#sophies Rules and Regulations

[dsireland86]

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Link to the Masterlist where you can find the previous chapters and parts.

Chapter 3

Sophie:

My nerves were on fire. An ungodly rage, one that I'd never felt before swept through my body like wildfire, making every muscle tighten. I watched her try and flirt with what was mine, touching the body of the man I'd staked my claim on over a year ago. Thankfully, Noah didn't seem to be oblivious to it. He knew what she was. Even though he smiled and attempted to be polite, I could tell he was in misery. But the moment his eyes landed on me, the gray cloud that was hovering over him like a nightmare passed, and that sweet, beautiful smile returned. “Sophie!” he called out to me, forgetting the dark haired female instantly.  He made his way over to me, practically jogging. “Hey, baby,” I smiled, kissing him as he gave me a hug. I glared at the woman over Noah's shoulder, only to receive it in return. 

Work had been torture and I was stressed to the point of tears. I decided to go to the warehouse where the Bod Omens Camp was preparing for the tour, knowing that's where I'd find Noah. A sickening feeling settled in the pit of my stomach from the idea of being separated from Noah. It would be the first time ever, since the start of our relationship that we’d be apart, and the idea scared the hell out of me. Not only was I scared of what could happen if Perry, my psychotic ex, found me, but also because of her. Because of Sarah. The longer I looked at the evil, heartless bitch who'd ripped Noah’s heart out and broke him, the more I hated her, and the idea of the guys having to work with her all because of bullshit rules and regulations, the sicker I felt, and Noah could tell. He almost always knew when something was wrong. 

“Hey, look at me, princess,” he muttered, pulling my face towards his, laying his lips on mine. Noah was hungry. I could feel it in his kiss. He desperately needed me and the reassurance of who and what we were to each other. Normally, he was discrete about our p.d.a, but right now none of that seemed to matter to him. The more I tried to pull away, the tighter held me and the harder he kissed, claiming every curve of my mouth while rocking his hips into me. I gasped in between breaths at the reckless way he was making my body sing in public, right in front of everyone.  “Noah, slowly down, baby,” I ordered, chuckling against his mouth. “I can't. I don't want to,” he stated, not letting up. His giant hands were around my neck, long fingers sprawled out for display over my skin. I whimpered, slightly gasping at Noah’s knee pressing against my heated sex. “But, there's people watching. Aren't you worried,” “No. I'm not, and if you don't quite making those noises that are make me so fucking hard right now, I'm not going to be able to control myself for much longer,” Noah threatened, whispering against my lips. 

I'd latched on to the sides of his joggers, trying to keep my balance. The proof of his eagerness was pressed hard against my stomach. It brought out the savage need in me that was so strong I was afraid I was going to explode if I didn’t get what I wanted. “Then don’t.” Noah pulled back and stared at me with a look that was so damned hot and heavy that I would've done anything he wanted me to at that moment. “Make a comment like that again and I just might,” he promised. “Keep turning me on and I will,” I replied, proving two could play the game. Noah smirked. “Is that a threat or a promise?” resting his forehead against mine while sliding his hands down around my ass. He turned us around so that he was the once facing Sarah’s glare, grinning when he glanced her way. He was purposely pissing her off now. “Noah.” “What?” “Don’t antagonize her.” Noah’s eyes quickly snapped to mine. “Why not?” “Because I won’t be a toy in your game of revenge,” I stated frankly. Noah slid his arms around my waist holding me close to his lean yet strong, protective body, allowing my hands to freely run up and down his biceps. Moving them further up, I caressed his face, gliding them down his neck and round the back of his head. His breath caught in the back of his throat making a choked sound. Pulling me in for another kiss, he took his time, dragging his lips agonizingly slowly over mine, making whine. “Noah,” softly moaning when his lips traveled to my neck and his tongue tasted my skin. “I want you. Right now,” he confessed in a low, deep voice. The slight crack in it showed the restraint he was fighting against. “Okay,” was all I could say, and before I could think of anything else that was good to follow, Noah was dragging me past Sarah in a sweeping pull of my arm, to the back of the warehouse.

Finding a bathroom far enough away from the business of the warehouse, Noah pulled me in, closing and locking the door behind us. He turned and faced me, eyes full of a deep, fleshly desire, an appetite for fulfillment. But the longer he looked at me, the more he saw I was bothered by something; something I didn’t want to say. “What is it?” “What?” “What’s bothering you,” he asked, moving closer to me. “Nothing,” I denied, walking backwards until I hit the sink behind me. Noah reached me, placing his hands on my hips. “Lier,” he whispered in my ear, making me shiver. He fiddled with the hem of my shirt before lifting it up and removing it. He racked his eyes over me, grinning as he did. “You’re fucking beautiful.” I felt the heat creep over my cheeks as I attempted to cover up. “No, you don’t,” Noah corrected me, taking my hands and pulling my arms away. “I want to look at you. Please let me look at you.”

I gave in, letting Noah have what he wanted, secretly loving the way he admired me. Unlike Perry, Noah always made me feel beautiful, safe, loved, protected; he made me feel wanted. His quiet little hums of approval made my heart flutter, chasing away the nervous feeling when he undid my bra, putting my breasts on display for him. He didn’t say anything, just smiled again before cupping one in the palm of his giant hand, kneading it, and then wrapping his mouth around it, sucking it softly enough to know that it belonged to him. My head fell back as I gripped the sink letting a satisfied sigh slip past my lips. “You’re worried about Sarah, aren’t you?” Noah whispered while undoing my jeans. It was hard to concentrate on such a serious topic when he was in the process of getting me naked. “Yeah. A little. I didn't like the way she was looking at you, touching you, even laughing. I hate her so much already.” 

Noah squatted, pushing my jeans all the way down to my ankles before pulling them off, leaving me in nothing but my panties, but even those didn’t last long. I was suddenly completely bare before Noah’s eyes, completely at his mercy. Just how we both liked it. “Let her look, princess, I don’t care,” he said untying his joggers and slipping them off. “I don’t like her touching what’s mine, though,” I grumbled, watching as Noah slid out of his boxers. He was fully hard, groaning the moment he touched himself by wrapping his hand around the base of his cock and slowly pumping it. He seethed from the sensitivity. “Well, then touch me, now. Put your hands all over me, baby and take what belongs to only you,” Noah smirked, holding his arms out wide for me to come and take him up on his offer. 

I couldn’t help but grin at how cute he was, yet at the same time I was completely turned on, all hot and bothered by what he was offering. I knew what he wanted. I just wanted to hear him say it. “What exactly do you want me to do, Noah,” I asked, gripping the sink again as I watched him play with himself, pumping slowly up and down his shaft right before using his thumb to spread the precum, leaking from the tip, over his head. “You know what I want you to do, princess, but only if you want to. If you don’t, that’s fine. I’ll be happy eating you out and watching you cum all over my tongue either way.” “Holy shit, Noah,” I huffed a laugh, running a hand down my face. “But would you? Please?” “Please, what?” I asked, swallowing hard. “Please fuck my cock with your mouth, princess? Make me cum. Remind me who it belongs to.” 

I just about hit the floor from Noah’s request, not just because of how he said it, but because of the way he looked as he said  it. I was on my knees in an instant, once Noah grabbed his clothes and laid them down as padding. My heart began to pound heavily against my chest as I stared at his dick, so long and lean. The thick, light blue vein that ran along the side of it had my mouth watering as I thought about the way it felt against my tongue, making me want him even more. Noah placed his head gently on the back of my head, caressing my hair. “You’re a fucking goddess, you know that right? Nothing in the entire world compares to you or what I feel for you, Sophie.” I peered up at Noah through my eyelashes, smiling softly. The back of his fingers ran down the side of my face, brushing my skin lightly, and creating goosebumps all over my body. I shivered. “I love you, Noah. More than that woman ever could or ever will. You’re mine and I’m yours. Forever.” I didn’t wait for him to respond. Wrapping my hands around his thighs to hold him still, I stuck out my tongue and licked his cock straight up the shaft. Noah moaned loudly, cursing under his breath as he exhaled. He tasted both salty and sweet and I couldn’t get enough. I sucked harder, taking him further in, moaning the more I felt him fill my mouth. I gagged a little, not so much from how big he was, but how long. 

“Oh god, princess. Fuck! That feels so good. So fucking good,” Noah sputtered. As I glanced up, he licked his lips, exhaling, while running his hands down his face. “He’s not here. Just me.” Noah just laughed, unable to form any coherent words, instead just giving me a tight-lipped smile. “Good girl,” he said hoarsely. “Show me what you’ve got then, baby. Fuck my cock with that smart ass, beautiful mouth of yours,” he growled, cupping my chin.  I grinned. “Yes, sir.” I took his cock back into my mouth again, this time with more authority, determined to remind him for the rest of the day of exactly who it belonged to. Deep throating him, going all the way to the base. I gagged, choking on the spit and the way Noah filled my mouth entirely. Running my tongue up and down his erected shaft, I used my hand to stimulate him more, moving it up and down with the same rhythm of my mouth. “Fucking, goddammit, Sophie!” Noah softly cried. “That’s it, baby, keep fucking me. Just like that!” 

Noah held my head in place, thrusting harder and faster into my mouth. His hips rocked back and forth and I knew he was close, so I squeezed and sucked him harder, making a loud groan, mixed with a swallowed choke escape him. “I’m about fucking cum, princess. Oh, god,” he panted, gripping my hair tighter. “I wanna cum in your mouth. Will you take me? Swallow all of me, baby?” I could barely nod, instead, mumbling a somewhat coherent yes, and in a few short seconds, Noah’s warm seed exploded inside my mouth. The grip he held on my hair forced me to swallow it and I gagged some more, before consuming every last drop. I pulled away, relaxing my body and placing my palms flat on the cold floor. I was completely out of breath, dizzy from the partial lack of air. “You’re killing me, woman. Slowly. One incredible blow job at a time,” Noah panted, trying to get his thoughts together. I could help but laugh. “I think the correct response is, thank you princess,” I said, looking up at him only to find him already staring at me with a look of admiration on his face. “Thank you, princess.” He dropped down beside me, gasping from how cold the floor was. I chuckled. “What? Don't judge me. It's cold.” “Yeah, I know. You should try kneeling on it.” “Fair enough,” placing his hand on my thigh.

His touch was a welcoming warmth and didn't even realize I sighed until Noah asked if his hand felt good. When I said yes, he moved his hand further up my thigh, closer to the middle. “What about now? Still feel good,” lifting an eyebrow as we stared at each other. I simply nodded, parting my thighs some. I watched Noah's eyes drift towards my center, hoping to catch a glimpse of what I was hiding. When our eyes met again, his were full of that same look as before and it made my insides flutter. “Sit on your bottom, baby. Spread your legs open. It's my turn to take what's mine.” I was more than happy to oblige him, doing exactly what Noah said. Leaning back on my hands, I placed my feet flat on the hard floor with my knees up before allowing my legs to fall completely open. I was so wet and desperate for any kind of release that, without thinking, I slid a finger between my folds, inserting it partially inside me, watching Noah's face the entire time. His jaw relaxed, mouth falling slightly open from the scene before him. I pulled my finger back only to slip it in again, “See something you like?” I asked, biting my bottom lip when Noah finally looked up at me. He gave a partial laugh before sitting up on his knees. “That's an understatement. I see something I wanna eat, fuck, and bury my dick deep onto,” he stated with a slight grunt and growl as he shifted our bodies around until he was sitting snuggly between my legs.

“Wow! So does any of this involve love or are we just straight skipping through the romance.” “All of it will always involve love, Sophie. I'll never force you to do anything you don't want to do. But, right now, you've got me harder than a diamond in an ice storm and if I don't get inside you now, I'm going to lose it.” Laughing out loud, I reached up and pulled Noah’s sweet, smiling face towards mine, loving how open and free he was being with me regarding his feelings. Sometimes it was difficult for him to talk about the things going on inside his head or the way he was feeling, but not today. No, today, Noah was being a hundred percent thorough with me. “Well, then, my king, why don't just go ahead and claim what is rightfully yours then,” I muttered against his lips, gasping the moment I felt his cock brush against my throbbing pussy. Noah's smile, that I caught a glimpse of as he pulled away, made my heart skip a beat as he hovered over top of me and his silver chain that hung from his neck dangled before my eyes. Through the little pieces of hair that fell over his face, I caught the twinkle in his eyes and how it made them sparkle, allowing his happiness to shine through. 

“Your king, huh?” “Only suitable since you call me princess all the time.” “Oh, I wasn’t opposing it, princess,” he noted, putting the emphasis on the word. “I like it. I like the idea of being your king.” Noah kissed me quickly before pulling back. “Because I am the fucking king,” he grinned, making me groan and roll my eyes at his corny joke referencing his song lyrics. Taking my hands, pinned them above my head, holding them there with only one of his. I was at his mercy now, and when he leaned down, capturing one of my nipples between his teeth and causing me to buck my hips and cry out, I knew he was going to be relentless. “Shhh, you have to be quiet, princess,” Noah giggled, quietly. “Fuck, Noah,” I seethed, refusing to show how much it turned me on. Making his way down my body, he came to a stop with his mouth hovering right above my pussy. I clenched, fighting the urgent need for any part of him inside me. “Tell me what you want first; my finger, my cock, or my tongue.” Noah glanced up at me, grinning. I whimpered, making a strangled noise as I whispered I wanted his tongue. “Mmm, good. I’ve been starving to taste you.” 

Without another word, Noah grabbed my legs and pulled them open wide, lifting me enough for him to run his tongue straight up my center, lapping up my arousal that was caused by him alone. My hips jerked and I moaned, startled by the sudden feeling of his mouth on me. “You taste so fucking delicious, baby,” he praised me, shifting to get a better angle. “Just eating your pussy is enough to make me so damn hard again. God.” Noah yanked me down, closer to his mouth, wasting no time in satisfying his appetite for me. The quiet noise he made, the low moans, the hums, all played a part in bringing me closer to the precipice of my orgasm. Biting back each loud moan, I swallowed hard, throwing my hand over my mouth to keep myself from screaming, but the noises I was making were almost inhuman. “Noah, oh god, baby, don’t stop,” I panted, looking down to watch him work hard to bring me over the edge. He used one finger to gently enter me as deep as he could go, before coming up for air. “You’re so close,” he purred, sitting back and pressing a hand down gently on my abdomen. “You’re so fucking tight,” pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. Noah watched my all around reaction to his finger inside me, how my body jerked, how my legs began to tremble and my breath hitched. I was slowly coming apart because of him and he was loving every second of the slow, agonizing pleasure he was putting me through. Crying out a moan, I grabbed his wrist, my hand moving with his each time he thrusted into me. I couldn’t hold out much longer and he knew it. 

“That’s it, princess. Cum on my fingers. Soak my hand like a good girl.” The plea in Noah’s voice was desperate and I don’t know if he was saying it more to himself than to me. Hearing him talk to me like that was so damn sexy and it pushed me off the ledge. Doing what he asked, I let go, as my back arched and I felt the orgasm rush through my body like an all consuming wave, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more of Noah, needed more. I needed him inside me. “I need more, Noah, I need you inside me,” gasping for air as he crawled and kissed his way up to position between my legs. “You’re going to get more, princess,” he said gruffly as his hair and neck chain both fell forward into both our faces. “You’re getting all of me.” He took my legs and placed them where he wanted them, around his waist, and obediently, I wrapped them around him as tight as I could get them while clinging to his shoulders. He placed his cock at the entrance of my sex, staring hard into my eyes as he eased himself in, stretching me wide with each and every loving thrust. I was wet enough still for them to feel smooth and welcoming, allowing me to relax completely as I clung to him, digging my nails into his back. I moaned into his shoulder, slightly biting the skin my mouth came in contact with. Noah growled, following it with his mix of a moan and choice words that had my pussy tightening for him more and more. Gradually he found my sweet spot, the one that made my legs start to shake.

“Noah, I think you’re going to make me cum again,” confessing quietly. “Fuck. Yeah, me too,” he muttered in response, breathless and sweaty. “I need you to cum with me. Can you do that?” I nodded, while humming too, but begging him to hurry because I was almost there. “Tell me whose pussy this is, princess,” he grunted above me, looking down into my eyes. “Tell your king whose it is.” Noah’s words hit my heart hard, locking it up tightly in the palm of his hand. It belonged to him. I belonged to him, every single part of me. “Y-yours,” I whispered. “Louder,” he growled. “Yours, Noah!” I cried out, knowing fully well people could hear me by now if they hadn’t already. “That’s right,” Noah answered, rewarding me with a soft kiss as he slowed his pace, but hitting deeper and harder and rubbing against my g-spot. “It’s mine, baby.” He let out a guttural moan before cumming inside me and taking me over the edge with him. I held onto him, biting down on the spot between his shoulder and neck just to keep myself from screaming. Noah’s finger tips dug into my hips, squeezing them so hard I was sure there would be bruising. The whole experience was so euphoric that I was crying. I clung to Noah, never wanting to let him go, never wanting him to leave my body. “Hey, are you alright?” he asked, breathlessly. I gave a slight nod in response, but didn’t pull away to look at him. I was too emotional. “Did I hurt you? If I did, I’m sorry, Soph.” Noah tried to sit up, but I wouldn’t let him. I clung to him, pulling him back into me. “No, you didn’t hurt me. I just need you to stay with me, please, just for a moment. Stay in me.” I know I sounded pitiful, but I couldn’t help it. I was scared and I needed to feel him entirely to help ease that fear. “Okay,” Noah agreed, laying back into me. “I don’t want to crush you. Are you sure?” “Mmmhmm, I’m sure, just come here,” I begged, wrapping my arms around him. Noah laid back down, placing his head on my chest. His breath spilled onto my breast which had now gone soft, making the nipple protrude, and he saw that as an opportunity to put it in his mouth. He rolled his tongue over and around making the soft flesh hard into pebble-like form, sucked on the tip of it gently. It felt so good I could feel it deep between my legs and I clenched around Noah’s soft dick that was still inside me. But the moment it felt me tighten, it expanded some, filling my core with a fullness of pleasure and causing me to gasp. Noah felt it, too. 

“That’s a first,” he said, giving off a partial laugh. “Yeah, it is,” looking at him in a bit of surprise. “Crazy that we’re still learning stuff about each other’s bodies even after all of this time.” Noah leaned in and kissed me slowly, slipping his tongue inside my mouth just enough to touch the tip of mine. I felt the electric spark from it ripple through my body. “I love watching how your body reacts to the things I do to you,” he smiled, laying a soft kiss on the end of my nose. I sighed, running my hands through his hair, feeling the thick softness of his brown locks slip through my fingers so easily. “I love your hair. I love running my fingers through it. Please don’t ever cut it short again like you did. That was awful.” “Hey, that wasn’t my fault. The guy who cut it fucked it all up and I didn’t have a choice,” defending himself. I smiled, but Noah saw right through it.  “What’s wrong, Sophie? And don’t say nothing. I can see the apprehension in your eyes. I shrugged, not wanting to kill the mood with my insecure thoughts. “It’s nothing, Noah, really. I’ve just got some stuff going on inside my head, that’s all.”

“Well, spill it.” I stared at him, running my eyes over his facial features that were the prettiest I’d ever seen on a man before. Touching his face, I ran my thumb over his lips before dropping my hand down. “Okay, well, uh, I’m scared, that’s all.” I felt Noah’s body suddenly tense. “Scared? Scared of what, princess?” By this time we’d sat up. Noah placed his shirt between my legs in an attempt to help clean up his mess. “Her.” “Her?” Noah asked, honestly confused. And then it hit him. “Oh.” “I know, it’s stupid. I shouldn’t be. It’s been years since the two of you talked and whatever, but I just can’t shake the feeling of dread I have that all of you are being forced to put up with her and it’s making everything feel weird. I mean, when I walked in, Matt looked so pissed I thought he was going to spit nails. I’ve never seen him look like that. And Jolly, he seemed as if just being in the same space as her was causing him some unseeable pain. Poor guy.”

I was fully dressed and Noah was partially, minus his shirt, when we got up off the bathroom floor. My legs were still shaky, and I had to hold onto Noah for support. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to make any of this harder for you. I just, when I walked in earlier and saw her hands on you, the way she was smiling and looking at you, it just filled me with a rage that quickly turned into a fear. I don’t know, I can’t explain it.” Noah lifted my face to look at him, smiling as he did. Laying a soft kiss on my lips, he pulled me into him, and I laid my head against his warm chest, listening to his heart that was still beating pretty fast. For a few moments, we just stood there, holding onto one another, not saying anything. It was peaceful, welcoming and much needed. “Sophie,” Noah began, but was cut off by the vibration of my phone. It was somewhere on the floor and when I found it, a sudden knock on the bathroom door startled both of us. Noah got the door while I grabbed my phone, opening the recent text that had  just come in. I froze instantly, paralyzed by the words displayed across my screen in bright white letters. Noah opened the door only to reveal the face of a slightly annoyed Sarah. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Matt needs you asap.” Once she saw me, her smile faded. I knew I was throwing daggers at her with my eyes, but I didn’t care. I hated her and she knew it. Noah looked over his shoulder at me, giving me a sympathetic, yet concerned look. He reached his hand out to me and I took it, giving it a slight squeeze. “Are you alright? Who was that?” he asked, nodding his head at my phone. “Oh, uh,” “Noah! Matt needs you, like now.” 

Just then Folio appeared, showing up at the perfect time. I knew I could talk to him about the text I’d just gotten and he would understand without trying to do anything irrational. Looking from Sarah, to Noah, then to me, his brows scrunched together, and concern, just like Noah, swept across his face. Folio knew instantly something was wrong with me. “Hey, Matt’s been looking for you, Noah. He said he needs help with working out some light and pyro programs.” “I already told him, Nick,” Sarah chided. Hearing her call him Nick sent chills of irritation down my spine. “It’s Folio,” Folio and I both said in annoyed unison. Both of us looked at each other and tried not to laugh. Noah did though. He thought it was hilarious. “Alright, I’m coming. Tell him I’ll be there in a few.” Sarah rolled her eyes and with one more hard glare at me, she walked away, back towards the main part of the warehouse. Folio rolled his eyes and Noah just sighed. “Fuck. She’s already on my nerves,” Noah groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, babe,” I said sympathetically. Noah looked at me. “Are you sure you’re okay? Who texted you?” I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet. So I lied. I had to. “No one. I mean someone; a girl from work. She just told me some news about another girl in the office that just found out she’s pregnant, but not with her boyfriend's kid.” Noah’s eyes widened. “Oh shit! Ouch.” “Yeah,” laughing lightly, hurting that I was lying to him. But if I told him the truth right now, it would turn into an emotional shit show that I wasn’t ready for. “Go see what Matt wants. I’m coming.” Noah kissed me and left the bathroom, leaving me and Folio alone. Folio turned and took one look at me and pulled me into his arms. That’s when I let go. I collapsed into him, throwing my arms around his neck and bawling my eyes out. My body started trembling and my legs grew weak. Folio didn’t say anything. He didn’t question or complain, he just held me tight, burying his face in my neck. After a few moments though, he finally asked the question I knew he was dying to ask. 

“Sophie, what you said about the text wasn’t true, was it?” I shook my head. “It was him, wasn’t it? It was Perry.” I knew from the way my body stiffened that Folio already had his answer, but I  had to say it out loud in order for myself to believe it. “He found me, Nick! Perry found me. He knows where I am!” I wailed into his shoulder, gripping his shirt between my one fist. Folio took my phone and looked at the text, seeing for himself the bright white letters in all caps.

“I FOUND YOU. I’M COMING TO GET YOU.”

[kresnikcest]

Throwing my thoughts here and abandoning them bc the plot got way too bleak even for me and i wouldn’t be able to end it

Richard lowkey kidnapping Asbel instead of sending him to Lhant bc he’s terrified Asbel will leave him and Asbel promised to bear everything for him, so Asbel is like. okay I’ll stay it’s all right, I did promise. And then things getting worse with Asbel being like “okay if i promise to never leave Richard he’ll stop trying to murder everyone who betrays him and i’ll be able to protect him and nothing bad will happen”

Bad things happen, Richard invades Lhant but Malik catches wind of it first and the party try to warn Hubert especially because Asbel is out of reach. Sophie still fights back, so all Asbel knows is that Richard comes back injured and even more erratic than usual. (Asbel, does not take well to being lowkey held prisoner either but. well. he did promise not to leave Richard…)

Richard is like, freaking out over Sophie (and he fears Asbel will leave him if he cares more about Sophie than Richard) but Asbel is like. I promise I will not let Sophie kill you (I don’t think she would but still), and Richard calms down a bit.

Richard doesn’t drain the valkines so the rest of the party go to Strahta themselves and Pascal fixes the valkines and thus Strahta’s cryas issues and now Lhant can be freed.

Hubert negotiates to return Lhant to Windor, during which the rest of the party breaks in to Barona Castle to save Asbel but it does not work because Asbel has pretty quickly caught on to the fact that he’s the only person alive keeping Richard from just going full paranoid and killing everyone. Also he’s sort of coped with the stress of being a hostage by pigeonholing himself into regulating Lambda!Richard

And then Richard ofc finds them and Asbel has to double down on “definitely never leaving Richard ever” so Richard doesn’t murder everyone (Sophie refuses to leave Asbel but Richard is not having it (sorry Sophie but Richard’s jealousy issues are even worse than his murdery ones))

Richard gets very scary explaining that Asbel isn’t going back to being the Lord of Lhant and Asbel fully breaks down and convinces himself to do whatever it takes to keep Richard normal (that goalpost is moving so fast) and Everything Will Be Fine™ and besides he didn’t want to rule Lhant anyway and everything will be fine…

Richard is finally convinced Asbel won’t leave him and so assigns Asbel to be his knight and protect him (this does sort of help Asbel’s mental state since he’s like. allowed to leave Richard’s room now lol)

(Duke Dalen instead gets to rule Lhant by proxy bc it neighbours Gralesyde anyway but he basically lets Hubert stay unofficially as long as the Strahta military leave. He won’t turn against Richard but he’s definitely like 🤨 about Richard refusing to let Asbel go.)

Meanwhile the rest of the party head off to Fendel bc Pascal catches wind of Fourier using her old plans and vaguely canon compliant things happen there somehow bc. Don’t worry about it.

Finally Lambda gets restless and belatedly heads to the Worlds Eye bc Richard can only avoid the plot progression for so long and Asbel’s not gonna run away from him. (I think he actually does need to drain the valkines first but we’re ignoring that, I’m not writing this anyway lol). Asbel goes with Richard and the rest of the party shows up.

They fight, Asbel is like, gotta stop Sophie from killing Richard, Lambda is actually kicked from Richard’s body, Asbel is like “oh” and lets Lambda possess him so Sophie won’t kill Richard, which results in Sophie taking a Lambda laser to the face. Malik grabs Richard and everyone hauls ass when Lambda!Asbel starts creating the cocoon.

Cue Richard having to reconcile with everything he did, without Asbel being present. The party is mostly willing to excuse the whole possession thing since it’s very apparent, but Hubert is especially judgy because he never actually got to reconcile with Asbel personally and so is just overcompensating by being protective and really mad at Richard.

(Richard is like. Why did you save me @ Malik and Malik is like, because Asbel would have wanted you safe. Also the world is politically fucked enough as it is without you also dying thanks.)

And then I don’t know where this ends :) They can still head to Fodra and everything with Emeraude but i don’t know who’s gonna stop Lambda and Asbel now.

[duchessofostergotlands]

Hi :)

This is about your opinion, not ask about some facts (but it is not about a hypothetical situation :) ). I am not sure if you answer such questions, but I dare to try :)

I saw your opinion (recently) on Beatrice and Eugenie, and it helped me to understand (clear) some doubts about them. So maybe you can help me understand the queen's actions when it comes to Andrew.

With all that is coming out about Andrew lately it really is confusing to me why would the queen allow (support) Andrew's actions (his various deals). The way she treated Edward and Sophie and also Harry and Meghan, I can conclude that she was aware that mixing monarchy and private business is not a good thing. So it's baffling why she treated Andrew differently. I can't accept that it is just because he was her favourite son. I saw a recent report on Andrew from sky news and what I didn't know, she was even on some event that promoted Andrew's pitch palace business (so, she basically, publicly gave her approval for it). Was she, like you said about Beatrice and Eugenie, delusional (thinking that she can do whatever or that she, the queen, can shield her son from whatever)? Was she also entitled but managed to control herself better when it came to her own actions and ones of her other children, but not when it came to Andrew? It's a real puzzle for me, because, the way I see it, Andrew's actions are a very serious threat to the monarchy and I can't accept (logically) that the queen wasn't aware of that.

Hello :) I don't generally answer hypothetical questions, no. I also don't know what I said about Beatrice and Eugenie as I've been blogging for over 11 years so have shared a lot of opinions, some of which I wouldn't still hold or wouldn't share now! lol. But I don't think it's relevant what her inner thoughts were, personally. The basic options are she knew and ignored things for whatever reason or she didn't know when in some cases she clearly should have. So it doesn't really matter to me personally what her motivation was because both options are bad. I can speculate on the one big difference between the three situations - Edward and Sophie, Harry and Meghan, and Andrew - which might have driven her choice of action but it would just be speculation and wouldn't really change my opinion.

Although it's not 100% on her shoulders. In some cases Andrew didn't actually do anything that goes against any rules or laws and for all we know he may have had every single arrangement approved by the guidelines the royal family have in place. I'd consider what he did to be wrong, as would many others, and I would argue it shows he was never suitable for his job. I'm glad he's not a working royal anymore. But politicians have to hold some responsibility for allowing a powerful institution to regulate itself for so long. Things like Pitch @ Palace were never hidden, they were out in plain sight, and none of them did anything. They were happy to work with him on trade stuff when it benefitted them, even though that's where he got half of his nefarious connections (which were all also well known for years). I don't think you can really give people power and connections, set no rules or restrictions, and then complain when they don't behave in a morally upstanding way.

You can listen to our podcast episodes on this for more. There's Episode 112 (about royal adjacents making money) and 113 (about the Brits specifically and where the guidelines come from).

[mossterious]

I need to stop making leverage sports aus. I will not stop making leverage sports aus. Especially cuz it’s paralympics season! Which meansss… para sports au!

Eliot lost an arm in an explosion while still with the army. This means that he never worked for Moreau, and was instead sent home early to recover. He did, mostly. To deal with it, he started practicing martial arts again. Toby ran a gym, instead of a cooking school, and was the one to help Eliot with the rules and regulations and stuff. He got used to fighting with only one arm, and focused on his kicks. He made a name for himself in para taekwondo.

Parker was born blind. It never affected her much, except people did try to baby her about it which she hated. Archie still found her picking his pocket, but when he pointed it out, she ran and she ran fast. Archie, who in this was a track coach, picked her up and trained her to run. She’s now a para sprinter. She has some impaired vision but not completely, and she’d be T12 which means she’d have a choice whether or not she’d run with a guide. Parker HATES the idea of running with a guide.

Hardison plays wheelchair table tennis. He was born without any legs, and uses his hands for most things. This would place him class 5. He definitely still hacks on the side, because he is Hardison and you cannot stop him. But table tennis keeps him in one place grounded, so he’s not hacking into hotels for cheap thrills and is just doing it to pay for nana, and his training, and the like.

Nate was still an IYS agent. But he played basketball on the side, as a stress reliever. He was pretty good, but not great. And then Nate got into an accident, and because IYS wouldn’t pay for his treatment, he wound up paralyzed. Sam’s totally fine, and Nate’s less upset at IYS but still quits. He winds up depressed after the accident, until Maggie and Sterling force him to try wheelchair basketball just to do something. He likes it, and he hates that he likes it. And he hates even more that he’s really good at it.

Sophie is still a conwoman, but one of her cons had her doing paraequestrian and now she just kinda can’t stop. She uses the alias every time there’s a competition, because she can’t help herself and equestrian is fun as hell. I think she has CP, which leaves her with an odd gait and using crutches, and it at first made her feel like she couldn’t be beautiful but then she was like “no I can be whoever i want to be” and was simply hot as fuck with crutches.

Honestly, because it’s leverage, I feel like they would all meet because they were all separately investigating the fact that something with the Paralympic committee was really fishy, and they work together to solve the mystery, stop evil rich people, win their sports, and make a family out of it. Afterward they open the weirdest gym ever.

[johanna-swann]

I'll always find it... I'll say interesting, how Rockmond was fired because his medical/religious beliefs resulting in his refusal to be vaccinated because it was "a concern he'll harm others" (which understanding the industry regulations that's a tough one to fight... even though they still allowed him to film scenes so they could write him off "peacefully" 🤐) And in the same breath Ryan got to keep his job after his vaccination/N*zi comparisons/rants... 👀 Yeah okay I see y'all 🤨 Whether I agree/DISAGREE with Rockmond's personal beliefs, what the actual fuck! Fair treatment, my ass! They should've both been axed if they were both "contributing to antivax agendas" But again, someone who had religious reasons not to do it got canned while someone with uh questionable treatment of certain/multiple groups of people 👀 got to stay??? Fox was wild for that, but hey we got to know who fits their brand...

... his what now comparison??? Omg, somebody tell me Ryan Guzman did not compare pandemic regulations to the Third Reich. See, this is why I don't usually read up on actors. In the end it's just disappointing.

Like, I'm very pro-vaccination. I think the show rightfully decided to protect cast and crew by writing out an anti-vax cast member, but in the end you can't force him, bodily autonomy and all.

There's a difference between "I'm not getting vaccinated because of my faith" and "vaccination rules are like nazi germany" though.

Also fun fact, I don't know if you knew this @ anon, but I'm German and we had this huge scandal at an anti-vax protest where a student gave a speech on stage claiming to feel like the very famous resistance member Sophie Scholl. The backlash and media shitstorm was huge. That's not a thing to joke about and it's even worse if Ryan Guzman was serious.

Is that his MO? Go online, talk insensitive bullshit and apologise later so he can keep his job? But his stans are the ones running around calling other fans racist and homophobic?

[tamsong]

the homestuck quadrant system & relationships in KotLC

i am fully aware no one asked for this. WAIT that’s a lie three of you asked for this. @orionhong @the-way-astray @soryasongsaa this post is for you <3 it’s been simmering in my drafts since november and i finally had an excuse to finish, and i hope u guys find it interesting!

so. what exactly is the quadrant system, you may ask? and why is it relevant to kotlc? well, we’ll start with the webcomic homestuck. (oh boy) this comic features an alien species called trolls (based off internet trolls) that have some very fun cultural distinctions, such as a caste system based on blood color and the quadrant system, which is a fun variation of romance that i think could be very fun if we applied it to elves, which don’t have enough cultural differences in my opinion.

homestuck trolls have four type of romance as opposed to one and each has its own specific purpose. 2 of them are necessary for reproduction, and 2 of them are necessary for peace and harmony in society. it’s considered desirable to partake in all four kinds of romance, and there are certain rules around this that i’ll get to later. while KOTLC elves only use the one traditional form of romance, it’s considered desirable to be in a socially-acceptable relationship, an approved match, to help grow the elven species, and have a similar sense of Regulation around romance. telepaths also have cognatedom, a special kind of relationship that adds potential for romantic drama into the mix.

i thought it would be interesting if in an alternate universe, the elves recognized more than one form of romance to distinguish their society even more from that of humans. it’s also just fun to ship characters but with extra nuance and spice. so without further ado, let me explain the four quadrants and speculate which relationships in KOTLC, both canon and otherwise, would be in which quadrant! enjoy this silly little time with me

so!! there are two categories: red romance and black romance. red is associated with positive feelings and black with negative, although it’s a bit more nuanced than that. they’re also divided into Concupiscent (associated but not exclusively linked with sexual attraction and reproduction) and Conciliatory (not associated with reproduction). each of the quadrants is assigned one of the four suits in a deck of cards, hence red and black. here's a convenient chart:

a relationship might not just fall into one quadrant, too. relationships are only meant to use one label at a time (more on this later) but often shift across quadrants or be called one quadrant but have some traits of another.

below, i’ve written descriptions of each romance type and also given suggestions for KOTLC ships that would fall into these categories. feel free to fight with me on my choices if you like.

FLUSHED QUADRANT: MATESPRITSHIP/HEARTS <3 (red, concupiscent)

this quadrant is most similar to regular human romance, and already features in kotlc. there's not a whole lot much more to say here, so let's get into examples.

a good canonical example of this in KOTLC is edaline and grady ruewen being matesprits (the name for this kind of partner). an example of flushed feelings that were mutual but never became a relationship is kenric and oralie. sophie and fitz also had flushed feelings for each other canonically, as do sophie and keefe right now, but i would say in both cases the feelings aren't purely <3. i'll talk more about that soon, though.

other noncanon relationships i would describe as matesprits/flushed crushes are tiergan/prentice and marella/linh.

PALE QUADRANT: MOIRALLEGIANCE/DIAMONDS <> (red, concilliatory)

moirails could be best described in our terms as platonic soulmates/queerplatonic partners. that being said, while it doesn't involve kissing or sexual attraction, it IS a type of romance and is distinct from an average friendship. moirallegiance is actually WILDLY similar to the concept of Cognatedom in KOTLC, which is what inspired this behemoth of a post in the first place.

(furthermore, this is why posts implying that cognates are always romantic rub me the wrong way. there are plenty of forms of closeness that aren't traditional romance/flushed).

like cognates, moirails aren't just soul besties, but they're balancing forces that complement each other and keep each other grounded. these relationships hinge on sharing feelings, mutual acceptance, giving advice, and bringing the other person down to earth.

this makes alden and quinlin a good canonical example of ex-moirails. a non-cognate relationship in KOTLC that resembles moirallegiance is that between keefe and dex: they have similar personalities, share secrets, and are able to help each other even when their other relationships are on the rocks.

while sophie and fitz obviously had flushed feelings for each other, their cognate relationship most closely resembles a moirallegiance. they're a pretty good representation of quadrant vacillation, going from close friends and cognates to dating to back to close friends (although their friendship is still recovering from that).

also, while sophie and keefe have flushed feelings for each other, they would actually make really good moirails. they repeatedly have "feelings jams" where they share their worries and trauma with each other (not to say that matesprits can't do this, it's just specifically associated with moirallegiance) like the sleepover scene in neverseen. they're able to see who each other are under their own individual masks, and have well-complementing personalities that bring each other back down to earth. sophie is impulsive but good at connecting with others while keefe thinks things through but makes decisions without consulting other people.

PITCH QUADRANT: KISMESISSITUDE/SPADES <3< (black, concupiscent)

this is where we start to get a bit confusing. pitch relationships are based on hatred, frustration, and annoyance, but just like moirallegiance isn't just an average friendship, kismesissitude isn't your average hatred. there is also an element of attraction and in homestuck is one of the two reproduction-based quadrants.

a kismesis, one's pitch partner, must be someone that not only annoys and angers you but also indirectly challenges you to grow and recognize your own flaws. a kismesis is someone you hate, but grudgingly respect, but also find attractive. basically, it's a very strong arch-rivalry. and while a kismesis is intrinsically hate-based, they’re supposed to cause more or less equal trouble for each other and not actually wish to kill or permanently disable the other. if one or both wants this, or there is a power dynamic where one is harming the other much more, then it’s not a healthy kismesis.

obviously, these feelings aren't really recognized in human or canonical elf society, but if they were i think keefe and tam would make a good kismesis pair. they have outwardly clashing personalities and abilities, but are actually very similar people with a lot of chemistry who just present in different ways. they are at odds for most of their interactions but do show trust and care.

some even better kismesis pairs could be sophie/stina, marella/stina, or even dex/stina. tbh this is just telling me that stina is really good as kismesissitude. home girl just loves hatred i guess. maruca/biana is also a plausible one. you could even do vespera/fintan. go crazy lol

a good example of unrequited pitch feelings is dex’s hate obsession with fitz in the first couple books. in recent material, keefe/fitz could be on their way to a pitch relationship after spending most of their lives in an either pale or platonic situation, but i digress.

ASHEN QUADRANT: AUSPITICISM/CLUBS c3< (black, conciliatory)

this is definitely the weirdest one and is the least defined within the text of homestuck itself, but it means we can also have some fun with it. in homestuck, the ashen quadrant is mostly used for the purpose of mediating two opposing people so they don’t fall into the pitch quadrant. it’s a weird three-way situation involving the conflicting pair and the auspistice, who would be the one having ashen feelings. these feelings might be expressed through an attitude of “god these two are idiots but they’re My idiots damn it and i need to make sure they don’t cause problems.”

two important things to note here: 1) you are only meant to have one person in each of your four quadrants at any given time. 2) while you can shift quadrants, your relationship with someone is only meant to have one of these labels at a time. homestuck trolls are very aggressive and develop feelings of dislike quite easily, so auspistices are needed to prevent people from cheating / getting into romantic fights with people who aren’t their kismesis. while elves aren’t as aggressive, this still could be a problem. for example, if tam and keefe were an established kismesis pair, but keefe and fitz started fighting in a way that could turn into hatred, sophie might be called to be an auspistice for them and make sure their fighting doesn’t turn pitch (in which case keefe would be cheating).

assuming keefe and sophie are matesprits, this also poses a problem for their relationship since sophie is acting as keefe’s auspistice and not his matesprit. It’s a lot.

auspisticism can also be a generalized way of describing relationship mediation. sophie, fitz, and keefe probably need some auspisticizing for all the quadrant shifting they’re doing.

this kind of feeling may be hard to recognize as romantic because of all the utilitarianism surrounding it. think of it as being a very dedicated therapist friend, or part of a very stressful polycule. it requires a Hell of a lot of devotion for two people for their friend to get involved in all that conflict, a devotion which can very much be romantic. I imagine sophie having a high capacity/desire to be an auspistice, as would biana.

that’s the main chunk of the explanation, and there’s a lot to play with here. beyond what i described, you can also get things like two people rapid-firing between flushed and pitch and back to flushed, to people who have feelings for each other but not the same kind, to messy groups of 3, 4, or even more people where relationship types are constantly shifting. conflict in one quadrant can also impact your relationships with all other partners. for example, when alden and quinlin’s cognatedom/moirallegiance fell apart, it could have put stress on quinlin’s matespritship with livvy to the point where the flushed feelings between them are either gone or turned into unhealthy kismesissitude depending on how you look at it.

still confused? that’s okay, you’re kind of meant to be. andrew hussie is a fucking mad lad who doesn’t even take their own story seriously. that being said he did give us the bare ideas for some cool and complex relationship dynamics and a new way of seeing romance, so i’ll give them that.

but anyways, have fun with this!! i would LOVE to see your homestuck-based HCs if you happen to come up with any. a couple more kotlc/homestuck related notes before you go:

- sophie foster is a valid troll name (6 letter first and last name) as is gisela sencen. i couldn’t find any others, which is weird considering the amount of characters.

- trolls have varying powers depending on their blood color, not unlike special abilities.

that’s all folks! have a spectacular day and i hope you learned something cool!

[cleverhottubmiracle]

High-end fashion house Chanel is branching into an unconventional new line of business: waste management and recycling.On Monday, the company announced the launch of Nevold (the name is a contraction of “never old”), a new, independent venture focused on developing end-of-life solutions for textile offcuts, unused fabrics and unsold or old products. The move comes amid growing concerns about the volume of waste created by the fashion industry. Though often portrayed as a fast-fashion problem, luxury goods mass-produced in the millions of units also have an impact. Over the last decade, the value of unsold inventory held on the books at luxury giants like Kering and LVMH has reached into the billions of dollars. Regulators are paying attention. New rules, led by Europe, are set to make brands more responsible for waste generated by their businesses and crack down on luxury’s historically favoured solution: simply destroying unsold goods. Chanel said its bigger concern is resource scarcity. Many of luxury’s most prized fibres, like top quality cashmere, silk and leather are under threat from climate change, making the raw materials tied up in last season’s ready-to-wear a valuable future commodity. “It’s becoming more and more important and more and more strategic for us,” said Chanel’s president of fashion Bruno Pavlovsky. “If we want to continue to exist and to do what we are doing, we have to anticipate and to see how we can rethink this idea of materials and raw materials.”Selling CircularityChanel has been building up to Nevold’s creation for several years, starting to invest in the space in 2019. But now it’s ready for a hard launch, with ambitions to scale the vertical into a B2B service provider and R&D hub focused on developing circular solutions for the fashion industry. It’s a familiar strategy for Chanel. The luxury giant has already built up a manufacturing division of more than 50 specialised factories and ateliers in a decades-long push to future proof its supply chain. Investments include embroiderer Lesage, feather-and-flower specialist Lemarié and hat maker Maison Michel. These make products for the brand, but also provide services to other fashion businesses. The company has brought on engineer and former LVMH executive Sophie Brocart to oversee operation and expansion of the new division. Long-term, the ambition is for Nevold to be part of a “profound transformation process that is rethinking the entire product lifecycle, developing new savoire-faire and professions… and contributing to a more circular economy,” the company said in a press release. It’s a leviathan of a problem and at present Nevold is little more than a minnow.At its core are three companies Chanel has set up or acquired over the last few years: recycling agent L’Atelier des Matières, which connects brands to an ecosystem of optimised solutions for their textile waste, unused fabric and unsold inventory; 50-year-old spinning mill Filatures du Parc, which specialises in yarns made from recycled materials; and leather recycling specialist Authentic Material. The idea is the companies will hoover up the waste generated by Chanel and other clients and turn them into “new materials for tomorrow” that can be used by the maison, but also sold to other brands and industries. “It’s not about Chanel recovering her waste to do Chanel,” said Pavlovsky. “It’s Chanel recovering waste from Chanel and from whoever on the market who [is] ready to sell us the waste to recreate a new kind of materials.”Nevold is eyeing acquisitions to accelerate its current capabilities and exploring partnerships with other sectors, like sports and hospitality, to guarantee a second life for materials that no longer meet the standards of the luxury market, Pavlovsky added. For instance, so far the company has found recycling leather back into a material suitable for making a high-end handbag is a nonstarter, but the end product could be used to replace common plastic, like high heels and reinforcements for footwear and handbags.Chanel is not the only luxury giant dabbling in the space. Last year, LVMH said it spent an estimated €200,000 ($225,000) to support the development of closed-loop recycling systems capable of turning old materials and unused stock back into new fabrics and yarns for its fashion and leather goods houses. It expects to increase its level of investment to €300,000 this year. Gucci-owner Kering has put money into French recycling business Revalorem and resale site Vestiare Collective. Whether these efforts amount to more than some green window-dressing for businesses that generate many multiples of these investments through the sale of new products that contribute to the very problem they’re trying to solve will depend on how they scale.Critics argue that the fashion’s interest in recycling will do little to curb the industry’s impact if companies also continue to pursue growth by churning out more and more units. This is especially true if brands turn to recycling as a tool to manage overproduction and dispose of excess inventory. Mass market brands like Nike have already come under fire for shredding brand new products they couldn’t sell in recycling plants.The move also comes as luxury sales are suffering from Trump’s trade war and growing consumer skepticism about the value proposition offered by brands that have ratcheted up prices without corresponding innovation. Chanel, which made some of the industry’s punchiest price hikes, saw sales drop last year for the first time since 2020.Pavlovsky declined to disclose how much Chanel has invested in Nevold so far, or the level of spending the company expects to devote to the business going forward. Until the business is more developed it will be a cost centre, not a profit maker, he said. “We still need to invest money,” Pavlovsky added. “It’s a new business. It’s not a big business, but it’s something I believe that we’ll talk more and more about.” Source link

[norajworld]

High-end fashion house Chanel is branching into an unconventional new line of business: waste management and recycling.On Monday, the company announced the launch of Nevold (the name is a contraction of “never old”), a new, independent venture focused on developing end-of-life solutions for textile offcuts, unused fabrics and unsold or old products. The move comes amid growing concerns about the volume of waste created by the fashion industry. Though often portrayed as a fast-fashion problem, luxury goods mass-produced in the millions of units also have an impact. Over the last decade, the value of unsold inventory held on the books at luxury giants like Kering and LVMH has reached into the billions of dollars. Regulators are paying attention. New rules, led by Europe, are set to make brands more responsible for waste generated by their businesses and crack down on luxury’s historically favoured solution: simply destroying unsold goods. Chanel said its bigger concern is resource scarcity. Many of luxury’s most prized fibres, like top quality cashmere, silk and leather are under threat from climate change, making the raw materials tied up in last season’s ready-to-wear a valuable future commodity. “It’s becoming more and more important and more and more strategic for us,” said Chanel’s president of fashion Bruno Pavlovsky. “If we want to continue to exist and to do what we are doing, we have to anticipate and to see how we can rethink this idea of materials and raw materials.”Selling CircularityChanel has been building up to Nevold’s creation for several years, starting to invest in the space in 2019. But now it’s ready for a hard launch, with ambitions to scale the vertical into a B2B service provider and R&D hub focused on developing circular solutions for the fashion industry. It’s a familiar strategy for Chanel. The luxury giant has already built up a manufacturing division of more than 50 specialised factories and ateliers in a decades-long push to future proof its supply chain. Investments include embroiderer Lesage, feather-and-flower specialist Lemarié and hat maker Maison Michel. These make products for the brand, but also provide services to other fashion businesses. The company has brought on engineer and former LVMH executive Sophie Brocart to oversee operation and expansion of the new division. Long-term, the ambition is for Nevold to be part of a “profound transformation process that is rethinking the entire product lifecycle, developing new savoire-faire and professions… and contributing to a more circular economy,” the company said in a press release. It’s a leviathan of a problem and at present Nevold is little more than a minnow.At its core are three companies Chanel has set up or acquired over the last few years: recycling agent L’Atelier des Matières, which connects brands to an ecosystem of optimised solutions for their textile waste, unused fabric and unsold inventory; 50-year-old spinning mill Filatures du Parc, which specialises in yarns made from recycled materials; and leather recycling specialist Authentic Material. The idea is the companies will hoover up the waste generated by Chanel and other clients and turn them into “new materials for tomorrow” that can be used by the maison, but also sold to other brands and industries. “It’s not about Chanel recovering her waste to do Chanel,” said Pavlovsky. “It’s Chanel recovering waste from Chanel and from whoever on the market who [is] ready to sell us the waste to recreate a new kind of materials.”Nevold is eyeing acquisitions to accelerate its current capabilities and exploring partnerships with other sectors, like sports and hospitality, to guarantee a second life for materials that no longer meet the standards of the luxury market, Pavlovsky added. For instance, so far the company has found recycling leather back into a material suitable for making a high-end handbag is a nonstarter, but the end product could be used to replace common plastic, like high heels and reinforcements for footwear and handbags.Chanel is not the only luxury giant dabbling in the space. Last year, LVMH said it spent an estimated €200,000 ($225,000) to support the development of closed-loop recycling systems capable of turning old materials and unused stock back into new fabrics and yarns for its fashion and leather goods houses. It expects to increase its level of investment to €300,000 this year. Gucci-owner Kering has put money into French recycling business Revalorem and resale site Vestiare Collective. Whether these efforts amount to more than some green window-dressing for businesses that generate many multiples of these investments through the sale of new products that contribute to the very problem they’re trying to solve will depend on how they scale.Critics argue that the fashion’s interest in recycling will do little to curb the industry’s impact if companies also continue to pursue growth by churning out more and more units. This is especially true if brands turn to recycling as a tool to manage overproduction and dispose of excess inventory. Mass market brands like Nike have already come under fire for shredding brand new products they couldn’t sell in recycling plants.The move also comes as luxury sales are suffering from Trump’s trade war and growing consumer skepticism about the value proposition offered by brands that have ratcheted up prices without corresponding innovation. Chanel, which made some of the industry’s punchiest price hikes, saw sales drop last year for the first time since 2020.Pavlovsky declined to disclose how much Chanel has invested in Nevold so far, or the level of spending the company expects to devote to the business going forward. Until the business is more developed it will be a cost centre, not a profit maker, he said. “We still need to invest money,” Pavlovsky added. “It’s a new business. It’s not a big business, but it’s something I believe that we’ll talk more and more about.” Source link

[libraryofcirclaria]

08 March 1287

Library of Circlaria

Third Level Society: First Version

Story Eight: Jeo Brock

Okay. So quite a lot has happened since I last wrote. I'm still at Cabotton, but there have been a lot of things having happened, primarily two things.

First, let's talk about the crisis with Carol and Rachele.

I do not remember much of the Bookkeeper that came before Kelvin Cross, former Headmaster Martin Cross' son, but Kelvin, the new Bookkeeper appointed by Dungeonmaster Rachele, made quite a memorable impact on the Society this past month.

So it came to be that the Society was in a crisis, with Carol seizing control of the Dungeonmaster's Office while Rachele was nowhere to be found. Earlier this week, we had a special Caucus Meeting to be presided over by Bookkeeper Cross. During that meeting, my roommate, Valian, called on Cross to have Carol banned, since Rachele was not there. However, all that Cross did was confirm that Carol was no longer the Dungeonmaster and then recommended that Rachele has the right to ban Carol.

Valian was enraged at this. He was angry that Cross, himself, was not taking any action, that he was simply allowing two sides within the Society to fight each other. "You're just like your father!" Valian said.

Then Cross said, "My job as a Bookkeeper is not to make the rules, not to enforce the rules, but only to interpret the rules as they apply from case to case."

That was true, indeed, but we had about thirty Members desert us over this ordeal. And even I began considering leaving, myself. I came to the conclusion that moving back to North Kempton with Cray Fenton was the best option. I sent a message to him over the ticker, but got no response, yet again. I then made a telephone call, which went through but was answered by "Sophie," who said that Cray was still out of town. I called up to Daylram, but found that he had left to return to North Kempton.

They have since lifted the curfews and opened the borders, though society is still on high alert.

The problem was that I had no idea where Cray Fenton was.

A few days later, meaning two days ago, I got a ticker message from Sari Frame, who said that she, Cray Fenton, Meona Bell, Rachele Evernorth, and Sarah Marks were meeting in the Standler in Ebony Valley, and that they wanted me to join them the next day, so long as I promised not to tell the public about this meetup. I was a little doubtful at first, because I know that forty years ago, Daniel Carter had encountered the notorious Darius Weller at the Standler; and Darius was well-disguised, posing as another seeming safe figure. In fact, the Standler had always had a shady reputation, from what I recall.

Regardless, I decided to take the risk. I reasoned that my only other viable option was to simply go home to my parents, to simply back out of all of this and start over. Though that was the safer option, it was one with devastating consequences. Furthermore, the risk was relatively low at the Standler despite its reputation, so long as the meetup was not on one of the lower levels.

So I went.

To my relief, I was directed to one of the suites on the third floor of the place. And indeed, nothing was shady here. As I expected, Sari, Rachele, Sarah, Cray, and Meona were all there, as well as Tom Pero. They, including Rachele, had been made aware of the card agenda these last few days; in fact, it was Cray who told Rachele after Tom Pero told him, apparently during their stay in Daylram.

Rachele then told me that she was actually willing to lift the card ban, so long as the avatar cards were regulated. Basically, she would appoint me as the Cardkeeper of the Third Level Society, setting a precedent for Dungeonmasters to appoint Cardkeepers in the future; and this would have to officially be approved by the Third Level Society Caucus. However, instead of serving directly under the Dungeonmaster, I would be reporting to the Bookkeeper, who would have to approve every policy I implement on the cards to ensure I did not violate the Statute of Principle.

The party here did not have a favor attached to that per say, but they did request that I helped Rachele in her response to Carol. Rachele had been considering the notion of invoking what Bookkeeper Cross said that she would invoke. The issue, however, is that since the whole nation is enveloped in quite the state of panic in the wake of the Lykian attacks, Rachele was concerned that moving against Carol would cause her to spout false accusations so publicly so as to catch the attention of the federal authorities again. So Rachele and the others at the Standler resolved that it would be better if someone would try to soft-talk Carol into stepping down peacefully. They determined that I was the best fit for this, because while I had been the one implementing the card agenda, Carol was convinced that Rachele had been the one putting me up to it, perhaps against my will, according to Carol's beliefs.

This tasked did feel dangerous, I will admit. Nonetheless, I agreed to it.

So yesterday, I approached Carol Owen. I knocked on the Dungeonmaster Office door; and she let me in. She distrusted me at first but I kept telling her that I was willing to listen to her and be her supporter. She was still a bit skeptical, so I explained that I used to be friends with Rachele and Cray, but that I had now defected. I reminded her that Rachele and I, having used to be a romantic couple, broke up.

Now of course, I am still friends with Cray, and even with Rachele again, as well as that whole party, but of course I did not tell Carol that bit. And Carol seemed to buy what I said aloud to her, so much so that she was willing to share with me her side of the story.

So according to Carol, Rachele was extremely manipulative over Cray Fenton, subduing him completely or so Carol led herself to believe. She also believed that Sarah Marks intimidated people into supporting her and then deployed Rachele to pose as a rival in order to keep the Society divided.

In other words, Carol believes that Sarah Marks manipulated Rachele Evernorth into subduing Cray for some motive.

Of course, in my mind, I did not believe Carol on that, but I told her that I understood her now, which was technically true. I then told Carol how well I knew Cray, and that while he could have been fooled early on, it was only because he was an outsider to the whole thing; after all, he has largely nothing to do with the Third Level Society. However, Cray would pull out as soon as he detected treachery, which I told Carol that he seemed to be doing right now. I took a few moments to explain how Cray had his own dymensional plane organization out in North Kempton. I told her that while it may not be as dynamic as the one here in Cabotton, because it is based more on the real world, things are also not so political.

"Would you be willing to leave Cabotton to the birds if Cray offered you some leadership role in North Kempton?" I asked her.

She said that she would consider it. But of course, we would have to wait and see.

<- 21 February 1287 <- || -> 18 March 1287 ->

[cabaretclown]

It's so good. I love how each of them play to what is expected of a person that looks like them.

Hardison is 21 in season 1 (wHAT!) and uses his young age and his blackness to make the fear he must have grown up feeling into THEIR fear. He gets people scared of Being In Trouble.

Eliot uses his down home southern charm but he can also use people's prejudices ABOUT southern accents to play up how "dumb" he is and thus catch people off guard. And then there's the times he plays up how scary he is, and THAT works really well for him too, and seems to be one of the ways he clowns around--not that the marks ever know he's exaggerating to amuse himself!

Nate uses his old job and his status as a middle-aged white guy and plays up how obnoxious he can be while endlessly pattering about bylaws and regulations--or starting an argument. He gets people mad at him.

Parker learns how to use her status as a small blonde white woman to her advantage over the course of the series. It's rough for her, because she doesn't like being in the centre of attention and she doesn't have the social acumen expected of her; but with the team's help she gets good enough to pull off even a Southern Belle. Despite this, her go-to is always yelling at people and putting herself in a position of authority, which is an interesting way to spin her status as a white blonde!

Sophie is actually the odd person out, because she doesn't have any one single strategy--when she's under her own direction, though, she ALWAYS takes the angle of being a powerful, desirable Lady. She does play other parts--the meek mousish scholar, the obnoxious brassy nag, and so on; but when she's alone and taking point, she always chooses The Lady as her persona. She makes people desire her, and want to please her. That's actually the hardest way to manipulate people!

Our Mr Wilson was learning how to play up his status as white man and use his knowledge as lawyer to play an exaggeration of himself. Similar to Nate, but Wilson is not able to pull off authority or obnoxiousness the way Nate could. But he seems to know this, he instead plays up how the bad people trust him and he knows how to move within their world as someone who bends and loops the rules for them, rather than being someone who is always at odds with them.

Breonna seems to play people that embody everything she hates, so far, which is interesting. She's mocking them by mimicking them perfectly, so perfectly she can lead them into the trap. She does have some of Hardison and Parker's undermining patter and loud expressiveness when "henching" for Sophie or Parker's personas. I wonder though how they're going to keep pushing her character and developing her as a character. We've seen that, like Parker, she needs direction and teaching. But her persona choices are very different from Parker's, because unlike Parker she wants to be part of the team. She's not reluctant, like Parker was in the beginning.

But Hardison's technique is definitely one of my favourite ones to watch, particularly because the one time he pretended to be a transman the show didn't write that as a mean transphobic joke--instead, it was about laughing at how afraid people are of being called transphobic. It still holds up, because it's not making fun of us.

I'm hoping season 3 is better than season 2, which was written under the conditions that caused the writer's strike (including not being allowed to write more than one draft of a script before it went into production). I'm hoping the show gets some kind of groove back. Missing Nate throws the dynamic of the whole team off--they need their Angry Honest Man.

One of my favorite recurring gags in Leverage is how Hardison weaponizes the fear people have to actually be called out as racist/homophobic/transphobic and just uses it to its full advantage every time

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

Sohpideon fic question related

witht the only dance with wife, also applies to the ones that are engaged but not yet married? Because I was imagining the Pouncebys being engaged but like their son not wanting to dance with their future partner

I don't think it'd be a regulated rule or anything, haha. Just Gideon going "Anddddd you should 1000% dance every single set with your wife because I cannot let go of my beautiful Sophie for a second! ...Any comment, Will?" And Will's like. NOPE LET'S GO

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on https://yaroreviews.info/2023/12/baby-formula-soaring-costs-i-struggle-but-i-wont-buy-a-cheaper-brand

Baby formula soaring costs: 'I struggle, but I won’t buy a cheaper brand'

Emma Davies

By Sam Gruet and Ashleigh Swan

Business reporters, BBC News

Single mum Emma Davies is struggling with the cost of baby formula for her 13-week-old daughter Nancy.

But despite the expense, the 42-year-old says she won’t buy cheaper alternatives.

“You just want the best for your children, you don’t want to give them a cheaper brand,” she says.Many new parents feel the same.

Amy, 25, says she and her husband have skipped meals to ensure their children are fed, clothed and warm. The mum of two spends about £72 a month on formula milk.

According to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), formula prices have risen by 25% over the past two years, generating high profit margins.

The watchdog highlighted that parents could save £500 in the first year of a baby’s life by shopping around for alternative brands.

Although there are many available, the market is still dominated by two big players.

Danone, which owns the Aptamil and Cow & Gate brands, and Nestle, which owns SMA and Little Steps, have an 85% market share.

Shoppers hit by escalating prices of branded goods

Emma feels like breastfeeding is not an option for her, after she contracted mastitis while breastfeeding her first child.

When it comes to her weekly grocery shop, she says she will buy the cheapest possible own-brand products available and will often look for deals and damaged products that are discounted.

“I’ve always been a single parent, so you budget,” she says.

But for baby formula, she won’t change from a more expensive brand.

“It’s a risk. I’d rather stick to what I’ve been told, obviously, by my parents, and what I’ve used with my older children. It’s what’s been reliable.”

Some parents worry that cheaper brands are less nutritional than the more expensive ones. But Amy Brown, a professor in maternal and infant health at Swansea University, says that is not the case.

“All infant formulas are tightly regulated to make sure they include the same carb, fat and protein levels and there is no evidence to say that one formula milk is better than the other.”

She believes that parents may be reluctant to buy cheaper brands due to the idea that if a brand is more expensive, it must be better quality.

“Parents want the best for their baby and so they will get the more expensive product. However, parents need to understand that the price does not reflect the quality,” she says.

Paul Edwards

Part of the issue might be down to the law as well.

In the UK, it is illegal to advertise infant formula – for babies up to six months – because it might discourage breastfeeding.

Additionally, retailers cannot communicate special offers via any platform for infant formula, although they can with follow-on formula – for babies older than six months.

Boots infant formula adverts broke rules – watchdog

Many, including supermarket chain Iceland, want those rules to change.

The frozen food chain’s boss Richard Walker has called them “archaic and outdated” and said it prevents Iceland from being able to accept loyalty cards, cash equivalents and High Street vouchers.

“You can’t even donate to food banks with infant stage formula,” he said.

Another factor may be that, although the CMA says savings can be made by shopping around, when it comes to baby formula, there aren’t that many own-brand products available, which are typically much cheaper than branded products.

Currently, Aldi is the only supermarket that offers formula through its own brand Mamia. Campaigners have called for more retailers to do so to help ease the financial pressures on parents.

Whatever the reason, experts agree that this is a huge issue.

Sophie Livingstone, the chief executive of charity Little Village HQ, says she hears about “terrible choices” parents and carers are having to make every day.

“Watering down formula to make it stretch further, nappy rationing and kids wearing shoes that are too small for them,” she says.

The charity supports families with children under the age of five living in poverty across London.

Ms Livingstone says increases in bills, rents, food and the price of formula has created a perfect storm.

“The huge increase in demand for our help is a clear indicator of the increased pressure families are under. By August of this year, we’d helped 50% more families than the same time last year,” she adds.

The CMA has said it is launching an investigation into the baby formula market, with an update expected around mid-2024.

Related Topics

Competition and Markets Authority

Cost of living

Babies & toddlers

Parenting

More on this story

Shoppers hit by escalating prices of branded goods

3 days ago

Boots infant formula adverts broke rules – watchdog

23 August

[jaidacorvera]

It's not uncommon for a Political Party to use guidance from a think tank. This is what think tanks are for - thinking for the idiots among the party.

However, the 2025 "Mandate for Leadership" from the Heritage Foundation for the Republican Party is less guidance and more a Republican Manifesto. If you will, the document to resurrect the Nazi Party through the bloated corpse of the Republican Party. Remember when this used to be described as the party of small government??

---

This is a publicly available document online, but I'll be pulling excerpts with page numbers - On Page 4 through 5 - "The next conservative President must make the institutions of American civil society hard targets for woke culture warriors. This starts with deleting the terms sexual orientation and gender identity (“SOGI”), diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”), gender, gender equality, gender equity, gender awareness, gender-sensitive, abortion, reproductive health, reproductive rights, and any other term used to deprive Americans of their First Amendment rights out of every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation, and piece of legislation that exists.

"Pornography, manifested today in the omnipresent propagation of transgender ideology and sexualization of children, for instance, is not a political Gordian knot inextricably binding up disparate claims about free speech, property rights, sexual liberation, and child welfare. It has no claim to First Amendment protection. Its purveyors are child predators and misogynistic exploiters of women. Their product is as addictive as any illicit drug and as psychologically destructive as any crime. Pornography should be outlawed. The people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders. And telecommunications and technology firms that facilitate its spread should be shuttered."

---

They want to make our mere existence classified as Pornography. As much as she's been disgraced - simply being Ellen would be a crime. Or if Sophie Wilson, mother of the ARM Processor that is in every phone, were to visit the US, she'd be arrested on the spot. And my favorite composer and a pioneer of Electronic Music, Wendy Carlos, would be imprisoned. They want to make respect of each other illegal. The Evangelical Right wants to have nothing to do with what our Savior has preached and died for. OH! If that's not the fun bit... --- Page 553, "Where warranted and proper under federal law, initiate legal action against local officials—including District Attorneys—who deny American citizens the “equal protection of the laws” by refusing to prosecute criminal offenses in their jurisdictions. This holds true particularly for jurisdictions that refuse to enforce the law against criminals based on the Left’s favored defining characteristics of the would-be offender (race, so-called gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.) or other political considerations (e.g., immigration status)."

---

They will do anything in their power to arrest whom they deem as criminals. Innocence until proven guilty might go out the window!

Tumblr! Get this out beyond these walls. The people need to know! EVERYONE needs to hear it from the rooftops! Be angry!

[foliea]

Rules and Regulations - Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun Imagine

Paring: Dad!Tyler x Daughter!Reader, Uncle!Josh x Niece!Reader

Word Count: 2,434

Warnings: Terrible mother, F slur, mentions of tattoos (?)

Authors Note: Okay so the reader in this story is LGBT, and it is quite an important part of the story, so if you don’t feel comfortable reading that please feel free to skip this one. This is all around a really cute fic and I might turn it into a series if you guys want. The time skips are really inconsistent in this though, they’ll go from being a few minutes to being a few months. I might go back and add dates for those though. Anyways enjoy.

“Jenna, Caroline spilled her cereal!” I called upstairs.

“Just give me one second and I’ll clean it up!” She yelled from Hannah’s bedroom.

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “Just a couple more days and I’ll be able to see Dad and Uncle Josh...” I muttered to myself.

“Y/N?” I looked down to see Caroline tugging at my leg. “Can I have more cereal?”

I looked to the table covered in Cheerio’s then looked at the clock on the stove. “How about I just make you a sandwich instead. It’s lunchtime anyways.”

She nodded excitedly. “Ham and mayo please.” She beamed.

“Of course.” I let out a little laugh while grabbing the jar of mayonnaise. “Alexa... Play Twenty One Pilots.”

“Playing songs by Twenty One Pilots.” Soon after Stressed Out came on.

“I love this song!” Caroline quickly jumped out of her seat, running over to me. “Will you sing with me?” 

I let out a little laugh and started to sing the chorus.

 “What’s this? Daddy’s music? Whose idea was that?”Jenna appeared in the kitchen, holding Hannah in her arms. Caroline quickly pointed to me. “Should have known.” Jenna let out a quick laugh.

“What can I say I’m a daddy’s girl.“ Laughing a bit at the nickname given to me.

Soon everyone had their lunch and we were all sat at the table. “When is daddy coming home?” Carolina asked breaking the silence.

“Two more months sweetie but we’re going to visit him soon.” Jenna smiled at her daughter, but the disappointment was obvious. Everyone missed seeing dad, I’m glad I get to finish tour with him and Uncle Josh though.

“You excited for school tomorrow?” I asked changing the subject. Jenna sent me a look, silently thanking me.

“No, not really. On Friday my friends dared me to kiss a boy.” Caroline shot her head up. “I said no because obviously, boys have cooties!” 

“That’s good, you’re not allowed to kiss any boys until you’re 16.” Jenna gave her a stern look, laughing shortly after.

“Daddy said I can’t kiss any boy’s until I’m married.”

“Is that so?” I laughed

“When are you allowed to kiss boys Y/N?” Caroline asked.

“I don’t have any rules on when I can kiss boys.” I shrugged.

“Really? That’s not fare.” She huffed crossing her arms.

“Well I think boys are gross so Daddy and Uncle Josh didn’t set any rules.”

“Why did Uncle Josh get to have a say. I bet he would say I could kiss boys younger...” She muttered the last part to herself.

“Because Uncle Josh is like a second dad to Y/N.” Jenna intervened, noticing how I had become uncomfortable.

“I’ll explain it to you later, okay Caroline?” She nodded in response, going back to her sandwich.

----

“Y/N?” A small voice came from my door.

“Caroline? What are you doing up?” I asked looking at my clock. It may not be a school night but a six year old should not be up at eleven o’clock at night.

“I can’t sleep...” She looked off the to side.

“You wanna sleep with me?” She nodded, climbing onto the bed. “What’s got you up Tiny?”

“I was thinking about how close you are to Uncle Josh... Why is that?”

I sighed. “When I was your age I didn’t have anyone other than Daddy and Uncle Josh.” She squirmed in my arms a little. “So when it came to raising me, Uncle Josh helped Daddy out.”

“He’s always been there for me, sometimes more than Daddy has. Meaning all those rules and regulations that Daddy and Jenna set up for you, were set up by Daddy and Uncle Josh for me.”

“Regulations?” She looked up.

“Guide lines.” 

She nodded her head. “I’m gonna miss you when you go with Daddy and Uncle Josh...” 

“I’ll call you every night.”

“But who’s going to make me ham and mayo sandwiches?”

“You’re mom is capable of making them.”

“It won’t be the same...” She mumbled. 

“How about this, I’ll make you lunch after you go to church on Sunday and I’ll make you sandwiches to bring to school for the rest of the week?” She nodded.

The conversation ended and Caroline fell asleep.

----

Monday came quickly and it was time for me to fly to Charlotte to join Dad and Uncle Josh on tour. I waved goodbye to Jenna, Caroline, and Hannah. Caroline was very visibly crying while holding onto the Build-A-Bear I made more her the day prior, mine tucked safely into my bag.

“Traveling alone?” The barista at the cafe asked. 

I nodded. “I’m meeting my dad and uncle in Charlotte.”

“That’s cool, I would never be able to go to school that far away from my parents.” She laughed.

“It’s not like that. They travel a lot and I’m flying in to travel with them, around the country actually.”

“They on a road trip or something?”

“You could say that I guess, but you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.”

“They’re on tour, they’re uh in a band.”

“What band maybe I’ve heard of them.”

“Uh Twenty One Pilots? They just released a new album”

“Wait their the one’s who made that Stressed Out song right?”

“Yeah that’s them. That songs from their new album.”

“Cool, not really my style but I do really like that song. What’s the new album called?”

“Blurryface.” 

“Codi! Stop talking and get back to work!” 

“Sorry, here’s your coffee.” I smiled at her walking out of the cafe.

----

“Uncle Josh!” I yelled, smiling.

“Y/N! What’s my favorite niece been up to? Don’t tell Caroline and Hannah I said that.” We both laughed.

“Not much, although this new hair place opened and I think I might get my tips done to match yours.” I said pointing to his bright red hair. 

“Nope absolutely not!” A voice was heard from behind me. I turned around and smiled.

“Dad!” I wrapped my arms around him.

“Well hello to you to Kiddo.” He laughed wrapping his arms around me.

I let go of him and turned around to pick up my bags, only to see Josh had grabbed them already. “Why do you have this tiny bag?” He asked, holding up a medium sized backpack.

“Dad told me to bring my uke.” I shrugged grabbing both it and my regular backpack.

----

“Bye dad!” I shut the front door walking to my car. As I got in my phone rang. “Hello?”

“Hey cutie!” A voice could be heard over my speakers, indicating my phone had connected to the Bluetooth.

“Hey Codi.” I laughed. “I’m on my way.”

“You better be, I can’t wait to see what you’re doing to your hair.”

“I thought I told you?”

“Nope.”

“Whatever you’ll see soon enough.”

We talked for a little while longer until I pulled into her drive way. Codi bolted outside and into my car. “Well hello to you to Dakota.” She laughed a little as well, kissing my cheek.

The drive to the place was fairly quick. Codi had been blasting music the whole ride, but turned it off when I pulled onto North High Street. 

“Here it is.” We both looked up to the sign. The word Bishops could be read in white, with an orange-red back ground. 

“Hey! How can I help you two lovely woman?” A girl with brightly colored hair smiled. 

“Uh I have an appointment, it should be under as Y/N Joseph?” 

“Right, here you are.” She smiled looking up. “You’re dying your tips red, right?”

“You’re dying your tips? I though you’re dad said no?” Codi remarked from behind me.

“Yes, but Uncle Josh said yes. As long as I got red.” I smirked knowing that what Josh says, goes.

The girl laughed. “Well my names Max, I’ll be doing you’re hair.” She lead me to a chair. “So red huh? Is that your uncles favorite color or something?”

“His hair’s red, it’s been a joke since I was young that I should always be matching with him.”

“I’m assuming you’re really close then.”

“Yeah, he’s like a second dad to me.” I smiled.

----

“All done.” Max turned the chair around so I could see it.

“It looks amazing! Thank you so much!”

“Looking good, cutie.” Codi laughed wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

“Just come in when you need a touch up or you want to switch the color.” I nodded paying. 

“Thanks again Max!” I said walking out of the shop.

“You’re dad is so gonna kill you.” Codi laughed

“Oh definitely.” I smiled getting into my car.

----

“What did you do to your hair!?” 

“Dyed it.” I shrugged looking at Dad.

“Was this Josh’s idea?”

“No it was Zack’s. Yes it was my idea Tyler.” Josh laughed.

Dad gave a quick disapproving look to Josh. “You’re lucky I love you too much.” 

“Y/N your hair looks great I’m glad it came out the way you wanted.” Jenna smiled as she walked in.

“Thanks Jenna!”

“You knew about this as well?!”

“Well yeah, she double checked that it was okay with me.”

“Y/N!”

“Well would you look at the time, I’ve got a date with Codi. I love you daddy.” I smiled kissing his and Josh’s cheeks.

----

“So you have no interest in seeing your mom?” Codi asked.

“She had 17 years to come and visit me. She left me on my dads front door and said she never wanted to see me again.” I sighed, not taking my eye’s off the road. “She doesn’t have any right to see me. And its not like she could say she’s obligated to see me, I’m 18 and even if I wasn’t, her and my dad never fought for custody.” 

I turned into Codi’s neighborhood and she promptly ended the conversation. As the car sat in the driveway, I turned to face her. “I’ll see you tomorrow Codes.” She kissed my cheek and left the car.

I sighed backing the car out of the driveway. “This is the right thing to do Y/N. She doesn’t care about you.” I muttered to myself on my way home.

----

“Y/N! Someone’s here to see you!” Caroline yelled as she ran into my room.

“Who?”

“I’m not sure but Mommy told me to come get you and then go to my room.”

“Okay thanks C.” I stood from my seat and started walking downstairs. “Jenna? Who’s here to see me?”

In front of me stood Jenna, Dad, Uncle Josh, and two people I didn’t recognize.

Uncle Josh was the one to break the silence. “Y/N why don’t you sit down?” I quietly sat down between him and Dad.

“I-I’m confused, what’s happening?” I turned towards Dad.

“Sweetie don’t you recognize me?” The women spoke. I shook my head.

“Y/N this is your mother.” Something about the way that Dad said mother didn’t feel right. He said it as if I should have known who she is. As if she didn’t ditch me when I was one. 

“I thought is was right time we saw each other again.” 

“I’m sorry what? Saw each other again? You left me with Dad when I was a baby! You never cared about me so right now I’m confused on why you’re here!”

“I wanted to see my baby again.” She retorted faking politeness.

“You had 17 years to do that. Why are you here now?” Silence fell over everyone. Jenna went upstairs to make sure the girls wouldn’t come downstairs.

The front door closing and footsteps broke that silence. “Hey Joseph’s I’m here for-” Codi spoke unaware of what was happening in the living room. “Y/N...”

“Codi, can we reschedule? Maybe to any other day in my life. Clearly something must be happening today since she’s here.” 

“But Y/N, today’s our movie date.” She playfully whined.

“I’m sorry date?” A sharp voice came from behind me.

“Yes a date? Is there an issue with that?” Codi questioned staring at the unfamiliar women.

“No daughter of mine is a fag!” Silence fell again.

“Get out.” Uncle Josh’s voice broke through. 

“Excuse me? Who are you to tell me what to do?”

“I said get out. I will not tolerate anyone insulting Y/N or her girlfriend. Especially someone as vial as you.” He spat standing up from his chair.

“This is not you’re household nor family.” She scoffed. “Tyler you allow this man to be near our child-”

“My child.” Dad finally spoke.

“Excuse me?”

“My child. You never once even asked about Y/N. You have no right to call her your child.”

“I would never think a man of God like yourself would allow someone as disgusting as her,” She quickly pointed at me. “To live in your house.”

She grabbed the arm of the man with her and dragged him out of the house. “I’m sorry N/N.” Dad said wrapping me in a hug.

“It’s fine Dad.” I replied. Another pair of arms wrapped around my waist.

“Josh?” Dad laughed.

“What? I wanted to be apart of the moment!” He laughed.

“Group hug!” Codi yelled grabbing onto me as well. Dad and Uncle Josh readjusted to fit her in.

“Did someone say group hug?” Caroline’s voice could be heard as she ran int group of people. 

I picked her up as Jenna walked downstairs with Hannah in her hands. “Yeah someone said group hug.” I smiled as Codi wrapped her arms around me again.

----

“Okay you’re dad couldn’t handle you dying your hair and now you’re getting a tattoo?” Codi laughed.

“Hey! I have permission this time.” I playfully shoved her as I pulled into the parking lot of the tattoo parlor. 

“What are you getting anyways?” Codi asked as I sat down in the chair. I explained it too her and finished right as the tattoo artist finished putting the base on my arm.

----

“Y/N I swear if you got anything stupid or inappropriate-” Dad cut himself off seeing seeing the tattoo. “Y-You got one of my lyrics tattooed on you?”

“Okay either you’re blind or full of yourself.” I laughed looking at the tattoo on my arm. I was a tree house set on fire and had the lyrics from Forest around it. “Anyways of course I did. I wanted my first tattoo to have a special meaning.”

“I got one as well!” Codi proudly showed off the small band wrapped around her wrist. “Dad’s prolly get get emotion once he asks what it means though...”

“Well I’m glad you both got things that mean something to you.” 

[biblionerdreflections]

I love this box from Rainbow Crate so much! All of it is stunning, but I'm so excited I got one of the special editions of The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic.

[stardustandrockets]

DECEMBER RAINBOW CRATE SPOILERS

I think the rep boxes are some of my favorites! This is my third one (I missed the ace box as I wasn't aware of them back then) and they keep getting better! Especially now that they're doing more customizations on the books.

Included in the box: • tradpub: Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales with a redesigned dust jacket and signed book plate • indie pub: The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens with a whole new design and signed bookplate to match • Monthly collectible magnet inspired by Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett • bisexual book coasters • bisexual pride pin • bi pride metal mark inspired by I Knew Him by Abigail de Niverville (not pictured because of transit issues)

The coasters have already gotten a lot of use, and the magnet lives on my fridge with the others.