#reputation management package

[infyq]

Best Seo expert in India strategies to boost your business : Infyq seo experts

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. The competition seems very tough for search engines in India. Still, one leads the way and is discussed as vastly popular and impactful when considering SEO: Google. As one of India's leading SEO link-building services, Infyq SEO Experts delves a bit deeper into the reasons behind Google's dominance in the search engine space and how businesses could leverage this information to benefit themselves in terms of improving their online presence. We will also throw some light on the other search engines and the role of social media optimization.

The Dominance of Google in India

1. Market Share

Google has a massive market share in India—in excess of 95% of the search engine market. Due to this massive domination, it becomes the primary target for SEO-related activities. The number of searches solved each day on Google makes it inevitable and, hence, the largest used search engine in India.

2. Advanced Algorithms

Advanced algorithms, like Rank Brain and BERT, are made to understand user's intent and to serve the most relevant search results. These algorithms continue to evolve, making it of utmost importance to SEO professionals operating out of India to stay abreast of changing times and best practices.

3. Entire Ecosystem

Google's ecosystem goes beyond search; it includes Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Google My Business. These tools provide valuable insights with data that a business can use for optimization and performance tracking.

Why SEO Focuses on Google

1. User Base

With a huge base of users within India, Google is the primary platform that businesses approach to reach a wider user group. The companies may tap into this huge potential pool of customers through optimization in Google.

2. Search Features

Google contains such features in its search as featured snippets, local packs, and knowledge graphs that improve visibility. This, of course, would dramatically make the website more likely to appear on top of relevant SERPs.

3. Mobile Optimization

As the use of mobile devices grows rapidly in India, with mobile-first indexing, Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites. The emphasis on mobile optimization further relates to user behaviour by delivering the best experiences.

Leveraging SEO for Google: Strategies from our company

1. Keyword Research and Optimization

Effective keyword research will be the underpinning factor in successful SEO execution.it take advantage of advanced tools to find high-value, relevant keywords that resonate best with your target audience. By optimizing content for those target keywords, you can see better rankings on Google and attract more organic traffic.

2. Quality Content Creation

High-quality and engaging content remains supreme when it comes to the field of search engine optimization. Therefore, it is of immense importance to chalk out relevant high-quality and engaging content to rank well in Google search. It gives emphasis to content production that observes the guidelines posed by Google and assures the delivery of value to your audience.

3. Technical SEO

Technical SEO will optimize the crawling and indexing of your website by search engines. We work with the technical aspects of your website related to site speed, mobile-friendliness, structured data, and much more to improve performance.

4. Link Building

Backlinks of strong quality play an important role in enhancing your website's authority and ranking across various search engines. You will get the best qualification links from influential and proficient SEO link-building services in India—for the best results from relevant and authoritative sites.

5. Local SEO

For businesses targeting a local audience, local search is a lifeline. We help create and optimize Google My Business profiles, local citations, and customer reviews to enhance your local SEO efforts.

The Contribution of Other Search Engines

While Google commands a clear monopoly over the search engine market in India, other search engines do contribute to the SEO space. A few of them are as follows:

1. Bing

Bing enjoys a far lesser market share in India, which belongs to Microsoft; however, still good opportunities prevail for SEO on the engine. The algorithm being different from that of Google requires a different optimization strategy. Being a partner of Yahoo Search further increases its reach.

2. Yahoo

With an extremely small market share, this search engine still has a huge following from some demographics. In actuality, Yahoo uses the same technology as Bing in its searches, and most of the SEO practices for Yahoo work quite well for Bing.

3. DuckDuckGo

While the market share in India is negligible, this forms one way of targeting a set of users who are very sensitive to having their searches personalized.

Importance of Social Media Optimization

Social media optimization in India are a great way to amplify your SEO efforts. focuses on optimizing social media profiles and the content shared on it in a manner that maximizes visitor engagement on a website. It brings an all-encompassing package for SMO services with a motto to make our clients leverage to the fullest the opportunities thrown by social media.

1. Brand Awareness

The reason is simple: the active presence of one on social media will probably help one in expanding to larger audiences by increasing one's brand awareness. A lot of engagement opportunities exist on all social media platforms, be it Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, to engage prospects and share your content.

2. Better Engagements

You can engage with your audience on social media to drive your website with visitors and, in turn, increase the result in search rankings. Some examples of social signals are likes and sharing done towards your content or page, which indirectly affect your SEO based on credibility and content exposure.

Your Partner in SEO Success.

It is all about helping businesses deliver on their digital marketing goals through effective SEO strategy design. We specialize in SEO link-building, SMO and Local SEO that has said to be the optimal Best Seo expert in India. Here is how we will help your business succeed:

1. Customized SEO Strategies

We know that each business has its own identity; hence, we provide strategies for your goals and industry in customized ways. We are data-driven and committed to delivering measurable results.

2. Full-Service SEO

We do it all from keyword research and content creation to technical SEO and link building. All this makes sure that you get comprehensive services and every part of your SEO strategy is covered.

3. Social Media Optimization

It is a part and parcel of our services. We help them harness the powers of social media to take a step ahead of search engine optimization in generating traffic on their websites. The services we offer in terms of SMO in India involve managing social media, creation of content in this arena, and engaging audiences.

Conclusion

Google continues to be the number one search engine and a great influencer in SEO in India. Therefore, focusing on Google, with its advanced algorithms, comprehensible ecosystem, and a vast user base, may lead to significant variations in online visibility with improved chances of attracting organic traffic.

Bring the best SEO experts on board by using the services company. we help businesses to take an unbeatable lead over their competition with our expertise in social media optimization in India, and the overall strategies of SEO. Let our company raise your digital profile and enable your business to scale up on a growth trajectory that is sustainable through 2024 and beyond.

[digitalretina01]

Online Reputation Management (ORM) Services India

Protect and enhance your online reputation with our ORM Services in India. We specialize in managing digital perceptions, fixing negative feedback, and promoting positive content. Elevate your brand's image and build trust with our expert strategies.

Visit Us:-

Call Now:- 9953023123

[angelicsjn]

Hi can I request your oc reactions to their gf cheating on them? If you're not comfy with writing cheating then they think you cheated on them but it was an old pic/video

YOUR SEVEN YANDERES.

A N: I won't write cheating, but I will write that there is a miscommunication in it.

A B O U T: They think you cheated, you didn't.

W A R N I N G S: Verbal abuse, of course. Anger and angst.

— ROMAN BEAUREGARD.

Roman is cool and collected. When you come back he's at the table, waiting.

You feel the air around him, and it's cold as he looks at you in scrutiny.

"Is it true?" He asks, leaving you complaining lost. What does that mean?

He shows you his phone, a photo posted on an F1 wag account, and you kissing your ex-boyfriend before you met him.

"Roman, that's my ex." You say, reassuringly. "It's an old photo."

He visibly relaxes before nodding, looking at you appreciatively before calling his manager up, requesting to have to rumour flattened and the photos removed.

He doesn't want to see your ex all over you. You're his now and will be forever.

— LATEN REED.

Laten bangs at your door, and when you open it, he's wild with rage. It's the first time that you've seen him so... serious.

"Who the fuck is it?" He spits your way, even though he wouldnt even think of laying a hand on you, he would to them.

He was out for blood.

"W-who?" You ask, confused and shocked. Also, slightly scared.

"That bastard my friends saw you with today?" He growls, the vein in his neck about to pop.

You begin laughing.

"Laten. That's my childhood friend. He's gay." You laugh even more as he freezes.

"Oh." He mutters. "I thought you were cheating..."

His green eyes look sad now, and as you pull him into a hug, he feels better. All anger is washed away as he stuffs his face into your neck.

— JAE 'NIKO' LEE.

Dear God. He's throwing stuff around. Screaming. Ranting. Raving.

"I could ruin my reputation because of you." - "after everything that we've been through." - "you've fucked me over, you're a waste of fucking time."

He goes off.

He storms out and leaves you to clean everything up. He's gone for days.

He only sees that it's all a lie when he finds out that toxic fans created lies to break you up, only then does he back with his tail wagging between his legs like a sad puppy.

— KAIDAN WOLFE.

It's not even true, but his delusional all would believe it was fake even if it wasn't.

You could have fucked his best friend and he wouldn't believe it. Even with proof of it.

"It's okay, baby." He smiles. "I know it's all fake." And he asks them to remove it because it's all fake.

He might even make a story about to, trying to stop others from ruining your perfect and healthy relationship.

— HAYDEN WEST.

He damn near has a heart attack.

He loses his mind over it. Does he tell you, ask you? What if what he saw was real, wasn't just in his head? Is it best not to say so he doesn't get hurt?

Then he blurts it out a few days after, "I saw you with someone the other day... are you, like..."

"Cheating?" You ask with a laugh. He looks mortified as if you confirmed it.

"Come on, Hayden. You know I love you." You press a kiss against his lips before laughing, "he asked me to help him study, that's all. It's nothing."

He worries, still, after that. The guy is better than him in every way — maybe not academically... but still!

He plays sports, is good-looking, is popular, is funny, talented, and he's the whole package. Why wouldn't you like him.

What was his name again? Oh.. yeah. Laten Reed...

— JOSHUA WHITE.

Loyalty is a big thing for him. So he asks you straight up, sort of like Roman, really. Just more worried as his voice wobbles.

"Are you cheating?" He asks gently with a worrisome crease in his forehead.

He provides the 'proof' and hears you out.

You actually have a lovely conversation where he thanks you for being honest and for being able to communicate with him, and of course you're happy and relieved that he didn't blow up over it.

— BLAKE CROSS.

Blake sees red. Actually, no. Black. He full on loses his shit.

"Do you know who I fucking am, huh?" He seeths. His fists clench the collar of the guys shirt, and you attempt to pull him away.

"Fucking come near what's mine again and I'll fucking kill you, go it?" He pushes the guy against the wall, his head hitting off of it with a thud as Blake rips away his hands in anger.

Looking your way, he looks like a completely different person. His eyes, usually a warm brown, are now black, and his features are hardened in marble.

"Are you fucking that piece of shit?" His tone cuts into you as he backs you up against the wall. You see the lingering of betrayal in his eyes.

"No, no. Blake. He's doing a project with me." You shake your head and even though you're scared, you know that he wouldnt ever hurt you.

His eyes closes as he rips at his hair in frustration, "fuck! Are you telling the truth. Don't lie to me."

Suddenly, he looks as if he's about to burst into tears. You pull his hands from his hair and kiss his knuckles before nodding.

"Fuck," he whispers. "I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. I dont want to lose you..." he shakes his head, his eyes brimming with emotion.

"Especially to some guy that smells of cheap aftershave and wears 100% polyester clothing, that's disgusting..." he laughs a little, attempting to brighten the mood — he meant it, though.

[lo1k-diamonds]

Stellar Behavior 💜 Part 3

“It's not the price of anything or a deal. Just let me eat you out again.”

PAIRING: Officer!Yoongi x Mafia (f)reader

SUMMARY: Yoongi needs you again, and you strike a deal. This time, you don't ask for any favors, though. Now what?

WORD COUNT: 5.9k

GENRE: Gangster AU, Law AU, enemies to lovers, smut

RATING: R (explicit)

WARNINGS: corruption, power dynamics, mentions of crimes, guns, knifes, semi-public sex, fingering, oral (f rec), masturbation (both), caught having sex, unprotected sex, switching, bratty, hate sex...

A.N. Ignore the excuse for steamy hot sex... Again, infinite thank yous to @moonleeai and @downbad4yoongi for working through my crazy and being incredible! Enjoy 🔥🔥

Masterlist | Masterpost | AO3 | Wattpad | < Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >

Yoongi threw the package of gum across the desk, ignoring it when it fell to the floor of his office. It was empty, again, and his fingers were twitching with how much he needed a fix. He huffed; as if quitting smoking fucking mattered.

His last promotion so many months back had not come without its challenges. His bosses knew how difficult his cases were, but after he saved Officer Jimin, they chose him for the job. He heaved a deep breath and pressed his eyes beneath his eyeglasses; the problem was that he wasn't the one who actually fixed it then, and he didn't have a way to fix things now.

He thought about you more often than he'd care to admit. Initially, he thought you had infected him. How else was it that he thought of you for no reason, got boners at random times just remembering something about you, or couldn't jerk off without thinking of you?

It was all because he was lust-crazed the last time you were together. He shouldn't have succumbed to it and given you what you wanted, but he was thinking with his dick. That was it. He didn't know he could act like that, but he guessed you did that to him. So he shouldn’t have been intimate with you or let it get to his fucking head, let alone have your name written across his cock for months for no reason. He was an idiot, but no one else got him going. And so he had given you everything you wanted.

He held his end of the deal once he checked the address you gave him. It was easy to get a warrant since witnesses were placing key directors of the conglomerate in that area, and in a second, everything had gone down. Like wildfire spreading, the amount of incriminating evidence found in that gambling house was still turning heads months later. It was a win for the department, a success with the public, and it affected a long chain of people in power, from managers to politicians. Once again, Yoongi was seen as the face of justice, and he was left uneasy about it.

He had used the flash drive well, but first, he asked his team to investigate its contents. He was done with being your puppet; you were as bad as the people you were helping put away. How the hell had you gotten that info? You had a reputation regarding information, but still. What did you know? And how did you know it?

Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything. All he had were suspicions and gut feelings, but that wasn't much of a case. Still, he'd get to the bottom of it. He'd find your dirty little secrets, and not because he wanted to have something on you like you had on him. Not because he wanted to blackmail you, but to level the playing field.

The problem was that he needed you again. He handled his cases fairly well, but a drug operation had just gone south. The undercover agent who infiltrated to bust the biggest net of distribution in Seoul had just died in a shootout, and they couldn't even recover the body because the dealers took him with them. The family needed to be informed, and without their son to bury, it was bound to be a huge problem. It didn't matter that Yoongi took over the operation a couple of months ago; his head would roll, and he wouldn't be able to bring peace to the lost agent or his family. He sighed and pressed his eyes; his failure he could handle, but not leaving the grieving family like this.

So he got up, left his office, and crossed the parking lot to his car. He worked at a more prominent building now, but the road was the same one as he drove to Aether. He couldn't think of anyone else who could help, and you had always come through. Maybe you knew where his body was or how to get to him, or any other information that could help. It didn't hurt to try, even for a price.

The sly smiles you gave him popped into his mind, but he stayed focused. That wouldn't happen again, and this was bigger than him. This was about doing the right thing again, and you'd surely understand.

He was surprised when the security at the Aether recognized him and instantly let him in without checking him. As he followed a member of the club's staff down a familiar path, he considered that he had only been there once, so that had to be your doing.

Before he could think further about it, he was stepping into your office with the door closing behind him. You were wearing a white shirt with a couple of buttons open and had your hair up in a messy bun, sitting at your desk working at your computer as if you had a simple office job. You stayed focused, typing whatever you needed before waving for him to take a seat. His eyes traced every detail of your focused expression. You looked healthy and glowing, focused on your work, and he wondered if things were working out for you.

“My, you look stiff, Chief,” you commented, taking a glance at him before wrapping up whatever was taking your full attention from him. Your smile had a hint of mischief, and it was a relief. “In need of a drink? Must be, after the whole drug mess and agent down ordeal.”

His shoulders softened, “I need your help.”

You straightened your shoulders, “Why would I help you?”

“Because there must be something you want.”

Silence stretched between you as you both just eyed each other. Neither one gave away what was running through your minds, and he decided to wait quietly. He could overthink this — excuse himself for calling you greedy and/or letting you think he meant it sexually — or wait for your spirited self to run the show.

He was certain about waiting, thus having time to adjust to you, and yet you scrunched your nose slightly and looked away when a notification popped up on the screen. It made him feel uneasy in your presence for the first time, and he decided to change his approach. He was coming to you for help; the least he could do was make it interesting for you, too.

“I thought it could be in your interest as well,” he restarted, sitting comfortably. “They're stepping into your territory, no?”

“I'm not in the drug market.”

“But you want to be.”

His heart started racing, and he cursed you in his mind. Did you want him to chase you? To plead and beg like before? Did you have to look so effortlessly breathtaking doing it?

The corners of your lips twitched, and it was the only hint of the familiar mischievousness he was used to. You stayed quiet as you considered things, even eying the paperwork on your desk in front of you for a moment.

He wondered if he should say something else when you finally said, “If I help you bust their network and get your agent, you'll let me take some of their product.”

He pursed his lips, “If I bust them, I'll already be helping you with a competitor.”

“But without immediate product, I won't be able to control the market and distribute it safely,” you shrugged, and he was mesmerized. You were doing business, and he shouldn't be that entranced, but he was. “Trust me, that's the only right way of doing it. Otherwise, the small fries will start selling bad products and have people sick and overdosing on your streets.”

He knew his answer but insisted anyway, “And my agent?”

“He's been moved to one of their warehouses where coincidentally they have their ‘clinic’,” you used your fingers to quote, then pressed your lips. “They'll dump him somewhere soon.”

He nodded. That was one of his fears. They needed to get rid of the body so as not to be incriminated, and he needed to get to him before they did something irreversible.

“What can you do?”

You hummed, “Addresses and names. But we'll need to coordinate when you raid them so some products can slip through the cracks. Except for that particular warehouse, you should go there as soon as possible.” 

“We have a deal.”

You reached for a sticky note and scribbled before giving it to him. “I can arrange for people to support your operation quietly in a couple of hours.”

He caught the sticky note, rolling it in his fingers. “I can't do it that quickly.”

You nodded and asked for the paper again, then added something under it before returning it. “My private number. Use a burner and let me know.”

He took the note and looked at it nonchalantly, but his teeth still nipped his bottom lip. Why was he getting that excited? It wasn't a date. It meant absolutely nothing. And yet, he felt giddy when he looked at you getting back to your paperwork. He wanted to jump from the chair and—

“Was there anything else?”

You asked, looking up from the documents as though you were surprised he was still there.

He pressed his lips, “Just… We made a deal.”

“Yes.”

“And I guess I didn't leave you wanting like last time.”

You sat back and gave him your full attention again, though your typical mischief was nowhere to be found.

“Are you trying to say you expected a sexual favor?”

“Yes.”

You scoffed, “Well then, shouldn't you be happy there isn't one?”

He didn't respond and just evaluated your reaction. Were you upset with him? Why weren't you teasing him relentlessly for even bringing it up? Were you no longer interested? But then, why did you sound just a little bit annoyed? Was he reading into it too much, or could he just already read you?

He got up and put the paper inside his jacket pocket before taking it off and leaving it on the chair. You observed him and straightened even more against your office chair when he circled the desk to get to you.

“I didn't request anything,” you reiterated.

“I know,” he answered calmly, turning your chair to him.

“I'm not threatening you either,” you added, your eyebrows furrowing slightly in confusion.

He looked down at where he knew your knife would be and nodded, “You're not.”

You looked up at him, almost flabbergasted, “So what is it? Or do you just want to hear praise or something—”

“Thought you'd tease me about it,” he admitted, then moved to his knees because standing and forcing you to look up didn't seem natural.

You pressed your lips, “There's nothing to tease. You gave me exactly what I asked for.”

From that angle, you looked even more powerful, almost majestic. His brain was really wired wrong because instead of happily leaving through the door, he wanted to touch you.

But he wouldn't until he understood, “And there's nothing else you want?”

“There is,” you didn't hesitate, almost making him smile. But he didn't because you didn't seem at ease.

“Then ask.”

“There's no need.”

“And if I want you to?”

“Why would you want that?”

Your suspicion was plain in your light frown, and he took a moment to think it over, “Because we should celebrate. We're doing something good.”

You tilted your head, “We're saving your ass.”

He rolled his eyes; it wasn't just that, and you knew it. “And that's also a good thing. So let's enjoy it.”

“You’re already going to pay me for—”

“It's not the price of anything or a deal. Just let me eat you out again.”

Your eyes widened, “What?” 

Your stupefied look wasn’t enough for him to back down nor to think closely about what he was doing. He looked down at your legs, covered above the knee by a raised skirt with golden floral patterns. Every ticking second increased his eagerness, no matter how patient and composed he seemed. He could already see his long fingers indenting the flesh of your thighs, and he could almost remember the exact scent between them, too; it made him dizzy with want.

“You just…” You started, tilting your head slightly again, drawing his eyes up. “Want to give me head… to celebrate?”

He hummed, licking his lips subconsciously, and you blinked. It took you a second, but a crooked smile pulled your lips, and you spread your legs. You exuded a snobbish nonchalance that almost annoyed him. Still, there was a clear invitation in your actions that he prioritized over anything that could stop him from getting what he wanted.

His fingers gripped your outer thighs gently as he moved in, nuzzling your soft skin with a deep breath. He could have forgotten why he wanted to be that close in the months that passed, but taking in your sweet scent, he chose to forget everything else instead. The fact that he shouldn’t do this, that he didn’t have to, the cameras, the time and place; none of it mattered. There was no use in letting the disgust or frustration disrupt the moment he’d finally attained what he had fantasized about for so long. His teeth and tongue teased you gently, earning your hand in his hair, and he sighed, relaxed. Just for a little while, he’d admit he wanted it and grasp it all.

Still, he moved slowly, or as slowly as he could in his urge. His deft fingers dragged the hem of your skirt slowly back while he feasted on the sight being revealed, an inch at a time. His tongue kept circling over your sensitive skin, yearning for what he knew would soon be unveiled, and your deepening breath only made his hunger stronger. Your nails were grazing the back of his head, massaging his scalp in waves as if you wanted to pull him closer and urge him to move faster. He could only agree with you, but there was a sweet torture in making you both long for it.

“Is it the humiliation, Chief?”

Your voice was a wanton breath that had him sinking his teeth just a little more while he finally revealed what was under your skirt.

“No,” he murmured back, voice taken. 

Why were you not wearing any underwear? He could have asked, but the question slipped from his mind. One second he was taking in the view of your glistening slit, juicy just for him with barely a touch; the next, he was jumping forward, springing on his heels to press his face to your core as hard as he could to taste you.

His tongue darted out, spreading over your lips to open them, tasting and collecting as much of your wetness as possible, and you moaned. He heard it; you didn’t mean to, but you wiggled on your chair to give him better access and intensify those sensations, melting you, releasing even more of you for him to taste.

He could have made you work for it, but he was thirsty and, like a junkie, addicted. Every drop made him forget himself and crave the next, and when it came, it reminded him why he wanted it all to begin with. You were a force of nature, reacting to him like the perfect storm — quaking above him, breathing heavily with your voice etched quietly to the little wheezes, trembling with your legs firm around his head. He sighed, nuzzling your clit greedily. After longing for you for months, your taste had finally invaded his mouth, and along with your scent, he was drowning. A sigh of contentment escaped his lips — he had reached paradise.

Your thighs clenched around his head, and he tried to prevent you from pushing him away by holding onto you tighter, but the arms of your office chair were making things difficult.

He was displeased but had to move away and breathe, “Stay still.”

“Yoongi…”

Your voice was broken, and your flushed, desperate expression twisted his guts unexpectedly. In a second, he rose to his feet and grabbed your arms, yanking you to stand up before dragging you with him. You didn’t offer resistance, pliable to him, just like last time. 

He placed you in front of the smoked glass overseeing the dance floor of Aether just below, and you extended your arms to support yourself on it. Instantly, his lips latched onto the back of your neck, right under your messy bun. Your moan gave him goosebumps, and he didn’t stop, tracing your curves with big, open hands while suckling your skin. 

You drove him crazy. Last time, you were sitting above him, pleasuring yourself on his face like you owned him, and now, you were letting him position you and touch you to his heart’s content. He wanted to get on his knees so you’d grind on his face, but he also craved leading you to the state you were in right now, at your utmost vulnerability, letting him do as he pleased.

But all he wanted to do was get more. Like an alcoholic downing a drink after a long drought, he craved more of you with every inch he touched, whiff he took, and flavor he swallowed. Even with you vulnerable in his arms like that, he didn’t want to subdue you or take advantage — quite the opposite.

He kneeled and moved to slot himself between your parted legs and the glass. He yanked the skirt back up to have unrestrained access before licking and biting your mound while his fingers traced a slow, maddening trail up your legs. You groaned above him, and he was lost again, needing more of your voice just like that.

He gripped your ass, pulling you flush to his face with his lips brushing your clit. You jolted, searching for something more than a fleeting touch, and he groaned. The more you gave him, the more he wanted; there was no holding back.

“Look,” he whispered, looking up at you. Your open lips, graciously letting your quiet whimpers out, trembled, and he nuzzled your bikini line. Your scent intensified his crazed desire, but he insisted, “Look at them.”

You did, as one hand of his kept you in place, grabbing your ass cheek, and the other disappeared between your legs. He observed you, taking in how you gasped when his digits sunk inside, widening your eyes at the unsuspecting crowd. It set his nerve endings on fire the way you whimpered softly above him while your slick slid down his fingers as he pressed inside your velvet flesh. It was why he needed more, coaxing you with his hooked fingers to see where he could take you.

Your whimpers became inconsistent, and not even a thumb rubbing your clit made you fall into the rhythm. On the contrary, you kept tightening, moaning, and yet he could sense the note of annoyance in your tone. His eyes and mouth were on you, licking the soft spot where your leg met your mound, and he wondered what more could you possibly want. 

He knew you were close; he had obsessed over the little signs of your peak, and he was seeing them now: your lip tucked between your teeth as you fought rolling your head back while moans slipped from your throat. And yet, you weren’t letting it happen. Why?

The answer came when you grasped his hair between your fingers and pulled him to the right spot. You forced him there while you humped his face, pressing his head to the glass, and a smile crept on his face. Your moans became desperate as you viciously chased your climax on his mouth, and the euphoria lit his head like fireworks. He didn’t know why, but you taking what you wanted from him was so fucking hot, his hard cock was aching inside his pants.

It didn’t take long for you to find the perfect friction, and he helped by suckling. The moment your clit slotted between his lips and he sucked hard, you tried to move but it was too late. He heard it in the pitch of your moan, the way you cowered over him against the glass, and the faint grind as you trembled against his mouth. You were heavenly— like a godsent delicacy, your orgasm only accentuated your taste, your divinity, and like a fool, he couldn’t resist.

You pulled away. He knew that moment would come, and perhaps that was why his tongue had been restless. Even during your aftershocks, he still searched for more, licking your cum off your swollen lips like an opportunistic slob. Yet, he relented when you moved back and stayed kneeling to give you space, removing only his head from the glass. 

His dick was throbbing in his pants, crying for attention and relief, but his mind was somewhere else. His hungry eyes stayed on you as he wiped his chin, and you composed yourself. He had what he wanted. Of course, he’d have more if he could, but a part of him expected you to tell him to leave now that you were satiated. It would both anger him and amuse him if it were the case, so he was anticipating what would happen next.

“Sit down.”

He almost jolted, confused. He was already kneeling—

“Sit,” you insisted more firmly, pointing at your office chair.

You walked over and perched yourself on the desk, facing the chair between you two, and suddenly, he thought that maybe it wasn’t over yet. He got up and did as you asked, spreading his legs to accommodate his hard dick. It wasn’t a hint. He wasn’t able to think that far. All he could do was look at you, already so tranquil, when he wanted to mess you up all over again.

“Pull your dick out.”

He burned from the inside out, taking seconds to comply with a muted eagerness. He remembered you saying that last time all too well, and the thought of you using him again got him so excited his fingers were shaking.

“Grab it,” you said, and he did, fighting to keep his eyes open to look at you. 

You were observing every move of his long fingers, and you surely didn’t miss how his cock was weeping. Your tongue peeked out between your lips as he spread it over the tip, and the sight was enough for him to release more. His balls tensed, still tucked tight inside his pants as his whole body screamed for release. Wouldn’t you put him out of his misery?

“Show me,” you demanded, licking your lips, and he almost groaned. His plea must have been clear in his eyes because you bit your lip. “Show me how you work your cock.”

His palm moved down his length, and he shook his head. He needed to feel you, to touch you, to have you on his lap, moaning with every plunge of his hard cock inside you, and yet you changed everything. You just had to ask for something, and he instantly did it, like a puppet entranced by your charms. Not even the principles he upheld withstood; there was only them or you, and you were undeniable.

Doing what you asked had its dangers, but having your full attention was worth it. Your dark eyes were boring into his, drinking the sight of him fisting himself on your chair like you were equally hypnotized. Fortunately for Yoongi, jerking off meant controlling how soon he’d blow, and he could edge himself all night if it meant having the chance of you riding him.

He didn’t count on you opening your shirt slowly, pushing each button through its eyelet, working your way from top to bottom as though the fabric bothered you. But the more you revealed, the harder it was to stay put. Your unblemished skin looked appetizing, smooth, begging to be licked, bitten, shown the meaning of want. Your breasts, tucked inside your bra, looked too constrained for his taste. He knew what your round breasts looked and tasted like, and he was on the verge of begging for the chance to touch them. He could drive you crazy, he wanted to, and—

He held his breath and slowed his hand, taking you in like a mirage. You squeezed your tits over the bra, moaning under your breath before those same hands moved lower to pull your skirt up. Your legs spread, and he almost jumped, the sight of your slick dripping ever so slightly a pure taunt that he wanted to follow through. But your hand moved down to rub your clit, and he groaned. 

You were driving him fucking insane. He could have pumped his cock a bit harder and come, but why the fuck would he when your wet heat was right there? He wanted it, and you, and your tantalizing scent and sensual moans, and—

It was so subtle he almost missed it. While one hand worked your clit and another had fun gripping your chest, your head fell back to breathe heavily, and your feet dangled in his direction before settling. It might have been nothing, but he didn’t need much; he rolled the chair forward slowly, almost imperceptibly. When he was close, he reached his free hand to brush your shin, and you let him. You raised your foot to his lap, and it was all he needed to hold onto you.

He grabbed your leg, tracing it up to settle it, and soon did the same to the other. Then, he didn’t know what happened, only that he was hungry. He touched up your leg, feeling your outer thigh and leaning forward in doing so. This prompted you to breathe heavily and lean into him too, reaching for his head in a familiar motion that had him jumping at the opportunity to finally lick your chest.

You supported the back of his head as he buried his face between your tits, licking and nibbling your flesh mindlessly. Your bra was in the way, so he pulled it down bluntly to access your nipples, and you whimpered. Your breathing was ragged as he suckled, refusing to stop his bites even when you pulled on his hair.

His hand was hitting yours with each pump around his cock, but it only riled him up more. You weren’t stopping, as crazed as him with all that lust. This certainty relaxed him, and when you pulled his head again, he let you guide it.

He found your neck and sucked viciously, groaning into it and trying not to come. You had a scent to you, which mixed with every sweet whimper, made it hard to not find a way to shove himself deep into your embrace. Instead, he focused on kissing and nuzzling up your jaw, and you whimpered, grabbing the hair at the back of his head, but not to turn him away.

You pulled him closer, and his lips grazed the corner of your mouth. He slowed, tentatively leaning to reach the same spot, and you left him despite your hold on him. He nuzzled your cheek and tried again, and you almost met his mouth, and it was the breaking point. You lost your patience and pulled him in to crash your mouths together, pushing your tongue between his lips to create a wild struggle.

Kissing you was everything he thought it was — feral, spicy, dangerous, and sweet. Your tongue was aggressive, mapping his mouth like you owned him, and fighting you back was addictive. He matched you with savage licks, pressing himself hard to you until you needed both hands to grab him close, and so did he.

He grabbed your hair between his fingers, keeping you locked in his kiss, while the other pulled you flush to him. You were breathless but unrelenting, and he shared in that hunger, licking and nipping your lip at the slightest chance. 

Your legs wrapped around him, and his cock brushed your core, reminding you there was a way to make it all derail, and you took it. You felt the gun on his shoulder holster pressing to your inner thigh, but it only made you throb and want it harder. He had felt the knife on your garter and had left it there, too. You could use it, and that was part of the thrill. He could use it too, or his gun, or his beautiful long fingers around your neck, and you gushed between your legs. 

You scrambled between savage kisses to grab his cock and aim it straight at your core, and he tried getting rid of his pants. Yoongi could do all that, but he wouldn’t, and the power it gave you was inebriating. He was also an agent of the law, someone you despised on principle, which made the way he fucked you so much sweeter. Like two polar opposites, you were drawn to be filled by his cock and use your nails on the back of his neck and shoulders to press him to you.

He groaned into your mouth, opening his eyes to see the way your face scrunched up in pleasure. He’d never admit it, but it was enough to drive him to his knees. You were beautiful but looked preciously delicate when the pleasure he gave you loosened all the control you had.

He snapped his hips to push himself further, and you groaned, grabbing his ass cheeks. You were lost as he moved, letting your mouth hang open as he kissed you all over your face and jaw. He also needed to get used to your tight walls challenging his control.

But once he did, he grabbed your hair and pulled it, forcing your chin to raise and your eyes to meet. You clenched around him, and it was the last straw.

“I’ll show you,” he grunted before supporting a hand on your lower back.

It was all he needed to start fucking you without a preamble, and you closed your eyes and let him take over. His grip on you as he pounded into you gave you the liberty to let go and just feel him. He groaned near your ear as he buried his face in the crook of your neck and it was enough to melt you, reveling in the way he used you so well. You didn’t know how a cop could fuck this fucking good, but—

“Boss! You need to—”

“Out!” You shouted, trying to look back at whoever dared to enter your office without fucking knocking, so you knew who to mess up after this. Yoongi hid further in your neck, but he didn’t stop, thank fuck. “Get the fuck out!”

Whoever it was slammed the door closed quickly, and you almost lost your shit. The fucking audacity—

“Nuh-uh,” the grip in your hair forced you to meet his eyes, your fire facing the cool in his dark eyes. “I’m fucking you right now.”

You clenched around him, and a squeeze of his hand around the back of your neck pulled you down to earth. He felt good, too good. Maybe that was why you were on edge, ready to explode in every direction.

He wanted your focus completely on him, and you melting into him wasn’t enough. He released your neck and slid his hand between your bodies, leaning back to change his angle so he could rub your clit, and you jolted. You peered at him between hooded eyes, only to let your head fall back with a deep groan.

He chuckled as you leaned back to take him deeper, trembling with how good it felt. He loved that look on your face.

“Look at you,” he rasped, his grip on your hip so hard, his fingers dug divots into your skin. “So fucked out.”

You looked down and moaned breathlessly, and he could relate. His shaft was glistening, disappearing inside you in a blur as he pistoned into you, and he almost lost composure.

“You’re creaming my cock,” he taunted, slowing down and seeing how you bit your lip and wishing it was him instead. “So fucking greedy.”

“Shut up, you’re one to talk,” your voice wavered, and he laughed. You were upset because his hips slowed, but his fingers circling your clit didn’t. He could see the way you breathed was ragged, an inch away from your climax, and it was the power trip he was looking for.

He smirked, “You’re right, I’m greedy.”

He reached your arms to pull them around his neck, then held your waist down before jump-starting things again. Your legs wrapped around him, and the moans instantly poured from your lips when he began rutting into you again. You could feel it in all the right spots, especially when your clit ground on him with every thrust. The speed was intoxicating, but it wasn’t the most important. Yoongi deserved a medal for managing to stuff you with his cock while humping your clit consistently. At the lack of one, you tried to kiss him, and he bit you. You whimpered, licking your lip to check for blood while he effectively crushed you to him so he could fuck you senseless.

You couldn’t explain it, but it was all you needed — consistency, an anchor, and the fucking duality of that cop drilling you to oblivion. Finally, when your orgasm sparked, you sank your nails into his shoulders and screamed, and he only embraced you tighter, as if holding onto you. Him grounding you only accelerated your climax; you were like the fuse of a firework, consumed in a split second.

You writhed in his arms as the height of pleasure shook you, but he pressed you down on his cock as if to feel every throb around him. His groan followed closely after, adding a second pulse deep inside you to your clenching. You stopped breathing so you could feel it and hear him, hooked on everything. His damp skin under your lips, his chest heaving against yours, his fingers indenting the flesh of your ass — every sensation contributed to an afterglow that was more sparkly.

So when he pulled back to look at you, with flushed cheeks, disgruntled hair, and the absolutely most exquisite face you had ever seen, you laughed. 

He wasn’t bothered and stayed still while you threw your head back and let the laughter shake your shoulders, “We probably fucked up all my paperwork.”

He looked down and noticed the papers under your ass. Considering how wet you were and how he had just pumped you full of cum, it was safe to say you were right.

“I’ll help you,” he said before he could think, pulling away. 

You groaned quietly, then jumped to your feet, unbothered by the way you were so close, there was barely any air between you two. “Don’t worry, take your time.”

You walked away and composed your clothes and hair casually as he tucked his dick back inside his pants with his eyes trained on you.

“I need to handle whatever that was,” you said, pointing at the door. Then, with a crooked smile, you tapped his jacket on the chair and said, “Don’t forget your jacket.”

You left without as much as a wave, and he heaved a deep breath. There you went again—

He glanced down and recognized a name on one of your papers. He made sure you weren’t at the door, then took a closer look, and his breath caught.

[sharpedgedfool]

Sonic's gang, lore under the cut!

Knux is the Captain, his normal crew consists of Tails, Amy and Sonic. Stick's is a bit feral, she's a castaway they rescue but she refuses to go on land again so she ends up part of the crew.

Knuckles has a link to the water, Echidna are linked to Chaos so he can steer a ship through rough storms better than anyone. He's not looking for riches, he's trying to steal back Echidna artefacts that have been pillaged by other pirates. He's one of the only Echidna above water, but still dawns a ton of his clan's garb to keep them close to him. Because their crew operates differently from most pirates, they've got a good reputation across the world, often seen as a sign of good luck when they dock at a harbour as they treat the locals nicely, they've helped defend fishing boats caught off guard by other pirates more than once (they're friends with Big because of this).

Tails is their cartographer, and handles most of the repairs (be it the ship or any of their gear) and he built Sonic's prosthetic. Tails' had been captured by other pirates and was rescued by Knuckles' crew, and by the time they brought him to shore he was asking to stay with them - he'd no family waiting for him at home so they took him in.

Amy's a powerhouse - she's good with talking to people and just as good swinging an axe that has most people running at the sight of, she's Knux's first mate. She's got a temper, but is a huge romantic, she says the only reason she's a pirate is so her love story has some drama in it, she used to travel on land a lot and knows a ton of stories. She picked up tarot cards at some point and often does a reading every night - she's managed to warn Knux of storms before even the seas tell him.

Sonic's mostly just on lookout, he's usually hanging around (napping) above the sails - as far away from the water as possible. Knux always threatens to toss him overboard for not doing enough around the ship but he has a suspicion that Sonic grants the ship a boon for strong winds that always seem to be in their favour. He used to have shaky legs, but he's gotten used to water over the years and can put up a fierce fight - though he swears he's better on land.

The Chaotix is Knux's old crew, they all used to work on the same ship. They've since split to do freelance detective work but they remain close allies to Knux's crew. Vector has his own ship (albeit a small one), Espio and Charmy help him out on the water whilst Ray and Mighty work on shore as an informant.

Vanilla and Cream run a market stall they often frequent, Amy's good friends with them so they have special packages ready for them to pick up in the middle of the night without fuss, they also have two Chao they're keeping safe with them - Chao aren't widely known as they typically stay underwater but Knux has told them how to care for them properly.

[sjsmith56]

A Better Man, Part 10 - Walkthrough

Summary: A year later two momentous occasions are pending. First, the three partners of Shield Renovations await the dropping of all charges against them. Secondly, there is a wedding soon to happen.

Length: 4.7 K

Characters: Bucky, Steve, Sam, Winnifred, Andrea, Lily, Natasha, Bruce.

Warnings: Fluffy fluff with a final touch of anxiety from Bucky.

Author notes: I hope you liked this mostly sweet story of a shy man falling for the right woman. Although there was some darkness, it also showed Bucky’s qualities that made him the better man.

<<Part 9

Part 10

One year later

The three partners sat in Bucky's office late on a Friday afternoon, waiting nervously.  The courier was supposed to bring the confirmation directly to them but according to Hope Van Dyne, he had left the District Attorney's office well over an hour ago. 

"Maybe he got into an accident," said Sam, cracking his knuckles and getting glares from his two friends at the sounds.  "Well, why else would he be late?  Don't those guys go all out on their bikes?  It's gotta be that or someone trying to stop us getting cleared completely.  Pierce could still have people on his payroll."

"You watched that movie again, didn't you?" asked Steve, rolling his eyes.  "That Premium Rush one?  There are no corrupt cops wanting to screw us over, okay?  Both Natasha and Maria said that as far as the NYPD is concerned, we're reformed.  They're all rooting for us, plus ever since we did Tom Benson's renovation, he's managed to refer a dozen other clients to us.  Our reputation is sterling."

"It will be fine," said Bucky, searching his pockets in vain.  He looked at Steve.  "Give me some gum, will you?"

He reached into the chest pocket of his Shield Renovations and Construction polo shirt, pulling out a package of gum and handing a strip to Bucky.  Another hand appeared in front of him, and he placed one in Sam's hand before taking one himself.  Although all three of them gave up smoking, they still needed a substitute vice when they were stressed, and gum was the vice of choice.  They sat quietly, chewing away, then the door opened, and Hope came in with a large envelope.

"It's here," she said. 

Bucky put his hand out, taking it from her, then she left.  At the time he hired her it was because Mrs. Parker said she was swamped but in reality, Hope Van Dyne was her hand-picked choice to replace her.  Knowing that the operation was close to being wrapped up, Mrs. Parker had stumbled across the capable administrative assistant on her daily commute, befriending her and offering her consolation over the antics of the younger woman's employer.  Even though May Parker contemplated retiring from the FBI to continue working with the company, another undercover assignment was offered to her and she felt compelled to accept it.  The last they heard she was working at a private golf club and resort in Florida, keeping an eye on a retired high-level politician who seemed to have a lot of foreign dignitaries visiting him at all hours of the day and night. 

"Are you going to open it, or what?" asked Sam, interrupting Bucky's thoughts.

With an irritated glance at his friend, Bucky opened the envelope and pulled out three sheets of paper, handing one each to Sam and Steve.  They all read the words on the papers then at each other, slowly smiling.

"We're good," said Sam.  "Fury has come through.  We're completely legit!"

"We can travel," said Bucky.  "I was worried that it wouldn't come through before the wedding and we couldn't go on our honeymoon."

"I can propose now," said Steve, then he blushed.

"Wait, what?  You're proposing to Natasha?  Does she know?  Maria never said anything about a proposal."

"Of course, she doesn't know," answered Steve, pushing Sam in the arm.  "Dumbass.  It's a proposal.  It's supposed to be a surprise."

Sam rubbed his arm, then grinned, offering his hand to Steve.  "Congratulations, man.  She had you wrapped around her finger from the very start."

"She did not.  What about you and Maria?  You wanted her to move in within a month."

"Did not.  Her lease was ending, and I was being nice."

Bucky watched and listened to their bickering, then crumpled up a post-it note and threw it at Steve.  His two friends stopped talking, switching their attention to him. 

"Now that we have our confirmation that the charges are all dropped and expunged, I'm going home," he said, standing up.  "I'm going to hug my daughter, read her a story and tuck her in, then take my almost wife to bed."

"You can't," said Steve.  He ran his hand through his hair.  "You're coming out with us for your stag.  It's all arranged.  Andrea knows that you'll probably crash with me tonight."

"Guys ... I didn't want one."

"I know, but the troops did and a good general always supports his troops.  Just so you know, we're meeting at a sports bar that has twenty different burgers, a hundred different beers, and games galore.  No strippers, no hookers, nothing that you or we would ever be ashamed of."  He gestured at Bucky's company shirt.  "I have something for you to change into."

He left, coming back with one of Bucky's favourite shirts.  With a sigh, Bucky changed, while Steve and Sam changed theirs.  They locked up, since Hope had already left, and headed to where they could hail a taxi.  After a short ride they arrived at their destination and made sure that Bucky walked in ahead of them.  It was full of every guy who worked for them, including Thor, and Peter Quill.  A beer was put into Bucky's hands, then Steve stood on a chair, holding his beer up.

"In a week, Bucky gets married to Andrea, a woman that stole his heart from the first moment he saw her.  Sam and I met her two weeks before, quite by accident as she was taking her baby girl, Lily, out for a walk.  We were having a smoke break, and this breath of fresh air approached us, then stopped, smiled, and asked where the nearest park was.  Sam, being the smooth operator he was, asked about Lily, then gave Andrea advice about child raising, based on his experiences as uncle to his sister's two boys.  She thanked him and walked away, leaving us feeling a little colder and in the dark without her presence.  Two weeks after that, Bucky joined us, and it was like a light went on in his head and his heart.  Those of you who witnessed this special time knew that he was a changed man.  In his opinion, he's become a better man since then.  To our better man, Bucky Barnes."

They all repeated it and drank to him.  He smiled shyly and looked at all of them.

"After my surgery, we decided to change the name of Barnes Contracting to something new.  It was Andrea who suggested Shield Renovations and Construction.  She said the shield would represent protection, something that she felt with us.  She told me of how you all waited at the hospital during my surgery and told stories about us, about how we gave you all a second chance to be better men.  Obviously, you all wanted it, because you bought into our limited scope of operations and when we went legitimate you stayed with us.  We wouldn't be where we are today without you all.  Thank you for believing in us and in yourselves.  We're only as good as the people who work for us, and right now, I think we have the best of men as our employees."

He drank more of his beer, then received many handshakes and shoulder squeezes from everyone as they began to party.  For several hours Bucky nursed his beers, drinking only three in total.  After making sure Steve and Sam got home okay, he took a taxi to the brownstone and paid the driver, looking up at the building in the dark.  He sat on the top step and opened his phone, flipping through the gallery of photos he took of the renovation, finished seven months before.  In many ways it was a record of the second part of his and Andrea's relationship.  The job became a labour of love as he steered the renovation alongside her, making sure she was involved in all the aspects of doing it right, the first time. 

Everything new had to be done to last a lifetime, and everything old that he kept from the original had to be restored to the highest quality.  When the project was finished, and they took the walkthrough together before moving her furniture back, she turned to him. 

"You are moving in with me, right?" she asked.  "This is all so beautiful, that you must have done some of it for yourself."

"It was all for you, but I am moving in with you," he replied.  "My apartment was what I thought Dot wanted, and I stayed there because it cost a lot.  It was more of a home with you and Lily there but this is the home I want to live the rest of my life in."

He placed his hand casually in his pocket, feeling the edge of the ring box, then drew it out, when her back was turned as she opened the butler's pantry door and went inside.  When she came out, he was down on one knee, with the box opened towards her, and she gasped in surprise.

"Will you marry me?  Will you stand with this former criminal and keep me on the good path that I've tried to stay on since I met you?  Will you let me be Lily's father in name and not just practice?"

"Yes, yes, and yes," she replied without hesitation.  "I'll marry you.  The path is wide enough that you'll never fall off, not with me at your side.  As for Lily, Brock has given up his rights to her.  He never wanted her, except for the money she would bring him."

As he slid the vintage engagement ring onto her ring finger, he gazed at her face, then stood up.  When she looked up at him, he saw only love, something he never saw with Dot.  That was the night they made love for the first time, a perfect melding of hearts, souls, and flesh that made his dick thicken as he thought of it.  Even though they picked up their relationship from where they left off, he didn't push Andrea into anything she wasn't ready for.  Some of their make out sessions became steamy but, in his heart, Bucky knew they would be together in every way when the time was right.  Waiting just made their first time incredibly special.

The selfie of them in the kitchen with her showing off her engagement ring was the last of the renovation pictures.  Sighing as he closed the gallery Bucky thought of when he sold his apartment condo, paid his mother back for the renovations and invested the rest, including starting up a college fund for Lily.  In the seven months they had shared the brownstone he lived as he always wanted, without worry and fear of the law coming after him, with someone he loved more than anything.

Standing up, he entered the code on the door panel, closing and locking the door behind him.  Slipping his shoes off, he hung up his jacket in the closet and made his way up to the second floor.  Checking in on Lily first, he grinned at how she was sprawled out in her "big girl" bed.  At 19 months she was walking and talking, and still just as friendly to almost everyone she met.  The guys at the warehouse loved seeing her whenever Andrea stopped by.  It was hilarious watching a bunch of grown men trying to entertain her by making goofy faces and sounds to get her attention.  She had her favourites; Clint, the father of three who was now their foreman, and Scott, who was in a serious relationship with Hope.  He knew magic and could make Lily laugh and clap her hands at his simple tricks.   Surprisingly, at least to Bucky, she liked Luis, who was teaching her Spanish, even bringing some Spanish language children's books to the warehouse to read to her whenever she climbed up on his lap.  Of course, she had soft spots for her godfathers Sammy and Steeby.  Every time they were over at the house, she went from one to the other, scamming them out of candy or money.  His mother's love for the little girl was as strong as if she had been related by blood.  Nana always got hugs and kisses, giving them back in turn.  If only Andrea's parents saw her more, it would be perfect.  Although they had finally met there was still an element of disapproval from her mother, over their daughter being a single mother, living with a man who was not the father of her child, even though the biological father was an absolute bastard.  On the other hand, her father had tried since that meeting to stay in touch with Andrea, often coming over and doting on Lily.

Moving towards his daughter, Bucky gently tugged the blanket over her, then put a stuffed animal under her arm.  Kneeling down, he kissed her on the head and whispered his usual saying to her.

"Sleep tight, little star.  In the morning, I'll catch you in my hand and make a wish to love you forever and always."

Getting up from his knees, he stood at the doorway again, basking in the love he felt for this toddler.  From there he quietly entered the bedroom and stepped into the ensuite bathroom to remove his clothes and brush his teeth.  He always kept a pair of sweatpants on a hook and put them on, then slipped under the bed covers, spooning behind Andrea.  She made the sweetest sound when he draped his arm over her waist.

"I thought you were staying at Steve's?"

"I only had a few beers, so I came home.  Besides, he snores when he's had too much."

She rolled over, kissed him sweetly on the mouth, then snuggled into his chest.

"I'm glad you're home.  It was hard to get to sleep without you.  Did you have a good time?"

"Yeah, it was good to see everyone outside of work.  Thor and Peter Quill were there as well."  He kissed the top of her head.  "In a week we'll be married."

He could feel her smile forming on his chest, then she looked up at him again.

"Are we going to announce the baby?"

"I think we should wait.  You're only six weeks along.  Although they'll probably figure it out when you don't drink any alcohol."

"Probably," she yawned.  "Natasha thinks Steve might be proposing to her.  She said he's been acting quite mysterious lately.  Did he say anything to you?"

He couldn't help but smile.  If he lied, Andrea would know it.  If he didn't lie and she told Natasha, Steve wouldn't be happy with him.

"It was brought up, but he won't say when it's going to happen.  You're not going to tell her, are you?"

She didn't answer but by her regular breathing he could tell she was asleep.  He didn't even get a chance to tell her about the charges being dropped.  That could wait until the morning.  He kissed her head again and closed his eyes, feeling like he was the luckiest man in the world.

💍 💐

One week later

Having his head down between his knees wasn't helping Bucky breathe, even as his mother rubbed his back soothingly.  Sam and Steve stood there, wringing their hands, hoping that their friend wasn't about to pass out just 10 minutes before his wedding.  Winnifred looked up at the two of them.

"Get him some water," she said.  "Send Dr. Banner in."

"Yeah, good idea," said Steve, relieved at the suggestion.  "Sam, you get the doctor, and I'll get the doctor."  Sam looked at him, then slapped him lightly upside the back of his head.  "What the hell?"

"We can't both get the doctor," replied the other man.

"Boys, focus," said Winnifred.  "Sam, you get the water.  Steve, you get the doctor.  Go."

She shook her head.  For 34-year-old men, they still had their dumbass moments where they acted 14. 

"I don't know why I'm like this," gasped Bucky.  "I want to get married.  I love Andrea and want to be with her.  I feel almost like I did whenever I saw blood.  Ma, why is this happening now?"

How he got that torrent of words out when he could barely breathe made no sense to Winnifred, but she wasn't about to call her son out on it.  He always had been a sensitive soul, and she was sure this had something to do with it.  Bruce Banner arrived first, accompanied by Steve. 

"What's the problem?" he asked.

"He feels like he's going to faint," said Winnifred.  "Said it's like whenever he saw blood before."

"Bucky, do you feel like you're going to vomit?" asked Banner.

"Yes ... no, I don't know.  I just don't feel right, like I'm going to pass out at any moment."

"Hey, look at me."  Bucky raised his head.  "Tell me three things that you see."

"Um, the chair ... the mirror ... um, um, the carpet."

"Good," smiled Bruce.  "Now, three sounds.  What can you hear, right now?"

Bucky breathed in heavily.  "My breath.  The sound of music outside."  He focused more on Dr. Banner.  "A siren, far away."

"Excellent.  Just breathe, steady in for five then out for five.  Now I want you to move three body parts.  Can you do that?"

"Yeah." 

He sat up and moved his head from side to side.  Then he clenched and unclenched his fists.  Finally, he stuck his feet out in front of him, then brought them back to their original position.  Sam appeared with the water.

"I had to wait for the bartender to show up ... oh, you look better." 

He gave the water to Bucky, who nodded his head and sipped it, then took a longer drink.  He kept breathing in and out, following Dr. Banner's example.  The older man patted him on the shoulder.

"Feel better, now?"

"Yeah, I do.  Thanks."

"No problem.  It was just a little bit of anxiety you were feeling.  If it happens again try the 3-3-3.  Three things you can see, three things you can hear and move three body parts.  It redirects your brain to stop the anxiety.  Works every time."  The doctor stood up.  "Just give him a couple of minutes.  Winnie, are you walking him down the aisle?"

"I am now," she said.

"Just support him.  He'll be fine once he gets to the front.  I have to say this is a nice place for a wedding.  Very picturesque."

He left and Winnifred kept rubbing Bucky's back.  Finally, he nodded and stood up. 

"Okay, let's get married."

The wedding planner arrived to tell them it was time.  Together, they walked to where the outdoor ceremony was set up in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  Sam and Steve walked towards the officiant first, positioning themselves at the front, then Bucky walked out with his mother, stopping at the first row of chairs to kiss her on the cheek, before he joined his friends.  Then Natasha and Maria appeared, with Lily in front of them, her tiny hands holding a basket of flower petals.  As When You Wish Upon a Star played, the little girl, wearing a lacy pink dress, scattered her petals, stopping to put some in people's hands along the way.  Bucky felt his heart in his throat, as his lips trembled, seeing his daughter taking her roll so seriously.  Then she saw him.

"Dada," she cried, dropping the basket, and running to him, making everyone swoon at the sight, as he picked her up and kissed her.

"You stay with me, and we'll watch Mama together, okay?"

She nodded then pointed to where Andrea waited while the music to A Groovy Kind of Love started.  He laughed at first, then began to cry at how beautiful she looked.  She stood alone at the other end, then she looked to one side and was joined by her father.  Kissing her on the cheek, he walked her down the aisle, a big grin on his face.  There were more kisses when she arrived to where Bucky stood, from her dad to her and Lily, then a handshake to the groom. 

For such a memorable moment in his life, Bucky could never remember much of the ceremony itself.  He remembered how Andrea looked while they gazed at each other as if they were the sun, moon, and stars personified.  He remembered saying "I do" and putting the wedding band on her finger but everything else was a blur until they kissed.  Lily had already wiggled out of his arms to go to his mother, making everyone laugh.  When he was told he could kiss the bride he placed his hands on Andrea's cheeks, then kissed her softly and sweetly, wanting it to last forever. 

More flower petals were tossed at them as they walked down the aisle and led everyone to the pool beside the Palm House, set up for cocktails.  They left briefly for photographs amongst the flowers blooming nearby.  When the late afternoon turned into the evening, and the light became more golden as sunset approached, the Palm House was opened for the reception.  The glass walled structure, filled with more colourful flowers, and festooned in fairy lights, seemed magical in appearance.  Lily was entranced by it and clapped her hands in pure joy.

The first dance for the couple was to You Make Me Feel Brand New, the third song they ever danced to when Andrea had to nudge Bucky into finally kissing her.  Everyone who had been there from the start of Bucky and Andrea's relationship, watched with soft smiles on their faces at the tenderness between the couple.  That song was the one most suited for the wedding dance, although the other two songs made it to the set list.  It wasn't all 70s and 80s music, as they made sure there was something for everyone, including some sultry Spanish style songs that brought out Steve and Natasha, in a repeat of the first time they danced. 

If anyone noticed that Andrea wasn't drinking, they didn't say anything, although Winnifred and several others suspected that Lily would have a sibling early in the new year.  The toddler held out for a long time, dancing with her parents and with anyone she asked.  No one turned her down.  When she finally conked out, a bed of sorts was made for her using a cushioned bench and Steve's borrowed jacket as a blanket.  She slept there, oblivious to everything around her, until her parents made their goodbyes, and Winnifred lifted the little girl up in her arms, carrying her out to the limousine that took them home to her apartment. 

The party went on for some time.  Steve, after a quite energetic dance with Natasha, suggested they go out to the pool to cool off.  They sat on a bench on the far side of the pool, overlooking the dark water, which reflected the lights coming from the Palm House. 

"What a great wedding," she smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.  "This was such a beautiful place to have it."

"It was," he agreed, looking up at the night sky.  "We could have a great wedding here."

"You have to ask me first," chuckled Natasha.

He looked at her.  "I'm asking."

It took her a moment to respond then she lifted her head up to look at him, aware that she could hear her heart beating loudly in her ears.

"What are you asking?"

"If you'll marry me.  I think we could have something amazing together."

It was what he said to her the night of their first date.

"Yeah?"  She swallowed.  "Maybe, but there are complications."

He tilted his head slightly, smiling at that answer.  "You already married?"  She shook her head.  "Engaged?" 

"I could be, to the right guy."

"Natasha, I'm the right guy for you.  I knew it from the first moment I saw you standing inside our office.  I wanted you then and I want you for the rest of our lives."  Gently, he traced her jaw with his fingertips.  "Say yes to being amazing together.  Say yes to the guy who loves you for the incredible woman you are."

"Steve?" 

"Yeah?"

"Yes.  Now shut up and kiss me."

Pulling her onto his lap, he kissed her fiercely, holding her as if he never wanted to let her go.  Reaching into his pocket, he brought out the ring box and opened it.  Natasha almost stopped breathing at the size of the diamond.  She knew business was good, but this....

"It's not hot, is it?"

"Baby, I'm a legitimate businessman now.  This didn't fall off a truck.  Legally bought and paid for."

She admired it on her hand, then they stayed out there for some time, kissing and enjoying each other's company.  When Sam appeared across the pool to say they had to close things up, he grinned at them, knowing that he would be repeating his own version of a proposal soon. 

🌃 🌌

In the hotel room, Bucky, and Andrea, were catching their breath, laying on top of the rumpled duvet with their legs intertwined and her head on his chest.  Their wedding clothes, strewn everywhere, weren't a priority, until his phone signalled a text message.  Climbing off the bed, Bucky picked up his jacket, searching for the phone but it wasn't in any of the pockets.  My pants, the phone must be in my pants.  Where are they?

Andrea watched with amusement as he looked for his pants, then she got up and lifted her dress up from the floor, pulling his pants out from underneath it and reaching inside one the pockets to retrieve his phone, placing it in his hand.  He grinned, kissed her, then opened the message, which he showed to Andrea. 

Steve:  She said yes.

"What should I say?" he asked.

"Congratulations, now go celebrate," suggested Andrea.  "Then come back to bed and put it on silent."

He sent the message, put the phone on silent and tossed it onto a chair.  Climbing back on the bed, he hovered over his wife, then stopped.  His wife ... this woman was his wife and in the new year, she would be the mother of his child.  How did he get so lucky?

"You okay?" she asked.  "You were somewhere else for a moment."

"I was right here, thinking of how lucky I am that I have you in my life.  You changed me, changed everything for the better when you walked past Barnes Contracting."

She shook her head, caressing her face. 

"All I did was take Lily for a walk.  Grandma said it was important to know the neighbourhood and your neighbours."  She shrugged.  "I just figured it would be good to know who had businesses in the neighbourhood as well.  She was a teacher and knew lots of people."

"What was your grandma's name?"

"Lily Dugan," she answered.  "She was a widow.  My grandpa, her husband, died when I was little.  She always said there was no better man than him.  That's how I feel about you."

Bucky felt a lump in his throat.  Dugan was the name of his dad's friend, who worked with him at Barnes Contracting.  He remembered him, a big burly man with a large moustache and genial attitude who always made him laugh, even after the incident.  Then suddenly, he wasn't around anymore, and his parents were sad for some time.  Was it a coincidence or fate that brought Andrea past the very building her grandfather had worked at?  It didn't matter, not in the long run.  Placing one hand on Andrea's, he moved it so he could kiss her palm, then laid with his head on her chest as she ran her hand through his hair.  He was right where he wanted to be; in the arms of the woman he loved, the woman he would always say made him a better man.

THE END

Series Masterlist

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[iisasarcasticlittleshite]

I know you can be louder than that (Lucifer)

BIG warnings for this one guys! Major NSFW! Minors, Do NOT Interact! Warnings: FEM!AFAB MC, Semi public sex, voyeurism. Lucifer uses MC to punish his brothers, mentions of pact use.

Summary: Lucifer's had a helluva week, his brothers have done nothing but contribute to the chaos. MC's been doing her best to help, but maybe he's got one more use for his favourite human.

Lucifer is tired.

This is not news, he's a hardworking demon with enough on his plate on a good day to make lesser demons buckle, but this week had been...hellish, for lack of a better word.

The prince has been swamped with extra requests from the house of lords, which means Lucifer has been swamped with Student Council papers which would otherwise be Diavolo's workload, as well as his regular duties, and on top of that, his brothers have wrought absolute havoc.

Asmodeus started an internet fight with some important modelling agency which needed smoothing over, Belphie missed roughly 80% if his classes this week, Beel caused damages in three separate restaurants after eating their entire stock, and of course Mammon sold one of Lucifer's cursed records.

Lucifer hasn't even had the time to track the record down again and punish his brother properly because he's so swamped, and his only saving grace-

"Can I come in?"

MC pops her head in, having knocked gently at the door, a wrapped package tucked under her arm and a steaming mug balanced carefully in her hand.

She's giving him that look, the look of a woman who knows he's overworked and stressed and wishing he could do literally anything else.

"That depends, have you more news of my brothers causing further damage to our reputation?" Lucifer huffed, to which MC chuckled.

"Your brothers are in the dining room, doing their damned homework and student council papers that they've neglected lately." MC explained, handing him the mug of steaming coffee and sliding the slim package onto his desk.

"And how in the Devildom did you manage that?"

MC chuckled and perched herself on the edge of his desk beside him, her leg brushing his. She met his gaze, and her eyes swam with the colours of his brother's magics. She's used her pacts.

Rarely does MC use those pacts to get the brothers to do anything, more often she can talk them into behaving, but she's been stretched just as thin as Lucifer trying to keep things under control.

Lucifer chuckled, his gaze alight with pride in his little human's use of her power and sipped his coffee before drawing his attention to the envelope. "And this?"

MC watched him open it with eager eyes as he slid the missing record from its case. "That was harder to track down than I thought it would be. Mammon gave the buyer back their grimm."

"You are a wonder, MC." Lucifer couldn't help but grin, inspecting the record for damage. It was still in immaculate condition, a trace of her magic still clinging to it protectively. He slid out from behind his desk and slid the record back into its rightful place on the shelves of his office attached to the library.

He looked back at his desk, the pile of papers still awaiting him, and the smiling human perched beside it, smiling at him, legs dangling over the edge of his desk.

He stepped closer, and MC spread her legs to let him step between her thighs, his gloved hand sliding over her cheek, smiling as she leaned into him.

MC's hands slid up his chest, settling around his neck to play with the hair at the back of his neck. "What do you need from me, Luci?"

His heart swelled, cold and unfeeling as it had once been. Dear human, who already does so much for his family, whose absence he's convinced would spell the end of the world.

Lucifer's hands slid to her hips, drawing her closer. What does he need?

He needs those papers to disappear, he needs his brothers to learn their place, he needs a damned break, but none of that could happened-

Or maybe it could.

MC arched a brow as the demon's eyes damned near lit up, and his magic reached out, pulling his office door open. She thought he'd ask her to leave, but instead, Lucifer came down upon her with a passion, his lips crashing into hers in a searing kiss as he stole the breath from her lungs.

He pushed her down until she was flat on his desk, stationary and papers shoved carelessly aside. More work for later? Perhaps, but he's got something else on his mind now.

Lucifer nipped at her lower lip, smirking at the quiet whimper she let free. "Correct me if I'm wrong, my darling, but my idiot brothers are all gathered in the dining room, correct?"

"Yes..."

"And they cannot leave without your permission, correct?"

MC gulped, realising what he was getting at, why he'd opened the door...the other 6 have only the library between them, and the doors are all open.

"Lucifer-ah!"

The first born dove for her neck, one hand nimbly unbuttoning her shirt, exposing her soft skin as sharp teeth nipped marks into her delicate skin.

The material of his gloves raised gooseflesh in his wake as he cupped her breast and squeeze, thumb and forefinger gently tugging at her sensitive nipple as the cold air greeted her.

MC whined, tangling her fingers in the demon's hair, her nails gently scraping against his scalp as he shoved his hips forward, grinding against her clothed heat.

"Lucifer, they'll hear!"

"You're damned right they will." He growled against her skin, nipping at the shell of her ear, smattering hungry kisses against her skin. "They've acted like menaces all week, they deserve punishment in kind."

MC would have laughed at the pettiness of Lucifer's actions if not for the sight of him pulling off his gloves with his teeth, his gaze dark with lust as heat shot down her centre and she squirmed against the desk.

This was out of character, for Lucifer to flaunt her so to his own brothers, but perhaps the stress of the week had piled up enough. He needs a release, and he's chosen her.

His bare fingers were cold against her hips as he pulled at her waistband, demanding she lift her hips while never forcing her. She could always stop him, if she wished.

MC lifted her hips for him to slide her leggings down her legs, reaching hungrily for him, but Lucifer took her hands and guided them to her knees, his eyes on her quickly wettening centre.

"Hold yourself open for me, love..." The Avatar of Pride dropped to his knees, sinking his teeth into her soft thigh, driving another whine from her lips as he dragged a finger through her glistening folds.

Lucifer wasn't one for teasing, not when he knows what he wants, but he paused barely an inch away from her heat. "May I, my darling?"

"Yes, please...Lucifer!" She gasped and arched as he dove forward, licking a long stripe from her entrance to her pearl, collecting her wetness on his tongue before circling her clit with confident strokes.

Saccharine moans tumbled from her lips, clinging to the backs of her knees, keeping herself open for him as Lucifer suckled at her clit.

She felt the tug at her magic, the brothers had noticing something was off.

As if Lucifer had sensed the shift in her magic, he licked more firmly, lightly dragging his teeth over her sensitive skin, drawing a muffled yelp from MC as she struggled to keep hold of those leashes. "Luci-I can't-"

"You can hold them." He filled his palms with the globes of her ass, yanking her closer to him so he could gorge himself properly. "And I know you can be louder than that."

MC's eyes went wide, but the demon buries his face in her cunt and shoves his tongue inside her, curling it just right and she sang for him, her voice flowing free as she forced her will behind her magic and slammed down on the pacts. Those brothers had driven her mad all week, she wasn't above petty revenge.

Pride surged in Lucifer's chest as he wrapped an arm around her trembling thigh, fingers toying with her clit as his tongue plunged in and out of her heat, his own desire restricted by his trousers as he chased the pleasure out of her, relishing every cry that fell from her lips, every shiver and whine.

His brothers could hear, his phone was exploding in his pocket, and Lucifer was glad of it, they got to hear what they could not have. He couldn't think of a better punishment.

Her walls quivered around his tongue, close to her end, and with his eyes he demanded she be loud, and his dear, sweet, reliable human delivered.

She tumbled over the edge, practically wailing his name and other pornographic noises and she tumbled over the edge, her slick wetting Lucifer's chin as he drove her through her orgasm.

"Don't relax too much, my darling. My brothers haven't been punished enough."

[aicosu]

Guys, I hate to do this.

Any of you who know me in any circle know that I'm a very professional, very private lady who hates any sort of disc horse breeds that might give me a headache. But this one is important, and my goal here is the integrity and reputation of artists.

For my credentials: I have been a part of five zines in the past. Two I moderated, and one I ran, created, laid out, printed, and shipped in its entirety.

So anyway:

HELLCHEER ZINE BULLSHIT

I joined Hellcheer and the Kindred Freaks Zine very late. Well, after sign ups, check-ins, etc. I saw it was happening in april-ish and shot a DM to the twitter to join. I did both a full art page and a cosplay page.

At the time, the server was quiet but kind. We got updates on the number of orders and books being made.

@Lawless is the runner of the Zine. They created and organized it. They are in charge of the main emails, the selling website, the orders, the shipping, and the funds. (To be clear, this level of sole responsibility is not ABNORMAL in a zine. And is not always an issue.)

@Valerie is the 'social media' mod. They are in charge of managing announcements and answering questions on Twitter and Tumblr. Please keep in mind: No one wants anything but a fast and easy recovery for both Lawless and their mother. Medical emergencies, heck—LIFE happens. It's always okay to put a hiatus on anything, even product with money, in order to take care of yourself and family. Every single contributor only wants them to be clear in what they need and how we can help.

So lets break down what's happening.

Back in May, Lawless went radio silent on the status of books and merch coming in. Another contributor and I, @Toguchin, start dming Lawless to make sure everything is on track. They come back after a week and apologize for being MIA, explaining that their mom got sick. We thank them for all their hard work and wish them and their mom well.

On July 15th, after contributors and customers inquire on delays to meeting the announced shipping deadline, Lawless makes a twitter post saying shipping has started and contributor copies will be happening. They proceeded to go MIA from the server discord and have been since.

The following week, contributors and customers discover that shipping HAS NOT started. Labels have been created and printed, but nothing appears to be in transit at all.

Toguchin and I started getting reached out to by customers worrying their packages are lost. We report this to the zine server to NO RESPONSE. Except @Ashlee, the discord mod who also has heard nothing.

July 20th to 22nd with customers complaining and theorizing a scam in mind; Toguchin and I propose that PDFs be given out to assure and apologize for delays.

We as a server discover a few things: 1. We cannot access the list of buyers at all in order to email apology zines because Lawless did not share the account information with anyone. 2. We cannot access the main email for the same reason. 3. Valerie, the social media mod, deleted discord and distanced themselves from the Hellcheer fandom and has not been checking the Twitter or tumblr, or discord notifications since May.

Ashlee and Ichikun contact Valerie to sign on.

I made a new email and said fuck it, we need to do something to assuage fears, let them send receipts to honor their zines. Valerie didn't know what to post or say or how to answer everyone, so I gave them a copy paste.

Still no words from Lawless but hoping for the best knowing the have a medical emergency, Ashlee and I begin answering the new email for PDFs, but cant help people change addresses or give them any update!!!

Throughout the weeks mods and contributors ping Lawless constantly asking if they need any help! Any help at all, answering emails, changing order addresses, heck a few of us ask if we can pick up the books and packages and ship stuff for them so they can hands off the project and take care of their mom. No response.

We send message after message saying if Lawless can share picture proof, that would be great cause scam theories and chargebacks are starting. BUT ALSO, we let Lawless know we and customers will ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND delays if they just communicate it. That if they post in server and on Twitter that shipping needs to wait a month or two, no one will mind. No responses.

July 31, Lawless makes a Twitter update with comments disabled that they are shipping ALL packages that monday with a picture of packages. They also call Valerie privately and tell the issue that USPS refuses to pick up shipments from Lawless has, and they can't leave their mothers side from the post office. They also claim they can only deliver ten packages at a time at the post when they go. *USPS has no such rules. Me and other mutuals who run shops have never had such a problem.

A week later, we realize that customers and our packages are still not in transit. Labels printed only. Most of us assume all packages are just label printed and sitting at Lawless' house.

We beg for updates from Valerie or Lawless. Valerie doubles down on Lawless old reasonings and also officially goes MIA until present day.

Throughout August, USA packages get delivered. A few more updates are made straight to Twitter and Tumblr with comments off. Radio silence in server.

As packages arrive, we all become aware from people's posts and pictures that random Stranger Things Art Stickers are included. No credit to any artist is given? No contributor is responsible for this art. These are suspected to be BOUGHT from Amazon. STOLEN arts amazon sellers resell in packs. NO contributor is okay with this!!! Valerie responds with no response at all.

As of now:

No response to missing digital copies. Ashlee and I cannot give out any without receipts because we have no access to buyers list. Nor can we answer missing packages inquiries cause we have no info. International packages unaccounted for. SCRUNCHIES FREE OR OTHERWISE UNACCOUNTED FOR. Zero word on contributor copies. Zero word on donation status. Zero word on generated profit or book and shipping cost. No way to verify funds at all. No word from Lawless to contributors since July 15. From Valerie since the 31st.

Some notes:

Turning off twitter comments was NEVER what any one of us wanted. A ZINE LAYOUT was never shared. So until people had them in hand or in PDF none of us realized that the credits DO NOT POINT TO ANY SOCIAL MEDIA. All of our usernames are handle-less? This was extremely disappointing. This one matters to me: Our FanEdit artist was not aware their work was not getting a full page. Again no pre-layout was shared. So their work is tiny and in the margins of the front and back. That's not okay. All of us wanted to help in any way we could. NONE of us doubt Lawless intentions or emergencies. But lying, misleading, non-communicating and turning off comments are all things we did not consent to. All of us only wanted a cordial, honest response. None of us actually cared about delays as much as we did communications. There has been many noticeable times Lawless has been online, posting privately or otherwise, even active on Discord and has not reached out.

Why make a post:

Customers should know contributors fought for them. That we did everything we could and our reputation as artists in the fandom shouldn't be tarnished cause two creators decided to disappear. Contributors should get their copies. Many of us BOUGHT bundles. I've been in five zines and every single one gave out free contributor copies WITH merch!!

I'm also attaching all server screenshots for integrity. I'm in half a mind to release the zine PDF publicly, for free, for everyone at this point. I personally think it's only fair since many are still missing just that. But I do not want to insult anyone who paid for just the PDF regardless of the potential contribution to charity. But it's really up to customers, not me.

[beardedmrbean]

CBS News has a fine heritage and some great news talent, but the folks in charge seem determined to destroy its reputation.

Start with the ludicrous blowback to CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil’s Sept. 30 interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates, in which Dokoupil pressed Coates on crucial facts he’d left out of his new anti-Israel book, such as the fact that the Jewish state is “surrounded by countries that want to eliminate it.”

They were all completely reasonable questions to ask about a polemic of its author, an intellectual who certainly should be able to defend his work.

But other network staff were furious at this act of Journalism 101: You’re not supposed to question lefties about their claims, it seems.

Surely they weren’t angry just because Coates is black, or anti-Israel?

Whatever: The suits pulled Dokoupil into a meeting with CBS News standards and practices team and its “Race and Culture Unit,” and reportedly chewed him out on a staff call, claiming his questioning of Coates didn’t meet CBS’ “editorial standards.”

CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon and her lieutenant Adrienne Roark reprimanded him for bringing “bias” to the interview, but failed to explain exactly how.

The re-education effort was also to feature a followup staff meeting moderated by Dr. Donald Grant, whom management called a “mental health expert, DEI strategist and trauma trainer” — but that got squelched after outside critics exposed Grant as wacko whose social-media posts include a racist smear of Sen. Tim Scott.

Meanwhile, Coates on a Trevor Noah podcast suggested that Gayle King (who was also sitting in on the interview, along with Nate Burleson) had told him before the sitdown what she planned to ask.

That sounds a lot more like a violation of good news practice than what Dokoupil did, but there’s no sign of any trouble for King.

Then came Bill Whitaker’s entirely professional interview of Kamala Harris, where she time and again dodged any substantial answers, prompting him to follow up, only for the Democratic candidate for president to dissolve into fresh word-salads and other evasions.

Once again, the higher ups felt compelled to intervene — by blatantly editing the package to make Harris look less awful.

Yes, blatantly: Soon after taping, the network released the raw footage of her hopeless answer to a question about Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.

But by the time it aired that night, they’d edited in a “response” that was actually pulled from earlier in the conversation, and so make her seem more competent and less, well, Harris-y.

That is: CBS literally faked the “news.”

The editing also featured dubbing in narration by Whitaker over some of her responses, thereby burying more of the inconvenient truths revealed by the interview.

It’s hard to blame the Trump campaign for demanding that CBS release the raw transcript: It’d be one honorable response to being exposed as blatantly partisan hacks.

All this, incidentally, follows the thumb-on-the-scale work of CBS’ moderators in the J.D. Vance-Tim Walz debate, including Margaret Brennan’s utterly partisan and counter-factual “fact-check” of Vance.

CBS should be proud of Dokoupil and Whitaker’s work, ashamed of King and Brennan, yet management instead seems determined to teach up-and-comers to avoid honest journalism.

Ultimate owner Sheri Redstone has publicly supported Dokoupil and implicitly slammed the suits who came down on him.

Redstone’s trying to sell off CBS, but she might want to demand a management housecleaning now, since the folks running the news division seem determined to mis-manage its value down to zero.

[anothercrisis]

could we possibly get some more civilians au hcs? i read through all of them and now i’m invested

Wake up! I’m alive and still brainrotting about the civvie au!

What I would like to talk about today is the way I managed to include the callsigns and ranks :)

-

During their childhood in the foster care system, Johnny and Kyle didn’t have many constants, apart from each other. Every situation was different, every home had a different set of rules. In some, they weren’t allowed to watch television, which was one of the rules they hated to discover the most. Stories were oftentimes the only times they got a break from the reality they lived in. And their abilities to read were still developing at this time, so turning to books didn’t always work.

Johnny learned to read before Gaz, who struggled then explained to Johnny that the words never stayed in the right order when he was trying to read them, so Johnny took to reading out-loud so his brother could enjoy the stories too.

They often read the same book, one that Johnny lifted from a particularly horrible man who’d had custody of them for a grand total of six hours (which was six hours too long in Johnny’s opinion, which is why he quickly evacuated Kyle and himself from the property) and that he’s kept with him ever since. It was a collection of military stories that told of brave men fighting hard battles and overcoming difficult situations. The book had been in the children’s room Johnny and Kyle had been locked in, on the small shelf stocked with similar books for the foster children to read. Johnny had impulsively shoved it into his bag before climbing out the window simply because of the way the cover made him feel brave.

Those stories allowed Johnny and Kyle to adopt the mindsets of soldiers, helped them cope and make sense of their difficult situation.

“Kyle is a soldier and I’m his Captain. ‘Tis ma job to look after ‘im and I can’t do that when this fucked system keeps separatin’ us.”

By this time, Johnny was building himself quite the reputation. The social workers started to refer to him as “Soap” because of how efficient he was at slipping himself out and then in to homes whenever he was separated from Kyle and how he never left a trail behind him to follow if he didn’t want to. Johnny accepted the nickname with pride. From then on, whenever a social worker said, with a deep sigh, that Soap was back into their hands after another failed placement, he would grin and say, “Tha’s Captain Soap to ye.”.

Shortly after, Johnny decided Kyle needed to have a nickname too; he wanted them to sound like the package deal they were and the nicknames would further connect them. So Kyle decided on “Gaz”. He didn’t want anything elaborate or goofy like “Soap”. And Johnny doesn’t know it, but Gaz is what Kyle’s little brother had called him before the accident. And then, since Johnny was the one looking after Kyle and therefore the one of higher rank, they decided Kyle was to be Sergeant Gaz.

Maybe it’s silly and stupid, maybe they don’t outgrow it as soon as they ought, but it quickly became the best and most effective way they have ever found to cope. It becomes something like a mantra, a prayer: we are soldiers, we are brave, and we will handle whatever is thrown at us with strength and courage.

A few years later, Johnny meets Simon. Simon, the boy who walks so lightly that his footsteps can’t be heard even by Johnny who long ago trained his ears to hear footsteps. Simon, the boy who starts to show up on Johnny’s doorstep unannounced, pale, and quiet, simply looking for better company. Simon, who becomes “Ghost” when Johnny accidentally points this behavior out to him.

“Nothin’ to be sorry ‘bout, Si. I happen to like the Ghost too. He’s a good listener, and ya know how I run ma mouth.”

In further attempts to comfort, Johnny decides Simon might also need the absurd bit of comfort that comes with pretending to be a soldier. Because if you can pretend you’re brave for long enough, maybe it will come true. So Soap decides Simon will be Lieutenant Ghost. (When Kyle asks why Simon has a higher rank than him, the answer is because Simon is older, has fought harder battles for longer, and because Johnny will need his skills to keep them all safe.)

Once Johnny and Kyle’s coping method has been brought to the attention of the group, they all insist on getting callsigns and ranks too. Johnny, as the captain and therefore the man in charge, comes up with both for their other two friends. Alex Keller, their next door neighbor, and Gary Sanderson, Alex’s school friend who lives a few minutes away by bicycle that immediately got adopted into the group, are both dubbed sergeants too. Johnny had secretly filed away nickname options for both boys because he was hoping for an opportunity like this. They come to the decision that Gary will be “Roach”, for the way he can be relied upon to be in the kitchen cooking or snacking and for the way he likes to sit on the tops of surfaces, and that Alex will be “Echo”, for the way he is always repeating Gary’s sentences for him because he speaks so softly that Alex, who has years of training, is usually the only one who hears him enough to decipher the words.

They take to using the nicknames pretty quickly, enjoying the bond it represents between them all. But the ranks are understood to be more of a joke until the anniversary of Kyle’s brother’s death comes around and he shuts himself up in his room. Johnny simply explains to their friends that “Sergeant Gaz is on leave for the time being,” and they easily understand that to mean Kyle is battling something and isn’t ready to share it with them. No more further explanation is needed, easy as that. So, from then on, whenever one of them is struggling with something, simple phrases like that alert the others without the pressure of having to explain if they don’t want to or aren’t sure how. It’s a code among them, a slow developing language that allows them to express themselves and their struggles to each other when they aren’t capable of using plain language.

And maybe others would think it juvenile, this coping method and way of communicating, but that doesn’t matter to them. Life has tossed them around in ways no one should have to be tossed around and these boys create a safe space for themselves in the ways they find work best for them. It just so happens that their biggest comfort comes in the shape of their military personas and one another.

[thollandneedy]

Bunny- Nathan Drake

A/N: Missing Nathan Drake btw cause he's SO HOT (Loving the Halloween themed stuff btw)

Summary: You take Nate to night out, but he gets jealous with the guys hitting on you

Warnings: Language and teasing

Don’t forget to share, like, comment and leave your ideas here

Bellah’s Masterlist 🪻

“Do we really need to go?” The brunette with the hair fixed with styling gel says

“Yes! You've spent the whole week worrying about Sully and he hasn't given you any feedback about your next trip. You need to calm down a bit.” Y/n, her best friend mentions, as she stares at some of the people in front of her in the queue at one of New York's biggest nightclubs.

Y/n knew everything that was going on in Nathan's life, not least because he could be anything, but he was terrible at hiding his feelings or big news, especially from her. Y/n and Nathan had met as soon as he got his first job working in a coffee shop near where she was studying. It didn't take long for the two of them to get close and begin to develop feelings that went beyond friendship. Y/n wouldn't admit that she liked him to anyone, because she believed that if she ever confessed, he wouldn't react in the same way.

Nathan was the typical guy who liked to enjoy the evening, regardless of whether Y/n was by his side or not, but after his best friend broke up with her boyfriend, he decided to focus all his efforts on looking after her. Nate liked Y/n, not least because it was hard not to fall in love with the girl who let him cry on her shoulder when he stopped receiving letters from his brother Sam. The streets were crowded, even though it was close to ten o'clock at night, and the danger of New York was creeping up on the girls with expensive handbags and cell phones.

“That costume is itchy, bunny.” Nate complains, smoothing down the Space Jam basketball jersey that was chafing his chest.

Y/n rolled his eyes at the nickname. He knew she hated being called that. Halloween week was approaching, and it was almost impossible to find a costume party. The brunette didn't like dressing up, especially in the clothes of his best friend's ex, but he had promised himself that he wouldn't let his desires get in the way of Y/n's “healing” process. The cold wind whipped against his exposed legs, making him hug his own body for warmth.

“I told you to put a blouse on underneath.” Y/n turned her face to the brunette, and smiled at him as she noticed how adorable he was wearing rabbit ears.

“It's not funny. I told you to go Matrix.” The man crosses his arms, trying once again to explain his flawed idea.

He couldn't lie and say that she wasn't flawless in that costume. It wasn't the most original idea in the world, but it was certainly one of the best on her body that night. The white top perfectly outlined her breasts, while the shorts managed to effortlessly hug her ass, even making it look bigger than usual. A few men passed by looking her up and down, but she didn't mind since she had someone to protect her if she needed it.

“But I already had my Lolla costume ready.” The girl taps her foot, causing her fake ears to wiggle on her head.

The queue moved long enough for both of them to be seen. A pink bracelet was placed on the couple's arm, and then they headed down a narrow corridor with neon lights directing them to each space according to the package they had bought. Fortunately for Nathan Drake's fortune, which until now had been hidden from the media and any other curious people who might jeopardize his reputation, the place they had picked up was VIP. The dark-haired man took one of his best friend's free hands, gently guiding her to the stairs above one of the main stages, which was already packed with several costumed characters. Y/n squeezes the man's hand, who responds with a squeeze of the same intensity. The colored lights blended into each other, while the music was so loud that it could make the atoms in Y/n's body move in sync.

Nathan made his way to the VIP area, where his pink bracelet was checked, as was his friend's, by the security guard at the door to the other area. The space was large, with a long table with several bartenders on hand to serve him a cool drink, while there were several sofas for him to sit on after a few hours of dancing.

“Shall we get something to drink?” Y/n asks as soon as his eyes meet the bar.

“Don't you want to dance first? The dance floor is downstairs, we just need to put your bag in the locker.” Nate approaches her ear, saying loudly over the loud 2000s music that was invading her ears.

The girl nodded, once again following her best friend as he held her hand. She didn't know if it was because she had recently broken up, or the simple fact that she was completely in love with Nate, who made butterflies fly around in her stomach every time he took her hand to lead her somewhere.

Y/n excitedly walks down the stairs, watching from above the crowd nearby, dancing to the electronic house beats played by the night's DJ. Nate positioned himself at her side, touching her waist and guiding her steps at the same speed and in the same direction as his. The middle of the dance floor seemed to be too small with so many people inhabiting it, while Y/n didn't even care about the people passing by. The girl straightened her ears, facing Nathan and smiling in satisfaction. The man allowed himself to be carried away by the agitated beat, moving his shoulders and the rest of his body in one continuous rhythmic step, while Y/n closed his eyes to feel the music around him.

It was almost impossible for Nate to close his eyes when he was with Y/n, as if his eyes wouldn't allow him to focus on her. His body moved closer to her, causing their breasts to rub together and both of them to smile awkwardly at each other, their emotions melting in the heat of the moment. Their bodies seemed to be enchanted by each other, while their eyes read each other's souls.

It was sensual, frantic and frightening

Just as Drake had his intentions, other men thought the same, and it wasn't long before others caught Y/n's eye and bought him a drink.

The clock was about to strike 2:40 a.m., and Nate was leaning heavily on one of the leather chairs in the VIP area talking to a blonde girl with green eyes dressed as a fairy. His feet were restless, and he kept paying attention to the other side of the room, where Y/n was laughing about something with a man dressed as a policeman.

“Are you listening to me?” The blonde caught Nate's eye, and he just nodded and turned his eyes to the woman in front of him. “I think you're distracted by something else.” She insinuates.

“Yeah, yeah, love.” He denies it, placing one of his hands on the exposed knee of the girl in the pink dress. “Go ahead. I can hear you. You were talking about your trip to Mexico, right?”

“Yes!” The girl smiles, returning to the subject.

But he wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying. Nathan found himself wondering why Y/n was laughing so much, or why she had accepted the invitation in the first place. They were together, with matching costumes and even sharing the cost of the drinks they had (even though he was going to pay for everything himself out of chivalry for his friend). She was a magnet, but she didn't seem to realize it, or it was all just a game to her.

On the other hand, Y/n looked away from Nate several times, but he never seemed to look when she was looking at him. The conversation with the policeman was empty, and not even the most expensive drink could buy his attraction. Nathan had something that made any woman want his lips, his touch and his attention, it seemed to be a magic that summoned the sex gods when his name was mentioned. The girl just agreed and laughed forced at the comments she couldn't even hear over the loud music. She wondered why Nathan was buying drinks for the blonde in the fairy costume, and why he hadn't picked her up from that lousy conversation until now.

The two seemed to be having an internal dispute over an external conflict.

Until finally their eyes met once more and locked like a padlock.

“And then I said to him: Since we're right here, we'd better go in headfirst.” The man dressed as a policeman finishes his office story, laughing out loud like a great comedian. “So. What do you say we go somewhere with fewer people?” The brunette moves closer to Y/n, causing the woman, who was holding a glass of red drink, to laugh humorlessly.

“I don't think so.” A male voice caught the policeman's attention, causing him to turn and face Nathan. “Y/n, shall we? It's late, and the party ends at four in the morning.”

Y/n opens her mouth to answer, but only a silent yes seems to be used. The girl hands the drink to the man who had paid for it, mumbling a well-articulated “sorry”. The dark-haired man takes the girl's hands and guides her to the changing room, getting in line to take her bag and coat. Nate stared at his own feet, until a sense of courage entered him so that he could be brave enough to ask:

“Did you want to hook up with him, Y/n?” Nate asked, catching the girl's eye.

“Did you want to stay with the fairy?” She retorts.

“Why do you care so much?” He crosses his arms.

“Because we were supposed to be together at the party, as far as I knew.” She replies, causing a certain confusion in the older man's eyes.

“Calm down, wait.” He steps in front of her, holding out both hands in a gesture of waiting. “You're the one who accepted the guy's invitation first.”

Y/n frowns, denying it.

“No.” She says. “It was you who got a call from the blonde who was dancing behind you and called you a cutie, asking if I was your girlfriend. And you said we were just friends, and then she asked you to buy her a drink.”

“As if I hadn't noticed that you were enjoying talking to the new member of the 99,” Nate rolls his eyes.

“I don't understand why you seem to be angrier than me. I came up with the costume idea, and you should be buying me a drink.” She says without patience, then covers her hand when she realizes what she's missed.

“Did you want me to buy you something?” Nate asked, still trying to pick up on the signals Y/n was sending out through his own mental confusion.

“That's not what I meant. It's just that… ugh.” The girl throws her head back, running her hand through her loose hair.

Nathan pulled her out of the queue and led her down one of the corridors to another VIP lane. The place was a little dark, with only a few white LED wires to illuminate the passage without people bumping into each other when they wanted to change lanes. Y/n leaned against the wall, relaxing her posture and snorting to herself.

Shit

“Y/n” Nathan catches her eye, removing the stuffed ears from her head.

The girl stares at him, keeping a guilty look on her face. The older man moves closer to the girl's drawn body, who insists on looking away and denying it to herself, as if everything in her head was a joke.

“I hate the fact that I see you with other people… well… women.” She admits. “I know I don't have the right, and you don't have the right to ask me who I talk to or don't talk to, but I can't stop looking at you when you're talking to a girl who isn't me. I didn't care before, but now I do.”

Nate smiles to himself, using one of his arms to support his body as he stretches out against the wall in an attempt to bring his face closer to Y/n's. The warmth of their breaths passes through each other. The warmth of their breaths merges, and their eyes meet in a discovery of feelings translated into the language they wanted so much to be verbal.

“So you accepted that guy's drink for what reason then, bunny girl?” The brunette asks, even though he already knows the answer.

Y/n didn't even know how to answer, because all her actions seemed to be on autopilot. She nodded, biting her lower lip and looking once again at Drake's face, which seemed to be getting closer and closer to her. She didn't need to say anything else, just feel what she needed. To feel wanted and loved, but not by just anyone, by him. Her lips grazed each other, playing with her heartbeat rather than allowing her desires to come true without a base. His eyes closed slowly, finally feeling the butterflies go away, leaving only the need for physical touch. Their tongues danced in sync to a sensual rhythm, while their hands embraced every part of each other's bodies.

Nate lightly squeezed Y/n's waist, trying to bring her closer to his warm body, feeling her breasts against his chest. The man slid one of his free hands around the back of the girl's neck, deepening the kiss that was no longer an innocent action. Every part of their bodies begged for more, since it had been a fantasy for so long. He was yours, and you were his, and no one could take that away from her. The fact that it was selfish was almost unavoidable, as the individual desires of each of you collided with each other in search of more pleasure.

The brunette grunted against the girl's mouth, who smiled against his lips in silent approval.

“I've wanted to do that for a long time.” He admits against the younger girl's ear, before the girl cups the brunette's jaw with her icy hand, bringing his mouth against hers again.

“Then finish what you started.” She urged, oblivious to the people passing by

“Let's get our coats quick” the brunette said, gently pulling her by the arm to leave the corridor.

[yandere-romanticaa]

@animeyanderelover asked: In your opinion, which Haikyuu!! characters would be most capable of sharing a darling since you already talked a bit more in depth about Akaashi and Bokuto?

These are just a couple of that I came up with on the spot. If you have any ideas, please share!

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱ 𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐈 - another pair which is like day and night. Much like the day and night cycle though, they work seamlessly with one another and need each other to cooperate properly. Wakatoshi keeps the peace while Tendou keeps you on your toes. Quite the package dare I say!

Tendou keeps you happy and entertained. Well, as much as he can without freaking you out but he always somehow manages to do just that in the end. Sometimes it is intentional, other times it is not. It's just that kind of effect Tendou has on people and he can't really help it. You either like him or you don't.

Ushiwaka is the stable pillar of peace with a sprinkle of need deep inside him. He's not as touchy as Tendou is but he wishes he was. He fantasizes about holding you but you are usually left in his friends care so he's not in the picture.

When he is, he is awkward. Imposing, but he doesn't mean to be.

That is where the eccentric red head steps in to help his buddy. Unlike Ushiwaka, he actually does have the capacity for some emotional intelligence. Ushiwaka meanwhile is on par with a celery stick, Tendou knows this.

And Tendou can't just let his poor buddy to suffer like that now, can he?

The two of them have a long talk and come to a mutual agreement to share you amongst themselves. It is hectic and messy at first, but they will make it work. Both of them are set up with success and not many will dare to challenge them. Not with Tendou's monstrous reputation and Ushiwaka's imposing person.

I'd rate them a 6/10 on the danger scale. There's potential there for a higher score but since no one in their right mind will come close to you, all should be well. Unfortunately for you though, there are two obsessed fools joined to you by the hip and are not leaving any time soon.

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱ 𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐘𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐊𝐀 - these two are like two peas in a pod, it's only natural that they get to share you!!! Both of them are attracted to you like magnets and have the mentality of "sharing is caring, but only with you because you're my best buddy!"

They are intense and there is no other word to describe it better. Neither one is shy about their affections towards you and are not against throwing hands if someone starts getting a little too chummy with you (which is, almost anyone really...) and their presence is beyond suffocating.

A solid 7/10 on the danger scale simply because you won't have anymore room to breathe.

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱ This one is a bit of a shot in the dark and it has the potential to end up quite messily unless things are set straight from the get go. And who would that be?

Why, it is our beloved 𝐈𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐈𝐊𝐀𝐖𝐀 - my my, what a predicament!

Oikawa is too clingy for his own good which, in turn, makes Iwa so mad that he could punch him. The way in which he's always slobbering all over you makes his blood boil but he would rather nail his tongue on a wall than ever admit that fact out loud.

Oikawa knows better though. He knows damn well that his dear friend is fantasizing about not only brutally murdering him but about you too, and how could he not? The way you cheer them both on when they're playing would make anyone swoon but your overall attitude is just so attractive to them both that they can't help but to fall for you.

Iwaizumi is more subtle with you than Oikawa, promptly focusing on whether or not you've eaten. You haven't? Here, have his lunch. No, he's not hungry, be quiet. Here, take his jacket. If you catch a cold he will scold you.

Oikawa on the other hand is a shameless little bastard because, why shouldn't he be? He absolutely revels in your reactions but is always careful to never cross any lines which could land him in hot water. He's just a naturally touchy guy, it's not weird how often he holds you.

Although, it is a little strange how all of your guy friends started to avoid you once you befriended the pair.

On a scale, I'd give them a 9/10. Yes, it's that bad. The combination of Iwaizumi's brash attitude and Oikawa's calculative nature and charm there is literally no one they won't stomp over if they cross you, or them for that matter.

There is also the added danger of them being both naturally jealous individuals, which clashes badly on quite a few occasions. Both of them want to keep you and can't come up with a proper solution sometimes which leads to the air becoming much heavier than it ought to.

[sombritas-des]

Body count

Remember that weird story i told you i forgot what was about..well... this was just a weird idea so...enjoy? --

Its been a harsh day for both, who would have thought the underwound side of the barren hills holds such horrors,from underground labs with deadly machinery,  walls decorated with containment pods that hold multiple specimens and many things that wanted both dead. Beheaded in the heat of the battle had lost their current vessel although multiple corpses were on the ground they somehow managed to get the worst one. Drifter nose kept wrinkling all the way back to the entrance, even covered by the face mask the smell was something uncomfortable.

The Beheaded raises a shoulder, their expression playful. "everything alright?” beheaded signed “ You seem uncomfortable, Drifter."

The Drifter's eyes narrow slightly, his gaze flicking away. "I'm fine. Just...getting used to the new you."

The Beheaded's signs flash with amusement. "Ah, but that's the thing - I'm still me. You're just noticing the packaging."

The Drifter's expression softens, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Guess you're right. You're still the same reckless, stubborn...one I've grown accustomed to."

The Beheaded's signs warm with affection. "And you're still the same worried, cautious... I've grown fond of."

As they continue to traverse the treacherous way back beheaded kept noticing the small details about Drifter discomfort.The Beheaded eye land on the pod, and their gaze lingers on the preserved body within. They can't resist a sly comment, knowing the Drifter's unease with deceased hosts.

"Fine, you win. I'll take this one," the Beheaded signs, pointing at the pod.

The Drifter's eyebrow shoots up, confusion etched on his face. "What? No, Beheaded, we don't need—"

The Beheaded's signs cut him off, their tone playful. "Oh, come on. This one's in better condition than my current...fragrant vessel."

The Drifter's expression turns wry, knowing the Beheaded's current body does have a rather...pungent aroma. He shakes his head, resigned.

"Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you."

The Beheaded's signs flash with excitement as they approach the pod, their inner essence already reaching out to claim the new host. The Drifter watches, a mix of amusement and trepidation on his face, knowing that the Beheaded's antics will never cease to surprise him.

The Beheaded's bow fires a precise shot, shattering the pod's glass and striking right in the eye of the preserved body within. The fatal blow is swift and merciful, and the Beheaded's homunculus form leaps from their current host, leaving the worn-out body to crumple to the ground.

With an ethereal glow, the Beheaded essence navigates the corner of the pod, homing in on the new vessel. They enter through the arrow wound, their form dissolving into the body's systems.

The Drifter watches, a familiar mixture of awe and unease, as the Beheaded essence integrates with the new host. The body twitches, muscles flexing as the Beheaded presence takes hold.

As the Beheaded's eye flicker back to life, their new body rises, the movements are slow at first, legs scrambling as they leave the pod, they stood up towering slightly over the Drifter. Their eye gleam with a mischievous spark, and their voice is low and smooth.

"Ah, much better. This one will do nicely."

The Drifter shakes his head, a wry smile on his face. "You and your taste for the dramatic, Beheaded."

The Beheaded's eye flash with amusement, their new body stretching, testing its limits. "Hey, when you've got a reputation for recklessness, you've got to maintain it."

The Beheaded continues to taunt and tease the Drifter, their body language flashing with mischief as they gather their clothes from the previous host. They hold up a shirt, examining it with a critical eye.

"Ah, looks like I'll need to get this tailored. This new body is a bit more... substantial than the last."

The Drifter can't help but notice the similarities between the Beheaded's new vessel and their own physique. Same race, similar build, but the Beheaded's new body is taller and more athletic.

The Drifter's eyes flicker with a mix of emotions - unease, curiosity, and a hint of envy. They quickly look away, clearing their throat.

"Yeah, well, let's just get out of here. We've got what we came for."

The Beheaded grins, their eye flashing with amusement. "Oh, come on, Drifter. Don't be shy. Admit it, this new body is an upgrade."

The Drifter's face remains stoic, but a hint of color rises to their cheeks. "Just move, Beheaded." drifter spoke as he simply re-adjust the cloth on his face.

With a chuckle, the Beheaded follows the Drifter, their new body moving with a fluid grace that's hard to ignore. As they exit the lab, the Beheaded can't resist one final tease.

"Hey, Drifter? You can be my tailor. I'm sure you'll love getting up close and personal with this new body." The Drifter's facepalms, a deep grunt escaping his lips as he tries to hide his embarrassment. "Let's just leave," he mutters, his voice muffled by his hand.

The Beheaded chuckles echo through the lab, their amusement trailing behind them like a shadow. "Oh, this is priceless! Drifter,you have to see your face, I'll have to remember that one!"

As they approached the entrance, the Drifter quickened his pace, eager to escape the lab and the Beheaded teasing. The Beheaded follows, their new body moving with a confident stride, their antics still flashing with mirth.

"Come on, Drifter! Don't be so serious! I'm just trying to break the tension!"

The Drifter pushes through the doors, revealing a bright, sunlit world outside. He takes a deep breath, feeling the warm air fill his lungs, and strides forward, leaving the lab and the Beheaded's jokes behind.

But the Beheaded is hot on their heels, their chuckles and words still echoing through the air. "Oh, this is far from over, Drifter! "

Drifter at some point had enough of beheaded antics, without a words he swiftly grabs both of the Beheaded's hands, gently but firmly, to halt their signing and teasing. The Beheaded eye sparkle with amusement, but they don't resist, enjoying the rare moment of physical contact.

With his free hand, the Drifter taps on the Holo screen of their drone, programming the teleportation coordinates to the town. The drone's screen flickers to life, displaying the familiar interface.

The Beheaded's signs falter, their hands still clasped in the Drifter's, as they gaze up at him with a hint of surprise and curiosity. For a moment, their usual antics are forgotten, replaced by a glimmer of connection.

The Drifter's eyes meet the Beheaded's, a fleeting sense of understanding passing between them. Then, the world around them dissolves into a swirl of colors, and they vanish into the teleportation sequence, leaving the lab and its secrets behind. As the teleportation ended they both simply strolled back to the guardians base,drifter hand kept the beheaded’s at bay,beheaded waited until they both entered the secure space of the guardians base as they let drifter sink into the revelation. “Did you realize I don't need those to communicate anymore, right?” beheaded asked with a teasing voice.

Drifter eyes met the beheaded’s as he had enough “ Beheaded could you please just shut your mout-” Drifter stopped mid sentence as his brain stopped with the realization, he looked at beheaded once again.This time for good.

A head, beheaded has a head. Besides the still raw empty eye socket the head was alright, no fire or that intense light that always stare at the drifter. Beheaded simply looked back at him, a mocking smile playing on their lips.

This was new…oddly new, but at the same time…it was interesting --- Yeah this came randomly i remember now, dunno what triggered but dunno in my brain it made sense at the time. Now it feels wonky but part of me just wanted to share it so yeah, tell me if it feels weird...dunno uugh (this might be gone at some point)

[jedidryad]

WIP Wednesday: Building a slimeball

On Niruaun, Mara describes for Luke, her experience dealing with a "Vice Baron Sukarian". In order to get what she needs out of him - information about Jorj Car'das, she explains to Luke that she "had to become a giddy, vacant brained piece of fluff" because Sukarian wouldn't take her seriously and it would give her more freedom.

Here's an exerpt from her conversation with Lando as she figures out that's what she needs to do.

“Looks like our Sukarian is a lecherous carouser.”

“So are a lot of powerful beings in the galaxy.” I shrugged, “Even my present company has a certain reputation for the high life.”

“Not like this, Mara.” Calrissian scowled, “I use charm and forthrightness. Sukarian is slime. He throws his power around to get what he wants. And what he wants seems to involve money, drugs, and dehumanizing women. He’s charming only so long as he thinks it will get him those things. 

On Corellia, it looks like he managed to drug a number of young companions to the point of death and he got others killed in terrible speeder accidents. It seems he also managed  to impregnate a number of admirals’ daughters. Consent was questionable. 

And he bankrupted his own business twice…possibly over the course of one week.”

I shuddered, “You’re right. I’m sorry to imply any similarities.”

“Thank you. My offers to you stand, but only if you want them.”

I nodded, “and we’re going to need to ingratiate ourselves to this guy?”

“Looks like it.”

“I can’t do that as myself.” Calrissian raised an eyebrow, “You can get away with it. You’re a ladies man, you can work with that; but if you show up with me, he’ll know we’re up to something.”

I got up and opened the compartment I’d taken over for my important documents.

“Do we break up then?” Calrissian asked.

“We’re off and on,” I reminded him, “keep the galaxy guessing, right?”

I tossed a package containing an ident card and some general travel docs in his lap.

“That’s who I’ll be.”

He opened the packet, “Zasia Creel?”

“It’s Corellian. It’ll remind him of home.”

“She’s 24.”

“You don’t think I can pull that off?”

[fibula-rasa]

Lost, but Not Forgotten: What Price Beauty? (1925)

Direction: Thomas Buckingham

Scenario & Story: Natacha Rambova

Titles: Malcolm Stuart Boylan

Production Manager: S. George Ullman

Camera: J. D. Jennings

Art Direction: Natacha Rambova 

Production Design: William Cameron Menzies

Costume Design: Adrian

Studio: Circle Films (Production) & Pathé Exchange (Distribution)

Performers: Nita Naldi, Pierre Gendron, Virginia Pearson, Dolores Johnson, Myrna Loy, Sally Winters, La Supervia, Marilyn Newkirk, Victor Potel, Spike Rankin, Rosalind Byrne, Templar Saxe, Leo White Maybe: John Steppling, Paulette Duval, Dorothy Dwan, and Sally Long

Premiere: None, general release: January 22, 1928

Status: Presumed entirely lost.

Length: Variously reported as 5000 and 4000 feet (more commonly listed as 4000) or 5 reels

Synopsis (synthesized from magazine summaries of the plot):

Mary, a.k.a. “Miss Simplicity” (Dolores Johnson) is a starry-eyed, country-to-city transplant. She works at a beauty shop operated by a glamorous matron (Virginia Pearson) and owned by the young and handsome Clay (Pierre Gendron). 

Mary is in love with Clay, but doesn’t have the nerve or feminine wiles to woo him. The uber-sophisticated Rita (Nita Naldi), however, is chock full of nerves and wile. Rita’s fancy clothes and perfumes and advanced flirting skills leave Mary feeling destined to fail at winning Clay’s amorous attention. 

These feelings sublimate into an expressionistic dream for Mary, where she finds herself transformed into a sophisticate like Rita. Her boss is seen as a magnificent wizard, converting her clients into archetypes of glamour: exotic types, flappers, and sirens. Her competition, Rita, is seen as a bewitching spider.

In the end, surprising Mary, it turns out that her fresh-faced, unassuming charm is more appealing to Clay than Rita’s more practiced charm.

Additional sequence(s) featured in the film (but I’m not sure where they fit in the continuity):

Scene of the trials and tribulations of a fat woman trying to “reduce”

Points of Interest:

Only one quarter of Nita Naldi’s Hollywood films have survived (7 extant titles/21 lost or mostly lost titles).

——— ——— ———

What Price Beauty? was the first and only film produced under Natacha Rambova’s own company. Coordinating production for the film was the business manager for Rambova and her husband Rudolph Valentino, S. George Ullman. The couple met Ullman when he was working for Mineralava beauty products, the sponsor of their 1922-3 dancing tour. 

When Rudolph Valentino entered into a contract with United Artists, said contract reportedly stipulated that Valentino-Rambova were not a package deal. Therefore, Rambova could not collaborate with Valentino on his productions for United. Possibly as consolation, Ullman funded a production for Rambova while Valentino worked on The Eagle (1925, extant).

For Rambova, What Price Beauty? was meant to be a proving ground for her idea that an artistic film could be made on a modest budget. She also wished to remind people that she was a skilled artist in her own right.

In an interview in Picture Play Magazine from August 1925, Rambova asserts:

“…I do not want the production in any sense to be referred to as high-brow or ‘arty’. My reputation for being ‘arty’ is one of the things that I have to live down, and I hope by this picture, which is a comedy—even to the extent of gags and hokum—to overcome that idea. “A woman who marries a celebrity is bound to find herself in a more or less equivocal position, it seems, and her difficulties are only increased when she happens to have had some artistic ambitions of her own before her marriage. I am afraid that those who have accused me of meddling in my husband’s affairs forget that I enjoyed a certain reputation and a very good remuneration for my work as well before I became Mrs. Valentino.”

“What I desire personally is simply to be known for the work which I have always done, and that has brought me a reputation entirely independent of my marriage.”

There isn’t a vast amount of information on what exactly prevented WPB from gaining release in a timely fashion. If the film was truly nothing more than a ploy to separate Rambova from Valentino, that would be an absurd waste of time, money (~$80,000 in 1925 USD), and talent—Rambova employed soon-to-be famous designer Adrian for costumes and William Cameron Menzies for set decoration. Not to mention that, in front of the camera, Nita Naldi was still a popular star and the Rambova discovery, Myrna Loy, made her quickly hyped debut. 

When Pathé finally purchased WPB for distribution in 1928, they did very little to promote the film. Naldi had moved on from the film industry—as had Rambova. And, while Loy hadn’t become the huge star we know today by January of 1928, Warner Brothers had already given her top billing in a number of films. Pathé barely mentions Loy’s role in the little promotion they did do.

To put WPB’s release in the context of Rambova’s personal/professional biography (which you can read more about here):

June/July 1925 – WPB is completed, Rambova and Valentino separate (in July according to Rambova’s mother as quoted in Rambova’s book Rudy)

August 1925 – Rambova leaves Hollywood for New York City, reportedly to negotiate distribution for WPB. She and Valentino would see each other in person for the last time. Rambova leaves NYC for Europe.

September 1925 – Valentino draws up a new will disinheriting Rambova

November 1925 – Rambova returns to the US to act in a film, When Love Grows Cold (1926, presumed lost), a title which Rambova objected to

December 1925 – Rambova files for divorce

August 1926 – Valentino dies 

January 1928 – WPB is finally released with no fanfare by Pathé

In my research for my Rambova cosplay, the suspicious production/release history for this film stood out to me. I hoped that I might find some reliable evidence of whether WPB was a consolation prize and/or a scheme to keep Rambova and Valentino apart. Honestly and unfortunately, circumstantial evidence does support it!

After poring over what few contemporary sources cover WPB, there seemed to be no plan in place for distribution as the film was in production. United Artists, at whose lot the film was shot, claimed to have nothing to do with its release. Ullman had a news item placed about negotiating the distribution rights in the East. However, in Ullman’s own memoir, he admits that when he travelled to New York with Rambova, it was in a personal, not professional capacity—navigating the couple’s separation. (Ullman’s book contains many disprovable claims and misrepresentations, so anything cited from it should be taken with a grain of salt.) That said, Ullman’s failure to secure even a modest distribution deal for WPB in a reasonable timeframe speaks to how ill-founded Valentino’s and Rambova’s trust in his business acumen was.

WPB cost $80,000 to produce, which converts to $1.4 million in 2023 USD. While that wasn’t an outrageous budget for a Hollywood feature film at the time, especially one with such advanced production value, it’s certainly an absurd cost if the goal was only to separate a bankable star from his wife and collaborator.

A close friend and employee of Valentino and Rambova, Lou Mahoney, recalled in Michael Morris’ Madam Valentino:

“The picture was previewed at a theater on the east side of Pasadena, and Mahoney remembered the audience reaction as positive, but, thereafter, What Price Beauty? was consigned to oblivion. Mahoney knew why: ‘No help came from anyone, no thoughts of trying to get this picture properly released. No help came from Ullman, Schenck, or anybody else. Their whole thought was that if the picture were a success, Mrs. Valentino would be a success. She would then start producing under the Rudolph Valentino Production Company. But this nobody wanted—except herself, and Mr. Valentino.’”

——— ——— ———

The few reviews from 1928 that I was able to find are not very complimentary of WPB. The critics seem thrown by the film’s tone or genre—reading it as a drama. (Part of that is Pathé’s fault as they listed it as one.) But, according to sources contemporary to WPB’s production, it was intended to be a farcical satire of the beauty industry and social expectations of feminine beauty. Given the simple story, the intentional typage of characters (“The Sport,” “The Sissy,” and “Miss Simplicity”), and the over-the-top-but-on-a-budget art design of WPB, all signs point to high camp. In 1925 as well as 1928, the stodgier side of the critical spectrum would likely fail to see its appeal.

It’s a true shame we can’t find out for ourselves how good, bad, or campy WPB was as of yet, but here’s hoping the film resurfaces!

More about Rambova

GIFs of some of her design work on film

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Transcribed Sources & Annotations over on the WMM Blog!

[autolenaphilia]

Currently using Debian 12, with KDE Plasma, which i previously used. But i had problems running plasma last year, with repeated random plasmashell crashes. I could even repeatedly cause plasmashell to crash by removing a second panel/taskbar.

But i returned to plasma to check out running wayland, i've previously used x11-based desktops and even ran plasma on x11. And it turns out plasma is actually more stable on wayland, at least the 5.27 version debian 12 ships with. Which is not something i expected, because all the talk of wayland not being fully there yet, which iirc is why i defaulted to using x11 earlier despite plasma's wayland session. I can still cause plasmashell to crash on x11 by removing a panel, but not on wayland, and the random crashes don't happen either on wayland either. It's a smooth reasonably bugfree experience that lives up to debian's reputation for stability.

I'm running older versions of KDE Plasma and of most things on this OS, because that's the Debian way, but who cares. if the software works I don't care if it's old, and with Debian I don't have to worry about an update breaking my system, and don't have to worry about frequent updates in general, which is a plus in my book (don't judge me, I have Windows update trauma /j).

my current desktop, the theme is Sweet KDE and the wallpaper is from this post by greekie-via-linux

So now finally KDE Plasma works good for me, without all the crashing. And I'm slowly becoming a fan. It's very customizable, KDE provides a traditional desktop layout by default (which i prefer) but so customizable that you can turn it into almost anything you like. It's defaults might borrow from the windows 95 to 7 desktop paradigm, but Windows never gave users this much control.

It's pretty looking, it has all the eye candy effects and animations you want, but not too heavy on the ram useage (the performance is actually comparable to xfce) , and you can turn the effects off thanks to the aforementioned customizability. And it provides all the programs you need for a fully featured desktop environment, everything from basic stuff like a terminal emulator and file browser to a GUI package manager that supports basically all packaging formats. Neither mate or xfce has the latter, for example, when I ran debian with xfce i had to manage my flatpaks through the terminal.

Maybe even too many programs. KDE makes a lot of programs, and i'll probably never switch from mozilla firefox and thunderbird to kmail, falkon or konqueror. Though to be fair, KDE does develop a lot of programs that are first-rate in the linux world, practically without competition. And i personally find KDE connect to be extremely useful. It syncs your android phone with your desktop or laptop computer and it's awesome. Once I learned how to allow it through my firewall, I can see my SMS messages on my computer and type them with an actual keyboard on my computer, it's great. And It works on other desktop environments and even on windows.