#this lamp is a great conversation starter already

[balkanradfem]

As far as the lamp goes, I don't really know how old is is timewise but from an electronics perspective, if you have any kind of adapter that has a built-in transformer that might help.

With old electronics it's sometimes the case that they end up drawing a lot more power with aging to some components.

But also (idk where you're from, I'm assuming Balkan states?) but grounding was only a common practice from the 40s onwards and I'm pretty sure like generations ago they also had a lower output voltage in homes (don't have a source on that tbh) but it could be that. I'm tempted to say your lightbulb is getting that hot that fast because it shouldn't be taking in the 220V or so (not sure of the specifics where you are in terms of household electricity) and its overheating, but I do think the laptop thing is probably to do with it acting incorrectly due to a mismatch of wiring systems. I'd suggest trying to get an adapter/extension that has a fuse/small breaker just in case

Thank you for this information! I really appreciate getting this knowledge from a source smarter than me!

Yes I am from the Balkans :D

Now, I do not have any electrical knowledge, so when you say 'transformer', I don't know how thats supposed to look, but I'm not eager to go and buy extensions for this, it will be used mostly one hour a day, and, I figured out a trick:

If I plug in my laptop first, and it starts drawing electricity first, and only then I plug in this lamp, then it's working okay. So, theoretically, I could just plug up my laptop, then put my phone to charge, then plug in the lamp, and it would take less electricity (I hope thats how it works at least).

I got this lamp because it was used and super cheap so I'm not planning to buy extra things xD it's okay if it's hot, I think bulbs in general were very hot until recently we started using ones that don't produce heat, this one is just a little.. extra hot.

[c4rdsharp]

❛ This can’t Shazam. It’s a lamp. ❜ twain @ luck in ghost au

“ . . . shazam? “

He had no idea what that word even meant. Luck understood it to be some sort of slang – it wasn’t unlike some of the speech his older brother would use back in the 30s. But, the times have changed so much since he has passed . . . even though Twain had died more recently and spoke with a more modern vernacular, there were still a great many things Luck didn’t recognize from time to time.

For instance, voice - activated lamps. Twain had brought it up to him as a point of conversation regarding modern day technologies. As ridiculous as it sounded, Luck’s curiosity was piqued – such concepts of asking the lights to turn on without having to do so yourself was practically a sci - fi idea back when he was a kid. No, it probably wasn’t even a notion until he was 18 at the latest. People were just starting to warm up and get used to the existence of automobiles and the then - modern day lightbulb. Such creativities probably didn’t come into public consciousness until much later on, when they’ve been popularized by novelists and talkies – er, movies.

“ i . . . don’t quite understand the reference behind that word, but . . . if you mean to tell me these aren’t voice - activated, then . . . my, that’s disappointing. i was looking forward to seeing such innovations with my very own eyes. “ Of course, they were probably expensive and, while Luck didn’t know the particulars of Firo’s career, he knew Firo lacked quite a bit of funds. It was probably for the best he didn’t pay top dollar tech on a smaller budget. Luck would’ve done the same, as interested as he may have been.

still . . . now, i just feel like a fool. Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done about Twain catching him talking to a regular fucking lamp, like an idiot.

" is . . . there a way to tell the difference from a glance, or . . . ? " Just so he can save himself the embarrassment next time. Thankfully, Twain has already seen him do a number of things he normally wouldn't do in the presence of other people, and Firo can't see Luck if he so chooses to remain hidden.

i'd rather keep my dignity about me, though.

glass onion sentence starters / @closedcoffins

[megalony]

Burnt vermilion

This is a Harry Styles imagine that contains a lot of angst and is like my Ben Hardy imagine ‘I want a baby’ because I couldn’t decide who to write it for so I did both. I hope you will all enjoy it, feedback is always lovely to have.

Taglist: @lunaticspoem @butlegendsneverdie @langdonzvoid @jennyggggrrr @rogmeddows @radiob-l-a-hblah @rogertaylorsbitontheside @chlobo6 @rogertaylors-lipgloss @sj-thefan @omgitsearly @luckytrashgooprebel @scarsout @deaky-with-a-c @killer-queen-ofrhye @bluutac @vousmemanqueez @jonesyaddiction @ambi-and-sunflowers @milanosaurus @httpfandxms @saint-hardy @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls @mrsalwayswritex @rogerina-owns-me @peterquillzsblog @im-an-adult-ish @crazylittlethingg @allauraleigh

Masterlist

Summary: Harry and (Y/n) try for a baby but when he comes home one night, things take a very bad turn.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was finally home.

She could hear the sound of his shoes hitting the wall when dug his toes into the back of his shoe to kick it off his foot and into its rightful place up against the wall near to the front door. The usual thud of his jacket followed the sound of his shoes and the jingling of the many keys on his chain being dropped into the dish near the door.

She could only just hear his feet tapping against the floorboards that barely groaned under his feet. He always walked so light as if he was a fairy or weighed nothing at all and it made it harder for (Y/n) to know whereabouts he was in their home or when he got back. But (Y/n) did notice that when he was walking it was like he was walking in time with his heartbeat or a tune in his head and he was tapping out the rhythm with his feet as he walked.

(Y/n) didn't bother to open her eyes when she heard him getting closer and closer to their shared room, she decided to wait and see what he would do if he thought she was asleep. They both knew well enough that (Y/n) hardly ever went to sleep without him unless he was away on tour and even then it took her ages to finally get to sleep. It took a lot out of her to stop herself from smiling when the door opened and she could hear his slow breaths filling the room.

It was as if (Y/n) could actually feel his surprise when his eyes set on her and saw that she was sleeping even with the lamp turned on very low.

(Y/n) tensed her legs to stop them from moving and giving away the game that she wasn't really asleep, she had only been resting her tired eyes when Harry finally came home from a party she didn't fancy attending. She wasn't mad at him for staying out, Harry liked events and parties and it wasn't like he came home drunk or on drugs or angry or horrible. He always let her know roughly what time he would be home and he called if he was going to be staying late at the studio.

She could feel his weight pressing down on his side of the bed behind her and she could hear the little pops of the buttons on his shirt that he was taking off. (Y/n) felt the bed lift ever so lightly before quickly settling back down when he moved to take off his socks and trousers before climbing into bed behind her, still under the impression that she was asleep.

For a moment, (Y/n) thought Harry was just going to lie down and try to fall asleep since it took him a while to calm his mind enough to fall asleep. But his arm soon found its way around her waist and she could feel his chest pressing up against her back.

When a kiss was slowly pressed to the back of her neck, a smile formed on (Y/n)'s lips and she had to fight to keep her eyes closed when he was making the blood rush to her head and her skin tickle. He kept lingering kisses against her neck before peppering open-mouthed kisses down the back of her neck and along to her shoulder causing (Y/n)'s smile to disappear so he would still think she was asleep. After a little while, his lips moved back up to her neck until he reached just under her jaw and she could feel his stubble tickling against her skin.

"I know you're awake." He murmured the words quietly against her skin, feeling the way the muscles in her neck pulled up when she swallowed before her eyes slowly fluttered open like butterfly wings. "I can practically hear your heartbeat." He added when he could see her questioning how he knew, but there was no smug tone to his voice like she thought there would have been.

(Y/n) lifted her hand from the bed to gently brush over Harry's cheek before her fingers trailed down to play with the ring settled neatly on his wedding finger. Out of all the rings Harry wore day in and day out, his silver wedding band had to be her favourite because it was the one that joined her to him. It was the ring that showed he loved her enough to commit himself to her.

"I missed you." (Y/n) twirled the ring around Harry's finger before she dared to lift her eyes and look up at him.

"Missed you too, s'not fun when you're not there." Harry's response was quiet but his words were tender and sweet as he trailed his kisses up her jaw before his hands moved and he slowly turned (Y/n) over so she was laying on her back instead of her side. Giving him the opportunity to move and lay over her, resting his weight on his forearms that were resting next to her shoulders, pinning her beneath him like she was his prey.

(Y/n)'s tired eyes looked up into his as he smiled sweetly, momentarily stopping his kisses so he could watch her play with his rings. The lazy smile on his lips and the look in his eyes told (Y/n) that he was drunk or at the very least he was tipsy, it took quite a few drinks to get Harry drunk.

"M'not going out without you again." Their voices didn't go above whispers but they had no need to speak any louder.

Harry's words made (Y/n) smile and caused her eyes to soften as she stared up at him. She did like going out to parties with him, but then again if she didn't go it meant he could come home after not seeing her all day and be affectionate like this. This was the usual routine if he was away all day and (Y/n) was still awake, he would come home and worm his way into her arms and never let her leave his embrace until the morning. He wrapped himself around her like a vine and she loved it.

Harry trailed his finger down (Y/n)'s cheek in a way that reminded her of a teardrop before he leaned down to steal a kiss from her lips. When he pulled up for air, his eyes narrowed and an inquisitive smile formed on his lips when he noticed the look in her eyes as she cupped his face. There was something on her mind or something that she wanted to tell him.

"I want a baby."

In her head that sounded much kinder and more of a conversation starter than a statement that she expected Harry to go along with. She didn't want to blurt it out like that but she also didn't want to beat about the bush this late at night.

(Y/n) could see the surprise in Harry's eyes and the smile on his lips at how blunt she was but he wasn't offended by it thankfully.

"Are you asking me or telling me, love?" Harry didn't really mind either way because it was clear (Y/n) wanted to talk about this, she wasn't just putting it out there and expecting him to go along with it. This was up for discussion so asking or telling him what she wanted wasn't an issue.

"Both... what do you think? I really want to try for a baby."

"I think that sounds like a great idea-" No more words could pass through Harry's lips before (Y/n) was pulling him down by his cheeks so she could press a bruising kiss to his lips.

Harry hadn't long come back from doing a world tour which meant that for the foreseeable future he wouldn't be jetting off anywhere other than a few interviews here and there. He was home and ready to take a break before thinking about getting on with another album. It was the perfect time to think about expanding their numbers and both of them had already agreed that they wanted a lot of kids in the near future.

(Y/n) couldn't help but hold her breath when Harry's lips moved from her own, down her chin and back down her neck. He felt the way her chest shuddered beneath his lips and how she kept taking short breaths and holding her breath for a long time like he was very used to by now. It was like she didn't know what he was going to do next and so held her breath in anticipation and he loved it. Harry loved having that hold over her and the ability to take her breath away without having to do very much.

When he started to pepper kisses down the valley of her breasts he could feel her stomach tensing and pulling inwards too as her hand knotted in his hair, needing something to hold on to.

"Let's have a baby."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His socks padded quiet yet heavily against the soft carpet that felt like sand enveloping around his feet until he felt like he was going to slip beneath the floorboards and down into the living room below. There was nothing more he wanted than to strip from the constricting clothing he wore and to jump into bed with his wife.

Harry was rather surprised (Y/n) was in bed even though it was gone midnight. He'd been out at the studio since five o'clock in the afternoon because he'd had an idea that he wanted to work on with the band before the idea slipped from his mind. And Harry knew (Y/n) always waited up for him for as long as she could until she physically dropped. Something about sleeping on her own set her on edge, she had to have Harry there to get a proper nights sleep and he wasn't complaining, as long as (Y/n) was there Harry could sleep anywhere at any given time.

He tried to be as quiet as he could when he walked into their shared room and very slowly pushed the door shut so the hinges didn't squeak and giveaway what time he was coming home. Harry always tried to come home at a reasonable time because he wanted to spend as much time as he could with (Y/n), but sometimes he just couldn't help but let time slip away from him. He never liked being home this late, it made him feel bad if (Y/n) was waiting up for him and he felt even worse when he realised she was already asleep.

Harry could easily get changed and walk around the bedroom without needing any lights turned on which was good right now so that he didn't wake (Y/n). He knew where the wardrobe was, the chest of drawers was next to the door and there was a chair near to the window where they both placed their clothes ready for morning.

Harry trudged around to his side of the bed before slowly easing himself down until he was sat on the edge, his eyes sneaking a quick glance over at (Y/n) who was sound asleep, as she should be at this hour. The moment he felt the mattress beneath him he wanted to flop down and collapse as the mattress brought the exhaustion to his bones. He shrugged off the now itchy black button up shirt he had adorned all day and tossed it down onto the floor, doing the same with his socks and he slipped a few of his rings off and placed them on the side table before a sigh left his lips. He couldn't be bothered to go into the hall to put them in the wash basket, nor could he really be bothered to grab some sleep shorts or a shirt.

Without taking off his trousers or even his belt, Harry threw the covers aside so he could lay down. He knew his mind was far too active for him to fall asleep then and there despite how tired and groggy his eyelids felt. He'd remove his uncomfortable trousers when he had the energy, right now he just wanted to let the bed hold his weight for a change and let his muscles relax.

A minute ticked by that felt like an hour to Harry as sleep desperately clawed at his mind, fighting his willpower that was keeping him awake so that he could think for a while longer.

He liked this, Harry liked having a few minutes in the dead of night- or early morning, and being surrounded by quiet. The studio was anything but quiet with the sound of a drumbeat circulating through the air like a heartbeat or the strings of guitars and bass guitars and vocals being thrown here there and everywhere. Whatever Harry did it never came with silence, he did interviews, he worked in the studio or on a movie set, he recorded vocals and practised stage shows. Nighttime was the only time where he got some peace and quiet but it didn't happen often enough for his liking.

Harry liked coming home and laying in the silence and the dark like this, it allowed his mind to rest and recover and it let him think about things over than his music. And when he had (Y/n) laid beside him it further calmed him down. (Y/n) always had the ability to calm him down even when he didn't know what was wrong himself.

Harry's left hand rested on his lower stomach where he could feel one of his tattoos beneath his fingertips which absentmindedly started to trace around the butterfly design he'd had there for roughly four years now. Harry had too many tattoos to count at this point, one of his favourites was the one of (Y/n)'s name inked onto his wrist. He knew now that since (Y/n) was pregnant, when they had the baby he would have another name to add to his collection of ink on his skin. But that was months away.

As he laid thinking about anything and everything, he just so happened to move his right hand to rest beside him on the bed under the cover and it sparked his mind to wake up from his drowsy state.

The bed sheets were wet.

Harry had only just laid down and it hadn't been raining outside so that was nothing to do with him and the room wasn't anywhere near hot enough for (Y/n) to be sweating or in a cold sweat in her sleep. His confusion brought him out of his thoughts and he groggily sat himself up, leaning over to his left so he could turn on the bedside lamp.

He ran his hand through his hair to brush the long curls from his eyes but Harry felt a shiver crawling ungodly slowly up his spine when his hand left his hair and came within his line of sight. Grabbing the cover, Harry aimlessly flung it towards the end of the bed around his feet so it wouldn't be an obstruction as realisation and terror dawned on him. (Y/n) wasn't sweating, the bed sheets were drenched in blood.

Harry's throat tightened and his lips curved like he was frowning or snarling when he realised that there was a repulsive smell in the air, it was iron and copper from the blood. His nose crinkled at the smell that was now overwhelming his senses and burning the back of his throat. How could he not have noticed the smell lingering in the air? Why didn't he smell it when he laid down?

It was everywhere. The blood was smeared on his hand, it had grazed onto his right arm from him leaning it on the bed, it was spread across the whole middle of the bed and what made Harry gag was seeing blood on the pillow beneath (Y/n)'s head. She was laid in a C shape, curling her legs up to her stomach with her arms coiled to her chest, not knowing she was sleeping in a pool of blood. All the blood was situated around (Y/n), specifically her lower half so it was very clear which one of them was in trouble and where the trouble was coming from.

When Harry reached out for her he choked when he could even see blood in her hair.

How long had she been bleeding out in her sleep? Why wasn't she awake and in pain or crying or feeling something? How had it gotten like this and she hadn't woken up and noticed- why didn't he notice when he came in?

"(Y/n)... (Y/n), love you need to wake up." Harry rubbed his thumb over her cheek as his other hand shook her shoulder with a growing force to try and wake her up.

Relief swarmed through Harry's tight chest when (Y/n)'s head jolted forward a bit and her eyes tiredly started to open and look around, adjusting to the orange light cascading the room. A small hum left her lips as she craned her head to look at Harry over her shoulder who looked like some kind of angel hovering over her. The worry on his face made her heart race and he could see the iron smell flooding her nose when it crinkled and her brows furrowed at the smell she couldn't work out.

"Love, you're not very well. Come on, we've got to get you up." He could see his words were making little sense to (Y/n) as her eyes narrowed and creased at the corners and her head shook ever so slightly. It was like she was trying to smile out of nervousness as if she thought he was playing a joke on her but something was telling her she couldn't smile because she knew deep down that something was wrong.

Harry didn't wait any longer for a response, he simply slipped his arms under her until he could ease her into a sitting position. The amount of blood she seemed to have lost and having just woken up made her groggy and her head swayed like it was too heavy for her to hold up on her own.

Harry knew that the moment (Y/n) caught sight of the amount of blood she had lost, she would fall into a state of shock and it would make her panic when he wanted and needed her to be calm. He tried to keep her eyes focused on him as he quickly scrambled across to her side of the bed before he got off the bed and attempted to try and get (Y/n) to stand up with him. He needed to get her to the hospital because he had no idea how long she had been bleeding for or if there was anything wrong other than the obvious miscarriage.

"Sweetheart, just look at me and trust me, okay?"

His efforts to keep her eyes on him were in vain for when he got (Y/n) to sit on the edge of the bed, something caught her eye. He stopped moving and anything else he was about to say died down in his throat when he realised her eyes had found a strand of hair hanging at the side of her face that was damp and matted together with blood.

It felt like everything was in slow motion for the couple as Harry watched (Y/n) reach a shaking hand up to her hair and rub her finger and thumb at the strands before moving her hand.

"Harry..." The terror in her voice was as clear as day because she didn't know or understand how she could have gotten blood in her hair when she hadn't hit her head or cut her hands or arms. There was nothing wrong or in pain to suggest why her hair had streaks of blood in it like highlights.

"(Y/n) I need you to stand up for me love."

Tears of fear welled up in (Y/n)'s eyes as she stared at her husband who looked so perplexed and conflicted. He wanted to make everything better, he wanted her to listen and trust him but his nervousness and his gentle side were making it very hard for him. The gentle edge to his voice and the look in his eyes showed he was scared for her and he wanted so badly to just take her in his arms and hold her.

Harry couldn't tell her she'd lost a worrisome amount of blood due to a very evident miscarriage because he couldn't break her like that. Harry couldn't say those words and see what it did to his wife but saying nothing was panicking her more than he wanted it to.

Maybe it would have been better if she stayed asleep, he could have carried her out to the car and driven her to the hospital without her seeing the amount of blood she'd lost or knowing what was going on. That would have been easier for her.

Harry hooked his arms around her middle, splaying his hands on her upper chest before he tried his best to be gentle when pulling (Y/n) up onto her feet. It almost worked.

He had (Y/n) up on her feet and he held most of her weight when she seemed to wobble and be unsteady. He walked back a few steps, pulling her along with him to get her out of the room and he almost got her to focus on him. But when her eyes looked down to Harry's shirt that she was wearing to bed and saw how it looked like it had been dyed red, her head turned to look at the bed.

"Baby no-"

Harry's hand let go of her back and pressed to her cheek to try and turn her head back to him but he couldn't do it in time. Her eyes were already looking at the pale grey sheets that were now burnt vermilion and cherry blossom red.

It was as if (Y/n) had woken up from a dream. Her trembling hand left Harry's arm and moved to feel her hair at the back of her head before shakily feeling down her neck, then scrunching up the shirt in her hand before she looked at her palm that was streaked with blood. Red was all (Y/n) could see. Her vision wasn't full of colour or reduced to black and white, it was sheathed in a layer of red like someone was holding a dark red sweetie wrapper in front of her eyes to make the world around her blushing red.

A horrid, broken yet so quiet sound scratched and cracked against the back of (Y/n)'s throat and clawed against her chapped lips as her eyes wide with pain and fear locked onto Harry like he was a lighthouse during a storm. Her hands dug down into his biceps, painting one of his bare arms red and digging crescent moons into both arms from the force she was holding him with to stop herself from collapsing.

Harry's mouth opened like he wanted to echo her scream back to her but no sound left his lips, he didn't know what to say. He had nothing to say that could make this situation any easier for either of them.

He watched in agony as some kind of pain either came flooding back to (Y/n) or she only now realised that there was pain somewhere in her body that she had been ignoring. Her jaw slacked and he could see her tongue tensing against the bottom of her mouth before a small, shattered cry of pain left her lips just as her head tipped down and her wide eyes snapped closed.

It was as if a fire had suddenly erupted in (Y/n)'s abdomen and the shock of the pain sent her knees buckling beneath her like broken matchsticks. Her knees caved in, thrusting all of her weight onto Harry who didn't know what else to do but to go down on his knees on the carpet with (Y/n) huddled brokenly against his chest.

(Y/n) could feel every drop of blood both fresh and dried that was painted onto her skin like drying paint and she hated it. How had she bled that much without knowing? She was fine when she went to bed, she hadn't been bleeding or in any sort of pain and she hadn't passed out from bloodloss, she had been perfectly fine.

"I need to take you to-" Harry couldn't get the words out quick enough before (Y/n) cried out, curling in on herself and forcing her knees up into her stomach like he was going to help or relieve the pain.

Harry had seen bad things in his life, he had seen a small number of people die and he'd witnessed things he would much rather forget. But everything he had ever witnessed had been mild compared to what he was witnessing now, this was a different level that Harry didn't want to be on.

He'd never seen something so small, so odd and so gut-wrenching like the blood-covered creation (Y/n) was holding in the palm of her hand like she was willing it to be alright or holding it out for Harry to try and make better. But Harry's hands could never make a child so small come to life, his hands were only good for writing down his lyrics or holding someone in a loving embrace. Harry's hands couldn't take the creation in the palm of (Y/n)'s hands and give it life or sustain it and make it better.

The broken sob that left (Y/n)'s lips sounded like a howl in Harry's ears and it left him paralysed. He had to get up, he had to take (Y/n) to the hospital before she passed out or got an infection or something much worse. He had to take her now because she was in a worse state than he would ever have imagined, but he couldn't move.

All he could do was wrap his arms tightly around her and hug her broken frame to his bare chest. His short nails dug into her upper arm and his other hand dug into the flesh of her thigh, cradling her against him like she was the broken child that needed caring for.

Harry himself felt like a child who had witnessed something he was far too young to see. The inner child in him was coming out and making tears wash down his face. He was never going to be at the right age or stage in his life to know how to deal with something like this, all he could do was wish that this was a nightmare that he could wake up from.

Neither of them could feel the blood that was covering them like they'd had a fight with paint. All they felt was numb.

[asterythm]

I'm honestly a bit confused on the problem with making fandom related blm art (as long as its not tagged blm and provides links to supporting blm). Could you please explain?

please realize before you read any of this that i am speaking as an nbpoc person who has been mostly off tumblr for the past few days, with the exception of occasional nighttime reblog sprees after my productivity blocker extension times out. i have been doing my absolute best to educate myself as well as possible so as to be the best ally i can be, but i am nevertheless imperfect and i very well may say something wrong. above all, please keep in mind that the voices that really need to be heard and raised up right now are the voices belonging to our bipoc friends, not my own.

also, i’m real tired -- im not saying this to seek pity or make this conversation about myself, just to ask you to forgive any spelling errors/grammar errors/run-on sentences. thanks. ill also definitely be putting a tl;dr at the end, because I can already tell this post is gonna get longggg.

that said, i appreciate that you’re actively seeking to learn, so i'll do my best to explain what i've gleaned based on what bipoc fanders have been saying. for starters, @/hazelmagix put one major issue very succinctly in her post on the matter (tw for swearing, but this is really the Big One):

in addition to the above Big Issue (ie. needing to bring Real Experiences That Real People Are Facing down to the same level as works of fiction), i believe that one of the specific issues that the tss fandom is facing right now came about after @/bleepblopbloop56 drew a lovely piece of art involving a black, trans roman that originally (to the best of my knowledge) had nothing to do with blm. if you’re a part of the fandom and you’ve been on tumblr at all these past few days, you’ve likely seen the results of that, but i don’t know how many people are aware of the full story right now so just bear with me here:

what happened was that some people outside the fandom (mostly bipoc!!!) came across the piece and voiced their discomfort about it (some kindly, but many not-so-kindly), presumably because they thought that the artist was drawing Real Person Thomas Sanders as black, as opposed to a fictional character who is often portrayed in all manner of diverse interpretations. eventually, it got to the point where the artist felt pressured to take their piece down. 

(for clarification, i don’t think it’s ever okay to harass creators to that point, but that’s a whole ‘nother matter entirely. the point is, it was mostly people outside the fandom.)

anyway, the situation ended up sparking outrage after someone else made a post pointing the issue out under the assumption that the attacks had stemmed from racism and transphobia within the fandom (not true). in response, people (predominantly white people, if i’m not mistaken) began to draw art of black trans roman. which would be great on its own, except it didn’t take long for folks to start attaching it to the black lives matter movement. which was less great (see above screenshot). the least great part of all is that so much of it stemmed from spite at the people who had originally been voicing their discomfort about the art -- the same people, mind you, who are not a part of the fandom at all.

not only was this effort misdirected, it was also hurtful because people (again, majorly white) were now using black skin tone and even the blm movement itself as a form of spite. the focus was not on explaining the situation to the original poc outside the fandom -- it was on using art and fandom to appear “woke”, and in the process, ignoring the black voices who were saying they were uncomfortable. and i want to make it explicitly clear that i’m not accusing those who have been drawing bipoc sides of having bad intentions; just that almost all of it has been extremely performative. in using blm for fanart in this way, fanders are taking a real-world issue and turning it into a tool to further our own fandom issue, and that is absolutely not okay. and even when it’s not being utilized for discourse, it can still be extremely insensitive to put real-world struggles side by side with fiction.

my original post about adding resources to fanart was never meant to imply that adding links automatically makes it okay, either. again, i haven’t been on tumblr often and so i had no idea what actual bipoc fanders’ stance on the issue was, and i didn’t want to speak over anyone. what i was trying to say was that if the fandom is going to be so keen on pushing blm, the absolute least that we can do is to actually take the time to educate ourselves on the movement and contribute in other ways as well -- such as signing petitions, donating, et cetera. otherwise, not only is the content performative and potentially hurtful, it’s just plain meaningless.

tl;dr -- 

black lives matter is not a trend for white and nbpoc people to take advantage of so that they can appear “woke”. 

putting fictional fandoms side by side with real life can display an unwillingness to acknowledge the real-world impacts of current events unless presented in a way that specifically appeals to you.

above all, listen to black voices.

(oh, and also: in the interest of raising up bipoc fanders, some wonderful blogs to start with might be @skyscrapersanddandelions, @mxnte​​, @lamp-calm-sanders, and @aleiimm​. however, do not go asking these lovely folks to explain something to you/to provide you further resources. it is not their responsibility to personally educate you. i’m only linking them so that you may support them and -- i really can’t say this enough -- listen to what they have to say.)

[satoruvt]

the color of you - gold (2)

i lost the template for the banner i used in part one so i had to make a new one and it looks different and im sad but at least this chapter is fuckin AWESOME

pairing → keigo takami x bakery owner!reader

word count → 1736

summary → you’re not really dating, so you can’t really be in love with him… right?

song inspo → portland by armors

part one | part two | part three | part four | part five

“Does everything look correct?”

The packet in front of you is intimidating, thick and detailing every aspect of the relationship you and Hawks are supposed to have. You flip through the pages, looking over the big points - no one but you, Hawks, his publicist and your lawyer are to know about the terms of your “relationship,” you need to be okay with having your picture taken, and the whole thing will only last a few months to cover a few press conferences and an awards ceremony. The line for your signature on the last page is blank - you expected Hawks to have signed it already, but the line above his name is blank as well. The ball’s in your court, it’s saying.

“Yes,” you say, nodding up at his publicist. “Everything looks fine, thank you.”

“Any boundaries?” Hawks speaks up, and you meet his eyes from across the table. You shake your head no, offering a curt, gentle smile. Your lawyer hands you a pen to sign the contract, and after a deep breath, you drag the pen across the paper in your name. Hawks does the same after you.

“There we go,” he says when he’s done, clicking the pen. His smile is laid-back, easy. “We’re officially in an unofficial relationship.”

You can’t help the smile that dances on your lips, because it really is ironic, but it’s quickly forgotten as the publicist goes over the general idea. There are big events scheduled for the two of you to be seen together - the press conferences, a few dates, the awards ceremony. You’re welcome to do anything else that you might want, the publicist says, and you don’t miss the wink Hawks sends you.

The rest of the meeting is settled with a copy of the contract handed to your lawyer, and the four of you disperse. You’re gathering up your things when you see Hawks waiting in the doorway. “Let me walk you to the front,” he says, and you do.

His agency building is smaller than you thought it would be, given he’s the number two hero. You get strange looks from a few people as the two of you walk towards the front - you’re not surprised, if you were anybody else but yourself you’d be curious too - and it’s not until the two of you are in the elevator, taking it down to the first floor, that Hawks speaks again.

“So,” he begins, and you turn towards him. “Fancy going on a date with me tonight?”

His gaze is playful, so you join in, and it’s not as awkward as you thought it would be. “You read my mind. Must be a lovers’ connection.”

He likes the humor, you decide, when his teasing smirk grows into a grin. “Well, I figure since we’re gonna be dating for the next few months, I should know about my new girlfriend. Doesn’t do well for the press if they ask me questions about you that I don’t know how to answer.”

You laugh, nodding along to his words. The elevator doors open and the two of you continue to the front of the building in comfortable silence.

“I’m very much looking forward to our date tonight,” you tell him when the two of you reach the front doors. They slide open as another person walks into the building, and the warm air from outside brushes against your legs. Hawks grins, pulls you closer to press a chaste kiss to your cheek. It takes you by surprise and you feel your face grow hot, but before you can say anything Hawks is already walking back to his office.

“See you tonight, babe!” He calls, and you roll your eyes, but the soft smile on your face would fool anyone.

And although it’s embarrassing to blush over something as simple as a cheek kiss, you suppose the pink on your face is a good thing. You notice paparazzi outside of the agency, and they definitely saw what just happened.

-

By this point, you’re not really nervous to be going on a date - “date” - with Hawks, but Jesus, it’s stressful to pick out what the hell you’re gonna wear. Do you actually try? Do you put on some jeans and a nice blouse and call it good? What does going on a fake date with the Number Two hero call for?

In the end you settle for a sundress, something in the middle. It doesn’t take much longer for you to finish up getting ready before you’re heading out the door to the restaurant Hawks had told you to meet him at. You’re lucky it’s not that far away - a fifteen minute walk at most. The sun glows in the evening light, drenching the world in melted gold.

The restaurant is small, but filled with a decent amount of people. When you step inside the gentle hum of overlapping conversation fills your bones, and you see Hawks in a booth down a walkway. You point him out to the hostess and she lets you find your way to him. 

“It’s awfully rude to keep your date waiting,” he says when you get close enough, standing up to greet you.

“What can I say? I dress to impress.”

Hawks kisses your cheek and you scrunch your nose at the feel of his stubble on your face. He lets you into one side of the booth, and you’re expecting him to sit on the opposite side, but instead he sits next to you. The low light of the lamp overhead makes his eyes brighter.

“You do look great.”

“Why, thank you.”

Both of you are teasing, playful, and the conversation is fluid to follow. You’re not speaking across a table so your voices are hushed, gentle, and you think you’re starting to understand why Hawks chose to sit next to you rather than across from you - it’s intimate, couple-y. 

“You know,” you say, finger tracing the rim of your wine glass, “since we’ve been dating for a total of, like, five hours, there’s a lot that I don’t know about you.”

“Ugh, were you even a fan?” Hawks teases, and you scoff, rolling your eyes. His tone softens when you make eye contact with him. “Ask away.”

“For starters, I don’t even know your real name.” You lean your head on your palm as you look at him. “And I feel like, as your girlfriend, I am entitled to that.”

Hawks chuckles, and there’s a certain look in his eyes that you can’t put your finger on. “It’s Keigo Takami.”

Keigo.

“Keigo, huh?” You repeat. It floats around in your mind, lingers on your tongue like the taste of honey. It reminds you of amber, gold, of coins and riches. Keigo.

“Well, I’m Y/N L/N.”

“I know, I looked you up.”

“At least one of us is smart.”

By the time your food comes, you’re barely eating, and it catches up to you how much the two of you have been talking. You’d been worried that the whole thing would be awkward and weird and not at all convincing, but you’re certain if anyone saw the two of you right now, they’d assume you were dating. The conversation rarely stops, and if it does -

Oh. He’s close.

There’s a moment of silence, a break from talking as you shift from one topic to another. On top of the two of you already being close from sitting on the same side of the table, with how much you’ve been talking, you’ve just gravitated towards each other. His arm is draped over the back of the bench, casual, but you can’t really focus when you fixate on his lips.

“And so we, um…” you trail off, then blink yourself out of your trance. “Wow, I completely forgot what I was gonna say.”

Hawks - Keigo - notices, and his face is smug. The smirk on his lips is nothing short of pride.

“Catching feelings for me already, Y/N?”

“In your dreams,” you bounce back.

For the first time tonight, you check your phone. It’s getting late, and although you don’t live very far away, you don’t want to be caught alone after dark. “Ah, I should probably get going.”

Keigo nods, reaching into his pocket to pull out a few thousand yen banknotes and set them on the table. You want to tell him that you have your own money to pay, but he cuts you off by getting out of the booth and speaking himself. “I’ll walk you home,” he says, and you furrow your brows as you get out, too.

“Are you sure? I don’t wanna trouble you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Keigo says, offering his arm to you with a sly grin. “It’s my duty as a hero. And your boyfriend.”

He puts emphasis on the word and you can’t hide the amused smile from your lips, looping your arm through his. 

The walk to your apartment is as comfortable as being in the restaurant with him, but somehow it feels nicer. You suppose it’s the open air, the golden sun having gone down past the distant mountains, leaving remnants of its light in freckles and rosy skin. The walk home seems faster, and you find yourself a little disappointed that the night is ending so soon.

“I don’t suppose you’d like to come inside,” you say, voice sultry as the two of you stop in front of your door. “Make the paparazzi think we had a little more fun in the privacy of my home?”

Keigo shrugs, and you can see him thinking about it. “I mean, if you’re okay with it…”

“Now who’s catching feelings?”

He scrunches his face up and you giggle. When you speak again, your voice is softer. Crickets chirp somewhere nearby. 

“I had a good time, dating or not,” you tell him, find your key and unlocking the door. “Thanks for taking me out.”

Keigo takes your hand in his and brings your fingers up to his lips in a formal kiss (though the wink he sends you says otherwise). “Anytime, princess. See you later.”

He takes off out of your apartment building and you go inside, immediately laying down on your sofa in the living room. You feel over the spot on your hand where he kissed you, humming quietly to yourself. 

Maybe this won’t be as hard as you thought.

[mordoriscalling]

Everything I Am, All That You Are (4/4)

Geraskier Soulmate AU, Modern with Magic, Post-Break Up, Getting Back Together

The last word of the song – “alone” – rings out in the silence in the concert hall. Jaskier’s voice is so resonating, so haunting, that Geralt has to put a great effort into walking away from it.

Then, he feels it. An unmistakable, soul-deep kind of touch.

His mate reached out to him through their bond.

Geralt sways on his feet and leans against the wall of the concert hall in order not to trip and fall. He looks back at the stage, meaning to catch Jaskier’s eye, but Jaskier stares at the seat Geralt has vacated a moment ago.

The audience erupts into roaring applause, giving Jaskier and Essi a standing ovation, which is definitely well-deserved. A performance like that is worthy of glowing reviews.

Geralt snaps out of the initial shock and strides out of the hall, spurred on by hope, now even more determined to carry out the plan that sprung into his mind when he talked to Yennefer earlier. It’s an excuse to talk to Jaskier, just a conversation starter, but it’s also something that Geralt has owed him for a long time.

He walks through the door which Jaskier disappeared behind after their first conversation this evening. It takes him to an empty corridor. In the quiet he meets, he’s able to catch the characteristic hustle and bustle that happens backstage. He follows the sounds until he finds himself in an environment that he’s rather familiar with.

After they bonded, Geralt used to wait backstage when Jaskier performed. Jaskier would come to him the moment he finished a set and ask for a review. Geralt would always respond in a similar way; it was an inside joke between them after years of Geralt giving Jaskier  “three words or less”.  

“How was my singing?”Jaskier asks, sweaty but grinning, as he greets Geralt with a peck on the cheek.

Geralt smiles. Through their bond, he shows Jaskier all the admiration and appreciation he has for his singing. It was a fantastic concert at a huge venue and Geralt is so immensely proud of how far his Songbird has come. He doesn’t put it into words, however, only leans down and starts nosing at the point on Jaskier’s throat where he’s the most ticklish.

Jaskier lets out a long squeal, high-pitched and delighted. “You can’t avoid giving me a review every time!” he laughs.

Geralt hums, then lays a kiss on Jaskier’s neck, then another, and another, enjoying the shivers he elicits.

With a breathy chuckle, Jaskier says, “One day, I will get a detailed opinion out of you.”

That day has finally come.

Geralt looks for Jaskier frantically but can’t find him anywhere. The hope that powered him starts plummeting now, making his stomach drop. Every minute of searching drags on like torture. In his desperation, Geralt intimidates some man into telling him where Jaskier is.

Following the directions leading him to a musical storeroom, Geralt feels his heart beat unnaturally fast for a witcher. He can hear it hammering in his chest as he rushes to the room, but when he barrels through the door and finally sees his mate, everything goes silent.

Amidst all the various instruments, there’re Essi and Jaskier, sitting next to each other on two chairs. In the cool light of the lamps, Jaskier looks almost deathly pale, with his hands cradled in his lap. He’s a picture of devastated.

When their eyes meet, Jaskier jerks in clear surprise

Before Geralt can lose the ability to speak yet again, he blurts out, “Your performance was stunning.” Jaskier blinks. Geralt swallows hard and goes on, “You command the crowd as well as you always have. Your control over your voice shows your mastery. I could hear everything you wished to convey.” Pain and plea. “You sounded...” Heart-wrenching, vulnerable, enchanting – “Beautiful.”

Jaskier hasn’t moved an inch, hasn’t looked away from him for a second. Geralt, flustered by the lack of response, turns to Essi. “I enjoyed your song,” he tells her, “The lyrics and the delivery were remarkable, and your voice is memorable.”

The girl inclines her head in thanks but her expression is stormy.

Geralt directs his gaze back to his mate, who eyes him cautiously.

“Thank you,” Jaskier murmurs, “I appreciate your review.”

Geralt waits for him to say anything more but Jaskier doesn’t add a word. Taking a deep breath, he forces the words out, “Jaskier, I – I need to talk to you. Alone.”

Jaskier sighs. He and Essi have a wordless conversation that consists of making various faces and gestures. Finally, the girl relents and gets up to leave. When she passes Geralt, she glares daggers into him.

After the door shuts behind her, heavy silence hangs in the room. Geralt takes a few careful steps towards Jaskier and, as he approaches, he notices that Jaskier holds something in his hands – a bowl of strawberries. He freezes

Jaskier smiles wryly, noticing his shock. “Oh, I was just...” He trails off, takes one strawberry and eats a small bite.

Geralt watches intently. The way Jaskier’s lips close around the fruit brings his mind back to all those times when Jaskier ate strawberries from his hand. He would lick Geralt’s fingers until they were clean of juice and Jaskier would suck at them, swirling his tongue around the tip, whispering husky praises like “you take such good care of me, my beautiful Wolf” or “you’re such a good mate, my love”.

As Jaskier finishes eating the strawberry, Geralt longs to hear the enthusiastic praise. He wants to go down on his knees and be at Jaskier’s command until he earns the gasped “just like that” and the moaned, “fuck, you’re so good”.

His hunger carries him the rest of the way. Geralt crosses the remaining distance between them and kneels at his mate’s feet. He hears how Jaskier’s breath hitches and his heartbeat stutters. Jaskier’s pupils dilate and his scent is tinged with arousal.

For a moment, Geralt can only close his eyes and cherish the fact that he can experience Jaskier’s body like this. He’s so relieved to be able to hear his mate’s heart and sense his scent that he could weep. Jaskier’s voice snaps him out of the joy.

“What are you doing?” he demands sharply.

Geralt sighs. Slowly, he takes the bowl out of Jaskier’s hands and puts it on the empty chair next to them. When he finally looks into Jaskier’s eyes, he says, “I want to apologize. To tell you that... life has already given me one blessing.” He puts his palms on Jaskier’s knees. “It’s you.”

“What are you playing at?” Jaskier snaps, his biting tone making Geralt flinch. “First, you don’t talk to me for years, then you show up here out of the blue, being all distant. When I reach out to you, you don’t respond, but now you’re being all touchy and lovely? What the fuck do you even want from me? Don’t you have a partner and a child to come back to?”

Every question is like a painful strike. Geralt clenches his fists, now placed in Jaskier’s lap, and utters, “I’m not bonded to Yen anymore. She found another Djin and we wished for the bond to be broken.”

Jaskier’s whole body tenses, then relaxes. “Oh,” he says quietly, “That’s... good?”

Geralt can’t help but chuckle. “Yes,” he replies, smiling up at his mate, “That’s very good. We’re both free now.”

Jaskier’s expression is bright like the sun but turns cloudy after a moment. “You stayed together, though,” he mutters, his voice dripping with bitterness.  

“Not like that,” Geralt denies, with a vehement shake of his head. He shifts even closer to Jaskier so that his torso is pressed to Jaskier’s legs. “She’s Ciri’s mother and my friend, that’s it.” Drowning in the beloved shade of blue, he confesses, “Wolves mate for life.”

Jaskier purses his lips. For a minute, he’s silent. When he speaks, he asks, “If I’m your mate, why did you leave me for four years? When was the wish broken, by the way?”

“Five months ago.”

There’s the spark of anger in Jaskier’s gaze again. “And you still didn’t think to, I don’t know, give me a sign? A single thought through the bond, perhaps? Just... anything. Why did you make me wait?”

“I thought you wouldn’t want to see me,” Geralt admits, “after everything.”

Jaskier stands up so abruptly that he knocks the chair over. “Wouldn’t want to see you?!” he shouts, gesturing with fury, “Wouldn’t want to see you?! I was dying inside the whole time!” Geralt gets up himself and tries to get a word in but Jaskier rants on, “Everything I am is bound to all that you are and you... You have no idea how I felt. Four years of agony, thinking that you would never want me again – ”

“Of course I know!” Geralt bellows, “Of course I know, Jaskier, dammit!” He walks right into Jaskier’s personal space and growls, “Of course I know your pain. I’ve felt all of it and worse. It’s all my fucking fault!”

“No, it’s not!” Jaskier retorts, “We’ve talked about this. All three of us fucked up with the Djin!”

“What about the dragon hunt? Fuck, the things I said to you –”

“Did you mean them?” Jaskier cuts in, his stare hard and cold.

“No,” Geralt denies, “I was angry. It was all... too much. I couldn’t deal with it, I wanted to be left alone.”

“So I left,” Jaskier replies simply. “I hoped you’d find me, though, soon after.”

Geralt steps away from him and bows his head, hiding his face in his hair. Jaskier's words remind him why he didn't do exactly that. The shame of how he’s hurt his very soulmate returns to him with full force; it’s searing hot, just as strong as it was after he returned from the dragon hunt.

The flat is so quiet. In the silence, Roach’s whine resonates all the more.

Geralt sighs. He doesn’t have to move from the bed – their bed – to guess what the dog is doing. He knows that she’s sitting by the door to their flat, waiting.

“He’s not coming back!” he growls.

In response, the pitbull whimpers.

His eyes are starting to prickle so he closes them. The sheets still smell of Jaskier. He puts his head on Jaskier’s pillow and breathes in, trying to fill the gaping hole in his chest.

Most of Jaskier’s things are gone. The moment his scent fades away, Geralt will have nothing left of him. Nothing but a few books and the mark on his heart. With his fingers, Geralt traces the lines on the songbird’s wings, spread wide, and lets out a ragged breath.

His Songbird flew away, because Geralt made him. His words were so fucking stupid, he wants to cease to exist at the thought of having uttered them.

Roach gives a long, miserable howl. Internally, Geralt does the same.

Geralt swallows the feeling down. “I was too ashamed,” he admits quietly, “Thought that you’d be better off without me.” Jaskier scoffs and opens his mouth but Geralt talks over him, “Then I found Ciri and we stumbled into Yen and... Ciri wanted her with us but living together was difficult, with the wish. I couldn’t subject you to it.”

Jaskier’s expression is stony. He stands there, amidst all the instruments, motionless, glaring at the floor with his hands on his hips. “Did you sleep with her?” he murmurs.

The question sets Geralt off. “Who the fuck do you take me for?!” he barks, “I’m capable of restraining myself!”  

Jaskier laughs, of all things. It’s a mirthless, ugly sound. “More than capable, it seems,” he remarks.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I can’t believe you still haven’t learned your lesson,” Jaskier replies, seizing Geralt with a fiery look. “Can’t you really see it, Geralt? Every time you try to spare someone your presence, every time you don’t want to subject someone to your person, it brings pain not only to you but to everyone involved?!” He aims a pointing finger at Geralt and hurls the accusations on, “You wanted to undo the Law of Surprise and the Djin wish went to absolute shit! You didn’t claim your Child Surprise and she didn’t have anyone when her family was killed! You avoided me after the dragon hunt and made us both suffer!”

Geralt is rendered speechless but his lack of response seems to go unnoticed.

“Of course you were on your self-sacrificing bullshit!” Jaskier spits. “Gods, I should’ve known! How the hell didn’t I put two to two? Fuck, all that time when I was wallowing in my own hurt, you were stuck hating yourself more than anyone else could ever hate you.”

The last statement rings too true. The accuracy of it is nearly oppressive, and the following silence is unbearably heavy. Geralt brushes a hand over his face; his body suddenly reminds him of how tired he is.

Jaskier appears just as weary when he asks, “Why didn’t you talk to me? You could’ve just talked to me.”

Geralt wants to laugh at Jaskier’s naivety. All the accusations he’s heard start sinking in and, however right they could be, hurt. The instinct to strike back combines with rage unfurling inside him and Geralt lashes out before he can stop himself.

“And what?” he snaps. “Hear that it’s fine? Have you tell me that I shouldn’t worry when there was so much pain in your eyes? That I don’t have to be sorry when you were so fucking desperate for normalcy? That there’s nothing to forgive when you got so quiet after my fights with Yen? You tried so hard to pretend that everything was all right but you looked like you just waited for us to fall apart.”

Pain flashes in Jaskier’s eyes and Geralt knows he’s taken it too far.

“What else was I supposed to do?!” Jaskier exclaims, his voice cracking, “I didn’t know how to reach you, whenever you got so distant. I tried every way I knew but nothing worked. Nothing. You were hidden so deeply within yourself that I couldn’t –”

“There was nothing you could’ve done,” Geralt cuts in. He knows he’s being cruel but he feels so ugly right now, he may as well show all his monstrosity. “Sometimes there’s nothing you can do,” he tells Jaskier, “I know you’re used to getting your way, that exerting your influence and charm grants you whatever you want, but there are some battles you can’t win.”

“Really, Geralt?” Jaskier snarls, his teeth bared, “Really? Are actually a masochistic bastard? Are you trying to tell me that I shouldn’t have fought for you? That I should’ve just left you after Rinde? Should’ve just... given up? Or are you saying that this” – he gestures between them – “is a lost cause?”

The mere suggestion extinguishes all his anger in an instant. Instead, panic sets in; there’s decisive sadness in Jaskier’s eyes.

“That’s not true –” Geralt begins but to his horror, his mate doesn’t listen.

“But maybe it is,” Jaskier insist, “Maybe I’ll never win against your penchant for self-hatred. It’s been drilled so deeply into you, that you’re unworthy of love. I tried so hard to convince you but perhaps there’s indeed nothing I can do.”

The terrible resignation in Jaskier’s posture appears so final that a cold spear of fear pierces Geralt’s heart. He walks up to Jaskier so that he stands in Jaskier’s way to the door; he can’t bear to lose him.

“Jaskier, no, I – ” he stutters out. “I’m so sorry.” The sorrow in Jaskier’s gaze hasn’t changed, so Geralt begs, “Please don’t leave.” His voice sounds rough and wrecked, even to his own ears but at least Jaskier doesn’t leave. Encouraged by that fact, Geralt goes on, “I can’t ask you to forgive me, after everything, but – ” Tentatively, he reaches out and takes Jaskier’s hand in his. “Could you consider... coming back? We can figure this out however slow you want, just... Don’t leave. Please.”

Jaskier sighs, his eyelids fluttering shut, but he doesn’t shy away from Geralt’s touch. Geralt’s heart starts beating wildly in victory and then, as seconds pass and Jaskier still stands there, breathing, it turns to hope.

Yet, when Jaskier opens his eyes, he frees his hand from Geralt’s grasp. “I need some time to think,” he replies apologetically, “This... this is not it. This is not right.”

“What?” Geralt whispers.

“I’m not saying no,” Jaskier reassures. “I just... fuck, Geralt, I can barely resist you right now. I want my answer to count.”

Geralt opens his mouth to say something, anything, but he can’t muster a word. His throat is constricted in a silent, helpless scream. Jaskier smiles sadly.

“Thank you for the review, Geralt,” he says, “And don’t worry, I will see you around.”

Then, to Geralt’s anguish, Jaskier takes his hand and brings it to his lips, laying a kiss on Geralt’s knuckles. The feeling of his mate’s mouth on his skin sends a thrill down his spine and he gasps. Jaskier lets go and walks away. Geralt can’t will himself to move.

Jaskier leaves.

Geralt stays in the storeroom. Were he able to howl, he would do so, hoping that his Songbird would answer the call. Yet, Jaskier left once again. The memory of his touch is all Geralt can think about as he stands there, all alone, until he can take it no more.

When he finally springs into action, he knows he won't be stopped.

Read the rest on AO3

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

Love Her (Part 4)

Summary: After Dean and the reader’s late night chat, things are going a little better at home, especially when the two try to celebrate the reader’s birthday. But when Rae wakes them both up that night, Dean sees something the reader wishes he hadn’t and he’s not letting her run away from a necessary conversation...

Masterlist

Pairing: Doctor!Dean x foster daughter!reader

Word Count: 3,200ish

Warnings: language, mentions of death

______

“Y/N,” said Dean the next afternoon, Ryan clinging to his back in a piggyback ride while he made up a few sandwiches. “Want a sandwich? Game comes on soon.”

“No thanks,” you said, going to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water.

“Can I cook you something?” he asked.

“I could go for some mac and cheese!” said Sam from the couch. He looked back with a smile, Dean rolling his eyes. “Y/N, you want some mac and cheese, right?”

“Make your own mac and cheese, Sammy,” said Dean, bending down to let Ryan off of him before handing him his plate. “Eat your carrots too for me, buddy.”

Ryan hummed and walked his plate over to the table where Rae was already eating. 

“I actually could go for some mac and cheese. Buffalo mac and cheese. Put a little sauce in it and it is so good,” you said.

“Dean, we want that,” said Sam with a smirk.

“You have legs,” said Dean.

“I can make it,” you said.

“I didn’t mean for you to-” said Sam.

“I normally cook for myself. I’m used to it,” you said as you headed for the pantry.

“Why don’t you show me and then I can whip it up whenever you want some?” asked Dean.

“Alright,” you said. You went over to the table while waiting for the water to boil, getting Ryan to eat a few carrots and Rae some of her apple slices. Sam got up and chatted with Dean in the kitchen for a bit until the twins were done eating and took off to the family room to keep playing.

“Thank you,” said Dean when you brought back their empty plates and stuck them in the dishwasher.

“So Y/N, any ideas of what you’d be interested in for a birthday present?” asked Sam.

“Uh, I’m not even having a party. I don’t need a present,” you said.

“Not having a party huh,” said Sam, taking a sip from his glass, glancing at Dean.

“I thought I told you I don’t want one,” you said to Dean.

“I thought I told you it wasn’t up for debate,” said Dean with a smile, dumping some pasta in the water. “Birthday parties are a thing from now on, even small ones.”

“You’re incredibly annoying,” you said.

“Thank you,” he said as he laughed. “How about next Friday night we just have Sam and my parents over. We can get takeout from your favorite restaurant, have a little cake. I promise no streamers or balloons.”

“I’m not big on birthday parties,” you said. Dean frowned and leaned back against the counter.

“Why don’t you take her to the mall?” asked Sam.

“The mall?” said Dean, raising an eyebrow.

“She is a teenage girl. They like going to the mall,” said Sam.

“Stereotyping much?” you said.

“So you don’t want to go to the mall?” asked Dean.

“I mean, I do, I just...don’t have much money right now,” you said. 

“It’s your birthday. I’m paying,” said Dean. “We’ll take a few hours, go shopping, maybe catch a horror movie? Maybe we could meet up with Uncle Sammy and the twins for dinner out?”

“Fine,” you sighed.

“We’re gonna have fun. I promise.”

Friday Afternoon

“Okay,” said Dean as you walked into the mall. “Where do you want to go first?”

“I don’t care,” you said, getting a bump on the arm.

“Come on. My treat. Teenager with dad’s credit card. Dream come true, right?”

“You’re not my dad, Dean,” you said.

“Yeah. Sorry,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Still, let’s do some shopping. I know you don’t have a lot. What about a new coat for fall? It’s starting to get pretty cool out.”

“My sweatshirt is fine,” you said.

“Y/N,” said Dean, stopping you where you walked. “You need things like a warm coat and winter boots. I’m not gonna let you max out my card or anything but let’s have some fun. What’s something you’ve always wanted?”

“I kinda always wanted one of those parka jackets, with like the fuzzy hood,” you said.

“I think that’s a great place to start,” he smiled. “It’s gonna start being winter soon enough.”

“Okay,” said Dean, looking more like a pack mule than anything about two hours later. “We got jackets, jeans, boots, some clothes, you ducked in your girl store and I learned bras are expensive, and I bought you a flannel cause the fact you own none is frankly appalling to me. What do you say we drop this stuff off in the trunk and then hit up the movies?”

“I’m actually not a fan of horror movies,” you said.

“That’s okay. There’s plenty of other fun stuff to do around here.”

“I can’t believe you played laser tag with a bunch of teenagers,” you said a few hours later after dinner and you were walking back through the parking lot. “And were actually good!”

“I’m thirty seven, not dead,” he chuckled. “You were really good too. We should get Sam to join us sometime. We haven’t been in years.”

“He’s nice. Sam,” you said.

“He’s pretty alright for a little brother,” smiled Dean. “It takes a while but someday they do eventually get big enough to start having your back too.”

“The twins adore you, you know,” you said. “Rae and Ryan. You pay attention to them, read to them at night...they never really had anyone to do that for them.”

“Yeah, they did,” he said. “I think that’s part of why you’re so hesitant with me sometimes. You don’t know how to let someone take care of you anymore.”

“I don’t want to get used to something like that. I’m done with high school in a few years. I’ll be an adult on my own,” you said, scuffing your sneaker on the pavement.

“You’ll be an adult but not on your own,” he said. 

“Mhm.”

“Are you ever going to like, not hate me?” he asked. You looked over at him and he smiled.

“I don’t hate you, Dean. I’m just tired of getting my hopes up. After knowing what my dad did...I’m done with the parents thing,” you said.

“There’s more good people in the world than bad. They just don’t get the attention the bad ones do,” he said.

“It still doesn’t mean I want parents again,” you said.

“You don’t want to get hurt again. There’s a difference,” he said.

“Said the still single man,” you said.

“True. But at least I’m willing to risk getting hurt again,” he said. 

“How?” you asked.

“You, for starters,” he said.

“How could I hurt you though?”

“Forget it,” he said as he shook his head. “So you have fun? Sweet sixteen. Going to get your permit and be asking to borrow my car soon?”

“Maybe,” you said, shrugging as he quickened his walk.

“What?” you asked as he pulled you along. You saw a group of guys hanging around a car parked near yours and a whistle come from one of them as you went past.

Dean stiffened beside you and quickly had the both of you in the car and pulling away.

“Are you alright?” you asked.

“Mhm.”

“You’re white knuckling the wheel,” you said.

“I’m fine. Why don’t you put something on the radio?”

“Okay,” you said, Dean’s face contorting after a moment. “What?”

“Is this what you call music?” he said, pretending to gag.

“Very mature, Dean,” you said. “Not everyone is in love with old man music like you.”

“Old man music? You’re gonna be hearing a lot of it from now on so I’d get used to it if I were you.”

It was around midnight when you heard shuffling outside your room. You sighed and sat up, expecting Rae to be there. You wearily went over to the door and opened it, Rae giggling outside.

“Rae,” you whispered. “It’s bedtime.”

“What’s going on?” yawned Dean, padding down a hall on the other side of the house. He rubbed his eyes and looked between the two of you. “I heard giggling.”

“I forgot to say I love you at bedtime,” she said, looking up at you.

“I love you too,” you said, giving her a hug. “Now go to bed.”

“Okay,” she said, taking back off upstairs. Dean shook his head but smiled, heading back for his room when he spun back around suddenly.

“Y/N. Were you crying?” asked Dean. 

“What? No,” you said, rubbing your eyes. “I’m just tired. Stayed up too late.”

He walked over to the wall and flipped on the light switch. You turned around to go back to your own room but he let out a sigh. You turned back and looked up a him, Dean cocking his head.

“Why are you crying, sweetheart? Was it tonight? I’m sorry for making you have a birthday party. I didn’t think it would make you this upset,” he said as he walked over and put his hands on your arms.

“It’s stupid,” you said, looking away. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me,” he said. “Come on.”

He walked over and hit the light switch off, pulling you with him to the kitchen and reaching into a tall cabinet, pulling down a box of Oreos and dragging you over to his room.

“This is pretty,” you said, looking around the nice but cozy bedroom. It was bigger than the other ones in the house but it was warm and felt like a safe place.

“Thank you,” he said, pulling you over to the undisturbed side of the bed. He grabbed a blanket from a chair in the corner and gave it to you, settling back in bed and hitting the lamp on his nightstand before he tore open the container.

“When in doubt, cookies always help,” he said. You watched him eat one for a moment, finding one being held out in front of your face. “Want one?”

You shook your head and looked away, putting your back to him.

“Alright,” he said, the package being moved to his nightstand. “What’d I do?”

“You always want to talk about everything. Can’t you just be quiet for once?” you said. You heard him hum and the bed shift. You felt Dean wrap his arms around you and pull you into his side. “What are you doing?”

“You look like you could use a hug right now,” he said. You took a shaky breath but let yourself rest your head on his shoulder. “You can always tell me anything.”

“For fucks sake,” you said. “You don’t even...I’m upset because of you.”

“Did I make you uncomfortable?” he asked, moving to shift away but you shook your head.

“You’re...nice. You’re always nice, even when I’m mean. You gave the twins a birthday party. You gave me a birthday party. I have a winter coat that fits for the first time in five years. You make us dinner and ask about school and you give us blankets-”

“Slow down,” said Dean. “It’s okay.”

You started to cry again, wiping off your face as best you could, Dean using his shirt to get the parts you missed.

“I don’t want to leave here,” you said, looking up at him.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he said.

“I’m sixteen though, not five.”

“I submitted the initial paperwork for Rae and Ryan earlier this week,” he said. You swallowed, Dean’s face soft. “I requested yours too.”

“What?”

“I put in the first step paperwork for your adoption,” he said. You pulled away and looked over at him, Dean letting out a small sigh. “I wanted to surprise you, all of you. But there was a complication with your paperwork it turned out.”

“What complication,” you asked.

“Your dad is refusing to sign the last papers for you,” he said.

“I thought he already got rid of us,” you said.

“So did I. So did all of us. Apparently your copy was void for some reason,” said Dean. “Your dad has to relinquish his rights first. Paula let me know…he’s not willing to do that with you.”

“I’m not allowed to be adopted because a murderer says so?” you scoffed.

“It’s backwards and fucked up but in this particular case, yes. Unless he changes his mind, you’re not eligible to be adopted until you’re eighteen, sweetheart. I’m so sorry,” he said.

“How do I know this isn’t some bullshit story so you can take the twins away from me?” you said, narrowing your eyes at him.

Dean stared at you, his jaw clenching but you saw him start to get upset.

“Every time we have a nice moment, every single fucking time, you get scared and you try to push me away. I have feelings too but if you want to keep doing this, then fine because the day you turn eighteen, I will adopt you. That’s a promise,” he said. “So keep saying I don’t care about you and keep swearing at me and calling me an asshole behind my back and rolling your eyes. Throw whatever punches you need to because I’ll take them and a few years from now, I’m going to adopt you one way or the other. I am sorry I can’t do it right now. I think that man is a sicko that shouldn’t get any say over your life. But I don’t know how to fix it right now. I will try to, I will. But don’t think you’re any different than Rae or Ryan. I want you to be my fucking kid too and sometimes I think maybe you’d be okay with me being your dad. Maybe we won’t have the same relationship that I have with them but that’s okay. I’ll be there for you. I don’t care about the piece of paper. Please just hold on for me until I can get that for you. Please. I know you need it and that you want it. Just hold on and let me show you I can be your dad too.”

You blinked slowly at him, Dean taking a deep breath when he finished. You crawled over to his lap and gave him a hug, Dean quickly returning it.

“Told you that you always want to talk about everything,” you said. He let out a laugh, kissing the top of your head.

“You always have a home here,” he said.

“I’m not calling you, dad,” you said.

“I don’t expect you to. Just next time you want to cry, grab the cookies and come find me,” he said.

“Okay,” you said. “You’re way better than my actual dad ever was to be honest.”

“He set the bar pretty low,” chuckled Dean.

“Actually, I don’t have a dad anymore,” you said.

“Okay. No more dad,” he said. You smiled to yourself.

“Right now I’ll take a Dean,” you said.

“I love you too,” he said, giving you a squeeze.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Okay. You didn’t say it,” he said, still smiling when you looked up at him. “We have so much more in common than you know.”

“You do this with your dad?” you asked.

“No. I didn’t speak to my father for about ten years,” said Dean. You lifted your head, Dean nodding. “After my fiance died, I wasn’t very capable of taking care of myself so I moved in with my parents for a while. I was on autopilot. I did whatever my mom told me. Eat something. Take a shower. Get some sleep. I went to her room one night when I thought my dad was out. I just needed to eat some cookies and listen to her talk, tell me what to do. She wasn’t home turned out but Dad was. He came upstairs and I was only a million times worse than you are right now and we just forgave each other. Life’s not worth holding onto grudges. My family put me back together when I didn’t think there were pieces left. Being angry takes up so much energy. You gotta let it go.”

“What was her name?” you asked. “Your fiance.”

“Jo. Joanna,” he said. “She bugged the shit out of me in freshman english. I thought she was so annoying. A know it all that didn’t know anything. She used to drive me insane. We were always in the same classes. Both biology majors and all. She was always so annoying. Then there was this Halloween party at one of the Frat’s during sophomore year. She comes up to me and I’m already halfway to walking away and she just looked at me. She was scared. Some guy was harassing her so I walked her home. She was still shook up so I stayed the night on her couch. When I woke up, she was so different. She was sweet and called me a gentleman and I just really looked at her for the first time and it all hit me at once. We had a good ten years together.”

“Have you ever dated since?” you asked. “If that’s okay.”

“Not really, no,” he said. “I thought about it a few times but no.”

“Don’t you think she’d want you to be happy?” you asked.

“I found three short things to make me happy,” he said.

“Don’t get sappy, Dean.”

“Too late,” he said, chuckling as you leaned back. “Now next time you feel like crying, you gonna come see me?”

“Maybe,” you said.

“Okay. I’ll take maybe right now,” he said.

“Dean.”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Thank you. For my birthday,” you said.

“Oh, you don’t have to thank me for that. You’ll get another one next year too,” he said.

“I know. I um, I’m gonna go back to bed,” you said.

“Alright,” he said as you crawled off with the blanket, wrapping it around yourself. “Goodnight. Get some sleep. I have something fun planned for everyone tomorrow.”

“Night, Dean,” you said as you headed for the door. “Thanks, for checking on me.”

“It’s my job, kiddo,” he said. “Night, Y/N.”

_____

A/N: Read Part 5 here!

[mystical-flute]

Conversation Starter (Curious Archer)

Part 7 of Mistletoe and Holly

Also on AO3 and FFN

Prompt: Where on Earth did you get that sweater?!

Margot wasn’t one for Christmas parties. She really wasn’t one for big family gatherings in general, but especially ones centered around Christmas. It wasn’t anything serious that caused her to think that way, but she just… didn’t care for the whole fuzzy, warm feelings of the holiday season.

Unfortunately, when she’d returned to Storybrooke with her girlfriend in tow, and her mother had found out Alice hadn’t had a proper holiday thanks to some complicated family matters, a Christmas party, complete with all the trimmings, was planned in no less than two days.

Margot hadn’t exactly been surprised - Aunt Regina and Mary-Margaret were wizards when it came to party planning, but even so, she felt dread beginning to burn inside of her. A Christmas party wasn’t something she wanted to attend tonight.

But her mother had insisted, and Alice had lit up at the idea, so she would go, grin and bare it, and pray it got over quickly.

At least Alice seemed to be excited, judging by the way she bounced around the room.

“I haven’t been to a party in a long time,” she said, suddenly turning to Margot with wide eyes. “What do you wear to Christmas parties anyway?”

Margot shrugged, looking down at the burgundy sweater and jeans wore. “I was just going to wear what I have on. My family usually doesn’t make these things formal.”

Alice nodded, looking at herself in the mirror, before grinning and turning back to Margot. “D’you mind if I get changed? I think I have the perfect sweater!”

Margot blinked. “Not at all.” If they got there late, they could stay for an even shorter amount of time.

“Great!” Alice chirped, rushing to her bag and grabbing what Margot only saw was something green. She flicked through her phone while she waited for Alice to change, already beginning to make plans for their next travel adventure. Maybe back to Seattle to see Alice’s father - the relationship was strained, but she’d thought they’d made some real progress before they’d come to Storybrooke. Or perhaps backpacking through Europe again, back to where they first met in Spain…

“Okay, I think I’m ready!” Alice announced, stepping into the room.

It was a green sweater, but it was oh so much more than that. It was decorated with snowflakes and ornaments, and on the front was the word “FRAGILE”, with the leg lamp from A Christmas Story stretching down most of the front. The lampshade itself had several lights attached, glowing much like Alice’s smile.

It took everything in Margot not to burst out laughing, managing to contain it in a smile. “Where on Earth did you get that sweater?!” she asked.

“I bought it last Christmas in London. Do you like it?” Alice asked, giving a twirl. “Will your family like it?”

Margot’s grin threatened to split her face. “No doubt they will.”

When they arrived at Aunt Regina’s house (and God, Aunt Regina and her father had really gone all out with the decorations yet again), and the large Christmas tree was shining in the window. She swore the house could have been on the cover of a magazine.

Alice tugged nervously at the sweater. “You’re sure about this?”

“Positive,” she replied, kissing Alice’s cheek. “They’ll love you and your sweater, I promise.”

Pushing the door open, Margot could already hear the voices of Roland, Neal Jr., and Henry loudly talking about whatever video game it was they were playing and nearly rolled her eyes. Those three were a dangerous combination together.

“Hey… Merry Christmas,” she called into the house.

“Oh Margot, welcome home!” Regina cried, pulling her in for a tight hug. “And you must be Alice, right?”

Alice blinked in surprise. “You know who I am?”

“Of course, Zelena told us you were coming,” Regina replied, before taking in the outfit. “Oh - that sweater is certainly -” 

“Awesome!” Roland cried, peering up from the couch. “Seriously, the lights make it. How does it even work?”

“It’s got a button…” Alice explained sheepishly. “Oh, are you guys playing Mario Kart?”

Roland nodded. “Sure are, wanna join us? I’ve got a spare joycon.”

Alice seemed to relax at that, eagerly going over to the couch and plopping down between Neal and Henry. “Hope you guys don’t mind if I kick your ass during our first meeting!”

Margot laughed, before turning to greet her father and other relatives.

She had a feeling she was going to start having to make a bigger effort for Christmas, but seeing Alice’s face lit up the way it was would make it all worthwhile.

[danbensen]

August-2030

The sun is hot on my back, and my thighs burn with the effort of holding this position. My back doesn’t hurt, though. Those stretches work.

My face is full of leaves. They come in triplets, saw-edged, each the size of the space between my thumb and forefinger. Hard, unripe berries tap against my glasses. Somewhere too close, a yellow-jacket buzzes.

I put one hand down and reach with the other into the shadows, scattering leaf-hoppers. The sweat sticks to the inside of the glove as I squeeze the handles of the garden sheers. A growing resistance, then a dull snap, and a brown, prickly cane shudders behind the leaves.

The dead cane tears away from the bush like velcro, exposing a patch of soil, the wall of my parents’ house, and a small volume of empty space, dangling with raspberries.

I grab one and put it in my mouth. It tastes like the dirt and leather on my glove, ash from the recent forest fires, and decades of piled summers.

Raspberry canes take a year to grow up from the root, another to produce fruit, and then they die in the third. My job is to clear out the dead canes of last year to make room for next year’s shoots. I’m also exposing more of this year’s berries to my daughters and their cousins.

I wanted to do this in my garden, which is just old enough to have its own raspberries. They’re planted in rows away from the house, just the way my grandpa had them. And I have already done the chore of cutting out that patch’s first crop of dead canes. But my kids were firm: if we were going relive someone’s childhood today, it would be theirs.

I decide that my back is hurting after all and slowly stand.

My parents’ garden hasn’t changed much since Julia was a nine months old and pooping in the wading pool. The lilacs have grown thicker, the apple tree has died. The bird bath is now at our summer house three valleys south of here. Julia manipulated my parents into giving it to her.

But there’s still the enormous rhubarb plant next to the compost. To the east, beyond the rhubarb, the hill slopes down to the Interstate, the web of aerial traffic, and the houses, condos, restaurants, business incubators, network hubs, and micro-factories of Lolo, Montana.

Julia and Mikhaela move through the garden like a hummingbird and a lawnmower, respectively, with the other teenagers strung between them. Some are talking or doing incomprehensible things with their key-rings and charm-bracelets, but an impressive amount of berry-picking is still getting done. Mikhaela said she wanted to make a pie for the party, and they already have enough for two.

I glance to my right, where my younger daughter is methodically mowing her way down the raspberries. I can’t tell whether she’s listening to an audiobook or sharing her POV with some other kid in Saudi Arabia or just thinking her thoughts.

I remember my grandpa when he drove me home from the airport one summer. I had wanted to read a fantasy book, but he wouldn’t let me. He kept me talking that whole drive.

“What did you learn in drama camp today?” I ask her.

“Diegesis,” she says.

There’s a conversation starter! But my attempt at a follow-up question is interrupted by a delivery drone descending onto our lawn. Its brown plastic carapace is emblazoned with the logo of the nearest hub, which means only that this isn’t a delivery from a Lolo caterer or micro-factory. The kids could have ordered something from Seattle or New Zealand, and it would still get routed through the local hub. My guess, though, is that it comes from Sofia, Bulgaria.

“What did you forget to pack, Yooli?” I shout at my older daughter, Julia, as she runs toward the drone, waving her wallet-key.

Last summer, Julia packed almost nothing for our trip to the US. She told us she thought it would be easier to just mail herself stuff when she remembered she needed it. When we saw the international shipping bill, we got her her own bank account and wallet-key, which might have been the whole point of the exercise.

The drone sees her key, releases the box it was clutching, and zips back into the smoky air to join the sky-traffic.

“I didn’t forget anything.” Julia shakes her hair out of her face and lets go of her key-ring, which zips back to her belt on its recoil line. The belt is bright pink, with green and blue Kazakh embroidery patterns. Each key on the ring is a different color and pattern, for a different digital purpose. “This is for our party.”

She pulls open the self-storage box, revealing an irregularly-shaped pink crystal the size of a melon. It’s a salt-lamp.

Generational cycles are funny things. Growing up means doing whatever your parents didn’t do, but we all have a soft spot for our grandparents. I want to be firm and practical like my grandpa, Mikhaela wants to be strong-minded like my mom. My older daughter Julia, for her part, cultivates a free romantic spirit like my mother-in-law. This, for me, is an endless opportunity for spiritual growth.

“Your salt-lamp.” I repeat. “Why do you need a salt-lamp for a party? Why do you need your salt lamp? You could have ordered a brand new one and it would have been a lot cheaper.”

I know what she’ll say next: “it’s my money. You‘re the one who told me to get a job and now I have eighty.” I open my mouth to tell her that she still ought to save her money for something important. And what is it exactly that she’s doing in these eighty jobs anyway?

But Julia hoists the salt-lamp and says, “it has to be this one. My friends and I licked it into just the right shape.”

I have no idea how to respond to that. I close my mouth and process data while my daughter skips away, tongue-sculpted lamp cradled in her arms. I’ve been out-maneuvered again.

I strip off my gloves and hat and go to find my wife.

Pavlina is on the balcony, sipping chilled white wine with her brother and sister-in-law. They’ve lived in California since the early 2010s, and in some ways they’re more American than me.

“I need to go to the teenager party,” I tell Pavlina.

“Zashto? Ti li si tineidjar?” Why? Are you a teenager?

Pavlina’s brother lifts a bottle of beer in my direction. “Ne trevozhi, bre. Veche si imam pushkata.” This is an in-joke.

According to Bulgarian tradition, Julia’s and Mikhaela’s first teenager party means we adults are all exiled here, to my parents’ house. We’re supposed to have a party, too, but I suspect it will be more like a military command center. Lots of tense pacing while we try to imagine what chaos is unfolding on the front lines.

“What are you talking about?” My dad appears from the kitchen with a tray of cheese and the tactical situation becomes more complicated. Neither of my parents approve of the teenager party, and we’ve been tip-toeing around the topic all week.

“We could be in the attic,” I tell Pavlina. “Or the basement.”

“That is where I’ll lock you when you go insane, yes,” she says.

Pavlina’s brother cackles and my dad says “What?” in a tone that means “I am playing the doddering cyborg grandpa, but I really am angry that you’re talking over my head.”

“It’s the teenager party.” I look out over the balcony, where our kids are doing incomprehensible and scary things in the yard below us. “I mean, what if something happens?”

My dad doesn’t say, “exactly! We have to cancel this whole barbaric ritual.” He says, “I’m worried too.”

“Yooli and Mishi will take care of it,” Pavlina says. “That’s what they’re learning to do.”

“What if someone brings dope?”

“They’ll tell him to smoke it outside.”

I check to make sure my mom isn’t in earshot. “What if things get…physical?”

“Zdravko and Boris are big. They’ll beat him up.” These are Julia and Mikhaela’s cousins, who seem to be engaged in some a virtual sword-fight right now. Mikahela is directing it.

“Now you say, ‘there can be only one sun, one moon, and one great khan!'”

I look around for support, but even my dad is nodding. “You don’t need to worry about boys,” he says.

I pick up a piece of cheese. “Well, at least I got them to pick raspberries with me. Mishi’ll make a pie.”

Pavlina looks serenely out at the Sapphire Mountains. “Sore wa kokuteiru no tame da to itta yo.”

‘She told me they were for cocktails,’ in Japanese, a language which nobody within earshot speaks but me and my wife.

I try to slow my breathing.

It isn’t just the underage drinking. It’s the social situation. My kids keeping secrets from me. Me keeping secrets from my dad. I reach down inside of myself for that still, small, voice. It says “be honest.”

“Mikhaela is making cocktails?” I say.

Everyone stiffens.

The US and Bulgaria have very different ideas about what constitutes proper behavior for teenagers and police officers. My dad, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law now all agree that the teenager party is a terrible idea.

Pavlina, meanwhile, looks steadily at me, letting me know that I have now become her opportunity for spiritual growth.

I put my cheese down on the balcony railing. “I’m just worried. Our kids are going to be alone in the summer house, which we just finished. They’re going to be drinking and smoking and licking salt-lamps.”

“Huh?” says my brother in law.

“What’s going to happen? What are we going to do when something does happen?”

“You’ll deal with it.” Pavlina declares, standing. “Nali si moyat mesten vodach?” Aren’t you my native guide? Another in-joke.

She pats me on the shoulder. “In the mean time, meditate on trusting your children, or at least trusting God to watch over them.”

“The God of fools and children,” I mutter. But that still, small voice speaks to me. “Go pick some more raspberries,” it says.

[with-a-gilded-quill]

The Fae in the Forest: Chapter 2

“Thanks for coming.” Emily said cheerfully. Her voice was as soft as the rustling leaves outside, Hazel thought to herself, and it was suddenly as if they’d never been apart. She couldn’t help the smile that came to her as she looked on at the woman. Emily still had her strawberry blonde hair, long and straight and perfectly suited for her pale skin. Hazel noted that she didn’t bother covering up her freckles with makeup like she did in high school. Instead, she wore them proudly, scattered across her nose and cheeks and shoulders like so many stars in the night sky. Hazel could have stared at her for hours. And then there was Percy.

He came up the stairs behind Emily and broke Hazel’s focus. Hazel looked away to prevent any scowling. Percy, with his sandy hair styled into a sterile military cut, in his blue button up shirt and clean-cut khakis and brown loafers, looked rather like he could be a youth leader at a church, all clean cut and perfectly put together. This struck Hazel as annoying, even as he hugged Emily around her middle and kissed her cheek. She giggled. Hazel gagged.

It wasn’t that Hazel was unhappy with how cheerful Emily was. It was only that Percy wasn’t exactly a stand-up guy in her eyes. She did not move from her spot on the floor to greet him. Cedric, instead, took the upper hand and stood, holding his hand out to greet Percy. He smiled his warm, sweet smile that made people relax without even knowing it.

“Percy,” Cedric said, his booming voice a beacon of kindness and calmness. “Nice to see you again. It’s been, what, four years since we all graduated?” Percy did not take Cedric’s hand. He stared at it with contempt, before looking up at Cedric. His eyes were as blue and cold as oceans.

“Uh-huh.” Percy said, shoving his hands into his pockets. Hazel seethed. She could feel her face growing hot with anger. Emily attempted to meet her eyes, likely to offer some silent apology, but Hazel dipped her head down toward her coffee cup and stared at it with the intensity of the sun in the middle of the day. The conversation continued, although sparingly, as Cedric dropped his hand to his side.

“Well, regardless of the animosity, I’m rather glad you asked us to meet. It’s been a few years. Hazel and I were just talking about how we hoped everything was all right.” Cedric was a fan of lying for kindness’ sake. He felt in this case, lying would be very kind, considering the things he assumed Hazel had been about to say, before the couple returned to the main floor.

“Oh, everything’s fine.” Emily said wistfully. Her voice made Hazel smile despite herself, and when she looked up, she could see the grin on Emily’s face, the kind she wore when she had a secret she just couldn’t keep to herself. This made Hazel’s throat close up, but it also made her pay close attention. She sat up on her knees, and was silent. She knew Emily. The secret would spill from her at any second…

“We’re getting married!” Emily squealed, before anyone else had a chance to say anything. Hazel and Cedric froze, dumbfounded, as Emily shot out her hand to show off the ring on her finger. It was somewhat small, fitting her slender fingers well, and it sparkled even in the dim fluorescent kitchen lighting. It was truly stunning, the diamond blinking green and yellow and pink, and on either side of that, two flashes of blood red rubies. It looked wonderful on her hand. “It’s even engraved!” Emily added, unable to keep anything to herself. Hazel felt the lump in her throat grow, as well as her stomach drop, all in the span of a couple of seconds. She could not help herself when she finally spoke, climbing to her feet in a fit of red hot rage.

“What?!” She screamed, unable to control the livid temper, nor the tremble in her voice. “What do you mean, getting married?! How could you marry this oaf?! Em, what the hell are you thinking? He’s horrible! He’s mean! And he’s rude! Seriously, what’s your damage, Emily?!” Hazel felt hot tears welling in her eyes for reasons she couldn’t quite explain. Cedric was already at her side by then, an arm around her shoulders as comforting as he could make himself. Hazel thought better of it than to shrug him off and simply stood where she was. Emily was frozen, stunned in silence, her own eyes wide and shocked.

And then Emily’s eyes narrowed sharply and she yanked her body away from Percy’s hold. “What the hell am I thinking? I’m thinking I’ve been dating someone for eight years and I deserve to marry him if I want to! Good god, Hazel, I should have known you’d react like this! I can’t believe I insisted you should come. I was going to ask you to be my maid of honor, considering you’re my oldest friend. I can’t believe I ever thought to even tell you.” The words cut like so many knives, in the same way Hazel’s had to Emily. The tension in the room was overwhelming. Hazel believed, in that instant, that perhaps she was drowning. It felt like breathing underwater. She could take no more, and, panting, with her heart pounding in her ears, she rushed toward the back door, threw it open, and dashed out into the rain. Cedric, after a moment of stunned silence, ran after her.

Hazel was not a particularly fast runner. She was fat, for starters, and had always been fat. It didn’t bother her, and aside from finding clothes she liked in a size that fit, she didn’t feel as if it severely hindered her life. But she hated running, particularly because she never did it, and that made running hard. And yet she had plenty of endurance, and when she was upset she could run long distances without even thinking. She did not set off with the intention of ending up somewhere. In fact, she did not set off with any intention at all. Her feet carried her out into the pouring sheets of rain, past the backyard and the large oak tree under which she had been laying, and into the forest behind Emily’s house.

She had not been to this place since the friendship between her and Emily fell into ruins. In fact, had she realized where, exactly, she was going, Hazel may not have run into the forest at all. Her feet carried her blindly. Hazel could hear Cedric calling, at least for a while, behind her. Cedric was large in a different kind of way than Hazel was, and he was far better at running than she was. With enough of a head start, however, Hazel lost him in the woods.

When she finally came to a stop, Hazel could not breathe. She felt her head spinning and her heart pounding against her chest. She could hear nothing but her blood rushing in her ears, and ringing. Hazel knew this feeling well. They were the symptoms of a panic attack, something Hazel dealt with almost every week. Miserable - and now panicking - Hazel took a heavy seat on the forest floor beneath her and closed her eyes to calm herself down. Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes into hours as her body, her mind, overworked itself to the point of exhaustion. Clearing her mind was not the most efficient way of stopping a panic attack, nor was it her favorite. But it was what she had to hand. There was no one here to help her breathe again. There was nothing but the sound of autumn leaves, the chilling breeze, and the heavy rain, the latter of which was mostly blocked by the canopy of tree tops overhead, although this did not stop the rain from getting through here and there.

When Hazel finally found herself calm again, the day had become darker. She checked her phone and found that it was nearing 5pm. With a grunt, Hazel hoisted herself up onto her feet and looked around. “Great,” she stated dully to herself, “I’m lost.”

Indeed, lost she was, surrounded by entirely identical trees, with no path or trail to follow. “I must have ran further than I thought.” Hazel said, huffing. The forest was a dark, faceless monster, even now at 22. It contained unimaginable horrors and indecipherable secrets. Hazel did not appreciate either of those things. With a soft sigh, she set off through the trees in hopes of finding the trail again.

But she did not find the trail. Instead Hazel found something far more strange than that.

The canopy of trees shielding the underbrush from the rain parted to reveal a clearing in front of it. It was enormous for a clearing, around the size of  Spring Green itself. And in the clearing, there was a village. Or, at one time, it was probably a village. Now, it was a world in which nothing but weeds and grass lived. They had overtaken the crumbled stone walls and frames of houses and cobblestone walkways. They wound themselves around old lamp posts and popped out of cracks in the marble fountain that sat in what Hazel was sure was a town square. Hazel found this place strange, but beautiful. It was oddly, painfully familiar, like an old scent from childhood, or the face of one’s very first pet, fifteen years after they’ve died. Her breath hitched in her throat, and suddenly, she experienced the overwhelming urge to cry. Sitting on the edge of the decaying marble fountain, she did just that. Hazel cried until she couldn’t possibly cry anymore, until her throat was dry and her voice was hoarse, until her eyes were red and puffy. And then she fell asleep. And, fast asleep, Hazel dreamed. And Hazel remembered.

[lokikingofasgardslover713]

Helot: Issues

Masterlist

Loki Laufeyson X Plus Size Unnamed OFC

Warnings: Torture, blood, gore, pissed Loki

Summary: Loki recalls the conversation he had with Thor before leaving with Larkin/Enora. And will Loki find her before they inflict more damage to her healing body?

A/N: The past conversation in in italic. This takes place back at the Avengers compound.

Words: +2,600

“We need to talk,” Thor began, pulling Loki to the side away from the group.

The common room was filled with clattering as it was apparent they were getting ready to eat. Loki was in a hurry to go ahead and get on with his part of the mission alone. Scanning the group for the woman but she was nowhere to be seen.

Shrugging it off, he figured she was probably hiding, the same thing she tended to do on the ship.

“About what,” Loki asked as they stepped down the corridor to have a private conversation, the two pausing to speak.

“The woman. I believe you are the best one to help her.”

Loki gave Thor a puzzled look, this wasn’t the conversation starter he was prepared for but answered immediately.

“No, you brought her with you, she is your responsibility.”

“Then why did you bother healing her?”

Emerald orbs narrowed at Thor. Damn, this wasn’t going the way he wanted it, he wanted the ship to himself, the silence. Though he found himself dreading stepping back on board alone with nothing but the drone of the engines. If he was able to use seidr or Bifrost without drawing attention he would, but this time he couldn’t if he wanted to keep cover.

“Because I didn’t want the hassle of dealing with a corpse,” Loki was quick to retort, giving Thor an apathetic look. “And she healed on her own. Why would I want to keep her with me? She will cause this mission of yours to take longer if I have to babysit.”

“No,” Thor snipped back, he knew that was a terrible lie, even for Loki.

“No? Then I will just leave her here,” he remarked knowingly and eyeing Thor.

“Well, that is going to be hard considering I just witnessed her sneak back onto the ship. You seen something that day I brought her with me, tell me what it was brother.”

“I will gladly drag her back and place her on her ass on the lawn before I leave. And what do you mean, what did I see when she laid dying on the floor? I saw an inconvenience as well as a failed mission,” he snapped folding his arms over his chest, secretly searching for her energy signature, and Thor was right, she was back on the ship.

“Really? Because that wasn’t what I seen in your eyes when you realized what I held in my lap when you came to retrieve me 2 weeks ago.”

“It was disgust.” Loki crinkled his nose, growing irritated with the statement and the conversation.

“No, that wasn’t disgust.” Thor smirked as he folded his arms over his own chest to agitate Loki, he knew how to get him to finally tell what he wanted to know.

“What is all this leading up to brother? I don’t have time to play your guessing games if you are wanting me to go out for more information. Let’s hurry this along.”

“You seen yourself lying there in that cell. You seen yourself, lying there, dying, wishing for death, which you could easily have granted her, and instead you saved her because that was what you had hoped for.”

Thor knew he spoke the truth, he knew Loki would disagree, possibly loose his temper but it was truth and couldn’t be denied.

“I wish I could congratulate you brother, but you are wrong.”

“Am I? then tell me why?”

“I healed her so I wouldn’t have to deal with you sulking around the ship. You are such a sentimental fool that I was afraid it would compromise the mission.” He gave Thor a knowing smirk.

“Hmm, then why was it the first thing that you asked the trader was for a device to remove the control on her neck? You could have just as easily of used your seidr, she can’t feel pain so it wouldn’t have mattered.”

“If I would have used seidr on that particular device, It would have shredded her temporal lobe more than it already was, along with rendering her frontal lobe to mush.”

This was meant as a matter of fact statement in hopes of getting Thor off his back, but it made a look of concern pass over his brothers features. Cocking his head, he studied over Thor before he finally spoke.

“Wait. Her temporal lobe? It controls memory, speech, emotion, things like that, correct?”

“Yes, and it is shredded as if someone had flayed it to pieces. It is healing but slowly. It may be why she doesn’t talk as much or show emotion at the moment. It makes for compliant thralls, but apparently doesn’t work on her. She is better off here, maybe your, friends, can help.”

This time Loki was hoping Thor would just cave. The god honestly didn’t want to think any longer on the woman’s state than he already was.

“If you noted all that, then what else did you find when you healed her? Come now Loki, I know you see memories.”

With a huff Loki finally owned up to the little he found out about the women.

“I found no name. The frontal lobe is scarred from the device, gaps are missing and at the moment she doesn’t seem to dream. She has the potential to be a powerful, but just what creature I don’t know. What memories are intact are from Midgard, slaughter, and her treatment after she was captured. The capture and centuries as a thrall has weakened her abilities, but with the control removed and her body and mind finally allowed to heal then she should gain all that back.”

“Now, was that so hard? She stays with you,” Thor grinned at Loki, hitting him in the arm as he moved to step around him and to the eating area.

“What? Did you not listen to a word I said?” In exasperation Loki turned to face Thor but didn’t budge from his spot.

“Yes, I did. And if she is as powerful as you say, she will be better off with you. You are the only one I know that will be able to sense if she is getting too powerful and stop her.”

“Thor, that’s not how it works. I can sense her gaining it back -.”

“Great! It is settled! She stays with you. I will have a talk with her before we eat.”

“Damn fool,” Loki muttered under his breath as he followed after Thor to the common room.

Though she was unable to hear, the crack of her spine as it was separated vibrated through her body. They were collecting spinal fluids. Laying bare on her side, the grating of the table cut into the flesh, bruised it. They had stripped her, possibly placed her clothes so they wouldn’t be ruined and could be placed back when they were done.

With the cracking of her spine came a numbness to her lower half, and as usual no pain; even as a needle was drove into her spinal cord. Her vision was gradually healing, she seen dark shadows, but hearing and balance was still off. She was feeling vibrations however and was able to discern speech. They were rushing to collect what they could.

A reckless jab to her arm, followed by one to the back of her skull to sink a hollow device into her brain had her fighting the collar once more. A trickle escaping her eyes, warm and sticky, like blood. The instrument in her brain withdrawing, taking tissue with it, but the one stayed in her arm. The thing in her spine retracting as well, followed by whatever was used to separate the vertebrae.

“She’s healing faster than last time. It's only been 15 minutes since we took her and you dosed her,” the male spoke surprised to the female as he withdrew the vertebrate separator. With a swift move he threw it to the tray saturated in blood before using a laser tool to close the skin.

“Does she need more,” the female spoke as she looked to the monitor before them, registering brain waves and vitals.

“Wouldn’t hurt,” he spoke before he reached to roll her to her back, the female working quick to replenish the drops in the woman’s eyes and ears.

“She’s fighting more this time,” she spoke, moving to the woman’s stomach, pressing slender fingers into her lower abdomen. “Just a few more samples and we can take her back.”

“Take her seeds,” the male growled, beginning to wash her top half down. “She will never reproduce, they want be missed, she obviously can’t.”

Cold water washed over her head, hoping it would wash some of the acid away. She had begun to hear and see again but they ruined it. Delicate fingers pressing her lower abdomen before a sharp instrument was pressed into her skin to take whatever it wanted and retracted. The stream of water washing over her lower half now.

They had to be done, she knew it had only been minutes, but it had felt like an eternity once again. The vibration of an argument breaking out as she was jerked to sit up.

“I told you to take her seeds,” the male snarled, washing over the woman’s back. A large orange hand grabbing for the instrument the other had used and placed on the tray.

“NO,” the female snarled viciously, “you leave them!”

With a snarl he drew back and finished up as the female fetched the clothes, the eerie opaque eyes following her every move.

It wasn’t too late, but Loki wasn’t surprised to find Enora curled up in bed, the woman was still healing. Though something was off, be it a feeling or how she laid, the god couldn’t help the worry as he stepped next to the bed. Not meaning to jar the mattress, Enora jolting upright, the sheets falling away as she drew a dagger and had it at his throat.

“Calm down, it's me-,” Loki began calmly, using seidr to cut on the lamp beside the bed. The calmness dying in his throat when he seen opaque eyes glaring into his own.

Raw streaks of skin over plump cheeks, and even feeling them along the sides of her neck as he placed one hand delicately around it and the other carefully around the wrist that held the dagger. He wasn’t going to fault her for this reaction. Apparent he was recognized in some way when she touched it to his skin. Recognition reaching her pale eyes, steady hand dropping the dagger as he pulled both wrist into his hand to assure she was done fighting and she tipped forward instead.

Her nose ghosted over his knuckles, she was sniffing, head turning slightly for him to realize whatever they had done to blind, they had done to deafen as well. Collapsing into him, Loki noted her clothes had an astringent smell on them, as did her hair as she huddled against him.

Releasing her neck, Loki ran his hand over her spine, felt the tremble of her legs, as if they had just regained feeling. Murmuring to her quietly, knowing she couldn’t hear but could since the vibration of his voice.

The way the god moved told her he understood what she had been through. However, she still felt none of the Hel they had inflicted, relying on his scent and vibration of his voice to help focus. He was shifting her around, pushing hair out of her face as he helped her to sit up. Loki had to be looking her over, finally releasing her wrist. Enora placed hands on his chest to feel him speak.

Blind eyes finally seeing shadows once again, balance still not the greatest and wondered how she was able to attack him with precision. Swaying in his grasp, the god must have noted her off kilter, sure to keep her upright as he shuffled about. He released her, was allowing her to drop but understood he was taking shattered form in his arms to carry.

Sure to keep her head to his chest to feel his voice. The scent of his seidr tickling her senses as they swayed for a moment, the atmosphere and shadows around them changed. It was the ship, it had to be, feeling him walk a few steps before placing her onto a cot and a blanket wrapped over her.

The pillow, the blanket, the cot, it all scented like Loki. He had to have placed her on his bunk. The shadow of him kneeling before her as he took her hand to place it to his chest. Loki using his free hand to lace the other into her hair.

I need to return to the planet, for a few moments. You are safe here, no one will get onto the ship without me knowing. Rest, whatever they have done I can not heal. The gods voice echoed in her mind and she nodded in understanding, within moments the shadow of Loki was gone.

“You tortured a free woman,” a voice echoed from the darkness of the slave hold, the orange skinned male and female pausing, and nervously trying to peer through it to spot the owner.  

The corridor was dark, quiet but for the groans of the latest victim of their harvest. The two butchers could barely make out the figure at the end of the corridor, knowing they blocked one exit. Though his voice was a dead giveaway.

“We done no such thing,” the female spoke up hotly, but unable to hide the trimmer of fear as they turned to face him.

“Then what else would explain the state I found her in,” the voice mused as the figure didn’t move.

“I don’t know. Just how did you find her,” the male spoke as he stepped forward.

“Curled in my bed, blind, and deaf,” the voice now spoke from the opposite end of the corridor, this time Loki allowing himself seen as the two spun on him. This one blocked the only other way out of the narrow corridor, lined on either side with cells.

“You do anything to us without cause you forfeit both your lives. These corridors are chronicled,” the male spoke knowingly as if he had one over on Loki.

“It's useless to rely on technology,” the Loki before them spoke.

“It is easily manipulated,” they heard at their backs.

The male turned to watch the Loki at their backs step out of the shadows. While the female kept focus on the one before them.

“I want all the information on the woman, Larkin, as you call her; then I will let you go,” the Loki at the entrance to the corridor spoke.

“How do we trust you,” the female spoke, looking between the two.

“I give you my word.” The one behind answered.

“Your word,” the male scoffed at the one before them.

“Yes, my word. It isn’t to be taken lightly,” he admitted as the female reached into her shirt pocket to hold up a slender object that glowed purple, it appeared to be skrull tech.

“Your word and I let you have this. It is all the information on her from the first and last time we laid hands on her as well as what we, procured from her,” the female spoke as she looked between the two Loki's, the male snarling at her to shut up.

“You have my word,” the Loki near the exit spoke stepping close to the female but disappeared for the one at the entrance to snatch it out of her fingers. “It's been a pleasure doing business.”

The god smirked at the two as he backed away to the door, the sound of authorities ransacking the outer rooms that surrounded the thrall hold echoing around them.

“You gave us your word,” the male snarled, starting for Loki who didn’t budge, but the look he shot the two made them pause.

“I said I would let you go, I didn’t say anything about the authorities,” he smirked before the door broke down and the god was gone in a wisp of seidr.

Tags open! And re-blogs are ALWAYS welcomed!

Tags: @dark-night-sky-99  @prettybubblesintheair  @gramaeryebard  @reallyheckinggay  @jovanna-shewolf  @andiyholly  @katstablook   @nickyl316h  @beets1bears1battlestargalactica @aslandia726 @moonfaery @furstinnajoelle   @itsbqueenthings @lookwhatyoumademequeue @moonlightprime @bambamwolf87 @tomhardy41 @get-loki @drakonwild @alexakeyloveloki @devilbat @jazzieomega

[gnewscar]

The Best Portable Car Jump Starters 2020

The Best Portable Car Jump Starters 2020 - To be a solution when your vehicle experiences engine problems that cannot start, one effort to start it is to use the Best Car Jump Starters that you can easily buy on the market. But, Buying a jump starter which will be used for a long time, surely we must choose the best, this will be able to save your expenses because the tool will not be easily damaged. All products certainly claim to be the best, but you must be clever to choose not to be tempted by the various features offered where we don't know for sure. Choose Jumper Cables that are already widely used by people or are in demand in the market. To ensure that if your car's battery runs out or dies, you can check it by trying to turn it on for several times, don't force it if the battery can't lift the engine to start. If this is what you experience, the portable jump starter will help your car turn on again without having to be towed by another car.

List of Product The Best Portable Car Jump Starters 2020

So the solution to solve your problem and very popular today, a variety of Portable Car Jump Starters products on the market with a variety of features offered. Here we will recommend 10 Best Portable Car Jump Starters Products that have been proven to be able to solve the problem of your car and all other vehicle owners. 1. NOCO Genius UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter The lithium jump starter is in the best and most powerful category because it has a value of 4,000 amps and this product also offers up to 80 jumps from the start of charging. Another advantage is being able to have no spark and provide reverse polarity protection, this portable jump starter is very safe and also easy to use even if you are buying it for the first time.

NOCO Genius UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter also has an interesting additional feature, the 500-lumen built-in LED flashlight with seven light modes, you can set the levels to low, medium, high, flashing, strobe, and SOS emergency. Another consideration why NOCO Genius UltraSafe is the best product is, you can use this portable jump starter every day. The greatness of this product can be used to charge all USB devices with 12 volts of power, for example, you will use it for tire compressors or other items. No less interesting is this jump starter can be used on vehicles with gasoline engines or, can be applied to trucks, mobile pickups and even ships. Every purchase you will get a portable jump starter, HD battery clamps, USB charging cable, XGC male plug, XGC female plug, XGC cable, microfiber storage bag, this product also provides a warranty of up to 1 year. Best Features : NOCO Genius UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Offering up to 80 jumps, fantastic electric current and people who are already widely used equipped with LED flashlights, it is not wrong if this product is the best portable jump starter Weaknesses : Some owners are so confident in the features of this tool that they forget to question how long it will take to complete and warranty support is provided. 2. Best Portable Car Jump Starters : DBPOWER 600A Peak If you’re seeking out something compact that will match easily for your glove box, check the DBPOWER Portable Car Jump Starter. Capable of leap beginning cars with up to 6.5-liter fuel engines or 5.2-liter diesel engines with 600 amps of top current, this starter capabilities twin USB outputs and a DC output. With 18000mAh battery capacity, this portable jump starter also can function a battery bank for all your portable devices.

Incorporated into this device is an LED flashlight that may be switched between lighting, strobe, and SOS modes. There is likewise a pink emergency light if necessary. On the aspect with all the ports, there’s a small LCD display that will display the running repute of the jumper. There’s even a built-in compass in case you ever want one. When it comes to truly leap starting your car, this product comes with all-metallic spray gold clamps that are extra solid and sturdy than fashionable clamps. Safety functions baked into this starter include short circuit safety, over-temperature protection, reverse-polarity protection, reverse-rate protection, over-rate protection, over-discharge protection, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, low-voltage safety, and a built-in protection circuit. Best Features : LCD screen with digital compass, fantastic build quality, sturdy frame, reliable, easy-to-use product, 3-year warranty Weaknesses : Some complaints that it's not effective on heavy-duty vehicles, battery loses efficiency over time 3. Beatit 18000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter Beatit BT-D11 Portable Car Jump Starter is intended for vehicles, trucks, vessels, cruisers, and more with fuel motors up to 7.5 liter in size, and diesel motors up to 5.5 liters. Housed in a minimized body, it additionally can fill in as a 18000mAh battery bank for your convenient gadgets with double 2.1A USB yields. Additionally fused on this starter is a 100-lumen LED electric lamp with crisis strobe and SOS modes.

This item has been tried to work in extraordinary temperatures, from - 20°C to 60°C. There is additionally a multi-work LCD show with the UI, charge status, battery power, working mode, and voltage so you can undoubtedly see everything that is going on with the charger. The included jumper links have sparkle confirmation innovation and opposite extremity insurance configuration, permitting you to securely interface this gadget to any battery. Best Features : Twin 2.1A USB charging ports, alligator clamps, built-led LED lights to indicate power, emergency flashlight, 2-year warranty Weaknesses : Complaints about poor instruction manual, battery drains quicker when charging auxiliary devices   4. STANLEY Jump Starter (J5C09) STANLEY Power Station Jump Starter offers 1000 pinnacle, 500 moment amps alongside an implicit 120 PSI air blower. This is all the more a substantial hop starter outfitted towards truck proprietors with bigger motors in the engine. What it shares in a similar manner as the other compact hop starters is that it includes a USB yield and as 12-volt DC outlet so you can accuse different gadgets of it. There is additionally a worked in LED light that swivels 270 degrees, permitting you to alter it in like manner.

It can likewise fill in as a crisis air blower with a metal tipped SureFit spout for secure associations. For extra security, this jumper has a converse extremity caution that will alarm the client if there's an ill-advised association. It's incredibly simple to utilize—basically connect the clasps to the battery, turn on the switch, and start your vehicle. Best Features : Multi-purpose and easy-to-use device, bright LED light, built-in USB port, reverse polarity alarm, can also be used as an air compressor Weaknesses : Complaints about battery's longevity, warranty, and unreliable compressor performance   5. Rugged Geek RG1000 INTELLIBOOST Portable Jump Starter RG1000 portable jump starter. Equipped for beginning most vehicles with fuel motors up to 7.0L in size and diesel motors up to 3.5L, this is a ground-breaking 39Wh battery that can help a normal vehicle more than multiple times on a solitary charge. It highlights INTELLIBOOST innovation, which removes the hazard and dread from kicking off your vehicle by guaranteeing power possibly streams when it's sheltered.

The Rugged Geek RG1000 can likewise fill in as a compact battery pack for your cell phones with 2 USB ports and a variable yield PC charging port. Estimating 6.3″ long by 2.9″ and 1.3″ thick, the RG1000 weighs in at under 1 pound, making it very lightweight and convenient. Different highlights on this convenient charger incorporate a LED spotlight with more than 100 lumens of splendor, simple to-peruse LCD show, and tire track plan. It's accessible in three variations, one that incorporates a conveying case and another that incorporates a convenient air blower. The standard model incorporates a small scale USB link, INTELLIBOOST links, delicate conveying pocket, and a guidance manual. Best Features :Powerful, lightweight, 39Wh battery, INTELLIBOOST technology, compact, lightweight, includes LED flashlight, LCD display Weaknesses : Price, included battery clamps aren't high quality   6. Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry Jump Starter (JNC660) portable jumper is the Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry Starter. Offering 425 turning amps and 1,700 pinnacle amps, this versatile starter highlights PROFORMER battery innovation, which is intended to give very high force yield, broadened wrenching force, and a long help life. Included with this charger are 46-inch, substantial #2 AWG copper protected links with mechanical evaluation Hot Jaw cinches.

While it's not as present day as other bounce starters on this rundown with no USB outlets, this item has a 12-volt power yield to control an assortment of frill. There is likewise a voltmeter on the front so you can check the status of the battery inside the starter. This hop starter is perfect for vehicle proprietors who need something increasingly tough. It's housed in a hard core case that is impenetrable to shop liquids and is intended to withstand the rigors of regular expert use. There is likewise a pleasant handle, making it simple to heft around. Best Features : One of the best-designed jump starters, replaceable battery, carrying handle, reliable Weaknesses : Extremely limited warranty, battery wears quickly with extensive use   7. Schumacher Portable Jump Starter (XP2260) portable jump starter that offers an implicit air blower originates from Schumacher. This unit additionally fuses a 400-watt power inverter for two 120V AC family unit outlets, just as two 12-volt frill outlets and a solitary USB port. Fueled by a support free, fixed lead corrosive battery, this charger can be securely put away in any position.

It offers 185 virus wrench amps and 1,200 pinnacle amps, alongside Sure-Grip braces that will fit both top and side mount batteries. There's a computerized show on the facade of the starter alongside an inherent work light. With a lot of extra highlights and outlets, this is an extraordinary versatile bounce starter on the off chance that you regularly go outdoors or even going 4x4 romping. Its basic role might be to kick off a dead battery, however it's considerably more valuable than simply that, particularly with the implicit 150 PSI air blower. Best Features : Numerous power outlets, choosing between modes is simple, sealed lead-acid battery, clamps fit both side and top mount, built-in compressor Weaknesses : Weight, some say the built-in compressor could be better   8. GOOLOO 20800mAh SuperSafe Car Jump Starter No less great items, other force bank style bounce starters you can consider GOOLOO, this jumper gives top intensity of 800 amps, which is adequate to begin up to 7.0 liter gas motors and diesel motors up to 5.5 liters. This item is intended to deal with vehicles, bikes, waterwheels, ATVs, UTVs, grass cutters, snowbiles and even yachts. Two USB ports are coordinated into this item, including one quick charging USB 3.0 port.

Utilizing shrewd jumper clips, this gadget is sheltered to utilize on account of highlights, for example, overcurrent insurance, over-burden assurance, overvoltage security, over-burden assurance, and high temperature security. Like other comparative hop starters, the GOOLOO offering additionally has an incorporated LED light with three modes: an electric lamp, a spotlight, and a SOS light. Best Features : High-rate polymer battery, built-in LED flashlight/SOS light, ultra-compact size, great companion for outdoors, 18-month warranty Weaknesses : Battery's longevity is questionable   9. DEWALT Jump Starter (DXAEJ14) Another portable jumper car recommendation is that many quality DEWALTs prove the portable jump starter. This product is able to provide 700 instant starter amps and 1400 top amps, along with the patented alternator check function. Integrated into this starter is a 120 PSI digital compressor with automatic shutoff and a suitable nozzle.

DEWALT also has an internal USB port for charging your portable device. to anticipate unwanted things on this product there are also warnings that can be heard if the clamps are connected incorrectly to your car battery. Speaking of clamps, they are heavy duty powder coated clamps with 3 "of 4 AWG cables. Best Features : Built-in 3.1A USB ports, reverse polarity alarm, alternator check function, works on a variety of batteries, easy to use Weaknesses : Questionable warranty offered by a third-party vendor, charging capacity diminishes over time   10. JACO BoostPro Car Jump Starter JACO BoostPro Car Battery Jump Starter. The product can be counted on to power up to 6.5 liter gasoline engines and diesel engines up to 5.2 liters and the battery power is 16500mAh. A dual USB port allows you to keep your portable device charged when you don't need to use this product as a car jump starter. It even includes a 12 volt DC adapter so you can power a number of products that normally use your car's outlet.

A super bright LED flashlight can be used, while the entire starter is enclosed with a rugged, fireproof outer casing. This device also has a sharp LCD screen so you know the remaining battery life. Best Features : Fireproof, rugged casing, digital LCD screen, dual USB ports, 12-month warranty Weaknesses : Short jumper cables, some owners complain that the controls are fidgety How to find out the number of amps on a vehicle? Each vehicle must have unequal power requirements, it is very important to know before buying this portable jump starter product that must be done so that the device you are buying can be useful. In addition you also need to know the jump starter power usually this is not difficult because it is recorded in the cold amp cranking (CCA) or peak amps (PA). The step to measuring CCA is when the battery is fully charged, place it in a cold environment - 0 ° F - and determine how many amps are removed for 30 seconds. This worth discloses what's in store from the battery in the most noticeably awful beginning conditions. The facts confirm that the more amps a bounce starter offers, the more grounded it is. Yet, does that mean you need to purchase the most impressive item? Not really. The significant thing is to decide how much force you requirement for your vehicle. Reduced vehicles or even little cars can kick off with just 150 CCA, while full size trucks and SUVs need around 450 CCA. Be that as it may, there are different interesting points, for example, motor size and how old the vehicle is. Greater motors and more established vehicles will require more amps to begin, which is the reason you will for the most part observe a solid bounce starter publicized as having the option to turn over a motor of 8.0L. In any case, by and large, 400-500 CCA is sufficient to begin most vehicles. Recall that there might be times when you need to assist hop with beginning another person's vehicle. A large portion of the items on this rundown will cover all traveler vehicles out and about today, however it doesn't damage to have something more grounded that you need, in the event that you are happy to go through additional cash. thank you for reading The Best Portable Car Jump Starters, may be useful for your needs Read the full article

[megabecarefulus]

Here Are 5 Ways Spring-Cleaning Can cause you to Healthier

Experts say doing a radical spring-cleaning of your home features a number of health benefits.

For starters, a clean home can strengthen your system and assist you to avoid illnesses.

A decluttered house also can reduce stress and depression also helps avoid injuries.

Spring-cleaning this year has taken on greater importance than simply beginning the season of renewal with a clean, decluttered space.

Many communities are already stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak by upping their hygiene and cleaning regimens — and spending longer in their homes.

Cleaning and organizing the space you spend most of some time it can keep your system strong, boost your mood, and offer a task that promotes focus and reflection during a trying time.

“When we envision spring-cleaning as a time to rejuvenate our inner and outer world, the cleanup process is often incredibly enlivening instead of being a tiresome chore,” Carla Marie Manly, Ph.D., a psychotherapist, told Healthline.

Here are five ways you'll enjoy spring-cleaning this year and expert guidance on what tasks to prioritize.

1. Strengthen your system

The blossoming of plants outdoors may be a celebration of renewal — of seasonal allergies, that is.

Beyond keeping allergies cornered, a houseclean can assist you to breathe better by preventing respiratory issues and supporting a healthy system.

“Dust, mold, mildew, pet dander, and other things like this will be system triggers for people susceptible to allergies. When your house isn’t clean, it can gather pollutants — especially during the winter months,” Dr. Adrian Cotton, chief of medical operations at Loma Linda University Health in California, told Healthline.

How to clean for immune health While you ought to aim to wash regularly to avoid system triggers, spring-cleaning is often a chance for a deep clean, consistent with Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD, an expert publicly health and nutrition. “Dust the legs of furniture, tops of frames and mirrors, tops of lamps and lights, floor baseboards, railings, and window sills which will be more out of reach,” she said. Vacuum all rugs, floors, carpets, ceiling cobwebs, and curtains well to eliminate dust and keep the air filter. Wash all bedding and blankets. Put pillows into the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any dust mites. Take off your shoes at the door to avoid carrying in dirt and mud from the outside throughout your home.

2. Decrease stress and depression

Whether you’re temporarily stuck indoors, work from home, or are having a troublesome time going to sleep, your psychological state can enjoy keeping your space tidy.

“You may alright find you think that feel, and sleep better with a clean, less cluttered space. Also, the method of sorting through items, reorganizing, and getting obviate the surplus by tossing, donating, or recycling them are often mentally refreshing and liberating,” Bazilian told Healthline.

StudiesTrusted Source has found that a soothing and clutter-free home features a positive effect on people’s daily mood and skill to focusTrusted Source.

“When we clear clutter, it's the potential to clear our mental space and a spotlight span,” noted Tricia Wolanin, PsyD, a psychotherapist and organizing expert.

“I have had many purchasers mention that if there's a mess within the house, they're going to still ruminate on the disarray that requires to be sorted versus that specialize in a conversation or concentrating on anything. once they clean their house, it begins to attenuate their stress and sleep issues,” Wolanin told Healthline.

How to declutter for psychological state Don’t just stack your magazines into piles or hide unworn clothes under your bed. Sort through clothing, toiletries, and paperwork. Get obviate things that not serve you to form room for things that bring pleasure and joy, Wolanin says. To promote good sleep and relaxation, keep only essentials on your bedside table, says Bazilian. Embrace cleaning itself as to how to de-stress. “Cleaning can provide a chance to practice being mindful of the tasks you’re doing, promote a positive attitude and clear mindset,” Cotton said.

3. Prevent illness

Cleaning belongings you touch tons — or several people use often — can assist you to avoid illness and minimize the spread of viruses and bacteria.

Thwarting foodborne illness should even be a priority within the home.

“There may be a more constant patrol of keeping things clean now [with coronavirus concerns], but it's also an excellent thing to tackle all those major contact points and deep-clean during spring,” Bazilian said.

“Keeping surfaces and sinks and items like cutting boards clean can improve food safety, which helps minimize foodborne symptoms or illness,” she said.

How to clean to stop illness “Clean the things you employ most, or items that would are available contact together with your mouth, eyes, or nose. which will include your cellphone, keyboard, bedding, and towels,” Cotton said, adding that to guard against the novel coronavirus, sanitize surfaces with alcohol-based cleaners. “It is vital to tackle several different areas within the kitchen, like the fridge and freezer, pantry, counters, cupboards. It is often overwhelming to try to all directions, so schedule each task separately for a deeper cleaning,” Bazilian said. Deep-clean the sink a day, because it can harbor more bacteria than a restroom. Wash all of your products to stop foodborne illness and promote healthiness. Clean bathrooms and other places that are shared with relations more frequently.

4. More healthy eating, physical activity

Your physical home can set you up for a lively life and healthy food choices — or make movement and sticking to nutritious meals harder.

Studies show there’s a correlation between keeping a clean home and being active and selecting healthier food options.

Spring-cleaning also can motivate us to reset or try a healthier lifestyle.

“When we filter out within the physical realm, it can inspire to start to chop out what not serves us, like unhealthy relationships, or our relationship to food, technology, or other substances,” Wolanin said.

How to organize for healthy habits Make cooking more appealing by sharpening knives, tidying your rack, and organizing pots, pans, and utensils. Store healthy foods at eye level in clear containers, and place unhealthy foods out of sight. Donate workout clothes you rarely wear and organize your favorite activewear during a separate drawer for straightforward access. Open windows a day to circulate fresh air in and rancid air out, Bazilian recommends.

5. Reduce the risk of injury

More than 1 in 4 adults over age 65 fall annually, resulting in 3 million ER visits, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source. Falls are the leading trusted Source explanation for injury-related death for this age bracket.

Spring may be a great time to form adjustments to your home, or an older parent’s home, to scale back the danger of falls.

“A clean home helps prevent injuries like slips, trips, bumps, and falls. Having a transparent path and removing obstacles within the sort of backpacks, purses, shoes, sporting goods, or shopping bags and more can help reduce the danger of accidents,” Bazilian said.

How to clean for a secure home Prioritize cleaning clutter from pathways, hallways, and staircases. Secure rugs and repair the other tripping hazards, like loose floorboards. Cords are a serious tripping hazard — even for the foremost spry folks. Tack cords to baseboards, or reroute them along the wall to eliminate the danger of tripping on one.

[maritzaerwin]

16 Good Habits to Achieve Success in Business

Each of us wants to achieve goals: create a successful career and achieve success in business, and live a decent life. But much depends not only on our desires but also on our character. There is a pearl of well-known wisdom: “Do an action, get a habit.

If you get a habit, you create a character. If you create a character, you will receive fate. ” Any psychologist will tell you that most of the problems are the cause of our attitude to our environment and habits. Good habits can make you a successful businessman and just a good person.

Therefore, in this article we will give you some tips to help you become better and progress every day.

1. Set Day Mode and Start Your Morning with Physical Exercise

Morning is a very special part of the day that sets the tone for the rest of the day. Of course, all successful people know about it and use the potential of morning hours to the maximum. If you ask any successful person how he spends the morning, he will answer you that every day he performs certain actions in the morning that keep him in good shape and give energy.

Usually it is physical exercises (strength training, yoga, running, stretching, etc.), meditation for 10-15 minutes, reading useful literature, and sometimes a simple conversation with your spouse/partner, when you can share thoughts and plans.

Think about what morning ritual will set you up for a successful and productive day. It may be a glass of water with lemon after waking up, but the daily performance of even such a simple ritual will certainly bear fruit. This is useful not only for your health, but also for your discipline and inner harmony.

2. Do What Must Be Done Today

All successful people adhere to the principle of “do not put things off for later.” They well understand that only the moment here and now has real power. Usually, people put things off until tomorrow, Monday, at the beginning of the new year, because they think that later they will do better than today. But this is a very common misconception because tomorrow there will be new tasks and tasks that will also require their fulfillment.

Incomplete and deferred affairs take away a lot of your energy, which you could direct to new achievements. You want to start a new day with pure consciousness, and not think about the need to “redo work or be distracted by trifles”? It may be better in your to-do list for today to be only 3 points, not 10, but by the end of the day you will complete them. Learn to do everything planned for today. Such a path will lead to effective time management.

3. Focus on What’s Important

One of the most useful and necessary habits for a modern person is the habit of focusing on the most important. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, the company was in a state of destruction. And it was her lack of focus that destroyed her. The company was sprayed on trifles and let out already more than 300 products.

Therefore, the first thing Jobs did was to reduce the number of manufactured products to 10. When he focused all his attention on several of the most important products, the company began to develop again and became the powerful brand that we now know. Keep it simple and keep your focus. There is an interesting saying about this aspect: “One full glass is better than ten slightly filled ones.”

4. Turn Obstacles into a Story of Success

How do people usually respond to the word no? Having been refused, they stop and stop taking further actions. How does a successful person act?

Each “no” makes it even stronger and more persistent on the way to its goals, bringing it closer to “yes”. A successful person simply adds this factor to his plan and tries to take it into account. But this does not scare him away from actions and desire to achieve the goal.

As Nietzsche said: “Those things that do not kill us make us stronger.” Successful people know that failure trains our character and the will to succeed. They celebrate their failures and become tempered during their overcoming. In other words, the more obstacles a person encounters on his way now, the more success he will achieve in the future. Remember – success depends on failures; do not give up when they occur.

5. Finding Positivity in Negative Circumstances

Of course, sometimes deals break down and a potential partner can go to a competitor. But it’s important to understand that this is not the end of your story. Besides, negative and negative emotions will not bring any benefit either to their health, or personal life, or business. That is why they can find positive aspects in any negative situation.

Successful and prosperous people are distinguished by a great vision, so they know that today’s unpleasant circumstances tomorrow can turn into a blessing and present a surprise. And such trifles as a stain on clothes or a broken teapot are not worthy of their attention at all – there is reason to buy a new beautiful shirt and a teapot of the latest model.

For example, Thomas Edison conducted more than 10,000 experiments to improve the incandescent lamp. And here is what he said about this: “I did not suffer defeats. I just found 10 thousand ways that do not work. “Every failure is a step forward. Analyze your actions, change the strategy, and do it again. Repeat until successful.

6. Leave Your Comfort Zone

This is evidenced by almost every psychologist, motivator, and business coach. No matter how trite it sounds, but a new challenge will be useful to you. Because we are either progressing or degrading, we cannot just stand in one position. If we are not trying to overcome a new peak, it means that we are sliding to its foot.

Overcoming the comfort zone is one of the most significant steps on the path to becoming an individual. For life to shine with new colors and reach a new level, you need to be able to cross the line with the inscription “I am so comfortable.” This is fraught with certain fears and stress, but for successful people, leaving the comfort zone is an important way not to stand still and develop, because only in this way you can realize yourself and find your calling.

Of course, it is not at all necessary to immediately turn your life upside down and introduce cardinal changes. For starters, it’s enough, for example, to get up early or change the diet and each time take ever wider steps beyond the boundaries of comfort and celebrate your small victories. After all, even the longest journey begins with the first step.

7. Listen to Your Intuition

Sometimes even a thorough analysis is not able to say why you refused the transaction or chose another partner. But a successful person is used to trusting his “sixth sense”. Therefore, it is worth listening to the inner voice and trying to develop these abilities.

Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of meditation and intuition for making important decisions. A large number of famous people and businessmen, not only after major transactions, the launch of new projects but in everyday life, always act following personal feelings. They know that within us there are already answers to all questions, you just need to ask and be ready to receive information.

Meditation is the surest path to a pure mind, getting rid of emotional trash and awareness. By practicing meditation, successful people clear the way for intuition, which is nothing more than a door to all knowledge in the universe.

8. Be A Master Of Thoughts And Habits

Habits and thoughts are what create a person’s lifestyle, and they need a very competent approach. Therefore, this situation has two options – you can manage habits or obey them. Successful people and businessmen cultivate good habits and the right thoughts, and each of them has their list.

They think about success and wealth, are set for a positive outcome in any situation, they are constantly engaged in self-development, pay the necessary attention to their health and personal life, etc. Surely each of them will say that this was not always the case, but only a conscious choice of thoughts and habits and efforts in this direction allowed them to create the lifestyle they aspired to.

9. Visualization of Success

Even athletic trainers say that after training it’s useful to look in the mirror and imagine which muscles are bigger and stronger. A similar situation concerns success in life. Visualization is very effective and at the same time simple method of bringing the right events, people, and circumstances into your life. However, to achieve high results, the visualization should become a habit.

That is why prosperous people prefer to create reminders that do not let them forget about big plans. Most often, this is a visualization board or a map of goals, looking at which a person always remembers his focus. Try it and you create your reminder of the plans. It may be some item on the desk (for example, a book) or even your morning ritual of success can remind you of how today will bring you closer to your dream.

10. Keep a Personal Journal

It is said that Mendeleev saw a table of chemical elements in a dream. There are many such examples. An ingenious decision can come at any second. Therefore, it is important to have a notebook and pen next to it in case of such moments.

Besides, no successful person will begin to think about a new project, negotiate or plan for the future without having prepared a sheet of paper and a pen in advance. This is because only recorded thoughts and ideas gain strength, form, and the necessary potential for implementation. You’ve probably heard of people who even wake up at night, stop the car or get out of the shower to record a good idea that came to mind.

These people understand the value of thoughts and ideas, and also know that a good idea can just as easily disappear and then not return. All inventions of the modern world were at first thought. Start recording your own, and who knows what discoveries this will lead you to.

 11. Don’t Be Afraid of Criticisms

Typically, criticism is associated with conflict and confrontation. But successful people always benefit from criticism. They are always ready for dialogue and receiving feedback – albeit not always positive, as the only way to make changes to the chosen development strategies and improve.

No wonder Aristotle said: “To avoid criticism, do not say anything, do nothing, and be nobody.” Also, one of the important qualities of successful people is not only to gratefully accept and respond to constructive criticism but also to easily forget about destructive criticism, which does not bring any benefit.

12. Find a Good Mentor

You are well aware that the environment forms a person. However, most people do not notice how their environment appears on its own and does not always have the best effect. Thriving people do not make such a mistake and carefully choose those who surround them. The vast majority of successful people have had mentors. They do not hesitate to ask questions, ask for help and support, learn from those who have already achieved success in business.

Start and surround yourself with people who strive for goals like yours, as well as those who have already achieved success in business and areas that inspire and attract you. Very soon you will see how this will help you transfer your life to a higher quality level.

13. Do Not Forget to Take a Break

Of course, work is an important component of success. But without rest, your body will quickly give up. A depleted organism is more prone to stress, negative thoughts, and much closer to failure. Therefore, it is important to relax. Try to sleep 6-7 hours a day and create the most comfortable atmosphere in the bedroom. Moreover, the rest can be not only in the bedroom.

For example, popular computer games (in particular, strategies) will help you develop useful skills, improve your reaction, and improve mental abilities. 

14. Compete Only with Yourself

The easiest way to lose time is to compare yourself with others. You think: “They do everything much better than me,” “Why is his company more successful than mine,” “What am I doing wrong? Why is he in front of me? ” Such negative thinking causes damage and ultimately leads to death. It is much more effective if you spend time competing with yourself.

Of course, you need to evaluate competition in business, but constantly comparing your successes with others is not useful in any case. Analyze your results and compare what and how you are doing now, with how you did it before.

15. It’s Never Late to Learn New Things

Another interesting wisdom: “Live and learn.” This means that until the end of our days we should try to get new information and knowledge. For example, before starting the SpaceX project, Elon Musk read and studied so much literature about rocket technology and power plants that he could well build a rocket. It would seem, why would he? After all, he has already built successful companies – PayPal and Tesla. But he wanted more and realized that if he wanted to become a competent leader in the space industry company, he would have to gain new knowledge.

In this regard, I like such quality in people as the recognition of their ignorance. Usually people try to pretend that they know a lot, and they are confident in themselves, even if it is not. However, if you admit to yourself and others that you don’t know something, you have the opportunity to learn this.

Make a habit of constantly improving and learning. Take an hour every day to read a book, learn about something new. Just do not get stuck in the status of “eternal student.” It’s not enough just to read and receive knowledge. You need not be afraid to test them in practice and draw conclusions by analyzing negative experiences. We already wrote about this earlier.

16. Keep Moving Forward

Are you told that your idea will fail or that you will not succeed? Wait upset. All great people have been told at least once that nothing will work out for them. Today it seems that the success of Bill Gates was inevitable, however, at the beginning of the journey, everyone around him was sure of his failure. Walt Disney was fired from the newspaper for a “lack of imagination.” Sigmund Freud was booed by his colleagues when he presented them with his theories. If you want to become an outstanding person, you need to develop immunity to skepticism. Even experts are wrong, remember this.

Conclusion

Of course, there is no specific recipe for how to become a successful person and create the perfect business. But with good habits, diligence, and a little talent, even the most difficult tasks will be submitted to you.

There is such a phrase: “Genius is 1% talent and 99% sweat.”

If you are ready to work a lot, you will achieve a lot. If you expect that everything will somehow form and you are lucky, then “Even water does not flow under a lying stone.” Take control of the situation and become the master of your destiny. Work is also a habit. Good and useful habits. May luck be on your side.

The post 16 Good Habits to Achieve Success in Business appeared first on CareerMetis.com.

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[droneseco]

Dip Your Toes Into a Smart Home, with Stitch from MonoPrice Starter Kit (Giveaway!)

Our verdict of the Stitch by Monoprice Wireless Smart Home Starter Kit, 5-Piece: A great starter kit for smart home beginners who don't have a hub. The Stitch app isn't perfect, and the products vary in usefulness, but it's great for dipping your toe into the world of home automation.810

Monoprice’s Stitch brand provides a great way to start making your home a smart home. It doesn’t require any hubs, is easy to set up, and won’t cost you a fortune. When you’re just getting started, the Stitch smart home starter kit is a great value option–discounted at $76 until 4/21/2019 (usual price $99)!

This pack comes with five products to get you moving on your smart home journey. Keep reading as we break down each one, and be sure to enter our giveaway at the end of the review for a chance to win a kit for yourself!

What’s In the Stitch Smart Home Starter Kit?

The Stitch starter kit includes the following five items:

Water Sensor

Smart Bulb

Door/Window Sensor

Smart Plug

Motion Sensor

While all of these products work over Wi-Fi and don’t require a dedicated smart home hub, you’ll need the Stitch app for Android or iOS to set them up.

Download: Stitch by Monoprice for Android | iOS (Free)

Using the Stitch App

After opening the Stitch app on your phone, you’ll need to create a new account (this is different from a Monoprice account). After this, you can start adding new devices and managing your home.

The basic process for adding a new device is tapping the Plus button at the top-right corner of the screen, then choosing the type of device you want to add from the list.

You’ll also need to put your device into the proper pairing mode so the app can find it. This varies by device—some automatically put themselves into pairing mode once you turn them on, while others require you to hold a button to activate it. This can be a bit confusing, but you’ll know a device is in pairing mode when its LED flashes quickly.

Next, let’s look at each of the devices in turn.

1. Smart Water Sensor

This is a fairly simple device that allows you to detect leaks. Place it near a toilet, hot water tank, washing machine, or other appliance that might leak. If the metal prongs on the bottom detect water, it will beep and send a notification to your phone.

While you can place the unit on the ground directly, it also includes a bracket and probe. This allows you to mount the device on a wall and snake the probe to a hard-to-reach area.

At first, we found the notifications for this were delayed slightly, but they worked fine after a bit more testing. Monoprice claims the built-in battery lasts for up to four years with two activations per month, or up to five years in standby.

2. Smart Bulb

Up next is a 50w equivalent smart bulb. Just replace any compatible bulb in your home with it, and you can then control it with the Stitch app or virtual assistants.

The bulb worked perfectly in the first lamp I tried it in. This was my first smart bulb experience, and I was pleased to find that the dimming feature worked even though my light switches don’t have that capability built in.

Since I had already linked my Stitch account to Alexa and Google Home when I reviewed Monoprice’s Strata Home vacuum , both assistants picked up the bulb without any extra steps. With voice commands, you can turn the light on or off, or change the brightness level.

3. Door/Window Sensor

Monoprice’s simple two-piece sensor lets you install the unit on any unit that opens and closes. This is usually a door or window, but you could also use it on a garage door or even a mailbox.

All you need to do is mount the two pieces close to each other (within 0.4 inches) on a door. You can do this via the included sticky tape or screws. The smaller magnetic piece goes on the door frame, while the larger part moves with the door.

When the door opens or closes, you’ll get a notification on your phone. The unit also includes a tamper-sensitive switch on the back that sends you an alert if someone tries to pull it off the door.

4. Smart Plug

Smart plugs are another staple smart home tool, and this one is easy to set up. Just plug it into any outlet, sync it to your Stitch app, and you can control lamps or other small appliances with your phone or voice.

It handily includes a color-changing light to represent different levels of energy output. Through the app, you can also review how much energy the plug has used. This piece of the kit also works with Google Assistant and Alexa. Just ask and you can turn your plug on or off. If needed, you can also use the physical button to do so.

Unfortunately, the smart plug blocked the second socket in the outlet when plugged in. This may vary depending on your home, but it’s a shame that using it renders your other socket inaccessible.

5. Motion Sensor

Wrapping up this bundle is a simple motion sensor powered using the included batteries or by plugging it in with a micro USB cable. After you’ve set it up, you can mount it using the included 3M sticky tape or screws. The sensor detects motion (up to 33 feet away) and sends your phone a notification when something walks by.

When setting it up, I received notifications that someone had tampered with the device. However, it’s not clear what triggers this, as when I took off the stand and bottom cover, the tamper notification didn’t show up again.

There’s not much more to this one. It doesn’t seem as useful as some of the other items due to the potential for false positives (perhaps from a pet). But it’s still a neat little gadget.

How Is Stitch as a Smart Home Platform?

Now that we’ve looked at all five products, how do they and Stitch as a whole feel to use?

Overall, this is a solid starter kit for a smart home beginner. All devices are easy to use out of the box, the lack of hub is convenient, and the products “just work” for the most part. The Stitch app also lets you organize your devices by room and set up automated routines, which is neat.

However, Stitch has a few minor issues that prevent it from being stellar.

The setup could use a bit more direction. Some of these products go into pairing mode as soon as you insert the batteries. Conversely, the water sensor had a clear tab over the battery (which the manual didn’t mention) for activation. Meanwhile, the smart plug requires you to hold the power button to enter pairing mode. Having this become more consistent across devices or more obviously spelled out would be an improvement.

Stitch also doesn’t make it clear what functions of each device you can use with Alexa and Google Assistant. Since you can set a timer for the smart plug using the app, I tried doing so with a voice command, but that didn’t work.

Actually, the Echo itself seemed confused about what it could do with these devices. After setting up the motion sensor, Alexa let me know that I could ask her to enable it. Yet when I asked her to disable the Stitch motion sensor, she instead disabled the entire Stitch integration. This required me to re-connect accounts in the Alexa app.

Finally, the Stitch app offers no way to change individual notifications on Android. Since you don’t have fine-grained control, the notifications can get a bit overwhelming if the sensors go off several times in a row.

Should Stitch Be the Start of Your Smart Home?

With all these products considered, we’d say that Stitch represents a fine way to dip your toe into smart home automation. For less than $100, you get five varied products that are easy to use.

The Stitch app isn’t perfect, but it’s totally serviceable. If you don’t want a bevy of advanced smart home products yet and don’t mind a few quirks in the app and setup, give this a look.

Note that these products are also available individually. If you don’t plan on using one of them, you can order the others separately to save some money.

Enter the Competition!

Stitch Smart Home Kit Giveaway

Read the full article: Dip Your Toes Into a Smart Home, with Stitch from MonoPrice Starter Kit (Giveaway!)

Dip Your Toes Into a Smart Home, with Stitch from MonoPrice Starter Kit (Giveaway!) published first on http://droneseco.tumblr.com/

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Star Diffraction Glasses by Alternative Imagination

New Post has been published on https://topbargainwearables.com/star-diffraction-glasses-by-alternative-imagination/

Star Diffraction Glasses by Alternative Imagination

You know diffraction glasses- those amazing accessories that transform your vision into a wild kaleidoscope of color. But have you seen Stars Diffraction Glasses? If not, get ready to re-frame your reality into a star studded wonderland!

SEE STARS! Our specially designed diffraction lenses create two perfect stars around all points of light. The result is an easily navigated, clearly rendered nighttime world where every light is surrounded by a burst of brilliant stars- each the same color as the light source.

EXPLORE BOLD NEW WORLDS

The possibilities of visual exploration are endless with 3D star diffraction glasses, but here's a few ideas:

Wear them to concerts or any venue with interactive light displays. Laser shows, music festivals, and raves are already awesome… but these lenses take it to the next level!

Hitting the clubs tonight? Take your star diffraction glasses with you! Turn up the love and wear them on the dance floor. Share them and make new friends!

Imagine Holiday lights and fireworks with an extra dimension of rainbow stars! You'll never appreciate your neighbor's over the top Christmas display more. And our star diffraction glasses will only enhance the glitter and glory of New Years Eve.

While we don't recommend driving with 3D star diffraction glasses, riding as a passenger can be lots of fun! Headlights, taillights, blinkers, and street lamps create an ever-shifting landscape of multicolored stars.

GET THE LOOK

Our frames are durable- we've personally tested them at numerous concerts and festivals. They're also stylish! Black to match whatever look you're rocking, with a sleek modern design.

Get your pair of star diffraction glasses today and spread the love. Share them with friends old and new- they're a great ice breaker and conversation starter!