#truck parking upgrades

[artisticdivasworld]

ATA Celebrates $200 Million Truck Parking Bill: What This Means for Truckers

Hey there, truckers and industry enthusiasts! We’ve got some fantastic news that’s set to make life on the road a bit more comfortable and a lot safer. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is celebrating a major victory with the passing of the House Appropriations Bill, which earmarks a whopping $200 million for truck parking. Why This Matters If you’ve ever spent hours searching for a safe…

[stardewremixed]

We need better marriage candidate advantages! Gifts, dinners, and occasional chores on the farm are nice, but....

Shane - starts taking care of the chickens and you get more eggs (double or triple from one chicken) or an extra chicken every year. Plus discounts at Marnie's. Oh and give me a room for Jas on the farm!!! Also he starts working at Pierre's after Joja closes and leads weekly AA meetings at the community center. Marnie also visits occasionally and brings gifts. Wanders into the forest sometimes and brings back forage.

Abigail - discounts at Pierre's, shopping on Wednesdays, and she goes adventuring with you in the mines (for some rare drops). Discounts at the Adventurer's Guild after she becomes a full-fledged member. Her parents visit on the farm and you get occasional gifts from them. Breaks up rocks on the farm (actual rocks in your inventory and occsisonal geodes).

Harvey - discounts at the clinic for the amount of times you're injured in the mines and he is the one who finds you and carries you home so you don't lose any items. Weekly energy tonics. And sometimes he plays jazz (Unlocks new music). Discounts at the bookseller (1.6) because he befriends the hot air balloon operator. And the man gets over his fear of heights and gets his chopper license. Can take you to Ginger Island for free.

Maru - weekly energy tonics since she works in the Clinic (yes, she should keep her job) and battery packs, plus her dad visits the farm cave and you get better drops in there. Robin visits too and says things like "oh, I saw such and such needed upgraded or repaired, so I did it. " Seb visits and might bring a gift. She also creates a working robot that can automate some farm chores at random. Joins the aerobics class at Caroline's.

Sebastian - discounts from Robin for upgrades and her shop, he occasionally goes adventuring with you in the quarry (for rare drops), and brings in a side income from his incredibly popular indie computer game. Brings gifts from his trips to Zuzu City. Hosts weekly jam sessions with Abigail and Sam on the farm. Organizes DnD game night at the community center - friendly to beginner's.

Leah - chops wood for you (actual wood in your inventory), crafts beautiful decor for your farm, and brings you delicious forage from the forest. Brings in a small income from her artistry. And she would also adventure with you in the secret woods (rare drops and better protection). Might buy you a drink or salad at the Saloon on occasion. Would absolutely dance with you at the Stardrop on Friday nights if you asked her.

Alex - Builds a ramp for George and then his grandparents occasionally visit the farm, bearing gifts. He chops wood and breaks up stone on the farm (actual wood/stone in your inventory). And let's start a food truck. Sells at his stand year round (and more than just ice cream), bringing in a small monthly income. He would be an excellent ally also on difficult adventuring levels (preventing you from getting surrounded). If you do go down, he's carrying you home so that you don't lose any items. Runs bingo at community center for the older townies (including his grandparents). Finally fixed the damn leak in Evelyn's roof.

Elliott - let's upgrade his beach cabin for a vacation getaway! He brings you home from the library with all sorts of useful knowledge. The man brings in an income selling his stories and poetry. Establishes a regular reading event at the library. Teaches writing classes at the Community Center. Discounts at Willy's (Willy is Elliott's great uncle in my headcanon). He would occasionally adventure with you on Ginger Island. Oh and I think you'd adopt Leo together and build a little treehouse on the farm.

Sam - income from Joja (or the movie theater), builds a skate park for the kids on town (a new post marriage heart event), and travels occasionally with his band (bringing in a sporadic income). Oh and he writes new songs for the jukebox at the Saloon. (Unlocks new music). Probably plays for the locals on Friday nights. Vincent would come stay with you on the farm, on occasion, so he would have a room. Plus Jodi would bring you dinners on Sundays. Kent would send you regular gifts in the mail. Also unlimited free games at the arcade (Sam's always buying).

Haley - has a photography show (like Leah does with her art) and decorates your farmhouse with occasional prints (new decor), plus an income from selling her services as a photographer. I like to think she works with Seb on the town website and adds her images. Brings gifts from her trips to Zuzu City. Scythes grass on occasion on the farm (actual grass and sometimes mixed seeds in your inventory). Would plant flowers in a farm garden with Evelyn. Emily would visit and bring gifts.

Emily - discounts at the Saloon, a small weekly stipend, and sells her clothes online, plus you get to join the weekly aerobics class at Caroline's with her (and if you have high hearts with Clint, you get discounts at the blacksmith too). Sometimes misc clothing, shoe, hat, and ring upgrades show up in your inventory. Haley would visit and bring gifts.

Penny - special events at the community center (she helps establish family-friendly activities and the community center is more active). She goes back to school for her official license and brings in a small income from teaching. Discounts on bus rides thanks to her mom, or cheaper bus repair if you aren't done yet. Better rewards at the library/museum when you donate items because of her friendship with Gunther. And she creates a playroom at the farm for Jas and Vincent (and your kids, of course). Pam might visit on occasion and bring gifts (and like Shane, Pam would attend the weekly AA meetings).

Okay... confession time... who are you marrying based on the above advantages?

[callooopie]

Modern!Davos Blackwood headcannons (pt. 1?)

— SFW —

I’ll hit it from the back, just so you don’t get attached — i like the way you kiss me // artemas

I can definitely see myself making more of these. Adding to the modern! Davos lore. Not proofread. LMK if y’all have other ideas or headcannons too!

Benjicot Davos Blackwood. People call him Davos. Only close friends call him Ben. Only you can call him Benji. Although, he goes by his middle name usually. Now, bloody Ben? That’s a story to be told later on how he got... (There is no story. It’s just people saying “Shit.. there’s bloody Ben..” or something like that. There’s no violence to the name, only pure exasperation when people see him)

This is the boy you need to hide away in your closet or under your bed when your parents come checking in on you randomly. You could’ve been working on homework, or just hanging around. And somehow this “annoying” guy appeared outside your bedroom window—and you just had to let him in. “C’mooon, let me in sweetheart.. you think I can’t climb up there? Stand back, I’ll show you.”

He is the type of person to rant about how the education system is rigged, set up to fail students, or rant about it in general and as a whole. Anyway he’s got a 4.0, and makes it onto the dean’s list every semester in college. However he is always late to class—complete with either a Monster or Red Bull drink in tow.

He invites you over to his place like a gentleman. Ignore his “annoying fuckass” roommate.. (it’s Aeron.) He does the whole (“it’s a little messy :3”) as he leads you down the hall of their apartment. “Hello MTV, welcome to my crib.”

He cooks at that desk, game-wise. Faceit level is between 5-6. CSGO rank is Master Guardian II (He does tell you he once hit Global Elite. But he stopped the grind to focus on school, not because he’s washed or anything—maybe you could be his Valorant duo? Or be his support in League; he’ll have you know he makes a mean ADC.. do you do overnight discord calls?—)

If you play more casual games (Minecraft, stardew, etc) he will play with you, HOWEVER, he will either ruin the aesthetic of the minecraft world via automated farms OR speedrun the mines in stardew (he passes out so much it starts to affect the money you’re trying to save for farm upgrades). Every time he goes fishing in either game he puts on a country accent and makes “gone fishing, getting away from my bitch wife” jokes. “I’ve uh- carved out an area for the iron farm. Nothin’ too big—just something to get started.” (Shows you an utterly decimated and leveled biome)

Davos Blackwood fun fact no. 43; he does rallying (rally racing). He went to a rally school for fun over the summer. Ignore the price tag; yes he saved up for that! no it’s not dangerous! Regular driving wise he does donuts in empty parking lots, and takes corners way too fast. He is the type to street race a random ass pickup truck or some other car that pulls up beside him. It is thrilling, and he knows you enjoy it too despite your protests and how you grip the handle above the seat. “No it’s fine.. pfft—don’t worry don’t— I’ll smoke him. Just watch.”

Speaking of cars. Do not complain about his car. This is his baby. His one and only. It’s an old car; it’s so old it’s bordering not being considered street safe anymore. Ignore the anime girl stickers with their tits and ass out, that was there already he didn’t do that. “It’s safe don’t worry—I’m getting the bumper and everything fixed like Monday I swear.. no I did not hit anything why would you say that-“

He’s oddly in-tune with his emotions and emotions of others despite appearances. He’ll KNOW if something’s bothering you. Maybe you’re just a little too quiet, you laugh at a joke a little too late or even if it sounds unenthusiastic. Whatever it is, Davos is on the case. A hug, some pep talk, he’ll let you punch his palms to get any anger out. He’s your ride or die, of course he’d do anything for you. And maybe if it’s a person who upset you he might pay them a visit.. “Who was it this time? Oh—that bitch? Ugh. I’m sorry about that… I have a gun just saying—“

Needs your hand in his. Or some part of you touching him. Whatever works. If he does not get a modicum of affection in 5 minute intervals he shrivels up like a plant—no he’s not being dramatic. Is the type to whine loudly about it regardless of where you’re at. On occasion he lets out bloodcurdling screams as a joke, lamenting about being denied tender love from you. You think it’s funny in private, you do not think it’s funny in public. Which is why he always does it in public. “Gimme your hand. Wha? What do you mean ‘it’s too hot out’? I wanna.. I wanna hold your hand… I don’t care if you’re sweaty—LET ME HOLD YOUR HAND”

I do believe his brain would be.. a little rotted. He sends you tiktoks, niche memes, shitposts. He will watch twitch streams or league/csgo content creators on YouTube. His vocab is normal, but does consist of slang from the gaming community. This can be good and funny, or sometimes bad if he uses it during serious moments. However he’s at least a normal human being and knows when to talk ‘normally’. He says joever unironically

Shadow boxes you. No matter what’s happening or where. You could be looking at something in a store and you just see slow, dramatic punches going toward you. He makes the whooshing sound too. This is how you know he’s bored. He’s also the type to tackle you to the bed. Not in a sensual or cutesy way but in like a WWE way that initiates a caged fighting match between you two.

Regardless of your mastery level of skateboarding he will hold your hands and pull you around on his board. Late at night when the parks or lots are empty, you both will be there. And he’ll be a smiling goof as he gently steers you around on the board. He usually says fuck helmets (his one big flaw), but carries one around just for you. His safety be damned. Yours? No question about it, you’re wearing all the gear required.

Smoker. Red flag. Marlboros, sometimes he uses zyns. It’s bad. Yes he knows he’s going to get lung cancer and succumb to nicotine. But he just can’t help it—it helps him relax. It’s why there’s a plethora of gum and also a cologne bottle in his car. Does it help? That’s to be determined. Does not smoke near you however if you don’t like that, he’s not that bad of an asshole.

[rosewaterandivy]

wouldn’t know where to start

summary: she likes to roll here in my ashes anyway

pairing: former s.h. x f!reader

a/n: did anyone ask for this? no, but I felt it in my heart of hearts! we need some hangdog steve and Mother Nature working her magic— adrenaline, tension, & forced proximity, aka storm chaser!steve and his band of misfits.

series m.list

It was nearing sundown as he drove into the small town. Soft summer winds blew through the wheat fields, bending the golden stalks as if it were an ocean of glimmering sunlight.

Main Street didn’t have much to offer— a Sonic, Dollar General, and a lone 7-11 were the corporate standouts amongst a panoply of mom and pop store fronts offering everything from a homestyle breakfast to antiques to laundering services.

Letting his wrist hang against the wheel, he pulled into the turn lane and flipped on his signal. A lone ‘88 Ford pickup passed him by with a neighborly tip of the hat. He flashed a smile and wave as he turned into the gas station.

He parks the rig and cuts the engine. To his right, Eddie blinks slowly taking in his surroundings.

“This it?”

His voice is scratchy with remnants of sleep. He reached back to wake Dustin and Robin, the latter doing so a bit more spastically than the situation warranted.

She rubs the sleep from her eyes as Steve exits the cab and waits at the gas pump.

Soon, Dustin and Eddie start whispering about what supplies to stock up on from the gas station and stumble from the truck.

Robin stretches and rolls her neck before pressing her finger to roll down the window.

Steve is leaning against the dusty cab, marks of red and ochre cleaving to his white tee shirt as he watches the numbers tick by from behind his aviators.

“Hey,” She offers with a quick grin, “Kinda like old home week, huh?”

He nods and pushes off the truck stepping toward her window. His face is drawn behind his glasses, despite his closed lip smile. He pulls the ball cap from his head and runs a hand through his hair.

It’s a lost cause really. He’d thrown it on earlier at the motel before they’d rushed out of the room just before checkout time. Between driving all day and mediating arguments that broke out between his three stooges, there hadn’t been time to pull off and change in an attempt to make himself decent.

The hat goes back on but Robin manages to pluck the glasses from his face and place them on her own. She sticks her tongue out and rolls the window back up just as the pump stops with a click.

He can hear Eddie and Dustin bickering as they walk back to the truck— something about the drone and upgrades. Steve returns the pump and slides his phone from his back pocket, the screen brightening back to life.

He thumbs through his messages with a sigh and pauses at your name.

As expected, there’s no response to his earlier query. The message reads delivered but his heart still sinks at being rebuffed.

Still in TX?

He’d sent that weeks ago. And still, he had no clue what to expect. For all he knew, he could show up to find another family living at the property or your granddaddy greeting him at the door with his shotgun.

It could really go either way.

Settling back in his seat, he puts the truck in gear and turns back into Main Street. Robin, Eddie, and Dustin chatter about some such shit as he grips the wheel, knuckles flaring white the closer and closer they drive to the house.

Red dust kicks up under foot as he steps out of the truck. The white-washed house before him is bathed in a dull yellow light from the lone bulb on the porch.

He turns back to the truck.

He could just pack it up and head back now, it wasn’t too late. He hadn’t been spotted yet and no one would be the wiser. Robin catches his eye with her blue eyes wide, a slow shake of her head tells him to do the damn thing.

A storm door slowly creaks open, boots falling against the worn wooden planks on the porch.

“Well, well, well,” A gruff voice intones into the night air. “I’ll be damned.”

Steve slowly turns around, willing his shoulders back down from his ears, and pastes on a megawatt smile.

“Hi, Mr. Wilder,” He greets with a wave, “Long time, no see.”

The old man scoffs, “You can say that again.” The double-barrel of the gun remains trained on Steve, his eye never leaving the scope.

Steve clears his throat uncomfortably.

“D’you know where she is?”

He laughs in reply, a callous thing.

“I sure as shit know where you weren’t.” He steps down from the porch, a flood light flickering on and illuminating the front yard as he does so. “At the altar, where you swore to me you’d be as you begged for my blessing.”

Logically, Steve knew it was coming. But it was still hard to stomach— he was a coward and he well knew it too.

“Now, Imma give you the count of three to git off my property. Which I think is mighty fair of me, considerin’ you how you broke her heart and all.”

Steve slowly backs up, hands in front of his body as if to soothe a wild animal.

“Sir, I don’t mean any offense, but if I could just talk to her—“

A sudden gust of cool air blows through the trees. The gun lowers minutely as Steve peers across the horizon, searching for something.

Rolling black clouds from the west, gaining speed and moisture. The temperature drops as the evening birdsong falls to a hush.

Robin scrambles out of the truck, all gangly legs and stammering sentences.

“Steve, it’s headed toward us. The doppler—“

“I know. Rob, get the—“

“Already done.”

Eddie and Dustin fall into step at his side, equipment gathered in their arms.

The old man sighs, pinching his fingers between his eyes in frustration and defeat.

“You remember where the storm cellar is?”

“Yessir.”

“I’ll meet you down there after I lock up the barn and house.”

Thunder rolls overhead as Steve leads his team into your family’s storm cellar out back. Crashes of lightning illuminate the freshly harvested fields, hay bales bundled tightly.

Your granddaddy joins them not five minutes later, shotgun still in hand. The phone in his pocket rings shrilly.

“You know, if I never saw your ugly mug ever again, I’d die a happy man.”

“Yessir, sorry sir.” Steve responds sheepishly as Eddie struggles to contain his laughter.

He sighs again and brings the phone to his ear. “You sure as shit better be, Harrington.”

[hippolotamus]

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 (please pretend these are bi flags)

Write for me, my love!

For you, Sir 💖

Through the years, Buck – Evan? – has been searching for something. A magical missing piece that would finally make him feel whole. Complete. Like he’s enough.  He’s searched in different occupations, places, and other people. Lots of other people. He criss-crossed the United States and wandered down to Peru before he finally landed in LA. When Buck graduated from the academy, when he parked his jeep and was welcomed to family dinner with Bobby, Hen and Chim, it finally felt like things were slotting into place. Like the universe had shifted and made room for him. Turns out he couldn’t have been more right and wrong at the same time.  After false starts in therapy, truck bombings, natural disasters, countless hours at hospitals – for himself or family – too many hookups, and too few meaningful romances, he continues to feel oddly stuck. Like everything around him keeps progressing and he’s on a never ending treadmill that prevents him from ever actually going anywhere.  Maybe that’s why he’s so unprepared when Tommy kisses him. When he grips Buck’s chin and tilts his world completely. When Buck kisses back and suddenly realizes – oh. It was this. When the usual heaviness that sits in his chest shifts like the pins in a lock and he feels… free. As if the veil has been lifted and he’s uncaged and untethered. At liberty to become who he’s meant to be. Not just a version or a software upgrade. But to be Buck. To be Evan. To be him.

[agirlwithdemonblood]

The Celebrity Next Door: Chapter 2 - Tensions Rise

Pairings: Jensen Ackles x Reader

Chapter Summary: Sometimes its better to avoid your neighbours, especially the grumpy ones.

Warnings: Grumpy Jensen, swearing.

Series Masterlist here!! & Main masterlist here!

"How are you liking Los Angeles so far?" Angela, my new boss, chuckled as she leaned against the doorway of my office. I shrugged, trying to summon a positive response.

"It's... different. I guess I haven't fully settled in yet," I replied warily.

Angela smiled reassuringly. "Give it time. LA has a way of growing on people. Plus, you'll probably run into more celebrities than you expect."

I laughed at the thought. Celebrities. Yeah, that would be fun to meet more celebrities.

I hesitated, debating whether to mention my encounter with Jensen Ackles, my grumpy, celebrity neighbour from yesterday. But I quickly realized she knew where I lived, and sharing his address wouldn't be wise.

"And how's your new office?" Angela asked, walking around the room.

I grinned, gesturing around the spacious room that came with my promotion. "It's perfect. Quite the upgrade from my office back in New York."

Angela nodded approvingly, her positivity contagious. One of the perks of working here was her cheerful presence.

"Well, I'll let you get back to it. We're glad to have you on board, Y/N!"

I smiled genuinely and nodded, "Thank you, Angela!"

The rest of the day dragged on as I navigated through new office protocols, met my coworkers, and sorted out administrative tasks. It wasn't much different from the routines in the New York branch, just with a touch of LA attached to it.

By 5:00 pm, I was eager to head home. Climbing into my truck, I couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that had settled in. New York was never this quiet; there was always a sense of hustle and bustle that gave me comfort but here, it was silent and isolating.

The drive home was quick, but noiseless. Pulling into my parking spot, I spotted a figure standing at my door, his back facing where I was standing. I cautiously stepped out of my car and the figure turned around, and I froze in my step.

Jensen.

I managed a shy smile and greeted him quietly. "Uh... Hi."

He returned a dry smile, his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets. "Hi. We didn't properly meet yesterday. I'm Jensen."

I extended my hand hesitantly, but he didn't reciprocate. Feeling awkward, I withdrew my hand and crossed my arms. "I'm Y/N."

He nodded, his expression a mix of amusement and annoyance.

"Well..." Jensen started, his gaze locking onto mine momentarily before quickly racing away. "I, uh, wanted to ask about the window. I'll cover the cost."

I shook my head, leaning against the railing. "It's already taken care of. Don't worry about it."

Confusion flickered across his face, as if my words didn't compute in his mind. "Katie broke it. I should pay."

I shook my head, standing straighter as the tension between us eased slightly. "It's fine. I work in insurance; getting it fixed was no big deal. Besides, save your money for the next window she breaks," I joked, immediately regretting my attempt at lightheartedness.

Jensen's demeanor shifted, reverting to the stern and irritated man I'd encountered the day before.

"Sorry," I apologized quickly, realizing my mistake. "That was my shitty attempt to lighten the mood."

He nodded briefly, descending the stairs past me and muttering a goodnight before disappearing into his house. If I could reach behind myself and kick my own ass for my stupid joke, I would have.

I have never been good at speaking with others, not really, especially with someone like Jensen. Unlike my professional appearance at work, I struggled with genuine interactions. Speaking to actual strangers, having a conversation and opening up-that I was terrible at.

It was something I always faked-the confidence. People wouldn't guess it by looking at me, but I was a pretty anxious person, it was a part of me that I didn't like being shown. It seemed like with Jensen, my secret was becoming unraveled.

As I headed back inside, a sense of loneliness and frustration washed over me. It was disheartening to realize I'd started off on the wrong foot with my neighbour, especially one as important as Jensen Ackles.

The next morning, I set up my computer in my home office. Working from home twice a week was a luxury that helped ease the transition to LA life.

After my second meeting of the day, I pulled off my headphones and the sound of shouting filled my ears. Curiosity got the better of me, and I stepped out onto my porch to see Jensen, phone in hand, yelling loudly enough to echo through the neighbourhood.

"You knew I had a fucking audition today! Half an hour's notice? Are you kidding me?" His words shooting out like venom causing my anxiety to rise.

I hesitated, debating whether to offer help despite our rocky start. There was an unexplainable urge to reach out, to make sure he was okay and it confused me.

Jensen hung up abruptly, slumping onto his stairs with defeat engraved across his face. My heart ached for him; beneath his gruff exterior, there was obviously something deeper going on with him.

In that moment, I made my decision. I was going to help him, or at least offer. I crossed my yard and nervously opened his gate, approaching cautiously. His head snapped up as I cleared my throat.

"Hi... I just wanted..." I started hesitantly before he rudely cut me off.

"Look, it was nice meeting you, but we're not that kind of neighbours," Jensen interjected sharply. "You don't need to keep coming over uninvited."

My smile wavered, my words caught in my throat. "What?"

"Is it because you know who I am? You want to get close to your famous neighbour? Want the scoop on my fucked up drama?" His tone was accusatory, his frustration evident.

I flinched, stung by his assumptions. "Are you kidding? Yes, I know who you are, but I couldn't care less. To me, you're just my neighbour, my grumpy ass neighbour who happens to be famous."

Jensen's expression wavered between disbelief and something unreadable.

"I came over to offer some help or somebody to talk to considering you were just screaming so loud, the entire damn block could hear you, but forget it. Screw being neighbourly."

His mouth hung open as he struggled to find words, but I didn't care what he had to say. I didn't want a response. I stormed back to my house, anger bubbling in my chest like sparkling water. My mind was clouded with anxiety and nerves, and I felt on the verge of collapsing.

As soon as I shut the door, reality hit me, flooding my head with his words and my own. I hated that I felt suffocated by a stupid argument with him, hated the tears threatening to pour, hated that he made me vulnerable and exposed a side of me I didn't know existed.

I hated living next to him. I hated that I ever knocked on his door.

I was done trying with him-done saying hello, offering a smile, or caring. I was fed up, finished.

Jensen Ackles was not a nice person, and I was done trying to be nice to him.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Chapter 3 coming soon stay tuned!

Like, comment, and reblog, feedback is my fuel 💕

[kodiackwrites]

More country music Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley

—

As I said in my previous post of him, Ghost listens to rock, metal, anything loud to pull him from his thoughts. But the second he’s left those god awful war grounds, Simon Riley is listening to good ol’ country music.

He isn’t very fond of newer country, But there’s the odd hit or two he’ll enjoy.

Because of this, he’s not very fond of listening to the radio since all they play is the top 10 hits of that month on repeat, so he has a 2000’s thick CD case, filled to the brim with anything from George Strait to Eric Church. You’ve grown used to his pattern of getting in, pulling open the centre console, Flipping through the CD collection, some burnt by himself or mates of his, Pulling one out, Starting the truck, One finger still in the disc he selected as he turns the key, the engine lowly rumbling to life, And holding the brake as he pulls whatever disc was left in the stereo out and slipping it into the case, Dropping the new one in and putting the case back.

Sounds like it takes forever, but he’s got it down to a tee, only taking a minute to pull the truck into drive, turn around to face the back of the truck, one arm on the back of your head rest and pulling out of the driveway.

When you first got with him, you tried to convince him to just use Bluetooth, but he argued that “it’s just not the same.”

So despite all his friends telling him to upgrade his 2017 Chevy Silverado, he refuses to. It’s a reliable truck, But it also has a CD player built in, although if he had to get a new truck for whenever reason, he would totally tear out and replace the entire head unit just to have a CD player.

Occasionally, you’d flip through the large case, scanning over his ever growing collection, asking where they’re from or to hear that one next, And he’d certainly let you pick from time to time.

He never played the music very loudly, it was always a comfortable 10-15 volume, With him humming or mumbling along as his long fingers tapped the steering wheel along to the beat of the drums or the melody of the guitar.

(NSFW below the cut)

——

He isn’t the biggest fan of playing music during intimacy, he claims it ruins the moment. However he isn’t objected to sliding into the backseat if you were parked in the middle of nowhere and a good song came on.

And he’d certainly pick certain CD’s that are just long enough to drive to your lookout spot and end with just the right mix to make love<3

—

This might become a series but idk👍

[phoenix-downer]

FFVII Rebirth Demo Impressions

I played the demo several nights ago and loved it! This post is about my thoughts/impressions as I was playing.

(Quick note: My shipping preferences are Cloud/Tifa and Zack/Aerith, so that is going to influence my perspective and what I write about. There will also be spoilers for the OG game and Crisis Core throughout).

One of the first things I noticed as I was playing through was the graphics. The graphics look fantastic. I can tell the game being on the PS5 is making a big difference. The jump in quality from Remake to Rebirth is really noticeable.

It's so weird seeing Cloud act like Zack. Like I KNOW it's Zack and it's creeping me out a;lksdjfdfj because it's just...so not Cloud. They knocked the "this is wrong" vibes out of the park by using Zack's mannerisms and gestures with Cloud's model slapped on top, and it's giving this uncanny valley feeling to everything "Cloud" does. Cody Christian even sounds more like Zack's VA (Caleb Pierce). The attention to detail with all that is excellent. The updated graphics give them a lot to work with in terms of showing the wonkiness with Cloud's memories.

There was also a clever shot in the truck of "Cloud" asking the real Cloud if he's okay, and you see a hint of Cloud's blond hair peeking through the helmet.

I liked the dramatic/heroic version of Sephiroth's theme that played. And when Zack gets hurt by one of the monsters, I think it was Cloud who made sure he's okay, which was a sweet touch. Also, the screen is tinted with green, which is a cool way to show the effects of the Mako poisoning on Cloud.

Another thing I noticed: Cloud's eyes look SUPER green, more so than in Remake. Don't know if it's the upgrade to the PS5 or if they wanted to show the Mako poisoning progressing, but I thought it was a cool detail.

Okay it's like Cloud swapped he and Zack in his memories directly at one point soon after they arrive in Nibelheim. I swear this is 100% what Zack would've said to Cloud about Aerith, but instead it's one of the "security officers" saying it to "Cloud": "So, any friends here you wanna see? Maybe a girlfriend? Speaking of which, I bet you're dying to hear about mine. Am I right?"

Lmao Sephiroth still has groupies, this is giving Crisis Core fanclub vibes and I'm all here for it. I'm glad the game still has those silly moments and that continuity with past games. It makes the tragedy I know will unfold later on that much more poignant.

Speaking of which, it's depressing seeing all the townspeople in Nibelheim knowing they're going to die. Just walking around talking to them, Nibelheim really feels like a lived-in place that Cloud has so many personal connections to.

An NPC asked Cloud if he's seen his mother yet, another one recognized me, and another couple of people noticed me and asked if I'm looking for Tifa. They Know™️

Also, it's really interesting seeing Cloud craft the welcome home he WISHES he had gotten. He wanted to come back to Nibelheim as a hero everyone praised, but the reality was much different. So seeing that contrast is a really good insight into Cloud's psyche and what he wants (praise, recognition, approval, etc.)

Oh found some cats, I'm glad there's another area dedicated to just cats ;aldjf; (complete with photographic evidence):

Awwwwww there was a sweet reference to Tifa leading the exercise classes for Nibelheim from Traces of Two Pasts, and she asks Cloud in the modern day if he was able to keep up with the class (she wasn't teaching this particular one, but I love that bit of continuity).

Tifa you can tell is nostalgic for Nibelheim hearing Cloud's recounting of what happened too, the voice acting and dialogue for this part is all really well-done.

The option to see Cloud's mom was really well-done. Cloud never went back to see her in reality, of course, which means his memory glitches out like crazy during this part: he "hears" his mother talking to him about a conversation that happened at an earlier time, like his brain is desperately trying to create something that never happened and is latching onto the nearest fragments it can find. I like how they translated this scene from the OG game, it gave off eerie vibes.

HE DID THE LIL SHRUG AND NOD LIKE HE DOES IN THE OG GAME if you try to enter his mom's house again after the "memory" is over. Also, it's like his mind is trying to protect itself from delving too deeply into a false memory so glitchy (and maybe he feels a deep level of guilt at not actually going to see her as well), and so you can't go back into his house, just like in the OG game.

You can have Cloud go up the water tower too, and he looks towards Tifa's window THE ANGST OF IT ALL a;lskdfj. I love those little moments of Pining™️

Tifa's like wait you went to my place?? Oh Cloud...you were such an awkward weirdo...

"Our reasons, huh? I bet most of them had to do with you." Barret shading Cloud for why he and Tifa didn't hang out more ;alkdjf again I love the humor in these moments.

Awwww Fluffy got mentioned! Nice to hear her brought up again.

"You went into my room?" I'm dead. Tifa sounds so indignant and rightfully so. It's weirdo behavior Cloud ;laskdfj

"You went through my stuff?!" Not off to a great start buddy, but I had him pick that option because I figured he ought to be honest. Tifa and Aerith both call him an asshole if you admit to doing it too, which made me laugh. And naturally my mind is wondering how this will impact the iconic date later on. Did I just piss both Aerith and Tifa off and lose affection points with both girls? Probably lol (and honestly, Cloud deserved it for that stunt).

Tifa's lil moogle plushie on her bed is adorable. I love the touches like that that make the environment feel more lived in.

Awwww I found Tifa's theme to play on the piano hehe. I love that that's the first piano piece you can find in the game. Just one of my favorite FFVII songs because it fits Tifa so perfectly and has this bittersweet sense of longing as well as this beautiful tenderness to it.

Also, I got a kick out of the piano minigame. The first time I wasn't great at it and got a C. I struggled to do both "hands" at the same time. I did it two more times after that, and it starts to sound really nice when you have a streak of a bunch of correct notes in a row. Like Cloud's going to town on the piano with extra flourishes. If you miss notes again though the metronome comes back on lol like "you still need to practice and get the rhythm down."

The second two times I got an A (I'll have to keep practicing to get a star and see what happens), and the gang praised Cloud, which I thought was cool.

Found more Sephiroth groupies and ran into Zangan in the inn. It was really sweet hearing Zangan praise Tifa so highly. Also, "Cloud" saying, "yeah right" when Zangan says "Tifa will go far" is another good clue Cloud isn't himself. Tifa was offended and Aerith was offended on her behalf. I love how Aerith keeps backing Tifa up on stuff, it's really nice to see more of their friendship.

The photographer dude is back and I love him. And he even says the same thing he said to Zack in Crisis Core about how he can't waste his film on Zack because he doesn't know who he is ;alskdfj. What's a guy got to do to get a little respect?

"You look so different" lol yes I do random villager because I'm not me, and then there are some nice creepy foreshadowing moments from her kids. The girl says, "Gonna beat those monsters?" and the boy says, "Gonna be 'em?"

The irony of the mayor saying he'd brag about Sephiroth visiting Nibelheim till the day he dies:

I still really love Brian Lockhart's design. He's like if the 70s met cowboy fashion, and it just works somehow. And this carries over from the OG game, but his concerns about Tifa's safety are well-founded given what happened when she and Cloud were kids and sets up future reveals in the remake trilogy nicely.

Also, Tifa is so small next to Sephiroth. I love her sass in this part of the story, and this time around there's some country twang banjo version of her theme and I love it. Also Sephiroth shaded the camera guy al;sdkfj;dskf but "Cloud" talked him into it and thus the iconic photo came into being. Again those moments of humor will never not be funny. And I loved how Tifa was being such a good guide and giving info about the area as they started to ascend the mountain.

Also, when you finally get to the title screen, it cracked me up how Nomura is listed first, before Hamaguchi. Probably a seniority/respect thing, but Nomura is the creative director and Hamaguchi is the director.

Also, the version of the main theme that plays as you go up Mt. Nibel is awesome, and once again I had to get a screenshot because this area is just so beautiful:

Tifa wanting to travel is a sweet touch, though Sephiroth is practical and points out that he travels on business trips and not for fun. Of course "Cloud" points out that you do learn stuff on these trips. It's a nice contrast between Tifa's naive optimism, Sephiroth's jaded world-weary outlook, and Zack's positivity tempered by experience.

Also, Sephiroth's hair is very swishy. I thought that needed a note as I was playing this. Props to the artists, animators, etc. who rendered it.

I chuckled at Tifa racing up the mountain and teasing "Cloud" and Sephiroth about whether or not they can keep up. Just shows a fun, playful side to her personality and also shows how eager she is to prove herself. And then she dropkicked a monster to protect "Cloud" and then teased him about it alks;jfdsf. She's so much snarkier with Zack than she is with Cloud, and it's an interesting contrast.

The real Cloud of course is in the background, protecting Tifa from danger. Even in his rewritten version of history, the real him is lurking in his subconscious protecting her because she's that important to him. She thanked him so sweetly when he did too.

I made a note about seeing the bridge that collapsed with Cloud and Tifa on it when they were kids, man all the little details like this and the foreshadowing is just A+.

Tifa has Trauma™️ from falling off a bridge before, hmmm, wonder what that's from, and she's still like hey I'm the guide I'll lead us a;ldkfj when "Cloud" offers to go first lol.

Still holds true years later but wooooow Nibelheim sucks at constructing good bridges lol. It was a wholesome moment where "Cloud"/Zack grabbed Cloud and kept him from drowning though, and Sephiroth was able to grab Tifa (which is ironic considering how he tries to kill her not much later, and it's sad because it really shows he was a good guy). Of course the other security officer probably drowned rip, poor guy.

YAY SEPHIROTH'S IN MY PARTY FINALLY

"For your performance review" lol I like Sephiroth's sass and how he teases "Cloud" like this.

I just obliterate everything playing as Sephiroth ;alsdkfj and truly love playing as him. And him slamming his own dad will never not be funny, I mean Hojo just really sucks.

At this point I started focusing more on playing the game since there were more monsters to fight etc., but I still got some nice screenshots and had a few more thoughts.

The Mako spring just looks incredible, so I had to include a photo:

The scenery by the ocean was gorgeous too, I can't wait to go to Costa del Sol:

The real Cloud helping Tifa get to safety from the monster and "Cloud"/Zack and Sephiroth being bros is top-tier content. Also Sephiroth looks like a model in pretty much every shot he's in:

Oh the dramatic irony of Tifa not knowing it's Cloud and him refusing to talk and her being sassy and telling him, "You better keep me safe" and then of course he does. The music is creepy now that we're about to enter the reactor lol, of course it is.

"Would it kill this guy to say something" he would die from embarrassment and shame, yes:

"The company really needs to be more transparent" that's the understatement of the year "Cloud" ;lakfj;asdf

Cool use of JENOVA'S theme. I always enjoy hearing that theme and how otherworldy but also very 90s it sounds.

Zangan's comment here is gold, I love the bee in his bonnet bit:

The Shinra basement stuff was genuinely creepy l;kasjdf like I know what happens and I was still freaked out! The atmosphere was just really well done.

"I should go. Mother is waiting." There it is, the iconic meme line a;ldal;skdjf;lsdjf it just kills me, Sephiroth is such a psycho.

Loved seeing Zangan helping people get out of the town and telling "Cloud" to get in there and help, but of course the situation is still incredibly dire by the time "Cloud" gets there.

This shot in front of the water tower was gorgeous and really haunting, especially when the water tower collapsed. Just the symbolism with that, the loss of Cloud and Tifa's special place and how not long after this, he feels like he failed her and failed to keep his promise:

Main Scenario: Check on Mom. Oh Cloud...

And then you see the real Cloud collapsed in front of his house and calling for his mom, this is so depressing:

This is where the more realistic graphics really serve the story well, because it makes this moment that much more of a gut punch, especially when he hears his mother begging him to live. The last few moments before her soul returns to the planet perhaps, trying to save her son from danger one last time.

And now that "Cloud" is hurt, he looks busted up even in the menu. I thought that was a cool detail to include.

It's like Cloud's memories are trying to right themselves because he winds up on the ground like where he was supposed to be. When Sephiroth murdered the man who tried to help him and then went on his creepy murder spree of several other villagers culminating with the mayor, that was all really well done too. Horrifying because there's nothing Cloud can do to stop the senseless murder of people he's known all his life, and it really shows how cold and ruthless Sephiroth has become.

This moment was good too with the memories seeming glitchy again:

And then of course I must end this on The Iconic Scene™️ a;lsdkfja;kdslf complete with psycho smirk:

Needless to say, I very much enjoyed this demo and am looking forward to the Juno one! And the full game, February 29 can't come fast enough.

[seat-safety-switch]

Once again, I am tested by my circumstances. The local animal shelter was looking for someone to drive some dogs to their various appointments. That responsibility fell to me, a drivers-license-having individual with a community service requirement with an “exponent” symbol in it in Microsoft Excel, to truck them there. Nobody else wanted to do it, possibly because some of the dogs have what medical experts are calling “the terror shits.”

Naturally, I couldn’t do this in my own car. Not only is the Volare incapable of holding any passengers due to the structural rust issues, but I like to keep the car clean. That’s why there’s the big holes in the floor: any dropped candy wrappers, stray strands of hair, or spilled coffees will just run out when I lift the floor mat on the expressway. No: the animal shelter was very insistent that what I would receive is a 2005 Chevy Express van, white-on-white.

This van was, well, a van. For some reason, everyone I met was apologizing to me about “how old” it was, and how they had “no money” in the budget with which to upgrade it. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that it was several decades newer than anything I’d ever operated, and I was a little bit intimidated by driving something that could go forward and backward, without having to turn the engine off and push it a little bit first.

Still, after a few minutes on the road, I immediately saw what they meant. It didn’t have any soul, this new automobile, being enormously competent at virtually every task. It didn’t shake violently on the highway, all the doors stayed closed, and it could go around corners without the windshield falling out. Soon, I was going an integer multiple of the posted speed limit, still feeling it was too slow because the sensation of danger was no longer prickling its way up my spine. I was practically falling asleep, and when I arrived at the vet’s office an hour away nearly 45 minutes ahead of schedule, I decided something had to be done for the safety of my canine charges.

While the dogs were in the shop, getting their tires rotated, I decided to do a little bit of work on my own. I had been stuck behind a slow-moving BMW SUV on the off-ramp. It was now parked outside a realtor’s office, taunting me with its copious reserve of compressed air and torque. I decided that if they weren’t gonna use their turbocharger, then I should rightfully be entitled to it. After all, it’s for the public good: who would deny these dogs an efficient, comfortable ride? Using the BMW’s toolkit and a piece of parking lot rebar as a lever, I soon had the turbocharger worked off of the engine, dropped out the bottom, and swaged into the van’s induction system. To test it out, I jumped in and pinned the throttle a few times, hearing the delightful whoosh of at least a hundred more horsepower. Yeah. This would do nicely.

All I’m legally allowed to tell you about what happened next is two things. One, the van really was less boring after all this work. The little V8 sang with the joys of forced induction, and the tires smoked well through however many gears this magic future transmission had in it. Two, it was a good thing I was going to the dog groomer’s next, because none of these animals were in a presentable shape. It turns out dogs afflicted with the terror-shits don’t like to pull a deep thirteen-second quarter mile, which is definitely something they should have told me before they gave me the keys.

Not every day of volunteering is going to be perfect. Next time I go back, I think I’ll cut a hole in the floor instead. At least that will make the cleanup easier.

[thorns-and-rosewings]

I think after some of the more recent episodes of TSAMS I am in need of updating some of the things in the Reaper King AU 💀. As I now have a few more ideas of what happens next. I guess this is the Part 8 of the AU then :)

I also now have a few VERY interesting ideas about some of the other characters in this AU and what is going on with them. Specifically Sun, Ruin and Eclipse.

Oh boy do I have some fun things here... But also some dark things.

TW: Same as before. Actually quite a bit of gore in this one... And some seriously disturbing imagery.

-Slight change to the lore of this AU, Ruin DID create Reaper Killcode... HOWEVER... this is not Ruin faking being cured, this is Ruin being cured and making a MASSIVELY BAD DECISION...

-He created Reaper KC to play the villain... So HE could defeat him and play the hero... He created Reaper with a weak spot. Essentially a hole in his chest that would have been how Ruin planned to defeat this new enemy.

-...his actions were driven by loneliness and his desire to to really become a part of the Celestial Family.

-Unfortunately the second Reaper Killcode took Stitchwraiths core and added it into the hole in his chest, it actually upgraded his body and made him into the insane threat he's become... As the core upgrades came as KC was literally it's 'Perfect Host'

-Moon discovered Ruins part in KCs revival and ran him out of the Pizzaplex in a fury.

-In spite of him having brought KC back, he was not responsible for Eclipse's revival... Or at least he's not aware of it if he is. He did kinda blackout on some alcohol and he apparently does weird things when he's drunk, soooo that's kinda up in the air at the moment.

...now to the present...

-Sun and Moon opt to go see what is up with a huge mountain range suddenly just appearing outside of the city. They stop by the ranger station and meet Harper... Who is surprised as hell at the sight of two more sentient robots. Still, she treats them politely. Tells them about the park... And the legends of how the forest is a hotbed for Cryptids. With the most feared being the 'Reaper King.'

-She also says yes, she is aware that something is weird and she's realizing she might not be in the same universe she was a few days ago...

-Honestly... Not the weirdest thing she's experienced with this job. And she wants them to be careful as this forest is notorious for its disappearances.

-She's dating and having 'Smoochy Time' with the alpha cryptid in this area. She's pretty familiar with weird... But Moon and Sun don't know that...

-Sun and Moon kinda brush the cryptid thing off and just opt to explore this place a little together. Neither are taking this very seriously as they walk deeper in.

-Things seem semi-normal... At least until they pass through one particular clearing and something catches Moons eye and he ventures off the trail to get a better look at this thing. It looks like a ghastly old tree... Only carved into it are frightening images, particularly of what looks like some strange demonic faces... Hanging from the trees are bones and the truck is slathered in blood.

-He and Sun are VERY unnerved...

-Even moreso when a herd of deer suddenly rush through the clearing... But one deer is being pursued closely by what looks like two wolves and there's something already on its back holding onto its neck... One of the creatures trips it up and the deer goes down. The animal making agonized screams as the creatures tear into it... Until finally it goes silent.

-The thing on the deers back stands it's about the height of a young boy, showing grey skin and semi-glowing eyes. And blood staining its mouth and dribbling down it's chin, while one of the pursuers stands... Showing it to look like a child version of the Wolfman, also just as bloody from the ordeal.

-They grin at each other then pet the actual wolf that was with them before looking back into the forest from where the deer heard had initially run from.

Vamp: Brothers! How was that?

Lycan: We brought it down! It's a good size! With seven points on its antlers!

-Moon and Sun are crouching down near the tree watching this scene in horror. As everything proceeds to get MUCH worse when from just beyond the treeline another figure approaches the boys and the wolf... A figure that both of the animatronics had hoped they would never see again...

...Bloodmoon...

-He approaches the group, a strange blue ball of fire floating near him as he walked, and the wolf immediately rushed up to him... Showing that it's head bore a sickening deformity, like it nearly had two heads but it never got far enough and was just a conjoined skull. But to the shock of the secret onlookers, Bloodmoon greets the animal with pets as it licks the maniacs face... That shock easily quadrupled as the Blood Twins looked to the dead deer and then brought both of his hands up and rubbed both of the boys heads.

Bloodmoon: Not a bad kill... You got this one without my help. Next time you will have to take it down without HunterKiller helping.

Vamp: Did we did ok?

Bloodmoon: You did great! It is dead after all! Very dead! (Bloodmoon puts an arm around each of the boys as they look down at the deer... And his disgusting tongue comes out and licks across his sharp teeth) And now my little brothers... We FEAST!

-Bloodmoon, the boys and the wolf immediately begin to tear into the deers carcass... The sounds... The wet sounds of the ripping and tearing of the deers flesh. The loud crunching as Bloodmoon bit into bones in order to get at the marrow... And then the boys eagerly requesting him to bite other bones, as they were unable to get marrow themselves due to their teeth and jaws not being as strong... And so much blood just splattering everywhere...

-Moon regains himself first, reaching down to get a grip on Suns shoulder... And pulling him up, but only just slightly. As not to alert the freaks just a short ways away from them.

-They need to leave... Now!

-Sun is just locked up in horror at what he just watched but he yielded to being pulled back by Moon... They both turned to creep back the way they came-

-Only to stare at the sight of a young girl made of blue flames, holding one of the deers antlers in her hand and a piece of twine. Clearly staring at the brothers in shock.

...But Sun sees something different...

...for a moment he can see the little girl as she was before she mutated into a Wisp...

-This sight triggered something in Sun, the part of his coding that sought to protect children... and before Moon could stop him, Sun grabbed the little girl up and just starts booking it as fast as possible. His intent only being to get this child away from danger...

-Wisp, understandably, starts screaming

-Its a blood chilling, eerie sound that seems to carry in all directions without losing any volume. Immediately getting Bloodmoon and the others to freeze. All of their faces thoroughly soaked in blood and gore. Bloodmoon looks around, only to spot Moon and Sun... With Sun holding his little sister and dragging her away.

Bloodmoon: WISP!!!! Let go of our baby sister!!!

-They abandon their meal and started to chase Sun and Moon. The boys, Lycan and Vamp starting to make calls, strange whooping calls into the woods as they are just... Tearing after Sun and Moon

-Wisp is struggling amidst Suns grip and crying, while Moon is just screaming at Sun to drop her. But then the little girl ignites! She badly burns Suns arms and hands. Escaping Suns grip and rushing back to Bloodmoon and the others... Actually she plowed into Bloody so hard he actually fell backwards... Buying some time for Moon to pull up Sun and start partially dragging him away.

-Sun regains himself enough to just be running alongside his brother... And he makes the fatal mistake...

Sun: I think we lost them!

-A MASSIVE Wendigo-esqe creature explodes from the nearby trees, running on all fours it lowers its head that is adorned with huge pronged antlers and rams into both Sun and Moon. Sending them cascading down a steep hill

-After hitting the ground, Moon groaned in pain but managed to get to his knees pretty quickly. Only to realize they were now outside one of the Ranger cabins near the entrance of this park... He got a brief flicker of hope for a moment, thinking they might be able to escape if they booked it from here.

-That tiny moment of hope was dashed when the Wendigo creature leapt off the hill and landed only a short ways away from them. It's skeletal head lowered and blazing eyes locked completely on the brothers...

-Out of nowhere, chains seemed to snake out from amidst the foliage and ensnared both of the Celestial animatronics. Pulling them backwards until they were slammed against a tree and further wrapped up in the chains.

-From off to the side an eerie floating spectre was revealed to be the source of the chains... A young girl, probably in her mid-teenage years became visible. Wearing a raggedy dress and a hooded shawl, the chains seemingly coming out from the shawl...

-And within a few seconds, the vampire and werewolf children... Along with Bloodmoon and the mutant wolf. The little girl made of blue fire, Wisp, was in the form of a tiny ball of flame and positioned on the top of Bloodmoons head...

Wendigo: So... What happened? It's not every day you guys let out calls for all of us to get involved in one of your hunts.

Bloodmoon: We'll tell you later, but for right now... (He turns his hateful gaze straight at the bound forms of Sun and Moon... Particularly Sun) We have an old score to settle...

(That's it for this part, I promise to get the next part up soon but this was already going on for too long at this point...)

[xunandran]

Fuck It Friday (Polyfire Edition)

I didn't know which of my current two main projects I wanted to share anything new on. The Polyfire project won out!

In this little excerpt, later in the fic, Eddie's decided it's time to take things to the next step with Tommy.

I hope you all enjoy!!

===== You're The Two =====

Eddie’s keys slid at the lock, electric nerves resulting in three false starts before success. He didn’t know why he was so nervous. That wasn’t true. This was new territory. Ever since he said those four words earlier, the butterflies in his stomach had upgraded to full on helicopters, each of them buzzing around at max speed. 

He clattered his keys in the bowl next to the door, head cocking as the sound of the TV warmed the room. He hadn’t left it on when he’d left for his date. 

“Buck?”

A hand shot up from the couch, first two fingers and thumb raised in greeting. Eddie’s eyes narrowed as they slid over the ends of too long of legs angled awkwardly over the arm. 

“I thought you were working. I didn’t see the jeep outside.”

Buck grabbed the back and pulled his head into view. He was mussed, like Eddie had just woken him from a nap. A low crinkle of warmth settled in the pit of Eddie’s stomach at the sight, warring for space with the helicopters that were still performing combat maneuvers. 

“I parked out back. Gerrard sent me home. Apparently I’ve got to ‘learn manners’ or something.”

Eddie walked up, fingers tracing the top of the couch. “For how long?”

“Just the shift. Enough about that though. How did the date go?”

Eddie swallowed, lips pressed into a line. Flashes of Tommy’s hands on him against the outside of the arena revved the choppers into overdrive, and he could still feel the heat of the other man’s lips on his neck. “The fight… was good. Dinner was… light. Short even.”

Buck’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Eddie’s expression. “What aren’t you saying?”

Eddie’s own eyes shifted with the small shake of his head. “I don’t know what you—”

The low, recognizable sound of Tommy’s engine rumbled from the driveway. Buck looked toward the curtained window before slowly focusing on Eddie. “Eddie…”

How did one operate with all of the blood in their face. “You were supposed to be at work, Buck!”

“Wait…” Buck drew the single syllable long, a bright, teasing smile blooming over his features. “Were you two? Is this the first time?”

The heat in Eddie’s face didn’t dissipate. If anything, it flared hotter as he heard the truck door shut. “Yes and yes,” he hissed quietly. 

Buck’s Cheshire smile consumed his entire face. “You’re so nervous. It’s cute.”

“Stop it! It’s not cute.”

[princess-of-the-corner]

Some of the information I've shared about Prehistoric Park is already out of date. Cashiers, instead of being hired like other staff, are automatically hired whenever a new cafe, kiosk, or clothing store is added to the park. They are attached to those ammenities, and as such are also dismissed when those stores, kiosks, and cafes are removed.

Also, since I've been talking about everything EXCEPT the dinosaurs, I'd figure I'd explain how the animals are unlocked: The Fossil Depot.

You can have one Fossil Depot in your park at a time, but it can be upgraded to have up to five trucks. Each of these trucks belongs to a different paleontology team, who can be sent out to different Formations to collect fossils. Collecting fossils grants you DNA samples. Once you've 100% sampled a species' DNA, you can clone it in your animal nurseries.

Global events will affect things like how much expeditions cost, how much DNA you'll get back from the digs, and other mechanics (like how long they take).

You can end an expedition early.

When all of the species from a formation have had all their DNA logged, all of the Paleontologists at that sight will get called back to the Depot.

You don't need to and cannot connect the Fossil Depot to the roads, as there are no roads in the game. When the trucks drive out, they fade out of existence while they're exiting the Depot's hitbox and fade back in when they come back. It might not be realistic, but it DOES give players more freedom in how they design their parks.

The Loading dock works similarly.

tbh the retail workers being part of the store itself tracks lmao. I have known some people that practically sleep in the vents.

[alltimefail-sims]

"📩 Simblr question of the day: according to you, what are the most underutilized gameplay features in the sims games you played, dlc included?"

Sharing the SQOTD from @simblr-question-of-the-day. I really liked this question because I'm excited to get more gameplay ideas.

Also, you talked about being busy recently so good luck with everything you are working on!

Yes I have been bit busier lately than I've been in a tick, but that's because I'm trying to be better about working on the book I'm writing!! But please continue to send asks and such, I'm still here and active just posting my own content a bit slower - but I'm still active and lurking about!

As for underutilized gameplay features...

I think the Club feature from Get Together is a really underutilized feature in the Sims. @sojutrait actually has a great guide up on their page that explains how clubs can be used for a more custom, immersive, hands-on gameplay experience.

I also think people don't realize how much fun the sales tables can be: I love doing "yard sales" to get rid of stuff in my sims home (for realistic gameplay), I love creating community lots filled with those sales tables to create a farmer's market/small community festival feel, and I love using them for my free-spirited, rancher, farmer, and homesteader sims specifically so they can sell their goods and rely on that income solely! Also you can create better custom food booths now with Home Chef Hustle and you can build a "food truck" OR like a pop-up ice cream stand at the park, for example. Idk it's just a fun feature to me, and exciting for those who don't think any of the rabbit-hole jobs suit their sim (or for those who want more flexibility in their sims' income without having to buy a whole ass additional community lot business).

The handiness skill as a whole is a gamechanger because of the "upgrade object" feature. The upgrades are actually super helpful and many of them will improve the functionality of the given object, will give custom moodlets, and will even help avoid disaster (fireproofing your dryer in the sims is a must... that shit catches fire if you look at it the wrong way lmaoooo).

The robotics skill is really cool and I love making the servos!! Cute little robot friend/family member and they can help around the house (crucial when you have big families, fun if you're going for a futuristic vibe or eccentric household).

Occults, in my opinion, are an underrated feature of the Sims. I think everyone should add some kind of weird, campy, supernatural shenanigans to their gameplay. Have your sim fall in love with a ghost; have your sim accidentally get bitten by a werewolf or vampire; befriend a mermaid; build a rocket in your backyard and go to space; get abducted and raise an alien; the possibilities are endless! Occults can shake shit up, especially if you're tired of vanilla, realistic gameplay.

FAMILY VACATIONS!!! HONEYMOONS!! FRIEND TRIPS!!! I love taking my sims on vacation and taking photos, making memories, etc. This feature is great too because you can get extended family members to go on vacation with your household and then it'll be a little family reunion (and you'll get moodlets for this as well that are like "The whole family is together" or something like that, it's really cute!). I think because you can literally travel to anywhere at any time without using the vacation feature this becomes really under-utilized, but it's a fun little thing to do!

Custom summer vacation holiday with seasons: depending on your lifespan/how you have your calendar days set up you can make it lasts a few days, a whole week, or even two weeks (so the kids can be off school during that time - I do one week in my saves). I just make the "mandatory events" swimming, grilling, spending time with family, stuff like that! Some days I literally have no mandatory events lol, just a day off school!

Honestly that's all I've got off the top of my head: I use a lot of mods and always have, so it can be hard for me to isolate what is a modded feature and what is just a part of the game itself! I hope one or more of these can help you spice your gameplay up a bit! Thank you for this question as always!!! <3

[purplekoop]

I know your computer's on the fritz, so I'll keep my questions simpler for now.

What does Kashov's shop look like?

I've always imagined it as a food truck like situation. He has a van that opens on the side with a little extendable counter and you can see his other merchandise hanging on the wall behind him.

The main reason I envision his shop as this is because of lore reasons. First, it makes it easier to explain why he has a location right next to wherever the War Bots fighting, he just drove there.

It also supports his character. The mobile store kinda gives him a shifty quality. After all, staying in the same place as a scam artist is not safe. It just makes sense for him.

What do you think?

Oooh, okay! To be honest I haven't given it much thought yet, the placeholder in my head is basically just the TF2 MvM upgrade store but with a guy in it. Though come to think of it, I do recall vaguely having the idea of him having some kind of old west style wagon he'd use to get around, just not as his in-game shop and more as just a story element for somewhere Wilderoad could barge in through the roof of. This was also before he was demoted from playable to shopkeeper, and I've only now recently started thinking about the mission side of things again, so it's not exactly something I've given much thought since.

I do very much like this idea, though also I think his operation is so scuffed and inconsistent that on some maps he'd have occupied an existing empty room in the player spawn room, set up a rudimentary stall out of whatever scraps he could find, operates right from his vehicle like you said, or any number of random ways he'd run things quickly.

This does also remind me of another idea I had for him, this time relating to his design. Considering he doesn't exactly need to move a lot now, a funny thought I had was that he doesn't actually have legs, and is just attached to the ground via a metal stick in a hole that can slide around a pre-determined track, like a theme park animatronic. I think it'd be a funny visual, especially when you only see him over a counter most of the time, so you'd actually have to get the right angle to find out he doesn't actually have legs. Maybe he has something shaped like a roomba to hop out into and move freely in, but he generally just sticks to his little path for convenience.

[dimensional-fatty]

One evening morning at New York City, An 5’8 (1.73 m), chin-length Auburn hair female named April O’Neil, April is a Reporter who works at Channel 6 building. April wears distinctive yellow jumpsuit with white belt, a watch and white boots. April parked the van next to the lamppost as April unbuckle her seatbelt, turns the ignition to turn off, take car key out. April open the door as waddle scoot to step off, April gently place one foot into sidewalk as The truck’s right side went down, leaving the left side slightly up, April steps off as The truck went back down with heavier thud. “Opps” April giggling, her cheeks and chins wobbles. “Still need to get my Van some upgrade anytime soon” April close the door as continue waddle along sidewalk, April had changed since still being Channel 6 Reporter, hanging out with the Turtles and stuff. April have double chin and fatter cheeks pressing against her face, April can’t imagine living without her 400 pound fatass like boulder sized with ten chairs wide hips, good enough to make them Jell-O shake. Her breasts were large before but now it’s bigger than watermelons sagged atop her huge double stomach, both having torn their way free of her yellow jumpsuit, merely pulling open the front zipper at first. Her sleeves tightening around her meaty, fat-bloated upper arms. The one baggy garment left little, flabby legs and fattening thighs like sacks of steaks filling out her pants when the fabric sunk deep between her boulder sized buttocks, giving her a wedgie that was both horribly uncomfortable and more than a little humiliating. April step into Channel 6 Building that’s where she works, "Well, there it goes" April let out nervous grinned, her cheeks burgs and she alone took up a huge amount of space with her massively body plus booty, so fatty Reporter had to really squeeze in together to fit inside it. “Whew, kinda crowed in here” April didn’t noticed there’s someone already in the elevator (Irma)

"April what are you doing? Ain't you doing something important for the news?"

[polijakefim]

Outside Magazine, November 2016 | Travis fimmel, Vikings actors, Happy play

Travis Fimmel’s Minimalist Broasis

Vikings star Travis Fimmel has exactly three possessions: his trailer, his pickup truck, and his horse

I’d been told to meet the Australian ­actor Travis Fimmel, best known for his role as Norse warrior Ragnar Lothbrok in the ­History channel’s Vikings series, at his ranch outside Los Angeles. Given the popularity of the show—four seasons, an Amazon Prime ­release, and season five in the works—I had assumed that Fimmel’s pad would be some secluded midcentury hideout with a well-stocked kitchen and a gym worthy of a broadsword slinger who’d also recently anchored a Warcraft film adaptation that made nearly half a billion dollars worldwide

But the address led to a dusty outdoor riding arena just off the highway, where Fimmel, barefoot in a pair of camo cargo shorts and a surf tee, greeted me from the back of his 15-year-old chestnut quarter horse, Wanker.

“I’m just getting him warmed up so he doesn’t buck you off,” says Fimmel, who is 37 and was raised on a dairy farm in Echuca, Australia. He grew up working in his family’s cherry orchards, camping and fishing with his two older brothers, and surfing behind dirt bikes in irrigation canals. He came to L.A. when he was 21, after being scouted by a modeling agency and dropping out of architecture school. Almost immediately, he was stopping traffic on billboards modeling Calvin Klein underwear

"Among a generation who’ve shunned material possessions, Fimmel has achieved an advanced state of stoic minimalism."

Still mounted, Fimmel led me in my rental car up to his broasis, which, it quickly became clear, was actually a dilapidated 18-foot beige and white Nomad travel trailer parked permanently in the shade of a pepper tree between a water tank and the tack shed. 

“Got it real cheap, over in Phelan,” says Fimmel. “Towing it back, the side panels were flapping, and the back door fell off.” The ranch belongs to longtime stunt coordinator Walter Scott. Fimmel showed up in 2010 looking for riding lessons ahead of a big-screen remake of the 1960s TV show Big Valley. Most of the work around his family’s farm was performed on ATVs, so he was a novice horseman.

“Just ask me about when I first met him,” says Scott. “He says he knew about horses—everything he learned right here, on that horse. Roping and everything. Him and another guy came. He never left.”

The film went down in flames after the director was convicted of committing tax-credit fraud on a previous project, but Fimmel stuck around the stable and now squats there when he’s not traveling. “Out here it’s just good people. No industry,” Fimmel explains. “Just the stunt boys.”

Among a generation who’ve shunned material possessions as barriers to life experience, Fimmel has achieved an advanced state of stoic minimalism. According to him, his only worldly possessions are Wanker, the Craigslist trailer (which now has air-­conditioning), and a red 1982 GMC stepside pickup with a ’73 bed (which does not). ­Before the trailer, he lived in an old Ford Econoline with a pop-up bed. 

“It got taken off me,” he says. “It wasn’t road worthy.” Unlike the cool kids who gussy up Sprinter vans and Westfalias, Fimmel only recently upgraded from a flip phone to an iPhone 4, does no social media, and rarely checks his e-mail. “I’m always getting texts asking why I’m not responding on Instagram or Facebook, and I’m like, ‘It’s not me. You’re writing to some stranger.’ ” 

Fimmel helped me into the saddle, and we headed out for a hack on a trail behind the property, him riding Scott’s horse Josey. It was hot, and Wanker wanted to stop in the shade. Fimmel’s ultimate goal is to save as much money as he can and end up back in Australia on a nice spread—“with three or four wives,” he jokes, though at the moment he says of the opposite sex, “They all hate me, although it’s not for lack of trying. When you do a lot of traveling, it’s hard.” 

He eats what he wants, works out only when he’s forced to, and does his drinking at the local VFW hall. But for a guy who regrets his modeling days and says he wasn’t looking to get into acting—“Still not looking to, mate”—he’s stripped away everything else. If he could, he’d spend three months studying for each of his parts. “You get sucked into it, trying to be good at it,” he says. “I wish you could make money and people never saw what you did. Then you could relax and not care about how bad you are.”

It’s the proper amount of self-hatred for an action hero who’s actually good at his craft—more Viggo Mortensen than Chris Hemsworth. He starts shooting a blockbuster bank-heist film, Finding Steve McQueen, in September, starring alongside Kate Bosworth and Forest Whitaker. 

Fimmel is extraordinarily soft-spoken—introverted, even—for a guy at risk of being typecast as a barbarian. At an interview with three of his Vikings castmates at Comic-Con in July, Fimmel managed to get through the entire Q&A saying exactly zero words. But he’s only now being tested in parts with more range, like his supporting role as a bearded-hipster pickle entrepreneur in the 2016 roman­tic comedy Maggie’s Plan and a loving, alcoholic father in an adaptation of the horse-racing novel Lean on Pete that was shot in Oregon and wrapped this summer. On that project, he ducked out for a few days to reel in his first steelhead with a friend at the mouth of the Chehalis River. 

It was nearly 100 degrees on the trail. The Blue Cut Fire had just broken out in San Bernardino, and disaster-relief crews were a constant presence on the highway. Each of the past three summers, Fimmel has escaped this kind of heat, shooting Vikings in the cold mists of Ireland. The Ragnar role even landed him an endorsement deal as the face of high-end down-jacket company Canada Goose, which photographed him earlier this year among the icebergs of Newfoundland. 

Here, though, it was just really hot. We put the horses up, Fimmel hosed Wanker down, and we went for a Bud Light at the VFW. If any of the vets and bikers recognized him, they didn’t show it. This time next year, it may not be so easy.

Lead Photo: Jeff Lipsky