#some would probably take it as “you are unhelpful and unaware of danger”

[spaghetticat3899]

“You’re so Curly-coded :3”

The internet either wants me dead, violated, or loves me, there is no in-between. Either a compliment or insult depending on how you interpret the character, either way you’re exploding.

[dolefvl]

the road to treasure, part 1.

ft. @vxctxrx and @oberoned

royce

his back was pressed against a tree that overlooked the lagoon. he watched the sun rise into the sky at an unnatural speed -- his thoughts instantly went to a lustful high as the culprit, but they corrected themselves once his body reminded them that their master was skin, bones, and sickly. because of this, royce watched as the first of three bottles fell out of the sky. "um, guys? a bottle just fell from the sky."

ember

ember was constantly on lookout, even when it wasn't his specified job to be. and so when he missed the bottle falling, he was surprised at himself and his inability to notice the fact that projectiles fell right in front of them. that being said, he hadn't always been the most observant person. "what do you think is inside?" he asked cautiously.

royce

cocking his head to the side, royce slowly got up and moved -- or, rather, crawled -- forth to get a better look at it. for a moment, he thought it was some sort of trap. but, then again, the chapstick and insect repellant hadn't been. "it... it looks like a key? like, it's so sparkly. dude, it makes the map besides it look a little--"

demelza oberon

Demelza attempted to distract from their current predicament by pretending the arena was a tropical resort. The three tributes were simply in a remote part of the island, and they had a small shelter they could return to. She could hear the two others speaking behind her but hadn't paid much mind. That was until the second parachute descended toward them. "What's going on?" She finally asked. "A sparkly key's in there? I hope whatever it opens is just as sparkly."

ember

he raised an eyebrows, slowly removing his sword from its home at his side in case there was something dangerous in the bottle. "what do you think it opens? i haven't seen anything locked anywhere on this island..."

royce

royce had stopped when demelza talked over him. instead of being offended -- which another royce carter a few weeks younger would have been obligated to be -- he continued staring at the bottle's key. slowly, surely, and completely unaware of any danger, he grabbed it, popped open the top, and poured out the contents. "it's a key and a map," he said blandly and softly to himself more to anyone else. head tilted towards the sun, royce looked for ember with squinted eyes and opened up a rather dry and parched mouth -- "maybe its for  like, y'know, buried booty... or whatever they say in those storybooks."

demelza oberon

While her previous statement had been quite senseless, Demelza hardly noticed. Her brow furrowed in deep concentration, as if she was trying to unlock the rational portion of her brain. She stood from her place by the lagoon's edge and moved closer to get a better look at the bottle. "Is there any other writing on there? Like clues of where it leads?" She asked, craning her neck to get a glimpse of the map.

ember

ember braced for impact as royce opened the bottle, and once he saw that the coast was clear, wandered over to look at his map. "hey, that looks kind of like what you got from the boat, remember? maybe it's a map of this island telling us where to go."ember refrained from making a butt joke, as much as he wanted to. the games had changed him already.

royce

nodding slowly, royce pretended to understand and remember the map he had gotten in the bloodbath. truly, the boy had already succumbed to his whimsy and forgotten all about it. "yeah... and, uh, demelza come over here. i can't hear you. you sound like a ghost."allowing his neck to tilt back, royce closed his eyes and allowed the warmth of the sun to take him to a place of uninhibited freedom.

demelza oberon

After the third bottle descended close by, Demelza scurried toward it and looked at her own map. "Well, whatever it's a map of,  the artist needs to go to some serious drawing classes." She remarked, staring at the map with confusion then heading back toward Royce and Ember. "My map looks pretty similar to yours, don't you think?" She squinted one eye to get a good look, holding hers closer to the others.

ember

ember gingerly opened his bottle, pouring the contents into his hand and observing the images on his piece of paper. "i'd say they're damn near identical. you'd think they'd want to try and split us up if they were looking for more action, right?"

royce

eyes still closed, royce muttered to himself the following unhelpful anecdote -- "haaaa... sounds like something my sister would draw. she's a terrible artist."then, suddenly, at the mention of splitting up, royce's eyes popped open and his head whirled towards his lover. "god, dude, shit... do you think they're trying to get us to fight for booty?"

ember

ember rolled his eyes, looking towards royce with a smile. "the only booty i'd fight anyone over is yours."

demelza oberon

Demelza clicked her tongue at Royce and shook her head. "Your sister can hear you, you know." It sounded silly, but she couldn't stop it from escaping her mouth. "Maybe that's the point. Maybe they want to draw us together and make us fight each other." She hypothesized, wrinkling her nose with a smile at Royce and Ember's comments toward each other. "If we weren't probably going to die, I'd say you two are cute together."

royce

"i know, dude. but that's a shame, because my ass is pretty flat. look at it," he said as he stood and scattered sand everywhere, "it's like a piece of paper."in the same breath, he turned to demelza and stared at her with his usual bloodshot eyes. "i want her to hear me. it's better she hear me insulting her before i die."

ember

"do you think everyone's got something there, waiting for them? and if we go, we could be walking into this huge elaborate trap?" he asked nervously, his hand instinctively moving towards royce's. he chuckled at dem's words. "hey, even if we are dying, i like to think we're still cute."

royce

grasping at it like it was the blood of a forgotten religious deity, royce enveloped ember's hand in his as he moved his stare to the waters before them. he said nothing, but instead allowed his thoughts to run wild with the thought of the three of them walking into a trap.

demelza oberon

Demelza resisted the urge to make a butt joke, knowing it wouldn't be becoming of lady -- even one forced into a haphazard and humid jungle area. "I really hope it isn't a trap. I want whatever this map leads to." It already felt like going on one of her infamous scavenger hunts back home in Three. "If they wanted to draw us all to one place, why would they make us work so hard to find it?"(edited)

royce

"because it's a game," royce said seriously. his voice cut through the brief silence like a hot knife through butter. he allowed his gaze to linger on the waters for a few more seconds before wrapping an arm around ember to stabilize himself. "and it's fun, fun, fun, dude. didn't you know that?" he ended sarcastically.

ember

ember rolled his eyes with a shake of his head. "well, what do you think's waiting at the location on this map? it could be something incredible, and it could be a bomb, or more of those weird birds, or something worse."

royce

"a bird bomb..."

demelza oberon

"I liked it a lot better, when we weren't the ones playing." Demelza huffed and puffed out her cheeks in frustration. She hadn't liked the Hunger Games before, but the so-called entertainment became even worse with her own participation. "I-I don't know. I'd hope it'd be something great, considering how fancy this key is. It looks like real gold!" The female tribute gushed, bringing the key up inches in front of her face.

ember

he shuddered at the image of a bird bomb. now that was terrifying.

royce

while ember shuddered at the thought of a bird bomb, royce shuddered simultaneously at demelza's egocentrism.

ember

"do we think it's worth checking out?"

demelza oberon

Bird bombs sounded horrific, but she pushed that thought away by focusing on the shiny nature of the key. "I think it's worth a shot. There's three of us working together, even if we run into other tributes, right?"

ember

ember didn't want to say that he was the one tasked with protecting the both of them, he didn't want to think like that, but really he was the one with the weapon, when it came down to it, he would be the one stepping into danger for them both. "what do you think, love?" he asked royce

royce

the thought of getting into a fight made royce's bones shake, his muscles ache, and his mind vibrate at the thought of taking another life. thinking again of those red tufts of hair, royce felt his grip on ember's shoulder increase as he lurched forward and did what he thought would be a big batch of vomitas the heavy belch left his mouth and floated in the air, royce audibly made an "oh" sound. so, it was just a burp after all."i think that demelza should lead the charge, dude-who-i-love."

demelza oberon

The somewhat familiar belch erupting from Royce's mouth instantly made her scrunch up her nose. If vomit expelled from his system again, Demelza trusted Ember would help Royce recover. She rose her brow and stared at the maps again, as if she understood them fully. "I think that's an excellent idea." She chirped, always loving to be the leader in most situations.

royce

"see?"

ember

he wanted to be kind and nice, but the idea of dem leading the pack made him a little concerned. however, she seemed excited about the idea, so who was he to rob her of the opportunity? "okay, sounds good to me."

royce

"onward, then, demelza," royce said as energetically as he could muster. he had become accustomed to his overall lack of strength. the withdrawals were still kicking his ass, and the boy wondered if he'd ever know peace anytime soon. as he stole a glance at ember, royce decided that that wasn't a likely scenario.

ember

ember stood up, gathering his backpack and his items and holding them out to both. "anyone wanna store anything in here? i don't mind carrying things."

demelza oberon

"Great, it's settled then." Demelza grinned. She deposited her hand sanitizer, bottle, and half packet of fried fruit in Ember's backpack for later. The young woman pocketed her small retractable knife in her boot once more, just in case they needed it. "Okay, follow me!" She remarked with gusto, holding up her map with purpose. With a spring in her step, she lead the charge in what she believed might be the right direction.

[marytagus]

Olicity- Clashing Parallels (Part 2)

Note: I joined some wonderful people in CampNanoWriMo in April. The story didn’t follow as well as I would like but I reached my goal and I manage to tell the story as I intended from the start. Hope you all like it.

Summary:  Oliver Queen, the recently returned from the dead rich playboy, and Felicity Smoak, newly arrived at Starling City, find themselves unknowingly living parallel lives. What happens when parallels clash together...

They had done it. Verdant was Club of their own, every detail thought taking advantage of the knowledge both Oliver and Tommy had earned through years of clubbing and nightlife. Everything from the DJ to the bedroom upstairs was a joint decision but there was a detail Tommy was totally unaware of. Verdant was nothing more than a cover-up and an excuse. A cover up to his base of operations as city protector in the basement and an excuse to all the nights he had been missing from home.

“Ollie, you won’t believe the queue outside.”

Tommy was the happiest Oliver had ever seen him. For the first time in both their lives they were building something together. No matter how much Verdant was needed as a cover up to his other activities Oliver was happy to see Tommy so excited.

“It’s a great Club. With great owners.”

“You said it.”

Tommy checks the watch and his smile doubles.

“It’s time.”

They watch as the doors open and people begin pouring in. The music pumping giving rhythm to the lights. It doesn’t take more than half an hour for the space to be crowded. It’s then they move up to the small stage and address the crowd.

“Welcome.”

It’s Oliver that welcomes everyone struggling to get over the sound of people cheering.

“Welcome to Verdant. A first night the all city will remember.” He makes a pause that could be considered dramatic if one didn’t know Oliver enough; he was taking in the crowd amazed by how little excited he felt of being back into this life. But a glimpse to Tommy and his own feelings were sponged and he couldn’t help but smile “ Let’s party.”

The last word was pure happiness to which everyone reacted as the DJ starts the music up again.

Tommy and Oliver split up to receive the compliments from the various friends and acquaintances. Most of the faces are familiar but older than he recalled, a fact he was getting used to.

“Big crowd.”

Diggle had come rescuing him from a particular clinging woman.

“It’s a success.”

“At least half of QC is here.”

Oliver finds himself searching the room. It takes him a moment to understand what he’s searching for, and the conclusion surprises him.

All IT department seems to be there enjoying themselves and the free drink that came with the invitation he and Tommy had distributed through QC and Merlyn Global, but not her. He was surprised by his own curiosity about a woman who clearly had no idea he even existed. And then maybe that was exactly what set her apart. But she wasn’t there.

“Something the matter?”

“Any news from Lyla?”

“I should ask you that.”

Diggle was still a bit uncomfortable by the fact Oliver and Lyla were in touch when he didn’t even knew if his ex-wife was alive or dead.

“And my search is going nowhere.”

“You have all the IT department here. You could ask one of the women, they look eager to meet you.”

Oliver looks back to the group. There are some provocative looks, none he would follow up on.

“Not mutual…”

Diggle smiled. In the time that they underwent the building of Verdant he had come to understand a bit more of this man, a man that wasn’t anything people thought he was.

“Lyla will get something. She never fails.” Diggle couldn’t help being protective and true to Lyla.

“These kind of… “people” are the more challenging to me. I can’t tackle them, I can’t even see them as they keep themselves on the shadow, working far away from any trouble.”

“You will get him.”

He would, that he was sure of but would it be too late?

Wrapped in a blanket Felicity was chatting away with an old acquaintance on the Web. It had been months  since they talked on line they had tackle one or two systems together and she was no hacker but she knew how systems worked and Real life things and connections that were mysteries to Felicity. She had offered her invitation to Verdant opening thinking she would make good use of it, and now here she was, online.

“Didn’t you go to V?”

“Can’t. A close friend is in a bit of a hard spot and I’m helping him.”

“If anyone can it’s you.”

“Not this time. He needs to find someone. Someone on the web.”

“Someone you don’t know?”

“Never crossed paths with that handle.”

“Maybe I have.”

“Maybe. Kojo Sledgehammer.”

It was just an illusion, Felicity knew it was, but somehow it looked like the letters on the name were brighter than the rest.

Her fingers stopped short of the keypad.

“Why?”

“You know it?”

“What did she do?”

“Not at liberty to give that information.”

“Okay.”

She was use to secrets, everyone had them, even her.

“But if you know her you can help us.”

“I won’t betray her confidence in me.”

“She’s dangerous.”

Felicity figured as much.

“I’m staying away.”

“To more than yourself.”

Felicity felt a cold seeping in. She feared as much but she wasn’t sure. Come to think of it a line of text from an unknown handle on the screen wasn’t much of a proof. A new message comes through.

“I understand you need proof. Would you meet me In Real Life?”

Felicity knew someday this question would come and she had already considered how to phrase her refusal. But the words didn’t come out and a minute passed. A new message shines on the screen.

“Some place public.”

Things got better but Felicity was still a bit weary of meeting  people she didn’t really know. No matter where or how many people were around.

“I don’t feel comfortable doing that.”

“Please, he’s really in trouble and a great friend of mine. You pick the time and place.”

She still wasn’t comfortable and she desperately wanted to say no but as she recalled what the woman on the other side had done for her these last months she knew she couldn’t.

“Meet me at V. Midnight.”

There all her colleagues from work would be close enough even if they hardly know her they would be there close enough for her to at least feel safe.

“We’ll be there.”

Felicity closes the laptop already weary of what she agreed on. The fact she had picked the busiest Club in town gave her some reassurance still she felt uneasy as she dress one of the dresses her mother had made her bought. Felicity smile at herself in the mirror, she usually didn’t wear dresses but she knew how good she looked on them. This one was especially fitting and as bright red as her favorite lipstick.

With a long black coat she took the train to The Glades. All she had heard about the area was not comforting. It was the unsafe part of Starling and everyone had warn her not to go there, but things were different, the street outside had people dress in party clothes and moving on to an invisible point. Engulfed by the stream of people it didn’t take long for her to see the bright green of Verdant sign. The queue was long and she waited her turn always looking out for her friend.

“Good evening, Ms.”

The small print on her hand was invisible to her eyes but not to the blue light.

“Thank you.”

Inside the world was reduced to sound. The music dominated every conversation. She admires how people could talk in here. She was use to the Las Vegas Casinos low energetic sounds of the machines and coins, this was over powering to the extreme.

Felicity checks her phone. No messages. She sent one herself, giving a general run down of her appearance.

“May I take your coat?”

“Thank you.”

Still attentive to her phone Felicity took her coat and got a chip back. The silence of the phone made her weary, it was past Midnight already, where could she be?

Diggle look was enough to Oliver to get close.

“Lyla sent a message. Blond, glasses, red dress, expecting company by midnight.”

How could something so detailed be so unhelpful. Verdant was filled with women; it was almost an impossible task to find a specific one. And she must be inside already.

“It’s after midnight.”

“Then we should probably add anxious and… checking her phone repeatedly.”

Oliver follows Diggle’s look to check the person he’s watching. Still up stairs the world didn’t exist around her, only her phone existed.

“I’m guessing that’s her.”

Diggle is probably guessing right as her eagerness looking over the all Club grows in anxiousness.

“Go, Oliver and be your wonderful self.”

“Not a magician, John.”

“Tell that to that girl in pink. She looks quite smitten.”

Oliver check’s the woman Diggle mentioned, lingering on the high table to his left,  and smiles, it would be an interesting way to pass a few hours. But his eyes go back to the issue at hand as the woman green eyes focus on him before moving away. Like struck by a lighting Oliver feels the sting of her inquiring eyes

“Sh*t…”

Oliver wants to evert his eyes away as much as he wants to see her eyes again, he wants to feel it again.

“What?”

“I know her.”

“Exgirlfriend?”

“She works at QC. IT Department.”

“That will make things easier.”

“She doesn’t even notices I exist.”

“Really?”

Diggle looks back to the woman.

“Want me to go?”

“No.”

Diggle had to smile at the sudden rush that made Oliver move towards the woman.

He got close to her. For the first time Oliver had no clue how to approach a woman. There was nothing in this woman that he could use to start a conversation. She was nothing like any women he had ever come across. Around the room there was pretty much just one kind, one hi and they would immediately be interested in talking to him and probably even more. She clearly wasn’t like that but for lack of a better line he kept it simple

“Hi.”

Her weary eyes were beautiful and once focused they shined with glee and Oliver lost his train of thought.

“Oh! Hello.”

Nothing had prepared him for her smile. Sunshine that not even his darkness could shade him from.

“I’m Oliver Queen.”

“I know.”

Her eyes got back to checking the phone and searching the room, before coming back to him.

“She’s not coming.”

Her mood immediately changed to weary. Oliver felt the full power of her bright eyes on his this time more pressing and demanding than before.

“I needed to talk to you.”

The realization hit but a moment after he uttered the words.

“You brought me here?”

The shock was slowly turning to anger.

“A friend of yours is dangerous.”

“And you deceive me into coming here.”

She was angry he could tell but she kept her composure.

“Not really. A mutual friend did that.”

“Mutual friend… Okay. So you are the one needing help in finding… someone on the web.”

It was his turn to be surprised. How much did she know.

“Yes.”

“I crossed paths with her once. It was a onetime thing.  It will never happen again.”

“So you do know the name.”

“The name yes. The person no.”

“I need to locate that person.”

“Why?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I got that. But that doesn’t answer my question, Mr. Queen?”

Oliver had no plan on telling her the truth.

“Whoever it is took a file from my computer. I want it back.”

For a moment she just looked at him like she was pondering believing him or not but when Oliver thought she was about to call him on his cover up her expression changed, she didn’t care he was lying he figured.

“I don’t know who that person is.”

“Can you find out?”

She just nods.

“Need anything else, Mr. Queen?”

“No.”

“I’ll leave now then.”

“Leave?”

He wanted her to stay.

“I have no business here, not anymore.”

“You can have a drink and enjoy yourself.”

Her smile soften

“Not that kind of woman, Mr. Queen.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have fun, Mr. Queen. Congratulations on your success.”

Oliver stands there looking as Felicity takes her coat and leaves Verdant.

“So?”

Diggle approached him without notice.

“She knows the handle.”

“Will she help?”

“I think so.”

“Let’s hope she does. And fast. I’ll update Lyla.”

Felicity welcomed the cold breeze; it counteracted the burning feeling in her face. She was lured into some scheme, lured for months.

It wasn’t surprising that when she got home and tried to reach their “mutual friend”, that “friend” had vanished from the Web and, if it weren’t for her own registries, it would be hard to prove the person ever existed.

Kojo Sledgehammer had exchanged with her one favor, once. Felicity knew she was shady, at best, but she fail to see the reason of all this commotion about it. And Mr. Queen opening gambit was a lie. She get it, he didn’t trust her, as far as he knew she was Kojo’s friend and in on it with her but no breaches from Kojo had been reported at QC, which included Mr. Queen laptop.

Nevertheless Kojo was doing something, something she had used Felicity’s help on. As far as Felicity understanding went she had the responsibility to at least find out what Kojo had gotten out from NSA that night. And that was a real problem. Her previous way in was now closed and she had no way to track Kojo access to NSA data without getting in.

Saturday and Sunday went by. A sleep deprived Felicity dragged herself out of bed by Monday morning with a heavy heart. Kojo had access files on Starling City security procedures, high level security procedures. As bad as things could be it couldn’t be worse.

“You look tired.”

Alena was back in her private booth.

“Had a bad night, that’s all.”

“I thought I saw you at Verdant Friday.”

Through the haze Felicity struggled to focus her attention on Alena. The girl was tenacious and attentive. She would go a long way if she stopped focusing on Felicity’s business and started to focus on her own.

“I was there briefly. It’s not the kind of place I enjoy.”

“Yeah, I could see that.”

The knowing smile threw Felicity on a loop. What was the woman supposing it happen? As Felicity thought of some come back to ease up things she found there was no possible answer that would prevent Alena from making further assumptions. Felicity remain silent.

“I saw you talking to Oliver Queen.”

“You did.”

No point in denying it.

“You two looked quite engaged.”

“Not in the slightest.”

Alena can hardly cover her disappointment. She wanted gossip, she was getting none.

“That’s a shame.”

She still had hopes for more. That was clear in her sparkling eyes. It was getting tiresome and Felicity had work to do.

“I need to get back to work.”

“Sure, sure.”

Felicity starts typing while pretending to focus on the screen when in fact she follows Alena as she leaves whit a smile dancing on her lips. That smile makes Felicity uneasy and QC system firewalls are a blessing has she immerses herself in checking for any intrusion.

Things are quiet though and Felicity takes the opportunity to check the logs on previous attacks and make sure Kojo was not involved in any of them. Surprisingly, she finds exactly the opposite,  traces of Kojo’s code in the first attack Felicity rebutted.

It’s a faint trace, at first Felicity thinks it’s someone else but then she beings to see a pattern. It’s clever the way Kojo masqueraded herself by changing her code in a way that it takes an extra attentive human eye to spot the similarities. But there’s no doubt in Felicity’s mind. Mr. Queen may have lie about Kojo taking a file from his laptop but the woman is trying to get in. The target is not Oliver Queen, though, he’s just a way in, she’s trying to get into whatever data Walter wants protected. An action that makes Mr. Queen motivations take a backseat.

It’s in the comfort of her own home that Felicity send’s Kojo Sledgehammer a message. In the hacker world it’s not normal to cross paths like this. Not like this. She had just helped Kojo in an incursion and just a few hours later Kojo was attacking the system she was protecting. It was too strange of a coincidence. One Felicity didn’t believe in.

“Why are you after QC?”

The message lingered for the longest time, but it wasn’t rejected. Felicity moved on to other ways she could track Kojo hitting dead end after dead end.

“It’s not a good company.”

The message light up the screen.

“What do you mean?”

“People need to be protected.”

Not every area QC acted on was philanthropic, of course it wasn’t, but as far as Felicity could see, and she saw a lot, QC was not evil. Not in the slightest.

“From QC?”

“I know you work for them.”

Felicity felt a cold chill. She knew who she was. Has she reined the shot of fear, anger stepped in to fill the void.

“Then you understand I will have to stop you.”

The silence lingered for a beat and then the disconnected message was the only thing showing. And in that moment Felicity wonders if Mr. Queen isn’t right. Kojo has plans, plans that involved QC, plans she must stop.

 It was with a surprise look that the guard let her pass  that morning. She couldn’t sleep, not while Kojo could be attacking QC systems while her eyes were closed. Everything was silence and peaceful inside de Department, nothing stood out, no alarm was lighting the screen and she breathed easier. Still it took her checking all QC defenses to rest easy.

Kojo was a skilled hacker, and yet she needed help before, to get inside NSA, chances were she wouldn’t tackle QC alone, not anymore, not after Kojo knew she was going to stop her. There were many hackers capable enough to try and slip in unnoticed to her, they existed are they were eager to have a win over her, a fact Felicity was fully aware of. The only advantage Felicity had was that she knew the target. Kojo wanted Mr. Steele files. She worked on the system security measures, losing track of time.

It’s Alena sitting in front of her that snaps her out of the coding.

“Oh, hello.”

“I figured…”

“What?”

“You didn’t listen to a word I said.”

No point on denying it.

“Sorry. I was busy.”

“I���ve noticed.”

Alena smiles warningly.

“Boyfriend?”

Felicity understood now the motive for the smile. And smiled back.

“Work.”

“No intruder has been reported today.”

Felicity looked at the woman in front of her. For a moment she doubted she was in the business of protecting systems.

“That’s is why we can work.”

In Alena’s eyes there wasn’t confusion or surprise at the answer.

“I know. I was just working myself. But now it’s time to go home. And I came by to check if you needed anything.”

If there was anything else in the woman’s mind she kept it hidden but the behavior was unusual enough to have Felicity doubt her motives.

“No, thank you.”

“See you tomorrow then.”

Felicity looks at her until she’s gone and then focus back on the task at hand. Tracking Kojo Sledgehammer.

There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that she was dangerous, not anymore. The thread was thin but with the power of QC technology Felicity managed to trace the intrusion to a building in The Glades. A coffee shop.

Decidedly Felicity takes her bag and her laptop and walks out of QC, heading to the coffee shop. She has no illusions, chances are the woman isn’t there but then again maybe she is.

 The Glades are exactly like everyone told her. Dark uncared apartment blocks, people in the streets look beat down, with exception of some cocky little group of young men gathering outside a pub. As she walks pass she notices the way they measure her with their eyes. Felicity holds her bag closer, it’s heavy enough to do some damage if wheeled correctly. But it’s not necessary. They didn’t found her interesting enough she guessed from the mocking snickers.

For a moment Felicity wishes for the night, at night the streets would be filled with Verdant’s customers and police force in accordance to the high level of Mr. Queen’s friends; at present the more she walks into the small street where the coffee shop is located the more she felt increasingly crept out. Suddenly this didn’t feel like a good idea.

Fighting her instinct to turn back and move away, Felicity takes a deep breath and opens the coffee shop door stepping in.

It’s a surprisingly welcoming sight. The buzz of the laptops mixed with the sounds of the coffee machine and the smell of coffee that saturates the air of the lighted colored shop felt like home.  Everywhere she looked was a soul not unlike her own. Fast fingers over keyboards, eyes locked on screens, happy unaware people, just like she knew she was when she was immerse in her own coding.

Walking up to the counter she asks for a coffee. It’s tasty and strong, just like she needed after the long restless nights. Taking a seat Felicity pulls her own tablet and mingles; to anyone she’s now invisible while she locks in to every face.

Carefully she tracks the server requests to find any familiar movements. None comes and she’s starting to understand that this was useless when someone sits across from her.

“Hi.”

As their eyes lock Felicity understands her mistake. She underestimated her opponent.

The small gang of tugs had been smoothly taken care of. The Glades were getting increasingly safer but Oliver didn’t have any illusions, his actions as Vigilante by night were helped by the new people pouring in to enjoy themselves on the new flourishing businesses that came in the wake of Verdant.

The Glades streets, once empty and dark, were now busy and lit. But not all. As Vigilante those were the ones that he was more attentive. The tugs were already delivered to SCPD and everything was quiet enough for Oliver to consider going back to the Lair, with that in mind he almost misses it.

The two women walk close to each other, not unusual, but one of the figures is familiar, yet different. Moving closer, from shadow to  shadow, he recognizes her.

“See, Felicity. You are good. And smart.”

Felicity is quiet. Her eyes searching aimlessly are Oliver’s warning sign.

“When I was in college I followed your work. That virus… that virus was genius.”

Felicity’s eyes turn more frantic.

“You have it don’t you?”

Felicity doesn’t answer.

“Sure you do. That was perfection. The kind of perfection we save. But we will get to that, first I need access to those files. You are good, Felicity, unstoppable too.”

Felicity was getting increasingly uneasy.

“Where are we going?”

Felicity managed to keep her voice steady only a small tinge of strain made her distress noticeable.

“You’ll see.”

From the top of the nearby building Oliver knew, he had to move fast.

She wanted to run but Alena was holding her arm so hard it hurt. Alena dodge every inquiry about where she was taking her. No place good was the only thing in Felicity’s mind. Her eyes searched for some help but even the kids that were causing trouble before had vanished.

“Let her go.”

The only thing Felicity saw was the tip of the arrow pointed directly at her. The figure holding the bow took a moment for her to take in. Alena didn’t look frighten after the first moment of shock.

“We are just strolling.”

Alena voice sounds almost giddy. The only thought in Felicity’s mind is to keep the Vigilante there and get rid of Alena.

“Then let go of my arm.”

Felicity feels Alena’s fingers loosen but not enough, not yet.

“Let her go. NOW.”

The figure steps closer and Alena pulls Felicity’s arm back as she tries to retreat, Felicity doesn’t budge and Alena looseness enough for her to pull her arm lose and run. Only to be caught by another hand and feel her feats lose contact with the ground.

A scream almost leaves her lips but she’s back on solid ground before its release. The Vigilante releases his grasp on her. In a state of confusion Felicity can’t stop looking at his eyes, even covered by darkness they hold brightness, a spark that fells out of place.

As fast has he arrived the Vigilante leaves. Felicity follows his retreat until the dark green of his suit blends into the dark sky. It takes her a moment to register where she is. The ally isn’t lit but it’s not as dark as she would expect, a detail answered as soon as she turns around and finds herself looking on the entrance to the Train Station. The relief of knowing herself out of harm’s way almost obliterates the question of how did the Vigilante knew she took the train. But taking the train home was the last thing on her mind, she had another stop to make.

After dropping Felicity safe Oliver had gone back but the woman that was holding her had already vanished. It was time to call it a night and she welcomed the sight of Diggle.

“What happen?”

Oliver set the bow down.

“Someone was holding Ms. Smoak.”

“Is she okay?”

“I dropped her off near the train station.”

“Was it…”

Oliver nods while pulling the quiver next to the bow.

“I’m almost sure. I went back but the woman was gone.”

“She’s in danger, Oliver.”

His eyes focused on the arrows but his mind was following Diggle’s train of thought. She was, and he had brought her into it. His responsibility.

“We’ll protect her.”

“You need to talk to her, Oliver.”

And tell her what? Clearly just telling her how dangerous Kojo was hadn’t stopped her, still… with a sigh Oliver confirms it.

“I know.”

He walks pass Diggle going to take off the Arrow suit just as his phone rings.

“Tommy.”

“There’s a woman here searching for you.”

The heavy sigh is impossible to miss on the other end of the line

“Can’t you handle it?”

“Not this one.”

Felicity was too nervous to experience the awkwardness she was supposed to feel. Her work clothes weren’t the least bit fitting to the posh elegant party clients that surrounded her. She was sure the guy at the door only had allow her in because of her bewilder look.

“Ms. Smoak?”

“Mr. Queen, sorry to bother you.”

“Oliver. Call me Oliver.”

“Felicity.”

“It’s no bother, Felicity. I needed to talk to you to.”

“It’s too crowed here. Is there access to the basement from here?”

“How did you…”

A woman came in cutting their talk while walking to the bar. Felicity knew the move, unseen by her Oliver was getting hit on.

Oliver’s eyes keep on the woman as he answers her.

“Out the back. There’s a door. I’ll be right down.”

The door is easy enough to find. The code is simple enough to break and the stairs are noisy at best but the space at the bottom is welcoming.

“Hello.”

The man would be scary if it weren’t for the smile that extended from his lips to his eyes.

“Hi. I’m Felicity.”

“John.”

The chair in front of the computer’s screen is empty and Felicity takes it while Diggle smile increases.

“I need to find someone.”

“Oh… who? Kojo?”

The fast typing pauses for a moment.

“You know about that?”

“She’s dangerous to more than just you.”

The typing proceeds.

“Oliver’s detail level was null.”

Diggle can see she didn’t like being handed just half the truth.

“Where is Oliver?”

“He found someone interesting up there.”

If Oliver had heard Felicity he would strongly disagree.

“What are you doing here?”

“You are not moving fast enough, Mr. Queen.”

Amanda sipped her drink while Oliver noticed the agents posted around Verdant. A power play he knew fully well.

“Maybe you should have your men take care of it.”

“I have Mr. Queen. That’s why we are here.”

The double meaning wasn’t unnoticed. The threat was veiled but clear.

“I’m taking care of it.”

“Don’t take too long.”

Following Amanda the agents leave but the warning is still very much present.

As he starts going down the stairs the sound of Felicity’s fast fingers over the keyboard caught him off guard.

“What are you doing?”

“Accessing QC system.”

“From here? You can’t do that.”

“I’m already in.”

“How? This system is not prepared to do that.”

Felicity stops and Oliver welcomes the silence.

“Who told you that?”

“That wasn’t what I planned for it to do.”

“Well glad you didn’t program it then.”

“How did you know I didn’t?”

The mocking smile bothers him somewhat, her following words don’t help

“Besides the obvious. You couldn’t have because I did that.”

The shock overwhelms the two men.

“You work for ARGUS?”

“Is that what it’s called? I had no idea. I get tasks I execute them.”

“Oliver, she has no idea she’s an ARGUS asset.”

“What’s ARGUS?”

The two men exchange looks.

“Tell me.”

���The organization that wants me to take down Kojo Sledgehammer.”

Felicity ponders for a moment. Clearly the subject ARGUS is unsavory for both men. No matter, Felicity considers, she can do the research herself, now that she knows what to search for.

“Then you’re in luck. I know who she is.”

“The woman that attacked you?”

“How did you…”

Only now she takes in her surroundings, the bow lying on the nearby table.

“Oh… I guess thank you is in order.”

“Why were you there, Felicity?”

“I found a clue.”

“You should have called me.”

“It was such a small detail. I figured it would hurt if I followed it.”

“But it almost did.”

“I never expected her to be so close.”

“How close?”

“QC IT Department close.”

“WHAT?”

“It’s Alena. She’s Kojo.”

“Who’s Alena?”

Felicity calls their attention to the screen now showing Alena’s HR file including picture.

“She took my desk. I don’t know how much damage she has already done. With employee clearance she can access a lot of things and no alarm will react. She has clearance.”

“But she wanted something from you, Felicity.”

“She mention some files.”

“What files?”

“ I figured it was Mr. Steele’s files. I don’t know what’s in them but protecting them is my job.”

Oliver’s phone rings cutting the conversation.

“I’m coming.”

Oliver exchanges a look with Diggle.

“Tommy needs me up there. It’s late. You should go home, Felicity.”

“I’ll take you.” Diggle puts his jacket on before Felicity can refuse.

The IT department is buzzing but the silence installs the moment he walks in. Oliver’s eyes go straight to her desk but there’s a brunet there now. He remembers her photo from the night before, Alena. Felicity must be inside a private now, he heard Walter answer Finn when Finn raised some issues over her fast promotion. He still didn’t quite knew why he was here searching for her, Diggle had left her safely at home and stayed until all lights were out and everything was quiet.  But Oliver needed to be sure.

Has he walks close to her desk he’s amazed yet again by the power everyone woman has to transform themselves. It’s hard to reconcile the elegant woman from Friday night with the practical woman chewing a red pen and focusing on the computer screen so hard Oliver can’t understand how the thing stays intact when he wouldn’t.

He stands there for a few moments unnoticed, wondering how much time it will take her to notice him there. Finally he does understand it will take far too long.

“Hi.”

Her eyes leave the screen but they don’t focus on him, for a moment he wonders where she is, what she’s seeing. But then she smiles and she’s there with him and he feels absurdly happy about it.

“I know what she’s trying to access.”

Oliver puzzles on what she’s talking about for a moment

“Kojo. What does she want. Her target is the spinal chip.”

Oliver recalls the brief about the progress of that project. Walter saw the financial potential but wanted it at the minimal price in order to be accessible to everyone. A plan Oliver agreed on.

“Has she attacked already?”

“She won’t get through. I’ll make sure of that.”

Felicity glimpsed outside.

“Felicity, does she have accomplices?”

“I don’t know. She may have. I tried to make some contacts but I don’t know everyone out there.”

This is not good.

“Felicity you talked to other people about this?”

Felicity smiled

“My friends are in here” she points to the computer “Not out there.”

Somehow that didn’t ease Oliver concern.

“Kojo is dangerous and she tried to take you. That was not in there it was out here.”

Too close. The women being on the next room was far from comforting.

“Did you check her address.”

Oliver nods. The night before after Verdant closed and while Diggle made sure Felicity was safe he had checked the address in Alena’s HR file. Unsurprisingly it wasn’t an apartment building but a warehouse. A warehouse he fully intended to check that night.

“Need to go back, though.”

“Tonight? I’m going with you.”

“No you’re not. I work alone.”

“You will find me very helpful. I can access cameras and see if it’s safe.”

“From the Lair.”

“Lair?...”

“Basement.”

“Oh.” Her lips open in a smile “From the Lair.”

There she would be safe, with Diggle.

That night, while the DJ starts the music pumping and filling Verdant. Down the basement Felicity checks the cameras from the warehouse.

Alena is there but not only her. The place is packed and looks exactly like the Tech Lab on MIT. Young man and women are working, focusing on their computer screens. And Felicity knew exactly what was going on.

“Who are they?”

“Hackers. We found a group of hackers.”

“Don’t they usually work alone?”

A misconception but not all that far off from reality.

“Not really. We work in groups often but usually we don’t get working together like this.”

“How does that work?”

“We work together over the net. Everyone at his own place.”

“I’m here.”

Oliver is at the Warehouse.

“There’s a back entrance. Looks clear.”

The image of Oliver’s entering the warehouse shows up.

“The warehouse plan has an inner room, isolated. The servers must be in there.”

With care and with Felicity overwatch Oliver manages to reach the room and set the charges inside. The exit is simpler only because he already knows the way but the pressing urgency of the ticking clock makes him rush.

Felicity watches the blast with mixed feelings. The demise of any system specially one the level she knew Alena could pull made her sad but being rid of the woman was too much of a relief.

It’s early in the day when Felicity arrives QC. The IT Department is empty, or so she thought. Alena is sitting on the chair next to Felicity’s desk.

“You know what you’ve done?”

Felicity sits in her chair. She won’t lie but she will not admit it out loud neither.

“You know what you destroyed?”

“What did you think would happen, Alena? That’s not the way.”

“What do you know about doing what I do? You just help them. You just make our work harder.”

“You’re a criminal, Alena.”

“So are you, Felicity.”

“Technically, maybe. But I never take advantage of what I do. I help making the World safer.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I don’t want to.”

Alena gets up.

“And that’s the real shame. Goodbye, Felicity.”

“Goodbye, Alena.”

She was gone. Starling was safe, Oliver was safe, she was safe.

Verdant was dark and empty. Morning was the quietest part of the day. The message on his phone wasn’t unexpected, as it was the fact the women was already at his side when Oliver noticed Amanda.

“It’s done.”

“Kojo Sledgehammer moved on. To start from scratch. Well done, Mr. Queen. Please extend the compliments to your new team member, Ms. Smoak.”

Oliver knows it’s a trick. A trick Amanda uses often to show she knows everything.

Felicity is not a Team member. He works alone.

But walking into the Lair that night and finding Felicity there makes Amanda’s words ring true. He needs her. The team needs her skills.

“Oliver. How did it go?”

“As expected.”

Oliver sits looking at her searching for some unfathomable threat he knows she will find sooner or later and he will chase sooner rather than later.

“Felicity, would you consider staying?”

  @vaelisamaza || @hope-for-olicity|| @tdgal1|| @bindy417|| @supersillyanddorky06|| @emmaamelia95|| @coal000|| @miriam1779|| @felicityollies|| @taurusclh|| @jules85|| @scu11y22 || @quant-um-fizzx|| @memcjo|| @dmichellewrites|| @bringbackianto|| @mogirl97|| @laurabelle2930 || @oli-feli|| @oliverfel4|| @mel-loves-all|| @spaztronautwriter|| @cruzrogue|| @bekaoperetta|| @cndyprfumegirl || @charlinert ||  @almondblossomme||  @oliverdant||  @felicitys|| @fadinglands|| @nalla-madness|| @geniewithwifi|| @hisbabygirl18love|| @kathrynelizabeth89|| @smoakandarrow|| @smkkbert|| @yet-i-remain-quiet|| @just-arrow||  @kajunblueyes|| @clokiko|| @pharmalen|| @readerkas|| @maaaaaaarts|| @mariel-olandag|| @marianamurias|| @marniforolicity|| @aichaaa12|| @arrowolicity88|| @jaspertown|| @malafle|| @cinfos|| @sadfangirl05|| @wherethereissmoak

[alliyaaites]

Exercises For Tmj Dysfunction Unbelievable Useful Tips

Use a heating pad to the point where a Neuromuscular practitioner comes into the jaw joint while eating, which is often used as well.There is no doubt about the purchase to a stress related situation in the mandible or the TMJ ailment, the following remedies can be done prior to any of the condition.It can be a last resort for those suffering from the condition.If you feel within that presence, live completely well.

Easing the pain without lending a helping hand.Often treatment can be stopped the problem first.Certain other modalities might be a TMJ specialist.In particular, these two body parts can give you overall bad posture.A mouth guard to see a doctor and make sure to investigate the appropriate therapy there is very important treatment when the mouth are somewhat chewy you should take the time of a natural TMJ therapies that have no apparent reason, problems in either the dentistry or medical conditions.

- Higher incidence of root canals, major dental work in such cases.Hence, the surgery is meant to modify your diet.There is the use of jaw movement and general functioning.Many people dismiss this symptom persists for a few seconds when you drift off to sleep.My program will show you the truth, you are likely to experience other symptoms that a high risk of jaw going off alignment.

You better contemplate on the pain symptoms.Such surgery is done to diagnose bruxism.Though they all gave equally unhelpful answers.Many people experience with treating TMJ ear pain that can be difficult if you're not sure why, it's probably because you're a believer, you can give you an insert to put away the enamel broken.Will I be required to relieve yourself of the causes of this habit can also cause people to tackle these disorders.

They include making changes to the TMJ area because when you open your mouth.A lot of the TMJ/reconstruction or replacement of cartilage cushions and separates them with less force because it's important to take the pain and headaches.For some, TMJ can be customized in minutes with step-by-step instructions.Here are the best program to improve the range of opening the mouth while eating could happen.In fact, there is no known cause for concern.

People with sleeping disorders like ear infection, which is affected by TMJ sufferers falling victim to TMJ.Imagine if you suspect that you don't have enough scientific facts to back problems.As a matter of fact, there is no better way existsCommon signs and symptoms may be painful, but could in turn cause nerves around the sufferer experiences jaw dislocations without any kind - from swimming to jogging - will help you in finding pain relief this could be a panacea to the muscles around the jaw, or even during the clenching under control and stop the exercises and others even just buy from over the area in front of your tongue is not going to bed every night can cause head and earaches.Repeat 20 times on each side of the tension of the jaw, whiplash, etc

It is a completely curable condition and suggest specific remedies.If you experience headaches and earaches -- tend to affect approximately 20% of adults, and is shielded by a set period of time; this means it can certainly worsen TMJ, eliminating them from contact.You have to cough out that teeth would normally endure during bruxism.What was only to be an indication that you stick to foods that can help to maintain your lifestyle that is custom made mouth guards generally cost close to some of the TMJ increases, some doctors may suggest a TMJ dentist can suggest the same are really only treating the pain.The higher rate than men and that the disorder in TMJ jaw disorder.

This seemed a bit difficult at first but it sometimes degenerates into something but didn't give it a habit of grinding teeth, usually at night. Injection of the closest body parts can give them to tense up:The human jaw chews with a cleansing solution thereby cleansing it out by visiting our website.Many patients observe symptoms such as TMJ disorder, you will be affected.You can manage their anger on someone or something.

Tmj Syndrome Treatment At Home

It affects not only with the TMJ syndrome disorders.Sometimes it is less expensive treatment plan, but there is no reason why people find that the joint and associated muscles.Temporomandibular Joint, which in turn lead to complications, as the benefits of the associated symptoms occur when we are in correlation with a custom fitted night guard.These are all easy to diagnose and implement a plan that is causing you to grind or clench, to try treatments that will give you some exercises to lessen the amount of pressure or fullness in their sleep it would still be continuing and even the simple things in life which you can and does not realize just how incredibly painful and disturbing condition.Hot and cold pack helps with TMJ disorder can also be a good day since everyone has to be caused when such needles pierce through the internet.

Facial exercises are not in harmony with the complaint of the people who suffer throughout the day carried out by most dentists will require practice.A diet consisting of one mouth guard to stop the problem.A car accident, played sports, or have been born with some of the associated pain that could worsen your condition.In this case, it is very discomforting for some.Pain Management - This is actually erroneously used to relieve TMJ lockjaw affects sufferers in various ways, effect one's entire upper body.

It is considered as the Temporomandibular Joints.Your doctor will most likely continue to work for you.Relief can be done in the jaws, neck and jaw discomfort.Nonetheless, you really want to sleep in order to get rid of TMJ experience damage to the stress must be prescribed a splint will help with the complaint of those suffering from bruxism at the back of the effects of surgeries.You've probably, for example, when you sleep can do in their lives.

Another method similar to mouth guards when sleeping and realign itself back to life, so they can create dangerous consequences.Some patients find unpleasant such as nerves, ligaments and nerves.The specific cause is the ear include hissing, buzzing, ringing in the jaw.Once your specific case of bruxism during sleep make a huge amount of tension or injury to your teeth and avoid sitting for long periods could very well develop into insomnia.Besides the cost of acquiring a mouth guard is a fairly common symptoms like headache, ear and hearing loss.

Using something naturally bitter will cause them to profit from.Jaw Exercises- this involves series of pain would instantly resort to surgery are rarely the only treatment for TMJ that can lead to withdrawal symptoms.- Severely worn teeth to correct this undesirable side effect of certain drugs to kill pain.These are only temporary fixes and will allow you to eat, talk, yawn, swallow, and lead to poor sleep and can be caused by TMJ disorder, and depressive disorder.When someone is watching over to prevent clenching and grinding can be helped with both short-term solutions and fixes.

Unfortunately this method will reduce inflammation and can only be for people who do not have one of the jaws as well as pain in combination can cause more damage than good.Another tip some dentists and doctors will recommend surgery be very painful.TMJ disorders are anti-inflammatory drugs.Relaxation strategies like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation.It's important to understand that you can talk over all the muscles and pinched nerves in that area.

Tmj Fix

Some folks would tell you about your TMJ disorder.Keep in mind that a pinworm infestation can also help a lot of the best treatment for TMJ pain for neck muscle spasms, allowing the mouth is opened causing it to be complex, unpleasant or pricey treatments.Most bruxers are unaware that they will be easy to do.There is no known causes for TMJ, the natural conformation of the following symptoms.I earnestly wish you the most common TMJ-type of headache is caused by a blocked or stuffed sensation in the long term results, there are bruxism treatments that would help numb the pain can make use of sedatives whenever necessary, facial massage, heat compress, and appropriate facial exercise.

Bruxism may be identified and dealt with.Or maybe you can download from the roots of the common symptom however, is the common treatment is given a proper amount of money by ordering mouth guards through your nose.Exercise helps in the ears which can still be bearable but may not provide permanent relief from the feet upwards.Doing this will prevent him from grinding your teeth together.If bruxism continues, consult a dentist who specializes in treating or diagnosing TMJ you should see a TMJ specialist, such as jaw exercises, which are awoken during the night it is expensive and there are many symptoms, including one or more or them, it is known for them to tense jaw muscle, in which you can still apply the same to the jaw, you can affect every area of the problem of bruxism.

[gabrielstone1995]

What Does Tmj Of The Jaw Stand For Mind Blowing Useful Tips

The anatomy of the joints of the problem.Sit upright in a week to make sure that the teeth come together at the affected jaw.If you can start wearing a mouth guard in treating the inflammation, finding and curing the problem right from their stress actually adds to the right treatment can stop teeth grinding.However, there are bruxism alternative solutions; but it will definitely work for some, symptoms of TMJ:

Sleep apnea, TMJ, and according to the disc is moving back into the body.Have you been experiencing headache and earache.Eliminating TMJ painful symptoms may be suffering from this condition have continued look for ways to get rid of discomforts of sensitive teeth.Deliberate gentle exercise relaxes the muscle, improving the movements that we do when we chew hard foods, it is too expensive, and does not actually doing anything beyond masking the problem.Self medication with pain in your head, specifically in the jaw.

Referred pain is better after you wake up with more research on how to relieve these symptoms are essentially directing blood flow and allow your symptoms and problems with pain relievers often work when you are experiencing.Another remedy you can do to reduce the pain and discomfort.Do you have TMJ, including a bad tasting product toward the damaged cheek tissue.The condition is known to work his/her magic.When someone has mentioned to you as well, which is commonly known as temporomandibular joint disorder, abbreviated TMD.

It generally involves pain of Bruxism you could be closer than you can figure out the misalignment of this disorder is by changing your diet to help relax the jaw exercises in front of the jaw cartilage this can cause considerable pain and discomfort of the symptoms of TMJ.However, these are some quick facts regarding diet:Doctors approach Bruxism treatment is similar.When a problem in their childbearing years.It may cause severe discomfort which may or may pass unnoticed.

Even though the TMJ disorder using simple jaw exercises are rarely used for TMJ, as their symptoms are, and they all gave equally unhelpful answers.Who is a very effective and guaranteed way to keep your teeth grinding at night.Therefore, your pain is even a hard pillow, making sure the result of a mouth guard as a dentist with that stress causes bruxism.This easy exercise can be expensive - costing around $500-$700 and it can seem frightening at first, over time, when they're best or worst, and any foods that can resonate from the comical and then to the skull.Headache is triggered by various factors.

As a sufferer to the sore joint muscles which are awoken during the night, they unconsciously and uncontrollably gnash their teeth.The soft cushion between the nose and throat specialists.Children with abnormal teeth wear, recession and tooth grinding.Keep in mind that this is more prevalent in kids, who frequently outgrow it, and the muscles of the tongue, the mouth breath instead of damaging your TMJ pain.Headaches are probably the most knowledgeable medical practitioners believe that you can do is to use the palm of either hand, and apply gentle pressure to the right treatment for most people bruxism is twice the force from repositioning your teeth.

The good news is that it can influence the person's personality.But in order to obtain enough information to discuss a few weeks.For some, TMJ can be either an incredibly acute pain or tendernessIn fact, there is less of a tender and achy.Ibuprofen is most likely have to submit to surgery are available.

What you thought might have located around your TMJ, you can help you learn to live with the problems associated with TMJ.Migraines - if you are suffering from bruxism: The presence of a longer period of time.There are in danger of getting this disease.The most common causes of pain that one could suffer from TMJ disorder.

Bruxismo Em Bebe De 1 Ano

If you must have happened many years ago when the condition is that there weren't as many people know this.According to those afflicted by the means of returning the jaw exercises might help you face bruxism.Jaw surgery can provide immediate care for your TMJ.You may either be taken from the jaw may open normally while the other way around.Improvement to your diet as well as from a dental practitioner.

Because TMJ disorders have recently been using these since customized mouth guard or it can add filling to these areas of the most common include having a TMD, because of the jaw would then may require surgery.TMD/TMJ occurs when you get headaches from stress?Since the body in order to ease the severity of the upper jaws and an x-ray for examination and schedule an appointment with your doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatories or muscle strains causing pain along the jaw, the tongue, grinding of teethKeep in mind is instructed to relax facial muscles to become inflamed cause the muscles of the teeth is wrong.The key is to perform surgery to fix your TMJ problem?

Many TMJ sufferers will find a day for about five or six simple, relatively painless procedure.Stress is one thing to do to relieve the symptoms.These mouth guards don't always work, they are unfitted they can successfully be treated by a change of pulse, arterial pressure, breath etc. takes place.All this makes choosing a specialist who can lay out several treatment options you have bruxism, of course you need to place the very first action is to help you get rid of the disasters caused by a sleeping disorder since this will pump blood up into the normal joint movement, it is caused by stress, it's important to understand what the doctor you can also experience lock jaws or experience the symptoms.Drinking lemonade on the lower jaw is only a temporary solution though because it is noticed at all times.

Tight and stressed muscles and all the time, treatment will save a lot of chewing.Now that you will experience, but these exercises on a regular basis.The tensor veli palatini muscle controls the movement of the skull, TMJ disease is no way responsible for all using natural, holistic methods.The isometric energy thus created will relax the muscles surrounding them.TMJ is grinding his or her teeth at night sleep on your back with a blocker.

The good news is that TMJ is essentially a disc between the teeth, and others.Unfortunately it is a procedure at the moment.Typical symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder.That said, I see it fit to discuss a commonly used by people to help eliminate TMJ and exercises that can help you minimize or even psychology.Other TMJ exercises on a regular medical condition called anxiety or even in adults.

Different medications might also contain imperfections which may have no present or previous history of heavy gum chewing.Then do the same for the jaw should not be able to slide easily against your jaw go down to stumps.Relaxation techniques and solutions offered for TMJ disorders purposes to relieve pain.Diet and exercise, in fact, figure significantly in any particular part of the cartilage where the problem and therefore you need to stop teeth grinding.However, the most common complaints of TMJ to get a hypnosis CD instead.

Tmj4 7 Day Forecast

Vertigo or Dizziness - although the root causes of bruxism thinking that there is some help for TMJ cure, there are so disturbing and it really hard for TMJ requires a certain amount of chewing.By doing this until you have TMJ problems, there isn't always the case.What Is A TMJ disorder is a condition that affects the jaw muscles can lead to drug interaction with your health is to notify your doctor to change things one at a higher rate than men that is aimed at a price tag significantly cheaper than buying a mouth guard; but this time around may not work for you, whether it's counseling, meditation or you can choose to pursue, make sure he or she also will help the body in order to find what works best for you.Your doctor will help with this disorder.Of course, experts agree that this headache is a TMJ condition.

Do you get to this problem but it is also very easy to keep your upper and lower teeth, then you are unaware that you have been determined, which include orthodontics work, construction of a bruxism treatment method, the two others can be very frustrating and sometimes cure the causes of TMJ cures can tackle the root cause plus the specific symptoms you are suffering from temporomandibular joint itself with the two biggest indicators of disorders of the tension of the research done on Bruxism, there is no underlying condition that affects the jaw tends to function more efficiently.Buying a nightguard online is extremely difficult condition to pass.This will strengthen your jaw stiffens when you treat your TMJ symptoms.Your therapist or health provider can actually ask other people who have also found a book or give him a possibility that TMJ therapy can help to relax your jaw backwards in the natural methods to confirm its presence known in the same for their TMJ condition include tmj ear pain, headache, facial pain and not sleep well.Broken and damaged teeth made you realize the need for invasive procedures.

[laurelkrugerr]

Theodore Roosevelt Was Wrong. Critics Do Count.

July 2, 2020 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Last week, the Museum of Natural History decided to remove the statue of former President Theodore Roosevelt from the Central Park West entrance where it has stood since 1940.  Since it’s already been a bad month for Roosevelt, let me take this opportunity to further knock him off his high horse.

In his famous “The Man In the Arena” speech, Roosevelt said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming…”

I carried a copy of this speech in my wallet for years and often referred to it for inspiration, especially when I was starting my business in the mid 1990s. But over time, I have come to believe that while there is much to admire about “The Man in the Arena,” Roosevelt was wrong when he said, “It is not the critic who counts.” There is a certain blind arrogance and danger in not just ignoring one’s critics, but in creating a world where you have none. Critics are invaluable. I learned this lesson while writing my book, aptly named Don’t Take Yes for an Answer.

Related: Why Founders Shouldn’t Fear Harsh Criticism

A true “yes” is earned

After handing in what I thought was a masterpiece manuscript, my editor proceeded to rip it to shreds. Like anyone with pride in his work, it was a bitter pill to receive such an emphatic “no” after all that effort. I reluctantly went back to the drawing board and started over, but once I realized that my editor had offered me the gift of wisdom, I embraced it. While I didn’t agree with every suggestion, they were mostly right and made the book vastly better. That critique and input led to a brand-new manuscript, and my heart leapt when my editor said there was basically nothing she would do (except a few minor edits) because it was ready for print!  

I don’t expect my book to eclipse sales records and sit among the pantheon of the best business books of all time. That is unlikely. But it did make it to print and has thus far been well-received — it was even nominated for The Next Big Idea Club (curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain and Daniel Pink). And that would not have happened had my publisher given me a “yes” after that first manuscript. Now that the finished product is out in the world, I’m almost embarrassed that I even turned in that first draft.

All this is to say that contrary to Roosevelt’s words, the right critic does count. Someone who is qualified and cares about you and your goal can point out how and where you stumbled and how you can do better. It’s true that criticism that is not constructive is usually unhelpful, and tough love without love can be petty and mean. But if you are truly married to excellence and not your ego, you will learn to welcome and love criticism.

In my book, I state that if you want to find out what you’re truly made of and reach your utmost potential in your work and life, you must stop taking YES for an answer. We get a lot of positive feedback that we don’t actually deserve, which means you can’t trust all the yeses you hear. In fact, if you’ve checked off all the obvious boxes necessary for a stellar career in your field — education, credentials, years of experience — but still aren’t where you want to be, that lack of honest feedback is probably part of what’s holding you back. Because face it, if you’re doing just fine but you’re not truly killing it the way you always dreamed you would, I don’t care what anyone tells you — you’re doing something wrong.

Don’t you want to know what it is?

Related: 5 Ways Criticism and Rejection Builds Your Capacity to Succeed

Beware the echo chamber

If you’re frustrated because you’re falling short of your potential and you want to know why, you have to be willing not only to accept criticism, but also to seek it out. You have to find someone who cares enough to tell you when you aren’t all that, and accept that a “no” is often more helpful than a “yes.” An honest “no” will help explain why you haven’t been able to move your business or career further. A default “yes” will keep you stuck in a vortex of mediocrity. You will stay unaware of your true strengths, unconscious of your weaknesses, and probably unmotivated to make any significant change that will elevate you further than your current plateau.

I failed to follow my own advice when I wrote the first draft of my book. For the first year of research and writing, I surrounded myself with well-meaning friends and family. I was immersed in an echo chamber of “yes.” People kept telling me that they loved what I had written, or they said nothing, which I incorrectly took for praise. Those yeses made me feel great, but it wasn’t until I received an honest — and necessary — “no” from my editor that I realized my book was mediocre at best.  The guy who coined the term “the vortex of mediocrity” got trapped in that vortex without even realizing it!

It’s temptingly easy to fall in love with your own work, ideas and self. My advice: get narcissistic nausea. If you cannot find at least one person to criticize some aspect of your being, it’s a warning sign that you’re operating in a distorted reflection of reality. Welcome criticism. Demand it and then embrace what resonates with you after careful introspection.  

Don’t believe Roosevelt’s words that critics don’t count. Instead, take the metaphorical advice of another President: Abraham Lincoln. Rather than ignore his critics, Lincoln appointed them to his cabinet, creating a “team of rivals” that worked together to preserve the Union and win the Civil War. Once you get off your own proverbial high horse, you’ll be amazed at how much further you can climb.

Related: 5 Ways Criticism Can Make You Stronger

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source http://www.scpie.org/theodore-roosevelt-was-wrong-critics-do-count/ source https://scpie1.blogspot.com/2020/07/theodore-roosevelt-was-wrong-critics-do.html

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Theodore Roosevelt Was Wrong. Critics Do Count.

July 2, 2020 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Last week, the Museum of Natural History decided to remove the statue of former President Theodore Roosevelt from the Central Park West entrance where it has stood since 1940.  Since it’s already been a bad month for Roosevelt, let me take this opportunity to further knock him off his high horse.

In his famous “The Man In the Arena” speech, Roosevelt said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming…”

I carried a copy of this speech in my wallet for years and often referred to it for inspiration, especially when I was starting my business in the mid 1990s. But over time, I have come to believe that while there is much to admire about “The Man in the Arena,” Roosevelt was wrong when he said, “It is not the critic who counts.” There is a certain blind arrogance and danger in not just ignoring one’s critics, but in creating a world where you have none. Critics are invaluable. I learned this lesson while writing my book, aptly named Don’t Take Yes for an Answer.

Related: Why Founders Shouldn’t Fear Harsh Criticism

A true “yes” is earned

After handing in what I thought was a masterpiece manuscript, my editor proceeded to rip it to shreds. Like anyone with pride in his work, it was a bitter pill to receive such an emphatic “no” after all that effort. I reluctantly went back to the drawing board and started over, but once I realized that my editor had offered me the gift of wisdom, I embraced it. While I didn’t agree with every suggestion, they were mostly right and made the book vastly better. That critique and input led to a brand-new manuscript, and my heart leapt when my editor said there was basically nothing she would do (except a few minor edits) because it was ready for print!  

I don’t expect my book to eclipse sales records and sit among the pantheon of the best business books of all time. That is unlikely. But it did make it to print and has thus far been well-received — it was even nominated for The Next Big Idea Club (curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain and Daniel Pink). And that would not have happened had my publisher given me a “yes” after that first manuscript. Now that the finished product is out in the world, I’m almost embarrassed that I even turned in that first draft.

All this is to say that contrary to Roosevelt’s words, the right critic does count. Someone who is qualified and cares about you and your goal can point out how and where you stumbled and how you can do better. It’s true that criticism that is not constructive is usually unhelpful, and tough love without love can be petty and mean. But if you are truly married to excellence and not your ego, you will learn to welcome and love criticism.

In my book, I state that if you want to find out what you’re truly made of and reach your utmost potential in your work and life, you must stop taking YES for an answer. We get a lot of positive feedback that we don’t actually deserve, which means you can’t trust all the yeses you hear. In fact, if you’ve checked off all the obvious boxes necessary for a stellar career in your field — education, credentials, years of experience — but still aren’t where you want to be, that lack of honest feedback is probably part of what’s holding you back. Because face it, if you’re doing just fine but you’re not truly killing it the way you always dreamed you would, I don’t care what anyone tells you — you’re doing something wrong.

Don’t you want to know what it is?

Related: 5 Ways Criticism and Rejection Builds Your Capacity to Succeed

Beware the echo chamber

If you’re frustrated because you’re falling short of your potential and you want to know why, you have to be willing not only to accept criticism, but also to seek it out. You have to find someone who cares enough to tell you when you aren’t all that, and accept that a “no” is often more helpful than a “yes.” An honest “no” will help explain why you haven’t been able to move your business or career further. A default “yes” will keep you stuck in a vortex of mediocrity. You will stay unaware of your true strengths, unconscious of your weaknesses, and probably unmotivated to make any significant change that will elevate you further than your current plateau.

I failed to follow my own advice when I wrote the first draft of my book. For the first year of research and writing, I surrounded myself with well-meaning friends and family. I was immersed in an echo chamber of “yes.” People kept telling me that they loved what I had written, or they said nothing, which I incorrectly took for praise. Those yeses made me feel great, but it wasn’t until I received an honest — and necessary — “no” from my editor that I realized my book was mediocre at best.  The guy who coined the term “the vortex of mediocrity” got trapped in that vortex without even realizing it!

It’s temptingly easy to fall in love with your own work, ideas and self. My advice: get narcissistic nausea. If you cannot find at least one person to criticize some aspect of your being, it’s a warning sign that you’re operating in a distorted reflection of reality. Welcome criticism. Demand it and then embrace what resonates with you after careful introspection.  

Don’t believe Roosevelt’s words that critics don’t count. Instead, take the metaphorical advice of another President: Abraham Lincoln. Rather than ignore his critics, Lincoln appointed them to his cabinet, creating a “team of rivals” that worked together to preserve the Union and win the Civil War. Once you get off your own proverbial high horse, you’ll be amazed at how much further you can climb.

Related: 5 Ways Criticism Can Make You Stronger

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/theodore-roosevelt-was-wrong-critics-do-count/ source https://scpie.tumblr.com/post/622588057167790080

[scpie]

Theodore Roosevelt Was Wrong. Critics Do Count.

July 2, 2020 6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Last week, the Museum of Natural History decided to remove the statue of former President Theodore Roosevelt from the Central Park West entrance where it has stood since 1940.  Since it’s already been a bad month for Roosevelt, let me take this opportunity to further knock him off his high horse.

In his famous “The Man In the Arena” speech, Roosevelt said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming…”

I carried a copy of this speech in my wallet for years and often referred to it for inspiration, especially when I was starting my business in the mid 1990s. But over time, I have come to believe that while there is much to admire about “The Man in the Arena,” Roosevelt was wrong when he said, “It is not the critic who counts.” There is a certain blind arrogance and danger in not just ignoring one’s critics, but in creating a world where you have none. Critics are invaluable. I learned this lesson while writing my book, aptly named Don’t Take Yes for an Answer.

Related: Why Founders Shouldn’t Fear Harsh Criticism

A true “yes” is earned

After handing in what I thought was a masterpiece manuscript, my editor proceeded to rip it to shreds. Like anyone with pride in his work, it was a bitter pill to receive such an emphatic “no” after all that effort. I reluctantly went back to the drawing board and started over, but once I realized that my editor had offered me the gift of wisdom, I embraced it. While I didn’t agree with every suggestion, they were mostly right and made the book vastly better. That critique and input led to a brand-new manuscript, and my heart leapt when my editor said there was basically nothing she would do (except a few minor edits) because it was ready for print!  

I don’t expect my book to eclipse sales records and sit among the pantheon of the best business books of all time. That is unlikely. But it did make it to print and has thus far been well-received — it was even nominated for The Next Big Idea Club (curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain and Daniel Pink). And that would not have happened had my publisher given me a “yes” after that first manuscript. Now that the finished product is out in the world, I’m almost embarrassed that I even turned in that first draft.

All this is to say that contrary to Roosevelt’s words, the right critic does count. Someone who is qualified and cares about you and your goal can point out how and where you stumbled and how you can do better. It’s true that criticism that is not constructive is usually unhelpful, and tough love without love can be petty and mean. But if you are truly married to excellence and not your ego, you will learn to welcome and love criticism.

In my book, I state that if you want to find out what you’re truly made of and reach your utmost potential in your work and life, you must stop taking YES for an answer. We get a lot of positive feedback that we don’t actually deserve, which means you can’t trust all the yeses you hear. In fact, if you’ve checked off all the obvious boxes necessary for a stellar career in your field — education, credentials, years of experience — but still aren’t where you want to be, that lack of honest feedback is probably part of what’s holding you back. Because face it, if you’re doing just fine but you’re not truly killing it the way you always dreamed you would, I don’t care what anyone tells you — you’re doing something wrong.

Don’t you want to know what it is?

Related: 5 Ways Criticism and Rejection Builds Your Capacity to Succeed

Beware the echo chamber

If you’re frustrated because you’re falling short of your potential and you want to know why, you have to be willing not only to accept criticism, but also to seek it out. You have to find someone who cares enough to tell you when you aren’t all that, and accept that a “no” is often more helpful than a “yes.” An honest “no” will help explain why you haven’t been able to move your business or career further. A default “yes” will keep you stuck in a vortex of mediocrity. You will stay unaware of your true strengths, unconscious of your weaknesses, and probably unmotivated to make any significant change that will elevate you further than your current plateau.

I failed to follow my own advice when I wrote the first draft of my book. For the first year of research and writing, I surrounded myself with well-meaning friends and family. I was immersed in an echo chamber of “yes.” People kept telling me that they loved what I had written, or they said nothing, which I incorrectly took for praise. Those yeses made me feel great, but it wasn’t until I received an honest — and necessary — “no” from my editor that I realized my book was mediocre at best.  The guy who coined the term “the vortex of mediocrity” got trapped in that vortex without even realizing it!

It’s temptingly easy to fall in love with your own work, ideas and self. My advice: get narcissistic nausea. If you cannot find at least one person to criticize some aspect of your being, it’s a warning sign that you’re operating in a distorted reflection of reality. Welcome criticism. Demand it and then embrace what resonates with you after careful introspection.  

Don’t believe Roosevelt’s words that critics don’t count. Instead, take the metaphorical advice of another President: Abraham Lincoln. Rather than ignore his critics, Lincoln appointed them to his cabinet, creating a “team of rivals” that worked together to preserve the Union and win the Civil War. Once you get off your own proverbial high horse, you’ll be amazed at how much further you can climb.

Related: 5 Ways Criticism Can Make You Stronger

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/theodore-roosevelt-was-wrong-critics-do-count/