#there is no one size fits all policy but right now this one does not fit me

[murderouswidowsmatter]

I’m glad so many people on here seem to be enjoying work from home. But can we acknowledge how in a society that already moralized work ethic, it’s now become a personal failing to not be able to self motivate. Having structure in the work place used to be a fair expectation for a job, but now it’s a poison pill for applying to many jobs. For my ADHD and depression, having community and authority to motivate me is key, but I can no longer expect that as part of the workplace and can’t ask in interviews for it without being seen as a weak link. It’s just a bit exhausting when working from home is not an option for my brain

[min-imum]

ceo mingyu and office siren reader?? 😍😍😍

nsfw, mdni

content warnings: afab!reader, size kink, reader is smaller than mingyu, office sex, semi-public??, fingering, oral sex (m & f receiving), tit fucking!!!!! omg, spit as lube because mingyu never imagined he’d be having sex in his office…, crying from pleasure!!!!, let me know if i missed anything, i realised i didn’t really emphasise the office siren part sorry :(, not proofread forgive me

anon this was honestly such an interesting ask to receive. i took so long to write this because i’ve been thinking about how i want this to go (on top of the crushing guilt i felt for skipping earlier asks but my writers’ block is, unfortunately, selective) but i’m ready now because i saw mingyu in office attire…... he’d make such a hot CEO, blazer always folded neatly over a chair, sleeves rolled up to reveal his forearms, just enough buttons left open to be sexy but not inappropriate, expensive watch wrapped around his right wrist.

mr kim is probably the best boss you’ve ever worked for, too — he’s kind but not too giving, he makes sure everyone does the work they’re supposed to do, he resolves problems amicably as much as possible, and he’s not an ass about taking time off work. he feeds the staff sometimes, ordering surprise catering or bubble tea for everyone. he delegates work fairly and doesn’t dump too much on an unlucky underpaid worker.

additionally, the pay he offers is really good, enough for you to splurge every now and then. it hadn’t been this way at any of your previous jobs, where you slaved away to make ends meet. now, even in your upgraded apartment (with it’s upgraded rent), you’re able to spend money to take care of yourself with new products and spa days and branded bags.

he’s unbelievably charming — strong eyebrows and a pretty smile that works wonders during meetings with clients, a superb memory that ensures he knows his staff’s likes and dislikes, and compassion and empathy that makes him a wonderful superior.

so, naturally, you fall for him.

just a little bit. maybe. he’s nice, and all, but you’re sure you can find someone better somewhere else. besides, that’s your CEO, the one and only kim mingyu. he wouldn’t choose you even if you chose him.

you keep your head down and do your best to be a good employee. you’ve never missed a deadline, and you work doubly as hard to cover your sick days (even if he tells you you really don’t have to, he’s got it covered, seriously), and you try to limit the cost you incur from the company’s unlimited coffee policy. you proofread all your reports three times just to be sure. you’re friendly with all your coworkers. you drink at company parties, just enough to fit in, never so much that you’re anywhere close to being drunk.

you stir your coffee slowly, yawning — you’d slept late last night, so today you allow yourself to have an extra cup or two of coffee. the creamer you added swirls into the coffee and fades.

“didn’t take you for a no sugar type of woman.”

you nearly jump, and turn around to see your boss standing next to you, teasing grin on his face. you hold your hand to your chest. “god, you scared me,” you huff. “sugar makes it too sweet and that makes me sleepy.”

“so you do like sugar, just not during work?” mingyu asks, eyebrow raised. you nod.

Do Not Look Down, you tell yourself. Absolutely Do Not Look Down.

ha. too late. you catch yourself staring at his chest straining against his shirt, biceps filling up his sleeves, and blush bright red immediately.

“s-sorry,” you stammer, picking up your coffee and making your escape. “i have a report to get to. nice chat!”

he snickers as you scuttle off, coffee clutched in your hands.

—

good bosses don’t pick favourites, especially not when all their employees work equally as hard and produce decent results.

mingyu, unfortunately, might not meet that criteria. (fortunately, though, it seems like he’s not the only one that likes you. he sees the eyes following you through the office, and he definitely also sees the guy that intentionally takes the long way around the office to the lift just to pass by your desk.)

you’re a wonderful employee that also happens to be absolutely gorgeous. you submit your work on time, you’re civil with all your fellow coworkers, you do your job well, your hair is always tied up neatly, your shirt is always tucked properly into your pencil skirt, your skirt makes your ass look good—

he runs a hand over his face, huffing at himself. you’re his employee who has shown him nothing but respect. he shouldn’t be thinking about you like this.

but god, he’d be lying to himself if he said he hasn’t thought about your pretty, glossy lips wrapped around his cock, or about tangling his fingers in your hair and tugging, or about playing with your tits until you’re sensitive and whiny.

“come in,” he calls, when he hears a knock on the door. his composure promptly flies out the window when it’s you that steps in. your skirt makes your legs look like they go on for miles, even though he knows you aren’t all that tall. he towers over you easily. his cock twitches at the thought and he immediately files the thought away for later, shaking his head to clear his mind.

“i just wanted to bring you these documents,” you say, handing him a stack of files. he nods dumbly as he observes the difference in size between his hand and yours. your lips, soft and inviting, curve around the words you’re saying. he might be a little distracted.

“—earth to boss man,” he hears you call. he jolts back, then chuckles sheepishly.

“sorry, i was distracted,” mingyu rubs his neck. “could you repeat that?”

“sure,” you agree easily. you tell him — again — about a new potential company partnership, then about a little feud that seems to be starting between two of your coworkers, and finally you offer to make him coffee.

“you look tired and out of it,” you observe. “maybe coffee will help. i can bring you some.”

he wants to laugh. he’s not tired, no, he’s just horny and his wet dream is standing in front of him.

“coffee sounds nice,” he says instead. “thank you.”

you step back out of his office to make him his coffee, and he slumps back in his chair, groaning. you’re perfect. he might be a good boss, but a large part of it is because he has you — you point out all the little, blossoming problems that may become major issues over time so he can stomp them out before they even start, and you’re more than competent at your job. it helps that you’re easy on the eyes, too, always presentable and pretty and looking like someone he wants to ruin.

—

when you return with your coffee, you expect to hand it over and return to your desk.

what you’re absolutely not expecting, however, is for your boss to ask you to stay.

you stay frozen in place as mingyu stands and rounds the table before finally stopping in front of you.

“i have to admit,” mingyu says, hands clasped behind his back. “you’re… quite captivating. you’re a hard worker, you’re a sociable person, and it’s been wonderful having you here.”

you nod, confused. he steps closer to you, and oh — now you can smell the scent of his cologne, musky and masculine, and now you have to tilt your head up to look at him.

“am i making you uncomfortable?” he asks.

you hesitate. the mature, correct answer would be yes, please step away from me, sir. but is that really the case? his scent permeates the air. his choice of cologne matches him well. subtle but memorable, powerful but not overbearing. you press your thighs together, swallowing.

“no,” you squeak.

“then, may i touch you?”

you nod, but his eyes narrow. “words, darling.”

you shiver. “yes. please.”

“good girl.” satisfied, he rests his hands on your waist, and one hand moves up to stroke your cheek gently. “you’re beautiful, you know? captured my attention since day one. my attention, and everyone else’s. i think half your coworkers might have a crush on you.”

you lean into his touch, eyes fixated on his, not really paying attention to anything he’s saying. you’re certain you’ve had a wet dream just like this before.

“can i kiss you?”

in lieu of an answer, you throw your arms around his neck and pull him in for a passionate kiss. you moan when he squeezes your waist, and he licks into your mouth. his tongue tangles with yours. it’s sloppy and disgusting and wet and you love it.

“mr kim,” you whine. he shushes you.

“just mingyu.”

“mingyu… please touch me.” you guide his hand to your chest, and he gropes your tit through your clothes, groaning.

“shit, it’s even better than i imagined,” he murmurs.

“do you wanna fuck them?”

his eyes go wide and he moans loudly. “fuck, yes.”

the two of you make quick work of your shirt — he nearly sends the buttons of your shirt flying with how frantic he was, and he snaps the clasp of your bra with a flick of his fingers. you tug your shirt out of where it’s tucked into your skirt and pull it off, throwing it onto a nearby chair. your bra follows and he eyes your tits greedily. he unbuttons his own shirt, then his pants too, and pulls his hard cock out of his pants.

the size of his cock makes you salivate, excited to have a taste. and his body… his body is sculpted by the gods, all muscle and defined lines. the thin sheen of sweat makes him glow.

he places a cushion on the floor for you. you kneel on the cushion and press your tits together with your arms.

“fuck, baby, you’re perfect,” he moans. he spits onto his cock a few times and strokes it, then positions himself between your breasts. he clenches his abs desperately to hold his orgasm at bay.

slowly, he starts fucking between your tits, grunts leaving his lips with every thrust. he whimpers when you lean your head down to lick at the tip whenever it pokes up between your tits. you allow your own saliva to dribble onto his cock and your tits to ease the slide.

it doesn’t take long — this is probably the hottest situation he’s ever been in — and soon, he’s coming all over your face and breasts with a groan. “shit,” he curses. “you’re too sexy, baby.”

with a thumb, he swipes up all the cum on your face and feeds it to you, and you accept it with a dazed smirk. mingyu helps you stand again, and starts sucking hickeys onto your breasts, licking up his own release and leaving his marks behind. then, he presses his lips back onto yours, passing the cum in his mouth to you. it’s so hot and dirty that it makes you dizzy.

his hands slide down to your skirt. he grabs two fistfuls of your ass and moans into your mouth.

“mingyu,” you whine. he coos at you. with one swipe of his arm, he clears his table, folders clattering to the floor.

mingyu lifts you onto the table, then tugs at your skirt hurriedly. you try lifting your ass to help him take the skirt off, but he simply shoves your skirt up your thighs and drops to his knees. “fuck,” you moan. “are you gonna—”

he responds by pressing his nose against your core through your panties. his nose bridge bumps your clit, making you whimper, and the deep inhale he takes nearly makes you cum on the spot.

“smells so good, baby,” he praises. “bet you’ll taste even better.”

he peels your soaked panties off your cunt and slides them off your legs. “can i keep these, darling?”

you moan. “yes,” you reply. “anything you want.”

he slides your panties into his pocket, then presses his face directly into your pussy. there’s no preamble before he’s eating you out frantically, licking and sucking and nibbling, and you grab his hair to ground yourself, nearly screaming in pleasure. “yes, yes,” you chant, whining loudly. “fuck, i’m going to cum so fast.”

soon, you’re fucked dumb, his tongue putting you into a daze, and all you can do is babble mindlessly and cry.

with a shout, you cum onto his face, and he licks you through it, nose pressing insistently at your clit. you jerk in sensitivity for a minute before you finally push him off.

mingyu looks absolutely pussy-drunk, eyes glazed over with a dumb smile on his face. “so good,” he murmurs. “can you go again?”

“i would, but i really want your cock inside me now, mingyu.” you pant.

he springs into action. mingyu stands from where he’d been kneeling and shoves his pants down his legs. you watch, dazed, as he steps out of them and steps towards you.

then, he grabs you by the hips and flips you onto your front, making you squeal.

“mingyu?!”

“been wanting to bend you over my desk,” mingyu says gruffly. “fuck you from behind. can i, baby?”

you moan. “please, yes, give it to me—”

you hear him spit again, and then the head of his cock presses against your entrance. he’s so much bigger than you’d anticipated. you scramble to grab the edge of the table as he rocks into you slowly, a long, loud whine forced out of you. his spit may not have been enough lube, but there’s more than enough of your slick to ease the slide.

his cock bullies into you, stretching you out deliciously and almost painfully, and it never seems to end.

“what a pretty pussy,” he murmurs. “taking my cock so well.”

“a-ah, love your cock,” you babble. “‘s so good.”

“god, i’ve barely even started and you’re already fucked dumb.” he growls. “aren’t you just so perfect for me, doll?”

he hisses when your cunt clenches around his cock. “yes!” you cry. “all for you. all yours.”

his hips buck at your words, and the remaining couple of inches are shoved into your cunt, making you cry out in surprise. he rubs your back in apology, and as soon as you give him the go-ahead, he starts fucking you earnestly.

he gropes your tits and your ass and admires the view of you sprawled out across his work desk, naked save the skirt bunched around your waist, face plastered sideways onto the tabletop. he leans forward and fucks you harder, and you scramble desperately, trying to find something to hold onto, fingertips clawing at the table.

“ungh, mingyu,” you moan. “s-so good, so good—”

“yeah? tell me how much you like my cock, baby.”

“so big, so warm,” you cry. “harder, harder!”

he pistons into you and the pleasure overwhelms you. your cunt clenches around his cock as you try to hold back your orgasm.

“fuck, baby,” he swears. “so tight and warm around me. i’m not going to last long.”

you’re sobbing now. “g-gonna cum,” you whimper. “wanna cum.”

he slides a finger over your clit, and that’s all it takes for you to cum with a scream. he fucks you through your orgasm into oversensitivity, and you clench around him sporadically as you twitch, sparks of pleasure shooting up your spine.

“where d’you want it?” he asks, teeth clenched.

“inside, please give it to me inside,” you answer quickly.

with a growl, he starts to cum, shooting hot semen into your pussy. it makes you cum again, arching violently, and he fucks you through both of your orgasms.

finally, he slows, and pulls out gingerly. he flips you onto your back, then watches the cum start dripping out of your pussy with a dopey, satisfied grin.

you pant, chest heaving enticingly, as you recover from your two orgasms in record time. “well shit,” you mutter. “that was probably the best sex i’ve had in my life.”

“guess it needs to happen again, then,” mingyu says, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. you laugh, slapping his arm, and he giggles too, fending off your attacks.

“but for real, though, i do really like you. and. i know we kind of fast-forwarded a little bit, but i’d like if we could try getting to know each other and maybe try dating…?” he asks, suddenly shy.

“i’ll agree to that,” you say, watching him perk up. “on one condition.”

his eyes are bright with puppy-like excitement. “what is it?”

you point down your body at the cum pooling on your pussy and dripping onto the table. “find a way to clean that up.”

with a smirk, he drops to his knees again.

“with pleasure.”

[jinnie-ret]

black friday

han jisung x plus size!reader

genre: angst, fluff at the end

content warnings: body size insecurities, reader talking negatively about themselves

word count: 1.8k

summary: it should have been a nice, fun evening out, but your insecurities win and jisung is just as upset as you are when he finds out why

Here it is, the first imagine of my 1K followers event, thank you so much everyone! Just to preface that everyone is beautiful. You are all worthy and the way your body looks does not define you. Be confident in who you are because there is a part of you that every single person out there will appreciate. I myself have gone through body image issues and I still do, so some of this is coming through my own experiences. Just because reader is plus size and feeling down does not mean this reflects how everyone plus size feels, again, this is just my own personal experiences mixed in. If you ever wanna talk then just pm me and love to you all <3

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It was just a dinner.

Just a fancy evening dinner party for JYP, and you were Jisung's plus one of course, being his girlfriend it only made sense.

The invitations clearly stated that it was a black tie event, meaning that you were to arrive formally dressed and that you'd probably expect a glass of prosecco to be handed to you upon entry.

Now that, didn't sound too bad.

What did, was the pressure of finding something new to wear, that you felt suited your shape. It was a difficult feat, you felt like. You'd only order from places guaranteed with a return policy, because you knew for sure that what would seem like a small thing to someone else, would make you wish that you never bought the item in the first place.

You had many memories of going clothes shopping as a child, and breaking down into tears in the dressing rooms because the top was too clingy or the trousers didn't fit right or the dress didn't look right on you.

No one should have to feel like that as a 7 year old kid. No one should have to feel like that, ever.

And when it wasn't just the clothes not fitting right, it was how they suddenly became itchy after, and you wanted nothing more than to get it off of your body, feeling hot with anxiety. But then there was the music blasting in the shop, and your mum asking you to show her your outfit even though your vision was so clouded with tears and you felt like you could barely breathe.

To put it simply, it was overwhelming. It was even triggering, sometimes, going shopping for something to decorate your body when it was the thing you hated the most about yourself.

Why should you like it?

Because of Jisung.

He never failed to bring you up after you hit your lows. Feeling isolated and barren in your thoughts, like you were curled up into a dark corner, locked away for no one to save you, and yet his hand would reach forwards and pull you out, being your lifeline. You needed your lifeline right now.

Doing your makeup helped for sure. It was a great way to make you feel confident yet you didn't feel like you needed to rely on it to feel pretty. You loved how your highlighter showed off your cheekbones and how your eye makeup made the colour pop out. Painfully, Jisung would always wonder why the same thing wouldn't apply with clothing. Of course, you had your casual style that you had gotten used to, but when it came to things outside of your comfort zone, you were nervous - like anyone else would be.

The dress looked stunning in the picture. On the model, not you, you thought. Why did it cling to you like that? Why did it show off your love handles? Why couldn't it have flown outwards instead of making you feel like you look like a rectangle?

In reality, none of those things mattered. It was your personality shining through that really mattered, because others would notice your melodic laugh and your kinds words much quicker than forming an opinion on your body. Again, these were all of the things Jisung would say to you but they never registered in your mind.

Smoothing down the fabric of the black dress, you bit your lip as you stared at yourself in the mirror.

"Ji! I so should have worn a suit, babe!" you call out twisting awkwardly on your heels just to check over every inch of your body in the mirror.

You heard him chuckle as he entered the bedroom, eyes widening as he looked at you.

"Babe, you look amazing no matter what, don't worry, yeah?" Jisung walked behind you, kissing you on the cheek as he scanned his bedside table for his cologne.

"I-i think this part doesn't look right though..." you frowned, pinching desperately at the smooth fabric between your thumb and finger, trying to stretch it out so it doesn't cling to you. You didn't even realise how hard you were biting on your own lip, breaking the skin as red pooled yet blended in with your red lipstick.

"Babe, you look sexy as hell right now, I'm serious," Jisung murmured into your neck as he wrapped his arms around your waist, trying to ease your worries. "The dress looks amazing on you, plus, your curves look great in the dress. There's nothing to worry about," he added on, knowing that you would end up comparing yourself to anyone else because you always felt like you were bigger than everyone, and that that was a problem.

Jisung waited for your response as he placed small gentle kisses on your neck, but you were clearly so anxious that you began to zone out.

"Babe, hey look at me. Look into my eyes," Jisung's arms tightened slightly, successfully gaining your attention as you blinked and looked at him in the mirror.

"Hmm, yeah?" you frowned, sighing and desperately trying to hold back your tears.

"There you are baby, listen, I love your body, I love your curves. And no one can tell me or more importantly you, otherwise. You look incredible in that dress," Jisung moved in front of you so you wouldn't look at your reflection anymore and instead focus on him and his words.

"I just want a perfect body, Ji, it's not fair," your eyes watered as you let out a sob, voice cracking.

"No, no, no, oh baby, it's alright, I've got you," Jisung cuddled you tightly against him, heart breaking at your cries. If only you could see what he sees and what everyone else did too. He smoothed down your hair, fingers twisting in your curls as he did so.

"I hate it, I hate it, Ji, I hate my body, I hate my skin-" you whimper into him, floodgates opened and no filter on the words that came tumbling out of your mouth now that you were in the comfort of the guy you loved the most.

"Darling, look at me, just breathe for a second, yeah?" Jisung reluctantly pulled away from you, wishing he could hold you in his arms forever and protect you from any harm the world would try throwing at you.

"O-ok," you sniffled and nodded, looking upwards as you blinked your tears away in effort of not messing up your makeup, like that would have made a difference.

"I'm sorry this dinner party has stressed you out so much, if you want we just have a nice relaxing night and-" Jisung offered another option, seeing right in front of him the mental toll that the idea of going to this event had taken on you. To him, you had seemed fine all week, so it must have been building up for a while.

"No, please don't. I... I want to go for you, I really do, it's just hard. I wanna be perfect like all your other friends," your shaky voice stopped him from carrying on as you placed a hand on his chest and adjusted the tie he was wearing, effectively distracting your own mind.

"Don't worry about my friends. Your body is none of their business. I'm sure they'd think you look amazing too. I know I could never keep my eyes away from you, I just wanna hug you and grab your love handles and kiss your cheeks and squeeze your-" Jisung rambled pressing little kisses all over your face to get you to laugh, and when he was successful, he let out a chuckle of his own.

"O-ok, o-ok," you pecked him on the lips before taking a few deep breaths and sat back in front of your vanity, quickly making a start on retouching your makeup.

"I wish you didn't worry so much, baby. I know I can't force you to see things how I do but if I could stop you from having all these thoughts in your head I would, you know that right?" Jisung stood behind you, mesmerised as you got yourself ready again, and he couldn't help but play with your hair.

"I know babe, I know- ow!" you winced, batting his hands away from your hair, "you tugged too hard," you wrinkled your nose at him.

"I'm bored, hurry up, I wanna take pictures of us for my Instagram story," he whined, shaking you gently by the shoulders. He was glad he had calmed you down and brought out your playful mood again, and for a moment he was worried about suggesting the idea of pictures when that's partly what you were stressed out about. He was relieved when that didn't throw you off.

"You always wanna take pictures of me," you shake your head fondly at him, putting your lipstick down and standing to grab your handbag.

"Of course I do! You're my girlfriend! Look at this picture," Jisung brought out his phone and quickly found a picture in his gallery, "I love this one here, because you look pretty like the sun. But then in this one here, you're pretty like the wind," he even zoomed in on your face, admiring you.

"Ji, babe, my hair has gone everywhere in that photo haha," you laughed when he zoomed in, seeing your face screwed up in the photo with your hair flying back behind you, some of it sticking in the air.

"Mmm, don't care, you're pretty to me no matter what. Now, come on, let's go," Jisung shoved his phone in his pocket and kisses you for a second, always having to do so after you freshly put lipstick on, a habit of his, you could say.

"Ji, you look so handsome tonight by the way," you scanned him up and down, a black suit and his fluffy permed hair with curls that still lasted from a performance the other day.

"Hey! We gotta go! Don't flip this round on me, you!" Jisung grabbed your hand and tugged you towards him, laughing at your blank stare at him. "We'll miss the whole event at this rate... don't look at me like that," Jisung stopped still.

"Like what?" you tilted your head to the side, eyes shining and staring right back up into his.

"Like..." he blushed, "come on, if we stay any longer I'm not gonna be able to keep my hands off of you," he turned around, intertwining his hand with yours and leading you out of the bedroom, turning the light switch off on the way.

"Wouldn't be so bad," you giggled, before he whined once more.

"Babe!"

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[billys-pretty-babe]

Cover Worthy

Pairing : Billy Hargrove x Fem!Reader

Summary : October 31, 1985 you want to do matching costumes with your best friend until he turns it sexual, and the night ends up way differently than you could have imagined.

Warnings : Swearing, illusions to smut, mentions of suggestive pictures

Word count : 1,482

Halloween was one of the holidays you loved the most from dressing up to taking candy from your siblings. This year was different for everyone, you were all legal adults now. Everyone planned on going all out for the parties, and you and your best friend planned matching costumes, you just didn't know that he would choose that costume for you.

"Oh come on, you look, fuck." You laughed at his little moan at the end of his sentence. "I look like a slut." He shrugged, "Sluts are my favorite." You flung the ears at him and he laughed as he watched you turn in the mirror. "This is so cliche." He rolled his eyes, "Whatever, everyone loves Playboy." You looked at him, "Yeah, horny people." He shrugged, "Yeah, so everyone." You laughed, shaking your head.

"I don't know, my ass is out, let's not talk about the fact my pussy might fall out." He laughed, "Need to go up a size?" You shook your head, "No, it fits fine." You adjusted your breasts and looked at him in the mirror, "Wipe the corner of your mouth." He made a slurping sound and you cringed, "Gross." He laughed and leaned forward.

"Does the tail move?" Before you could respond, he grabbed the fluffy white tail and shook it. "So you're gonna be Hugh?" He nodded, eyes still on your figure as he watched you bend over to slide your heels on. You put the cuffs on your wrists and looked in the mirror again. "I can work with this." He nods, "Good, you look good." You smiled and thanked him, adjusting the top of the bodysuit again.

Halloween

You rushed to your room, Billy right behind you, both of your outfits in your closet. He grabbed them and put his costume on, leaving the robe untied to show his abs and pecs off. "Your turn." You grabbed the outfit and went into your bathroom to get dressed. You walked out, "I need help getting the back up." He nodded and stood behind you, unrolling the material from itself and it slid up easily.

You began looking through your vanity. "What're you looking for?" You glanced at him in the mirror, his blue eyes on your ass. "Boob tape." He hummed and sat on your bed, watching you look. "Found it." You adjusted yourself and looked in the mirror to make sure they sat evenly and you smiled.

You did your hair and makeup before placing the headband on your head, readjusting the wire ears again. You slipped the heels on and Billy whistled as if he were catcalling you and you laughed and shook your head. "Cover worthy, hell centerfold worthy. Shauna Grant, who? I'd rather have you on my wall." You laughed and shook your head. "I'm telling you, future Bunny right there, and I'll be the first to buy the magazines, probably jack to them too." You groaned, "Gross, I did not need to hear that." He laughed and shrugged.

"I was taught honesty is the best policy, just being honest, gorgeous." You hummed, "I'd rather be lied to than hear you talk about jerking it to my pictures." He laughed as he watched you, pupils making the blue in his eyes disappear. "Let me take some pictures of you, just for us to see." You shrugged, "Okay." He grabbed your Polaroid camera, holding your waist as he put the camera out, the first picture being of you two, your heads cropped out, just your torsos in the picture.

He looked at the picture and smirked as he nodded and showed it to you. "Hot," he said and took it from you, flicking it onto the vanity. "I'm telling you, cover worthy, you'd make fucking big bucks, especially with a body like that. Like sure, Cynthia Brimhall is a fucking babe but God, she doesn't stand a chance against you for Playmate of the month." You laughed, holding his chin, rubbing it with your thumb.

"That was kinda sweet." He rolled his eyes, "I'm just saying, body like that, you'd be fucking rich. I would need like ten percent, I'd be your personal assistant, running your little errands and shit." You laughed, "You already do that for free." He rolled his eyes, "Wouldn't say free considering I got to fu-" you cut him off, gently putting your hand over his mouth, "Shut up, I told you not to bring that up again."

He snickered, "Was I that bad? Damn, I gotta get my stamina up." You laughed, "Not bad, not bad at all. I just don't wanna talk about that." He nodded and held your waist as he looked in the mirror. "Come on, we gotta go. I wanna get to the punch before someone slips drugs into it." He nodded and held the small of your back, directing you out of your bedroom and out to his car.

You laughed as soon as you saw them, "Are you serious?" He shrugged, "I'm trying to get laid, I haven't had sex in two months." You rolled your eyes and he laughed and threw the small box of condoms into the floorboard. He began driving, rock music playing on the radio as he drummed on the steering wheel, speeding slightly but nothing that scared you.

The two of you arrived and Tina greeted you both before you dragged Billy inside and to the kitchen. You made a cup and he took it from you, smelling it and taking a few sips before giving it to you. "I think there's some Everclear in it." You nodded. "So go easy, for the love of God, I'm not doing that shit again." You laughed, vague memories coming back as you sipped the red drink.

He led you outside to where Tommy, Carol and their friends were. Carol whistled as she saw you, even shooting you a wink and you laughed and Billy held your hip tighter as you walked over to them. "Hugh and his bunny, that's hot. When's the November issue?" You all laughed at one of Tommy's friends and Billy gripped you a little tighter, his fingers digging into the meat of your hip.

You put your hand over his and held his pinky. You all began talking amongst yourselves, Billy remained attached to you, no matter how many girls tried getting his attention, their breasts nearly spilling out of their costumes but his eyes were on you the entire time. Midnight was near, that much he knew, you only had half of a drink, opting on pouring the rest into Carol's cup after Billy declined it.

You tapped his waist as he talked to one of the guys from the basketball team, "Can we leave? I'm getting cold." He nodded, not bothering to tell anyone as he led you through the sweaty bodies of other college students. He was sober, no alcohol in his system but the way your hips were grinding on his earlier, made him feel like alcohol was directly pushed into his veins, he felt like an addict and needed a fix or else he'd go into withdrawals.

He drove back to the little house the two of you lived in, being cautious of little kids with their parents. He let you both into the house, following you to your room as you took your heels off and groaned, your feet throbbing. "Can we take pictures of our costumes?" He nodded and you grabbed the Polaroid camera and he sat in the little armchair that you had. You sat in his lap, crossing your legs as his hand snaked around your waist.

He put the camera out at arm's length, setting his head on your shoulder and you laughed at him and he took the picture, knowing you wouldn't smile if he told you to. He watched the picture develop and he hummed. "And that's going in my room." You laughed as you looked at it. You only looked at him, not even yourself, the way his pupils were blown out, the way he gripped you, and most of all, the way he looked at you, it was pure lust.

He took more pictures of you and each time, it seemed like the bodysuit was getting lower and lower. That night was one for the books, for the both of you, the bodysuit broke the lamp after Billy flung it at the dainty lamp, nearly everything was tossed besides the ears.

Red lipstick marks nearly everywhere, they stained him and your white bed sheets when the two of you finally did fall asleep, entangled with each other, blanket and sheets tangled together, pillows on the floor. Sparkles were on his chest and his shoulder from when your eyes fluttered shut, getting the silver sparkly makeup on his skin. You would both face the consequences and the weirdness but for now, you basked in the warmth his body provided you.

[shortpplfedup]

Only Friends Character Rankings Episode 10

We're in the final act now, as Jojo n'em focus on 'Redemption'. Last week y'all tapped Nick as the most honest in reckoning with himself, and now it's everybody else's turn for a reckoning.

🔺1. Boeing (2)

You're totally his type. Like an upgraded version of me.

Walk in, fuck shit up, that's the Boeing way, and I am GAGGING for it. I don't have a clue who the target is or what his game is or exactly but he is playing it EXPERTLY. Is he trying to get Top back? Is he trying to get back at Top? Where does next week's Sand diversion fit in? DID HE AND MEW REVENGE FUCK I NEED TO KNOW?! (I ALSO NEED TO SEE!).

🔻2. Nick (1)

Don't we deserve each other?

Nikolai my stalker baby, why did my heart swell three sizes when you got your man? Honesty remains the best policy, and owning your own shit is a fast track to understanding and accepting others. Nick tried, he genuinely gave Daddy Dan an honest and fair chance, and it COULD have been something, but the heart wants what it wants and Nick's heart wants Boston. The look on his face when he saw his photo as Boston's lockscreen, the way he BAWLED when Boston admitted he missed him...peak romance I tell you.

🔺3. Boston (4)

I don't usually take good care of what I own.

I'm not really meta-ing about this show, but the PRECISION with which Jojo n'em sliced and diced the audience's slut-shaming ways via this character got me. I am INCANDESCENT on Boston's behalf that his so-called friends were so willing to believe Atom's nasty little lies. Because Boston might be a slut, and he might have gone a little Top crazy, and he might stir up some drama when he's feeling some typa way, but he's not a sexual predator, and HE DOESN'T LIE. And despite it all people who call themselves friends to him SHOULD know that. He shouldn't have fucked Atom yes, but Atom straight up asked to get fucked. Boston DOES have lessons to learn about controlling his impulses and filtering the things that come out of his mouth, but these hypocrites ain't the ones to teach him. I'm glad that Nick got over himself last week just in time to be there when Boston truly needed him, and I hope that if they decide to try a relationship that Nick keeps the letting-Boston-be-Boston energy he's discovered.

⭐4. Ray's Dad

Ray's Dad in his one prior appearance seemed like a man at the end of his rope, and I'm glad my thinking was borne out. This story keeps telling us that nobody is a monster, nobody is a villain, everybody is just a person, and Ray's dad is a person like all the rest of them: he cared about his wife, he's watched helplessly and increasingly angrily as his son went down the same path, but he didn't know how to get through to him because he's limited, as we all are, so he did a lot of the wrong thing. I don't think paying Sand to get Ray into rehab was the wrong thing though, that was the act of a desperate man. Him giving Ray the straight dope about how to treat people was a long overdue fatherly lesson. Has he been neglectful? Indubitably. But I'm rooting for him.

🔻5. Sand (3)

Do you think I’m a man with no dignity?

Sand is the beneficiary of me being salty about Mew and Ray joining the 'I saw Goodie Proctor with the devil' mini-mob, but I could have TOLD him that a man who continuously and repeatedly calls you a whore is going to believe the absolute worst about you when the chips are down. I'm lowkey mad he gave back the money, because Ray is gonna call him a whore whether or not he's getting paid. I know Sand lives for the drama sparkle Ray brings to his otherwise dull life, but come ON dude.

🔺6. Mew (7)

If you blow it again this time, I'll blame myself for being dumb enough to trust you.

Mew joining in the fun with Boeing is probably gonna bite him somehow but right now I am LIVINGGGGG. Mew keeping Top up at night staring at the ceiling on a regular basis is the only way I'm gonna truly enjoy them being together, because game recognising game is my favourite brand of toxic relationship. If these two spend the next 50 years trying to get one over on each other I will be so satisfied.

🔻7. Ray (5)

I'm not addicted to alcohol. I can stop whenever I want.

Ray spending the entire episode in various stages of denial, his irritation with the idea of rehab and refusal to take it seriously, that explosion that was ALWAYS coming at Sand, and his final, quiet realisation that he has a fucking problem and he needs to fix it to stop hurting the people around him was phenomenal television, anchored by a bravura performance by Khaotung. Ray is gonna have a lot of amends to make once he starts drying out, including saying everything he said to his therapist directly to Sand. Can he truly change? Let's see.

🔻8. Top (6)

I'm sure if he stops being mad at me, we can make it long-term.

I finally figured out why no matter what I'll NEVER like Top and he doesn't pass the vibe check: his instincts and reactions are to lie, hide and cheat when he doesn't feel on top of things. He and Boeing may not be fuckin', but whatever is going on there smells like deceit and mendacity, and he is DESPERATE to hide it from Mew. The look on his face when Boeing is around is exactly how he looked around Boston after that car. Give me an honest slut over whatever this is any day of the week and twice on Sundays. I keep saying that Mew is part of Top's self-actualization, and the way he talks about him with Boeing in this ep just adds fuel to my fire. Is that enough to sustain a long-lasting and successful relationship, absolutely, so many couples are JUST like this.

🔺9. Cheum (12)

Find your own way to graduate. And we will forget we were once friends with you.

OOH this girl pisses me off. Having finally decided to mind the business that pays her, mostly because she's annoyed Atom seems to prefer talking to Boston than talking to her, she's all too willing to believe Atom's lies about Boston and run up pointing her j'accuse finger. I genuinely can't get over how UGLY that scene at Boston's was, how Cheum pulled out some of the same shit that gets levelled at queer men, promiscuous or not, and threw it all at Boston. When she said she didn't believe that Atom was the aggressor because he likes girls, that hit me in the fucking chest. Boston must have done something to Atom. He must have coerced him, blackmailed him, forced him, right? It's so grotesque.

🔻10. Atom (9)

Getting my heart broken by a girl won't kill me.

Speaking of grotesque, what a nasty bit of business this was. Hurt people hurt people, that's kind of the whole ethos of this show, and the lies Atom told were designed to ruin Boston's life like he feels Boston ruined his by GIVING HIM EXACTLY WHAT HE ASKED FOR. I very much doubt Atom is gonna stop at Cheum too, he's out to destroy, and spreading around this kind of shit about somebody who's already judged for being 1) queer and 2) promiscuous is absolutely destructive. This shit was the vilest thing anybody has done on this show by a country mile.

[bopinion]

2024 / 07

Aperçu of the Week:

"Time isn't the main thing. It#s the only thing."

(Miles Davis, American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer - and among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of music)

Bad News of the Week:

Sometimes things get rough in the political business. Sometimes you get pelted with eggs, as the unification chancellor Helmut Kohl once did in the East. Or with a bag of paint, as happened to Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Or even end up in a wheelchair like Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble, who was stabbed. However, all these incidents - as tragic as they are - are isolated cases. In which an individual perpetrator, often with a psychological problem that was not diagnosed in time, commits an individual act. It is certainly not possible to speak of a systemic problem. This seems to be changing in Germany.

The increasing aggression against the Greens is becoming more and more frightening. The platform of this party has always had a tendency to polarize. After all, they want to achieve fundamental change. And unlike The Left, which also wants this, they are regularly involved in governments. And stand out more in the context of the otherwise dominant "Keep it up..." - keyword "prohibition party". Of course you can be against it, comment on it on social media, take it to the streets and demonstrate. But please do so in a civilized manner, as it has to be in a democratic society.

Unfortunately, this discourse has not been civilized in recent weeks. It started when the Green Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, was prevented from leaving a car ferry by angry farmers. There was a scuffle with the police, and the public prosecutor's office is now investigating on charges of coercion. And now a Green Party rally - on the traditional "Political Ash Wednesday" - had to be canceled at the last minute. Again because of angry farmers blocking roads. This time, several police officers were injured, cars were demolished and fires were lit. Even Interior Minister Nancy Faeser from the rival Social Democrats considers this to be unacceptable, calling it a "brutalization and poisoning of the discourse". She is quite simply right.

Good News of the Week:

Once a year, the Munich Security Conference MSC, the world's most important security policy meeting, takes place in Munich. It is characterized not only by the official conference programme, but also by the various meetings that take place behind the scenes. One pleasing example: Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at war for years. Under the mediation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, both heads of government have now met in Munich. And then actually announced that they wanted to resolve their conflicts peacefully.

The primary topic was, of course, the Gaza war with a tendency towards a full-size Middle East conflict. The tone towards Israel is becoming harsher. At the MSC, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for a Palestinian state to end the "vicious circle". And is even receiving support from China: this is the only way to achieve peaceful coexistence in the region, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was also present. It is fitting that French President Emmanuel Macron announced after a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Paris a few days ago that he does not want to close his mind to the recognition of a Palestinian state: "We owe this to the Palestinians, whose expectations have been trampled on for too long."

Naturally, the Ukraine war was also in focus. President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for further support at the security conference. There is a lack of long-range weapons. Kremlin leader Putin must not succeed in turning the next few years into a catastrophe. And the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who has just died in a Siberian prison camp in an as yet unexplained manner, is a victim of Vladimir Putin, just like Ukraine, says Selensky. Shortly beforehand, he had signed a security agreement with Germany, which provides the most military aid to Ukraine after the USA.

Other remarkable things also happened in Munich. For example, US Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed that the USA is firmly rooted in NATO. Out of responsibility, but also out of self-interest. Donald Trump's current statements on the subject obviously make this statement seem necessary. "Take him at his word, take him seriously. He means what he says," said former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was also present in Munich.

And finally, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned: "What happens today in Ukraine could happen tomorrow in Taiwan." China's Foreign Minister Wang nonchalantly replied that "Taiwan (remains) part of Chinese territory and the Taiwan issue (is) an internal Chinese matter." Overall, I find it gratifying that even in these times, people are still talking. You get the impression that diplomacy and negotiations are not yet at an end.

Personal happy moment of the week and other categories...

I'm sorry: this week (which piece was published quite late anyway) left me no time to deal with "lighter topics". Next week!

Post Scriptum

It has become apparent: Donald Jessica Trump has been convicted of fraud in court in New York City. The fine amounts to a total of 463.9 million dollars. Many assume that he does not have this in cash. And therefore has to take out a loan or borrow against real estate. Curiously, this fits in with the proceedings - because they were about how Trump manipulated property values in order to obtain cheaper loans. This will now work neither for this personal loan, which he now needs, nor for future deals. That undoubtedly hurts him.

Another decision by Judge Arthur Engoron will hurt him even more. He not only stripped Trump of the management of his own company, but also banned him from doing business in the state of New York for three years, Donald Jr. and Eric for two years and the top managers Weisselberg and McConney for life. In short: the entire top management of the Trump Organization no longer has any say. Engoron transferred their supervision to retired judge Barbara Jones, who thus effectively became Trump's superior.

In Europe, we can only shake our heads at how a legally convicted fraudster and sexual offender can stay in the political business. In Germany, for example, several top politicians have already had to give up their careers because of incorrect citations in their doctoral theses. "He's been a fraud his whole life," commented author Tony Schwartz, who ghostwrote Trump's manifesto "The Art of the Deal". "Today it's just become official." Now it just needs to have a deterrent effect on his voter base. Dreaming will probably still be allowed...

[digthewriter]

Complementary To Green - Harry/Ron/Draco Fic by digthewriter

Summary: When Draco had started The Malfoy Fix, he'd expected plenty of fashion-disaster(s) clients and had figured having an open-door policy was good for business. Although, catering to celebrity-Aurors Harry Potter and Ron Weasley was not on the agenda.

Dressing up Potter and Weasley was more humorous than Draco had initially thought. It was also just as nerve-racking. It was true that initially, Weasley had been the one who was more than willing to pick fights with Draco; he was also the one who now actually listened to Draco, trying on whatever outfit Draco would pick out. Potter, on the other hand, questioned everything. "Why does he get the dark blue? I like dark blue." He always wanted to try whatever Weasley was trying and would give clothes selected for him to Weasley. "Purple's not really my colour." "It's not his size." "I'll spell it to fit over Ron's body." At that, Weasley had smirked. What was even worse was that they never left the room to go and change. They didn't even turn around or wait for Draco to turn around. For days, Draco had to endure Potter and Weasley getting naked in front of each other, their playful flirting, finding reasons to touch each other, and on the final day, Draco had to even break off the pseudo-wrestling match they'd initiated on the sofa because Weasley wanted to wear a silk scarf Draco had picked out for Potter. It was ridiculous. It was too much for Draco to handle, and he'd been right, there hadn't been enough Galleons in the world for Draco to endure all of this and come out unscathed. He was also absolutely, utterly jealous.

(AO3 LINK)

[generallemarc]

Just something to keep in mind about Congress, Trump and the border

Trump has a history of refusing to secure the border unless it's entirely done his way. We could've had a sped up process and vitally-important funding increases, but he wanted the deal shut down because that would mean Biden signing it instead of him. Now, I'm pretty sure Johnson would've shot it down anyway for his own reasons, but that doesn't change Trump's reasons one bit. And like I said, this is not the first time he's done this. Remember, he had both houses of Congress for the first half of his presidency-he had two full years where anything requiring a simple majority vote couldn't be stopped by the Democrats on their own. And what did he do with it? Nothing, because he wouldn't give significant and lasting boosts to border agencies since he'd tied it all to the #borderwall, and boy howdy was it weird to see a rightie trying to exploit dumbass social media anti-thought instead of a leftie. He wouldn't give the necessary support to the agencies actively tasked with securing the border unless he got to spend billions of dollars on an inefficient, one-size-fits-all idea(national parks? places that already aren't gonna see attempted entry due to hostile geography? the fucking Rio Grande? never addressed) that only works if you're limited to 280 characters to explain it.

I'll fully admit, a large part of why I'm pissed at the bill being shot down was because it means that Ukraine and Israel aren't getting the aid they need-America's foreign policy can't be gambled for votes like that. And, as always in these scenarios, it does take two to tango: a compromise failing usually means both parties decided not to give, and that makes this also on the Democrats as well. But to shoot the bill down before even fully understanding what was in it(be honest with me: how many of the Congressmen who pledged to vote against it do you think actually read the text before condemning it?) is pure partisanship, and so this time the lion's share of blame is very much on the Republicans. Biden outright said he'd shut down the border if sent a bill for that-even if he was lying, him saying that at all should've been a huge win for the right. But instead of border security being increased as we speak, we're forced to wait weeks or maybe months more, while the crisis gets worse and the agencies dealing with it get more and more overwhelmed, because Speaker Johnson and Trump both care more about winning in November than helping America now.

[angel-0f-verdun]

4 Lone Wolf

Previous Chapter

"Alright, beautiful, now moving swiftly along." The lieutenant said, nodding to the personnel near the door to turn the lights off. They did so and closed the blinds to prepare us for a film. My eyes adjusted to the darkness quickly and I pulled out a small pocket-sized notebook just in case it would be required for notes. Unlike Maverick I took pride in my studies and enjoyed the opportunity for learning.

"During Korea, the Navy kill ratio was 12 to one. We shot down 12 of their jets for every one of ours. During Vietnam, that ratio fell to three to one. Our pilots became dependent upon missiles, they had lost some of their dogfighting skills. Top Gun was created to teach ACM, air combat maneuvering. Dogfighting, if you will. At the end of Vietnam, that ratio was back up to 12 to one." The lecture he gave was quick, but he showed examples of dogfighting on the small TV at the front of the classroom. I smiled knowing that this was what we were going to be perfecting here with the program.

"Blinds, please. Now I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our commanding officer at Top Gun. The very first man to win the Top Gun trophy. You will not find a finer fighter pilot anywhere in the world. Commander Mike Metcalf. Callsign, Viper." The doors we had come through not 30 minutes ago reopened to reveal a grizzled officer probably in his mid-50s by now. He walked through the aisle looking at every one of us with an intensity that I couldn't describe. When he got to the front, he turned towards us.

"Gentlemen," He paused looking directly at Doe and I.

"And ladies… I apologize, it is the first time we have had women in this program. Though I'm certain you will live up to your callsigns." He continued with a bit of discontent in his tone. I actively stopped my jaw from dropping at his remark. I had been expecting this, but not from a commander. Well, it was no real surprise to me that we would have to prove ourselves to everyone who did not want us here. It was a brand-new concept for many of the old command.

"All of you are the top one percent of all naval aviators, the elite, the best of the best, otherwise you wouldn't be here. We'll make you better. You'll fly at least two combat missions a day, attend classes in between, and receive evaluations of your performance."

"Top Gun is not an opportunity to slack off, get drunk, and go on romantic outings." He added as he saw Iceman grinning ear to ear. The smile was quickly wiped from his face, his head snapping back to his notes as his fingers twirled the pen he held.

"It is an opportunity, that your commanding officers thought you fit to journey on. Now, in each combat sequence, you're going to meet a different challenge. Every encounter is going to be much more difficult. We're going to teach you to fly the F-14 right to the edge of the envelope. Faster than you've ever flown before and more dangerous. Now, we don't make policy here, gentlemen, elected officials, and civilians do that. We are the instruments of that policy." He paused, I saw Maverick look at Iceman and they locked eyes, glaring at each other.

"And although we are not at war, we must always act as though we are at war." I'm sure he felt he made his point among everyone present as he started walking again towards the back of the room. I turned to face where he was.

"What are you doing?" Goose leaned over to Maverick asking him the question in a whispered tone. I rolled my eyes knowing this could only lead to my annoyance growing.

"The tip of the spear." Viper continued.

"I'm just wondering who's the best," Maverick answered Goose's question with an arrogant remark.

"In case some of you wonder who the best is, here, they're up here on this plaque on the wall. The best driver and his RIO from each class has his name on it." Viper turned back around facing the front and walking towards the whiteboard. He had no doubt heard Maverick's question and answered it amused.

"And they have the option to come back here to be Top Gun instructors. You think your name's going to be on that plaque?" He turned to face Maverick who was tracking him delicately with his eyes now, no longer distracted.

"Yes sir." He answered him quite confidently.

"That's pretty arrogant considering the company you're in," Viper replied to him, gesturing around the room at all the other pilots that were now in competition with each other.

"Yes sir." He said again looking briefly down towards the floor and back up to Viper.

"I like that in a pilot," Viper said, a trace of a smile on his face.

"Remember when it's over out there, we're all on the same team. Gentlemen this school is about combat. There are no points for second place. Dismissed." He said finishing his monologue, and letting us go about our business. I gathered my things again, putting my notebook and pen away in my front pocket. I got up quickly ready to leave the room with Doe right behind me. Maverick and Goose following, I couldn't stand the testosterone that was practically oozing from these feral pre-pubescent males.

"The plaque for the alternates is down in the ladies' room." Iceman joked with everyone, Goose let out a hysterical fake laugh. I continued forward not wanting to stay and came up with a witty reply. I let out a breath when I exited the room standing off to the side with Doe as we waited for Maverick and Goose.

"Oh Jesus, oh you kill me, you really do. But watch out for Reaper, man, she'll put you down fast and hard. Make no mistake, these ladies have balls bigger than you've got hanging between your legs." Goose told Iceman and the others, who immediately quieted upon hearing his remark. When Maverick and Goose walked out they immediately started leading the way. I was almost positive that Stinger had put in our applications for housing ahead of us leaving the ship.

"So where are we heading?" I asked the two men ahead of us.

"Stinger pulled some strings and got us a house we can occupy for the months that we're here. Seems like we'll all be together since he couldn't find two separate houses. It's 4 bedrooms and 2 baths so we all get our own room. He specifically mentioned no funny business, Mav." Goose replied to me, calling Maverick out. Maverick let out a light-hearted laugh shaking his head as we traversed one of the parking lot keys in hand. He walked up to a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, sticking the key in the ignition. I watched as Maverick loaded his bags to the back of it, securing them down tightly so they wouldn't budge.

"You bastard, you had your bike delivered?" Goose asked him.

"That I did, you jealous?" He asked him, as he retrieved his aviator sunglasses and put them on. Goose simply stood there in awe of his friend and retrieved his own keys clicking the button to reveal his car a couple of rows away.

"Sounds amazing." I smiled happily as Maverick started the engine of the bike.

"You want a ride?" He asked me pleasantly surprised I had taken an interest in his mode of transportation. I nodded but stopped myself.

"I would, but let's get back to the house first, and then we'll talk about that later… Maybe you can take me down to the coast?" I asked him, just wanting to get to the house and relax for a bit. I left his side and went back towards Goose and Doe. We walked to Goose's 1985 Ford Bronco. When he unlocked it I opened the door and looked inside, I immediately wondered if I had made the right decision, there was not much room in the back for me.

"Goose, did Stinger get me a car? I can't help but notice there's no room for me." I told him, he smiled at me and took out another set of keys from his backpack throwing them to me. I caught them with ease.

"The arrangement had been made to have your Corvette brought out." He said, I smiled pushing the button to locate the car. It was a few spaces over from Goose's. I tried to contain my excitement upon seeing the car again. It was a sleek black model that I loved dearly and had in storage because I didn't need to use it much because I flew planes for a living. But it got me around in style, that's why I bought it.

"I'll follow you and Maverick over," I asked Goose but expressed it as a statement. He nodded as he and Doe entered his car.

I threw my things inside and got in, started the engine, and let the car warm up. I saw Maverick pull out of his spot and wait for all of us to get the show on the road, I pulled out next to him and Goose was behind me. I smiled as I shifted, and we got out onto the highway that led away from the base. I saw Maverick wanted to weave in and out of traffic so I let Goose in front of me so he could lead me instead. Once he got in front of me it was a very smooth ride to the house, we were only one exit off the highway to the base and a few turns away from the highway.

The house was in a very nice neighborhood, surrounded by almost identical houses. It was a two-story Victorian house, beige in color with a slate gray roof. I parked myself in the driveway next to Goose, looking at the wrap-around porch that had been decked out with a porch swing, sitting chairs, and a small table. I shut off the engine, got out of my car, retrieved my duffle bag from the back, and closed the door marveling at the house.

"Wow, it's beautiful." I breathed out, pressing the button on my keys to lock the door to my car. I left my flight things in there as I would not be needing those anytime soon unless I was on base or studying.

"I was not expecting Stinger to get us something this nice. I thought he hated us." Maverick said as he got all his items from his bike.

"Hates you guys maybe, he loves us," Doe said to him matter of factly. I let out a small laugh. It was true, he loved us because we actually followed instructions and listened to him when he gave us orders. Maverick always disobeyed him and Goose being his RIO carried that reputation with him as well, even though Goose was level-headed about most things and kept his pilot in check.

"Well let's see the inside, shall we?" Maverick said, bouncing up the stairs to the door unlocking it with the key attached to his bike keys. I followed his lead as we walked through the door the stairs were off to the right in front of us, the kitchen straight back, the living room to the left, and the dining room to the right. I walked into the kitchen it was minimally decorated but perfect for what we needed, to the right was a washer-dryer tucked in a small room near the backdoor. Goose and Doe went up the stairs to claim their rooms as Maverick and I explored. I opened the backdoor to reveal a backyard with a smoker and grill on the patio with a small hot tub. It was quite honestly paradise.

When I grew up my parents tried their best to be good role models for me. However, the family background was shrouded in addiction and secrets. I yearned to get away from it and I managed to quite easily when I applied to the Naval Academy. The rest is history, I took a deep breath closing my eyes. I reached my fingers into my hair and pulled down the ponytails that held it in its bun. I felt fingers push the hair from the front of my face to the back tucking it behind my ear it brought me back to the present moment. Maverick was standing behind me I could feel his breath hitting my neck as he moved my hair to the side. I cleared my throat as his fingers wandered to the base of my neck gently massaging the skin.

"Everything you ever dreamed of having?" He asked in a soft voice.

"It's more," I smiled relaxing into his touch. He was getting bolder, it seemed as if he was trying to touch me every opportunity he could. I was still getting used to accepting him this close to me. I flinched as his fingers traced quickly over my scar and down to my lower back. The movement reminded me of the pain of getting the scar, the searing blinding pain, wet blood soaking the uniform I was in. I internally begged Maverick to pull me from the memory. He noticed the stiffness of my body and spun me around putting his forehead against mine so I could hear his calm breathing, before pulling me into a hug.

"I don't know what you're going through, I wish you would just tell me, so you don't have to suffer through it alone." He whispered into my ear. His sentiment to my welfare had me struggling to keep my well-adjusted composure.

"Maverick, maybe I will someday. But you have to stop pushing." I told him unhappily, lightly pushing myself from his grip and moving to go back inside the house.

"I'm sorry Maeve." He said switching back to real names rather than callsigns so I knew he was serious.

"Wait…" He started, grabbing my wrist before I could get much further, I turned around to look towards him wondering what else he wanted to say to me.

"What?" I asked him looking curiously into his eyes as if I was going to find the answers there. I could tell he wanted to say something more but he was struggling within himself to do so.

"I know we've only just started the program… But I want you to be careful flying with these guys. I don't trust them. I know you can handle yourself but please be cautious. We've all heard the rumors of how you got your callsign. I just worry." He said to me, I nodded contemplating his request.

"What're the rumors?" I asked him curiously; I hadn't heard any new ones recently. There were a couple that assumed I had killed a lot of people in a certain deployment, which wasn't entirely far off from the truth. Maverick had only met me a few years ago, the talk of how I got my callsign had died down since then, or so I thought.

"I heard that you killed your RIO, murdered actually. I've heard that you were engaged to him. I've heard so many different versions but they all end with him dead." He said to me looking skeptical, judging my reaction. My bottom jaw clenched involuntarily, and I let out a chuckle.

"It's interesting how people twist stories after some time has gone by." I smiled through the wound he had just reopened. My body itched to leave the conversation as quickly as I could.

"Fine, I'll be careful, but you need to heed your own advice Mav," I told him, he let my hand go and I walked back inside and up the stairs to see where Crystal had set up her bedroom. I got upstairs and heard her and Nick laughing about something or another. I would say I was the more serious one out of the group of us because I knew the dangers we faced all too well. I went into the empty bedroom furthest away from the laughter that filled the house. I deserved to be this way, alone, I was better off this way.

Next Chapter

[yarnmen]

Men's Trending Fashion Online: Stay Ahead of the Fashion Game

Staying on top of the latest fashion trends is no longer a luxury in the fast-paced world of fashion; it's a need. Men today have unparalleled access to the hottest fashion trends from around the world, thanks to the convenience of internet purchasing. In this blog, we'll look at how men may use online shopping to keep their wardrobes looking fresh and trendy.

The Growth in Online Shopping:

The internet has transformed our shopping habits, and the fashion business is no different. Online fashion merchants have dominated the market, putting a diverse range of styles, sizes, and brands at your fingertips. Men can now experiment with their particular style and embrace the current trends more easily than ever before.

Men's Trending Fashion Online Tips:

Stay Informed: Staying informed is the first step toward becoming a trendsetter. Men's clothing fashion periodicals, blogs, and social media profiles should all be followed. This will help you stay on top of current events.

Investigate Online Retailers: Online fashion businesses can have a larger assortment than brick-and-mortar stores. Take your time exploring different internet merchants to uncover one-of-a-kind and trendy things that complement your personal style.

Check Customer Reviews: Before making a purchase, check reviews of customers. This can provide useful information about the product's fit, quality, and general satisfaction.

Invest in Staples: While it's fun to buy contemporary items, make sure your wardrobe includes classics like well-fitted trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a versatile blazer. These pieces form the cornerstone of your style.

Accessorize: Accessories may instantly transform an outfit. Invest in a fine watch, fashionable belts, and high-quality footwear. These minor things can have a major impact on your entire appearance.

Prioritize Fit: No matter how trendy an item is, it will not look good if it does not fit correctly. When shopping online, pay attention to sizing guides and measurements to guarantee a suitable fit.

Sustainability: Consider supporting companies that value sustainability. Sustainable fashion is not only fashionable, but also ethical and environmentally conscious.

Online Shopping's Versatility:

The adaptability of online shopping is one of its most significant advantages. Online businesses cater to all interests and preferences and become more user friendly, whether you're a fashion-forward trendsetter or like timeless aesthetics. Here are some examples of how online purchasing can cater to various fashion sensibilities:

Trendsetters: If you're always looking for the newest fashion trends, online shopping is the place to be. You can find new designers, limited-edition releases, and runway-inspired designs that aren't always easy to get in physical stores.

Classic Dressers: Online businesses offer a wide range of classic wardrobe options for those who seek timeless elegance. You may easily find well-tailored suits, traditional shirts, and timeless accessories.

Casual Cool: If your finishing touch is more casual and comfortable, internet merchants have a plethora of possibilities for you. From loose-fit jeans to toasty hoodies, you may create a wardrobe that is both comfortable and fashionable.

Minimalists: Online collections & product categories for minimalist fashion fans provide simplicity and sophistication. Those who favor a minimalist look will find streamlined designs, neutral color palettes, and basic components readily available.

Getting Around Online Shopping:

Here are some additional recommendations to help you make the most of your online shopping experience:

Understand Your Measurements: Knowing your exact measurements is essential while purchasing online. Refer to the brand's sizing guides and properly measure yourself to achieve the right fit from their wide variety.

Examine Return Policies: Before making a purchase, learn about the online shopping website return and exchange policies. This will provide you with peace of mind in the event that an item does not meet your expectations.

Secure Payment: To protect your financial information, be sure the online store you're using provides secure payment alternatives.

Stay Updated: Subscribe to newsletters from your favorite online merchants to stay up to date. You'll be among the first to learn about exclusive deals, sales, and new arrivals this way.

Conclusion:

Clothes Online shopping sites have changed the way men think about clothes. It has given us the freedom to experiment with, and evolve our personal style. You can make the most of men's fashion online by remaining educated, mixing and matching, and investing in quality products. 

Remember that fashion is about self-expression and confidence, so have fun with it and don't be scared to stand out from the crowd. Embrace the trends that reflect your distinct style and personality, and you'll always be one step ahead of the fashion pack. Have fun shopping!

[affflat]

Ensuring a Hassle-Free Move With A”Flat

Moving out of your current place of accommodation into a rental space is no cakewalk - and if you’re doing it for the first time, well, you need to gear up! There are a lot of things to mind before you rent out a home for yourself. As exciting as moving out is, it does come with a hint of anxiety.

What if I don’t find the perfect home? What if I find a home, but it’s outside my budget? What if the landlord doesn’t agree to rent me the house I like? Well, the list of questions and consequent apprehensions is endless!

But if you’re aware of how to approach the whole house-hunting process, it will be easier to find a home while saving you a lot of time and effort. So here’s a list of all the essential aspects you need to know before you even begin looking for a space to rent out.  Let’s have a look:

Everything You Need to Know Before Renting a Place

Figure Out What You Need

Setting realistic expectations is important, especially when looking for a home that caters to your needs and doesn’t burn a hole into your pocket. This becomes even more important when you’re looking to lock in an apartment for a longer period.

Start by creating a list of everything you need. One of the first things to shortlist is the location; where you want to live is essential to make the process less stressful. What kind of locality do you want to live in? Do you want it to be close to work? Would you like to experience the hustle and bustle of the city, or would you prefer to live in a peaceful countryside home? Write down your expectations to make it easier to zero in on the right location.

Now that you have decided on a viable location, set a budget. With a budget in mind, you can filter out the places that aren’t conducive to your budgetary limitations and look for apartments that fit well within your budget. It’s better to be realistic while setting the budget rather than end up struggling to pay rent at the end of every month. Apart from this, you also need to decide on the type of housing, number of rooms and bathrooms, move-in date, and the amenities you want in the property.

Keep Details of Your Pet Ready

If you have a pet, you will have to mention it to the landlord. Some properties have pet deposit policies and may require you to pay a monthly pet fee - hence it’s best to clarify the number of pets you’ll be bringing along to the apartment.

Do ensure you provide the landlord with all the essential details about your pet. This means that you may have to schedule a visit to your vet and get a letter from them stating the breed, size, weight, and other attributes of the pet.

Furthermore, it would be helpful to have your hands on the updated vaccination records of your pet. A reliable reference that can vouch for your house-trained, friendly, and well-behaved pet can also be of great help.

Proof of Income and Credit History

The next thing to do now is to prepare documents to assure the landlord of your ability to pay the rent. Your current and prior year’s income, credit history report, latest bank statement, or tax returns are all valid and acceptable proofs of income.

If you don’t have any existing income but are going to begin working soon, be ready with your offer letter with details of your income. In case someone else is going to be assisting you in paying the rent, it’s crucial that you have their basic details available to give to the landlord.

Find a Cosigner to Vouch for You

A cosigner is a person who personally guarantees the financial obligations of the lease but isn’t going to occupy the rental space you’ve shortlisted. Anyone who knows you well and understands the responsibility can be a cosigner for you - it may be your parents, friends, or someone with a good credit history and a sound financial background. Ensure you have all the details of the cosigner in place - their name, address, and contact details.

How A”Flat Can Help You With The Renting Process

Imagine having a one-stop solution for everything you need as you hunt for the perfect home. Of course, we’re talking about A”Flat -  a hassle-free platform curated to make the process of finding a new apartment easier. A”Flat flips the current rental model where the renters hunt for the apartments of prospective landlords - instead, we’re renter-oriented, and allow potential landlords to look for renters instead!

Now that’s an easier process compared to the current rental model. So let us run you through how A”Flat can help you find the perfect space to rent out in three steps:

Step 1: Create the Renter’s Profile

Log in with your phone number and create your renter’s profile. In this section, you can fill in all the preferences and requirements you’re looking for in an apartment. These details include the new rental, preferred location, probable move-in dates, price range, pet requirements, and other amenities.

Step 2: Proceed with the Rental Application

After you have created the renter’s profile, A”Flat will get you started with the application process. In the application, you have to enter all essential details -  the number of occupants, information about your co-signer, occupation information, and your rental history, and answer some verification questions. Fill in all the details, and your application is complete.

Once you’re done with the renter profile and rental application, you can share your profile on the different social media platforms you’re part of. You can also consider sharing your digital rental application with any future landlords so that you wouldn’t have to go through the whole process of filling out another application over again.

Step 3: Background Verification

Once you complete the renter’s application, you can request a background verification. With a thorough background check, you’ll have a fair idea of your credit score, criminal and eviction records, as well as whether or not you have any issues with your background. So by the time you actually apply to the apartment, you’d have fixed all the problems, thus saving you a lot of time.

A background check also helps renters know how good their background is. It also works as proof that you can show future landlords, and they’ll know you are a serious renter who can pay rent on time and has a verified background.

Summing Up

 And that’s it! You’ve done your part for the time being, and it’s time for you to kick back with some tea and wait for landlords to reach out to you. A”Flat has already helped hundreds of happy customers find their perfect homes - so, what are you waiting for? Learn more about how A”Flat works and start your application immediately! There’s a right place for you, and rather than you hunting for it, choose A”Flat so that your dream apartment finds you!       

[cicelythereaper]

Hello again! I promise I will not clog up the notes and my followers' dashes with this too many more times. However, I realised on rereading my last response that I hadn't read the last paragraph of the original post properly; I also wasn't aware at the time that "Mabinogion - Anonymous" is now a tag. I'd like to clarify a few things, in light of that, and illustrate why I still think this is a problem.

I'm glad AO3 is aware that texts in which people have seen (traces of) religious material are often written centuries after the practice of that religion died out - although the phrasing here makes me think whoever wrote this wasn't fully aware of the depth of the issue, at least on the Welsh side of things. And I can appreciate that AO3 wants a clear, one-size-fits-all policy which is easy to put in place and enforce. However, to be absolutely clear:

The issue with the Welsh tag is not that characters from an ancient religion also appear in "modern folktales". The issue is that the tag has almost never been used to refer to an (entirely unreconstructable!) ancient Welsh religion. It is most often used as a catchall tag to acknowledge that the author is drawing on sources from medieval and modern Wales which involve the supernatural in some way - usually either because they're using Arthurian works from the Welsh tradition or because their fic involves fairies. Even the works which do draw on texts which have been considered sources for pre-Christian Welsh religion usually are not engaging with them on any kind of religious level (leaving aside the question of whether there is any secure evidence linking these texts with pre-Christian Welsh religion).

These works are all now effectively mis-tagged, and there is no alternative tag for them to use (yet)! I welcome the appearance of the "Mabinogion - Anonymous" tag on the scene - I'm very glad to see it, and think its appearance is long overdue - but it does not solve the problem. For instance, my own fic "rorate coeli" used to be tagged "Welsh Mythology" because it drew on medieval Welsh sources: some of these (Culhwch, Peredur) are included in the Mabinogion, but I also drew on Historia Brittonum, Annales Cambriae, Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, and poetry from the Book of Taliesin and the Black Book of Carmarthen. None of that is covered by "Mabinogion"! And while my own case is somewhat extreme, looking in the first page of the current "Ancient Welsh Religion & Lore" tag brings up fics covering the legend of St Dwynwen, Chwedl Taliesin, and Cantre'r Gwaelod - none of which are covered by "Mabinogion" either.

I would vehemently encourage whoever is wrangling "Ancient Welsh Religion and Lore" to consider synning some of the works which are currently synned to it via "Welsh Mythology" to "Medieval Welsh Literature" instead, and to make "Medieval Welsh Literature" a filterable tag; alternatively, to provide a wider "Welsh Myth and Legend" tag to which various other tags, including "Welsh Mythology" (non-religious) and "Medieval Welsh Literature" could be synned.

I would also like to say, I hope politely, that this situation really makes me doubt the assertion above that AO3 has consulted with experts from all the relevant traditions. I can't imagine an expert on the Welsh tradition would have thought this change (in its current form) a good one.

As I said before, this is not the most urgent problem for AO3 right now. It is, however, a problem, and I'd love to see that acknowledged.

Updates to AO3 "Mythology" Fandoms

Hi AO3 users! You may have noticed that recently, fandoms previously canonized as "Mythology" are being updated to "Religion & Lore". This renaming project is part of a wider ongoing process on AO3 about respectful treatment and naming of various religions, spiritual beliefs, faiths, and collections of folklores belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition. This includes both major and minor religions, as well as reconstructionist, ancient, and modern religions.

In the coming months, the term "Mythology" is being phased out of canonical fandom names. This is because of its potential for use as a disparaging term, and the way in which it is used primarily for religions which are already under-represented. Since "mythology" has connotations of being fictional or inferior to the religious beliefs of the speaker or writer, and is unfortunately used in this way by some, the decision has been made to replace this term with something that the Wrangling Committee believes is more inclusive and less derogatory.

After extensive discussion between individuals from varying religious backgrounds and beliefs, including wranglers representing the various fandoms which were being covered, it was felt that "Religion & Lore" was an appropriate and neutral way to describe the bodies of faith, belief, knowledge, and tradition associated with many of these religions which were ancestrally imparted and regional in nature. It is also hoped that this will decrease ambiguous or confused use, allowing people to more accurately describe their works and find works in which they are interested moving forward.

The use of "Ancient" in many of these fandoms' names reflects that these countries still exist but now have different predominant religions or spiritual beliefs. For example, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore (as Greece is now a predominantly Christian country) or Ancient Egyptian Religion (as Egypt is now a predominantly Muslim country). Because "Norse" does not refer to an extant country, region, or culture, it is not necessary to specify that it is historical or ancient in nature.

The names of these fandoms will also have the native language piped, if the English-language demonym is significantly different from the native-language demonym or if there is a culturally specific term based on consultation with individuals who speak these languages as a first language. We hope to give representation to the language of the source culture by doing so.

Each of these changes has been and will continue to be carefully researched and discussed with traditional knowledge keepers and researchers from the cultures represented in the fandoms under discussion.

Many religions face the issue of texts being written long after their events occurred. Unfortunately this is something which is shared across many religious fandoms; AO3 seeks to treat these religious fandoms equally. Care has been taken in researching characters relating to these fandoms, and character tags will be canonized or made a synonym on a case-by-case basis. Fandom tags that are currently synned to the Ancient religious fandoms have been checked as thoroughly as possible to ensure that they are not referring to modern folk tales, and where possible such relatively modern folk tales are canonized as their own fandoms.

(From time to time, ao3org posts announcements of recent or upcoming wrangling changes on behalf of the Tag Wrangling Committee.)

[starseedfxofficial]

Asia-Pacific Forex Trends: The Hidden Moves You Need to Watch How to Ride the Forex Waves: Hidden Gems from Asia-Pacific Updates The Forex market is like a wild ocean—unpredictable and always changing. And let's be real, you don't want to be that trader who ends up soaked and screaming at the tide because you brought a pool float instead of a surfboard. Luckily for you, we've got the lowdown on the latest waves forming out of Asia-Pacific—trends that most traders aren't catching yet. China's Foreign Trade: Keeping Afloat in Uncertain Waters So, China is having a bit of a mixed day. Vice Commerce Minister Wang recently said China's foreign trade is still holding up, but it’s been more of a slow paddle than a big wave since August. The key takeaway here is that China's leadership is confident that they can resist external shocks, especially with those pesky Trump-era tariffs still hanging around. If you’re wondering what that means for you, it's simple: watch the yuan. As China talks about rolling out policies for expanding trade in green products next year, this could strengthen the currency—creating opportunities if you know where to look. Green products may seem like an unlikely forex catalyst, but let’s face it, sometimes the market moves on ideas that are more niche than your uncle’s vinyl collection. Digital Transformation: China’s Future is Now The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced plans to develop policies for digital transformation in manufacturing and AI-driven industrialization. Translation: China is leaning hard into tech, and this could be a long-term game changer for the economy. As AI-driven manufacturing ramps up, the impact on global supply chains might just push the yuan to new places—either high or low, but certainly somewhere interesting. The hidden gem here? The trick is to keep an eye on digital policy announcements. If there's one thing we know, it's that Forex is as much about predicting human behavior as it is about understanding numbers. And when big policies drop, human behavior tends to follow a predictable cycle: panic, overreaction, and finally, settling in. Use these shifts to your advantage—ride that wave when everyone else is busy grabbing life jackets. Japan’s Inflation: Are We Getting a Lift Off? Over in Japan, the latest CPI figures came in at 2.3% year-over-year for October. Nothing shocking here, but steady inflation has been elusive for Japan for years, like that one sock that always goes missing in the laundry. If Japan manages to maintain a consistent rise in inflation, we could see the yen strengthen, especially if it starts hinting at rate hikes. The trick here isn’t necessarily to jump in immediately, but to play the waiting game like a ninja. Timing is everything, and if the yen starts getting a boost from higher inflation expectations, there could be opportunities for both short-term gains and longer-term positions. Patience is key—remember, the best ninjas don't rush in, they wait for the right moment to strike. Australia: Finding Balance Amidst PMI Rollercoaster Australia's manufacturing PMI came in better this month at 49.4 from a previous 47.3. Sure, it's still below 50, meaning contraction, but it’s moving in the right direction—which is like realizing you bought the wrong size shoes online but at least they still kind of fit. The services sector, on the other hand, dipped a bit. What does this tell us? Australia is in a balancing act, and the Aussie dollar might be feeling a bit dizzy. For Forex traders, this is a setup. When one sector gains while another struggles, it’s like being on a see-saw—eventually, equilibrium is achieved, but it’s all about who can stay on the longest without falling off. Watch for market sentiment shifts based on further data releases and ride those short-term moves. Remember, the name of the game here is precision. Get in, get your pips, get out. Singapore's GDP Surprise: Time to Reevaluate? Singapore’s GDP came in hotter than expected at 5.4% year-over-year for Q3. This is up from an initial estimate of 4.1%. If you're thinking, "Okay, so what?" – think again. Singapore's growth is a bellwether for the entire region, especially given its role as a major trade hub. The hidden play here? Keep an eye on how this impacts neighboring currencies in the region, especially the Indonesian rupiah and Malaysian ringgit. Strong GDP growth in Singapore could mean positive spillover effects, boosting these currencies. And for savvy traders, these are the kind of correlations that go unnoticed by the masses—a prime opportunity to take advantage of mispricing. Bringing It All Together: How to Trade These Trends Let’s get real for a moment. None of these headlines are earth-shattering on their own, but when taken together, they paint a picture of a shifting landscape in the Asia-Pacific region—one that could have significant impacts on Forex. The key is not to trade every single headline, but to watch for themes. China is leaning green and tech, Japan is pushing inflation, Australia is balancing contraction and growth, and Singapore is surprising everyone. There are moves to be made here if you’re willing to read between the lines. And remember—while everyone else is panicking about the big stories, you’re diving into the details, finding those hidden gems, and surfing the Forex waves like a pro. Keep your eyes open, stay nimble, and, as always, never stop learning. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[geartradeusa]

What Should You Consider When Buying Discounted Climbing Shoes Online?

Finding a pair of quality climbing shoes on sale can feel like discovering hidden treasure. 

But before adding that flashy pair with the neon accents or cute lace up style to your cart just because it has a slashed price tag, pause and consider a few key points. 

When it comes to buying discounted climbing shoes on sale online rather than full price, aspects like sizing, defects, seller reputation and return ease make a difference regarding whether those budget shoes become MVPs...or just turn into another pair collecting dust in the gear closet.

Do You Know Your Size?

The number one factor deciding if climbing shoes bought online work or wind up being wasted money is getting the size right. Consider:

Were you professionally fitted for your current successful pair at an outfitter?

Do you clearly understand both your street shoe size AND corresponding climbing shoe size?

Does the online seller provide detailed size chart conversions for that exact shoe model?

Having 100% confidence you are ordering the precisely right climbing shoe size for YOUR feet makes all the difference.

If unsure, don't guess...the odds those shoes will ever make it out onto the rock diminish significantly.

Beware Aesthetic Compromises

When shoes get marked down substantially, often the remaining colorways and patterns are...let's say "adventurous". While the aqua and orange stripes may grab your fashion attention, consider:

Would you have picked this colorway at full price?

Is appearance completely irrelevant and all that matters is function?

Do you care about coordinating outfit colors for Instagram posts?

There is nothing wrong with prioritizing performance over looks...as long as you honestly will wear those brightly colored shoes!

Buying climbing shoes purely because the price seems amazing loses value if they then collect dust in the closet from feeling slightly "off brand".

Scrutinize Photos Carefully

When considering used or open box climbing shoes at a steep discount online, photos may hide potential issues like:

The rand repair job from the last owner is already failing

The heel shows significant abrasion wear

There is suspicious glue seepage along the sides

The toe rubber appears paper thin in spots

Study posted photos meticulously inspecting for defects BEFORE purchase. Spotting problems early allows addressing with the seller or reconsidering buying if fixes would require immediate resoling or replacements right out of the box.

Understand Return Hassles

What is the seller's return window if the shoes don't fit well or have issues?

Will you pay shipping fees to send back?

Are returns even allowed or is it store credit only?

Could you easily exchange online or would exchanging require shipping twice?

Know policies upfront before you even click purchase. Shipping logistics and return costs often eat much of the initial savings when discounted shoes bought online don't work out.

Vet the Seller Reputation

Whether buying used from an eBay seller or open box items direct from an online retailer, research merchant reputation by:

Reading recent customer reviews

Confirming any quality guarantees or customer service promises

Checking for verification badges signaling established vendors

This protects you from poor product quality or awful return experiences negating any potential discount value.

Remember: No Deal is a MUST BUY

Seeing clearance stickers or red line slashes through original prices certainly catches shopper attention and sparks urgency to snag deals before they disappear! 

But when discounted shoes don't fit properly or lack features to really perform for YOUR climbing needs specifically right now, then the bargain price becomes irrelevant.

Stay focused on your criteria must-haves, nice-to-have wish list items and budget goals. 

With an abundance of climbing shoe options plus regular sales these days at top gear websites, another discounted option matching your needs more precisely will come along soon. 

Avoiding impulse "too good to pass up" purchases regardless of current sale pricing ensures your next shoe investments serve your climbing goals.

[waboai]

Is Your Business Ready for the Revolution? Discover No Code Chatbots with Wabo and Wabo AI!

Technology has taken us to a stage when having an in-house developer to develop anything for the web is not a must. Those days are history now. With the abundance of no-code tools businesses can manage most of the web development needs such as websites, applications, and also no code chatbots.

With advancements in AI and machine learning, companies like Waboai have made it possible for businesses to deploy chatbots without any coding knowledge, revolutionizing customer interactions.

No Code Chatbot? Everything You Wanted to Know!

No-code development is the type development work that allows non-developers to develop software using a visual interface and drag-and-drop options, pre-designed templates, and other features.

A no code chatbot is a type of chatbot (computer program) that can be designed and implemented without the requirement of extensive programming knowledge by using drag-and-drop interfaces. The major benefit of a no code chatbot is, businesses of all sizes can leverage the power of AI to transform customer service and take it to a different level.

Industries Using No Code Chatbot

E-commerce – to handle customer inquiries, recommending products, and order processing.

Education - to give support to students including course information, and administrative tasks.

Healthcare- uses no code chatbot to schedule appointments, provide medical information, and patient follow-ups.

Real Estate- to answer property-related prospective customer queries and schedule viewings.

Travel and Hospitality- use no code chatbots extensively to book services, itinerary management, and customer support.

Manufacturing- to offer their customers facilities like order tracking, product information, and post-purchase support.

Insurance- to send policy information, assist with claim processing, and handle customer inquiries.

Should You Go for No Code Chatbots?

Apart from what we have already mentioned, no code chatbots come with huge advantages. Such as:

Saving of Time and Hassles

No-code tools come with a visual interface and pre-built templates that users can use easily by simply dragging and dropping to create the chatbot. Businesses become more agile as it does not only include building the bot but also the testing process as it allows the builder to visualize the end result.

This eliminates the need for complex testing activities. Businesses reduce development and deployment times and easily test and go live in a matter of days or hours instead of weeks or months with coding.

Reduced Expenses

Hiring a single developer or a team of developers is expensive and many businesses, especially medium or small ones, cannot afford it. No code chatbot is an effective and cost-effective solution for them.

Pre-Built Templates

No-code tools not only offer easy to use and visual interface but many come with pre-made templates for different uses such as lead generation, basic customer support, product suggestions, surveys, and much more.

The templates are also customizable as per business needs and brand image. For example, users have the option to adjust the text and colors, add emojis or even GIFs and more.

No Code Chatbots- How to Get Started?

Identify Your Needs

Clearly identify the specific tasks and functions you want your chatbot to handle. For example, answering FAQs or helping with bookings.

Choose the Right Platform

Select a no code chatbot platform like Wabo or Wabo ai that fits your requirements.

Design

Use the platform’s visual interface to design your chatbot's workflow and also deploy it.

Integrate

Connect the chatbot with your existing systems (for example CRM or customer support tools, for seamless operation).

Test and Deploy

Thoroughly test the chatbot to ensure it performs as expected, then deploy it on your website or messaging apps.

Monitor and Optimize

Continuously monitor the chatbot's performance and make adjustments to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.

Conclusion

No code chatbots are here to stay. They can now be developed with simple commands and data feeds (a continuous stream of structured data that is automatically updated and delivered to a system or application). With time, the no-code platforms will evolve more, especially with AI advancements, and allow businesses to create smart bots. As a result, it will transform the way businesses interact with their customers.

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Why You Should Buy Mens Thobe for Your Wardrobe

The mens thobe is a traditional garment famous for its elegance, comfort, and modesty. A popular choice in the Middle East, not to mention other world regions, the thobe has become a staple long robe worn for religious and cultural events, as well as casual events. Its simple yet elegant design makes it suitable to wear on a day-to-day basis or for special occasions, thus adding it to your wardrobe as one of the most flexible garments. So, if you are looking to add fashionable and modest clothing to your wardrobe, now is the time to buy mens thobe.

Buy Mens Thobe Online: Convenience Shopping

Thanks to e-commerce, it is easier now to buy men thobe online. You may want traditional styles or more contemporary designs; in any case, the wide varieties are offered through online shopping. You can take time to choose from different fabrics and colors and even sizes from home. Many online stores also offer customization services for you to be able to order a thobe that fits perfectly to your measurements.

The advantages of buying a men's thobe online are cost comparison, followed by 'views from customers,' or reviews, and then delivery to your doorstep. Purchasing thobe can be done in a few clicks: find the right thobe suitable to your style and for which purpose you'll put it to use. This is a few reasons for how to buy thobe for various occasions.

A buy-thobe investment is an outfit to be worn on many occasions. Whether it's just a casual, laid-back day out, a more formal occasion, or religious observances, this simple yet elegant design makes it suitable for almost everything. Thobes come in various materials - such as lightweight cotton for summer and heavier wool for cold climates.

For formal events, you could wear a thobe that has tons of detailing or ornaments in it, which provides much sophistication. Casual thobes are pretty simple or equipped with fewer accessories to make them more casual.

Regardless of the occasion, buying thobe means buying one timeless article of clothing that does utmost comfort and style.

Where You Can Buy Thobe Online

Shopping online provides you with an extensive lot more thobes than you can see in the actual stores. Online thobe purchase allows you to access a huge amount of designs from several parts of the world, giving each of their respective takes on this classic garment. They are available in all kinds of designs ranging from the traditional pure white thobes, colorful thobes, and those that are printed, providing a teeming lot of designs to suit every taste and preference.

Furthermore, you can take a chance to experience global fashion while purchasing a thobe online. There are numerous modest fashion retailers available online. They offer the latest designs of thobes to customers around the world. Online purchase of a thobe is very simple and secure with available and hassle-free shipping options along with easy return policies.

Conclusion

If you want something that adds a little bit of tradition to your wardrobe and style at the same time, then it's the time to buy men's thobe. Whether you go for the ease of purchasing online or look for various designs, materials, and colors, you can't be wrong with the thobe, as it is a versatile garment suitable for various occasions. As online shopping sites now make it easier than ever to buy thobe, there is no reason you should not check out all the options available today. Choose to buy these online and add a timeless piece of modest fashion to your collection.