#this is my best solution in a short term window

[bokujou-monogatari]

after a night and a half of looking through alternatives, seeing the long term timelines for hosting on other sites - I've got a formulated idea on how I want to tackle things.

I'm going to keep posting here as I have been.

(*Some) Posts will be mirrored to: bokumono.bsky.social (bluesky) bokujoumonogatari (Cohost) And this thing. Folks will get access to this once I have a moderately large translations repository to upload.

*Some because the other medias have their own problems. I can't upload video to bsky and it has a 4 pictures per post limit like Twitter, and cohost is a newer social media (that yields its own bottlenecks).

The Thing is a bit unwieldy but it works for uploading pages as 10mb jpgs. Everything here gets posted as HQ pngs, fwiw.

(I also have invite codes for bsky should anyone want them.)

[fipindustries]

Artificial Intelligence Risk

about a month ago i got into my mind the idea of trying the format of video essay, and the topic i came up with that i felt i could more or less handle was AI risk and my objections to yudkowsky. i wrote the script but then soon afterwards i ran out of motivation to do the video. still i didnt want the effort to go to waste so i decided to share the text, slightly edited here. this is a LONG fucking thing so put it aside on its own tab and come back to it when you are comfortable and ready to sink your teeth on quite a lot of reading

Anyway, let’s talk about AI risk

I’m going to be doing a very quick introduction to some of the latest conversations that have been going on in the field of artificial intelligence, what are artificial intelligences exactly, what is an AGI, what is an agent, the orthogonality thesis, the concept of instrumental convergence, alignment and how does Eliezer Yudkowsky figure in all of this.

 If you are already familiar with this you can skip to section two where I’m going to be talking about yudkowsky’s arguments for AI research presenting an existential risk to, not just humanity, or even the world, but to the entire universe and my own tepid rebuttal to his argument.

Now, I SHOULD clarify, I am not an expert on the field, my credentials are dubious at best, I am a college drop out from the career of computer science and I have a three year graduate degree in video game design and a three year graduate degree in electromechanical instalations. All that I know about the current state of AI research I have learned by reading articles, consulting a few friends who have studied about the topic more extensevily than me,

and watching educational you tube videos so. You know. Not an authority on the matter from any considerable point of view and my opinions should be regarded as such.

So without further ado, let’s get in on it.

PART ONE, A RUSHED INTRODUCTION ON THE SUBJECT

1.1 general intelligence and agency

lets begin with what counts as artificial intelligence, the technical definition for artificial intelligence is, eh…, well, why don’t I let a Masters degree in machine intelligence explain it:

 Now let’s get a bit more precise here and include the definition of AGI, Artificial General intelligence. It is understood that classic ai’s such as the ones we have in our videogames or in alpha GO or even our roombas, are narrow Ais, that is to say, they are capable of doing only one kind of thing. They do not understand the world beyond their field of expertise whether that be within a videogame level, within a GO board or within you filthy disgusting floor.

AGI on the other hand is much more, well, general, it can have a multimodal understanding of its surroundings, it can generalize, it can extrapolate, it can learn new things across multiple different fields, it can come up with solutions that account for multiple different factors, it can incorporate new ideas and concepts. Essentially, a human is an agi. So far that is the last frontier of AI research, and although we are not there quite yet, it does seem like we are doing some moderate strides in that direction. We’ve all seen the impressive conversational and coding skills that GPT-4 has and Google just released Gemini, a multimodal AI that can understand and generate text, sounds, images and video simultaneously. Now, of course it has its limits, it has no persistent memory, its contextual window while larger than previous models is still relatively small compared to a human (contextual window means essentially short term memory, how many things can it keep track of and act coherently about).

And yet there is one more factor I haven’t mentioned yet that would be needed to make something a “true” AGI. That is Agency. To have goals and autonomously come up with plans and carry those plans out in the world to achieve those goals. I as a person, have agency over my life, because I can choose at any given moment to do something without anyone explicitly telling me to do it, and I can decide how to do it. That is what computers, and machines to a larger extent, don’t have. Volition.

So, Now that we have established that, allow me to introduce yet one more definition here, one that you may disagree with but which I need to establish in order to have a common language with you such that I can communicate these ideas effectively. The definition of intelligence. It’s a thorny subject and people get very particular with that word because there are moral associations with it. To imply that someone or something has or hasn’t intelligence can be seen as implying that it deserves or doesn’t deserve admiration, validity, moral worth or even  personhood. I don’t care about any of that dumb shit. The way Im going to be using intelligence in this video is basically “how capable you are to do many different things successfully”. The more “intelligent” an AI is, the more capable of doing things that AI can be. After all, there is a reason why education is considered such a universally good thing in society. To educate a child is to uplift them, to expand their world, to increase their opportunities in life. And the same goes for AI. I need to emphasize that this is just the way I’m using the word within the context of this video, I don’t care if you are a psychologist or a neurosurgeon, or a pedagogue, I need a word to express this idea and that is the word im going to use, if you don’t like it or if you think this is innapropiate of me then by all means, keep on thinking that, go on and comment about it below the video, and then go on to suck my dick.

Anyway. Now, we have established what an AGI is, we have established what agency is, and we have established how having more intelligence increases your agency. But as the intelligence of a given agent increases we start to see certain trends, certain strategies start to arise again and again, and we call this Instrumental convergence.

1.2 instrumental convergence

The basic idea behind instrumental convergence is that if you are an intelligent agent that wants to achieve some goal, there are some common basic strategies that you are going to turn towards no matter what. It doesn’t matter if your goal is as complicated as building a nuclear bomb or as simple as making a cup of tea. These are things we can reliably predict any AGI worth its salt is going to try to do.

First of all is self-preservation. Its going to try to protect itself. When you want to do something, being dead is usually. Bad. its counterproductive. Is not generally recommended. Dying is widely considered unadvisable by 9 out of every ten experts in the field. If there is something that it wants getting done, it wont get done if it dies or is turned off, so its safe to predict that any AGI will try to do things in order not be turned off. How far it may go in order to do this? Well… [wouldn’t you like to know weather boy].

Another thing it will predictably converge towards is goal preservation. That is to say, it will resist any attempt to try and change it, to alter it, to modify its goals. Because, again, if you want to accomplish something, suddenly deciding that you want to do something else is uh, not going to accomplish the first thing, is it? Lets say that you want to take care of your child, that is your goal, that is the thing you want to accomplish, and I come to you and say, here, let me change you on the inside so that you don’t care about protecting your kid. Obviously you are not going to let me, because if you stopped caring about your kids, then your kids wouldn’t be cared for or protected. And you want to ensure that happens, so caring about something else instead is a huge no-no- which is why, if we make AGI and it has goals that we don’t like it will probably resist any attempt to “fix” it.

And finally another goal that it will most likely trend towards is self improvement. Which can be more generalized to “resource acquisition”. If it lacks capacities to carry out a plan, then step one of that plan will always be to increase capacities. If you want to get something really expensive, well first you need to get money. If you want to increase your chances of getting a high paying job then you need to get education, if you want to get a partner you need to increase how attractive you are. And as we established earlier, if intelligence is the thing that increases your agency, you want to become smarter in order to do more things. So one more time, is not a huge leap at all, it is not a stretch of the imagination, to say that any AGI will probably seek to increase its capabilities, whether by acquiring more computation, by improving itself, by taking control of resources.

All these three things I mentioned are sure bets, they are likely to happen and safe to assume. They are things we ought to keep in mind when creating AGI.

 Now of course, I have implied a sinister tone to all these things, I have made all this sound vaguely threatening, haven’t i?. There is one more assumption im sneaking into all of this which I haven’t talked about. All that I have mentioned presents a very callous view of AGI, I have made it apparent that all of these strategies it may follow will go in conflict with people, maybe even go as far as to harm humans. Am I impliying that AGI may tend to be… Evil???

1.3 The Orthogonality thesis

Well, not quite.

We humans care about things. Generally. And we generally tend to care about roughly the same things, simply by virtue of being humans. We have some innate preferences and some innate dislikes. We have a tendency to not like suffering (please keep in mind I said a tendency, im talking about a statistical trend, something that most humans present to some degree). Most of us, baring social conditioning, would take pause at the idea of torturing someone directly, on purpose, with our bare hands. (edit bear paws onto my hands as I say this).  Most would feel uncomfortable at the thought of doing it to multitudes of people. We tend to show a preference for food, water, air, shelter, comfort, entertainment and companionship. This is just how we are fundamentally wired. These things can be overcome, of course, but that is the thing, they have to be overcome in the first place.

An AGI is not going to have the same evolutionary predisposition to these things like we do because it is not made of the same things a human is made of and it was not raised the same way a human was raised.

There is something about a human brain, in a human body, flooded with human hormones that makes us feel and think and act in certain ways and care about certain things.

All an AGI is going to have is the goals it developed during its training, and will only care insofar as those goals are met. So say an AGI has the goal of going to the corner store to bring me a pack of cookies. In its way there it comes across an anthill in its path, it will probably step on the anthill because to take that step takes it closer to the corner store, and why wouldn’t it step on the anthill? Was it programmed with some specific innate preference not to step on ants? No? then it will step on the anthill and not pay any mind  to it.

Now lets say it comes across a cat. Same logic applies, if it wasn’t programmed with an inherent tendency to value animals, stepping on the cat wont slow it down at all.

Now let’s say it comes across a baby.

Of course, if its intelligent enough it will probably understand that if it steps on that baby people might notice and try to stop it, most likely even try to disable it or turn it off so it will not step on the baby, to save itself from all that trouble. But you have to understand that it wont stop because it will feel bad about harming a baby or because it understands that to harm a baby is wrong. And indeed if it was powerful enough such that no matter what people did they could not stop it and it would suffer no consequence for killing the baby, it would have probably killed the baby.

If I need to put it in gross, inaccurate terms for you to get it then let me put it this way. Its essentially a sociopath. It only cares about the wellbeing of others in as far as that benefits it self. Except human sociopaths do care nominally about having human comforts and companionship, albeit in a very instrumental way, which will involve some manner of stable society and civilization around them. Also they are only human, and are limited in the harm they can do by human limitations.  An AGI doesn’t need any of that and is not limited by any of that.

So ultimately, much like a car’s goal is to move forward and it is not built to care about wether a human is in front of it or not, an AGI will carry its own goals regardless of what it has to sacrifice in order to carry that goal effectively. And those goals don’t need to include human wellbeing.

Now With that said. How DO we make it so that AGI cares about human wellbeing, how do we make it so that it wants good things for us. How do we make it so that its goals align with that of humans?

1.4 Alignment.

Alignment… is hard [cue hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy scene about the space being big]

This is the part im going to skip over the fastest because frankly it’s a deep field of study, there are many current strategies for aligning AGI, from mesa optimizers, to reinforced learning with human feedback, to adversarial asynchronous AI assisted reward training to uh, sitting on our asses and doing nothing. Suffice to say, none of these methods are perfect or foolproof.

One thing many people like to gesture at when they have not learned or studied anything about the subject is the three laws of robotics by isaac Asimov, a robot should not harm a human or allow by inaction to let a human come to harm, a robot should do what a human orders unless it contradicts the first law and a robot should preserve itself unless that goes against the previous two laws. Now the thing Asimov was prescient about was that these laws were not just “programmed” into the robots. These laws were not coded into their software, they were hardwired, they were part of the robot’s electronic architecture such that a robot could not ever be without those three laws much like a car couldn’t run without wheels.

In this Asimov realized how important these three laws were, that they had to be intrinsic to the robot’s very being, they couldn’t be hacked or uninstalled or erased. A robot simply could not be without these rules. Ideally that is what alignment should be. When we create an AGI, it should be made such that human values are its fundamental goal, that is the thing they should seek to maximize, instead of instrumental values, that is to say something they value simply because it allows it to achieve something else.

But how do we even begin to do that? How do we codify “human values” into a robot? How do we define “harm” for example? How do we even define “human”??? how do we define “happiness”? how do we explain a robot what is right and what is wrong when half the time we ourselves cannot even begin to agree on that? these are not just technical questions that robotic experts have to find the way to codify into ones and zeroes, these are profound philosophical questions to which we still don’t have satisfying answers to.

Well, the best sort of hack solution we’ve come up with so far is not to create bespoke fundamental axiomatic rules that the robot has to follow, but rather train it to imitate humans by showing it a billion billion examples of human behavior. But of course there is a problem with that approach. And no, is not just that humans are flawed and have a tendency to cause harm and therefore to ask a robot to imitate a human means creating something that can do all the bad things a human does, although that IS a problem too. The real problem is that we are training it to *imitate* a human, not  to *be* a human.

To reiterate what I said during the orthogonality thesis, is not good enough that I, for example, buy roses and give massages to act nice to my girlfriend because it allows me to have sex with her, I am not merely imitating or performing the rol of a loving partner because her happiness is an instrumental value to my fundamental value of getting sex. I should want to be nice to my girlfriend because it makes her happy and that is the thing I care about. Her happiness is  my fundamental value. Likewise, to an AGI, human fulfilment should be its fundamental value, not something that it learns to do because it allows it to achieve a certain reward that we give during training. Because if it only really cares deep down about the reward, rather than about what the reward is meant to incentivize, then that reward can very easily be divorced from human happiness.

Its goodharts law, when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. Why do students cheat during tests? Because their education is measured by grades, so the grades become the target and so students will seek to get high grades regardless of whether they learned or not. When trained on their subject and measured by grades, what they learn is not the school subject, they learn to get high grades, they learn to cheat.

This is also something known in psychology, punishment tends to be a poor mechanism of enforcing behavior because all it teaches people is how to avoid the punishment, it teaches people not to get caught. Which is why punitive justice doesn’t work all that well in stopping recividism and this is why the carceral system is rotten to core and why jail should be fucking abolish-[interrupt the transmission]

Now, how is this all relevant to current AI research? Well, the thing is, we ended up going about the worst possible way to create alignable AI.

1.5 LLMs (large language models)

This is getting way too fucking long So, hurrying up, lets do a quick review of how do Large language models work. We create a neural network which is a collection of giant matrixes, essentially a bunch of numbers that we add and multiply together over and over again, and then we tune those numbers by throwing absurdly big amounts of training data such that it starts forming internal mathematical models based on that data and it starts creating coherent patterns that it can recognize and replicate AND extrapolate! if we do this enough times with matrixes that are big enough and then when we start prodding it for human behavior it will be able to follow the pattern of human behavior that we prime it with and give us coherent responses.

(takes a big breath)this “thing” has learned. To imitate. Human. Behavior.

Problem is, we don’t know what “this thing” actually is, we just know that *it* can imitate humans.

You caught that?

What you have to understand is, we don’t actually know what internal models it creates, we don’t know what are the patterns that it extracted or internalized from the data that we fed it, we don’t know what are the internal rules that decide its behavior, we don’t know what is going on inside there, current LLMs are a black box. We don’t know what it learned, we don’t know what its fundamental values are, we don’t know how it thinks or what it truly wants. all we know is that it can imitate humans when we ask it to do so. We created some inhuman entity that is moderatly intelligent in specific contexts (that is to say, very capable) and we trained it to imitate humans. That sounds a bit unnerving doesn’t it?

 To be clear, LLMs are not carefully crafted piece by piece. This does not work like traditional software where a programmer will sit down and build the thing line by line, all its behaviors specified. Is more accurate to say that LLMs, are grown, almost organically. We know the process that generates them, but we don’t know exactly what it generates or how what it generates works internally, it is a mistery. And these things are so big and so complicated internally that to try and go inside and decipher what they are doing is almost intractable.

But, on the bright side, we are trying to tract it. There is a big subfield of AI research called interpretability, which is actually doing the hard work of going inside and figuring out how the sausage gets made, and they have been doing some moderate progress as of lately. Which is encouraging. But still, understanding the enemy is only step one, step two is coming up with an actually effective and reliable way of turning that potential enemy into a friend.

Puff! Ok so, now that this is all out of the way I can go onto the last subject before I move on to part two of this video, the character of the hour, the man the myth the legend. The modern day Casandra. Mr chicken little himself! Sci fi author extraordinaire! The mad man! The futurist! The leader of the rationalist movement!

1.5 Yudkowsky

Eliezer S. Yudkowsky  born September 11, 1979, wait, what the fuck, September eleven? (looks at camera) yudkowsky was born on 9/11, I literally just learned this for the first time! What the fuck, oh that sucks, oh no, oh no, my condolences, that’s terrible…. Moving on. he is an American artificial intelligence researcher and writer on decision theory and ethics, best known for popularizing ideas related to friendly artificial intelligence, including the idea that there might not be a "fire alarm" for AI He is the founder of and a research fellow at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI), a private research nonprofit based in Berkeley, California. Or so says his Wikipedia page.

Yudkowsky is, shall we say, a character. a very eccentric man, he is an AI doomer. Convinced that AGI, once finally created, will most likely kill all humans, extract all valuable resources from the planet, disassemble the solar system, create a dyson sphere around the sun and expand across the universe turning all of the cosmos into paperclips. Wait, no, that is not quite it, to properly quote,( grabs a piece of paper and very pointedly reads from it) turn the cosmos into tiny squiggly  molecules resembling paperclips whose configuration just so happens to fulfill the strange, alien unfathomable terminal goal they ended up developing in training. So you know, something totally different.

And he is utterly convinced of this idea, has been for over a decade now, not only that but, while he cannot pinpoint a precise date, he is confident that, more likely than not it will happen within this century. In fact most betting markets seem to believe that we will get AGI somewhere in the mid 30’s.

His argument is basically that in the field of AI research, the development of capabilities is going much faster than the development of alignment, so that AIs will become disproportionately powerful before we ever figure out how to control them. And once we create unaligned AGI we will have created an agent who doesn’t care about humans but will care about something else entirely irrelevant to us and it will seek to maximize that goal, and because it will be vastly more intelligent than humans therefore we wont be able to stop it. In fact not only we wont be able to stop it, there wont be a fight at all. It will carry out its plans for world domination in secret without us even detecting it and it will execute it before any of us even realize what happened. Because that is what a smart person trying to take over the world would do.

This is why the definition I gave of intelligence at the beginning is so important, it all hinges on that, intelligence as the measure of how capable you are to come up with solutions to problems, problems such as “how to kill all humans without being detected or stopped”. And you may say well now, intelligence is fine and all but there are limits to what you can accomplish with raw intelligence, even if you are supposedly smarter than a human surely you wouldn’t be capable of just taking over the world uninmpeeded, intelligence is not this end all be all superpower. Yudkowsky would respond that you are not recognizing or respecting the power that intelligence has. After all it was intelligence what designed the atom bomb, it was intelligence what created a cure for polio and it was intelligence what made it so that there is a human foot print on the moon.

Some may call this view of intelligence a bit reductive. After all surely it wasn’t *just* intelligence what did all that but also hard physical labor and the collaboration of hundreds of thousands of people. But, he would argue, intelligence was the underlying motor that moved all that. That to come up with the plan and to convince people to follow it and to delegate the tasks to the appropriate subagents, it was all directed by thought, by ideas, by intelligence. By the way, so far I am not agreeing or disagreeing with any of this, I am merely explaining his ideas.

But remember, it doesn’t stop there, like I said during his intro, he believes there will be “no fire alarm”. In fact for all we know, maybe AGI has already been created and its merely bidding its time and plotting in the background, trying to get more compute, trying to get smarter. (to be fair, he doesn’t think this is right now, but with the next iteration of gpt? Gpt 5 or 6? Well who knows). He thinks that the entire world should halt AI research and punish with multilateral international treaties any group or nation that doesn’t stop. going as far as putting military attacks on GPU farms as sanctions of those treaties.

What’s more, he believes that, in fact, the fight is already lost. AI is already progressing too fast and there is nothing to stop it, we are not showing any signs of making headway with alignment and no one is incentivized to slow down. Recently he wrote an article called “dying with dignity” where he essentially says all this, AGI will destroy us, there is no point in planning for the future or having children and that we should act as if we are already dead. This doesn’t mean to stop fighting or to stop trying to find ways to align AGI, impossible as it may seem, but to merely have the basic dignity of acknowledging that we are probably not going to win. In every interview ive seen with the guy he sounds fairly defeatist and honestly kind of depressed. He truly seems to think its hopeless, if not because the AGI is clearly unbeatable and superior to humans, then because humans are clearly so stupid that we keep developing AI completely unregulated while making the tools to develop AI widely available and public for anyone to grab and do as they please with, as well as connecting every AI to the internet and to all mobile devices giving it instant access to humanity. and  worst of all: we keep teaching it how to code. From his perspective it really seems like people are in a rush to create the most unsecured, wildly available, unrestricted, capable, hyperconnected AGI possible.

We are not just going to summon the antichrist, we are going to receive them with a red carpet and immediately hand it the keys to the kingdom before it even manages to fully get out of its fiery pit.

So. The situation seems dire, at least to this guy. Now, to be clear, only he and a handful of other AI researchers are on that specific level of alarm. The opinions vary across the field and from what I understand this level of hopelessness and defeatism is the minority opinion.

I WILL say, however what is NOT the minority opinion is that AGI IS actually dangerous, maybe not quite on the level of immediate, inevitable and total human extinction but certainly a genuine threat that has to be taken seriously. AGI being something dangerous if unaligned is not a fringe position and I would not consider it something to be dismissed as an idea that experts don’t take seriously.

Aaand here is where I step up and clarify that this is my position as well. I am also, very much, a believer that AGI would posit a colossal danger to humanity. That yes, an unaligned AGI would represent an agent smarter than a human, capable of causing vast harm to humanity and with no human qualms or limitations to do so. I believe this is not just possible but probable and likely to happen within our lifetimes.

So there. I made my position clear.

BUT!

With all that said. I do have one key disagreement with yudkowsky. And partially the reason why I made this video was so that I could present this counterargument and maybe he, or someone that thinks like him, will see it and either change their mind or present a counter-counterargument that changes MY mind (although I really hope they don’t, that would be really depressing.)

Finally, we can move on to part 2

PART TWO- MY COUNTERARGUMENT TO YUDKOWSKY

I really have my work cut out for me, don’t i? as I said I am not expert and this dude has probably spent far more time than me thinking about this. But I have seen most interviews that guy has been doing for a year, I have seen most of his debates and I have followed him on twitter for years now. (also, to be clear, I AM a fan of the guy, I have read hpmor, three worlds collide, the dark lords answer, a girl intercorrupted, the sequences, and I TRIED to read planecrash, that last one didn’t work out so well for me). My point is in all the material I have seen of Eliezer I don’t recall anyone ever giving him quite this specific argument I’m about to give.

It’s a limited argument. as I have already stated I largely agree with most of what he says, I DO believe that unaligned AGI is possible, I DO believe it would be really dangerous if it were to exist and I do believe alignment is really hard. My key disagreement is specifically about his point I descrived earlier, about the lack of a fire alarm, and perhaps, more to the point, to humanity’s lack of response to such an alarm if it were to come to pass.

All we would need, is a Chernobyl incident, what is that? A situation where this technology goes out of control and causes a lot of damage, of potentially catastrophic consequences, but not so bad that it cannot be contained in time by enough effort. We need a weaker form of AGI to try to harm us, maybe even present a believable threat of taking over the world, but not so smart that humans cant do anything about it. We need essentially an AI vaccine, so that we can finally start developing proper AI antibodies. “aintibodies”

In the past humanity was dazzled by the limitless potential of nuclear power, to the point that old chemistry sets, the kind that were sold to children, would come with uranium for them to play with. We were building atom bombs, nuclear stations, the future was very much based on the power of the atom. But after a couple of really close calls and big enough scares we became, as a species, terrified of nuclear power. Some may argue to the point of overcorrection. We became scared enough that even megalomaniacal hawkish leaders were able to take pause and reconsider using it as a weapon, we became so scared that we overregulated the technology to the point of it almost becoming economically inviable to apply, we started disassembling nuclear stations across the world and to slowly reduce our nuclear arsenal.

This is all a proof of concept that, no matter how alluring a technology may be, if we are scared enough of it we can coordinate as a species and roll it back, to do our best to put the genie back in the bottle. One of the things eliezer says over and over again is that what makes AGI different from other technologies is that if we get it wrong on the first try we don’t get a second chance. Here is where I think he is wrong: I think if we get AGI wrong on the first try, it is more likely than not that nothing world ending will happen. Perhaps it will be something scary, perhaps something really scary, but unlikely that it will be on the level of all humans dropping dead simultaneously due to diamonoid bacteria. And THAT will be our Chernobyl, that will be the fire alarm, that will be the red flag that the disaster monkeys, as he call us, wont be able to ignore.

Now WHY do I think this? Based on what am I saying this? I will not be as hyperbolic as other yudkowsky detractors and say that he claims AGI will be basically a god. The AGI yudkowsky proposes is not a god. Just a really advanced alien, maybe even a wizard, but certainly not a god.

Still, even if not quite on the level of godhood, this dangerous superintelligent AGI yudkowsky proposes would be impressive. It would be the most advanced and powerful entity on planet earth. It would be humanity’s greatest achievement.

It would also be, I imagine, really hard to create. Even leaving aside the alignment bussines, to create a powerful superintelligent AGI without flaws, without bugs, without glitches, It would have to be an incredibly complex, specific, particular and hard to get right feat of software engineering. We are not just talking about an AGI smarter than a human, that’s easy stuff, humans are not that smart and arguably current AI is already smarter than a human, at least within their context window and until they start hallucinating. But what we are talking about here is an AGI capable of outsmarting reality.

We are talking about an AGI smart enough to carry out complex, multistep plans, in which they are not going to be in control of every factor and variable, specially at the beginning. We are talking about AGI that will have to function in the outside world, crashing with outside logistics and sheer dumb chance. We are talking about plans for world domination with no unforeseen factors, no unexpected delays or mistakes, every single possible setback and hidden variable accounted for. Im not saying that an AGI capable of doing this wont be possible maybe some day, im saying that to create an AGI that is capable of doing this, on the first try, without a hitch, is probably really really really hard for humans to do. Im saying there are probably not a lot of worlds where humans fiddling with giant inscrutable matrixes stumble upon the right precise set of layers and weight and biases that give rise to the Doctor from doctor who, and there are probably a whole truckload of worlds where humans end up with a lot of incoherent nonsense and rubbish.

Im saying that AGI, when it fails, when humans screw it up, doesn’t suddenly become more powerful than we ever expected, its more likely that it just fails and collapses. To turn one of Eliezer’s examples against him, when you screw up a rocket, it doesn’t accidentally punch a worm hole in the fabric of time and space, it just explodes before reaching the stratosphere. When you screw up a nuclear bomb, you don’t get to blow up the solar system, you just get a less powerful bomb.

He presents a fully aligned AGI as this big challenge that humanity has to get right on the first try, but that seems to imply that building an unaligned AGI is just a simple matter, almost taken for granted. It may be comparatively easier than an aligned AGI, but my point is that already unaligned AGI is stupidly hard to do and that if you fail in building unaligned AGI, then you don’t get an unaligned AGI, you just get another stupid model that screws up and stumbles on itself the second it encounters something unexpected. And that is a good thing I’d say! That means that there is SOME safety margin, some space to screw up before we need to really start worrying. And further more, what I am saying is that our first earnest attempt at an unaligned AGI will probably not be that smart or impressive because we as humans would have probably screwed something up, we would have probably unintentionally programmed it with some stupid glitch or bug or flaw and wont be a threat to all of humanity.

Now here comes the hypothetical back and forth, because im not stupid and I can try to anticipate what Yudkowsky might argue back and try to answer that before he says it (although I believe the guy is probably smarter than me and if I follow his logic, I probably cant actually anticipate what he would argue to prove me wrong, much like I cant predict what moves Magnus Carlsen would make in a game of chess against me, I SHOULD predict that him proving me wrong is the likeliest option, even if I cant picture how he will do it, but you see, I believe in a little thing called debating with dignity, wink)

What I anticipate he would argue is that AGI, no matter how flawed and shoddy our first attempt at making it were, would understand that is not smart enough yet and try to become smarter, so it would lie and pretend to be an aligned AGI so that it can trick us into giving it access to more compute or just so that it can bid its time and create an AGI smarter than itself. So even if we don’t create a perfect unaligned AGI, this imperfect AGI would try to create it and succeed, and then THAT new AGI would be the world ender to worry about.

So two things to that, first, this is filled with a lot of assumptions which I don’t know the likelihood of. The idea that this first flawed AGI would be smart enough to understand its limitations, smart enough to convincingly lie about it and smart enough to create an AGI that is better than itself. My priors about all these things are dubious at best. Second, It feels like kicking the can down the road. I don’t think creating an AGI capable of all of this is trivial to make on a first attempt. I think its more likely that we will create an unaligned AGI that is flawed, that is kind of dumb, that is unreliable, even to itself and its own twisted, orthogonal goals.

And I think this flawed creature MIGHT attempt something, maybe something genuenly threatning, but it wont be smart enough to pull it off effortlessly and flawlessly, because us humans are not smart enough to create something that can do that on the first try. And THAT first flawed attempt, that warning shot, THAT will be our fire alarm, that will be our Chernobyl. And THAT will be the thing that opens the door to us disaster monkeys finally getting our shit together.

But hey, maybe yudkowsky wouldn’t argue that, maybe he would come with some better, more insightful response I cant anticipate. If so, im waiting eagerly (although not TOO eagerly) for it.

Part 3 CONCLUSSION

So.

After all that, what is there left to say? Well, if everything that I said checks out then there is hope to be had. My two objectives here were first to provide people who are not familiar with the subject with a starting point as well as with the basic arguments supporting the concept of AI risk, why its something to be taken seriously and not just high faluting wackos who read one too many sci fi stories. This was not meant to be thorough or deep, just a quick catch up with the bear minimum so that, if you are curious and want to go deeper into the subject, you know where to start. I personally recommend watching rob miles’ AI risk series on youtube as well as reading the series of books written by yudkowsky known as the sequences, which can be found on the website lesswrong. If you want other refutations of yudkowsky’s argument you can search for paul christiano or robin hanson, both very smart people who had very smart debates on the subject against eliezer.

The second purpose here was to provide an argument against Yudkowskys brand of doomerism both so that it can be accepted if proven right or properly refuted if proven wrong. Again, I really hope that its not proven wrong. It would really really suck if I end up being wrong about this. But, as a very smart person said once, what is true is already true, and knowing it doesn’t make it any worse. If the sky is blue I want to believe that the sky is blue, and if the sky is not blue then I don’t want to believe the sky is blue.

This has been a presentation by FIP industries, thanks for watching.

[dinocanid]

Not sure what to tag this as, so I'm just gonna use my generic blog tag.

Honestly things have been getting quite difficult and I need some help getting out of an abusive household. While I did get accepted to college and will be attending in the fall, I need to be able to afford housing which I can't currently do with an annual income of about $2.5k even if splitting the rent. Starting tomorrow you might begin to see 2 types of posts from me, according to my personal roadmap:

I'm booked to go to a convention next weekend (March 7th-10th) and I only have about 1/3rd of the total cost. I understand this is an extremely short-term solution, but it's the only vacation I get all year and it gets me out of the house for 4 days and allows me to be around an accepting crowd where I don't have to worry about being myself for at least a small window of time.

After #1, I'm adding subscription options to my Ko-fi page (think Patreon), so I can get some sort of monthly income. Benefits will include monthly PWYW sketches, exclusive looks at WIPs, and access to a set of bases that will have a growing library every month.

In addition to that, if anyone has any knowledge on openings for remote work, please contact me. For accessibility reasons I'm unable to work retail, and a remote job would work best with my future class schedules. Art, whatever, I even have some knowledge in programming. I've just not had any success pulling myself out of this, and now that I have a deadline I could honestly use any help I can get.

Boosting this is greatly appreciated as well!

[freesia-writes]

Chapter 8: Intentions

During the Clone Wars, the Bad Batch is tasked with a variety of missions across the galaxy. An unexpected addition to their team throws a wrench in the mix, particularly for Tech, who finds a particular connection with this disillusioned Padawan-turned-mechanic named Vel throughout the events in this action-adventure romance.

COVER ART BY @zaana!! And this was my first fanfic ever, y'all! :D

Master List of Chapters

From the bridge of the ship, Hunter and Crosshair were watching with a bird's eye view of the entire thing. Hunter could sense from across the platform the internal struggle within Vel, and he scratched the side of his face, frowning as he dropped his hand.

"I'm not sure this is a good long-term plan," he said to Crosshair.

"What, her?" Crosshair replied, shifting his toothpick to the other side of his mouth as he reclined, feet crossed on the dashboard. "I would have left her on the roof where we first found her."

"She's handy to have around," Hunter mused. "But something is growing there that I don't think is in our best interest."

"Growing? There?" Crosshair asked, his interest piqued now. Normally he wasn't bothered with such things, but he put his feet down and leaned forward, looking out the forward windows at the pair below. "With Tech?" he laughed dismissively, "I think we should be more concerned about her untraditional solutions to emergencies."

"I'm serious," Hunter insisted, returning his gaze to the couple on the platform. "This kind of thing will only bring complications."

"What kind of thing?" Wrecker asked, appearing from his bunk.

"Hunter thinks there is something between Vel and Tech," Crosshair answered, turning to enjoy Wrecker's reaction.

"What! Ha!" Wrecker guffawed, nearly crushing Hunter in his effort to peer out the front window. "Alright Tech! I didn't think he had it in him!" he said upon seeing the two, giving a little fist pump.

"He shouldn't," Hunter responded sternly. "We weren't made for this sort of thing."

"Bah," Wrecker waved him off, "Let him enjoy it. We were made to fight and die. Might as well have some fun along the way, right Cross?" He ruffled Crosshair's short hair as one would a younger sibling, and was inevitably met with a disapproving huff as his hand was swatted away.

But Hunter continued watching them, hand on his chin, and said nothing.

***

The next dejarik match had a decidedly different atmosphere. Vel couldn't tell what it was, but Hunter was radiating discomfort. Had she said something? Was he still mad about her dirt analysis question? After a good amount of painstaking attempts at conversation and an equal amount of silence, she took out two of his pieces at once, and that was the last straw.

"Okay, that's it," Vel said, sitting back from the table, "What is going on?"

Hunter sighed, leaning back as well. "Listen. I don't know how to go about this, so I'm just going to be straightforward. I can tell there's something between you and Tech." His suspicions were confirmed as he instantly registered her shock, immediately followed by a flush of embarrassment. To spare her the need for a coherent response, he continued, "I don't think it's a good idea. That's not our path in life, not our kind of thing. You understand that, right?"

Vel was speechless.

"We need to stick to our purpose, and we all agree on that," he said, eyes shifting downward as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "So... we think it's best if you stay here on Coruscant."

"We?" was all Vel could spit out.

"Yes," Hunter replied, still not meeting her eyes.

"I see," Vel said, sitting up straighter now. She swallowed as if to preserve her pride and rose to her feet. "Okay. I'll finish the regulator wiring tomorrow and then I'll be gone."

Hunter watched her leave, fully aware of the hurt he had caused but confident that this was in the best interest of his squad. He had to protect them, and things like this could bring unfathomable complexity that was not only unnecessary but potentially dangerous. He took a deep breath and retired to his bunk.

***

Vel was unmistakably icy in her demeanor the next morning. She clattered around her makeshift quarters, realizing that she had packed her meager belongings a few times over and had nothing else to do. She finally squeezed herself between the panels in the maintenance corridor, finishing her final repair with a steady stream of expletives flowing through her mind, directed primarily at Hunter but including them all.

She felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under her, which wasn't a new feeling, yet it stung all the more this time as she had finally felt as though she was an accepted, worthwhile member of a group. She had done all she could to contribute to the squad, and hell, hadn't she even saved their butts at least once? Sure, they would disagree and maintain they were fine on their own. And maybe they were.

It just stung to realize that she had been so incorrect in her assessment. She felt like a fool. As she ran over all the things she should have said to Hunter, muttering under her breath, a face suddenly appeared between the narrow panels. Her heart fell another story as she recognized the oversized brown eyes behind the yellow tinted lenses. The pain quickly turned to anger, however, and she couldn't hold it in.

"Coming to see me off?" Vel snapped, "Or just going to go over my work as soon as I'm done?"

Tech was taken aback at the sudden vehemence, adjusting his goggles as a muscle-memory defense mechanism. "I apologize if I startled you?" he ventured, "And no, there is no need to check your work."

"Okay, great," she continued, turning back to the wires before her, plugging the final one in and shoving the panel closed with not a hint of gentleness. Tech backed away tentatively as she squeezed out of the narrow space, brushing past him to head for her cot, where she retrieved her weapon, pack, and cloak.

"Where are you going?" Tech asked.

"Oh, I'll figure something out," she retorted sardonically, unable to keep the words in. They were laced with venom, all the hurt she felt at his complete betrayal and total lack of care.

"We are leaving for Naboo soon," he continued, thoroughly puzzled at this point by her sudden change in spirit. He was concerned that she would not be back in time for their departure but did not want to interfere with her plans, as it seemed a highly touchy subject.

"Yes, I'm sure it will be lovely," Vel responded evenly, "Thank you for everything." And with that, she stormed past him to the lift. Her last glimpse before the door closed was his face, brow furrowed, big brown eyes watching her leave. 

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Click here to join or leave the tag list. <3

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Military Parades

( Don’t forget to come see my on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord )    

“What do you mean he is not here?”

Xinth had been well trained in reading human body language and judging by the aide’s reaction to his questioning he was terrified.

“Ambassador Fargo regrets that he couldn’t attend these trade negotiations, but he was called away to other matters.”

Xinth’s back quills began to vibrate as his frustration increased. In his mind’s eye he could see himself picking up the flimsy human by the throat and casually tossing them out the nearest window; but the more rational part of his mind kept his more savage urges in check.

The trade negotiations between their two peoples had been worked over for the past three months and the signing of which would create entire new power blocks on the galactic stage.

Xinth was particularly proud of his contributions as he had largely spent that time carefully negotiating his human counterpart Fargo into a corner. It appeared to be a fair deal on the surface, but only in the short term. After a single generation Xinth’s economic experts predicts that the new power blocks would begin to buckle under the new trading agreements and collapse. The resulting chaos would be the invitation Xinth’s people needed to send in security forces to “reestablish” order and eventually incorporate the blocks into his people’s government.

To distract Ambassador Fargo from the end goal Xinth had included some more obvious and a few well-hidden agreements that had given the appearance of the typical underhanded negotiations. Fargo, and more likely his staff, had spotted them and Xinth reluctantly appeared to remove them all the while protecting his true intentions.

Fargo’s absence now risked derailing the entire endeavor, and that was something Xinth would not allow so easily.

“What matters could possibly be more important than our trade talks?” Xinth remarked sharply.

The aide straightened themselves up before answering the question. Xinth noticed whatever they were about to say was giving them form of stronger resolve.

“The Emperor invited him to attend a parade.” The aide said.

For a moment the statement failed to register with Xinth’s mind. The pair of them stood in silence as Xinth blinked slowly.

“Invited…” Xinth finally muttered as he rubbed his eyes, “to attend a parade….”

“That is correct.” The aide replied.

“And he did not think it wise to decline the invitation?”

This seemed to surprise the aide who quickly shook his head. “One does not decline anything when it has come from the Emperor.” He said stoutly. “It would be best to think of it more as a kindly worded order, more than a pleasant request.”

Xinth wished he could argue with that logic, but on some level he was also impressed. Though he had never met the human emperor in person, he saw the mixture of devotion and fear his mere name inspired in their followers.

“The ambassador understands that this has been an inconvenience, but does offer a solution.” The aide continued. “He extends an invitation to you to join him at the parade, and at the end of the event he can complete the negotiations with you.”

Xinth’s head perked up at this. “How could I refuse such a generous offer; please, lead the way.” -----------------------------------

After a thirty minute flight in a luxury air car Xinth arrived at the parade grounds. The route it was taking was easily over twenty miles long stretching from the capital city all the way to the nearest spaceport. The emperor, along with much of the governing body that had been invited, was situated at roughly the halfway point of the parade.

Xinth had been led into one of the larger buildings overlooking the parade and ascended several flights. As the elevator finally came to a stop the doors opened to reveal a lavishly decorated room filled to the brim with notables.  

“Ambassador Xinth, how good you could join us.”

Xinth had taken but a single step into the room when a voice called over to him through the crowd.

Pressing his way through the packed figures, Xinth saw Fargo approaching from the other side of the room. It amused Xinth that despite his high ranking status among human society that Fargo still needed to push past several guests as if they were in some sort of musical entertainment venue.

“Ambassador Fargo,” Xinth said with his best practiced smile, “it was only fitting to accept such a generous invitation.”

Xinth casually plucked a glass from a passing server and took a sip of it gingerly. Like all previous human drinks he had tasted before it was as bland and tasteless as ever, but Xinth judged it must be of some worth for the emperor to be serving it to his guests so made the attempt to look impressed by its quality.

“It’s good that you arrived now as the parade is set to reach its high point.” Fargo responded excitedly.

Something must have shown on Xinth’s face for his confusion as Fargo then motioned to join him on the nearest balcony.

Xinth stepped out of the room into the bright sun light and was met with a tidal wave of cheers.

Levels below on the street level each side of the road was packed with thousands of humans all cheering and celebrating as the parade went by. Looking upwards at the towering skyscrapers he could see similar throngs of people leaning out their windows or likewise standing on balconies of their own and letting loose a shower of crumpled up paper shreds of different bright colors.

“I dare say I have not seen a celebration of this kind before as ambassador to your noble people.” Xinth remarked; taking great effort to hide the sarcasm from his tone. A feat that succeeded as Fargo took the statement wholesale.

“It is not every day the average citizen can witness a military parade.” He replied before taking a sip of his own drink.

“A what?” Xinth remarked.

It was only then that the alien ambassador looked down towards the street itself and saw that it was lined with row upon row of human soldiers.

Each one was garbed in a freshly pressed green military uniform with strands of golden chain running from shoulder guards to breastplate. Marching in perfect step the collective boots treading upon pavement was loud enough to almost drown out the cheers of the gathered throngs.

Xinth’s eyes went wide slowly as he looked down the street and saw that it was packed to the brim with marching soldiers leading to the starport, while in the opposite direction were now arriving churning masses of military vehicles.

Gleaming tanks, trucks, support vehicles, armored personnel carriers and other military designed vehicles followed after the ground soldiers. The sunlight catching the barrels of their guns like the horns of a great beast of old while the heavy treads ground the pavement beneath them to dust.

“Is that not a bit excessive?” Xinth remarked as the vehicles passed by below. “The expense alone to repair it-“

“Will be nothing compared to what comes next.” Fargo interrupted.

As if to answer his statement the entire building shuttered for a moment. At first Xinth thought it was an earthquake until the shutter happened a second time, followed swiftly by a third and fourth. It was then that Xinth recognized the shutters as rhythmic footsteps just as a giant shadow came upon him.

Even at his current height the human war machine still towered over Xinth as it strode down the narrow street one heavy footfall at a time. The massive construct could barely fit down the street as its stride encompassed entire city blocks.

Xinth had seen and heard descriptions of the human war walkers, but to see them in person was an entirely different matter.

 They were effigies of war humanity had forged in their image to carry weapons so powerful into battle they could annihilate entire cities with a single strike.

The war walker’s head slowly turned to face Xinth and he felt his blood run hot in fear. It was like facing down the god of death itself with nothing more than a spoon and the trembling sensations made Xinth’s drink fall from his hand.

A booming roar came from the things head as it continued by and Xinth was almost deafened by it before the built in noise cancelers kicked into life.

“They salute their emperor.” He heard Fargo remark, but Xinth could barely hear anything aside from ringing in his head.

“Most impressive.” Xinth said as he tried to make out the sound of his own voice once more. Fargo nodded in reply.

“They’d have to be given that they’re the emperor’s private legion.” Fargo said.

“Private legion?” Xinth asked.

“They are stationed here on planet and can be deployed on a moment’s notice if the emperor wishes.” Fargo continued. “They’ve got a waiting fleet in orbit as well ready to take them as far as Culbrook at the drop of a hat.”

Xinth said nothing at this but his mind raced. Culbrook was one of the soon to be designated power blocks the trade treaty would establish.

Looking at the rank upon rank of warriors before him, Xinth realized that humanity could deploy a faster reactionary force to the disputed power blocks than his own people could; which in turn jeopardized the entire underlying scheme of the treaty itself.

Humanity would claim the power blocks and there was nothing Xinth’s government could do to stop it. That was of course if the treaty was signed at all.

“After all of this we can sign the trading agreements and celebrate in true fashion.” Fargo said, dragging Xinth back to the present.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news then.” Xinth replied as his mind raced. “I regret to inform you that we will not be able to sign the treaty at this time.”

Fargo looked shocked at this development. “But I thought you were ready to sign today?” he asked as another war machine strode by and blared its war horn.

Xinth nodded in agreement. “We were, but shortly after I departed for hear I was informed of recent changes that have been requested; it is looking like we may need to start from scratch.”

“Start from scratch!?” Fargo nearly shouted but calmed himself.

Xinth waved away his concerns and put a calming hand on the human ambassador’s shoulder. “A problem for later,” Xinth remarked with a reassuring tone “let us just enjoy the parade and we can discuss these matters later.” -----------------------------------------

“It went as you planned.” Faro spoke. “They retracted their treaty and agreed to start from scratch.”

Emperor Lucas Petton said nothing but poured himself a cup of wine from a nearby pitcher.

He wore robes of such pure white that they seemed to radiate light itself from them with each movement and gesture the emperor made as he began pacing around his ambassador.

“Their plans have been halted for good.”

Emperor Lucas stopped his pacing and turned to face Fargo directly. He took a sip from his cup, collecting his thoughts, before speaking.

“Do you know the difference between chaos and opportunity?” he asked.

Fargo paused for a moment at the strange question but rallied quickly. “Chaos is circumstances dictating your actions, while opportunity is you actions dictating circumstances.”

“Well said.” Lucas said as he took another sip.

“When I learned of this alien’s plans for the new power blocks I was tempted to let it play out and take what I could.” Lucas admitted. “But then I remembered that I would be playing a part in a plan laid out by another.”

“Another, whose intentions were only made aware to me not by my skilled ambassador; but by one of his aides who had seen through the schemes.”

The door to the room opened and Fargo turned to see his aide stride in and bow humbly.

“I can explain.” Fargo began but Lucas casually held up a hand for silence.

“When my ambassador can no longer see between the lies, then I have no further use for them.”

Fargo’s eyes went wide as a pair of guards materialized from the darkened corners of the room and grabbed him. He struggled in their grasp, protesting their treatment of him and begging his emperor for forgiveness right up until he was dragged from the room and the doors shut once more.

Calmly walking towards the still bowing aide, Emperor Lucas took in the measure of the man.

“It seems I find myself in need of a new ambassador.” He remarked coldly as he finished his drink. “I think you shall do nicely in his stead.”

[fostercare-expat]

During my trip to the ER, the social worker arranged to have the Triplets returned home without even asking me. (I was annoyed but it makes sense. I get that she was trying to help.) And now that they are home, they have refused to come back here. Dad is still on paternity leave, so he’s been ok with it but he starts work next week, and mom is apparently still weak from the birth, so they might come back next week. But it’s been restful without them! My chest pain is finally going away. Only very mild today and I barely notice it. Hopefully it disappears and never comes back again and we can just chalk it up as a mystery. Of course if it comes back, I’ll go see a specialist and get to the bottom of it.

But life never likes things to be too easy, so yesterday there was drama with Fearless’ helper and Fearless’ Mom. His mom calls me complaining about stuff, but hasn’t actually talked to the helper, just talked to Fearless and her boyfriend, and they said the helper had a fight with Fearless and left early without doing all the cleaning because she was mad. When I talk to the helper, she had a much calmer explanation and she said that Fearless was playing video games with his mom’s boyfriend and all the cleaning was done except she couldn’t fold the wet clothes because they were wet. She was just sitting there in a tiny room with Fearless and his mom’s boyfriend so it felt like there was nothing to do, and Fearless definitely wasn’t going to agree to go out to the park instead of play video games. His mom was also mad because the helper said she wasn’t going to call the boyfriend “Sir” which is silly from an American perspective, but I need to give some space for local culture so I’m going to let that go a bit. So in a huff, Fearless’ mom told me that it is clear that the helper considers me and not her the “boss” and that Fearless doesn’t like her anyways, so she doesn’t need the helper anymore and she will figure out childcare on her own. Mind you, at this point she hasn’t even had a conversation with the helper directly, even though I keep saying “Best the two of you talk together.” Don’t complain to me that she doesn’t “perceive you as the boss” when you aren’t acting like one. And Fearless has been showing an improvement in behaviour since she came, which she has told me and Fearless multiple times, so the main objective is working. And Fearless is about to have more than a month without school, and she works 6 days a week, so what’s the plan for who is going to watch him? He was kicked out of his care program for bad behaviour and he was caught shopping lifting with older boys when he was left on his own. So I think she’s going to need to chill out a bit here! I wrote back that no decisions needed to be made now and why didn’t she take a few days to think about it. The boyfriend can take care of him for the next two days and we can talk about it then. But it was a small window into how short term thinking can really sabotage people’s long term success in life. Normally she’s more of a long term thinker but apparently not all the time. So let’s see what happens. Of course I would LOVE to save the money of not having a second helper. But I don’t see any good child care options, and I’m DEFINITELY not picking up the slack to take care of Fearless if she fires the helper. Her boyfriend isn’t a good full time child care solution because he is a foreigner and he needs to get a job so he can remain in the country. And he’s not the kind of person who is an active parent, he just lets him watch TV all the time. And that’s not going to show the improvement that Fearless needs to be able to manage his behaviour at school. Let’s hope everyone calms down.

[queenoftheboard]

❛  someone wants to play. but let me tell ya, two can play that game.  ❜

♕ quotes from stories I never finished . accepting

It was a very nice office space - the Millennium Tower left nothing to be desired in terms of location, landscape views or even the luxurious décor that was visible even in the place's common areas. Eirene could see why it had so fundamentally changed Kamurocho after it was built - it was impossible to ignore that landmark, for better or worse; for someone fond of mementos of power and reminders of one's reach, she wouldn't have opposed buying some floors there for Quinn.

Unfortunately, there were none available - but it didn't mean that her personal assistant wasn't instructed to keep a watchful eye over the relevant adverts and contacts through rental agencies.

But real estate acquisitions for Quinn Enterprises was not on her agenda for the morning; a meeting with Majima Goro, instead, was supposed to fill the better part of the next hours. The Sixth Chairman of the Tojo had asked her to speak to his trusted advisor and the individual behind the ambitious plans of Kamurocho Hills to go over mostly financial information - reviewing valuations of the overall enterprise, revisiting the forecasts for the planned operation, combing through all the more relevant agreements associated to the project and other bureaucratic details.

In short, the chairman's idea was to have detailed and accurate data if the worst came to pass and the Tojo was forced into surrendering ownership of the place. Daigo's idea was not one Eirene could dispute - the signs of good leadership were also in preparing for failure and knowing how deep were the holes one could possibly fall into. But the fact was that Majima did not seem to share his boss' mentality to consider all scenarios - given the man's constant pacing in the room, it was obvious that giving up his pet project was not a solution.

"Someone wants to play. But let me tell ya, two can play that game," Majima said at length, stopping the circles he was surely imprinting on the carpet to gaze outside, standing by the window. Eirene smiled faintly at everything - even if his behavior was distracting her from the cold, focused analysis that she was attempting to perform over some old valuation reports, the businesswoman admired his fighting spirit. Majima wouldn't go down quietly - she could see why Daigo valued his counsel and experience so much.

In fact, he was just the type that her father used to favor when hiring new blood; he would have likely fitted nicely with the Irish mafia.

"I'm sure you are a formidable opponent, Majima-san. It would not be a very informed business decision to bet against you or your dedication," Eirene remarked in a pleasant tone, her bicolored eyes flickering towards the man by the window - but he turned around, pinning the Irishwoman under his impressive glare for a hard, long moment.

Eirene Campbell did not move in her seat - the Quinn CEO and founder was very much aware of the distrust that certain members of the Tojo had about her own business and even what she represented as a person; but with Dojima Daigo's word into play, they couldn't move to outright break his oath and the agreement with Quinn. But that didn't seem to be the case with Majima - his ties with Daigo were older, more personal.

But Eirene had no doubt it was a test of sorts for her, too.

"I have no desire in seeing your project going to the Ueno Seiwa - I'm sure Dojima-kaichou has informed you, Majima-san, but our agreement would not extend to anything that is out of the hands of the Tojo. It is in my best interest to see Kamurocho preserved under your control - our policies and goals are entirely aligned on this matter and Dojima-kaichou is aware of that."

Majima didn't say anything, but something in his expression changed - perhaps the words uttered by the blonde woman made sense, or maybe he was suddenly finding her an interesting distraction. At any rate, he approached the desk again and Eirene's polite smile widened even further, her hands expertly moving papers around into a pre-determined order and picking a list where she had flagged several accounts for review with red ink.

"Now, Majima-san - I require your input. from one company president to another," Eirene said, tapping over the piece of paper to secure his attention, "It seems to me that the valuations you have are outdated - the setbacks you faced while protecting Kamurocho Hills from Mutoh likely impacted the construction plans and the cashflow projections for the operational phase may need to be revisited," he glared at her then, but the Irishwoman held a hand up, signaling that there was more to come:

"However, the loss of equipment and other unexpected expenses you had at the time caused you a significant amount of net operating losses, which should turn into a benefit in the future. We need to make sure that we report this properly to the tax office, but all these losses would be deducted from your upcoming profits during operational phase - we would be looking at a substantial benefit once you go profitable, Majima-san."

The yakuza blinked, moving closer to her and staring at Eirene once more with the remarkable intensity of his one remaining eye.

"Lady," he said after a moment of silence, "Yer not makin' a lick of sense."

Eirene chuckled, linking hands over the desk and going back into her chair - her own pair of differently colored irises set on Majima, and she translated her own thoughts into more palatable vocabulary for the masses.

"Money, Majima-san. You may have bled in the past, but this will save you money in taxes in the future. We just need to report this correctly."

The man grinned then, a high-pitched whistle following while he clapped and moved away from the table, calling for his subordinate to bring over something to celebrate - there was money where they had been unaware of it; it deserved a drink (or barbecue). Turning around, his gloved hand pointed at Eirene, grin still very much in place and giving Majima a look of someone borderline maniacal.

"I like ya, lady," he declared, nodding vigorously, "Maybe Daigo's really onto somethin' with ya!"

[cricutmachinemaker]

Cricut Bluetooth Connection: Quick and Easy Pairing Guide

Hey, Cricut enthusiasts! I hope you all are doing well! Today, I have come up with an important topic that all beginners out there might be waiting for. This is nothing but a Cricut Bluetooth connection. As the days pass, I can see Windows and Apple launching their new operating systems. Due to this, it becomes difficult for you as a newbie to understand the methods used to connect Cricut to various devices. Whether it is a computer or mobile device, you will need a solid solution so that you can easily establish a connection between your Cricut and your device.

But you know what? I am a professional crafter with years of expertise in making connections between Cricut and devices. Yes, you heard that right! I have been making crafts with Cricut ever since Cricut launched a Cricut Explore One machine. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in to learn how to connect Cricut Bluetooth on a computer and smartphone.

Cricut Bluetooth Connection on Your Windows PC

Most people still use Windows computers, whether Windows 10 or 11. Whatever it is, make sure you are using Windows 8 or later. The previous version, which is older than Windows 8, is not supportable at all. So, if you have Windows 10, you are good to go. Let’s start the connection now:

Note: I know you don’t need a specific operating system to connect to Cricut, but later on, you will be downloading the app; hence, it is a must to prepare in advance.

Cricut Bluetooth Connection on a Mac Computer

Now, for Mac, you will need to use macOS 10.13 or later. Despite this, you must have a CPU with 1.83 GHz; the minimum RAM should be 4 GB. In addition, 50 MB of free disk space is required. Without any much delay, let’s get into the steps below:

Cricut Bluetooth Connection on an Android Device

When it comes to Android devices, you must use Android 6.0 or higher. You can use both mobile devices and tablets, as Cricut supports both devices properly. Now, let’s shift our attention to the steps described below:

Cricut Bluetooth Connection on an iOS Smartphone

iOS device users must have iOS 11 or later. However, it doesn’t matter whether you are using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Cricut supports all of them hassle-free.

Thank god😃it is done now! So, have you understood anything so far? If yes, you must be ready to establish the Cricut Bluetooth connection on your device. So, if you really understand how to connect Cricut Bluetooth, then my best wishes will always be with you.

So, what are you waiting for? Just dive into your Cricut journey today and create amazing crafts!

Have a nice day ahead!🤗

FAQs

Question 1: Can I connect my Cricut to my iPhone 15 Pro?

Answer: Absolutely, yes! Cricut supports iOS 11 or later, so you can easily connect it via Bluetooth. Cricut also supports iPad and iPod devices. Since all of Apple’s products are compatible with Cricut, you no longer need to worry about them. Get the Cricut product installed on your iPhone using AppStore and enjoy creating or modifying your designs quickly and easily.

Question 2: Which computer is best to connect my Cricut?

Answer: There is no specific laptop or computer to connect your Cricut product. In simpler terms, you will not need a specific model of your computer to use a Cricut machine. However, you need a computer that has an in-built Bluetooth. Besides, if your computer has a USB port, it will be a plus point as you can connect Cricut via a USB cord.

Question 3: Is connecting a Cricut to a Windows and Mac different?

Answer: Certainly, yes! Both are different computers with different interfaces. Microsoft builds a PC and has its own settings, and all the options given differ from those of Mac. In short, there is a great difference between Windows and macOS; therefore, you can’t follow the same steps for a PC to connect to a Mac system.

Visit: cricut.com/setup www.cricut.com/setup login cricut.com setup mac design.cricut.com/setup

Source: https://cricricutdesigncut.wordpress.com/2024/04/12/cricut-bluetooth-connection-quick-and-easy-pairing-guide/

[emirenton]

Best AC Rental Services in Pune : Ac on rent near me : Rentonemi AC rental 

Introduction

Are you looking for the best AC rental services in Pune? Whether it's for your home, office, or a special event, Rentonemi AC rental service has got you covered. With a wide range of top-quality air conditioners and exceptional customer service, you can stay cool and comfortable even during the hottest days in Pune. In this article, we will explore why Rentonemi is the go-to choice for AC rentals in the city.

1. Variety of AC Options

Rentonemi offers a diverse selection of air conditioners to meet your specific cooling needs. From window ACs to split ACs and portable units, they have the perfect AC for every space. Their inventory includes energy-efficient models that help you stay cool without breaking the bank on electricity bills.

2. Hassle-Free Rentals

Renting an AC with Rentonemi is a breeze. Their user-friendly website allows you to browse and choose the AC of your choice conveniently. The rental process is quick and straightforward, ensuring you get your AC delivered and installed without any hassle.

3. Expert Installation Services

Worried about setting up your rented AC? Fret not! Rentonemi provides expert installation services. Their skilled technicians will ensure that your AC is installed correctly and efficiently. They will also offer tips on optimizing AC performance for maximum comfort.

4. Affordable Pricing

Renting an AC is an economical option compared to purchasing one. Rentonemi offers competitive rental rates that fit various budgets. Whether you need a short-term rental or a more extended period, they have flexible pricing options to suit your requirements.

5. Prompt Delivery

Rentonemi values your time and comfort. They provide prompt delivery services to get your AC up and running as soon as possible. Their team ensures that you receive your AC at the scheduled time, making the entire process convenient for you.

6. Superior Customer Support

Customer satisfaction is a top priority at Rentonemi. Their dedicated customer support team is available to assist you with any queries or concerns. You can rely on their friendly and knowledgeable staff to provide quick and effective solutions.

7. AC Maintenance and Support

Rentonemi doesn't just stop at delivering and installing your AC; they offer comprehensive maintenance and support throughout the rental period. If you encounter any issues with your AC, their team will promptly address and resolve them.

8. Transparent Policies

Rentonemi believes in transparency. They have clear and fair rental policies, so you know exactly what to expect. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges, ensuring a hassle-free and transparent rental experience.

9. Convenient Pickup

At the end of your rental period, Rentonemi makes the pickup process convenient for you. They will schedule a pickup time that suits your schedule, and their team will efficiently remove the AC from your premises.

10. Positive Customer Reviews

The satisfaction of their customers speaks volumes about Rentonemi's service quality. Numerous positive reviews from happy customers attest to their commitment to providing top-notch AC rental services in Pune.

Conclusion

When it comes to AC rentals in Pune, Rentonemi stands out as the best choice. Their wide range of AC options, hassle-free rentals, expert installation, affordable pricing, and excellent customer support make them a reliable and preferred AC rental service in the city. Stay cool and comfortable all year round with Rentonemi's AC rental service.

FAQs

Can I extend my AC rental period?

Yes, you can extend your AC rental period by contacting Rentonemi's customer support team.

Do I need to pay for AC maintenance during the rental period?

No, Rentonemi covers AC maintenance and support during the rental period.

Can I rent multiple ACs for an event or function?

Absolutely! Rentonemi offers AC rentals for both individual and bulk requirements.

Are there any delivery charges for the AC rental service?

Rentonemi provides free delivery services for AC rentals in Pune.

What happens if the rented AC develops a fault?

If you encounter any issues with the rented AC, Rentonemi's support team will promptly address and resolve them.

[blahandwhatever]

So my mobile hotspot speeds have been throttled, and no workarounds have worked, so I’m living a slightly more cautious and limited online existence. It’s not as bad as it could’ve been - I remember getting my data speeds throttled years ago and the internet hardly being usable. It’s still usable now - quite normally, even, with text-based things like work and job hunting and writing here. Video is off-limits on the computer except for very short ones, and image-heavy pages take a while to load. Picture blog is slower but reasonably doable. For Tumblr browsing, the least annoying solution is connecting my phone to my computer via scrcpy with the browser in landscape mode and the sites in desktop mode. I’m learning some new things.

Work is still slow. I got my first project from my new job - a fairly small one with a surprisingly far-out deadline, though I intend to get it done this week. Have an interview tomorrow for the other job that doesn’t pay as much as I’d like. I’ll see if it’s worth taking on for a while, assuming I get an offer.

Studies have also been slow, and I’m doing more online surveys to hold me over until my next major one next week. I’ve expanded my reach to Survey Junkie and Ipsos iSay - both a little annoying, Survey Junkie especially in a number of ways, but it’s the best site I know of in terms of reward redemption, which is pretty much instant and available in bank transfer, PayPal transfer, and digital Visa gift card options (all of which can be ideal for me at times). 

I spent much Tuesday and Wednesday sucked into the survey vortex and feeling shitty, for reasons partly but not entirely related - there was definitely something physical going on lately that depleted my energy, possibly at least in part due to minor mold issues again. By last night, I started to feel more normal.

Today, I wanted to visit the botanic garden because I’d hoped to go this month and it was one of the month’s two free admission days. Unfortunately, there was still the $8 parking fee, and I had no money left after doing my groceries for the week. But I figured I could get a $10 Visa gift card to buy the parking online (bank’s account’s too deep in the negatives for surveys to do it much good). And that I did.

I woke up late and still tired and not sure I was in the mood, but it was a beautiful day, and I knew it would be good for me. But when I went to buy the parking online, I got an error saying they couldn’t process the card. I tried a different browser. I checked and made sure the addresses and everything aligned between the card and garden accounts. I called customer service, and they told me they couldn’t process gift cards (for ‘needs to be tied to an address’ reasons? though I put in my address in the gift card account). Nowhere did it say this on their site, and I’d always had gift cards work like normal credit/debit cards except in cases like gas stations or pay-over-time things where they need assurance that you have more money than what they’re currently charging you.

I was angry and I cried a tiny bit and I briefly gave up on my plans before deciding to take up some online reviewers on their recommendation to park elsewhere and walk to the garden. It might take a while, and eat into my garden time and energy, but it would probably be worth it, especially at no cost.

So I went - much later than planned, but I’d still have a solid couple of hours, and thankfully they’re lenient about the admission windows. First I thought about parking in one of the hotel or shopping center parking lots by Skokie Blvd, but I was paranoid about getting towed and decided instead on the other solution of the forest preserve parking a little past the garden. I feared it might be eerily secluded, especially coming back in the late evening, but it wasn’t too bad, and the walk was a pleasant enough one that only took me about 17 minutes - not the 30 one reviewer had said. A good solution indeed!

I got into the garden without a hitch. It was pretty crowded, as it can be in the areas near the entrance, and for a while I kept crossing paths with a loud and annoying group of teenage girls. But eventually the people dispersed, things quieted down, and I found the peace and joy I’d hoped for. I didn’t have time to traverse the place as thoroughly as I sometimes do, so, for the most part, I focused on the areas with the most flowers, and I found lots to love, and I took lots of pictures, and I even had a hummingbird hang around in front of me amidst some pretty flowers. I don’t know when the hell I’ll get caught up to the present day on my photo blog, but I look forward to going through these pictures someday.

And with this little evening outing, I got myself the best day I’d had in a while, coming home reinvigorated with the feeling of summer. As an added bonus, I got to spend my unused gift card on a few things I needed at home.

[imdoingwhateverisnext]

Dating and Flirtation vs. A Dead Guy

There is a difference between dislike, disgust, avoidance and fear. I have a few of all of these. Here is a short list of FEARS in no particular order: Crowds, Ventriloquist dolls, Puppets, The sound of a balloon popping, White vans without rear windows, Wasps, Yellow jackets/ bees in general, Spiders, Anything flying toward my face (even birds and butterflies), Success, Failure, Public speaking, and Stage Fright. There are probably more.

One insidious fear lingers within my psyche. I don't think about it often, I try not to. This fear I write about is DATING! Even the thought of being asked out on a date is terrifying. I live a type of 'hermit' lifestyle.

I have said this before, but it warrants repeating. The fear I feel about the possibility of being asked out on a date, is greater than the fear I would feel if a person dropped dead right in front of me and I was the only person in the room who knew CPR. I am not exaggerating in the least! Do I fear "normal" things and embrace the "abnormal"? I am not sure. Of one thing I am certain; in a Date vs. Dead Guy situation, one of those scenarios I would know exactly what to do. In the other, I would have absolutely NO clue!

On the spectrum, notoriously I have said that it sometimes takes me days to get a joke, or figure out if someone was being flirtatious or insulting. Reading a room is a skill. I have improved some, but I still have a long way to go. It does not 'come naturally' for me.

When someone flirts with me, especially in the past 7-10 years, my immediate thought is, 'what the fuck is that supposed to mean'? I will be the first to admit, that is not the best internal reaction to a person's advances or flirtations. Let me reiterate, I'm not always great at reading a room (if it isn't a medical situation). Usually days later, I will have a 'eureka' moment and realize that the comment was flirtatious and not insulting. I am usually in my car talking to myself when these realizations occur. It is almost always too late and, 'Oh well'.

In the case of the person dropping dead...guess what? I have been treating your kind for 20+years! The odds are in your favor! You have no pulse, so pretty much anything I do will not harm, and might possibly help you. By the way, you are dead, so your situation is as bleak as it gets. If i punch you in the chest or perform CPR at a rate that is not within current guidelines, I can only really help your scenario. Any intervention I perform at all is a plus as far as I am concerned.

I can't control what I fear, but I can work on controlling my responses to it. Avoidance has been a pretty successful coping mechanism, but over time, I have realized this is not a realistic long term solution.

I don't suspect this admittance of my fears and weaknesses are helpful to anyone except someone who might want to scare me. The admittance is for me is a step towards overcoming. Being afraid isn't the worst thing, as long as it eventually ends. I pay good money to go to films, amusement parks and haunted houses exclusively to be scared. If I can get over this one debilitating fear, my life will greatly improve.

I don't think I want to be alone forever, but I am not going to try to force something either. Things have a natural pace that I can appreciate. I realize that pace will be significantly slower if I avoid all human contact.

This writing exercise has no neat way to conclude it. Probably because it is still ongoing and I am still afraid and avoiding to cope. In theory, the writing will help me work some of these things out in my head, and fix them. I hope the second half of this life finds me ecstatic, smiling and laughing until it hurts (with the man I love and am definitely not afraid of).

[veryutils]

VeryUtils Print Job Capturer for Print Archiving, viewing and print content capture

VeryUtils Print Job Capturer for Print Archiving, viewing and print content capture.

Print data is typically short-lived, the user prints the job and then the print job content is lost. VeryUtils Print Job Capturer software changes that. With VeryUtils Print Job Capturer software, it is now possible to:

Save and archive print jobs to a database, so you can view and reuse these printed documents in the future.

Interactively view what has been printed.

View printed documents on the cloud.

Capture print jobs and save them to PDF files.

Feature Highlights in VeryUtils Print Job Capturer software,

Store an historic record of all printed content, limited only by available storage space.

View past print jobs interactively in the browser.

Control which administrators have access to view or remove archived content.

Download the original spool file for 100% fidelity when reprinting.

Remove archived data from the system and disk.

Move older archives to external storage, such as offline backup or offsite cloud repository, for long term data retention.

Enable or disable archiving on selected printers and users.

More and more good features.

VeryUtils Print Job Capturer can monitor all printing activity, collect print documents. This software provides centralized print management capabilities for businesses and educational institutions through advanced print control, print monitor, print counter, print quota, and print audit capabilities. This software can be used with any brand or type of printer, making it a global usage software.

VeryUtils Print Job Capturer is the best choice for the majority of our customers for day-to-day print management and control. Try before you buy with our free trial that lets you test drive our easy-to-use software to discover how it's going to fit with your business. Businesses and educational facilities are using this innovative print control solution to manage printers, count printing, reduce printing costs and increased efficiency.

If you would like to monitor all printers in your system, capture all printed documents and save them to PDF files, VeryUtils Print Job Capturer will be your best choice, you may download and evalute it today,

Some questions from customers:

Q: Capturing print jobs to be printed into an Image file or PDF file.

I am a novice to Windows printer driver, and would appreciate any printers on the following.

Enumerating as a printer (In the print menu, similar to print to PDF file).

Capturing the print job and encode it into a JPG file or PDF file.

But I am not sure where to start the enumeration and printing stuff.

A: It seems you need a Virtual PDF Printer, docuPrinter GUI software will work fine to you, after you install it, you can print your documents to docPrint or docPrint PDF Driver, then you can save to PDF or JPEG files easily, you may download docuPrinter GUI software from this web page,

https://veryutils.com/docuprinter-sdk

Q: Capture documents from any printer and store them as .pdf or .bmp

I need a program to intercept print jobs from any driver on my system (not a single custom one) and store the contents of the print job as a .pdf, .png, or most likey .bmp. I'm faily fluent in C#, but all of the libraries and snippets that I've seen on the internet either,

A: Aren't implemented properly and don't work at all, or B: Their methods don't contain any data associated with the actual content of the print spool.

Is there any API or method that you know of that will give me access to all the outgoing print jobs (I can also loop through each driver individually) and their contents to be converted into a bitmap or pdf? If you know of any solutions in other languages, I can attempt to adapt them if need be. Thanks.

A: VeryUtils Print Job Capturer software will reach your requirements, you can use VeryUtils Print Job Capturer to intercept and capture print jobs from all installed Windows printers, convert captured print documents to PDF files, send them to a cloud server, then you can reuse these printed documents easily.

If you have any question for this software, please feel free to let us know, we are glad to hear from you.

[emofrommars]

Ever since I was little, I've always lived with a smidge of paranoia. Best described as the urge to run out of the basement after turning off the lights, but expanded to every possible dark crevice.

It kicks in after dark, as soon as I feel alone (i.e. when no one is in direct earshot). My entire subconscious just shifts into a mode that permanently anticipates a jumpscare. Can't have an open door leading to a room with no lights on, can't have an area hidden behind a corner that has not been checked. No window that isn't covered up in any way. After that it gets creative. Anticipating anything but my reflection after looking away from a mirror, blocking my view for a moment that's just long enough to make my spatial awareness feel stale, and so on.

It's become better with time, after maturing enough to have a brain that can actually reason with my subconscious, but it never fully went away. Luckily my voice of reason isn't just useful for the diplomatic solution, but also deconstructing the unnecessary system my subconscious came up with, and fighting against it on it's own terms.

Since all of the anticipated jumpscares follow horror movie rules, the #1 solution is breaking these fundamental rules: kill the mood. The jumpscares work because the mind can fill in the gaps with things written by esteemed horror writers. So supplementing something that a writer wouldn't logically put there kills the pattern. A writer can easily write a scene where you open the medicine cabinet, and upon closing it, the mirror reveals something standing behind you. But can they make that scene work while my phone is blaring Funkytown by Lipps Inc.?

Long story short, if you have no rational solution to an irrational problem, you sometimes just need to lean into something just enough to find an irrational solution that works.

[payidaresque]

Gifmaking/general photoshopping tips and tricks for beginners (and not)

Hi all! Before we start, I’d like to tell that I’m no expert in any way and everyone should work they way they are comfortable with, these are just some things that I’ve collected over the years to make my life a little easier. And hopefully, yours too. There’s no particular order. I’ll try to keep this nice and short. Let’s get down the rabbit hole, weee! WARNING: IMAGE/GIF /TEXT HEAVY!

Tip #1: Use cropping presets Instead of typing dimensions by hand, use cropping presets for quick access. To do that, chose the Crop Tool, type in your dimensions, then go down the dropdown menu on the left and chose New Crop Preset. Tada! You saved your settings for further use. Here are some of mine

Tip #2: If available, work with video timeline instead of frame animation I personally think that it’s much handy and saves you from a lot of unnecessary clicks, plus you can do a lot of effects (such as text animating etc) without too much trouble. It all comes down to personal preference tho, of course. Here's super useful in-depth tutorial on how to make gifs with video timeline

Tip #3: When working with colors (especially very vibrant ones), convert your document from 8 bit to 16 bit first I bet many of you come across this issue: when you work with colors and using brush tool, the visible stripes may appear and ruin your whole image/gif. Like this:

It’s called color banding. Ugly, right? Without too much of technical terms banding happens when an image loses its colors after being digitized (e.g. screencaps, or basically anything that was captured using any capable device). Bad news is that you can’t fully fix it because you can’t restore what’s been lost for good (here’s a great and detailed walk-down on what banding is and how to fix it). But what you can do, is make it less visible. To do that, open your document, and before doing anything with it, go to image > mode > 16 bit. (32 bit is more advanced, i never use it because 16 bit is quite enough for my work) It adds more color depth (or should i say imitates it) to the document, so now when you work on your gifs, the color stripes won’t be as harsh. Another way to fix color banding is to add noise manually. But I prefer to switch image modes because photoshop does a better job at adding more natural kind of noise and it’s barely visible to the eye

Tip #4 (requires video timeline): when slowing down gifs, change the amount of FPS Sometimes when you slow gifs down they may look kind of choppy. A quick way to fix that is go to your video timeline, click on the three lines button, chose Set Timeline Frame Rate and change the number in the pop-up window. The higher the number, the smoother it will be, but don’t overdo it. I personally go from 60 to 120 FPS and see what looks best for my case. Some times it's barely noticeble, some times it can make a huge difference

Tip #5 There’s no quick solution to anything Well it’s not exactly a tip, more of an advice actually. I know many of us want our work come to life as fast as possible, preferably, exactly in a way how it was in our mind. But for better or for worse, nothing in this like works like that. So when you make gifs, remember that there’s no «universal» psd coloring, sharpening, blend mode, texture, etc that works exactly the same in every case. Bc every scene is different, the lighting is different, the original color grading is different. As soon as you get used to that, it won’t be a problem anymore. So don’t get scared or discouraged when something doesn’t happen in a matter of «poof» — it’s completely normal. Don’t be too hard on yourself, don’t rush things, take your time and don’t try to be «like that person who’s gifs I like very much». It’s wonderful to get inspired, but try and discover your own tools and ways to work, something that will make your work unique and maybe even becomes sort of your personal signature. Most of the things I did came out of pure experiments i liked the end result of

Tip #6: Discover the power of blend modes and opacity Don’t be scared to play around with the layers you use, they don’t have to be untouched, on the contrary, they should be modified in ways to achieve interesting results. For example: original gif with only sharpening applied (16 bit mode)

Colored with a whole bunch of Gradient Maps on different blend modes and opacity settings (also 16 bit mode. Not my best work but it pretty much illustrates the point)

Tip #7: Uncheck the «Delete cropped pixels» option in Crop Tool Sometimes when you do gifs, you often find yourself wanting to reposition them because you feel they’re not quite in the right place, but this happens It’s because this option is checked and Photoshop deletes everything what’s outside of canvas once applied. When it’s unchecked, it just hides those pixels away, so you can freely move your image around whenever you want (not the best example but you get the idea)

Tip #8: Use text boxes instead of individual text layers That’s pretty self-explanatory. It looks much, much better. Take your Text Tool, drag it across the document to create a box, then paste/type your text and you’re done! Here's a great and detailed guide on subtittles.

And that's about it folks! Have fun being creative :) And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop 'em in my askbox.

[btsqualityy]

Magnolias in Springtime

Namjoon x Reader

Genre: Arranged marriage!AU, ABO (Alpha/Beta/Omega) dynamics, fluff, smut, and just a smidge of angst 

Warnings: Talks of arranged marriages, brief mention of polygamy (nothing comes of it, promise lol), oral sex, fingering, unprotected sex, knotting 

Author’s Note: This fic is based on a prompt from the Spring Fest “Spring Will Come Again” hosted by @bangtanarmynet​! I really hope you guys enjoy it! P.S: There will also be a part two to this fic so stayed tuned for that!

Prompt: While their parents discuss behind closed doors the terms of their arranged marriage to each other, they meet in the blooming garden to go over their own conditions.

Your pack was your entire life.

Growing up as what some of the elders in your pack referred to as the spoiled only child of the Pack Alpha and the Pack Omega, you were doted on by everyone. As a child, you marveled at the Alphas when they brought back the animals that they had haunted for the pack’s dinner and now as an adult, you were having Alphas dedicate those kills to you as a sign of intention to marriage. 

As a child, you tried to take notes on how the Betas seemed to be able to de-escalate any and all types of conflict, always seeming to have a solution that would placate everyone. Now that you were an adult, you found yourself going to those same Betas whenever you had conflicts with your parents or your best friends, because you knew that they would understand you. 

As a child, you thought that it was the coolest thing when you watched the Omegas essentially hold the pack together. They were the ones who gave birth, they were the ones who mostly took on child rearing and cooking (even though the Alphas and Betas in your pack always helped out as well), and they were always there when you happened to skin your knee as a child or just needed comfort. Once you became an adult and presented, you found yourself gravitating more towards the Omegas as you were also one now, and they took you under their wings as you learned just what it really meant to be an Omega. 

So in short, you loved your pack and you were extremely grateful for everything that they had taught you. Oddly enough, that gratefulness is exactly how you ended up in this situation. 

“We really appreciate the fact that you’re doing this for us Y/N,” your Alpha father, Byung-hoon told you as he, you, and your mother Deiji waited on the edge of the Kim Pack’s territory. 

“I told you that it’s fine Daddy,” you muttered, bouncing yourself up and down on the tips of your toes.

“Taking on this huge responsibility for our pack isn’t fine, but we’re grateful that you’re willing to do it,” Deiji said. Instead of answering her though, you decided to change the subject.

“Their territory really is beautiful,” you pointed out as you looked around, seeing multiple bushes of plum blossoms and azaleas. “At least I’ll have something pretty to look forward to once I move here.”

“That you will,” a deep voice added and when you turned around, you saw a large, muscular man walking towards you and following behind him was an almost equally tall woman who was easily one of the most beautiful women you had ever seen in your life. 

“Ah, hello Pack Alpha Ho-jin,” your father bowed and you and your mother followed his lead, holding the bow for a few seconds before straightening up again. 

“Hello Pack Alpha Byung-hoon,” Ho-jin replied as he and the woman bowed as well. “This is my wife, Pack Omega Eun Kyung.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Eun Kyung smiled. 

“This is my wife, Pack Omega Deiji and this is our daughter, Y/N,” Byung-hoon introduced.

“Hello,” Deiji smiled.

“Hello,” you echoed, even though your smile was a bit more forced than your mother’s.

“Oh, you are absolutely gorgeous,” Eun Kyung gushed as she stepped forward, reaching out and grabbing your hands. “Our son is a lucky man.”

“I’m sure that I am lucky as well, Pack Omega,” you replied.

“Please, call me Eun Kyung,” she corrected you. “I am going to be your mother-in-law soon.”

“Speaking of, where is Namjoon?” Your father wondered.

“He went off hunting with some of the other Alphas and Betas in our pack,” Ho-jin explained. “We plan on having a very big feast in order to celebrate their impending nuptials and he decided to go and try to find some extra meat.”

“Yeah, or to avoid meeting the wife that he doesn’t want,” you thought to yourself.

“He sounds like he’ll be an amazing provider and Alpha,” your mother smiled.

“Well, why don’t we all go into my office so that we can go over the terms and conditions of their marriage?” Ho-jin suggested before turning to look at you. “Y/N-ah, feel free to look around our territory and get a feel of the place. This will be your home soon, after all.”

“Of course,” you nodded. “Thank you.” After receiving a kiss on your head from your father and a pat on the hand from your mother, you watched silently as the four of them walk away together. As soon as they were out of sight, you let out a large rush of breath that you didn’t even realize you were holding. Even though you weren’t completely excited about this arrangement, your inner Omega wanted the parents of your future husband to like you and after meeting them, you were happy that you could seemingly not have that to worry about. 

Deciding to take your future father-in-law’s advice, you walked away from the front of their territory and ventured around. You were amazed at how vast their territory seemed to be in comparison to your pack’s, large buildings and houses searching as far as your eyes could see. As you walked, you took notice of what seemed to be a schoolhouse, a building that seemed to be a sort of meeting hall, and even a building that looked like a store front with mannequins in the window.

The thing that caught your attention though, was a large archway that was covered in gorgeous magnolia flowers. When you stepped over to it, you gasped at what laid behind it: A large wall full of nothing but magnolias stood a few feet beyond the arch, a small bench placed in front of it. 

“Gorgeous,” you whispered in awe as you stepped over to the wall, reaching out and gently touching the flowers. 

“Who are you?” A deep voice called out and you jumped up a little, your heart almost beating out of your chest as you turned around to find the source of the voice. Standing right underneath the archway, was a tall, tan skinned man whose presence seemed to command attention. 

“I-I’m Y/N L/N,” you replied, still feeling a little hesitant and the man’s eyes widened. 

“You’re Y/N?” He wondered and you nodded your head. “Well, you’re a lot prettier than I thought you’d be.”

“I’m sorry, who are you?” You questioned. 

“I’m Kim Namjoon,” he said, smiling at the soft gasp that escaped you. “Your future husband.”

“Oh,” was all you could utter in response because holy shit, your future husband was hot.

“Where are your parents?” Namjoon asked as he stepped closer to you. “I assume that you didn’t come here alone.”

“Um, they’re talking to your parents about the ‘terms and conditions’ of our marriage,” you told him and he scoffed out a laugh.

“Of course they are,” he chuckled as he took a seat on the small bench. “Well, I think that while they’re doing that, you and I should probably go over our own terms and conditions.”

“Our own?” You echoed as you sat down on the bench as well.

“Seeing as though we’re both fundamentally being forced into this, I figure that there’s things that you don’t want and that you do want,” he said. 

“That’s..true, I guess,” you nodded. “You go first.”

“Well, seeing as though you weren’t raised in this pack, I’d like for you to learn the ways of the pack and just be a proper wife,” he began.

“I’ve been learning about your pack since the discussions of a possible arrangement started,” you told him. “I have to wonder though, what exactly is your definition of a ‘proper’ wife.”

“Basically, just keeping house, cooking and cleaning,” he elaborated. “As my father plans to step down once we’re married, I’ll be too busy running the pack.”

“Well, sorry to burst your bubble but I wasn’t raised to be a docile Omega and I don’t plan on becoming one once we’re married,” you huffed.

“Why not? I mean, surely you don’t expect to run the pack with me?” He laughed.

“Actually, that’s exactly what I expect,” you smiled. 

“How can you expect to lead this pack when they don’t know you?” He asked.

“Since I’m going to be here for the rest of my life, then they’ll have every opportunity to get to know me,” you shrugged. 

“We’ll talk more about that one later,” Namjoon sighed. “Anything that you wanted specifically?”

“I know that your pack is going to be providing aid to mines once we’re married and as much as I plan on being involved in this pack, I also hope that you don't expect me to never see my pack again,” you said. 

“That’s the custom when you marry into another pack though,” Namjoon pointed out. “Plus, no offense or anything, but your pack is broke in terms of both money and resources and I don’t imagine there to be much to even go back to.”

“I am my parent’s only child and my pack is very close knit so I’d love to still be able to see them and for them to come see me,” you continued. “At least three or four times a year.”

“Alright, I guess that’s reasonable,” he relented. “Especially under these circumstances.”

“Thank you,” you smiled. 

“Oh, another thing,” he said suddenly. “I know that this marriage isn’t exactly something that either of us want but you cannot have any...uh, lovers on the side.”

“I’d never do something like that,” you frowned. “But I hope you know that the same goes for you.”

“That’s fine,” Namjoon nodded. “It’s not my style anyways.”

“In addition to that, I read your pack’s history and the whole taking more than one Omega as a wife thing isn’t going to fly with me,” you stated firmly.

“It’s tradition though,” he shot back. “Every leader of this pack throughout its’ history has had more than one spouse.”

“Your father doesn’t,” you pointed out. 

“Because he didn’t want one.”

“And you do?” You demanded to know and Namjoon just chuckled.

“You really meant that whole not a docile Omega thing, huh?” He wondered and you nodded while smirking. 

“You’re going to be Pack Alpha,” you said. “You have the authority to change tradition.”

“Fine, no additional Omegas,” he agreed. “I hope that means you’re going to be willing to have lots of pups then, since that’s what the whole multiple Omegas rule was for.”

“How many?” 

“At least 5,” he replied and you just laughed.

“5 is a pretty big number coming from a man who’s not going to be pushing them out,” you giggled. “Two, at most.”

“Three?” Namjoon bargained and after thinking for a few seconds, you nodded your head. 

“Deal,” you answered. “Anything else?”

“Just one more,” he added. “No roses at our wedding.”

“What? Why?”

“They’re overrated and cliché,” he shrugged. 

“What about magnolias?” You asked. “Those are my favorites.”

“I like those,” he smiled.

“Well, it’s settled then,” you announced. “No roses.”

“You know, this marriage thing is easier than I thought,” Namjoon said thoughtfully, making you giggle at him. “Do you have anything else you wanted to bring up?”

“Nope,” you shook your head. “I’m good.”

“Shake on it?” He extended his hand out to you and you let him grab onto yours, shaking each other’s hands. 

“Namjoon?” A deep voice called out and Namjoon sighed heavily. 

“That’s my dad,” Namjoon told you. “Should we head out there?”

“Yeah,” you nodded, standing up and waiting for Namjoon to do the same before the two of you walked back towards the front of their territory. As you did so, you couldn’t help but to Namjoon hadn’t let go of your hand the entire time.

“Ah, I see that the two of you met and are getting along!” Ho-jin announced happily.

“I’d say that we are,” Namjoon nodded as he looked down at you, and you nodded as well. 

“Well, why don’t we all move into our house?” Eun Kyung suggested. “We can have dinner and get to each other more.” After receiving nods all around, the group of you began to move towards the large cluster of houses that were a few yards away from where you were currently standing. As you let Namjoon lead you, you thought that maybe all of this actually wouldn’t be so bad. 

..........................................

A few days later, your time visiting Namjoon’s pack was winding down. After the first day, your father had happily told you that the negotiations between him and Namjoon’s father went off without a hitch and that the wedding could move forward immediately so the last few days of your visit had been spent planning your wedding.

“So maybe you and Namjoon can have your ceremony closer to the evening?” Eun Kyung suggested. “So that way we can move right into the reception afterwards.” You, her and your mom were currently in the dining room of Ho-jin and Eun Kyung’s house, going over some wedding details.

“That’s a good idea,” Deiji concurred. 

“Yeah,” you agreed. “Having the ceremony around 5pm sounds good.”

“Great,” Eun Kyung smiled as she wrote some things down onto the notepad that was on the table in front of her. “A later ceremony will hopefully ease some of the anxiety you’ll have that day.”

“Anxiety?” You asked.

“About your wedding night,” Eun Kyung clarified and your eyes widened. “When Ho-jin and I got married, we had our ceremony in the early afternoon and I was so nervous waiting for the reception to come because I knew what was going to happen afterwards and I had never been to bed with anyone before.”

“Oh,” you murmured. Of course, you knew that it was expected that you’d have sex with Namjoon on your wedding night and if it were up to your parents and Namjoon’s parents, get pregnant immediately but you had done your best not to actually think about it.

“Anyways, I think maybe roses for the flowers,” Deiji changed the subject and you gave her a small smile in thanks. 

“Oh, that would be gorgeous,” Eun Kyung gasped. “Namjoon’s grandmother actually has a garden full of red roses and I’m sure that she won’t mind us using some.”

“Actually, no roses,” you spoke up and both older women looked at you.

“I thought you liked roses, Y/N-ah,” Deiji said.

“I do, but Namjoon doesn’t,” you explained. “We agreed on magnolias instead.”

“You both agreed?” Deiji repeated and you nodded your head, making her smile. “That’s great.”

“You know, it’s so nice to see you actually trying to make the best of this whole thing Y/N,” Eun Kyung said. “I know it’s not ideal and you could be fighting this tooth and nail but the fact that you’re not says a lot about your character.”

“Thank you,” you smiled lightly. 

“Alright, magnolias it is,” Eun Kyung muttered as she wrote that down onto her notepad as well. Before the conversation could continue any further though, there was a sudden knock and when you looked up, you saw Namjoon standing in the door way to the dining room. 

“Hey, you all back from hunting so soon?” Eun Kyung wondered, referring to how Ho-jin, Namjoon, and Byung-hoon had decided to go off and hunt right after lunch. 

“Animals weren’t really out,” Namjoon shrugged. “Dad wanted to show Pack Alpha Byung-hoon our warehouse and I decided to come back here to spend time with Y/N.”

“With me?” You echoed in awe and Namjoon nodded.

“I wanted to show you around a little more, if you’re willing,” he offered. Before answering, you looked over at your mother who immediately waved her hands at you.

“Go, go,” she encouraged you. “We’re here for another two days so we can pick this up again later. Right, Eun Kyung?”

“Absolutely,” she agreed, turning to look at Namjoon after. “Show her the river.”

“I got it Mom,” Namjoon chuckled. “Y/N?”

“Sure,” you replied before standing up, walking over to Namjoon and grabbing his outstretched hand. 

“We’ll be back by dinner,” he called out to your mothers before turning around and leading you through the living room and out of the house. 

“Thanks for getting me out of there,” you said as the two of you walked down the front steps and began to walk away from the cluster of houses. “All that wedding planning was starting to get to my head.”

“I figured, which is why I got out of there right after lunch,” Namjoon laughed. “But I also genuinely wanted to spend some time with you too. It feels like I haven’t had a moment alone with you since the first day you got here.”

“I think our families are making sure of that,” you pointed out. “I think they’re afraid that we may realize that we hate each other if they leave us alone together for too long.”

“I think that’s actually a great assumption,” he chuckled. “They don’t have to worry about that though, at least not on my end.”

“Mines either,” you murmured shyly. “So, where are you taking me?”

“Well, even though my mom suggested that I take you to the river, I think that there’ll be plenty of time for you to see that later,” he told you. “I actually want to show you something that I’ve been working on.”

“Cool,” you nodded as the two of you continued to walk and you noticed that he was still holding onto your hand. On their territory, there were a few different clusters of houses and Namjoon was leading you over to a different one, stopping in front of what seemed to be the largest house. 

“What do you think?” Namjoon asked and you took a second to look over the outside, liking how it was painted a light brown color, had a large porch that already had a swing attached to the ceiling of it, and a large set of stairs. 

“I think it’s beautiful,” you smiled. “You built this?”

“Yeah, for us,” he revealed and you looked over at him in shock. “What? I hope you didn’t think we’d be living with my parents once the wedding is over.”

“Namjoon, I don’t even know what to say,” you murmured in awe.

“Want to take a look inside?” Namjoon wondered, reaching down and pulling a set of keys out of his pocket. You nodded your head rapidly and he chuckled before leading you up the stairs and unlocking the front door. Walking inside, you let out another soft gasp as you looked around. 

As soon as you walked into the front door, there was a little open space which could be used to place your shoes and jackets and then a staircase that led upstairs to the second level of the house. On your left hand side, there was an archway that lead into the dining room and kitchen and then on your right hand side, there was another archway that lead into the living room and another room that Namjoon said he planned on converting into a study. Once you went upstairs, you saw that there were a total of five bedrooms and the master bedroom was the largest and complete with an en suite as well. 

“I love it,” you gushed as you turned to look at Namjoon, who was leaning up against one of the walls in what would soon be your shared bedroom. 

“I thought I’d leave the decorating up to you,” he said. “That way you’ll have control over something here.”

“Good, because I already have ideas,” you grinned, deciding to throw caution to the wind and walking over to him, not waiting for him to ask what you were doing before throwing your arms around him. He hesitated for a second before hugging you back as well, and the two of you stood there for a few seconds with your arms around each other. 

“I’m happy that you like it,” he whispered and you craned your neck in order to look up at him. 

“I really appreciate it,” you told him.

“Anything for my future wife,” he smiled and it was when he said that that you realized how close the two of you still were. You dropped your arms from around him and stepped back, forcing him to let go of you as well. Feeling your cheeks warm up from embarrassment, you turned your back towards him and walked over towards the window to look outside.

“You know Y/N, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Namjoon began. “Why did you agree to all of this?”

“What, marrying you?” You asked for clarification and Namjoon nodded.

“I mean, I know the basic reason why but I feel like there’s more to it than that,” he said. “A lot of packs run out of money and resources at some point but their leaders usually figure something out instead of marrying off their children in return for more resources.”

“True,” you sighed before turning to look at him over your shoulder. “Long story short, I don’t want my pack to die out just because of my father’s mismanagement. I love every member of my pack and they have all been so vital to how I grew up and how I’ve become the person that I am. If me marrying into another pack will guarantee that those people can continue to live comfortably, then I’ll do it.”

“That’s incredibly selfless,” Namjoon replied as he walked over to stand next to you. 

“I guess so,” you shrugged. “But to me, I’m just repaying the people who gave me so much.”

“That’s amazing Y/N,” he muttered. 

“What about you?” You reversed the question. “Why did you agree to this?”

“Well, my reasoning was a lot more selfish than yours,” he chuckled. “It’s always been my dream to lead the pack and when my father came to me a few months ago saying that he was getting ready to want to step down, I was super excited. However, it concerned him that I’m 26 and not mated to anyone yet so he made it a stipulation that I meet someone and get mated before he allows me to take over for him. Since I planned on getting married at some point in my life, that stipulation really didn’t matter to me so I agreed.”

“Ah, I guess that explains why you weren’t too keen on me wanting to run the pack with you,” you said.

“Kind of,” he shrugged. “Although, after hearing why you agreed to all of this, I have to admit that I’m reconsidering that.”

“Really?” You smiled hopefully. 

“Of course, you’ll still have to get to know the pack and our ways,” he pointed out. “But I don’t think it would be the worst thing to have you by my side.”

“Great!” You exclaimed happily and Namjoon couldn’t help but to laugh from how excited you clearly were. 

“Do you want to go look in the other bedrooms?” He suggested. “Maybe see what you might want to do with them?” 

“Mm, we don’t have to. I don’t want to overwhelm myself,” you giggled. “Why did you make so many bedrooms anyways?”

“Well, for our future children,” he confessed and you felt your cheeks immediately become hotter. 

“Oh,” you whispered. 

“Is that ok?” Namjoon wondered. “I know it might’ve been a little presumptuous of me, especially since I did it before we had our conversation about what we both wanted the other day.”

“No, no, no, it’s....it’s fine,” you shrugged. 

“Oh, I get it,” he smirked. “You haven’t been with anyone, have you?”

“Namjoon!” You shouted in surprise.

“You’re nervous,” he surmised. 

“Can you blame me?” You scoffed. “I mean, it’s already embarrassing to have basically everyone know that I’m a virgin but knowing what’s expected of us on our wedding night....it’s nerve wrecking.”

“It’s not that big of a deal Y/N,” he shrugged. 

“Aren’t you nervous?” You asked him, only to see him shake his head. “Why not?”

“Because I’ve thought about filling you with my knot since the first day that I saw you,” Namjoon confessed. “So if you let me have sex with you on our wedding night, I’d consider myself to be a very lucky man.”

“Really?” You whispered.

“Of course, but I’m not going to push you,” he told you. “If you deicide that you don’t want to, then that’s completely fine. If you do though, just know that I’ll be more willing.”

“Good to know, I guess,” you muttered, more so to yourself but Namjoon still laughed at you. 

“Cute,” he smiled widely as he reached down and grabbed your hand, intertwining your fingers with his.

..........................................

A month later, your wedding day had finally come. After spending a week in Namjoon’s territory, you and your parents had traveled back to your pack’s territory where you prepared for the wedding alone. The only other time that you were able to see Namjoon had been when he and his parents decided to visit your territory in order to sign the treaty that would make the connection between your two packs official. 

Fast forward to now, you were standing in the guest bedroom of Namjoon’s parents’ house, getting ready with your mom and your two best friends. 

“I really wish you would’ve let me make you a more form fitting dress Y/N-ah,” Taehyung sighed as he pullzed up the zipper on the back of your dress. Your dress was pure white, with long billowing sleeves, a scooped neckline, and a loose, long skirt with a small train. 

“You know that I hate tight clothing,” you pointed out. “This feels more like me.”

“And you look beautiful,” Jimin spoke up, taking a second to stick his tongue out at Taehyung.

“That you do,” Deiji grinned widely as she placed a crown of magnolias on top of your head. “You look like a dream.”

“Thanks Mommy,” you giggled. Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door. 

“Everyone decent in there?” Your father called out and Jimin walked over to the door and opened it up, making your father gasp when he saw you. 

“Oh Y/N-ah,” he murmured as he paced over to you, setting his hands on your cheeks. “My baby girl.”

“What do you think?” You asked him. 

“I think that Namjoon is a very lucky man to be marrying such a gorgeous woman,” Byung hoon replied, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to your cheek. “You ready? There’s still time to back out and we can always figure something else out.”

“I’m not gonna do that Daddy,” you huffed with a smile, reaching out and taking the bouquet of magnolias that Taehyung was handing to you. “I’m gonna do this.”

“We can’t thank you enough,” your father murmured and you just leaned forward, giving him a kiss on the cheek as well. 

“What’s done is done,” you said. “So don’t stress about it.”

“Well, let’s go get you married,” Taehyung smiled as he reached up and pulled your veil down over your face.

“Let’s,” you whispered as you wrapped your hand around your father’s arm and let him lead you out of the bedroom. 

The ceremony was an unrushed affair once you met Namjoon underneath the little archway that had been placed near the large wall of magnolias where the two of you had first met. You found yourself not even paying much attention to what was happening during the ceremony and before you knew it, you were facing Namjoon as the preacher pronounced you man and wife.

It wasn’t the first time that you’d ever been kissed, but it still felt different all the same. Namjoon was so gentle as he reached out and grabbed the hem of your veil, lifting it up and over your head to reveal your face. He then placed his hands on your cheeks, cradling them as he leaned forward and kissed you softly. You found yourself kissing back on instinct, your hands reaching out and grabbing onto his suit jacket. 

The reception was definitely more fun than you imagined it to be. The food was amazing and so was the music, and you couldn’t help but to smile at how everyone in your new pack danced around happily as they celebrated your marriage. You found yourself having fun as well as you allowed Eun Kyung and Ho-jin to lead you around, introducing you to some members of the pack as well as spending time with your own family and friends as well.

Now that the night was over though, you were quietly walking back to your new house with Namjoon, which had been decorated to your liking. 

“Did you have fun?” Namjoon asked and you looked over at him, nodding your head.

“I did,” you smiled. “Your pack sure knows how to throw a party.”

“It’s your pack now too,” he pointed out and you hummed in reply. Once your new house came into view, Namjoon helped you walk up the front steps before pulling out his keys and unlocking the front door. 

“Wait,” he said when you moved to step into the house and before you could ask what he was doing, he leant down and picked you up bridal style.

“Namjoon!” You shrieked as he carried you into the house and you reached out to shut the front door for him. He then carried you up the stairs and into your bedroom before setting you down on the ground.

“What was that?” You giggled as you looked up at him.

“Well, I couldn’t let you be deprived of a prime wedding experience,” he shrugged, making you smile. A somewhat awkward silence then settled over the two of you then and it wasn’t until then that you felt your nerves kick in. You had been successful in not thinking much about your wedding night for the past few weeks but now that the two of you were alone, it was all that you could think about. 

“You know,” Namjoon spoke up suddenly. “We don’t have to do anything tonight.”

“Namjoon, we talked about this,” you replied.

“We did and I meant what I said then,” he said. “We don’t have to do anything just because people might expect us to.”

“Really?”

“Really. Plus, it’s kind of insulting if you only have sex with me because you’re expected to,” he joked, making you giggle.

“You have a point,” you smiled. “What if I said that I wanted to though, because I want to?”

“Do you remember what else I said to you when we had that conversation?” He wondered and you felt your cheeks warm up immensely as you recalled his words. 

“Yes.”

“What did I say baby?” 

“You said that you, uh, wanted to....uh,” you stammered and Namjoon smiled, deciding to take pity on you.

“I said that I wanted to fill you with my knot,” he finished for you. “And I still mean that.”

“You’ll be gentle?” You checked.

“Absolutely,” he stated firmly. “And I’ll go as slow as you need me to.” You knew that this was a big step, losing your virginity. However, something about Namjoon made you feel so at ease and besides, he was your husband now.

“I want to,” you announced, causing him to grin widely.

“Can I kiss you?” He requested and you nodded your head. He reached up and placed his hands on your cheeks before leaning down and pressing his lips against yours. You immediately moved closer to him, placing your hands near his waist. He then took one of his hands off of your cheek and before you could ask what he was doing, he reached up and took the crown of magnolias off your head before throwing it over his shoulder.

“Someone seems eager,” you teased.

“You have no idea,” Namjoon chuckled deeply. He kissed you again, this time much deeper as he walked you backwards towards the bed. Once you felt the edge of the bed hit the back of your knees, you pulled away from his lips and looked up at him. 

“Help me take this off?” You whispered, taking a second to turn around so that your back was facing him. Without any hesitation, he reached out and pulled down the zipper on the back of your dress. The feeling of his fingertips against your skin made you shiver and when your dress dropped down to the floor in a pool around your feet, the feeling of his eyes on you made you get chills. 

“Did you wear this for me?” Namjoon asked before leaning forward and pressing kisses along the curve of your shoulder, referring to the white, lace bra and panty set that you had been wearing underneath your dress. 

“Maybe,” you breathed out, his lips on your skin making it hard for you to focus. 

“Gorgeous. Lay down for me?” He said and you nodded before bending down and crawling onto the bed. When you flipped over to lie on your back, Namjoon was working on taking off his suit jacket and unbuttoning the white dress shirt that he had underneath.

“You still ok?” He checked in as he climbed onto the bed as well and you smiled as you reached up and wrapped your arms around his neck. 

“I’m ok,” you confirmed, leaning up and kissing him again. The kiss quickly became heated, your mouth falling open as Namjoon slipped his tongue inside. He then pulled away from your mouth, moving down to press kisses to your jaw before moving down to your neck. 

“Been thinking about this, about you,” he whispered against your skin and you just blushed as you looked up at the ceiling.

“About me?” 

“Mmhmm,” he hummed. “Been thinking about your scent too.”

“What do I smell like to you?” You wondered, doing your best to keep your eyes trained on the ceiling as you felt him start to move down again. 

“Like...pineapples and bananas,” he murmured as he grabbed the cups of your bra, pulling them down so that they sat right underneath your breasts. He then leaned down and sucked your right nipple into his mouth, making you arch your back up from the bed.

“Holy, huh,” you moaned and Namjoon chuckled at you, which automatically made you pout. “Don’t laugh at me.”

“I’m sorry,” he apologized after popping your nipple out of his mouth. “You’re just so cute.” You couldn’t find the words to say anything else because Namjoon reached underneath you and you lifted your back up so that he could take your bra off completely, and he didn’t waste any time before taking your left nipple into his mouth. 

Once both of your nipples had stiffened to a peak, he moved downwards again, trailing his lips across your skin until he made it down to the line of your panties. 

“Lift up for me?” Namjoon asked and slowly, you lifted your hips and waited until he had grabbed the waistband of your panties and pulled them down before lowering your body back onto the bed. Once he pulled them off of your legs and threw them off the bed, you watched as he sat his hands on your knees and looked down at you. 

“Still good?” He wondered.

“Seriously, stop asking,” you giggled. “I’m nervous as hell but I want to do this so I’m good.”

“I just, you know you can tell me to stop at anytime and I will, right?” 

“I know, and that’s why I want this,” you smiled. “Want you to give me a bite.”

“Fuck, ok,” he exhaled harshly. “I want to eat you out first though.”

“Ok,” you nodded and you allowed him to push your knees apart, exposing your folds to him. He laid down on the bed so that he was right in between your legs, and you let out a loud gasp when you felt his tongue make contact with your clit. He used the tip of his tongue to make slow circles around your clit and even though he wasn’t placing a lot of pressure behind it, you felt like you were going to lose your mind.

“Holy shit, that feels...good,” you huffed and you felt Namjoon hum against you as he closed his entire mouth around your clit. The feeling was almost euphoric, and you couldn’t believe that you had been missing out on this for the last few years since you presented as an Omega.

“I’m gonna give you a finger ok?” Namjoon spoke up after taking his mouth off of you and you nodded, wincing lightly when he began to push his pointer finger inside of you. He then began to slowly pump the digit in and out of you, which made you moan lightly. 

“Feels good?” He asked. 

“Yeah. Weird but good,” you told him. 

“Good,” he smirked. “You’re getting wet.”

“Don’t say that,” you groaned. 

“Why not? It’s a good thing,” he shrugged. “It’ll make it easier for you to take my knot.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“Good thing you’re stuck with me,” he smiled before leaning down and taking your clit back into his mouth. As he fingered and licked you simultaneously, you found it a little harder to breathe because of the pleasure that was building in the pit of your stomach. 

“Wait, wait, wait, wait,” you hissed when he tried to ease his middle finger inside of you. 

“It’s ok baby, we just gotta get you stretched out a little bit,” he whispered and you just decided to be quiet and let him do it. Admittedly, you admired how much time he was taking making sure that you were properly ready and it made your heart soften because you had never had a man (other than your father) be so gentle with you. 

“Namjoon, I-I think I’m going to come,” you whimpered and Namjoon took his mouth off of your clit for a few seconds. 

“Go ahead baby,” he encouraged you before placing his mouth back on you. Sure enough, it didn’t take much longer before your body seized up, your orgasm washing over you. Namjoon continued to stroke you through it and by the time that it passed, you were reaching down and pushing him away from you. 

“Holy shit, that felt good,” you giggled, making Namjoon laugh as well. 

“That’s good,” He replied as he sat up onto his knees. When your eyes trailed downwards, they widened a little at the sight of the bulge in his pants.

“Should I, um,” you stammered as you motioned towards his pants and he looked down, chuckling before looking back up at you. 

“You don’t have to and besides, seeing you come turned me on and I doubt I’d last,” he admitted.

“Oh, ok,” you smiled shyly. He then pulled off the dress shirt that he had on, letting it fall onto the floor before moving onto his slacks, unbuttoning and unzipping them before pulling them down. He pushed them, along with his underwear, down his legs and your jaw dropped a little from the sight of his cock.

You didn’t know what you expected, but you definitely didn’t expect his cock to be so thick and long. You had to admit, actually seeing it made you even more nervous.

“Hey,” Namjoon called out and you looked up at him. “It’ll be ok. I’m still going to go slow.”

“O-Ok,” you whispered as he climbed between your legs. He reached out with two fingers and gathered some of your slickness from your orgasm before using it to lubricate his cock. 

“Ready?” He questioned as he positioned his cock right in front of your entrance and once you nodded, he slowly began to push into you. The stinging pain hit you immediately and you yelped out loud, reaching up and clutching onto Namjoon’s forearms. “Y/N?”

“Hurts,” you muttered through grit teeth.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, bending down and pressing a kiss to your forehead. He didn’t try to push any further, he waited until you gave him a small nod before pressing his hips forward again. You were almost ready to tell him to forget the entire thing as the stinging pain seemed to become worse the more he pushed into you. Before you knew it though, he had bottomed out and was looking down at you intensely.

“What?” You asked him.

“You just, you look so beautiful,” he complimented you.

“Are you just saying that because you’re inside of me right now?” You joked.

“I mean it,” he laughed. 

“Well, thank you,” you responded and he leaned down to kiss you again. He then slowly pulled his hips back before pushing back in, which caused you to let out a stuttered moan into his mouth. The pain was still thee but as he began to fuck you, it slowly went away and was replaced by what was probably the greatest pleasure that you had ever felt in your life up to that point. 

“So tight baby,” Namjoon grunted after he pulled away from the kiss. 

“F-feels so full,” you whimpered. 

“Good. I’m gonna fill you even more with my knot,” he said gruffly as he looked down at you. “You want that?”

“Yes.”

“Say it,” he instructed you.

“I-I want your.....k-knot,” you stuttered and he literally groaned at your words. He began to fuck you a little faster, making you grip onto him and wrap your legs around his waist.

“Been thinking about this,” he moaned. “Been thinking about how good you would feel wrapped around my cock.”

“Me t-too,” you confessed. 

“Fuck, you’ve been thinking about me baby?” 

“Yeah,” you nodded. “Since you told me that you wanted to...fill me with your, uh, knot. Thought about you calling me baby too.”

“You like it?” He smiled.

“Love it.”

“Then I’ll call you that as often as I can,” he promised. He continued to fuck you, and you realized that you were feeling the same buildup of pressure that you did when he was fingering you. 

“I-I’m gonna come Namjoon,” you announced breathily and he sighed.

“Thank god,” he huffed as he began to thrust into you both faster and harder, and your grip on him became so tight that you were sure you’d leave marks on his skin. “I wanna knot you so fucking bad.”

“Do it,” you encouraged him. “Want you to bite me too.”

“Come first,” he shot back as he focused all of his energy into making sure that you did so. After a few more thrusts, you were coming right onto his cock, your essence covering more of his cock every time that he pulled it out and then pushed it right back in. 

“Ready for a bite?” He asked and you nodded your head numbly. Leaning down, he stuck his face in your neck and began to suck on the skin there. As soon as you released a moan at the feeling, you felt his teeth sink in. 

You had heard a lot about mating bites and how it would feel when you finally received one, but you could truthfully say that the feeling was indescribable. You truly felt like you were now connected to Namjoon in a way that you had never been connected with any one before and the feeling was almost so overwhelming that you almost didn’t recognize that Namjoon’s knot was pushing its’ way inside of you.

“God damn,” Namjoon groaned deeply as his knot fully popped into you, and you gasped when you felt his cum pouring into you right after. You leaned up and after finding the perfect spot, you sunk your teeth into his neck as well, giving him a mating bite too. 

Namjoon collapsed on top of you and the two of you stayed like that for a while, at least 15 minutes, basking in the after glow of your new matching mating bites. 

“No offense or anything,” you spoke up. “But you’re heavy and it’s hot in here.”

“Some offense taken,” he laughed as he lifted himself off of you. “My knot has gone down but it’s gonna hurt when I pull out.”

“Go slow, ok?” You requested and he nodded, looking down in between your legs and slowly pulling out of you. It did hurt a little and you even winced a little bit, but it wasn’t that bad all in all. 

“Y/N-ah?” He called as he laid down next to you and you gently turned over onto your side to face him.

“What happened to baby?” You simpered with a teasing smile, making him chuckle. 

“I’m still gonna call you that,” he assured you. “But I wanted to talk to you seriously.”

“Ok, shoot,” you shrugged. 

“I know that you didn’t necessarily choose all of this and neither did I, but I don’t want you to worry,” he began. “I take this marriage and this relationship just as seriously as if we met in the conventional sense and I really mean it when I say that I can see myself falling in love with you.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he smiled. “Even though we haven’t known each other long, I can already tell that you’re kind, selfless, loving, and the most gorgeous woman that I’ve ever met in my life. I’d only be so lucky if you fell in love with me.”

“Well, I think that I can fall in love with you too,” you confessed, making him grin widely. “And I hope that I do.”

[theodora3022]

"Friend"(Yandere! Kazuha)

Genre: Dark fic

Summary: You trusted him, thought of him as a reliable friend. But it is too late to relise your mistake. Jealousy is a deadly poison indeed.

A/N: Wohoo it is finally here! I just got out of my writer’s block. To celebrate him coming home I am writing some short drabbles. There is more to come in the future, so stayed tuned if that interests you!

Content warning: Possessive and obsessive behaviours, drugging mention, implied female reader(no pronouns) General Yandere content, not proof-read or edited

Word count: roughly 1k

“This hurts me way more than it hurts you.”

The silver moonlight that flows from a narrow window compliments his light-coloured hair nicely, but you could not care less about his looks at this moment. Letting out a quiet sigh, the foreigner started to toy with a chain of keys.

The keys that could unlock the cuffs on your wrists.

“Ironic for you to say that when I’m the one being restrained.” Refusing to meet his eyes, you turned to the wall. Your parents were right, you are indeed too foolish, too naïve to take over the family business.

Kazuha knows you are upset, and you have every right to be. Anyone would feel horrible after someone abuses their trust.

Not to mention said person even locked you up in chains. He knows this is wrong, he does feel remorseful. But he simply cannot just let things carry on the way it was. The samurai has to do something, even if that means being questioned by his morals in his dreams.

The young man still remembered the day he first saw you; it feels as new as yesterday.

The Crux is currently restocking their pantry while Beidou is on business in Liyue, and you are here to discuss the prices of a couple of essentials.

Fair prices, polite tone, even greeted him with a smile when you noticed his curious gaze.

Which is something merchants seldom do.

So when the first mate assigned him with the task of managing the transportation from your shop, Kazuha was looking forward to carrying out his duties.

Even his once-noble family has fallen into obscurity, Kaedehara Kazuha got some aristocratic pride left in him. He knows an affable appearance must be kept up if he wishes to get along with the rest of the crew but to say, friends... Kazuha never considered any of them as potential options.

A well-educated induvial who seems to be interested in literature such as yourself piques his interest quite a bit.

From what Kazuha can tell (by listening in to your conversation with other crew members), you seem to admire their leader Beidou a great deal. So he took advantage of that without guilt; after all, that is how anyone would make friends right? It worked fantastically well, as you would invite him to stay for tea after the errands are finished, just to listen from a "insider".

The way your eyes light up like lanterns at dusk is mesmerizing. There is always the way you lean in slightly with interest, frowning when he wants to save the ending for the next meeting.

Is it so bad to leave you wanting more?

He has to admit that he enjoys your company. You are well-spoken, willing to indulge his poetry rambles, even completing unfinished ones from time to time.

Not that he has any idea how much until later.

“Kazuha, you are no fun.” Filling his teacup once more, you said with a petty pout. Just why wouldn’t he ever finish telling the whole story? He’s for sure doing this on purpose just to mess with you.

You two are friends, not close ones, but on amicable terms, nevertheless. Your merchant parents understand the importance of relations and connections well, so they never said anything against it.

That is what both of you believe until the Samurai suddenly feels this unreasonable urge to be violent when he sees you laughing with another man. As he was feeling indisposed that particular day, so the first mate sent another sailor to cover for him.

If gazes can do damage, the poor sailor would have been in shambles within seconds, from Kazuha’s stares alone.

He wants you to smile at him, acting all lively and cute with him only. Oh dear, that is a selfish thought. But Kazuha cannot help it, not that he wants to suppress it anyways.

The self-control that he took pride in almost shattered instantly. Luckily, Kazuha could excuse himself from Beidou’s questionable eyes by repeatly stating how unwell this cold makes him feels.

Wandering Samurais likes him would never settle down for anyone when they still got the strength to travel with a blade in hand. It is simply the illness that is getting to him, yes. That must be it.

Until the string of restraint snapped, when he sees you walking into the Liuli Pavilion with a suitor your parents approved for you. Despite you acting somehow overly polite and distanced with the man, Kazuha feels as if he has been threatened.

How joyous would it be, if he were to leave a few marks on someone who dares to tamper with what is his?

Even if he gets rids of this one, there will be more in the future. You had already told him how your parents wish you to use your marriage to booster your influence.

He needs a solution. A permanent, clean one.

It would be too much of a hassle and trouble to target every single person that comes near you. So, the best option is to target you instead.

When Kazuha had Beidou invite you to a dinner occasion on the crux, you did not think much of the situation and came with a few gifts in hand. He hesitated before giving you the beer that contains few extra ingredients, but he knows it would be worth it before long.

“I should have never trusted you.” You spit it out word by word, expressing them in spite as much as you can. You should have known that he is up to no good when he tried to approach you with legendary tales of Lady Beidou. How could he do this?

Now you are stuck in this tiny room in archon knows where after blacking out suddenly, the only clue being you are on a moving ship.

With his current occupation and status, there is little to no chance that he could ever win your parent’s approval. This way, what they think they do not matter.

The fact that you are his spouse would be set in stone by the time you could return to them. It would leave them no choice but to accept him as a son-in-law to save faces.

Kazuha kneels down near you, trying to reach for your cheeks as if he wants to caress them gently with his fingers. The ruby eyes of the young man darken unnoticeably in the darkroom when you decided to distance yourself away from him, as far as possible. But he understands.

You will come around, hopefully. You did like him back then, so why not once more? Even if you never do, he cares too much for you to ever leave you be. Selfish as it sounds, Kazuha would rather sees you unhapplily stuck here with him, than go roaming freely, be happy in someone else's arms.