#self help group loan

[farmerstrend]

Cultivating Change: The Impact of Climate-Smart Agriculture on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Kenya

Discover how Christine Krapiwan transformed her life from struggling farmer to thriving entrepreneur through the Women’s Economic Empowerment and Climate-Smart Agriculture (WEE CSA) project, empowering women in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. Explore the profound impact of the WEE CSA project on women farmers in Kenya, highlighting stories of empowerment, climate-smart agriculture, and…

[crookedfandomquill]

This is very situational, and sadly may not be realistic for everyone, but I need y’all to understand that a very important part of political activism is fucking talking to your conservative or moderate friends and family.

My dad voted for Trump in 2016. He’s a middle class white evangelical from Arkansas. He raised me with conservative Christian values, just like his parents raised him. When he voted Trump, he was holding his nose, but he didn’t feel too bad about it, and went on to vote red down the ticket in the 2018 midterms, as well.

But I started college in 2017. Higher education and independence changed everything for me, and I went home over holidays and summers with fire in my belly and a thousand arguments ready at the drop of a hat, to my father’s dismay.

I remember crying in my room after emotional, intense arguments with him. I told him over and over that I felt betrayed by his choice to vote for a man who admitted to sexually assaulting women, who built his platform on dehumanizing immigrants and the disabled, who spread overtly-racist rhetoric, who flouted the values of kindness and self-discipline that I’d been raised on. And my dad always had some justification about the “greater good”: fighting against abortion, bolstering the economy, getting other Christian politicians into office.

But over time, as we grew further apart and I lost my will to discuss anything with him at all, he softened. He started asking me why I thought the way I did about the things we disagreed about. He would listen to my answers without interruption, and mull them over afterward instead of expressing his own opinion. And all the while, he watched the Trump presidency become cruel and absurd and devastating.

The first time he openly expressed regret to me, I had come home for a weekend after Kavanaugh was confirmed to SCOTUS. My dad realized he had helped elect a man who preyed on women… and that man had opened the door to more predators. I can’t tell you what it felt like for him to admit that he’d made a mistake, not just in voting for Trump but in defending him for so long. We kept arguing, but it was more debating than fighting. I knew he was capable of seeing my side of things, even if it took a while, and he knew I wasn’t just a sensitive college student with shallow new ideas about the world.

And then 2020 hit. Specifically, George Floyd was murdered, and the events that followed played out on the national stage. My dad was incredibly shaken by it. He asked me if I had any books from college about racial issues. I loaned him The New Jim Crow, one of the required readings for my Race and the Law class. Then I gave him Just Mercy. Then he watched the documentary 13th. Then he joined a racial harmony group he learned about through one of the few Black families at our church and insisted our whole family come. He held up signs at a protest against Confederate monuments in our conservative southern town. In three years, he went from defending Trump’s comments about “Black-on-Black crime” to publicly advocating for racial justice and opposing the death penalty.

We went together to vote in the 2020 primaries. I couldn’t help asking who he’d voted for; I didn’t even know if he’d asked for the Republican or Democratic ticket. He admitted he’d voted for Bernie. fucking. Sanders, then made me promise not to tell my grandma he’d voted liberal. When the election rolled around in November, he voted Biden. I’m sure he held his nose to do it, just like he held his nose voting in 2016. But I know he doesn’t regret it.

I am, of course, unbelievably lucky to have a parent who loved me enough, and was empathetic enough, to choose his relationship with me over his strongly-held opinions. He kept searching for truth because, as much as he’ll deny it, he’s a very smart and curious person. No degree of intelligence or curiosity makes you immune to propaganda, especially if you were raised not to question the party line. It’s easy to dismiss our conservative, conspiracy-pilled loved ones as stupid, hypocritical, and cruel. Sometimes they are. But sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they will bend to keep their relationships from breaking. Sometimes, if they can be made to understand that their beliefs and actions are harming someone they love, they will make concessions. And sometimes they just need one person in their life to put a foot down, to be vulnerable and assertive and argumentative, to bring the impact of their politics close to home.

As the most important election of our lifetimes approaches, do not put peace over progress. If you have someone like my dad, someone who is good-willed and smart and loves you more than their own opinions, tell them how you feel. Tell them what their choices will mean for you, for your friends, for your community. Tell them what they could lose: your trust, your affection, your respect. Don’t avoid conflict if it could be productive. Because my conflict with my dad didn’t just win him over–it won over my moderate mom and one of my conservative brothers. And it put us in community with other like-minded people and led my parents to a healthier and kinder faith.

All of this to say, there is hope in conflict. There is hope in our relationships with people who think differently from us. There is hope in exposing your fear and anger and pain to people you love. And hope is a form of activism.

[angeldiarybook]

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐮𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐮𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐱 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 ˙ ꨄ°˖🎧📖 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

-right when he saw you he knew he needed you

-at first he’d teasingly flirt with you but over time he actually started to catch feelings

-asshole at the start

-you’d get annoyed pretty easily from him

-he’d start to notice your annoyance from him slightly after he started liking you

-upsets him a bit (just a little bit) from the genuine annoyed look on your face any time he comes near you

-tries to make you jealous but it just gives you an ick “Have you tried to get their attention?” Rory asked me and Paris as Tristan was making out with some girl in front of our lockers “sure have” Paris said as I rolled my eyes at the little love session Tristan had going on “no luck?” Rory asked “nope” both me and Paris replied as we rolled our eyes “it’s like he’s eating her face” Rory said disgusted.that caused me to let a snarky low chuckle out as Paris stared at them. I rolled my eyes lifting up my books and what felt like 20 pounds inside my back bag up.Rory tapped Tristan shoulder asking them to move a bit to the left. “what?” Tristan acted dumb with a stupid grin on his face “you’re standing in front of the lockers” Rory told Tristan “our lockers” I responded annoyed “Oh sorry we just got a little carried away” Tristan replied snarky “right” both me and Rory said as she rolled her eyes as Tristan and the random girl backed away from the lockers Tristan noticed how genuinely unbothered you look and how’d you be annoyed if anyone was in your way of your locker on purpose

-once he realizes making you jealous doesn’t work he starts being a ‘gentle man’

-giving you some dumb nickname

-over time you get use to his annoying flirty remarks

-always loans you his notes

-birthday kiss

-admiring you in class while you’re paying attention to the lesson

-apologize to you once you guys start getting closer for being an asshole and genuinely means it “I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time for a while” Tristan apologized to me “oh…it’s ok..well it’s not but I understand” I gave him a small warm smile

-catching him staring at you in class

-helps you a ton whenever you’re struggling in a certain subject

-you guys always have to be in the same group project together

-while you guys sit next to each other he makes little braids in your hair when you have your head down in class

-teasingly agreeing to whatever you have to say about something

-people noticing him changing slightly to win you over

-playfully begging to carry your books “Tristan I can carry them my self” you chuckled softly and playfully rolled your eyes at him as he tried to snatch your thick books away

-even carrying your back bag for you when school is over

-insists on driving you home

-teases you whenever you’re reading a book and not paying attention to him

-“seducing” you with that god damn smirk/smile of his

-getting mad and scolding him as he has a snarky laugh smirking at you in the hallways

[wonryllis]

𝜗𝜚ㅤBABY YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST A DREAM! ( love at first sight with idol!reader )

────𝖺𝗅𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗒, 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗉𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝖺 𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗅𝗅!

﹙NOTES.﹚ non!idol enha falling for you. 𖥔 ݁ fluff. reqtd. fem!r. 2569wc. LIB?

𝐋𝐄𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐆

the one who gets attracted to your light in the struggles of his life. a broke college student working multiple part time jobs to pay for his student loans. an avid listener of kpop who does not have much idea about groups, especially girl groups simply because of his busy life. it's one fateful afternoon when he's on his shift in everland dressed in his heavy bear mascot, barbequing inside drenched in sweat trying to hand out flyers and taking pictures with kids.

too tired he sits on a bench, taking off the head and brushing his wet hair when you appear with a camera seeming to be filming a self vlog. "do you need help?" you ask and heeseung falls into the rabbit hole that very instant. you're so pretty and you're also so sweet and kind, standing with him, helping him out even when you're not obligated to. smiling so beautifully and warmly at him each time he turns to look at you every other minute.

he's lost in his own world trying to make sense how he got such an amazing person to notice him and how everyone seems so interested in the flyers from the moment you step in. you offer him tissues to wipe off his sweat and appraise him for working so hard struggling but still not giving up, heeseung questions if this is real, if you are real.

he does not hesitate to ask for your name surprised when it sounds so familiar and going into a cardiac arrest upon realising you're the same idol he listens to everyday on break, your soothing voice helping him through his day.

you invite him to join you on your vlog and show you around the theme park after he's done working, at this point heeseung is soulless he has no idea how he's functioning but he is. he fumbles around to change as quick as he can after he's off, putting on as much deodrant as he can afraid of smelling sweaty around you. "thank you so much for hanging out with me!" you give him a hug at the end, "no thank you so much for helping me out," he'll never be able to get over this.

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐉𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐆

the one who keeps crossing paths with you like destiny, a thin line between reality and falling so hard for a celebrity. you start as his airport crush, one on whom once he lays his eyes they follow everywhere. he takes in every little detail about you from across the room watching you sit in the waiting area wondering if you're on the same flight. he feels like he's seen you somewhere but he can't bring himself to remember.

it is when he spots the various people you're surrounded with, he realises you're an idol, not understanding how he seems to have seen you before but not having clear memory of it, like how can he forget someone like that.

nevertheless he's hooked, anyone can see with the way he keeps glancing in your direction time and again. some of the crew members notice him immediately, trying to gesture to you subtly. and it works when you lock eyes the next time he looks, he turns away at the speed of light face heating up and the tip of ears getting red, he definitely gave himself away. but what to do he's so bad at pretending.

visibly upset when he sees you boarding a different flight. but fate appears to be on his side when two days later he spots you again on the streets of athens filming some group content. he's a little hesitant to do anything. he leaves to look the surrounding shops only to come back again and again to watch you.

you're on break the fourth time he does it and you lock eyes again, jay literally freezes in his spot he doesn't know what to do, feeling like his heart would jump right out onto his palms as he watches you get up and walk towards him. "hey," you speak waving to him as you stop a freaking few inches away from him. "yeah," jay mumbles, voice so cold he regrets it in a second with your face turning confused at his bleak response,"i mean hey, i'm just really nervous right now," oh my god he can't believe he also said that like jay?? "mhm," you smile,"that's cute," jay stopped working.

𝐒𝐈𝐌 𝐉𝐀𝐄𝐘𝐔𝐍

the one who falls at a chance encounter, one look and he's mesmerized. a die hard baseball fan, attending one of the matches where your group is set to perform a song. he had no clue about it but who is he to complain cause the moment he spots you, he can't take his eyes off of you, you dance so prettily, the way you move your body he's beyond hypnotized.

and your voice don't get him started at that it's like a siren calling for him, luring him into a trap he can't ever escape from. a little disappointed when the performance is over, keeps trying to find you in the crowd, looking for your pretty face amidst the others.

once he finds your seat, he's staring continuously, if not that then every two seconds. the game is long forgotten he doesn't give a shit who's winning and losing. for him the win here lies on watching you do everything. the way you smile at your members so softly, how your laugh seems to be so addicting even of he can barely hear it, when you're munching on snacks, cheering on the players from time to time. nothing's ever been this interesting to watch, nothing can beat this not even a match of his favourite teams.

had he known about you earlier he would have done everything in his power to attend every fansign, grabbing every opportunity to meet you, to be able to see you up close and talk to you, listen to your pretty voice telling him literally anything and everything.

he tries finding ways to meet you, looking closely to see if he can encounter a situation where he supposedly comes across you accidentally and compliment your performance, talking about how well you did. and lucky for him he does get that chance when he least expects it.

sad and dejected at the end of the performance, just leaving the venue when you bump into him all alone. his entire world shakes so excited he might burst any second. "your performance was so good i couldn't take my eyes off of you," he blurts out, "thanks, i noticed you looking, a lot actually," someone bury him right now.

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

the one who has no interest in kpop, he's literally got no clue about any idol and he doesn't even give a fuck about it. he's super career oriented person who supposedly has no time for all this bullshit he says. but the moment he lays eyes on you, the pretty barista on the other side of the counter of his favourite cafe he cannot help rethinking about his ways of life.

he swears he's never seen someone so beautiful ever, there's just something about you that somehow seems to keep drawing him towards you. he wonders if you're new or has he always been this blind.

the way you smile when he enters through the door, welcoming him so sweetly, the light from outside falling on your face so gorgeously he stutters for the first time in forever. boy cannot form the proper words, he fumbles on his regular order, forgets to tell his name and keeps staring and gawking so awkwardly at you, he's convinced you think of him as a creep.

almost leaves the cafe literally a step out the door before he decides he cannot let this chance go and rushes like a loser over to the front, waiting as you attend to another customer. chewing on his bottom lip and hands fiddling all sweaty with nervousness.

"yes? how can i help you?" oh my god you're still so sweet, his heart skips several beats, "uhm i- well number- pretty- no i wondering- your pretty number- i meant can i-" he's never hated himself as much he does right this moment, the most important moment of his life. "my number?" you giggle and he literally melts for real,"yeah," smiling like an idiot in love. is shocked to find out you're an idol shooting a variety show, scolding himself internally for having no idea and feeling so embarrassed.

boy thinks he has lost it now, there's no way- until "did you check your cup?" if park sunghoon could put into words what he feels now he'd write an entire essay, he's so fallen, he can't get up anymore, breaking his own rules.

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐖𝐎𝐎

the one who goes to support his friend and ends up getting attracted unexpectedly and unintentionally. boy has a lot of friends and friends of friends and so many girl friends and he's never ever felt the way he felt it immediately in a microsecond for you. it's like you stepped on stage just to capture his heart. he's been friends with her since middle school and the biggest supporter of her idol career. it's her first concert and he's booked frontline seat, having always watched only her famcams he's never really paid attention or noticed her members.

so the first time he sees you is live on stage right in front his eyes, so lost in watching you he can barely remember why he came initially.

your outfits compliment you so good, the way you seem so passionate and happy about what you're doing is so contagious to him. he so immersed in watching you, he doesn't realize how quickly it gets over, it's somehow good through because kept thinking about meeting you backstage with the special entry he would get for his friend.

he waits impatiently in the dressing room, legs bouncing in nervousness and excitement. he smiles and goes for a hug with his friend first, his eyes subtly trained on you, beaming with happiness when his friend introduces you to him.

repeating your name in his mind again and again,"your name is as pretty as you," he says smiling so so cutely at you trying to work his charms. everyone in the room can see it just how interested he is in you, leaving you both to talk and busying themselves in other things. it's struck by love at once for him but probably not for you, he understands that and knows it's best to be friends even though he wishes for may something more than that.

he tries not to overwhelm you while still complimenting you for every little thing. "you're so talented you had me mesmerized the entire concert," sunoo that's not subtle.

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐖𝐎𝐍

the one who has been silently watching from afar for so long, cherishing every glimpse. a cat cafe owner who waits for every sunday just so he can watch you playing with the cats and kittens from his corner in the shop too afraid to ever talk to you.

the first time he saw you was during new years eve, about to close the cafe in the evening when in came the last customer, his about to be favourite customer. you vibes were so soft and warm, treating the little babies so tenderly and the way you seemed so relaxed jungwon fell for that aura around you, the comfort and genuineness you emanated.

he fell so hard, he couldn't even bother to tell you to leave even when it was way past his closing time and there were numerous missed calls from his friends for their new year party. leaves for a split second to stick a happy new year note on your shoes because baby can't bring himself to say it to your face, it doesn't help that you're super pretty and that he's shy as fuck.

he's super disappointed in himself for letting you leave like that, that day. cursing himself for being an introvert every day that goes by and he doesn't see you again.

when you visit again the next weekend he's so elated he can't describe it in words, he offers you an on the house drink, something he wouldn't have ever done for anyone, you just happen to be a special someone he's fallen for at first sight and every other glance. he's whipped and he's down bad but he's a loser and he can't approach you especially after coming across a video of you performing at an award show and realising you're an idol.

though not fully satisfied he's content to see a sight of you others don't know about, including moments of you napping surrounded by cats you love. he can see you go there for your alone time so he chooses not to disturb you "i hope we can be friends someday," his note says, the one he leaves on your table the day he gathers enough courage.

𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐀 𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐈

the one who happens to be right across the door, bumping into you just at the right time all the damn time. there's been a lot of times riki is running late for things. once again he's late opening. his door in a hurry so does someone else right on the other side both bumping into each other. you look up for a split second before rushing back inside and closing the door on his face. he's flabbergasted but he's also so captivated. was such a pretty girl always living next door to him? or did the moving trucks he saw yesterday were yours?

the door opens again as you peek out slightly closing it shut again when you see him still standing there, are you shy? he wonders just then the door opens again and this time there's another girl stepping out with you trailing behind with your head down, a cap and mask on.

he recognises the other girl, saw her appear on one of the variety show he watches regularly and then realizes you must be an idol, "it suits her," he thinks out loud slapping a hand on his mouth when you turn to look back with eyes. shit. the next day he bumps into you again and then again the next day and also the day after. and with each time you seem to scurry away faster than before.

normally he wouldn't care at all but he's honestly been so bewitched by you since the moment he saw you he can't stop thinking about you, searching up your videos and watching you constantly.

"wait!" he tries to stop you once but you look at him weird and run off so quick he's baffled, worried he scares you too much. he didn't even do anything though?

"hey, just wanted to let you know i don't mean any harm, just wanted to introduce myself and maybe be friends? i know you're an idol but it doesn't matter to me, i won't snitch or anything if that's what you're scared about. xoxo, your next door neighbour, riki." he waits behind his door and slips the note from under after noticing you walk out of yours from the peephole. "hey," he steps out when you smile reading it.

TAGLIST ( open. ) @kangseulgithegreat @s00buwu @luvyev @pockyyasii @nctislifue @ashtxrie

[lostintransist]

Hell's Spawn | It Means Fuck Off

I wasn't planning on posting this yet but I need some feel good chemicals going in my brain before I give my professor the award for being the single most unhelpful teacher I have ever had in my entire life. Mans is actively making my life harder and not easier.

CW: Mommy issues, lots of negative self talk, general staring at women's bodies even though they just want to be left alone.

Trading shifts, what a simple way to alter the course of one’s life. Something akin to missing a train or a flight delay causing you to miss a connection, some exterior force course correcting you to where you need to be.

Leaning on one elbow on the stainless steel counter studying your text book you can feel your brain melting in your skull. Being a fourth-year medical student had taught you that while one could get a fever hot enough to “cook” the brain in the skull it wouldn’t occur from studying for too long. The voice of your mother itched in the back of your mind, telling you to give up and move on, you’ll never be more than a whore.

That had always been her favorite insult to hurl at you. Puberty hit you like a truck from a number of your favorite animes, transporting you into a woman-like body over the course of one summer. You still had the stretch marks.

Your mother hated it and hated you. She would never say that though. The high-powered pick-me lawyer could never let it be known that the only love she had in her soul had to be provided by the attention of a man. Psych 101 had been an enlightening class. You had nearly decided to go for a psychiatric residency before the chemistry classes debased that idea in your head.

When residency was over and you were settled somewhere you had decided to find a therapist to help you unpack all the shit that your mother had endowed you with. Her snide comments, wool-encased bricks lobbed at you from her high tower where she held both the power and the autonomy to keep you a prisoner, pelted you even now despite the years and distance between you.

The only escape you had found had been concurrent and AP classes in high school and a scholarship to finish your bachelor’s degree in one year directly out of high school and across the country. You worked your ass off for a few years to be old enough to never need her money again and passed the MCAT on the first try. The local medical school had accepted you at twenty-six, an old maid in that first class filled with nineteen and twenty-year-olds. That is how you had landed at a late-night cafe as a barista. You took as little student loans as possible and that meant working late and rising early for classes.

Coming full circle, you had traded shifts with the owner. Lucky bitch had five of the hottest boyfriends who were also boyfriends you had everseen and the bitch was ace. All that luck wasted on someone who didn’t ride their boyfriends until they whimpered night after night after night. God, you needed to get laid.

She had told you when you agreed to switch though that a group would be coming in to use the private room around midnight. She had warned you not to be alarmed but they would all be covered head to toe and would pay with cash. What she had failed to mention is that all four men who would appear at midnight, like wraiths wrapped in darkness, is that they were fucking jacked. They were ripped. To be frank you weren’t sure how any of them put shirts on or how the fabric didn’t rip like they were Bruce Banner turning green. Every one of them wore a surgical mask.

They all stepped to the counter, menacing vibes a miasma that eddied around them. Several patrons were scattered about the space, in quiet conversation or the clacking of keyboard keys, offering the illusion of safety. Aiming a well-trained smile any customer-facing worker would recognize at the men you greeted them.

“Hi welcome in, what can I get started for you?”

The tallest, broadest one, scanned the menu before glancing down. The demons in your mind began howling when instead of landing on your face his gaze landed firmly on the shadows of your cleavage peaking above the edge of your shirt. You had forgotten you had agreed to this shift until it was too late to change into the high-necked band tees you normally wore. The soundtrack of self-hate had always been easier to ignore if you could avoid drawing attention to your body.

“Four large black coffees, sugar and cream on the side.”

No please, no thank you. Fine, whatever wouldn’t be the last person tonight even that wouldn’t treat you with the same respect a wandering cat would receive.

“And you want all of those hot?” You tap away at the screen as you wait for his answer.

“Yes.” His voice should be much lower than it is, but it is still pleasant on the ear. The curl of his tongue around the words tells you English was not learned at his mother’s breast.

“Okay, your price is pulling up, this system slows down after midnight.” You roll your eyes at it, “If you give me a moment I can get that ready for you and let you into the room you have reserved.” You catch sight of the one with blue eyes that burn trailing those selfsame irises down one collarbone, to the bunching of skin, and then trailing back up to the other side.

The sniping words, whore, bitch, no good wench, nothing more than pussy, tits, and a mouth, fly through your mind, debris in the storm picking up speed. Grown and a world away her words still cut at you like glass.

Four hot coffees are settled on the counter as you count out change and return it to a leather-gloved hand. Did he have to buy specialty gloves to ensure that they fit?

The third man shifted his head toward you from behind his sunglasses before turning back to observe the room. A smudge of black hair peeked from below his hat.

Carrying the key along with several packets of sugar in your apron pocket and the carafe of creamer you can feel the fourth man’s eyes digging into your spine directly above your bra strap. No skin had been visible on him since the moment they entered the shop. That level of dedication impressed something in you.

You would have stayed impressed except the man couldn’t keep his hands to himself. Unlocking the door you stepped aside and let the men trail in, careful to keep your back to the wall by the premise of holding the door open with your foot. Once everyone found a seat you set the creamer on the table and turned to leave.

The completely covered one caught your wrist, fiddling with the ties of your bracelet. A friend had given it to you last Christmas when your mother had tried to reach out to ‘mend fences’. Turns out she was getting married again and her fiance wanted to meet the prodigal daughter.

The dainty silver beads pressed into your flesh as he dragged a thumb over them.

“What’s all this about? From a lover?”

The accent on his words tickles your senses. Then the understanding of his question settles home.

Customer service mode leaves your face and body, the bitch your mother always claimed you to be coming out.

“It reads fuck off,” you wrench your hand from his grip and slam the door shut behind you. When you settle back in the kitchen you fire off a text to your boss.

<Heads up, ended up snapping at one of your special customers.

Next, you fire off a message to Quinn, seeing if he could come in a half hour early so you didn’t have to close alone if the layered lechers stayed until closing.

Quinn confirmed he could be in early.

The parade from the conference room occurred as Quinn was arriving, leaving him to hold the door open for them as they passed. Closing duties went faster with Quinn collecting all the dishes for cleaning and you were home and in bed, books prepped for class in the morning on the table.

You woke a few hours later to a reply from your boss.

>Whatever you did they probably deserved it. You know I will back you 100%. But John says they seemed to like you better for snapping.

If you didn’t have to rush to avoid being late for your eleven am class you would have rolled your eyes. They liked being snapped at, that you were mean to them? Yeah, right.

Hell Masterlist | Masterlist

@demothers-empty-blog @beloveds-embrace (boo I hope you like your surprise.)

[turbulentscrawl]

Modern AU: Norton Campbell

You've heard of modern reader? Well now it's time for Modern canon!

- Previously, he worked in the oil industry, but a nasty accident he doesn’t speak about has left him with his fair share of burn scars. Norton now works as an independent contractor, known around town as a do-it-all type of handyman. He rarely works with or for group projects, preferring to be hired directly by property owners for the work they need done. He’s his own boss, and he makes his own schedule, but he’s a workaholic.

- He was raised by his uncle Benny after his parents died when he was still very young—his mother shortly after childbirth, due to complications, and his father in a work-related accident. Benny’s health deteriorated fast, though, and as soon as he was legally able Norton picked up a part-time job to help pay the bills and build a college fund. (Or several, more like, and he was known to bounce around for better pay.)

-Some time in his senior year of high school, he discovered that Benny was keeping secrets; Benny had not only convinced his father to stay in the oil industry after he was born, but wasted and gambled away all the life insurance money from his death. Enraged and betrayed, Norton dropped out of school and left. He drove as far away as he could with the little money he had, and then lived out of his truck for a while. Eventually, he made enough money to rent a shitty little motel room by the week, and then a shitty little apartment.

-After leaving, he at first went into the oil industry like his old man and Benny had been—it was something he was familiar enough with and hard labor paid better than being a busboy again. But after a few years there was an accident which left him with several burn scars. He was left in pain for a long time, but the worker’s comp paid for most of his medical bills and his rent, giving him just enough time to get his GED. After that, he started into construction, plumbing, and other handiman things he was knowledgeable in after years of being poor and self-sufficient.

-The accident, this time, was more of an ACTUAL accident. Norton had a disagreement with some of the coworkers he hated. There was an altercation, and something ignited…and Norton was the only one who got out. He doesn’t talk about it, mostly out of shame and a sense of guilt, but he copes by telling himself they deserved it.

- He drives the same beat-up old pickup truck Benny bought for him as a kid. It was transferred into his name when he was 18, so Benny can’t swipe it from under his nose. (Legally, anyway.) He could probably get a loan and buy a new car, but at this point he prefers to keep the old hunk of junk. Maybe he’s sentimental, or maybe the weekly maintenance he has to do on it is just therapeutic in a way.

-Not a super techy guy. He keeps up with industry news and learns new skills often, but his truck, his phone, and most of his home appliances are older. He’s good enough with fixing things that he hasn’t bothered to replace them.

-He’s not much of a decorator, either, but he’s good at thrifting and building his own furniture with recycled materials. His apartment/home is a bit of a hodgepodge, with mostly bare walls, but what he does have I impressive in its own way. Any décor he has is likely gifted.

-He’d like to own a home one day, but he’s playing things by ear. He realizes that might be asking a lot while he’s got no real support system.

-He’s a fair cook, but a lot of what he makes could be called “struggle meals.” They’re what he’s been used to for a long time.

-He’s a little paranoid about pumping gas into his truck, but he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do. On his days off, he tends to walk to take public transit to save some money and gas mileage.

-He’s that guy with a 7-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, bodywash etc men’s soap. Someone please teach him better ways.

[natsunenuko]

TW // mental issues, mental absue, harassment, surgery/blood

I'm sorry this one is so long, but please carry on reading. It's a chance for me to not only speak about the situation but let out some steam too. It is unfortunate this announcement comes at the same time the flood occurs on the south of my home country (Poland) and I'm in the endangered zone, luckily so far safe, as I feel my head can't handle more stress.

It's been so long since I've been this personal online. I realized how I didn't feel the urge to vent for 3-4 years by now which is a sign of improving mental health. But my healing is still a process, and I'm afraid it's too hard to carry this rock alone at this point. I fought my thoughts if I should do this and I think just as deeply as I write right now. Yet, I know it's better late than never and I thank deeply my friends for helping me out recently as well as in the past in my lowest. I wholeheartedly owe my life to you.

I couldn't ask for better friends. As years verified, even long lasting relationships might be nothing but a mask and I had to learn the hard way. I ended a friendship of 13 years at the time over a misunderstanding. Other person I put my trust on was nothing but a groomer with morally corrupted sexual tendencies who would take advange of a group of minors while being the only adult among them, yet acting like a person much younger than all of them and pressuring all their mental issues on children instead of seeking help. The latter, I might speak of more in detail when I'm ready.

Long time ago I tried calling out for help but back then, the intrusive thoughts won; "Others have it worse, just work harder.", "No one will give you anything for free, no one will care.", "What people will think of you?". and I would only speak about these things in a closed circle of my friends.

I tried my best in silence by not giving up on my creative passion, working restlessly for years, improving. Hoping I could reach the point I can sustain myself purely on what I make.

But the problem is not being self-sufficient. And it's not about my art...

All of my life it has been me, my momma and my granny. The other two important figures weren't there for us, by choice. (which is hard to say if losing someone you loved is worse than not being cared for in the first place) My rather young self at the time didn't put much thought about it as I didn't understand it but something always felt wrong; my only issues at the time was being "that weird, quiet kid with little to no friends". But despite the hardships, my momma has always been my hero, working without a time for a break or rest so we could live happily, to afford something special from time to time.

However in 2014 my momma has been hospitalised and almost lost her life to wrongly treated ovarian cyst (cyst rapture), with enough blood loss to require emergency surgery...

From that point on things went downhill and the result of that we feel to this very day. To stay afloat we fell into a severe dept. (We didn't have any savings, could only rely on borrowing money or loans) And since I was a child as all of this happened, I've only learned about it all throughfully as I entered adulthood, so I wouldn't need to worry about anything and "just be a kid". Which I really understand, but it doesn't make it easier to handle.

And by now, for several years I keep on trying to earn money, so I could free my momma from this chain and let her live, not survive. I always wanted to get through this quietly, because I never, ever wanted to burden anyone with my home problems. But it grew to a point I might need to grab anything to climb towards the light

The goal is $10 000... which is scarily large number.

I list all the options but Kofi is preferred to keep track of the funds!

My commissions are HERE! (the sheet will receive a slight update in upcoming days) My Kofi is HERE! (Level 4 Tea is free headshot drawing every month!) HERE's other services I do (adopts, brushes, etc) I plan to do paid requests for my friday streams on occasion! Anything else I come up with I hope to include in here! Every person who donates will be part of "Thank you" list where I hope to shoutout everybody, cause every penny matters. I want this situation to end...

[evilminji]

Back at it again with the BNHA crossover Ponderings!

Nedzu is LITERALLY one of THE smartest beings on the planet, right? Like... he's probably on some internationally recognized list of Top Planetary IQs? Which is why Japan let's him get away with so much?

Cause they REALLY fucked him over, he has the power to leave, and that would be really, REALLY bad Brain Drain wise/politically for the Japanese Government? (Also pls don't become a Supervillian we literally can not afford that, Mr. Nedzu Sir? Etc etc)

You think he has... like? Chats? With the OTHER top intellects? Some kid in Siberia with the New Super Intelligence Quirk his parents can't begin to even handle, gets put in history's WEIRDEST group chat? I like to think so.

But the REASON I ask this?

What hero do you call? For Weird Shit in international waters?

Suspicious, floating, weirdly two dimensional and HIGHLY radioactive... corrosive... green goop? Rings? Orbs? CAN it be an orb if it's two dimensional? It certainly LOOKS like there is depth to it... somehow...

A THING. In the sky.

Shouldn't be there, man. This is a shipping lane. It's scaring the people on passing ships. No one knows what Quirk could have made this. Might be a trafficking victim's call for help. Might be a first Quirk Use mishap. They need to know what it IS and how to get rid of it.

They go the normal routes first. Doesn't work. Okay, call in some professionals. Kinda pricey, but no big. Right? Doesn't work. Okaaaay, call in a SPECIALIST. REAL pricey, but this thing is holding up international trade, making people in fancy ass suit all Nervous(TM).

Doesn't Work.

Specialist tells um to not to bother with calling anyone else on their normal list. Is looking at the green goo like it spat on his mother and called his dog a whore. They would prefer he NOT make that facial expression. That is a facial expression that will get them yelled at by their bosses. Fuck(TM).

Now Politics(TM) are involved. People want to STUDY the green goo. Harness it for dubious and unknown green goo experiments. Poke it with their Quirk to see what'll happen. There's fuckin REPORTER with no concept of self-preservation, trying to get CLOSER to the RADIOACTIVE POISON GOO.

Fuckin Heros have shown up.

Why are you bastards even HERE. What? Are you peacocks gonna PUNCH it? Get off their rig! Stop posing in front of the GOO!

Then? Oh thank GOD. The SMART people show up. Certified, highest grade, triple refined, PREMIUM Nerds(TM). The WAY above our pay grade folks. We're SAVED! Can we PLEASE go home now? We are just ocean cleaners! Our job is debris! Not weird GOO!

Enter, stage Super Cool Helicopters? The Elite Nerds of Earth. Of which Nedzu is one. Since Japan is closest. And it's a school weekend! He had some time.

And?

Ha ha... Thanks, he hates it! Nedzu's stoat brain is SCREAMING and he wants NOTHING to do with...? What he is somehow CERTAIN is a floating pit of Death! Interesting effect. Anyone getting that or just him?

Then? Some hot head on loan to Korea from the states? Spots something. SomeONE. And does he TELL the newly arrived professionals? So they may do a risk assessment? Figure out a way to rescue this individual SAFELY? Of course not!

Said hot head has supposedly indescribable chains! So he just flings them rights on in! Grabbing the boy from the center of the portal, pulling him free, and in the process? Immediately destabilizing it. Causing it to collapse down towards everyone bellow.

He also then proceeds to DROP the young lad, in his alarm at this entirely predictable outcome.

Right. Into. The Ocean.

A boy, who is dressed in filthy medical scrubs, haunting familiar in a way nothing should EVER be again, and entirely unconscious. Plunge down into the briny deeps and bitter cold. Alone. Abandoned. Death, thick and viscous, losing form and raining down like bile.

Everyone saving themselves.

Ah, he rather liked this suit.

The salt water ruins it. The droplets of Green, burn like molten glass each time they touch him. He will likely have at least a few new scars, after today. Assuming this is not the end of him. But he swims fast. The boy sinking slower then his size would suggest he should. He grabs hold and arcs, dragging them both from beneath the fallout of yet another humans hubris.

He does not stop swimming. Not until he knows he is near the helicopter. He is thankful, that he dragged Aizawa along. The man takes one look at his serious expression, the state of his rescued young friend, and merely hauls them both out of the water and into the machine.

Time to go.

They saw nothing, it seems. And there is nothing to be found.

The boy does not wake. Not for quite a while. Long enough, that Nedzu, perhaps unwisely, has grown attached. Is considering adoption. If only too terrorize a few goverment bodies. And... well... the boy will need some who UNDERSTANDS. And the scars paint a very specific sort of tale. But first, the most important question, when beginning these things...

"Tea? Or would you prefer coffee?"

@the-witchhunter @mutable-manifestation @hypewinter @hdgnj

[zermbie-dergon]

Little things I learned about the members of Constellation:

- Andreja feels like an outcast to the rest of the group and doesn’t feel like she’s included in their group activities.

- On the flip side, Barrett will try to invite Andreja to join him and the others in said activities and she always declines (this includes things like movie night, dancing, cooking, listening to music, board games and having drinks together)

- The members all get together to have movie night and take turns picking out the movies

- Andreja tries so hard to make jokes with Barrett but he always knows what she’s gonna say. She gets discouraged but keeps trying

- Barrett and Vlad once spent 5k of Constellation’s credits to throw a party on The Eye

- Sarah is completely against Sam bringing Cora along with him. She suggests leaving Cora with Matteo to ensure her safety. Sam becomes irritated and defensive and says Cora goes with him.

- Sam and Barrett are sports bros and love watching games together. If one of them isn’t around to watch the game, the other will record it so they can watch it together later

- Sam has terrible spelling

- Barrett is actually his last name. His first name starts with A but (as far as I know) we don’t know what the A stands for

- Sarah seems to fill a kind of motherly role of the group, checking in with Barrett after being held hostage by pirates, keeping Sam on track, watching out for Cora, reassuring Andreja, etc

- Sam and Barrett seem to cause the most trouble or make the most mistakes in the group. Barrett will try to joke and laugh it off until Sarah threatens punishment. Sam however can get grumpy and irritated when “Sarah Perfect Morgan” calls him out on it.

- Andreja has some knowledge in cooking

- Barrett does as well and will cook large meals for the group

- Cora will occasionally take some of Barrett’s stuff, usually books, without asking leading to Barrett going to Sam to get them back

- Sam seems to get easily distracted while on missions. “Sam, did you check out that thing I asked you to?” “Well I was going to but then I got caught in a goose chase-” “So did you or not?” “I was going to but then there was this thing-” “Should I just assign someone else?” “Uh that would probably be best”

- Andreja really wants to teach Cora self defense and how to fight and use a weapon. Sam is uncomfortable with it and tries to brush Andreja off. She doesn’t get the hint though

- Sam keeps an open tab at the bookstore in Akila City for Cora. She's supposed to be cut off at 100 credits but tends to overspend

- The stress Sarah is under must be obvious to the other members as multiple members of Constellation will ask if she is doing ok

- Barrett tries to get Noel to join them in space but she declines and reveals how much she is overworking herself. She then admits that she had nothing but her smarts to get her ahead in life

- Sarah is Cora’s favorite member of Constellation. Sam is her second favorite

- Not knowing where Andreja is from and her backstory drives Matteo crazy. He will vent to Sam about it who tells him to let it go and everyone is allowed their secrets

- Aja recruited Barrett into Constellation

- Sarah and Vlad recruited Andreja into Constellation

- At one point in his life, some people called Sam “Sammy”, he now detests the name and “goes by just Sam now”

- While Barrett was grieving, Aja sat with him in his room. He doesn't remember what she said but her presence was comforting and that’s what he remembers most

- Despite not having many credits himself, Sam is willing to help out those in need whether it's loaning credits to Barrett, keeping an open book tab for Cora or donating to those in need.

- Sarah is not afraid to ask Walter for money. They have some banter back and forth but Walter always signs the check

- Nadia at SSNN tries to get Sam to dig up dirt on Jacob. Despite the estranged relationship with his dad, Sam refuses

- Barrett and Sam have both been to jail at least once

- Sam and Sarah have an ongoing debate over which is the superior beer. Sarah suggests they go bar hopping one day to test their theory.

[ijustliketoreadstuff]

Zoe learned to overcome her fears of rejection.

It is no surprise that Zoe has lived one chaotic life, living practically every day in New York pretending to be someone she was not to obtain the approval of those around her. Zoe was good at acting, even considering a career as a professional actress, but what she hated was living out every day of her actual life playing a part she did not want, just so she could please all the wrong people. No matter how much she wanted, Zoe could not escape this way of life so easily, not even after she moved to Paris, as her fears of being rejected by her family wound up pulling her right back into the life she was so desperate to leave behind in New York.

Back in "Sole crusher", Andre told Zoe that if she ever truly wanted to be accepted into the Bourgeois family, then she too would need to give up her dreams, along with everything else in her life that made her who she was, and leave it all in that little cellar on the roof where no one could find it, just as he had done with his own life many years ago.

By placing her shoes into the little cellar and putting on the diamond heels Chloe loaned her, Zoe really was ready to abandon who she was and accept that she would always be fated to live a lonely life hidden behind the persona her family approved of. Back then, Zoe had hoped that moving to Paris would give her the opportunity to finally be free to be herself, but who she was was someone her own family did not want around, and if the real her wasn’t good enough for her family, then how could she be sure she was good enough for anyone else, much less Marinette and the friends she spoke of at Anarka's boat.

The idea of learning to just be herself and speak her mind to others is easy enough to consider, but it was the fear of being rejected by others that was far more terrifying to think about whenever Zoe did face someone. When Zoe went to Anarka's boat to introduce her true self, not the cruel girl she pretended to be on her first day at school when she attempted to please Chloe, we see her frowning face before finally deciding to walk to the boat and meet everyone, she was nervous, and for good reason.

Showing her true self to others was not only difficult, it was a moment of extreme vulnerability. We are used to seeing the other characters be themselves around the people that love and support them, because we know they will and have been accepted by the others, but for someone outside of that social circle, like Zoe, the struggle to be herself around unfamiliar people is a risk, she didn't know how they would react to meeting the real her, and considering she wound up being relentlessly bullied by the people she once considered her friends the last time she decided to show that sense of vulnerability in New York, it was only natural she feared the worst at Anarka's boat. If things didn't work out at Anarka's boat, Zoe would have no one to blame but herself for being incapable of knowing how to avoid such rejection all over again, and for a moment, that really was all she expected as she told everyone she would not blame them for not wanting to befriend her even after hearing her clear up any misunderstandings over her previous actions. The one person that ultimately did push her to go through with meeting everyone, was Marinette.

(Moments like in "Sole Crusher" and "Queen Banana", Marinette has always done her best to reach out to Zoe and help her when she was being treated unfairly.)

With Marinette's help, Zoe found a group of friends that loved and accepted her for who she is, but in order to keep that part of her life, she still had to do whatever she could to avoid trouble within her family now that she proved to Chloe she could not earn her place with them, after choosing to befriend Marinette. Andre came up with excuses to buy Zoe more time in Paris, but even then, Chloe was quick to threaten to turn to Audrey to send Zoe back to New York, if Zoe did not abide by her demands.

(To stay in Paris, Zoe was willing to comply by Chloe's demands, no matter how unfair they were, be it cleaning every one of Chloe's shoes or remaining confined to certain parts of the hotel. )

However, such threats to send her back to New York was all Chloe had to ensure Zoe did not step out of the line she set for her, but after finding the courage to stand up to Chloe in "Deflagration", to stop her from mistreating Marinette, Zoe did eventually come to understand that her family only had as much power over her as she was willing to permit them, and this she alone had the capability to revoke at any moment, it all depended on whether or not she was willing to find the strength to stand up and do something, rather than remain in fear and do nothing, something Marinette learned for herself back in "Origins" when she finally took a chance to stand up for herself to stop Chloe from continuing to torment her.

(In "Deflagration", Zoe finds the strength to stand up to Chloe so she could help Marinette, realizing that she too had the courage to stand up for herself and stand up for others in the same way Marinette did for her time and time again.)

Marinette and Plagg were right, regardless of who her family was and what their views were of her, she did not deserve to be mistreated by them. While Chloe and Audrey had a great sense of pride earning and upholding their names as a Bourgeois, Zoe could not care any less the more she understood her own self worth was not dependent on fulfilling her family’s expectations, their approval did not define her. So, rather than continue to withstand her family's insults and do everything she could to please them so they would refrain from sending her back to New York, Zoe did exactly what Plagg said she should do, and what Marinette showed her she could do for herself, to call the shots and not let others step all over her, and over time, that's exactly what she did.

In "Adoration" we see that Zoe never forgot that moment in Deflagration when she cast aside her fears of displeasing Chloe to stand up to her. Rather than use what she knew about her family to please them, she used what she knew to make their threats empty and useless.

Chloe always felt she was entitled to command everyone in her fathers hotel, including Andre himself, but Zoe removed that sense of control by befriending and connecting with the hotel staff as well as Andre, who were all soon quick to do whatever they could to help Zoe if and when Chloe lost her temper, allowing Zoe to use Chloe's temper against her to make matters more annoying for their mother. Audrey in particular favored Chloe and saw no wrong in Chloe tormenting Zoe, so of course Audrey sided with Chloe over the matters of sending Zoe back to New York.

To stop Audrey from ever carrying out Chloe's threats, Zoe had Chloe complain to their mother over every little thing, such as ownership of the hotel stairs, annoying their mother enough to force her to find solace away from them and ignore their constant bickering, even considering sending Chloe to New York along with Zoe if they didn't stop. 

Zoe didn’t just change things, she took back the power her family had over her, and the one thing that helped her accomplish this, was learning to change her entire perspective about herself.

Zoe learned to love herself the more she acknowledged her own accomplishments and capabilities, oftentimes through helping other people. And the love she had for those who were willing to love and accept her for who she is, especially Marinette(more here), helped her take a chance to put her foot down and build enough confidence to learn it was ok to say no to things, any rejection that came with it was just something she learned to accept came normally in life and was better to learn from it to better her own life, rather than fear it forever

At the start of "Adoration", Zoe was honest when she said it was thanks to Marinette that she was able to accomplish so much for herself. To have someone who was willing to reach out to her and show her a little love and compassion in her times of need, was more than enough to help her gradually seek out and build other supportive relationships that made her feel reassured it was ok to be herself. Zoe might not have had the loving and accepting life with her family that she'd hoped, but with every little change she made, she learned to overcome her fears of rejection and found a new family for herself in the friends who appreciated having the real her in their lives.

[phaeton-flier]

Reading Graeber's Debt: The First 5000 years.

“Actually,” I said, “I think it’s kind of amazing how much we did manage to accomplish in those first couple of years.”

“For example?”

“Well, for example, we managed to almost completely destroy the IMF.”

This is meant to be a quote about a conversation he was having at a random party, and not a history of a movement. But this is still a hell of a bad start. I would not say I "almost completely destroyed" something of I was chugging along decades later. He immediately backpedals to "we got them to reduce the requirements for economic policy for refinancing loans made to some third-world governments"

And this sort of self-congratulatory phrasing is not helped by it being framed with being in a conversation with one of those horrid liberal types who only does dumb shit, like "legal work for anti-poverty groups", who he meets at one of those cool parties he's always getting invited to full of ~~phonies~~ the petit bougoizie

[ravenbloodshot]

Jaehyun- BoyNextDoor Red + Green Flags Reading

❤️

He suppresses his real self a lot, he's someone that trys to cater to what others want from him and he could lose himself in the end trying to please others. I feel like he's expected to be the comedic relief in his friend group and when he's around strangers (or he just feels pressured to be funny/goofy). Which could cause him problems of feeling lonely when in the company of others (I also feel like the mood makers and jokesters tend to be the most depressed/unhappy. They constantly have to put up a facade of happiness)

He can help people while expecting things in return. So it's not exactly help he gives. He's loaning his time or his money or whatever, but in the end, the other person will have to pay up at some point. And he may do a bit of pestering if they take too long.

Jaehyun may use his looks/attraction to get his way. I don't think he's very patient, nor does he like to be told no (I just get a vibe of someone telling him no or setting up a boundary with him and he pushing past that and in the end getting his way). He's just a bit too forceful and persistent sometimes (this trait probably benefits him greatly in his career, but when it comes to simple human interactions, he has to learn when to quit/back off)

I'm also seeing a card here that makes me think he's not as much of a gentleman as he may seem. Of course, as an idol they have to project the perfect boyfriend image but in irl he may not be as gentle and caring. I'm not seeing this as something that's super dark or anything, it's just if he appears as a shy, reserved.... "bring my girl flowers everyday and sing her lullabies to sleep" type of guy. In reality, he's not shy at all and has a more aggressive approach. Like I said before, he's quite impatient so be may push the formalities out of the way and just get straight to the point (not really a red flag but partners could be a bit put off by this contrast between his boyfriend image and his true personality)

He can be quite bratty and childish. Doesn't realize what he has and how privileged he is. The type to come off as ungrateful when venting his frustrations. For an example, during his trainee days lets say he was one of the top picks to be debuted soon but he was complaining to one of the lower ranked trainees, who are probably not gonna debut, of how much his life sucked. He just can come off as tone deaf at times

Overall, he gives off the vibe of a guy that's super loud. Everything he does is loud, in your face, and everyone must see and know. But deep down, he's quite insecure and feels alone.

💚

He definitely is great at being a moodmaker. He knows how to uplift a room and change the atmosphere to something more comfortable/positive. Reminds me of when he was interviewing Riize and how he managed to make everyone laugh and get comfortable, especially when initially everyone was very quiet and awkward (and no offense to Riize, they're pretty but their personalities aren't that entertaining/engaging so Jaehyun being there made everything more smooth sailing).

I feel like he would be a great actor. He really knows how to show himself off in different ways, camflouge into different personalities/traits. If not an actor, variety shows are a must for him. I see that even if he's uncomfortable with acting a certain way, he could still sacrifice some of his dignity for the sake of amusing/pleasing others (not always a good thing though).

He's a very trustworthy friend, not the type to tell others business or spread rumors. His energy gives off "why you asking me, ask him" vibes. So if fans want tea on members he's not the one who will spill it, so it's best not to even ask him.

Okay I'm seeing some mommy issues, possibly a rough childhood keeps popping up in the cards. I do think bc of this he's learned to look after himself, he's very independent and resourceful. I feel like he's very street smart as well, like the type of person to know all the tricks in the book to sneak into places or get free stuff. This childhood of his could explain why he pushes past ppl's no and is as persistent as he is. Almost like being more aggressive/manipulative was what he had to be to survive. By these cards, I definitely see why he's the leader, not somebody who would've been satisfied by being anything less than the leader of his group.

Very good communicator. Probably chronically online, so fans should be careful what they post. The type of idol to respond to post and simply play around with fans. He also gives me Jackson Wang or even Heechul vibes. I feel like he befriends ppl easily, and it doesn't really matter who you are. If he vibes with you, he will talk to you. Rappers, singers, actors, foreign artists etc.... his contact list would have a wide variety of folks.

He is someone who can be very affected by the things he sees online, like hate comments and such. But also feeling like his life doesn't compare to what he sees influencers living. But I think he's learning to be less affected by these things, get some time away from his phone, and be present in the real world.

Look at Me Now by Chris Brown is a song that fits this reading's energy

[geek-fashionista]

A Business Proposal

A little while ago, I posted an interest poll for a series I'm planning. Since many of you responded that you were at least curious, I come today with... limited information. Limited, because the novel version of this series is currently being read by a literary agent.

But I've always felt that this story was too big to be contained in book format. Under a traditional publisher, I would lose the rights to my own property, so if they didn't want to see more of it, that's that for myself and the characters and the readers who fall in love with the characters. Self-publishing is harder. It needs to be a collaborative effort between writer and readers if it's going to succeed. Thus, I turn to the only audience I have with my "business proposal."

(Note: If you've been around long enough, you might recognize some of these characters from posts that have since been deleted.)

~*~

Working Title: Trainwrecks Length of Series: 8 seasons Length of Seasons: 24 episodes, 12 main and 12 bonus, posted biweekly. (Each season will last three months.) Episode Length: 1000-2000 words Setting: Seattle, Washington and its surrounding towns, between the years 2004-2015 Genre: Contemporary, YA to New Adult

Trainwrecks follows a diverse group of six best friends from high school to their mid-twenties, with all the romance, heartache, college and career decisions, and confusion that entails. Our main cast:

A bubbly, fat Puerto Rican girl with a passion for art and matchmaking (Ages: 14-25)

Her adopted, Argentinian brother, who is adept at music and pretty much nothing else (Ages: 16-27)

Their childhood best friend, an Asian/British/American guy who hides years of trauma behind a flamboyant and overbearing personality (Ages: 19-30)

His ill-tempered younger sister, who has just moved back to the United States from London after their parents divorced fifteen years ago (Ages: 14-25)

An equally bad-tempered Hawaiian/French guy with a love of photography and a hatred of bullies (Ages: 14-25)

The coolest, most beautiful Chinese girl you'll ever meet, who is fighting a sex addiction after a history of abuse (Ages: 16-27)

Main episodes will be written in story format. Bonus episodes will be in epistolary format: MSN chats, text messages, letters, blog posts, and eventually Twitter posts. Y'know, cuz Twitter didn't exist in 2004.

The main series (8 seasons, 24 episodes each) will be completely free to read and delivered directly to your email inbox. There will be character artwork, a bio page to keep track of everyone, a tie-in Tumblr account for memes, Spotify playlists for each character, and helpful things like family trees and relationship charts as well. Each season will have its own key artwork---cover art, if you will.

In addition to the completely free story, there will be extra content for paid subscribers and Patreon patrons, including but not limited to:

Sneak previews/early updates

Side stories

Back stories

Character and universe development notes

Entire AUs with different relationships or different genres

Money raised will either go towards paying artists or towards my student loans. And if the series gets really popular, I intend to launch a Kickstarter for physical copies that will include all the artwork and maybe some bonus items as well.

That's my business proposal. If you like it or have questions, comment on this post, scream in my inbox, chat me---do whatever but do it vocally because I need to know you're out there. And then, feel free to follow my Substack for updates.

[salvagesmha]

The Unfortunate Case of AFO's Infiltrators

Anyone remember these guys?

....Yeah, didn't think so XD But, they do count as like a subgroup of Villains, kinda, in MHA, for AFO's army, so I kinda have to talk about them...kinda. Sorta. As much I can really 'talk' about this bunch and what tiny scraps of info the story wishes to speak of about them.

Basically these five (yes, there are five of them, one just way off in the background and Hori even misses him in some panels that you kinda have to wonder what's the point) are All For One's spies....

And are treated with even less grace then even the Jailbreakers deal...

As a group, the saboteurs existence is meant to fulfill two roles in MHA's story:

They are an extension of the Traitor plotline, existing solely as a sort of substitute for Aoyama and his family with the trio on the side of the Heroes.

They're meant to act as a bit of conflict that can meaningfully bring the Todoroki Family together, at the cost of the minor importance in the story.

The Saboteurs live and 'die' by this these two plot points, and as such suffer in the ways of character as a result. They aren't here as genuine introspection of MHA's themes or exist to be explored. Just tools meant to enhance the final saga for the Villains side, but, like with a good chunk of the new minion villains introduced, come across as flat since they lack the depth or the foundation that prior Villains had.

Which is a serious shame since, conceptually, the idea they have is pretty good. In fact, conceptually, the idea of a group of spies under AFO has always been an intriguing one. In addition, I've always LOVED the idea of AFO leaning more into the 'business' side of being a Demon Lord. Of using his own Quirk to be a metaphorical Devil into getting people ensnared by him. It's that aspect I liked about Aoyama's reveal (as...speedran as it was XD), how he worked with Nagant and there's a lot you can do with it concerning the spies.

Were they also bound by AFO due to dealing for a Quirk? Was it maybe he loaned out money to one of them, and they needed to work for him to repay it? Perhaps they needed him for help getting away with a crime and are in too deep? So many possible ways to explore with these five...

And not a single one used. It's just a veiled implication that they have to work with him due 'reasons' and that's it.

It doesn't help that, for the most part, the Spies plot contributions are...kinda sabotaged from the start?

Like this for this instance. In their debut, AFO orders them to pretty much cause chaos by rousing people's fears and anxiety over Shigaraki being fully complete. Given how hostile a lot of people were over Deku returning to UA, it makes sense if there were other people that was still upset over his staying there. A perfect set to radicalize or push into rioting for self-preservation!!!!

...

Of course, in their same chapter - that idea is thrown out the window as Class A leaves....effectively making the above utterly pointless.

Okay, so their debut didn't go over well...but what about the final battle? They were tasked by AFO to listen to Skeptic...buuuuuttttt...well, that aspect of the War is never really seen aside from one panel that has both Tajima and Mihaera do nothing.

And when they are focused on, it's solely because they are needed as an excuse to get Rei, Natsuo and Fuyumi to the Gunga fight. Their defeat is literally one panel before they are never seen again!!!

As a group, even among the Advisors and Jailbreakers, it's so painfully obvious they were a last minute deal - because AFO having no other spies left in UA was ridiculous and just sort of waste with Aoyama gone/something needed to happen to warrant the other Todoroki's getting to Gunga - that not even Hori really cared for beyond their usage. Even the aforementioned groups above at least had one or several members that are at least humanized in some way or fashion, like Disgustus or Nagant to make them feel 'more' in some ways.

But the saboteurs? The only one given some measure of 'real' focus is Tajima. Mihaera is named too, but she's pretty much just 'Tajima's partner' (who knows how to use bombs, wtf why wasn't this focused on more!!!) and someone he can talk to. The other three are fucking nameless, with the 'alien' one being nonexistent half of the time. So no hope on their front XD

Even then, Tajima doesn't have too much going from being a desperate, dirty coward-type of double agent. Framed as being willing to get everyone but his group in UA killed if it meant he could be spared. Which, in hindsight, is strange given how sympathetic Aoyama was in how it was clear he was being used and how much the Class vouched for him in spite of it. It's a weird double standard in stories that have the minor cast not get anywhere near as much care or sympathy as major villains that I always disliked.

How should they have been used?

...I mean, Aoyama IS right there. Instead of having Aoyama be in the parking lot fight, why not have him return to UA to help sniff out detain the other Traitors within (much better sense than having him out in the open with the stragglers of the group he betrayed, right?)

Tajima can be his opponent, and perhaps be his foil. Someone who got the Quirk transfer treatment just like Aoyama, but couldn't dare to disobey AFO, unlike the Hero trainee. Something that eats away at Tajima and the desperate spies since they don't want to obey AFO either, but their fears presses them onward. Can also see another fight going on with Hagakure taking on Mihaera, whose trying to set off her bombs, and just barely managing to box her down to stop her. Perhaps, Mihaera can be the anti-Hagakure. Who opted instead to join Tajima upon finding out his AFO allegiance, in some attempt to protect him - while Toru opted to inform people about such affairs instead. One path lead both down a dark entrapment, the other path lead to both souls and more being saved.

As for the other three, in the background, they can be fighting Gunhead, Kendo and Tetsu even things out.

Of course, once they are all subdued, Aoyama and co makes it clear that they WILL beat AFO. They won't have to keep working for him anymore, and that the spies' lives won't be in danger. They'll have to pay, just like Aoyama, for their wrongdoing sure...but they will be free, too.

There, easy. The Traitor plotline is enhanced in a more natural way with Aoyama confronting those in his boat, and you can still have their actions in the main story hold weight as they still happen. It's just now we care about the spies as victims of bad deals by AFO instead of them just being fodder that's disposed of without much care.

(Of course, you need to decide how to use Kunieda now, but that's another issue for another time~)

Overall, this a bunch suffering from being a good concept, in a story that's rushing too much to give it care.