called an “aggregate” if the compilation and its resulting copyright are not used to limit the access or legal rights of the compilation's users beyond what the individual works permit. Inclusion of a covered work in an aggregate does not cause this License to apply to the other parts of the aggregate.

6. Conveying Non-Source Forms.

A separable portion of the object code, whose source code is excluded from the Corresponding Source as a System Library, need not be included in conveying the object code work.

A “User Product” is either (1) a “consumer product”, which means any tangible personal property which is normally used for personal, family, or household purposes, or (2) anything designed or sold for incorporation into a dwelling. In determining whether a product is a consumer product, doubtful cases shall be resolved in favor of coverage. For a particular product received by a particular user, “normally used” refers to a typical or common use of that class of product, regardless of the status of the particular user or of the way in which the particular user actually uses, or expects or is expected to use, the product. A product is a consumer product regardless of whether the product has substantial commercial, industrial or non-consumer uses, unless such uses represent the only significant mode of use of the product.

“Installation Information” for a User Product means any methods, procedures, authorization keys, or other information required to install and execute modified versions of a covered work in that User Product from a modified version of its Corresponding Source. The information must suffice to ensure that the continued functioning of the modified object code is in no case prevented or interfered with solely because modification has been made.

7. Additional Terms.

“Additional permissions” are terms that supplement the terms of this License by making exceptions from one or more of its conditions. Additional permissions that are applicable to the entire Program shall be treated as though they were included in this License, to the extent that they are valid under applicable law. If additional permissions apply only to part of the Program, that part may be used separately under those permissions, but the entire Program remains governed by this License without regard to the additional permissions.

a) Disclaiming warranty or limiting liability differently from the terms of sections 15 and 16 of this License; or

b) Requiring preservation of specified reasonable legal notices or author attributions in that material or in the Appropriate Legal Notices displayed by works containing it; or

c) Prohibiting misrepresentation of the origin of that material, or requiring that modified versions of such material be marked in reasonable ways as different from the original version; or

d) Limiting the use for publicity purposes of names of licensors or authors of the material; or

e) Declining to grant rights under trademark law for use of some trade names, trademarks, or service marks; or

All other non-permissive additional terms are considered “further restrictions” within the meaning of section 10. If the Program as you received it, or any part of it, contains a notice stating that it is governed by this License along with a term that is a further restriction, you may remove that term. If a license document contains a further restriction but permits relicensing or conveying under this License, you may add to a covered work material governed by the terms of that license document, provided that the further restriction does not survive such relicensing or conveying.

Additional terms, permissive or non-permissive, may be stated in the form of a separately written license, or stated as exceptions; the above requirements apply either way.

8. Termination.

9. Acceptance Not Required for Having Copies.

10. Automatic Licensing of Downstream Recipients.

An “entity transaction” is a transaction transferring control of an organization, or substantially all assets of one, or subdividing an organization, or merging organizations. If propagation of a covered work results from an entity transaction, each party to that transaction who receives a copy of the work also receives whatever licenses to the work the party's predecessor in interest had or could give under the previous paragraph, plus a right to possession of the Corresponding Source of the work from the predecessor in interest, if the predecessor has it or can get it with reasonable efforts.

11. Patents.

A “contributor” is a copyright holder who authorizes use under this License of the Program or a work on which the Program is based. The work thus licensed is called the contributor's “contributor version”.

A contributor's “essential patent claims” are all patent claims owned or controlled by the contributor, whether already acquired or hereafter acquired, that would be infringed by some manner, permitted by this License, of making, using, or selling its contributor version, but do not include claims that would be infringed only as a consequence of further modification of the contributor version. For purposes of this definition, “control” includes the right to grant patent sublicenses in a manner consistent with the requirements of this License.

In the following three paragraphs, a “patent license” is any express agreement or commitment, however denominated, not to enforce a patent (such as an express permission to practice a patent or covenant not to sue for patent infringement). To “grant” such a patent license to a party means to make such an agreement or commitment not to enforce a patent against the party.

If you convey a covered work, knowingly relying on a patent license, and the Corresponding Source of the work is not available for anyone to copy, free of charge and under the terms of this License, through a publicly available network server or other readily accessible means, then you must either (1) cause the Corresponding Source to be so available, or (2) arrange to deprive yourself of the benefit of the patent license for this particular work, or (3) arrange, in a manner consistent with the requirements of this License, to extend the patent license to downstream recipients. “Knowingly relying” means you have actual knowledge that, but for the patent license, your conveying the covered work in a country, or your recipient's use of the covered work in a country, would infringe one or more identifiable patents in that country that you have reason to believe are valid.

A patent license is “discriminatory” if it does not include within the scope of its coverage, prohibits the exercise of, or is conditioned on the non-exercise of one or more of the rights that are specifically granted under this License. You may not convey a covered work if you are a party to an arrangement with a third party that is in the business of distributing software, under which you make payment to the third party based on the extent of your activity of conveying the work, and under which the third party grants, to any of the parties who would receive the covered work from you, a discriminatory patent license (a) in connection with copies of the covered work conveyed by you (or copies made from those copies), or (b) primarily for and in connection with specific products or compilations that contain the covered work, unless you entered into that arrangement, or that patent license was granted, prior to 28 March 2007.

Nothing in this License shall be construed as excluding or limiting any implied license or other defenses to infringement that may otherwise be available to you under applicable patent law.

12. No Surrender of Others' Freedom.

13. Use with the GNU Affero General Public License.

14. Revised Versions of this License.

Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program specifies that a certain numbered version of the GNU General Public License “or any later version” applies to it, you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of that numbered version or of any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of the GNU General Public License, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software Foundation.

15. Disclaimer of Warranty.

THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

16. Limitation of Liability.

17. Interpretation of Sections 15 and 16.

END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs

If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest possible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it free software which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms.

To do so, attach the following notices to the program. It is safest to attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively state the exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least the “copyright” line and a pointer to where the full notice is found. <one line to give the program's name and a brief idea of what it does.> Copyright (C) <year> <name of author> This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail.

If the program does terminal interaction, make it output a short notice like this when it starts in an interactive mode: <program> Copyright (C) <year> <name of author> This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details type `show w'. This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions; type `show c' for details.

The hypothetical commands `show w' and `show c' should show the appropriate parts of the General Public License. Of course, your program's commands might be different; for a GUI interface, you would use an “about box”.

You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or school, if any, to sign a “copyright disclaimer” for the program, if necessary. For more information on this, and how to apply and follow the GNU GPL, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

The GNU General Public License does not permit incorporating your program into proprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you may consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with the library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Lesser General Public License instead of this License. But first, please read <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/why-not-lgpl.html>.

36 notes · View notes